For any readers I might have who are not from the Philly area I apologize, but I'm back today with another Philly-centric post! Today I am chatting all about my favorite workout classes in the city and why!

Before I get into specific classes and studios, let me back up and talk a little about my fitness journey in the city. I have always been a fairly active individual. I swam and played tennis growing up through high school and even swam my freshman year at Tulane (club swimming). After giving up team sports I would go to the gym a few times a week in college and I always enjoyed attending a 20-minute Arms and Abs class. Upon moving to Philly in 2014 I hopped right into the city's fitness scene. I started out with a membership at a local yoga and pilates studio, a gym membership, and a class card at a local spinning studio. Over the years I have been a member of both ClassPass and GymPass and have tried MANY of the local and national studios located around the city. The list below are my favorites - but if you have any suggestions for a good studio in Philly I would love to hear, I am always down to try out a new workout class!

Best HIIT Workout: BPM Fitness, located at 18th and Spring Garden in the Fairmount neighborhood. BPM is locally owned by Shoshanna and runs several types of classes, the most popular being a combination class with 25 minutes of spinning and 25 minutes of strength training circuits. While all the instructors are awesome, Wes is my favorite instructor, he really knows his stuff involving form, is super energetic, and is very motivating. If you are not into spinning try the 45-minute strength only class.

Great for: TRX, Kettlebells, Cardio/Strength Combo, Friendly Staff

Runners Up: Orangetheory Center City, F45 Center City, Ripped PHL, Unite Fitness

Best Spin Class: Flywheel on 15th and Locust Street. Flywheel is a national chain, but I love love this studio. Located underground on Locust Street, the spin room here is one of the best. I really love the new bikes they've put in, they're very easy to adjust and the stadium seating ensures that everyone can see the instructor easily. I like that at Flywheel the instructors push you past your comfort zone. I have gotten all my spinning personal records at Flywheel and its something I can do at 6am when I'm barely awake. My favorite instructors at Kat (the best explicit rap playlists), Nicole (she has the best interval work),  and Amandah (she's super sweet and also plays great music).

Runner Up: 45 Minute Spin only class at BPM (discussed above), just bring your own spin shoes to clip-in or wear sneakers!

***One more note, I am not a big Soul Cycle fan, but I have been to the Philly studio and Meaghan Kelley has great playlists and is super energetic***

Best Hot Yoga: Priya Hot Yoga on 19th and Callowhill. Priya is my favorite yoga studio in the city due to the number of classes they offer, the convenient times, the overall welcoming atmosphere at the studio, and I like a lot of the instructors. Go to 5pm Sunday with Rachel for a chill way to unwind after a long week, try Brittany's Tuesday or Thursday classes for more of a challenge (but she knows her stuff) or take a Monday slow-flow with Megan to start your week off on the right foot. I also really like Jillian's sculpt class and Lisa's Saturday morning 75 minute class, it has great flows!

Runner Up: I like the Yoga Sculpt class at Core Power Yoga, but its not my favorite for a traditional flow. Philly Power Yoga on Sansom is good for a nice flow, I especially like their late-night beginner class. 

Best Sculpt: Sculpt Jawn at Lumos Barre and Yoga at 20th and Green Street. This class is one of my favorites in the city. I've done a couple other classes at this location but this is the class I come back for. The studio is really cute and kind of has a Harry Potter theme (hence the Lumos name). The Sculpt Jawn class is offered Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturdays and consists of about 25 minutes of yoga flow followed by 25 minutes of cardio (think jumping jacks, dancing, squats) and some light weights/sculpting movements. My favorite teacher is Sara (she teaches 6am on Tuesday).

Runner Up: The Yoga Sculpt class at Priya Hot Yoga at 8:15am on weekends and Yoga Sculpt at Core Power Yoga

Best Boxing Class: Everybody Fights at 20th and Market Street. The TRAIN Class involves 10-12 stations with different cardio based movements, including several boxing circuits. While this is not a pure boxing class (Title Boxing on Market Street offers a class with a lot more boxing) I really enjoy the format of this workout because I can get my heart rate up, lift some weights, and also practice my jabs and hooks. I also recently took a class at Rumble Boxing and really enjoyed that, but I've only done it once so I didn't want to review based on that one time.

Everybody Fights also offers heavyweight classes, yoga classes (I have never done yoga here though), and even open gym for their members. You should bring your own gloves and wraps.

Runner Up: Rumble Boxing (like I said, only tried once but I really enjoyed the mix of boxing and core/strength exercises) 

Best Pilates Class: Solidcore at 22nd and Chestnut Street. Oh my God. This is the hardest class I do on a regular basis. I've taken Solidcore classes over 30 times and I am still terrible at them - its so difficult! That being said, I always leave feeling like I've gotten a great core workout and have strengthened muscles that I have not worked in a long time. I don't go to a specific instructor here, mostly because I go at different times each week whenever I can fit a class in my schedule. I try to go once, if not twice a week. If you try it, just know you will be horrible the first couple of times. It is also very fast paced, they don't give breaks (you need to take your own) and the instructor talks the whole time. You need to go a few times and learn the movements and get used to the class format before you start to feel more comfortable. One thing to note, this studio does not have a shower so make sure you're able to pop back home after class.

Runner Up: Thrive Pilates classes on Sansom Street, Pilates at Lumos Barre and Yoga

Personal Trainer Shout-Out: I also want to give a shout-out to a personal trainer I worked with the months leading up to my wedding, Jimmy Sutton from J'aime Fitness in Fairmont. Jimmy and his wife Jaime own the personal training studio, but they recently opened up a studio with group fitness classes. I haven't been by to try the classes yet but I plan on it soon! Jimmy and Jaime are both super nice, local business owners and they're great trainers. I highly recommend them to anyone wanting to get better form!

The Best Books Set in Philadelphia

Whether you are from the great city of Philadelphia, planning a visit, or just are looking for a good book I have some recommendations for you which all take place in the city of Brotherly Love (actually I heard they changed it to Sisterly Love for 2020, can anyone confirm?). 

When I plan a trip I love to try and read a book or watch a movie set in the place I'm going. Like reading A Moveable Feast by Earnest Hemingway before a trip to Paris or Nine Lives by Dan Baum before visiting New Orleans (both are excellent by the way and you should add to your TBR). 

Being from the Greater Philadelphia Area, and living within the city since 2014 I love when I find a good book which is set within the city I love so much. 

1// Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson : Set in 1793 (duh) in Philadelphia during the yellow fever outbreak. This is a children's/young adult book but I think adults would enjoy it too. The story follows Mattie, a young girl working in her family's coffeehouse with dreams of expanding the business into a larger enterprise. As more and more people fall ill in the city reality shatters the world Mattie has inhabited thus far. 

2// Long Bright River by Liz Moore : Set in current day Philadelphia, this book was just released in January 2020. Alternating between past and present, the story follows Mickey, a patrol officer in Philadelphia's 24th district (Kensington). Mickey and her sister Kacey were brought up in Fishtown by their grandmother following the death of their mother via drug overdose. While Mickey has taken a path in law enforcement, her sister has gone down the dark path of addiction. When several women are found murdered in Kensington around the same time Mickey realizes she has not seen her sister around the streets for sometime, Mickey works to try to find her sister while also getting clues about who might be committing the homicides in the neighborhood, This book was dark, gritty, and sad at times. It was very well written and gave a raw look at the opioid epidemic which rages on in Philadelphia (and many other US cities. It has some twists along the way and was easy to get into. I highly recommend. 

3// Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid : Another new release, I have not personally read this book (I'm on the waitlist at the library). Therefore, here is the brief synopsis from Amazon: 

"Alix Chamberlain is a woman who gets what she wants and has made a living, with her confidence-driven brand, showing other women how to do the same. So she is shocked when her babysitter, Emira Tucker, is confronted while watching the Chamberlains' toddler one night, walking the aisles of their local high-end supermarket. The store's security guard, seeing a young black woman out late with a white child, accuses Emira of kidnapping two-year-old Briar. A small crowd gathers, a bystander films everything, and Emira is furious and humiliated. Alix resolves to make things right.

But Emira herself is aimless, broke, and wary of Alix's desire to help. At twenty-five, she is about to lose her health insurance and has no idea what to do with her life. When the video of Emira unearths someone from Alix's past, both women find themselves on a crash course that will upend everything they think they know about themselves, and each other.
With empathy and piercing social commentary, Such a Fun Age explores the stickiness of transactional relationships, what it means to make someone "family," and the complicated reality of being a grown up. It is a searing debut for our times."

4// Silver Linings Playbook by Mathew Quick : You've probably heard of this one because of the movie starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence. But it is still worthwhile to give the book a read! The book is always better right? The Eagles play a central role in the story of Pat and Tiffany, there's a love story, and it is set in Philly. Pat is having a hard time getting over Nikki, his estranged wife, at the same time the Eagles are on a losing streak and he is being pursued by Tiffany, his odd neighbor. Pat's therapist has some odd suggestions and there's dancing involved. Say no more right?

5// The Dutch House by Ann Patchet : Another book in my TBR pile - but still I've heard some great things from my friends who have read it! Also, if you like audiobooks I've heard Tom Hanks narrates this one! From Amazon: 

"At the end of the Second World War, Cyril Conroy combines luck and a single canny investment to begin an enormous real estate empire, propelling his family from poverty to enormous wealth. His first order of business is to buy the Dutch House, a lavish estate in the suburbs outside of Philadelphia. Meant as a surprise for his wife, the house sets in motion the undoing of everyone he loves.

The story is told by Cyril's son Danny, as he and his older sister, the brilliantly acerbic and self-assured Maeve, are exiled from the house where they grew up by their stepmother. The two wealthy siblings are thrown back into the poverty their parents had escaped from and find that all they have to count on is one another. It is this unshakable bond between them that both saves their lives and thwarts their futures.

Set over the course of five decades, The Dutch House is a dark fairy tale about two smart people who cannot overcome their past. Despite every outward sign of success, Danny and Maeve are only truly comfortable when they're together. Throughout their lives, they return to the well-worn story of what they've lost with humor and rage. But when at last they're forced to confront the people who left them behind, the relationship between an indulged brother and his ever-protective sister is finally tested."

Some other Philly inspired book purchases include the following cookbooks by Philly based chefs!

House of Cheese by Tenaya Darlington - A book about cheese pairings and recipes from the famous Di Bruno Brothers cheese shop, based in the Italian Market neighborhood of Philadelphia.

Zahav - A World of Israeli Cooking by Michael Solmonov : Zahav is one of my favorite restaurants in the city. And while it might be difficult to get a reservation, now you can make some of Solmonov's recipes at home.

Pizza Camp by Joe Beddia : For Pizza lovers (everyone) the creator of Pizzeria Beddia in Philly has a treat for you. From basics about sauce and dough to delicious recipes you will be whipping up delicious pizza creations in your home. 

Do you have any great city-based booked recommendations? I'd love to hear - especially if they're set in Philly!

Let me reintroduce myself

Wow, so that break lasted a little longer than I intended. Sorry about that. Clearly a lot has happened since December 2016 when I published my last post. Let me give you the highlights.

2017:

 Traveled to Iceland, Spain, Tennessee, New Mexico, Las Vegas, and more. I got the opportunity to work on a project at my job where I was traveling to Spain almost every other week in the Fall. It was awesome working with a smart, interesting international team! I miss them now!

My mom and I with my new cat, Leo! Adopted April 2017

          My two cat babies (Kalliope and Leo)

Alex and I in Iceland in June 2017

Me, Alex, and our friend John in Iceland in 2017

from a Family photo shoot in June 2017

Oviedo, Spain where I traveled for work, Fall 2017

Teverga Spain, where I went hiking one weekend I was traveling

More shots from Treverga, Spain - Fall 2017

2018: 

2018 was an amazing year! Alex and I got engaged in February and the Eagles won the Super Bowl the same weekend! After that, I left for Hawaii to spend 10 days with my friends in Oahu and Maui! What a great start to the year! Some other highlights in 2018 were a trip to CMA Fest in Nashville with my best friend Alex (not my fiance), spending lots of time down the shore with my hometown friends, especially Jeanine, planning our wedding, heading back to Spain and Vegas for work, and just spending time with friends and family.

The night we got engaged, February 2, 2018

Our engagement night

Completing the Lanai Pillbox Hike in Hawaii, February 2018

Maui, February 2018

Black Sand Beach in Maui

 Our engagement photos, October 2018

2019:

2019 went by in a flash! January started with my first ride on a private jet for work (but to Michigan in January) and I wrapped up my long-term project at work and started a new project in the fall. I got MARRIED in June, had my bachelorette party in March in Miami, and went on our honeymoon to Australia and Fiji right after our wedding. We also went down the shore in the summer, visited family in Pittsburgh, and I did my annual trip to Vegas for work. 

 

Getting ready to go down the aisle

Entering our reception, NOLA style

 The hora! 

The best day ever (all wedding photos by Sean Marshall Lin photography in Philly - loved working with Sean!)

Snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef

Petting Kangaroos was a dream come true!

Zip-lining in the rainforest in Australia

Such a bucket list moment after our 24+ hours of flying!

Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb complete!

Champagne breakfast by the ocean in Fiji

Golden hour in Fiji

In our private plunge pool in Fiji

With some of my work besties in Vegas in September

Christmas 2019

And now you're all caught up! Well, almost. In January 2020 I turned 30 and my husband, Alex, and I headed to New Orleans to celebrate. It was a great weekend and I didn't feel sad or upset about turning 30 at all. In fact, I am ready for my 30's and excited to see what this decade will bring. I have a lot of fun planned this year and can't wait to bring you along with me!

If you want to follow-along in between posts please follow my new book-focused instagram @lauragetslit! 

A quick hello

Hi! Sorry for the months of radio silence, including even making my blog offline for some time. I went through a lot over the past few months and I've been struggling to decide if I want to continue blogging or not.

For the time being I'm going to continue taking a break from blogging. I'd like to start again in January 2017, however I want to make some changes, which I think the people who actually read my blog will appreciate!

First of all, I will no longer use affiliate links. I have closed my account with ShopStyle. I never even made enough off links to cash out in the first place, but that is not the reason I'm going to discontinue using the links. Yes, I didn't end up making a dime off blogging. And that's ok. Some people make an income blogging, others do it for a hobby, some people fall somewhere in-between. I thought in-between could be an interesting spot for me, not to try and monetize my blog but if I made a few dollars that would be fine.

Well, even using the links I felt pressure to try and make something of them, this led to blogging being less enjoyable for me and defeating the very purpose I started my blog. So I closed the account, never received a dime and am totally fine with that. I will be removing all the old links from the blog so that there will be no affiliate links anywhere on my site.

Secondly, I will be posting sporadically. I know that this is not ideal for a blog read, but maintaining a strong posting schedule is just not realistic for me. I know it will hurt in page views, but those are no longer my concern. I had a handful of friends text me looking for my blog this fall and so if those are the only people reading, that's totally fine with me!

Thirdly, this blog will be completely for me. It always was, but I want to shift my focus to make it that way at it's heart. This is my hobby, not my business, so you can expect any posts to come from my heart and to be 100% my opinion only.

I hope my readers understand! I hope you all have been having a great fall and a very merry holiday season!

Best,

Laura

Paris City Guide: Where to Eat & Drink, What to Do, and Tips

Hi everyone! As I mentioned in my last post that I just got back from a 10-day trip to France! It was an amazing trip and I'm so sad it's already come to an end. For those of you that don't know, I actually studied abroad in Paris in college and was itching to go back and visit, it was even on my 101 in 1001 list!

Earlier this year Alex and I were talking about going on vacation this year and I advocated hard for us to take a trip to France. First off, Alex had never been to Europe, and second off since I know the country fairly well planning the trip would be a little less stressful than going somewhere we've both never been and neither of us spoke the language. Also, for those of you with questions about the origin of my blog name (or why it's worded the way it is) see my 'About' page.

Anyways, for our trip we spent about 4 days total in Paris and the other six in the South of France, which I will post about in a separate guide post! I thought my readers might enjoy a little guide with some tips and tricks about Paris that I picked up on this trip and in the six months that I lived over there, so without further ado, here are my tips for getting the most out of Paris!

Getting there: Paris has two airports, Charles de Gaulle (CDG) and Orly (ORY). Both are located outside of the city and there are public transportation options to get into Paris from the airports. For CDG I suggest taking the RER B into Paris, it will cost you 10 euro for a one-way ticket and will take 45 minutes to an hour to get to central Paris. for ORY I suggest taking the OrlyBus, this direct bus costs 8 euro and shuttles visitors between the 14th arrondissement and Orly airport. It takes anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. You could also take a cab from either airport, but it will cost you about 50+ euro from CDG and 30+ euro from ORY.

Getting Around: Now that you're in Paris you need to get around! Lucky for you the metro is a great system which is fairly easy to pick-up. Buy a packet of 10 metro tickets (un carnet) from the machines in any metro station. It's cheaper to buy a pack of 10 rather than individual tickets (and buying a ticket every time you need a train would be very annoying). There are 14 metro lines in the city and all run regularly throughout the day. The metro can take you basically anywhere you want to go, just look at the easy to read maps located in all stations to figure out which lines overlap and where to change trains. Unlike NYC there are no express trains, so every train will stop at every stop on it's line, just pay attention to the direction the trains are headed; especially if you take a line with a fork, which will have trains that go either way on the fork, this usually occurs at the ends of the lines and won't be an issue if you're staying in the heart of Paris.

Where to Stay: When I lived in Paris, I had a studio apartment in the 15th arrondissement near the La Motte-Picquet Grenelle metro stop. I have a really soft spot for this area since it was my home, but also upon re-visiting the city I realized it's also a great neighborhood for visitors. La Motte-Picquet has a more neighborhood-y vibe than some of the more touristy areas , but it still boasts three different metro lines which meet here, thus making getting around really easy. There's also plentiful cafes, a really nice Sunday outdoor market, and it's a 10 minute walk to the Champs de Mars (the lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower). La Motte-Picquet is also close to Rue de Commerce which is filled with great shopping that also isn't super touristy or over-crowded (like the Champs-Elysees).

This particular trip to Paris, however, Alex and I stayed at two different hotels, since our time in Paris bookended our visit to Southern France. When we first arrived in Paris we stayed at Renaissance Paris Republique hotel. This hotel was located right next to the Republique metro station, convenient distance to/from Gare du Nord (which is nice for those coming into Paris either on the RER or a regional train service) and was walking distance from the heart of the Marais neighborhood, which is on my favorites in the city. I loved this hotel since it was brand new and the rooms were much larger than most that you'll see in Europe. The rooms boasted the most comfortable beds ever, fluffy robes, a brand new rain shower, and great city views. They also had our room ready for our requested early check-in which was so nice.

When we got back to Paris after our time in the South of France, we stayed at the Grand Hotel Saint-Michel. This hotel is a boutique hotel located in the Latin Quarter (another area I adore) and walkable to Rue Moufftard which is one of my favorite streets to grab a bistro dinner or get a drink on. The hotel was also convenient to walk to the Jardin du Luxembourg; and the RER B station there which goes to Orly and CDG airports. The neighborhood is also close to the Notre Dame/Saint-Michel area which has a lot of cafes, shopping, and my favorite crepes shop (crepes Genia). Our room also had a little balcony which was really nice to step out onto and take in the sites.  An added bonus is that they stock your bathroom with Hermes beauty products in lieu of your typical hotel shampoos, conditioners, etc.

Where to Eat: Admittedly when I lived in Paris as a student I didn't eat out all that much. I mostly cooked dinner every night with my friends, ate yogurt for breakfast, and sandwiches from my school cafeteria for lunches. On this trip, however, Alex and I were more than willing to indulge in eating out at some of the places I've been wanting to try in Paris.

That being said, similar to the restaurant scene in NYC, there are TONS of amazing restaurants in Paris and this is by no means a complete list. If you're in the city I suggest looking up suggestions based on neighborhood, cuisine, price, etc. You can pretty much find whatever you're craving! From traditional French, to amazing burgers, to bomb Italian, to even tacos! Paris pretty much has it all. Here are some places I recommend:

- Pain, Vin, Fromage - located in Le Marais this little fondue restaurant is reasonably priced and offers a great Savonyard fondue. Their wines were also very reasonably priced and I enjoyed the neighborhood they're located in.

- Le Souffle - located near Concord metro station in the 1st Arrondissement this upscale restaurant specializes in both sweet and savory souffles. I tried the complete souffle menu, but the dessert souffle stole the show. If I ever go again I'm ordering the delicious looking steak-frites for my main course with the tomato and basil appetizer souffle and the all chocolate dessert souffle (which I would eat every day if I could).

- Le Refuge des Fondues - this little fondue place is located near Sacre Coeur in Montmatre. It's an experience for sure! You'll be greeted with an aperitif and possibly need to step over the table to get to your seat (keep this in mind when deciding on whether to wear a skirt or not). You can pick from cheese or beef fondue and everyone receives a bottle of wine in a baby bottle! It's a really fun experience with friends and not very expensive!

- Rue Moufftard - I'm just going to categorize the MANY bistros located along this road in one point. If you're looking for a traditional french bistro dinner, this is the place to go. They offer many prix-fix menus and you can get an appetizer, entree, and dessert for anywhere from 13.50 euro to 27 euro depending on the formula. There's also a lot of nightlife around here so there's plenty of bars to dip into for a quick drink!

What to Do: There's obviously so so so much to do in Paris. Honestly you could stay busy for weeks doing all the amazing things the city has to offer. Here are a sampling of my favorites:

- Have a picnic at the Champs de Mars - go to your local grocery store (or open-air market) and grab some cheese, bread, charcuterie, fruits, and wine. Take a blanket and head over to the Champs de Mars for a picnic. There's no laws against open containers of alcohol in Paris so feel free to enjoy a bottle of wine outside with your food! I usually get my goodies from the Monoprix at La Motte-Picquet Grenelle or the Sunday market there and take those treats to the Champs de Mars since it's about a 10 minute walk. Some other great markets are located at Rue Cler and Rue Daguerre.

- Picnic or have a bottle of wine along the Seine - the Seine river cuts Paris into two halve: Rive Gauche and Rive Droite (left river and right river). The banks of the Seine are accessible by lots of ramps, staircases, and steps along the river banks. In the summer the city even sets up pop-up restaurants and "beaches" along the river. It's very common to enjoy a few beers or glasses of wine sitting with friends along the river. When I studied here I would eat lunch along the river almost every day, there's something so magical about it!

- Take a Seine river boat tour - If you're going to do a city tour I highly recommend taking a Seine river cruise as your option. I usually use Bateaux Mouche when I go on tours with friends, but there are several options along the river, mostly boarding near Trocadero or Pont Alma. The tours last about an hour and go up the river showing you most of the most famous sites in the city. There are also night tour and dinner cruise options available if you're interested in that as well.

- Go to a museum - If you only have a few days in Paris and you're visiting during a very busy time you might not be able to go to all the famous museums the city has to offer, but you should at least try and make it to one. If you like art check out: the Louvre (most famous and has lots of very ancient artwork), Musee d'Orsay (my favorite, impressionist artwork in a converted train station), Musee Orangerie (the best place to see the famous water lilies paintings by Monet!), and Rodin Museum. There are also several modern art museums which are worth checking out if you're interested in that type of thing. If history is more your thing try visiting the army museum at Invalidies (you can see Napoleon's tomb as well), the catacombs, or the pantheon.

- Visit the famous monuments - Paris is chock-full of famous landmarks. Don't miss walking or taking the elevator up the Eiffel Tower, going to the Arc de Triomphe, visiting Notre Dame, hanging out on the steps of Sacre Coeur, and checking out the Grand Palais. These sites are all famous for a reason, and trust me they are breathtaking in person!

- Stroll through the gardens - whether it's the Tuileries gardens, Jardin de Luxembourg, or the Parc de Belleville, spend an afternoon strolling through one of these beautiful parks/gardens. They are all well maintained and provide an amazing afternoon soaking in the best Paris has to offer.

- Take a quick day trip to one of the amazing countryside towns easily accessible from Paris - I recommend Versailles (obviously), Giverny (to tour Monet's gardens), Reims (tour the champagne caves!), and Fountainbleu. The French train system makes it easy to book a train ticket the night before or the same day. Plug any of the aforementioned cities into the SNCF train website and see the times and rates for the trains and decide where to go!

Shopping Tips:

Obviously Paris is also famous for shopping! There are several neighborhoods chock-full of amazing shopping throughout the city. Some things to buy include French drugstore products, like my favorite the Bioderma Crealine H2O Micelle (the best make-up remover ever), also pick up Embryolisse moisturizer. These are basic drugstore products but so so good.

Another favorite store is Merci on Boulevard Beaumarche, they have a really great aesthetic and great jewelry pieces! I also love checking out all the great thrift shops in Le Marais neighborhood, the spanish brand Stradivarius, Pull & Bear, Longchamp, Saint-James, and also checking out the Galleries Lafayette shopping mall.

For books, walk along the Seine river near Notre Dame to check out the little antique book stores. The Notre Dame/Saint Michel neighborhood also has a ton of cute little bookshops as the Sorbonne and the Medical University of Paris are located in this area. If you're looking for English language books check out Shakespeare and Company.

Some things to stay away from buying are electronics, as they tend to be more expensive than in the States and you can technically only bring back about $800 of tax-free goods.

Other Do's and Don'ts:

- Do try and speak French! Even though many people in Paris speak English, they always appreciate the effort of trying a few French phrases.

- Do ask for a "carafe d'eau" at a restaurant to get a full jug of tap water. The tap water in Paris is totally safe to drink (and I think it tastes good!).

- Do leave about a 10% tip at restaurants; tips are included in the price of the food, however for good service leave a 10% tip as a general rule. For something small you can throw down a couple of euro, this is considered polite.

- Don't expect everywhere to have air conditioning! Especially the metro! My way to combat this is to bring a small hand-fan in my purse so I can cool myself off on those hot summer days. Also having a little spray bottle of mineral water can feel so refreshing after spending a hot afternoon without air conditioning.

- Do watch out for pick-pockets. I have seen one of my friends get pick-pocketed on the metro, the threat is real! The best thing to do is be aware of your surroundings, use a purse with a zipper and keep it closed (especially in crowded areas) and don't leave anything valuable in your pants pockets.

- Don't talk too loudly in public! The French tend to be a little quieter in general than Americans. Just try to talk in lower volumes when in public areas like the metro to be respectful.

- Don't bring your hair styling tools (unless they can handle 240 volts). You should check any American-bought electronics to be sure they can handle the higher voltage of power you will experience in France. My straightener and curling iron cannot handle it so I left them at home. I do have a small travel straightener from Sephora I pack along for little touch-ups, but I mostly rely on braids, ponytails, leaving my hair wavy, or blowing out my hair with the hotel blow-dryer to style myself while traveling.

- Do slow down and enjoy your time in Paris! The pace is a little slower in Paris than in big cities in the United States, just soak in every moment and enjoy! Look at the amazing architecture and appreciate that you can turn a corner and see a famous monument, a picturesque cafe, or the most adorable little shop. Take advantage of your time in the city of light and share photos so we can all live vicariously and be jealous!

Do you have any tips or suggestions for people visiting Paris? I'd love to hear so I can keep a list of things to check out next time I'm in the city!