That one time? In Paris?

I'm thinking we're going to have to break this into a few posts, and i'm thinking that since the Eiffel Tower is so iconic, it gets to be post number 1. And since it's what we did on day number 1, well, that makes even more sense.

After a 7.5 hour flight we arrived in Vincennes, the smaller town we stayed in that was 10 minute train ride outside of city.  Street markets, family friendly, real sense of local life...and after a week it became "our" bakery, and "our" flower stall.  At night, after being in the city all day, it was us and the locals taking the metro back "home."

Day 1 in Paris looked like this: Find Eiffel Tower.  Stare at long line.  Marvel at structure.  Walk to Rue Cler toting Rick Steve's guide, eat beautiful and colorful quiche at Cafe la Marche, because Rick Steve's recommended it, walk Champs Elysees, hope boyfriend will buy you Louis Vuitton purse (he won't, which you knew yet still hoped ) but he will buy you Laduree macarons (which are heaven and well worth the line) discover your new love of all things pistachio. Walk pedestrian tunnel to Arch de Triomphe.  Eat a macaron before you think about taking pictures (dumb), walk back to Eiffel Tower.  Sit on bench in garden below.  Sit there.  Sit there.  Wait for darkness.  Sit there.  Wait for more darkness so that it will sparkle.  Wonder (stress) what times the metro goes until, run to metro. Write in little travel diary all about your day (boyfriend will ask what you plan to do with this, yet he will insist you do that every night before you forget). Marvel. You're in Paris, my friend.

I loved that we discovered the Eiffel tower the way we did, not hovering above any other structure or seeing it from across the way, but sudden, and in full view.  I had read that the best views of the tower can be seen from the Trocadero, so we took the train to that exit and turned to find ourselves face to face with it. First the selfies, then the sillies.



 Seriously this thing is massive.

thecapeonthecorner.blogspot.com

thecapeonthecorner.blogspot.com

This traffic was crazy, and a pedestrian path is totally necessary.

thecapeonthecorner.blogspot.com

We didn't go to the top of the tower because what i really wanted was to have the tower actually in my pictures.  Sitting below the tower, watching it light up, was one of the top three things for me on this trip.  It was just that moment that makes it real, that you are on vacation, to somewhere new and exciting, crossing another spot off your bucket list. Know what i mean?

Share with me some of your "this is real" vacation moments, would ya?

sharing is caring: thrifty treasures @ southern hospitality, travel photo mondays @ travel photo discovery, places i've been @ the tablescaper,  travel photo thursdays@ budget travelers sandbox , Monthly projects @ Evolution of Style Make it Pretty Mon @ Dedicated House Throwback Thursday @ Sweet Pea, inspire me mondays and power of paint @ domestically speaking, inspire me mondays @ , Places I've Been @ The Tablescaper,  Before and After @ Thrifty Decor Chick,   Sundays @ Suburbs Mama  Mod Vintage Life, Motivate Me Mon @Keeping it Simple,  give me the goods @ rain on a tin roof, home stories a-z, nifty thrifty @ Coastal Charm, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, the scoop @ stone gable,  inspire me tues, lil luna, get your craft on, sugar bee crafts. inspire me weds @ 733, wow us weds @ savvy southern style,  work it weds @ the blissful bee, outdoor weds @ a southern daydreamer, whimsy wednesday, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman,  whatever goes weds @ someday crafts,  charm of home,  open house @ no minimalist here, link party palooza @ tatertots and jello, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, open house @ no minimalist here, creativity unleashed @ shaken together,creative connection @ making home base,  inspiration gallery @ Craftberry Bush, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, my romantic home, jennifer rizzo, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now,  furniture fridays @ mustard seed, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, design it fridays @ finding fabulous, best diy @ 36th ave, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove,  overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty sundays, under the table and dreaming. inspire me please @ liz marie blog,sunday best @ the girl creative  shaken together, seasonal sundays @ the tablescaper,   sunday soiree @ craftomaniac

Step away from the living room-another redo.

People, i am back from France and itching to show you pictures but my computer is not cooperating.  We're gonna work off what we have saved, and that is the current state of the living room.  So without further adieu-

Shazam.

Now that is one debrownified turned deblue-ified collected looking living room if i ever did see.



 And that is one de-slipcovered, leg showing accent chair working fabulously alongside the plant happy hall table.

 

And that is one texturelicious tray up on that there wall, with those ikat damask (designy words!) curtain panels who are doing their part to de-tan those tan walls without lifting a paintbrush.

Not that this was so bad...but ignoring the big blue wall wasn't working out that well.  But ignore it i did try, with the gray curtains and the non blue having rug.  Certainly brightened things up, at the very least.  Ten points if you spot Sunday.
 
It was still too cool in here, with those light blue pillows and ottoman that i assumed were necessary to live with the blue wall and make it a little less random.

Seriously. so. much. better. 

Matchy, but like a collected matchy.

 

 Another bout of textureliciousness with the only unkillable plant i know.

That is why one must have it in multiples.

I'm finding the blue wall is less bothersome without the slip cover on the chair.  That tv stand is a continued thorn in my side.  Stay tuned for an update on that.

Ah, the important things in life.  Travel, music, and home decorating.  Also, reading, because: Books!

Who knew the key to making this work was golds and more vibrant blue? 

Not me, i guess that one's obvious.  Would never have thought the key to ignoring the blue wall was to bring in a deeper blue.

I love how although the pouf is not leather, it mimics the look of the leather ones with the stitching. And the size of that pouf is gigantic, allowing it to masquerade as a coffee table.

I can not even tell you how much i am loving this "new" space, and i seriously think (aside from the tv stand and minor accessorizing) that it is done.  Emily Henderson-esque, styled up pretty, done.  Step away from the living room.

sources-rug:rugsusa/ ottoman:amazon/ pillow cover: alexandra foster c/o house of turquoise/ curtains and pillows:homegoods

sharing is caring: Monthly projects @ Evolution of Style Make it Pretty Mon @ Dedicated House Throwback Thursday @ Sweet Pea, inspire me mondays and power of paint @ domestically speaking, inspire me mondays @ , Places I've Been @ The Tablescaper,  Before and After @ Thrifty Decor Chick,   Sundays @ Suburbs Mama  Mod Vintage Life, Motivate Me Mon @Keeping it Simple,  give me the goods @ rain on a tin roof, home stories a-z, nifty thrifty @ Coastal Charm, be inspired @ elizabeth and co, the scoop @ stone gable,  inspire me tues, lil luna, get your craft on, sugar bee crafts. inspire me weds @ 733, wow us weds @ savvy southern style,  work it weds @ the blissful bee, outdoor weds @ a southern daydreamer, whimsy wednesday, wicked awesome weds @ handy man, crafty woman,  whatever goes weds @ someday crafts,  charm of home,  open house @ no minimalist here, link party palooza @ tatertots and jello, Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring, open house @ no minimalist here, creativity unleashed @ shaken together,creative connection @ making home base,  inspiration gallery @ Craftberry Bush, Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest, my romantic home, jennifer rizzo, Weekend Bloggy Reading @ Serenity now,  furniture fridays @ mustard seed, Feathered Nest @ French Country Cottage, design it fridays @ finding fabulous, best diy @ 36th ave, thrifty things fri @ the thrifty groove,  overflowing w/ creativity @ it's overflowing, nifty thrifty sundays, under the table and dreaming. inspire me please @ liz marie blog,sunday best @ the girl creative  shaken together, seasonal sundays @ the tablescaper,   sunday soiree @ craftomaniac