A Girl's Guide To Paris

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Paris, France is one of the most magical cities that we've fallen in love with. The language, the culture, the buildings, the people--it's all so mesmerizing. Many of our sorority sisters had the privilege of studying abroad in Europe and Paris was one of their favorite destinations. After hearing all of the hype, Co Founder Karen finally made her way over to Paris last October and it was love at first sight. Since Paris is on our honeymoon and bucket list, we asked Karen to share with us a must-see list of things to do and see while in Paris. Check out her recommendations below! Have any suggestions? Share with us in the comments!

L A N D M A R K S

Well, first things first: visit the Eiffel Tower (duh!). If you have time, actually go to the top of it and admire the amazing view. At night, the Eiffel Tower lights up too so it's definitely a cool site to see. The Grande Arche de la Défense, which is at the business neighborhood of La Défense, is a tourist must-see. It gives you a great view of the Arc de Triomphe in front of you. Going to the Arc de Triomphe you will be able to see and shop on the Champs-Élysées. Trocadéro is where you can take a great picture and have a great view of the Eiffel Tower while witnessing the beautiful golden column. Le Champ de Mars is a large public green space near the Eiffel Tower as well and is great for a picnic. Le Quai d'Orsay is also a touristy place and if you feel naughty as my friend would say, the Moulin Rouge is pretty cool. Versailles (also known as The Palace of Versailles) is a must-see piece of historical architecture. The Locks of Love bridge is fun to go to (bring a lock!). Consider even doing a boat cruise on the Seine River!

S H O P P I N G

Châtelet Les Halles is where you can do some affordable shopping. If you're into high-end fashion then visiting the Louis Vuitton store on the Champs-Élysées is a must. Add visiting the Christian Louboutin store and the Chanel store to your list. If you get to the Chanel store in time, ask for a tour of Chanel's old flat which is around the corner from the store (keep in mind, it's likely they won't allow you to take pictures in the store).

M U S E U M S  A N D  C H U R C H E S

You could spend an entire day at the The Musée du Louvre (a museum), but prepare to wait in a long line. Another notable place to go to is Notre Dame Church. It is the church inspired from the Bossu de Notre Dame book. Though the line to get in was long, it was worth the wait. Montmartre has great cafes to chill after visiting the Sacré-Couer church (a popular Roman Catholic church). 

R E S T A U R A N T S  A N D  C A F E S

You can't go to Paris, France without munching on some macaroons. Ladurée on Champs-Élysées is the place to go for some yummy macarons. Wine, cheese, croissants, frites, crepes and baguettes should be on your radar since France is known for these tasty delights. Here are a list of some more places to dine at:

• L'Avenue (good breakfast)
• Moutarde Street-Opéra (American style food)
• Rose Bakery (breakfast, brunch, coffee & tea--plenty of options for vegans and vegetarians)
• La Bulle (upscale French bistro)
• Bar à Gaufres (sweet and savory waffles that are gluten-free)
• Le Market (The menu is a mix of Asian/Japanese with more traditional French dishes)
• Breizh Café, Little Breizh, and Creperie Framboise (delicious crepes)
• Café Latéral (good for lunch near Arc de Triomphe)
• Angelina (pricey, but iconic restaurant)
• Académie de la Bière (awesome Roquefort mussels and frites (fries)!)

N I G H T L I F E
 If you want to hang out at night the party place to find bars and night clubs is de la Bastille. It is the spot to be with a young crowd. Try Rue de Lappe which is located in the heart of the Bastille just between Rue de la Roquette and Rue de Charonne. Rue de Lappe offers dozens of bars and restaurants that attract just about everyone from locals to visitors.

When in doubt, just consult your concierge at your hotel or do some Googling to find the best places to wander to in Paris. Paris cannot be conquered in a day (although you can try!) so take your time and live in the moment.

Au revoir!

It Girl Trend Report: Summer Vacation

As summer starts to come to a close, we wanted to highlight some of our It Girls favorite summer vacations they took this season. All of our It Girls are college girls excited for the fall semester ahead, but they made sure to take full advantage of their break away from the books. Avery, like our Co Founder, Ali, has a deep love and appreciation for Coronado Island in California. Avery explained that, "It is just NOT summer to me unless I go to Coronado Island in California. I have gone every single summer without fail for the 4th of July since I was a kid. There is just NOTHING better than kicking back at The Del pool, ordering a club sandwhich and people watching until your eyeballs fall out. Coronado is like taking a peak into decades past and I love the simplicity and hospitality of the quaint little town. It's hands down the best".   Victoria decided to keep it local this summer break and had fun exploring her own city, specifically the famous Public Market in downtown Seattle. Victoria shared that,"I love Pike Place (not Pike's; that's how we pick out tourists!!), and whether it is throughout the school year or over break, you can find me there relaxing enjoying the slowed pace of the city, and enjoying fresh vibrant colored flowers, the pier, Great Wheel, and from certain angles, the Space Needle. It's a great escape and an activity I always love to take part in. I can grab coffee at the first Starbucks Coffee, watch flying fish, and wander the shops. No matter what the occasion, if any, I will always grab myself a beautiful bouquet of flowers! Summer trips to Pike Place Market are hands down THE BEST". Cristina wasted no time getting to the beach and enjoyed some time with her family in Cabo, one of Co Founder Karen's favorite vacation spots as well! Cristina said, "I love laying out on the beach and just relaxing!"--sometimes that is all you need, right?!, Allie's favorite vacation spot was all the way on the East Coast. She made additions to her closet by shopping at the original Vineyard Vines on Martha's Vineyard--we love it! Serena is a California girl, but she passed up the California beaches to catch some waves in beautiful Hawaii. Serena swam in the ocean many of the days which was great because she had some pretty beach hair waves to show off while there!

Have you gone anywhere exciting so far this summer? We would love to hear so leave us a comment below!

6 Secrets to Planning the *Perfect* Vacation

We absolutely love traveling! Vacations are a must especially after dealing with finals at school, long hours at work, or taking care of your family 24/7. We believe in treating yourself to a picture perfect vacation where you can leave all of your stress behind, dig your toes into the sand, and enjoy the ocean breeze on your face. BUT, in order to have a picture perfect vacation, you have to plan it the right way! Here are our 6 Secrets to Planning the *Perfect* Vacation:

1. Survey everyone.

When you're planning a vacation involving other people, involve them! The best way to test everyone's preferences is to create a survey. We use Survey Monkey-it's simple to use and free! 

2. When choosing a hotel/destination, research it.

We love hearing from other people their experiences on different trips and the best website to get people's opinions is TripAdvisor. It will help you determine what you can expect at a hotel/destination.

3. Check the weather forecast.

Destinations like Mexico, California, and Florida sound great, but if you go during a not-so-sunny season, it could conflict with your plans. Be sure to check the weather forecast so you know when the best time is to travel.

4. Make reservations.

Open Table is a great site to use when reserving places to eat. When you're on vacation, we recommend getting the most out of your time, so waiting around at packed restaurants is no fun. When you make reservations it saves time!

5. Book transportation in advance.

Transportation is so important when you're on vacation. Finding out how you are going to get around in advance is key. Figuring out if your hotel has a shuttle or determining whether or not you will need a rental beforehand can save lots of time and money.

6. Pack for every day.

Packing for a vacation is fun and you can be smart about your packing by using sites like Her Packing List where they tell you what to pack for your trip. We have found that packing your outfits for each part of your day not only makes your luggage the perfect size, but it relieves any stress you may have while on the trip choosing an outfit.

What secrets do you have when planning your vacation? Let us know by leaving a comment below!