The Button-Up

outfit details // Lou & Grey Silk blouse, Frame Distressed Denim shorts, Superga Lace sneaker on sale (in black and gold here), J.Crew Panama hat, ZeroUV sunnies c/o

photography by Meredith Braden

If you are in Dallas and haven’t already definitely head to the Lou and Grey store. Before I left for Paris I went on a crazy shopping spree there. Not because I needed a ton but because everything was so incredibly perfect for a summer wardrobe. I loved how simple and easy each piece was. And that every piece in the store could be worn together. My kind of shopping experience. Hands down one of my favorite pieces I purchased was this silk button-up blouse. It has been a staple in my travel wardrobe: wearing it with linen pants, jeans, shorts, and with dress pants for a night out.

Since I was overly blessed in the chest department finding a button-up which fit without pulling has always been a challenge. You buy one size bigger and it doesn’t pull but then you are swimming in it. Buy your normal size and it fits in the arms and body but you pull the buttons apart. It is a serious dilemma for someone who loves the look. However, from the moment I put this Lou & Grey blouse on I knew it was a perfect fit! Wether you have this problem or not you should definitely consider heading here or to the Dallas store and grabbing one of these for yourself! I got it in white and black (it comes in six colors total) and should probably invest in two more with the amount of use I have gotten out of them!

outfit details // Lou & Grey Silk blouse, Frame Distressed Denim shorts, Superga Lace sneaker on sale (in black and gold here), J.Crew Panama hat, ZeroUV sunnies c/o

Paris: Day 1 + 2

Well, I am here! After a week in London and Geneva the hubs and I made our way to Paris. We arrived at my apartment and have been settling in ever since. The apartment itself is great! I found it on Airbnb (click here to get $25 off your first trip) a few months ago and every part of the transaction was smooth. Muriel, the owner, is so kind and has been awesome at communication. It is located in the 6th arrondissement – right next to the Seine! I really couldn’t ask for more!

The hubs, who is a native french speaker, has been helping me a TON! I am so beyond grateful he is here! I am actually so scared that he leaves in a day. He has been able to communicate to every waiter, sales clerk, teacher, taxi driver, and so on. He has made the entire transition really easy and I am terrified to have to figure it out on my own, although I know that is the point of this trip. That is actually something I didn’t expect to experience – this feeling of complete n ervousness. Up until this point I have been excited to be alone and explore a new city but now it is here and I am a bit panicky. I did have a moment earlier today where I looked at him and just teared up. I know it is a mixture of things: one that he is leaving and I am away from him for so long but also a realization that I am in a city that I don’t know and with a language I don’t speak. I could actually cry as I type this. What is my problem?

He keeps telling me that he has to leave for me to learn. He is actually “enabling me instead of helping me”. And I agree. I don’t want to agree, but I do. I am not being forced to speak the language or figure out the lay of the land. However, that doesn’t mean I am ready for him to go. I think everyone must have this moment when they are about to start a new journey which is out of their comfort zone. A moment of “oh my gosh, what the f&** did I sign up for?” I know I need to be patient with myself as I will be fine once I start my school and get a routine going but for now I am a bundle of nerves.

So there it is. I am not as brave or as adventurous as I projected in my previous posts. I am nervous to be alone, scared to not know people, and worried I will be the worst one in my class. Although in my gut I know this is right and I know it will all be okay, for now I can’t quite remember if I was of sound mind when I signed on for this.

As I document this journey I hope I can go back and re-read this post and laugh. That I will actually be able to say to myself, “wow, look how far you came. You now know the city, the language, and you really grew as a soul.” That will be the best feeling in the world! So here it is! The start of my very exciting and scary Paris journey! Stay tuned…

Notting Hill, London

The Churchill Arms is a must for anyone coming to London (one of the best pad thai's in the city)

I have been thoroughly enjoying myself here in London. Yesterday I spent 5 hours walking around with just my camera! It has been so enjoyable getting to stop and take photos, get lost, pop in cafe’s, and wander. The first day I arrived I decided to pop over to Notting Hill for a quick walk. Notting Hill is one of my favorite areas in London. It is quaint, colorful, and really picturesque. Although maybe not as convenient as other places in London it is always worth the trip!

I actually went back to N.H. yesterday as well and have some great photos (like this one) that I will share soon! But for now, here are the ones I took on my first day.

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