As promised, I thought I’d complete my picture sharing from last week’s Paris trip by listing some of my favorite spots/places to visit/things to eat in the city (sorry for the delay! LOTS of computer problems today – boo!).

Paris will forever hold the most special place in my heart as it’s one of those places where getting lost is a glorious expectation and indulging in pleasure is applauded. It’s often been hard for me to put into words what an outstanding and inspiring place it is and how much this city has changed my life and shaped who I’ve become. There are new surprises around every corner and it’s a city that never gets old. I hope you get a chance to visit a few of these fun spots on your own trip someday, or at the very least enjoyed our picture diary!

Happy Weekend Friends!

Jenn’s Paris (aka The Best City in all the World) Guide :

Favorite Arrondissements : 3rd and 4th. The Marais is by far the best neighborhood – best cafes, boutiques and all around GORGEOUS place to stroll. Do NOT miss this area of Paris if you visit.

Favorite Stops to Hop Off the Metro : Line 11 at Hotel De Ville | Line 1 at St Paul | Line 2 at Blanche (walk north from metro stop).

Cute Spot for Baguette Sandwich : Joli Deli - 1 Rue Borda, Metro Temple.

Best Dinner Spots : Frenchie - 6 Rue Du Nil, Metro Sentier. | Rendez Vous des Amis - 10 rue Ste Croix la Bretonnerie, Metro Hotel De Ville. | Les Enfants Perdus - 9 Rue des Récollets, Metro Jacques Bonsergent

**Not to Be Missed : The neighborhood of Montmartre, a Berthillon ice cream cone on Ill Saint-Louis, Merci for an endless shopping experience, Shakespeare and Company for a good English read, a stroll through Cimetiere du Pere Lachaise (Metro Pere Lachaise), a glass of wine at any of the cafes in Saint Germain des Pres, a picnic with fresh market finds along the Seine, shopping on any street in Le Marais, a quiet moment in Jardin du Palais Royal with the one you love.

Caffeine Fix : Telescope - 5 Rue Villedo, Metro Pyramides | Coutume - 47 Rue de Babylone, Metro Saint-Francois-Xavier | Ten Belles - Rue de la Grange aux Belles, Metro Jacques Bonsergent | Merci - 11 Boulevard Beaumarchais, Metro Bastille.

Must See Museums : Musee d’Orsay - 5 Quai Anatole, Metro Assemblee Nationale or RER Musee d’Orsay. | Musee de l’Orangerie - Jardin Tuileries, Metro Concorde | Centre Pompidou - Place Georges-Pompidou, Metro Rambuteau.

Most Jaw-Dropping Tourist Hangs : Notre Dame | outside The Louvre | La Tour de Eiffel | atop the Arc de Triomphe.

Best Crepe in the City : Marche des Enfants Rouges - 39 Rue de Bretagne, Metro Arts et Metiers. There is a guy in the covered market who whips up the most authentic crepe I’ve EVER seen – butter and all!

Favorite Bridges : Pont Saint-Louis – I love that there is always a musician playing and it’s usually pretty peaceful | Pont de l’Alma – prettiest and most breathtaking view of Eiffel Tower | Pont Alexandre III – gorgeous in one word.

Favorite Way to See Paris : On Velib bicycle. Can subscribe for bike check out x 7 days for only 8 euros! Bike rentals are 30 mins each and are unlimited throughout the day. Best deal in town!

Best Place for a Chocolate Chaud (actually a bowl of hot chocolate!) : L’Ebouillante - 6 Rue des Barres, Metro Port Marie.

Prettiest View : Right under the Sacre Coeur (Metro Anvers) or on top of the Galeries Lafayette (Metro Chausee d’Antin La Fayette).

Loveliest Food Markets : Marche Bastille - Boulevard Richard Lenoir, Metro Bastille | Rue Montorgueil – Metro Etienne Marcel | Marche des Enfants Rouges – 39 Rue de Bretagne, Metro Arts et Metiers | Marche Biologique Raspail – Boulevard Raspail. Be sure to get to the markets early in the morning for the best selection. Also, not all markets are open 7 days a week – make sure to check schedule before visiting.

Perfect Parks for a Long Stroll :Jardin des Tuileries- Metro Palais Royal | Jardin du Luxembourg – Metro Butte  | Parc des Buttes Chaumont - Metro Buttes Chaumont (new one I found thanks to Anna).

photography : jenn elliott blake.

Round two of some of my favorite moments from our trip to Paris last week. Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post as I’ll be sharing the inside scoop on all the places in these photos including where to find them and why I think they are worth finding.

photography : jenn elliott blake.

Adam and I finally made our way home to Seattle on Tuesday after a wonderful birthday celebration in Paris, and I’m finally recovering from jet-lag enough to post some photos from our adventures!

If you’ve been following along for the past week or so, I shared a bit about what we were up to during our time in Paris, as well as one photo a day that I felt best represented that particular day. For the rest of this week I’ll be sharing a whole plethora of my favorite photos from our time in the City As Lights, as well on Friday some of my favorite spots in the city (including addresses and metro stops!). Many of you have reached out and asked about tips on what to see and where to go in Paris, and I hope my list on Friday proves helpful on your own Parisian adventures!

Also, a huge hug and thank you to my dear friends Anna, Grant and Tiffany. Your own tips and suggestions for the city we love so much made this birthday trip an extra special one! I had so much fun seeing the city through your eyes as well! More to come tomorrow!

photography : jenn elliott blake, last photo by mr. blake

The last day of any vacation always seems to feel a bit overshadowed by a longing for more time. That bittersweet sensation of feeling ready to go home, yet all at once not ready to leave at all. Last days in Paris definitely always feel a tad overwhelming for me as I typically tend to feel as though I didn’t fit enough in, or eat enough nutella crepes, or walk enough miles, or attempt to speak enough French. I also tend to create a massive sense of pressure on that last day (who me?!!) by creating a long and rambling list of to-do’s. Often times this in turn only lends to feeling burnt out and exhausted by the end of a great trip…I swear I never learn! I usually end up wishing I had instead just sat for 12 straight hours, sipping cafe au laits along the sidewalk, while people watching in the Marais. * Helpful tip : if you ever happen to have yourself a last day in Paris PLEASE PLEASE do just this! DO NOT try to cram in more and more and more – instead just stop, listen, breath and take in the beauty of this city. I promise, you won’t regret it!

It being Sunday today, many of the things I had on our gigantic to-do list were actually checked off straight away simply because many many shops or places I had intended for us to visit were closed. We also for whatever reason seemed to get to every last place we went today an hour too late – all 3 markets we visited were at the point of wrap up when we arrived, leaving me practically begging the vendors to unpack and present their pretty items so I could gobble them up. I did end up with a few goodies (10 gorgeous horn spoons and a vintage porcelain pitcher – woot! woot!) and also got a chance to once again soak in the loveliness of a few food markets throughout the day. We also got in a great AND calming stroll through the Jardin du Luxembourg, a fantastic early evening snack and glass of wine at Les Enfants Perdus (I’m telling ya the best and most tasty deal in town! 10 euros for 6 large helpings of flavorful cheeses), a visit to a photo gallery in Canal Saint-Martin my Aunt Sue had suggested, a fantastic (correction : the BEST I’ve ever had!) cafe mocha at Coutume, and a quiet wander across my favorite bridge to bring the most perfect close to our trip.

I’m off to bed now as we leave for the airport in less than 5 hours (yowza!!) but will be posting a whole plethora of photos from my birthday adventures in Paris next week, including a list of all of our favorite stops along the way. I hope at the very least this week’s photo series has inspired you to visit Paris if you have yet to have the chance, or provided a bit of welcoming nostalgia and added appreciation for this wonderful city. Thanks for following along on our adventures! For more pics from our trip be sure to check out instagram here.

Today happened to be one of those absolutely perfect days when I was once again reminded why I love this city so. Adam and I left our apartment in St. Paul in the early afternoon with little to no agenda. We simply wanted to taste great food (without guilt or question), wander aimlessly on foot (today I wore MUCH MORE comfy shoes!), and to soak in every last crevice of the city we had time to cover before and even after dark.

We wandered throughout the Marais stopping for lunch (twice!) once at Petite Fer a Cheval, and again at my favorite spot Le Rendez Vous des Amis (the corner where these two restaurants meet is still one of my most beloved spots in all of Paris – where Rue Saint-Croix de la Bretonnerie and Rue Vielle du Temple cross). Topping our list of must eats today? Hot chocolates (full fat milk of course!), a croque madam (with spicy yellow mustard) & pommes-frites – all being consumed with endless groans and expressions of delight. After lunch we window shopped for what felt like days (I finally nabbed a bottle of my favorite rose scented perfume & drooled over the most perfect dresses at Comptoir des Cotonniers and ballet flats at Repetto) continuously taking in all of the beauty that each turn and twist of road had to offer.

Throughout just a few short hours, we ate two cream puffs, split a croissant from Poilane, shared the best nutella crepe of our lives (we laughed endlessly while watching the most animated French man working his magic on the most authentic crepes I’ve ever seen at Marché des Enfants Rouges), shared another croissant (this one filled with almond goodness and coated in a thin frosting!) and all the while breathed in city views from atop the Arc De Triomphe, and cuddled close to shield off from the cool weather. We finished the day with a simple and quiet dinner near Canal Saint-Martin and headed then back to our apartment (chocolate in hand) for a couple glasses of wine before bed.

Perfect day in Paris to say the least.

We spent the day visiting some highly recommended spots of some dear friends of mine (thank you sweet Grant, Tiffany and Anna for all the great recommendations!). And although I’ve been to Paris a handful of times before, it’s always so much fun to explore new areas, especially those recommended by friends who love the city you’re in as much as you do! This sweet little floral shop was certainly a prime example. The second we rounded the corner on Rue De La Grange Aux Belles I knew it had to be the place Anna had recommended – its charm just oozing onto the sidewalk. I left with a ‘not yet blossomed’ pink peony, and a huge smile on my face. It’s always so wonderful to see other small businesses flourishing and loving what they do and the gentlemen who run this shop are such an inspiration. Another example of this occurred during lunch today. Grant sent us to the most adorable lunch spot (Joli Deli) where the service AND ambiance were just as delightful as the amazing baguette sandwiches. The rich and creamy cheesecake that topped off our delicious lunch made our visit all the more worthwhile. If you’re visiting Paris in the near future, put this one atop your list.

Even with rain persisting on throughout much of the day, we continued to forgo the metro and instead rode bikes to and from wherever we went (I’m telling ya…it’s the ONLY way to see Paris!). Some of our other favorite stops of the day were Merci (although I’ve been here before, I can’t get enough of this place, leaving once again with a whole plethora of new props – who the heck knows how I’m gonna get them all home!) and finished off the day with dinner and lots of wine for me and beer for Adam at Frenchie. Although it’s practically impossible to get into Frenchie for a full dinner, their wine bar across the street appeared just as delightful and the food was outta this world. The cheese and wine pairing will definitely be one of my favorite aspects of this trip – never-mind I haven’t consumed that much cheese in nearly four months, every last bite on the plate was divine! This is a MUST VISIT spot while in Paris for sure!

*Oh and if you ever get a chance to visit Bleuet Coquelicot for your own flower bundle, make sure to stop by the coffee shop two doors down named : Ten Belles - cute logo + cute coffee – what’s not to like?! Thanks for the rec Tiffany!

We slept in until noon without apology, leisurely dressed in clothing appropriate for summer temperatures, and basked in the sunny beauty of the city throughout the afternoon and evening. We napped on the grass of the Jardin Des Tuileries (correction – Adam napped, I lounged), munched on baguettes filled to the brim with fresh and enticing ingredients, took in 360 degree city views atop the Galleries Lafayette, ate gelato…twice!, and enjoyed the presence of each others company under the watchful eye of the Eiffel Tower. Attempting all at once to also avoid the crowds, yet capture memories using my new wide picture instax camera.

We rode bikes all day long, until our legs could take no more and ended the night with beer, margaritas and mexican food at one of my favorite spots in the Marais. As I brush my teeth and head for bed I can’t help but notice the rosy color of my sun-kissed skin and appreciate all the happiness that today brought us. This city continues to thrill me.

My favorite way to spend an afternoon in Paris? With a carafe of rose, a side of pommes frites & ketchup and the perfect cafe spot to people watch. Adam and I spent the majority of the day shopping, riding bikes (got “pulled over” by two bike police today which was fun!), soaking up the sun, all the while gorging on macarons and croissants (the chocolate pistachio ones from Laduree are the BEST!). We ended the night with wine out of baby bottles and cheese fondue with our friends Nicole and Nate in Montmartre. The day couldn’t have been more sweet.

This week officially marks the last of my twenties. On Sunday I turn thirty. Woah.

I’ll be celebrating this monumental birthday with a week chock full of travel, work and love. This past weekend I spent time in Colorado with my family and dear friend Emma (pics coming soon!); today and tomorrow I will be spending time packing, sourcing props and gathering my thoughts in Seattle; Thursday I head to Nashville (first time ever!) for an exciting opportunity with Anthology Magazine; and next Monday I leave Nashville with my love for a birthday celebration in my favorite city in the world. I couldn’t have dreamed up a better way to ring in the next decade of my life if I tried! Feeling so overwhelmingly blessed this week.

MON – Denver, Colorado

TUES | WED – Seattle, Washington

THURS | FRI | SAT | SUN – Nashville, Tennessee

MON … 30th – Paris, France

I plan to document all of my travels this week via my instagram feed (of course!) and will have a photo series ongoing next week to celebrate the first week of my thirties and our time in Paris. Stay tuned!

I woke up missing Australia today. I never could have imagined what an impact that country would have on me, but ever since our trip this past December, I find my mind lingering on thoughts of our Australian adventures all the time. It could be a result of the kinship we shared with sweet Caroline and Jayden; or the quite moments we found together in the car along the Great Ocean Road, both of us fighting back tears of the unimaginable beauty of the coastline; or those busy afternoons of shopping/sightseeing/eating in Melbourne’s bustling St. Kilda neighborhood. But something about that country got under my skin in the best possible way.

I shot this picture on one of our last afternoons in Oz. Jayden’s parents had the most amazing orchard in their yard and these bright red cherries were nearly dripping off the trees. We plucked them straight from their branches every morning as the sun rose, their sweetness the most welcoming reminder of summer and the earth’s simple treasures.

I hope we get back to that magical place again someday, I really do.

{photography and styling : jenn elliott blake}