Packing for Paris

It won’t be too long now before I’m heading off for a week in Paris. I do love Paris, although the last time I visited was about 20 years ago and it was a very different trip to the one I have planned this time. Not only will this be my first trip abroad in about 11 years, but it will be my first time travelling abroad with little Miss too. Exciting indeed.

We’re going on Eurostar, which means very generous luggage allowances as well as no restrictions on liquids. Given I’ve got to carry it all from Yorkshire to Paris though, I’m still trying to pack economically and to combine both mine and little Miss’ packing together. So, what’s made the cut? 

Well of course, there’s our toiletries and first aid supplies (a necessity when travelling with a child). I’ve bought some travel sizes as well as decanting some of my day to day cosmetics (eye makeup remover, toner, moisturiser) into smaller travel size bottles. The Molton Brown travel sizes were something I picked up the last time I visited York outlet, quite fancy, but they had a good offer on. I have of course packed suncream too, although it didn’t seem to make the photos. 

I’ve made up a little first aid kit in an old mint tin, and I’ve got my European plug adapter too. I hope it still works! I always have to bring sting cream because I seem to be like a giant orange ice lolly to wasps and regularly get stung. Everything has fit nicely into this Cath Kidston wash bag which I bought before Cath Kidston disappeared from the high street some years ago. 

I’m packing my makeup bag. I don’t have an excess of makeup, I tend to wear variations of the same look every day so I’ll just be throwing my usual makeup bag in the case.

Very old Marc Jacob’s makeup bag with my day to day makeup

I’m bringing my favourite pyjamas which are linen ones that the chap bought me from piglet in bed for Valentine’s Day and they are just getting to the stage of being delightfully soft and comfy that linen always needs a few washes to achieve. 

Weather wise, it should be around the late 20s while we’re there, so considerably warmer than Scarborough, cities always feel warmer too with the heat from the buildings and lack of a sea breeze. 

A colourful skirt, and three different options of tops is an easy way to create a few different outfits without having to overfill the case. I’ve opted for my bright Roman originals (via vinted) skirt with a vest top, a satin camisole and a vintage lightweight peasant blouse that I bought last year from a vintage shop in Chester.

I’m packing one dress, a lightweight cotton one from Kharibu, and the Zara skirt I bought last week ended up getting thrown in too. I’m taking a leather ‘bum bag’ that I bought from Etsy, for days when I want to carry less, and in terms of shoes I’ll be travelling in my new Adidas Gazelles that I bought to replace my Vans which fell apart. I’ll be packing my Dr. Marten sandals, as well as a folding summer hat an umbrella and small jacket just in case.

I’m going to travel in my favourite denim dress, and I’ll be taking my large Michael Kors cross body bag. My Mum gifted me this bag 7 years ago when I started working for the company I’m still with now.

I used to use it a lot, but I don’t so much now. It’s perfect for a city break though because it fits plenty, (travel wallet, passports, camera) isn’t too heavy and it’s secure. 

I managed to fit it all (and all of little Miss’) holiday outfits into this one Antler luggage bag (with wheels) that’s been unloved in the back of my wardrobe for years. There’s no space for souvenirs but I’ll deal with that problem before I return home. 

Bon Voyage. 

Assessing the Situation

 Thank you for all the comments on my last post. I think there’s a whole ACOTAR community out there, and some of you on here too. 

Anyway, I kicked off the week by having a wonderfully relaxed day in York with the chap, on Sunday. It’s been a while since we just had an idle day to ourselves, so we met early in York and dodged rain showers for the first hour.

Enjoying the vibe at Cut and Craft

It soon brightened up though and the chap dutifully nodded his head through dress shops, and subtly (or not so subtly) tried to steer me away from fondling extortionately priced handbags, a favourite hobby of mine. 

The happy face of the chap in a steak house

Then, we finished up with a delicious steak dinner at the Cut and Craft, which we’ve been to a few times and always has a nice vibe. I’m not usually a big fan of steak. It’s not that I don’t like it, but it’s something I rarely crave. It was delicious though, and my side of spicy potato wedges even had a dollop of caviar on them. I’ve only ever had it on blini, it was nicer on wedges, probably because it doesn’t actually taste of that much by itself. A perfect way to wind down before the week started.

Much of the early part of the week was spent revising for my Leadership and Management Diploma end of course Assessment. I felt the pressure of it. I’m sure I never used to get so unsettled by exams, but I’m out of practice these days.

Wednesday I was back down to York for the final assessment. A full 2 hours of me speaking, delivering presentations and answering questions. It was done though, and I could shelve the revision! I won’t know the outcome until the end of the month, so I’m not going to dwell on it. 

Busking in the sunshine 

I enjoyed a nice walk around York on my lunch break to clear my head, and popped into the shop where my friend works for a bit of a natter. York was looking very pretty in the sunshine.

Love these little wildflower areas popping up around York

On the way home I stopped into the Zara sale and treated myself to a new skirt, it’s definitely not my usual style but it’s very cute. Then, once home I was finally able to download the fourth book in the Acotar series to my kindle. I’d been putting it off knowing it would distract me from my revision, but I don’t need to worry about that now, thankfully. 

Friday was the day we’d been waiting weeks for, little Miss’ cast came off! At last her arm is free, and she feels so much better about it, as do I! This will be the first weekend of the summer holidays where she hasn’t been in a cast. We’ll be having a pretty quiet one though to get ready for some more exciting adventures during the second half of the holidays.

The Food Diaries

 I definitely feel like this week has started looking up. My humour seems to be much better. Tuesday evening, after work, we popped along to ASK on the seafront for our dinner. I even managed to grab an outfit shot, and yes I did need that faux fur gilet, there’s always a cooler breeze coming in off the North Sea, especially in the early evening.

Shoes - Hotter, leggings- llama leisure, dress - city chic, gilet -, headband - one hundred stars

I couldn’t face doing the grocery shop on an empty stomach so we had a carb fest of pasta bolognaise, lasagne and cheese bread dippers, washed down with a small glass of Merlot. It was all rather delicious and we managed to finish and leave before the rush of tourists started queuing for tables.

The view over dinner

That evening I finished the third book in the ACOTAR series, ‘A Court of Wings and Ruin’. Another emotional rollercoaster, and there were some bits that were a bit disappointing, but nonetheless I still enjoyed it. I’m going to give myself a little break before I delve into book four.

I was in the office on Wednesday and these books seemed to be everywhere. I’m not sure how I ended up so late to this party, but people were reading them in the kitchen, my colleague told me his partner reads them and then when I pointed them out to the chap at lunchtime, it turns out a few of the ladies at his work are reading them too. I guess this sort of fantasy novel has never been my chosen genre, so had they not been recommended to me I probably would never have read them.

Talking of lunch, more food of course, the weather was pleasant enough that we could sit outside at the Shambles food court. It was packed with tourists, but we managed to squeeze a little spot at one of the tables, and my chicken pad Thai was exactly what I was after. The chap opted for one of his favourites from the Greek food van, chicken Gyros. 

Thursday was a quiet one, although I did finish crocheting a drinks bottle holder for little miss. It was originally for me, but given I’m a marketing managers dream, I bought one for my Stanley cup (refer to marketing managers dream above) before I finished crocheting this one. Little miss couldn’t wait to lay claim.

Friday, I’d booked a day off work and decided we’d take a trip across to Leeds to visit Leeds Armories, aka the National Museum of Arms and Armour.

The journey was hell! School holiday traffic meant we arrived in Leeds far later than planned, but nonetheless we stuck to our plan, heading straight for the museum. Now, while I love history I do have an aversion to anything to do with war. So I’m not sure why I opted for this venue other than other people had said it was worth a visit.

I wasn’t disappointed, and actually it was really enlightening. Little Miss especially enjoyed seeing all of the displays of armour, as did I. Suits of armour worn by horses, soldiers and even King Henry VIII were on display. It was fascinating.

Although I’m not sure where a lady would have put her eyes if talking to the knight with the generous cod-piece at the local joust. 

We learned about weapons, and saw models of the battle of Waterloo and the battle of Agincourt. It actually makes me want to read more about those periods of history. It also makes you realise how much combat has changed over the centuries. Once upon a time it was mostly hand to hand combat amongst soldiers. I don’t doubt that villages were pillaged and innocents still caught in the affray, but I doubt it would resemble any of the horrors we witness on the news in modern times. 

The battle of Agincourt 

Given our late arrival, and then the time we’d enjoyed at the museum we didn’t have as much time to visit the shops as we’d hoped. We made our way up into town, to the Victoria Quarter. I wasn’t too fussed about missing the shops as long as I got to Harvey Nichols.

Victoria shopping arcade

We perused the makeup, bags and shoes (of course), and I treated myself to a lovely new tinted moisturiser from Nars. I’m not a big fan of full on foundation, but I think tinted moisturiser gives a nice even tone to my skin, and feels more like skincare than makeup. 

After a quick snack, it was time to head home. We’d had a lovely day out, although next time I’ll get the train and give myself more time in the shops.