Sunday Wandering

Paris is a city where it doesn't matter what the weather is doing, it's just always beautiful. Even without the blue skies and sunshine, the buildings still stand tall, bearing the rain as they have for centuries. The river still glimmers, the Tower still sparkles. Paris is never gloomy, it's merely different. I felt a strange comfort walking around in the misty cold rain today. It was as if the city was saying, "Don't worry, I've seen it all before, and I will protect you."







The clouds and puddles make the architecture stand out in a different way. It's been a long time since I've wandered around a city with my camera in hand, just taking in the surroundings. Even so, it was only a matter of time before I began seeing it all in a different way, as if the lens of my camera was calling to me to snap this angle or capture that moment. It's the sort of thing I used to feel all the time when I was living in Belgium. That shift in perspective was oh so welcome. It's the feeling of raw creativity and the desire to grab hold of the beauty all around you and translate it onto an image. I love that feeling and I love the art that comes from it.







It's crazy to me how comfortable I feel here in Paris. There are parts of this city that I know so well, despite only having been here a few times before, and not for very long. However, today, walking along the Seine, with Notre Dame right across the river, it felt so familiar and welcoming. It hasn't even been two weeks since I arrived, but it already feels like home here. Sure, there are things that are still daunting, like the constant striving to speak better French and the overwhelming desire to make the Parisians believe I'm not a tourist (THAT struggle is real), but I don't feel at all out of place in this city. I feel that this is where I'm meant to be.







Today's quest was really to find a good Sunday marché, which led me to a couple different areas of the city, and lots of wandering. I never ended up finding the one I was looking for, but I did stumble upon a great one towards the end of the afternoon, and I also finally made it to Shakespeare and Co! You guys. If you ever come to Paris, DO NOT skip this one! I've been in lots of bookstores. If you know me at all, you know how much I love books (and how much of a problem that is for my wallet). This was one of the coolest, quirkiest bookstores I've ever been in. I'd heard about it several times from many different people, but I had no idea what to expect. I definitely didn't think it would be as cozy as it is! Although it's actually quite large, it feels very intimate because 1) the sheer volume of books that surrounds you at all times, and 2) each of the rooms that makes up the shop is actually quite small, especially with all the people in there. There are lots of little nooks all over the place with lumpy old couches where you can recline with a book, and upstairs is their collection of old books, not to be purchased, but perused there in their library. Just about all the books they carry are in English, and everyone there was speaking English first. I can tell you now, I just know I'll be spending a good bit of my time in that shop. Just being there today, I almost cried several times out of sheer overwhelming joy and comfort. It's a haven. You aren't allowed to take pictures in there, which is why I don't have any of those for you guys, but trust me. I can't believe it took me so long to get there, but now I can't wait to go back! I did purchase one book: "Breakfast at Tiffany's". Because I just had to.







The rest of my time was spent wandering down little alleys and side streets, photographing huge beautiful old doors, and spending a few more euros here and there on antique books, piled high by the vendors at the outdoor marché at Place St Michel. My day was wrapped up sitting in my tiny little apartment, wrapped in my comforter with a takeout pizza and a glass of rosé, because it's a rainy Sunday and what else do you do on rainy Sunday evenings?

Where do you like to wander? Have you ever seen Paris in the rain?

She's BACK! And She's Paris-Bound

As I type this, I'm sitting at my gate at the Philadelphia airport, waiting for my flight to move to Paris. There are a ton of thoughts going through my head, but the loudest and most predominant one is WUUUUT IS HAPPENING!!!

For those of you that don't know, in just a few hours, I will board a plane and travel to Paris, France, to complete a contract as an English Teaching Assistant at a high school right outside of the city! I am so excited to start this new adventure and open a brand new shiny chapter of my life. This is something I've been wanting to do for years, and been looking forward to since I found out about my acceptance six months ago. I can't believe it's here, now, and that I can actually check this dream of living in Paris off my bucket list!





As with any new beginnings, it definitely makes me think back over the past year, and reflect on how I got here. If you've been following along, then you know that about one year ago, I packed up my life and moved to New York City, basically on a whim. The last year didn't exactly go to plan, but if nothing else, it was a year of growth and discovery. Discovery of a new part of the country, of course, but more so discovery of myself.





So here I sit, mulling over the last year. So much happened in that year. A lot of it is a cloudy blur of emotions. I went to NYC thinking I'd already hit rock bottom. Little did I know, rock bottom was actually far below that place. I know that because I found it, in the darkest places I didn't even realize existed. It's a scary thing, facing a previously unknown level of darkness in your mind. While it was insanely difficult, and something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy, it led to this: a new me, who was actually the real me that had somehow just gotten lost in the shuffle. Trust me, her and I are both very happy she's back!





They say hindsight is 20/20. Well, lemme tell you, I see so crystal-clearly now all the stages that brought me to this point. It's like a mountain. I was at the bottom of the mountain, and I needed to climb up. With this newly attained 20/20 vision, I can see exactly where I grabbed a solid rock, where my footing faltered, and where I flat out fell back to the bottom of the mountain. Even with all those setbacks, though, now I find myself on top of the mountain, looking over at all the crevices and loose rock that hurt me, but also all the ledges and holds where I pulled myself up. It's powerful to look at it and know, I've conquered that damn mountain!





My revelation was uneventful. It wasn't brought on by any crazy happening or near death experience or anything like that. One day, I literally just looked in the mirror and saw myself for what I really am, instead of the warped and twisted vision of myself that I've been living with for the last several years. I saw a strong, confident, intelligent daughter of God who is capable of great things: the ability of both giving and receiving joy and happiness. It was an intense moment, and it changed literally everything. I no longer see myself as worthless or any of the number of horrible names I've been called throughout my adult life. My self worth, my self image, all of it took a 180 degree turn. I'm trying here, but it's indescribable, how empowering that feeling is!





Of course, looking out, I know there are other mountains ahead. But you know, once you climb one mountain, you kind of get a feeling of what you're going to need to look out for, and what you can grab hold of to help you. Not that I know exactly what lies before me (cause who does?), but I know that I am so much stronger and more capable than I once thought.

This is an emotional thing to think about, and an emotional one to write about. But if you're sitting somewhere now, whether it's at an airport, bus stop, school, library, or sitting on your couch at home, and you're reading this thinking, yes I know exactly what she means, I hope you know that you, too, can climb the mountain ahead of you!

You'll never know what exactly you're capable of until you push yourself. Then you'll be surprised with what you can accomplish.

God would never give you more than you can handle.





If you're struggling, please believe that it will get better. If you're sad, please believe that God is walking with you, holding your hand. If you're heart is broken, please believe that it will heal. If you feel like you've lost yourself, please remember and believe that it is impossible, because YOU are always within YOU.

So here I am, cleansed, fresh, and ready to embark on yet another journey. The next 7 months are about even more self discovery. I keep saying it's going to be an exercise in self development, and I truly believe that. While in France, I intend on digging even deeper into this best version of myself. Please join me! Sometimes I'll be talking about this heavy stuff, but I'll also be sharing the fun and excitement of living abroad! And as always, don't hesitate to reach out if this affected you, or you need a friend to lean on. Even if we've never met, we're all doing this whole life thing together, and we have each other's backs :)

Are you climbing a mountain? Have you reached the top of one before? Are you scared to start the climb? Let's lift each other up on our journeys!





P.S. This is a vintage dress that I found at a little resale shop in Savannah. It's become one of my summer favorites!

Halloween, A Few Days Late

Well, it is November 5th, and I am just now posting about Halloween. We are at the time in our academic semester when we are in tech rehearsals for our show, which I will post more about later, meaning that all my time is pretty much given to school. I haven't even had time to catch up on reading the blogs that I follow, let alone post on my own. This post is even going to be fairly brief.







This Halloween, I debated for weeks, as I normally do, about what I was going to dress up as for the holiday. Every year, I go back and forth between mediocre ideas and always end up settling on something pretty lame. This year, after spending an evening surrounded by animals at the Boo at the Zoo event near us, I decided to put some effort into my costume and go as a peacock! I did look up some stuff online, but I pretty much came up with the ideas by myself. I pulled together old dance pieces, and made my plume from peacock feathers that I bought at the craft store. The costume came together fairly quickly, and with my hair and makeup, I think I pulled it off pretty well!







I went to three parties on Halloween night and it was a blast! The costume went over really well, too. With everything that I added to it, I think I was also sort of channeling a Vegas showgirl. I was very happy with it, and while all of these photos were just taken with an iPhone, I think they also turned out well. What did you go as for Halloween this year? Did you make your own costume?



Note: I did my hair according to a mock-mohawk tutorial that Karmin posted years ago. You can find it on YouTube!

What I Wore: Apple Picking

As I mentioned in my earlier post about apple picking, sometimes I think it's necessary to embrace my Midwestern upbringing, especially around this time of year. For me, this meant taking advantage of the opportunity to wear overalls! I figure, once I'm living in New York, I will no longer be able to justify wearing such farm girl "fashions". Now is the time to sport the overalls, flannel, and enjoy the brisk Midwestern fall weather.









I've been thinking about purchasing a good pair of overalls for a while now. This is partially due to my urge to bring back the 90s in full swing. I haven't owned a pair since I was a small child, and for a long time I didn't think they would fit into my more feminine, classic wardrobe. However, as I get older, I'm realizing that I can have a wide variety of styles in my clothing arsenal. I figured this was the perfect time to try them out again! It turned out the orchard was a great choice. Plus, they are insanely comfortable (and you never have to worry about your pants falling down).









I'm gonna keep this post nice and short, but please enjoy the photos! How do you feel about "farm girl chic"?

For the Love of Fair Trade!

Hey all! I am so beyond excited to announce my very first partnership! Free Sparrow and Lov'edu Living have partnered up to talk to you all about the importance of Free Trade. But before I dive into Free Trade itself, I'd like to tell you a little bit more about Lov'edu! Anna Boettcher founded the London-based company in 2013 around the beliefs of the power of ethical business. Every single one of the items that she sells is handmade from all natural materials, sustainably produced and fairly traded. She says that she wanted to "create a circle of giving", where everyone involved, from the designer to the seller to the buyer, would be getting exactly what they deserve. ETHICAL is the big word, here. Her business supports not only the creativity of the people making the products, but also the community from which they come. Currently, Lov'edu is showcasing collections from Paris, London, Africa, Thailand, and Ibiza, where Anna was raised. Not only do they support people through the selling of their products, but they also support the community by promising that 10% of their annual profits will be donated towards projects that they feel are worth supporting, especially projects related to protecting the environment, furthering young people’s education, protecting children and assisting women to set up small businesses.

"The Lov'edu store is based on the belief that an object can only be beautiful where it has been created and traded in a joyful and generous spirit."





When I first visited their website, I was blown away by the vibrant colors and beauty of the products. Lov'edu features home decor, accessories, jewelry, and lifestyle products. Some of my favorites include the Maasai Glass Bead Necklaces and the Handwoven Baskets. They offer such a wide selection, so there is definitely something there that will please everyone. There is even a variety of kids' toys that are so sweet and charming, especially this little stuffed bunny. I hope that one day I can visit their brick and mortar store in London. I can't imagine how beautiful some of these products are in person! They sent me one of their African Trade Beads Bracelets and I love it! It is unique, interesting, and of course, lovely. I've worn it a couple of times already and gotten many compliments. It also came with an adorable little red heart stone that is currently living on my book shelf, reminding me of my promise to ethical products made with love.

"We believe that trade is the oldest and most powerful driving force behind cultural and creative exchanges in this world; it has made people travel, discover, be inspired and create since the beginning of civilisation. If used wisely, trade is the most beautiful way of not only creating livelihoods, but of uniting humans, across borders, without judgement, creating a space in which differences in culture, belief, ethnicity and tradition are not barriers to understanding, but rather, are sources of enjoyment, creativity and expression. It is a place where we all speak the same language, whether we are on the side of the giving or the taking, of the offering or the receiving, of the creating or the experiencing, it is an exchange, it is a trade."





And the best part is, everything is responsibly made and traded! I can't tell you how much I appreciate this company for it's fair trade values. In a nutshell, a Fair Trade product is anything that comes from farmers and workers who are FAIRLY compensated. They are given a just wage for their labor and you receive a beautiful, quality, handmade product. Because the workers are paid fairly and the goods are made sustainably, fair trade supports the community and environment. Every time you buy fair trade, you are personally supporting a person and their community, rather than a faceless corporation. In our society today, it is so important for us to think about what we buy and how we go about our consumerism. It is part of our civil responsibility to protect our society and make sure that people are treated fairly. Choosing fair trade is a guaranteed way to do that.

"Fairly Traded - an item is deemed to have been traded fairly when the price of the item is the producer’s/artist’s asking price and can be translated, at it’s minimum, into a living wage for the time of labour plus a bonus for creativity. If wages are paid, they will be at least living wages (a living wage, as opposed to minimum wage, guarantees workers to cover living costs and lead a decent life). Producers are not tied to any trade agreements, they maintain full control over their work and work processes and remain 100% independent."





Over the past year or so, I've made the personal decision to stop buying from stores like Forever 21, Charlotte Russe, H&M, etc. These stores are selling cheaply made, mass produced disposable clothing and do not support their workers. My family stopped buying from WalMart a long time ago for the same reason: people are not being treated well. It may cost a little bit more for me to shop elsewhere, but it is completely worth it. I am paying for something more responsible and of higher quality. Little by little, I'm doing my research and finding out where I can shop and feel good about it. One thing I'm always certain of, though, is that when I buy fair trade, there is no problem. My money is supporting something worthwhile.

"Lov’edu believes in a world where beauty, art and style can be enjoyed within a circle of sustainability, through building relationships with designers, producers and crafters whose processes respect and work with nature. This vision is part of a process we call “The Love Education”: Love Beauty, Love Nature, Love Yourself. It is the practice of thinking and acting from a higher state of consciousness and awareness; of living a holistic lifestyle that is in harmony with nature, with humanity and thereby, with oneself."



I really am so excited to be partnering with Lov'edu! This is a cause that is very important to me, and I am proud to be supporting a company that believes in the same principles. I encourage you all to take a swing over to their website and peruse the lovely collections. I assure you, there will be something there that you will fall in love with! And remember, every purchase counts. Every time you choose fair trade, people benefit, communities benefit, and the environment benefits. On top of it, you receive something unique and beautiful! It's a win-win situation, always. October is Fair Trade Month! So, for the love of fair trade, go buy fair!

“Our philosophy of direct trade, from the producer to the shop floor, makes every purchase a holistic experience of giving and receiving. At Lov’edu every piece has a story, making our customers feel truly unique ” - Anna Boettcher, Founder and Director.



You can visit the Lov'edu website here.
For more information about American Fair Trade, you can visit Fair Trade USA.