I'm Back!

Oh it feels good to be home!  France was FABULOUS and you are going to get to hear all about it this week thanks to my new obsession with many things French.  I will share some of my favorite things this week but right now, I need to get this house organized.  So, I am going to quickly share some of the things I learned this week as an American in France.

1. Don't throw up in the Paris airport bathroom
Seems simple enough right?  Apparently not for me.  I am not sure what happened to me.  It could have been the wine, the 11 hours of flying, the not sleeping the entire flight, or the fact that I just got an upset stomach on the landing.  Who knows.  But whatever it was, I was in the bathroom throwing up 10 minutes after landing in France.  Beautiful way to start off the trip.

2. Water is not free
My hubby and I quickly learned that in every cafe or restaurant,  when they ask "still or sparking", "still" does not mean tap water.  It actually means bottled water for 5 Euro.  We spent 50 euro on water before we finally emailed one of my hubby's co-workers from France and found out that we must say "une carafe d'eau".  To us, this means water in a carafe.  To the French, this means that we are cheap.

3. Always finish your dish, no matter how full you are
Every time I did not clean my plate (even during the 4th of 6 courses), the server would immediately ask me "did you not like it?".  I would then feel stupid and explain that I really did but that I was getting full.  This was followed by a look of "Crazy American".  After a couple times of this, I ate everything on all my plates, no matter how full I was.

4. Wine is like water
They drink wine all day.  It is fantastic.  My kind of place.

5. I do not understand the Euro well
I had a really hard time understanding the exchange rate.  On the final day there, I finally grasped how much things cost in US dollars and was shocked at how much I underestimated.  I now know our American Express is going to be much higher than I realized and so therefore, I will not look at the bill.          

Guest Blogger: {Mommy Chic} design. style. kids. life

Hello Juggling in Heels readers! I'm so delighted to be guest posting for Sarah as she enjoys her birthday and anniversary in Paris. She asked me to share some of my favorite items for fall, so I've put together two looks touching on almost every one of my picks for fall trends: fur, color blocking, pleats, gold, and lady chic.

fur vest 135 || cuff 150 || boots 199 || bag 54.89 || dress 64 || belt 34.50 || heels 175

Look 1: Casual weekend wear

• White v-neck tees are a basic wardrobe builder. You can wear them with skirts, jeans, under blazers...you name it. The key is a v-neck vs. a round neck. You want the V so it shows more skin and elongates you, especially if you're petite. The high round neck just visually cuts you off at your neck.
• Skinny jeans are also a must-have because they are the one pair of jeans that you can wear with any heel height. Buy them with a bit of stretch for comfort and I prefer an actual jean over a legging because it's more versatile.
• Riding boots in taupe are more unexpected than a cognac, brown, or black, though a cognac tall boot is an essential in the fall.
• Accessorize with a snakeskin cuff trimmed in gold and structured handbag.

Look 2: Date night

• Color blocking is all over the place this fall and not just limited to one piece. You can color block by wearing one solid color piece and pairing it back with another complimentary color. There are really no "rules" for picking colors. You can stick with shades of one color (like this dress) or you can pick two colors opposite each other on the color wheel (like blue and orange).
• When it doubt, belt it out! Wear the fur vest over the dress and belt it closed. It will give you back a waist and balance out a full, fluffy top. The vest and belt add dimension and interest to your look.
• To add a touch of lady chic, wear black suede t-strap heels and opaque tights if your legs need more coverage on cool nights.

I hope you enjoyed my guest post! Feel free to visit me at {mommy chic} design. style. kids. life. or http://twitter.com/mommychicblog.

Thank you, Sarah, for having me! Have a wonderful vacation!

Guest Blogger: Delighted Momma

Hello readers of Juggling in Heels! My name is Lindsay and I am the author of Delighted Momma. Sarah has such a wonderful blog so when she asked me if I would share a skin care tip with all of you, of course I said yes!

This is me...

I am a licensed esthetician and two years ago I decided that working in a medical spa and selling products and services that were overpriced and not necessarily needed was not what I wanted to be doing with my career. I quit and opened up my own business.

My clients can always count on me to tell them little tips and tricks that WORK and will not break the bank.

Not everyone has the time or budget to fit in a facial so today I am going to show you how you can incorporate a little spa treatment at home.

Benefits of a kelp (seaweed) mask:

• It is super high in vitamins and minerals
• Helps tone and moisturize the skin
• Soothes inflamed skin
• Can help open up clogged pores
• Helps to remove toxins from the skin

What you will need:

• Kelp powder. You can find this at your local health food store in bulk.
  
• Aloe vera gel. I prefer to use aloe squeezed straight from the leaf to avoid any weird unnatural ingredients.
  
• Distilled water.
  

How to make your own seaweed mask:

• Mix 2 tablespoons of kelp powder with about 1 tablespoons of water. Mix until you have a paste.
• Add the juice from one aloe leaf.
• Mix everything together.
  
• Apply to face and leave on for about 15-20 minutes.
  
• Remove with warm water and pat your face dry. Follow up with a moisturizer.
  

Your skin will feel SO soft and refreshed!

Thank you SO much Sarah for having me over today!

I would love if you stopped by Delighted Momma to say hello!

Happy Birthday To Me!

It's my birthday!  Yea!  I absolutely love my birthday.  It is one of my most favorite days of the year and I have no problem making the entire day about me.  Completely selfish but whatever.  This year I am turning 33 and I am celebrating in style in Beaune, France (note picture above).  As you are reading this, I am riding a bike through wine country with the hubby, drinking to my hearts content, with a fabulous dinner lined up for tonight.  I cannot imagine a better way to celebrate!  WELCOME 33! 

Guest Blogger: Louise Loves It

Good morning Juggling in Heels readers!  Thanks to Sarah for letting me guest blog today (hope you are enjoying lots of wine and people watching at the cafés in Paris)!  Coming to you from Chicago where I write Louise Loves It - a blog about things I love: fashion, finds, products, tips, and most especially - bargains!



I am super excited to post today because a much anticipated designer collaboration, with a brand we can all afford, just launched -- Missoni for Target!   A family-based Italian fashion house, Missoni, is a well known luxury brand famous for colorful, patterned knits and a multitude of funky geometric patterns.  This is one of Target's largest designer collaborations ever and I must say there is a lot on my "to-buy" list!  Check out just a few of the many wonderful items in this collection that you can pick up today:

Unique, patterned clothes that warrant a stare

Funky shoes to add a pop of color

Colorful scarfs, tights and gloves to accessorize oneself

Baby clothes, blankets, housewares and more!

A Day of Mixed Emotions

How do you tell your son that he was born on the anniversary of one of the most tragic days in American history?  That is right, on September 11, 2007 at 4:00am, my middle man was born and so began the constant comments of "His birthday is September 11th?  Oh....."  I remember being pregnant and having numerous people tell me, "Just don't go into labor on the 11th"...as if I had a choice.  This brings me to now.  Yesterday, when the entire country was mourning the 10 year anniversary of the attacks, my son was celebrating his 4th birthday.  His birthday will always be marked by incredibly tragedy and it will be hard to explain to him the date that he shares.  Even as the news discussed the upcoming day, he would hear it and immediately say "Mommy!  September 11th!  That is my birthday!"  I will never forget where I was when the towers were struck.  And I will never forget the birth of my baby boy.  I will forever feel the mix of emotions on this day as I celebrate such an incredible little boy and mourn the loss of so many others.

Vous voir bientôt à Paris

Today is the day!  The hubby and I head to Paris this afternoon and I am beyond excited!  We have a ton of things planned and I will be sure to share it all with you when I return.  I know at this point you are thinking, "but what am I going to do without a week of Juggling in Heels?!"  Do not worry, I have got you covered.  You will still hear a little from me but I have some FABULOUS guest bloggers stopping by next week and believe me, you will not be disappointed!  So heres to a fabulous 8 days sans kids and I will "talk" to you all when I get back!