A few things I'm loving lately, Paris/France-inspired:

 1. I've loved Heather Clawson of Habitually Chic's blog for many years - her unabashedly Upper-East-Side updates from New York gave me the dose of Manhattan I missed after moving home to Kentucky, but our shared love of Paris might surpass that of the Big Apple. She's there now, and j'adore following along on Instagram as she makes her way stylishly around the city. Even better, she offers what MANY reviewers/travelers/readers/those in the know say is the very best city guide to Paris. She updates it often, includes everything from hotels and restaurants to shops and museums, and you can download it (for a reasonable fee given the depth and detail included) to plan your next bon voyage!

2. I have many favorite teas, but this one feels both decadent and inspiring on a morning when both may be lacking. (Which honestly just confirms for me that everything feels/looks/tastes/sounds/is better in Paris.)

 3. My dear friend Allison and I met in college as French majors, both of us spending fall semester in Paris our junior year (though she stayed the entire year!) Her dedication to France and its language continued in graduate school and she is now a college professor herself, sharing her love and passion for all things French with lucky students at Centre College (in my hometown of Danville, Kentucky!) Her beautiful blog is full of thoughtful writing and interesting musings, and she documents some of her favorite recipes, books, and - maybe best of all - often-overlooked spots on her travels in France, including Marie-Antoinette's château, Le Petit Trianon. 

4. Another way to travel vicariously (and to score some beautiful vintages and antiques, too) is to follow Lily's Vintage Finds on Instagram. Based in Houston, she's just returned from two weeks in France, shopping all of the country's best flea markets and antique shops to fill a crate of beauty that will head stateside soon. And good news for those of you who might want to follow in her footsteps: she's just launched a Patreon account where she promises to share her best tips and tricks on sourcing those vintage French goods, where to stay/shop/eat in France, and how to negotiate with vendors here in the US and abroad. Thankfully the vintage and antique jewelry I found on my trip to the Paris markets fit in a suitcase - no shipping container required - but seeing the amazing furniture and accessories she found definitely made me want to return. 

5. I couldn't talk about France and leave out the fashion - and if I were headed to market in the summer, this skirt is no doubt what I'd be wearing. Stripes toujours!

6. And, bien sûr, I have to include the inspiration for this whole lovely list: one of the vintage French souvenir bracelets from Paris in our latest By Hand + With Love update. (In golden brass with scenes from the City of Lights, it's sure to be a forever favorite.) Also a joyful souvenir, a vintage souvenir compact from Paris shows La Tour Eiffel among other cherished spots and opens to reveal spaces for pressed powder and lipstick. I turned the compact into a pendant and paired it with vintage and antique glass beads from Nigeria for a colorful statement style. (And it's on sale, mes amies!) 

Bonus: One of my favorite French albums - now over 20 years old - but never seems to lose its appeal.