How To Stage A Parisian Afternoon Anywhere
Oh la la! If we could choose one city to travel to, it really would not be hard at all for us. The answer is and will always be... PARIS. It's expensive and not so easy just to stop everything for a Parisian vacation (trust us, it's a daily thought for us.) But we brainstormed a few ideas for you to stage a Parisian afternoon from anywhere.
Ahh just thinking about Paris... the art, the food, the people, all the architecture, it truly takes our breath away! If you can't fly to Paris today, no worries, the Labels and Lacquer girls are handy to help plan a French vacay at home. If you follow all of these steps, you'll be one step closer to making it to Paris. You can plan a picnic in your best outfit and end the day watching a French film.
If you want to have a Parisian inspired day, keep reading to find out how!! We have thought everything, down to all the little details. Oui oui!
1. Pack A Picnic
If there's one thing Parisians know how to do — it's eat. So, if you're going to pretend to be in Paris for the day, you've got to make sure you've got a picnic basket full of bread, cheeses, wine (of course!) and last but not least, fresh flowers! Once you've got that stowed and ready to go, pick a place to veg out and start enjoying la vie!
2. Play Tourist
Part of what makes traveling to (or even living in) France is all of the art and history there is to take in around you. So, even if you can't travel, that doesn't mean you can't get the tourist-y feeling right at home. Try out a new restaurant, go to a city nearby, see a play you've never seen before. It'll be fun to be filled with the wonder of something new even if you can't be in the city of light.
3. Dress Up
You may not be in Paris, but you can look the part. Throw on a scarf, a beret or just your most fashionable outfit because hey, you can never be too overdressed, you know?
4. Ride A Bike
Or we should say bicyclette. We are picturing zipping around the city down tiny alleyways on a Vespa. But the next best thing is to ride a bike around. Maybe taking a few breaks to sip wine from your picnic basket. We also picture that our bike riding would happen in a vineyard if we aren't on a Vespa.
5. Listen To Parisian Music
There is something magical about listening to French music. You can close your eyes and pretend you are somewhere wasting the whole day away in a Parisian café. One of our favorite songs is - "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien" or "La Vie En Rose" by Edith Piaf - go listen to feel trés français!
Watch A French Film
Do some research to find a classic French film. It will make you feel more cultured and closer to your French destination. Or you can always watch Midnight in Paris on Netflix, to see what it was like during the roaring '20s in Paris with Owen Wilson and Marion Cotillard.
Go To A Museum
It may not be at the Louvre, but take in some amazing art in your city. It will leave you feeling inspired. One of our favorite activities when we go to a new city is going to an art museum. Now it can be part of your faux Parisian day!
If you follow these steps, you'll feel like you got to get away to Paris, even if you aren't able to just yet. It's a goal of ours to get there one day because you know what they say—Paris is always a good idea. And if you can't be there — just fake it 'til you make it.
Want to know the one thing the L & L girls do always do when they take a vacation? Find out here, and you may just follow in our footsteps and make this tradition your own!
--Labels and Lacquer girls
Images: John Towner/Unplash (1); Alice Donovan/Unsplash (1); Ariel Lustre/Unsplash (1); Sabina Ciesielska/Unspalsh (1); Wix (5)