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Week"},{"term":"Tularosa"},{"term":"Ufficio"},{"term":"Vermont"},{"term":"Vintage"},{"term":"Visionnaire Crescendo"},{"term":"WMCFW"},{"term":"Wantfolio"},{"term":"Washington DC"},{"term":"Whistler"},{"term":"Whole30"},{"term":"Wild North Flowers"},{"term":"Work Wear"},{"term":"Year In Review"},{"term":"Yoga"},{"term":"Yorkdale"},{"term":"Zepeel"},{"term":"body suit"},{"term":"boutique"},{"term":"geo"},{"term":"handbags"},{"term":"hour tour"},{"term":"hr2"},{"term":"start"},{"term":"toddler activities"},{"term":"welcome"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"La Petite Noob | A Toronto-Based Fashion and Lifestyle Blog."},"subtitle":{"type":"html","$t":""},"link":[{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/posts\/default"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default?alt=json-in-script\u0026max-results=80\u0026orderby=published"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/"},{"rel":"hub","href":"http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/"},{"rel":"next","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default?alt=json-in-script\u0026start-index=81\u0026max-results=80\u0026orderby=published"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"generator":{"version":"7.00","uri":"http://www.blogger.com","$t":"Blogger"},"openSearch$totalResults":{"$t":"553"},"openSearch$startIndex":{"$t":"1"},"openSearch$itemsPerPage":{"$t":"80"},"entry":[{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-6887688319447282847"},"published":{"$t":"2022-08-09T08:54:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-08-09T08:54:36.094-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Summer"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Summer Essentials"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Hosting A Summer Picnic with Aeroplan"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"4854\" data-original-width=\"3240\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhHx86_-j7CM0Dr9l2iDuBmuh3J6Uuj2jc6s3vcqIHJh5ss7COCtmNcmL8G0zhOHWtpgm-GXxV_KA8E5Q7K77hHDF56akQnS0Z35OpRKGL7ElaE-vgTd58TtkHko9Px4_IC9aIAtGGmfnYj1tR_Mg9Hw4CwQQ-kXN6oAtk5-KjDa-Ytl4Eu1JabPYVmxg\/s16000\/DSC_1309.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESummertime is my favourite time in the city. I love the warm weather, the endless summer events, dining alfresco and hosting picnics with my friends. I absolutely love throwing little picnics to catch up with friends, and the picnic preparation is one of my favourite parts. I've developed a routine so that the errands that I run for my picnic set-up aren't any different than my everyday purchases - and each of these everyday purchases help to earn me \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.aircanada.com\/ca\/en\/aco\/home\/aeroplan\/earn\/everyday.html#\/\u0026amp;acid=EXT:RFR:SummerEELearnMore:EN:072522::Joellehttp:\/\/NULL\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAeroplan points\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI've been earning Aeroplan points for years, and love earning points to redeem for gift cards, merchandise, travel, activities and so much more! I especially love how I can earn Aeroplan points on everyday summer purchases that are already a part of my routine. This is a game changer for earning points, and helps me to achieve my next rewards sooner!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ELet me walk you through the prep for this summer picnic, and how I earned Aeroplan points along the way - and how I even used my existing Aeroplan points to elevate the experience!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiXUtH5myUuZuskUFlZnexjZ9WM4meMD4-FpyaUFoY4Y5b2s4L7h2IPMGrw9nlNGAFge72dOF9HWD9_N03ZqF1hUMyEbUwxWvZDEkmwKkTlxAGpkHDr-VM25r7znXUJ70ip0MMmkV9De67tkVD2QCmEDO9LPS2iEeKAJ3Z5wAlH9c5mCU0dCGZaiNd9Dw\/s6016\/DSC_1323.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"6016\" data-original-width=\"4016\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiXUtH5myUuZuskUFlZnexjZ9WM4meMD4-FpyaUFoY4Y5b2s4L7h2IPMGrw9nlNGAFge72dOF9HWD9_N03ZqF1hUMyEbUwxWvZDEkmwKkTlxAGpkHDr-VM25r7znXUJ70ip0MMmkV9De67tkVD2QCmEDO9LPS2iEeKAJ3Z5wAlH9c5mCU0dCGZaiNd9Dw\/s16000\/DSC_1323.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EGet Some Caffeine\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;Times New Roman\u0026quot;, serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: start;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ELet's start with my first purchase of the day, a \u003Cb\u003EStarbucks(R)\u003C\/b\u003E beverage, and I'm always ordering my coffee through the mobile app to save time. I'll need the fuel for doing my picnic prep and then hosting my friends soon after it's done. Did you know that you can link your Aeroplan and Starbucks(R) Rewards account, and earn 150 points every time you reload$75 on to your digital Starbucks(R) card.\u003C\/span\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;Times New Roman\u0026quot;, serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EPick Up Beverages\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;Times New Roman\u0026quot;, serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: start;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003ENext up is picking up beverages from the\u003Cb\u003E LCBO.\u003C\/b\u003E A nice bottle of dry rosé is perfect for a summertime backyard picnic. You can earn 1 Aeroplan point for every $4.00 spent plus look out for bonus offers at the LCBO! This is a spot where earning points comes naturally to me, haha!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: \u0026quot;Times New Roman\u0026quot;, serif;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EUpgrade Your Picnic Gear\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0cm; text-align: start;\"\u003E\u003Cspan face=\"-webkit-standard, serif\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: start;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EYou can also earn points when you shop online with over 200 retailers through \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/aeroplan.rewardops.com\/en-CA\/home\/for-you?acid=EXT:RFR:EverydayEarn:Influencer:Joelle:07\/25\/22::\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAeroplan eStore\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E as well! My picnic blanket and basket, for example, are from a retailer via the Aeroplan eStore. Pretty incredible, and I love how even shopping online can help to earn Aeroplan points.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cspan face=\"-webkit-standard, serif\" style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EUtilize Uber\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: start;\"\u003E\u003Cspan face=\"-webkit-standard, serif\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: start;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EWant to know a secret to my summertime picnics? I like to rely on \u003Cb\u003EUber Eats\u003C\/b\u003E to deliver the food! That way, we can enjoy whatever cuisine all of my guests are in the mood for and I have less preparation beforehand which really cuts back on the stress of hosting. If the host is stress-free then that good energy will rub off on the guests! You can also have Uber Eats delivered to a park if that is your location of choice - this time I had it delivered straight to my backyard.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: start;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: start;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003EYou can actually link your Aeroplan account on both the\u003Cb\u003E Uber\u003C\/b\u003E and Uber Eats app, earning points on eligible rides and food orders. Listen - with the amount of Uber Eats that I order, I'm convinced this is the purchase category that accelerates my points earning the most!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: start;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin: 0cm; text-align: start;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-family: inherit;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EHosting Tip:\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E If I'm planning a picnic in my backyard, or at a park near me, I like to send an Uber XL ride to pick up my friends. It's a nice gesture that really elevates their experience, and also a sneaky way that you can keep a schedule on-time!\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhnpuZQTdNTNpVFdYm4yUTijHb1FKJkHPGlL_FxNSrgtTXQ3t-9NX3ZRIJHYAhViSGmKLcV_QXUcv9sKsHHLsdIavDE_JrZjdKBKM2tB8gihMKtRjVH6KCVv2oxBKu5j4avKcVdPdi2aijC-fvVFHRHQ-OuMdQfy3ecMb4vuPDfv4fy9q_ZUDbCGj927g\/s6016\/DSC_1327.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"6016\" data-original-width=\"4016\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhnpuZQTdNTNpVFdYm4yUTijHb1FKJkHPGlL_FxNSrgtTXQ3t-9NX3ZRIJHYAhViSGmKLcV_QXUcv9sKsHHLsdIavDE_JrZjdKBKM2tB8gihMKtRjVH6KCVv2oxBKu5j4avKcVdPdi2aijC-fvVFHRHQ-OuMdQfy3ecMb4vuPDfv4fy9q_ZUDbCGj927g\/s16000\/DSC_1327.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj_kjqJ3S2sMU6076BcNye66gBc9sgfX6ARY4gjabRfv750Tmb1O2uegXK20KxO0uJ8UiOvJcmfrBlLd3_L-UhVyluv01tfYQZZu23u5roH2p6Fyrifgu3BZPSkdKwvyW18Z6rw1QjlFUOgbbG-IJ01amMNq6Ki0VtaMULv06YqQWCaTAPpyVXDWItBXA\/s4347\/DSC_1320.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"4347\" data-original-width=\"2902\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj_kjqJ3S2sMU6076BcNye66gBc9sgfX6ARY4gjabRfv750Tmb1O2uegXK20KxO0uJ8UiOvJcmfrBlLd3_L-UhVyluv01tfYQZZu23u5roH2p6Fyrifgu3BZPSkdKwvyW18Z6rw1QjlFUOgbbG-IJ01amMNq6Ki0VtaMULv06YqQWCaTAPpyVXDWItBXA\/s16000\/DSC_1320.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi6bUH0AN8BlCoN8gfmfpgeJe0OX37sTO7XNz7NwPwe8I5c1AIzHSeTwxHlbf7RBbC0_iZYOXTV4b4UkIk_E35THbQJlrTXFWPGKJlrAbRiR2JfDp4dGvdS79PsmyK7SAkXA7h1Zo4-EYsIe0qLGXmv1O8LwUKu2-CK-UEUsYi3zgfPqj4actBu0pj9Pg\/s1102\/AeroplanPinterest.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1102\" data-original-width=\"735\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi6bUH0AN8BlCoN8gfmfpgeJe0OX37sTO7XNz7NwPwe8I5c1AIzHSeTwxHlbf7RBbC0_iZYOXTV4b4UkIk_E35THbQJlrTXFWPGKJlrAbRiR2JfDp4dGvdS79PsmyK7SAkXA7h1Zo4-EYsIe0qLGXmv1O8LwUKu2-CK-UEUsYi3zgfPqj4actBu0pj9Pg\/s16000\/AeroplanPinterest.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMy backyard picnic was a huge success! I had a blast with the planning and execution - and with earning Aeroplan points with each of my purchases. It’s amazing how points add up with my everyday purchases throughout the summer.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you're not already a member, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.aircanada.com\/aeroplan\/member\/enrolment?sourceCode=LCB\u0026amp;lang=en-CA\u0026amp;acid=EXT:RFR:SummerEESignup:EN:072522::Joelle\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Ejoin Aeroplan\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to start earning points today! You can redeem for gift cards, merchandise, travel - and so much more! You can even redeem your Aeroplan points for Starbucks Stars and Uber Cash! ​​\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHow do you enjoy summer picnics?\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003Exo Joëlle\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThis post was kindly sponsored by Aeroplan. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/6887688319447282847\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2022\/08\/hosting-summer-picnic-with-aeroplan.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/6887688319447282847"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/6887688319447282847"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2022\/08\/hosting-summer-picnic-with-aeroplan.html","title":"Hosting A Summer Picnic with Aeroplan"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhHx86_-j7CM0Dr9l2iDuBmuh3J6Uuj2jc6s3vcqIHJh5ss7COCtmNcmL8G0zhOHWtpgm-GXxV_KA8E5Q7K77hHDF56akQnS0Z35OpRKGL7ElaE-vgTd58TtkHko9Px4_IC9aIAtGGmfnYj1tR_Mg9Hw4CwQQ-kXN6oAtk5-KjDa-Ytl4Eu1JabPYVmxg\/s72-c\/DSC_1309.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-7954736289424099688"},"published":{"$t":"2022-02-24T09:30:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2022-02-24T09:30:05.753-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Home"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"home decor"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Our Ikea PAX Wardrobes"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEjRefyFhugTEPTEMts0WdsgNVxEff7I8fv_dt57AALWwSXrYlZmOhlU7Jm_TEimyqOVdVBIYmF99iC3JWtUzPfIbXekdpeqpr35tmGG3oOu0mRQvujQdYD0jYL0fBCijBbVm0ZhSkq6nwyT3v_X0U2S_j-FiGWDYN_47BPYgs5eANApQ-4k77IIQDMKIQ=s5420\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"5420\" data-original-width=\"3618\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEjRefyFhugTEPTEMts0WdsgNVxEff7I8fv_dt57AALWwSXrYlZmOhlU7Jm_TEimyqOVdVBIYmF99iC3JWtUzPfIbXekdpeqpr35tmGG3oOu0mRQvujQdYD0jYL0fBCijBbVm0ZhSkq6nwyT3v_X0U2S_j-FiGWDYN_47BPYgs5eANApQ-4k77IIQDMKIQ=s16000\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EIt's been some time since we turned our old, dark walk-in-closet \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2021\/07\/pink-home-office-reveal.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Einto my office\u003C\/a\u003E. While I couldn't be happier with the decision, I realized that I never shared what we did as an alternative to our walk-in-closet. Enter the Ikea PAX wardrobe! The way our home is configured, there is a large area between the master bedroom area and the washroom on the other side of the house. The way it was staged when we viewed the property made that space into a lounge area, which I never quite understood. So instead of letting the space go to waste, we installed Ikea PAX wardrobes, a mirror and some baskets and made it into a dressing area!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EI have to say, I'm really impressed with the Ikea PAX system. Not only is it completely customizable, but they were really affordable and easy to build! We opted to put doors on our wardrobe, since they would be out in the open and wanted a clean look. The only thing that we did to make it completely our own is to get separate handles from Wayfair; an easy and inexpensive hack that made a big difference.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEg6tPjflpbaqxrvQxXl0fIYjh8u6CUy_myzEhPBYAE7rtErwRn3Si_KGnhwQTdXI0EC2BHKQrh-tcRXIsuSgeG-ovqy95c4AMjB236zhL2p3XlnBcM-_uY1ZlNR7tlCYADphXv_n6fzSPzd9UYkJzUH-0_P5dFdiZLGg-iXQYEANQnLBIy2CaYP4P2xrA=s5419\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"3617\" data-original-width=\"5419\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEg6tPjflpbaqxrvQxXl0fIYjh8u6CUy_myzEhPBYAE7rtErwRn3Si_KGnhwQTdXI0EC2BHKQrh-tcRXIsuSgeG-ovqy95c4AMjB236zhL2p3XlnBcM-_uY1ZlNR7tlCYADphXv_n6fzSPzd9UYkJzUH-0_P5dFdiZLGg-iXQYEANQnLBIy2CaYP4P2xrA=s16000\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/2YyuFc\"\u003EIkea PAX\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ETwo 100cm wardrobes and one 50 cm wardrobe\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EGRIMO Doors\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3cxSr0B\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWayfair Gold Handles\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.cb2.ca\/infinity-silver-standing-floor-mirror-16x69\/s658726\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECB2 Standing Infinity Mirror\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3oznJq7\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECrate and Barrel Laundry Baskets\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ERug: Dynamic Rugs Essence Collection\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEi0smaQZOrvztrPx2xOeIfuD4GUmXYcDfPk9rqi6mc7qY4uTpL8WBdZP5UwBEdf9F5ZZP2KiTCcRibr055QqlKDK4V0oF92BHoVCIoxN6l6roGl1NOKcu59apaQBRyximrZHTTnkzluxGYu8VT5YW-1MIHkmlNtzZ-GZVC0DakA5n5VTLxVhAT9uOeqhQ=s5420\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"5420\" data-original-width=\"3618\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEi0smaQZOrvztrPx2xOeIfuD4GUmXYcDfPk9rqi6mc7qY4uTpL8WBdZP5UwBEdf9F5ZZP2KiTCcRibr055QqlKDK4V0oF92BHoVCIoxN6l6roGl1NOKcu59apaQBRyximrZHTTnkzluxGYu8VT5YW-1MIHkmlNtzZ-GZVC0DakA5n5VTLxVhAT9uOeqhQ=s16000\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEhp4L8KeQXOduWVuK1kDk28KBdG9J_3IQ_Mj641WLYNhpC24gBxWLqiRHgvN1co2lwReJ2tSwyYLh7cvqDzhI3SB_v4_Cazn4FPTDgmulVX84kW5mVE2VhtAXayEunFtwPRP5_ee4OORq6tCAM5br-PGpn8d69UD9tero6h4JGMyv3W08PZ4U0OEbR3_Q=s5419\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"5419\" data-original-width=\"3617\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEhp4L8KeQXOduWVuK1kDk28KBdG9J_3IQ_Mj641WLYNhpC24gBxWLqiRHgvN1co2lwReJ2tSwyYLh7cvqDzhI3SB_v4_Cazn4FPTDgmulVX84kW5mVE2VhtAXayEunFtwPRP5_ee4OORq6tCAM5br-PGpn8d69UD9tero6h4JGMyv3W08PZ4U0OEbR3_Q=s16000\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEhM_2vH6wpAaZ5o7iPFpQnlnb4javYmKKr-cVVi1wObu13nEln8n8Z7qymPGmQ2wuiW-4N7jBAzZ6Fvi0rBrFq--vd5rKPGbhtskZYlru4IcyrtqWhWfNvyjkJFcOHM1tLxza3EHxNIKNesyBAHb8e0w95Pzfixlb8_YWzjtah-BD8wE27ha8bJ74tbcw=s5420\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"5420\" data-original-width=\"3618\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEhM_2vH6wpAaZ5o7iPFpQnlnb4javYmKKr-cVVi1wObu13nEln8n8Z7qymPGmQ2wuiW-4N7jBAzZ6Fvi0rBrFq--vd5rKPGbhtskZYlru4IcyrtqWhWfNvyjkJFcOHM1tLxza3EHxNIKNesyBAHb8e0w95Pzfixlb8_YWzjtah-BD8wE27ha8bJ74tbcw=s16000\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"BLOG_video_class\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uv_WleilJrg\" width=\"320\" youtube-src-id=\"uv_WleilJrg\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI hope that helps to clear things up! While we lost a bit of wardrobe space with this method, gaining a room was well worth it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHave you tried the Ikea PAX wardrobe system? What are your favourite features? Let me know!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Exo Joëlle\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/7954736289424099688\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2022\/02\/our-ikea-pax-wardrobes.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/7954736289424099688"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/7954736289424099688"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2022\/02\/our-ikea-pax-wardrobes.html","title":"Our Ikea PAX Wardrobes"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/a\/AVvXsEjRefyFhugTEPTEMts0WdsgNVxEff7I8fv_dt57AALWwSXrYlZmOhlU7Jm_TEimyqOVdVBIYmF99iC3JWtUzPfIbXekdpeqpr35tmGG3oOu0mRQvujQdYD0jYL0fBCijBbVm0ZhSkq6nwyT3v_X0U2S_j-FiGWDYN_47BPYgs5eANApQ-4k77IIQDMKIQ=s72-c","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-8292508700744454130"},"published":{"$t":"2021-11-15T08:56:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-11-15T08:56:12.336-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Explore Canada"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Explore Ontario"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Stratford"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"48 Hours In Stratford, Ontario - 2 Day Itinerary"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiiag0x8hu_WaJsHELPIhjzsoAYK8gbkVW6bwh2FFvitjWS261v0lLvgBMncs02I0LsANQ-VSpkiJ8yKH91Kw-No3IAPQEpyStOcCTJKS9KoSGDUofh9O5dNRSIcMcPoVorg9mtZSCRtD-F\/s2048\/1CCFF973-044A-49BB-BA21-8CACCD7E2A6A.HEIC\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Stratford Ontario Avon river\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiiag0x8hu_WaJsHELPIhjzsoAYK8gbkVW6bwh2FFvitjWS261v0lLvgBMncs02I0LsANQ-VSpkiJ8yKH91Kw-No3IAPQEpyStOcCTJKS9KoSGDUofh9O5dNRSIcMcPoVorg9mtZSCRtD-F\/s16000\/1CCFF973-044A-49BB-BA21-8CACCD7E2A6A.HEIC\" title=\"2 Day Stratford Ontario Itinerary\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe quest for local travel continues, and my latest adventure finds me in Stratford, Ontario. I have never been to Stratford, but have always heard stories of its beauty and how it's one of Ontario's most picturesque towns. After having a friend move to Stratford and gush about not only how beautiful it is, but also how much there is to do there, I had to experience it for myself. My mom and I jumped into my car and made the 2 hour drive from Toronto to Stratford to stay the night and experience what the city had to offer. I can say that while my expectations were high, they were not only met but exceeded! We had such a good time exploring Stratford and while I had originally thought that 2 days, 1 night would be more than enough, I feel like be barely scratched the surface on what to see, do and eat! Here's our full itinerary on how we spent 2 days, 1 night (48 hours) in Stratford, Ontario.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiLbPwV5HAMMcBP5Mp1d8L2228GGQ2SHjHGSm9stZv_DCbX6br5FRyG4SCqn96b2b3K8x1MrpPP_I2_lOiqAbB9JpxmXqpUIX93i_v2e_dltMbvEpIWMT57VY3A6wA5eTSzWusbHaDSlyb5\/s2048\/DSC_0618.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1367\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiLbPwV5HAMMcBP5Mp1d8L2228GGQ2SHjHGSm9stZv_DCbX6br5FRyG4SCqn96b2b3K8x1MrpPP_I2_lOiqAbB9JpxmXqpUIX93i_v2e_dltMbvEpIWMT57VY3A6wA5eTSzWusbHaDSlyb5\/s16000\/DSC_0618.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjXWjgwXHycW6f0-_9uRrcZxPb2flDTLuydjd1ZBKX_akvycwkWq7zIjzz8c4aVX7GUHVCJLsyRhFlhqrEyprwfY6GvXyKvV-c-OTfE5d4LvmKIeZ3nxPWn-T8ejTh0QJePGhaqmjV02kcA\/s2048\/DSC_0608.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"The Restaurant at The Bruce Dining Room\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1367\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjXWjgwXHycW6f0-_9uRrcZxPb2flDTLuydjd1ZBKX_akvycwkWq7zIjzz8c4aVX7GUHVCJLsyRhFlhqrEyprwfY6GvXyKvV-c-OTfE5d4LvmKIeZ3nxPWn-T8ejTh0QJePGhaqmjV02kcA\/s16000\/DSC_0608.JPG\" title=\"The Restaurant at The Bruce\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELeaving Toronto at 10:00 AM to arrive in Stratford at 12:00 noon\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ELunch at The Restaurant at The Bruce\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter escaping the madness of Toronto traffic, we enjoyed a peaceful countryside drive to Stratford, Ontario and had lunch on our minds as we arrived. Our first meal of the trip was enjoyed at \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.thebruce.ca\/dining\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe Restaurant at The Bruce\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a showstopper restaurant located within walking distance to Stratford's theatres with a focus on local suppliers and white-glove service. The restaurant itself is located within The Bruce Hotel, which sits on six and a half acres right in the heart of Stratford. We dinned on fresh lobster BLTs, a delicious charcuterie board that included local cheese and meats and enjoyed incredible service - even starting with a hot towel to relax and refresh before our meal! The Restaurant at The Bruce is one of those treat-yourself, celebratory spots that is best enjoyed in good company when you want to feel like royalty.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj2HFw7omwfTs-2yz5iO22FP7uOzUv47EQ_B0BrG19MfjjhCxrzPlWRQ2_xpr032Ncq3jMzEjSF9eoqgTTKf_gQ_8sEx6JJswy2qICcwBJozNFIBF2XHftl_l2KRD9MMg8DOeaISthR9xI1\/s2048\/DSC_0624.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj2HFw7omwfTs-2yz5iO22FP7uOzUv47EQ_B0BrG19MfjjhCxrzPlWRQ2_xpr032Ncq3jMzEjSF9eoqgTTKf_gQ_8sEx6JJswy2qICcwBJozNFIBF2XHftl_l2KRD9MMg8DOeaISthR9xI1\/s16000\/DSC_0624.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EStratford's Chocolate and Christmas Trail\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHaving never been to Stratford before, we appreciated having both \u003Cb\u003EThe Chocolate Trail and The Christmas Trail \u003C\/b\u003Eto not only guide us in exploring the local goods that Stratford has to offer, but also to help us orient ourselves in Stratford's large and historic downtown.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/visitstratford.ca\/chocolatetrail\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe Chocolate Trail \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003Eis a self-guided tour that introduces you to our world- famous confectioners and bakers - and trust me, there are lots to discover! You’ll get to sample decadent treats and meet the makers who craft these indulgences year-round. $30+hst buys you 6 tickets that are able to be redeemed from a vast list of chocolatiers around the city, many of which are within a short walk from one another. The value is enormous, and I'm still eating chocolate from our trip - over a week later! You may also wish to listen to an \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/visitstratford.ca\/audiotours\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003Eaudio tour\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to help with your Chocolate Trail experience,\u0026nbsp;narrated by local musician Dayna Manning.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI was delighted to find out that Stratford is known for their amazing shopping, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/visitstratford.ca\/christmastrail\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe Christmas Trail\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E allows you to discover the city's local shops and offerings!\u0026nbsp;The seasonal holiday trail runs from November 1 until December 20th. It’s a retail focused trail; $30 plus HST and allows participants to choose 6 stores from a list of 26 to redeem a holiday themed gift!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoth The Chocolate Trail and Christmas Trail are available to purchase online, to then be redeemed at the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/visitstratford.ca\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDestination Stratford office\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E at 47 Downie Street (a very convenient downtown location.) Or you can simply pop into the office during their opening hours and purchase both trails on-site.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile you're out enjoying both shopping trails, you may want to find a cozy café to warm up in, get a caffeine boost and plan your route! We enjoyed grabbing at cups at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/shop.balzacs.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBalzac's\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E in downtown Stratford, their very first location!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg9TWfKqMqzP6CH1RYq_vkjmo2-Mp_U05I1wLnuITuWVZBntdO-XC0zRvoWnQu7IPq0TvFnhUdrszxCY-5PwEIwDBWuZDu76Ve4YdfKPjvyUuDjGSU_JQv0NrVJ3zPXzZaSO6rlt_x1gcca\/s2048\/DSC_0610.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1367\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg9TWfKqMqzP6CH1RYq_vkjmo2-Mp_U05I1wLnuITuWVZBntdO-XC0zRvoWnQu7IPq0TvFnhUdrszxCY-5PwEIwDBWuZDu76Ve4YdfKPjvyUuDjGSU_JQv0NrVJ3zPXzZaSO6rlt_x1gcca\/s16000\/DSC_0610.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhNb7Al1dajGjEi6Vsy7_Zp_fw41FmKaUirOfgvW33AUvI3QhiJsF79nQF3V_4y_qmzZoEU7VqYaM1BLYbQiyCYiZsQgbirdFb8I1f1nqX9-HGGavuiVFWx4fWqpEtVPP4OM_4rjy3813sK\/s2048\/YouTube+Channel+Art+copy+2.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1152\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhNb7Al1dajGjEi6Vsy7_Zp_fw41FmKaUirOfgvW33AUvI3QhiJsF79nQF3V_4y_qmzZoEU7VqYaM1BLYbQiyCYiZsQgbirdFb8I1f1nqX9-HGGavuiVFWx4fWqpEtVPP4OM_4rjy3813sK\/s16000\/YouTube+Channel+Art+copy+2.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjy_oEEl0vKfic9F8bXI42HX2uJv370qGPRWGl_Q9uueLbiB7aPnU40IIA9XueGxb4a7cbYn9k8aIvgzqofgagNFVWODTEh8ws2mfjpyCKA6kgbG-UDJMlM7nzFBv7elOIanzWGlnm0ieX9\/s2048\/IMG_7903.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjy_oEEl0vKfic9F8bXI42HX2uJv370qGPRWGl_Q9uueLbiB7aPnU40IIA9XueGxb4a7cbYn9k8aIvgzqofgagNFVWODTEh8ws2mfjpyCKA6kgbG-UDJMlM7nzFBv7elOIanzWGlnm0ieX9\/s16000\/IMG_7903.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003ETake A Scenic Nature Walk Along The Avon River\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter shopping up a storm and orienting ourself in the downtown area, we had a bit of time before checking into our hotel for the evening. \u003Cb\u003EThe Avon River\u003C\/b\u003E runs through Stratford and is positively stunning this time of year with the changing fall leaves and colours! The River itself provides a lengthy walking and bike trail, which we enjoyed to walk off all of our chocolate indulgences. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou can also walk or drive along the river and visit \u003Cb\u003ETom Patterson Island \u003C\/b\u003Eto admire our Lights on Stratford, a beautiful summer pop-up light display! \u003Cb\u003EThe Winter Festival of Lights\u003C\/b\u003E will be coming to Stratford beginning December 17 until Jan 28, 2022.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhfwCmMg5xQA0nw1arI7uT2keoUXzl2BpnROXuqyrsKlD8uG2W5SKY_6kvNTdZkjfdRtt7YpXkGX4ATXYgiC0oV1rc81osd-fd7wiaHOM36SldnN0jlKza2pCwHNRJc2NupuTaTUbk2mIq3\/s2048\/DSC_0677.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1367\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhfwCmMg5xQA0nw1arI7uT2keoUXzl2BpnROXuqyrsKlD8uG2W5SKY_6kvNTdZkjfdRtt7YpXkGX4ATXYgiC0oV1rc81osd-fd7wiaHOM36SldnN0jlKza2pCwHNRJc2NupuTaTUbk2mIq3\/s16000\/DSC_0677.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhRM736nQkbVOZZHZ5bZm0oYa0rrmFXcNsth-SQAnjqvjnqaztkJcBK6oDli_mTLNhCFdsCXGLY285r8FQdZhMad3ctw2ovRi-UnNZoAMGbgtvmYcc_O_YI8X2x9MAVZdP0D2DZxnP6sIFw\/s2048\/DSC_0632.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhRM736nQkbVOZZHZ5bZm0oYa0rrmFXcNsth-SQAnjqvjnqaztkJcBK6oDli_mTLNhCFdsCXGLY285r8FQdZhMad3ctw2ovRi-UnNZoAMGbgtvmYcc_O_YI8X2x9MAVZdP0D2DZxnP6sIFw\/s16000\/DSC_0632.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ECheck Into The Edison Inn\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDid you know that Thomas Edison lived in Stratford, Ontario? Not only did we just learn that fact on our trip, we became immersed in the history of it when we stayed at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/edisonsinn.com\/rooms\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Edison Inn\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, a boutique hotel full of personality with 3 eclectic rooms right in the heart of Stratford! We actually stayed in the Edison Room, which was so cool! I loved the unique design of the hotel, as well as how hassle-free the experience was. You receive an email with the door code and your room code on the morning of your stay, and have the owner's contact information should you need anything. Amazing! Our hotel stay also included free parking and because it's so centrally located, we kept the car parked the entire time and explored 100% on-foot.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe room itself offered many practical amenities, such as an in-room coffee machine with large mugs, a mini fridge and freezer and a proper bathtub as well!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjDajiew9JJ2lCA1E9OMCNpVjzY_iVcPmslwRJVD4QnvAOS7D4-oQvISkxgZABCvCRaEdJTADgAusmSIYAKFzQPKWCNSKcnsjDjqgg6GNBDeISWo49TOfJAyouz9g2jTBiYWsglQ566_PRa\/s2048\/YouTube+Channel+Art+copy+2-2.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1152\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjDajiew9JJ2lCA1E9OMCNpVjzY_iVcPmslwRJVD4QnvAOS7D4-oQvISkxgZABCvCRaEdJTADgAusmSIYAKFzQPKWCNSKcnsjDjqgg6GNBDeISWo49TOfJAyouz9g2jTBiYWsglQ566_PRa\/s16000\/YouTube+Channel+Art+copy+2-2.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg1quzTVBz0lSpQv20NMQzljSTLxUXhJYe3SspAOKp9ybJTpDKltat2z_p2d_qeiQ5-7hq9OoR9yCp-ssYaTCrnlXlEGk1-7_G-2-CLr88l_ejtCcunLXbq00zcgiHs3g5oOgWn5ZBIo7Sz\/s2048\/IMG_7948.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg1quzTVBz0lSpQv20NMQzljSTLxUXhJYe3SspAOKp9ybJTpDKltat2z_p2d_qeiQ5-7hq9OoR9yCp-ssYaTCrnlXlEGk1-7_G-2-CLr88l_ejtCcunLXbq00zcgiHs3g5oOgWn5ZBIo7Sz\/s16000\/IMG_7948.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EEnjoy Dinner and A Nightcap\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EGetting a preview of how exciting Stratford's restaurant scene is during the day, I was very excited for dinner and drinks out. We dined at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.thealley.restaurant\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Alley\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E for dinner, a Stratford institution that has recently gone an overhaul with a whole new concept and menu. The food is asian-inspired fusion, and the flavours and portion sizes were incredible. My mom and I wanted to try a little of everything on the menu, so we enjoyed 3 appetizers, 2 mains and were so stuffed that we had to pack the majority to-go! I would recommend the Bao Bun and the Bo Ssam, so so good!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhborz-Vo40jJesbH8FP3HtUfHh5TsLhMYjX85zVO294aPYQnm53DZsqqxOBq71-x9tniSSJ9OBA2bqsZvN7kPdVGczToVYsshNfNMNyILEMae1weW8egc6OTkluSKRyM15o7vOqVEJXQNt\/s2048\/YouTube+Channel+Art+copy+2-3.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1152\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhborz-Vo40jJesbH8FP3HtUfHh5TsLhMYjX85zVO294aPYQnm53DZsqqxOBq71-x9tniSSJ9OBA2bqsZvN7kPdVGczToVYsshNfNMNyILEMae1weW8egc6OTkluSKRyM15o7vOqVEJXQNt\/s16000\/YouTube+Channel+Art+copy+2-3.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003EAfter dinner, we were able to drop off our to-go containers at The Edison Inn (one of the major conveniences of having a hotel that is so centrally located) and headed to \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/therelicbar.ca\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Relic Lobby Bar\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, \u0026nbsp;a neighbourhood cocktail bar that has Cuban-inspired design. The atmosphere is warm, inviting and cozy and the energy was great! We both really enjoyed our cocktails, which were crafted with care and expertise. I would definitely love to return on my next trip.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EBecause both the restaurant and bar were within close walking distance to our hotel, we leisurely headed back to The Edison Inn for some rest after a busy day.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj1nVizb6mFvW0REtsFOA_0LmXJbCw_g7DMqfy_Gu7jXypIYhBe8C3dxIDku1wbaiXmUER5KHJOFXia7TALCn0kzF8UK7unyUUpu8vW-VHNFzfNB368vvKzxHDwxodQPirZlnOWBdZ8e_A0\/s2048\/YouTube+Channel+Art+copy+2-4.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1152\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj1nVizb6mFvW0REtsFOA_0LmXJbCw_g7DMqfy_Gu7jXypIYhBe8C3dxIDku1wbaiXmUER5KHJOFXia7TALCn0kzF8UK7unyUUpu8vW-VHNFzfNB368vvKzxHDwxodQPirZlnOWBdZ8e_A0\/s16000\/YouTube+Channel+Art+copy+2-4.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EDay 2\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EBreakfast At The Edison Café\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAs if The Edison Inn couldn't be any more incredible, they have\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/EdisonsCafeBar\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E Edison's Café Bar\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E located right at the base of the building! That means strong and delicious espresso-based drinks and a healthy breakfast was just what the doctor ordered to fuel us for another day of exploring. Their menu is mostly plant based and their baked goods are grain, dairy and refined sugar- free. We chose to eat in the café, but you could also take your meal to-go to eat in Market Square, walk down to the river to eat on a picnic table, \u0026nbsp;or even take to go and enjoy in your room!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhXoJ20B5tVg7pfP2SrN7TGqIim1UyC-WqBMAX84N0U1APhz3ySd1KT0xTz1fHqsyrk1pzMk72Eo5dtXpJYyqKKdKbJhC8yL0CTHhg_0c6Y7t3r7oD59PHWNFRd1rOJkP58OL2RP-_J2-TH\/s2048\/IMG_7930.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhXoJ20B5tVg7pfP2SrN7TGqIim1UyC-WqBMAX84N0U1APhz3ySd1KT0xTz1fHqsyrk1pzMk72Eo5dtXpJYyqKKdKbJhC8yL0CTHhg_0c6Y7t3r7oD59PHWNFRd1rOJkP58OL2RP-_J2-TH\/s16000\/IMG_7930.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EVisit Gallery Stratford\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EVisit one of Ontario’s longest operating public art galleries, which is free for the public and has lots of parking! Founded in 1967, the Gallery has established itself as one of the region’s leading art galleries, organizing exhibitions of local, national and international visual artists. We really enjoyed the highly curated collection and exhibits that were being shown during our visit, and even got to experience a Virtual Reality art piece - something I've never done before!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe grounds of Gallery Stratford are something else, and were a must-visit during the changing of the leaves during Fall.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgfjPgUsV-uShpLWWcZIDPOma_FoD5qmXHkqUpfpu1XmcMqJ4KkMfwOZ9foVcW7qtUGzzH_-VzfaSzd5O9K7Tj_NNpnG22AwwKjwn2zFTukEHvgX4UlJmZt3Cp_pEo7dGdOmpAw_KUcHXlP\/s2048\/DSC_0672.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgfjPgUsV-uShpLWWcZIDPOma_FoD5qmXHkqUpfpu1XmcMqJ4KkMfwOZ9foVcW7qtUGzzH_-VzfaSzd5O9K7Tj_NNpnG22AwwKjwn2zFTukEHvgX4UlJmZt3Cp_pEo7dGdOmpAw_KUcHXlP\/s16000\/DSC_0672.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgR6oINZUznz9VnyYNibcnC3IuPLxlpssn3wPnzOrPhRlqe7Ba2DAY-oEUKx1Qj-tmPAFYgvGAAk_6nYo-jB0CUItTiNWIrqV7BK-U4hdS7EV6403oEZjPddySgmxTrL-12Y-Y7MPjP10DG\/s2048\/DSC_0666.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1367\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgR6oINZUznz9VnyYNibcnC3IuPLxlpssn3wPnzOrPhRlqe7Ba2DAY-oEUKx1Qj-tmPAFYgvGAAk_6nYo-jB0CUItTiNWIrqV7BK-U4hdS7EV6403oEZjPddySgmxTrL-12Y-Y7MPjP10DG\/s16000\/DSC_0666.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EGrab a To-Go Lunch For The Road\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAlthough we could have stayed in Stratford for for the full day and enjoyed another dinner in the city, we wanted to hit the road to avoid the inevitable Toronto traffic. While our original plan was to enjoy one last sit-down meal before our drive, we were still way too full from breakfast! Thankfully we had heard amazing things about \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/sirkelfoods.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESirkel Foods\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, touted as the best takeout sandwich, salads and soups you'll ever have! I'm THE sandwich gal so I was game to try. Listen, when I tell you that these sandwiches and salads are amazing - and the portions are huge! My mom and I actually ended up eating our lunch fare once we got home back in Toronto and both couldn't believe how much food there was - we even had enough to feed my husband! I would 10\/10 recommend.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjtoS-mW50iatPrlM0LpqFR_emp0yB5DHkxI2wZFnuwmQT0YVjsUhyoaYKMFPpRi95W1eB3tIchUCSXEwbxn6SMD0WPoahcPvefcL1e5NJvGkUIjxHF4U7Y_h2bxAZWUE4BeSx_TloKPrzl\/s2048\/image+7.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjtoS-mW50iatPrlM0LpqFR_emp0yB5DHkxI2wZFnuwmQT0YVjsUhyoaYKMFPpRi95W1eB3tIchUCSXEwbxn6SMD0WPoahcPvefcL1e5NJvGkUIjxHF4U7Y_h2bxAZWUE4BeSx_TloKPrzl\/s16000\/image+7.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAfter two days in Stratford, Ontario, both my mom and I agreed that it wasn't enough. I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to visit this picturesque city in the fall, and can only imagine how beautiful it becomes in the winter and during the holiday season. I'm a big fan of Stratford and am so glad that it's always just a short drive away from Toronto. We'll definitely be back!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhat do you think? Have you ever visited Stratford, Ontario? Let me know!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003Exo Joëlle\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/8292508700744454130\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2021\/11\/48-hours-in-stratford-ontario-2-day.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8292508700744454130"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8292508700744454130"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2021\/11\/48-hours-in-stratford-ontario-2-day.html","title":"48 Hours In Stratford, Ontario - 2 Day Itinerary"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiiag0x8hu_WaJsHELPIhjzsoAYK8gbkVW6bwh2FFvitjWS261v0lLvgBMncs02I0LsANQ-VSpkiJ8yKH91Kw-No3IAPQEpyStOcCTJKS9KoSGDUofh9O5dNRSIcMcPoVorg9mtZSCRtD-F\/s72-c\/1CCFF973-044A-49BB-BA21-8CACCD7E2A6A.HEIC","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Stratford, ON, Canada"},"georss$point":{"$t":"43.3700007 -80.982228600000013"},"georss$box":{"$t":"17.204555971726748 -116.13847860000001 69.535445428273249 -45.825978600000013"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-5676710985188515419"},"published":{"$t":"2021-11-01T10:48:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-11-01T10:48:03.865-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Money Management"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Money Mistakes"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"5 Worst Money Mistakes I Made in my 20s"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEigbaQVZ75Xh8k8hP91kR9KbiwskUP8lFT3HFC1k5X7UOF0lW22Xv-OGQ5iVOtyou6Jnr5OcYR0KwdtICaNb-uPHYYtYubl194Yr6aj8CgoP-tZGMmDE9BxIEgNpO4AiCOL9yfW6RUefb2Q\/s2048\/008.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1366\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEigbaQVZ75Xh8k8hP91kR9KbiwskUP8lFT3HFC1k5X7UOF0lW22Xv-OGQ5iVOtyou6Jnr5OcYR0KwdtICaNb-uPHYYtYubl194Yr6aj8CgoP-tZGMmDE9BxIEgNpO4AiCOL9yfW6RUefb2Q\/s16000\/008.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne of the topics I really want to talk about here in my blog is the business aspect of blogging and freelancing, as well as money management. Now, I know money is an uncomfortable subject to talk about, but it is a fact of life. The more comfortable you become in speaking about it, the more successful you tend to be in terms of accumulating money and living comfortably. So, in the spirit of money management and financial gains, I’d like to share the big mistakes I made with my money in my twenties, which have definitely taught me some really great lessons and have shaped how I deal with money now that I’m in my thirties.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ELeasing and Buying a Car\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECars are such a precarious investment, I learned. They basically depreciate as soon as you drive it off the lot. When I leased my first car, I thought I was saving money because I have lower monthly payments. But in actuality, I didn't consider its long-term effects.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore I continue this story, though, it’s important to note that when you lease a car, you only get a finite amount of miles you can use. Now, for the first couple of years that I was leasing my car, I was only driving it to and from work, so I wasn’t using it that much. But then, I went back to school and had an overall two-hour-long commute.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELong story short, when my lease was up, I had gone way over my allotted miles. So, it made much more sense to sell it back to the dealership and buy brand new, which is another huge mistake. I financed this new car for five years, and I was paying way more interest. By the time I paid it off and was ready to sell, it was basically worth nothing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow our family only has one car, which my husband and I share. We bought it used off of a dealership, and it saved us so much money while still giving the benefits of a new car. I wish this is something I had known in my early twenties, but it was also a big financial lesson for me. If you’re thinking of getting a car, just be aware that it’s not necessarily the best way to invest your money, and I hope you will not repeat my mistake.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ELiving at My Means\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat this means is that all of my monthly earnings went to paying my living and everyday expenses. This includes rent, groceries, going out, and everything in between. Back then, this didn’t seem like a big deal, especially since I’m not going in debt and I could afford everything I needed to buy. But, I've learned as I've gotten older that it’s really crucial to live beneath your means and save up, especially if you want to live a comfortable life. This way, you have a cushion, should anything happen.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile living beneath your means isn’t as exciting as spending your hard-earned money on more things you like, it’s crucial in building up good savings to give yourself that allowance if things don’t go according to plan (because, guys, life doesn’t always go according to plan!). This wasn’t something I was thinking about in my early twenties, and as a result, I started saving for my future a lot later than I could have been.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EGoal-Based Savings\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis goes hand in hand with my previous mistake. Now, I did save in my early twenties—I would use the majority of my earnings for my lifestyle and also save a little bit of a nest egg, but it wasn’t for anything long-term. My savings were always for a particular tangible goal, product, or experience, and never for future planning.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne instance was when I used all my savings to cover my summer trip to Europe. I didn't have any plans for that money over and above that trip. Once it’s over and I got back, I was back to square one.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile I did get into a habit of saving in my twenties, that money was always doomed to be spent and I would start at square one again. Now, when I look at my savings method, it's so much easier to have a savings plan that’s going towards retirement or a rainy day fund. But, I also have savings for anything tangible I may want in the future.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EBuying for Specific Situations \/ Situational Shopping\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe can't talk about money or money management without shopping habits. When you're young, it’s definitely very tempting to just go and blow your money on anything. And, a big mistake I’ve learned I made in my twenties is that I would do situational shopping. Meaning, if I had a party coming up, I would buy a dress for it, and it was a one-and-done thing—buy the dress, wear it to the party, discard said dress, move on. The same thing goes for anything material, too.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn top of my disastrous money management, I also found that I curated a very disjointed wardrobe with this habit—I bought cheap, fast fashion clothes, which were disposable and bad for the environment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, in my thirties, I've learned to be a little bit more mindful with my shopping. I’m more apt to buy a dress and wait for a certain or multiple locations to wear it, as opposed to buying a dress for only one occasion. When I started implementing this, I found that I've saved so much more money, and I'm less likely to make poor financial decisions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EEating Out for All Meals\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI spent a lot of money on food in my early twenties—and I’m not talking about groceries. I worked as a waitress and a bartender, so I was in restaurants all the time. Because I was working really crazy hours, I ate the vast majority of my meals out—and I don't have to tell you why that is a bad financial decision. It is so expensive to eat out, even if it seems inexpensive at the time. That’s basically money you're never going to see again.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother detriment to that is I really didn't learn how to properly cook for myself or do groceries—you know, tangible life skills. These came a little bit later for me.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChoosing to pay for convenience definitely comes at a price. I'll be honest, I still struggle with this “eating out” issue on a weekly basis. I feel like we eat out way too often, but we certainly eat at home a lot more, and I saved so much money than before.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjSLJD7xZDgfBJpgQWrqiSXbSDiW6LJUxkhajMuw4qUgzSW4y1vfsDUUE-1KzVuyPtJjAGEsnpxgWDq5ZHJ-whOkWUZlo54YncdUf3e38AFVWkWmDomOFuMnGECRhknjjJBVDRo4P7Bs-tm\/s2048\/010.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1366\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjSLJD7xZDgfBJpgQWrqiSXbSDiW6LJUxkhajMuw4qUgzSW4y1vfsDUUE-1KzVuyPtJjAGEsnpxgWDq5ZHJ-whOkWUZlo54YncdUf3e38AFVWkWmDomOFuMnGECRhknjjJBVDRo4P7Bs-tm\/s16000\/010.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI like to think I have learned a lot from these experiences and, while I'm certainly not perfect, I've continued to learn. It's always nice to look back at what you did before, just so that you don't make the same mistakes. It’ll also help to shape you into being a bit better of a saver and money manager moving forward.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile money is definitely not the most fun topic, I think it's important to get the dialogue going. The more comfortable we are talking about money and finances, the more mindful we become when we think about these things, and that just leads to a more prosperous future! So, what about you, what are some mistakes you made—or are even making now—in your twenties? What lessons have you learned from it? Let us know in the comments section!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXo Joelle\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/5676710985188515419\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2021\/11\/5-worst-money-mistakes-i-made-in-my-20s.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/5676710985188515419"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/5676710985188515419"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2021\/11\/5-worst-money-mistakes-i-made-in-my-20s.html","title":"5 Worst Money Mistakes I Made in my 20s"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEigbaQVZ75Xh8k8hP91kR9KbiwskUP8lFT3HFC1k5X7UOF0lW22Xv-OGQ5iVOtyou6Jnr5OcYR0KwdtICaNb-uPHYYtYubl194Yr6aj8CgoP-tZGMmDE9BxIEgNpO4AiCOL9yfW6RUefb2Q\/s72-c\/008.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-8241928511262205521"},"published":{"$t":"2021-10-05T14:55:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-10-05T15:13:35.637-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Explore Canada"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Montreal"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel Diary"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Montreal City Guide"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjKIHQ15qxohxkNaS_Vv0p56MAYszMPkpmXqk44QbqCXANeUkMnB1VEyaJ5FEu7JaLl7WXJ5IhXgiRq_Cr5OJ1j5lC-FtJz-hpMArwuBaqFWLmO9Iusd48z-S4oT35TWRBlMFYj7nW0kkRB\/s2048\/image.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Montreal City Guide 2021\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjKIHQ15qxohxkNaS_Vv0p56MAYszMPkpmXqk44QbqCXANeUkMnB1VEyaJ5FEu7JaLl7WXJ5IhXgiRq_Cr5OJ1j5lC-FtJz-hpMArwuBaqFWLmO9Iusd48z-S4oT35TWRBlMFYj7nW0kkRB\/s16000\/image.jpg\" title=\"Old Montreal City Guide\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI'm sure that I'm not alone in saying that one thing that I've missed greatly since March 2020 has been travel. I love to travel so much, and after a pause from a worldwide shutdown I was ready to get back into it! While the boarders have opened up, Brian and I were craving a couples getaway and weren't quite ready to leave the country without Benny yet (we had actually planned a trip to NYC and canceled, a story for another day.) So where does one go when they want to stay within Canada and still feel like they're experiencing a different culture and atmosphere? Montreal, of course!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMontreal is touted as Canada's Island getaway, and honestly with the difference in architecture, language and energy from Toronto, it truly felt like we were getting away. Montreal is a big Canadian city that's abundant with European charm, rich in history and absolutely overflowing with culture. For us, it was an obvious choice as an easy getaway from Toronto and I wholeheartedly recommend visiting Montreal, whether it's a domestic getaway or international destination. Here are some details on our trip, where we stayed, where we ate and what we did while visiting Montreal.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EA Note Before You Book\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt present time Montreal, as part of the province of Quebec, requires\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.quebec.ca\/en\/health\/health-issues\/a-z\/2019-coronavirus\/progress-of-the-covid-19-vaccination\/proof-covid-19-vaccination\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E proof of vaccination \u003C\/a\u003Efor a majority of \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.quebec.ca\/en\/health\/health-issues\/a-z\/2019-coronavirus\/progress-of-the-covid-19-vaccination\/covid-19-vaccination-passport\/places-and-activities-requiring-covid-19-vaccination-passport\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eleisure activities;\u003C\/a\u003E including but not limited to any indoor dining, gyms, music festivals and theme parks. While the province is operating on their own app and QR code, it is not yet available to residents outside of Quebec.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you are visiting, are over the age of 13 and you have had your second dose of vaccine over 2 weeks ago, then simply provide government issued proof of your second dose and a piece of photo ID.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEggEi8mxi4UuEDGJSZPw7Yi5RB3yg9lYNasVu3qXgFiLNcDlj4teD0cujptodUwQ2gPqHZcNf94RVsPAMWjlA-Q5yIu4UBR2e1eoArVtnjnarM0rRYeOCrbB1BS_Wb1y7iY8jzUBIlustLw\/s2048\/IMG_5958.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEggEi8mxi4UuEDGJSZPw7Yi5RB3yg9lYNasVu3qXgFiLNcDlj4teD0cujptodUwQ2gPqHZcNf94RVsPAMWjlA-Q5yIu4UBR2e1eoArVtnjnarM0rRYeOCrbB1BS_Wb1y7iY8jzUBIlustLw\/s16000\/IMG_5958.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EWhere We Stayed\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKnowing that we would be on-the-go the entire trip to Montreal, I wanted a location that was both luxurious and centrally located within the city. I was so happy to find out that we had been booked into the\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.marriott.com\/hotels\/travel\/yulwh-w-montreal\/?scid=f109a024-6df7-4af3-91cb-3767d60ffb02\u0026amp;ppc=ppc\u0026amp;pId=ustbppc\u0026amp;nst=paid\u0026amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwzOqKBhAWEiwArQGwaCwZpqCTiDkyaJycjvMUdhmQ4_yPI3q59vwg0WfSRGNh4bSj9cnYTBoC4swQAvD_BwE\u0026amp;gclsrc=aw.ds\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E W Montreal\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, an iconic brand that offers chic and modern designs and is known for their guest experience.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe location was perfection, within walking distance to both Old Montreal and the shopping on Sainte-Catherine Street. We parked our car with the hotel and while we rarely had to use it, it was always quickly retrieved from the Valet when we needed it. The W Montreal was also the best of all worlds in terms of ambience and comfort; there was a nightly DJ in their gorgeous lobby with bartenders expertly crafting cocktails, but then you couldn't hear a peep once it was time to retire to your room. Perfection, especially since I'm very conscious of noise when I'm traveling! I also appreciated the fact that the in-hotel restaurant \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.tbsprestaurant.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETbsp.\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003Eoffered a delicious breakfast, as well as strong espresso-based coffee.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhasZduEavCBDfKE9wkQqXzCWsoUJX1I5zAB0PGNRq_wNEdzGWf6MKx3eUbR38fGLtCYXNiCdV6iuVP8oG9nK90c26_kNVLB5J9nj14nrMwCw5XVw5H-QggPw2_zqxZVerq7G0FIfQtShwc\/s2048\/DSC_0258.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1367\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhasZduEavCBDfKE9wkQqXzCWsoUJX1I5zAB0PGNRq_wNEdzGWf6MKx3eUbR38fGLtCYXNiCdV6iuVP8oG9nK90c26_kNVLB5J9nj14nrMwCw5XVw5H-QggPw2_zqxZVerq7G0FIfQtShwc\/s16000\/DSC_0258.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh_fRFBUG_IvSxj_jTPOl2rlX9n2hXv1YIWIFMCRPbFHENol_OG-Vr8gnN4iqNDaP9LxtwNZCmgr9IIm22J7EAWBF7hESxX-n5feC2eZyIqa2IoJogajVmmfU_htK5jxFYOFqhA9MITjED8\/s2048\/IMG_5908.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh_fRFBUG_IvSxj_jTPOl2rlX9n2hXv1YIWIFMCRPbFHENol_OG-Vr8gnN4iqNDaP9LxtwNZCmgr9IIm22J7EAWBF7hESxX-n5feC2eZyIqa2IoJogajVmmfU_htK5jxFYOFqhA9MITjED8\/s16000\/IMG_5908.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjCb6MzGZiSrio2cDzy1LxDEf_zNVhTsPbCmU0h49Hqgj0zsIRx7v-87T4NtPSKRTwCjZKNaUPf6Y3jStRRlCwrzP0MsAm0uhkYaCU-q-y0Q6EcTUYw0yciCXheClw5WH86B7C0s5wrWdCP\/s2048\/IMG_5868.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjCb6MzGZiSrio2cDzy1LxDEf_zNVhTsPbCmU0h49Hqgj0zsIRx7v-87T4NtPSKRTwCjZKNaUPf6Y3jStRRlCwrzP0MsAm0uhkYaCU-q-y0Q6EcTUYw0yciCXheClw5WH86B7C0s5wrWdCP\/s16000\/IMG_5868.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ELocal Cafés\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMontreal's independent café culture is vast, and expanding by the day! Every neighbourhood has a collection of independent coffee shops that are unique one to the next, and offer something a bit different. We were lucky enough to have a guided café and pastry tour of some notable cafés in and around Old Montreal. The tour was excellent, and a perfect way to start our trip as we learned a lot about the history of Old Montreal. For example, did you know that Montreal was once a fortified city? I thoroughly enjoyed our tour and had the best time sampling local coffee and pastries. Here are a few cafés that really stood out.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ECrew Collective\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVoted as one of the most beautiful cafés in the world, \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.crewcollectivecafe.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECrew Collective \u0026amp; Café\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E inhabits the historic old premises of the Royal Bank of Canada. Built in the ‘30s, the breathtaking space with intricate vaulted ceilings and gold tones has been preserved and makes for a spectacular place to have a cup of coffee and get your Instagram shots. The details are unparalleled and I love how they repurposed old artifacts from when it was a working bank.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EOlive \u0026amp; Gourmando\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOpen 7 days a week, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.oliveetgourmando.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOlive \u0026amp; Gourmando\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is a cozy bakery\/grocery store\/bistro that serves up tasty and delicious food for breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch. If you visit, you absolutely NEED to try their butter croissant. I was told that it was the best in Montreal, and I definitely agree. So good. \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ESsense\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELocated on the top floor of the SSENSE fashion building in Old Montréal, the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ssense.com\/en-ca\/locations\/montreal\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESSENSE MONTRÉAL\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E café is a cement-clad, minimalist space with a beautiful shadow show created by the long skylights in its ceiling. The modern design of this chic café is in beautiful juxtaposition to the historical architecture of Old Montreal\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ETommy Café Old Montréal\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/tommycafe.ca\/en\/saint-paul-locations-menu\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETommy Café + Apéro\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E is a neighborhood coffee shop and bar. Established in Old Montreal, Tommy offers a wide selection of coffees, pastries, snacks and drinks — seven days a week. A balanced blend of modern design, mid-century furniture and Victorian architecture. I especially love the use of greenery in the space, and it's always bustling with people grabbing coffee to-go, or hanging out on the stairs outdoors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch4 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EMaison Christian Faure\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA chic pastry shop-café-boutique where you can satisfy your sweet tooth or learn to make delicious treats during a workshop. \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/maisonchristianfaure.ca\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMaison Christian Faure\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E is very light and bright and the perfect location with water views. I enjoyed a canelé and Brian loved his macarons!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiyMcAUbNhKFGYiu9rEvZ-XxHWq5IlUYjq9AgCfRdc7nqVBWbcMvLQicvOIc85JdYkv-28xEAJpZBfaOb8urztVQ6ghCSVsG4GzQL-uJGVtd2PCd59eVk6PYoQ9KNiB_PBfHbMLDri9uEl-\/s2048\/DSC_0284.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1638\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiyMcAUbNhKFGYiu9rEvZ-XxHWq5IlUYjq9AgCfRdc7nqVBWbcMvLQicvOIc85JdYkv-28xEAJpZBfaOb8urztVQ6ghCSVsG4GzQL-uJGVtd2PCd59eVk6PYoQ9KNiB_PBfHbMLDri9uEl-\/s16000\/DSC_0284.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiCEcjn8R4iNFvnRiiHjA4vMPgSVNvoLH-bi9K-Jd7VxY-ePu9ybG8holiZTyZSeX8SJVE3gAQXtgAEszo9mVG2o93yz0MeGDc0V4op5XKz_w2xOPI-cFYJ7X77LfJN1Mhi4JB6TTIP3zeW\/s2048\/IMG_5951.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiCEcjn8R4iNFvnRiiHjA4vMPgSVNvoLH-bi9K-Jd7VxY-ePu9ybG8holiZTyZSeX8SJVE3gAQXtgAEszo9mVG2o93yz0MeGDc0V4op5XKz_w2xOPI-cFYJ7X77LfJN1Mhi4JB6TTIP3zeW\/s16000\/IMG_5951.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhSRhfsB7JIgSB8W0OWdjfv304u-FFprqHesFnlTVQgcGl-4IzrlbmYmmTAMAJKC8_81bykVYr0ZKIiL0vVb-tmJmsxaMoa7D8tSTINvUisAk3GWRtcH0ENwchsx8EJmN7ZZOTNpynePXfv\/s2048\/1179BA91-B711-40EE-9C80-C7B8112D92DA.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhSRhfsB7JIgSB8W0OWdjfv304u-FFprqHesFnlTVQgcGl-4IzrlbmYmmTAMAJKC8_81bykVYr0ZKIiL0vVb-tmJmsxaMoa7D8tSTINvUisAk3GWRtcH0ENwchsx8EJmN7ZZOTNpynePXfv\/s16000\/1179BA91-B711-40EE-9C80-C7B8112D92DA.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EWhere To Eat\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EMuch like the local café scene, Montreal's independent culinary scene is absolutely electric and is growing by the year! Big-name chefs that call Montreal home and smaller indie restaurants line the streets of all of Montreal's neighbourhoods and the selection is so vast that it can be overwhelming! We thoroughly enjoyed all of our meals, here are a few of our faves.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EMoleskine\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI love a good neighbourhood pizza joint, and \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.moleskinerestaurant.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMoleskine\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E fit the bill! Both casual and family-friendly, and with a more intimate wine-bar upstairs, Moleskine has it all. The pizza is also top notch, and would even make a good option to grab dinner to-go to enjoy in your hotel.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ESho-Dan Restaurant\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWe had heard of \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.sho-dan.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESho-Dan\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E long before we had the opportunity to try it out, and it does not disappoint! Outstanding freshness, incredible artistry and a long list of celebrity guests throughout the years - including Ms. Britney Spears!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EMonarque Restaurant\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI have to say, our dinner experience at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/restaurantmonarque.ca\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMonarque\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E really stole the show and I thoroughly enjoyed our entire meal. The menu is curated to be enjoyed in 3 courses, and is an unforgettable mix of upscale presentation and soul-warming flavours. If you're in Montreal for an anniversary, a special celebration or just want a treat-yourself dinner, you'll love Monarque.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EMandy's Gourmet Salad\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhenever we had to grab a bite on the run, there was usually a \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/mandys.ca\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMandy'\u003C\/a\u003Es\u003C\/b\u003E close by and the chopped salads are healthy, delicious and super convenient to eat on the run! Plus their interior and aesthetic is very whimsical and beautiful, I can't wait for their Toronto location to open up.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ESt.-Viateur Bagels\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAn absolute Montreal Classic,\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.stviateurbagel.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E St-Viateur Bagels\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E have been defining the art of bagel making since 1957. This is your quintessential, classic Montreal-style bagel and I am not exaggerating when I say that Brian and I brought 4 dozen home with us to Toronto to freeze. They're that good!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjctNjOlogP-r19rjj9r4NXF4HZdaL_1znWdj6Bchn2R_Stfg_qaEtdJm0I_Ytv2nOjQPjjJrqnczQpQ7KEKy7xo65hZezjm_YSfQq6B5hbKQLlwx7N-Kj5gFg9hkePoj241VT5YRTOX3Df\/s2048\/YouTube+Channel+Art+copy.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1152\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjctNjOlogP-r19rjj9r4NXF4HZdaL_1znWdj6Bchn2R_Stfg_qaEtdJm0I_Ytv2nOjQPjjJrqnczQpQ7KEKy7xo65hZezjm_YSfQq6B5hbKQLlwx7N-Kj5gFg9hkePoj241VT5YRTOX3Df\/s16000\/YouTube+Channel+Art+copy.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiPDyUiM8isTAj2EhrnuBEaFl5hrLcJX3VEIZ89j0QSCAhwjzK0mYoQyYQmlI0ZPMiEkTLnrl8wmPppDiYjIZynOJh3Q9uNs2bpKYhHcMNe1LuYdLJkVq3ydPNryIm_j-uR_eLhUEE2qxWs\/s2048\/IMG_6097.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiPDyUiM8isTAj2EhrnuBEaFl5hrLcJX3VEIZ89j0QSCAhwjzK0mYoQyYQmlI0ZPMiEkTLnrl8wmPppDiYjIZynOJh3Q9uNs2bpKYhHcMNe1LuYdLJkVq3ydPNryIm_j-uR_eLhUEE2qxWs\/s16000\/IMG_6097.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjq5JeYDgEiXYJNwCmpdhyZ7mfIPSrGS9q0zLnzDIw1A3CmeMzaJVgTRomEyRioEA4OexJzF8PmBFcMHGJA1cnKdE4EQrbA2IbOndNUK4mAHy1ejYJgLXw3HZ34UB4S01BCvRetj-MtOPNi\/s2048\/988ED892-F3AD-4C19-B752-6BCEA3F4FDDF.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjq5JeYDgEiXYJNwCmpdhyZ7mfIPSrGS9q0zLnzDIw1A3CmeMzaJVgTRomEyRioEA4OexJzF8PmBFcMHGJA1cnKdE4EQrbA2IbOndNUK4mAHy1ejYJgLXw3HZ34UB4S01BCvRetj-MtOPNi\/s16000\/988ED892-F3AD-4C19-B752-6BCEA3F4FDDF.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EWhat To Do\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere is so much to see and do in Montreal, that we barely made a dent on our list in 4 days! The beautiful thing about Montreal as a destination is that there is lots of variety for any sort of travel: family-friendly, the solo traveler, a girls getaway or time spent alone as a couple. Our trip was the latter, so here is what we most enjoyed getting up to in Montreal.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ETake A Bike Tour\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI can't say enough good things about our bike tour through Montreal's North neighbourhoods with \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/fitztours\/\" style=\"font-weight: bold;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFitz Tours.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003ESeeing and learning about a side of Montreal that is not as easily recognized by tourists was incredible, and we learned a lot about the history of Montreal's communities and their continued evolution. My only piece of advice would be to take a bike or walking tour closer to the beginning of your trip; that way, you can map out places that you would like to visit or further explore on another day\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EVisit A Museum\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThere are many world-class museums in Montreal, and my favourite has to be \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.mbam.qc.ca\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMontreal Museum of Fine Arts\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E (MMFA or MBAM.)\u0026nbsp;Drawing over 1 million visitors annually, the MMFA is one of the most visited museums in North America. Its highly original temporary exhibitions combine various artistic disciplines – fine arts, music, film, fashion and design – and are exported to the four corners of the world. Brian and I really enjoyed their selection and were really excited to see a Basquiat, one of my favourite artists!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EHop On A Boat\u003C\/h4\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWe were lucky enough to also have a quick boat tour to learn more about Montreal from the water!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/lepetitnavire.ca\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELe Petit Navire\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003Eis\u0026nbsp;an ultra-quiet, zero-pollution electric propulsion boat (carbon neutral certified) designed for ultimate touring. I thought this was a great way to spend a sunny afternoon, and also loved that you could enjoy a cold beverage onboard!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjLc77e5OsQCVv5Hm9l90Q6dAtbOLKzlQ17f2wpzHwNiIqaF4wfttW-WkEByNbGChyO0MdXYSWXMMIB-aY1wHC0_tzO08y1ubQpWZBg-pyBQ20zNgsHUe5Mf25p9AKMVkI5C8rVmoXHRmUS\/s2048\/IMG_5942.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjLc77e5OsQCVv5Hm9l90Q6dAtbOLKzlQ17f2wpzHwNiIqaF4wfttW-WkEByNbGChyO0MdXYSWXMMIB-aY1wHC0_tzO08y1ubQpWZBg-pyBQ20zNgsHUe5Mf25p9AKMVkI5C8rVmoXHRmUS\/s16000\/IMG_5942.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjtg4g1DKO7lQljYyJE166ZVcyvb_X1jSeNZ7JQapeXA_JOIIdgNHeDRI4qEGz0wh3UUEyCbOShm3TSvHcdv3cFH9ktiQOjQvqhbS30uTleNK6UNZGW1SpjaH824i5-2bjWeywAJTxTAX_W\/s2048\/E6296656-8867-4B47-AE17-0F1C2DFFCC54.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjtg4g1DKO7lQljYyJE166ZVcyvb_X1jSeNZ7JQapeXA_JOIIdgNHeDRI4qEGz0wh3UUEyCbOShm3TSvHcdv3cFH9ktiQOjQvqhbS30uTleNK6UNZGW1SpjaH824i5-2bjWeywAJTxTAX_W\/s16000\/E6296656-8867-4B47-AE17-0F1C2DFFCC54.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiGYieun3yiC5SM2ibvs14r4dwya6tz4sBIYDvoBBs2hi5i0WcOBjhNbEzvbBw9McGFdFQEi6IkSROL971BtBsBEZ-nr6lOXUXUO3xAnVaUstBHWJQn9Ap8-enfuzdHrN8tChP9qwYepLqY\/s2048\/85C81D11-E63D-48C0-BB2D-24F74B903F2E.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiGYieun3yiC5SM2ibvs14r4dwya6tz4sBIYDvoBBs2hi5i0WcOBjhNbEzvbBw9McGFdFQEi6IkSROL971BtBsBEZ-nr6lOXUXUO3xAnVaUstBHWJQn9Ap8-enfuzdHrN8tChP9qwYepLqY\/s16000\/85C81D11-E63D-48C0-BB2D-24F74B903F2E.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhabJpipRxlDrYDuES0u9vYYkzfYlRM8dTFjDQi1VeZjcGrpdLj0v1D13YyTVg1h0fsMqTmeGDhunbqVr5palsZiWME4nqs_npQ4egfrlc2bQIQI0eX25voAD4ThExLWnPMZnIXf51JTHW1\/s2048\/26AD343E-AFC7-41FF-97E9-F7889A489787.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhabJpipRxlDrYDuES0u9vYYkzfYlRM8dTFjDQi1VeZjcGrpdLj0v1D13YyTVg1h0fsMqTmeGDhunbqVr5palsZiWME4nqs_npQ4egfrlc2bQIQI0eX25voAD4ThExLWnPMZnIXf51JTHW1\/s16000\/26AD343E-AFC7-41FF-97E9-F7889A489787.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEieZ6f2U4Sw92YIYGdBnZeHaMqdaaoPHtcqmQlREAzbyKzj3dmhjZ8RQzQmFad4S2Twwuti7nSp1r-YqczSXQL4V6pA3fWSDPKqwC4AXmOi1kLxGPxd7X7NQrc0EWMEwP86v98t7xdD73fU\/s2048\/IMG_6143.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEieZ6f2U4Sw92YIYGdBnZeHaMqdaaoPHtcqmQlREAzbyKzj3dmhjZ8RQzQmFad4S2Twwuti7nSp1r-YqczSXQL4V6pA3fWSDPKqwC4AXmOi1kLxGPxd7X7NQrc0EWMEwP86v98t7xdD73fU\/s16000\/IMG_6143.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EAfter 4 magical days, our trip to Montreal had come to and end. I so enjoyed this trip, and I feel so grateful that such an incredible destination is available to us in Canada. With the world the way it is, everyone's situation and comfort levels will be different when it comes to travel. No matter what the situation, I would encourage you to give Montreal a try! I can't wait to go back.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHave you been to Montreal? What places do you recommend to check out? Let me know!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003Exo Joëlle\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThis trip was taken in partnership with Montreal Tourism. All thoughts and opinions are my own.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/8241928511262205521\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2021\/10\/montreal-city-guide.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8241928511262205521"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8241928511262205521"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2021\/10\/montreal-city-guide.html","title":"Montreal City Guide"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjKIHQ15qxohxkNaS_Vv0p56MAYszMPkpmXqk44QbqCXANeUkMnB1VEyaJ5FEu7JaLl7WXJ5IhXgiRq_Cr5OJ1j5lC-FtJz-hpMArwuBaqFWLmO9Iusd48z-S4oT35TWRBlMFYj7nW0kkRB\/s72-c\/image.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-957538048232745175"},"published":{"$t":"2021-08-16T09:49:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-08-16T09:49:53.001-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Toronto"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Pros and Cons of Living in Toronto"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgveiQp_K5ENut4hOu_kFAa1mg_uhfhVxf7nAbovV7dz_TU926t40iNh3I3yQqbzMrXPxNU4-xpBcN6HSDZQheONkFxKSW37_roT0Z-_fIKsaMO2w6Xiqjr4eyiXewT-mYVwpbOjxcAna0L\/s1500\/oversized-denim-jacket-toronto-skyline-ootd-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1500\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgveiQp_K5ENut4hOu_kFAa1mg_uhfhVxf7nAbovV7dz_TU926t40iNh3I3yQqbzMrXPxNU4-xpBcN6HSDZQheONkFxKSW37_roT0Z-_fIKsaMO2w6Xiqjr4eyiXewT-mYVwpbOjxcAna0L\/s16000\/oversized-denim-jacket-toronto-skyline-ootd-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs a content creator living in the city, with most of my content centered around living in Toronto, I get a lot of questions about what moving here would look like. Instead of answering your questions individually, I thought it would be great to address your concerns through a post.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, for context, here’s what you need to know about me. I’ve lived in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area for almost 11 years now. I have a young family—a husband who works in the city limits, a toddler son, and a dog. Prior to moving into a neighbourhood within the city last year, we were living in a condo downtown.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDISCLAIMER: Everything I’m going to mention here is totally from my point of view. If you’re serious about moving to the city, I highly encourage you to research, so you’ll know if this can work for you and your family.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch1 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EPros of Living in Toronto\u003C\/h1\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EThere’s Always Something to Do in Toronto\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis city is incredible! There's always an event, there's always a concert, an art exhibition, artwork on the street on any different night—there's so much to do! And, it’s not only for the single and young who want to meet people in the city. It’s also for young families. Prior to the lockdown, I had so many things available for me to do with my baby.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs someone who came from a smaller town, I was so impressed, and continue to be impressed, with how much there is to do in Toronto. Whatever your interests are, whatever you like to do for fun, I promise you will find so much to do in the city (even when we’re in lockdown!). Toronto is just a great place for entertainment and finding things to do.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EIt’s Easy to Meet People in Toronto\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs I’ve said, I grew up in a small town in Ontario, and I’ve always interacted with the same people I went to highschool with. Because of that, I found that it was really difficult to meet new people. Everybody kind of knew you, and it was hard to branch out. Also, most people were set in their ways with their own group of friends. So when I moved to the city, I thought it was so refreshing and very easy to meet people.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere are certainly people who have grown up and lived their entire lives in Toronto, but there are also a lot of other people who have moved here from different towns and even countries. A lot of times, these people are also looking for others to connect with. So, sometimes you do have to put yourself out there a little bit to make that connection.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI feel like Toronto has a reputation for being mean and snobby, and that might be true. But, if you break through the surface, everybody just wants human connection. And, because of the city’s transient nature it's easy to meet people.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI've always found that when I'm lonely and I put myself out there, the people I meet are usually in the same situation, and a great friendship is born as a result. I've met so many incredible people in this city and continue to do so.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EToronto is a Mix of Different Cultures\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou can often hear people talk about the food scene in Toronto and how amazing it is. This is because there are a lot of different cultures in Toronto, and with that, any and every cuisine you want is available to you, and it is done perfectly! We have a mix of different cultures and, despite the issues there may be, each of them is celebrated and has a strong community behind them.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI’ve had my fair share of traveling, and when I eat delicious food in my travels, I can often pinpoint it back to a restaurant back here in Toronto. I’ve also had a running list of restaurants I wanted to try for years now, and still I’m nowhere near complete!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EWalking Culture\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA lot of times, instead of taking public transit, I would prefer to walk to my destination. And, although we have a car, we very rarely use it. There’s actually so much to do within the neighbourhood without jumping into a car—I can do all my groceries, get all my essentials, do all my shopping, and eat out at tons of places. I just love the walkability of the city, and I love doing all my errands on foot.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EToronto has a Lot of Green Space\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn terms of big cities, Toronto actually has a lot of green space. There are usually multiple parks to hang out and take a load off. In our area alone, we have so many different parks, parkettes, and playgrounds, so it’s been interesting raising a child in the city. Compared to my parents’ place in the suburbs, where there’s only one or two parks within walking distance, our neighbourhood has a dozen!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgVHOoVtpAeHuJ2mDNNKMVzbBXttpCT4Q9-htBYyzwAuRWTKvFgantYItGBvu50l5FUfGmUZuOhog2KpYqagPzpSvqArdnDVtuiITtS30mXLskDllTdtrkxyCkGwiALEd75FT0OZKxx2L85\/s1000\/Toronto-Influencer-La-Petite-Noob-.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"667\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgVHOoVtpAeHuJ2mDNNKMVzbBXttpCT4Q9-htBYyzwAuRWTKvFgantYItGBvu50l5FUfGmUZuOhog2KpYqagPzpSvqArdnDVtuiITtS30mXLskDllTdtrkxyCkGwiALEd75FT0OZKxx2L85\/s16000\/Toronto-Influencer-La-Petite-Noob-.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch1\u003ECons of Living in Toronto\u003C\/h1\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2\u003ELiving in Toronto is Expensive\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToronto is a very expensive city. To put it into perspective, the average price for a single detached home within the city limit is one million dollars. And it’s not even a mansion a celebrity lives in—it’s a fairly modest and basic 1,000 to 2,000-square-feet home. And because it is so expensive to live within the city limits, it has caused a ripple effect to all of the surrounding cities, which are used as commuter cities for Toronto.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EThere is an Affordable Housing Crisis in the City\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy second point goes hand-in-hand with my first—housing prices and living expenses within the city are definitely a concern, and you’ll hear this a lot in Toronto conversation. Because of this, Toronto actually has a bit of a homeless crisis. People who come from the suburbs or the country may not be aware of this, but the reality of living in the city is that you’ll see homeless people fairly often, if not everyday.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, if you're thinking of moving into the city, just be aware that there’s not a lot of affordable housing—whether you’re planning to rent, own a home, live in a condo, or share it with roommates.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EExpensive Childcare\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMonths and months before my son was even born, I was on the waiting list of about 15 daycare centers. Thankfully, we have secured childcare now, which I am so grateful for. But, of those 15 places I signed up for, only one ended up calling me back! I’m fortunate that somebody actually gave me the nudge to start putting my name down before my son was even born, because I would never have known!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, this is something that may not affect a lot of you, but if you are a family with young kids, this aspect is something to consider. If you're moving into the city, it’s ideal to look into childcare and, hopefully, secure a spot for your children before you even get to the city.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EPublic Transit is a Mess\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI'm actually from a small town in Ontario. Moving into the city, I learned that having access to public transit, which gets you anywhere, was a bit of a luxury. While you can pretty much get anywhere in the city on public transit, it is not going to be easy.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe have a fairly inefficient public transit system—there are often delays and work being done on them. If I'm going somewhere on public transit, I usually allocate double the amount of time it should take to get to my destination (and oftentimes I'm hitting pretty close to that benchmark).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, yes, while public transit is readily available within the city—we have lots of busses, streetcars, subways, and GO trains—it’s not always the quickest and most direct route.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EThe City is Very Noisy\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHaving come from a condo downtown, I will say that the city noise was a regular part of our life. You constantly hear people on the street, cars passing by, horns blaring from the traffic—it’s a very, very noisy city.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, for some people, this might actually be a positive—it kind of creates this electric energy on the street. But, for a first-time mom trying to get her baby to sleep, the noise can definitely get to you. So, if you're somebody who craves solitude and quiet, it’s wise to consider that Toronto may not be for you.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EHustle Culture Is Real\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis “hustle culture” probably goes hand in hand with how expensive it is to live here in Toronto. I find that it’s definitely pro-work, pro-grind. People want to get it done and respond to emails late at night on the weekend, and most of them have multiple side hustles. This may be positive for some people (it actually is for me)—this mentality can drive them forward, and they may even find fuel and motivation in this (like I do). But, on the other side of the coin, it could be negative for those who just want a simple, quiet life—and there's nothing wrong with that.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiSwS0_Bp-NoJbPSIknndHd7Y_t7Hdqql1H5UxWN1cb7RHwQwnskfQYSfr56X4z5KrOkjndj1PREiN3MLj5lR3DC4GajOqFsdajyUiKhAc4hfbC7VW6qDOKB0G1V3KqgseGYiRxfO1w8STH\/s1800\/138564928_2720323964900093_752706195062585255_n.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1800\" data-original-width=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiSwS0_Bp-NoJbPSIknndHd7Y_t7Hdqql1H5UxWN1cb7RHwQwnskfQYSfr56X4z5KrOkjndj1PREiN3MLj5lR3DC4GajOqFsdajyUiKhAc4hfbC7VW6qDOKB0G1V3KqgseGYiRxfO1w8STH\/s16000\/138564928_2720323964900093_752706195062585255_n.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI truly love living in the city, and I can talk about it for hours! But, I also recognize that it’s not without its faults.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo, what about you? Did this convince you to move to the city, or have you realized Toronto isn’t for you? Do you have your own pros and cons list of living in the city? If you do, I would love to hear about them!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXo Joelle\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/957538048232745175\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2021\/08\/pros-and-cons-of-living-in-toronto.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/957538048232745175"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/957538048232745175"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2021\/08\/pros-and-cons-of-living-in-toronto.html","title":"Pros and Cons of Living in Toronto"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgveiQp_K5ENut4hOu_kFAa1mg_uhfhVxf7nAbovV7dz_TU926t40iNh3I3yQqbzMrXPxNU4-xpBcN6HSDZQheONkFxKSW37_roT0Z-_fIKsaMO2w6Xiqjr4eyiXewT-mYVwpbOjxcAna0L\/s72-c\/oversized-denim-jacket-toronto-skyline-ootd-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-639475064472796931"},"published":{"$t":"2021-07-22T07:48:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-07-22T07:48:21.498-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"home decor"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Home Office"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Room Reveal"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Pink Home Office Reveal"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj5Wk6Wa0u8F4dUa3djBmQv_hWMyxJYU1pwvL5MWfqHKGAqe7icnqTCySfiBIgAprqc7kY_1g9Gf-ZTJaNDcqt5Eg-vofj33BwtjlF2-0y6wVo_Xw9922gjnKeuONptUhyD1N0axUUwygVU\/s2048\/TitlePhoto.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj5Wk6Wa0u8F4dUa3djBmQv_hWMyxJYU1pwvL5MWfqHKGAqe7icnqTCySfiBIgAprqc7kY_1g9Gf-ZTJaNDcqt5Eg-vofj33BwtjlF2-0y6wVo_Xw9922gjnKeuONptUhyD1N0axUUwygVU\/s16000\/TitlePhoto.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EIt's been over a year since we moved into our Toronto home, and about 6 months since I turned our walk-in-closet into my dream home office! I'm so excited to finally be able to share the reveal photos, talk a bit about the process and link the items that have truly transformed the space into what it is today.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003ELet's talk though behind the process. You may remember from my home tour video that I was very excited to be able to have a walk-in-closet in the city. It had been a dream of mine since I had first moved to Toronto! And while I did enjoy the walk-in closet and the space and storage that comes along with it, the space wasn't the most inviting. The closet unit did not fit the space so it cut off half the window, making it very dark, and because it was customized to the specifications and needs of the previous owners, it just never felt like a good fit.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EEverything changed when we had to disassemble the closet in order to change our carpets into hardwood. Once we saw the empty room, filled with natural light and hardwood floors instead of carpets, we knew that we could never go back to the old, dark walk-in-closet. And so it was in that moment that the La Petite Noob pink, girly and very Joelle home office was conceptualized!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EThis home office is so special to me, mostly because I could never have imagined having a space all to myself when we were living in the condo. It feels so incredible to be able to decorate exactly the way that I want and have a space that is a true reflection of me. Workflow wise, it has also been a game-changer having an actual desk and space to work and write. Can you believe that I have been writing every single blog post, and editing every video from either my bed or the couch since 2013! Having a separate space to work is not only great for physical health (hello less back pain,) but also has been great for my mental health to have a separation with work. All around good things!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003ESo without further ado, here is my home office in all of her glory.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEituVCKGG5U_erixPNSiVFfKc0T_lwQ0T4fitqvNnBtsGO50FtLV0VqONyXFLrG2xQpVXcj4T02UJk_8hjdKhzWi410BTK7aMD7lRhej_L_dCqDfQ5X8Ro_LUL5sVFdS-kmrYt_aIxUQf1w\/s2048\/DSC_9714.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEituVCKGG5U_erixPNSiVFfKc0T_lwQ0T4fitqvNnBtsGO50FtLV0VqONyXFLrG2xQpVXcj4T02UJk_8hjdKhzWi410BTK7aMD7lRhej_L_dCqDfQ5X8Ro_LUL5sVFdS-kmrYt_aIxUQf1w\/s16000\/DSC_9714.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjhaVykOHfC_Y_8LrJ4FC-GR59xIHLyXW-FSuh1UayANV25pLdXJlntoB703v84ATqMIB7-0UPR1MjOYCXLgCROB9A8ctpC_3NjcmyF67EpqGArTfsG8Trsr6kwE48hgIGC_FRLM1e0DGQS\/s2048\/DSC_9725.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1367\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjhaVykOHfC_Y_8LrJ4FC-GR59xIHLyXW-FSuh1UayANV25pLdXJlntoB703v84ATqMIB7-0UPR1MjOYCXLgCROB9A8ctpC_3NjcmyF67EpqGArTfsG8Trsr6kwE48hgIGC_FRLM1e0DGQS\/s16000\/DSC_9725.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiJ1fWbeeffG64lMOXYE_tybyPAyjWr3jHnzqU3JiK7DhFPYlawKuroa-HVNYmsLlKHZV3USA0rDxlXI9CM-EgE5vP1EnX_8X3ppdXGFiGfAw7vKotr2JfcmIsxEJyIStlQmmKKAaQXiKlm\/s2048\/DSC_9721.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiJ1fWbeeffG64lMOXYE_tybyPAyjWr3jHnzqU3JiK7DhFPYlawKuroa-HVNYmsLlKHZV3USA0rDxlXI9CM-EgE5vP1EnX_8X3ppdXGFiGfAw7vKotr2JfcmIsxEJyIStlQmmKKAaQXiKlm\/s16000\/DSC_9721.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ELivette's Wallpaper\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhen I found out that I would be able to transform our former closet into my home office, I knew immediately that I wanted a really fun wallpaper accent wall. It took me months to find a wallpaper that was both bright and fun, but also muted enough so as to not overwhelm my tiny office space. After coming up short time and time again, I discovered \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.livetteswallpaper.com\"\u003ELivette's Wallpaper\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ELivette's Wallpaper checked all of the boxes for me: fun and unique designs, pre-cut, a self-adhesive option and the ability to customize colours within their designs. The customization was key for me, as I loved their \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.livetteswallpaper.com\/collections\/removable-wallpaper\/products\/hazelnut-color-brush-strokes-removable-wallpaper\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPaintbrush Maze\u003C\/a\u003E \u003C\/b\u003Edesign and requested the pattern to be customized with the colours Blush and Millennial. The result has far exceeded my expectations and I think the wallpaper accent wall really ties the room together. I just love it!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhYauGrealbB5GKCb5iM0SPZ_6cWUnrW60-CElrbZx-LJgzCUk5mgI9i5DfredJ0mdiUI9IRvd58C0CYqdWhfJ0KtKRo0UL3NbXfk2fYAoaQ1npGtzCkMBC6xTWbhFnkRSBQpNWlkb-UusU\/s2048\/DSC_9723.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhYauGrealbB5GKCb5iM0SPZ_6cWUnrW60-CElrbZx-LJgzCUk5mgI9i5DfredJ0mdiUI9IRvd58C0CYqdWhfJ0KtKRo0UL3NbXfk2fYAoaQ1npGtzCkMBC6xTWbhFnkRSBQpNWlkb-UusU\/s16000\/DSC_9723.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjDx2Ttxz-obw-7gxqncOtkdLy6ahm481jUY_ppfeMe44xTriK0Y6Ta4jjUP3UMKodt5Z5PV-Ca9dLZoaDAyiPPqJ82WBagDVpVIh6MZiqjYY-0TobiYApcGE-a2S_Bv74QxA7m0HBD20rO\/s2048\/DSC_9717.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjDx2Ttxz-obw-7gxqncOtkdLy6ahm481jUY_ppfeMe44xTriK0Y6Ta4jjUP3UMKodt5Z5PV-Ca9dLZoaDAyiPPqJ82WBagDVpVIh6MZiqjYY-0TobiYApcGE-a2S_Bv74QxA7m0HBD20rO\/s16000\/DSC_9717.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhen it came to the furniture for my home office, I knew that I wanted comfortable pieces that would reflect my personal style. I'm \u003Ci\u003Edefinitely\u003C\/i\u003E not an interior designer, so I don't have an elaborate thought process when decorating a room. I just stick to pieces that I truly love in the same colour palette, so in this case it was different shades of pinks and neutrals. I am very thankful to have worked with \u003Cb\u003ECrate and Barrel Canada\u003C\/b\u003E to style some of their pieces, and I think they make such a statement!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EA tip that I learned while furnishing my home office, especially if you love colour, is to check the kids section of your favourite furniture retailers. The majority of my office pieces are actually from Crate and Barrel Kids and help to add to the colourful, quirky vibe at a fraction of the cost.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHere is a full list of the items used in my home office:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3d5Vb3S\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECrate and Barrel Roan Wood Office Chair\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/2P3q5lo\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECrate and Barrel Kids Desk Lamp\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3vW0POq\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EWhite and Pink Vase\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/399NPv6\"\u003ENatural Coasters\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3lKnvN6\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECane Flushmount Light\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDesk: Urban Outfitters (old)\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/oppositewall.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPrints + Frames\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.heymacashop.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHey Maca Shop\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.crateandbarrel.ca\/pink-modern-geometric-rug\/f90550\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPink Rug\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.livetteswallpaper.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWallpaper\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/31izNmi\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPink Velvet Chair\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/makemovesvintage.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EShell Pillow\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3kJsHlH\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESide Table\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhyBse1qylsz0BiiPHtEeWW9owG08grjz32-QRWhXilg0kY0Yy2xzArlNs77xQlzEYcwW7Sa_q86CgJpOJFOMlsaAeCcLoo3VaIJIdOw4qASd0BERGldf2KzXuf5YVfOfVFZ57byVeXt0Fk\/s2048\/DSC_9724.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1367\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhyBse1qylsz0BiiPHtEeWW9owG08grjz32-QRWhXilg0kY0Yy2xzArlNs77xQlzEYcwW7Sa_q86CgJpOJFOMlsaAeCcLoo3VaIJIdOw4qASd0BERGldf2KzXuf5YVfOfVFZ57byVeXt0Fk\/s16000\/DSC_9724.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiwZUcRnaOozhaM8LMz0Si8ZDdBcZQtT-B6R7TBGNEG1SJ3W-Ms-GHXkcCVDqQHf7XYGxjBj8bJ1PL2pMpdjpyv0Ew1GigZnZU9Agk1XNTQXriTKZGIkdymRkwhuCtGzCpNTG4M5cay2375\/s2048\/YouTube+Channel+Art-2.png\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1152\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiwZUcRnaOozhaM8LMz0Si8ZDdBcZQtT-B6R7TBGNEG1SJ3W-Ms-GHXkcCVDqQHf7XYGxjBj8bJ1PL2pMpdjpyv0Ew1GigZnZU9Agk1XNTQXriTKZGIkdymRkwhuCtGzCpNTG4M5cay2375\/s16000\/YouTube+Channel+Art-2.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjQ-16UjukVfPkzW0n4Fo0qeI7wmlCLZYChaB251KnJBxFGB8y1yMN9sRAxh6PlpSdZHRJuFgc8G-YIx_p8Lg0U7_UvIHpZrNjZuqKLpAh9Czfe05UWEQ6o_I23aXqPejYPHRbW3kYAInyP\/s2048\/DSC_9719.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjQ-16UjukVfPkzW0n4Fo0qeI7wmlCLZYChaB251KnJBxFGB8y1yMN9sRAxh6PlpSdZHRJuFgc8G-YIx_p8Lg0U7_UvIHpZrNjZuqKLpAh9Czfe05UWEQ6o_I23aXqPejYPHRbW3kYAInyP\/s16000\/DSC_9719.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgrs0zbMnfVz9YGfSp0jlbb1xz433wzMaW8J_1HRKlNuIU2xlTqdE4HJyMOFFtKRRCXVbyyJPt2P9Qdi_PZN8s5Kg_86T9ySPtgbq1mTCfU8lwxt6IlBWP6wCP4Y0AjrOrA7R1LS1nCupEI\/s2048\/DSC_9732.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgrs0zbMnfVz9YGfSp0jlbb1xz433wzMaW8J_1HRKlNuIU2xlTqdE4HJyMOFFtKRRCXVbyyJPt2P9Qdi_PZN8s5Kg_86T9ySPtgbq1mTCfU8lwxt6IlBWP6wCP4Y0AjrOrA7R1LS1nCupEI\/s16000\/DSC_9732.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEipM3jT0b3_30QRwEnwZDmiazlcSFDYDQB19TWEZyB167CEMygaIq4kSw1Fx_lWG8h5FNfvnsEJ0jyJJGpIeYG6iSLK7siTSGDyfmMwl98sVzR9RxQLgs3COxNCjruHmliWudkfRs4qX2BL\/s2048\/DSC_9722.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEipM3jT0b3_30QRwEnwZDmiazlcSFDYDQB19TWEZyB167CEMygaIq4kSw1Fx_lWG8h5FNfvnsEJ0jyJJGpIeYG6iSLK7siTSGDyfmMwl98sVzR9RxQLgs3COxNCjruHmliWudkfRs4qX2BL\/s16000\/DSC_9722.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's it! I'm so much happier working from home in my new home office that perfectly reflects my personal style. If you work from home, I couldn't recommend investing in a separate office space enough. It's made a world of a difference for me.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAre you working from home? Let me know!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Exo Joëlle\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/639475064472796931\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2021\/07\/pink-home-office-reveal.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/639475064472796931"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/639475064472796931"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2021\/07\/pink-home-office-reveal.html","title":"Pink Home Office Reveal"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj5Wk6Wa0u8F4dUa3djBmQv_hWMyxJYU1pwvL5MWfqHKGAqe7icnqTCySfiBIgAprqc7kY_1g9Gf-ZTJaNDcqt5Eg-vofj33BwtjlF2-0y6wVo_Xw9922gjnKeuONptUhyD1N0axUUwygVU\/s72-c\/TitlePhoto.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-2673972793900282493"},"published":{"$t":"2021-07-07T11:31:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-07-07T13:11:37.926-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Blog Tips"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Social Media"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"5 Blogging Myths Exposed"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgdUIw4Nw8Hjn_Qw83y43S8OdKQciAs5fcbbJIVVjTAYJmURImMGZ4_uiNhPbmX0WGoDB5vQ6bmooNJxnPiHE-7SFJZiujCZUea_fR5mP7UBr6Cimx29skdjER-xUCtNoOyE-dm9-QEl173\/s2048\/IMG_3750+2.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1638\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgdUIw4Nw8Hjn_Qw83y43S8OdKQciAs5fcbbJIVVjTAYJmURImMGZ4_uiNhPbmX0WGoDB5vQ6bmooNJxnPiHE-7SFJZiujCZUea_fR5mP7UBr6Cimx29skdjER-xUCtNoOyE-dm9-QEl173\/s16000\/IMG_3750+2.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith every passing year, the industry of digital content creation just continues to grow - it's a beautiful thing! \u0026nbsp;While it's easy to look on from a distance and wonder if it's a good time to start creating content online, I'm here to tell you that the time is now! Especially when it comes to starting your own blog.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday, let's continue our chat about blogging, which encompasses a large part of this industry. What exactly is a blog? \u0026nbsp;A blog is an online space that's totally yours to create, write, design and control, and the best part is that you completely own it to yourself. Blogging has no limitations, and there is so much opportunity for you to share your thoughts, ideas and opinions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESounds pretty good right? So what's stopping you or holding you back from starting your own blog? I know through so many conversations, as well as my own insecurities before launching La Petite Noob, that there are a lot of myths about blogging out there.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E1.\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E\t\u003C\/span\u003EYou’re too old to start\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt can be easy to think that blogging and social media are only for the young, but I believe there is an audience for everyone out there. Age can never be a hurdle to you for anything you want to do, as long as you are determined to dive into it. Through blogging, you have the potential to reach countless people around the world, and the chances of your content resonating with someone is very high - no matter what the age!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETry to imagine who you want to speak to when you start your blog. Or even better, who you tend to follow and connect with online. For me, it's typically those that are my age and in the same stage of life - definitely not the young ones! I imagine my target audience, who they are and what stage of life they're in, and try to speak to them in the most relatable way.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou might be in your 30s, 40s, or 50s+, and it's still the right time to start. You can talk about the topics you can and want to talk about, without concerning about what you \u003Ci\u003Eshould\u003C\/i\u003E talk about to get the audience's interest. Eventually you will find your own audience if you keep moving forward in your journey. There is a countless number of people who have similar interests as you do and would want to read about topics that interest you. Remember that.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESomething else to consider - starting a blog, or social media account when you feel as though you're older than the average user actually comes with a huge advantage : you have less saturation of people trying to speak to your target audience!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere is no age that is too old to be on social media whatsoever. There is no such thing as too old to start. Considering the fact that a teenager would not understand the thoughts of someone in their 40s or 50s, the only time your age can be a problem for you if you try to go after the wrong audience. So, you should speak, connect and embrace the audience who would be going through similar stages of life as you, would want similar things as you, and is all ears to know your experiences.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E2.\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E\t\u003C\/span\u003EYou need to live in a big city in order to be successful\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EConsidering the fact that a vast majority of people who are a huge face online live in big metropolitan cities, like New York, or LA. You might feel pretty demotivated to start blogging if you don't live in such big cities. The city you live in is not a roadblock for your success. I can tell from my personal experience that this myth is really something that holds people back from starting their blogging career. When I first started out, I actually didn't live in Toronto, I lived in the suburbs. I remember I used to think if I just lived in a big city, it would be so much easier and everything would start going well. Looking back, it wasn't moving to Toronto that made my blog more successful. It was embracing the city I was in, being transparent with my audience and sharing places that I loved that really caused La Petite Noob to originally take off!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEveryone of you has a unique experience, unique perspective towards things, and unique visions. So instead of being stuck back by saying you need to live in big cities in order to be successful, you should embrace your current situation! People just want to feel a connection though your content, and that happens when you're honest and forthcoming about your situation. You may find connections with readers in your own small town or suburb, or with people who live in a similar situation around the world.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs it seems like the entire world has moved online in the past year, it should be enough proof to you that you can connect with people, and make a name for yourself online, without concerning yourself with the myth that you need to live in big cities to be successful.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E3.\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E\t\u003C\/span\u003EYou need to have a large following to be paid\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe all know that there is money to be made in social media and in blogging, but there's a myth out there that you need a large following or readership to get a slice of the pie. Needing a large audience to make money off of your content is a myth. I can tell from my experience that social media and blogging is not just about the numbers but more about building an engaging community in this industry. This is 100% a relationship business, both in that with your audience and with brands. As long as you have an engaging following, and take the time to truly connect with your audience, your follower number will not be as big of a barrier to you as you may think.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe best way to build and focus on relationships is to first understand your audience; what age group do they belong to, what kind of content do they like from you more, where most of them live, etc. Get to know your audience as much as possible, and that information is incredibly valuable to perspective brands and advertisers. You can then showcase the statistics of your following and your engagements as to why you should be paid even with a small following. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnline content creation is truly an industry of relationships, so focus more on fostering those relationships than with your follower or readership count. Not only will this make you more valuable to potential brand deals, but also just make the journey of blogging so much sweeter.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E4.\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E\t\u003C\/span\u003EYou can cheat your way to the top\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI am sure it would not be any surprise to you if I tell you that you can buy followers and inflate your numbers artificially. There are several ways out there through which you can simply buy more followers, engagements, and even likes and comments. It's like artificially fluffing up your stats to make it look like you have more followers than you actually do. It can be really tempting for you at the beginning of your journey to make it big quickly using these methods. \u0026nbsp;But you have to understand, buying anything to create artificial engagement or growth is \u003Ci\u003Enot\u003C\/i\u003E sustainable in the long run.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor experienced eyes, it is pretty easy to tell which blogger has an actual following and which ones are just buying the followers and engagements. That means both your audience, fellow bloggers and brands have been trained to spot bought engagement and likes. Companies nowadays use several ways to filter out those who are purchasing followers and reach, with both experience and also software. Yes, there's actually software now that can detect this stuff!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith the industry being more established now, and with technology readily available to spot fakes, is a \u003Ci\u003Ehuge\u003C\/i\u003E myth that you can buy your way to the top. It might be true for the short term, but it surely is disadvantageous for those who are in the game for the long run.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E5.\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E\t\u003C\/span\u003EIt is too late to start\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERepeat after me: the time to start your blog is now!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere is no bad time to start your blogging journey. If you're wanting to start a blog today (or an Instagram account, Youtube channel, etc,) chances are that you'll also want to start in a year from now. I also should mention that I had these same sentiments about whether it was too late to start a blog for years before starting La Petite Noob - in 2013! I'm so glad that I didn't let that nagging feeling get in the way of living my dreams!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo why not start now! Today is better than tomorrow. What I've learned in life is that it's best to stop waiting for the perfect time, and to jump in and learn as you go. The industry has changed so much in the last decade, and will continue to shift and change as we move forward. No time like today to just start, get your footing and change and grow along with it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"BLOG_video_class\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/B1vmdW00oPg\" width=\"320\" youtube-src-id=\"B1vmdW00oPg\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E Moral of the story is if you stay stuck in what-ifs, then you will never get to know what could have been. What do you guys think? What other myths have you come across about blogging? Let me know!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/2673972793900282493\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2021\/07\/5-blogging-myths-exposed.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/2673972793900282493"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/2673972793900282493"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2021\/07\/5-blogging-myths-exposed.html","title":"5 Blogging Myths Exposed"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgdUIw4Nw8Hjn_Qw83y43S8OdKQciAs5fcbbJIVVjTAYJmURImMGZ4_uiNhPbmX0WGoDB5vQ6bmooNJxnPiHE-7SFJZiujCZUea_fR5mP7UBr6Cimx29skdjER-xUCtNoOyE-dm9-QEl173\/s72-c\/IMG_3750+2.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-3122926272670407428"},"published":{"$t":"2021-06-30T10:12:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-06-30T10:12:29.307-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Blog Tips"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"5 BIG Reasons Why You Need A Blog in 2021"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgMA19IGrSqCh5uu-9owjTolCHF6Gn6UTaitEK5tdAM2aEFQMewc9EcRpQb31CcqcrZlNynDO32Jz3ajy374mjV96G9bEBfOsLp6x_qs3sMWDvzEzVAtk9S5hBTxDloaFC7q0vzjwseOBiR\/s2048\/IMG_1742+2.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgMA19IGrSqCh5uu-9owjTolCHF6Gn6UTaitEK5tdAM2aEFQMewc9EcRpQb31CcqcrZlNynDO32Jz3ajy374mjV96G9bEBfOsLp6x_qs3sMWDvzEzVAtk9S5hBTxDloaFC7q0vzjwseOBiR\/s16000\/IMG_1742+2.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe world is changing so much from one day to the next, and so is the industry of Digital Content Creation. With social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok being the centre of this industry now, you might be thinking if it’s even worth it to start blogging. Is it even worth starting a blog at this point?\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI'm here to tell you YES - it's not only a great time to start a blog in 2021, but it's also extremely important. blog has so many more aspects than you think it has. Here's 5 reasons why I think, in the age of social media, it's important to start a blog in 2021.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E1.\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E\t\u003C\/span\u003EYou Own Your Blog\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe one thing that makes me nervous about crafting an entire online presence through social media apps is that you're 100% at the mercy of that app. You don't control or own anything. I always think about when Vine suddenly shut down. Or when the Instagram algorithm decides to start hiding your posts. It's both frustrating and dangerous to your online business to craft an entire brand through apps that you don't own.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA blog, on the other hand, you own. It's your own corner of the internet that's 100% yours and where you have control. Think of your blog as your home base. A place to house all of your thoughts and opinions, like your various social platforms, and a place where all your audience can engage with you even if you don’t keep up with the social media platform trends. Working on something that, no matter how can never be taken away from you, is the best thing you can do as a creator in 2021.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E2.\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E\t\u003C\/span\u003EYour Content Can Be Evergreen\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere's what I mean by evergreen content - when a post you craft online can stay relevant and get views for weeks, months or even years to come\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EEvergreen content isn't as easy to create on social media. Take an Instagram post for example. You post, and it gets engagement. But after a few other posts, does it still give you the same amount of reach and engagement? No, it almost loses its potential to gain you more engagement. The algorithm on social media is tailored to your most recent posts - not anything that has been posted in the past. No matter how great content you post on social media, however nice captions you use, its engagement can only help you for a short period of time.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBut on your blog, your content never loses its potential to gain you more engagement, rather that potential increases with time. Depending on if more and more people start taking interest in that topic than there used to be, it might just start getting more and more views! Tools like SEO and Pinterest can really help to keep your blog's content evergreen, and searchable for years to come. Some of my most viewed posts that still keep people visiting my blog to this day are from 2014!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETalking on the aspect of return of investment you get on the efforts you put in your content, a blog is far better than any social media platform. So, as years pass by, posts on your blog keep on increasing your audience, as long as they are relevant.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E3.\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E\t\u003C\/span\u003EAccess To Your Statistics Through Google Analytics\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELet’s talk about analytics: it’s a process of collecting data, making patterns, and looking into that patterns. It is really helpful for seeing how your content is preforming, knowing who your audience is and what they're most interested in. Having access to analytics can greatly improve the sales and the engagement, in pretty much any industry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow that you know about analytics, think of how google can analyze all the data as it has so many users, and is the most widely used search engine all around the globe. Google Analytics is the best tool out there you can use to know your audience and understand them. With it you can have an idea of what kind of content your audience likes from you, you can have an idea of your demographic reach, and about many more of such useful data that will change your rankings and your reach. \u0026nbsp;Having access to Google Analytics not only it helps you to improve your content, generate more engagements and also create that evergreen content on your blog.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E4.\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E\t\u003C\/span\u003EControl Your Online Presence\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EQuick question, what is the first thing that you do when you meet someone or hear something interesting about someone? You probably Google them. I know it’s embarrassing to admit, but it shows how your presence online is really important.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYour blog can help to create, control and curate that online presence for you.If you're using your full name with your blog, it will likely be one of the first things that pops up in the search engine, which is awesome! Your blog shows your thoughts, your personality, your interests. So, it gives an idea about your talent to the audience, or anyone who's looking to find out a bit more about you. Having a blog is a great way to further capture the presence around your name online, as well as showing up as an authority figure in your respective creative field. If you want to be a content creator, a blog is a great place to showcase all your talents, your achievements, and your thoughts in one place. So, stand out, create your online presence, create your blog!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E5.\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E\t\u003C\/span\u003EElaborate On Your Thoughts \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECan you really convey your thoughts and your message through just social media posts, or stories, or captions? I know for me, I'm able to further explain and elaborate on thoughts when I have the space to do-so. There always are chances of what you really wanted to say being misunderstood by the audience, and that can create \u0026nbsp;chaos for you if you talk about sensitive topics. The biggest reason why I love having a blog is, I feel like I can really elaborate on exactly what I am thinking at that moment, what I want to say on a topic. Take the time to proofread it to see if that’s exactly how I meant to be coming across. Basically just crafting a bigger picture as opposed to just a caption or a story which is easily misconstrued.\u003Cspan class=\"Apple-tab-span\" style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E\t\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EBonus -\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis bonus reason is the one I hold closest to my heart, and it is that your blog acts as a time capsule for you. Those of you who keep a diary, or used to keep a diary at least, must agree with me. Your blog is not just a platform for you to gain engagement, it has sentimental values as well and it shows you how far you have come in your journey. I personally think there is no greater feeling than going through your journey and seeing how far you’ve made it. You can just open your blog, scroll through your previous posts, and see how your thoughts, your lifestyle, your personality has evolved in the past years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat you think about all the reasons and if you have any to add to it? Have you started a blog yet? How fun your blogging journey has been so far? I love to hear your thoughts and opinion. Let me know!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"BLOG_video_class\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9qgMcJtQsw4\" width=\"320\" youtube-src-id=\"9qgMcJtQsw4\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/3122926272670407428\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2021\/06\/5-big-reasons-why-you-need-blog-in-2021.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3122926272670407428"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3122926272670407428"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2021\/06\/5-big-reasons-why-you-need-blog-in-2021.html","title":"5 BIG Reasons Why You Need A Blog in 2021"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgMA19IGrSqCh5uu-9owjTolCHF6Gn6UTaitEK5tdAM2aEFQMewc9EcRpQb31CcqcrZlNynDO32Jz3ajy374mjV96G9bEBfOsLp6x_qs3sMWDvzEzVAtk9S5hBTxDloaFC7q0vzjwseOBiR\/s72-c\/IMG_1742+2.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-8940249702672304359"},"published":{"$t":"2021-05-25T13:51:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2021-05-25T14:17:06.282-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Toronto"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"I Hired A Cleaning Service and My Mental Health Improved"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg-2vxkRzNFOSXQzvryhZFxvgzmEDTIbr-Sfo3c_77XLfeLLan79NRl_-IvBQ0RYoqK2ZmAc7-UMlg8GPsR9StMYhl5aeSYhxeB6nGtrYEX8oOIg5o-VrsHbOHn6MRGrQ-ng2FkVqG-UmYm\/s2047\/52253ABC-695B-486A-90A4-B397E3269D69.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2047\" data-original-width=\"1638\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg-2vxkRzNFOSXQzvryhZFxvgzmEDTIbr-Sfo3c_77XLfeLLan79NRl_-IvBQ0RYoqK2ZmAc7-UMlg8GPsR9StMYhl5aeSYhxeB6nGtrYEX8oOIg5o-VrsHbOHn6MRGrQ-ng2FkVqG-UmYm\/s16000\/52253ABC-695B-486A-90A4-B397E3269D69.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere are few things that send my heart a-flutter like a clean space. I find that I'm happier, more productive, calmer and just overall a better person. Dramatic? Maybe, but the difference a clean space can do for your mental health is pretty dramatic. It's a game changer.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe problem is that finding time to do a thorough clean can be a challenge. Myself I'm trying to balance working from home with a toddler, and it's a constant juggling act of priorities. Unfortunately, maintaining a clean house has fallen to the bottom of the list. After a year of feeling guilty about our messy space, and the mental chaos that came with it, I decided to hire one of the best cleaning services in the city: \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.justcallgeoffrey.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGeoffrey The Butler\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgpVbSsjYesG-2pVp9I6VRZs3fXYp9igyy3LYx7LuMA-dFYqv6gkhia6MSBLwMLPguaDsRof72KfLxZYro0CvynSNaDn95mRIkiKCYPG_K1306x7L413u1-0KXRowJPNuG_l-K6Z45LJgxo\/s960\/GTB-Logo-Updated-March-2020.png\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"960\" data-original-width=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgpVbSsjYesG-2pVp9I6VRZs3fXYp9igyy3LYx7LuMA-dFYqv6gkhia6MSBLwMLPguaDsRof72KfLxZYro0CvynSNaDn95mRIkiKCYPG_K1306x7L413u1-0KXRowJPNuG_l-K6Z45LJgxo\/s16000\/GTB-Logo-Updated-March-2020.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow I've heard of \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.justcallgeoffrey.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGeoffrey The Butler\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E long before reaching out to book them for our space; their good reputation in Toronto precedes them. They're known for offering cleaning services for condos, houses and offices alike, their speed and attention to detail when cleaning. Geoffrey The Butler also prides themselves on being the quality and reliable choice when it comes to cleaning your space - two qualities that are very important to me, as reliability is \u003Ci\u003Eimperative \u003C\/i\u003Ewhen dealing with scheduling and a toddler. Something else that drew me to Geoffrey The Butler, as opposed to any other cleaning service that I've seen, is their local pride and how they praise and celebrate their staff on social media. It's these little details that matter when selecting businesses to support, especially after the year we've all had. I was sold, and couldn't wait for Geoffrey The Butler to preform magic on our space.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI chose \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.justcallgeoffrey.com\/the-geoffrey-clean\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Geoffrey Clean\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, which is the highest level of clean there is. It's been a year into a pandemic, with two adults and a toddler working from home. We needed to call in the big guns. Otherwise, you could also select a maintenance clean, or even a move-in\/move-out option! I wish I had known about Geoffrey when we were moving into our house from the condo. You can also select add-ons to your service, such as cleaning to walls, fridge, ovens, windows, etc. It's all there.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj1MUQYDs5ON6Hn3k52lz9BhpWckPshUo19JKX5_B0gFYBzLFLR3VO6KH28DhEljNycTW4OjJfNO0RuHtnhBFz8uyXSt29DP8TUX1ql7PeXQyrkJzlK1zkB2QtiMtxEDjNCFS_oe7KW_s9z\/s2048\/IMG_1743.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1638\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj1MUQYDs5ON6Hn3k52lz9BhpWckPshUo19JKX5_B0gFYBzLFLR3VO6KH28DhEljNycTW4OjJfNO0RuHtnhBFz8uyXSt29DP8TUX1ql7PeXQyrkJzlK1zkB2QtiMtxEDjNCFS_oe7KW_s9z\/s16000\/IMG_1743.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EThe Booking Process\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBooking a cleaning for your space with Geoffrey The Butler couldn't be easier - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/book.housecallpro.com\/book\/Geoffrey-The-Butler\/aab0b80a2b404c93a3f33d00c7bfc49e\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eeverything is done online\u003C\/a\u003E. You select your date, the service you would like and any add-ons you require. Super easy and convenient.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EHow Long Did It Take?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI can speak for myself and my experience, but the entire cleaning process took about 3 hours - which was\u003Ci\u003E much\u003C\/i\u003E quicker than I was anticipating! For reference, our space is about 2500 square feet. Because Geoffrey The Butler came with multiple staff, they were able to divide and conquer, resulting in a full clean in half the time it would have taken me to do it myself. I really appreciate the speed in which they work, especially since I had my toddler Benny with me and we were out park-hopping while they worked.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EDid You Stay While They Cleaned?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EDue to the nature of the world, and \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.justcallgeoffrey.com\/covid-19-policies\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGeoffrey The Butler's strict COVID measures\u003C\/a\u003E (which I appreciate,) you're required to either be outside of your space while they work, or stay contained to one space until they're ready to clean it. Because I had Benny with me, it was easier to just take him outside for the day. My husband Brian had to stay in the house because of work and meetings, and just stayed contained to the office until it was ready to be cleaned - simple.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EDid You \"Pre-Clean?\"\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOkay, so here's the thing: I'm notorious for \"pre-cleaning\" before a cleaning service comes, and I know that I'm not alone. Not only do I not want people to know the chaos in which I live on the daily, but I also think that if you do a solid de-clutter then your cleaning service is able to do their jobs easier. On the day in which Geoffrey The Butler was scheduled to arrive, I had planned to do a thorough \"pre-clean\" in the morning. Well, as lucky would have it, I got a text from my friend letting me know of a pop-up vaccination clinic and that I needed to run over. I dropped everything, grabbed Benny and thankfully got my first dose of the vaccine! That meant though that I wasn't able to pre-clean as I usually do.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ENot a worry though! First of all, the Geoffrey The Butler team was extremely gracious and reassured me that my house was not a disaster (even if they were just trying to make me feel better, it definitely helped.) They also took the time to group together my clutter so that they could clean thoroughly - this was especially important in the basement where Benny's toys live! I don't know if I've kicked my pre-cleaning habit for good, but I'm very reassured that the Geoffrey The Butler team has me covered when life gets in the way.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EHow Were The Results?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EY'all. When I say that I was floored with the results, I was ON THE FLOOR! First of all, my kitchen has never looked nicer - and that's including when we first moved in. The baseboards were cleaned, which makes that the first time they have been cleaned since we moved in, and THE BATHROOMS. OMG when I say that I cannot keep a clean bathroom, I'm not exaggerating. The Geoffrey The Butler team turned our bathrooms around and made them sparkle - I've never seen a cleaner faucet! I also noticed a huge difference in our shower tiles. It honestly felt like we had renovated. So so good.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EThe real difference came in the little details. Geoffrey The Butler takes pride in their attention to detail, and it showed. Our toilet paper was folded, and our beds made with our sleep masks placed tastefully next to the pillows - much like a hotel! The little details make an experience, and it's what made me want to book Geoffrey The Butler again.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj6kEJ_o8bTr9qdIQY_8zxF3YJ8mq-e-EzbdpUmYCmyD4JuadxOurhja-uaqMFf88aXqv0A5OZ9PxDddfLbajeTBzwWg8cmbUWsRTOZloA-yM-bk12NWlY41oyKyQevCthLGrnzQbqQVb0w\/s1920\/IMG_1149.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1920\" data-original-width=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj6kEJ_o8bTr9qdIQY_8zxF3YJ8mq-e-EzbdpUmYCmyD4JuadxOurhja-uaqMFf88aXqv0A5OZ9PxDddfLbajeTBzwWg8cmbUWsRTOZloA-yM-bk12NWlY41oyKyQevCthLGrnzQbqQVb0w\/s16000\/IMG_1149.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj_HCq5QWRYWGvgVt-5n9EFL5wqlP9rJDB6F6syw1BGxe5FWFXKorfOXGDGVj9-w2Gwv-kehtUZltXE2LKqSGdjIa8DgSiC50dON0yzZaerH2e9WYXJXoliDD8wQpxE2UA7p3pUGmpNg-Du\/s1080\/IMG_1150.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1080\" data-original-width=\"1080\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj_HCq5QWRYWGvgVt-5n9EFL5wqlP9rJDB6F6syw1BGxe5FWFXKorfOXGDGVj9-w2Gwv-kehtUZltXE2LKqSGdjIa8DgSiC50dON0yzZaerH2e9WYXJXoliDD8wQpxE2UA7p3pUGmpNg-Du\/s320\/IMG_1150.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjvomLVX9ITnCq3t9np3CVj1UMjvsbqAfhMwTm3vngllZ5MMYdVgIiCFU2kY0K61JN9SHuVkqZFqFTaQN3otG48EYRyEw-Fit5ITC-uY7I1rWpi6d09dGUBhvZnKYP2D8dknFZk_bj9kbMr\/s1080\/IMG_1151.JPG\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1080\" data-original-width=\"1080\" height=\"320\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjvomLVX9ITnCq3t9np3CVj1UMjvsbqAfhMwTm3vngllZ5MMYdVgIiCFU2kY0K61JN9SHuVkqZFqFTaQN3otG48EYRyEw-Fit5ITC-uY7I1rWpi6d09dGUBhvZnKYP2D8dknFZk_bj9kbMr\/s320\/IMG_1151.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EWhat Are The Costs\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI find the pricing at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.justcallgeoffrey.com\"\u003EGeoffrey The Butler\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E very fair for cleaning services in the city! Pricing depends on the size of your space and square footage.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EShould I Book?\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIf you have been thinking of hiring a cleaning service, my recommendation would be to do it. I know that oftentimes spending money on things that we could do ourselves leads to feelings of guilt, especially as women, but I cannot tell you what a difference it has made for me and my mental health. Not only am I able to save time, but I'm also allocating a task that I do not enjoy (and am bad at) to professionals who have a real passion for what they do. It's been such a game changer for me, and I truly believe that spending money to buy you back time is the best money that you could spend.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWhat do you guys think? Have you been thinking of hiring a cleaning service? Let me know!\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003Exo Joelle\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/8940249702672304359\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2021\/05\/i-hired-cleaning-service-and-my-mental.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8940249702672304359"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8940249702672304359"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2021\/05\/i-hired-cleaning-service-and-my-mental.html","title":"I Hired A Cleaning Service and My Mental Health Improved"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg-2vxkRzNFOSXQzvryhZFxvgzmEDTIbr-Sfo3c_77XLfeLLan79NRl_-IvBQ0RYoqK2ZmAc7-UMlg8GPsR9StMYhl5aeSYhxeB6nGtrYEX8oOIg5o-VrsHbOHn6MRGrQ-ng2FkVqG-UmYm\/s72-c\/52253ABC-695B-486A-90A4-B397E3269D69.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-1901266693305156789"},"published":{"$t":"2020-12-29T08:43:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-12-29T08:43:35.419-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"2020"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Real Talk"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"2020 Lessons Learned"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjoz5aW6jH-OQiNHxOFChixjaR1qyA4F2xY0gp6INkjpT9b_q914zOlow1PHbxgK-4jBgv3-Y1kag2YwFrbs44_ZT6qN3RFNS0YQ52HL0HE-iXO3rBMvOeGtrg8keOUluJmiaKyeILnp0iN\/s2048\/IMG_6112+2.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjoz5aW6jH-OQiNHxOFChixjaR1qyA4F2xY0gp6INkjpT9b_q914zOlow1PHbxgK-4jBgv3-Y1kag2YwFrbs44_ZT6qN3RFNS0YQ52HL0HE-iXO3rBMvOeGtrg8keOUluJmiaKyeILnp0iN\/s16000\/IMG_6112+2.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHey y’all. It’s been a minute. If you’ve been keeping up with me on \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lapetitenoob\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EInstagram\u003C\/a\u003E, or Instagram stories in particular, you’ll know that I’ve been struggling to keep afloat these last few months. Between moving, Benny being a toddler, home Renos, lapsed work contracts that all needed to be fulfilled at the same time and - you know - the full-blown global crisis we’ve all been dealing with, it’s been a lot. I’ve had to let go of certain things in my life in order to keep my head above water and unfortunately one of those things has been my blog.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat being said, I couldn’t let the year go by without publishing my annual end-of-year posts: my lessons learned and my goals for the upcoming year. This year’s 2020 lessons learned will be tough to summarize and put into words because I feel like this damn year has been serving me lessons on the daily. I can truly say that I’m not the same person exiting the year as I was entering and while it was a tough transition, I’m leaving the year a better person than I started. 2020 has stripped away at everything that I thought were givens in life, exposed the material possessions that I hid behind to form an identity and has truly shown me both my biggest strengths and glaring flaws. It’s been difficult and it’s been challenging, but it’s also been beautiful as well. My ego checked, my sense of gratitude restored and my mind opened. What a hell of a year.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHere are my biggest lessons of 2020.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EListen to understand, not to react.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis is a doozy. Remember when I mentioned about getting my ego checked? Through the course of the year, we’ve seen the world change in ways that we all could have never imagined and with this change removed all of the distractions we allowed to cloud our vision along the way. When the Black Lives Matter movement came into the spotlight, my eyes were opened to what oppression exists within our own society, which I had naively taken for a racial Europa. I learned about privilege, being anti-racist and white fragility - the last one showing me some glaring truths about my behavior and mentality so far. It was the first time that I was able to truly listen and [try to] understand instead of react with ego and defensiveness. And at 35 years old, that’s pretty sad.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI’m far from perfect and I still have a lot of work to unlearn my behaviors, but I’m really trying to check my ego at the door and resist the urge to react to situations with anger, defensiveness and using my own very specific life examples as arguments. I’m looking forward to continuing the work in the new year.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhi223_CU343lE4_UjCZ5jT8zzQzCR7c2nqeuVlrBYgtX27SA4Q55KpE-Mg0xQ801IIXEfJ9hvPjfl7N2BekrgQJvL4zOBcY3YqXon5cYbCNTc5OoyTJBJP1ALlGsBZd-0PVCQzN-Oca3S0\/s2048\/ACS_0462.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhi223_CU343lE4_UjCZ5jT8zzQzCR7c2nqeuVlrBYgtX27SA4Q55KpE-Mg0xQ801IIXEfJ9hvPjfl7N2BekrgQJvL4zOBcY3YqXon5cYbCNTc5OoyTJBJP1ALlGsBZd-0PVCQzN-Oca3S0\/s16000\/ACS_0462.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EThe Perfect Timing Doesn’t Exist.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis lessons coincides with a very big life milestone that we checked this year, and it was the purchase of our very first house.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow, if you were to have known Brian and I in the last 10 years then you will have heard us ripping into the Toronto real estate market. We were both convinced that housing was absolutely ridiculous in the city and that a crash was inevitable. We would study real estate data, read articles that agreed with our views and scoff at those that opposed it. Our plan was to continue to save for a sizable down payment and purchase a property in the city once prices had come down, living with a very small mortgage or even mortgage free. I’ll pause for you to stop laughing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWell, after having Benny and trying to make a very small condo with with 2 adults, a baby and a dog work, we threw in the towel and decided to go ahead and start looking for houses. After a few months of house hunting in the city, changing our minds multiple times (from larger condos to two story lofts to eventually houses) we ended up purchasing our very first property in Toronto. We figured that the market had held for so long that it was maybe unshakable.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen, exactly a week to the date we bought our first place, the entire world shut down from Covid. To us, a real estate crash was inevitable.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo say that we were crushed would be an understatement. I know that I felt incredibly stupid for having what we had been prophesying for years happen right after making a commitment. It was a pretty dark time, and added to the already stressful situation of trying to navigate our first lockdown.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnyways, long story short, against all odds the housing market held and the crash that we have anticipated as inevitable was avoided (for now at least.) All of that worry and bruised ego for no reason.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe whole point of this ramble, and the lesson that I’ve taken away from the experience, is that there truly is no such thing as perfect timing. You can try to predict the future as much as you want, but ultimately it’s out of your control and you shouldn’t let what could-be dictate the course of your life. I learned a lesson about risk, and how sometimes taking a risk isn’t such a bad thing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUltimately I’m happy that we waited to buy since we were in a much better position to truly understand what we needed in a property with a child. Would we have been better off financially if we had gotten into the market years earlier? Maybe. Probably. Who knows, you truly can never predict. But I’m learning to trust my gut more, take a chance, make decisions based on myself and my family and less on trying to find the perfect timing to move forward.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjkkI2KzYhFtJIo2A7RzU6mLnU6qf2zFMsmPpij0RtrxDruJkuSr9GwId_Uw_XsBP52RWl-E6LPwi4ic_np9YzhI4HMSePv2wADggSrekQP1Qkccmf3L4v0UAF1hYqFEUjzjIVWq09CnAMa\/s2048\/image+5.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjkkI2KzYhFtJIo2A7RzU6mLnU6qf2zFMsmPpij0RtrxDruJkuSr9GwId_Uw_XsBP52RWl-E6LPwi4ic_np9YzhI4HMSePv2wADggSrekQP1Qkccmf3L4v0UAF1hYqFEUjzjIVWq09CnAMa\/s16000\/image+5.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EThe Perfect Parent Doesn’t Exist.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECan I tell you a shameful secret? I honestly thought that I had this whole parenting thing nailed at the beginning of 2020. Blessed with a very chilled newborn who loved to sleep and an easygoing, calm baby, I honestly thought that I had the whole motherhood work\/life\/personal thing on lock and wondered why I ever believed people when they said that parenting was hard. I got ready everyday, showered regularly, wore nice outfits and was killing it at work. Parenting is easy!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThen the pandemic hit, and the village that I had relied on (heavily) to help out with Benny was cut off. Our condo all of a sudden became very small. And then - bam - Benny started crawling andI couldn’t take my eyes off of him. Not even for a second.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMultitasking became a thing of the past, and I had to scramble to try to get everything done in a day while also wrangling a toddler. It was exhausting and pretty impossible for me. I understood how women struggle with the loss of their identity when they have kids because my entire life was consumed.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the end we found a new routine that helps to give me a little more balance, plus having the extra space has made a world of a difference in everyone’s happiness. I’m grateful for the time that I’m able to spend with Benny, and I feel like the whole situation has made me into a much less judgmental parent. I get that ‘this too shall pass’ goes for both the hard and easy times and we’re all just doing our best.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg_JWKWPCDsywOBdbUKgTITKiFaVNQHwD6cBzdzch7pnmoB8AALUip09dLDdi0k0Lh2W4lmcmwiWSgkBNOI8xiAdfsSXhW_jWOTCANwYsHBXY58sQv7ooskH72rkXEBKnWHfRvrRHORJeWn\/s2048\/IMG_6158.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1638\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg_JWKWPCDsywOBdbUKgTITKiFaVNQHwD6cBzdzch7pnmoB8AALUip09dLDdi0k0Lh2W4lmcmwiWSgkBNOI8xiAdfsSXhW_jWOTCANwYsHBXY58sQv7ooskH72rkXEBKnWHfRvrRHORJeWn\/s16000\/IMG_6158.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EThere’s Beauty in a Slow Life\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI fully admit that I subscribed to the culture of ‘busy.’ I was most comfortable in the chaos and felt as though a jammed packed schedule was synonymous with happiness and success. Needless to say, the pandemic really turned that view on its head for me. It took a while, but I’ve really had my eyes opened to the beauty and tranquility that comes with a slower pace of life. How when you cut out all of the noise, you can really see and appreciate what’s most important in life. Family, connecting with yourself and others, good food and laughter.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOf course the biggest lesson I think that we all took away from this year is that health is truly wealth and to never take your health for granted. I’ve always known this, especially from working in funeral services, but this year really hit it home for me. I think that all of our eyes have been opened.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo that’s it! My biggest lessons learned in an entire year of lessons, so much so that I could never truly articulate. 2020 is one for the books, that’s for sure. I’m taking everyday as it comes, and look forward to keeping all of the lessons close to heart as we move along.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat do you guys think? What were some of your biggest lessons learned this year? Did 2020 turn your entire world upside down as well? Let me know!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXo Joëlle\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/1901266693305156789\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/12\/2020-lessons-learned.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/1901266693305156789"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/1901266693305156789"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/12\/2020-lessons-learned.html","title":"2020 Lessons Learned"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjoz5aW6jH-OQiNHxOFChixjaR1qyA4F2xY0gp6INkjpT9b_q914zOlow1PHbxgK-4jBgv3-Y1kag2YwFrbs44_ZT6qN3RFNS0YQ52HL0HE-iXO3rBMvOeGtrg8keOUluJmiaKyeILnp0iN\/s72-c\/IMG_6112+2.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-5057150964888955164"},"published":{"$t":"2020-10-12T11:37:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-10-12T11:37:19.744-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fall"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fall Fashion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"toddler activities"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Fall Activities with a Toddler (Downloadable List)"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiRYxhwmwE-CZMwiWfcaQWRtdFnQm2ILGkKn2O34RnNZQydPEaiEF2EKgz9RPKG_7aVmIY965q62SZPuX6Tv28m6o3Wj7jgUiw2cwaEv2BRESSNwxr4mRpI8kCq2tM0gXxSAm1eVJqCiFZ-\/s2048\/IMG_7560.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiRYxhwmwE-CZMwiWfcaQWRtdFnQm2ILGkKn2O34RnNZQydPEaiEF2EKgz9RPKG_7aVmIY965q62SZPuX6Tv28m6o3Wj7jgUiw2cwaEv2BRESSNwxr4mRpI8kCq2tM0gXxSAm1eVJqCiFZ-\/s16000\/IMG_7560.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe weather has officially changed here in Ontario and there's no denying that Fall has arrived. As someone who feels like their best self in the summer, there's always a certain anxiety when the weather starts to cool and the colours on the trees start to change - especially this year! In the age of Covid, living in a partially locked down city and knowing that I'll be spending a lot more time indoors at home with a toddler has made this Fall season particualrly poignant.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInstead of letting my thoughts get away from me, I've decided to fully embrace the season and dive into some toddler-friendly activities head on and have created a list to keep me focused!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhL3LIgFds1U7Xjqziy7uO468Z00TJu-6v6_44nwJljabjv9RLgE099cUxvzgUwwNssi3WgdKy7LnJs-GVDUR1iWe5QHwffAvqCrtecpy4n0ixZkfhxUE3nYH3BDlzt_3I8KHzJFqRVF06b\/s1920\/Green+and+Brown+Refined+Scrapbook+Wish+List+Interactive+Birthday+Your+Story.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1920\" data-original-width=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhL3LIgFds1U7Xjqziy7uO468Z00TJu-6v6_44nwJljabjv9RLgE099cUxvzgUwwNssi3WgdKy7LnJs-GVDUR1iWe5QHwffAvqCrtecpy4n0ixZkfhxUE3nYH3BDlzt_3I8KHzJFqRVF06b\/s16000\/Green+and+Brown+Refined+Scrapbook+Wish+List+Interactive+Birthday+Your+Story.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWanting to start the autumn season strong, and start tacking my list, Benny and I took to the local pumpkin patch to explore and have some fun. You guys - maybe it's the curmudgeon in me, but I was \u003Ci\u003Enot\u003C\/i\u003E expecting to have as much fun as we did! Benny absolutely loved the pumpkin patch, and had a blast toddling around to all of the different sized pumpkins. We went through the corn maze and Benny was laughing hysterically as the wind blew threw the corn stalks and made funny noises. It was overall a 10\/10 afternoon, and was a great and inexpensive way to spend some time outdoors while supporting a local farm.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you're on the fence about wether bringing your toddler to a pumpkin patch is worth the stress of getting out the door, I say give it a try! We all had a blast, and I'll cherish the photos and memories forever.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgsKZTn4kAF9rsoCTns6sIy9U7lQG8F3bsB5STkiFOJhxWvcQQumrnxrkOrMhSjkcDvFciPwrcHBN7xl-SmDJXqiwIDgEFtRvbMWWXYKVuyb62BCACZobmrh4uuLaY_X54WpxWiLZH59Vc3\/s2048\/IMG_7558.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgsKZTn4kAF9rsoCTns6sIy9U7lQG8F3bsB5STkiFOJhxWvcQQumrnxrkOrMhSjkcDvFciPwrcHBN7xl-SmDJXqiwIDgEFtRvbMWWXYKVuyb62BCACZobmrh4uuLaY_X54WpxWiLZH59Vc3\/s16000\/IMG_7558.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh_wqVRcaJ8fsJUOh05rzbuFs91Ms5rFigsP9ojJsG5NrRYnXNsYsT_gW4jSQFM-_QB3MghxaMR5JNYnGl2LHV1f7pKO6mMdFKe6bGg6Un8BgbWQeRt_Oyte65hZRojeCFj2rEIYL5xWpcN\/s2048\/IMG_7555+2.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh_wqVRcaJ8fsJUOh05rzbuFs91Ms5rFigsP9ojJsG5NrRYnXNsYsT_gW4jSQFM-_QB3MghxaMR5JNYnGl2LHV1f7pKO6mMdFKe6bGg6Un8BgbWQeRt_Oyte65hZRojeCFj2rEIYL5xWpcN\/s16000\/IMG_7555+2.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgR0PgQBYPMCYwTHNnl01DQGI2LxIEKdawJfSgO6A_m8eFy-aVOykQtymgxjwEMxUmFX_FLm3qF3wK5fQHbIKXMqcQSEFQPluitNeDK9DLuuwMfgdM_tr6QyY74WG9nuhYbIhG-H0qaql7g\/s2048\/IMG_7559.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgR0PgQBYPMCYwTHNnl01DQGI2LxIEKdawJfSgO6A_m8eFy-aVOykQtymgxjwEMxUmFX_FLm3qF3wK5fQHbIKXMqcQSEFQPluitNeDK9DLuuwMfgdM_tr6QyY74WG9nuhYbIhG-H0qaql7g\/s16000\/IMG_7559.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjKKhpVrUwALt7NEzIoPURTJ1cuv504Q46TwLAHnt0TvFCTQ4QIUi2UytHUyxTzoXUFj44sAEvA8c5YaKsWyYdcI_6-zQRmk1sQelY98-yjalUYoxTWnOyAxfH3aWo5s4LtUZPHCdrnCMBT\/s2048\/IMG_7561.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjKKhpVrUwALt7NEzIoPURTJ1cuv504Q46TwLAHnt0TvFCTQ4QIUi2UytHUyxTzoXUFj44sAEvA8c5YaKsWyYdcI_6-zQRmk1sQelY98-yjalUYoxTWnOyAxfH3aWo5s4LtUZPHCdrnCMBT\/s16000\/IMG_7561.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjgHzc3ys2g3afcPVw4Hhyphenhyphen9Bsih8hqydNsbI6ilcJR_9e8YT75L-hYRhOUixZbxj_pOusMAxkxlaQTPIkeOuSeITV8jV8SB8Gxi9MCbxkXPMDnt1F0GgbLnnsi783vC7Klrj25Xngg_kkKs\/s2048\/IMG_7562+2.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjgHzc3ys2g3afcPVw4Hhyphenhyphen9Bsih8hqydNsbI6ilcJR_9e8YT75L-hYRhOUixZbxj_pOusMAxkxlaQTPIkeOuSeITV8jV8SB8Gxi9MCbxkXPMDnt1F0GgbLnnsi783vC7Klrj25Xngg_kkKs\/s16000\/IMG_7562+2.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI'm really excited to start completing tasks on our Fall Activities with a Toddler List and making the best of the changing seasons!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat are you most excited for with Fall? Any activities that you have planned? Let me know!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Exo Joëlle\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/5057150964888955164\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/10\/fall-activities-with-toddler.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/5057150964888955164"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/5057150964888955164"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/10\/fall-activities-with-toddler.html","title":"Fall Activities with a Toddler (Downloadable List)"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiRYxhwmwE-CZMwiWfcaQWRtdFnQm2ILGkKn2O34RnNZQydPEaiEF2EKgz9RPKG_7aVmIY965q62SZPuX6Tv28m6o3Wj7jgUiw2cwaEv2BRESSNwxr4mRpI8kCq2tM0gXxSAm1eVJqCiFZ-\/s72-c\/IMG_7560.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-6263472183125168842"},"published":{"$t":"2020-09-17T14:16:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-09-17T14:16:54.500-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Beauty"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Canadian Brands"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Skincare"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Beauty \u0026 Skincare Favourites with BeautySense.ca"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg29XCxW2Oj6j_5EA1_3JMd7WU-y8_0Q0vQRjqr4ZlrrnVx64tRpalz0zeFlCs4WuoWhoxunUWpsCGHDu_FyzO95OCNww4pZXBkr27TBAe7RLSGeVhZYWytNozhWuRuL9JrmoT2H2nC7yZ2\/s2048\/DSC_7524.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg29XCxW2Oj6j_5EA1_3JMd7WU-y8_0Q0vQRjqr4ZlrrnVx64tRpalz0zeFlCs4WuoWhoxunUWpsCGHDu_FyzO95OCNww4pZXBkr27TBAe7RLSGeVhZYWytNozhWuRuL9JrmoT2H2nC7yZ2\/s16000\/DSC_7524.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt's not secret that I love beauty and skincare. From a young age, I've been virtually obsessed with makeup. Now that I'm in my thirties that obsession with all things beauty has extended into skincare, hair and body care products. I'm starting to realize that your canvas is just as important as the makeup you apply, and how investing in good products can make a world of a difference. That being said, there is certainly no shortage of selection on the market and the amount of products and retailers available can be overwhelming. For that reason I've rounded up my holy grail, tried and true beauty products that actually achieve results from me, all available from \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/BeautySense.ca\"\u003EBeautySense.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHave you heard of BeautySense.ca? BeautySense is a 100% Canadian owned and operated Montreal-based spa that also offers a wide variety of products online from curated and trusted beauty brands. I was turned on to the online retailer and was blown away by their selection; in fact, I had no trouble locating my favourite hair, makeup and skincare products from their online site! Shipping is incredibly quick and, the best part, because BeautySense.ca is a Canadian beauty boutique there are \u003Ci\u003Eno duties\u003C\/i\u003E. I'm so excited to have found a Canadian retailer for my beauty needs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESo what are my holy grail products that I was able to find, you ask? Here are my top picks from BeautySense.ca. Products that I've been using for years that have guaranteed results for me.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhAqQapTBstZQdp95wvkJyDddBumIPeo7bx3nsNLGVa7Jq8TmOHstWQl7xHTVUxYNrzB1VOys-l6uDAyOJQVCCWiQTnQxKZNKsOGY3IHqrKx9CYaGWAmDAdtdsfNOziVGoBEKaEo_-wPQr9\/s2048\/DSC_7530.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhAqQapTBstZQdp95wvkJyDddBumIPeo7bx3nsNLGVa7Jq8TmOHstWQl7xHTVUxYNrzB1VOys-l6uDAyOJQVCCWiQTnQxKZNKsOGY3IHqrKx9CYaGWAmDAdtdsfNOziVGoBEKaEo_-wPQr9\/s16000\/DSC_7530.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EEsthederm: Intensive Hyaluronic Cream\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow that I'm 35 years old, I need to be very diligent with ensuring that my skin is properly hydrated and moisturized - otherwise, I notice a \u003Ci\u003Ebig \u003C\/i\u003Edifference. Night creams are so important, and the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/beautysense.ca\/institut-esthederm-intensive-hyaluronic-cream.html\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EEsthederm Intensive Hyaluronic Cream\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is hands down the best, and most effective night cream that I've ever tried. It provides your skin with hyaluronic acid and immediately moisturizes your skin. For me, I notice the biggest difference in my fine lines: it's almost as if my skin is being plumped from the inside out. If you're in the market for a new night cream, or are preparing for the upcoming dry winter season, then I would highly recommend to add the\u0026nbsp;Esthederm Intensive Hyaluronic Cream to your cart.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhrB8vsRrtV7pmZEieHUKqP99_3kZHN083ZpRkw0Wm8U8YigQvovJD_m1Qzc_6dgGBmiXy4s_JMS6fYSzjebfRD5D5R-GuWsrEzqYW801UFcB6nHj8Wc9t9rRh2l-9z38Rqg_3Kv8pQiBEa\/s2048\/DSC_7529.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1367\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhrB8vsRrtV7pmZEieHUKqP99_3kZHN083ZpRkw0Wm8U8YigQvovJD_m1Qzc_6dgGBmiXy4s_JMS6fYSzjebfRD5D5R-GuWsrEzqYW801UFcB6nHj8Wc9t9rRh2l-9z38Rqg_3Kv8pQiBEa\/s16000\/DSC_7529.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi81JR5SwDCbT4mOz_QqrE41V8ovw9bu_rxul7dNcM2nS9e3BHXbx_cp1rQ0RWw1xSUVK0VeFdN7C6MGNNvfOI5wQSKs9VHX_gJLXbCWxjKVh_7Z4GAgmrMd7crlflfRhiI1QeHVsR9Ncv1\/s2048\/DSC_7527.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi81JR5SwDCbT4mOz_QqrE41V8ovw9bu_rxul7dNcM2nS9e3BHXbx_cp1rQ0RWw1xSUVK0VeFdN7C6MGNNvfOI5wQSKs9VHX_gJLXbCWxjKVh_7Z4GAgmrMd7crlflfRhiI1QeHVsR9Ncv1\/s16000\/DSC_7527.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EOLAPLEX: No.3 Hair Perfector\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EHave you tried Olaplex? If you're someone like me who chemically processes their hair and uses lots of heat styling on it, then you're going to want to try this. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/beautysense.ca\/olaplex-no-3-hair-perfector.html\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOlaplex No.3 Hair Perfector\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is a revolutionary at-home hair treatment that visibly strengthens hair and reduces breakage. This is a product that is typically used in professional hair salons, especially when chemically lightening hair, and now you can use this hair treatment at home too! The difference this one product makes to my hair is almost too good to describe - it makes my hair look and feel as though I have never dyed it! For real! Olaplex is one of those products where the hype is very much warranted, and I'm so happy that I'm able to purchase it from Beautysense.ca.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhUZ4Lw8x2HEZjn7VXdDI-0ZBvhNhRgDNM_6abeIKwzW2ZU5nqjerLm__PGvRzPMygUxD4yfMOAY6NEI5llhxCssHKtoirFxEg7R87-vToTjsYH8HwUgaQZgR1ysLM7vcgnWC6iBxF2TAuY\/s2048\/DSC_7532.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1367\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhUZ4Lw8x2HEZjn7VXdDI-0ZBvhNhRgDNM_6abeIKwzW2ZU5nqjerLm__PGvRzPMygUxD4yfMOAY6NEI5llhxCssHKtoirFxEg7R87-vToTjsYH8HwUgaQZgR1ysLM7vcgnWC6iBxF2TAuY\/s16000\/DSC_7532.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003ERMS Beauty: Champagne Rosé Luminizer\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you're familiar with my Youtube and IGTV videos where I go through my makeup routine, you'll know that I absolutely love the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/beautysense.ca\/rms-beauty-champagne-rose-luminizer.html\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERMS Beauty Luminizers.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;I call this product 'youth in a jar' and with good reason: it literally gives your skin that glowing from within look to it. The RMS Luminizers are not sticky, glittery or greasy. They apply seamlessly and almost melt into your skin, leaving you with a very natural and etherial glow. I've been a fan since I first started using them almost 3 years ago, and am so happy that I'll now be able to shop them from BeautySense.ca.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhfnjoCh115D1QzeiRBXD46BPBJEZy8VJs8mDA4TssbSEYwwpxuH_2JcmhgR1O09LzAERD67edr3uedbcgq492wCmvpqxW4POiKAlcBFSxLEQ4x5KfIKB7GR5ew9Di72koaA9JrVxjV-XPX\/s2048\/DSC_7526.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhfnjoCh115D1QzeiRBXD46BPBJEZy8VJs8mDA4TssbSEYwwpxuH_2JcmhgR1O09LzAERD67edr3uedbcgq492wCmvpqxW4POiKAlcBFSxLEQ4x5KfIKB7GR5ew9Di72koaA9JrVxjV-XPX\/s16000\/DSC_7526.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Ch2 style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003EBioderma: Photoderm Autobronzant Moisturizing Tanning Spray\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile I am now very aware of the damaging effects of the sun and have turned into someone who goes out of her way to avoid sitting in the sun, I still love a good tan. Having tanned skin makes me feel more confident, so I need to look at sunless options to get a glow. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/beautysense.ca\/bioderma-photoderm-autobronzant-moisturizing-tanning-spray.html\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBioderma Photoderm Autobronzant Moisturizing Tanning Spray\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is a great option for those of us looking for a sunless bronze. I really like the spray application of this product, and the fact that you're able to build up a gradual tan. If you're missing the summer season already, the definitely pick this up from Beautysense.ca\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhr9YCw7IWWrWtl1gc3NvXR4Me3sXm2iaClY4BfO1jZVX-JydedMVOrW2eA6344yIeyQcr2MpJFNtiRKuWtC9inkXOcZpLVZgzk-NNWuogRc0-5N74Z5BE6C0GMX1mnzdsnc7yIKK0U9aUz\/s2048\/IMG_7100.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1367\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhr9YCw7IWWrWtl1gc3NvXR4Me3sXm2iaClY4BfO1jZVX-JydedMVOrW2eA6344yIeyQcr2MpJFNtiRKuWtC9inkXOcZpLVZgzk-NNWuogRc0-5N74Z5BE6C0GMX1mnzdsnc7yIKK0U9aUz\/s16000\/IMG_7100.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith so many options available to us in the world of beauty products, I hope that I can help to narrow down to what has worked for me, and products that I keep restocking again and again. In a time where shopping Canadian is so important, I'm really happy that all of my favourites and then some can be found on \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/Beautysense.ca\"\u003EBeautysense.ca\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat do you guys think? What are some of your holy grail beauty products? Have you shopped at BeautySense.ca before? Let me know!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Exo Joëlle\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ci\u003EThank you Beautysense.ca for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/6263472183125168842\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/09\/beauty-skincare-favourites-with.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/6263472183125168842"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/6263472183125168842"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/09\/beauty-skincare-favourites-with.html","title":"Beauty \u0026 Skincare Favourites with BeautySense.ca"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg29XCxW2Oj6j_5EA1_3JMd7WU-y8_0Q0vQRjqr4ZlrrnVx64tRpalz0zeFlCs4WuoWhoxunUWpsCGHDu_FyzO95OCNww4pZXBkr27TBAe7RLSGeVhZYWytNozhWuRuL9JrmoT2H2nC7yZ2\/s72-c\/DSC_7524.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-1162188884626642642"},"published":{"$t":"2020-09-08T06:58:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-09-08T08:09:43.692-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Baby"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Home"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"home decor"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"hour tour"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Benny's Boho Nursery Reveal! "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjNBGu8l5U_A8zUGqM8KjN-KhgjqT4afSPEmq2s8lALggGtnhwvxEhGZE6ORcHiOzUbS86-1fd5j2m6PsB-6VGaZuQi2sD8gze2ZPAwsweXmdqxhkCjAm3IIHpV3ORB-aNcJH2DE_-ltplP\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-90.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"gender neutral boho nursery\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjNBGu8l5U_A8zUGqM8KjN-KhgjqT4afSPEmq2s8lALggGtnhwvxEhGZE6ORcHiOzUbS86-1fd5j2m6PsB-6VGaZuQi2sD8gze2ZPAwsweXmdqxhkCjAm3IIHpV3ORB-aNcJH2DE_-ltplP\/s16000\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-90.jpg\" title=\"gender neutral nursery reveal\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u0026nbsp;The time has finally come for me to share Benny's colourful boho-in-the-city nursery! We've come a \u003Ci\u003Elong\u003C\/i\u003E way from his small space condo nursery that was essentially our den and I'm so pleased how everything has evolved. Benny's room now is bright, spacious and full of personality and great energy - much like Benny himself! Although it's not totally done yet, (we're still waiting to rip out those damn carpets to put in hardwood) I'm really happy with the point the nursery is at now.\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo be honest, even though we moved from a 750 square foot condo into a house in the city, we haven't bought much furniture. Benny's room is a great example - we actually repurposed all of his old nursery furniture from the condo, as well as added a wooden engineering chair that we preciously had in our condo's living room. Instead of buying new furniture (especially when his current furniture was perfectly fine) we instead opted to update and fill his space with some key accessories. Coupled with a fresh coat of paint (our trusty Benjamin Moore 'Simply White') and the room transformed before our eyes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETake a look at Benny's nursery and allow me to show you what we used to update and make the room his own - without buying any new furniture.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"BLOG_video_class\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/i-JChkmX2YY\" width=\"320\" youtube-src-id=\"i-JChkmX2YY\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgWU0Vc9ZmDI6giJGh4eZ9LOaMSrDz9ft6BBRYUdPCS9LAd6WJGzr9EnBiSAENXLqcbEztZl5tlAK1wuuQuA9kz1vXQf04Ws3pFe39lLJBuPp7NakbpwD1fJW7FDu5TLHABJJxUXVwX0kRX\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-56.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Boho nursery tour\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgWU0Vc9ZmDI6giJGh4eZ9LOaMSrDz9ft6BBRYUdPCS9LAd6WJGzr9EnBiSAENXLqcbEztZl5tlAK1wuuQuA9kz1vXQf04Ws3pFe39lLJBuPp7NakbpwD1fJW7FDu5TLHABJJxUXVwX0kRX\/s16000\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-56.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjwmvfhnN13AhySqoMsX04N6GTNe0vBnlAASVEIFv_-Qw7SMqJLaxGnSRplISXlgmB3_ENHeslAjZ2yzqTJC9jTwgaunzaESCM9rQmwNAxpZvrLExJRjh7HVcAm2qnANYHB_XOZbnjx-rBJ\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-42.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"alpaca themed nursery\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjwmvfhnN13AhySqoMsX04N6GTNe0vBnlAASVEIFv_-Qw7SMqJLaxGnSRplISXlgmB3_ENHeslAjZ2yzqTJC9jTwgaunzaESCM9rQmwNAxpZvrLExJRjh7HVcAm2qnANYHB_XOZbnjx-rBJ\/s16000\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-42.jpg\" title=\"ANEWALL ALPACA WALLPAPER\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj73iP74r7p0g9DNVj0IXFw3pTBfO30DyBMuyc4sNVlbMmsKofTCzD8M7t7an8l89HvWcJqLjR2Tem4_NY57KI0lyxV3z8KOmTes1J-YhN25uRHovjouYSq8PrQOnpWvd3xj0s-S0bjey9P\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-58.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"toronto home nursery reveal\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj73iP74r7p0g9DNVj0IXFw3pTBfO30DyBMuyc4sNVlbMmsKofTCzD8M7t7an8l89HvWcJqLjR2Tem4_NY57KI0lyxV3z8KOmTes1J-YhN25uRHovjouYSq8PrQOnpWvd3xj0s-S0bjey9P\/s16000\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-58.jpg\" title=\"toronto nursery\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh37EKC87rFxFF6GtpPK6Ghcfzl9SpDaL_qv0SwB8XwijWOHq7hYYwtB-HepTGCacYCBxSihwFpVDcPBsg6qVG9RrTWUUmNrUOSsWQjUlqBR41kw5gOJq1VhqZ5_BN8zIPcz5Lc5ykg1HL9\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-60.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"nursery reveal\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh37EKC87rFxFF6GtpPK6Ghcfzl9SpDaL_qv0SwB8XwijWOHq7hYYwtB-HepTGCacYCBxSihwFpVDcPBsg6qVG9RrTWUUmNrUOSsWQjUlqBR41kw5gOJq1VhqZ5_BN8zIPcz5Lc5ykg1HL9\/s16000\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-60.jpg\" title=\"toronto nursery\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjtlCShdy6OglVp3pxQIJLaBeGMsySucd_CihLmsXTzbYD2qmVG6y3Z95EJ01F49WBuNw4_HRw35feVmZafHN_1kuAELXuNmGOAV6eU_GhVYsEyn-PzA9GVhbCrNa_DXhdo2kP_RthAYB_k\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-49.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjtlCShdy6OglVp3pxQIJLaBeGMsySucd_CihLmsXTzbYD2qmVG6y3Z95EJ01F49WBuNw4_HRw35feVmZafHN_1kuAELXuNmGOAV6eU_GhVYsEyn-PzA9GVhbCrNa_DXhdo2kP_RthAYB_k\/s16000\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-49.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEilNZmRSRIETVR5z4Byh0Xjs-Xo-BQSY4HGVfx0K3zmCEi6I3vZ9YbzvXGh0v8tRCSQdOfBq8vcdf-4K-yXrUXYjCwMa2athemn-dqSUvowpLQdHwDjWvQcs2-vC2EuzkMaPjFtiYY6T43W\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-1.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"alpaca removable wallpaper\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEilNZmRSRIETVR5z4Byh0Xjs-Xo-BQSY4HGVfx0K3zmCEi6I3vZ9YbzvXGh0v8tRCSQdOfBq8vcdf-4K-yXrUXYjCwMa2athemn-dqSUvowpLQdHwDjWvQcs2-vC2EuzkMaPjFtiYY6T43W\/s16000\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-1.jpg\" title=\"anewall alpaca wallpaper\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELet's talk about this absolutely adorable\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/anewall.com\/products\/alpaca-wallpaper\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E alpaca wallpaper from Anewall\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. I've been a huge fan of Anewall since seeing them in the nurseries of some of my favourite design accounts and blogger friends. I mean what's not to love - their wallpaper designs are so beautiful and add just the right amount of personality to any room! When I saw that they did an alpaca print, I knew that it would look perfect in Benny's nursery. It's cute, colourful and very gender neutral.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough there are 3 different wallpaper options to select from with Anewall, we chose to go with the removable vinyl wallpaper. It's a bit more difficult to install (okay - a lot more difficult although to be fair, we were warned) but it makes me relieved to know that should we want to update the space in a few years time that removing the wallpaper won't be a nightmare. Plus, the removable options makes it perfect if you're renting!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI honestly think that having the alpaca print wallpaper as a focal point in Benny's nursery makes the room. I could not be happier with our decision, and am already scouting out other locations to wallpaper throughout our home.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjCn__oLv4cSZ7oHnVIZff9uQdl7yryybJRu4X1oWi-zimaV9PCVsSubD2pLJW7WaDhiW06tbN3Iieo4IMu5aIoqqAFUCRKa-VG2MtWThkBIBO6Yba5IDDr3kgKPRnajpTh6AsLhFuzX-Mg\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-27.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"washable mint green rug Lorena canals\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjCn__oLv4cSZ7oHnVIZff9uQdl7yryybJRu4X1oWi-zimaV9PCVsSubD2pLJW7WaDhiW06tbN3Iieo4IMu5aIoqqAFUCRKa-VG2MtWThkBIBO6Yba5IDDr3kgKPRnajpTh6AsLhFuzX-Mg\/s16000\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-27.jpg\" title=\"washable mint green rug\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EIf you've spoken to me since we've moved into our new place, you've probably heard me complain about the carpets. I just \u003Ci\u003Ereally\u003C\/i\u003E hate the carpets, lol. With at least a few more months before we get our hardwood installed, I knew that I had to find a solution for the carpet in Benny's room. Enter this gorgeous,\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.westcoastkids.ca\/washable-rug-hippy-soft-mint?utm_source=google_shopping\u0026amp;gclid=CjwKCAjwtNf6BRAwEiwAkt6UQuv2xtYhGMZ49_Jr7WHPsyNHd6Fyk65IAY1oVzVQ9cSvzXatN9WlBhoCJiAQAvD_BwE\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E mint green rug from Lorena Canals\u003C\/a\u003E, available at West Coast Kids. It's soft, comfy, adds the perfect amount of colour to Benny's nursery and - here's the best part - it's 100% cotton and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Emachine\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003Ewashable\u003C\/i\u003E. Cue the hallelujahs! I'm so happy with the look and quality of Lorena Canals pieces and am so excited to have this rug add some fun and colour to Benny's boho nursery.\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjMUHLL8FFqzdbLAjpRoi7uL0ky2eONWqG4AxbN1sYtMu_7JDaMxIbC780YULopw4Pum0O6ShVtSEBOsS8F0GQKrf7kaYPiYIawteO6gwncQoU7_FaZSlNDIb_RFShJKBlUYThiElhW8Ysr\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-102.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"wooden toys in gender neutral nursery\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1365\" data-original-width=\"2048\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjMUHLL8FFqzdbLAjpRoi7uL0ky2eONWqG4AxbN1sYtMu_7JDaMxIbC780YULopw4Pum0O6ShVtSEBOsS8F0GQKrf7kaYPiYIawteO6gwncQoU7_FaZSlNDIb_RFShJKBlUYThiElhW8Ysr\/s16000\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-102.jpg\" title=\"benny playing with toys\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi59Ig_14SrZifHWSoFVmwFSjYH0BLd9bcjpsTHtjtuXQebgk1Gz2yH5H7abMZH6exMDY4bL1KNL7obg237mE6ZfscOMupmsA-PB72nDVwOprbqr2dfD-9pKeiebz07Pgp6jVA1mYQ3tGfK\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-11.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"vintage car west coast kids nursery reveal\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi59Ig_14SrZifHWSoFVmwFSjYH0BLd9bcjpsTHtjtuXQebgk1Gz2yH5H7abMZH6exMDY4bL1KNL7obg237mE6ZfscOMupmsA-PB72nDVwOprbqr2dfD-9pKeiebz07Pgp6jVA1mYQ3tGfK\/s16000\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-11.jpg\" title=\"benny playing with vintage car\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EOne of the things that I love the most about Benny's nursery is the size - it's massive (for Toronto standards, and especially after coming from 750 square feet.) Because of how large the room is, there is lots of room for a toy area in the corner. Although most of his toys are in his playroom in the basement, I like having a few things for Benny to play with in his room; it really helps when I'm trying to get stuff done in the nursery. Now I'm not opposed to big, bright and loud toys but I wanted the room to maintain a calm energy so I am very selective about what toys stay in the nursery - they need to be cute but also practical.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EWith that in mind, you know that this\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.westcoastkids.ca\/vintage-car\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E \u003Cb\u003EVilac Toys\u0026nbsp;vintage car from West Coast Kids\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E had me at hello. You guys - it's perfect! Not only is it the most beautiful child's toy that I've ever seen, but it's also incredibly practical too. Benny \u003Ci\u003Eloves\u003C\/i\u003E this car! It's the cutest thing to see him zooming around his nursery in this car, all while laughing and giggling away. Vilac Toys has been building toys since 1911, and it shows in the detail and quality. Not only is this vintage car a beautiful piece for Benny's nursery now, but it will also transition nicely into his room decor as he grows. Love all around.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjkkCku_65aEPIh6DG_XtGhonjHtNb8i6vVefntvrXxfGJIgN8wnkQxHZ8OGhypDzFMcr6uvJZjqPjiYLemNtqryfB26N2l9delSo-xU-9lVUFZVvKNsFugjQFb_TN_oklT4s_mIgEqZMe-\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-63.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"Pehr counting sheep mobile nursery styled\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjkkCku_65aEPIh6DG_XtGhonjHtNb8i6vVefntvrXxfGJIgN8wnkQxHZ8OGhypDzFMcr6uvJZjqPjiYLemNtqryfB26N2l9delSo-xU-9lVUFZVvKNsFugjQFb_TN_oklT4s_mIgEqZMe-\/s16000\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-63.jpg\" title=\"sheep mobile\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEitxr7nAnZrZI7cqbKRr4PanpD__q9vPUbyDkW66t5tI5dQaU6kG-8dil6tbw6u-b6XHkWiTPSPO7Hra0Y3ckI9Kg1_c6OyQBjCjecrbAM5FqPxU8m_-n5NTzR7bef7bw3cOrQHqdWav490\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-104.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"mother and son nursery reveal\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1366\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEitxr7nAnZrZI7cqbKRr4PanpD__q9vPUbyDkW66t5tI5dQaU6kG-8dil6tbw6u-b6XHkWiTPSPO7Hra0Y3ckI9Kg1_c6OyQBjCjecrbAM5FqPxU8m_-n5NTzR7bef7bw3cOrQHqdWav490\/s16000\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-104.jpg\" title=\"Benny and Mama in Nursery\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EIt's amazing what little details can do for a space. Even with Benny's nursery, I wanted every element to be a mix of both beautiful design and practicality - not a small feat when looking for baby accessories. That's why I've always loved Pehr. Not only are the pieces simple and beautiful, but the company itself is really something that I can get behind - both Canadian and female run!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EI chose to go with the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.westcoastkids.ca\/stripes-away-hamper\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPehr Stripes Away Hamper\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.westcoastkids.ca\/stripes-away-crib-sheet\"\u003EStripes Away Crib Sheet\u003C\/a\u003E and finally was able to hang the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.westcoastkids.ca\/pehr-designs-petit-counting-sheep-mobile\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPehr Counting Sheep mobile\u003C\/a\u003E that Benny received from his baby shower from family. I love them all, and they all add the perfect amount of colour and detail to Benny's nursery.\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhpoOv_tNO08jlrAVZp6jhZoQYmgFw7ZuJhk7x35uXd0AAoTLa1AzY1Eh0jPbHxM_6Q8y4bldQVl7vltj40pSGcceIfXSsvD0s8AVygBoNqL179fGgCUt38_39Q4_pYHDr5Pd9ohyphenhyphenZw7zi4\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-19.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1366\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhpoOv_tNO08jlrAVZp6jhZoQYmgFw7ZuJhk7x35uXd0AAoTLa1AzY1Eh0jPbHxM_6Q8y4bldQVl7vltj40pSGcceIfXSsvD0s8AVygBoNqL179fGgCUt38_39Q4_pYHDr5Pd9ohyphenhyphenZw7zi4\/s16000\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-19.jpg\" title=\"Benny laughing\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjBYjknY8YgPmIKxcz8tZzJGwGT5v6LQOoYn5MSmVZHyc_a24uYPH6lxosuCy_lDyJd7bkW55kiWHQ56bvni6TlBCHv_vcdtWKt1uc7lfZCPquxTv0eNzmr9hTIuexrit-sKy237Bu3yTqe\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-34.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"ikea kids bookshelf nursery\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjBYjknY8YgPmIKxcz8tZzJGwGT5v6LQOoYn5MSmVZHyc_a24uYPH6lxosuCy_lDyJd7bkW55kiWHQ56bvni6TlBCHv_vcdtWKt1uc7lfZCPquxTv0eNzmr9hTIuexrit-sKy237Bu3yTqe\/s16000\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-34.jpg\" title=\"benny with books\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjNauWuZy1W74pOkTAwKlTbIzUV0njMY42yoxUBH6xkARuMwp4jEYPXFHQSpbmgRNh_cUN4eOTREj9xsoCcUUnOKAFeLuQe9fJuelqGnM1GH0pckLsSweILnZKV9__AeRFumuFQBqPKLDn7\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-69.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg alt=\"cuddle and kind doll\" border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjNauWuZy1W74pOkTAwKlTbIzUV0njMY42yoxUBH6xkARuMwp4jEYPXFHQSpbmgRNh_cUN4eOTREj9xsoCcUUnOKAFeLuQe9fJuelqGnM1GH0pckLsSweILnZKV9__AeRFumuFQBqPKLDn7\/s16000\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-69.jpg\" title=\"cuddle and kind doll\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjdBdfVhwHfXLogo1GRaAAdDtPHSAhAfiwRnkpOeoE3nj_mBOlvC9bLmvnG_v3S0h6P0CfKZqNIes7TfeFACaWtJxRwJuUTJh7bvTuc3UkjQkDa3swvsQ5pUCkjCJdFzaL2I9HOH1wGYWGl\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-72.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjdBdfVhwHfXLogo1GRaAAdDtPHSAhAfiwRnkpOeoE3nj_mBOlvC9bLmvnG_v3S0h6P0CfKZqNIes7TfeFACaWtJxRwJuUTJh7bvTuc3UkjQkDa3swvsQ5pUCkjCJdFzaL2I9HOH1wGYWGl\/s16000\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-72.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhMjJVsJJyMncWNoJnHeb3TOwNrvlVPc17th1PxoyEoYYfkrdjkW-x4acGs17KnDjR7qz7L5eKZKb7FWDo3R61qkO2EvJZmtL86IjsKzFWQBmPoUOzIT0V38pwafj1B78-agcjU18ocVKtK\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-86.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhMjJVsJJyMncWNoJnHeb3TOwNrvlVPc17th1PxoyEoYYfkrdjkW-x4acGs17KnDjR7qz7L5eKZKb7FWDo3R61qkO2EvJZmtL86IjsKzFWQBmPoUOzIT0V38pwafj1B78-agcjU18ocVKtK\/s16000\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-86.jpg\" title=\"benny and joelle\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003EThat's it! Benny's colourful, boho, city nursery is finally complete (for now) and ready to be enjoyed for years to come. Let me know what you think of how it turned out!\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003Exo Joëlle\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EPhotos by \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/lauraclarkephotos.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELaura Clarke Photography\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EItems In Photos:\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/2Z0zM5P\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECrib\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3blFcNW\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELight Fixture\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3jJfpSN\"\u003ELorean Canals Pouffe\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/2QPmYLb\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBookshelf\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/2YYq1Fs\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDresser (Change Table)\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\" https:\/\/amzn.to\/34Yrpvy\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWooden Knobs\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.mapiful.com\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EToronto Print\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/1162188884626642642\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/09\/bennysboho-nursery-reveal.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/1162188884626642642"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/1162188884626642642"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/09\/bennysboho-nursery-reveal.html","title":"Benny's Boho Nursery Reveal! "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjNBGu8l5U_A8zUGqM8KjN-KhgjqT4afSPEmq2s8lALggGtnhwvxEhGZE6ORcHiOzUbS86-1fd5j2m6PsB-6VGaZuQi2sD8gze2ZPAwsweXmdqxhkCjAm3IIHpV3ORB-aNcJH2DE_-ltplP\/s72-c\/LaPetiteNoob-01-09-20-90.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"},"georss$featurename":{"$t":"Toronto, ON, Canada"},"georss$point":{"$t":"43.653226 -79.3831843"},"georss$box":{"$t":"15.342992163821151 -114.5394343 71.963459836178842 -44.226934299999996"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-8382413245431741356"},"published":{"$t":"2020-08-25T14:11:00.006-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-08-25T14:16:37.871-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Tips For Taking Photos With A Baby Or Toddler"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhVRybM0ejkBq20nwIRDMk395qxiKtFgQlLZNQSci2R_vJMgmV3RNWHszgXIdRYd9kd_JoEyhbaQEAnPaU2d-7MbxJAE9MQrlMJZrHJgPAEZucC_SA9ZoEPx-0Hed5bJx0G62sfe0YuCqO6\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-21-08-20-10.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhVRybM0ejkBq20nwIRDMk395qxiKtFgQlLZNQSci2R_vJMgmV3RNWHszgXIdRYd9kd_JoEyhbaQEAnPaU2d-7MbxJAE9MQrlMJZrHJgPAEZucC_SA9ZoEPx-0Hed5bJx0G62sfe0YuCqO6\/d\/LaPetiteNoob-21-08-20-10.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHonestly, where has the time gone? If you don't follow me on Instagram, you will have missed that my little baby Benny is now a one year old and has morphed into a full-fledged toddler overnight. Gone are the days of sleepy baby and sitting him down without much movement. Now this guy is literally anywhere and everywhere: crawling, standing, climbing - basically, just trying his best to keep mama on her toes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll this to say that taking photos of and with a toddler is no-joke. Wether it's indoors or outdoors, local or on a trip, it doesn't seem to make things easier. Toddlers are just hellbent on being difficult to photograph.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWell, I will not be deterred! I love documenting Benny's life and our adventures via photos and hope to continue for as long as he will allow me. Even though taking photos with a toddler comes with its challenges, I have a few tips and tricks that I keep in my back pocket to make things a little easier. Here's how I get photos with my one year old (mostly) without losing my mind.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjIg1O-yj3AmgA1g7zFkTdM708rkAj_4mrMhvfJC0tdTicjExNwSawPEmIHQXlH9l2-LfreWnq2ZUvbt0cKSAG4RTjjnCCvwrUlPLe166HB3_76ztpDSOr4hxTfcbKNt_ESZxZZ9mbC1po9\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-21-08-20-1.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjIg1O-yj3AmgA1g7zFkTdM708rkAj_4mrMhvfJC0tdTicjExNwSawPEmIHQXlH9l2-LfreWnq2ZUvbt0cKSAG4RTjjnCCvwrUlPLe166HB3_76ztpDSOr4hxTfcbKNt_ESZxZZ9mbC1po9\/d\/LaPetiteNoob-21-08-20-1.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E1. Bring A Variety Of Snacks\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe concept of snacks is definitely not groundbreaking when dealing with a toddler, but I try to pack as many different varieties as I can. If I know that we're going to be away from he house for an extended period of time, even just going to a park to snap a few photos, I load up on snacks and drinks. My trick is to bring a few different varieties of snacks and even a variety of drinks if I can. With Benny, if he starts to become fussy when we're out and taking photos, it's mostly because he's bored. Having a variety of different snacks and drinks keeps his attention for longer, and also makes sure that he's full, hydrated and happy. A win-win all around.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESome of my favourite snacks to pack:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cli\u003EArrowroot cookies\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EPuffs (usually the savoury kind for some variety)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWhole fruits (bananas travel well)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EPurée packs\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EJuice boxes\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EWater bottles with ice\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEinRqhvmy6PX6CNQG0Lfylwens-0cHm3vl1VIlr0yZy9LfqJ6ZSkBZZ421pB0KsF3FtJkyvVkdm_xgngI1DNe81DUJ6JIRivQKyPe9IXtYuqQZFCZFSMQXBNNST4WfEHyo3NsHlMPRfuITA\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-21-08-20-29.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEinRqhvmy6PX6CNQG0Lfylwens-0cHm3vl1VIlr0yZy9LfqJ6ZSkBZZ421pB0KsF3FtJkyvVkdm_xgngI1DNe81DUJ6JIRivQKyPe9IXtYuqQZFCZFSMQXBNNST4WfEHyo3NsHlMPRfuITA\/d\/LaPetiteNoob-21-08-20-29.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E2. Take Breaks\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGoing back to toddlers becoming fussy because of boredom, I've learned to operate on a much slower timeline with trying to get photos with a busy baby. That means taking 5 fairly often to eat some snacks, sing songs, play with toys and generally just change up the activity for a bit. A break can even be putting the camera down to look at a tractor for half and hour (been there.) I basically operate on a very relaxed timeline and try to give into the fact that there will be many breaks between photos - and that's okay.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjJUV41EdX_ERG5dMCo-MM13yl2C6OKr63GowvHpAk7DQ2UB_iY3bt77ksbPNBkk4gWwwiDvtvvDxQtorr947KpIfA0-jQvcfARiSxDoidwV_Fv_ZhKnjcnJ_IPZrOUhkESMmbYx7PIehTN\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-21-08-20-24.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjJUV41EdX_ERG5dMCo-MM13yl2C6OKr63GowvHpAk7DQ2UB_iY3bt77ksbPNBkk4gWwwiDvtvvDxQtorr947KpIfA0-jQvcfARiSxDoidwV_Fv_ZhKnjcnJ_IPZrOUhkESMmbYx7PIehTN\/d\/LaPetiteNoob-21-08-20-24.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E3. Consider Videos Instead\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESometimes, try as I may, I cannot get Benny to sit still long enough to take a cute photo. What can I say, the man is on the move. Rather than stress out about getting the perfect photo when it may not be a possibility, I turn to video instead. Honestly, having a video camera in the form of your phone on you at all times is such a blessing with active toddlers! I love capturing clips of Benny and our everyday life and adventures with video. It may not be the picture-perfect memory that I was hoping for, but its such a beautiful and realistic snapshot of what life is like during that moment in time.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhMJdPK5-RoQ5eYAcSbKhxNLTIPwmbbNTb4RcIgT3ZNFN3SCMv_8-RAQo73BqJ35yp_z0-ySBOHMCOvPWnN8pglBF8WXD3ZSbFhsLd_si-VHXg5zUenbqSSsl-yeq-Am9LcvY_42aBD0UvC\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-21-08-20-20.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhMJdPK5-RoQ5eYAcSbKhxNLTIPwmbbNTb4RcIgT3ZNFN3SCMv_8-RAQo73BqJ35yp_z0-ySBOHMCOvPWnN8pglBF8WXD3ZSbFhsLd_si-VHXg5zUenbqSSsl-yeq-Am9LcvY_42aBD0UvC\/d\/LaPetiteNoob-21-08-20-20.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cspan style=\"font-size: large;\"\u003E4. Hire A Professional\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003EHonestly, the biggest takeaway here is to hire a professional photographer when you really want some beautiful photos of your toddler. Not only is it so refreshing to have someone with you who is just as invested in getting good photos of your little one as you are, but as a bonus you can get some photos together too! I've honestly have never spent more money on photographers as I have this year with Benny, and I feel like it's all been money well spent.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhriNFHGzVcBWODah_lEdDClOdEu1cT4G90HB5PleyoktGpN_UXm1AcWQr0g_XojXQhm4_JTafxCyB1RMAPXZpk2frCU7wBluKtrMKk4Lp5T2hoNhyVO01eFdlUVXkBRjtgwzoktTMxml1Y\/s2048\/LaPetiteNoob-21-08-20-9.jpg\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"2048\" data-original-width=\"1365\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhriNFHGzVcBWODah_lEdDClOdEu1cT4G90HB5PleyoktGpN_UXm1AcWQr0g_XojXQhm4_JTafxCyB1RMAPXZpk2frCU7wBluKtrMKk4Lp5T2hoNhyVO01eFdlUVXkBRjtgwzoktTMxml1Y\/d\/LaPetiteNoob-21-08-20-9.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat's it! These are all of my tips for getting photos with my busy baby. I know they're nothing groundbreaking, but honestly they've been working for me. Taking photos with a toddler can be a lot of extra work, but the memories you have to look back on are worth it.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat do you guys think? What is your go-to method for getting photos with your busy babies and toddlers? Let me know!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Exo Joëlle\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAll photos by \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/lauraclarkephotos.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELaura Clarke Photography\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/8382413245431741356\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/08\/tips-for-taking-photos-with-babytoddler.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8382413245431741356"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8382413245431741356"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/08\/tips-for-taking-photos-with-babytoddler.html","title":"Tips For Taking Photos With A Baby Or Toddler"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhVRybM0ejkBq20nwIRDMk395qxiKtFgQlLZNQSci2R_vJMgmV3RNWHszgXIdRYd9kd_JoEyhbaQEAnPaU2d-7MbxJAE9MQrlMJZrHJgPAEZucC_SA9ZoEPx-0Hed5bJx0G62sfe0YuCqO6\/s72-c-d\/LaPetiteNoob-21-08-20-10.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-70040629587156745"},"published":{"$t":"2020-06-29T07:55:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-06-29T10:31:00.521-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"canada"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Explore Ontario"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Family Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Roadtrip"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Day Trips With A Baby "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhrM_6RpGVd4EnRabbialZNj5Rb1NbsUFHIdvtwVr1uNC8lzWufKVmGq_HtNoWxLKAZAY4j4SDVx7KBA1b6pM1KLx8fPBXr9dWJm9v5N0fNrEtPjgkNqox8uaJgh449zDrIu9SYizJtrvHl\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-22-06-20-26.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhrM_6RpGVd4EnRabbialZNj5Rb1NbsUFHIdvtwVr1uNC8lzWufKVmGq_HtNoWxLKAZAY4j4SDVx7KBA1b6pM1KLx8fPBXr9dWJm9v5N0fNrEtPjgkNqox8uaJgh449zDrIu9SYizJtrvHl\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-22-06-20-26.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSummer 2020 - woo! Not exactly the summer we were all expecting as we're currently in the middle of a global pandemic, but as a Canadian I will take my summer however it choses to present itself. While we won't be partaking in the usual summer concerts, events and public swims for health reasons, there's one summer traditional that I am excited to (safety) resurrect and that is the summer road trip!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIf you guys follow me on Instagram or have been reading my blog for some time, you know that I absolutely \u003Ci\u003Elove\u003C\/i\u003E day tripping around Ontario. There's just something about a road trip from the city that just reinvigorates you and makes you appreciate the beauty around you even more. Pandemic aside, I have another change to add to my local summer travels - my 11 month old son Benjamin!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nTaking a day trip, even just a quick one, with a baby definitely presents itself with its own unique challenges. You need a lot more stuff, timing is absolutely imperative and there is potential for tears - from both mama and baby, depending on how the drive is going! As we're slowly coming out of months of quarantine and self-isolation, I have to admit that I've lost a bit of my mojo with taking Benny with me. Traveling with a baby can be overwhelming, even if that travel is just a day's road trip.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThankfully after a few successful car trips with baby Benny under my belt, I feel as though I have a handle on road tripping with a little. Yes there is more stuff that you need to bring and the trip is not as carefree as your childless days, but honestly it's so worth it. Here's my tried-and-true packing list, as well as some tips to make road tripping with a baby as stress free and enjoyable of an experience as it can possibly be!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg80sRzqTN9-KWe0-AuFnR4OBjN_u4MfXUDapfzUuo3gVXIgsK443Ir995bx3dPlaP8jIT3jBFiF3njjYzEUzoqsGmPRt43HGXpChNVeTmbLUy5CGyC5PADOF1fSYyyeTHZ6LcArg-wCadO\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-22-06-20-54.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg80sRzqTN9-KWe0-AuFnR4OBjN_u4MfXUDapfzUuo3gVXIgsK443Ir995bx3dPlaP8jIT3jBFiF3njjYzEUzoqsGmPRt43HGXpChNVeTmbLUy5CGyC5PADOF1fSYyyeTHZ6LcArg-wCadO\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-22-06-20-54.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nWhat To Pack:\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESnacks. So many snacks. At least 3 times the amount you think that you need.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESunscreen\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESoother wipes. It can be daunting trying to keep baby's hands and belongings sanitized (we are still in a pandemic,) so having a pack of soother wipes handy can really help.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EExtra Diapers\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWipes - not only for diaper changes, but also to clean baby on-the-go (especially after all those snacks.)\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESoft toys that are safe for the car trip\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EA picnic blanket (I use \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/387dnqX\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethis one\u003C\/a\u003E from Amazon, which is actually a tablecloth.)\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EA hat for baby\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EA bottle of water\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EA change of clothes for both baby and mama\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAnything of comfort for baby - whether that be a pacifier, lovey, blanket, etc.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBug Spray (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2BiPLDH\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethis one\u003C\/a\u003E is deet-free and is safe for babies over 6 months)\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ETravel stroller (we're still loving the Uppababy Minu and it lives in my trunk.)\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nFor me, the source of most of the stress that comes along with day tripping with a baby has to do with gathering all of the stuff and panicking over forgetting something important. To combat any anxiety over the added stuff, I keep a canvas bag filled with all of the above and keep it in an accessible area. That way, it's easy to just pop into either the bottom of your stroller (for anything within walking distance) or the trunk of your car. Just make sure that you're periodically changing the diapers and changes of clothes to match your baby's current size.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEheKJDoycruBmPzvkLtyEiaj0L57y9Nr0omEzuEdaPy4lB4IjnajsPXDrHSl8cbizT-VLo-3UNtd4VJXz78R1aum7ZSC__RohTKmgwesfZ7hNGrpRWH_tTKtsH-ENB8mYSLB2vkqVAengJK\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-22-06-20-17.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEheKJDoycruBmPzvkLtyEiaj0L57y9Nr0omEzuEdaPy4lB4IjnajsPXDrHSl8cbizT-VLo-3UNtd4VJXz78R1aum7ZSC__RohTKmgwesfZ7hNGrpRWH_tTKtsH-ENB8mYSLB2vkqVAengJK\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-22-06-20-17.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nCar Ride Tips\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWhen taking road trips and day trips with a baby, timing is absolutely everything. It may seem like an obvious statement to make, but \u003Cb\u003Etiming your car trips to line up with your baby's naps \u003C\/b\u003Ewill be \u003Ci\u003Esuch\u003C\/i\u003E a game changer. I even plan to leave about 15 minutes prior to Benny's scheduled nap time because I know that it takes him some time to get settled in the car.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EYou know your baby best, so if they have a tendency to get worked up and anxious during car rides then it's likely to happen on a road trip (even if you time naps perfectly.) If you have the option, an extra person to sit in the backseat to entertain your baby can make the difference between an enjoyable drive and a nightmare. Grandparents, partner, big kids - anyone who offers to help, definitely take it.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ECreate a rock-solid playlist that's full of songs that you know your baby enjoys. Benny loves watching Mother Goose Club, so I have all of the songs cued up and ready to go for our car trips. Do I love listening to '\u003Ci\u003EThe Wheels On The Bus\u003C\/i\u003E' multiple times a trip? That would be a hell no from me. But, I will sacrifice my typical classic rock road trip tunes for a happy baby any day.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESkip the drive through and fill up with gas beforehand. I've learned this lesson the hard way, but if you're timing your baby's naps with your driving time then the last thing that you want to do is interrupt said nap. Reduce any need to stop, and potentially wake up and upset your baby.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EHave patience and trust that you're making great memories. It can be so hard to keep your composure when you're in the thick of motherhood and don't have the comforts of home to rely on. For me, my trigger is when Benny is crying in the car and there's no way for me to comfort him. Even in our worst moments, I have to trust that we're making family memories and that I'll forget about any of those hard moments as time goes on.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgTc9gQvO6hg9LXBvgUPgpwiagt5ul7wZWNF4-zyMcaqWrF01ckGdSBkNNNwXnVnTWA4pKuj4A0x4JupQgo3El1Jry_dZJYvB1Zag40FYnNXrLOnq2XZKiEvsQSToeMGWQ65ZyHXhfVKjLl\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-22-06-20-22.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgTc9gQvO6hg9LXBvgUPgpwiagt5ul7wZWNF4-zyMcaqWrF01ckGdSBkNNNwXnVnTWA4pKuj4A0x4JupQgo3El1Jry_dZJYvB1Zag40FYnNXrLOnq2XZKiEvsQSToeMGWQ65ZyHXhfVKjLl\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-22-06-20-22.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThese photos were taken at quite possibly the most beautiful lavender farm that I've ever visited! \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/purplehilllavender.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPurple Hill Lavender Farm\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E is a picturesque piece of paradise in Creemore, Ontario (about an hour and a half drive from Toronto.) The farm is family-owned, and you can just \u003Ci\u003Efeel\u003C\/i\u003E the amount of care and love that goes into the property. The lavender is currently at peak bloom and will remain this shade of vibrant purple until about mid-July. Make sure to visit their website to \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/purplehilllavender.com\/collections\/farm-visits\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ebook your ticket\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E to visit - and bring the whole family. Honestly, you won't regret it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjWQ743XzZeLIqW4MDU_U807KNser4i0xQx8b3RKQMXzzatwwE08gcwx87AmZSbAmtnp3FrN930L8H2tM2TAhyphenhyphenkbhtFDVaZGDTgjFLhHPhKCx3-Y7WNttS1cHZ9-JEjNPHxkPYJ7ypNykZR\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-22-06-20-32.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1068\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjWQ743XzZeLIqW4MDU_U807KNser4i0xQx8b3RKQMXzzatwwE08gcwx87AmZSbAmtnp3FrN930L8H2tM2TAhyphenhyphenkbhtFDVaZGDTgjFLhHPhKCx3-Y7WNttS1cHZ9-JEjNPHxkPYJ7ypNykZR\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-22-06-20-32.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiZMQz2a4jqcncOOlRwH7ABF88cY-Q2B7y2a447wviFClEg4GJ2dy6r1qWDbb6S_M-O-pZTs_zMxhv7Q9XNlaJ96psgkS9BeNtDZ2j1IRjRYrqiX2H_vsmZ8Jx8HPK5dRnLKs9EUAX31aJF\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-22-06-20-46.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiZMQz2a4jqcncOOlRwH7ABF88cY-Q2B7y2a447wviFClEg4GJ2dy6r1qWDbb6S_M-O-pZTs_zMxhv7Q9XNlaJ96psgkS9BeNtDZ2j1IRjRYrqiX2H_vsmZ8Jx8HPK5dRnLKs9EUAX31aJF\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-22-06-20-46.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh3-c4iVoPLrVO5pbd9EzDPUR0PClip1C_m-6RYADsiArsmLoQnjiFC_apu7rKw8ekFR92OFAIFoZ05e-88CBiMmoPsLbMkEF2Vzb0907MpSTSCVNjYE_lI33WR7G5-YvxCXix-7EzBSW7Y\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-22-06-20-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh3-c4iVoPLrVO5pbd9EzDPUR0PClip1C_m-6RYADsiArsmLoQnjiFC_apu7rKw8ekFR92OFAIFoZ05e-88CBiMmoPsLbMkEF2Vzb0907MpSTSCVNjYE_lI33WR7G5-YvxCXix-7EzBSW7Y\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-22-06-20-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nRoad tripping and day tripping with a baby can feel daunting, but it's \u003Ci\u003Eso \u003C\/i\u003Eincredibly worth it. We may have a very different summer on our hands for 2020, but getting out and exploring nature and what our province or state has to offer is a great way to make lemonade out of lemons. I'm excited for all of our summer day trips to come. Where should we go next?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/70040629587156745\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/06\/day-trips-with-baby.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/70040629587156745"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/70040629587156745"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/06\/day-trips-with-baby.html","title":"Day Trips With A Baby "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhrM_6RpGVd4EnRabbialZNj5Rb1NbsUFHIdvtwVr1uNC8lzWufKVmGq_HtNoWxLKAZAY4j4SDVx7KBA1b6pM1KLx8fPBXr9dWJm9v5N0fNrEtPjgkNqox8uaJgh449zDrIu9SYizJtrvHl\/s72-c\/LaPetiteNoob-22-06-20-26.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-3915778769671627557"},"published":{"$t":"2020-05-29T12:30:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-05-29T12:30:00.720-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Baby"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Baby Gear"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Favourite Canadian Baby Boy Clothing Brands"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhh2Stt3l2w8P5Gs9EXmGJ-_xRHErI01mBVgb2CcZcLosKVS-Y0MoGZs8PV0vdgbiwvHo3BWrRqZuCHu2eA4ovVnNa96zin_Um2JmP2qVsEb6IdBxlwsmenjXMCxJ5zERdydI0U497P0iVb\/s1600\/IMG_4149+2.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhh2Stt3l2w8P5Gs9EXmGJ-_xRHErI01mBVgb2CcZcLosKVS-Y0MoGZs8PV0vdgbiwvHo3BWrRqZuCHu2eA4ovVnNa96zin_Um2JmP2qVsEb6IdBxlwsmenjXMCxJ5zERdydI0U497P0iVb\/s1600\/IMG_4149+2.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBaby boy mamas, who can relate: you're on the hunt for some cute, neutral and high-quality clothing for your little only to be hit with either horribly tacky prints or zero selection. Been there. As someone who really enjoys fashion and dressing myself for the day, that same passion extends into finding and dressing Benny in cute little boy clothing. While there certainly isn't as much selection for baby boys as there is for girls, and you may need to filter your results a little bit more, I have managed to build a very cute and incredibly practical capsule wardrobe for Benny from predominantly Canadian brands.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhile admittedly I've been slow to shop Canadian brands for myself, I have jumped in whole heartedly for Benny! Supporting our local businesses is more important now more than ever and we Canadians have some absolutely fantastic brand selections for children's apparel - especially for little boys! If you're like me and seek out neutral colours in natural, breathable fabrics and good quality for your baby's wardrobe then I \u003Ci\u003Ehighly \u003C\/i\u003Esuggest checking these Canadian shops out!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nLittle Yogi\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nMade in Canada using natural materials, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/en.littleyogicompany.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELittle Yogi\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is the answer to your frustration with gendered children's apparel. Made famous by their harem pants, every single piece of clothing that I've received from Little Yogi has been in heavy rotation in Benny's wardrobe (bonus - it washes beautifully.)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEip7TNiJYqCC-SMTGWoWjICkxTqf6acRXT1EcCc6ftCa0HG2Tj6K8kaBtnv-V9ICNIGlG66xW1F6xLu_zpjL3hRKkf7J1PtSxfi5ETvTcjbOwL-8elYUoARYUbjhfesr17SsiVIgV8c2nGY\/s1600\/IMG_3328.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEip7TNiJYqCC-SMTGWoWjICkxTqf6acRXT1EcCc6ftCa0HG2Tj6K8kaBtnv-V9ICNIGlG66xW1F6xLu_zpjL3hRKkf7J1PtSxfi5ETvTcjbOwL-8elYUoARYUbjhfesr17SsiVIgV8c2nGY\/s1600\/IMG_3328.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nMini Mioche\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOrganic and made in Canada, \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.minimioche.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMini Mioche\u003C\/a\u003E \u003C\/b\u003Ehas been one of my favourite brands to build Benny's wardrobe since he was a newborn! My must-have item from the line is their \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.minimioche.com\/collections\/rompers\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERomper,\u003C\/a\u003E which makes cooler-weather dressing a no-brainer. I also love the variety of gender-neutral colours and simplicity of their designs!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjEYCc12XahNC4GLbP6acc_Cu-apEju24d91bPxrhWMformFLVaz8gJqHlSLnAPHLy2R0QxMJ3g4xukF9G2f7PFb98mzVrm9LmNxVr5KkCByYROo2EzDW5SoaKmq4dMj5EaJIiRJGZ7N1qY\/s1600\/Facetune_19-02-2020-17-53-13.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjEYCc12XahNC4GLbP6acc_Cu-apEju24d91bPxrhWMformFLVaz8gJqHlSLnAPHLy2R0QxMJ3g4xukF9G2f7PFb98mzVrm9LmNxVr5KkCByYROo2EzDW5SoaKmq4dMj5EaJIiRJGZ7N1qY\/s1600\/Facetune_19-02-2020-17-53-13.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nPetit Lem\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nRecently I needed to replenish Benny's sleeper stash, as he had grown out of his previous size, and had a hard time trying to find anything that fit. Thankfully I was able to get my hands on some Petit Lem sleepers - and I may never buy anything else! We were well acquainted with \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/petitlem.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPetit Lem\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E for Benny's newborn wardrobe; everything is super soft and is made with the absolute cutest patterns. They also have hard-to-find premie sizing. Another incredible Canadian brand.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEist-TMWoZiurOkfZ7kVdcYUuHEpkDTiuf5wIsqk-ouR55XJEGf-_riChcmC1Efp0NiL66Teyq9AyFo9iUpooRg0zK_-_U0EG09Jt_RjfyLbF_JpGCtNucKw0lWyjWIcjzdaoRrd1akG926\/s1600\/ACS_0443.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1281\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEist-TMWoZiurOkfZ7kVdcYUuHEpkDTiuf5wIsqk-ouR55XJEGf-_riChcmC1Efp0NiL66Teyq9AyFo9iUpooRg0zK_-_U0EG09Jt_RjfyLbF_JpGCtNucKw0lWyjWIcjzdaoRrd1akG926\/s1600\/ACS_0443.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nHey Folks\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nMade in Canada and formally Minimoc, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.googleadservices.com\/pagead\/aclk?sa=L\u0026amp;ai=DChcSEwj4rqPGtdnpAhUB28AKHXBYCZcYABAAGgJpbQ\u0026amp;ohost=www.google.com\u0026amp;cid=CAESQOD2NX4pUbo5RWprn-e-BqJICVTu9wR7_Ml0Nhu867-lJ1rddNlpV5v17jBEZ_uJl7Bt_936hysI2YNMNj-iXJE\u0026amp;sig=AOD64_3wKhKhq95yAQ8oOG7ueXujarE0Jw\u0026amp;q=\u0026amp;ved=2ahUKEwj-vZvGtdnpAhXFZs0KHT7XB6sQ0Qx6BAgKEAE\u0026amp;adurl=\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHey Folks\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is the \u003Ci\u003Eonly\u003C\/i\u003E place that I have been buying Benny's shoes lately. I love their simple designs and the fact that no matter how hard Benny tries, he can't seem to kick them off. Plus, they're\u003Ci\u003E so \u003C\/i\u003Ecute and come in such beautiful, neutral colours that I typically buy one pair and Benny will wear them with everything until he outgrows them!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEikcgMtYi6h6RozujhqXFKTjrRnrMaxlFv3kAEYIszbAinAZfYQ9hwIXSEw528KvSbgS7gpPxc3D0P83mid3si0z00vjc7u-fkdYnxSSvFmg5dgo0SUEtUafS19pPB623alNCAYBCN5WDE8\/s1600\/ACS_0445.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEikcgMtYi6h6RozujhqXFKTjrRnrMaxlFv3kAEYIszbAinAZfYQ9hwIXSEw528KvSbgS7gpPxc3D0P83mid3si0z00vjc7u-fkdYnxSSvFmg5dgo0SUEtUafS19pPB623alNCAYBCN5WDE8\/s1600\/ACS_0445.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nJunior Foxes\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAs a former baby-wearing mama, adding a ring sling into your arsenal of baby gear is an absolute necessity. I love the beautiful colours and patterns available at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/juniorfoxes.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EJunior Foxes\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, a local Canadian brand, and how durable their sling fabrics are.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWith so many adorable Canadian brands to shop for your littles, he list certainly doesn't end here - these are just a few of my personal favourites, and who's websites I'm constantly browsing.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI would love to know your favourite Canadian brands! Any favourites and stand-outs? Where do you shop for your little boy? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/3915778769671627557\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/05\/favourite-canadian-baby-boy-clothing.html#comment-form","title":"10 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3915778769671627557"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3915778769671627557"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/05\/favourite-canadian-baby-boy-clothing.html","title":"Favourite Canadian Baby Boy Clothing Brands"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhh2Stt3l2w8P5Gs9EXmGJ-_xRHErI01mBVgb2CcZcLosKVS-Y0MoGZs8PV0vdgbiwvHo3BWrRqZuCHu2eA4ovVnNa96zin_Um2JmP2qVsEb6IdBxlwsmenjXMCxJ5zERdydI0U497P0iVb\/s72-c\/IMG_4149+2.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"10"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-8036913217401157356"},"published":{"$t":"2020-03-24T14:29:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-03-24T15:09:57.798-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Social Isolation"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Entertaining My Baby in Self Isolation"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjZRSdduENTJa3uV12yh7O1QE2uGKYfX9f_EJq8-SjVKSBcXot90eaSgIH_066Sl3jbdia2J93S5pYRauteBWGQf3CCexWC4kaX2FsRyejykN7mpteCsJOSVcv63_KqKpb_enz8NyXjZ5Qg\/s1600\/IMG_3184+2.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjZRSdduENTJa3uV12yh7O1QE2uGKYfX9f_EJq8-SjVKSBcXot90eaSgIH_066Sl3jbdia2J93S5pYRauteBWGQf3CCexWC4kaX2FsRyejykN7mpteCsJOSVcv63_KqKpb_enz8NyXjZ5Qg\/s1600\/IMG_3184+2.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWe're in the midst of a Global Pandemic with Covid-19, and I for one am doing my part to flatten the curve and am staying home. While most friends and people I follow online are using this period of self-quarantine to practice self-care or maybe develop a new hobby, I'm over here trying to entertain and occupy my almost 8 month old baby while still staying sane.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nStaying home while entertaining a young baby is no joke, and definitely requires a lot of time and attention. I find that we're hopping from one activity to the next, with me just hoping that something on Benny's play mat peaks his fancy for more than a few minutes. Some toys are a big hit one day, and fall flat the next. Sometimes I can entertain him for almost an entire day with regular household items. It honestly just depends!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nHere are a few toys, household items and books that we've been using to keep 8 month old Benny entertained while practicing Social Distancing.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nBaby Toys\u003C\/h3\u003E\nRemember when I said that I would only buy aesthetically pleasing, wooden baby toys? I have to laugh at my pre-baby self. Our condo is definitely a haven for all of the brightly coloured, loud baby toys.\u0026nbsp; Honestly though, if Benny likes them then I'm on board.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nHere's some of Benny's favourite toys, and those that we have on regular rotation at our place. I like them because they're small-space friendly, and seem to really catch and hold his attention.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgmN92AxsfOD1waFrXsl2DeTh2AGnfmHLoUBzizARaVbi72oLPxrcAiRiiPCvYni3FpMl7crC3aae_yksFO1el42Jvz5kYMKoSxNffOkTyPqmMoGSbI9pzCoVB-cJAWD3A2dmPLqdNzKa94\/s1600\/baby-toys.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1500\" data-original-width=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgmN92AxsfOD1waFrXsl2DeTh2AGnfmHLoUBzizARaVbi72oLPxrcAiRiiPCvYni3FpMl7crC3aae_yksFO1el42Jvz5kYMKoSxNffOkTyPqmMoGSbI9pzCoVB-cJAWD3A2dmPLqdNzKa94\/s1600\/baby-toys.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n1. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2WEBzx2\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EVTech Turn \u0026amp; Learn Driver\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n2. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/39ftjX1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EVTech Busy Learners Activity Cube\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n3. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2vLvELz\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFisher Price Piano Gym\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n4. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3bmW859\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESoft Crinkle Books\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nHousehold Items\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSometimes, the best ways to entertain a baby is through everyday items found at home. We learned this lesson when we took Benny on his fist flight: if it's something that catches his attention (and isn't dangerous to play with,) then just go with it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNow, we're a little more strategic with offering everyday items that we know Benny will enjoy and play happily with for a longer period of time. There are a few things that I reach for in a pinch, and Benny seems to love them!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ETupperware containers (non-breakable, plastic) and lids\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EPots and wooden spoons\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWrapping paper\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EClean cardboard boxes (ones that have not recently entered the condo)\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nBooks\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nWe're still trying to foster Benny's eventual love for reading, so having books available to him to have read and to play with is so important. Right now we're sticking to board books that have beautiful, colourful images and even different interactive textures.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgO_lMzGu05QRlZg29BaDZi9dVhPKwbL77NQM3OmgfgG_OpP6GOEIfyR4_fn3TqREDaSlAaRYtb-1TrGOtO_eq68pj7tFJgjIOlNxstaIludyrXpVYK83Nc3OBwD0HaHWLWVI2EhERr3GOc\/s1600\/Screen+Shot+2020-03-24+at+11.57.11+AM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"678\" data-original-width=\"670\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgO_lMzGu05QRlZg29BaDZi9dVhPKwbL77NQM3OmgfgG_OpP6GOEIfyR4_fn3TqREDaSlAaRYtb-1TrGOtO_eq68pj7tFJgjIOlNxstaIludyrXpVYK83Nc3OBwD0HaHWLWVI2EhERr3GOc\/s1600\/Screen+Shot+2020-03-24+at+11.57.11+AM.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3bqrMP8\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Jellycat Board Books\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E are ideal for babies that are in and around the 6months - 1 year age range. Not only as a fun book to read with them, but also as a means of independent play with the mix of textures in each book.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBeing in social isolation and quarantine is tough in the best of situations - it becomes even more challenging when you add a baby to the mix. With a rotating selection of toys, household objects and books, we've managed to find a nice routine when it comes to entertaining a baby.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWe can get through this. Day 12 of social isolation and counting.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/8036913217401157356\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/03\/entertaining-my-baby-in-self-isolation.html#comment-form","title":"5 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8036913217401157356"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8036913217401157356"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/03\/entertaining-my-baby-in-self-isolation.html","title":"Entertaining My Baby in Self Isolation"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjZRSdduENTJa3uV12yh7O1QE2uGKYfX9f_EJq8-SjVKSBcXot90eaSgIH_066Sl3jbdia2J93S5pYRauteBWGQf3CCexWC4kaX2FsRyejykN7mpteCsJOSVcv63_KqKpb_enz8NyXjZ5Qg\/s72-c\/IMG_3184+2.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"5"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-395376610660578356"},"published":{"$t":"2020-03-07T10:14:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-03-07T10:51:26.644-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Air Transat"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Family Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Mexico"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel with a baby"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres with Air Transat"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi555CCfH-qavri8tuJb_TmDavfaPAVbcgghabqs84bgOZ0ySe5Kb9KAqDqA_9_82etYqhT3pb7A2tFbfUPODCVe1E1op8UXqFaXA96Q4G6JGDo_XsRjK592YAkn5733yg8HivnyS7itDUQ\/s1600\/DSC_6526.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi555CCfH-qavri8tuJb_TmDavfaPAVbcgghabqs84bgOZ0ySe5Kb9KAqDqA_9_82etYqhT3pb7A2tFbfUPODCVe1E1op8UXqFaXA96Q4G6JGDo_XsRjK592YAkn5733yg8HivnyS7itDUQ\/s1600\/DSC_6526.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI remember being asked, while I was still pregnant, what I was most excited for once baby arrived. That's simple, I said - I was excited to take my baby on their first trip. It seems like a strange answer, but it's true. Travel is and always has been a huge part of my life. My family, due to being a military family and living overseas, were always going on adventures when my brothers and I were young and it made for the best memories. Not only did I want those same memories and experiences for my own child, but I couldn't wait to experience the joy that comes along with seeing my baby experience new things.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nImagine my incredible excitement when the opportunity arose with \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/airtransat.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAir Transat\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to visit Mexico to check out the recently opened \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/36BCvUc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EGrand Palladium Costa Mujeres\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a five-star luxurious family-friendly resort in Cancun. Both Brian and I were ecstatic! Not only would be we able to take Benny on his first trip at 6 months old, but we would be able to return to Cancun as a family - a beloved destination that holds many special memories for us.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSo off we went, flying on our first flight with a baby with Air Transat and had the most amazing week in paradise. The Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres was an actual oasis. The resort was the perfect choice for a first vacation as a family with a new baby. The experience could not have been more accommodating to traveling with a baby, while still staying in the kind of luxury us late-thirties parents had grown accustomed to. The whole week exceeded my expectations and set the bar for family travel \u003Ci\u003Eextremely\u003C\/i\u003E high.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLet me guide you through our week The Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres. I know how important choosing the right resort when traveling with kids can be, let alone your first family trip, so I'm going to try to share everything and anything that made our week incredible and why I would recommend this property for family travel (or really anyone looking for a luxurious getaway in paradise.)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh3qGimrgtK8H6wPUGe9SARiBbtY10zXoNLGNp2hedtu3mu9hBvkhJD8Lyp00uXa2QdwGVPZNiEPcN5amGkdsrGaSu7wmiOxuWU1bmRQptQs1hsOhGiAQtWmrrf8vYnnajEinY9MUYS_PSE\/s1600\/DSC_6417.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh3qGimrgtK8H6wPUGe9SARiBbtY10zXoNLGNp2hedtu3mu9hBvkhJD8Lyp00uXa2QdwGVPZNiEPcN5amGkdsrGaSu7wmiOxuWU1bmRQptQs1hsOhGiAQtWmrrf8vYnnajEinY9MUYS_PSE\/s1600\/DSC_6417.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjxVeP_RxAiZoz2AnfJhVO5Bqw24f9ruCaCELvLEAgoqnLKf-sVFAxl8Cfs_gU74F-D8fvSLnNwkSQV5rkC-uBQ_UryNNIQxDz4E_R-7MrhgurMWE3vX9dL9ZoIG7tsA4EXRgpn57G_UFHH\/s1600\/DSC_6541.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1068\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjxVeP_RxAiZoz2AnfJhVO5Bqw24f9ruCaCELvLEAgoqnLKf-sVFAxl8Cfs_gU74F-D8fvSLnNwkSQV5rkC-uBQ_UryNNIQxDz4E_R-7MrhgurMWE3vX9dL9ZoIG7tsA4EXRgpn57G_UFHH\/s1600\/DSC_6541.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgCig5Dq9cMvC_a36BBa1zFPqnIQWC6PPmApaLLC2Gt6pdFFegSrbr4XNiJjWLUVD7aHTfqiSbO_P2Y1BesYg01yceZ-NhEo2WwTfwHk-KeuNXGB4eNBUGIx1YvGEXyg9qfao3RaHc8l5oZ\/s1600\/grand-palladium-costa-mujeres.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1084\" data-original-width=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgCig5Dq9cMvC_a36BBa1zFPqnIQWC6PPmApaLLC2Gt6pdFFegSrbr4XNiJjWLUVD7aHTfqiSbO_P2Y1BesYg01yceZ-NhEo2WwTfwHk-KeuNXGB4eNBUGIx1YvGEXyg9qfao3RaHc8l5oZ\/s1600\/grand-palladium-costa-mujeres.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgbMUJuhLnIQPplXNsDDIFBrvRqLfjHtmxx9nrLDJrbsO8opiJNRmuw28QcqkLU-DzHTlGXraYQBOnDh1oQVecMVZj4xZ0ZrakDynDjU99gLj66_GsPnspqNCid_GlOExs1f3NQoM4ZDHce\/s1600\/IMG_2029.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgbMUJuhLnIQPplXNsDDIFBrvRqLfjHtmxx9nrLDJrbsO8opiJNRmuw28QcqkLU-DzHTlGXraYQBOnDh1oQVecMVZj4xZ0ZrakDynDjU99gLj66_GsPnspqNCid_GlOExs1f3NQoM4ZDHce\/s1600\/IMG_2029.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg430biJvCFQnRALtnK6d_5KL3m4HKcG9wURuV6Va3PFQSPxrNYgCerbFFYZwYN3s4a6Mr1U7BBYjsLoe9pO3uHv8nqe1NelxptYmNwAZ1Hb5ITCTpKD3JWYgkLXv-Xdzd9sJ95hTYt_8H-\/s1600\/IMG_2255.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg430biJvCFQnRALtnK6d_5KL3m4HKcG9wURuV6Va3PFQSPxrNYgCerbFFYZwYN3s4a6Mr1U7BBYjsLoe9pO3uHv8nqe1NelxptYmNwAZ1Hb5ITCTpKD3JWYgkLXv-Xdzd9sJ95hTYt_8H-\/s1600\/IMG_2255.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjGiStoo3gWSETiI7V-WWg7XgB670xbFpOBhiX15X6rwd8Ia62sy8eOMAoRKL0zMY9UuhOgjBo-o4wMmCX9bUbnjAZI9Ge2jp9Rg9kL97F0-RgV0s9QUTvWk2XSC2mkhvXTh-ZB_v-EIKP_\/s1600\/IMG_2167.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjGiStoo3gWSETiI7V-WWg7XgB670xbFpOBhiX15X6rwd8Ia62sy8eOMAoRKL0zMY9UuhOgjBo-o4wMmCX9bUbnjAZI9Ge2jp9Rg9kL97F0-RgV0s9QUTvWk2XSC2mkhvXTh-ZB_v-EIKP_\/s1600\/IMG_2167.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhdBOvJMv7fJOfz7f1GbVMzP3Wwtj8d3KDNkIQuer6mqs1y08NaIfViiB4qsugJbaZ__jAQe8urNDeVAhbjJAKCgjXqz2q_lqMexEyr51pqvR2Udr6LbWUoNJ-Ds4QX9wqIp2jqwsjhEIJt\/s1600\/grand-palladium-costa-mujeres-review.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1084\" data-original-width=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhdBOvJMv7fJOfz7f1GbVMzP3Wwtj8d3KDNkIQuer6mqs1y08NaIfViiB4qsugJbaZ__jAQe8urNDeVAhbjJAKCgjXqz2q_lqMexEyr51pqvR2Udr6LbWUoNJ-Ds4QX9wqIp2jqwsjhEIJt\/s1600\/grand-palladium-costa-mujeres-review.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgRUtcNlG2JSxJygbO73D3fnqSGOzEViYiKbjTLXSpJfDihDB3CXHcls9MLSCeG9t55PW4Uk3Woc8f81vXuWU5gYblBjhDjKfEPwFekJQD8yub4pgeFuUXylU20yLftcpdvbR80Eb3I-aoR\/s1600\/DSC_6470.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgRUtcNlG2JSxJygbO73D3fnqSGOzEViYiKbjTLXSpJfDihDB3CXHcls9MLSCeG9t55PW4Uk3Woc8f81vXuWU5gYblBjhDjKfEPwFekJQD8yub4pgeFuUXylU20yLftcpdvbR80Eb3I-aoR\/s1600\/DSC_6470.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiO28n_ktRB2OHzcaHDeDjO8oi_iLZhd0I4c6_xydGCjQGyZDC_7gD_8wGra2RsuJlelnUJf_SWy8CFdFb8nfggVsQYUGRCSmYHqB8kSp7knP7I3Y8UGPMLyLZbDLnQNuhytSIcMiyDUfJI\/s1600\/grand-palladium-costa-mujeres-family-selection.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1084\" data-original-width=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiO28n_ktRB2OHzcaHDeDjO8oi_iLZhd0I4c6_xydGCjQGyZDC_7gD_8wGra2RsuJlelnUJf_SWy8CFdFb8nfggVsQYUGRCSmYHqB8kSp7knP7I3Y8UGPMLyLZbDLnQNuhytSIcMiyDUfJI\/s1600\/grand-palladium-costa-mujeres-family-selection.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiRWN-NRe2Ou0LMyvtKtruqBkaX1b4ZuCfRvj9pFlYyBiy05gs5xUYkiwtUzY7MN124DoBk4orxrNi6mgCNWtM3JMufiVq12IcLpEEtuG_jp2TiSMClpa8frN5p3UhuomG-I9s__MgxUaEW\/s1600\/DSC_6540.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiRWN-NRe2Ou0LMyvtKtruqBkaX1b4ZuCfRvj9pFlYyBiy05gs5xUYkiwtUzY7MN124DoBk4orxrNi6mgCNWtM3JMufiVq12IcLpEEtuG_jp2TiSMClpa8frN5p3UhuomG-I9s__MgxUaEW\/s1600\/DSC_6540.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nThe Property\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nUpon first look at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/36BCvUc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, I was struck by how absolutely gorgeous it is. Being only just over a year old and with beautiful, modern buildings and touches, this property makes an impressions before you even check in! Here's some quick facts about The Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres and some things that I really appreciated from this unique and luxurious property.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe property itself it only 29 km from the Cancun International Airport, which for us translated into a very quick and leisurely 35 minute drive. This is especially important to consider when traveling with a baby - the less time in transit, the better.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThere are multiple pools on-site, to suit every age range and taste! Ourselves, we mostly just used the two pools that are situated in the Family Selection area of The Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres and they were excellent. I was also able to sneak away to check out the adults-only pool and it was gorgeous. There is also a large water park that any older children will absolutely love!\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EFast, reliable Wifi is included and available throughout the entire complex.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe resort itself has over 600 rooms, and never felt overcrowded in the entirety of our stay - both during the week and on weekend.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThere is easy elevator access for the buildings. This is important when traveling with a baby and a stroller.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe on-site spa is \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.zentropia-spa.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EZentropia\u003C\/a\u003E, which is easily the nicest and most luxurious spa that I've ever experienced. The services are available at an additional fee, and I found the prices to be reasonable (on-par with Toronto spa prices.)\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EI would classify the resort as a nice, medium size. Easily walkable, however with many options if you need get somewhere in a hurry. Normally if we were traveling on our own, Brian and I would have walked everywhere. However, traveling with a baby means that time is of the essence - especially when trying to get to a quick dinner, or getting back to our room for bedtime. We appreciated the many golf carts that were at the ready to assist, as well as the 100% electrical boats that offer a more scenic ride around the property.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjX1tseRIC8wsBPqftMJirWsIQqqMwhEEt_FxqrvGPONCFJAWH6Ic7hBw7nLmoxNwunyIgWRpuNlDOj4vXVPAyQfEmNC0lQWEzwC7TdSRzicau5gdUQVFgMUyuRbXH1KzsfzwfXk0Dpk-Q_\/s1600\/IMG_1957+2.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjX1tseRIC8wsBPqftMJirWsIQqqMwhEEt_FxqrvGPONCFJAWH6Ic7hBw7nLmoxNwunyIgWRpuNlDOj4vXVPAyQfEmNC0lQWEzwC7TdSRzicau5gdUQVFgMUyuRbXH1KzsfzwfXk0Dpk-Q_\/s1600\/IMG_1957+2.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhQLmMot-ZxBl3ECuDcB-Ys2ZXvbWrGBY29GIKHyCdBa7p8ZiipL3fBiQEcDTjA1AbZMpab-5QOVK_TSZj9XntB-wjD-ORFE10-SzlrskH7gf3gOy0xDR7dgo_kxElsadrlYnKnKYraM1Cb\/s1600\/IMG_2315.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhQLmMot-ZxBl3ECuDcB-Ys2ZXvbWrGBY29GIKHyCdBa7p8ZiipL3fBiQEcDTjA1AbZMpab-5QOVK_TSZj9XntB-wjD-ORFE10-SzlrskH7gf3gOy0xDR7dgo_kxElsadrlYnKnKYraM1Cb\/s1600\/IMG_2315.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg7iC8CBwv291tIX_7BvBpHWmzS6AXcO6Ql7b_TdSr9JRVfV6zBg_4a9Yv1mx1KFnzFMFhwWK-UlVB4JVuR_4sZwC0PdD5zMzWh7xl345s6E-SXT-SaQmNvgDGWHHKJfS-2gsijWJP09vui\/s1600\/grand-palladium-costa-mujeres-room.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1084\" data-original-width=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg7iC8CBwv291tIX_7BvBpHWmzS6AXcO6Ql7b_TdSr9JRVfV6zBg_4a9Yv1mx1KFnzFMFhwWK-UlVB4JVuR_4sZwC0PdD5zMzWh7xl345s6E-SXT-SaQmNvgDGWHHKJfS-2gsijWJP09vui\/s1600\/grand-palladium-costa-mujeres-room.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjsP1I7W6dN5zzSOIRTh7hrPxr75svLttEDQjXmeoS-KtbNsfgDI7oa6ORQIyznbrsUF5w7SsLEW-erZ04ItTb-mDjn4yVku6NaBn-u02OzeLgHZCkDjNH0ADnq9cxWiJIOE30mosOiEPQn\/s1600\/IMG_2020.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjsP1I7W6dN5zzSOIRTh7hrPxr75svLttEDQjXmeoS-KtbNsfgDI7oa6ORQIyznbrsUF5w7SsLEW-erZ04ItTb-mDjn4yVku6NaBn-u02OzeLgHZCkDjNH0ADnq9cxWiJIOE30mosOiEPQn\/s1600\/IMG_2020.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiApT1nATGfCwWuujPb8lT1FsEcRupmNK3sCn9accfyPVFaCJZ7IiV8FFrDfV3u3miGVlenjVEs_HXRLEVPHWMqcZo-gsZyCpVucduV09d7bZOUo2xtDgOS4lEQ6RXDPbQdg5OlxSswb8Oj\/s1600\/DSC_6512.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiApT1nATGfCwWuujPb8lT1FsEcRupmNK3sCn9accfyPVFaCJZ7IiV8FFrDfV3u3miGVlenjVEs_HXRLEVPHWMqcZo-gsZyCpVucduV09d7bZOUo2xtDgOS4lEQ6RXDPbQdg5OlxSswb8Oj\/s1600\/DSC_6512.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgG6nPaNByXCZwp9kcnBx6HAgvlTnPW7TWD-WKoUk3CaXUBxeW3XSa_JJihcqs2Q6UQ9C-Udduv-GGdsvunWVv-azbj5RyFt6zUjR7mqlcmUw28zU8ZuEUIq6anjrdJk1ccxAdtW3rvSH15\/s1600\/IMG_2064.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgG6nPaNByXCZwp9kcnBx6HAgvlTnPW7TWD-WKoUk3CaXUBxeW3XSa_JJihcqs2Q6UQ9C-Udduv-GGdsvunWVv-azbj5RyFt6zUjR7mqlcmUw28zU8ZuEUIq6anjrdJk1ccxAdtW3rvSH15\/s1600\/IMG_2064.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjqNlWfflhKesyRlFVsjad4WfvYblA1U7XsVpT6HtWMjPe0EmRRJg0csnppyl83BfwYivznLKOZpWscKN-ckTt6QeDQ0QgqLpChH7LOzS-LY3W8dbOycDcL8HK2FE9LkZa0TjGtehgsqchK\/s1600\/IMG_2208.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjqNlWfflhKesyRlFVsjad4WfvYblA1U7XsVpT6HtWMjPe0EmRRJg0csnppyl83BfwYivznLKOZpWscKN-ckTt6QeDQ0QgqLpChH7LOzS-LY3W8dbOycDcL8HK2FE9LkZa0TjGtehgsqchK\/s1600\/IMG_2208.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nOur Room: Family Selection\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFor our week at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/36BCvUc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, we stayed in the Family Selection option for rooms. You guys - this was a game changer when it came to traveling with an infant. From the location of the room on the resort, to the incredible family-focused service we received, I could not recommend Family Selection enough. The perks for families seem to be endless; here are the features of Family Selection that really elevated our experience for our first trip with Benny.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe rooms with Family Selection are located in the most ideal area of the resort, in my opinion. You're close to the beach (in fact, I could see and hear the ocean from our balcony,) and are close to two family-friendly pools. Our favourite family-friendly restaurant on the resort, The Nest is in the Family Selection building itself so it was our preferred stop for a quick breakfast with Benny.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EFamily Selection includes a family concierge service, and I honestly think that this service made our experience at The Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres. From arranging our room to be baby friendly, bringing us sunscreen, a diaper genie, a pack and play - everything! We had two concierges, Louis and Fernanda and they were both excellent. Fernanda went above and beyond to arrange all of our dinner and spa reservations, laundry pick up and ideal housekeeping times that wouldn't interfere with Benny's naps. The attention to detail and the care provided to our family completely exceeded our expectations. Most of all, they both genuinely cared for Benny - you could just feel it from them. I was teary eyed saying goodbye to our family concierges, especially Fernanda. The Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres will forever be a main pick for us when it comes to family travel because of the warmth and kindness that we received from the staff.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ERoom service is available 24 hours to guests of Family Selection. We took full advantage, and was a game-changer when we wanted to lounge on the balcony during Benny's naps. The coolest part about the room service is that you ordered from a menu on your TV! So modern, and \u003Ci\u003Eso\u003C\/i\u003E convenient.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EOur room was spacious and modern, with a large bathroom area and a soaker tub, and a large balcony that overlooked both the pool and the ocean. It was absolutely perfect. The room also included both a coffee and Nespresso machine. You guys know how much I appreciate in-room espresso, so this was a game-changer for me.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres is a reservation-free resort, however guests staying in Family Selection are able to reserve times at the à la carte restaurants. Making sure that we had set eating times was really helpful as we learned to navigate dinners with a baby on our first trip. Fernanda, our family concierge, made sure we had reservations for the week at all of our preferred restaurants on the first day.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EHydrotherapy services at Zentropia, the spa, are available at no costs to guests staying at Family Selection. Although the spa is adults-only, Brian and were able to enjoy a few sessions each by taking turns watching Benny for a couple of hours.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EA small detail, but something that is so useful when traveling with a baby, is that Family Selection is allotted two pieces of laundry per guest at no additional cost. This was so helpful when dealing with accidents in sleepers, airplane outfits - basically the everyday messes that come along with a baby.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhsU1cl87NDUKzIN2mdL5_Vi8PKQc7HeQ-pOvoPcfe_SYLWkoh8DkSnP5GgUJrbSL1nPUFyXnMBA8Zx3U7DKbVhXD5YYQhqihwfQQIC2pwaFSUTc5AYJgmoBZ8FvZg8I4apMzA28ARemyTU\/s1600\/DSC_6402.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhsU1cl87NDUKzIN2mdL5_Vi8PKQc7HeQ-pOvoPcfe_SYLWkoh8DkSnP5GgUJrbSL1nPUFyXnMBA8Zx3U7DKbVhXD5YYQhqihwfQQIC2pwaFSUTc5AYJgmoBZ8FvZg8I4apMzA28ARemyTU\/s1600\/DSC_6402.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjShKkXF_4_SUssFoQFqAkpN-MBxCegsQkalU9WNsNUyKppkhVPuO-IB8M7GxYzz8RzOUqAwh1glrRruiT0NgwMjxjnTJ2jRLrF8RJWVvODHgnDGn5PXzFB7RRzRCgXZKp-SxmuCR9zCm_y\/s1600\/IMG_1976.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjShKkXF_4_SUssFoQFqAkpN-MBxCegsQkalU9WNsNUyKppkhVPuO-IB8M7GxYzz8RzOUqAwh1glrRruiT0NgwMjxjnTJ2jRLrF8RJWVvODHgnDGn5PXzFB7RRzRCgXZKp-SxmuCR9zCm_y\/s1600\/IMG_1976.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEimmGgCqtxBMNP7VnQIIbuF8igW0F7rKg00_oU_qSFvK0nuyfCscn0ge1MVcWh25JKfOqsHXpKexOeX81wyD3WEAUGlw4_L66cwUt8PJ8xB3Lx7njJlhiae92UhhvW2jKxWYsibiNO2Runa\/s1600\/grand-palladium-costa-mujeres-food.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1084\" data-original-width=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEimmGgCqtxBMNP7VnQIIbuF8igW0F7rKg00_oU_qSFvK0nuyfCscn0ge1MVcWh25JKfOqsHXpKexOeX81wyD3WEAUGlw4_L66cwUt8PJ8xB3Lx7njJlhiae92UhhvW2jKxWYsibiNO2Runa\/s1600\/grand-palladium-costa-mujeres-food.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjsn5Rm-udnyjYOwUhwLimfngIjNirqNXGjpJ06wgkzcKp9LEXrKVr5PH14-jwUV8eL3Pj_d122mi0dhlIePeWu0W5QZrqKKZ8PPrj0u1dcE96w4yYUiwAqKa2ntq3A_IMxUo7VOTnoOeZt\/s1600\/IMG_2195.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjsn5Rm-udnyjYOwUhwLimfngIjNirqNXGjpJ06wgkzcKp9LEXrKVr5PH14-jwUV8eL3Pj_d122mi0dhlIePeWu0W5QZrqKKZ8PPrj0u1dcE96w4yYUiwAqKa2ntq3A_IMxUo7VOTnoOeZt\/s1600\/IMG_2195.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhDeps9AEbkR-kdCvIKuMJFducdgAsxgoiUG0mREkPC7C57zK4rkrc4VeF6DfUzGqOJ5yC-_1o_cmxRf_AlZ0XSaP4limP8mdFqPDbq6bZqYsj4mmh3CuV_xdJr_YlsTrfA2eI6Js0KNz-A\/s1600\/grand-palladium-costa-mujeres-restaurants.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1084\" data-original-width=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhDeps9AEbkR-kdCvIKuMJFducdgAsxgoiUG0mREkPC7C57zK4rkrc4VeF6DfUzGqOJ5yC-_1o_cmxRf_AlZ0XSaP4limP8mdFqPDbq6bZqYsj4mmh3CuV_xdJr_YlsTrfA2eI6Js0KNz-A\/s1600\/grand-palladium-costa-mujeres-restaurants.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nThe Food\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nOne of my favourite things about visiting an all-inclusive resort is having access to delicious food - with the bonus of not having to do dishes or clean up afterwards, haha! That being said, staying at a property for a full week means that the food needs to not only be delicious, but there should also be lots of options. Thankfully the food at The Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres did not disappoint. Brian and I were particularly impressed with the quality at the à la carte restaurants. Coupled with exemplary service and beautiful, modern décor, every meal felt like a special occasion.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThere are 8 beautiful à la carte restaurants, with one of them being exclusive to Family Selection. Although the property operates on a no-reservation policy, guests staying in Family Selection are able to make reservations. For those of us who like dinning early (Brian and I because of Benny,) getting a table was never an issue - even without reservations.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres takes food allergies \u003Ci\u003Every \u003C\/i\u003Eseriously. We were asked at every meal if anyone in our family had any food allergies. We even had a hostess show Brian, who is a pescatarian, around the main buffet so he knew where all of the vegetable and fish options were. We were very impressed.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres also houses a trendy coffee shop and even a sports bar that's open 24 hours. I'm not one for sports, but you \u003Ci\u003Eknow\u003C\/i\u003E that I was at the coffee shop multiple times a day.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAlthough Benny wasn't quite into a solids routine when we visited The Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres, we noticed so many food options for kids - especially in Family Selection. Fruits and raw veggies, small sandwiches, pancakes shaped like characters - they had it all! On top of that, every à la carte that we visited had high chairs and a fun kids menu.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi9PfvazcAkGMWy6pDbkplSMa_a5stQ2zDOVmijZDQMehQbRalwvko0E55gDKJLcWJdL03T-vBT8HXCJ-RQ_d0N6XE4TRnMzXJodL8NUpuYovjn3ac5VYJTajgNVWlyWqhyphenhyphenwdPOsf91TQWd\/s1600\/IMG_2298.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi9PfvazcAkGMWy6pDbkplSMa_a5stQ2zDOVmijZDQMehQbRalwvko0E55gDKJLcWJdL03T-vBT8HXCJ-RQ_d0N6XE4TRnMzXJodL8NUpuYovjn3ac5VYJTajgNVWlyWqhyphenhyphenwdPOsf91TQWd\/s1600\/IMG_2298.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhaDLAd7GJ1a6hHhkbb_tuvSnzkQDqvXkPSYYgRD5Hd_xydPEaChMwRTPk27_dRd4nX2uXswXTAym9oFG_EQY8TWxt6ommmvPe-BNXBFFXJnPfPBJmdSec2fo-S3noigK5QUTlUJQd0YWX2\/s1600\/grand-palladium-costa-mujeres-families.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1084\" data-original-width=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhaDLAd7GJ1a6hHhkbb_tuvSnzkQDqvXkPSYYgRD5Hd_xydPEaChMwRTPk27_dRd4nX2uXswXTAym9oFG_EQY8TWxt6ommmvPe-BNXBFFXJnPfPBJmdSec2fo-S3noigK5QUTlUJQd0YWX2\/s1600\/grand-palladium-costa-mujeres-families.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiwoeGQSi88wlDIfAaVEwQ7iQwAlF1hqDec3SXMDLb6j4qOUP4c0bg1iv8u2n20uKlVN_cCJesMF5SSd-HzREMXTBVYmUXCydJFSjsM4GPkgG3i-vk7dkrJiq1TV4GHXIWtaVHgtb_0aBhL\/s1600\/IMG_2089.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiwoeGQSi88wlDIfAaVEwQ7iQwAlF1hqDec3SXMDLb6j4qOUP4c0bg1iv8u2n20uKlVN_cCJesMF5SSd-HzREMXTBVYmUXCydJFSjsM4GPkgG3i-vk7dkrJiq1TV4GHXIWtaVHgtb_0aBhL\/s1600\/IMG_2089.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nAfter a week in absolute paradise at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/36BCvUc\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, we were all sad to leave. Our first trip with six-month old Benny could not have gone any better, and I'm so grateful for such a positive entry into family travel.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nBrian and I have always been very picky about the sorts of properties and resorts that we visit, but we had no idea how much staying at a family-friendly place can really make your trip. The Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres has set the bar \u003Ci\u003Every \u003C\/i\u003Ehigh for our first family trip, and was the perfect place for our first foray into family travel. If you're traveling with a baby and\/or children, enjoy beautiful surroundings and appreciate attention to details and service then I could not recommend this beautiful place enough.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nI hope to be back soon.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThank you so much to \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/airtransat.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAir Transat \u003C\/a\u003Efor providing our family with this beautiful experience. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/395376610660578356\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/03\/grand-palladium-costa-mujeres-with-air.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/395376610660578356"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/395376610660578356"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/03\/grand-palladium-costa-mujeres-with-air.html","title":"Grand Palladium Costa Mujeres with Air Transat"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi555CCfH-qavri8tuJb_TmDavfaPAVbcgghabqs84bgOZ0ySe5Kb9KAqDqA_9_82etYqhT3pb7A2tFbfUPODCVe1E1op8UXqFaXA96Q4G6JGDo_XsRjK592YAkn5733yg8HivnyS7itDUQ\/s72-c\/DSC_6526.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-8099501076730525226"},"published":{"$t":"2020-02-28T08:06:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-02-28T08:06:02.828-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Family Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel with a baby"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Baby Flying Tips: Benny's First Flight with Air Transat"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjSxa190rJwjRTdtWBoVNnRIZqn-6x3nynKVWgIx99jBqQgVQEkez-rvn_ffYevena-cgbLIdzvF_G_x1a4ShDxuirG4pqxjE6zTIw1Km3V_Uma53SednxF6gbGHobv9KtnYe0jqyshLk70\/s1600\/IMG_1897.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjSxa190rJwjRTdtWBoVNnRIZqn-6x3nynKVWgIx99jBqQgVQEkez-rvn_ffYevena-cgbLIdzvF_G_x1a4ShDxuirG4pqxjE6zTIw1Km3V_Uma53SednxF6gbGHobv9KtnYe0jqyshLk70\/s1600\/IMG_1897.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThere are so many firsts that you experience with a new baby: first smile, first time they crawl, their first word. One of the major firsts that I was most looking forward to, and simultaneously gave me the most anxiety, was Benny's first flight.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nReaders of La Petite Noob know that I love to travel, and really didn't want to see that love end once we had a baby. When the opportunity came up to take our first flight as a family of three with \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.airtransat.com\/en-CA\/home\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAir Transat,\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E I was ecstatic! My dreams of traveling the world with a child were coming true, and I was counting down the days until it became a reality. Then the panic set in.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThe thing is although I've flown countless times, sometimes as a pair, as a group and often by myself, I had never flown with a child - let alone a six month old baby. What would security be like? What do I pack? Will they cry? What is the protocol for takeoff and landing with a baby on your lap? There were so many questions that arose in the days leading up to our first trip with Benny, I found it hard to move past the fear of the unknown.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI'll save you any dramatics and just skip to how our flight turned out: it was excellent. Check in at the airport was a breeze, we sailed through security, enjoyed a (mostly) silent and sleepy flight to-and-from the Cancun Airport in Mexico, and packed some key baby essentials that made the day a lot easier. Flying with Benny at six months took a lot more planning than I'm used to, and there were a lot more nerves involved, but it was incredible and totally doable for the future.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSo let's get into the details of flying with a baby. First, the airline: we chose to go with Air Transat for our first flight with baby and it was such a good decision. You guys know that I've absolutely loved traveling and working with Air Transat over the years (we flew \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.airtransat.com\/en-CA\/book\/book-a-flight\/on-board-comfort\/club-class\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EClub Class\u003C\/a\u003E for our honeymoon) so I was already confident in the airline going into the flight.\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.airtransat.com\/en-CA\/Travel-information\/Families-and-children\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E There are some definite perks to flying Air Transat with a baby that we took full advantage of\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, and that made our first flight much easier. These perks include:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EA Family With Small Children check-in and baggage drop off line.\u003C\/b\u003E As a couple who has not checked any luggage for over five years (Brian and I prefer to travel carry-on only) the fact that we would now need to allot time to drop off our baggage, but also check in with a baby added a whole other layer to the airport experience. Thankfully there is a special line for families with small children with Air Transat that allowed us to bypass most everyone in line and drop off our baggage in no time. We learned quick that time is of the essence when traveling with a baby, so the less time that we spent in lines with Benny the better.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EExtra Baggage allowance for Diaper Bags.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EKnowing that we were able to bring a dedicated diaper bag for Benny, outside of regular carry-on items, on our flight made packing so much easier.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EGate Checking Strollers and Car Seats.\u003C\/b\u003E Knowing that we would be doing a lot of walking through the airport with Benny, I knew that it would be important that we kept our stroller with us right up until we boarded. Thankfully with Air Transat, families are able to gate check one stroller and car seat at no extra charge, which was a \u003Ci\u003Elifesaver \u003C\/i\u003Efor us. Although we didn't use our own car seat on this particular trip, knowing that we're able to easily bring it with us makes traveling to Europe much easier.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFamilies with small children are also eligible for Pre-Boarding with Air Transat.\u003C\/b\u003E It seems like those traveling with kids are on two very polarized opinions on pre-boarding. For both Brian and I, especially on our first trip traveling with baby Benny, pre-boarding was essential. We took advantage of the extra time that we had on the plane to sanitize everything around us, store our carry on and remove any items that we would need for Benny throughout the flight, and to get organized and comfortable.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFriendly and Helpful Air Crew. \u003C\/b\u003EThe flight attendants and crew working on Air Transat flights are very well-versed in making people comfortable, and they went above and beyond with Benny. From helping us collapse and pack up our stroller at the gate, to briefing us multiple times during take-off and landing, to even bringing me extra water since I was feeding often during the flight: the crew took care of it all. Air Transat crew will even warm up baby food brought from home. A friendly air crew can make-or-break your flying experience, and our crew with Air Transat made sure that we had an amazing first flight with Benny.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nAfter a successful first two flights with six-month old Benny, from Toronto to Cancun and back with Benny on our lap, I picked up a few tricks that I will implement on any future flights. Here's what made our flights a little more comfortable with baby.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EI was initially worried about the change in air pressure and how it would affect Benny's ears on the flight, so I made sure to \u003Cb\u003Ebreastfeed during takeoff and landing\u003C\/b\u003E for both flights. I'm not sure if it was this, the particular flight, or our individual baby, but Benny did not fuss whatsoever with changes in air pressure. In any case, I'm sure the sucking motion contributed to Benny's comfort and the feeding seemed to relax him - in fact, he fell asleep every time. If you're not breastfeeding then offering a bottle or a soother would have the same effect.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBecause we wanted to make sure that we had desirable seats for maximum comfort on the plane, we opted to \u003Cb\u003Eupgrade our seats on our own both ways\u003C\/b\u003E to \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.airtransat.com\/en-CA\/book\/book-a-flight\/on-board-comfort\/option-plus\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EOptions Plus\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. Options Plus is great because it allowed us to select our preferred seats in advance, enjoy extra leg room and gave us food from Air Transat's Bistro menu.\u0026nbsp; Options Plus also allows you to have priority boarding and our own check in line (should we not have had a child.)\u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EAlthough not always an option, we were so happy to have upgraded to seats with extra leg room at the front of the plane. If you're not comfortable with an upgrade, I would suggest \u003Cb\u003Echecking in 24 hours in advance\u003C\/b\u003E of your flight to make sure that you're comfortable with your seating arrangement.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBabies are fickle, and I never really know which toys will entertain Benny on any particular day. For this reason, \u003Cb\u003Ewe packed his favourite toys, but also got creative for entertaining baby on the flight.\u003C\/b\u003E When Benny all of a sudden tired of his beloved keyboard, an empty water bottle with stir sticks inside provided a solid 20 minutes of entertainment. Some other make-shift baby toys are a mirror, snack wrappers - whatever peaks baby's interest, just roll with it.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EI'm a light packer by nature, so I didn't want to overwhelm our plane seats with too much stuff. The items that I packed for Benny on our flight were \u003Cb\u003Ea muslin blanket, an extra set of clothes, 4 diapers and a pack of wipes, a pacifier and a pacifier clip, two toys and a package of pacifier wipes to sanitize soothers and toys throughout the flight.\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp; We used everything that we packed, and I didn't wish for anything else.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgOIL2yDjnuv9jra2BrYNxe9qT5UzTC_Posqu7lxQqvF7zXuP-0YjFI5PgP6zO9-Ke10v-qtr_yJ97UtS6Eh_J5EvbMNcw1PKS8wcpszqR9zIPB3NMPNq6UOCDe6gjlX3Hh-gsjUmniU8c4\/s1600\/06E4E78D-FE84-43A9-9F06-C34C0BE9E2D9.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1472\" data-original-width=\"828\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgOIL2yDjnuv9jra2BrYNxe9qT5UzTC_Posqu7lxQqvF7zXuP-0YjFI5PgP6zO9-Ke10v-qtr_yJ97UtS6Eh_J5EvbMNcw1PKS8wcpszqR9zIPB3NMPNq6UOCDe6gjlX3Hh-gsjUmniU8c4\/s1600\/06E4E78D-FE84-43A9-9F06-C34C0BE9E2D9.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFlying with a baby can seem overwhelming, but is completely doable and can actually be enjoyable! It takes a bit more planning, some extra stuff, the right airline and a few deep breaths. I'm already looking forward to our next flight with Benny.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? How was your first flight with your baby and\/or children? Are there any tips that made the experience easier for you? Let me know!\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThis post was created in partnership with \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.airtransat.com\/en-CA\/home\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAir Transat.\u003C\/a\u003E All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/8099501076730525226\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/02\/baby-flying-tips-bennys-first-flight.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8099501076730525226"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8099501076730525226"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/02\/baby-flying-tips-bennys-first-flight.html","title":"Baby Flying Tips: Benny's First Flight with Air Transat"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjSxa190rJwjRTdtWBoVNnRIZqn-6x3nynKVWgIx99jBqQgVQEkez-rvn_ffYevena-cgbLIdzvF_G_x1a4ShDxuirG4pqxjE6zTIw1Km3V_Uma53SednxF6gbGHobv9KtnYe0jqyshLk70\/s72-c\/IMG_1897.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-9045346484548047100"},"published":{"$t":"2020-02-19T13:18:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-02-19T13:56:23.885-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Real Talk"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"6 Month Postpartum Update: The Good, The Bad and the Bloody"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjkD5RukUXwHVuB7NjpY9teDgU-MiOKWajXF49mdmvJoDnX8ZmHFT3cnSuu61DTTwKZlYXwn2LkJ450m5bui3Dmld1Ix2flBRS6HGX-OtzqHWD425kGazYXm29_v3O3X597PhKPjHuZiuEa\/s1600\/IMG_2699.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjkD5RukUXwHVuB7NjpY9teDgU-MiOKWajXF49mdmvJoDnX8ZmHFT3cnSuu61DTTwKZlYXwn2LkJ450m5bui3Dmld1Ix2flBRS6HGX-OtzqHWD425kGazYXm29_v3O3X597PhKPjHuZiuEa\/s1600\/IMG_2699.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAs I sit here and type this, I can hardly believe that we've had Benny in our lives for six whole months. When we were in the thick of the newborn phase, I was so sick of people telling me how quickly it goes by; turns out, they were right. Time is absolutely flying, and while I'm enjoying every new stage more than the last, I feel a anxiousness to try to remember everything as it is right now. It's a strange feeling.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThis post isn't going to be about Benny though. Having a baby via C section as I had is a real shock to your body, and so much has changed since the hazy days that are pre-baby. I look different, feel different, and have different relationships with my loved ones. For real - postpartum is no joke, even 6 months out.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSo I'm here to tell you what's been going on with me for the past 6 months since having a baby. The good, the bad - and the bloody.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nC Section Scar\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOne big question that I've gotten from individuals online is how my C section scar is recovering. Although there is still a very noticeable red scar, it look \u003Ci\u003Eso\u003C\/i\u003E much better now. The scary red gash that once graced my entire lower abdomen is now fading into a lighter shade of pink, and is [slowly] shrinking in size along with my stomach. I do still have a bit of swelling overtop of the scar, giving me a 'C section shelf' but I'm optimistic that the swelling will also go down as I start to re-develop core strength.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI know that I'm supposed to cherish all of the scars that lead me to motherhood, but I'll be honest: when I first took off my bandages post-op after Benny was born, I cried. It's so jarring to see the body that you once knew so well change in such drastic ways, and that long bloody incision was just too much for me to handle. Although it's far from being invisible, it makes me feel a lot better to know that it's healing into something that is a bit more manageable.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nPostpartum Period\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWell, my period-less grace period didn't last nearly as long as I expected. Although I've been exclusively breastfeeding this entire time, and only recently started to seriously introduce Benny to solids, my period returned after about 4 months post-baby. And did she ever make an entrance!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThis is when it starts getting real, so if you're squeamish then exit out. After having a copper-based IUD for over 10 years, I was used to a heavy period. That being said, nothing could have prepared me for the absolute madness that is a postpartum period. My Lord. You know the scene in \u003Ci\u003EThe Shinning \u003C\/i\u003Ewhen the elevator doors open and blood just starts gushing out into a tidal wave of horror into the hallway? That's what's happening to my crotch every month, and it's not pretty. For this reason, I think the time has finally come to try out a menstrual cup to try and manage this bloodbath every month until my hormones level out. Or maybe this is my new normal. Who knows - stay tuned!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nMy Mood\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI've talked about my prenatal depression and anxiety at length on the blog, and how I thought that postpartum actually provided a reprieve. I still think this to be true, however now that I'm looking back, I do think that I was experiencing postpartum euphoria during the newborn stage (Google tells me that this is indeed a thing.) Feelings of elation coupled with a pretty easy newborn cushioned the transition to motherhood. Coupled with the summer months and a sleep newborn, I was able to consistently get out of the house, absolutely crush work and exist in a pretty rosy bubble.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNow at 6 months postpartum the euphoric feelings have faded, teething and sleep regressions have hit and Brian has gone back to working long hours at the office. I'm still happy, and overall loving this new season of life, but I'm tired damnit. And irritable. And annoyed at the inequality in shared household responsibilities that seems to screw women.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI'm very happy for the most part, but I'm often pissed off. Pissed that I'm trying desperately to work at the same pace that I did pre-baby with way more outside responsibility and way less sleep. Pissed that trying to raise a family in the city will ultimately end up costing us all of the money in the world - and it still doesn't guarantee that we'll find a home. Pissed that gender roles are still very much a thing in 2020. I'm pissed that I can't seem to stay grounded and in a place of gratitude because my acute bursts of rage seem so encompassing at the time. I'm happy but I'm pissed.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThankfully, I've been seeing a therapist every 6 weeks since having Benny and it does seem to help. If anything, I find that when I actually sit down and articulate what is making me so mad, I realize how silly I sound and it actually helps to ground me. It also helps to have someone tell me that my feelings are valid and very common in the postpartum period. I'm enrolled in a program that allows me access to free therapy sessions for one year postpartum, and I think it's going to be something that I continue on my own when the program expires.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSo that's it! I still love being a mother, more-so than I ever imagined that I would, but I'm also human and struggle with bad days.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nMy Relationship\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAnother big question that was asked on Instagram when I mentioned writing a post about everything postpartum was how my marriage had changed since having a baby. I'll be honest, I'm a pretty open book when it comes to most things but I try to keep my relationships offline as much as I can, out of respect for everyone involved. However, I have a feeling that people are asking because we're all struggling a bit to find not only ourselves postpartum, but also where we stand with our partners. So I will say this:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nMarriage is hard. Marriage after a baby is harder. Even if bringing a human life into this world together acts as a bonding between you and your partner, as it has with Brian and I, there are still very real changes that can put a strain on a relationship. I know myself, I haven't been the most pleasant person to be around sometimes. I'm upset with the unequal expectations that society has for women vs. men when becoming a parent, and oftentimes those strong feelings get placed onto Brian for simply existing as a man. And here's the thing - he actually helps a lot! He's collateral damage to my anger at a still very flawed and gendered parenthood experience in 2020. I see him succeeding with his career and, while it makes me proud and provides more security for our family, it hurts to know that my own will have to take more of a backseat for the next few years.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI'm working daily to focus on more big-picture thinking instead of just focusing on the semantics of this particular season of life. In the long run, I'm really proud of both Brian and I for handling this change to our lives with happiness and grace. There is lots of love and laughter in our home, and that's all I want for our son. For two Type A, know-it-all, high strung Aries, it's nothing short of a miracle - haha!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nPostpartum Hair Loss\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNow here's something fun that I thought I had escaped, seeing as though I was 4 months postpartum when it started - postpartum hair loss. Ya'll, I currently have the hairline of a balding man in their mid forties. I can build a hair-doll of myself every single time I use a brush. And now as the hair loss seems to be (hopefully) slowing down, I'm dealing with a serious case of baby-bangs with my new hair growth. And here's the kicker - my new hair is almost all 100% grey. HAHA oh the joys!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nMy Weight\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI feel like you can't talk about postpartum life without addressing the question that seems to be on the forefront of everyone's minds. This post is getting long, and I don't want to focus too much on weight because it really doesn't matter long run, but here it is:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nHave I lost the baby weight? Hell no.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nDoes it bother me? Yes.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAm I being gentle with myself in regards to baby weight? Yes.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI've slowly started to get back into regular workouts and moving my body with purpose again. It feels incredible - if only for improving my sleep and moods! I'm back at Soul Cycle and am slowly trying to build up strength in my core again. It feels amazing, and I'm finally feeling like I'm ready to start building up a fitness routine again.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/9045346484548047100\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/02\/6-month-postpartum-update-good-bad-and.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/9045346484548047100"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/9045346484548047100"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/02\/6-month-postpartum-update-good-bad-and.html","title":"6 Month Postpartum Update: The Good, The Bad and the Bloody"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjkD5RukUXwHVuB7NjpY9teDgU-MiOKWajXF49mdmvJoDnX8ZmHFT3cnSuu61DTTwKZlYXwn2LkJ450m5bui3Dmld1Ix2flBRS6HGX-OtzqHWD425kGazYXm29_v3O3X597PhKPjHuZiuEa\/s72-c\/IMG_2699.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-6358386348934778709"},"published":{"$t":"2020-01-31T10:15:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-01-31T10:15:15.127-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Baby"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Baby Gear"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Family Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Baby Travel Gear with buybuy BABY"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiu6MKzi08qSFaipsJQPxx-fwwptUNlz3oiPXQnsrczOw829b4VIjCAhOUvdZQcWOMtIuxXZ361nTdupLkxsQqogPMI-HInk9Ba6n8k-SeYBJZWiNOkktLjxuAoPjYd_gJT2KP3qZ1xn-S_\/s1600\/ACS_0427.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiu6MKzi08qSFaipsJQPxx-fwwptUNlz3oiPXQnsrczOw829b4VIjCAhOUvdZQcWOMtIuxXZ361nTdupLkxsQqogPMI-HInk9Ba6n8k-SeYBJZWiNOkktLjxuAoPjYd_gJT2KP3qZ1xn-S_\/s1600\/ACS_0427.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFrom the moment that Benny was born, and even before while I was pregnant, I've been dreaming about our first tropical trip together. Fast forward to present day, and we're currently getting ourselves ready to take on a beautiful resort in Mexico with a baby! As excited as I am to travel together as a family for the first time, I'm a little nervous when it comes to baby gear and packing.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLong time readers of the blog know that I'm an advocate for only travelling with a carry on and while I know that won't be possible with a baby, I still want to pack light. With so much in terms of travel baby gear, I want to explore all of my options for this trip while still being mindful of the amount of stuff in our suitcases. It's easy to go overboard, but equally simple to forget to pick up something essential to travelling with a baby.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nEnter \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bedbathandbeyond.ca\/store\/category\/baby-kids\/22904\/?babyCA=true\u0026amp;mrkgcl=610\u0026amp;mrkgadid=613203047\u0026amp;rkg_id=0\u0026amp;enginename=google\u0026amp;mcid=PS_google_brand__\u0026amp;adpos=\u0026amp;creative=291175552004\u0026amp;device=c\u0026amp;matchtype=b\u0026amp;network=g\u0026amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAmsrxBRDaARIsANyiD1oFn_dOdHOJtxv4h2CRb4MlCdJwQA1kqilfbwvuz0mkOAKL8eSlYnMaAlf9EALw_wcB\u0026amp;gclsrc=aw.ds\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ebuybuy BABY\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. Easily the most comprehensive children's store that we have access to, buybuy BABY was my first choice when looking for travel gear with a baby. I love the ease of perusing their website for travel gear that suits our needs, as well as how helpful the in-store staff is. After doing a lot of research, consulting the reviews on the website and some blind faith in my own mama instincts, here are the items that we selected from buybuy BABY for traveling to Mexico with baby Benny.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhYDCjdoUlEohV3UrqfSCJfZnxYnJOEYVUhXbhOmJ0cTsfX_9RFnAfBPSuxeZiRuH5WLenbQH88QhOEhtQZhUOHOBDDKN5i23aZ4TtDQ1Er9Kgw-b3pCrue6yzEb4vFt3-JkC0OLD1tMWh7\/s1600\/buybuybaby.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhYDCjdoUlEohV3UrqfSCJfZnxYnJOEYVUhXbhOmJ0cTsfX_9RFnAfBPSuxeZiRuH5WLenbQH88QhOEhtQZhUOHOBDDKN5i23aZ4TtDQ1Er9Kgw-b3pCrue6yzEb4vFt3-JkC0OLD1tMWh7\/s1600\/buybuybaby.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEht3zMyQIKUgBdJXLWSvRD65-XPWlticpAcbHaamdlojtfWk05sWS_xJQkJ4adEQxbJP51MtLcnIfShvWaFGT6v71bwWY_oN32eWfgm5ri9bMdhjxDzN62oUmRM2NIU663DeYCCcWX4TTgi\/s1600\/buybuybaby-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEht3zMyQIKUgBdJXLWSvRD65-XPWlticpAcbHaamdlojtfWk05sWS_xJQkJ4adEQxbJP51MtLcnIfShvWaFGT6v71bwWY_oN32eWfgm5ri9bMdhjxDzN62oUmRM2NIU663DeYCCcWX4TTgi\/s1600\/buybuybaby-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nUPPAbaby MINU stroller\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nYou guys know how much I love my UPPAbaby VISTA stroller - so much so that I wrote an entire post on why they're worth the investment. It is a little heavy though, and considering we would be making a few transfers from condo to airport, and then again from airport to resort, I thought it best to make the trip with a travel stroller. Because we are both so impressed with the UPPAbaby brand, selecting the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bedbathandbeyond.ca\/store\/product\/uppababy-reg-minu-stroller\/5187720?skuId=65221792\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EUPPAbaby MINU\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E was a no brainer. I love how the MINU has the same quality that you would expect from the UPPAbaby brand, but with added perks of a compact travel stroller - mainly how light it is, and how easy it is to collapse (you can do it one-handed!) I also picked up the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bedbathandbeyond.ca\/store\/product\/uppababy-reg-minu-stroller-travelsafe-travel-bag\/5256839?skuId=66545484\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Estroller-specific travel bag\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E that actually insures your MINU stroller, and \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bedbathandbeyond.ca\/store\/product\/uppababy-reg-mesa-car-seat-adapter-for-minu-stroller\/5037478?skuId=64071985\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eadapters to use with the MESA car seat\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E for any future trips.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI never thought that I would be one to get excited over a stroller, but I am \u003Ci\u003Eso \u003C\/i\u003Eexcited to travel with the UPPAbaby MINU. I think that we made the right choice going with a travel stroller, and it will continue to be useful for all other trips.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhMqrbvolC_lYhVBIT-JmriVPcb3dG75Zxx_SRRAHG4Y_poMpBp2PzvcbP2ixpdv5dNOz01pvRpICWuv-G634Ek5pAv_-g4TTZKvLQxZ-OEzaGhTe31UrUe63U9AExgoTgmzyWcrvHyka6_\/s1600\/buybuybaby-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhMqrbvolC_lYhVBIT-JmriVPcb3dG75Zxx_SRRAHG4Y_poMpBp2PzvcbP2ixpdv5dNOz01pvRpICWuv-G634Ek5pAv_-g4TTZKvLQxZ-OEzaGhTe31UrUe63U9AExgoTgmzyWcrvHyka6_\/s1600\/buybuybaby-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nCrib Sheets\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nKeeping in the spirit of travelling as light as possible with a baby, we opted to rent a crib at our resort in Mexico rather than travelling with a pack and play or our own travel crib. Even still, I thought it best to bring our own crib sheets with us, and I found \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bedbathandbeyond.ca\/store\/product\/hudson-baby-reg-2-pack-fitted-crib-sheets\/5189816?keyword=crib-sheet\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethe absolute cutest ones at buybuy BABY!\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E Look at those patterns - I can't! I'll be travelling with them washed, so hopefully the familiar scent of home with help Benny with the sleep adjustment when we get to Mexico.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjiV0T1SmXx0ZV4a2_qyy_YGtcjBlf5gwwxA6-feNxPPN5M7xvotXcV8cCrYdh2If62HIOsMDKhXG2M22fyfLjgJEm7Ekmol7eTvldIwMh3qU_oEVijZXe-fLtjWZfigL4WdIH447YK_z5k\/s1600\/buybuybaby-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjiV0T1SmXx0ZV4a2_qyy_YGtcjBlf5gwwxA6-feNxPPN5M7xvotXcV8cCrYdh2If62HIOsMDKhXG2M22fyfLjgJEm7Ekmol7eTvldIwMh3qU_oEVijZXe-fLtjWZfigL4WdIH447YK_z5k\/s1600\/buybuybaby-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nPeaPod Travel Bed\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAlthough we're relying on a crib for bedtime and naps with Benny at our resort, I wanted to make sure that he would have a shaded area to play and relax in while Brian and I are sunning ourselves by the pool. \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bedbathandbeyond.ca\/store\/product\/kidco-reg-peapod-infant-travel-bed-in-cranberry\/1041374658?skuId=41374658\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe PeaPod Travel Bed\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E looks to be absolutely genius, and has the best reviews on the buybuyBABY website. When it arrived to our condo, I couldn't believe how small this travel tent folds down to - it can actually fit in a carry-on suitcase! I think the PeaPod Travel Bed will be a game changer, not only when we're in Mexico but also for summers at the cottage and any other warm-weather travel with baby.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEicMG9vOc8MbvSC3Yu3eOOZWv5VTU0n5nsmyHIMp_PcOwcJlemlA4DTTHv9Lj5YV4t0ofnVLaf-LnObPogbca4Uk3PXQmgOQ0ettZqP-wIgouVhESpsbVGCcQ0EVQDtEu9gfLKXi-yxXgV9\/s1600\/buybuybaby1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEicMG9vOc8MbvSC3Yu3eOOZWv5VTU0n5nsmyHIMp_PcOwcJlemlA4DTTHv9Lj5YV4t0ofnVLaf-LnObPogbca4Uk3PXQmgOQ0ettZqP-wIgouVhESpsbVGCcQ0EVQDtEu9gfLKXi-yxXgV9\/s1600\/buybuybaby1.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nBaby Float\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nEven before Brian and I were married, my heart would melt when we were at a resort and would see babies floating around in the pool with their parents. I knew that once the day came that we would be travelling with our own baby, I wanted the same inflatable pool toy. Of course I was able to find the\u0026nbsp; \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bedbathandbeyond.ca\/store\/product\/anchor-infant-baby-spring-float-with-sun-canopy-in-blue\/5241724?skuId=66228974\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAnchor Infant Baby Spring Float with Sun Canopy\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E at buybuy BABY - they seriously have everything! I love how this particular model has a shaded canopy on top to keep Benny safe from the sun. I literally cannot wait to put this toy to good use and play with Benny in our resort's pool!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nToys\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nPool toys aside, I knew that we would need at least one toy to help keep Benny entertained while we would be lounging in our room. Finding toys on buybuyBABY is a no-brainer; their selection is absolutely incredible. For Benny, I know that he loves bright lights and music so this \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bedbathandbeyond.ca\/store\/product\/baby-einstein-trade-octopus-orchestra\/1060262615?keyword=baby-einstein\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBaby Einstein Octopus Orchestra\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E will be perfect. I'm confident that Benny will have the best time playing with this toy while mom and dad enjoy an in-room cocktail on the patio. HA - we'll see how that goes!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nSun Protection\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBenny will be six months old when we travel to Mexico, so he will be at the age where it's safe to use sunscreen. I wanted to make sure that we selected a baby friendly sunscreen that was made from natural ingredients. Of course buybuy BABY was able to deliver, so we picked up the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bedbathandbeyond.ca\/store\/product\/sun-bum-reg-baby-bum-reg-3-oz-natural-sunscreen-lotion-with-spf-30\/1047750005?keyword=baby-sunscreen\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESun Bum Baby Bum natural sunscreen with SPF 30\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. I also picked out \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bedbathandbeyond.ca\/store\/product\/i-play-reg-brim-sun-hat\/129811?skuId=16298999\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethis cute sun hat \u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003Efor Benny. I'm so impressed with the selection at buybuy BABY for sun protection - they even carry \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bedbathandbeyond.ca\/store\/s\/baby-swimwear?ta=typeahead\u0026amp;flyout=true\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eswimsuits and rash guards with UVA defence\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiSPiKAcz5dC93C3asvIb3BTfMHkQrpOKU1mncCsHL2PV6C2LibaaVDgUvrZ91WzDypv-ESP6iQxsT93niGHrpaHM7XaqS7FSsURvLtVavMAGEevjh4GKHYIVByN5lpTWGZW9Il0JLSoeAO\/s1600\/buybuybaby1-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiSPiKAcz5dC93C3asvIb3BTfMHkQrpOKU1mncCsHL2PV6C2LibaaVDgUvrZ91WzDypv-ESP6iQxsT93niGHrpaHM7XaqS7FSsURvLtVavMAGEevjh4GKHYIVByN5lpTWGZW9Il0JLSoeAO\/s1600\/buybuybaby1-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI'm so impressed with buybuy BABY; not only for the selection when it came to choosing travel-friendly baby gear for our upcoming trip, but also how easy it was with delivery to our condo. With our baby gear secured, our bags packed and some blind optimism for Benny's first plane ride, I'm looking forward to our first resort experience with Benny.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBon Voyage!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nJoëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThis post was created in partnership with \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bedbathandbeyond.ca\/store\/category\/baby-kids\/22904\/?babyCA=true\u0026amp;mrkgcl=610\u0026amp;mrkgadid=613203047\u0026amp;rkg_id=0\u0026amp;enginename=google\u0026amp;mcid=PS_google_brand__\u0026amp;adpos=\u0026amp;creative=291175552004\u0026amp;device=c\u0026amp;matchtype=b\u0026amp;network=g\u0026amp;gclid=Cj0KCQiAmsrxBRDaARIsANyiD1oFn_dOdHOJtxv4h2CRb4MlCdJwQA1kqilfbwvuz0mkOAKL8eSlYnMaAlf9EALw_wcB\u0026amp;gclsrc=aw.ds\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ebuybuy BABY\u003C\/a\u003E. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.\u003C\/i\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/6358386348934778709\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/01\/baby-travel-gear-with-buybuy-baby.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/6358386348934778709"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/6358386348934778709"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/01\/baby-travel-gear-with-buybuy-baby.html","title":"Baby Travel Gear with buybuy BABY"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiu6MKzi08qSFaipsJQPxx-fwwptUNlz3oiPXQnsrczOw829b4VIjCAhOUvdZQcWOMtIuxXZ361nTdupLkxsQqogPMI-HInk9Ba6n8k-SeYBJZWiNOkktLjxuAoPjYd_gJT2KP3qZ1xn-S_\/s72-c\/ACS_0427.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-5150240369359822679"},"published":{"$t":"2020-01-24T08:06:00.003-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-01-24T09:23:13.229-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Sleep Training"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Baby Sleep and Sleep Training"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh6Oiioti67IfrWTi5q3wZRjiE0vf2z6FEeeyEBdALz8c8ihz51TSRKnEXWP3GCZzBTHTKZQtozzrHm6B9noBG5XDWnOnlhNm2yPHB-N_LC6YvnTtwjUURuERN73AUtJJ8dGLmOCB_dgOAP\/s1600\/IMG_0668.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh6Oiioti67IfrWTi5q3wZRjiE0vf2z6FEeeyEBdALz8c8ihz51TSRKnEXWP3GCZzBTHTKZQtozzrHm6B9noBG5XDWnOnlhNm2yPHB-N_LC6YvnTtwjUURuERN73AUtJJ8dGLmOCB_dgOAP\/s1600\/IMG_0668.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBaby sleep: it seems to be the only thing that's on your mind once your bundle of joy arrives and dominates all baby-related conversation. Myself I found that I was answering the same questions over and over again from well-meaning family and friends. \"How is baby sleeping?\" or \"Is he a good sleeper?\" Coupled with the unpredictability of a new baby's sleep schedule and how important a mother's need for sleep is, it really does seem like sleep dominates your life.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThis blog post will detail Benny's sleep patterns as a newborn, the inevitable and dreaded four month sleep regression we faced and our choice to sleep train. Sleep training is a personal choice, and one I found out that can be quite controversial. Let me be clear: I am an adult in my mid-thirties with a degree in Psychology and a capacity for rational thought. Both Brian and I were comfortable with our decision to sleep train, but totally respect the individual decisions of others. Infant sleep and the decision to sleep train is a decision that each parent makes for themselves and varies from one child to the next.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNow, with that out of the way, let me tell you about Benny's sleep from when he was a newborn, through the sleep regression and our experience sleep training with \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/babysbestsleep.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAmanda from Baby's Best Sleep\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgYdO70zcrmCivlOSQZ-xGZqIcxTiiRQ8AGZPn2DlSjRaWayHzY232AB-_qcABjP1OyhQEAcnNbTippxT3ggVNq0PBwEkr8upSAWSPRTRDOurrZljw2HtHr9AnI5BM1xFl8iON4Vob48bE_\/s1600\/IMG_8937.HEIC\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgYdO70zcrmCivlOSQZ-xGZqIcxTiiRQ8AGZPn2DlSjRaWayHzY232AB-_qcABjP1OyhQEAcnNbTippxT3ggVNq0PBwEkr8upSAWSPRTRDOurrZljw2HtHr9AnI5BM1xFl8iON4Vob48bE_\/s1600\/IMG_8937.HEIC\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nBenny's Sleep from Newborn to 4 Months\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nIt's known that newborns have a pretty unpredictable sleep schedule, but Benny really surprised us from the beginning by being a great little sleeper. While he never slept through the night, we were usually able to get multiple 3-4 hour stretches of sleep at night with multiple naps during the day.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nHere's the details on sleep from Benny's early days:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWe never had Benny on any sort of sleep schedule.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003EWe would follow his sleep cues for naps\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;(rubbing red eyes, throwing his head and body back) and act quickly on them.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBenny would breastfeed on demand with a pumped bottle of breastmilk in the evenings so aside from the bottle, his eating schedule lacked any sort of specific structure.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBenny slept in a bassinet beside our bed at night, and took his naps in the same bassinet that we would move into the living room during the day. We were never concerned with daylight or blackout conditions.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EIn terms of props for sleep, \u003Cb\u003Ewe used a pacifier to help sooth Benny to sleep for both night time sleep and nap.\u003C\/b\u003E For night time sleep, we used a \u003Cb\u003Esleep sack\u003C\/b\u003E. While we would sometimes use a \u003Cb\u003Ewhite noise machine\u003C\/b\u003E, most times we would forget.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSo aside from knowing Benny's sleep cues and acting quick on them, \u003Cb\u003Ethe first four months of Benny's life saw very little structure\u003C\/b\u003E. While he slept for fairly long stretches at night, his naps would cap at 30 minutes at the most. Sometimes he would nap at home, most times it would be in the stroller as we took on the city during the warm summer and milder fall months. While it wasn't perfect, and he certainly wasn't sleeping completely through the night, we were able to create a shared schedule around Benny's sleep cues that saw us both getting adequate sleep. We were even experimenting with successful naps with Benny in his crib! It was very do-able and we figured that we would naturally transition to longer periods of sleep.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n4 Month Sleep Regression\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nJust when we thought we had a handle on Benny's sleep, the dreaded four month sleep regression reared it's ugly head. Naps, unless they were taken in the stroller, became nonexistent. I would spend longer trying to get Benny down for a nap than he would end of sleeping. The same went for night time sleep. We would spend upwards to an hour trying to rock Benny to sleep, only to have him wake up 1-2 hours after going down, and continue to wake up every two hours throughout the night.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNeedless to say, our once rock-solid sleep routine that ensured that both Brian and I got adequate sleep to function during the day went out the window. It was Benny's world and Brian and I were just trying to survive on a mere few precious hours of sleep.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNow I've never been someone who needed a lot of sleep to function, but trying to survive the day-to-day with an infant on a few hours of sleep was unlike anything I've ever experienced. I found myself irritable, unable to hold a conversation and would get waves of nausea throughout the day. It's important to note that I work for myself as a freelancer and did not allocate any time for a maternity leave. Trying to not only survive but keep my business afloat during one of the busiest times in the industry (the holidays) was borderline impossible. I felt like I was drowning.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nSleep Training - The Process\u003C\/h3\u003E\nThankfully I had connected with \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/babysbestsleep.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAmanda Jewson of Baby's Best Sleep \u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003Ein order to create a custom sleep training plan with Benny. Amanda is one of those amazing women who's glowing reputation proceeds her, so I was actually very familiar with her work before she had even reached out. What I liked most about Amanda's approach is that it was completely tailored to not only Benny's unique situation, but Brian and I's preferences.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThe reason that Brian and I decided to pursue formal sleep training is because we recognize how important Benny's sleep is to our overall quality of life, and it wasn't something that we wanted to mess around trying to perfect on our own. Based on the fact that it was basically a free-for-all with Benny's feeding and sleep schedule prior to sleep training, we knew that we needed to rely on an expert to help guide us into a more routine way of life. Plus, we know ourselves as a couple and could already predict that sleep training on our own would lead to differences of opinions, frustrations and fights. Best to just leave the important stuff to the experts.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAfter filling out a detailed questionnaire about Benny's sleep, Amanda doing a full assessment on Benny, having a formal sleep plan sent over and a phone call with Amanda, we were ready to begin the process of sleep training.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNow, because we chose one of Amanda's personalized sleep plans I'll go through the basics of what our sleep training plan included, however it's important to note that \u003Cb\u003Ethis plan is specifically for Benny\u003C\/b\u003E. Amanda offers the same tailored and personalized sleep plans if you're looking for a more involved sleep training process like we were, however\u003Cb\u003E s\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/babysbestsleep.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehe does also offer a fabulous DIY online course\u003C\/a\u003E for families who want to sleep train on their own\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nHere's the nitty gritty of our sleep training:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe first night we started our new sleep schedule, and night one of sleep training, Amanda came to our condo to explain and support. I cannot even tell you how valuable this was, and how imperative I think Amanda being there was to our sleep training success. \u003Cb\u003EAlthough I knew that there would be some crying involved, with our personalized plan we were able to go in to the nursery every twelve minutes to sooth and comfort Benny.\u003C\/b\u003E With Amanda's support, we were able to decipher between a true cry and a protest, and while we did go to comfort Benny multiple times, his cries never intensified (on a scale of 1 to 10, his cries only got to about a 6.) It took one full hour on the dot from the time we placed Benny in his crib to when he fell asleep.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWe removed all \u003Cb\u003Ecrutches for Benny's sleep (for him that meant his pacifier)\u003C\/b\u003E and \u003Cb\u003Eplaced him in his crib drowsy but awake.\u003C\/b\u003E This allowed him to practice and learn self-soothing, something that continues to be a valuable tool for him.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWe developed a solid and consistent sleep routine that we practice every night for night-sleep, and a modified version for daytime naps. For us, at night \u003Cb\u003Eour routine includes feeding, a warm bath, gentle lotion massage, PJs, sleep sack, reading a book, white noise on and down in the crib\u003C\/b\u003E. We practice the same routine (minus the bath) before all naps.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EOur daytime \u003Cb\u003Enap routine depended on a 'wake window' of 2 hours in between sleeps,\u003C\/b\u003E so our naps look different most days. It's hard to explain how it happened, because I honestly still don't know, but \u003Cb\u003Eonce we nailed down our night sleep the naps just started to fall into place\u003C\/b\u003E. Now I can expect at least one nap that last's over an hour and a half per day, with two short naps as well. It's been a huge game changer.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBenny will now go down to bed extremely easily after our bedtime routine and \u003Cb\u003Ewill sleep through the night with feeding anywhere between 2 to 3:30am. \u003C\/b\u003ETo me, this is a huge success because previously he was waking up almost every hour and would be a nightmare to get down to bed. We're keeping his night feed until he has a good routine with solids because Benny is a bit on the smaller side and his doctor and I feel like he needs the extra calories.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nOur New Routine (Roughly)\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n6:30 - Wakeup\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n-Feed twice during wake window\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n8:30AM - Nap 1 (crib)\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n-Feed another one or two times\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n-Lots of playing after nap\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n11:30AM Nap 2 (crib)\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n-Feed and play in between\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n3:30PM Nap 3 (usually in crib, but sometimes in the stroller for an afternoon walk)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n-feed twice with lots of play time\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n6:30 - 7:00PM - Start bedtime routine\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n7:00-7:30PM - Bed time in crib.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBasically we try to operate on a 2ish hour wake window for naps during the day, with a longer stretch of awake time between Benny's last nap and bedtime. I like to feed Benny twice between each nap, especially since he's still breastfed and seems to do best when he's good and full.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nMy Thoughts On Sleep Training\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNow that it's all said and done, we have a more predictable sleep routine and calm has fallen upon our household again, here are my thoughts on sleep training and the sleep training process:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESleep training was a fairly simple process, but that doesn't mean that it was easy. I found it to be extremely tough and am so thankful that we chose to go with a personalized sleep coach. Honestly, without Amanda's support, I would have given up somewhere around the third day. I found it so helpful to not only have her expertise to answer questions that came up along the way, but also offer us a sense of accountability.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBe prepared to grapple with a sense of guilt throughout the process. For me, I started to feel massive mom guilt once the process was almost over and we were onto a more regular sleep routine - how backwards is that?! The fact that Benny was getting long stretches of sleep made me almost miss how much time we spent together and I started to feel guilty. Thankfully that feeling \u003Ci\u003Equickly\u003C\/i\u003E passed and I'm now just so grateful for daytime sleep and cry-free nights.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe process works, but you need to be prepared to put in the work. Myself, that meant canceling plans and clearing my schedule for a few days so that we could really work on our sleep routine. I'm not someone who does well with routines, so I had a hard time with temporarily slowing down my life and almost fought it at first. If I had just stuck with the routine right from the beginning and embraced a slower life for a few days, I'm confident that we would have completed the sleep training process earlier.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBaby sleep will never be perfect. Just when I think we have everything down, the routine changes. Currently we're dealing with teething and a possible shift to only two naps during the day. To me, this is when the true value of sleep training comes into play since I'm less panicked when our routine changes and have the tools to get us back on track.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiOo7tU3SR8t5uj-JlbFbhyGBrn0UnQyGQvuC2vHkQxCV9kgT978UKYs7Mla3TDMQkLhYuSZLjKgCowe1K7PLC0ZHN1_NLRif6zxp-OnYnCyrnsWgwl7Hm6xGCDuDej9AC_uDRaqPezTpIs\/s1600\/IMG_1602.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiOo7tU3SR8t5uj-JlbFbhyGBrn0UnQyGQvuC2vHkQxCV9kgT978UKYs7Mla3TDMQkLhYuSZLjKgCowe1K7PLC0ZHN1_NLRif6zxp-OnYnCyrnsWgwl7Hm6xGCDuDej9AC_uDRaqPezTpIs\/s1600\/IMG_1602.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIn the end, I'm very happy with our sleep training experience and am one hundred percent confident in our choice. I'm so thankful to\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/babysbestsleep.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E Amanda from Baby's Best Sleep\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E for essentially giving me my sanity back and helping me crawl out of a very dark period. I'm much happier these days, Benny is well-rested and thriving and in the end that's the best outcome that we could have ever hoped for.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Have you ever tried sleep training your baby? Did you use a professional sleep coach? Let me know.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThis post was created in partnership with \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/babysbestsleep.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBaby's Best Sleep\u003C\/a\u003E. My thoughts, opinions and experiences are 100% my own.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/5150240369359822679\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/01\/baby-sleep-and-sleep-training.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/5150240369359822679"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/5150240369359822679"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/01\/baby-sleep-and-sleep-training.html","title":"Baby Sleep and Sleep Training"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh6Oiioti67IfrWTi5q3wZRjiE0vf2z6FEeeyEBdALz8c8ihz51TSRKnEXWP3GCZzBTHTKZQtozzrHm6B9noBG5XDWnOnlhNm2yPHB-N_LC6YvnTtwjUURuERN73AUtJJ8dGLmOCB_dgOAP\/s72-c\/IMG_0668.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-3368115412094800676"},"published":{"$t":"2020-01-11T13:16:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2020-01-13T08:28:11.696-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Explore Ontario"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Family Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Prince Edward County"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel Diary"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Prince Edward County in the Off Season "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjjxZbIWUF7zdF_1soqU4Nu5mSvAcRUJGupw7NbvWrted4_zuVPASIlYGImEySLDlL_CuFBB93pUGV4TdnDzcTzJhN-4nQ8X2bF5qYTNjse3GAK9QP4TTIK6cHS2ZiaVGN6UpeivmTmTEKN\/s1600\/IMG_0425+2.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjjxZbIWUF7zdF_1soqU4Nu5mSvAcRUJGupw7NbvWrted4_zuVPASIlYGImEySLDlL_CuFBB93pUGV4TdnDzcTzJhN-4nQ8X2bF5qYTNjse3GAK9QP4TTIK6cHS2ZiaVGN6UpeivmTmTEKN\/s1600\/IMG_0425+2.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI love road trips - I really do. There's something about just packing up as much or as little as you want, without restriction, into a vehicle and just taking off. Living in Toronto we're very lucky that there are so many beautiful destinations nearby, all within a few hours drive from the city. I've never turned down the opportunity to explore our beautiful province of Ontario, and I was hoping that the addition of a baby to our little family wouldn't change that.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFor that reason, when we were getting a little cabin crazy from the time necessary to spend at home with a newborn, Brian and I decided to check out Prince Edward County in the fall. It would be our first road trip with Benny - our first trip at all! I have always loved Prince Edward County (in fact I have previously been on a \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/07\/prince-edward-county-weekend-getaway.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Egirly brand trip\u003C\/a\u003E, as well as\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/08\/prince-edward-county-for-48-hours.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E with friends\u003C\/a\u003E)\u0026nbsp; but had never visited in the off season. I knew it would be a slower pace, which would be welcome as we explored our first experience traveling with a baby. All in all, I couldn't wait to take off as a family of three and check out what The County had to offer in the Fall.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhEwA6N273Ns3xU4gP-PyuzOSz0dywmm6424eLmzcUq6UM_lln4ZJqxJA664CpyqDo6uckdDb6l2NObP6Cj2D6JJvcKilRxhMrF9kOrK8LrTmgSYkdqyFdhG98obBcmNux8KSaiYf3iXgyR\/s1600\/DSC_6050+2.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhEwA6N273Ns3xU4gP-PyuzOSz0dywmm6424eLmzcUq6UM_lln4ZJqxJA664CpyqDo6uckdDb6l2NObP6Cj2D6JJvcKilRxhMrF9kOrK8LrTmgSYkdqyFdhG98obBcmNux8KSaiYf3iXgyR\/s1600\/DSC_6050+2.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nWhere We Stayed\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBecause I had such fond memories of my last trip to PEC, and I desperately wanted to show Brian what I think is one of the nicest Airbnbs in the province, we decided on \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.airbnb.ca\/rooms\/20903007?source_impression_id=p3_1578762939_L3i5bWB9xaJhJXkx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe Meadow House\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp; My goodness, do I ever love this light-filled, beautifully decorated space. Located in Hillier, which is a great starting point to visit all of our planned destinations in The County, The Meadow House is a literal oasis of style and sanctuary.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOne of the reasons I love staying at The Meadow House is that while gorgeous, it's actually a very comfortable and practical space for a weekend's stay - or longer, if your itinerary calls for it. Traveling with a baby, I knew that we would appreciate the comforts that come along with staying in a proper house; a kitchen for meals, a second bedroom for optimal baby sleep and even laundry should we need it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nVisiting Prince Edward County in the off season means that your trip will have a slower pace as the hustle and bustle of seasonal shops and restaurants are closed until Spring. Making sure that the space that you choose to stay during the off season can make or break your trip. Besides, gone are the days of running from destination to destination - traveling with a baby forces you to slow down and spend more time enjoying your accommodations. I'm very happy that we ultimately chose \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.airbnb.ca\/rooms\/20903007?source_impression_id=p3_1578762939_L3i5bWB9xaJhJXkx\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Meadow House\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n*Check out \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/08\/prince-edward-county-for-48-hours.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emy previous post on Prince Edward County\u003C\/a\u003E for more photos and details on The Meadow House.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh3UZH3Y-coSTrbwJ__V0eaEHeIdCa_5uybAnZE7k6FqrazxLcHdgNTRLI4YVhzw15p-5SlM4WBXlb1k1B8_QLOKJ3M7e2Dng1bXnQoM1dLMvy3hYW-ibxf3HfYxYRDyCwUHMHGwpyTKTU-\/s1600\/the-meadow-house.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"941\" data-original-width=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh3UZH3Y-coSTrbwJ__V0eaEHeIdCa_5uybAnZE7k6FqrazxLcHdgNTRLI4YVhzw15p-5SlM4WBXlb1k1B8_QLOKJ3M7e2Dng1bXnQoM1dLMvy3hYW-ibxf3HfYxYRDyCwUHMHGwpyTKTU-\/s1600\/the-meadow-house.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh3iBGaAlVv2GPd66ZJk65NiN5Or6i3PlIxMvBZ0Hz7SuyQ-U758Rra_T45PmkexilU27We-a0UQ0EopsH8YV1XexXSqeUmAZ_QxAGSWvVCRMieIHA-4M7ujlQreloVKiIBsfTrdRQ9mrXa\/s1600\/DSC_6055.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh3iBGaAlVv2GPd66ZJk65NiN5Or6i3PlIxMvBZ0Hz7SuyQ-U758Rra_T45PmkexilU27We-a0UQ0EopsH8YV1XexXSqeUmAZ_QxAGSWvVCRMieIHA-4M7ujlQreloVKiIBsfTrdRQ9mrXa\/s1600\/DSC_6055.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjIGdyRkoQ904JLfBHH5xI5MfpRRJgoFg5BmsGD7DqV7CFziNHd-GAK3fPa2RzS0_3EEeNu_228RC5KjX3CPBIoxyBqF2JpW9aXjMYxRvGXMC26XdvQap-O2s0BXUe_fgCxJohlRgJ0gEeS\/s1600\/IMG_0410+2.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjIGdyRkoQ904JLfBHH5xI5MfpRRJgoFg5BmsGD7DqV7CFziNHd-GAK3fPa2RzS0_3EEeNu_228RC5KjX3CPBIoxyBqF2JpW9aXjMYxRvGXMC26XdvQap-O2s0BXUe_fgCxJohlRgJ0gEeS\/s1600\/IMG_0410+2.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003EWhere We Ate\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhile Brian and I knew that we would be taking a slower pace while visiting Prince Edward County in the Fall, so there would be lots of relaxing at the Airbnb involved, we did want to take advantage of the amazing restaurant scene that can be found in The County.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjLBJtzGEeGKBUp5iB1fUNwY-V8rpwKqc8oTw_4rKAL6mxY54sHAJou-ed0vAqb_rAKaiqjvQzBdZy8AbRnzGeIwcy30CHDmRZzc8MkNdHP03KWYLMnYVrTKUvnumM7Rw_StXdEkYgEkxI2\/s1600\/where-to-eat-prince-edward-county.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"941\" data-original-width=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjLBJtzGEeGKBUp5iB1fUNwY-V8rpwKqc8oTw_4rKAL6mxY54sHAJou-ed0vAqb_rAKaiqjvQzBdZy8AbRnzGeIwcy30CHDmRZzc8MkNdHP03KWYLMnYVrTKUvnumM7Rw_StXdEkYgEkxI2\/s1600\/where-to-eat-prince-edward-county.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch4 style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nLa Condesa\u003C\/h4\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nRight in the heart of Wellington, \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.lacondesarestaurant.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELa Condesa\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E blew our socks off with authentic Mexican cuisine and absolutely delicious cocktails. The restaurant just opened in the spring of 2019, so it was still fairly new when we visited, but WOW - what an incredible addition to Prince Edward County!\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nBrian and I started with hearty guacamole with home-made corn chips and tostones, which are fried green plantains with lemon aioli. Followed by nearly every taco they had on the menu and washed down with expertly crafted cocktails, we finished the meal wondering if maybe \u003Ci\u003Ewe \u003C\/i\u003Eshould consider moving to The County if this is how they're eating (then we got the bill - still Toronto prices, you can't escape it!) The best part is that the staff were incredibly accommodating with Benny and his car seat, making sure that we had a table that would be able to accommodate and didn't make us feel as though we were an imposition.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nTen out of ten. And the best part is that because we were visiting in the off-season, this hotspot was able to accommodate us for a table right away. We will be back\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch4 style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nBloomfield Public House\u003C\/h4\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nWhile we only stopped in for a quick coffee, \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bloomfieldpublichouse.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBloomfield Public House\u003C\/a\u003E \u003C\/b\u003Eoffers deliciously rich espresso-based drinks and looked to be a beautiful spot for brunch in The County and still very lively even in the off-season. The coffee was strong, and necessary after a morning of driving. So happy to see more options for espresso-based drinks in The County.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch4 style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nDrake Devonshire Inn\u003C\/h4\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nI couldn't visit Prince Edward County without stopping by \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrake.ca\/drakedevonshire\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDrake Devonshire Inn\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E for brunch. The Drake is a beautiful spot to visit in the summer and proved to be just as busy during the off-season - I'm glad that we made reservations!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nAlthough I missed dinning on The Drake's lakeside patio, it was beautiful to have that same view while being toasty and warm indoors in the off-season. We enjoyed classic brunch fare and strong coffee to fuel us before we left The County.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nAnother family-friendly spot, the Drake Devonshire Inn not only accommodated Benny and his carseat without hesitation, but they also had a great washroom with a change table\u003Ci\u003E and\u003C\/i\u003E offered me a quiet spot to nurse before we hit the road back to Toronto.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjtSl0uK7bweE0iTu9XyfUe5Pqp9V8kGE7dB5y9wTWzHsPugMBzgHqruiQgkt0ucA5_DA0yB9EcRCwe1OifEKzXAzAvf-WYMEx180efe9b2xsEiV59W5f9tK3ZdC2X-G9fNeshRkf55I-BR\/s1600\/prince-edward-county-off-season.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"941\" data-original-width=\"1500\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjtSl0uK7bweE0iTu9XyfUe5Pqp9V8kGE7dB5y9wTWzHsPugMBzgHqruiQgkt0ucA5_DA0yB9EcRCwe1OifEKzXAzAvf-WYMEx180efe9b2xsEiV59W5f9tK3ZdC2X-G9fNeshRkf55I-BR\/s1600\/prince-edward-county-off-season.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch2 style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nRoad Trip With A Baby: What We Packed\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nSeeing as though this was our first trip ever with Benny, we were a little clueless on what to pack. I'm someone who gets very overwhelmed with a lot of stuff, so we tried to pack as light as possible and make due with what was available to us at The Meadow House. Here's everything that we packed for a road trip with one overnight with a 4 month old baby:\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EOur Uppababy VISTA stroller\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EMESA car seat (can be clipped into the stroller base)\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E2 sleepers\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E2 baby outfits\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 sleep sack\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 swaddle\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 toy keyboard\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 book\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EEnough diapers and wipes for 3 days (just in case) with a portable change mat\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n..and that's it. Honestly I was happy to see that we really didn't need all that much stuff, considering that Benny is exclusively breast fed and was too young to walk or crawl at the time of travel.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nThe one grey area for us came down to sleep. We were driving up in our compact car, so bringing a pack-and-play or any type of travel crib along with Benny's stroller wasn't possible. We ended up just co-sleeping for the night which, while it worked, proved to be quite stressful as it was something that we had never done before. If I were to change anything, I would have brought either something to facilitate co-sleeping (like our Snuggle Me Organic) or researched a compact travel bed.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhi8BtJS9w9wbMjZcmnEuTjth-Y988dNA8A3ZDyeqbeTHf1LnaiDW-AwKrPUYO6orLZRtqBdXidDm8bbvcRAWyWlzMkdcpYLxI7cLvggxkhgWl8T0Bk2OJJNZaiIYOkR-Wz9X5M0aiJXrj4\/s1600\/IMG_0421.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhi8BtJS9w9wbMjZcmnEuTjth-Y988dNA8A3ZDyeqbeTHf1LnaiDW-AwKrPUYO6orLZRtqBdXidDm8bbvcRAWyWlzMkdcpYLxI7cLvggxkhgWl8T0Bk2OJJNZaiIYOkR-Wz9X5M0aiJXrj4\/s1600\/IMG_0421.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgciWbIlm-KarQ9Evb0CuxR3p_RnoqaNyLntB_fUBAfGqhwmw2ldWhRAHrAkj0H38qURN_0AZNmSwVTxh-5gJV3LgoIR9NU4mBjDbEaHcoVkgQ1OigCjlqiHzOP15Ya1_sw3uVNoNdg7kj4\/s1600\/DSC_6069+2.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgciWbIlm-KarQ9Evb0CuxR3p_RnoqaNyLntB_fUBAfGqhwmw2ldWhRAHrAkj0H38qURN_0AZNmSwVTxh-5gJV3LgoIR9NU4mBjDbEaHcoVkgQ1OigCjlqiHzOP15Ya1_sw3uVNoNdg7kj4\/s1600\/DSC_6069+2.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiKbWE4r7Wzqw5b241Vfv5kjwGrBhrdc-ZSKtkgW5McklKEe4HYmZG3zXIhTYBYCRZNA7YxBhsYMC9h60TMYX-JQ3YcuissI9EFk1sB84CqOgU_xQSpHnb8Ihhm146AqsLWOsuc9Bh7l0Tk\/s1600\/DSC_6046.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiKbWE4r7Wzqw5b241Vfv5kjwGrBhrdc-ZSKtkgW5McklKEe4HYmZG3zXIhTYBYCRZNA7YxBhsYMC9h60TMYX-JQ3YcuissI9EFk1sB84CqOgU_xQSpHnb8Ihhm146AqsLWOsuc9Bh7l0Tk\/s1600\/DSC_6046.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nAfter a blissful weekend getaway (or as close to blissful as traveling with a baby will allow) we were back on the road to make the short trip to Toronto. I absolutely loved spending a quiet weekend away with our little family, and saw Prince Edward County in a totally different light. While you miss out on the hustle-and-bustle of the busy summer, visiting Prince Edward County in the off-season offers a beauty and tranquility that you wouldn't necessarily experience in the warmer weather. I'm so happy that we chose Prince Edward County in the Fall as our first family road trip, and I can't wait to see where else our little trio will visit next.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Have you ever traveled with a baby on a road trip? Have you visited Prince Edward County in the Fall? Let me know!\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003C\/div\u003E\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/3368115412094800676\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/01\/price-edward-county-in-off-season.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3368115412094800676"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3368115412094800676"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2020\/01\/price-edward-county-in-off-season.html","title":"Prince Edward County in the Off Season "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjjxZbIWUF7zdF_1soqU4Nu5mSvAcRUJGupw7NbvWrted4_zuVPASIlYGImEySLDlL_CuFBB93pUGV4TdnDzcTzJhN-4nQ8X2bF5qYTNjse3GAK9QP4TTIK6cHS2ZiaVGN6UpeivmTmTEKN\/s72-c\/IMG_0425+2.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-7208547589244142855"},"published":{"$t":"2019-12-30T08:29:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-12-30T08:29:56.743-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Goals"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"New Years"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Real Talk"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Goals for 2020"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhsEchYzv1gKQ12D_vG4Z7Vgj-PdIOqo1Gm2KHnNeqtBD5UD0uKI8iPHI59oifOg6-OXyNociF1NVMLnXC86oCKiZDFWVe-DoqET36bSWNR4fKiFhfzx7cai46gYr7-fuSKkkffQ5OPaDRg\/s1600\/IMG_1157.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhsEchYzv1gKQ12D_vG4Z7Vgj-PdIOqo1Gm2KHnNeqtBD5UD0uKI8iPHI59oifOg6-OXyNociF1NVMLnXC86oCKiZDFWVe-DoqET36bSWNR4fKiFhfzx7cai46gYr7-fuSKkkffQ5OPaDRg\/s1600\/IMG_1157.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nMuch like the end of a year being a period of reflection for me, I can't help but think about the year to come. I'm not one for resolutions - I would rather set goals. I like to state my goals and set my intentions every year; not only is it a great way to organize my thoughts, but it's also nice to reflect on at the end of a year to see what's been accomplished (check out my posts from \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/01\/goals-for-2019.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2018\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2017\/12\/goals-for-2018.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E \u003Cb\u003E2017\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.) This upcoming year will see my first full year of being a mother, my first bit of international travel with a baby and (hopefully) setting down further roots in Toronto. It's bound to be a year of learning, growth and likely challenges along the way. Knowing all of this, here are some specific goals for 2020 that I would love to move forward with as the year progresses.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nBuy A House\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nYes, Brian and I have \u003Ci\u003Efinally\u003C\/i\u003E decided to explore the possibility of home ownership. I honestly thought that we would be condo dwellers forever but there's nothing like sharing 750 square feet with three humans and a dog to really change your perspective on things. I'm not going to lie - the thought of being a home owner terrifies me. I genuinely enjoy the simplicity that comes along with renting a small space and condo living, despite minor inconveniences, is so damn \u003Ci\u003Eeasy\u003C\/i\u003E. While I don't think that having a baby automatically means that you need a house, we really do need more space and I just want to make sure that we're doing the best to our individual abilities for Benny. Buying a house in Toronto is not for the faint of heart, and I expect that this will be one of our biggest transitions and challenges as a couple that we've faced to-date. I'm hopeful that we'll come out on top and move towards home ownership in 2020.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nDevelop (and stick to) A Fitness Routine\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAfter a fairly inactive pregnancy resulting in a C section, my body is now feeling the consequences of a major abdominal surgery and a nonexistent fitness routine. My back and hips are in constant pain and I lack the energy levels that I once had. Not that I was ever a body builder or a gym person, but there was a time when I was going to regular SoulCycle classes that I felt amazing, my mood was great and I had lots of energy - I miss that. I need to get back into a solid fitness routine that I can sustain long-term. Having a baby definitely makes going to fitness classes more difficult, so my goal for 2020 is to develop an at-home plan for simple strength training and making walking a priority. Baby steps so that I can feel strong in the new year.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nGet Back To Blogging\u003C\/h2\u003E\nSince starting La Petite Noob in 2013, I've always tried to made this blog a priority. What was once a hobby for most turned into full-fledged business, with companies favouring Instagram and video content, I'm embarrassed to admit that I have not paid the blog the attention it deserves in the past few years. Business aside, there is something therapeutic to me with sitting down to write a blog post. I also feel as though you can develop a more intimate connection with your readers through a blog post - more-so than just a photo on Instagram or even a video. I miss it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThat being said, this blog needs a bit of an overhaul. I feel as though the user experience is lacking; there's virtually no organization and there's got to be a better way to search for relevant content through over 6 years of blog posts. I'm also a bit lost as to what people enjoy reading when it comes to blogs now - the landscape is so different than when I first started. City guides? Shopping round ups? More personal, diary style posts? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgsop6YfYH6_ao_YeIrASbDkbltDHiT8v31fvf96wfHj3tto6_jztwfxPV3RC6zj8ld4TpBD6CQoFCmHdThaJw8aUPr7l6Arfc1eeKlMTr_qyE4GusIrW4ggjlCUjJI4u9s13DQPPFP7m6H\/s1600\/IMG_1494.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1553\" data-original-width=\"1242\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgsop6YfYH6_ao_YeIrASbDkbltDHiT8v31fvf96wfHj3tto6_jztwfxPV3RC6zj8ld4TpBD6CQoFCmHdThaJw8aUPr7l6Arfc1eeKlMTr_qyE4GusIrW4ggjlCUjJI4u9s13DQPPFP7m6H\/s1600\/IMG_1494.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Do you enjoy setting goals for the new year? What are you working towards in 2020? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/7208547589244142855\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/12\/goals-for-2020.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/7208547589244142855"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/7208547589244142855"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/12\/goals-for-2020.html","title":"Goals for 2020"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhsEchYzv1gKQ12D_vG4Z7Vgj-PdIOqo1Gm2KHnNeqtBD5UD0uKI8iPHI59oifOg6-OXyNociF1NVMLnXC86oCKiZDFWVe-DoqET36bSWNR4fKiFhfzx7cai46gYr7-fuSKkkffQ5OPaDRg\/s72-c\/IMG_1157.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-4730426541773070219"},"published":{"$t":"2019-12-27T09:47:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-12-27T09:47:17.774-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Real Talk"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"2019 - Lessons Learned"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg428ZrpjWfXczUfkTr2KtkAPc83P9dD4xAXpJaI_c1XYvCvdj32VqfrN7hmnEg-tkGKAkNtOtAkh4PlW6ojm1TYIseA4SNz5menfPEsY5MoVNFad0iEMZ3hM1sOFptHgoBVc4IuEDMraSF\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_joelle-191219-+20.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg428ZrpjWfXczUfkTr2KtkAPc83P9dD4xAXpJaI_c1XYvCvdj32VqfrN7hmnEg-tkGKAkNtOtAkh4PlW6ojm1TYIseA4SNz5menfPEsY5MoVNFad0iEMZ3hM1sOFptHgoBVc4IuEDMraSF\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_joelle-191219-+20.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nTo say that 2019 has been a year for the books would be an understatement; it's been the most transformative year of my life. With the birth of our sweet boy Benjamin, it's been a year thats brought me my greatest blessing. I never understood the joys of motherhood when people would try to explain it to me, but 2019 is the year that I finally got it. Benny has only been with us for 5 months, but it's hard to imagine what life was like without him.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThe year, however, didn't pass without any strife. Spending the majority of 2019 pregnant really tested my mental and physical health. A near-crippling case of prenatal depression coupled with an emergency hospital stay for a kidney infection while pregnant definitely pushed me to my limit. For someone who typically remains in good health both physically and mentally, my struggles this year were unlike anything I've ever experienced.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIn the spirit of reflection, and continuing on a tradition of blog posts that I've been keeping up from\u003Cb\u003E \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2017\/12\/2017-lessons-learned.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E2017\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/12\/2018-lessons-learned.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E2018\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, here are some big lessons I learned in 2019.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nHealth Is Wealth\u003C\/h2\u003E\nBeing a former funeral director and witnessing health struggles from close family members, I've always been aware of how valuable your health is - but this year really hit that lesson home from me. It's\u003Ci\u003E so\u003C\/i\u003E easy to get caught up in the frivolities of the everyday, and spend enough energy coveting material objects to really loose track of the big picture - listen, I'm guilty of it too. But it's true that if you're in good health then you truly are fortunate. No amount of money or material objects can buy the ease of a life of someone in good health. While it's near impossible to spend every minute of the day being grateful for your good health, I now start off with a quick thought of gratitude every morning and it's really made a difference in my perspective and outlook on life.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nNot Every Situation Is Mind Over Matter\u003C\/h2\u003E\nI have a confession to make: I used to be a 'mind over matter' person for most situations in my life. Although I recognized that there were situations that were beyond an individual's control, I just didn't think it applied to me and would attribute a strong mind to overcoming mental challenges and even your physical health. I can' tell you how many times that Brian would be coming down with a cold and I would be chanting at him to squash it with his mind - poor guy would be feeling like crap and I would be shouting at him to fix it with strong thoughts.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nDo you hate me yet?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNothing like having your body completely rocked by a surge and change in hormones to really put it all in perspective. I've mentioned how I was \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/07\/prenatal-anxiety-my-story.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Estruggling with prenatal anxiety\u003C\/a\u003E, but honestly it was \u003Ci\u003Ebad\u003C\/i\u003E. I spent the majority of my first trimester and a bit of my third in a very dark place, and nothing I could do would pull me out of it. No amount of strong thoughts, gratitude journalling, perspective - nothing. It wasn't until my hormones regulated that I felt any reprieve.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNeedless to say, I've changed my tune on mind over matter. While the saying certainly applies in some situations, it definitely isn't universal.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nHave Patience\u003C\/h2\u003E\nWith the immediate gratification we've become used to, waiting for a situation to unfold can feel like torture. While having patience is something I'm sure will be a lifelong lesson, but I'm working on deciphering between \"hasn't happened yet\" and \"won't happen ever.\" Patience is a process, but I'm trying my best to surrender to timing of your own individual life and to enjoy the journey.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhvSE-GyJw3bJ7E7GqAocrDXsPcMQcTNERsDHxM5YmP4H7fijklcZ-Lsdgq2BXo0dQV0-hRhpTRiU7vgOxMXRxtlf-AKHW6I_r_OX3OC0gD-w4zi0DlqW9FLkX2SYnyr3Kz8urcQQmJWB5o\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_joelle-191219-+15.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhvSE-GyJw3bJ7E7GqAocrDXsPcMQcTNERsDHxM5YmP4H7fijklcZ-Lsdgq2BXo0dQV0-hRhpTRiU7vgOxMXRxtlf-AKHW6I_r_OX3OC0gD-w4zi0DlqW9FLkX2SYnyr3Kz8urcQQmJWB5o\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_joelle-191219-+15.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? What have been some of your biggest lessons for 2019? What are you looking most forward to in the New Year? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nPhotos by \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.vaiyulaw.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EVai Yu Law\u003C\/a\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/4730426541773070219\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/12\/2019-lessons-learned.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/4730426541773070219"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/4730426541773070219"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/12\/2019-lessons-learned.html","title":"2019 - Lessons Learned"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg428ZrpjWfXczUfkTr2KtkAPc83P9dD4xAXpJaI_c1XYvCvdj32VqfrN7hmnEg-tkGKAkNtOtAkh4PlW6ojm1TYIseA4SNz5menfPEsY5MoVNFad0iEMZ3hM1sOFptHgoBVc4IuEDMraSF\/s72-c\/vaiyulaw_joelle-191219-+20.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-8076258552176055948"},"published":{"$t":"2019-12-09T10:10:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-12-09T10:15:31.985-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Banana Republic"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fashion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Holiday Gift Guides"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Holiday Outfit"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Holidays"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Banana Republic Luxe Holiday Gift Ideas"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj3K0_CpM4V5mGw4IqpCkbO9055qWoXkRluVP2WV6vrL1IDhMpCJeOX6IJEDd5ikY9_sQv9HWrFmR2tGqrmsEehe_CqkZ-CN1FsUq2n7wuxBh4r7S4yeHKfGCFpahnfI-zEUijOHVPfL5jY\/s1600\/BananaRepublic_holiday2019.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1102\" data-original-width=\"735\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj3K0_CpM4V5mGw4IqpCkbO9055qWoXkRluVP2WV6vrL1IDhMpCJeOX6IJEDd5ikY9_sQv9HWrFmR2tGqrmsEehe_CqkZ-CN1FsUq2n7wuxBh4r7S4yeHKfGCFpahnfI-zEUijOHVPfL5jY\/s1600\/BananaRepublic_holiday2019.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThis post is sponsored by ShopStyle and Banana Republic. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIt's the most wonderful time of the year, and I'm getting right into the holiday spirit by planning my gift lists for all of the amazing people in my life. This year is a big one for me with the birth of Benny and I honestly could not have made it through the last few months as a new mom without the strong and inspiring women who all rallied around me to help out. Words could never describe how much I appreciate the support, so instead I really want to spoil them this holiday season with luxurious gifts that I know that they'll love. My ideal gift is something beautiful that I know the recipient will love, but would not necessarily buy for themselves.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nEnter Banana Republic. I've been shopping at Banana Republic for luxurious gifts for my nearest and dearest for years. It's a place that I can depend on to find elevated pieces that can not only be enjoyed during the holiday season, but are always just great pieces to incorporate something special in your wardrobe on the weekly.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nMy first recommendation when choosing a luxurious gift is to consider a new coat. Now hear me out: if you live in a colder climate, sometimes it feels like putting effort into an outfit is all for nothing because it ultimately gets covered by a coat. BUT if the coat itself is something special and feels like a statement piece in itself, then the colder months don't feel like such a sacrifice to personal style! I'm loving the teddy coat trend again this season, and definitely have my eye on the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/shopstyle.it\/l\/bbx7E\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESherpa Cocoon Coat\u003C\/a\u003E \u003C\/b\u003Eand \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/shopstyle.it\/l\/bbx7M\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESherpa Car Coat\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E from Banana Republic. For more of a bold statement, you may want to consider the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/shopstyle.it\/l\/bbx7S\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFaux Fur Long Coat\u003C\/b\u003E \u003C\/a\u003Efor a seventies vibe, or even a a \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/shopstyle.it\/l\/bbx8l\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELeopard Top Coat\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E - because at this point, leopard print truly is a neutral. If the individual on your gift list veers more towards the practical side, then the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/shopstyle.it\/l\/bbx8s\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETwill Utility Jacket\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E may be more appropriate; this is a jacket that can be worn for most of the year and adds instant-style to any outfit.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nKnitwear is a more traditional gift, but can be just as luxurious and special when gifting different cuts and styles. Take the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/shopstyle.it\/l\/bbx6k\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPuff Sleeve Sweater\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E; just as practical as a traditional sweater, but the puff sleeves make the design more current and fun! Such a treat to gift to someone that you love. For a real show-stopper of a gift, I have my eye on the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/shopstyle.it\/l\/bbx8D\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETurtleneck Sweater Dress\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. Just as cozy as any sweater, but with a glamorous twist.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSomething else to consider when choosing a luxurious gift is a piece of clothing in an unexpected pattern or with a fun detail that the recipient wouldn't necessarily splurge on for themselves. My absolute favourite is leopard print. Not only is it so on-trend for this season, it's a pattern that is truly flattering on everyone and can easily fit into most wardrobes. My picks that instantly stood out to me from Banana Republic are the\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/shopstyle.it\/l\/bbpdT\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E \u003C\/a\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/shopstyle.it\/l\/bbx85\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELeopard Print Maxi Skirt\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003E(I have this same one and it's truly one of the most versatile pieces in my closet)\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;and the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/shopstyle.it\/l\/bbx8K\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELeopard Print Peasant Midi Dress\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. For a touch of sparkle, and because you can never go wrong with a fun handbag, I love the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/shopstyle.it\/l\/bbx6t\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERose Gold Glitter Clutch\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI'm so excited to share my luxurious gifts from Banana Republic with my loved ones this season, with maybe a few gifts for myself as well haha.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Do you like to treat your loved ones to luxe gifts for the holidays? Which is your favourite piece from Banana Republic? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv data-sc-widget-id=\"P-5dee63adc09dd049601c7425\"\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cscript async src=\"\/\/widgets.shopstyle.com\/shopstyle-widget-snippet.js\"\u003E\u003C\/script\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/8076258552176055948\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/12\/banana-republic-luxe-holiday-gift-ideas.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8076258552176055948"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8076258552176055948"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/12\/banana-republic-luxe-holiday-gift-ideas.html","title":"Banana Republic Luxe Holiday Gift Ideas"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj3K0_CpM4V5mGw4IqpCkbO9055qWoXkRluVP2WV6vrL1IDhMpCJeOX6IJEDd5ikY9_sQv9HWrFmR2tGqrmsEehe_CqkZ-CN1FsUq2n7wuxBh4r7S4yeHKfGCFpahnfI-zEUijOHVPfL5jY\/s72-c\/BananaRepublic_holiday2019.png","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-3850889554476747222"},"published":{"$t":"2019-10-15T07:38:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-10-15T07:38:07.674-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Baby Gear"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"5 Reasons To Invest In An UPPAbaby VISTA"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgMpIuiFF0KBXOQJqroY9W6ow4B6jNeI6zabZmdKHariYOP71n0yj7HX4ALULhfs9vOfRPjmp_Mh-ZDdxr_mW-Se6b9XqhFMiRDS3KxWLCuiqPovHpyBhZLXYBXLYcyFc112frY_8S2wO5K\/s1600\/image.JPEG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgMpIuiFF0KBXOQJqroY9W6ow4B6jNeI6zabZmdKHariYOP71n0yj7HX4ALULhfs9vOfRPjmp_Mh-ZDdxr_mW-Se6b9XqhFMiRDS3KxWLCuiqPovHpyBhZLXYBXLYcyFc112frY_8S2wO5K\/s1600\/image.JPEG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFrom the minute we announced our pregnancy, it seemed as though our lives were consumed with collecting our baby gear. With so many products on the market, and with us being new parents, the process seemed to be completely overwhelming. One of the biggest items to consider with baby gear was and is your new baby's stroller. Brian and I knew that we wanted to make sure that we made the absolute best choice for our family; after all, we're city dwellers that live in a small space and travel on-foot for the majority of the time. Choosing our baby's stroller was a crucial decision.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLet me just cut the suspense and let you know that after lots (and \u003Ci\u003Elots\u003C\/i\u003E) of thought and research, we ultimately landed on the\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/uppababy.com\/ca\/vista\/overview\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E UPPAbaby VISTA\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003Eand we could not be happier with our decision. You guys - this stroller is absolutely fantastic. The VISTA is everything we were hoping for in a stroller and more, providing us with all of the features that we were looking for, and many that we didn't even realize we needed. The stroller has truly been a game-changer for our family, and while it does come with an investment price tag, I would choose it over again in a heart beat. Here are five reasons why you should consider investing in the UPPAbaby VISTA for your growing family.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEisP5_MSgV4qTcQ9wB11Yh1_uk7Jgb4Bvquk_XtLDVodf1Apna8yGggY4Ta_4GtoU1yGeIyrarmDfhupqc6TQacoxJ802sfS7UFc1V49UeY2Dfh2Li6UBoLxit8_n12WKr3CT_gcRibeV3v\/s1600\/AD033F9A-3914-4416-89BD-DDA19EA7AB2A.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1281\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEisP5_MSgV4qTcQ9wB11Yh1_uk7Jgb4Bvquk_XtLDVodf1Apna8yGggY4Ta_4GtoU1yGeIyrarmDfhupqc6TQacoxJ802sfS7UFc1V49UeY2Dfh2Li6UBoLxit8_n12WKr3CT_gcRibeV3v\/s1600\/AD033F9A-3914-4416-89BD-DDA19EA7AB2A.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\n1. It Handles Busy City Streets Like A Champ\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBrian and I are very passionate about staying in the city with Benny, so we knew that we needed a stroller that was easily able to maneuver the busy city streets of Toronto. The\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/uppababy.com\/ca\/vista\/overview\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E UPPAbaby VISTA\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003Ehas exceeded our expectations. Not only do the wheels offer a smooth ride for baby, making sure Benny doesn't wake up during his stroller naps, the back wheels are large enough that we're able to handle any sort of terrain. Those of us in the city know how much construction affects our lives, so I'm grateful to be able to smoothy sail through any detour construction has to offer. Not only that, but we're still going to be traveling on-foot through the winter months - the wheels on the UPPAbaby VISTA will be key in traveling on a poorly-plowed sidewalk.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nRide aside, what truly sets the UPPAbaby VISTA apart from the rest when navigating through a city is how light and agile it is. My worst nightmare was being stuck when all of a sudden a route became inaccessible for wheels, especially since I would be walking by myself during the day. I've easily been able to lift, tilt and squeeze through narrow lanes with my UPPAbaby VISTA making it key to keeping my independence when alone with Benny.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAnd don't get me started in the basket - my word, the roomy basket under the UPPAbaby VISTA has been a total game-changer. I fit everything down there, and I mean everything - this is where our chihuahua Fritz will hitch a ride! On any given day, our basket will hold a full grocery shop, my large diaper bag, a spoiled dog and even my giant blogging camera. It's truly been a dream, and instrumental in making sure that I can get all of my errands done with a baby in-tow.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAn-Fda29iFSYBcDOWzHm08TcpCt6FYe-Mz_QdawlGerVLi-ueS8obk7xJiyvKitZ6UIGcQpDK9P8qVzA3ox8DG4qfwtbigL6wbXHrvC7xF4O7cELgcFJo8M1QkDBFKYNhg0Edtp_T4ics\/s1600\/IMG_9464.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAn-Fda29iFSYBcDOWzHm08TcpCt6FYe-Mz_QdawlGerVLi-ueS8obk7xJiyvKitZ6UIGcQpDK9P8qVzA3ox8DG4qfwtbigL6wbXHrvC7xF4O7cELgcFJo8M1QkDBFKYNhg0Edtp_T4ics\/s1600\/IMG_9464.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\n2. The Bassinet Is Dual Purpose\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOne of our fears when starting to choose and collect baby gear was that our tiny condo would become cluttered with all things baby. For this reason, choosing items that were multi-purpose was key. Thankfully our \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/uppababy.com\/ca\/vista\/overview\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EUPPAbaby VISTA\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;has proven to be the ultimate in multi-purpose item - we actually use the stroller's Bassinet as Benny's bedtime bassinet in our bedroom! With the addition of a bassinet stand, we were able to easily convert the Bassinet from stroller to bedtime. The Bassinet itself is gorgeous, and with it's vented base and mattress for breathability and the fact that you can remove everything to wash in the machine, it's an easy choice for both stroller naps on-the-go and overnight sleep.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI just love the Bassinet on our UPPAbaby VISTA, and am already sad for the day when Benny outgrows it (once he reaches 20 pounds or can push up on his hands and feet.) It's been an amazing addition to our condo for its style and dual purpose.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjSH7YNO2jiZEygqVEehKD87_pG9TeBl1JupZvDV6SV9B5Jkw57I0AouTzXCbQECaeRUqXIdDypFMSYDogTpqvgvQcojuG72XjRgGhhiwMzaVbmLeoWJIilMXyheLwQTZH8imegdCHWM9Ur\/s1600\/IMG_9230.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjSH7YNO2jiZEygqVEehKD87_pG9TeBl1JupZvDV6SV9B5Jkw57I0AouTzXCbQECaeRUqXIdDypFMSYDogTpqvgvQcojuG72XjRgGhhiwMzaVbmLeoWJIilMXyheLwQTZH8imegdCHWM9Ur\/s1600\/IMG_9230.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjTwn_L7KwsIgfG4B3O4y-IrHsSqDPKaf51B2C7zTRYXQa_gDEASGRKQsqqa6q1KcmyO25SVzKOZinKiKYy549qRV2Q5wfM6eey0BnTiSJo5j3k4TGuM9IFeW2H3yP3rksp6HeWdoRNPtaM\/s1600\/IMG_0504.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjTwn_L7KwsIgfG4B3O4y-IrHsSqDPKaf51B2C7zTRYXQa_gDEASGRKQsqqa6q1KcmyO25SVzKOZinKiKYy549qRV2Q5wfM6eey0BnTiSJo5j3k4TGuM9IFeW2H3yP3rksp6HeWdoRNPtaM\/s1600\/IMG_0504.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E3. It's Great For Small Vehicles\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAre you sensing a theme here? Not only do Brian and I live in a small city space, but we also drive a small city vehicle - no mini vans or roomy SUVs here! For this reason, it was really important to me that our stroller be able to fold up compact to be able to fit into our small trunk. Not a problem for our \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/uppababy.com\/ca\/vista\/overview\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EUPPAbaby VI\u003C\/a\u003ESTA, which fits into our small car's trunk no problem. What's more is that because the frame is so compact and light, all 5'2 of me has no problems getting it in-and-out of the car on my own.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAnother cool feature is how easily all of the UPPAbaby products work together. For example, we also use the UPPAbaby MESA infant car seat in our vehicle and it clips into the frame of our VISTA easily - without having to use a car seat adapter. I feel like a have a whole new stroller when I use this set up with the MESA car seat, a compact travel system that makes traveling with Benny so much easier. Truth be told, taking Benny in the car with me was one of by biggest anxieties and I credit how easy the UPPAbaby VISTA frame and MESA car seat are to being able to concur that fear.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi9kcqZyi4WCZo-MVEVEQPGUqo3jC2wxz6PhL-DUSZidB39BnJ5PpGqk0u_J8Afz5i3hcktkH-8BmdnwhlLjRoEgB8IBqrA9eYJBYR2U2GtNRDMuUwysLi3pYhcZc9BrDD6GMN4T7vczzwC\/s1600\/DSC_5427.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1069\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi9kcqZyi4WCZo-MVEVEQPGUqo3jC2wxz6PhL-DUSZidB39BnJ5PpGqk0u_J8Afz5i3hcktkH-8BmdnwhlLjRoEgB8IBqrA9eYJBYR2U2GtNRDMuUwysLi3pYhcZc9BrDD6GMN4T7vczzwC\/s1600\/DSC_5427.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\n4. It Grows With Your Family\u003C\/h2\u003E\nOn of the biggest reasons that Brian and I decided to go with the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/uppababy.com\/ca\/vista\/overview\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EUPPAbab\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/uppababy.com\/ca\/vista\/overview\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ey VISTA\u003C\/a\u003E was for how easily the stroller would grow with Benny. Currently we're using either the Bassinet or the UPPAbaby MESA infant car seat, but once Benny starts to grow over twenty pounds, we'll switch seamlessly to the Toddler Seat which can be positioned both front and rear facing as well as reclined. The fact that we know the UPPAbaby VISTA will be able to last our family through the entire stroller stage is amazing and is totally in-line with our 'buy once, use forever' philosophy.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAnother reason we ultimately landed on the UPPAbaby VISTA was for the fact that, should we decide to have another child, the stroller converts easily into a double - even three, if you attach a piggyback ride along board!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhEfFfUFHZebs2OtASpV-3o1DC3aKe15i0XYiFaUsuF4ExndRoY46ybWZ-MAnrt3__n-Kh4hAqbSwOJLd3CvmIPlHY6tDVu0QulpT-HaaV6GVepmgNoiU0wqn-uGJHgqMi817r6CFBdkdu0\/s1600\/DSC_5400.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhEfFfUFHZebs2OtASpV-3o1DC3aKe15i0XYiFaUsuF4ExndRoY46ybWZ-MAnrt3__n-Kh4hAqbSwOJLd3CvmIPlHY6tDVu0QulpT-HaaV6GVepmgNoiU0wqn-uGJHgqMi817r6CFBdkdu0\/s1600\/DSC_5400.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\n5. It's Gorgeous While Still Being Practical\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLook, I'll be honest - aesthetics are important to me. If I like the way something looks, it makes me very excited to use it. The same applies to the\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/uppababy.com\/ca\/vista\/overview\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E UPPAbaby VISTA\u003C\/a\u003E. I mean, look at it - it's gorgeous! I myself chose the BRYCE, a beautiful whitish-grey colour, but had a hard time landing on a colour because I loved so many of the choices. There's also so many\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/uppababy.com\/ca\/vista\/accessories\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E different accessories\u003C\/a\u003E to customize your VISTA, from cup holders, handlebar organizers, snack trays and so much more!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAesthetics aside, we're dealing with a stroller for babies and kids here - and babies and kids are messy. Because we use our VISTA multiple times a day, and Benny sleeps overnight in the Bassinet, things get messy. Poo explosions, pee explosions.. all of the explosions, we've dealt with and appreciate how everything with the UPPAbaby VISTA can be taken apart and washed. Make sure to read the directions on the label.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIf you're like us and find that you're agonizing over making the right choice for your baby's stroller, I cannot recommend the UPPAbaby VISTA enough. I'm so glad that we made the choice and I'm excited to see where our Vista takes us.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? How important was your stroller when becoming a new parent? Have you ever tried the UPPAbaby VISTA? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThank you so much UPPAbaby for partnering with me for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.\u003C\/i\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/3850889554476747222\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/10\/5-reasons-to-invest-in-uppababy-vista.html#comment-form","title":"4 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3850889554476747222"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3850889554476747222"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/10\/5-reasons-to-invest-in-uppababy-vista.html","title":"5 Reasons To Invest In An UPPAbaby VISTA"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgMpIuiFF0KBXOQJqroY9W6ow4B6jNeI6zabZmdKHariYOP71n0yj7HX4ALULhfs9vOfRPjmp_Mh-ZDdxr_mW-Se6b9XqhFMiRDS3KxWLCuiqPovHpyBhZLXYBXLYcyFc112frY_8S2wO5K\/s72-c\/image.JPEG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"4"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-6593732372887937966"},"published":{"$t":"2019-10-09T07:44:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-10-09T07:44:09.014-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Bathtime with JOHNSON’S® CottonTouch™"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhl5GDE30IveaWXrf_izc7eAjezQ3ZBuaMvXHbRx_bUljEcvM8O4COw9GVPq__gtVi4Zn9NQjbNAvyPmPEBBV2rf0OQ4htGNM9O6tELq_s2Vch8FScKXU6TO9iubNr5_72mbVUHVm5iNoyD\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_Joelle-190829-+7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhl5GDE30IveaWXrf_izc7eAjezQ3ZBuaMvXHbRx_bUljEcvM8O4COw9GVPq__gtVi4Zn9NQjbNAvyPmPEBBV2rf0OQ4htGNM9O6tELq_s2Vch8FScKXU6TO9iubNr5_72mbVUHVm5iNoyD\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_Joelle-190829-+7.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThank you JOHNSON’S® for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions are\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Ci\u003E100% my own.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSince finding out that I was pregnant, one of the things that I was most looking forward to about motherhood and spending time with our new baby is bath time. Growing up, I loved bath time.My parents always made it so fun for my brothers and I, and I truly believe that this is what cultivated our love for being in the water. Even now as adults, you can usually find my entire family swimming or floating in the lake at our cottage. Knowing this, I really wanted to make bath time special for Benny from the very beginning; so much so, that I packed my favourite bath time products, JOHNSON’S® CottonTouch™,in my hospital bag with me so we could start on the right foot.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFrom the very beginning, I knew that we would be using JOHNSON’S® products on our baby's delicate newborn skin. My parents had used JOHNSON’S® products on me, so aside from trusting the brand, it's also fun to see them get nostalgic themselves when we pull out the products. In fact, JOHNSON’S® has been trusted worldwide for over 125 years! Aside from having my parent's seal of approval, I like that all JOHNSON’S® products are designed to be close to baby’s natural skin pH and hair pH, so they help to avoid disrupting the skin barrier. JOHNSON’S® products use 50% fewer ingredients and are free from parabens, phthalates, sulfates or dyes and are made with 96% naturally-derived ingredients.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhsTvlcdW7v3pRTk_HfQs-qmMUBFaukM-kRseduRRnrSbjBff-a6xOhMflEcO4epvJRg234yzoqDvMdsN-lU7NpVOQYrOfEuNBpXjnfZWjkDIGt8v33Q6SExu2ZpbXWwpGTp8blT7sfoUfk\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_Joelle-190829-+4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhsTvlcdW7v3pRTk_HfQs-qmMUBFaukM-kRseduRRnrSbjBff-a6xOhMflEcO4epvJRg234yzoqDvMdsN-lU7NpVOQYrOfEuNBpXjnfZWjkDIGt8v33Q6SExu2ZpbXWwpGTp8blT7sfoUfk\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_Joelle-190829-+4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFor bath time, Brian and I are using the CottonTouch ™ Newborn Wash \u0026amp; Shampoo. I love how easy the product is to use, especially since time is of the essence when bathing a newborn. An easy lather, and washes off quickly and easily with no residue. What gets me most about the product is the smell; it seriously smells so good and I can't help but sniff little Benny's hair all day after a bath. Call me a nut, but it makes me relieved to know that I'll always have the scent of the CottonTouch™ Newborn Wash \u0026amp; Shampoo to bring me back to these precious newborn days.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjxVVqiKdT-avLBYVaSyP7UfhhJbzyyCrME64nVq_iPxDVike_POWedHyCS19CuEaRlgC25LG39u8UIpkEXXrJP1_DVbwmyZLetcY0hFdsZV052UXeYa7Ud7w9d1wHn2e1Aw9lYVWWXZx1w\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_Joelle-190829-+8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjxVVqiKdT-avLBYVaSyP7UfhhJbzyyCrME64nVq_iPxDVike_POWedHyCS19CuEaRlgC25LG39u8UIpkEXXrJP1_DVbwmyZLetcY0hFdsZV052UXeYa7Ud7w9d1wHn2e1Aw9lYVWWXZx1w\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_Joelle-190829-+8.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh0pjvGseOJ1hyWzje3lc1HJPqrcaNoZbp45zI2rPQa3UPDKdHebnViyZStPC3DF5yqa9S9gkkaL7k9ssE4yvSxkZsFFJ6hWN3YtadUzbdkITgVplk_HVa1LYT-Fciu70dt6TS5-5AWk1i3\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_Joelle-190829-+11.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh0pjvGseOJ1hyWzje3lc1HJPqrcaNoZbp45zI2rPQa3UPDKdHebnViyZStPC3DF5yqa9S9gkkaL7k9ssE4yvSxkZsFFJ6hWN3YtadUzbdkITgVplk_HVa1LYT-Fciu70dt6TS5-5AWk1i3\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_Joelle-190829-+11.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nCottonTouch™ Newborn Face \u0026amp; Body Lotion is what we follow up with after the bath to keep Benny nice and moisturized for up to 24 hours. This is such a beautiful part of bath time, as I love bonding with Benny with a gentle newborn massage, and seeing him look up to me in his tiny newborn towel after the bath. He's so calm during this process and it's honestly such a touching moment that I'll remember forever.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgHGfCN0MZIMIZPkjlVwPbA2PSIaJERYtAnIvMV-dDMomlwwB-2n8dIH99wGP0mmsDOZKhEZXxh8b8HvEIsO08JP_FmXAfy-3sKhJoBx7ynXx5oe8mshFiIxjESsYushSBRhaHZ0CSwWgId\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_Joelle-190829-+13.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgHGfCN0MZIMIZPkjlVwPbA2PSIaJERYtAnIvMV-dDMomlwwB-2n8dIH99wGP0mmsDOZKhEZXxh8b8HvEIsO08JP_FmXAfy-3sKhJoBx7ynXx5oe8mshFiIxjESsYushSBRhaHZ0CSwWgId\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_Joelle-190829-+13.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAREgDRlXjNW9D2IDp5-Jh8vokd8_ENR_BWIvTalLi2QG8jbl9uJULROMwltbeClRI4RNS-D8G-igz22c6UAFdAAZGUE9U3jwGl65jLr9lkxBw7BQNYmpho9CBAPzX1QYCY_smpDdqOWUg\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_Joelle-190829-+14.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAREgDRlXjNW9D2IDp5-Jh8vokd8_ENR_BWIvTalLi2QG8jbl9uJULROMwltbeClRI4RNS-D8G-igz22c6UAFdAAZGUE9U3jwGl65jLr9lkxBw7BQNYmpho9CBAPzX1QYCY_smpDdqOWUg\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_Joelle-190829-+14.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj34KX3eOUq1ma4_Z9CwOiqFVWuRYyqrfcTtqTqGjM9BGrhQ5ZPlIs-vQva5TcAL0iVI2_t6rwN_8EawoQaXmosCsE1cWlfftvEXNGk-dqEEy12DTGjM2tMXCWRZQeC4qthWdJU-vLzV-yc\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_Joelle-190829-+17.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj34KX3eOUq1ma4_Z9CwOiqFVWuRYyqrfcTtqTqGjM9BGrhQ5ZPlIs-vQva5TcAL0iVI2_t6rwN_8EawoQaXmosCsE1cWlfftvEXNGk-dqEEy12DTGjM2tMXCWRZQeC4qthWdJU-vLzV-yc\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_Joelle-190829-+17.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI'll admit, the first bath experience with baby Benny was not the picture-perfect moment that I had imagined. Since then, Brian and I have mastered our technique and\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nbath time has become one of my favourite parts of the day. I'm so happy that we chose JOHNSON’S® CottonTouch™ bath products to help us out with bonding with Benny and keeping him fresh.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Was bath time a great memory for you too? Have you tried JOHNSON’S® products? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/6593732372887937966\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/10\/bathtime-with-johnsons-cottontouch.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/6593732372887937966"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/6593732372887937966"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/10\/bathtime-with-johnsons-cottontouch.html","title":"Bathtime with JOHNSON’S® CottonTouch™"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhl5GDE30IveaWXrf_izc7eAjezQ3ZBuaMvXHbRx_bUljEcvM8O4COw9GVPq__gtVi4Zn9NQjbNAvyPmPEBBV2rf0OQ4htGNM9O6tELq_s2Vch8FScKXU6TO9iubNr5_72mbVUHVm5iNoyD\/s72-c\/vaiyulaw_Joelle-190829-+7.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-5782305934674662566"},"published":{"$t":"2019-09-30T08:36:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-09-30T08:36:33.424-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"I'll Always Remember Us This Way"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgoElWwVODKtD-kwmpoLUmcuUMMcrk8LuXoIfNMXTz_TedY-LfDeJcUVFFDIVRO-HNZWJaxOaqmXvhW3vVCbl01eYildSJ6OiJG4VBzjhjB0TSxqXVEcL0a097wck0Fm5DUv5nuei8U3nWz\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-07-09-19-55.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgoElWwVODKtD-kwmpoLUmcuUMMcrk8LuXoIfNMXTz_TedY-LfDeJcUVFFDIVRO-HNZWJaxOaqmXvhW3vVCbl01eYildSJ6OiJG4VBzjhjB0TSxqXVEcL0a097wck0Fm5DUv5nuei8U3nWz\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-07-09-19-55.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIt's been nearly two months since we welcomed our little potato Benny into our lives. So strange - on one hand, it feels like he's been here forever and on the other hand I can't believe how quickly two months has flown by.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWe've made it out of the newborn fog, survived the cluster feedings and are now in something that vaguely resembles a routine. Of course, there are challenges on the other side of that initial newborn stage. Brian returned back to work only to enter one of his busiest times; this means working overtime, weekends and work-related travel. Myself, as a self-employed freelancer with no maternity leave, I've been trying to juggle being there for Benny while maintaining my business and accepting and fulfilling contracts - something that's really important to me. It's been difficult trying to manage a balance, but we're getting through; largely with the support of our family, which has been key.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nEven with all of the challenges that come along with bringing a baby into a very busy life, I can't express how much I've been enjoying this time. Having and raising Benny has taught me so much already - and it's only been two months! I want to sit down and update you with a proper post of how having a child has changed me, but that will come later in the week. For now, I just wanted to share these precious moments captured on-camera by \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lauraclarkephotos.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELaura Clarke\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThrough all of the chaos, and how quickly life moves, I always want to remember us this way.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjOgpZURLHJwoPHJCRAXhkfm3c6MGKAdfH1akjXXyltlmogTGIhESE_M06sOjgRk5cl7mMiW5iN_c5NmBXOFTwXyxUwLwUGneK1F0G22O9nDnqx6SJ2VpeVqeGCM0yckWzHcfmpUVtbXWmd\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-07-09-19-11.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjOgpZURLHJwoPHJCRAXhkfm3c6MGKAdfH1akjXXyltlmogTGIhESE_M06sOjgRk5cl7mMiW5iN_c5NmBXOFTwXyxUwLwUGneK1F0G22O9nDnqx6SJ2VpeVqeGCM0yckWzHcfmpUVtbXWmd\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-07-09-19-11.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjCvTQLeMygwg81kaK36Eel3QjfCp8UNiUt352W7AQEXxfSc7bMysUoDLhqIl-Z6MOf01o6Po8y8xUyE9vx211Y03k7o6OtQMCECn8VXa21K6dFoAycsFzyHB_rXxlBDhkHzSYkkGo_mbLI\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-07-09-19-69.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjCvTQLeMygwg81kaK36Eel3QjfCp8UNiUt352W7AQEXxfSc7bMysUoDLhqIl-Z6MOf01o6Po8y8xUyE9vx211Y03k7o6OtQMCECn8VXa21K6dFoAycsFzyHB_rXxlBDhkHzSYkkGo_mbLI\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-07-09-19-69.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi0JAKHakZo7G0qFEIwEry8FuC9gBj2AZbNc2xVr2LS40sufAeW2aKo5riF50-gDCWZdXkpUyIfbp1vKaQeHAowGRvOW9ZJmebXBcobO_ZHcBfPLMDE0Y41PgnksaBMrYR2DbhqNVPqT4g7\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-07-09-19-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi0JAKHakZo7G0qFEIwEry8FuC9gBj2AZbNc2xVr2LS40sufAeW2aKo5riF50-gDCWZdXkpUyIfbp1vKaQeHAowGRvOW9ZJmebXBcobO_ZHcBfPLMDE0Y41PgnksaBMrYR2DbhqNVPqT4g7\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-07-09-19-1.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgEZZcqnL8kaJ7DvyABe-M8nzLxga77CvSgaXSpRPVOiDGS-ei1O0vqMrD-bAVcwcjXK17NTrKC8TMcIePSM11wIWc-auyxXbhy4U7ELq2xjNg2EaPj5TY3YDtzoy8CqbFJjt9wFKlwFHMT\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-07-09-19-93.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgEZZcqnL8kaJ7DvyABe-M8nzLxga77CvSgaXSpRPVOiDGS-ei1O0vqMrD-bAVcwcjXK17NTrKC8TMcIePSM11wIWc-auyxXbhy4U7ELq2xjNg2EaPj5TY3YDtzoy8CqbFJjt9wFKlwFHMT\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-07-09-19-93.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiSnX4zyVB7QNaDYaos3_A6WFlQhUy1jHImpDMcRPIJ-QOyB9TFboS379LbLxFr56mLaunJhi3yiIHm5UvYBWuhoPQiJTX-65koHAumwy9reded5d-UxiwUmay2yXATpQGalQ04GKjQg6WC\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-07-09-19-100.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiSnX4zyVB7QNaDYaos3_A6WFlQhUy1jHImpDMcRPIJ-QOyB9TFboS379LbLxFr56mLaunJhi3yiIHm5UvYBWuhoPQiJTX-65koHAumwy9reded5d-UxiwUmay2yXATpQGalQ04GKjQg6WC\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-07-09-19-100.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjfoK1qVaGFEeDjPYU23yTNanBXaM4y_wh5U1xPiYo4bSzgCNCIQoCy_L9sD_s4oMT6sAmJ-23fUQlGDfD16YbO_Db7Dz0aSCl9h-iU8Hw9FuCSwm5njUDBOdr70H4GMrcB5TwIl5ozCMUH\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-07-09-19-32.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjfoK1qVaGFEeDjPYU23yTNanBXaM4y_wh5U1xPiYo4bSzgCNCIQoCy_L9sD_s4oMT6sAmJ-23fUQlGDfD16YbO_Db7Dz0aSCl9h-iU8Hw9FuCSwm5njUDBOdr70H4GMrcB5TwIl5ozCMUH\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-07-09-19-32.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/5782305934674662566\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/09\/ill-always-remember-us-this-way.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/5782305934674662566"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/5782305934674662566"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/09\/ill-always-remember-us-this-way.html","title":"I'll Always Remember Us This Way"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgoElWwVODKtD-kwmpoLUmcuUMMcrk8LuXoIfNMXTz_TedY-LfDeJcUVFFDIVRO-HNZWJaxOaqmXvhW3vVCbl01eYildSJ6OiJG4VBzjhjB0TSxqXVEcL0a097wck0Fm5DUv5nuei8U3nWz\/s72-c\/LaPetiteNoob-07-09-19-55.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-4627226143509357961"},"published":{"$t":"2019-08-29T10:33:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-08-29T10:33:23.889-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Motherhood"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"4 Weeks Postpartum - Checking In"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgPm86opGpZgLznaJHmDIxC_L1mWP7mY-SOkRUqXKwGFrD2V-ilz-Bao83yOQdLlkAzy7o9ChV6r83sLOUytakqWtXGiPl91VtaplINmn6yOfLTM0YbyM_FbsUuVTz5g79B30qlOFisab0n\/s1600\/8B632554-3FE1-4465-95B1-41DFBEFA9815.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgPm86opGpZgLznaJHmDIxC_L1mWP7mY-SOkRUqXKwGFrD2V-ilz-Bao83yOQdLlkAzy7o9ChV6r83sLOUytakqWtXGiPl91VtaplINmn6yOfLTM0YbyM_FbsUuVTz5g79B30qlOFisab0n\/s1600\/8B632554-3FE1-4465-95B1-41DFBEFA9815.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nYesterday officially marked four full weeks of welcoming baby Benny into our lives. Four of the shortest weeks, and also the longest at the same time. It's so strange to think back to a time when he wasn't in our lives, or being pregnant - any of that! It sounds cliché, but life before Benny was beautiful in its own way, but since he's arrived its become more of a distant memory and our new reality with a new member of the family has me feeling excited for the future.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI really want to make sure not to forget and neglect my blog along the way. Having a new baby has a way of changing everything, but I still feel like the same 'me' as before and I want to honour what is important to myself and my identity. This blog has been such a blessing in my life, and I look forward to seeing how my content evolves as I grow into different life stages.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThat being said, as important as La Petite Noob has been to me, finding time to sit down and update the blog has proven to be very difficult. It's not that I don't have the time - Benny is such an incredible baby with a chill little attitude so I do have some time to myself throughout the day. It's my concentration that's the problem. Writing, which once came so easily to me, is now such a struggle. On the flip side, editing video is proving to be easier than ever. So funny how everything shifts with a new baby, even your working habits!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOn the topic of shifts and changes, I thought that I would sit down and force myself to get back into writing - starting with a general life check-in and update since having Benny four weeks ago.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhKYoeb-jxMVTyEifSz7_KCPJgfPGAodzN5BiZSHR6bxMZ3CZ4VebFkjFVVBZMyKQYtuLbwnHy3ejd_yNF7Ko3mfadn8SLjd5klmvRkBnxtXqUyOZh6ZVdlRoiVQ5Yuqsy-hh5O-rQBZqtr\/s1600\/BennyJoellie-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhKYoeb-jxMVTyEifSz7_KCPJgfPGAodzN5BiZSHR6bxMZ3CZ4VebFkjFVVBZMyKQYtuLbwnHy3ejd_yNF7Ko3mfadn8SLjd5klmvRkBnxtXqUyOZh6ZVdlRoiVQ5Yuqsy-hh5O-rQBZqtr\/s1600\/BennyJoellie-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nHow I'm Feeling Physically\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI'm happy to report that 4 weeks postpartum after my c-section, I'm feeling pretty great! My incision is healing nicely, I no longer wince when I have to get out of bed and the majority of my swelling has gone down. The first few days though? Brutal! Thankfully I seemed to turn a corner at day 5 and it's been slowly getting better ever since.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThe one thing that's still a little strange to get used to is how soft my stomach is now - like there's literally no muscle, and it still feels kind of \u003Ci\u003Eempty \u003C\/i\u003E(I've read that this is a common feeling after a C section.) I'm honestly really looking forward to being able to work out again in a few more weeks so that I can build my strength back up.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nHow I'm Feeling Mentally\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI'm so, \u003Ci\u003Eso\u003C\/i\u003E happy to report that my moods and headspace have seemed to normalize after dealing with some pretty heavy prenatal anxiety. I was so afraid for postpartum depression, but I feel as though a load has been taken off my shoulders since having Benny. You guys, I was experiencing some \u003Ci\u003Edark \u003C\/i\u003Efeelings in pregnancy - it was pretty bad. I'm so relieved to be feeling more like myself, albeit with a lot less sleep now, haha.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjOp36wdG9v8DNnu5jGIRxtKw-lRxpEvIBQ7WkF3824iTaeClaDmBawe1_IR7-HSTar6ZZ-ZJEGEimYQAAgvOTaqYC_VGbBiAyfrLuYl4xum8MAOcdpLl4048GFpeeBzdAsnJHNftPdCpm9\/s1600\/4C77CAD9-F2A9-4C9F-8D6E-497A54BA9530.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1281\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjOp36wdG9v8DNnu5jGIRxtKw-lRxpEvIBQ7WkF3824iTaeClaDmBawe1_IR7-HSTar6ZZ-ZJEGEimYQAAgvOTaqYC_VGbBiAyfrLuYl4xum8MAOcdpLl4048GFpeeBzdAsnJHNftPdCpm9\/s1600\/4C77CAD9-F2A9-4C9F-8D6E-497A54BA9530.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nHow We're Adjusting To A New Baby\u003C\/h3\u003E\nI have to say, I'm really proud of the way that Brian and I have adjusted to having a new baby in the house. We're both older, so I worried that we would be too set in our ways and that having a huge life change thrown at us would lead to some tension. Of course it hasn't been all easy, but for the majority of the time we've been working as a team and developing a new routine to include baby Benny. In hindsight, I'm glad that we waited until we both felt like we were ready to have kids because I don't think the transition would have gone as smoothly even 3 years ago. Coupled with lots of help from friends and family, and we've been great.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nStruggles\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOf course, it's not all baby cuddles over here. There are a few things that I've been struggling with. The one biggest thing that has been harder than I anticipated is breastfeeding.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNow, it wasn't without warning; plenty of people warned me that breastfeeding would be hard. I just interpreted it wrong - I thought they meant that it would hurt. Turns out, it's not the physical pain thats the hardest part. For me, the challenge with breastfeeding has been developing a routine that seems to change by the hour, all while worrying if your child is getting enough to eat. There were a few days there where it felt as though I was breastfeeding every few minutes of the \u003Ci\u003Eentire day\u003C\/i\u003E, and Benny never seemed to be satisfied. With the help of a breast pump, and also just time, it seems to have gotten better but there is still the occasional hard day where everything changes all over again.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAnother struggle that I'm embarrassed to admit, but want to address, is my relationship with my body. I'm really having a hard time getting used to the extra weight, the soft stomach and the feeling of weak muscles. In hindsight, I should have known that this would happen. While pregnant, whenever I imagined myself with baby, I saw my old self with my old body right away. Totally unrealistic I know, and it's resulted in having a hard time celebrating my postpartum body. All of my old clothes don't fit, and I feel as though I have to change my entire wardrobe again to accommodate my new weight and for breastfeeding. I'm really hoping that being cleared to workout by my doctor at six weeks will make things better and will put me in a better headspace.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEidfedWwJDhhq5ZvTcCevpdchrc8fHTT_BVKbsiAZfvPgw7CgKYSowEX0GqmeYWWBHZOMzH2GfG_Y7My-MPSt1CvbO9J2omO7gReXxIAqfRIVJxOZ6zsuD1qTGCXvn8cPUhNMCDd35g8Y2D\/s1600\/dineen-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEidfedWwJDhhq5ZvTcCevpdchrc8fHTT_BVKbsiAZfvPgw7CgKYSowEX0GqmeYWWBHZOMzH2GfG_Y7My-MPSt1CvbO9J2omO7gReXxIAqfRIVJxOZ6zsuD1qTGCXvn8cPUhNMCDd35g8Y2D\/s1600\/dineen-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThat's it for me! Let me know how the first few weeks of bringing baby home went for you! What were your struggles? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/4627226143509357961\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/08\/4-weeks-postpartum-checking-in.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/4627226143509357961"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/4627226143509357961"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/08\/4-weeks-postpartum-checking-in.html","title":"4 Weeks Postpartum - Checking In"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgPm86opGpZgLznaJHmDIxC_L1mWP7mY-SOkRUqXKwGFrD2V-ilz-Bao83yOQdLlkAzy7o9ChV6r83sLOUytakqWtXGiPl91VtaplINmn6yOfLTM0YbyM_FbsUuVTz5g79B30qlOFisab0n\/s72-c\/8B632554-3FE1-4465-95B1-41DFBEFA9815.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-7849706956832639171"},"published":{"$t":"2019-08-12T12:23:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-08-12T20:42:29.582-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Pregnancy"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"What I Actually Used In My Hospital Bag"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiG2C9QjqTtkk7Fav7w4rw6w9F-rOMCa3WR4OlkfQ6xcGIkqifiKhXRIFlx1WmkdWvfQMQUU7akMJWY_BFfV0JOBAML5kQRSOPtOOFGiJw4pcSH4SVM4LNMI5jNkuCDGbIW5lgAhaDw-dGt\/s1600\/IMG_3369.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiG2C9QjqTtkk7Fav7w4rw6w9F-rOMCa3WR4OlkfQ6xcGIkqifiKhXRIFlx1WmkdWvfQMQUU7akMJWY_BFfV0JOBAML5kQRSOPtOOFGiJw4pcSH4SVM4LNMI5jNkuCDGbIW5lgAhaDw-dGt\/s1600\/IMG_3369.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFor those of you who don't follow me on Instagram, you'll have missed that we recently welcomed our beautiful baby boy Benjamin into the world! After a scheduled turned emergency C-Section, followed by a three day hospital stay, both Brian and I (and little Benny) are all very happy to be home.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI had actually filmed a video prior to giving birth all about what I was planning on taking with me to the hospital, for both myself and baby. You guys know that I'm a light packer for all of my trips, and packing for the hospital was no exception to this - I really tried to only bring necessities as too much stuff always makes me anxious. Even with this in mind, there were still a few things that I probably didn't need to take with me, and also a few things that I under estimated just how important they would be.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/UWesPmtQOM8\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UWesPmtQOM8?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNow that we're good week out from our hospital stay, giving birth to baby Benjamin and the recovery process after, I'm excited to share with you everything that I brought with me in my hospital bag and if each item was a good decision or not.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMy Own Pillow from Home: YES\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\nBringing your own pillow from home is a total game changer the it comes to a comfortable hospital stay. I used the pillow for extra support when sleeping with my incision, and as a make-shift nursing pillow when trying to get into a groove a breast feeding baby. Brian had also brought along his own pillow, blanket and sheets for staying over with us in the hospital. Whatever you can bring from home to make sleeping at the hospital, which is a feat within itself, more comfortable - do it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ETwo Litre Watter Bottle: YES\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNot only are you incredibly thirsty after giving birth, but you also need to keep hydrated afterwards to help with your recovery as well as breast feeding. Because I did not want to rely on guests and nurses to help me refill my water, and I was in no position to get up and get it on my own, I'm so happy to have had my humongous two-litre water bottle with me.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EPhone and Ear Pods: YES\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nCan we really do anything without our phones these days? Between photos, to messages, to using it as a make-shift TV to watch Netflix while late-night feeding, the phone is a game-changer. Ear pods came in handy when it was Brian's turn to sleep (we worked in shifts) and I wanted to watch a show while up nursing without disturbing him.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EWallet + Lip Balm: YES \u0026amp; YES\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhile I certainly wasn't doing much online shopping in the hospital, I needed my wallet for my ID and health card. And lip balm in the dry hospital is a game-changer.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ECloth Bag for Laundry: YES\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI'm no germaphobe, but there's something about the hospital that gives me all the germy vibes. I stuck everything that wore into that bag and threw it all onto the wash (along with all sheets and blankets) the second we got home.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EIndoor Slippers: YES (with modification)\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI definitely was happy to have a pair of slippers to use from home for walking around, although in hindsight I should have packed disposable slippers to just discard after use (those germs again.)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EBelly Binder: NO\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI had originally packed my belly binder to help with my incision and to also guide my uterus to shrink, however my abdomen was way too tender in the hospital to even consider using it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EToiletries: YES (with modification)\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI was so happy to have my toothbrush, toothpaste and face wash with me during my hospital stay, but because I kept my bandages on until I was discharged, I didn't need any of the shower toiletries. I'll tell you, that first shower at home felt\u003Ci\u003E amazing\u003C\/i\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EAdult Diapers, Menstrual Pads and Nipple Cream: NO\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLuckily the hospital provided me with more than enough supplies to manage my bleeding during my stay. Although I probably should have used the nipple cream while I was beginning to nurse in the hospital, my priority and attention was all focused on making sure Benny got adequate nutrition so I didn't even think about it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EUnderwear: NO\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI used and abused the high-waisted mesh underwear that they give you in the hospital. They are truly the best undergarments for healing post-birth.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESleep shirt, Robe, Nursing Bra, Eye Mask: YES TO ALL\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAlthough if I had it my way I would have been topless the entire hospital stay, we did have quite a few visitors so wearing PJs was definitely necessary. I was so happy to have my sleep shirt, robe and nursing bra to feel a bit more human when we had our family visiting, and the sleep mask was a huge game changer when it was my turn to get a bit of sleep in the hospital.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EMakeup: YES\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nCall it vanity, I don't care - my second day in the hospital when we had the bulk of our visitors, I was very happy to be able to put on even the tiniest amount of makeup to feel more like myself.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ECamera: NO\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWe were able to capture tons of beautiful photos and videos between all of our phones. The quality of phone equipment is really spectacular and it makes it so much easier to capture memories when you don't have to use a bulky camera.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EDiapers, Wipes, Diaper Cream: YES\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLikely because we had a private room and really didn't need any urgent assistance, we found that the nurses pretty much left us alone. This was great for getting some rest, but not ideal when you needed your change table re-stocked with diapers, wipes and diaper cream. I'm so happy that I brought along my own, and in hindsight I probably should have brought even more diapers (maybe 10) because we used every single one that I had packed.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EBath Supplies: NO\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI really wanted to give little Benny a bath in the hospital, with the nurses present to help guide us. Unfortunately due to how busy the nurses were, and again with the private room and very limited checks, this didn't happen. That's okay, we all figured it out with his first bath at home!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ESwaddle + Outfit: YES\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhile Benny was in the hospital, we mostly used their swaddles and kimonos but it was nice to dress him up and use our own for going home.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjqD2hMcP51op-XZo3rCkclO2hq62whiWTP5D_oR2V0U57w9M4RcXPGrwSrx7dUJeGXHOQNpBPba0cvTrpT74n_6vKJ6jHF4N4nYl-YmEdXUfr30vFohj6PS524yhWQxVSxO4tWw53-V1_R\/s1600\/johnson.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjqD2hMcP51op-XZo3rCkclO2hq62whiWTP5D_oR2V0U57w9M4RcXPGrwSrx7dUJeGXHOQNpBPba0cvTrpT74n_6vKJ6jHF4N4nYl-YmEdXUfr30vFohj6PS524yhWQxVSxO4tWw53-V1_R\/s1600\/johnson.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThat's it! Everything that I packed in my hospital bag and if I actually used it or not. Aside from bringing a few more diapers and lots more snacks (although our families had the food situation covered) I'm really pleased with how it all turned out.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Did you over or under pack for your hospital stay while giving birth? What do you wish that you had with you? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/7849706956832639171\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/08\/what-i-actually-used-in-my-hospital-bag.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/7849706956832639171"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/7849706956832639171"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/08\/what-i-actually-used-in-my-hospital-bag.html","title":"What I Actually Used In My Hospital Bag"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiG2C9QjqTtkk7Fav7w4rw6w9F-rOMCa3WR4OlkfQ6xcGIkqifiKhXRIFlx1WmkdWvfQMQUU7akMJWY_BFfV0JOBAML5kQRSOPtOOFGiJw4pcSH4SVM4LNMI5jNkuCDGbIW5lgAhaDw-dGt\/s72-c\/IMG_3369.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-3165505239266754848"},"published":{"$t":"2019-07-25T09:46:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-07-25T10:45:49.156-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Pregnancy"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"My Prenatal Village [In Toronto]"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgdEasnaFLWrSy1bUDR7vjqRmcAl-7TorSpic7ESM30imSGX_nUTSJkedWI0v9-fGCjQYxlkovLlLNrolfqU-Zc9zcQUII4RWgbtn0In1rdSmC1daSX3vNNwkbBls0j69S-AeVR97WcaA_T\/s1600\/1I7A8457.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgdEasnaFLWrSy1bUDR7vjqRmcAl-7TorSpic7ESM30imSGX_nUTSJkedWI0v9-fGCjQYxlkovLlLNrolfqU-Zc9zcQUII4RWgbtn0In1rdSmC1daSX3vNNwkbBls0j69S-AeVR97WcaA_T\/s1600\/1I7A8457.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThey say it takes a village to raise a child; my baby isn't even earth-side yet and I already know that to be true. In fact, I would go so far as to say that it also takes a village to \u003Ci\u003Egrow\u003C\/i\u003E a child.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nMy pregnancy journey is quickly coming to an end, at just shy of 39 weeks pregnant today. With a scheduled C-Section on the horizon, I've been doing a lot of reflecting on the past 9 months and have had time to really think about all of the people that have helped me navigate the start of a new chapter in life. Pregnancy is magical and beautiful, but can also be anxiety-inducing, confusing and, at times, physically painful. It's not all frolicking in wildflowers, as my\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lapetitenoob\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E Instagram feed \u003C\/a\u003Ewould have you believe - haha!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nKnowing the challenges that pregnancy brings along, I'm so grateful to have had so many great individuals behind me helping me along the way: My Prenatal Village. Aside from family and friends who have really stepped up and shown up, there's a few key players and organizations who have truly been a Godsend, and have made all the difference in my enjoyable pregnancy experience. If you're expecting in the Toronto area, I could not recommend them enough.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgdgjZJSUymSz0NjN_2eXugwheEBmf41xkdUHBAgydlG0_9O71vRoP6yrbVCsM337zsLtEvl9EHJompPJ9L2TEkEMNueuUvQ3YC4HamHDC5My4e-ILc2G7559kyTlT38d-PZNWWP9y6I9bv\/s1600\/1I7A8408.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgdgjZJSUymSz0NjN_2eXugwheEBmf41xkdUHBAgydlG0_9O71vRoP6yrbVCsM337zsLtEvl9EHJompPJ9L2TEkEMNueuUvQ3YC4HamHDC5My4e-ILc2G7559kyTlT38d-PZNWWP9y6I9bv\/s1600\/1I7A8408.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nRiverdale Community Midwives\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThere are so many choices to be made when first discovering that you're pregnant. The biggest one, to me, was deciding who I would be trusting my prenatal care to. I knew from even before becoming pregnant that I wanted to explore midwifery. To me it seemed like the best fit, especially knowing myself and the questions and anxieties that would come up. I'm so thankful that I ultimately chose \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.riverdalemidwives.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERiverdale Community Midwives\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nMy primary Midwife, Kathy, is a beautiful soul and \u003Ci\u003Every\u003C\/i\u003E patient. I usually come to my appointments armed with a variety of different questions, and Kathy has always taken the time to answer all of them. What I really have appreciated with Riverdale Community Midwives is that they don't fear monger (something I'm very sensitive to) and really focus on the expectant mother. They also consider all aspects of health, including mental health, which in a medical field is refreshing.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSomething else that appealed to me when considering midwifery in Ontario is the level of care that you receive after baby is earth-side. This includes in-home visits after baby arrives - or in my case, in-hospital at first as I recover from my C-Section. I also appreciate the open communication that midwives allow. We even did our birthing classes through the clinic!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nChoosing a prenatal care provider is such a personal decision, so I would always go with my gut instinct. I'm really pleased that I ultimately chose to go with Riverdale Community Midwives.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh2Bypy1Rn09P5MyD8sAjUFxjaSyAAA1PgLraVrFuKYUReojbOGHVHk97Bn_ls7ghXec9KO9MkSLgAJlH5r6RTLw8EmFlja4zClz0JiibSFBrBrdGtKIvk1AYLoMk6sijqgF4hMYgh3lok_\/s1600\/1I7A8393.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh2Bypy1Rn09P5MyD8sAjUFxjaSyAAA1PgLraVrFuKYUReojbOGHVHk97Bn_ls7ghXec9KO9MkSLgAJlH5r6RTLw8EmFlja4zClz0JiibSFBrBrdGtKIvk1AYLoMk6sijqgF4hMYgh3lok_\/s1600\/1I7A8393.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003EMy Chiropractor\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI've never visited a chiropractor before, never had an adjustment - nothing. Not that I wasn't open to it; it was just one of those things that I never chose to explore.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThat all changed in my early second trimester of pregnancy. I started to experience horrible hip pain, sometimes so bad that I would have difficulty walking. The pain was awful, and after watching fellow pregnant (at the time) blogger Marlie of \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.kaleandcrunches.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKale and Krunches\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;document her visits to her chiropractor, I knew I had to partake.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nEnter \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/draliya.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDr. Aliya Visram\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E - famed chiropractor and acupuncturist who not only introduced me to the amazing world of chiropractic medicine, but also single-handily saved my hips and my sanity. Dr. Visram is specially trained in treating pregnant woman, children and babies so that helped to put my fears at-ease when first going in for an assessment. Most importantly, as a mother herself she's a wonderful resource for navigating pregnancy and motherhood in Toronto and has a great, calming presence to her.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nPeople have been commenting how well I've been handling this pregnancy, and how they're impressed that I'm still able to get out and move around as much as I have been in the last stages - I honesty think it's because of the chiropractic care that I've received from Dr. Aliya Visram. I just had my last adjustment pre-baby, and already can't wait to go back and help my body heal postpartum.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjVzzO-yQp26AmJWYuF4Tyz322lZplsqhc-LQe7dIanFP_xXV4nKK10x6j5qs_21bWqHxeI7dvhhivFnV-g7jZUTAjRTBUbs-eiw7eqNvRxPO2pMWLHU2sW7HA3FpP4dQOBdpVFkMt4RKwH\/s1600\/1I7A8286.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjVzzO-yQp26AmJWYuF4Tyz322lZplsqhc-LQe7dIanFP_xXV4nKK10x6j5qs_21bWqHxeI7dvhhivFnV-g7jZUTAjRTBUbs-eiw7eqNvRxPO2pMWLHU2sW7HA3FpP4dQOBdpVFkMt4RKwH\/s1600\/1I7A8286.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003EToronto Yoga Mamas\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNestled in the east end of Toronto in Leslieville, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.torontoyogamamas.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EToronto Yoga Mamas\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is a literal haven for expectant mothers, as well as moms with new tiny babies and tots. It's basically your go-to place for all things motherhood.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI loved visiting Toronto Yoga Mamas for my weekly prenatal yoga sessions and bar classes. At my best, I was going three times a week and the classes really helped with keeping my mobility in pregnancy, increasing blood flow and easing anxiety. Lately I haven't been going to my regular classes, simply because baby is breech and I don't want to do anything to prevent a natural turn (sometimes a deep squat in yoga can do this.) Let me tell you - by not exercising as regularly, I definitely feel a difference in my body.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAnother huge resource that Toronto Yoga Mamas offers is a variety of different services for expectant and new moms. One of the biggest services that I took advantage of is the prenatal massages. Oh Em Gee. Lisa, my absolute favourite RMT, delivers such an amazing prenatal massage, that I would honestly feel like a whole new preggo. They also offer pelvic floor physiotherapy, which I had every intention of taking advantage of but time just got away from me. Maybe postpartum.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIf you're expecting in the Toronto area, specifically in the east end, I would not recommend \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.torontoyogamamas.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EToronto Yoga Mamas\u003C\/a\u003E enough.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjU5G4U7LIkPRp4K5G1UDjEisODbFzxFwvZK8gDEbS9NhCXfwX2RsvEuffQaXdcq_lV0xGkfBF0d_ZAwgvv3nvNA7wGbYGtluWdrb6maEXpcquFYsQkdDys2GEBwpTuAEMODu_DzZCTkpBm\/s1600\/1I7A8319.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjU5G4U7LIkPRp4K5G1UDjEisODbFzxFwvZK8gDEbS9NhCXfwX2RsvEuffQaXdcq_lV0xGkfBF0d_ZAwgvv3nvNA7wGbYGtluWdrb6maEXpcquFYsQkdDys2GEBwpTuAEMODu_DzZCTkpBm\/s1600\/1I7A8319.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI hope that this little list helps anyone who's currently pregnant in Toronto, or will be expecting soon! Creating and cultivating a strong prenatal village has really helped me to enjoy my pregnancy to the fullest, and I wish the same for every expectant mama in the city.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nPhotos by the lovely and talented \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.erynsheaphotography.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EEryn Shea Photography\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/3165505239266754848\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/07\/my-prenatal-village-in-toronto.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3165505239266754848"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3165505239266754848"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/07\/my-prenatal-village-in-toronto.html","title":"My Prenatal Village [In Toronto]"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgdEasnaFLWrSy1bUDR7vjqRmcAl-7TorSpic7ESM30imSGX_nUTSJkedWI0v9-fGCjQYxlkovLlLNrolfqU-Zc9zcQUII4RWgbtn0In1rdSmC1daSX3vNNwkbBls0j69S-AeVR97WcaA_T\/s72-c\/1I7A8457.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-9218074222183325450"},"published":{"$t":"2019-07-20T08:53:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-07-20T08:53:48.797-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Beauty"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Hair"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"My Hair Care Routine with Pantene "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgoCBERFEM0e0NQjkb1is8aO-5pF7AXQ6J_FYm4jmlEWXdn0BOlVM4OgwNV02gytZSQk2qRSBjqGVxq1AsccCgKGyDPMyMokH3kVcn9nOQDifBaCtpxxLxVYWVt5IJ__ec5oxjUtOAnbyhA\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_petitenoob-16.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgoCBERFEM0e0NQjkb1is8aO-5pF7AXQ6J_FYm4jmlEWXdn0BOlVM4OgwNV02gytZSQk2qRSBjqGVxq1AsccCgKGyDPMyMokH3kVcn9nOQDifBaCtpxxLxVYWVt5IJ__ec5oxjUtOAnbyhA\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_petitenoob-16.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThis post was created in partnership with Pantene. All thoughts, experiences and opinions are 100% my own.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\nEveryone told me when I became pregnant that this would be a time when I would experience the best hair of my life.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003E\nWell, I waited. And waited. As I entered my third trimester with a head of hair that was even dryer than it originally started with pre-pregnancy, as well as more dull and lifeless than ever before, it was time to throw in the towel and take matters into my own hands. Pregnancy hormones didn't magically transform my hair to be healthier as it does with other women, so I needed to rely on products that would help to rehydrate my locks Enter\u003Cb\u003E the new\u003C\/b\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/pantene.ca\/en-ca\/sulfate-free-rosewater-collection\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPantene Sulfate Free Rose Water Collection\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\nLet's talk rose water: as someone with sensitive skin, I'm very familiar with rose water for its calming and hydrating properties in skincare, but I love that I can now use the ingredient in my haircare for the same reasons. \u0026nbsp;And because the formula is high in vitamins, antioxidants and nutrients, it's been really effective in giving my super-dry hair the boost that it needs. Also, I love the Pantene Rose Water Collection is for what's not in the ingredients list. It’s sulfate-free, paraben-free, dye-free and mineral oil free. And don't think that just because the formula is free of all of those ingredients that you have to sacrifice on lather – I was pleasantly surprised by the rich lather and amazing shower experience. A huge win all around!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgEjrZzPBWAQVMqkqmB7yOaThDM7XeDnPHOIEvmnR3m1CYgrLz4a9FFF4jURcNWg0TZE_z_8NQfJadxgJFyqAxTalM9HY5OKXcfemO6PBGQRveINP4dxZjfhiSa-4m5o6wYLoCd-wlQRu-Z\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_petitenoob-14.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgEjrZzPBWAQVMqkqmB7yOaThDM7XeDnPHOIEvmnR3m1CYgrLz4a9FFF4jURcNWg0TZE_z_8NQfJadxgJFyqAxTalM9HY5OKXcfemO6PBGQRveINP4dxZjfhiSa-4m5o6wYLoCd-wlQRu-Z\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_petitenoob-14.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiBGqAL3DbXMTwz1BGFko52VTQ9DZP_PO-UK-pZjGsqGMIl3QOJRhP6mNHbjGgAPIDi14p5fEDTAHYoF5_f8Zre4X_W4kZ6w8IqVSsgZ5KSEs-WfJO2lmpWrXq0x5jFh7dvaYB3bX9NAAZU\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_petitenoob-15.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiBGqAL3DbXMTwz1BGFko52VTQ9DZP_PO-UK-pZjGsqGMIl3QOJRhP6mNHbjGgAPIDi14p5fEDTAHYoF5_f8Zre4X_W4kZ6w8IqVSsgZ5KSEs-WfJO2lmpWrXq0x5jFh7dvaYB3bX9NAAZU\/s1600\/vaiyulaw_petitenoob-15.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSo now instead of waiting around for these supposed magical pregnancy-hair hormones, I've taken my hair routine into my own hands. The result is hydrated, more manageable hair that's less frizzy and all-around healthier. I'm so happy to have found this to help me sail from pregnancy to baby with my best hair possible.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Did you experience more dryness in pregnancy? Have you tried the new Pantene sulfate free Rose Water Collection? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/9218074222183325450\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/07\/my-hair-care-routine-with-pantene.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/9218074222183325450"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/9218074222183325450"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/07\/my-hair-care-routine-with-pantene.html","title":"My Hair Care Routine with Pantene "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgoCBERFEM0e0NQjkb1is8aO-5pF7AXQ6J_FYm4jmlEWXdn0BOlVM4OgwNV02gytZSQk2qRSBjqGVxq1AsccCgKGyDPMyMokH3kVcn9nOQDifBaCtpxxLxVYWVt5IJ__ec5oxjUtOAnbyhA\/s72-c\/vaiyulaw_petitenoob-16.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-6254815119908796066"},"published":{"$t":"2019-07-17T10:43:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-07-17T10:43:17.524-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Pregnancy"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Expectation Vs. Reality: Pregnancy Edition"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjWBqZiJu0faXuHgTFRUwZAleml1TDaLxoDTnHyIc-hE1JxVULFbCPPYMFFWqz-DykH-byK_NAxouLQaRQR14QH3gF0FOIy02ZaQIcjEa2HBDpHnO2Krkk3GqPNxKDjscPTEG0cuo_YmY_s\/s1600\/lavender2-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjWBqZiJu0faXuHgTFRUwZAleml1TDaLxoDTnHyIc-hE1JxVULFbCPPYMFFWqz-DykH-byK_NAxouLQaRQR14QH3gF0FOIy02ZaQIcjEa2HBDpHnO2Krkk3GqPNxKDjscPTEG0cuo_YmY_s\/s1600\/lavender2-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI first remember when I was settling into being pregnant. There were so many expectations that I placed on myself; how I figured I would act, dress, think, etc. Isn't that always the way with any new life change?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFlash forward to present time, and I can honestly say that a lot of my expectations that I have placed on myself have flown out the window. Now that we're in the home stretch of pregnancy (37 weeks, holy crap) I can look back at my expectations in early pregnancy and how things have panned out and just laugh. Here's a few of the expectations that I swore would be my reality in pregnancy, and how off-the-mark they eventually ended up being.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiHUiI_GIRTEfd90IzgWBhlMNfjLOtXa6vDmzLZzQk-IrDShWfLjsFBFZBGAIWRvcN6YFqLQ-x6ggQpZ3F2lDcU7tREKPO1bVlzjoD-XYjyihu8Arh94pR7CmDsFkrYvHlOIAl2uFIHDA9f\/s1600\/lavender2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiHUiI_GIRTEfd90IzgWBhlMNfjLOtXa6vDmzLZzQk-IrDShWfLjsFBFZBGAIWRvcN6YFqLQ-x6ggQpZ3F2lDcU7tREKPO1bVlzjoD-XYjyihu8Arh94pR7CmDsFkrYvHlOIAl2uFIHDA9f\/s1600\/lavender2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n1. I Wouldn't Bump-Cradle In Photos\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI'll admit, I was someone who would roll my eyes at the amount that women would touch and hold their pregnant bellies in photos. \"We get it,\" I would think, \"you're pregnant.\" I was confident that I wouldn't fall victim to over touching my bump in photos as I grew into pregnancy.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFlash forward to present day, and a few scrolls through my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lapetitenoob\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EInstagram feed\u003C\/a\u003E reveals that there aren't very many photos of myself in the last few months where I'm \u003Ci\u003Enot\u003C\/i\u003E cradling the bump! What I've learned in these last 37 weeks, particularly after the 24 week mark when I actually started to show, is that there is a very fine line between baby belly and burrito belly in clothes - and that hand on top of a protruding stomach is that line. Also, the more that I eased into pregnancy, felt baby move and kick from within me and grew, the more I wanted to enjoy and celebrate what was going on! Listen, I don't know if I'll ever be pregnant again - if I want to celebrate my body and touch the life that's growing within me for photos, I will damnit - haha.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSo as I enjoy the last couple of weeks of pregnancy, I will be touching the bump as much as humanly possible and documenting it all through photographs. No shame in my game.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhf5AAzTjIeFnjhqK2V8-YtSCe7KSVDK74L4wZOg6keuDc_KL_N6Cnphb4Pe0rVAe2PYvoeMEx4u6Wjlfo7SdRrH5RYnepP6MzT7hPHziWgIHMckI9Hc_D4kfGH6ErQAQHpsrSMSd1xAcaC\/s1600\/lavender-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhf5AAzTjIeFnjhqK2V8-YtSCe7KSVDK74L4wZOg6keuDc_KL_N6Cnphb4Pe0rVAe2PYvoeMEx4u6Wjlfo7SdRrH5RYnepP6MzT7hPHziWgIHMckI9Hc_D4kfGH6ErQAQHpsrSMSd1xAcaC\/s1600\/lavender-5.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n2. I Would Continue To Travel To The End\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI'm happy with the amount of travel that I was able to accomplish while pregnant. Once I hit 30 weeks, and international plane travel became more restricted, I remember telling anyone who would listen that I would be continuing to galavant with many road trips, sight seeing and hotel stays. I wasn't going to let a little something like pregnancy get in the way of my summer plans.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWell, I can officially say that my last plane trip to Charleston was my last trip of the pregnancy. Road trips? Ha! Y'all, I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm \u003Ci\u003Etired\u003C\/i\u003E. The third trimester hit me like a ton of bricks, and while I'm grateful to still feel pretty good, I was relieved to make a conscious effort to slow down. Not only that, but I found that I began to feel more content just staying in and organizing our condo making room for baby instead of driving to Montreal to complete my ambitious itinerary.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIt's an interesting shift, learning to slow down for someone who typically takes comfort in a chaotic schedule. Hopefully this is preparing me for a more content fourth trimester when baby arrives.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhic7ltGWpNTMq7GI5vNN-h6irFp4iMyeaeIPw0LG92AYq29TzXvPYU189CHGSmnimbPBvKEhsXfQBSyh0p6I1Ydt9YZIn30c-8ieHR7br-calfwg4FEXAig-ATqJOflVa2_DxgFh0ZUobt\/s1600\/lavender-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhic7ltGWpNTMq7GI5vNN-h6irFp4iMyeaeIPw0LG92AYq29TzXvPYU189CHGSmnimbPBvKEhsXfQBSyh0p6I1Ydt9YZIn30c-8ieHR7br-calfwg4FEXAig-ATqJOflVa2_DxgFh0ZUobt\/s1600\/lavender-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n3. I Would Continue To Exercise\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNow, this assumption is one that I wish that I had kept up with, but sometimes it's not in the cards. I was doing great with exercising for most of the pregnancy; between walking, at-home workouts, barre and prenatal yoga. Something shifted at about 30+ weeks, where my body stopped being able to handle it. I found that a workout would drain me for the entire day, or would trigger swelling within my body. Couple that with the fact that my baby has been breech for the majority of the pregnancy and I didn't want to do anything to make it worse (deep squats, etc.) and my fitness routine fell to the wayside.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI do worry that this lapse in exercise will make it harder to get back into a healthy routine when baby arrives, but honestly I've been trying hard to listen and follow the cues of my body. Everything within my body has been telling me to \u003Ci\u003Eslow down\u003C\/i\u003E, and I'm respecting that. Barre class can wait. Until then I'm continuing to walk, albeit at a very leisurely pace these days, making sure to take the time to enjoy the view.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Have you broken any expectations that you had for yourself in a new situation? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/6254815119908796066\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/07\/expectation-vs-reality-pregnancy-edition.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/6254815119908796066"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/6254815119908796066"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/07\/expectation-vs-reality-pregnancy-edition.html","title":"Expectation Vs. Reality: Pregnancy Edition"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjWBqZiJu0faXuHgTFRUwZAleml1TDaLxoDTnHyIc-hE1JxVULFbCPPYMFFWqz-DykH-byK_NAxouLQaRQR14QH3gF0FOIy02ZaQIcjEa2HBDpHnO2Krkk3GqPNxKDjscPTEG0cuo_YmY_s\/s72-c\/lavender2-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-1707243952327905103"},"published":{"$t":"2019-07-05T07:31:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-07-05T07:39:15.255-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Pregnancy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Real Talk"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Prenatal Anxiety: My Story"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg9hRHBljzOIIHiiPSkOtVyYxOXzPGI3m3ptoriz1u4OOXfKexyqPxBqrDIa_ZVYzcgJ-ovRwj9t5sbRvdz6R5iqJphn0cVrzDY0_OCr0jFWeP0e7B34qXFtismqKKvF21P0-C2IOAUFJ46\/s1600\/may24-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg9hRHBljzOIIHiiPSkOtVyYxOXzPGI3m3ptoriz1u4OOXfKexyqPxBqrDIa_ZVYzcgJ-ovRwj9t5sbRvdz6R5iqJphn0cVrzDY0_OCr0jFWeP0e7B34qXFtismqKKvF21P0-C2IOAUFJ46\/s1600\/may24-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIt's hard for me to think of an appropriate way to start this very personal blog post. Let me just start by saying that this is a hard subject for me to talk about, as is anything deeply personal that delves deeper than the superficial and lightness that I strive to keep throughout this blog. It's just who I am; I like to keep any problems I'm experiencing to myself, both on and offline.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThe reason that I wanted to open up a bit and talk about my experience with prenatal anxiety is that it seems to be a reoccurring theme when talking to expectant, new and seasoned moms alike. \"How are you feeling?\" they would innocently ask and in the odd time that I would open up and let them know that my biggest pregnancy symptom was\/is anxiety, it was more often than not met with women telling me that they experienced the exact same thing while expecting. In fact, I would say that the vast majority of women I've spoken to about prenatal anxiety have their own experiences, anecdotes, memories and battles. For a pregnancy symptom that is seemingly so common among women, why is it that I rarely - if ever - hear it mentioned in any of the information available that coaches women on what to expect when expecting?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThat's why I wanted to share my story today. Hopefully someone who is struggling, or has struggled in the past with prenatal anxiety will read it and know that they're not alone.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nMy Story\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nMy story with prenatal anxiety begins almost right away after holding my positive pregnancy test. Our first attempt to conceive ended in a chemical pregnancy, so I was \u003Ci\u003Eso \u003C\/i\u003Ehappy to see that we were able to get pregnant again so soon after. While I experienced all of the \"typical\" reactions to a positive pregnancy test (excitement, overwhelm, disbelief, etc.) I also has this nagging sense of guilt. Why should it have been so quick for us, when others struggle with infertility? It was a feeling that I tried to shake, but ultimately ended up manifesting itself into a cloud of doom that seemed to follow me around the entire first trimester.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThe first trimester for me was tough, and when my prenatal anxiety was at its absolute worst. Some days it would present as just a nagging feeling and weight on my back that would follow me around and other days it would be full-blown episodes of panic that prevented me from leaving my condo. In fact if I look back at my first trimester I rarely ever left our place, didn't see anyone unless it was family and just spent hours frantically Googling anything from miscarriages to pregnancy complications or anything else that could possibly go wrong. This would then lead to feelings of crippling guilt that I was ruining what may the only time that I was ever pregnant, and therefor was undeserving. It was a vicious cycle that I could not seem to pull myself out of, despite rationally knowing how destructive my behaviour was. The feelings seemed to be beyond my control, and despite knowing that fresh air and a good laugh with friends would make me feel so much better, I just couldn't bring myself to do it. So inside I stayed, alone with my thoughts and Google. It was miserable, isolating and seemed like it would never end.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThankfully the fog lifted in the second trimester as my hormones regulated. It's then that I finally allowed myself to feel joy and excitement, without feeling like I was jinxing anything. I started to travel again, see my friends and just feel good. It was \u003Ci\u003Esuch\u003C\/i\u003E a relief to have the monkey on my back finally leave. Even with\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/04\/when-shit-hits-fan.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E my brief hospitalization\u003C\/a\u003E and a short bout of anxiety that came along after, it was amazing how different my second trimester was from my first.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFast forward to my third trimester, and with another shift in hormones that damn cloud of doom came back. Thankfully for me, it was then late spring and Toronto was experiencing more sunlight and milder weather and it made a world of difference. I also had developed some coping mechanisms in my second trimester that really helped; namely yoga, starting a gratitude journal and listening to classic rock all day (yes, that actually did help.) And while I definitely don't want to insinuate that yoga and Elton John is the solution to struggles in mental health, it seemed to work for me so I just went with it. Everyone is completely different.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNow here we are in the home stretch, and there are definitely more good days than bad. I also feel as though I've gotten a glimpse into what postpartum depression can feel like, and have taken preemptive steps to make sure that I have outside support should I need it. This experience has made me realize that maternal mental health goes far beyond just the 'baby blues' and if you're feeling these feelings of panic that seem to be beyond your control that you're not alone and it's not something to feel ashamed of.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSo that's my story. While this was a hard one for me to share, since I don't want to look back on this very fleeting time and remember anything but the joy, I do think it's important to speak to my experience with prenatal anxiety. Hopefully this helps anyone who's feeling panicked, isolated and alone in what is thought to be a magical time.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nYou are not alone.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nDisclaimer: If you're experiencing uncontrollable feelings of prenatal anxiety or depression, \u003Ci\u003Eplease \u003C\/i\u003Etalk to your doctor, midwife, or someone that you trust."},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/1707243952327905103\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/07\/prenatal-anxiety-my-story.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/1707243952327905103"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/1707243952327905103"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/07\/prenatal-anxiety-my-story.html","title":"Prenatal Anxiety: My Story"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg9hRHBljzOIIHiiPSkOtVyYxOXzPGI3m3ptoriz1u4OOXfKexyqPxBqrDIa_ZVYzcgJ-ovRwj9t5sbRvdz6R5iqJphn0cVrzDY0_OCr0jFWeP0e7B34qXFtismqKKvF21P0-C2IOAUFJ46\/s72-c\/may24-3.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-2936499614340160630"},"published":{"$t":"2019-06-06T08:43:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-06-06T09:15:06.637-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Baby"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Life Lately"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Pregnancy"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"30 Weeks Pregnant Update - 3rd Trimester"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjX7DZ61k9EjlqNxTXFNDTbUGcq4kHX0UX3mhboscsr32BtzWb4PIBpgFhv6yc0cgy8lisYUbMu7Q3H84hpcmkNKoDt6YOSW7MTjnG_yP4wdq_QE9jAGWMMG9AL_bBUBxiqM0PQnWX-bWVm\/s1600\/joelle6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjX7DZ61k9EjlqNxTXFNDTbUGcq4kHX0UX3mhboscsr32BtzWb4PIBpgFhv6yc0cgy8lisYUbMu7Q3H84hpcmkNKoDt6YOSW7MTjnG_yP4wdq_QE9jAGWMMG9AL_bBUBxiqM0PQnWX-bWVm\/s1600\/joelle6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI can't even believe that I'm just passing 30 weeks of pregnancy, and am well into my third trimester. They really aren't kidding around when they say that time flies - and our baby isn't even here yet! I can just imagine how quick time will speed by when we meet Baby C earth side; a reminder to myself to really soak in the baby time because it will all pass by in the blink of an eye!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSo how am I feeling now that I've hit the home stretch? Honestly I feel like everyday I'm on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. We're mostly getting excited to meet Baby C, but with anxiety because I feel as though we still have so much to do and prepare! Add in the physical symptoms of the 3rd trimester and some days it's a big 'ol mess, haha! I don't want to complain too much though; other than\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/04\/when-shit-hits-fan.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E my not-so-perfect hospitalization\u003Cspan id=\"goog_1051026677\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Cspan id=\"goog_1051026678\"\u003E\u003C\/span\u003E \u003C\/a\u003Ein my second trimester, this pregnancy has been pretty incredible. I talk to other women who definitely had a much harder time than I, and it always makes me grateful for my experience.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThat being said, I swear that the moment the third trimester arrives I noticed a huge shift in how I was feeling - both physically and mentally. Now I understand why they call the second trimester the honeymoon phase! Here's a quick breakdown of the last stretch of my pregnancy; from physical changes to my moods, cravings and everything in between.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg9DfoSjxKvhtRuR7vUo0aAOVYzHCUPJabP41CZTJmXDyHC4TSOwZ8HXLOpmEnkYnyv6qv9WHedx2TQnqnzUz2odIqtGvbx6xZtVy8eG8Zk-BuiIQofoWmqNnrlnV9pUtzGF6Czhs6oqRCg\/s1600\/joelle7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg9DfoSjxKvhtRuR7vUo0aAOVYzHCUPJabP41CZTJmXDyHC4TSOwZ8HXLOpmEnkYnyv6qv9WHedx2TQnqnzUz2odIqtGvbx6xZtVy8eG8Zk-BuiIQofoWmqNnrlnV9pUtzGF6Czhs6oqRCg\/s1600\/joelle7.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nHow I'm Feeling Physically\u003C\/h2\u003E\nEveryone warned me that the third trimester may be the hardest, and as always I brushed it off as probably not happening to me. Boy was I wrong. Although I'm grateful for still being able to function fairly normally everyday, there's definitely some strong physical symptoms that seemed to come out of nowhere the \u003Ci\u003Esecond\u003C\/i\u003E I hit my 3rd trimester.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EExhaustion:\u003C\/b\u003E OMG, the exhaustion is so real! It honestly felt like the first trimester all over again, where you get so tired during the day that you can barely keep your eyes open. I've never really been one for naps, and there are some days that my body will actually just stop until I lay down and sleep for a couple of hours. It's really been something else, and has forced me to really slow down. Not that I'm complaining - I know I'll miss all of this sleep once baby arrives!\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESwelling:\u003C\/b\u003E I've noticed that my body now tends to get extremely swollen when I overdo it on physical activity - and by overdo, I mean walking more than 4 blocks at a time! My feet have been the most prone to swelling and now that it's nice enough to wear skirts and dresses again, I'm not wearing my compression socks as much as I should. Mental note to myself to start back on them - they really help!\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAches and Pains:\u003C\/b\u003E As with suddenly gaining 20+ pounds, my body has been adjusting with dull aches and pains that manifest throughout the day. Mostly in my back, hips and feet, these pains are much more prominent now that I'm in my third trimester. Thankfully, between prenatal yoga, my chiropractor and prenatal massages I feel as though I've been managing the aches and pains extremely well! They say it takes a village to raise a child, and that definitely seems true, but I also believe that it takes a village to carry a child as well. I'm going to do a whole blog post on my prenatal team and how much they've helped me throughout this pregnancy.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAppetite:\u003C\/b\u003E Whoa Sally, look out! This expectant mother can \u003Ci\u003Eeat\u003C\/i\u003E. Although I didn't have a huge appetite in the first and second trimester, I'm more than making up for it in my 3rd. People have been asking what I'm craving, and honestly I just love all food at this point. I have noticed that my spice tolerance has gone\u003Ci\u003E way \u003C\/i\u003Edown though and anything spicy seems to upset my stomach; something that never happened to me before becoming pregnant. I'm curious to see if I'll be able to eat spicy food again once baby arrives.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEioKVaBmKJhCP85sb9kNrVnItN_klmWgIL6GBwXLd66kLPerkI6NeeBBFHSnEkqhi9cpiJNvX_8Dl71BN-FVR_1f1OWGqBoNNMfeki4bbTJsrDLMrs3tgvbWR3ZJPEnnaF8vZagNI0fQLvE\/s1600\/joelle2BW.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEioKVaBmKJhCP85sb9kNrVnItN_klmWgIL6GBwXLd66kLPerkI6NeeBBFHSnEkqhi9cpiJNvX_8Dl71BN-FVR_1f1OWGqBoNNMfeki4bbTJsrDLMrs3tgvbWR3ZJPEnnaF8vZagNI0fQLvE\/s1600\/joelle2BW.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nHow I'm Feeling Mentally\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOne huge shift I've noticed in my mental health is that the \u003Cb\u003Eanxiety\u003C\/b\u003E I \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/02\/surprise-im-pregnant.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eexperienced in my first trimester\u003C\/a\u003E has started to come back, although thankfully it hasn't been as bad this time around. It may be because I've developed some different coping mechanisms and have more of a routine that incorporates my pregnancy, but my anxiety hasn't been nearly as bad. I mostly feel anxious about how much we still need to do to prepare for baby and I just don't feel like we're ready yet.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThankfully I have some coping methods that have really been helping me. I take a prenatal yoga class 2-3 times a week and it's been beautiful. I've also swapped out my true crime podcasts to listen instead to music that makes me feel happy; Elton John, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles. Basically all classic rock, all the time! The weather has also improved and we're seeing the sun more in Toronto; that alone has been a huge help.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjCsn6Y-ZE82ctD2cIlXJ6zsA0znzzg3qvcBJqo81_CxbAMu95SM-Quv9J-3sbpT1cX0TWMq2yQphJM4dvd9ZpJ4Ffqxjokvfk93fV44j2JhQqKa7pJbqZN6rKNKPKd22Jk0FqbZOkk3pf1\/s1600\/joelle4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1070\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjCsn6Y-ZE82ctD2cIlXJ6zsA0znzzg3qvcBJqo81_CxbAMu95SM-Quv9J-3sbpT1cX0TWMq2yQphJM4dvd9ZpJ4Ffqxjokvfk93fV44j2JhQqKa7pJbqZN6rKNKPKd22Jk0FqbZOkk3pf1\/s1600\/joelle4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nWhat's Left On The Agenda?\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBirthing Classes:\u003C\/b\u003E I went back and fourth as to weather or not I even wanted to \u003Ci\u003Edo\u003C\/i\u003E a birthing class, but I gave in and we're starting our classes next week with our midwives. If anything, I think that the class will help to alleviate some of the anxiety I feel about the birthing process and about being prepared in general. I also think that it's important Brian have someone other than me explain what birth may look like and his role in the whole thing. Overall, I'm optimistic that this will be a good decision!\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ENursery:\u003C\/b\u003E Another huge source of anxiety for me, we still have yet to complete (or even start) our nursery! Thankfully we have all of the furniture picked out, and a date set for Brian and my dad to convert our condo's den into a tiny nursery. I honestly feel like I'll be \u003Ci\u003Eso\u003C\/i\u003E relieved once this happens.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETravel?\u003C\/b\u003E I feel so lucky to have done as much travel as I have during this pregnancy. That being said, although my midwife has given me clearance to fly until 32 weeks, I think we're officially staying grounded until baby arrives. I would still love to sneak in a road trip or two, and of course lots of cottage visits. It honestly feels nice to know that there's no big trips on the horizon and we can focus all of our energy on baby.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EName:\u003C\/b\u003E I'm happy to say that after many \u003Cstrike\u003Ebattles\u003C\/strike\u003E\u0026nbsp;lengthy discussions, Brian and I have finally settled on a name that we're both happy with. I have to say, you really don't realize how many people you have disliked in your life until you start the process of naming a child LOL. That being said, we won't be sharing our name until the baby arrives.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh_zAVD1EJmJ_a3doygLV98ltV4HC10Z3IoJvbKm93Fs1mcu-0RZtAaOetRB5AOaLQlDhvXXU1Ya039shAbUEwsFB-3I38M8U4e0Aupqxp1y40dRy67aFFn41CNEBPvAmd78WL-d0xxFfg3\/s1600\/joelle10.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh_zAVD1EJmJ_a3doygLV98ltV4HC10Z3IoJvbKm93Fs1mcu-0RZtAaOetRB5AOaLQlDhvXXU1Ya039shAbUEwsFB-3I38M8U4e0Aupqxp1y40dRy67aFFn41CNEBPvAmd78WL-d0xxFfg3\/s1600\/joelle10.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgeRtNpZGUUD38slx4rNyXrl4RYTJDa1kp1K4fYpD7Ljx-84Lsi3Ka64SkfkTyfXp-nc5OSrfMfJLdPL0apD4PvegDjlpsoTLo1Onf_1daHMPBnl-kVqXB1Lm4qHoUPZ1HO0JQPpOUx7f2i\/s1600\/joelle5BW.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgeRtNpZGUUD38slx4rNyXrl4RYTJDa1kp1K4fYpD7Ljx-84Lsi3Ka64SkfkTyfXp-nc5OSrfMfJLdPL0apD4PvegDjlpsoTLo1Onf_1daHMPBnl-kVqXB1Lm4qHoUPZ1HO0JQPpOUx7f2i\/s1600\/joelle5BW.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjVVDdiXGg7_SKuzZyUUlEXZ8j8WZhD9OIXV7EvGmMGmLYuv4NjumodzM6xbPPPyKlHMs-wFvZxuBvBjX_R3jTBEaTyufZrMbMD6wsNo94VdOIaTG2j_S99-Yld_5zyH6AP8UvxyfhbOFmV\/s1600\/joelle8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjVVDdiXGg7_SKuzZyUUlEXZ8j8WZhD9OIXV7EvGmMGmLYuv4NjumodzM6xbPPPyKlHMs-wFvZxuBvBjX_R3jTBEaTyufZrMbMD6wsNo94VdOIaTG2j_S99-Yld_5zyH6AP8UvxyfhbOFmV\/s1600\/joelle8.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSo that's it! Now it's just time to enjoy the nesting phase and this last season of life as a family of two (and Fritz.)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? How was your third trimester? Did you find that your pregnancy went by in the blink of an eye? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nPhotos by the mega-talented \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.raelenegiffin.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERaeleen Giffin\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/2936499614340160630\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/06\/30-weeks-pregnant-update-3rd-trimester.html#comment-form","title":"4 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/2936499614340160630"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/2936499614340160630"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/06\/30-weeks-pregnant-update-3rd-trimester.html","title":"30 Weeks Pregnant Update - 3rd Trimester"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjX7DZ61k9EjlqNxTXFNDTbUGcq4kHX0UX3mhboscsr32BtzWb4PIBpgFhv6yc0cgy8lisYUbMu7Q3H84hpcmkNKoDt6YOSW7MTjnG_yP4wdq_QE9jAGWMMG9AL_bBUBxiqM0PQnWX-bWVm\/s72-c\/joelle6.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"4"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-315199444222170981"},"published":{"$t":"2019-05-22T07:47:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-05-22T09:24:06.989-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Charleston"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel Diary"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"USA"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Charleston City Guide"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgQ07-92DZ_FRr5r2JvH1iFxiybzWvbPX_Q-aSLDJmR8nDBSGKuZXfqxhgahO6OsMaJO84l9Zs1M5vQYb7Bvc_ns2yuFJOFElxQjlQ8PUAmFY51Wi4Yh7e2xH1GZSA3zeuF5KtqbudMCjGg\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-2019-9.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgQ07-92DZ_FRr5r2JvH1iFxiybzWvbPX_Q-aSLDJmR8nDBSGKuZXfqxhgahO6OsMaJO84l9Zs1M5vQYb7Bvc_ns2yuFJOFElxQjlQ8PUAmFY51Wi4Yh7e2xH1GZSA3zeuF5KtqbudMCjGg\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-2019-9.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhen the term 'Southern Charm' is ever spoken, what immediately comes to mind for me is Charleston. I first visited the charming city of Charleston, South Carolina in 2017 with Brian, a trip booked on a whim after watching a reality show based in the same city (yes, this is how we sometimes choose destinations.) We were smitten upon landing, and have been wanting to go back ever since.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFast forward a few years, after again booking a trip on a whim with \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/mymiaou.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESabrina\u003C\/a\u003E after noticing a discounted flight, and I found myself back in Charleston. This time, the pace was a little slower (I was 27 weeks pregnant) and the itinerary less ambitious, but the feelings were all the same - I've can't wait to go back.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nHere's a breakdown of how we spent 2.5 full days in Charleston; what to eat, how to get around and everything along the way.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiySxmt9jJXa1k7EebFHwlMNs4HMTlDPGzg4LyJo7UHcCTt1OR07MgcSSEYd5_9Wg5YGAUEKubsoPGWdUqMLwHi6B-BOX_E6nH5hWLHIaKmSQvwPKc6bb_I-MVkJFU2NmKu7uAxHoDlDO-j\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-2019-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiySxmt9jJXa1k7EebFHwlMNs4HMTlDPGzg4LyJo7UHcCTt1OR07MgcSSEYd5_9Wg5YGAUEKubsoPGWdUqMLwHi6B-BOX_E6nH5hWLHIaKmSQvwPKc6bb_I-MVkJFU2NmKu7uAxHoDlDO-j\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-2019-7.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEho0ivpRs0zRikkds9V_4qNdL8MozTdpClZOORjnpb2YO80QqfP0a6GGqZe9M6d8GcuDNynlFCF8RZTsonf0_X-JblPAjE8mEW9FPFeH3cIuMTZJ0BB9kVKqsFVfieWpCAXQ2WJ8oU4x2L7\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-2019-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEho0ivpRs0zRikkds9V_4qNdL8MozTdpClZOORjnpb2YO80QqfP0a6GGqZe9M6d8GcuDNynlFCF8RZTsonf0_X-JblPAjE8mEW9FPFeH3cIuMTZJ0BB9kVKqsFVfieWpCAXQ2WJ8oU4x2L7\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-2019-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nHow To Get To Charleston\u003C\/h2\u003E\nI'll be the first to say it: the only frustrating thing about visiting Charleston, South Carolina is that there are no direct flights from my home airport in Toronto. As someone who hates connecting flights with a fiery passion, this can often be a deal-breaker when choosing a destination.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThankfully there are a few fairly painless options to get to your destination:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EIn the world of connecting flights, getting to Charleston isn't too bad. For both of my trips, we connected in Chicago on the way there, and then through Newark, New Jersey on the way back. TIP: If you have the time for it, I would suggest making the most of your connections. Our first trip, Brian and I choose an eleven hour layover in Chicago which gave us the whole day to get out of the airport and explore the city. On the way home we actually extended the layover to stay a couple of nights in New York City. It felt like three trips in one!\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThere are direct flights from Toronto to either Savannah, Georgia or Myrtle Beach. Both destinations are only a couple of hours drive from Charleston and may be worth checking out before heading to the city.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u0026nbsp;If you're up for the road trip, Charleston is about a 16 hour drive from Toronto. Definitely not for the faint of heart, but certainly do-able and an option if you crave the open road.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhuoVrePmFr9W5ZbQ6Io6sNDIUiaIxKpFQI2Ith1MfQU6B_cV6Aip66ALhVfuA9MvpOoMvEwTwygBs8IJqwLfVkXEUzonvs9_358tFbJU7t2f4KsAar0sHwscRF2YECjJNGZCJtVaNR_tpI\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-2019-14.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhuoVrePmFr9W5ZbQ6Io6sNDIUiaIxKpFQI2Ith1MfQU6B_cV6Aip66ALhVfuA9MvpOoMvEwTwygBs8IJqwLfVkXEUzonvs9_358tFbJU7t2f4KsAar0sHwscRF2YECjJNGZCJtVaNR_tpI\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-2019-14.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjay9d_3TroKmThB4PzKshCZsRaokR1ME3B1SLPOnMWrCrSpKNXx8lpnQkI1PGJ4t0hON5XipfvdFbSbAY89r8ChOqbDaz30RcmK83WCm9ogmbZCPRZacOXWEJhSSeK69ndZkACmn9WgJH4\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-2019-17.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjay9d_3TroKmThB4PzKshCZsRaokR1ME3B1SLPOnMWrCrSpKNXx8lpnQkI1PGJ4t0hON5XipfvdFbSbAY89r8ChOqbDaz30RcmK83WCm9ogmbZCPRZacOXWEJhSSeK69ndZkACmn9WgJH4\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-2019-17.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nHow To Get Around\u003C\/h2\u003E\nOne of the best things about visiting Charleston is that once you arrive, it's \u003Ci\u003Eso\u003C\/i\u003E easy to get around! Sabrina and I took a very quick and inexpensive cab ride from the airport to our hotel in historic Charleston. Other than that and a cab ride back to the airport at the end of our trip, we explored exclusively on-foot.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBecause Charleston is a fairly small city, and the historic areas are all very close to one another, it is extremely easy to navigate on-foot. We explored everything that the city had to offer on-foot, while taking multiples breaks in our hotel to rest.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ERenting bicycles is another great way to explore Charleston. Although I wasn't able to partake on account of being pregnant, I remember renting city bikes with Brian on our first trip and it was an excellent way to get around the city.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAlthough I don't think that you need a car if you're planning on staying exclusively within the limits of Charleston, it may be a good idea to look into for exploring the surrounding areas. Charleston is very small, and if you're staying for longer than a few days then you may find yourself looking for a new area to explore. Renting a car is a great way to check out the surrounding plantations, or make your way to Savannah for a change of scenery.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhL4oi9RfEE1RigKlMP4-B7-zPAOPLtxKRfvq6BnEupKgZRQYF1jAb9mNzF4apgp-EoNU3PxPwUZEfLfvgvulvpBPWx52Y3Tw6G-remZLVkXmD5OY9qywO7uPSWiIGyy6Di1Xro9ScpA9GU\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-May-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhL4oi9RfEE1RigKlMP4-B7-zPAOPLtxKRfvq6BnEupKgZRQYF1jAb9mNzF4apgp-EoNU3PxPwUZEfLfvgvulvpBPWx52Y3Tw6G-remZLVkXmD5OY9qywO7uPSWiIGyy6Di1Xro9ScpA9GU\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-May-6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj10JOMNk1MKirna2OFkWVJA_WHNIl19zNWltXWn-__y0LldeMpcDnIT6IiEM3LKbml-7eqDQRrj-t7WKIATcVAKYJC33kKaitv-V3OngrLt2mE5dadxo83vkwXG_CRjq3rAbkfD0JWWvv6\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-May-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj10JOMNk1MKirna2OFkWVJA_WHNIl19zNWltXWn-__y0LldeMpcDnIT6IiEM3LKbml-7eqDQRrj-t7WKIATcVAKYJC33kKaitv-V3OngrLt2mE5dadxo83vkwXG_CRjq3rAbkfD0JWWvv6\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-May-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nWhat To Do\u003C\/h2\u003E\nSeeing as how I had previously visited Charleston, and that I was 27 weeks pregnant during this particular trip, we took a much slower pace than usual. That being said, Sabrina and I managed to pack in a ton of different sights and fun things to-do during our two and a half day stay. If you're visiting for a girl's trip, and aren't interested in historical monuments or museums, here's some fun things to do in Charleston:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EHead South of Broad and just walk. Trust me. The beautiful, picturesque houses and perfectly manicured neighbourhoods are worth checking out, and are to me some of the best features of Charleston. Sabrina and I got lost everyday just wandering through these gorgeous, historic streets and taking in all of the sights - and smells! It was jasmine season when we visited and the air smelled of flowers. It was truly beautiful.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EIf you're in the mood to shop, then you're going to want to head to King Street. A mix of little boutiques and major chain stores, there's literally something for everyone.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWith all of the history in Charleston, a ghost tour would 100% be appropriate. If I wasn't convinced that our hotel was haunted, I definitely would have partook as the picturesque neighbourhoods definitely take on a more eerie vibe at night.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EVisit Waterfront Park and take in the iconic, much-instagrammed Pineapple fountain.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EEat. Honestly, Charleston is no place to visit while on a diet. Between award-winning restaurants, and the rich, buttery southern delicacies that grace most every menu, be prepared to eat. I find the restaurant prices to be pretty reasonable, especially when compared to the major cities in the states.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhqk-6jQdAQeZHsn4HNyS6I417lkJT64li-pqE84bGqBZsBeNDk08ipqeSw1KYBz7BwYIhn-XI-LfBPRHwxjzwpzxKZAULdlgBZCLdofW7iDroz6KDx0DNcv_3sjrkSixhZeY1yOHBTlIgi\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-May-10.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhqk-6jQdAQeZHsn4HNyS6I417lkJT64li-pqE84bGqBZsBeNDk08ipqeSw1KYBz7BwYIhn-XI-LfBPRHwxjzwpzxKZAULdlgBZCLdofW7iDroz6KDx0DNcv_3sjrkSixhZeY1yOHBTlIgi\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-May-10.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjwK28LV6Cs5WW4E63RlFIQOkT7e4Bqr2gfBx7JMURlN0qGyxUhyyrnvm7KqUJAUUPMfWdPV_6p_CSFUPbR9-dXLC6vyZYNcDgDpCd_9DIrtqLB2FvSV5Gye00ulTmtfTGLiNEwkwwgAita\/s1600\/most-instagrammable-spots-charleston-13.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjwK28LV6Cs5WW4E63RlFIQOkT7e4Bqr2gfBx7JMURlN0qGyxUhyyrnvm7KqUJAUUPMfWdPV_6p_CSFUPbR9-dXLC6vyZYNcDgDpCd_9DIrtqLB2FvSV5Gye00ulTmtfTGLiNEwkwwgAita\/s1600\/most-instagrammable-spots-charleston-13.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nWhere To Eat\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBe still my heart - the restaurants and food scene in Charleston is absolutely unbelievable. Brian and I experienced all of the culinary wonder that is food in Charleston on our first trip and I was anxious to get back for more! Here is where you can indulge in southern cuisine at it's finest; think hushpuppies, shrimp and grits, fried chicken, Carolina Gold rice - I could go on! Although there were many restaurants and bars to try, here are a few of my favourite:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EHusk: \u003C\/b\u003EYou honestly can't make the trip to Charleston without visiting \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/huskrestaurant.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHusk\u003C\/a\u003E. An upscale take on southern dishes and ingredients in a comfortable atmosphere, Husk is a true gem. Sabrina and I were able to get reservations at Husk for Sunday brunch, and braved the wait to enjoy our last dinner there. Word to the wise - make a reservation \u003Ci\u003Eas soon as \u003C\/i\u003Eyou book your trip to Charleston. I'm not kidding. Reservations go quick and while you may be able to score a walk-in seat, it will only be if outdoor seating is available and will undoubtably come with a long wait.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EBasic Kitchen:\u003C\/b\u003E A beautiful space boasting a healthy menu made up of local ingredients - many of which are actually grown on-premise! I had \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/basickitchen.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBasic Kitchen\u003C\/a\u003E on my radar for it's beautiful, light-filled space and chill decor but I kept on coming back for the food. We enjoyed both brunch and dinner at Basic Kitchen, and each meal was absolutely delicious.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ELeon's Oyster Shop:\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/leonsoystershop.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELeon's Oyster Shop \u003C\/a\u003Eis an unassuming, casual eatery that takes classic southern dishes to the next level! We enjoyed hush puppies that were literally served with a side of pure butter, scalloped potatoes, a gigantic shrimp salad and all-you-can-drink sweet teas. My only regret is stopping into Leon's for a snack rather than a full meal; I hear their award-winning fried chicken is not to be missed.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EThe Rise Coffee Bar:\u003C\/b\u003E While Charleston doesn't have the bustling coffee scene of a larger metropolis, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/explore\/locations\/1016314725116118\/the-rise-coffee-bar\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Rise Coffee Bar \u003C\/a\u003Ewill satisfy your espresso-based craving in a bright and clean space.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EThe Darling Oyster Bar:\u003C\/b\u003E Created with a female clientele in mind, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/thedarling.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Darling Oyster Bar\u003C\/a\u003E is the perfect place to share a drink with girlfriends or to have a beautiful date night in Charleston. Although Sabrina and I had made reservations in advance, we opted to sit at the Oyster bar and literally feasted on seafood. It was glorious. The presentation is incredible and even the smallest details on our mocktails were taken into consideration. I already can't wait to go back.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh3KRqhz0WGhjJbWH_S0ifoAb5kw257R2CUH7RIgSO1oz_WIb2i8aSfQZx6srFgBC0P-ZDZYcFmGrj7P7_UNCh4FYiVcEB11LFuoSTXjvEKMZBy0LbhZoZAWSLbalkc9NdoMMVzkMPWqEtP\/s1600\/IMG_6589.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh3KRqhz0WGhjJbWH_S0ifoAb5kw257R2CUH7RIgSO1oz_WIb2i8aSfQZx6srFgBC0P-ZDZYcFmGrj7P7_UNCh4FYiVcEB11LFuoSTXjvEKMZBy0LbhZoZAWSLbalkc9NdoMMVzkMPWqEtP\/s1600\/IMG_6589.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjcXSh-8iCSH-3pptlLcrUmbWY9GY_lmRdZONCF1KBvYS__LjKznaxHZ9ivfwvUGdAl1DolRi_6PJFqTBNV26uTR9PRnHG2xWr4v6x5dY9QeAFdGJkQHd8w2_Y0na8mP2QJmgh9IDO1wP7M\/s1600\/most-instagrammable-spots-charleston-11.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjcXSh-8iCSH-3pptlLcrUmbWY9GY_lmRdZONCF1KBvYS__LjKznaxHZ9ivfwvUGdAl1DolRi_6PJFqTBNV26uTR9PRnHG2xWr4v6x5dY9QeAFdGJkQHd8w2_Y0na8mP2QJmgh9IDO1wP7M\/s1600\/most-instagrammable-spots-charleston-11.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEib7fODHGioFEWnM9tM6mMFlloZQj1sP7vy3GIzSQzQIo8s7v-4JltE16sCDvj_p4JhyW2cd-w8TvEWLn5_kkmJB9af-TlyOAzavhD_8SUhF8vGRvNXtKfIVaik9NdIZXXYvJXij35tVL6v\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-May1-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEib7fODHGioFEWnM9tM6mMFlloZQj1sP7vy3GIzSQzQIo8s7v-4JltE16sCDvj_p4JhyW2cd-w8TvEWLn5_kkmJB9af-TlyOAzavhD_8SUhF8vGRvNXtKfIVaik9NdIZXXYvJXij35tVL6v\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-May1-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgOIxTVqdoJN-zJlzA93Tn6D8BDCnV89lu6UqOKYcf6T4WI0GEciqFxAe0Bex6kUSNboia_73O1qGzgyyx9zqXC4r-JAdR_wiRpMkAeZ3Kr05DSM7Z3U66Hx_kDFgnXEsAyUVdqk4GeWhH8\/s1600\/most-instagrammable-spots-charleston-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgOIxTVqdoJN-zJlzA93Tn6D8BDCnV89lu6UqOKYcf6T4WI0GEciqFxAe0Bex6kUSNboia_73O1qGzgyyx9zqXC4r-JAdR_wiRpMkAeZ3Kr05DSM7Z3U66Hx_kDFgnXEsAyUVdqk4GeWhH8\/s1600\/most-instagrammable-spots-charleston-6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjoY60S423bxHLPKl17Q_c1TLCrx_nA04LTtJS0w4eXeJ_I151fpS0BIiP644_Fl7p6eR8dZNkcJLdlWHfE6Lof612UIZTnlmlBkpFNBtjtn7vSOdlKx5WESj48H42se-M4Z6tHYIqh02it\/s1600\/most-instagrammable-spots-charleston-15.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjoY60S423bxHLPKl17Q_c1TLCrx_nA04LTtJS0w4eXeJ_I151fpS0BIiP644_Fl7p6eR8dZNkcJLdlWHfE6Lof612UIZTnlmlBkpFNBtjtn7vSOdlKx5WESj48H42se-M4Z6tHYIqh02it\/s1600\/most-instagrammable-spots-charleston-15.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgMl2wEnczMeFDGpWyHzOBZqG9A_g58ciUun5SFdsL50LWjWYT43Xo0DjB0sOBgOQ0DclpxF-u9rqAiB3LVdYqOBh2URXNeKsfhzrtJReBJX0EAST4QjpZw30EQywUt2GxXglGihjnvpnn9\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-2019-15.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgMl2wEnczMeFDGpWyHzOBZqG9A_g58ciUun5SFdsL50LWjWYT43Xo0DjB0sOBgOQ0DclpxF-u9rqAiB3LVdYqOBh2URXNeKsfhzrtJReBJX0EAST4QjpZw30EQywUt2GxXglGihjnvpnn9\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-2019-15.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhaPedz5M74bMqYSwUscQGdPJ4KLD1UdK4v4-EUBF4sxzj3FZiTQssQ3DVJA4DV2jLYbgCJs-VTKG-XhARSaY61cBpwa3aisUQelQG7amIg7uZON0SxKo1L28YD4tN22XynwWO7r3vRz-nf\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-2019-10.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhaPedz5M74bMqYSwUscQGdPJ4KLD1UdK4v4-EUBF4sxzj3FZiTQssQ3DVJA4DV2jLYbgCJs-VTKG-XhARSaY61cBpwa3aisUQelQG7amIg7uZON0SxKo1L28YD4tN22XynwWO7r3vRz-nf\/s1600\/charleston-city-guide-2019-10.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIt was an incredible getaway, and I can hardly wait to visit Charleston again. Have you been? Let me know what your must-dos are in this beautiful city!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/315199444222170981\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/05\/charleston-city-guide.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/315199444222170981"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/315199444222170981"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/05\/charleston-city-guide.html","title":"Charleston City Guide"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgQ07-92DZ_FRr5r2JvH1iFxiybzWvbPX_Q-aSLDJmR8nDBSGKuZXfqxhgahO6OsMaJO84l9Zs1M5vQYb7Bvc_ns2yuFJOFElxQjlQ8PUAmFY51Wi4Yh7e2xH1GZSA3zeuF5KtqbudMCjGg\/s72-c\/charleston-city-guide-2019-9.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-3919580266000265700"},"published":{"$t":"2019-05-17T07:36:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-05-17T07:36:30.314-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Pregnancy"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"A Letter To My Son"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgYTOxz0GMW8TN8W_fimBsk4cpg3d2DipgpLy9iB9u5f7VYO_dXfsDdTPa7YBZqsosow4Iij3Gsq4ElWraBR1Qos6WgrFNo0jB5s8ttPtrAJBG6gSMA4k8GWZ0l3YRbvClvRHP8H7yidi3O\/s1600\/cops.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgYTOxz0GMW8TN8W_fimBsk4cpg3d2DipgpLy9iB9u5f7VYO_dXfsDdTPa7YBZqsosow4Iij3Gsq4ElWraBR1Qos6WgrFNo0jB5s8ttPtrAJBG6gSMA4k8GWZ0l3YRbvClvRHP8H7yidi3O\/s1600\/cops.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nA letter to my son: even typing the words out still makes me step back in disbelief. The knowledge that there will soon be a new life in our family is so enormous that it just seems beyond me. I have so many feelings about raising a baby boy into a happy and loved young man; love, warmth, protectiveness and pride.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI recently saw\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=rbzcj0G9s2U\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethe new commercial from the Dairy Farmers of Ontario\u003C\/a\u003E, where a letter is shared from a real Ontario dairy farmer to his children. The letter is so heartwarming, and details how this hardworking father hopes that growing up on a dairy farm will instil strong values in his children. Now, I don't know if it's the pregnancy hormones or the fact that one of my best childhood friends grew up on a dairy farm, but to say that I was misty eyed after watching the commercial is an understatement.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI was inspired to write my own letter, to my unborn child who may not be in our arms just yet, but who I carry close to me and who keeps me company every day. So, to my boy: this is to you.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhfyyLkmhZu2_ehYv7aN0UrbYPeI3D2UIONggk3vFv_1njymhENBMmjG4i0ZqxEYlBbqYY7fl1Cp0s_72szyyLlI0omY4LdvCriGcJ8qyF5BNRm1Xx9TGyhx6mJBC_RrLAfOPTUGz2Zm73j\/s1600\/cops-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhfyyLkmhZu2_ehYv7aN0UrbYPeI3D2UIONggk3vFv_1njymhENBMmjG4i0ZqxEYlBbqYY7fl1Cp0s_72szyyLlI0omY4LdvCriGcJ8qyF5BNRm1Xx9TGyhx6mJBC_RrLAfOPTUGz2Zm73j\/s1600\/cops-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nTo our son,\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAlthough we haven't met formally, I feel as though your place in our lives has always been. With each movement, each kick I feel as though our bond grows. There are so many feelings involved with bringing you into this world, and so many unknowns for when you make your grand arrival. Although I cannot predict or control the future, as much as I try, there are certain things that I want you to know and that I hope for you as you grow.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI hope that you always know and feel the strong love of a family. You are already so wanted and so loved, not only by your dad and me but also by so many others who cannot wait to meet you. Your grandparents, who truly thought that this day would never come and beam with excitement with each passing week. Your uncles, who already vow you make sure you always have someone to play, laugh, and explore with. Cousins, extended family, great grandparents. So many people and so much love for you; I hope that you always feel and take comfort in it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI hope you know that your dad and I always want what's best for you, be it in school, activities and just life in general. But above everything, your happiness will always be our number one priority. Never worry about disappointing us, because as long as you're happy then our souls will be filled.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThe world can be a scary place, and often times life will not seem fair. My hope for you is that we give you the emotional security to navigate this sometimes confusing life. I hope you know that it's okay to truly feel, and that it's okay to cry. It's okay to fail, and there's honour in getting up and trying again. And above all I hope that you know that we will \u003Ci\u003Ealways\u003C\/i\u003E be there for you, both in your proudest moments, your struggles, and everything in-between. I hope that your family always remains your source of comfort and security.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nTrust in the good intentions of others, and treat everyone with respect and dignity. Lead with a strong heart and a good mind. Know that vulnerability and kindness will be your biggest strengths in life, and not a weakness. Make good choices.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWe haven't even met earth-side yet but my wish and hopes for you, our son, is that you always know and feel love.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgLTGYNLymuAzoJBPoQlpMI3FJ60IVYdvA3BUhfb7w8_BmOvU6Z5UImjnKXOUQ2aTIWN7VW9AUloPe25T95QgDnzaDIOsf90x2ed_KfPVeoFFfFoONyWE6WSZXeoHLYldWu8XzeAvD91aI1\/s1600\/cops-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgLTGYNLymuAzoJBPoQlpMI3FJ60IVYdvA3BUhfb7w8_BmOvU6Z5UImjnKXOUQ2aTIWN7VW9AUloPe25T95QgDnzaDIOsf90x2ed_KfPVeoFFfFoONyWE6WSZXeoHLYldWu8XzeAvD91aI1\/s1600\/cops-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjWagnT_eormUsJwG6z9w8nRJULB6BHqgG5dTAjVoM6qxjdYXYv1FDLZii62HkIiNBvgFRfDmCG-EMgh328MC2AcZ0uNWgkFnTSipNTx4Nk-GRL9NNo4REFtMHaiXFvNYFVT0dVz9lxRlAF\/s1600\/cops-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjWagnT_eormUsJwG6z9w8nRJULB6BHqgG5dTAjVoM6qxjdYXYv1FDLZii62HkIiNBvgFRfDmCG-EMgh328MC2AcZ0uNWgkFnTSipNTx4Nk-GRL9NNo4REFtMHaiXFvNYFVT0dVz9lxRlAF\/s1600\/cops-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWow, the hormones are REALLY kicking in after that one. Thank you for allowing me to share this personal piece with you. I feel more focused, assured and confident in our future. And more than anything, I feel more excited to finally be able to meet our boy.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxoxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThis post was inspired by and created in partnership with the Dairy Farmers of Ontario. Thank you so much for the amazing vision and for inspiring this post that will stay with me forever.\u003C\/i\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/3919580266000265700\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/05\/a-letter-to-my-son.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3919580266000265700"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3919580266000265700"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/05\/a-letter-to-my-son.html","title":"A Letter To My Son"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgYTOxz0GMW8TN8W_fimBsk4cpg3d2DipgpLy9iB9u5f7VYO_dXfsDdTPa7YBZqsosow4Iij3Gsq4ElWraBR1Qos6WgrFNo0jB5s8ttPtrAJBG6gSMA4k8GWZ0l3YRbvClvRHP8H7yidi3O\/s72-c\/cops.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-8066133988200738241"},"published":{"$t":"2019-05-13T08:54:00.004-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-05-13T08:54:38.124-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Pregnancy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel Tips"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Tips For Flying Comfortably While Pregnant"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiqu1VWlZ0mqkvtQBGmVv7njFD6ddms1wFMsn-Hg5DjkykwQ5mm05kpsO9qHIqA4b9P1HyabM3SYy-KihQAaLkllGc9DNTvems2RQpiHmL-PI-ttDS9fjjqlJPZBw2VPACzJwRDGysXk0sT\/s1600\/C2C63D02-44A8-4BC6-81B8-23B3A7B7A1B1.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiqu1VWlZ0mqkvtQBGmVv7njFD6ddms1wFMsn-Hg5DjkykwQ5mm05kpsO9qHIqA4b9P1HyabM3SYy-KihQAaLkllGc9DNTvems2RQpiHmL-PI-ttDS9fjjqlJPZBw2VPACzJwRDGysXk0sT\/s1600\/C2C63D02-44A8-4BC6-81B8-23B3A7B7A1B1.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nTravel is so important to me. I still get a kick out of getting on a plane and being able to land in a totally different part of the world than where you started. When I first found out that I was pregnant, I will admit that I did momentarily consider that I may have to put my upcoming travel plans on-hold. After all, this is my first pregnancy and I honestly had no idea what to expect. What if I was feeling too sick to fly? Can you even fly comfortably as a pregnant woman?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIt turns out, all that worrying was for nothing because I was lucky enough to be able to enjoy some amazing trips during my pregnancy. From Disneyland to Los Angeles, Philadelphia, a quick trip to NYC and a trip to Charleston - I feel very lucky to have been able to still keep up with traveling while carrying a baby.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThat being said, there are definitely a few tips, tricks and lessons that I've picked up along the way in order to stay comfortable while flying while pregnant. Just a few simply things that can make or break a flight being comfortable, accommodate your changing body and anticipate any of the annoyances that come along with air travel that become HUGE inconveniences when pregnant. Here's what I've learned:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nEat A Large Meal Prior to Boarding\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI cannot stress this enough. For some reason, all of my flights this year have had a larger-than-normal amount of turbulence. Turbulence on a plane is irritating on a good day, but when you're pregnant and potentially dealing with stomach\/nausea issues it can be brutal. I've found that making sure that I'm comfortably full before boarding a plane helps to keep any nausea from turbulence at bay. I've even gone so far as to order food on the plane, which I typically never do. I've also found that being comfortably full helps to settle your stomach during takeoff and landing - something I never had a problem with prior to flying pregnant. Whatever the case, just make sure that you eat a proper meal before boarding; it makes a world of a difference.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nPack Lots Of Snacks\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nOn the same note of making sure to eat before boarding a plane, I've also found that over-packing on snacks can be really helpful. We all know that air travel can be unpredictable, and the chances of your itinerary not going according to plan are high. Making sure that you're stocked up with lots of snacks (and a refillable water bottle) in case your flight takes longer than anticipated. When I was flying home from Philadelphia, our plane was stuck on the runway for almost three hours waiting in a massive line to de-ice. Thankfully, I had a backpack full of snacks and it made the wait much more tolerable - especially with a tiny baby doing somersaults in my belly! Snacks are always important with air travel, but become a lifeline when flying while pregnant. Bring more than you think\u0026nbsp; - trust me, they will get eaten!\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nStay Hydrated\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nOkay, I promise that this is my last food and drink related tip but it's honestly the most important one: stay hydrated. Drink water - more than you think. Instead of relying on the flight attendants to start beverage services, bring a large refillable water bottle and don't be afraid to visit the flight attendant's station in the back of the plane to ask for refills. It may mean more bathroom brakes, but it also helps to improve your comfort and reduce the swelling that comes along with air travel.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nChoose An Aisle Seat\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nI love a window seat, but when flying while pregnant I've learned to change my preferences to the aisle seat. Not only do you have a bit more room to stretch out, but it's also imperative for making a quick getaway for the washroom - you're going to need it after drinking all that water!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003ETravel With Your Medical Documents\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThis tip is definitely the most doomsday of them all, but I'm a firm believer in better being safe than sorry. For every one of my trips, I've gotten copies of my medical documents from my midwives and keep them close to me at all times - just in case. Any document that has your blood type, how far along you are, any medications that you're on or have been on during your pregnancy, any allergies etc. It's good to have this information on-hand should you need to visit a hospital, or need medical supervision in-flight.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nLet Everyone Know That You're Pregnant\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nListen, I'm all for being discreet and not having a fuss made over me but I totally change my tune when I'm flying while pregnant. I let the airlines attendants know that I'm pregnant in hopes of getting a better seat (it works,) the flight attendants know so they understand why I'm always requesting water and going to the bathroom - heck, I've even told the man making my breakfast sandwich at the airport in hopes of getting more bacon added (that worked too!) Don't be shy and let people know.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOther than these tips, here are a few quick things to keep in mind in order to help make your flight that much more comfortable while pregnant:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EGet up and walk every hour or two to help with the circulation in your legs\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWear compression socks for longer flights\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWear comfortable clothes and dress in layers\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EOpt for a backpack as your personal item to help distribute the weight\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAsk for assistance when dealing with the overhead bin\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nThe thought of flying while pregnant can be daunting, especially if it's your first time. But with a few small steps and considerations, it can be an enjoyable experience!\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nWhat do you think? Have you ever flown while pregnant? What are some of your best tips for staying comfortable with air travel?\u0026nbsp; Let me know!\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EDISCLAIMER:\u003C\/b\u003E I'm lucky enough to have felt relatively well during the course of my pregnancy and have flown with my midwives knowledge and blessings. Always speak to your doctor\/midwife before planning a trip involving air travel.\u003C\/div\u003E\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/8066133988200738241\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/05\/tips-for-flying-comfortably-pregnant.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8066133988200738241"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8066133988200738241"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/05\/tips-for-flying-comfortably-pregnant.html","title":"Tips For Flying Comfortably While Pregnant"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiqu1VWlZ0mqkvtQBGmVv7njFD6ddms1wFMsn-Hg5DjkykwQ5mm05kpsO9qHIqA4b9P1HyabM3SYy-KihQAaLkllGc9DNTvems2RQpiHmL-PI-ttDS9fjjqlJPZBw2VPACzJwRDGysXk0sT\/s72-c\/C2C63D02-44A8-4BC6-81B8-23B3A7B7A1B1.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-2012789535260272739"},"published":{"$t":"2019-04-25T07:25:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-04-25T07:25:37.264-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Simple Brunch with Boursin Apple \u0026 Maple"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhueJt6vohPkdfyjIgWZzFxSRNx_mtrCyR74k0LTS2xBxeLnL_Tu7JLC_jAj9RhR13Jw5VwNh6xQk5Md73caFFcNVMfrKCKr8ZfvB8zH5l7aTJqgYAYIEKoFpCj-BuxaPRvMfX-SWuNPhb1\/s1600\/boursin-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhueJt6vohPkdfyjIgWZzFxSRNx_mtrCyR74k0LTS2xBxeLnL_Tu7JLC_jAj9RhR13Jw5VwNh6xQk5Md73caFFcNVMfrKCKr8ZfvB8zH5l7aTJqgYAYIEKoFpCj-BuxaPRvMfX-SWuNPhb1\/s1600\/boursin-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI love brunch. I love the simplicity of it, the ambiguous timing and the general laid-back energy that comes along with it. I also love spending time with friends, and am happy to host them for a brunch in our tiny Toronto condo. The only thing I don't love? Cooking. That's why you'll find Boursin on the menu for all of my hosted get-togethers.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI absolutely love Boursin cheese - as readers of my blog will recognize from \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/06\/chic-summer-picnic-with-boursin.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emy multiple posts gushing about it\u003C\/a\u003E. Boursin cheese is produced locally and made out of 100% Canadian Milk. Let's just call it as it is - Boursin is always a hit at every event. \u003Ci\u003EAlways\u003C\/i\u003E. There's just something about the delicious taste, and the fact that the texture is so smooth and creamy while remaining crumbly and spreadable. Add in that there are so many delicious flavours to try, perfect for every palette. Boursin is also great about adding new delicious flavours to their line up of cheeses, and the flavour that I chose for my brunch is no exception. Ladies and gentlemen, meet \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.boursin.ca\/en\/produit\/apple-maple\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBoursin Apple \u0026amp; Maple\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj62f5TgMB3lFHzsCgbJ3ZRSGeAj0UXXVhYovxp-nmD9hTqAgZTCjtOtfdDRSKwiPJujVOiifv_NFlW_3EMcQyrySmEDg31_PhZRA-d51AbUfb7b7Vi3OVqyUa7W3TRlD0iAlIE_Bzy9R01\/s1600\/boursin-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj62f5TgMB3lFHzsCgbJ3ZRSGeAj0UXXVhYovxp-nmD9hTqAgZTCjtOtfdDRSKwiPJujVOiifv_NFlW_3EMcQyrySmEDg31_PhZRA-d51AbUfb7b7Vi3OVqyUa7W3TRlD0iAlIE_Bzy9R01\/s1600\/boursin-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhen I was tasked to host an intimate brunch using the new Boursin flavour Apple \u0026amp; Maple, I knew that I wanted to venture away from my typical cheese plate. Although I'm not a huge fan of cooking and the prep that comes along with it, I tried re-imagining how I would use the new Boursin flavour and in the end I was really happy with the results!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nHere's a quick breakdown of a very simple addition to your brunch menu using the new \u003Cb\u003EBoursin Apple \u0026amp; Maple\u003C\/b\u003E flavour:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ECut a baguette into one-inch pieces. You may wish to toast your baguette pieces, but I prefer not. I find it makes them easier to eat when left un-toasted.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESlice up an apple into very thin pieces\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESpread some Boursin Apple \u0026amp; Maple onto your pieces of baguette. The amount is totally up to you, but my cheese philosophy is always 'more is more'\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EArrange your slices apples on top of the Boursin\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ETop with a walnut\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EEnjoy!\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhoAQRyp4zRnD9Hj8U_hIUuIe0R5CqdGfo0yAURBU3rDiKh25tb1Nc2UTxm78Zkagi1gB2HS-bpcWU83SQKBY9nAo6MZgvdl1flMt8jz67qjaQDs3B3DfdUZHf-RES9wnGwm05v3212M7ww\/s1600\/boursin_applemaple.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1121\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhoAQRyp4zRnD9Hj8U_hIUuIe0R5CqdGfo0yAURBU3rDiKh25tb1Nc2UTxm78Zkagi1gB2HS-bpcWU83SQKBY9nAo6MZgvdl1flMt8jz67qjaQDs3B3DfdUZHf-RES9wnGwm05v3212M7ww\/s1600\/boursin_applemaple.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj3M-KssKHDl88aA9p6p-2Wz4dkf4FGq_AmQ351K4x1cuWtdzDsRVyqUJLDeSZwSdB8rSUsckAdMoQJ9H9G99E-ey0Lpy7D6athngNqzsRAiQ4nH0tgJRhoFUMT7s28iKiauZZVAikUIneN\/s1600\/boursin-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj3M-KssKHDl88aA9p6p-2Wz4dkf4FGq_AmQ351K4x1cuWtdzDsRVyqUJLDeSZwSdB8rSUsckAdMoQJ9H9G99E-ey0Lpy7D6athngNqzsRAiQ4nH0tgJRhoFUMT7s28iKiauZZVAikUIneN\/s1600\/boursin-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhWLCvJmHdd0OVbndQ3kOrA8BPlwaGLxgbhiGmvxECMFv78qf3YGYOl9f8gR4Hr-NQ1H3x65KJ3C4jh5isKvNkTquxf1vmgSjsVhn_wZUzUE9Y8Jq3SGes5aDg2B3ylQRv1kacAniing_k3\/s1600\/boursin-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhWLCvJmHdd0OVbndQ3kOrA8BPlwaGLxgbhiGmvxECMFv78qf3YGYOl9f8gR4Hr-NQ1H3x65KJ3C4jh5isKvNkTquxf1vmgSjsVhn_wZUzUE9Y8Jq3SGes5aDg2B3ylQRv1kacAniing_k3\/s1600\/boursin-6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjTvdxJY2SHXOoM1kiXhnNVtnoDZ-Fsy4WXZlOOMjXEVEIrwNMFSV-GCG3U7lY6ATek3gqe5n-3onfrDQsuMkP5Ue85tf-HHUkViVmyYsF0fiE6gvmb3TnsonXOOmbE39Tm5k24zhj6tw-u\/s1600\/boursin.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjTvdxJY2SHXOoM1kiXhnNVtnoDZ-Fsy4WXZlOOMjXEVEIrwNMFSV-GCG3U7lY6ATek3gqe5n-3onfrDQsuMkP5Ue85tf-HHUkViVmyYsF0fiE6gvmb3TnsonXOOmbE39Tm5k24zhj6tw-u\/s1600\/boursin.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAfter it was all said and done, my intimate and simple brunch winded down and there were barely any leftovers to pack up. The \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.boursin.ca\/en\/produit\/apple-maple\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBoursin Apple \u0026amp; Maple\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E mini toasts were a hit and I think they may be a welcome addition to all of my hosting menus.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nHave you ever hosted a casual brunch? What are some of your favourite no-bake, no-cook recipes? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThis post was created in partnership with \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.boursin.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBoursin\u003C\/a\u003E. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.\u003C\/i\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/2012789535260272739\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/04\/simple-brunch-with-boursin-apple-maple.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/2012789535260272739"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/2012789535260272739"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/04\/simple-brunch-with-boursin-apple-maple.html","title":"Simple Brunch with Boursin Apple \u0026 Maple"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhueJt6vohPkdfyjIgWZzFxSRNx_mtrCyR74k0LTS2xBxeLnL_Tu7JLC_jAj9RhR13Jw5VwNh6xQk5Md73caFFcNVMfrKCKr8ZfvB8zH5l7aTJqgYAYIEKoFpCj-BuxaPRvMfX-SWuNPhb1\/s72-c\/boursin-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-4396192659227550120"},"published":{"$t":"2019-04-11T12:03:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-04-11T12:50:02.003-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Life Lately"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Pregnancy"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"When Shit Hits The Fan"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjuoxx2DA5XpRVc5pcN113Qke9oPDfU4Fl4VDhUEhIFK-5a4FP8UdDsNK4WN1wbkbFMXy1nP2b7dokWoBBtTeOa-Sy9kNBGNvje8yg4eppUMCgxl5l6fEVhZmtxoMLhHhuA3QOFexbIVyqc\/s1600\/IMG_6075.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjuoxx2DA5XpRVc5pcN113Qke9oPDfU4Fl4VDhUEhIFK-5a4FP8UdDsNK4WN1wbkbFMXy1nP2b7dokWoBBtTeOa-Sy9kNBGNvje8yg4eppUMCgxl5l6fEVhZmtxoMLhHhuA3QOFexbIVyqc\/s1600\/IMG_6075.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIf you were to ask me how my pregnancy was going, I would always answer the same way. \"It's going great! Just waiting for shit to hit the fan.\" My standard response, because honestly I've had a really good pregnancy so far. I've felt great, minimal sickness, hardly any of the symptoms that you hear plague most women. I would throw in the \"waiting for shit to hit the fan\" as part of my schtick, so as to not come off as gloating for having such an easy pregnancy. Did I actually expect anything to possibly go wrong? To be honest, no. Until this past Sunday when shit really did hit the fan.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThe weekend was a good one, and totally uneventful. After an easy Sunday Brian and I had dinner, watched some TV and then went to bed. I woke up that evening with terrible stomach cramps, nausea and some vomiting. \"Food poisoning\" I thought, after cursing making beef for dinner. I mentally swore off red meat and dragged myself to bed to try and sleep it off.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThe next morning I felt a little bit off, but figured that I was on the mend. Then all of a sudden, without warning, I started shaking - and couldn't stop. It was so bad that I couldn't walk, could barely talk and after Brian ran home from work we both decided that I should go to the hospital. One ambulance ride later and I was lying on a stretcher in the hallway of emergency. Thankfully because the paramedics knew about my pregnancy, I was transferred quickly to labor and delivery to check on the baby. After some preliminary tests, they discovered that I was severely dehydrated and as a result the baby's heartbeat was faster then it should be. No worries, they told me, just rehydrate and baby's heart rate should lower. I drank as much water as I possibly could, and sure enough baby's heart beat started to lower. I was so happy and thought that the worst was over - and then the shaking started again.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAt this point, one of the doctors had come in to check on me and was very concerned. They hooked me up to an IV to control re-hydration and I started to feel better. So much so that I figured it was just dehydration and that I would be able to go home once my IV was done. The one doctor who had witnessed my shaking and had asked me about my nausea and vomiting the night before was definitely being more cautious. He hit me with the bad news - although the chances were very slim, he was concerned that I had contracted Listeriosis and would be treated as such until the blood cultures they had taken were cleared negative. Likely 48 hours.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nListeria is no joke - especially when you're pregnant. It only took a quick Google search to confirm every expectant mother's worst fears - Listeria is devastating for an unborn baby and the prognosis is not good - should they even make it. OMG what a horrible moment that was. I couldn't believe it - I was being so good the entire pregnancy, staying away from soft cheeses, deli meats - everything! Although I was assured that the chances were very slim, you definitely start to assume the worst and I was so anxious to get the results back from my blood tests.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAnd thus begun my hospital stay. Because I was suspected of contracting Listeriosis, I was placed in isolation. Hey, at least that meant I got my own room. I stayed in that room for the duration of my stay, leaving only to have an abdominal ultrasound to check on my organs, and another ultrasound to check on baby. I was hooked up to an IV for rehydration, as well as receiving antibiotics. I met my team of doctors from the infectious disease unit who were being so thorough, it made me feel very relieved. The nurses are all saints too. As the days went on, I was assured that what I had was likely \u003Ci\u003Enot \u003C\/i\u003EListeria, but they still needed the results back from my blood cultures.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nTo make a long story short, in the end it wasn't Listeria - THANK GOD! I had a UTI that had moved into my blood stream and had lead to an infection in my kidneys. All very treatable with antibiotics, and because they caught it incredibly early there's been no damage to my kidneys. And the best news of all - baby is 100% fine.\u0026nbsp; I was SO relieved after my ultrasound to see a healthy baby.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSo yes, shit did hit the fan this week. But all in all, I'm incredibly grateful with the outcome. Now I'm going to continue with my relatively stress-free pregnancy, but without any schtick about shit hitting the fan. The truth is that I'm so lucky to have a pregnancy that allows me to travel, be comfortable in my day-to-day life and allows me to enjoy the process of becoming a mom. I will \u003Ci\u003Enever\u003C\/i\u003E take that for granted again.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBecause of the incredible care I received, I'm able to continue with all of our pregnancy plans. This weekend we're hosting a very small gender reveal party with our families, and next weekend Brian and I are taking off to NYC. Most importantly, baby is fine. I'm feeling very grateful.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nDare I say it - I feel blessed.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/4396192659227550120\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/04\/when-shit-hits-fan.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/4396192659227550120"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/4396192659227550120"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/04\/when-shit-hits-fan.html","title":"When Shit Hits The Fan"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Joëlle | La Petite Noob"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14745406113169173235"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"32","height":"32","src":"\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAvFTRCHNrt2-1IyKzK8dPrXLOYIviOC2Rq51BwkZ2QifNohaJPWmoiJHcnYREN6Yud8XOCEJU546G3vPm9qS7GmIvOOlgVtcqzjZl0CuInuT0SV3Ff3WHPzyLce70r6s\/s220\/FullSizeRender.jpg"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjuoxx2DA5XpRVc5pcN113Qke9oPDfU4Fl4VDhUEhIFK-5a4FP8UdDsNK4WN1wbkbFMXy1nP2b7dokWoBBtTeOa-Sy9kNBGNvje8yg4eppUMCgxl5l6fEVhZmtxoMLhHhuA3QOFexbIVyqc\/s72-c\/IMG_6075.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-8290397468054749081"},"published":{"$t":"2019-03-29T10:30:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-03-29T11:35:35.411-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Blog Talk"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Blog Tips"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Blogging as a Business"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"3 Big Reasons You Need A Blog"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjCUDi-pVsHOV-e1tH6IRB_guzS-NVcDeYs-vYlD8of8JX6xJ7ttIGUgS_nIsX_9QX9ejukZ0XguhN-FgG6accFWTXEG8ZRdis6MPZRUb0jmfYgbcG3Zs8G4HQ5TrApPLEueXVJddqZlp6l\/s1600\/clay.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjCUDi-pVsHOV-e1tH6IRB_guzS-NVcDeYs-vYlD8of8JX6xJ7ttIGUgS_nIsX_9QX9ejukZ0XguhN-FgG6accFWTXEG8ZRdis6MPZRUb0jmfYgbcG3Zs8G4HQ5TrApPLEueXVJddqZlp6l\/s1600\/clay.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI want to talk about something very near and dear to my heart - the blog. What once started as a hobby, or a creative distraction from a very emotionally heavy job, has since blossomed into a beautiful lifestyle and career that I am so grateful for every single day. La Petite Noob has shape shifted and evolved over the almost 6ish years that it's been alive, and truthfully so has the blogging industry itself. That's right - digital content creation is now a full-blown industry, with terms like \"influencer\" and \"creator\" being thrown around. The rise of social media, specifically Instagram, has certainly taken precedence in this newfound industry and the humble blog has completely fallen to the wayside. In a time where likes and followers take precedent over written thoughts and musings, by both creators and advertisers alike, is there really any reason to start or maintain your blog?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nYes. The answer is a resounding yes. I firmly believe that now more than ever is the time to maintain your blog - or even create one, if you haven't already. Here are 3 big reasons that you need a blog in 2019, and need to continue to update and maintain it moving into the future.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nYou Own Your Blog\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nYou do not own your social media accounts. I repeat: \u003Ci\u003Eyou do not own your social media accounts\u003C\/i\u003E. The blog, on the other hand, is totally yours. A space on the internet that's totally yours to create, write, design, control - and most importantly, nobody can take that away from you.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nYour social media accounts are a totally different story. One decision made by the app developers and totally affect your future on said app, and you're powerless to control any of it. Remember the glitch a few weeks ago that rendered Facebook and Instagram completely useless for a day? A small glitch in an app can caused chaos, and is a brutal reminder that you are not in control of your content on any app.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI like to look at my blog as a 'home' for my content, and social media accounts as rented vacation properties. While the rented properties may be more fun, and generate a bigger crowd for any parties, ultimately my blog is home, and is a place in which I own for myself.\u0026nbsp; Just like any home base, your blog is an entity that you can count on and a place for both yourself and your audience to come back to should anything happen to these rented social media accounts.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nYou Can Elaborate On Your Thoughts\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIn the same respect of thinking of your blog as a home vs. a rented vacation property, I like to use the analogy of my blog being a phone conversation vs. a text message of social media. There's a lot that can get lost in translation in social media, especially with people potentially scrolling through your long, thought provoking captions. We've become a very visual society and while a pretty picture can be enough to draw an audience in, it can ultimately serve as a distraction from what your message truly is.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThough your blog posts may or may not receive as much love as a single post on Instagram, it's a great way to really let your audience know who you truly are as a person. Your blog is a space which you can fully elaborate on your thoughts, share opinions and advice, stories and just general life musings. Even sharing what you like to buy, link and shopping lists have more value to your audience on the blog. I know myself that I feel more of a connection to creators where I read their blog posts as opposed to just scrolling through their Instagram feed.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nTruly envision your blog as a long phone conversation as a friend. While there's not the instant gratification of text (aka. a like on social media,) you're left with more fulfillment and a deeper connection to whomever is on the other line.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nYou Blog Content Can Be Evergreen\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nYou've probably heard the term 'evergreen' being tossed around when discussing online content creation. To break it down into the simplest of terms (which, to be fair, is the only way that I understand it haha): evergreen content is searchable, useful and relevant all year round, and year after year.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhile the vast majority of my content on La Petite Noob is certainly not classed as evergreen, those posts that are continue to do well in search engines and drive new eyes to my blog on a yearly basis. I have posts that I wrote when I was first starting out in 2014, particularly those relating to travel and packing lists, that \u003Ci\u003Estill\u003C\/i\u003E continue to perform and drive thousands of new visitors to my blog each and every month.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAnd sometimes it's posts that I don't necessarily think will become evergreen content that get picked up by the Google algorithm and start to drive a new audience to La Petite Noob. It's pretty incredible!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThe point is, while not all content can be evergreen, there is a much higher potential for it to become so when posted on a blog versus posted on social media. On Instagram in particular, even is a particular post does well, that success is likely very short-lived and certainly does not continue to be so each and every year.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjIfvWt1UlJ_N9Ciwgze4M1vr5_54XkjCuSB7nzK4EThwRTxv91EPjGgX5sExZ1mW1FaMURCJqLLLLHRGGvx8byPheLMtHUnRi3gP2rrZawaIJsFL6ipPSM3wI9hsiV5Up6If0ekifEijwo\/s1600\/pandora-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjIfvWt1UlJ_N9Ciwgze4M1vr5_54XkjCuSB7nzK4EThwRTxv91EPjGgX5sExZ1mW1FaMURCJqLLLLHRGGvx8byPheLMtHUnRi3gP2rrZawaIJsFL6ipPSM3wI9hsiV5Up6If0ekifEijwo\/s1600\/pandora-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI hope that I've made a case on 3 big reasons that you need a blog. If you haven't started one, there's no time like the present! Haven't shown your blog some love in the last few months? Try to ease your way back into a posting schedule, even if it's just a simple post a week. Invest the time in your blog. You definitely will not regret it on the long run.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Are you pro blog? What do you think about having a blog versus investing all of your time in social media? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/8290397468054749081\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/03\/3-big-reasons-you-need-blog.html#comment-form","title":"5 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8290397468054749081"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8290397468054749081"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/03\/3-big-reasons-you-need-blog.html","title":"3 Big Reasons You Need A Blog"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjCUDi-pVsHOV-e1tH6IRB_guzS-NVcDeYs-vYlD8of8JX6xJ7ttIGUgS_nIsX_9QX9ejukZ0XguhN-FgG6accFWTXEG8ZRdis6MPZRUb0jmfYgbcG3Zs8G4HQ5TrApPLEueXVJddqZlp6l\/s72-c\/clay.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"5"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-399588692695604303"},"published":{"$t":"2019-03-22T07:26:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-03-22T07:35:54.669-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Instagrammable"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Los Angeles"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel Diary"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"USA"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"3 Days in LA: A Visual Travel Diary"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgDCdbPu4b_dhJjNY49EuIpxwY1JF5ER6zgUpmfNtctMpXeQ0UdSwxhkdrciFu633Pgyv6q3AB8Ev5J5ZB59cy8sLhgDY69cHyNPSwaFmA5eXaiuKtGOMgFThxSmESYyQUe5rtk82x4gYJ4\/s1600\/ACS_0353.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgDCdbPu4b_dhJjNY49EuIpxwY1JF5ER6zgUpmfNtctMpXeQ0UdSwxhkdrciFu633Pgyv6q3AB8Ev5J5ZB59cy8sLhgDY69cHyNPSwaFmA5eXaiuKtGOMgFThxSmESYyQUe5rtk82x4gYJ4\/s1600\/ACS_0353.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nAfter what could only be described as the trip of a lifetime,\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/03\/3-days-at-disneyland-complete-overview.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E my first experience at Disneyland\u003C\/a\u003E, Brian and I hadn't quite gotten enough of the Californian sun. We went straight from the park upon check out to pick up our rental car and made the 30 minute drive into one of my favourite cities in the world - Los Angeles.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nThe more I talk to others, the more I realize what a polarizing city that LA can be. You seem to either love it or hate it. Myself, I can't get enough - which is evident through the blog since this will be my third time visiting the city within a year. I just love it all: the weather, the sunshine, cruising around iconic streets that I only see in movies, the food. I even love the grittiness that comes along with the city; a stark contrast from what you see on the big screen. I love it all, and always leave wanting more.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nThis particular trip was taken at a snail's pace. After a whirlwind experience at Disneyland, Brian and I were looking for a few days to just soak up the sunshine and hit up all of our familiar places. To be honest the only new spot that we really checked out this trip is \u003Cb\u003ESweet Laurel,\u003C\/b\u003E the sweetest little pink café you ever did see.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nHave a look at my visual travel diary for your daily dose of pinkspiration. For more detailed guides, check out my previous posts on the most \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/03\/instagrammable-los-angeles.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EInstagrammable spots in LA\u003C\/a\u003E, as well as my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/09\/los-angeles-summer-2018-travel-diary.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELA travel diary from this past summer\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiRXvJz3TSUwi9gm76qK9Trc5CYlrRsU7m1a0ac41OlKwpogNUertEGNGfc0H67kiNJFHBmvDIjnDFcHzKGeI-LGcJ6xplygl7qWfj6stlogJr1B_Q11ePeSLkGGadHdrWSaGws0EdRg86x\/s1600\/instagrammable-spots-los-angeles-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiRXvJz3TSUwi9gm76qK9Trc5CYlrRsU7m1a0ac41OlKwpogNUertEGNGfc0H67kiNJFHBmvDIjnDFcHzKGeI-LGcJ6xplygl7qWfj6stlogJr1B_Q11ePeSLkGGadHdrWSaGws0EdRg86x\/s1600\/instagrammable-spots-los-angeles-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjk8hDMyX6x-N_FAINQ21L3scT5oS8iePvGIKgIp0p-IAwVwyJMFV6QMpq-wW5QigmFjr4C0vJkYZ60Dwb4ucOdZa18R8tW2z0mr1Egso8QS7iCAW_8lgGBMjVJNntyGe3eDIOH_zg6gDcg\/s1600\/instagrammable-spots-los-angeles-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjk8hDMyX6x-N_FAINQ21L3scT5oS8iePvGIKgIp0p-IAwVwyJMFV6QMpq-wW5QigmFjr4C0vJkYZ60Dwb4ucOdZa18R8tW2z0mr1Egso8QS7iCAW_8lgGBMjVJNntyGe3eDIOH_zg6gDcg\/s1600\/instagrammable-spots-los-angeles-6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjJriWEp7GSEANiojT7DNB-EOc_gQJ5NGI2jEg288FDwPh67g6Da4_byKAQ5uIwSVh_4rPlxxgyHaj7BbhQnXmlE3aV9Xvcjj8w9TYAjycr1CLPS2XMVCh5hmTS4DHQYK8u8NU7gmwsUbXE\/s1600\/instagrammable-spots-los-angeles-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjJriWEp7GSEANiojT7DNB-EOc_gQJ5NGI2jEg288FDwPh67g6Da4_byKAQ5uIwSVh_4rPlxxgyHaj7BbhQnXmlE3aV9Xvcjj8w9TYAjycr1CLPS2XMVCh5hmTS4DHQYK8u8NU7gmwsUbXE\/s1600\/instagrammable-spots-los-angeles-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgB-VT0OCPaLgVYfUOTelEhzlhRl7eNebX0UWPAg8HTSNlWLD4rZQvnuz0R8S67BOHrp1968_Mg0GB0GRNbkEA0QN5qlizKWQYyLRTqhzadzKDctUNv_bV7yDXwc3leHYvJ62DBqBlqEeeY\/s1600\/IMG_4626.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgB-VT0OCPaLgVYfUOTelEhzlhRl7eNebX0UWPAg8HTSNlWLD4rZQvnuz0R8S67BOHrp1968_Mg0GB0GRNbkEA0QN5qlizKWQYyLRTqhzadzKDctUNv_bV7yDXwc3leHYvJ62DBqBlqEeeY\/s1600\/IMG_4626.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi861Zji9yf1H5ya-m63B2pATT5BREA6R8vtOPFX8HcBeGiSuUnxR8DFNQW0v9vlx0h1Q5ewlq5svTmnjfZa7x5C-NJtAKcZW5LHiEP8arNc1ubalAJBGhO_f7dm-AC3oGyNXAy4b4WjGi2\/s1600\/instagrammable-spots-los-angeles-10.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi861Zji9yf1H5ya-m63B2pATT5BREA6R8vtOPFX8HcBeGiSuUnxR8DFNQW0v9vlx0h1Q5ewlq5svTmnjfZa7x5C-NJtAKcZW5LHiEP8arNc1ubalAJBGhO_f7dm-AC3oGyNXAy4b4WjGi2\/s1600\/instagrammable-spots-los-angeles-10.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiyQL7fis3k7R6PQyS7U365w9a0IuorTKJJj3B2369GW_bPhc_-5Yk9ujaD1ZiP_jjxEuZptsYRLx9aF9ayZ-wJHY1I-ZIVKoDy0f1-HfKZiEnhdgdyfYRhQofwACHug-Edj4OaI9MDYuiE\/s1600\/IMG_4544.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiyQL7fis3k7R6PQyS7U365w9a0IuorTKJJj3B2369GW_bPhc_-5Yk9ujaD1ZiP_jjxEuZptsYRLx9aF9ayZ-wJHY1I-ZIVKoDy0f1-HfKZiEnhdgdyfYRhQofwACHug-Edj4OaI9MDYuiE\/s1600\/IMG_4544.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgBqF1sAyfXOsG-VX-Y7e-XdPc6miUVITWAXwlGkBxaHsWEqe_-anlwgf5zxrvRuZjW7BtByx3a_PEq2UYBJHA8Pc0zNScsAPbR_4e1BeDGZi5A2pUPYJFNwhbwdOFqv5tqxEPsCUUYs-Xr\/s1600\/IMG_4540.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgBqF1sAyfXOsG-VX-Y7e-XdPc6miUVITWAXwlGkBxaHsWEqe_-anlwgf5zxrvRuZjW7BtByx3a_PEq2UYBJHA8Pc0zNScsAPbR_4e1BeDGZi5A2pUPYJFNwhbwdOFqv5tqxEPsCUUYs-Xr\/s1600\/IMG_4540.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEglAGx5r5WWy-zDy5jazqtxT7PRilGh5CMQ-kPIkfuQaJiTwoLsJ1RiLtgTs0xOTiNBv16v8bjqaCaaTYW3In9U8vP5PNHWWNPqJrPhROooFlkZuuCBfAiHZyuCCcexll-x3IyAYnVZg5HS\/s1600\/IMG_4567.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEglAGx5r5WWy-zDy5jazqtxT7PRilGh5CMQ-kPIkfuQaJiTwoLsJ1RiLtgTs0xOTiNBv16v8bjqaCaaTYW3In9U8vP5PNHWWNPqJrPhROooFlkZuuCBfAiHZyuCCcexll-x3IyAYnVZg5HS\/s1600\/IMG_4567.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhLaJv0vnAw1oPzlhbuQ31Go5Mdy3WjM42FvFuT8ruTbS5GcUcZitaoyg5TWYbF1_YA3rQfA0U-JXsuntS_NCGJd79mBM9QQrzed07Zmt0ADR8PIs8RmKQ6_7ISHUvE_9bQhWSD_MvYLP72\/s1600\/instagrammable-spots-los-angeles3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhLaJv0vnAw1oPzlhbuQ31Go5Mdy3WjM42FvFuT8ruTbS5GcUcZitaoyg5TWYbF1_YA3rQfA0U-JXsuntS_NCGJd79mBM9QQrzed07Zmt0ADR8PIs8RmKQ6_7ISHUvE_9bQhWSD_MvYLP72\/s1600\/instagrammable-spots-los-angeles3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgLYcd57FVUmRGoi8dia1_7wKkPf39qdmfCd_zFLO7ORS1ynIMm5wV5RSF1gMzSZRz4GUYAjk7ukb1OEeMmkzGnYeMJF-2Y3t5loDm0aac7UF_xc5UZWNEfGD2GD218avJu-0o_3-lvDel4\/s1600\/IMG_4639.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgLYcd57FVUmRGoi8dia1_7wKkPf39qdmfCd_zFLO7ORS1ynIMm5wV5RSF1gMzSZRz4GUYAjk7ukb1OEeMmkzGnYeMJF-2Y3t5loDm0aac7UF_xc5UZWNEfGD2GD218avJu-0o_3-lvDel4\/s1600\/IMG_4639.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgqrOzknmFkD8_9AQsK7bFssi2RnrE7_YvNM_n0IQQV1aB3cjGCPBPS_c7Ft2f0YpTzFPpAZrhkHh7EgpxxF6p1o_3QtUFUdbJjhMfThIoPiXwEJDdSHlp9DeywqVx9pMq81M1GgrA1aWCi\/s1600\/instagrammable-spots-los-angeles2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgqrOzknmFkD8_9AQsK7bFssi2RnrE7_YvNM_n0IQQV1aB3cjGCPBPS_c7Ft2f0YpTzFPpAZrhkHh7EgpxxF6p1o_3QtUFUdbJjhMfThIoPiXwEJDdSHlp9DeywqVx9pMq81M1GgrA1aWCi\/s1600\/instagrammable-spots-los-angeles2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEisdzIoEyzh5p05Nvj7crQBEtr37bRBXz2IA4yUv5zk0yHZEna3Yus_bQLFpqYdYSgrf3G_41FVEaRXCcfom5Yq3IZuq-5cdXbMVJlaS1QFc20hLsLqKCkOtqn30LrBAdLiB_iRmPYW29Gr\/s1600\/IMG_4574.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEisdzIoEyzh5p05Nvj7crQBEtr37bRBXz2IA4yUv5zk0yHZEna3Yus_bQLFpqYdYSgrf3G_41FVEaRXCcfom5Yq3IZuq-5cdXbMVJlaS1QFc20hLsLqKCkOtqn30LrBAdLiB_iRmPYW29Gr\/s1600\/IMG_4574.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjiVQTlVyZzIaTBX1fX5ZRMFvCLBtgol2g37zFVFA1P-22_O4Vy1v2fJl0DCfQXXpK91500GvP4zcen5N1tyzCbzhLBC6XJaN7lSDcKh61_A5XRX9BPgNt4HBLDWg089Iq-kbfnS5kuffm-\/s1600\/IMG_4650.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1440\" data-original-width=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjiVQTlVyZzIaTBX1fX5ZRMFvCLBtgol2g37zFVFA1P-22_O4Vy1v2fJl0DCfQXXpK91500GvP4zcen5N1tyzCbzhLBC6XJaN7lSDcKh61_A5XRX9BPgNt4HBLDWg089Iq-kbfnS5kuffm-\/s1600\/IMG_4650.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n3 days in one of our favourite cities was exactly what the doctor ordered, and we left feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Read to take on the brutal Toronto winter that waited for us after a plane ride home - almost, that is.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLet me know if you have ever been to LA. Do you love it, or is it not for you? Where are your favourite spots? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/399588692695604303\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/03\/3-days-in-la-visual-travel-diary.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/399588692695604303"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/399588692695604303"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/03\/3-days-in-la-visual-travel-diary.html","title":"3 Days in LA: A Visual Travel Diary"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgDCdbPu4b_dhJjNY49EuIpxwY1JF5ER6zgUpmfNtctMpXeQ0UdSwxhkdrciFu633Pgyv6q3AB8Ev5J5ZB59cy8sLhgDY69cHyNPSwaFmA5eXaiuKtGOMgFThxSmESYyQUe5rtk82x4gYJ4\/s72-c\/ACS_0353.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-4609658330414400570"},"published":{"$t":"2019-03-18T09:47:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-03-18T09:47:11.825-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Philadelphia"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel Diary"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel Tips"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"USA"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"5 Reasons To Visit Philadephia"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjlOqKN9KiRBhKnQYAcds1hq8JCHsZOxmsRpnifNJuYEAyOw3ORiU-8NJFzMWdvVb1v7u83-HSr1TLw5k6F-GNdN9AzUveCr4YCdDPBxOmhberJbXGhW6zKemSMqVzdLgq9tZ6kRg8YJW6f\/s1600\/philadelphia-city-guide-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjlOqKN9KiRBhKnQYAcds1hq8JCHsZOxmsRpnifNJuYEAyOw3ORiU-8NJFzMWdvVb1v7u83-HSr1TLw5k6F-GNdN9AzUveCr4YCdDPBxOmhberJbXGhW6zKemSMqVzdLgq9tZ6kRg8YJW6f\/s1600\/philadelphia-city-guide-5.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nA few weeks ago, right on the heels of coming back from Los Angeles, I had to pleasure of boarding a plane with my friend \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.didieryhc.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDidier\u003C\/a\u003E with Philadelphia as our destination. It would have been both of our first times visiting Philly, and myself I didn't quite know what to expect. I had very basic knowledge of Philadelphia coming into the trip - at best. Think Philly Cheese Steaks and Rocky. While I didn't know much about the city, I was definitely excited to explore a different part of the United States and going into the trip with zero expectations made it all the more fun and exciting.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNow as I sit and reflect on my time in Philadelphia, it's safe to say that my expectations of the city have been exceeded. I was not expecting the hospitality of the people, a bustling food scene and a metropolis so rich in history. Philadelphia really did take my by surprise. I throughly enjoyed my weekend trip to Philly and have already begun brainstorming returning in the summer. If you have Philadelphia on your radar, or are looking for a quick city getaway from Toronto, here are 5 reasons to visit Philadelphia.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg3uZK1uygrcDkMcpokr7ZVsKJ_dNjNoYqQ-YtcZNfr8YcSJ-JoGYfvIjDgKQHf6UHvoVBdJdVZh4gHK9AcX9YNxdUw7gy-kvaKT0Dpf4ETnX40-7GjPgq5hVGunVUjqjsnUCesfIF5csFy\/s1600\/philadelphia-city-guide-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg3uZK1uygrcDkMcpokr7ZVsKJ_dNjNoYqQ-YtcZNfr8YcSJ-JoGYfvIjDgKQHf6UHvoVBdJdVZh4gHK9AcX9YNxdUw7gy-kvaKT0Dpf4ETnX40-7GjPgq5hVGunVUjqjsnUCesfIF5csFy\/s1600\/philadelphia-city-guide-7.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nThe Architecture\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOur first morning in Philadelphia was our own to explore, and Didier and I found ourselves mostly walking around the downtown area and marvelling at the architecture of the city. A beautiful mix between historic and modern buildings, the sheer size of some of the structures and their presence in the Philadelphia skyline is absolutely incredible. I especially loved all of the art-deco inspired skyscrapers that lined the city streets. Take a quick trip to the waterfront and see the building style change before your eyes. It's really quite something to see! For those of us who are city-lovers at heart, strolling the streets of Philly and enjoying all that the architecture has to offer may just be the perfect way to spend a day.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhwFpnJh4K0SBtMAkBBElV8QTlg-sKheziblNWBBeLkTPskTSo7_DN_aUyD-DpF-gqp8XqGrXLQZHGjyCwK73mbjpj138fG7iNX1Oj65kfl6l3AmQN4vpIFOg7D7CEl050QamIBMn14PHiT\/s1600\/philadelphia-city-guide-9.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhwFpnJh4K0SBtMAkBBElV8QTlg-sKheziblNWBBeLkTPskTSo7_DN_aUyD-DpF-gqp8XqGrXLQZHGjyCwK73mbjpj138fG7iNX1Oj65kfl6l3AmQN4vpIFOg7D7CEl050QamIBMn14PHiT\/s1600\/philadelphia-city-guide-9.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhW7IlGgdBrZwSou3O_LziuzfG6vR4xU5FgT-oaJsVHhrchxM6VKugQDi8MyzMaFTTnFrWY_UIsEbldFS6Ar7VyKeIYgT6pPsBHJW-o1BRLvKcZe7lX5HHTt_xh8IqS19jIjLhCrPCvMJQ4\/s1600\/philadelphia-city-guide-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhW7IlGgdBrZwSou3O_LziuzfG6vR4xU5FgT-oaJsVHhrchxM6VKugQDi8MyzMaFTTnFrWY_UIsEbldFS6Ar7VyKeIYgT6pPsBHJW-o1BRLvKcZe7lX5HHTt_xh8IqS19jIjLhCrPCvMJQ4\/s1600\/philadelphia-city-guide-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhuJu7YZ2W-i6N4qAsV9eo8jTcWT7oK6q5huu6Z_Z8VNxqi8utOzyrsD2FZBwp__3Ons7SeWNV2HiF7CBc_gs6nM6tXU3l-fcaKif7X1lGtyc0HUCqbbORawGr7UZsPNXHyXB3e7WoWB5BE\/s1600\/philadelphia-city-guide-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhuJu7YZ2W-i6N4qAsV9eo8jTcWT7oK6q5huu6Z_Z8VNxqi8utOzyrsD2FZBwp__3Ons7SeWNV2HiF7CBc_gs6nM6tXU3l-fcaKif7X1lGtyc0HUCqbbORawGr7UZsPNXHyXB3e7WoWB5BE\/s1600\/philadelphia-city-guide-8.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgInjZAEcyi6to2zlI7ufGhR9FP1I4p1jBwiSvh5cn3tAUgQFD0m7NJcmSU1z8OyZB0mSBALVKtKKlan5GtZYN3ZEZM5UBgobhmNj2rjSYH7yMT-yziGQMZzZRRe4oiG0jpjuEWRnpVid_I\/s1600\/philly1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgInjZAEcyi6to2zlI7ufGhR9FP1I4p1jBwiSvh5cn3tAUgQFD0m7NJcmSU1z8OyZB0mSBALVKtKKlan5GtZYN3ZEZM5UBgobhmNj2rjSYH7yMT-yziGQMZzZRRe4oiG0jpjuEWRnpVid_I\/s1600\/philly1.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nThe Food Scene\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nPhilly Cheese Steaks, be gone! The food scene in Philadelphia is positively bustling, and extends far from their namesake sandwich. We were eating like kings and queens, and were hard pressed to ever find a bad meal - even if it was just picking up a quick coffee and croissant! There were so many memorable food moments for me; here's a few of my memorable restaurants from the trip, and ones that I highly recommend should you find yourself hungry in Philadelphia:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/giuseppesons.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGiuseppe and Sons \u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E- A modern take on a classic Italian restaurant. I'm talking plush velvet boots, moody corners, brass details. I half expected Frank Sinatra to be making an appearance! Atmosphere aside, the menu boasts classic Italian fare with careful attention being paid to detail and generous portions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/talulasgarden.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETalula's Garden \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E- A beautiful, intimate restaurant that's situated in Washington Square - one of Philadelphia's oldest and most haunted neighbourhoods. The space boasts rustic decor and a menu made of local, seasonal ingredients. I would love to visit this gorgeous spot in the spring or summer and take advantage of dinning in their gardened outdoor terrace.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/readingterminalmarket.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EReading Terminal Market\u003C\/b\u003E \u003C\/a\u003E- One of America's oldest and largest public markets; a one-stop shop to experience all of the different tastes that Philadelphia has to offer, from both restaurant and grocery. Think St. Lawrence Market, only much \u003Ci\u003Emuch\u003C\/i\u003E larger. I absolutely loved coming here for breakfast.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.louielouie.restaurant\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELouie Louie\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E - Be still my art deco loving heart! Louie Louie is beautifully styled, upscale American fare at it's finest. We enjoyed a simple brunch and, while it wasn't the most imaginative brunch I've ever had, the decor and atmosphere more than made up for it. I'm anxious to go back for a post-pregnancy martini at their stunning bar.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjylSgXNUeiWliPboexhNrpI9zu9_69DcpHw91K8yE5RxqfW9CWLVuuKchDglACLBs9Zl5zLelDxK2mOdX-jWT56WftZEtFJ7UhqyOjxq6CTQTg-O695-py4YmSfhcrUGXI4LJ7p3DncJon\/s1600\/philadelphia-longwood-garden-day-trip-22.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjylSgXNUeiWliPboexhNrpI9zu9_69DcpHw91K8yE5RxqfW9CWLVuuKchDglACLBs9Zl5zLelDxK2mOdX-jWT56WftZEtFJ7UhqyOjxq6CTQTg-O695-py4YmSfhcrUGXI4LJ7p3DncJon\/s1600\/philadelphia-longwood-garden-day-trip-22.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiXe4H6Mxdna1BWTdU96NPHXD8vfCUkxqln9FYFEtZQrvLRqgnIzYvmoaPjjDIm-vrigSV_ORLDYk1sTdf1m_rNCmeXmeII-C_moOp-ZbpTT_kSCzxwnrSw6vWWoihm0Ny7Z9EXzgcKNhSB\/s1600\/philly.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiXe4H6Mxdna1BWTdU96NPHXD8vfCUkxqln9FYFEtZQrvLRqgnIzYvmoaPjjDIm-vrigSV_ORLDYk1sTdf1m_rNCmeXmeII-C_moOp-ZbpTT_kSCzxwnrSw6vWWoihm0Ny7Z9EXzgcKNhSB\/s1600\/philly.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhIhn8rnLYqnWscIxtZEWeHu8Bjy5qSGFFe1CLlzo-gNkqi1gYEOvVgSAVcuvYYwHi3jFRChESpMk_9eKle1EBLrwIqiE9wJR-4jFSiumCW9Mg-cR2pRHHw8Yl33yQYLbAL03rxqzPAc5xS\/s1600\/philadelphia-flower-show-review-13.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhIhn8rnLYqnWscIxtZEWeHu8Bjy5qSGFFe1CLlzo-gNkqi1gYEOvVgSAVcuvYYwHi3jFRChESpMk_9eKle1EBLrwIqiE9wJR-4jFSiumCW9Mg-cR2pRHHw8Yl33yQYLbAL03rxqzPAc5xS\/s1600\/philadelphia-flower-show-review-13.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nThe Cultural Events\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nWe were told that Philadelphia is a city that always has something going on, and our something for our stay was the\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/theflowershow.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E \u003Cb\u003EPhiladelphia Flower Show\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;An annual event held at the Pennsylvania Convention Centre, this flower show extends way beyond your basic garden rose. We were lucky enough to be visiting the year that the show was hosting the FTD World Cup competition. Florists from around the world competed in a series of events happening live at the Philadelphia Flower Show, and we were able to see the contestants work live on their arrangements and marvel at their finished masterpieces. The show is huge, with so many different booths and activities - it's a must-do for any horticultural lover.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj7ZCsqbHVpUgIFbcFUE40O24L4rEkRbPgFvu9kRQVGbPq7-uOch66ccwtanV3eEeZ16uBM-Wu4pTfLWCGFqeMTc-0d4iOaFTjEmLkjZ3swj3BqxY4elO2pQQtiGG4UIXXWylsMbQT61uFr\/s1600\/philadelphia-flower-show-review-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj7ZCsqbHVpUgIFbcFUE40O24L4rEkRbPgFvu9kRQVGbPq7-uOch66ccwtanV3eEeZ16uBM-Wu4pTfLWCGFqeMTc-0d4iOaFTjEmLkjZ3swj3BqxY4elO2pQQtiGG4UIXXWylsMbQT61uFr\/s1600\/philadelphia-flower-show-review-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgtpIR6FJ2hoTUaFFKWZOLuyTZN1kelgc0vgswiAwO0eEnsJwk544NQkXU3Pf8tmshNFK6-gc99RZqeL-lRLdDO7lnlsiHyxRbps0yZgEzgcITlIYgxP2R07BylarXPe4TMafpp0EnuJdj2\/s1600\/philadelphia-flower-show-review-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgtpIR6FJ2hoTUaFFKWZOLuyTZN1kelgc0vgswiAwO0eEnsJwk544NQkXU3Pf8tmshNFK6-gc99RZqeL-lRLdDO7lnlsiHyxRbps0yZgEzgcITlIYgxP2R07BylarXPe4TMafpp0EnuJdj2\/s1600\/philadelphia-flower-show-review-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhWgEFFp5GC1bAh_QWPraV_BUSHS3f2RGp4t9qq9MDSRoDPLlAViD13ivLhL12QRhkOjMHFQb3Q6F0zZWKsstPXrA70LcTpZhj8xw6dzIWigj_0J2vc5PXHjJC0X8HX9pdN8aUo9Ms14jj_\/s1600\/philadelphia-flower-show-review-10.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhWgEFFp5GC1bAh_QWPraV_BUSHS3f2RGp4t9qq9MDSRoDPLlAViD13ivLhL12QRhkOjMHFQb3Q6F0zZWKsstPXrA70LcTpZhj8xw6dzIWigj_0J2vc5PXHjJC0X8HX9pdN8aUo9Ms14jj_\/s1600\/philadelphia-flower-show-review-10.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjEsoBAd_gzBYiSPYY4G3rwFrcHnjRGbTTTTrFchZostvewqjvTyadhEK3m61TVkSWIbeGFxFX61U1fWBl8Yc1kkYJDZY-EcKzt7oc1Cm3CHRj01uQ_dCBY9nESE8Kn_6ANQTP21jwqjpLO\/s1600\/philadelphia-36-hour-city-guide-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjEsoBAd_gzBYiSPYY4G3rwFrcHnjRGbTTTTrFchZostvewqjvTyadhEK3m61TVkSWIbeGFxFX61U1fWBl8Yc1kkYJDZY-EcKzt7oc1Cm3CHRj01uQ_dCBY9nESE8Kn_6ANQTP21jwqjpLO\/s1600\/philadelphia-36-hour-city-guide-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nMuseums and Art Galleries\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nIf you're someone who loves to spend their day immersed in different museums and art galleries, then Philadelphia is\u003Ci\u003E definitely\u003C\/i\u003E for you. Didier and I were barely able to scratch the surface on the many museums, art galleries, outdoor gardens and historical displays that Philadelphia has to offer. This city is rich in history and culture - in fact even walking around the downtown area felt like being in a museum since most of the buildings has informative plaques stating their cultural and historical significance to the country! I honestly wish that we had time to experience more of this side of Philly, but I'm really happy that we were able to visit both the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.phillymagicgardens.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPhiladelphia Magic Garden\u003C\/a\u003E and the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.pafa.org\/museum\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPhiladelphia Academy of Fine Arts Museum\u003C\/a\u003E. Both I would highly recommend.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhDh1rAl-42fZa8tDpRSoONeLYaqqone1xMfsLM23BsbgvqgAUq32XiFuow_EPusWQiKYwK4f1RH4rii7xIAbCJH3NhchhPVEh7FpHDbjiycTP21rH4P-QJnIirlZ53H_wqnXKkpXTrTaD6\/s1600\/philadelphia-36-hour-city-guide-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhDh1rAl-42fZa8tDpRSoONeLYaqqone1xMfsLM23BsbgvqgAUq32XiFuow_EPusWQiKYwK4f1RH4rii7xIAbCJH3NhchhPVEh7FpHDbjiycTP21rH4P-QJnIirlZ53H_wqnXKkpXTrTaD6\/s1600\/philadelphia-36-hour-city-guide-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgTqFfWKLk_OqA2q3HIJZKZrC6qU8f5q5b4JVNChx58f-QlRqOPgXxUSGpsreVCwCbgHbnQjXQx-DL-IdkOphsWFKW_-xtLVtIvUgIRPhbYXOUiXcCFrh7u1TJgzCYRTMCcfJBAtoVJn9gv\/s1600\/philadelphia-longwood-garden-day-trip-13.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgTqFfWKLk_OqA2q3HIJZKZrC6qU8f5q5b4JVNChx58f-QlRqOPgXxUSGpsreVCwCbgHbnQjXQx-DL-IdkOphsWFKW_-xtLVtIvUgIRPhbYXOUiXcCFrh7u1TJgzCYRTMCcfJBAtoVJn9gv\/s1600\/philadelphia-longwood-garden-day-trip-13.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nDay Trips Outside of the City\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nWe were lucky enough to be able to venture outside of the Philadelphia city limits, to \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brandywinevalley.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBrandywine Valley\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. A short 45 minute drive from our hotel in downtown Philadelphia, Brandywine Valley is the idilic country escape when you need a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of a big city. We visited \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/longwoodgardens.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELongwood Gardens\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/b\u003E a sweeping botanical garden that boasts the most stunning indoor garden that I've ever seen! To be completely honest, this little day trip to Longwood Gardens was my favourite memory from our entire weekend\u0026nbsp; - and that's saying a lot coming from a city girl! I so enjoyed wandering the seemingly never-ending rows of manicured indoor garden, marvelling at the orchids during their orchid extravaganza and learning more about the history of Longwood Gardens. My wish it to be able to experience this beautiful botanical wonderland in the Spring and Summer.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nI could honestly go on gushing for hours, but I'll leave you with this - if you're planning a trip to Philadelphia, make sure to devote a day to experiencing all that Brandywine Valley and Longwood Gardens have to offer.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjtPgW0e7Wy0fSmvQV-xWCb5rx3UUQo4n_PR9Gb2tdKFVvLPdSeE5X6on0aY97xCv5mPkJL7zJ5yM_yxsIngj8MDU4dPE8jcor6MJWW2CsZsKpIF6vOGI_rs044Tvh5FhEG7Yo5tyjfq4Xv\/s1600\/philadelphia-longwood-garden-day-trip-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjtPgW0e7Wy0fSmvQV-xWCb5rx3UUQo4n_PR9Gb2tdKFVvLPdSeE5X6on0aY97xCv5mPkJL7zJ5yM_yxsIngj8MDU4dPE8jcor6MJWW2CsZsKpIF6vOGI_rs044Tvh5FhEG7Yo5tyjfq4Xv\/s1600\/philadelphia-longwood-garden-day-trip-6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjiIi-H3Ttsw3Nf2D1S_KjDdb7s3avr3w1mtJxmlD82TkcfidT0btnwheWtqn1WJ1oxZ9H8T5WPBkscAmkl9tFOqJXEdKsk_sq8jVuqJlJOogGmOtepxkzpbn0xHXQiLGwewIcCYoARgE4d\/s1600\/philadelphia-longwood-garden-day-trip-12.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjiIi-H3Ttsw3Nf2D1S_KjDdb7s3avr3w1mtJxmlD82TkcfidT0btnwheWtqn1WJ1oxZ9H8T5WPBkscAmkl9tFOqJXEdKsk_sq8jVuqJlJOogGmOtepxkzpbn0xHXQiLGwewIcCYoARgE4d\/s1600\/philadelphia-longwood-garden-day-trip-12.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiYvEGT5U9wvZ8xcPXTnG33Vz7REth4Y7qhjALI3RF69VpgSQdeU8onVBQn1pGKSomTYuiVh7As63SsgNJyXw33_qNecA_ePDdrsd5f2b-SX968MsiEe0v5O6Q2aBZUajewf8q8uMlCqBRr\/s1600\/philadelphia-longwood-garden-day-trip-21.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiYvEGT5U9wvZ8xcPXTnG33Vz7REth4Y7qhjALI3RF69VpgSQdeU8onVBQn1pGKSomTYuiVh7As63SsgNJyXw33_qNecA_ePDdrsd5f2b-SX968MsiEe0v5O6Q2aBZUajewf8q8uMlCqBRr\/s1600\/philadelphia-longwood-garden-day-trip-21.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nBefore we knew it, it was time to head back to the airport and take the short one and a half hour plane ride from Philadelphia to Toronto. As an avid traveler, I love when destinations blow me away and exceed my expectations; Philadelphia has certainly made it to this list. I'm so grateful that I was able to experience this incredible city, and am already looking forward to visiting again in warmer weather.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nHave you been to Philadelphia? What are you favourite things to-do in the city? Let me know!\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThank you to the Philadelphia Tourism Board for hosting our trip. All thoughts and oppinions are 100% my own.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/4609658330414400570\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/03\/5-reasons-to-visit-philadephia.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/4609658330414400570"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/4609658330414400570"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/03\/5-reasons-to-visit-philadephia.html","title":"5 Reasons To Visit Philadephia"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjlOqKN9KiRBhKnQYAcds1hq8JCHsZOxmsRpnifNJuYEAyOw3ORiU-8NJFzMWdvVb1v7u83-HSr1TLw5k6F-GNdN9AzUveCr4YCdDPBxOmhberJbXGhW6zKemSMqVzdLgq9tZ6kRg8YJW6f\/s72-c\/philadelphia-city-guide-5.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-661988123467214974"},"published":{"$t":"2019-03-15T10:25:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-03-15T10:25:28.197-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Disneyland"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Pregnancy"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel Diary"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Tips for Visiting Disneyland While Pregnant"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEglSrEQMh54_xK54ssKEk7gggMjADE4yNFqoCX4LSKlPqyJjtpbdshuZNX8YMzUS4tQqg6Pk8EPLCeft7h2Zs7rVJ68EgDkqnuywO_g2CZwWPlJxXAGkkTac0IG4ybujYzgo9rLKXxZ_t47\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-10.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEglSrEQMh54_xK54ssKEk7gggMjADE4yNFqoCX4LSKlPqyJjtpbdshuZNX8YMzUS4tQqg6Pk8EPLCeft7h2Zs7rVJ68EgDkqnuywO_g2CZwWPlJxXAGkkTac0IG4ybujYzgo9rLKXxZ_t47\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-10.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI am so happy that I was able to experience the magic of Disneyland for the first time in my thirties. I feel like I was able to experience everything with the wide-eye sense of awe of a child, while still being able to appreciate all of the little details like an adult. Did I expect that I would be visiting Disneyland for the first time pregnant? Absolutely not.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI'll admit, when I first thought about experiencing Disneyland while 16 weeks pregnant, I was a little nervous. Would I be able to keep up with the group while spending the day out in the parks? Would I be able to eat everything that I wanted? Would I be able to participate on the rides? There were so many questions and I wondered if I had ultimately made the right decision to experience Disneyland while pregnant.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThankfully I'm here to tell you that the answer to wether or not to visit Disneyland while pregnant is a huge, resounding YES! I could not have had a better time, and in hindsight can't believe how worried I was about the whole experience. The Disney Parks and Resorts have a special way of taking all visitors and families into consideration, so I don't think that you could find a better place to visit while pregnant. I had an absolute blast and would do it all over again in a heartbeat.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ENOTE:\u003C\/b\u003E I was 16 weeks pregnant while visiting Disneyland, and was lucky enough to be feeling pretty great overall. I know that this may not be the case for all women. Always check with your doctor or midwife before embarking on any travel while pregnant.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjuxwYqau5-8NsHE8MmsSCMBPyxf9tqpHi1WHiyEg6g_hKN9UgK8TgDDrW1pqK4lep7GIUUvpRka89OaA52QkxcGk0bUmIYu2BlnlFEOJQzgO99eqLgbb0AYuVjenbDgaM9L6qo_bFUe4c6\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjuxwYqau5-8NsHE8MmsSCMBPyxf9tqpHi1WHiyEg6g_hKN9UgK8TgDDrW1pqK4lep7GIUUvpRka89OaA52QkxcGk0bUmIYu2BlnlFEOJQzgO99eqLgbb0AYuVjenbDgaM9L6qo_bFUe4c6\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr class=\"Apple-interchange-newline\" \/\u003E\nThat being said, there were still certain precautions and changes to my routine that I had to take into consideration while experiencing Disneyland as a pregnant lady. A few tips and tricks that I picked up very early on into our trip that helped to make each day a success.\u0026nbsp; Here's a few suggestions to take into consideration if you're planning a trip to Disneyland while pregnant. These tips definitely helped me keep my energy levels up and maximize my time at the parks while 16 weeks pregnant.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nStay Hydrated With A Refillable Water Bottle\u003C\/h2\u003E\nProbably my number one tip for keeping your energy up as a pregnant lady visiting Disneyland. It's no secret that staying hydrated is important while visiting the parks, but it's \u003Ci\u003Eespecially\u003C\/i\u003E important when pregnant. Not only does taking the time to drink plenty of water help to keep your energy levels high, but it also helps to prevent any swelling that may occur from spending hours upon hours on your feet. While there are lots of options around the parks for purchasing bottled water, this can get expensive. Instead remember to bring a sustainable, refillable water bottle with you and take every opportunity to keep it filled - water fountains, and even visiting any of the hotels that are on the Disneyland property.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOh, and don't worry about the inevitable bathroom breaks that come along with chugging back water. There are \u003Ci\u003Elots\u003C\/i\u003E of bathrooms distributed around Disneyland, and I rarely had to wait in much of a line - even during peak park hours. If you're worried about finding a bathroom, consult the map portion of the Disneyland app.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nTake Breaks, Stay At A Hotel On-Site\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nTaking breaks is key when navigating Disneyland while pregnant. As much as you feel as though you want to hit the ground running and keep that pace up the entire day, its important to recognize that the key to making it to the fireworks at night is to take plenty of breaks. Be it a park bench, sitting down for lunch or even having a seat on a curb while watching the parade: breaks are absolutely necessary to avoid burning through all of your energy too early on in the day.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI'll even take it a step further and say that one of the absolute best things that you can do while visiting Disneyland pregnant is to stay at one of their Disney Resort Hotels. Our stay at\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/disneyland.disney.go.com\/en-ca\/destinations\/disney-california-adventure\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDisney California Adventure Park\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;was absolutely incredible; not only for being a great hotel with amazing service, but also for helping me pace myself throughout our trip to Disneyland. There were certain parts of the day where a break on a bench simply wouldn't do. I was so grateful to be able to walk back to a room at Disney California Adventure Park and have a quick nap, or even just be able to lie down and unwind for an hour. I would even take disco naps right after dinner so that I was able to make it to the night time shows that Disneyland has to offer.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nStaying on-site when visiting Disneyland can definitely be an investment, but goes \u003Ci\u003Esuch\u003C\/i\u003E a long way for making your stay comfortable and maximizing your time while pregnant.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nBe Mindful Of Rides\u003C\/h2\u003E\nWhile most of the thrill rides at Disneyland are off-limits to pregnant women, the good news is that there are still plenty of rides that can be enjoyed! In fact, I was comforted to know that the list of rides that pregnant ladies can enjoy safely at Disneyland is much larger than the one of those off-limits.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI actually really enjoyed the rides available for pregnant ladies at Disneyland. Each ride was so entertaining, and served as another way for me to get a break in since you're typically sitting!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nVisit In The Winter\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI know this isn't often something that you're able to plan, but if you manage to visit Disneyland during their low-season of winter then it certainly yields a more comfortable experience for expectant mothers. I really appreciated the sunshine that comes along with a Californian climate, but loved the mild temperatures that California experiences in the winter. Being able to wear bare legs, sneakers and sock comfortably and a thick sweater is the perfect combination for a pregnant lady. Plus the added benefits of decreased chances of heat exhaustion and heat-related swelling are music to an expectant mother's ears.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nSome Basic Tips\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EMake sure to pack lots of \u003Cb\u003Esnacks\u003C\/b\u003E, or pick up some small treats in the park to eat throughout the day. I made sure to eat a little something every few hours and it made a huge difference with my energy.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWear \u003Cb\u003Ecomfortable shoes\u003C\/b\u003E. I wore my trusty tennis shoes with a pair of socks the entire trip and, while not the most fashionable, they did my poor pregnant feet good. If you struggle with swelling during your pregnancy, consider opting for compression socks under a long skirt.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EI've been experiencing back pain during my pregnancy, so it was important for me to pack a light \u003Cb\u003Ebackpack \u003C\/b\u003Eto wear for our trip to Disneyland. The \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2TG8Ibh\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFjallraven Mini Pink backpack\u003C\/a\u003E is what I brought and I was \u003Ci\u003Every\u003C\/i\u003E happy to have it.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/ZXNATMq5g7A\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ZXNATMq5g7A?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nDon't forget to check out my video that highlights a day at Disneyland, and some more tips on concurring the park while pregnant.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nI would love to hear your thoughts! Have you visited Disneyland while pregnant? What are you best pregnancy-related travel tips? Let me know!\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThank you so much to the team at Disneyland for partnering with us for this amazing experience. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/661988123467214974\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/03\/tips-visiting-disneyland-pregnant.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/661988123467214974"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/661988123467214974"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/03\/tips-visiting-disneyland-pregnant.html","title":"Tips for Visiting Disneyland While Pregnant"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEglSrEQMh54_xK54ssKEk7gggMjADE4yNFqoCX4LSKlPqyJjtpbdshuZNX8YMzUS4tQqg6Pk8EPLCeft7h2Zs7rVJ68EgDkqnuywO_g2CZwWPlJxXAGkkTac0IG4ybujYzgo9rLKXxZ_t47\/s72-c\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-10.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-6237455798690133560"},"published":{"$t":"2019-03-12T10:14:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-03-12T11:05:25.073-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Toronto"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Shoppers Drug Mart New \u0026 So You"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEijNxZ7PJLkTvA_TsjXJni2TxGw9nlnhQf5LtRI80RVIXmxhl6-2Dv1qr0iY-x1uedM9AvFx0Dy8JnrV_jHHfwTmffAXOMPC54MIuvYkz3NQPlzod31X1Hx0sR2jk-RrHoJNAUGoJBxvfDd\/s1600\/shoppers-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEijNxZ7PJLkTvA_TsjXJni2TxGw9nlnhQf5LtRI80RVIXmxhl6-2Dv1qr0iY-x1uedM9AvFx0Dy8JnrV_jHHfwTmffAXOMPC54MIuvYkz3NQPlzod31X1Hx0sR2jk-RrHoJNAUGoJBxvfDd\/s1600\/shoppers-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWith the new season of Spring coming up, and a new season of life on the horizon for me, I couldn't think of a better time to switch up my routine and start incorporating some new products. Coupled with the fact that there's definite changes happening with my body, and I have a whole new set of concerns to address when it comes to my beauty and hygiene routine. This year, the season of change has taken on a whole new meaning for me.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLuckily for me, I had the opportunity to visit the Shoppers Drug Mart New \u0026amp; So You activation which took place at the CF Toronto Eaton Centre. If you watched my Instagram stories, you'll be familiar with how cool of a concept this is, but let me explain for those who missed it. Essentially I visited this beautiful, spring-like activation right in CF Toronto Eaton Centre and was greeted with a smile. I was then led through an online quiz that asks questions to get a better sense of what your personal preferences and needs are when it comes to personal beauty and care. There's no wrong answers there - the questions are all designed to curate a personalized product list that's especially for you and your unique lifestyle. From your answers, a personalized list of four different products reveals itself and each free full-sized product appeared from the activation booth down a conveyor belt. And they were all mine to take home! So fun!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWith this new season of life for me, I find that my skin has been extra dry. Coupled with always being thirsty, and I'm often left self-conscious that my breath is less-than-fresh. My salon-blonde hair seems to also be a little lacklustre lately, and less mobility from my changing body is making it more difficult to maneuver in the shower to keep my legs smooth. So fun for me, right? Haha.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhlnm5gD6LS_eRQStvWArKsZtRHCgW_MsdMjoq5XHsClg8HiKMAhQyHyfRsOvo1An0yxpHKpaoCuPJCCKL7Rqrt-Pi9Uq3qNaUieoz0SqZcaFxmeyYhfCmG4EiDJ5d7GZfL2UYPYddWykFx\/s1600\/IMG_4874.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhlnm5gD6LS_eRQStvWArKsZtRHCgW_MsdMjoq5XHsClg8HiKMAhQyHyfRsOvo1An0yxpHKpaoCuPJCCKL7Rqrt-Pi9Uq3qNaUieoz0SqZcaFxmeyYhfCmG4EiDJ5d7GZfL2UYPYddWykFx\/s1600\/IMG_4874.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEisI6QLksuUeQc9sbCwE9OFfxASRvp1j9T1qB3B8-KfOFTyxc2MJsovGdkUottE22USTX3DV96vVMXmPYoDk8VUTS4xyMQiuPC4G7ERn1xK5PRLnndZU0O2L1NDXXr7yO2on4XiL5OuqJjB\/s1600\/shoppers-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEisI6QLksuUeQc9sbCwE9OFfxASRvp1j9T1qB3B8-KfOFTyxc2MJsovGdkUottE22USTX3DV96vVMXmPYoDk8VUTS4xyMQiuPC4G7ERn1xK5PRLnndZU0O2L1NDXXr7yO2on4XiL5OuqJjB\/s1600\/shoppers-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBased on my personal preferences and lifestyle changes, I was presented with four free full-sized products to directly address all of my new concerns for this new season. My personal selections were:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ENeutrogena Hydro Boost Body Gel Cream:\u003C\/b\u003E a deeply moisturizing body cream that contains hyaluronic acid and is fragrance-free. Perfect for my dry, super sensitive skin!\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EListerine Go Tabs: \u003C\/b\u003Echewable tablets that are both sugar and alcohol free and give an immediate freshness to your breath. I've been carrying these bad boys around in my purse for meetings - total game changer, and really help to make me less self-conscious of my dry mouth.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EJohn Frieda Go Blonder Lemon Miracle Masque: \u003C\/b\u003Ea hair mask to strengthen fragile hair before and after being colour treated. This will come in handy for my bi monthly trips to the salon.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ENair Leg Mask:\u003C\/b\u003E This leg mask not only removes unwanted hair, but also helps to exfoliate and keep your legs nice and smooth.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nPretty bang-on matches, no? I certainly left very impressed, and couldn't believe that I had four full-sized products to play with! The best way to spend a morning in the city.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIf you weren't able to make it to the Shoppers Drug Mart New \u0026amp; So You activation at CF Toronto Eaton Centre, don't fret - there's actually an opportunity to take \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www1.shoppersdrugmart.ca\/en\/new-and-so-you\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethat same quiz online\u003C\/a\u003E where you can find some new products that work with your personal lifestyle and have a chance to win 1 of 10 prizes of 1 million PC Optimum Points! If that wasn't sweet enough, you can also get 10 times the PC Optimum Points until March 22 on participating new products. Make sure you \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www1.shoppersdrugmart.ca\/en\/new-and-so-you\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Etake the quiz\u003C\/a\u003E so you can find out what’s perfect for you and head in store to purchase these amazing products.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThere really isn't a better time to get a new routine going for a new season.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhM-XW_o1Su9_ggbvBUWr2DkrbCOqfihd1s4EhnK0aLWlkU9P-3tZivtfoSHmyrWye28twaoQCniPXZvBhGlLJ9132IpAbXltD5vDxcsy-FnO6Vxdh1HRYDnq4hWBHq-094xpDxdXH5RyfP\/s1600\/IMG_4907.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"900\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhM-XW_o1Su9_ggbvBUWr2DkrbCOqfihd1s4EhnK0aLWlkU9P-3tZivtfoSHmyrWye28twaoQCniPXZvBhGlLJ9132IpAbXltD5vDxcsy-FnO6Vxdh1HRYDnq4hWBHq-094xpDxdXH5RyfP\/s1600\/IMG_4907.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiWcyd3tJf1xA7F6QrCKl3c-GsCNhlI9m3_pcbfWAv6fNa7GJjR_fAFEsZ4mV3eNob02qZhlp6WUz40y9yDYufeTeUMqhiL8IkvjF00F6cBUhfnkQb3gnYmQOED_SntZDCjMGo9J0PIzalc\/s1600\/IMG_4906+%25281%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1089\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiWcyd3tJf1xA7F6QrCKl3c-GsCNhlI9m3_pcbfWAv6fNa7GJjR_fAFEsZ4mV3eNob02qZhlp6WUz40y9yDYufeTeUMqhiL8IkvjF00F6cBUhfnkQb3gnYmQOED_SntZDCjMGo9J0PIzalc\/s1600\/IMG_4906+%25281%2529.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjNprST2XojyLbQ8iUMDUTGT6JMWJh-0bOp8mj3UpeovVCBjQK1zjlcUE7MCa3n7F9pfdjzme5Xky2IDHvyYLaXiUD5nKgkq6WQ95yKsCTRyK0iu-Qkiea9-KavbGOgjQ4xdZkWQUGfcbEa\/s1600\/6196046F-FA0B-42D9-92E3-52D7F01E0D4D.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1440\" data-original-width=\"1152\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjNprST2XojyLbQ8iUMDUTGT6JMWJh-0bOp8mj3UpeovVCBjQK1zjlcUE7MCa3n7F9pfdjzme5Xky2IDHvyYLaXiUD5nKgkq6WQ95yKsCTRyK0iu-Qkiea9-KavbGOgjQ4xdZkWQUGfcbEa\/s1600\/6196046F-FA0B-42D9-92E3-52D7F01E0D4D.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjXtYpV9nsFBpdYKGaa13KiKkvoRPsoGgWM-_F3Dn3lyx3iE-riK6s29Z-yXhfwHsFEkmClKu0U0oyaK6kjiTSODGBfEjrFsq4FjPQ8gI7xBJJB-5F7k4Hg5KNl0CRn1Y0iK9avxIVKctji\/s1600\/shoppersdrugmart.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjXtYpV9nsFBpdYKGaa13KiKkvoRPsoGgWM-_F3Dn3lyx3iE-riK6s29Z-yXhfwHsFEkmClKu0U0oyaK6kjiTSODGBfEjrFsq4FjPQ8gI7xBJJB-5F7k4Hg5KNl0CRn1Y0iK9avxIVKctji\/s1600\/shoppersdrugmart.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIf you're disappointed to have missed the Shoppers Drug Mart New \u0026amp; So You Activation at CF Eaton Centre, don't worry - it's headed to Vaughan Mills and will be on from March 12th to 17th. See you there?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat does a new season look like for you? Have you been tempted to try out some new products and switch up your routine? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThank you \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www1.shoppersdrugmart.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EShoppers Drug Mart\u003C\/a\u003E for sponsoring this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/6237455798690133560\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/03\/shoppers-drugs-mart-new-so-you.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/6237455798690133560"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/6237455798690133560"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/03\/shoppers-drugs-mart-new-so-you.html","title":"Shoppers Drug Mart New \u0026 So You"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEijNxZ7PJLkTvA_TsjXJni2TxGw9nlnhQf5LtRI80RVIXmxhl6-2Dv1qr0iY-x1uedM9AvFx0Dy8JnrV_jHHfwTmffAXOMPC54MIuvYkz3NQPlzod31X1Hx0sR2jk-RrHoJNAUGoJBxvfDd\/s72-c\/shoppers-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-6484291967454893480"},"published":{"$t":"2019-03-08T12:31:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-03-08T13:56:47.730-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Disneyland"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel Diary"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel Tips"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"USA"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"3 Days At Disneyland - A Complete Overview"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgeap-P0W6FQDWqEnaMg5diBWWVEbv71ZuuVxlHUSjJ3tob_JltbM12upIG_TWjhwJOBIzi1rjvaL-_9gzbGqjImTT303aK7BdjQueKMLH5e5bqQqOX0bbn4YtEG54SLkJiwYdbGG4HQXO6\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgeap-P0W6FQDWqEnaMg5diBWWVEbv71ZuuVxlHUSjJ3tob_JltbM12upIG_TWjhwJOBIzi1rjvaL-_9gzbGqjImTT303aK7BdjQueKMLH5e5bqQqOX0bbn4YtEG54SLkJiwYdbGG4HQXO6\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-8.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFor as long as I can remember, I've known one thing\u0026nbsp; - that Disneyland is touted as the happiest place on earth. Well, I waited until I was well into my thirties and pregnant to visit for the first time, but I figured better late than never - besides, I've always wanted to experience the magic for myself.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWell friends, the magic is REAL! It only took a few short moments after stepping out of our hotel and into the Disneyland parks to feel the stress of my everyday adult life melt away, and this excited feeling take over - I could only describe it as a giddy glee. They say that the magic of Disneyland makes even us adults feel like kids again, and judging by the fact that Brian and I ran around the parks for three days laughing and with awe and amazement - it's totally true!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOur plan for the trip was to be in \u003Cb\u003EDisneyland for a total of three days\u003C\/b\u003E. The first day on the itinerary being a travel day so likely to be taken at a slower pace, followed by three full days to fully explore everything that the parks had to offer, and then leaving early in the morning on our fifth day to continue our trip to Los Angeles. Looking back, I think that this was the perfect amount of time spent at Disneyland; we were able to take the parks at our own pace, and I didn't feel as though I was compromising anything on my long must-do list.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nHere's a breakdown of how we spent our three days at Disneyland in Anaheim, California and everything that we learned along the way to get that quintessential Disney magic experience.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjhh1GM76WGNCzPGOaQV7G17KNrkA04Qy_JSD7qG_TF0xHyog8GBT6rlXTnZAiJtMe5uerUTa8S7utBCWc3M8eHAYNLf3uMGN2z0Jl_pcGBHR_iJ9vbWZLOG66GL4jnidcWyOl3DUTpzIMV\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-disney1-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjhh1GM76WGNCzPGOaQV7G17KNrkA04Qy_JSD7qG_TF0xHyog8GBT6rlXTnZAiJtMe5uerUTa8S7utBCWc3M8eHAYNLf3uMGN2z0Jl_pcGBHR_iJ9vbWZLOG66GL4jnidcWyOl3DUTpzIMV\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-disney1-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003EGetting To Disneyland\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAlthough there are multiple Disney parks worldwide, for our first trip Brian and I visited Disneyland which is located in \u003Cb\u003EAnaheim, California\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWe flew direct from Toronto Pearson Airport to Los Angeles International Airport. There are multiple direct flights from Toronto to Los Angeles per day, with ample choice when it comes to times. We chose to leave early in the morning, making sure to arrive into California early to be able to fully maximize our time for our trip.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOnce we landed in in Los Angeles, it's about a 35 minute drive to Anaheim - traffic permitting. There are a few different ways to get to Disneyland from LAX:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ERent a Car:\u003C\/b\u003E depending on the number of people in your party, and if you'll be staying away from the parks, renting a car may be the best and most cost-effective option. Brian and I have rented cars every time we visit Los Angeles and the process is quick and easy from the Airport\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThere's a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/dre.coachusa.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDisneyland Shuttle Bus\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E that leaves from the Los Angeles airport and takes you directly to the Disneyland parks. Prices vary depending on if you choose a one-way or round trip, and the number of people in your party. There is child pricing available for children ages 3 - 11.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETake an Uber.\u003C\/b\u003E If you're staying within the parks, it may be more cost-effective to use a ride-sharing service like Uber or Lyft to get you to Disneyland. Prices will vary depending on the amount of traffic, and number of people in your party. Also make sure to be mindful of the amount of luggage that you're carrying. If you're a party that likes to travel with multiple pieces of large luggage, it may be worth it to consider the shuttle rather than running the risk of playing an unsuccessful game of Tetris once your car arrives.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhZZjuZKhMte5Qd3Omo13tvn0GPQS0t9TS-vcESBeQ1rZr-YgQ7BWQRVx1OC68QnEgHueUf7r7lgXRwF7espWm7psVgLS2qhjY1dPRYUpgNuIgwRd7X4zreUC_KwKILUlWBrtGhQsbuaKcP\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhZZjuZKhMte5Qd3Omo13tvn0GPQS0t9TS-vcESBeQ1rZr-YgQ7BWQRVx1OC68QnEgHueUf7r7lgXRwF7espWm7psVgLS2qhjY1dPRYUpgNuIgwRd7X4zreUC_KwKILUlWBrtGhQsbuaKcP\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nStaying At Disneyland\u003C\/h2\u003E\nDisneyland offers three different hotels on their property, and we stayed at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/disneyland.disney.go.com\/hotels\/grand-californian-hotel\/rates-rooms\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDisney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa.\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EWhat a property! Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa offers everything you would expect from a premium accommodation, with that added Disney whimsey and service. Honestly, Brian and I agreed that we have \u003Ci\u003Enever\u003C\/i\u003E experienced such friendly, thoughtful and helpful service from any hotel that we have ever stayed at - and between the two of us, we're talking dozens of hotels per year! Everyone that we came into contact with went above and beyond, and to see how this sentiment extended especially to families with children made us agree that we will be staying here for all future trips to Disneyland.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAside from being a beautiful hotel and spa, there's many benefits to staying at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa, or at any of the accommodations found at Disneyland:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPrivate entrance to the park:\u003C\/b\u003E Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa is located right on the Disney California Adventure Park grounds, so there's the added benefit of having quick-access to the park and with little-to-no lineup. The most either of us ever waited in line was 5 minutes - pretty incredible if you ask me\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMagic Hour: \u003C\/b\u003ECoupled with your park tickets, hotel guests get to enjoy entrance an hour earlier than the public to one of the two parks per day. Each day is a different park. Considering how busy the parks may get during peak hours, this is worth its weight in gold.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EOnsite Amenities:\u003C\/b\u003E Between the resort pools, the on-site dinning options and the spa in Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa it just takes the convenience factor to the next level.\u0026nbsp; I was 16 weeks pregnant while visiting Disneyland, so while I was pretty good energy-wise, I got hungry \u003Ci\u003Ereal\u003C\/i\u003E fast. There were times that I needed a quick dinner before heading up to sleep in the room or to grab a snack before a nap. Staying on-resort with so many dinning options also meant that I was able to go right downstairs to grab a quick breakfast to bring back to the room before the day began; let me tell you, this pregnant lady wakes up \u003Ci\u003Ehungry\u003C\/i\u003E. I also took advantage of the pool area to lay out on a sunny afternoon and rest while Brian powered through all of the rides on his list.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nStaying at one of the hotels on the Disneyland resort proved to be one of the best decisions that we could possibly make, and will likely be even more beneficial when we have a little one in tow. It's definitely an investment, but keep your eye out for \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/disneyland.disney.go.com\/offers-discounts\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDisneyland Special Offers\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E before you book - you may find discounts on park tickets and hotel accommodations!\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhZg9cgqmR9pGihfq4j70WuG5UAiNlJEyIc_0o-BqTCnf5xoOa58Ejyvwus8wnklpnrRFFXNDq8ReXW16j-pUYXyqcBBa0KqXZb8pcK4o04AXG_0TvYLJPaRPS1HxkljFtD95O96YYGc4Yd\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhZg9cgqmR9pGihfq4j70WuG5UAiNlJEyIc_0o-BqTCnf5xoOa58Ejyvwus8wnklpnrRFFXNDq8ReXW16j-pUYXyqcBBa0KqXZb8pcK4o04AXG_0TvYLJPaRPS1HxkljFtD95O96YYGc4Yd\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgvbMnoHZ55f8SXkAFYW8ANsQHOzqzsq2ome-9eRrl_tZK-KgJZ_5AFy4Gx7xj_F6giSpMltLFbRainN8d2YQRMyuChjoe6tt2kwHieE7uY14CY1ey_40sQWyfkF7cpf6iTUBmcbdocwxJt\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-10.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgvbMnoHZ55f8SXkAFYW8ANsQHOzqzsq2ome-9eRrl_tZK-KgJZ_5AFy4Gx7xj_F6giSpMltLFbRainN8d2YQRMyuChjoe6tt2kwHieE7uY14CY1ey_40sQWyfkF7cpf6iTUBmcbdocwxJt\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-10.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nDisney California Adventure Park\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAfter checking into our hotel room, and spending the balance of our travel day wandering the parks to get ourselves oriented, Brian and I felt ready to maximize our time at Disneyland. For our first full day, we chose to spend all of our time at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/disneyland.disney.go.com\/en-ca\/destinations\/disney-california-adventure\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDisney California Adventure Park\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u0026nbsp; Definitely the more \"grown up\" of the two parks, Disney California Adventure Park boasts some of the newest and daring rides, delicious dinning options that include alcoholic beverages and stunning shows are the appropriate for big and small kids alike!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThere is just so much to see and do at this park, and I feel like every individual and family can craft their own unique itineraries from the rides, eateries and shows at Disney California Adventure Park. For me, here's a few of my favourite moments from our day at Disney California Adventure Park.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPixar Pier\u003C\/b\u003E is absolutely incredible. It reminds me of of a mix between Pier 39 in San Francisco and the Santa Monica Pier - both of which I have great memories from! I enjoyed all of the delicious places to eat; it's here where I found my coveted Mickey-shaped pretzel (with cheese dipping sauce, of course) and had delicious mocktails and appetizers at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/disneyland.disney.go.com\/en-ca\/dining\/disney-california-adventure\/lamplight-lounge\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELamplight Lounge\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. Brian enjoyed the Incredicoaster, a rollercoaster set to the theme of The Incredibles! Very cool.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EI also really enjoyed \u003Cb\u003ECars Land\u003C\/b\u003E - both Brian and I have always wanted to take a road trip through Utah, and the landscape and retro feel of this part of the park totally caught the vibe. I mean look at the attention to detail! Even the music shifts as you move through the park to make it seem as though you're entering a different time period, a whole different world.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EHands down, my favourite ride of the entire trip can be found in Disney California Adventure Park. Not only is \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/disneyland.disney.go.com\/en-ca\/attractions\/disney-california-adventure\/soarin\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESoarin' Around The World\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E pregnant lady friendly (yay!) it's also one of the most amazing rides experiences that I've ever had in my life. I only wish that we had done it twice! I honestly believe that the experience is amplified if you go into it without knowing a heck of a lot about the ride itself, but I will give you one clue: you may be a bit squeamish if you have a fear of heights!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWe were so fortunate to be visiting Disneyland for the premier night of \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/disneyparks.disney.go.com\/au\/disneyland\/entertainment\/world-of-color\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWorld Of Color\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, an absolutely unbelievable show that uses over 1000 water jets, colours, lights, music, you name it to bring Disney classics to life right in front of your eyes! It's hard for me to truly articulate just how incredible this show is, but I am not ashamed to tell you that I cried. Yes, as someone who rarely shows any emotion, I was so overcome with feeling watching this show that I cried real tears. This is a popular show, so head over to Pixar Pier early with a snack or two to make sure that you get a great spot to watch it.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhKIOq9cuRYQLUl0Juy9xg7vkjwsaN7KMvWXjRzmbXcc4_1Un0elEnoHIFo8rjlnOkwwy7zbhOSnveOtMFr8GPZJSsBcexqGXpq4CegfskgWZ936mY34cCkM_B-dJO2T0WvtPosy7OFpG8I\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-13.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhKIOq9cuRYQLUl0Juy9xg7vkjwsaN7KMvWXjRzmbXcc4_1Un0elEnoHIFo8rjlnOkwwy7zbhOSnveOtMFr8GPZJSsBcexqGXpq4CegfskgWZ936mY34cCkM_B-dJO2T0WvtPosy7OFpG8I\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-13.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiuZTgulXUBYdwBP3bAMeTMfbYbAWfAu0ke4-uZUIPt-xCqXC-hRUXjXUKAnYknA87187iS4mDQQ1AmiY6D_e7Y7vPdE3qPKH_4F5d07tjUO-dS6diMcb9LpZf_oZH_7RZ-ZsaMzJLEZlli\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-10.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiuZTgulXUBYdwBP3bAMeTMfbYbAWfAu0ke4-uZUIPt-xCqXC-hRUXjXUKAnYknA87187iS4mDQQ1AmiY6D_e7Y7vPdE3qPKH_4F5d07tjUO-dS6diMcb9LpZf_oZH_7RZ-ZsaMzJLEZlli\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-10.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiFK6HEsME18iX343KzzA_FkdNVJwGUUGpRml8h3RQygF7cGjbPxtPU6yCVZe5fltPjsX2RBSw7taPT2jcJeRbxTngn22co8bd64RSCJSBZehN-AvEvVD72c8EBcgqpmWX3WHa6wyLP7lSd\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiFK6HEsME18iX343KzzA_FkdNVJwGUUGpRml8h3RQygF7cGjbPxtPU6yCVZe5fltPjsX2RBSw7taPT2jcJeRbxTngn22co8bd64RSCJSBZehN-AvEvVD72c8EBcgqpmWX3WHa6wyLP7lSd\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgPaI0W6ARNphHHLB5le21hd5DYNQxxmiCtozsno7BEOUDPRMk6jS2911s-jKE6I5giS5oRbUjrEMarUj0QqQx_Tnr1O1xbYKO44uG9RILMOlyzNQh6OhhCPB9FwwA46I7nxUg6ai4DK_X9\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-21.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgPaI0W6ARNphHHLB5le21hd5DYNQxxmiCtozsno7BEOUDPRMk6jS2911s-jKE6I5giS5oRbUjrEMarUj0QqQx_Tnr1O1xbYKO44uG9RILMOlyzNQh6OhhCPB9FwwA46I7nxUg6ai4DK_X9\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-21.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiZOQAFmoItOQIAEJi6frdiytyq_VGU9Gi6a2LgWLNqvbjPkx5LQaZMvj-_8Zcb2HFm_dCvZUk-6SqPwLxQqxniBTbOOQWBRx6ULVnLqccl-I5hV4V8aO1GzpiAqdCSSoWhKEechr0y9-KC\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiZOQAFmoItOQIAEJi6frdiytyq_VGU9Gi6a2LgWLNqvbjPkx5LQaZMvj-_8Zcb2HFm_dCvZUk-6SqPwLxQqxniBTbOOQWBRx6ULVnLqccl-I5hV4V8aO1GzpiAqdCSSoWhKEechr0y9-KC\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjXa6H6hP4bB2j-FiZlIDok6PHwAC9HgdjrgflDnBAwA_ZkJeQFKIWesIN1mLcECePb-qghjzDBFV547q6KqcU_kH5qKEshzbfu32rdA7iwTkWGNVWEuMisa1qjituaniWK36SWXIa5BrhW\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-19.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjXa6H6hP4bB2j-FiZlIDok6PHwAC9HgdjrgflDnBAwA_ZkJeQFKIWesIN1mLcECePb-qghjzDBFV547q6KqcU_kH5qKEshzbfu32rdA7iwTkWGNVWEuMisa1qjituaniWK36SWXIa5BrhW\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-19.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjqEfJHxb50BryedJ9idIdNno1Y6g3oAy5y0pGLaLxiPczn0w-ZFpNgqscVjI7JMT1IoO-MsDMKryWHQrub0zqy2aZ31GIcXHqDzPe86SF8gqCNI5r8sxrgGqvcw6FF364IPukKUGJ2CHzR\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-14.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjqEfJHxb50BryedJ9idIdNno1Y6g3oAy5y0pGLaLxiPczn0w-ZFpNgqscVjI7JMT1IoO-MsDMKryWHQrub0zqy2aZ31GIcXHqDzPe86SF8gqCNI5r8sxrgGqvcw6FF364IPukKUGJ2CHzR\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-14.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhhSlQWvXWiV0qwC0fIqVd729Ksz7kNAzIeSmtGi0IBVJ86pLjL7mi7PvKt-VRI-9e53061eS8_pUBWFOhYZcpDbDYZdHrbE9n8ojrPxOLfIkY-nb4bTcCdwFAeSHJtekJZvydh7Nfhd3nz\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-disney-26.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhhSlQWvXWiV0qwC0fIqVd729Ksz7kNAzIeSmtGi0IBVJ86pLjL7mi7PvKt-VRI-9e53061eS8_pUBWFOhYZcpDbDYZdHrbE9n8ojrPxOLfIkY-nb4bTcCdwFAeSHJtekJZvydh7Nfhd3nz\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-disney-26.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nDisneyland Park\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nOn our second full day exploring Disneyland resort, we spent the entire day at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/disneyland.disney.go.com\/en-ca\/destinations\/disneyland\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDisneyland Park\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. To me, this park is quintessential Disney. This is the park that I dreamed about as a child, and it's even more magical to appreciate it as an adult. True to all things at the Disneyland Resort, the attention to detail is unparalleled and it's in this park where you will find all of the Disney classics. Think It's A Small World, Haunted Mansion, Mad Hatter's Tea Cups - all of the classics. This is also a park that is most appropriate for small children, so you will be hard pressed to find a restaurant that serves alcohol. Fine for this pregnant lady! Because there were so many children-friendly rides, shows and things-to-do that were safe during pregnancy I actually found myself falling in love with Disneyland Park, while thrill-ride loving Brian preferred Disney California Adventure Park. I loved this park so much that I spent the majority of our third day exploring Disneyland Park while Brian was recovering from a cold. Again with so much variety, each individual's itinerary for the park will look totally different. Here are a few of my favourites from the day.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ECall me a granny but one of my favourite ways to get around Disneyland Park, and just as a ride in general, is the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/disneyland.disney.go.com\/en-ca\/attractions\/disneyland\/disneyland-railroad\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDisneyland Railroad\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. Guests are able to take a comfortable seat on a genuine steam-powered train and enjoy the view as the train transports them in time, making multiple stops around the park.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWe were able to enjoy an afternoon watching \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/disneyland.disney.go.com\/en-ca\/entertainment\/disneyland\/mickeys-soundsational-parade\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMickey's Soundsational Parade\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. If you're planning on visiting Disneyland Resort with little ones, this parade is definitely \u003Ci\u003Enot \u003C\/i\u003Eto be missed. Everyone's favourite Disney characters and Princesses come out and dance, wave and preform to classic Disney tunes. Little and big kids alike will experience the Disney magic during this fun parade, and will be able to check off any special Disney Character that they wanted to see during their visit.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EI had an absolute blast visiting \u003Cb\u003EMickey's Toon Town.\u003C\/b\u003E It's exactly as the name describes, and for me it meant being transported into the cartoons that I watched growing up. We were also super lucky to be able to actually meet Mickey and Minnie Mouse right in Toon Town and get our photos - such a magical moment, and totally brought out the kids in all of us!\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EMy favourite area in all of Disneyland Park is\u003Cb\u003E New Orleans Square\u003C\/b\u003E. The detail!! I've never been to New Orleans, but I feel as though I have now after spending so much time in this area. I also finally got to ride the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/disneyland.disney.go.com\/en-ca\/attractions\/disneyland\/haunted-mansion\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHaunted Mansion\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, a ride I've been wanting to-do since I was a kid! I spend almost an entire day in this area while exploring on my own, whether it be eating treats to simply people watching and taking the whole scene in.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EYou can't speak about Disneyland Park without mentioning the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/disneyland.disney.go.com\/en-ca\/entertainment\/disneyland\/fireworks\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Efireworks\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. Everyone of my friends who had visited a Disney Park, as a child or as an adult, raved about the fireworks. The show is incredible. Not only are the fireworks themselves just fantastic, but the overall energy and vibe of the show is what truly left a mark on me. Leave it to Disney to have parents and kids alike all dancing to classic Disney tunes while being entertained by a laser show and world-class fireworks. They even made it snow at one point. Snow - in Southern California! I'm so glad that we were able to experience this beautiful show.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjTbRZZvc1x8RY4WgZpAveQ8n-yPW8bLFVBQcIwLBnolLUZ82DHm-HHBU2oJvb2HEGMmvaq5b121tVRAYIMjqQ4M5EEFh5DJzUoog6sY9NJDxCbpf3vm4Dqd9Olp5XCDHlUA0Ywh7cNpxoY\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-disney-21.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjTbRZZvc1x8RY4WgZpAveQ8n-yPW8bLFVBQcIwLBnolLUZ82DHm-HHBU2oJvb2HEGMmvaq5b121tVRAYIMjqQ4M5EEFh5DJzUoog6sY9NJDxCbpf3vm4Dqd9Olp5XCDHlUA0Ywh7cNpxoY\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-disney-21.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg_cLSB1fwiaHXxJ8bGes1a8htEegtQkW3XZxYHSREzVxAcO8W7TNqEJBy5oY3XV2GTrPAznGdevoa_LBNDardvM1g7oStdenLw7-jeF7j7NBCTzM3vhWZpMaXEJKKQjgsX5-Did7WYCoPA\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-disney-20.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg_cLSB1fwiaHXxJ8bGes1a8htEegtQkW3XZxYHSREzVxAcO8W7TNqEJBy5oY3XV2GTrPAznGdevoa_LBNDardvM1g7oStdenLw7-jeF7j7NBCTzM3vhWZpMaXEJKKQjgsX5-Did7WYCoPA\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-disney-20.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgz3kuhPj2ULHEhUaaaztWBvUw8U4Bhzk7wBEATprr09GJIS3WPOw2ZSRBHL9Dp_rzmjJju325sueSRsyivpA8PZR2yGtOxk1Ty4YtSQD6wtULapOcAZ_jF6T6NxNrl1o_MAakgzoB0D_w3\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-disney-28.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgz3kuhPj2ULHEhUaaaztWBvUw8U4Bhzk7wBEATprr09GJIS3WPOw2ZSRBHL9Dp_rzmjJju325sueSRsyivpA8PZR2yGtOxk1Ty4YtSQD6wtULapOcAZ_jF6T6NxNrl1o_MAakgzoB0D_w3\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-disney-28.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhevKJabADlASkSKUGfIiN1nE_AvLjZ35U4LXB9K-OpTTuSqxUvUh5IhnuGeVg_uS22FKIQgYySjqb0CEgS-n782FfFtjuHVbEcXXou9hkBm0Mlqpd3uhfPCSS5TECTVeWnJbYuiGUhoRFI\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-3-day-itinerary.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhevKJabADlASkSKUGfIiN1nE_AvLjZ35U4LXB9K-OpTTuSqxUvUh5IhnuGeVg_uS22FKIQgYySjqb0CEgS-n782FfFtjuHVbEcXXou9hkBm0Mlqpd3uhfPCSS5TECTVeWnJbYuiGUhoRFI\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-3-day-itinerary.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhXBwKNTbkpSA1UxhzBGwkhmk6OQoQz0Udmw5OxK724vb6st70vEPwPZPhiJ0TPcL8pWRMqdDdya9XOribB6mkO5p3TREchjIOZP5SCIjyoFtOENnDZaX2kh2Y2nRV4mW_CcfKB4f41U9Zh\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-3-day-itinerary-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhXBwKNTbkpSA1UxhzBGwkhmk6OQoQz0Udmw5OxK724vb6st70vEPwPZPhiJ0TPcL8pWRMqdDdya9XOribB6mkO5p3TREchjIOZP5SCIjyoFtOENnDZaX2kh2Y2nRV4mW_CcfKB4f41U9Zh\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-3-day-itinerary-5.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjXlKbUs7Pz3dLqie5iuZdyZ3JvZjX-gWTj_OsriUBYayILT-NEne1-yd7jxBMhHMm1McZVusrrRBUmhGfSrh1nzUmlHajq57Ndqk9dSp8rj52q8_S0fYFn22KoT0KTAzScbBLipSkt_tOX\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-3-day-itinerary-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjXlKbUs7Pz3dLqie5iuZdyZ3JvZjX-gWTj_OsriUBYayILT-NEne1-yd7jxBMhHMm1McZVusrrRBUmhGfSrh1nzUmlHajq57Ndqk9dSp8rj52q8_S0fYFn22KoT0KTAzScbBLipSkt_tOX\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-3-day-itinerary-8.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEij4_WwHWtAITNsRcWgnTtl0ztUJ7NTCXIotro1cjgeYusGLFS_Hrt29-YI3MAKiygogOpF3zoOkEKawUjJoqF7XvxfxBHImXAc7fhNSISeAIVBrJ5QoSKNYsGPSomyvCuQeWeBxAedtXYl\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-3-day-itinerary-11.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEij4_WwHWtAITNsRcWgnTtl0ztUJ7NTCXIotro1cjgeYusGLFS_Hrt29-YI3MAKiygogOpF3zoOkEKawUjJoqF7XvxfxBHImXAc7fhNSISeAIVBrJ5QoSKNYsGPSomyvCuQeWeBxAedtXYl\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-3-day-itinerary-11.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1J0BuH0lSVOViRhZcrmHNbqlEEJA8fvBhtsI3waSZAFBuEkF5ZQkncBDP36A2OI_6TGo2P2pvl_Mp8a0TpnbtDx60OzUdfyFdPeb5unfCj9fI22hcWFVf-D3weZtdWB8z8juKjQoHE1_r\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-3-day-itinerary-10.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi1J0BuH0lSVOViRhZcrmHNbqlEEJA8fvBhtsI3waSZAFBuEkF5ZQkncBDP36A2OI_6TGo2P2pvl_Mp8a0TpnbtDx60OzUdfyFdPeb5unfCj9fI22hcWFVf-D3weZtdWB8z8juKjQoHE1_r\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-3-day-itinerary-10.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgAGwnIkvqPKFQLr2hwnGAbBofOwXhis53FDItNH0taffmMef9jbXsjZGVSprgVW9obqtfppZhR4bCQUK1mwDSODyOdQ5GI7Psw63LwXRw7jWZJS1cbS8uRmXEM_DfRwcBSnOlzZ82qQEzs\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-disney-14.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgAGwnIkvqPKFQLr2hwnGAbBofOwXhis53FDItNH0taffmMef9jbXsjZGVSprgVW9obqtfppZhR4bCQUK1mwDSODyOdQ5GI7Psw63LwXRw7jWZJS1cbS8uRmXEM_DfRwcBSnOlzZ82qQEzs\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-disney-14.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003EWait Times and Ride Times\u003C\/h2\u003E\nIt's no secret that when visiting a Disney Park, there will be the inevitable wait times. Thankfully we were able to avoid most wait times to get into the parks themselves, thanks to staying at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa - it really is a game-changer! The real wait times come into play when you start to plan out your rides. At peak times, some rides can have a wait time of over an hour. Thankfully, there are several options for maximizing your time and making sure that you spent the least amount of time waiting for rides.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/disneyland.disney.go.com\/en-ca\/guest-services\/fastpass\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFast Pass\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is a concept that I had vaguely heard of before, but had not experienced until first visiting Disneyland. Essentially what it does is allow you to walk up to some of Disneyland's most popular rides, scan your park ticket and retrieve a Fast Pass ticket that has a time period listed on when to come back. You're then able to use the Fast Pass line during your allotted time slot and the wait is much, \u003Ci\u003Emuch\u003C\/i\u003E quicker. There's only a certain number of Fast Passes given out per ride, per day so make sure to visit your favourite rides early on!\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThere's also the option of \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/disneyland.disney.go.com\/en-ca\/guest-services\/maxpass\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMax Pass\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, which is an additional $10 USD per day on top of your Fast Pass. The major benefit of having a Max Pass is that you're able to select your Fast Pass options all from the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/disneyland.disney.go.com\/en-ca\/guest-services\/download-disneyland-mobile-app\/?CMP=ILC-DLRWeb_DLRApp0001\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDisneyland App\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E on your phone. It sounds like such a small detail, but honestly it makes all of the difference when trying to maximize your time with rides. In my opinion, if you want to focus on rides for your trip to Disneyland it is so worth it to upgrade to a Max Pass.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EYou can actually track ride wait-times on the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/disneyland.disney.go.com\/en-ca\/guest-services\/download-disneyland-mobile-app\/?CMP=ILC-DLRWeb_DLRApp0001\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EDisneyland App\u003C\/b\u003E \u003C\/a\u003Eitself, so it makes it easy to try and plan out your day based on how long the wait will be on your favourite rides. We used this feature a lot at night when trying to decide which rides to-do before the Fireworks show started.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh9fWxtTBVopdem3r2t1Zh4iOMk8K3ngBi_ICn-XXlppeCNnkI1N93TLGTq6GI6aFwsTMR_F1tYsy8G41tye5OY4iTVPQdo6LnKR-W2-muFqSMt-7v99GXGX40FgMq3biUEXCUuEWbNxvuV\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-disney-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh9fWxtTBVopdem3r2t1Zh4iOMk8K3ngBi_ICn-XXlppeCNnkI1N93TLGTq6GI6aFwsTMR_F1tYsy8G41tye5OY4iTVPQdo6LnKR-W2-muFqSMt-7v99GXGX40FgMq3biUEXCUuEWbNxvuV\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-disney-6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nA Few Tips\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EDownload the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/disneyland.disney.go.com\/en-ca\/guest-services\/download-disneyland-mobile-app\/?CMP=ILC-DLRWeb_DLRApp0001\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDisneyland App\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. It's truly a wonderful resource when navigating both Disneyland Resort parks. I found that I was using it almost hourly, whether it was to navigate through the park with the map, book our Max Pass rides, pre-order food to save time in lines (this is an amazing feature) and book restaurant reservations.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EConsider visiting in the winter. While you won't get those hot California days, there's still plenty of sunshine! I actually preferred a more mild temperature for our visit - February meant that we did have to pack a sweater and jacket during the early mornings and evenings, but it was nice and warm during the afternoon without ever getting too hot.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EIt's no secret that the food at Disneyland is incredible - Brian and I ate like a king and queen! We did have a few restaurants that we really wanted to visit during our stay, and we learned quick that reservations are almost necessary - especially for dinner time! Not to worry though, since you can make all of your reservations either in advance online (I would recommend this) or by using the \u003Cb\u003EDisneyland App\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EDisneyland is such an incredible experience and can truly be enjoyed at all ages and stages in life. That being said, it's also an investment. Keep an eye out for deals and discounts for your area; \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/disneyland.disney.go.com\/offers-discounts\/multi-day-tickets\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ehere's a deal for us Canadians who are looking to book a trip to Disney\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E(available until April 11, 2019!) There's also \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/disneyland.disney.go.com\/offers-discounts\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDisney's Special Offers \u0026amp; Discounts\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E that are always worth checking out while planning your trip.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgwgVDl3r57mfP4HaglLdzZAd9SXjQcM6Gl5v8kU-Kr_GmUfXGPpYVzELJ9SzLr4jfUM01Q6i7qszNWu3Shl6k-5Lo6ygkvC3aVeR4von7IkHbxv3ZYNIPdFdJbypjnOknkjiWtC4NUwqK7\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-disney-38.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgwgVDl3r57mfP4HaglLdzZAd9SXjQcM6Gl5v8kU-Kr_GmUfXGPpYVzELJ9SzLr4jfUM01Q6i7qszNWu3Shl6k-5Lo6ygkvC3aVeR4von7IkHbxv3ZYNIPdFdJbypjnOknkjiWtC4NUwqK7\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-disney-38.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjb57kiFujv-BLO0d3Hztsfgyu91kq2KdQE8wSsR6LkXUkGbTEPnpBCh84wC9zco9n1dlvWfTEkUJhN5xrxg8SapE80z-nTIUUyI2vAPcOtDLlIDMJLi22kl7W9fkNCbCtzT2kVKif2odkL\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-disney-22.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjb57kiFujv-BLO0d3Hztsfgyu91kq2KdQE8wSsR6LkXUkGbTEPnpBCh84wC9zco9n1dlvWfTEkUJhN5xrxg8SapE80z-nTIUUyI2vAPcOtDLlIDMJLi22kl7W9fkNCbCtzT2kVKif2odkL\/s1600\/Disneyland-review-february-disney-22.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBefore we knew it, our incredible trip to Disneyland had come to an end, and we were off in our rental car, listening to a playlist of classic Disney songs, driving to LA. I had such an amazing time, and feel so fortunate to have been able to visit. It was so special to experience the magic of Disney with Brian, and it was made even more special to know that the next time we would be visiting is with a little one of our own. How wild!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nStay tuned for a few more Disney-related posts; specifically what to eat at Disneyland and tips for visiting Disneyland while pregnant.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLet me know your own Disneyland experiences! Have you ever visited a Disney Park? What are some of your favourite Disney memories? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThank you so much to the team at Disneyland for partnering with us for this amazing experience. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/6484291967454893480\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/03\/3-days-at-disneyland-complete-overview.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/6484291967454893480"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/6484291967454893480"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/03\/3-days-at-disneyland-complete-overview.html","title":"3 Days At Disneyland - A Complete Overview"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgeap-P0W6FQDWqEnaMg5diBWWVEbv71ZuuVxlHUSjJ3tob_JltbM12upIG_TWjhwJOBIzi1rjvaL-_9gzbGqjImTT303aK7BdjQueKMLH5e5bqQqOX0bbn4YtEG54SLkJiwYdbGG4HQXO6\/s72-c\/Disneyland-review-february-adventure-park-8.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-8526193659857250502"},"published":{"$t":"2019-02-18T10:19:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-02-18T11:07:21.626-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Baby"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Pregnancy"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Surprise! I'm Pregnant"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEipkPNOgp9wCvBmcdu0qF-W1wrQ9QNwneir4rJaKfI6UusNwdpxQYpxC-fqTVvHPLiKtisbIUbaRZixKv17PFUoTdiWA5a8Sl3Lr-ljetT8OnfZ8SGHXTIxescU3RvABij0LoquR1cWWRoA\/s1600\/pregnancy-announce.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEipkPNOgp9wCvBmcdu0qF-W1wrQ9QNwneir4rJaKfI6UusNwdpxQYpxC-fqTVvHPLiKtisbIUbaRZixKv17PFUoTdiWA5a8Sl3Lr-ljetT8OnfZ8SGHXTIxescU3RvABij0LoquR1cWWRoA\/s1600\/pregnancy-announce.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFor the past three and a half months, I've been keeping a pretty big secret: I'm pregnant!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nEven typing the words out still feels surreal to me. Both Brian and I are so excited, a little bit in disbelief and slightly terrified. I always knew that this day would come eventually, even though it seemed like it would never get here - especially if you were to ask our parents, haha! It's no doubt that Brian and I took our sweet time in getting to this point; both in our thirties, after being married for over five years. Although they say that you're never quite ready to make the leap to have children, in the past year I've been feeling closer and closer to getting to that point.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSo now the news is officially out! If you had noticed a slow-down in both my blog and video content, being pregnant is 100% why. While I've had a pretty good pregnancy physically to date (KNOCKING ON ALL THE WOOD,) where I've been struggling the most has been mentally - specifically with bouts of anxiety that seemingly come out of nowhere and for no real reason. Thankfully now that I'm in my second trimester my hormones seemed to have adjusted and I've been feeling so much better overall. More about all of this in another blog post. I plan on doing a full first-trimester recap all about my symptoms to date, how long it took us to conceive, why we waited so long to start trying - all of that good stuff.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nUntil then, I'll leave you with our good news while I go raid the fridge for anything and everything carb-y and sweet.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThank you so much for being here throughout the years - I'm so excited and relieved to finally be able to share this news with you! I look forward to sharing more of the journey, and how everything evolves in the months and years to come.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/8526193659857250502\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/02\/surprise-im-pregnant.html#comment-form","title":"1 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8526193659857250502"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8526193659857250502"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/02\/surprise-im-pregnant.html","title":"Surprise! I'm Pregnant"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEipkPNOgp9wCvBmcdu0qF-W1wrQ9QNwneir4rJaKfI6UusNwdpxQYpxC-fqTVvHPLiKtisbIUbaRZixKv17PFUoTdiWA5a8Sl3Lr-ljetT8OnfZ8SGHXTIxescU3RvABij0LoquR1cWWRoA\/s72-c\/pregnancy-announce.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"1"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-167341882819404562"},"published":{"$t":"2019-02-14T18:00:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-02-14T18:00:50.458-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fashion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Style"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Winter"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Winter Fashion"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"My Top Winter Fashion Essentials"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhBeJWneNd0pjQVT6bmE7kFimJZ8IKimd9Oihjmq5MdDVoU5W0zAu07rIX-IQzdoAec7SYrRnkDaWoKeJF3Ty_Cmm7W9ke-FpqfZg_dKTEyalBt5AhbIdzE_Ocy5bpfdH584FaPWu48HTia\/s1600\/cops-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhBeJWneNd0pjQVT6bmE7kFimJZ8IKimd9Oihjmq5MdDVoU5W0zAu07rIX-IQzdoAec7SYrRnkDaWoKeJF3Ty_Cmm7W9ke-FpqfZg_dKTEyalBt5AhbIdzE_Ocy5bpfdH584FaPWu48HTia\/s1600\/cops-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWho else has felt personally victimized by winter this year? *Raises Hand.*\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhile Toronto is not known for it's brutal winters, this year in particular has been a doozy. From freezing cold temperatures, snow that shuts downt the entire city and crazy ice, winter for 2019 is no joke.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBecause of the crazy weather, I decided to film a video all about my winter essentials; how I stay warm while [trying to] look cute in the freezing temperatures! I talk all about my favouorite parka for the season, favourite boots, and my go-to outfits that have been on heavy rotation for winter.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nHave a watch and let me know what you think!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ciframe width=\"320\" height=\"266\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/2j7xGE4x3zA\/0.jpg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2j7xGE4x3zA?feature=player_embedded\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/167341882819404562\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/02\/my-top-winter-fashion-essentials.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/167341882819404562"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/167341882819404562"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/02\/my-top-winter-fashion-essentials.html","title":"My Top Winter Fashion Essentials"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhBeJWneNd0pjQVT6bmE7kFimJZ8IKimd9Oihjmq5MdDVoU5W0zAu07rIX-IQzdoAec7SYrRnkDaWoKeJF3Ty_Cmm7W9ke-FpqfZg_dKTEyalBt5AhbIdzE_Ocy5bpfdH584FaPWu48HTia\/s72-c\/cops-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-8246475705439292492"},"published":{"$t":"2019-02-10T07:51:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-02-10T07:51:25.640-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Beauty"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Beauty Curious"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cosmetic Enhancements"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Toronto"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"How Do You Want To Feel: A Meeting With Dr. Mauricio De Maio"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh8I7XIB8Xd7LgBKzLcWDmEpQaeCk6fu2SisLQhpJgkDpgVPs8uR2gfoXGpQKc8-IKQfPoGW9RlzXu_sSjGfoCJlWr1dw9gIhmUrogg0nroakbBSOXXhk5hXSb-YNa8XPI3wthD6rMknXOE\/s1600\/Charuk-LPN-47.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh8I7XIB8Xd7LgBKzLcWDmEpQaeCk6fu2SisLQhpJgkDpgVPs8uR2gfoXGpQKc8-IKQfPoGW9RlzXu_sSjGfoCJlWr1dw9gIhmUrogg0nroakbBSOXXhk5hXSb-YNa8XPI3wthD6rMknXOE\/s1600\/Charuk-LPN-47.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThis post was sponsored by Allergan. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIf you've been reading my blog over the course of the last few months, you will have noticed a post where I honestly chat about my experience with plastic surgery and following that post a sparked interest in the world of cosmetic enhancements. I just find this topic to be so interesting! Trying to alleviate some of the stigma that surrounds this industry, I've made it my quest not only to educate myself on the matter, but to also share what I find with you guys.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nEnter \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.mdmaio.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDr. Mauricio de Maio\u003C\/a\u003E. I was turned onto the work of Dr. de Maio by learning about MD Codes™, his philosophy when it comes to cosmetic enhancement and injections - focusing on how an individual would like to feel, rather than specific areas of concern that bother them. Interesting, right? Luckily for me I was able to sit down and chat with Dr. de Maio about his interesting approach to cosmetic injectables, as well as hear about his innovative practice and work.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgNwi2C21mcWWRZz0ofi1mYvkaqM9NXMotzqIMyvcpsXnqF4-QP9kEPDYLTL9h_kvABxWwfqUWgjiauy801WTAvlaJj-Rq5PH60Mu3iPToERXc7oM5JfxxBEwi9ZqBSubhgARrOT-YshoGN\/s1600\/Dr.+De+Maio.jpeg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"500\" data-original-width=\"620\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgNwi2C21mcWWRZz0ofi1mYvkaqM9NXMotzqIMyvcpsXnqF4-QP9kEPDYLTL9h_kvABxWwfqUWgjiauy801WTAvlaJj-Rq5PH60Mu3iPToERXc7oM5JfxxBEwi9ZqBSubhgARrOT-YshoGN\/s1600\/Dr.+De+Maio.jpeg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nDr. Mauricio de Maio is an internationally, world-renowned facial aesthetics expert based in Brazil who has pioneered an innovative way of treating the signs of aging and giving women incredible skin. His practice (called MD Codes™) differs from others in that he first asks individuals how they want to feel to develop a customized plan. So, rather than address certain areas that individuals may want to alter or correct, Dr. de Maio asks a series of questions to help better understand the overall goal that you're hoping to achieve.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhen I first met with Dr. de Maio at the beautiful Hotel X in downtown Toronto, I was excited to hear more about his practice. I myself had never considered developing a plan for my skin and overall appearance; my personal experience with cosmetic enhancements always involved being treated for specific areas of my face and body that bothered me - never focusing on a big-picture goal. As I explained this to Dr. de Maio, he listened attentively and asked a simple question when I was finished: \"but what if you were to place your trust in me, an expert. Imagine your results.\" It seemed so simple. We then went on to discuss the practice that he has developed and is now teaching to thousands of dermatologists in Canada alone.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgZPx0SzU_vvaiiBlUa75HpfmRGFaL0cZeqKbB0nfnc7E675Ad0WQ-V3unvy0tXeUoOl0adda83UnmarLBP0A2T7y9YoWhD4AMs1FInXMqi1EDZnPsTo2cZoKng7cOnr7k9DRbiC9BF6p-1\/s1600\/Screen+Shot+2018-11-29+at+6.52.52+PM.png\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"684\" data-original-width=\"1238\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgZPx0SzU_vvaiiBlUa75HpfmRGFaL0cZeqKbB0nfnc7E675Ad0WQ-V3unvy0tXeUoOl0adda83UnmarLBP0A2T7y9YoWhD4AMs1FInXMqi1EDZnPsTo2cZoKng7cOnr7k9DRbiC9BF6p-1\/s1600\/Screen+Shot+2018-11-29+at+6.52.52+PM.png\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThere's a series of questions that Dr. de Maio asks all of his patients, called the powerful 8. These questions not only serve to help patients to start thinking more long-term, and big-picture about their skin and their appearance, but it also helps your doctor to develop a specific plan to really target the underlying concerns of the individual and produce results that are much more satisfying.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSound confusing? It's not, and I'll use myself as an example. I'm in my thirties and although I am very content with my age and know that aging is a privilege not allotted to everyone, there are certain areas of my skin that are starting to show my age. Some wrinkles that weren't there before, some sagging, etc. Coupled with my hereditary dark circles, there's definitely specific areas that I would want to address. Instead of discussing these concerns with Dr. de Maio, he asked me to take a look at myself and choose 3 of the 8 emotionally driven attributes of beauty that I would want to address. Rather than focus on the areas of my skin that bothered me, I tried to think more big-picture: ultimately, I wanted to look less tired, less angry and more attractive.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\"Excellent\" said Dr. de Maio after I told him my three choices. No judgement, no pointing out other options to have considered, just an acceptance of my concerns for myself and the beginning of a plan. Dr. de Maio explained that I had actually chosen 2 realities and one dream. Looking less tired and less angry are realistic goals to set for oneself, and completely within the realm of possibility when working with a doctor. This tells Dr. de Maio that my goals for my appearance are realistic and have a high probability of satisfaction. Looking more attractive is classified as a dream and is completely subjective from one person to the next. Should this have been my main concern, it may be a little trickier to achieve satisfaction with results and we would have needed to discuss further, to shift my mindset to be a little more realistic. When we're realistic with results, we often have the highest probability of satisfaction. And after all, as Dr. de Maio reminded me, should we address my realistic concerns or looking less tired and less angry, I in-turn will feel more attractive.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBecause ultimately using Dr. de Maio's approach we're focusing on feelings first, considering a full-face rather than focuses on specific areas of concern and placing individual satisfaction at the forefront of a treatment plan. With research showing that more Canadian women want to work to enhance their look not for social acceptance, not for anyone else, but because it makes them feel more confident it's time to start changing our perception.\u0026nbsp; \u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNot only is it essential to remove the stigma surrounding cosmetic enhancement so individuals can start feeling comfortable to ask questions, but a shift is needed where facial aesthetic physicians across the country change the way they ask questions to achieve the best results. After chatting with Dr. de Maio, I agree with his philosophy that we need to shift our focus away from the lines on our face, or sagging skin and instead place trust in our chosen facial aesthetic physician and have how we want to feel as the ultimate goal.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgJEC7q_OUwARQTyL9IKK_xM5b5Rf5ym2iR8FjU6vD_fn5pUjG0Ia0v18Z_OYsmywdr2jXvgbrfxwiMO6CULUnWV0mOyv57oEu4KQDLos5YMCHQb4OlGyzObSZUMPXDG-qQvBMnWpGzIejg\/s1600\/Charuk-LPN-40.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgJEC7q_OUwARQTyL9IKK_xM5b5Rf5ym2iR8FjU6vD_fn5pUjG0Ia0v18Z_OYsmywdr2jXvgbrfxwiMO6CULUnWV0mOyv57oEu4KQDLos5YMCHQb4OlGyzObSZUMPXDG-qQvBMnWpGzIejg\/s1600\/Charuk-LPN-40.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI feel like my perception towards skincare, aging and cosmetic enhancement has totally changed after chatting with Dr. Mauricio de Maio. Specific aesthetics aside, don't we all just want to feel like a more confident version of ourselves? I know that I do!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? I'm so interested to know if this has changed your perspective on skincare and anti-aging as much as it's done for me. Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/8246475705439292492\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/02\/how-do-you-want-to-feel-meeting-with-dr.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8246475705439292492"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8246475705439292492"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/02\/how-do-you-want-to-feel-meeting-with-dr.html","title":"How Do You Want To Feel: A Meeting With Dr. Mauricio De Maio"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh8I7XIB8Xd7LgBKzLcWDmEpQaeCk6fu2SisLQhpJgkDpgVPs8uR2gfoXGpQKc8-IKQfPoGW9RlzXu_sSjGfoCJlWr1dw9gIhmUrogg0nroakbBSOXXhk5hXSb-YNa8XPI3wthD6rMknXOE\/s72-c\/Charuk-LPN-47.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-5389056429394511400"},"published":{"$t":"2019-02-06T07:55:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-02-06T08:15:53.121-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Beauty"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Beauty Curious"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Cosmetic Enhancements"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Beauty Curious: Cosmetic Enhancement Q\u0026A"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhGPFFmr5RYTtxq8xdpEzKr-dfQobzbAzYHhbWG5zGfdds40akNO1gTsitZMYCpu8gf7gQbK4B1dppuQqSSB96s-se8iCK_Hx_rOEcrhPFOcNErV2kpCeiNgnsaOK3zfdo3Nab6pBggM2A0\/s1600\/Charuk-LPN-97.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhGPFFmr5RYTtxq8xdpEzKr-dfQobzbAzYHhbWG5zGfdds40akNO1gTsitZMYCpu8gf7gQbK4B1dppuQqSSB96s-se8iCK_Hx_rOEcrhPFOcNErV2kpCeiNgnsaOK3zfdo3Nab6pBggM2A0\/s1600\/Charuk-LPN-97.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThis post was sponsored by Allergan. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own\u003C\/i\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLet's talk about the c-word: Cosmetic Injectables, that is. After baring my soul \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/10\/youre-damned-if-you-do-my-rhinoplasty.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ein a previous blog post all about my relationship with plastic surgery\u003C\/a\u003E, how I opted to have a pretty dramatic elective surgery done on my face and my experience with judgement afterwards, I had an overwhelming response from you guys. Let me just stop to say that I am so eternally grateful for the support that I continue to receive from you, and the conversations we create together - I don't take it for granted.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWith the conversations generated from that post, I realized that there is still a lot of curiosity around the industry of cosmetic enhancements. With the rise of celebrity influencers famously enhancing their features with the help of their plastic surgeons, the industry of cosmetic enhancement seems to be more prevalent than ever. And yet, there's still a stigma that surrounds elective enhancements; an industry on the rise and yet a secrecy among those who partake and those who are simply looking for more information.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIn an effort to alleviate some of the stigma surrounding cosmetic enhancements, making people more comfortable seeking out information and making informed choices, I was lucky enough to meet with \u003Cb\u003EDr. Lisa Kellett\u003C\/b\u003E to get some questions answered regarding the world of cosmetic enhancements and injectables.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg_cUs2QiQ6tLbgQ6mJF2J5hDcQqD9v5YcmRZU-cBx2AwzJzQ6x7OzdDacdudd2fAER0o51M5KVuRTEsYFYQyF5gCvUMQf4y5dtzTa3hAPO2UZ_MPyzpSPCm89tcCzuGZQy9gTN43PZBaaV\/s1600\/Dr_Lisa_Kellett_2016_web_72_dpi1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"416\" data-original-width=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg_cUs2QiQ6tLbgQ6mJF2J5hDcQqD9v5YcmRZU-cBx2AwzJzQ6x7OzdDacdudd2fAER0o51M5KVuRTEsYFYQyF5gCvUMQf4y5dtzTa3hAPO2UZ_MPyzpSPCm89tcCzuGZQy9gTN43PZBaaV\/s1600\/Dr_Lisa_Kellett_2016_web_72_dpi1.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.dlkonavenue.com\/our-team-of-medical-experts\/toronto-dermatologist\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDr. Lisa Kellett\u003C\/a\u003E is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Canada, a Diplomat of the American Board of Dermatology, a member of the Canadian Dermatology Association, the Canadian Laser Aesthetic Surgery Society, and the Toronto Dermatological Society. Dr. Kellett has a unique approach to cosmetic enhancements and skincare by developing and supervising individualized, specialized treatment regimens for each patient in a way that puts even the most anxious patients at ease. You may also recognize Dr. Kellett from the numerous media outlets that she shares her expert advice on - when we first met, I recognized her immediately from The Marilyn Denis Show! Dr. Kellett's vast knowledge in the cosmetic and skincare industry, as well as her friendly demeanor have a way of putting patients at ease, and I certainly felt this when we met on a brisk Fall afternoon.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Dr. Kellett in the gorgeous\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.dlkonavenue.com\/dlk-canadas-premier-dermatology-clinic\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E DLK on Avenue\u003C\/a\u003E, a state-of-the-art skincare facility located in beautiful Yorkville. After being offered water, I was promptly whisked away by DLK on Avenue's manager George and graciously offered a seat in a private waiting area to speak with Dr. Kellett. I was armed with questions relating to cosmetic enhancements; a number of my own, and those that I had collected with I had asked about questions through my Instagram story.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOur conversation started much like a typical consultation for treatment would begin for cosmetic enhancements and skincare options. Dr. Kellett went through my intake form, and made sure to get an overall idea of my general health before proceeding with the consultation. Health, after all, does come into play when considering any sort of cosmetic enhancements - it is your body. I noticed as we continued our conversation into my own goals for my overall appearance, Dr. Kellett steered the conversation to ask questions based around how I would like to feel - less tired, fresher, more youthful- not just any insecurities that I would like to address. This helps to place my trust in my doctor, so that they can work with their expertise to help me achieve my overall goals in the consultation. And of course I had to ask before beginning my interview if any procedure I was interested in would make me look like a different person.\u0026nbsp; This is where Dr. Kellett's philosophy and work differ from traditional injectables:\u0026nbsp; \"It should be imperceptible - you should just look a lot fresher. If it's done well, nobody will be able to tell where I injected.\"\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nHere's a selection of frequently asked questions relating to cosmetic enhancements, injectables and skincare with Dr. Lisa Kellett's expert answers.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EHow long do wrinkle reducing fillers last? What happens to wrinkle reducing filler after it's run it's course in your body?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\nWrinkle reducing fillers lasts between 3 and 4 months. It's broken down in your muscular junction and it's metabolized there. It's just gone after it's run its course.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EWhat about other fillers? What are Juvederm fillers for, how long do dermal fillers last, and what happens once it's run it's course in your body?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nJuvederm fillers are completely different. They are hyaluronic acids. The hyaluronic acids that are in fillers are synthetic versions of the hyaluronic acids that are naturally found in your skin already. That's why it integrates so well in your tissue, since you already have the same substance in your body - you make it there. We actually know that the simple action of injecting hyaluronic acid will stimulate your own collagen. If you look at a before-and-after photo after all fillers have dissipated, you will be better off than if you had done nothing because you start to produce your own collagen. It's very interesting!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EIn your experience, to achieve the best results, what sorts of questions should individuals ask injectors? Should people be area-specific, or should they discuss what their overall goals are?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\nI would start with overall goals because oftentimes individuals come in for consultations and don't know what they need. They know what they see in the mirror, they know that they might look tired or that they want to be more refreshed, or that they have some fine lines. They often don't know how to get there, how to achieve a look that addresses their main concerns. So when an individual expresses their overall goals for what they want to achieve, but then mention a specific area of concern, that may not address their overall goal. I like to find out what bothers people the most first, and go from there. Start with people's chief area of concern, what brings them into the office - but then have a plan to achieve their overall goal.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EIs facial reconstruction possible with injectables? Specifically reconstructing a jaw.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI will actually inject into the jaw to lift. As we age, we can lose the structure in our jawline. To fix this, I have to enhance an individual’s jawline laterally to lift. So the answer is yes, you can certainly do that.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003EWhat about building a weak chin? Is this achievable through injectables?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAbsolutely. Instead of doing a physical implant like silicon, for example, you can actually use filler to enhance a weak chin.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EDo you think that injectables are the future with cosmetic enhancements, taking the place of surgery?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAbsolutely, there's no question. If I can achieve a completely refreshed more youthful appearance, address people's concerns with injectables - there's no question. I will have clients that address their chief complaints to me and wonder if they need surgery. I tell them \"don't do surgery - give me an hour.\" It's so much easier on an individual, and from a professional standpoint. There's just so many options available with injectables now that actually address chief complaints better than traditional surgery. For example, if you were to do a facelift, you make your skin tighter but you don't replace your face's volume.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EWhat age group do you tend to see the most clients coming in?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nUsually around mid-thirties is when patients start with injectables. In my younger patients, it's typically area-focused. For example, I've seen patients who are quite young with smaller lips and are interested in lip enhancement. But from a rejuvenation point of view, it would be early-to-mid thirties.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EWhat about women that are 60+? Are there options for rejuvenation?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOh yes, there's still lots that we can do. It's totally about your own concerns and what bothers you - we shouldn't get stuck on age. Genetics also come into play as well; genetically those who are fair-skinned with light eyes will age faster than someone who has more Mediterranean skin - as an example. The dermis is thinner - it's just the way your body is made and the way you are.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EFor more involved cases, for example changing the shape of someone's jaw with injectables, what is your advice?\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nYou need to got to someone who understands a particular procedure and does a lot of it. Go to a specialist, either a plastic surgeon or a dermatologist.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EWhat are your thoughts on injectables being so widely available? It seems as though every where I turn, an establishment is offering cosmetic injectables - even hair salons sometimes!\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\nI would say that the only people that you want to go to are specialists; people who train in their program to preform cosmetic injectables. These would be plastic surgeons, dermatologists, ear nose and throat doctors, etc. These are the people who will have five to six years of training of doing this. I would equate it to this: if you have a problem with your heart, you go to a cardiologist. A problem with your brain, go to a neurologist. Go to someone who is a specialist. This is not an area to price-shop. You need to trust and develop a relationship with your practitioner and that will enhance the experience and give you the best results in the long run.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThe big takeaway is to go to see a professional whom you have a relationship with and who you are comfortable with. You want to trust a professional to give you professional recommendations. I always say that just because you hear a recommendation, doesn't mean that you have to do it. You need to do what's right for you. Some people aren't comfortable with injectables - then don't do it! But I think it's important as a woman in medicine to tell patients that my job is to give you all of your options, to make you well-informed. When you're well informed, you make the best decisions. And sometimes the best decision for you is not to do anything. You're the only one who knows where your comfort level is. Patients will ask me if they're ready; I tell them \"you'll know when you're ready.\" And sure enough, when they're truly ready they'll come back in and say confidently \"I'm ready!\" You should never feel pressured to do anything. You should do it for yourself.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEizS9Y8qMv-GgNYGYjzXGVfDsUYYgZ_lQrvbvp20Eld6HXc-n2b1dH4dBKqMTY8XpLeridU-mwmghBGPAaL3vjoX19wAfjuMDD-qfHBJrmXEHxpZ-12j0IFIbGyCUGCKWLC1Bz6Z6fOpSIV\/s1600\/Charuk-LPN-99.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEizS9Y8qMv-GgNYGYjzXGVfDsUYYgZ_lQrvbvp20Eld6HXc-n2b1dH4dBKqMTY8XpLeridU-mwmghBGPAaL3vjoX19wAfjuMDD-qfHBJrmXEHxpZ-12j0IFIbGyCUGCKWLC1Bz6Z6fOpSIV\/s1600\/Charuk-LPN-99.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI want to give Dr. Lisa Kellett a huge thank you for taking time out of her busy day to answer my questions; I learned \u003Ci\u003Ea lot \u003C\/i\u003Efrom our talk and I hope that you guys did too.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Are cosmetic enhancements something that you're interested in? Do you feel comfortable talking about them with friends and family? What is your biggest takeaway from my chat with Dr. Kellett? Let me know! Let's keep the conversation going.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/5389056429394511400\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/02\/beauty-curious-cosmetic-enhancement-q.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/5389056429394511400"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/5389056429394511400"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/02\/beauty-curious-cosmetic-enhancement-q.html","title":"Beauty Curious: Cosmetic Enhancement Q\u0026A"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhGPFFmr5RYTtxq8xdpEzKr-dfQobzbAzYHhbWG5zGfdds40akNO1gTsitZMYCpu8gf7gQbK4B1dppuQqSSB96s-se8iCK_Hx_rOEcrhPFOcNErV2kpCeiNgnsaOK3zfdo3Nab6pBggM2A0\/s72-c\/Charuk-LPN-97.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-3845270448296299709"},"published":{"$t":"2019-02-04T08:40:00.003-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-02-04T10:14:39.777-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Blog Talk"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Blog Tips"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Is It Too Late To Start A Blog? "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj_yU3nzWhlD41JSo9f8AwOlZwKWw6smKGPHpOyeCVA0ZVHep3oXYfAZo6o9UvMO6tAXA3xFLePW1UaMJgU8_c15658vSHsJ6IhHwo1cJOkh5Lb8LCfLGKGSqHO2Jr5WfTBQ9C6Oen5on7S\/s1600\/earlybird-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj_yU3nzWhlD41JSo9f8AwOlZwKWw6smKGPHpOyeCVA0ZVHep3oXYfAZo6o9UvMO6tAXA3xFLePW1UaMJgU8_c15658vSHsJ6IhHwo1cJOkh5Lb8LCfLGKGSqHO2Jr5WfTBQ9C6Oen5on7S\/s1600\/earlybird-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIf I had a dollar for every time I have been asked the question \"is it too late to start a blog,\" I would be a rich woman - or at least have a new Chanel bag! In all seriousness though, if I can think of one of the most frequent questions that I get asked about blogging, or that comes up in many conversations on the topic, is if it's too late to start a blog in 2019.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nMy answer, and my opinion on the subject is a resounding \u003Ci\u003Eno\u003C\/i\u003E - it's definitely not too late to start a blog! Having a blog to share your thoughts and feelings, post creative photos and watch your photography improve and engage in a small but mighty community is an amazing thing, and the ship most certainly has not sailed on the experience.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nTo put it in perspective, \u003Cb\u003EI asked myself this same questions before starting La Petite Noob over 5 years ago.\u003C\/b\u003E The blogging community in Toronto was small but established, there were already so many great blogs that I read daily and everything that I was interested in blogging about seemed to already be covered. I'm so glad that I ultimately decided to throw caution to the wind and just go for it, starting my own blog.\u0026nbsp; Make no mistake though, it certainly wasn't an easy decision - this question held me back from starting for years.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nYes, the blogging landscape is totally different now. There's certainly a saturation, and social media and the numbers game is much more prevalent. There's also a lot of advantages to starting a blog today. For example with so many girls and guys with their own blogs, it's much easier to connect and build your own community. Blogging is a pastime that is more commonly known now, so explaining your new journey to friends and family is a little easier. Plus, the way I look at it is that the internet is a big place - there's room for everyone.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSo if you're on the fence about starting your own blog\/Instagram account\/Youtube Channel, whatever it is - my advice to you is to just do it. Don't worry about a right time, perfect situation or the right equipment - just start. Learn as you go and enjoy the process. It may seem like a slow journey, but I promise you that when you look back in years time you will be glad that you made the decision to start.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI have a video all about tips for new bloggers that might be interesting to you if you're thinking of starting a blog, or are new to blogging. Have a look!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/wLhjosd_XNE\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wLhjosd_XNE?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI would love to hear your thoughts about if it's too late to start your own blog. Did you ever grapple with this question when first starting your blogging journey? Is this questions currently holding you back?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLet me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nJoëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/3845270448296299709\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/02\/is-it-too-late-to-start-blog.html#comment-form","title":"9 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3845270448296299709"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3845270448296299709"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/02\/is-it-too-late-to-start-blog.html","title":"Is It Too Late To Start A Blog? "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj_yU3nzWhlD41JSo9f8AwOlZwKWw6smKGPHpOyeCVA0ZVHep3oXYfAZo6o9UvMO6tAXA3xFLePW1UaMJgU8_c15658vSHsJ6IhHwo1cJOkh5Lb8LCfLGKGSqHO2Jr5WfTBQ9C6Oen5on7S\/s72-c\/earlybird-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"9"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-6029725294059865236"},"published":{"$t":"2019-01-30T07:54:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-01-30T08:08:00.382-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Life Hacks"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Money Management"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Money Mistakes"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"5 Worst Money Mistakes I Made In My 20s"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiQUl2HOHKBKrOZl9FDkIBtoFyl6uQHR9_gPhTMM02vbBG6Yae1wtOk7ty8Y04Jti5Bf2hMH1_DT30H_x2Vkx1UfsfNnMm_yY8PjsresR6lNYRUyIJZHD_JA19Yr83mrMLxN3_OtzT0Svbu\/s1600\/winter-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiQUl2HOHKBKrOZl9FDkIBtoFyl6uQHR9_gPhTMM02vbBG6Yae1wtOk7ty8Y04Jti5Bf2hMH1_DT30H_x2Vkx1UfsfNnMm_yY8PjsresR6lNYRUyIJZHD_JA19Yr83mrMLxN3_OtzT0Svbu\/s1600\/winter-6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\nSometimes you have to come clean about your past before you move forward with your future. I had mentioned in a previous post that one of \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/01\/goals-for-2019.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emy goals for 2019\u003C\/a\u003E is to become more confident with investments when it comes to my own finances. Even typing it out puts me in disbelief, because that means that I actually have a decent amount of savings to my name - something that was definitely \u003Ci\u003Enot \u003C\/i\u003Ethe norm for me in my younger years.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAll things considered, I came out from my financial blunders in my 20s pretty unscathed. I'm grateful to have not had a lot of debt, but where I failed was being irresponsible with my money and not thinking about savings or my future. I also learned a lot of valuable lessons along the way, which helped to shape my relationship with money into my later 20s and 30s. Lessons related to leasing a car, living at my means, spending frivolously on eating all of my meals out - you name it, I did it!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u0026nbsp;Check out my latest Youtube Video where I share \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/CxW6oNqQvs4\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emy 5 worst financial mistakes that I made in my 20s.\u003C\/a\u003E If you're younger and just starting in your career and financial journey, I hope you'll watch and learn from my mistakes. If you've had similar experiences, definitely let me know! I think the more we become comfortable talking about money, the better our relationship with it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ciframe allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"YOUTUBE-iframe-video\" data-thumbnail-src=\"https:\/\/i.ytimg.com\/vi\/CxW6oNqQvs4\/0.jpg\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/CxW6oNqQvs4?feature=player_embedded\" width=\"320\"\u003E\u003C\/iframe\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Have you made similar mistakes with your money? Have you learned some valuable lessons along the way? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/6029725294059865236\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/01\/5-worst-money-mistakes-i-made-in-my-20s.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/6029725294059865236"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/6029725294059865236"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/01\/5-worst-money-mistakes-i-made-in-my-20s.html","title":"5 Worst Money Mistakes I Made In My 20s"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiQUl2HOHKBKrOZl9FDkIBtoFyl6uQHR9_gPhTMM02vbBG6Yae1wtOk7ty8Y04Jti5Bf2hMH1_DT30H_x2Vkx1UfsfNnMm_yY8PjsresR6lNYRUyIJZHD_JA19Yr83mrMLxN3_OtzT0Svbu\/s72-c\/winter-6.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-9204947014591387451"},"published":{"$t":"2019-01-02T10:17:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2019-01-02T10:17:00.282-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"New Years"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Real Talk"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Goals for 2019"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgz7VfCrT8HU-YCuWFZeYnMWZ00gAJaudwjVorGsHmW_MIL77DLP4gitNTRQWW0UzrMGUVDmZgxtcyXqYexYYrpoDJRgiAptQtylwVZoX5wX0zBuzD9vIrZal15_b_zUZNzGv7Nw5yeF7YE\/s1600\/Charuk-LPN-90.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgz7VfCrT8HU-YCuWFZeYnMWZ00gAJaudwjVorGsHmW_MIL77DLP4gitNTRQWW0UzrMGUVDmZgxtcyXqYexYYrpoDJRgiAptQtylwVZoX5wX0zBuzD9vIrZal15_b_zUZNzGv7Nw5yeF7YE\/s1600\/Charuk-LPN-90.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFresh off the heels of the new year, I though this would be a perfect opportunity to share my goals for 2019. Last year\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2017\/12\/goals-for-2018.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E I published a post all about my goals for 2018\u003C\/a\u003E, and I'm happy to report that I feel as though I accomplished all of them. I truly believe that taking the time to properly write down my goals and put them out into the universe was a huge contributing factor to my success in completing my aspirations, so I would love to do the same thing for 2019.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nTake An Active Role in Money Management\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI've always been pretty good with money. I prioritize savings and am comfortable living beneath my means. That being said, although I've been successful in building my savings over the years, my knowledge of what to do investment-wise with said savings is basically zero. I'm lucky in that Brian works in finance and will invest on my behalf, but if I learned anything from my career in Funeral Services is that shit can hit the fan real quick, and you should always know how to do things yourself. This year I really want to take charge of my money and move from passive saver to an active investor - even if it's just in a small way. Money can be an intimidating subject, and I definitely have let my fear of making the wrong move hold me back. Baby steps can lead to real change, so this year I'm excited (and very nervous) to start taking those small steps to better understand money management.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nSeriously Declutter My Living Space\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nThose of you who live in Toronto - or in a condo anywhere - can relate: it's amazing how quickly that \u003Ci\u003Estuff\u003C\/i\u003E can accumulate in your space! Even though I'm good at donating items regularly, I still live in a space with way too much stuff. Now that we've been living in this same condo for three years, the excess stuff that creeps in is seriously affecting the energy of the space and I've reached my breaking point. My goal is to start the year off with a huge declutter - one that I may even hire a professional to help me with. From there, I want to make a conscious effort to live minimally and really think about the stuff that we bring into our space. A cluttered space leads to a cluttered mind, and in 2019 I'm looking forward to a bit more simplicity.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nCreate Meaningful Content\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nI feel as though my goals relating to my content last year were all about pushing myself creatively. In a stark contrast, this year I really want to get back to basics. More meaningful blog posts, real-time photo sharing, videos that add value - rather than just showing you what I buy. As the world of social media grows and becomes more saturated, I think we're all ready for something that feels more relatable, honest and real - I know that I am, anyways. Don't get me wrong, I'm still going to be pink-hunting my face off because it genuinely brings me joy. I just want to mix in a lot more real-time content, more diary-style blog posts and non-consumerism based videos.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nDrink More Water, Eat More Vegetables\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nHow cliché to have a health-related goal, right? Last year I focused on fitness and finally starting taking Soul Cycle classes regularly. I never felt better. This year I want to continue with prioritizing fitness and add-on a simple health goal: drink more water, and eat more vegetables. A simple step, but I think that this will yield better results for me, rather than unrealistically overhauling my entire diet.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj6DJRRfDTJnnZ2cLJCk0WIAPZ1mljP0nI5gzPU4ANoX-AAeY81-Pv0tIwQfW9sXM2G1uhMUTLL5s-xW8wDJ4VleLvNCEmC434H82K_P5sz869EPjE39o9JtBFDGrDUypH-6R930LHgkX0B\/s1600\/Charuk-LPN-86.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj6DJRRfDTJnnZ2cLJCk0WIAPZ1mljP0nI5gzPU4ANoX-AAeY81-Pv0tIwQfW9sXM2G1uhMUTLL5s-xW8wDJ4VleLvNCEmC434H82K_P5sz869EPjE39o9JtBFDGrDUypH-6R930LHgkX0B\/s1600\/Charuk-LPN-86.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Do you find it helpful to write out your goals for a new year? What are some goals that you have for 2019? Let me know!\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003C\/div\u003E\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/9204947014591387451\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/01\/goals-for-2019.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/9204947014591387451"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/9204947014591387451"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2019\/01\/goals-for-2019.html","title":"Goals for 2019"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgz7VfCrT8HU-YCuWFZeYnMWZ00gAJaudwjVorGsHmW_MIL77DLP4gitNTRQWW0UzrMGUVDmZgxtcyXqYexYYrpoDJRgiAptQtylwVZoX5wX0zBuzD9vIrZal15_b_zUZNzGv7Nw5yeF7YE\/s72-c\/Charuk-LPN-90.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-8843487600392008944"},"published":{"$t":"2018-12-29T12:08:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-12-29T14:37:51.372-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"New Years"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Real Talk"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"2018 - Lessons Learned "},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgDt6f1gfxVXkqWax66Ln5S-AL8AFGrYPapP5v0Smb_xqTwHAoD1thyphenhyphent4wzYinnihBoeMr2TWYouS2Az4xiMqQ7w4U7uZaF34QkqAzdjGsi-3oNoac758TsrCXxh1dBC84eIVbQb5vHvkbm\/s1600\/random.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgDt6f1gfxVXkqWax66Ln5S-AL8AFGrYPapP5v0Smb_xqTwHAoD1thyphenhyphent4wzYinnihBoeMr2TWYouS2Az4xiMqQ7w4U7uZaF34QkqAzdjGsi-3oNoac758TsrCXxh1dBC84eIVbQb5vHvkbm\/s1600\/random.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLongtime readers of this blog will know that there's nothing like the end of the year to turn me into a nostalgic mush. I had written about some of \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2017\/12\/2017-lessons-learned.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emy biggest lessons learned last year for 2017\u003C\/a\u003E, and the lessons certainly continued well into 2018. This year saw the growth of my business, continued \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/search\/label\/Travel\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Etravel\u003C\/a\u003E and so many incredible opportunities that I am so grateful for. 2018 was also a year that I started to prioritize balance, particularly in the work\/life area, and gave myself permission to say no to jobs and opportunities when I felt like they were at a sacrifice to my mental health. Overall, I look back at 2018 fondly as a year of growth, both personally and professionally with many lessons learned along the way that helped to shape a healthier outlook on life.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nThere Will Always Be Opportunity\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThe biggest change in my outlook from 2017 to 2018, and one of my greatest lessons learned this year is that just because you turn down an opportunity, does not mean that there will never be another that comes along. Although I've always passed on opportunities that I felt did not align with my personal brand, 2018 was the first time that I said \"no\" because I recognized that I would not be able to comfortably fulfil them without it taking a toll on my mental health. I'll be honest, I really struggled with this at first. When you work for yourself, it can be incredibly difficult to turn down jobs - especially when you're responsible for bills, savings and keeping yourself afloat. I worried that just because I said no to one opportunity that it could mean the end of others coming my way. What I learned in 2018 is to trust my own instincts and know that there will always be opportunity to work hard towards. The expression 'when one door closes, another door opens' really does have something to it! Trust your own instincts and have confidence in your abilities - the next big adventure is just around the corner.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nI Am In Control Of My Media Intake\u003C\/h2\u003E\nSocial media was definitely a hot-button topic all year, specifically how a curated version of reality affects others. Instagram is definitely at the core of most debates, with arguments about how seeing a highlight reel of someone's life can negatively affect someone's perception of their own life. While I would never deny that there's a lot of truth to these arguments, in 2018 I finally figured out my own way of controlling the media I consumed and how it made me feel - I simply unfollowed anyone who brought out negative emotions in myself. It sounds so simple, but if you're struggling with the negative affects of social media I would \u003Ci\u003Ehighly\u003C\/i\u003E suggest the same practice. See someone buying their following or engagement and it's making you mad? Unfollow! It's amazing how my relationship with social media changed for the better in 2018 when I took control of the content that I was consuming.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nYou Get What You Put Out\u003C\/h2\u003E\nAnother lesson that was a big one for me this year was that the energy you put out into the world is the energy that you get back. To be honest, I've known this to be true for some time which is why I try to keep things positive, but in 2018 I learned that the saying rings true even down to the smallest of details. I'll use an example; maybe I was having a bad day, or wanted to vent and complain about a minor inconvenience in my life. Typically my usual routine would be to log onto Twitter and complain -\u0026nbsp; and more often times than not, my venting sessions would be met by joined complaints and with others joining in. I understand that it's naive to think that life is all sunshine and rainbows, but stay with me: typically when you step back and think about the big picture, if you have your health and people that you love, it kind of is. When it comes to life, I feel best when focusing on the positive and leaving the negative thoughts for when it's truly warranted. Put out positive energy into the world and you'll get that same energy back, tenfold.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhNLKhzddFWfQRUC9e8OMXtMrXS_8qFRFU8wfgKhOB_jel26Q5SwSnyXlOeS4aa6tgAD8UZ8_uxaUttjss2-ITx9iivSX2WXkYCE6NtPCbxaaOnD8dWQdahr7A95ne79tU80X1u2ao7OZHP\/s1600\/westend-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhNLKhzddFWfQRUC9e8OMXtMrXS_8qFRFU8wfgKhOB_jel26Q5SwSnyXlOeS4aa6tgAD8UZ8_uxaUttjss2-ITx9iivSX2WXkYCE6NtPCbxaaOnD8dWQdahr7A95ne79tU80X1u2ao7OZHP\/s1600\/westend-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? What has been some of your greatest lessons for 2018? Are you looking forward to the new year? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/8843487600392008944\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/12\/2018-lessons-learned.html#comment-form","title":"8 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8843487600392008944"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8843487600392008944"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/12\/2018-lessons-learned.html","title":"2018 - Lessons Learned "}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgDt6f1gfxVXkqWax66Ln5S-AL8AFGrYPapP5v0Smb_xqTwHAoD1thyphenhyphent4wzYinnihBoeMr2TWYouS2Az4xiMqQ7w4U7uZaF34QkqAzdjGsi-3oNoac758TsrCXxh1dBC84eIVbQb5vHvkbm\/s72-c\/random.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"8"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-686919396199639591"},"published":{"$t":"2018-12-09T08:55:00.001-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-12-13T11:03:43.676-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Explore Canada"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Explore Ontario"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"My Favourite Places in Hamilton, Ontario"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgZr6fslanv-C1ZB2AL5kVhvrgO1XllQQB6ozFEBAtaPArRR21aJojgUvUA7uwfjpGA6oeHGBMcujw_n9t93ulo5cMRByvGSeuNq1thASHSZLT9DNOkonlnzhMFr4y0dewtWqNoxyrdwrPY\/s1600\/hamilton.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgZr6fslanv-C1ZB2AL5kVhvrgO1XllQQB6ozFEBAtaPArRR21aJojgUvUA7uwfjpGA6oeHGBMcujw_n9t93ulo5cMRByvGSeuNq1thASHSZLT9DNOkonlnzhMFr4y0dewtWqNoxyrdwrPY\/s1600\/hamilton.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOnce November draws to an end, so does my traveling schedule for the year. While I'm not one to get on an airplane during the snowy months of late-November and December (I actually hate traveling during the holidays) it doesn't bother me much since there's so many amazing places to explore that are just a short car-trip away from downtown Toronto. Lately I've been really enjoying taking the short drive to Hamilton, Ontario to explore it's vibrant restaurant and café scene.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhile I've been having the best time exploring and trying out new spots in a city that isn't my own, there's been a few places that have quickly become my favourite and a must-visit anytime that I find myself in Hamilton. These places speak to my little pink soul in terms of décor, food, friendliness of staff and just general amazingness.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWithout further ado, here's a list of some of my favourite places to visit when I find myself in Hamilton, Ontario.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjgC7HmZMVYFJ7K68RTA6GbCv78z9qj6Yux5z1hbzLikCGUbkR_1iiSnYlw0Jt4vDyJZDAUmQWAPidFHmuA9tAJNOOuJBaU9qic4Pca6yxEyoDy9PHtq6CKG0mlax7d4ULL1RB_Y8GU3WxK\/s1600\/frats.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjgC7HmZMVYFJ7K68RTA6GbCv78z9qj6Yux5z1hbzLikCGUbkR_1iiSnYlw0Jt4vDyJZDAUmQWAPidFHmuA9tAJNOOuJBaU9qic4Pca6yxEyoDy9PHtq6CKG0mlax7d4ULL1RB_Y8GU3WxK\/s1600\/frats.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nFrats Cucina\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nTake one look at the décor at \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/frats.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EFrats Cucina\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and you can see why this beautiful restaurant tops my list as favourite spot in Hamilton. What keeps me coming back is their food - omg, the food. Napoli-style pizzas made fresh in-house, charcuterie boards, delicious salads - everything is just \u003Ci\u003Eso \u003C\/i\u003Egood. I love how the menu is a beautiful mix of traditional Italian fare, with modern elements and fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Wether you're in the mood for a quick drink, or an all-out feast, I would definitely give Frats Cucina a try.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhu7EQ__Z7wZeCoKAQdXDJuoR55_kwkPPLqgtOJqz4N6fmgy0_skkW9V-0pPivlh2VV7HbIFQr_BQGYUr0T1Yq7c_Rd_ixEw0lk9j4I8kB8DkUqLxz79-iLvu1a-Rr7vBKig6TJRw5EEPAK\/s1600\/IMG_2168.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhu7EQ__Z7wZeCoKAQdXDJuoR55_kwkPPLqgtOJqz4N6fmgy0_skkW9V-0pPivlh2VV7HbIFQr_BQGYUr0T1Yq7c_Rd_ixEw0lk9j4I8kB8DkUqLxz79-iLvu1a-Rr7vBKig6TJRw5EEPAK\/s1600\/IMG_2168.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh9XUjse8Dx8DjqyAUcxdryVQxFEUha_Gv8ZrbKA-t7_oeD_cmnRU_OPb904gWGfIf_IMyenj6nuVfVM07IrqCYH5TDWN-jHfOlfw5Gx56C5g19qtmJofmVSrM3fiUXZyc1g1w_ncLmAdm8\/s1600\/hailton-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh9XUjse8Dx8DjqyAUcxdryVQxFEUha_Gv8ZrbKA-t7_oeD_cmnRU_OPb904gWGfIf_IMyenj6nuVfVM07IrqCYH5TDWN-jHfOlfw5Gx56C5g19qtmJofmVSrM3fiUXZyc1g1w_ncLmAdm8\/s1600\/hailton-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nHello Baked\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nImagine the most beautiful little shop that houses and entire wall of bulk candy, offers a curated section of local gift offerings\u003Ci\u003E and\u003C\/i\u003E smells like freshly baked cookies. That's \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hellobaked.com\/\" style=\"font-weight: bold;\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHello Baked\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;for you.\u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003EYou\u0026nbsp; may recognized Hello Baked's beautiful iced sugar cookies from events and vendors all over the GTA, those little beauties are made and sold at this beautiful shop too. Owner Jessica is such a sweet woman and, fun fact - we actually discovered that we were in the same elementary school class decades ago. Such a small world! Whether it's for a box of candy or just to enjoy the scenery, I always make it a point to stop into Hello Baked while in Hamilton (hint - check out the mural on the side of the shop. You can't miss it!)\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgWAERIJ7iopU66iry4mtyconTEOc3XXtTrNpEVHpU26vn7U5JU3giMleYNITE3puQgLIJWZKDl1RbCF0JSvNvHAROf5b2mx-V3h395B8Hws-kp53O8c_-0-onQORwj2lYhmJCF2zcUxvXX\/s1600\/hello-baked-hamilton.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"900\" data-original-width=\"1400\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgWAERIJ7iopU66iry4mtyconTEOc3XXtTrNpEVHpU26vn7U5JU3giMleYNITE3puQgLIJWZKDl1RbCF0JSvNvHAROf5b2mx-V3h395B8Hws-kp53O8c_-0-onQORwj2lYhmJCF2zcUxvXX\/s1600\/hello-baked-hamilton.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgiq6cDsX9CDK2S5N3pfTjnqF9CjDIMmpx47_4jFMfHwwUpdF4bmc01zrXJVfBxuD4VsFzcnfVAB2seVj4_4oy466NFV_Jt60JujrGDM_lFz88y2t-Bu6h3gkP7leKJcMQaB7n34TvniH8c\/s1600\/hailton-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgiq6cDsX9CDK2S5N3pfTjnqF9CjDIMmpx47_4jFMfHwwUpdF4bmc01zrXJVfBxuD4VsFzcnfVAB2seVj4_4oy466NFV_Jt60JujrGDM_lFz88y2t-Bu6h3gkP7leKJcMQaB7n34TvniH8c\/s1600\/hailton-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhxtOHUKvFn-_n1EomsFMn9xPjhV1Bo1Q5PrmEFUiiX-uWBIdwU754Yj4zOS7LKvPueuYqKwHZH4mUhHepeL9IBi-mQKEBZCe7C7tpXyoBPdZYCIvha6-e0iAm-iMmjZRpc-4F6TVJIG7Fr\/s1600\/IMG_1827.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1350\" data-original-width=\"1080\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhxtOHUKvFn-_n1EomsFMn9xPjhV1Bo1Q5PrmEFUiiX-uWBIdwU754Yj4zOS7LKvPueuYqKwHZH4mUhHepeL9IBi-mQKEBZCe7C7tpXyoBPdZYCIvha6-e0iAm-iMmjZRpc-4F6TVJIG7Fr\/s1600\/IMG_1827.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nSynonym\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nPart café, part bistro, part bookshop, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.synonymshop.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESynonym\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E is a recent discovery for me and has quickly landed a spot on my must-visit list every time that I find myself in Hamilton. The coffee and matcha selection is excellent, and I'm partial to any café that offers oat milk as a dairy alternative. Decor is simple yet purposeful and front of the space boasts amazing light, while the back nooks are perfect if you're craving a more subdued area. All around a solid café with great atmosphere, a friendly staff and delicious coffee to boot. Make sure to stop into Synonym, at the very least to grab an oat-milk matcha latte for the drive back to Toronto.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjciMk7y8a0IKFexnSRdvUMhVN0gC-AWQ-eCovBq84y4gio_ygnSs-QA7Pf5cVt8Y0lI12HfBrs7NMAcwmSW6e5irDFtluI_1gF9x2Xn3SqvUb4Su9jlmk2VETAHmv8pGupTGd0cKnnugK4\/s1600\/IMG_2186.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjciMk7y8a0IKFexnSRdvUMhVN0gC-AWQ-eCovBq84y4gio_ygnSs-QA7Pf5cVt8Y0lI12HfBrs7NMAcwmSW6e5irDFtluI_1gF9x2Xn3SqvUb4Su9jlmk2VETAHmv8pGupTGd0cKnnugK4\/s1600\/IMG_2186.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAlthough these three places top my list as must-visit spots to hit up the next time you're in Hamilton, there's also a few other establishments that I've really enjoyed but have only been able to visit once:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.nuttybutter.ca\/?fbclid=IwAR3oRXnx2Cog-gZ0zXwsYOxedum-YAW9-BLzZpDpP4fBYt7y8ROMFWYplnA\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ENutty Butter Café\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.theheather.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Heather\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.emeraldcoffeeco.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EEmerald Café\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.thefrench.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe French Bistro\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Are there any places in Hamilton that you've really been enjoying? Keep in mind that this post is written from the perspective of a Toronto-based girl visiting the area, so I'm definitely no expert! Let me know!\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/686919396199639591\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/12\/my-favourite-places-in-hamilton-ontario.html#comment-form","title":"10 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/686919396199639591"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/686919396199639591"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/12\/my-favourite-places-in-hamilton-ontario.html","title":"My Favourite Places in Hamilton, Ontario"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgZr6fslanv-C1ZB2AL5kVhvrgO1XllQQB6ozFEBAtaPArRR21aJojgUvUA7uwfjpGA6oeHGBMcujw_n9t93ulo5cMRByvGSeuNq1thASHSZLT9DNOkonlnzhMFr4y0dewtWqNoxyrdwrPY\/s72-c\/hamilton.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"10"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-1092516173156393581"},"published":{"$t":"2018-11-30T10:13:00.002-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-11-30T10:13:53.084-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fashion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"OOTD"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Real Talk"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Style"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Time Is On My Side, Yes It Is"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjbl_lHKyuwrxcrqPpCq-HSh_xHa42RzjEkvHt6WRm3ug1nK2m0a-OWMd20wKu-wBiEKpq4bLwvQ4UDv0s30vL39EzYmdqoTEs5guhMQFZ2CHk2Wd11Cq266i9RaxmHtOPX7g22gmmsjtJM\/s1600\/Charuk-LPN-56.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjbl_lHKyuwrxcrqPpCq-HSh_xHa42RzjEkvHt6WRm3ug1nK2m0a-OWMd20wKu-wBiEKpq4bLwvQ4UDv0s30vL39EzYmdqoTEs5guhMQFZ2CHk2Wd11Cq266i9RaxmHtOPX7g22gmmsjtJM\/s1600\/Charuk-LPN-56.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI'm going to be cliché and repeat what everyone has been saying lately but where has November gone? And aside from that, where has 2018 gone? As we enter the last month of the year, I'm feeling incredibly nostalgic and while it seems as though the 2018 has flown by, when I really stop to think about it so much has happened. The whole process has got me thinking about \u003Ci\u003Etime\u003C\/i\u003E; specifically our relationship with it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nDoes this ever happen to you? You had a specific goal, an aspiration or even a milestone and you become so fixated on it that you almost feel as though life will \u003Ci\u003Ereally \u003C\/i\u003Estart when you get there. Although I've gotten better about this over the years, this concept of delaying life to start at a specific point was something that I was guilty of.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI'll give you an example. After blogging for years and finally admitting to myself that pursuing it full-time was something that I wanted to do, I became fixated on that goal. In my mind, I was simply just existing for the time when I would be able to make a career out of my blog a reality. Any time up until that point should be used to hustle one step closer to the goal, because that is when life will truly begin for me. I was the same way when I decided that I wanted out of Funeral Services in favour of a desk job. Just living for the goal.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThe thing is, as I reflect back on my journey and life up until this point, life didn't stop. Time didn't stop. All of the months and years that were passing as I tried to reach my ultimate goal were still happening, and there was so much that was happening with it. Mentally, I was absent. So focused on the future that I was missing everything going on in the present.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNow I'm currently living in the place that I was fighting so hard to get to, I can reflect back on my journey to this point and realize how silly it is to think that your life will start when you get to a certain goal. Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy and grateful to have made it to my goal of working for this blog full-time, but I'm not living any more or any less after getting here. I still enjoy the same comforts I previously did, still have bad days, still have hard times. Life didn't start once I got to a certain point, I just allowed myself to let go and start living a little more in the present.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nMy point in all of his is to be present and enjoy the journey. The journey includes laughter, tears, beauty, heartbreak, triumphs and failures. The same goes for when you achieve the goal you have set out for yourself. Working and hustling towards a certain goal is amazing, but don't forget to be mindful of the present. This is life, we've got one crack at it - may as well be \u003Ci\u003Ehere \u003C\/i\u003Efor every single moment.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiAQ9UUdv-ml-1g-Uh6AU1fMilbGrespvEtJHX1FY8a38rIemzoaIOzcQMSrOIHci9vvtzZssZA_b-nicgkDR8oiPIXN-dql6WdafiW32Tkw6ArmzynPaNiGkfRoczf17OJhamyU3tIyzsv\/s1600\/Charuk-LPN-61.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiAQ9UUdv-ml-1g-Uh6AU1fMilbGrespvEtJHX1FY8a38rIemzoaIOzcQMSrOIHci9vvtzZssZA_b-nicgkDR8oiPIXN-dql6WdafiW32Tkw6ArmzynPaNiGkfRoczf17OJhamyU3tIyzsv\/s1600\/Charuk-LPN-61.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EDress - c\/o \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2Rb0F15\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDynamite\u003C\/a\u003E, Boots - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.zara.com\/ca\/en\/high-heeled-leather-boots-p16014301.html?v1=8267544\u0026amp;v2=1074516\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EZara\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEifxGI6ukqxqc3VVVzQdCyrDr74LaJrFcgYLMIGlFhviHOCPkfeWzAWwfWmB6EZ79jmAFCsTCi360PYZRDn7Uan8QEHxqXfH-KOgo599zVoNO98RyTsHY-xEz7CxQugEpg4u-ELK2VO0tTN\/s1600\/Charuk-LPN-51.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEifxGI6ukqxqc3VVVzQdCyrDr74LaJrFcgYLMIGlFhviHOCPkfeWzAWwfWmB6EZ79jmAFCsTCi360PYZRDn7Uan8QEHxqXfH-KOgo599zVoNO98RyTsHY-xEz7CxQugEpg4u-ELK2VO0tTN\/s1600\/Charuk-LPN-51.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEimWoHSCwBCYCmWXASFMY7Ri8Q0tO8qny9iclYVhEKThHM6gNg-Ne0uKaON-C9mt0X9IMo6dRJnI9b4EJ-zMEXPSOCsDMz4S400Ei6X9qkP0vG-9iiMIK6kwnQ0h2nGi3SbVJMWgYBZlQVy\/s1600\/Charuk-LPN-64.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEimWoHSCwBCYCmWXASFMY7Ri8Q0tO8qny9iclYVhEKThHM6gNg-Ne0uKaON-C9mt0X9IMo6dRJnI9b4EJ-zMEXPSOCsDMz4S400Ei6X9qkP0vG-9iiMIK6kwnQ0h2nGi3SbVJMWgYBZlQVy\/s1600\/Charuk-LPN-64.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? I would love to hear your perceptions on time. Thank you so much for reading; those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile know that an impending new year always makes me very sappy.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLooking forward to hearing your thoughts.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAll photos by the talented Jessica of \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.charukstudios.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECharuk Studios\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/1092516173156393581\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/11\/time-is-on-my-side-yes-it-is.html#comment-form","title":"5 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/1092516173156393581"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/1092516173156393581"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/11\/time-is-on-my-side-yes-it-is.html","title":"Time Is On My Side, Yes It Is"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjbl_lHKyuwrxcrqPpCq-HSh_xHa42RzjEkvHt6WRm3ug1nK2m0a-OWMd20wKu-wBiEKpq4bLwvQ4UDv0s30vL39EzYmdqoTEs5guhMQFZ2CHk2Wd11Cq266i9RaxmHtOPX7g22gmmsjtJM\/s72-c\/Charuk-LPN-56.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"5"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-923459267533304936"},"published":{"$t":"2018-11-20T10:41:00.000-05:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-11-20T14:43:59.103-05:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Florida Keys"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel Diary"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"USA"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"5 Days In The Florida Keys"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgRt3mDhvnjGw00MdjcoE9t9BS4DvXaWt0N1HuyehSCVdlXAnrxYMcHMSUtOuXfgDQO4ddH_xS0_WZIaW_mmWXd6S9FW9_eAGmq1NNqpIv1OlP6KFBq8vsUVW4rMNPakXEQXNsp8QC-nNz1\/s1600\/islamorada-what-to-do-city-guide-10.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgRt3mDhvnjGw00MdjcoE9t9BS4DvXaWt0N1HuyehSCVdlXAnrxYMcHMSUtOuXfgDQO4ddH_xS0_WZIaW_mmWXd6S9FW9_eAGmq1NNqpIv1OlP6KFBq8vsUVW4rMNPakXEQXNsp8QC-nNz1\/s1600\/islamorada-what-to-do-city-guide-10.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAbout a week ago I woke up in my Toronto condo, to open the blinds and be confronted by snow. I couldn't think of a greater sign pointing towards a sunny getaway; fortunately, the very next morning I was boarding a plane on my way to the\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/fla-keys.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E Florida Keys\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/fla-keys.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Florida Keys\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E had always been a bucket-list destination for me. I wanderlusted over photos of pink sunsets, pastel-coloured houses and endless seafood. Though my expectations were high, nothing could have prepared me for how truly magical the Florida Keys are. The beautiful weather, vibrant colours, incredible food and warm people have truly captured my heart and after 5 days, I'm already wanting to go back for more. Here's a detailed itinerary of 5 days, 4 nights in the Florida Keys - what we did, where we stayed, what we ate and the beauty that we experienced along the way.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhQdo7Qx7V_b80S3v8YOjuwrnZ5soOfGcp4GZWnSoszDyZpbQMFD1gkvGTv9ZJ-wCdAOiVd6myK_C8-KyIykcfuYtxX2YbMBubI0GvJbLmuuuEQfexYUEu3hKuxrSvoVDhlfp2_dvtiOhIr\/s1600\/amara-cay-resort-review-photos-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhQdo7Qx7V_b80S3v8YOjuwrnZ5soOfGcp4GZWnSoszDyZpbQMFD1gkvGTv9ZJ-wCdAOiVd6myK_C8-KyIykcfuYtxX2YbMBubI0GvJbLmuuuEQfexYUEu3hKuxrSvoVDhlfp2_dvtiOhIr\/s1600\/amara-cay-resort-review-photos-6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nDay 1\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAfter a short, direct flight from Toronto to Fort Lauderdale our group made the hour and a half drive to Islamorada for a two night stay before we traveled further south to reach Key West. The sunshine and warm weather that greeted us upon exiting the airport was enough to keep excitement\u0026nbsp; high as we drove through beautiful Florida to reach our final destination.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EStopping for lunch along the way at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/fishhouse.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Fish House Restaurant \u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003Ein Key Largo\u0026nbsp;set a very high bar as the first meal of the trip. The Fish House uses fresh, locally caught seafood to prepare dishes on their vast menu. We feasted on a seafood sampler platter, and I enjoyed a rock crab salad that boasted a heaping amount of fresh crab. We also tried our first of many Key Lime Pies of the trip, each being a little different than the next. The meal was outstanding, and exactly what the doctor ordered after a morning of travel.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAfter a short drive, we arrived at our first property of the trip, the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amaracayresort.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAmara Cay Resort\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. Recognized by the Conde Nast Traveler 2017 Reader's Choice Awards as a top resort in the Florida Keys, the Amara Cay property is absolutely stunning and certainly takes curating a beautiful and relaxing guest experience to heart. My room was ground level, with a stunning ocean-view terrace and elegant decor. Although affected by Hurricane Irma, the Amara Cay Resort was about to rebuild and improve upon their ocean-front property in just 3 months! My goal is to visit the property for an entire week in the future and just relax, drink in-hand listening to the sound of the ocean.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAfter relaxing at Amara Cay Resort for a few hours (and experiencing a gorgeous Florida Keys sunset from their private beach) we were off to dinner. Our meal was experienced at \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hawkscay.com\/amenities\/dining\/angler-and-ale\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EAngler and Ale\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a new restaurant opened at the Hawks Kay resort. The restaurant was the perfect mix of upscale and comfortable, serving freshly-caught seafood in a chic environment. Our group dined on the patio and, although it was too dark to see the ocean, to be eating dinner while waves crashed in the background was a real treat. I really enjoyed my coconut and almond shrimp (the pink shrimp in The Keys is phenomenal) and devoured a lobster mac \u0026amp; cheese. Ending the meal with another Key Lime Pie, this one with a meringue on top, closed out an incredible first day in the Florida Keys.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj-hwLU3k3IoIridMvOycvwW6qw7C8bGc7nc8QnGUwz_Pf9FzNlcy6sXFNSqCkRKCosXkUhD2Del-ZLv3mP_Pb-euBUwsFz5C5o4B46ZWOF6ddAgzAlnvKsQTVS5dSxZ41RAi6-d9u_172f\/s1600\/ACS_0293.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj-hwLU3k3IoIridMvOycvwW6qw7C8bGc7nc8QnGUwz_Pf9FzNlcy6sXFNSqCkRKCosXkUhD2Del-ZLv3mP_Pb-euBUwsFz5C5o4B46ZWOF6ddAgzAlnvKsQTVS5dSxZ41RAi6-d9u_172f\/s1600\/ACS_0293.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjCe_e-jEgIvVMe0hgd2d-443LqFgT1YU6j8tfM38kF6iEyWSzGuuJ2poTAhbKdia_Ward_Hwtgfli2Dhrob4blIl8yA-mczybmMMWO9GX-6RnNF-VL_26vUmbBEoKSHV93mvdpstIWNAy2\/s1600\/amara-cay-resort-review-photos-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjCe_e-jEgIvVMe0hgd2d-443LqFgT1YU6j8tfM38kF6iEyWSzGuuJ2poTAhbKdia_Ward_Hwtgfli2Dhrob4blIl8yA-mczybmMMWO9GX-6RnNF-VL_26vUmbBEoKSHV93mvdpstIWNAy2\/s1600\/amara-cay-resort-review-photos-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgyiN8ERMKV9V6ASQjH7rRlDjZPNJIky_T9JI-lmswd7c6jL1fWD2j8UcFas-MFLWNUqjp0TCDc-t6G8bgFXdEKPQ33X3OgCyw7dL5kqcW7s8HDppPO3H4MrWWSOidsPCx4AC-hPkpKUP7i\/s1600\/amara-cay-resort-review-photos-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgyiN8ERMKV9V6ASQjH7rRlDjZPNJIky_T9JI-lmswd7c6jL1fWD2j8UcFas-MFLWNUqjp0TCDc-t6G8bgFXdEKPQ33X3OgCyw7dL5kqcW7s8HDppPO3H4MrWWSOidsPCx4AC-hPkpKUP7i\/s1600\/amara-cay-resort-review-photos-5.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgz2cWi8OnxUv0fIEfXDe6mcMLRgeboiO8UnCwknE7WU3TZR8tAI0WTFifl5KkN4KQM9-xFgEjltkMPQ4UCqEtWP3a1Z3jFN2dI4pIofWXMkqdAmvdkW8XmFAyQ-lXpw1GZwxlg00NlzCk5\/s1600\/ACS_0298.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgz2cWi8OnxUv0fIEfXDe6mcMLRgeboiO8UnCwknE7WU3TZR8tAI0WTFifl5KkN4KQM9-xFgEjltkMPQ4UCqEtWP3a1Z3jFN2dI4pIofWXMkqdAmvdkW8XmFAyQ-lXpw1GZwxlg00NlzCk5\/s1600\/ACS_0298.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEilPg2rzhacEwHwVxa0MIFW769SrKgDEI4dC3cDvTAf6QEMEXYOff1sWZ0wCw2ffATEM_PUmiNcQBeT6EDSESOVU_STTAZUnIbXfUUirYq-tBAoylJc-hLOsvvOPAgq2XBqknLCSkNdhq0k\/s1600\/florida-keys-what-to-do-city-guide-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEilPg2rzhacEwHwVxa0MIFW769SrKgDEI4dC3cDvTAf6QEMEXYOff1sWZ0wCw2ffATEM_PUmiNcQBeT6EDSESOVU_STTAZUnIbXfUUirYq-tBAoylJc-hLOsvvOPAgq2XBqknLCSkNdhq0k\/s1600\/florida-keys-what-to-do-city-guide-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nDay 2\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nAfter waking up with sunlight gently streaming in my room and the sound of the ocean in the distance, I couldn't help but spend an extra few minutes in my cozy bed just being present and soaking in the experience. It was the start of another incredible day in the Florida Keys, and the fun had just begun.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBreakfast was enjoyed at \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/hungrytarpon.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EHungry Tarpon\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, an unassuming ocean-side property that not only served generous breakfast portions from a large menu, but also offers the chance to wander over to Robbie's Marina after ordering to feed a tarpon fish. For those of you who were keeping up with my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.instagram.com\/lapetitenoob\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EInstagram stories\u003C\/a\u003E, you will remember my encounter with a tarpon fish. A few dollars buys you a bucket of small fish to hold out over the water and laugh (or scream in terror in my case) when a large tarpon fish breach's the water to snatch the fish with their huge mouth. My Lord, what an experience! My subsequent lobster frittata was enjoyed with a side of adrenaline, and made for a breakfast that I wouldn't soon forget\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ENext on the agenda was a visit to the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.turtlehospital.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ETurtle Hospital\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, an establishment that serves to rescue wild sea turtles in distress and treat their injuries with the ultimate goal being to release them back into the wild. We learned all about the different types of sea turtles, and their various injuries - many of which being man-made. The experience certainly gave me a whole new perspective on our consumer-driven society and how excess use of plastics affects our oceans. We were then introduced to the hospital's resident sea turtles, including a newborn sea turtle that was just rescued that same-day! The experience was incredibly educational, eye-opening and an absolute must during your next visit to the Florida Keys.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ELunch for the day was enjoyed at \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.keysfisheries.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe Keys Fisheries\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E - a casual ocean-side eatery that boasts some of the freshest seafood in the Florida Keys. I enjoyed scallops, mahimahi, lobster tail and fresh shrimp - all cooked simply with a light spice. The meal was incredible, easily one of my favourites of the entire trip.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAfter a pit-stop at The Amara Cay resort to relax and enjoy a sunset-soaked cocktail, we were off to check out a local brewery that's actually founded and operated by a fellow Canadian! The \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.floridakeysbrewingco.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFlorida Keys Brewing Co. \u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003Eappealed to my little hippie heart, operating in the Morada Way's Arts and Cultural District, complete with works from local artisans and a communal terrace. The beer itself is infused with local ingredients; key limes, citrus and local honey. With over 19 brews on-tap, all made on-site, there's sure to be a beer for everyone\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe evening was capped off with an incredible dinner at \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/moradabay.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMorada Bay Beach Café\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. Y'all, Morada Bay is my jam. The area is so free-spirited and relaxed, while curating an authentic vibe and experience. Morada Bay Beach Café carried on the spirit of Morada Bay, with a beautiful courtyard where patrons dine by the ocean, under the stars. Complete with a vintage air stream on-site that served as a boutique, this property had me at hello. Blending Caribbean and American flavours, we all enjoyed our seafood-heavy dinner and went to bed stuffed. What an incredible end to a great day.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgYa1BH8e8OIEPXbCA2BfSAYAuz9CUHXUfl0elhJHKSR0yO01NJhuvMiuvGAYnQ-8hzRm8XcKWcgiZ179eiT7107wM4zYs7KnYvlY9KDvwr_L3Uuqc5wiwnrHe3FLicQOK82AkJ99EPZe1B\/s1600\/IMG_1317.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgYa1BH8e8OIEPXbCA2BfSAYAuz9CUHXUfl0elhJHKSR0yO01NJhuvMiuvGAYnQ-8hzRm8XcKWcgiZ179eiT7107wM4zYs7KnYvlY9KDvwr_L3Uuqc5wiwnrHe3FLicQOK82AkJ99EPZe1B\/s1600\/IMG_1317.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhasUkjaInK1RubJjr42sAaNGgpoTzp4ixR_LK2BWfXqA9WWP4XwLtqHrPJgwDAC4Mt1_crAPEvo3adRJXxpuiRgVg_-z8t8IR_p-Wb9Ax5CeIXU7RnOeK_ezQY3Sbu8WLOlUVomFYuZk6j\/s1600\/islamorada-what-to-do-city-guide-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhasUkjaInK1RubJjr42sAaNGgpoTzp4ixR_LK2BWfXqA9WWP4XwLtqHrPJgwDAC4Mt1_crAPEvo3adRJXxpuiRgVg_-z8t8IR_p-Wb9Ax5CeIXU7RnOeK_ezQY3Sbu8WLOlUVomFYuZk6j\/s1600\/islamorada-what-to-do-city-guide-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhgs6LHXEwpmMRJAaPiP4vHlxoSWlQbtmOG5fd4hTUkeTyOStizAuyJb1ADRRnPMCaAwiPWhAVyMSQiX1MpW-xh6bASMAhFrJCmg96zOuKHk0txvPQY3Is0pqG3PU-1a580mSVzMOMn60pU\/s1600\/islamorada-what-to-do-city-guide-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhgs6LHXEwpmMRJAaPiP4vHlxoSWlQbtmOG5fd4hTUkeTyOStizAuyJb1ADRRnPMCaAwiPWhAVyMSQiX1MpW-xh6bASMAhFrJCmg96zOuKHk0txvPQY3Is0pqG3PU-1a580mSVzMOMn60pU\/s1600\/islamorada-what-to-do-city-guide-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgOXoNAlu0qJpfyH6wpksDxbmAvKEpWRMvZf5oF_shCTi61nzyA2hS3dDWJ47hYpVhd64_b-XGiSH4Kc5Qfh8eP1vRszga3oghWwKCog63Y6914Ampeh6RvOogmgvDLm2ctlisI3WQtZVEM\/s1600\/islamorada-what-to-do-city-guide-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgOXoNAlu0qJpfyH6wpksDxbmAvKEpWRMvZf5oF_shCTi61nzyA2hS3dDWJ47hYpVhd64_b-XGiSH4Kc5Qfh8eP1vRszga3oghWwKCog63Y6914Ampeh6RvOogmgvDLm2ctlisI3WQtZVEM\/s1600\/islamorada-what-to-do-city-guide-7.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjbwZQav27DyuqyAPAx8dH9pBqqUEZoZBTx1MtVJDbrAYD6eJXor9QqVxHCNu3WICH76Dc8JvmHidABmPv-wZeUTH4irsyv4cHgDyrTUaoKZ-_QXvMZDVkqaNNViiZz-VyotlG4F3wgrrQ5\/s1600\/IMG_1346.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjbwZQav27DyuqyAPAx8dH9pBqqUEZoZBTx1MtVJDbrAYD6eJXor9QqVxHCNu3WICH76Dc8JvmHidABmPv-wZeUTH4irsyv4cHgDyrTUaoKZ-_QXvMZDVkqaNNViiZz-VyotlG4F3wgrrQ5\/s1600\/IMG_1346.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi-k-QPlsfxDI5AtXhWs-4bxw-GHqLX88eH2aNSntOUniFlFaTYp2XJuUEZmw3I7V3DUHbYErw0sfKHbXY8pe0S4juIUl4uLtXee2LTa6m6NcgYoKfS_JdzS5Ouw6-WMVhaPQ7u33A8Myeh\/s1600\/5-day-florida-keys-itinerary.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi-k-QPlsfxDI5AtXhWs-4bxw-GHqLX88eH2aNSntOUniFlFaTYp2XJuUEZmw3I7V3DUHbYErw0sfKHbXY8pe0S4juIUl4uLtXee2LTa6m6NcgYoKfS_JdzS5Ouw6-WMVhaPQ7u33A8Myeh\/s1600\/5-day-florida-keys-itinerary.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiqZp9COARtSQ22g_hkNve-BGCwsNsbdHTelbKFbm8Am_u0vuykpyMioct1_4jRdoHhPxYYfMonvkEx2jLCL7a4tlEPFEokMRl7tSoMpOo6KO5Dz5-cpY-6HxT3Vrcqi4_Rae4EYPK0ItNI\/s1600\/IMG_2497.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiqZp9COARtSQ22g_hkNve-BGCwsNsbdHTelbKFbm8Am_u0vuykpyMioct1_4jRdoHhPxYYfMonvkEx2jLCL7a4tlEPFEokMRl7tSoMpOo6KO5Dz5-cpY-6HxT3Vrcqi4_Rae4EYPK0ItNI\/s1600\/IMG_2497.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj0gvFLYA58u4B25e42H44Ysv8xsEKHLHz5zCmxs_CeS23Z4o7WtRqOcKQm2Z-HmAsC-HaxHbB68TRO7BAyScCmGQzdMf9t8EF4H50sAww9imClGhBu5MHYTHm9jIV-LtdZ8TvqgtnmazD5\/s1600\/islamorada-what-to-do-city-guide-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj0gvFLYA58u4B25e42H44Ysv8xsEKHLHz5zCmxs_CeS23Z4o7WtRqOcKQm2Z-HmAsC-HaxHbB68TRO7BAyScCmGQzdMf9t8EF4H50sAww9imClGhBu5MHYTHm9jIV-LtdZ8TvqgtnmazD5\/s1600\/islamorada-what-to-do-city-guide-8.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003EDay 3 -\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nEnjoying one last sunrise at the beautiful Amara Cay Resort, it was time to have an on-site breakfast, pack up and continue our travels further south to Key West. The morning was bittersweet; as much as I enjoyed our time in Islamorada and at the Amara Cay Resort, I was excited to discover a new area in the Florida Keys.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EOur day begun with a visit to the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bahiahondapark.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBahia Honda State Park\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a 500-acre state park that offers camping, biking, picnicking and swimming in their shallow, warm-watered beaches. I opted to explore on-foot, and had a great time taking in the panoramic ocean views.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EExploring a vast state park in the Florida heat builds an appetite, so a stop at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/nonamepubestore.com\/pub\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ENo Name Pub\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E was exactly what the doctor ordered. A blink-and-you'll-miss-it establishment, The No Name Pub is certainly something to see - the entire establishment is lined with one dollar bills! We enjoyed shrimp pizza with both classic tomato sauce and an Alfredo sauce - delicious.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWe then arrived at our new home-away-from-home, the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.24northhotel.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E24 North Hotel\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. Located right at the point of entry to Key West, the 24 North Hotel has everything that you could possibly want in a property: it's super central, boasts a beautiful heated pool \u003Ci\u003Eand\u003C\/i\u003E has a Starbucks on-site! Swoon! My room overlooked the ocean, which was a nice treat. For those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile, you'll know how important having access to espresso-based drinks in a hotel is for me, so the Starbucks on-site was a huge selling feature to me. It's the little things!\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EOur group then took a quick taxi ride into the heart of Key West, Mallory Square, to be able to catch the sunset. The sunsets in Key West are legendary, and being able to experience the\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.sunsetcelebration.org\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMallory Square Sunset Celebration\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E is certainly an experience I won't soon forget. We purchased a couple of margaritas right on the pier, found a spot with a great view and sipped away as we watched the sky explode into warm colours as the sun gently set. Cheering along with the crowds, the whole experience was nothing short of magical.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe evening was capped off with a delicious dinner at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.turtlekraals.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETurtle Kraals \u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003Ewhich included, you guessed it - copious amounts of seafood! Our server for the meal was quite possibly the most charming man in Key West, and we enjoyed our dinner as he gave us Key West tips that only someone local to the area would know.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiMoF_4AcGGa2AnTtCGtL4fCAKTPabYXyy6oGT5IO0mztHzscGE4RftHo1XS5wyoQx19RWUhwAo2ndycZ29NDvMe4g3qA3egYT7ZzQOJi_QSjcXSCy0yW7umdboMxgFZlNZ9E2Rd0w792AC\/s1600\/florida-keys-guide.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiMoF_4AcGGa2AnTtCGtL4fCAKTPabYXyy6oGT5IO0mztHzscGE4RftHo1XS5wyoQx19RWUhwAo2ndycZ29NDvMe4g3qA3egYT7ZzQOJi_QSjcXSCy0yW7umdboMxgFZlNZ9E2Rd0w792AC\/s1600\/florida-keys-guide.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiOfdJnQp5DvjDyPRHDlPrAD8ChST8-f2G2JvpVy6L0D-l-kue29JmtTa1O_4DMJ4gYEyl2gqPdxulKqM1oAJYdFqHeKNi2_EFQDOZkhzY_DFP3s6FXgcc69YWOGgFei7I9VKvqEfmgByUH\/s1600\/5-day-florida-keys-itinerary-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiOfdJnQp5DvjDyPRHDlPrAD8ChST8-f2G2JvpVy6L0D-l-kue29JmtTa1O_4DMJ4gYEyl2gqPdxulKqM1oAJYdFqHeKNi2_EFQDOZkhzY_DFP3s6FXgcc69YWOGgFei7I9VKvqEfmgByUH\/s1600\/5-day-florida-keys-itinerary-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiZOVuJOTFrIRkL1Ewkhyphenhyphenw53Qw5f7MrA5WajCCEF57kAbGIdd7sUADn8PF5kTVP1lLN0dti1qapStXHvLp1x7ovEqSofFywQWkcrlVWmFPnbcvmZXq-C6zu_CUK7xeOmMM-SrprVhTWMQKb\/s1600\/5-day-florida-keys-itinerary-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiZOVuJOTFrIRkL1Ewkhyphenhyphenw53Qw5f7MrA5WajCCEF57kAbGIdd7sUADn8PF5kTVP1lLN0dti1qapStXHvLp1x7ovEqSofFywQWkcrlVWmFPnbcvmZXq-C6zu_CUK7xeOmMM-SrprVhTWMQKb\/s1600\/5-day-florida-keys-itinerary-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgc_8Tgx6sy3xvhHcqZ8BRCymQhze-tNPmmfw3PeMHFedAi1gy7mJe2vh7bwft0sHdQLFTacCIP17mENkPUFKYVjMey-1bRFXTzKEGJ2NLSqskm3HJ58GymSSwiOq8cxd2oEfEZlJvTOInZ\/s1600\/24-north-hotel-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgc_8Tgx6sy3xvhHcqZ8BRCymQhze-tNPmmfw3PeMHFedAi1gy7mJe2vh7bwft0sHdQLFTacCIP17mENkPUFKYVjMey-1bRFXTzKEGJ2NLSqskm3HJ58GymSSwiOq8cxd2oEfEZlJvTOInZ\/s1600\/24-north-hotel-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgFW8l3Pwyt1zD-LWIRWaEj5JeTcxEDOB-uxrkon3wSE_qnmhmGUIuFqFk2KG0api49tRnuXCYfAhGKYqgSVZMem3UZQVfOXeD7klsIEuqp5JTNXFphMGxj1oOS7f787eRdAh7FnIVqW-Oz\/s1600\/mallory-square-sunset-celebration.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgFW8l3Pwyt1zD-LWIRWaEj5JeTcxEDOB-uxrkon3wSE_qnmhmGUIuFqFk2KG0api49tRnuXCYfAhGKYqgSVZMem3UZQVfOXeD7klsIEuqp5JTNXFphMGxj1oOS7f787eRdAh7FnIVqW-Oz\/s1600\/mallory-square-sunset-celebration.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nDay 4 -\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nUp bright and early with the sunrise, with a Starbucks Americano in-hand, we started the day off with an impromptu swim in 24 North's beautiful pool. If this is November weather in the Florida Keys, then I'll take it.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EOur day started off with a bang, with a boat adventure with the\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.furycat.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E Island Adventure Eco Tour provided by Fury Water Adventures\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. The tour was a highlight of the entire trip for me; cruising through the ocean, stopping only to snorkel and explore a natural mangrove on kayak. We then had some free time to hang out on a sandbar, with beer in-hand and just enjoy the beauty of the ocean. What an incredible morning in Key West, cultivating memories that I'll keep with me forever.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAfter the thrill of our boat tour, we had ample time to explore Key West on our own. I had no idea how much there is to-do, and how many activities there are available in Key West. There seems to be something for everyone; wether you want to party the day away, spend time shopping or explore historical landmarks and cultural activities. Didier and I chose to check out a few notable places known to Key West. Up first was \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hemingwayhome.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EErnest Hemingway Home and Museum\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, the home where Nobel Prize winner Ernest Hemingway spent nearly ten years living and writing, drawing inspiration from beautiful Key West. The museum was like stepping back in time, and we had a ton of fun exploring the gardens and meeting the many resident felines.\u0026nbsp; Our next stop was a visit to \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.keywestbutterfly.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Key West Butterfly \u0026amp; Nature Conservatory\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, where lush greenery, hundreds of butterflies and even two resident flamingos greet you. I enjoyed this garden oasis, a calm sanctuary and reprieve from the hustle and bustle of Key West.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EOur last dinner of the trip was enjoyed at \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.perrykeywest.com\/eat-and-drink\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMatt's Stock Island Kitchen and Bar\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, located in the Perry Hotel Key West. Talk about going out with a bang; this dinner was one of my favourites. The seafood was the same outstanding quality that we had come to expect throughout our trip through Key West, with a more modern and upscale twist. We all shared a beautifully-presented seafood tower and I enjoyed a lobster tail to myself for dinner. With delicious food and award-winning ambiance, Matt's Stock Island Kitchen and Bar is one of those restaurants that I can't just experience once, so it's on my must-visit list for when I return to Key West.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhbdBfjjsbfpfA5AUS9qGAD2jM34mo7k1o00ADyxabFE2zn9lenL0R97-ATIDSTQDCJbnhDYQ3ph1sXagPGiTgimUD4Htem7nW22lu4D3d6rCK3U2A6JeqJDu7iS3MTU-Kt86zlaowoJynP\/s1600\/what-to-do-florida-keys-november.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhbdBfjjsbfpfA5AUS9qGAD2jM34mo7k1o00ADyxabFE2zn9lenL0R97-ATIDSTQDCJbnhDYQ3ph1sXagPGiTgimUD4Htem7nW22lu4D3d6rCK3U2A6JeqJDu7iS3MTU-Kt86zlaowoJynP\/s1600\/what-to-do-florida-keys-november.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj3-ymT2jvktM8u0yvatypHof7Bwt459MlYDu7JpjTjzzCbB6FChCFRTPVHHvAZ8HRw7oqYGVkRfwIWvDgEOE3m_eBz_AhvJyUA5eHpye-W38mhE4m0BTeXn_ggc3jyP-bF7OgvKAiNYi4Z\/s1600\/what-to-do-florida-keys-november-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj3-ymT2jvktM8u0yvatypHof7Bwt459MlYDu7JpjTjzzCbB6FChCFRTPVHHvAZ8HRw7oqYGVkRfwIWvDgEOE3m_eBz_AhvJyUA5eHpye-W38mhE4m0BTeXn_ggc3jyP-bF7OgvKAiNYi4Z\/s1600\/what-to-do-florida-keys-november-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiiLicMB4760a8LJaB9lOPRssZBR6wn78zXexGaJMaEbr3FKGg-dkVJqgz3vmjZawf0_cuSi1yTCvR9Xbrj096S0BnSgZiBeoxPWqgI-FhlffYDd9dAhmMdOfdP2vfFqLGnotCvY_rAXMk4\/s1600\/IMG_2608.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiiLicMB4760a8LJaB9lOPRssZBR6wn78zXexGaJMaEbr3FKGg-dkVJqgz3vmjZawf0_cuSi1yTCvR9Xbrj096S0BnSgZiBeoxPWqgI-FhlffYDd9dAhmMdOfdP2vfFqLGnotCvY_rAXMk4\/s1600\/IMG_2608.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj33OSZzhTj_bTMK1JTRQnYJL8r9DaAy1gNfvoXhCfw71t4e7Ifkk56tuBDK2sAwKy4dEfj8SWfr2VZdaOWaHobM5mdvdpWnepoKCO3RSXDH9YQAK9BzGp7dtM6p59_skULXsOMhhrCitDS\/s1600\/what-to-do-florida-keys-november-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj33OSZzhTj_bTMK1JTRQnYJL8r9DaAy1gNfvoXhCfw71t4e7Ifkk56tuBDK2sAwKy4dEfj8SWfr2VZdaOWaHobM5mdvdpWnepoKCO3RSXDH9YQAK9BzGp7dtM6p59_skULXsOMhhrCitDS\/s1600\/what-to-do-florida-keys-november-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi7-pYsu8X7H02hRl9TvW1sujtZS14z2k5O_a7KgxTN6siATkk2Y3yUtbSDNt97wOO64mzf4OoCw9xZOLuviXzMGjgsLBLhqXBA4ndtHgnI7A5FYTXOtEDu08__auJ5fkUElPFkVx19LB23\/s1600\/butterfly-conservatory-review-key-west.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi7-pYsu8X7H02hRl9TvW1sujtZS14z2k5O_a7KgxTN6siATkk2Y3yUtbSDNt97wOO64mzf4OoCw9xZOLuviXzMGjgsLBLhqXBA4ndtHgnI7A5FYTXOtEDu08__auJ5fkUElPFkVx19LB23\/s1600\/butterfly-conservatory-review-key-west.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjYjI-yLh_X4Zhmez7PeVHc6XJgr6lUBsCD4ZN1ezvO9huoF9ak1cV8mKNehq6W9DrfMm343Pvr9sUKiZqijqZuHwsfbn4kgroVpqSFDx_uxukKeDg_avC1lvVnZUkx9eImsUyjoI3INMCF\/s1600\/what-to-do-florida-keys-november-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjYjI-yLh_X4Zhmez7PeVHc6XJgr6lUBsCD4ZN1ezvO9huoF9ak1cV8mKNehq6W9DrfMm343Pvr9sUKiZqijqZuHwsfbn4kgroVpqSFDx_uxukKeDg_avC1lvVnZUkx9eImsUyjoI3INMCF\/s1600\/what-to-do-florida-keys-november-6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhqpR4_q3VpuMS2QGB9yDMrZfIaZeGEE6Yh5-XKNodMEvAv8sQTqNxCOr7juqHbNuJArW76W1_MiHEwt-e0BwKewlfEcEZ6RdDyAPWrLaQvgPs5v30fFa_vQsQXcJjEImVZphgkageW4pmb\/s1600\/what-to-do-florida-keys-november-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhqpR4_q3VpuMS2QGB9yDMrZfIaZeGEE6Yh5-XKNodMEvAv8sQTqNxCOr7juqHbNuJArW76W1_MiHEwt-e0BwKewlfEcEZ6RdDyAPWrLaQvgPs5v30fFa_vQsQXcJjEImVZphgkageW4pmb\/s1600\/what-to-do-florida-keys-november-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjUVyLgWEeQMoBnCdrVSZvLYcUKfQjmRGmRlIPH4Kkf2_MhhOMcvhBsLDb2XefDKBDqneZmZji5fzNmcDsETVn082l1UoDZ-EKpyAby6mMejMcXk0Ca1kWhg_eLH7dJTaX6BlTslLeKd3cA\/s1600\/IMG_1599.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjUVyLgWEeQMoBnCdrVSZvLYcUKfQjmRGmRlIPH4Kkf2_MhhOMcvhBsLDb2XefDKBDqneZmZji5fzNmcDsETVn082l1UoDZ-EKpyAby6mMejMcXk0Ca1kWhg_eLH7dJTaX6BlTslLeKd3cA\/s1600\/IMG_1599.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nDay 5 -\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nWaking up to the Key West sunshine on our last morning already cultivated that familiar feeling of nostalgia; our time in The Florida Keys had come to an end. The entire day passed by as a blur, as I wanted to soak up as much sunshine and beauty of the Florida Keys before traveling home to snowy Toronto.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBreakfast was enjoyed at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.blueheavenkw.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBlue Haven\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, a Key West institution serving up generous portions of seafood laden breakfast in a colourful environment. I enjoyed my last taste of fresh shrimp, this time served as a Benedict, and last few bites of key lime pie. After tasting countless amounts of key lime pie throughout the trip, I can confidently say that the pie at Blue Haven is some of the best out there.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAfter packing our bags and checking out of 24 North, we took a quick taxi ride to the Key West Airport, making a short trip to Atlanta to catch our connecting flight to Toronto.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiRWcMWOSpZrycnMuFcgKEM1WKU6KjOjU-KfMXtYlv9Ec82xD7aw9o-7kHhaEQLjKAeNJtHXx4T7tc_xcZOCEoBI79b7NcaVp8eBSIWI3fDZgiRMkjrxMk_RJ2dwWqwQx8Ux1rpZWfssr8n\/s1600\/what-to-do-florida-keys-november-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiRWcMWOSpZrycnMuFcgKEM1WKU6KjOjU-KfMXtYlv9Ec82xD7aw9o-7kHhaEQLjKAeNJtHXx4T7tc_xcZOCEoBI79b7NcaVp8eBSIWI3fDZgiRMkjrxMk_RJ2dwWqwQx8Ux1rpZWfssr8n\/s1600\/what-to-do-florida-keys-november-7.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiXybA1VJYMnOLSAIUhd3sO7P6J_WUyY2tzvb00giDstXOqM6kHsdnPgcfbM8aduh5GkwwwfpA0JUojEtH-6b2jeMt4Ygm1UOJCzwbACp7sr9Ata2zD1cFHkOsCqtpBqxh2e4XRwo3UzGk2\/s1600\/IMG_1683.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiXybA1VJYMnOLSAIUhd3sO7P6J_WUyY2tzvb00giDstXOqM6kHsdnPgcfbM8aduh5GkwwwfpA0JUojEtH-6b2jeMt4Ygm1UOJCzwbACp7sr9Ata2zD1cFHkOsCqtpBqxh2e4XRwo3UzGk2\/s1600\/IMG_1683.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhOUeY0IcKP5HUTKfd7IHf8ijPU7HizUhtKJuL5SJGfxG69eJDS7MUiiji2oWgQc3sJzge6YL4jWlNzfoeH4kQ64Uc71STKapsk-DEE1g0m0KxMCS9uHMCwaoYfrF485c_I0IoU4I1SV_n_\/s1600\/IMG_1696.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhOUeY0IcKP5HUTKfd7IHf8ijPU7HizUhtKJuL5SJGfxG69eJDS7MUiiji2oWgQc3sJzge6YL4jWlNzfoeH4kQ64Uc71STKapsk-DEE1g0m0KxMCS9uHMCwaoYfrF485c_I0IoU4I1SV_n_\/s1600\/IMG_1696.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nGoing into this trip, I knew that I was going to enjoy the Florida Keys - I mean, sunshine, blue ocean, seafood - what's not to like? What I wasn't expecting was how taken I would become with the culture, pride and warmth that \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/fla-keys.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFlorida Keys\u003C\/a\u003E showed us.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nWhat drew me to The Keys in the first place was achieved on this trip, but it's what lies beneath the surface - the people I met, the local pride - that's what will stay with me forever, and what will keep me coming back for more.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nMany thanks to \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/fla-keys.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Florida Keys\u003C\/a\u003E for your unparalleled hospitality. I can't wait to see you again soon.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThank you to \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/fla-keys.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Florida Keys\u003C\/a\u003E for hosting me on this trip. All thoughts and opinions\u0026nbsp;are 100% my own.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/923459267533304936\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/11\/5-days-in-florida-keys-itinerary.html#comment-form","title":"4 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/923459267533304936"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/923459267533304936"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/11\/5-days-in-florida-keys-itinerary.html","title":"5 Days In The Florida Keys"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgRt3mDhvnjGw00MdjcoE9t9BS4DvXaWt0N1HuyehSCVdlXAnrxYMcHMSUtOuXfgDQO4ddH_xS0_WZIaW_mmWXd6S9FW9_eAGmq1NNqpIv1OlP6KFBq8vsUVW4rMNPakXEQXNsp8QC-nNz1\/s72-c\/islamorada-what-to-do-city-guide-10.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"4"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-1272810488621028101"},"published":{"$t":"2018-10-21T08:23:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-10-21T08:23:27.524-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fashion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"OOTD"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Style"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"OOTD - What I've Been Wearing Lately"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgwuRkydNX3-EwGdAPgqdvB4YIeNeWLaVqJjgheJNbokukEToZA38JJa1dQkLn2x5be0ANZaP8XUTTWRvjTaH2Yxurl4F8S8qsSqLDcHg5ebU_kFq0YeVwqykf0kCRaMh_WZOYNbbuYkUv-\/s1600\/pastelrit.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgwuRkydNX3-EwGdAPgqdvB4YIeNeWLaVqJjgheJNbokukEToZA38JJa1dQkLn2x5be0ANZaP8XUTTWRvjTaH2Yxurl4F8S8qsSqLDcHg5ebU_kFq0YeVwqykf0kCRaMh_WZOYNbbuYkUv-\/s1600\/pastelrit.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nGet ready you guys, because today's post is a super exciting 'What I've Been Wearing Lately' post! Seriously though, I have so many poignant and personal blog posts started and half-finished, but I've been finding it hard lately to sit down and concentrate. I'm not sure if it's the weather (who else struggles when Summer turns to Fall) or just the fact that I've been making a conscious effort to leave the house more and attend events, but lately my mind has been all over the place. As a result I feel as though my blog is suffering, and that's the last thing that I want to happen. This coming week my goal is to find a a routine, or even potentially a new space, that allows my head to slow down, focus and concentrate.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIn the meantime though, check out what I've been wearing! You'll see a lot of repeat items (hello, I've been wearing the red boots that I picked up from Zara everyday since I got them) but that's just me. As much as I would love to always rock different clothes, I just simply don't have the budget - or the space!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhooEVPMdjYziFSnHLxWYrwhpKdcjsjywbt1BNdWqYbZy18qVPiyvTBHZskWCM6LSHh8Ab_wuJKsZ3LqDpqxrVb-giyiah1QzmcPRAlhbZKJRMZR2oACpYAIOasVdwzkCmX51OXR5tPFOJs\/s1600\/farm.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhooEVPMdjYziFSnHLxWYrwhpKdcjsjywbt1BNdWqYbZy18qVPiyvTBHZskWCM6LSHh8Ab_wuJKsZ3LqDpqxrVb-giyiah1QzmcPRAlhbZKJRMZR2oACpYAIOasVdwzkCmX51OXR5tPFOJs\/s1600\/farm.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EBlouse - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/go.zara\/2Cz5spf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EZara\u003C\/a\u003E, Skirt - Forever 21 (\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2Pfg02K\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esimilar\u003C\/a\u003E), Boots - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/go.zara\/2NA6pyz\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EZara\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgB0v5xou68FZGtGC6P2fn8Ca2pV3_tBUwpQdQe-i2b4Tz9oSAr-RKbWn4iWgw-kNV_Zkc3QWinD8qltAcpq8cS22yoppzDUok28_lwK7ptytNReuWAzR_8fcvKan60soXon7ZV9pEj7oqr\/s1600\/farm-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgB0v5xou68FZGtGC6P2fn8Ca2pV3_tBUwpQdQe-i2b4Tz9oSAr-RKbWn4iWgw-kNV_Zkc3QWinD8qltAcpq8cS22yoppzDUok28_lwK7ptytNReuWAzR_8fcvKan60soXon7ZV9pEj7oqr\/s1600\/farm-5.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EHat - Forever 21 (\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2J7hgiZ\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esimilar\u003C\/a\u003E)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhcnI8oIVwICxnK3bgwqN00c_STkApZ2W5PmAPCUPa2USk-AgGI-0nlRWdMHe6o32jASsGnAxOsZC1gVh0My2qd9gK_1qpT0uorj6gEZv6vYbWPWWJoNvoJ3o9P2qFW3hwv2_-bHLq-MrsL\/s1600\/ciaosea1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhcnI8oIVwICxnK3bgwqN00c_STkApZ2W5PmAPCUPa2USk-AgGI-0nlRWdMHe6o32jASsGnAxOsZC1gVh0My2qd9gK_1qpT0uorj6gEZv6vYbWPWWJoNvoJ3o9P2qFW3hwv2_-bHLq-MrsL\/s1600\/ciaosea1.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EDress - c\/o \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ciaosea.com\/collections\/dresses\/products\/pocketed-sleeveless-dress\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECiao Sea\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjJlSfDyR4iHoufSTrKhQCPVvxrdlhWLKooaLZt0taTsrI713j1hol1z7q6Wr4GZuCaCxSFSpszxtiy1Lon7Rv563BCSisuxj590Br3TWE0ILqKtdJQ2PeH2A59_Ksuek-poxP3vjsCUoBb\/s1600\/ACS_0276.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjJlSfDyR4iHoufSTrKhQCPVvxrdlhWLKooaLZt0taTsrI713j1hol1z7q6Wr4GZuCaCxSFSpszxtiy1Lon7Rv563BCSisuxj590Br3TWE0ILqKtdJQ2PeH2A59_Ksuek-poxP3vjsCUoBb\/s1600\/ACS_0276.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESkirt - c\/o \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.ciaosea.com\/collections\/dresses\/products\/pocketed-sleeveless-dress\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECiao Se\u003C\/a\u003Ea, Sweater - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/go.zara\/2wcvbzf\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EZara\u003C\/a\u003E, Boots - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/go.zara\/2NA6pyz\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EZara\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EJacket - Reiss (old)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgXky_ZkRUDAB6Bq6NA4TpEsDQ78sLlBezniCZ7dZmUQ7yWgpbKS3WE-GasR3SGWKBDp39qv924Jy3KC9zZGHD6PlqpXWMgMOO4xhtZLzjhsP2QxqloW1nu5rKaDfEsJVDPT-IV-slWHf7e\/s1600\/pastelrit-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgXky_ZkRUDAB6Bq6NA4TpEsDQ78sLlBezniCZ7dZmUQ7yWgpbKS3WE-GasR3SGWKBDp39qv924Jy3KC9zZGHD6PlqpXWMgMOO4xhtZLzjhsP2QxqloW1nu5rKaDfEsJVDPT-IV-slWHf7e\/s1600\/pastelrit-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EDress - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/go.zara\/2CAmQtI\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EZara\u003C\/a\u003E, Beret - H\u0026amp;M (\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2Q4NtK7\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esimilar\u003C\/a\u003E)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Do you also struggle with keeping concentration this time of year? Have you ever explored a co-working space? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/1272810488621028101\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/10\/ootd-what-ive-been-wearing-lately_21.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/1272810488621028101"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/1272810488621028101"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/10\/ootd-what-ive-been-wearing-lately_21.html","title":"OOTD - What I've Been Wearing Lately"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgwuRkydNX3-EwGdAPgqdvB4YIeNeWLaVqJjgheJNbokukEToZA38JJa1dQkLn2x5be0ANZaP8XUTTWRvjTaH2Yxurl4F8S8qsSqLDcHg5ebU_kFq0YeVwqykf0kCRaMh_WZOYNbbuYkUv-\/s72-c\/pastelrit.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-2857683666489693407"},"published":{"$t":"2018-10-06T09:18:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-10-06T09:18:09.504-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fashion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"OOTD"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Style"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"summer to fall"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Transitional"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"OOTD - What I've Been Wearing Lately"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh1-1WZuUXlNhVwGQTODmp2drbjof3zDl8YUmMwnELyaYWjgN6Dn1C0RSuMkE8knr09JKmD1nuGN9Z0hpbzlTyqPFOK6R4TEzkCkRsq2WCQ0zG6MdxwgxB64CPz989jsLBRgkSWqlshlwQN\/s1600\/canary1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh1-1WZuUXlNhVwGQTODmp2drbjof3zDl8YUmMwnELyaYWjgN6Dn1C0RSuMkE8knr09JKmD1nuGN9Z0hpbzlTyqPFOK6R4TEzkCkRsq2WCQ0zG6MdxwgxB64CPz989jsLBRgkSWqlshlwQN\/s1600\/canary1.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWith the changing of seasons, along with a chill in the air and and overload of pumpkin \u003Ci\u003Eeverything, \u003C\/i\u003Ecomes one of the most confusing times for fashion. I don't know about you guys, but I always struggle with what to wear when Summer turns into Fall\u003Ci\u003E. \u003C\/i\u003EThere's always warm days mixed with cold, and you haven't quite developed your Fall style yet - at least for me, anyways. It's during these transitional times between seasons that I choose a few key pieces to mix-and-match, help transition my wardrobe and basically just learn on until my temporary identity crisis blows over. Here's a few outfits that I've been wearing lately, and details on where to find the pieces for yourself.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEirzpD5wLUbHlKnLa2uNwvTfcm8ewkHpKXLKjxrTURdmFs-OiojAWE-Sv-QDeYIhpt356nHVsBjjxHm4A2gPCcsSWB3ZIy8mI5PBphE91LCPeMUvWaf_5RcGurWP8dKuvtSj0uzG-48No-8\/s1600\/canary.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEirzpD5wLUbHlKnLa2uNwvTfcm8ewkHpKXLKjxrTURdmFs-OiojAWE-Sv-QDeYIhpt356nHVsBjjxHm4A2gPCcsSWB3ZIy8mI5PBphE91LCPeMUvWaf_5RcGurWP8dKuvtSj0uzG-48No-8\/s1600\/canary.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ELeopard Skirt - \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2DwWBWB\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EH\u0026amp;M\u003C\/a\u003E, White Sweater - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/go.zara\/2IBuYdz\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EZara\u003C\/a\u003E, Loafers - \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2zOsFB9\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGucci\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EBeret - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Nollita-PASTEL-Blend-French-Artist\/dp\/B00PKF4J66\/ref=sr_1_8?s=apparel\u0026amp;ie=UTF8\u0026amp;qid=1538831487\u0026amp;sr=1-8\u0026amp;nodeID=2474973011\u0026amp;psd=1\u0026amp;refinements=p_n_size_browse-vebin%3A2343359011\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAmazon\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiAh5ftNCIUHP-8T2XLuGmCGanGeUk5Uz5rq_x1oEHiVqNWlm4V29FPm7FSNFh_4hWqbTG6IJG7w578I5AH5CafC_18l4jkriYCL-1vMlf3edGkaWUqsQbJVUvCqo8Z5E5wj2j-7MJXyHh2\/s1600\/cancan.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiAh5ftNCIUHP-8T2XLuGmCGanGeUk5Uz5rq_x1oEHiVqNWlm4V29FPm7FSNFh_4hWqbTG6IJG7w578I5AH5CafC_18l4jkriYCL-1vMlf3edGkaWUqsQbJVUvCqo8Z5E5wj2j-7MJXyHh2\/s1600\/cancan.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EDress - c\/o \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/3rdfloorstudio.ca\/collections\/dresses\/products\/moira-dress\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E3rd Floor Studio\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjLVU5KTEIr3A2j8zrZM3eEP3-amDhEHPscBTIQdL_a6PX6NYExzG6lfrxtNLhOGx3VkQBzndmw9P-pPPEezWOQ4QIVuxmUDP4rR-w-7r0wEkXeQZBUqgjVKzuv6EEnHi66wGyShnWVB0-n\/s1600\/soul.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjLVU5KTEIr3A2j8zrZM3eEP3-amDhEHPscBTIQdL_a6PX6NYExzG6lfrxtNLhOGx3VkQBzndmw9P-pPPEezWOQ4QIVuxmUDP4rR-w-7r0wEkXeQZBUqgjVKzuv6EEnHi66wGyShnWVB0-n\/s1600\/soul.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EPants -\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/oldnavy.gapcanada.ca\/browse\/product.do?cid=1031033\u0026amp;pcid=1031032\u0026amp;vid=1\u0026amp;pid=291308013\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E Old Navy\u003C\/a\u003E, Bra Top - c\/o Soul Cycle\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgkdu6PjopfXWU7TXAWD73B8RJvd8RYUcEf3Kik0BFcqgyxulKCfW9wwt76UlnVhNs3qdOo_COmdSIc-DoeYGUlhzTUn3kOde3Ykm6fJlZaVTf5wBvCMKmYmlgh65WaqLqjMvNSksJozXT3\/s1600\/hailton-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgkdu6PjopfXWU7TXAWD73B8RJvd8RYUcEf3Kik0BFcqgyxulKCfW9wwt76UlnVhNs3qdOo_COmdSIc-DoeYGUlhzTUn3kOde3Ykm6fJlZaVTf5wBvCMKmYmlgh65WaqLqjMvNSksJozXT3\/s1600\/hailton-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ELeopard Skirt - \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2DwWBWB\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EH\u0026amp;M\u003C\/a\u003E, Sweater - c\/o \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2y09pPW\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDynamite\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjqweI2d2vaxus51oU_dnvEYkOsPx5DciObg5DfKeSuLUbsHNMfx0DBrKuf3jLG2hQWHyCpRlNn6qKWPHl30yM82TgMUUlqRF7nORQBC9JgefVgXjAc9NOo11rBmP94819ha1tviqksvVcH\/s1600\/hailton-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjqweI2d2vaxus51oU_dnvEYkOsPx5DciObg5DfKeSuLUbsHNMfx0DBrKuf3jLG2hQWHyCpRlNn6qKWPHl30yM82TgMUUlqRF7nORQBC9JgefVgXjAc9NOo11rBmP94819ha1tviqksvVcH\/s1600\/hailton-8.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESweater - c\/o \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2y09pPW\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDynamite,\u003C\/a\u003E Beret - H\u0026amp;M\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI hope you guys like these outfit round-ups! I prefer them to a traditional OOTD blog post. I would love to know what you've been gravitation towards for fall? I actually just did a bit of shopping and am SO excited to start incorporating more pieces into my wardrobe.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nHappy Fall!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/2857683666489693407\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/10\/ootd-what-ive-been-wearing-lately.html#comment-form","title":"4 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/2857683666489693407"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/2857683666489693407"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/10\/ootd-what-ive-been-wearing-lately.html","title":"OOTD - What I've Been Wearing Lately"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh1-1WZuUXlNhVwGQTODmp2drbjof3zDl8YUmMwnELyaYWjgN6Dn1C0RSuMkE8knr09JKmD1nuGN9Z0hpbzlTyqPFOK6R4TEzkCkRsq2WCQ0zG6MdxwgxB64CPz989jsLBRgkSWqlshlwQN\/s72-c\/canary1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"4"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-3273086401518434338"},"published":{"$t":"2018-10-02T10:11:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-10-02T10:11:24.077-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Real Talk"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"You're Damned If You Do: My Rhinoplasty Story"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhcbUQ7shRW5ZmpfUywbYDmxyHweqsj25ujmGxz0NVaXVBTSlaF_dNexsfvmNng97I5FsIWL5KCKowyd5dbwdS-sq6ZtNe33ft8ix7UyGqZ_s65kSiho91quQiG9U3ZWUFMObFEVlXzY1CN\/s1600\/ordinary+%25282%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"563\" data-original-width=\"573\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhcbUQ7shRW5ZmpfUywbYDmxyHweqsj25ujmGxz0NVaXVBTSlaF_dNexsfvmNng97I5FsIWL5KCKowyd5dbwdS-sq6ZtNe33ft8ix7UyGqZ_s65kSiho91quQiG9U3ZWUFMObFEVlXzY1CN\/s1600\/ordinary+%25282%2529.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat if I told you that I had cosmetic surgery? Would you judge me? Would you think that I suffer from low self esteem? Low self worth?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nMaybe not. But the problem is that while this may not be the the thoughts that you admit to, as some point each of us at one time or another has passed judgement on someone else for undergoing a cosmetic procedure. Myself included; I mean, who among us hasn't passes judgement on a celebrity for some sort of cosmetic enhancement? On that same token, how many of us have made comments about someone's appearance, exclusive of cosmetic enhancements? Be honest. I'm definitely not above it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAnd the thing is, I've actually had cosmetic surgery. Rhinoplasty, to be exact (aka a nose job.) I myself know all too well the crippling thoughts of self-consciousness, the shame, the space that occupies your mind when you're truly unhappy with a part of your body. I also know how making a change to your body can give you a renewed perspective on life - not even physically, but mentally. Hours agonizing over your body, a lifetime hiding - all gone. It's a beautiful thing. And yet, I still have a tendency to judge.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLet me back up and explain briefly my history with my nose, my surgery itself and how my life changed moving on from it. All my life I had been extremely self conscious of my nose. My nose seemed to dominate my thoughts and lead me to adapt my life to fade into background; anything to prevent attention to my face. I was never teased, it was never an issue for anyone else - and yet, my nose was such a point of insecurity for me that it seemed to consume my entire life.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFlash forward to 2009: after moving to the GTA to study Funeral Services at Humber College I finally mustered up the courage to speak with a plastic surgeon who came highly recommended by my uncle (a medical doctor himself.) After an incredible consultation, I promptly booked my Rhinoplasty. Come winter 2010, I would find myself in a fancy clinic in Yorkville, dressed for surgery, eagerly awaiting the show to get on the road. I was asked multiples time if I was nervous; by my parents, by the nurses and by the doctor himself. No, I would answer each question confidently. I'm ready.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThe surgery was a success. It would be weeks before my bandages would come off and I could see my new nose but I could already see a change in myself. I felt lighter, more relaxed. Already the space in which insecurity and doubt that occupied my mind for decades was starting to clear, and was filling with a more positive use of thought.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nEventually the bandages came off, my scars healed, the swelling went down and I was left with nose that looked very much like the one that had caused me so much grief, but different enough that I didn't have to think about it anymore. It made all the difference. I felt like a different person; the same me, only lighter. And while I didn't get the people in my life noticing a huge change physically, they did notice a change with my spirit. One friend remarked that she noticed that I was now able to make eye contact. That says more about the results than I could ever explain. For me, cosmetic surgery was one of the best decisions that I've ever made for myself.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nFlash forward to present day. With my rhinoplasty a distant memory I've embarked in a career that essentially revolves around putting myself out there online, with my writing, photos and more recently video. While I have never experienced any taunting due to my nose, I have definitely had more than my fair share of insults thrown my way about my teeth. \"You need braces,\" the comments read, \"fix your teeth and it will fix your lisp.\" Youtube comments from trolls are the worst. The thing is, these comments don't bother me since I'm in the (seemingly minority) mindset that my crooked bottom teeth add to the aesthetic that is \"me.\" I like my shifted teeth, I don't mind the lisp that comes along with them. At present date, I have no plans on fixing my teeth - but isn't it funny that we can't seem to escape judgement, no matter what the avenue?\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nMy point in all of this is that we could all do with a little less judgement. I also wanted to offer a different perspective on cosmetic surgery, and how it's not all based off of vanity. I wanted to do my part on reducing the stigma on elective procedures, even if just in a small way. Ultimately, I just wanted to be more honest with you. One of the most empowering things that we can do is take control and ownership of ourselves, whether it be making a change or embracing our imperfections - exclusive of judgement.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI would love to hear your thoughts. Join in on the conversation. And, as always, thank you for taking the time.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EDisclaimer - \u003C\/b\u003EWhile I'm extremely candid about my relationship with cosmetic enhancements offline, I was always reluctant to share on La Petite Noob because I would hate to think that anyone would take away that they \u003Ci\u003Eshould \u003C\/i\u003Ebe participating in plastic surgery. Absolutely not. Cosmetic surgery is still surgery and comes along with the same risks. It is also incredibly painful and the full results do not reveal themselves for months - it took\u003Ci\u003E one an a half years \u003C\/i\u003Efor me to see the full results of my rhinoplasty. I grappled with my decisions for over ten years. This is not something to be taken lightly, nor something that you need to do."},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/3273086401518434338\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/10\/youre-damned-if-you-do-my-rhinoplasty.html#comment-form","title":"10 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3273086401518434338"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3273086401518434338"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/10\/youre-damned-if-you-do-my-rhinoplasty.html","title":"You're Damned If You Do: My Rhinoplasty Story"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhcbUQ7shRW5ZmpfUywbYDmxyHweqsj25ujmGxz0NVaXVBTSlaF_dNexsfvmNng97I5FsIWL5KCKowyd5dbwdS-sq6ZtNe33ft8ix7UyGqZ_s65kSiho91quQiG9U3ZWUFMObFEVlXzY1CN\/s72-c\/ordinary+%25282%2529.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"10"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-3004507878135406521"},"published":{"$t":"2018-09-25T08:17:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-09-25T08:17:21.821-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"California"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Photo Diary"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel Diary"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"USA"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Palm Springs Photo Diary"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjfcxGQUW6qyp_1RN3MdMWeFzUx9Ussa9Mvj6w8o1G1RI8iavJGduYNVUsIakajjt7oJ0JUC8WWwT35M5WagYoRb7k10jCEAp6wUTvXXTTGVpHCqBEXBq4TbrCtmlLCzCBJ4GdvR7m2wQ5Z\/s1600\/palm-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjfcxGQUW6qyp_1RN3MdMWeFzUx9Ussa9Mvj6w8o1G1RI8iavJGduYNVUsIakajjt7oJ0JUC8WWwT35M5WagYoRb7k10jCEAp6wUTvXXTTGVpHCqBEXBq4TbrCtmlLCzCBJ4GdvR7m2wQ5Z\/s1600\/palm-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI'm going to be honest with you; I like to travel with an itinerary. As much as I love the romance behind the idea of visiting a new place and letting the flow of the day dictate your schedule, that's just not me. Give me lists, give me restaurant reservations, give me structure. I come to a new location prepared, researching every last facet to make sure that's we're not missing anything.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThat all flew out the window, or should I say burst into flames, when we drove into Palm Springs from LA and were confronted with our first experience with 45+ degree (Celsius) heat. My lawd. The desert heat is no joke, and visiting Palm Springs at the tail-end of summer meant that my ambitious itinerary was revised to only include one task: stay in the pool.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThankfully we absolutely struck gold with our hotel for the stay. \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/laserenavillas.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELa Serena Villas \u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003Ewas relatively new when we had booked in back in January, and with only a few reviews it seemed like we were taking\u0026nbsp; chance on it. In the end, I could not have been any happier with the location, grounds or service of La Serena Villas. I could go into great detail, but honestly the photos of this property speak for themselves so please enjoy. Ultimately our stay was incredible and both Brian and I agreed that this would be our go-to hotel for any future visits to Palm Springs.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSo other than late morning breakfast in bed, days spent lounging by the pool and early dinners at the hotel there isn't much to report. The few times we did leave our property it was mostly for snack-runs or cheap tacos, with only a few hotel visits and sights along the way.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAs much as I would have loved to have written an in-depth city guide to Palm Springs, sometimes you have to just roll with the punches and honestly looking back now, I'm glad that the extreme heat forced us to take a slower pace. The universe gives you exactly what you need without having to ask, and a few days by the pool was exactly what the doctor ordered. Besides - there's always next time. Palm Springs, I'll hopefully be seeing you sooner rather than later.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhGOfLjKqTqzxjB5rx7hHII0LwwISZvZ6AXnF6nRJaevJNo8iYxhezsnAbIE44y9yUrpBaZwSwtzcRkJJ86wc-_jVVfpNGkLo5uOT3ln2ckk0CZmYKsd4PBZR8zqgc5uFCoAhsD7ZntQs_1\/s1600\/palm2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhGOfLjKqTqzxjB5rx7hHII0LwwISZvZ6AXnF6nRJaevJNo8iYxhezsnAbIE44y9yUrpBaZwSwtzcRkJJ86wc-_jVVfpNGkLo5uOT3ln2ckk0CZmYKsd4PBZR8zqgc5uFCoAhsD7ZntQs_1\/s1600\/palm2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtzQVlRbSV4gqRIB4cHrOiQzJvwJvjjqkBt1K-OtevjrqEHARz1ho0jCAmL-yqFmGEqIf_VHCd6J6Adf0w870QQxm8A7qmS1mPF02Ij1DTNrFYAks9RPDgtgR3_788S5A8VbHvbXOc71iC\/s1600\/IMG_6682.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtzQVlRbSV4gqRIB4cHrOiQzJvwJvjjqkBt1K-OtevjrqEHARz1ho0jCAmL-yqFmGEqIf_VHCd6J6Adf0w870QQxm8A7qmS1mPF02Ij1DTNrFYAks9RPDgtgR3_788S5A8VbHvbXOc71iC\/s1600\/IMG_6682.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhqAyEXRilnfKOLX0TI5OrZBSkCyrZsWefFghOpCBvvzWy3omsWUY2SBBZsKULOIk4B7hk14vwW67hp4w8KXmEe2YggIBrV-Ers5ZJHXh4iGQmNHy7ZtUWhu5fUl23EE9ILVhAGcyz33fal\/s1600\/IMG_6626.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1203\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhqAyEXRilnfKOLX0TI5OrZBSkCyrZsWefFghOpCBvvzWy3omsWUY2SBBZsKULOIk4B7hk14vwW67hp4w8KXmEe2YggIBrV-Ers5ZJHXh4iGQmNHy7ZtUWhu5fUl23EE9ILVhAGcyz33fal\/s1600\/IMG_6626.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgA_n-XjJbQ0rWx9KtkLfTNH547UpuTngyhcd_nSQCvoWm1xcKR2VxubnwlscuoDsKqKf9tBjpMQ5VjbKbpZXAmP_d77wctTetve6Owsfe5xbtGxvt_5eloED-k_Txfd70WDIUjUsPIMh1x\/s1600\/IMG_6681.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgA_n-XjJbQ0rWx9KtkLfTNH547UpuTngyhcd_nSQCvoWm1xcKR2VxubnwlscuoDsKqKf9tBjpMQ5VjbKbpZXAmP_d77wctTetve6Owsfe5xbtGxvt_5eloED-k_Txfd70WDIUjUsPIMh1x\/s1600\/IMG_6681.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj6d5LT6_ppB_qLikHHD_ciOZJ0piGJ4bicwOv_bRHhttm_g-6GA77nqOChK9n7-Vn129e_n7Rj6y6mOGTHu_X6Q2yWWzgbH0gzTUEzzYP9fpI4gUSKSBQ4hygF384k7AJwy0O8FJSwB8oh\/s1600\/IMG_6601.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj6d5LT6_ppB_qLikHHD_ciOZJ0piGJ4bicwOv_bRHhttm_g-6GA77nqOChK9n7-Vn129e_n7Rj6y6mOGTHu_X6Q2yWWzgbH0gzTUEzzYP9fpI4gUSKSBQ4hygF384k7AJwy0O8FJSwB8oh\/s1600\/IMG_6601.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgz3q28zffkQe2mAS1DuNVHfN5HpaZbdfaxcZqx6saSjSksonjHavdc_-OIcOMl59kXKCLfPkUl7phlMgvdt6JRqrc60AWt1nk9X9c3nMS2ktNxsLGSibjoHzHJldMjEllH57NtKH55dSJo\/s1600\/IMG_6674.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1203\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgz3q28zffkQe2mAS1DuNVHfN5HpaZbdfaxcZqx6saSjSksonjHavdc_-OIcOMl59kXKCLfPkUl7phlMgvdt6JRqrc60AWt1nk9X9c3nMS2ktNxsLGSibjoHzHJldMjEllH57NtKH55dSJo\/s1600\/IMG_6674.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjsZP5uCAPd7cjGeD6Qwnu9Q6HqQWFhyphenhyphengcMB8nxGjI_4CJwAfXTJKaCI0wjtue-hFj-L9xiXnHzABAsRzRZ4Jr5Km_ahhvh0um4-Jbi3fXVF8Evb1i15M3uKiLwVhszm62v0iNVdg1QHwWX\/s1600\/palm2-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjsZP5uCAPd7cjGeD6Qwnu9Q6HqQWFhyphenhyphengcMB8nxGjI_4CJwAfXTJKaCI0wjtue-hFj-L9xiXnHzABAsRzRZ4Jr5Km_ahhvh0um4-Jbi3fXVF8Evb1i15M3uKiLwVhszm62v0iNVdg1QHwWX\/s1600\/palm2-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhUwmpUUxAdvkz0QyGfDlCiSgW1_jTEfBpQpQlXzrY-pSRPc8P888poGmETOTiJiuiWcNDrBf8WUQHk4y1ZWLLdDnpwUfpYWIWiFo2DQqHlfUbk8rvf1121VA8Yx17IfovZ4Pp0PzLID40i\/s1600\/image.JPEG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhUwmpUUxAdvkz0QyGfDlCiSgW1_jTEfBpQpQlXzrY-pSRPc8P888poGmETOTiJiuiWcNDrBf8WUQHk4y1ZWLLdDnpwUfpYWIWiFo2DQqHlfUbk8rvf1121VA8Yx17IfovZ4Pp0PzLID40i\/s1600\/image.JPEG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhJJ8y91kh_ZndVbHUY4sEINYeGYNThOmFoKS9wHa2K1bZaujsOx6-kPyCnVJMOI8f2Rs6qzk7M9He_fJrL7bTF2sWWk65lYPDvKZx-UwqzXgYYVnu1DFc-ZESdKOP1kIfw2lA7u_O6tcSs\/s1600\/IMG_7348.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhJJ8y91kh_ZndVbHUY4sEINYeGYNThOmFoKS9wHa2K1bZaujsOx6-kPyCnVJMOI8f2Rs6qzk7M9He_fJrL7bTF2sWWk65lYPDvKZx-UwqzXgYYVnu1DFc-ZESdKOP1kIfw2lA7u_O6tcSs\/s1600\/IMG_7348.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgZGjOxZsc4-bdePhuIzLwU-QbaRZnANhpaGHJCTq4lxrf3ywDmYXfqhITRGKNvCsI_gF70SsbMmtm2uaDs2B5QU5JRLACBMiSmB3SgVC6TtfEMpvWu5e2eO9qBpThjKIroiYX4d75htFzs\/s1600\/ACS_0246.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgZGjOxZsc4-bdePhuIzLwU-QbaRZnANhpaGHJCTq4lxrf3ywDmYXfqhITRGKNvCsI_gF70SsbMmtm2uaDs2B5QU5JRLACBMiSmB3SgVC6TtfEMpvWu5e2eO9qBpThjKIroiYX4d75htFzs\/s1600\/ACS_0246.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjaq_E2YflxuwcSRQQWXiyEruq5frlST0ojxxOebnIO4kfYcq4xGlqT8Pjhm2QbTy2cFPYEluNw-bsjek4T3QO-9AyxEPiD4zrhI65Y6BPf1oLfNMAx-vCC_CXKHvxn7WHk53LgZ-VoxAcg\/s1600\/IMG_6661.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjaq_E2YflxuwcSRQQWXiyEruq5frlST0ojxxOebnIO4kfYcq4xGlqT8Pjhm2QbTy2cFPYEluNw-bsjek4T3QO-9AyxEPiD4zrhI65Y6BPf1oLfNMAx-vCC_CXKHvxn7WHk53LgZ-VoxAcg\/s1600\/IMG_6661.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Do you love itineraries when you travel as much as I do? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/3004507878135406521\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/09\/palm-springs-photo-diary.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3004507878135406521"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3004507878135406521"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/09\/palm-springs-photo-diary.html","title":"Palm Springs Photo Diary"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjfcxGQUW6qyp_1RN3MdMWeFzUx9Ussa9Mvj6w8o1G1RI8iavJGduYNVUsIakajjt7oJ0JUC8WWwT35M5WagYoRb7k10jCEAp6wUTvXXTTGVpHCqBEXBq4TbrCtmlLCzCBJ4GdvR7m2wQ5Z\/s72-c\/palm-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-396206223872130895"},"published":{"$t":"2018-09-17T07:15:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-09-17T07:47:05.525-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"California"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Los Angeles"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel Diary"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"USA"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Los Angeles - Summer 2018 Travel Diary"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgYRKnqRpo_4AFkR_HB5ljIixfb56xvQATQVge7kkgXaieVjqRCtGnpgi1yAjuvm4TfCnwp9bmgDHaw6Yekm6nQ0eI8MvvyxJt4-L8qz67ew2LXJpy0n-Xqko0Mf2vgVvSJjMf8Q11T6NWE\/s1600\/bhh.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgYRKnqRpo_4AFkR_HB5ljIixfb56xvQATQVge7kkgXaieVjqRCtGnpgi1yAjuvm4TfCnwp9bmgDHaw6Yekm6nQ0eI8MvvyxJt4-L8qz67ew2LXJpy0n-Xqko0Mf2vgVvSJjMf8Q11T6NWE\/s1600\/bhh.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOh Los Angeles - otherwise known as my happy place. I left a bit of my heart in California the first time that Brian and I ever visited years ago, and I try to go back as often as I can to visit it. You guys know that \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/03\/instagrammable-los-angeles.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EI've already visited LA earlier this year with Sabrina\u003C\/a\u003E, but when Brian suggested another visit for the summer I couldn't say no. Call me boring, call me a creature of habit, I don't care - I just love Los Angeles.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThis trip was a bit different. Traveling with a husband versus a bestie definitely yields a very different itinerary - at least for me. While \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/03\/instagrammable-los-angeles.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emy last post about LA covered the most Instagrammable spots\u003C\/a\u003E in the city, this post will serve mostly as a travel diary; how we got around, where we ate, and where I forced Brian to take my photo in front of. Fun times. Enjoy!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nHow We Got Around\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nSince Brian is a very confident driver and, more importantly in LA, an expert parallel parker, \u003Cb\u003Ewe opted to rent a car for our trip\u003C\/b\u003E. Los Angeles is a city where you absolutely need access to wheels, whether it be Uber or renting a car, and I can say that renting a car in LA is so much better. It's so nice to be able to just jump into your car and take off to all of the different places on your list without having to worry about calling an Uber, or surge pricing. As for parking, most of the time we were able to find a parking spot on the street (including overnight to avoid hotel valet charges.) Honestly, I think that I would be okay to drive in LA, even with the traffic - I'm used to crazy Toronto drivers, and LA is much more chill. If you have the option, I would definitely rent a car.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nWhat We Did\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nSeeing as this was not our first time to visit Los Angeles together, and my second visit this year, we definitely took things at a slower pace. We spent lots of time on Melrose, grabbing cocktails in West Hollywood and brunching at hotels that were way out of our realm of possibility for overnight stays. Here are a few activities that were new-to-us this trip that we really enjoyed in LA:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EEven though both Brian and I are the opposite of \"outdoors-y,\" we both really enjoyed the hike at\u003Cb\u003E Runyon Canyon\u003C\/b\u003E. Right in the Hollywood Hills, Runyon Canyon is a perfect way to take in the views of the city, while getting some exercise in as well as some A+ people watching. Bring your cutest workout gear and a pair of good running shoes - you're going to need them. This hike is no joke!\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ENew to the city, \u003Cb\u003Eelectric scooters\u003C\/b\u003E litter the streets and sidewalks and are a really fun and inexpensive way to get around. We downloaded the Bird app and could then walk up to any scooter that we found on the street, use the app to unlock it and start riding! Admittedly, this was more of a favourite for Brian - myself I\u003Ci\u003E do not \u003C\/i\u003Ehave a need for speed, and those electric scooters are \u003Ci\u003Efast\u003C\/i\u003E. It was a fun way to spend an afternoon, and I'm sure that it's only a matter of time before they come to Toronto.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EI know it's cliché, and we've definitely done it before, but I absolutely love \u003Cb\u003Erenting bikes to ride along the boardwalk in Venice Beach\u003C\/b\u003E. This time we skipped the bike rental shops that line the board walk and opted for the city bikes available on the main road. It's a huge cost savings and really easy to-do. We will definitely be using the city bike system when we visit LA from now on.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nWhere We Ate\u003C\/h3\u003E\nHere's a little glimpse into the eating habits of Brian and I while we're on vacation: we love the odd fancy brunch, grabbing cocktails here and there, but most of the time we opt for good, cheap food. Wether it be fast food, or a hole in the wall\u0026nbsp; - if it's good and, more importantly, \u003Ci\u003Echeap\u003C\/i\u003E then I'm happy. For this reason, we definitely visited our fair share of \u003Cb\u003EIn-N-Outs\u003C\/b\u003E and \u003Cb\u003EEl Pollo Locos \u003C\/b\u003Eduring the trip. Coupled with morning açai bowls to-go (we split one between the two of us) and street fruit, we don't typically spend a ton on food - for the most part. That being said, we did have some memorable meals:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EProbably our most baller meal of the whole trip was our anniversary dinner at the famous \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.mrchow.com\/restaurant-beverly-hills-menu-map\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMr. Chow\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E on Rodeo Drive. This restaurant definitely comes along with some polarizing opinions on whether it's worth it or not, but me personally I loved the whole experience. The food was pretty tasty, but the atmosphere, service and people watching was incredible. I look forward to visiting Mr. Chow again, the next time that we're in LA.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EI had mentioned before that Brian and I have a soft spot for fancy hotel brunches, and Los Angeles has some of our favourites. We enjoyed eggs and Moscow Mules on the patio of \u003Cb\u003EChateau Marmont\u003C\/b\u003E and it was incredible - super chill vibes. We also visited my pink paradise, \u003Cb\u003EThe Beverly Hills Hotel's Cabana Café \u003C\/b\u003Eand had a champagne-soaked indulgent brunch. It was incredible.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EA nice compromise between cheap eats and baller brunches is our favourite spot on Melrose for plant-based Mexican food -\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/graciasmadreweho.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E \u003Cb\u003EGracias Madre\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. We usually would grab a late lunch at this popular spot and it would fill us up until the next day. So, so good.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EMy favourite treat to pick up when we visit Los Angeles is\u003Cb\u003E \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.cadonuts.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECalifornia Donuts\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. It's an unassuming donut stand in Koreatown that's curiously open 24 hours. The donuts are adorable, great for photos and \u003Ci\u003Edelicious\u003C\/i\u003E. I already can't wait to go back!\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhMMrSpcoGzaqHVw49vy5elJzi9kX6R-h-0eT6pbjkPZGN69bWH9NW02JWQLqZLVX2dqKfEXgQUNKCWxr9ymxmuzFyyFpVg8EVN6mjoWCE-g1deDg6y8pqtTKIP6Uw5KENiGqdZEFMoPU3b\/s1600\/melrose-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhMMrSpcoGzaqHVw49vy5elJzi9kX6R-h-0eT6pbjkPZGN69bWH9NW02JWQLqZLVX2dqKfEXgQUNKCWxr9ymxmuzFyyFpVg8EVN6mjoWCE-g1deDg6y8pqtTKIP6Uw5KENiGqdZEFMoPU3b\/s1600\/melrose-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ETop:\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2xjwU5k\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E Forever 21\u003C\/a\u003E, Bottom: \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2p9dYCE\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EForever 21\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEixpP8h5FQkOXoy2EnF0388vQxwtdbCU2ZUYgZUn6BUDNdlGyMdTj7xZloTPFCVq5L9GJcp7VNdTGuqLJ5kDh2hbl9sKN5Q-0p9HmnoX3gXtBYxSub_6H4B8wWnSQjAKRQoyaLv8S_OwqRX\/s1600\/IMG_6534.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEixpP8h5FQkOXoy2EnF0388vQxwtdbCU2ZUYgZUn6BUDNdlGyMdTj7xZloTPFCVq5L9GJcp7VNdTGuqLJ5kDh2hbl9sKN5Q-0p9HmnoX3gXtBYxSub_6H4B8wWnSQjAKRQoyaLv8S_OwqRX\/s1600\/IMG_6534.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgvCQE2SZaagv9-cBgsUfKaWphVi5nNKZNxTYIn8WHzeNI0X5xKOBfMXE83JwGtRPG15rtrXBBwbWVVG6psUnn_7oBUkoN77V9eTihDkmt9oqkZGkLy36hh5PSEM_M5si4Bjk6Pqs09QbSH\/s1600\/venice.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgvCQE2SZaagv9-cBgsUfKaWphVi5nNKZNxTYIn8WHzeNI0X5xKOBfMXE83JwGtRPG15rtrXBBwbWVVG6psUnn_7oBUkoN77V9eTihDkmt9oqkZGkLy36hh5PSEM_M5si4Bjk6Pqs09QbSH\/s1600\/venice.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EShorts: Zara, Top: Aritzia\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiqmaMxtQAMN7HSRpq7cgoPTSPzMeEptkQqtqUhdYlhxn5UHGt2LKJLf1LJ2Dy-RFD0EsxyVDfMrSxcZIzP4eOsB8SaEuJe41e5GDeRB_ViPE8FbJCU-p8oMKb8UHEGxJrPZbugnaUdc-Ty\/s1600\/IMG_6447.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiqmaMxtQAMN7HSRpq7cgoPTSPzMeEptkQqtqUhdYlhxn5UHGt2LKJLf1LJ2Dy-RFD0EsxyVDfMrSxcZIzP4eOsB8SaEuJe41e5GDeRB_ViPE8FbJCU-p8oMKb8UHEGxJrPZbugnaUdc-Ty\/s1600\/IMG_6447.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEghE_1UZu9s_15cFehooqCqHSo4vXQap3pRg_aIiBFcUuKGLEws4H17Ex0Hfl_mTZHu3zYF3AlaggYuGkO5XDfjzCuUo8LYgYZmubzbGi869WBe471lALTENIMAuxl35hfAQbglJwkT7TyS\/s1600\/ACS_0242.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEghE_1UZu9s_15cFehooqCqHSo4vXQap3pRg_aIiBFcUuKGLEws4H17Ex0Hfl_mTZHu3zYF3AlaggYuGkO5XDfjzCuUo8LYgYZmubzbGi869WBe471lALTENIMAuxl35hfAQbglJwkT7TyS\/s1600\/ACS_0242.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiCCQvkpkBXG9Ega4DxxfQDGLRtCPPzqKFD_GA7u1h0QIZ-nqPWKTEhV-YvtcFG8nM4OZQZgqz66jhA9QoCCROcQtgiAv2zRJWRZXjhzxGp1KMY2BfzGibmiCktbcgp207E4L_lqAgnCFkj\/s1600\/melrose2-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiCCQvkpkBXG9Ega4DxxfQDGLRtCPPzqKFD_GA7u1h0QIZ-nqPWKTEhV-YvtcFG8nM4OZQZgqz66jhA9QoCCROcQtgiAv2zRJWRZXjhzxGp1KMY2BfzGibmiCktbcgp207E4L_lqAgnCFkj\/s1600\/melrose2-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EDress: \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2xljxli\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EForever 21\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjasTjc8oT5Ar022eTElPrQhEG5FDLKMSsH3RSazKAs6t7r5mvUvQkyX8jfxs2SvJBXeuweFG6Grvoly9jylGNstMZa1fiuD99qIwSTp6Qms8hiUlx_t5_Z7HqWp8FEZsboVBB6TLgU72UT\/s1600\/IMG_6435.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjasTjc8oT5Ar022eTElPrQhEG5FDLKMSsH3RSazKAs6t7r5mvUvQkyX8jfxs2SvJBXeuweFG6Grvoly9jylGNstMZa1fiuD99qIwSTp6Qms8hiUlx_t5_Z7HqWp8FEZsboVBB6TLgU72UT\/s1600\/IMG_6435.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgVLtBhhLizzoWdO1zMlY4poXmMNx64L7orsaj3XyuZVlVnH7xlRuTNeOiOk7pxCtPMelIe8XOURcbhhcXJyuPlqErZ4kktLysygGDjVA_2yy9W81XiT6bLweONkqXfCien9F9TDlXVf34n\/s1600\/IMG_6363.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgVLtBhhLizzoWdO1zMlY4poXmMNx64L7orsaj3XyuZVlVnH7xlRuTNeOiOk7pxCtPMelIe8XOURcbhhcXJyuPlqErZ4kktLysygGDjVA_2yy9W81XiT6bLweONkqXfCien9F9TDlXVf34n\/s1600\/IMG_6363.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhlUKQgpWoYJqL107sV3yx9V-0l_OUGzB6rqzq43z1sOyg7Cbh2EdmBjf_ysXcSyYRUmk5BvdVC2-xJdcAJ4KoHSaRPQfIt0ApU48Yb1nbK1pG9qntN-Ijn4uPoCYytlD6Wf8l8XtvSAAXd\/s1600\/ACS_0238.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhlUKQgpWoYJqL107sV3yx9V-0l_OUGzB6rqzq43z1sOyg7Cbh2EdmBjf_ysXcSyYRUmk5BvdVC2-xJdcAJ4KoHSaRPQfIt0ApU48Yb1nbK1pG9qntN-Ijn4uPoCYytlD6Wf8l8XtvSAAXd\/s1600\/ACS_0238.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEifGvJct_SwjxprN2RgYBP6rKhSaKU3Ub6WpNH5L-xbjNL8rjloSxbpYsDw6l_hfdbK9rrahmXqTP9I3vrQ9muQW7cNXq5VaRibZoWZm5dar2vz3sYDbNgXfB6bKAijlPRkngT0QbZEkfQS\/s1600\/IMG_6538.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEifGvJct_SwjxprN2RgYBP6rKhSaKU3Ub6WpNH5L-xbjNL8rjloSxbpYsDw6l_hfdbK9rrahmXqTP9I3vrQ9muQW7cNXq5VaRibZoWZm5dar2vz3sYDbNgXfB6bKAijlPRkngT0QbZEkfQS\/s1600\/IMG_6538.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiTBWsPvp3jpcr5BZAMn6UkPwUb5XZVchOk7dVgRjj7pGKV0UPkmHL8YvRQzP-t_whQtrFALOCQOgrb6YAl7CYsWDBpTjr_WvMu3AgZ_RqE-dCM-U5RXzoGruFvuBNMY9XSGJGQjYfmslQd\/s1600\/melrose-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiTBWsPvp3jpcr5BZAMn6UkPwUb5XZVchOk7dVgRjj7pGKV0UPkmHL8YvRQzP-t_whQtrFALOCQOgrb6YAl7CYsWDBpTjr_WvMu3AgZ_RqE-dCM-U5RXzoGruFvuBNMY9XSGJGQjYfmslQd\/s1600\/melrose-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgndWKTLMgKfB_y3iw3CxmYIQArUoNcbe1_RaST5ifWvYZdivFGQDAn_KHcyHyoJpDupwud6QqBdmO8uJxF4sh8k3nkBINlHQU8HqGNu_l6zXRvea9qezRhGv-vZJCY5IkAMqkRKMyZ7nlG\/s1600\/IMG_6403.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1203\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgndWKTLMgKfB_y3iw3CxmYIQArUoNcbe1_RaST5ifWvYZdivFGQDAn_KHcyHyoJpDupwud6QqBdmO8uJxF4sh8k3nkBINlHQU8HqGNu_l6zXRvea9qezRhGv-vZJCY5IkAMqkRKMyZ7nlG\/s1600\/IMG_6403.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ETop: \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2NfHvJi\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EForever 21\u003C\/a\u003E. Bottom: \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2pbYWMD\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EForever 21\u003C\/a\u003E, Necklaces - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.onecklace.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EONecklace\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjX7r7a_geReRd8aVqcDwcKMTGV5xSmkfEeKZ0nJw2EpSTbYPcCHYdkmbmbCK7KcjJSXhaDZgHURj_nJGiHwy8G2NcHf2sT-xAe6ey22yfT6Y7fuTpp3nTDfuPAlKs2aIaAFhPJWuTD-cr5\/s1600\/ACS_0233.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjX7r7a_geReRd8aVqcDwcKMTGV5xSmkfEeKZ0nJw2EpSTbYPcCHYdkmbmbCK7KcjJSXhaDZgHURj_nJGiHwy8G2NcHf2sT-xAe6ey22yfT6Y7fuTpp3nTDfuPAlKs2aIaAFhPJWuTD-cr5\/s1600\/ACS_0233.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nCalifornia has definitely stolen my heart, and I already can't wait to get back to LA. Stay tuned for the second half of our trip, to Palm Springs and San Diego.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nHave you been to LA? Where are you favourite places to visit? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"shopthepost-widget\" data-widget-id=\"3277275\"\u003E\n\u003Cscript type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003E!function(d,s,id){var e, p = \/^http:\/.test(d.location) ? 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Reactivate it to view this content.\u003C\/noscript\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/396206223872130895\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/09\/los-angeles-summer-2018-travel-diary.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/396206223872130895"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/396206223872130895"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/09\/los-angeles-summer-2018-travel-diary.html","title":"Los Angeles - Summer 2018 Travel Diary"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgYRKnqRpo_4AFkR_HB5ljIixfb56xvQATQVge7kkgXaieVjqRCtGnpgi1yAjuvm4TfCnwp9bmgDHaw6Yekm6nQ0eI8MvvyxJt4-L8qz67ew2LXJpy0n-Xqko0Mf2vgVvSJjMf8Q11T6NWE\/s72-c\/bhh.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-3717553100811259027"},"published":{"$t":"2018-08-28T09:33:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-08-28T10:52:44.051-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Explore Canada"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Prince Edward County"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel Diary"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"48 Hours In Prince Edward County"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEier0apt9zWR_cL9QDA4l0LnWlLEnD-SGP7bAqwx8pPQkb2Am60W9qs4jsWQwyaFLmsS72BqpBU_fvpgE3rr4fNYhyU9L-rjYxEkGpWCZf2tiRudU7yZya6Iv9RBtrb5nbkPFicVZNSiw4_\/s1600\/the-meadow-house-10.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEier0apt9zWR_cL9QDA4l0LnWlLEnD-SGP7bAqwx8pPQkb2Am60W9qs4jsWQwyaFLmsS72BqpBU_fvpgE3rr4fNYhyU9L-rjYxEkGpWCZf2tiRudU7yZya6Iv9RBtrb5nbkPFicVZNSiw4_\/s1600\/the-meadow-house-10.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nJust a few weeks after \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/07\/prince-edward-county-weekend-getaway.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emy first trip to Prince Edward County\u003C\/a\u003E, I couldn't seem to shake the desire to visit this beautiful part of Ontario again, so I had to go back. That's how myself, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/mymiaou.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESabrina\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.didieryhc.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDidier\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/theallonsy.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EIsabelle\u003C\/a\u003E found ourselves is beautiful Prince Edward County for two nights to relax, explore and enjoy a slower pace for two nights.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nA slower pace we found, and it was just what the doctor ordered. While my last trip to PEC focused on what to do in the area if you're looking for activities, this trip was all about relaxation, time spent with friends and enjoying the serenity of the county. Here's how we spent 48 hours in Prince Edward County.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjQ_WSU2_YuexnZ6bjhf2v3F_dNGc_jIxyFiCIlHyPsXBpmaNNKbjLa0S6HGFjYVWWSEX3kIBpElR-_8E_ugS4w5mcUTXqnMJjR7Ks6bwW7WqlcLW67Mv7E58maipGqO1qxvhTYIMa8QGWz\/s1600\/the-meadow-house-pec-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjQ_WSU2_YuexnZ6bjhf2v3F_dNGc_jIxyFiCIlHyPsXBpmaNNKbjLa0S6HGFjYVWWSEX3kIBpElR-_8E_ugS4w5mcUTXqnMJjR7Ks6bwW7WqlcLW67Mv7E58maipGqO1qxvhTYIMa8QGWz\/s1600\/the-meadow-house-pec-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3 style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nWhere We Stayed: The Meadow House\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\nUpon first sight of \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.airbnb.ca\/rooms\/20903007?check_in=2018-09-12\u0026amp;guests=1\u0026amp;adults=1\u0026amp;check_out=2018-09-14\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Meadow House\u003C\/a\u003E,\u003C\/b\u003E I knew that we had made an incredible choice on where to stay in Prince Edward County. Surrounded by golden fields and sunshine, The Meadow House is not your typical Airbnb. We were all stunned when we first opened the door and saw how absolutely beautiful the decor is - I'm talking what you would see in a design magazine! Even with the impeccable design, the vibe is still very chill and cozy with lots of nostalgic touches. The entire space has been curated beautifully with functionality in mind and the every last detail has been considered; even the records available to play were perfection with The Beatles, Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac and The Lumineers. The outdoor patio is an absolute dream, one that I couldn't possibly put into words. I'll let the photos speak for themselves.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.airbnb.ca\/rooms\/20903007?check_in=2018-09-12\u0026amp;guests=1\u0026amp;adults=1\u0026amp;check_out=2018-09-14\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Meadow House\u003C\/a\u003E has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and can sleep up to six people. It's located in Hillier, so you'll need a car to get around and explore everything that Prince Edward County has to offer. We got out and explored for a full day, and no destination was ever further then 25 minutes away. The light-filled kitchen is fully stocked with all of the essentials, so it makes for a perfect place to cook big family style dinners. Wifi is included and we took full advantage of watching scary movies on Netflix at night after a game of Monopoly that decorates the main table.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI could honestly write a novel singing the praises of The Meadow House. If you're looking for a relaxing getaway in Prince Edward County with beautiful design and modern amenities then this is your place.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtoGx8olvnam4OuhuRN4W4zEjHi-yDvkMXZ-AfXwjFzEmyAjfirAGndQa9iHa4szHIQ2ik9lwZcfSB-LIk066cMcB_BF-zrpt5TChzlR6yT72Qm7U9qiXd7852Ts8JLbsWBDx_PjoIIzui\/s1600\/the-meadow-house-pec-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhtoGx8olvnam4OuhuRN4W4zEjHi-yDvkMXZ-AfXwjFzEmyAjfirAGndQa9iHa4szHIQ2ik9lwZcfSB-LIk066cMcB_BF-zrpt5TChzlR6yT72Qm7U9qiXd7852Ts8JLbsWBDx_PjoIIzui\/s1600\/the-meadow-house-pec-5.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgIrFqLYSdPyyeA2MVekyvRONprAB90OzwngjtE5yzVngdiRca4WyrOG3a5s6JeRJMBdLr8HRocEjBrkyOaxd1F1DXxH4AEJgUnz5byEWPtAYLiyJVQE9QBIjnQ9wMsG9y6Zo-8CEIp9kyr\/s1600\/the-meadow-house.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgIrFqLYSdPyyeA2MVekyvRONprAB90OzwngjtE5yzVngdiRca4WyrOG3a5s6JeRJMBdLr8HRocEjBrkyOaxd1F1DXxH4AEJgUnz5byEWPtAYLiyJVQE9QBIjnQ9wMsG9y6Zo-8CEIp9kyr\/s1600\/the-meadow-house.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhnp_Yklei4UalhRMcLYB-eXC5LtGrXKK8fzYihuWTSJ6hhzXq_JwklW2Blcvqoh0B_FaT4X-cZUeG4b2nJrebwrNiz_HuzZpRwR-17952O0VnhZPz8fNvHMkCWNxIhOSf4XCdBcyUkYQRv\/s1600\/the-meadow-house-pec-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhnp_Yklei4UalhRMcLYB-eXC5LtGrXKK8fzYihuWTSJ6hhzXq_JwklW2Blcvqoh0B_FaT4X-cZUeG4b2nJrebwrNiz_HuzZpRwR-17952O0VnhZPz8fNvHMkCWNxIhOSf4XCdBcyUkYQRv\/s1600\/the-meadow-house-pec-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhqq2LzXkN3drvMwkUNW2BfnnoRwho4DY17t2ds8oQtX6Lwd3UgTvGbY0Ne8BFfM5_wrJtIqAUOBpO88a35IJXVTi6AQU18PLM69N0mfj00-cB7wD2ayCeTQ8uIGb78D1Jc115Sz94p1xKz\/s1600\/the-meadow-house-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhqq2LzXkN3drvMwkUNW2BfnnoRwho4DY17t2ds8oQtX6Lwd3UgTvGbY0Ne8BFfM5_wrJtIqAUOBpO88a35IJXVTi6AQU18PLM69N0mfj00-cB7wD2ayCeTQ8uIGb78D1Jc115Sz94p1xKz\/s1600\/the-meadow-house-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh-x51ZLkOsnSreOKpP36DXqJCNvjjRDqVw_jw6EaU-yPnIhVqVkwf3PCe7cNHSj5BLLxo_0Qg0oTuHZgQpDSJHcxcOMO2cnuccHsnJFlfyZ6JBkhQ6n1U81aBiYKW0nnveYESy5cDl3Axr\/s1600\/the-meadow-house-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh-x51ZLkOsnSreOKpP36DXqJCNvjjRDqVw_jw6EaU-yPnIhVqVkwf3PCe7cNHSj5BLLxo_0Qg0oTuHZgQpDSJHcxcOMO2cnuccHsnJFlfyZ6JBkhQ6n1U81aBiYKW0nnveYESy5cDl3Axr\/s1600\/the-meadow-house-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjtqgmPAyUKbw912NFuZQUclEjMT0AT_6-yvpxybFPSpOhG72Lse39ZZw5h7WwofKBU3ywgSQ40q1_K0-3-u41gdg7a9-1_KbiWF64IPxaSXWSIRis4iWmKXqmDqkygjvLzheWEanyqvnpO\/s1600\/IMG_5942.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjtqgmPAyUKbw912NFuZQUclEjMT0AT_6-yvpxybFPSpOhG72Lse39ZZw5h7WwofKBU3ywgSQ40q1_K0-3-u41gdg7a9-1_KbiWF64IPxaSXWSIRis4iWmKXqmDqkygjvLzheWEanyqvnpO\/s1600\/IMG_5942.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhA2TfW6eNESHZXyn-IquchRt5_A6QcUlalsO14TTvup7IIX1mwWGjSZzMv0gM7ePuUA2-IaULua7rxPhUNgp52cGo_vZ0_kgZFpplEJl1yxXl8JG00ZgKxawX2YizddC4EUQSrMFop7tLj\/s1600\/prince-edward-county1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhA2TfW6eNESHZXyn-IquchRt5_A6QcUlalsO14TTvup7IIX1mwWGjSZzMv0gM7ePuUA2-IaULua7rxPhUNgp52cGo_vZ0_kgZFpplEJl1yxXl8JG00ZgKxawX2YizddC4EUQSrMFop7tLj\/s1600\/prince-edward-county1.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch3 style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nWhat We Did\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nWhile we certainly spent lots of our time relaxing at The Meadow House, we did venture into town to explore on our second day. As I covered\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/07\/prince-edward-county-weekend-getaway.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E in my last post\u003C\/a\u003E, Prince Edward County has\u003Ci\u003E so\u003C\/i\u003E much to offer and we discovered new spots to put on our 'must-do' list when visiting. Here's a few standouts from the trip:\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nIf you guys know me by now, you know that I'm an absolute sucker for a spa. Day spa, night spa, any spa - I'm here for it. So you can imagine my delight when we visited \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomfieldbeauty.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EBloomfield Beauty Co\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. A beautiful day spa with an array of different services to be enjoyed, Bloomfield Beauty Co. should definitely be considered as part of your relaxation and self-care agenda when visiting Prince Edward County. Sabrina and I were lucky enough to enjoy a pedicure and it was heavenly - I love a pedicure that includes a thorough foot and leg massage. Our resident skincare expert Didier had fun browsing their products and even picked something out for himself to take home - and that's saying something, because that guy is \u003Ci\u003Epicky\u003C\/i\u003E about his products! Isabelle enjoyed a matcha latte from their in-house espresso bar and it was just all-around a good time. We even came back the next day for Americanos - seriously their coffee is so good. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomfieldbeauty.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBloomfield Beauty Co.\u003C\/a\u003E is definitely worth the visit.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nAnother must-try on the list is\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.slickersicecream.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E \u003Cb\u003ESlickers Ice Cream\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, right across the way from Bloomfield Beauty Co. (they also have a location in Picton too.) This ice cream is made fresh and is freaking delicious! So good. I continue to have dreams about their toasted marshmallow flavour. Omg. SO good.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nAlthough we ate most of our meals at The Meadow House, we enjoyed a breakfast out at\u003Cb\u003E \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrake.ca\/drakedevonshire\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Drake Devonshire\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. I loved being able to enjoy breakfast on The Drake Devonshire's beautiful patio that overlooks the lake, and explore the quirky decor of the hotel. I hope I'm able to make it to this hotspot for a weekend brunch - the menu looks amazing!\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhB9h9GrdZBvrv7xhwgBEc0r_QXSAEZ-uAmLXYC7gyiJoSYhrMgpAyPjrzxHMFdusPWqUYbc4RggS4JFtU2YutbaXhFAvRy2ZiOuvPE4icpVWZo0bQDDp3CaUVv9MjQtYCeFNzaYY8GNXBB\/s1600\/prince-edward-county.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhB9h9GrdZBvrv7xhwgBEc0r_QXSAEZ-uAmLXYC7gyiJoSYhrMgpAyPjrzxHMFdusPWqUYbc4RggS4JFtU2YutbaXhFAvRy2ZiOuvPE4icpVWZo0bQDDp3CaUVv9MjQtYCeFNzaYY8GNXBB\/s1600\/prince-edward-county.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjKRsoMjw_bgZjI0GOPPHR6QT6hvYNWm6xCNSZ0DZYLbouBsgkgO-halI1PG9RGQ-xn2cp7Dy2-msN7TcvMKlz-_dLvlRLyXBznBFLN5UpkcURrzDk6rnzAy0Guc7DnubO-PZUnD0yOpjfK\/s1600\/IMG_4141.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjKRsoMjw_bgZjI0GOPPHR6QT6hvYNWm6xCNSZ0DZYLbouBsgkgO-halI1PG9RGQ-xn2cp7Dy2-msN7TcvMKlz-_dLvlRLyXBznBFLN5UpkcURrzDk6rnzAy0Guc7DnubO-PZUnD0yOpjfK\/s1600\/IMG_4141.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhIv9ZhSWTZ-ybrdNVCTNXE9nHfXh2CUylPNpCHgpgfrS5WFw-R34dxST5XexABHaXXr-7oa7b1bOnvD8ybvKQJqQMxKpgAWVZE_GEkd5BoccOaEBe3E_R8hFJa53mojnHP_VOhilXASe-r\/s1600\/prince-edward-county2-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhIv9ZhSWTZ-ybrdNVCTNXE9nHfXh2CUylPNpCHgpgfrS5WFw-R34dxST5XexABHaXXr-7oa7b1bOnvD8ybvKQJqQMxKpgAWVZE_GEkd5BoccOaEBe3E_R8hFJa53mojnHP_VOhilXASe-r\/s1600\/prince-edward-county2-6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjz4znBBSlA2KuPxpXCdVwg7Ex9lHx3h-2oe8RgpZ-SDWJVFPyDKDaeoVE6S-NIBfWQxN8RBi1VwblRHge2iDuq73G_w5_Iez_3Se6p5DnPWQzipq7c-4ivgkqXCME8ybPtxN7lNY6rZQDX\/s1600\/prince-edward-county2-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjz4znBBSlA2KuPxpXCdVwg7Ex9lHx3h-2oe8RgpZ-SDWJVFPyDKDaeoVE6S-NIBfWQxN8RBi1VwblRHge2iDuq73G_w5_Iez_3Se6p5DnPWQzipq7c-4ivgkqXCME8ybPtxN7lNY6rZQDX\/s1600\/prince-edward-county2-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAll in all, it was another incredible trip to Prince Edward County. If you haven't already visited this beautiful destination in Ontario then I highly recommend you do so. There's so much to see and do and I look forward to hopefully being able to visit again in the Fall.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Have you ever been to Prince Edward County? What's your favourite place to escape to in Ontario? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/3717553100811259027\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/08\/prince-edward-county-for-48-hours.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3717553100811259027"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3717553100811259027"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/08\/prince-edward-county-for-48-hours.html","title":"48 Hours In Prince Edward County"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEier0apt9zWR_cL9QDA4l0LnWlLEnD-SGP7bAqwx8pPQkb2Am60W9qs4jsWQwyaFLmsS72BqpBU_fvpgE3rr4fNYhyU9L-rjYxEkGpWCZf2tiRudU7yZya6Iv9RBtrb5nbkPFicVZNSiw4_\/s72-c\/the-meadow-house-10.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-4783277508560892946"},"published":{"$t":"2018-08-22T08:58:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-08-22T08:58:04.845-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fashion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"OOTD"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Saks Off 5th"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Style"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"summer to fall"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Back To School Denim With Saks OFF 5TH"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEioIYDUPhLADqrASrQFzVwjonm9bVdhoJquo3eJ_ZK1X6KnnL3FSSerJfLNtPkB1h5fwfBbpx-Z6tk6-LyGt9IzvVTGl2BgU3t6_nzkK99t5mCibUWgN6oF-hGHc5QVMbZOROiT4J-WFNbQ\/s1600\/saksoff5th-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEioIYDUPhLADqrASrQFzVwjonm9bVdhoJquo3eJ_ZK1X6KnnL3FSSerJfLNtPkB1h5fwfBbpx-Z6tk6-LyGt9IzvVTGl2BgU3t6_nzkK99t5mCibUWgN6oF-hGHc5QVMbZOROiT4J-WFNbQ\/s1600\/saksoff5th-7.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThis year has seen one of the biggest revolutions on my personal style. The one biggest change that I've seen so far? I've become a lover of denim. That's right; what was once a closet that housed a single pair of never-worn jeans is now steadily building a healthy denim collection. Since I'm virtually starting from zero, I've noticed a few holes in my denim collection and one was filled from a recent trip to \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.saksoff5th.com\/Entry.jsp\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESaks OFF 5TH\u003C\/a\u003E; I finally own a denim skirt.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nYou guys may have noticed that denim skirts have been huge since this past spring, and continue to go strong well into the Fall fashion forecast. I've been wanting to add one to my collection for awhile now, but wanted to wait until I found the perfect fit and for the right price. Let's face it, I'm no spring chicken so gone are the days where I can wear a booty-grazing hemline. I'm also learning that good-quality denim can come with a hefty price tag; I really wanted to find a good deal.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThankfully \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.saksoff5th.com\/Entry.jsp\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESaks OFF 5TH\u003C\/a\u003E has come to my rescue yet again, and is delivering huge savings on denim, just in time for back-to-school!\u003Cb\u003E \u003C\/b\u003EEven though I'm not going back to school, I'm still all too happy to take advantage of the savings. I tried on so many pairs of jeans from amazing brands, and couldn't believe the prices. \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.saksoff5th.com\/main\/ProductDetail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442457448\u0026amp;R=190392353669\u0026amp;P_name=7+For+All+Mankind\u0026amp;Ntt=7+for+all+mankind+skirt\u0026amp;N=0\u0026amp;FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302023684\u0026amp;bmUID=ml32gps\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThis denim skirt, for example, is 7 For All Mankind\u003C\/a\u003E and I scored it for a fraction of the regular cost!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWith the money that I saved, I was able to put together an entire outfit from Saks OFF 5TH. This oversized t-shirt looks great tied in the front, and I'm always more then happy to add to my scarf collection - this pink scarf completes the outfit when used as a headband. I just love going into a store and coming out with an entire outfit!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhO4SFzEItdSFgpXM0vrPeHV745Cf7Ryyx4or8rp4ijadzbUn_EPtqhRUPM08fvLkurjPjJ59gt8FcU_dVs4Jp9n8J3VKI3y86h4M0-48kvomCsh1JrD_lj3msYMYm1uF_IuzossaclitYO\/s1600\/saksoff5th-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhO4SFzEItdSFgpXM0vrPeHV745Cf7Ryyx4or8rp4ijadzbUn_EPtqhRUPM08fvLkurjPjJ59gt8FcU_dVs4Jp9n8J3VKI3y86h4M0-48kvomCsh1JrD_lj3msYMYm1uF_IuzossaclitYO\/s1600\/saksoff5th-5.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEioSrTqUZrD96BpAPWbh2MX32t3A9iS-fAXwlVdxaOn_XPZAN2hkUr3pgLFciC2kUj_0p7oXWLeCv90LnM30cwO6kQiWSAgAq91fT7GuOTdCTzQVHt9mZZNJfbQncwAmvqPrK-1ab9fwahQ\/s1600\/saksoff5th-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEioSrTqUZrD96BpAPWbh2MX32t3A9iS-fAXwlVdxaOn_XPZAN2hkUr3pgLFciC2kUj_0p7oXWLeCv90LnM30cwO6kQiWSAgAq91fT7GuOTdCTzQVHt9mZZNJfbQncwAmvqPrK-1ab9fwahQ\/s1600\/saksoff5th-6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003ESkirt - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.saksoff5th.com\/main\/ProductDetail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442457448\u0026amp;R=190392353669\u0026amp;P_name=7+For+All+Mankind\u0026amp;Ntt=7+for+all+mankind+skirt\u0026amp;N=0\u0026amp;FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302023684\u0026amp;bmUID=ml32gps\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E7 For All Mankind c\/o Saks OFF 5TH,\u003C\/a\u003E Shirt - c\/o Saks OFF 5TH\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nScarf - Ralph Lauren c\/o Saks OFF 5TH\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgx88Jz-jrWxa-yGBcAlVgkBetHQWn9fjPcDIWpEWfywHzgfpFRkogGUL73C0ph-0IpH_teffBO3_AWmRvOk24nY7da9lynVzb8XjDYfFFBtCc-x_VsC7Q4OHQAf7hRqI4Z6snJLkPp3A08\/s1600\/saksoff5th-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgx88Jz-jrWxa-yGBcAlVgkBetHQWn9fjPcDIWpEWfywHzgfpFRkogGUL73C0ph-0IpH_teffBO3_AWmRvOk24nY7da9lynVzb8XjDYfFFBtCc-x_VsC7Q4OHQAf7hRqI4Z6snJLkPp3A08\/s1600\/saksoff5th-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjvw8Xq0HcDxzTu6vQFEe7KFN7_jeUvO8C0PvlsmIS4NVZ7Ig1haTzdQ2eVUaOaR2LueQKx_Y-j4q6MvYlOu6jQ3RKxgSjeWSvSgS3EDHVvktKaxLOLqY1f215GKU59KkXo8jp2d8N-Re_l\/s1600\/saksoff5th-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjvw8Xq0HcDxzTu6vQFEe7KFN7_jeUvO8C0PvlsmIS4NVZ7Ig1haTzdQ2eVUaOaR2LueQKx_Y-j4q6MvYlOu6jQ3RKxgSjeWSvSgS3EDHVvktKaxLOLqY1f215GKU59KkXo8jp2d8N-Re_l\/s1600\/saksoff5th-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhU1Z3VgYILFGDBT_gIZVP7_BdoWFOpWNx3YBR4Wb4zJVivLy06F7qeE-oJZ9XilH707RlMu7l7fZ_AiHLod0UZgfaU23cHSGpQuYptFSlDP7feyEvCgMgVjiX5xz9ADcU3fMfV1HGjgVYL\/s1600\/saksoff5th1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhU1Z3VgYILFGDBT_gIZVP7_BdoWFOpWNx3YBR4Wb4zJVivLy06F7qeE-oJZ9XilH707RlMu7l7fZ_AiHLod0UZgfaU23cHSGpQuYptFSlDP7feyEvCgMgVjiX5xz9ADcU3fMfV1HGjgVYL\/s1600\/saksoff5th1.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Are you all about the denim lately like I am? What's your favourite style of denim going into Fall 2018? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThis post was created in partnership with \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.saksoff5th.com\/Entry.jsp\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESaks OFF 5TH\u003C\/a\u003E. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.\u003C\/i\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/4783277508560892946\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/08\/back-to-school-denim-with-saks-off-5th.html#comment-form","title":"0 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/4783277508560892946"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/4783277508560892946"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/08\/back-to-school-denim-with-saks-off-5th.html","title":"Back To School Denim With Saks OFF 5TH"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEioIYDUPhLADqrASrQFzVwjonm9bVdhoJquo3eJ_ZK1X6KnnL3FSSerJfLNtPkB1h5fwfBbpx-Z6tk6-LyGt9IzvVTGl2BgU3t6_nzkK99t5mCibUWgN6oF-hGHc5QVMbZOROiT4J-WFNbQ\/s72-c\/saksoff5th-7.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"0"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-1874282501858971289"},"published":{"$t":"2018-08-20T10:17:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-08-20T10:17:03.265-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Life Lately"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Real Talk"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Lessons I've Learned As I Get Older"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiC_92aJjtxeUakR7oBXypWgQogJk4k8l_3tsQqKvFCmD9T7-Dg_sOjkgRUsbl8jh44Ycy-3qJcgBYvdR1UvNruEDLU5596so9ZdkaMwoAkfPRzinqmORYzDwPv9k3qWQx8F6T2IY0mHOYo\/s1600\/the-meadow-house-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiC_92aJjtxeUakR7oBXypWgQogJk4k8l_3tsQqKvFCmD9T7-Dg_sOjkgRUsbl8jh44Ycy-3qJcgBYvdR1UvNruEDLU5596so9ZdkaMwoAkfPRzinqmORYzDwPv9k3qWQx8F6T2IY0mHOYo\/s1600\/the-meadow-house-6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThere's something about late summer that always makes me nostalgic. Maybe it's the fact that all signs are pointing to the end of my favourite season, and the realization that I have a whole year until I enjoy it again - it brings up feelings of time and reflection on all the years that have passed.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhile I try not to live too much in the past, I do regularly practice a quiet reflection to take stock on my life; the triumph, the failures and everything in between. I've learned that rather then dwelling on the past, it's so much more helpful to try and look at lessons that you've learned that help you to navigate to a better, more peaceful future.\u0026nbsp; Here's the result of my latest late-summer refection, and lessons that I've learned as I get older.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nYou're More In-Control Then You Think\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLife has a way of throwing a ton of stuff at you; sometimes it's roses, and sometimes it's bullshit. While I've learned the hard way that you can't control what gets thrown at you, what you control is how you react to it. In \u003Ci\u003Emost\u003C\/i\u003E situations there's a positive side and a negative side, and I'm working on focusing on the positive. It's definitely a work-in-progress, but it's well worth it. Taking back control and being more proactive and less reactive is something that I'm just starting to learn now, and I hope to continue to solidify this skill as I get older.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003EIt's True: Your Metabolism Will Slow\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\nI really always thought that this was a myth. I still remember eating a large shrimp burrito at work years ago, and having my older co-workers tell me to enjoy it now because one day my metabolism will slow. \u003Ci\u003ERight\u003C\/i\u003E, I would think with an eye-roll after shovelling the last of my burrito in my mouth. Turns out, they were right. It happened somewhere after I turned 30, but my metabolism has definitely started to slow. What was once a casual dinner of fast-food burgers is now the source of near instant weight gain. This isn't so much as a lesson, as it is a cautionary tale: your metabolism will slow - it's not a myth! Eat all the burritos while you can.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003ELearn To Love Your Body\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhile your metabolism may slow, your relationship with your body changes. This may or may not come with age and have more to do with mindset, but for me the older that I get, the more that I appreciate my body for what it does for me - outside of aesthetics. I've learned to cherish my body and prioritize my health and I can honestly say that my relationship with myself has never been better. Who cares if I can't eat an extra large shrimp burrito on the regular anymore? I have two legs that allow me to walk, arms that may be soft but they work and organs that allow me to function. I'm finally understanding when they say that your body is a temple. Be nice to your body - it does way more for you then fill out a pair of jeans nicely.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nTime Is Your Most Valuable Commodity\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThis last lesson is why I love my job of being a content creator so much, and cherish it. It's not about money - it's about\u003Ci\u003E time\u003C\/i\u003E. It's true that money comes and goes, but time if a commodity that you can never get back. I'm so grateful that my current job allows me the time that I need to spend with family and friends. It's also a job that I love, so I don't feel like I'm wasting time. The lesson to take away from this is that if you're stuck in a situation that you feel as though you're wasting what precious moments you have in the day, the time to make a change is now. It may take a while to execute, but if you take the steps to utilize your time in a way that fulfils you, it will be the best decision that you've ever made.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjVUHAXnZCl8Ek6VzymlIKt24Juxo3vxAiCMN-t1tEcF9kQ-iVWQCYlVh9cLPkjmm6YKt4IWFLZzgv6WQrmF6tyheni8ZukL1uxMFEn7J6VQiVtb1gGNsdDiZFkfQItklJHzC_VLBxrZC0x\/s1600\/the-meadow-house-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjVUHAXnZCl8Ek6VzymlIKt24Juxo3vxAiCMN-t1tEcF9kQ-iVWQCYlVh9cLPkjmm6YKt4IWFLZzgv6WQrmF6tyheni8ZukL1uxMFEn7J6VQiVtb1gGNsdDiZFkfQItklJHzC_VLBxrZC0x\/s1600\/the-meadow-house-7.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? I hope you like these sort of brain-dump posts. I've been in such a reflective mood the past few days, and this is almost like therapy for me to get it out. I would love to know the lessons that you've learned as you get older. Let me know, and thank you so much for reading.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/1874282501858971289\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/08\/lessons-ive-learned-as-i-get-older.html#comment-form","title":"4 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/1874282501858971289"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/1874282501858971289"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/08\/lessons-ive-learned-as-i-get-older.html","title":"Lessons I've Learned As I Get Older"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiC_92aJjtxeUakR7oBXypWgQogJk4k8l_3tsQqKvFCmD9T7-Dg_sOjkgRUsbl8jh44Ycy-3qJcgBYvdR1UvNruEDLU5596so9ZdkaMwoAkfPRzinqmORYzDwPv9k3qWQx8F6T2IY0mHOYo\/s72-c\/the-meadow-house-6.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"4"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-5798168948300505218"},"published":{"$t":"2018-08-02T10:12:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-08-02T10:12:59.626-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Blog Talk"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Blog Tips"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"The Sunflower Field and Instagram Photo Etiquette"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhTlk085SSmSAHCg09RANL7rMD9BxZ8ZWhhHM2oraVlW184xDTN_D9glp4T7g3wzQx8it8li8DJ79eOTFzmFHegnMUeYl5NqjOIVc0HPGiLdchYrdCH9IA5T__W8dH-IPI8ZSr-9bQDgb3c\/s1600\/fields-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhTlk085SSmSAHCg09RANL7rMD9BxZ8ZWhhHM2oraVlW184xDTN_D9glp4T7g3wzQx8it8li8DJ79eOTFzmFHegnMUeYl5NqjOIVc0HPGiLdchYrdCH9IA5T__W8dH-IPI8ZSr-9bQDgb3c\/s1600\/fields-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNestled in the countryside of Hamilton, Ontario lay Bogle Seeds. A family run business, Bogle Seeds makes their primary income farming sunflower, corn, millet, oats, barley and also bird seed. A few years back, they opened up their beautiful 75 acre sunflower fields to the public, charging a modest entrance fee for access to a literal postcard come to life.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI visited this beautiful sunflower field on a Monday and it was magical - greeted by the Bogle family themselves, we paid our entrance fee, joined the handful of other people - mostly families - taking photos, took our own photos, enjoyed the view and then packed up and drove down to Burlington for donuts. It was the perfect morning.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThis past weekend all hell broke loose.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nDue to an apocalyptic amount of visitors, mob-like behaviour and police intervention the Bogle farm is closed to the public indefinitely. If you're interested in this learning more about what went down this past weekend, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/canada\/article-how-the-quest-for-the-perfect-selfie-forced-an-ontario-sunflower-farm\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Globe and Mail sums up the entire story very well\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThis whole experience has got me thinking. While I \u003Ci\u003Edo not \u003C\/i\u003Ethink that this is the fault of bloggers, content creators, Instagrammers - whatever you want to call us - I do think that in stories like this we do have a target on our back. After all, our jobs include scouting out locations like Bogle Seeds to take photos of ourselves.\u0026nbsp; While we all set off on our quests to capture the perfect photo in different locations and businesses, our actions can have consequences to the owners and I think it's about time to contribute to the discussion of social media and content creating etiquette; the dos and don'ts of taking photos in other people's property and places of business.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhbKKgFCBZTxSMASw9eRIQYcvuzwhqh7nemnZ5oPWXv5cv3k3Ps5a77vfbIqdnfhDiLPbFxAjL2b8i_AuEuEJ2Avz7Cy3ZXnLW7xN2AHwujL_9yD5AZJr94tUv0fpKJEJOF93irsqGfor6R\/s1600\/fields-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhbKKgFCBZTxSMASw9eRIQYcvuzwhqh7nemnZ5oPWXv5cv3k3Ps5a77vfbIqdnfhDiLPbFxAjL2b8i_AuEuEJ2Avz7Cy3ZXnLW7xN2AHwujL_9yD5AZJr94tUv0fpKJEJOF93irsqGfor6R\/s1600\/fields-5.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nAlways Ask Before Taking Photos\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThis first point seems so simple, but it's a step that oftentimes gets neglected from us DSLR-toting types. The easiest way to avoid any potential mishaps from shooting photos in someone else's location or place of business is to simply ask them if you can. This can be achieved by either contacting the business before arriving, or asking the owner or an employee before taking out your camera. Most of the times the answer will be\u003Ci\u003E yes\u003C\/i\u003E, but this can open up the dialogue for the business to let you know of any areas they want you to highlight or stay away from.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nTreat Each Location Like It Belonged To Your In-Laws\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAlthough the general rule has always been to treat each location like it's your own house, I beg to differ; while I'm inclined to move things around and step on furniture at my own condo, I would \u003Ci\u003Edefinitely\u003C\/i\u003E think twice before doing that at my mother-in-law's house. The same principal should be applied to each and every location that you visit with the expectation to take photos. Would you re-arrange furniture, step on furniture,\u003Ci\u003E pee in the bushes\u003C\/i\u003E (yes, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/canada\/article-how-the-quest-for-the-perfect-selfie-forced-an-ontario-sunflower-farm\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Ethis happened at Bogle Seeds\u003C\/a\u003E) at your in-law's place? I'm willing to bet no, and definitely not without asking first. Each place you visit to take photos is someone else's business and livelihood - treat it with respect.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nPay\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOne of the things that broke my heart the most when reading about the mayhem the descended on Bogle Seeds over the weekend is that people were sneaking into the fields without paying the modest $7.50 fee. You guys if there's a fee to pay, then pay. If you're taking photos in a café then buy a coffee. A restaurant, then buy some lunch or at least something to-go if you're not planning on staying long. Pay the fee, buy the coffee - it's literally the least you can do.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003EKnow When It's Not Working\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI've been there\u0026nbsp; - you drive all the way to a location for the sole purpose to take a photo and it's just not working. Wether it be the lighting, the crowds, anything - your photography vision isn't coming to fruition and you start to get frustrated. This is the time that all of the social media photo-taking etiquette rules start to fall out of the window, and you start to let your frustrations get the better of you - moving furniture, disrupting other patrons, or being rude to staff just to get the shot. The thing is, it's just a photo and it's in everyone's best interest to know when it's just not working and move on.\u0026nbsp; It's obviously impossible to know, but I honestly believe that the Bogle family would still be open to the public if the people had realized that the conditions just weren't working for photos, abandoned the vision and just moved on to enjoy their weekend.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjowvs8wtB2BPPSnDyocvUlFlwN2e_ALEzcrswfhgYInJRuZ0-5FXZERTlJrufFf7NirLvds1bvzuOgDwf023cbRn-cayOn2N4zgrlBZJx05TAlKtCxLoiASQIGcO3MUzgEwMys4E1uNR6o\/s1600\/fields-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjowvs8wtB2BPPSnDyocvUlFlwN2e_ALEzcrswfhgYInJRuZ0-5FXZERTlJrufFf7NirLvds1bvzuOgDwf023cbRn-cayOn2N4zgrlBZJx05TAlKtCxLoiASQIGcO3MUzgEwMys4E1uNR6o\/s1600\/fields-6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgjfA4Hba-0vxbmX8iMEf3JodhK-UgFpnj4b2IljXzuLrz4DArATOJGPgiYs0Jnre9Kh_NOLutKdXlQeUETG81FZtnr0Hz-HNItlKOEgPNnMhupNDUo5_Z-Y2Pcr9NeUpz4ibuzf4B-msJ2\/s1600\/fields-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgjfA4Hba-0vxbmX8iMEf3JodhK-UgFpnj4b2IljXzuLrz4DArATOJGPgiYs0Jnre9Kh_NOLutKdXlQeUETG81FZtnr0Hz-HNItlKOEgPNnMhupNDUo5_Z-Y2Pcr9NeUpz4ibuzf4B-msJ2\/s1600\/fields-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjglepD6TAL1DyUHX7ASvqqXOzwvQmyAIgbOO_eJjeCKGRymkMV9ZN4s47FKPL0sM2Og4vyBDhAzbwlp8Lkmf9hlv3lEpWc1fW6FsWtejJ88xMZCo-AhyphenhyphendiYx8VAC33st7RmjfXEGMuw0Gy\/s1600\/fields-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjglepD6TAL1DyUHX7ASvqqXOzwvQmyAIgbOO_eJjeCKGRymkMV9ZN4s47FKPL0sM2Og4vyBDhAzbwlp8Lkmf9hlv3lEpWc1fW6FsWtejJ88xMZCo-AhyphenhyphendiYx8VAC33st7RmjfXEGMuw0Gy\/s1600\/fields-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI really hope that this post doesn't come off as preachy. The more social media is ingrained into our everyday lives, the more we're going to encounter situations like this and I think that the actions of a few affect us all. Let's all take a minute to step back and check ourselves and how far we'll go for the perfect photo, wether it's your full-time job or not. It's not worth sacrificing your morals and the livelihood of others. It's ultimately just not that serious. It's\u003Ci\u003E just \u003C\/i\u003EInstagram.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nInterested, as always to know what you guys think.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/5798168948300505218\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/08\/instagram-photography-etiquette.html#comment-form","title":"19 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/5798168948300505218"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/5798168948300505218"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/08\/instagram-photography-etiquette.html","title":"The Sunflower Field and Instagram Photo Etiquette"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhTlk085SSmSAHCg09RANL7rMD9BxZ8ZWhhHM2oraVlW184xDTN_D9glp4T7g3wzQx8it8li8DJ79eOTFzmFHegnMUeYl5NqjOIVc0HPGiLdchYrdCH9IA5T__W8dH-IPI8ZSr-9bQDgb3c\/s72-c\/fields-3.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"19"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-6929363052546581376"},"published":{"$t":"2018-07-26T09:40:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-07-27T16:41:06.470-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Prince Edward County"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel Diary"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Prince Edward County Weekend Getaway Guide"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhh3-E2K8W_j2k_rC6UWPR6O9jM4QJBn9Npe_7rxJKaaoAn-YDf4uBfpEyJW6t5K0wAun0aF5hbEOD2v-z2LCKmc1AoVcuvUoCA1V6KnhG6QTUT02rXf4RNcR8o32hyphenhyphenrOabwBhiIcxZJQxb\/s1600\/june2-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhh3-E2K8W_j2k_rC6UWPR6O9jM4QJBn9Npe_7rxJKaaoAn-YDf4uBfpEyJW6t5K0wAun0aF5hbEOD2v-z2LCKmc1AoVcuvUoCA1V6KnhG6QTUT02rXf4RNcR8o32hyphenhyphenrOabwBhiIcxZJQxb\/s1600\/june2-5.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLast week I had the absolute pleasure head to Prince Edward County for a two-night stay with \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.lepetitmarseillais.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELe Petit\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.lepetitmarseillais.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMarseillais\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. I had been looking forward to this trip since I had first heard about it and let me tell you, it didn't disappoint. Think beautiful places, picturesque moments, girl talk and \u003Ci\u003Ea lot\u003C\/i\u003E of laughs. I had the best time with our hosts and some incredible Toronto bloggers that I admire: \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/mymiaou.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESabrina\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/melinspired.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMel\u003C\/b\u003E \u003C\/a\u003Eand \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.thelustlistt.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EVictoria\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nHere's a run down of what we did, where we ate and where we stayed in beautiful Prince Edward County.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjYhD4uSOygAq_kAPPexczCvilVF57RhW0kG2GZSww2UC6PSJHLaxHPNRzHd1MnV7ztIU7IOAnXa5SooXHPsencjJBZVopVYM-1gMzCvvC9LyyBazwH3LySDPBs48PP8BcXeAs2bIWSlLhT\/s1600\/june2-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjYhD4uSOygAq_kAPPexczCvilVF57RhW0kG2GZSww2UC6PSJHLaxHPNRzHd1MnV7ztIU7IOAnXa5SooXHPsencjJBZVopVYM-1gMzCvvC9LyyBazwH3LySDPBs48PP8BcXeAs2bIWSlLhT\/s1600\/june2-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nAbout\u0026nbsp;Le Petit Marseillais\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.lepetitmarseillais.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELe Petit Marseillais\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;is relatively new to Canada, but has been a long-time staple for the french; in fact, it's the number one selling body wash in France! Founded in Provence, the products and scents used are all reminiscent of scenes and ingredients that one would enjoy while in the South of France.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI had been introduced to\u0026nbsp;Le Petit Marseillais when they first launched in Canada and have been using their body washes exclusively ever since. My favourite scents are White Peach \u0026amp; Nectarine and Orange Blossom - so good! We were also lucky enough to try some of the body lotions and creams that\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;Le Petit Marseillais\u0026nbsp;offers, but for now they're only available in Quebec so I won't go on about them. I'll just leave you with this; if you're in Quebec, I would definitely find the\u0026nbsp;Mediterranean Algae \u0026amp; Marine Minerals Hydrating Body Balm and stock up - I plan to.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh-18QxUnYb_Hk4IM74Nvxw-lFXHhdRld0DGhDN8Y0f0o46-mVK4WTdQoVU6361TIOycFprEmTsvZUtOHmNB3dKUA_lahmOWPBFb5VEwBvhbD2cv5cgh4ftYj5ZCtIk9h-1x5XdYnn5AJGL\/s1600\/june2-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh-18QxUnYb_Hk4IM74Nvxw-lFXHhdRld0DGhDN8Y0f0o46-mVK4WTdQoVU6361TIOycFprEmTsvZUtOHmNB3dKUA_lahmOWPBFb5VEwBvhbD2cv5cgh4ftYj5ZCtIk9h-1x5XdYnn5AJGL\/s1600\/june2-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiD8Peb9XoSqPyyIKuRaYuCh0GcxjZdY3m2RsFH-hWJejoM-XSMT50EiAIXY28t90LcbPEYGZJKAA2Q8la57Mae0TeWCevnRNcOZk1fxi-1JGXhxNSL6NDwW_HRDDJjllpzW0s5eo9MobDK\/s1600\/prince-edward-county2-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiD8Peb9XoSqPyyIKuRaYuCh0GcxjZdY3m2RsFH-hWJejoM-XSMT50EiAIXY28t90LcbPEYGZJKAA2Q8la57Mae0TeWCevnRNcOZk1fxi-1JGXhxNSL6NDwW_HRDDJjllpzW0s5eo9MobDK\/s1600\/prince-edward-county2-5.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nWhere We Stayed - The June\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nA converted motor lodge in Prince Edward County, The June is the thing that girly pink dreams are made of. Bought and completely renovated by a couple of gal pals, The June is not only a beautiful property to experience, but the service is un paralleled. I've always looked at The June as a tangible representation of what happens when women work together - something beautiful, inclusive and visibly full of love.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSabrina and I had visited The June before, but this would be my first time staying at the property. I could not get over the retro vibes of staying in a midcentury motor lodge, but with completely updated rooms and amenities (and in-room espresso machine which is key.) Rooms aside, the entire property is something to experience; from the picture-perfect lobby, the rustically beautiful fire pit and Bohemian Garden for a group dinner. This is\u003Ci\u003E the perfect \u003C\/i\u003Elocation for a girls trip and I can hardly wait to go back.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjvEnjuc25BWQ8s_Awr_Yv4VHnH5bSKs19LV2luA_aHGs9HIXunWE86v8WMnvKcp5HZ75pkfwez4-MKWjG2z3lzxvd20M-ciz2abbgmNtQg5gdrwtDHVaxWZHyUXa_7ESZ89JRyss1xj5Dg\/s1600\/prince-edward-county1-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjvEnjuc25BWQ8s_Awr_Yv4VHnH5bSKs19LV2luA_aHGs9HIXunWE86v8WMnvKcp5HZ75pkfwez4-MKWjG2z3lzxvd20M-ciz2abbgmNtQg5gdrwtDHVaxWZHyUXa_7ESZ89JRyss1xj5Dg\/s1600\/prince-edward-county1-5.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEidcF4OL9eYKrQHQrIJCEz2jkQJf_dDacQlJ3PHn-xL_11MYECXwm3UDJ2pA4G41McKYiY_n77qNsbZMvOi7V38rzWgJfdVVtdlT1uo3cjS78sbYRnk-Mty-akn_yrL2B1DQDS6z1qgckjy\/s1600\/prince-edward-county5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1500\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEidcF4OL9eYKrQHQrIJCEz2jkQJf_dDacQlJ3PHn-xL_11MYECXwm3UDJ2pA4G41McKYiY_n77qNsbZMvOi7V38rzWgJfdVVtdlT1uo3cjS78sbYRnk-Mty-akn_yrL2B1DQDS6z1qgckjy\/s1600\/prince-edward-county5.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg-g1d_rgG7iy550H7YIiVZDgoW-y6nppBe0XE2IHClOdHxPUoobiudK3prcWTXv6E1F1H2DycREgoI9Q95CehZDtUmThnWi-PFDT_GzMITpUvaMs8ci1mhJvajWIu8sm16kZXNb-06QSHs\/s1600\/prince-edward-county2-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg-g1d_rgG7iy550H7YIiVZDgoW-y6nppBe0XE2IHClOdHxPUoobiudK3prcWTXv6E1F1H2DycREgoI9Q95CehZDtUmThnWi-PFDT_GzMITpUvaMs8ci1mhJvajWIu8sm16kZXNb-06QSHs\/s1600\/prince-edward-county2-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh3-c-UtI7C6hRPnyx_H3qgQkPTekC5bJjbgagiEwCu_zKu_l73lLECYpzd5-CxyFSzufjy3jwHoj501E9vm6JJL4z20Eo7GW3dCl0lSUFCtiPRKyJYuAwVCQr0ZQmkXQn8TvRKomPvanZk\/s1600\/prince-edward-county1-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh3-c-UtI7C6hRPnyx_H3qgQkPTekC5bJjbgagiEwCu_zKu_l73lLECYpzd5-CxyFSzufjy3jwHoj501E9vm6JJL4z20Eo7GW3dCl0lSUFCtiPRKyJYuAwVCQr0ZQmkXQn8TvRKomPvanZk\/s1600\/prince-edward-county1-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhO_K3wcMmtm9R7yKaWJ8RoAx1xHD15FS2LpLfwHkdJtTxo2DIHjC_paS20qf2_PwLR0s4MmNRhsk-iBIkAcMRT61pk2Pv4IDr4HVfDy18bxzCUYptMgWIfXhcZupGkHsEkBqIYriNiBiuw\/s1600\/prince-edward-county1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhO_K3wcMmtm9R7yKaWJ8RoAx1xHD15FS2LpLfwHkdJtTxo2DIHjC_paS20qf2_PwLR0s4MmNRhsk-iBIkAcMRT61pk2Pv4IDr4HVfDy18bxzCUYptMgWIfXhcZupGkHsEkBqIYriNiBiuw\/s1600\/prince-edward-county1.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhN1CQj6APojyHAuyXP_Y7HRgtI4VZ41pB_ercISHPlP1J429Wu48AlZsF15ykaV6P5127RhbVx16-NZOnwreCnNe9oyp7AaXWEqngqVpEyHHpllYipS8vCSDeMluVfeVp-YIAsT4_-XoHr\/s1600\/prince-edward-county1-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhN1CQj6APojyHAuyXP_Y7HRgtI4VZ41pB_ercISHPlP1J429Wu48AlZsF15ykaV6P5127RhbVx16-NZOnwreCnNe9oyp7AaXWEqngqVpEyHHpllYipS8vCSDeMluVfeVp-YIAsT4_-XoHr\/s1600\/prince-edward-county1-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgZG287H9qXt__BWiMejK-sCJC3g8CMnKKoVDorAujyadDYtFO2bXYYbwaFbL4vCJviij8lRVB8WMY59KJg9oRYisKmbTuqn_AFXb-LOzNj-1EobXapvLHG-xgKIURsbYf0JfWHj0f4lykY\/s1600\/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgZG287H9qXt__BWiMejK-sCJC3g8CMnKKoVDorAujyadDYtFO2bXYYbwaFbL4vCJviij8lRVB8WMY59KJg9oRYisKmbTuqn_AFXb-LOzNj-1EobXapvLHG-xgKIURsbYf0JfWHj0f4lykY\/s1600\/unnamed+%25281%2529.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhSCGO9uuDAPNwH3lcnamcsqeyq2HY_5LRIjpFGuB0wqSgg7s2KEjDqljPnfQTDcx8IOpYrClfFlt6eCDXiDUxLX8wiSzlfTAKexw4k27Zx3Z6CxfwTZNBCT_B3ouhaCl36fl9bTFQu-mX1\/s1600\/prince-edward-county-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhSCGO9uuDAPNwH3lcnamcsqeyq2HY_5LRIjpFGuB0wqSgg7s2KEjDqljPnfQTDcx8IOpYrClfFlt6eCDXiDUxLX8wiSzlfTAKexw4k27Zx3Z6CxfwTZNBCT_B3ouhaCl36fl9bTFQu-mX1\/s1600\/prince-edward-county-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nWhat We Did\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThere is so much to do in Prince Edward County, it's incredible. We had one full day to explore the area outside of The June, and with an exciting itinerary. Here's a taste of what we got up to, and some fun activities to enjoy if you're planning a trip to the area.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EOur first stop of the day was breakfast at \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/angelines.ca\/seedinglspec.php\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESeedlings at Angela's Inn\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. This place is so cute, with rustic charm and a delicious breakfast spread.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EFollowing breakfast, we all headed for a boat tour around the Waupoos Marina with \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.stayandsail.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EStay and Sail Boat Tours\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E. Truth be told, I get very sea-sick so I was a little nervous for this activity. Our hosts ensured we had a smooth ride, and I'm happy to report that I didn't get sick once. We were able to sit back and enjoy the beautiful views on the water - and take photos, of course.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWe then had a delicious lunch at\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/lakeonthemountain.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003E Lake On The Mountain\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, where the views on the terrace overlook the edge of the Prince Edward Escarpment. Really beautiful, and the food was delish. Make sure to either go early or make a reservation if you want a spot on the terrace - this is a busy place.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ENext we picked up our bike rentals with \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.clossonroadcycles.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EClosson Road Cycles\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E and set off to visit a few different wineries, but not before checking out the alpacas at \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/shedchetwynfarms.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EShed Chetwyn Farms \u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E- so cute! From there we visited \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/clossonchase.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EClosson Chase Vineyard\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E to taste some delicious local wines.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBefore our next winery, we had the pleasure of visiting \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.peclavender.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPrince Edward County Lavender Farm\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. Be still my heart! The lavender fields at PEC Lavender are gorgeous and lucky us were able to experience them in full bloom! You could almost fool yourself into thinking that you're in Provence. We also tasted some of their lavender-infused honey that's made right on-site, as well as delicious lavender lemonade. What a beautiful place.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAfter the lavender fields, we rode our bikes a short distance to \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.grangewinery.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGrange Winery\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E where a picnic, bocce ball, wine and some party-crashers in the form of chickens greeted us. It was the perfect end to a great day full of exploring Prince Edward County\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EFor dinner, we all enjoyed a tasting menu prepared at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.thecouragebar.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Courage\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/b\u003E The menu was a beautiful mix of local ingredients with tastes reminiscent of Provence - an homage to our host brand, Le Petit Marseillais. We literally shut the restaurant down and returned to The June very happy with very full bellies.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjZJUWOf6iW7R_ytc7IoFC5KAB_LnzhgCKG8N5Dd3KABH5ytktt3ParQtKG-Ewrh34qgNSfE4gN1IWD02DAwpx5CgBVi6nwn6lVMRkx7JMgyYiMZ6CVltKTJnJqlrcpO7APwiIK8xoost2_\/s1600\/prince-edward-county1-12.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjZJUWOf6iW7R_ytc7IoFC5KAB_LnzhgCKG8N5Dd3KABH5ytktt3ParQtKG-Ewrh34qgNSfE4gN1IWD02DAwpx5CgBVi6nwn6lVMRkx7JMgyYiMZ6CVltKTJnJqlrcpO7APwiIK8xoost2_\/s1600\/prince-edward-county1-12.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgrpRtyhyphenhypheno2DX5Ul1l0vx5wbZEHIc4g9m_uGuAwlErzkdnnD3pWWTdxh7AftrE4dohEKBYaWDzdbGm7Fjku0z-7IMlgePxyVCZtLgsvlsb7fz82p9LCgCqw5nKlSV075deBjcdmRl7L80Nx\/s1600\/prince-edward-county1-13.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgrpRtyhyphenhypheno2DX5Ul1l0vx5wbZEHIc4g9m_uGuAwlErzkdnnD3pWWTdxh7AftrE4dohEKBYaWDzdbGm7Fjku0z-7IMlgePxyVCZtLgsvlsb7fz82p9LCgCqw5nKlSV075deBjcdmRl7L80Nx\/s1600\/prince-edward-county1-13.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj_x7ujCkSV-vh50JGsEdnzsf9VDsUGvsJEmHcrKxiGZL_XFSLxiGCXB9DLG-Z6kH2d_HqJnasULgXFE03Bhu2kRImTOnRMxrfI1Ynx-A8BTT09kUWxnhkuqKlFFdn69_r9OQ0wUm20qaLZ\/s1600\/prince-edward-county-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj_x7ujCkSV-vh50JGsEdnzsf9VDsUGvsJEmHcrKxiGZL_XFSLxiGCXB9DLG-Z6kH2d_HqJnasULgXFE03Bhu2kRImTOnRMxrfI1Ynx-A8BTT09kUWxnhkuqKlFFdn69_r9OQ0wUm20qaLZ\/s1600\/prince-edward-county-8.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhHb4U9uZUmLcc31na4dBvHLKceTqFoWIRxEyKmKoggd8aubDRkl_fteofALdmnu6iDhR_QgZ7hu4M0kXH-bDEvD6N24NkexjBfV2uEKkCjZiOwRdR9utz_o6EUTr8HF32tApRpSj4r0fh_\/s1600\/prince-edward-county-9.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhHb4U9uZUmLcc31na4dBvHLKceTqFoWIRxEyKmKoggd8aubDRkl_fteofALdmnu6iDhR_QgZ7hu4M0kXH-bDEvD6N24NkexjBfV2uEKkCjZiOwRdR9utz_o6EUTr8HF32tApRpSj4r0fh_\/s1600\/prince-edward-county-9.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjNA0TQxcOOWPsgzdUsoQkWwx_tpKoQTq4fB3WAM1IXdSdQEUvhsu9FvgOBlmvlzkGcb0QoPmo_fIyyAlFkSXhRy6vlyubs-gCTPMb7rJjgDX7dmrAt_EnuoOyzVR-lMN5Mq6KMCv-vg5WC\/s1600\/prince-edward-county-11.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjNA0TQxcOOWPsgzdUsoQkWwx_tpKoQTq4fB3WAM1IXdSdQEUvhsu9FvgOBlmvlzkGcb0QoPmo_fIyyAlFkSXhRy6vlyubs-gCTPMb7rJjgDX7dmrAt_EnuoOyzVR-lMN5Mq6KMCv-vg5WC\/s1600\/prince-edward-county-11.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjCAfLAN2HIDVhdYC_Lc4Aasf-ARExMtGf6s8qX3T4p8XO7qvzEEsTndG-ptsiyukjyNfc1lXi3YgRo9_gWyJb6Up2n-MZeIau_GIJVP4Elh_nzFC2v0UnxBe1SyqjAWa1m9hWID6f8t1oy\/s1600\/prince-edward-county-12.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjCAfLAN2HIDVhdYC_Lc4Aasf-ARExMtGf6s8qX3T4p8XO7qvzEEsTndG-ptsiyukjyNfc1lXi3YgRo9_gWyJb6Up2n-MZeIau_GIJVP4Elh_nzFC2v0UnxBe1SyqjAWa1m9hWID6f8t1oy\/s1600\/prince-edward-county-12.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgohIN0VZOF1f9HXt4c4LFu8tTYuXucsoxlT7Xgo2l-hVjgyZUkLgyEOtJN-ouMrPSqn5Rf_YpfITP6qHF4V3kL70GhlF47w2lnOWghdiMwsQyBlUEr9oSyn0yWdvqV-RZo9XiV4crmk45G\/s1600\/prince-edward-county-14.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgohIN0VZOF1f9HXt4c4LFu8tTYuXucsoxlT7Xgo2l-hVjgyZUkLgyEOtJN-ouMrPSqn5Rf_YpfITP6qHF4V3kL70GhlF47w2lnOWghdiMwsQyBlUEr9oSyn0yWdvqV-RZo9XiV4crmk45G\/s1600\/prince-edward-county-14.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEitSG6imvtvdfWBl5wIAMQDdL7YhwlNgKGuBxdAkc_H8Yiv2lryoJLqSb1WtCNlyAmLGFMNLfMUDXo5PcGXqiSt4AnMZyanYpQYTZ04zo3uN_RUiEs2Y38n_hACsoFjYytuQWIo4qehOKra\/s1600\/prince-edward-county-16.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEitSG6imvtvdfWBl5wIAMQDdL7YhwlNgKGuBxdAkc_H8Yiv2lryoJLqSb1WtCNlyAmLGFMNLfMUDXo5PcGXqiSt4AnMZyanYpQYTZ04zo3uN_RUiEs2Y38n_hACsoFjYytuQWIo4qehOKra\/s1600\/prince-edward-county-16.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjklN_Y-N8Dat-2a8jh032qYQ0Bh19Y36ZPA0E-mwyfqXzY67LVfKnLEKeKf16ID7zNbIBVf1wNImYc6WyipompJjG8r3rd1AOkwdVdUQDx2iwwaidRJJfy5QJFFAYZAC31qVZ1In13RigN\/s1600\/prince-edward-county-13.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjklN_Y-N8Dat-2a8jh032qYQ0Bh19Y36ZPA0E-mwyfqXzY67LVfKnLEKeKf16ID7zNbIBVf1wNImYc6WyipompJjG8r3rd1AOkwdVdUQDx2iwwaidRJJfy5QJFFAYZAC31qVZ1In13RigN\/s1600\/prince-edward-county-13.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj-FWaJQ3mquBgwmhh2MZvXmOadh7i5lssRHOCB3j4yStH2t1ae8nNxnxju-IL9EBsTkRY8_Rvfwz94SRnFcg6SiNzWRH67HuRl6vabBnFxYQZn-nUE3ef-WIWtPyN1UpNRO24oNjv1QKno\/s1600\/prince-edward-county3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj-FWaJQ3mquBgwmhh2MZvXmOadh7i5lssRHOCB3j4yStH2t1ae8nNxnxju-IL9EBsTkRY8_Rvfwz94SRnFcg6SiNzWRH67HuRl6vabBnFxYQZn-nUE3ef-WIWtPyN1UpNRO24oNjv1QKno\/s1600\/prince-edward-county3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiHbFkAeVxQXraHJxg7XtoTArPNtp64MBI1HGXDZjikafAWKu_31Wha8NHHLvWEISYIekro-FcIfGcP5rVoMAFeGzZYSQP0DpUtI8KA__DUausvOb0rRpr4Tvvav_8Pa9PuUpG6pocJewR3\/s1600\/prince-edward-county4-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiHbFkAeVxQXraHJxg7XtoTArPNtp64MBI1HGXDZjikafAWKu_31Wha8NHHLvWEISYIekro-FcIfGcP5rVoMAFeGzZYSQP0DpUtI8KA__DUausvOb0rRpr4Tvvav_8Pa9PuUpG6pocJewR3\/s1600\/prince-edward-county4-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjMzi2arNbahJj5RNREAOTX0DLcVdGKQU79Wn8t0MZeFQAXgU6n02zChpZYc-RvoacvNx9I_naFdVKFBGE0_c2qwkw8cCzUPqMbThyH1hlFWTeEjNOvfxidEcN5ylsnd4ZlZ6qTK6RyLs4T\/s1600\/prince-edward-county2-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjMzi2arNbahJj5RNREAOTX0DLcVdGKQU79Wn8t0MZeFQAXgU6n02zChpZYc-RvoacvNx9I_naFdVKFBGE0_c2qwkw8cCzUPqMbThyH1hlFWTeEjNOvfxidEcN5ylsnd4ZlZ6qTK6RyLs4T\/s1600\/prince-edward-county2-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiotBwsnBdpmS23H1szZfApwVlEfU1B8DGIAmj6D2PbQFlaungnVB6r4KQBj3tEOO1xrqz2bvSG6gz3qpKKz9aAv_IZqmcVhY6hojFjyJycVMPR4ZmYCz4MH6E5i6A2PXMqhrqzLbfS6Dp_\/s1600\/prince-edward-county-27.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiotBwsnBdpmS23H1szZfApwVlEfU1B8DGIAmj6D2PbQFlaungnVB6r4KQBj3tEOO1xrqz2bvSG6gz3qpKKz9aAv_IZqmcVhY6hojFjyJycVMPR4ZmYCz4MH6E5i6A2PXMqhrqzLbfS6Dp_\/s1600\/prince-edward-county-27.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBefore we knew it, it was time to check out and head back to Toronto. I absolutely loved my time in Prince Edward County, and have already made plans to head back in a few weeks. If you're looking for a beautiful summer getaway that's only a few hours drive from the city, then I couldn't recommend Prince Edward County enough.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThank you so much to Le Petit Marseillais for hosting our stay. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/i\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/6929363052546581376\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/07\/prince-edward-county-weekend-getaway.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/6929363052546581376"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/6929363052546581376"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/07\/prince-edward-county-weekend-getaway.html","title":"Prince Edward County Weekend Getaway Guide"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhh3-E2K8W_j2k_rC6UWPR6O9jM4QJBn9Npe_7rxJKaaoAn-YDf4uBfpEyJW6t5K0wAun0aF5hbEOD2v-z2LCKmc1AoVcuvUoCA1V6KnhG6QTUT02rXf4RNcR8o32hyphenhyphenrOabwBhiIcxZJQxb\/s72-c\/june2-5.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-8136400991478036341"},"published":{"$t":"2018-07-13T08:43:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-07-13T08:43:01.254-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fashion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"OOTD"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Style"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"OOTD - What I've Been Wearing Lately"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhDrB23QLf1RylBksXpBuwL1OiunbU0hlVuP9yx-uOGrD4JmyHCPPqBrNyBELLXLRPuDhxSsHnl1kbcrdUQwAZinLxZ7qeNcXmgJYK0Lpm4TEXb5H6EZRtDj0sNw1yRgOMkbFEfcPLEVbj6\/s1600\/jun28.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhDrB23QLf1RylBksXpBuwL1OiunbU0hlVuP9yx-uOGrD4JmyHCPPqBrNyBELLXLRPuDhxSsHnl1kbcrdUQwAZinLxZ7qeNcXmgJYK0Lpm4TEXb5H6EZRtDj0sNw1yRgOMkbFEfcPLEVbj6\/s1600\/jun28.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nHappy July! I feel so cliché for saying this, but I cannot believe that we're already halfway through July. This summer has been incredible so far, and has been passing by quickly due to a couple of trips to Miami and NYC. Now that I'm back in Toronto for the next month, and other then a quick trip to Prince Edward County next week, I'm excited to be able to re-focus and enjoy everything that the city has to offer.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nMy style this summer has been very casual, with longer hemlines and flowing fabrics. I don't know if it's just because I'm getting older and more comfortable in my own skin, but I feel as though I've finally hit my groove, style-wise. I'm excited to be able to share more summer style with you, both on the blog and on my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/joelleanello\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EYoutube channel\u003C\/a\u003E. In the meantime, check out what I've been wearing lately with some outfit details.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgJW4wFbmT7lnBR0_bXVzfyPhIsGp2wlRjIy-MzYmL78O-uOy85HCEDV9Mtz0YmDQ998fl94WNejNza5-S_ohGhZnaslo9614HWToV5zS5tZWnW-7fzsoiwlWQQm3TNZDLQsQOXSupGzK3v\/s1600\/jul11-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgJW4wFbmT7lnBR0_bXVzfyPhIsGp2wlRjIy-MzYmL78O-uOy85HCEDV9Mtz0YmDQ998fl94WNejNza5-S_ohGhZnaslo9614HWToV5zS5tZWnW-7fzsoiwlWQQm3TNZDLQsQOXSupGzK3v\/s1600\/jul11-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EBlazer - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/2L9anRH\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDex c\/o Hudson's Bay\u003C\/a\u003E, Shorts - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/2JjNvKi\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDex c\/o Hudson's Bay\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003EShoes - \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.thebay.com\/webapp\/wcs\/stores\/servlet\/en\/thebay\/sefora-block-heel-mules-0600089713410--24\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EExpression c\/o Hudson's Bay\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjGRCg6xod9GFHBzYwTDX-6E8WGKAnI4qQQPLIMYh1-CgbduvIisBGUhURgH8FZdKj0maWttf_4Tes4uMUSmTYXtKogua_6X8YRmCjS-oso6x8uSLR8J0jJ1lmHYG282cS0X2imryLICq3p\/s1600\/jun28-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjGRCg6xod9GFHBzYwTDX-6E8WGKAnI4qQQPLIMYh1-CgbduvIisBGUhURgH8FZdKj0maWttf_4Tes4uMUSmTYXtKogua_6X8YRmCjS-oso6x8uSLR8J0jJ1lmHYG282cS0X2imryLICq3p\/s1600\/jun28-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EDress - Forever 21 (\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2Jl0HhU\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Esold out, but this is the EXACT one from Morning Lavender\u003C\/a\u003E)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgRazyWIjsNmvEvl10YqHThq8mrsdBQB0JYMVURC2vrvBl-2ZJgsz6otKNxnrXCz9q__JVQiQLk8tmvcDFv3jAunPZ11FuRXLhmIquVGYe1Nx0BqdxrNvXuvdhHZKR_KY0R86mpQMSFXerC\/s1600\/cops1-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgRazyWIjsNmvEvl10YqHThq8mrsdBQB0JYMVURC2vrvBl-2ZJgsz6otKNxnrXCz9q__JVQiQLk8tmvcDFv3jAunPZ11FuRXLhmIquVGYe1Nx0BqdxrNvXuvdhHZKR_KY0R86mpQMSFXerC\/s1600\/cops1-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgNvp9uiOaNpURyDp7SHF126peDpsFK_Goi-fPiVUi62CWcAuNhd3pJgf_Hg9bN2hnl5lP0u8UklbAgh-7rnZWaMNTyWObBiXtgQC4Ty415DMqO7HF21ZTvSqltRgqBHJjLjbmA43NtLDk4\/s1600\/cops.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgNvp9uiOaNpURyDp7SHF126peDpsFK_Goi-fPiVUi62CWcAuNhd3pJgf_Hg9bN2hnl5lP0u8UklbAgh-7rnZWaMNTyWObBiXtgQC4Ty415DMqO7HF21ZTvSqltRgqBHJjLjbmA43NtLDk4\/s1600\/cops.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EJumpsuit: Design Lab c\/o Hudson's Bay\u003Cbr \/\u003E(sold out online, but you may still be able to find it in-stores)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiizE3oSwZn5QAzGrtGmK-4PIw0fnPXJXBgsaZfHwq2FD46flFLF8axz1_XHNMUZThXhkaK4eFOLNskLQ_zRGmungOjz1XuxDLqYA2BgDEU84zOrytwGaSyjBtITLv1DRyzyrxdXIGfyQir\/s1600\/jul11-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1068\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiizE3oSwZn5QAzGrtGmK-4PIw0fnPXJXBgsaZfHwq2FD46flFLF8axz1_XHNMUZThXhkaK4eFOLNskLQ_zRGmungOjz1XuxDLqYA2BgDEU84zOrytwGaSyjBtITLv1DRyzyrxdXIGfyQir\/s1600\/jul11-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EGlasses -\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.thebay.com\/webapp\/wcs\/stores\/servlet\/en\/thebay\/isabella-53mm-round-sunglasses-0105-isabella--24\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E Sunday Somewhere c\/o Hudson's Bay\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Are there any outfits that have been speaking to you this sumner? Any summer trends that you have been loving? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/8136400991478036341\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/07\/ootd-what-ive-been-wearing-lately.html#comment-form","title":"3 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8136400991478036341"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/8136400991478036341"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/07\/ootd-what-ive-been-wearing-lately.html","title":"OOTD - What I've Been Wearing Lately"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhDrB23QLf1RylBksXpBuwL1OiunbU0hlVuP9yx-uOGrD4JmyHCPPqBrNyBELLXLRPuDhxSsHnl1kbcrdUQwAZinLxZ7qeNcXmgJYK0Lpm4TEXb5H6EZRtDj0sNw1yRgOMkbFEfcPLEVbj6\/s72-c\/jun28.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"3"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-3233769737815979893"},"published":{"$t":"2018-07-09T07:09:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-07-09T07:32:37.818-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"New York City"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel Diary"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"NYC In July - A Travel Diary"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgr-TGl_ll-85UTBK_hgU9uxGcwuKLDkWGBifrh0Q72w7n0YppooFBq0Uy0bJcmJZtoI02fNDDP38UFbP1_HnZTXRn3WR38A8OWL5dVAygRz3r6dBKTtkoSTO5chRbJTcwhL0SNAtTe6FK5\/s1600\/newyork2-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgr-TGl_ll-85UTBK_hgU9uxGcwuKLDkWGBifrh0Q72w7n0YppooFBq0Uy0bJcmJZtoI02fNDDP38UFbP1_HnZTXRn3WR38A8OWL5dVAygRz3r6dBKTtkoSTO5chRbJTcwhL0SNAtTe6FK5\/s1600\/newyork2-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\nRight on the heels of my trip to Miami, Brian and I were lucky enough to find a free weekend to jet off to New York and enjoy each other's company. I absolutely love NYC, and the location especially holds a special place in our relationship - it was our first trip together as a couple, and I'll never forget how exciting seeing New York City for the first time together was.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nYears later, and countless trips to the Big Apple under our belts, the itinerary is very different. Gone are the days of frantically running around the city from attraction to attraction just to say that we've done it. The recent pace is much more relaxed, and as such this post will serve as more of a travel diary then a travel guide. Add a record-breaking heatwave into the mix, and we barely ventured outside of lower Manhattan - it was \u003Ci\u003Ehot\u003C\/i\u003E. All things considered, it was a great trip and we took it at a snail's pace -nice and relaxing.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nHere are a few of the highlights from the trip. It's a different type of post - very casual, much like the mood of the weekend. Check out \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2017\/09\/new-york-city-travel-diary.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emy last New York City recap post\u003C\/a\u003E for more of an itinerary - to be honest, we did almost everything exactly the same this time around! Creatures of habit for sure.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiEL4xK5xcjvJIHtoV4jfcDzcbriBEIretmdQmbyitSKsKHDJ9Srr-SMmo-V-sfAE9yHjUzFYbOcdDfoEzy1SYaL5y-PPLls_EWP0YiBxhuFkBTDdwPB7fpOXBDweaYBbfJ9d1-4PyIoAoi\/s1600\/IMG_4803.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1472\" data-original-width=\"828\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiEL4xK5xcjvJIHtoV4jfcDzcbriBEIretmdQmbyitSKsKHDJ9Srr-SMmo-V-sfAE9yHjUzFYbOcdDfoEzy1SYaL5y-PPLls_EWP0YiBxhuFkBTDdwPB7fpOXBDweaYBbfJ9d1-4PyIoAoi\/s1600\/IMG_4803.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi5U25kO8KJDC_a-LlE9dyefz-Tjy6nMBgoq0suMRQk9KIKr1kWuqvKwCh8LgrSOYI2ydxgHQnnPq9C7DVurKcoGFSZOc2MpAjazAVBrQc8tjSQzko2RiyYfN6rqXNnBTqGNZIq7HsKoXvC\/s1600\/newyork-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi5U25kO8KJDC_a-LlE9dyefz-Tjy6nMBgoq0suMRQk9KIKr1kWuqvKwCh8LgrSOYI2ydxgHQnnPq9C7DVurKcoGFSZOc2MpAjazAVBrQc8tjSQzko2RiyYfN6rqXNnBTqGNZIq7HsKoXvC\/s1600\/newyork-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPietro Nolita\u003C\/b\u003E is always one of my first stops. Great restaurant and so much PINK!\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhGZlM9MPaiOU0YCWWlHjGyUW7uqfIApIN_CX7Cffi9oDOZnRASgWs0NgQd42TE-h2nDXsy_wsIlEOiXgQSzQvuq22I7_-ZF1uFUDcPvsk19txyDbsNkeQSAEHAjvdkSQ4KCao82mZVkZSs\/s1600\/ACS_0186.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhGZlM9MPaiOU0YCWWlHjGyUW7uqfIApIN_CX7Cffi9oDOZnRASgWs0NgQd42TE-h2nDXsy_wsIlEOiXgQSzQvuq22I7_-ZF1uFUDcPvsk19txyDbsNkeQSAEHAjvdkSQ4KCao82mZVkZSs\/s1600\/ACS_0186.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EThe\u003Cb\u003E Sézane \u003C\/b\u003Estore is Soho was everything that I wanted it to be, and then some.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiisQPUbB7EERRSwHAc6ChlFbym0uy3qjY67TcptvJ36I7xQ_JDKT7Kio9s592UTkAGZ_7IGCdI-wI3TxlcItwndoIY_B-zTJsB8i3WVp4gY2TTDbNd_CQHlQjbG6zKHeTPaR24tioQG7bl\/s1600\/ACS_0184.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiisQPUbB7EERRSwHAc6ChlFbym0uy3qjY67TcptvJ36I7xQ_JDKT7Kio9s592UTkAGZ_7IGCdI-wI3TxlcItwndoIY_B-zTJsB8i3WVp4gY2TTDbNd_CQHlQjbG6zKHeTPaR24tioQG7bl\/s1600\/ACS_0184.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EThis is a corner is \u003Cb\u003ESézane\u003C\/b\u003E that spoke to my little pink heart.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgNwXv3gloiYYDkizUeZhCqWICRJuoyqDf9wMniTL-GcDMjwbugU73A4_hWtTRiDydd3oGXLbpUHGMtrrQ6xaWGyKzYq9isba_DQ5u96M7o9cmleMuhBOc0CvpnopAanU-PlltGXwsPT2Qd\/s1600\/newyork-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgNwXv3gloiYYDkizUeZhCqWICRJuoyqDf9wMniTL-GcDMjwbugU73A4_hWtTRiDydd3oGXLbpUHGMtrrQ6xaWGyKzYq9isba_DQ5u96M7o9cmleMuhBOc0CvpnopAanU-PlltGXwsPT2Qd\/s1600\/newyork-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EEven though I was technically on vacation, the pink hunting never stops. This was spotted at\u003Cb\u003E Ladurée Soho\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjD8FUzHBL4lrRYROo8LM94-Nc51G3CAlZpKLeK9zYZyU__YU8QPoYDvyhCUWm-qgLt9gwmLa-tLc3-Lq2rm_OvCvWZsGzXaRU-y3V4YFiAipjmdZJj-JhGpE9Z8wIEZhoTv-YkaQG9UD89\/s1600\/IMG_4816.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjD8FUzHBL4lrRYROo8LM94-Nc51G3CAlZpKLeK9zYZyU__YU8QPoYDvyhCUWm-qgLt9gwmLa-tLc3-Lq2rm_OvCvWZsGzXaRU-y3V4YFiAipjmdZJj-JhGpE9Z8wIEZhoTv-YkaQG9UD89\/s1600\/IMG_4816.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EThe only way to beat the heat at \u003Cb\u003ELadurée\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi_8S5R3CWQ2X2fDYXecqnxdFx07LNiOpSerSIoEMs11k6VTERn2cIvAUfraiso8z2rZjpfrV61kG9CSIzUz8x09enPu_cShaX6DyXkrEaubeRRCnSoSDn-3JfM8dAobJWFyiSDvdGYGV_D\/s1600\/Facetune_01-07-2018-10-22-50.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi_8S5R3CWQ2X2fDYXecqnxdFx07LNiOpSerSIoEMs11k6VTERn2cIvAUfraiso8z2rZjpfrV61kG9CSIzUz8x09enPu_cShaX6DyXkrEaubeRRCnSoSDn-3JfM8dAobJWFyiSDvdGYGV_D\/s1600\/Facetune_01-07-2018-10-22-50.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EIt was so hot - smiling through the sweat.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEguQKhC_mt55nzASXdUAICVwUfChooTFwmeGiw5ZYPL6GtJgtLv8GFgV8NUTTpYRo2fU_rY8NLTkg0WwIeGK3VZtJq2yV6kQNQqmYclDW9uk4BAjQmBSZmcOk0DuKlmFJ5Zl2hJSseZTMka\/s1600\/ACS_0193.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEguQKhC_mt55nzASXdUAICVwUfChooTFwmeGiw5ZYPL6GtJgtLv8GFgV8NUTTpYRo2fU_rY8NLTkg0WwIeGK3VZtJq2yV6kQNQqmYclDW9uk4BAjQmBSZmcOk0DuKlmFJ5Zl2hJSseZTMka\/s1600\/ACS_0193.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMansur Gavriel\u003C\/b\u003E in Soho\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg2R4A4dO9ngheS6Dy8kNVgKDjFfvp_oaHygGRH-z4RH0g9Tw7ETxYBPeJAu-852VQlRIO8Cco5fje7bbp-F6LA2WXp3DgtXqiw6YsyZOeH-ECTIMnZdOYW5b331FQEPv4SRimgwQdjnDkf\/s1600\/IMG_4868.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg2R4A4dO9ngheS6Dy8kNVgKDjFfvp_oaHygGRH-z4RH0g9Tw7ETxYBPeJAu-852VQlRIO8Cco5fje7bbp-F6LA2WXp3DgtXqiw6YsyZOeH-ECTIMnZdOYW5b331FQEPv4SRimgwQdjnDkf\/s1600\/IMG_4868.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EBrunch at \u003Cb\u003EThe Butcher's Daughter in Soho.\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhY16jeq7yV4D-Q4YNqsQ9zwCwrwV0DzaAEHuT9lVIFB89lVLdZigGvvUR6ANeCBnj2gaKsn4Kg1ffvbNsOSS3V6bkhzRWwsxwNH1oWQOotyRUTXXN9QTCi3OiUye-pJjmmVUDmXXPhvQD9\/s1600\/newyork2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhY16jeq7yV4D-Q4YNqsQ9zwCwrwV0DzaAEHuT9lVIFB89lVLdZigGvvUR6ANeCBnj2gaKsn4Kg1ffvbNsOSS3V6bkhzRWwsxwNH1oWQOotyRUTXXN9QTCi3OiUye-pJjmmVUDmXXPhvQD9\/s1600\/newyork2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EI happily hopped onto the garbage cans at this floral facade at\u003Cb\u003E Yumi Kim\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThat should tell you everything you need to know about me.\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhc5r6Sji1Q197RbKOEhWp1v_1PEeRvgKNgZ1i70vj2NwHKL1UXxxRSydpcKOS9woM7akJkj9u4c8i9uZSYmurhJ0Ud9sudf8XNE-kqGinDx2nFVDXcPNBXkq89RT63UDFNuXl2H4nC85X3\/s1600\/IMG_4952.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhc5r6Sji1Q197RbKOEhWp1v_1PEeRvgKNgZ1i70vj2NwHKL1UXxxRSydpcKOS9woM7akJkj9u4c8i9uZSYmurhJ0Ud9sudf8XNE-kqGinDx2nFVDXcPNBXkq89RT63UDFNuXl2H4nC85X3\/s1600\/IMG_4952.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EGive me all of the bubble tea from \u003Cb\u003EBoba Guys\u003C\/b\u003E - a huge win, especially since they have non-dairy alternatives\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n(for those of us who love bubble tea, you know how hard this is to find!)\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi6jAgocFDxDoR_-o2YIXEW8vtjVTdbOUx2VESnA6E1gEMsx3X4lTlQcbjIwo-5St-xI72m-CtKm03TPJFVSTlDhRE-hdrcOJUEVDt1H8nKLYgpwGq7vsKvKNQVc6HJm01UwgldzItK_krT\/s1600\/newyork.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi6jAgocFDxDoR_-o2YIXEW8vtjVTdbOUx2VESnA6E1gEMsx3X4lTlQcbjIwo-5St-xI72m-CtKm03TPJFVSTlDhRE-hdrcOJUEVDt1H8nKLYgpwGq7vsKvKNQVc6HJm01UwgldzItK_krT\/s1600\/newyork.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Do you love New York City as much as I do? What are your favourite things to do in The Big Apple? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/3233769737815979893\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/07\/nyc-in-july-travel-diary.html#comment-form","title":"5 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3233769737815979893"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3233769737815979893"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/07\/nyc-in-july-travel-diary.html","title":"NYC In July - A Travel Diary"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgr-TGl_ll-85UTBK_hgU9uxGcwuKLDkWGBifrh0Q72w7n0YppooFBq0Uy0bJcmJZtoI02fNDDP38UFbP1_HnZTXRn3WR38A8OWL5dVAygRz3r6dBKTtkoSTO5chRbJTcwhL0SNAtTe6FK5\/s72-c\/newyork2-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"5"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-593210765420298413"},"published":{"$t":"2018-06-27T08:07:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-06-27T18:03:23.081-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Summer"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Summer Essentials"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"My Summer Essentials with Schick"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhsubV8i4iRP-7XF8jqHlRytp4UTq9UymHY3zKLmFSgEjnMURD5guj_nbdWIxaGJJFo8vwTFggyT5vxGVXEt9RMh53qQnszLk2drAETv5O-RXYOE5pW2PvzyxCgEuFi2KaLyn06fTXYL-KX\/s1600\/bonlook1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhsubV8i4iRP-7XF8jqHlRytp4UTq9UymHY3zKLmFSgEjnMURD5guj_nbdWIxaGJJFo8vwTFggyT5vxGVXEt9RMh53qQnszLk2drAETv5O-RXYOE5pW2PvzyxCgEuFi2KaLyn06fTXYL-KX\/s1600\/bonlook1.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSummer is finally here, and I couldn't be happier. Is it just me, or does everything just seem lighter in the summer - more sunshine, lighter attitudes - even my summer essentials seem to lighten up. Gone are the heavy accessories and toiletries of winter. Here's a few of my summer essentials, and why I reach for them as soon as the weather warms up.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n•\u003Cspan style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003EA straw hat - I know, I know - a straw hat seems so cliché as a summer essential, but hear me out; cliché or not, a straw hat just makes life easier in the warmer weather. Not only does it shield your face and neck from sun exposure (which is incredibly important,) but it also works overtime when used to hide frizzy, summer-humidity hair. If you haven't already, get yourself a nice straw hat for the summer.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n•\u003Cspan style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003EMy \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.schick.ca\/wproducts\/schick-intuition-fab-razor\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESchick f.a.b. razor\u003C\/a\u003E. You guys have heard me rave about this magical razor that allows you to shave both front and back without even having to lift the razor from your leg. It's incredible - but it becomes essential in the summertime. I'm almost always in dresses, so I find that I'm shaving more than usual in the summer. I also want to get in-and-out of the shower quick, so I really appreciate the time that the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.schick.ca\/wproducts\/schick-intuition-fab-razor\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESchick f.a.b. razor \u003C\/a\u003Esaves me. Smooth legs and a quicker shower routine? Definitely a summer essential.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n•\u003Cspan style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003ESmall purses. I find that during the hot months, the last thing I want to do is schlep a huge, heavy bag around. I definitely tend to reach more for my mini, cross-body bags in the summer, making them essential. My back thanks me.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n•\u003Cspan style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003EOversized sunglasses. I love the look of big, oversized sunglasses in the summertime but this season I'm going with a bit of a different look - translucent lenses. I think that translucent lenses are a great way to update a yearly summer essential and make it more now.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n•\u003Cspan style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003EA small camera. I love carrying around my vlogging camera (a Canon G7x Mark ii) with me in the summer, and find that I'm much more likely to whip it out to capture video clips of my day in the warm weather. This I can't explain, but it's true - check out my \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/joelleanello\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EYoutube Channel\u003C\/a\u003E, I've been posting there like crazy! If you're also looking to get into video content, I would definitely suggest picking up a small camera to add to your kit.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n•\u003Cspan style=\"white-space: pre;\"\u003E \u003C\/span\u003EA tinted lip balm. The last thing that I want in the summer is to be overly aware of my makeup. While I usually favour a more matte lip, I just don't find that formula comfortable to wear in the summer. Changing up my makeup routine to include a tinted lip balm is definitely essential for me.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgI5ABJPZMdhcYn4ExcAhdpqUO3wIfK04YHDpGXVjIQhfxDZ_wAwIAfoUPTUrM7hyphenhyphenEedmAxfqP0gHttUO91LWfAmsWyj0q6NJPR28cPv4MTrOHRUvfbT7dW5EWxnd51iNho01qP948uUBOc\/s1600\/summer+essentials-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgI5ABJPZMdhcYn4ExcAhdpqUO3wIfK04YHDpGXVjIQhfxDZ_wAwIAfoUPTUrM7hyphenhyphenEedmAxfqP0gHttUO91LWfAmsWyj0q6NJPR28cPv4MTrOHRUvfbT7dW5EWxnd51iNho01qP948uUBOc\/s1600\/summer+essentials-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgzQ-j4J5cDKV6ITBShJqRYVyJQZgLajY2ml1SU2vFMgC42v0686DSQyjDkDsAYGQZ8GsKSMF2V-w4Y1cHPnFO0UmdnwHBK9x4kTNMOMDdxF_HHe47ynLwpC4tBpUZjHal3aleSmGgCFpPh\/s1600\/summer+essentials-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgzQ-j4J5cDKV6ITBShJqRYVyJQZgLajY2ml1SU2vFMgC42v0686DSQyjDkDsAYGQZ8GsKSMF2V-w4Y1cHPnFO0UmdnwHBK9x4kTNMOMDdxF_HHe47ynLwpC4tBpUZjHal3aleSmGgCFpPh\/s1600\/summer+essentials-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj1t5iMcP6mMM6UNUSs7DoeZhzcC-4CyxsWyH5-QhmfTH_Y0Ob6xnntFuLMhUcV9-a1ltjCuGLPuDFzAJioPbHBKCjmD0Jp4LnxlfZFNZiCGLuXlCzNluC5m2KwYkpbNrIvPqBpX4COxFld\/s1600\/summer+essentials-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj1t5iMcP6mMM6UNUSs7DoeZhzcC-4CyxsWyH5-QhmfTH_Y0Ob6xnntFuLMhUcV9-a1ltjCuGLPuDFzAJioPbHBKCjmD0Jp4LnxlfZFNZiCGLuXlCzNluC5m2KwYkpbNrIvPqBpX4COxFld\/s1600\/summer+essentials-7.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhnLBhdnZCYHrhmjkwkZhE_rj8fP3Nt4A0F-bcLybDJvmTZY1M2oKIcDu3NWZop2rFELND-hJ1WlbMqMjuvK0TsuJbEYFgfJN-ws_C_QVi6fFLEoYe_j9mP5YzUraSbiqntQF-hAeWVNu8Z\/s1600\/summer+essentials-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhnLBhdnZCYHrhmjkwkZhE_rj8fP3Nt4A0F-bcLybDJvmTZY1M2oKIcDu3NWZop2rFELND-hJ1WlbMqMjuvK0TsuJbEYFgfJN-ws_C_QVi6fFLEoYe_j9mP5YzUraSbiqntQF-hAeWVNu8Z\/s1600\/summer+essentials-6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgOa4ntXLLgmfs6LlDY32E4v0OIdnzc7leZgotzTQYfV0YekySyiouJCpNKp8RVNmHqdfxxFHUK1EyIWd0MSlHtPmlFwOKMyM5nEnc_NokT-uDe1i5qJTZGDBXjqe-YCGTjQsDBTSu9cH4w\/s1600\/summer+essentials-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgOa4ntXLLgmfs6LlDY32E4v0OIdnzc7leZgotzTQYfV0YekySyiouJCpNKp8RVNmHqdfxxFHUK1EyIWd0MSlHtPmlFwOKMyM5nEnc_NokT-uDe1i5qJTZGDBXjqe-YCGTjQsDBTSu9cH4w\/s1600\/summer+essentials-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? What are your summer essentials? Do you also seem to lighten up when the warm weather hits? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThis post was sponsored by \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.schick.ca\/schick-women\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESchick Canada\u003C\/a\u003E. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.\u003C\/i\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/593210765420298413\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/06\/my-summer-essentials-with-schick.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/593210765420298413"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/593210765420298413"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/06\/my-summer-essentials-with-schick.html","title":"My Summer Essentials with Schick"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhsubV8i4iRP-7XF8jqHlRytp4UTq9UymHY3zKLmFSgEjnMURD5guj_nbdWIxaGJJFo8vwTFggyT5vxGVXEt9RMh53qQnszLk2drAETv5O-RXYOE5pW2PvzyxCgEuFi2KaLyn06fTXYL-KX\/s72-c\/bonlook1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-906192475807554446"},"published":{"$t":"2018-06-20T11:21:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-06-21T10:01:59.575-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Miami"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel Diary"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Miami In June - A Travel Diary"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi_a5abgdZ9fTyq-bpy993xx8no4QFrB6DIswVoHbSLgRtVpjOGwomfEfIUkspERxzy_ohzP4pioBe0NV9KM7P7nmARdJGVTxTmH4WxwmHM87NqvwX3zcK0oZ8PJJmcDG8GJanNbV-KF-nz\/s1600\/miami-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi_a5abgdZ9fTyq-bpy993xx8no4QFrB6DIswVoHbSLgRtVpjOGwomfEfIUkspERxzy_ohzP4pioBe0NV9KM7P7nmARdJGVTxTmH4WxwmHM87NqvwX3zcK0oZ8PJJmcDG8GJanNbV-KF-nz\/s1600\/miami-5.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n'I need a getaway' I kept on saying, over and over again just days after getting back to Toronto from Ireland. There's always something about going to Europe that gives me an unshakeable wanderlust, and this time I decided to act on it. Flash forward a few weeks later, when \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/theallonsy.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EIsabelle\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/mymiaou.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESabrina\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.didieryhc.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EDidier\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.acretfoto.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAndrew\u003C\/a\u003E \u003C\/b\u003Eand I found ourselves flying to Miami on a last-minute flight in the middle of June.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWe were all craving a getaway, and Miami was a destination that we all wanted to check out. If you had been following our trip on Instagram, you'll know that we had an amazing time - Miami is a ton of fun! Here's a quick breakdown of our mid-week Miami getaway, and my photo diary of the experience.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nThe Weather\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nTruth be told, we booked our trip so quickly that we all failed to look into the weather. Miami in June is \u003Ci\u003Ehot \u003C\/i\u003Eand\u003Ci\u003E humid\u003C\/i\u003E, and it's also the start of their rainy season. I was definitely more than a little anxious when the weather forecast leading up to our trip predicted thunderstorms every single day.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nLuckily we soon found out that June rain in Miami is fast and furious, with only short windows of rain and clears right up when its done. Thankfully for us, we were usually indoors when the rain happened, and were able to enjoy majority sunny days and warm nights for our trip. Although the weather was extremely hot and made walking around difficult, we were lucky enough to stay at a hotel with an incredible pool that offered the perfect relief from the Miami heat.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiLhtSkgc5CqUBdB1jS7d2Y8W_lPQ__Lu4BGwJFtrPBwOu8jOJnCwxAcKvuWGEvzrc7ZkLZ-Yf6HqIusGkRm2NVjhAWG-rhKcEWyXOFMIaCFhdngbUF_lOyuEM2h05Uwp6Xj-hccB8C0AMC\/s1600\/miami3-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiLhtSkgc5CqUBdB1jS7d2Y8W_lPQ__Lu4BGwJFtrPBwOu8jOJnCwxAcKvuWGEvzrc7ZkLZ-Yf6HqIusGkRm2NVjhAWG-rhKcEWyXOFMIaCFhdngbUF_lOyuEM2h05Uwp6Xj-hccB8C0AMC\/s1600\/miami3-7.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nWhere We Stayed - The Plymouth\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nRight in South Beach, close to all of the action but in a quieter area, we stayed at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.theplymouth.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Plymouth Hotel\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. Take a look at the pool to see why I was originally drawn to this property - so much pink! Aesthetics aside, the pool at The Plymouth is open 24 hour which is a huge game-changer. We found ourselves in the pool every night, and it was incredible not to have to worry about closing hours.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nThe Plymouth is a boutique hotel, so it offers a more chill energy; a welcome change from the see-and-be-seen South Beach vibes. The rooms are clean, bright and spacious. The bathrooms are modern. The in-suite espresso machine is a nice perk. The location, great - just three minutes away from the beach. All in all, we had a great stay at The Plymouth and I would definitely book again for my next trip to Miami.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi3ELejIL7z-Dkwak_3v-PNiXI5PPg-_ibINTekXcoVFkc-GuMFAtwDxBLAGTfWgQXuXX4v4ST8aqavezhi8QTOgh3rmaObzR0qzRf_4Bu8ltOcofEkuufT0CLcO9ATmN0p8nI9kPAdKnHS\/s1600\/IMG_4250.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi3ELejIL7z-Dkwak_3v-PNiXI5PPg-_ibINTekXcoVFkc-GuMFAtwDxBLAGTfWgQXuXX4v4ST8aqavezhi8QTOgh3rmaObzR0qzRf_4Bu8ltOcofEkuufT0CLcO9ATmN0p8nI9kPAdKnHS\/s1600\/IMG_4250.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg1g-4qlIxFLAfnYBrksQ-TZn5BqL9IOPbPDm_hE9qMRHC-fU1NfCuNlLCjzaZqTfLSXsRdbrdfbKo7W50JZBpwdQrg7ZfrqI_CyDmzfBNxrcoHliXWYp_lo0zigidjfzGx7TQ6q7YQetoj\/s1600\/miami-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg1g-4qlIxFLAfnYBrksQ-TZn5BqL9IOPbPDm_hE9qMRHC-fU1NfCuNlLCjzaZqTfLSXsRdbrdfbKo7W50JZBpwdQrg7ZfrqI_CyDmzfBNxrcoHliXWYp_lo0zigidjfzGx7TQ6q7YQetoj\/s1600\/miami-7.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEih4CM6oN7yWy1Kmhcb70J0xLqEGM9VdyE5dEldbC5diwA4Rfe5mwICqFnc1HlsHW_wkrxduVf-ZSB140WgovBRnGF56nCBXGq3zP9jN04sN9y7DymKEF2NashkZVT37jhBottGJvMVrLfm\/s1600\/miami3-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEih4CM6oN7yWy1Kmhcb70J0xLqEGM9VdyE5dEldbC5diwA4Rfe5mwICqFnc1HlsHW_wkrxduVf-ZSB140WgovBRnGF56nCBXGq3zP9jN04sN9y7DymKEF2NashkZVT37jhBottGJvMVrLfm\/s1600\/miami3-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjpP7vvBC0cFC3jk7D_8kTOgA8VL_YWL5LbjKcWekGY6IyUPNhMCSauJYFeXEFiOpCW2JIv0APrBXWxfB49RSgs_XaO9CSDt6hnGlXfvhiKleqAGw9Rcvr5FJ36PV_icOuMM2RhqwTPVOak\/s1600\/miami7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjpP7vvBC0cFC3jk7D_8kTOgA8VL_YWL5LbjKcWekGY6IyUPNhMCSauJYFeXEFiOpCW2JIv0APrBXWxfB49RSgs_XaO9CSDt6hnGlXfvhiKleqAGw9Rcvr5FJ36PV_icOuMM2RhqwTPVOak\/s1600\/miami7.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhcFGLhiycW1-5jSwVXzH6TEAbXWMWcmuoM1cQO9_aHKCHSB9su0B7Uxa9SAxiE-vqOkVLGh5ZBV_Vtt5POIHPwgLNQd9NdjQXWPXPJoHwO2ex827SyRTgzxo3EOcijTChRucSvws9OZkGm\/s1600\/miami4-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhcFGLhiycW1-5jSwVXzH6TEAbXWMWcmuoM1cQO9_aHKCHSB9su0B7Uxa9SAxiE-vqOkVLGh5ZBV_Vtt5POIHPwgLNQd9NdjQXWPXPJoHwO2ex827SyRTgzxo3EOcijTChRucSvws9OZkGm\/s1600\/miami4-5.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nWhat We Did\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThere's a ton of stuff to do in Miami and while it felt like we were running around the city trying to do it all, we barely scratched the surface. While most of our trip was a blur of Uber rides, ice cream, tacos and lots (\u003Ci\u003Eand lots\u003C\/i\u003E) of photo-taking, here are a few highlights that I would definitely recommend to anyone planning a trip to Miami.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EIf you're planning on visiting the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.thewynwoodwalls.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EWynwood Walls\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, definitely stop by \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.1-800-lucky.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E1-800-LUCKY\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E for delicious Taiyaki that's perfect to cool down in the heat. Taiyaki is a Japanese fish-shaped cake that's filled with red bean. At 1-800-LUCKY, you can get yours topped with vanilla, matcha or black sesame soft serve ice cream and the end result is \u003Ci\u003Eso\u003C\/i\u003E good! This was my very first time trying Taiyaki and I'm officially hooked.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWe spent some time exploring the new \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.miamidesigndistrict.net\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EMiami Design District\u003C\/b\u003E \u003C\/a\u003Eand, while I had to tap out early due to the sun wiping me out, it was a beautiful area - very modern with gorgeous architecture and luxury shopping.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EOne of my oldest friends, Chris, now lives in Miami and he suggested we all check out \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.therivermiami.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe River Seafood Oyster Bar\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E for dinner. Oh Em Gee. This place is \u003Ci\u003Eso\u003C\/i\u003E delicious - both for food and cocktails.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAfter dinner, Chris took us to a newly-opened bar and restaurant in Miami called \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.casafloridamiami.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECasa Florida\u003C\/a\u003E. \u003C\/b\u003EThe vibe at Casa Florida is super chill, and our group spent most of our time in their indoor lounge, which is a converted 1965 GM bus. The cocktails were amazing and after having more than a few to myself, my memories of the night become a little hazy - just a jumble of drinks, laughs with good friends and a late-night group swim in our hotel's pool. The perfect Miami night!\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAlthough I loved the hotel that we chose for Miami, one of my favourite things to do while checking out other cities is to visit different hotels - enter the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.1hotels.com\/south-beach\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E1Hotel Miami\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. Although we weren't able to check out their famous rooftop, we did enjoy a beautiful breakfast at their restaurant \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.1hotels.com\/south-beach\/taste\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHabitat\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E and enjoyed delicious coffee, fresh squeezed juice and Huevo Rancheros.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjWfNhRXdZOM9gu-m6SE3VKjcYxlSWEK54GzJQH_BSgZTgCPlT7eN4O1_r6GxiGfNVHqViHHCt3o7CRR7d_-pd7zd3mXTz-OsxvnlncrzBxGeoV9gGyaqbnYSCZx6gGh8QvaYixWLbZWZe1\/s1600\/IMG_4264.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjWfNhRXdZOM9gu-m6SE3VKjcYxlSWEK54GzJQH_BSgZTgCPlT7eN4O1_r6GxiGfNVHqViHHCt3o7CRR7d_-pd7zd3mXTz-OsxvnlncrzBxGeoV9gGyaqbnYSCZx6gGh8QvaYixWLbZWZe1\/s1600\/IMG_4264.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhOAREr7H2jHEf6EmIU7uu3ZauaMStRaOycY_2vj3Zy-a1Fkn9vqdK8qZ3waJzzq3CK2A8qtAkjahP0Ro_RBF6xq-PQHAEP0uQVwO0HPZjQD0WitKs6yPN3FFaF-ef1L87qkVwXnUNGrqom\/s1600\/miami3-17.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhOAREr7H2jHEf6EmIU7uu3ZauaMStRaOycY_2vj3Zy-a1Fkn9vqdK8qZ3waJzzq3CK2A8qtAkjahP0Ro_RBF6xq-PQHAEP0uQVwO0HPZjQD0WitKs6yPN3FFaF-ef1L87qkVwXnUNGrqom\/s1600\/miami3-17.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjERsSIJBQz7iO4ozGbg4whTUS8qBYDoPz8_9ICxlu0sRiEn6rXuHxphbGnfs8lSBh3qf_ST1HDoawnUVkjiAQaRUanW9Thu54Wr7fSov6go0jMnxOVDkiz5agX12zf6y7ilrEWBSdIGZGV\/s1600\/miami4-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjERsSIJBQz7iO4ozGbg4whTUS8qBYDoPz8_9ICxlu0sRiEn6rXuHxphbGnfs8lSBh3qf_ST1HDoawnUVkjiAQaRUanW9Thu54Wr7fSov6go0jMnxOVDkiz5agX12zf6y7ilrEWBSdIGZGV\/s1600\/miami4-6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjwOdzoMCz2VqNgoW4yx7CK2oTkIjLKX9_ROTwq4Qoecg9TwsuGy_w5CI_3yGB64yf3irBa0ybJY9pySAi2JvGmh8eRaTj8jrveRYfWHVTf2Stz8oCXgDbQsZKCWXpdZjylnQn2XvZHLnYJ\/s1600\/ACS_0166.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjwOdzoMCz2VqNgoW4yx7CK2oTkIjLKX9_ROTwq4Qoecg9TwsuGy_w5CI_3yGB64yf3irBa0ybJY9pySAi2JvGmh8eRaTj8jrveRYfWHVTf2Stz8oCXgDbQsZKCWXpdZjylnQn2XvZHLnYJ\/s1600\/ACS_0166.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhlWt675ksfTQgBojItsAtK395DlDuF_GAa4LlBa4JMsxSCdiUs_eOSd2etQnKTFVddvRYTrHehvyKd-Fh281o2cydliFdn_kirEbveg0tGMelDYuG-ZmmSAQT_m9CDqdmU2-WR30ccOi0C\/s1600\/miami4-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhlWt675ksfTQgBojItsAtK395DlDuF_GAa4LlBa4JMsxSCdiUs_eOSd2etQnKTFVddvRYTrHehvyKd-Fh281o2cydliFdn_kirEbveg0tGMelDYuG-ZmmSAQT_m9CDqdmU2-WR30ccOi0C\/s1600\/miami4-8.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj3iPfRlmgqywDnalkpoFA7f36UGJ0kbxq2tdnX0F1ZwmWu3-jWwMb7Xte6oHitbbTReQhgVuh9eEB3jm4dbV5jkDlDbqSx23TnpIhPhoFI9sWemCKxBp00JsTfT04Lfp6EIHu1rOJJrrDP\/s1600\/miami3-13.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj3iPfRlmgqywDnalkpoFA7f36UGJ0kbxq2tdnX0F1ZwmWu3-jWwMb7Xte6oHitbbTReQhgVuh9eEB3jm4dbV5jkDlDbqSx23TnpIhPhoFI9sWemCKxBp00JsTfT04Lfp6EIHu1rOJJrrDP\/s1600\/miami3-13.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgR_MPy7fPEaMbnB-IHt7V7kb0x-9HAs5dG0RQ4GxS6xyWC72cEwq_L8No2D89iTZJxMWVJFqff9ScfH0BWkKsSryyIlr0cxlakENEdSl2v0SgvDuuiCZgYcjIIIpkr_ZP3qjhsfuvD0Eiw\/s1600\/miami3-14.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgR_MPy7fPEaMbnB-IHt7V7kb0x-9HAs5dG0RQ4GxS6xyWC72cEwq_L8No2D89iTZJxMWVJFqff9ScfH0BWkKsSryyIlr0cxlakENEdSl2v0SgvDuuiCZgYcjIIIpkr_ZP3qjhsfuvD0Eiw\/s1600\/miami3-14.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjqQE4b1z2IbRcX0hsIprEF6gdO1QsJmVn2EQN_WBMB6_1vj-Bl0-VFZrNt8bKErtq9exnRot9M1mvFZPWUl-HBg0wYHN0_W9qNruPlaUD6nMMIoDRYmeKWpYxr3u8HzmIbsYf9dz4GEAT5\/s1600\/miami-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjqQE4b1z2IbRcX0hsIprEF6gdO1QsJmVn2EQN_WBMB6_1vj-Bl0-VFZrNt8bKErtq9exnRot9M1mvFZPWUl-HBg0wYHN0_W9qNruPlaUD6nMMIoDRYmeKWpYxr3u8HzmIbsYf9dz4GEAT5\/s1600\/miami-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgj12IixpysfTZ8__FjhpTdSdk7UCD5XUFG3XuqA8dQG9cGp56fHtlzEaNWoO7SqKfbMenZ71-ty8BLzGJUPFugmlVIhtSKjIbJHlVbmuriSjUBkMQ8WMRmMAxasdjXbM1jJPLnlrdlp5ON\/s1600\/miami3-19.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgj12IixpysfTZ8__FjhpTdSdk7UCD5XUFG3XuqA8dQG9cGp56fHtlzEaNWoO7SqKfbMenZ71-ty8BLzGJUPFugmlVIhtSKjIbJHlVbmuriSjUBkMQ8WMRmMAxasdjXbM1jJPLnlrdlp5ON\/s1600\/miami3-19.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhVHjPnMFkLhjehLIAslVhyphenhyphennUQp2QGAFgqpJIZteo4Mfl3A-ori1o8e3xVh6uFkqVOU0xIyhrW6Ip0cvJVcs2kgo9q1eOrSyOLOE_VDk1ZPNzB6xU_z56YnV0H1O5LlKufJKIXz9iqq9yz-\/s1600\/miami2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhVHjPnMFkLhjehLIAslVhyphenhyphennUQp2QGAFgqpJIZteo4Mfl3A-ori1o8e3xVh6uFkqVOU0xIyhrW6Ip0cvJVcs2kgo9q1eOrSyOLOE_VDk1ZPNzB6xU_z56YnV0H1O5LlKufJKIXz9iqq9yz-\/s1600\/miami2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiwMs_NpqIc7-XgYq42n6X754sG7EYqkVMjF-344Rxr4CdrsVsCVhtV_FJCjtzDC2libjlt_Pp5ZDAkIh_xm7XRM4UMXdKGqD9CDQMH72ZFrF9AN4NqHwhaaOKR-2Yif718oOR_rr8P964j\/s1600\/miami4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiwMs_NpqIc7-XgYq42n6X754sG7EYqkVMjF-344Rxr4CdrsVsCVhtV_FJCjtzDC2libjlt_Pp5ZDAkIh_xm7XRM4UMXdKGqD9CDQMH72ZFrF9AN4NqHwhaaOKR-2Yif718oOR_rr8P964j\/s1600\/miami4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjjH1dnLdvlIJGa8wEcflPooTwmhNZVwiUfjGcE9OfgyD5Bso7m_HP1DoWnMStilHqlq0VshneVdSuEb-WD687Li4pjznYvmYMZIfnaS9cCxQvy5oCORBgM2GdGulpsHGNi-The7fYcHv8r\/s1600\/3bbbfb65-e1f6-4b64-b348-36d26171f224.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjjH1dnLdvlIJGa8wEcflPooTwmhNZVwiUfjGcE9OfgyD5Bso7m_HP1DoWnMStilHqlq0VshneVdSuEb-WD687Li4pjznYvmYMZIfnaS9cCxQvy5oCORBgM2GdGulpsHGNi-The7fYcHv8r\/s1600\/3bbbfb65-e1f6-4b64-b348-36d26171f224.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjlSClgBl9MRohVD1kkRAVjLoV9l6DPrXlKO5h3iofav25zQ44autyJJrYQlKXxIgBOXZMTT36NaphuZPDU-IqVdafRnT2JzNIRkSyx0iPewso2KmCoIqZkHB2RxP47_aqx06U34QnHOE4g\/s1600\/miami6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjlSClgBl9MRohVD1kkRAVjLoV9l6DPrXlKO5h3iofav25zQ44autyJJrYQlKXxIgBOXZMTT36NaphuZPDU-IqVdafRnT2JzNIRkSyx0iPewso2KmCoIqZkHB2RxP47_aqx06U34QnHOE4g\/s1600\/miami6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEglPoXGKWg8Bccbkvy5Ux4N0OJxG_LvUqaIP_fdbuITxLey95SO0siEi3alLtUNg1urqspL5HhujopHo4wcgm72oRPZO6K_azedk56h8_Q-vgkGD5gL9p400bupzGib5RDf6-_dMpJoZA7u\/s1600\/IMG_4321.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1200\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEglPoXGKWg8Bccbkvy5Ux4N0OJxG_LvUqaIP_fdbuITxLey95SO0siEi3alLtUNg1urqspL5HhujopHo4wcgm72oRPZO6K_azedk56h8_Q-vgkGD5gL9p400bupzGib5RDf6-_dMpJoZA7u\/s1600\/IMG_4321.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBefore we knew it, our three-night stay in Miami had come to and end and we were off to the airport to catch our flight back to Toronto. If you're thinking of heading to Miami during the summer, I say do it - the weather is hot, and there will be a bit of rain, but there's plenty to see and do that keeps you cool. Three nights was definitely the perfect amount of time, and my soul feels satisfied from this Miami getaway - that is, until the wanderlust hits again.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Have you ever been to Miami? What are some of your favourite things to do in the city? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/906192475807554446\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/06\/miami-in-june-travel-diary.html#comment-form","title":"10 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/906192475807554446"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/906192475807554446"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/06\/miami-in-june-travel-diary.html","title":"Miami In June - A Travel Diary"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi_a5abgdZ9fTyq-bpy993xx8no4QFrB6DIswVoHbSLgRtVpjOGwomfEfIUkspERxzy_ohzP4pioBe0NV9KM7P7nmARdJGVTxTmH4WxwmHM87NqvwX3zcK0oZ8PJJmcDG8GJanNbV-KF-nz\/s72-c\/miami-5.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"10"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-4476748374240467797"},"published":{"$t":"2018-06-11T17:52:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-06-28T18:46:14.933-04:00"},"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Chic Summer Picnic with Boursin"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj3gRIIQllhCIgw5zqe1AtJi5Ha1O1GTxmzBCNymcwxuvpQ1mTgdHh8nxXCbq6Zapk0Ob1_wcYXdEgw2ECi0U9j0X1voaYcB9vcJa-Iob_PUEMVVcLk8vom2-BBRgJvLPO2-5Do58E_XPhL\/s1600\/boursin-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj3gRIIQllhCIgw5zqe1AtJi5Ha1O1GTxmzBCNymcwxuvpQ1mTgdHh8nxXCbq6Zapk0Ob1_wcYXdEgw2ECi0U9j0X1voaYcB9vcJa-Iob_PUEMVVcLk8vom2-BBRgJvLPO2-5Do58E_XPhL\/s1600\/boursin-5.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nNow that the weather is finally starting to warm up, we know that summer is just on the horizon and with that comes picnics in the park. One of my favourite summer activities is eating outdoors, and there's nothing better then a picnic with friends to kick off the warm season. Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of grabbing some of my closest friends, packing some delicious food and heading to Trinity Bellwoods Park in Toronto for a fun afternoon picnic. The theme: summer - and of course, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/inspiration.boursin.ca\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBoursin\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nYou guys know how much I love Boursin cheese \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2017\/12\/easy-holiday-entertaining-with-boursin.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Efrom my post during the holidays season where I talked about crafting a cheese board\u003C\/a\u003E. The creamy texture and delicious flavours are always a crowd pleaser, and when you're planning a lunch for multiple people, you want to make sure Boursin is included.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nBoursin cheese produced locally and made from 100% Canadian milk.\u0026nbsp; The texture is smooth and creamy, while still remaining crumbly and extremely spreadable. Boursin cheese comes in\u0026nbsp; variety of different flavours to satisfy any palette; for this particular picnic, I decided to go with\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003EBouquet of Basil and Chive\u003C\/b\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003EGarlic and Fine Herbs\u003C\/b\u003E and\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003EShallot and Chive\u003C\/b\u003E. I felt that all three flavours perfectly complimented the mix of savoury and sweet ingredients that I chose to include in my picnic.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nWhile a picnic in the park is a simple and great way to spend time with friends, here are a few tips that I use to take a basic picnic and elevate it into a more chic experience:\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EIf you're hosting the picnic, a cheese tray is a great option for the menu. Not only are there a variety of flavours and textures for all of the invited guests, but it also brings a more casual and relaxed vibe to the whole affair. My cheese plate featuring Boursin cheese was enjoyed by all of my guests, and we had a great time just leisurely munching over great conversation. No need to feel pressured to eat all at once, or to keep any of the ingredients warm.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EOpt to bring your own plates, cutlery and picnic blankets from home rather than using anything disposable. Not only will this small decision elevate your guest's experience, but it's also much better for the environment. Once everything is done, all of your materials can be easily gathered up back in your picnic basket, and washed at home - ready to be used again for your next chic picnic!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EConsider visiting one of the great summer farmer's markets for ingredients. Not only will you find the best produce, but farmer's market produce tends to come with less packaging it's also better for the environment to shop local.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjeO5D2ZTcT1_tsIYAKO-HSU0WmEpRt_jbPiZiE4jjofvjy0TMx0IEKsID6QxyS-BhAwA4k9UisrGpPOhWnbQpIFUD8eUIP-HKqSkHmJUuijmOgzQtoj8V8i-Lzkx1henR71krYduJtTSsH\/s1600\/boursin-9.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjeO5D2ZTcT1_tsIYAKO-HSU0WmEpRt_jbPiZiE4jjofvjy0TMx0IEKsID6QxyS-BhAwA4k9UisrGpPOhWnbQpIFUD8eUIP-HKqSkHmJUuijmOgzQtoj8V8i-Lzkx1henR71krYduJtTSsH\/s1600\/boursin-9.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjucp3GHjyi_Gltd-ndeI7EdtAOFj9OB0_WY1FLIWy6hHKU-EzIeXIAw4l_D7CcUZqmYahQQezPxF8NGw8TjXuo11lnKrtg0tfqmm4g4o7M9A-duBo0MLRijwToCJ6QNd7g4cKmCJSU4ibn\/s1600\/boursin-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjucp3GHjyi_Gltd-ndeI7EdtAOFj9OB0_WY1FLIWy6hHKU-EzIeXIAw4l_D7CcUZqmYahQQezPxF8NGw8TjXuo11lnKrtg0tfqmm4g4o7M9A-duBo0MLRijwToCJ6QNd7g4cKmCJSU4ibn\/s1600\/boursin-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgQGOfFxVJfd2xRRo8f86lPAcCgus6avWybU8C47wRPP5fiaF86qqxbb6OcBHQD4VvUFahtN59VciRIibTsMSlNcTTTSXIb-uha8yOP-cjF-XhSnjPyIT2QitoX6pauIDBsvh1nPyt0DS0w\/s1600\/boursin-11.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgQGOfFxVJfd2xRRo8f86lPAcCgus6avWybU8C47wRPP5fiaF86qqxbb6OcBHQD4VvUFahtN59VciRIibTsMSlNcTTTSXIb-uha8yOP-cjF-XhSnjPyIT2QitoX6pauIDBsvh1nPyt0DS0w\/s1600\/boursin-11.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjY1owtaiTmdsJwsOV_9hOEPUJq5kBeQuFt3tlCytk_vhsiWYZpRqQhI6l6Nvsaey6lRxPD8hhmpoUCZonWSSxwcQ-xNcX3p-zyeNwEth5O6Uoe7wth6sLgNjGcb6F5C-uMIeUvMtZ2ITrl\/s1600\/boursin-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjY1owtaiTmdsJwsOV_9hOEPUJq5kBeQuFt3tlCytk_vhsiWYZpRqQhI6l6Nvsaey6lRxPD8hhmpoUCZonWSSxwcQ-xNcX3p-zyeNwEth5O6Uoe7wth6sLgNjGcb6F5C-uMIeUvMtZ2ITrl\/s1600\/boursin-6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhWmKNNDASYW6LKSaPBJrwTYY2weRtGpmTxPAk5hJ7H3e_ERrHTvK31vQflA2f9X3JcTMZClPzJIFNmC8mpawPztdgi6Cfj4tfqweNZVoBVG1FhZzlOF8rPuDKybo67I07FPmdSEPWjmOSF\/s1600\/boursin-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhWmKNNDASYW6LKSaPBJrwTYY2weRtGpmTxPAk5hJ7H3e_ERrHTvK31vQflA2f9X3JcTMZClPzJIFNmC8mpawPztdgi6Cfj4tfqweNZVoBVG1FhZzlOF8rPuDKybo67I07FPmdSEPWjmOSF\/s1600\/boursin-8.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgx7xBMFMftTq4Gq0LfNHtc_uDpf2ddhvQTvcMgSjZda55z3rwyoJbXd12y63k6zZZIqj0PmJW4MfXcE4qh098kPskxxsrxwfk8-t1XHumw1gE2fuvy68suwwWSYGEUIJnh-t4Q5MuCfYR7\/s1600\/boursin2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgx7xBMFMftTq4Gq0LfNHtc_uDpf2ddhvQTvcMgSjZda55z3rwyoJbXd12y63k6zZZIqj0PmJW4MfXcE4qh098kPskxxsrxwfk8-t1XHumw1gE2fuvy68suwwWSYGEUIJnh-t4Q5MuCfYR7\/s1600\/boursin2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nBefore you know it, hours has flown by and we had all finished every last bite of the chic picnic and Boursin cheese. If you're looking to get into the spirit of summer, I would highly suggest throwing your own chic picnic as well - just don't forget the \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/inspiration.boursin.ca\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBoursin\u003C\/a\u003E!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Is having a chic picnic in the park with friends on your summer bucket list? What do you do to elevate your picnics? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThis post was created in partnership with \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/inspiration.boursin.ca\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBoursin\u003C\/a\u003E. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.\u003C\/i\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/4476748374240467797\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/06\/chic-summer-picnic-with-boursin.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/4476748374240467797"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/4476748374240467797"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/06\/chic-summer-picnic-with-boursin.html","title":"Chic Summer Picnic with Boursin"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj3gRIIQllhCIgw5zqe1AtJi5Ha1O1GTxmzBCNymcwxuvpQ1mTgdHh8nxXCbq6Zapk0Ob1_wcYXdEgw2ECi0U9j0X1voaYcB9vcJa-Iob_PUEMVVcLk8vom2-BBRgJvLPO2-5Do58E_XPhL\/s72-c\/boursin-5.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-6906414369823818944"},"published":{"$t":"2018-06-04T08:16:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-06-09T09:33:07.792-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel Tips"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"What I Packed and Wore In Ireland - Spring"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhEOnRQsHGF5dh1j3A7ZG3aqjIxVjkgFJkUY4kRA5v2RPzATFNV63wwtGFx7pD6ZxTslBXPWxXigu-un7D4KoQMcHHgoTdsYKei3AxEwS1ZqFVBbTZ2FjBNhp0ZNq62TV3gfkowZxkgMIb_\/s1600\/IMG_2957.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhEOnRQsHGF5dh1j3A7ZG3aqjIxVjkgFJkUY4kRA5v2RPzATFNV63wwtGFx7pD6ZxTslBXPWxXigu-un7D4KoQMcHHgoTdsYKei3AxEwS1ZqFVBbTZ2FjBNhp0ZNq62TV3gfkowZxkgMIb_\/s1600\/IMG_2957.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nWhen I first found out that I would be visiting \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.airtransat.com\/en-CA\/ireland\/dublin\/flights\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EIreland with Air Transat\u003C\/a\u003E, I was so happy! Ireland is a country that I had always wanted to visit, and I was so grateful to be able to finally check it off my bucket list with one of my favourite airlines. While I was excited to get started on my Irish adventure, the packing process had me stumped. Ireland is known to have a fairly rainy and cool climate, with periods of warm sunshine - all within the day! I also knew that we were going to have a fairly busy itinerary and, seeing as how I would be traveling with a group of bloggers, there would be photos taken all along the way.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\nAfter a lot of thought, and \u003Ci\u003Ea lot \u003C\/i\u003Eof second guessing myself, I finally had a packed suitcase and was ready to take on Ireland! You guys know that \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/05\/seven-nights-in-ireland-with-air-transat.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EI had the best time from my recap post\u003C\/a\u003E, but did I make the best choices when deciding what to pack? Here's a breakdown of what I ultimately decided on to bring with me to Ireland, what I wished I would have packed and the outfits that I wore.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: left;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgO8bzVoaK6yp_1tMd4zbhgKQo_agyG-EOWmE7Gt-s3rHMx4lbPRg8UtNUpuyy4QNP6D2Dxs0xvhP30MNtFB9wXONaMxdil2hKGfcnAitK1C6THPFGg5fVMll9586f5g5yNoXgA8CW9bLfe\/s1600\/Facetune_09-05-2018-00-12-56.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1279\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgO8bzVoaK6yp_1tMd4zbhgKQo_agyG-EOWmE7Gt-s3rHMx4lbPRg8UtNUpuyy4QNP6D2Dxs0xvhP30MNtFB9wXONaMxdil2hKGfcnAitK1C6THPFGg5fVMll9586f5g5yNoXgA8CW9bLfe\/s1600\/Facetune_09-05-2018-00-12-56.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nWhat I packed:\u003C\/h2\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EBottoms:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E2 pleated maxi skirts (both pink)\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 pair of loose mom jeans\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E2 mini skirts (one pink, one yellow)\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 pair of black leggings\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E2 pairs of culottes (one pink and one striped)\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 pair of black tights to wear under dresses and skirts\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003ETops:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E2 sweaters (one white, one pink)\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 loose button-up top\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 yellow polka dot mini dress\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 pink sweater dress\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 floral midi dress\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 long black maxi dress\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EShoes\/Jackets\/Accessories\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 pink rain jacket shell\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 giant wool blanket scarf\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 pair of tall Hunter rain boots\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 pair of white running shoes\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 pair of white loafers\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 umbrella\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 wide-brimmed hat\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 pink beret\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 backpack\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E1 mini crossbody bag\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cb\u003EThe Verdict:\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nWhile we were visiting Ireland, the weather was quite good with minimal rain (it only rained for two days total.) For that reason, I actually didn't end up using my rain gear as much as I thought. I still think that it's wise to bring rain gear with you to Ireland though; nothing is worse than being ill-prepared in the rain.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nI really should have brought a pair of \u003Cb\u003Elow, black leather boots\u003C\/b\u003E. If you guys have \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2014\/09\/how-to-pack-2-weeks-carry-on-luggage.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Echecked out my other European 'what i packed' posts\u003C\/a\u003E, you'll know that I always pack a pair of low black booties. For some reason this trip I decided against them - I actually had them packed in my suitcase, second guessed myself and took them out! Huge mistake. Lesson learned; when traveling to any European city, a pair of low black boots are an absolute must. Next time I'll trust my gut and my first instinct.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nI also should have brought a few \u003Cb\u003Emore dressier options for outfits\u003C\/b\u003E. Although the vibe in Ireland and Northern Ireland is fairly casual, there are a ton of upscale meals and dinning experiences to try out - and lucky for us, we did! I found that I wore my long black maxi dress for most of our meals at nice restaurants, and it would have been nice to have a bit more variety.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nIn terms of the items I actually brought, I'm overall fairly satisfied. The maxi skirt\/sweater combo was a huge win for me, since it kept me warm and comfortable. I maybe could have done with only packing one of the mini skirts, since I had planned to wear them with the high rain boots and it didn't end up raining all that much.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgOTvUgk5-sCaiif-Yi_DIgn4U8vv3d0Iz_JOJWoghGeP6K2fxUd3HvxZpL0UqIK9kFcRjbRbWGaq7_2hsTTP6JVtccRpVYjXtCXP5a0iG3XW7lLxc2QWgrArqRz8CCSUyQYbU_8LzdYW1Y\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-2-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1500\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgOTvUgk5-sCaiif-Yi_DIgn4U8vv3d0Iz_JOJWoghGeP6K2fxUd3HvxZpL0UqIK9kFcRjbRbWGaq7_2hsTTP6JVtccRpVYjXtCXP5a0iG3XW7lLxc2QWgrArqRz8CCSUyQYbU_8LzdYW1Y\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-2-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh-bovNjE84Jy8Ch9-RQ9CbonJGPDd4mpQH9NkB1goM5MsdwGZw8XgL7mebFAQxsYMhX1f0XsXXCia7_tKDB9VgNY4tHmJ7Hdnjf5pZeJ-zf81G1bdVpYD-SSI2_XeanIuP3UkVic7_9vzF\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-1-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh-bovNjE84Jy8Ch9-RQ9CbonJGPDd4mpQH9NkB1goM5MsdwGZw8XgL7mebFAQxsYMhX1f0XsXXCia7_tKDB9VgNY4tHmJ7Hdnjf5pZeJ-zf81G1bdVpYD-SSI2_XeanIuP3UkVic7_9vzF\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-1-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjkKR8uRRqVc0dSMAcIoVuJ3esqigdmXcqllXmh-oEjJ8wpjCOe_auRnqZo3jD4uab-fathuezDxEKyFT_spzdhbCdBtdVknRKyCCA9H_PAhkgte2oQwOIMLgjbwIDxdMn2SIPVueDsqs1T\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-002-14.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjkKR8uRRqVc0dSMAcIoVuJ3esqigdmXcqllXmh-oEjJ8wpjCOe_auRnqZo3jD4uab-fathuezDxEKyFT_spzdhbCdBtdVknRKyCCA9H_PAhkgte2oQwOIMLgjbwIDxdMn2SIPVueDsqs1T\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-002-14.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgsN3_6d3Ms2lw05l22pV16Ag5BQyIDysbWKthUYTOWMlfymG_5gf9VgUhTnplXsd_iqNtJ1-e0RoJJpmdfUv5fAJDNaDwHQ184gOC5GVYtNR9kyvdBzg693X8x2R7h10_06TGklLzLQwOh\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-003-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgsN3_6d3Ms2lw05l22pV16Ag5BQyIDysbWKthUYTOWMlfymG_5gf9VgUhTnplXsd_iqNtJ1-e0RoJJpmdfUv5fAJDNaDwHQ184gOC5GVYtNR9kyvdBzg693X8x2R7h10_06TGklLzLQwOh\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-003-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEilV5U4EVt8km6DeSN0R56-Q9Ib0FKpYbpWnw16Yxye11h-utYigvBn21D-Vhq4unG6V8Pe9RM0DLRPQPCiHrFmHDONxmScg-g6d2E6yTZKklcjBHJtmh1jZUO7gfkC1wE4MrEFxpSQ6UV8\/s1600\/joelle-2-2.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEilV5U4EVt8km6DeSN0R56-Q9Ib0FKpYbpWnw16Yxye11h-utYigvBn21D-Vhq4unG6V8Pe9RM0DLRPQPCiHrFmHDONxmScg-g6d2E6yTZKklcjBHJtmh1jZUO7gfkC1wE4MrEFxpSQ6UV8\/s1600\/joelle-2-2.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEheHjEe04v-7Y9xUyl_8rxJJZbc82A_ptp4U-dL2HlHSUCAq9AeqV5aIYEJyu9XIIpRXT3L_BuCAEJO59VIEpGX_uaKkYB2YcQMMhoIusHvoohmx-ZmRGlFkCSjKAmKWVdj9JzzeyaYVv6o\/s1600\/air-transat-northern-ireland-itinerary.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEheHjEe04v-7Y9xUyl_8rxJJZbc82A_ptp4U-dL2HlHSUCAq9AeqV5aIYEJyu9XIIpRXT3L_BuCAEJO59VIEpGX_uaKkYB2YcQMMhoIusHvoohmx-ZmRGlFkCSjKAmKWVdj9JzzeyaYVv6o\/s1600\/air-transat-northern-ireland-itinerary.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjJZJed9kFTkIcRVh70mqywHjggn6AyYfQYysdDliy1cbeZYvL2wapfIrrj9DHkKCqJZ4aYIWJ22kStC-WXMoT3poYqrep4wMZv09VD13PRF0abU64wRH7ErLz8VxU1DX0Wpmvqp-aGGGXI\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-005.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjJZJed9kFTkIcRVh70mqywHjggn6AyYfQYysdDliy1cbeZYvL2wapfIrrj9DHkKCqJZ4aYIWJ22kStC-WXMoT3poYqrep4wMZv09VD13PRF0abU64wRH7ErLz8VxU1DX0Wpmvqp-aGGGXI\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-005.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiZzBHWIKiekM0UihiRG2ss0vCL8usvR7sb9BvVgagfkKMHGjhta2gUJUxR6vr2QPXw-G8wG1GkFf_OELa-coclYq5uOPju5_5kDyehZt7JwvG0dq3GG0lx0Y7c9YA72rMfqoxRyKQUu8bH\/s1600\/IMG_2795.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiZzBHWIKiekM0UihiRG2ss0vCL8usvR7sb9BvVgagfkKMHGjhta2gUJUxR6vr2QPXw-G8wG1GkFf_OELa-coclYq5uOPju5_5kDyehZt7JwvG0dq3GG0lx0Y7c9YA72rMfqoxRyKQUu8bH\/s1600\/IMG_2795.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh4Nj1EC88gbF07CqUUM5C6ooRsCnN4HIvYBeoKNh5QA35zioZTUeoQUzMKVi6owrtSslYCuLSbHMdO5bpHmPvdZxtWiahGXS9LaivglzD0o-7_a0zhfoF3sF9N4Mx99BAxltwNH3JjuUdE\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-006-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh4Nj1EC88gbF07CqUUM5C6ooRsCnN4HIvYBeoKNh5QA35zioZTUeoQUzMKVi6owrtSslYCuLSbHMdO5bpHmPvdZxtWiahGXS9LaivglzD0o-7_a0zhfoF3sF9N4Mx99BAxltwNH3JjuUdE\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-006-8.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgz-hNF-vMazUFeL4jJIbEQ1T20h5qoPQS3SVWOWwcOXm7LJydaBMZZ-2C_k4dnHerrsFSGFCzH3X3bspnIucP40D1Matnx1x5pIiw4fAxNPvR3J__RZzVugRC6-nTI5sJSJqfNir2z18Pd\/s1600\/dublin-16.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgz-hNF-vMazUFeL4jJIbEQ1T20h5qoPQS3SVWOWwcOXm7LJydaBMZZ-2C_k4dnHerrsFSGFCzH3X3bspnIucP40D1Matnx1x5pIiw4fAxNPvR3J__RZzVugRC6-nTI5sJSJqfNir2z18Pd\/s1600\/dublin-16.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjUu7OAc4HsfJvzV9IubhiTUuqhiJYTfb4CtCUUKhNAAd0BknqULstWVg8AYl6f85d3pX5L2cvQbng7sQSxaOL0cJyFDshDfLveOmCcMvOM7RyLroE14oZkg1NoZ4SKjJ2OPFvtpuczidNi\/s1600\/air-transat-dublin-ireland-itinerary-18.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjUu7OAc4HsfJvzV9IubhiTUuqhiJYTfb4CtCUUKhNAAd0BknqULstWVg8AYl6f85d3pX5L2cvQbng7sQSxaOL0cJyFDshDfLveOmCcMvOM7RyLroE14oZkg1NoZ4SKjJ2OPFvtpuczidNi\/s1600\/air-transat-dublin-ireland-itinerary-18.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Did I miss anything that would have made the trip more comfortable? What do you like to pack when visiting a European destination in the Spring? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/6906414369823818944\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/06\/what-i-packed-and-wore-in-ireland-spring.html#comment-form","title":"2 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/6906414369823818944"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/6906414369823818944"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/06\/what-i-packed-and-wore-in-ireland-spring.html","title":"What I Packed and Wore In Ireland - Spring"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhEOnRQsHGF5dh1j3A7ZG3aqjIxVjkgFJkUY4kRA5v2RPzATFNV63wwtGFx7pD6ZxTslBXPWxXigu-un7D4KoQMcHHgoTdsYKei3AxEwS1ZqFVBbTZ2FjBNhp0ZNq62TV3gfkowZxkgMIb_\/s72-c\/IMG_2957.JPG","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"2"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-7040258022623087059"},"published":{"$t":"2018-05-31T09:02:00.003-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-05-31T09:02:33.891-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Toronto"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Toronto Blogger"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"My Dare for National Dare Day"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgYKYU5et-oiX4l_JzMGt8AvurYQ92A1TU_J6ii0itQMUXVbnpHi_GIlFe-hKTh6QLcLgpHibCLDsvjo1s3JorHOzaf448SgJ3xWjVJrmlUWMy2IqJJMrwKWE-wYbEH83GNUyFBIMnwebu9\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-30-04-18-17.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgYKYU5et-oiX4l_JzMGt8AvurYQ92A1TU_J6ii0itQMUXVbnpHi_GIlFe-hKTh6QLcLgpHibCLDsvjo1s3JorHOzaf448SgJ3xWjVJrmlUWMy2IqJJMrwKWE-wYbEH83GNUyFBIMnwebu9\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-30-04-18-17.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nEveryone has that one thing that they wish that they could do, if only they had the courage. For me it has to do with travel; you guys know that I absolutely love traveling and exploring destinations, but what you might not know is that I've never actually traveled on my own. Never! Sure I've flown alone, but always to meet up with friends or Brian and continue the trip together. It's always been a goal of mine to take an entire trip on my own, but I've always found excuses not to - that is, until now.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI've been dared by \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.schick.com\/wproducts\/schick-intuition-fab-razor\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESchick f.a.b.\u003C\/a\u003E to do something exciting - and I couldn't think of anything more exciting and exhilarating than finally getting the courage to book and take a trip on my own.\u0026nbsp;Much like getting out of my comfort zone with the S\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.schick.com\/wproducts\/schick-intuition-fab-razor\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Echick f.a.b. razor\u003C\/a\u003E which shaves effortlessly in both directions, I’m excited to do the same with my upcoming travels!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh19byg-WCgaO1pknheYbH-6ncUUkXAqCrTVj6g1CroNf8-0XCTUtPf66UsH4No4fIY5YgP4VVTOsKXLFcnlyaVNtCmaUMvTVu3mFfeJKvR1c5xozbsuwOJNFkRP4iREx-6-sueguPX9vo5\/s1600\/schick-intuition-fab.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh19byg-WCgaO1pknheYbH-6ncUUkXAqCrTVj6g1CroNf8-0XCTUtPf66UsH4No4fIY5YgP4VVTOsKXLFcnlyaVNtCmaUMvTVu3mFfeJKvR1c5xozbsuwOJNFkRP4iREx-6-sueguPX9vo5\/s1600\/schick-intuition-fab.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIn the past whenever I've done something new and out of my comfort zone, it's been scary at the time but has always ended up being so fulfilling. I can think specifically of when I decided to make the move from Ottawa to Toronto in my twenties. I was so scared to leave my apartment, my friends and basically everything that I knew back in Ottawa in favour of a new life in Toronto. It was tough at first; I only had a small handful of friends, couldn't navigate my way around the city and had a hard time getting used to the fast pace of Toronto. Eventually things got easier, and I started to view Toronto as home rather than a city that I was a newcomer to. Looking back now, those hard months made me such a stronger person and taught me a lot about myself. I'm grateful that I took a chance, challenged myself and stepped out of my comfort zone; the results have been even better than I could have ever imagined.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjWuVqAqLaldFWX-Lhx9_VA37ZcHRt2-3jxZfDBRXZLehfE2NwuhN48jABJ2-GYVq0xyFrzCV7VHYkpRK8GU6MecQ9Yc9eQAQ0Eoluy_KP7rfLex_eto8MDZRjdX1m5kTDlJUULKZq0n-UA\/s1600\/schick-intuition-fab-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjWuVqAqLaldFWX-Lhx9_VA37ZcHRt2-3jxZfDBRXZLehfE2NwuhN48jABJ2-GYVq0xyFrzCV7VHYkpRK8GU6MecQ9Yc9eQAQ0Eoluy_KP7rfLex_eto8MDZRjdX1m5kTDlJUULKZq0n-UA\/s1600\/schick-intuition-fab-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nKnowing all of this, I'm so excited to get started and booking my solo-trip. It will be scary at first, but I just know that the memories that I end up creating will be 100% worth it in the end.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi0a6OQudhaGIEc6Za7EEHa4JhW0B7IyLmYeeC4_cbLh3WtQ9cb8jagR7f8E0A1oBnaHUH7kKCngA5znQRwEprZZ-y4dUB1vzE3p77KcfkZtCSgRij6z9RijcSNtIVYa4ugR55v4v2CWat6\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-30-04-18-1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi0a6OQudhaGIEc6Za7EEHa4JhW0B7IyLmYeeC4_cbLh3WtQ9cb8jagR7f8E0A1oBnaHUH7kKCngA5znQRwEprZZ-y4dUB1vzE3p77KcfkZtCSgRij6z9RijcSNtIVYa4ugR55v4v2CWat6\/s1600\/LaPetiteNoob-30-04-18-1.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Have you ever challenged yourself to try something that's totally out of your comfort zone? What were the results? I would love to know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThis post was created in partnership with \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.schick.com\/schick-women\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESchick Canada.\u003C\/a\u003E All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.\u003C\/i\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/7040258022623087059\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/05\/my-dare-for-national-dare-day.html#comment-form","title":"4 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/7040258022623087059"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/7040258022623087059"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/05\/my-dare-for-national-dare-day.html","title":"My Dare for National Dare Day"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgYKYU5et-oiX4l_JzMGt8AvurYQ92A1TU_J6ii0itQMUXVbnpHi_GIlFe-hKTh6QLcLgpHibCLDsvjo1s3JorHOzaf448SgJ3xWjVJrmlUWMy2IqJJMrwKWE-wYbEH83GNUyFBIMnwebu9\/s72-c\/LaPetiteNoob-30-04-18-17.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"4"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-3057935843460419917"},"published":{"$t":"2018-05-29T11:37:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-05-31T09:11:39.397-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Air Transat"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Europe"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Ireland"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Travel Diary"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"Seven Nights in Ireland with Air Transat"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhu5UmKauEFgiws_hcIaIdJ-s757ZSBb4HFAfNaPsljatnfQg-wTFH5FI_2_QmB1Z5G1GzFKqFNvr1qPOWs3TDYwhLY55XrHkBGzb4v6D52KXuP0j5TJZYxiopHux3hQFPrN4M4HVIKHJ8B\/s1600\/air-transat-northern-ireland-itinerary-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhu5UmKauEFgiws_hcIaIdJ-s757ZSBb4HFAfNaPsljatnfQg-wTFH5FI_2_QmB1Z5G1GzFKqFNvr1qPOWs3TDYwhLY55XrHkBGzb4v6D52KXuP0j5TJZYxiopHux3hQFPrN4M4HVIKHJ8B\/s1600\/air-transat-northern-ireland-itinerary-7.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nA few weeks ago, I had the absolute pleasure to embark on an incredible adventure through Ireland with \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.airtransat.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAir Transat\u003C\/a\u003E. I had never been to Ireland before, but had always wanted to visit. When the opportunity came up to explore what the country had to offer with one of my favourite airlines, Air Transat, you know I didn't even have to think twice before responding with an enthusiastic \u003Ci\u003Eyes\u003C\/i\u003E!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSeeing as though I don't have any family ties to Ireland, either through my own family or that of Brian, I honestly didn't start my trip with a whole lot of knowledge on the country. It's situations like these where I'm grateful for Air Transat's travel offerings; not only do they provide direct flights from major Canadian airports, but they have itineraries available that include hotel accommodations, travel arrangements between landmarks and even meals. For someone who wanted to see as much of a new country as I possibly could, I was so excited to be able to take advantage of a pre-planned itinerary to see what adventures Ireland had to offer - and what an adventure it was. I feel as though I left a piece of my heart in Ireland and remain humbled by the beauty, grace and culture that the country has to offer. Here's a peek into our Irish adventure, our seven-day itinerary and some notable memories along the way.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch2\u003E\nThe Flight - Air Transat Club Class\u003C\/h2\u003E\nAlthough I wouldn't say that I'm a nervous flyer, there are some aspects of the whole flying process that do spike my anxieties; namely, waiting in lines and being comfortable on the plane. Lucky for me, flying Club Class with Air Transat alleviates all of those anxieties for me, and guarantees me a beautiful flight. You guys may remember from \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2017\/12\/my-experience-flying-club-class-with.html\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Emy previous post about flying Club Class with Air Transat\u003C\/a\u003E that the experience holds a special place in my heart; Brian and I actually flew Club Class to London for the first leg of our honeymoon almost five years ago! Needless to say, the whole experience holds a special place in my heart. Here's a few of my favourite features of flying Club Class:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EExpress Check-in\u003C\/b\u003E. You guys - I absolutely hate lines. The fact that Air Transat Club Class passengers have their own express line for checking in, and luggage drop-off is incredible.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EPriority Boarding\u003C\/b\u003E, which might be my favourite perk of flying Club Class. I absolutely love how you're able to bypass the commotion of boarding the plane by being one of the first to be boarded and seated. It makes sure that I'm seated comfortably on the plane in no time, with a sparkling bevy in-hand, of course.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThat brings me to my next favourite perk of flying Club Class; the assortment of\u003Cb\u003E food and drinks\u003C\/b\u003E! You guys know me well enough by now to know how important a well-stocked bar and delicious eats are to my happiness. Thankfully for me, Club Class offers both with in-flight wine, beer and spirits (including my personal favourite, Bailey's on the rocks) and a menu created by chef Daniel Vézina. For this particular trip I enjoyed the\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003Esquare crepes with goat cheese and smoked salmon \u003C\/b\u003Efor breakfast on the flight from Toronto to Dublin, and the\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003Epulled beef shepherd’s pie \u003C\/b\u003Eon our return flight home. Delicious.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe level of \u003Cb\u003Ecomfort\u003C\/b\u003E when flying Club Class with Air Transat is a treat, and really helps to set the tone for your trip. Spacious seats, friendly in-flight service and my favourite: a comfort kit that includes a sleeping mask, inflatable neck pillow, ear plugs and much more. I used everything in the comfort kit during our red-eye flight from Toronto to Dublin and actually managed to sleep for a few hours - a luxury I am rarely able to achieve on airplanes!\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nI always treasure the times that I'm able to fly Club Class with Air Transat, and recommend the experience for anyone who has anxieties related to air travel, is taking a celebratory trip and wants to make the experience memorable from start to finish, or just wants a little luxury in their lives. Our whole group arrived in Dublin refreshed, well-slept and excited to explore Ireland.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh1ZKJnozQ2tbsirTEVOv_cfV-CHknPaAuHL56wotiUe2ZqCeSrzzGvIpioZ2_1KfsT1blPNClHZeIG-tdrJnlAIguGfkxeVLCdGntnm_-YZSKDtWWN-x-SrgRHybBw-o_mJ4sU1T0JXSqm\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh1ZKJnozQ2tbsirTEVOv_cfV-CHknPaAuHL56wotiUe2ZqCeSrzzGvIpioZ2_1KfsT1blPNClHZeIG-tdrJnlAIguGfkxeVLCdGntnm_-YZSKDtWWN-x-SrgRHybBw-o_mJ4sU1T0JXSqm\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-5.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nDay One - Belfast\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nWe arrived in Dublin bright and early and were all feeling well-rested and excited for the week to come. After picking up our luggage (a breeze since flying Club Class with Air Transat gives your luggage priority and ensures it's one of the first to arrive on the carrousel) we hopped into our coach and were on our way to Belfast in Northern Ireland.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWhile I had anticipated taking a nap on the \u003Cb\u003Edrive from Dublin to Belfast\u003C\/b\u003E, I was so taken by the beauty of Ireland that I stayed awake and just stared out the window the entire two hour drive. You guys, they call Ireland the Emerald Isle for a reason - it's absolutely beautiful!\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWe had an incredible \u003Cb\u003Ewalking tour of the Belfast city centre\u003C\/b\u003E from our hilarious and knowledgable guide Dee Morgan. Belfast is Northern Ireland's capital, but still feels so walkable and friendly. It seemed like everyone knows everyone else, and you rarely caught anyone without a smile on their face.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWe stopped for\u003Cb\u003E lunch at \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.curatedkitchen.co.uk\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECurated Kitchen\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, a beautiful little eatery in the heart of Belfast that has a changing menu of dishes found from their open library of cookbooks. The food was delicious, and I was so moved by the owner's commitment to building a community through his dishes. I would highly recommend paying a visit should you find yourself in Belfast.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAt night, we had the pleasure of taking part in the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/tasteandtour.co.uk\/belfast-bites\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBelfast Bites Tour\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E; an intimate walking tour of all of the best places to eat in Belfast. This tour was a real treat for our group of foodies, and I really felt as though it was the perfect way to orient ourselves to Belfast and get a real taste of the emerging food scene. My favourite stop from the entire tour was \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/muriels.cafebar\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMuriel's Café Bar,\u003C\/a\u003E where we sampled delicious gin cocktails. This tour was one of the highlights of the trip for me.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAfter a long and incredible first day in Northern Ireland, we all crashed at the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bullitthotel.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBullit Hotel\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. This hotel is modern, has incredible energy and is very centrally located in the heart of Belfast. One feature of this hotel that I absolutely loved is that they provide you with a brown bag to hang on your door before you go to sleep and when you wake up in the morning it's filled with a delicious breakfast. Between the brown bags and the on-site café, it was always a good morning for me.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjNZ2cz0xkLFVEjrI5SaAjnYTvEBhw69K7_5DMnAqBjZOeqak6ICTP748MNVWVxkShT6MBPoPYARxIcLvuo2Bh0QcYbFArJmJJRj6D6ujhZ1xzpTdljHkNVTw8VTpoVIZ6pqPbqpetB6isI\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-15.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjNZ2cz0xkLFVEjrI5SaAjnYTvEBhw69K7_5DMnAqBjZOeqak6ICTP748MNVWVxkShT6MBPoPYARxIcLvuo2Bh0QcYbFArJmJJRj6D6ujhZ1xzpTdljHkNVTw8VTpoVIZ6pqPbqpetB6isI\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-15.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgt6d16IuS6937oCAvi595pSV1cMxbVmsrHwZXZdJZXUp0mJ-3j81LKq5-VVVTix6X33ghXm2NWlVDkMC-KxgbFAgST9prhWnCoFrZ7leF7BQB4kQQDE61gsfPcYUnU55qOOYbNVilyBmBb\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgt6d16IuS6937oCAvi595pSV1cMxbVmsrHwZXZdJZXUp0mJ-3j81LKq5-VVVTix6X33ghXm2NWlVDkMC-KxgbFAgST9prhWnCoFrZ7leF7BQB4kQQDE61gsfPcYUnU55qOOYbNVilyBmBb\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-8.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiLfAh5a8oMeRYnp2gHzCa3DSczIGX0lL0L54ZlKTWEKthJEw8JwhwDbqJHeHGwfENhL8MNqSr-TulaTMT5J6CnZBE8PGzMkbUtLssEOT9SpLC7Rr3iuth6ZXnd_pA_avI6VdLDn-taq9PN\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiLfAh5a8oMeRYnp2gHzCa3DSczIGX0lL0L54ZlKTWEKthJEw8JwhwDbqJHeHGwfENhL8MNqSr-TulaTMT5J6CnZBE8PGzMkbUtLssEOT9SpLC7Rr3iuth6ZXnd_pA_avI6VdLDn-taq9PN\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg_RE6MK4wLN9YnNk9ShhGnWSydOgvTARD9hvqpZ71JlcAfbitSDqo4ZUux6sBnWl7qxL2eXF8JLWAkmGSpOGy9Bz-qoZIdNvzbBjnng51FQnoLw08h1W9WV10qCc7RwrT9mT3rfV6le5_N\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-1-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg_RE6MK4wLN9YnNk9ShhGnWSydOgvTARD9hvqpZ71JlcAfbitSDqo4ZUux6sBnWl7qxL2eXF8JLWAkmGSpOGy9Bz-qoZIdNvzbBjnng51FQnoLw08h1W9WV10qCc7RwrT9mT3rfV6le5_N\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-1-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhH0QltPxdvYsw4EzoeJeSFfI55YxSuikG2MZo7v1GpaMK02F7tzj9x8Lvmy35skFqaCtBLbgyeZx9NJulOEQhsuY8aHK8EHeYMKA-_flTefT-r2E_v8AWVCbWQNpbYRZtDSiRUlNq8tBy_\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-2-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1500\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhH0QltPxdvYsw4EzoeJeSFfI55YxSuikG2MZo7v1GpaMK02F7tzj9x8Lvmy35skFqaCtBLbgyeZx9NJulOEQhsuY8aHK8EHeYMKA-_flTefT-r2E_v8AWVCbWQNpbYRZtDSiRUlNq8tBy_\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-2-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiUl2hAmHC-DSMuqYjDp5ApNnd6-B0snu98OucIZn2k5KSHC0SrkicDgFQbEoPKb6xzLIvCHWR9lkgT_4L9CPzHgI7aHGOQR_mJwjwPu-I0snH7QffDbxCn5HdFnY2aFLSlyO-NIEwFCvMO\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiUl2hAmHC-DSMuqYjDp5ApNnd6-B0snu98OucIZn2k5KSHC0SrkicDgFQbEoPKb6xzLIvCHWR9lkgT_4L9CPzHgI7aHGOQR_mJwjwPu-I0snH7QffDbxCn5HdFnY2aFLSlyO-NIEwFCvMO\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nDay Two - Belfast\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nAfter spending a relaxing morning in bed with my brown-bag breakfast from Bullit Hotel, I quickly got ready to meet the group in the lobby and begin our day. I felt as though I had learned so much about Belfast from the day prior and was eager to dive into the history of Northern Ireland.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWe visited the \u003Cb\u003EUlster Museum\u003C\/b\u003E, which taught me a lot about the history of the conflict in Northern Ireland. We were also lucky enough to see the Game of Thrones tapestry exhibit that was on display. I am a\u003Ci\u003E huge\u003C\/i\u003E Game of Thrones fan, so this was definitely a highlight for me. The Ulster Museum is located in the \u003Cb\u003EBotanic Gardens\u003C\/b\u003E, which is absolutely stunning to see.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ENext was \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/titanicbelfast.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETitanic Belfast\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, which was a treat for me. As most girls who came of age in the 90s, the Titanic movie was my religion. The museum was a definite highlight; it did an incredible job to giving you a very in-depth look at the story of Titanic. I also really found the recreations of the accommodations on the boat itself, from first class all the way to third class so interesting. Such a well-done museum, I would go again in a heartbeat. The restaurant is also a treat; visually it's gorgeous and the food is incredible. All around, an amazing way to spend an afternoon in Northern Ireland!\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ELater that afternoon we had a super-informative \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.seedheadarts.com\/street-art-walking-tour\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EStreet Art Walking Tour.\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E I had no idea that Belfast was so renowned for its street art, and is actually a destination for many artists to display their talents. We learned that the street art scene in Belfast is a community made up and lead by local artists, who are conscious to include women and works that have social and political messaging to them. As an amateur to the street art world, I left the tour feeling completely educated, not only to the art itself but also to the social and political issues going on in Northern Ireland, both past and present.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EFor dinner, we all enjoyed a meal at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/bullitthotel.com\/play\/eat-and-drink\/babel\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EBabel\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, the rooftop restaurant at Bullitt Hotel. The view from the rooftop is incredible and the food even better. It was the perfect way to end our last evening in Belfast.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiBWsJyIqHJOPjKImqqtgqIeAu4f6sv8WOOr2g98U2A4qx-cpHmoxRGYp67NxfE2h755eVbcZy9bH743hRkOzQH_xYLPiwoVOVqrg7Yjj4t8BRNEJsPn73taQ1hONGwie8WkwAbZiJU8wlq\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-002-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiBWsJyIqHJOPjKImqqtgqIeAu4f6sv8WOOr2g98U2A4qx-cpHmoxRGYp67NxfE2h755eVbcZy9bH743hRkOzQH_xYLPiwoVOVqrg7Yjj4t8BRNEJsPn73taQ1hONGwie8WkwAbZiJU8wlq\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-002-5.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjePahnpq6VfiGoymK1sJfbCIU-07-Vkfc80mhkt_lT_gqh4D8kjWPgSXQm-x8qPhBuYjCBIuJ1tl9-6w6MabFQQIJvb4u4FuOujSbGNtwWi7U3QZ_zORQzAYkOQGP7hrG4SLqzGebZXFpQ\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-002-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjePahnpq6VfiGoymK1sJfbCIU-07-Vkfc80mhkt_lT_gqh4D8kjWPgSXQm-x8qPhBuYjCBIuJ1tl9-6w6MabFQQIJvb4u4FuOujSbGNtwWi7U3QZ_zORQzAYkOQGP7hrG4SLqzGebZXFpQ\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-002-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh4RaOzJQvsyFI8hiPHHkmu8PLbSxWJ6oO1MYdoO9MsAIRLifLapYCrU9ktG_Ou-emozYOkGW-7VfBFXcX-qKtR71lFcrkzsd-kmtVPmQf6-hVg6_1H2gf8mdDL20ARVsPqZNRoZoKLLVnL\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-002-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh4RaOzJQvsyFI8hiPHHkmu8PLbSxWJ6oO1MYdoO9MsAIRLifLapYCrU9ktG_Ou-emozYOkGW-7VfBFXcX-qKtR71lFcrkzsd-kmtVPmQf6-hVg6_1H2gf8mdDL20ARVsPqZNRoZoKLLVnL\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-002-7.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhlzltFYvVSZhDYjc6TkF2RDVng1FQoOGx0Mw8aKyQz1GPnA8vbqkr6eL8hVmJjoIzXT5cZiqwkYoh56fgk8G3ad9NkPI-MY-ndcA73tLC3EAFKKhOx9xnQxL9yiq8h9OSe9DqOhOQNPQ7u\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-002-9.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhlzltFYvVSZhDYjc6TkF2RDVng1FQoOGx0Mw8aKyQz1GPnA8vbqkr6eL8hVmJjoIzXT5cZiqwkYoh56fgk8G3ad9NkPI-MY-ndcA73tLC3EAFKKhOx9xnQxL9yiq8h9OSe9DqOhOQNPQ7u\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-002-9.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjPGh7FEftVromgQYzb66U2VjTLLEj2nuZaZH-riZmSx63M6fYCNgbp3l7ATP09upHsjECj-CQK2OKg1CL-MSB0dQYcQOBWzTQ4Iqz5RAMgLlUb_jKw5DUQPlQ7UmPvUuZsC26ZuKIJok8o\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-002-11.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjPGh7FEftVromgQYzb66U2VjTLLEj2nuZaZH-riZmSx63M6fYCNgbp3l7ATP09upHsjECj-CQK2OKg1CL-MSB0dQYcQOBWzTQ4Iqz5RAMgLlUb_jKw5DUQPlQ7UmPvUuZsC26ZuKIJok8o\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-002-11.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhhKIUyvsX1uyxyRrUZyVs05IL4CHtIwl59Uzbvbdpc5K4Xs5XCdkwSnaNswahE0oCyRI7xRXPs-IFAD32yjVgpr4u9eVvLipFky_4tEoJbKgmjA9Ce18wuObpAUOB7MEqwgXP-Gvye-5UW\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-002-12.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhhKIUyvsX1uyxyRrUZyVs05IL4CHtIwl59Uzbvbdpc5K4Xs5XCdkwSnaNswahE0oCyRI7xRXPs-IFAD32yjVgpr4u9eVvLipFky_4tEoJbKgmjA9Ce18wuObpAUOB7MEqwgXP-Gvye-5UW\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-002-12.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjCjTP-ztOC5WEozsKbZItfW-ma5b_NIWZkOGHspHX6BP4A-HGoHr0zhbuIh7AEptaHhvSj-jknao8GuoXncq_QUdr7vS3klTpbJJvGAZTk8UxF5Z6xtdA_jKF1HDA6_rF8_bYK6hyphenhyphen9dPBk\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-002.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjCjTP-ztOC5WEozsKbZItfW-ma5b_NIWZkOGHspHX6BP4A-HGoHr0zhbuIh7AEptaHhvSj-jknao8GuoXncq_QUdr7vS3klTpbJJvGAZTk8UxF5Z6xtdA_jKF1HDA6_rF8_bYK6hyphenhyphen9dPBk\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-002.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhBGDX9aOLRsykQjBEQfUsiCSq-TE3hqyGpaWjTEYkxRsx4gSjPZOb4orf__dZX-v2c4hcVwa1EdEwACazVjlp8WKfWxWv_i4Yx35nWZ4Ury9ILDCr328GNtwQP6DlsMVGhTo02a23ARKRb\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-003-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhBGDX9aOLRsykQjBEQfUsiCSq-TE3hqyGpaWjTEYkxRsx4gSjPZOb4orf__dZX-v2c4hcVwa1EdEwACazVjlp8WKfWxWv_i4Yx35nWZ4Ury9ILDCr328GNtwQP6DlsMVGhTo02a23ARKRb\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-003-5.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjpHqd3TgMduPkj6zpui_96dthpuZC1sjxSScashKRz06nYOpN_DVIjdSmFLXBgwawpDTJvpegrv4zC9gOUQsFyU7PvIhcUUidGyUwQL45ri8z53w0zB7voDIJRFMWrteUwEmjSySTbJSOC\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-003-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjpHqd3TgMduPkj6zpui_96dthpuZC1sjxSScashKRz06nYOpN_DVIjdSmFLXBgwawpDTJvpegrv4zC9gOUQsFyU7PvIhcUUidGyUwQL45ri8z53w0zB7voDIJRFMWrteUwEmjSySTbJSOC\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-003-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg5LMs8IB7gj_ykPTQT2ReQYEgmkcBG6IHfMgaNx5F7yeahT88VSNo7v3xt_MyBk5vwmBlRygTOle-hz8xpdE8sNBkLcNvLNTgbPaYiRqTGCmZ1SPeipxLiCSSU8jwlojSweqnXj8_hXw0p\/s1600\/IMG_5348.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1284\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg5LMs8IB7gj_ykPTQT2ReQYEgmkcBG6IHfMgaNx5F7yeahT88VSNo7v3xt_MyBk5vwmBlRygTOle-hz8xpdE8sNBkLcNvLNTgbPaYiRqTGCmZ1SPeipxLiCSSU8jwlojSweqnXj8_hXw0p\/s1600\/IMG_5348.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nDay 3 - Northern Ireland Countryside\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nAs much as I enjoyed exploring Belfast, I was extremely excited to hit the road and experience the countryside of Northern Ireland. After my last bagged breakfast from the Bullitt Hotel, we checked out, hopped on to the coach and were off to explore!\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EBefore we left Belfast for the countryside, we made a stop at the \u003Cb\u003ESt. George's Market\u003C\/b\u003E, the only Victorian covered market in Belfast. This market is the perfect place to pick up a morning coffee, pastries, fresh produce and local crafts. I myself got a delicious, strong coffee and sampled some local pastries.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWe then made our way through Northern Ireland's countryside to visit the famous\u003Cb\u003E Dark Hedges,\u003C\/b\u003E the most photographed spot in the area. You guys, if you're a Game of Thrones fan like I am then this is an absolute must. Towering, twisting tree branches line the road and, while you're not able to drive down it, it makes for an impressive walk.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWe then made our way to the coast to visit \u003Cb\u003ECarrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge\u003C\/b\u003E, Northern Ireland's famous bridge that joins the mainland to the island of Carrick-a-Rede. The whole scene is incredible beautiful, with colours so vibrant that I swear it wasn't real. The rope bridge itself is quite the experience - it's very slim and sits 30 meters above the rocks and as you cross you hear the sea crashing against them below. Definitely not for the faint of heart - don't look down! My adrenaline was pumping all day from the experience!\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAfter grabbing a quick lunch at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/thefrenchrooms.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe French Rooms\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, we were back on the coast and off to visit \u003Cb\u003EGiant's Causeway\u003C\/b\u003E. Giant's Causeway is another one of those need-to-see-in-person natural phenomenons - over 40,000 interlocking columns on the water that line the shore. This breathtaking sight is the result of an ancient volcanic eruption, although if you believe the Irish mythology it was built by a giant. By the time we arrived the sun had begun to gently set, and our entire group just found a seat on one of the many columns and quietly took in the serenity of the whole scene - it really was beautiful. This stop and this moment was easily one of my favourites of the trip.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWe then made our way to\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.hastingshotels.com\/ballygally-castle\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E \u003Cb\u003EBallygally Castle\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, where we would be staying for the night. A beautiful 19th century castle, legend has it that it's been haunted for over 400 years by the ghost of Lady Isabella, a former resident. While the hotel has since been renovated beautifully, they have honoured their famous ghost by keeping her room in the tower completely intact and labelling it the 'ghost room.' Guess who's room was in that same tower? Me. While the folklore and my own superstitions definitely made for a spooky night, I'm happy to report that I didn't have the pleasure of meeting Lady Isabella that evening. Maybe next time, haha!\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjWSWhEtMllQ8vVGZhLEw7UgSp6D_IPfTekND2tHN0TY7ED3ueP-T4wLvBuJ4gZl59-WRQSTQdVH-zUX1cDBuZdZFUuyNXUnsshv_RUGMDcjKDgEQK1WCTE5bdifHIyskPvICUzKMd2W8Zo\/s1600\/air-transat-northern-ireland-itinerary-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjWSWhEtMllQ8vVGZhLEw7UgSp6D_IPfTekND2tHN0TY7ED3ueP-T4wLvBuJ4gZl59-WRQSTQdVH-zUX1cDBuZdZFUuyNXUnsshv_RUGMDcjKDgEQK1WCTE5bdifHIyskPvICUzKMd2W8Zo\/s1600\/air-transat-northern-ireland-itinerary-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjahQqb23dRjVy50HFmLmCBYu-5fstt3NBaOfsOt0lXtyxArBDWAoVusrF7_OhWpzbo47I8XDJB31ycBd3MLj2TTize2C0BQBy5NBzv-kWT90JvHsPY88MptfCQBOTvV0rQSY_36P8IBqqd\/s1600\/air-transat-northern-ireland-itinerary1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjahQqb23dRjVy50HFmLmCBYu-5fstt3NBaOfsOt0lXtyxArBDWAoVusrF7_OhWpzbo47I8XDJB31ycBd3MLj2TTize2C0BQBy5NBzv-kWT90JvHsPY88MptfCQBOTvV0rQSY_36P8IBqqd\/s1600\/air-transat-northern-ireland-itinerary1.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjeXnQoLJ-XkfglygygtSry-OoX0M_31aNbeyRmlin2QRQgiTzecwiT569iXjICjphVfkUf-NT7yM-UYLBZ53lnuRqE1zBgChIbnpiE7fbaoov88IevSbVICfG_zQzH1qw8FxZgGivoJQg-\/s1600\/air-transat-northern-ireland-itinerary-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjeXnQoLJ-XkfglygygtSry-OoX0M_31aNbeyRmlin2QRQgiTzecwiT569iXjICjphVfkUf-NT7yM-UYLBZ53lnuRqE1zBgChIbnpiE7fbaoov88IevSbVICfG_zQzH1qw8FxZgGivoJQg-\/s1600\/air-transat-northern-ireland-itinerary-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhe6-C-DaU-oO5sKsksF83aN7HFUZIJj3bPy8ogiFruNehhB-7DIuLiVUqrXHmWDrir6DLXYn45fEmMTH2RNa0K8udG5VWx_uH3zm1urReKwdAmvk1NL08bkguTqzmlcQN3xU6YmYMA_tEt\/s1600\/air-transat-northern-ireland-itinerary-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhe6-C-DaU-oO5sKsksF83aN7HFUZIJj3bPy8ogiFruNehhB-7DIuLiVUqrXHmWDrir6DLXYn45fEmMTH2RNa0K8udG5VWx_uH3zm1urReKwdAmvk1NL08bkguTqzmlcQN3xU6YmYMA_tEt\/s1600\/air-transat-northern-ireland-itinerary-8.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhSnOvwBGkwfVvNqncPXWSwXoJjy4nAPbWluF-RCJ_BC4t6FPrQU1TlawblTKUXivEzKiG8b-jMNO8MnRU24iAY_VQiTYR6ES1koSBHFpZ38pdSL08UBbXYPYyDponxCee4oUhai-gLNJiT\/s1600\/IMG_2662.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhSnOvwBGkwfVvNqncPXWSwXoJjy4nAPbWluF-RCJ_BC4t6FPrQU1TlawblTKUXivEzKiG8b-jMNO8MnRU24iAY_VQiTYR6ES1koSBHFpZ38pdSL08UBbXYPYyDponxCee4oUhai-gLNJiT\/s1600\/IMG_2662.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhBIiSJT1UJXkDY-HWB1Tq5YUSuwMQoTm3fhrluztYjK-2VITEzkS76dt0YcwVnmLdqY0YortL_4Psd4Iz2uR72jGASPBOAe8qFi9NveqM-J1M40-hz5YsrgLkad7iLDPE8QbUkHQZTfaC6\/s1600\/air-transat-northern-ireland-itinerary-14.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhBIiSJT1UJXkDY-HWB1Tq5YUSuwMQoTm3fhrluztYjK-2VITEzkS76dt0YcwVnmLdqY0YortL_4Psd4Iz2uR72jGASPBOAe8qFi9NveqM-J1M40-hz5YsrgLkad7iLDPE8QbUkHQZTfaC6\/s1600\/air-transat-northern-ireland-itinerary-14.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjVehhHWh8jBw29F8gDZZiGstahXD21l-9uty4Pp8gfmR5V6DDW_-HL2hkeM2cGEysKCMHTuBAtKYuf7mZ8eAF0JwTWKlDuURB3CcxLopzGX-6v-tvlK-iL6ogLgWuIxSkTGWP9SpAra81z\/s1600\/joelle-2-2.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjVehhHWh8jBw29F8gDZZiGstahXD21l-9uty4Pp8gfmR5V6DDW_-HL2hkeM2cGEysKCMHTuBAtKYuf7mZ8eAF0JwTWKlDuURB3CcxLopzGX-6v-tvlK-iL6ogLgWuIxSkTGWP9SpAra81z\/s1600\/joelle-2-2.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgSlZvWuUbhag0JLL8-V5j0cXGiaDifzUP8T7hSNK9_nwSSnkNjEmn5o3C7yVmuMziS4tOXTI0EgT87Oua95_9nU0anB9ux_3v2vKJPmubnw0zyq6X4Axmg0ZoDHhYrwMTAMWCMvcaHK5fm\/s1600\/air-transat-northern-ireland-itinerary-18.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgSlZvWuUbhag0JLL8-V5j0cXGiaDifzUP8T7hSNK9_nwSSnkNjEmn5o3C7yVmuMziS4tOXTI0EgT87Oua95_9nU0anB9ux_3v2vKJPmubnw0zyq6X4Axmg0ZoDHhYrwMTAMWCMvcaHK5fm\/s1600\/air-transat-northern-ireland-itinerary-18.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgcoCmV-nly6qcFYAQD5iq9Epd487FMjyiFRweX1FvDavocZaPUJnNTvR8VSmbu1eC_9GCkKXrL5m2D-s0YO8VrWjJf3Ex3qoyYqkNtY-w-sleNzIn6xq5nML8rb78AaFGR6omISTeZsYv_\/s1600\/joelle-2-3.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgcoCmV-nly6qcFYAQD5iq9Epd487FMjyiFRweX1FvDavocZaPUJnNTvR8VSmbu1eC_9GCkKXrL5m2D-s0YO8VrWjJf3Ex3qoyYqkNtY-w-sleNzIn6xq5nML8rb78AaFGR6omISTeZsYv_\/s1600\/joelle-2-3.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nDay 4 - Galway\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nWith a night in a beautiful, haunted castle under my belt it was time for our group to leave Northern Ireland and make our way to Ireland.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWe made our way from the castle, back to Belfast and then on-route to Dublin. Once we arrived in Dublin, we met our tour operator Darren from\u003Cb\u003E Vagabond Tours \u003C\/b\u003Ewho would be showing us through Ireland.\u0026nbsp; We then made our way on-coach to Galway.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EOnce we arrived in Galway, we checked into \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.thehousehotel.ie\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EThe House Hotel\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/a\u003E You guys know me well enough to know that my favourite colour is pink, so the decor at The House Hotel was completely up my alley - so much pink!\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EOur group enjoyed dinner at\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.ardbia.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E \u003Cb\u003EArd Bia at Nimmos\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, a restaurant that served traditional Irish fare with influences from around the world. The meal was incredible; easily one of my favourites from the trip.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EGalway is known for its electric nightlife so that evening we hit the town to see what all of the hype was about. You guys - the hype is real! The party literally never stops in Galway, and it was so nice to be around large groups of people everywhere who were genuinely enjoying each other's company. Needless to say, I had a blast.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjGyVok-Mlk2GillQ1napUDUG__JfjxvYDKCjBy7jjiSnE23HnKlW-Nk03KDc1Yw2XsxUB-e1kUESM6V_64pNjQ74BX653CHcqSaLOJIvutvA30dY6N8yxFp5CUcpc-FdXYRtJSTC67OsDr\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-006-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjGyVok-Mlk2GillQ1napUDUG__JfjxvYDKCjBy7jjiSnE23HnKlW-Nk03KDc1Yw2XsxUB-e1kUESM6V_64pNjQ74BX653CHcqSaLOJIvutvA30dY6N8yxFp5CUcpc-FdXYRtJSTC67OsDr\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-006-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjM4fX83Db8NzyJospfsp4NtKsycpZ9eTDVDU0g44i8PqMS77mMI4SnKy34AuYz2mgndaZ7tQZo2UptZpzJEXZxYE_yp3mXHTUAAzlrfc90ddC2vFnLf0l88r46ty2xDOQGOKJAZAi8fnxM\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-005.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjM4fX83Db8NzyJospfsp4NtKsycpZ9eTDVDU0g44i8PqMS77mMI4SnKy34AuYz2mgndaZ7tQZo2UptZpzJEXZxYE_yp3mXHTUAAzlrfc90ddC2vFnLf0l88r46ty2xDOQGOKJAZAi8fnxM\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-005.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjUCdCK6rubqbC6ExHNLfKJcsR3BLDFnQYlZ-NiQSCmOToS4AzOIaqnud5cw_DS21U-KAUPt7yoWclw2JyKXxZxcY-z9417oJY6N6J0JYa3k2s_jwhENK676M3rhdcUdfYX7NfQ212i2q5F\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-006-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjUCdCK6rubqbC6ExHNLfKJcsR3BLDFnQYlZ-NiQSCmOToS4AzOIaqnud5cw_DS21U-KAUPt7yoWclw2JyKXxZxcY-z9417oJY6N6J0JYa3k2s_jwhENK676M3rhdcUdfYX7NfQ212i2q5F\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-006-5.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhSz0dW3ZpTIBlPSrWnfOwJAktFp9LbbVJsvLkLkRzBYoRsqxsnSZDulDsSbdO9GPPmGZlvkwP7nZZH01MUrUsw9p3t-l3fG6sD0xkXIgVjbAZ_kATCtDo3pZlqXSl8gOZk_M6KFl5TBIcW\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-006-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhSz0dW3ZpTIBlPSrWnfOwJAktFp9LbbVJsvLkLkRzBYoRsqxsnSZDulDsSbdO9GPPmGZlvkwP7nZZH01MUrUsw9p3t-l3fG6sD0xkXIgVjbAZ_kATCtDo3pZlqXSl8gOZk_M6KFl5TBIcW\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-006-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nDay 5 - Galway Countryside\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nAfter a very late night, we got up bright and early to have a quick breakfast, check out of our hotel, and hop into our coach and explore the countryside.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EOur first stop was \u003Cb\u003EThe Burren\u003C\/b\u003E, a region in County Clare that boasts ancient castles, a landscape of limestone bedrock, fossils, caves - all of that good stuff! I kept on thinking about my dad, who loves geology and would absolutely love this area!\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EOur next stop was the one sight that I had been looking forward to the most: the \u003Cb\u003ECliffs of Moher. \u003C\/b\u003EStunning sea cliffs that span 14 km and have been featured in so many movies - including my favourite, The Princess Bride! I don't know if I could ever find the words to truly describe how beautiful the Cliffs of Moher are - I felt truly humbled. I received a few questions on my Instagram if this attraction was worth it or not. My answer is yes; one hundred times yes. Even though the Cliffs of Moher are a huge tourist destination, you don't feel over crowded - you almost forget that anyone else is there! The beauty of the cliffs are hypnotizing, and you'll feel as though you're alone with just the smell of the sea and the sounds of the waves crashing.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAfter a traditional Irish lunch at the\u003Cb\u003E \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.roadsidetavern.ie\/roadside\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ERoadside Tavern\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.roadsidetavern.ie\/roadside\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E,\u003C\/a\u003E we continued to our hotel for the evening: the \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.glenloabbeyhotel.ie\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003EGlenlo Abbey Hotel\u003C\/b\u003E.\u003C\/a\u003E For me, this hotel are what dreams are made of, and it was my favourite property that we visited all trip. The opulence and beauty that this hotel had to offer were truly spectacular; it's set in an 18th century manor house! The grounds are also incredible and are actually an impressive golf course. I found the hospitality to truly be a cut above. I felt as though I had stepped back in time at the Glenlo Abbey Hotel and will make it a point to go back when I find myself in Ireland next.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EFor dinner, we were all so excited to be able to dine at the \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.glenloabbeyhotel.ie\/en\/pullman-restaurant-galway\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPullman Restaurant at Glenlo Abby\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, right on the hotel grounds. It literally feels as though you step back in time to dine on The Orient Express - there's even two of the original Pullman carriages included in this gorgeous restoration. The dining experience is totally upscale, with white-gloved service and delicious food. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world after dinner, and went back to my beautiful hotel room to reflect on what I did to deserve such an incredible day.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjf0hfuhVJ7jkv-S5Fv6aCzkd9RyOSJb1vLEhPY6EmWB9wjZNPGIGwnJ0yi89Q8VS5H-Ccl9tpFaIp8Lt2hNE57qWZjWzaCs8pnxO2wxHtqAzT_NwzKfG_l6Ee0E3LQa-Mz5SEdisZ2o8vO\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-006-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjf0hfuhVJ7jkv-S5Fv6aCzkd9RyOSJb1vLEhPY6EmWB9wjZNPGIGwnJ0yi89Q8VS5H-Ccl9tpFaIp8Lt2hNE57qWZjWzaCs8pnxO2wxHtqAzT_NwzKfG_l6Ee0E3LQa-Mz5SEdisZ2o8vO\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-006-6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAXa7OYDtaXyIw2IQlkg3Q4Fwm81lUiJNn6NOyLEDq4xJZjWV4Du0hcry3IpJ30Jnu_5vE_wGL6eAWnw9IMEvauk4AcUDtjdTq8vYFK6Wu8ivZpUpGiU6qMwav8CmpHQXxyMR6YyCnpXsh\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-007-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjAXa7OYDtaXyIw2IQlkg3Q4Fwm81lUiJNn6NOyLEDq4xJZjWV4Du0hcry3IpJ30Jnu_5vE_wGL6eAWnw9IMEvauk4AcUDtjdTq8vYFK6Wu8ivZpUpGiU6qMwav8CmpHQXxyMR6YyCnpXsh\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-007-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgMtTi6o3dMU72UIo1aKudw4TlEq6IOiQkbJb4fL-thAnudAYUd7DFrdS8jsT9Ez7AAzNZQcIjsywxmOzOVDHxSTnYBViVehfpP5gQ7mvxTkBjjRDxgg5keS6N0aFA03OrTi0fJsG2Q1Hva\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-006-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgMtTi6o3dMU72UIo1aKudw4TlEq6IOiQkbJb4fL-thAnudAYUd7DFrdS8jsT9Ez7AAzNZQcIjsywxmOzOVDHxSTnYBViVehfpP5gQ7mvxTkBjjRDxgg5keS6N0aFA03OrTi0fJsG2Q1Hva\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-006-8.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEinCFw4Qj22jmP0eSpwpwrBQNFfEl0G4w2N97M90tX_R2SegaAinjp-Sk8iPsFunp3hDpf6EsR37O0Cc1yEwgQ1tnC2zfZnErhpn5P1w2wwYnkcYH98CZtgFG41FD_ZDvdQW8hq_HWMcP4I\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-007-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEinCFw4Qj22jmP0eSpwpwrBQNFfEl0G4w2N97M90tX_R2SegaAinjp-Sk8iPsFunp3hDpf6EsR37O0Cc1yEwgQ1tnC2zfZnErhpn5P1w2wwYnkcYH98CZtgFG41FD_ZDvdQW8hq_HWMcP4I\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-007-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhFdRqsYZO7R8duStVOIT871nPANFEy9FfSFS7MOV-oSvMwQB3zt3W7qolb8z-maL6dxhscWZm_hyphenhyphenw6SJjX1_Mf4oPHD9i31A7s1LIqlY2yqKn221OswPyz25bWQ5TImfkcs9TE7j6OPpy3\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-007-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhFdRqsYZO7R8duStVOIT871nPANFEy9FfSFS7MOV-oSvMwQB3zt3W7qolb8z-maL6dxhscWZm_hyphenhyphenw6SJjX1_Mf4oPHD9i31A7s1LIqlY2yqKn221OswPyz25bWQ5TImfkcs9TE7j6OPpy3\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-007-6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhC-RHw-dk0q8Wt1_ykvr2LuZKl8XhKEvxdKfrPL3_LcT0qu0ZxFFYGOzPfzlkxg5GBv92cpqh7mI9ec6rTPk28Q2yS_4uB2QJumTK-Sdij-K9OYn_GFeKs3q1IIylamqBtGq5QAiRmAb_p\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-007-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhC-RHw-dk0q8Wt1_ykvr2LuZKl8XhKEvxdKfrPL3_LcT0qu0ZxFFYGOzPfzlkxg5GBv92cpqh7mI9ec6rTPk28Q2yS_4uB2QJumTK-Sdij-K9OYn_GFeKs3q1IIylamqBtGq5QAiRmAb_p\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-007-7.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhZkJmeobQm1AjAbcHwNDnRiu5pp7T68_12bNKTPPcgMz4Ep9F9TNdqEsDRyf64ZqrEL1EHanzgcUYqLPJRvRwK5v9j2-eBsaB7LrhV0wWfbbYHJcXo2CcWiF7usCCOk0Of3LKnWiKOppaZ\/s1600\/Glenlo-Abbey-Hotel.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"700\" data-original-width=\"1400\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhZkJmeobQm1AjAbcHwNDnRiu5pp7T68_12bNKTPPcgMz4Ep9F9TNdqEsDRyf64ZqrEL1EHanzgcUYqLPJRvRwK5v9j2-eBsaB7LrhV0wWfbbYHJcXo2CcWiF7usCCOk0Of3LKnWiKOppaZ\/s1600\/Glenlo-Abbey-Hotel.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi0djNsSdXjzl7-DO_h2PvZw4y6Q-lJJx2ZwbQlJUM1Y_dxg8VohwB13edl8YAla89DEu_XcilPeduHqum796QI_nkolr1LyYUOI7pK-roPeObIMqOnwfrtYK_NbLpUCw6FHStH1FtOaF2I\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-007-14.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi0djNsSdXjzl7-DO_h2PvZw4y6Q-lJJx2ZwbQlJUM1Y_dxg8VohwB13edl8YAla89DEu_XcilPeduHqum796QI_nkolr1LyYUOI7pK-roPeObIMqOnwfrtYK_NbLpUCw6FHStH1FtOaF2I\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-007-14.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhstqB3grmsS5KSSZ_zS4ey65nQ0B0oORrv71p1AEJNGVc7HP9cNnw1yniL88PJhiWIBqseYetnYI-oT9lysySlF7Ge55M81vK6Zp_6-W_r60tecfJlTWMdOZhJzrmxhQqilj6cCU5Gg7KU\/s1600\/IMG_2798.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhstqB3grmsS5KSSZ_zS4ey65nQ0B0oORrv71p1AEJNGVc7HP9cNnw1yniL88PJhiWIBqseYetnYI-oT9lysySlF7Ge55M81vK6Zp_6-W_r60tecfJlTWMdOZhJzrmxhQqilj6cCU5Gg7KU\/s1600\/IMG_2798.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003EDay 6 - Dublin\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nAfter a beautiful breakfast at the Glenlo Abby Hotel, we all packed our bags, hopped back on our trusty coach and headed back into the city to explore Dublin.\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EHere's a bit of a funny story: we all had been asking our Vagabond coach driver Darren to stop in a field so that we could take photos with sheep. A super random and ridiculous request for sure, but we're bloggers - enough said! On our journey to Dublin, Darren actually found a field with some sheep for us to take photos on - he didn't forget! The scene was a hilarious combination of shrieks, outfit changes and cameras but I'll never forget it. It's little moments like this that make a trip, and this story in particular really shows how kind and accommodating the people of Ireland truly are.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EOnce we arrived in Dublin, we dropped our bags at our home for the next couple of nights: \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.thealexdublin.ie\/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw9LPYBRDSARIsAHL7J5mjiU_VTgjDX-KLBSQ5y9tBnjzzH6bzZFa27ZfmwFAh6CCy6S_--r0aAoDJEALw_wcB\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Alex Dublin\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. After a quick-change, we headed to our next destination: \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.guinness-storehouse.com\/en\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EThe Guinness Storehouse\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. Now, truth be told, I'm not a huge fan of Guinness - but I truly enjoyed learning the history behind the beer, and how tied into Irish history it is! We also had the opportunity to learn how to properly pour our own pints of Guinness; it brought me back to my days as a bartender, and reminded me that I'm much better at being a blogger, haha! Even if you're not a Guinness fan, the Guinness Storehouse is a great, informative experience.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWe had some free time, so we decided to check out the local coffee culture that Dublin had to offer. The coffee scene in Dublin is taking off, with cute little independent cafés opening up all around the city. Our search took us to \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.lovesupreme.ie\/about\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELove Supreme\u003C\/b\u003E,\u003C\/a\u003E a beautiful little café serving up strong espresso-based drinks in an aesthetically pleasing space - my kind of place!\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAfter a quick-change at the hotel, we headed out to our destination for the evening: dinner at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/lecrivain.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EL'Ecrivain\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. The meal was outstanding. A french menu made with seasonal Irish ingredients. If you're looking for a treat-yourself meal in Dublin, I would highly recommend L'Ecrivain.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi52xXqC9fI6Vl16KMk5G9kVVL8KAfg4puN1ol26MJ6H1OGV18cHWAhLx2OQUPnzcnZtExmXlmxXtVgf-6-7zKuI4oR5NAD0u_linK6Wr1452fk1PgNMzhISuswE-QwIUVBwtOjw3lSKJqi\/s1600\/Facetune_09-05-2018-00-12-56.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1279\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi52xXqC9fI6Vl16KMk5G9kVVL8KAfg4puN1ol26MJ6H1OGV18cHWAhLx2OQUPnzcnZtExmXlmxXtVgf-6-7zKuI4oR5NAD0u_linK6Wr1452fk1PgNMzhISuswE-QwIUVBwtOjw3lSKJqi\/s1600\/Facetune_09-05-2018-00-12-56.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjjK_u3rLxXVkgMg-iibmsL193EGNbe90fgGv1wZEud2VNfUIsx6yq8kAvU7lOacIG305XicywXTcL7gyFH8V3Q_pIinrmq7-zXcZD5mCrhe0QvO45GgcOa0Mx1Ns2ujSqpapy5Lxojn2K5\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-itinerary-12.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjjK_u3rLxXVkgMg-iibmsL193EGNbe90fgGv1wZEud2VNfUIsx6yq8kAvU7lOacIG305XicywXTcL7gyFH8V3Q_pIinrmq7-zXcZD5mCrhe0QvO45GgcOa0Mx1Ns2ujSqpapy5Lxojn2K5\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-itinerary-12.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiAmYSPhTJnJO39T9csDlnZ3fErnXWa5ijP28A3P_qYBoFwJ26lALWrH5O6jHyRpbtQ1fMgDSjH6l1McsXJMvBtf7scXbVjjuNR5VK6ISBsfAMcYo5lLtjnXiKBVVJf209f86OGzZos4uGc\/s1600\/dublin-11.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiAmYSPhTJnJO39T9csDlnZ3fErnXWa5ijP28A3P_qYBoFwJ26lALWrH5O6jHyRpbtQ1fMgDSjH6l1McsXJMvBtf7scXbVjjuNR5VK6ISBsfAMcYo5lLtjnXiKBVVJf209f86OGzZos4uGc\/s1600\/dublin-11.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg-IOp3V-3cWGMG_LdoCcimVL4ts7hZJCUH7IGRYgUZ5zAtm7MfH18IKf89lPoDOU0WJ9HCPFZA4wR6JM75B44iXnWUfoUuChlk5fkUd0egDDAsg92SUgYFP4kBUgV6vWzLj2nUKLyom0RD\/s1600\/dublin-12.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1067\" data-original-width=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg-IOp3V-3cWGMG_LdoCcimVL4ts7hZJCUH7IGRYgUZ5zAtm7MfH18IKf89lPoDOU0WJ9HCPFZA4wR6JM75B44iXnWUfoUuChlk5fkUd0egDDAsg92SUgYFP4kBUgV6vWzLj2nUKLyom0RD\/s1600\/dublin-12.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgIoyPgGYzopgSKZ0vRKzhyphenhyphenxWVZm6IgZOdQs9hyphenhyphenei7mY3qJsuu-2KFeA1r939wG5CJdRq8GVWOzm3VqhD-rvdRpMFyOVJxn9blsWol64e8IxfEqAOdmcLNKl_d5cHy2scvWdtz7IPBr3oIc\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-itinerary-9.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgIoyPgGYzopgSKZ0vRKzhyphenhyphenxWVZm6IgZOdQs9hyphenhyphenei7mY3qJsuu-2KFeA1r939wG5CJdRq8GVWOzm3VqhD-rvdRpMFyOVJxn9blsWol64e8IxfEqAOdmcLNKl_d5cHy2scvWdtz7IPBr3oIc\/s1600\/air-transat-belfast-ireland-itinerary-9.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEie9pPUApqh7492q3rtF51ytkPRkkLhp6PaSIie2jgUVWIGmB5Duo5kOelQdPoA9lapP21orRYHuvzIZrXFbQhk_GMM5_dPmdj2GhzS9qJVc8VOf87k1CicYi_tURWZshE-D5_ZnMcDmVrI\/s1600\/ACS_0128.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1203\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEie9pPUApqh7492q3rtF51ytkPRkkLhp6PaSIie2jgUVWIGmB5Duo5kOelQdPoA9lapP21orRYHuvzIZrXFbQhk_GMM5_dPmdj2GhzS9qJVc8VOf87k1CicYi_tURWZshE-D5_ZnMcDmVrI\/s1600\/ACS_0128.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgkVsciOm4oG7XhHucFMjWe9EXQihajlKtnxlAvbffQLZ1Aq5KcVnV8KWtecxhuGO45pDe2CAhE4r_putForPRpHwkx79GtHe4M9O1oouuJBmrV3xeIGzCWP0Eh_taAfa4gcJiJNuXaw6ud\/s1600\/dublin-16.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1067\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgkVsciOm4oG7XhHucFMjWe9EXQihajlKtnxlAvbffQLZ1Aq5KcVnV8KWtecxhuGO45pDe2CAhE4r_putForPRpHwkx79GtHe4M9O1oouuJBmrV3xeIGzCWP0Eh_taAfa4gcJiJNuXaw6ud\/s1600\/dublin-16.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjCfllvExPVvo1vtMuwvnzAne2tl16LrER1dpPj4KLW1I-HJjhPzSMVhrxl_uKa8ldAMToo39P4esZ5P-bOM4p96byEB43vBMQ5SKkvB6LjstViiMrAH8e_92AVxJDcIsEJsaP8ZRG8Ljep\/s1600\/IMG_2907.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjCfllvExPVvo1vtMuwvnzAne2tl16LrER1dpPj4KLW1I-HJjhPzSMVhrxl_uKa8ldAMToo39P4esZ5P-bOM4p96byEB43vBMQ5SKkvB6LjstViiMrAH8e_92AVxJDcIsEJsaP8ZRG8Ljep\/s1600\/IMG_2907.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\nDay 7 - Dublin\u003C\/h3\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\nAfter a delicious breakfast at our hotel, The Alex, we were all excited to spend the day exploring Dublin.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EOur day started with the \u003Cb\u003ECool and Creative Dublin City Tour \u003C\/b\u003Eand\u0026nbsp;the best tour guide, Orlaith Ross. Orlaith knew that she had a group of bloggers on her hands that wanted to see all that was Instagrammable in Dublin, and while she provided us with all of the pretty places, she also took care to make sure that we were visiting places of substance. There were so many amazing spots that we hit, but two notable ones for me were \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.bewleys.com\/ie\/grafton-street-cafe\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EGrafton Street Café\u003C\/a\u003E \u003C\/b\u003E(a.k.a. \"Bewley's\") on account of how celebrated it is in the community and \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.tropicalpopical.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETropical Popical\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, a cute nail salon with fun wallpaper, amazing tunes and a place where women can meet to chat and just let loose. It became clear to me that Dublin is a city with a lot going on, and definitely warrants a few days to explore!\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWe had lunch at \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/nolita.ie\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E\u003Cb\u003ENoLIta's\u003C\/b\u003E \u003C\/a\u003Ein the city centre, and then were left with some free time to explore Dublin. We all headed straight to the \u003Cb\u003EBook of Kells in the Old Library at Trinity College\u003C\/b\u003E. What an incredible sight to see, and arguably one of the must beautiful libraries in the world. I then set off to\u003Cb\u003E find a pink door\u003C\/b\u003E, since Dublin is famous for its colourful doors. I had so much fun roaming around the streets of Dublin, admiring the colourful doors and was lucky enough to find exactly what I was looking for - a pink door with a white trim. The remainder of my free time was spent photographing said door, haha!\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EOur last night in Dublin was by far my favourite of the trip. Although we were all sad to be leaving the next day, we decided to toast to a beautiful journey through Ireland in one of the most beautiful cocktail bars I've ever been to - \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/peruke.ie\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPeruke \u0026amp; Periwig\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. If you find yourself in Dublin and are thirsty for a cocktail then I would definitely give this place a try. We all ended the evening singing and dancing to live Irish Music at \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.thetemplebarpub.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ETemple Bar\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E. Fun was had by all, and before you knew it we were all laughing our way back to the hotel, to get ready to leave the next morning.\u003C\/li\u003E\n\u003C\/ul\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiNW5fEW18bJKfVb4WiFhC5wB2zgUNbrfkN3HZdjewZ3IZUVK8rM6WaLzUHiW-V5Jw7vO_rDy0kKr4ZgyB8cUEwNadpEDXKhBtYvT2WWciTSpW_-nUylm3mp-UacBAORXsMxKcTwexQRqHH\/s1600\/air-transat-dublin-ireland-itinerary1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiNW5fEW18bJKfVb4WiFhC5wB2zgUNbrfkN3HZdjewZ3IZUVK8rM6WaLzUHiW-V5Jw7vO_rDy0kKr4ZgyB8cUEwNadpEDXKhBtYvT2WWciTSpW_-nUylm3mp-UacBAORXsMxKcTwexQRqHH\/s1600\/air-transat-dublin-ireland-itinerary1.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh-r5y6aLb0qhsZ7ZamgmTer0F-0ONX5TttbwzjYUXOYNYaipKdZkCHvg6F8g5tINP6j8wiFdmvO6yHd1dkIz9rGfcKZ5v3Y9wriLDcXckyxlu8UA0vMkaN-fYVDFULvAqc0cGvxg21j01R\/s1600\/air-transat-dublin-ireland-itinerary-10.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh-r5y6aLb0qhsZ7ZamgmTer0F-0ONX5TttbwzjYUXOYNYaipKdZkCHvg6F8g5tINP6j8wiFdmvO6yHd1dkIz9rGfcKZ5v3Y9wriLDcXckyxlu8UA0vMkaN-fYVDFULvAqc0cGvxg21j01R\/s1600\/air-transat-dublin-ireland-itinerary-10.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhNa-jvGWOtTHBFrROYYCAMp3SknBRdvBWBLOXSp-cNknYeuKu06oWzH6ljRWHMIiUS9fo42nJ_KdYZOL025ianP6wZz15hMeJdKJnc7VjoLpsk4z8_lssGICz7gTWzqJjiAoawMVim8JGl\/s1600\/air-transat-dublin-ireland-itinerary-8.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhNa-jvGWOtTHBFrROYYCAMp3SknBRdvBWBLOXSp-cNknYeuKu06oWzH6ljRWHMIiUS9fo42nJ_KdYZOL025ianP6wZz15hMeJdKJnc7VjoLpsk4z8_lssGICz7gTWzqJjiAoawMVim8JGl\/s1600\/air-transat-dublin-ireland-itinerary-8.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgaQaDd_beIjK7fS0JO5135QYoU_8sEnO0wJv98totjTJz0LFnZBrJn1I6Rbgd9mc2PmEbc8V0u3PygzbYRWywbIZxsAn0CQ4vDRUp_9spmEZxjtLjPN8xWU_JDp_rQ6mA4lhYO8G4hyNLX\/s1600\/air-transat-dublin-ireland-itinerary-7.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgaQaDd_beIjK7fS0JO5135QYoU_8sEnO0wJv98totjTJz0LFnZBrJn1I6Rbgd9mc2PmEbc8V0u3PygzbYRWywbIZxsAn0CQ4vDRUp_9spmEZxjtLjPN8xWU_JDp_rQ6mA4lhYO8G4hyNLX\/s1600\/air-transat-dublin-ireland-itinerary-7.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhiCOaVhkbH-LUYRKCdyNZW7vLNMQf2FhyVUZXjWGqK7oh3mW4q0snq_QYRsrpN1324NytChEc5TiuSe8gxlM16p2m6qBWzEyZ0oH6WQRTcYUAD2iiJt3ci6022cBobcLKUoXIZR5fjuOC3\/s1600\/air-transat-dublin-ireland-itinerary-11.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhiCOaVhkbH-LUYRKCdyNZW7vLNMQf2FhyVUZXjWGqK7oh3mW4q0snq_QYRsrpN1324NytChEc5TiuSe8gxlM16p2m6qBWzEyZ0oH6WQRTcYUAD2iiJt3ci6022cBobcLKUoXIZR5fjuOC3\/s1600\/air-transat-dublin-ireland-itinerary-11.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiochn_t_29IcFaCdsMOhi52GQbAh98s3fZ_mPELV_FXvwuIVG9WcSPPDXnPzqqxm7zZIHuY30FxhyphenhyphenpevtrSW-_kLNUOHwpnIiKiHaqHVqd4k6qjcPGNzVX7Yia6L8lqO1hbVjSW7qRk98z\/s1600\/air-transat-dublin-ireland-itinerary-15.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiochn_t_29IcFaCdsMOhi52GQbAh98s3fZ_mPELV_FXvwuIVG9WcSPPDXnPzqqxm7zZIHuY30FxhyphenhyphenpevtrSW-_kLNUOHwpnIiKiHaqHVqd4k6qjcPGNzVX7Yia6L8lqO1hbVjSW7qRk98z\/s1600\/air-transat-dublin-ireland-itinerary-15.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhJh4tGdaStjA0DLivMzAQci3JLEpp_PEJtdPhSmiMCBTimiIn9Rfink7f0cAigfTSxbkIR5FltN_v8kR8YZsRiXOeKOsdZ53OETeTaf4fpg8RkJGBsSzUE40dm2fDR9PkEWzLr17PuHDb1\/s1600\/air-transat-dublin-ireland-itinerary-16.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhJh4tGdaStjA0DLivMzAQci3JLEpp_PEJtdPhSmiMCBTimiIn9Rfink7f0cAigfTSxbkIR5FltN_v8kR8YZsRiXOeKOsdZ53OETeTaf4fpg8RkJGBsSzUE40dm2fDR9PkEWzLr17PuHDb1\/s1600\/air-transat-dublin-ireland-itinerary-16.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiy3JPBXIk4dJx5n1Fv3lXgFT6RFSMc456VMU_PHzXb3xId8Ucgo3aViDPBtbST6O09Z9xQs3EZ4UlMJ50Qhn20Zho6hx15h5xbgAo-D1JL1PE248MZRozVjnpU8vwZ0491xH_DKejRtEQY\/s1600\/air-transat-dublin-ireland-itinerary-18.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiy3JPBXIk4dJx5n1Fv3lXgFT6RFSMc456VMU_PHzXb3xId8Ucgo3aViDPBtbST6O09Z9xQs3EZ4UlMJ50Qhn20Zho6hx15h5xbgAo-D1JL1PE248MZRozVjnpU8vwZ0491xH_DKejRtEQY\/s1600\/air-transat-dublin-ireland-itinerary-18.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOur incredible seven night journey through Ireland with Air Transat came to an end, and I felt genuine sadness to leave. Ireland had totally exceeded all of my expectations; had humbled me in the face of natural beauty and would leave me with memories to last a lifetime. I had an incredible time, and hope to be back soon - especially while flying Air Transat.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nA very special shout-out to my traveling companions \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.thisrenegadelove.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ELauren\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/dineandfash.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EKrystle,\u003C\/a\u003E \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/theallonsy.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EIsabelle\u003C\/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.playingwithapparel.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EFilipa\u003C\/a\u003E - I highly encourage you to check out all of their amazing blogs to see Ireland through their own unique lenses.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nSlán Ireland. Until we meet again.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThis post was sponsored by \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.airtransat.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EAir Transat\u003C\/a\u003E. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/3057935843460419917\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/05\/seven-nights-in-ireland-with-air-transat.html#comment-form","title":"6 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3057935843460419917"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/3057935843460419917"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/05\/seven-nights-in-ireland-with-air-transat.html","title":"Seven Nights in Ireland with Air Transat"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhu5UmKauEFgiws_hcIaIdJ-s757ZSBb4HFAfNaPsljatnfQg-wTFH5FI_2_QmB1Z5G1GzFKqFNvr1qPOWs3TDYwhLY55XrHkBGzb4v6D52KXuP0j5TJZYxiopHux3hQFPrN4M4HVIKHJ8B\/s72-c\/air-transat-northern-ireland-itinerary-7.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"6"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-4405336482410782932"},"published":{"$t":"2018-05-28T09:29:00.002-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-05-28T09:32:59.486-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Fashion"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"OOTD"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Style"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"OOTD - What I've Been Wearing Lately"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEikjZntHY0jm5sBIPmQav6UH99NIQaWiJARPw-z2EfVf5gqmvmi0SC32jPpuHCaR4sKNL0OPTaGPlHb5pGzylmC-vRHYWr3RlUr5U5_L4GfmoOqjdDCEs3hNOGqQsihV7iNnPjG5zrE6CfU\/s1600\/random3-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEikjZntHY0jm5sBIPmQav6UH99NIQaWiJARPw-z2EfVf5gqmvmi0SC32jPpuHCaR4sKNL0OPTaGPlHb5pGzylmC-vRHYWr3RlUr5U5_L4GfmoOqjdDCEs3hNOGqQsihV7iNnPjG5zrE6CfU\/s1600\/random3-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI am so happy to say that the weather has warmed up, the sun is shining and it's been absolutely beautiful in Toronto! It's incredible how much weather can affect our moods. Myself I'm happier, more productive and just a generally better person to be around when the sun comes out. I also love shopping for summer clothes; I like wearing lighter colours and a lot of pink (surprise, surprise) so it makes it a lot easier to shop in the summer months.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nCheck out what I've been wearing lately, and where you can purchase the pieces for yourself.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhTBtx2LuqHAZFF2IwsiLAO2T2Xva-ezAz1b9LwOXtTcbGVLTQDRkeJfjWJV8nHSUwS68cVy11Ll375x6Qet-fGctj1WNzfJfHyg6Sxq9Uryud9S5hJBlqV2D_jXHjrihF6zH7rP-F6uAu_\/s1600\/random2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhTBtx2LuqHAZFF2IwsiLAO2T2Xva-ezAz1b9LwOXtTcbGVLTQDRkeJfjWJV8nHSUwS68cVy11Ll375x6Qet-fGctj1WNzfJfHyg6Sxq9Uryud9S5hJBlqV2D_jXHjrihF6zH7rP-F6uAu_\/s1600\/random2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EDress - Sandro via Hudson's Bay (\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/us.sandro-paris.com\/en\/womens\/dresses\/long-all-over-floral-print-dress\/R20077E.html?dwvar_R20077E_color=60#start=1\" target=\"_blank\"\u003Eshop in online\u003C\/a\u003E), shoes \u0026amp; bag - Gucci\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi6XARrMybs-i5Y3h0z4t_m16HGQxUiPrk9Zo_CvLj-VYU9AbhlTh8en-RtVTx38QfsPar9IiijU_V64DTg6vWHCECyIXuovF6TjA5Smxsbx4wLvsdH8zkzpcXICIN2B95UAlsDqqau1wFH\/s1600\/evernew.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEi6XARrMybs-i5Y3h0z4t_m16HGQxUiPrk9Zo_CvLj-VYU9AbhlTh8en-RtVTx38QfsPar9IiijU_V64DTg6vWHCECyIXuovF6TjA5Smxsbx4wLvsdH8zkzpcXICIN2B95UAlsDqqau1wFH\/s1600\/evernew.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EShirt - c\/o \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.evernew.ca\/catalogsearch\/result\/?q=bodysuit\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EEvernew\u003C\/a\u003E, Pants - c\/o \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.evernew.ca\/vera-wide-leg-pant-24044401?colour=porcelain\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EEvernew\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiUH21T5xtquxMDRCm2B34w180KiU48xsjv6oJTsZgbHX-bvpWQa82b_RYaE0SsNprD_z5Ajz1DPox8eoeUosBj0i6ewd_nEjfX_zWO1_DQsbwptIDnE-99DTf-AGVY7mr-1VbRXU3hsTDG\/s1600\/random4-6.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiUH21T5xtquxMDRCm2B34w180KiU48xsjv6oJTsZgbHX-bvpWQa82b_RYaE0SsNprD_z5Ajz1DPox8eoeUosBj0i6ewd_nEjfX_zWO1_DQsbwptIDnE-99DTf-AGVY7mr-1VbRXU3hsTDG\/s1600\/random4-6.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EBodysuit - Forever 21, Jeans - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.thebay.com\/webapp\/wcs\/stores\/servlet\/SearchDisplay?storeId=10701\u0026amp;catalogId=10652\u0026amp;langId=-24\u0026amp;pageSize=12\u0026amp;beginIndex=0\u0026amp;sType=SimpleSearch\u0026amp;resultCatEntryType=2\u0026amp;showResultsPage=true\u0026amp;pageView=image\u0026amp;searchSource=Q\u0026amp;searchTerm=citizens+of+humanity\u0026amp;x=0\u0026amp;y=0\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ECitizens of Humanity via Hudson's Bay\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhrrlUq8Lf4mtf5BB31eTNcrfwIJ7vnNsL4MPsOkcvHBYpmCFSyP9h_o77nEMO6kKG7hDV4l8SJn8A46xr0XqSifOEzZsY9yeiG5KMJvIr7HcqkMN7Dlplmyu5-hnmjlZPOy2z_bQk-qmyr\/s1600\/IMG_3472.JPG\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1600\" data-original-width=\"1280\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhrrlUq8Lf4mtf5BB31eTNcrfwIJ7vnNsL4MPsOkcvHBYpmCFSyP9h_o77nEMO6kKG7hDV4l8SJn8A46xr0XqSifOEzZsY9yeiG5KMJvIr7HcqkMN7Dlplmyu5-hnmjlZPOy2z_bQk-qmyr\/s1600\/IMG_3472.JPG\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EJumpsuit - c\/o \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.evernew.ca\/havana-stripe-jumpsuit-25204501?colour=stripe\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EEvernew\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEivykE4av3H4bIHiugVsh1lpLk-6kgQ_CLhWTnWjXnmlT5SnWw_QpUY0iL2yHe8sr6rdT8TgNFFMkA26aP1owQgV3LPUigIrffDIx7NILqqm_nl4w5STmGwtAkojOL5zJ7U0fSHqma2edSR\/s1600\/youtube.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEivykE4av3H4bIHiugVsh1lpLk-6kgQ_CLhWTnWjXnmlT5SnWw_QpUY0iL2yHe8sr6rdT8TgNFFMkA26aP1owQgV3LPUigIrffDIx7NILqqm_nl4w5STmGwtAkojOL5zJ7U0fSHqma2edSR\/s1600\/youtube.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EDress - \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.zara.com\/ca\/en\/midi-shirt-dress-p00951102.html?v1=5997052\u0026amp;v2=719020\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EZara\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ctable align=\"center\" cellpadding=\"0\" cellspacing=\"0\" class=\"tr-caption-container\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ctbody\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003E\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjgYPJjUS5aKPFV90bScZtKvqlpRS6KQ-bkv32b7LNiPOUyjUf5lfaF0CCmVVfbsOLH52uB737BxD7kZfuAoZAqc1TVMjNTPr4mw0rTBIr3xGJRavU4RyAIOlWgL2wIhGpsZIQRL7kyD8OO\/s1600\/random3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjgYPJjUS5aKPFV90bScZtKvqlpRS6KQ-bkv32b7LNiPOUyjUf5lfaF0CCmVVfbsOLH52uB737BxD7kZfuAoZAqc1TVMjNTPr4mw0rTBIr3xGJRavU4RyAIOlWgL2wIhGpsZIQRL7kyD8OO\/s1600\/random3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003Ctr\u003E\u003Ctd class=\"tr-caption\" style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003EDress - \u003Ca href=\"http:\/\/www.thebay.com\/webapp\/wcs\/stores\/servlet\/en\/thebay\/lace-sleeve-knee-length-dress-0600089926318--24\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EHighline Collective via Hudson's Bay\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/td\u003E\u003C\/tr\u003E\n\u003C\/tbody\u003E\u003C\/table\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Have you been feeling better now that the weather has warmed up? What's your summer style? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/4405336482410782932\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/05\/ootd-what-ive-been-wearing-lately.html#comment-form","title":"5 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/4405336482410782932"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/4405336482410782932"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/05\/ootd-what-ive-been-wearing-lately.html","title":"OOTD - What I've Been Wearing Lately"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEikjZntHY0jm5sBIPmQav6UH99NIQaWiJARPw-z2EfVf5gqmvmi0SC32jPpuHCaR4sKNL0OPTaGPlHb5pGzylmC-vRHYWr3RlUr5U5_L4GfmoOqjdDCEs3hNOGqQsihV7iNnPjG5zrE6CfU\/s72-c\/random3-2.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"5"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-1989466058221590339"},"published":{"$t":"2018-05-22T10:14:00.001-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-05-22T13:43:32.218-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Home"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Structube"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Toronto"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"My Bedroom Makeover with Structube"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg-f-3f3dCccwEsLMbAMDolETwFGampp1ZGsyC7K_OM_YbnAiTluNwrQpRGigKdfUf1I_5mz5i8NIe8G1aTfHrTYCrCszYe8lBov90QT_V9eSXVa4uZUi-chh2SIFevy5mKRp2xROLOFnH5\/s1600\/structube.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg-f-3f3dCccwEsLMbAMDolETwFGampp1ZGsyC7K_OM_YbnAiTluNwrQpRGigKdfUf1I_5mz5i8NIe8G1aTfHrTYCrCszYe8lBov90QT_V9eSXVa4uZUi-chh2SIFevy5mKRp2xROLOFnH5\/s1600\/structube.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI always had the mentality that we didn't need to invest in our bedroom furniture because we hadn't found our 'forever' space yet. While Brian and I had collected timeless furniture that have traveled with us through all of our moves to different apartment and condos, we never payed any mind to our bedroom - heck, we were still sleeping on a bed that Brian had from his University days! After years of neglecting our bedroom, and closing the door when we had guests over, I finally decided that enough was enough. I truly wanted a comfortable sleeping space and a bedroom that made me feel proud, rather than embarrassed.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nEnter \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.structube.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EStructube\u003C\/a\u003E. I had always admired their clean and modern furniture designs since I was turned onto them a couple of years ago. To be perfectly honest, I always thought that they were out of my price range; imagine my surprise when I found out that their designs and pieces are incredibly affordable! For real! \u003Cb\u003EMy entire bedroom overhaul was achieved for less than $2000 worth of furniture and accessories. That includes taxes and delivery! \u003C\/b\u003EYes, Structube does deliver, which is a \u003Ci\u003Ehuge\u003C\/i\u003E benefit when you live in a big city. Every time I step foot into my beautiful new bedroom, I can't believe it.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWithout further ado, here is our gorgeous new bedroom that has been completely overhauled with furniture and accessories from\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.structube.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E Structube\u003C\/a\u003E. While I still have work to do with wall art and little décor details, it a huge improvement from what was our 'before.' Stay turned for a video soon on the complete before and after.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjoBGR_QEUjOBuZEqgGMaMqoLn2x9KAsDCAOAR9GTMlPBloWs0am2Z4oMU0CoaIL8WzPwCeFEQE9jdSVneus6NrSjKzTNeoioZtAiMMgvawJmnSNRQvgc3P9QWD03xHr_lXeC5erWi_SM3W\/s1600\/structube.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEjoBGR_QEUjOBuZEqgGMaMqoLn2x9KAsDCAOAR9GTMlPBloWs0am2Z4oMU0CoaIL8WzPwCeFEQE9jdSVneus6NrSjKzTNeoioZtAiMMgvawJmnSNRQvgc3P9QWD03xHr_lXeC5erWi_SM3W\/s1600\/structube.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nTo me, the\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.structube.com\/en\/versailles-queen-size-bed-bedversailles?pid=13218\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E VERSAILLES bed \u003C\/a\u003Eis a total game-changer. I went with the colour linen, and the light colour has completely opened up the space. The frame sits fairy high, which is amazing since I have the room to store clothing and shoes under the bed. There also is no need for a boxspring with The Versailles bed which I really appreciate. I truly feel like royalty being able to go to sleep in this bed every night.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEipsqbF_P_xvrZC4tZgAsNl7-TDh2ugO9u2CGRFmoRK45dfsbyxwzteX6gOS9yVbcF99I2xreUg-_T9nPP2sKHE2pk5ugqRbRW4SSwVmCbwB4OLHpBYLAYxcXayIY-lz3uqMce5YxMnbVhi\/s1600\/structube-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEipsqbF_P_xvrZC4tZgAsNl7-TDh2ugO9u2CGRFmoRK45dfsbyxwzteX6gOS9yVbcF99I2xreUg-_T9nPP2sKHE2pk5ugqRbRW4SSwVmCbwB4OLHpBYLAYxcXayIY-lz3uqMce5YxMnbVhi\/s1600\/structube-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI also picked out two new\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.structube.com\/en\/villa-nightstand-53-69-10?pid=11743\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E VILLA side tables\u003C\/a\u003E. I love how there are two drawers, which means that I have ample storage space - a necessity when you live downtown Toronto. I decorated the table with this beautiful, marble\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.structube.com\/en\/elena-table-lamp-49cm-height-19-59-79-94?pid=19458\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E ELENA table lamp\u003C\/a\u003E, a cute\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.structube.com\/en\/srila-scented-candle-in-glass-holder-15cm-95-95-99?pid=21800\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E SRILA pink candle\u003C\/a\u003E and, of course, my collection of crystals for good energy.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg9ll0Z46JLWBqAN-BicYggqU770_9OP0RpKBD6qyCVRcDu3K9JRwAR3fN8CjHpqNeaaUKKh2rGtzrDyU30BwpqtNjZkiV62_AKMUGXytr5bEqIIsYP7p5G_EaLJVKWNZmiCYdzYwyM5y9j\/s1600\/structube-4.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg9ll0Z46JLWBqAN-BicYggqU770_9OP0RpKBD6qyCVRcDu3K9JRwAR3fN8CjHpqNeaaUKKh2rGtzrDyU30BwpqtNjZkiV62_AKMUGXytr5bEqIIsYP7p5G_EaLJVKWNZmiCYdzYwyM5y9j\/s1600\/structube-4.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI also wanted to start fresh with new bed linens, This beautiful honeycombed \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.structube.com\/en\/minky-king-bedding-set-beddingminky?pid=21706\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EMINKY duvet cover \u003C\/a\u003Eadds just the right amount of texture, and I love how it's accented with a \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.structube.com\/en\/polar-faux-fur-throw-127cm-x-152cm-99-23-19?pid=13412\" target=\"_blank\"\u003EPOLAR faux-fur white throw\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh_RWkL2-vGJzMjXhw5r16FyXb4frlyXZDkAHjqv9deFz1c4Tuqc0lixf4LDgqttSag4UA4mQ9u5CUjesAXkukHmpT48gaFHacaaqZICWG5wv-SV2HOW55Kg8fNN4jmEv4bq-Q8ejiAdeJL\/s1600\/structube-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"668\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEh_RWkL2-vGJzMjXhw5r16FyXb4frlyXZDkAHjqv9deFz1c4Tuqc0lixf4LDgqttSag4UA4mQ9u5CUjesAXkukHmpT48gaFHacaaqZICWG5wv-SV2HOW55Kg8fNN4jmEv4bq-Q8ejiAdeJL\/s1600\/structube-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI also chose to lighten up our bedroom's aesthetic by replacing our old, dark dresser with a lighter, more modern chest of drawers. This \u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.structube.com\/en\/snower-6-drawer-chest-67-13-74?pid=17794\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ESNOWER chest\u003C\/a\u003E has six separate drawers, which makes it easy to share the space with Brian. I also love how the lighter colour really opens up the room.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiJsLP4a9Ee7v8rn8OW5qL5jbkqYcBiOW38czks58bgq589DMpMPB3fRVuMxnmLK2VxQDDZYl2mByksguT0aBJjfVLgZLiGnSsLZ-1CjgnGzJ-az8vESIbZ2Gukf4Hpq3c_qP5HoYY0sADK\/s1600\/structube-5.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiJsLP4a9Ee7v8rn8OW5qL5jbkqYcBiOW38czks58bgq589DMpMPB3fRVuMxnmLK2VxQDDZYl2mByksguT0aBJjfVLgZLiGnSsLZ-1CjgnGzJ-az8vESIbZ2Gukf4Hpq3c_qP5HoYY0sADK\/s1600\/structube-5.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nIt's amazing how changing a room can totally transform the energy in your space. I'm so happy with our new bedroom thanks to Structube and can't believe that it took us so long to do a room makeover - we really should have done it sooner!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nWhat do you guys think? Have you ever put off investing in a space because you rent? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\n\u003Ci\u003EThank you to\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/www.structube.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\"\u003E Structube\u003C\/a\u003E for providing us with these beautiful pieces. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own.\u003C\/i\u003E"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/1989466058221590339\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/05\/bedroom-makeover-small-space-structube.html#comment-form","title":"6 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/1989466058221590339"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/1989466058221590339"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/05\/bedroom-makeover-small-space-structube.html","title":"My Bedroom Makeover with Structube"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEg-f-3f3dCccwEsLMbAMDolETwFGampp1ZGsyC7K_OM_YbnAiTluNwrQpRGigKdfUf1I_5mz5i8NIe8G1aTfHrTYCrCszYe8lBov90QT_V9eSXVa4uZUi-chh2SIFevy5mKRp2xROLOFnH5\/s72-c\/structube.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"6"}},{"id":{"$t":"tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5180355524621185106.post-9166748492119999456"},"published":{"$t":"2018-05-14T07:54:00.000-04:00"},"updated":{"$t":"2018-05-14T07:54:00.481-04:00"},"category":[{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Lifestyle"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"OOTD"},{"scheme":"http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#","term":"Real Talk"}],"title":{"type":"text","$t":"My Secret to Happiness: I Stopped Giving A Shit"},"content":{"type":"html","$t":"\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgOe7QanvSeOIPBV4aSu4H7T5xQaMqA3zjQulqPW7RYyJHgy9hMFJK5QNfalLgwWYXtdQttM1-U5hjw2yZp7c9k0aAIxDfh0C5q8dC2otDZbSpDc5HNgp-q-b354c5LYdRfl3LO0fWDFVWK\/s1600\/bmo1.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgOe7QanvSeOIPBV4aSu4H7T5xQaMqA3zjQulqPW7RYyJHgy9hMFJK5QNfalLgwWYXtdQttM1-U5hjw2yZp7c9k0aAIxDfh0C5q8dC2otDZbSpDc5HNgp-q-b354c5LYdRfl3LO0fWDFVWK\/s1600\/bmo1.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nToday's post is going to be short and sweet, and more like a ramble since I feel as though I've figured out the key to happiness and I just needed to share it. Okay, here goes:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI've always considered myself to be a pretty positive person, but with a bit of a salty edge. While I could always be counted on to see the bright side to a situation, a silver lining, there was always a part of me that seemed to be clouded with a little gloom. 'Nothing to worry about,' I would think, 'that's just what makes me, \u003Ci\u003Eme\u003C\/i\u003E.' Well I don't know exactly when it happened, but one day I just woke up and decided that kind of happy wasn't good enough for me, and made a small little change to my thinking and perspective: I stopped giving a shit about other people.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nOkay, not giving a shit about other people is a bold statement, and it's mostly just for impact but there is validity to it. I stopped paying so much attention to the actions of others, what other people where doing and how they were living their life. Sure, I still cared and still do; but there's a difference between taking a genuine interest in someone, celebrating them and then moving on - as opposed focusing on the lives and actions of other people and having that affect your own life. The end result is that you're left with more time to pay attention to your own life and focus on your own happiness.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nNot giving a shit about other people also means not participating in gossip, which admittedly is hard to do. Our culture is so absorbed in gossip, and with social media it seems to be everywhere - we've even coined cute little phrases like \u003Ci\u003Espilling the tea \u003C\/i\u003Eto describe it! The thing is, does anyone really feel good about themselves when participating in gossip? I know that I certainly don't. Once I made a conscious effort to step back from gossip, I noticed a drastic change in my overall happiness and mood. You guys, if you take anything away from this post let it be this: gossip is 100% making you miserable. It really is. I'm not perfect and sometimes indulge in petty gossip and it always makes me feel like shit. There is a correlation. Stop talking about other people and you'll start to feel better about yourself.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nThere's another happy side effect that comes along with not giving a shit about others; you assume that nobody is giving a shit about you. It's so liberating to go through life without being aware of the judgement of others!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nDo I sound like a crazy person yet? I just feel as though I've stumbled upon the key to happiness and I just want to share it with anyone who will listen. I stopped caring so much about the actions of others and it in-turn has made me a happier person. I'm sure that this new way of thinking isn't anything new, and I'm sure that there have been many a self-help book written about it, but not giving a shit is something new to me and it's made a huge difference in my happiness and overall mood.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nJust try it. What do you have to lose?\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj74pwZp3TyVEo1kVCrwatyYUjMWl2GzVGyE4W_2YTl1nEoItos1h3xWtDuqKSfBONn6TmHHraCMF7Rt4c2hO22dhqhyphenhypheneUQ1QCrDJzBxbSYTkNyeVduJfJlIg4z7oN3fbdx51OHEYY0Lrbh\/s1600\/bmo1-2.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEj74pwZp3TyVEo1kVCrwatyYUjMWl2GzVGyE4W_2YTl1nEoItos1h3xWtDuqKSfBONn6TmHHraCMF7Rt4c2hO22dhqhyphenhypheneUQ1QCrDJzBxbSYTkNyeVduJfJlIg4z7oN3fbdx51OHEYY0Lrbh\/s1600\/bmo1-2.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhL-UF3Z_7oUR8-zs-sqdNG1_edzCZBQe59orx91vmV7-qtu9_M8Mx8ZKMjEUfrfJ7EHKijc4fg-PFTNTqivwr4Mc5KAkaP81W2U9OEveV3x3Svn3581vRJPDRfbInonalniKsZt_fbfbwH\/s1600\/bmo1-3.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEhL-UF3Z_7oUR8-zs-sqdNG1_edzCZBQe59orx91vmV7-qtu9_M8Mx8ZKMjEUfrfJ7EHKijc4fg-PFTNTqivwr4Mc5KAkaP81W2U9OEveV3x3Svn3581vRJPDRfbInonalniKsZt_fbfbwH\/s1600\/bmo1-3.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cdiv class=\"separator\" style=\"clear: both; text-align: center;\"\u003E\n\u003Ca href=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiG3uLq-THppoTjvc87blVHKmFRqkDnEVaxZM0WuU6e5jE7jXPSo4446i32H0oBUvvS7pcafvAwKezmpD0-viMz7xsOMUAwJIkclcn2blIDeMDQXf19RPuhnF2tvvhvsR4S9AupcstpoJ6o\/s1600\/bmo.jpg\" imageanchor=\"1\" style=\"margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;\"\u003E\u003Cimg border=\"0\" data-original-height=\"1498\" data-original-width=\"1000\" src=\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEiG3uLq-THppoTjvc87blVHKmFRqkDnEVaxZM0WuU6e5jE7jXPSo4446i32H0oBUvvS7pcafvAwKezmpD0-viMz7xsOMUAwJIkclcn2blIDeMDQXf19RPuhnF2tvvhvsR4S9AupcstpoJ6o\/s1600\/bmo.jpg\" \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nI'm interested to hear what you guys think? Did anything ring a bell, or is this old news to you? Is there anything that you've done to improve your mood and happiness? Let me know!\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nxo Joëlle"},"link":[{"rel":"replies","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/feeds\/9166748492119999456\/comments\/default","title":"Post Comments"},{"rel":"replies","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/05\/my-secret-to-happiness-i-stopped-giving.html#comment-form","title":"7 Comments"},{"rel":"edit","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/9166748492119999456"},{"rel":"self","type":"application/atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/www.blogger.com\/feeds\/5180355524621185106\/posts\/default\/9166748492119999456"},{"rel":"alternate","type":"text/html","href":"https:\/\/www.lapetitenoob.com\/2018\/05\/my-secret-to-happiness-i-stopped-giving.html","title":"My Secret to Happiness: I Stopped Giving A Shit"}],"author":[{"name":{"$t":"Anonymous"},"uri":{"$t":"http:\/\/www.blogger.com\/profile\/14185127646343783449"},"email":{"$t":"noreply@blogger.com"},"gd$image":{"rel":"http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail","width":"16","height":"16","src":"https:\/\/img1.blogblog.com\/img\/b16-rounded.gif"}}],"media$thumbnail":{"xmlns$media":"http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/","url":"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/img\/b\/R29vZ2xl\/AVvXsEgOe7QanvSeOIPBV4aSu4H7T5xQaMqA3zjQulqPW7RYyJHgy9hMFJK5QNfalLgwWYXtdQttM1-U5hjw2yZp7c9k0aAIxDfh0C5q8dC2otDZbSpDc5HNgp-q-b354c5LYdRfl3LO0fWDFVWK\/s72-c\/bmo1.jpg","height":"72","width":"72"},"thr$total":{"$t":"7"}}]}});