Author Archives: crazy.classy.chic

There’s No Place Like Corsica

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I woke up Friday morning and sighed as I realized that I had another day of packing and travelling ahead of me, and you know how much I hate packing.

It wasn’t until I checked in at the airport, on my way to Corsica for a girl’s weekend, where I had a reality check. Here I was, living on the French Riviera, travelling to unbelievable places nearly every 2 weeks, and complaining that I had to get up early to pack and board a 45-minute flight. If that’s not a first world problem then I don’t know what is.

I don’t know when else in my life I’ll have the privilege of getting up and going wherever I want, whenever I want so I shouldn’t dare complain about such petty things. Every day I spend in Europe is a blessing.

Corsica is the most beautiful place I have ever visited – and possibly will ever visit - in my entire life. It’s a little island just off the coast of France, and has the perfect mix of island beauty and French charm. It’s also the most mountainous island in the Mediterranean.

Myself and three girlfriends rented a car and drove for hours and hours through the most scenic roads. From rolling hills to vast mountains and beaches, the views just never got old. The air was sweet and invigorating. You could hear birds chirping and waves crashing. In fact, it was a bit of sensory overload.

I hope that my pictures captured some of Corsica’s beauty. It’s one thing to see a still image of a beautiful place, but a whole other experience to be wrapped in it. I could not stop taking pictures. Every time I put my camera down and convince myself I had captured enough of Corsica, I would look around and be blown away by another panoramic view of stunning scenery.

Here are some of my favorite pictures:

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It’s hard to believe that April is my last month of living in France. I’m looking forward to travelling for a few weeks in May before I fly back to Toronto. Up next on my list of travel adventures is a road trip around Italy!

Until next time,

L.

Highlights from Barcelona, Venice and Paris

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I’m back from the most fabulous nine day vacation.

Barcelona. Venice. Paris. Three cities I’ve dreamed of visiting for a very long time.

I can honestly say I love each of these cities – and for different reasons.

Below is a quick summary of each city and pictures that attest to my amazing adventures.

Barcelona: dreamlike architecture (thanks to Gaudi), great food and crazy nightlife!

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Looking like a biker chick while cruising around Barcelona

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Learning to make seafood paella during a Spanish cooking class (while drinking copious amounts of sangria, of course)

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Venice: a peaceful city on water – no roads and no cars – just boats, canals and narrow streets. The city exudes romance.

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Inside St. Mark’s Basilica

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2 euros for a litre of wine… in a plastic bottle. Classy!

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Paris: did not disappoint. It’s a magical city with fabulous shopping, chic fashionistas and stunning architecture!

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View from the top of the Arc de Triomphe

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Pops of red

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As sad as it was for me to realize my vacation was over, life isn’t so bad when going home means going back to the beautiful French Riviera. I am blessed!

Always chic,

L.

I don’t speak German, but I can if you like

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I’m back from Berlin and happy to say that I have finally regained feeling in my fingers and toes.

It seems I’ve forgotten about the Canadian climate and have gotten used to the French Riviera instead because I found Berlin’s weather to be totally unbearable.

Despite the cold, I had a wonderful time there. I was pleasantly surprised with how trendy and fun Berlin is.

Here are three great discoveries I found during my trip:

1) Berlin has drunk food.

You know, that greasy, there-goes-my-diet, carbohydrate-packed food you crave once a large amount of alcohol enters your system. This was an extremely exciting thing to realize after doing a pub crawl around the city, especially because no such food exists on the French Riviera.

2) Berlin has take-out coffee, everywhere.

Another exciting observation since McDonald’s is the only place on the French Riviera that seems to offer take-out coffee.

3) Berlin has LARGE take-out coffee, everywhere.

An even more exciting reality about Berlin, especially after ranting about the size of French coffee here. 

There were several other highlights from my trip besides pigging out while I was drunk and overdosing on caffeine! But, after living on the French Riviera for almost 2 months, I was very grateful to have these things – even if it was just for one weekend.

On a more serious note, I was deeply moved by all the history that is very much evident in Berlin. It is crazy to think that just 23 years ago, the wall that completely divided East and West Berlin finally came down. It was also an emotional experience to walk through the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe.

Take a look at some pics from my trip:

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Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe

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My favourite quote on the East Side Gallery of the Berlin Wall

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Next up on my list of European adventures: Barcelona, Venice and Paris! I will be travelling to these 3 fabulous cities in a row throughout next week. As always, stay tuned for updates.

Oh and if you don’t already know, this is the awesome Lady Gaga song that this post’s title came from:

Always chic,

L.

Living In the Present

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Every morning I wake up and remind myself that I am living on the French Riviera. This reality makes me smile.

In France, I live more intensely in the present. I don’t waste time looking forward to tomorrow or the day after. Instead, I make the most of right now.

Recently, I started running along the beach. I usually hate running outside but there is something so invigorating about it when it includes a view of the sparkling sea and mountains. It’s quite spectacular!

I went on a day trip to Nice last week. I’ve been to Nice a few times but only to go shopping (oops). This time I did all kinds of touristy stuff – like hiking up a mountain to enjoy a breathtaking view of the city.

Here are some pictures I took in Nice:

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I’m excited for a trip to Berlin this weekend – minus the fact it will be much colder than it is here on the French Riviera. I will be visiting a concentration camp, going on a walking tour, and perhaps a pub crawl! Stay tuned for an update.

Until next time,

L.

Reflection on the French Riviera

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I usually hate being alone in public.

I get very anxious and start to feel self-conscious. I dread having to listen to my own thoughts because sometimes reflection can be an uncomfortable experience (as I wrote about here).

But not in France – I am different here. I am happy and comfortable in my own skin, even when I’m by myself.

This morning, I went on a long walk along the coast in Juan Les Pins. As I took in the stunning scenery, I realized that I feel more at peace with myself than I ever have before. My petty worries have vacated my mind, and it feels amazing!

I know it’s cliché to say I’ve moved across the world and found myself, so I won’t say that. I will say, however, that I’m a better version of myself.

I am so thankful to be here.

La vie est belle. 

Here are some pictures I took on my phone during my walk this morning:

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Until next time,

L.

3 Random Things I Miss About North America

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I’m having the time of my life here in France so far but I thought I’d take a moment to rant about 3 things that I wish I had access to during my stay.

1) LARGE Take-out Coffee

I’ll have any kind of coffee when I need a coffee. There’s plenty of great coffee here in France but the serving size is laughable compared to what I’m used to - it’s more like a shot of coffee. I’m also having problems finding a coffee shop that has take-out cups. I was beyond disappointed when I went to McDonald’s yesterday, only to find out they had ONE size of coffee…and it was tiny. I understand that Europeans like to sit down and sip coffee but when I’m out I like to have a LARGE coffee by my side. I guess Europeans just don’t carry their coffee around like an accessory, unlike most North Americans.

2) Ellen DeGeneres

Although I’ve convinced myself that Ellen DeGeneres and I will be best friends at some point in my life, I’m having some sort of separation anxiety from not being able to watch her show. I miss coming home to the latest episode waiting for me on my PVR. The worst part is not being able to stream it!

3) My Puppy

Yes, I’m one of those crazy dog lovers. I have to admit that a little piece of my heart breaks every time I see a dog and its owner walk past me along the beach here. Of course I miss my friends and my family back home, but not having my puppy to happily greet me every time I come home is just sad!

Anyways, enough about what I miss! I am still so grateful to be living in France right now. I went shopping in Monaco the other day – if you can even call it shopping when the only affordable store is Zara – and it was lovely. Monaco is such a stunning and insanely rich place. Here are some pics from my trip:

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Enjoying the view with new friends

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The Monte Carlo Casino

Until next time,

L.

Bienvenue en France

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It’s kind of surreal to say that I am living in France now, especially after all the chaos I went through while packing. So far it feels like I’m on vacation – partly because I haven’t started school yet but mostly because it is SO beautiful here!

I am living in the vacation town of Juan Les Pins located right outside of Nice in the South of France. The beach is minutes from my lovely villa. My favourite part of the day is watching the sunset over the water. All that is missing from this picturesque scene is a cute French boy by my side – and the ones I’ve met so far are quite charming!

One thing I can’t help but notice is how chic French women are. Regardless of age, they always look so impeccably put together and elegant. It is totally inspiring!

Here are some pictures of the stunning scenery I have been enjoying so far:

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The beach in Juan Les Pins

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In Cannes

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The beach in Cannes

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I’m looking forward to travelling to Monaco and Nice over the next few days. If you don’t already, follow me on Twitter for instant updates, including pictures, of my life in France.

Hope everyone is having a great start to the new year – I know I am!

Always chic,

L.

3 Things I Learned in 2012

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As 2012 comes to an end, I think it’s important to reflect on what you have learned over the year. It’s not a time to scorn yourself for the mistakes you made. Instead, it’s a time to look back on the lessons learned and the ways you have changed.

I’m sure I’ve learned more than a few things over the year (or at least I hope so), but here are the 3 most prominent lessons I learned in 2012:

1) Losing your grandparents is an end-of-childhood experience

You may relate to this lesson if you have gone through the sorrowful experience of losing both sets of grandparents. This past February, I said goodbye to my last grandparent, my grandfather. In  just 24 months, I had lost the four individuals I may have taken for granted. My grandparents were the foundation of my family and a profound source of love. The journey of accepting such a loss can only be described as an end-of-childhood experience. It was hard realizing that, each day, a special memory I had of them may slip away unknowingly, and there was nothing I could do about it. I’ve learned that losing someone you love is an unfortunate part of life. I will show my gratitude for the love my grandparents have shown me by striving to love others in the same way.

2) Relationships shouldn’t be complicated

I may be single but I’ve still been learning about relationships. After observing plenty of great and not-so-great relationships, it’s clear to me that the right relationships are never complicated. I can now accept the fact that, in hindsight, I was in the wrong relationship.  Now, I’m just thankful for what I’ve learned. The more time that passes, the more I know that I will never allow myself to be in a relationship for the sake of being in a relationship. I’ve learned that there are qualities in a person that I am not willing to compromise on. I’ve also become more cautious after understanding what technology has done to our relationships.

3) I am completely in love with fashion

Speaking of relationships, I have learned that I am completely head-over-my-imaginary-Louboutin-heels in love with fashion. Growing up, I always said fashion was my passion.  I have let this passion come into full bloom over the course of 2012 (this was frightening news for my Visa though). I worked up the courage to start crazy.classy.chic which has motivated me to stay up-to-date in the world of fashion. It has made me brave enough to make bold fashion choices – things I would never have imagined myself wearing in the past. I finally feel like I am content with my sense of style (and semi-content with my wardrobe). I’m so flattered that the fashionable people in my life now regularly turn to me for fashion-related advice.

I hope you all take a moment to reflect on your life as 2012 comes to an end. It may sound cheesy but it’s a great experience. Even though I am usually opposed to change, it is important to recognize and be thankful for the positive changes in your life.

Wishing all my readers peace, love and happiness in the new year.

Cheers,

L.

Packing Anxiety

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One thing I must confess is I have the WORST packing anxiety.

It doesn’t matter whether I’m packing for a weekend getaway or a week long cruise, I absolutely dread packing.

As you may imagine, with LESS THAN 3 WEEKS until my five-month long exchange to the South of France, I am in a state of absolute panic. So much panic, in fact, that instead of commencing this mission of invading my closet, I am choosing to sip wine and blog about my worries.

As a fashionista who idolizes Rachel Zoe, I always hear her voice in my head saying “options, options, options” whenever I need to justify packing an extra few  ten outfits.

With just 2 suitcases and a total weight limit of 100 pounds of fabulous fashion to accompany me, I am struggling to accept the fact that I will have to leave things behind. I would probably exceed the weight limit for the entire plane if I brought everything I wanted to with me.

The thought of packing these two particular categories are haunting me the most:

1) Nail Polish

Any of my Twitter followers would know that I am a self-diagnosed Essie-holic. To the point where I’ve had a nightmare about stocking up on Essie polish, only to go to the checkout and find out that I had exceeded the customer limit. As someone who paints her nails religiously, how I can I possibly leave any behind? What would Essie Warrington say? Perhaps I should just bring them all with me!

My collection of Essie polish so far

My current inventory of Essie polish

2) Shoes

This is a monumental problem. And no, I don’t think I am exaggerating  Unfortunately, when I tried to make a list of all the boots, heels, wedges, and flats I wanted to bring with me, I gave up once my count exceeded 20 pairs. I adore shoes my collection of shoes. The idea of not having the pair I need to complete an outfit because of some stupid weight limit is, well, heartbreaking.

I may not have Khloe Kardashian’s shoe closet but I am certainly attached to my more humble shoe collection!

Now that I have adequately expressed my immense packing anxiety, I somehow feel better (even though you probably think I need to see a psychiatrist). Stay tuned for an update or two when I actually begin packing.

On another note, I wanted to wish everyone a very merry Christmas! :) Hope your holidays are full of love and laughter… and festive outfits, of course. Xo

Always chic,

L.

Featured blogger: From Fall Trends to Winter Staples

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When summer ends, I’m so disappointed that my vibrant colors are no longer going to fly until spring. Fall colors, however, are a little bit easier to hold on to throughout the seasons. The colors are more toned down, demure and chic and can be more easily translated into winter outfits–with the right color combinations and accessories!

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The deeper toned florals were a Fall must, now for winter they can be worn with a deeper color. Here, I picked up the blue in the shirt with a navy skirt covered in sequins for fun contrast. I of course added tights because of the colder weather and carried the color black in the rest of the look with the belt and cardigan, making the look more cohesive.

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Deep green is a popular Fall color, it’s very flattering and compliments most skin tones and hair colors due to its rich hue. To make it more winter-like I wore warm, comfy boots (throw on some riding boots–another Fall trend!) in a neutral color and dark wash jeans. Lighter colored jeans are more spring/warm weather feeling, not to mention how incredibly figure flattering they are! A scarf in winter white with flecks of glitter infuse an element of brightness into the outfit.

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Oxblood. The absolute hottest colors of this Fall season. So, if it’s so fab for Fall, how do you make it wonderful for winter? Start by thinking about what makes Winter Fashion what it is… The layers. Black goes with everything and is appropriate for every occasion so throw on a heavy blazer over that oxblood top and a figure flattering skirt. What an easy transition! Don’t forget the heels!

The Urban Lioness Fashion is a fabulous fashion blogger who is currently in her Freshman year of college. She is a shoe-fanatic who is always on the hunt for great pair. Check out theurbanlioness.com for more info. 

Editor’s note: crazy.classy.chic is happy to feature talented bloggers such as The Urban Lioness! If you are interested in being featured on our website as a guest blogger, send us an email at crazyclassychic@gmail.com.