tips

Aggregated Advice: September + October

~ Hannah Kate ~ Leave a comment

Fall is in full swing and the days seem to be dropping away as quickly as the leaves. I have compiled some quotes that have inspired me for the past two months.

La meilleure façon de réaliser ses rêves est de se réveiller.

– Paul Valery

(The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.)

Seen on @frenchwords 

En art comme en amour, l’instinct suffit.

-Anatole France

(In art as in love, instinct is enough.)

Seen on @frenchwords 

Some people approach every problem with an open mouth.

-Adlai Stevenson

Seen on my daily calendar

To live on purpose follow your heart and live your dreams.

-Marcia Wieder

Seen on my daily calendar

Insane people are always sure they’re just fine. It’s only the sane people who are willing to admit they’re crazy.

-Nora Ephron, Heartburn

Seen on my daily calendar

It’s not that I’m so smart; it’s just that I stay with problems longer.

-Albert Einstein

Seen on my daily calendar

 

Aggregated Advice: June

~ Hannah Kate ~ Leave a comment

It’s the first days of July, which I can hardly believe-the pieces below carried me through May and June. In these past two months there has been many transitions and changes in my life and I’m trying to figure out how to remain steady when the waves of life get a little high.

When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on.

– Franklin D. Roosevelt

Seen on Soulpancake’s tumblr

The most satisfying pleasures are the surprising ones, the ones that can’t be engineered.

– Adam Phillips

Seen in  Rookie’s Issue 57 Editor’s Letter

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single minute before starting to improve the world.

-Anne Frank

Seen on my mom’s daily inspirational calendar

Procrastination is the thief of time. Collar him!

-Charles Dickens (David Copperfield) 

Seen in this useful article  on how to stop procrastinating

Great things happen when you have the courage to be yourself.

-Michael Sam

Seen on Refinery29’s Instagram

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3 Unconventional Views of the Eiffel Tower

~ Hannah Kate ~ Leave a comment

Oh La Tour Eiffel, an instant reminder that you are in Paris. It’s probably one of the most photographed monuments in the world, and anyone who has been to Paris has a picture of it on their Instagram to prove it. And while there is nothing like a picture of the Tower from a distance either from the Champ de Mars or Trocadero side, some of my favorite views of the Tower create views and pictures from a different angle.

Continue reading →

Aggregated Advice: January

~ Hannah Kate ~ Leave a comment

I read and hear a lot of things and think, I should probably write those things down. This will help me in the future. Then I thought, I should collect all of this information and put it on my blog to help other people. So here is the first “Aggregated Advice” post, which will be posted at the end of the month. Be sure to check out the links, as they might be the source of the content or something else that ties in nicely with the piece of advice.

“You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with.” – Jim Rohn 

Taken from this Lifehack article on finding your passion.

“The standards by which you live must be your own standards, your own values, your own convictions in regard is right and wrong, what is true and false, what is important and what is trivial. When you adopt the standards and values of someone else or a community or a pressure group, you surrender your own integrity. You become, to the extent of your surrender, less of a human being.” – Eleanor Roosevelt 

Taken from the February 2015 Rookie Editor Letter.

“To make living itself an art, that is the goal.” – Henry Miller 
“If you don’t imagine, nothing will ever happen at all.” -John Green 

Seen on Upworthy’s Facebook.

“Goals are dreams with deadlines.”

My mom sent me and my sister an e-mail to encourage us to go after our dreams and make them come true by turning them into goals. (Thanks, Mom!) I encourage you to do the same and make 2016 your most successful year.

What to Do If You Have Already Broken Your Resolutions

~ Hannah Kate ~ Leave a comment

…(And it’s only a week into 2016)

The first step is not to panic/give up/have an existential crisis, you haven’t failed. It’s only been a week, and maybe you are trying to do something you have never done before, which is really hard. So give yourself a break. It is commendable that you have decided to make changes (most likely positive) to your life, and you should give yourself a pat on the back for that. Have your feelings of panic been eased? Great, let’s move on to the second step. Continue reading →

3 Things to Do When You’re Missing Home

~ Hannah Kate ~ Leave a comment

As the end of the semester quickly approaches, you may find yourself thinking a lot of things: how quickly the time passed, how you wish you could stay longer, and how excited you are to return home. I’m torn between not wanting to leave and being super excited to see all my friends and family again. There are times when you miss those everyday things you are used to back home. Here are three things I do when I want a bit of home in Paris.

Find something to read in your first language – While I’m all about reading in French, it’s nice to curl up in bed with a great read (especially on a cold, rainy day). Reading in English, makes me feel closer to home as it reminds of the countless days I spent reading a new favorite. If you’re more into physical books, try Shakespeare and Company (Metro: St. Michel or Cluny-La Sorbonne), which is an English bookseller that stocks both new and classics in a variety of genres. But don’t forget about e-books or audiobooks, which are nice options for long journeys.

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Some purchases from Shakespeare & Company

 

Eat some comfort food – If you enjoy cooking, making your favorite dish is a great way to feel connected to home. A fun thing to do is invite friends over and have a potluck, where everyone shares their favorite meals. This is especially nice as it gets closer to the holidays as you might not be with family, and it’s nice to celebrate with a group of people. If you’re like me and prefer going to restaurants, find one that serves similar food as your hometown. I recently went with a friend to Breakfast in America, which is an American-style diner in Paris; the food was so delicious, I forgot how much I loved pancakes! 

Also, since I have not yet gone to a Caribbean restaurant in Paris, it’s also nice to eat similarly in restaurants as I do back home. I really love Italian food, and there are some really great Italian places where I’m from, and I had been craving a particular restaurant’s spaghetti bolognese. Luckily, when I was in Lyon, I found this really great Italian place and enjoyed a delicious spaghetti bolognese. IMG_0668

Watch something familiar – Back home, I use to go to the cinema with friends at least every other weekend. Luckily, most of the movies I would want to watch are shown here in France in the original version with French subtitles. It’s nice because for two hours I could be anywhere in the world, watching a good movie with good friends. Use allocine.fr to find movies that are currently showing, showtimes and theatre locations.

 

 

Fall/Winter Favorites

~ Hannah Kate ~ Leave a comment
  • Knee high boots: I wear mine basically everyday, they are just the perfect addition to any outfit. They can dress-up or dress-down a look, if I’m feeling lazy and just end up wearing a basic long sleeves with jeans, my black knee high boots make me feel just a little bit more chic. Mine were $40 from Target and I love ’em.

 

  • Pullover: Adds another layer of warmth to any outfit. I’m not just talking about temperature-wise, on a really dreary day, pulling on my Wildfox ‘Oui’ pullover adds a smile to my face.

 

  • Scarf: You should never underestimate the power of a scarf. Similar to the power of a pullover, it adds warmth, while also adding a pop of color to an outfit. I am a big fan of large scarves because you can tie them in a bunch of different ways or use them as blanket in a pinch. Zara has some great, affordable options.

 

  • Gloves: I only started to need them recently, but I’m really glad I have a pair (or two!). I’m a big fan of the gloves that can switch from being fingerless or a full mitten. An Instagram-worthy snap can come and go so quickly, so your fingers should always be ready. The pair I’m currently wearing I bought when I was in Oxford at Fatface.

 

  • Jacket: Obviously, a necessity during this time of the year. However, not all jackets are made equally. The ideal jacket keeps you warm without making you look like a marshmallow. Enter this amazing jacket from Uniqlo: not only does it come in a number of colors, it can also be rolled down to fit in a pouch and is water resistant.
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    One of my favorite outfits using three out of the five items mentioned above. || Scarf: Promod/Pullover: Wildfox/Skirt: H&M/Tights: Forever 21/Boots: Target/Bag: Volcom

     

     

 

 

Pre-Paris Preparation: Packing

~ Hannah Kate ~ Leave a comment

It seems like eons ago that I first applied to my study abroad program, but really it was only in March that this process all started. Now with less than 48 hours to go before I’m heading off for Paris I thought I would share some of the things I learned along the way about preparing for a study abroad experience.

Packing

Oh, the perils of packing– am I going to need this green cashmere pullover? Do all my pants look the same? Where are those amazing pair of tights I bought?

I was slightly overwhelmed when I first began this process, but here are some things I did to minimize my stress level.

First thing first is research: take into account weather, seasons, events, dress codes, etc. I am starting during the Fall semester, which means layers, boots, and coats (items that take up more space in a suitcase). I started by just pulling out everything that could be layered and I would actually wear (if you’re hesitating about something don’t bring it because that’s less space for potential souvenirs). I grouped items into their various categories (tops, pants, jackets, etc.) and double checked that “Yes, I would actually wear that.” I found some great packing tips through my program’s blog. I made my own spreadsheet of all the clothing items I packed to make sure I wasn’t forgetting anything essential and will make the re-packing process easier (hopefully).

There’s a million hacks and tips n’ tricks online about packing, one of my favorites is Ingrid Nilsen’s video about how to not overpack. I bought a few sets of packing cubes and they are amazing! They allow you to keep things separate and organized. I spent a few days in London before heading to Paris, so I dedicated one of my larger cubes to everything for that mini-trip.

The great thing about going on a longer trip is that you have a limited wardrobe and have to get creative with your outfits. An app that I’m using to help me organize my outfits is ClosetSpace. It allows you to create a virtual closet of your clothes and make outfits. It even takes into account weather, temperature, and occasion.

A factor to consider when you’re choosing items is a color palette. I naturally gravitate towards a more neutral, muted color palette: greys, blacks, denim, whites, navy, which makes it really easy to pair items together.

A factor to consider when you’re choosing items is a color palette. I naturally gravitate towards a more neutral, muted color palette: greys, blacks, denim, whites, navy, which makes it really easy to pair items together. However, I don’t want to be boring!

Some ways to add interest to your wardrobe:

Cut and shape: Even though most of my clothes are neutral, I like to keep things interesting with shape. A structured, boxy jacket or grey/black paneled top adds drama without being over the top.

Pattern: Whether it be stripes or polka dots, patterns break up a muted color palette. I have a few casual long sleeve tops in brighter color combinations (orange/navy, red/white) to keep things fun.

Texture: Mixing textures is another great way to add interest to your outfit: consider a sheer, white blouse paired with a dark jean and a leather jacket.

Statement piece: A great statement piece should be the central focal point  without detracting from the rest of your outfit. One of the statement pieces I brought along with me was pale pink raincoat with black details.

I hope you are able to apply these packing tips for your next adventure. Stay tuned to the Adventure section of the blog for more updates from my study abroad adventure in Paris! Bon voyage!