Receptions and Reunions (Paris Day 1)

WHAT I WORE: tip to toe!

Hat {Nordstrom} | Scarf {Target}

Je suis arrivé! When I arrived in Paris it is just as magical as you would expect. I was there with the 2014 Paris Beauty Tour hosted by travel blogger Julia Coney. For five days we stayed in the beautiful Hotel La Bourdonnais and learned about the French beauty industry.

It was recommended that we acclimate ourselves to the new timezone (Paris is 6 hours ahead of the east coast) by staying awake the entire first day. No easy task since I worked a full day then took a night flight and arrived in Paris at what would be 5am east coast time. I was tired, but also excited so I took a shower (there were Hermès shower gels and soaps in our bathroom!) and it was off for a very special reunion, two decades in the making. 



If you've been reading this blog for awhile you know that I grew up in Washington, DC (third generation native Washingtonian and proud) and when I was about 12 or 13 I went on a school trip to France and lived with an exchange student and her family for two weeks. Later in the program she came to DC and stayed with my family. We'd lost touch over the years, but when I knew I was coming to Paris I scoured the internet and found her! We met for a coffee and walked around the Eiffel Tower. We even recreated a photo we took 20 years ago, click here to view the original photo! 

Later in the day I hailed a cab (yes I successfully hailed many cabs in Paris... consider me a local) and headed to the Hyatt Paris Madeleine for a cocktail reception where I met the other ladies on the trip; Kenya of Fashion Cloture, Lianne of The Makeup Girl, Patricia of Tranquil Space, Carmen of Lipstick Fashion Mascara and Xina of XinaPR.

The chef and sommelier impressed us with so many treats including octopus, sardines, burrata and some seriously delicious wines. They were trying out a new pairing menu, so when I ordered the pear tart they offered me a fabulous pear cider to accompany my dessert. And that cute stuffed bumble bee wearing the beret...he is the hotel's mascot. The Hyatt Paris Madeleine have an active bee hive on the rooftop and they make their own honey.