7 Things For the Weekend

Bonjour! I’m writing this from a little café on Rue Saint Honoré in Paris where I’ve escaped for an impromptu weekend away. My friend Grace is in town from New York and invited me to to join her for a weekend adventure together. The sun is shining and we have no plans other than to visit a few galleries (we’re staying next to the Louvre) and do as many of our favourite Parisian things as we can manage (sincere apologies in advance for the inevitable macaron spam on Instagram).

French pastries aside, here’s my roundup of suggestions for the week ahead:

1. Make a date with your favourite gallery-loving friend to see an exhibition near you. Grace and I went to see the David Hockney exhibition at Tate Britain after work on Wednesday and it was marvellous. Although I had hoped to see the full collection of his portraits, I adored seeing the evolution of his style and the exquisite explosion of colour (his Malibu series – set against a pink backdrop – is a particularly good antidote to a rainy day). If you’re a fellow art enthusiast and in London between now and the end of May, be sure to go and see it.

2. I’ve just finished re-reading this book, and it’s the perfect bedtime read (for when you can’t face anything too intellectually-demanding). I love the idea of setting your own happiness project each month and figuring out what works best for you (my January theme was ‘family’, February is ‘what I love’, and March will be ‘organising’).

3. I loved this post by my friend Carly on how to meet people. I remember the anguish I felt when I first moved to Cambridge and realised that aside from my boyfriend (with whom I moved), all my friends were now on the other side of the world in Australia. Great advice for any fellow-introverts and those who find themselves alone in a new city.

4. Try a new workout. I confess that after life got in the way over Christmas, I completely fell out of my exercise routine the past couple of months and am now struggling to get back in the swing of things (nothing more demoralising than realising you can only lift half the weights you could a couple of months ago). So I’m shaking things up with some cute new trainers, some different classes and a weekly trainer in between to keep my motivation up.

5. If you haven’t already, start planning a spring adventure. I’m thinking of heading to New York with my aunt and cousin for some much-needed happy family time up after losing my beloved uncle to cancer last month. A picnic in Central Park, tea at the Plaza, an afternoon at the Met and a glittering Broadway show seem like a good cure for the blues. (P.S. If you’re also heading that way, this is my favourite guide to NYC).

6. I know there’s still two months of winter weather remaining, but I can’t help but think of Spring days ahead. Although I won’t get to wear it for a couple of months, I just ordered this perfect blush lace midi dress (it looks like Self Portrait but is only £35) to wear the moment I can step outside sans-tights!

7. Send someone you love a surprise in the mail, for no reason other than that you appreciate them and want to make them smile. I was sent this gorgeous Jo Malone candle last week – just because – and it completely cheered me up at the end of a particularly stressful day. Now I smile every time I burn it!

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Love from Paris,
Miss B xx