Fox in Paris

Hi there! Are you still here? Oh dear.

It's time you follow me at Foxinparis.com. I've also created a magazine - Perchmag.com

Paris is lovely - the weather is crummy half the time but the charm makes up for it all.

Last Weeks in Washington

As I write this post, President Barack Obama is walking toward his platform at the Inauguration; one of the amazing experiences that come with living in Washington. Even though I live a few blocks from this ceremony, I've chosen to stay in my warm home in order to avoid the crowds.

Leaving Washington will be bittersweet. There's really no other place in the U.S. where I would prefer to live...Washington will always feel like home.

Every time I go for a jog around the U.S. Capitol Building, down the National Mall and past the Washington Monument toward the Lincoln Memorial I become completely awe struck; how did I end up living in one of the most beautiful places in the world? Sure, it's not pretty in the "Grand-Canyon- Meets-Estes-Park" sort of way, but the history of these monuments is overwhelming.

After dark, these monuments become even more extraordinary. Super-great-boyfriend and I go on walks to the Capitol after dark to walk off a big meal. We've had plenty of special moments in front of the lighted dome of the Capitol. These walks have been a great way to enjoy each other's company and take time to appreciate the beauty of the city we live in.

This Inauguration weekend, we made a genuine attempt to enjoy our city. Saturday, we had Brunch with great friends at Ted's Bulletin in Barrack's Row.

Source: capitalspice.wordpress.com

We chowed down on cinnamon rolls, blueberry cheesecake pop-tarts, and a traditional American breakfast.

After loading up on coffee, we headed toward Eastern Market.

Source: Nonpracticingsoutherner.blogspot.com

Our friends live in Maryland and have never been to the Market, so I really enjoyed showing them the cheese stand, the butcher's stand and the bakery inside the old market.

Then we walked around the stands. Perhaps due to the weather, there were fewer stands to enjoy but our friends were able to get a sense of what we experience every weekend.

As our friends headed off to watch a basketball game, super-great-boyfriend and I headed to the Pentagon City Mall...okay, so this is in Virginia and not in DC, but it only took us 15 minutes to get there by metro.

The mall is huge and typically crowded with tourists but it has all of my favorite stores, so I'm willing to push my way through the masses.

Wiki Photo

Saturday night, we headed to super-great-boyfriend's going away party at Satellite Room, a new bar near U Street located just behind the 9:30 club. An eclectic group of friends from all parts of the country and the world - fun was had by all. :)

Source: Onlyustreet.wordpress.com

Sunday morning, in less-than-perfect form, we headed to our favorite coffee shop down the street from our home, Peregrine Coffee. Peregrine coffee is my morning ritual...I almost never miss an opportunity to grab an Americano from Peregrine (and my bank account provides plenty of evidence for this...).

Source: Capitalspice.com

Source: Districtgps.wordpress.com

So now it's Monday. I should be preparing for the big move, but instead I'm enjoying the Inauguration on TV and an Americano (from Peregrine of course!).

I'm moved by how our country comes together for these amazing events. Malia and Sasha Obama are growing up in front of our eyes and the first lady looks as elegant as ever. I wonder what is going through the President's mind today. How blessed he is to have such an amazing family? How screwed he is to take on the trials that face our country today and the more challenging issues that are sure to pop their heads up to tomorrow? Maybe he's just thinking he doesn't want to screw up his speech...after all, it may be the most important speech of his second term.

I'm so happy to have lived in this amazing city for four years.

lessons from the capital.

I learned a lot when I moved to Washington. I thought I should share these before I move to Paris.

·         The real world is so much tougher than college. But I always loved a challenge.

·         The idea that “I’m not a girls’ girl” proved to be false. I have made some great new friends in DC and strengthened relationships with my girlfriends from high school and college. We’ve absolutely got to teach young girls to treat each other with respect – it will make such a difference in their teenage years.

·         The best years of my life are nowhere to be seen (and most definitely weren’t high school or college). I can’t wait to move to Paris, create a company that I can call my own, write a book, and hopefully someday start a family.

·         Home is truly where the heart is. I love my family and will always feel a sense of comfort in Kansas, but I will never settle down in Kansas (sorry family).

·         The average age of single women is much, much higher in DC than in Kansas. There’s no hurry to get married or have children – career comes first. I can see the benefit of both sides. I know which one is better for me but it’s really just an observation.

·         I love going to the movies! Over the past three years, I’ve seen several dozen movies at theatres – including the Oscar nominated short films. Everytime I’m at the movies, I leave wanting to create something. A great movie seen at a dark, big theatre is like reading a wonderful book in a quiet, comfy chair.

·         Walking is powerful, for the mind and body.  In Kansas, no one walks. Well, that’s not true. We “go for walks” which is different than walking the three miles from work to home after a long day.  

·         Strangers are nice. Yup. Even in DC, people are (mostly) polite. Sometimes I feel like the Midwest up and moved to DC just to make sure I was comfortable.

·         People who work on the hill are often out of touch with the states they are representing. I know this because I sometimes find that I am out of touch with the rest of the country. It’s so easy to forget that my friends in Kansas are living an entirely different (not better or worse) life than I am.

·         Most Kansas girls have a better sense of style than the women in DC….so this just goes to show that I need to step up my game before moving to Paris. EEK!

·         Being single is fun. Being in a relationship with the right guy is so much better.

Travelin' through 2012: Stockholm

Content with Copenhagen, we headed to Stockholm to see what adventures awaited us. We met an old friend there....Mr. Sun. I'm sure Copenhagen is a great city when it's sunny, but after a week we were getting desperate. Stockholm became our new favorite because it offered the sun for like 15 hours a day.

Getting ready for our day with coffee and a relaxing view of the islands.

finding my inner-cat.

more coffee....you can never have too much.

don't mind me...just looking around.

wait, what!?!?

such a gorgeous city of islands.

remember Pippi?

oooh wait Mr. Sun. COME BACK!!!

yah...we're not friends anymore.



Click here to see pics from Copenhagen, Colorado and St. Lucia!

Travelin' through 2012: Copenhagen

In June, I went to Copenhagen with my super-great-boyfriend. We were there for about a week and truly enjoyed the city - even though it was cloudy the entire time. We ate as much as we could, drank as much as we could (without feeling it too much the next day) and saw a ton of great sights along the way.

 Big Boat

 

Smaller Boat

 The little mermaid!

 

 yes, that really is a giant sand castle. I wanted to see it up close but they were charging a ridiculous amount for entry. Our tour boat got close enough to take a few dozen pics.

 I should really know what each of these sights are...but I have completely forgotten. If you remember, please comment below. :)

 We climbed the tower in the picture above...we got to see the entire city. Seriously gorgeous...and I think the sun is about to come out....

 Some guy I found along the way...he was friendly.

 I decided to stop and take a rest.

 I'm mean when I'm hungry.

European finals...Copenhagen was playing so we joined the locals to watch the match. It was crowded but awesome. They won!

 Feeling guilty that we watched so many football (soccer) matches, we hit the museum.

The resemblance is striking!

Click here to see pics from Stockholm, Colorado and St. Lucia!

Travelin' through 2012: Estes Park, Colorado

Two close friends of my super-great-boyfriend got married last May and so we went on a trip to Estes Park, Colorado to celebrate with them as they tied the knot. 

The boys had a brilliant idea to go for a 6 hour hike the same day that we arrived in Colorado....

 At this point, I'm not sure if we're about to take a two-hour hike or a twelve hour hike. And I think I was already hungry....

 Time for a little break...

 

We're getting closer to the top....

 

 View from the top:

 Normally I'm not afraid of heights, but it was windy and the drop was steep. My roommate was far more brave than I was (look at her on that rock!)

 Heading back down...not as easy as it looks.

 Even though we were all still sore, the wedding was a blast and my first trip to Colorado proved to be a huge success!