Bonjour!
You know, I took that picture back in Spring 1995 when I first visited Paris as a poor student battling high exchange rates. They used the Franc then, not the Euro. I actually love all the local currencies and was rather disappointed by the introduction of the homogenous Euro, but let’s not get political 😛 My friend and I stayed in a rather run down, cold apartment near Montmartre, which we later found out wasn’t quite the best place to be staying in Paris. What can I say? There was no internet and no Tripadvisor to warn us of pitfalls! 😛
We ate cheap cold ham baguette sandwiches, while sitting on one of the benches on the sidewalks of Champs Elysee, never once thinking of stepping into any of the famous luxury houses that are in the area. I did not once step into a French pharmacy! What on earth did I miss?! But those were such GOOD TIMES! 😀
My little trip down memory lane is just to let you know that there’ll be no posts on MWS this week, partly due to the festive break here in Malaysia and partly because I’ll be retracing my steps in Paris some 21 years later. Man, I feel old 😛 I’ve already mentioned this break on my social media channels but then I realised that not everyone is active on social media and you guys still come to the blog (THANK YOU!), so it was better that I let you know here too.
The MWS Companion newsletter peeps already know about this, and thank you so much for all your lovely suggestions and tips and well wishes. I truly appreciate your sharing them with me, especially the little tips on where to go, see and eat! You know me too well 😉
This little trip is kindly sponsored by Clarins, for a product they’re launching here in August, so we will be hearing about their new innovations right from the horse’s mouth. I will be sure to share them with you when I return, and to also share some other hopefully interesting things I’ll be doing while I’m there. I have a couple of free days, so it’ll be interesting to wander through the city, and I have a little side trip planned that really excites me, but I don’t want to share for now, so as not to jinx it.
I don’t get opportunities like these very often, so I am by turns very grateful and super excited! LOL 😀
If you’d like to stay on top of things, updates will be going on fairly regularly on Instagram (@parisbmws) and Facebook (MyWomenStuff). If you’d like to be there with me, well, virtually, then Snapchat (parisbmws) is where I’ll be at, for glimpses of the city, the food, and some luxury window shopping 😉
To everyone who will be celebrating, Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri or Eid Mubarak – maaf zahir dan batin – Do enjoy all the lovely ketupat and rendang which I love so much, enjoy the time with your friends and family and stay safe. To everyone else have a lovely week ahead, enjoy the public holiday and stay safe.
Till next week, à bientôt! 😉
xoxo
Paris B
Santhi says
July 4, 2016 at 9:33 amHappy Holidays Paris. Safe journey and happy shopping at French pharmacies.
Paris B says
July 14, 2016 at 1:31 pmThank you, am back and the pharmacy haul nearly broke my back (and wallet!) LOL!
Jane says
July 4, 2016 at 10:10 amHi – if you don’t already know this, make sure you visit City Pharma – you can google it to find it. There’s only the one shop. It is THE place to go, to buy French skincare products. The prices are way cheaper than anywhere else. The shop is small and crowded and there is almost always a queue outside but it’s well worth the trip. Here’s a link to the Yelp page on City Pharma:
https://www.yelp.com.au/biz/city-pharma-paris
Paris B says
July 14, 2016 at 1:32 pmThanks for the tip Jane! I did visit City Pharma – it popped up on every beauty buff’s must visit place in Paris! Haha 😀
Klee says
July 4, 2016 at 10:47 amEnjoy Paris (!)…warm greetings ‘Gruezi’ from Zurich :-). Looking forward to your updates.
Paris B says
July 14, 2016 at 1:33 pmThank you Klee, it was so warm while I was there! The Parisians loved it (I didn’t quite) Hope the weather has been good in Zurich! I thought of a fly by visit but it was just too costly especially in Summer
emmabovary says
July 4, 2016 at 4:19 pmOh that sounds like such a wonderful trip, I adore Clarins and can’t wait to hear all about how you go over there. I haven’t been back to Paris since my first visit but really hope to one day return with my husband (he has never been before) and eat some baguette too ;P
Paris B says
July 14, 2016 at 1:33 pmOh the baguette and pastries! Everything is just so charming in Paris – even the smokers LOL! I hope you get to revisit some day soon, Emma!
JackieA says
July 4, 2016 at 5:06 pmHave a fruitful and memorable trip!
Paris B says
July 14, 2016 at 1:33 pmIt was, in many ways than one! 😀
Sarah says
July 5, 2016 at 6:19 amEnjoy your trip in Paris <3
I don't know if it's the same in Malaisia but a Japanese friend told me that Clarins is not as popular as it is in Europe (at least in France). I'm wondering if this also applies for Malaisia, and for the other Asian countries.
By the way, recently I bought one of their new waterproof eyeshadow and this is great stuff ! I use it everyday <3.
From a Parisian girl who checks your blog everyday for about 3 years (I'm not quite sure since a long time !)
Paris B says
July 14, 2016 at 1:37 pmThank you Sarah and thank you for reading my blog from all the way in Paris! I’m sure you’d have had a trick or two to show me 😀 I did speak to the Clarins people and they said that they are one of the top skincare brands in Europe but I will agree that it does struggle a little here in Asia, which I think has to do with the huge variety we get here and the competition with the more affordable Japanese and Korean brands. Oh I wanted to get one of their cream shadows that came in a tube (tested it at a counter) but I forgot! Waah! That said, I’m told the makeup is finally coming back to Asian shores so I’m looking forward to that. Clarins makes good, and underrated makeup – I’d missed it while it was gone!
Joann says
July 5, 2016 at 9:53 amHave a great trip! I can’t wait to see the photos on instagram!!
Paris B says
July 14, 2016 at 1:37 pmThank you, I took more pictures than I eventually shared. I should trickle them out over time I suppose haha!
Zita says
July 5, 2016 at 4:02 pmHave a great holiday, Paris! Please do reviews on your French pharmachy haul when you get back! (And plenty of photos on what they sell there please :D)
Paris B says
July 14, 2016 at 1:38 pmThank you Zita! The French pharmacy skincare haul will be up very very soon! Couldn’t take pics in store though. It was too crowded and I got told off 😛
Peiqing says
July 6, 2016 at 7:15 pmHave a good break Paris B! Vlog more at SnapChat & blog more about your trip when you come back! ;b
Paris B says
July 14, 2016 at 1:39 pmThank you! Gosh, I don’t even know where to start with the blog, but I sure hope the snapchats made up for it 😀
CeeTee says
July 8, 2016 at 2:10 pmHere for the Audrey Hepburn quote from one of my all time favourite movies! Hope you are having a blast!
Paris B says
July 14, 2016 at 1:42 pmIt called out for that quote! 😀 I did have a good time, thanks 🙂