Firsts.

We arrived on Wednesday and already this city has stolen my heart.

Not only can I hear the bells of Notre Dame from my apartment, but every single person (save a few at Zara...) has been warm and welcoming. I'm even getting to try out my French!

Today, Mom and I visited Versailles, which is gorgeous. It was my first time at the palace and it was absolutely overwhelming. We followed it up with a visit to the Louis Vuitton store, and stopped to have some wine at Fouquet's, the famous cafe on the Champs-Elysses.

Exploring this town is a wonder in itself, and tonight we ventured over to the Boulevard St. Germain and ate at Le Deux Magots, which I'm fairly certain is where we spent an eventful evening that fateful night almost two years ago (I'm looking at you, Olivia, Beth & Alycyn). The waiters are just as accommodating and sweet.

My dad arrives tomorrow and it will be the three musketeers in Paris...but without the swords or protecting the king.

In the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles.

One of the many wine bars we've visited.

Eating lunch with this in our view. The tree is not impressed.

Paris Perceptions

Source

This is it, y'all!! I leave next week for Paris! To answer your question: no, I have not started packing yet. Everything I've read has told me not to overpack, to bring fewer things that will work in multiple situations. So I'm going to take that sage advice and pack as little and as practically as possible...that's the goal anyway.

I'm feeling very optimistic and excited about this coming month! I intended to make a to do list, but besides writing beaucoup every day, eating enough crepes and brie to last me a lifetime and shopping for Paris fashions, I really don't know what to expect, and I'm okay with it. It's the uncertainty that makes it exciting.

It's kind of like "Titanic" when Rose got to New York and had no idea what she was going to do because Jack was dead (she couldn't move over 4 inches to let him get on the door with her? Really?!? Still pisses me off) but she knew things were going to be okay and wonderful and her life was going to have purpose and she was going to be happy.

It's exactly like that...

...okay maybe not exactly, since girlfriend also had a 50 carat blue diamond in her pocket which I will most assuredly not have.

The point is that I'm looking forward to embracing the unexpected, and who knows what I will find.

The next time I write I'll be in Paris, and I hope you'll join me here for some adventures.

Have a wonderful weekend!!

Mumford and Sons concert was cancelled and it made my heart break into a million little pieces.

So no Mumford last night. Although I feel so, so badly for Ted Dwayne with the clot and think that was absolutely the right thing for them to do, I still wanted to go. :(

*sigh*

Hopefully they reschedule before June 25th IYKWIM. (cough..Paris..cough)

In the meantime, here are two videos of 1) TSwift covering White Blank Page which is amazing and I wish I'd thought of it first and 2) my current favorite song by them.

And here's a gratuitous pic of my first trip to a Mumford and Sons concert. I walked through a tidal wave to get to them, and I'd do it again.

Oh hey Beth Breeding.

Also this:

Moral of the Story: Don't lose your cool.

This weekend for me consisted of a wonderful brother coming home, a wedding with a friend, and lots of wine. Good times. I hope you had a nice weekend, especially with the perfect weather we've been having in Texas. Here are somethings I'm learning lately:

1. Do not lose your cool when you hit a bad golf shot on the number nine hole. Especially when it faces the club house and people can see you. I hope they let me back on the course... the divot in that grass was pretty significant. I'm gonna go ahead and blame it on number 2:

2. Also bad form: letting a sore throat get the best of you. Oh well, at least this is happening now and not when I go to Paris. (I can't resist mentioning it. I'm so excited!!)

3. I just started reading Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers again. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. I'd say it's a mix between the Bible and the Notebook. I know, that sounds weird, but it'll change your world and make you think of love in a completely different way. Well, it did for me anyway.

4. I still get just as excited about the weekend not having a job as I did when I had a job. There's something about ending another week, bringing me closer and closer to my trip to Dallas tomorrow for a Mumford and Sons concert, and Paris two weeks after that (oh quit rolling your eyes, you know you love it). 

Stay thirsty, my friends. 

Memorial Day and Quantico

This week, my parents and I went up to Quantico, VA to watch my baby brother graduate from the Basic School, the US Marine Corps' six month training program for all Marine officers. I cannot express how proud I am of the Johnson, and can't wait to watch his journey as he goes through flight training, and then his next steps as a Marine.

Yay bubsy!!

Good-lookin' family, if you ask me. 

I envy him in many ways, but especially because he has known since he was about 10 years old what he's wanted to do with his life. What an incredible gift! Lately, I've been struggling with what and how I want to go through life, where to live and what career path I want to take, contemplating each decision and scaling how happy it will make me. My brother (and so many other military members) feels called to serve something greater than himself, and each step brings him closer to fulfilling the path that God has set out for him.

I whole-heartedly admire and appreciate everything our troops do for us. Just one 60 Minutes segment about our guys and gals in the Middle East and I'm a basket case of emotions. I cannot fathom that way of life, and I'm thankful that some Americans would sacrifice so much for our freedom.

I hope you had an amazing Memorial Day weekend, and remember every day what a blessing it is to live in this country.

I'm Apparently Obsessed with Animals

So much is coming up on my calendar that I feel like Cady when Aaron Samuels invited her to Chris's Halloween party!! My dad's birthday party is tonight -- hello free wine; on Monday I'm on my way to DC/NoVa for my brother's graduation from TBS and quality (but not enough) time with my DC betches; Mumford and Sons concert with one of my faves; and Paris exactly one month from tomorrow!! Exciting times, indeed.

In the meantime, I was browsing the photos on my phone earlier to refresh my memory about what I've been doing lately (yes, I forget that easily), and it would appear that I do nothing except take photos of animals in my life. I love dogs, and cats are pretty cool I guess, and I'm going to be the crazy dog/cat lady as soon as is humanly (animaly?) possible. And you know what? I ain't even mad.

So give yourself a wee little break on this Friday before a 3-day weekend, and check out these adorable animals that I've been around lately. Because every blog needs an animal post, and this is my one and only, I promise. Probably.

Before leaving Knoxville, this little guy and I spent some quality time together.

My grandparents' cat, Miss Kitty. Look at those eyes.

My grandmother with Miss Kitty and Mimi.

Owl eggs that we found out at the lake. Technically not animals yet, but use your imagination. 

Louis is literally Bryan from "Family Guy." He is in love with my mom. 

And this photo I couldn't resist. That's my cousin on the couch, and that's our other dog, Suzette. They are almost in the exact same position and I thought it was hilarious. Sorry I'm not sorry. 

My brother's cat, Dr. Greensky, after forcing him to look at me. Crazy bastard.

Alright, I will subject you to no more. Have a nice long weekend!! 

Moral of the Story: The Great Gatsby still takes my breath away.

1. I saw The Great Gatsby today, and oh my goodness. It's everything you've come to expect from Baz Luhrmann. It's is so aesthetically beautiful and romantic and juxtaposes perfectly with the tragedy of a man trying to hold on to a lost hope. Tobey Maguire was such a great choice for Nick Carraway. He plays the wonderful observer grappling with the grand world of Gatsby. And Leo is obvi amazing. I'm so glad they didn't skip over the last, perfect and elusive sentence: "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

2. I can't wait for a slew of other summer movies -- here's Refinery 29's sick list of a bunch of summer blockbusters that look pretty great.

3. I can't get enough of sandals right now. I got these babies from Target this week, and I'll probably be in them all summer long. 

4. I went to Perini's Steakhouse the other week (GO if you're ever in or around Abilene!) and discovered this new wine called Garbo. It is amazing. If you like any kind of red wine, this is the one for you.

5. Mother's Day is Sunday, and I'm increasingly grateful for the strong and beautiful mothers in my family and in my life, especially my own. Love you, Mama bear!!