For the last few weeks John and I have been firming up our plans for France. We made the big decisions earlier in the year, but now we’re mapping out our days, looking up Metro stops, buying museum tickets, and making restaurant reservations. Exciting, but a bit overwhelming! For a little break from our brain squeezing planning sessions, I thought I’d return with the second installment of my European packing posts! If my style for Provence looks a little similar to Paris, that’s not a mistake – since we’re packing in a carry-on apiece, I’m trying to make everything work together! Provence style, though, will be a little bit looser – comfortable and cool (it will be hot!), but still chic. Here are a few of the pieces I’m packing… or wish I was!

Chambray shirt | Can be dressed up or down, worn with jeans, a skirt, or shorts. Mine is from J.Crew Factory.
A tunic-style white button down | Worn belted, perhaps with leggings?
Black straw hat | Sun protection in style! Mine is from Old Navy a few years ago.
White jeans | Mine are from J.Crew Factory last year.
Black and white skirt | For a more dressed up dinner. Mine is from Francesca’s last year.
Patent leather sandals | I’m not sure how comfortable these would be, but I love the look!
Striped linen-cotton dress | Looks perfect for browsing Provencal markets!
A chic one-piece | This suit! I love it! However, a BIG warning to anyone who’s considering buying it: size wayyyyy up. I am usually a 0/2, and I’m keeping an 8 (!). The cups are a tad bigger than I would like, but the halter allows me to adjust. SO chic and European, though, so it’s totally worth it!
Rolled denim shorts | Y’all told me denim is okay in France, so I might be packing this pair for casual site-seeing.
Lipstick | This bright pinky red seems perfect for dressing up simple outfits! Organic, too.
Sunglasses | Of course!
Straw market bag | See above about strolling through French markets – I’d have this tote slung over my arm!

Now back to mapping and scheduling!

Let’s talk about another new routine! Well, new-ish. Until last year, I used Cetaphil to wash my face, and the Josie Maran argan oil moisturizer. I loved that moisturizer, and loved that it had SPF 40. (I even wrote about it here!) Sadly, a few months after that post, Josie Maran reformulated my beloved moisturizer, and I hated the new version.

Casting about for a new option, I decided to try One Love Organics. I first heard about OLO on 100 Layer Cake in 2011, and thought it sounded neat – no GMO ingredients, parabens, or synthetic perfumes or dyes, and made by a small company in Georgia. However, the price point was pretty high, so it took a few years and hearing that my friend Lisa used and loved the products for me to take the leap.

I started with a trial size of OLO’s Skin Savior waterless balm ($19) and Easy Does It foaming cleanser ($9). I used Easy Does It to wash my face morning and night, and Skin Savior as a moisturizer morning and night. I loved it! My skin immediately started to rebalance from the drying disaster that was the reformulated Josie Maran. It seems paradoxical, but often the reason skin (at least mine) seems greasy is because it’s not getting enough moisture. The OLO products also seemed to help improve the texture of my skin.

I happily reordered both products six months later, and then again six months after that (to give you an idea of how long the “trial” sizes last me). I purchase from the Dermstore site, because they often offer discounts – I received 20% off one time and 30% off another!

In the last two months I’ve stepped up my game even more thanks to this video on the OLO site. This is now my evening routine:

— Start with clean hands. Scoop out a small amount of Skin Savior and gently massage all over face for about 1 minute. I usually work in sections: forehead, then right cheek, then left cheek, etc.
— Wet a washcloth with warm water and lay it over your face and eyes for about 30 seconds. I keep a small stack next to the sink because I like to use a new one every night. The warmth and moisture will help to gently lift away makeup, dirt, and grime. Gently wipe the balm away, then rinse the cloth and wipe again using the clean side.
— Pat skin dry.
— Dot Easy Does It on your forehead, cheeks, chin, and temples and gently massage in circles (sometimes I’m not so good about doing it gently!). OLO recommends doing this for one minute but I usually do it for a bit less because I find the Easy Does It doesn’t stay moist on my skin that long – maybe I don’t use enough?
— Rinse thoroughly. Apply small amounts of Skin Savior to any dry areas.

The whole process takes about three minutes. Since my skin is so thoroughly cleaned in the evening, now in the morning I just rinse and apply Skin Savior to moisturize.

As you all know I am FAR from a skin care expert, but there are not many products that seem to really work for me and that I feel passionately about, so when I find one, I want to share!

Would love to hear if anyone else has tried One Love Organics and what you thought!!

P.S. My only complaint with this routine is that I haven’t found a good way to work in sunscreen. My Bare Minerals powder is SPF 20, but I don’t feel like that’s enough. OLO currently does not offer any products with sunscreen, though according to their site they plan to in the future. They recommend wearing a hat, shirt/cover-up, and sunglasses instead, but I don’t find a hat to be practical in all situations…

Somewhere along all of my travels last month, I lost my eyeglasses. While I am very annoyed at myself for not keeping better track of them and therefore having to spend unnecessary money, I’m trying to embrace the upside: sporting a new style! I ordered five try-on pairs from Warby Parker and have narrowed the options down to two. I started with Sibley, Fitz, Upton, Welty, and Nedwin, and the two finalists are Nedwin and Welty. John and I have discussed the options at length and I’ve polled the gals in my office, but I still can’t decide, so I’m going to ask y’all. Here we go:

1. Nedwin. Very similar to my old glasses. The safer choice. One gal commented that you might not remember whether I was wearing glasses at all once we parted ways.

2. Welty. Obviously the bolder choice (GLASSES! as opposed to glasses). In person I like that you can see my eyes better with this pair. Not sure whether I’m cool enough to pull them off on a daily basis.

Keep in mind that I wear my glasses pretty much every day, so I need to be comfortable wearing them in lots of situations. Help a gal out and leave your thoughts?

UPDATE! Thanks so much for your thoughts! I decided to order the Nedwin :)

P.S. Lilly for Target. I showed up at 7:55am and ended up with a romper and a tank after waiting patiently outside the dressing room for go-backs. I’m actually SUPER pleased with the fit and cut of both. Y’all?

Considering that Paris is generally accepted as the style capital of the world, I feel the need to step up my game for our upcoming trip! Plus, my friend Lisa just posted about her packing plans for Rome, so I wanted to get in on the action :) My goal is not to be mistaken for a Parisienne (I am proud to be an American, after all), but I like to dress for my destination and so our trip is a great excuse to dip a toe into the ex-pat life and get a little fancy. I’ve been doing my homework, and here is what I have learned about blending in in the City of Light:

— yes to scarves
— no to denim
— stick to simple palettes (namely BLACK)
— wear cobblestone-friendly flats

Lots of folks also recommend packing light, in just a carry-on if possible, since we will likely be wheeling/carrying our suitcases on and off public transportation, along said cobblestone streets, and up the stairs of our flat.

According to Wikipedia, the average Paris June high is 73, and the low is 57. With that in mind, here are a few pieces I either own and am packing, or hope to purchase in the next few months!

Striped shirt | A French classic! I just bought this one and love its heavier weight.
Chambray tunic | Lightweight, chic, and simple. I just bought this, too, and am excited to wear it belted with leggings. Cuter in person :)
Patterned shirt | Love the graphic pattern of this shirt and its silky feel!
White button-down shirt | Crisp and classic! This one from Loft has great reviews.
Black leggings | Perfect for layering.
Red lipstick | I just got the Nars stick in Cruella as my Sephora birthday gift and it’s the perfect bold red! Great for dressing up basic outfits and looking put together.
Navy shift dress | Mine is a few years old, and can be dressed up with jewelry or down with Toms. Comfortable enough for walking around all day.
White jeans | More Paris-appropriate than denim jeans! Mine are from J. Crew Factory last year.
Black ponte pants | A step up from leggings. Mine are here.
Neutral ballet flats | I have these and they are comfortable – about as good as I can get in terms of a comfort/fashion ratio.
Leather booties | This is about as high a heel as I like to go! The reviews say these are very comfortable; I’m hoping that’s so.
Toms | The only type of shoe (aside from sneakers) that I’ve been comfortable walking all day in. Not the MOST stylish, but I’m hoping everything else can carry them! :)

Not pictured: scarves and accessories! I actually don’t own that much jewelry, but I always admire the pieces others wear! My issue is that my wardrobe budget is not really big enough to buy a wide variety of pieces, so I end up buying nothing. To help with this, I just signed up for Rocksbox, a subscription service which gives you unlimited access to rent from a rotating collection of designer jewelry. I have my fingers crossed I’ll have some perfect pieces on loan in June! If you’d like to try Rocksbox for one month free (and why wouldn’t you??), you can sign up with my code – emilythomasxoxo.

Anyone have any other Paris packing tips? What are your most comfortable (and stylish) city walking shoes? I’m all ears!

P.S. Packing inspiration for Provence and the Cote d’Azur are in the pipeline!