PARIS | A FEW REMAINS

I finally got around to editing the rest of my Paris photos. I tend to take so many photos that when I return home I feel overwhelmed with sorting through, editing and posting them. A year later and I might haphazardly address them, but never to the extent in which I need to. So, I forced myself to sit down last night and tend to them adequately. These are among my favorites, taken from the top of the Arc de Triomph. 

I've decided that I am going to make a photography book for each of the places I have traveled to. A collection of my favorite photos so I don't have to fret over which ones get to have a spot on the wall. The rest I will print and put into our family albums. It'll be a process and take time, but I think it'll be worth it in the end.

CREMONES

I was inspired by photographer Aiala Hernando's shots on Instagram of some gorgeous burgundy flowers. (Well, everything of hers is inspiring.) I haven't shot flowers in a long time; feeling oh-so inspired I headed to the store to see what they had. I was in luck that the prettiest flowers in stock happened to be a beautiful color of burgundy.

This really made for a really beautiful centerpiece to set the mood for fall. Now if the weather could just cool off it'd feel like it too.

ROOM WITH A VIEW | PARIS

 AN IN-DEPTH GUIDE | PART 2

I spent hours upon hours searching for hotels, hostels, air bnb's, apartment rentals for all the locations we were going to need a place to stay. I was trying to find something cheap since we had 5 total in our party, which made things so much harder, and in the end we just couldn't find a cost effective solution that didn't require us sleeping in a bed-bug ridden hotel (dramatic, but really). Mind you we were traveling during summer's "peak season".

When I came across Best Western's Diva Opera House I was actually quite taken back by the photos on the website. Best Western? I almost couldn't believe it. The place was gorgeous, so I booked immediately. After our loooooooooonnnnnngggg journey, and not-so-great sleeping situations up to that point, this was luxury at it's finest (for us, not millionaires). The view was exactly what I was looking for. (I know another building. But seriously, I planned it that way!)

Here's the gist of tips I have to give

Make sure that whatever hotel you book is close to the underground chunnel system. It takes you everywhere you need to go. Buy a pass that will get you through the week so you don't have to keep going to pay stations to fill up. 

Book within the city center and close to an underground entrance to make your life less miserable. Whatever you bring with you daily make sure that it's light. I have major back issues and I carried one too many cameras with me each day. I was literally in tears by the end of the day. 

Also, make sure you pack light. I thought I would bring several low-to-the-ground wedge heels, but settled for white sneakers the whole trip. You will be doing a lot of walking and fashion just can't keep up with that (que-in: "ain't nobody got time for that shit"). Plus, you'll be lugging your luggage up many-many flights of stairs through the chunnel halls, in and out, constantly. It's majorly exhausting and I might or might not have let a few bad words slip in front of the kids. PREPARE!

Visit Tripadvisor to see guest pictures and read reviews. Never go blindly into booking a place to stay. We live in the world of technology, don't torture yourself by not doing your homework. 

Oh, and since the temprature only gets a high of 75 most summer days there is no such thing as air conditioners in most hotels. Hotel Opera had one, thankfully. Be prepared to sleep with the windows open if the website doesn't state air conditioning as an amenity, which might help you to select a location that might not be so loud. We made this mistake in London and I got zero sleep.

Lastly, they don't have "American" coffee, per say. The hotels have a kettle that heats up on a hot plate and you get small packets of coffee that you put into your cup and pour the hot water over and mix. Not filtered coffee machine, anywhere. Ice is a luxury as well. Small details, but important ones.

Okay, for now I think that gives you some good tips on booking a room and getting around. Book well. =)

FRANCO SARTO

I must say, I have a liking for odd shoes, and just a shoes lover in general. I've been this way since I was a tot. My earliest memory being very young and having some kid at daycare throw my shoe over the fence and into a field. I remember that I loved those shoes and when we couldn't find it I was heartbroken.

In Elementary (the Austin years) I remember wanting these black pair of ankle boots with pointed toes and my mother was like, "Are you sure those are the ones you want?!".  Needless to say we left the store with them. They were a big enough hit with friends that I traded them for a day with a one of those friends (hers being black ballet flats). I ended up breaking the bow off the front of the flats, so she wanted to keep mine. I don't remember if I ever got them back, or how that ended, but I'll never forget those shoes.

It's funny to think that ankle boots and ballet flats are a staple in today's fashion world. In the late 80's, early 90's, they weren't. I was definitely one of only a few willing to pave a path for them. In fact, I feel like when I'm just a little outside of my comfort zone those are the shoes I love the most.

When I first saw these Franco Sarto wedges at Marshall's (yes, Marshall's again) I almost passed them up. They were a half size bigger then what I usually wear, so I could have easily passed them by. There was something a little odd, or again, out of my comfort zone, so I tried them on. I immediately fell in love. They weren't too big and the wedge height was perfect. I usually like a higher heel/wedge, but I have to say this was comfortable.

This might be the perfect shoe for Europe. Something that doesn't look so touristy, but will be comfortable enough to walk around in.

WHAT'S IN A NAME

Here I am with a new name again. I'm sure by this time everyone has lost all interest in trying to keep up. I almost had, too. For months, before bringing my blog back, I racked my brain trying to come up with a blog name that encompassed all the things I love; visually and emotionally. I came up with so many name variations, and sat on them, until they would lose their luster within in a few days (sometimes immediately). So, I finally just used my name as a stand-in. I knew that was temporary as one day I would be bringing my website back and felt that it would be too much to have my name used for both. So here we are. Simple Remains spoke to me (obviously). It molds together all the those feelings and thoughts. It's simple and speaks to what I love visually, photography. Photography, to me, is capturing the remains of what was. Thus the marrying of two perfect words describing all those things that I hoped it would. 

And, in addition to a new forever name, I have decided to use larger photos. As a photographer, I love seeing all the details up close. I hope you do, too, even if you aren't a photographer. I got these Tulips from my hubby on Mother's Day. I loved them so so much!