It's hard to imagine that we left for Paris a year ago today. At this exact moment 365 days ago, Emily and I were eating lunch in the DFW airport waiting for our flight to Atlanta and freaking out about what was about to happen. Turns out, those 3 months were some of the best so far. I couldn't even have imagined what would have happened had I not gone to Paris. In the words of the great Lisa Vanderpump, "Life isn't always diamonds and  rosé", and there were some rough times for us in Europe, but overall, I wouldn't want to change a single thing. 

Ready for adventure!

On the Red Carpet in Cannes during our first week in France.

At the gate in Versailles.

At Trocadero to see the lights of the Eiffel Tower.

On the beaches in Normandy. 

Photo Credit: Lauren

One of the videos from our trip. Taken in Normandy by Emily.

I miss it every single moment of every single day, but I take comfort in the fact that those three months in Paris were just the beginning of my adventure. 

So I'll leave you with an old French proverb, and perhaps my favorite saying, "La fortune sourit aux audacieux", or "Fortune favors the bold". 

-Samantha

PS. Thanks Jules and Dad for letting me go. You da best.

It was exactly 1 year ago that i was sitting in the game room of my house packing my suitcase.

I was nervous, and excited...and terrified!

Little did i know i was about to embark on the most amazing trip of a lifetime.

I don't really remember this day very well...i know i ran some last minute errands and packed.

Then the rest of the day i spent time with my family.

As you can see i packed WAY too much stuff...like way way too much...

I didn't know what i was getting myself into so i just packed everything i thought i needed.

If i could do this again...i would NOT pack this much stuff!!!

 I was able to fit everything into a suitcase and my backpack which was really nice HOWEVER...
I was unaware my suitcase was completely falling apart...like SO BROKEN...
I had to cart that bad boy all the way to Paris with one working wheel...
Even worse, i had to cart it home at the end with ZERO working wheels...

Funny story..we were walking through the metro stations in paris when i heard something dragging under my suitcase. I stopped and peeked under to find the support rod hanging out of my suitcase.

So i ripped it out and threw it away and kept dragging my suitcase...

Make sure your luggage is in good shape before you embark on a 3 month long trip..

{This is what it looked like when we landed in Dallas.......}

I can't believe it's been a year..it's absolutely insane.

I will always cherish the time i had in Paris and the people i met a long the way.

Amazing experience..If you have the chance to study abroad TAKE IT!!!!

-Emily

Here is an excerpt from my blog from March: 

I just got back from an amazingly fast five days in London. There is no way to condense everything down into one post but I’ll give you the highlights. Right after we dropped our bags off we started a walking tour around the city. First stop: Rosetta stone at the British museum (no big deal.) We continued on to the likes of Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, and a brief glimpse at Buckingham. 

My favorite part of the trip would actually have to be the excursion to Oxford and Stratford-Upon-Avon. Oxford is dripping with heritage and traditions. The Ivy League has nothing on this university. And what better way to commemorate my time in Oxford than with a crew sweatshirt? 

We also did the whole Shakespeare thing since he was kind of a big deal. We toured the Globe, but since it’s not quite summer were unable to see a show there and instead saw The Tempest in Stratford. It may not be quite the same, but it was still an amazing production. 

Sunday was spent at church at Westminster followed by lunch at a pub, outside of which they were filming part of the new James Bond film, followed by an afternoon stroll through Kensigton Gardens, the Victoria & Albert Museum and afternoon tea and scones. 

We had a free day on Monday before we headed back to Paris. Sam, Emily and I decided to brave the crowds and tourists and watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham. While I probably won’t ever do it again (it’s kind of a seen it one and done kind of deal) it was still one of those British rights of passage activities that you just have to do when given the opportunity.

We also went to Chipotle afterwards. You may be wondering why Chipotle when I could have it any day back home? Well, sometimes you just get a hankering for America and the familiar. Trust me, it did not disappoint. 

And what would any travel blog be without a quick discussion on food? Well it was more like a culinary trip around the world instead of just strict Brit fare that included Chinese, Thai, Mexican and of course several helpings of fish & chips. 

It amazed me how similar British and American culture is. Also, seeing signs in English made traveling that much more comfortable and relaxing. There is definitely a strong American presence in London, especially in the stores and restaurants  More so than in Paris. Driving down the highway almost made me forget that I was in England…until I remembered that we were driving on the left hand side of the road.

-Jess

Le Sigh

Well.

 It's happened again. 

It's Monday... 

After a weekend full of good food, movies, and shopping, my regular routine has lost its appeal. However, school waits for no man, so on we go. 

In preparation of what is sure to be a long and busy week for all of us, I'm sure, I've prepared a little Monday gift for all of you.

 It's no secret around our apartment that I have a thing for middle-aged British men. It just so happens that my love for them is benefiting you, too! You can thank me later. 

#LeSigh

From

He was pointing at me. Back off. 

From

So much thought went into selecting this picture. You have no idea.

From

Best part of the whole movie.

From

This one's for Jess.

From

Yes, please.

From

And so you have it. After many exhaustive google searches that may or may not have included "Jude Law in cable knit sweater", my gift to you.

It's later. So you can thank me now.

-Samantha

We have a chalkboard in our kitchen and it's become 

somewhat of a center piece for the room!!

My dad made it using a board+chalkboard paint then 

added the wooden border which is our old fence 

that we took down to make way for a newer/nicer fence!!

The wood is seriously gorgeous, couldn't have worked out better!

So i first decorated the chalkboard for Christmas as you can clearly see here :)

you can also get a tutorial for writing on a chalkboard here:

When we got back from school it was clearly not christmas anymore

so it was time to redo the board.

It took me 3 seconds to think of the perfect thing to write on the board,
mostly because i was listening to Mumford and Sons when i decided to re-do the board.

"Where you invest your love you invest your life"

Probably one of my favorite Mumford Lyrics of all time!!

It's incredibly true, that whatever you put your love into

you're going to have to put your life into it also, if it's that important to you!!

I'm enjoying the new festive chalkboard 

and i'm enjoying the thought of Valentines day even more than usual!!

Valentines day is 21 days away and walmart and target 

have been prepping for it since December 26th!!

I like to call them holiday Preppers!!!

Have a great friday!!!

-Emily

It's the best feeling in the world having people 

in your life who accept you, awkward moments and all. 

And it's even better when they have their fair share of 

laughable moments as well. 

Emily and Samantha are those people. 

We watch Pocahontas together. 

Sing all of the songs.

And maybe possibly definitely are choreographing 

a few dance numbers to turn it into the next Broadway sensation. 

{We were told last night that it wasn't a musical, but that is about to change.}

And we are going to see Aaron Concert {yes, the 90s pop sensation} together.

Apparently he wants to revitalize his career or something. 

All I know is that I still remember all of the words to "That's How I Beat Shaq." 

Perhaps he's coming to a town near you. 

{For those in the Little Rock area: March 26 at Juanita's. Mark your calendar.}

For the small price of $50, you can get VIP/meet&greet tickets. 

Not that I thought about doing that or anything...

Some people might think that it's odd choreographing in the kitchen, 

or getting excited about a washed-up 90s rapper. 

And to those people, I say you might be a little right. 

However, it's times like these that make me laugh until I cry.

And I'm just glad that there are people laughing along with me. 

-Jess

You know those super inappropriate times when you shouldn't laugh, but that just makes you laugh harder? 

I pretty much invented those.

I don't know what it is about being in uncomfortable situations that makes me giggle.

Yesterday was just one of those days where I would LOLZ at anything. 

I think it's because I watched The Office while I was eating breakfast....

I also don't think it helps that Emily and I sit next to each other in quite a few of our classes.

I pretty much ended up sitting like this most of the day to control my giggles.

A dramatic reenactment of what went on today.

When I do get a case of the giggles, I try to think of something sad to calm me down. Like dead puppies or the ending to Titanic. But today, nothing could cure me. I just kept on laughing. In fact, my obliques are killing me right now from all the LOLing. Not even kidding. 

For even more reading about awkward moments when I laughed uncontrollably, look here. You'll thank me later. 

But for real. I need to control this. Any of you ever have this happen to you? PLEASE tell me I'm not the only one. 

-Samantha