I wish you all a very Happy New Year! I hope your Holidays were filled with love, family and joy.

Last year I dedicated a post on the best things to do if you’re spending your holidays in Paris. This year, I  want to focus on one of the highlights – in my opinion – which are the magical Department Store Holiday Window Displays! I want to specifically feature my two favorites that were only briefly mentioned last year :

The Galeries Lafayette & Printemps Department Store

Bundling up and wandering the beautiful Paris streets is of course a staple activity, but whether you live in Paris or are simply visiting, admiring the gorgeous displays of these two iconic stores are one of the best parts of spending the holidays in Paris. Each year the displays are more inventive and whimsical. Only a scrooge would not get caught up in their holiday childlike enchantments!

Les Galeries Lafayette Haussmann

With its Art Nouveau Cupola, this  flagship Galeries Lafayette Department Store has become a Paris icon since its creation in 1984.

This year, the store is celebrating an Arctic Christmas with an all in white display following the adventures of a family of polar bears who discover an incredible new ice pack to play on.

This window is displaying a beautiful staircase as the crux of the story. Will the penguin get the shoe?

Those magical animated windows required of work in delicacy. It is the painstakingly detailed work of Lorenzo Papace that has gone into creating the skits in the windows on Boulevard Haussmann.

This window titled the bears are chic resonated with me because, it stars a handbag haha! Here is a bear after my own heart.

All the windows have little stairs and a raised platform to enable little ones to admire them up close. You can see toddlers hats peaking on my pictures below.

This window is dedicated to the Castle of toys, what polar bear winter wonderland would be complete without a princess castle and toys of course?!

Carousels are definitely part of the holiday spirit, one was featured in the Printemps display as you’ll see below. This one is a gift themed one perfect for Xmas, and you’ll aslo see on in conjunction with the star of the show : the Xmas Tree in Galeries Lafayette.

But the star of this show has to be the amazing all white paper Christmas tree located at the heart of the Galeries Lafayette under the most beautiful Art Noveau Coupole or Cupola! I love visiting any time of year, but during the holiday season, it’s quite a sight to see it all decked out!

The tree is actually 4 stories high! Can you see the cute polar bear prints peaking through?

If you want to check out last year’s classic Christmas tree then go to my post ‘In Paris for the holidays‘.

Printemps

Created in 1865 by the visionary Jules Jaluzot and listed as a historical monument, Printemps Haussmann is today one of Paris’s leading department stores.

I love when you can combine fun fashion shopping with historical and architectural visits haha don’t you ;)?

Interestingly, Printemps has taken the opposite direction with their holidays window displays from the all white monochromatic vibe of Galeries Lafayette, they have gone for the most colorful extravaganza ever!

The window displays are  inspired by the dreams of two fictional children, Jules and Violette, as they slumber on the night before Christmas. In their dreams, they find themselves inside the store after closing time (#ikea challenge anyone?), among a cast of fantastical characters. Each window represents a chapter in that story. Here are the five windows created in partnership with three famous fashion houses : Jimmy Choo, David Yurman and Bonpoint.

This is the enchanted carousel by Jimmy Choo. It is animated to turn around the Xmas tree.

This would feature in any kids dream for sure, a sweets factory ! Here is  a close up of some of the gorgeous detailing achieved.

You got to have a dream for all the shoeaholics out there so here is Jimmy Choo’s ‘Imaginary Cabaret‘ :

This shoe is just to die for !

This window is dedicated to all the perfume collectors and lovers.

Crystal is an appropriate winter theme as well, and sparkles in just the right way!

Which one is your favorite window dressing?

So which one was your favorite? The monochromatic white winter wonder land or the explosion of color?

Let me know what your favorite window decorations are in Paris or whichever city you happen to live in or spend your holidays in!

Xoxo

Danetigress

I’d love to chat with you on :

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We are right in the middle of last minute holiday preparations and last minute Xmas shopping. Hope you are all having fun with it and it doesn’t get too hectic. This post is a quick guide to great Xmas gift ideas for the women in your life. Last year, I made a special guide for stocking stuffers, but this time around I’m going in for the main goodies!

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit – Surreal Light

This decadent palette is the perfect luxe gift that some women would love to have but just won’t buy for themselves. If you want to discover Hourglasses star powder products all in one go, this is the perfect palette for you with :

– 0.14 oz/ 4 g in Ambient Lighting Powder in Surreal Light (sheer nude)
– 0.04 oz/ 1.4 g in Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Surreal Bronze Light (neutral tan with Surreal Light)
– 2 x 0.04 oz/ 1.4 g Ambient Lighting Blush in Surreal Glow (pale peony pink with Surreal Light), Surreal Effect (cool, pink rose with soft, warm peach)
– 0.04 oz/ 1.4 g in Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder in Surreal Strobe Light (glimmering peach)

Victoria’s Secret The Dreamer Henley Pajama

I chose the color bright cherry and black snowman  because it’s so festive but there are many cute color combinations to choose from. Getting one each year can become a fun family tradition. I’ve already featured this favorite of mine in a Victoria’s Secret NYC Haul.

Victoria’s Secret Embroidered Cozy Slipper

These embroidered knit slippers in bright cherry were made to keep toes toasty, with faux-fur trim and white lining .

Dior J’adore Eau de Parfum

A perfume can be a very personal and intimate gift. It represents moments, memories created and remembered fondly. J’adore from Dior is an iconic fragrance that embodies the ultimate expression of femininity and luxury. Be sure to like floral notes as this is what this perfume is made of.

Sephora’s Favorites : Ready Set Style! Styling Spray collection

Be sure to have effortless volume, texture and hold where ever you go! For the women bit by the travelbug this is a great set of travel sizes for any do. This set contains:

– 0.95 oz/ 40 ml Bumble and Bumble Thickening Dryspun Finish

– 1.4 oz/ 40 g Drybar Detox Dry Shampoo

– 2 oz/ 75 ml IGK Down and Out Dirty Spray

– 1.4 oz/ 40 ml Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray

– 3 oz/ 99 ml Living Proof Flex Shaping Hairspray

Tangle Teezer

Mentioned in my August 2016 Favorites, this hairstyle must have makes a nifty gift for the girl or woman in your life that loves to pamper her locks.

Caudalie Divine Oil – Huile Divine

Caudalie products are always fun to receive at Xmas and provide one of the premiere French pharmacy skin care experiences. I love their products and have favorited them before in my April Favorites for example. This oil  is truly divine and has a wonderful scent while hydrating the skin, hair or face and also has the added benefit of penetrating quite quickly.

Louis Vuitton Pochettes Clés – Key Pouch

The only SLG that is a winner all around in my book is the Pochette Clés by Louis Vuitton. An attainable piece of luxury, and yet so practical this gift will become part of your daily essentials with its versatility and ease of use.

I’ve written a whole post about  it if you want to check out my in depth review.

Kat Von D : Shade & Light Eyeshadow Palette

You can’t go wrong with Kat Von D, I love her products and have featured them in my 2015 Favorites (will they make it in 2016’s favorites? you’ll have to stay posted to find out!). This time I’m recommending this wonderful matte eyeshadow palette. In 2016 matte has been all the rage.

The wonderful thing with a matte palette  is that this texture is suitable for all skin tones from young teens to all the mature ladies out there. A neutral palette is a sure win as well since it’ll please the more classic women but will also complete the kit of the color lover.

This palette is just the perfect beginner 101 palette because it’s sectioned in 4 quads ranging from neutral, cool to warm. The booklet helps you come up with looks with mini tutorials. It truly has something for everyone!

Sephora Advent Calendar

Last but not least an advent Calendar is a fun gift that just keeps on giving.

Here is a sneak peak of all the little surprises you will uncover.

Let me know what your Xmas shopping list has looked like this year! Merry Xmas everyone.

Xoxo

Danetigress

I’d love to chat with you on :

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Links to my post per country :

• Hourglass – Ambient Lighting Edit Palette : US, UK
• Victoria’s Secret – The Dreamer Henley Pajama : US
• Victoria’s Secret – The Embroidered slippers : US
• Dior – J’adore Eau de Parfum : US, UK
• Sephora Favorites : Ready, Set, Style ! US
• Tangle Teezer Original; US,France, UK,
• Caudalie – Divine Oil : US, UK,
• Louis Vuitton – Pochette Clés, US,
• Kat Von D – Shade & Light eyeshadow palette : US, UK

I was nominated for the Blogger Recognition Award by three bloggers ! Wow! First of all I want to thank Lora for nominating me for this award. Do check out her blog, Inspired Lives,  it is such a wonderful source of inspiration.

Then I want to thank Cherryl from Stay Young and Beautiful for nominating me too! Please go and support her blog which focuses on health, beauty and lifestyle.

Finally I want to thank Rohit Srivastava from It starts with Coffee. Go read her blog which is really fun and cool! Coffee is a must !

Here are the Rules:

• Thank the blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog.
• Write a post to show your award.
• Attach the award to the post.
• Give a brief story of how your blog started.
• Give a piece of advice or two to new bloggers.
• Select 15 other blogs you want to give the award to.
• Comment on each blog and let them know you have nominated them & provide a link to the award post you created.

–

How Danetigress Started:

Danetigress began a little over a year ago. I can hardly believe it’s been a year already and I blogged about it in My One Year Blog Anniversary and hosted my first blog giveaway to thank all my wonderful readers and fellow bloggers.

I started blogging because I love to write about many different things. I love to share my experiences in travel and discovering different cultures.

So far I’ve blogged about the following travel destinations :

• NYC, USA – 4 Days in NYC
• Lapland, Finland – Snowmobile Safari
• Mont Saint Michel, France – Weekend in  Mount Saint Michel
• Lisbon, Portugal – Day 3
• Burgundy, France – Burgundy Wine Route
• Tokyo, Japan – Touring Tokyo
• Tournai, Belgium – Belgium’s undiscovered gem
• Lyon, France – Weekend in Luscious Lyon
• Bucharest, Romania – Perfect Weekend getaway
• and many more etc…

I’m also a makeup and handbag addict so you’ll be getting reviews, monthly favorites and hauls as well. I love eyeshadow palettes most of all!

Here are a few of the handbag reviews I’ve done so far :

• Perfect Fall Bag : Burberry  Canter Horseferry Check
• Texier Back to School/College 
• Perfect Summer Bag : Kate Spade Small Cobble Hill Toddy
• Rebecca Minkoff Mini 5 Zip
• Michael Kors Frankie Crossbody Bag
• Coach Pebbled Leather Hobo Shoulder Bag
• Perfect Work handbag : Tory Burch York Buckle Tote

And did I mention I’m into nail art?

Advice To New Bloggers:

First you should do it because you are passionate about your subject. This will help you keep going when you might feel uninspired or just find it hard to prioritize with a busy lifestyle.

Second do it for fun! Don’t take yourself too seriously. Your readers will feel it if that’s the case or if you are into it only for the perks and free things.

Finally and most importantly do to socialize. You’ll make great friends in the blogsophere. Other bloggers aren’t your competition, they will be your mentors and the most fervent supporters of your blog!

My Nominees :

1.  Da Som from Princess of the Rain
2. Chits from Living the Chits Life
3. Bianca from Nerdy but Stylish
4. Shop Girl Anonymous
5. Makemeover
6. BloodyIvy
7. Melissa from Mommyarticles
8. Anna from Just Little Anna
9. Dicxita Visnudas from DII Blogs
10. Angie from Out of the Box Reviews by Angie
11. Objectif n°1
12. Realbackpacking
13. Wendy from MywonderfulworldofVintage
14. Eva from TheHappyLittleBlogger
15. KatieRoseLoves

Hope you have fun doing this award and reading each other’s responses to the award!

Xoxo

Danetigress

I’d love to chat with you on :

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November is my favorite month of the year because for one it’s my birthday month, and it’s also the start of the holiday season with Thanksgiving – which is one of my faves! – leading into the Xmas time.

I hope you’ve all had a great November. In November I traveled to Las Vegas for business but tacked on a couple days of vacation to spend Thanksgiving and my birthday with my family. I’ll  be sure to post about my trip in the coming weeks. Check out my post on the wonderful Fall Display at the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

Of course spending time with my family and friends was the highlight of the month! But lets get into my other favorites.

Deborah Lippman nail polish in Miss Independant

Fall is the time for vampy colors and one of my favorite deep burgundy shades is Miss Independent from Deborah Lippman. Aside from the fact that I can relate to the name (go strong women!) I find this shade perfect for the holidays.

Here is an example of it on my nails accented by golden metallic dots.

Louis Vuitton Eau de Parfum in Matière Noire

Louis Vuitton launched a full range of perfumes in September and as you know I just love this brand (so I just had to review them). This perfume is perfect for the fall/holiday season and I just love the sophisticated and depth and warmth its scent provides.

The scent I chose is Matière Noire or Black Matter because I’m a geek and I loved the evocation of deep space and quantum physics in the name! But the scent is gorgeous and luxurious as well with a hint of leather. I think it’s perfect for the Fall – Winter season.

Urban Decay All Nighter Foundation

Since I have combination skin I’m always on the hunt for a foundation that will last me through the day, let alone all night :).

This foundation really does have great staying power but it will emphasize any dry patches you might have on your skin. It’s geared towards combo – oily skin so if you tend to have dry skin stear clear or moisturize really well prior to application.

I love the pump dispenser, it’s my favorite type of packaging for a foundation as it’s practical and hygenic. This foundation does oxydize after a while on your skin so I would recommend going a half a shade lighter than your natural skin tone.

Sisely Grapefruit Toning Lotion

Now that we are closer to winter, I like using a gentler toner that is effective for my comination skin but is gentle enough that it doesn’t strip if of the much needed moisture as the months get cooler. This Sisley Grapefruit toning lotion strikes the perfect balance for me in that regard.

A mistake I used to make when I was younger was beleive that because my skin could get oily it didn’t need hydration. Oily combo skin definitly need moisture and that actually helps in reducing any oils from being over produced.

Did I mention that grapefruit is one of my favorite drinks? I had fun doing a quirky video about my favorites drinks on YouTube!

What’s your favorite drink?

Desigual Bangle

My cousin and his wife gave this colorful bangle to me as a souvenir from their trip to Spain. I love the fall appropriate colors. I think this works great as an accent piece that I can wear with an otherwise darker more conservative suit for work.

You might notice I love bracelets, it seems I have a different favorite each month! From Ted Baker, to my Baby Shower favor braclet to Henri Bendel to this one :).

Bourgeois Velvet Matte Powder

I love a matte look on the face, and highlight only the carefully chosen places. However as the weather starts turning cold, powder can become drying even to my combination skin. Finding a matte powder that can control the oils without compromizing comfort is not an easy find, let me tell you. Well Bourgeois has nailed it with this powder that I love using during the colder months.

The finish is beautiful too as it’s not a flat matte but a velvety matte. It leaves a really natural look to your face. I find this important especially because makeup is part of my daily pamper routine. It’s a real pleasure for me to put on a full face of makeup everyday. I know that can sound daunting to some people but to me  it’s just a little Me time :). However I don’t ever want my make up to go on cakey or be heavy. This powder is the perfect finishing touch !

And at a drugstore price that can’t be beat.

Furla Babylon Small Wallet

I just reviewed this wallet and I’ll link the post here. This is a great wallet if you’re looking to downsize into a smaller handbag without compromising too much what you want to carry. One feature I really appreciate is the fact that you don’t have to fold your bills with this one.

Purple is a fun color, and you can also easily spot this bright color in your bag.

Let me know what your favorites for November have been!

Xoxo

Danetigress

I’d love to chat with you on :

Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – Pinterest – Google+ – Bloglovin’

Links the products :

• Deborah Lippmann nail polish USA, UK
• Furla Babylon small wallet USA,
• Urban Decay : All nighter foundation USA, UK
• Bourgeois Velvet matte powder

Fall is a wonderful season and has definitely inspired me over the years with the many fall designs nail arts. Here are a few I’ve been rocking after checking out the beautiful Las Vegas Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical gardens. Be sure to tell me which one strikes your fancy in the comments!

This simple mani can be done with a dotting tool, a pin or a tooth pick. You can choose the color scheme that screams Fall to you! I went with earthy browns and deep reds because it reminded me of the fall leaves.

I love French manis and this one puts an interesting and fun spin on the classic. I used a nice pastel orange as the base for my French tips, so that the dark fall jewel toned leaves would contrast nicely against them.

Customize the colors to your liking or simple use what you have on hand! This mani can be done free hand or with a tooth pick. Fall leaves have many different shapes and sizes so don’t worry about being perfect, change it up for each nail.

This is the easiest nail art mani of all. A single coat of Particulière by Chanel then some rhinestones on the accent nail and voilà! an elegant yet stunning mani for Fall. If you use nail glue to stick the rhinestones on they will last longer, but using your regular top coat works fine too!

Products used:

Check my post on these two mani essentials in my book !

• OPI : Nail Envy – USA (here) & France (here) (*)
• Seche Vite : Fast Drying Top Coat – USA (here) & France (here)(*)

What Fall nails are you sporting this time of year? Let me know in the comments or tag me on social media!

Xoxo

Danetigress

I’d love to chat with you on :

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I’m sure a lot of you know that Anastasia Beverly Hills has finally launched in France across all the Sephora stores!  I’m so ecstatic! I  used to have to stock up when ever I went back to the States because I didn’t want to deal with the hassle of custom fees when ordering over seas.

ABH is a great brand that I’ve loved ever since I discovered it, mainly through YouTube videos. It was founded in 1997 by Romanian-born beauty entrepreneur Anastasia Soare. It’s a high end brand that focuses on what it calls “prosumers” which means consumers that have an awareness of the professional side of make up. It’s famous for its brow products, but does great cream and powder contour kits.

I’ve reviewed some products on my blog already. But here are my top picks from this brand, if you are new to it or just want to restock with the VIB sale or Black Friday sale.

Contour Kit in Medium to Tan

I love contouring, I truly believe it makes a  huge impact on a makeup look. I almost never leave the house without using a contour shade in the hollows of my face. ABH does a fantastic contour kit in several different skin tones so you’ll find the right one for you. I’ve already raved about it in my October Favorites.

The powders blend like a dream and are really nice and buttery. I hate it when face powders are chalky and you won’t get that with these powders here!

Anastasia : Brow Wiz in Medium Ash

I think ABH does the best brow products. My favorite brow pencil of all time has to be Brow Wiz in Medium Ash. It’s the perfect cool greyish brown.

I’ve also featured this in my NYC VIB Haul, which is when I had to stock up on products prior to the opening in France!

hich is just waxy enough without being too waxy. It stays put all day, which is a must for any brow product. The spoolie on this double sided product is very easy to use and has mutliple purposes : I use to brush out my brows prior to applying any product then I use it to blend any harsh pen strokes if necessary.

Liquid Lipstick in Vintage

Anastasia Eyeshadows : Shadow Coutour –  World Traveler Palette

 

                                                                                                                       Pink Champagne

Happy Fall everyone !

One of my favorite things to do in the Fall is to take a walk through nature and admire the Fall leaves and beautiful colors. If you go to Vegas you can take a hike at Zion’s National Park it’s only a couple hours drive from downtown. I’ve posted about my experience there.

But if you don’t have the time to go there, I really love admiring the beautiful Fall display set up by the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in Las Vegas, NV. It’s the next best thing, haha !

I feel too many people take it for granted. It really puts you in the holiday season mood.

 Every time I’m back in town for Thanksgiving, which isn’t every year unfortunately I always stop to check out the Bellagio Conservatory.

Let’s face it, the desert doesn’t have leaves that change color with the seasons, so this botanical garden brings fall into the wild west.

It’s a full sensory experience with all your senses engaged by the sights of course, but by the sounds of the water falls, and the smells as well.

And the best part is that it’s free! I’m always up for fun and free things to do. They say Vegas is expensive and it sure can be but you don’t have to make it crazy over the top, you’ve got something for every budget. I’ll have to do a post about it some time.

My favorite part is of this display is the tree. If you’ve read my 3 Day Quote Challenge then you know I’m a Tolkien fan. Don’t this look just like an Ent?

What is your favorite thing to do in the Fall? Let me know in the comments.

Xoxo,

Danetigress

I’d love to chat with you on :

Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – Pinterest – Google+ – Bloglovin’

If you’ve read my recent handbag reviews, you’ll know I’ve been into smaller handbags lately, especially during summer and vacation I enjoy crossbody bags. I’ve reviewed the Michael Kors Frankie Crossbody Bag, the Rebecca Minkoff 5 Zip Crossbody and my favorite summer bag the Kate Spade Cobble Hill Toddy in small.

My current wallet is the Michael Kors Jet Set Travel Continental which is a full sized zip around wallet. I really do love it but I wanted to go a little more compact. A full sized wallet will take up  unnecessary space in your smaller handbag.

When I went to the luxury outlet La Vallée Village near Paris, I happened to go the the Furla boutique and fell in love with this small zip around wallet.

The gorgeous violet or Viola color just drew me in. Purple is one of my favorite colors, and it has the added benefit to pop against most interior bag linings, so as to make it easier for me to spot in my bag.

Babylon Wallet Features

• Material: Saffiano Leather
• Colour: Viola
• Dimensions: 11(W) x 9(H ) x 2(P)
• Zip around closure
• Product Code:771921

A full leather wallet is always luxurious feeling. This wallet has leather both on the outside as well as on the inside.

On the outside, is one of my favorite leathers : Saffiano leather. It’s got a great lightly textured surface that’s both nice to look at, and scratch resistant. A wallet has to be sturdy and is not one of my SLGs that I would be ok having to take extra special care. You need to be able to pull it in and out of your bag and not worry about the wear and tear. You’re going to use it every day so it has to be very good quality.

On the inside is a smooth leather, that might be a bit more prone to markings, I’ll have to make an updated wear and tear post along the way. It’s a nice and neutral taupe color. I like the fact that the interior is neutral because will a bolder color on the outside anything but a neutral might have clashed or just been a bit OTT.

The 1st credit card pocket has the Furla logo embossed at the bottom.

The zip around feature is one of my favorite for wallets. I feel it really helps the wallet maintain its shape and prevents it from becoming overly bulky or overstretched. The zipper keeps all my essentials nice and safe and easily contained in a sleek shape.

The wallet has the Furla logo embossed on the leather in gold lettering.

This Babylon wallet features gold tone hardware. The zipper pull tab is gold with the Furla logo embossed. The zipper is quite smooth as well. I prefer gold tone hardware in my SLGs as it matches most of my bags, but that’s just personal preference.

This wallet came with a drawstring dust-bag and a tag but no care booklet. Furla gives 2 year warranty on all their pieces.

Interior organisation

This Babylon S wallet comes with a full sized bill section, which I really appreciate. I’m not completely adverse to folding my bills. I do it when I go even more compact in a clutch and use my Louis Vuitton Clés Pochette or Key pouch as my wallet. But if I can keep from doing it, I definitely prefer the ease of use of a bill section. You can store bills and receipts quite easily.

The bill section is lined in soft fabric with the Furla logo in light grey.

The wallet also features a coin pouch. I feel that a wallet isn’t complete without a way to store your coins, whether or not you end up using it. This coin pouch is also lined in Furla monogram fabric lining.

I know many people don’t keep coins in their wallets because they are afraid that it will make the wallet dirty. I totally understand where they are coming from but in smaller bags I don’t want to have to mess around with an extra SLG coin purse. On top of that I don’t consider myself as a collector, so I don’t want to purchase delicate items that I will have to worry about using. I take a lot of pleasure in using a luxury piece for sure, but the wear that they will have over time is the normal pay off for anything in life.

The coin pouch comes with a button closure. I usually prefer a zip closure but the button works  just fine and is engraved with the Furla logo. I love attention to detail that can be found in luxury pieces. The coin pouch has a small accordion, and can therefore accommodate quite a lot of coins. I try not to keep to many so as not to weigh down my bag. I also don’t want to make my wallet to bulky.

There is a very small slip pocket behind the coin pouch. Honestly it’s size is so small I don’t really know what I will be using it for. I guess a movie stub, valet parking or some sort of receipt. But even regular credit card receipts will have to be folded to fit in it.

Then there are four credit card slots on the other side of the wallet. Four is a decent number is a smaller wallet. Especially if you double up. I think it might stretch out the leather, though and it would be a tight fit. I don’t do for this wallet. If you really need a few extra cards you could always fit them in the bill section.

Any Cons?

As mentioned I like zip closures better for the coin pouch but it’s not a deal breaker.

I think that the wallet could open a little larger, it tends to want to stay at least part way folded. Maybe it’s because it’s new and I have to wait for the leather to relax a little bit. I  only ever notice this when using the bill section, which gets a little harder to reach in and out of.

My final thoughts

The Furla Babylon S wallet retails for 110 euros or 123,50$. But having purchased this from the luxury outlet mall, I only paid 50 euros for it. All in all I feel like it is a very good deal. I love the color and the smell of the leather. This Viola color is seasonal but a lot of colors come and go so you can check the Furla website.

The piece seems very well constructed and will last me a long time. I’ll keep you updated as I use it. It’s very lightweight and small but you still get the full functionality of a full sized wallet, and that’s wonderful. It’s not always the case with smaller wallets.

It’s the perfect smaller wallet to downsize into your smaller handbags! Here are some of the smaller handbags it can fit perfectly inside and that I’ve reviewed on this blog :

• Michael Kors Frankie Cross body bucket bag
• Rebecca Minkoff Mini 5 zip Cross body bag
• Kate Spade Cobble Hill Small Toddy bag

What is your favorite small wallet when you want to downsize ? I’d love to know, please comment bellow.

Xoxo,

Danetigress

I’d love to chat with you on :

Facebook – Instagram – Twitter – Pinterest – Google+ – Bloglovin’

Links to the products :

• Furla Babylon S Wallet, UK, France (*)

Hey Guys,

If you’ve read my Top 10 things to do in Japan, then you know I’ve been to Tokyo, Japan’s famous capital  in May 2016. This is part of my Japanese Travel Guide Series.

Day # 1

We left quite early from the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris. We flew with SAS airlines and had a 4 hour layover in Copenhagen. I was so excited to start up my adventures in the land of the rising sun!

Then it was off to Narita Ariport, Tokyo. The flight was quite smooth, and I recommend SAS it’s a good company.

Once we landed we took care of a couple essential things at the airport. Our highest priority was getting all our train tickets for our entire trip and exchange the vouchers we purchased in France for our Japan Rail Pass or JR Pass : The unlimited train travel card.

The second most important thing was get a data plan for my iPhone. In Japan you aren’t aloud to own a cell phone plan unless you are a permanent resident for security reasons. Therefore you need to rent a SIM card for the duration of your stay. This SIM card is data only and won’t let you place phone calls. I just really needed access to the internet so that worked out fine for me.

We then boarded the Narita Express or NEX train to head into Tokyo and check in to our hotel in Shinjuku. The train ride is about an hour long and quite smooth. The inside is very modern and clean. Cleanliness is something that really stuck out to me during the whole trip.

The weather was overcast but I enjoyed watching the scenery fly by the train window. We saw many rice fields and small villages along the way. It’s also funny to see that the electrical lines are almost never buried, perhaps because of the earth quakes.

We then took the subway to our hotel in Shinjuku : the 3 stars Appa Hotel.

The rooms are very small and we couldn’t completely open our suitcases on the floor real-estate! But we did have nice Japanese robes with little origami cranes in welcome.

If you are looking for a great location in Tokyo for your sightseeing pleasure, I would recommend Shinjuku which is centrally located and not too far from all the major attractions.

We just dropped our bags and immediately headed back out to make the most of our first day in Japan! We were jet-lagged but excitement prevailed for sure. Tokyo is truly amazing and narrowing down what you need to see is so hard.

Here are my picks for our first afternoon there.

Meji Shrine

Our fist stop was to the famous Shinto Meji Shrine located in Shibuya and right next to the even  more famous Harajuku shopping district. The subway stop is Harajuku. This shrine is dedicated to the Emperor Meji, the first emperor of modern Japan and his consort Empress Shoken. They are not however buried there. The construction was completed in 1920s.

It is surrounded by a beautiful garden and evergreen forest over 170 acres. I love walking through the huge Torii wooden gates and up to the shrine.

A lot of Japanese wear traditional clothing such as Yakatas and Kimonos such as shown  in the picture above. The contrast between hipster styles and traditional garb is so interesting and so Japanese! Love it.

What’s crazy is that as soon as you enter the forest, the sounds of the city just fade away and you would never guess you’re right in the middle of bustling metropolis! What I love about Japanese shrines is that they are active prayer places and not just relics of the past. You can see people praying and the holy men performing sacred rituals. The temples are filled with baptisms and weddings, not just tourists.

As we walk towards the shrine, we see a massive wall of barrels of sake that have been donated to the Meji shrine. You can get really drunk on that amount!

Once you enter the temple courtyard, there is a purification ritual where each visitor needs to wash his hands and mouth at the fountains.

I love Japanese trees and the way they are shaped. Here is a huge domed shape tree in the inner temple courtyard.

People can buy wooden slates on which to write or use calligraphy to draw prayers for loved ones and family. If you don’t know how to calligraphy, you can have the monks do it for you.

I love doors, here is a beautifully carved wooden door.

Harajuku

You get to this famous district by the Harajuku station. Here is a pic of the station, with some anime art.

Harajuku is right between Shinjuku and Shibuya neighborhoods and is famous for its cool shopping stores and especially the people that gather every Sunday all dressed up in goth lolita or cossplay get up. If you’ve ever seen any of Gwen Stefani‘s music videos then you’ll see that her dancers are dressed in the Harajuku style.

But the focal point of all Harajuku teenage culture is Takeshita street. It’s lined with hipster, goth and teen clothing stores, Daiso or convenient stores – a staple in Japan – and makeup stores.

When I saw the Daiso I had to make a stop for some Japanese drug store makeup! Look out for my Japanese Make Up haul post coming soon! I’ll give you a sneek peak : two things Japanese are really good at IMO are fake lashes and 3D nail art.

A lot of the stores have some crazy styles from cosplay to lolita  to street clothes at quite affordable pricing. However the clothes size are all for the Asian body type which would be petite, small or xtra small so be prepared.

You can enjoy an ice cream in a crepe (french pancake) cone. This treat is a must have for all you travel lovers with a sweet tooth. The best ice cream crepe shops in Harajuku street are Angel’s heart, Sweet box.

The shop I had most fun in was a sock shop. Apparently Japanese are obsessed with socks and love wearing them as part of their outfits. They wear them with open shoes, and even sandals! I tried taking pictures of people wearing socks but it wasn’t always easy :). They have lace socks, socks in mitten form, socks like gloves for your toes.

Shibuya

Shibuya neighborhood is one of the 23 wards of Tokyo. It’s a popular entertainment and shopping center around the Shibuya station. It has many department stores that cater to the latest fashions and styles. 109 is a very popular mall.

Shibuya’s most known landmark has to be it’s famous crossing which is a huge intersection where the lights all stop at the same time and millions of Japanese cross the streets in a criss cross pattern that doesn’t exist elsewhere. I tried to take a picture of it but it wasn’t easy. Here is with and without pedestrians rushing on.

Usually, cars stop only on one road and keep going on the other, but at this intersection all cars stop to let pedestrians from every corner of the intersection cross the street at the same time !  Crazy!

Shinjuku

We decided to have dinner in Shinjuku business quarter not too far from our hotel as we were getting pretty tired. I love how colorful the skyscrapers are in Tokyo. I feel they have the most colorful buildings in the world.

Shinjuku has a lot of department stores as well, the most famous one being Isetan. But we didn’t have time for shopping unfortunately. It also has a mini Manhattan skyscraper district with huge skyscrapers including the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.

Tokyo night life is always happening. We stumbled upon a Deadpool huge promotional statue right on the curb!

We were getting quite hungry but needed some comfort food as well and nothing too challenging after such a huge journey and jam packed touristing day.

We choose noodles and ramen soup. Yummy! Oishii desu!

Then we were off to bed and dreamland. Oyasumi! Good night!

… to be continued (Day #2)

Have you ever been to Tokyo? If so let me know or link your blog post in the comments!

Xoxo

Danetigress

I’d love to chat with you on :

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October was a great month, what with throwing a good friend of mine’s Baby shower and of course Halloween. Hope you all had a great one, let me know what you were dressed up as  in the comments.

Chanel Bronze Universel – Bronzing Makeup Base

Now that my summer tan has faded for good, I need bronzer to give me a nice warm glow and this one by Chanel is one of my all time favorites. It’s warm but not too orange and so natural looking.

It blends just like a dream. If you skin is on the oily side, you don’t need to be afraid to use this cream product. I’m not usually a fan of cream products but this bronzer and the Maybelline 24 hour Tattoo eyeshadow creams are the exceptions.

Just add a powder bronzer on top if you’re going out after work and want extra longevity.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit in Medium to Tan

Some of my favorite contouring shades are by Anastasia Beverly Hills, so I was overjoyed when I learned that the French Sephora was finally carrying this brand in September ! I’m going to dedicate a whole post to it !

Theses powders layer beautifully over the Chanel Bronze Universal or just your everyday foundation.

I love the greyer contour shade as it doesn’t make you look muddy. It’s perfect to carve out the hollows of your cheeks.

I also really like the lighter highlighting matte shade that I use in a triangular shape under my eyes to set my concealer. I feel that it helps with concealing and not just brightening. If I’ve had a good night’s sleep then I like using the Hourglass ambient lighting powders under my eyes. But if you need a little extra help without looking cakey than ABH has your back!

Sonia Rykiel x Lacome Fall collab eye shadow palette

I’ve been loving this palette in October which you know if you’ve check out my review of this fun Fall collab between Lancôme, Lisa Eldridge and Sonia Rykiel the French fashion designer. Purple is my favorite color as stated in my award post. This palette has  a great range of purple lilac colors with a great taupe thrown in the mix.

Taupe is one of my all time favorite shades as well, so how could I not love it? I also really enjoy a palette that can be used as a stand alone product, meaning I don’t have to reach for any other palette to do a complete look.

Shiseido Ultimine

This is my favorite pre serum skincare product. If you’ve read my Top ten things to do in Japan post, then you know I’ve been to Japan in May 2016 and loved it. I love Japanese make up and skincare. Shiseido is one of those wonderful Japanese brands. I don’t know of any other pre-serum product.

I use this after I cleanse my face as a base under my primer. I’ll have to do a skin care routine post for sure. I use the Clarins Double Serum  in the morning and the Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair at night.  This Shiseido concentrate will help any serum that you use over it work more effectively. I also feel it adds to the moisture factor of my skin care. My skin is more supple and nourished when I use it.

I love the silky texture. It penetrates quickly which is nice. I hate having to take hours rubbing something into my skin. But at the same time a little goes a long way. I do acknowledge that it’s a pretty pricey item so I always buy it from Sephora when I get at least 20 to 25% percent off. The VIB Sale is going on right, now so you can take advantage of that!

Burberry Small Canter in Horseferry Check Tote

I’ve just reviewed this bag and I have to say it’s my perfect fall bag. I love the color combination of the canvas with the darker leather trim.

It goes with all types of outfits and can be dressed up or down. It’s perfect for a work bag if you don’t need to carry a  laptop but it will fit a tablet or a kindle quite easily along with all your essentials. To see exactly how I pack mine, check out My What’s In my Bag post.

Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Venom

For the Fall a great way to transition from summer shades is going for a vibrant burgundy color. The Urban Decay Vice lipstick just fits the bill perfectly. I love sporting a bolder lip in the fall.

This lipstick isn’t the creamiest formula out there but it’s quite comfortable to wear. This darker color does stain the lips a little, so you might beware but to me it has the added bonus of making it super long lasting without needed to line your lips prior to wearing it.

I love the golden packaging, it’s pretty and modern at the same time. It’s also quite lightweight which is important if you are a lip product junkie and end up carting way too many lippies in your bags on a daily basis!

Atelier B-A French Designer Bracelet

This was a Baby Shower party favor that I received from my friend whose Shower I through with the help of her close friends. It was really fun because most of my French guest had never been to a shower before (it’s not a tradition here, as giving gifts prior to the birth is considered bad luck).

I love discovering new cultures when I travel (check out the Top then things to do in Japan! or Snowmobile Safari in Lapland), but I also love helping people discover mine. I feel sharing and experiencing is a wonderful way to enhance and enrich your friendships. Don’t you agree?

What products have you been loving in October?

Xoxo

Danetigress

I’d love to chat with you on :

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Links to my post per country :

• Chanel Bronze Universel Soleil Tan de Chanel : USA, UK, (*)
• Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Kit : USA, UK (*)
• Lancôme x Sonia Rykiel Fall Collaboration St Germain Parisian Spirit Palette : USA, (*)
• Burberry Small Canter Tote : USA, UK, France (*)
• Urban Decary Vice Lipstick in Venom : USA, UK , (*)
• Shiseido Ultimine Concentrate : USA , France, UK (*)
• Atelier B-A French Designer bracelet : https://www.alittlemarket.com/boutique/atelier_b_a-1081773.html

(*) affiliate links