Fashionably Kelli: photo journal

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Fall Festivities & Outfit Ideas

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In photo journal, vacation

Travel Diary: Punta Cana & Lookbook

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, by Kelli Jagger

In Paris, photo journal

Hello loves! The last post in the Europe 2017 recap is Paris, France! As some of you may know, I have been dreaming of going to Paris since I was a little girl and have decorated my room in Parisian style ever since. Actually getting this opportunity was so surreal for me and I am truly so grateful for getting to live my dream!

First of all, we started the day by driving into Paris and stopping at the Arc de Triomphe and Champs Élysées. We first did some shopping at the luxury stores along the beautiful Champs Élysées and then continued to the Arc afterwards to start our bus tour. We got to see the beautiful and very large structure and learn some history and then we hopped on our coach bus to have a guided tour of Paris.

The outfit I wore this day was my Forever 21 black skirt with my Forever 21 pale pink blouse as well as some black flats, a purse from Dynamite, a vest from Urban Planet, a neck tie from H&M and a trench coat from the Loft.

On our guided bus tour, we got to see many of Paris's most memorable features. We got to see the incredible Eiffel Tower and take pictures in front of it. I have been obsessed with the Eiffel Tower as I love looking at pictures of it and have decorated my room with plenty miniature ones. Seeing the tower was so emotional for me and was truly the most incredible memory. Shorty after, we saw the War Museum with Napoleon's tomb inside. This structure was beautiful as the courtyard was so stunning and the gold accents were gorgeous. We also briefly saw the famous Louvre museum and the Opera House. Paris as a whole is such an amazing city and seeing all of these famous sites was truly incredible and breath-taking.

After some further walking around and experiencing French culture, we got to see Notre Dame. This cathedral was absolutely stunning and had a gorgeous courtyard right beside La Seine.

After dinner, we got to see the Lock Bridge and go on a sightseeing night cruise. The Lock bridge was amazing and had more locks on it than I ever imagined. It was so interesting to see all of the locks that people had put on there to symbolize their love for each other. We then headed on the boat for the tour on La Seine. We got to see all of the old bridges lit up and the museums. We got to see one of the oldest restaurants in Paris which inspired Ratatouille. We also got to see the beautiful Eiffel Tower all lit up and we got there right when it was sparkling which is does every hour for four minutes. That was truly jaw-dropping and an absolutely stunning site you must see if you are in Paris.

Overall, seeing Paris which just as amazing as I imagined and it was my favourite day on the trip for sure!

I hope you all enjoyed this recap of my Europe trip! I will forever be grateful of everything I was able to experience with my friends. Thank you to EF Tours to giving me this amazing opportunity! I definitely recommend visiting Europe sometime soon! Let me know if you have any questions xx

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, by Kelli Jagger

In France, photo journal

Europe 2017: France Recap

The next stop on the Europe tour with EF Tours was France! (I have kept this post separate from the Paris one because that one has an abundance of photos) We were able to see so many historical sites in France and travel around a lot of the country. Since we took a coach bus as our transportation, we got to see lots of the French countryside which is probably one the most beautiful landscapes I have ever seen. The sky was always blue, the grass on the rolling hills was a vibrant green with stunning, yellow flowers, there were little villages on hills (almost like in Beauty and the Beast), and there were not very many buildings or factories close to the road.

Our first stop was near Caen at Gold Beach. We stayed at the Gold Beach Hotel right around the corner from the beach. The hotel rooms each had a loft and since there was six of us in the group and five beds, we had to compromise and make it work. However, we got to wake up early and see the sunrise on the beach. This was absolutely beautiful and all of us were just completely in awe of what we were able to experience.

After the incredible experience on the beach, we head up to Juno Beach which was were D-Day occurred in World War II. We were able to explore the museum and see the bunker and the artifacts. This part was really emotional because seeing what the Canadian soldiers had to fight through and what they sacrificed was incredible. We also got to see various Canadian cemeteries which were on land that was given to Canada by France. They were very beautiful cemeteries with white headstones. The day before we also got to see where the Battle of Sommes occurred and the vast land that the Canadians were able to conquer with the British.

Seeing all of these sites in person and looking at all the headstones of the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice (some even as young as my age) was such an emotional experience for me. I will forever be grateful for the service of all the soldiers who gave up their lives for my country.

On Saturday, we headed to Arras which is this beautiful French town with cobblestone streets, boutiques, and outdoor markets. We had a large amount of time to spend here and shop around which was so incredible. I went shopping in the French boutiques, practiced my French, and had a delicious lunch with my best friends. After that, we went to the Vimy exposition for all of the 9,000 students that traveled to Europe with EF Tours. There were stations set up where you could hear experiences that soldiers and nurses would go through as well as stations where you could practice Morse Code. There was also an area dedicated to the Invictus Games which is an international, Paralympic event for wounded and injured servicemen and women. It was a really fascinating and enjoyable event.

On Sunday, April 9th, it was the 100 year anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge and the day of the big ceremony. We got to see the beautiful, white memorial which was very large and very stunning. It was such an amazing way to commemorate the soldiers. The ceremony itself was beautifully done and very emotional. All the performances were astounding and the speeches from all the special guests were very well done. It was really special for us as well to see our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in person and for me, I love watching documentaries on the Royal Family so it was surreal to see Prince Harry, Prince Charles, and Prince William. This day was a pretty long day because we had to be there early and leave late, but it was all worth it for the incredible ceremony we had the privilege to take part in.

Overall, France is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen and would love to go back as soon as possible (maybe after some extra practice with my French). I am so grateful for all the sites we were able to see in such a short period of time and for being able to commemorate the soldiers in some way.

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, by Kelli Jagger

In London, photo journal

Europe 2017: England Recap

Hello loves! As some of you may know, I was given the incredible opportunity to travel to England and Paris for the Vimy 100 Memorial Trip. We left Toronto on April 3rd and arrived at London Heathrow that night. On Tuesday morning, we drove into Central London and saw the beautiful Notting Hill and South Kensington. I absolutely loved South Kensington as it was so gorgeous with the white buildings, black doors, and black fences that made everything look so chic and sleek. We also got to see the standard red double decker London buses. Also, we stayed in a hotel on Old Street which is a modern spot in London for a lot of the younger, ambitious demographic. I really liked seeing all the locals just doing their independent thing whether that be going to work or creating art.

After lunch, we took our first ride on the London tube/underground. It was a very efficient transportation system and I was very impressed. We also headed to Leicester square where all of the premieres take place and that was really fascinating to see as well. Later, we did some shopping in a side market that absolutely stunning and was decorated with beautiful spring flowers.

The biggest part of London day 1 for me was getting to see the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge. They were as stunning as all of the pictures I have seen of them. They were both old structures, but the intricate designs of each structure was phenomenal.

After dinner at Nando's (which was so so good by the way), we were able to go see the musical production of Wicked. Wicked is a prequel to the Wizard of Oz and I was so excited to see the play. Personally, I thought the choreography, the story, and the music were all incredible and I loved how they tied in the story to the classic.

On Wednesday, we headed first to Trafalgar Square which is a popular square in London that features the Trafalgar statue, the National Gallery, and gold fountains. This was one of my favourite spots because you can just sit by the fountain and take in the beautiful buildings around you. Also, you can see Big Ben from the middle of the square as well.

Of course we made it to Big Ben! It was grand and absolutely stunning. It is definitely a crucial monument to see if you are ever there. You can see it really well if you exit through Westminster station which is where we were. We got some time to take pictures by there before we went to Westminster Abbey. We could not go into the parliament buildings because of the events in past weeks. Unfortunately, we also could not go into Westminster because they were setting up for the Royals to arrive. On that Wednesday, there was a small Vimy memorial that was held by London so there were newscasts around that area at the time. We did get to see it though and walk around that area as well.

Next on the London tour was Buckingham Palace and the changing of the guards. I love seeing these kinds of ceremonies so it was really interesting to watch this ritual. Also, Buckingham Palace was one of my favourite sites in London because it was absolutely breathtaking with the gorgeous flowers and gold gates. Also, it is where all the Royal Family has been and I am guilty of waking up early to have watched the marriage of William and Kate so it was so surreal to see the balcony where they came out on.

Shortly after seeing the palace, we headed to a park just outside the gates to watch the Vimy ceremony which was very well done. The park was surrounded by military officials and a sea of red jackets all worn by Canadian students, including myself. All the students with EF tours had red Vimy jackets we wore at this ceremony and we had a great view of it all.

Our last event in London was the Harry Potter tour. We had an amazing tour guide for this who had many connections when the movies were being made and had been to set multiple times. It was really interesting to hear her stories, facts and trivia. I also really love looking at behind the scenes footage and facts for movies so it was really interesting seeing it in real life. We went to various filming locations (my favourite being where they filmed Diagon Alley becuase it was such a beautiful, wealthy, and unique square) and were able to take the infamous, red, double decker bus to different locations.

Overall, I absolutely adore London from the culture to the people to the architecture. It was so phenomenal being there and experiencing it all. I will definitely be back!

I hope you enjoyed this post and let me know if you have any questions or if you have ever been to London!

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, by Kelli Jagger

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Fall Festivities & Outfit Ideas

Travel Diary: Punta Cana & Lookbook

Cozy Sundays

Europe 2017: Paris Recap

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Fall Festivities & Outfit Ideas

Travel Diary: Punta Cana & Lookbook

Cozy Sundays

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Europe 2017: England Recap

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