The Louvre

Next stop on our walking trip around Paris was The Louvre. The Louvre really is a place that, if you decided to pay and go inside, you can very easily spend a whole day (or a few) exploring it. Since it was such a beautiful sunny day we decided to just make a quick stop in the court yard and then carry on walking to Notre Dame.

Today I am Thankful

This morning I stumbled across this super cute video over at Rockstar Diaries. It made me smile so much and it reminded me that it is always a great way to start the day - declaring our thanks for the things in our lives. Positivity and Truth! So...today I am thankful for....

+ My morning coffee
+ The super sweet, encouraging comments that people leave here on Me+Life+Coffee...it warms my heart that people I have never met send such nice words. Thank you.
+ The sunshine that has unexpectedly taken over the Netherlands
+ A reminder of truth from the good book this morning "Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart" (Luke 18v1)
+ A sweet coffee date I had with a friend yesterday. She is expecting her first child in four weeks time - it has been such a blessing to see her tummy, and excitement, grow!
+ It is Friday - the weekend is almost here!
+ My dear Dell is still running.....just needs to make it to the end of the semester
+ I shall be travelling to Berlin over Easter - excited to visit a new country and spend time with friends
+ My sister is on Spring Break in the USA - whoohoo!! I love that she is having a break from all her hard work.
+ I got to visit Starbucks on Wednesday and have a Chai Tea Latte. It has been about four months since I have been able to have one - that made me smile a lot.
+ Riding my bicycle. This really is enjoyable when the weather is good.
+ I did a little bit of yoga this week. It was the first time since I hurt my back and all is well! It was so nice.
+ The end of the semester is in sight which means the end to stress and paper writing is in sight

What are you thankful for today? I hope that you all have a great Friday. I shall be back to sharing about Paris tomorrow. Happy Weekend people!!

Arc de Triomphe

Our next stop was the Arc de Triomphe. It is just a hop and skip away from the Eiffel tower and the sunshine was so nice that we took our time wandering over to the magnificent Arc. The traffic in Paris is a little cray-cray (we had a couple of near death experiences!) so we decided not to try and run across the eight lanes of manic traffic! Instead, we took the safe under road tunnel so we could stand under the great Arc. I can hardly grasp the reality that people made this incredible Arc - chipped and chipped away gradually at each stone. Amazing.

Eiffel Tower by Day

I am so glad that the beautiful weather has followed me back to University! Today was beautiful. Sunshine just makes me happy happy happy. During a class break I decided it was time to switch my normal order of a cappuccino to iced coffee. The coffee stand clearly had a different idea of what ice coffee is! They scooped vanilla ice cream into a cup, poured fresh coffee over it and then topped it all off with whipped cream. Oh well, I got my caffeine and ice cream fix all together.
Back to those Paris snaps.
Since my friends and I were travelling into Paris from different countries and we didn't all have cells, we decided to meet up under the tower on our first morning in the magical city. I had only been to Paris once before and it had been on an Art field trip so it had been jam packed with gallery visits, in short, I had never been up the tower before (!!!) So, what else would you do first when in Paris??! Up we went. It was a beautiful day and the view was spectacular. It was worth standing in line for an hour - make sure you do it some day.

This Week According to Instagram (Part 2)

The second half of my Spring Break was spent in Paris....oh how I miss it already!! I sat in class today just day dreaming about Monet, French Macaroons, Notre Dame, and the Eiffel Tower all lit up at night. It was a perfect trip. Unfortunately it ended with some DRAMA - running like none other to get my friend Laura on her coach back to London on time! Laura and I navigated the metro/train system with some pretty impressive awesome-ness to make sure we got there as fast as possible ..... we happen to think we would make GREAT contestants on The Amazing Race! Here are some snaps of my trip according to Instagram. Tomorrow I shall start sharing the photos I took on my old, but faithful, point and shoot. If you want to follow me directly on Instagram my user name is sargeantsally.
Happy Monday!

Eiffel at Night / Sunshine at Versailles

Amazing Macaroons / Ice Cream by the River

Album Cover Shot / INCREDIBLE sunshine!

Starbucks - Obviously / Travelling in Trains

Subway Pro / Driving back to University

(Thanks Laura for kindly contributing photos!)

This Week According to Instagram (Part 1)

I am back from Paris and OH MY was it wonderful! The weather was purrrrfect - felt like I was on a beautiful summer holiday. I was there for three nights, two and a half days and my friends and I packed our time full of sight seeing. Today is a little manic for me because I will be travelling back to University and getting ready for an exam I have at 9am tomorrow morning (sad times) I have decided to split this weeks Instagram update into two parts: Part 1 is of the first half of Spring Break spent in Eindhoven, and Part 2 will be of Paris. Pop back over the next few days to hear more about Paris! Happy Sunday!

Shopping Department Stores in Eindhoven

Post Shopping Drinks / Elle Store

Cheese / Ice Cream - two of my all time favorite things

Bon Voyage!

Good morning everyone! I am headed to Paris today  - yippee! I am really looking forward to meeting some friends from the USA for a few days of priceless fun in the beautiful city. I shall not be blogging whilst I am away (sorry!) But, whilst I am gone, why not check out some of the links on the left hand side bar - you will enjoy, I promise. Check back on Sunday to hear about my trip.....happy week/weekend!

VIA

Blog History

Hey everyone. It is Tuesday.....ready for my suprise?! I am SO excited about this! This is blog history. Right here. Right Now. I am guest posting for the very first time EVER over at Lost and Found for the lovely Bailey whilst she is busing moving from the USA to Germany. Bailey was one of my first friends I met through blogging and it has been great to get to know her, follow her blog, and keep in contact whilst she was preparing to move to my side of the world (yay!)
So, yeah, I am guest posting over there today. What are you waiting for? Go check it out HERE!!

VIA

A Reminder of Truth

This past week has been tough for me. Studying is hard for me. I always want to be the best and I am terrified of being thought of as unintelligent. It is where I am most insecure. Sometimes it just gets too much. The pressure gets to me, the stress gets to me and I feel like one big failure.  It always seems like everyone else has it all together whilst I am falling apart. Often I just need to take a step back and let some truth be spoken into my heart.
Truth. Truth is freedom. I always love to rest in the book of Ephesians when I am forgetting how incredibly deep, unfailing, overwhelming and good God's love is. It is rich and it is more than enough. I trust that God has a plan for my life. A good plan. The best plan possible. And, yes I can work hard but at the end of the day I trust His love. So when I am feeling down and when I am struggling I ask for truth to hit my heart. The truth is that I am me - beautifully and wonderfully made. And you are beautiful and wonderful to. The other day I was out running and I heard God whisper, Sally I have a plan for your life that doesn't require you to be anyone other than you.

Lyrics from Heaven Rejoices by Lex Buckley

This Week According to Instagram

Hey everyone. Thank you for all your visits to Me+Life+Coffee this past week. Sorry I have bee MIA for a while! It has been mid term examinations week so there has been plenty of coffee drinking and plenty of stress (and tears!) But now I am on Spring Break! Whoohoo!! I am spending it with a dear friend and her family. It has been SO good to finally have a couple of nights in a row of 8hrs sleep. Last night my friend threw a dinner party, goodness me can she cook and throw a good party! I shall be travelling to Paris on Wednesday, but until then I shall be blogging and on Tuesday I have something very special for you....guess you shall have to pop back again and see what my secret surprise is! Happy Sunday y'all!

Trip to McD's / Sandals in the Sunshine

Even warm enough for a dress / Beer and Rugby = Perfect

Spring Break Begins! / Anyone for Steak?

Caught the kitty's kissing in the kitchen / Best Cake ever!

This Week According to Instagram

This week has been busy. I know I say that about every week - but this time I really mean it! I have mid-term exams next week so I have been busy preparing for those and getting ready for Spring Break. I can not wait for the holidays! I originally had four exams next week, but thankfully one has been postponed until after the break. I am so thankful! It makes this week coming up seem a little more manageable. Hope y'all had a good weekend!

New Magainze and Pens /Studying Art History

Inspiring Words / Hallway Dinner

Good Morning! / Post Work-Out Smoothie

Great New Coffee / Around University

Pesto Cheese on the Market / Studying in the Sunshine by a Windmill

Spring Style Crush

I confess, I was a little bit of a Gossip Girl fan when it all started. The books where THE THING to be reading when I was in high school. Concerning the show, now am I a fan? Not so much. The drama just got too ridicules for me. The drama may be too much for me, but the fashion....it still captivates me! Blake Lively is indeed someone I would love to go shopping with. Or I would happily just raid her closet and, you know, have a cup of tea with Ryan Reynolds whilst perusing her Chanel.  Blake works colour so well and she has me all excited for a colourful Spring. Work out what colours suit you and then own it!  Hope you are inspired!

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Friday Thoughts...

This morning I had a bit of a work-out fail. I went running (for only the second time since injuring my back) and it was great. No back pain!
But. Then.
I went to my local bakery and bought the most deliciously yummy sugared treat. It was amazing. I mean, it is one of the highlights of working out right? You can indulge a little! I am actually trying to cut down my sugar intake. I haven't gotten as far as cutting out sugar in my coffee yet though. But, I am trying to only eat sweet things on one day a week. Today was that day.
This weekend will be full of studying all the books of the Old Testament,  revising 17th Century Dutch Paintings, and memorising Political thinkers and their philosophies all ready for my mid-term exams next week. My faithful planner and to-do lists are keeping me sane as I work through all my chores. I do so hope that your weekend is looking a little brighter than mine!! I shall most definitely be taking a break on Sunday for the rugby though :) Happy Weekend!

My local bakery

SOOO good right?!

There I am...still in my running shoes...

Post-it-Notes from Lindsay over at Originally Me