The Travel Diaries: Exploring Barcelona and Paris

As I write this I am the holder of an expired passport and more than two months away until I can take anymore vacation time. My travel options are looking bleak for the near future but luckily the memories from my European adventure this past summer are fresh enough to get me through the weeks ahead.

In July I finally took my long awaited university graduation trip to Europe and headed to Barcelona and Paris with a friend. It was my first time in Barcelona and my second in Paris, but definitely not my last in either place.

Coming across unique settings for a photo op is one of my favourite parts of traveling.

Read about my day trip to Versailles here and my recommendations for what to see and eat and where to stay in Barcelona here on hipurbangirls.com.

Summer Stop at Topshop

Myself with Styleblog.ca Backseatstylers.com and Torontoisfashion.com Bloggers

Last Thursday I had my first Topshop Canada experience. The Bay on Queen Street hosted a Summer Takeover for one last hurrah before it’s back to school and back to knits, boots and leather (sigh). We drank fruity summer drinks, shopped the preview collection of florals and bright colours and had a bit too much fun in the photo booth. Read more about it on HipUrbanGirls.

FYI: Topshop opens at The Bay in Yorkdale October 5th.

It’s Time for your Beauty Boost

Running from the office to lunch meetings and events and straight to dinner with the girls leaves little time to freshen up your look. Where is your mobile beauty salon when you need one? It might actually be just right around that busy downtown intersection…

This summer Diet Coke will be travelling across Canada in the Beauty Boost mobile salon offering a mini refresher to all you busy city ladies. Take a little breather with a cold Diet Coke and enjoy a mini manicure and make-up touch up with Joe Fresh products while checking out some of the latest fashion trends of the season. A few minutes in the mobile salon and you’ll be ready to get back to pounding the pavement with your To-Do list with some added oomph.

Check out the Diet Coke Beauty Boost mobile salon near you:

• Toronto June 6 to July 24
• Vancouver June 6 to July 10
• Montreal June 6 to July 3

Visit www.facebook.com/DietCoke or Tweet @DietCoke_CA  to find out specific daily times and locations.

A Last-Minute Cottage Escape

Wouldn’t you love to spend a sunny weekend reading a book on a Muskoka chair while the kids jump in the lake? Unless you’re lucky enough to own your own cottage getaway, or have some generous cottage-going friends with room to spare it looks like you’ll have to make your dream come true by renting. Check out my Yahoo! Travel post and you’ll have yourself a little piece of paradise booked in no time.