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Ambitiously Cierra

Ambitiously Cierra

A lifestyle blog about finding balance within an ambitious life

  • Lifestyle
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May 2020 Wrap Up

June 3, 2020 · In: Lifestyle

To say that the first half of 2020 has been emotionally and mentally draining would be an understatement. I started this month walking 2.23 miles in honor and remembrance of Ahmad Arbery, who was killed while running in a neighborhood. I ended the month in a cycle of tears, anger, fear, and sadness after more senseless murders. Triggered by videos of violence and racist comments against the protests and people who decided to use their voice. 

While this month has felt heavy, there have been bursts of hope and moments of joy. I’ve been touched the people who have used their voices for good. Those who have decided to speak out take action against the history of oppression of Black people. Thank you so much to everyone who has reached out to check in on me and those who have identified themselves as anti-racist and allies during this time. Please continue to listen, to learn, to open yourself up to a different perspective. Please continue to use your voice, take action, protest, support, and donate. This is much bigger than this week or this month.

Here are my other reflections for the month of May:

One

One of the things that have truly brought me joy this month has been tending to my new plant babies! I mentioned in my May Bucket List post that my mom inspired me to test out my green thumb. In the span of a month, I have gone from having 0 plants to having 11! I honestly didn’t think that it would positively impact my life this much. Every morning I wake up and head over to my (new) plant shelf to check for growth. I talk to them, I rotate pots when necessary, I beam with pride when I notice a new leaf. In my free time, I research plant care and watch Youtube videos of other plant enthusiasts (my favorites right now are Crazy Plant Guy (Christian) and Harli G!). Every other day the thought “I should buy a new plant” crosses my mind. I’ve honestly turned into a crazy plant lady and I’m not even a little embarrassed by it. 

Two

Every weekend this month, I chose a morning/day to step back from my tv screen. Throughout quarantine, I kind of fell into this habit of binge-watching my weekends away. This bucket list item was my way of breaking that cycle. I still woke up at my normal weekend time (I shoot for 7 am, but that can drift to 9 at the latest) but instead of turning on the tv, I would spend time reading, working out, and tackling organization projects (it’s been a big month for home projects too!). By the end of the month, I was cutting out social media time as well. My weekends felt like they returned to the perfect blend of productivity and relaxation, which was exactly what I wanted! 

Three

Yall…I cut my hair. Like actually chopped off every last piece of relaxed, chemically processed hair. I never thought that I would go through with “the big chop.” I was almost offended when anyone would suggest it, maintaining that my plan was to slowly transition. I’m working on a blog post that articulates why this is such a huge step in my natural hair journey (check out this video for some context), but for now, I will simply say that it feels freeing. 

This month I completed 4 out of 5 of the items on my May Bucket List. My paint by numbers set came in a little later than anticipated, but I plan to paint it during June!  

Stay tuned for my June Bucket List!

By: AmbitiouslyCierra · In: Lifestyle · Tagged: 2020, Lifestyle, May, Wrap Up

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If only everyday could start this sweet 😌☕️ If only everyday could start this sweet 😌☕️

#carette #parisdiaries #carettehotchocolate #chocolatchaud #ambitioustravels #travelvlogger #morningvibes #chocolate #frenchhotchocolate
🇫🇷 PARIS ITINERARY DAY 3 🇫🇷 🤤 BRUN 🇫🇷 PARIS ITINERARY DAY 3 🇫🇷

🤤 BRUNCH AT CARETTE—the famous Carette hot chocolate was on my must try list and it did not disappoint. Such a decadent experience! 

🛍️ SHOPPING AROUND MARAIS—We thrifted and shopped around for souvenirs. My favorite stop was Officine Universelle Buly 1803; a shop with apothecary vibes that had gorgeous combs and perfumes that I couldn’t leave behind. 

📸 VISIT THE COLONNES DE BUREN—a popular photo spot, the art installation was created in 1985 to enhance the courtyard of the Palais Royal. 

☕️ COFFEE BREAK AT CAFÉ KITSUNÉ—while I wasn’t a fan of their matcha, this cafe is nestled in beautiful outdoor space and is great for an afternoon pick me up.

🖼️ VISIT THE LOUVE—more on this in my next post! 

😍 CATCH A CLOSER LOOK AT THE EIFFEL TOWER—snapped this picture on our way to dinner. 

🍽️ DINNER AT LINETTE—delicious bistro with classic French cuisine. I had the duck confit which was perfection. Bonus: Linette puts you in the perfect location to see…

✨ THE EIFFLE TOWER AT NIGHT—y’all, the tower SPARKLES for 5 minutes at the top of every hour at night (until around midnight) and it is MAGICAL. It’s hard to describe the feeling but I tried to share it with my loved ones at home via FaceTime 🥹

Stay tuned for more on the Louve! 

#parisitinerary #paristrip #travelblogger #bucketlistadventures #ambitioustravel #monalisa #colonnesdeburen #carette #eiffeltoweratnight
With your friend in a foreign country, laughing ov With your friend in a foreign country, laughing over bread and cheese, as it starts to rain on the Grand Canal at the Versailles estate: la vie en rose 😌

Planning a visit to Versailles? Check out my feed posts for some tips ✨

#gardensofversailles #grandcanalversailles #lavieenrose #pov #magicmoments #france #bucketlistadventures #smallmomentsofcalm #laughterisgoodforthesoul #ambitioustravels #travelvlogger #parisdiaries #realistictravel #versaillestips
🌳 THE GARDENS OF VERSAILLES ⛲️ The Versail 🌳 THE GARDENS OF VERSAILLES ⛲️

The Versailles estate is MASSIVE and though we were there for hours, there was still so much more to explore that we didn’t make it to. Versailles was the only “big” thing that we had on the agenda for the day so we didn’t feel the pressure to rush off to another reservation. The garden is a beautiful experience that I recommend grabbing a map and visiting while you are there! 

Tips for when you visit the gardens: 

👟 WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES—there is so much walking involved with a trip to Versailles, and once you hit the gardens you’re walking on gravelly paths. Resist the urge to wear impractical shoes and go with sneakers instead. 

🧺 BRING SNACKS—While there is an area where you can purchase food, you are allowed to bring food in to eat at some of the garden’s designated picnic areas. We chose to picnic by the Grand Canal which gave us a great view of people on row boats (which you can rent if that’s your thing!) 

🎟️ CARTS AND “TRAINS”— In my last feed post, I mentioned that you should buy the passport to ensure that you have access to the whole estate. Before our visit, I didn’t realize that there was an option for a “Passport + Return by little train (34,50 €).” This gives you access to ride the “little train” (more like connected carts) back up to the estate after your wandering. When I say that it was a sight for sore eyes after all the walking we did 🙌🏾😭…I was willing to pay what ever it took to take us back (luckily, the train was only about 9€ a la carte). The train makes 3 stops at various locations on the grounds (including the estate of Trianon which we deemed was too far to get to by foot but heard it was worth while). Another good option if you are visiting with a group is to just rent a “small electric vehicle” (basically a golf cart—seats 6) so that you can explore the different areas of the estate with less fatigue. 

There are things hidden around every nook and cranny of Versailles. One last bonus tip is that if you’re visiting for the first time, spend some time on the website so that you have an idea of the absolutely want to see (there is just so much!).

I would love to visit again!
✨ INSIDE VERSAILLES ✨ Versailles was the acti ✨ INSIDE VERSAILLES ✨

Versailles was the activity day that I was looking forward to the most and it did not disappoint. I don’t think that I’ve seen anything more magnificent in my life. Every ornate detail left me in awe—it’s definitely worth seeing in person if you are planning a trip to Paris!

Here are a few tips for your trip inside the palace: 

✨ VISIT ON A WEEKDAY—it gets pretty crowded inside the palace. We went on a Thursday and there were plenty of time where I felt like I was just moving with the flow of the crowd. However, if you’re patient, you can find breaks in between the waves. I’ve been told that it’s much worse on the weekends/summer months so keep that in mind. 

✨ TO AUDIO GUIDE OR NOT TO AUDIO GUIDE—While you can visually consume the splendor of the palace, I kind of regret skipping out on the audio guide. There were some signs available, mostly in French and often hard to get to because of the crowds. If I were to visit again, I would pay 5€ for an audio guide which can be reserved after you purchase your ticket. I’m that person that likes to take my time in museums/historic places to learn. If that’s not your vibe, then skipping it might not be an issue. 

✨ PURCHASE THE PASSPORT TICKET—As much as I loved seeing all there was to see in the palace, pay the extra money for the passport ticket. For just 9€ more, you get access to the entire estate of Versailles (this includes the gardens which I will discuss in my next post)! 

There is sooo much to take and I would love to go back. Have you been to Versailles? Share your tips in the comments! 

#versaillespalace #versaillestips #visitversailles #chateauversailles #paristrip #france #lifestyleblogger #travelblogger
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