French Friday: Lumières

'Tis the season, and Paris is decked out in her holiday finery. In 2011, I had the awesome opportunity to be in Paris at the start of the holiday season. The Marché de Noël opened that weekend, and the lights along the Champs Elysées were illuminated. I was actually quite surprised that much of the ornamentation was quite avant-garde or at least a twist on traditional Christmas decorations.

In the fashionable 1st arrondissement, the dress code was elegant.

The trees were dripping in white lights and red baubles.

A very chic chandelier hung outside the Dior flagship store.

Modern snow flakes illuminated the Place Vendôme. (PS: I'm eager to see the renovated Ritz when it reopens in 2015!)

The eastern end of the Champs-Elysées was adorned in futuristic blue and white orbs...

...while the majestic trees along the Avenue were ringed with fluorescent halos...

The bands' transformed from one unexpected hue to another.

The façades of grands magasins along the Boulevard Haussmann are always beautiful.

Each year, Printemps features a fashion design house. In 2011, it was Chanel - love the mini Karls! Photo via Pinterest (via Harper's Bazaar). This year features Burberry and Louis Vuitton.

The animated windows are fun and dynamic. In 2011, the theme was Noël Rock 'N' Mode.

Orchid

December 12, 2014 Photo (346/365): #decemberphotochallenge - Day 12: A Beautiful Sight

"Deep in their roots, all flowers keep the light." - T. Roethke • Flowers blooming in December.

(Round 2 of a $10 Trader Joe's orchid purchased in June :)

Green

December 11, 2014 Photo (345/365): "The grass is always greener. . ."

Today's photo challenge is "green." Normally on December 11th, green photos would be images of Christmas trees, holly, mistletoe, or ornaments. But today, as the temperature starts to rise toward a weekend high of almost 50° F, I spy green grass and the green heads of mallards. I know I should be happy with the mild weather, especially given the long, harsh winter we endured last year and the even harsher one that has been predicted this year, but who ever sang, "I'm dreaming of a Green Christmas"?  Christmas is two weeks from today... so I'll keep dreaming and hoping for snow!

(#decemberphotochallenge - Day 11: Green)

Wrapping

December 10, 2014 Photo (344/365): "That's a wrap!"

"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." - William Arthur Ward

I am eager to give these gifts to friends and family in the coming weeks. Yet today, I will take the opportunity to express my gratitude to all of the collaborative and innovative educators who shared their ideas and talents with me at #SLATE14 these past two days. The feedback that I received after my DPI IGNITE session this morning encourages and motivates me to continue working hard to support educators as they leverage technology to become highly effective in engaging students in authentic learning. Thank you!

(#decemberphotochallenge - Day 10: Wrapping Paper)

Kalahari

December 9, 2014 Photo (342/365): "Ornament” Guess where I am... again! (#SLATE2014)

My PSD EdTech colleagues, Dria and Amy, have been doing the "Capture December" photo challenge and tonight have convinced me to join them. I'm about a week late, but here's the challenge and my photos for days 1-8. Curiously, the photos that's I've already posted this month actually fit the challenge with a bit of rearranging.

(#decemberphotochallenge - Day 8: Ornament)