1. Taylor Swift Concert Know-Before-You-Go Essentials - From a 2x Concert Goer (Paris & Stockholm)
Are you heading to a Taylor Swift concert or maybe just want to know what it’s like? My sister, Melissa, went to not one but TWO concerts in the space of a week and graciously gave me the lowdown.
1. Anything goes clothes-wise.
You have the obvious sparkles and glitter but there were also loads of people in funny shirts (“Jake, give Taylor her scarf back” and “It’s me, I, I’m the husband it’s me” were a couple of my favourites) and lots of homemade bits as well. Quite a few homemade Junior Jewels shirts (from her "You Belong with Me" music video) and there was even a full white Jean suit with all her albums bedazzled onto it! A few people didn’t dress up but It's definitely more fun if you get into it!
2. Know the chants!
Taylor is going to put on an amazing concert no matter what but the more you can get into it, the more fun you will have. You have to imagine the crowd is made up of a lot of hardcore Swifties so they know EVERYTHING and the more you can sing (scream) along, the better. I was ready for the “1,2,3 Let’s go Bitch” in “Delicate" and the “You forgive, you forget but you never let it go” in "Bad Blood" but was not expecting the MASSIVE scream of “F*ck the Patriarchy” in "All too Well" (although I massively appreciated it!)
3. Check in advance for all the practical details.
Check twitter for updates on lineups as every venue is different. In Paris it was a 2 hour lineup to get inside, and in Sweden we basically walked straight in.
Read your tickets carefully as to what you can and can’t bring. In Sweden we weren’t allowed any bags at all, and in Paris the girl next to me had a whole bag just full of snacks! Same for merch. Check when the merch stands open, how long they are open and what the line ups are like. Also check if you can only pick up merchandise before the concert or both before and after. Every venue is different.
And lastly ENJOY!
Have you been or are going to a Taylor Swift concert? Any tips or questions?
2. African Food in Verdun
A long time ago I realized with longing that I wasn’t very adventurous with where I ate. Family meal times tended to be at safe restaurants with the same type of food provided over and over (think Italian, burgers, etc.) Evenings out tended to be at trendy restaurants with fancy food. I was missing the other restaurants. All the restaurants with the food I’d never tried but wanted to. I changed all that and have started to explore a lot of new restaurants that you may want to try too!
Restaurant Mayicha - Congolese & Senagelese food
Big portions at this no-frills African restaurant are accompanied by the sweetest owners who talked us through African food. In my opinion the food is OK for picky eaters (I go by my youngest picky eater son as a barometer) but you could go on your own too.
Do you have any restaurant recommendations?
3. Chase Grace Beauty
Chase Grace is a local beauty brand that has the most beautiful glosses and highlighters around.
Mikayla and Saíra hale from St-Bruno and St-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Their personalities ooze through their Instagram account and they genuinely seem like the sweetest people around. Speaking of their Instagram, it’s filled with post after post of the most mesmerizing beauty-product creation ever. I can’t get enough of it. Follow along if you too want to be mesmerized.
Disclaimer: I don’t own any of their beauty products but am fully in love with their Instagram account which is literally just the duo filling their beautiful products over and over.
Do you have a fave beauty brand or local beauty brand you’d like to nominate?
Local brand Kasics has some great cozy basics on sale.
Alo is opening up a very large 2-story flagship store downtown Montreal. They’ll also be opening one up at the Royalmount Development in August.
An absolute dream in Marrakesh.
These cakes and cookies from a local St-Henri bakery are always a hit when I bring them to friends houses.
Where are all my carry-on only gals? Does this packing list feel right to you?
If you are looking for a creepy read this summer try Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia.
Help Me Out!
Please let me know your fave recommendations for:
-Sunscreen (and why it’s great)
-Swimsuit brands (or a specific swimsuit) and why it’s great
And I’ll share with our readers!
Last thing…
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Michelle Little is a photographer who specializes in family, maternity, newborn, headshots and boudoir. She has a studio and also offers in-home and outdoor photographer. You can see her website here and get in touch here.
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