Of course you can’t skip the Louvre and Ladurée, but these insider spots will have you feeling like a Parisian.

Do
Avoid the crowds of Champs-Élysées and be a flâneur in Paris’s chicest neighborhood, Le Marais. Here you’ll find the city’s hidden gems, from Jewish bakeries to art galleries to independent designer shops, including the elusive Azzedine Alaïa. Keep an eye out for style-savvy Parisians as they stroll away on these cobblestone streets. Métro: Saint-Paul (M1).

Shop
Our fashion editor—a former Parisienne—recommended Didier Ludot, a high-end vintage and consignment store. It’s truly spectacular, with finds ranging from $200 costume earrings by Dior to several-thousand dollar Givenchy couture. Tip: if it looks closed, ring the doorbell. Didier Ludot, 24 Galerie Montpensier - Jardin du Palais Royal, 01 42 96 06 56, www.didierludot.fr

Eat
The French chef Pierre Jancou of Vivant is a trailblazer. This tiny 20-something seat spot serves traditional French fare, the greatest selection of natural wines, foie gras out of this world, and perhaps the finest bread in the right bank. Hip Parisians love this spot, so reservations are a must. Vivant, 43 rue des Petites Ecuries, 01 42 46 43 55.

Drink
People often skip Le Café de Flore, deeming it too touristy. But the truth is that this legendary café, once visited by the likes of Sartre and de Beauvoir, is just as beloved by locals. Its fashionable clientele includes Sofia Coppola and Inès de la Fressange. We spotted the illustrious Yohji Yamamoto enjoying his afternoon espresso! Le Café de Flore, 172 Boulevard Saint-Germain, 01 45 48 55 26, www.cafedeflore.fr

See
In the city where one could go to the Louvre and Palais de Tokyo, it might sound silly—bordering on crazy—to be recommending a public toilet. If I tell you that the Toilettes de la Madeleine is the world’s most beautiful bathroom, we wouldn’t be lying. A throwback to the dreamy Belle Epoque era, its carved wood panels and stained glass windows will transport you to a different time, Midnight In Paris style. —Anya Georgijevic

Toilettes de la Madeleine, Place de la Madeleine
Check out our Parisian Street Style pics in our Editors’ Diary.

The subconscious is the darnedest thing. Just ask Nicolette Eus.

The Vancouver-based hynotherapist helps people overcome pesky roadblocks like golfers’ yips, fear of public speaking, writers’ block, and the like. She took this editor through a session that felt a bit like guided meditation and a bit like shavasana, the very best part of yoga class. Noticeably absent? Stage magicians and pendulums. “I’m just a co-pilot,” Eus says. “I believe we know what’s best for ourselves and when we’re really quiet the answers show up.” —Kelsey Dundon

Nicolette Eus Hypnotherapist, 604-649-5108, www.nicoletteeus.com

The backpack is an accessory that has a pretty bad rep, but that’s because it is associated with the nylon monstrosities we associate with college.

Locally made in Vancouver from a mix of new and upcycled leather, the Stevie and Sadie backpacks by Ora will get us through our summer picnics, beach days, and trips to the lake.

And while we don’t mind being mistaken for university students (young AND smart), this backpack won’t let us fit in with the ones on our local campuses. By the way, that’s a good thing. —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg

The Sadie backpack ($250) and Stevie backpack ($275) at Ora bags, www.orabags.com, or at Nouvelle Nouvelle, 209 Abbott St., Vancouver, 604 682 2234, www.nouvellenouvelle.com

A recent beauty trend has us shunning our tweezers and dreaming of bushier days.

We love catwalker Arizona Muse’s and red carpet Rooney Mara’s thick eyebrows, but re-growing them after years of plucking is a challenge for some, and the hair might need a little boost to achieve its former glory. This editor played guinea pig with B.Kamins Eyelash Fortifier, a product enriched with peptides, plant extracts and vitamins, using it on both the brows and the lashes, and she can (almost) outbrow and outlash the two aforementioned divas to shame. —Anya Georgijevic

$99 at Spa Boutique, 3630 4th Ave., Vancouver, 604-734-7114, www.spaboutique.ca

DIY Mother’s Day gifts are always the sweetest, but it’s been a long time since we made a candy dish out of clay.

So this year we’re getting a little (ok, a lot) of help from Vancouver's poetry website www.bentlily.com. Use the free InstaPoem feature to create a bespoke verse about you and mom; simply follow the steps to plug in details about your relationship and personality traits and voila — an instant tearjerker.

Here’s an excerpt from our little ditty:
you let me live
the cliff edge of mistakes
the big perm
the older boyfriend
the time I smoked cigarettes

Yes, that sounds about right.

Happy Mother’s Day from VitaminDaily.com

Create your InstaPoem here.