On Vacation

Hello everyone! Just thought I would let you know, I decided to take a vacation for the rest of the week. Although, I imagine myself traveling to an exotic place like this one; I'm just resting from blogging. Too many things have stacked up around here and I can't leave them unattended. Meanwhile, I will dream of visiting this spectacular Turkish hotel set in the rocky hills of Cappadocia. 

This is like going back in time...with electricity and running water, of course!

Okay, signing off for now. Have a great week and I'll see you next Monday:)

I heart N.Y.

Off to NYC today to enjoy some much needed fun! Have a great weekend!

image: from Kate Spade's Things We Love Book { I must say I agree with most of their loves...}

Take Me Away - Palm Beach Style

Oh how I wish I were jetting off to Palm Beach this winter. Am I the only one with the winter blahs..?? It's been a long one up here in Boston. I'll mentally escape today instead. Let's break it down shall we?

The quintessential Palm Beach style is filled with lots of cheery details..

lattice

great colors like:

Pink

Turquoise

Coral - real and color

green

vintage prints

classic glamour

bamboo

awnings

stripes

wicker

lattice

rattan

shell motifs

images: Lindsey Coral Harper, House and Garden scan via Coco and Kelley, Architectural Digest, Tory Burch, Moodboard, Apartment Therapy, Meg Braff, Architectural Digest.

AND FOR FASHION

for fashion I think of:

Jackie O

Lily Pulitzer

Babe Paley

Oversized Shades

vintage prints

colorful head scarfs

Jack Rogers

cropped pants

chunky jewels

and of course color, color, color

Love: Stuart Gardiner Tea Towels

I have discovered so many amazing product lines since I've been over here in the UK, and can't wait to fill you in over the coming weeks. One line that especially caught my eye, were these awesome --and educational-- tea towels from Stuart Gardiner. The seasonal food calendars are especially clever.

Wondering why I would consider the 'drop scones, not bombs' towel, educational? WELL, apparently:

"Drop Scones are a type of small pancake originating from the north. ‘Scone’ is pronounced as per ‘gone’ and not as in ‘cone’. Say it that way and you're quite wrong."

See? You learn something new everyday.

Scenes from Sunday

Ed Note: When you're done here, be sure to check out the 10 Things that Make me Happy over at Sacramento Street!

Hello from London, week two! I can’t believe how fast time has passed, and I’m drowning in pictures and cool products and artists I want to share. I thought I would start by sharing a few snippets from my Sunday.

I kicked off the day by grabbing a little brunch with the talented and lovely designer Heather Jenkinson at Albion, in hipster-y Shoreditch.

We both loved the modern English country kitchen feel, the gorgeous task and pendant lights throughout and the comforting sense of abundance you get from rows and rows of uniformly chic jellies and jams that line the front of the café. The food and the service...not so much love there.

Fortunately, the conversation more than made up for it, and we made a quick stop into Caravan around the corner. At Caravan, you get the feeling that you’re raiding your grandma’s attic for treasures…and your grandma is really, really cool. Vintage glassware, quirky ephemera, Jielde lamps, Deborah Bowness wallpapers and these fantastic silver roses that I’ve never seen anywhere else before.


Afterward, I set out with every intention to go to the Tate Modern, but was foiled by the heinous weekend public transportation and my complete lack of any sense of direction. Human compass I am not. Fortunately, my failed attempt to get to the museum took me on one of those fun and random wanders where you end up seeing important landmarks you hadn’t actually intended to, and come across unexpected surprises. One of my favorite discoveries was the Christ Church Greyfriars’ garden, built on top of the ruins where part of the church was destroyed in World War II.

So those are the highlights! As much fun as I’m having, I do miss DC a ton. What did you guys do this weekend?

London Blogging

Sooo, that fun news I was planning on sharing with you all is that...I’m in London for three weeks! I arrived around 6am Sunday morning, checked into my hotel, slept for a few hours, and then revived myself with a shopping trip. I checked out the London Anthro – which has a three-story living wall, and had a life-changing shopping experience at Liberty. Seriously, it was revelatory.

Anthropologie Regent Street's living wall.

The Scarf Room at Liberty

I’ll be doing my very, blogger best to keep you all updated on my little adventure, but I’ll have to ask you to bear with me if posting is (even) slower than usual. I’m here for work, which has a tendency of cutting into my blogging time J, and I’m unable to get Internet access from my hotel room – which means a great deal of my blogging will be done from the hotel business center – glamorous, I know.

Since I trust no one’s taste more than all of yours, please go ahead and tell me what to do in the comments!

Top photo from Twig Hutchinson

L'affaire française Vol.1

Going to try for a weekly download of some of my favorite French memories. In volume 1 -- views from private courtyards, hidden cafes, sitting by a fountain in Arles and finding the perfect floral sundress.

Love: Astier de Villatte

I know I've been pretty terrible about filling you all in on my recent trip to Paris. The whole experience was eye candy overload, and it's definitely taking me sometime to process it. However, I absolutely cannot wait to share my favorite shop with you any longer.

Astier de Villatte was hands-down, the MOST amazing, made-for-me store I've ever walked into. Think wispy, white ceramics so delicate and beautiful they're almost poetic, handmade notebooks, lush perfumes, scented candles and myriad other "fait main" treasures

I imagine if you read this blog we must have a few things in common, so the next time you are in Paris, you must, MUST, stop in this store. Trust me, friends, this is infinitely more enjoyable than dragging yourself up the steps at Notre Dame or fighting gum-chewing tour groups for a glimpse of the Mona Lisa.

I walked out with a few beautiful ceramic cups and bowls imprinted with pretty things like a greek-inspired crest, a pencil thin sunflower and a bohemian hobnail pattern -- and my favorite purchase -- the loveliest little ceramic bird who sits here at my desk with me.

Astier De Villatte
173 Rue Saint-Honoré
Metros: Palais Royal, Pyramides, Tuileries