I know, I know - It’s been over a year since my last post! A lot has happened in the past year - a promotion at work, I married my long time love, went backpacking through Southeast Asia for our honeymoon (Bali, Malaysia, Singapore), and now we have gone and moved to San Francisco.
Goodbye Austin. It was nice knowing you - but really anyone who knows me, knows that’s a total lie. I’m more than happy to be back in a real city - with ethnic food (hello Inner Richmond!), bodegas, and H&M! There’s a Mark Twain quote my husband stumbled upon that says, “In America, there is New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Everywhere else is Cleveland.” I have definitely lived that line, and agree whole-heartedly. Some may be surprised we didn’t get on the next plane back to New York, and I admit I am a bit too. I will always love New York, I still feel like a New Yorker and have dreams of being bi-coastal one day, but I already know San Francisco is going to be the perfect medium. Plus, the 400 square feet apartment thing, we just…can’t…do…it.
So, that being said - I have some time on my hands with the recent move to dive back into my passions and agonize over spelling errors and proofreading. Another move, another apartment - but same husband, kitty, and Jenny. One of my old co-workers at RL once told me, change is always good. Cheers to that!
Illustration by Megan Nolton - check her out on Etsy.
Its-las-tik is a company based in New Orleans that creates reusable, stretchable, adorable totes for those of us trying to live a green lifestyle. All of the manufacturing, design, materials, and brains come straight from New Orleans, which isn’t an easy feat considering the factory was rebuilt after being demolished by Katrina. The great thing about these bags - beyond the fact that you can carry a statement tote to the store or gym, rather than a bunch of heavily advertised eco bags sliding off your shoulder - is that 5% of the profits go to Hope House New Orleans, a non profit organization that helps to feed and clothe New Orleanians. Be a softy and buy, buy, buy - they’re only $25 each!
Check out Its-las-tik at WhatsurBag-USA.com & read up on the good work of Hope House New Orleans at HopeHouseNewOrleans.org.
Just in from Christmas in New Orleans - and as the brief blogging hiatus should suggest - I was enjoying myself way too much to get in front of the computer. My beau grew up in NOLA, in the area uptown called the Garden District - which up until now was always hard for me to identify with as his house is from the 1800’s, the lifestyle is all about celebrating (socializing marathons), and the formalities (balls) are from another time entirely. It’s such a shame that more people don’t know how beautiful and cultural it is in comparison to basically every other city in this country, and it should be preserved and nurtured way more than the Bush administration could comprehend. I could talk ex-pat for hours - but the pictures really speak for themselves - and I’ll be counting down the days until I’m back again for Mardi Gras!
“Fleur De Paris” shop on Royal Street
Ceiling at St. Joe’s bar on Magazine Street
Angela King gallery on Royal Street
My time spent in Barcelona was short & sweet. It was my first trip of many outside of Italy during my semester abroad – and I went to visit a high school friend of mine studying at University of Barcelona. Their fast fashion was very affordable, and I happened to have extra money left over from opting out of buying books for the semester. This trip was my first introduction to Mango, a mix between Zara, H&M, and Forever – but with more color, texture, and personality. It was also my first trip to Top Shop, which I had been dreaming about for years prior, as well as Corte Ingles (which is it’s own little phenomenon). The main shopping street is called Las Rambles, and luckily my dear friend lived close by (as well as 5 min walking distance to the Mediterranean). Dressing in Barcelona is a bit flashy, uber colorful in the flavor of Custo Barcelona, and all about form fitting silhouettes.
Outside of shopping, there is a ton of partying. Everyone always says that about Barcelona, and it is definitely true. There are specific venues that serve only Chipitos (shots) of varying combinations and themes. The Chipito bars were insanely crowded, but that just added to the flavor and experience of it all – it was like the college version of going to a wine tasting, an endless menu of shots.
Maybe it’s because I was with a gay man, but that trip was especially interesting for many, many reasons. Although it is very Western and comfortable – when I went I kept badgering my friend about how lucky he was to have normalcy, because Rome is VERY authentic – I still loved it. It was nice to speak English and use the Spanish I had learned in high school but never utilized – even though Catalan (dialect) really puts a hitch in your step. Looking back, 85% of my time studying abroad was spent partying, and thank god. There’s a reason why they made concealer for under eye circles - so you can live in the moment.
Mango fringe dress $109
Forever 21 clutch $24
American Apparel legging $52
El Corte Ingles ring $45
Word on the street from my LA editor - the Beverly Hills Saks is rumored to be going out of business, so shoes are 70% off! If you happen to take advantage of this sale, you HAVE to let me know what you got and what price you got it for!
Shop Saks Beverly Hills
Saks Fifth Avenue
9600 Wilshire Blvd
Beverly Hills, CA
320-275-4211
My bestie and I just had our weekly Sunday phone date, and she was going crazy over all of the sales right now in the city (NYC). Here’s the breakdown for all of you in New York who have been living under a rock - or those of you in the Northeast - take a trip to the city, it is BEAUTIFUL during Christmas, and it doesn’t hurt to stimulate our sad, sad retail sector!
Theory (flagship in Meatpacking)
Everything in the store besides one rack - 30% off
Bloomingdales SoHo
Every rack of full price apparel in the store is 30% off (Helmet Lang, DVF, Marc by Marc, DKNY, Juicy, Theory)
Opening Ceremony
Everything on sale as far as the eye could see (Rachel Comey, Top Shop, Alexander Wang)
Reiss
40 % off everything in the store
My FAVORITE city. I visited twice when studying in Rome - and couldn’t get enough of the lifestyle. The landscape is to die for - you kind of feel like you’re in a small world (Disney), with all of the canals, yet the architecture is ultra modern (apartments have glass fronts that nobody seems too concerned about concealing). Bicycles outnumber cars, there’s an H&M on every corner, and it’s incredibly safe. It’s definitely the most progressive city I’ve ever visited (in existence, I’m sure), as well as the most fashion forward.
Every block I saw a girl wearing something I wanted immediately - and it was incredibly hard not to spend my measly student allowance ALL on clothes. Most importantly - there’s a really warm & welcoming vibe – and English is prevalent (and as any study abroad student knows, it feels sooo good to not have to think so hard before speaking).
Now that I’m in TX while my man gets his MBA – I’ve been entertaining the idea of University of Amsterdam – my turn! When visiting Amsterdam, one would need:
Couture-looking lingerie (red light district inspiration) - Victoria’s Secret bra $38, bottom $26
A cute puffer for the winter - Gap (Patrick Robinson) $148
Ballet flats for bicycle riding - Sigerson Morrison for Target $29.99
Rasta colored accessories - Belt $9.99 from E4Hats.com
