Swoonfest

I stumbled upon the new shots for J Crew Spring 2012 collection thanks to being tipped off by Glitter Guide in my inbox this morning. I love the range of color they are offering and that they work in such great scales together. You could just roll around in the store and come out looking adorable no matter what. Might be making a pit stop down there this weekend…

 

Warby Parker

I have tried on almost every pair of glasses in Portland it feels like. I have my go-to pair that I love, but they seem to always meet some terrible fate or another and get sent back to the doctor for weeks at a time. Lucky for me, the boy took pity on me and got me a Warby Parker gift card for Christmas! Unlucky for me however, they stopped having their mini showroom down at Lizard Lounge the day before I waltzed in to choose some frames.

Enter the 5 day home trial. They actually send you 5 pairs of whichever frames you pick to try on in your own time in your own home. Of course, this means you’ll have them delivered to work and proceed to ask everyone within a 100 yard radius which one they think is better, then everyone starts playing dress up with them at once…. oh wait, that’s just me? Oops.

My point being, it was great, handy, and as you’ll see below helped me pick out my new favorite glasses: The Roosevelt in Matte Black. They also have sunglasses and even monocles now… go check them out!

Did I mention each pair is only $95, including your Rx, and they donate a pair to a child in need when you buy a pair? As if you needed another excuse…

The final decision:

Girl’s Night!

Do you ever get to a point where you feel like you have been so crazy busy in your life you can’t even remember the last time you sat down with your girl (or guy) friends and just hung out? Well I got there, and apparently so did my girlfriends. I am lucky enough to have some amazing girls I went to college with that all keep in touch, even though things get so hectic with the day-to-day.

So what, might you ask, did we decide to do? An old-timey slumber party of course!  Only this one had wine. We painted our nails, watched chick flicks and gossiped/caught up (what’s the difference anymore?) until the wee hours of the morning. It was so much fun, and the best idea ever.

We even woke up (all sardined onto our air mattresses) to a little dusting of snow. Thanks again Alisa for having us out to your house, and to her hubby for disappearing for a night so we could take over!

P.S. Did I mention we hit Elmer’s the next morning for pancakes? Oh yes we did…

Snow Day

Last week we had an amazing night when it legitimately snowed (in Portland terms). Here we get really really excited for anything resembling snowflakes, so when it started to stick, and when it really started to thicken up, the whole city got giddy. The best part was that Pickles had never been in real snow before (read: again, we live in Portland). She couldn’t even handle herself, and with no traffic on Mississippi Ave she went crazy.

Pickles also decided that she wants to take up a part time job as snow plow. She kept stopping to eat the snow and was leaving a little trail behind her.

There was something so fun about all of these strangers showing up out in the street super late at night to play like kids in the snow… it was beautiful. In  the busy lives we all lead it felt so good to just stop and be silly (and to realize you weren’t the only ones doing it).

New lines hit Portland

Portland is stepping up the game on designers that you can now find here in town. I never was a huge Nordstrom girl… well, before now. Lately they have been picking up some new lines, including Proenza Schouler, Rachel Zoe, and more. What’s even better? The fact that they are hosting fun launch events with some of the new lines as they arrive. It’s great to be able to go somewhere local and see a pretty wide selection of one designer’s collection for the season, instead of just a piece or two. Plus, throw in cocktails and those insane cookies they bake on site? Done.

This past Saturday they held a Alexander Wang and Proenza Schouler launch event for the Resort line. I must add, both had some of the best color I’ve seen in awhile. Let’s just say I was having dreams about the little shift dress (and those Chloe heels? Come on!) well after the fact.

 

They are also now carrying some of the fantastic new seasonal Proenza Schouler bags, with a wide range of colors and styles as well.  Even if it isn’t within your budget, it’s great to have somewhere in town to go and fall in love in person!

So if you haven’t been down there in awhile, go check it out. Not to mention that in this weather of snow flurries, downtown Portland is worth it just for the romantic sights!

United Nude SS12

They did it again… United Nude has snatched me up and I’m obsessed. Loving their SS12 collection, especially the colors. Between the elastic webbing and the bold color -blocking, they easily have struck the perfect balance for my Spring wardrobe. There’s just something I can’t resist about such architectural shoes…

At the prices they are, you’ll definitely have to save for a bit, but speaking from experience their shoes tend to wear just as well two years later as they do when you buy them. Somehow they have mastered being on trend and keeping them classic enough to wear for many seasons.

Oh, The Places You’ll Go!

Hello lovelies!

In the middle of an intense, stressful week, this video is the perfect jovial break. Reciting the adorable Dr. Suess book  Oh, the Places You’ll Go!  at Burning Man last year. A bunch of hilarious characters that make you forget for a second that there’s a deadline at 3 and you are watching a bunch of adults reenact a children’s book.

Watch it.

xoxo,
E

[Via Right Brain Resource] 

Happy Champagne Thursday!

[via Kate Spade's amazing instagram feed]

Happy Champagne Thursday lovelies!

Welcome (most of us) back to working and getting back into our usual routines. Cheers to almost making it to the first weekend of 2012 and it’s actually nice and sunny outside today in Portland, even though it is quite chilly.

xoxo,
E

P.S. Saw the photo above on Kate Spade’s Instagram (also on their tumblr here) and loved it. We all know it’s an award I’d probably win… especially if bubbly is in attendance! They have a great feed though if you don’t follow them yet, check it out!

Forgotten treasures

I tend to forget that Zara has made the world a tad bit better by now offering online shopping. Somehow I always just have to re-larn this fact when I see something featured in an item round-up or gift guide. So when I re-discovered them (again) I also realized how absurdly affordable some of their online goods are. I’m a big fan of Zara for their styles, color usage and overall quality… and at these prices? Sign me up!

When I first saw this bag in the brown I thought it was cute, but after clicking over to the alternate color option I was sold. That blue piping on the black? Love it.

Price you ask? $29.90! Go here to snatch it up and poke around a bit… such fun! Might I add their sale section has some good finds in it right now as well.

Sad day… but good deals.

I hate to see them go, but I love the discounts as they walk away…? That’s definitely not how that goes.

Either way, if you’re in Portland go check out the deals the folks over at Local 35 are dishing out as they close their doors for good this week. That new coat can soak up all of those tears…

From Monday January 2nd to Sunday January 8th:
-Storewide 35% Off Sale
-All Remaining Jackets 50% Off
-Several Sale Racks Taken to Further Markdowns
-All Remaining Jewelry is 35% Off