dream downtown (& my next adventure!)

well, i've been home from paris for a couple days now and i'm already missing it terribly. in fact, my husband and i went to see midnight in paris for the second time last night to help ease the transition back to normal life! if you haven't seen it yet, please do... it's the next best thing to actually being in paris.

while it's always sad to leave the city of light, i'm on to my next adventure this weekend... the new york city wine & food festival!

i went to the festival with my family for the first time last year, and it was a blast. waaaaaay too much delicious food, fun demos, freebies, and lots of food celebs!

this time around we're spending the weekend at dream downtown, a fabulous boutique hotel with a really cool, modern design aesthetic. check out the pictures from the website... it looks like a dream come true (pun very much intended)!

i'll be sure to report back on all the details... au revoir!

rue mouffetard

just a few photos i snapped at the market on rue mouffetard... a feast for the eyes and le ventre, of course!



p.s. tomorrow is our last day in paris - so sad to leave!

view of paris...

from the top of notre dame. the best view in the city, je pense!

toi et moi.

four years ago today i married the love of my life. happy anniversary, robin. je t'aime!

whisk me away to paris...

{montmartre view photo available from my etsy shop}

i'm off to paris for the week... i've been looking forward to this trip all year, and finally it's here!

i can't wait to stroll along the seine hand in hand with my husband, eat macarons in the jardin du luxembourg, and rummage through the beautiful old junk at les puces. i'm bringing along my new camera and my trusty netbook, so i hope to be able to post some highlights from abroad.

au revoir, mes amis!

missoni for target.

the missoni for target launch was so huge it crashed the target website for most of the day tuesday, leaving many eager shoppers in the dark. luckily, i went to my local tar-jay at 8 a.m. and was able to score some amazing designer loot! and don't tell my husband, but i may have also ordered a couple more irresistible pieces once the site recovered from the rush of traffic. here's what i picked up...

clockwise from top left:

tote bag; glass jar candle; black and white patterned blouse; silk scarf; one-piece bathing suit; silk pajama shorts; black and white ottoman pouf; men's chevron socks

habitat for humanity + haiti + me = one amazing opportunity.

so, dear readers... my life just got a little bit crazier, and i need your help!

i have been chosen as a volunteer for habitat for humanity's 2011 jimmy & rosalynn carter work project in léogâne, haiti. over the course of a week in november, 400 volunteers will work alongside president and mrs. carter to build 100 earthquake-resistant homes and help families in need.

there's just one catch... i need to raise $5,000 by november 30th in order to participate. yikes! the funding will cover chartered transportation, lodging, food, building materials, and ongoing support for habitat in haiti. most of the other volunteers have had since june to raise the money, but because i was chosen from a waitlist, i am in a bit of a time crunch!

if you can donate anything at all, even just a few dollars, it would mean the world to me... and to the people of haiti, who have had nowhere to live for the past year and eight months.

here is the link to my personal fundraising page:

http://www.habitat.org/cd/cwp/participant/participant.aspx?pid=93531879

if you can't afford to make a donation, i would really appreciate it if you could spread the word by posting my story and fundraising link on your blog, facebook, or twitter.

thank you so very much, from the bottom of my heart!

p.s. you can find out more about the 2011 jimmy & rosalynn carter work project here.

je ne sais quoi.

i'm back from portland, and now i've got paris on the brain... we leave in just over a week! i feel like such a jetsetter... but it'll be so nice to just relax in my favorite city and not worry about all the craziness that's been going on stateside.

one of the most fun (and sometimes challenging) parts of travelling abroad is planning your wardrobe! when visiting paris, the fashion capital of the world, it's essential to look chic and put together. this time around i'm going for classic pieces that i can mix-and-match seamlessly. here's what i'm packing... my top 10 pieces to help you achieve that certain je ne sais quoi no matter where life takes you!

1. oversized sunglasses.

perfect for dodging the paparazzi or hiding jet-lagged eyes. i am forever losing sunglasses when i travel, so here's a tip... forever 21 has tons of stylish frames at rock-bottom prices, so if they don't make it home with you, it's no big deal. from forever 21, $5.80

2. a boldly-colored clutch.

in a city where most of the residents wear head-to-toe black nearly every day, it's nice to mix things up with a jolt of color. i love a boldly-colored envelope clutch to finish off an evening look. from endless, $78

3. sleek black booties.

if you don't already own a pair of black high-heeled booties, run to your nearest retail outfit and pick yourself up a pair. trust me. they make any outfit infinitely more chic, and paired with opaque black tights, they make your legs look like they go on forever. from nordstrom, $138.95

4. a motorcycle jacket.

most of the pieces here are classic and understated, but every now and then you need a little bit of edge. an on-trend leather motorcycle jacket is the perfect way to rough-up an otherwise demure look. from nordstrom, $398

5. skinny black pants.

a pair of skinny black pants is one of my wardrobe staples, at home and abroad. look for a fabric that has some stretch to it, so they'll be just as comfy on a 12-hour flight as they are lounging around the house. also look for details like exposed zippers or decorative seaming to make them a little more special. from revolve clothing, $74

6. a striped shirt.

i know, i know... it's such a cliché when it comes to french fashion. but seriously, you will wear a shirt like this over and over and it will never, ever go out of style. i must own about 15 of them and they i reach for them constantly, whether i'm headed to the farmer's market or out for a date with my husband. from j. crew, $45

7. ballerina flats.

you can't walk around paris in sneakers if you want to blend in. a pair of classic ballerina flats are a million times more stylish, and just as comfy. don't be afraid to spend a little more for the right pair... your feet will thank you! from asos, $54.89

8. a chic scarf.

a patterned scarf is the perfect finishing touch to a casual outfit. i love infinity-style scarves... just loop them around your neck a couple times and they instantly look perfect and artfully draped. from loft, $34.50

9. a sharp blazer.

a tailored black blazer is the perfect travel companion. it layers nicely over almost any top in your closet, and adds a bit of polish to a t-shirt and jeans. the slight puffed-sleeve detail on this one lends a little extra dose of femininity. from piperlime, $69

10. a pleated miniskirt.

you have to have at least one flirty, whimsical piece in your suitcase when you're visiting the most romantic city on the planet. an accordion pleated mini is right on for fall, and the light blush color gives it an airy, ethereal appearance. pair it with your moto jacket for the perfect mix of hard and soft. from asos, $32.93