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

crazy life.

{free printable via simple as that}

between an earthquake on the east coast, a vacation cut short by a mandatory hurricane evacuation, and an unexpected upcoming trip back out to portland this weekend... my life has been a little crazy lately! hope everyone in the path of irene is safe, and hopefully i will be back to blogging sooner than later.

best beachwear . . . one-piece suits

if i've been absent from my blog lately, it's because i've got vacation on the brain... i'm leaving for a (much needed) two-week beach holiday with the fam this saturday. since i can't seem to focus on anything else, i decided to dedicate a few posts to beach fashion :)

as any woman who doesn't fall into the sports illustrated swimsuit model category knows, finding a bathing suit you actually want to wear in public can be torture. i've rounded up some of the chicest, most flattering one-piece suits on the web... hopefully you'll find one that works for you!

1. a graphic-print tank by we are handsome is softened a feminine ruffle at the neckline. from net-a-porter.

2. this ditsy floral print suit with side cutouts is the perfect balance of sweet and sexy. by free people.

3. ahoy! i love the retro styling and nautical details of this one-piece by red or dead. from asos.

4. tribal prints are super hot right now, and the bright color and flattering cut of this robin piccone suit will work on almost any figure. from nordstrom.

5. it doesn't get much more chic than a signature missoni-print swimsuit. even if you're vacationing on the jersey shore (like i am), you'll feel like you're in saint-tropez! from net-a-porter.

6. i love the sporty/sexy vibe of this striped, button-detailed monokini. by quiksilver.

7. this star-printed tank by river island is simple and whimsical. from asos.

8. a seersucker halter nails the breezy, summer-in-the-hamptons look. by j. crew.

wordless wednesday . . . rooftop picnic.

via pinterest.

friday fave finds . . . happy summer!

1. happy summer banner via you are my fave

2. pretty pink + gold drinks via 100 layer cake

3. pie chart magnets by studio fludd

4. striped ballerina flats by anniel

5. tie-dye backpack by baggu

6. diy tassel banner via prudent baby

7. pastel manicure photo via lovelyish

8. macaron ice cream sandwiches from jeni's splendid ice creams

pretty packaging . . . marvis toothpaste.

if this toothpaste wasn't over $10 a tube (yikes!), i'm sure i'd have one adorning my vanity right now. prettiest dental hygiene product ever? i think so.

wordless wednesday . . . girls in the windows.

photo by ormond gigli.