Happy Halloween!

Garfield's Halloween Adventure is still my favorite Halloween treat to watch every year next to It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.  Though, Binky the Clown gets a little scarier as I age.

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{photo diary} Portland 1

Right from the beginning, Saturday was a great adventure.  It all started with the trapping/escaping/flushing of a stink bug that ended with the couch, floor and myself bruised and soaked.  Once we composed ourselves, we hopped into our Zip car and drove to Stumptown Coffee at the Ace Hotel in downtown Portland, before heading to breakfast at the Screen Door.  Both had just the right conditions for a Saturday brunch.

 Why, thank you!

Next stop: Cannon Beach & Astoria to for our Goonie adventure.  Let's just put it this way...neither rain, nor wind, nor blowing sand (or the tide trying to take my bag out to sea) can stop us!! 

Kenneth Cole jacket, vintage cardigan & tote, Mossimo t-shirt, F21 skinnies & hat, Polo wellies

Photos: Robin West

Heaven

I need to go to D'ESPRESSO immediately.  Nema Workshop worked with the brand to create an "immediately striking to the goal-oriented suits and wandering tourists alike" atmosphere in it's second location (near Grand Central Station).  I think it's safe to say, job well done!

And no, your eyes are not deceiving you.  The bookcase wallpaper, hardwood floor design on the wall and protruding lamps work together in creating that pretty amazing sideways feeling. 

Photos: Nema Workshop

Voodoo Doughnut

Right off the plane in Portland and after a joyful welcome, Renee took me directly to Voodoo Doughnut (Too).  It was raining and late, so I didn't do a full photo-op, but I did get the important shots-like my addictive Bacon Maple bar & Kenny G twirling around the display case playing some sweet tunes. 

♫ ♪♪  ♫ ♪♫ 

This may not look like something you would typically order (definitely while on a diet), but trust me, it was amazing.  I actually found myself craving one this morning.  Must...create....recipe...

Photos: Robin West

Totally blushing!

Just in from my Portland trip (so much fun stuff to share with you!),  I just read an amazing message that kind of blew me away.  Andrew Ricci, an artist that I have met through a good friend's gallery openings, emailed me after viewing my "Steel Dreams" post stating that my photos would look great as paintings.  As I am usually the one inspired by his pieces, I told him that I would love to see his take on them.

So, here it is, just a few short days after that initial talk: Andrew's magic creation with oil (photo on right).  I am flattered, humbled and giddy all in one!!  It's the little things like this that really make it all worth it to me.

Just Because: Soopa Scarves

Looking at these photos of Yokoo Scarves & Accessories makes me feel all warm & toasty. 

Photos: Yokoo Scarves & Accessories/Etsy.com

Steel Dreams

I revisited Allaire State Park this weekend for some hiking in the woods and took some time to enjoy the antique steam trains along the Pine Creek railroad.  There is so much history & beauty found in the rubble and debris-I am pulled to unnatural beauty, like unexpected designs & textures found amongst rusted metal.

I am loving the design of the color-blocking on this faded sticker!

I think that I may be holding back laughter in the tree...if you saw me try and throw myself up (was actually more of throwing myself into that branch that I am sitting on), you would understand.

Photos: Robin West

H&M leaks first photo of Lanvin collaboration

 Photo: H&M

Here is the first peak of 4 outfits that will be dropping into stores November 23rd-the full collection will be 30 pieces and 15 accessories for women, and 25 pieces and 10 accessories for men.  Shot by the talented David Sims, the models, from left, are Hannelore Knuts, Jane Schmitt, Tati Collitar, and Natasha Poly.  Loving how Lanvin is staying true to their demographic by featuring Jane in these ads.

Portland!

Photo: William200549 (on Flickr)

This week I will be heading to Portland, OR for the first time to visit my favorite red head Renee (she's a natural).  Before I go on hiatus for a few days starting on Friday, I wanted to get some feedback on some of your favorite spots to check out!  I have a few on my list, like the obvious Voodoo, Stumptown, Spirit of '77 and Cannon Beach, but need more to keep busy.

I have a feeling I am going to like it there.

{style} wine fling

Long overdue, I wanted to share one of my favorite days this summer that happened during Labor Day weekend.  I got together with a few of my favorite friends from high school (including the fabulous Ruth of Chic Thrills) for a much needed day of catch-up and ventured out to a wine festival in the beautiful Allaire State Park.  A day full of laughs, great weather, great company, delicious wine, Polaroids and a bbq.

So long summer, til we meet again....

Thank you Ruth for the photos! 

Don't forget to check out Chic Thrills!

H&M maxi skirt & sheer tank, Urban Outfitters bag, Thierry Lasry sunnies (my big purchase from Paris, love!), sandals-random store in NYC

Rue La La!

One of my (many) obsessions is magazines.  I can't get enough.  About 10 years ago, after ripping up my favorite pages out of the latest Vogue to add to my inspiration box, I realized how silly I was.  From that day on, I started to collect my favorite magazines to keep a better archive of the years that these fashions & designs were taking place.  I now have very heavy stacks of magazines, that is hell to try and pack up each time that I move, but totally worth it.

I am still an avid fan of physically flipping through each and every crisp page and was never a fan of looking at them online.  Until now.  Unless you have been under a rock, you are well aware of the fabulous launch of online magazine Rue.  I really don't have the words to describe it.  It covers every aspect of art that makes my heart skip a beat.  With Bri Emery, creator of Designlovefest, sitting as Art Director, it's really no surprise that the amazing photography is laid out in such a clean, magnificent manner.

I chose a few of my favorite pages (very hard to narrow down from 261 pages) for you. Enjoy!

Photos: Rue Magazine