The style mystique

From 'The Sartorialist' (who else?) is this perfect example of Parisian chic. You simply must read what he wrote (below) about this example of perfect street style because, as always, he is spot on and personally, I love everything about her:

"What a great way to look this summer: so simple and yet so refined.

I love that her shorts aren't too short and that her top isn't too tight. Nothing screams in this look and yet the presentation is very strong.

This is a great example of elegance successfully achieved through understatement and flawless execution."

Amen.

-From 'The Sartorialist'

And the presents keep coming...

Oh my gosh...my dear friend Melody gave me this adorable Coach cupcake key chain for my birthday over the weekend. It was like she knew I had been eyeing it. I am so in love with it, I can hardly wait for an opportunity to use my keys (and when has that ever been fun ;)

I wanted to include a link but they seem to have disappeared from the Coach site...oh no! But you can check it out on Polyvore.

Parisian scarves

Scarves are synonymous with looking très chic...What is it about French women and working their magic w. scarves???!!! They always look effortless, don't they?

Lonchamp has some darling prints.....

Welcome back :)

Hey kids!! Welcome back from a long, super-summery, 4th of July weekend! I don' t know how it was where you guys were but here in upstate NY it was hot...smokin' hot...and I loved every single minute of it. Not that you care but I heard it was the 1st official heat wave in Rochester in 3 years!! Geez...that's way too long to go without beautiful sun and hot temps. On Saturday, I felt like a super jock...watched the women's final at Wimbledon, caught World Cup matches while running errands, went to the Rochester Rhinos soccer match and topped it off with Chris' beloved MMA...it was awesome but by the end of the day, all I wanted to do was watch an opera or go to a museum or something.

Anyway, I hope you all had the most awesome weekend and are ready to kick it up a notch for the next couple months of super summer :)

(How can you not love a print that pays homage to the sun by paying homage to one of the best Beatles songs ever...Thanks lollieland!)

not just any box

In honor of celebrating all things French this week...I thought I'd start w/ one of their national treasures: Laduree Macarons. I love their macarons, but its the boxes they come in that really steal the show for me! This spring & summer they're debuting a new set of boxes and I hope I can snag one when I go in exactly two weeks time (I'm counting the days, hours & minutes!)

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

Promise me...

...that on this 4th of July, you will eat hot dogs and apple pie at a lovely outdoor picnic, surrounded by friends and family...you will sit under the stars of a warm, summer sky and enjoy a beautiful and thrilling fireworks display...and that you will enjoy each and every minute of this long, holiday weekend :)

Happy Birthday to us all!!!


(Fireworks photo by tcmphoto)

The verdict ... and the shoes...are in

My new DSW shoes arrived last night (you remember the ones I ordered from my post of last week...if not check the link :) and you have to believe me when I tell you that I am in love with the shoes I received. I am wearing the Me Too patent leather sandals today and next to my Keen's, these have got to be the most comfortable sandals I have ever owned. That would be enough except that are so darn cute too. So I kind of expected to love this pair but the jury was a little out on the BCBG ballet flats. OK, so they are wonderful too...but even more wonderful than I thought they would be. They have the most perfectly shaped rounded toe (pretty much as close to an actualy ballet slipper as you can get) and they fit so nicely. I guess I am just not used to ballet flats being comfortable, as my current favorite pair (which were twice as much as the BCGC's by the way) are seriously the most uncomfortable shoes I own. All style (they are gorgeous) and NO comfort.

Anyway, the folks at DSW have really made a convert out of me. I still prefer online shopping to the store but I think they may have created a monster :)

silly me

I know you've heard of Silly Bandz bracelets. Everyone under the age of 10 wears them....and I started wearing them a few months ago. This is the original pack I bought and I loved that the shapes spring back after you've stretched them a million times over (believe me, I've tried it many many times...and I'm still impressed!). I mostly wear the girl, dog bone, & heart bracelets--sometimes all together & sometimes just one. They're just kinda fun and I love the idea that there are so many different shapes/themes around. I thought I was just kinda strange for getting into them but I guess I'm not because the NYT Style section has an article about the adult following..... Go figure!

Breakfast at Wimbledon

Among the many fun things going on this weekend, don't forget to catch 'Breakfast at Wimbledon' this Saturday (Women's final) and Sunday (Men's final) mornings. Since we are going to head down the street to watch the action with K & D, I thought I'd skip the Dunkin Donuts this weekend (that's been the menu for the past couple weekends of World Cup) and try the traditional 'strawberries & cream'. Good recipes are hard to come by so I hope a good 'American' cream will suffice...otherwise, I might just do it with ice cream...big sacrifice :)

*That said, just because I can't find a good recipe for 'Strawberries and Cream' doesn't mean one does not exist (millions of Brits can't be wrong:) so if you know of one, please feel free to post!

(Adorable 'First Strawberries' print by Etsy fave stephanielevy)

Bastille

Of course KP's Canada Day post got me thinking about Bastille Day (7.14)! It falls on a Wed. this year and am I wrong in thinking you'll be in the Keys by then, KP? I suggest we celebrate everything French during the week of July 12th! What do you say?!? It's really too bad I don't get nearly as excited about our own independence day in the States (with the exception of the day off from work!)....

Today feels like a Friday to me so I'll just pretend the weekend is starting tomorrow...I plan to laze around, watch our neighborhood's fireworks display, and perhaps laze around some more!

Anyone else up for starting the weekend a bit early?

To all my favorite Canucks...

...a Happy Canada Day!!

summer shirt

The suckered gingham perfect shirt has finally gone on sale at (where else?)J.Crew! I missed my chance yesterday(sold out!), but got another one this morning. I think they purposely do the "sell outs"....Total mind play on their part...and I fall for it each & every time. I wanted the shirt very much before it sold, but wanted it desperately when I couldn't have it!

Gingham is everywhere this summer and for good reason...It reminds me of quaint warm weather picnics(obviously!) & all around laid back good fun.....Let's hope I look decent in the thing and not like a checkered table-cloth!

My J.Crew sprees have to stop. I must do it soon or else I'll be in serious trouble. {Help!}

BTW, KP...did you get your J.Crew package from last week?

What is in the water over at FIFA?

So, I hope you will indulge me for a moment as I point out the obvious. What on earth is the deal with soccer and absolutely gorgeous, movie-star handsome men? I mean, per capita, this sport has got to have the hottest men as compared with every other sport. Is it just coincidence or is there just something about the athleticism required in this particular sport? I don't want to intellectualize this too much...just sit back and enjoy some of my favorites, past and present, including Spain's Ferrnando Torres, the Netherlands Maarten Skelkenburg, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo, Germany's Michael Ballack (who bears a stiking resemblance to Matt Damon) and the grand-daddy of all hot soccer stars, David Beckham. Wow...just wow :)

Techno Lust

I am pining away here for the Apple IPad. I keep trying to convince a very reluctant husband why I need it so much...Just imagine all the fun things that would be available to me while out & about....What I love most is that mags & newspapers are going to create special editions just for the IPad---Just think of Gourmet coming back to life on an IPad! So I will sit quietly & admire my IPad from afar..for now. I keep saying I'll wait for the the 2nd generation (in case there are kinks to be worked out....BTW, are there any? because I need a good excuse to wait it out). {A huge sigh}

Just the beginning

Did you hear the fantastic news about Domino? It's not being revived (yet??!)...but the archives will be available on Brides.com. I read the news on Black Eiffel and of course one of my all time favorite shots was included in the post! I adore this photo so much....

This is quite timely because I was just telling B. last week that Gourmet was coming back as an E-mag (for IPad) and I said if Domino should do the same thing I'd have to buy an IPad (well, I want one anyway but this would make for a very good reason!).....As much as I love Lonny, I still miss my beloved Domino!