Ear Crawlers…the perfect earring and accessory to jazz up the ear in a classy way by only utilizing one hole! Thankfully, this trend is well served by one of my favorite retailers, BaubleBar
I was the lucky recipient of these beauties for the holidays and my eyes are still on a few more pieces before Europe!
I’ll be honest- when I chose Central Europe in August for a March trip, I clearly was unaware of much. It’s cold people. Colder than it has been in the Mid-Atlantic region in the USA. So what do you do? You purchase this for under your clothing.
Cuddl Duds thermal layer ($16.99 @ Target)
What has been my savior for this trip? Tripomatic! I’ve been to Paris. I’ve been to France. However, I’ve never had to cram France/Paris into < 48 hours for someone else. Just thinking about all there’s to see AND do in Paris gives me heart palpitations. I discovered the easy to use app that allows you choose and arrange sights/places in the allotted time you have. Let’s just say we are going to be on our feet walking the jet lag out until wayyyyyy late that night. Sorry, Erin. You’ll forget about it once we are strolling the Champs-Élysées, viewing La Seine from the Eiffel Tower, and peering out over Paris from Montmartre.
These boots are made for walking (or somehow Uber will do!)
As you see above there’s a lot do do and a lot we won’t get to do. It’s a packed 12-14 hours of seeing stuff and I only scheduled one restaurant/café in there. I’ve set up stuff for Prague, Vienna, and Budapest thanks to Tripomatic and hope it keeps us on pace/track.
How delicious does this food look from TripAdvisor’s app?! I may find a Czech man and stay if these are my food options!
Food is my other worry on this trip. I’m normally worried about food due to my odd food allergies. Italy turned out a lot better than I thought, but I know for a fact people probably thought I was the crazy American lady on a knee scooter with allergies to food. But they’re real and I want to live my life without ever being stabbed by an epi-pen! TripAdvisor is suddenly fueling my days by making me hungry (hello! Do you know how appetizing some of these photos of food are?!) and telling me where we need to go and where we shouldn’t go. I’m stoked to try the wine bars with cheese plates in Vienna, Be Bop Bar in Prague with quirky bartenders and drinks, and St. Patrick’s Day in Hungary. Could it be any less Irish than in America?! I’m pretty sure I’ll be food blogging and buying clothes to accommodate the food coma we will be in!
How many times do you walk into a store and think, “Gosh. There’s so much here. I don’t have the time/patience/desire to pick and choose anything.” It leads you to grabbing the first few things that look cute but ultimately you’ve totally shopped in your “comfort zone.”
Self-admittedly I’ve come to known my style quite well- sweaters, sweater dresses, leggings (with a shirt covering my behind), and jeans. It’s worked and people typically comment I look good. There are those few items I’ve returned (like the faux fur short coat today that could have qualified me as a character on GoT) outside but the times are quite rare.
As I recently said, I’m heading to Europe Marxh 6th with my friend, Erin, who lives in Texas. Granted- I’m from the North, so my wardrobe is appropriate for Europe. Well, hers, she’d freeze to death. So, I’ve done my duty to remind her about what she’ll need. I’m feeling a little pressured with clothes for a winter trip. I’ve been to Europe for a total of around 42 days in my life-all in semi-warm temperatures. I’ve had crazy hair, the same pants (rain in Paris and London in September 2013), and thanks to this last trip- the same (different from 2013) pants, a royal blue fiberglass cast, and a knee scooter. Needless to say- I need a trip where my clothes are ON POINT. Paris for two nights during Fashion Week? Duh.
Here you find my European style staple- Kut from the Kloth jeans (they could fit over the cast) and just a blah-unlike me adventure. Oh hey, there’s Greece in the background.
Last week I quickly set up a Personal Stylist appointment at Nordstrom (my second home) and pleaded for ideas for Paris in Winter. I showed up to meet Barb, my stylist, who couldn’t have been any nicer and on point with her selections. I’m still trying to figure out HOW she knew the colors to bring me. Gray, Black, Navy, Teal, & Burgundy. These are the colors you’ll find in my closet. Secretly I wonder if she can look at past purchases, but it seems like that’s unlikely because of financial institution rules.
Arriving in the dressing room was like heaven- there were things I would never touch. I’d never pull these items out and look. Some were in sections I typically stay away from (hello?! Who honestly spends $180 on a dress shirt?) but with the Half-Yearly sale- many items were more “affordable.” Barb was willing to stay with me as I tried on clothes, but I was comfortable enough to decide on my own what I liked.
As as you can see, there were so many varied options. Thinfs I’d never touch or look at but when presented to me made complete sense. Of course, some items didn’t work (hello! 5’11” here- dress pants just never fit right-too short!), or the shirt with sleeves two inches above my wrist. The soft, fuzzy Sesame Street character cardigan I LOVED but hated how it fell on my shoulders stayed there.
Somehow I fell in love with things I would have never chosen. I walked away with a sleeveless, long, black Trouvé vest;?a sleeveless, white, soft nubbed Nick + Zoe vest; a mandarin collar blue stripe Nordstrom collection tunic; and a Hinge long, super-soft cardigan. 75% of the items I purchased would have stayed in the store forever had I not had a personal stylist.
Halogen long cardigan ($79); Nordstrom Collection Tunic ($98.98; originally $180); NYDJ original skinny legging ($98). Side note: I’m looking far from glamorous in this selfie.
Moral of the story: let someone else pick for you once and a while- you might like it.
Ladureé yummies in Roma
Congrats, you’re the new owner of a broken foot two days before Europe!
Well, I somehow managed to completely remove myself from things I care deeply about in 2015. Fashion. However, it’s not my fault. Let’s call it the fault of nature and life. Guess who broke her foot two days prior to takeoff to Europe for a three week whirlwind vacation?! Yup. You’re looking at her. What an adventure is all I can say. So, as someone, who’s still on the line/fence of surgery to fix it properly…my goal in 2016 is to bring regular content. And with that: GUESS WHO WILL BE IN PARIS FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS OF FASHION WEEK?! Yup. That’s right: me. I’m heading back to Europe in March for 13 days: Paris, Prague, Viemna, Budapest, & possibly Bratislava for a day! Beyond excited! Wishing everyone a prosperous 2016 and I promise content and images in 2016. My shopping has been on point lately!
Shopping to Travel 