where have you been all my life. by orange

I feel downright sheepish that I did not know of this lovely brand of shoes. Jeffrey Campbell. He makes Fabulous shoes! His shoes reign from Spain and they are known for creativity in small quantities. Some of the shoes are produced in quantities less than 100 pairs! The shoe that made me fall in love with this brand might just be one of these limited quanity pairs - as I can only find them in a size 8 (deep sigh...)

my shoe muse...The Michelle (thank you http://www.clutch22.com/)

Check out these that I found and just try not to drool...

From Top Left: Lattice, Tinier, Boudoir, Cause, Fringe, Drops. What fun names as well!

I found these all at the likes of: solestruck.com, free people, urban outfitters, madison la, lori's shoes.

Oh how my heart aches for size 6.5 or 7 Michelles...

the trip. by orange

About a week ago I was in a lovely seat on American Airlines on my way to the big apple with the husband. The trip was a 2008 christmas gift as I'd never been to the city before. The NYC trip made me think back to how a trip with the significant other can really be the make it or break it of the relationship.

When the husband and I first started dating, about 9 months in, we went on our first trip together to Akumal, Mexico. Besides it being our first trip together, there was one other major stressor that added to this trip. We had just moved in to a place we bought together a week prior to the trip. Yeah...we have really good timing.

Here are some of my favorite memories and lessons learned of that trip....

1) First off, the husband and I are both pretty freaking pale. I think the sun reflected off of us so much we were like white lights on the beach :).

2) When we arrived the place was nice...but not spectacular. As I had never been on a tropical/beach vacation before I was thinking luxurious hotel room, crisp linens, etc. This was more like a beach shack. An average "nice" room.

- this did spawn the first argument of the trip. I blame it mostly on a full day of travel, heat, and too high expectations.

***lesson learned: check out www.tripadvisor.com for recent photos and reviews of the hotel/resort from fellow travelers.

3) The doll-making 70 year old couple that we met at the daily happy hour who have been traveling to Akumal for the past 16 years every March. It made me hope that the husband and I would someday be like them. Just thinking about them brings a smile to my face.

4) Even though I am a nice pale white shade, I still enjoy pretending I can tan and laying out. The husband - not so much. So when day 3 hit and we were still on the beach, the husband got a bit ancy to get up and do some stuff.

***lesson learned: discuss a loose plan for the trip; making sure you are both on the same page so no unnecessary quarrels start. figure out a good compromise. or (this is my favorite solution) go on a vacation with another couple and that way the group can split up to head out to different day trips.

hangin' around. by violet.

i am so excited for summer. not just because of the beach, BBQs, warm weather or baseball games. but mostly because i LOVE wearing flowy summer dresses. my closet is packed full of jersey, cotton and gauzy numbers just begging to come out and play. these outfits are perfect because you can dress them up or wear flip flops with them- super versatile, but always feminine and sexy.

the only thing i need to spend some time and money on is ACCESSORIZING. you can take one dress and fancy it up in 10 different ways with the right collection of jewelry. so, this summer i will focus on finding necklaces to make my dresses pop. here are 4 pieces i am officially coveting:

layers and layers of charm would sass up a long, strapless dress.

this makes me swoon. throw on a black sundress and heels… voila! cute little going-out look with little effort.

these pearls would be so perfect over a cream-colored party dress.

mojito-colored magic. it would go with anything.

do you any ultimate accessory finds to share with us?? please do!

staying awake. by orange

While training for the 1/2 marathons my running buddies and I have been trying various "race nutrition" items.  Basically they provide you a boost - a bit more than your average sip of gatorade.  A couple that have been popular with us are CLIF shot blocks, Luna Moons and Sport Beans.  Sound tasty don't they?

Well nearing the 1/2 marathon we made sure to find the one that worked best with us during the run.  I was most excited about the Sport Beans - as they are sweet jelly beans (made by jelly belly), however with an added kick - including caffeine.  Sadly, my stomach did not agree with them while running.  However, I thought - would these little jelly beans provide the boost that I might need on a night out on the town?

Ask the husband, I can fall asleep just about anywhere at anytime.  I've even gone to the doctor regarding this amazing amount of sleep I crave, but apparently nothing is wrong.  The husband swears it is due to a lack of hydration throughout the day - which I do agree with him, just haven't quite started the hydration plan.  Anyway, you can imagine, while out - even with red bull vodkas galore I'm still getting sleepy when the clock strikes midnight.  So something that can wake me up and and doesn't involve snorting sounds like a dream come true.

Where else to try out the sport beans than in the city that never sleeps - New York City.  With the bars being open until 4am I knew I would need some help.  So...

it worked!  Here I am at the end of the night - still awake and going!  :)

nyc love. by orange

i'm back from a whirlwind week!

for the last week i was all over the map - running 13.1 miles in Eugene OR, back in Seattle for some marathon packing, then off to nyc to sightsee, shop, walk the city, see a broadway show, hang out in brooklyn, shop some more and have some B list celebrity sightings...

here are my top ten moments of the city:

1) drooling in the chanel store...oh how i am in lust with that brand

2) taking a rickshaw/bike tour of central park

3) finding the perfect nyc dress at Zara and a bright yellow coat at Kenneth Cole (see picture of jacket in black)

4) street food! (mainly the ballpark-like pretzels)

5) going out on the lower east side: lots and lots and lots of bars open til 4am...all close by to yummy pizza joints (beats drunk mcdonalds food any night!)

6) seeing the skyline at night from the top of the rock...accompanied by 500+ 12 year olds

7) seeing kate bosworth while shopping at top shop

8) witnessing a 70 year old man walking the streets in all neon, all spandex. glorious sight to see

9) watching the billy elliot cast (mostly under the age of 13) dancing like maniacs!

10) being offered a nutella and banana snack to toast to a very expensive 5 year olds birthday party at the Juicy Couture store off 5th (Kelly's daughter from Real Housewives of NYC)

and a few surprises:

1) top shop is more expensive in the US then in London - what the hell?!

2) i heard the cabs are crazy in nyc and i have a pretty strong stomach - but even sober, they made me car sick! all the punching the gas, punching the breaks - oh vey!

3) a new favorite word to use: fresh. ie: "you are so fresh!" - meaning you are acting sassy.

4) how nice everyone was in the city. i was expecting rudeness all the time, but it was not so!

p.s. i've been inspired. by violet.

anyone who knows me is constantly telling me the reason i'm broke is cause i love my manicures. i will point all nay-sayers to mrs. orange's last post and say HA! $10 for an accessory all week long? i say i'm SAVING money.

honestly, i didn't need anymore encouragement to run out and have my nails done, but i took it from orange anyway. i went down to nails spa tan (another epic name) in lower Queen Anne and demanded my piece of the South Beach collection by OPI.


sigh. nothing rounds out a Sunday afternoon like a manicure.

sidenote: view the OPI rainbow in its entirety here and start coordinating your wardrobe.

the manicure fix. by orange

As mentioned in a previous blog post - I'm not too good with budgets and have some what of an issue with shopping, particularly for shoes, accessories, purses, jeans...okay well everything fashion.  I've found that recently, I can get my "fix" by going down to the local nail salon (with the ingenious store name of: Beautiful Nails!) and get my new favorite color painted on my nails.  

Now I do have to point out, although I love manicures, it pains me how little they last! Especially with a job where I have to type all day, my manicure seems obsolete by the time Thursday roles around.  Where is the top coat that will make it last??!  If you know a good one - please pass on your words of wisdom.

On to some of my current favorites:

OPI California Raspberry

OPI Conga-Line Coral

OPI Don't Socra-tease Me

OPI Miami Beet

OPI Lincoln Park After Dark

OPI Cajun Shrimp

OPI On Collins Ave

OPI Friar Friar Pants on Fire