French Stripes

I am a fool for love.  And I love french stripes this summer.  Look at these fabulous picks from France and beyond.  

For chic children who want to look bold against the waves from Melijoe

Shapely with neat decorative buttons from Petit Bateau

Add a little neon for fun and sequins for glamour at J.Crew

And the original from Saint James, official clothier to the French Navy!

Orchid Love

Since when does a drink come with a fashion accessory?  Last night I went with my amazing friend Beth to Silk in The Pearl.  I had a really fabulous cocktail with Lychee purée and vodka and some raspberries and other wonderful things.  It was tasty, but best of all it came with a gorgeous orchid perched atop the loveliness.  I believe that orchids are poisonous, but I didn't eat it.  Oh no.  I placed the delicate bloom on the table and then Beth suggested told me I should put it in my hair.  Of course!  Why didn't I think of that?  Thank you, Beth!  I just happened to have some fancy pearl hairpins in my purse that I carry with me for exactly this type of situation.  30 seconds later, tropical glamour was mine and I was loving my dark hair more than ever.  Happily, we head on down the street to Vino Paradiso to do an Oregon wine flight, so I got take my blossom out on the town for a bit.  Best of all, I lovingly placed it in a small dish of water overnight and wore it again today.  I have a new place in my heart for the beautiful, delicate, decidedly strong orchid bloom.  

Moving Sale

As we prepare to move to Switzerland, it pains us to sell many of our beloved belongings, but we've had to adopt the attitude: if we can't shove it in a suitcase, it's not going with us. 

In addition to household items, also up for sale will be our 2005 Volkswagen Golf TDI.  We average 45-55 miles per gallon, depending on where we're driving.  It is manual transmission, white, four doors, moon roof, CD player, heated seats and much more.  51,790 miles.  Be on the lookout for a post about that soon or email me if you're interested.  

We have some things for sale.  Please email me to let me know if you're interested in any of it.  

AVAILABLE NOW

Kitchen Cart from IKEA.  Excellent condition.  Pots and pans, toaster etc not included.  $100

Awesome dish drying rack.  You wouldn't believe how much this thing can hold.  $15
No longer available!

Two Therm-a-Rest camping pads.  Lightweight.
$10 each or two for $15
No longer available!

Basic tent.  *Free*  
No longer available!

Coleman sleeping bag with stuff sack.  Very warm.  $10
No longer available!

Women's The North Face sleeping bag.  Used three times.  Perfect condition.  Includes stuff sack.  $50 No longer available!

Canon EOS 5 SLR Camera with lens, grip, filters, manuals, bag and other stuff.  

*Not digital*  This camera uses film.  $250

Volkswagen Cabrio Boot Cover.  

For 1995-02 models.  Gives a very neat appearance when the top is down and protects the top.  $125

No longer available!

Overhead projector.  Mint condition.  $40

Lots of art supplies.  Some new, some used once or twice.  Acrylic paints, canvas frames (2) charcoals, pastels, markers, colored pencils, brushes, palettes, etc.  More not pictured.  $40 for the lot.

No longer available!

Isaac Mizrahi for Target Butterfly Bedding.  Queen size duvet cover and two shams.  Used only a couple of times.  $20

No longer available!

Authentic Shaker dining chairs.  Set of six for $375

  

Martha Stewart Collection arm chair.  Sensible clean lines.  Good condition.  $30

No longer available!

AVAILABLE MID-JULY

Bed and nightstand.  $325.  Scroll down for detailed pics.

Sealy Posture Premier Regale Blue.  Includes queen sized mattress, box spring and hollywood frame.  Bought new three years ago, has been covered with an allergy barrier since.  Excellent condition.  $300

Quaint Simply Shabby Chic nightstand from Target.  Good condition.  $25

Striped rug from west elm.  1 year old.  Very good condition.  $75

White Lack coffee table from IKEA *free*

Tillary Sofa from west elm.  Includes Sofa with 2 back supports, Ottoman and Corner Cushion.

Versatile and modern.  See more here.  One year old, excellent condition.  Paid $1400 new.  Attractive Saddle color has been discontinued.  $850

Please feel free to make an offer on any item.

More pictures available upon request. 

We will be adding more furniture and household items over the next couple of weeks. 

If there is something you're interested in, please feel free to send me an email with questions or to see more pictures!  Thanks.  Yodel-ay-hee-hooo!

l'Amour

While I was not the one to introduce Phoenix's phenomenal third album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, to our home, I can claim that I am duly obsessed with its wonder.  This is it when it comes to music.  When I say I am obsessed I mean that I want to listen to this album all the time and the only thing that stops me from listening to it over and over again is the fact that I want to savor it rather than play it out and grow tired of it prematurely.  In the past ten years I have only been this in love with two other albums.  One, four years ago, was And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead's Worlds Apart.  The other, 12 years ago, was Texas is the Reason's Do You Know Who You Are which will probably always be my favorite album of all time so let's not even go there.  

The funny thing is that Trail of Dead is from Austin, Texas and Texas is the Reason is from New York and Phoenix is from Versailles.  WTF?  Weirder still is that Thomas Mars, Phoenix's frontman, has a child with Sofia Coppola, director of my absolute favorite movie, Marie Antoinette, which is set in Versailles where Mars is from.  Could this get any more synchronistic?  Probably.  But who cares?  I am going to revel in it anyway.

All of that aside, it is wonderful music in the truest sense of the word.  And you can believe me when I say that, because I am extremely picky and I simply do not say an album is spectacular unless it is.

So get yourself over to the iTunes store and buy Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix straight away.  You will not be sorry. Right now, I just cannot get enough Phoenix.  I am in love.  Vive l'amour!

Adventure

Joel and I are moving away from our beloved City of Roses at the end of July.  It's strange because it's hard to describe just how much I love Portland, but we have a dream to follow and Portland will still be here when we get back.  Since we first starting dating in Eugene, Joel and I have wanted to live and work abroad together in Europe.  Not just anywhere in Europe, but in Switzerland.  How's that for specific?  Amazingly we have set up our lives and education and careers so we can do just that and we're leaving at the end of July!  It's so completely bizarre that sometimes it doesn't seem real.  But it is real and while I'm ecstatic about going, I'm distraught over leaving. How could I not feel sad leaving Portland? It's just so perfect.  And what's not to love about going to Zürich knowing it is considered by some to be the world's most livable city?  Over the next six weeks, I am going to appreciate Portland as much as I can.  Then our wonderful Swiss adventure shall begin.  This is quite a lovely time indeed!