Building my wardrobe for my European Vacation

I am about to embark on a vacation of a lifetime - a European Holiday for 2 weeks and 3 days. I don't think I have ever taken that long of a vacation in my adult life. This trip will be combining several of my favorite things including traveling, fashion, wine, amazing food, sun, friends, did I say wine?

Here is the itinerary:

LAX - Newark - Paris
Train to Bordeaux - two days tasting some of the most amazing wine of this region
Flight to Nice then car ride to St. Tropez - 6 days in the sun, sand and Club 55 (or as they say in France Cinq un Cinq)
Car ride from St. Tropez to Florence, Italy

....Ok, I get a chill when I say Italy....this is my FIRST time traveling to this country. I have been many places - China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Ireland, East Berlin before the wall was torn down - but I have never been to Italy. So I am thrilled to take this journey into this amazing country

3 Days in Florence where we will venture into Tuscany for more wine tasting - can anyone say Sassicaia?
Then, train down to the Italian Riviera where we will spend 3 days in Positano
Then up to Rome for one day in this ancient city and finally flight back to LA

So, I have this amazing trip planned and nothing to wear.


So, my job for the past few months has been to plan out my wardrobe. I am going to be limited to two bags - my travel partner and boyfriend likes to travel light and frankly I am OK not dealing with checked luggage - so I have to be smart and lay out my priorities.

I have been on a hunt for the following items:

1. Evening dresses
2. Summer dresses
3. Light and breezy tops and bottoms
4. Swimware
5. Beachbag
6. New Luggage
7. Great wedges

Honestly, I really just wanted to hire a personal shopper to do all of the legwork for me, but I did not want to spend the money and it has been somewhat fun to spend my nights surfing the web for some great finds. But in actuality, it has been frustrating and stressful pulling the right wardrobe together.

So for those of you who are planning similar trips or just looking for the right wardrobe for this coming summer, here are the hits and misses for the must have items:

1. ShopBop: still my favorite new online site. I have had some great luck finding fun and flirty dresses here for evening. I am not sure I feel the day dresses are worth the price, but for night, this is the site to visit.
2. BCBC Max Azria: after a long hot day of shopping on Robertson, and having no luck finding cute, comfortable and fitting sundresses, a friend and I stopped in to the BCBG store for our last shot at a good dress. And you know what, we got lucky and found some great items.
3. Nordstrom: My favorite place for shoes has some great, fun flirty tops - I just got a multi-colored item from Trina Turk.
4. Laurie Klein: I was in need of a new pair of white jeans and I found a great little stretchie pari at this great shop on Robertson.
5. Victoria's Secret: This is my little secret, I use to wear their dresses in High School (yes, my mom let me), and I have not bought any clothing there until this year. They have a great line-up of shorts, linen pants, bubble tops, bathing suits and bathing suit covers at GREAT prices.
6. JCrew: I just popped in there today to buy a few cardigans and tanks...they have a great variety of colors and prices for the summer.
7. Gypsy Style: This creative little company makes a variety of eco-friendly bags for just about every occasion including the beach, the farmers market, the weekend getaway and of course yoga.

I am still on the hunt for new luggage (that fits everything I need to bring), a great new print bathing suit and a fun print dress.

I am open to suggestions!

Happy packing!

The Strength of Women

As you may know, I am currently working on a project where I am interviewing individuals who have had amazing life changes on or around the age of 33. It has been an absolute pleasure to work on this project so far because I have been able to hear the invigorating and inspirational stories of women (this is open to men and women but I have only interview women so far) who have really found the strength and courage to take a "leap" of faith and go after their dreams. I find this so exciting because this is what makes life worth living...taking chances, being a player, paving your own path and living your desitiny. So many people don't listen to their inner voice telling them that they need/want/desire something different, something else, something more.

Unfortunately, so many people spend their lives sitting on the sidelines, going through the motions. Do they fell fulfilled, happy, content. Or are they just doing what they think they have to do?

What I hope this project will do is tell the story of ever day people who have decided to take life by the reigns and make it their own. I hope it will inspire and motivate to help people find the beauty and excitement in living! Not the fear, misery and unhappiness.

More to come on the year of "33".

David Cook WINS!

I cannot completely explain my obsession with David Cook. From my previous posts, I have mentioned that I am not a music buff nor would anyone accuse me of knowing the difference between good music and cheesy music. I tend to follow the top 20 - my first concert was New Kids on the Block and I am not ashamed to say that I also went to a Backstreet Boys concert 15 years after that NKOB concert. I like anything that lets me sing to the words and makes me want to get up and dance. The playlists on my (PRODUCT) RED nano range from Kelly Clarkson to Neil Diamond to Van Halen to the Indigo Girls. I am proud that I like what I like and I try not to conform or be something I am not. I guess that has always been something I am proud of, I stick to my true self.

And when David Cook sang Billie Jean on American Idol this year - my first year every watching it - I had a new favorite that I could not wait to add to my playlist. There has not been an artist since well since never that has betwitched me like David Cook. I find myself surfing right over to Youtube to catch his amazing array of performances from this year, amazed by his brilliance, blushing from a school girl crush and in shock that there is actually an American Idol conestant that has amazing creative talent and is actually a nice guy.

I am so happy that this guy won American Idol....not because of the record deal and the media attention and the glory of saying he won....but because he deserved it. He was and is amazing...he made American Idol enjoyable and addictive...and now I have a new artist to get excited about. He has already found a place in my eclectic, crazy and weird iPod playlist.

It has been a while

Many apologies for the long delay since my last post....I have been busy working on my "33" project, but I I am missing talking about my favorite things! So here it goes...