There's a Place in France

This afternoon yours truly is jetting off to Nice to celebrate two very special friends who are getting married in Saint Tropez on Friday. I know - this isn't something I can pull off dropping casually - so rest assured I look just like this every time I say/type it. There is no such thing as a calm, cool and collected pre-interational travel Natalie, and she certainly isn't going to come into existence today. 

The only thing standing in the way of me and the Côte d'Azur are some billable hours, a 10-ish hour flight, and avoiding being strangled by my husband who has to put up with my travel antics, which unfortunately for him last much longer than 10 hours. Said antics include unwelcome selfies on the plane (must. document. every. moment.), asking him (averaging once per hour) if he's as excited as I am, waking him up to tell him about the horrible charlie horse I got (zero water + lots of vino = cramp city), explaining that the reason the air around us smells like fake tanner is because that's exactly what it is (don't hate the playa, hate the game), complaining about how my swollen feet no longer fit in my slip-on sneaks (see earlier comment about not hydrating), and inevitably choosing movies that end in a can't-breathe-out-my-nose-anymore sob fest (guess I'll have to reapply the face tanner during the layover). T minus 7 hours for takeoff, bébé.

Striped Tie Dress - Ann Mashburn// Red, White & Blue Dress - Dolce & Gabbana// Puff Sleeve Dress - Caroline Constas// Tortoise Sunglasses - Carla Colour// Headband - Benoit Missolin// Red, White & Blue Bathing Suit - Solid & Striped// Le Weekend Espadrilles - South Parade// Acrylic Champagne Earrings - Etsy// Bon Voyage Pouch - Lizzie Fortunato// Red, White & Blue Clutch - Clare V.// iPhone Camera Folio - Kate Spade// Passport Cover - Paravel

PJ All Day, Bay-bay

Reporting live from my couch today, from which I don't plan on moving. Hope you all are enjoying your Memorial Day and I hope you all are as obsessed with the pajama trend as I am. Lately I've been accumulating an inordinate amount of satin and silk nightwear: kimonos, pajama tops and bottoms, robe coats, slip dresses, you name it. 

I like to think of this purchasing strategy as a Warren Buffet-esque defensive measure (keep tellin' yourself that, Nat), as I'm investing in pieces that can literally be worn everyday, for the rest of mi vida. Pajama dressing is a consumer staple at its finest: comfortable, useful, and (now more than ever) versatile, as they have evolved from just-for-bedtime-fashtion into a are-you-cool-and-chill-enough-to-pull-it-off-during-the-am lewk. And since I don't plan to ever reach an age where I've matured out of pajama-wearing (not sure if that's even poss), the future earnings power here is strong. If you're a betting woman, bet on pajamas (says the girl currently wearing 'em).

Jade Satin Pajama Top - Bebe// White Crop Jeans - Madewell// Sage Tassel Earrings - Hart// Silk Pajama Set - Whistles// Black Tassel Earrings - Hart// Pink Floral PJ Top - Forever 21// Pink PJ Pants - J. Crew// Navy Mules - Ann Mashburn// Velvet Robe - The Sleeper// Leather Leggings - J. Crew// Black Pointed Toe Heels - Ann Mashburn// Green Silk PJ Top - Equipment// Green Printed PJ Pants - J. Crew// Brown Mules - Ann Mashburn// Navy Off the Shoulder Top - COS// Navy Printed PJ Pants - Need Supply// Yellow Tassel Earrings - Hart// Pink & Red Tassel Earrings - Hart// White Shirt - COS// Palm Print PJ Pants - For Restless Sleepers

Off to College: Grad Gift Guide

My youngest sister graduated high school yesterday, and as much as I wish I could've been in Miami, among the sea of a thousand plus spectators, to hear eighteen year olds make speeches about the world being their oyster and squeal about this summer being THE one to remember and sob to as we go on, we remember all the times we had together..., I unfortunately had to miss it (for this thing I have called a *job*). Being unable to attend was probably for the best, however, as I don't think I have the emotional fortitude to withstand the "you people don't even know how good you have it about to start the best four years of your life I would trade my left pinky to go back" mental black hole that I would've inevitably free fallen into. Being an overly nostalgic Capricorn is *literally* in my DNA - sue me. 

If you're as #blessed as I am to have a college-bound millennial in your life, today's post presents some off-you-go gift ideas, inspired by the joys of dorm-life that await (explained in the youth's poetic medium of choice: hashtags). I would have bought my sister everything pictured below, but for the fact I’ve already maxed out my “shopping” allocation of this month’s budget and she would likely think it all not her style simply for the reason I suggested it. Little does she know her big sister had not one, but TWO glasses of wine before going to bed at 10:30 last night and has a wait for it 6:30 pm dinna rez tonight - aka I still got it. 

Super Stacked Desk Organizer - Poppin// Toiletry Bags - Roberta Roller Rabbit// Monogrammed Backpack - L Uniform// Domino's Gift Card - Walmart// Kitty Card Case - Charlotte Olympia// School Pennant - College Flags & Banners Co.// Mexican Dress - El Interior// Canvas Travel Bag - Paravel// Sheet Set - Biscuit Home// Babouche Slippers - Llani// Mini Refrigerator - Urban Outfitters// Eye Mask - Temper Rowe

Cloche Collab: Reese, White & Blue

There are few things as American as cherry pie, red, white & blue, and Reese Witherspoon. And there are even fewer things that get me to talk to my computer screen like this than when I receive a message from the merrymaking masters at Cloche Designs, entertainment detailers extraordinaire (Wondering if people at work who witness such behavior are starting to question my sanity? Me too, honey bunny, me too). What do you get when you combine all these beautifully-random-yet-predestined-to-be-perfect-together ingredients? A Memorial Day tablescape more delicious and patriotic than anything your Sweet Home Alabama dreams could imagine. That's what! 

This week's message from Laura Nell and Christin provided a sneak peek into the "Reese, White and Blue" magic they conjured up (inspired by the cherry motif of Draper James' summer collection). It also provided me with a welcome daydream thought bubble, as I pondered how in my second life I'd be spending the upcoming holiday weekend preparing a summertime meal in my lovely home with my fabulous friends (the kinda thing Vanity Fair, Vogue Living, House Beautiful would be fighting to feature because it would be an awesome time, with awesome music, soaking up a lot of awesomeness type thing). Which naturally led to another mental digression on one of my favorite choo choo trains of thought: whatever would I wear?! Being the superb hostess I am in my second life, I would pull off a look that complimented the decor and remained thematically appropriate at all times - nearing dangerously close to leaving guests with the impression they missed a dress code memo, but not quite.  

Be sure to check out Cloche's Memorial Day here. Getting to work with others that give a theme the over the top attention it deserves is the cherry on top to my work week (ba dum tish). That, and Dirty Shirleys. 

Cherry Flutter Sleeve Top - Draper James// Gingham Jeans - Madewell// Oh Happy Day Tumbler - Draper James// Cherry Napkin Set - Draper James// Cherry Sandals - Gucci// Red&Blue Sunglasses - Fendi// Cherry Striped Dress - Dolce & Gabbana// Vintage Straw Purse - Etsy// Red&White Striped Heels - Schutz// Cherry Headband - Piers Atkinson// Chick Flick Cherry Nail Polish - OPI// Crochet Cherry Earrings - Rosie Assoulin// Gingham Off the Shoulder Top - Caroline Constas// Navy Cherry Pants - New York & Company// Red White & Blue Sandals - Free People// Cherry Keychain - Anya Hindmarch// Rhinestone Cherry Earrings - ABS by Allen Schwartz// One Shoulder Cherry Top - Buffalo Jeans// Black Gingham Pants with Red Embroidery - Altuzarra// Red Gingham Purse - Mansur Gavriel// Gingham Sneakers - Superga

Reason for the Season: Decoration Day

Before Memorial Day became a federal holiday and before it became known as the unofficial start of summer, a three-day weekend associated with all things barbecue, sunshine, swimming and picnics (Uh-merica!), it was known as Decoration Day. The name originates from the early tradition of decorating fallen soldiers' graves with flowers and flags, and after its first observance in 1868 Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. Why May 30th? Because flowers would be in bloom all over the country. Ain't that lovely?

Now Memorial Day falls on the first Monday in May, and while I'm sure the flowers will still be in bloom on May 29th, I think we can all agree the holiday has been laced with a Christmas-type of all-up-in-your-grill-consumerism. A lot of sales and emails and discount codes (that don't get me wrong I'll be jazzed about), but not enough memorializing - not enough decorations. 

So why the history lesson? Because I'm trying to add some culture up in here. And because honoring the men and women who sacrificed their lives while serving in the U.S. military by taking the time to count your many blessings and not just the items you scored for 50% off should be on all our weekend agendas. And lastly, because there's no way a holiday that [formerly] goes by Decoration Day is going to escape my crazy-collaging-claws.

Utility Shirt - Rank & Sugar// Khaki & Leather Skirt - Derek Lam// Shearling Purse - Brother Vellies// Sequin Mules - No. 21// Vintage Laundry Pin - Rank & Sugar// Lace One Shoulder Dress - MSGM// Fabulous Clutch - Charlotte Olympia// Pink Camo Heels - Jimmy Choo// Camo Sunglasses - Illesteva// Sequin Top - Tibi// Khaki Ruffle Skirt with Tulle Underlay - J. Crew// Satin & Lucite Heels - Brother Vellies// Beaded Camo Clutch - Anthropologie// Striped Top - Johanna Ortiz// Pink Shorts - Paper London// de Gournay Mules - Aquazzura// Pink Turban - Etsy// Camo Dress - Zara// Pink Tufted Sandals - Brother Vellies