skirting the issue

A simple outfit that's becoming my go-to uniform for summer weekends: a T by Alexander Wang classic pocket tank, a jersey maxi skirt from Zara, Rag & Bone Vespa sunglasses, Hawaiana flipflops (invisible, but there), a great big silver cuff from a market in Peru, and a solid leather tote I picked up at the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul many moons ago.  Most of that's not available anymore, but you can come pretty close.

Some options, and some secrets...

fantasy giving

It's my mama's birthday today!!!  I wish I could give you an entire field of poppies to celebrate.

I also wish I could give you...

packable

Remember I was looking at Herschel backpacks a while back? (Oh, and these too.)  Well I still haven't gone and splurged on a beautiful canvas bag, but we desperately needed something for traveling around Mexico, and I came across this little guy.  It's super lightweight ripstop nylon, and despite the fact that it feels like it's made from air, it holds quite a bit, both in weight and volume.  I love those smartypants designers at The Herschel Supply Co.  Why?  Cause it also does this:

See more...

ch-ch-changes

I'm officially back!  Back in Spain, back online, back to daily life.  But it feels different, I have to say.  We've only been gone from Madrid for a month but somehow it feels like it's been much longer.  There's changes all around me: a new 5 euro bill, my local Zara completely remodeled, and a Starbucks in the basement of our grocery store, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Something internal has shifted as well, a settling of sorts, a coming to terms with change: the inevitability of it and the excitement of it.  I don't want to sound melodramatic or anything, but we're nearing the end of a big era in our lives, and steadying ourselves for the one that lies ahead.  A year from now I predict our lives will be totally different, new city, new jobs, new friends, new routines.  And while it used to just terrify me, now I'm filled with energy and enthusiasm.  I'm still nervous about it all, but it's more like pre-show jitters, lovely little anxious butterflies to carry me along the journey.

Anyway, I don't usually wax philosophical on the blog, but I just couldn't help it.  And to mark the change, I've bought some flowers for our home, something I rarely do.  (Kalanchoe, which apparently can be spelled Kalanchoë or Kalanchöe, movable umlauts? Who ever heard of such a thing?) Hopefully I won't kill this little guy, cause it sure is making me happy.  Here's to the start of (a new) something good!

desaparecida

Playa del Carmen

If it seems like I've been missing lately, it's cause I have.  I've been deep in preparations for our upcoming trip (tomorrow!) to Mexico.  Thought the least I could do was pop in for a minute and make all y'all jealous with some photos of the places we're headed.

Places like these...

on the road again

Our bags are packed and we're ready to hit the road again.  I think I'm traveling more this month that I ever have in such a short time span, but hey, gotta work hard to keep the title of Nomad, right?  Luckily we don't have to head to Wisconsin on camelback.  Or in a horse-drawn carriage.

See you on the other side of the globe!

images from welcome2mongolia and world artists' initiative

rashies

How cute is this?  No, not another bathing suit post, but close.  Today I'm talking about rash guards.  Otherwise known as rashies.  Otherwise known as shirts for cool surfer chicks.  Which I am totally not.  Though I would love to be.  One day.  Actually it's one of my top fantasy activities.  Just thinking about learning to surf gets my heart all aflutter.  But I digress...

For now, I can just pretend, and wear one of these super cute rashies to the beach.  And the bonus: they have a upf of 50+, which means they'd be the perfect thing if the sun's beating down a bit too hard while I'm lounging like a sloth.  Dreaming about doing this:

image from beach mentality

More surfer-chic fashion for us mortals to covet...

ultrathin

Do you have an ipad?  If so, do you actually use it for anything other than playing games (Crime City anyone? Moxie?  Words With Friends?) or surfing the internet while you're watching tv?  (Whoa, all my bad habits out in the open at once!)  I absolutely love my ipad and don't regret buying it one bit, but I will admit that, at least in my hands, it's hardly a font of productivity.  In Paris though, we met up with a friend of ours who was sitting at a fancy cafe, finishing up his screenplay on his ipad.  He said he actually gets more work done on the ipad because since editing is not as quick as on a computer, it helps you just move forward as you write, plus he gets much better battery time than on his laptop.  But of course, he had this nifty little keyboard.  And now, of course, I want another toy, to compliment my other toy, in order to pretend that the first toy was not just a toy at all, but rather a work necessity.  Ah yes, rationalization at its best.

 

So, do you have an ipad?  What do you do with it?  Have you checked out this amazing little keyboard?

up in the trees

Do you guys know about Airbnb yet? I just discovered the site recently, when I was desperately looking for a place to stay in Paris, falling deep into a pit of despair in the face of the prices and the quality (and the relation between the two).  Thank god I remembered reading about them, because I found tons of super cute apartments for rent, in the heart of the city, for the same price as a mediocre room in some out-of-the-way hotel.  This is my first time renting a place through Airbnb, so I'll let you know how it works out, but so far, I'm over the moon with it.

Plus, they have places all over the world.  Plus, they have all kinds of non-traditional listings.  Like their super sweet curated list of treehouses.  Wouldn't it be wonderful to stay in one?

More treehouses...

vpl lusting

I've talked about VPL swimwear before, and yes, a year later, I'm still lusting after the majority of their suits.  Not quite as wacky as the We Are Handsome suits, but not the minimalist Eres either, these bikinis seem to strike a perfect balance between playful and subdued; they're simple but thoughtfully designed, sporty but elegant, and I love the extra bit of coverage in the bottoms.

More VPL goodness...

paris, quick!

image from wallpapersus

I'm headed to Paris, in just a few days! Last minute family trip with Husband, Mother-in-law and Grandmother-in-law.  Anything we have to see/eat/do/buy?  We're only going to be there a few days, but any recommendations would be more than welcome...

soundsuits

If you are in New York please promise me you will go see this.  Artist Nick Cave is bringing his soundsuits to Grand Central Station, for one week only, and it's happening RIGHT NOW.

Photos and videos of more astounding soundsuits...

handsome

Our upcoming trip to Mexico has me thinking about swimsuits, something I don't actually do very often.  Of course the pragmatic minimalist in me fantasizes about a nice Eres suit, but then I thought, what about something fun?  Australian label We Are Handsome makes great quality suits with a sense of humor.

Joyous flora and tongue-in-cheek fauna...

xenotes

Starting to plan our trip to Mexico in May and I'm getting all excited just thinking about everything I want to pack into such a short time.  At the top of my list: cenotes.  They're basically natural sinkholes caused by the collapse of limestone bedrock, revealing wells of fresh groundwater, and are often connected to one another by seemingly endless tunnels.  Underwater underground labyrinths.  So cool, right?  One of the natural wonders of the world (at least, they would be if I were in charge of making the list).

More exciting and inspiring photos...

winter wonderland

image from travel and leisure

Amazing how easily we can get from one side of the world to the other.  We take it for granted, but sometimes it just hits me how truly awesome that is.  Today I woke up in snowy Madison.  Happy to be home.

postcards from the bay

Everyone knows that one of the best things about San Francisco is the food.  And everyone knows to go to the Mission for quick and delicious mexican.  But sometimes I worry when I see people going to the wrong ones.   Sure, you could go anywhere and get a delicious burrito, but if you want a taco that's out of this world, that will make you roll your eyes back into your head in ecstasy, you need to go to La Taquería at 25th and Mission.  And you need to order the carnitas taco, dorado, with everything on it.  Dorado means they lightly fry one of the two corn tortillas, melting the cheese into it and leaving it toasty and crisp while the other one remains soft and supple around it.  If that doesn't sound amazing to you, then feel free to order whatever you want, or go to whatever taco place catches your eye, but we cannot be friends.

I literally dream about these tacos when I'm in Madrid, and apart from seeing family and friends, La Taquería is my favorite thing about going back to SF.  It's not just me, this is award-winning stuff.  If you're in San Francisco try it for yourself, and let me know if I'm not right.

PS- nearby is Mitchell's ice cream.  Go there afterwards and stuff yourself even more with some of the crazy flavors they have - ube, macapuno, avocado, lucuma... or my absolute favorite: mexican chocolate (deep dark chocolate with a touch of cinnamon).  Yum.

death of an ipod

Do you even remember these? The ipod mini, from 2004.  Doesn't seem so mini now, does it?  But still, I have loved this little guy so much.  It was a gift to me, along with mini travel speakers, when I first came to Spain.  I planned on being here 4 months.  We can all see how well that plan worked out, can't we?  Regardless, this guy helped me through the loneliest days in the beginning, and has moved with us many times, bringing music to countless Madrid kitchens since then.  Recently, I am sad to report, it coughed and sputtered and then it was gone.  Rest in peace Mini.  Thanks for all the good times.

Loved you most for the sweet engraving on the back.

check it out

One of the great things about being back in the states for the summer has been rediscovering the library (thanks to Husband's initiative).  I'm a kindle addict, so I have to admit that the actual books didn't entice me all that much, but I had completely forgotten about the huge AV sections.  We've been checking out tons of dvds and even audiobooks, and it's been such a joy!  Here's a sampling of some of the wonderful movies we've seen this week: The Spy Who Came in From the Cold was a perfect moody spy flick with satisfying twists and turns, Ballerina tracks five dancers at different stages in their careers within the Kirov, and High Society was just plain fun (oh, and the dresses!). 

Do you regularly use the library?  Have you seen any good films lately? 

images from movie poster shop

postcards from the edge

More from Vancouver!  How pretty is this city?   (And how excited was I to see Canada geese in Canada?  Disproportionately so, I'd say.)

A huge oak tree planted on top of a condo building, a joyous decked out bicycle, and two giddy tourists (yup, that's us), this city charmed us completely.  See more of my favorite Vancouver moments and recommendations after the jump...

dear zara

I know you have a crazy fast turnover and that's part of why you're so successful, but please keep this coat in stock for another month so I can buy it when I get back to Spain.  Ok?  I'm kind of in love with it.  Thanks.