Me in Melange

"Just a dash of this wonderful, magical city in the middle of August." -- Bill Cunningham, NY Times

Happy Friday all! Here is a tantalizing glimpse of some of the black and white street style happening in the Big Apple this month, a la the legendary Bill Cunningham. Bon Weekend a tous! xoxoxo DR

Why it's not great to be a kid.

The biggest problems I’ve had so far today (and mind you, it’s been a pretty good day and the day is pretty young), is whether to get a 3^rd cup of coffee, and what Anni Kuan I want to buy for fall.    My  kids, apparently face a much bigger issue every single day.   This is how I came to understand the harsh realities of elementary school. 

All the kids were safely in the car yesterday afternoon, we are pulling away from the curb when Lucia starts nonstop complaining about how we must HURRRRRYYYYYY home (we’re a good 25 minutes from home at this point) because she has to pee so badly she can barely stand it and that she hasn’t gone since this morning.  She is clearly in physical pain.  What is going on?? 

Me:  “Why didn’t you got during school, that’s definitely not healthy??”

 Lucia:  “My teacher wouldn’t let me go.”

 (here my antenna goes up and I’m instantly in fight mode, ready to pounce on the teacher that is restricting my child’s bodily functions)

 Me:  “What EXACTLY did your teacher say?"

Lucia:  “That I just got back from lunch 5 minutes ago and then he made a face and said ‘really, you have to go now?’ and told me to sit down”.

(Lucia mimics her teachers sideway head tilt and incredulous eyes…”really, you have to go now??” )

(yep, that sounds reasonable.  My sympathy has vanished.)

 Me:  “So why don’t you just go during lunch, or when you have recess after lunch?”

 With this question Lucia turns her head 90 degrees and looks over at Ava, Ava  turns her head 90 degrees and looks at Lucia and they both have huge wide eyes and open mouths—you would have thought I asked them why they didn’t eat raw pork with chopsticks.   It was all immediately followed by eye rolls and enormous sighs. 

 Luca:  “uuuhhhh, there’s no WAY I would go during recess OR lunch, EVERYONE is in there, there’s WAY too many people.  Everyone can hear you pee, and then there are huge gaps in the doors so you are literally going pee and people can SEE you…..it’s horrible.”

 Ava:  “uh, yeah MOM, that’s WAY awkward to have eye contact with someone while you are going pee.  It’s not right that they have big gaps, it’s not civilized.” 

 (ok, fair point)

 Lucia:  “You don’t understand  mom, everyone is banging on the door, telling you to hurry up , and the doors don’t lock that well.  It’s dirty, there’s not always toilet paper and you don’t even have time to inspect the seat for grossness”

 Ava:  “Yeah, I was in there with my friend and someone literally opened the door while she was going…they saw her PEE actually saw her going PEE”.    

(she draws out the word pee for affect…ppppppeeeeeeee).

(oh lordy, traumatic)

 Me:  “Ok, so can I ask you why you didn’t just go AFTER school, I mean, we’ve got a long ride home, we might get in a car accident and your bladder will bursts.”

Lucia:  “After school??  That’s almost worse than during school…all these moms bring their little kids in and then they pull on the door while you are trying to go even when it’s locked and then even if it’s locked the little kids will look under the door because they can’t tell we are in there.  It’s a nightmare, I’m definitely NOT going pee after school.”

So there you go, it’s not easy being a kid, be happy you’re an adult.  Can you imagine all that drama over just going pee??  God forbid someone has to go #2.

I feel like maybe I should be starting a fundraiser for doors on the stalls that don’t have a 2” gap around the door.   

I feel really blessed to be able to go to the bathroom without stress today, and I’m super excited for the Anni Kuan to come…IT’S AMAZING!!!           

SIGNED,  ME {lv}

 

Hot to Cold: Summer to Fall Fashion (and why we love back to school so much)

Three blessed words: BACK TO SCHOOL! (cue parents cheering) Huzzah, huzzah!!! This year is a special year, because school begins on August 27th instead of sometime in September. My daughter would not use the word "special", but I certainly am! It's been a looong summer, although the last two weeks haven't been as hard as the first two were. This was the year of the teen getting a summer job or volunteer position, and she resisted as only a teen can. We finally managed to get her out of her room and into a barrista program at a local cafe where teens can learn job skills, but it was a rocky start and summer lost its charm almost from the get-go. Sigh. But now...school begins in three days. :) Which means I can count on a quiet, clean house for approx 6 hours a day. Which is HUGE, as all parents know. 

Thank goodness I have fashion to distract me from domestic woes. And fall is the BEST time of year! And late summer/early fall is one of my favorite times of year for layering opportunities. When better to combine the light, silky tops, dresses, and skirts with the creamy coziness of fall? The combinations are endless and fabulous. I love a lace top under a fall jacket or cardigan, summer jeans with a creamy cashmere, or a chunky knit with a pleated skirt. Though the summer sun still shines, we feel a delicious crispness in the air, and the leaves are just starting to turn, promising colder weather ahead. Meanwhile we are going to do two things: 1. Wear new fall fashion with our favorite summer pieces and 2. Get the teen some school supplies.

happy Monday to all!!! And enjoy these summer-fall outfit ideas! xoxoxo DR

The World I Live In

One of the best things about Instagram is how it makes every snapshot a work of art. Through it's filters and effects it gives each picture a depth of feeling that does justice to your own emotions connected to the image. In short: it reveals your love of a subject. I find this an incredibly satisfying way to share my own vision of the world, along with every other instagram fan, I appreciate an instantaneous publication of my own view. Call it narcisistic, self-absorbed, etc, I totally get it, but when I walk through the amazing neighborhoods of Portland I long to share the beauty I see. The little details, the architecture, the trees, the light, the sky...our eyes are taking in our own little movie as we move through the world, and instagram is a way to screen that film for others.  

Since my back took a terrible turn a few years ago, my life has become very limited, compared to what it was before. Traveling is an ordeal, unfortunately, and all sorts of precautions have to be taken, so I haven't done much of that. My soul craves stimulation though, and nature, and happily Portland is filled with all I could ever want. I take daily walks instead of getting out of town, and I never tire of the beauty around me. I choose from a long list of beautiful, historic, tree-lined, funky, artistic, posh, industrial, hip, areas around me and I get out there, drinking in everything I can, until my back hurts too much and i have to go home and lie down again. But for a while there...the whole world is my personal movie. Here are just a few pics from recent forays near my home. 

Happy weekend to all, and have some great walks!!! xoxoxo DR

 

 

My first blog post….get READY!

Well, for some reason I thought it only fitting that my debut blog post be about my most current obsession, blogging. Now, I know I am a little behind the times - people have been following their favorite bloggers for years already, shared in their highs and lows, moved on to new ones, and even started their own - but I guess that's just how I roll, a little behind! ;)

I think mostly what started it was finally getting an Instagram account over a year ago (I know, WAY behind). Scrolling through all the beautiful, filter enhanced lives of strangers from all over, picking out a few to dig a little deeper into their lives, and then finding out THEY HAD A BLOG!! Now I could do more than just stare at a little snip-it of their lives at that moment, I could read their words...get to know who they were, what they did, and what they had for dinner. ;) Why is it SO addicting?! I sit down with the intention of it only being for five minutes, needing to "check in" (yes, I am nervous I have reached stalker status) on my favorite fashion/lifestyle blog, and before I know it, an hour has passed, the dishes and laundry still need to be done, and I have nothing to show for my time except for now knowing the perfect technique for yogurt finger painting for little ones...and I don't even have kids!!! Something about it just draws me in, and I can't get enough. Recently I came across Flax and Twine, and OMG...I think I need to take a month off and make every craft and recipe on her blog (yes LV, consider this my official request!). I spend hours scrolling through there, memorizing every detail of the project, picturing it in my own color scheme, and realizing that I never need to buy anything for my home again...I can just make it! And it will be so easy, save money, and be just what I want  (my husband has heard that entirely too many times)! ;)Then the phone will ring, or I will remember I am starving and its back to reality, and my house that doesn't have nearly enough DIY woven rugs out of old tee shirts, no outdoor furniture made out of old pallets, or a freezer full of homemade, ready to go crock pot meals for the next year.

So, in true blogger form, here is a little about me (the reader's digest version since I don't have years and years worth of blog entries for you to get to know me!)

My name is Amanda, and I live in Eugene, Oregon. Pacific Northwest born and raised, which means camping is totally normal for me, I don't use an umbrella (that's how we spot the tourists), and despite the amazing coffee culture here, I don't drink it.

 

I have an awesome husband of three and a half years named Todd (but I call him Toddy when I want something, or want him to help me pick which shade of green chalk paint is the perfect color to accent with), who patiently puts up with all of my antics, shopping habits (I mean, I work at Melange - how do I NOT buy everything?! I consider that in itself a win!!), and says he wouldn't trade me in for anything - guess we shall see! :)

 

I was able to talk him into getting a giant dog for our first anniversary that we named Winston, and I can't imagine anything cuter (well, maybe two dogs, each laying on their hand quilted beds, embroidered with their names - saw that on a blog once). I fear that Winston gets more kisses on a day to day basis than Todd, but what can you do? ;)

We eat out more than we cook, although I do enjoy cooking (just not on weeknights, and not when I am not feeling inspired. haha). I love cashmere, and feel most glamorous with an MOL travel wrap draped over my shoulders and the perfect shade of Chanel lipstick. Linen is my favorite fabric in the summer, and recently I have been loving anything even remotely poncho related - summer or winter. James Perse has a Cashmere Blanket Poncho that I have my eye on right now...how do you not drool over all three of those words?!?

 

I have been at Melange since 2008 and LOVE it. My favorite part is connecting with people and making friends. In case you have noticed from this long winded post, I like to talk. ;) So being in a place where I get to meet fantastic women, talk about anything and everything, drink wine in the middle of the day, and try on clothes, it's like living a dream. In 2012 I brought my little sister Danielle into the club , and it made working here even better. Could have gone either way, but luckily it worked out for the best - which shocked everyone who know how well we got along in our younger years (aka fought every day). People always think she is older than me...think it's her more quiet and level headed presence - helps balance out my bubbly behavior a little more. haha. I feel a lot more productive working with her...we really "jive" and can anticipate each other's next moves/needs in only a way a sister can, which means we can get a lot more done. We also don't have to sugar coat anything when "critiquing" each other. ;) It's easy to just get it all out, work in silence for ten minutes, and then pick up right where we left off deciding on what we want for lunch, or the perfect outfit to be a little too be perfectly dressed up, but not too stuffy at the next family BBQ. All in all, it works out, and I couldn't be happier, which gives me energy for all the blogs I have to follow now. How else would I be able to continue on if I didn't know what some random girl in TX is doing, and how she is celebrating her little girls first birthday - which was crazy adorable, by the way!!!

Okay, think that should be all for now, have to save something to talk about for next time! Maybe we can touch on all the people and celebrities I stalk in Instagram that DON'T have a blog, but wish they did. ;) As a thanks for making it through this whole post, use coupon code "bloglovin" for 30% off your purchase, thru 8/27/15.

Signed with NEW blogging love, AMANDA 

“One can never have enough socks," said Dumbledore. "Another Christmas has come and gone and I didn't get a single pair."

We quite agree, Professor Dumbledore! What a wise wizard. My daughter, like million of other children around the world, was obsessed for a decade with all-things-Harry-Potter. For about eight years running she played the books on tape over and over, and we grew very fond of the characters ourselves. When I heard this quote from Dumbledore I knew we were of one mind. One never can have enough socks! 

It's too bad Dumbledore did not know about Little River Socks, he would have gotten himself all the socks he could wear! A collection of high-quality, hand-crafted, BEAUTIFUL socks for everyone. This family-owned business from Little River, Arkansas has been making quality, unique socks for over 20 years, and we just can't get enough of them. From the sweet striped slouch socks to the over the knee, cozy footwear, to the colorful prints and knee-hi's, it's a rainbow of cute, cozy socks for one and all!

You're right, Dumbledore, (about so many things) -  one can never have enough of Little River! 

Up Time and Down Time: 2 Looks 2 Love

Happy Friday!!! This is a particularly happy Friday here in the shop because of our fantastic new arrivals! It's always a good day when cashmere and silk are involved. :)  We put together one of our favorite Eileen Fisher looks for a day running around doing all the things we do best, and another from Om Girl for when all the errands are run, the friends are met, and the daily list checked (or chucked, as is sometimes the case). A day of loveliness from morning to evening!

First, we paired the amazing  Eileen Fisher Handknit Cotton Texture Ballet Neck Box Top  in the softest white with her gorgeous, fluid, Sheer Silk Georgette Mandarin Collar Tunic in Bone. This creates the coolest layered look, a subtle hi-lo when you do it tonally, with the cropped knit over the silky tunic. A look to loooove going from summer into fall! Offset the volume and play on lengths on top with a narrow bottom, we love these cool quilted jeans from Henry and Belle under the creamy cotton knit and bone-colored silk. And Eileen's lovely Handloomed Organic Cotton & Silk Ikat Scarf in Mocha adds the perfect sophisticated shine. Or, you can wear sexy leather leggings with these tops this fall, and a bootie for a going-out look, or narrow cropped black trousers for work. So many choices! 

Now, time to relax. Om Girl has arrived just in time to ease us into our fall lounge time. We work hard, we play hard, and we want to lounge just as hard as we can! Slip into these soft, flowy, sexy blue pants at the end of your long day! Ahhhh, instant stress relief. Then, simply add a very sassy white tank, and if there is a chill in the air, top it off with the creamy, cozy, BEAUTIFUL Shibori-dyed sweatshirt. Who needs to meditate? This ensemble puts in a zen frame of mind instantaneously. Enlightenment achieved.

We're inspired by the season, by the beautiful new arrivals, and by the joy of beauty. It's so fun to mix and match and try new combinations with layers and accessories. Speaking of accessories, the new collection of scarves from Banaris is incredible!!! Endless beautiful combinations, and for sure every woman on my list is getting one of these this year. 

Happy weekend to all! xoxoxo DR

summer mojo, cashmere, and a planner's revenge

You’re killing my Summer mojo.  That’s the look we get when people walk in from the 95  degree day, before they’ve adjusted to the AC blast, when the first thing their eyeballs fixate on is a nice cozy cashmere sweater.   “HEY, it’s still Summer!”  We’ve gotten all variations of that statement, and all kinds of snarky comments and attitudes to go along with.  It’s the equivalent of the Christmas decorations in October which gets so undies in a twist.  Relentless commercialism?  Maybe, or perhaps someone is just giving you time to think about whether you want to do a themed Christmas tree this year--and yes, that can take me awhile to think thru.    Here’s the thing….I’ve come to a realization, I NEED all that extra time to pull it together (whether it is my fall wardrobe, Halloween, or Christmas).  I can’t start thinking about Christmas AFTER Thanksgiving….uh, seriously?  That just isn’t enough time to pull it all together (and yes, maybe my Martha Stewart-esq image of Christmas is overblown and 6 months of planning is overboard, but no matter what I know I need more than 3 weeks which is barely enough time to find a wreath I like).    I have to make room in my brain for the idea, the planning and the execution, and yes, that really does necessitate thinking about it before Halloween.    I suppose I could whip it all together on the fly with a whole lot of stress, but where’s the fun in that?  What’s that they say?….. it’s not the destination, it’s the journey (and anticipation)--it's half the fun!!  Let's face it, the world is run by planners. 

So that’s the deal, we start fall shopping early because quite honestly despite the relentless Summer heat, we CAN imagine that very shortly there will in fact be cold (and very cold) days and when they come I want to have my wardrobe nicely mapped out (and I need TIME to do that).  Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been the girl in flip flops come October 1^st, who suddenly realizes “oh crap, it’s cold…and these are starting to look weird”, but it’s just not in my blood to be that care free.  I like a plan, preferably one that involves cashmere and great boots.  I have FUN planning.

Plus, my theory is that designers always come out of the gate at the beginning of the season with their best stuff.   It’s the WOW stuff, that keeps you hooked to the line for the rest of the season.  So you grab it early, or you wait and miss it and get stuck with whatever is left.

So that’s it, the reason to shop early.   We’re not trying to ruin anyone’s last run of Summer fun, but for the planners out there (and you know who you are), don’t let those haters hate….come the beginning of October they are going to wonder why their size is sold out, or their favorite color, and you'll have sweet revenge because you'll be WEARING IT!

Signed, ME {lv}

The Great British Bake-Along!

I have a new obsession. Perhaps you've heard of it? Or you might already have the same obsession - after all it is rated the number one show in England, and that often spills over the pond. It's "The Great British Bake-Off", a reality show of soft-hearted-but-determined bakers that compete weekly in a beautiful cooking tent set up on one of England's sprawling, aristocratic estates. Inside the tent you'll find the legendary Mary Berry who has been teaching England how to cook since the 1940's, and who is now an acknowledged saint of baking. Gaining Mary's approval is everything to the bakers! The ultimate compliment from Mary Berry is if your concoction tastes "scrummy". If so, you're on cloud 9. If instead your bake is a disappointment, and you garner from Mary one of her level, piercing blue stares...you're doomed. 

With Mary is the dead-serious Paul Hollywood. He is a no-nonsense Master Baker (who also happens to love car racing so on his facebook page you get pictures of him in space age helmets and leather, followed by a beautiful pan of Hot Cross Buns). :) Paul Hollywood also has a piercing blue stare, which is more of a glare, that will turn your knees to jelly and woe unto him or her that gets a comment from him like "That's raw dough". 

TGBBO is what reality television should be. No monetary prizes, no big contracts at stake, no back-stabbing, no bitching, no false alliances. Everyone is so positive, supportive and passionate about baking, it's an inspiration. Watching them fail under pressure is a relief to all of us because boy have we been there. If these amazing bakers can ruin a custard, then we're not so awful after all! And when they succeed, so brilliantly with their show-stopping creations, then we cheer! And salivate! And want to try it too! 

I haven't even mentioned the HILARIOUS, GENIUS comedy duo of Sue Perkins and Mel Gibroycht. They keep the bakers laughing, no matter how stresfull or disasterous their results. And they constantly poke fun, gently teasing the stoic Paul Hollywood and legendary Mary Berry until they can't help but smile. 

All in all it's a brilliant show, and I am having a lot of fun baking along with it! There is a facebook page called "The Great British Bake-Along" where people from all over the world try their hand at the same bakes as on the show, and post their results. I've decided to join in, but veganize everything. So far I've made a delicious vegan Madeira cake, and a rather too-sweet Frosted Walnut Cake, but it has been so much fun trying my hand at new thing! I carmelized walnuts for the first time! They were incredibly delicious, by the way! 

Check out the show if you like to watch sweet, funny people bake their hearts out. And maybe next time there is a bake sale in your world you'll have something quite fantastic to donate! 

happy Monday!   xoxoxoxo DR

8 Little Hours

All we had was 8 little hours. Only 8 hours to drive to the coast, have a meaningful experience, and drive back to Portland. But 8 hours is better than nothing which is what it would have been if we hadn't just gone for it last Sunday and made it happen. And it was amazing!

The weather was weird, of course. It always is when I go to the coast, even in the middle of a heat wave - 99 degrees for days on end - but of course it's overcast the day we can finally go.

 But as so often happens, this "dissapointment" turned out to be a plus -, the overcast sky turned out to be positively magical. We found a beach where there were hardly any people, and you couldn't even see them because of the thick mist enveloping the beach. We couldn't even see the ocean (which bugged me a lot at first), but when we finally just laid down on the blanket it was like a dream! We couldn't see anything but the sand around us, and we could only hear the ocean. No traffic, no motorcycles, no back-up beeps, no children screaming, no dogs barking...nothing of our everyday din. Only that mesmerizing, soothing, hushed wave sound, again and again. As my husband and I lay there in the fog, listening to that beautiful sound and nothing else, it was like we were floating in a cloud.  It was so relaxing, right down to my soul. I have never felt quite like that before, and to share it with someone else was like heaven on earth.

After the magical, mist-i-cal moment, the sun came out and illuminated the world around us. Now we could see the ocean, the birds, and the hills behind us. And of course they are spectacular.The Oregon coast is just a true world-treasure, words cannot exactly describe how beautiful it is. I've lived in Oregon for over 40 years and spent a lot of time there, and it always amazes me. 

The trip was a success. In 8 hours we managed to squeeze in three beaches, two bakery stops, a quick visit with a friend, and of course a little bit of "heaven on earth". We drove back to Portland pretty tired, but absolutely satisfied that we got the nature dose we needed. Until next time. 

xoxoxo DR 

Wrap Us In Cashmere

I really think my doctor ought to prescribe cashmere. To me, it is medicinal. The sensation of creamy cashmere wrapping itself around me makes me feel so good, so instantly more relaxed, serene, and in my happy place - much more so than some of the actual prescriptions she gives me - so it's only fair. Margaret O'Leary's incredible St. Moritz Coat would cure my ills quite nicely! 

We love to pair these deliciously soft sweater coats over stripes. As summer winds down the transitional layers are so much fun to play with, and Pete's adorable striped tops are the perfect combo of sweet and sporty. Just add your choice of denim: cropped, skinny, bootcut or wide leg for a casual look with sophisticated style. We can't get enough of Margaret O'Leary cashmere! xoxo DR