Jul 23, 2015

3 fall fashion events you don't want to miss



Fashion First is back for the 12th annual show and tickets are going fast. Featuring top-tier retailers in the city including David Lawrence, La Ree, Intermix and Canopy Blue, Fashion First will take place on Sept. 18th at the Showbox Sodo. This year's event has been moved to Friday night and will benefit the Inspire Youth Project and The Crescent Moon Foundation, effortlessly pairing fashion & philanthropy. Just in time for the start of the football season, this year's theme is "12th Fan, 12th Man" so get ready to root for the hometeam. General admission tickets start at $50 and trust me, you don't want to miss out on this Seattle fashion event. More info at www.fashionfirstseattle.com.




The Independent Designer Runway Show is one of my absolute favorite fashion shows in Seattle because it gives emerging designers an opportunity to receive a 6-month mentorship from industry leaders who can help guide their collections and edit accordingly. Part of Bellevue Fashion Week, the Independent Designer Runway Show aka IDRS will take place on Sept. 23rd at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue. This year eight designers will compete for a chance to win a $5000 cash prize to help fund their collections. The line-up includes Dawson & Deveraux, Victoria Postolit, Iris Klein, Cute Like Mad and Daniel Ressa, among others. General admission tickets are $50 and 100% of the ticket price benefits the IDRS fashion fund. More info at FashionWeekBellevue.com.


Just when you recover from all the fall fashion events in September, you'll be refreshed and ready for Wine, Women & Shoes. Benefitting the Olive Crest Foundation, this stylish event features a fashion show, silent + live auction, shopping, and of course, wine, women and shoes. 2015 marketplace shopping vendors include BEVÉE Bags and JJ Caprices. This year's event will take place on November 12th at the Sheraton in Seattle. Tickets start at $150 and can be found at WineWomenandShoes.com.


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Jul 20, 2015

In full bloom: Petal City makes its debut


Fill in the blank. A house is not a home without ____________. 
The answer is: FRESH FLOWERS. 

Why? Because flowers make people smile and instantly brighten up a room. Forget the days when flowers were reserved for special occasions. Petal City founder Emma Fitzpatrick believes that everyone deserves beautiful, fresh flowers and that's why she created Petal City, Seattle's fastest, same-day flower delivery service. Which means, you can order flowers online selecting from beautiful, fresh-cut flowers and have them delivered to you (or someone special) in an hour. Brilliant. 


Launched in May of 2015, Petal City is quickly becoming a go-to site for busy professionals and city dwellers who don't always have time to hit the local farmer's markets but want access to fresh, seasonal flowers. Each bouquet is inspired by Pacific Northwest favorites including "The Elliot Bay" which features colorful dahlias and "The Alki", brimming with sunflowers and white cosmos. Visit www.petal.city and enter your zip code to find out if you're within the delivery area. You can also schedule deliveries up to 30 days in advance, which is perfect for all you procrastinators out there. Birthdays and anniversaries just got so.much.easier.

Use promo code BOUQ15 for 15% off your first order. You can also follow Petal city on Instagram @Petal.City to see the latest bouquets.


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Jul 8, 2015

How to travel in style with kids



Travel tips from a stylish mommy who's been around the globe with two little ones in tow


The first time I took a trip with my son Liam he was just a little over a year old. I was scheduled to be in New York for a few days so that I could attend a Fashion Group International Conference and there was no way I was leaving him back in Seattle. (I would miss him too much!) I have a blurry photo that my husband took of Liam and I in Times Square at night and it's a picture I will cherish forever because that trip marked the start of our family travel adventures. My husband and I traveled a lot before we had kids but after our son was born we were both too exhausted to even think about the prospect of globetrotting with a tiny one in tow, but several months after the New York trip we ventured off to London and then spent a few days in Paris. We've been going non-stop ever since- now with a second kid in tow- and loving every minute of it. Traveling with little ones is definitely an adventure, but trust me, it gets a lot easier and every kid benefits from having the opportunity to explore the globe. Here are my top tips for traveling (in style) with kids. 


Tip #1 - Buy your child a seat
The first thing I recommend to any parent traveling with a little one (i.e. a child under three) is to spend the extra money and buy your child a seat even if the airline doesn't require it. I know, it sounds a little counter-intuitive, why spend the cash if you don't need to? But trust me, it's worth it. Having the extra space on the plane to get comfortable is the key to having a stress-free flight, especially if you're traveling long distances. My son loved spreading out his toys on the seat and I loved not having to constantly worry about elbowing the person next to me.
Bonus tip: If you buy your child a seat don't forget to sign them up to earn frequent flyer miles.  


Tip #2 - Fly direct if you can
Sometimes even a small layover can add on numerous hours to your total travel time so in order to avoid meltdowns we find it's helpful to book direct whenever possible. Traveling from Seattle to London on a direct flight is around 9 hours, but with layovers you're looking at almost 15 hours+ of total travel time. For a small child (and even some grown-ups) that's small eternity, so if the airline offers a direct flight and you are traveling with kids, my advice is to take it. You can thank me later.


Tip #3 - Pack light for your flight  
It's almost second nature for some parents to pack everything but the kitchen sink in their diaper bags, but somehow I missed that bandwagon (including the diaper bag) and always strive to pack light when I travel, kid in tow, or not. My carry-on bag always includes kid-friendly snacks and toys, plus emergency items like children's Tylenol.  Essentials for my travel bag also include a phone charger, aromatherapy lotion in peppermint or lavender, dipes + wipes, plus at least 1 disposable sippy cup so that I can kid-proof any in-flight beverage. If your kid is notorious for spills don't forget to pack an extra outfit, or two. But remember, the more you pack in your carry-on bag the more you have to lug around (in addition to carrying your kid), so whenever possible, pack lightly. If you forget something and can't live without it, chances are you can buy it at the airport or upon arrival at your destination. This also goes for magazines and books! Whenever possible, I download anything I want to read on my iPad in advance.

Another tip for traveling with kids is to pack smaller toys that they haven't played with in awhile so that they get the experience of playing with "new" toys on the plane. This little trick kept my baby entertained for hours on our last flight to London.

Tip #4 - Buy Diapers on Arrival
I'll admit, I once managed to disperse an entire package of diapers into my suitcase before leaving on an overseas trip because I was a newbie when it came to traveling with a baby and I was worried about finding them on arrival. Since then, I've realized that taking up valuable suitcase space with diapers is a waste and as long as you have enough diapers to get you to your destination and a few extras "just in case" it's easier and sometimes cheaper to buy diapers at your destination rather than sacrificing suitcase space. With the exception of Hawaii, we generally travel to cosmopolitan areas where drug stores are readily accessible and stock all the diapers we could ever need, which means I have more room in my suitcase for shopping.

Also, another quick note on packing- don't bring an extra suitcase for your kid (no matter how cute the suitcase is). Try and pack as much of their clothing into your suitcase as possible so that you aren't stuck at the airport with one of those trolly carts because you have too much luggage. My rule is: if we can't carry it between the three of us (my husband, my son and myself) we don't bring it. This is especially important if you have to carry around additional items like a car seat or stroller. Speaking of car seats, we have found that it's far easier to rent a car seat from the car rental company if you are planning on driving than it is to carry one around with you. We have always had great luck with car seat rentals (clean, functioning properly, etc.) when we've needed them and with our AAA membership the car seat rental is often free.



Tip #5 - Bring picnic supplies 
In Europe, it's common to eat meals outside in the park by having an impromptu picnic, but the picnic supplies I recommend are actually for your hotel room. I like to pack plastic forks and spoons so that we can have yogurt  in the morning and things like pre-packaged salads for dinner or a snack. Be sure your hotel has a mini-fridge so that you can shop during the day and store your food. You can also pack an empty water bottle in your suitcase for use on arrival. Most hotels have lemon or cucumber-infused water in the lobby for guests, making it easy to fill up a cup and then transfer it into your water bottle when you get back to your room.

Tip #6 - Take the umbrella stroller with you 
Our umbrella stroller has saved us too many times to count. My daughter naps in it when we're on vacation and she's too tired to keep walking and we also like it for keeping her contained when we are en-route somewhere and don't want her to get lost in the shuffle.


When it comes to picking an umbrella stroller for your trip, you'll want to find one that is:
1) Easy to fold up (preferably with one hand)
2) Has a strap attached so that you can sling it over your shoulder
3) Has storage space so that you can stash diapers and snacks for your little one/s.

Our favorite umbrella stroller is the Uppa Baby G-Luxe because it reclines and has a bit of storage. For our last trip we retro-fitted it with a cupholder attachment and an organizer. These little attachments made all the difference in our experience and were well worth it in the long run.  When we fly we usually take the umbrella stroller straight to the gate and then have the flight attendants gate check it so that upon arrival we can strap our daughter in and make our way to baggage claim as quickly and efficiently as possible.



Tip #7 - Dress the Part
I like to dress up when I go out of town, but I also like to be practical. This usually means finding the right balance between casual and comfortable. Pack some light weight tops, a few pairs of jeans, a dress (or two) and a sweater that can be added if it gets chilly in the evening. Scarves are also great for travel because they can multi-task. When it comes to shoes, I live in sandals when visiting places like  Florida and Hawaii, but in Europe I prefer flats that are good for walking around and chasing my kids. Last summer my shoe of choice was a great pair of beige patent leather ballerina flats by Steve Madden since they were a neutral color and went with everything. This summer, I'm living in my Dolce Vita nude sandals with studs.  The theme here is to pack shoes that are neutral so that they can go with everything you've packed.

Another tip that is absolutely essential for traveling with kids? Pack a cross body bag so that you can keep your hands free. My favorite is the BEVÉE Convertible wallet because the crossbody strap can be removed to turn the bag into a clutch for evening.


Tip #8 - Take advantage of blow dry bars and express spa services
Let's face it, most hotel blow dryers are total crap and definitely not an option for someone like me who has a lot of hair. Instead, when visiting cities like London and NYC I like to research blow dry bars in advance that are close to my hotel. Hands down, Dry Bar in NYC is my absolute favorite. In London, Hershesons Blow Dry Bar is the BEST! These express services are incredibly efficient and also serve as an affordable splurge for moms who need a little R&R while traveling. Don't forget to check nearby salons and spas for express spa services. A 30-minute mani? Yes, please. Selfridges in London has a great beauty workshop that offers a variety of beauty services including a full nail bar, lash services and of course, spray tans. For the ultimate in pampering, don't miss the Urban Retreat at Harrods.


Tip #9 - Take advantage of Frequent Flyer programs
If you travel with kids in tow, be sure to sign them up for their own frequent flyer accounts so that they can accumulate points toward a free trip or discounted ticket. We took several trips with my son before realizing that as a paid customer he was also eligible to earn travel miles. Don't make this mistake. Sign up your kids now before your next travel adventure.

Tip #10- Keep Calm and Carry On 
This is the most important travel tip of all. Travel is an adventure and no matter how much time you spend planning everything out, at some point you have to embrace the fact that not everything goes accordingly to plan. Trust me, I'm a total "Type A" personality and this one was hard for me, but once I learned to roll with it, traveling got so much easier. Little ones pick up on your stress and will react to situations based on how you handle them, so remember to keep calm and carry on, and your kids will too!




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Jul 7, 2015

JJ Caprices heads to Italy


This week the JJ Caprices Summer Travel Series heads to Italy! The adorable Jasmine from Questa Dolce Vita offers up her tips for first-time visitors and shares what not to miss and what you should pack. She also talks about getting arrested and why you should savor the experience of visiting a new city for the first time. Read the full interview here.


Cheers to summer travel adventures!


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