Oct 9, 2018

Fashion Calendar: Beet World trunk shows in Seattle


Since it's launch in August of this year, Seattle brand Beet World has been winning over the hearts and wallets of stylish parents all over the city who love contemporary kids fashion but don't want to spend hundreds of dollars buying designer clothing. Beet World offers beautiful, European-inspired dresses, pants, and tops for girls in sizes 2T-12, all made from high-quality, 100% woven cotton.

Founded by Seattle mom Ashima Singhal, Beet World brings together the best of classic children's clothing at a price point parents can actually afford. In fact, everything in the collection is priced under $50, making it accessible for parents who are looking for quality alternatives to fast fashion for kids. Most children's clothing is made from knit cotton that often shrinks after the first wash. Beet World clothing is made from high-quality, sustainably-sourced woven cotton that holds up to washing and everyday wear.  Beet World also believes in giving back. A portion of the proceeds from every sale is donated to a rotating list of children's literacy programs around the world. 

The brand is hosting two trunk shows this week that are free and open to the public. Join Beet World at Jujubeet in Bellevue on Thursday, October 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to view the full collection for fall. Beet World will also be hosting a trunk show this Saturday, October 13 at the University Village Pottery Barn Kids store from 12 - 4 p.m. 

Stop by and say hello if you're in the neighborhood! In the meantime, check out the entire collection and learn more at Beet-World.com
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Oct 5, 2018

12th Fan Guide: Where to Stay, Eat & Shop in London


London is one of my all-time favorite cities in the world. My husband and I spent our honeymoon there back in 2009 and we've made it a point to visit every year since. London is a city filled with art, history, and culture. Travelers will find that there's something for everyone to enjoy including music, food, historical tours, of course, shopping. For Seahawks fans heading to London for the game next week, here's our style guide on how to spend quality time in London.


Most travelers will spend excessive amounts of time trying to decide where to stay in London. If you prefer to be central to the city, stay in South Kensington where you'll be within walking distance to Hyde Park and have easy access to several London Underground stations.



We've stayed at several hotels in this neighborhood on various trips to London including the Radisson Blu Edwardian Vanderbilt and The Crowne Plaza, but our favorite by far has been The Kensington Hotel (shown above) because of the quality of the guest rooms and the service. They were also great with kids and spoiled our children with nightly cookies and milk during our stay. They even put up a small kids tent in our hotel room so that the kids would have a secret hideout.


It's easy to eat your way through London because nearly every department store has a food hall offering everything from light snacks to sweet treats and full meals. There's also street crepes, croissants at cafes, and traditional pub classics like mushy peas and fish and chips. Here are some of my favorite places to eat in London:


Kensington Crepes - This restaurant is my favorite in London because I'm obsessed with French crepes. Kensington Crepes is located just steps away from the Victoria & Albert Museum and they do both sweet and savory crepes. My favorite crepe is Le Complète with turkey, brie, and a free range egg.  My kids love the classic crepe with fresh whipped cream and strawberries. 


Garfunkels- If you check the reviews on TripAdvisor you'll find that many tourists stop here for their first meal in London. Why do people love it? Well for starters Garfunkels serves classic fish and chips, there's never a wait and it's completely family friendly. Yes, it's absolutely a tourist trap, but that's kind of the point. If you're hungover after the game, you should definitely stop by Garfunkels for a traditional English breakfast. 

Pret a Manger - These cafes are basically the "Starbucks of London" and serve coffee along with a variety of food options. They have a great assortment of sandwiches and soups that are easy to grab on-the-go or when you need a quick snack.

Best Burgers - If you're homesick and craving a burger, check out Honest Burger in South Kensington. Their classic cheeseburger pairs perfectly with rosemary fries and chipotle mayo. For those that like burgers but also want an expanded menu that includes salads, check out Byron Burger

Selfridges Rooftop Restaurant - If you like al fresco dining make time to visit the Selfridges rooftop restaurant. It features rotating themes and is currently serving traditional Italian food including crostini, scallops with white wine, fritto misto, and spaghetti carbonara. 

Hummingbird Bakery - Famous for its red velvet cupcakes, Hummingbird Bakery is an institution in Notting Hill and serves up delicious made-from-scratch cakes and cupcakes. If you visit the Portobello Market in Notting Hill stop by the bakery for a taste of heaven. 


Biscuiteers - If you love cookies and have "cookie monsters" at home, stop by Biscuiteers in Notting Hill. They do hand-iced cookies that are Instagram-worthy and delicious to eat. Biscuiteers offers single cookies and gift boxes for every occasion. They also do cookie icing workshops and private classes. 

Electric Diner - Located on Portobello Road in Notting Hill, Electric Diner is a great place for date night. In fact, my husband and I had dinner here on our honeymoon. The food is great and the desserts are not to be missed. This restaurant is next door to The Electric Cinema, the oldest working cinema in London. They also offer dining specials for guests going to see movies (terms and conditions apply). 

Pizzeria & Canti Prosecco Bar - Located in Harrods, this pizzeria is a great place to recharge after a day of shopping. They serve Neopolitan-style pizzas and also offer rocket (arugula) and parmesan salads and classic minestrone soup. 


Nag's Head - For a classic London pub experience while visiting Covent Garden stop by Nag's Head. They offer a modern take on traditional British classics. Everything on the menu is great! I loved the Beef & Rioja Pie with mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and red wine gravy. It's a hearty meal best served with a full-bodied wine.



There's amazing shopping in London any time of year, the question is, what kind of shopping experience best suits your style? For a classic London shopping experience head to Oxford Street to hit all the British faves. Start at Marble Arch near Hyde Park and work your way down the main shopping row. If you love more of an indie scene, head to Shoreditch to shop Boxpark. If you're looking for boutiques, head to Notting Hill. And for a great mix of art, fashion, and food, there's Covent Garden. Don't forget, there's also pretty incredible shopping at museums and art galleries if you exit through the gift shop. Here are some of the "can't miss" places to shop in London:

Primark - This store is crazy big and can be a bit overwhelming so go early if you can to avoid "black Friday" style lines and crowds. The deals are good, almost too good, so it's fairly easy to go crazy here. Primark carries everything from women's fashion to kids clothing, men's merchandise, and home goods. This is a great store to stock up on clothing for kids. They have fashion-forward styles and really, really good pricing for budget-friendly moms.

Harrods - It's natural to be at a loss for words when it comes to describing Harrods. After all, it's the world's most famous department store and occupies a 5-acre site, garnering more than 330 departments. At Harrods, you'll find everything from fashion to food, shoes, gifts, souvenirs, on-site restaurants, a champagne bar, a giant toy store called "Toy Kingdom", and even a spa. Up until 2014, there was even an on-site luxury pet store where you could purchase animals.

River Island - Fashion fans may be familiar with River Island because of its past capsule collections with singer Rihanna. The brand has stores across the UK and stocks bold, colorful merchandise for the entire family. River Island has great pricing and recently celebrated its 30th anniversary with a body positivity campaign for fall.


Selfridges - Hands down this my favorite department store in the world. Selfridges is fun, innovative, and always working on something new. The store was named the "Best Department Store" in the world by the Global Department Store Summit and also has a focus on sustainability. The Selfridges Oxford Street store occupies a full city block and has multiple restaurants, beauty departments, and a 35,000 square-foot shoe hall. Selfridges is also known for exclusive merchandise from cult brands, so if you love limited-edition merchandise you can't get anywhere else, chances are you'll find it at Selfridges.

Liberty of London - Best known for its signature floral graphic prints, Liberty of London is an iconic British department store that is well worth a visit. Located in a beautiful Tudor-style building in London's West End, Liberty carries fashion, jewelry, beauty, accessories, home goods, and gifts.

Miss Selfridge - UK high street brand Miss Selfridge has more than 250 stores worldwide and is also available through partners like Asos and Topshop. The store is aimed at teens looking for affordable, on-trend fashion and is fun to shop for seasonal must-haves. They also carry a full range of fashion in petite sizing.


Topshop Oxford Circus - The flagship Topshop store at Oxford Circus is three full floors of fashion including vintage pieces you won't find anywhere else. The store has a basement cafe, a Hershesons Blow Dry Bar, a nail salon, and even a piercing parlor. I usually go here multiple times on my trips to London either for blowouts or to shop the petites section. There's always a DJ spinning music on the main floor and a healthy line at the cupcake kiosk on level one.


Yes, this is a marathon blog post, but if you're still reading, chances are you're looking for a few things to do in London. I highly recommend visiting the Victoria & Albert Museum to see the current fashion exhibit "Fashioned from Nature". The Tate Modern is another great museum that is worthwhile if you have the time as is the National Portrait Gallery. If you only do one thing while in London, don't miss the Princess Diana fashion exhibit at Kensington Palace. It features her most iconic outfits and includes audio and video components to round out the fashion story.

Enjoy! Oh, and Go HAWKS!


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KACYYOM named finalist for Gray Awards


Seattle designer Kacy Yom has been named as a finalist in the fashion category for this year's Gray Awards! This gorgeous local line launched in October of 2017 and has quickly grown to become a favorite among luxury handbag enthusiasts. Designed in Seattle and handmade in Italy, the KACYYOM line features bold colors, timeless silhouettes and innovative design details, including convertible straps for seamless transitions from day to evening.

The KACYYOM collection is available locally at The Spa at Four Seasons and in New York at Dreams on Air and Wolf & Badger, both located in Soho. The line will soon be available in London at the new Wolf & Badger Store in Kings Cross, which is scheduled to open next month.

Kacy's line made the final cut for the Gray Awards out of more than 300 submissions. Gray magazine is hosting an awards party on November 29th at The Sanctuary in Seattle where they will reveal this year's winners across multiple design categories. Tickets are $150 and a portion of the proceeds will benefit The Block Project to help end homelessness. Click here for more information.
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Oct 4, 2018

Eye Eye Celebrates Fall Fashion With In-Store Eyewear Event


It's already been a week since the Eye Eye "Fall Frame Event" on Capitol Hill and I'm still buzzing with excitement about all the cool frames and vintage glasses the store has in stock right now. We always talk about updating our fashion wardrobes for fall and I feel like that should also include what we're wearing on our FACES. Am I right?


For newbies, Eye Eye is an independent eye clinic and optical shop located on Capitol Hill. In addition to personalized eye care, the team led by Dr. Will Pentecost also offers a curated assortment of frames and sunglasses from over 27 brands. Plus, in true Seattle style, they also offer an insanely incredible assortment of vintage deadstock that gives clients who want something different a one-of-a-kind eyewear experience.




The store carries a range of brands that have a legit celebrity following because you know, if Haley Baldwin is wearing white frames with corner accents, I need them too. Featured brands include Alhem, which recently won a Vogue Fashion Award, Christian Roth, which re-launched Kurt Cobain's signature white sunglasses (pictured above), Krewe, Mr. Leight, and even local brand Rain City, among others.

Oh, and if you're like most Americans who stare at a computer screen all day and experience eye fatigue, Eye Eye can put non-prescription, blue light blocking lenses into any frames. Seattle blogger Brittany Streissguth of Pumps & Plaid (pictured below) recently got a pair to wear while she's blogging to help protect her eyes.






Another fun fact? Eye Eye can put a prescription into snow goggles, which is perfect for people who want to hit the slopes but hate wearing contacts. This is such a brilliant concept and I had no idea it was a "thing". Turns out it is and it's so perfect for the Pacific Northwest where we relish in outdoor adventures during the winter months. 

Eye Eye also carries a high-quality private label line that is budget-friendly and ideal for those looking for an alternative to designer frames. In addition, they have an in-house lab which can turn around frames in 2-3 business days. 

The event was a fun opportunity to see how this cool local company is doing eyewear differently. A variety of bloggers and influencers came out to celebrate and guests enjoyed light bites by Gourmondo Catering (another local favorite!) and swag bags filled with local products from French Girl Organics and Oola Distillery. I can't wait until the next event!

Eye Eye
1317 E. Pine St. 
Seattle, WA 98122

Photo credit: Karya Schanilec
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October 11 is National Spread Joy Day


With everything going on in the world today from natural disasters to politics, we all need a little levity in our lives. Spending time on social media has become draining instead of empowering but Seattle-based Knack wants to change all that and spark a new movement on social media that promotes love, kindness, and gratitude. They've formally declared October 11th as National Joy Day and guess what? It's now recognized as an official holiday. To celebrate the occasion, Knack wants to help YOU spread a little joy in the world and will be giving away 1,000 free gifts next Thursday, worth over $80, to anyone willing to let them publish their gift message to serve as an inspiration to others.

The gift includes Fran's Chocolates, 2 special edition Joy journals to capture daydreams and happy moments, Happy Tea from the Art of Tea, Joy candles, mini matches, and 10 Spread Joy postcards. Head over to the Knack website to learn more about National Spread Joy Day and sign up to send a free gift.

Seattleites are invited to celebrate Spread Joy Day in-person next Thursday, October 11 at Chophouse Row on Capitol Hill from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. There will be free food, music, giveaways, and most importantly, lots of joy to share and savor. See you there! #SpreadJoyDay


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