Painted Leather Jacket: Scarlett Cussell

And what do you know — summer is now upon us. It has been an insanely busy week with school ending and all the packing and planning and HOW DID TIME FLY feelings. So much to do, so little time. So instead of focusing on everything that needs to get done between now and Sunday when we depart NYC for the whole summer, here is my new favorite addition to my wardrobe! A leather jacket — and not just any leather jacket — a PAINTED leather jacket with so much symbolism and personal touches that it makes me cry out of happiness.

 

My jacket.

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Valley Nails

There is a new neighbor in my hood, a nail art salon, Valley Nails. YEP, who knew, nail art! I mean, I guess I did, but I had never experienced it.

 

Welcome to the block!

Welcome to the block!

 

It was everything that I expected it to be — a treat for a special occasion, such as a wedding (my excuse to get them done) or Halloween. A little pizazz and jazz to spice up a simple manicure. It felt fancy and fun, and I will definitely return to get more nail art before my next special event.

 

Halloween nails. I love these, but would never have the patience to sit there for that long, or actually be able to carry off this look.

Halloween nails. I love these, but would never have the patience to sit there for that long, or actually be able to carry off this look.

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Some of the Reasons I Love Eugene…

For new readers of the blog (thanks The New Potato!), I live in New York with my husband Ken and two kids.  But I “summer” in my hometown of Eugene, Oregon with my parents, and Ken comes back and forth.  New York and Eugene couldn’t be more different, and I have come to love the contrast, and appreciate the positives (and negatives) of both.  Here are some of the reasons I love Eugene, my first and always true home… (I bleed tie dye)…

 

And I am trying my hardest to make tie-dye a big part of my kids' life, too.

And I am trying my hardest to make tie-dye a big part of my kids’ life, too.

Bike Rides

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Maison Olga

The young French designers are my heroes: Roseanna, Isabel Marant, IRO, Vanessa Bruno, and now, Maison Olga.

Maison Olga

Technically Maison Olga is a combination of French and Italian designers… but it is now headquartered in Paris, so francais, it is! Maison Olga is a unique label that designs for free-spirited, modern women, aka the quintessential Josie Girl. The collections are refined androgyny with vintage styles.

hey girlfriend.

hey girlfriend.

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Locket Necklace

I love jewelry — gold, silver, turquoise, diamonds, plastic, beads, whatever!  And I particularly love special and memorable pieces that are symbolic and meaningful.  So, to me, a locket necklace is the perfect piece of jewelry. Dainty, beautiful, with a little hidden secret photograph inside. LOVE.monica rich kassanI recently came across a collection of lockets from Monica Rich Kosann, and I was instantly sold. Each of them is so beautiful and unique, that it took me a while to settle on just one. They are all so incredibly special. The Monica Rich Kosann collection is designed to offer customers heirlooms for their generation. As she claims, “A woman can tell her story through her jewelry. Living with and celebrating the memories we create each day in our lives is universal to all of us.” And I fully agree .

Lockets

Lockets and charms. All with a personal touch.

A locket truly captures a unique moment, and it is extra special that you can keep that moment close to your heart. Plus, little kids love opening up lockets to see what is inside. Well, at least my monkey does. Every night before bed time, he asks to see what is inside of the necklace. Melts my heart.

So many options to choose from!

So many options to choose from!

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