The Yankees sweep....

I'm loving that the Yankees swept Minnesota on my birthday weekend. We are now headed to the ALCS to face either Tampa or Texas. October is certainly moving quickly....and so far, its been a wonderful month. Here are a few fun pics from the weekend. And yes, my weekend included a lot of cupcakes. Best place in Portland to get cupcakes - Saint Cupcake. Check out their website and enjoy.

Bye-Bye 30's.....

For awhile now, I've been planning how I wanted to spend the last day of my 30's. The final time I will say, "I am 39". I felt this day had to be special, meaningful....a proper goodbye to this decade. I wanted a Hermes bag...but lets face it, with a 7 year waiting list, who has that kind of time?? So, I went with the next best options. My day started with coffee at my favorite cafe with my favorite person (you know who you are!) My day ended with a wellness session: 30 minutes of meditation and 60 minutes of Pilate's followed by a 30 minute massage....followed by a cupcake. All in all, a wonderful day and a satisfying way to say goodbye to one decade and hello to the next one. I decided to stay up until midnight tonight....I wanted to be awake when I turn 40. So, with candles lit, and my fingers typing away...I have Sex and the City on the TV. With Carrie, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte on in the background, one is never alone. So, with 2 hours to go until midnight (I feel like a kid on Christmas!) and my favorite fictional friends on in the back, I bid adieu to my 30's and accueillir à 40. Age is just a number and is just a state of mind. I am open and excited to what comes next...a new phase and a new chapter is beginning. The past stays in the past and the present is what we live for...cherishing each and every moment and experience. And to quote Samantha from one of my favorite episodes, and the episode that I just watched - next time I need a pick me up or a reminder that life is good - I'll remind myself: "Hello my name is Fabulous".

Fall Fashion.....

I was born to wear black....summer...winter, it doesn't matter. Black is always the new black to me. Its classic. Its cool. Its timeless. Fall is my favorite season: the changing of the leaves, the smell of jasmine in the air, pumpkins and most importantly, fall fashion. I thank Vogue's September issue which kicks off the season and introduces us to the latest trends and colors.

When I go shopping, and something catches my eye, I always ask myself: "would Audrey wear this"? If she would, then I make the purchase....if she wouldn't, then I have to think more clearly before I buy. Recently, I bought a top that I am quite sure Audrey would not wear...but the color fascinated me and so I began to think out of the box. Does everything in my closet NEED to look like Audrey? Can I take this trendy top and give it a classic look?

Rich camels and browns are hot this fall. It reminds me of the French Countryside - where men wear tweed and women are rich in warm colors and earth tones. And then there is me....in my black. Add a twist to my closet: my recent purchase has sequins. I've never owned anything with sequins because I always found it to be flashy. However, I thank my favorite celebrity stylist, Rachel Zoe, for making me a bit more open minded and showing us that a woman can still be sophisticated with the proper sequins. Above, is a pic of the top I bought. The color is gorgeous for fall, but I still have the tags on....haven't quite committed to keeping it just yet.

I think its very common, especially for women, to reinvent themselves throughout various times in their lives. Its an expression of creativity, its fun, and for some, like me, fashion is part of our fuel - it feeds us. Fashion drives me. I get energy from styling and my creative juices just keep flowing. For me, I am on the cusp of entering a new decade...(to be discussed in a later blog, I'm sure...) So, now as I look through my closet, I'm wanting to stick to my basic color palette: black, gray, white, flesh/nude tones....and the occasional splash of avocado green. I can thank my lovely mother for my love of green. Its a classic touch to any outfit, and especially in the fall, when those warm earth tones come alive. I'm thinking about keeping the sequins top, especially since its this gorgeous copper/cement gray color. The sleeveless neckline has a worn, vintage look which gives it an edge, but the high neckline still keeps it cool and classic. Maybe I will pair it with a cropped ivory blazer, skinny jeans and high heels....very trendy but still classic in a way that won't make me feel too over the top. This is what I love about fashion....there are so many options, and if you are like me and prefer to stick to classic styles, just adding one top can change a simple outfit by adding a splash of flair, but still keeping it basic. What will you wear this weekend? What is your favorite fashion item? Is it the LBD, or something more trendy? Whatever it is, enjoy it - love it- wear it - and make it an expression of you and an extension of your personality. Fashion is personal and unique and makes each of us a little different. But in the end...just enjoy fashion and the many options it provides us.

Fabulous Desserts.....

Sometimes a gal just needs a late night treat. Thankfully, Papa Haydn is close by. Last night's dessert - beautifully displayed on colorful plates that mix and match with each other - was a delicious lemon cake. A perfect latte to go with it....and I was as happy as could be. If you live in the Portland area, Papa Haydn is known for their desserts (click to see beautiful pics of their dessert menu) I hope the photos look as good as they tasted. Buon apetite!

An Early Preview of Fall...

This morning, in Portland, it looked like fall....smelled like fall....and I even found a tree that started to change colors. But by this afternoon, the skies were gorgeous and tank tops were back on. But, before the sun made an appearance, here are some photos from the farmers market on the campus of Portland State University...oh, and the last picture is of course Dolce. He is preparing for a long winter's nap!

The Adventures and Mishaps of Dolce....

Yesterday, I spent my lunch break enjoying delicious coffee with a wonderful friend. Our plan was to sit outside...to enjoy what felt like early-fall here in Portland. However, Dolce and his behavior wouldn't allow us to have a calm, quiet coffee break. So, in a rush to get out of the car, add the parking meter sticker to the inside window and shut the car door without him getting out, I did something I've never done before. I left the keys in the car with the car engine running (thank you Mitsubishi for making such a quiet engine) and locked Dolce inside. I'm very grateful the temps weren't triple digits as I didn't realize my error until the last drop of my latte when I went to get my car keys. The lovely owner of the cafe and his friend, attempted creative ways to get Dolce out. Interesting that while they were using a coat hanger (and kitchen tools) 2 police officers and a fire truck went by...and either no one noticed....or no one bothered to stop and offer help. Thank you mom and dad for racing to their home to grab the spare key. Dolce had quite a day....and here are a few pics of the rescue attempt. By the way, I'll be skipping coffee today.

The Columbia River Gorge

A beautiful Labor Day weekend in Portland: a visit to the Gorge and a wonderful brunch at The View Point Inn. I'll write more another time...but for now...enjoy the photos below from my weekend adventure.