Welcome to the first Friday Finds of the new year! I’ve been storing up some goodies to share, and am so glad we’re finally back to business as usual, so I can get to it.

My first shopping task every year is a new calendar, but it’s a tough call these days. So many artists put together renditions that are absolutely stunning, but then there’s the question of function, too. Decisions, decisions.

I could go purely for pretty…

Trellus 2012 calendar, by Michelle Armas

Paris 2012, Little Brown Pen

…or look for a little function. If you happen to be in Portland or Austin, these Big Weekend calendars are about the coolest thing ever. Every random festival, event or happening around town is included, so you’ll never miss the Tigard Balloon Festival again! (My hubs, as you’d imagine, is thrilled.)

I’m going to need a calendar to mark off the days if I indulge in a little pre-order of 3.1 Philip Lim’s pre-fall collection at Moda Operandi, as I am sorely tempted to do. Not only do you get to be first in line (almost as good as scoring it on sale), but you pay half up front and half when it delivers next summer (by which point, you’ve already forgotten about the first half you spent). Plus, look at the pretty!

Of course, darling Philip is a splurge, no matter how you slice it. So, I’ll temper the wallet pain with a little cheap thrill. I’ve had this Rugby Ralph Lauren fair isle cardi bookmarked for the longest time, and now it’s on sale for $139. The sun’s bound to come out eventually, but for now, I’d be happy to spend the rest of the winter snuggled up in this and a pair of skinny jeans.

Happy Friday, friends! Have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you back here next week.

Happy Friday, friends! I wish I could say the weekend held rest and relaxation for me, but no – it holds deadline-busting piles of work. All amazing opportunities, mind you…but work, nonetheless.

So, I’m more than ready for a little Friday Finds distraction to take me away from all that 9-to-5. How about you?

My scarf obsession is nothing new, but I’ve had the image of this beautiful Suno scarf open on my desktop all week. Give me a tissue-thin expanse of wool or a cloud print, and I’m yours. Combine the two, and I’m speechless. This beauty has made it to the top of my holiday wish list…if I don’t cave and buy it for myself first.

I’ve been watching Pan Am this season, and have only recently warmed to it (does anyone else think it was a slow starter?). But now, I’m hooked…by the fashions, naturally. I spotted someone wearing a cocktail ring over gloves the other night, and was smitten with the look. Imagine my surprise when Kate Spade had the same idea.

I’m feeling the value of simple, classic totes these days…I can’t explain it, but there we are. And so, I offer you a splurge (from Il Bisonte, whose bags are unbelievably well crafted):

…and a (sort-of) steal (from IB&B, who I don’t know, but lambskin is always a good thing):

I just discovered a little shop called Curator, carrying a few well-selected lines and some gorgeous house-designed pieces as well. This dramatic wool a-line coat is my current favorite – it’s a great nod to the cape trend without being as bulky and shapeless as capes tend to be. It’s also on sale, which never hurts. I wish I were snuggling in this right this second.

And last, but definitely not least, this list needs some color, don’t you think? Designer Jonathan Saunders recently collaborated with stationery legend Smythson to create a group of gorgeous new diary planners. Doesn’t it make you wish you still kept a paper calendar?

Have a wonderful weekend, friends…and if you’re out shopping the Nordstrom Half-Yearly sale, be sure to stop by the café for the best Caramel Apple Cider on the planet.

See you back here next week!

Happy Friday, everyone…what a week it’s been! I’ve hardly had time to breathe, let alone blog, but that hasn’t stopped me from amassing quite a list of Friday Finds. Even when I’m swimming in things to do, I always manage to find time to covet.

First, I’ve found a new love: BeautyAddicts’ “Double Deception” concealer. The right half is lighter and creamier, so it’s perfect for under the eyes, and the left side works wonders for the rest of your face. It’s all very Alice in Wonderland/magic caterpillar mushroom, but the results are flawless.

I’m obsessing a little over wanting a new pair of ankle boots for the fall. While I’m terrified of light-colored suede for a number of reasons (rain in Portland + denim = blue stripes all over my boots. Not cool.), these are calling to me. And, at $120, I can actually afford to listen.

Have you seen the latest goodies at J.Crew? I’m obsessed with a couple of things: specifically, this tweed jacket and that sequined top. Truthfully, I dream of being able to pull off sequins for day, and I’m thinking if ever there was a reasonable candidate, it’s this one.

And speaking of glitz and glam, I am fascinated by this ring. I can’t exactly figure out how it would look on, but how wrong could it be? I’m smitten.

Even though I’m mad as hell at Target over my whole Missoni debacle, I have to show you this Sonia Kashuk brush set. The brushes are great, the metallic tweed clutch is adorable (and actually cute enough to be carried as a clutch), and the whole thing is $25. I’d have bought the clutch alone for that price, so consider the brushes a highly useful bonus.

Have a wonderful weekend, friends. I’m hoping to spend a couple of hours with my husband and George Clooney…and I’ll see you back here next week!

Happy Friday, friends – I have so much to show you for this week’s Friday Finds! Apparently, I’m having one of those weeks in which I’m all about pattern. There are worse things.

I may be the world’s only naysayer on the maxiskirt/dress trend, but I just don’t get it. Or, I didn’t…until I tried on this silk version at Madewell on my SF trip last week. It is un-be-lievable in person – the holy grail of maxi skirts. Sadly, floor-length silk felt a little impractical for rainy Portland, but if you’re in a more temperate climate, nab this the second it goes on sale.

Speaking of silk (well, polyester in this case), while I had high hopes for the Karl Lagerfeld for Macy’s collaboration, I only managed to find one thing in the entire collection that I liked: this delicate zigzag blouse. Those high collars are no good on me, but if you don’t have that problem, this is lovely, and a perfect layering piece for fall.

There’s so much Vogue love in the book world this fall…I hardly know which way to turn. But I’m a sucker for a coffee table book with both substance and style, making Nostalgia in Vogue (available in Oct) and Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel (covering her years at both Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar) my picks. Nostalgia in Vogue is a collection of the best Nostalgia columns from the magazine’s history – always a favorite series of mine – paired with some stunningly memorable photo shoots. And if you’re a Vreeland fan, the latter is simply a must – so many fantastical, avante garde photo shoots are reproduced and paired with her inimitable outlook on style.

My sweet friends over at Hammocks & High Tea just launched a few new patterns, all of which are utterly delicious, as Martyn Lawrence Bullard would say. (It’s possible I’m watching too much Bravo these days…) But then there’s also the matter of their new scarves…and, as you’d expect, the combination of supersoft silk and bright color is making me very, very happy.

I’ve been obsessing about these LL Bean Signature trousers since I first saw their fall linesheet over the summer. So far, best trouser of the season if you ask me. Now that the weather’s (almost) cooperating, I’m dying to rock these with a chunky sweater or my Vince moto jacket.

And, last, with all that practicality, we need a bit of fantasy to start the weekend, don’t you think? All of the gorgeous enameled azure and gold in Tiffany’s new Picasso Venezia collection is making me positively giddy. It’s like Van Gogh meets the Medicis…bright, opulent, and definitely a showstopper.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone…see you back here next week!

Welcome to the weekend, friends! I fully planned on taking today off (really, it’s the last week of August…are any of us paying attention right now anyway?), but there was just too much to tell you.

First up, I’m on a boat! I’m in a book! I know, can you believe it? Me neither. But the amazing ladies at CRAVE deemed me worthy, so there I am. I went to the (extremely chic) launch party last night, and saw the book for the first time – it’s a stunner. If you live in Portland, want to visit Portland, or just want to know about a bevy of amazingly talented women who live here (plus me), check out their website to snag a copy.

I’m having a pretty serious Chanel affliction at present (wait…when am I not?). I’m a little late to the game showing you these pre-Fall ads from the house (pre-fall is so July, you know), but I can’t resist. It’s one of my favorite collections of all time – every model looks like a Russian princess. More of these beauties over at my Pinterest page…come visit!

In other very exciting news, Loeffler Randall is on MyHabit today. What else can I possibly say about that, except go…go now.

Speaking of deals, I spotted one of my favorite albums of the summer on Amazon’s $5 list today. If you don’t know Ellie Goulding yet, buy this – something tells me you’ll love it. And maybe Madonna’s Like A Prayer, if you’re one of the six people on the planet (besides me) that doesn’t own it.

That’s it, friends. I hope you have a fantastic weekend in store. I’m taking a train ride with the hubs, my BFF and her adorable son – can’t wait to see his little face get all excited! And, I’ll be playing around with some beads I bought on Etsy last week during a random crafty spree. I’m hoping to build a little something like this or this…I’ll keep you posted.

What do you have planned?

Happy Friday, friends! Are you relishing these last few summer weekends? I’ve been woefully neglectful of my barbecue, which I’m hoping to remedy this weekend. Also, we finally have a backyard that’s habitable, and I can hardly wait to bust out our patio set. Here’s hoping we get a few more rain-free weekends to put them to good use.

And, with that, on to this week’s Finds!

First, I have to tell you about the two beauty products that have been saving me this summer. I didn’t quite realize their collective power until I spent a weekend at the beach, and had not even a trace of a sunburn on my alabaster (well, pale, at any rate) skin. Honestly. No sunglasses tan lines, no new freckles…nothing. Considering how much my hair bleached out over those two days, I think that’s pretty impressive. So, first, props to DDF Weightless Defense UV Moisturizer SPF 45 (wow, that’s a mouthful).

Yes, it smells like sunscreen – but only for a second when you first put it on. No, it didn’t make me break out, not even a little. Not even when I first switched over. That, friends, is impressive. If you have sun in your future, switch to this immediately.

Second, Sue Devitt’s SpaComplexion tinted moisturizer with “hydrating marine minerals”. I’ve actually had this on hand to try for a few months, but my skin was still too pasty pale from the winter. (Yes, their lightest shade was still too dark for me. Don’t judge.) But my skin finally colored just enough for me to start using this about a month ago (before I’d switched to the mighty DDF sunscreen, mind you), and I’m completely infatuated. It looks and feels like there’s nothing there at all (so you can claim that “no makeup” look), and does a masterful job of glossing over the bad, and generally evening out my skin tone. And again, no breakouts…unlike the 4 other tinted moisturizers I tested.

But enough about my trip, right? This has been a huge jewelry week for me – possibly because I’ve had samples from some of my favorite designers lying around my house all week. Sadly, they have to go back. But in their place, I’m thinking very seriously about some new little bauble for myself. This stunner of a statement necklace from DANNIJO is unbelievable. Cocktail dress? Sure. But just picture this with a grey tee and cutoff shorts. The design is exclusive to my friends at Charm & Chain, which makes me want it even more! I do love a little exclusivity.

And speaking of jewels, Lulu Frost’s collection for J.Crew just debuted. Isn’t it pretty?

It’s possible I’ve been reading too much of The American Heiress (fantastic guilty summer read, by the way), as I’m clearly craving an awful lot of sparkle these days. Speaking of, have you seen all the gorgeous mirrored and sparkly shoes at Topshop right now? They remind me of a grown-up version of Dorothy’s ruby slippers. I’m envisioning them with jewel-toned tights and a great 1940s-inspired dress…unbelievable!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend in store, friends – as for me, I have a huge pile of SEPTEMBER ISSUES staring me down. Best time of the year! I can’t wait to curl up at Peets with my trusty cappuccino and dig in. What do you have planned?

Happy Friday, friends! As usual, there’s no rhyme or reason to this week’s list, though I am noticing an abundance of ultra-bright color. It must be summertime.

The hubs and I have some fun travel plans over the next few months, and I can tell you there’s nothing I’d rather be toting my travel gear in more than this bold blue weekender bag. I love the bright hue, the tribal vibe and the leather trim, and I have a feeling it’d be light as a feather.

It’s still a little early to be thinking fall trends, but this ladylike silk blouse from Madewell will be just the thing with those below-the-knee skirts this fall.

After spotting this beautiful street style image from Atlantic-Pacific…

…I can’t stop thinking about adding a chic pair of bright pants to my denim-centric wardrobe. While I’m normally terrified by the idea of a capri, these candy-colored versions from J.Crew look more like an ankle-grazing length than a mid-calf affair, rendering them infinitely more stylish. Now, to pick a color!

And, now that I think about it, that emerald blouse would look pretty amazing with any of these – especially the blue. Be bold, friends!

While I was never a big fan of Gretchen Jones while she was on Project Runway, I have to admit that her new line of jewelry for Piperlime is good. A lot of the pieces miss the mark by *that* much (a spiked earring that would be so much more amazing if the post weren’t dead center, and a long necklace that would be strikingly perfect if the pendant pieces were a bit further down the chain), but there are some styles I’m seriously contemplating. But…no returns allowed on these pieces, so I’m proceeding with caution.

I almost never swoon over baby/kiddie goods (I’m pretty sure I’m missing a gene), but these prints from Heather Ross are a little too perfect. They’re called “Cranky Princesses” – hysterical! Now I just need some little girls to buy them for…

And now, I’m off to spend a fun, relaxing weekend with my BFF, who’s coming to town. I can’t wait! Hope you have something equally fun in store.

Happy Friday, friends! I know I say this every week, but I am so, so ready for this weekend. I don’t know where all that carefree summer relaxing is happening, but here at Camp Cardio, it’s nonstop crazy. Mostly good, a little bit not so much…but I have faith it’ll all turn out beautifully in the end.

So, you’ll understand why I’m so looking forward to a few much-needed days at the Oregon Coast next month. A bit of sun, sand and reading by the beach is exactly what the doctor ordered. Since I have hammock time on the brain, I thought you might like to know which books will be in my beach tote…in case you have something similar up your sleeve this summer.

The American Heiress, by Daisy Goodwin: This 500-pager is the perfect beach read…from what I’ve seen thus far, it’s Gossip Girl meets Downton Abbey, all set at the turn of the twentieth century. In other words, I’m not expecting great literature, but I do foresee a pretty juicy story line and plenty of extravagant escapism, which is exactly what I’m after.

The Imperfectionists, by Tom Rachman: This title debuted last year, but it’s out in paperback now, making it a prime candidate for beach reading. I love a novel that turns a series of short stories into a cohesive plot line, with all of those beautifully-intersecting characters and events coming together in the end. The Imperfectionists promises to be that novel, and set in a foreign correspondent’s newsroom in Rome (think Gregory Peck in Roman Holiday), it’s sure to remind me of all of the tumultuous events of my brief career as a news reporter.

Super Sad True Love Story, by Gary Shteyngart: I’ll admit, this one will probably be finished before I actually head to the beach, as it’s currently sitting front and center on my bedside table. I haven’t quite decided how I feel about the shady Lenny Abramov, the book’s central character – he’s deeply flawed, and not entirely sympathetic, but his exploits thus far in the novel promise some interesting reading. Shteyngart has a talent for exposing with raw honesty exactly what goes on in our minds when no one’s watching…and the novel is fascinating for that alone.

A Year and Six Seconds, by Isabel Gillies: I’m trying not to let the fact that this book was written by Detective Stabler’s wife deter me from the story, which feels like a simpler, cleaner reincarnation of Eat, Pray, Love. It’s one of those stories that drowns you in the hard parts of life, only to buoy you with the sweet side in the end. I’m not sure it’s quite the lighthearted storyline I have in mind for a vacation, but it’s definitely on my list.

The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald: Every summer, I choose a classic to revisit (a habit that’s likely a relic of those summer reading lists from AP English), and The Great Gatsby is my pick this year. Clearly, I’m having a love affair with the early twentieth century…but there’s a new version of the movie coming out this fall (though how you can compete with Robert Redford’s Gatsby is beyond me), so the timing feels perfect.

Now comes my favorite part…what are you reading this summer, friends? I’m always anxious for new ideas!

{By the way, since I’ve been swimming in work this month, I’ve taken to posting some of my favorite sale finds on Facebook and Twitter instead of here on the blog. If you haven’t been visiting, this is definitely the time to start!}

First, thank you all so much for your wonderful (and kind) advice yesterday – I so appreciate your being decisive when I simply cannot. It was a tough, tough call…but you can see the winner right over on the About page! (Though I reserve the right to switch it up every six months.)

Now, about those Friday Finds. My mama’s in town this weekend, friends – I’m so excited! But that means I’m going to forego this week’s Friday Finds in favor of hanging with her. Can you blame me?

But. If you happen to be in Portland this weekend, don’t miss out on the big summer sale going on in the Pearl District – all of my favorite stores are in the mix (Mabel & Zora, Moule and Popina Swim!), so I know Mom and I will be there with bells on.

Wherever you are, I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I’ll see you back here next week!

Happy Friday, friends? I know you’re ready for the weekend…but how many of you got up early (or stayed up late) to shop the Anniversary Sale this morning? Sadly, I had a very tragic (and upsetting) experience pre-ordering my beloved St. John wrap dress, but I’m happy to report it was still available online this morning, so I circumvented my salesperson and nabbed double points in the process. That’ll show ‘em.

Digressions, they plague me…

To get you started for the weekend, a few things that have been making me happy this week:

Summer is always the time of year when I want bright, colorful jewelry, but something that’s still light and easy to wear. I spotted this utterly charming necklace from Nicola Yoon, and have been imagining it with different outfits ever since. It reminds me quite a bit of my beloved Marco Bicego, but not so much as to be upsetting. And it’s about 1/10 the price. Hard to beat that!

I cannot stop thinking about this beautiful Blaise loafer from Loeffler Randall. Every so often, designer Jessie Randall concocts a delight that completely takes over my brain. This is one of those times. Ikat calf hair? Yes, yes, I think so. Now if only it’d go on sale.

I’m having a big jewelry week, apparently. Isn’t this piece from Taylor Kenney wonderful? So unique and eye-catching, but simple and easy to wear. And you know how I love me some druzy action.

And last but not least, I recently made a bargain beauty discovery, and since those are pretty rare in these parts, I had to share. Yes to Carrots! It’s wonderful. I’m particularly smitten with their Intense Repair Body Lotion which has a not-at-all unappealing (and extremely mild) herbal scent, goes on much lighter than my Eucerin standby, absorbs faster and works as well. Oh, and it’s $9.99 at your neighborhood Target. Score!

Now it’s time for a little Friday Finds action from you, my friends. What did you score at the Anniversary Sale? Anything finds you’re especially excited about? I’m dying to know!