I LOVE LA (AND A THANK YOU...)

As many of you may remember if you've been following along on my crazy life, I was recently in LA wrapping up the last issue of Rue and playing with some friends of mine! From there, I spent a weekend in San Francisco before heading to Las Vegas Market.

I thought this crazy west coast tour deserved a little recap thanks to some fabulous sponsors along the way...

First stop: la la land! Oh how I miss it my sunshine! There's was hardly any time for beaches, but I did get to spend brunch with Alissa and Jessica where I devoured those gorgeous crepes, and enjoyed a little blogging gossip session.

I also had the chance to visit the new Nordstrom in Santa Monica where I was pampered with a brow treatment at the Anastasia counter and some fabulous attention from my stylists Jenni and Carly! My two favorite purchases (thanks in part to a $100 gift certificate!) were these orange twill Mother pants and patent Sam Edelman loafers.

The best part? My mode of transportation for the week. Thanks to the peeps at Nissan I was able to cruise around town (along with my lucky passengers) in this smooth Murano, which I am officially in love with. Much better than the dinky little economy rental that I'm used to, and the navigation system and bluetooth had me feeling spoiled!

And if you think all that sounds good... wait until you hear about my adventures in San Fran!

RUE ISSUE #6 SNEAK PEEK!

Following yesterday's post, this sneak peek at our next issue of Rue seems perfectly fitting! A gorgeous home shot in Mexico City by Emily Anderson, I'm pretty sure this might be my favorite home in the mag...




Are you excited for Issue #6? I know I am! Our first travel issue, there will be a plethora of international spaces to share and - of course - new trends and fun features as well. Monday, my friends! Monday!! In the meantime... it's crunch time for us, so back to work we go!

PS - If you haven't already, vote for your favorite cover for Issue #6 right here!

*photography by emily anderson

TRAVEL DIARY: CAPRI

A perfect place to visit on a Friday afternoon... and my last place to share from my trip to Italy. Welcome to Capri!


This beautiful island is every bit as charming, sunny, and wonderful as everyone promised it would be. By far the most relaxing stop on our travels, I could have spent a few more days here lounging by our pool, enjoying the views, and indulging in a little luxury!

While we couldn't book a room at J.K Place (where I've always wanted to visit) we did the next best thing and stayed in a lovely hotel practically right next door. It was just my sister and I for this part of the trip, so we dolled ourselves up one night and headed over there for drinks on the patio that turned into a spectacular dinner where we were completely spoiled by the staff.

We also discovered a cute little lunch spot where we wedged ourselves into this teeny balcony and people-watched for a few hours on a Saturday when it was quite packed on the island.

The second day there, we spent some time in Anacapri which was lovely and quiet - especially on a Sunday. (It's where I got the pair of sandals I shared with you last week!) I wanted to bring back a whole bowl of these puffer fish too, but I don't think they allow sharp objects on the airplane...

We basically ate our way through Italy - can you tell? This was the best pesto I have ever ever had at some random little spot we picked because we got hungry. Love when that happens!


We ended the last night there in the glow of this beautiful sunset... I was so sad to leave such a relaxing and beautiful place. Capri, I will definitely be back!

I hope you enjoyed a peek at all my travels! It was an amazing little trip and I can't wait for the next one! Ciao Ciao!

*all images by coco+kelley

TRAVEL DIARY: THE AMALFI COAST

The next stops on our quick little journey were to Sorrento and Positano where we spent about a full day in each city relaxing enjoying a little beach (or should I say cliff?) time...

Our hotel was just two blocks up from the waterfront, and this was the view that greeted us on our first day in Sant'Agnello where we stayed (just outside of Sorrento, it's a little more quiet than being downtown).

Having been to the Amalfi Coast before, I took less photos for some silly reason, but I managed to snap a few good ones on our trip to Positano the next day...


I couldn't resist the Missoni shop - it was too perfect! And so is this postcard-worthy view!

There was tons of shopping in Positano, and I came home with some goodies! When we stumbled upon this display of loafers in every possible color though, I froze up and couldn't decide which ones I loved the most! Just looking at them again, I get overwhelmed! Green? Peach? Lilac? Red? What would you have chosen?  

And again - more eating! Of course. This is one of my favorite traditional dishes - I remember my Nonna and my father making it from time to time growing up. It's squash or zucchini blossoms stuffed with fresh ricotta or goat cheese, lightly fried, and served with fresh basil and pomodoro. (If you want to test it out yourself, try this recipe from Giada for the goat cheese, or this recipe from bon appetit for the ricotta version!)

I've saved my favorite spot for last (just like we did in our trip!) so on Friday I will share my final destination - Capri!

TRAVEL DIARY: RENDE

Hello friends! I'm back with more of my travel notes from Italy! Today we are heading just a bit north from the family's adventures in Sicily to the town of Rende where my father was born. This was by far the most special part of the trip, and a place I hope to return to very soon...

Rende is perched on top of a hill and surrounded by a few other towns just like it - all very small - with nothing touristy about them at all. In other words, sheer perfection. We immersed ourselves in the real Italy (no other Americans in sight!) and enjoyed every second of it...


Every little detail seemed enchanting (especially all the worn doorways) and - to give you an idea of how small the town is - we literally ran into relatives on the street while wandering through on our first night! In true Italian style, they showed us to the home my father grew up in, and gave us a little history lesson on the famiglia... complete with a tour of the cemetery where we discovered generations of LaValle, Storino and Principe lineage.

And of course the churches (this one was my favorite - the color of the walls made it glow inside)

The rest of the time was spent simply falling in love with this little hilltop town...


I even picked out my future vacation home...

Definitely my favorite. While the actual city of Rende is quite large for the region, the hilltop area is referred to as 'Old Rende' and maintains its quiet charm, which was just my style. I can't wait to go back someday, visit with the family, and enjoy the simple life!


*travel notes: we stayed at the b&b alarcon where there are currently only two rooms available, but more are planned, and the couple who runs the place were kind enough to pick us up from the train station! we dined at the hosteria de mentoza two evenings (there are only a few restaurants in town) and enjoyed what i'd consider to be the best food we had on the trip!

TRAVEL DIARY: CATANIA

While the rest of my family got to enjoy Sicily for about a week, I joined in the party a bit late, so my few days there were spent mainly in Catania. If you want a dose of real southern Sicilian living, I recommend diving into the culture here!

The fish market near the main piazza was a sight to see! (I of course didn't have my camera with me to capture it.) and we ate tons of fresh seafood for dinner both nights. My favorite was the spaghetti with clams. My father was more adventurous with his dish (on the right). The best part, though, was the evening light filtering into the square, drenching the church, and settling on us during dinner before disappearing. Can't you just feel the warm glow? 

Of course, after dinner I had to treat myself to my first gelato, and I chose the gelateria based completely on the fascinating ceiling. Looks like something Kelly Wearstler would approve of, no?

The next day was all about sightseeing, since it was Sunday and nothing was open. We roamed through the little town and found buildings old and new... all beautiful! 


We mused at how Italians always look so chic and cool, even in the middle of the heat, so we all practiced putting on our best faces to fit in. This is my "Oh, what, this gorgeous centuries-old church? Nothing I haven't seen before. Ho hum." face. What do you think?

I was so bummed when we passed Rizzotti and Zara Home and neither were open. Sundays in Europe! Ugh!! The best I could do was snap a few window shopping photos for you.

At the end of the afternoon we ended up in this big park that was wonderfully shaded and quiet... a perfect spot to sit and enjoy the city for a bit before packing up and leaving the next day for more adventures (tomorrow, tomorrow!).

ps - the b&b we stayed at in catania is called BAD, but don't let the name scare you. its decor was slightly hipster meets old world italy, we had our own private patio and kitchen, and the owners were wonderfully helpful! we also dined two nights in a row at the osteria antica sicilia, we loved it (and our waiter, paulo) so much. 

*photography by coco+kelley.

TRAVEL DIARY: TAORMINA

Well, darlings, you asked for it, so here it comes! I'll be sharing a bunch of photos from my travels this week (I know, I know, a little late, but better than never!) so for those of you dreaming of an Italian getaway, soak it in and just imagine you're there...

Our travels started in Sicily where we spent our day in the little resort town of Taormina. Being quite the tourist destination, there was (needless to say) plenty of shopping to be had...


Given an unlimited budget, I would have come home with about twenty different chandeliers from this trip! Not to mention loads of gilded goodness. As fate would have it, however, I spent only a few euros on some Italian treats to enjoy while window shopping instead.

One of my favorite things to spot throughout my travels were pretty little handmade signs and - of course - inspiring architecture and all the decorative elements that went along with it...


Loved the facade on the building above! Of course, the most amazing part of traveling in Europe is the history of the cities, and we god a big dose of that roaming through these amazing gardens...

If you peek through the vines you have the most fantastic view of the sea! We sat here and enjoyed the most deliciously fresh fruit and soaked in some sunshine, enjoying a little peace away from the crowds. It was a lovely way to start the trip! More from Sicily to come...

*all photography by coco+kelley

SCENES FROM ITALY...

I returned from Italy last Wednesday night, and I've been pouring over my memories as if they occurred years ago, it already seems so far away! Many of you asked for photos, so I'm going to share as much as I can but will be spreading things out a bit so I don't overwhelm...

The trip was (of course) wonderful and delicious, our days filled to the brim with inspiration, relaxation, and plenty of sights to see. I indulged in too much gelato, followed strict instructions from many of you to invest in some sandals from Capri, enjoyed the beaches, and took in the beauty that surrounded us.

The trip started in Sicily and ended in Capri with just one day in Rome before I flew back home. So, I'll be sharing a few places and pieces of inspiration from each stop throughout the next month! Not to mention showing off a few more purchases and sharing some recipes. Much much more to come!!

*all photography by me, edited on instagram.

TIRED + HAPPY

Well, my dears, it's been two weeks of wonderful travel through Italy, and I'm spent!! Maybe if I had that Louis Vuitton blanket to rest my jet-lagged head upon I'd feel better...

I can't wait to share so many beautiful pieces of inspiration from my trip, but for now, my loves, I'm taking the morning to catch up on things a bit around here! Tons of photos and more to come!

*image via {this is glamorous}

WITH LOVE FROM: ROME

Ciao, it's Jessica, from Life's Little Jems, and I'm here to present a series called With Love From... where I'll be sharing some of my favorite fashion and home decor items inspired by various cities around the globe.

My first destination is the Eternal City: Rome, Italy, where Cassandra should soon be landing! A few weeks ago, I myself returned from a magnificent, much needed vacation to Europe, and Rome was my first stop. Here are a few wonderful treasures inspired by my recent getaway to this beautiful and historic city. Until next time…

1. Elizabeth Cole, Gordian Knot Bracelet 2. Zara, Zip Trousers 3. Mid Century Italian Chairs from Boo Radley 4. SuperHeadz, Wide and Slim Camera 5. Marble Roman Bust 6. Vespa LXV 150 7. Marni, Cannello Sandal 8. Reiko Kaneko Lip Tease Cup and Saucer 9. Ascaso, Dream Coffee Maker

GONE TO ITALY...

Be back in two weeks!! In the meantime,  I'll still have plenty of posts from potential contributors and a few I put together myself to keep you entertained.

And when I'm back, there will be so much to share!! Lots of love... and ciao!

*image via tumblr, source unknown

GONE TO CAPRI...

After yesterday's post on packing for my trip, I promptly booked two nights in a sweet little hotel in Capri and spent a liiiiittle too much time doing some online shopping...

What do you think? I'm pretty sure I could wear this every day of my vacation and feel amazing (until I spill gelato all over that gorgeous white dress). The dress and hat would be fairly easy additions to the wardrobe. The Valentino tote and Antik Batik sandals? A bit of a splurge... but they could be necessary!

PACKING A PALETTE

Whenever I go on trips, I like to pack clothes in a similar palette so that I know I can mix and match pieces as I go. I'm just beginning to think about what to bring to Italy with me - but two weeks is a much longer time than a long weekend to consider just one color scheme! Which is why I may be taking some serious inspiration from this editorial as I select my wardrobe...

I love the mix of rich jewel tones with softer pastels and nudes - there's tons of color, and endless options of ways to mix them all. The hardest part may be what hue to choose for my mani pedi! 

*editorial photographed by lachlan bailey for vogue nippon

ESCAPE...

Good morning, beautiful people! How was the weekend?

As I promised myself, I finally took a few days to relax a bit after all the travel I've been doing and it was absolutely lovely. Of course... this girl can't stay in one place too long, which is why I spent Saturday night researching and making plans for a very exciting destination in June...

Italy!! Exactly one month from today my entire family (mom, dad and sis) will be jetting off for a few weeks in the saturated sunshine of Sicily. I'm already dreaming of the wardrobe I'll be packing and the fabulous hotels we'll be lounging in... 

Not to mention time spent on salty beaches as we make our way up to the Amalfi Coast! It's been years since I made the time to hop across the globe for a real getaway, and I cannot wait. We'll also be stopping through Calabria to visit the small town my father was born in, and - fingers crossed - spending one indulgent night in Capri just me and my sis.

Anyone have suggestions for our little escape? I'd love to hear them!

*images via pinterest, kimberly ayres, pinterest, and flickr

AUSTIN

Well, chickadees, I'm back from my long weekend in Austin and I have to say... for such a quick trip, I certainly felt like it did more for me than my last real vacation. Maybe that had to do with the fact that I felt spoiled rotten by the lovely Camille and her amazing husband (who served us margaritas by the pool and cooked up some fantastic tacos), as we soaked in sunshine and talked life, love and blogging for hours and hours in the sunshine...

Or maybe it was all the fun I had with my girl Beth who toured me up and down South Congress one afternoon (starting with brunch at South Congress Cafe) for some vintage shopping. My favorite shop might have been Feathers Boutique where I found this insane Mongolian wool vest (what do you think!? am i crazy thinking about it?) as well as a few other goodies including a green lame´evening gown that I so wanted to bring back with me.  And of course we had to go boot shopping! I've never seen so many amazing styles in one place before.

Whatever it was - some wide open spaces, time spent with people I absolutely adore, or a healthy dose of sunshine - it was a fantastic weekend that really cleared my head. And now I can't wait (yes really) to get back to work! Thanks to all of you who offered up suggestions for my trip, too - ya'll are the best!

THE COUNTDOWN TO SUNSHINE

I'm sure you're all tired of hearing me whine about the poor Seattle weather we've had this spring (although many of you I think are sympathizing) so I'm happy to report that this weekend I will be heading to Austin where you will not be hearing a peep out of me when it comes to weather complaints!

I'm so happy to be getting a little 80+ temps that I'm already dreaming of what to pack for days spent shopping and dining (can we say texas bbq!?)...

And of course there will be much time spent lounging by the pool! Oh, sure, there may have to be a little work squeezed in there, but I don't think I'll mind as much with the sun shining.

*resources: dress and bikini at h&m, necklace at anthropologie, belt and sandals asos, clutch claire vivier, striped sun hat amazon.com