jessica mcdougall

I had to steal this picture from my mom's blog. It's delightful.

Sweet peas are my favorite flower. And the love and care that my dad gives them throughout the growing process to get them to this stage of bloom is admired. Nice work dad. Your mom would be proud.

Received a request from Josie for a recommendation for a sight seeing bag.

And I just happened to come across these amazing bags at the Forum Shops in Las Vegas yesterday. So adorable. So retro and fun. And so inexpensive.

My friend Mark and I walked into Marc Jacbos and asked the price. "45" said the clerk. Mark and I just looked at eachother. 45,000? 4,500? To our surprise, they were $45. A steal in my mind.

And as a traveler, I jumped on them. The larger one is more of a duffel size and the smaller messenger bag would easily fit a camera. They also come in white.

 
Produced with an outer shell of PVC, these first class designs will serve to remind past and present generations of the first airline to offer luxury through both domestic and international travel.

You can see all the Pan Am travel bags here. But the special edition Marc Jacobs ones are only available in Marc Jacobs stores.

If only all flights were this easy.

And here's some really cool street art that's in Indianapolis. They have it right on the street corner and the lights continuously move so it appears that she's walking. I thought it was the walk signal (which would have been super cool!) but was informed by locals that "it's just art."

Travel (packing) Tips. By Request.

Here's one thing I learned after traveling over 500,000 miles in the last two years. PACK BY OUTFIT. In the beginning, I used to bring a variety of items to mix and match and several pairs of shoes. But when I arrived where I was going, I never really felt like I had good outfits to wear. Or in the back of my mind, when I put something on, I knew that I had cooler things back home that would better complement the outfit. I can't remember why I made the switch, but doing so has made a world of difference in being able to enjoy fashion on the road.

Here's the process I am currently using:

1. When it's pack time, I get out my wheeling clothes racks. These are currently on sale here. I buy the heavy duty ones that don't fall apart when you've got a ton of clothes on them. The the process of outfit creation occurs. My current closet is a pretty confined space, so bringing the things I want to pack out into a larger area and hanging them on the rack, I can fully develop outfits. It sounds like an intense process. But it's worth it.

2. Once I have the outfits created (typically by day, or event, and a couple extras), which means everything is picked out, including jewelry, underwear, and shoes, I put each individual outfit into 14 x 20" Uline 4 Mil Reclosable Bags. You can find them here. This keeps everything separated nicely and protects your clothing from being touched by TSA (evil!). One of the coolest parts about using the bags for me is that if I don't wear the outfit on the intended trip, it's ready to go for the next trip.

3. I leave dresses and delicate items hanging on black velvet-covered hangers (that prevent slipping) with clear plastic garment bags over the top. Those can be lightly folded in half and placed on the top of your suitcase. The hanging clothes are ready to be put into a closet when you arrive and they will be nearly wrinkle free.

I read a Diane Von Furstenberg article where she talked about how packing was some of her best creative time. Putting things together. Discovering items she forgot she had. I love that. And I feel the same way when I take the time to pack the right way.

A new city to add to my "visited" list.

Encountered an unexpected stop on today's travel itinerary, after Jeffrey and my flight was forced to land in Indianapolis because of the bad weather in Chicago, our intended first stop en route to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. So now we're having a quick steak at St. Elmo's Steakhouse in the city, a place that I've heard Jeffrey rave about many times as having "the best shrimp cocktail in the world."

And we'll head back to the private airport for a jet to Sioux Falls tonight. (Our only option to arrive in time for Jeffrey's talk tomorrow morning.)

Today is a reminder of why I like traveling so much. It's the unexpected adventure. Where you never really know what's next. Where you learn to think, adapt, and act quickly.

How fitting that my horoscope in this month's issue of Vanity Fair (that I just read today on the plane) said the following: "Take this opportunity to reflect on how mature you've become over the past two years, then go out and treat yourself to a delicious meal. When the check comes, just say, 'Screw the money. I deserve it.'"

 

Got a request from Mary for new ideas of what to wear with this adorable shoe.

Since the heel is a bit on the chunky side, I really like it with a short dress, and perhaps an overcoat. The cream colors leave the attention on the shoe.

But I also envision it with shorts and a fun top. And if you'd rather not show some leg, these wide leg jeans would look superb with just a bit of the shoe popping out the bottom.

I would suggest spraying this shoe with protectant, wrapping it in acid-free tissue paper, and storing it for the winter when the weather begins to cool off.

If you've been following my blog for a while, you know that I adore hats. So, of course, I love all the fashion press that hats are getting right now.

There's something magical about how mysterious a hat can make you feel when you're wearing it.

Freddie gave me the suggestion to add my Chanel brooch to a hat. How cute. I found this black hat (pictured) at Banana Republic, shopping with Chris and Ali. I can't really tell what style it is. It's kind of a cross between a fedora and a cowboy hat.

I've also been considering this hat. I think quite the outfit could be developed to go with it. Or even just with a simple dress.

And here's a great sale on a delightful newsboy cap. (Unfortunately, it's now sold out. Doesn't that make you want it more?!) But here's a good alternative to that one. I picked it up in yellow.

And a few more that I am adding to my wishlist are this houndstooth newsboy and this end of summer Gucci bucket hat.

Are you a hat fan? What's your preferred style?

It's a lovely (rainy) day in NYC. Staying at The Algonquin Hotel, The Legendary New York City Landmark. A place for writers. And a historical one at that. Built in 1902, it's a quaint establishment with New Yorker cartoon wallpaper. Delightful.

And it totally goes with my Anna Sui newsprint dress that I'm wearing today.

I saw this outfit in Jcrew last week.

I love the combination of the tie with cardigan and shorts. It was in the women's section. But has a real masculine feel.

I think I can pull it off with the right heels and jewelry. Would you wear it?

Lots of other fall fashion finds at Jcrew right now. Both Ali and I got this coat. (Which is now backordered in certain sizes. Hate that!) And I picked up these fun silver pumps. There are also lots of fun summer items in the final sale section of Jcrew. Cute little tees to transition you from the end of summer to getting ready for fall. Including this cashmere tee.

Happy Shopping!

Good times today with Ali, Chris, and Simon at Carowinds in South Carolina. It was 100 degrees. A bit too hot. But once we got in the water, it was delightful. 

I'm so happy that this dude is here visiting.

I am in love with this Development cream leather coat.

I saw it yesterday at Nordstrom here in Charlotte and called Frederick, my favorite salesperson in the world (besides Jeffrey), to send it to me! He works at the Chanel accessories counter at the Seattle Nordstrom and he is fabulous. He's become a great friend and fashion counselor.

He taught me the other day that women wear a brooch on the left and men wear it on the right. No exceptions. Fun fashion tip that I never knew.

I was thinking today about why I like this coat so much. It seems like the perfect summer to fall transition piece and I love the subtle ruffling. But it also sparks a memory of the coat that was worn in the movie Can't Buy Me Love! The one she wore to the party, that she borrowed from her mom's closet, and someone spilled wine on! Amazing. What a great flick that was.

I plan to pair it with some skinny jeans and boots.
What's on your fashion radar for the summer to fall transition?

And in other, not so delightful news I have to ask you this question: Do you text message and drive? STOP! It's so dangerous. Here's a picture that my anonymous friend (I am protecting his identity - Shame on him!) sent me via email as he took a picture with his phone of how fast he was driving while text messaging. I can't wait until they pass a law banning this.

Caught this out of the corner of my eye today. Funny to see a sunset across power lines. I am so used to the coastline sunsets of the Oregon Coast or in Seattle. But moments like these always make me stop and be thankful for all the beauty that surrounds this world.

It's been record temperatures here in Charlotte. Luckily, I have very good air conditioning. Not quite sure how you would survive without it. It's a busy weekend getting ready for the arrival of my guests next week. Lots of fun little projects to complete.

Today is final edit day. I've got to have all my last changes turned in tonight. These are the moments I love. So much thought. Reading. Thinking. Changing. Expanding. Perfecting.

And it reminds me of the brilliance that I so admire in Jeffrey. I've had to call him several times today to say, "Wow. This book is good."

I feel an incredible sense of fulfillment in the work I do. I know that Jeffrey's books impact so many people in so many incredible ways and the fact that I can be part of the process is something I am so thankful for.

I have my sister Ali to thank for introducing me to this amazing beverage a couple months ago. And now it's becoming all the rage at my office. Today we taste tested several flavors and Erika made a run to Costco to stock up. It's good for you. Little sugar. Sparkling juice. I prefer blackberry (in the can, versus the bottle) the most.

And today, I discovered that my car has an Izze Holder. Amazing. It's a cup holder between the two normal cup holders. And Izze fits perfectly. (Also Red Bull.) Delightful.

And I'm so  excited to add Ali to my list of text messaging buddies  with her recent (today) acquisition of an iPhone!

Many people have been asking me how I like my iPhone. So, here's an update:

Love the text messaging feature. It keeps me in contact with many people, all at once, in an easy manner. Love that I can have 20 different text messaging conversations at the same time and it keeps me in close contact with everyone without having to dial a number.

I've been using the iPod while working out. (As pictured.) It's excellent. And I find that the volume for the iPod goes louder than it does on my actual iPod. It's super easy to navigate.

The camera is great. I've taken lots of good shots. Not the highest of resolution but on the phone they look great.

I have found the battery to be comprable to my previous cell phone. It lasts about two days even with a high volume of use.

The only downfall I have encountered is that I cannot receive picture text messages from others. Only via email.

Loved this outfit that I wore during my last trip to Las Vegas. It was warm enough (almost too hot) to have just this on. And I'm really into the headband scarfs right now.

Other things I am interested in at this moment:

-Organic yogurt. At your local organic market. It has all the benefits you need. And tastes excellent. I especially like strawberry flavor. It was recommended by my friend from The Temmy Tumple. She told me it hasn't lost all the good bacteria that normal store versions have lost.

-Having friends and family come visit me in Charlotte. Ali, Chris, and Simon arrive next week and Rebekah is coming for Labor Day for a weekend stay. The anticpation of their arrival excites me. And I'm doing all kinds of fun stuff in preparation for their visit. (My hotel-lived-in life for the past two years comes in handy in knowing how to pamper visitors.)

-The Book of Secrets. This is excellent reading. So many facts and secrets you wouldn't otherwise know. Ah, just found this one under Secrets to Weight Loss. "Eating yogurt will actually help you lose weight, as the high calcium content provides a catalyst for your body to burn fat more efficiently and will actually limit the amount of fat your body will support." You can also learn The Secret of Remembering Names and The Secret History of Striptease. And at $11 on Amazon.com, it makes an excellent gift.

Here is my personal evolution of summer sandal wearing:

It began in the very early days with Saltwater Sandals. Loved those. They actually made a comeback in the high school years. And then, of course, the AquaSock. What were we thinking?

They were quickly replaced by the Teva and Birkenstock in later years. And the traditional flip flop (white, with wedge was preferable)  was replaced with a much more fancy version of the flip flop that carried me through last summer.

This year, the first pair of sandals were the orange Dior heels in the Bahamas. That set a high precedence for the remainder of the summer months.

And it's been Tory Burch Ali sandals all the way since. A lot of Grecian influence has been around this summer. I rocked the Report Xanadu's several times. And purchased the black pair to save for fall. They are adorable and look delightful with a fresh pedicure.

I'm excited for the upcoming transition to fall shoes. But looking forward to wearing these recent acquisitions before the weather begins to cool down.

UPDATE: Just got THIS link from Karen to a page with some delightful sandal options!

This is Graham. Son of my cousin Rob and his wife Cristina. Isn't he gorgeous?!

The funniest part of this picture is the story behind it. Just before it was taken, Cristina and I were looking all over for him. (At Henry's 1st birthday party.) Turns out, Graham had found a chair, pulled it up to the kitchen counter where the carton of ice cream was and DUG IN.

Love that initiative. Loved this moment of life.

With so many styles now on the market in the sunglass department, it's hard to pick!

I don't really buy into the "certain glasses look best on certain face shapes" mentality. I think if you like how they look, go for it!

Rebekah and I had a delightful happy hour dinner last night at Ray's Boathouse Café. We got an amazing table right on the deck and got to watch the sunset.

So fun to recap all our fun adventures of the past couple weeks and talk about all that is ahead in our lives. I'm going to miss Seattle!

I'm at the SeaTac Airport now. Will be boarding my flight shortly. It's fun to be back in travel mode. Love the hustle and bustle of all the travelers. Going on adventures. Living life. Exploring.

And I'll be listening to Nelly Furtado on the plane.

Especially love Maneater. "Been around the world I aint ever seen a girl like this..." and Say It Right. Good work music. Good think music.

Wow. It seems like it was just yesterday that I got to Seattle. Celebrating Henry's birthday and seeing so much of my family. Good rest. My own birthday. This has been a great visit. I can't believe I have been here for almost three weeks.

I feel so lucky to have such a large base of family and friends in this area. It makes visiting that much better. I got to see almost everyone I wanted to and made some new connections. Looking forward to what's ahead there.

Seattle is such an amazing place. Especially this time of year. I spent time just driving around. Getting glimpses of the water vistas that abound. That's something I miss for sure. When the climate cooperates, it's definitely one of my favorite places on Earth.

Leaving tomorrow midday for Charlotte. I'm ready to dive back into work and get ready for Ali, Chris, and Simon's visit.