Happy Halloween!

Yesterday, I spent the afternoon carving pumpkins with Sophie. Lucky for me, she had already done all the hard work: picked up the pumpkins at the pumpkin patch, bought the carving tools and Halloween candy, and even set up shop in the kitchen (thanks Sophie!) All I had to do was show up for the fun.

I can't even remember the last time I actually sat down and carved a pumpkin, let alone dedicated a couple of hours to arts and crafts, so it was nice to just sit down and revisit an old childhood tradition. I had almost forgotten how incredible pumpkins smell when you first cut into them and how satisfying it can be to scoop out handfuls of their slimy flesh.

Anyway, here's what I came up with. Aside from the interesting situation that is the witch's feet, I would say that my pumpkin turned out pretty good!

The great pumpkin!

Trick or treat!

After dinner, the Halloween festivities continued when Lily and I met up to go to the Corn Maize on Sauvie's Island. Every time I've gone in the past, the place has been packed with large groups all anxiously awaiting entry into the maze in a line that stretches out into the parking lot. But this time, being a Sunday night and all, the place was pretty empty. I half expected the lack of a crowd to bum me out, but it actually made the whole experience all the more eerie. Lily and I spent a good forty-five minutes trudging through the dark, muddy maze alone, looking up at the charcoal-mauve sky with its translucent floating clouds, and breathing in the cold, farm air smelling of rain and muck. Ahhh, pure bliss.

The only two, blurry pictures that exist from the night

I hope you're all enjoying these last few hours of Halloween (and of October too!) The countdown to Paris continues... Only 16 more days!!!

Happy Halloween and à bientôt!

Thursday Night at June

Home, home, home again. Coming back to Portland for the weekend is always such a treat, and this weekend was no different. The second I stepped off my plane, I just felt... better. I even enjoyed the 20 minutes I spent waiting outside the terminal for my ride; taking in the fresh air and watching people greet their friends and family, coming and going.

By the time we got home, the sun was setting and our little street was glowing with the colors of Fall.

My street at sunset

That night, I met up with Whitney and Erin for some dinner at June over on East Burnside. As always, it was so great to see them and dinner was full of the usual hysterics, exciting news, crazy conversation, and mild harassment of our waiter. It all began with Whitney, as it usually does. She arrived about fifteen minutes early and discovered a great French wine at the bar while she waited for Erin and I. Of course, it being French and tasty and all, I had to try a glass at dinner. Sounds simple enough right? "I'll have a glass of whatever it is she ordered." No joke, it took our waiter about five tries to get it right; bringing out bottle after bottle of wine, each of which Whitney and I tasted and compared to her own glass. Suddenly we were wine connoisseurs. Who knew?

The food was pretty good. A small menu with a lot of meat dishes (not really my thing) but I decided on a pork sausage that Whitney claimed tasted like "Christmas in your mouth." Then, about midway through our meal, we became distracted when we noticed an odd group of diners admiring a wooden table from afar. The very second the people sitting at 'said table' paid their bill and got up to leave, the aforementioned 'odd group of diners' flocked to 'said table' like geese. These people then gathered around the table, petting, discussing, and staring at it for a good ten minutes... I kid you not. They even pulled aside one of the poor waiters to grill him about it; asking him how much it cost, what kind of wood it was made from, who had crafted it, etc. Literally, a live episode of Portlandia right there.

We stayed until we were the only ones left in the restaurant and convinced one of the waiters to snap some pictures of us outside before we left. You just can't end a night like that without some visual souvenirs. Overall, the atmosphere and the service were great and we had an absolute blast. Granted, we would have had a blast just about anywhere, but June proved to be a charming little place for food, beverage, laughter, and free entertainment all in one.

Whitney, Me, and Erin at June - I'm wearing Fiorentini + Baker boots, Helmut Lang leather leggings, and an Étoile Isabel Marant mohair sweater

Snapped this fuzzy little photo on the way home. I just love that old Portland, Oregon sign when it lights up at night.

Burnside bridge at night

Lots more from this weekend to share with you later. But now, I'm off to enjoy my lazy Sunday - as should you.

Happy Hallow's Eve and à bientôt!

Je Voudrais...

The DANNIJO Annabelle Necklace


DANNIJO Annabelle Necklace

I'm not usually one to go for many jewels on my accessories, but this necklace is just perfection. Balancing an array of gorgeous crystals with an edgy oxidized chain, the DANNIJO sisters have created a piece that is as unique as it is versatile. As seen on the Man Repeller, I'm just dying to get my hands on this thing and never take it off!

If you're a fan of DANNIJO like I am, you'll be glad to know that their holiday collection is now available for purchase online. Check it out here.

Happy Thursday and à bientôt!

OooOOoOoO it's Halloween Weekend!

Hey! It's almost Halloween! How on earth did that happen? Does anyone else feel like October just flew by? Well, I'm not complaining... the end of October truly marks the beginning of my absolute favorite time of year. The leaves are blanketing the streets in magnificent colors of burnt orange and deep yellow, the air feels a little more crisp with every passing day, and there seems to be an ever-present scent of evergreen in the air... that is, if you're in Portland of course.

Luckily, I'm headed back home this weekend to partake in some serious Halloween festivities: sip on some warm apple cider, visit the Sauvie's Island pumpkin patch, brave the haunted corn maze at night, and host a scary movie marathon for some close friends. Ever since I became "too old to dress up and trick or treat," (?!?) this has been my favorite way to spend Halloween. There's just nothing better than the feeling of the holidays, and Halloween is no different. I love seeing how creative neighbors get in decorating their houses, hearing all my friends brainstorm their costume ideas, and feeling that giddy childhood sensation of excitement in the air. If you're still not convinced, well then, you can't beat a day that's devoted entirely to free candy: just try and say no to that argument, my friend.

Needless to say, I'm quite the Halloween person. So, you can imagine my disappointment when I spent the holiday in Paris last year. No one tells you on the study abroad brochure that Parisians don't celebrate Halloween! There are no "13 days of Halloween" on the television, no abundance of candy in the markets, and definitely no Parisians sporting costumes in and out of the métro. The horror!

Okay, so I'm being a little dramatic. Paris is awesome, there is really no need to complain. But I was feeling a little homesick for my favorite holiday, so ma copine Lily and I decided to get creative. And creative we were! After a little research and planning, we came up with an entire 'Halloween in Paris' agenda: a spooky visit to the famous Catacombs, an eerie, albeit beautiful, stroll through the Père Lachaise cemetery at sunset, a scary movie marathon (think Casper, Sleepy Hollow, and Dracula), finished off with a scrumptious Sunday brunch at home.

Adorable Lily on the métro. See, no costumes!

Claustrophobic walkways at the Catacombs

Real human skulls and bones creatively stacked (seriously, who's job was that??) along the walkways at the Catacombs

Mysterious and consistent drops of water falling from the short ceilings of the Catacombs... hmmm

"Where is she, the dead? Always future or past. She is hardly present and then she is already no more."

Graves at the Père Lachaise Cemetery

Lily laughing in the face of fear at the Père Lachaise Cemetery

Beautiful sunset over the Père Lachaise Cemetery

Sunday Brunch: jus d'orange, bananes, fraises, oeufs brouillés, pain aux raisins, et pain au chocolat!

While it may not have been as "festive" as Halloween at home, Lily and I sure had a great weekend in Paris last year. It just goes to show that when you are willing to get a little creative, you can make new traditions in new places with new friends. Now, exactly one year later, Lily and I will be meeting in Portland to indulge in all of the traditions we so fondly reminisced over while we were abroad :)

So, how will you be spending Halloween this year? What are some of your favorite traditions? Whatever you may have planned, I hope you are all looking forward to a fun weekend (wherever you may be)!

Joyeux Halloween and à bientôt!