Found Boutique: Stripe in Santa Cruz, CA

Lately I have had some good luck finding amazing shops and boutiques to while away an hour in!

Today Hubs and I decided to take a road trip to Santa Cruz. We had never been and it has been on Hubs' California "bucket list" to see before we move. Wellll, Santa Cruz and its infamous boardwalk wasn't really our scene...a little too high on the hippie/crunchy/pot/grunge scene for us downtown and TOO many people jostling at the boardwalk, but maybe we didn't come on the right day or something.

However, in our strolling around the downtown area, we happened upon this very cool shop called Stripe on Walnut Avenue just off of Pacific. The store is a blend of new and vintage items, once again curated in such a neat and purposeful way. It took more than 45 minutes just to see everything in the shop. There were clothes by Sunhee Moon, vintage shoes (Ferragamo flats!), vintage suitcases, keys, jewelry, kids things, housewares (60s pitchers, thermos', syrup pourers, teacups, etc etc).

Soaps, toiletry cases, belts, pillows, plastic dinnerware...

Midcentury furnishings, handmade stuffed fish, vintage cowboy boots, serving trays....

Old keys, rings, buttons, all displayed in pretty bowls...

Bright and airy space with everything in its place...see the luggage stacked on a surfboard in the window (!)

This is for Ms. Mer... a MINI Bucky the cardboard moose! They had them in all sizes, and even a full hippo that sat on your floor...

Jwelry of old keys, antique filem cufflinks, etc etc....


This was all I could snap. Turns out the company does Residential, Retail, and Showroom design. You can see their website and online store here at stripedesigngroup.com.

I loved this little shop! I have such an interest in seeing different retail stores and experiences, and this one was so great...even Hubs loved it. I left with a great toiletry case ( a new item) and a very Betty Draper vintage ivory silk slip, that was only $16! Tons of fun.

If you are ever in Santa Cruz, make sure to visit this store! Have a great weekend, all!

JCrew--Couple New Items

While on vacation on the east coast, I visited a few B&M stores and tried to find stuff to review. I am ashamed to say I only came back with two item photos! Oops, sorry all!

First up, the Slub Cotton Shirred Ruffles Tank, item 17329 for $35, shown here. Some people have been excited about this tank, but I wasn't inspired, I think I would rather it with more of a scoopneck, tanks in a sort of muscle-tank style don't really work for me.

I tried this in a Small since the SA described it as "boxy". Its so funny--I am NOT a small, but JCrew has me defaulting to downsizing as I shop in the stores...anyone else?

Here it is. The size fit ok, but style wasn't my fave:

You can see the Small hits at my hip--not skintight, not too baggy.

Next up, the long tipped cardigan. This must be a retail-only item as I can't find it online. They had about 3-4 colors of this. A cream/lavender is the other one I remember--I will take better notes next time! I believe it was $88, long and lean silhouette. Again, I tried on a Small. These sweaters are tough because the small fits me in the shoulders and doesn't get a baggy-grandpa effect, but I can't button all the way down to my hips.

Pretty cute, but I find tipped things like this challenging--what to pair it with? You already have two colors and sort of a "pattern" going on with the tipping, can't add too much else. Weigh in--how would you wear a tipped cardigan?


I left both of these items at the store. I am now EAGERLY waiting the fall rollout. Fall is totally my fashion weakness. Speaking of that, has anyone seen these boots on the site...

SWOON! If this is a shape of things to come, I cannot wait! These are on my wish list for sure, but $325, eep! Here's hoping for a TURKEY-like promo.

What do you think? What things are on your wishists?

Favorite Summer Stop: Weekend, Orleans MA

One of the things I wanted to cover from my recent trip to the east coast is a stop by my favorite Cape Cod boutique, Weekend in Orleans.

Weekend is a gorgeous shop with items for the home, gifts, clothes, and kids/baby. My mom, sister and I make a stop there every time we are on the Cape. I love the way the shop showcases items, everything is displayed beautifully. I snapped these pics on my stop there last week.

A view of the homeware/gift items...

Baby and kids area--books, toys, and fun items...

Orla Kiely bags, cashmere sweaters, pillows and totebags...

Gorgeous jewelry arrangement..

Stationery and paper wares...

Every item in this store is special and unique, and the owner selects things like it is a curated collection. I can't help leaving with a little something(s).

This trip I brought home a few fun whimsical tees as well as some great cotton items from LAMade.

Cute Yellow Whale Design tee! Love this fun one.

Black cotton maxi dress from LAMade, $78. To wear with gold earrings and sandals.

Organic Cotton Oyster Print cotton tee (a Cape Cod yummy treat).


Sorry everything is wrinkled, this is right out of my suitcase! Visit capeweekend.com to learn more about this great shop.

Any favorite shops you have found in your travels?

Stalking Pays Off! Chain Ribbon Silk Ribbon Necklace.

Oh yeah. One of the successes from my trip? I found this necklace I have been wanting for like AGES for $39.99. YES! Its $39.99 in stores! Go out and look for one if you have been waiting for a good price!

Anyone have this necklace? Whats your favorite way to wear it? Any other recent scores for any of you?

The "Big News" !

This picture is a hint...can anyone guess?

That picture is the lovely skyline in Boston, granted in the rainy yucky weather of last week. Our big news is that we are moving back to the Boston area this fall! Now, many people will wonder why we are leaving California for Boston. We have lived out west now for seven years, away from family, friends, and our roots. We have always known we wanted to head back east eventually, and Hubs got a new job that starts this fall, so we are finally make the move.

We are so so excited about this change, even though we know its a big change and there are lots of challenges ahead. But we are hoping this is a start of the next phase of life for us--buying a house, settling down, having a family, and being in a place to call home. The east coast is just our home, always has been and now we are finally heading back! We have had a great adventure together in California for the last 7 years but it feels great to be heading to Life 2.0!

We spent part of our trip last week scoping out areas and neighborhoods in the area and we are really looking forward to going back this summer again to look for places to live. If anyone has any suggestions or experiences with the area, I would love to hear it.

In the coming months I'll be back and forth to Boston and finishing work here, looking forward to the move, packing up our place here, and making some changes. I am really excited and happy to share the news here!

More posts to come!

Some of the many things I am looking forward to--Red Sox and Dunkin Donuts Iced Coffee!

PS--YES I know it gets cold there :)

I'm baackkk!

Wow that was a long absence from My Favorite Things. Sorry Everybody!

I have plans for some posts, but here are a few quick tidbits:

• We had a fabulous trip even though it was rainy on the east coast
• I tried your packing tips and THANK YOU! I kept with a color pallette: yellow, navy, white and touches of gray and it worked so well, helped me pack, plan, and smile as I got dressed on my trip. Also I rolled my clothes as I packed and used areas of my luggage to remember where things were. Overall, it was a MUCH better packing experience than usual!
• I bought my first bottles of ACV this morning and am joining the bandwagon. Thanks to Gigi for the inspiration--I am hoping this helps me start a quick detox from my vacation which included Fried Scallops, many drinks, Clam Chowder, and cupcakes.
• There are some changes coming up for Hubs and I that I am really excited about, more to come on that! (Not a baby right now! Thats what I know people will think haha)
• I visited some JCrews as well as a few favorite vacation boutiques this trip and I will try to post some shopping info/pics from those soon. As Hubs says, "some people travel to see America's Greatest Ballparks...you just want to see the JCrew wherever we are going." So true!
  

It's great to be back. What did I miss? Do you have any questions for me? More later, thanks all for still reading after my hiatus!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

This Friday Hubs and I head off for a 10 day trip to all parts of the East Coast: New Jersey, Delaware, Connecticut, Boston, and Cape Cod. I cannot wait as we will be seeing MANY family and friends and that is such a special treat.

However, when trips approach, I panic for one reason--packing. I am simply horrible at it and just dread the task completely. I start out all right and at the end I am piling anything desirable into the bulging suitcase.

Sorry for the quick post, but...Do any of you have any packing tips? Calling all help here! Please post your methods for great (or even non-horrible) packing in the Comments. Thanks in advance!