Because Girls Get After it Too

February 15, 2009

So it hasn’t quite been a month, but it sure has been close. Cloudveil’s Down Patrol jacket is worth the wait though, mostly because it wasn’t on super sale a month ago. I mean $375 on sale for $188? Even if it didn’t have a powder skirt, a detachable hood, and pit zips, you’d still need one.

It's not often function and style combine so beautifully.

January 20, 2009

I’ve been so remiss about my Fleecy Finds of late. And I’m going to blame it on today’s Fleecy Find actually. I’ve had this book by Helena Drysdale, a Brit (so in addition to being one of those travel writers who makes me feel like I totally suck, she’s got accent that’s much cuter than mine, which is limited to inserting “r” where it doesn’t belong: “warshing machine,” “Warshington D.C.”), sitting on my bookshelf for well over a year. It was one of the few that I hadn’t read. I was obviously excited enough about it at one point to buy it, but then every time I was looking for a new book to read, its back cover wouldn’t excite me. But I made myself take it to bed one night last week. And, holy fuck. Helena can write. She combines odd, but telling, personal tidbits a la Frances Mayes does (A Year in the World) with the anthrolopoligical research of Jared Diamond (without the repetitiveness) and the tell-it-like-it-is of Calvin Trillin (except she has yet to make my mouth water). When I’m at the library returning this week’s selection of movies, I’m going to see if they have her other books. If they’re half as good, it’ll be another two weeks before I get to another Fleecy Find.

My book du jour. Or rather, as I'm allowing myself to take my time through it, my book of the week.

Warning, Drysdale very well might get you thinking about sell your condo (if you own one), giving up on building a house (if you’re so planning), and heading off on a random, backroads European roadtrip adventure.

January 8, 2009

Since it’s gone from minus 20 to positive 38 in three days — and we’ve got several feet of snow on the ground around town, I’ve got boots on my mind. Now, part of the Jackson Hole uniform is a pair of Sorels. Very loosely tied so you can slip them on and off without fiddling with any laces.  I love my Sorels — black rubber feet with pert red detailing and caramel brown leather uppers — but if I were to ever get a pair of fashion snow boots, I’d go for Juicy Couture’s Snow Flurry.  And that’s saying alot because I’m not a Juicy fan. Sorry, but I (rightfully, I think) blame them for the current fad of having crap written across the ass of your pants. No matter what it really says, I always read these ass ads as, “I have no taste and I think my butt is a lot smaller than it really is.”  But, despite having ruined too many pairs of cute workout and bum-around pants to count, Juicy did a good job on these boots. If you decide to go for them though, be prepared for a bit of a hunt, zappos.com only has them left in a size 6.

Be stylish (and snug) in the slush with Juicy Couture's Snow Flurry lined boot.

And they come in red too.

December 29, 2008

So I never travel with more luggage than what I can carry on.  And I’m imagining this dress can not only be dressed down with flip flops but also dressed up with wedges, and, perhaps most importantly, can also suffer being stuffed into a compression stuff sack.  (No surprise that an iron is not part of my traveling gear.) I’m partial to the steel blue )below), but there’s a purple (or “nettle” in the poetic language of catalog writers) and a beige (“tumbleweed”) in some sizes as well.

Almost 50-percent off -- taking it down to $79.99 -- at Athleta.com.

December 28, 2008

Usually I’m not into trendy stuff, but I can’t resist this sweater.  As much as I hate to direct anyone to the site that banned me — I promise I’ll tell that story in the near future — it’s at Bluefly. On sale for an additional 25% off for perhaps another day. If you feel like boycotting Bluefly on my behalf, you can find it elsewhere by googling “C3 Cashmere  Squirrel Intarsia sweater.”

A squirrel with a nut is even cuter when it's on cashmere.

December 27, 2008 — Barneys.com is having a super sale!

Not at all practical with the three-plus feet of snow currently on the ground, but there’s nothing wrong with starting in Sorels and switching to sexy.

I love the Dynafit leopard, but these are pretty killer too. Although not nearly as fast, or comfortable.

And how about with this bag? 

And best yet? This, as well as the shoes, are on sale right now at Barneys.com.

December 17, 2008

Yes, I’m working on a book proposal about consuming less, yet I’ve got three items (only two of which I absolutely love) in a virtual shopping cart at Net-A-Porter. I won’t get them because I think we’ve finally committed to building a house.  Buying windows is not nearly as satisfying as buying an Issa drees. Perhaps someone I know will buy the dress or sweater though and allow me to live vicarously through them. Or maybe even borrow it.

The Vince cardi (on sale at Net-A-Porter) is not only my favorite shade of green, but has an intreesting collar almost designed to frame, say, a Gucci gold coin necklace.

The sleeves of this Issa Dress on Net-A-Porter are made for showing off arm muscles. And the banded waist shows off small waists too.

December 15, 2008

Cashmere by Karoo

It was around this time last year that I first discovered Karoo’s cashmere sweaters. Santa brought me an awesomely chunky, graphite, bat-wing number and then, because you can’t count on Santa for everything,  I bought myself a deep v-neck, wrap around medium-weight sweater. But this year I’m in love with a Karoo of a totally different sort.

Not only is Karoo super fun to say, but they make some awesome cashmere.

Now,  I love this and (of course) it’s totally on my Christmas list — this is one of the finds I made while whiling several hours away on Bluefly last week — but I do have a technical question I’m sending out to the universe. My boobs may be the size of clementines, but they still have nipples. Nipples that will undoubtedly show through a featherweight cashmere sweater like this.   

Makes any amount of itchiness caused by nipple petals look worth it.

The only thing better than a great base layer? A great base layer that's really cute too.

Two days backcountry skiing on Teton Pass and two times to wear what might end up being my favorite top of the season. I’ve got the sterling blue, but really, I’d love it in any color. Although maybe not black because, with my black Scholler pants, I’d be a little too Ninja. Smartwool Lightweight NTS top.How can you not love this when the only thing that equals its cuteness is its functionality?

December 5, 2008

IKEA Kassett magazine file. Yeah,  it’s nothing fancy, but sometimes — say when you’ve got about 10 of these lined up together on a shelf — simple is best. And of course anything that comes in this shade of green (the same shade as my living room) is awesome. 

If you can't see the mess, it doesn't count.

December 4, 2008

Monument Valley

I’m kind of torn as to whether an entire tribal park can be a fleecy find, but since this is my blog, I’m going to make the rules. And I’m going to say that Monument Valley Tribal Park can indeed be a fleecy find. I know, it’s not that unknown, but I bet most people don’t shell out the $60-some for a guide to go past the 17-mile self-guided loop. So, a Monument Valley guide is the fleecy find. You’ll see more – including some kick-ass, 1300 AD Anasazi petroglyphs — and learn more. And if you go with Simpson Trailhandler Tours, you might even get a guide that will get all artsy with a photo of you in front of the famous Totem Pole formation. (Which my guide did, but, unfortunately, I don’t think I turned out that well in it, so it’s not getting posted here.) Here’s a shot from my balcony though. And there’s no zoom being used here. I really am thisclose.

the view from the VIEW's room 329

November 22, 2008

If you’re ever in Tucson, go here. And go very hungry.

With my budget limitations as they are, I couldn

November 16, 2008

A picture is worth a thousand words. I’d marry this bike if I could.

The sexiest bike in the world, the Cervelo S3

November 14, 2008

Already on my second delicious double espresso of the day thanks to this little lovely, I feel it my duty as a coffee snob to share the aeropress love. And yes, it really was invented by the same people who invented the Aerobie frisbee-like-thinger I used to huck as far as I could only to make my younger brother chase it down. http://www.aerobie.com/Products/aeropress.htm (And go ahead and laugh at Robert Barker’s testimonial. Well, maybe not at the testimonial itself — “My wife and I love the smooth, rich flavor of AeroPress brew” — but at his title: professional coffee taster and consultant?? Maybe I’m only laughing because I’m jealous. I bet professional coffee tasters don’t have deadlines and fact checkers to deal with like I do.)

The best coffee ever, and highly transportable

Roar when you wear it

My first thought was, “no big deal … so I’ll wear a bra.” But then notice the back of this dream sweater. (You’ll have to click on the link since I can’t figure out how to save the image.) Or notice the lack of a back. Obviously a bra won’t work. I’ve tried those little nipple flowers from Victoria’s Secret but they were kinda itchy. But the alternative — to the left (as if you could miss it) — really isn’t appetizing. So I’m looking for some advice. Just in case Santa happens to bring this to me in a medium.

December 14, 2008