Julia's Picks: It's a J. Crew Birthday

So, last week I bid adieu to my early 20’s and now I’m staring down the barrel, looking towards the 30 end of this decade. The days of pulling all-nighters in college and surviving on junk food are long gone and have been replaced with a desperate need for eight hours of sleep a night and cravings for healthy meals. Not that I’m complaining. So far, 25 if treating me pretty great! I’m opening a storefront, having a blast renovating my house, and oh yeah, I got engaged! More on that later.

Thanks to my awesome soon to be Mother-in-Law who understands my J. Crew obsession, I picked up some great pieces this week to celebrate my birthday and kick start my Fall wardrobe.

Schoolboy Blazer in Festival Blue $198 If I could afford it, I would have a Schoolboy Blazer in every color offered. Wool flannel is super lightweight and always gets that perfect sleeve-roll that looks casual, but perfectly polished. This new shade of blue will punch up my current selection of J. Crew blazers (I’ve always opted for neutrals).

Colorblock Stripe Tippi Sweater $95 I’ll be honest, I’ve accumulated more J. Crew sweaters than I can count. I just have a weakness for them.

Downtown Field Jacket $148 Every year I tell myself I should get a great lightweight jacket. The Fall weather in Seattle usually calls for a raincoat or hoodie, so I never felt the need to buy just a jacket (no matter how cute). Now that I’m living in Spokane, the weather is much drier and somewhat more reliable. And, of course, a jacket is much more sophisticated than a hoodie.

Excursion Quilted Herringbone Vest $138 Ok, this is probably my favorite of my J. Crew shopping trip. Unlike other puffers, this one is thin and lightweight! I don’t feel like a marshmallow puff when I put it on, and the print is super chic. I’m so excited for the temps to drop, so I can wear this with my J. Crew Pixie pants, riding boots, and a chunky gold necklace.

1500th Pin!!!

Well, I’ve officially hit my 1500^th pin. I first saw these photos on an event planning blog last year. I had just decided to name my shop “French Toast” and was absolutely delighted when I happened upon these shots styled by Frilly Milly Events. We are planning a pre-grand opening event for friends and family, and I think these bite-sized portions are pretty perfect!!

(Lauren Blair Photography)

Coming Soon...

It’s official. After a year and half of planning, we are opening the first brick-and-mortar location of French Toast! For those of you in the Spokane area, we will be located at Steam Plant Square, right across from the restaurant. Be sure to visit this October when we open our doors, and for those of you who aren’t near us, check here often. We are getting great new items every day!

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London 2012: Brit Lit

If you watched the closing ceremonies of the London Olympics, or if you paid attentions during the opening ceremony, you know what they seem to prize most in the UK: music, fashion, and literature. Yeah, that newsprint that seemed to enrobe every part of the London landscape including Big Ben wasn’t just filled with tabloid headlines. Upon closer inspection, and thanks to some irritating commentary from Ryan Seacrest, I realized that they were the words of some of the greatest writers from the UK (and in history). Chaucer, Shakespeare, Keats… This got me thinking about my favorite Brit Lit. The UK has produced some AMAZING literature, but my favorite characters are those meant for children. Here is my top ten list of characters (or authors) from the UK.  

10. Oliver Twist (1838): Charles Dickens second novel, it is the definition of a “classic.”

9. Paddington (1956): This beloved bear is always polite! Paddington will be available for sale in the store this Fall!

8. C.S. Lewis: The Chronicles of Narnia (1950-1956) can also be considered a classic. When I was very young, I watched a miniseries adaptation of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe on PBS. It sucked me in from the start, and now having read all of the books, I appreciate the magic of these tales even more.

7. Peter Pan (1911): Ahh, Peter Pan. What can I say? This book is full of so many magical quotes, I can’t even stand it!

6. Roald Dahl: The Gremlins (1943), James & the Giant Peach (1961), Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (1964), Fantastic Mr. Fox (1970), The BFG (1982), The Witches (1983), Matilda (1988). These are just a few of the stories penned by Roald Dahl. (Side Note: I was completely obsessed with and terrified by Anjelica Huston in the movie version of The Witches!)

5. Mary Poppins flew in on a gust of wind back in 1934. My favorite thing about this character is that she is such a classic, children today still reference this story without knowing that they are referencing it! The absolute definition of “staple” in children’s lit.

4. Lewis Carroll: Ok, a few years ago, I dusted off my old leather-bound editions of Alice in Wonderland (1865) & Through the Looking Glass (1871). I’m not going to lie, it was a trip. I mean, seriously, those books are totally weird. I will always love this story, but reading these as an adult uncovered more nuances and question marks than anything else I’ve ever read. Really, what was Lewis Carroll on when he wrote this??

3. Beatrix Potter: Peter Rabbit (1902) is so adored. The characters created (and illustrated) by Beatrix Potter will also be available in the store this Fall!

2. Winnie the Pooh (1924): I love WTP! I love this character so much; I don’t even know what to say! If you’ve never read A.A. Milne, I seriously urge you to find a copy or two of these stories. Pooh Bear might not seem like the sharpest tool in the shed, but believe me; he is very, very wise. Just go on Pinterest and search for Winnie the Pooh quotes. Really, some of them make me want to cry a little.

1. Harry Potter (1997): I’m sure many would disagree with putting this at number one. That’s fine…it’s still my #1. I picked up the first Harry Potter book when I was twelve years old and sped through it. Luckily, the next one had already been released, so I made my mom go buy it for me. I refused to go with her out of fear someone I knew would see me. Almost every year after that, I dutifully anticipated the release of the next book (or sometimes movies). Each time, I would get up much earlier than usual and accompany my mom to Costco, where I would casually slip a copy of the newest book into the cart. I was under the delusion that NO ONE else was reading these books and if someone saw me with one, they would think I was one of those kids who painted lightning bolts on my forehead or wore capes in my spare time.

I was a junior in college when the last book came out. I proudly stood in line at the University Village Barnes & Noble to buy my copy, and that night, I read all 700+ pages and sobbed uncontrollably when it was over (a fact that my boyfriend seemed to find perplexing and hilarious). Harry and I grew up together. We experienced death at the same time and grieved at the same time. I could write essays about these books and how much they have meant to me. In my experience, either you get this one or you don’t. For those of you who might not understand, all I have to say is this: J.K. Rowling inspired millions of kids and generations of fans to read. That in itself is incredible and can never be discounted.

Please, sir, I want s'more...

Just a day after declaring that I would finally get in shape, I find out that it’s National S’more Day. Apparently August 10^th is ALWAYS National S’more Day! Who knew? Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to work out twice as much today.

(via)

London 2012: Keeping Track

I’ve got to admit, watching the Olympics is starting to give me an inferiority complex. Staying in shape will always be an ongoing battle for me.  If I were a tribute in the Hunger Games, I’d be picked off pretty fast. Well, I say this every year, but it’s finally time to get in shape. What better way to motivate me than to get a new pair of running shoes? I may not ever train like an Olympic track star, but at least I can work out in style. I’m slightly obsessed with these neon Nikes, and since my current running shoes are still stained with mud from a very messy hike in Hawaii a few years ago, I think I’m due for a new pair!

NIKE FREE RUN+ 3 | NIKE FREE RUN+ 3 | NIKE FREE 3.0 | Nike Free RuniD

London 2012: Equestrian Inspired

I must admit, the equestrian events are somewhat of a mystery to me. Sadly, I didn’t grow up riding horses or playing with ponies like so many little girls. Unless you count My Little Ponies (GenerationOne), which no one ever seems to really remember. I’m pretty sure Bon Bon and Moonglow would dominate the Olympics BTW.

I stumbled upon these great pics over Kelly Green Interiors. I bet a million little girls out there (and women like me) would pitch a fit to have this wallpaper in their rooms! This lovely little lady looks like she stepped straight out of a Ralph Lauren ad. I wouldn’t mind having that saddlebag either…

Fashionable Mom: Victoria Beckham

She may not be competing for Team GB, but if being a fashionable mom was an Olympic event, it’s safe to assume Victoria Beckham would take the gold.

We all fell in love with her back in the 90’s when the Spice Girls and their “girl power” mantra infiltrated the world. I’m not ashamed to admit it…I LOVED the Spice Girls. I actually saw them in concert when I was ten years old. This was before my NSYNC phase. In elementary school, my friends and I would make up dances to their songs, each pretending to be one of them. I was always Posh. Partly because I had dark hair and wasn’t “sporty” at all, and partly because I loved her clothes! Even in the midst of sky high union jack platforms and hair horns, she was always the most polished.

Today she dons many more titles than pop star. She is a bona fide style icon, fashion designer, wife of an international soccer superstar, and most amazingly, mom to four (yes FOUR) kids!!

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Style Guide: Kids | Future Olympic Swimmers

This week at the Olympics, it’s all about the swimmers (and a little bit about the gymnasts). With Missy Franklin scoring the gold and Michael Phelps becoming the most decorated Olympian EVER, the swimmers have been making history!

As I get older (and less in shape) shopping for swimwear becomes less and less fun every summer. You know what is still cute though?? Swimwear for kids! While cheap, tacky swimsuits for the little ones overflow at discount stores, it can be difficult to find cute, stylish alternatives for kids. Sure, some of you are going to protest that kids grow too fast and there’s no reason to buy nice things that will just get ruined, but I don’t always buy that excuse. I hate the idea of buying “throw away” clothes for kids using reasoning like that when many women (and men) I know buy themselves nice new swimsuits every year without thinking twice!

Now, I am a self-proclaimed “toy snob,” but I’m also quickly becoming a kids clothing snob as well. When I stumbled across Marysia Swim, I just had to share it. Their “Bumby” kids collection is so cute, I instantly fell in love!

visit marysia swim