it's my darlin'

Amanda- 10th & Pine in front of the Oddfellows building

Leah- Broadway & John Capitol Hill

Chad- Fremont Sunday Market

Sarah- Edies Shoes on Capitol Hill

More pictures and a discussion on the perfect lip color over at CHS.

Julia- 4th & Pine

This bag was used to belong to Julia's mother. Isn't it interesting how you can sense when someone treasures an item that they are wearing. So often when a piece that someone is wearing stands out to me it ends up being the one that has a great story behind it. I have a few things of my grandmas that a so important to me. They are some of my favorite belongings. Whenever I wear them people notice them and ask about them and I've always wondered if our love for an item somehow brings it attention. Maybe we unknowingly look at it during conversation causing the person we are talking to to do the same. Or is it some hippie dippy unseen force from our fondness for the item that draws their interest there. Who knows... with all the time I have spent talking to people about what they are wearing and why it is just something that has been so intriguing to me.

I should have asked about that bracelet. Looking at these photos I'm guessing it has a story too...

Do you still write letters? Call me old fashioned but it is still my preferred mode of keeping in touch, saying "Thank you", saying "I'm sorry", or telling someone exciting news. I love fine paper, interesting handwriting, doodles... I even love the post office (yes, I really do!) and going there to buy new stamps. It is so wonderful to receive mail but I also really I enjoy the act of writing a letter and making it a beautiful thing for my recipient to receive. If you have lost touch with this ritual I encourage you to choose someone in your life and make them your pen pal. Make the effort to each write a letter a month to each other. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by how much you enjoy the whole experience as well as how much you can learn about a person once you go back to the basics and eliminate the speed and ease of the computer.

This beautiful piece of mail arrived the other day from my dear friend Piper (remember those homemade Fig Newtons??). I love having someone in my life that enjoys letter writing as much as I do.

Rose, Noah & Liana at a friday night KEXP Concert at the Mural. Check out Noah's band on Facebook, they are called Peter and the Chink$.

I finally made it over to Carmelita in Phinney Ridge. Long overdue... My friend Erin and I sat at the bar and sampled the beautiful, and seriously well priced happy hour menu.

Peach Smash which was Rye, Creme de Peach, Punt e Mas, muddled peaches, mint, peach bitters and ginger ale over ice. Best drink I have had this summer.

Fried zuchini blossoms with goat cheese. The batter on these was so light, not overly greasy and the goat cheese was very mild compared to a lot of goat cheeses I have had which I really liked. It was sort of like a ultra fancy take on the jalapeno popper.

Piquillo pepper muhummarah, smoked chickpea and spice roasted carrot spreads with flatbread. The carrot spread was the gem of this trio. It was the first one to go.

Summer pizza with asparagus.

Chocolate Muck Muck. This is what brought Erin and I into Carmelita in the first place. One of her co-workers is crazy for this dessert and after hearing about it several times at work Erin decided she had to try it. I now see what all the fuss was about. This dessert is amazing. I was especially impressed with the whipped cream. It had such a bold vanilla flavor and was so creamy it almost tasted like a whipped vanilla mousse.

What shocked us the most was how little we ended up spending for the quantity and quality of food that we ordered. For a restaurant that focuses specifically on creating a farm to table experience using fresh local vegetarian ingredients Carmelita is incredibly accessible to just about anyone. Not just people with a big disposable income. I say it all the time but I really do feel lucky to live in a place where such food experiences are right around the corner in just about every neighborhood. Although there is a time and a place for things like Oreos and greasy spoon diners everyone should have access to food prepared like this, the way it was meant to be experienced.

Collette- Melrose Market Capitol Hill

Bluebird is opening a new ice cream shop in Phinney (and a third location in Fremont)! For now they have a super cute ice cream cart in front until the official opening. Victor was serving up flavors like Horchata, Chocolate Pudding and Theo Chocolate Chunk (more flavors here) when I passed him on the way to dinner the other day. We are so lucky to have such unique and creative local ice cream available in Seattle.

I really like this style of sandal for men. It is rare to see a guy wearing sandals other than flip flops or that velcro athletic style that often gets worn with a pair of athletic socks (unfortunately we've become somewhat known for this in the northwest). These on the other hand are an absolutely classic pair of vintage leather strap sandals. They were all over the SS11 menswear runway this year. Maybe we'll start seeing them around more...

My most recent Hill Style feature over at CHS was a couple photos this lovely lady. Check it out here.

Laura Curry- 12th & Pike on Capitol Hill

Laura is a New York/Seattle artist currently working on an interactive art event called "Interview Me" that will take place at the Northwest Film Forum Sept 15th-17th. You can read more about her on her and her art on her blog and about "Interview Me" on the NWFF website. It sounds pretty incredible.

I passed Belan while she was walking into Baby & Co on 1st & Virginia where she works. I always admire the windows when I pass by this local boutique but I had never gone in the before. It is truly stunning inside. You can check out their website to see what they are about but I would stop by and take a look for yourself.

Garance Dore did a post a few days ago about the Converse sneaker and since then I have been thinking about how I don't know what I would do if I one day couldn't get them anymore. In interviews and reader emails I am always asked what my style staples are living in Seattle and my cream Converse sneakers are always on the top of the list. I go through phases where I buy them in a low top and then when those wear out I sometimes find myself on a hightop kick (this is where I find myself currently). Garance asked her readers to give a shout out to the style that they prefer. I can't pick favorites, I love them both.

These shoes never let me down. As a Seattleite without a car I need a shoe that can get me from place to place comfortably and the reason I love my Converses so much is that in addition to being super comfortable I find them to be the epitome of classic and chic. Not a common description when it comes to sneakers. They have been around forever and even though their popularity ebbs and flows they have never gone away or changed. I used to be able to get them for $15 back when I was in high school (back then I wore black lowtops) but even with the steep increase in price compared to back then I still find myself picking up a new pair each time my heel wears through the sole.

Cheers to the Chuck, may they never change.

6th & Pine

Alex- John & Broadway on Capitol Hill

Alex was visiting Seattle from Austin where she works at a vintage and new clothing boutique called Feathers in Austin TX. You've got got got to check out their blog. Enter at your own risk, there is an endless array of irresistable pieces on there. The blog has a section called "What Alex Wore". Once you've scoped it out you will have no trouble getting inspired for tomorrow's outfit.

Lindsey- Seattle Center

Ariel- 11th & Pine on Capitol Hill

Ariel does visual merchandising for the downtown American Apparel. Such a fun job!

Summer time... that means I am in a constant state of craving ice cream. In the last few years Capitol Hill has gone from no ice cream to an overwhelming number of places to get the cold stuff. As you know, if you have been reading this blog for a while, I'm crazy for Molly Moon's. Salted Caramel, Theo Coconut Kiss, Raspberry Chocolate Sorbet, Honey Lavender... I don't think I could possibly pick a favorite. Last weekend we baked cookies and made ice cream sandwiches. We made two variations: Oatmeal apricot white chocolate chip cookies with vanilla bean ice cream and oatmeal chocolate chip with salted caramel ice cream. They were SO delicious. That Molly Moon, she knows her ice cream...

Leia- Denny & Westlake Whole Foods

Lauren- 8th & Pine downtown Seattle

Amy- SE 33rd & Belmont St

It was funny happening upon Amy when I was in Portland. She is originally from Seattle. I love these bright bright colors with her platinum hair. What a gorgeous gal.

Shawn & Veronica- Belmont & 19th Portland

Kiersten- 1st Ave downtown Seattle