Shining, gleaming, steaming, flaxen, waxen....

Thinking of different hairstyles... I have a definite idea in my head but just can't seem to get it out.... hmmm...thoughts?
all photo from Brides.

THE shoe

So I found the perfect shoe for this summers festivites. I ordered them a couple of days ago, totally giddy with excitement. Our power has been off and on for the past couple of days because of the storm, and as a result... no internets for 24 hours... gasp! When I finally got it back this afternoon, among my emails was one sad one... the transaction did not go through because they no longer have my size. poo. Unwilling to give up that easily, I ordered them in a half size bigger... which shouldn't be too much of a big deal. I hope.....the fingers and toesies are crossed...
**Note..apparently the shoes are on the way! squeal!!!

Banana

I love these new looks from Banana Republic.
Very nautical with a crisp/preppy twist.

Perfect for a stroll along the coastal cliffs with a mimosa in one hand and a James McAvoy in the other... I mean, or whoever...


I saw these earring in In Style magazine, and fell for them. They aren't on the website yet, so I'm keeping a watch on the site...

Weird Weather

We're on our second stormy day. It's SO weird... it will be windy and down pour rain for a while, and the next minute the sun is out. So you get excited and start to get ready to go outside, and then it pours again. It's like it's watching you...
I've been staying in making earrings...

Volumes

I'm kind of liking this coat here. She's styled in a little too much of a snow bunny look for me, but if you were to wear some skinny jeans, and dark orange brown boots... i think it would work. I've bought a couple of coats from here and love them. I would never think of shopping there normally, but sometimes they can surprise you.

Rain is Falling, My Nose is Running...

We are in the middle of an incredible storm. I was up all night to the sound of the wind clashing against the bedroom window. No one is outside unless they risk the 'inside out umbrella' look. The palm trees look like Jon Bon Jovi circa 1987 in front of a wind machine. I'm brought back to memories of being in our neighbors basement during hurricane Gloria whining over the fact that their dog, Missie, had chewed the feet off of my favorite Barbie doll... 'Never mind' said Sheila cheerfully, 'She can be boot-wearing Barbie.' hmph.
But I suppose if you're not feeling well, it's better to be inside during a storm rather than a sunny day. Right??


trenches from here.
brollies from here.

THE book

Today I received the most Fabulous book in the mail.


My parents had wanted to get it for me for christmas, but apparently you could only get it at the V&A show. So they had a friend buy and then post it to me here... what kindness!!


It is so so wonderful. Every bit as good as the actual show was.


I can't wait to read it front to back, I've been sick for the past 2 days, so this will be a perfect companion for me and my tissues.


Sigh...

Wine Trip

On Friday, Erik and I were invited by our wine loving friend to a private wine tasting event.


The tasting was at the vineyard, about halfway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

It was incredibly beautiful, sitting in the middle of the rows and rows of grapes, olive trees, and fruit trees.


The whole business was family run. The gentleman who started the vineyard was there and funnily enough, had lived in New Haven years ago when he did his postdoc at the Yale school of Forestry. It's a very small world, isn't it?

The Trip

On Thursday I returned from my all-around-Israel trip with our guests, Pelle and Denise from Portland.
We drove down to Eilat and stopped off at Mizpe Ramon Crater for some views.



We then continued down to a very cold Eilat.


Pelle and Denise went on a couple of dives... I stayed in and read my book...After my last experience, I wasn't ready to try diving for a while.



And of course... the sun came out as we were leaving...piddles...


We then drove up to Masada. It was so amazing.




We then had falafel by the dead sea. It was cold, so we didn't go in, which was dissapointing. Next time... But it was incredible to look at. The way the lighting was, there was no visible horizon and everything was this surreal pale aqua color. Very Matthew Barney.



From there we then drove to Jerusalem. We arrived in the evening and walked around before an early night.





We stayed right in the Old City. I had a balcony in my room with fascinating views. I was also right next to a mosque and was woken up really early by the call to prayer.



We spent the next day seeing the Western Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, an amazing experience indeed.



We ended with the Dome of the Rock before driving back home to Herzliya. It was very fun, interesting, and a bit exhausting. Thank you Denise and Pelle for letting me join you on your adventures!

Adventure Time

Our friends arrived Friday afternoon. They had brought us a large bottle of gin from duty free, so it was automatically G&T time. Yesterday (Saturday) we had salmon bagels by the marina, it was so warm and sunny... I'm hoping it will stay this way for their entire visit. We drove to Casarea and walked around the ruins. I found some more furry friends...



Last night we had, Mexican food, I know... weird, but it was so good and I've really missed it. Tomorrow they are driving to Eilat and maybe taking a day trip to the Sinai Peninsula (Egypt's border with Israel) and then a night in Jerusalem on the way back. I'm tagging along! There may not be many posts this week, but rest assured, when I return, there will be many an exciting photo.

Tables and Tents

I have gotten a lot of major wedding planning done (place, caterer, dress, tent...) so now it's time for the fun stuff. I'm planning on having everything organized, ordered and bought before I fly back in July, so that I can then use that time to get right in there and have fun. I've been looking at table arrangement ideas, and inside tent decorations....


It can be overwhelming, so I'm taking it slow....very slow...I'm a tortoise...

all photos from The Knot.

Walking my Blues

I'll be the first to admit, I sometimes exaggerate. So... it's not THAT cold here....it's like 60...actually according to weather.com it's 68 in Tel Aviv. But, it IS cold in the apartment, so I was telling the truth about it being cold. It's just not outside. Make sense? Ok fine, I'm a whiner. Anyway, we have our first, real, official guests coming tomorrow! I'm SO excited. They will be with us for the weekend and then will travel around the country, and I may just tag along, we'll see. But for now, I'm going for a walk in this warm weather.
All shoes from Here.

Get Physical

One of my new years resolutions is to get in shape (although...isn't it always some sort of resolution?). I just saw the funniest thing on Sky News. Apparently the trainers at Sea World are putting the sea lions through exercises every morning. It was the weirdest thing to watch! I tried to find out more about it online, but could find nothing. Ah well... it definitely added a burst of silly to my morning.

Summer Wine

I think that our music channels (VH1 and MTV) may have different music than the music in the states, but then again, I don't know since I'm here and not there. There is one song on VH1 quite a bit, it's a cover of the song 'Summer Wine'. This was originally done by Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood, later done by the Corrs and Bono and now has been done by Natalia Avelon and Ville Valo. It was done for the German film Das Wilde Leben which also starred Natalia Avelon. Anyway, I can't get the song out of my head... and I think that Ville is awfully dreamy.....in that eyeliner wearing kind of way of course... you can watch the video here. It's a little out of sync, but still good.

Cold Snap. Oh Snap.

Apparently we are experiencing some of the coldest weather Israel has had in years. People tell us this as if we're supposed to feel better about it. We went out for dinner last night and walked maybe 1/4 of a mile to the restaurant and I was frozen. A popsicle. The houses here aren't made for cold weather, they are made of concrete, to keep the cool in during the hot summers... unfortunately they also keep the cool in during the freezing winter. And what's deceptive is that it's sunny out... very very clear blue skies and sun. But! being an east coaster, I know that this is the most deceptive kind of cold there is. So I've been cuddled up with my quilt and the Hallmark channel. Thank god for made for tv movies...
Amazing how much one can write about the weather... I'm becoming a bore... I'll blame that on the weather too...
hat from here.

Just My Luck...

Last week I was walking through the mall near our house and almost exploded with joy when I saw that the cinema there was playing Atonement. I had meant to see it while I was home but never found the time. Having read the book a few years ago, I was excited to see it on the big screen, assuming they would do justice to the novel. I have a fondness for most of Ian McEwan's works and wouldn't mind if 'Saturday' was made into a film. I didn't think it was really Erik's type of movie, so I decided to see it this week during the day, hoping that they did day time showings. Yesterday I made the trek (it really can be deemed a trek; I take a short cut that takes me over dunes, and though what I believe is some sort of sewer... what a girl will do for retail therapy) to the mall. I was giddy with excitement, I kept telling myself that if it was not playing in the afternoon, I could then have a definite plan of when to come back etc etc... I got to the ticket counter and not only was the cinema closed... the Atonement poster was gone. No longer playing there. Totally deflated, I moped back through the mall. The only thing that stopped me from moping even more was the fact that... It's sale time now!! I happened upon this silk dress from Mango that was so on sale, I won't even give the price.



Despite the plain-ness of the photo (and i apologize for the wrinkles.), it's actually very 1920's with the dropped waist and stitching detail on the front. Great with high heeled gold mary janes, a long necklace, and perhaps a feather in the hair? So all was not lost yesterday... and actually with the Golden Globe win, maybe they'll bring the film back... although I won't hold my breath, they have been playing what looks like a dreadful Ben Stiller movie for about 2 months now... hmph.

Here I go Again...

While I was home I popped into My Favorite Store in The World, Anthropologie. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately for my wallet) I couldn't buy anything because we went on our last day in the states and there was no room at all in my suitcase. Boo. Anyway, I got to oogle at everything and leave with a catalog...
I so so so want this bag... some day.... I love all of Orla Kiely's designs, especially this signature petal print...


Very cute... and as Erik always says.."Owls are SO in..."


My favorite things...books and shoes... all mangled together... sigh....



The perfect outfit for "Oh hello!... didn't see you there... just trolling the river for snacks and pretty rocks to put in my extra large water cooler bottle..."



Great for a brunch, a garden party, or just watering your plants while standing on a stool... this is something I actually have to do... we have hanging plants, and I'm not tall.