Product Review: Ellington Handbags’ Sadie Hobo

{Ellington’s Buttery-Soft Sadie Hobo}

The wonderful people at Ellington Handbags were kind enough to send me their cute and versatile Hannah Tote back in March which I have carried non-stop ever since, so you can imagine how thrilled I was when they offered to send me their Sadie Hobo a few weeks ago. It is the perfect summer bag! I know I will definitely be carrying this bag for a long time. The buttery leather is even softer than you could imagine and the size is ideal. The Sadie Hobo has plenty of compartments inside to keep you organized and it features this lovely quatrefoil debossed detail below each ring:

The people at Ellington are so passionate about what they do and that passion shows in the craftsmanship and design of their handbags. “We think life is an adventure, and a good handbag should carry whatever you need, wherever your adventures take you. We create each bag to be your perfect companion; the one you want by your side every day, whether you're picking out veggies at the local farmer's market or boarding a plane to Budapest. Just enough pockets, but not too many. A strap that fits on your shoulder as if it was made just for you. Luxurious leathers and fabrics that feel good, look good, and wear well. But what about style? Don't worry—we've got you covered. We know that looking good feels good, so we focus on classic-chic designs that you'll feel good carrying not only for a season, but for years and years.”

The Sadie Hobo is available in brown, black, and red and is an absolute steal at $169 given the amazing quality of the leather and chic styling. The black version of the Sadie was deemed chic enough for Jennifer Lopez, whose character in “The Back-Up Plan” carries throughout most of the film! Check it out in the trailer:

This or That: New York Townhouses

{Miles Redd’s New York Townhouse}

Many people fantasize about what it would be like to have a New York pied-à-terre in the thick of it all. But what would be better than an apartment in New York City? How about a gorgeous townhouse? Now, if you know anything about New York real estate, then you are very well aware of the fact that a townhouse in New York, especially in Manhattan, will set you back several million dollars, which makes it all the more fun to dream about!

In today’s “This or That” game, I will be presenting you with quite a challenge! Two of my favorite homes ever happen to be New York City townhouses. One is located in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village, while the other is in Brooklyn. Both spaces are stunning, but are quite different in style. I love that townhouses are frequently long and narrow. Quite often, the kitchen will lead right into the dining room which in turn leads into the living room. They essentially share one large space and defining and separating it into three rooms can sometimes present a challenge. However, the owners of both of these homes have done a stellar job! Each of these homes has been featured on La Dolce Vita in the past, so rather than presenting you with full-blown home tours, we will be focusing on the living areas of each house. Which would you rather have, Katie Lee’s Nate Berkus-designed Village town house or the gorgeous Brooklyn home of  Fitzhugh Carol and Lyndsay Caleo?

I’m pretty certain that Katie Lee put her gorgeous Greenwich Village town house on the market after she and husband, Billy Joel split last year. I am guessing it sold pretty quickly, but I am not certain. This picture gives you a an orientation of the room. In the back, you have the kitchen, which leads into the dining room, which then leads into the living room in the front of the house. I adore the open feel of the space. The dark floors look fantastic with the pale aqua walls. I adore the furniture that Katie selected with the help of her interior designer, Nate Berkus. The room has a relaxed European sensibility about it.

{I love the shelving!}

{A True Cook’s Kitchen}

{The cabinetry and marble countertops and backsplash are gorgeous, but for me, these beautiful custom-made windows make the space feel ultra special. The bistro chairs are quite charming!}

{The pale, aqua-grey hue of the walls and dark wood floors provide a neutral palette for the original architectural details, like the fireplace and mouldings to really shine. I love the gilded nesting tables and upholstered chairs with the fabulous greek key arms.}

The airy space is defined by whitewashed floors and walls with contrasting wood beams on the ceiling. The space feels fresh, youthful, and inviting. I do think this home has a European sensibility as well. While Katie Lee’s place is decidedly more Parisian, the light, airy look of this beautiful Brooklyn home could easily work in Spain. Notice the lovely original fireplace and the artwork above it.

{I love that this large table can be used for dining or as a work space. The open shelving is functional and plays upon the airy feeling of the home.}

{I truly love the vibe of this home. It is casual yet architecturally stunning. There are so many gorgeous features. The abundance of white makes the space feel so large and in my opinion, is one of the things that makes the home feel so special.}

{The floor-to-ceiling built-in shelving creates visual impact within the living / dining room.}

Both homes are beautiful, so this will definitely be a tough feat. I love so many things about each home and definitely had to go back and forth between the two options. I think it’s definitely a taste preference. I am so excited to see which home you prefer! I’ll share my choice in the comments section a little later.

10 Things I Can’t Live Without: Caitlin of Sacramento Street

Caitlin of Sacramento Street recently celebrated her blog’s first anniversary and in one short year, she has managed to do an amazing job with it. The posts on Sacramento Street are both inspired and chic and the blog features beautiful images on a daily basis. Caitlin was recently married and has shared some gorgeous pictures from her wedding on her blog. In addition to being a talented blogger, Caitlin is also one of the sweetest and most sincere people in the blogosphere.

 My Husband: I can honestly say that I don't know what I would do without Eric. He is my soulmate, best friend and my husband. We know more about each other than anyone else (well, except for maybe his twin brother). No one can make us laugh harder than each other. Since the first time we met my Freshman year of high school, I knew I met someone special, and now ten years later we are newlyweds. He inspires me everyday to do what I love. I'm definitely the luckiest girl in the world to have him in my life.

Traveling: I went on my first plane ride when I was three weeks old and I’ve loved traveling since. I feel lucky to have traveled all over the world when I was younger. My parents didn’t mind taking me out of school to go on one of our many excursions. I probably learned more in a week traveling through the Mexican jungles, the Artic Circle and Alaska’s Elephant Cove than I did in school.

One of my favorite things about traveling is meeting new people, experiencing the different cultures each country has and attempting to speak a new language (that sometimes doesn’t go over very well). Even when I’m traveling within the U.S. my heart skips a beat boarding a plane. It’s like my heart knows that I’m going somewhere new.

I will forever have a place in my heart for traveling and I’m excited for the few trips I have planned this year.

A Cup of Tea: I’ve never been a coffee drinker; I’m a tea drinker. I love a warm cup of tea in the morning with a splash of frothed milk, no sugar necessary. If you’re looking for an addicting brand of tea I would recommend Mariage Frères from France. Their French Breakfast tea puts a smile on my face every single morning. My husband can’t believe something as simple as a cup of tea can change my morning with one single sip.

Long Walks: One of the many reasons I love San Francisco is the fact that you can walk around the entire city. Experiencing the different neighborhoods by foot is something I can't get enough of, whether it's with Eric, a good friend, or by myself. If I ever need a burst of inspiration I always know that it's waiting right outside my front door. All I have to do is decide what direction to turn.

Friends & Family: I couldn’t imagine living life without my friends and family. They support me through happiness, struggles and life in general. At the end of the day they always support me no matter what my dreams might be. I couldn’t be luckier to have all of them in my life.

Candles: There’s nothing like lighting some candles and filling my apartment with a fabulous smell. Right now I’m on the hunt for a new scent – I’m thinking my next purchase will be a Diptyque Lilas candle. Diptyque never disappoints!

iPhone: Cliché, right? Well, I’ve got to say I agree with everyone on this one – this small pocket size device has changed my life. There is no excuse to being bored if you have one – with the endless apps, Internet capabilities, camera, and so much more, you’ll be entertained for a lifetime. One of my current favorite apps is Words with Friends; let’s just say my husband and I are incredibly competitive when it comes to this game!

Flowers: Who doesn’t love coming home to beautiful bouquet of flowers? It’s the first thing I see when I walk in my front door. They put the biggest smile on my face. I love going through seasons and seeing what types of flowers are coming into bloom. Whether I go to the flower market (my heaven), a small flower store or the flower stand by my work – I always seem to find something special to bring home. Right now is my favorite time of year – Peony season!

Home: After a long day of work, there's nothing I love more than coming home. As I walk through the door I get a sense of happiness, calmness and then my mind is at ease. "Home is where the heart is" rings true to me.

Blogging: When I started my blog one year ago, I didn’t know if anyone would read me – now I’ve made so many incredible friends over the past year through this tight knit blogging community. Everyday I look forward to what conversations will happen, some hilarious and others inspirational – who knew I’d be talking to gals across the country about things that we have in common or dilemmas we’re all trying to solve. Without all of these lovely ladies supporting one another, the blog community wouldn’t be as special, and for that I’m forever grateful.

{1. Erin Beach 2. my own & little brown pen 3. Mariage 4. dress, design, decor 5. Erin Ever After 6. Diptyque 7. Apple 8. this is glamorous 9. domino}

C’est tres chic!

{Perfect Parisian Style}

It’s no secret that I have had Paris on the brain lately. Well, maybe not just lately as it seems to be a constant presence in my mind and in my dreams. I absolutely adore the styling in this shoot with Raquel Zimmerman for Paris Vogue. The outfits are très Parisienne and I would happily wear any one of them. I happen to be a big fan of a long, lean, flare leg jean and love that Raquel is wearing them here. The High Heel Flare from J.Crew has been my favorite for quite some time now and I was devastated when they were discontinued.

While I love warm weather, it is already 90 degrees here in Houston. I’m sure we are in for an extremely hot summer, which is all the more reason to dream of cooler temperatures in Paris along with all of that wonderful architecture, fashion, art, and the pastries. Oh, the pastries!

{This ensemble is so chic. I love the navy blazer paired with the smart white jeans. The YSL belt is fabulous!}

{A Variation of the Previous Look with a Different Jacket and Accessories…Raquel’s hair looks amazing! C’est parfait!}

 

Image Credit: Terry Richardson for Paris Vogue via Dress Design Decor

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Image via: la la lovely