2012 Recap #3: Adventures/Experiences

Happy Friday!  We are celebrating this weekend because our home refinance finally closed this week and we got our car back from the shop!  I thought that our refinance would be a fairly simple process, but not so.  It took months and we ended up having to do a few last minute home improvements (like I mentioned in another post - having our house painted the week of Christmas - ack!).  After we completed all of the requested work, we had more problems because the appraiser who needed to come back to do the final inspection was suddenly out of the state on vacation.  I won't drag you all further into this very long and complicated story, but let's just say it was a very sticky situation.  The day that the appraiser returned was the day of our  (now extended) deadline and I had to have a not so nice conversation with him that morning.  Anyways, it's officially done now! Phew!

In looking back at my posts from 2012 to compile my other recap posts (2012 recap #1:  outfits and 2012 recap #2:  Purchases), I decided it would also be fun to reminisce about some non clothing/style happenings of the year.  There is certainly no way for me to compile a list of my absolute favorite moments of the year, but here are 5  adventures/experiences from 2012 that put a smile on my face:)

PARIS

Posts here, here, here, here and here

Ben and I went to Paris  in the spring of 2012 for our honeymoon.  It was such a lovely trip, full of beautiful memories that I will cherish forever.  

 

PLATE AND PITCHFORK

Post here

In July, we experienced an amazing dinner at the Domaine Drouhin winery via plate and pitchfork.  It was a beautiful day, the food was delicious, the wine was flowing, we were surrounded by good friends, and we enjoyed it all outside, right in the middle of the vineyards.    

SUMMER HIKES

Posts here, here, and here 

We enjoyed summer to the fullest, including lots of hikes on the Oregon coast, the Columbia River Gorge, and eastern Oregon.    

I QUIT MY JOB!!!

Post here

In September, I quit my job of 7+ years.  It felt SO GOOD to say goodbye to all of the stress and frustration associated with my old job.  I haven't looked back since.  I am enjoying my new job and I would do it all over again.  

BIRTHDAY WEEKEND

Post here

My birthday weekend was full of magic - my brother came to visit, I got a new pair of Chie's, we consumed lots of good food, we saw the wonderful Sallie Ford in concert, we went on a gorgeous hike at the coast and even spotted a whale.  Wow! Weekends like that only come around every once in a while.  I hold these memories close to my heart.      

Honorable mention:

After quite a few unsuccessful tries, I finally learned how to make french macarons this year (post here)!  I became obsessed with these darling little cookies after our Paris trip.  I haven't mastered them just yet, but I'm having fun practicing:) 

2012 Recap #2: Purchases

To follow up on my post from yesterday (2012 favorite outfits), here are 5 of my favorite 2012 purchases.  I'm not 100%  confident is saying that these are my absolute top 5 purchases of the year, but they are 5 of my favorites:)  It is really hard to narrow it down!  I keep thinking of other pieces that I have gotten more wear out of or ones that are more versatile, but for whatever reason, here's my list!

Camper 21514-001 Mary Jane Pump - Original post here.

Who's That Girl dress - purchased in Paris - Original post here.

J. Crew Perfect Shirt in Chambray Polka Dot - original post here, top also featured here and here.

Chie Mihara Olivan (technically not a purchase, these  were a birthday gift from Ben, but they still have a place on my favorites list:) - original post here.

Ruffled Trench Coat from Anthropologie - original post here.

Honorable mentions:

Liamolly Blazer (post here), J. Crew Peter Pan Collar Tee (post here),  Anthropologie Tiered Ruffles Open Cardigan (post here), Gray Dress, J. Crew Clearance Store find (post here).  

Shopping in Paris

I did quite a bit of window shopping in Paris.  I only purchased a couple of things, but it was fun to browse and see what the shops there had to offer.  I ended up not buying much because the prices there were higher to begin with, and the exchange rate did not help matters at all.  A lot of the things I wanted, I knew I could find online for cheaper.

Let's start with what I did buy!  I found this dress at a little shop we stumbled across while walking to the  Sacré-Coeur.  I found 2 things in the shop that I wanted to try on - this dress and pencil skirt that I didn't end up getting.  Both were from the same brand, "Who's That Girl".

I wore this dress yesterday for the first time and I have to say, I love it!  It's a great dress for summer and I think the buttons really make the dress interesting.  

Dress:  Who's That Girl
Shoes:  All Black via Anthropologie
Bag:  Hue


The other thing I purchased was this ring.  I came across it at the Clignancourt flea market.  I paid for it, put it on and it hasn't come off since!

Now, let's take a look at some things I DID NOT buy.  Shoes, shoes, shoes! 

I saw so many adorable pairs of Campers, including this cool pair of twins with an underwater scene (can be purchased from endless here)

I also spent quite a bit of time drooling over some gorgeous Chie Mihara shoes.  It was nice to go to a shop with a decent selection of Chie's that I could look at IRL and daydream about:)  

I recognized the Edelia, Nabila, and Guarana styles.  The Guarana can be purchased from Ped Shoes (my favorite online store for Chie Mihara shoes!) in a different color and on sale. 

Green jeans (Paris OOTD)

 Here is another outfit from my Paris trip.  As I mentioned, the weather ruined my plan of wearing mostly dresses, so the denim I brought along came in handy.  I think I love my purple stevies the most, but these green ones are pretty awesome too. 

Top:  Anthropologie
Jeans:  AG Stevies via Anthropologie
Cardigan:  J. Crew Jackie
Shoes:  Gee WaWa oxfords


Here are a few more random photos from the trip.

Rawr

Notre-Dame of Reims

Notre-Dame of Reims Detail 

 

 

 

I can't stop posting pictures of delicious food:)

This photo kind of makes it look like a beautiful day, but this was taken about 3 minutes before a hail storm.  Yes, hail (and rain/wind) at the Eiffel tower!

Taking photos at the flea market

Cheers!

TGV train

At Centre Pompidou