Old Fabulous London Town

I'm home now. Have been for a while now, which is why I've sort of neglected A2A in order to spend some much-needed time with the fam. Listening to Dad's old records while eating Mom's delicious home cooking always reminds me of when I was little. Tonight it was chicken marsala and Tony Bennett. Tony's My Love Went to London took me back to a couple of weeks ago, made me miss London, & jogged my memory of these photos in particular...

an abundance of hanging baskets makes a corner

British pub absolutely beautiful

going to church @ St. Paul's: my response to the

"What was your favorite moment in London?" question

I found what appeared to be Fifi & a bunch of her friends

hanging out near Spittalfield's Mkt in LondonTown

Paris is beautiful in July!

...had to get at least one touristy picture

back to my City tomorrow ...more BigAppleBlogging to come;)

xoxo

Emily

life is short & the world is small

Did you know that approximately 12 million tons (aka a lot) of textile waste is generated each year in North America?

Thanks to the inspiring girls at Goodone, the London-based sustainable fashion company I worked for while abroad, I have caught the go-green bug. I worked with New York's Green Shows during Fall Fashion Week 2010 back in February, but something about Goodone (or maybe it was London in general) really opened my eyes to the idea that, yes, responsibility, ethics, and personal gratification actually do exist in this crazy industry we call fashion.

After visiting a massive British garment recycling center to salvage the best-of-the-tossed, working hands-on to help produce the company's Fall 2010 collection, and attending a party for the opening of 123, a fashion forward sustainable clothing boutique in London's East End, I have officially been inspired to conserve and reuse. I know what you're thinking ...easier-said-than-done, right? Well then why don't you start (if you haven't already) by at least taking your old clothes to a Goodwill, Bargain Box (Raleigh people), or Salvation Army, instead of tossing them into the landfill?

I'm not saying that we can't all lust after fall's new chic booties, tailored tops, wool capes, & classic-with-an-edge jewelry, but let's also revisit some oldies while we're at it ...after all, that old pair of flared jeans that you pushed to the back of your closet a few years ago would look perfect with that tailored top and your new booties...

LEATHER AND SUEDE “TILDEN” BOOTIES $198, DOLCEVITA.COM

100% WOOL “CADET CAPE” $385, LAURENMOFFATTNYC.COM

FENTON/FALLON™ for J.Crew JAWS EARRINGS $85, JCREW.COM

*another thing I learned across the pond?

"Life is short and the world is small. Enjoy every minute."

-old man I met on the train from London to Paris last week

lovelovelove,

em

food & places

My time in London has come and gone way too fast. 5 weeks, 2 suitcases, and 4 pounds later, I am headed home. Yes, despite walking all over London & Paris, the camembert, scones, & chocolate teacakes took their toll. Last night I packed for my return with Julie & Julia playing on my laptop, a glass (make that bottle) of French red, a bowl of olives and, of course, a couple of chocolate teacakes. Watch the movie if you haven’t already (it's sweet & has beautiful takes of Pari & YUMMY food in it ...basically, the chickest flick ever) and, besides the food and the French architecture, pay attention to what’s hanging above the bed in Julie’s apartment. They are framed antique handkerchiefs of different states & I am longing for them to be framed in my apartment …the North Carolina & New York ones, that is. One question: why is it that the Iowa hanky is only $30 and North Carolina has to be $80?

cheers to London!

& see you tonight, America!

xo, em

Au revoir, London!

after one final bash in London last night (complete with 4 new best friends we found: 2 Canadian dudes en route to see the world + a sweet British couple) I'm off to Paris in 2.5 ...will share blog worthy travel stories when I'm back, but for now I thought I'd leave you with a couple of snap shots of you-know-who traveling in London & Paris.

c'est la vie!
xo em

images from here

i see London i see France

Bonsoir!

...nothing like a last minute trip to Paris...

this will be me in two days (minus the tap dancing & singing)

...on 2nd thought, oui maybe i will!

One thing is for sure though, this girl is on an intense search

for the world's best croque monsieur, s'il vous plaít!

Au revoir for now!

In the meantime, does anyone have a favorite thing to do in Paris that I must try?

be the one

let's rebuild the Gulf Coast! take just 1 minute & sign the petition

start your month out feeling good about doing something good;)

xo, em

ps: how is it August already?!