How to Create Your Favorite Destination Scent at Home

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How to Create Your Favorite Destination Scent at Home

One of my favorite activities while traveling is to pop into a fragrance shop or stand. It’s intriguing to savor the scents of a local region and I often learn more about the history and culture of the place from the vendors than from a museum next door. Over and over I am attracted to scents of the Mediterranean with splashes of citrus, lavender, neroli, bergamot, rosemary, eucalyptus, peony, and more. Since travel remains on the horizon for most of us this summer, I think it’s lovely to bring the fragrances of our favorite destinations home.

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Curated Travel: Isle of Capri Style

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Curated Travel: Isle of Capri Style

Our love affair with Italy continues with a street style focus on the sunny Isle of Capri where the people watching is magnifico! While traveling abroad I’m often drawn to capturing the local street style. As you can see by my images, I’m not the only one that finds this fashionable parade eye catching. On Capri it’s all about summery white dresses, chic black frocks, pale straw bags or vibrant leather backpacks, brilliant headscarves, straw hats, jewel encrusted handmade sandals and, as always, the stylish sunnies.

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A Walk in Bidwell Park with Uno Alla Volta

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A Walk in Bidwell Park with Uno Alla Volta

It's always a treat to discover a surprise package on the front step. I opened a box the other day that contained this beautiful pastel scarf from Uno Alla Volta. The ethereal leaf patterned Devore silk scarf was handpainted by Joyita. I styled it with my dusty pink faux-leather waterfall front jacket, Svelte leggings and Vince Camuto Booties.

Our walk in the park was a quick stop since we were on our way to an event in downtown Chico. The fall colors were irresistible and my scarf was perfectly in style at our favorite watering hole later that evening.

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Signature Style: Velvet Vibe

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Signature Style: Velvet Vibe

It seems that velvet is having a major moment right now. I'm spotting velvet in fashion, footwear and plush decor pieces and the velvet vibe feels more fresh and modern, interpreted differently than in the 90's. I've been a fan for many years. It's comfortable and luxurious to wear if done right. I'll never forget my emerald-green off the shoulder cocktail dress from the 90's. I'm hoping to add a pair of velvet booties to my collection this year. How do you feel about velvet?

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Signature Style: The Perfect Black Leggings from Svelte

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Signature Style: The Perfect Black Leggings from Svelte

Black leggings are a staple in my wardrobe. I pretty much live in leggings year round, especially now that I am working out of my home office. Sorry jeans, there is nothing more comfortable to pull on than a pair of leggings, plus, they are incredibly versatile. Dress them up with a silk blouse and heels or dress them down with a chunky sweater and boots. You can wear them from pilates to lunch to an event with the right accessories. Leggings can pretty much take you anywhere. When it comes to travel, leggings are a space saver and so easy to pack, wear, rinse, repeat.

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Color Story: Yellow Crush

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Color Story: Yellow Crush

Perhaps it's the settling in after a dreamy tropical vacation getaway, the pins and needles concern for our friends in the path of the hurricanes or the review of 9/11 on Monday, but I feel the need for a bit of cheer today. A shot of sunny yellow is just what the mood doctor ordered from my board "Yellow Crush" on Pinterest.

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SIGNATURE STYLE: Summer Vibe

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SIGNATURE STYLE: Summer Vibe

We are in full-blown summer mode here by mid-July, at least here in Northern California. Are you feeling it too? Soaring temps, late evening sunsets, bountiful fresh fruits and veggies, backyard BBQs, lazy days - perhaps even the luxury of a poolside nap - all speak to the vibe of summer.  During our road trip last week we experienced a mini-heatwave even on the coast in Newport Beach. It's official: the summer vibe is here!

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Signature Style: Block Heeled Sandals

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Signature Style: Block Heeled Sandals

Call them a perfect blend of style and comfort and I'll call it a signature style.  I'm spotting block heeled sandals all over this summer and I'm loving the look. My pregnant step-daughter, Briana, showed up at dinner with a stylish pair of black block-heeled sandals last week and reported that they are a comfortable way to wear heels, even when pregnant. Talk about walking on solid ground in style!

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Signature Style: Sensational Sleeves

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Signature Style: Sensational Sleeves

We are seeing them everywhere this season-- flared, gathered, tapered, capped, layered, slit, caped, draped -- those sensational sleeves. When I was in fifth grade I asked my mom to sew a dress for me with straight sleeves and 2 layers of fabric encircling the wrists. I was also very clear, I wanted it in daffodil yellow!!

Oh, how I felt I made a bold fashion statement in that yellow dress, circa early 70's, with those sensational sleeves. We can skip the references to my 'Big Bird' yellow taste, but I will confess I continue to have fashion affection for those sensational sleeves.

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COLOR STORY: Blush

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COLOR STORY: Blush

The first home I owned was a condo in the northern suburbs of Los Angeles, in La Crescenta. Though it was small, purchasing it was a huge milestone in my life. It was a brand spanking new one bedroom, one bath space with a balcony that overlooked a luscious garden of fragrant orange trees from the neighboring house. It was perfect for me.

Though I kept the color scheme neutral, back in the late 1980’s, I sought out the perfect shade of blush paint for the walls of my bedroom. The color, chameleon as the light changed throughout the day, added just the right amount of warmth to my space.  Blush is a universally flattering shade which is always a good thing, especially in the bedroom.

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