WEEKEND WARRIOR

After a quick jaunt down to the great state of North Carolina for the long weekend, I've returned to New York rested, sunburnt, and in dire need of a new weekender bag.  I've had a fantastic orange and white striped one from Bella Bags (similar to this one!) since freshman year of college, but after lugging it across the country multiple times a year - not to mention dragging it around Europe for a semester - it's a little worse from the wear (actual rips in the plastic that you can see through and handles that are slowly becoming detached...)

I've been leaning towards the J.McLaughlin sailcloth one forever just because it's classic and durable (and can be monogrammed, of course).  (I actually first posted it about it here, where I'm lamenting the same thing. Good to see my little orange-and-white stripey lasted another year!) But now I'm thinking that white might not be the best idea for lugging something through dirty airports and train stations and whatever other forms of public transportation I endure.  So I figured I'd do a little online shopping and round up the best ones. Now the only problem is to choose....hopefully in time for my next trip!

L to R, top to bottom: CLARE VIVIER / KATE SPADE SATURDAY / HUDSON SUTLER / STELLA & DOT / HERSCHEL SUPPLY / HALSEA / JMCLAUGHLIN / DEUX LUX / LONGCHAMP / DEUX LUX / JCREW

FUN IN THE SUN

via.

It's officially spring break! I'm still in Barcelona, but since Thursday I've been in "spring break mode".  Which means that I've been celebrating with bellinis and yummy sandwiches at the beach for lunch on Friday, a delicious tapas dinner with sangria out with friends, and a to-die-for brunch this morning (also with a bellini).  Sensing a theme here?

Anyway, tomorrow morning I head to the Canary Islands for some sun, and then we're off to Mallorca for the end of the week.  I'll be back in Barcelona on Sunday - hopefully rested and tan!

Hope everyone has a fabulous week!

SPRINGBREAKERS

01. warby parker sunglasses / 02. kendra scott earrings / 03. stradivarius blouse / 04. etsy high-waisted jean shorts / 05. ancient greek clio sandals / 06. nine west clutch / 07. jcrew bikini / 08. the market basket co. straw tote / 09. gorjana rectangular hoops / 10. mara hoffman dress / 11. dsquared wedges

It's that time of year again - SPRING. BREAK.

Yes, we get it even here in Spain.  Technically, it's semana santa - aka Holy Week aka the week before Easter, but a week of no classes is a week of no classes, right?  I'm headed out of town Sunday, hitting up the Canary Islands, Valencia, and Mallora before making my way back to BCN.  That's right - enough of these cultural European cities.  This girl's tryna get her tan on.  

In the world inside my head, this is what I'd pack - a big tote bag and sandals to walk around town during the day, sunglasses and a bikini for the beach, and a tropical shift dress and wedges for when the sun goes down.  After all, you can only fit so much in a carry on, but when you're headed to the beach, you don't need much!

IT AIN'T EASY

This weekend is St. Paddy's Day.  (Not St. Patty's Day).  It's one of my favorite holidays, because it always seems to mark the start of Spring and pretty much all it entails is drinking lots of beer. (And also putting on lots of sunscreen, thanks to the fair skin and freckles that actually stem from my Irish heritage.)  This year, however, St. Patrick's Day is going to be a little bit different than just a giant fraternity party.

This year, I'm going to be in DUBLIN.

That's right - this girl's going to be at the heart of it all, in actual Ireland, to celebrate.  Sure, it'll be lots of American tourists, but whatever.  I'll be with a bunch of my friends (and I mean a bunch - St. Paddy's Day seems to be the Spring version of Oktoberfest for study abroad students).  I'll be rocking my green jeans.  I'll be drinking actual Guinness.  And I'll be in actual Ireland.

BAM!

For those of you significantly less cooler than me (just kidding), you can still celebrate in style.  

Check out some of these green picks to get you in the spirit for this weekend!

LOEFFLER RANDALL PUMPS / MICHAEL KORS COCKTAIL RING / SALONI MARIE BLOUSE / SEA DRESS / LINDA FARROW FOR THE ROW SUNGLASSES / STEVEN SHOES / MICHAEL KORS BAG / RAG & BONE CARDIGAN / FADE TO BLUE JEANS

AN AMERICAN IN PARIS

I had such a wonderful time in Paris this past weekend! It was my first time in the City of Lights, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it.  I feel like there was so much hype about Paree that it would be a letdown, but I loved the city!

We stayed in the Hotel Du Crillon, which made me feel like a princess.  I had a big bed and a thick fluffy robe and pretended that I was there for the Ball du Crillon and was wearing a haute couture gown.  Since I had never been before, we hit all the big sights - the Louvre, Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower, Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe, etc.  It was gorgeous on Saturday and not-so-much on Sunday, but it worked out.   I ate crepes and frogs' legs and macarons and drank lots of champagne and loved every minute of it.

My only two requests for the weekend were Laduree and Colette.  Laduree was easy enough - there was one right by our hotel, and my Mom and I stood in line for about 20 minutes to get a box, but they were worth it. I then dragged them to Colette, where I felt infinitely uncool.  My Dad felt very out of place.  Luckily, I couldn't feel too out of place because the store was less Parisians-actually-shopping and more people-from-out-of-town-who-were-dying-to-see-it.  Plus, my mom was feeling generous and bought me Carven's new perfume.  It's light and flowery and makes me feel graceful and French - an excellent souvenir, if I do say so!  Paris has definitely been the most fashionable city that I've been in.  Walking down the streets, especially on the Rue Saint-Honoré where all the shops are, was like a fashion show of tall skinny girls in cool outfits.  I felt inadequate.

But it was a fabulous weekend trip and so nice to do it with my parents.  

My new goal in life: become a chic skinny French girl. ( I'll let you know how that one goes.)

louvre + lauduree by me; colette image via; carven le parfum

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT

ONE + TWO

Sorry for the lack of posting, but exciting things have been happening IRL, dudes!

Here's the biggest news: my parents came to Europe!  

After being in a foreign country with so many strange things and experiences for so long, it was beyond nice to see them.  I showed them around Barcelona for a few days, and then we jetted off to Paris together.  Let me tell you - after traveling as a poor college student, taking the cheapest flights and staying in hostels and packing all my belongings for a weekend in just a backpack, it was so. incredibly. nice to travel with my parents.  I'm talking nice hotel, fancy dinners, taking actual taxi cabs as opposed to public transportation - the works!  I just got back today, and it's definitely going to be a shock to reenter the real world.  Class today was brutal enough.  

Anyway, look for a post on Paris to come!

PRA(HAHA)GUE

Off to Prague this weekend to meet up with some of my favorite sorority sisters! So excited to see them and to see Prague itself - everyone I've talked to absolutely loves it.  In other abroad news, I had midterms this week, which was an unpleasant surprise.  Sometimes you forget you're technically here to study (and I mean study in the loosest possible way).  Now that they're over, hopefully I'll get some posts up soon about my trips - with some pretty pictures to accompany them! 

Hope everyone has a fahahahabulous weekend!

TO KEEP YOU WARM

It's not that cold here in Barcelona, but we definitely have some of the best weather in Europe right now.  Which means that any time I travel someplace else, it's considerably colder and I need to be prepared for a long day of sightseeing in the cold/rain/snow/hail/etc.  After London two weeks ago and Amsterdam this weekend - not to mention a looming trip to Prague on the horizon - I'm determined to invest in both a warm knit snood (such a great word) to cover up my neck and face and a cute knit headband to keep my ears warm on blustery days.  If all these European girls manage to be both warm and stylish, who's to say I can't be as well?

ONE / TWO / THREE / FOUR / FIVE / SIX

JUST ANOTHER MANIC MONDAY

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Between going to London this past weekend, Valentine's Day, and Fashion Week, I've got far too much to blog about and way too little time. Expect some London pics, some V-day suggestions, and some Fashion Week recap coming soon to a screen near you. So buckle your seatbelts and keep all hands and feet inside the vehicle - this week is going to be crazy!

LONDON CALLING

ONE / TWO / THREE

Jetting off to London for a hot second this weekend.  Literally - I get in Friday night and leave Sunday afternoon.  While I've loved my weekends in Barcelona, I'm excited to explore more of Europe.  I've never been to London, so I'm excited to eat fish and chips and have tea and ride a double-decker bus like a true tourist! (And, you know, the fact that everyone speaks English definitely helps!)

SOME GLOBAL NEWS

Big news, kiddos.

I'm writing this post from the comfort of LAX airport, getting ready to begin a day of travel that will end up with me, by myself, in Barcelona, Spain - for the next three months.  That's right, kids, I'm studying abroad.  For those of you unfamiliar with the concept, I'm living with a Spanish family and taking classes in Barcelona for the next semester, working on my Spanish skillz and tryna meet cute Spanish soccer (excuse me, fútbol) players. 

To be honest, this is probably the biggest adventure I've ever taken in my life, and I'm torn between being really excited and wanting to throw up.  But mainly excited.  I'm excited to shop and travel and experience a new culture and eat yummy food and visit lots of museums and be a superstar international jetsetter.

I'll still be updating this blog with all the latest in fashion and lifestyle, though it might have a bit more of a European flair in the next couple of months, if ya know what I mean.  It'll take a bit of time to settle in and figure out my schedule and Internet access and all that jazz, but next time I post it'll be from España!

Besos, Jordan

images ONE / TWO / THREE / FOUR

GONE FOR THE WEEKEND

I love my current weekend bag to death - it's orange and white striped with a navy "J" on the front and I never lose it in a crowd.  But it's most definitely been beat up (and overpacked) a few too many times, and it might be time to trade in for a sturdier model.  When I caught sight of this sailcloth duffle from J. McLaughlin, I fell in love.  A classic shape with crisp lines never goes out of style, and neither does navy, white, and leather.  The fact that it's made of sailcloth not only appeals to the sailor in me, but also means that it's pretty durable.  And of course, the monogram is only the cherry on top!  Looks like I might need to buy myself an early birthday present.... 

 j.mclaughlin sailcloth duffle.

LONG TIME NO SEE

chi-town via instagram

Hi! Sorry I've been completely MIA this past week.  Our internet has actually been down in our apartment, which means that I spent a lot of time in the library - a place where doing things other than homework tends to be frowned upon.  And then I jetted off to Chicago for Easter weekend to meet up with my family.  It was a whirlwind trip, that's for sure, but I loved every second of my time in the Windy City!  Hope everyone else's Easters (or Passovers) went just as well as mine did!

ADIOS Y VAYA CON DIOS

So sorry about the lack of posting this week/weekend/last week, etc.  Things got a little crazy, and I feel like I'm running as fast as I can just to keep my head above water.  (Does that even make sense?  I'm so tired I'm mixing my metaphors).  Instead, I'll be wishing and dreaming I was back in Mexico, staring at that gorgeous water (the middle picture is the view from the back porch of the house we stayed at.  I know right?).  And, of course, eating my weight in guacamole and drinking nothing but things that started with the letter M (....like margaritas, mojitos, and mai tais!).  Hope everyone else gets a few seconds to breathe as well this week, and hopefully I'll be back on my game in no time.

photos by this senorita right here.