The Greenhouse Effect

September 17, 2013 Kelly Donohue

September 17, 2013

XOTX-Tropico, West Hollywood, CA

Sometimes you don’t have to travel far to find an escape from the city walls.

In the heart of West Hollywood, just feet away from the chaotic and traffic-filled Fairfax Blvd, is a beautiful nursery filled with exotic plants, flowers, herbs and veggies from all over the world. This unexpected little gem is called XOTX-Tropico, and although it is located on one of the busiest streets in town, every time I visit I immediately feel as though I’ve been transported to a quaint pastoral island somewhere far from the honking car horns that echo faintly beyond the pretty flowers and tall trees surrounding me.

Of course, the purpose of this nursery, as is the purpose of all nurseries, is to provide customers with flora… ya know, a place for customers to come and purchase flowers and plants. However, without a yard, a balcony, or even a tiny windowsill to house said beauties, buying anything isn’t even really an option for me (and to my great surprise, the owner doesn’t hate me…yet!) For me, it really serves simply as an oasis of sorts. Instead of comparing prices, I wander around admiring the care that’s been given to each unique species, spend time in the greenroom- (always amazed at the lush density of plants and their ability to block out the noise of street traffic), dream about the garden I may someday be able to afford, and take in the various aromas as I pass down the rows of herbs and vegetables.

All I can say is it’s a good thing that they don’t have benches or I’d be perched all day, reading and observing to my heart’s content!

What this nursery reminds me of, ultimately, is that you have to make sure you take a moment to look around and take everything in, to treat yourself to some alone time, and to never miss out on the organic treasures that are (sometimes hidden) all around us.

This black and white maxi from Social Butterflies is as comfortable as it is beautiful. Truly flattering for all shapes, this effortlessly adorable dress makes even a casual stroll in the garden look fancy!

Maxi Dress: C/O Social Butterflies

Necklace: Ruche

Sandals: Forever21 (SIMILAR)

Photos today by: Jennifer Biswas

A Birthday in Beantown

September 12, 2013 Kelly Donohue

September 12, 2013

Cambridge, MA

I returned yesterday from a whirlwind visit to Boston and though the flights are a bit long, the jetlag a bit exhausting (especially when taking the redeye), and the New England weather a bit unpredictable, this short little getaway was well worth all of it. I discovered that it’s possible to pack more into a weekend than I can pack into my purse-quite an amazing feat! Not only was I able to enjoy the city I call home in its finest time of year, but I was also able to explore new restaurants, catch up with family at the beach, celebrate the first Patriots victory of the season with some locals, and spend the day with my boyfriend for his birthday. It was truly a great time. Now if only someone over there at MIT would hurry up and invent teleporting (I’m looking at you Eric), I could do it every weekend!

Most people who know me are aware that I associate Boston with being my home, but, truthfully, I grew up almost an hour outside of the prideful city, in a small town in New Hampshire. Close enough, right? That being said, while I’ve explored a great deal of Boston over the years, there are oh so many places that I still have yet to discover and this weekend was a perfect example of that. In year two of Eric living in Cambridge, we’re finding incredible restaurants, coffee shops, and local taverns that while new to us, have all been sitting right under our noses this whole time.

While he was in class, I spent some time walking through Harvard Square, admiring the large brick buildings and neighboring homes, while window shopping and spending some time in the Harvard Book Store. When the weather is as lovely as it is in September, I could walk around for hours and so I did just that. It’s a fascinating place, Boston, and though I’m sure I’m biased, I could visit a thousand times and still find it to be more thrilling than the last.

For Eric’s birthday, we had dinner at this delicious little spot called Bondir. With a fresh menu that changes daily, a cozy ambiance, exquisite service, and delicious wine, it was one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in a while. It is one of those places where each ingredient is deeply appreciated and carefully selected by the chef and if you are in the mood to really enjoy every morsel, this restaurant is a must.

I chose to wear this black floral jumper, that looks like a dress, from Topshop for our cozy date night in the city. It’s a perfect fall little number for a night out on the town. I must admit, it was a bit outside of my usual budget, but for special occasions, you have to splurge a little.

New Finds in Cambridge:

Bondir- A quaint restaurant with a daily changing menu, and personalized service!
Casa B- Tapas at it’s finest! The cocktails are amazing and the incredible dishes are prepared in an open kitchen.
Sweet- Discovered some of the tastiest cupcakes in town here in Harvard Square.
Thirsty Scholar- Watched the Patriots game here and enjoyed great beer on tap and game-time appetizers- YUM!

I’ll definitely be frequenting all of these spots over the coming months!

Jumper: TOPSHOP

Black Booties: ALDO (Similar)

Photos by: Eric Bromberg

Heat Wave

September 9, 2013 Kelly Donohue

September 9, 2013

Poinsettia Park. West Hollywood, CA

A prolonged period of excessively hot weather (relative to the usual temperature in the area) is what is known as a heat wave, and in good old Southern California, that is exactly what we’ve been having. I realize that even if you don’t live in this area, and you keep up with my blog, you’re probably as painfully aware of the heat as I’ve been because it seems to be all I can ever talk about in my entries lately. I just can’t help it! I blame the heat- it’s stifling my creative brainpower!

Wait… where was I? Oh yea, it’s hot! And my across-the-hall neighbor/pseudo roommate has been singing “The Heat is On” for the past two weeks and as hilarious as it is, (she brings a smile to my face in even the crummiest of situations) it’s actually become quite the fitting theme song for our apartment complex these days. So in order to escape the sauna that has become our home, we have been spending lots of time outdoors. Late night chats on the fire escape, cold glasses of champagne, catching up on reading under big shady trees at the park, and sneaking into our neighbors pool have become our go-to activities this past week and I have to say- it’s been pretty great. So even though it may sound like I’m complaining about the weather, I’m actually not. It’s more like bragging.

I’ve been living in clothing that is light and airy, which is why this breezy number from Social Butterflies has been a dream to wear all weekend. The skirt, a piece from the boutique’s newest collection, is perfect for warm summer days like today but also, when paired with a different top and shoes, will transition seamlessly into the fall. Don’t you love it when that happens?

Until it cools down a bit, you can find us doing summery activities, singing, “The Heat is On… The Heat is Ooon…”