French Friday

July 18, 2014 Kelly Donohue

July 18, 2014.

Cap Ferrat, The French Riviera.

The French Riviera is truly stunning.

When I arrived in Nice, I was already overwhelmed by the beauty of the coast, the homes we whirled past, the castle-like structures nestled into the surrounding cliffs, and the turquoise ocean water crashing along the shore- and that was only on the thirty minute drive over to Cap Ferrat!

Only a couple minutes away was Monaco, and so we grabbed dessert over there one night and I felt like I was on another planet. The buildings looked to be made of gold and I was certain I didn’t see any cars that weren’t “one of a kind” as they say. Now, let’s be honest, I know nothing about cars, but these looked like the type that were special ordered for Brad Pitt or something. Drinks were 24 Euro’s a pop and everyone was drinking them like they had free refills, which led me to believe that they had to be infused with some sort of hallucinogen but to my surprise, they weren’t!

But back to Cap Ferrat- this place was my idea of heaven. We danced on the docks late at night, ate at restaurants with views that made me question if I was on some sort of airplane, and took long walks along the beach. We ate the best fish, drank the best Sancerre, and all the while, I attempted my best, “merci beaucoups” , which did not seem to impress any of the locals. I, of course, took lots of photos but I promise that they will certainly never do this place justice.

My outfit on this Friday, is from one of my carefree days in Cap Ferrat. I had just gotten back from a long day at the beach and decided to take a stroll around the harbor before heading off to dinner for the night. The streets nearby were narrow and lined with delicious cafes and shops and I love nothing more than being within walking distance to a marina- which housed rows of beautiful mega-yaughts. Since the weather was always warm day and night, (I never had to wear a jacket at night!) I found this light striped cropped top to be a perfect fit for an afternoon stroll on the French Riviera. I added a pop of red to my lips and paired it with this knotted headband creating a bit of a French beach look!

Striped Cropped Top: Forever21

Headband: Forever21

Statement Necklace: H&M (old)

Boyfriend Jean shorts: Urban Outfitters (Similar)

Sandals: Melrose Trading Post (Similar)

Shop this Look!

Photos by: Eric Bromberg

Barcelona in a Blur.

July 15, 2014 Kelly Donohue

July 15, 2014

Las Ramblas. Barcelona, Spain.

I arrived in Barcelona, at midnight on June 23rd, to find a city that was in full swing. Restaurants were jam-packed, kids roamed the streets with firecrackers, and the beaches swarmed with people. Truly a city that did not sleep- well except between the hours of 12p-4p (their daily siesta)- Barcelona, known for it’s late-night nightlife had an even more electric atmosphere on the night of my arrival. It was the Feast of Saint Jaun, their Summer Solstice, and the shortest, (but craziest party) night of the year. It’s a public holiday in Barcelona and attempting to sleep that night amongst the constant crack of fireworks outside the window was a bit of a challenge, but it certainly reminded me that I was far from home! We ran through the streets at 1:30 AM and grabbed a delicious ham & cheese sandwich (their ham is so fresh and delicious- I ate it for breakfast lunch and dinner), sipped Coronas on our balcony and marveled at the chaos that was all around us.

After my initial introduction to Spain, things settled down a bit and I went off and explored the beautiful architecture in the area, most notably the work of the great Gaudi. We toured the Segrada Familia and Park Guell, two very different parts of the city but both simply beautiful. I had never seen anything like Segrada, with ceilings that seemed to reach the heavens, I was taken aback a bit by the detail and beauty of this historical church, which has become a landmark of the city. We caught some of the best glimpses of the city, though, at Park Guell, sipping sangria and hiking up to the various lookout spots along the way.

Another favorite famous spot of ours was Las Ramblas. We caught a Flamanco dancing show, ate until we could eat no more, and drank a liter of sangria! The food in Barcelona was my favorite of all the recent stops on my epic vacation and it was because everything was just so fresh and really cheap too! The locals were friendly, always encouraging our attempts to speak the native tongue and overall this place is just a great place to enjoy the beaches, great food, and exciting nightlife!

Because a good portion of my stay in Barcelona was cut short due to travel, we packed a lot in to a couple days and so I never had lots of time to get ready. Therefore, this adorable little geo print dress from Forever21 was perfect for the afternoon/evening of exploring this exciting and humid city! I even decided to get real fancy and throw on my chocolate wedges from Marshalls. The crowded streets of Las Ramblas really don’t allow for much more of a heel than these! You'll notice that I wore another blue paisley airy dress from Forever21 on the other day I spent in Spain- when in Spain, you gotta get ready on the fly!

Oh take me back!

Las Ramblas Outfit:
Dress: (Still avail in stores & I selected similar avail online below) Forever21

Wedges: Steve Madden/ from Marshalls

Park Guell/Segrada Familia Dress:
Forever21

Get the Barcelona Look Here!

Photos taken by: Eric Bromberg

Cape-Codders.

July 10, 2014 Kelly Donohue

July 11, 2014

Nantucket, MA.

Vacationing on the Cape is a yearly tradition for my family, and because we stay and travel on our boat, it gives us the freedom to hop around from port to port. Every year we set out to explore some new places that we haven’t yet seen, while peppering in ports that we know and love, which makes for an always interesting vacation! This year, we were able to get over to Nantucket, and because of the windy weather conditions and high seas, we were able to stay there even longer than we expected, which I loved!

Nantucket is an island that has a very specific feel to it and as soon as I step off the boat, walk along the pristine docks, lined with hydrangeas, quaint artsy shops, and waterfront bars, I know exactly where I am. The cobblestone streets make walking in heels a near impossibility and I’m sure it makes for a bumpy car-ride too, but the charm it adds to the town makes it all worth it!

Highlights so far:

Singing the night away to live piano music at the island’s famous Club Car restaurant. (Nantucket, MA).
Wine, Sangria, & Beer Tastings at Cisco Brewery w/ live music and delicious pizza! (Nantucket, MA).
Exploring the island in jeeps and watching the sunset while enjoying fresh local seafood. (Menemsha, MA)
Eating homemade ice cream after every meal at Mad Martha’s (Oak Bluffs, MA) and Stars (Nantucket).
Diving into Hurricane Arthur-sized waves at South Beach (Vineyard Haven, MA).
Finding new treasures in all of the quaint little shops (Oak Bluffs, Edgartown, & Nantucket MA).

After a day of shopping and spending time at the brewery, Erin and I snapped a couple of quick photos in our dresses- both from Ruche. It was a cloudy, humid day on the island- perfect for a day away from the boat and beaches. Erin is wearing a flowy, bright maxi dress- perfect for any summer getaway or a day at the winery. My dress is from Ruche’s collection last summer but I was waiting for the perfect getatway on the boat to wear it. The colors are great and call for nautical adventures! I paired it with some of the new bracelets I’ve picked up along on my recent travels, including my most recent find, the nautical pink and navy anchor wrap bracelet from Keil James Patrick Brand, a local Rhode Island company. I found this gem at the local shop, Town Pool, located just a couple steps away from where my boat was docked. It’s always great to find local treasures! Not only are they adorable, but they’re great reminders of all the places I’ve been.