the city that never sleeps

Hi lovelies,

As you probably know, I got back from New York City earlier this week. So this is my NYC travel and style diary post (yay). I was in the city for four days, and had an unforgettable trip.

It was a rainy first day and night!

Washington Square Park.

Madison Square Garden.

The world's largest Macy's on Fashion Avenue (7th Avenue).

RetroSpective: The Fashion and Textile History Gallery; The Museum at FIT.

Right after Mamma Mia! at the Winter Garden Theatre.

Greek art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

African art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Cypresses, 1889 by Vincent van Gogh.

Modern art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

At Chat Noir (East 66th Street).

We stayed at a brand new hotel called The Refinery (West 38th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues). It was fantastic, with great decor and amazing service. Very modern, with an Urban Outfitters-type feel to the theme. I definitely recommend The Refinery as a place to stay in NYC. Our first day (Thursday) was rainy, cold, and quite miserable. The second day was sunny and beautiful. We probably explored the most on Friday, visiting Washington Square Park, Greenwich Village, Soho, the West Village, Little Italy, and China Town (where we ate lunch). After lunch, we visited The Museum at FIT. Later that evening, we saw Mamma Mia! on Broadway, which was an incredible show. On Saturday, we walked to the Metropolitan Museum of Art after enjoying authentic New York bagels (yum!). We spent a few hours in the many art galleries there, then strolled down Park and Madison Avenues to Chat Noir, an adorable restaurant tucked away on a side street. I bought my Louis Vuitton key pouch on the way back to the hotel (you can read a post about that here). 

I won't give you the full itinerary of the trip, because we really did a lot and obviously this post would be too long. But I had an amazing time with my dad and am so grateful to have been able to go to New York City again. I had been to the city two or three times prior to this trip. And each time, I fall in love with it all over again. 

Until next time, New York...

Juneau, Skagway, & the Yukon

Hi beauties,

This is my second post about my Alaska/Canada adventure. If you missed my first post, you can read it here. The second stop we made in Alaska was in the port of Juneau, the state capital. There, we explored the city and shopped before taking a taxi to Mendenhall Glacier (we had to hike to the actual glacier) and a salmon hatchery. Both experiences were very fun and fascinating. We also got to see a parade since it was the 4th of July!

 I did NOT get a good picture of my outfit in Juneau, but oh well. Sorry!

Mendenhall Glacier from a distance.

Iceberg formed from a piece of broken glacier.

Beach view.

Happy 4th of July!

The next day, we journeyed to a little Victorian village known as Skagway. We then took a tour of the Yukon territory of Canada, stopping to see Carcross and Emerald Lake.

Denim: Paige. Shirt: Rubbish (old, but I love this one). Coat: Lost (old, but similar here, here, and here). Shoes: Børn (old but similar here). Bag: Coach. Sunglasses: A.J. Morgan. Watch: Betsey Johnson. Ring: vintage. Nails: OPI 'Russian Navy'. 

Carcross.

It was a cold beach!

I set foot in the world's smallest desert.

I'm sorry I wasn't able to get decent outfit pictures. I literally had time for one or two quick shots at each stop, and some days the shots weren't even worth saving. I will have one or two more posts about this trip coming this week. Right now, I am in North Carolina visiting family and touring a few colleges. I am enjoying the time I have to relax and am working on a few little projects that I'll share with you all soon. Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog!

*All photos are owned by me.*

Ketchikan

Hi beauties,

Sorry I've been away. Last Saturday, I got back from a two week trip exploring Alaska and Canada and I've honestly just been too tired this week to blog. If you'd like to see pictures of my adventures, follow me on Instagram. My username is @marthafab. I flew to Vancouver for two days before heading off on a seven day Alaskan cruise. After that, I went on a five day land tour of Alaska before flying home. This trip was my first time experiencing jet lag! I still haven't recovered fully from the time change and am on a rather wacky sleeping schedule. I am going to post in chronological order from the trip, but I don't have my Vancouver pictures yet so that will be out of order. If you just want to see the pictures of my outfit, skip to the end of this post.

Ketchikan was the first port we stopped in during the cruise. It's a small, run-down tourist trap in southeastern Alaska. It's very close to good fishing, hunting, and camping locations and is a port that many ships, boats, and yachts pass through on their way to great outdoor activities. On the docks, we saw a pod of killer whales up close, although I didn't capture any National Geographic-worthy pictures. Totem poles are scattered throughout the town and I really enjoyed the Popcorn Emporium and its free samples. :)

Exploring the town.

Path to a famous street of brothels in the 20th century.

Two gorgeous Russian pocket watches.

My family and I went on an excursion while we were in Ketchikan. We traveled by floatplane to a breathtaking place known as Misty Fjords. Secluded high up in the coastal mountains, Misty Fjords is untouched by humans other than the floatplanes that land in the water for very brief periods of time. When I got out of the plane, it was silent. All I could hear was the occasional bird chirping and waterfalls flowing down the mountainsides. Seeing nature this way was an amazing experience that I will truly never forget. 

Isolated and untouched. 

Now the part you've been waiting for... my outfit!

No need for sunglasses today...

Cloudy in Ketchikan.

Raincoat: Cole Haan (similar here). Denim: Paige. Shirt: Splendid (similar here and here). Shoes: Børn (old but similar here). Purse: Coach. Scarf: Tasha. Watch: Betsey Johnson. Ring: vintage. Nails: OPI 'Russian Navy'. 

Thank you for reading my first travel diary! I hope you enjoyed it and my outfit. I tried to mix practicality and style into my wardrobe for the trip, especially since the weather in Alaska is very unpredictable. It changes every ten minutes, I swear. I'll be posting more about my trip very soon!

*All photos are owned by me.*

girl in flight: my airport essentials

Hi beauties,

Today is another scheduled post that I wrote before I left for vacation. I thought I would share with you what I brought in my bag for the airplane (the bag you put under the seat, not your carry-on). I'll show you the outfit I wore on my flight when I return from my trip. Also, I wanted to announce that my new summer travel series will be titled "Bon Voyage 2013." There is a new label for the series in the right sidebar.

My airport essentials:

I brought gum, my Ted Baker wallet, a Kate Spade pouch to hold my iPad mini, sunglasses (in a super cute case), my phone and iPod, headphones, a brush (for fixing my hair after the flight) and an umbrella (because it might be raining when the plane arrives).

Obviously, the liquids had to be in a plastic bag when I went through security, but these are the beauty products I brought to have on hand during the flight. Concealer, mascara, a travel-size perfume, lip balm, and a lipstick are all I need to freshen up at the end of a long flight. I also packed lotion in case my skin became dry and hand sanitizer because airports are filled with germs.

Lastly, for my entertainment I packed a book (the white edition of Twilight) and my iPad mini (which I am very attached to). I have a bunch of movies, TV shows, and music on my tablet, as well as Candy Crush, which is my new obsession.

I put everything into my trusty Longchamp tote, and was ready to go!

I flew to Vancouver on Sunday, which was my first time in Canada. By the time you read this, however, I'll be in Alaska! I've realized that I won't have access to the internet while on this trip, so I won't be able to post my outfit pictures or travel diary until I get back. Meanwhile, I have a number of scheduled posts that should go up every few days. I appreciate your patience and I look forward to sharing parts of my trip with you when I return!

To follow me on Instagram, please click here (my username is @marthafab).

not all those who wander are lost

Hi lovelies,

I am going to be starting a new post series relating to travel and fashion that will continue through early August. I have yet to come up with a creative name for it, so I decided to call this first post introducing the series, "not all those who wander are lost". This famous line comes from the poem "All That is Gold Does Not Glitter" by J. R. R. Tolkien in his novel, The Lord of the Rings. Also, Jessica Stein from Tuula Vintage (whom I adore) seems to live by this quote, and she includes it in the bio section of her blog and Instagram. I felt it was a fitting title for this post since I will be taking several long trips this summer to very different places. If you have any suggestions for the name of my new travel series, please leave me a comment!

I will be going on several trips within the next month or so, and I want to share as much of my travels as I can with my readers. I can't tell you the places I'm going yet (it's a surprise!), but I have some ideas of what I want to include in this series that I can tell you about now. I am planning on including OOTDs, packing tips, beauty essentials for trips, travel diaries, and posts showing you what I packed. It is very possible that I may add to this list as I go. And not necessarily every post I write until August will be part of this series. I will be sure to indicate whether a post is part of the travel series in the title or by creating a post label for the series. Labels for my blog posts can be found at the bottom of the right sidebar. Some of the posts in the series, such as my personal style posts, will be pretty normal other than the backgrounds and locations being more extravagant since I will be on trips.

I am looking forward to traveling this summer and being able to share parts of my trips with my wonderful readers! I am so excited to start this post series, so be on the lookout for a new travel related post in a few days. I already have another great post planned for Tuesday, so my first travel post will probably be this Wednesday or Thursday. All of these "travel" posts will still be related to or include fashion. If you have an idea for a name for this travel series, I'd love to hear it. Please leave me a comment under this post and I might use your suggestion.

Thank you for your amazing support. I hope you enjoy my new series and your own travels!

If you'd like to keep up with me on Instagram, where I will share even more from my trips, please click here (my username is @marthafab).

Flying High

Hi lovelies,

I created a Polyvore account a few days ago, and let me just say I'm obsessed! It's so fun creating collages and I'm sure you'll be seeing more of mine on the blog in the future. Summer is just around the corner, which probably means some traveling for many of you. I thought I would do a post on flying essentials, which will hopefully help you while you're packing!

For traveling, comfort is key. But that doesn't mean you have to show up at the airport wearing sweatpants and Uggs. I think a loose-fitting, possibly oversized sweater is just as comfy and way more chic. Make sure to choose a sweater made of a soft, supple material. Cashmere is a great choice, but it can be pricy. If the sweater covers your bum, leggings are a great option. If not, go for a stretchy pair of denim. I also recommend wearing a basic tee underneath the sweater in order to be prepared for temperature changes.

Airports are not exactly the place to go all out with accessories. Pick simple pieces that are easy to get on and off at security, and don't wear anything too flashy. You don't want to attract unnecessary attention that could put you in danger. Minimal jewelry is the key. Instead of a necklace, try a scarf, which can double up as an extra layer of warmth on a chilly flight. I definitely suggest wearing a watch to help keep track of time. Wearing a watch will enable you to be more hands-free as it allows for you to keep your phone tucked away in your bag.

Of course, don't forget the absolute essentials. This includes phone, wallet, passport, and tablet or laptop. Make sure to keep everything in a case or bag so it doesn't get damaged or lost. Also, make room for entertainment. Buy a couple magazines at the airport book stores, or bring a great book from home. There's not much to do on a long flight, so use the time to relax. A stylish pair of over-the-ear headphones won't hurt your ears like regular earbuds, and can drown out other noises. I love this pair by Frends. A sleeping mask or pair of sunglasses is a great "do not disturb" sign and can hide red-eye from a long, sleepy flight. Wear minimal makeup, but bring a small makeup bag with your must-have products to apply at the end of the flight for a refreshed arrival look.

It is completely possible to be comfy and chic! If you want to see where the items in my collage are from, click here to visit the post on Polyvore.

Bon voyage,
Martha