The beau and I are celebrating this year (the year of out 10 year anniversary and my, well, substantial up-coming birthday) with an unheard of three week vacation to the coasts and some selected cities of Spain, France, and Italy. I am so excited that some days it’s literally all I can think about… And having done so much thinking, considering, and planning, I figured I’d share some of my favorite items from my packing list.

Since this is a relatively long trip and we’re covering a lot of ground, it’s important that we pack lightly and pack well. The few items we bring will have to take us from posh hotel bars in Barcelona to the countryside of Umbria and from the sandy playgrounds of St-Tropez and Capri to the gritty streets of Marseilles and Rome. Therefore pretty much everything has to pull double-duty. No cocktail dresses too fancy to wear over a bathing suit to the beach or shoes that I’ll only wear once. As habitual over-packers, the two of us are going to have to plan down to the last pair of underwear (which makes me think: just how many pairs should I bring for three weeks, I wonder?), and here’s what I have planned so far:

I consider myself to be a good shopper. I do my research. I try things on. I carefully consider each purchase and ask myself if I really need whatever it is that’s caught my eye. If a pair of jeans or shoes is amazingly flattering and comfy, I buy several pairs. In return, I have cute stuff that I really love and people are always asking me for shopping advice. So today I’m sharing my latest finds here with you:

The BIG finale’s this weekend… What are your plans? Knocking back a few warm Dharma brews with friends? Whatever you do, be sure to dress the part!

Get LOST by icelandicody featuring Stella McCartney shoes

We’re about to be in our bikinis in public. It’s work out time! And just because you’re working out doesn’t mean you need to lose your personal style. With so many cute options available (Stella McCartney for Adidas, anyone?!?), there’s no excuse.

Sweat! by icelandicody featuring American Apparel hoodies

Tomorrow is going to be 86 and sunny in NYC. Yes! That means it’s the start of bar-b-q season. Clean off your grill and start cooking.

BBQ by Burkeys BBQ featuring

Items in this set:
Candia woven mini dress, $705
Cruiser mini dress, $240
Printed jersey dress, $200
Nautical Blue Stripe Dress by Sretsis – Buy Online at…, 175 GBP
Gingham Prom Style Dress, 35 GP

It’s the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day next week! Hooray for Mother Earth! I recently discovered EconsciousMarket.com, a fantastic online store that does the leg-work for you, hand-picking “eco-friendlier” products and letting you choose which organization to which you want to give up to 10% of your purchase total. Today’s Editor’s Page are some of my favorite picks from their site.

From the EconsciousMarket.com website:

The time is ripe for us to explore new, innovative ways to do business. People are ready: ready to reward businesses that not only care, but are actually doing something about the effects of their practices on people and planet, future generations and our local communities.

Giving. It’s the New Getting.

We are a “For-Benefit” online commerce site based in Boulder, Colorado. We sell thousands of the finest ecologically (eCo “friendlier”) and socially responsible products available and donate up to 10% of every purchase to the exceptional Non-Profit organizations listed on our website. Collectively, what we choose to buy or not buy makes a significant impact on each of us, our children, communities; both locally and globally, as well as to the living system known as our planet.

Unique to our model is the opportunity for each customer to choose which non-profit organization receives up to 10% of each purchase. Every time you Get, you Give too. We let our customers decide where their money goes from our ever-expanding list of non-profit organizations.What we are not here to do is to promote guilt-free over-consumption – after all, the greenest thing you can buy is already hanging in your closet! Rather, we provide customers with responsible options when they need to purchase something.

My favorite thing about spring is that it means that summer’s coming. That, and for a tiny window, maybe four weeks, I get to wear some of my favorite outerwear, transitional jackets. Cotton blazers, jean jackets, military-inspired lightweight coats, cardigans… They all have a special place in my heart… and my closet. Here are some of my favorites, inspired by what I’m wearing these days, as well as what I wish I was wearing: I have to get me that denim biker jacket from the GAP! Didn’t I just get a coupon in the mail from them? Better go check the recycling bin…

The Art of the Transition by icelandicody featuring GAP jackets

Items in this set:
Merino wool-blend military cardigan, $350
PAULSMITH SS10/PBXPF548 048 COTTON/SILK CARDIGAN, 235 GBP
Long-sleeved cotton cardigan, $225
Magnus striped cotton-knit jacket, $325
Spotty Heart Jersey Blazer, $110

I just saw The Runaways, and while it’s not as bad as I thought it would be, I was disappointed that Lita Ford was completely ignored. She had aproximately 4 lines, and there wasn’t even a “where are they now” postcript at the end of the movie. A complete travesty. What about her beautiful duet with Ozzy? Or Kiss Me Deadly? That video was huge! There was a keytar! Thankfully, Lita Ford’s spandex pants/bikini bottom/knee pads outfit will live on forever in our hearts… and nether regions. Oh my.

Lita Ford by Burkeys featuring Vince tops

April Showers Bring Cute Outfits by icelandicody featuring Mulberry accessories

Shoulder pads may have been all the rage in the days of Nancy Reagan, and like it or not, they’re back. But fret not, the years have been kind to the shoulder pad, and with this latest incarnation, which incorporates the best of the ’80s with the understated chic of Dior’s “New Look,” there’s plenty to be excited about.

When doing a strong shoulder, balance it out by streamlining your look with simple, chic accessories. A strong-shouldered blazer with skinny jeans and ballet flats makes a statement without saying “look at me—I’m wearing a trend!”

shouldering the glam by icelandicody featuring Yves Saint Laurent bags