Travel in Style: Sunglasses

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I love a good pair of sunglasses during the summer. (OK - I live in Phoenix. So I love a good pair of sunglasses every day of the year.) To me, aviators are the quintessential summer style. Here are a few different takes on this trend:


1. Michael Kors Updated Aviator Sunglasses ($195): In a classic brown/tan hue, these shades from Michael Kors are a new spin on the classic aviator design. An alternative to these golden frames is a sleeker chrome set.

2. Rimless Front-Logo Sunglasses from Tory Burch ($145): As a fashion minimalist at-heart, I love this look from Tory Burch. Stepping out to summer's social happenings has never looked so good!

3. Xhilaration Metal Aviator Sunglasses ($12.99): Fashion changes often, so Target's Xhilaration brand is a great choice when you're looking to buy something trendy but don't want to invest a whole lot of cash. Case in point: these green sunnies.

More style reads for jetsetting travelers:

• Shopping in Austin
• Travel in Style: Designer Passport Covers
• Honeymoon fashion

Travel Beauty: Travel Size Perfume

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Here's a quick rundown on travel size perfume:
1. Flo Refillable Perfume Atomizer ($10): If your favorite perfume doesn't come in a travel approved size, check out this perfume atomizer from Ulta. The pretty-in-pink case keeps your fragrance from spilling.
2. L'Ombre dans l'Eau Solid Perfume ($48): L'Ombre dans l'Eau has an entire collection of solid perfumes. Bonus: it won't count against your liquid count. Score!
3. Kate Spade Twirl Roller Ball ($18): A perfect day-to-night fragrance with fantastic fruit undertones, kate spade's Twirl roller ball packs easily, too. You can read my full review on AZSpaGirls.com.
More Travel-Friendly Beauty Products:

• On-the-go nailpolish
• Tanning solutions
• All-in-one makeup kits

Destinations: Shopping in Portland

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Canoe, a boutique in Downtown Portland's West End

For years, the Pearl District has been the top spot for shopping in Portland. But it's the city's West End, an up-and-coming pocket of town just south of Burnside from the Pearl District, that caught my eye.

Bordered by Interstate 405 on the west and SW Broadway along its eastern edge, the West End was once a sketchy part of town occupied by little more than rundown buildings. Thanks to a recent renaissance of independent, one-of-a-kind boutiques and restaurants, it's now one of the best places for Portland shopping and dining.

Radish Underground

Radish Underground: Part of Radish Underground's charm is the passion that co-owner Gina Johnson Morris exudes for the West End. If you need recommendations on where to shop and what to eat in the area, stop in and strike up a conversation. She's full of great info! Plus, her shop is packed with the coolest clothes, accessories and gifts - many of which are made right in Portland.

Tender Loving Empire

Tender Loving Empire: What's really cool about Tender Loving Empire is that it's actually a combination of an independent record label, retail consignment shop and screen-printing studio. This business hybrid is typical of Portland, where anything local is revered. You could spend a lot of time at this Portland boutique, sifting through everything from kids' goods to books.

Pinkham Millinery

Pinkham Millinery: The moment I stepped into Pinkham Millinery, Kate Middleton's face flashed through my mind. Admittedly, this is a regular occurrence during my shopping excursions (I'm a little obsessed with her style), but this time around the feeling was all-consuming. Many of the shop's fascinators and hats - all handmade by owner Dayna Pinkham and ranging from modest to avant garde - evoked the Duchess of Cambridge's fashion sense in the best possible way.

Flora

Flora: Part apothecary, part gift store, Flora is an adorable West End boutique that carries things like Lucia soy candles, Marseille soap and handmade (in Portland, of course!) greeting cards. There's also a small collection of girly home goods that I was obsessing over, like the adorable teal chair in the photo above.

Canoe

Canoe: A very sleek and clean space, Canoe's products reflect its environment with a collection of simple, beautiful and functional objects designed to make every day life a bit easier (and prettier!). Here, items like decor pieces and kitchen utensils take a very modern approach. It's the type of store where you could find a million things you never knew you needed, until your visit. (Wooden monkey toy, anyone?)

Alder & Co.

Alder & Co.: This is a store where you'll want to touch everything you look at. Plush children's toys, French linen throws and leather braided bracelets, Alder & Co.'s products are all rich in texture and design. Its clothing collection is minimal, but full of quality and multifunctional pieces. I especially loved the cluster of brightly colored scarves and socks.

Frances May and Parallel are two more boutiques you can't miss while shopping in Portland.

More fashionable travel destinations:

• Where to shop in Austin
• Grace Bay Club in Turks and Caicos
• Fred Segal lending library at Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel

Where to Stay: Hotel Excelsior Dubrovnik

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Photo courtesy of Hotel Excelsior

For me, trips back home to Croatia usually mean accommodations at my family's homes or, in the off chance that we take some time to explore outside of our hometowns, renting an apartment from private individuals. But a fresh crop of luxury hotels in major Croatian destinations - like Dubrovnik - have me re-evaluating our entire game plan.

Photo courtesy of Hotel Excelsior

Hotel Excelsior in Dubrovnik isn't technically new - it's been operating since 1913 - but over its nearly 100-year history has had many new lives. It's now a modern and luxurious five-star retreat along Croatia's Adriatic Coast. There's a celebrity history here, too. Queen Elizabeth, Margaret Thatcher and Elizabeth Taylor have all stayed at Hotel Excelsior.

A sunset view from Abakus Piano Bar.
Photo courtesy of Hotel Excelsior

It's situated within walking distance of Dubrovnik's Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and affords spectacular views of the town's sun-drenched stone walls and the Adriatic's turquoise water. There are five dining options, including a sushi spot - something I always crave after three weeks of "home cooking." Abakus Piano Bar is a local favorite and one of the best places in town to catch a sunset.

Just for fun - toasting to beautiful Dubrovnik on our last trip in 2010.

Travel Beauty: Stila Travel Palettes

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Photo courtesy of Stila Cosmetics

On a trip to Ulta the other day, I came across these all-in-one travel palettes from Stila. A collection special for summer travel, the Stila Travel Palettes ($16) are inspired by fashionable destinations around the world like Rio and London. They come with four eyeshadows, a cheek color and a highlighter/bronzer. Some are already sold out on Stila.com, so check out Ulta.com or Sephora.com as an alternative.

Beecher's Cheese, New York

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 In our wanderings last week, petitesoeur and I also found Beecher's Cheese.  I love the smell that hits you upon walking into cheese shops.  I had heard of Beecher's, but I had no idea the place was so huge!  In addition to the cases of cheese and shelves of food accompaniments and gifts, there's also a lunch counter that serves grilled cheese sandwiches (naturally), salads, and other prepared foods with an upstairs mezzanine seating area.  They also make cheese on the premises.

And downstairs, there's a bar called The Cellar with clever cocktails named for notorious New York miscreants (click to enlarge the menu) to read the descriptions, with bar food -- mac and cheese (again, naturally), charcuterie, and small plates.

Of course we couldn't help tasting some cheese and taking some home. Coffee junkie petitesoeur naturally gravitated toward the Beehive Buzzed -- a cow's milk cheese rubbed with coffee and lavender.  What a unique flavor!  The combination was really striking -- after more tastes, you could taste the 2 separate flavors of coffee and lavender, but the blend really worked and was surprisingly delicious.  The Carr Valley Cocoa Cardona also caught my eye - goat cheese rubbed with cocoa powder and aged 2 months.  I went home with a chunk of each.

Beecher's Handmade Cheese
Flatiron District
900 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
212.466.3340

LAMILL Coffee, Baltimore

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Another fine addition to the Four Seasons in Baltimore is LAMILL Coffee, originally from LA. While the coffee is excellent, an added bonus is that pastry chef Chris Ford is responsible for most of the items on the menu.
He is certainly fond of making seasonal macaroons that are larger, usually a whopping 2-3 inches in diameter. I've had flavors like cinnamon brioche and red currant in the past.
One time, I tried his dense rich bacon cheddar scone as a savory alternative.

One of my favorites is hot beignets with your choice of dips. I end up getting the Meyer lemon curd all the time.
I recently tried the everything cookie, similar to Momofuku Milk Bar's compost cookie, it's got an assortment of items baked in it. What I could tell was chocolate chip, oatmeal, raisins, popcorn, potato chips, and pretzels.
 I also recomment the delicious cinnamon brioche.
200 International Drive
Baltimore, MD