Friday, November 27, 2015

Friday Five: Etsy Gift Guide

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I am officially obsessed with Etsy. One of my favorite things is supporting small businesses run by people who create for a living - like awesome #GirlBosses who have decided to follow their hearts and produce things with character and personality. With Christmas coming up and "Small Business Saturday" not far behind us, now is a great time to get moving on some handmade or personalized gifts for the ones you love!
  1. For the Roomie: Gold sequin and velvet folded clutch bag (perfect for her NYE outfit!) stuffed with goodies like these She Is... pencils or these adorable Fall Tassel Earrings 
  2. For Your Man: This Rocks Glass from theUncommonGreen etched with a map of his favorite city (like Portland, Boston, or Chicago), or something from Lifetime Leather Co. (Bryan has this Dopp kit and loves it!)
  3. For Your Mom: this shabby chic upcycled jewelry box (handmade in Oregon - my mom loves hers!), this adorable burlap tree skirt, or this Let's Do Coffee mug - complete with a Starbucks gift card and the promise of a coffee date! 
  4. For Your Dad: custom leatherwear like this wallet from SwankyBadgerDesign, a personalized grilling set, or this keepsake box (with a letter from you tucked inside)
  5. For Your Siblings: For brothers, grab them a set of customized stationery - I love these ones from Curiopress (they have crazy fast shipping, too!) or this cool wool and leather iPhone case. Frame one of these adorable prints for your sister, or grab her a gold-foil monogrammed throw pillow . 





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Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Yes, You Can: Travel Solo

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Solo travel. It's that thing that girls on Pinterest do - they go to Thailand or whatever and find themselves and commune with nature and are fearless... right?

Well, sometimes. In my not-so-humble opinion, it can be just as empowering to take a solo weekend trip to the next city over as it is to go to a foreign country for several weeks. It was a goal of mine to do a little bit of solo travel while I was abroad, and I managed to fit in two weekend trips (to Munich, Germany and Linz, Austria) that were only a few hours away from Salzburg and wonderfully conducive to the wandering tendencies of my independent little soul.

Seriously, you can do it too. Start small, like I did, and soon enough we will be traveling the world! The benefits are amazing - I've met phenomenal people on my mini-adventures, including a lovely young family in Linz and an old elementary-school friend who happened to be in Munich the same weekend I was. Granted, I'm not traipsing around an entire continent on my own - but that doesn't mean I won't be within the next few years.

Want to give solo travel a shot? Here are a couple tips:

  1. Start small. Pick a city that seems interesting to you - one that you could get to by car, train, or a short plane ride. 
  2. Plan ahead. Go into your trip with a few ideas of what you want to do and see, and check out public transportation ahead of time as well. I love the app/website Rome2Rio - you plug in your destination and it will come up with multiple transportation options, prices, and times.
  3. Get used to solitude. I think it's a really wonderful thing to be okay with being alone and being quiet - two things that aren't really encouraged by our share-everything culture (which I love, trust me). Being comfortable by yourself is something that encourages growth and reflection. Take a few days or weekends to explore your own town or city on your own - try a new coffee shop or take a hike. Enjoy the quiet that ensues!
  4. Have an open mind. Like I mentioned earlier, I've been able to make a few very interesting connections by embracing communal-style lodging like AirBnB and budget hostels - I stayed with a young family in Linz who had two children and a dog, and after just a few hours, I was included in their morning routine and invited to spend the day with them. In Munich, I ran into a childhood schoolmate from Portland that I hadn't seen in years. If I hadn't gone down to the hostel bar (alone) that night, I wouldn't have been able to make the connection!
  5. Be safe. Be aware of your surroundings, don't walk with headphones in, and always act like you know where you are going - walk with purpose. If you're by yourself, it also may not be the best idea to drink excessively or go out at night in areas you aren't familiar with. 

Ready to head out? 

If you're looking for ideas of where to go and what to see, check out some of my other travel posts - 




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Monday, November 23, 2015

J.Crew Factory is Having a Sale...

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Important news: J.Crew Factory is having yet another killer sale - this time, 50% off EVERYTHING in stores and online. Right in time for Christmas shopping, but before the mad rush of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. 

Here's what you need to know...

Treat Yourself


For Him



Accessories & Shoes



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Friday, November 13, 2015

Friday Five: Things to do in and Around Munich

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Remember that time I (kind of) started doing a Friday Five series and named five Portland-area restaurants I had tried recently?

Wouldn't that have been a cool series to stick with?


Yeah, I agree. And in an effort to stay on top of my blogging (because I didn't put my heart and soul into this little baby blog for nothing) I'm putting together two new series for The PDX Belle. On Wednesdays, hopefully very consistently, I'll be putting together a "Yes, You Can" series that focuses on empowering us to do or wear things that seemed a little intimidating at first. Topics could be as simple as putting together trendy clothing items or as daunting as traveling alone.
Want to see something specific included? Email me!

concentration camp memorial
Dachau Memorial Site

Schloss Neuschwanstein - Day trip from Munich
About two weeks ago, I spent a night in Munich solo. I stayed in the Euro Youth Hostel right by the central train station (I have mixed reviews of this place) and took a few day trips/did some exploring around Munich. I like Munich because it feels attainable - it is beautiful and historic and has so much charm, but it feels like a place that I could actually live (as opposed to beautiful cities like Paris or quaint tiny towns like Hallstatt). It's a cheap and easy bus ride from Salzburg via FlixBus, and I highly recommend that you check it out if you haven't already.

  1. Take a free walking tour with Sandeman's - you just tip your guide what you think they earned, which I think is the way to go when it comes to tours. Each tour with Sandeman's will be totally different depending on your guide, and it's a great way to get a feel for the city at the beginning of your trip.
  2. Take the train out to the Dachau Memorial Site (photo included above) and spend the afternoon wandering around the location of one of WWII's deadly concentration camps. It's very moving and challenging, but very worth it. The museum on site is incredibly informative and deserves a few hours of your time, but the most spiritually moving part of my visit was the presence of four beautiful chapels  from different religious denominations. 
  3. Do some shopping around Marienplatz - for me, the vast amount of shops (Zara, Pimkie, H&M, and many many more) in one place is a novelty compared to what I'm used to in Salzburg. While in Munich, I snagged a leather jacket and grey midi dress from Pimkie, one of my new favorite stores.
  4. Check out the Augustiner Brau - the only beer hall in Munich that's still family-owned and hasn't been bought out by larger beverage corporations. (Yes, it's the same brewery I mentioned here) or the Hofbrau House, a rowdier, more tourist-oriented beer hall that has an Oktoberfest vibe year-round.
  5. Take a day trip out to Schloss Neuschwanstein, the castle built by an eccentric German ruler that ultimately was Walt Disney's inspiration for the "Sleeping Beauty" castle. Go on a clear fall or snowy day and you will see why - the place is magical. I didn't do a castle tour because I was strapped for time (had to catch a bus back to Salzburg), but hiking up to the castle and wandering around the grounds was amazing by itself.
Munich has this and so much more to offer - these things are just what I was able to accomplish in my brief trips to this gorgeous city.






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Saturday, November 7, 2015

Wishlist: Over the Knee Boots (Under $150)

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I woke up this morning to a somewhat dreary, sort of cold day here in Salzburg. It might warm up, but I have a little bit of a cold, and all I want to put on are leggings and an oversized sweater. The perfect way to jazz up my cozy outfit? Over the knee boots. I've been on the hunt for the perfect pair and definitely plan to grab some if the right ones come my way - but until then, these are the ones I'm dreaming of...



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Thursday, November 5, 2015

Nordstrom Fall Sale Roundup (Under $50!)

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As we all know, it's a big deal when Nordstrom has a good sale. A really big deal. SO, while in this mindset, I gathered my absolute favorite things from their current fall clearance sale that happen to be under $50. I'm balling on a (major) budget over here in Salzburg, and while I do love to dream big, it was awesome to see all of these cute things on sale for prices that are actually realistic. So check it out, take a study break, and treat yourself to some retail therapy! Which of my picks is your fave?

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Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Yes, You Can: Rock Camo This Fall

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Hello hello! I've decided to do a new little series here - it's called the "Yes You Can" series, and it's going to be designed to push us out of our comfort zones a little bit. So far I'm just planning style-related pieces, but I think a travel-themed post might be fitting as well considering my current state of constant roaming!



Today's piece, and the second official installment of the series (find the first one here), is about one of my favorite trends. Are you sick of it yet? I hope not, because I'm giving you one last major push - Yes, you CAN wear camouflage this fall!

Camouflage is appearing in the fall/winter lines of high-fashion designers from Guiseppe Zanotti to Valentino, to Burberry, to Prada - as well as on some of our favorite designer denim (like Hudson, my personal fave). I've blogged about my favorite neutral print on The PDX Belle before, but I'll reiterate my top three tips for wearing camo as a staple this season.

  • If you're into print mixing, camouflage is the perfect addition to your closet - it pairs especially well with stripes, tortoiseshell, and animal prints.
  • Dress down your look by pairing a camo T-shirt with distressed boyfriend jeans and simple jewelry and low-top Converse or Tims sneakers (I am obsessed with my Timberland Glastonburys!). Throw on a beanie or utility vest or jacket for a comfy, urban feel!
If you're still not inspired, I have just the Pinterest board and blog post for you - check them out, and let me know what you think! Don't forget - yes, you CAN take style risks you never would have imagined before - like wearing camouflage as a neutral. I also linked some of my favorite pieces below!

PIN ME!



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