in the bag . . .

There's been a lot of talk over the new Kate Spade Westward collection by Emily Current & Meritt Elliott - well lovelies there's reason for it. It's drop dead gorgeous in person! I'm currently coveting the Westward Wanderlust Satchel. It's a thing of beauty and I can't stop thinking about it. So to make me want it even more I pulled together the top fall essentials I would keep in this handbag - from lipgloss, to a trusty notepad. I knew this was going to make me lust over the collection even more! Bravo to the dynamic duo it's lovely collection!

Products: Kate Spade Westward Wanderlust Satchel / Chanel Lipstick Boy / Laura Mercier Powder / San Pellegrino / Fabulous Summer Read by Sloane Crosley / Graphic Image Gold Envelope (love mine!) / Kind Granola Bar / Oliver Peoples Sunglasses / Chole Perfume / Rodin Face Oil

highlights from altitude summit

Many of you have been asking about my experience at ALT - my head is still brimming with inspiration and I've got a to-do list a mile long, boy do I have my work cut out for me. Here's a little recap of what I took away from the panel's I throughly enjoyed.

Tips + Tricks: (Megan Reardon, Erica Reitman, and Susan Brinson)

* Capture online screenshots with Skitch (sorry, only available for Mac users).

* Want a place to organize all of your images, links, notes, etc. check out Evernote. Best part - you can snap a photo of a business card with your phone and have it stored within your Evernote account. You'll never have to go searching for a lost card again - genius!

* I'm newly obsessed with Zinio - a magazine reading app.

* Lastly, most of you know about Pinterest but if you don't click on over because it's an amazing bookmarking website. Beware, you'll be sucked in for at least five hours.

Advertising Beyond Banners: (Erin Loechner, Liz Gumbinner, and Maggie Mason)

* Reinvent the wheel - get creative.

* Be sure to tell your readers when a post is sponsored. You don't want your readers to feel tricked.

* Measure your digital footprint. Be sure to have something beyond your numbers, like a press page. It gives you an "at a glance credibility."

* Always be authentic and transparent to your readers because if you are your readers will cheer you on.

* Pitch your passions.

Blogging Ethics + Etiquette: (Emily Newman, Grace Bonney, and Joy Cho)

* Commenting - If you start to get a lot of negative comments, be sure to come up with a comment policy. It's important to have it posted somewhere just in case you need to point it out to readers.

* Crediting - Always, always, always credit anything you put on your blog (photos, sources, etc.). Some sites you should look into that Grace recommends are tynt.com and tineye.com. Both tell you where the photo has been and can locate the original source (amazing!).

* Giveaways - They should be saved for items you truly love and want to feature. It's a special post about the product and you're giving it a lot of press by featuring it.

* Social Media - It's another outlet to get genuine readers, but always remember quality vs. quantity. Grace's way of using twitter - 30% business // 30% communicating with users // 30% fun // 10% to fill in where it's needed.

Another fun panel I was able to go to was "The Best in Up & Coming Blogs" with Amy Turn Sharp, Danni Hong, Joslyn Taylor, Liz Stanley, Melanie Blodgett - although some of my favorite blogs were outed (grrrrr...), I found some new blogs I'm loving. To see the full list click here.

Hopefully these notes helped you out a little bit - I tried to take as many notes as I could for y'all. If you have any questions feel free to email me.

I'm truly inspired by so many lovely ladies I met over this trip, including Lisa F, Karey, Joslyn, Rebecca, Megan, Camille, Suann, Anna, Crystal, Lisa and many more amazing bloggers! And I couldn't have asked for better roommates - Erin and Kirsten - I'm having withdrawals . . . and my outfits consultations aren't the same (Eric isn't as fashionable as you two ladies).

If you didn't attend this year, come next year - it doesn't disappoint. And for those of you who did attend this year, I hope to see you in Salt Lake next January! Only 360 ish days away.

Photos: Alt Summit flickr stream and Kate Spade photobooth

Kate + Andy Spade

What an incredible treat to get a peek inside the Spade's New York home this weekend. Let me just say, my head is brewing with all sorts of inspiration after seeing details of their home. From the beautiful living room, to the dream-worthy kitchen, to the bedroom I want this very second. Kate, could I please move in? I'll take the coat closet - I don't take up a lot of room.

This last image of Kate at her vanity is my favorite. Her style is stunning - hair, make-up and outfit. Where does one get a fur shrug like hers? Seems like a must-have this winter.

Thank you Todd Selby for taking these beautiful images of the Spade's home. I'm in awe.

*Photos: Todd Selby

i've got a MAJOR crush . . .

Do you ever go into a store to visit something you’re lusting over? Just to say hello . . . I'd like you to meet my crush, the Storm King Willa handbag by Kate Spade.

Kate Spade designers discovered this luminous leather on a recent trip to Italy - le sigh. Not only is the outside magnificent, but the inside is equally as beautiful, ivory lining with gold polka dots.

I may have to bring this home with me one of these days!

A View Inside the Kate Spade Pop-Up Store

If only I was the one that got to go to the brand new Kate Spade pop-up store across the pond. I enlisted my best friend, Amy, to go check it out for me - yes I made her go on a shopping field trip. Let me just tell you, I wish I could blink my eyes and be in this space, because it's gorgeous. Every single thing is eye-catching, bright and beautiful. Check out Amy's wonderful photos and what she has to say about the space. Enjoy!

Situated in London's Covent Garden burough, Kate Spade's Pop-Up shop was a bright pop of color from down the block with bunches of big red balloons and a charming bicycle tied up out front. Created to show visitors what Kate Spade's own personal flat would look like if she lived in London, the two stories of a historic white townhouse were a whimsical and stylish invitation to sneak a peak into a day in the life of Kate Spade (and view her latest collection). While her entire collection was for sale in the Pop-Shop, it was the bright colors and design details that really stole the show. From phone numbers written on napkins by the phone to goldfish on the mantle and knick-knacks from around the world, one truly expected to turn the corner and run into Kate Spade herself! Hours spent adoring every detail would not suffice; it was truly a cheery site on a grey London day. So glad that Kate Spade decided to take a hop across the pond!

UPDATE . . . I just came across this fabulous video on the pop-up store and had to add it into this post:

*photos taken by Amy and video by kate spade

across the pond

Kate Spade is jet-setting off to London where they'll be opening up a pop-up store. I'm sending my best friend, who just moved to London, to scout it out. I can't wait to hear all the details! If you live close by – run, don't walk, on the day it opens. Cheerio!

Located at 7 Henriettaa Street WC2E 8PW

Open Ocotber 13th – Novemeber 10th 2010

*illustration by caitlin mcgauley