Happy Halloween!

Photo credits, second from top to end: Michael Styne; Navin; Yuriy Kuzin; U.S. Army.

Classic Birkenstocks for small feet

Kids' Birkenstock® Arizona sandals at J.Crew

If you have small feet and want to try the Birkenstock trend, J.Crew now has kids sizes in stock (larger sizes backordered) in the Arizona style with 'midnight sand' (dark brown) synthetic uppers. One reviewer said they wore size 5.5, so I assume they got the size K3. Do they run large, then? I think they at least run wide. Here is another source for size 35 in women's with 'golden brown' synthetic upper.

Orange cran-apple kale salad

Flipping through magazines, I came across a recipe for "Kale Salad with Oranges, Cranberries, and Maple Toasted Walnuts" in this month's O Magazine that sounds delicious and thought I'd give it a whirl. And then I forgot the walnuts. Instead, I substituted in chopped Honeycrisp apples. You could use any apple variety with a good crunch. After making the version below, I'm certain that maple-y chopped walnuts would be like freshly whipped cream on a pumpkin spice latte - not absolutely necessary, but totally worth having to clean the extra appliances and dishes.

The perfect vintage relaxed t-shirt

J.Crew Garment-dyed Pocket T-shirt in 'warm chicory'

After browsing the t-shirt selection at five stores, I have found the perfect relaxed tee in a vintage feel cotton. The J.Crew Garment-dyed Pocket T-shirt is currently available in nine colors down to a size XXXS. It's slouchy and not too long. And guys, it's made in Los Angeles! Size up one, two, even three sizes to get a slouchier, more relaxed fit.

Tahiti

From left, clockwise: J.Crew Sparrow Embellished Linen and Cotton Blend Dress, limited sizes available; turban from Amazon; Prada 55mm Round Sunglasses, but this one is more petite friendly.

To be honest, the colors that first come to mind when I think Tahiti are blue and red, probably because of Hinano. Yet here is a photo set with yellow tones, punctuated by the image of tahitian dancers in yellow costume, so I immediately think of J.Crew's sequined yellow Sparrow dress. I see it with a black turban and large, round Iris Apfel-esque glasses. It feels like summer somewhere.

What do/would you pack for the tropics?

Photo credits, from top, excluding collage: Adapted from 'Luxury Tahiti Resorts' by Roderick Eime; adapted from 'fougére de Tahiti / fern from Tahiti' by LOLO FROM TAHITI; adapted from 'IMG_7972' by RobB7; adapted from 'Canoe Pageant: Tahiti' by LuxTonnerre; adapted from 'Tahitian Gardenia - tiare' by troy mckaskle; adapted from 'Tikehau, archipel des Tuamotus' by Benoit Mahe. Any derivative works licensed same as the original. All views expressed in this post are solely my own.

Thank you for reading.