Scenes from a Heavenly Sunset in Gordes, France

We arrived at the small hillside village of Gordes right before sunset. I intended on spending the remaining sunlight meandering around the inside of the village walls, but I quickly realized there was something else on my radar.

The above photo is basically the only photo I captured while inside the walls... Oops!

I was drawn away from the village and into the outskirts of town. I was looking for a view—a view that I had seen before, and a view that I wanted to see for myself.

Why Cassis Should be on your 2015 Bucket List

Cassis, a small coastal village in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of the South of France, is located just 30 miles east of Marseille. If you are coming from Nice, it will take you at least two hours to get there, but I promise it's worth the drive. Whether you're an adventure-seeker, hardcore explorer, seasoned traveler, easy-going tourist, foodie or lazy sunbather— Cassis has something to pique your interest.

By now, most of you have seen (or heard) me gushing about Cassis, France. Whether it's a snip-it or two on my Instagram or my post reminiscing about its winding streets, it's pretty obvious that I'm all about Cassis right now... And you should be too! 

TEAM UPDATE: Post-Move / Pre-Holiday Edition

Hey y'all! We're enjoying a relaxing afternoon here in Aberdeen, so I figured what better time for a TEAM UPDATE!

J and I have been in Aberdeen two weeks and five days. Things are good. I've been enjoying life in our temporary housing—plush king-size bed (American queen), nice BIG flat-screen TV with comfy couch, amazing shower and bath with great water pressure, dishwasher—all things that were nonexistent at our London flat.

A Stroll Around the Town of Stonehaven

This wasn't my first rodeo in Stonehaven. I wouldn't say we're friends yet (more like acquaintances), but my Aunt and I came through for lunch last year after exploring Dunnottar Castle, so I already knew what the town was about.

You know, thinking back to that first trip to Stonehaven, my Aunt pulling into the harbor—which, please do very carefully because you could meet an untimely death by driving off a ledge into water—I remember being immediately taken aback by it's authenticity. I mean, for real y'all, I don't think I've ever encountered a real fishing village before. So cute, so quaint, so quiet, I knew this was a place I wanted to visit again.

It's funny how things work out. Who knew we would end up so close?

Exploring the East Coast of Scotland

The weather was nice this past week; barely any rain and plenty of time to explore without the annoyances of rain boots, parka and an umbrella in tow... Since the weather had been holding up, James and I decided to take advantage and make a spur of the moment road trip down the east coast of Scotland.

2014 Holiday Gift Guide for Her

jcrew plaid vest  //  karl donoghue earmuffs  //  jamie oliver comfort food cookbook  //  h&m chunky-knit tube scarf  //  hunter high heel chelsea boots  //  madewell always turtleneck sweater  //  jo malone lime basil & mandarin home candle  //   jcrew plaid flannel pajamas  //  jcrew passport case

I hope everyone gets what they want this holiday season!

Cheers!

xx, Team Starnes

A Tour Through Blogland Team Starnes Style

The lovely Yalanda from Laugh Anyway nominated me to participate in the Tour Through Blogland a couple weeks ago (I had to push it back because of the move), so without further ado, here is a little insight into the behind the scenes at Team Starnes!

What are you working on?

Currently, I am working on curating my South of France posts, exploring my new city and nearby villages in Scotland and, of course, a few design collages—just because they're fun!  It's likely the blog will take a backseat until after the new year; in between house-hunting, exploring my new city and traveling home for the holidays, there's a lot going on—just sayin'!

Aberdeen, Scotland: Welcome to the Granite City