One blog we can’t get enough of is Rackk and Ruin. Not only is Molly Conant a talented jewelry designer (see all of her spunky, tomboy cool pieces here), she also proudly profiles amazing “Made In The USA” brands such as Queen City Dry Goods.

Molly’s pieces mix color with organic shapes, reminiscent of Native American jewelry, and are perfect for summer. Her mantra of just going for it and doing what you’re doing for yourself more than anyone else is apparent in all her work – and her dedication has connected her to like-minded people and fans who share her aesthetic.

Rackk and Ruin is where we found another great “Made In The USA” brand created just a year ago straight out of Burlington, Vermont. Envisioned by Matt Renna (who is self-taught by the way!), Queen City Dry Goods is a throwback to the days when people actually cared about their craft, and the quality of goods they put out. Renna can only be described as gifted when it comes to his gorgeously designed leather, cotton and wool products. We are definitely a fan of this talented artist and will constantly go back to his online store to see what comes next!

Nothing makes a room feel more lively and home-y quicker than adding fresh flowers, especially during the summer months, when bright colors are everywhere. We love filling our office with new blooms to add instant color, and over time we have picked up a few tips to make them last longer.

Our office favorite is our white phalaenopsis orchids (from Trader Joe’s) and they have lasted for months because we haven’t over watered them. The trick is to leave them alone and just make sure the soil is not too dry. We have also heard that putting an ice cube in the pot once a week can also do the job.

Our second tip is to cut flowers. Try selecting same color flowers and cut them really short, cleaning off excess leaves. Not only does it look chic, the flowers will last longer!

The annual ESPY Awards is a night where we get to honor our favorite athletes and see them in a uniform we usually don’t get to see them in: red carpet attire. With the Olympics just around the corner, it was a treat to see the most talented athletes dress up and celebrate before they head off to London! It was a night when fashion and sports blended together. Here’s our pick of the best dressed at the 2012 ESPY Awards:

The Best Breakthrough Athlete, Jeremy Lin, looked sharp in his suit, along with pieces he said he borrowed from some friends! While the first presenter, Jessica Biel, who honored Mr. Linsanity,  looked stunning in a fun and Christian Dior minidress. We adore her heels that have a fabulous neon accent.

Nominated for Best Female Athlete, tennis star Maria Sharapova wore a breathtaking J. Mendel gown from the Resort 2013 Collection. We can’t wait to watch her play at her first Olympics in London this summer. A night like this gets us even more excited and eager to cheer on the athletes at the Olympics!

Who were your favorites from the 2012 ESPYS?

Inspired by the beautiful black glossy feathers of the raven bird, our newest jeans Alice Coated Skinny jeans in Raven are now officially available for pre-sale at Nordstrom starting today and will be available for purchase online in two weeks.  Like the rest of the HABITUAL Fall 2012 Collection inspiration, head designer Jennifer Wojinski directly referenced the feathers in the surrealist painting by Remedios Varo, “The Creation of the Birds” for the Alice Coated Skinny jeans in Raven. A great transition piece from summer to fall, you’ll add a touch of edge to any outfit with these jeans!

Fashion expert, stylist, host and blogger, Sydne Summer is always helping people look and feel their best. When she isn’t trend spotting, commentating on red carpet events, or appearing on the Style Network and E!, you can find her blogging the top fashion trends on Sydne Style.

Her fashion sense is as classy as she is, having evolved from her upbringing in Miami and L.A. to studying in Boston, London and Paris. Even though she is one popular and busy woman, we were lucky enough to catch up with Sydne Summer and learn about some of her personal fashion habits.

New York or Los Angeles, and why?

LA. I love the energy in New York and how incredibly chic everyone is. But I can’t give up my relaxed Cali lifestyle. Nothing beats the gorgeous weather, palm trees, beach and ocean. Plus, driving everywhere just means I get to wear even higher heels.

Give us a sense of your personal style?

I’ve always been a girlie-girl. I lean toward feminine fabrics and classic silhouettes. Even when I wear my denim, you’ll usually find it paired with a silk top or tweed blazer. Since I’m originally from Miami I’m also obsessed with color, especially neon. I always find that when I wear a bright top or dress people tend to smile at me more–or maybe it’s just because color puts me in a better mood.

You’re best known for being a fashion expert, but what do you consider your greatest talent?

I think it would have to be my eye for color. Whether it’s putting together outfits or incorporating unique color combos in my oil paintings, which I love doing in my spare time.

What’s your daily habit?

Dog time. I rescued my Pomeranian mix Bunny four years ago and she always puts a smile on my face. Even when I’m stressed prepping for a TV segment or finding the perfect mint necklace for a shoot I’ll look down at the adorable ball of black fur at my feet and realize everything is going to be just fine.

What’s one thing in your closet you could never give up? And what’s your go-to piece in the closet right now?

My turquoise Manolo Blahnik sandals. I bought them with my first paycheck and love them just as much now as I did then. My go-to is a pencil skirt. Black is safe but I have them in all different colors and patterns. I usually wear them with a tee and statement necklace to meetings or a bustier at night.

BONUS: What’s your ideal summer outfit?

A bikini! Clearly I’m on vacay-mode. Denim cut-offs and a loose printed top are perfect for throwing on top when I leave the beach.

Sydne is wearing HABITUAL Almas Skinny jeans in Snowfall in her photo. You can find your own pair on Nordstrom.com!

Another great Made in the USA brand coming out of Portland, Oregon is Prunella Soap, made by Janell Anderson. Prunella (or more specifically Princess Prunella) was a nickname Anderson’s mom gave her as a little girl as she would stay in the bath too long, turning her fingertips to “prunes.” It was this childhood nickname, love of dogs and Anderson’s interest in the cold process of handmade soap that made her jump into entrepreneurship and do her own thing.

Inspired by European culture, design and cooking – as well as the idea of using only the most wholesome, basic ingredients in beauty products – Anderson uses only organic ingredients and the old-fashioned method of soap making. Her products cure for a minimum of four weeks from the time they are made before they are available for sale. And it is that time, effort and dedication that truly makes Prunella Soap a Northwest treasure.

But not only does Anderson make this cute soaps, she also has ventured into greeting cards with her other Etsy shop venture CoolJane.

Prunella Soap has been featured on the Martha Stewart Weddings blog, The Huffington Post, Oregon Home Magazine, Etsy Finds, Etsy Dudes & Etsy Gifts and we’re sure these cute gift (or personal) keepsakes will continue making a hit. Currently Prunella Soap can be found on Etsy, or if you are in the Portland area you can stop by:

Betsy and Iya at 2403 NW Thurman, or Tender Loving Empire at 412 SW 10th Avenue.

We recently attended a wine tasting event in Malibu featuring the French skin care line Caudalie, born 18 years ago from the vineyards of Bordeaux. It was necessary for this skin care line to host a wine tasting party because Caudalie has been ‘recycling’ raw materials from grapes, grapevine stalks and grape-seeds to extract the exclusive active ingredients in their products.

We were privileged to meet the co-founder, Mathilde Thomas, and loved hearing about Caudalie’s journey. Mathilde created Caudalie because she believed that it was possible to formulate effective and natural beauty products with refined, luxurious textures inspired by the vine. This natural company is built on respect for both your skin as well as the environment.

Caudalie products are a dream for the women who don’t want to choose between effectiveness, naturalness, luxury and ecology. All of the formulas are created from natural ingredients that respect the environment and are biodegradable. The company doesn’t end the good there – 1% of their annual worldwide turnover is donated towards implementing environmental projects, on top of the fact that their packaging is made from 50% recycled paper. It’s amazing to think that just this year Caudalie saved more than 1,200 trees!