I’d go so far as to say that a leather duffel bag was my best purchase of 2012. I chose this one and haven’t had to check baggage since. (It’s amazing how much you can pack into a weekender!)

Shop It: Tory Burch cosmetic case // See by Chloe weekender // Deux Lux weekender // Rebecca Minkoff cosmetic case

Shop It: Python-Embossed Pouch // Luxe Toothpaste // Polka Dot Passport Holder // Airplane Paperclips // Travel Books // Eiffel Tower Kitchen Towel // Leather Suitcase // Back-Up Phone Charger // Travel Jewelry Case

One lucky lady is taking home an all-in-one clutch from GiGi New York! It’s the perfect size to slip into a tote bag during the day, then downsize at night. The winner will choose her favorite color (check out the python-embossed hues or the metallic holiday collection), and can opt to have it monogrammed. 

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This giveaway is open to U.S. and international readers!

Exclusive Discount! Take 20% off your purchase at GiGi New York or Graphic Image
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Expires: December 25, 2012 

This was our second trip to D.C. in as many years and I’m still left with a “must-see” list that’s longer than what we checked off. Last year we hectically squeezed in as many museums as possible - to the point where I refused to learn anything more. We vowed this visit would be different with more time devoted to strolling through neighborhoods and indulging in afternoon drinks.

The best laid plans …

Here’s just some of what we did: Holocaust Memorial Museum, saw pandas at the National Zoo, Newseum, tried out the Uber car service, purchased art at the Eastern Market flea market, National Archives, Pizzeria Paradiso (three times), hung out with Lisa in Old Town Alexandria, stumbled across Hello Kitty’s campaign office, the International Spy Museum’s “Spy in the City” walk, Georgetown, watched election results roll in, photographed the view from the Old Post Office Pavilion, dinner at Old Ebbitt Grill (rumor has it that Roosevelt bagged the walrus displayed in the bar)

I’m off for a vacation at the nation’s capital! See you next week! 

In the meantime, be sure to enter to win $100 to Shopbop and a pair of Daniel Green slippers. Good luck!

We visited friends in the Twin Cities last weekend for two major milestones: the first birthday of their little girl and closing on their first home. They intended to close a few weeks ago, but a string of delays left them scrambling to move in, clean up, and get ready for a housewarming party Saturday afternoon, just 24 hours after closing. Thankfully, a crew of friends and family were on hand to make sure everything went smoothly and the new homeowners were as stress-free as possible.

• Found ourselves in Lake Geneva for dinner and a walk around the picturesque town
• Wore beloved bracelets and a new pink skirt
• Lounged with Bacon who was being particularly sweet (probably to make up for chewing my DVF iPhone case earlier that morning) 

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Last weekend’s wedding was only a half hour from Green Bay’s $1 carnival rides at Bay Beach Amusement Park. Since we were already that far north, we headed over to the lakeside city and spent a few hours at the park, followed by lunch at Titletown Brewing Co. before heading back to Madison.

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We’re headed to Central Wisconsin today for a wedding, but I’ll leave you with snapshots from last weekend’s day trip to Milwaukee. After purchasing this dress and this painting, we enjoyed Milwaukee’s brewing history. We toured the Milwaukee Brewing Co. (the best $7 I ever spent and a Grover sighting) and celebrated our heritage at the German Fest. Prost!

Of all things to fall in love with, the grates around the trees were one of my favorite details in Louisville.

The Louisville City Hall Annex was built in 1909 and includes statuary heads of animals that were important to the city’s agricultural history.

A fleur-de-lis adorns each street sign. 

Tickets for our Mammoth Cave tour. Word of advice: buy these online before your visit. All of the day’s tours were sold out by the time we arrived. Also, we were surprised that Mammoth Cave is on Central Time while Louisville is on Eastern. We had a lot of time to kill.

But that gave us time to take photos of the scenery. That long-sleeve tee didn’t last long - it was 100 degrees.

Thankfully, it was much cooler in the cave - after the 250-stair decent into Mammoth.

Dinosaurs inhabit nearby Cave City at Dinosaur World, a fantastic roadside attraction.

The beasts are full-size replicas with “informative” signs about the species. The general theme was “scientists think … but they’re not actually sure.”

Seriously. Awesome.

A more culturally appropriate stop was at the Buffalo Trace distillery. I didn’t expect the air to be thick with bourbon and I’m pretty sure you can get a contact buzz from the fumes. (They should really sell bourbon-scented candles in the gift shop.)

Each of these barrels contains Pappy Van Winkle (aged for 23 years) and $10,000 in revenue.

And, yes, there’s a buffalo on the property.

Bourbon was certainly a theme to our trip and we successfully completed the Urban Bourbon Trail. The mint juleps at the historic Brown Hotel were by far the best - and most expensive - we tasted.

However, my Wisconsin roots are deep and I still prefer brandy in my Old Fashioned.

Louisville’s namesake: King Louis XVI

We drank plenty of bourbon, including mint juleps at Churchill Downs.

I almost bet on this horse because of the pretty color it was sporting, but opted for another. The horse I bet on lost, but so did number nine.

Later, I placed a $5 bet on a winning horse and came away with $11. High risk, high reward.

I would have loved to stay at 21c, which is a hotel, museum and restaurant rolled into one. The venue has plastic penguins that change location everyday. The second time we walked past the building, there were a dozen lined up on the roof.

He also mysteriously disappeared the next time we walked past.

They even used small penguin pins to post the dinner and drink menus outside of the restaurant.

Artwork extends into Proof on Main, the bar/restaurant of 21c.

I couldn’t resist a ceramic penguin to bring home. Dave isn’t content with its location on the bookshelf and insists on moving it throughout the house. 

The world’s largest baseball bat resides outside of the Louisville Slugger factory and museum.

The vault holds every bat model that the company has produced.

Next door, a baseball hits the building housing the Kentucky Mirror & Plate Glass company.

A statue of Thomas Jefferson given to the city in 1901.

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