Destination: Los Poblanos

The tunnel of cottonwoods you drive through the enter Los Poblanos

Every so often, we're lucky enough to visit a place that is incredibly inspired, down to the finest details. Los Poblanos, in Albuquerque, NM, is that kind of place. A 25-acre working organic farm that specializes in lavender, Los Poblanos also has beautiful guest rooms, an amazingly well-curated Farm Shop, a saltwater pool, and a restaurant specializing in local and organic food. Did we mention it's on the National Register of Historic Places? Just one afternoon at Los Poblanos, and you won't want to leave. (And when you do, you'll dream of recreating the whole atmosphere at your own house.)

The dining room, which features Weck jar glasses & Dinuba water containers

The saltwater pool, surrounded by grape vines Tuuci umbrellas

Albino peacocks wandering the grounds

So in love with this screen-printed canvas curtain material in the Farm Suites!

You can't leave without stocking up on their house lavender products (the hand salve is unbeatable)

Fair + Fair

Handmade "Its Beautiful Here" wire rack from Africa

Fair Trade and organic products are ubiquitous in Portland, but it's exciting to get to travel and see that lifestyle being embraced elsewhere. I was lucky enough to stay for a few days in Amsterdam this summer, and I stumbled across an amazing store called Fair + Fair with a huge selection of high-design eco goods. (It's housed in an antique canalhouse—reason enough to stop in for a peek!) The thing I loved most was that on each price tag was the story of the product and how much they'd donate back from your purchase. So inspiring! You can shop Fair + Fair in the U.S. here. (Fair + Fair, Herengracht 211, 1016 BE Amsterdam, tel. 020-4214566.)

Gorgeous housewares in porcelain, glass, wood

Chair made from wood logs!

"Carpets From the Sahara," wool, handmade by women

Can Lights made from "rescued materials." You could even make these yourself and use them as light shades!

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Apologies!

My apologies for going so long without posting! It's been a busy time for Plover...lots of travel (including a stop in Philly and a visit to the Anthropologie offices! Which, for the record, could not be cooler). Now that I'm back home, finally going through my mail, I have to post about the new Urban Outfitters catalog. Grunge is back, I realize, but I'd forgotten how tied to the Pacific Northwest the Grunge aesthetic is/was. People here never stopped wearing Dr. Martens, or plaid, or windbreakers, so it's nice to see that now Portlanders have found themselves back in style, again. Witness: my two favorite pages from the new UO Fall catalog. (For the record—I've never seen a North Face jacket paired with a bustier in PDX, but I'm down!)

Such an awesome look

Making me seriously considering finally buying a pair of Doc Martens....