Over the past couple of weeks I’ve worn this little midi skirt twice and received SO many compliments, which obviously has me wondering why I don’t wear skirts more. Truth be told though, I’m not much of a skirt kind of gal these days, but when I saw this one, I just couldn’t pass it up. The wrap style and ruffle details – yes please. Plus, I love the knotted front detail, and seersucker is basically a Southern summer necessity.
Also, let’s chat about this little bag for a sec, shall we? This silly little clutch is literally EVERYWHERE I look. So many bloggers have it, and it’s now available in so many colors. I held out on buying it for quite a while, but when I saw the black one, the holding out was over. And here’s the deal. It’s totally impractical for some outings and can become a real pain if you, oh I don’t know, decide to take it up the Palm Springs tram one day and walk around lots of scenic lookout points with a glass of wine in your hand. (Sounds far-fetched, but I accidentally achieved just that recently and was wishing I hadn’t brought this little birdcage along. To fully paint the picture in your mind, I’ll let you know that I was also wearing studded gladiator sandals and a bright kimono in a sea of hiking shoes, Teva sandals, and fanny packs.)
BUT, in some settings, I just think it’s the cutest little outfit topper. Fashion isn’t always 100% practical, right? And if you’ve been wanting to get your hands on this black version without the steep pricetag, then click right over here for a matte black style that’s a bit more budget-friendly. Just remember to keep it in the car should you decide to hop on the Palm Springs tram. (I swear, it was a last-minute idea.)
And just like that, it’s almost MAY. It sounds so crazy to even say it, and between trips to Florida and Hawaii and some time spent in Palm Springs, it’s been a while since I checked in here. So, HI! What a difference a year makes, and I can honestly say I’ve never been so excited for spring and summer to arrive. We celebrated Eric’s birthday over the weekend with a BBQ and some pickleball in the street, and somehow it felt like summer was already here. (And after last year, it sort of feels like we earned it.)
So today, I’m celebrating summer days to come with a whole big roundup of warm weather dresses that I’m loving. 18 of them, to be exact, and over half of them are under $40. Seriously, the amount of cute and affordable little dresses I’m finding this year… it’s starting to get…expensive, ha! Scroll down below to shop – here’s hoping you find something that puts you in a summertime mood. Happy Tuesday, Friends!
Sometime around last summer, I decided I was done. No more rompers for me. I have a long torso, and it was pretty rare for me to find a romper that fit well. Even then, I felt like I was spending all my time tugging and adjusting, and don’t even get me started on finding myself in a public restroom reaching for some back zipper.
Recently I came across this little leopard romper though and made an exception to my rule. It’s super lightweight, loose and flowy, and fits more like a little shift dress than your average romper. It’s got pockets and easy front buttons, and I couldn’t love the leopard print more. And right now, you can snag it on sale at Nordstrom along with these super comfy rubber slides.
In fact, Nordstrom is currently offering 25% off sitewide (with a few brand exceptions). I’m pretty sure I’ve never even seen a sitewide sale like this from Nordstrom, so I’ll definitely be taking advantage and spending a couple of gift cards from Christmas. (Sometimes saving them pays off.) If you’re looking to shop the sale too, I’m rounding up some of my favorite comfy, cozy, or just plain classic finds below.
It’s been one whole week since I was taking in the sights, twirling in the flower fields, and eating ALL the food in La Jolla, and I’m already wondering how soon is too soon to go back? I’ve wanted to check out La Jolla for the longest, so when Kathleen and I got the chance to skip town for a couple of days last week and post up at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine, it was a real no-brainer.
I love a good Hyatt (like this one in Huntington Beach), and this one in La Jolla was definitely no different. The people were all so nice and accommodating, and our room was seriously perfect. We ended up getting a suite with an extra adjoining room, so we had our own space but also a little common living room area for computer and wine time at night. We also each had our own bathroom which is so great for spreading out ALL of the hair and makeup things. (If only we could have rooms like this at New York Fashion Week!) We had access to the Club Lounge for all the snacks and coffees and an honor wine bar in the evenings. (Winner, winner!) The hotel also offers a junior sized Olympic pool, a gym, and a coffee bar that kept those almond milk lattes flowing. Overall, we had an amazing couple of days in La Jolla, and if you’re headed to the area soon, here are a couple of things not to miss.
What We Did:
Sightseeing at the Cove – The Cove is the area along the coast of La Jolla and 100% needs to be on your list. It’s where you can get views like this, beach hangs like this, and a front row seat to watch SO many sea lions sunning themselves on the sand. There are also a bunch of restaurants in the area, but we unfortunately didn’t have enough time to try any of them. (We got tons of suggestions about Puesto though, so if you go, it’s probably worth a try.)
Sunny Jim Sea Cave – There’s a little place called The Cave Store, and for $5 you can access a tunnel of stairs inside the store that leads down to Sunny Jim Sea Cave. Once you’re down there, you can’t really go far, but it’s still pretty cool to see the cave up close and think about how crazy it must have been building that tunnel. (Photos in the cave were really hard to capture, so unfortunately I don’t have any.) We were hoping for a repeat of the time that a curious little sea lion climbed the steps and roamed around the Cave Store, but for $5, we felt like it was still worth checking out.
Murals of La Jolla – If you paint it, the bloggers will come. Downtown La Jolla is all about a little outdoor art, and I, for one, am here for it. Kathleen looked up a few walls before our visit, and this one was calling our names. It was just about a 10-15 minute drive from the Hyatt, and the shop owners nearby didn’t seem to mind that we were trying to park it there for a little while. Hashtag, doin’ it for the ‘gram.
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad – The Flower Fields were on our way home, so we figured we might as well stop. And we were so glad that we did. I had heard great things, but once you see them in person, it really is pretty impressive. Rows and rows and rows of the prettiest flowers, all organized by color. Red, pink, white, yellow, orange, and then some areas of mixed colors – it was seriously something to see. (And for the record, still kicking myself for not trying out the strawberry Dole Whip stand.)
What We Ate:
Breakfast at Barcino Grill – This is the breakfast grill at the Hyatt, and, y’all, it’s so freaking good. We skipped the buffet option and ordered off of the menu which I think is definitely the way to go. On the first day we split the breakfast sandwich (with bacon jam on a pretzel roll, yasssss) and SoCal scramble bowl and loved both so much that we ordered them again via room service on day two. (And added on an oatmeal, for good measure.)
Lunch at Cafe Japengo – This sushi spot is technically part of the Hyatt, but it’s actually located right across the street. And it was delish. We thought we might have a light sushi lunch before hitting the beach, but then “a couple of rolls” turned into SO much sushi, truffle fries, pork belly bun sliders, a little wine, and one large food coma. And it was all worth it – now if only we could get a Cafe Japengo in Orange County. (Seriously though – please?)
Happy hour and dinner at DRIFT eat + drink – We had dinner reservations here (inside the Hyatt) for 7:00 but thought we’d pop down earlier for a glass of wine. Well, turns out we were just in time for happy hour. As, you know, journalists, we just had to check out the happy hour, and it was a good one. There was a special on carafes of wine, so…journalism. We capped it off with the nachos and butternut squash dip, pushed our dinner back to 8:30, and headed back to the room before showing up for round two – salads. (And more wine, desert, and coffee, if I’m being completely honest.) The food was delicious, the staff was super friendly, the space was so pretty, and that tile floor was shoefie ready.
Dinner at the Red O La Jolla – The Red O is a favorite of mine in Newport Beach, so when I saw that their newest location in La Jolla was just about a mile from the Hyatt, we had to check it out. True to form, the new location is beautiful, and the food was worth talking about days later. While I love their steak and fish options, I switched things up this time with the Mariscos Chile Relleno and holy dankness. I couldn’t switch things up in the margarita department though because the Alacran has my heart. (If you like SPICY margaritas, this one is the jam.) We left FED. So full that we actually skipped the Uber ride home and walked the mile back to the hotel instead. Needed, and so worth it.
xoxo
Brought to you by Hyatt Regency La Jolla, but all opinions are my own.
Happy Monday, friends! I’m kicking off the week at a snail’s pace after spending the weekend in the desert with Eric and a few of our friends. Eric’s birthday is this week, so to celebrate a little early, we bought tickets to a Grateful Shred show at Pappy & Harriet’s in Pioneertown. If you like live music, BBQ and beer, and an old school Western bar feel, you should definitely add Pappy & Harriet’s to the bucket list. It’s our second time seeing a show there, and it definitely won’t be the last. (It was our first time seeing a Grateful Shred show, and it was SO much fun – would definitely go back 100 more times.)
If you’re wondering where the hell Pioneertown is, you’re not alone. Most people that I told about the weekend asked that question. It’s a little gem of a town out in the desert, not far from Joshua Tree. Cell service, taxis, and Ubers are pretty much nonexistent in the area, so we knew we wanted to rent a place pretty close to the venue. We stayed at this Airbnb which turned out to be perfect because we could walk to Pappy & Harriet’s.
I pretty much have no photos from the weekend, and I’m not even mad about it. Eric and I love exploring all of the scenery that California has to offer. We live for weekend trips to Big Sur or Carmel, roaming around a National Park (hard to believe this trip to Yosemite was almost three years ago), or taking in the super colorful sunsets in the desert. And I didn’t want to ruin his birthday weekend trip by trying to take 400 photos. (And I’ll be honest, that desert wind had this mane looking cray.)
So in lieu of photos from the weekend, today I’m sharing this look with a sweatshirt from a company that’s become a new favorite of mine. Parks Project makes the cutest (and softest!) tees, tanks, and sweatshirts with National Parks as their inspiration. The designs are adorable (this one is next on my list), but the message and contribution back to the parks are even better. (You can see some of the amazing things done here.)
Now I’ve got a much needed full week at home, and I’m not gonna lie I’m excited. Here’s hoping everyone has a great week ahead!
Happy “made it halfway through the week” day, guys. We made it through Monday, Tuesday, and halfway through Wednesday, so let’s just call it already, shall we? Today’s sale post was supposed to go up WAY earlier, but I kicked off my day with a vet visit with Weeze who suddenly turned into a wild animal at the vet’s office. I’m telling you, full-blown panic attack with shaking, running, and hiding under chairs. It wasn’t pretty. But we’re home now, all good, and after taking some time to gather ourselves, let’s move on with today’s sale deets. (Because you’re probably gonna want to shop this one.)
It’s time again for Shopbop’s annual spring sale, and currently you can take 20 to 25% off the entire site. (20% off purchases up to $500, 25% off anything more) The sale applies to new merchandise and sale finds and is the perfect way to stock up on a few pieces for spring and summer. (Or, to grab those pieces you’ve been having your eye on from winter – you know winter isn’t quite done yet, sadly.) I’m rounding up some of my favorite picks above and am waiting on a couple to arrive on my doorstep. For popular items, sizes move quickly, so don’t wait on this one. Just use code EVENT18 at checkout. Happy shopping, friends!
Last year (or maybe the summer before?), there was definitely a new girl in town when it came to the fashion gal’s handbag of choice. Straw, bamboo, round, boxy, and even (gasp) plastic – it just had to be a little fun. And bonus points for tassels, pom poms, embroidery, and tid bits of flare. Cult Gaia’s pretty little bags were EVERYWHERE, and as much as I wanted to go against the grain, I just couldn’t resist. I finally caved and got the black acrylic version and have seriously LOVED it.
This spring and summer, the party bags aren’t going anywhere, and I, for one, am so pleased. Why not have a little fun in the handbag slash beach bag department? I’m all in, y’all. I’ve already got the pretty at number two and am about to eeny, meeny, miny, moe which one comes next. (And if I’m being honest, I’m kind of dying over the wristlet at number three. She is just so cute.) So today I’m rounding up a few fun faves, and a bunch of these are totally affordable. Because having a little fun shouldn’t break the bank, right?
Happy Friday, gals – here’s hoping everyone has a great Easter weekend ahead!
We had been planning the week in Palm Springs for months, and I was so looking forward to some pool time and a little tan. BUUUUT, then the day arrived and things were looking more like sweater-and-shorts weather than anything warm enough for taking a dip. So we stashed the flamingo pool floats, snapped a couple of swimsuit pics (I mean it is Palm Springs), and then settled in with ALL the snacks and a little wine and made the best of it.
We stayed at our home in Palm Springs and made sure to check out a couple of my favorite restaurants while there. You just can’t go to Palm Springs without a little food on the agenda. This time around, these are the spots we picked.
Dinner at Las Casuelas Terraza – Palm Springs has a handful of Mexican restaurants that I really enjoy, but this one is probably my favorite for a skinny spicy margarita and shrimp fajitas. The place is HUGE, but don’t be fooled – it can get packed and sometimes has long wait times. Reservations are usually a good idea – especially if you want to be near the live band.
Lunch at Melvyn’s – It’s a bold statement, but I think I’ll say that currently this is my favorite place in Palm Springs for lunch or dinner. It’s an old-school restaurant that’s been around since the 70’s, and the food is just plain GOOD. Lunch is served on the prettiest little patio (the Chinese chicken salad is my favorite), and dinner is in a swanky, dark dining room. If you’re going for dinner, the lobster pot pie is what dreams are made of.
Dinner at Tropicale – So this one isn’t exactly a rave review, but I have friends who have eaten at Tropicale and loved it. So maybe I need to give it another shot? We ordered Vietnamese Spring Rolls and the Firecracker Shrimp as appetizers, and those were great. My entree though, as well as everyone else’s, was just kind of, meh. (For reference, I ordered the fried chicken salad which was supposed to be amazing. I guess I was thinking it would be boneless chicken, which to me makes much more sense in a salad.)
Breakfast at Norma’s (located in the Parker) – On our last day in Palm Springs, we figured we’d leave town on a high note. A REAL high note. Breakfast at Norma’s is pricey, but if you haven’t been, it’s definitely worth a try. We ordered a few things to split and loved every bite. The “Waz-Za?” and the Huevos Rancheros are seriously where it’s at, and taking in the pretty scenery at the Parker is a nice little bonus.
Overall it was an amazing few days, and I’ve already got the itch to go back. Eric and I are always looking to try out new restaurants in the area, so I’d love to know – what are some of your favorites?
St. Patty’s Day is officially upon us, and if you’re lucky enough to have some fun plans, then you’re gonna need some green, girl. (Me? I’m lucky enough to have some killer plans as I’ll be celebrating Jenn’s wedding in Mexico. Thankfully my dress has a little green in it so I can avoid getting pinched.)
Annnd if you’re like me and find yourself scurrying around at the last minute with no green in sight in your closet, well you’re in luck because it’s not too late. Sites like Shopbop have super affordable 2-day shipping, and even better? They’re Amazon Prime eligible, so if you’ve got a Prime account, then you can upgrade your shipping fo’ free. Not bad, right?
If Nordstrom is more your jam and you’ve got a local store, then you have to check out their in-store pick-up option. It’s seriously been a lifesaver for those times when I’m not exactly on the ball. I live pretty close to two Nordstrom stores, so when I’m in a pinch, I just find the things I need online, pay for them, and pick them up in the store within an hour or so. One of our Nordstrom stores even has an outdoor pick-up window to make things super fast.
It may only be Tuesday, but there’s no better time than now to get that weekend outfit ready. (And if you’re looking for a little more inspiration, check out this post from last spring which I admittedly still love.)
It’s the last couple of days of the Shopbop sale (it ends tomorrow), and if there’s one sale not to miss, it’s this one where everything – new, old, full-priced, already on sale, spring, winter – is all on sale. It’s the perfect time to stock up for spring or grab a few fun things for that upcoming trip. I’m headed to Cabo in a couple of weeks and am seriously swooning over ALL of the beach bags. And hats. And sandals. (See a peek at a few of the pieces I purchased right over here.)
It’s a Buy More, Save More sale, so the more you spend, the bigger the sale percentage. (Full details here.) So grab a couple of things or fill your cart, and enter code GOBIG18 at checkout. Hope everyone has an amazing weekend ahead!
Wayf skirt (c/o); cabi tank (c/o); similar heels; Baublebar necklace; Loren Hope bracelets; Cult Gaia bag (cheaper version here); Ray-Ban sunglasses
Fountain at Hyatt Regency La Jolla
Outdoor happy hour at the Hyatt – so good!
Sushi and truffle fries at 
Tile at 
Room service breakfast from 
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Dittos jeans (SUPER old – 
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It’s really not that often you get to have a laugh-filled girls’ weekend in someplace sunny, and this month, somehow I managed to have two. I’m fresh off of an amazing long weekend in Mexico (more on that coming soon), but today I’m throwing it back to a 
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