Back in Sunny SoCal with Weeze

January 23, 2018 / Style Files / 0 comment

Blank NYC jeans (on sale!); RVCA sweater; Zac Zac Posen handbag (on sale!); pearl-embellished mules; Ray-Ban sunglasses; Loren Hope bracelet; Kendra Scott ring (on sale)

And we’re back, currently thawing out from the Utah snow! If you’ve been following along on Instagram, you know that I just spent a few glorious days soaking up Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah for the first time with Stella Artois. I’ll be sharing a full recap of the long weekend here shortly (as well as all the snowy looks), but for now, it’s back to sunny SoCal weather.

And back to sharing a few pics of my main girl, Louise! Remember when she was this tiny little puppy? Not anymore because girlfriend has been doing some growing and is suddenly SO big! But she’s also gotten so good. While she has her daily hyper spells and the occasional food-stealing mishaps, Weeze is such a little lover and brings so much joy to our home. Seriously – if you knew me before this pup (and during the first couple of months, let’s be honest), you would never have thought I’d suddenly become a dog lover!

And as for today’s look, it’s made up of a couple of my favorite basics. I’ve yammered on and on about these jeans, but they seriously are so good that I bought a second pair. You really can’t go wrong with any jeans from Blank NYC, and this pair is definitely the next one on my list. The sweater is SO warm and cozy, and the statement mules are under $100 and just restocked in all sizes. Three favorite pieces – mix ’em, match ’em, wear ’em all together.

Here’s hoping everyone has a great week ahead!

xoxo

Photos thanks to Felicia Lasala

Easy Layers and Those High Rise Jeans Again

January 15, 2018 / Style Files / 0 comment

Levi’s jeans (on sale! Color – Red Wonder); similar blouse; similar cardigan; similar OTK boots; YSL handbag (more styles here); Kendra Scott adjustable necklace and bracelets (c/o); Stella & Dot initial necklace; Ray-Ban sunglasses

Happy Monday, everyone! Especially those of you who have today off – lucky ducks. Admittedly, I plan to take it pretty easy today and take the pup on a longgg walk, but Eric didn’t take the day off so it’s business as usual around here. We kept things pretty mellow this weekend besides a family dinner on Friday and hanging at a friend’s house on Saturday.

And then yesterday I took on the LARGE task of cleaning out my closet. I’m talking, big task. But so worth the time spent because now I’m packing up everything and hauling it all to The Stylist LA. Starting on Thursday night, I’ll be selling a bunch of new-ish or gently used pieces along with a couple favorite blogger gals – more details here. If you’re in the LA area, you should definitely check it out.

And now for today’s look. (Well, blog look. In real life you can find me in workout clothes preparing for previously mentioned puppy walk.) Y’all, I’ve shared these high rise jeans before, and today I’m sharing ’em again because they’ve been on serious repeat lately. I don’t know if it’s the super high rise or the fact that they’re so easy to tuck into boots, but they make getting dressed a breeze.

And currently they’re on sale. The wash I’m wearing is called Red Wonder, and it’s currently 25% off. But if that one doesn’t float your boat, there are 16 more washes to choose from. Yep, 16. Some of them are under $60, but every single pair is under $100. Add a loose blouse and open cardigan, and you’ve got easy layers to take you from day to night. (The blouse and cardigan are from boutiques in my home town, but I’m linking several similar options under $100 below.)

Hope everyone has a great week ahead!

xoxo

Here’s Lookin’ at You, 2017

January 2, 2018 / Style Files / 2 Comments

It seriously seems like just a couple of months ago that I was writing a little recap of 2016, and yet somehow, here we are, already a couple of days in to 2018. I know that lots of folks are having lots of mixed reviews of 2017, but I gotta say, it was a pretty wonderful one around here.

We kicked off 2017 by packing up our house and getting ready for a pretty easy remodel. We were adding on a dining room and an office for Eric and changing out all of the existing exterior plaster for new. We found an awesome rental house and thought we’d make ourselves at home there for about a month. (The plaster changing meant we wouldn’t have exterior walls, so the house was just too cold to live in.) You know what they say, the best laid plans…

Fast forward five months, and our sweet little remodel turned into an entirely different house. We eliminated walls, vaulted ceilings, did an entire kitchen remodel, and changed just about every room in the house. Over the next seven months, we added on a front patio with a fire pit that we love, completely reworked the backyard to include a built-in BBQ and jacuzzi area, and finally switched out the dirt yard and port-o-potty out front for actual grass and landscaping. (Hashtag, that construction life.) And I swear, more photos of the home are coming soon.

In May after moving back into our house, we welcomed our sweet pup Louise, and although girlfriend certainly put me through it for a couple of months, she’s now the sweetest little member of our family. (And as you can probably tell from the photos above, my furry sidekick loves a good photo opp.)

Over the summer we were super fortunate to purchase a house in Palm Springs (more photos here) and worked with a handful of amazing companies to furnish, decorate, and make it a home. We’ve loved every single day we’ve gotten to spend there, loved ringing in the new year there, and can’t wait to spend more time in the desert this year.

Over the past year, I’ve gotten to enjoy some amazing travels – both near and far – from a crazy nice girls’ getaway to Playa de La Paz in Mexico to my dream long weekend in Jackson Hole, Wyoming with my love and a couple of friends. (More on that Jackson trip, still to come.) This year, I got to work with some amazing brands, interview Reese Witherspoon (even if I did stumble all over my words like a starstruck idiot), celebrate one whole year of marriage, and keep this little blog going, doing exactly what I love doing.

Year after year, I’m so very fortunate that you guys keep reading and following along on my journey. I’m so thankful for all the comments, likes, emails, in-person hello’s and so very thankful for this little community. There are already some fun things in the works for 2018, so I certainly hope that you’ll keep following along! Here’s hoping everyone has the best year ahead!

xoxo

P.S. – For all outfit details and photographer info, click the photo above to see the original post.

The $20 Sweater Dress (Plus a Few More Under $100)

December 27, 2017 / Style Files / 1 Comment

Target sweater dress; similar over-the-knee boots; Zac Zac Posen handbag; Ray-Ban sunglasses; Kendra Scott bangles

Well we’re two (almost three) days past Christmas, and I think I’m just crawling out of my food coma cave. But then I found all the leftovers and started it all over again. So you know, you win some, you WIN some. Y’all, we had such a fun Christmas here that I’m wishing we could rewind it all and do it again.

For the first time ever, Eric and I hosted Christmas dinner at our house. With his whole family, my parents, and a couple of our friends, the house was packed with 30 people and one really excited puppy who may or may not have stolen a few cookies and a pretty good helping of rum cake off the counter once everyone was outside enjoying the fire pit. Girlfriend got FED. And I don’t even know what a couple of three-year-old twin nephews gave her on top of that. Let’s just say that young Weeze girl had a very Merry Christmas.

And so did we. And I hope so did you. I wore this comfy cozy sweater dress for dinner on Christmas Eve, and if your size is still available, you gotta swoop it up – I mean, it’s right around $20 and you can’t beat that. I’ve been on a real chenille kick this year with sweaters and bought this one last-minute for our trip to Jackson Hole. And since then, I’ve loved having it.

If your size is sold out, I’m linking a few more styles below that are all (mostly) under $100. They’re super comfy, versatile for dressing up or down, and perfect for hiding all those holiday sins through January…or February. That’s fine, right? (Asking for a friend.)

xoxo

Photos thanks to Felicia Lasala

The Best Sleepwear of the Season

December 13, 2017 / Holiday, Style Files / 0 comment

Eberjey Pajamas; Cariloha HB blanket (on sale!); similar chair

You know what I love more than anything in the wintertime? (That brutally cold Southern California winter, ya know?) Well besides Christmas lights and trees, a lit fireplace, and coffee with a splash of eggnog, it’s pajamas. As evidenced by my very first gift guide this Christmas season, I love giving them, receiving them, and just generally living my best life in the season’s best PJ’s, robes, slippers and loungewear. Throw in a little cocoa (or wine, let’s be honest), some sort of cheesy Christmas movie, and my main sidekick Weeze (who obviously has her own Christmas jammies), and I’m one happy camper.

So if your zest for a cozy PJ or two doesn’t quite match mine, you may want to scroll on. For the rest of us, I’m rounding up some of my favorite sleepy-time gear below to give, receive, or just go ahead and buy for yourself. There’s just no better way to holiday in my book.

xoxo

Photos thanks to Felicia Lasala

Holiday Gift Guide for the Guys

November 28, 2017 / Holiday / 0 comment

1. Plaid Flannel Shirt 2. Ugg Slippers 3. John Varvatos Vintage Cologne 4. Classic Leather Watch 5. Nike Sneakers 6. Crosley Radio Turntable 7. Stance USC Socks 8. One Blade Electric Trimmer and Shaver 9. RVCA Bomber Jacket 10. Intense Therapy Lip Balm Duo 11. Brixton Flannel Shirt 12. Amazon Echo Dot 13. Leather Money Clip 14. Luxe Leather Trimmed Duffle 15. Vans Leather Slip-On Sneaker 16. Nest Learning Thermostat 17. RVCA Soft Hoodie

Ahh, gifts for the guys. I must admit that even on the rare year that I actually get a good head start on my holiday shopping, I tend to save the guys for last. Occasionally I’ll come across something great for Eric or my dad, but in general, I just have more fun shopping for the girls. (Maybe because it’s easier to throw in a little something for myself along the way? Guilty.)

But this year I’m determined to change my ways and get a jumpstart on shopping for the boys. This year’s list of potentials includes a flannel shirt or two, new sneaks, Eric’s favorite cologne, and Stance socks to replace a few pairs that have recently gone missing. (Eric loves Stance socks and stocked up on them a couple of years ago. Unfortunately these days there is someone in the house who loves them just as much as he does – a guilty-looking puppy named Louise.)

Perhaps this is finally my year to be done, cool, calm and collected by December 23rd. Maybe, but then what’s the fun in that? Happy holiday shopping, friends.

xoxo

Six Month “Pupdate” With Weeze Girl

September 25, 2017 / Style Files / 0 comment

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The J.M. Smucker Company. The opinions and text are all mine.

Y’all, remember this tiny little puppy from just about three months ago? Or remember this little cutie pie face? Well, girlfriend has been doing some growing, and these days she’s a bit more like a baby deer than the fragile little puppy you saw before. And, you guys, I’m happy to report that little Louise is no longer making me a total crazy person. Big victories, over here.

Luckily the potty training phase did not last long, and shortly after she arrived, she was all good in that department. Hallelujah! She’s also much more independent these days, and while she still follows me around from room to room like a shadow, she’s perfectly fine to spend some time outside (laying in the sun or chasing crickets around) while I actually get some work done.

She’s still sleeping through the night, every night, and we’ve now learned that, similar to her mama, Weeze does NOT like early mornings. Every morning we let her up to our room around 6:30 am. She burrows herself under the covers and will stay there until 10:30 am or so if you let her. It’s pretty glorious and gives me a few hours of uninterrupted working time every morning. And when she’s up, it’s time for a LONG walk to get out some of that puppy energy.

When it comes to her food, there’s been a bit of an adjustment period. The breeder originally dropped her off with a brand of puppy food that I soon realized was no longer carried in any of our local stores or online. Sooo that was a bummer. We had to transition her to a different puppy food (made a bit easier by mixing the two together), and when she was ready for adult dog food, we landed on this Grain-Free Chicken recipe from Nature’s Recipe. We like that it contains no corn, soy, or wheat, as well as artificial flavors, and no poultry by-product. Every Nature’s Recipe product is made with ingredients from nature so Weeze girl feels her most vibrant self, each and everyday!

Previously Nature’s Recipe was only available at specialty stores, but now, I can find it at Walmart which is so close to our house. (Lucky for me because somehow I never notice when we are almost out of Louise’s food.) It’s great to know that I can easily grab a bag while I do my shopping at Walmart for an affordable price!

I’ve had so many questions and Instagram messages about her breed, and four months in (we got her around 8 weeks), I couldn’t recommend Vizslas more. She’s a high-energy speed-demon at times, but overall Weeze is a big sweetheart who loves people and other dogs. (When other neighborhood dogs bark at her, she cries.) Plus, how can you say no to a face like that?

xoxo

Photos thanks to Haley Jones

Brought to you by Nature’s Recipe.

The New Favorite Fall Combo

September 19, 2017 / Style Files / 0 comment

cabi Flashdance Dress and Hanson Anorak (c/o); Nike sneakers; Zac Zac Posen handbag; Quay sunglasses; Kendra Scott ring (c/o)

Happy Tuesday, friends! This week Orange County is taking a much-needed break from that whole heatwave business, and although I don’t want to jinx it, we MAY even get a smidge of rain. GASP! Maybe I’m a total weirdo (actually that’s more than a possibility), but I love a good rainy day around here. I’m currently working from bed, looking out at a super gloomy morning, and thinking about ALL of the fall fashion that I’m dying to get my hands on.

If there’s one thing I’ll definitely be wearing on repeat this fall, it’s this little fall combo from cabi, styled 100 different ways. The sweatshirt dress is SO soft and cozy – the perfect fall substitute for summer’s t-shirt dresses. Wear it with sneakers, booties, over-the-knee boots, ballet flats, whatever. It’s so versatile and easy, you seriously can’t go wrong with a sweatshirt dress.

And then there’s the jacket. cabi designed a similar jacket to this one so many seasons ago, and I pretty much wore it ’til the wheels fell off. It was my absolute favorite year to year, and this one is like a tricked-out, updated version. The embellished patches are so good, and I love the easy fit of this one. It’s so good over a dress and will definitely be a go-to over skinny jeans and leggings in the cooler months.

And now I’m off because, y’all, little Weeze girl is headed off to school today – for ten whole days! – so I’m headed to the big drop-off. Wish me luck!

xoxo

P.S. – Reminder about tomorrow night’s Kendra Gives Back event with Kendra Scott at Fashion Island. If you’re in the Orange County area, I’d love to see you there!

Photos thanks to Gabi Wells

That Hammock Swing Chair

August 3, 2017 / Home / 0 comment

Joss & Main hammock chairs and printed outdoor pillows (c/o); pool float; Banana Republic hat (c/o); Lilly Pulitzer sarong

Greetings from Palm Springs! Well, not really. Not yet, anyway. Eric and I are heading back to the desert later today or tomorrow to spend the weekend with a couple of friends and accept just one last package delivery. Well, the last for now perhaps – so far I’ve bought rugs, returned rugs, and am still on the search for some. Rugs, man. Tricky, tricky.

But today I’m talking about these hammock swing chairs that we got from Joss & Main. They were among the first pieces of furniture delivered to the Palm Springs casa and are pretty much the best seats in (or out of) the house. Even in 110 degree heat, they give us a reason to sit outside or a place to hang after getting out of the pool, and we especially can’t wait to use these all fall and winter long.

I first posted these on the old Instagram on #NationalHammockDay (yes, that’s a thing) and then again when little Weeze took a liking to them, and it seems like you guys are just as excited about them as I am.

But, you know what they say, all good things must come to an end, and these comfy seats have unfortunately sold out. Whyyyyy?! I know, I know – it’s a bummer. But today I’ve searched around and found some super similar options below and also a couple that aren’t very similar but still look pretty rad. (Also, if these get restocked I’ll be sure to update the links both here and on Instagram.)

And if none of these work for you, then at least you’ve got these cute little pics of Louise the Viz, right? Happy almost Friday, y’all!

xoxo

Boyfriend Jeans, Peplum Tees, and Mixed Prints

June 8, 2017 / Style Files / 0 comment

Peplum tee; Boyfriend jeans; Sanctuary bomber jacket (c/o); Trina Turk heels and handbag; sunglasses; Loren Hope jewelry; Charming Charlie cuff

Blame it on the new pup, or blame it on a bit of “it’s almost summer” laziness, but I’ve probably spent a little more time than I’d like to admit lately in workout clothes. While I have been trying to up my workout routine lately (and walk Weeze 4,759 miles a day to wear her out), sometimes you gotta ditch the stretch pants for some real pants. I know, it’s a cruel, cruel world out there.

But if there’s one way to ease the real clothes pain, it’s boyfriend jeans and tees. It’s simple and easy and comfy and forgiving, and with the right shoes and accessories, you won’t look like a slob kabob that just rolled out of bed. Know what I mean? This little peplum tee is the softest, and paired with denim shorts and some sort of ankle wrap sandals? Ugh, the cutest.

I’m always a sucker for black and white stripes because it’s a print that plays so well with others. This favorite Trina Turk bag and shoe combo has made a major comeback out of my closet lately, and I’m not made about it one bit. With June Gloom in full force around here, a jacket is always necessary, so this little summer bomber from Sanctuary comes in handy big time. Plus, I figured what’s one more print to add to the mix? The more the merrier…well sometimes.

Hope everyone is having a great week!

xoxo

Photos thanks to Pura Soul Photo

Searching for "louise"

Back in Sunny SoCal with Weeze

Easy Layers and Those High Rise Jeans Again

Here’s Lookin’ at You, 2017

The $20 Sweater Dress (Plus a Few More Under $100)

The Best Sleepwear of the Season

Holiday Gift Guide for the Guys

Six Month “Pupdate” With Weeze Girl

The New Favorite Fall Combo

That Hammock Swing Chair

Boyfriend Jeans, Peplum Tees, and Mixed Prints

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Searching for "louise"

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