So I’m pretty sure I started planning for spring (and heavily blogging about it) somewhere around January. February for sure. Late December maybe. But there’s one weekend that officially kicks off the season for me: Easter. Because my family is so far away, I’ve spent every Easter for the past few years with the man-friend’s family. It’s a full day of egg hunting, eating, laughing, the occasional heated kickball game, and more eating. During the day it’s usually just warm enough to go sleeveless, and by nighttime, I’m definitely glad I brought a sweater.
A fun, floral dress or romper is always a go-to, but for this year I’m really loving this lightweight denim dress, belted, with a neon cardigan. (My closet is currently overrun with “boyfriend” cardigans, but this neon green version is definitely calling my name. Loudly.) Bangles and such are a definite must (it has to be distracting during kickball, right?), while aviators and easy-to-kick-off wedges round the whole thing out. But if your bunny season just wouldn’t be complete without a little flowy, flirty goodness, then maybe the looks below are a bit more likely to tickle your fancy. (And I must say, the black jumpsuit is random, but oh so good, no?) So what’s your version of your Easter’s best? xoxo
“Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Target via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Target.”
Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the Independent Fashion Bloggers Conference in New York. It was an amazing day of listening to key-note speakers (including personal favorites Emily of Cupcakes and Cashmere and Andy of The Style Scrapbook) and mingling with so many other fashion bloggers like myself. Ignoring the forecast of cold rain, (come on, it’s a blogger conference) I chose printed silk pants and layered knit separates topped with a favorite faux fur coat. (In my defense, I was equipped with tights under the lightweight pants and shearling-lined booties.) Upon leaving the event, the light snow flurries outside added the cherry on top of a perfect day. The subsequent retail therapy at Topshop (where I found this amazing maxi dress) later that night probably didn’t hurt either.
xoxo
H&M has been a favorite shopping destination of mine for years (and years and years), and truth be told, it’s where I find these fingers scrolling around when I’m bored – both bored with my time and bored with my wardrobe. It’s a bad habit that’s certainly found me some good fashion pieces over the years. In recent seasons, their selection runs the gambit from Gen Z’s bucket hats, crop tops and dad sneakers to the mumu dresses, comfy sandals, and super soft cardigans that I’m into, and this season is no different.
So today I’m sharing a few favorite spring finds from a recent scroll around H&M’s latest launch, and I’m not even gonna lie, a few of these pieces are currently on their way to me now. How CUTE is that little navy striped cardigan for your Memorial Day weekend plans? And the shoes, man I love the shoes. I restrained myself from ordering any shoes, but I do live dangerously close to an H&M store, so the restraint isn’t over yet. Hope everyone has a great end of the week ahead!
Scoop’s latest collection to drop might just be my favorite so far, so today I’m rounding up a bunch of fall pieces that I snagged. You seriously can’t go wrong with the sweaters, and a few of the dresses remind me so much of Free People styles for less than half the FP price tag. (I mean, how much does the snake print dress below remind you of this Free People dress that I wore last season? I actually prefer the Scoop version though because it’s lined and has a better length.)
Now that I’ve got half of my fall wardrobe figured out, I’ll just be over here waiting for the weather to wear it. Hope everyone has a great rest of their week!
As I’m scrolling around on social media or different websites, you know what clickbait just gets me every single time? The Amazon roundups. Seriously, I’ll click on just about any “Amazon favorites” list I can find because they just have some of the best, and usually affordable, finds. I actually recently went back and read my last two Amazon posts (see them here and here), and I still 100% stand by everything I linked.
This beyond cozy cardigan that comes in 8 colors (above) – I’ve got a whole slew of black, grey, and other random cardigans, but a couple of months ago I went on the hunt for a great camel-ish / tan one for now and into spring. After ordering, trying, and returning quite a few, I finally decided to (DUH) search around on Amazon. I ordered the one above in medium and large and ended up keeping the medium. I love the super soft fabric, slightly oversized fit, and big pockets. Plus, it’s pretty much the exact shade of camel I was looking for. (Now I’m thinking I probably need the oatmeal color, right?)
A daily SPF that Eric and I both love – A couple of years ago, I finally got Eric into a daily SPF habit. He ends up spending a lot of time on the road in his car for work, so I thought it was important for him to be in a daily sunscreen routine instead of only applying before the beach or outdoor activities. We’ve used up a ton of tubes from a few different brands, and this one tends to be a favorite because it rubs in easily with no greasy or white residue. (We also both love this one from The Treatment.)
This flowy maxi that is just begging for spring weather – OK, I JUST got this dress in this week in the navy color and loved it so much that I already ordered a second color. It’s super lightweight and comfy, has such an easy fit, and couldn’t be more fun for spring. It hits me right at my ankle, so it’s perfect for pairing with flat sandals, wedges, low booties, or sneakers. I’ve got a wine-tasting girls’ weekend in March that this dress was made for – stay tuned, I’ll be styling it on the blog soon.
Grip socks to keep that New Year’s resolution going – I’ve been doing Pilates for years (currently loving the megaformer machines and classes at Seafit Studio) and am probably a year or two late in upgrading and generally restocking the ol’ grip socks. (Where DO they all go, anyway?) These from Ro & Arrows are super comfy, provide a ton of grip, and are made of breathable, moisture-wicking fabric. Plus, they’re pretty cute (with more prints coming soon) – perfect reason to stock up, right?
A muscle recovery soak for post-workout soreness – And after the workout comes the old lady, all-over sore muscles, am I right? (No? Just me?) While a hot bath is always a favorite of mine, a hot bath with this muscle recovery soak is even better. The Epsom salt is super relaxing for sore muscles, and the smell of this one with menthol and eucalyptus is also so great for battling a little winter sickness.
The cherry pepper spread I use in (and on) EVERYTHING – I’m a fan of Jersey Mike’s subs and ordered this thinking it would be similar to their red pepper spread. It’s similar, seriously delicious, and (in my opinion) goes in and on ALL of the things. It’s obviously great on sandwiches, but I also add it to my Safe Catch tuna (instead of another relish) and usually throw a dollop into tossed salads and quinoa bowls. It adds a slightly spicy, vinegar-y kick that I love.
The bathtub caddy that I’m STILL obsessed with – Admittedly I’ve had this thing for about a year and have shared it on the blog before, but I really just love this bathtub caddy. The sides of our bathtub slant inward a bit, so balancing products, magazines, or the occasional glass of wine is out of the question. I’m happy to have this little caddy every time I take a bath and feel like it’s really well-made for the price – ours still looks pretty new.
Whoo-Wheeeee. Currently writing this blog post from a million miles in the sky as I’m heading home from two days in New York City. Two days. It was a super short trip, but wouldn’t you know it, the Big Fat Apple left me feeling all kinds of inspired? It’s been two years since I last attended fashion week, and by default, two years since I last visited New York. While I don’t really miss the hustle and bustle of that particular week in the city, I do miss the inspiration from it.
I bought this skirt thinking that it was perfect for a dinner night in New Orleans, and it definitely was. (Bee-Tee-Dubs – these photos were taken in New Orleans, not New York. I took zero photos in New York and I’m 100% Coolio with that. I shopped instead. Why are NYC Zara stores so much better than the ones in Southern California?) But I digress. So I bought the skirt, loved it, wore it, and thought – I can’t wait for the next time I can wear it.
Then I got to New York City and changed my thought to, What am I waiting for? The women in New York I swear just kill it. They’re commuting by buses, trains, and good old fashioned footwork, and some of these gals could be running right off a runway. I saw a girl yesterday hopping on a bus in a pleated metallic maxi skirt, a graphic tee, sneakers and a leather tote with all of the things. It was raining and humid and sticky and just freaking gross, but she had taken that pretty maxi skirt and made it rainy day, bus-hopping, city appropriate. So chic.
Which brings me back to this new favorite metallic skirt. I love it dressed up (blouse + heels), dressed down (graphic tee + sneakers), or somewhere in between like the look above. And now I can’t wait to get home and pull out more favorites from my closet. What are some things in your wardrobe you’ve been “saving” for a special occasion that you could just pull out now? Finally splurged on that lust-worthy handbag? Don’t let it sit on a shelf, girl!
(Oh, and apparently I’ll be wearing these sock booties all fall long, so hopefully you don’t mind?)
Here’s hoping everyone has a great weekend ahead, guys!
After spending a couple of days in Palm Springs this week and coming home to some hot Orange County weather, it’s no wonder I’m thinking shorts all day, everyday around here lately. I mean, the hot-and-bothered effect has been REAL strong at our house. Yesterday I escaped the house for a few hours (yes, a few hours) to shop around the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, and I really don’t know what was better – the deals or the mall air conditioning. I’m thinking it was a combo of both. (And if you haven’t checked out the Anniversary sale yet, get on it, girl.)
But I digress. So for the second time this week, I’m giving the cold shoulder, and this lightweight blouse is a serious summer keeper. It’s easy as pie with jeans or shorts, but in today’s post I’m tempting fate with the ultimate risky move: white denim shorts. Is it even possible to wear white denim without immediately spilling something on yourself? Or sitting on something mysterious? I think not, but on this particular day, I managed to escape unscathed. Now that’s a white denim win, friends.
So here’s to a happy weekend ahead and a ton more weekend wins.
Happy Friday, friends! I’ve been checking out the pretty spring offerings here, there, and everywhere lately, and last week I headed into Banana Republic to take a little peek at what they had in store. I was immediately drawn to so many of the fun and flowy spring dresses, especially this little white dress and this gorgeous maxi shirt dress, and decided to try on a little bit of everything.
And what do you know, of all of the things, guess what made it home with me? Denim. Still firmly on that denim-buying kick, and seeing no end in sight apparently. While most of my denim purchases lately have been distressed, destructed styles, I love this clean black pair for a nice little change. They fit like a glove and run true to size, and I love the high rise. (I mean, I’m not 18 anymore, let’s be real – low rise is not really my jam these days.)
And what does a self-proclaimed denim lover pair with her new jeans? More denim, kids. But how adorable is this little peplum top? Super cute and will be so good with white jeans as well. And the icing on top? This bell-sleeved jacket that is so versatile for spring. Throw it on over jeans, with a dress, or with a pair of shorts. It’s lightweight and easy to layer up, so you can wear it now and into the summer. It’s a good one, y’all.
And here we are, my three favorite pieces. Wear ’em all together, or mix and match them into your wardrobe. Or head over here to the Banana Republic site and check out so many more amazing pieces for spring. I mean, this little pleated dress? Gimme that!
Happy Hump Day, pretties! Today’s post is definitely something a little different from the norm around here, but I’m so excited to share the last of our wedding photos from our favorite part of the night: our second line. If you’re not from the South or have never been to a New Orleans wedding, you’re probably thinking, huh? But here goes. At the end of our wedding reception, a five-piece jazz band and a sort of “ring leader” led Eric and I and our entire wedding out of the building and into the streets of New Orleans, escorted by a couple of New Orleans police. As is tradition, Eric and I carried parasols while everyone else waved handkerchiefs to the music. We paraded block after block from our wedding venue back to the hotel where we stayed with our entire wedding following behind, jazz music playing, and bystanders and tourists wishing us the best. It was seriously the coolest part of the night, a memory that I’ll never forget, and something that I can’t believe we almost skipped. (For some reason, I was really against having a second line, but after Eric’s parents witnessed a couple of them while visiting New Orleans, they convinced us that it was something worth reconsidering. And I’m SO glad we did.) And after all of the rain, thunder and lightning of the day, the weather finally let up just in time to keep our second line alive.
I decided about two days before the wedding that I wanted to find a second dress to change into, and this white maxi with sheer details (and pockets!) was the first dress I tried on at BCBG. It fit like a glove right off the rack, and about halfway through our reception, I couldn’t wait to take off my heavy wedding dress (beautiful, but oh so heavy) and change into this one with these Yosi Samra flats. It was definitely one of my better decisions, and something I’d recommend to any bride-to-be, whether she plans to parade her guests through the city with a jazz band or not.
I hope you guys have enjoyed following along on our wedding journey and recap over the last couple of months. It’s been so much fun to look back at all of the photos, and if I have any advice for brides-to-be, it’s this:
The invite list is up to you. People are always gonna be weirdos who will ask if they can bring Uncle Ned’s third cousin twice removed, whatever that means. Say yes or say no, but stick with your guns and then move on with your day.
Don’t blow your budget on the flowers. (Or do, if that’s what you wanna do.) Everyone will tell you this, but it really is true. I really wanted New Orleans musicians Tanya & Dorise to play our ceremony, so I cut way back on the flower budget and got all of them at Sam’s Club. Seriously! You can order packages or a la carte, and they’ll deliver them right to your venue or hotel the day before. The bouquets were beautiful, and Tanya & Dorise were amazing. Win-win.
Eat the food. I did, and that shit was bomb.
Bring your dancing shoes. No matter which wedding shoes you choose, by hour 6 or 7 of having them on, you’ll probably need a little relief. (Unless of course you do your best footloose moves barefoot, in which case, party on, girl.)
Don’t sweat the small stuff. It stormed all day so our ceremony had to be moved indoors, a tie snafu botched some time set aside for family photos, and our transportation to the wedding ended up being pretty late, but in the end, none of that even mattered. It’s your day with your new husband, so don’t let the little things get to you.
If you’re getting married in New Orleans, say yes to the second line. (And extra advice – do it from your reception to the after party so that everyone is good and warmed up.)
And in the end, just have fun because it’s rare that you’re ever surrounded by that many people who love and support you. And it’s kind of the best.
When it comes to my skincare and makeup routines and even fashion and accessories brands, I tend to be pretty loyal to a few tried and true companies, but if we’re talking hair, I must admit I’ll hop around and try pretty much anything. As a blogger, the new products and endless options are constantly coming in (which never gets old to me), but it occurred to me recently that I’m REALLY into my current lineup. And as someone who’s pretty picky about haircare, I thought I’d share with the class. (Full disclosure: I currently have hair extensions, am constantly highlighting and heat-styling, and probably ingest more dry shampoo per year than vegetables. Just so you know what kind of “expert” you’re dealing with here.)
There are few hair brands that make me as happy as Aveda, and I think that visiting a true Aveda Salon, complete with the hand and scalp massages and aromatherapy, is such a treat. I’ve been using the Color Conserve Shampoo and Conditioner recently and can’t stop sniffing my hair throughout the day. (And now that I write that out, it sounds more than a little strange. Moving on…) Post-shower, I’m all about Aveda’s Smooth Infusion style prep as well. Once a week, I kick things up a notch with a detox shampoo and deep conditioner, and I love the two above from Kevin Murphy. This line is literally like skincare for your hair and has products that address way more hair issues than your average.
And the extras. I’ve pretty much never met a dry shampoo that I didn’t like, and currently I have three in rotation. The Kevin Murphy spray is super lightweight, and I use it more preventatively – to stop oil before it even starts. The Batiste means serious business, and the blonde color helps hide my roots in between highlights. The Aveda Shampure is more of a squeezable powder, perfect for volumizing this greasy mane. I’m not much of a hairspray gal, but this Aloxxi Flexible Hairspray is the perfect lightweight formula, and I’ve used it for years. I usually curl my hair (with this wand), spray finished curls with the Aloxxi spray, brush through it, and finish with the Living Proof humidity shield. And as for the Sugarbear Hair vitamins? I have NO idea how these stack up against similar vitamins, but I DO know that my hair seems to be growing faster and they’re delicious so I actually remember to take them everyday. So that’s the first step, right?