Linen & Things

1. Forever 21 Pleat Waist Linen Short $18.90
2. Juicy Couture Basic Linen Drawstring Pant $128
3. Forever 21 Linen Breeze Pant $22.80
4. Banana Republic Linen/Cotton Sophisticate Skirt $69.50
5. Forever 21 (Heritage) Adria Linen Short $19.90
6. Forever 21 Linen Grain Belted Skirt $17.80
7. Central Park West Seaside Linen Blazer $152
8. Free People Long Seam-Detailed Linen Blazer $128
9. Free People Benji's Linen Crocheted Racerback Romper $98

I've recently noticed linen popping up everywhere (in shorts, button down tops, blazers, and especially pants). I've picked up a few of these items, but right now I'm dying for a pair of white linen pants to complete my "linen wardrobe" for summertime. I'd love to wear them with a simple tank, flat sandals and a big floppy straw hat. This fabric is so versatile it can be perfect for the office, the beach, or anywhere in between. Have a great weekend, everyone!

The Time Traveler's Wife

image via imdb

I finished reading The Time Traveler's Wife over the weekend and absolutely loved it! The concept of the "Chrono Displacement" disorder was hard to swallow at first, but once I did the book really took on a life of it's own. The story and characters developed beautifully over the course of many years and their love transcended the test of time. The author supposedly wrote the book as a metaphor for all her failed relationships. To me the book reinforced the fact that every relationship has obstacles that require kindness, care, and compromise to surmount and that the love of our lives may not be exactly what we envisioned. I'd highly recommend this book and I can't wait to see the movie now! It should arrive in the mail from Netflix today. Have any of you read the book or seen the movie? What did you think?

Pastel Party

1. Topshop Crochet Tunic Sundress $70
2. Topshop Asymmetrical Frill Dress $80
3. Forever 21 Drawstring Empire Waist Tunic $17.80
4. Topshop Slouch Pocket Tank $125
5. Topshop All Over Lace Blouse $65
6. Forever 21 Free Flowy Woven Top $22.80
7. Generra Solid Raw Edge Detail Blouse $122.99 (sale)

We all know that bright colors are all the rage this season, but pastels are a fun/pretty alternative when we want some versatility in the color department. The pale yellow is my favorite pastel and I'm hoping to scoop up a few items in this color before leaving for our Kauai vacation in a few weeks.

Spring Wedding

Beyond Vintage Lace Dress $255
Stuart Weitzman Avignon Peep Toe Pumps $325
Banana Republic Genevieve Earrings $35
Banana Republic Sea Mist Ring $49.50
(I originally noticed this ring on BonBon Rose Girls but of course I missed the sale).
Jessica Jensen Classic Envelope Clutch $135

With wedding season surrounding us, I find myself constantly eyeing pretty Spring dresses such as this. The lace, blush color, and scalloped edges would be perfect for a Spring wedding. It's sweet and feminine while still being comfortable enough to allow you onto the dance floor. Now bring on the wedding cake and champagne!

What Would I Do Without my Boyfriend Jeans?

Joe's boyfriend jeans, Anthropologie cross-body bag, H&M blouse, Aldo shoes

I love the library.

A few weeks ago when I was picking an out an outfit in my closet with Gabe in the next room, I proclaimed, "What would I do...without my boyfriend jeans?". My boyfriend jeans have become a huge part of my life and wardrobe. They're always there for me when I want something comfortable to wear. I don't necessarily think they're flattering but they're stylish and easy and that counts for a lot in my book. Gabe poked his head in the closet, looking deflated and said, "I thought you were going to say, 'What would I do without you?'" Well, needless to say, we both had a good laugh because suddenly my boyfriend jeans had taken precedence over my husband. In reality, of course I prefer my husband over these jeans, but the point is that they're both important. Right?

Gabe had this weekend off, which is always so exciting for us. We ran many errands and were quite productive as well as having dinner at Sushi Roku (our favorite), going for a bike ride on our beach cruisers, and getting some new books at the library. What did you do this weekend?

Buy This, Not That

Forever 21
Vera Wang Lavendar Label

I've been eyeing these Vera Wang jellies for a while now and wondering if I could justify spending $95 on shoes made of plastic. Well, I'm so glad I held out because I just found these from Forever 21 for $9.80. Score!

The Look of Lucite

from left to right starting with the top row:

Michael Michael Kors Lucite Bracelet watch $225
Aqua Lucite and Gold Chain Necklace $38
ABS by Allen Schwartz Lucite Bib Necklace $225
Aqua Multi Chain and Lucite Bead Necklace $55
New York & Company Lucite Short Necklace $19.95
Gemma Redux Lucite and Chain Messy Bracelet $318
Aqua Chunky Lucite Drop Necklace $28
Tessyla on Etsy Mallory$26.50

How could anyone not love huge clear lucite beads? I'm certainly a fan and am especially fond of the Michael Kors Lucite watch. Michael Kors does it every time. I'm definitely in the market for one of these and with the current Bloomingdales sale situation, I might have to purchase something from my list.

30 is the new 20

Happy Birthday Alex!

The birthday girl (right) and her sister

I've literally had this dress for 9 years and still love it! I bought it somewhere on Melrose.

Steven by Steve Madden motorcycle boots, Gap skinny jeans, H&M sweater, Michael Kors watch

Over the weekend, my friend Alex turned 30 and celebrated with a pool party on her rooftop pool in Santa Monica. The weather wasn't quite warm enough for swimming, but it was nice enough to wear a sundress over my bikini and enjoy the sunshine, barbecued ribs, and champagne. After the party, Gabe and I grabbed dinner with Bunz and Sarah on the Promenade and I took advantage of (hopefully) the last time I'll be able to wear boots to dinner this season before the weather really starts to turn warm.

On a side note, all fashion designers (professionally trained or self-taught) who are interested in being on Season 2 of Bravo's "The Fashion Show"Hosted by Isaac Mizrahi, there's an open casting call in a city near you (Seattle, Los Angeles, Austin, NYC, and Chicago). My friend Kati is doing the casting and is looking for people with a vision and design skills. Check it out if you're interested!

imjage via bravotv.com

Beautiful Blogger Award

The sweet and adorable Leslie from Lemon Sweet Life honored me with The Beautiful Blogger Award last week and I'm so thankful! The rules are to list seven things about myself and then pass it on to other fabulous bloggers.

1. I love the library. People give me funny looks when they see me reading library books, but I don't care. I absolutely adore the entire experience of going to the library, browsing all the wonderful books, choosing practically as many as I want (I still haven't figured out if there's a limit to how many books you can check out) and bringing them home to figure out which one to start reading. And all this for FREE! It's one of my favorite activities. Also, I love the smell. (Carrie Bradshaw)

2. Ferris Bueller's Day Off has always been my favorite movie. I can literally quote it from beginning to end. On one of my first dates with my husband I asked him what his favorite movie was and he said "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" without any hesitation. I was in love.

3. When I ask for your opinion on something, I almost always do the opposite. I'm not trying to be contrary, I just know what I wanted you to say and you said the wrong thing. Don't be a baby and let it hurt your feelings.

4. I'm a morning person. Most days I'm up by 4:30am and in bed by 9:00pm.

5. I love smiling. It's my favorite.

6. I hate surprises. I like to know what I'm getting myself into at all times. It took a while for Gabe to believe me on this one.

7. I met my husband on Spring Break in Cabo San Lucas when I was in college. At the time he lived in Denver and I lived in Los Angeles and although he visited me a few times after the trip, we lost touch soon after. I ran into him 5 years later in Venice Beach (he had moved to LA) and we've been together ever since.

Now I'd like to pass this award on to the following beautiful bloggers. Check them out!

Bren at Chasing Beauty
Marcie at Lemons and Laundry
Jessica at Aberrantmoda

Flat Sandals

1. Nicole Peace $69

2. Matt Bernson Gladiator $170

3. Maria Sharapova by Cole Haan $146

4. Old Navy Faux-Leather Thong Sandals $9.50

5. Boutique 9 Pinky $89

6. Nine West Bungalow $69

7. Jessica Simpson Nikina Sandal $79

8. DV by Dolce Vita Angelina Leather Sandal $49.95

9. Dolce Vita Effie Sandal $129.95

To me, Springtime is synonymous with flat sandals and sundresses. I love the way I can throw these two things on, run out the door and feel completely put together in a matter of minutes. These are some of my top picks in the sandal department this season.

French Women Don't Get Fat

One of my favorite books is French Women Don't Get Fat and I've reread it every few years just to remind myself of a few important concepts when it comes to food. I love food and have always been a big eater and amaze even my husband and his friends at how much I can consume in one sitting (I'm not sure if I'm proud of this). I grew up with brothers and in a family of big eaters and it's stuck with me over time. So depriving myself and dieting have never been my idea of a good time. However this book has really changed my outlook on diet, weight, healthy eating, and also indulging in what I love to eat. The concept is that there's no quick fix to being healthy, looking great, and feeling comfortable in your body. It's all about making a few small changes that will stick with you throughout your life (eating slowly, enjoying your food, eating without distractions such as television, taking the stairs, using fresh ingredients, etc.) and enjoying the foods that are always off limits for most dieters (chocolate, wine, cheese, bread, etc.). It's about getting in touch with what your body needs and making small changes to accommodate that, but never going without. In this book, the author talks about kick starting this "non-diet" diet by eating her recipe for Leek Soup in order to get all the nutrients you need, but also to see immediate results for instant motivation. Well, this 17 Bean Medley Soup is my version of Mireille Guiliano's Leek Soup. Whenever I feel like I need to eat a bit healthier and get back in touch with my body, I make this soup and have it practically every meal for a few days and I feel better immediately. I use the recipe on the back of the bag and add zucchini and any other vegetables I have in the house and sprinkle it with Parmesan cheese. What are your tricks for staying healthy?

Buy This, Not That

Forever 21
Tiffany

We've all seen the vintage Tiffany key necklaces everywhere recently and how could anyone not love them? The one shown above is my personal favorite, but I'd take any of them if it came down to it. The price tag doesn't exactly work for my current budget, so I found the necklace shown above from Forever 21 to get me through my key phase. 60% of the time, it works every time.

Lunch at the Beach

Forever 21 Classic Silk Shirt $29.80
Delias Taylor Jean Shorts $34.50
Mossimo Penny Suede Flat Sandals $22.99
Forever 21 Floppy Sun Hat $10.80
Gap Jute Belt-$19.50
Forever 21 Gold Aviators $5.80
Forever 21 Vanguard Cuff $10.80
Forever 21 Intrigue Leatherette Tote $27.80
Forever 21 Dimpled Circle Chain Necklace $6.80

After 4 years of living by the beach, I've started to develop what I'd consider a very casual uniform. Usually this involves a t-shirt or tank top with boyfriend jeans or shorts, flip flops and an enormous handbag. In the summer I throw sundresses into the mix as well, but you get the picture. I've been trying to branch out a bit for the last few summers and try new looks with something other than sundresses or tank tops and pairing white shorts with a bright button down is one of my new favorite looks. This outfit would be perfect for a summertime lunch or daytime outing at the beach.

Honeymoon Reunion

This was what I called my "honeymoon dress". I'm sure you'll be seeing it again on this vacation.

After our couples massage

Mai Tai hour at our hotel

Helicopter tour

Gabe and I are approaching to our 2 year wedding anniversary on May 10th and we're planning to revisit our honeymoon site to celebrate the occasion! We're going back to Kauai, staying at the same hotel, and actually going the week of our anniversary (not completely planned, but it worked out perfectly!). Our honeymoon was by far the most incredible vacation I've ever been on in my life (well, besides the vacation where I first met Gabe in Cabo San Lucas on Spring Break). Maybe it was due to the wedding high that encompassed our mood, the thrill of being away together for an entire week (as I've said before, Gabe doesn't get much time off work) and the relief that the wedding planning was all in the past. We filled our days with helicopter tours, surfing, great food, Pina Coladas and Mai Tais, couples massages on the beach, and lots of relaxing. We're currently planning our trip for next month and can't wait to be back to one of our favorite places that holds so much meaning for us. Where are your favorite vacation spots?

Spa Week

photo via flickr

My friend Jessica just informed me of a little treat called Spa Week. It's a Bi-Annual event where over 700 spas around the country offer a variety of treatments (everything from massages to chemical peels) for only $50! I'm not usually a spa girl, mostly because of the hefty price tag involved with each service. But for $50, I couldn't resist! I've been feeling the need for a facial for a few months and this was the exact push I needed to book an appointment. It lasts from April 12-18 and they book up fast, so call right away if you're interested.

In other news, I received my first award last week from the fabulous Katie from Fashion's Maven. Thank you so much, Katie! I'd like to pass this award to the following amazing bloggers. Check out their blogs!

Kati at Daily Rant
Leslie at Lemon Sweet Life
Heather at Heather in a Candy Shop
Nicole at My Honey and Bunnies
Brooke at Better Cake Than Sorry
Enjoli at Enj Loves Sparkles

Breathe Easy

The beach

yoga
dinners with girlfriends

driving range with my husband

Whenever I'm having a stressful day and need to decompress and relax I turn to a few different activities to aid in my mental (and sometimes physical) health. These are a few of my favorite relaxation/unwinding/mental health activities:

yoga
long runs
going to the beach
bike rides
chats/activities with my husband, girl friends, family, etc
reading a good book
baking/cooking

I'm hoping to do lots of relaxing over the weekend. What are your favorite ways to relax?

Alice + Olivia

Mixed Media Bustier Dress $495
Charlie Sequin Dress $495
Lola Sequin Tank Dress $550
Casey Cluster Sequin Dress $485
Molly Mod Dress with Belt $396

Alice and Olivia dresses are like old trusty friends who never let you down. Every year, they get better and better and you can always fall back on them when in need of something amazing to wear to a wedding/shower/cocktail party. And while I don't have any big formal events in my near future, I'll be eyeing these from afar while I try to think of an occasion that could make me justify buying one.

The Color Purple

I've been in love with purple practically since birth. From my lavender banana seat bike when I was 5 to my purple velvet formal dress when I was 14, I'll always think of purple fondly. While my taste has grown and changed over the years, gorgeous purple dresses and accessories (such as these below) still make me swoon. In recent years, I've been more than happy to reintroduce this color into my life as a wardrobe staple.

1. Rebecca Taylor Pin Dot Runway Dress $275

2. French Connection T-Wizard Cotton Dress $152

3. Alice + Olivia Sequined Keyhole-Back Mini Dress $495

4. Just Cavalli dress $381

5. Hunter Wellington Eggplant Rubber Boot $115

6. Michael Kors Resin Bracelet Watch $180

7. Havaianas Slim $21.99

8. Fergie Nacho $93.95

9. OPI Do you Lilac It $5.09 (sale)
10. Marc by Marc Jacobs Clutch $298

New Beginnings

Forever 21 tank, Aqua (Bloomingdales) blazer, Rebecca Minkoff bag, Nine West heels, Gap skinny jeans, Michael Kors watch, Avalaya earrings

Gabe and I went to sushi on Saturday and then met up with Bunz and Sarah at Casa Del Mar to celebrate Bunz' new job! The earrings from this post made their debut, as did my new hot pink bag. What is it about wearing a new outfit/accessories that makes the night so much more enjoyable? I try to explain this concept to Gabe sometimes and he doesn't quite get it. It must be a girl thing. Congratulations on your new job, Bunz!