Following a crush of last minute errands, wildly packed parking lots, and other varied Holiday madness, the Eve of the Eve took an unexpected turn for the very best when my dearests and I headed into the city for some music, spirits, and sushi. 
In between preparing for the holidays, relocating, embarking on a new career path and catching up with old friends- I've managed to squeeze in time to work on a little something special that I can't wait to share with you all. 
I'm pretty sure I just found the shoe that personifies my mood lately. I'll let you know what comes of my quest to track them down. 
Call it laziness, but being dressed and out the door in one slip of a garment, just feels good. Rompers and jumpsuits take the guesswork out of ensembles and that's a life-saver. Though the weather has become cooler since that first photo was taken, I still find myself reaching for a 'onesie' in a pinch. I layer a biker jacket or cardigan over it and no one is the wiser.
My darling Dinah, the dearest one that put together that .99 Store Earthquake Kit-- Well, I could go on and on about her graces but for today, I wanted to share this UH MAY ZING invitation that she sent to my attention last week. Of course, the brilliant little thing put this whole thing together with her own two hands! I was so blown away that I took it work and displayed it on my desk so that everyone could see how lucky I am to know someone who remembered me in such a creative way. If you haven't already visited her blog, head on over to The crave list -- Also, she has recently debuted her Halloween Cup Kozy and the design is really fantastic!
As a child, when the time for school supplies came, I was most excited about the Crayons. I don't know about anyone else, but I was supremely excited if the 64-Count box of Crayolas- with the built-in sharpener, landed in the cart. My friend Danielle and I compared notes one day and she said that she used to go straight for the Silver and Gold, avoiding Cornflower, Sepia, and Burnt Sienna- as those were her least favorites in the bunch. I recalled with great clarity, always reaching for the Cerulean. This tunic is a bit of a deeper shade, but I love the richness of it.
Hello Darlings! How did everyone spend their weekend? I made my moms killer meatballs, got caught up on some reading, and did a little thrifting. Found a couple of beakers at my local Discovery Shop- a creative way to display the tools that put me together in the morning and a good solution for getting things out of the drawer and within arms reach. 
The three-day weekend was exceptional in every way, but I promised myself that I wouldn't leave the house, spend a dime, or lift a finger for the next two days. So far I've been true to my word, but a lunch-hour mini haul may have had something to do with my new-found enthusiasm to lay low and save.
I'm rarely disappointed when I convince myself to ease out of my comfort zone and into an element of fashion that I wouldn't normally be drawn to. It's usually a silhouette or a style that meets my resistance, but this season it was as simple as a color. For years I've shied away from yellow- and while I can't recall when or why it started, I've successfully overcome my aversion. Several pieces in this lively hue caught my eye this summer; a few even made their way into my closet.
My besties snuck up on me late Friday night and it was THE MOST glorious surprise anyone could ever ask for! As always and in all things, their timing is impeccable. We stayed up 'til dawn, stuffed ourselves to the gills with Cuban pastries in the morning, shopped beach-side in the afternoon, roared with laughter over a pitcher of Sangria in the evening and cruised the city in style on a blissfully, lazy Sunday morning.
It seems everywhere I went this weekend, the patrons were friendly and the proprietors, attentive and kind. Every meal was spectacular and every conversation, delightful. I can't name the catalyst, but I firmly believe that turning off my cell phone on Friday night- may have urged the abundance of silver linings over the last two days. I wasn't tense or preoccupied, I wasn't lost in a storm of emotions, and I wasn't longing for anyone or anything that wasn't already before me. Thank God for small miracles... oh, and gorgeous earrings ;)
I'm obsessed with yellow and grey. That's all folks ;)
So, I'm just going to come right out and say it. . . the last three weeks have been HELL. The expression on my face in the second photo has pretty much been a mainstay during the month of July and frankly, I'm relieved to leave it behind.Since I can't bear to leave this post on a sour note, I will say that the one glorious thing that happened this month was an early morning, spontaneous trek, down to my old stomping grounds to visit with my nearest and dearest :)
Dear August, Whatcha got?
Cardigan: Isabella Rodriguez, Tee: Splendid, Shorts: Mossimo/Target, Bag: Karla's Closet for Coach, Aviators: Cole Haan
'Date Night' dinner was a bust. Nothing hurts more than spending money on a bad dining experience. I'll be doing things a little differently this week.
This old denim shirt was purchased 5+ years ago at an H&M in Manhattan while on a business/pleasure trip with my mother and sister. I love the shirt but I love the memory even more.
Shirt: American Eagle Outfitters, Skirt: Forever 21, Belt: Fossil, Bag: Coach (Thrifted), Shoes: GUESS 'Rally'
I think it's pretty safe to say that 'Nudes' aren't going anywhere. Everything about this subtle, flattering hue screams: SEXY! If you don't already own a pair of nude heels, do yourself a favor and find some. They make your legs look a mile long and go with everything in your closet. What's not to love?
I’m always thrilled when an article of clothing that I had the good sense to hold on to, comes back around- proving itself to be timeless. I’m a little less pleased when a closet purge goes awry and the foresight required to see something as a staple, escapes me. I’m ashamed to admit that a perfectly worn-in denim jacket, fell victim to the donation pile last year and I’ve never forgiven myself. Fortunately, the kind people at American Eagle not only make fabulous jeans, but the perfect jacket as well. It was love at first sight of this lightweight, weathered denim and the small studded detail was enough to make me swoon. Strong enough to make an impact, subtle enough to go the distance.
Nope, not getting married :) Just sitting here thinking about the fresh and crisp color scheme that lends itself to all things nautical. Try as I might, I couldn't muster anything 4th of July inspired, the stars escaped me and the stripes- well, they're just not a good idea at the moment. Maybe there's something buried in my closet that'll suit tomorrow's festivities. . .one can hope. In this sunny, blissful interim- a voluminous skirt, a stack of magazines and a bowl of raspberry gelato will suffice.
My Love-to-Hate relationship with flats has been well-documented here, but I’m so excited to have finally found an equivalent I can agree with. . .oxfords. I don’t know how this trend slipped past me, but I’m glad I caught it in time to find a pair that I like.
There was a particular morning a few months back, when I awoke in the worst kind of funk. I dragged myself through the day, forcing a smile and willing myself to stay focused. Finally on the drive home, I glanced over at my phone- and realized that every single person that I hold near and dear, had reached out to me that day. I remembered that a co-worker treated me to lunch that afternoon and recalled that someone who played an integral part in a recent promotion, payed me a special visit just to say 'Hello'. It sometimes slips my mind to stop and look for the Blessings each day, but when I do- I'm never disappointed.
I rarely buy a garment or even an accessory without first picturing it with something I already own, but every once in awhile something slips through the cracks; these silver-detailed, cobalt suede pumps were one of them. It'll take some experimenting but I look forward to it-- the dress-up game is the best part.
It's quite possible that my little white dresses have outnumbered my little black dresses and that's fine by me. Don't get me wrong, those sexy dark numbers aren't going anywhere but I do find myself reaching for that light, bright, feminine look both day and night during these long summer days. I picked up the most recent (first photo) in the mad dash mentioned in my previous post and at $13.80, it was indeed a Fabulous Find!!
I came upon this lovely silk maxi dress at Loehmann's a couple of weeks back. It was just one of the stops on my frenzied, marathon-run through LA trying to put together my idea of the most perfect wardrobe for a tropical locale. In the end, it didn't make it into my suitcase, but that had less to do with its practicality and more to do with my fear of lost luggage :) Looking forward to wearing it to Brunch tomorrow.
Recently, I spent some time with my two favorite people- my mother and little sister. It was my nephews First Birthday and I flew cross country to share in the celebration. It was quite the surprise to see how much they've both grown and changed.
There's just no doubt about it, Spring has definitely sprung and it's just our good fortune that there isn't much else to do except settle into this precious season with ease. I picked up some fresh flowers last weekend, switched the linens from the jewel tones of Fall and Winter to the lighter, brighter hues of Spring and Summer; And this week, I'll be celebrating Cinco de Mayo with friends- I'm excited! More importantly though, I've inadvertently developed an obsession with devouring publications and podcasts related to various environmental issues and human interest stories. If you have a moment to spare, please do check out Annie Leonard's The Story of Bottled Water -- I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.
While I don’t exactly have a point of reference, with the exception of a handful of fashion bloggers who’ve rolled the dice on this look- Truth be told, I have fantasized about scoring a pair of leather shorts. Even if I only had the nerve to rock them in the privacy of my own home, they would be totally worth the cost of admission-- which in this case, was $9.99 to be exact...
The motivation to get my Spring Cleaning underway came a few weeks after the actual change of season, but it's never too late to lighten the load. These are a few of the darlings that didn't lose their place in the wardrobe this year.
Well. . . my computer took ill a couple of weeks ago and no one was around to take photos :( I didn't want to lose another day without a post, so I scrounged this one up from a couple of months back just to keep things going until I have a chance to share some of the fun pieces I've found in the last month or so.
