Pacific Blue

macy's blouse via crossroads trading co.

vintage dooney & bourke handbag • daniblack shoes via crossroads 

 a.j.morgan cat-eye sunglasses • h&m cardigan

On Saturday Eric, Oreo, my mom and I headed down Highway One to Big Sur for a belated Mother's Day treat. Lucky lucky us, it was a beautiful day. I would have worn cropped pencil pants to complete the starlet-on-retreat vibe, but I settled on my trusty jeans, cuffed. We had lunch at Nepenthe, a lovely place overlooking a pristine expanse of Pacific Ocean, and walked to a little forest waterfall in the hills afterward. It was actually almost a hike, so I switched into Van's for that part. Stay tuned for more photos of the trip (and food!) later this week ♥ 

P.S. That brown plant is an extremely tall dormant agave plant. Usually they're around man height; this one and it's partner are growing close to thirty feet tall!

Sun Is Shinin'

studded purse c/o oasap • random dress via crossroads
 diy trench vest • black sharpied dollhouse loafers

We had such a lovely week! It was a bit windy so I wore a trench vest over the floaty dress to hold things down. The pleated skirt and bright colors are fun in the welcome sunshine and breeze We passed a florist, a bunch of shiny, polished equipment trucks  and a redwood tree that begged to be  included in the photographs. 

L(ong)-B-D

dress & sweater: forever 21 ♥ dollhouse loafers ♥ f21 & handmade bracelets

You can't call a maxi dress "little" but this one has quickly become a staple, like a little black dress but more comfortable, casual and everyday. And since I'm lazy, I found out how well it works as sleepwear. I might just have to try to bring back bed-gowns, my boyfriend seemed to like it. But before I slept in it, I threw a short-sleeve sweater on over it for a slow, sunny workday.

I'm both excited and bewildered that it's already May; excited for summer weather and making ice cream, but confused by how quickly this year has passed. Wasn't it just Christmas? Nope, apparently it was just Cinco de Mayo. I didn't "celebrate" but we ended up eating lunch at Chili's, which was offering a Coronitas margarita, which was pretty fun. I've never found a restaurant or bar that offers this delicious and airy combination of Mexican beer and margies.

Wild Horses

Truly Madly Deeply top via Crossroads Trading Co. • bdg sailor shorts via uo • Dollhouse flats via Ross

If I wasn't such a lazy bitch, I'd try to make a pattern from these shorts and create trousers. I haven't even finished the blazer I started months ago or cut out the imaginary maxi dress I so want to wear. rightnow. All I can seem to make lately are bracelets,  dry toast and complaints. Only the bracelet part has been keeping me going, hoping for inspiration to flow into the other areas of my brain. So far I'm looking forward to more crafting over the weekend. And besides the Instagram addiction I've developed, I finally sucked it up and introduced myself to tumblr, and now we're friends. Leave me your tumblr account so I can find people to follow! See mine if you'd like at diy-o-dye.tumblr.com ♥

Purple Pizzazz

Happy midweek, everyone! I was hoping the beautiful warm weather would keep on through the weekend, but it doesn't look like that's the case. I keep forgetting it's only April. What do they say about April showers bringing May flowers? There's plenty blooming already! I love that my dress matches the ones behind me.

Feeling silly trying to pose for the camera, so I threw in a goof, modified tree pose anyone?

secondhand old navy cardigan and purple dress via crossroads
wet seal boots

Here Comes the Sun

Yay warm weather! It was a beautiful weekend in Santa Cruz, sunny and in the seventies.  The trees have blossomed and nights are warming up. Between the weather and the time off, I am a happy camper and ready to face the workweek. I've already got a bunch of to-do's lined up for this week: finish several bracelets, paint the entryway shelf, and make a few new pairs of cut-offs. Besides these button-front shorts, cut-offs are some of my favorite summer weather wear.

But stheriousthly guys, this outfit contains some gems I am excited to pull out, least of these being my white legs haha. Breeze and sun on my knees is actually a novel sensation still, and bare toes? Babies need a paint job. These shorts are such a comfortable fabric, and I like how the athletic cut of the hem updates the classic sailor style. I want to have these button-up shorts as trousers, a skirt, everything nautical on the bottom! And since ladybugs love the ocean, obvs, I slipped on these adorable wedges I scored a few weeks ago, but have been too cold to don. Have I mentioned ladybugs are one of my favorite insects? Along with bees, so the black and yellow scheme hits two bugs with one shoe-stone.

forever 21 top & bracelet
bdg sailor shorts
lulu guinness wedge sandals via crossroads

Pinterest + USTrendy Contest

Check out my top ten wishlist items for Spring:

Galactic popsicle dresses,  sheer fabrics, and raspberry lemonade stripes + solids

What better way to look forward to this coming Spring than to do a little online "window shopping." If you like using Pinterest as much as I do, this is a breeze. And since they've teamed up with fashion site USTrendy for a fun Spring contest, you can also enter to win one of four $100 gift cards or a grand prize of $500!

Want to enter, too? Here are the rulez:

1. Create a board on Pinterest (or Polyvore) titled USTrendy.com My Favorite Spring Looks
2. Pin your ten favorite items for spring from www.ustrendy.com
3. Make sure to add a description to your board describing your aesthetic
4. Post the link to your Pinterest board on US Trendy's facebook wall

Good luck!

SPRING FORWARD

Some luscious, floaty, feminine, looks for spring. Except that last one, that's just good 'ole t-shirt and sneaks.

 

 

Spring 2010, in order: alberta ferreti, christian dior, dolce & gabbana, collette dinnigan, organic, y-3 via style.com

lady-like II

I love the mix of detailed construction and lady-like styling,  pleated skirts and school-boy outfits.

[Araks Yeramyan Spring 2010]

l.a.m.b.

The draping & details & zippers, aah ♥

[L.A.M.B. Spring 2010]

hay there, Chanel

 

  

So sweet my teeth hurt.

[Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel Spring 2010]

not-so-basic basic whites

[ Francisco Costa for Calvin Klein]