Sometimes, there’s nothing more fun than being a tourist in your own city. When some blogger friends of mine came in town from Louisiana, it was the perfect excuse to bunk up in Laguna Beach and enjoy a little staycation. I knew this breezy number would be just the perfect beach dress. Y’all know I’m a sucker for a maxi dress and they are always my go-to for tropical trips. I love how they catch the wind on the beach and there’s something ethereal about this blue Calypso St. Barth piece.
Luckily for you guys, from now until March 16th, Calypso is offering $50 off $300, $150 off $600 and $300 off $1000 when you shop their site. We’re talking dresses, beach cover-ups, swimwear, denim and cashmere – yes, please! I’m stocking up for my summer wanderlust plans.
Use the promo code GCSPRING2015 by 3/16 to jump in on Calypso’s spring collection and tell me, what vacations do you have planned this summer? And more importantly… can I come?
Christian and I have unintentionally created an annual February ski trip, and this year we had the pleasure of taking an extra-long weekend trip with Christian’s little brother who was visiting from Mississippi, Timothy! It was so fun to ski with the two of them, and it definitely made me nervous watching them race each other down the mountain as I kep a snail’s pace behind them. Thankfully we had a great trip with no injuries (other than my usual bruises on my shins from ski boots – is anyone else like that?).
A snowy weekend was just the excuse to pull out this fur-trimmed beauty that’s been staring at me from my bed everyday. I’m a sucker for a fur-trimmed anything and this jacket has such a great fit! I love the mix of leather sleeves, zippered detailing and fur – it’s definitely a statement.
And yes, I’m in heels in the snow – but in my defense this was about seven feet outside our cabin door and the fresh snow was just too gorgeous. Plus, the toe-capped heels make the outfit – and What would Carrie do? She would definitely choose the impractical heels that completed the outfit, right?
– dreaming of this perfect snow day last weekend –
– a quick stop by the gorgeous Convict Lake (scary name, I know!) –
– celebrating Christian’s birthday cooking together and watching Modern Family (this was his birthday cake of choice) –
– jeweled sandals that are going to live on my feet this summer –
– coffee just tastes better when it’s cold, don’t you think? –
Hey Friday! The week following a vacation is always a little sad, am I right? We had such a blast skiing (and thank you for the recommendations! We didn’t make it to the brewery but did make it to Gomez’s – YUM), but I came back with a nasty cold that has slowed me down more than I’d like to admit. NyQuil has been my bestie, although I wake up in a cough syrup haze. I felt like Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail (PS – check out that website if you want to travel back in time) when she’s in her bed surrounded by tissues.
I am excited to welcome my blogger friends from Louisiana to California, and we have a fun staycation planned for the weekend – more on this next week!
Lastly, I wanted to share this article on CBL from the fabulous online magazine, Established California. Love what this entire site is all about, and it was my privilege to be featured. Another thanks to my friends at INPink for this sweet mention!
I hope you guys have an amazing weekend! Thank you so much for reading – XO –
When I first saw this dress, I immediately loved how feminine it was. When we lived in the South, I actually rarely wore white or ivory dresses because it seemed like we were always attending engagement parties and wedding festivities. In these events, of course you want the bride to be the only one wearing white, so I would opt for another color or a patterned dress. Now that we live in California we attend very few wedding events, and when we do they’re super casual. So white is back on the table, oh yeah!
This was actually the exact outfit I took to Palm Springs for Valentine’s dinner with Christian (and magically didn’t stain it – major points for me). I can’t wait for the chance to wear it again – it’s so thin and lightweight, making it both ladylike and comfortable. Scroll down for my favorite white and ivory midi picks!
Also, I couldn’t leave out that Shopbop is having an amazing sale this week, including full-price and sale items! Spend $250+ and get 15% off, spend $500+ and get 20% and spend $1000+ and get 25% off with code BIGEVENT15. Below are some of my favorite picks:
Tell me what you’re lusting after! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
This is most definitely a “what would Carrie Bradshaw do” moment in my closet. I originally paired the peplum top with the hot pink skirt and tossed in the floral sandals, looked in the mirror and thought, “is this too much?”
What would Carrie Bradshaw do?
If she felt great, she would rock it. And I thought it was adorable, so even though I got a raised brow glance from Christian, I didn’t care. I felt like a cotton candy cupcake, and I’m into it. That’s what’s fashion is all about – taking risks and seeing how it works out.
Do you have moments when you’re pairing something together and you think, “this might be considered ‘too much’ but I feel great and therefore I’m wearing it.” Because I have this moment often, and I think the most important accessory of all is confidence. If you’re uncomfortable, you’ll look uncomfortable.
If you feel great, own it. Thanks so much for reading! XO –
Y’all may remember seeing a similar skirt here. CAUSE YA DID. I loved this beauty in red so much that I needed it in green too!
On Sunday I went to LA with my girlfriend Nikki to an Academy Awards viewing party at the W Hollywood. I knew this skirt would bring the va-va-voom without looking like a ball gown, as if I was actually attending the awards show. Of which I clearly was not.
I felt very Carrie Bradshaw, and I have to admit the skirt was a showstopper. If you guys have any glam event to attend – this skirt will turn some heads, I guarantee it!
Because I always have a lust list, this week’s wish list is a little all over the place. From a gold bar cart under $215 to classic neutrals, a scalloped swimsuit and a concealer I’ve been wanting to try – I actually keep a little note on my phone of things I’ve got my eye on. Is that weird? I also keep notes of people’s travel tips/recommendations, movies I’d like to see and restaurants I’d like to try.
But this necklace… oh this necklace. I usually like to layer statement necklaces for even more va-va-voom, but with this beauty I can tell I wouldn’t even need to worry with that. When it comes to jewelry, I’m usually a “more is more” kind of gal. Call it the Southerner in me!
What’s on your wish list? Are y’all in this chilly weather living/spring wishin’ phase like me? Thanks for reading – XO –
I’m excited to team up with HP to share the new HP x360 laptop with you guys. HP is bending the rules with this bad boy and the lightweight laptop can be used four ways – traditional laptop, tablet, tent and stand. I wanted to share the capabilities of this device with my favorite computer accessory… coffee!
I’m sharing my four favorite coffee recipes (as of late), kicking it off with a traditional latte and the traditional laptop. We’re still working on mastering our latte art, so we’re gonna need some time on that one. Don’t judge, we tried. When I actually get up when my alarm goes off (realistically 1-2x a week), I love to sit on our patio with Bailey and a hot cup of coffee. I’ll share my blog post of the day on social media and catch up on emails. I love that quiet morning time so much, you would think this would be more motivation to get out of bed.
I’ve shared a frappuccino recipe here, but this Caramel Frappé is like dessert. When our last apartment didn’t have air conditioning (and I was unemployed for a relaxing two months) icy cold morning frappuccinos were my go-to. My tip: use leftover coffee to make coffee ice cubes rather than using regular ice.
These days, this drink is more of a dessert, which pairs perfectly with the x360 used as a tent to catch up on my favorite shows (usually Girls).
I recently saw this iced Mint Mojito Iced Coffee here, and I was all MUST MAKE IMMEDIATELY. This refreshing drink does not disappoint and is a great recipe for those weekend mornings when you have a little bit more time on your hands to take your coffee to the next level.
A perfect sip to go along with perusing the web and catch up on all the blogs I follow using my x360 as a tablet.
When I need an extra hitch in my giddy up (yes I just said that, I am from Mississippi y’all), espresso is my caffeine of choice. I will pour espresso over ice cubes and top it off with some white mocha syrup. As the ice melts and slightly dilutes the espresso, it’s still delicious to sip on all morning. A great morning drink on the go!
Sidenote – having dual monitors is my work addiction. Once you start working on two monitors, you can never go back. It’s full-on #firstworldproblems. With the x360, it’s so easy to use the laptop as a stand on my desk for an extra screen.
To add to the fun, HP is going on the road with Meghan Trainor to cover her That Bass tour this month and next month. Follow along here!
What’s your favorite coffee drink? And I’m not talkin’ a regular cup of jo. Let’s get creative here! Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –
Thank you to HP for sponsoring this post. As always, all opinions are my own!
So I don’t know if I’ve fully shared my love of cashmere and eBay on this blog before, but there’s no time like the present.
My entire family, actually, is all about some eBay. I’ve snagged fragrances, Lacoste sweaters, a Burberry trench, designer belts, you name it. In this case, I adore cashmere but refuse to pay hundreds of dollars for it, especially now that I live somewhere that rarely dips below 55 degrees.
Not to worry, this season I’ve snagged camel and black cashmere turtlenecks on eBay, as well as an oversized gray cashmere batwing sweater that is like wearing a blanket, and I love it. I didn’t pay more than $40 per item, and I know these are chilly weather staples that will be hanging in my closet for years to come.
I must also share that these leggings are my new lifeline. They are made of extremely durable and thick while flattering fabric that also has a tummy control panel. I love them so much I could marry them. I’ve been wearing them at least once a week and love how comfortable and sleek they are. I seriously should just go ahead and throw all of my other leggings in the trash because these are 800x more flattering.
So are any of you guys eBay shoppers? I’d LOVE to hear some of the things you’ve scored! Make me jealous! Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –
– enjoying watching the flamingos last weekend, and convincing myself if I was a bird I would be a flamingo (tall, pink, a little goofy) –
– the best kind of breakfast – Shop Sucre macarons and King Cake –
– someone’s still offended she didn’t get an invite to Disneyland –
– reflecting on a relaxing weekend in the desert –
– a touch of pink –
February has brought some fun weekends this year that I’m all about after a quiet January. Last weekend we enjoyed some R&R (more like I enjoyed considering C was in conference meetings during most of the daytime) in the desert and this Sunday Christian kicks off a week of vacation. Tonight, my brother-in-law (C’s little brother) arrives from Mississippi to take part in a California vacation. Christian and his brother are really close and it blows my mind we’ve only see Timothy twice in 1.5 years. They are in constant contact though, and C has been working to plan the perfect week of bro time.
Tomorrow night we’re stealing my brother and sister-in-law in LA and the five of us will head to the Clippers vs. Kings game. Sunday I’ll head back to LA for an Oscars viewing party and C and Timothy can prep for their week of camping/hiking/surfing (and maybe visit a winery on the way). They’ll ditch me and I’ll work during the week, joining them on Wednesday for a weekend of skiing in Mammoth. Basically just a week jam-packed with sports and outdoor activities… which is definitely a week planned by brothers. Stuff like this always makes me feel sorry for my brother, who grew up with only sisters meaning we would take him to the spa and shopping, when really he would rather be golfing and skiing. The guy loves a hot stone massage though.
Lastly, I’ve finally completed my two-week Lanakin trial and my lashes have actually gotten longer! They’re not lash extension or Latisse long, but they have gotten a little extra boost which I’m always up for.
Have any of you been skiing in Mammoth? We went to Deer Valley last February, but didn’t want to make Timothy fly again after flying all the way across the country. Would love to hear your thoughts or recommendations!
**Update: the original giveaway that was posted has closed. Thank you to those of you who entered!**
Have an amazing weekend, y’all. Thanks for reading! XO –
One of my favorite things to do with Christian on the weekend is go to the beach. While California as a whole is very pet-friendly, a lot of the beaches only allow dogs at certain hours of day (which I totally understand, as my dog is a total wild woman). Newport allows dogs after 4:30pm, which means Bailey gets weekly beach walks during the summer and spring after work.
Dana Point and Newport Beach have my favorite Orange County beaches… but Queen B loves the ocean. Now that it’s darker earlier, she hasn’t been getting her weekly fix, so C and I took her for a joyride. Her excitement level is something else. I feel like she acts like we keep her locked in the basement and her beach visits are her only time for fresh air in months. It’s not embarrassing at all… false. It’s way embarrassing. BUT, I love this quote from Ryan Adams, “There is nothing wrong with loving the crap out of everything. Negative people find their walls. So never apologize for your enthusiasm. Never. Ever. Never.” So Bailey – you win, girlfriend!
I have to wear a swimsuit around Bailey because she loves to walk up to me and shake her salty water and sand all over me. So I layered some loose-fitting pants and a crocheted cardigan over this super fun Triangl bikini for a put-together beach look.
bikini c/o Triangl | crochet cardigan – Gypsy Couture Boutique, similar here and here | pants – Forever21, old, love these and these | pendant c/o Johnny Loves June | sunnies | gold cuff c/o Gorjana | assorted David Yurman | gold chain bracelet c/o INPink
That sunset gets me every time. What’s your favorite time of day at the beach, lake or pool? I’d love to hear. Thanks always for reading! XO –
