I recently shared this look on Instagram here, but I don’t know what feels more fresh than crisp white denim. However, my legs/thighs are usually not the area I look to highlight (a little more about that here), and we know white skinny jeans do this oh so well. That’s where a cropped flare pair comes in!
I love cropped denim because like skinny jeans, you can wear them with flats or heels but unlike skinny jeans, they don’t hug your leg silhouette if you’re not tryin’ to show them off, ya feel me?
Are you a white denim lover? Or do you have the same hesitation as me? If so, I encourage you to try this silhouette and see what you think! It’s totally changed the white denim trend for me.
Last year a shared a tuxedo dress here, but this white tuxedo blazer might be one of the prettiest blazers in my closet (and I am blazer-addicted so I have quite a few). I love wearing it with all black for a crisp and chic look, but I wanted to share how I paired it with a floral dress for a boss-lady yet feminine church outfit, baby shower look, work-appropriate look.
A blazer is probably my favorite way to make a spaghetti strap or strapless outfit acceptable for stricter dress codes. When I worked in a formal corporate office it was everything (examples here and here)! It allowed me to maximize the pieces I already had in my closest versus having to spend money on “work clothes.” Girlfriend, that’s what cardigans and blazers are for. Don’t spend your hard-earned cash on work clothes if you don’t have to!
For other ways I like to style blazers check out casual looks here and here and a dressier look in this post.
I can’t get enough of red right now. It’s such a hot and trendy color for this spring and summer! I have styled red in some spring looks already here, here, here and here, but I wanted to put together a post with some of my favorite pieces online.
This dress is a dream, this swimsuit is reversible (love that for suits!) and I recently snagged this top (under $20). I’m sharing many more red picks below. I want to hear if you’re as into red right now as I am.
I’ve always loved a blonde in red, but my blonde friends say they feel like they’re “comin’ in hot” in a red dress. As a brunette, I totally disagree – I love it on both blondes and brunettes!
Thanks so much for reading – I’d love to hear your favorite red pieces!
It’s no secret I love a crop top (if you search “crop top” quite a few posts will come up), so give me a comfortable crop top set and you KNOW I’m here for it.
I think this set screams vacation, and I recently wore it in Palm Springs for a little ladies lunch. I layered a chambray shirt over it during lunch as to not show too much skin! You could also wear add a little straw hat for some extra summer vibes. I’ve worn this skirt with a tee and sneakers here. And how cute would this top be with high waisted jeans and a linen or white blazer!?
That’s what’s so great about sets – it’s always three looks in one!
Last week I traveled to Cabo San Lucas for a long weekend to celebrate Jenn’s wedding and spend some time at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica with Nikki! Jenn asked Nikki and I to be in her wedding, and so we have had this trip scheduled for what feels like so long, so we were so excited to arrive in Mexico and sneak in some beach time before the big day.
As soon as we arrived to Pueblo Bonito Pacifica, I was thinking, “how can I extend this trip and get Christian down here?” He has been wanting to take a week of vacation in May and I felt so guilty because he would have LOVED this resort. It is an all-inclusive property right on the water in Cabo. There are multiple pools, tons of cabanas lined up in the sand, several restaurants and incredible suites.
We were assigned a butler named Manuel, and he was so attentive and helpful. Turns out he also makes the best cocktails on the property (according to us) – you’ll see some of his beautiful concoctions below!
We had the most peaceful massages on Thursday (my masseuse was Melissa and she was fabulous) and there was an awesome gym in the building where we stayed (fun tidbit about me: I love a hotel gym – like, live for it), and I had the best workout Friday morning while overlooking the ocean… I mean, it doesn’t get better than that.
All in all, I really loved my stay here. I would absolutely go back, and if you can splurge for a suite they are fabulous with plenty of space. The cabanas on the beach are around $40 a day and they are more than amazing, I would highly recommend booking one in advance for at least one day! I literally wore my hair dirty and and barely wore makeup one night just so I could spent 30 more minutes reading in the cabana. And it was worth it.
Also, if you order room service (which is also included in your booking), the shrimp fajitas are what’s up.
Thank you so much for reading and let me know if you have questions that I didn’t answer! XO –
I love a designer accessory. I consider bags and jewelry investment pieces that can really last throughout the decades if you take care of them. I tend to go a less expensive in the clothing category and save my splurges for fabulous accessories (which I’ve gone into deeper here and here).
If you’ve been reading CBL for a little while, you might remember this post from a little over a year ago where I introduced you guys to The Lady Bag. I’ve known about The Lady Bag for several years now, and this site remains to be my favorite source for shopping classic, authentic, previously owned and vintage LV pieces that are often hard to find.
I use my Keepall from her all the time (most recently here), and I’ve had this gorgeous Monceau Bag on my wish list for quite a while. When it came in… I had all the heart eyes! It’s such a great size for everyday and I love the shape so much. It’s so classic and ultra chic.
AND there might be a little giveaway at the bottom of this post so be sure to check that out!
AND The Lady Bag + CBL have teamed up to offer a reader the chance to win this darling Damier pouch! I’m not going to lie, I love it so much I’d be happy to steal it myself but we want to give it to a reader who follows the steps below:
This post is sponsored by Olay, but opinions are my own.
You read that right sister. Today we are going to talk about a product that can serve as a two-in-one and will cut down your prep time and save your dollars. I’m talking about Olay’s Regenerist Whip.
I used this Olay moisturizer for years and years. So when I was asked to try one of their newer products, I was definitely interested to learn more. I discovered that it has already won a best in beauty aware from People Magazine, and can serve as both a moisturizer and a makeup primer.
A few notable things about this product worth sharing –
It transforms from cream to liquid.
It feels luxe and creamy on your fingertips but quickly transforms into liquid, allowing it to fully absorb into your skin. This immediate absorption means you’re getting all of the active ingredients and hydration instantly.
It has a lightweight and matte finish.
It’s named “Whips” because it has a “light as air” finish. As someone with an oily T-zone, I love that it has a matte finish. It doesn’t feel heavy so it can be worn all day without feeling shiny or oily. This is why it’s such a great pre-makeup primer!
It’s under $30.
Like I said – Olay was one of the first facial moisturizers I ever purchased. It’s award winning for a reason and totally affordable.
It smells like a slice of heaven.
When I first opened the jar I thought… can I also get this face lotion in a candle scent, please? It smells so fresh!
Photos by Christian Barnes
Because this product is so lightweight while also nourishing, I really like using it in the mornings. I love the silkiness it brings to my complexion before applying makeup! I definitely feel like I can skip the primer when I use Olay Whips, so that’s a major bonus to my everyday beauty routine.
Have you used Olay‘s skincare products before? I’d love to hear your experience and what you think. You can get your own free sample of the product here! Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –
An all black outfit is always chic. I wore more of it before I lived with a yellow lab, so now I have to save it for occasions that are Bailey-free. I say that before she makes an appearance in this post… so perhaps I’m eating my words here!
I shared recently on Instagram here that I can’t get enough of these mini eartha bags. They are so cute, hold just enough of the necessities and I love that they are adorable as a crossbody or top handle. This checkered design is exclusive to Bloomingdale’s and I think it’s so fun!
This top is also exclusively at Bloomingdale’s, and I think it’s so pretty tucked into denim or a skirt. I love the ruffle at the top and the neck tie makes a classic black blouse more unique.
If you haven’t checked out Bloomingdale’s 100% exclusive shop, they have so many fab pieces at great prices. One of my favorite things about this shop is that these products are only available in limited quantities and designed just for Bloomingdale’s by brands and designers. It makes the pieces seem even more special!
Are you a Bloomie’s gal? I’d love to hear! And tell me you don’t love this little mini bag – I can’t enough! Thanks so much for reading and sharing – XO –
I talked about layering a jumpsuit recently here, but I wanted to share another fun way to maximize a jumpsuit in a more casual way.
I wore this red number not too long ago here, but I knotted a tee over it for a playful and comfortable look that feels more appropriate for daytime or date night. It can be any tee really – I think even a solid one would look fab.
I prefer heels with this look to add some femininity, but I think a chic pair or sneakers could also look really cool!
This past weekend Christian, Bailey and I had a little staycation at Astoria Central Park West Apartments in Irvine. We all so easily get in our own little bubble or neighborhood, and often forget to get out and try new things in our own city. I was excited to hang in Irvine and be a little tourist in OC for a weekend!
Seeing that we have a move to San Francisco ahead of us this summer, it was really interesting to stay in this luxury apartment for a weekend. I’ve lived in an apartment three different times, and trust me – none of them were this fabulous!
Here are a few amenities Astoria Central Park West offers that I could definitely get used to in my future life:
Rooftop pool and hot tub with outdoor grills and fireplaces.
We have a pool and hot tub now and really love it. It’s so much easier than heading to the beach (I know, #champagneproblems) because you can easily pack and have what you need without trekking it all the way through the sand. I would love, love, love an outdoor fireplace or fire pit. It’s so cozy and the perfect little happy hour spot!
Complimentary valet parking for guests and covered parking garage for residents.
Since we were weekend guests, we were allowed to valet our car all weekend. I love the idea of letting your guests know they can just pull up for complimentary valet versus having them drive all around looking for a parking spot like we have to do now.
Wine cellar storage and wine tasting room.
I mean… do I even need to elaborate here? Dreamy!
Starbucks machine in the lobby.
It’s the little things in life, and grabbing a quick (and free) chai latte in the lobby… I’m not mad at it.
Fully stocked gym.
We hit up the gym Saturday night before cleaning up for dinner, and I kept thinking how much I would LOVE to have a gym like that every day. It was so quiet and made a quick workout just that – a quick workout because you could just hop over to the 3rd floor instead of getting in your car. No excuses to skip and beyond efficient. Major envy!
HUGE Windows lining the apartment walls for amazing sunlight and views.
We visited during a rainy weekend but were able to enjoy the rain through the walls of windows was so amazing! I would love to have this kind of natural light in an apartment.
Not to mention Astoria also has two helipads on the roof, multiple elevators so there’s never a wait for more than 10 seconds, a huge grassy lawn for pets to run around and is less than 10 minutes from South Coast Plaza and Fashion Island. We actually just walked to have lunch because there are so many great places right across the street!
North Italia | I mean… whoa. We saw the Yelp reviews of this spot and knew we had to give it ago. The service was so-so, but the food was outstanding. We ordered four things and not a crumb was left. It was seriously that good!
Puesto-Park Place | We had dinner here and took advantage of the Orange County Restaurant Week menu. I don’t eat much meat anymore but after seeing the rave reviews of the filet mignon taco I knew I had to try it… and it was what’s up. Great vibe but I think we were so spoiled after our North Italia lunch. It didn’t meet the high bar by comparison!
The Stand | Awesome burger, so-so fries but the options for burgers is kind of amazing. And you can substitute a turkey or veggie burger in any of their menu items!
Have you ever taken a staycation in your own city?
Do you live in Orange County or have advice for someone looking for an apartment (as in amenities you can’t live without)? I’d love to hear your thoughts on luxury apartment life and what you know or have heard about Astoria.
Spring wish lists means a new season must be on the horizon! We’ve had some rain lately and while I know it’s not snow like those of you on the East Coast, it still has me ready for when the temperatures rise a little bit so I can soak up one more sunny SoCal spring before our move.
I’m currently however en route to a warm destination to celebrate the nuptials of future Mrs. Perrault, and I’m wishing I had this red hot piece in my suitcase! I’ve had a busy week leading up to this fun trip, so it was one of those last minute packing situations where I might be surprised at what actually ended up in my suitcase. We’ve all been there! Do you have any exciting spring travels on your agenda?
I have been longing for these heels for weeks but they haven’t had my size in stock. If they have yours, please scoop them up and enjoy them on my behalf!
I’ll be sharing more about our Orange County staycation tomorrow, so stay tuned! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
If you search “Julie Vos” on this site, you’ll find tons of posts. I’ve been wearing Julie Vos for years since my friend Nikki introduced me to the brand, and it continues to be my favorite quality statement jewelry. I once wore a few rings to a jewelry salon and before I knew it, I had at least five women around me admiring the pieces and asking who the designer was! I’ve been at restaurants answering questions from waitresses about the bracelets… this is not an exaggeration.
The pieces speak for themselves, and I love how beautifully they mix and match together. AND I’ve been wearing some of the bracelets for several years now and they’ve never tarnished. Seriously. You can’t tell the brand new pieces from the pieces I added four years ago.
I personally lean toward their statement pieces like the chainlink bracelets, chunky cuffs and statement rings, but they also have delicate pieces if you’re not stacking high like yours truly (I’ve always been a “more is more” kind of bracelet person). They have a great selection of feminine necklaces and stud earrings that are easily wearable everyday picks.
Trust me, if you roll around town wearing a Julie Vos piece, prepare yourself for tons of questions. My Julie Vos pieces are easily my most asked about jewelry (other than my engagement ring), and that’s why I’m so excited to partner with them for this post. I’ve loved this brand and the team behind it for so many years and I always love telling people about them!
clothing: crop top (sold out), similar style here and here | skirt, also love this one | heels, similar look for less here | bag, similar styles for less here and here
Have you ever heard of Julie Vos or owned any of their pieces? I have quite a collection so please feel free to ask me any questions you may have! Thanks so much for reading – XO –
