Beach Stop

Living close to the water has to be my favorite thing about living in Southern California.  As much as I miss home on the prairies in Canada, there is something glorious about being able to walk onto warm sand and have salty ocean breezes tousle up your hair.  Truth is I somehow always knew, even as a kid, that I would end up in SoCal.  I realize that sounds crazy, but it's true.  As a result I never really settled anywhere after I left home in my late teens - and even more bizarre is my flip flop pile consistently predominated all other shoe collections as my nomadic lifestyle carried out.  One of my best friends in Seattle told me from the time she met me she was always learning to slowly let me go.  Isn't that kind of sad, but poignant?

Speaking of sad it's Monday.  The past two days have officially been declared "Weekend of the Spontaneous Purchase" as a Saturday toothpaste run somehow resulted in 3 pairs of shoes - each the last or only pair in size 36 meaning it was a sign right?, a tunic that I'm pretty sure Carey is going to tell me is a caftan (I think I've crossed over to the dark side aka caftan-lover-in-training), $15 worth of dark chocolate at See's Candies, and a random pitstop at the beach.  To be fair I left the chocolate with the Chef at his restaurant and actually zeroed in on the tunic Friday night at, oh, 8:59pm after randomly spotting -and then immediately purchasing- the very last blush linen blazer at H&M after stalking location after location for three weeks.  Should have seen the signs coming...

Every time I see the ocean, it stops me in my tracks.

Kind of like the fringy tassels on this tunic...I didn't stand a chance against them.

~Club Monaco-Tunic (caftan?), James Perse-Ribbed Dress, Lucky Brand-Denim,

Dulce-Clogs, PANYC&Motif 56-Bracelets, Melinda Maria-Rings, Foley&Corinna-Bag~

This Free People necklace, from what has to be a year ago, turned out to
be a mad show stopper.  Got stopped at least 5x that day.  Who knew?

Had to slip this picture in, too...how cool is that surfer running out of the water?

And, in picture overload, I leave you with a full body.  Despite the fact that I'm 

pretty sure this is a bikini cover-up it will be in daily outfit rotation.  

As I sit in my pj's in the home office. Ha!

Hope your weekends were relaxing after Blogger meltdown 2011!  Can I get a Tuesday?

Dear Crazy People: This Is Not Your Next Home

This week has been filled to the brim with crazy.  Monday went by in a tax prepping blur as I showed the apartment to what seemed like an endless stream of neighbors I really hope I don't get - here's just a few:

• Teen Mom Candidate
• 20 lb dog lady who wants the beast to lounge on my Moroccan deck.   That's.Not.Happening.
• Guy who has never lived in the same state with girlfriend (does the landlord live here?), but is "sure" they'll get along fine (does the landlord live close by?) even though he really doesn't want her to quit her job (did you say the landlord lives upstairs?) and go back to school.  Do I have any advice on how he can talk her out of it?  Huh?  Oh and btw buddy, I AM the landlord.  No I didn't say that, but boy was I tempted.
• And today's person really took the cake.  Sppppokkkke soooooo slowwwwwly IIIII coooouuuulllld baaaarrreeeellly unnnderrrrstannnnnd hiiiiiim, got all up in my personal space, didn't want to see closet space, individual rooms or anything opting instead to corner me in the hallway to ask:  Do you live here alone?  How long have you lived here?  Does anyone live here with you (uh, already asked that ya cuckoo bird)?  By now I'm officially terrified and looking for something to hit him with when the kicker happens:  A huge moth flies out of his hair (I'm also terrified of moths for some strange reason) and flutters to land on the ceiling...followed by a mid-sized one that goes flying off into my office.  Okay Silence of the Lambs it's time for you to get out.  (At the door he turns and points to one of my pictures:  Isssss thaaaat youuuuu?  Me: Yes.  Him:  You look so much different.  Me:  GOOD-BYE as I shut the door in his face, locking it behind him.  HELP!)

Tuesday I was 25 minutes late to the tax appointment due to Southern California road construction in mid-afternoon.  Why me?  Thankfully Blanket came along to ease my nerves...he was a huge hit at the accountant's office.  Five women huddled around him upon arrival, and people kept walking in and out of the office we were in for four hours just to get a look at him.  It was quite heartwarming.

Somewhere in here I managed to throw on a semi-decent outfit and grab a few pictures.  Thankfully disheveled is in right now.

~Joie - Dress worn as tunic, James Perse - Ribbed Tank Dress, Gap - Pintucked Wide leg~

And yes that look on my face says it all:  I've had enough.

~ Motif 56-Wide Cuff and Woven Bracelets, PANYC-Wrap Bracelet, Anthro-Belt, 

Target-Sunnies, Melinda Maria-Ring, Africa-Necklace~ 

Earlier this month I ironed my hair for the first time in weeks before class.

Girl:  You straightened your hair!  Me:  You mean I combed it, right?  Girl:  um, nooooo - but

face complete agrees with my statement.  Me:  No worries.  I like a good rat's nest.  Girl: um, okay?

I think we're best friends now.  She laughs her head off and waves every time she sees me.

Still wearing these Gap Wide Legs in heavy rotation...hope they bring more back.
Worth picking up at least one more pair.

Thankfully the sun's staying up  longer.  Hopefully it brings out the sane renters because I
am not looking for a version of I am Legend brought to life.

How much you wanna bet that guy on the bike is one of the people I show
the apartment to later today?  He was totally making a getaway on that bicyclette.

I spent yesterday morning at the Chef's restaurant and it is looking so much more put together than last week.  I was relieved, if you want the truth.  In the meantime I'm about to go into full speed moving mode seeing as Friday and Saturday are the days to get all the big pieces upstairs as the Chef tries to oversee construction and renovation, while trying to assist in the move.  How fun.  I might not be back to normal visitation of your blogs until next week, so go do crazy things in the next few days so we can share stories.  P.S. Haven't shredded in two days.  Confession!! 

To Warmer Days Ahead

Well girls today is the beginning of the White Denim in Winter Challenge and it would only figure that I'm seriously under the weather with a cold.  I spent Friday night trying to convince myself that I didn't have a sore throat, only to wake up on the couch Saturday morning barely able to swallow.  Tall tales to self continued well into the evening where reality set in:  someone else would be singing Maneater at a local hang out while I sipped hot tea through a straw.

There is no justice in this wicked world.

I am so looking forward to seeing how everyone styled their whites today.  I'll join in on Thursday as the whitest thing I have to offer right now is my dastardly pale skin.  Here's who's up:

• Daniela - D, Etc.
• Nicole - Frankie Hearts Fashion
• Shannan - Merci Blah Blah
• Lyddie - Chic on the Cheap
• Taylor - Curly in the City

Everyone posts at different times so you might need to visit more than once, but I've already seen Lyddie's and she sent me into tears.  Gorgeous!  Speaking of tears does anyone else cry when they're sick?  I spent Saturday night shivering and weeping away to The Holiday.  Oh Jude Law.  Oh Kate Winslet.  Oh romance.  

On that note I leave you with a glimpse into today's outing with the Chef.  Long live boyfriends who don't give a rip about the Super Bowl and running around with plastic cheese on their head while the neighbors get ripped out on pot, screaming and hollering their heads off, using baseball terminology to describe football.  True story.

Pinkberry

Loyalty goes to frozen yogurt places that don't allow children

to dig their hands into the toppings.

Blood Orange & Original Swirl

Toppings: Raspberry, Strawberry, Blueberry & Pralines

Feed a cold; starve a fever.

Outfit Details:  Tucker for Target - Butterfly & Purple Print Dresses, Siwy Hannah Denim, 

Foley & Corinna Mid-City Tote, Dulce Calf Hair Clogs, Melinda Maria - Ring

Target-Sunnies, Necklace - Africa

Channeling Mrs. Roper will always cheer up the most dismal of sniffles.

As will a glance at Bieber.

You know you like him. Bay-bee, Bay-bee, Bay-bee OOOH!

Here's to sunnier, warmer days ahead.

It's official:  I despise winter.

See you back tomorrow for Round Two of the Whites.  Hope you had a great weekend!

Magic Pants

Last week I was waxing on over twitter regarding my search for the perfect pair of high-waisted jeans to add to the closet for summer's upcoming return-to-70's style extravaganza.  Coming in for the rescue was Nikki pronouncing her love for Gap's new trouser jeans...and mentioning the high-waist alternative.  Cut to Thursday and there I was, mid-afternoon, dancing with glee in the fitting room of my neighborhood Gap store - adorned in their Pintucked Wide Leg Trouser Jeans.  Truth be told two of the employees were jumping up and down with me.  One had been a little skeptical, but I came prepared with my arsenal of shoes aka platform clogs - and once I strolled out with those pants skimming the floor it was game over for all three of us.

Were you fans of Three's Company?  Remember Janet and Chrissy wearing those ridic-fantastic high-waisted denim trousers??  Well all I have to say is 'Come and Knock On Our Door' (the theme song - for all you young people) because there's been a rebirth.  Up next - conquering Mrs. Roper's vibe...it's gonna be one amazing 70's-chic summer, ladies!

 They make me look curvy in places I'm not thanks to the high waist.

Sitting perfectly just over the belly button.

 Super comfortable to sit in, and long enough in the leg to accomodate

a nice platform clog.

I could fit my whole shoe in the leg - that's how wide it is - LOVE!

A little wrinkly because I'd been driving in the car all day, but 

you can still see the fab silhouette - and they held up well.

I wore them with one of my fave Tucker blouses, but am also imagining them with a hot pink t-shirt with the word LOVE stitched on it (currently stashed in the summer clothing containers in the garage) and a wild colored belt.  Can you imagine?  Or how about a full-on Janet and Chrissy throw back with a blouse tied in a knot at the waist?  Or maybe a fitted t type jersey - remember the ones with the numbers embossed on them?  The possibilities are endless and the search is over.  

Will you be venturing into high-waist territory this spring?

Outfit details:  Tucker for Target - Blouse, Gap-Pintucked Wide Leg Trouser Jeans, Dulce-Clogs, Foley&Corinna-Mid-City Tote, Melinda Maria-Bracelets and Margo Circle Ring, PANYC-Leather Bracelet, Dean Davidson-Turquoise Ring, Target-Sunnies

Simple Saturdays: Brightening a Winter Look

As much as I can be a go with the flow person, every so often I find myself getting into a flap (no pun intended seeing as it is this free bird).  Maybe it's residue from holiday madness, but I've been wigging out if all my ducks aren't just so in a row and I am really getting on my own last nerve.  Saturday brought overcast skies and chilly temps at the beach.  When I woke up it took everything in me to sink back under the covers instead of jumping out to rush around the house completing 25 tasks (mission accomplished - the tree's still up and is officially a haven of spiky needle hot mess - not sure how I'm going to get that mother out now...).

By late afternoon we decided to simply meander about town with zero set plans in effort to thwart my newly emerged ocd-ness.  Ever notice how just when you want to throw something on and leave quickly, the weather decides to throw its own wrench into your plans and cause a little chaos?  Cool weather means a coat, and warm clothing in my closet usually consists of black and grey which I am oddly tired of at present (give me 10 minutes and I'll be back).  In an effort to shed the winter blues aka a coat - I threw a longer sleeveless knit cardigan and brightly colored scarf over the usual basics and felt my mood brighten right away.  Here's to discovering more ways to bring out my winter hippie!

 

The scarf totally saves the day.

If you were walking behind me you'd see straight basics.

The knit vest might take you to another place 

(if you're into granny chic, ahem val?)

-but the hint of scarf is really where the fun really starts.

Oh and the bell bottoms...and the mauve clogs (seen here and here).

 A touch of funky brighter jewelry adds a little more zip.

 And ta-da!  You're good to go...the bright flowers help too, of course.

 Suffice it to say the rest of the day/evening tried its best to turn into a gongshow...we decide to go to LA for dinner and a movie only to be met by everyone and their mother, father, sister, brother, aunt, uncle and grandparents attempting to do the same thing.  After several failed attempts to find a place to eat without a two hour wait (drive around and waste gas much??) one of our fave restaurants makes a place for us and the server tells us she'll get us out in time for our 10:45 movie because we left our phones in the car in effort to just enjoy dinner without distractions (imagine the thought).  Cut to scene and her watch must have stopped because we get in the car and it's 10:55.  The theatre doesn't seat after the movie starts, so we get a voucher and go home spent.

Talk about having the ocd whooped out of you - no wonder I didn't take that tree down yesterday.  Yaaaawn.  Hope your weekends were smooth sailing...or skiing :)

Outfit details:  Kersh-Sleeveless Sweater Coat, J.Crew-V-Neck, Hudson-Bell Bottoms, Tolani-Scarf, Old Stud Handmade - Belt, Dulce-Clogs, Foley+Corinna-Mid-City Tote, Melinda Maria-Moon&Star Necklace, Dean Davidson-Ring, Bracelets-Milijana and my niece!, Sunnies-Anthropologie

Hiding From the Neighbors

Have you ever felt like a prisoner in your own home?  Unfortch I have (think bizarre neighbors).  As I returned home late Saturday night and put the car in the garage I was greeted by the following screams while exiting the vehicle:  "WHO DAT? WHO DAT? WHO DAT? WHO DAT? WHO DAT?"

You have got to be kidding me.

I stopped dead in my tracks before turning to face a beanie clad wannabe surf kid - and with the most withering glare and dead pan tone responded, "You can.not be serious (each word drawn out and spoken slowly).  Pause.  Stare. Silence.Glare.  I live here you moron."  And then with the spin of a heel, stomped off tossing a nasty look as I slammed the gate behind me.  Ugh!  Grow up much?  Two minutes later I was gripped with fear and foot in mouth-itis slapping myself for showing/telling the fool where I lived!!

As a result, Sunday afternoon you would have caught me doing this move:

I call it the "scurry to the trash cans before the no manners neighbors see you 

and decide to plot revenge by spitting at you from their deck

or try to get you to go for a spin on a beach cruiser."  

(last part=true story)

While racing as incognito as possible by the garage of the other crazy neighbors with the glowing alien on their tiki deck, I spotted a very dilapidated garage (I swear I don't live in a bad neighborhood, but I know you probably don't believe me anymore and I haven't even gotten to the time the SWAT team poured in yet...another time, another time) down the way.  Making it safely back into the house I later re-emerged triumphantly, Bed, Bath and Beyond coupon in hand, to be greeted by 80 degree weather (so much for "traditional" holiday temps) and seized the moment to embrace my inner hippie unleashing a pre-spring look.

So much for faux fur.

 

 It's a case of sheer oversized tunic love.

I have no other words.  

Except Spring are you here yet?  I think I'm ready.

For turquoise and more fringe...

and bell-bottoms and more bell-bottoms and clogs, clogs, clogs.

Sigh.

It's gonna be a long winter.   

I wonder if this neighbor will consider selling me a piece of his beat down garage door?

Suddenly in the middle of holiday chaos (which makes me very sad because this is such a wonderful, magical time of year) the warm weather appeared and broke the hustle and bustle, providing a moment of reprieve.  Not to worry - I'm sure the grim reality of being nowhere near done shopping will be right there to greet me as soon as my eyes open in the morning.  Argh.  

Dear Monday:  can you slow things down just a little?

Outfit details:  Joie tunic, Gap tank tops and bell-bottom denim, Dulce clogs, Brandy & Melville fringe bag, Dean Davidson ring, Bracelet and Necklace - handmade gifts from Africa, Target sunnies.

Embracing My Inner Sequin

There are a lot of great perks that go along with dating a Chef. Aside from the obvious (amazing home-cooked meals!), there is the joy of an organized fridge, having someone to ask what the crazy looking stuff is at the grocery, and my personal favorite - testing out different restaurants. The Chef is a true food connoisseur and not a snob at all. He can find just as much beauty at a hole-in-the-wall diner as there is in a 5-star restaurant, and it's one of my fave things about him.

Dining out sometimes leads us to places that provide the perfect excuse for snazzy wardrobe items, and there is nothing like a proper date!  After a super sparkly event this weekend (details coming soon) we headed out for cocktails and small bites at one of our top haunts. Confession:  it was my first time adorned in sequins. Until now I had admired from afar, but after Saturday I'm on sequin crack. Having ordered some items a couple weeks ago I decided it was time to put one to the test.  Summary:  it was a love affair from the moment I put the top on until the moment I begrudgingly exchanged it for my pj's. Glitter, sparkle, shine - they bring out the best in everyone. I had the cheeriest conversations, met the most sincere smiles, and received a slew of compliments.  Does anyone know if there's a support group for sequin addicts?  I think I'm in trouble...

Then again, perhaps sequins are the solution for world peace?

J.Crew top and denim, Dulce Shoes, Foley + Corinna Bag

I mean really - where was my mind prior to now?

Any way you look at it, it's a win.  Sigh.

 Long live bling! Dyrberg & Kern and Melinda Maria Rings

And neighbors out for an evening stroll waving from across the street.

uh, awkward

Hope you had a wonderfully relaxing weekend.  So many bloggers are mentioning snow on the ground while we experienced a bit of a return to warm temperatures here in SoCal.  I managed not to slip off the eating healthy/exercising wagon.  Yippee!  Tomorrow I'll get a post in on one of my fat burning breakfast faves that also doubles as a snack.  How are you guys holding up??

Side note:  it's an early post tonight.  One of my indoor cats escaped out the back door and is on the lam.  I've gotta go do a search and rescue.  *sniffle*

Let Me Off The Room's Spinning

Just when I thought it was safe to pack up my summer wardrobe and head into fall, someone apparently pushed Mother Nature off the merry-go-round and in her confusion she's decided it's still summer.  Either that or seeing as we didn't get much of a summer here in Southern California, I can only assume she's been on that ride since last fall and is trying to warm up now that she's been let off.  Poor thing.  Speaking of poor things, this morning when I went to get ready to meet Shannan (from Merci Blah Blah) for brunch I didn't realize it was, oh, 80 degrees outside.  Niiiiiiice.

The vast majority of my summer clothes are in bins so high in the closet it would take something akin to a circus act for me to get them down.  I was already running late and in no mood to swing from the hangbars, so decided to remain in present season and make.it.work.  A few jersey/caftan things stay hanging year round, so I grabbed one and mixed it with denim (rolled a la Isabel Marant seen here and here) and a pony hair clog that has been crying for fall freedom.  Despite the warm temperatures I was able to keep relatively cool while surrounded by people in shorts and t-shirts.  This weather really is getting confusing.

After some wonderful conversation and laughs over some equally delectable pavlova, the Chef and I bid farewell to Shannan and her husband, Tom so they could go enjoy the remainder of their day in Laguna.   We're hoping this fun couple ends up in California some day - it was one of those meetings where you feel like you've known the other people forever.  The best!  Mid-way through our drive home we stopped to take in some of the late afternoon sun in a quiet neighborhood near where the Chef grew up.  It was very much a perfect summer day.  In fall.

Spider-man's sister?

 Cat Woman? 

 Wild Horses

 Batwings!

(sigh) Hello again summer.

Give thanks.

(Canadian Thanksgiving was this weekend)

Not exactly sure how the superheroes made an entrance into this post - a touch too much of the sun perhaps.  How was your weekend?  I won another CSN gift certificate at jammer's giveaway, but fear they won't let me pile them all together to get my much sought after bazillion dollar fondue set.  Oh no, not you again Monday!

When All Else Fails, Wear Something Cute

I think the bloody heat has gotten to my mind.  Yesterday morning I woke up from a dream where I was begging my friend Amber to bring me a Pepsi Slurpee from 7-11.  It was the weirdest thing - right in the middle of the dream I remembered I don't even like those and started pleading for a glass of water.  Why I couldn't get my own is beyond me.  All I know is it was hot in that dream, and when my eyes opened it was hot in my house.  (But thankfully I had not sleep-dialed poor Amber! Can you imagine??). 

Do you ever have mornings where you wake up and just know you should stay in bed until the next day?  Like the gong show is just waiting to gong your life all day long?  Well I had that day yesterday.  First was the sweaty, drink-less dream. Then I rolled into my office after a shower where I could barely get cool water - only to discover my internet provider had lost service to at least a thousand customers in my area.  Isn't that special?  Not so much.  How, pray tell dear people, is a person to do their job sans internet?  Oh and never mind the fact that I pay my bills online and several needed to be paid by noon PST.  That's not happening!  I decide I'm going to be productive and do some laundry and clean-up...only to walk into my mudroom and find it filled with smoke from the new next door neighbor who sits in his yard and cigars it up all day and night while the breeze wafts over his fence and into my home.  Welcome neighbor!  When are you moving out again?!?

I could go on, but I'll stop and spare you the details.  Suffice it to say by 11:30am I was huddled under the bed with nothing but a peep hole to the tv where I could see that Victor Newman is being sued by his daughters.  (All I could do is hope the tv didn't go up in smoke like the time my blowdryer almost lit my hair on fire - true story).  Thankfully the Chef stopped by and rescued me from spontaneous combustion.  We strolled the streets and took in a new sushi restaurant before returning home late in the evening to realize My Generation starts at 8 and not 9pm.  Fitting, isn't it?

Here is a woman who just wasted over an hour on hold 

with "customer service" only to be clicked as the rep answered.
Can you say spent?

 She cheered herself up by wearing her favorite clogs, a carefree print,
and a neon studded clutch that could double as a weapon against, say,
Blogger who she has been fighting with for 4 HOURS
trying to complete this post. This is not a lie.

 Earlier in the day she followed the lead of the Isabel Marant post
and rolled her skinny denim.  Isabel was not kidding - this is a fun look.

 Happiness is a butterfly printed Tucker dress...and a post that
is completed in under an hour instead of now going on 4.5.

 Oh no problem - I'm just gathering up my sanity while sporting
a degree of denim on denim.  Which, coincidentally, I loved.

Keep Calm and Carry On dear friends.
The weekend is upon us.

Outfit details:  Current/Elliott -Vest, Tucker for Target - Butterfly Cami Dress, Siwy - Denim, Dulce - Shoes, Rebecca Minkoff - Studded Clutch, Melinda Maria - Rings & Bangle, Necklace - gift from Africa, Sunnies - Tom Ford

I have literally been fighting with Blogger for 5 hours.  5 hours people!!  All of you in the east are almost ready to get up and I'm just going to bed.  TGIF

Humility is Dead

The other day the Chef found himself in a conundrum and asked me to get the female perspective from all of you.  There he was waiting patiently for his torta, having just ordered from the neighborhood Mexican place.  Next door is a popular nail salon.  In sashays a well-dressed 30-something woman fresh from said nail salon.  He described her as "one of those who was checking to see if everyone was looking at her, flinging her hair from left to right while trying to peer about inconspicuously, but making a big scenario of slamming down her fancy Birkin bag on the counter so everyone could see it was a Birkin bag." (And yes he does know what a Birkin bag is.  It's been two years.)

Anyway, as she's standing there at the counter the Chef notices her flouncy, yet long, skirt is tucked into her panties.  They are bright pink and on display for all the world to see - or at least the folks in the torta shop (and yes I did ask color and if it was a thong.  in fact i made him do a demo in the cat food aisle at petco). He was conflicted.  She was clearly on a high coming off a fresh mani-pedi - what if she went off and thought he was a perv?  Next thing you knew his order was brought over so he just left.  What a nightmare.

Question:  What would you have wanted?  A male stranger to tell you your undies and derriere were hanging out? Or for him to just leave and allow you to later die of embarrassment in peace always wondering if anyone had really noticed eventually convincing yourself they hadn't even though you know you're just lying to yourself to ease the horror? (holy run-on sentence!)

 the sun did shine.  my legs were white.  my underwear was not on display.

i've had dreams of this tunic all summer...i let it out before it warmed up.

i love all shades of purple...i'd imagined wearing it with a tan. 

pasty is not the new black. neither is one's butt hanging out in public.

this would have been my face if someone had told me -

it is the look of "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

What I would like to know is how does a long skirt get tucked into one's undergarments at the nail salon presuming one did not use the facilities?  She had to have used the facilities, no?  And personally, I think I'd want to know.  I shudder just thinking about it.  He asked me if I thought he should have said something.  I told him I thought if there had been an inconspicuous way so as to not draw any further attention to her, then yes.  Thankfully the place was not packed.  She did have to walk down Melrose afterward though....it kind of never has no one on it 

Lady?  Are you out there?  Just crawl into your Birkin bag.  This too shall pass.  

Ever have this happen to you?  You don't have to share if you don't want to. Some experiences just need to die.