When I really start to think about it, there are probably about a thousand reasons why I love where we live. Obviously, living a couple of blocks from the beach is a crazy perk that I never really expected in my life and ranks somewhere around number one. Getting my exercise along the Pacific Ocean is something that never gets old. Other favorites would be the beautiful SoCal weather, palm trees everywhere, and Massimo’s Pizza a neighborhood away. Seriously, I could always go for a slice, and this place is dee-lish.
I recently realized yet another reason I love this place though. We seriously have some of the cutest little shops and boutiques around, and great new stores are popping up all the time. It’s greaaat for my wardrobe, not so much for my wallet. Sometime around Christmas I seriously fell for the shops and restaurants and overall cuteness at Lido Marina Village, and recently, I found a new favorite, favorite shop there.
Holy moly, have you guys been into Amour Vert? Well if you haven’t, then this is a PSA to get your butt into that store. It’s seriously the cutest. The name means “green love” and they’re devoted to creating beautiful, sustainable fashion using American manufacturing, non-toxic dyes, and a zero waste mentality. For every tee sold, Amour Vert plants a tree, and so far, they’ve planted over 130,000 of them. Not bad, right? Oh, and those tees? The softest, comfiest, best tees that you’ll want to live in.
Besides the beyond yummy tees and this denim dress that I’ve just added to my cart, I love love all of Amour Vert’s silk pieces. The fabric is a bit thicker than the average Joe’s silk which means that when I packed this dress recently for a trip to Palm Springs, it didn’t arrive like a crumpled, wrinkled mess. Always a win in my book. If you live in the Orange County area, then GO to this store, and if you don’t, allow me to direct you right over here to get your online shop on. Have a great rest of your week, y’all!
A few weeks ago I shared my love of all things Amour Vert, especially their brand new store in Newport Beach, and this week, I’m back with more love for the sustainable fashion brand. I seriously just can’t say enough good things about this store. The fabrics, the prints, the designs, and the beyond friendly staff – it’s just a lovely little shopping experience.
I headed back to Amour Vert specifically for this little striped t-shirt dress (which is currently my favorite thing of life) and left with, well, a couple of extras. While the tees, tanks, and jersey pieces are definitely my main jam, there’s just no denying their beautiful silk pieces. And when I saw this floral silk blouse that’ll go with every bottom in my closet and take me clear into fall? There was just no saying no.
I paired it with these lightweight, easy-peasy white shorts (that are currently on major sale) and the slides I’ve been wearing non-stop (that are also on sale) for a pretty fool-proof summer weekend look. And speaking of the weekend, looks like it’s finally arrived, so here’s hoping everyone has a great couple of days ahead!
A season or two ago, I was roaming around some store shopping for God knows what when I came across a pair of culottes. Admittedly I did a double take, picked them up, and thought, what year is it right now? Where am I? I actually felt similarly last week when I noticed a new Aaron Carter song on the radio. What theeee? But back to the pants. I shrugged off the culotte thing and chalked it up to some buyer gone rogue.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago when I spotted this pair in Amour Vert. I wanted to look away, but damnit, I couldn’t resist. I mean, chambray culottes? They’re pretty darn cute in my opinion. They’re also pretty much the softest pants ever, and with a comfy striped tee tucked (or half-tucked), it’s such an easy, standout look. (Also, head right over here to see why I think you need ALL of the Amour Vert tees.) I added a favorite heeled mule, but these will be just as cute this summer with a flat sandal. And like, a pretty pastel bike with a basket full of flowers. Are they growing on you yet?
xoxo
P.S. – If you’re a mule lover like me, I seriously cannot recommend these more. There are only a couple of sizes left in black, but if your size is there, YOU NEED THESE.
It’s been one whole week since I was taking in the sights, twirling in the flower fields, and eating ALL the food in La Jolla, and I’m already wondering how soon is too soon to go back? I’ve wanted to check out La Jolla for the longest, so when Kathleen and I got the chance to skip town for a couple of days last week and post up at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine, it was a real no-brainer.
I love a good Hyatt (like this one in Huntington Beach), and this one in La Jolla was definitely no different. The people were all so nice and accommodating, and our room was seriously perfect. We ended up getting a suite with an extra adjoining room, so we had our own space but also a little common living room area for computer and wine time at night. We also each had our own bathroom which is so great for spreading out ALL of the hair and makeup things. (If only we could have rooms like this at New York Fashion Week!) We had access to the Club Lounge for all the snacks and coffees and an honor wine bar in the evenings. (Winner, winner!) The hotel also offers a junior sized Olympic pool, a gym, and a coffee bar that kept those almond milk lattes flowing. Overall, we had an amazing couple of days in La Jolla, and if you’re headed to the area soon, here are a couple of things not to miss.
What We Did:
Sightseeing at the Cove – The Cove is the area along the coast of La Jolla and 100% needs to be on your list. It’s where you can get views like this, beach hangs like this, and a front row seat to watch SO many sea lions sunning themselves on the sand. There are also a bunch of restaurants in the area, but we unfortunately didn’t have enough time to try any of them. (We got tons of suggestions about Puesto though, so if you go, it’s probably worth a try.)
Sunny Jim Sea Cave – There’s a little place called The Cave Store, and for $5 you can access a tunnel of stairs inside the store that leads down to Sunny Jim Sea Cave. Once you’re down there, you can’t really go far, but it’s still pretty cool to see the cave up close and think about how crazy it must have been building that tunnel. (Photos in the cave were really hard to capture, so unfortunately I don’t have any.) We were hoping for a repeat of the time that a curious little sea lion climbed the steps and roamed around the Cave Store, but for $5, we felt like it was still worth checking out.
Murals of La Jolla – If you paint it, the bloggers will come. Downtown La Jolla is all about a little outdoor art, and I, for one, am here for it. Kathleen looked up a few walls before our visit, and this one was calling our names. It was just about a 10-15 minute drive from the Hyatt, and the shop owners nearby didn’t seem to mind that we were trying to park it there for a little while. Hashtag, doin’ it for the ‘gram.
The Flower Fields at Carlsbad – The Flower Fields were on our way home, so we figured we might as well stop. And we were so glad that we did. I had heard great things, but once you see them in person, it really is pretty impressive. Rows and rows and rows of the prettiest flowers, all organized by color. Red, pink, white, yellow, orange, and then some areas of mixed colors – it was seriously something to see. (And for the record, still kicking myself for not trying out the strawberry Dole Whip stand.)
What We Ate:
Breakfast at Barcino Grill – This is the breakfast grill at the Hyatt, and, y’all, it’s so freaking good. We skipped the buffet option and ordered off of the menu which I think is definitely the way to go. On the first day we split the breakfast sandwich (with bacon jam on a pretzel roll, yasssss) and SoCal scramble bowl and loved both so much that we ordered them again via room service on day two. (And added on an oatmeal, for good measure.)
Lunch at Cafe Japengo – This sushi spot is technically part of the Hyatt, but it’s actually located right across the street. And it was delish. We thought we might have a light sushi lunch before hitting the beach, but then “a couple of rolls” turned into SO much sushi, truffle fries, pork belly bun sliders, a little wine, and one large food coma. And it was all worth it – now if only we could get a Cafe Japengo in Orange County. (Seriously though – please?)
Happy hour and dinner at DRIFT eat + drink – We had dinner reservations here (inside the Hyatt) for 7:00 but thought we’d pop down earlier for a glass of wine. Well, turns out we were just in time for happy hour. As, you know, journalists, we just had to check out the happy hour, and it was a good one. There was a special on carafes of wine, so…journalism. We capped it off with the nachos and butternut squash dip, pushed our dinner back to 8:30, and headed back to the room before showing up for round two – salads. (And more wine, desert, and coffee, if I’m being completely honest.) The food was delicious, the staff was super friendly, the space was so pretty, and that tile floor was shoefie ready.
Dinner at the Red O La Jolla – The Red O is a favorite of mine in Newport Beach, so when I saw that their newest location in La Jolla was just about a mile from the Hyatt, we had to check it out. True to form, the new location is beautiful, and the food was worth talking about days later. While I love their steak and fish options, I switched things up this time with the Mariscos Chile Relleno and holy dankness. I couldn’t switch things up in the margarita department though because the Alacran has my heart. (If you like SPICY margaritas, this one is the jam.) We left FED. So full that we actually skipped the Uber ride home and walked the mile back to the hotel instead. Needed, and so worth it.
xoxo
Brought to you by Hyatt Regency La Jolla, but all opinions are my own.
It seriously seems like just a couple of months ago that I was writing a little recap of 2016, and yet somehow, here we are, already a couple of days in to 2018. I know that lots of folks are having lots of mixed reviews of 2017, but I gotta say, it was a pretty wonderful one around here.
We kicked off 2017 by packing up our house and getting ready for a pretty easy remodel. We were adding on a dining room and an office for Eric and changing out all of the existing exterior plaster for new. We found an awesome rental house and thought we’d make ourselves at home there for about a month. (The plaster changing meant we wouldn’t have exterior walls, so the house was just too cold to live in.) You know what they say, the best laid plans…
Fast forward five months, and our sweet little remodel turned into an entirely different house. We eliminated walls, vaulted ceilings, did an entire kitchen remodel, and changed just about every room in the house. Over the next seven months, we added on a front patio with a fire pit that we love, completely reworked the backyard to include a built-in BBQ and jacuzzi area, and finally switched out the dirt yard and port-o-potty out front for actual grass and landscaping. (Hashtag, that construction life.) And I swear, more photos of the home are coming soon.
In May after moving back into our house, we welcomed our sweet pup Louise, and although girlfriend certainly put me through it for a couple of months, she’s now the sweetest little member of our family. (And as you can probably tell from the photos above, my furry sidekick loves a good photo opp.)
Over the summer we were super fortunate to purchase a house in Palm Springs (more photos here) and worked with a handful of amazing companies to furnish, decorate, and make it a home. We’ve loved every single day we’ve gotten to spend there, loved ringing in the new year there, and can’t wait to spend more time in the desert this year.
Year after year, I’m so very fortunate that you guys keep reading and following along on my journey. I’m so thankful for all the comments, likes, emails, in-person hello’s and so very thankful for this little community. There are already some fun things in the works for 2018, so I certainly hope that you’ll keep following along! Here’s hoping everyone has the best year ahead!
xoxo
P.S. – For all outfit details and photographer info, click the photo above to see the original post.
Y’all, this trip. This trip right here is how I’d like to spend the Monday and Tuesday nights of my week just about every week. Back in August, Kitty Kat Kathleen invited me to join her for a couple of nights at the Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara in North San Diego, and I clearly was like, yahs.
As soon as we checked in, I was feeling the vacay vibes even though we were only a couple of hours from home. Our room was actually larger than any of my Los Angeles apartments and boasted a full kitchen, two full bathrooms, and two balconies. (Oh, and a sleeper sofa in the living room that was perfect for watching a movie with room service on our second night. No shame in our game.)
Our first order of business? Hit the spa, girl. I had a facial, and let me tell you, these pores were happy. The esthetician asked what I’d like out of my facial, and I told her I wanted to be young forever. She laughed, and I’m still wondering what was funny. Seriously though, the spa was so relaxing, the perfect way to kick off the trip. I don’t know if I’ll be young forever, but my face did feel pretty dang smooth.
That night we had the most uh-mazing dinner at Seasons, the restaurant on the property. We got to dine at the chef’s table in the kitchen like some sort of fancy people, and for two girls who can never decide what they want to order, having the chef serve up whatever he wants at the “kitchen counter” really is the way to go. Each course was paired with wine and was somehow just as amazing as the last, and by course number 387, I was really questioning my decision to wear skinny jeans. By the way, the restaurant is open to the public, so San Diego area peeps – go there! (Also go there for brunch and order the avocado benedict with smashed potatoes – it’s legit.)
The next day we spent roaming around the property and hanging by the peaceful pool. Admittedly, it was a Tuesday, but man was this pool relaxing and also responsible for my first suntan of the summer. First tan in August? Not bad. We ended day numero dos by taking a few photos and then enjoying the aforementioned room service. Why does food taste better when you eat it in a robe?
This place really is meant to be a home away from home, and it was so nice in the mornings to just walk into our own kitchen, make coffee, and sit out on the balcony. Although we never even left the property, its location is just a short drive from beaches, restaurants, shopping, and so much exploring. Plus, no one even looked at me funny when I decided to have a little seat on a luggage cart in the middle of the outdoor lobby, so, ya know, that’s important.
If you guys are looking for a relaxing place to stay in the San Diego area with beyond yummy food, I really can’t recommend the Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara more. Hope everyone has a great weekend ahead!
While taking a stroll over the old Instagram this morning, I noticed that lately I’ve got quite a thing for stripes. And truth be told, it’s not just a recent obsession. I feel like of all the prints and patterns that I dig – florals, plaid, gingham, and even palm prints – stripes are definitely my main squeeze. They’re so classic and easy to mix, match and mingle, and this season, they’re once again everywhere.
So whether you go for a swimsuit (the tankini at number one is so good for busty gals), a fun bag, or a little something for your feet, you really can’t go wrong with adding a little stripe to any look. My personal faves? Well, I did pick all of the above, but I really want to get my hands on numbers five and fourteen – nothing better than a pool sarong that doubles as a scarf later. And the slides at number nine are pretty dang cute for under $25. Also, if you’re looking for the absolute softest tees around, the brand at number three has that ALL figured out. Hope everyone is having a great week, and happy summer shopping!
I’m sure I say this every year, but this May Grey slash early June Gloom thing is really outta hand this year. If you’re wondering what the hell I’m talking about, it’s the couple of months in Southern California where the majority of days are gloomy and overcast for all or most of the day. There’s an occasional peek of sunshine, but for the most part, it’s a combo of warm and cold, windy and humid, and a whole lot of what the hell do I wear. (Including last week’s souvenir sweatshirt situation in San Diego – that chill can really sneak up on a girl.)
So these days I’m living for long-sleeved basics, light jackets and easygoing pants like this striped pair from Bella Dahl. (Bella Dahl has always been a favorite of mine, like these white shorts from last year.) They’re as comfy as pajama pants, but worn with a great pair of wedges or heels, you won’t be giving any “roll out of bed and go” vibes at brunch. Just add a tie-waist blouse or a simple tee and denim jacket, and get ready for the long weekend ahead. We’re almost there, right?
In yesterday’s post, I gushed a bit about a few reasons why I love where we live, but I’ve saved a couple of my favorite spots for today’s post. Recently Eric and I did a 2-night stay-cation at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach for his birthday, and y’all, it was SO nice. I’ve gotten to check out so many hotels and resorts over the past few years, but this one really was one for the books, having a little vacation in our own city, literally a few blocks away from our house.
When I first checked in, Eric was at work so I got to have a little girls’ spa and pool day with Miriam, Lydia, and Kathleen. Not a bad way to kick things off, right? While the cat’s away… The Pacific Waters Spa at the Hyatt was so nice and relaxing, and if we hadn’t had lunch plans by the pool, we totally could have hung there all day, sipping champs and living our best robe lives. I’m always a facial over a massage type of gal, so I had a Pacific Waters facial and seriously loved every minute of it. I told Eric to keep the spa in mind for when my birthday rolls around. Hint, hint.
After the spa we headed over to the pool and had an amazing lunch (nachos, hummus, crab cake sliders, fries, all of the things plus a little rosé, naturally) in a private cabana. There are two pools on the property – one with a water slide that’s perfect for families and the one we went to that’s a bit more quiet – so there’s something for everyone. The pool area was huge with so much space to accommodate guests. Plus, you know, nachos – so you’re all set.
My favorite part of our stay was dinner with Eric for his birthday at Watertable. Y’all, this place is so, SO good! We tried out the hamachi crudo, filet with bacon jam, and the Chilean sea bass, and along with the vino, everything was delicious. I also stopped in for a quick breakfast here (so many healthy options) and currently can’t get their Spirulina bowl out of my head. And while we’re on the subject of bowls, you HAVE to try “The Barrel Bowl” at Pete’s Sunset Grille. We ate at Pete’s (also on the Hyatt property) on our second night, and that ish did not disappoint. We will definitely, definitely be back to both Watertable (have to check out the happy hour!) and Pete’s.
And then there was our room. We had a one-bedroom suite that was super spacious, cozy, and just like home once I unpacked and made a giant mess. Also, I’ll never say no to a huge balcony. With our stay situated right near the end of our home construction, it was so nice to get out and have a change of scenery for a couple of days. Whether you live here and could use a little getaway or you’ve been looking to visit Orange County, you definitely have to look into the Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach – you won’t be disappointed. Hope everyone has an amazing weekend!
Amour Vert dress (c/o); Similar heels; Cult Gaia bag; Ray-Ban sunglasses; Brixton hat; Kendra Scott bracelets and rings
Fountain at Hyatt Regency La Jolla
Outdoor happy hour at the Hyatt – so good!
Sushi and truffle fries at 
Tile at 
Room service breakfast from 
Outside of 
Eeeeeeats at 
Driftwood Spa waiting area 
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