It’s officially gift-giving season (or at least gift-buying season), and I’ve already got a little tiny start.  Three gifts is a start, right?  This year I’m skipping the gift guides on the blog and sharing some favorite finds as they come along.  If you’re on the hunt for cozy little somethings for your loved ones or yourself, definitely check out this post to grab Barefoot Dreams pieces for a steal.

And today I’m rounding up a slew of scarves that I’m loving right now, and they’re all under $50.  From bold colors and beautiful prints, ultra-soft fabrics and fun fringe, there are lots of great picks below for the gals in your life.  Click through and stay tuned for more gift ideas in the coming weeks.  Happy shopping, friends!

xoxo

Photo thanks to Felicia Lasala

Spring has finally arrived in SoCal, and I am one happy camper.  Can we even believe that it’s almost May already?  This weekend we spent some time in the sun and even made it to our first baseball game of the season.  The year is flying by, but I gotta say I’m pretty excited that summer is right around the corner.

While spring is normally my cue to pull out ALL of the dresses, this year I’m also having a real obsession with wide leg pants.  To be fair, I’ve always had a thing for wide leg pants (still loving this polka-dot pair from last year), but this year I just keep finding more and more pairs to love.  Worn with a knotted tee, easy blouse or linen shirt and heels or wedges underneath, they’re such a flattering and fun wardrobe staple.

Whether you go for tame stripes or something super bold like these, there’s no better way to shake things up for spring.  Hope everyone has a great week ahead!

xoxo

You guys, it really is true what they say: people in Southern California are complete babies when it comes to cold weather.  (I actually have no idea if “they” say that, but they should.)  This year we’ve had more winter-ish weather than I can remember in years past, and it looks like we’ve got a bunch of chilly (and even, gasp, rainy) days ahead.  Eric cannot stop talking about spring, and me?  I just keep finding more faux fur to love.

I snagged this little vest on major sale during cabi Scoop back in January, and I just love the colors.  It was only available about 2 to 3 sizes bigger than I’d normally buy from cabi, but the sides of the vest are woven fabric so I knew it would be an easy fix for a tailor.  This vest is sadly no longer available, but I did find a couple of brand new options on ebay and am linking a few similar styles below.

Annnnd surprise, surprise – that pair of black skinnies again.  I know I’m pretty much a broken record about this, but if you like high rise denim and have not tried Madewell’s high rise skinnies yet, you are seriously missing out.  They come in 9 and 10 inch rises in a million washes and are available in regular, petite, long, curvy, and maternity versions because sometimes it’s nice to have ALL of the options, right?

Hope everyone has a great week ahead!

xoxo

Photos thanks to Felicia Lasala

Happy Thanksgiving week, friends!  While I’m mentally preparing myself for the food coma ahead (or, let’s be honest – I’ve been in a food coma since arriving in Louisiana on Monday), I’m doing a little deal-loving happy dance over here because the Black Friday sales just seem to hit earlier and earlier every year.  And I, for one, am certainly not mad at it.  Just shop the sales, eat the bird, and spend a little time with family and friends instead of focusing on that old school Black Friday dash.

And today I’m kicking things off with some tried and true favorites from the Shopbop sale.  This is the Black Friday sale I look forward to every year.  For the second year in a row, I’ve used the sale to stock up on a few cold weather essentials for our upcoming trip to Jackson Hole.  (If you’ve got a cold weather trip coming up, I can’t recommend these Hunter boots, boot socks, shearling inserts, and chunky scarf more.)

It’s a Buy More, Save More sale, so the more you spend, the bigger the percentage off.  Just use code MORE18 at checkout.  Scroll through to see more of my favorites that are on sale and some brand new goodies that should be arriving to my door any minute now.  The anticipation, y’all.  Happy shopping, friends!

xoxo

 (Original post here)  Eberjey pajamas (Original post here)  Lace-up dress;  Free People booties (Original post here)  Lace-up tee;  Madewell jeans;  Tretorn sneakers;  Zac Zac Posen handbag;  Quay sunglasses (Original post here)  Eberjey pajamas (Original post here)  Three Dots thermal;  similar OTK boots;  Quay sunglasses (Original post here)  Moon River sweater (Original post here)  Moon River dress;  Madewell handbag (Original post here)  Similar scarf;  Zac Zac Posen handbag

If you ask me what my least favorite trend of the moment would be, my answer is hands-down, without a doubt the whole “dad sneaker” thing.  I mean what in the world are we thinking, fashion friends?  It’s gonna be a big fat NO from me, dawg, and while we’re at it, I’ll go ahead and throw in the Kardashian-esque horrendous bike shorts and tiny 90’s sunglasses that are flattering on literally no one’s faces.  More power to you if you’re into these things, but I’m just unapologetically NOT here for it.

Now something I can get behind?  Sneakers of so many styles and colors – just not the dad variety.  I’ve been on board the sneaker train for a while, but last fall is when I really kicked most of my booties to the curb in favor of my favorite comfy kicks.  I’m obsessed with this athletic-inspired pair, can’t get enough of this comfy grey pair, and have worn these leopard sneaks more times than I could ever count.

And I’ve already started adding to the collection this season starting with the metallic leopard sneakers above.  Y’all, these are fur-lined and seriously feel like walking on a cushy cloud.  I can’t recommend these enough for pairing with jeans, jogggers, my favorite faux leather leggings, or even this gold skirt.  (That look is coming to the blog soon.)  I also just recently purchased this pair that I L-O-V-E.

So today I’m rounding up a few more favorite pairs of the moment because when it comes to sneaker love, I just can’t get enough.  Hope everyone is having a great week!

xoxo

Photos thanks to Katie Stuart

Happy half-week, friends!  Today I’m excited to share one of my favorite sales with you guys.  Shopbop, one of my favorite retailers for both (affordable) shopping and (high end) inspiration, is having one of their only sales of the year.  Pick your faves, and receive 20-25% off your entire purchase (some brands excluded, depending how much you spend) with code STOCKUP18.

Now admittedly, I took these photos thinking my beloved Spanx leggings would be included, but sadly they are not.  (Side note, whether they’re on sale or full-priced, you will never regret them.  I have a few pairs and wear them ALL the time.)

Spanx leggings aside, I’ve searched and searched a ton of my favorite brands on Shopbop, and so many are included.  The Quay sunglasses, Zac Zac Posen handbag, and Gorjana bracelets above?  All in.  This little black dress and handbag duo that’s so comfy and easy?  Included.  The sweet home and gifts category?  Go for it.  (See the rest of my favorites below.)

If you’ve had your eye on something new for fall or maybe something from the sale section, now’s the time, sister.  Personally, I grabbed this jacket for an upcoming wine-tasting trip, this sweater for those brutal Southern California winters (I kid), this tee for wearing eight days in a row with said Spanx leggings, and a few other things.  I’ve got my fingers and toes crossed that the pieces I picked are as good as I think they’ll be, but I’m not stressing.  Shopbop has free (fast) shipping and free returns, so we’re good, girls.

And whether you choose to shop the sale or not, hoping you enjoy a few photos above with my main girl, Weeze.  Great rest of the week, y’all.

xoxo

Photos thanks to Katie Stuart

Whoo-Wheeeee. Currently writing this blog post from a million miles in the sky as I’m heading home from two days in New York City. Two days. It was a super short trip, but wouldn’t you know it, the Big Fat Apple left me feeling all kinds of inspired? It’s been two years since I last attended fashion week, and by default, two years since I last visited New York. While I don’t really miss the hustle and bustle of that particular week in the city, I do miss the inspiration from it.

I bought this skirt thinking that it was perfect for a dinner night in New Orleans, and it definitely was. (Bee-Tee-Dubs – these photos were taken in New Orleans, not New York. I took zero photos in New York and I’m 100% Coolio with that. I shopped instead. Why are NYC Zara stores so much better than the ones in Southern California?) But I digress. So I bought the skirt, loved it, wore it, and thought – I can’t wait for the next time I can wear it.

Then I got to New York City and changed my thought to, What am I waiting for? The women in New York I swear just kill it. They’re commuting by buses, trains, and good old fashioned footwork, and some of these gals could be running right off a runway. I saw a girl yesterday hopping on a bus in a pleated metallic maxi skirt, a graphic tee, sneakers and a leather tote with all of the things. It was raining and humid and sticky and just freaking gross, but she had taken that pretty maxi skirt and made it rainy day, bus-hopping, city appropriate.  So chic.

Which brings me back to this new favorite metallic skirt. I love it dressed up (blouse + heels), dressed down (graphic tee + sneakers), or somewhere in between like the look above. And now I can’t wait to get home and pull out more favorites from my closet. What are some things in your wardrobe you’ve been “saving” for a special occasion that you could just pull out now? Finally splurged on that lust-worthy handbag? Don’t let it sit on a shelf, girl!

(Oh, and apparently I’ll be wearing these sock booties all fall long, so hopefully you don’t mind?)

Here’s hoping everyone has a great weekend ahead, guys!

xoxo

Photos thanks to Michelle Preau

Greetings from sunny La Jolla, friends!  Lies, all blogger lies.  Greetings from the comfort of my couch next to a sad-looking puppy who suddenly became allergic to her sutures 14 days after surgery and had to go back to the vet this morning.  This furry kid, I swear.  Small bump in the road and a pup who’s back in her inflatable cone with some sleepy meds means a little work catch up day for me.  And sharing one last look from La Jolla for you.

And was this gingham look not made for this checkered wall in La Jolla?  I’d like to say that I master planned the whole thing out, did my La Jolla checkered wall research beforehand and then packed the (under $20) skirt, but the truth is, it was a total happy accident.  And I’m cool with that.

If you haven’t dipped your toes into gingham prints yet, there’s no time like spring and summer to try it out.  This little wrap mini is probably the only gingham thing in my closet these days, but I’m thinking it won’t be my last.  Y’all, there are so many cute gingham pieces out there!  How much do I need this little under $20 handbag?  Mucho, that’s how much.  I’m also loving this one-shoulder dress, these adorable sandals, and this sweet top – so good.

And then just to make sure you’ve got your spring noggin on right, add in a floral bag and the prettiest coral heels.  Here’s hoping everyone has a great rest of their week!

xoxo

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.

Could it really be?  Is that…Is that you, spring?  This week we finally got a little taste of spring (or maybe even summer) weather, and it’s been so nice.  We’ve had the windows open, got a weekend roadtrip planned, and my spring dresses are finally making an appearance in real life.  (As opposed to just that blog life.)

Spring weather or not, it’ll be a while before it’s too hot here for bell sleeves, and I’m A-OK with that.  The exaggerated sleeves on this dress make it just a little bit extra, and I love that it’s so lightweight and comfy…and under $100.  I also love a good mustard and red color combo, and if you’ve had your eye on this Zac Zac Posen bag (last seen here), head over here to score it on sale.

And finally, if you’ve been looking to get your hands on a pair of Marc Fisher wedges, there’s a giveaway going on that you’ll probably want to enter.  These wedges are definitely one of the most comfortable pairs I own.  Seriously, there’s a reason you’ve seen every blogger and her mama wearing these or a similar style from the brand.  Last weekend I wore them to brunch and ended up keeping them on all day.  (And for the record, I do find this particular pair a smidge more comfortable than this pair from last year.)

So I’m super excited to team up with Marc Fisher to give one lucky winner a pair.  Just head over to this Instagram post, make sure you’re following both brands, like the photo, and tag a couple of friends in the comments.  I’m extending the giveaway through the weekend, so make sure you enter!  Good luck, gals!

xoxo

Photos thanks to Priscilla Frey