grey day

Alice + Olivia Fleur Bustier Flare Dress

the fog officially rolled in last night and i woke up this morning to grey skies.  normally i enjoy a day or two of clouds and maybe even rain to break up the sunny cycle, but after the amazing week of weather we had last week, all i want is blue skies and warmth again!  so when i get this itch, i infuse my wardrobe with bold colors and pretty prints to brighten up the day.  and how perfect is this Alice + Olivia dress to do just that? i spotted it when browsing Shopbop's new additions yesterday and am now trying to justify buying it when i live in a city dominated by cold and windy weather.  wedding coming up? no.  special event? no.  warm day in the upcoming forecast? YES...hmm.  it's just too adorable to pass up; the colors are gorgeous and the flared skirt and halter add a little retro-cool to a modern and feminine piece.  

what about you? do you brighten up your outfit on an otherwise blah day?

bauble bar x honestly wtf

early last week i stumbled across some wonderful news: bauble bar and the ladies behind the insanely awesome blog, honestly wtf, were teaming up to release a jewelry collection that would debut at the end of the week.  needless to say, i pretty much had this date (and maybe time...nbd) etched in my head so that i wouldn't miss out on any of the pieces! let me tell you, i was not disappointed.

inspired by their love of vintage pieces, the honestly wtf duo comprised of Erica Chan Coffman and Lauren Kolodny created this collection that is a perfect mix of glitz, glamour, and a little edge.  every piece is just a little over the top (in an oh so good way), and pairs perfectly with a cocktail dress for a night out or as a way to spice up your every day tee and jeans (cut to me tomorrow in this exact outfit). after seeing the collection, i couldn't resist picking up a few pieces and ended up with these beautiful gems...

Ice Selene Pendant Necklace

Primary Aztec Drop Earrings

Ice Pave Disco Necklace

not only are these pieces beyond beautiful, but they're also a great and affordable way to add a little sparkle to your wardrobe.  i highly suggest signing up for a bauble bar account (it's free!) so you can check out this crazy awesome collection and all of the other goodies on the site! 

tgif

i'm so happy it's finally friday! we've been having some amazing weather in the bay area, and i'm currently taking advantage of it by sitting outside in the warm sun writing this post.  anyone who lives here will tell you that you must take advantage of high temperatures when they're here, because it's totally rare.  luckily, we've been experiencing this for over a week (i hope i didn't just jinx it...please stay, please stay, please stay!), and after an incredible trip to Maui, i couldn't have been happier to come home to weather similar to what we had there.

i've also been able to extend the life of my vacation wardrobe (yay!) , which has been awesome.  the only bad thing is that with this little tease we're having, now i feel like we're going to have a real, hot, sunny summer, and of course, i want to buy sun dresses and sandals and shorts to go along with that.  sadly, i know that in reality that's definitely not happening in san francisco, but i can dream, right?  

so in my dream summer, i would totally pick up a few pairs of these beautiful shoes...to go with all of those sun dresses and shorts, of course!

clockwise from top left: L'Agence Dani Plexi Heel, Coach Terri Heel, Pour La Victoire Shanna Heel, Loeffler Randall Amelie Wedge

as for the rest of the weekend, the boyfriend and i are leaving bright and early tomorrow morning to head down south for a little surfing.  we both took lessons in Maui and i'm a little obsessed now (blue crush, anyone?), so i've convinced him to keep it going and suffer in the cold water up here.  i'll reward him with some delicioso Mexican food for cinco de mayo.  wish us luck!

madness

(via)

today was going to be a post on my packing plans for hawaii, until i heard of the horrific news from boston.  now, this blog is not a podium for me to tell you my thoughts and opinions on politics and current events, it is meant to be a happy escape for readers to come and enjoy some lighthearted reading and hopefully get some inspiration.  however i can't ignore the news, and feel the need to devote today's post to the events at the boston marathon. 

these people are athletes.  they are not activists, they are not protestors, they are not hurting anyone by running 26.2 miles today.  they are athletes.  they've trained for months, years, lifetimes even, to compete in this race.  they travelled from all over the world to participate.  they woke up this morning excited, anticipating crossing the finish line of the marathon, but instead of cheers and smiles of relief, runners and spectators were bombarded with clouds of smoke, loud noises, and looks of terror on each others faces. 

i cannot wrap my head around events like these.  i can only hope that one day events like these will no longer plague our daily news.  my thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this tragedy in boston today.

on island time

(via)

next week i'll be jetting off to maui for a six day vacation.  i haven't had a tropical vacation in years, so needless to say, i'm pretty excited.  this will also be my first time going to hawaii and i can't wait to explore and try new things (surfing lessons, anyone?)! on the agenda so far is snorkeling,windsurf lessons, surfing lessons, eating as much fresh seafood as possible, and sneaking in a few macadamia nut cookies along the way (shh don't tell).

i'm planning on bringing just one little carry-on, as usual.  some favorites that i'll be stuffing in it are this bikini, a gorgeous (a super comfortable) Mara Hoffman dress, and of course, my J.Crew Panama hat!  i'll also be bringing some work-out gear, cute denim cut-offs, and tees + tanks. crossing my fingers that it all fits...!   i definitely think i still need another swimsuit, one that is guaranteed to stay put while surfing watching the waves go by.  so i have officially one week to find it, or just wait until i get there and hope that i can find one on the island!

i seriously just can't wait. sun + sand (+ SPF), here i come!! 

insta-update

a room full of wine and cheese. love.

the aerialist...i've decided i need to learn how to do this

me (in my new H&M jacket featured here) with my friend Patrick (in costume!)

the go-go dancers on top of the wine bar

last friday night the boyfriend and i attended Napa Gras before heading to Sonoma for the weekend with friends.  the event started last year as a way to celebrate Premiere Napa Valley and showcase some of the wines that were being auctioned off.  we both had an incredible time watching the aerialist, trying the different wines + yummy food, and exploring the different parts of Raymond (recent winner of Winery of the Year).  trust me, if you're traveling to wine country, this is a must-visit.  it is so different from any other vineyard in the area.  that's all i'll say...just go see for yourself!

after the event we made our way toward Sonoma to meet up with some friends from college who we were staying with for the weekend.  saturday involved more wine tasting (with trips here and here, and back to Raymond to show everyone else) and some delicious food at Gott's Roadside.  when you take the trip to Raymond, be sure to stop here for lunch and get the ahi tuna burger...yummmm! then to wrap it up, we headed to Point Reyes on sunday to enjoy oysters and the beautiful scenery at Tomales Bay.

poppies at Robert Mondavi

freshly laid eggs from the farm at Raymond

three-week old lambs at Raymond

the cutest little guys around!

this weekend we'll be staying in the city and enjoying the amazing weather.  i'm hoping to get in some yoga and hiking...and maybe some paddleboarding and horseback riding (i'm learning, so i need as much practice as possible!).  and if all goes well, i'll be breaking out some warm-weather clothes and taking advantage of the sunshine!

bloom

<floral looks from the Spring 2013 runways>

from left to right: Moschino, Chanel, Prada, Ralph Lauren

<translating the runway into everyday>
Tibi Daisies Sleveless Yoked Tank / Rag & Bone Cambridge Jacket/ Preen Ella Printed Skirt / Gap Printed Legging Skimmer Jeans/ RED Valentino Strawberry Field Print Dress/ Madewell Painted Lacebloom Dress

one of my favorite spring trends straight off the runway is florals.  i love that they can be completely feminine, like the pretty and pink Moschino look above, or toughened up-case in point: the Rag & Bone floral + leather jacket.  Alicia from Cheetah is the New Black wore this jacket recently here and it looked amazing the way she styled it!

another great thing about this trend: you probably already have at least one floral-printed piece in your wardrobe!  to freshen it up a little bit, try pairing it with a print or leather (extra points if it's pastel!).  i plan on wearing a silk floral dress that i already own with my leather jacket to add a little edge.  hopefully it'll be warm enough this weekend to be able to wear it...photos to follow!

will you give florals a try this spring? how will you wear them?