Girls Trip to Hollywood

Although I was born in L.A. and lived there until five years of age, I haven't completely explored it the way you'd think. As world famous as Hollywood is, I also can count on one hand how many times I have been there.

Last weekend, my best friend and I decided to go all out as an early birthday celebration. I initially wanted her to stay with me for a couple days because Nate was out of town and I wanted her company. Katie is really spontaneous and never hesitates to do something out of the ordinary. When she told me that our annual girls trip needed to happen ASAP and it needed to involve Los Angeles, I knew I couldn't say no. Type A (obviously me) needs a type B friend. I'm beginning to come around though.

For those of you interested in taking a trip yourselves, or just out of curiosity, here is a little recap and review of our weekend.

What I Wore During The Day

I wanted to be comfortable on the drive from Temecula to Hollywood and it's a good thing I wore essentially a sack because it took us three hours to get there. By the end of our drive, we were both cursing like sailors. Welcome to Los Angeles! As soon as we pulled up to the hotel though, any bit of frustration regarding the heavy traffic immediately floated away. The Roosevelt is stunning, and the staff are extremely friendly. 

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

...Is quintessential L.A. and I felt like a movie star. Listen, I'm honestly not picky about hotel rooms. Growing up, my parents and I usually stayed in a Motel 6 so now that I'm older and can relatively afford a nicer stay somewhere, I don't take it for granted! We were upgraded to a beautiful suite with a shower big enough for a few friends if we had been so inclined 😉 Who needs a shower that gigantic anyway? 

The Hollywood Roosevelt has a lengthy history. It was built in the 1920's, and though it has been renovated, I found it to be charming. It is the oldest continually operating hotel in Los Angeles. We didn't see any ghosts, but Katie made me laugh when she said that our room smelled "old." Apparently people believe it's haunted, no doubt due to its age. We didn't see or hear anything other-worldly though, just a lot of half naked people in the pool area. I felt like I was in an episode of The Hills with all the cool girl vibes, the DJ blasting music, and guys clearly looking for someone to have fun with. Katie and I kept our sunglasses on and tried to inconspicuously observe from the bar. All I can say is, I'm happy I'm married! There's no way in Hell I could hang being single in Hollywood. 

Marilyn Monroe lived in the hotel for two years during her early days as an actress. 

Would I recommend staying at the Hollywood Roosevelt? An emphatic yes! There were people young and old, with and without children, people from different parts of the world. It's definitely geared to a hip crowd, but it wasn't nearly as over the top as I expected and I hope to stay there again with Nate. It was also very clean and quiet at night, which also surprised me because our room faced Hollywood Blvd. 

Saturday night, I wore a new dress that I purchased during a LOFT sale. I showed some video of it on snapchat, but the lighting was too dark for me to save. I plan on wearing it again next week, so you will see the exact details recreated. I loved it!

SUR

SUR and pump were on our agenda because we are both fans of Lisa from The Housewives of Beverly Hills. The decor at SUR did not disappoint! Talk about a fairy tale. It looks exactly as it does on the television show, minus the cameras. We didn't see any familiar faces, and LVP was nowhere in sight. But, it was quiet and there was no wait so we grabbed a drink and made ourselves comfortable on one of their plush couches. It was indeed beautiful, but we expected a bit more excitement. We ate at the hotel to save some money so I can't account for the food there but the service was decent as far as drinks went. It's worth it to get one and walk around the restaurant. 

Pump

I was genuinely surprised at just how much I enjoyed pump, even more so than SUR. Pump is more of a club at night, whereas SUR is a lounge. We even danced a little which is not something we typically do anymore! In fact, we had so much fun on Saturday night that we ended up going back on Sunday morning before we left for home. I thought the staff was decidedly friendlier and attentive, and the drinks were better too! The ambiance is also more laid back so I didn't feel out of place. Oh, and a pump-tini is a must!

Overall, I give this year's girls trip a solid A! It was the perfect mix of relaxation, a bit of glamour, and lots of laughs. I don't care where life takes us next - this is one tradition that Katie and I will always keep. 

If you have any questions or need any further info on our stay, feel free to ask! I'll see you back here on Monday with a beauty post. 💋

Continue the post

Real Talk: Blogging & Constructive Criticism

I've been blogging for eight years, and fortunately, my experience has been very positive. My blog is small, so I've never had to deal with any real scrutiny or negative comments the way popular bloggers have. However, I'm of the mindset that if you put yourself out there for all to potentially see, you can't expect everyone to like you. Not everyone is going to fawn over every outfit you post, the way you do your hair and makeup, or even the things you choose to write about. The same goes for meeting people in real life. You may have an irritating co-worker that just rubs you the wrong way. or an acquaintance that gets on your last nerve. Why do we expect the internet to be any different?

I personally have never understood the aspect of fashion or beauty blogging where it appears as if only positive feedback is accepted. Yes there is a difference between constructive criticism, such as "that top isn't the most flattering untucked" versus "you look fat." I wouldn't dream of  saying something like that to anyone in person, and I wouldn't say it on social media either. But, differing opinions can be helpful and even essential to building a good rapport with the people that take time out of their days to stop by and read whatever you have to say. It equals growth. If you treat blogging like a business, wouldn't you want your customers to be happy? As long as it's not mean-spirited, I just don't see the problem.

I used to cringe whenever I got an anonymous comment because I immediately assumed it was going to be rude. But most of the time, it wasn't rude at all. The only instance I'll delete a comment on my blog is if it's clearly spam (these usually involve adult services if you catch my drift). But otherwise, what someone writes is what stays on this space. I've noticed a huge uptick over the last two years where people are monitoring their comments to the point where it's ridiculous, and I wonder what truly motivates them to even have a blog. If it's only to solicit your readers to worship at your feet and tell you how beautiful and amazing you are, then I'm not sure you're doing it for the right reasons. Unless you fancy yourself an expert in something, why not let people have their say? I would much rather have meaningful discussions, even about trivial topics like lipstick shades and why you think off-the-shoulder tops suck than have you just tell me how cute I look. I mean that's very sweet and we all like being complimented, but I've looked at some of my archives and Lord did I make some bad choices.

Interaction is my favorite part of blogging, and I feel like that's really lacking these days. So go ahead and tell me you disagree, and I won't take offense or delete your comment. Let's talk! And for the record, I love anonymous. Keep it real.

Continue the post

As Festival Ready As I'll Get

Wearing //

Jack by BB Dakota dress (sold out) but cute matching blouse

Chelsea 28 bag

Splendid booties on sale!

Stella & Dot necklace

Kendra Scott ring

Various bracelets, great option

As much as I love music, there is one big name festival that irks me to my core, and I suspect you all know which one I'm referring to. I live an hour and a half away from the desert where it's held every year, and yet I don't know a single person who has ever gone to it. I feel like it's such a scene - meaning it's for celebrities and bloggers to be seen, and not really about the actual bands and performers who play there. What a waste! I guess if you're getting everything comped, it really doesn't matter. Week two begins today, and well...I'll be happy once it's over and my Instagram feed doesn't resemble the second coming of Woodstock. Now that would have been amazing!

As for me, I'm heading to L.A. where I'm hoping it's less crowded because everyone is in the desert! Wishful thinking I know, but I'm excited to celebrate my best friend's birthday a few weeks early. Every year, we try to do one girls trip, just the two of us. It's a perfect excuse to reconnect and catch up without feeling rushed. Usually when we get together it's in a group setting or with our husbands, naturally. So one occasion where we can talk, laugh, and not have to worry about annoying other people in a group is a welcomed escape. Follow me on snap if you care to see what we're up to! Have a great weekend, even to those going to #Coachella ✌

Continue the post

Shades of Blush

Wearing //

Scalloped tank, similar here & here

Cardigan (sold out) but similar, love this too

Express skirt (sold out)

Asos pumps, similar here & here

Chelsea 28 bag

Beauty //

Glo Minerals kit in "Bold Pursuit"  c/o 

There are three things that I can't get enough of this year:

*Blush tones

*Scalloped details

*Laser cut bags and shoes

I know quite a few bloggers who own the tote version, and while that one is certainly tempting, I opted for this crisp white shoulder bag instead. I love a great tote and believe it's a staple, but I often find that mine is an excellent excuse to haul around things I don't even need! A structured bag will also always be in style, but one with delicate details like this adds that Springtime feel. I paired it with a feminine camisole with scalloped edges, and my favorite taupe/lilac cardigan. If you follow me on snap and IG, you would have seen that Nettie made her way through one of the sleeves, and while it hasn't been repaired, I came up with a simple solution in the meantime - fold the sleeves up!

She is such a doll, but at almost three years old, my pup has managed to get her paws and snout on quite a few of my shoes, lace tops, a bag, and now my cardigan. It's my fault for leaving the closet door open so often. My house still needs puppy-proofing, but I love her no matter what she gets her claws into.

How is your week? I will be back on Friday!

Continue the post