Golden Hour at the Beach

Last Friday, I woke up to a text from my best friend saying that Anthony Bourdain had taken his life. Just two days prior, Kate Spade committed suicide. I felt sick, I felt anger and sadness. Obviously I've never met these two people in my life, but as public figures, I admired them from afar and it feels like I did know them in some way.

 Nate and I packed up our jeep and went to the beach that night. Golden hour just heals the soul.

Down the stairs we go...

Wearing // Old Asos skirt but LOVE THIS, H&M t-shirt, Sam Edelman flip flops, RingCrush ring, C.Henry necklaces

Beauty // Make Up For Ever Ultra HD foundation, Sara Happ lip gloss

Later that night, we met up with my best friends and had a bonfire. We let our dogs play while we laughed over a few beers, talked about nothing and everything, made plans to do it more often. After a long week of tragic news, it was exactly where we needed to be, with people we needed to be with.

I hope you had a great weekend and spent it exactly how you wanted to. I'll see you here on Wednesday :)

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Summer Bucket List

"Summertime is always the best of what might be." 

Charles Bowden

It's almost the start of Summer, and I couldn't be any more thrilled to welcome it. The beginning especially, that perfect feeling of lightness and adventure and possibility and freedom. Is there a better time of year?

Every Summer, I make a list of things I want to do. This is the first time I'm formally writing everything down, and I'm hoping I can check each item off this list, one by one, a memory at a time. In lieu of June updates, here is what I'll be working on this month and all Summer long:

1. Go snorkeling on Catalina Island

2. Hike Torrey Pines (again) and go on more hikes around town

3. Take the train up the coast for a day

4. A dinner cruise around San Diego Bay

5. Picnic at the park at least once

6. Take my dog Nettie swimming

7. Spend as much time at the beach as possible

8. Go to at least one blogging event

9. Take more photos of friends

10. Tulum

11. Couple's massage

12. Take a marketing class


Number ten is kind of a big one! My best friend and I usually take a girls' trip once a year. For Christmas, she surprised me with a ticket to a destination of our choice and we decided on Mexico. I've only been to visit my family in Guadalajara, never to any of the resort areas. I still need to get my passport squared away, but we already booked Tulum for late August/early September. Ahhhhh! I'm SO excited!


I'd love to know, what's on your Summer bucket list? I hope you can do one of them this weekend!

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Knotted Tee + Blush Skirt

 I only own a handful of skirts in my closet, and almost all of them are high-waisted. The one I'm wearing below is a fairly recent purchase from April, and the fit is so perfect that now I want everything that House of Harlow makes! It's fully lined, has a zipper on the side, and is the sweetest shade of pink.

The only problem, how should I style it?

Wearing // H&M shirt, House of Harlow 1960 skirt, Steve Madden sandals, Clare V bag

Beauty // Lips in Sara Happ Pink Slip gloss

My general rule for skirts is to pair them with a simple blouse, tucked in. This looks the most polished and proportional on most women. I tried a few options, but they all bunched up terribly, so I went for a white t-shirt instead and knotted it at the side. I loved the effect! The side knot gives the illusion of a tiny waist, and the ruching it creates is also slimming. Plus, no worries about adjusting my top throughout the day! I think it's perfect for casual Summer outfits, and now I want to try it with a maxi skirt I don't get enough use from.

 What do you think of the knot tee trend? It's probably on its way out and I'm just now getting it!

Linking up with Rachelle and Carylee. 

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Cold Shoulder Dress + White Summer Sandals

I wore a little red, a lot of white, and a couple shades of blue for Memorial Day weekend...

I just got these sandals last week and am so happy with the fit (true to size) and comfort of them. A lot of bloggers have them so I resisted as long as I could, but they really are worth the hype. I wore them all weekend.

Wearing // Old BB Dakota dress but similar here & here, Steve Madden sandals, Kendra Scott necklace 

Beauty // Lip balm by It Cosmetics

All of last week was rainy, cloudy, and windy so naturally I chose the perfect time to wear my favorite cold shoulder dress! Brilliant idea. Actually, Sunday was the best. I woke up early, grabbed breakfast, went to a hair appointment (always a nice treat), and then spent the rest of the day with Nate scouting out different spots for future blog photos. The wineries seem to be the current spot du jour, with so many different options to choose from. I usually go for the wineries with the most beautiful gardens. Show me a rose bush and I'll pose in front of it! 

Keeping it short today but I hope you ladies are having a fantastic week! 

Linking up with Gina, Amy Ann, and Brooke.

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