Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts
Showing posts with label friends. Show all posts

7.16.2015

Over the weekend, I had the pleasure of attending a blogger/Instagram meet-up with six lovely ladies whom I had never met before. We ate brunch in downtown San Diego at a former Top Chef contestant's restaurant called Searsucker. I was extremely nervous because I get social anxiety, even around people I know! My husband did the usual "just relax and go" speech that morning as I was contemplating backing out. There is no logical reason for my nerves, and I am perfectly aware of that. So I went, and I had a great time. All of the ladies were friendly, down-to-earth, and easy to talk to. Putting myself out there is difficult, but I never regret it. Think of it like going to the gym. You may come up with excuses as to why you can't go, but as soon as you're there, you are proud of yourself and you feel so accomplished afterwards. I definitely feel like I've made some new friends and I hope we all keep in touch. Connecting is honestly the best part of blogging. It may terrify me, but it's also a great way to network with like minded people.


I hope you'll take a look at their blogs and Instagram accounts. Here they are in order from left to right:
Jean - @ThePreppyPHD
Alyssa - @AlyssaGutten Blog: Alyssa with an A
Norma - @NVCampos She also makes jewelry: normavcampos.origamiowl.com
Crystal - @Caligirl_Fashions 
Megan - @mkashing Blog: A Stylish Start
Sara - @skashing Blog: A Stylish Start


I had the crab eggs benedict and it was heaven. I'm a benedict addict, and if it's on a menu, I'll always order it without fail. 




After the meet-up, we all parted ways and my husband and I caught up with our best friends. They live in Little Italy, so we spent the rest of the day people watching since it was comic-con week in San Diego. I hope we have more meet-ups soon, starting with my lunch with Gina this coming Monday :)

2.04.2015


Today I've decided to do a little something different. One aspect of blogging that I really miss is the opportunity to have more interactions with ladies whom I admire. I used to participate in a monthly collaboration with a few fellow bloggers, and although it wasn't that long ago, it feels like ages. It was quite popular, and some of those "monthly must-reads" remain my most viewed to this very day. Honestly, the internet can be a lonely place. Anyone can start a blog, but I've always felt that there's something vacant about it all unless you're really connecting. So, in an effort to showcase more of that in my own little corner of this community, I've decided to share with you some of my favorite style bloggers. Two I've met in person, and three I would desperately love to! All five of these beautiful women have greatly inspired my personal style, especially over the last year or so. When I'm having a rough day or feeling particularly annoyed with my body and my clothing, I look to them for a pick-me-up. They've all been very kind and supportive of me on their blogs, so now it's my chance to return the favor.



First up is my friend from Canada. We go back a long way, as hers was one of the first blogs I can remember reading and genuinely loving.


I absolutely love her style, and we have deemed each other "style twins" because we have similar taste in clothing, makeup, and especially handbags. In fact, Zeba has quite a collection of bags that I am completely envious of. She always looks wonderfully put-together, but in a very easy and effortless manner. She never comes across as uncomfortable or stuffy. Her style is attainable, and that is something we can all appreciate. 







Next up is a gal I met recently over the Holidays when she was in town visiting family. I loved getting to know her a little bit more, and we are planning on making that little get-together annual.


Carylee is so skilled in remixing her wardrobe. In fact, she is currently doing a wardrobe challenge on her blog called RemixFix2015, where she uses different staples in her closet to create different looks instead of going out and spending money on more clothes. This idea is great for those of us who want to cultivate a more functional and practical way of looking at our closets. She loves the same stores that I do (Express and Nordstrom) come to mind. She's also my height, so I can always get a good sense of how something she wears may look on my frame as well. 






Skylette is another blogger that I feel a kindred spirit with. We both started our blogs roughly around the same time, and I've enjoyed her signature style ever since. Not only is she physically stunning (look at that gorgeous long hair and beautiful eyes), but she also comes across as a very sweet and down-to-earth person who loves her family as much as she loves fashion. 


She wears a lot of very feminine and classic pieces, but with a modern and sexy twist! Her J.Crew shoe collection usually has me dreaming of my next pair, and she's actually the person that inspired  my first set of their pumps. 
It was actually Sky's birthday recently, and I encourage everyone to read this post that her husband wrote about his wife. 





What can I say about my witty, sassy friend Gina? I first was introduced to her while on my honeymoon! I was walking in the parking lot of our hotel in Maui when I looked down at my phone and saw I had an email from a reader who kindly asked if she could use one of my images on her blog. I was so flattered that she took the time to do that, and I have been a loyal reader ever since. When I met her over the Summer and discovered that she lives in San Diego, I was thrilled! She is as sweet and genuine as she is smart and beautiful. 


What I love about Gina is that there isn't anything pretentious about her OR her style. She of course loves Express, and given that half of my wardrobe is from our favorite store, we definitely have that in common. She looks to celebrities and Pinterest quite a bit to gather style inspiration, and she recreates those looks so perfectly. I like that she gravitates towards clean, simple lines. Her collection of blouses, little jackets, tailored jeans and pants, and fun shoes really reflect our southern California lifestyle. Polished, but casual. 





Last but certainly not least is a blogger that I only discovered a few months ago. How did I not know about Amy Ann?! Such a travesty! 


Amy Ann's style is one I can imagine myself working towards. She wears pieces that I'm not sure I could entirely pull off (like her beautiful hats and over the knee boots) but I sure would love to! She exudes a confidence on her blog that I struggle with myself, but that is so inspiring to me. Her photographs are high quality, and many of them look like they belong in a magazine. In fact, she has been featured in People StyleWatch! I always look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. 





I hope you enjoyed this! I encourage you all to check out these ladies if you haven't already. I think I would like to make this a bi-monthly feature, so hopefully I can find other bloggers to participate. There are so many of you that I love. And thank you to all five of my beauties for allowing me to show you off :)

8.27.2014




Wearing //
Express dress, last year. Love this for Fall
Sole Society pumps, similar. Love these




One of my friends is getting married in October, and this is what I wore to her tea themed bridal shower. She's the last in my close circle to be tying the knot, and I am honored to be a part of her wedding just as she was in mine. It's a funny thing, really. I mean, this whole getting older thing. Just a few short years ago, my girlfriends and I were all either single or in horribly awkward, dead-end relationships. We would go out every night and have way too much to drink. We would commiserate together, share laughs together, and more often than not, we would cry together. Fast forward to today and we still do many of these same things. Some of us have children, some like myself still don't. But we have all managed to stick by each other, even if we live miles apart and have more responsibilities that take us away from one another. My husband is my most intimate friend, but I still need my girlfriends and they still need me. There's a huge comfort in knowing that, especially when times are tough. I hope you, reading this, have the same experience with your girlfriends. 

I just wanted to get that out there. 

my beautiful friend and bride to be


Happy Wednesday! Hubby and I are camping for the next two days and guess what? It's on the beach where we got married last year. We are also seeing Jack Johnson on Saturday, so we are both looking forward to a relaxing 5 day weekend! Have a great Labor day and I'll see you soon :)

8.19.2014






Wearing //
Forever 21 sheer top and camisole (old), similar
Aldo clutch (old), similar here and here

Beauty //
Zoya nail polish in "LC" (can't find a link but I've seen it at Ulta)




I had an entirely different outfit in mind for my friend's 30th birthday party on Saturday. I really wanted to wear this Asos dress, seeing as it's elegant enough for a party yet still extremely comfortable to dance in. I wanted a timeless look because lord only knows that when we are 65 and looking through old photos of the "glory days", I don't want to think "what the heck was I wearing?"
I often dress with that scenario in mind, and I'm not sure if this is normal. Anyway, it was over 100 degrees that day and it wasn't going to cool down much at night so I decided to nix the black, elegant dress in favor of something a little more appropriate for the heat. I know you guys are probably tired of seeing this white Topshop skirt but I reach for it all the time. I love the way it swishes as I walk, and it has pockets that I can stick my hands in when I'm feeling a little nervous (which I proceeded to do all night). I threw in a little happy colored clutch for good measure and away I went! Her backyard party was perfect. The same DJ that played during my wedding reception was there. I felt very nostalgic about that, as well as realizing that my friends and I are bidding adieu to our twenties. So far, it's been my favorite night of the year :)

8.21.2013







I think these pictures speak for themselves. I watched my best friend marry the love of her life last Friday, and it was one of the most surreal, beautiful experiences I've ever been blessed to be a part of. It was perfection. I'm next :)

♥ Noelle