Ruche looks

Today was the launch of Ruche's fall lookbook, and it has me longing for sweaters, boots and a chill.  Autumn is especially dear to my heart, as it holds our wedding season, that time of preparation and the date itself.  I can clearly remember the feeling of the mountain air that weekend, when it was just cool enough to need a sweater, but not so freezing that we all must stay inside.

Enjoy the video and perhaps you, too, will be reminded.

If you would be so kind..

Headband: Target

Dress: Ruche

Necklace: Shy of Perfect

Blazer: Thrift store find

Shoes: Payless

I've never entered this sort of contest, but I decided to go for the ShopRuche.com Ruchette contest.  A $100 gift card is a little difficult to pass up.  I've really enjoyed sharing more of my outfits with everyone and this is just another step forward.  

I would love it if you would be so kind as to vote for me!  Go to the Ruche Facebook page and click "like" on the photo.  If you don't want to, I won't mind :).  I hate to be a bother.

Have a happy Monday!

Travel in Style

In honor of my trip coming up next week (yay!) I've put together what I think would be an ideal travel outfit--with style!  You want to be comfy, yet pretty, no matter if you're going through security at the airport, hitting up a train or spending a few days on the road.  

1.  Blooming romance floral maxi at Ruche
6.  Reach new levels satchel at Modcloth

A little island wear

Dress: Gift

Necklace: Maurices

Satchel: Modcloth

Wedges: Ruche

Yesterday I received this beautiful dress from my mother-in-law!  She recently went on a trip to the bahamas and a woman running a shop/stand apparently thought she needed to have it--so she sent it to me!  I love the colors and the pattern.  It's a perfect island dress.  Don't you just love surprise packages?

Party style

I love parties, especially fun summer parties.  Regardless of dress code, fanciness is my cup of tea.  Here's what's I would be wearing if I went to an evening party or wedding right now.  It kind of matches the colors on my blog :).

Laid back

Top: Ebay

Skirt: Thrifted

Bag: Aeropostale

Shoes: Toms

Sunglasses: F21

Belt: F21

Over the weekends we hang around, eat waffles, do some yard work, visit the beach, read, etc. I love the feeling of chilling out and sometimes I my clothing options need to match that.  Relaxed, but not in sweats, because unless I'm seriously sick or just out the gym, sweats and are not happening--in public, at least ;-).

So here's to hanging out at breweries, kicking back and enjoying the sun.

Have an awesome start to your weekend!

Good day, sunshine

Dress: Forever 21

Belt: Forever 21

Necklace: Shy of Perfect

Ring: Shy of Perfect

I found this dress over last weekend while we were out and about (when I should have been resting).  It was love at first sight, and then I tried it on and it couldn't have been more perfect.  The back is one of my favorite parts of it, as it provides a little air conditioning and a touch of sexy without going completely overboard.  It's also incredibly comfortable and I've worn it twice this week--something that never happens.  Sundresses are just the best.

My jewelry is a prize from a giveaway!  Shy of Perfect is a delightful Etsy store with a plethora of jewelry in all shapes and colors.  I don't usually wear rings other than my wedding and engagement pieces, but I love this one.  

Enjoy your weekend!

I forgot about this top and pulled it out of the closet yesterday.  I love the bit in the back, and the stripes are always nice.  Who could say no to stripes?  I found it while browsing through ebay at some point last year.  I quite like it! 

I was also having a grand time with picmonkey (and the camera).  As is my usual answer--what else am I supposed to do with myself at home?  :).  

Happy Thursday!

Summer inspired

Blogging has just been last of my list of to-do's for the past week and a half.  I'm mostly at a loss as to what to post about, so I guess I'm not feeling terribly inspired.  Maybe I wore myself out last week cooking about every single thing I could think of.

So here's a little summer inspiration today--Because I may not be the only one who needs it.

visualize

Dashing

eighteen25

weheartit

citybeat

indiefixx

kittenkaboom

wolfandwillow

fatfreevegan

Happy hump day!

New Meetings

On Thursday, Erik had a work party so I got the opportunity to meet most of the people he works with on a daily basis.  I get really nervous about meeting new people (especially when it's a lot of them) so I kind of obsessed about what I was going to wear.  Here's what I chose.

Coral seems to be my color of choice lately.  It's so bright and happy.  

This was the first time I pulled out a scarf here.  It's a little difficult to figure out how to pull that off but I'm easily chilled so I figured since it was the evening it would work.  If you've got something sleeveless on, it helps balance things out.  Plus this was a lightweight scarf.

The party turned out well, just hopefully everyone doesn't think I'm weird.  With my nervousness, the weirdness can really come out.

Distractions

I should be working on homework and housework right now, but see what I'm doing instead? 

The other day, Miss Indie was talking about a photo editing site called PicMonkey that she had discovered and I couldn't help myself but try it out.  It's so fun to be able to mess around with all the neat effects and features.

That shopping bag is now my favorite.  I couldn't help myself when I saw it (I could, but you know sometimes...), even though I know I don't need anymore reusable shopping bags.  I'm certainly going to have to limit my needless purchases with so many shopping centers so readily available close by.

What fun things do you find to distract yourself from what you should be doing?

A festival, perhaps

With Coachella happening over the last few weeks, everyone seems to be in the music festival mood.  I love music festivals but I haven't really been able to locate any good ones on our little island.  I think that's something we'll have to travel to the mainland for, as if festivals aren't expensive enough as it is.

Shirt: Urban Outfitters

Bandau: VS

Belt: Somewhere in London (H&M?)

Skirt: Thrifted

Earrings: Birthday present!

If I were going to a festival anytime soon, this is probably what I would be wearing.  All elements are incredibly breathable (except that massive belt, perhaps) and make for a fun "I'm going to be in hippie land and enjoy my free spirit" feeling--especially with these neat earrings!  About that belt for a second, I bought it four years ago when I was traveling Europe and haven't worn it once in the states.  I figured it was about time.  

Week in review

Here are some of my favorite random photo moments that couldn't each make up the subject of a blog post, but are great things about this week.

1.  Husband and I went for a long walk last night and these beautiful flowers were all over the place!  I just had to pick a few up and put them in a bowl full of water for the coffee table.  

2.  This was probably my favorite outfit of the week, but I had a hard time getting any good pictures.  I'm trying to work with outside, but the lighting.... it's an issue, to say the least.  But now you can see my backyard!

What I'm wearing:

Dress: Shabby Apple

Top: Urban Outfitters

Belt: Ruche

Shoes: Payless

3.  My cucumber plants (from seed, mind you) are what I'm most proud of growing right now.  It's totally doing what it's supposed to do!  I've never had something from seed grow so well before.  I cannot wait for some fresh cucumbers.. Mmmm.

4.  Best lunch.  A little bosc pear, sheep brie, rosemary baguette slices and (of course) a bit o' coffee.  No, I'm most certainly not eating off a yogurt lid..  Again.

5.  Even though this tomato plant already had some baby tomatoes on it when I purchased it, I'm pretty proud to see I haven't killed them yet.  And there are even more buds all over!  Tomatoes are probably the best thing in the "vegetable" section (I won't call them fruit today) and taste better when fresh from the garden instead of from the supermarket.

Happy Friday!

Beach time

Here's a quick little picture of our weekend.  We've been trying to hit the beach at least once a week.  It was a tad chilly for beach weather but we still had fun!

This weekend we finally got a hold of some furniture.  It's been something that kept getting put off since finding a Uhaul store was becoming difficult.  But we buckled down and got it done since I was tired of sitting on the floor.  A lot of it will need to be repainted but I'm totally up for the challenge.  I love painting and I'll do anything to make my house look beautiful :).  Pictures to come!

Blouse: Ruche

Skirt: GAP

Shoes: American Eagle

Purse: Target

This skirt has seen a lot of action since we moved.  It goes with almost everything and since most of my clothes are on a plane somewhere in the United States, I've needed pieces that go well with lots of other pieces.

Once thing about taking pictures of myself all the time--I'm looking so tired!  I guess I need more sleep. 

From my own home

I am happily writing this blog post in the comfort of my own uncomfortable futon at my apartment!  No more daily Starbucks trips for me :).

In other news, the movers are making things difficult and still have our stuff in L.A. for no reason other than no cargo room last weekend.  I may never see my KitchenAid again..  At least I'm in Hawaii with my husband.

Dress: Shabby Apple

Top: Forever 21

Belt: Modcloth

Shoes: American Eagle

Earrings: Etsy

I love this dress.  It was on big sale from Shabby Apple as it was in the practically perfect section and then there was a sale on those items too.  I think I got the dress for $30!  I don't know what was wrong with it, but it fits perfectly.

Happy week!

Happy days ahead

This week is going to be a big one!  We're finally getting internet installed in our home on Thursday, which means no more trips to Starbucks in order to do anything internet related (yay money saver!).  Also all of our boxes filled with kitchen supplies, clothes, home decorations, etc. are supposed to arrive sometime this week.  Let's keep positive and hope that they keep to that estimate :).

This outfit is actually a surprise to me.  When I first got this shirt I didn't know how I felt about it, what with the ruffles on the sides.  They emphasize weird parts of my body.

Blouse: Ruche

Camisole: Mossimo (Target) brand

Skirt: Ruche  

 But after a little while, it grew on me and I realized that it would work out just fine as long as I chose the right bottom to go with it.  This proved a little difficult since a lot of my skirts have tons of pattern, already contain flowers, etc.  But I like how this grey one looks, even though the overlay has a flower pattern.

Happy Monday!

A slightly new project.

Due to extra time spent at home and the overabundance of clothing I have in my closet, I'm going to start posting a little bit of outfit stuff.  I adore clothes and it's probably the one thing I use extra spending money on.  I also fawn over all the style blogs I follow, and want to share my own style.

It's a little weird for me to spend time standing in front of a camera and makes me feel a little narcissistic, but hey.  I'm going to do it anyway.

Blouse: Ruche

Skirt: GAP

Shoes: American Eagle

Regardless of the bit of wrinkle in the skirt, I love this outfit.  The pastels work nicely, and the lightness of the polka dots in the shirt and stripes in the skirt, it just pairs well.  Not to mention, the fabric is wonderful for hot days.  

It was interesting getting used to using a tripod and figuring out how to set the timer on my camera.  But for a first attempt I think it turned out pretty darn well!

Happy weekend and happy St. Patricks Day tomorrow!