Blueberry Tee and Rainbow Bag

 

Last week, I went to visit family in Connecticut and one of the things I enjoy about "country life" is picking raspberries and blueberries for breakfast! Homegrown fruits and vegetables truly taste more delicious than what you buy at the supermarket! I brought this blueberry tee from J. Crew with me on the trip, even though these pictures were taken before I left for my eastern visit. While on vacation, I paired the tee with some blue and white striped shorts (sorry, I don't have any pictures of that outfit!) but here I'm going for a more dressed up look with a pink pencil skirt. You might remember that I also have this blueberry print in a sweater and featured this outfit on my blog a couple months ago when the weather was cooler in Los Angeles. J. Crew also makes the print in a dress that is adorable! Clearly, I love to eat fruits and also wear them as prints!

 

I thought that for a little extra (or maybe for a lot of extra) color, I would add this bag from Salvatore Ferragamo to my outfit. I got a great deal on this bag a couple years ago when I found it deeply discounted new online. While it's no longer available, Nordstrom currently offers several bags from designer Kurt Geiger that feature a similar rainbow pattern, including this one here that is part of the Anniversary Sale. If I didn't already have a rainbow bag, I would probably purchase the one from Nordstrom because, in addition to fruits, I love a good rainbow print!

 

Tee: J. Crew here

Skirt: J. Crew here

Shoes: J. Crew similar blue sandals here

Bag: Salvatore Ferragamo similar rainbow bag here

Headband: J. Crew here

 

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Traveling Around the World

 

If you just looked at the pictures in this post, you might think that I took a vacation around the world this summer. However, the reality is that I just visited the not so far away city of Chino Hills in Southern California! While I've been to this city a few times before, this time I decided to go on a photo safari to take some pictures of a couple of places in the area that make for a fun getaway, not to mention some amazing Instagram pics! The first place is the stunning BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, which is a Hindu temple. I might note that for this adventure I decided to wear this colorblock J. Crew Factory dress that I would most certainly pack in my suitcase if I did journey to an actual faraway land!

 

While these photos might make it look like I traveled to India or Indonesia, this temple is only a short drive from Los Angeles. I have been here on a couple other occasions, including one where I was able to go inside of the temple, which, if possible, is even more stunning than the outside! The outside of the temple is constructed from pink sandstone and much of the inside of the temple is made up of gorgeous white marble. Unfortunately, pictures are not allowed inside because it's a place of worship but that's all the more reason to go visit to see it for yourself if you're in the area! (Just make sure you check the website to find out about the dress code and the times when the temple is open!)

 

The following photos look as if I visited the ancient Abu Simbel temples in Egypt.  Again, though, the reality is that is just a restaurant in Chino Hills! (It may have at one time been an Egyptian restaurant but it is currently vacant.) The surreal part of visiting this location is that the restaurant is located in a parking lot that is also home to Hobby Lobby and a closed Toys "R" Us store! Despite this, you could probably fool some people on Instagram into thinking that you visited Egypt with these pictures but I think it's more fun to appreciate that these unique hidden treasures can be found right in my backyard! One day I might actually venture to see a Hindu temple in another country or the real sights of Egypt but, for now, I'm pretty content with my Southern California sojourn!

 

Dress: J. Crew Factory here and similar colorblock sundress here

Shoes: Old Navy similar espadrilles here

Hat: H&M similar straw hat here

Bag: Mansur Gavriel similar round pink bag here

Earrings: similar here

 

With a Cherry On Top

 

Last week, I posted hitting the sale rack at Anthropologie and this week I am continuing the theme of great things that I have found on sale at Anthro! Today, I'm posting about this adorable sequin cherry top that I just recently ordered online from Anthro. While I was on the fence about whether or not to get this top, I'm really happy that I did because, when it arrived in the mail, I realized it's so much cuter in person than in pictures with its sequin and embroidered cherry details and ruffle sleeves! It's also a versatile top that can probably be worn throughout the year, at least here in California. Here I'm wearing the top with these purple shorts that I picked up on sale at J. Crew. (Yes, I have been hitting all of the sales this summer!) I also opted for a pair of gingham flats to accessorize my summer outfit. For work in the fall, I might pair the blouse with a pair of gingham pants because I think cherries and gingham are a perfect pairing!

 

As I previously mentioned, in addition to the cherries, one of the cute things about this top that makes it unique is, obviously, the ruffle sleeves. I would like to note that it was rather windy while taking these pictures and the sleeves were a bit problematic for photographs because they kept blowing up in the wind and hitting me in the face! (Maybe I should post a few of the outtakes!) I would say that if you live someplace where it is very windy and plan to be outside a lot, perhaps this is not the top for you, but otherwise I would highly recommend it!

 

Top: Anthropologie here

Shorts: J. Crew here

Shoes: Target similar gingham flats here and bow sandal version here

Sunglasses: YSL almost identical version here

 

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Rainbow Tie Top

 

A lot of the looks I feature on my blog tend to be on the more dressy side with a lot of skirts and dresses. Today I decided to feature a look that is more casual, yet still colorful! This striped tie-front shirt from Old Navy is a good example of the type of thing I like to wear when just running errands or getting a quick lunch out. I love how the top is both colorful, casual and super cute; it's the perfect thing to wear in the summer with jeans! If you love this rainbow stripe fabric, Old Navy also makes it in a dress, skirt and sleeveless top. While there are so many cute options from which to choose, I love the adorable detail of the tie in the front of this top!

 

While I am wearing this top as a dressed down look, I did opt for some purple pumps with kitten heels. I love wearing these types of shoes with skirts and dresses but also jeans when I want to look a little bit more polished. This look would also work with sneakers or sandals, but I guess I still wanted to be just a little "fancy"!

 

Top: Old Navy here

Jeans: Old Navy similar boyfriend jeans here

Shoes: J. Crew similar lavender shoes here

Bag: Zara similar round straw bag here

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Villa Skirt

 

Last week I was at Anthropologie and I spotted this gorgeous Villa skirt by Eva Franco on the sale rack! I had seen it online but it was only after seeing it in person that I fell in love! The thing that attracted me to this skirt was, obviously, the print depicting a vast array of colorful buildings. While Anthropologie carries many brands, I'm always drawn to anything they carry from the designer Eva Franco. There is just something about the quality (most of her items are made in the USA) and the whimsical designs that draw me in every time!

 

My husband, who was shopping with me when I purchased this skirt, commented that the skirt might be a little too "boho" for me and looked more like something I would have worn a decade or more ago. My style has definitely evolved quite a bit over the years and, yes, it's true that when I was in college and for many years after, my style was more boho than it is now. I can definitely see that influence in the silhouette of the skirt but, again, it was the print that ultimately won me over. Plus, if it is a little boho, I like the nod to how I used to dress many years ago. I suppose it makes me feel younger!

 

Skirt: Anthropologie here

Shirt: J. Crew here

Shoes: Loeffler Randal here and also here

Belt: Target here

Bag: Zara similar round straw bag here

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Palm Springs Popsicles

 

Palm Springs is one of my favorite places to go for a quick vacation or day trip due to its proximity to Los Angeles. In my opinion, traveling to Palm Springs in the summer is both the best and worst time to go! It's the best time because it's not very crowded, as the streets are literally empty, but it's the worst time because of the unbearable heat! (The obvious reason for why the streets are empty!) A couple weeks ago, we braved the heat on a day that was a "cool" day for Palm Springs at 106 degrees! Luckily, I planned for the heat and wore this comfy and cool red dress from Target. Truth be told, I also wore this dress because I thought it would match these fun, colorful and very cool popsicles! Below, you will find some other cool and comfy red dresses that would be perfect for a Palm Springs getaway!

 

 

The other great thing about Palm Springs is that there's a wonderful art scene! On this occasion, we checked out these popsicles in the Sunny Dunes area of Palm Springs. This popsicle installation was commissioned through a grant to promote art and to help local artists in the area who are struggling due to the pandemic. In addition to checking out this installation, we also went to the Palm Springs Art Museum! This was my first time visiting the museum and I was really impressed by the variety of art and the friendly staff. The museum was definitely very cool, both figuratively and literally, because they had air conditioning and I would highly recommend a visit if you are visiting Palm Springs!

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Dress: Target here

Sandals: J. Crew almost identical sandals here

Hat: J. Crew similar straw hat here

Earrings: Forever 21 similar here

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Party Dots

 

You might recall that last month I posted a similar dress from the Uniqlo collaboration with Marimekko on my blog. It just occurred to me that I completely forgot to post this large polka dot dress from the same collection! Well, better late than never. Also, the good news is that this dress and the entire Uniqlo x Marimekko Collection are now on sale! As I shared in my post about this collaboration last month, this simple shift dress is always a staple in the Collection whenever Uniqlo does a collaboration with Marimekko. I have the dress in a variety of colors and prints because it's such a chic, yet easy to wear dress. While I probably have too many of these dresses, I fell in love with this fun dot pattern in a cheerful pink and orange print and had to add it to my wardrobe!

 

I actually wore this dress for my husband's birthday celebration with family and I thought it would make a great party dress for the occasion. I always like to find pieces in my wardrobe that can easily transition to different situations and I think this dress is a great example of one such piece. By just adding a belt and a cardigan, it could easily be something that I would wear to work. I would also swap out these shoes, which are pretty high, with flats. To be honest, that's what I did after these pictures were taken because I did the cooking for the party and, while I would like to think I could cook dinner in 4 inch heels, I'm not really coordinated enough to pull off such a feat!

 

Dress: Uniqlo here

Shoes: J. Crew similar pink pumps here

Bag: Chanel similar mint quilted bag here

Earrings: J. Crew Factory similar beaded earrings here

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