Coachella via Instagram

While service at the Coachella festival is pretty crummy, especially once the sun goes down, you do have some opportune moments to Instagram some beautiful photos of some stunning sunsets and awesome art installations!

{day 1 // i just love taking cloud photos. some #dailydaniclouds in yucca valley on the way to the festival!}

{day 1 // they had such a cool set of mirror-turned-rainbow-light installations that we referred to as the "selfie-matic" throughout the weekend!}

{day 2 // more #dailydaniclouds, plus the classic ferris wheel and the big infinity/twisty installation and palm trees in the distance!}

{day 2 // the lights and disco balls in the "yuma" tent that melissa and i discovered. while i'm not so into electronic music, i was willing to put up with it for a bit in exchange for AIR CONDITIONING!}

{day 2 // the super cool giant robot gracing the festival this year!} 

{day 3 // it's so hard to resist multiple shots of that ferris wheel view! plus one of the air-blown balloon arches!}

{day 3 // sunsets and ferris wheels and balloons, oh my!}

{day 3 // yet another art installation - there were 2 of these, which changed colors and patterns throughout the weekend. i began to refer to them as the neon rock candy anemone.}

Keep following along with my life events via Instagram @dailydaniblog!

Coachella 2014: Day Three

{tee: stylemint | shorts: i don't remember! (similar, similar) | booties: minnetonka (i'm trying to sell these size 7s on my poshmark account! + many available on ebay) | hat: nasty gal (similar) | sunglasses: target (still available in black)}

Ok, I was totally comfortable on Sunday! These soft shorts and basic tee and easy-peasy booties… nice and comfy. The hat was nice to keep the sun out of my face, but the hat also made my head hot. You win some, you lose some. Luckily, the wind and dust settled down on Day 3, and after sleeping in a little, I was ready to enjoy a full day of beautiful music!

My Day 3 line-up : Classixx, The 1975, Little Dragon, Lana Del Rey, Neutral Milk Hotel (I have been dying to see them since I was 18!), Beck, and Arcade Fire (Hearing them perform "Tunnels" was unreal!).

I pretend this is true every year, but I think I've got this whole all-day, 3-day-long festival thing down now. Sure, there are moments of "it's so hot I'm going to die" and "I'm so tired I'm going to cry" or "there's no way I'm doing this next year," but as I was leaving Coachella Sunday night, I thought, I can't wait to come back next year. Sigh. :) & a happy Coachella was had by all. 

I took a sweet little collection of Instagram photos over the weekend, and I'll share those on here tomorrow! See you then!

Coachella 2014: Day Two

{tee: everlane | shorts: one teaspoon | boots: steve madden (similar) | necklace: vintage (similar) | sunglasses: borrowed (similar) | belt: target}

Day 2 of Coachella began with a comfortable mid-80s warmth in the air. We were pretty excited about the cooler (yes, mid-80s is cooler at Coachella!) temps, so I put on my shorts and got ready to go! I had a lot of trouble figuring out what I wanted to wear Day 2! (Sandals? Boots? Sneakers? Headbands? Braids? Dreamcatchers? Ahhh, the possibilities are endless! Next year I might have to let fashion take a backseat to comfort! …I know, I know, wash my mouth out with soap.) I decided to double down on my desert boots, and go simple with my cutoffs and tee, letting my favorite turquoise necklace do the talking!

My Day 2 line-up : Banks, CHVRCHES (they were unbelievable - their music and performances really touch my heart!), Sleigh Bells, Kid Cudi (so charming and talented!), Empire of the Sun, Lorde, Foster the People, and ending the night with a Pharrell dance party!

As soon as the sun started to go down and wind started to pick up, we were in a full-on duststorm! All I can say is "Blahhhhh!" It was so gross haha. Dust in your face and hair and clothes and mouth and nose and ears and ewwwwww… But I survived, and that's all that matters!

After the day and night at Coachella, a friend of ours got us wristbands to attend the Nylon Neon Carnival after party, which was pretty cool! It would have been a cool party to go to and hang out at all night if I hadn't been so exhausted from my day in the dirt! There was a bit of celeb spotting - Kelly Osbourne, Joe Jonas, and some pseudo-reality stars. What can I say, I'm a sucker for celebrity gossip! ;)

{angelica, emily, me, & melissa}

{ashley & steve & DUST!}

Tune in tomorrow for my Coachella 2014 Day 3 round-up!

Coachella 2014: Day One

{dress: lulu's (old - similar, similar, similar) | shoes: steve madden (old - similar) | sunglasses: nordstrom}

I have returned from the great, grand festival in the desert! My 4th year at Coachella might have been the best yet! I think we have finally got our "routine" down, and this year we stayed less than 5 miles from the venue - can you say perfection?!

I wore this Day 1 and I was SO COMFY! I haven't worn this dress since a mini-vacay to Palm Springs almost two years ago, and I thought Coachella was the perfect time for it to make its 2nd appearance! My desert boots and round sunglasses were the perfect compliment to this tropical/desert-inspired dress!

My Day 1 musical line-up? : MS MR, Grouplove (a major favorite of mine, and my favorite of the day!), HAIM, Bastille, Neko Case (her voice is the most beautiful!), Chromeo, and Outkast (SO AMAZING to see them perform together for the first time in 8 years!)!

Day 1 was the longest (13 hours?) and most tiring day, but we took in some amazing tunes.

I didn't take a lot of photos during the actual festival - perhaps a good sign - I was taking in the full view instead of watching through tiny screen. ;)

{#ussie with melissy}

Come back tomorrow for Day 2!

Game Time!

{dress: rock n reconstruct | jacket: obey (same in burgundy) | boots: sam edelman}

I had Spring Break last week. Keep in mind, Spring Break has very little meaning when compared to my Spring Breaks of yore. It's not a wild & crazy binge drinking beach-fest. It's also not like my more recent Spring Breaks, which were a calm and relaxing respite from teaching preschool. This year, it meant guaranteed unpaid days off and attempting to fill them with grown-up fun with my grown-up friends who don't get Spring Break. Shoot.

The highlight of my week was probably going out for drinks and to the Ducks hockey game with some friends. My Rock n Reconstruct dresses make any sporting event extra-fun, and this time was no exception! Plus, I can't complain about a hot dog + beer packaged deal with my seat, either. ;)

P.S. I am off today for a weekend in the desert - my 4th year attending Coachella! I'm so excited! Can't wait to report back to you with all of the fun, and, of course, all of my outfits! Today is the last day to enter my JewelMint choose happiness bangle giveaway - I will contact the winner when I return from Indio next week!

JewelMint Giveaway

When I first saw this bracelet on JewelMint, I instantly fell in love! I've had a lot of ups and downs over the past few months, and I don't think I can be reminded enough these days that happiness is a choice, and it is a choice that you should always choose! I know that sometimes it doesn't feel like you can escape your sadness, but emotions come in waves, much like the ocean. You will not be sad forever! Wearing this bracelet reminds me to put a smile on my face whenever possible, count my blessings, and look forward to a happier tomorrow.

JewelMint was kind enough to allow me to give away one of these bangles to my lovely readers. This Collective piece is sold out, so don't miss this wonderful opportunity! The giveaway will be open for 1 week and I will contact the winner next Friday (4/11)!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Window Washer

{blouse: forever 21 (similar) | jeans: j brand via saks fifth avenue | booties: forever 21 (similar) | purse: rebecca taylor (similar) | sunglasses: target}

When I was headed out to the fun Downtown Los Angeles bar Wolf & Crane for my friend Dan's birthday last Saturday, I asked my friend Sarah what the dress code was. Her reply? Casual but fun! Oh, the possibilities! I didn't go too over-the-top "fun," I suppose, but went with my current favorite jeans, easy-to-walk-in wedge booties, and this classic (but fun!) windowpane print blouse, tied at the waist! This is an outfit that could take me from work to play, and I can't wait to repeat this outfit and anything similar in the very near future!

Cape Town

{cape: c/o sammydress | blouse: nordstrom (similar) (similar) | skirt: urban outfitters (similar) | heels: justfab}

So, when the "cape" trend first came on the scene, I was wary. It basically just seemed like a coat with misplaced and/or missing armholes. However, when I got the opportunity to browse the endless (and super affordable!) pieces on SammyDress, I was instantly smitten with this cape! When it arrived on my doorstep (don't you just love online shopping?), I knew it was the perfect piece to top an evening look. How sweet would this outfit be at wedding or a holiday party? FYI, cape + black and white + Peter Pan collar = my new favorite thing! (P.S. Be careful when posing, as not to look like a nun.)

What do you think of the cape trend? Are you on board?