April Showers

{dress: asos (similar, similar) | belt: target (similar) | wedges: target | cardigan: target (available in other colors) }

Spring is the time for lots of celebrations - wedding season, baby season, and showers galore! I wore this to *shower* my friend Sara last weekend - she's getting married in June, and I can't wait! She got so many adorable gifts from her registry - I got her these cute wine stoppers from Anthropologie and a tasty bottle of wine from Club W to go with them!

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!

Unseasonable Sunshine

{vest: j. crew (similar) | dress: sosie (similar) (similar) (similar) | necklace: caroline g. | sandals: urban outfitters (similar) | sunglasses: target}

So, Southern California's winter has been nothing short of schizophrenic this year. 3 days of cold, 3 days of rain, 3 days of sweltering heat, 3 days of comfortable sunshine... rinse and repeat. Not only are my allergies very confused (sniff sniff cough cough), but my wardrobe can't figure it out either! This does not seem like something I should have been able to wear in the winter! I actually wore this outfit last June (when it's supposed to be 90+ degrees...) to the Temecula Balloon & Wine Festival with my gal pals, but since I never took outfit photos, it gets to make its blog appearance now!

'70s Style

{dress: forever 21 | platforms: steve madden (similar) (similar) | watch: c/o timex | tassel bracelet: c/o cathryn ann designs via sincerely truly scrumptious giveaway}

I fell in love with this dress when I saw it, and even more when I tried it on! Something about it just screamed out a '70s vibe to me! '70s style takes hints of '60s mod graphic prints, mixes it in with the hippie revolution, and takes it to the next level with oversized silhouettes, cropped hemlines, and solid accessories to anchor it all down!

Here is some '70s style inspiration, followed by some '70s-inspired outfits to get you all looking like you're grooving to a Supertramp album on a vinyl couch in your cork-walled basement. ;)

{images via pinterest}

{purse / jeans / blouse / platforms / earrings / bracelet}

Few things say '70s more to me than flared jeans, platforms, and bold prints! Put it all over the edge with a fringed statement bag, and you have basically entered a style time machine!

{sunglasses / purse / dress / platforms / ring}

Half-Twiggy, half-Mary-Kate Olsen, the over-the top mustard yellow dress, ditsy floral platforms, and funky accessories exude '70s style!

{jacket / blouse / necklace / hat / shorts / huaraches}

I think this interpretation of '70s style is extremely wearable! Easy cutoffs, comfy huaraches, and a drapey blouse and jacket are super relaxed and super easy, but have just the right about of vintage flair to really make your style pop!

What do you think - will you try rocking your own updated version of '70s style?

Black & White & Ikat All Over

{dress: forever 21 | loafers: love culture (similar)}

First, let me say, no, these photos were not taken in the middle of the night, but actually prior to sunrise, at the crack of dawn when I am forced to wake up for work. ;)

Moving on...

I really love this dress. What's cool about it is that it has 2 "waist" styles - it's a drop-waist (there's a seam towards the bottom that gives it that precious ruffle), but it also cinches at the natural waist, which is perfect for my body type! It's the best of both worlds, baby!

I got this dress at the massive Forever 21 in Las Vegas using a gift card I'd hoarded for almost 6 months. I don't usually go for black & white, but I also had to talk myself out of getting this other black & white dress, and though I'm still in love with this cute little flirty black & white number (did you notice that pop of neon pink at the neckline?), I am totally kicking myself for not getting the 2nd option, too!

Preschool Graduation

{dress: loft via swap with jessica! (similar) (similar) | cardigan: old navy | heels: kohl's (similar)}

As I've mentioned from time to time over the past few years, as of mid-June, I left the preschool I've been teaching at for 7 years, as I'll begin my elementary student teaching in the fall! While it was a bittersweet day, watching the kiddos I've known since they were babies move on from the preschool, and moving on myself, it was a great reminder that life keeps moving forward, and there are always new experiences ahead for us all, with fond memories to keep us warm!

P.S. How amazing is this dress, and how amazing is Jess for sending it to me in our clothing swap a few months back! :)