This was on recent trip to the desert with the family. I was pleasantly surprised with how charming the area was, all the mid-century charm tucked into the Coachella valley, although it was very hot. This shirt has been a wonderful addition to my closet, the lose weave yet classic feel. I find myself reaching for these wedges a lot as well, the pewter metallic color goes with everything, and its just the perfect heel height. And of course my very favorite mom bag.
I am completely head over heels for a french 75 cocktail. This may be the 3rdish time I have mentioned them on the blog. Its just perfectness...completely bubbly, slightly tart, slightly sweet, with some depth from the gin. And then we put a cherry on top. Well it actually slid to the bottom. But just like lips, it was the perfect pop of red.
so next time you have an occasion, and by occasion I mean sharing with at least 1+ companion, because it is just not a good idea to polish off a bottle of bubbles by yourself with added shots of gin. nope. Do this!
This hairdo was the wash+lotsofgel+go look. When its crazy hot and the thought of a diffuser is unbearable. It was slightly a disaster, I just owned it and went anyway.
Oh and also get some really good olives and heat them up. Really really good.
Do you remember that time I said I wasn't going to get a black romper. I'm so weak. I am not sure why I have such a thing for rompers, they are a complete pain in the arse when you have to pee, and this happens a lot, this one has an open back, sorry no photos today, and this is how you get it off. Not great for the hairdo. Anyways, it's awesome regardless.
romper - Lole, Queen Anne Dispatch
shoes - Faryl Robin, Free People {old}
necklace - a new one I created, with vintage and recycled beads, you like?
started with a walk through the most charming neighborhood...the kind where you ooh and awe and wonder "who in the world?" or "is that really just one house?"
with my man.
to meet old friends who have just become neighbors, yippee!! {not pictured}.
the type you can pick up right where you left off, talk all night with, and reminisce, and who will share charcuterie with you and brown butter roasted cauliflower, and toast, with french 75s of course.
and since I have worn my Frye shoes all week {if only my funds were endless...}, 6pm.com is an awesome place to find Frye items for major discounts {40-65% off!}, and they have videos for many of their items, which I love because I want to see the shoes on before I purchase {helps with the guesswork} and its free shipping. Here are a few similar to above, and a couple I have on my list...
As I
write this post its past 8pm and still 88 degrees out, today was a hot hot day.
Besides a few hiccups like getting out of my car to pump gas in my
bathing suit, oh dear. this wouldn't be a big deal if I wasn't 30+ miles from water. true story. or impulse buying a Zoku popsicle maker {but I'm stoked to try it out tomorrow!}, we managed to beat the
heat. This is a capital "V" Victory because typically as the
heat rises my mood plunges. Right now the most beautiful treasured moment
that I will keep forever is taking place...sitting on our back patio couch,
outside, underneath the stars and the full moon {ironically there are soooo
many stars in the California sky}, with my two little boys, well passed there
bedtime. My oldest has picked out the books he can "read" aloud
himself and my youngest is making up words to his book, while I work on my
computer, under our string of glowing lights, with the scent of jasmine flowers
wafting our way, you can even hear the waves crashing in the distance during
moments of quiet . This evening is magical. Thank you
California. Thank you Lord.
"most of the things that we need to be most fully alive don't come from our busyness, they grow in rest." Mark Buchanan.
When Kendra Thornton proposed the challenge of styling outfits for her upcoming Miami South Beach getaway with her husband, I of course said yes. Who doesn't love the idea of a kid-free romantic getaway with your husband, and daydreaming of the outfits I'd pack.
In Kendra's words "There are a few places in the world that I truly love. Miami is one of them. There is something special about this city located in South Florida. Maybe it's the natural parks, glorious sparkling beaches or the hot nightclubs, but I just love the way I feel when I'm walking around this gorgeous paradise." The challenge is to create outfits that would make this vacation truly special.
First thing I thought of without the kiddos is lots of white. I am loving the white upon white, lighter layers mixed together. This outfit might be exactly what I would dream of wearing but who wouldn't? The perfect sun-bleached and distressed denim with a silk flowy top, a sexy back cutout. My current favorite lace-up sandals. and then to keep everything young and edgy but sophisticated, lots of stacked gold bracelets and spiked earrings. I love the neckline left open here.
And again, more white. A white wide-leg trouser with white wedges to make the legs look fiercely long paired with another flowy tank with a sexy back. I love the retro hyper-color feel of the clutch and the bright punch of color it adds. The white and gold chain earrings bring it all together. Have I mentioned how much I love white and gold right now?
Finally, because its not all about white - hello this is Miami! and to show that packing great accessories makes mixing and matching super easy. Isn't this dress amazing? Kendra would stop people in their tracks. I kept all the accessories warm to compliment the dress and make her glow.
Here's to finding the time to put life's to-do list on hold to keep the spark alive, and to rest and rejuvenate. and to playing dress-up. Thanks Kendra for the challenge!
As I am writing this post, my house is peaceful and quiet - everyone is asleep. Even if its only 8:17pm, no seriously. I am trying to come up with something interesting or whitty to say about my third pajama inspired outfit in a row and fittingly, I just want to go to bed too.
We just got back from a weekend family vacation, some much needed family time, parts of it were so wonderful...the boys slept in a tent in our hotel room, it was their own private fort and they slept past 8am both mornings, win! my youngest officially learned how to swim, in the beginning it was this plunging dive headfirst/sideways like a seal looking thing, best vision of my day, and he was sooooo proud. holding their little hands. And then there were hard moments - complete melt-downs at dinner after a long day swimming {hello, duh parents}, whining, not even opening the magazine I had brought for poolside reading, not being rested. I found myself feeling somewhat defeated as we drove home today and wondering how do we just slow-down our daily life, instead of longing for vacations to find rest and rejuvenation.
As I was writing this post, I paused for an instagram break and I saw a post about a family, who suddenly lost their little boy when he was hit by a truck, I have never met them but as I scrolled through her pictures of her dear family, you saw how fully she loved. She will never get those moments again. Yet I do, I can squeeze my boys and hear their whining, and experience life as their momma. I am so sad and so grateful. And for sure tomorrows agenda can wait.
Not much about my outfit but it is what's on my heart.
If you follow me on instagram {please do! thekirstyfiles}, you may have seen this outfit already. it just keeps coming back out. And if you saw weds post, then you can see I am on a pajama roll, another comfortable-could-sleep-in outfit.
It is an interesting thing, living in a beach town vacation destination because you are constantly reminded that you are NOT in fact on vacation.
As you are sitting ever-sooooo-patiently at the beach ave crosswalk, while multiple vacationers stroll across in both directions, because you need to get to preschool on time to pick up your children. They clearly have not a care in the world, nor do they think to synchronize their crosswalking, or perhaps pause for the cars that do indeed need to drive in this town.
Or driving down PCH in the evening seeing everyone enjoying a night out and a good meal, not a one having to load the dishwasher.
I do however enjoy the people watching, specifically the fashion. There is a lot of it. And I am beginning to wonder if I am starting to be a bit liberal with my spring break attire. The fact that many of these fashionistas are a decade or more {!} younger than me. These shorts are right on the line of mid-thirty appropriate. But i figure as long as I stay within the city limits I am okay.
Just a quick mention of my sandals. I love them, they have been a summer standard for multiple years now. I am on the hunt to find a similar pair, these bottoms are wearing thin. The perfect amount of wedge, not too much that you can't wear them all the time, flattering straps up the sides but below the ankle. They zip up the back which is awesome and they are darn cute. Dolce Vita make them again please!!
sweatshirt - Billabong, Thalia St. {also here, I sized up to a medium for more slouch factor}