iphone duuuuuuummmmp!

Here's the past few months according to my iPhone:

 Our little house....When it's clean.

 New sneakers, I even sleep in them.

 The Venice Skate Park. Awesome People watching. (Like anywhere else in Venice).

 Once they ruled the earth. Now they are adorable garden fixtures!

Lovers in Laguna

Best and Beautiful friend getting married. 

(Chin down, eyes up, LITTLE TEA CUP! This pose is somehow a go-to, but completely ridiculous).

I'm am incredibly proud my husband has the balls to wear these.

 Good ole' Bette

 One of my favorite bottoms

 Boat Life

 More Boat life + handsome man.

Neon! Florals! No Dooooyyyy!

Before picking my friend from Dallas up at LAX the other day, I thought to myself: "Self, what's a fun, no fuss way to say 'Welcome to California'????" Then I answered to myself: "Self! Neon! Florals! No Doooyyyy!" So I put on this vintage floral thrift store skirt....that has pockets...to put my weed in.... JK!!!!! 

But seriously....... 

(jk).

Vintage high waisted skirts and soft fitted tanks are a go-to for me. You can dress it down (seen here) or up with some higher shoes and a blazer or cardigan. Throw on some liquid, winged eye-liner, and some bright lips and you're practically a movie staarrrrrr!

(don't laugh at my hand on the shoulder pose. I don't know what my intention was with that. Just go with it).

Skirt and Belt: Thrifted, Nail Polish: Essie, French Affair, Necklace: JCP, Tank: Joie, Rings: Gifted and Trifted, Sandals: Steve Madden (old)

Beer and Dumpster Diving

The title of this post sounds a lot trashier than this post actually is. You see, some girl in the my old building had impeccable taste and happened to be my size. She threw away a lot of good stuff. Now, I'm not literally going to swan dive into a dumpster, but if I pass a trash bag full of what seem to be perfectly good clothes I'm not just going to ignore it! That's where I found this Banana Republic suede skirt. The Moose Head Beer shirt was a total thrift store score. I have an affinity for Moose Head which stems from fond memories of my Daddio drinking these when I was small during neighborhood chill sessions on the driveway.

This outfit is reminiscent of the way I dressed in high school. I really don't find anything wrong with that. 

Rhinestones and Ropers

Stripes and Florals. One of the most trustworthy combinations in my book. Look at them together. It's tailored on top and Kelly Kapowski on bottom. Also trustworthy: Ropers. Get yourself a pair. They toughen up anything and are comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time. Plus they don't discriminate based on seasons. 

On to the belt. When my NaNa passed, she left behind quite a few ridiculous rhinestone belts. Yes, these belts are gaudy... yes, these belts might be seen on such waists as cougars at your local sports bar, (NaNa wasn't a cougar) but I love them. I find the challenge of making them work with my daily outfits as opposed to making me look like a cougar rewarding. I LOVE pieces like that. Otherwise seen on douche bags, but resurrected on someone new in a completely different/non-douche way. 

NEW: Just saw the lovely lady from Atlantic-Pacific did a post on stripes and florals. She's too damn cute. Check her out.

Floral Skirt: Thrifted, Striped Shirt: Ralph Lauren/thrifted, Belt: Nana's, Boots: Dolly Python, Bulldog Necklace: China Town in NY, Scarf: F21, Hat: J.Crew, Sunglasses: Nordstrom (old)

Favorite Shirt

I was tempted to title this post, "Monkee-ing Around," but then I would have had to punch myself in the face. 

Skirt: F21 (Similar), Belt: Vintage/Gifted, Shirt: Stolen from little brother, Sweater: Free People, Shoes: Jeffery Campbell, Cuff: JCP (similar), Panama Hat: J.Crew

The Man In Our Mirrors

Let's talk about the resurgence of loafers in the wake of MJ's death. I know it's been a while since he left us for Never Never Land, but loafers were so 2 years ago so it speaks to my point. If we really thought about it, I'm sure we could all find several pieces in our closets that were directly influenced by Michael Jackson. Although many of his signature pieces were sported by celebrities and artists before he came along, (Audrey Hepburn and high water pants, Greaser's and plain white tees, Jimmy Hendrix and the Military Jacket, Pirates and billowy white shirts) he recreated and essentially established these looks as staples in popular culture. (Kinda like Benny Goodman did with jazz and swing).

What is soooo MJ in your closet? 

(Besides your sexuality)

Loafers: Sam Edleman, Jacket: H&M (similar) , Sheer Pleated Pants: Thrifted, Belt: Gifted, Sun Glasses & Earrings: F21

No Doubt

This dress is no question, one of my favorite pieces. It's special when clothing is modest and revealing simultaniously. Besides that, ever since the Don't Speak No Doubt video, Navy dresses with white polka dots are like vortexes...sucking me in....waiting to fulfill my teenage fantasy to be as alluring and gorgeous as Gwen is in that video. (psshaaaright). The silk scarf is my signature look when I have had my hair in the same bun for 2 days. This one in particular was given to me by a stranger. Jonathan and I hung the banner we made for our wedding around the perimeter of our house. Shortly thereafter two gents on bikes complemented Johnny on how it looked while he was gardening. 2 days later one guy came back to give Jonathan this silk scarf and told him to give it to me, inviting us to his local vintage shop. That makes this scarf immediately sentimental. What a sweetie. 

Otherwise, we shopped for furniture at the Fairfax/Melrose Flea Market today and enjoyed a BBQ at our friend's house. 

Scarf: Gifted, Glasses: F21, Dress: 2nd Hand DKNY (Beacon's Closet in Brooklyn), Cross: Mama's, Shoes: Kenneth Cole, TX Neck: Flea Market find, Bag: Dolly Python

Seeeeeeecretttssszzzz

I have a secret to share. I'm sharing this because I'm not one of those types to keep good tips from other stylish ladies. You know the girl that won't tell you where she got something... or will say she doesn't remember because she doesn't want you or anyone else to know where to get the good shit. That's a silly way to be a contributing member of a community of thrifters and garage sale shoppers and treasure diggers. So here goes.

There is a muumuu section at Ross, and it's full of eccentric little diamonds in the rough. For example: this one.... $8.99 fools! The muumuus are near the robe section by all the synthetic/nasty/scratchy/"silky" pajamas with printed patterns of cupcakes and whatnot. 

So go check it out and let's start a muumuu revolution. Easily sported with a denim jacket and top knot (seen below) or sandals and gobs of chunky jewelry on a summery day. 

All that aside, please enjoy these iphone altered photos of me and Jonathan enjoying lunch at Gjelina, ice cream (I choose coffee, and him: chocolate) from Nice Cream and a lovely afternoon walk down Abbot Kinney. 

Stay Cool, Hollywood.

Immense apologies for my absence. I have a valid excuse, however. I had to go to LA for 2 weeks so I could find a place to live. Yes, that's right. We're moving across the country. whaaaaaat? I still don't think the hugeness of this has fully set in yet. I am a Texas girl through and through. I have never lived anywhere else...never been away from my family. Consequently I am shitting my pants. (Don't get grossed out! It was a metaphor)! 

J has earned an awesome opportunity out there, so we're not just go out west with stars in our eyes and dreams in our hearts!!!! He actually has viable income, which is ahhhmazing. I'm confident this move will open doors for me too. New things to shoot. New people to meet. I really want to start focusing my work. (I'll give you a moment to stop giggling at my hilarious pun). But fo' realz, ya'll...for the past several years I've been shooting anything for anyone everywhere. I feel I'm going to L.A. with enough experience to shoot what I want to shoot. I'm pretty pumped about it. 

How lucky I am to get a fresh start with my best friend and to see the fruits of his labor. To consider the path we've been walking down together for 5 years only to find ourselves here is a wild thing. Also, in my nostalgic-boohoo-I'm leaving home-waah-waah time I realized how incredibly blessed I am to have such a loving and amazing family to miss with all my heart strings...

Some people don't have family to miss, right?

So here are some images of our 2 weeks. It was a whirl wind. 

An adorable service dog in the eatery at The Pali Hotel in West Hollywood and the cute dining room. 

(This hotel was almost too hip...down to every last detail)

An orange tree on our patio. I want to get one of these for our garden as soon as I get out there. GAWD I love hotel robes..Here's Jonathan in one....that's what I look at every morning. Too funny. 

The little coffee shop in our hotel.

And finally, Venice. This is where Jonathan and I found a little 2 bedroom Bungalow. We love it. I found the "World's Smallest Front Yard" on the boardwalk, by the way. Just in case you were wondering where it is. 

More on California later. 

xo

a