Backyard Bungalow

August 13, 2013

West Hollywood, CA

With the help of a lovely little website called, airbnb.com, an adventurous friend of mine, has been house/apartment hopping all over town this summer.  Though I personally have not used the site before, the concept behind it is pretty simple: it’s a place where you can rent out your home to perfect strangers while you are out of town (and vice versa).  Now if you’re thinking, “Well, that sounds pretty sketchy”- I have to admit, I was right there with you, but after seeing some of the places that she has been able to call home this summer, I’m a changed woman! 

From a three story Venice beach house, to an artistic loft downtown, she is now settled in this adorable townhome in West Hollywood.  Complete with a quaint backyard garden, fire pit, and enough room to entertain guests on a warm summer night, what more could you really ask for? A washer and dryer maybe? Well, you’re in luck because it has that too! Needless to say, my friend is a genius.  While she’s been living in affordable and exciting new spots, stockpiled with amenities, the rest of us Los Angelinos have been schlepping our dirty laundry to the laundry mat every month and looking for street parking at night. (Well, maybe that’s just me).

Regardless of your current laundry situation, it’s probably pretty easy to imagine why my girlfriends and I have quickly decided to make the most of my pal’s amazing casa of the month.  Impromptu backyard hangouts and “garden parties” as we like to call them, have become the norm.  It’s peaceful, beautiful, and it’s honestly the biggest backyard I’ve had access to (in LA) in quite some time.

So there you have it, adventure pays off yet again.  Now the only thing left to do is figure out how to convince the owners to never come back;)

This light blue dress by Tulle with an adorable scalloped neckline, is perfectly classic for all things summer- especially backyard garden parties.  It's both sophisticated and casual and I absolutely love the pockets (I can never get enough of a sundress with pockets).  Best of all, it is completely fitting for backyard gatherings at my pal's current "home of the month".

Dress: Tulle

Necklace: Ruche 

Heels: Aldo (Similar) 

Photos today by Jennifer Biswas. 

Black and White

August 8, 2013

An alley behind La Brea, Los Angeles, CA

Sometimes you have to stick to the classics.

On days where I have to attempt to look professional and “business like”- a hat I wear from time to time- I like to be able to do it while still maintaining a sense of my whimsical “I’ll never grow up” self. 

This little black and white number allows me to do just that. It gives me just the right amount of confidence necessary to pull off a successful day!  Who doesn’t love a little success in their life? (And best of all, I still feel like myself).

Another thing that is great about this dress is that because it’s black and white, it allows for a lot of freedom with accessories.  I, however, chose to keep it pretty simple today, adding only a touch of blue with this costume necklace.  It’s a perfect reminder that even though fall is just around the corner, we are still truly in the peak of summer and a pop of color keeps you feeling that sunshine.      

Dress: Ruche

Necklace: H&M

Heels: Guess

Easy Breezy

August 5, 2013

Santa Monica, CA

Oh hey- it’s Monday!

After a relaxing and or restlessly exciting summer weekend, I certainly know that it can be challenging to get back to the daily grind.  It’s the day of the week that poolside happy hour is abruptly replaced with early morning coffee, traffic, and a computer screen with 15 windows open at once. BLAH!

All that being said, I must admit…I kind of like Mondays. 

Whoa! Now, before you let your imagination run wild, I have to let you know that I’m certainly not a “morning person” or an “eager beaver” type.  I tend to think of people who like Mondays as being like that Rachel Berry character on Glee.   You know the type:  the girl who wakes up with a smile, makes herself a full breakfast, paints her nails, and still eagerly arrives 20 minutes early for work?  I am the polar opposite of that type.  Arriving to work even 5 minutes early, with enough time to zap that instant oatmeal or smear peanut butter on a bagel is a major victory over here.  So what’s my trick for getting going on Mondays?   I remind myself (some weeks more often than others) that Monday is the START of a something new.  It’s a day full of opportunity to start fresh, get back on that crazy diet, make those dolla dolla bills, and accomplish the world!

Now if that whole mentality sounds like a bunch of malarkey (HA! I love that word), then I find it always helps to reminisce about how great your weekend was and remind yourself that in just a few short days, you’ll be weekending all over again!

I spent most of my weekend down in Santa Monica in this perfectly summery Ruche maxi dress. It’s an effortlessly adorable piece that works for just about everything a casual beach weekend entails.  We brunched at a new local organic spot on Montana, caught up with friends and family over a delicious steak dinner near the ocean, ate chocolate chip cookies, relaxed by the pool, and found a new piece for my kitchen from the local flea-market on Melrose.  

Yup! The reminiscing thing totally works! 

So go ahead, tell your boss how fantastic your weekend was, mark the countdown on your desktop calendar till Friday, or simply remind yourself of each great thing you want to achieve this week.  Whatever it is that temporarily gives you that Rachel-Berry-on-Monday-morning enthusiasm…do it!

Dress: Ruche

Sandals: Some shop on Melrose

Ring: H&M (Similar)