Blue x White Summer Style

Fall may officially be around the corner in just 2 weeks, however we've been experiencing quite the heat wave these past weeks. We hit 107 degrees last weekend, so naturally we escaped to the coolest place we could find-Monterey, just 90 mins south-it was perfection! Right now I feel as though we're enjoying an endless summer, which is fine by me as a lover of dresses, pastels, light + airy fabrics and sunshine warming my skin.

This adorable peter pan ruffle sleeve top was a new addition to my closet that pairs well with white denim, shorts and long maxi skirts, red bottoms make for a fun patriotic look as well. Right now it's on sale for just $17 and comes in a gingham print also.

For me, finding a quality pair of white jeans that are thick enough not to be see-through, yet have a bit of stretch and are comfortable and offer the right fit has been a bit of a challenge, but as always Ann Taylor never disappoints. I own a lot of their denim, what I've found is that their modern fit skinny jeans always fit me perfectly, and since my inseam is 34", I love that they offer tall lengths which is what I'm wearing here (they also offer petite and regular length also).

These days, whether I'm meeting Realtors and Staging clients for work or chasing my busy 4-year-old around, I find flats make the most sense. While I adore heels, I spent this summer investing in more cute, comfortable flats and sandals that are versatile enough to wear on a Monday or a Saturday. These fringe ankle wrap sandals in a nude color are my current favorite right now, they dress up an outfit without being too fussy.

SHOP THIS LOOK:

TOP:   Make Me Chic  //   JEANS:  Ann Taylor  ( 40% OFF now w/ code: FRIENDS40 )

  SANDALS:  Steve Madden sold out (identical here | similar here | wedge version here)     

BAG: Local Shop (similar here, here, here)

SUNGLASSES: Target  (similar- Ray Ban)   //   EARRINGS:  Ann Taylor (40% OFF)

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WEEKEND SALES:

If you're stocking up on end of summer items or building your fall wardrobe,
here is a list of amazing sales running right now from my favorite shops!

ANN TAYLOR- 40% OFF your purchases w/code: FRIENDS40
ANTHROPOLOGIE -Extra 25% OFF Sale
BANANA REPUBLIC-Up to 40% of suits, blazers, pants + more
J.CREW - Up to 70% OFF original prices
LOFT - Buy One, Get One 50% OFF
H&M -Up to 80% OFF
NINE WEST - Buy 3, get 40% OFF, Buy 2, get 30% OFF, Buy 1, get 20% OFF
NORDSTROM -Save up to 40% until Sept.10th
LORD & TAYLOR - Almost all shoes & boots up to 40% OFF!

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A classy woman exudes her confidence best when she is both dressed well and comfortable, owning her personal style. This look is all about comfort without compromising a feminine flair and is achieved with simple, but thoughtful details. Wishing you all a fabulous weekend ahead.

Thanks for stopping by!

XO




*In partnership with Make Me Chic. All thoughts, opinions and photos are my own.

First Day of Autumn

BLOUSE: SheIn $26! (c/o)  //  JEANS: 7FAM (old) flare leg version, lighter version

SHOES: Tory Burch  //  BAG: (Local shop) similar: here, here, here, here + here

SUNGLASSES: Target on sale under $14! (Designer version here)  // EARRINGS: Majorica

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Happy October everyone! The first day of Fall in the Bay Area certainly didn't disappoint! The leaves have already begun turning colors, the air has that crispness to it in the early morning + late evening and during the day we're warmed by the sun's rays on even the chilliest sounding temps-the 60's actually feel more like 80's. We've already begun stocking up on white mini pumpkins and other fall decor. If you've been following along on instagram, you may have seen that we are actually growing our own pumpkins and have already harvested 9! They grew from seeds in the compost on our property and were transferred so they had already turned orange weeks ago and were ready to be picked.

I find that September and early October fluctuate so much in most parts of the country (as evidenced by the 66 degrees we had last week only to experience a heat wave of nearly 100 degrees just a few days later during the weekend. I've always said that my perfect place to live would be where I could wear a dress and jeans + a  blazer or cute blouse daily and I'd say that I've found that here. Since my wardrobe necessities in California are different than that of Florida, I've made it a point to focus on both transitional and layering pieces to get me through the next couple months until warmer coats are truly needed daily. In my last outfit post I shared this floral dress to take you from summer to fall and now I wanted to share a casual yet pulled together look that does the same job.

When I'm not at a playground with Lily, tending to the garden or working from home, I like to dress up my denim whether it's with the addition of a blazer, putting on a pretty blouse or a fab pair of heels. This is a pretty typical everyday look for me, as a mom I prefer to wear flats to chase after my little monkey and they're the perfect choice for weekends when we're doing a lot of walking. I save my heels and wedges for when I'm flying solo for the day while she's at school.

I'm loving this black and white striped bow wrapped blouse that I ordered a few weeks ago. It has a slight ruffling at the bottom and of course a pretty side tie bow which would pair equally as well with a black pencil skirt or even a pair of shorts when those hot days roll in again. The material is thicker, so coupled with my wide leg jeans, I didn't feel cold once during the day. I've had these 7 For All Mankind jeans for a few years  and I find wide leg jeans really comfortable, I'm glad to see that wide leg pants and denim are on trend again this season, I especially like pairing them with a fitted short sleeved or long sleeved tee along with a belt. They currently offer a lighter version of the same style here. I just stocked up a bunch of these super affordable and ultra soft pima cotton tees which are currently on sale and perfect for layering!

I've also been experimenting with some new hair styles (inspired by a more bohemian, relaxed look here in California I suppose), which actually originated from my need to find new toddler styles for Lily's long hair. Not long after, she'd see something I experimented on in my own hair and ask if I could do the same to hers so she could have 'hair like mommy'. This hairstyle is super easy and takes about a minute to do. It's essentially a series of flips. secure a low ponytail (I use tiny clear plastic elastics from the drugstore) then create a part in the lowest part of the gathered hair above the elastic and feed it through the center hole and pull. Add another elastic about 3 inches under that and do the same thing, pulling the pony through each time. It creates a braided effect without any complicated braiding techniques and if you're on the go and it gets a little bit too messy,  it takes just seconds to redo it. I like to pull out a few pieces of hair to frame my face so it doesn't look to perfect.

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What are you enjoying most so far about the fall season?

Thanks for stopping by!

XO

*This post was brought to you by SheIn.

What to Wear: Nautical Necessities

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I know, I know I kind of missed the boat on this one in terms of timing (pun intended). Spring is now in our distant past and the end of summer is quickly approaching but I couldn't help but share a few of these nautical lovelies with you. Navy-inspired pieces are a lovely addition to any closet, they happen to be a personal favorite. You may remember me mentioning it in last week's What to Wear post.

Every year during spring/summer you can guarantee that there will be new takes on this old classic. Since my hubby and I are no strangers to a cruise ship, they're perfect for me to pack. They also make for great resort chic options in the winter months while on vacation. While summer is winding down, now is the time to pick up some of these pieces for next year at a steep discount! If you love stripes, anchors, sailboats, coral, boat knots, the sea, red, white, blue and yellow as much as I do, take a look at what I reeled in while surfing the net.

Here are a few sensational sailor finds:

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Anthropologie does a great job here of pulling together a few classic pieces that provide this casual, but polished look. While I love a gladiator sandal, a ballet flat would seal the deal on this one for me.

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I happen to have something nearly identical that I purchased from White House/ Black Market two years ago except mine has black and white details instead. I love the rope handle detail and pop of red here.

 

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 This is still available for $34 at Newport News and I would love to buy it. I'm still debating whether I need it. ;)

 

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This striped bikini top is perfect as is that camel colored tote-so versatile! Throw in a fedora for fun.

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Splashes of sunny yellow brighten up an otherwise dark outfit.

 

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This dress, although simple and casual, is quite versatile. Use it in a pinch over a swimsuit as a cover up, glam it up with some gold accessories for lunch with the girls or let it be the perfect dress for a stroll along the beach or a summer BBQ.

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I love anchors, I happen to own a silver anchor necklace and I wear it often. This one is a great find at just $12.95!

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I'm quite smitten with that cream rope bracelet. Those braided gold wedges would be very versatile but unfortunately would take this 5'9 1/2" girl to to about 6'2! LOL.

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Cute one-piece option that is very simple but provides a bit of detail. Would be lovely with a cream sarong or red cover up.

 

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I {heart} ruffles. They are pretty, flirty and fun!

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These are said to be very comfy and they are a great shoe for bermuda shorts, a skirt, dress, or even linen pants.

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I adore coral, this bib-style necklace is just stunning!

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Gorgeous Chanel Bracelet. YES, Please!!

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Seersucker shorts are a summer essential. The pleated skirt with red belt and tote bag are a couple of my favorites. This multi-colored bikini is a modern take on nautical.

 

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This image describes my personal style. Classic, conservative and preppy but with a playful twist-a flirty little peek of the shoulder and a simple set of bangles. This look is timeless.

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Over the past couple of years I've fallen in love with maxi dresses. I also love bags made from sail cloth. Those anchor adorned flats are a must-have.

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I love wide-brim floppy hats-the rope knot is a fun twist. This little clutch/change purse is adorable.

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 Glamour at sea.

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These shorts are perfect and I love those navy wedges! A timeless red and white striped bikini is always in style. 

Do you love nautical style like I do? What are your favorite picks here or your own must-haves for the season? 

Speaking of photos, I have updated and personalized the sidebar to include some personal travel photos and some recent ones of my hubby and I too. I love getting to know the lives of other bloggers. It is my hope that with these and  future updates that you'll get to know me a little better too. :) I've also included some new link lists in my sidebar to the Manners Monday series and previous Reader Requests.

Happy Friday! I hope you'll all be spending one of the last weekends of summer doing something fabulous! I'll be working on a family photo wall, celebrating a friend's birthday tomorrow evening and heading to a beautiful local park for an afternoon picnic in the shade on Sunday. What lovely things do YOU have planned?