the layered tank.

hope everyone enjoyed their easter weekend. it was non-stop eating and drinking for me. i spent some QT with the minis at the beach, caught up with friends over drinks, and ate and ate with the family on easter. i finally picked up another piece of my home office - the desk. geez, it's been over a year since i bought the rug! it's progress. next up...the chair. 

i also managed to stop by Patty's Closet this weekend. they are stocked with fun spring pieces. this patterned black and white layered tank goes perfectly with denim. dress it up with a blazer or keep it casual with a utility jacket like i did here.

good wine with good friends.

dinner date with mini-he at genki sushi. he's a cheap date...only two plates + dessert for him. salmon for me.

acai bowls + shave ice.

refreshing big wave golden ale from kona brewing company after a day at the beach.

first time making broken glass jello (eggs). i only had one 6-egg mold, so the rest went into a pan, but props to anyone who makes this. it is hard work. mine isn't the prettiest, but it still tasted good!

super cute easter donuts from regal bakery.

(Patty's Closet top c/o; Pacsun denim; thrifted jacket; Rocksbox necklace)

faux-wrap top.

just a quick check-in here. wearing a faux-wrap top in a scarf print paired with my favorite white jeans. i loved the bold black trim on this top and carried that out with black shoes and accessories.

i'll be hitting the beach again today to spend some time with the minis. the water in the summer is so nice, we just can't get enough of it. 

father's day is this weekend...what's everyone doing for the special men in their lives? any gift ideas for the guy who has everything?

headed to the country after work to meet up with the minis...

made it just in time for a sunset swim.

hungry, we headed back to the beach house and whipped up this cranberry curry jasmine rice (from island keepsakes) with some sausages. so yum.

(Patty's Closet top c/o (808-625-6440);

Shop Lately necklace; Paige Denim; JustFab shoes)

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enter to win a jewelry item of your choice

sorority sister + GIVEAWAY.

leave it to the movies to skew our perception of what sororities and fraternities are really like...i mean, the first thing that comes to my mind is the movie legally blonde. while raging frat parties, that nerve-wracking sorority rush, or those secret rituals may or may not be true, i do know that members of these greek organizations share experiences that create lifelong bonds.

what better way to celebrate, create unity, or remember your association with a greek community than with a personalized piece of jewelry? The Collegiate Standard, a jewelry company created by greeks, for greeks, caters to fraternity and sorority organizations. looking for a thoughtful and unique gift? consider one of their lettered pendants, rings, tie clips, or cuff links. best part is that they give a portion of their sales to the designated sorority or fraternity, and we like companies that give back.

 scroll down for the giveaway.

are you part of a greek organization? if so, which one?

floral joggers are not pants!
they are comfortable pants.
and how might one wear these outside of the house?
with a shrunken blazer + heels.

(Sterling Silver Anchor ring w/lab-created diamonds c/o The Collegiate Standard)

this Delta Sigma Pi bangle in pink is one of my favorites;

i borrowed it so you could see it worn.

(Rampage blazer; Patty's Closet pants c/o;

Ellie shoes via i love Sexy; JustFab bag)

GIVEAWAY

Collegiate Standard is giving away one piece of jewelry to a lucky reader. you do not have to be part of a sorority or fraternity to enter; they have some pieces without letters (like the anchor ring i'm wearing above).

giveaway open to U.S. residents only, ends 6/18

enter using the rafflecopter widget below

a Rafflecopter giveaway

fruity and colorful.

yowza, it's bright in hea!

seriously, though...how cute is this pineapple tank top from Patty's Closet? i heard that pineapples are all the rage, so you better get on board. plus, it's just perfect for summer...think sun, heat, refreshing fruit? the big pineapple print is vibrant and reminded me of bright colors...so i thought it was only fitting to pair it with my neon shorts.

got pineapples?

(Patty's Closet tank c/o (808-625-6440 to buy);

Capwell & Co. pave necklace)

yellow: GAP shorts; Lucky Brand bag via zappos

pink: J.Crew shorts; etienne aigner shoes; target hat

orange: J.Crew shorts; black Sole Society sandals; ray-ban sunglasses

the linen blazer.

we all know that blazers are a great way to pull an outfit together, business or casual. make sure to have a linen blazer in your wardrobe for spring and summer, because it is generally thin and cool and makes a great lightweight layer.

i was looking for a royal blue nail polish and found this one by Wet n Wild. if you haven't tried this megalast line ($2.59), it's awesome. in addition to having that super wide brush that i love, it claims to be chip-resistant for five days...and it certainly is. i'm on day six, and it is barely showing some wear at the tips. the only other polish that lasted this long for me was essie ($8). 

do you pair blazers with shorts?

have you tried wet n wild megalast nail color?

wearing Wet n Wild megalast nail color in coast to coast.

(i couldn't find this one online, but check your local drugstores.)

(Patty's Closet blazer; DIY shorts; Lulu's tee;

Sperry topsiders via Delia's; Ray-ban sunglasses (buy))

spring essentials.

i found myself reaching for the same things this spring season, and they happened to all come together in this outfit. pretty florals, white denim, and a military or surplus jacket.

i loved the cute ruffles on the sides of this tank top from Patty's Closet. the peachy-pink florals scream spring, especially when paired with white denim. these skinnys from Paige Denim fit like a dream and provide a fresh clean base to build an outfit around. this shirt-jacket was found during one of my rare thrifting attempts. i actually bought it for its pyramid studs (hiding under my hair) which i was going to use on a pair of DIY denim shorts...but i ended up wearing it. it became the perfect lightweight layer for chilly days. plus, it was perfectly worn-in, in a perfectly faded green.

what were you reaching for this spring?

yesterday was my birthday. mini-she got up early and made me breakfast (PB+J and greek yogurt with apples). my office was too funny - they celebrated by all eating one of my favorite things, a grilled cheese sandwich & fries + mochi ice cream. and, when i got home, mini-she again had dinner ready and an ice cream cake.

(top c/o Patty's Closet (808-625-6440); Paige denim; Lulu's shoes;

Sole Society bag; thrifted jacket)

you might like these:

the denim vest.

what's the perfect counterpart to all of your spring and summer dresses? a denim vest. to get the maximum use out of your vest, look for one that is a medium to dark denim, tailored (vs boxy and oversized), and falls below the waist (vs cropped). distressing and embellishments are optional, but make sure it's not overly decorated, and stay away from raw edges which can be too casual.

this weekend, we went to the grand opening for one of our projects, little sheep, and were treated to a delicious hot pot meal. if you've never had hot pots (chinese) or shabu shabu (japanese), you basically get a big pot of broth plus your desired ingredients that you throw in and cook at your table. i love hot pots, so i was glad this one opened up near my office. it was so good, i went twice in three days. pictures below.

how was your weekend?

do you have a little sheep near you?

original and spicy soup base.

veggies & noodles.

seafood/tofu/mushrooms.

(didn't get a picture of the meats)

sake + goose island IPA beer (not pictured) that was really good.

top right: sesame pancake for dipping

bottom: yam mochi w/mango ice cream

(Patty's Closet vest (808-625-6440); AE dress, Lulu's shoes)