spring has sprung.

just a quick hello.

seriously, where does the time go? i intended to take just a few days off, but two weeks of spring break for the minis and a few days of stomach flu later and it seems i've been m.i.a. for a while. as things return to normal around here, i hope to catch up with all of you soon.

today i'm being featured on Yen's blog, Diva in Me, for the debut of her new travel series called #whereareyoufrom. if you are interested in learning about where i live, head over to read more...then stay and browse Yen's impeccable style and travels. 

have a great weekend.

a spring break sunset.

leopard tights + boots.

i'm late to the party.

we're already eight days into 2015 and i haven't quite figured out what my goal for the year is. last year's was simple. the marathon. this year, i want a similar goal that i can focus on entirely. sure, i have other things i want to do, too, like read more, get organized, and try new things, but i haven't pinpointed that main goal...yet. have you?

what do you want to accomplish this year?

(Lulu's sweater; AEO festival shortie shorts;

Sole Society Andie boots; H&M bag)

shop the look:

wild thing.

...you make my heart sing.

my niece is obsessed with milk teas from this place, Taste Tea. it's all the rage and is jam packed with kids all the time. they have so many variations and flavors now, that it's hard to choose. i got a yogurt lemonade milk tea that was good for the first few sips. my suggestion? stick to the basics - original milk tea, or strawberry milk tea. my niece got a milk tea with a scoop of ice cream.

(NYDJ sweater; Patty's Closet pants;

JustFab boots (similar); love & sunshine bag)

shop the look:

east vs west style. boots.

boots, boots, boots! another fall favorite that needs no introduction. i love the mix of styles here from stiletto booties to knee high boots.

when i selected this outfit weeks ago, we were experiencing unusually warm and humid weather. so i opted for shorts instead jeans. then on the day of shooting, we were hit with hurricane ana's non-stop rain. perfect weather for the outfit (and the would-have-been-jeans), not so much for photographing it.

east

Jackie / Living After Midnite / New York

Meaghan / District Sparkle / Virginia

Tracy / TheRightShoes / New York

west

Ashley / Pursuit of Shoes / California

Danielle / Envision Pretty / California

Becks / oomph. / Hawaii

this mixed media sweater is the second basic black sweater i added to my wardrobe this fall. i have been wearing it constantly because it is thin and slightly oversized, perfect for throwing on over denim like these Dittos misty cutoffs.

and this cozy beige infinity scarf kept me super warm. it was like being wrapped up in a blanket.

photographing in the rain was a total fail...the umbrella was not a wanted and intentional prop! plus, my hair was starting to frizz, haha.

luckily, i happened to snap a few photos of the outfit last week as part of my 'week of' series. i hadn't received the scarf and shorts yet, but at least these photos are clear and free of rain!

love the mesh details at the shoulders.

wearing from Sole Society:

Andie boot in black

Montana Braided Bucket Bag

wearing from NYDJ:

Mixed Media Sweater

wearing from Lulu's:

Dittos Misty Distressed Cut-off Jean Shorts

Cozy Beige Infinity Scarf

wearing from Taudrey:

Silver Tiffany Bracelet

in case you missed it:

east vs west . jewel tones

east vs west . leather

east vs west . oversized knits

olive + red.

this is as fall as it's going to get around here, i'm afraid. with temps still reaching the 90s + high humidity, it's [literally] difficult to get dressed in the morning. i tried to put on a pair of jeans this weekend and could not get them up past my knees, because i was so sticky! the struggle is real!

but when it does get chilly, one of my utility jackets is always within reach. pairing an olive green jacket with red [plaid] is one of my absolute favorite combos.

p.s. stay tuned for our fall 2014 east vs. west series

debuting tomorrow!

have you transitioned to fall completely?

what fall trend are you loving?

(mossimo jacket (similar); justfab luxe boots; express denim;

shirt via local store; love & sunshine pouch)

here's a few to try:

[not] just for guys. the 5 panel cap.

mini-he and i have been on a hat kick lately.

between the two of us, we have acquired eight new hats in the last month (#sorrynotsorry). the latest is this floral 5-panel cap from The Union. while most hats are constructed of six panels, each panel of a 5-panel cap is made to fit the shape of the head for a slim and sleek fit. over the past few years, it has been gaining popularity and has gone from a niche market to a necessity in every guy's (and girl's) closet.

you can find 5-panel caps in a plethora of prints and textures. rock them forward or backward, up or down, curve the bill or keep it straight...but main thing? keep it casual.

The Union was started a couple years ago by three young entrepreneurs. the company releases new products every season, and they sell out fast. if you want to support a small business that appreciates each and every one of their customers, head over to their website and grab one of these hats for the guys (or girls) in your life. christmas will be here in no time!

what's your hat style?

have you heard of the 5-panel hat?

*this is NOT a sponsored post.

(The Union 5 panel floral cap;

JustFab boots (similar); Ray-ban aviators)

the ankle boot.

if there is one boot you need for fall, it's the ankle boot. it's versatile and can be worn year round throughout the seasons. it works with shorts in the summer, skirts in the spring, and pants during fall and winter.

i'd normally rock this favorite button-up shirt + denim shorts combo with sneakers, but i decided to break out the boots...in the spirit of fall.

how are you rocking your ankle boots?

what is your boot style..tall, flat, riding?

(f21 shirt, DIY levis; JustFab luxe boots; love & sunshine clutch)

shop the look:

peach + crosses.

i took one test shot before it started to rain, nonstop; so this one shot is all i got. on the hanger, the strings on this top looked like trouble...a complicated and potentially tangled mess. it did make it to the dressing room, however, and it wasn't at all what i expected. your arms went under all of that, and the strings fell nicely on your shoulder. it turned out to be a pretty, oomph-worthy detail. of course, i had to balance that pretty with some bad a$$ crosses. these cute shorts have pockets (sold!) and are fully lined (bonus!). and for some reason (maybe the crosses?), i wanted to wear some kick a$$ boots, so i threw on my favorite JustFab boots with some black tights to

elongate my legs.

just curious, what lip color are you currently loving?

(Patty's Closet top & shorts c/o (808-235-2924);

JustFab Valletta boots)

ankle boots + gingham.

second year in a row that i've stocked up on button down shirts on black friday. these are my absolute favorite shirts because of their versatility. they work with shorts or skirts, look good left out, tucked in, or layered under a jacket or sweater, and can be casual or dressy. here i'm wearing it with denim, because with all the rain we've been having lately, it's hard to put on anything but jeans and boots. i almost got this 773 bag from JustFab in black; so glad i went for the purple. it makes a nice colorful addition to monochromatic outfits such as this one.

by the way, i never knew what these shirts were called; i say button down for lack of a better term. after googling, i learned that button down refers to a collar that is actually buttoned-down, like this. the term that i'm looking for is button up, or simply button. front. duh.

(Libi & Lola machu ring (buy))

wonton mein on a chilly day...

mischa boots | 773 bag in purple

(gilly hicks shirt; pacsun denim; bag & boots c/o JustFab)