fall neutrals.

my friendship swap bag included a couple of long cardigans which are perfect for fall. this grey open-style cardigan was one of them. you can't go wrong with a neutral palette and, of course, a pop of color with bright pink lips from laqa & co. and this burgundy clutch from love & sunshine.

this was a weekend of exercise, nature, and food. we conquered two hikes (caught the sunrise from diamond head and the sunset from aiea) and i tried a new restaurant. love full weekends like these.

what's your ideal weekend?

do you like neutral for fall or bright colors?

saturday's sunrise hike to the top of diamond head crater. 

bills sydney in waikiki. there's a cafe ground floor on the right (not pictured) and main restaurant upstairs. i think it's a little pricey for breakfast, but it hit the spot.

much needed first cup of coffee post-hike...very heavy and thick, but good! ($3.50)

interior. simple but grand with the high ceilings. love the woodsy outback vibe. 

one of their specialties, the ricotta hotcakes with banana and honeycomb butter ($15). very yum. seafood kim chee fried rice in the background ($16). tasty but salty. probably wouldn't order that again. also ordered lemonade ($5). parking $6 + tip = $50+ breakfast.

sunday's sunset hike at aiea loop trail.

carnitas tacos after the sunset hike (plus a watermelon cooler and molten lava cake!)

(banana republic cardigan via friendship swap; paige denim,

lulu's shoes; love & sunshine clutch; laqa & co. lips)

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neutral prints.

this chilly weather is making me lazy. all i want to do is cozy up in a warm blanket [with a good book and a cup of tea], which is probably why i've been living in oversized sweaters and sweatshirts. it's the next best thing to a warm blanket when you have to leave the house. but i figured getting dressed on this monday morning was a good way to start the week.

throwing prints and textures into the mix here while keeping to a neutral palette. similar shades of brown keep the leopard and herringbone harmonious while the white denim freshens up the look.

do you like dressing up when temps drop?

how was your weekend?

(lips: avon scarlet siren)

(Patty's Closet blazer; Paige denim, heels via Lulu's; thrifted blouse)

pink.

mondays come too soon, don't you agree? at least it's a short week! by the way, who plans on braving the black friday crowds? 

kicking this week off with a punch of bright pink.

lips: LAQA & Co 'ring of fire' & Avon 'vamp'

a few snaps from a holiday shopping event we had this weekend.

(shirt via oomph; paige denim; charles david 'pact' heels c/o; american eagle camouflage jacket; ray-ban aviators)

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buffalo plaid.

one of my must-haves for fall is a great flannel...and what better than one in classic red. it's great for chilly fall mornings and nights, perfect for the pumpkin patch, and festive come christmas.

while i love all patterns from gingham to checks and tartans, i've been wanting to add a buffalo plaid to my collection. like everything else, though, the perfect one is hard to find.

i came close with this one last year but hope to score 'the one' this year.

what's one thing you hope to pick up this fall?

(gilly hicks top; paige denim)

blaccents 02.

hooray for 4-day weeks.

when wearing light colors, my first instinct is to grab neutral counterparts...nude-ish shoes, tan or gray bag...to elongate and keep the look seamless. but sometimes i love the stark contrast of black accessories, or blaccents as i like to call them. just a couple pops of black here with my nine west sneaks and this cute [faux] leather pouch from love & sunshine.

today and tomorrow will be spent preparing for my 20k (12.4 miles) race on sunday...resting and hydrating. i was going to pass on this one since we just completed the 15k, but i decided to take it nice and slow. it's going to be a hot one, but at least this course is flat.

(kale sweatshirt, suburban riot; paula & chloe necklace;

nine west shoes; love & sunshine bag)

woven sneakers.

for as long as i can remember, i've always been a shoe (vs sandal) girl. i rocked high top converse, dr. martens, and loafers in intermediate. i remember there was this one particular leather loafer from Esprit that i wanted badly in intermediate. my mom wouldn't buy them for me, but later surprised me (for christmas or birthday?) with three pairs. the pink one was my favorite.

while i do appreciate a cute sandal nowadays, i still feel most comfortable in shoes. maybe it's the tomboy in me. these sneaks from nine west are so comfy and light, plus i love the detail at the heel.

do you gravitate towards shoes or sandals?

have your [style] preferences changed since you were younger?

(express top (similar); nine west sneakers (similar);

JustFab statement bag; lips: revlon fire & ice)

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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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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)

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