In less than two weeks (!!), my boyfriend and I will be sitting on a plane on our way to The Big Island, Hawaii. I can hardly wait to tuck my toes into warm sand while reading on the beach, to swim in the ocean and gaze at some of nature’s most beautiful prints in the form of fish, and indulge in decadent meals overlooking a vast pink and orange tinged sky at sunset. We have been going to the same place for the last four years (past trip highlights are here and here), and while we talked about going somewhere new this year, we couldn’t pass on the opportunity to enjoy our paradise once again.

Packing for the trip reflects the laid back vibe of a tropical island. My suitcase staples will include a frilly new swimsuit, a good book, flat sandals, accessories that protect from sun and comfortable, beach-y attire.

(1) Fedora: F21 (only $13!), (2) bikini top and bottom: Freya, (3) sunglasses: Nordstrom (only $22!), (4) top: Madewell, (5) shorts: American Eagle, (6) The Paris Wife: Amazon, (7) sandals: Target (only $15!), (8) strapless maxi dress: Club Monaco.

Similar post: Hawaii packing

To mom and grandma, I feel so lucky to have you both. Your love and support mean the world. You even supported my crazy style choices from the beginning…

Remember this denim dress with pink plaid flower, plastic purple bead necklace and stick-on earrings – not to mention the bangs that I cut myself (this was not mom’s favorite)?

Hope you all had a wonderful day!

A few months ago I was in New York for meetings and was more than pleasantly surprised to find that two of them were a long Fifth Avenue walk apart. I started down Fifth Avenue promising myself to limit my brief shopping excursion to just one store. After the first shop was a miss, I told myself just one more. Then another.

The next thing I know, I’m dashing in and out of as many stores as I can in my limited time window – not just the stores missing a West Coast presence, but also some of my Los Angeles favorites that I knew would have a better selection in Manhattan.

I saw this dress in Joe Fresh (a Canadian-based retailer that I had been curious about for years), and it was everything I had been looking for – a simple shift cut in a bright summer-y print that works just as well with flats as heels. Once I discovered the zippered pockets and took a closer look at the unique color combination of coral bubble gum pink and pale lavender, I had to bring it back home.

Dress: Joe Fresh, necklace: c/o Spike the Punch, heels: Steve Madden, clutch: American Apparel, bangles: Sheila Fajl.

Beauty note: when my hair is a little too crazy, a couple of bobby pins do the trick. I twist the hair on each side and clip it back to create a different shape that keeps the hair out of my face.