Standing Out

Wearing my favourite bag by SkinnyDip London. You can find it HERE

Tassel Earrings

Polka Dot Dress

Betty & Veronica pins 

Many people have been asking me lately what it's been like to wear such bright colours in a country that's known for minimalistic style and where everyone is wearing all black (or just more neutral colours). The truth is, I stand out here. And I felt kind of weird about it at first. After all, back in LA, it's very different. But the truth is, wearing colour is who I am, and I'm in no way going to change that or cover it up, for the sake of other people being uncomfortable who are simply not used to it. So when `I get those looks, I just smile. It's fun to be different!

CHALLENGES
Moving here has been a bit challenging in regards to being able to capture colour the way I was able to back in Los Angeles. I've been having a semi hard time finding a great wall or area to shoot an outfit in because everything here screams primary (red or yellow, mostly). But every now and then I'll walk into a random mall (like the one pictured here) and find pink and purple chairs, and I feel inspired instantly. Sometimes you just have to open your eyes to see colour in places you might not expect to. I am excited about all of the spots I've been finding around town, and some have even said that I've opened them up to seeing this town in a brand new way, and that makes me very happy!

CHANGING IT UP
I've been adapting to the culture here more and more every day, and with that I've been starting to notice pieces that are more neutral to tie my crazy outfits together. For example, I LOVE brightly coloured sweaters and just bought one recently (seen in a recent post, from H&M). Normally in LA, I would have paired that with sequin shoes or something equally colourful as an accessory, but here I've been taking to a trusty pair of black chelsea boots and mid wash jeans to round it out, and I'm loving the combination. Adding a pop of colour as an accessory instead of it being your whole wardrobe is a great and easy way to transition. Below are some really fun accessories that will add some cheerfulness to your travel outfits! Links to each product can be found underneath. Happy Shopping!

1.  Rainbow Beret

2. Pom Pom Necklace

3. Pink Lightning Bag

4. Rainbow and Cloud Earrings

5. Betty and Veronica "Cheryl" Heart Sunnies

6. Heart Beanie

7. Fresh Daisy Sunnies

8. Floral Handbag

New Beginnings

As I’m sitting here in my new apartment in Strömstad, looking out the window on to a road that’s still pretty unfamiliar, I can’t help but feel both excited and nervous about my new life here in Sweden. A year ago, I hadn’t even met my boyfriend yet who is the reason why I’m here now. I’m pretty sure I was sitting on my couch in Los Feliz, crying about why my life wasn’t going the way I thought it would by then. Fast forward to the end of January, and we matched on Tinder. He happened to be in LA for a music trade show, and that’s when it all started. And now here I am a year later, residence permit (almost) in hand, ready to live a very exciting new life.

If you asked me a year ago if I could ever picture myself living in outside of LA, let alone another country, my answer would’ve been NO. I hadn’t even really been to anywhere in Europe, except for a two week visit to London and Liverpool when I was 16. The majority of people who I talked to about my move in the beginning (and maybe even a little now) would tell me that I was being brave for moving to another country, but I didn’t really feel like that until recently. I just kind of.. went through the process, and didn’t really take the time to let it wash over me.

I’m currently here in Sweden for a few weeks celebrating the holidays, and since i’ve been gone, I’ve managed to sell off some of my most beloved household items: kitchenaid stand mixer, my bicycle, and most recently, my car. I had that car for ten years and LOVED it. I went everywhere in it. Max and I were in the middle of re-doing the living room of his apartment that we’re now sharing when I found out that my car was finally sold, and that’s when it all really hit me. For the first time since this whole process started, I cried. I cried a good long cry. I mourned the loss of my car, my other belongings, and my life in LA. And then.. I realised in that moment that, wow, yeah.. I’m pretty brave. And what I’m doing is not easy, and I should give myself way more credit. 

With that said, I’m really excited to be re-launching my blog during such a new and exciting time in my life, and I to share my new experiences right here, including a little outfit post I have for you now!

I love Joanie Clothing and I’ve been wearing this dress everywhere with a pair of tights and boots since it’s been so cold here. I love the rich mustard color paired with the cute floral peter pan collar and velvet tie. The dress can be found on their site here. xoxo

The End of an Era

I'm one of those people who gets into popular television shows reeeeaally late, and that goes for Mad Men, which I finally caught up to just a few weeks ago. I ordered Netflix one day in early April and blazed through six seasons in less than a month! I'm amazed at how long it took me to give this show a chance. I've always been such a fan of the 1960's and have paid homage to my favorite decade many times (such as when I dressed as a 60s go-go dancer at my Senior Prom in 2003) and I thought that it would be fitting to now pay homage to the best written TV show set in the 1960s - Mad Men, which airs its final episode this weekend. What better way to say goodbye than a trip to the one and only Beverly Hills Hotel aka The Pink Palace for some sunshine and a vanilla milkshake? <3 My good friend Amy of A Fashion Nerd snapped these photos, and I couldn't be more excited to share them with you now!

 

The Fountain Room is one of my favorite areas of the hotel. The diner is just one long counter top, with the beautiful leaf wallpaper cascading on all the walls behind it. I could imagine Roger having a cup of coffee here the morning after a rendezvous with a young lady the night before. Whenever I'm feeling like I need to feel like I've stepped back in time, this is the perfect place for that!

I just scooped up this Barbecue (!!) retro print dress (and cropped sweater) from my new favorite store Unique Vintage in Burbank. It's such a flattering dress and fits so well, and I love that the print is so, well, unique! The designer is Bernie Dexter, who makes many retro-inspired dresses that can also be found on Modcloth, another favorite of mine. The suitcase is vintage that I purchased at the Sherman Oaks Antique Mall, and my shoes are by Sam Edelman.

I brought along my favorite Elvis purse that I found on Ebay one lucky day. It's one of my favorite pieces that I own and I always get compliments on it! So fun.

The Cabana Cafe, which is located by the main pool, would've been a great place to meet Don Draper for a business lunch, only to be stood up and have Pete Campbell in his place (which, let's face it - I wouldn't mind one bit) :) In fact, I think there was an episode somewhere in there where that actually happened! Ha.

As I'm preparing to say goodbye to a show I only just got to know, I'm so grateful to have been able to do my part in paying my own respects to it. Janie Bryant, the show's wardrobe stylist, is a genius and I really think the show's success is not only partly due to the writing, but also due to her ideas and innovations. Every outfit worn, every tiny little detail painted such a picture for each character. I really feel like I know them all so well, just by seeing the subtle changes they went through during each year between 1960-1970s. My favorite character is of course, Sally Draper (she was SO gosh darn cute in the early seasons), but I also love Peggy, Pete, and Megan. And Joan. And Trudy. And Glen (the neighbor who asked Betty for her hair that one time)! And Meredith, Don's final secretary.

And I like Betty, too, as evil as she could be sometimes. Ahh, before I start crying I guess I'd better end this here. Mad Men, you were wonderful, and this truly will be the end of an era come Sunday night! <3

Hair by Marissa of Marissa Cydya (Instagram: @marissacydya)

Makeup by Laura Altamirano at Sephora in Glendale, CA (Instagram: @psychedelicsourceress)

The Beverly Hills Hotel

Dress purchased at Unique Vintage
Photography by Amy Roiland of A Fashion Nerd / Instagram: @afashionnerd

Little Johnnies

I knew as soon as I saw this shirt on Modcloth's website that I had to have it. It's a little pricey for just a t-shirt, but the quality of the shirt is what makes it worth the price, and of course, the little Johnny Depp's all over it! I normally pair it with my favorite trusty black leggings and favorite denim jacket. It's simple and comfortable, which is how I like to dress most of the time. I think this shirt could also be cute tucked into a pinafore or a pair of overall shorts, too!

 

 Denim Jacket - Forever 21 (no longer available)

Johnny T-shirt - Modcloth

Shoes - Kate Spade x Keds (no longer available)

Ice Cream Pin - Sweet & Lovely

Elvis Pin - Ebay

Countdown to Memphis

Time has been going by so quickly lately! It's already towards the end of May, and in 14 days, I'll be on my way to Memphis to visit Graceland, Elvis' home, as well as all the other Elvis-related attractions in Memphis and Tupelo, Mississippi. It's a trip that's been a long time coming. I've loved Elvis since I was a little girl, and now I'll actually get to see with my own eyes where he grew up and spent his life. I've already seen his homes in Palm Springs, and have taken a few trips into Beverly Hills to drive by the homes he lived in there throughout the 60's and 70's, but nothing beats Graceland. So as I patiently wait my southern arrival, I will proudly wear my gold embellished Elvis Presley sweatshirt that I purchased from Bow & Drape, and plan the most fun itinerary ever.

Custom Made Sweatshirt - Bow & Drape

Polka Dot Collared Blouse - Forever 21 (no longer available) 

Leggings - Nordstrom

Black Strap Sandals - Vamp Shoes

Gold Bow Headband - Ban.do

Cat Or Skulls?

I am so excited about my new favorite dress! It's navy blue with a peter pan collar and has an almost 1960's feel to it by being a shift dress. It's comfortable, fun, and so far I have gotten a lot of compliments wearing it. I paired it with a thin red belt the other day, but have decided the looser feel is more flattering overall. What I like the most about it is that at first glance, you can't even tell that it's a cat. It could even be a skull if you look at it slightly from a different angle. I decided to pair the dress with my sparkly silver flats I bought at Nordstrom last summer. <3

Dress: Anthropologie

Shoes: Vince Camuto - Nordstrom

Lipstick: Benefit - Flirt Alert

Mother's Day Festivities + Outfit Post

Today was a great but tiring day. We began with a Mother's Day Brunch with Chris' family that was at a quaint hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Glendale called Bashan. I didn't know what to expect when walking in but oh my goodness the food was amazing! We had our choice for appetizer, main course and dessert. These were some of our selections:

 

Pork Belly “Teriyaki”  

Crispy Rice Cake, Togarashi, Braised Scallions, Pickled Apples

 

 Chilled Sweet Pea Soup

Crunchy Wasabi Peas, Crème Fraiche, Chives, Smoked Paprika Oil

 

 Chocolate Bread Pudding

chocolate sauce, vanilla ice cream, cocoa nibs

 

 Crème Fraiche Cheesecake

Graham Cracker Walnut Streusel, Dulce de Leche, mocha almond fudge Ice Cream

One of my all time favorite stores is Anthropologie. Their latest looks for spring are nothing short of gorgeous, from their brightly-hued dresses to their whimsical printed tops such as this one, I'm in love. I went a little crazy the other day during their one-day only 15% off sale and picked up a pair of the most comfortable pants on earth. AG's are the best brand ever. They fit like a glove and never stretch. I couldn't help but also grab this silk blouse, as well. Naturally I paired this cheery outfit with my yellow flats, and my new floppy hat. Today was a good day, indeed!

I was trying to collect some of the purple flowers to throw in the air, and ended up looking funny in the process!

Outfit Details:

Blouse: Anthropologie   |   Jeans: Anthropologie

Flats: Halogen/Nordstrom   |   Floppy Hat: Forever21

Trying a New Look

When I visited the Etsy craft fair the other day, I instantly fell in love with this red rose headband that I purchased. I knew right away that I'd have the perfect outfit for it, too.  I originally bought this dress at Urban Oufitters in 2010 and wore it for my cover band (Icicle Alley)'s first photo shoot and I'm amazed that it still fits! It has the perfect "bohemian vibe" with the cut of the dress, and the lace keeps it delicate which I like. So far this is the only outfit I can picture myself wearing the headband with, but I'm sure I'll find more inspiration soon with all the cute new things coming out for spring and summer.

Crafted LA + Ojai

This weekend has been action-packed full of fun. We started out our weekend by enjoying red wine and the BEST chocolate chip cookie baked in a skillet at my favorite local restaurant, The Old Place on Friday night. Yesterday, we took a trip over to Crafted LA where I met my favorite etsy seller, Karen, of Little Sweet Thing! We hit it off instantly and of course I had to sweep up more goodies for my now ever-growing collection of dessert jewelry. During our visit, I also picked up the sweetest floral crown headband and rose headband from another etsy booth. Overall, it was a great time and I definitely plan on going to more of these! After the event, we drove into Silver Lake for a friend's fiesta themed birthday party (not pictured) complete with a taco bar, serve-yourself magaritas, and a piñata. Such a great time.

Saturday's activities:

 

Pretty cool art installation inside the Crafted LA warehouse

It's me and Karen from Sweet Little Thing! I still can't believe we have such similar ice cream cone phone cases! We were meant to meet!

Taking a trip over the Vincent Thomas bridge as we exited San Pedro. I love the color!

Sunday's Activities:

I've been wanting to visit Ojai for a while, so we decided to take the drive today, and as it turns out, we only live an hour away! Of course we had to stop for donuts on the way (my favorite breakfast pastry), and then we were on our merry way.

 

Wearing my adorable new donut ring, holding my favorite donut, the old fashioned! What's your favorite kind of donut?

Knead Baking Co. is delicious! We ordered their potato flatbread pizza and added a fried egg on top. I was in heaven.

After we walked up and down the main road in Ojai, we decided to stop off at the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa to see what it's all about. I visited there with my family when I was little, but I don't remember it very well. Needless to say, I would definitely stay here now, in a heartbeat! Who wants to come?

Outfit:

Dress: Anthropologie   |   Denim Jacket: Forever21

Pink flats: JCrew   |   Floral Headband: CraftedLA

Bag: Topshop 

Obligatory trip to McConnell's in Ventura for some ice cream

Love the old retro vibe of this motel.