charming notions: venessa arizaga

There's something about a charm bracelet that is just so nostalgic and timeless. I know, it seems like it would be quite the opposite. A grown woman wearing a colorful bracelet filled with charms is definitely a little unnerving but isn't the point of fashion to add a bit of surreal to take the edge off reality? In any case, if you can't wrap your head around the rainbow, Hermes and McQueen make some of the most classic (and expensive) charm bracelets around.
But again, as this is a piece best worn with dresses and denim shorts in tribute to carefree summers, the more colorful and fun, the better.
As long as it looks good, you're never too old for anything, ever.

Venessa Arizaga bracelets 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Anyone tasting the rainbow?

xo

JUST IN: pamela love cuff 50% off...

I mean... how could you not love this?

Buy it here and ship to me in Los Angeles, please and thank you's!

xo

LATELY: eddie borgo jewelry

Images via VivaLuxury

Eddie Borgo jewelry spotted on the arms, necks, and fingers of Annabelle and company at a recent Neiman Marcus party. Geometric shapes don't usually excite me to the point of incessant clicking in order to find the correct SHOP page and even if you take into account that these are in fact, hefty price tags for even the more modest plated brass pieces, there is something incredibly alluring in arrow bracelets and starburst rings made for a woman and not a girl. 

The spring collection includes pentagram and horsehair necklaces, starburst pentagram rings, and spiked hearts but my favorites are the classic cone bracelets, the gemstone cuff and arrow bracelet. 

xo

"Let's keep going." "Ok, where to?" "... Anywhere."

a hand me down sweatshirt, JBrand paint shorts, Pedro Garcia gladiator wedges

all of my treasured bracelets, including a charm rope from when I was 13.  

vintage classic coach bag

h&m sunnies

It's about that time again, when the seasons in Los Angeles sway between summery afternoons and a lingering spring chill at dusk. Cutoffs are the greatest thing since the invention of denim. And I am a lover of denim.  These cutoffs have topped my favorites list, even over the COH skirt I wore non-stop last summer.  I had a pair of overalls in the 90's too that I wore to school a minimum of once a week. I'm sure the girls at school thought I was moonlighting as a crop farmer but I wore them religiously anyway. A vintage Coach bag given to me by a really sweet homeowner from one of E! show episodes last year- she was really happy I was helping her purge her closet and knew we weren't getting paid near enough for the work, ha! So true.. The sweater is actually remixed a bit- I cut off about 5 inches from the bottom after a friend insisted I take it from her closet. It's become my Bar Method top but it's so comfortable I'm wearing it outside of class too (laundered, of course). I love that it's part see- through knit... sheer things are just prettier. 

xo

Mexico In Retrospect

Ahhh.... Sunday night and I finally have a moment to think about our trip to the Riveria Maya. First off, it was more beautiful than anything I've ever seen with my own eyes. The perfect vacation spot. 


This is the view from our room...

Beautiful isn't it? *A wistful sigh escapes*


We were welcomed with a bottle of chilled champagne, chocolates, snacks, and fridge chock full of glass Coke bottles, orange juice (in case an emergency mimosa was in order), bottled waters, and a 6-er of Corona. Life is good.


Each morning began with one of these:

In varying colors, flavors, and alcohol percentages of course but I'm pretty sure I enjoyed them all. This was an all-inclusive resort package so no one was counting. Along with our daily dosage of cocktails we also enjoyed three (sometimes four) gourmet meals a day. Ah, the meals! All were a la carte, with the exception of the delicious morning breakfast buffet. You could actually order every dish if you really wanted to but being that my bikinis were my outfit for ninety percent of each day, I had to pick my battles and pictures certainly do not lie.

[chocolate cake with fresh vanilla bean ice cream]

[greens with slivered almonds and avocado dressing]

Every day around 4pm a lady with a beautiful antique serving cart would prepare mexican cafe for the guests in the lobby.

[prepping the sugar rimmed glass]

[mixing the liquor]

[and of course no coffee is complete without a hearty dollop of creme]

Voila!

[a little cup of heaven before dinner]

 I can't believe I almost forgot to mention the mini delights that accompanied the cafe, guests choice of course ;)

 [finger sandwiches: crab on a roll, ham and cheese. 

I also selected a chocolate dipped strawberry/vanilla marshmellow and a chocolate truffle]

We took over a thousand photos during the trip and I've whittled them down to about four hundred in effort to make movie albums for our families. Unfortunately my Apple is on it's last leg and I've had to settle with basic jpeg-to-disk-option. Which means I won't be posting every single photo on my blog. I will however, share a few more. 

One of my favorite things to buy in foreign surroundings (and by foreign I mean in the most general of terms) is jewelry and crafts.  

[

[ceej perusing through a vendors treasures]

 ["what about this one?", he asked me]

 [See the turquoise beaded cuff? 
I limited myself to the the dusty pink version not shown]

[Mexican neck treasures]

[I thought the sun faces were pretty cool]

 [Not the mention these gorgeous necklaces. 
I love the coral-esque shape of the beads]

Overall, it was the most incredible vacation of my adulthood. Both of our families are planning a trip to the eastern coast of Mexico sometime in the near future. Dad, better get on that passport application! If you are looking for a resort recommendation, we vacationed with the Secrets Capri.

It's a quarter til 11 and I'm getting up at 8am for the gym. Must burn off the deliciousness still attached around my middle section. Ah, the price of sweetness. Well worth the beach, love, and sunshine.