summer cool

When I was younger (read, not a Monday-Friday working woman), summer was a time for me to take things a little slower all while moving forward. This seems like the perfect mantra for this summer - having fun and taking advantage of these longer days while keeping my eye on the prize and shining at work. I hope the weather keeps cooperating because if I could, I would wear some variation of this outfit every day for the next three months - it's cool and breezy and so much fun. It's safe to say these glitter flats have become a quick favorite and will be getting plenty of wear this season! 

blouse and skirt: Forever XXI; sandals: Zara; sunglasses: YSL 

a colorful end

Who doesn't love being on vacation? Towards the end of this one, I started feeling the usual dread of coming back home, getting back to work and putting these three weeks in the little corner of my heart where happy times are stored. I decided however, not to let it get to me - to take full advantage of the sunny days left on our vacation - extend our trips to the beach, get wet in the rain (who cares!), buy that extra souvenir (read, pair of shoes), stay out a little later, eat one more cupcake and most importantly, spend time with the people I love most. 

blouse, necklace and skirt: Forever XXI; shoes: nine west (extremely old by this point)

daytime date - the beach

Being from Miami, going to the beach has always been pretty much second nature. Each time we are back in town, almost daily trips to the beach are a must – early morning to early afternoon, we are there, rain (or clouds) or shine. Lying in the sand with a good book and not a care in the world has got to be one of the best feelings that exist and if I could, I would do it every single day. 

Another one of my favorite parts about beach season is the thrill of choosing colorful bikini combinations each spring and then mixing and matching them up through the fall. I also love pairing them with colorful cover-ups like this pareo my grandmother made me when I was fifteen. 

top: American Eagle; pareo: homemade; shoes: H&M (s/s '08)

San Francisco

When I was ten years old, my parents took us to San Francisco for the first time. It was the first time we went on a plane ride longer than an hour (the kids) and our first time out West. I remember the trip kind of vaguely, but remember for sure that following that trip, we started a series of trips across Europe and the East Coast that I will never forget. San Francisco was the last stop on monsieur's and my trip through the West this week, and I can safely say, I left my heart in San Francisco. I loved everything about the city - the neighborhoods, the hills, the parks, the houses, the people ... and the fact that for the most part, the weather was pretty cooperative. 

one: pants: Forever XXI; sweater: Gap; jacket: Zara; shoes: Keds 

two: pants and sweater: Forever XXI; sandals: ASOS

three: pants: Mango; sweater: Forever XXI; jacket: Zara; necklaces: Forever XXI and Gallerie Lafayette

the great outdoors

Until recently, I had never considered myself an ‘outdoorsy’ kind of girl. Sure, I love a good day at the beach, tickling my toes in the grass, laying under a tree... but when it comes to ruggedness, like hiking or camping or ‘roughing it,’ you could certainly count me out. Wearing sneakers was like putting me in jail.

After our trip, which included stops in the Grand Canyon and Yosemite National Park, I am more comfortable with the idea of spending a weekend in the great outdoors and discovering how beautiful nature is sometimes. Here are a few snaps of my attempt to stay semi-stylish on our hikes.