MAKE A STATEMENT

I love bold jewelry and statement necklaces. Here are some statement necklaces I have been stalking online the past two weeks on a daily basis! I'm obsessed and want them all!

Ralph Lauren

Arden B (I saw this one in person today and it is so pretty! A lot prettier in person!

House of Harlow

Express

I love Salvador Dali and I think he and I could have related if I ever met the guy. When it comes down to it, I would like to truthfully be able to say that I prefer the "real" jewelry, but honestly, I like the costume. I think it is beautiful. 

The difference between false memories and true ones is the same as for jewels:  it is always the false ones that look the most real, the most brilliant.  ~Salvador Dalí

On the Hunt in the Urban Jungle

I have lived with my boyfriend by the beach for approximately the past four years of my life. It has been one amazing ride. Beachcruisers along the boardwalk, bonfires, camping, walking in the sand with that first buzz of the night...many palm tree scattered sunsets...parties in friend's backyards...block parties...thrift store and boutique shopping and many memories of happy times with my beautiful friends. But I feel like one chapter of my life is heading towards the last page before it breaks into the new chapter.

This past year, I accepted a position at a law firm downtown. More recently, my boyfriend also accepted a position downtown. Even before he had the job, we entertained the idea of living down there. Now it just makes sense. No car rides to work...walk every morning and evening...within steps of some beautiful and trendy places...some hidden gems..eclectic shops and culture..Petco Park..Seaport Village..the list goes on and on. It would still be by the beach, but with a different feel to it. I have always wanted to live in a downtown area at least once during my life and I kind of figure..it's now or never. So why not? You only live once. I want to experience and feel and enjoy and learn from as many opportunities and lifestyles as I can-especially while I'm young and have the freedom and opportunity to do so.

We looked at an adorable place today in Little Italy. Upsides: Gorgeous penthouse view of the harbor, Little Italy and downtown, accepts doggies, has washer and dryer in unit and dishwasher (these are all things my little 1950s house I currently live in is lacking), gym, underground parking, cute unit, nice area. Downsides: Pretty darn close to the flight zone where the planes land and sort of close to the freeway.

Tomorrow, we are looking at a place near East Village, which is near Petco Park. It is a cute, newly remodeled condo steps from the trendy area of downtown. I guess how you could compare it, is to the sohoish/meatpacking vibe of NY. So we shall see how it looks. I can typically tell within seconds of viewing a place if I can see myself living there and picture my furniture and decor around. I just get a feel for if it fits. If I don't get butterflies in the first few seconds, it's on to the next!

Just going on the hunt is exciting. Thinking about a new circle to run in, in a different area of town. A new playground if you will. I have a feeling I will be visiting Coronado Beach more than PB once we move. Coronado has a more East Coast Hampton vibe, old money feel to it. Beautiful beach and more quiet than the party beaches by where I am now. Here are some pictures of the areas I spend the majority of my week in as it is and where we want to move in the next couple months:

Downtown San Diego:

Sea Port Village

Gas Lamp District

Balboa Park:

Petco Park

Little Italy 

Horton Plaza Mall

Skyline of San Diego

Coronado Beach

So..I am very excited and really can't wait to move and decorate and fall in love with this city all over again. I know a lot of my friends look forward to our move too as it means a place to crash in downtown ;) It will be a bittersweet end to beach style living, but hey ....I can always come back ;) 

Weddings and things

I love this time of year. Why you ask? Ok..I will try and describe this as best I can so you can understand exactly what I feel this time of year. The first glimpse of the change of season from winter to spring reminds me of: drinks around bonfires, tan skin, warm nights, baseball, leaving work and the sun is still out, the sound of the ocean and lots and lots of events. I am going with one of my good friends to a wedding as her date in late April and my birthday is right around the corner in early May. Also, little miscellaneous things are going on every weekend as well.

So, being fashion obsessed, of course I already started festering over what I am wearing to the wedding and my birthday and I think I found what I want to wear to the wedding. It is a more casual wedding, so I am taking full advantage of that and not going too fussy. I hate looking too fussy. You know what I mean?

The dress is from a brand I adore- Free People. I first noticed this brand because it is sold at Nordstrom and other boutiques I frequent. Free People always fits me well and it has a mix of boho-glam-casual that I feel just embodies my style just right. My M.O. when it comes to fashion in general is if I can see myself in something to dress it up or down, I know it's a "fit" for me. I have bought fancy schmancy dresses in the past and dropped good money on them and guess what?! I wore them once and they are hanging in the depths of my closet and stare me in the face every time I open it up. Every time I clean out my closet, I think "well maybe someday I will wear it again..sigh" Bull shit. Excuse my language. At least for me..If I haven't worn something on a regular basis or in over a year, I'm not wearing it again-ever. So, I digress...My point is, this dress will take me through spring and summer and many events and weekends.  

This is a great outfit to dress up or down. Throw on some flip flops and tie your hair back and your ready to walk the beach. Throw on some statement jewelry and cute wedges and a clutch and you are ready for an event-birthday dinner, parties, baby showers, wine tasting, etc..

 I love the pretty neckline! No necklace needed! The lace detail on the bottom is so pretty too!

 

I love the back too! 

 I am going to wear it with bright cocktail rings and other fun, bright jewelry.

Here are the shoes I am planning to wear it with:

Happy Spring and Happy Life everyone!

The Bandage Skirt Obsession!

Me: "Hi..My name is Katie and I'm addicted to bandage skirts!" Bloggers: "Hi Katie." Never in a million years would I have thought I would be absolutely in love with this kind of skirt, but I am! I love pairing them with racer back tanks, flowey tops and sweaters..cropped leather jackets..tights..heels ..ballet flats..flip flops.. I have worn all of the above mentioned looks and always feel sexy yet conservative, showing enough curves, but not too much, showing enough leg, but not too much on top. I think they show off one of the sexiest parts on a woman..and if you wear them right, you won't look "over the top" and it will hug in all the right places.

I wear them to work too. Not necessarily with the same tops I wear on the weekends and yes, I always wear tights with them to work and inch them down a few more inches that I do on the weekends..but yes people..I work at a law firm...and they totally work for..well..work! Pair it with a blazer to work and some tights..ballet flats...or a cute lacy top...totally work appropriate..on the same note..pull it up on the hips a few inches and throw on some cute flip flops and a cute top and it totally works for the weekend. I work in a downtown area and always wear my trusty bandage skirts on nights when I know I am going out after work. I have about 8-10 bandage skirts in my wardrobe and because I am so obsessed with them, I thought it was time to splurge on an expensive one..so this weekend I went to BCBG and picked up their "rose blush" colored one, even though it is way more of a nude color in person. I wore it to a party this weekend with an off the shoulder black top, gold flip flops..a gold clutch and coral jewelry (all of this stuff is featured in past blogs)..

My beloved new skirt is at the dry cleaners as a fellow party goer spilled a cranberry vadka on my new skirt :( But the dry cleaner assured me, he can get it out! I trust in you dry cleaner! Please..for the love of bandage skirt obsessed girls everywhere..please get it out! Here is a picture from the website..(I will post a future blog with an outfit of the night where I take an actual picture of it). BCBG..watch out..because I plan on eventually getting one in every color! 

BCBG:

 My boyfriend is a hooked fan of these now too..they do wonders for the "back region" ;)

What is an item that you gals are in love with that you can't seem to get enough of?

"Working for the Weekend"

Isn't that the truth?! So, yours truly is finally caught up with all my bills..They are all at a zero balance now and I paid off some debt, went shopping and have money in my savings and a nice cushion in my checking. Does this mean I'm growing up?! LOL..anyways..it feels good! And to be doing it with my own, hard earned money! My boss gave me a little bonus today, so I decided to reward myself with a little shopping after work. I L-O-V-E the things I got. I am going to a friend's birthday party tomorrow night and this is what I will be wearing (with some gold flip flops- also Express)!

 Navy tank: Express; Off white bandage skirt (yes another bandage skirt): Express; Rose Gold Watch: Franchesca's Collections; Necklace: By me..I made it last year; Turquoise and Gold Cocktail Ring: Arden B; Gold Oversized Clutch: Franchesca's Collections

 I have been wanting the rose gold Michael Kors watch, but was waiting for my birthday in May...then I saw this! So similar and it was only $28.00! Sure, it may not be as nice as MK, but it works for me! 

I hope you all have a fab weekend! 

MAC SURF BABY SUMMER COLLECTION

ALOHA! OK. I think this collection was made for me. Usually I am not into the Mac collections being that they just repackage and rename colors they already have and pretend that it's new..whatever...It seems like a new line comes out every week at Mac..I can't keep up! Unless you are totally makeup obsessed and have the money, I don't think most people can. BUT..I can't wait for this collection! I am going to save and splurge on this one. My email has been "beachgurl" for eons ... I have beach girl stuff all over my house...I am pretty much beach obsessed and have been for years.

Here is a sneak peak of beach girl blush:

Running with the beach theme, here are some pictures I have taken recently of the beach near my house. I am telling you people..I live, eat and breathe the beach. 

 This is a famous surf spot. This shot was actually from sunset today. So pretty!

 This is where I bring my doggie Oreo to play. It is a grassy bluff where lots of other doggies hang out.

Such a pretty sunset ..if you walk straight from my house 9 blocks, you run into this. :)

So, are any of you as excited as I am about this line? ALOHA!

Which outfit Gals?

One of my best friends, Kelleigh, invited me wine tasting this weekend. We are taking a bus tour to 3 different wineries and then dinner and out to a hotel after. I'm so excited and can't wait! Sooooo...the big question now is What Do I Wear?  (Noelle/Kell - the black dress did not come out on camera, which is why I didn't post it)...Most of the outfits are very similar..pretty much just switched out the skirts....

Option (A)

Option (B)

Option (C)

Option (D)

Which Rings??

Thanks for your help kids!