It's crazy to think that it's been twelve whole years since I lived in London, and for some reason I can't seem to let it go. It's like a breakup that I never recovered from. I had a rebound fling with Hong Kong, but to my surprise, I still couldn't let London go. So I returned, and returned again, and again, and again, and again. I'm not kidding you. But when I met Ryan, I stopped my wild travel excursions to be taken seriously by my new love. It's been 6 years since I last visited and when Ryan told me we were going to Europe for our Honeymoon, he surprised me with a four day stop in London so I could show him around. This guy knows the way to my heart. It was everything I could have ever dreamed of. The love of my life with me and the "other" love of my life. Tears streamed down my cheeks when the plane landed at Heathrow; I had made it back to my home...Marks & Spencer hummus, Cadbury Flakes, Haribo Starmix, Boots Pharmacy, Costa Coffee, Pret-A-Manger sammies.... were all waiting for me. I know what you're thinking: that I can find all that in the US now! But alas, you will never understand how different it is. I took Ryan to all my favourite old walking spots along the Thames starting at the Eye and making it to The Globe. Visiting my favorite museum, The Tate Modern (which I don't love as much in my 30's, but was so hip when I was 20), checking out The National Theatre, where my fellow classmates and I would catch the latest Helen Mirren play on a Thursday. He even did my old walk to school with me so I could see my old friends, The Giraffes (who I named Goldie and Lucy back in the day) in Regents Park, went to the market in Camden where I would buy earrings to wear out that night on my lunch break.
When it was time to part, I cried. The way to the airport was ripping out my heart strings. I always thought I would settle down in London and live there forever. But I look over and see Ryan next to me. He holds my hand, knowing how hard it is for me but still smiles. I'll always have London to visit, but there's only one perfect person for me, and it's not her, it will always be Ry, a million times over.

Warm Saturday at Portobello Market

Hat: DSW

Bead Necklace: Nordstrom

Tank Top: Forever 21

Jeans: Gap

Shopping Bag: Stumper Fielding on Portobello Road

Shoes: New Balance

PS- most of this is now gone since my luggage was stolen :(

Walking through Regents Park to my old tube stop at St Johns Wood

Scarf: Nordstrom

Sweater: Irene's Story

Jeans: H & M 

Earrings: Nordstrom Rack

Glasses: Francesca's

Travel gear needs to be simple and easy so I can mix and match the whole trip! 

What a fabulous weekend I had bonding with my sweet, adorable nieces. Marrying Ryan, if anything was the best thing because I gained these two into my life. They live in Ohio so they were only here for the summer, and sadly they have to leave to go back to school tomorrow. Kylie, the ever stylish and girly 12 year old, and Joli, the spunky 9 year old tomboy, loved helping me with everything ALL weekend. I couldn't believe how these two wanted to cook with me, clean for me, pick out my clothes- everything! How did I get so lucky, and when did kids become this fun and helpful?? I'm already bummed about them leaving, but looking forward to a lifetime of dancing the "nay nay", swimming in the ocean holding hands, future holidays, clothing shopping, photo taking, watching American Ninjas, Tammie's muffins and watching these two beautiful girls grow up- hopefully not too soon. 

PS they picked my outfit and photographed me for todays' post :) 

Aren't they just the cutest????

Hat: Nine West

Shirt: Nordstrom soft black V Neck

Lace halter bra- lette: from Frocks & Rocks in El Segundo

Skirt: Forever 21

Bead Necklace: Nordstrom

Sunglasses: Forever 21

Booties: Dolce Vita at Nordstrom

Let's face it, I'm not a size 2, or a 4. I am also cursed, or blessed, with rather large hips and a butt too. In this day and age where curves are all the rage, I still haven't come to embrace mine, and it's difficult to wear all the super cute styles that are suited to a tiny girl, and not a size 6. However, I do enjoy my muscular legs and am thankful at times that I look like a woman. I am still learning to wear tight dresses, but as I get older (oh my god 32!), I sometimes feel like I garner too much attention with my big hips and I am not the girl that loves all eyes on her goods. So, until I embrace the bootie I will show you one of my favorite flowey dresses that works perfectly in the summertime and can easily transition into fall with some cute leggings, boots and a scarf. And maybe soon, I'll debut a tighter look, if my husbands' lucky.... ;)

White dress with eyelet detail: Nordstrom Rack

Scarf: Nordstrom Brass Plum

Lace booties: Anthropologie

Sunglasses: Forever 21

Turquoise earrings: vintage

Obviously when you live at the beach life is pretty much fabulous, and we are the luckiest people in the world to live where we do. I happen to be even luckier to have my parents live up the street from me. Which also means, family brunch- all the time. My family frequents our neighborhood café, Tammie's, for their delicious muffins, cappuccinos and omelettes. However, on this Friday, Tammie's was ::gasp:: closed! How could she? So my parents and I had to venture up north to 22nd street to try out the new Green Store spot. As a kid I was a regular at The Green Store. They had those delicious gum cigarettes (how could they make those??), and long fruit popsicles. But now, since Hermosa is changing everything, they sold and updated to a fancier, schmancier shop that serves french bread, Boar's Head meat, and "Boxed Water" (what?).  We had a blast trying something new, (even though my dad's Greek Omelette had green martini olives in it), and I had fun wrangling my momma to snap a few pics of me in my Friday Brunch Best. 

Leggings: Nordtrom

Tank Top: Old Navy

Long button top: Forever 21

Sandals: Old Navy

Necklace: Forever 21

Sunglasses: TOMS

Last weekend I happily became a Godmother. Ryans' sister, Jenny, and her hubby, Joe, asked us to be there for their precious daughter, Presley. How proud we both were and what a special day for the family. I've told you all in my previous "Going to the Chapel" post that we always have a wedding to attend, and this was no exception. From the Baptism in Malibu, we were to head straight to a 3:30 wedding in Cayucos, California (central coast). So, I had to be ready for both the baptism and the wedding, that was to go ALL night. Church and outdoor wedding attire into one...you think it's easy, right? But you want to be somewhat cute and sassy for a barn wedding, and you have to be classy and elegant for a baptism....how to tie them into one??? Here you go..... 

Tie tank top : ANGL

Ruffle skirt: Anthropologie (on sale!)

Shoes: Enzo Angiolini (the red shoes are everything here)

Sunglasses: Ray Ban

Leaf Bracelet: H & M

For my 32nd Birthday this year (yikes), I asked Ryan if we could go fancy camping, which apparently has a name now, and they call it "Glamping". I had recently seen a lovely article on the cover of my travel magazine of this gorgeous lit up tent with a bed, in the middle of the forest and thought, I have to be there. Now. So I showed Ryan the exact tent we had to stay in and told him exactly what we were going to do. Relax, sleep, hike, eat, make s'mores, and drink wine, the normal things you do when you camp. So my sweet, sweet husband, who does everything right (sorry ladies), booked what I wanted. The day of the trip had come and we were on the road to Santa Barbara. We arrive at El Capitan Canyon, where the man at the desk (let's call him Adam), gave me a curt hello (ummm...it's my birthday, how dare you?), and sent us on our merry way to our fab tent that I had been waiting so long for.... and it's, oh my god, jaw drop, horrible. I wish I had a picture to show you, but if you can imagine, it's facing a hedge, no view, crammed between two cabins filled with children and in the direct hot, hot sun. Now I know, poor me, I get what I asked for, but no way in hell was this happening, it was my birthday, and I get whatever I want on my one day. I basically start crying and poor Ryan, disappointed as well, convinces me to talk to Adam.

I walk in and tell Adam, listen, this isn't exactly what we had in mind when we booked the trip, and show him the magazine cover, which I think many people have done. Ryan then enters and tells him it's my birthday, which doesn't make him seem to excited either. We then decide that maybe the tent isn't the best way to go and swap to a beautiful cedar cabin with a gorgeous view of the trees and creek, and no children for at least a hundred yards. We did all the amazing things one does when glamping: hike, drank wine and sat by the fire till it was time to fall asleep. My birthday turned into a beautiful three days and my outfits weren't too bad either. Glamping at it's finest!! Happy Birthday to me.

Hat: Olive & Pique

Shirt: Abercrombie & Fitch

Shorts: H & M

Sandals: Kenneth Cole

Sunglasses: TOMS

So I am not exaggerating when I tell you this : in the last 3 and a half years I have attended 48 weddings. You heard me- 48 WEDDINGS. Totally normal. This also started occurring about 7 months into my dating relationship with my now husband, Ryan. All of my friends continue to ask me, "how the hell do you have that many dresses in your closet?" I truly have recycled a dress maybe twice, never three times and I could probably count on one hand how many dresses I have recycled. Nowadays, many people are at the same weddings so you need to rotate your attire. I have now learned to go the uber cheap route, occasionally, when it comes to my wedding style. I recently posted this picture on my Instagram and can't tell you how many messages I received asking me where I got this summery, flowery, off the shoulder long gown, that you can dress up or down. And the answer is..... drum roll..... Forever 21. Not kidding you. This dress cost me $28 at Forever. It might not last me a long time, but in this day and age of the ever changing trends, who the heck cares?! You can't beat 28 bucks. And if I had had time the day of this Friday wedding, I would have boho curled my hair out, maybe accessorized with more jewelry, but lo and behold this was all I could muster. 

So thanks Forever 21 for being my life saver for our friends' special day. 

And for you ladies wanting to dress your man with a similar suit (jacket is off because it was 95 degrees)

Suit : Hugo Boss

Dress Shirt: Ted Baker

Tie: Hugo Boss

Shoes and belt : Hugo Boss