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4/30/13

Insta-Hawaii

Hey everyone! I'm back from my happy place and although I am having serious Hawaii withdrawals, I am glad to be back home, back to my doggies and back to blogging. It was a nice break but I really did miss writing and making photoshop collages. I am a dork, I know.

If you follow me on Instagram, you might be annoyed with me have seen some of these pics but if not, here is a trip recap!*


Left to Right - Top to Bottom (not in chronological order - don't hate me)...

The view from our first lunch on Kona at the Fairmont Orchid. Lunches can't get any better than this when you have this view and your feet are in the sand. Oh and there was a vegan menu - awesome!

Birthday collage! What I wore (black Lulus top, Zara Lace Shorts (last year's but these are similar), CWAK chunky chain necklace (online soon) and Kate Spade Sparkly Clutch), one of the many spicy birthday margaritas I consumed and a much needed end of night package of Li Hing Gummies.

View from Treadmill. I know that running outside has a better view but not when it's 85 degrees and humid. I'll take this view and some AC instead!

Monkeypod - our favorite new restaurant in Maui! We went twice! They make their own cream pies. Enough said.

Aloha Bling! Cute story...I saw this in a shop and told my husband that I loved it. Then as I was looking around, he sneakily bought it for me and gave it to me at dinner. He's the best!

Lahaina/Kaanapali Day! We usually stay on the Kaanapali side of Maui but this time we stayed in Wailea. So we had to take a half day to visit our favorite spots in Lahaina - Pakaloha bikinis (more on this later), Aloha Mixed plate and Whaler's Village.

Sunset View from Kona. This picture is real...no photoshop and no filter. Amazing!

Our second favorite restaurant in Maui - the Kihei Cafe. This is one of the best breakfasts on the island! The pancakes were to die for!

Pretty much what I looked like every day of the entire trip. Sunnies, some sort of hat and a CWAK necklace! I did dress up at night though!

And now here is a bunch of random pictures with us actually in them!


I could bore you with many more pics but I'll refrain. Overall it was an awesome trip and we can't wait to go back again!

Lastly, thanks to all of you for the birthday wishes last week! So far it was the best birthday ever (besides the one in 2008 when I got engaged and was front row for a Dave Matthews & Jack Johnson concert in Hawaii but that's really hard to top!)

Have you ever been to Hawaii? What are your favorite vacation spots?


4/22/13

A Lace Necklace Giveaway!!!

Hey all...

So I told you all that I wasn't posting from my vacay but this is too important not to post!

The beautiful and sweet Hallie from Life Oceanside is doing a lace necklace giveaway on her blog and I wanted to make sure all of you guys hopped on over there today to enter!

Hallie and I met over blogging and she is the absolute sweetest. She just got married and reached to out to me to do an order of lace necklaces for her bridesmaids.

Here is a sneak peak below but you must to go her blog to see more pics and to enter! Even if you don't want a necklace, you have to check out her wedding pics...it was such a gorgeous wedding by the water and Hallie's dress was TO DIE FOR!




While you're there, stay a while and get to know her. I guarantee you will love her as much as I do! :)

Aloha!


4/19/13

Aloha from the Birthday Girls


So I know I have mentioned over a million times that we are off to Hawaii today but I have never really mentioned that today is also my birthday (unless you follow me on Instagram and see my early birthday present photos). Sure I had to complain a little bit about having to wake up at 4 am on my birthday BUT I always say, if anything will get me up at 4 am, it's a trip to Hawaii.

Now, I titled this post using "birthday girls" because I am a bad blogger and missed my blog birthday aka blogiversary last week. So here's to another year of blogging fun. Who knew a creative outlet would turn into such a fun community, group of new friends and fun features on Open Sky and Glamour.com.

I love all of you guys and can't wait to see what the next year brings.

So now I am signing off for the week. Feel free to follow me on Instagram while I am gone but just a quick warning...if you get jealous easily and hate sunsets, don't even bother!

Aloha!

4/18/13

April Pop Sugar Must Have Box Review

Pop Sugar Must Have Box April 2013


I always get really excited when I get my email notification that my Pop Sugar Must Have Box has shipped. This month, I got even more excited when they told me my box was free because I had enough referrals! So thank you guys for signing up via my link! :)

Like last month, I lost patience and looked up spoilers so I knew what I was getting. The overall consensus about this box was so-so. I think a lot of people were disappointed; I, however, was not. Mainly because this box came with a roll on perfume oil that just so happens to be one of my favorites and it arrived just when I ran out. If that's not perfect timing, I don't know what is!

Anyway, this box had two things that I am not even going to review because I have not used them or plan on using them. In case you are wondering, one is a eco-friendly garment bag which MIGHT be OK if it didn't have a huge hot pink POP SUGAR logo on it. The other is a package of blotting papers. I have no need for these since my skin is more on the dry side. I might put them in my desk at work but probably won't use them. BTW, did you know that toilet seat covers are one of the best blotting papers out there? Kind of gross but I hear they work really well!

someecards.com - I ran out of my fancy blotting papers and had to use a toilet seat cover on my face to control my t-zone.

Ok, so now on to the good stuff!

Classy with a Kick: Kai Perfume

Kai Perfume - Kai is one of my all time favorite perfumes. It reminds me of Hawaii (did I mention I am going there TOMORROW??) as it has hints of Gardenia and other white flowers. I have the spray and the roll on and I love having both. The roll on is a bit stronger and is perfect for mid-day touch ups and traveling. This is the full size roll on that usually retails for $48 so already more than the value of the box. I could see people who don't love floral scents being annoyed with this item being the main product, but since I already love and was out of my first bottle, I was super happy to get another one!

Classy with a Kick: Alter Eco Dark Chocolate Quinoa

Alter Eco Dark Quinoa Chocolar Bar - Ok so this is pretty amazing. Since we are serious chocoholics in our house and eat a decent amount of quinoa, we were really excited about this. It's like a Nestle Crunch but with dark chocolate and toasted quinoa instead of rice. The company is all about natural and sustainable foods and they work with local farmers for all their ingredients. I think I have seen these at Whole Foods so I am definitely going to get one again.

Classy with a Kick: Shashi New Nugget Bracelet


Shashi New Nugget Bracelet - I got the grey/brown one which I think is pretty cute. Would I buy it myself? No, probably not. Will I wear it because it was sent to me? Totally. I like the idea of it but the metal part bends a little funny. You can't get it to curve so there are always bent angles. A little weird but not too noticeable to anyone else.

So overall it wasn't the BEST box I have received but I was so happy with the Kai perfume and the fact that this box was free this month, I can't complain. I can't wait to see what May has to offer!

Oh and if you want to help me get even more free boxes and get a box yourself, click here.

What monthly subscription boxes do you get? Do you own any of these items?



4/17/13

Mint Berry Crunch aka Mint and Red

MK Watch // Dior Bag (old or "vintage") // Tory Burch Wedges

Oh San Diego, your crazy weather is making me nuts. Yesterday was one of the coldest mornings we've had a LONG time. Then you let the sun come out and I actually wore shorts again in the late afternoon/evening. What is your deal??

As for the outfit, so it might be a little Christmassey BUT I am recently loving the mixture of mint and red together so this is what ended up walking out of the house yesterday. At the last minute, I realized my Dior purse had silver hardware so I swapped it out with the old Louis V, but you get the picture. Normally I am ok with not always matching my hardware to my jewelry but this just didn't work at all.

Yay or nay for this color combo? What are your favorite color combos this Spring?

Oh and serious bonus points if any of you know where the title of this post came from! :)



4/16/13

Loving: Lilac and Lavender


Even though Easter is over, I am still loving soft pastels. While mint is almost becoming a neutral in my closet, lavender/lilac aka light purple is slowly starting to take over.

The items above are what I have on my shopping list (except for the necklace which I already own but is now for sale in my Etsy shop!).

I am pretty much loving anything Kate Spade - no matter the color - right now. Everything in her store is pretty much to die for. I am holding out for a sale, though. That is when you get the BEST deals!

I have the Lulus top in black and now I am dying for the lavender color.

Boat shoes are top on my list and if I had my wish I would get them in aqua, mint, neon pink and lilac.

Lastly, if you have not smelled Jo Malone's Amber and Lavender perfume, you are missing out. All Jo Malone products are pretty amazing though. I am a huge fan of Nectarine and Honey and Wild Bluebell too!

Are you a lavender fan? Am I missing any must have items?


4/15/13

Weekend Recap: Be Sunny & Live Simply

Sunny and Gray Yellow Jeans Gray Sweater Kate Spade Purse

Hey all! Happy Monday!

I am especially cheerful because we only have FIVE more days until Hawaii! Yay!

This weekend was especially cold and gray but we didn't let that get to us. We were in full Hawaii prep mode and made the best of it.

On Friday, it was especially cold and gloomy so I broke out the yellow jeans. I hesitate to wear these jeans with black to avoid the bumble bee look but I love wearing them with gray. Since I saw this pin ages ago, I have been recreating this look quite a bit.

I don't know about you, but a piece of clothing that is bright and cheery can definitely alter my mood!

On Saturday, we ran errands. I got my Hawaii ready pedi...neon toes and all.

Neon Nail Polish Pedicure

Then this little beauty got a much needed haircut...

Kona the Shiba Tzu

And a few states away, this little beauty (my niece) celebrated her big 6th birthday!


Sunday was full of last minute shopping, dry cleaning and getting Hawaii necessities...like my new favorite beach hat from the local Patagonia store.

Patagonia Live Simply Guitar Hat

We ended the night with pizza, beer and wine. My last night of junk food as I have to be bikini ready by Friday. Jillian Michaels, don't fail me now! :)

How was your weekend? What did you do?

Linking up with Sami today - check out what everyone else did this weekend!



4/12/13

A Nautical Day

Anchor Shorts and Gold Chains
Gap Sweater // J. Crew Shorts // Gold Multi Chain Necklace (coming soon - bracelets here) // 

After a fun girls night out on Wednesday, I was not feeling super awesome yesterday. But when it came time to head out to the fabulous DMV to renew our registration, this girl got all dressed up.

Kidding, but it was warm enough to wear shorts so I felt it was time to wear my J. Crew anchor shorts (last seen here). Can you believe they are already sold out online?? So I may have looked a little fourth of July-ish but it was fun to pretend it was summer for a minute. I think I was the brightest person in the DMV - seriously why are the crowds at the DMV so scary??

After we came home, I was happy to see this in the mail...

Striped iPhone Case

My new spring iPhone case! I ordered it from Etsy - from the same place I got my other case. I love it...it's so springy/summery and it just makes me happy.

And now I am even happier that it's Friday and we leave for Hawaii in ONE WEEK! Things are good!

Happy weekend everyone! Any fun plans for the weekend?

Oh and today I am listening to another #backthatazzup fave with Whitney - Check it out!




4/11/13

I Got Nothin' but Neon & Leather

Gap Sweater // H&M Sheer Blouse (loving this two toned one) // Faux Leather Leggings // H&M Booties // 

I wanted to have a fun DIY post for my SPD project this week but I decided I needed a night out with the ladies so I skipped it. So here's what you get instead...

I wore Neon and (P)Leather.

I always love a good hint of neon and I am hanging on to my faux leather leggings until the sun finally comes out for good and warms this place up! From the looks of it lately, I might be wearing these babies all year long!

What winter-y things are you hanging onto until you just can't wear them anymore?


Doing bloglovin hop today! Join us! 

4/10/13

Lulu Love: Beach Runners & Track Pants


Oh Lulu...why do you continue to take ALL my money? Seriously...I need a break so stop putting out cute clothes, k?

So I did more damage at Lululemon over the weekend. I finally had felt like I had enough and then I tried the Run Swifty Long Sleeve Shirt and got addicted to it. So of course, I had to get another color and when I saw this neon orange/peach color, I knew I had to have it.


This top is truly amazing. It does snag easily f you are not careful but it is light and perfect for So Cal weather when it's too warm for a jacket and too cold for a tank. It also has anti-stink properties so it stays nice and fresh after a long run/workout!

After wearing my Inspire crops for a while, I started to realize they were a bit to high-waisted for me. When I saw the Beach Runner Crops online and noticed they had a lower rise, I knew I had to try them.


I did and I fell in love so they were purchased. These are one of the best fitting crops I have owned from Lulu and because the salesgirl reminded me these are a limited item, I might have buy more. She's good!

Finally, I saw these cute track pants online and was intrigued.


If I am going to spend $100+ on pants, I want them to be comfy but also functional. Sometimes track pants can be stiff, non-breathable and non-stretchy. These, however, are non of those things. Yes, they are a bit baggier than normal work out pants but they stretch like you won't believe. And they are so light and comfy...I just love them. They are great for lounging but you can also totally work out in them too! And they are cuffed so you can pull them and wear them cropped - cute right??


So there you have it, another successful Lulu haul. I am just hoping to sell a few more necklaces to help pay my credit cards after this trip! :)

Have you been to Lulu lately? What workout clothes do you love?



4/9/13

Sugar & Spice Vox Box Review

Sugar & Spice Vox Box from Influenster

Who doesn't love free stuff??

I was really excited to get my first Vox Box from Influenster a couple weeks ago.**

For any of you who don't know about Influenser, it's a community of "invited trendsetters" who give opinions of products and experiences. Basically, they send you stuff, you review it and share it with your networks and the overall Influenster network.

I was really excited to join because I LOVE trying out new products. I am always that person that grabs the Sunday paper for the coupon section. Not for the coupons, as I have never even used a coupon - ever. I grab it to review all the new products out there because I am a new product junkie. And the saddest thing, I married an even bigger product junkie so you can only imagine what a Target haul looks like in our house!

So when I found out I was getting a Vox Box, I was super happy. A week later, it showed it and I was really excited to review the contents. Unlike my other box subscriptions, this box was free so even if you only like one thing, it's worth it. Shoot, you don't even have to like anything...at least it's mail!

As always, I wanted to make sure I used all the items before writing a review so now that it's been a couple of weeks, here goes...

Sugar & Spice Vox Box from Influenster - Colgate Optic White

Colgate Optic White: To be honest, I have tried 2 of 3 of these before. The toothpaste is really good. I am not sure if it works but I liked using it. The mouthwash, however, is a different story. I have a very hard time with the taste that I am not sure I can even test whether or not it is worth it. My husband is toughing it out, though, so we will see how that goes! The toothbrush, I haven't used it yet...it will accompany me on my next trip so I don't have to bring my SonicCare.

Sugar & Spice Vox Box from Influenster - Vaseline Spray and Go

Vaseline Spray and Go Lotion: I was so happy to get this because I saw it in Target and almost bought it. I have to say that I love it. It is light and easy to use. I don't feel too sticky after using it and I will definitely be buying this when it runs out. However, I am a fan of the Aloe version so I will get the green one instead. If you are looking for a light body moisturizer, definitely try this out!


Sugar & Spice Vox Box from Influenster - Bel Vita Biscuits

belVita Breakfast Biscuits: I really liked the taste of these. They taste just like an oatmeal cookie and who doesn't want a cookie for breakfast. It does have whole grains which is good but it has too much sugar for me and is very carb heavy. But for on the go, every once and while, sure!

Sugar & Spice Vox Box from Influenster - Dickinson's Towelettes

Dickinson's Witch Hazel Towelettes: These confuse me because I love them but I don't love the smell of them. They work really well, make my skin feel really clean - esp after a workout. However, part of feeling fresh and clean is the scent and these do not have that going for them. Sure, they are Witch Hazel and that is what you are smelling but to me, it smells like cheese. Gross. If they could put in some natural essential oils or scents (mint, lavender, cucumber, etc.) it would be so much better! But I have a bunch of these and will use them all. They are already in my purse, in my car and at my desk!


Sugar & Spice Vox Box from Influenster - Nectresse

Nectresse: This came at the perfect time! I was out of Splenda but had also recently decided I wanted to make the move to more natural sweeteners (agave, truvia, etc). I have used these in tea, lemon water, greek yogurt and homemade hot chocolate. It was great in everything. It is not as sweet as Splenda but that just means an additional packet. No big deal. I will use these up and buy more.

So that is my review. As I said, I really liked this box and hope to receive more in the future! And I have a new favorite drug store lotion and new sweetener so they did their job! :)

Have you tried any of these products? What new products have you tried recently?


**I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes but the opinions expressed are 100% my own.

4/8/13

Weekend Recap: Date Nights & Heater Lights

Preppy and Pearls: Mint Striped Sweater, Skinny Jeans, Pearls, Tory Burch

Hey all! Hope you guys had a great weekend! First, thanks to all of you who left jokes in the comments on Friday's post. I love them so much! :)

So with Hawaii looming over heads (in a good way), we are itching for vacation. So much so that we planned our weekend to be sort of a mini-vacay. We planned TWO dates nights, got a much needed heater for our deck so we can extend happy hour & cocktail hour a little later AND got in a beach walk.

Friday night we had our first of two date nights and went to a newer local pizza place. For absolutely no reason whatsoever, I felt it was a super preppy pizza night. Pearls, stripes and skinny jeans (see outfit above)...and lots and lots of wine (the bartender's fault - not mine!).

date night

Saturday, we spent the entire day getting a heater for our deck. Yes, an entire day. First a trip to Costco to look at one. Then a trip to Home Depot where we bought the propane and another heater instead. Then we returned that heater and went back to Costco to get the other one. Then we spent a good 1.5 hours putting it together (there were a lot of screws and a lot of plastic). But eventually it came together and we got some good use out of it!

Heater!
The boys

Sunday was spent catching up on my favorite Bravo shows (who else is happy Rachel Zoe is back?), having a very successful Lululemon haul (more on that later) and uploading some new necklaces to my Etsy store (coral here - pink here).

Coral Lace Necklace and Bright Pink Lace Necklace

Speaking of necklaces...did any of you see the gorgeous Annie from The Other Side of Gray wearing a raspberry lace necklace last week? If not, check out her post and see more pics here!


Don't you love her Canadian Tuxedo!?! I can't pull it off but she totally did!

How was your weekend? Do anything fun?



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