pom poms

i turn 40 on saturday and i think i deserve these. just sayin'.

the shirtdress

as you can tell, i have dresses on the brain in a major way. not sure why. maybe because the weather in these parts has been dreadful lately. while i didn't get spring fever as early as i usually do this year, a prolonged period of wind, rain and chilly temps has this girl jonesing for some normal spring weather. not sure my legs are prepared to see the light of day, however.

shirtdresses are the best--feminine, practical and e a s y. here are some i'm particularly fond of:

beaded appliqued linen dress

elizabeth shirtdress

madras shirtdress

ruffled belted shirtdress

blues sisters dress

cotton shirtdress

belted denim shirtdress

just because | ms. patchett

image from here

dress fetish

okay, how flippin' cute is this dress? god. i think i have a problem

san rafael live/work space

i have all sorts of dreamy little dreams. one of them is to open my own store complete with all sorts of goodies--the kinds of things i like to share with you here. it would be so great to have a place to interact with clients and friends in a retail space while running my graphic design business from the back office. and what more can you ask for than a fun loft-style pad upstairs to call home? have you ever read friday night knitting club? it reminds me of georgia's sweet set-up. plus this place is in marin county--quite possibly the coolest place on earth.

what do you dream about?

find all the juicy deets on this fun set-up here.

un-mom no. 9 | mother's day

this simple little outfit is just that—simple. who needs the added work of getting all gussied up for sunday mother’s day brunch? this ensemble allows you to look fabulous with very little effort. how, you ask? because the dress does most of the work.

you and me dress | modcloth.com | $50
why it works: this tunic style frock is fun and pretty without being too cutesy and the soft detailing around the neck means you don’t have to bother with a bunch of accessories because they are built right in! i love the vintage "jan-brady-party-dress" vibe, but it is also very current. plus the chambray keeps it casual which means it can multi-task--I think it would look great with a pair of slim, white bermuda shorts, flat sandals and a big straw hat for a beach bbq or other casual summer soiree. and if you are really daring, you could even try it with a pair of black leggings or dark-washed skinny jeans (I don’t do leggings personally, but some of you out there may have forgiving thighs).

yellow enamel maridold ring by ollipop | thepepperkids.com | $32
why it works: do I really need to give a reason why beautiful pieces like this work? Although the dress calls for few accessories, details are important and the pretty colors of this ring sing “spring!”

getby platform wedge in light brown by nine west | amazon.com | $79
why they work: man, i love these shoes. it’s all about the wedges ladies—they are comfortable, sexy and in this neutral color will go with everything in your wardrobe from spring skirts to boot-cut jeans. i love the details on these one especially the way the top piece wraps around the sole. this is especially flattering for the petite among us as that extra leather helps draw the eye all the way to the ground.

wicker straw clutch in yellow | talbots.com | $99
why it works: it’s classic. enough said. you will have it forever. and, I have soft-spot for straw bags.

happy mother's day weekend, my lovelies!

just beacuse | brooch

palm springs getaway

for this weeks 'real estate wednesday,' i thought it would be fun to look at vacation properties. this one in beautiful and chic palm springs is not for sale, but you can rent it for your next getaway. i am thinking a 40th-birthday-all-girls-weekend kind of getaway. i've lived in california all my life and i have never been to palm springs. i think it is about time.

this house is so beautifully decorated...i LOVE that second bedroom! i'm a sucker for grasscloth and beamed ceilings.

3 bedrooms/3 baths/sleeps 6
$295/night
$1550/week
$3990/month

all the rental info can be found here.

originally spotted on this sweet blog.

m-cubed | vintage ysl blouse

today's monday morning madness: a 1970s era yves saint laurent black chiffon blouse with gold lame and flocked velvet polka dots. from his russian collection. $450. available here.

photo by marlene wetherell vintage fashion