skirt the issue

LOFT striped cotton long sleeve tee in gravel grey (old, but similar here); Old Navy ponte fit & flare skirt in heather charcoal (old, but newer version here); Nike Air Pegasus ’83 sneakers in mica green orange; Lululemon Vinyasa scarf in dark grey (not available online currently, but check Lululemon stores); J.Crew Factory leopard calf hair bangle; Marc by Marc Jacobs ‘Amy’ rose gold watch.

Lululemon vinyasa scarf (not available online currently, but check Lululemon stores).

After being soaked with rain for the past 2 days, the sun feels great. I’m having fun with spring weather by wearing a flirty fit & flare skirt and my new Nikes. I’m also wearing my Lululemon Vinyasa scarf that I mentioned before (here), which has 2 different designs on each side.

What have you been wearing to welcome Spring 2014?

not so fast

Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren faux fur collar intarsia cardigan; Calvin Klein Underwear Long sleeve tee in White; Paige Denim Skyline Skinny jeans in Black Ink; Report ‘Marks’ boots in Luggage.

Old Man Winter won’t let us go just yet, brrr. This cardigan keeps me warm and nicely insulated. The faux fur collar is removable, but very much needed in these frigid temps.

Stay warm!

bleached sweats

GAP Bleached Sweatshirt Dress in Navy and in Crystal Blue Dusk.

I’ve been on the hunt for a sweatshirt dress for awhile. I didn’t pull the trigger until last night when I spotted this GAP dress online. I ordered it in Navy. It looks somewhat fitted in shape and it has cute details such as piping and a chest pocket. I thought it had a spunky personality to it, so I figured let’s give it a whirl. I can picture this dress paired with my new neon sneakers, with a chambray button-down over it as a light jacket or tied around the waist (especially if it ends up being not fitted at all). Amp up the sporty factor with a baseball cap and aviator sunnies. Or, snazz it up for a brunch, BBQ, etc. with some wedge sandals, a bunch of bracelets and/or a statement necklace, and your favorite crossbody bag.

This dress will also work double-duty as a bathing suit cover-up. Additionally, I’m thinking of wearing this for spring and summer air travel. It’s perfect with a pair of sneakers, which are a space hog packed in luggage like riding boots, and the French terry fabric is cozy during the cold flights. I will cover my arms with my trusty Lululemon Vinyasa scarf (a travel must-have for me). I think this will be a good purchase, I’m already envisioning an active glamorous lifestyle for this dress!

Speaking about the Lululemon Vinyasa scarf, here’s a video of how to wear it many different ways. This woman is so darn cute! Anyway, I love this scarf to bits.

Is there a (sweatshirt) dress that you love and find versatile?

maui: part 2 a/k/a mama’s fish house

Warning: This post may make you very hungry and thirsty. My stomach is now growling as I’m writing this, and I just had lunch.

If you’re ever in Maui, you must dine at Mama’s Fish House. Make reservations early, this place is understandably booked for weeks in advance. Firstly, the beach that Mama’s is situated on is a slice of heaven. The 2nd pic is the view from our table. No glass windows here, just the sea breeze and you.

Second, order a cocktail. I got a cool retro drink, I think it was called the Relaxer. Aptly named and delicious (see first pic above). I switched over to the New Zealand Sauv Blanc for the rest of my dinner.

Third, every single dish we ordered was amazing. Apologies for not taking pics of the main course, they didn’t last long enough for me to click a pic, lol. We ordered the Wasabi Crusted Calamari, Kaua’i Prawns Polynesian with Taha’a Island vanilla and a Lobster guacamole with taro & plantains (pictures provided above). Our favorite was the calamari, it was very different from the calamari from home. It was super tender and instead of rings, it was more like a mini calamari filet mignon steak. The accompanying salad and dressing was to die for–sweet, sour, tangy and light. It really showcased the delicate creamy flavor of the calamari. The prawns were my second favorite. The fresh native prawns (not available outside of Hawaii, as explained by our server) were naturally sweet and the vanilla bean butter sauce was perfection. Again, unlike any prawn dish I’ve had before. The lobster guacamole was excellent, but I’d probably order something else next time since we’ve had great guacamole before.

My husband ordered their signature fish for his main course, the Mahimahi stuffed lobster and crab (baked in a macadamia nut crust). Based on our server’s spot-on suggestion, I had the Opakapaka sautéed with Hamakua mushrooms, garlic butter, white wine and capers. All the fish is caught locally, so it’s very fresh. Both of us loved our main dishes so much. The fish was tender, delicate and so flavorful. The sauce on my Opakapaka was delicious, I wanted more to take back to the hotel so I could enjoy it once more.

We split the signature dessert, the Polynesian Black Pearl (Liliko’i chocolate mousse In a pastry seashell). Amazing, it was almost too pretty to eat. But it was quickly devoured as well as the golden mango sauce, which was a wonderful contrast to the rich silky chocolate.

I don’t know about you, but I am seriously jonesing for Mama’s Fish House now. My husband said the next time we are in Hawaii, we’d make a special trip to Maui just to dine at Mama’s again. It’s that good and more than worth it. I’d recommend getting a reservation time that syncs with the beautiful sunset. Bring your good camera and get there early so you can take a bunch of photos of the ocean behind you and your loved one(s).

p.s. I wore my new Madewell Gallerist Ponte V-Neck Dress in Stripemix (now further reduced on sale until tonight!). My husband loved it because it was in his favorite color, navy blue. I loved it because it stretched (discreetly) with my growing belly as I enjoyed my lovely dinner, lol.

neon citrus & navy

Anthropologie Stripezip Tee in blue motif (other colors available online); 7 For All Mankind ‘Gwenevere’ Skinny Jeans in dark grey (old); New Balance for J.Crew 620 Sneakers in neon citrus (other colors available online); Ray Ban Aviator Sunglasses.

What a beautiful spring day, made even better with some crisp salty air on the boardwalk! I’m wearing my new striped shirt from Anthropologie and neon citrus New Balance sneakers. So loving the neon on my sneakers and shirt (there’s neon pink trim around the neckline and the 2 zippers).

Have you joined the comfort chic brigade with some fun sneakers? How about breaking out the stripes to signal that spring has sprung? Don’t forget that I have 2 Pinterest boards, entitled Sneaks and Stripes, if you need more outfit inspiration. 😉

maui: part 1

The adults-only pool at the Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea was a serene oasis. How about that killer view? I have a bunch of photos of Maui, I’ll need to break up the posts. We thoroughly enjoyed the pool area our last morning of our vacation, enough time for a dip and a few sips of Whitehaven Sauv Blanc (my favorite wine, by the way, so much so that we served it for our wedding!).

The views from this Four Seasons property were nothing short of stunning. Maui is a very beautiful island with its rain forest and picture perfect beaches. It is definitely much more bustling and developed than Lana’i. The service and food were excellent at this resort. It was super easy to rent a car from the concierge (I highly recommend this so you can drive around the island, the Road to Hana is an absolute must-see). Our fave thing about the resort was the adults-only pool, hands down. No one under 21 is admitted, so it’s very relaxing and just perfect. Plus, as you can see from my pics, it has the best views from the entire resort.

Everything I’m wearing is old and no longer available, except for my black GAP tee.

Enjoy your weekend and Aloha. xo

lana’i

Just returned from Hawaii and I visited the islands of Lana’i and Maui for the first time. Both islands are paradise. Lana’i is so quiet and pristine. Maui was more developed, yet it was very dramatic in its natural beauty. It was an amazing trip for us, everything is better with the Aloha Spirit. And room service for breakfast accompanied by a gorgeous husband and breathtaking views don’t hurt either, ha.

We stayed at the Four Seasons Resort Lana’i at Manele Bay. This Four Seasons property was spectacular, the views and isolated location on the island made for a relaxing tropical getaway. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our spa treatments. I got a facial, massage and a mani/pedi, all are highly recommended. Definitely ask for Milly if she’s available, my husband and I loved her and the treatments she provided. We also were fortunate to visit Four Seasons Resort Lana’i, The Lodge at Koele for dinner one evening (you must witness the sunset there). It was a markedly different vibe at this resort, it was a sumptuous yet rustic Lana’i. It felt like old school Hawaii. Our meals at both resorts were out of this world. There’s a Nobu (squee!) at Manele Bay, and it’s my favorite Nobu (out of NYC, South Beach & London) by far since the seafood couldn’t get any fresher.

The service was over the top at Manele Bay. Be sure to park yourself at the pool. There were so many wonderful amenities to pamper you. Cold and herbal scented towels. Mists to cool your face and body. The sunglass doctor to clean your sunnies. Constant gratis refreshments such as nibbles and frozen fresh fruit smoothies. Loved. It. All.

I wore my new Miken oversized #sunkissed coverup from Macy’s, printed box pleat dress from Zara (sold out online but you may find it in the store) and FairEnds camo baseball cap from Madewell. All were perfect with a tan.

zou bisou bisou

Twenty8Twelve ‘Jocelyn’ cropped motorcycle leather jacket (old); J.Crew Factory Kiss Kiss tee (in stores now, not available online yet) & Crystal Sunburst necklace; J Brand ‘Santa Cruz’ boyfriend khaki pants (old); J.Crew ‘MacAlister’ wedge boots in Nut.

It’s warm and sunny outside, am I dreaming? Nope! Hope it’s just as nice wherever you are.

Time to break out the boyfriend khakis, ditch the socks and show off some bare ankles. As you know, the Kiss Kiss tee is new (have you picked it up yet?) as well as the new suede wedge boots from J.Crew. I’ve been eyeing this exact pair (made in Italy! I place a premium on Italian made shoes) for the last couple of years and almost pulled the trigger on the cheaper (but faux suede) version at J.Crew Factory last fall. It was serendipity that I got the MacAlisters for less than $100 (last day for the extra 25% off at J.Crew online and in-store). They remind me of the Wallabee shoes from the 70’s, talk about a throwback rando memory. They are ridiculously comfortable and will also look cute with my chambray dress and other day dresses.

here comes the sun

Ralph Lauren sweater jacket (old); American Eagle Outfitters racerback boyfriend tank in ebony grey; AG ‘Stilt’ jeans; Modern Vintage ‘Janet’ riding boots (old); Chanel jumbo flap bag; Ray Ban aviator sunglasses.

Walking outside without a coat = GIDDY.

kiss kiss tee

J.Crew Factory Kiss Kiss Tee.

How cute is this tee? International kisses for everyone!

J.Crew released this tee last summer for $45. I just scored this yesterday at the J.Crew Factory store for $17.25! Tees were 50% off in-store. I’m excited to wear this with a blazer or my little bomber jacket and a statement collar necklace.

The tee is so silky soft but it’s much more fitted than the J.Crew version from last year. So, I sized up because I wanted a slightly slouchy look and it may shrink due to the 100% cotton fabric.

It’s not available online yet, but get thee to the store for the Kiss Kiss tee and the half-off discount. xo

Update: Remember my sneaker post? J.Crew is running a 25% off promo online (code HAPPYSHOPPING) and in-store right now and the discount applies to the sneakers (which, according to my local store manager, this rarely happens with non-J.Crew made items). By the way, I’m keeping both pairs. They are very comfortable, light as air, and I’m obsessed with the cheerful bright colors.