A San Rafael summer isn’t complete without the annual Italian Street Painting Festival. Talented artists from all over the world gather to create beautiful chalk pieces. I love being there at the beginning and seeing little pieces of street come to life. I hope you enjoy some of my favorites.
(This is just 3 hours in)
(Artists gathering under the sun)
(Love the colors here)
(Incredible)
(Amy always delivers, she is truly talented. Photo credit- Amy M.)
We officially touched down in Belize yesterday and I can say so far it has far exceeded any expectations or thoughts we had about it. We knew it was going to be amazing but it’s blown us away with it’s island breeze, turquoise waters, and slowed down pace. Here’s a little peak into Ambergris Caye!
Our Airbnb hosts greeted us with a free drink! They call these ones dirty bananas.
There are cute island dogs everywhere, this one belongs to our property and his name is Marvin. Used to be starvin’ Marvin but they fed him up really good.
We asked if we could take our drinks out on a pier and they answered of course, there are no rules here! We dig it.
My nap spot for the next week, do not disturb :).
We found our way to the Palapa Bar which I’d been dreaming about and it was everything I was hoping! Sun, tacos, beers, and ocean inner tubes – true vacation mode!
The bar sits over these waters at the end of a Pier.
It was a true warm welcome!
Nick and I searched high and low for the perfect piece of furniture to act as our bar cart. We had a narrow space so our options were limited. World Market always has the industrial look that the two of us really like so we hit the jackpot when we found this console. I love the wheels, it made it easy to put into place and it is fairly long so we can fit all sort of goodies on it.
(Cocktail essentials- Crate and Barrel)
(Leather liquor tags- Crate and Barrel)
(These cocktail plates have recipes on the back for their individual drink)
(My favorite part, the copper mugs)
(The wooden wine holder matches the cart perfectly.)
(Lastly, we placed what our friend Adam calls “the ant burner” on the edge of the bar cart. We just liked the way it looked).
Hankering for a drink?
I never liked tomatoes until a few years ago and I can’t believe I never used to like them because I LOVE them now. Caprese salads are one of my most favorite dishes. I found this simple caprese kabob idea on Pinterest and it’s been my go-to appetizer to bring to parties hosted by other people.
The ingredients are this simple: toothpicks, mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. I like to add sea salt and some balsamic/olive oil drizzled over but you can eat them without those and they are just as tasty.
They are simple, non-messy, and usually a big hit since they aren’t too heavy.
Enjoy!
{{ Dress – in store only @ Diane’s Beachwear, Shoes – TOMs platforms, still on sale!}}
I’m a huge fan of long sleeve dresses because being fair skinned, my skin always seems at risk in the sun. Sometimes it’s wanted and sometimes it’s not. The material of this dress is a very thin cotton so even in hot weather it will be extremely nice to have.
The love the light lace detailing around the trim of the dress. It’s a nice subtle touch.
The dress is short so it’s not work appropriate but it’s perfect for sunny vacations!
{{ Dress – out of stock but similars here, Bandeau (out of cheetah print online, in stock in store) – here, Sandals – from the Nordstrom sale here and still on sale!)
In preparation for a warm weather vacation, I’ve been rounding up some cute warm weather outfits. This is one of my favorite new layered looks and it’s going to be perfect in the hot Caribbean sun. We leave Saturday and I couldn’t be more excited to go check out a new country and enjoy some good R & R.
The Boho Tribal detailing sold me.
Love how simple and comfortable these sandals are.
Fun detailing on the back!
Adding the cheetah print bandeau adds a nice, fun vibe.
I plan on having perma ocean hair or a big messy bun so this bandeau and dress will help jazz me up a little bit when needed.
Some days I just don’t have it in me to dress up so I have a few staple pieces that I can mix and match to be able to be comfy. Black skinny jeans and a jean jacket are two pieces that I get a ton of wear out of. Even if one of the two rips a hole or starts to wear, I will replace it because they are my go-to’s.
These slip on island kicks are an easy way to add some color. Similar shoes found here.
Love these sunglasses.
What’s your go-to casual wear?
Living in San Francisco has opened up the opportunities to explore so many fun things that happen here. One of my favorite things to check out is Nightlife at the California Academy of Sciences. It’s interesting, intriguing, and fun to grab a drink and cruise the exhibits. Last night’s theme was the Color of Life and they also had a whale exhibit that was interesting! The Cal Academy is located in the middle of Golden Gate Park so it’s fun to walk through the park to get there.
Checking out the aquarium walkway. Some of the fish are massive!
The famous albino alligator.
They have little stations everywhere with people to explain certain facts or show you things.
Love the dino skeleton at the entrance.
The Living Roof.
The whale exhibit. Puts into perspective how large these mammals are!
Definitely a fun night to check out. Tickets are pretty inexpensive ($12 for non members) and you can grab drinks and food at various stands.
Have a great weekend!
After our friends’ wedding the other weekend, we opted for the long route home along hwy 1 from Cambria to San Francisco. My little Subaru handled the roads like a champ (as she always does 🙂 and we soaked in views for miles, literally. Here’s a taste of the treat you might get if you opt for the long way home.
Elephant Seal Beach. These cuties had a lot to say!
There were quite a few seals on the beach.
Every pull out has a breath taking surprise if you take the time to check them out.
A piece of the road you will drive. So incredibly beautiful.
Goofing off of course. But really, look at that water!
The pit stops aren’t bad.
The sun came out in full force.
Lunch view.
Getting closer to Big Sur, the coast line begins to turn into tree lines.
And of course, the bridge :). I’m telling you, take the long way home along hwy 1 sometime. It’s worth every minute.
{{ Top – Forever 21, Black Skinny Jeans – Express, Shoes – here }}
I love a good collar because I feel like they instantly dress up a more casual outfit. I got this awesome boatneck collared top a few years ago from Forever 21 and it’s turned out to be a staple over time. It’s fun but also can be worn over and over again for different occasions.
I usually love to wear a bold red lip collar with this top but in wearing it for work, I go with a softer pink.
You can also pull your hair up into a braided top knot to add some more attention to the collar.
The chain detailing also adds some fun detail.
iflunch.com 
