Rocker Glam featuring Lindsay.

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Let me tell you a thing about our gorgeous gal, Lindsay, here.  This girl has been our fashionista sista for many years and she continues to slay the fashion game.  We had a girls dinner a few weeks ago and Linds walked in stunning as ever.  She always has that classy but rocker look going on and we needed to post this outfit of hers on our blog!

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Blazer: Hinge, Nordstrom TBD department (also on Poshmark here)
T-shirt: Style Stalker Lagerfeld – terminator tee (nastygal.com)
Pants: Paige leather pants (Nordstrom Rack)
Shoes: Pour La Victroire, criss cross peep toe platforms (crossroads, new)
Bag: Obey – oversized canvas bag (crossroads find, new)
Ring: Vitality ring purchased in the Mission
Earrings: Vince Camuto, French clip, gold geometric earrings
Sunnies: C&C California Matte sunnies (Marshall’s)

img_1609If there’s one thing we also know and love about our Linds is she knows where to find some of the best fashion for a great price.  Her outfits are always perfectly put together while also allowing to show her fun and edgy side.

img_1620We were loving this oversized bag as well!  If you commute, you know sometimes it feels like you need to pack your house in order to accommodate your day.

img_1621Every detail was perfect with this outfit.  We loved the t shirt with the blazer and all the gold accessories.  It was perfection!

img_1600When we need glam advice, we go to Linds because she is the definition of glam!

Otavalo Market, Ecuador

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(All photos by Daniel Nevares – @danieljtravels)

I’m not a huge shopper but I was in shopping heaven when we strolled into the Otavalo Market in Ecuador.  It’s about an hour and a half drive from Quito and it is well worth it.  Apparently, they have been promoting this market a ton so there were a bit of tourist in the area but that didn’t matter.  There was so much culture and so many beautiful things, it didn’t disappoint.  I had been brushing up on my Spanish before this trip so it was also a great opportunity to practice the language.  I ended up with many, many things from this market and I would go back in a heartbeat.

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The colors were stunning.  I love bright colors so I was drawn to all the fabrics.

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I had to stop at every vendor.

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My first purchase was the hat you’ve seen in many posts now.  I love it so much and got it from this stand.

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I had to try on a lot to find “the one” and this woman was great with my broken Spanish and indecisive nature.

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There were so many options!  Honestly, if they were easier to transport I probably would have bought so many.

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And then I found the one I loved the most that has now graced many of our blog posts :).  I was so pleased I looked to Dan in excitement only to see he had been taking photos of us the whole time.  His Spanish is great so whenever I would get stuck on what to say, I would look to him with this exact expression like “come help me with a word!”

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With my new hat, we carried on.  There were many other things I was interested in like the food and some colorful ponchos.

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It seemed I needed one to match my hat and this is where we found this adorable woman who insisted on helping me try them all on.  Of course hoping I would buy them but I’m a sucker for cute locals with beautiful merchandise :).

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After settling on this poncho and a blue one (oh and multiple others for family members), we felt pretty good about supporting the locals.  Things were not expensive and the quality is great.

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Here I am with a backpack full and multiple other bags but don’t worry, you will see how much I wear all the things in previous and future posts.  I hate to be wasteful or own things I don’t wear and sometimes I struggle with buying things wondering when I will ever wear them.  My Ecuador finds though have become my staples and I just love them!

Pocket Dress.

IMG_5534_2When you find a dress with pockets, you wear it. This is such a great dress that Brittany got from a friend as a gift. The black side panelling is slimming and the length is perfect for Spring. It’s finally getting to the temperature where we can wear some skirts and dresses without our tights. We just need to start working on our tans…

IMG_5536_2(Dress- Nordstrom)

IMG_5538(Shoes- Free People)

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Stars and Sparkles.

IMG_5520_2(Shoes – Sorel’s similar here, Skirt – Nordstrom similar here, Denim jacket – Madewell, Hat – locally made at the Otovalo Market in Ecuador)
When I saw this amazing skirt of Chelsea’s, I knew I had to try it on immediately.  I’ve always wanted to figure out how to wear an amazingly fun, Carrie Bradshaw type skirt and this was the perfect skirt.  I basically raided her closet because the Sorel platforms are also hers and probably the most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn.  Paired with a simple top, denim jacket, and my favorite hat, what more could you want in a fun outfit?

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Rock It Wear.

IMG_5553_2Last October Nick and I went to Spain for a wedding and had a great time. We ate, we saw, and we (I) shopped. One of my favorite things that I picked up was this t-shirt from Mango. We’ve got a Mango in San Francisco but I hadn’t actually gone into a store until I was in Barcelona. It was full of great things but this beaded top was where it was at.

IMG_5557_2(Jacket- Forever 21, Purse- Zara, Jeggings- Paige Denim, and Booties- L.A.M.B.)

IMG_5560(Aside from the top I am crazy about my booties by L.A.M.B.)

Brittany and I are going to the Smashing Pumpkins reunion tour in August and I think I’ve got my outfit picked out. I’m just counting down the days!

Comfy Casual.

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{Dress – Athleta on sale now!, necklace – Anthro find your style here, shoes – French Blu from Nordstrom cute similar style here, purse – Marc Jacob from Nordstrom love this similar one}
One of my favorite purchases ever was this Athleta dress.  It’s so comfy and can be worn so many different ways.  I wear it around the house or dress it up with some strappy sandals and a good necklace.  Maybe it’s a west coast thing but anytime I can make casual work, it’s safe to say I will take that chance.

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Best parts of this dress are the soft material and the thumb holes!

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This paired perfectly with a big chunky solid colored soft necklace.

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So simple and comfortable, this is definitely one of my favorite closet finds of the moment.

 

Secondhand Sweets

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I have lately been scoring some great finds through second hand venues and I wanted to share a few of my favorites with you. Firstly, where I live we have a handful of great consignment spots and I have gotten a few things for $10-$20 that would have cost upwards of $200 new, it’s insane. Secondly, if I am looking for something in particular, my new go-to is the Poshmark app. I’ve actually been selling things as well, it’s kind of like a clothes swap that I am super into.

IMG_5495(Loeffler Randall booties found on Poshmark)

IMG_5492(Rebecca Minkoff Mini M.A.C. bag- found on Poshmark)

IMG_5487(I LOVE this Paige acid wash denim jacket, it’s got a great side zip that can make any outfit instantly cooler)

IMG_5489_2(I just got this dress from Zara and it is super soft. It’s great because I can wear it even when the weather isn’t too warm)

I’m all in for second-hand scores mostly because I get bored with clothing and want to switch it up which can be an expensive habit- but it is a fraction of the cost when I am taking it off of someone else’s hands. Let me know some of your favorite second hand finds in the comments below!

Cable Knit Spring.

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{hat – Otovalo Market in Ecuador, sweater – Ann Taylor, similar here, Denim – Madewell, Shoes – Banana Republic similar here, Bag – Marc Jacobs from Nordstrom Rack similar here}

The sun is starting to come out but there is still a chill in the air.  Since I am always cold, I like to be bundled up while embracing the Spring days to come.  The is my go to outfit at the moment.  What’s yours?

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I love this hat that I got on vacation in Ecuador last summer.

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It’s got a great detailed band.

IMG_5440_2Cable knit keeps me just warm enough.

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You never know what you are going to find at the Nordstrom Rack, like this purse!  I also got these flats on super clearance at Banana Republic for under $10.  What a steal!

IMG_5437I’m pretty simple when it comes to dress so this is the perfect outfit for me when the days are chilly but the sun is shining.

 

Vinales, Cuba – 3 must do’s!

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What can I say, by now it’s probably a bit obvious that I’m a sucker for farm towns.  I’ve just returned from spending a week in Cuba (mainly in Vinales) and after all of the research I did before the trip, I wanted to share my learnings and some of my favorite spots/stops from the trip.  Throughout the week, I hope to help debunk some of the rumors and also help in the planning of your trip or inspire you to visit Cuba!

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  1. Horseback ride through Vinales Valley!  There are so many places to link up with a horseback riding guide.  We were lucky enough that there was a spot right next to our Casa Particulares in which I would highly recommend.  For $25 CUC, we spent hours riding horses through the valley where we took a tour of a tobacco farm, a coffee farm, a cave, and a restaurant with a look out over the entire valley.  You pay for food and drinks along the way but that was to be expected.

    IMG_13982. Eat the local fruit!  You will likely get a taste of this from your host if you stay in the Casa Particulares and have breakfast with them but we also stopped and bought a massive bowl of mangos for $1 CUC.  They were delicious and the fruit is just so tasty on the island.

    IMG_12953. Eat at Finca Agroecologica.  This is not somewhere you will see locals eating so it is quite well known by tourists but it’s truly an amazing experience.  You can walk the farm and see them growing everything you will eat.  It’s a beautiful farm to table experience in one of the most epic sceneries.  We loved it so much, we went twice!  You will get more food than you can ever finish.  My favorite thing was actually a special smoothie type drink they made with peppermint, local honey, pineapple, coconut, and more.

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    Miguel, the grounds keeper showing us the animals and around the farm.

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    If you can speak and/or understand Spanish, Miguel will tell you a lot about the property.

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    Just looking at these photos makes me want to go back!

    I would have also added climbing to this list but I know not everyone would be up for that.  I will dedicate a separate post for any climbers out there :).  Cuba was incredible but since it is starting to become easier for Americans to travel there, there are many things changing about travel to the country.  I read so many myths before our trip that I didn’t realize until we got there but also so many solid travel tips that I’m glad I was prepared for.  I will post those later this week.  For now, enjoy!

Wedding Wear It Again

IMG_7092When you are going to a wedding, it is important to look your best but also feel comfortable for a night of dancing and celebrating! I had been eyeing this dress for months and it finally went on sale at Anthropologie (unfortunately it is sold out now). I justified purchasing a dress I really didn’t need because I have so many weddings this year and it is just perfect to wear to a couple of them because it isn’t white! Surprisingly about 70% of my wedding appropriate dresses are white, so I really need to get my act together.

IMG_7096(High/Low front and back of this lace dress gives it a nice flow)

IMG_7097(It has a subtle snap in the front to keep it all together. This necklace was a gift from my grandparents on my 8th grade graduation- it’s still my favorite)

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I feel like Steve Nicks in this dress and that is never a bad thing! Check your local Anthropolgie to see if they still have this dress in stock, it’s such a beautiful color!