sand dune sandals

I'm limiting myself to two sandal purchases this season. I've already found both pairs... I couldn't help myself.

Here's the first pair. These ones are from JCrew.

the sundays flashback

i love the feeling

[via Melissa Guedes]

43 years

Happy anniversary to my parents. They celebrated 43 (married) years together yesterday.

I'm so glad that my Dad flopped down on the sand next to my mom on a Southern California beach when she was all of 14 and asked her if she wanted to learn to surf...

I love you!

public

Love love love this photo by my friend Christina.

glowing and effortless

I love this old photo of Ali MacGraw. I love her dress, her bare skin, and the side-knotted hair wrap. She looks glowing and effortless. I wish I could pull off this look...

[via so chic]

beach getaway

We've been dreaming lately of a lazy beach getaway. Portugal (the beach in the photo) is too far for a quick few-days trip. But doesn't it look heavenly?

We want warm water, waves, not too many people, a nice boutique hotel right on the beach that will allow us to bring Stella. Good food. And that won't take us more than 5 hours on a plane to get there from California... Any recommendations?

[image, via friend Jessica, can be found at 20x200]

atomic garden

One of my favorite shops in Oakland is Atomic Garden.

It's so well curated. Every time I walk in the store, I am overwhelmed with the desire to buy every single thing I see.














This morning when I wandered around the store I was tempted by Jen Pearson's Message in a Bottle kit:

cuteness for the babe

Dwell Studio Owl


Binth Matching Game


Gold Saltwater sandals

French Connection Clover Club Romper

17 weeks

It's hard to believe that Stella Condesa is already 17 weeks old.

Every day is a new adventure and every day I love her more. And there's so much to love. Here are just few things I love about our little Bug:
-Her cheeks. They are big and round and absolutely kissable.
-Her tiny feet. The way they smell and the shape of her bitty toenails. They too are absolutely kissable.
-Her morning smiles. She's all sunshine first thing in the morning. I lounge in bed for at least 15 minutes every morning when she wakes up just so I can soak up her gummy grin.
-Her big blue eyes. They take everything in. And when she smiles, they smile too.
-Her chatter. She is "talking" up a storm.
-Her long sighs. Sometimes her sighs last for a minute. They're the cutest.
-Her favorite position for sleeping, with one hand touching me and the other hand touching her dad.
-Her sleeping scoots. Even if she starts out asleep in the middle of the bed, inevitable she ends up scooting herself over until she's practically on top of me and I'm nearly always halfway off the bed. I don't mind.
-Her throaty giggle. It's almost a full-fledged laugh. But not quite.
-Her chub. I love her meaty thighs, her jowls, her nonexistent wrists.
-Her easiness. She is content to go anywhere and meet anyone. She loves being outside.
-Her Friar Tuck hair-do. Bald on top and whispy longer hair in the back.

kites

[via just enough salt]

hot spell

We had a brief hot spell this week. It finally felt like spring. Stella and I spent a late afternoon on our back deck soaking up the warmth and gazing out at the vibrant green expanse behind our house. Everything is green after so much rain. Our plum tree flowered already and the petals have scattered. The tree still smelled sweet and blossomy. It was heavenly. All the warmth made me want to wear sun dresses and sandals and lounge pool-side.

[swimsuit by Karen Neilsen: via Leah Dent]