Ear Candy

Debuting soon on Various Vanities...the new boots I scored at the Nordstrom Anniversary sale today!  I'm in Santa Clara for the night - I worked a half day at work and then drove up for grad school orientation and since I just conveniently happened to be near Santana Row and Nordstrom....my debit card couldn't help itself!

In the meantime, I wanted to share some tunes with you that I've recently purchased and are on repeat on my iTunes.  Happy listening!

All I Do Is Dream of You, Michael Buble

Antarctica, The Weepies

Cells Planets, Little Grey Girlfriend

City of Roses, Esperanza Spalding

Eet, Regina Spektor

How You Survived the War, The Weepies

If I Ain't Got You, Alicia Keys

Let's Hear It for the Boy, Deniece Williams

Overture to Candide, Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic

Pavane for a Dead Princess, Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra

The Beat Stuff, Hannah Georgas

There Is a Light That Never Goes Out, The Smiths

A Little Bit Country

Top - Anthropologie.  Jeans - American Eagle.  Boots - Nordstrom BP.  Earrings - Lucky Brand.  Hat - from stall at the Salinas Rodeo.

Today was my first experience attending a rodeo!  I was lucky enough to have box seat tickets, so the experience was upfront and personal.  We had a huge lunch in the sponsor tent before hand, and then spent the afternoon watching the final events, including a bullfighting competition!  I was a little apprehensive going into the afternoon - I'm an animal rights activist - and I have to admit, though I was assured the animals are treated very humanely, I'm not sure if I'll attend another rodeo.  Still, it was a good experience and a real taste of Salinas, which is the city where I've been working since graduation.

The hat and boots - even though they aren't cowboy boots - obviously make the outfit, but I added the turquoise earrings for a little rodeo-esque flair.  I actually bought the corset top last December to wear for New Year's Eve, so I'm surprised and pleased that it worked out for this outfit, since I have very few rodeo appropriate clothing in my closet!

Just as a reminder, please consider learning about and contributing to the Anderson Relief Fund, which is for my friend Petra Anderson, a victim of the recent Aurora Colorado The Dark Knight Rises premiere.  You can find the information at the following link: Anderson Relief Fund.  Additional information can be found in my post from yesterday: For Petra.  

For Petra

Departing from my usual frivolity, I want to blog about a friend in need and hope that all of you reading this will keep her in your thoughts.

I'm sure by now, nearly everyone is familiar with the horrific massacre at The Dark Knight Rises premiere in Aurora. Colorado.  While my heart goes out to all of the dead, injured and their loved ones, I know one of the injured personally and have been very concerned for her.    

Petra Anderson was my RA last year and was a fellow Conservatory student at Pacific with me.  We were both in orchestra together and were also members of Ann Miller's violin studio.  During the shooting, she was shot three times in the arm and a fourth pellet entered her nose, went through her brain, and hit the back of her skull.  Luckily, after undergoing surgery, her recovery is looking very positive.   

Petra is a phenomenal, talented, genuine person, and I hope that everyone will keep her in their thoughts and prayers.  A relief fund has been created to help the Anderson family with their unanticipated medical finances; I hope you will feel moved to contribute.  You can find the link to the contribution page here: Anderson Relief Fund. 

Stay safe everyone.

Vacation Pics

Currently listening to: Madeline Peyroux, I'm All Right

Getting back into the groove following two weeks of vacation has been even harder than anticipated, and it has clearly affected my will to blog.  I'm being a little lazy and just posting a few vacation pictures today, but I hope you enjoy them because they were absolutely blissful moments for me!  The next week is going to be a little bit of the calm before the storm - I have one more week of work and then I move to Santa Clara and start graduate school! - so I'm grateful for the relaxation I got in during vacation.

Photos from top: #1 taken at The Arch in Cabo San Lucas, #2 and 3 taken on the cruise ship on the Elegant Evening before dinner, #4 taken in Cabo San Lucas, #5 taken in Puerto Vallarta, #6 and 7 taken in Puerto Vallarta at the dolphin encounter.

Back from Vacay

Apologies for not posting for the past week!  My boyfriend and I went on a week long cruise to Mexico, so I was blissfully off the grid and enjoying vacation time far too much to blog.  I'll post more photos in the next few days, but I just wanted to post this photo of one of the highlights of the trip: meeting a dolphin in Puerto Vallarta!

Back to the grind tomorrow...

Modern Art

Dress - Nordstrom.  Jacket - Plenty by Tracy Reese.  Wedges - Madden Girl by Steve Madden.   Clutch - Coach.  Watch - Fossil.  Glasses - Juicy Couture.

Currently listening to: Proud Mary, Ike and Tina Turner


My dad, brother, and I took a day trip today to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).  I love visual art, especially modern art - though my knowledge is limited on the subject - and left feeling incredibly inspired. 


From top to bottom, the pieces included in the photographs are as follows: 


1. No Title, stacked plates, Robert Therrien
2. Cows in the Lowland, oil on canvas, Emil Nolde
3. Music Room Mirror from the Milton Latham Residence, Thurlow Lodge, Menlo Park, CA, Herter Brothers
4. Urban Light, Chris Burden

Red Like a Tomato

Top - thrifted from Crossroads.  Skirt - Nordstrom.  Sandals - Dolce Vita.  Hat - Nordstrom.  Necklace - Tiffany's.  

Currently listening to: Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffett

More vacation!  I did some gardening today, which was a great excuse to be outside enjoying the sun.  My dad and I pruned the rose bushes in our front yard, did some watering and weeding, and I picked an entire bowl full of homegrown tomatoes off of our vines.  I debated saving this skirt to wear tomorrow to celebrate the 4th, but the bright red of the tomatoes inspired me.

Thank you to my dad for taking photos for me again today!  Just as a reminder, you can check out more of his work at http://365project.org/webfoot/ and/or at http://aphotoortwoaday.blogspot.com.

The Village

Top - loan from a friend.  Bandeau - Francesca's Collection.  Jeans - Nordstrom.  Sandals - American Eagle.  Earrings - The Little Dress Shop boutique

Currently listening to: Landslide, Fleetwood Mac


A very casual outfit for today, probably not my most stylish, but perfect for walking around the Village in downtown Claremont - my hometown - with both of my parents today.  I'm loving, loving, loving being on vacation; getting plenty of sleep, eating so much good food, enjoying some of the best weather in the world, and spending time with my family.


My dad took the photos I posted today - one of his many talents is photography, and he's doing me a favor by taking pictures for me while I'm at home.  You can see more of his work here: http://365project.org/webfoot (he's taken some pictures of me in the past for his photo project) or check out his blog that includes much of his photography at http://www.aphotoortwoaday.blogspot.com.


Also, wishing my wonderful boyfriend a very happy 23rd birthday today! 

Pack This!

Knock Knock Pack This! Pad

For anyone doing any sort of traveling in the near future, I would seriously recommend getting this tear-off packing list.  Mine is in use for even short weekend excursions.  I credit the small shred of sanity I keep while traveling to this list (packing and traveling are high on my list of stressors).

I once again have regular access to a computer, and I'm on vacation for the next two weeks, so I'll try to blog a little more frequently since I have the luxury of time.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!