outfits

Island paradise to the streets of Silicon Valley

 in General Fashion  tagged chicos / chloe / levis / outfits / street style trends / summer 2019 by
los gatos street style
fall 2019 it bags

Outfit details: pearl earrings (similar here) / sunglasses / summer lipstick / white tee / palm print kimono (on major sale!) / snake belt / dark wash skinny jeans / nail polish / bold ring / Chloe bag / black espadrille mules / Hawaii outfit details here.

This kimono was so much fun to wear in Hawaii. I kept getting compliments on the street when I wore it, and perfect strangers don’t compliment my outfits very often!

When I got back home, I found myself reaching for this kimono often. Turns out, it’s perfect for spicing up jeans and a tee; you know I am always trying to level up basic jeans and a tee! This kimono is perfect; plus it’s super soft and comfortable. Love that!

To make this tropical kimono look right on the streets of Silicon Valley, I switched to a leather bag, ditched the hat, and wore more understated jewelry. Worked like a charm! I’m getting compliments on this kimono when I wear it here at home too. This is definitely my favorite piece of the year! Love love love!

how to wear palm print in the city

There is nothing I love more than getting complimented on something I wear. Don’t we all put effort into our looks? It’s nice when people notice. I always try to compliment strangers when I like something they are wearing, sometimes it’s tough to remember. Since this kimono gets a lot of attention, I am making more of an effort to remember to let people know they look good. Sometimes a little compliment can help someone have a better day.

Shop my tropical palm print kimono look:

Do you have something people compliment you on often? Please share in the comments!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

silicon valley street style
palm print kimono outfit ideas

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk tips during summer vacation

 in General Fashion  tagged family / lifestyle / outfits / santa cruz / staycation / summer 2019 by

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wearing: squared hoop earrings / sunglasses / summer lipstick / olive green henley tee / summer nail polish / handbag / snake buckle belt / jeans / black mule espadrilles /

One of my kids favorite summer activities is heading over to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. While we enjoy going during the off-season in order to avoid the crowds, there is something nostalgic and fun about going in the thick of summer vacation. Of course, when we go to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk during the summer months, we still know how to avoid the crowds. So if you are planning a trip to the Boardwalk, here a few tips so you can visit and enjoy the area like a local.

How to visit the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk like a local

  1. Go early: Never ever ever go to the boardwalk after lunch. The whole world shows up between 1pm and 4pm. Always go when they open at 11am so you can hit all the fun rides before the lines get long.
  2. Get a wristband: Don’t bother counting points, get the all day wristband so you can freely enjoy going on all the rides, and going on your favorite rides multiple times in a row. If you are local and plan to visit multiple times during the year, consider getting the season pass.
  3. Go on a weekday: If you can avoid heading to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on a weekend or national holiday-do it! The best time to go is on a weekday, more specifically, on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Those are the slowest days, with the shortest lines. If you must go on a weekend, go early at 9am and enjoy brunch at a local spot such as The Picnic Basket or the Beach Street Cafe.
  4. Take the train: If you can’t go first thing in the morning, or you want to have some fun, take the Roaring Camp Railroad train to the boardwalk from Felton. It’s a fun way to get there, plus you don’t have to navigate traffic during peak hours.
  5. Rides first, arcade later: The lines for the rides are usually longer than the ones for the arcade or mini-golf. Hit all the rides first, before the crowds arrive, then go inside for the arcade after lunch. You can go inside when the temperatures start to soar, plus avoid all the long lines at the rides. Mini-gold indoors is also quite fun!
  6. Stay for the show: The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk also has amazing concerts. Enjoy the boardwalk and the games first, then relax on the beach near the stage so you can enjoy the concert at night. You can make a day of it!
  7. Leave before everyone: If you are not staying for the concert, go back over the hill around 2pm-3pm. Once 4pm hits the traffic builds up and it’s beach traffic galore. Go early, leave early, and you will have an enjoyable ride.

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One of the rides you can’t skip when visiting the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is the historic carousel. It’s a beautiful and fun carousel installed in Santa Cruz in 1911. It’s a National Historic Landmark, and it has it’s own Wikipedia page! It’s one of the oldest surviving rides on the west coast, and it’s a must-do! Don’t miss the roller coaster either, it too is historic, and from 1924.

Shop my Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk look:

Enjoy your trip to the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk! If you have been before, what is your favorite ride? Feel free to share your tips in the comments below!

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

santa cruz beach

Red plaid blazer for summer into fall

 in General Fashion / NSALE  tagged chloe / fall 2019 / nordstrom / outfits by

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wearing: prescription sunglasses / summer lipstick / bold silver earrings / black tee (old, similar here) / bold silver necklace / red plaid blazer (new for fall!) / cuffed slim boyfriend jeans / black  belt with snake buckle / fall nail polish / bold ring / Chloe bag / black high heel booties (super comfortable!) /

I promise, I am not trying to make fall happen! It’s not going to happen! -Despite the fact that I had a Pumpkin Pie Latte last Thursday. #Guilty haha

I picked up this red plaid blazer for fall, and I am in love! It’s lightweight, so it’s an easy piece to wear right now, and into the early part of the fall season. It’s always nice to have a few pieces which reflect the upcoming fall season, yet still work on warm summer days. This is my key transition piece!

We have a lot of fog in the mornings, so a lightweight blazer is perfect for combating the chill the fog brings in when it rolls over the Santa Cruz Mountains, into the valley. A blazer is also a more structured way of amping up a casual jeans and tee look. It really elevates a basic outfit. Love that!

I wore this outfit last week to meet my friend Dawn from Fashion Should be Fun at Santana Row. We took blog photos, (of course-haha), then walked around, grabbed lunch, chatted, and walked around some more! It was nice to have a relaxing day with my friend. Earlier last week I was super busy helping my mom pack, and then I helped her move. So having some “me” time with Dawn was the recovery day I needed.

Now that my Mom has moved, I can finally get on with with my summer vacation, and having fun with my kids! We have another trip planned for later in the summer, so I need to have time to plan for it!

Shop my summer into fall blazer look:

Since summer vacation is half over, what do you have planned before school starts?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

how to wear a blazer