Sea Breeze

floral kimono blouse, c.o. la petite marmoset vintage // dress, c.o. sugarlips apparel // sunglasses, ray ban // belt, vintage // purse, vintage coach // shoes, jeffrey campbell {via crossroads trading co}

I love the cut out back on this piece! It gives the shift style dress a more feminine touch.

I often stray from pinks {especially neons}, though I decided on trying something new. I'm glad I did, because I love this dress to pieces. Thank you, Sugarlips Apparel, for the lovely gift!

rings, assorted // gold watch, michael kors // bracelets, j.crew

Snapped these photographs a few days ago with my close friend, Ahmed. 

We spent the day catching up and cracking jokes; much needed after our long semesters of studying and isolation.

We visited one of my favorite beaches, nestled within China Camp State Park. 

Littered with timeworn boats and a creaky old fishing dock, the place has no shortage of history or character.

I remember the times I visited this beach with my grandmother and sister. 

We would kayak the bay, and find ourselves after, exhausted, seated on the shore. Misted with saltwater, with bay mud between our toes, we drank homemade lemonade and bathed in afternoon sun. 

It's odd to see a memory so vivid, captured in the same place my feet now lay, more than ten years later. 

Though the beach may lack fine sand and crashing waves, it will always remain my favorite, 

its history to parallel my past days enjoying the warmth of its pebbled shore.

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Quite a bit of exciting news: I'm moving in with my inexplicably wonderful boyfriend, Brendan! 

By the end of this month, we'll have begun building a home. Words cannot describe the joy I'm feeling around all of this. I feel so blessed to take the next step with such a beautiful person, and look forward to our futures together.

I'm also starting my sleeve tomorrow! I'll make sure to show the progress on here {once it's healed, of course}.

Last {but certainly not least} Brendan & I are celebrating our one year anniversary. He's whisking me off to Monterey for the weekend, where we will enjoy a lovely bed&breakfast, and of course, visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium! 

Many annoying tourist-esque events will occur while there, something I not so secretly enjoy doing when visiting new places.

I'm beyond excited for the next few days! You can follow my weekend shenanigans on Instagram.

♥danielle

Midi Madness

sweater, gap // skirt, madewell // purse, vintage dooney & bourke // belt, vintage // skimmers, vintage // necklace, jewelmint // rose gold watch, marc by marc jacobs // bracelets, asos & madewell // rings, madewell

A realization I had while typing out the origins of the pieces of my above outfit: for the short period of time I worked at Madewell, 

it seems I went a bit...wardrobe crazy. 

From buying all of the jewelry that called to me 

{nearly every piece in the store} to snatching anything that looked remotely grandma-esque, I did it all.

I'm glad I did though, as I find the pieces I picked up to be staples I consistently rotate back to. 

This midi skirt is one of the only that I have, & is perfect in every way. I picked it up for less than $10 {thank goodness for kill price!}. The length, color & pattern leaves this piece so versatile & it has opened the wormhole of cravings for even more midis {though I most definitely don't need any more of anything added to my closet, sigh}. I guess it's time for a second spring cleaning!

I've been thinking about making an etsy for my retired clothing, as to pass items on to all of you. Would any of you be interested in that? Leave a comment below letting me know!

Farewell for now,

Danielle ♥  

Summer Suns

One-hundred percent obsessed with this beautiful necklace my boyfriend gave me in November for my 21st. 

The elegant textures of the leaves & accented gems contrast so well.

blouse, vintage // cutoff levi shorts, vintage // tights, anthropologie // gold dipped leaf necklace, gift from my boyfriend // bracelets, j.crew, madewell, urban o. // belt, vintage // shoes, vintage

Thank the skies and heavens and deities or whatever you believe in; my finals are done!

Last week I was a hermit. I locked up in my room, completed last assignments and studied hours on end until my brain felt like it was crammed into a food processor. Yuck, to the last part, though that's what it felt like {or what I would assume said extreme pain and misery would feel like}. 

These past few months have heavily tested my organization, productivity and capacity for being under pressure. 

Even so, in the end it seems the hard work has paid off! I got an A in my stats class {something I did not even dream to be possible} & once grades are released, I should {hopefully} be getting the same for my creative writing class.

Now that the semester is finally over, I'm able to bid farewell to the constant crunching & stress of a work/school life & say hello to the next few summer months of relaxation.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As for the outfit above: lately I've been on a jean shorts//tights kick. 

The weather permits, nowadays, for such garb & the combination of textures and patterns is one I always fall in love with. I find that two layers on the lower half can really help pull an outfit from the crowd.

The blouse I'm wearing is a new addition to my literally overflowing closet {recycled, but new to me}.

I picked this beauty up at one of my favorite vintage shops in Sebastopol, a quaint little town hidden in Sonoma County.

I love the neutral shade & the embroidered lace detailing that's spread cross this tops chest.

I can see myself wearing this blouse far too many times during summer, it works so well with everything! 

Anyhow, I hope all of you are doing well!

♥ danielle

Gauzed Haze

golden age top, c.o. free people // eyelet pocket cutoffs, c.o. free people // sunglasses, ray ban // dipped gold leaf necklace, my lovely boyfriend {favorite necklace, ever} // belt, shoes & coach purse, vintage

gold watch, michael kors // rings, madewell

{I'm obsessed with the wash of these shorts, the stitched detailing at the seams, & the lace scalloped pockets!}

lace blouse, vintage 

I got my septum pierced! I've wanted this for years.

Good morning & happy Tuesday! I hope everyone is doing well & if in a sun soaked area, I hope you're taking every chance to
enjoy the heat {just as I've been doing}!

Last week, the sun was at it's peak of the day {as was the heat}, so my friend
Miguel & I made the wise decision to drive up Mount Tamalpais, where it would be +10 degrees warmer than everywhere else, adventure 'round and take photographs.
Met with a mild to nonexistent breeze and blistering light,
the two of us had a bittersweet time, enjoying the view and silence, loathing the heat wave.
Thankfully I was wearing my new garments from Free People, which saved me from an all-embracing death.
I can envision myself wearing this outfit on//in different occasions & settings: from a festival weekend to a day at the beach,
I'd don this mix most anytime, anywhere. Huge thank you to Free People for the rad lace top and jean shorts!

{life updates & such}

There are just a few weeks left of classes for my spring semester, & once school is out, I'll be spending most time in nature.
I'll be out to run, hike, swim, tan {sleep, read}, canoe {& kayak} and hopefully camp!
Whether it be with friends, my love or myself, the goal this summer is to do all of the above and more.
The more: spending as much time as I can creating. While school is in session, I find myself creatively deprived & unmotivated,
not having enough time to focus on the arts I love.
By taking time to draw, photograph, write and blog this summer {yielding a bounty of accomplishments}, I feel my upcoming semester at Sonoma State will be greeted with excitement & ambition to grow and learn all I can.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  
Focus on hobbies & projects you love.
♥ Danielle     

Mixer

Floral on floral on tri-blend; the more prints, the better! My words of wisdom: if you want to pair multiple prints and textures, stick to the same color grouping & it works seamlessly!

floral blouse, gap // jeans, levis // cardigan, madewell // socks, free people // belt, vintage // purse, dooney & bourke // desert boots, clarks

Mornin, all. 

Today I woke up to streaks of sun peeking through my window,  dancing across the walls of my room. 

Its light, creating warmth, heat, greeted me with the beginnings of summer. 

Thoughts of worn shorts, floppy hats, sunglasses and waves lapping on the beach hit me at once, 

and left me in anticipation for the coming months off.

So, life updates! 

no. 1 ~~ After this summer, I'll be attending Sonoma State for the Liberal Arts program {I got my acceptance letter last week!}

no. 2 ~~ less than a month left at the JC, then summer vacation!

no. 3 ~~ After waiting a year, I finally have my tattoo consultation this Wednesday!

I hope everyone is doing well, thanks for reading!

Affections

sunglasses, ray ban // lace scalloped blouse, madewell // plaid flannel, vintage // velvet leggings, american apparel // loafers, vintage // necklace, madewell // gold watch, michael kors // rings, assorted

Mixing masculine {plaid flannels} with feminine {lace & velvet} is one of my favorite things to do! Pairing garments together, when one would normally find them unfitting, is always fun. 

The scalloping of the blouse and the punch of color in the necklace are by far my favorite details in this outfit.

I'm so glad the weather has warmed a bit lately; I've been feeling deprived of all my lace, chiffon and silk!

spring |spriNG|

[ noun ] the season after winter and before summer, 

in which vegetation begins to appear, 

in the northern hemisphere from March to May, 

in the southern from September to November.

Though march is known as the official wakening of spring in my area, the sprouts of life that fall hand in hand with the title are just beginning to appear. Everywhere I go, hillsides are bursting with fiery yellows, electric blues, vibrant greens -- each of these colors budding more excitement within me. Fondness of spring {as well as summer} is something I've always held, and the emotions I feel around this time of year are inexplicable. 

The seedlings that my close friends and I scattered in our yard have yet to bloom, though their shoots have now appeared; something to be celebrated. All I know is, I look forward to the day I can open my front door, look out onto the yard, and be greeted with poppy orange and wildflower purples. 

Happy spring, everyone. 

Virescence

Good morning, and happy Monday. 

I hope those of you living in sun rich areas had the chance to experience some of it's beauty this weekend, just as I did. 

Now sore and barely able to walk without a hobble, 

I ran/hiked to the bottom then back up a mountain trail with my best friend and boyfriend.

Starting toward the top of Mt. Tam, the three of us were lucky enough to enjoy perfect weather as we trekked down into Muir Woods. 

While the climb back up to our finish was a bit intensive, the burn was worth it. 

I'm striving to feel tired, worked legs in my life more regularly.

Whether it be a run, hike, bike, or swim, I'm determined to 

make the most of my thriving youth.

 I'm thankful to have working legs, arms and good health. 

All these things tend to be taken for granted. 

I'm going to continue caring for what's not broken by throwing myself out into nature, a place I feel truly content. 

A place I feel at home. 

blazer, nordstroms // blouse, c.o. sugarlips // waxed denim, c.o. urban outfitters // sunglasses, ray ban meteor // necklace, free people // other jewelry, vintage assorted // shoes, i can't remember (oops)

I love combining eclectic color choices and patterns in one, above being an example. I'm in love with both blazer and jeans I'm 

wearing here. 

Though I did not buy either planning to pair them in such a bold color scheme, it worked to my advantage.

Adding in the striped blouse fashioned even more of a pop, something I'm always drawn to.

I hope everyone has a lovely day, bye for now.

Danielle ♥

Dreams

tank, madewell // flannel, vintage // velvet leggings, romwe // desert boots, clarks // necklace, free people

This week introduces my long awaited spring break, giving me a few more moments to breathe deeply, kick up my feet and appreciate all surrounding me.  

Though most of my "would be" down time is being devoted to work and study, 

I was lucky enough to get two full days off {something I haven't had in I don't remember how long!}.

Taking full advantage of this occurrence,

my weekend consisted of blasted speakers, the beach, a bottle of pear cider and laughter with loved ones. 

If only those days could last forever.

Though the lyrics to this song have no particular relevance, 
I haven't been able to shake these words, nor the 
ethereal melody from my head the past few days.

"now here you go again

you say you want your freedom
well who am I to keep you down
it's only right that you should
play the way you feel it
but listen carefully to the sound
of your loneliness
like a heartbeat, drives you mad
in the stillness of remembering
what you had, and what you lost

thunder only happens when it's raining
players only love you when they're playing
they say, women, they will come and they will go
when the rain washes you clean, you'll know
you'll know"
-Dreams, Stevie Nicks

Hope everyone is doing well, 
Danielle ♥ 

Sprouts.

    Lately, my weeks are filled with a hectic load of work, school and all tasks that accompany each. This is certainly a bit much at times and while I'm not complaining, I'm glad to have one day a week, Saturdays, free of all commitments. 

    This most recent day of relaxation and regathering of thoughts was spent feet buried in dirt and seed, hands pulling up aged and dead plants, making room for new life. 

    I'm looking forward to seeing my front yard bloom wildflowers, poppies and morning glory's, and admiring bees and hummingbirds enjoy the sweet flavors of each. Always wanting a garden of my own to care for, I feel very lucky to have such a chance now.  

    Having little time for leisure and relaxation, I ended my weekend covered in soil, carrying sore arms, sun soaked skin, and a feeling of great accomplishment.  

    With new seeds comes fresh growth, and this spring I can only envision a sea of sprouts filling my life.

    This outfit echoes the upcoming season to me. Florals, saturated reds and pinks are going to dominate hillsides in just a few weeks; something I cannot wait for.

    (I definitely did not wear this while gardening!)

     sheer tee, american apparel // denim button up, romwe // cardigan, madewell // floral jeans, asos // necklace, forever // gold watch, michael kors // jewelry, assorted

    I'm thinking that each outfit post calls for at least one silly face; I'll try sticking with the idea.

Fresh Start.

Mornin all. I know it's been far too long since I last posted, and I do apologize for that. I should have, could have, scribbled a little note of my haitus, though life got in the way.  

There have been quite a few changes that blossomed since my last posting here. 

A new job, switched major, sprouted and burned out friendships, morphed life views//perspectives, etc. 

At long last, I've moved out on my own and am now living with two phenomenal people, and a precious little pug {aka "pig" / "piglet", as we like to call him}. 

I now reside in my favorite city within Marin, in a neighborhood I've long been fond of. 

Another thing to note, the final semester at the JC I'm attending is in session, and held hopes for this upcoming fall are ones of the university level {fingers & toes crossed!}. 

Since my last writing here, there have {obviously} been a few surprises, though the most significant and truly beautiful change I've experienced is in the realm of romance. I've met a phenomenal man who I feel terribly happy with, and cannot imagine being without. We've grown together, and I'm very excited to see where our future is headed.

With all this metamorphosis comes a lot of emotion, whether joyous or frustrating. 

For now, I'm trying to take on these things slowly, walking with one foot in front of the other. Running will do me no good at this point, and I'm enjoying the view from where I am. 

So, this post is my introductory message, saying that I'm back and here to stay! 

I'm glad to be blogging again and sharing tidbits of my self and wardrobe with all of you. 

I hope my words are enjoyable and that everyone reading is doing well! 

From a place of truth and adoration for all reading, I want to say thank you. I feel very lucky to have such a great group of people interested in my words and the creative aspects of my being. 

I would not have started to take such bold chances with clothing without this blog, and this site has grown to be what it is {or what is was, and what it will now be since my break} thanks to all of you. 

And now, for my first outfit post of 2013!

 On days when I'm feeling particularly uninspired {as depicted here}, I love to throw on clashing patterns and hardware. The eclectic feel of  my style peeks through just a tad, giving a normally boring look a bit of personality.

 striped tshirt, madewell // flannel, vintage // high waisted jeans, madewell // shoes, vintage // necklace, free people // watch, michael kors //  other jewelry, vintage // belt, vintage // sunglasses, ray ban meteor One of the many outtakes I usually choose to not include, here is a lovely photograph of me doing what I do best: repulsing all around me. These were taken outside my lovely new home by a dear friend, who I am lucky to now be living with. Sunset in this neighborhood is a  dream, and leaves me feeling thankful for all aspects of my life.

 Wishing you the best, cheers for now! 

 ♥♥♥, Danielle