Things I Wish I Was Eating...

Two food blogs that I look at daily are Valleybrink Road and Val SoCal. Both California based blogs feature amazing, fresh recipes that are healthy but also exciting and delicious, and oftentimes (luckily for me) pretty simple. These are a few items I wish I was eating right this instant. Don't they all look so summery and fresh?

1. Watermelon Salad With Feta and Basil from Valleybrink Road

2. Also from Valleybrink Road, Snap Pea Salad with Burrata 

3. Greek Cucumbers from Val SoCal

4. Val Socal's Garbanzo Bean Salad 

Casual Chic

I don't usually like the look of denim shorts on myself (though I love them on other people), but I found this pair from Loft recently that I can't get enough of. I like how they're short but not too short, and that they have a classic cuff rather than a ripped edge (another look I love on others but don't feel I can pull off). I feel like they go with everything - even heels!

Do you have a go-to pair of denim shorts?

Top: I'm wearing this tunic from Tory Burch (on sale!). The red doesn't have many sizes but there are tons left in the blue.

Shorts: this pair from Loft  

Shoes: Louboutin

Sunglasses: this new cat eye shape from Ray Ban 

Jewelry: vintage 

1. Peonies are finally in season! I picked up the most beautiful bouquet at the farmer's market the other day.

2. I added this book about style icon CZ Guest to add my coffee table collection. She had such chic, irreverent style.

3. I can't get enough of Juice Crafters Greenest juice. Kale, spinach, romaine, parsley, cucumber, celery, apple, lemon and ginger. It's hard not to feel healthy after drinking that!

4. I've been going on lots of hikes with friends and my fiancé lately. It's so nice to spend time outdoors, and the views of the city aren't bad either. This photo is from Will Rogers.

5. We watched the documentary Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has To Travel the other day. It was a really neat look into her life and all of the amazing people she worked with and careers she helped to launch.

Beachy

I wore this look to brunch the other day; it was one of those overcast, grey kind of days where you just really want to be comfy (but still reasonably cute), so my new tunic from J McLaughlin seemed like just the thing to wear. I paired my top with classic white denim, colored sandals and some fun accessories, which is actually quite a quintessential 'Palm Beach' look come to think of it - I must still have my recent trip on the brain!

J McLaughlin tunic
Tory Burch sandals (this color isn't available but they have lots of others...I love this brown color)
Paige denim
Vintage jewelry
Cambridge Satchel Co. bag

Get The Look: Great Gatsby

With the new The Great Gasby film coming out soon, the whole 1920's art deco styling trend is in full force - see the latest issue of Vogue if you don't believe me. Stores are full of accessories and dresses inspired by the era, and if you just can't wait for the movie to come out and have already re-read novel, here's no shortage of supplemental material to feed your interest. I'm just about finished Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald, and it's an easy and exciting read with a fun glimpse into the world of Paris in the twenties; attending the ballet Russe, having drinks at the Ritz, and the changing landscape not just in clothing but the world at large.

One of my friends joked that we should dress up to go the movie on Friday, and while full 20's garb might be a little much, I just might wear the headband in number 3 (which I may or may not have already purchased) or something sequined. Why not right?

1. Asos faux fur stole, $46 
2. ModCloth earrings, $40
3. Nordstrom headband $32
4. Bloomingdale's pearl necklace $85
5. Sue Wong dress, $535 (I saw a girl wearing this the other night and it was stunning on)

summer staples

I got this tank top recently and have already been wearing it to death; it goes with virtually everything and is such a perfect summer staple. I also think that Palm Beach really inspired me to wear more bright colors - all the women there looked so chic!

I wore this look during the day yesterday with some sandals, and switched those out for high wedges and added a bright clutch to make it work for night. Do you have a spring/summer staple, or a certain item that feels like it works with everything? I love to hear what other people's 'go-to' items are.

Tank: this one from J Crew (I love it so much and it's 25% off today and tomorrow with code SPRINGBEST) 

Pants: old from h&m

Jewelry: this necklace from J Crew (also currently 25% off!), tribal/friendship bracelet from Loft, bangles J Crew & Hermes

Clutch: this Claire Vivier one from ShopBop

Shoes: wedges are Jimmy Choo but these ones are so similar and a great price

Margarita Recipe & My Favorite Mexican Restaurants

In honor of Cinco de Mayo this weekend, I thought I'd share my favorite margarita recipe. While my typical drink of choice is white wine, I love nothing more than a margarita made with fresh ingredients. I hate the super sugary ones that some restaurants serve, with lots of syrupy flavors and fake lime - the best margaritas are simple. Below is the recipe for my favorite skinny margarita (click here for more tips and tricks):

You'll need:

• kosher or ground sea salt
• 2 ounces tequila
• 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• 2 teaspoons fresh orange juice 
• 1 teaspoon agave nectar
• lime wedge for garnish

Mix together in a cocktail shaker and pour into an ice filled, salt rimmed glass. So good, and so worth the little bit of extra effort.

I also thought I'd share a list of my favorite Mexican restaurants in LA, since we're in the Cinco de Mayo spirit:

La Sandia - Located on the top floor of Santa Monica place, but so not a mall restaurant
El Cholo - A fun spot on weekend evenings, with a few locations around the city
Blue Plate Taco - Really yummy agua frescas, great people watching right on Ocean Avenue
Tacos por Favor - No frills restaurant that looks a bit sketchy from the outside, but the huge lineup at lunchtime proves that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover
Mercado - Though it's only been open a year, Mercado is already a Santa Monica staple. Try their turkey leg and please try their churiqueso. I promise you'll love it.
Casa Escobar - An LA institution. I like the Santa Monica location