Lost & Found

I have had the greatest Memorial Day Weekend EVER. Kicked off on Friday morning with mimosas to celebrate a few friends graduating from my school, the Academy of Art University. It was great to watch them accept their diplomas and see that there actually is a light at the end of this often dismal tunnel I call art school, and I am on my way to getting it over with.

We thought it would be fun to make the party 90's themed. Oddly enough, I had plenty in my closet to go on, and came up with this gem of an outfit. Complete with french braid and a scrunchie. In related news, I learned that NO ONE thinks scrunchies are cool. Not even in the hipster way. Also, I wore a fanny pack all day, and I have to say, that shit is practical and I am definitely going to be wearing my fanny pack more often now. This is why I hold on to things. Because of theme parties. And because I might be a hoarder.

Floral high waist shorts- check

denim jacket- check

strappy velvet sandals- check

messiest room EVER? yes.

I've been waiting years for an excuse to bring back these bad boys.

Saturday was spent doing major spring cleaning. If you couldn't tell by the above photo, my bedroom was in shambles. So after hours of laundry and folding and OCD style organization, I rewarded myself a little and met up with a girlfriend to catch up over some drinks downtown. At the bar, someone had left a really sweet hat on the seat next to me. After the bartender asked around and no one claimed it, he gifted it to me. I may not be able to shop, but no where have I stipulated that I can't steal.

ooh so artsy

Normally I lack the confidence it takes to wear a hat, and for no particular reason either. I like hats but don't generally gravitate to them to complete my outfits. Yesterday I had a few errands to run and an extremely greasy situation going on with my hair, so it was the perfect day to wear my new hat. What I learned is that the first day you wear a hat is always the windiest day. 

Paired with my favorite purse (its vintage! fancy!) and all black, I felt really really cool. The guy at the hardware store even gave me a compliment.

All in all, it was the perfect way to kick off summer, with just the right balance of work and play. Oh, and on Sunday I was lucky enough to catch the greatest fireworks show of my life from my very own rooftop deck. I'm feeling pretty lucky right about now.

The view from my roof

Photo Credit: Cameron MacPhail 

If this weekend was any indication of the next few months of fun, I am not complaining. San Francisco summer, I'm ready for you!

Mother's Day, a few days late.

Sometimes, a girl just needs her mom.

Some are fortunate enough to live close to their moms, but with 3,000 miles between us, I'm not one of the lucky ones. But no matter the distance, she's always there when you need her most. And for me that moment I needed mommy most happened to coincide perfectly with my family vacation to the East coast.

Since I can remember, my mom always gave me the freedom to do what I wanted and dress how I like and taught me not to take shit from anyone about it. My mom is the reason (whether she knows it or not) that I had the confidence to wear some of the things I did. I would come out of my room, wearing two different colored shoes (Punky Brewster was a major fashion influence) and three pony tails, and my mother would barely bat an eye. I have her to thank for a lot of things, but not stifling my creativity was the best thing she could have ever done for me.

She also had a knack for dressing the whole family impeccably. Easter Sunday was our favorite

Only a few days prior to my much anticipated Anderson Family Vacation to Charleston SC, I was feeling desperate to get out of the city and breathe a little fresh air. I got my wallet stolen on the bus and went through a tiny bit of heartache in my personal life. I was ready to be more than just a phone call away from my mommy.

One of my favorite things to do when I'm home is go to Target with my mom. It's cheesy, but I like to spend the time driving through the suburbs in the minivan with her. I like the stop and go of the busy road, if only for that one day. I like to meander through the usual departments- the clothes, the make up, the home goods. But this time around it was a little different! I'm still not spending money on my own clothes, and I now needed a new wallet. 

Retail therapy is a real thing and probably the reason for at least 60% of what I own. New stuff just makes you feel better. It's a fact, and its lasting effect keeps you coming back for more, which is where my troubles began.  

It was just what I needed- a day running errands in suburban monotony with my awesome mom, catching up and letting her buy me some treats without feeling the guilt. I'm thankful for way more than the things she buys me, but sometimes you just need to be a little spoiled. 

Thank you mommy for allowing me to indulge in the things I didn't need. 

It was definitely the best vacation ever.