Things Aren't Always Black and White

As you know, my dad is getting married in June! I cannot believe how quickly time is going, and before I know it, family will be arriving from all over for the festivities. Per my dad and his fiancé's request for all of their kids, I am going to wear a black and white dress to the wedding with red accents incorporated. So, now I have been on the hunt for that perfect dress! I always love an excuse to get a new dress, so I am pretty excited. 

This is where I need your help! I believe I have narrowed it down to three dresses, each having a different look and feel. Now please help me choose!

Plane and Simple Dress via Modcloth

I picked this one because it is obviously black and white, but doesn't have too much black for a summer wedding or too much white that would compete with the bride. It is also the most elegant looking. I would pair this with red heels for a pop of color.

Hound Sleuth Dress via Modcloth

I love this one for obvious reasons! I mean, it has dachshunds on it, and in case you haven't noticed, my little Marly is a dachshund! It is obviously amazing, that is not the question. The questions are 1. Can it be made elegant enough for a cocktail party wedding? and 2. When I look back, will I really be happy that I wore a dachshund dress?

BUT, I will say this: IT IS SO ME. And that's important, right? I picture this with a skinny red bow belt and red heels.

Traveling Cupcake Truck Dress via Modcloth

This dress is just so fun! Every girl needs a polka dot dress like this, but do they need one to wear to their dad's wedding? Definitely a flirty and girly look!

And that is all. I'm thinking about just ordering all three and then deciding at home (hey, Modcloth does free returns!), but I'd love to know what you think! Which one gets your vote and how would you style it?

The Senior Citizen Discount

Over spring break, I went to visit this lovely lady, Andrea. I get a kick out of this great-aunt of mine. Moments before these photos were taken, she said to me as she fixed her lipstick in her compact mirror, "You know, Jessica, I wanted to be a senior citizen model, but your Uncle Albert told me not to. I think I would have been good at it, don't you?"

And then I just laughed. 

And then laughed some more from behind my camera as I realized how much she loved being the model and that she actually would be pretty good at it.

And then we made a deal: One day I will take some photos of her for her portfolio and she will pay me. But I have to give her a discount, she said. Seems fair enough to me.

Looking back at these photos perked up my Wednesday just a bit. Hope it did for you too!

California Girl: Transplanted

(image source unknown)

Well guys, I know I haven't been in these parts much this past week, but I do have a big announcement for you: I will be spending this summer in Texas!

I know, I know. You're thinking, "But why the hell would she want to go there during the summer?" Yes, I know that the weather is far from ideal and, as my cousin puts it, I'll want to rip my clothes off every time I walk to my car, but the important part here is that it is an ADVENTURE! And you know what? I need a good adventure right now. Quite honestly, a year ago this is the very last thing that I could have imagined happening. But that's pretty much how this entire past year has been. I thought that I would be going to college on the east coast and studying art. But instead, I have been going to community college and working as a nanny, and I never thought that I would think this, but I actually feel blessed by it all. This was in no way my plan, but it has become obvious to me that it is not my plan that I must follow. I must follow God's plan for me and He has been making that pretty clear.

So, why Texas? About a month ago, my aunt and uncle who live in Houston took a chance and asked me if I would be interested in coming to Texas for the summer to be their 1-year-old son's nanny while their usual one is on maternity leave, thinking that it would be a long shot that I would come. I took some time to think about it, and realized that it could be an adventure with all of the variables already taken care of; I would have a place to live, a job, and a new city with a great arts and music scene to explore. What's not to love? So that was that and I'll be leaving in June, right after my dad's wedding! 

Though I have not yet been able to experience leaving home like many of my peers, I feel so blessed to have an opportunity like this. So, get ready for a California girl's adventure in The Lone Star State! Oh, and the best part? My little black dog will be tagging along for the journey!

Homecoming

It has been nice being home this weekend. I love going away and being on adventures, but there is always something comforting about coming home. Walking in the door to a jumping pup is the greatest, as well as the familiar smell of my favorite candle in my room and everything just the way I left it. Of course, I hate unpacking, but it's okay if my suitcase just sits there in the corner for a week, right?

Jacket - American Eagle // Dress - F21 // Sweater - Anthropologie // Boots - Steve Madden

I did end up pulling this outfit out of my suitcase to go out Friday night and heading over to the lagoon near my house for these photos. The weather in LA was lovely, so it was difficult coming home to the foggy cold going on here at home. Oh well, spring will be in full force soon enough. Hopefully.

Despite the weather not catching up, I cannot believe it is already April! This semester will be over soon enough, and then the summer will hit with 3 weddings, trips, and a break from school. I can hardly wait!

Friday Letters // 01

Dear Marly,
     Oh how I have missed you. We have a nice weekend weekend of laying in bed, trips to the dog park, and maybe even a picnic ahead of us.
Dear home,
     I am so happy to be back. It is nice to see you. There really isn't any other place like you.
Dear spring break,
     Please never end, okay? I think we get along just fine. Making this a permanent thing would be quite alright with me.
Dear school,
     Please be kind next week. Let's just ease back into this thing and not make such a fuss about it.
Dear LA,
     I will miss your loving sunshine.
Dear Bay Area,
     Can't you take a hint from your friend SoCal? Get with the program already. Geez.

A New Friend

It's nice to make new friends. Lately, I have been more adventurous in that aspect of my life and have been putting myself out of my comfort zone more. That's how I met this lovely girl, Ola. She is from Poland, living here as an Au Pair, and just being the beautiful soul she is.

Since she is an Au Pair, we enjoy talking about "our kids" (you know, because I'm a nanny), but she is also creative, like me! We have started working on a few projects together and will hopefully be starting some more soon. She edits and makes videos, so hopefully she can teach me a thing or two. Plus, she knits, so someone can finally teach me more about that!

Anyway, as I said, it is nice to make new friends, but it is also something that is sometimes hard. So, I'm especially grateful for meeting this gal!

This is my second full day in LA for spring break and I have been getting some much needed love from the sun. And a mani/pedi ;)

Bruschetta + Me

I LOVE BRUSCHETTA. It has been decided. It is wonderful in every way, especially when you get to pick and four you'd like and two of those are prosciutto with fig & mascarpone and brie with apples & spicy pecans. It's simply the best way to start spring break, or any evening really.

So that's what we did on Friday night! My best friend, Tatiana, was home from college and we teamed up with our other best friend, Kaitlin, for an evening of bruschetta loving.

I think the rest of these speak for themselves. If you and (good) bruschetta aren't friends yet, do yourself a favor!