Saying YAS to the Dress

With less than 6 months until our wedding now, planning is finally in full swing! And I could not be more excited.

Back in January I was tearing through wedding checklists like a maniac. But I quickly realized that this is the only time I get to do this. And I want this planning process to be fun and memorable and stress-free too (or at least as stress-free as it can be for a stress addict like me). I want to indulge in it a bit!

So when it came to shopping for The Dress, I decided to make a weekend out of it. Shanna, Makena, Bonnie and I headed up to Venice Beach the weekend after my birthday with a cute AirBnB booked and two dress appointments: one at Dreamers and Lovers in Torrance and the other at my bridal mecca, Grace Loves Lace.

60s Surfy Beachy Breezy Boho California Bride

That's it. That's the search term I have typed into Google anytime I have even ventured to daydream about my wedding day. And if you have ever searched such a thing in the past 5 or 6 years, you have probably seen this dress: Grace Loves Lace's beautiful Hollie.

For a long time, I only ever pictured getting married in this dress. And since I first laid eyes on it, I've been obsessed with literally anything that Grace Loves Lace puts out. I don't think I have ever even seriously entertained the idea of being anything other than a GLL bride.

Until today. Today, when I have narrowed it down to not one but two GLL dresses that I am painstakingly, melodramatically trying to decide between.

Sadly, neither of the two is the Hollie (let's be honest, that dress would have fit my 27-year-old bod a lot nicer than my 32-year-old bod), but both of them are perfect in their own right. And I am so torn between them that my fearless bridesmaids have even gone so far as to suggest that I look at.... other dresses.

They have a point. If it's so hard to decide then maybe neither of them is The Dress?

So, for the first time since the very beginning of this wedding planning process, I typed in my search term again. And I didn't totally hate what I saw.

Party Pants

Peacock Harem Pants in Ruby Sangria via One Tribe Apparel

From the streets to the beach to yoga to bed... I have basically been living in these harem pants. 

Honestly, I think harem pants may be the greatest fashion trend to have ever happened to me: they're cute, they're comfortable, they have a thick cinched waistband to hide my belly, and I basically never have to take them off because they are functional in every situation I find myself in: sleeping, working out, hanging out, and going out. 

One Tribe Apparel is the company behind this pair, which I love because their design has a pocket. They have a lot of other gorgeous patterns, like their Plume Peacock pattern in Teal or Black, their Black and Red Peacock pants or the Dolphin Honey Hive style, none of which break the bank at only $28 dollars a pair. 

All of One Tribe Apparel's products are sourced and made in Thailand by local artisans who are paid fair wages. And with every purchase, they donate $1 to the Elephant Nature Park in Chang Mai, Thailand, which rescues and cares for elephants and other endangered animals. 

I've test driven these party pants for almost 5 months now and they are still crushing it, despite how much I wear them. They will get a little pill-y if you toss them in the dryer, so I recommend air drying them after you wash them, but aside from that they're super low maintenance. And with one size fits most sizing, they're a pretty safe bet for any gift giving you may have coming up... 

Party on!

Ocean Blues

Bolly Cuff in Caribbean Turquoise via Dunitz & Co. 

As I mentioned in my last post, one of the biggest impacts that surfing with Groundswell this summer has had on me is the way it has stoked my recommitment to protecting the environment, particularly our oceans.

Case in point? I now have a reusable water bottle again and haven't purchased a plastic water bottle in weeks.

In that post, I also shared a lesson that I learned from Groundswell's founder about buying power and how every purchase we make is essentially a vote. Going forward, I want my votes to go to businesses that have ethical and sustainable business practices.

Which is why when Dunitz & Co. reached out to me and was generous enough to send me a piece of their beautiful fair trade jewelry from Guatemala, I was excited for the opportunity to showcase them here.

Especially since founder Nancy Dunitz has such a #goals-worthy story: she left behind her corporate finance gig for more creative pursuits and to satiate her passion for world travel. That combination landed her in Guatemala where she fell in love with the beadwork of local artisans and was inspired to start her own company.

Not only is Dunitz & Co. a member of the Fair Trade Federation, but they are also a Gold Certified Green America Business and women-owned and operated. And their colorful, beaded jewelry just happens to be exactly my style.

Shopped: Anthropologie, Westfield UTC

Nine times out of ten when someone asks me where I bought something, the answer is Anthropologie. In fact, people ask less and less... it's more of a statement now: "You got this at Anthro." Our duvet, our dishes, the sweater I'm wearing as I type this....

Hi, my name is Bri and I'm addicted to Anthropologie. 

(Hi, Bri.)

Motivation Monday: Shape Magazine Meet & Tweet

Trust me: I am not one to start talking about Christmas the week after Halloween. I firmly believe in taking it one holiday at a time. Christmas, real Christmas celebrations should not start until the day after Thanksgiving.

But Blogger Christmas? Well, that happened last Wednesday.

Last week I was stoked beyond all stoke to attend Shape Magazine's West Coast Blogger Meet & Tweet event in Santa Monica. Fitness Magazine had hosted what was essentially the same event back in 2013 and it was AMAZING. Panels with celebrity speakers and bloggers covered everything from exercise to diet to beauty to branding. And then.... there was the swag.

It was definitely the best blog-related event I've had the honor of attending. So when Shape took it over this year and invited me back, I couldn't RSVP fast enough.

Besides... what kind of celebrity-obsessed psycho fitness blogger turns down an opportunity to meet Karena and Katrina? Not this one, that's for sure.

Cool As Ever

One of the first events that means it's actually, really, finally summer in San Diego is Opening Day at the Del Mar Racetrack. And one of the signs that this summer has flown by too quickly is that I'm just now getting around to sharing this year's Opening Day pics... and it's only a few days before the season ends.

Coachella 2015 Lineup Listening Party: Volume Four

Coachella is one week away. ONE WEEK.

I may or may not be totally unprepared. There may or may not be a lot of Coachella-related posts in the next seven days as I rush to wrap up this listening party and share my festival essentials for this year. Like my adorable new Sakroots convertible backpack pictured above.. obsessed.

Coachella-centric or not, I think any new posts are a good thing at this point... it's an understatement to say that I took a little break last month. Which was essentially horrendous timing since I was ready to unveil my new logo and had about 2349835 blogging commitments to write about. Awesome.

Alas, timing has really not been in this blog's favor for a while and the last month was no different: I spent the 3 weeks after Iceland sick as a dog, first with bronchitis and a double ear infection, immediately followed by a killer flu. Then we spent the past two weeks moving.

Yes, moving. Again. For the second time in seven months.

More on that to come, but for now, it's crunch time for this lineup review. Without further adieu, here's what Saturday morning in Indio will look like:

Shoppped: TOPSHOP Fashion Valley

IT'S HERE!

Do you know what happiness is? Happiness is falling in love with a store, a perfect, beautiful store while you're studying abroad in London. And then having that store open its third U.S. location in the city where you now live. And then being invited by said store to come and shop before the doors are opened to the public. And then getting champagne and a personal stylist to assist you while you do so. And THEN going to the launch party where you get to meet Devendra Banhart, drink for free and dance all night with your friends.

That, my friends, is happiness. And I am so, SO happy.

Topshop Fashion Valley is finally, wonderfully, dangerously open, but if you want a little sneak peek before you head to the mall, well, I'd love to share my happiness with you...

Represent

Ocean Beach Tank c/o: SD Luv Co. // Cardigan: Billabong // Aviators c/o: Oakley Womens

A couple of snaps from our Sunday Funday this past weekend. Nothing beats the view from Wonderland in OB. And nothing beats day drinking with the people you love.

Thanks to SD Luv Co. for helping me rep my new hood with this ridiculously comfy tank. See what designs they have for your neighborhood here. 

Orange Is the New Opening Day

God, I love Opening Day! For those of you non-San Diegans, Opening Day is the first day of the race season at the Del Mar racetrack. It's also one of the biggest social events of the summer, complete with fancy dresses, big hats and lots of champy. And I love that you can bump into at least a handful of people you know... further proof that San Diego is the smallest big city there is. 

This year we headed to the track with Ryan's parents and their friends and had an absolute blast, as was to be expected. As they say, there was a winner in every race and for all the races I bet on, that winner was me.

Shopped: Oakley Gaslamp

For most San Diegans, the Gaslamp (aka Downtown) is for tourists. To them, it's the equivalent of going to Times Square in NYC or Grauman's Chinese Theater in LA. And the Gaslamp in July? You can't throw a craft beer without hitting a bachelor/ette party, a group of foreigners, or a man in a Marvel costume. If you live here, it's to be avoided at all costs during the summer.

Which is really too bad, because there are tons of great restaurants and shops in the Gaslamp that we should be taking advantage of. And one of those shops is the Oakley store on Fifth Ave.

A lot of girls seem to have the wrong idea about Oakley. They think it's just another Billabong or Roxy surf brand style of apparel. Which couldn't be further from the truth: Oakley is a performance sports apparel brand. Sure, yeah they have the SoCal vibe; after all, they're headquartered just up the 5 in Orange County. But Oakley is for athletes. And with easy access to their new collections at their Gaslamp store, it's a shame more San Diego runners don't know that.

Shopped: Free People Fashion Valley

Say what you will about their prices, but I love Free People.

I love their clothes, I love their ads, I love their blog, I love their stores. They just provide such a great shopping experience: a respite from the doldrums of my daily corporate existence, made out of the same stuff as my boho daydreams. Their clothes are gorgeous and unique, combining femininity with a wild independence. And their store installations.. I mean... really. I die.

I was ec. stat. ic. when I found out they were opening a new store in the Fashion Valley mall, the mall that's closest to my little San Diego home. And even more amped when they told me I could visit before the doors opened to the public last Saturday.

Sunflowers and Watermelons

watermelon maxi dress c/o: Q.HEART // sunflower head wrap c/o: Zealand Boutique // polarized sunnies c/o: SportRX

If there's one place that's in my Top 5 travel wishlist destinations, it's Bali. Don't get me wrong, I'm not interested in trying to pray and love my way over there, but the eating part sounds great. As does the partying, shopping, and beaches.

To me, Bali evokes an easy, happy way of life. So when Maai, the entrepreneur and designer behind fashion label Q.HEART, contacted me a few months ago, her easygoing, happy personality confirmed what few suspicions I had about this beautiful place. And much like San Diego or Sayulita, many of the people who exemplify Bali's magic aren't necessarily from there. Rather they are attracted there, seeking to reflect what the place exudes. 

In Maai's case, her road to Bali began in Japan where she was born. After attending a fashion college in Tokyo, she moved to London to perfect her English and study European fashion. She spent a year there before moving back to Tokyo, where she worked as a fashion editor. But all the while, she dreamed of starting her own line. Today, that dream is a reality in the shape of Q.HEART, her fashion line and boutique located in Bali. 

Over the past few months, I've gotten to know and become inspired by Maai's talent, vision and positivity. And since she shared some of her designs with me, I decided that I'd share a little of her story through a short Q+A with the designer herself...

What to Pack for Coachella: Festival Style

Breezy Daze

{{ mint playsuit - floral head tie - crochet cardigan - gladiator sandal }}

Back in Black

{{ karma made me do it tank - black denim shorts - floral kimono - studded booties }}

Desert Gypsy

{{ kimono - lace crop top - red shorts - fringe booties }}

White Hot

{{ sandals - lace dress - denim vest - turquoise mala }}

Need a little festival style inspiration? Here are some of the looks I'm messing around with as I start mentally packing for Coachella. By far, Coachella outfit shopping has become my favorite time of year to test new looks. Just make sure you have a way to transition each outfit into night... it gets cold in the desert! 

Are you all set for Coachella? 

What are some of your must-have fashion staples this festival season?

The Skinny Confidential Book Launch Party + A Giveaway!

One or two of you may have heard of the fabulous Lauryn Evarts, the San Diego babe behind The Skinny Confidential. An entrepreneur, blogger and overall ray of sunshine, I'm inspired by her trademark honesty, her ability to tell as she sees it, and how much she freakin' hustles. And while I have to admit that we differ a bit in our approaches to healthy living, I follow and support her ultimate message: to promote a sexy, sassy lifestyle for women.

This past weekend BeSocial PR threw a party for Lauryn at the Rancho Valencia resort to support the launch of her new fitness, beauty and lifestyle guide book, The Skinny Confidential. I stopped by with a couple of friends before the UConn game (Go Huskies!) Saturday night and wow. This party was bonkers. After leaving our car with the complimentary valet (!), we walked into what felt like an outdoor wedding reception on their Croquet Lawn.

Lauryn was at the main table, looking like a princess in her whimsical white dress and flower crown, signing books and thanking everyone for coming. The sun was slowly setting, lighting up the whole party with the most magical glow. And Ottopilot, a band that counts one of Lauryn's cousins as a member, was playing slow jams that I momentarily confused with the radio because they sounded EXACTLY like John Mayer. In fact, I was so impressed with them, that I donated to their Kickstarter so I could get my hands on an album ASAP.

FYI: this was definitely the party to be at if you were a single guy: almost every flawless-looking fashion blogger and PR Rep in San Diego was in attendance, enjoying the tunes and the atmosphere. Not to mention the beverages: Suja and my new obsession, Bon Affair, were hosting a DIY Mimosa bar that I somehow managed to avoid (less than a week left of this diet!).

I'm lucky that I get to live in San Diego and am able to attend events like this, but I hate bragging about these beautiful days when so many of you got snow last weekend! So to cheer you up and get you through the last of your winter blues / motivate you into a new spring fitness routine, I bought a signed copy of The Skinny Confidential to giveaway!

But wait... there's more! ;) I'm also including a tool that I was introduced to back when we did biometrics testing: a brand new Omrom Fat Loss Monitor. I like using this instead of a scale when I'm trying to lose weight because it puts things in perspective (since muscle weighs more than fat). Plus, I'm throwing in a $25 Amex Gift Card (for you to use on a yoga class or some new gear) and few other fitness goodies (like some brand new Clif MoJo bars) for a total value of $100!

The giveaway ends Saturday, April 5th at 10am PST and I'll announce the winner that day. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Shopped: SportRX in Bay Ho, San Diego

This past weekend I was invited to stop by the SportRx headquarters in Bay Ho/PB and check out their array of performance and prescription sunglasses. If I had to name one major difference in my outdoor fitness gear needs between Southern California and back home in Connecticut, it would be the importance of having a great pair of shades. The sun here is so bright and there's no escaping it under leafy trees, so lightweight polarized sunglasses are a must.

Honestly, if I hadn't had been invited, I never would have known that SportRx existed. For me it's only a short drive up the 5, off the Grand Ave exit, but it's tucked away on a popular cyclist backroad, Santa Fe Street. In fact, that's the first thing I noticed when I pulled up: they have a cyclist/runner refreshment station set up outside their store with water, sports drinks, and snacks. You can even pop in during your workout and have your sunglasses adjusted or cleaned. How awesomely thoughtful is that?

Inside, the store and back offices are situated in a bright, fun space lined with tons of cool art, not to mention a kegerator, a shuffleboard table, and a huge table made out of the most gorgeous driftwood from the SD harbor. In addition to being a retail space, it's probably one of the coolest offices I've ever been in.

Their Sports Optician, Tim, gave me a tour and let me try on sunglasses to my heart's content. I was so overwhelmed with the selection, from well-known brands like Oakley, Ray-Ban, Spy Optics, and Maui Jim to sports specialty or lesser known brands that are up and coming. After browsing for almost an hour, I decided that there's really no reason to shop elsewhere for sunglasses in San Diego.

It's a one stop shop for sunglasses, whether you're a runner, cyclist, motorcyclist, golfer, snowboarder, skier, volleyball player or just fashion conscious and looking to test drive some high quality shades. And it doesn't matter if you need prescription sport sunglasses or if you have 20/20 vision like me (have to brag while I still can, right?), SportRx can help you with the right pair with their Prescription Analyzer tool. Don't worry if you're not in San Diego: they're fairly well-known as the go-to place for prescription sunglasses online!

In the end, it was a tough choice, but I went with super cute Maui Jim polarized Pikake shades that will transition nicely from a hike to an afternoon out with friends. But I'll definitely be back for more... there were some adorable Smith Optics glasses that would be fun for Coachella, tons of Oakleys that I loved for running and I was intrigued by Spy Optics's Happy Lens technology.

It's basically a sunglasses heaven where fashion meets fitness meets a kegerator with local craft brews on tap. What more could a San Diegan ask for?

SportRx Showroom
5076 Santa Fe Street, Suite A
San Diego, California, 92109
Phone: (888) 531-5817

Gifts for the Boho Beach Babe

Luxury Beach Towels // $149 from Fresco Towels - If there's one thing your surfer girl could use it's a new beach towel. The luxuriously huge Fresco Towels are made here in the U.S.A. with 100% Turkish Cotton and they really are the softest, fluffiest towels around. With over 50 designs to choose from, there's a dreamy pattern for everyone.

Billabong Secret Moon Boho Top // $54 from Swell - Minimalist boho at it's best. Loose and lovely, you can't go wrong with sizing on this one.

Mermaid Towel Hooks Trio // $36 from Boldhouse - Between bikinis, towels and wetsuits, your beach bum could use one or two of these adorable mermaid hooks.. so why not get her three?

Foam Magazine Subscription // $9.99 from Foam Magazine - FOAM ("Fashion Ocean Art Music") has been my favorite magazine since I came across my first issue in 2004. It's a great beach read and an endless source of inspiration for all things foamy.

Pura Vida Feather Charm Bracelet // $20 from Swell - I drive past Pura Vida's offices in La Jolla every night on my way to Bikram Yoga and I wish more people knew about the great mission behind this local company. Give with a purpose: every bracelet purchased helps to provide jobs for full-time artisans in Costa Rica.

Island Girl Sunglasses // $18 from Free People - Free People has surprisingly durable and affordable sunglasses, like these cute sunnies with a pop of island blue.

Mermaid Mala // $108 from Tiny Devotions - Made from Amazonite and Ocean Jasper, the Mermaid Mala is described as an "extremely calming stone that strives to align one’s center through love." I own this one and I wear all the time so the ocean never feels far away.

RVCA Khan Woven Cover Up // $49.50 from Swell - It may be cold outside now, but this sunny cover-up will give her something to look forward to or inspire a getaway to warmer weather.

Lifeproof iPhone Case // $79.99 from LifeProof - Let her Instagram, Tweet and Facebook her heart out at the beach without worrying about getting sand or water in her phone. The LifeProof case is dirt, shock and waterproof, making it beach-proof too.

Seashell Wine Glass Charms // $14 from Zealand Boutique - For your Sunday brunch hostess, these adorable seashell glass charms are made for her bubbly-popping household!

2-Person Cotton Hammock // $61 from hamanica - For some, the beach may be farther away than they'd like. Bring a little aloha to their backyard with a gorgeous boho hammock. I love, love, love our hamanica hammock but even if you order now, be warned that it may not get there in time for the holidays. Print out an image of the hammock and gift it with a couple of outdoor throw pillows to let them know it's on it's way.

Sun Bum Moisturizing SPF // $15.99 from SunBum - If she's a sun worshipper, there's one thing she'll never have enough of: sunscreen. Get her the best!

Surfrider Foundation Membership // $49 from Surfrider - The Surfrider Foundation works hard to protect the beaches, waves and oceans she loves the most. This year, with a $49 membership, she'll also get a $50 giftcard to Swell.com!

#FitBlogLA 2013, Part II: All the Swags

If you missed Part I of my #FitBlogLA recap, check it out here!

In case the fact that I had to create an entirely separate post in order to cover all my swag isn't enough of an indication: I made out like a BANDIT at #FitBlogLA.

In between the second and third panels, we stopped for lunch and to visit the sponsor booths. And honestly, whatever I had been expecting, it was nothing like what we were treated to. Most of the sponsor booths had a free gift for us, and I'm not talking about a pen or a tote bag. For example, I started with Dermalogica, where I received a quick skin assessment, a gym kit full of post-workout essentials, and a great workout tank. The moment they handed me my free gift, I realized I was about to celebrate Christmas in October.

My next stop was the Oakley booth where I was both amped and shocked to learn that we were going to get to pick out a free pair of Oakley running sunglasses. We had a choice between the Pulse Polarized and the Given. The Given aviators are especially nice because they added No-Snag nosepads so it doesn't get stuck in your hair, which most aviators do for me. In the end, I went with the Pulse and still can't believe the difference polarized makes.

I had seen the ROXY Outdoor Fitness booth on my way into the event and now that I knew the booths were giving out such amazing swag, I was really excited to stop by and check out their fitness wear line (which I have been interested in ever since I saw Devon of The Tale of a Mermaid rocking some in a blog post this summer). They told us that we could pick out an entire outfit (!!!) to take home. I scored the Atmosphere Jacket in Fuschia and their Get Faster Pant... over $150 worth of new gear! I'll definitely make good use of the jacket during marathon training this winter. Plus, it zips itself up into the pocket for travel, so it's perfect for layering during long runs.

Birkenstock was also there and initially I was kind of blase about stopping by their booth. Birkenstocks? I just don't consider myself a Birkenstock type. Wow, was I wrong. From the moment the rep put this adorable blue Gizeh Thong Sandal on my foot, I was a new fan. I never in a million years would have bought a pair of these on my own because of some of the crunchy stereotypes around Birkenstocks, but now? Now I will wear these until they disintegrate and then buy a new pair. These are the most comfortable and supportive sandals I have ever worn and I'm so happy to have them!

The last sponsor that I was really excited about was Saucony, who were releasing their Guide 7 sneakers a couple of weeks early to #FitBlogLA attendees. This was especially exciting since my Saucony Power Grid Triumph 9s (which I wore during training and the Rock and Roll SD Marathon) are one 60-Mile 3-Day Walk away from retirement. I started breaking the Guide 7s in this week and they will be the shoes I wear during the Carlsbad Marathon! I'm a loyal Saucony girl, so getting my next pair for free was pretty awesome.

And as you can see from the first picture at the top, there was so much more. Hair and beauty products, granola bars, snacks, Crystal Light, headbands and hair ties galore, tank tops, socks, a gift card to Oakley (so maybe I'll get the Given sunglasses anyway!) and the list goes on. The swag was unbelievable and I'm so grateful to Fitness Magazine for having me! Can't wait to start training for Carlsbad in all my new gear. :)

Beanies for Boobies!

I'm so excited today to announce that my 3-Day team captain / work wife and I have filled the SanBriego Etsy shop with a bunch of fall beanies!! We're crocheting more colors and styles at work everyday throughout Breast Cancer Awareness month and selling them in the shop for $16-$22 each. The best part? ALL of the proceeds from these hats will go to charity! We are still a ways away from our team goal of $18,400 and every little bit helps!

So if you're looking for a cozy, unique hat for this fall, please consider supporting the boobies and buying one from us. We'll take custom orders as well! Go buy some Beanies for Boobies!