Europe bound!

(Rojas jumper, secondhand black tee, Boos and Besito bow necklace, Dolce Vita heels, BR necklace worn as bracelet, Kimski gator ring)

Thank you everyone for the early birthday wishes! I'll be sure to post pics of my bday outfit when the time comes in early September. It's been so hot lately that I busted out my little blue jumper to wear while exploring L.A. one scorching Sunday. Right now though, I need some info on the weather in two faraway cities...London and Paris!!! If any of my fellow bloggers live over there, please let me know what to pack and where to go shopping because I just received some amazing news. Later this month, I'll be visiting London and Paris for eight days for work reasons! Whenever I get a free moment, I know I'll be sneaking over to Topshop to buy clothes or ducking into a boulangerie to snack on pastries. I can hardly believe I'll be traveling to these two fabulous cities in just a few weeks. It's thrilling!

Packing tips! Shopping recommendations! Anything would be appreciated!!

Spotlight On: Savee Couture's gold yellow dress

In the search for my 25th birthday dress, I came across Savee Couture's slinky gold yellow number. I blogged about their floral mini last year, but this dress stuck out to me because of its glorious amber-yellow hue. I'm a sucker for anything colorful, as you all know (just scroll down!), and I love the challenge of turning a sexy dress into something that's more my style. One of Ashley Olsen's quotes from July 2005 Harper's Bazaar always sticks with me: "If you look at pictures of the two of us walking down the street, you know we're not trying to look like sex symbols. My idea of the highest compliment is 'adorable.'" I totally agree with her!

I'd love to see this dress paired with a cluster of chunky Iosselliani goth-inspired necklaces, cage heels and a dramatic, perfectly tailored blazer. It's difficult to tell in the picture, but there is a gold wire snake twisted around the neckline which lends itself perfectly for that kind of look! How would you style this dress??

Check out more pieces by Savee Couture here!

Summer, so far

(Rory Beca mini, Zara shoes & blazer, F21 tank, vintage cuff, random sunglasses)

Scoops of banana dulce de leche ice cream. Teeny shredded shorts. Iced Mexican coffee. Seagulls. Baby skunks. Homemade lemonade. Fuschia nail polish. Braided hair. Kumquat mojitos. Neon. Barely there tees. Alfresco dining. White walls. Reality television. Ferris wheels. Overripe mangos. Sweaty knees. Long shadows. Shoulder-baring tanks. Pink sunglasses.

Red, white, and blue

(Ralph Lauren ruffled top, Levi's shorts, Bonnibel sandals, Alex & Chloe triangle earrings)

I wear red, white, and blue every fourth of July. It's my little patriotic tradition, because I love holidays and the excuse to get dressed up according to a special theme. It's the only July 4th tradition I cherish, as every year finds me in a different place on America's birthday. Last year, I was en route or already in New York City while the year before, I was celebrating from afar in rural Japan, and the year before that, in Los Angeles where we bought sparklers from a street vendor and lit them up at night. This year, I spent the holiday in San Diego, eating barbeque and fresh watermelon right by the beach. Who knows where I'll be next July 4th? I only hope it's someplace exciting, and warm, and maybe even far away... I'll be sure to pack my red, white, and blue before I leave.

Hope everyone had a wonderful (belated) fourth of July!