Festive Carnival Dress

I am in love with this dress I ordered from Ruche before my trip.  I know it can be hot and humid in NY, so I tested it out on a warm day in LA.  It is lightweight and I hope to be wearing it on Coney Island next week!  We leave tonight!!!

{Dress: Ruche Festive Carnival Dress, Bag: Anthropologie}

Friday's Letters

Dear Readers, I'm sorry for the solemn post yesterday, but sometimes a girl just has to share what is on her heart.  Also, I recently changed my blog a bit and added a "banner" and lightened the color to fit my summer mood--a peachy sherbet. Please let me know what you think as I'm not sure yet if I like it.
Dear State of California, Please stop cutting education budgets.  Isn't education at least somewhat important?? I mean....really?!?!
Dear College Degree and Teaching Credential, I am so sorry that you feel useless right now, I really am.  But I promise, I am trying.
Dear Friends, Thank you for the fun times this week and good conversations...and for being real with me yet encouraging me to love this life I am blessed to have.
Dear Boston, See you Sunday!!! I am so excited and cannot believe we are meeting for the first time.

Dear NY, See you Tuesday! The fact that we have never met is slightly alarming considering you stole my best friend over a year ago now.  Thanks for letting us all hang out for a bit this week, perhaps you will steal Jon, Sebas and me as well sometime soon? Perhaps ;)

Dear Jazz Age Lawn Party, The fact that you exist makes me beyond giddy. The 1920's are my favorite era and with the upcoming Great Gatsby remake not coming out until Christmas, you will have to hold me over.
Dear Husband, Thanks for being such a rad dude. That is all for now

Pictures via Pinterest

Update&Confessions

This post is going to be more personal than usual, but this is what is on my mind (a lot lately).
At the end of April, I challenged myself to a health and fitness challenge.  Here I am a little over a month later, 7 lbs lighter, more toned and I lost 1/2 inch in both my waist and hips measurements! I am super pleased with my results thus far and have been further inspired to continue with the physical challenge, but would like to move inward a bit.
Within this last year there have been so many changes in my life.  I got married, moved to LA, and had visions of what my life would be like up here.  Well, I am just going to say it.  I have been struggling with an identity crisis.  Not easy to admit (especially on the internet) but it is honest.  Growing up I have always had many different interests and things I enjoy doing, but I knew I was going to be a teacher.  When I was 18-20, I continued going to school full-time, worked part-time and pursued modeling for a bit.  When faced with a choice to sign with an agency (they asked me for full availability in which I would not be able to be a full-

time student) or continue in school, I chose school.  After all, I was taught that a college degree was incredibly important and no matter what I wanted to do after, if I had a degree I would be set.  This was 2004, pre-recession.  Here I am now in 2012, almost 27 years old, with both a BA in History and a CA Teaching Credential, serving at a restaurant with very little knowledge of job skills other than food and beverage, hospitality or teaching.  Modeling is something I would like to pursue again as I feel like I never really took the chance before, but I am older, curvier and in a shrinking market.  I have applied at over 100 different schools in LA/OC area and have only gotten 3 interviews total, and have not been hired.
Last week I got "let go" of one of my jobs for the first time in my life--I have always taken pride in my work and have never been written up or got a bad review, but I was fired for a reason I was not made aware of (this was actually a blessing in disguise as this job was giving me anxiety and I got very sick twice within my month employment there).  It is so easy to get discouraged by circumstances.  I have no idea what I am supposed to be doing right now.  On Saturday my husband and I are going to Boston and NY for a week (a long overdue but much anticipated vacation).  My challenge to myself is not to over think my life and lack of career but to enjoy these incredible cities and all they have to offer with our friends.   When I come back, I know these issues will still be here, but sometimes a change of perspective is required to produce results.

Pictures via Pinterest

Perch{ed above the city} with Kat

On Monday my dear friend Kat came to visit me and we had some much needed girl time just catching up with delicious drinks and bites.  She had not yet been to Perch downtown and although I had been there awhile back with another dear friend, it was a good reminder of what a great spot it is and how breathtaking the city can be.

The sun kept peeking out from behind the June gloom which covered Southern California that day and it was just perfect.  They have "Aperitif Hour" M-F 4-6 with a newly expanded bites menu with Charcuterie, Fromage, Truffle Fries, Truffle Mac and Cheese and Sliders (just to name a few items).  We had just eaten but we couldn't resist the Truffle Fries (we are suckers for anything with truffle oil, salt or cheese).  And yes, you guessed it: delicious! We also tried their cocktails, Jacques Collins (like a Tom Collins) and French 76, followed by their Royals (sparkling wine with flavored liqueurs).

Kat just moved up to LA to fully pursue her dream as a photo journalist and she is connecting her new blog to her developing career.  Follow her here (she is so talented)!

Tuesday Tunes: Crocodiles

Crocodiles are a band I have been listening to a lot lately.  Their music is considered to be "noise pop"and they are from San Diego (as are many bands I have been listening to lately).  The music project was started by Charles Rowell and Brandon Welchez (the latter is married to Dee Dee from the Dum Dum Girls) and is now a full five piece.  Crocodiles remind me of The Jesus and Mary Chain meets Velvet Underground meets Moving Units with elements of lo-fi noise, pop, shoegaze and slightly "dance-y".  My husband got to play at a music festival in Austin last year which they also played at and said they were the best show he has ever seen.  Their new EP, Endless Flowers comes out today and I am looking forward to finally getting to see them when they play again in LA (they are opening for The Temper Trap next Friday, June 15 but I will be out of town).

My Polyvore+Prius Board

I found this contest through one of my favorite blogs, Natalie Off Duty. It is fun to go on and create your own inspiration board AND simultaneously enter a contest to win tickets to Outside Lands Music Festival in SF. Create your own board and share the link in the comments--it is fun to see what everyone chooses!

My style+prius by alisia-e featuring sleeveless tops

Pleated dress, €23
The Addison Story sleeveless top, $118
Notify embroidered jacket, £265
Side zip pants, $65
Marc by Marc Jacobs leather shoes, £320
Proenza Schouler leather handbag, $2,030
Ray-Ban round metal sunglasses, $212

My Fair Lady

For reasons unknown to me, I am more of a tomboy in that I am much more comfortable in androgynous garb or pants/shorts and flats then in dresses or heels.  However, at the request of my husband, I am making an effort to wear dresses and skirts much more often then before.  For some reason, they make me feel more dignified and wearing them even improves my posture subconsciously.  I feel more proper and feminine and the crazy thing is, I actually like it. 

Dress: Anthropologie (last season),
bag: Anthropologie (last season), shoes: U/O