No Loitering

School’s out, so I figured the local elementary school would be a perfect location for photos this summer. However, the school has taken this opportunity to do some construction and the buildings are all fenced off. My second option was this quiet spot near the back entrance to the athletic field. Instead of trespassing, I’m just loitering. Don’t tell the police.


Shirt, Merona (thrifted). Skirt, Carole Little (thrifted). Shoes, thrifted. Sunglasses, Target. Necklace, Zad. Belt, Hyde Collection. Bracelets, thrifted, Garden of the Gods gift shop, and Tala’s Distant Treasures. Bag, Charming Charlie.

Sunny Feet

Back to the Sacramento sunshine, today!

These yellow shoes are not comfortable, but I knew it wouldn’t be too hot (only 84 degrees) and that I didn’t have a lot of walking on my day’s route. It was the perfect opportunity to wear a little sunshine on my feet.


Shirt, Rockies (consignment). Pants, Kenar. Shoes, Lela Rose for Payless. Sunglasses, Target. Earrings, Girlshop. Necklace and belt, thrifted. Bag, Merona.

Gray City

I spent a gray day in a gray city under gray skies. Admittedly, the lack of sunshine made me a little grumpy. I stomped up and down the streets with a gray look on my face.


Vest, Charlotte Russe. Dress, Diane von Furstenberg (consignment). Shoes, Prabal Gurung for Target. Earrings, Capsule by Cara. Brooch, vintage and thrifted. Bag, thrifted.

I took advantage of my Union Square location to visit two stores we don’t have in Sacramento: Zara and American Apparel. I found both hugely disappointing and didn’t buy a thing. I consoled myself with a bowl of tofu pho. There’s nothing like hot soup to lift those gray spirits!

For Days

There’s nothing like a short skirt and nude pumps to create the illusion of legs for days.


Shirt, Forever 21. Skirt, J Crew (consignment). Shoes, Enzo Angiolini. Sunglasses, Target. Necklace, heirloom. Rings, heirloom, vintage, and/or thrifted. Bag, Melie Bianco. Belt, consignment.

Repairs

I’m pretty sure this dress is homemade. It has no tags and the seams are unfinished. Now it looks even less factory-made because I repaired a seam with some of the largest, most uneven stitches you’ve ever seen. But it’s wearable. And no one will ever see my craptastic sewing* since I always cover that particular seam with a belt or knotted shirt.


Shirt, Christopher & Banks (thrifted). Dress, swap. Shoes, Seychelles. Bag, Melie Bianco.


*Yes, I have a sewing machine. But someone too lazy to evenly hand-stitch a six-inch stretch is also too lazy to pull out the sewing machine, set it up, relearn how to thread it, and properly repair the seam.

Dirt

Earth colors make a simple outfit. And I needed simple on hot, dry Friday.


Blouse, French Connection (thrifted). Skirt, Andre Oliver (thrifted and shortened). Shoes, Eileen Fisher (consignment). Earrings, Claire’s. Bag, Caprice (thrifted and vintage).

Business Boho

Is Business Boho an actual dress code? Probably not. But if it were, I imagine it would look something like this:


Dress, Parker. Vest, vintage. Shoes, Seychelle’s. Sunglasses, Target. Necklaces, vintage. Bag, Liz Claiborne (thrifted and gifted).

New Wrap

Yesterday, I wore my oldest wrap dress. Today, I wore my newest.


Dress, Diane von Furstenberg (consignment). Tunic (worn beneath dress), Wet Seal. Shoes, thrifted. Necklace, Stella & Dot. Bracelets, thrifted and Tala’s Distant Treasures. Bag, Canvas.

This dress is a size too small, so I’m prompted to layer for modesty. (Honestly, I probably would have layered even if it were the right size.) The fabric is superior to my Target wrap dress (silk vs polyester jersey). I’ll let you know in seven years if it gets the same level of wear.

Old Wrap

This Target wrap dress is one of the oldest things in my closet. Sometimes it starts to feel a little played out - and then I am inspired to pattern mix with something new!


Dress, Merona. Shirt, Ambiance Apparel (thrifted). Shoes, Seychelle’s. Sunglasses, Target. Earrings, Vintage. Bag, Melie Bianco.


Here’s the dress’ first appearance on the blog, over seven years ago!


The fabric is pilling a little, but it’s held up very well for an inexpensive dress. (And those are the Linea Paolo shoes I wore just last week. Also a great cost per wear item.)

Sporty Sunday: Hiking Winnemucca - Round Top Lakes Loop

This is the second hike to get five out of five stars, but I’d like to give it 5++ stars. This hike REALLY has it all: forest, streams, lakes, granite, flowers, views, elevation, a loop route, and mining relics. The first three miles are all about the natural beauty. The wildflower show is at various stages depending on the slope aspect. We had a chance to see both the early and later bloomers. Winnemucca and Round Top lakes are icy jewels cupped by incredible peaks. From the 9400 foot saddle just before Round Top lake, you can almost see Lake Tahoe. (Okay, not really, but you can see Freel Peak, which overlooks Lake Tahoe.)

At almost four miles, the remains of the Lost Cabin Mine are a wonderful diversion on the downhill slope. The best part of the mine is a secret: cross the stream to explore the mine’s garbage pit, brimming with remnants of quaint glass jugs and odd bits of metal. It will bring out the historian in you. (NOT a dog-friendly addition to your trip. Broken glass + paws = sad dog face. My pictures of the trash are from October 2012, pre-Jasper.)


This hike isn’t usually snow-free until mid-July, so I think most local hikers haven’t considered this trail open yet for the season. Consequently, we had it almost to ourselves! Be aware, traffic is heavy during the summer months. For a wilderness experience, the best time to hike is now or in the fall.

Source: Evans, Stephen L. "Winnemucca - Round Top Lakes Loop" Top Trails Sacramento. 4th ed. Birmingham: Wilderness, 2012. Print.

Length: 4.74 miles

Water: The snowpack is still melting and runoff is evident. Both lakes are full and so are the streams.

Use: Light. During prime hiking season, this trail is heavily used.

Differences from published description: There is a $5 use fee.

Jasper’s rating: 5 paws out of 5.

Sporty Sunday is a recurring feature in which I share my fitness routine and offer and solicit advice. While this content might seem a little out of place in an outfit diary, a healthy, strong body is the foundation of my wardrobe. I hope to inspire my readers to be fit as well as stylish!

Wrists and Ankles

I’ll happily flounce about in sleeveless tops and skirts that hid at mid-thigh, but there’s something to be said for an outfit that only exposing one’s wrists and ankles. In lightweight fabrics, on a breezy day, it’s just as comfortable as letting it all hang out. (But I must admit that a waist-cinching belt is a sweat trap.)


Shirt, Forever 21. Skirt, Carole Little (thrifted). Shoes, Seychelles. Sunglasses, Target. Earrings, vintage. Bracelets, Tala’s Distant Treasures. Belt, Express. Bag, Merona.

Cat Garden

One of the features that sold us on our house is the enclosed atrium. It is surrounded on all four sides by the house, but is open to the sky and ground. The guest bedroom window looks into the space and it is accessible through a sliding glass door on the opposite wall.

It was always our plan to turn this into a cat garden, but we didn’t get around to it until 18 months later. We removed the gravel and existing vegetation and repaved in slate stones and river rock. A fountain sits in one corner and the concrete bench we didn’t mean to move from Cincinnati is placed along one wall. All the plants are cat-friendly: apple mint, corsican mint, wheat grass, catmint, lemon thyme, lemon balm, lemon grass, burros tail, and mother fern. The kitties can access the space at any time through a flap and are often in there nibbling, napping, or drinking from the fountain.


Shirt, Forever 21. Skirt, Body by Victoria. Shoes, Enzo Angiolini. Earrings, Girl Props. Sunglasses, Target. Necklace, vintage gift. Bracelets, Claire’s and gift. Bag, Merona.

The cat garden really isn’t big enough for outfit pictures, so I am wearing the cat and garden. (And a little bird to entertain the kitties.) Glimpses of the cat garden at the bottom of this post...