THE FINE PRINT

Though normally, my motto for weekend dressing is comfy and simple, I must admit, every once in while I really enjoy trading in my weekend uniform for something a bit more glamorous, getting my hair and make up done and spending an evening somewhere fabulous... Luckily, last Saturday was exactly such an occasion. One of my good friends got married and since the ceremony was really formal, I got to dress up and wear what is probably my favorite dress of all time.

I found it on a recent trip to Ted Baker, and snatched it up as  quickly as humanly possible. The funny thing is that I don't wear print all that much. You know me, I am very comfortable in my solid brights or black and white. Yet, every once in a while, when I come across a printed gown as gorgeous as the one I am wearing in today's post, I kick myself for not wearing print more often. 

But of course not all prints are created equal. What I love about this one is how delicate, elegant and feminine it is. Oh, and that stark contrast between vibrant red and soft pink is just out-of-this-world beautiful. Honestly, when I came a cross a dress like this, I find myself wishing I could dress up  everyday... Ah, wouldn't that be fun! Are you guys with me on this one? :) 

P.S. If you happen to be a fan of Ted Baker like I am, CLICK HERE to shop now at 20% off! Happy hunting, Everyone:)!

TED BAKER Nelum maxi dress, Isla patent cross body bag & Neevo pointed toe court shoes | NIALAYA Skyfall collection gold jewel ear cuff 

PERFECT GETAWAY :: RANCHO VALENCIA

I said it before and I'll say it again, even a few days away from the madness make a world of difference. If you follow me on INSTAGRAM, you may have noticed, Emil and I spent a few very relaxing days at Rancho Valencia recently, doing what we love best, i.e. working on our tans, dining and exploring. Though this was our first time staying there, it will definitely be one of many to come for even now, as I am writing this post, I find myself panning our next visit, though perhaps for a slightly longer period next time, so that we can truly explore all the wonderful things Rancho Valencia has to offer.

So, if you are planing to visit, here are a few suggestions:

WHAT TO DO: Taking a yoga class at the Serenity Yoga Pavillon was truly amazing. Fact that my class took place outside at sunset, on a platform literally floating on water, made this one of my most memorable moments ever, not to mention the best yoga session I've ever had!

Nourishing Citrus Drench at the Spa was a truly indulging experience. I arrived at the spa feeling a bit tired and sluggish ( direct result of staying up way past my bedtime, catching up on some work the night before ) and walked out feeling rested and elated, with silky smooth citrus-scented skin. 

Playing a game of croquet: do a know how to play croquet? Absolutely not, but that hasn't stopped me before and most definitely didn't this time around! In fact, I think messing up was the major part of the fun. 

WHAT TO EAT: If you are as obsessed with cheese boards as I am, than you will definitely appreciate artisanal cheese board at Rancho Valencia's Veladora! Paired with a nice glass of wine, it was a perfect finishing touch after every meal. 

Lobster tacos are always good, but great lobster tacos are even better, and lobster tacos at The Pony Room were just that! Absolutely great! 

By the way, if you have any tips on what to do/see at Rancho Valencia, please share them in the comments! 

BANANA REPUBLIC Floral pleated midi skirt, heritage ivory safari blouse | CHLOE The Marcie mini textured leather shoulder bag | GUCCI Candy ankle strap sandals | MICHAEL KORS Brockton chronograph watch { similar here } | BANANA REPUBLIC Tina hat | SHOSHANNA Window eyelet beach shirtdress | ASOS flat gladiator sandals | NIALAYA panther ring, cross over gold ring, panther bangle in gold & white diamonds, stingray bracelet & rose gold & matte onyx bracelet 

SPLASHY FLORAL

So, I'll be the first to admit that head-to-toe floral print ( well almost heat-to-toe ) is probably a bit of a bold choice and surely, if this print was in color, I probably wouldn't have worn these two together. But, and call me crazy here, but I think the black and white color combo, actually makes this floral very wearable. To tone down this look a bit, I kept the rest of the outfit achromatic by adding black and white platforms and my go-to-black-bag for every occasion ( I am sure you are sick of seeing my Boy, but I love him and cannot bear to be without him ). Finally, I just couldn't resist the urge to introduce a little color to this look and since bright nails seemed like the right way to go, I painted my digits in the brightest, prettiest teal ever, or as I like to call it, the best nail color butter LONDON ever created!

Rebecca Taylor Splashy Flower culotte & top | Chanel Boy flap bag in perforated leather | Stella McCartney black Britt shoes | DVF Haley studded sunglasses | Eddie Borgo cone earrings { in silver here } | butter LONDON nail polish in Slapper 

Thank you for reading

& Keep On Smiling,

LOVE,

Annabelle 

FLORAL FIXATION

Good morning and happy Monday, Everyone! Hope you enjoyed your weekend! To say that I've been obsessed with dresses lately would be an understatement. Don't really know what it is about warm weather that brings out my inner dress fanatic, but I can't seem to stop wearing them! Of course this particular shift number from By Johnny is an embodiment of a few of my obsessions, i.e. dresses, floral print, asymmetric hemlines and the color blue.

Though it is the first time it's appearing on this blog, I have to confess, for the past few weeks I've been wearing it non stop. What can I say, it's one of those pieces that works with everything! And I don't know about you guys, but I figure different shoes, bags and accessories paired with the same dress equals a completely new outfit! No?:) 

By Johnny Liya angled shift dress | Schutz Slate sandals | Saint Laurent classic duffle 6 leather bag { in red here, in black here } | BCBGMAXAZRIA Mirrored aviators { similar here & here } | Emporio Armani chronograph stainless steel and silicone watch { similar here & here } | Butter London nail polish in Cheeky Chops

Thank you for reading

& Keep On Smiling,

LOVE, 

Annabelle  

BLOSSOMS & BLUES

Good morning and happy Tuesday, Everyone! Hope your week is going great so far! If you read my blog on regular basis, you know how I feel about all all things blue, especially when it comes to super cute Kate Spade bags at a fraction of a price. Making its second appearance on this blog, I simply can't resist wearing this bag again and again. To be completely honest with you, I've been looking for a perfect blue bag for some time now but I just haven't been able to find exactly what I was looking for. That is of course until I spotted this one on my last trip to Nordstrom Rack. Love the color and size, and considering it was 70% off retail price, I definitely had one of those "Yay!" moments:) 

Now, here comes the best part! Next time you spot an amazing find at your local Nordstrom Rack store and have your own "Yay!" moment, share it on Instagram using hashtag #ShopGenius for a chance to be featured on @NordstromRack Instagram account. 

I will also be selecting 3 favorite #ShopGenius reader submissions to feature on my Instagram at the end of this month! So, happy hunting, Everyone! :) 

Kate Spade handbag via NordstromRack { here & here } | Genetic Denim jeans { also love this option } | IVI Vision Daggerwing sunglasses in Aqua Fade | Equipment signature blouse { similar here } / Zara heels | Cameo The Label blazer { similar here & here } | 

Thank you for reading
& Keep On Smiling,
LOVE,
Annabelle