Palm Spring Windmills: Thankful for New Perspectives and Style Choices

Sunnies: Similar / Hoops: Dogeared on Amazon / Tissue Turtleneck: Similar / Velvet Puffer Jacket: Abercrombie / Embroidered Jeans: Abercrombie (wearing size long) / Boots: The Harper, by Tecovas (c/o)

My hotel gift shop sunnies are making another debut on the blog. See dad, I’m wearing them again, thanks for buying them for me! I am a huge sunglass lover, you maybe noticed from my trip to Palm Springs.

So while in Palm Springs we also decided to check out the windmills. It’s something I see all the time driving to CA from AZ and a spot I’ve known growing up (I’m a California native) but we’ve never stopped to look at them. I mean, until you’re a blogger. In that case, you stop and take a photo of freaking everything and try to make it look cool. LOL.

I owe so much of where I am today because of Benjamin. I remember years ago I’d be so frustrated at how much I need help with the blog, photo taking, and I couldn’t take photo of myself, obviously. (I have, and it takes 3x as long) and I complained, Ugh, these bloggers have husbands who help them! In that case, he said, “Well teach me, I’ll help.” And here we are.

One of my favorite things I love about my husband is his teachable spirit. I mean that in a way that he’s always wanting to learn what makes people happier (like me) and how to properly do things to preferences (like mine, lol).

I realize that just sounded I love him for all the things he does for me hahahaha, that’s not entirely true or what I’m trying to say. He’s also great at learning what it takes to be better at his medical device job, in bible study how to be a great husband, Christian, human. If I tell him I like towels folded a certain way or teach him how to do something, he just does it. He watches, nods and he’s cool with it. Doesn’t mean he does it 100% but he’s willing to give it a listen and if he remembers, try it. He’s not prideful, he’s incredibly patient and he has this personality that’s so chill that it keeps me from turning into a hot headed fireball when I’m dramatizing the stress of my life – oh my poor life filled with blogging and running my own business.

“Hey, you have a pretty sweet gig, you get to do this when you want and work from home,” he tells me over my shoulder. I remember so many times I’d be freaking out before a shoot and he’d just listen to me flip out for a good 30 minutes and then once I calmed down I realized what a maniac I sounded like and he just resumed normalcy like no big deal. I like that he just lets me be, it’s like he knows me so well, after almost being married 7 years. Woah 7 years, The longest I’ve even dated someone was over two years. 7 years is like almost all of high school and college. Congratulations to us, or him, lol.

I needed a velvet pink puffer jacket. I’ve worn it a dozen times already so the cost per wear is justified. I’m wearing size small but I’ve been seeing celebs wear oversized jackets and I could totally do that! And after swearing I disliked turtlenecks I found two in my closet that I needed to wear for layering and I realized I don’t mind them as long as they are loose and don’t choke me. I do love mock necks though.

I’ve discovered something a bit interesting regarding my style these past few months, right before we hit fall.

I stopped looking at what everyone else was wearing and just shopped at my favorite stores and bought what I wanted. I decided on this after I had seen this one color block sweater that kept being posted from the Nordstrom Half Yearly sale. I wanted it too, it was sold out, then suddenly I saw it everywhere on every influencer who was influenced by another influencer and I was like, ok does everyone like that sweater or is it just that I thought I needed to have it?

I also wasn’t sure if that even fit my personality as much as it would look incredible in a photo (and it does). Instead I just started going online more, looking at outfits and seeing what stood out to me and felt very, me. My style has evolved a lot and I’ll also just say it has a lot to do with trends and what’s in stores because even years ago I wouldn’t tell you that was my style but what was just around in the stores – I can sew but I’m not going to make my own clothes.

Now when I look at my closet I feel much happier about what I see in there and when I reach for so and so item. I don’t know any influencer who would tell you not to be influenced by them, but I just did that, haha. I just want to say if you aren’t sure what your style is, just start to look on your own, and if you like someone’s style, then know that and see what they are wearing and follow along. I make nickels on linking to stuff so no pressure here. I’m just glad you are here.

I just buy what I like, and share what I want. I also think I can change up what I feel like wearing, like sometimes I want to wear leggings with bodysuits and stiletto heels and other times I can wear a flowy dress and be coastal boho, or I’m in all neon bright colors with Lilly Pulitzer. It just depends on my mood and occasion but as long as I feel good in it, and I feel like me, that’s all that matters. Fashion is SO fun. Last night I dragged Benjamin to The Container Store (I already went earlier that day) and Forever 21 and as I walked around looking for something in particular I said, “I am so glad I am a girl, seriously I would die if I was a guy, it’s so fun look at all this girly stuff,” and he just laughed.

And these embroidered jeans, the floral print just killed me when I saw it. I got them in tall so they would be at my ankles and not mid-calf (always read those inseams!)

Tecovas sent over these handmade boots, The Harper, so pretty! I then gave away my old cowboy boots I found at an antique store for $20 (it also kinda hurt my heel because it wasn’t a boot I wore in) and another pair of knee high boots because it’s a good thing to replace and this time I replaced 2!

I liked these because I’m not a huge cowboy boot wearer and didn’t want it to look fully cowboy-like. These pretty boots were sleek and had an equestrian feel – they also come in black. They are affordable, gorgeous hand crafted boots, check them out here. Might be a great upgrade for you and a gift too.

After this quick shoot we visited Elvis’ Honeymoon House for a hot second. I couldn’t figure out how to open the door (it was weird you guys) and then someone opened it for us and we weren’t sure if we had to get tickets and there was a private tour going on so we just creeped around and then left to take the tramway to the top for dinner. I tell you when the weather is good as in, not 120 degrees, I am so much happier to take photos. And when I’m not in Phoenix, I feel so much more inspired as a photographer and blogger to capture images for the blog. It’s harder to stay motivated in the same place sometimes.

If you’re reading, you may have noticed there are now “related” posts at the end of these posts – I legit have no idea how some of these posts are related. Many of them go back to before I was considered a blogger and I just blogged! I read some of them and they always make me a little sad, a bit tenderhearted. I think while I was undoubtedly happy, there was some sadness there too, of searching, wondering, hoping and discovery. Life is so steady, secure, full and busy (I don’t like that word used pridefully but the reality is, I am right now and that’s OK) and it makes me realize that’s how great artists write epic love songs, the pain!

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather. – John Ruskin

I’m a writer, and painful moments often trigger the best posts to share (and I also see they are the top visited posts to this day). I know I’ve been telling you that I have some deeper posts to share but since it’s the holidays this is such a joyous time that I’m not sure when to hit publish. I look at the editorial calendar and I’m like hm, that’s right around Christmas, that’s not a joyful post, that’s kind of sad (don’t post it) or, everyone is so busy now through the holidays they probably won’t spend much time reading about our decision about _____ (maybe wait until the new year?).

Ah, so many thoughts, and this might be the longest personal/style post but I like to not edit myself. I didn’t edit much of myself when I was blogging five years ago, so let’s keep it that way.

Just imagine becoming the way you used to be as a very young child, before you understood the meaning of any word, before opinions took over your mind. The real you is loving, joyful, and free. The real you is just like a flower, just like the wind, just like the ocean, just like the sun. – Don Miguel Ruiz

COWBOY BOOTS FOR MY DAD