Summer in Sausalito

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Sunset on the Canal

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A Week in Cozumel

tunic ℅‎  // shorts // avarcas ℅‎  // sunglasses // necklace ℅‎

photos by Miguel Nunez 

Cozumel is the little island off the coast of Playa del Carmen where my family spent the most perfect week earlier this summer! I had never been to Mexico before, so I really didn't know what to expect. From the moment we stepped off the plane, it was such a fun, relaxing time. I thought I'd share my favorite experiences from our trip and what might be helpful if you're heading to Cozumel!   

 

Pack: 

I could have left half the outfits, and packed double the amount of swimsuits, coverups, and these Castell Avarca sandals by The Avarca Store! I wore them in this post, and basically every day of the trip. I could just as easily wear my avarcas to the beach, while we went on long walks through town, or on the few occasions we got dressed up to go out to dinner. They are the most comfortable shoes I have ever worn, and since they are so well made, I know I'll be wearing them for years to come! 

Eat: 

Kondesa for gourmet Mexican food. This was hands down the best restaurant on the island, and we actually ended up going twice! 

Albertos for great tacos and even better salsa! Possibly the best I've ever had! 

Guidos for incredible Italian seafood dishes and gourmet churros. Who would have guessed some of the best Italian food I've ever had would be in Mexico?! 

Coconuts for a super tacky beachside atmosphere, but great fish tacos. Definitely a quintessential Cozumel experience!

Shop: 

With the exception of a few kitschy souvenirs, I would say Cozumel was not the place to find the perfect outfit or great shopping in general. But it was fun to bargain hunt and negotiate at the roadside stands!

Do: 

Cozumel is the perfect place to do nothing. The majority of our trip was spent laying in the sun or floating on the ocean. That being said, if you feel like venturing off the beach, there is still so much to do! 

Quad tour for a unique way to see the the jungle and El Cedral, one of the oldest and most colorful parts of the island! It had poured rain the day before we went quadding, so our tour turned into mudding! We thought it made our trip even more fun.

Ek Balam for a stunning hike and the chance to experience one of the most historical sites in South America. This Mayan pyramid still (surprisingly) allows the public to climb all the way to the top. It is definitely a little sketchy, but the views of the jungle are stunning. It is so worth the ferry ride to the mainland and a long drive to get there. 

Snorkel tour for a boat ride to the coral reefs and the brightest blue water. On our trip, we saw tons of beautiful fish and even got less than ten feet away from a little shark! Equally exciting and terrifying!

San Gervasico for a walk through an ancient Mayan city. I would definitely recommend spending a few extra pesos to have a tour guide walk you through the park and explain the significance of each site. 

PS: more posts from Cozumel here and here 

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One Year Ago // NYC

dress (similar) // hat // shoes 

photos by Kevin Kim 

I cannot believe that it has been an entire year since I was in New York City shooting with Kevin Kim. If you’ve been reading Practically Imperfect for a while now, you may remember that Kevin and I have the coolest story of how we became friends! We randomly met at the Arc De Triomphe in Paris and stayed in touch when I visited New York later that summer. I still smile about what a small world it truly is. This shoot from the Brooklyn Bridge has remained one of my favorites of all time, and I realized that though I’ve shared various photos wearing this outfit (see here, here, and here), I never shared the full outfit post. So today, exactly a year after I shot this look, I’m sharing this outfit as a throwback! This maxi dress and hat combination is such a bold, fun look. Who knew that neutrals could make such a statement? Though Anthropologie no longer carries this exact dress, I found a few pretty similar ones and linked them below. And as always, my all time favorite hat that I post about way too much can be found at Nordstrom. As I type up this post, my heart kind of breaks that I won’t be in NYC this summer. That city is truly magical, especially during the summertime. While I was in DC last week, I was so tempted to take the 3 hour train ride into NYC for the day! I wasn’t able to coordinate a quick trip into the city, but looking through these photos gave me a little piece of the city that I love so much.

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Cozumel

dress c/o // sandals c/o

photos by Miguel Nunez 

I'm so excited to be sharing my first post from Cozumel, Mexico today. Spending time on this beautiful island has been the most amazing way to kick off my summer. I feel like we've had the perfect balance of chill days on the beach and busy days exploring! So far, I have been able to snorkel in the beautiful bright blue water, climb up an ancient Mayan pyramid, repel into an underground cavern, and also shoot a few travel looks with a local photographer! I'm so glad Miguel and I could shoot together while I was visiting Cozumel! He has been living on the island for over 20 years and knew all the best places to shoot! This light and breezy dress was perfect for Cozumel's hot and humid weather. The heat here is no joke, so I was so thankful for the light linen fabric and flowy fit. I loved the unique stitching on the top too! Shooting this look with Miguel was so fun and felt like a new way for me to see the island. Between the heat, humidity, and accidentally stepping in a pile of fire ants (oops), we still managed to have a great time shooting! If you are ever visiting Cozumel and looking for a photographer, I couldn't reccomend Miguel Nunez more!

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Something About That Hat

dress (similar) //hat//necklace c/o//sandals (similar)

photos by Angelika Johns

I am done with finals, friends! I repeat, I am done with finals! Today I'm packing up my dorm and saying goodbye to LA for the next few months. I'm so excited to welcome summer by going on a few trips, starting a new job, taking a class at my community college (ugh), and working with some awesome brands on the blog. Wow, typing that list out made me realize that it's shaping up to be a pretty busy summer. I thrive off of staying busy, but I'm sure that I'll make time to spend a few days doing absolutely nothing. I always do! When Angelika and I took these photos, it was the first day that it really felt like summertime. Nothing screams summer more than bright sunshine, a fun swing dress, and this hat! I never thought I was a hat wearing kind of girl, but lately I've been obsessed! Something about that hat makes me feel so confident. I've had a black one for a while, and I loved it so much that I recently got the same exact one in a different color! Like I said... obsessed. Need more proof? See posts here, here, and here. Anyway, I know most people are already well into their summer vacations (and to be honest I've been in a summer state of mind for weeks now), but it feels great that it's officially summer now. Happy summer! 

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Miles Apart, Close at Heart

Today is a very special day because one of my very best friends turns 19! My and Mandy's friendship is so unique and special. We happened to meet a few summers ago during a trip to NYC and completely hit it off. Thanks to countless letters, calls, texts, and snapchats, we were able to build our friendship even while living across the country. Mandy and I are both so different, but really get each other. She has been a source of endless support and encouragement (and sass!) in my life, especially when it comes to blogging. We started our blogs around the same time and I can't even express how incredible it has been to be on this journey together! We've been there for each other to brainstorm new ideas, work through tough decisions, and celebrate exciting milestones.

Celebrating Mandy's birthday today has me missing her more than ever and reminiscing on when we spent a whole week together here in California. It was so fun to have this North Carolina girl visit me on the West Coast. We had the best time hanging out in my hometown, exploring San Francisco, and soaking up the sun in Lake Tahoe, but I think my very favorite moment of Mandy's trip was seeing Mandy try In N Out for the first time. It must have been 2am, she was delirious from the time change, and we were both just cracking up throughout the entire meal. It's always those funny little memories that end up being the most meaningful. Happy birthday to my joyful, passionate, and always quirky blogging bestie! Sending so much love today and everyday! We may be miles apart, but Mandy and I will always be close at heart! 

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Home Is Wherever I'm With Them

Well, I've been at UCLA for a month now! And though it sometimes still feels like I'm at summer camp, it's safe to say I'm well into the school year. It's crazy that it's already time to start studying for midterms! The thought of how fast time is going by really just makes me miss summer. This summer was the adventure of a lifetime, and I feel so lucky to have spent it with the ones I love most. I thought it would be fun for my family to put a video together and add little clips as we traveled. We are all kind of strange and like to think we're funny, so obviously we had to make a music video to capture all of the adventures! My parents and brother are seriously my best friends, and I find myself watching this video whenever I'm missing them and the sunshine they bring to my day! My family may be spread out right now, but home is wherever I'm with them. :)

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Preppy in the Park {Collaboration}

shirt//skirt (similar)///belt//heels (similar)//necklace//bangle//purse

The few days I spent in New York last week were filled with new memories, incredible opportunities, and endless inspiration. Who would've ever guessed that a "work trip" could be so fun! To start off, I thought I'd share what I wore on Day 2 of Live Smart NYC. I wanted to wear something professional, yet fun and comfortable. This was one of those outfits that looked way fancier than it felt. A soft tee and breezy skirt was especially nice since it was so humid. After the conference, a few of us bloggers decided to stroll through Central Park, take a few pictures, and (of course) stop for ice cream. Honestly, my Smart Girls Group friends are just my kind of people. Though we may be spread throughout the country, this is the one time of year when many of us are able to come together to share our passions, have so much fun, and shamelessly Instagram it all! I'm already missing these girls so much and am counting down the days until next year. Be sure to check out what Caroline, Frannie, and Renee wore on Day 2 of Live Smart NYC! 

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