The week (or so) in pictures

Happy belated birthday, America! Hopefully you all had a wonderful 4th. I spent the day at the beach with friends, followed by fireworks in the evening at the country club. Minus a handful of mosquito bites, the day couldn't of gone any better.

It's really starting to warm up here. This is our first summer in our home and can I just say, WOW! I really took A/C for granted. Practically all the walls in our house are wood-paneled so on a hot summer day, it can feel like a sauna in here. Luckily, we're close to the beach and if we open up some windows, we can catch a nice ocean breeze here and there that cools us off quickly.

Anyway, here is what I've been up to lately in pictures:

4th of July beach party:

Galaxy fireworks:

Perfecting my latte art:

Trying to pick out a friendship bracelet at a booth at Fiesta del Sol, getting extremely overwhelmed, and walking away empty-handed:

Popping in at a pet-store on a thrifting day just to visit:

A picnic with a dear friend:

Tracking the growth of my "camel-toe" cactus:

Owning at darts (for once):

A new tattoo (more pictures to come):

Eavesdropping on a conference call:

Striking a pose before watching MC Yogi at the World Beat Center in Balboa Park.

So that's what's been going on lately.

Tonight, I'm taking Noel to the Casbah to see Ms. Anya Marina. I've been feeling under the weather but I'm not going to let that stop me from getting down and boogie-ing!

Have a lovely evening!

23 Candles

My birthday really snuck up on me this year. Tomorrow, I will be turning 23-years-old. (23 on the 23rd...that's pretty cool, right?) I'm keeping things quiet this year - no party, no cake - just a quiet dinner at one of my favorite restaurants with my parents and my boyfriend.

Here is my birthday wish-list:

A dress-form, preferably vintage or vintage-looking. For awhile now, I have been thinking about the model vs. mannequin debate. The benefit of displaying clothing on a model is that you can style the whole outfit. However, seeing a tall, thin, brunette model clothing might steer women with different hair color, skin tones, and body types away. Displaying clothing on a dress-form or a mannequin is advantageous because it neutralizes the garment. I want to try out both methods before I take a side. If the whole dress-form thing doesn't work out in the end, at least it would look nice in my bedroom.

This dress. Over the past month, I have stopped by the Free People boutique to simply look at this dress - to touch, to marvel, to pine. Last week, I was finally convinced - I had to have it (best friends are good for convincing you to just suck it up and buy yourself a present). I went back to Free People only hours after I had reached the decision that this dress would be mine, but they had SOLD OUT! I know I can still get it online... there is something so satisfying about actually going to a store, purchasing an item, and walking out with it in your hand. Might have to do with a little thing we all know as instant gratification.

A bicycle. Specifically a beach cruiser - a really, really pretty one. Believe it or not, but I have never had my own bicycle. The only bicycles I have ever ridden were my brother's hand-me-downs. When I was a little girl, I always fantasized about a beautiful bicycle I could call my own - one with a basket and streamers. I might be a little older now, but it's never too late to make your dreams come true.

Friendship bracelets. Mark my words, these are making a HUGE comeback. I just need to make some more friends first (the more friends, THE MORE FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS).