Vacation: Day One

So I haven't really updated on here in a while due to a lot of things going on with my family right now and all of the preparations for my vacation. I'm finally here in Sarasota though and the friend I'm staying with is at work so I figured now would be a good time to let you guys know I'm still alive. Let me go ahead and start off by saying I finally got a new camera so, as much as I love instagram pictures, get ready for some real camera shots. I didn't get anything too special, just a simple point and shoot that fits in my purse or pocket for daily use and has a few little features I thought I were interesting. It's a Canon PowerShot Elph 100 HS in case anyone was wondering.

Anyway here are a few pictures from yesterday which was the first day of my vacation.

This isn't so much from yesterday as it is more of an aftermath shot. I was messing around with the settings on my camera and the picture ended up not doing the highlighter red color of my terrible sunburn any justice at all. I feel like I'm wrapped up in a blanket made of fire.

Alright, I lied, these aren't really pictures from my first day of vacation. This is another picture I took in bed while watching How Do I Look? The magazine I haven't even flipped through because I want to save it for when I can hit the pool again. The book is awesome. I'm only like on chapter two but I'm already really into it. I haven't seen the movie yet (shocking since my favorites star in it) but I really want to as soon as I finish reading the book. I also started reading Are You There Vodka, It's me Chelsea yesterday and I've gotten such a kick out of it. I'm reading all of her books while I'm here. Her books are the perfect light summer reading to put you in a good mood while you sip margaritas and tan.

These are the cupcakes Sara and I thought we wanted to eat yesterday. Both of us just sort of picked at our frosting and then ended up going to CVS at like one in the morning to buy chips. Whole Foods always has the most adorable and delicious looking cupcakes but then you go to eat them and they're giant and too sweet and overwhelming. We'll never learn though. We just keep buying them.

This is my buddy Jude. She hangs out with me while Sara's babysitting. I feel bad because I've been yelling at her since yesterday to not get too close because she's very affectionate and ends up clawing at my fire skin and then I want to cry.

That's Sara with the little girls she babysits. They met me at the pool yesterday which resulted in a my tan time being cut in half which was a blessing in disguise. The back half of me is totally fine. Not even lightly burned. I'm sure this will look really weird once the red goes away and from the back I'm too white but at least, for now, I can sit. The girls were surprisingly not terrible. I'm usually not good with children because I have no patience for them but the girls were generally sweet. I'm pretty sure they were only well behaved because Sara told them that I hate kids and wouldn't be there friend unless they were good because I have heard some serious horror stories about them.

Sara and I also took Jasmine, the oldest of the girls she's babysitting, out to dinner last night. Sara's in the Big Brother Big Sister program and she's had Jasmine for like two years now. The girls were pretty good while we were at the pool but fast forward a hours and dinner wasn't as simple. There was a lot of singing on her part and it was kind of annoying. Sara and I decided to split the most delicious drink ever for dessert though and that sort of made up for it.

Tonight we might go out and maybe see a movie and get some drinks or something. Tomorrow will hopefully be a Dinsey day. We need to decide on whether we want to see Nelly or Third Eye Blind at Universal so we can figure out which Saturday to go where. I still have like nine days of vacation left and I'm already dreading it ending. My friend should be getting home in just over an hour so I think I'll go deplete her Lush stash and take a bubble bath so I can be ready for whatever ~adventures~ we might embark on today.

a few of my most wanted things

On June 16th, which is in approximately two weeks, I'll be going away for ten days of much needed fun in the sun, relaxing, and parading around The Magic Kingdom with my best friend. I'm so excited I can't even put it into words. Since I'll be gone for so long I'm going to need to take practically everything I own with me. I'm incapable of just packing the necessities. I've got to have it all. Always. Here's a sneak peak at a few things I plan on bringing with me which also doubles an a mini Summer Wish List because I still need to acquire quite a few of these things. 

I probably should've numbered these to make them easier to go through but oh well. I'll try to to left to right and in rows. Before I get into let me just say that, for the most part, this really is all wishing. I'll be tracking down much less expensive versions of most of these things for my vacation.

1. ALC Belted Silk Dress in a light brown color that's perfectly airy for summer days walking along little shops and sipping on strawberry lemonade. I think something like this would also double as cover up quite nicely. 

2. Christian Louboutin wedges. These are to die for. They're from the S/S 2011 collection and are called the Arielitta d’Orsay cork wedge. I couldn't find a link for them but you can probably find them at your local Louboutin store, Neiman Marcus, Saks, or Nordstrom. I can totally picture myself in these bad boys for a trip to the mall or a movie. I'd wear them paired back to a light khaki pair of shorts with something chiffon and flowy on top and big sunglasses. In my head this would be the perfect go-to outfit for looking nicely put together but effortlessly casual at the same time.

3. Kate Moss for Longchamp tote That link will probably take to the whole collection where the bag is featured in black but click to buy and the option for tan will come up. What I really love about this bag is that at first glance it almost looks like it's straw but it's actually leather. It has a very woven beach bag feel to it and it's huge so everything your day's adventures call for could fit in there comfortably. So perfect for beach days that could possibly turn into much, much more. Being from Miami I learned early on that it's never just a trip to the beach so I like to keep a change of clothes, nicer shoes, and a little makeup bag with me even if I leave the house with just the intention of going for a swim.

4. Calypso St. Barth Flutter Tee This comes in a whole bunch of beautifully bright summer shades and would be perfect to toss on with some shorts and a nice pair of sandals or wedges but at $75 it's a bit much for my wallet to handle. I found something similar at work that will do just as well for me. I've already bought it in like five colors. Express's Scoop-Neck Dolman is only $29.90 and feels like nothing once you've got it on. It's so light and fresh and looks amazing either worn on its own or layered over a tank. I basically live in this tee. I'm actually wearing it in white right this second. I can't get over it's slouchy perfectness.

5. All saints Chalcis Bracelet  Arm candy is my favorite candy in the summertime. I love layering on tons of sweet delicate pieces to make them look chunky and bold while maintaining something soft and elegant about them. Of course my bracelets will center around my new Pandora charm bracelet that I'm obsessed with but I plan on adding on pieces like this and bangles and little rope bracelets as well. 

6. I'm not going to link this because you can find it anywhere and I'm running late for a study sesh but number six on my list is Marc Jacobs' Daisy perfume. I wear this year round because I think it smells like heaven in a bottle but I particularly love it for summer. It's so fresh and flower and soft. All of my favorite things. 

7. Chloe Gladiator Sandals Turquoise and coral are my favorite shades for accessories so how could I say no to coral sandals? I love that these are a muted coral and not super bright. Clothing wise I live in whites, blush pinks, and pale nudes so these would be the perfect pop to an other wise pretty monochromatic outfit. Also, I haven't bought any sandals at all this year. It's already upwards of 90 degrees outside and I'll still running around in flats. Not that flats arent appropriate but I'd love it if I had something a little more seasonal. 

8. Next is a top from H&M. I'm not linking it because you can't shop online for their clothes. It's super depressing because I don't actually have an H&M anywhere near me. My friend that I'll be staying with on vacation has one close by her she hopefully we can take a trip and I can find all the amazing things people always find there. If not, I'm sure I can find something similar to this top some place else. What I love about it is that it's so feminine and has such sweet details like the straps that tie in little bows at your shoulders. No matter how lazy you are putting an outfit together something like this keeps you from looking like you just rolled out of bed. 

9. DVF Maryelle Striped Bikini I'm ~curvy~ so I prefer a high waist bottom when going for a bikini. You know, something to hide what the hours I spend at the gym can't seem to eliminate. This reminds me of Victoria's Secret Bombshell bikini. I love the vintage feel and the stripes. I'm one of those people (the ones most of you probably shake your heads at) that loves to do it up for hanging around the pool. I can picture myself in this with red lipstick, some waterproof mascara, and killer wedges. Unfortunately It's been sold out in most of the places I've gone looking for it and I refuse to order swimwear without trying it on first. Hopefully I'll have some luck with it before I leave. 

10. Essie Nail Polishes All of these colors can be found at the linked website for about half of what they retail in places like Ulta. I'm a crazy nail polish junkie so if I don't want to go completely broke in a matter of minutes I've got to find the bargain prices. The colors I've chosen as my summer favorites are Borrowed and Blue (a pastel sky blue), Your Hut or Mine (A deep hot pink with silver shift), and Lion Around (A soft pink with silver shift). Borrowed and Blue was from this years wedding collection and the other two shades are from the 2011 resort collection. They're all such pretty colors I honestly couldn't narrow it down to just one favorite. I tend to stick to pinks most of the time so Borrowed and Blue is perfect when I'm looking for something different. Lion Around is a gorgeous everyday color and Your Hut or Mine is beautiful when you're looking for something a little bolder. 

11. Dior Tortoiseshell Sunglasses. One of the few things on this list that I actually already own. I got mine at Nordstrom but they can also found at Saks, Dior boutiques and other fine retailers. Call me superficial but I love having designer sunglasses. I'm not sure it's just because of the name on them or if it's the fact that most cheap sunglasses tend to look just that, cheap. I own tons of less expensive glasses, too, but nothing looks as polished and finished as a nice pair designer glasses. Of course the opposite could be said as well. There are some pretty heinous rhinestone encrusted tacky ones out there, too. I've also found that, for the most part, if you spend a little more on sunglasses they tend to be sturdier than like $10-$20 pairs you can get in Nordstrom's BP section or the really cheap ones you find at Forever 21. Sturdy is important to me because I throw my sunglasses around and drop them and generally treat them terribly and yet expect them to last forever. 

12. Khaki shorts. This pair happens to be from H&M so I can't really link it but my go-to pair for this summer I actually purchased at Forever 21 for $9. They're linen cargo shorts that fit totally loose and slouchy which is exactly how I like my short shorts to fit. Much like half of this list, I couldn't find them online to add a link. Light colored, lightweight shorts are the perfect bottom to pair back to any top at all in the summer. Everything looks nice against them. Brights pop and stand out while neutrals and pastels blend without looking too blah.