if you don't want to look like everyone else this summer...

...don't wear these swimsuits.

Day in and day out, I see thousands of tourists/spring breakers wearing carefully-chosen swimsuits. Some are flattering, some are not, and some people should really look in a mirror before they leave the house...but that is for another time.

These are the swimsuits that EVERYONE wears, the swimsuits that I see multiple times a day. You should avoid them in hopes of standing out and looking cute and unique.

Sorry girls, but pretty much every suit from Target has already been scooped up by someone else. I know they are cheap and cute, but so many other girls will have them that you may not be the only girl at the beach party rocking the pink plaid halter.

I guarantee you will see these suits out & about as well.



I know that nautical stripes are in style this summer, but thick, horizontal stripes are everywhere. Especially when one of the colors is white. Same goes for polka dots of any size and color.

Besides Target, mail-order favorite Victoria's Secret has a huge part of the market cornered.
I have seen this pattern in all possible colors and options: bandeau, triangle, spaghetti strap, and halter.no matter how mesmerizing Marisa looks in this style, try to resist!!

Yes, Gisele makes this suit look adorable. But surprise, ladies! The top is see-through. We're talking full nipple disclosure.maybe that's why she is giving us the booty shot

When this Roxy suit first appeared a few years ago, the wannabe surfer girl in me thought it was fun and playful (what?! I have totally surfed, um 3 times. Look for me on Blue Crush II). Now, this suit has permeated the suburbs and chunky tween girls who couldn't tell a longboard from a shortboard are bouncing down waterslides in this bikini:


And finally, the swimsuit that I have seen BY FAR more than any other swimsuit. At least 15 times a day, a girl swims past me wearing this, courtesy again of #1 swimwear stop Target:


To stand out for the crowd, my advice is to stay away from these repeat offenders. If you can't stand to shop anywhere but Target/Victoria's Secret/Pacific Sunwear, know that everyone else is going there too. Look for suits that are a plain solid, or mix up non-matching tops & bottoms. As always, fit is the most important issue and will allow your beautiful beach body to shine on its own.

I will bring you a cute range of swim choices tomorrow, if you can stand to shop outside the mass retailers! But now, I have an ignored dog, some Stella, and some dry skin that need my attention/consumption/moisturizer.

and it continues...

Oh boy. The ennui continues. I had forgotten how much of your life is taken up by full-time lifeguarding. Yes, that sounds pathetic and believe me, it sure is. This is a job that practically anyone could do, and it's not very rewarding. But yet it kind of consumes your whole life. Working outdoors on your feet makes you very un-stylish, among other things. On a hot sunny day, you only dream about a cold shower and a nap in the dark with the fan on high. On cold, wet miserable days (like today, omg it was horrible) you dream about a hot shower and a nap wrapped in all your fleece blankets. If tomorrow is your day off, it no longer means "yeah! let's go out tonight!" but "yeah! I don't have to shave my legs tonight!" The days are 10 or more hours long, and by the time I get home and wash the chlorine and sunscreen off of me, it is past 8:00 and it doesn't leave much time to look cute (or have a life).

hmmmm....what shall I wear today...decisions, decisions...

Of course, there are some perks. Lots of overtime pay, it really is an easy job, and no matter how much SPF 30 I put on, all those hours make for a deep, natural tan (just ignore the gosh-awful tan lines that make low-cut shirts impossible)! But luckiest of all, this job is very definitely very temporary...I am officially going to law school this fall. I am accepted, just haven't decided where I'm going yet. It means, among other huge life changes, many fashion adventures in my future.
I am trying hard to not become a sun-baked zombie and trying to get re-inspired. There is a massive amount of cute shoes out this season. I can't remember when so many unique, fashion forward, detailed shoes were available at all price points...it's almost overwhelming!

these mirror one of my favorite silhouettes of the season. great detailing, too.


These shoes from Antrho
are almost too sweet... but not quite enough to deter me from coveting them anyway. yes, those are shimmery pink resin candies on the toes.


Granny-ish, cute, multi-seasonal, and only $38? yes, please.


Ok, so these aren't even close to affordable, but I love them.


Michael Kors has similar wedges for over $100, but I'll take these, from Target, for only $19.99


I can picture these with just about any outfit, ever.


These are the last pricey pair, I promise!


Do you like these? well, you should...because I just bought them yesterday and they are more of a cream color in person, so I plan to wear them daily.

primary day

I have been SO tired lately due to my *new job* training...yay new job! I am once again a guarder-of-lives for a brand new water park here next to Sea World. It should be fairly fun, except of course for the fact that I have to wear TEVAS every day (could you think of an uglier sandal?!??) The last couple days have been spent swimming for hours and doing practice rescues on individuals who aren't, well, small. At least I'm getting muscles again!

After months of frustration, I finally had some good luck at a thrift store...Savers. I found a boy's navy blue school blazer for $2.50 and a sweater for 2.99:

I have been having fun experimenting different ways to wear it. YES, it is another item with an animal on it, but I couldn't pass it up.



I am not going to start talking politics on my blog, but being a political science major & poli-sci nerd, I went to a Mitt Romney rally (even though I'm Independent...I thought it would be interesting & I had nothing to do!) As many people say, he sure is presidential-looking.


The be-socked wonder in front of me was SO excited, she couldn't stop dancing and bopping up and down, "MITT MITT MITT MITT MITT!"

I just am dying to say...WHY ARE PEOPLE VOTING FOR OLD MAN JOHN MCCAIN?! ARGGH WHY DON'T YOU GO SAY "MY FRIENDS" A FEW MORE TIMES!