topshop

I may or may not have a slight major obsession with Topshop. Thank you to London for finally sharing this amazing fashion line with us Americans! Below are just a few of the pieces I'm realllly craving currently:

 purple cami / black print dress /  black romper jumpsuit /  boy shorts /  elastic waistband pants

orange county fair.

Nothing says summer better than a county (or state!) fair. It's something about warm nights spent riding an illuminated Ferris wheel, stuffing your face with way too many fried foods, and "aww-ing" over all of the baby farm animals. You should be impressed and disgusted to know that I took down Australian beer-battered potatoes smothered in Ranch and cheese, a third of a Pink's hot dog (Martha Stewart-style, no less!), a chicken gyro, three large beers, and several bites of a - wait for it! - bacon covered glazed doughnut. Oh my. So, you'd be right to guess that now I am spending the next week eating celery sticks and water to de-bloat and cleanse my body after the fair aftermath!

She's a wild one.

How perfectly awesome is this baggy sweater from Wildfox Couture? Comfortable and stylish for a summer road trip if you ask me ;)

I'm also loving this, this, and this. 

Note: these sweaters tend to run super huge (I'm wearing an XS) so be sure to size down!

duh.

but really, go crazy!! And have a fabulous weekend lovies. 

Hello, Gorgeous.

Picked this beauty up at Nordstrom and it really is ideal for the working fashionista as it is large enough to fit my lunch, laptop, and other daily essentials! Shop it here and similar ones I'm loving this, this, and this. I mean really, Kate Spade can do no wrong with her handbags! 

unconventional.

While it's super easy and basically a necessity to pile on classic necklaces, earrings, and bracelets to complete any outfit, there's a trend developing that we cannot deny: unconventional jewelry items to really make a style statement. Whether they are here for a long time or just for the summer, ear cuffs are having a super hot moment. Check out a few of my favorite pieces below and do tell: do you dare to step out of your fashion comfort zone and try these out? How would you style them?

1. Nasty Gal Shark Tooth Ear Cuff

2. Zara Rhinestone Ear Cuff

3. Repossi Diamond Ear Cuff

4. BCBG Metal Stone Ear Cuff

long distance inspiration

Nothing says summer or music festival season like road trips do. There's just something about long roads, gas station snacks, and a free spirit that can be so refreshing. Of course, having the style to match that free spirit and desire for adventure is key. Obviously, turning to Free People for that effortless, hippie-chic, style is a no brainer. Enjoy their latest lookbook:

Shop these looks here and check out Free People's collection via Shop Bop here.

Celebs Who Inspire

While sometimes celebs can be inspiring in other ways (i.e. through their work, philanthropy), let's face it the real reason we adore celebs is for their amazing style and fashion sense. I mean, when you can buy the world, why not buy the best outfits out there? So here's a little ode to the celeb fashionistas inspiring me this month.

Obviously you can't do a celeb fashion post without Nicole Richie in it , how amazing is she in these black and white striped palazzos?!

Sophie Monk can rock grunger chic like no one else. Shop her One Teaspoon duds here.

Rachel Zoe. Missoni. Floppy Hat. Hermes Cuff. I Die.

What Do Women Want?

Shoes. Duh. I may or may not have gone a little overboard with shoe shopping this week, but in my defense it is sale season and who can (or should!) turn down a good sale?

my meaning of life

It's no secret to anyone that even remotely knows me that I am a huge animal lover and if you've read my post here then you know that as well. For me, rescuing animals and adopting pets has always been a way of life and to be quite honest, I don't understand people who don't embrace this view as well. I've noticed that when I don't have animals in my life, it's a lot less meaningful. So, as one of my New Year's resolutions, I vowed to add more animals to my life in some way. Now I already have a super precious puppy in my life (who we adopted of course) so I had to get creative. 

Cue: volunteering at a badass animal nonprofit. I decided to apply for an Animal Care position at the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach and after months of interviews and training, I scored the position :) I truly feel so much happier now that I am able to work with animals on a weekly basis. Here are a few pictures of the little guys I get to help rescue, rehabilitate, and release:

giving some of the baby sea lions a warm bath :)

what makes it all worth it: releasing the animals back into their home!

this little lady really wanted to be a guest on the blog!

our baby harbor seal who has us all wrapped around her finger flipper

Make A Statement

House of Harlow 1960 charm jewelry / J.Crew handcrafted necklace / Vanessa Mooney jewelry / Kate Spade 14k earrings / Kendra Scott 14k earrings

If there is one thing on my wish list it would have to be statement jewelry pieces. Whether it's a bright pair of classy chic earrings or a tribal inspired chunky necklace, this trend makes it easy to spice up any outfit. If you're like me and gravitate towards graphic tees, sneakers, and distressed denim for everyday wear, then adding a statement piece is perfect to spice up any casual-cool look. How do you style this jewelry trend?

monday.

Happy Monday Everyone!

Midweek Musings

1 and 2. I'm pretty sure I am the only person in the world who does not have a pair of Zara heeled sandals. This is not even an exaggeration.

3. I absolutely adore dream catchers. I need one for my bedroom, perhaps a t-shirt with one, and definitely this gorgeous one from Free People.

4. How perfect is this Topshop dress? Makes me want to go on a safari, or at least pair with my new Chuck Taylors for a perfect summer outfit.

5. This clutch could add just the right amount of edge to any outfit, day or night. Any if Nicole Richie's behind its coolness, who am I to do disagree?

6. I have been on the hunt for the perfect kimono, and I'm pretty sure I found it.

Seared Ahi Strawberry Salad

I may or may not have a slight obsession with anything Seared Ahi. Therefore, the boyfriend and I decided to create our own Ahi salad as a celebratory dish for summer.

Season and sear a slab of raw Ahi on the stove, mix together spinach, arugula, garbanzo beans, tomatoes, red onions, bell papers, and salads, drizzle a little organic raspberry vinaigrette, and voila! Amazingness in your mouth!

random.

Just in case you were wondering (which I know you totally were!), here are nine random things about me:

1. I am a huge, freakishly-obsessed, animal lover and self-appointed animal advocate (okay, this may not be completely surprising to any one who even remotely knows me). In fact, at one point in my life I owned 27 animals. No. joke. And I try not to eat dead animals meat.

This is my precious puppy Abigail. 

2. I can touch my nose with my tongue. Sadly, it's my only real talent.

3. My all-time favorite number since as far as I can remember is 9 (hence the reason you are receiving 9 facts about me and not 8 or 10).

4. I have been to Mexico 6 times and I met my boyfriend there one of those times.

5. I am addicted to Flamin' Hot Cheetos. Seriously. I ate a bag every single day throughout junior high and high school (and if my metabolism and skinny jeans would still allow it, I would still practice this form of diet).

6. I pretty much love all types of music, but my all time fave is punk rock and basically any band from the 90s (helloooo Blink-182, Taking Back Sunday, The Used, New Found Glory, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Fall Out Boy, etc etc etc.)

7. I never blow dry my hair. Really, never. In fact, I've only recently become a hair dryer owner and I haven't used it once.

8. I'm allergic to avocado (sadly, this means guacamole, too). 

9. I had my Master's Degree by the time I was 24-years-old. I majored in Clinical Psychology and am now a practicing therapist (okay, I guess that was like three facts in one). 

Rompers and Jumpsuits

What's easier and possibly more stylish and put together than a dress? Why a romper or jumpsuit of course. This chic closet staple is no longer just a classic for kindergartners. In fact, fashionistas from all walks of style are rocking these one-piece wonders. 

Don't believe me? Here's proof:

Technically speaking, rompers are usually associated with short-like lengths while jumpsuits can be a bit dressier as they are typically longer in length. For simplicity's sake, let's just use the terms interchangeably (after all, it wouldn't be the first time fashion's lines were blurred).  While this item can be dressed up or down and worn for a multitude of events whether it's running errands or going to a fancy dinner, below I found a few save- and splurge-worthy pieces that are a bit more basic. 

1. Madeleine Thompson 2. Alexander McQueen 3. Top Shop

What are your thoughts on this intergenerational phenomena?

The Little Black Boot

Move over LBD, LBB is the new must-have staple in any girl's closet! I have been on the hunt for the perfect black bootie for awhile now. While my closet already boasts black wedge boots, black fringe boots, black studded boots, and black combat boots, it won't be complete until I add the lit

tle black bootie (seriously though). Here are some I'm debating drooling over:

1. Zara Flat Boot 2. Sam Edelman Petty Bootie 3. Isabel Marant Bootie
4. DV by Dolce Vita Juju 5. Ash Suede Ankle Boot 6. Connie Chelsea Boot

While I'm leaning towards the tried and true Sam Edelman Petty, I'm really obsessed over this gorgeous pair, but I'm not sure if I can convince myself (or my bank account) to make the splurge.

Which is your fave?

Best of IG Thus Far.

Thought I'd share with you all some of my favorite Instagram pictures from over the past year. What would we do without social media and camera snapshots to remind us of how fab life really is?! Oh, and you should follow me @sarabayles 

A Novel Idea...Or Five

It's no secret that I'm a super huge bookworm. It may even be a fact that I can't fall asleep at night unless I get a good reading sesh in first. There's just something about getting completely lost in a some crazy love story or badass psychological autobiography. Sooooo, I decided to create a little list of some of my all time fave books ever.

Call it fact, fiction, or something in between, there is absolutely no denying the slew of emotions you will wholeheartedly experience while reading this story on addiction, love, loss, and the craziness that life really is. Not to mention how amazingly informal, choppy, and profanity infused the writing is; English teachers, take that!

A psychological thriller, twisted love story, and modern classic. Need I say more? Okay, okay, maybe English teachers do know a thing or two (After all, they did force me to read this back in the day.) 

A guy sets himself on fire in an attempt to kill himself and lives to tell about it in a sardonically humorous and laugh-out-loud sort of way. Don't believe me? Read it yourself.

The start of my die hard obsession with the name "Atticus."

A woman's recount (and actual journal entries) of surviving a frighteningly abusive relationship as it played out from the very beginning to the very end.

Now I promise not all of the books I read are super serious and dramatic, but you have to understand I did study psychology for six years! In all actuality, I'm a total sucker for trashy cheesy romance novels and trendy teen series (ahem, Twilight, 50 Shades of Grey...). I could go on and on about the 9098423899 books I've read and adored, but I'll practice self-restraint and stop at my fave five.