wear // autumn wish list

It is FINALLY cooling down outside here in California (now that it's November, haha), so dreaming of scarves and sweaters isn't so crazy anymore.  According to just about every magazine I've read lately, there are a handful of trends that are cropping up (or simply resurfacing) for 2012, and I'm super excited about quite a few of them!  Four of them, in fact, making this perfect for four things.  :)

1.  One that I'm most excited about is technically a continuation from spring and summer: chambray.  Some of my favorite bloggers have totally rocked this trend with flying colors:

Kristina rocking a chambray dress and Caroline in a wear-it-every-day chambray button-up shirt.

Chambray is also a big deal for dudes this fall; it's one of the big men's fashion trends for autumn 2012.  Chambray's versatility makes for a great transition from summer to fall, so jump on this bandwagon (if you haven't already!).  This one from American Eagle Outfitters is my top pick.

2.  Next up is another continuation from spring and summer: colorful skinny jeans.  The twist on this trend for fall is pretty easy to guess: swap your springtime sherbet-colored pastels for darker autumn colors, like burgundy or plum.  And I do think they look pretty extraordinary with high-heeled pumps!  I can't wait to find some I love for the new season.

3.  Another big hit for fall (and for all seasons, if you ask me) is the tuxedo jacket.  Yet another spin on menswear for women, the tuxedo jacket is reappearing again for fall 2012 (I found archives for its popularity from 2006 and 2010) and is easy to dress up or dress down.

4.  There are a few more styles that I am personally a little hesitant about, but that I can appreciate as great fashion.  Peplum is one of them.  I think peplum is actually quite lovely, but I am just a tad too curvy for this style to be ideal for me.  I do have a friend who rocked a peplum dress in her engagement photos and she looked amazing!

My friend Vanessa donned a peplum dress is a gorgeous shade of royal blue for her engagement shoot.

"Peplum" is the Greek word for "tunic" and refers to a short little overskirt attached to a top or jacket, but the trend extends to dresses, as you can see the photo of Vanessa above.  Here are a couple more takes on peplum:

The lovely Sandy rocking a ModCloth lace peplum top and the Peplum Ponte Tank from Anthropologie

So, what do you think?  Which of these fall trends are you excited about and willing to try?  

Hope everyone has a great weekend ahead!

life // four things Friday

Happy Friday!

Here's what I've been up to all week... finishing up the e-session editing for this lovely couple:

...and editing my eyeballs off for an Indian wedding I did a few weeks ago.  This one was three-day celebration so I am wading through a TON of images!  I'll share a preview of those soon, too.

Now, for Friday's letters...

1. Dear Taylor Swift: I am smitten with the new album.  It's been on repeat all week and I'm not sick of it yet!  "I Knew You Were Trouble" is probably my favorite, but "Red" is pretty great, too, and I just love to sing the words to "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together."

2. Dear readers: I apologize for the Taylor Swift shoutout.  She's a guilty pleasure, and I was genuinely excited for her new album release this week.  I'm sorry if this deflates your opinion of me, but just remember we ALL have guilty pleasures... what's yours?

3. Dear Boo: I am SO HAPPY you're home!  I was so traumatized for awhile I'd never get to see you again.  I am still waiting to see if you were "away" to be bred, which would really upset me.  And you seemed so skittish and afraid when you came back, and you definitely lost some weight; what did they do to you, my sweet girl?  :(  I'm contemplating your capture so I can keep you safe, always.

Sweet puppy girl Boo, my neighbor's dog, returned home after 3 weeks looking skinny and scared.  :(

4. Dear new blog: thank you for being so pretty!  I've been yearning for you for awhile and you're finally here.  Many thanks also go to Minna So for designing the new Anna Delores logo!

I hope everyone has some fun weekend plans in store!  xoxo

Linking up with Ashley!

life // four things Friday: letters

I haven't done Friday's letters (linking up with Ashley!) in awhile.  So hello again!  :)

Dear weather: I love you.  Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for cooling down!  I've been using the warm blanket on my bed all week and I LOVE that.

Dear CDs I'm transferring to iTunes for the sake of getting rid of all these damn CDs!  Good riddance.  Sorry.  Your days are long over and I am excited to clear the clutter.

Dear Mom & Dad: Thank you again for welcoming me home during this transition in my life.  It makes me feel so much better about pretty much everything.  And it makes me excited for the next several months as my photography business continues to grow and grow!

Dear Mickey: I hope you're okay.  I know I've moved you four times now in your six years on earth, and for that I'm sorry.  I have not intended to traumatize you but fear that I may have done just that.  I can't promise we won't move again in a year or so, and for that I apologize in advance.  I love you.

Happy weekend, everyone!

life // four things friday.

Wow.  Brain fried.  If you remember Wednesday's post, I'm overwhelmed by life this week.

So.  Four reasons I suck.  And I'd like to point out that the irony of this post juxtaposed with yesterday's is not lost on me.  :)

1.  I have a gaggle of friends and family coming over tomorrow morning to help me move, and there is still TONS that I haven't packed.  Not sure how that's going to progress.

2.  I lost the cover for the 580 EX II Speedlight flash that I rented over the weekend, and its replacement costs $75.

3.  I still haven't established a good rhythm for working from home.  Partially because I'm sorta between "homes" right now, but that's really just an excuse I'm milking for all its worth.

4.  Trying to remind myself that "comparison is the thief of joy," but comparing myself anyway.  Blerg.

Bonus reason: I haven't blogged about my photography in awhile!  Eesh.  Just one more thing on my growing business "to do" list.

Sorry to be such a negative-face today, but sometimes venting is the best way to get it out and (hopefully) move on, right?

I love you guys.  I hope you have a lovely, lovely weekend!

life // four things Friday

I have some high, high hopes for this lovely Friday: I'm editing a new boudoir photo shoot (Vanessa is so lovely and I LOVE the images we snapped of her in the almond orchards!), my new iPhone 5 is arriving sometime before 3:00 p.m. (thanks, Apple + FedEx!), and I get to go shopping at Jigsaw London thanks to Tammy at LA&B!  Woo hoo!

Here's what else I'm loving this week...

1. This gorgeous wedding color inspiration -- such a pretty, feminine, grown-up shade of purple called aubergine -- brought to my attention by Lover.ly:

2. The other reason this Friday is so delightful is that I'll be getting a first draft of my new logo from the lovely and amazingly talented Minna So.  She posted some of her brainstorming on Instagram and I'm so excited and anxious (in a good way!) to see what she comes up with!

3. This book, which I've been "reading" (which means I'm listening to it via audiobook in my car).  Apparently it's supposed to be targeted toward young adults (?) but I would've never guessed.  The subject matter and level of writing is perfectly adult.  And the subject matter is enthralling and certainly original.  It's a thinker.  And despite the word "miracles" in the title, it's not a religious novel... click the image to be taken to the NPR book review:

4. Last but certainly not least, remember to check out the wonderful giveaways still going on through next week!  The Anna Delores blog has teamed up with The Pleated Poppy to give one lucky winner a $25 shop credit (plus you can score 15% off!), and Courtney over at Baxtron{Life} is hosting an amazing blogiversary giveaway!  I wish you good luck in both giveaways!

Happy Friday, friends!

random // friday.

So it's a little late in the day for me to publishing a Friday blog post, but all day I've been brewing ideas for Friday topics and I'm just now getting to my computer.  I have a smattering of random stuff to share, and it's really not very well choreographed (i.e. topics are not particularly related to each other), so fasten your seatbelts (and I know you're going to love it anyway).

1.  Today I finally cruised over to Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles, the new permanent craft marketplace down in San Pedro!  I've known about Crafted since a few months before they opened up in June, but just haven't had the energy to drive over there (Los Angeles is a big place, people -- the port is not exactly down the street from me!).  Anyway, I took lots of photos and met Jonathan of Anon-Y-Mouse in person (super awesome guy, btw), who you may remember from this blog post a few months ago.  I also grabbed some macarons and a rad new necklace.  Full review of Crafted coming soon.  :)

2.  I am meeting with a couple tomorrow; they are getting married in November and I am super excited to *maybe* be shooting their wedding.  Cross your fingers and think happy thoughts for me!  :)

3.  I am going to meet Evani of Simply Evani in person tomorrow, finally!  We are blogger BFFs and I'm super stoked she'll be in my neck of the woods tomorrow so we can rendezvous at Urth Caffe.

 This is not me: I stole this photo from super-rad blogiversary sponsor Tammy. :)  Read the corresponding post here.

4.  Finally, I'm plugging some of my current giveaway sponsors, as they are all super cool and (as usual) doing super cool things.

• Dana of The Wonder Forest has a design shop, Envye, devoted to her gorgeous, incredible designs.  Did you guys know Dana is responsible for my lovely blog design?  True story.  She's awesome.  Check out her stuff. 


• Shannon Hearts and her Look Book are making me so excited for autumn it's not even fair.  There's at least a month of heat left before I can even think about scarves.  Hurry, cool weather!  And no, the rain yesterday (during which I went out in shorts and a cami tank) doesn't count.


• Tammy over at Lemons, Avocados, and the Bay DOMINATED her vacation.  Read about it here.  I'm jealous that I do not share her incredible motivation for vacation time.  I am a couch potato all the way.


• Kristina at Simply Bold proved that ombre is still going strong (this is NOT a trend I want to see disappear!).  She also makes me swoon for chambray.  You're my style icon, K!


• Kinsey gave me some much-appreciated feedback on my photography ad button for her blog.  As a photographer whose style I adore, I LOVE that she repinned one of my boudoir images on Pinterest.  Thanks, Kinsey!  You made my day!

Oh, you haven't entered the blog ad space giveaway yet?!  What are you waiting for?  Seriously.  Redeem yourself immediately.  :)  There's more free stuff madness coming soon (SOON!) so don't fall behind!

Happy long weekend, friends!