style.is.infinite

Working on my fitness

2012-01-27T21:22:00.000-08:00

I've been finding myself in a gym rut lately. I know I should be training for that 5k (in March) but I just ain't feeling it. So I thought I'd tell you a little bit more about my gym-ventures.

My whole life, I was never the athletic kid. I read books, and drew pictures, and put on spice girl skits...but sports? Not so much. I did the bare minimum in PE class and that was it. When I got to college, people around me were so...active. The gym was always full, people played sports for fun. It was so not me. I walked to class, but that was about it. Once I moved off campus (and started driving to class), all that pizza and beer pong caught up with me. I graduated with the freshman 15 (plus a little extra) - I was no longer comfortable in my own skin. My parents could see I was unhappy, and offered to pay for a gym membership. I initially refused - the closest I came to breaking a sweat was going to get the mail. And that was the problem. Something had to change. I agreed to go. Luckily, I had a friend who belonged to that same gym. She helped make me feel more comfortable going to the gym - I was intimidated! And knowing I had a date set up with someone held me accountable. Soon, I started seeing results and going became a habit. It's been 2 1/2 years since I first started going to the gym, and I can't imagine quitting. I feel so much happier, calmer and self-confident. If I skip exercising for a few days, I can really feel the difference, mentally and physically. Now I'm no expert, but here are a few things that have helped me get healthy and stick with it:

1. Create a gym schedule. I used to just wing it and go whenever I felt like it. Turns out, I feel like sitting down more often that I feel like going to the gym. Now I have a schedule, and I stick to it. It's so much easier this way.

2. Pack my lunch the night before. I used to always pack my lunch in the morning, and I barely had enough time to throw together a sandwich before I ran out the door. Now, I pack the night before and make much healthier choices. I usually pack a salad, fruit, yogurt, veggies, and a treat. I still seem to be racing against the clock every morning though...

3. Don't weigh myself. I know that people have differing opinions on this - some people say that regular weigh-ins help keep them on track. For me, hopping on the scale would keep me too focused on that number, rather than how I feel.

So even though I get in a rut every now and then, I'm still on a pretty good path and I'm proud of myself :)

Quote

2012-01-25T22:02:00.000-08:00

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I love this print.

Pumpkin scones

2012-01-23T18:59:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, my cousin decided to throw a "breakfast foods" dinner party. Um, yes please. I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to contribute, so I combed through my ever-growing list of recipes to try. I came across these pumpkin scones. And I drooled on my computer a bit. So I made these. A bit messy to make (they were hard to mix with a spatula, so I had to mix by hand). But they were oh so good. I'm simultaneously sad/glad that I didn't keep many of these in the house for me to snack on. (PS - trying to get better at taking pictures of the food I make - so here goes!)

New recipes

2012-01-19T20:31:00.000-08:00

In keeping with my new year's resolutions, I've been trying out some new recipes. A couple of weeks ago, I made orzo with roasted vegetables. Instead of using the vegetables suggested, I used what we had on hand (bell peppers, grape tomatoes, and zucchini). I also skipped the pine nuts and scallions. But it still turned out great - really flavorful and healthy.

Then tonight, I tried out a chicken stir fry. I saw this last night when I was watching Paula Deen at the gym, and while I was a little skeptical of trying out an asian dish from a southern lady, I decided to go for it. Again, I changed it based on what veggies we had (bell peppers and snow peas). It was so good. It tasted like takeout - only better! We all gave this a thumbs up.

Resolutions

2012-01-15T16:50:00.000-08:00

I make new year's resolutions every year, with varying degrees of success. The ones that I have this year are pretty specific, which I think is key to making and maintaining change. My top 5:

1. Run a 5k. Last year, my cousin and I walked the Revlon Run Walk and loved it. I'd love to try running a 5k this year.

2. Go digital. I've always been partial to my day planner, but this year I'd like to try and make the leap to digital. I'd like to hopefully organize my calendar, lists and notes in my phone and computer. I just downloaded iCloud to help me do this.

3. Try out one new recipe a month. I'd love to improve my cooking skills.

4. Cut down my trips to Target. Even though I love it, I gotta be honest and say that Target is a major time suck and money drain. So many impulse buys!
5. Try to pay in cash. I find it much easier to shop when I'm paying with a credit card. Hopefully paying in cash will make me think twice about my purchases.

Here's to a great year!

Also, 3 things that were interesting on the internet this week:
1. This article, entitled What Is It About 20-Somethings? An interesting look at how this generation is taking longer to grow up and the efforts to define this process. A lengthy article, but worth it.
2. Engagement photos inspired by Disney movies. I'm a Disney nerd, so I found these really cute. (although not sure if I'd go for an Alice in Wonderland theme...)
3. A hiking trail that is underwater during the summer, but uncovered during the winter.

#15

2012-01-09T21:37:00.000-08:00

Ok, I'm just now getting back in the swing of things. I promise I didn't go AWOL. I've been working on my resolutions (more on those later), watching 30 rock obsessively, and trying not to curse this hot windy weather we've been having. In between all that, I did go to Chocolatine. My cousin and I took my mom there for her birthday last weekend. It's a very cute, very small French cafe with absolutely drool-worthy desserts. We'd had a delicious lunch and pretended we were in France (it was more like how I envisioned France in my head - not how it was in real life)

I wish I had known about it earlier - it would have been perfect for my cousin's bridal shower! Oh well. We'll just have to go back and pretend. :)

What I'm reading: December

2011-12-28T19:03:00.000-08:00

In the midst of all the holiday craziness, I read Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns). My lovely cousin gave it me and I finished it in about 2 days. Such a quick read and so funny. Loved it!

And that was it for this month. I'm gonna hole up this long weekend and just read, nap and relax. Happy new year!

A Christmas movie you've never heard of

2011-12-23T20:26:00.000-08:00

Ok, so there's this old Christmas movie from the 80s, Babes in Toyland. If you and I are not related, chances are you haven't heard of it. For some reason, this is the movie I remember watching most at my grandparents' house. Not really sure how my grandma found this gem (probably in the drugstore bargain bin, if I'm being honest). But it stars Keanu Reeves, Drew Barrymore and Mr. Miyagi. I don't remember too many of the details, other than there is a song about Cincinnati, the villain lives in a huge bowling ball, and the giant toy soldiers come to life. Clearly, a winner. I tried to make my mom watch it a few years ago and she quit after the Cincinnati song. The reason why I'm writing a whole post about a silly childhood movie is because it is on netflix insta-queue. Now I can watch it anytime I want! I texted this very exciting news to my parents, who then told me they were busy. Forever.

When I brought up Babes in Toyland again at dinner today, my dad said "you mean the movie we watch every year?" (dad translation = he means A Christmas Story). I was actually offended that he compared the two. A Christmas Story wins. Hands down. Don't even bother with Babes in Toyland. I can assure you it's not even on Keanu Reeves's resume anymore.

(Also, this post is pretty much just for my cousin Jessie, cause she's the only one who has any idea what Babes in Toyland is, although I don't think she remembers much of it.)

Countdown to hibernation

2011-12-21T19:11:00.000-08:00

So this whole being an adult thing kinda stinks sometimes. I really miss those 2 week Christmas vacations. Even though my break is considerably shorter this year (3 days), I'm still really excited. I'm preparing myself for what I call my "hibernation." It's going to be 3 days chock full of:

-sweatpants (real pants? please.)

-Christmasy movies, including but not limited to: Elf, The Santa Clause, Love Actually, The Holiday, Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, Home Alone and It's A Wonderful Life

-a big stack of unread magazines

-no healthy food at all

(Actually, this may read like a lot of my weekends at home)

Also, this fruit compote will definitely be involved:

8 oz mixed dried fruit (chopped)

16 oz cherry pie filling

11 oz can mandarin oranges (drained)

1/3 cup brown sugar (packed)

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 cup bourbon (or apple juice)

Combine 1st 3 ingredients in 1 1/2 quart dish and set aside. Combine other ingredients and pour over mixture. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes.

We've never used bourbon in this before, but it sounds delicious. This is amazing over homemade waffles, which is how we have our Christmas breakfast every single year. I'm drooling a little bit just thinking of it.

Work party

2011-12-15T18:57:00.000-08:00

So even though I started Christmas shopping early this year, I couldn't seem to figure out what to get my co-workers. I went back and forth for a while, then eventually decided on the following: I'd get everyone a personalized mug, fill it with some peppermint bark, and bring some hot cocoa fixins. I brought a few different flavors of hot cocoa, candy canes, and gingerbread marshmallows. It went over really well - homemade peppermint bark is amazing, and it is so easy. This is the recipe I used, but here are my steps:

Melt dark chocolate in the microwave. Stir at 30 second intervals. I used a Pyrex casserole dish, since a sheet pan wouldn't fit in my fridge/freezer. I lined it with parchment and poured the chocolate. The good thing about this recipe is it doesn't have to look perfect, so while a sheet pan probably would have been easier and looked cleaner, the dish seemed to work fine too. Put in the fridge. Watch Hawaii Five-0 while you wait for it to firm up. Drool over this guy. Ok, back to that bark, don't get distracted. Crush candy canes. I put it in a ziploc bag and smashed them with a can, which was pretty fun. Take your dish out of the fridge (I'd say it takes about an hour to cool it in the fridge). Melt the white chocolate in the microwave, remember to stir often. Once melted, stir in crushed candy canes. Pour the mixture over the hardened dark chocolate and stick the dish back into the fridge. Now go watch Glee and the New Girl. The bark should be hard enough to break up by now. You can choose to share with friends and family, or keep a stash for yourself, up to you. It's so good, I may have to hide it from myself.

Happiness is...

2011-12-07T18:53:00.001-08:00

J. Crew boy's sweater, signet ring, and red ballet flats.

All for about $80. Oh Cyber Monday, you really got me this year.

Gettin' crafty with it

2011-12-05T20:08:00.001-08:00

How was your first weekend of December? I spent mine cleaning out the garage, trimming the tree and eating copious amounts of muddy buddies (so addicting).

I'm not sure what it is about the holidays, but it makes me have crafty fever. Today, I took on the task of making a wreath. I bought a plain fake wreath along with ornaments, glittery picks and some ribbon. First, I had to make a bow. Turns out, I don't really know how to make one. After wrestling with it, I finally did the smart thing and googled how to do it. Using these instructions, I created a simple bow. Then I sprinkled some ornaments and pinecones to create a basic structure. I snipped apart the picks and interspersed them throughout to add even more sparkle (because go big or go home right?) All in all, I think it only cost about $20 and took about an hour (although let's be honest, most of that time was spent trying to figure out the bow situation).

I think this would be a totally fun project for a party with the girls! Wreath-making, ugly Christmas sweaters, spiked cider...I'm down!

Cooking with Sydney

2011-12-01T20:38:00.001-08:00

So it's time for another cooking adventure with Sydney! (And it's always an adventure when I cook). Tonight, I made Pasta alla Formiana. I saw this on Giada's show a few weeks ago, and decided it would a perfect, comforting meal for a blustery day like today. Pasta is a speciality of mine, and I decided this would be a welcome change. Taking the advice of many of the reviews, I cut down the amount of oregano in the recipe (it calls for 1/4 cup, I used about 1 1/2 tablespoons) and added another garlic clove for added flavor. I kept taste-testing to make sure it didn't get mushy (and taste-testing is the best part of cooking). I pulled it out at 53 minutes and let it cool to just below lava hotness before popping it in my mouth. Yummy! Really flavorful and really easy. The sauce ended up tasting really similar to a pasta sauce, so I'm wondering if it would be possible to just use that in a pinch. Oh Giada, your recipes never fail me.

In other news, happy December! I'm cracking open my advent calendar today!

What I'm reading: November

2011-11-29T19:32:00.001-08:00

I really love watching old movies from the '40s and '50s, so this month I picked up 3 books about 3 interesting Hollywood ladies.

First was Edith Head: The Life and Times of Hollywood's Celebrated Costume Designer. Edith Head designed for dozens of movies, including Sunset Boulevard, Rear Window and Vertigo. It was fun to learn more about behind-the-scenes events of some classic movies. However, Head's legacy is not pristine. She won 8 Oscars, but never shared any of the credit with her costume assistants. Still, she remains one of the most famous and talented costumers in history.

Next was The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe. This lengthy book dives into the history of arguably the most famous actress of the past century. Marilyn had a difficult childhood - bouncing back and forth between foster care and the home of her mentally ill mother. Monroe begins acting and rockets to fame. The book covers her struggles with her own demons, while trying to maintain her public persona. In the end, she dies a tragically young death. This book was really interesting, providing an in-depth look at every aspect of this well-known figure's life.

Now I'm just finishing up High Society, The Life of Grace Kelly. This book introduces you to one of the most elegant actresses in recent memory. I was surprised by the fact that Kelly was so famous, when she only actually starred in 11 movies. Of course, the jump from actress to princess solidified her rise to fame. While this book was intriguing, it wasn't quite as "can't put it down" as the Marilyn Monroe book was for me.

25 by 25

2011-11-22T20:50:00.000-08:00

Oh man, I can't believe I'm going to be 25 next year. Ok, that's giving me a little bit of a headache, so let's just move on to the list, shall we?

First, I put anything I didn't do on my 24x24 list on this list.

1. Move out.

2. Hike Half Dome.
3. Go kayaking
4. See a movie at our local theater that serves dinner and drinks.
5. Go on a fabulous vacation. (I have decided this should be on my list every year!)
6. Add more color to my wardrobe. I own a lot of gray - it's time to spice things up.
7. Go on the Santa Monica Ferris Wheel.
8. Make a scrapbook of my college years.
9. Go to Diddy Riese.
10. Try paddle boarding.
11. Stretch and improve my posture.
12. Wear bright lipstick with confidence.
13. Expand my musical horizons. (I'm a little embarrassed to tell you how much music on my ipod is from my high school years.)
14. Go beer and/or whiskey tasting.
15. ~~Go to Chocolatine.~~
16. Go to the Natural History Museum and see their new dinosaur exhibit.
17. Revisit some of the classics I read in high school.
18. Read Johnathan Strange and Paris: A Secret History. These have both been on my bookshelf for a while, but their length has stopped me from picking them up, so I'd like to finally read them.
19. Watch the first seasons of ~~30 Rock~~, Community and Friday Night Lights.
20. Participate in Operation Beautiful.
21. Make this hot chocolate.
22. Start writing again. I was really into writing poetry in high school, but haven't written anything for the past few years.
23. Get crafty. Maybe try my hand at painting.
24. Visit San Francisco - one of my absolute favorite cities.
25. Have an amazing 25th birthday party. Since my birthday always falls so close to Thanksgiving, it's hard to party it up, but I'm determined to make my 25th a big celebration.

Birthday wish list

2011-11-16T19:23:00.001-08:00

Since my birthday is next week, I thought I'd put together a little birthday wish list. You know, just in case you're reading this, mom.

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To get in touch with my inner French girl.

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I love the zipper detail on the back of this sweater.

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Sparkly flats would put a spring in my step.

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Well, it is a dream list, right?

Holiday craft

2011-11-13T17:10:00.001-08:00

This weekend, mama and I were out trying to holiday shop (we came home with more for ourselves than anyone else - doesn't that always happen?!) At Anthro, we saw these cute mason jar snow globes. But $30?? Really? I decided these looked like a good DIY project.

These were fun to make, and better yet, super easy. All you need is a mason jar, hot glue gun, Christmas tree (or anything else you can think of!) and some glittery snow. It only took me about 5 minutes (and $6) to make two of these. They would be perfect holiday gifts, or great decorations done in a variety of jar sizes.

Life

2011-11-08T20:41:00.000-08:00

So....life.

There hasn't been much of note lately, except it is now dark all the time and it's throwing me off. But that darkness signals cold weather and that means I get to wear these:

And these:

And drink this everyday:

That's about it. Also, birthday is in a few weeks, so that means a 25 x 25 list. (Wow!)

Sweet November

2011-11-01T19:52:00.000-07:00

Life as of late:

The weather has finally cooled off a bit, so I've been baking more. Last weekend, mom and I made some carrot cake from scratch for dad's birthday (yeah, we kinda like him). Carrot cake is not normally my fav, but it was good!

I also made these for my Halloween work party. They were really good, but I didn't really taste any pumpkin, which was a bummer.

Speaking of Halloween, I decided on Sunday that I wanted to be Buzz Lightyear. Luckily I already had a pre-printed Buzz shirt, so with the quick addition of white pants and green duct tape, I was set!

Also - my cousin and I went hiking in Runyon Canyon this past weekend. Note to self: don't trust your iphone map to get you there, it will only take you on weird side trips up in the hills. Once we finally got there, it was a really good hike (with great views!) And we even brought a picnic lunch to finish the day with.

What I'm reading: October

2011-10-29T21:03:00.000-07:00

Holy cow, I can't believe we're at the end of October already. Time is flying by!

Here is what I read this month:

The History of Love. I had heard really good things about this book, so I was excited to start it. It would be best as a book club book. I say that because, I needed someone to talk about it to figure out what the heck was going on. The first half of the story, I felt really lost. I actually had to read the synopsis online to find my way. It contains 2 stories that intertwine as the story goes on. The second half of the book clears things up, so I would have seen the light eventually. I really liked Krauss's writing style, even though this might not be my favorite book.

Fifth Avenue, 5 A.M. I have a deep love for anything Audrey Hepburn or Breakfast at Tiffany's, so of course I loved this book.

What's your favorite scary movie Sydney?

2011-10-24T17:30:00.000-07:00

Sidenote: the title of this post was asked of me incessantly throughout middle school. Thanks, Scream.

What's your favorite scary movie? Most people I know don't like them, but I love them. I definitely prefer suspenseful scary, not blood and guts scary. And no better time to catch up on scary movies than Halloween. Here are my favs:

Hocus Pocus. Technically not a scary movie, but I have to watch it every year. In fact, I'm watching it right now.

The Others. I've seen this a hundred times, and it still creeps me out every single time.

Shutter Island. Wonderfully dark and unsettling.

Psycho. There's a reason this is a classic. Hitchcock is the master of edge-of-your-seat suspense. I love how the story builds and builds and just gets creepier and creepier.

The Shining. The book was so scary, Joey on Friends had to hide it in the freezer. The movie definitely belongs in there too. Watch this one in the daytime.

Dream wardrobe

2011-10-20T19:35:00.000-07:00

If you had an unlimited budget, where would you shop? It would be a tough choice for me - but I'd probably pick J. Crew. Their clothes are classic, but still fun and modern. Here's what I'd scoop up if I could grab anything I wanted:

[peacoat]

[cashmere sweater]

[ballet flats]

[sparkly bracelet]

Where do you like to do your virtual window shopping?

Paris

2011-10-16T21:11:00.000-07:00

So, let's talk about Paris.

Paris, my dream city.

Paris, the reason I took French in high school.

Paris, the place I was most excited to visit on my backpacking trip to Europe in 2008.

Paris, the city I was hoping would be like this. (It's still like this in my head)

Oh Paris, someday I'll revisit you. When I have more time and money. When it's not 90% humidity out.

There's so much I'm dying to do. Walk around inside Versailles and see the fountains outside. Visit Shakespeare and Co, an English-language bookstore. Go inside Notre Dame. Explore the Louvre more. Eat macarons at Laduree. Stroll down the Champs-Elysees. Climb up the Arc de Triomphe. Go to the tippy top of the Eiffel Tower. Remember what it felt like to be in a new place, witnessing something amazing, and dancing with pure joy.

Favorite books

2011-10-13T20:45:00.000-07:00

What are your favorite books?

I thought since I share what I'm reading each month, it would be fun to do a post on what books I absolutely love.

Anything by Roald Dahl. He was my favorite author growing up - I loved his crazy, whimsical stories. I think I may have to ask for his boxed set for Christmas.

The Harry Potter series. I admit, I came to this party pretty late. I refused to read these when they first came out, I guess I thought they were too juvenile for me. After much pleading, a friend convinced me to read them after our freshman year of college. I read them all in one summer and then made my mom read them. Now we're both die-hard fans. And we really want to go here.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. This is one of the first "adult" books I remember picking up. I found it in the classics section in the library. I don't think I was able to finish it the first time I read it - it was a little too long for me when I was a kid. But I tried again, and fell in love. It's a richly detailed story of a girl named Francie growing up in the early 1900s in New York. I re-read it every couple of years and always come away with something new.

Those are just some of my absolute favs (although, honestly, there are too many to list!)

Fashion fate

2011-10-11T19:32:00.000-07:00

Do you believe in fate? I sure do.

Let's take a trip back to this post. I had talked about buying myself a treat. Well, I never ended up buying anything. I decided to wait until my birthday (next month) but couldn't quite decide what I wanted to get. Well, the other night I was reading the November issue of Lucky, and in the back, one of their Lucky Breaks caught my eye. The Love Knot ring I had on my lust list, half off. Shut the front door! The yellow gold version was $87.50 (with Ariel Gordon donating $50 of that to Doctors Without Borders). After sleeping on it for one night, I bit the bullet. Can't wait to get it in the mail!

#11

2011-10-08T16:36:00.000-07:00

Today I decided to make these buckeyes, from Smitten Kitchen. All this time, I had been operating under the assumption that these require baking (clearly I only skimmed the recipe), so I wanted to wait until summer was over to make them. Well, they don't require any baking. But they make a perfect Fall, Halloween-time treat, so my waiting worked out. Pretty easy to put together, but a little messy (which is why I put up the picture from the recipe rather than a picture of my own). So good and so rich, these definitely won't last long around here.

I think I remember the spellbind

2011-10-06T09:19:00.000-07:00

Did you know this week marks the 50th anniversary of Breakfast at Tiffany's? The movie started filming on October 2nd, 1960 and premiered on October 17th, 1961. I'm currently reading Fifth Avenue 5 A.M. which tells the story of how Truman Capote's novel was made into one of the most influential movies of our time.

Hey grandpa

2011-10-04T20:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I'm kind of an old person living in a young person's body. For instance:

I promptly go to bed at 10 PM every night (slash fall asleep with the light on every night by 10 PM...)

I don't understand twitter (I may or may not call it the twitter)

I say such modern phrases as "slower than molasses on a cold day" and "doesn't blow my dress up darling" (or are those southern phrases?)

And I love me a good grandpa sweater...

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So glad that the weather is finally cooling down so I can wear mine!

What I'm reading: September

2011-09-28T18:52:00.000-07:00

Ok, first of all, I can't believe it's the end of September already. Seriously?! Here is what I've been reading:

Lunch in Paris. I love learning more about Paris (I need to go back!) and so to satisfy my yearning, I picked this up. Elizabeth describes how she met and fell in love with a French man and ends up moving to Paris. I love the descriptions - good and bad - of the city. A fun, fantasy read. I loved vicariously living through her and learning more about the city I adore. Plus, the recipes sound yummy (and pretty difficult to try!)

Another Paris-themed read: The Paris Wife. This is a fictionalized account of Ernest Hemingway and his first wife. I didn't know too much about Hemingway's life, but I loved learning more. It takes place in 1920's Paris, and you get to feel like you're in an extended version of Midnight in Paris. I didn't want it to end.

I also finished up the Hunger Games trilogy. I really liked it! They were quick, interesting reads. I won't give away too much here, but you should check them out.

#9

2011-09-25T19:00:00.000-07:00

#9 on my 24x24 list was to have a technology-free day. No phone, no internet, no tv. Here is the story of how I spent my day 99% technology free:

So other than one quick facebook message to confirm plans for today, I spent the day disconnected. And I got SO much done. Turns out you can be pretty productive without going online all the time. Here was my day: washed my car, cleaned up and rearranged my room, cleaned out our pantry (scary), baked cookies, washed my sheets, vacuumed, went to the post office, and got lunch. It was nice to get a lot done, but also nice to spend the afternoon reading and taking a nap. I think I might have to disconnect more often.

Happy Autumn!

2011-09-23T20:16:00.000-07:00

It's the first official day of fall (according to the calendar, not according to the thermometer). Fall is my very favorite season, and I can't wait to eat pumpkin-flavored things, wear scarves and boots, and drink hot tea. Until then...here are a few noteworthy things:

I've been feeling ever so slightly under the weather all week, so I've been forced to skip the gym for 4 days. I finally made a return today because I was noticeably more stressed all week. Funny how much better exercising makes me feel, body and mind.

I made this mac n cheese last night for my Thursday night dinner. Mmm mmm good. Cheesy, creamy, rich...but the best part is we already had all the ingredients on hand.

Dear Ryan Gosling,

Marry me.

These videos make me so happy. And travel-hungry.

Clutched

2011-09-15T21:28:00.000-07:00

Soooo, remember this post where I drooled over the giant floppy American Apparel clutch that was suddenly everywhere? And I thought about diy-ing it? Yeah, that didn't happen. After discussing it with my mama (queen sewer) she talked me out of it - I think partially out of lack of confidence in my sewing skillz (she's right on that front) and her fear that it would become her sewing project rather than mine (she's definitely right on that front). So the clutch continued to haunt my fashion dreams. While perusing etsy (seriously where does the time go when you're on there?!) I stumbled across clutches that look pretty darn similar from a store called Clutched. I quickly popped a clutch very similar to the one above in my cart. Mine is gray with a yellow zipper. It got here yesterday and I'm so happy! I can't wait to take it out for a night out on the town.

And it was cheaper And I supported an individual rather than skeevy AA. Win all around.

San Diego

2011-09-13T19:15:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, my cousin and I headed to San Diego for a girly weekend (where we watched lots of football, drank beer, and ate nonstop, haha).

We stayed at Hotel Indigo, near the Gaslamp District. It was a super cute hotel. Our view:

We ate lunch at a cute pub, then walked around the Gaslamp District and went shopping. Then we rested up at the hotel (ok, ok I took a nap!) Then we headed up to the rooftop bar for a great view of Petco Park (too bad a game wasn't happening)

And some yummy sangria.

That night we went to the Yardhouse and split a beer float (mmm). Then we headed to the Tipsy Crow (I think we just liked the name) and relaxed with some drinks.

The next day we ate at a small restaurant and then said farewell to the neighborhood. We stopped by Balboa Park for a quick walk around and then drove around Coronado Island. Then it was back home! A wonderful weekend that went by way too fast. Neither of us had spent much time in SD, but we both fell in love. Ready to go back!

Hi again

2011-09-08T18:28:00.000-07:00

Soo....I know I've been a little absent from the bloggie lately, but, hey life happens. I've barely unpacked my suitcase in the last few weeks (first SF, then Las Vegas last weekend, and on Saturday, my cousin and I are headed to SD) and I've also (finally!) dived into the Hunger Games and haven't come up for air since. All I have to offer you right now are 3 pretty pictures from my tumblr:

Hope to have more later!

What I'm reading: August

2011-08-30T20:02:00.000-07:00

I never like to consider myself a book quitter. I usually stick a book through to the very end. However...this month, I picked up Anthropology of an American Girl. And I became a quitter. (I thought if I could make it through Twilight, I could make it through anything - guess not) I tried, I really did. But I HATED this book. Boring, whiny characters, no discernible plot - I gave up on this one around page 200. To recover from that book, here is what I read:

A Summer Affair. Perfect beachy read.

The Raising. I looked at this at Borders a few times before I actually brought it home. It's a story of a college freshman, Nicole, who tragically dies in a car accident. Her boyfriend, who was driving the car, is blamed for her death. He becomes haunted by the accident, convinced that she is still alive. As the story unravels, the mystery surrounding Nicole's death grows deeper. You meet a cast of characters whose stories overlap and intersect. I found the subject matter really interesting, and the author's writing was great. In particular, the last 100 pages or so had me really eager to solve the mystery.....and then I felt like the story hit the brakes. The epilogue didn't give a concrete conclusion, and the one that it seemed to lean towards didn't seem plausible without more explanation from the author. Even with that, I'd definitely pick up another book from her.

Jeans

2011-08-27T20:20:00.000-07:00

I've been pretty devoted to skinny jeans for the past few years. Since I'm short, I feel like they flatter my figure best. Lately, however, I've been lusting after wide leg trousers. I know I'd have to wear some skyscraper wedges in order to balance out all that volume, but I want them, I need them.

[image]

I'll definitely be pairing a less expensive version of these jeans with these wedges and my new mustard-colored sweater once the temperature dips this fall.

Weekend in SF

2011-08-23T19:28:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I headed up for a reunion weekend in San Francisco with my college girls. I haven't been to SF since after freshman year of college, so it was fun to go back and play tourist. It was even better to see all my girls again! We're spread out across the state, but manage to get together every few months. It's always a blast with them.

We hit up Pier 39 and saw the sea lions.

Saw Alcatraz (from afar).

Walked by Fisherman's Wharf.

Headed up to Ghirardelli square....

...for the most delicious sea salt hot chocolate.

Later that night, we headed to my friend Nicole's house for a Breakfast at Tiffany's party. (Girl - you outdid yourself!) When she told me she was throwing this party, I kinda thought she was going to throw on the movie, order some pizza and call it a night (which is what I would have done), But she went above and beyond - check it out:

The next morning, we all had brunch (I requested mickey mouse pancakes!) then we headed home. Quick trip, but so worth it. Miss them already!

I gave in...

2011-08-16T22:03:00.001-07:00

tumblr

Wanderlust

2011-08-14T15:37:00.000-07:00

My cousin and I have a serious case of wanderlust. (Check out her super cute travel-themed tumblr) We love to travel, and I think our thirst for new places really kicked off with our trip to Europe in 2008. Ever since then, we've tried to explore as much as possible. The only problem is, we have champagne travel tastes on a beer budget. Until we strike it rich, we're content to soak up local culture (hence our recent trips to Dodger Stadium, the Getty, LA, etc.) We also try to get away for one weekend a year (08 - road trip up to Santa Cruz, 09 - Sequoia, 10 - Palm Springs). This year, we're heading to San Diego. Even though I've been a So Cal girl all my life, I really haven't explored San Diego all that much. We're only going for one night, but I'm really excited. I always have a ball with her. (And since we're both overpackers, it's like having twice the clothes to choose from!) Here is where we're staying (must admit, the rooftop bar pretty much made our decision for us). I can't wait! Any San Diego recommendations?

Thursday night dinners

2011-08-11T19:36:00.000-07:00

I've mentioned before that Thursday nights have been designated my nights to cook. One of my 24x24 goals was to branch out a bit more and learn to cook something new.

I've been watching the Food Network during my workouts (oftentimes causing me to drool all over the treadmill. Thanks Paula Deen and your beignets). The other day I happened to catch part of Giada's show. She made some delicious-looking grilled veggie sandwiches. They seemed easy enough for even me to attempt. But I think I have cooking ADD. Every time I read a recipe that's a little too long, my eyes start to glaze over and I go "eh whatever, I'll just wing it!!" So I read the recipe, but ended up doing a simpler version. I only used zucchini since we had some growing in the garden. I also nixed the tarragon and thyme. I cooked the zucchini in a pan instead of a grill (they turned out fine). I mixed the ingredients, made the sandwiches, and crossed my fingers for a good reaction from the ~~guinea pigs~~ parents. Let's just say...I would have pictures to share with you, except we all wolfed these down way too fast for me to capture some. We all loved it (even my die-hard carnivore dad). I will definitely be making these again!

#14

2011-08-07T18:55:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I checked #14 off my list. Cousin, mom and I went to the FIDM museum. They were having an exhibit on the little black dress and an homage to Breakfast at Tiffany's. It was a cool exhibit, just wish it was bigger - there were only about 12 dresses there. Afterwards, we hit up Bottega Louie's for lunch and lots and lots of desserts to take home. Mom and I picked creme brulee, peanut better tart and macarons - delicious.

Gray Malin

2011-08-04T20:34:00.000-07:00

Loving Gray Malin's photography. Would love to have any of his photos blown up and hanging on my wall. Definitely check out his website or his spread in this month's Matchbook.

Cambridge Satchel Co.

2011-08-01T17:37:00.000-07:00

Ever since I saw one of these satchels at the Renegade Craft Fair, I've been obsessively checking the Cambridge Satchel website to plot which color I like best. I'm not sure I'm bold enough for a fluorescent one, but a bright pop of red or green is certainly a possibility. They would make the perfect fall bag (the start of which I'm eagerly anticipanting.)

They also have steamer trunks and head boy badges....perfect to live out my Harry Potter dreams.

Beach essentials

2011-07-30T08:58:00.000-07:00

Part of me wishes I could spend everyday at the beach...but, girl's gotta work for a living. So weekend trips will have to do. My beach essentials include: a cute bikini, and something extra cute to cover up with (in case of foggy mornings or apres beach drinks), simple flip flops, a hat and shades (I always pick Ray Bans), a large blanket to sprawl out on, books and ipod, lots of water and snacks (preferably frozen grapes), sunscreen, and a large bag to stuff in all in! Whew, did I miss anything?

Stripe cover-up
American Fashion Travel: Designers On The Go
RParisian Chic
H2OMG Bottle in Indoor
TopShop seersucker bathing suit
Havaianas slim shoes
Square handbag
David Young straw fedora hat
Ray-Ban wayfarer shades
Surfrider Blanket
Apple iPod touch®
Ear Bud Headphones

What I'm reading: July

2011-07-27T21:06:00.000-07:00

Well, July wasn't my most exciting month for books....

I re-read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (in preparation for the movie!). I think I may have to re-read the whole series now. It's been a few years since I've read them all and I definitely found myself saying "What? I don't remember that!" a lot during the 7th book.

I also read It's Kind of a Funny Story. It was all right, same as the movie - good, not great.

Can I also say how devastated I am that Borders is going out of business?! Where am I gonna hang out now? I had to visit the closing sale and say my goodbyes. Sad.

I love L.A.

2011-07-24T19:35:00.000-07:00

Another fun weekend! Saturday, my mom, cousin and I finally saw Harry Potter. Love! That night, cousin snagged free tickets to the Dodgers game for us. (Allowing me to cross #10 off my 24x24 list) We were much more interested in snacks than the game, but it will still fun to go and the Dodgers won! Today, I ventured out to The Getty to go see the Paris: Life and Luxury exhibit. It was wonderful, and it gave me a huge hankering to revisit the City of Light. How was your weekend?

In my own backyard

2011-07-17T16:57:00.000-07:00

I'm sad this weekend is almost over...since this has been the best one in a while.

Started Thursday night with a trip to Malibu Wines with my friend Liz. We bought a bottle of wine each, then watched an outdoor showing of Breakfast at Tiffany's. They have such yummy wine, and it's so much more fun to go when it's not hailing.

Friday, I took a vacation day - slept in, went to the gym, had french toast for breakfast, wine with lunch and a big long nap. Just how a vacation day should be.

The next day, my cousin and I decided to be brave and venture out during Carmaggedon. (turns out, if you tell LA to stay home...they actually do. Traffic was a breeze!) We are both working on saving money, so here's how we did LA on the cheap:

We took the metro to downtown to escape traffic and parking...plus it happened to be free this weekend! First stop: Bottega Louie. We've been wanting to go together for months and I proceeded to drool all over their pastry displays. We didn't eat lunch there (expensive!), but we both bought a box of 4 macarons for $9. Already dreaming of going back.

Next, we hiked up a hill to the 500 Days of Summer Park. (Not it's official title, but it should be). Love that movie!

Right next to that park is Angel's Flight. We rode the "shortest railway in the world" for just a quarter.

Next, we walked to MOCA. I cheated a bit and used my student ID (sorry MOCA), so it was $5. I kinda made up for it, since we ate lunch at their cafe. $10 for pasta, peach ginger lemonade, and the biggest macaron I've ever seen.

Not really a contemporary art person per say, but it was really cool to see Warhol's Campbell Soup paintings, Jackson Pollock work and huge Rothko paintings.

Next, we decided to take the metro over to the Renegade Craft Fair. After hoofing it from Union Station to the fair, we treated ourselves to beers ($5). We walked all through the fair - they had tons of cute stuff. We each ended up buying 3 of these postcards ($10):

On our way back to the metro station, we took a quick wander through Olvera Street, but didn't buy anything. Then, we were back on a train and home again. Overall, our totally fun day ended up costing less than $40.

Love getting to explore my own backyard a little more. I've lived in So Cal all my life and never done any of the things we did. Already planning more adventures :)

Wall art

2011-07-11T18:30:00.000-07:00

Dreaming of adorning my walls with all of the prints on keepcalmgallery.com The only problem is, I can't decide which one I like best!

Dream destination

2011-07-09T18:14:00.000-07:00

[source]

Wishing I was here right now.

Colorful

2011-07-06T19:45:00.000-07:00

[source]

I love that in summer, you can just throw on a bright dress and you're out the door. I don't have much color in my wardrobe (I have too many gray t-shirts to count) but summer is the perfect time to inject some vibrancy into my clothes.

What I'm reading: June

2011-06-30T11:03:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I never claimed to be the most sophisticated book reader out there. Every so often your brain just needs a break. So this month I read...

The Lost Symbol. I know, Dan Brown. Whatever. I really liked it!

The Pretty Little Liars series. Why, yes I do watch the show. Why, no I have no clue what the heck is going on there. The books are not much help, since they're totally different. But equally addicting. I'm on book 4 now and I'll have to sneak into the young adult section of the library this weekend to find the next one.

Stripey

2011-06-28T09:22:00.000-07:00

[1, 2]

For the past few ~~months~~ years, I can't seem to get enough of stripes. They're cool, classic, match anything and easy to dress up or down. They're also easy to integrate into your wardrobe when you're as print and color-phobic as I am. Now all I need are some espadrilles and a beach and I'd be good to go!

Girl Crush: Emma Stone

2011-06-23T21:48:00.000-07:00

[1, 2, 3]

Ok, I have a mad girl crush on Emma Stone. Basically because any movie she's in, you want to be her friend. (So excited to see her in The Help and Crazy, Stupid, Love this summer!) It doesn't hurt that she can rock anything from yellow feathers to black leather.

Summer

2011-06-20T21:50:00.000-07:00

[top, middle, bottom]

Whoa, summer where have you been hiding? We've lucked out so far in Southern California. While other places have been experiencing hot weather for weeks, it only got here like...yesterday. I gotta say, weather this hot is only good for 2 things: sitting by the pool or drinking a margarita. And since my job entails neither of those things....I don't like it. I don't like the heat. Take it back.

Ok, maybe I could learn to like it...if I had one of these cool (literally) blouses to wear.

Anthology magazine

2011-06-15T19:32:00.000-07:00

During one of my many trips to Anthropologie last week, I stumbled upon Anthology magazine. I was only able to quickly flip through it, but I saw tons of drool-worthy articles and pictures about decor, travel, culture and more. But...$12?! Whew. I couldn't stomach it. Luckily, they have graciously put up a few articles online to whet my appetite. But since I'm still thinking about it a week later...I may have to bite the bullet and go get it!

Midnight in Paris

2011-06-13T20:12:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, my cousin and I headed out for brunch and a movie. I had berry french toast (mmm), white peach sangria (double mmm) and we split a 6 beer sampler (yes, at 11 AM, thanks for asking).

Then we watched Midnight in Paris. Love. Love. LOVE. Not only did it have beautiful shots of one of my favorite cities, but I loved the plot, the actors, everything. See it. Seriously. (And check out my cousin's blog post here. Lots of cute pictures!) How in the heck does everyone dress so cute in this movie? Man, talk about clothing inspiration for my next trip.

After that movie, we had to keep the Europe nostalgia going (we went to Europe together in 2008), we hit up the gelato stand. Wonderful day. Love you cousin!

True story

2011-06-10T20:15:00.000-07:00

So, the other day my mama and I were wandering around Anthropologie, looking at all the pretties we couldn't afford...when I saw this:

[source]

Instant connection.

Not sure if it's possible to feel love at first sight for a wallet...but this was pretty darn close. I've been searching for a new wallet for a while, but nothing was quite right. Until this. Simple, classic...and $78. If I bought a wallet for that much, I wouldn't have any money left to put in it! So I left empty-handed.

And then I went back. (Why, yes, I do go to Anthro twice in one week, thanks for asking) And there it was. In the sale section, nearly half off. And I went home a happy girl with a shiny new wallet.

I'm lovin' it

2011-06-07T19:14:00.000-07:00

[source]

Things I'm loving right now:

1. Smores made with reeses. Soooo good.

2. My new iphone. I finally entered the 21st century and got a smart phone. And I haven't gotten any work done since I got it Friday night.

3. Foster the People on repeat all day.

4. This tumblr.

5. And this blog. I seriously can't stop laughing.

Singing in the rain

2011-06-05T19:04:00.000-07:00

[source]

This weekend, I rewatched one of my favorite classic movies, Singing in the Rain. If you never seen it...you should! It's the story of when movies were transitioning from silent movies to sound ones. Don (Gene Kelly) and Lina are the silent era's most famous on-screen couple. The only problem is Lina's annoying voice that just won't work for sound movies. Don brings in the girl he's dating, Kathy (Debbie Reynolds), to do a voiceover for Lina. Hilarity ensues. Plus, lots of dancing, singing, and amazing costumes and colors. The photos I found don't do the film any justice. The Broadway Rhythm Ballet dance sequence is breath-taking. Love!

Closet blahs

2011-06-02T20:04:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been feeling increasingly bored with my wardrobe. I feel like I need to step it up a bit. Since the beginning of college, I haven't had a lot of money to spend on clothes, so I've been making do with cheaper, "fast fashion." Now my closet has some good basics, but a lot of ill-fitting, worn-out clothes still need to be weeded out. I'm making it my goal this weekend to do just that. It's hard for me to let things go, but I think it's time for brutal honesty. After that, I'll be able to make a list of what I'm missing...and get to go shopping!

What I'm reading: May

2011-05-31T19:09:00.000-07:00

I must say, May marked one of the best months I've had in a long time in terms of books.

First, it was The Help. I had seen it in Borders, and was intrigued, and luckily found it at the library bookstore in $3. Yesss. As soon as I finished it, I handed it over to my mom and said "You gotta read this." I rarely say that, but this was so good. Funny, sweet, heart-warming, with great writing and a interesting plot that kept me hooked through the whole book.

Next, I borrowed Bossypants from my cousin. Seriously hilarious. You won't believe how funny and relatable Tiny Fey is. Fair warning - you may want to think twice before reading this in public, it's that funny.

#5 (Part 2)

2011-05-29T19:58:00.000-07:00

Ok, on to Canada! We spent 4 nights in Vancouver and 1 in Victoria. We started our time in Vancouver exploring Gastown (and the abundance of souvenir shops there).

The next day we headed to the Capilano Suspension Bridge. I was psyched for it. My parents, not so much. But we all made it across fine!

Later that day, we headed to Stanley Park and Prospect Point. We wandered around for a few hours. We peeked over the wall of the aquarium and saw beluga whales! And I promptly sang the baby beluga song for the rest of the day. And now it's stuck in my head again...

That night was the playoff hockey game between the Canucks and San Jose Sharks. The entire city was cheering the Canucks on...they won!

The next day we headed to Granville Island. Loved it! They have a large farmer's market and tons of food. I had a bagel and a delicious raspberry and dark chocolate scone that I'm still dreaming of. We took a walk around the harbor there.

Then it was onto a ferry to Victoria. Such a gorgeous ride (and pretty sure we saw a bald eagle on our trip!).

Oh man, I loved Victoria. If I ever move to Canada, this is where I'd want to be. It's a really sweet town with gorgeous neighborhoods, and a to-die-for view of the harbor. Here is the Empress, famous for their $58/person tea. Really?! Yeah, we passed on that.

The Parliament building. That they let people wander around. For free. No security checkpoint. No big deal.

Victoria had a ton of good pubs to eat at. Which I was carded to go into. (P.S. Canada's drinking age is 19. I'm 23. Thanks Canada). But I digress. Lots of good food to be had! Wish we were there for longer than 1 night.

The next morning we headed to the Butchart Gardens. The gardens were stunning. I've never seen so many gorgeous tulips in bloom.

We booked a reservation for afternoon tea there (for $26/person, thankyouverymuchempresshotel!) Oh man...the tea was so fantastic. My mom and I had a ball! My dad was kind of bored, but he put on a brave face. All the food was good, their truffles were melt in your mouth heaven, and I wish I could have their ginger scones every. single. day. We ordered 3 pots of tea and they were all fantastic, but we loved the Rose one the best. I seriously couldn't stop that day. I finally clocked in at 6 cups of tea! Whew. But it was so fun. Highly highly recommended!

And that's it! We headed back to Seattle and then back home. Already planning a re-visit!

#5 (Part 1)

2011-05-25T19:32:00.000-07:00

I promise I'm alive. I didn't abandon you little bloggie! I'm back from vacation and just getting back in the swing of things. I miss getting to take a nap everyday.

Anyways, we spent a week exploring Seattle, Vancouver, and Victoria. I've never been to any of them, and it was so fun! Plus, it allowed me to cross off #5 on my 24x24 list: go on a fabulous vacation. I'll be splitting up my recap into 2 parts: Seattle and Canada.

First, we headed up to Seattle. We took advantage of the sunny (but chilly!) day and walked around Pike Place Market. We managed to arrive during the Cheese festival (yesss free samples) and ate lunch down there.

The flowers there are gorgeous!

Next, we headed up to the Space Needle. It was a little bit crowded because of the beautiful weather, but still fun! And we laughed a little bit because there was a Starbucks up there (it reminded us of that Austin Powers movie where the Starbucks headquarters is in the Space Needle!)

That night, we headed to Pioneer Square and had dinner. There was a Seattle Sounders game that night, so we were pretty much the only ones not wearing jerseys! The pictures start to die off here since the rain showed up to play for a few days.

The next day we took the Underground Tour. I'm kind of a history nerd so it was really interesting to learn more about how Seattle started. That night we went to The Pink Door for dinner. It's kind of a hidden gem, since there's no sign....just a pink door. Food was delicious, plus they put on a trapeze show (random?). Afterwards, we hit up the original Starbucks! (I always thought there would be a ton of cute independent coffee shops in Seattle...nope. It's all Starbucks. Like one every block.)

The next day we drove to Canada for a few days, then came back the day before our flight out. We hit up Pike Place Market again and ate lunch at Beecher's Cheese. If you've been to Pike Place, this is the place where they have a big vat of curds being made in the corner window. We didn't try curds (um, no thanks), but we did enjoy some BOMB grilled tomato, basil and cheese sandwiches. Yum.

I'll be back later to recap Vancouver and Victoria!

Get your pack on

2011-05-13T20:53:00.000-07:00

So my family and I are heading to Seattle and Vancouver in a few ~~days~~ hours (can you tell I started this post earlier this week? and then procrastinated on it?) and I'm trying my best to pack. Or rather, I'm trying my best not to overpack. You see, my speciality is overpacking. I'm really really good at it. I'm staring at the duffel bag that is currently occupying half the floor space in my room, and all I can think is....nice try, Sydney. You're just not meant to be a light packer though. Good game.

So I'm off to lug my ginormous bag across 2 countries and I can't wait. See y'all in a week.

#3

2011-05-09T20:34:00.000-07:00

#3 on my 24x24 list was to donate my time or money to a good cause. A few weeks ago, while I was jogging at the gym, I was thinking how it would be interesting to challenge myself to do a 5k. A few days after that, a friend told me about the Revlon Run/Walk (sometimes it's funny how the universe responds to you). I convinced my cousin to walk it with me. It was the first time I had done anything like that, but it feel so good and inspiring to be a part of it. I would definitely love to try another one.

Dotty

2011-05-05T20:39:00.000-07:00

[source]

Oh man is it hot outside. I think we should all get an automatic day off of work if the temp is above 90. Cause it's way too nice out to be answering phones instead of laying out at the beach. And if I was at the beach, hopefully I'd be wearing this cute polka dot number.

Princess Bride

2011-05-03T20:55:00.000-07:00

[source]

Ok seriously. These dresses are ridiculous. Ridiculously amazing. I think I need that maid of honor's dress in my life now. You know, just to wear around the house.

What I'm reading: April

2011-04-30T20:23:00.000-07:00

[amazon]

In the Happiness Project, the author Gretchen Rubin spends a year trying to incorporate various happiness lessons into her life. She attempts to make over all areas of her life using psychological studies to guide her. (I'm a sucker for psych stuff). Interesting book, with some good take aways for how these things can be used in my own life.

[amazon]

I picked up these two as light, quick reads. Very cute chick lit. Ready for the Something Borrowed movie!

I don't think we're in Kansas anymore...

2011-04-28T09:38:00.000-07:00

[source]

Saw this on someone's tumblr earlier and immediately had to search out the entire editorial. I always love seeing how photographers reimagine classic stories. I absolutely adore the saturated colors and surreal feeling of this shoot.

Pocket Dresses

2011-04-25T15:45:00.000-07:00

I have a special place in my heart for dresses with pockets. I can be on the fence about a dress, but once I discover it has pockets, I suddenly ~~want~~ need it. Not only are they easy to dress up or down, there's so many good uses for those pockets - keys, chapstick, phone, snacks...the possibilities are endless.

bustier dress

Stripe dress

Double breasted jacket

Lanvin low heels

TOMS canvas flat

Rebecca Minkoff cross body bag

Marc by marc jacobs handbag

Dream house

2011-04-23T21:48:00.000-07:00

[source]

Can I please have the house from It's Complicated? It's pretty swoon-worthy. If that's not available, I'd take the bakery as a consolation prize.

Denim on denim

2011-04-17T19:46:00.000-07:00

[source 1, source 2, source 3]

Denim on denim has long been on fashion's no-no list, but over the past few years, the tides have been turning. Still hard to pull off, but when done right...it is so good.

Clutch it

2011-04-11T13:39:00.000-07:00

I've had my eye on this clutch from American Apparel for a while (you may have seen it making it's rounds in the blogosphere). Howevahhh, I don't think I can justify dropping $50 on a clutch. So I'm thinking it looks pretty easy to make....hmm do I feel a diy coming on?

Gatsby

2011-04-09T09:22:00.000-07:00

[source]

Even though we had a brief taste of summer, we are right back to crisp weather and that is just fine by me. Currently loving J. Crew's Fall 2011 lookbook, inspired by The Great Gatsby (sidenote - who else is psyched for the movie version?!) I adore the bright pops of color, something rarely seen for Fall.

#24

2011-04-07T19:29:00.000-07:00

#24 on my list was to go to Vegas with my friends. It's an annual (or ok, sometimes a bi-annual) tradition for us to all meet up there for a weekend. It's a few days of laughing, dancing, drinking, and not much sleeping. For our first night, we headed to The Bank for free admission, free drinks, and a promised arrival of Bradley Cooper (2 out of 3 ain't bad). The next day we hung by the pool, walked the strip, and went to an ice bar (pretty cool! pun intended). That night we headed to Ghostbar. I've wanted to go for a while, so we finally hit it up. 55 floors up, with awesome views of the Strip. There's even a see-through floor so you can look down. I had so much fun dancing my little booty off. I had an amazing weekend that I'm still trying to recover from. Can't wait for next year!

Uninvited houseguest

2011-04-05T19:27:00.000-07:00

[Domino magazine]

Um, do you think Jenna Lyons would notice if I moved into her Brooklyn brownstone? I don't take up much room...

What I'm reading: March

2011-03-31T20:07:00.000-07:00

[amazon]

Coming in just under the wire for this one...but here is what I read this month. I picked up One Day at the library bookstore. It tells the story of Dex and Emma, by only revealing their lives on one day a year. We first meet them as they graduate college, and follow them for 20 years. The characters felt real and relatable, and just when you think everything will work out...it doesn't. A little lengthy, but still good, especially for the very genuine commentary on friendships and relationships.

#4

2011-03-29T16:16:00.000-07:00

#4 on my 24x24 list was to improve my mile time to 9:00. If you know me (and my history with exercise), you'd know this is a BIG goal. But I did it!! I actually hit this on the 7th (why yes, I did write it down in my calendar), but I wanted to make sure I could actually replicate it. It is by no means easy for me to do, but it is doable! I'm so so proud of myself because I was never an athletic kid growing up, I've only started regularly exercising since graduating from college. Now I feel like I'm at my healthiest yet. Onwards and upwards!

The Good Life

2011-03-25T13:45:00.000-07:00

[source]

Loving the editorial from the April issue of Lucky, titled The Good Life. Definitely looks like fun!

If only...

2011-03-23T08:06:00.000-07:00

...I had $22,000 to spare for this.

Bits and pieces

2011-03-21T15:52:00.000-07:00

I watched Sofia Coppola's Marie Antoinette this weekend. I haven't seen it since it was in theaters, but I still really liked it! Fashion + history = I'm in. The scene above is hands down the best part.

myfdb.com is my favorite new website. It makes it super easy to find covers and editorials online. Love.

I'm a tiny bit obsessed with Matchbook magazine. I normally never read online magazines (all the print ones I subscribe to keep me pretty busy), but I think I may have to start. This Topshop one may be next on my list.

My parents and I are heading to Seattle and Vancouver in a few months and I'm trying to convince them to do this. Not having much luck.

Definitely going to order this with my amazon gift card.

I want to work there.

2011-03-19T09:18:00.000-07:00

Just outside Philadelphia, the headquarters for Urban Outfitters Corporate Campus. I can definitely see the Anthro influences. Don't you just want to roam around and explore it for a day?

See more drool-worthy pictures here.

PS I love you

2011-03-16T21:16:00.000-07:00

I have drooled over the PS 1 bag for a long time. One thing I don't love: the $1,995 price tag. Unfortunately, I won't be able to afford that for quite some time, so here are some lower cost options that might tide me over:

1. The real deal, $1,995

2. Cream bag, $96

3. Cognac bag, $34.99

4. Black bag, $67

Treat yourself

2011-03-13T16:32:00.000-07:00

I have a few nice pieces of jewelry, all given to me by family and friends. I only buy myself cheapy accessories, usually of the Forever 21 variety. Since my tax return was a little larger than anticipated, I plan on treating myself to something special. I'm looking for a simple, everyday piece.

Love Knot Ring, $68

Diamond Ring, $115 (+$50 if I actually want it be able to wear it)

Stacking Bangles Set, $90

Heart Silhouette Ring, $48

Love Diamond Necklace, $98

Nothing better than showing yourself a little love. Which one is your fav?

Glasses make the girl

2011-03-11T19:04:00.000-08:00

[tumblr]

Hipster princesses.

Happy Friday!

Chrissie White

2011-03-10T19:33:00.000-08:00

[chrissiewhite.com]

I first heard about Chrissie White's photography through Oprah magazine, and when I checked out her website I was blown away. She is so talented! And only 17 years old. The last picture (above) is my favorite - especially since it was done without photoshop. Check out all her pictures! Stunning.

Spring has sprung

2011-03-08T20:08:00.000-08:00

[anntaylorloft.com]

Whew, can you believe it's March already?! Where does the time go? Before you know it, spring will be here. I'll definitely be pulling inspiration from this Loft ad for my outfits.

Dogeared

2011-03-06T12:11:00.000-08:00

[dogeared.com]

Recently ordered from Dogeared jewelry. I could spend hours perusing their baubles (ps isn't baubles a fun word?) I love their "make a wish" - they have one for pretty much any occasion. Love!

Oscars

2011-03-03T21:39:00.000-08:00

My hands down fav...

[Image: harpersbazaar.com]

#13

2011-03-01T20:42:00.000-08:00

You guys, I did it. I managed to make a speech at my cousin's wedding without passing out. Her wedding was beautiful, personal and elegant. Way too soon, it was time for speeches. The groom made a funny, sweet speech. The best man made a witty speech with a great ending. All the sudden it was my turn. It was sentimental, but I had to keep it short because my cousin and I were crying. But I'm so proud of myself! I spoke publicly! Admittedly, my wine glass was almost empty by the time I got up there, but still...another one crossed off my 24x24 list.

Layers

2011-02-25T18:51:00.000-08:00

Stumbled across these amazing images created by artist Corinne Vionnet. She layers hundreds of pictures found online to create these representations of some of the most famous landmarks in the world. Such a cool idea, it's so fun to imagine all the stories and people in those blurs.

Bazaar

2011-02-23T16:58:00.000-08:00

When I was in Borders the other day, I was flipping through the Harper's Bazaar Best Covers special. In the end, I couldn't justify spending $13 for it, but I'm still dreaming of these covers...

[Images: Harper's Bazaar]

What I'm reading: February

2011-02-21T21:13:00.000-08:00

[amazon.com]

I picked up Between Here and April to read this month. The main character, Elizabeth, starts to look into the disappearance of her childhood friend April. She learns the tragic tale that her childhood friend and her sister were killed by their mother, who then committed suicide. As Elizabeth looks into the story further, she stirs up painful memories and hurt feelings. Elizabeth delves deeper into the life of April's mother, Adele, who had to deal with postpartum depression, something not well understood in the 1970s. The parallels between Adele and Elizabeth become more apparent. Elizabeth never finds out the true story of April's death. Heavy subject matter, but the ending felt a little unfinished to me.

Stayin' alive

2011-02-21T13:35:00.000-08:00

Ok, I promise I'm still alive. I spent the better part of last week sick as a dog. Some super cold knocked me on my ass. Anyways, I knew I had to pull it together because it was my cousin's bachelorette party on Saturday. I knew she wanted something more classy than trashy, so I planned a simple day of wine-tasting and dinner.

First, we hit up drybar. I had never been, but it was pure girly fun. Blowouts, champagne, magazines...so great!

Then we picked up some bread, cheese and strawberries and headed over the Malibu Wines. It was PACKED, so instead of tasting, we just bought a bottle of wine and brought it to our table. I'm not a huge wine fan, but it was delicious! Unfortunately, clouds started rolling in. First it was drizzling. Then raining. Then pouring. Then hailing! In Malibu! We had to make a quick getaway, which was so sad. It would be amazing to go back when the weather is nice.

Then we headed to Ladyface Alehouse, a super cool restaurant and brewery. Since my cousin and I got there at a weird time (4:00), we weren't super hungry and therefore couldn't sample too much, but we'd love to go back for the beer tasting we saw as we were paying (doesn't that always happen?!)

It wasn't a typical bachelorette, but I had a blast! I hope my cousin did too :)

Wow

2011-02-15T18:33:00.000-08:00

[Images: barryunderwood.com]

How stunning and magical are these photos? Underwood uses light installations to create these amazing pictures. So pretty.

#6

2011-02-13T19:29:00.000-08:00

[gap.com]

I finally bit the bullet and splurged on some jeans. And by splurged, I mean I spent more than $20 on a pair. I was tired of Forever 21 jeans, which worked for a while, but quickly stretched out and lost their shape. I enlisted one of my closest friends to help me and we headed off to the Gap. I brought a pile to the dressing room (along with the skinny cropped blank pants I had been eyeing - turned out they were long enough to be normal pants on me). In the end, I chose the Always Skinny in dark and medium wash. Investing in classic basics = always worth it.

In the raw

2011-02-07T20:39:00.000-08:00

[amorevalkyrie etsy]

[RawEarthStudio etsy]

[mycellardoor etsy]

Currently loving the look of raw amethyst. Earthy, eye-catching and surprisingly affordable.

It's here, it's here!

2011-02-04T21:01:00.000-08:00

I heard about it months ago, and I finally got the teaser email for Anthro's new wedding line. Covering everything from dresses and shoes, to decor and invitations, it's bound to be chic and sophisticated, just like Anthropologie. Although I'm far from marriage (ahem, to the continual dismay of certain family members), I can't wait to check it out once it's my time!

Girl Crush: Camilla Belle

2011-02-02T20:10:00.000-08:00

[Images: camilla-belle.net]

Ok, confession: I'm not entirely sure I could name any movie Camilla Belle has been in besides that Disney one where she surfs and her name was Sydney (anyone else remember? nope, just me? ok). But she routinely kills it in terms of style. Definitely a risk-taker (I mean how many girls would wear the gray dress up top?).

What I'm reading: January

2011-01-30T17:43:00.000-08:00

[michaelpollan.com]

In an effort to practice more mindful eating, I picked up the Omnivore's Dilemma to learn a little bit more about food today. Pollan explores many aspects of the food market today: from industrial corn-growing, to harvesting wild mushrooms. He spends a large chunk of the book at a small farm, learning how one man strives to create food as nature designed it. Each animal and plant takes part - in turns nourishing and being nourished by the land. Animals are allowed to freely graze, plants are grown and fertilized naturally, rather than with chemicals. It's a clear example of how a small, natural farm is still able to produce bounty. It's a fairly long book, with a ton of information in it, but if the topic is interesting (as it was to me) I'd recommend it! Definitely eye-opening. (Fair warning though - might make you feel a bit squirmish in some parts.)