style extraordinaire

stripes to the MAX!

2013-07-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

last week i took a few days off of work to just hang out. i normally like to use my time off for a real vacation or sickness, but every now and then i'll take a day or two and just hang out with friends. it's nice to have a day at home/go out to lunch/do something in the evening where i don't feel rushed after work. on thursday night i went out with my friends to malo to watch some stand-up comedy, eat some tacos and have a drink or two. it's been super hot lately, so i wanted to wear something that would be light, comfortable, and cute. this striped maxi that i picked up from the last rachel pally sale was just the thing to wear.

rachel pally maxi dress (similar), vintage belt (similar), shoe mint sandals (similar), ray-ban sunglasses (old), j.w. hulme bag (similar), gap denim jacket

the comedy show was hilarious, the tacos delish (get the squash blossom tacos!), and the dress was the perfect thing to wear for a warm summer night. i can't say i love an outfit more than one that feels like pajamas! this would also make a great traveling dress!

p.s. thanks to anjelica for taking my photos!

camping

2013-07-19T07:30:00.000-07:00

somewhat belated, but i spent 4th of july camping. the campground was in the los padres national forest, which was about 20 mins outside of ojai. normally i camp around some kind of body of water (ocean, lake, river...) but this campground wasn't near any water. actually there is a reservoir near by, but we didn't find out until the end of the day before we were leaving. oops! anyway, camping fashion, its like... just dirty. dirty hair, dirty shoes, dirt covered everything. so naturally we just decided to have a photoshoot, cause why not? its not like my hair is dirty or anything...

ray-ban aviators, lululemon bra (similar), vintage overalls (similar)

actually, it was a pretty fun camping trip - minus the lack of running water and the things that were supposed to be a bathroom (GROSS). next time i need a beach within walking distance!

blending in (camo pants)

2013-06-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

blogging: hard when i'm not inspired. and also when i feel bored with my closet. but then i did some shopping (also have A LOT of stuff to get rid of) and feel a bit more like blogging. i found out about a rag&bone/jean sale in LA. it was like... amazing. and so now i have some new stuff to blog about! i picked up these camo pants which i'd had my eye on for awhile (really just waiting for them to go on sale & hoping my size would still be available). i guess i got lucky, because i found them at the sale! i love the pixelated camouflage print - something different from the rest of the camo print out right now. in other news - i've jumped on the denim vest train. and i'm obsessed with my dolce vita shoes.

rag & bone vest, madewell tank (super old), rag & bone jeans, dolce vita heels, elizabeth & james sunglasses, cambridge satchel.

i'm going to try to blog more... but i can't make any promises. i mean, i'm really busy gardening and going to disneyland, so you know...

garden update 4 (two weeks)

2013-05-09T07:30:00.000-07:00

a long-overdue garden update:

cilantro, two weeks ago.

cliantro, 1 week ago.

kale, two weeks ago.

kale, 1 week ago.

carmello tomato, 2 weeks ago.

carmello tomato, 1 week ago.

lots of sungold cherry tomatos.

more of the sungold cherry tomatoes.

the first ripe tomato!

and then i ate it. it was delish.

big boy tomato, 2 weeks ago.

big boy tomato, 1 week ago.

tomatoes, 2 weeks ago.

tomatoes, 1 week ago.

i'm about to have lots of tomatoes and cilantro, guess i'm making salsa this summer!

parisian-ish

2013-04-24T07:30:00.000-07:00

the weather we've been having in LA is ridiculously undecided. is it summer? is it spring? is it winter? who knows. it's 80 degrees one day and 65 the next. maybe it will sprinkle. its just that time of year when the weather just can't make up its mind, which makes getting dressed a bit more complicated. i have to ask myself - will it be cold today? will the AC in my office be turned up way to high because its slightly warm outside? will the wind pick up and make it feel cooler than it actually is? so much thought goes into getting dressed (never mind the whole "am i sitting at a desk or working on a shoot today"), its pretty much a guessing game when it comes to weather appropriate outfits.

luckily the weather decided to stay on the cool side - just warm enough that i could walk around without my trench but not so warm that i wished i'd worn a tank. i also feel a little bit parisian in this outfit. i don't know why, i was in paris almost 6 years ago so i really don't know what all the girls are wearing. but my scarf is from paris and my tee is st. james. so, you know. i decided to pull out my neon pink cambridge satchel to add some color to an otherwise gloomy morning!

madewell trench (similar), st. james tee, rag & bone jeans, boutique 9 oxfords (similar), elizabeth & james sunnies, cambridge satchel bag

and i totally realize that this is almost the exact same outfit i just posted (minus the minnie ears), but whatever. i like this outfit and in real life (vs. blogger life) people wear the same thing multiple times!

garden update 3

2013-04-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

yesterday was earth day, and what better than to post than a garden update? i took these photos a week ago, but totally ~~got too lazy~~ forgot to post them! guess that happens when you are working out every. freaking. day. at 7 am.

i swear everything is growing so fast, i'm kinda amazed every time i go to the garden! or i'm just amazed that i haven't actually killed any of my plants yet.

cilantro

oregano

curly kale

carmello, sungold, big boy tomato varieties

little sungold cherry tomatoes

more sungold tomatoes growing

i can't wait till those little tomatoes are ripe! nothing is better than a homegrown tomato right off the vine. i'm hoping to have enough tomatoes to can them for the next winter!

garden update (rip eggplant)

2013-04-12T07:30:00.000-07:00

sad news in garden update this week, my eggplant was killed (roots eaten) by an evil beast (gopher). but the rest of my plants are doing well!

cilantro seedlings popping up.

curly kale is getting bigger!

more sunflowers sprouting

tomatoes keep growing! a bunch of tomatos are growing on the sungold!

i will have to replace the eggplant (or plant something else that gophers don't like). crossing my fingers the gopher was just passing through and won't be back!

i'm going to disneyland (every month)

2013-04-11T07:30:00.000-07:00

for my birthday this year i bought an annual pass to disneyland. it was kinda impulsive, but not impulsive at the same time. my sister and i had been talking about getting a pass for at least 6 months, we just love disneyland and it's kinda like one of those things that i just had to do it otherwise i will just talk about doing it forever. or i may have gone crazy. whatever.

it's impossible to take a photo without other people in it.

gap denim jacket, saint james tee, rag & bone jeans, keds for madewell sneakers (old), elizabeth & james sunglasses

my sister and two friends (gabby & lea - they are also sisters) bought passes, 'cause whats the point of having a pass if your friends don't have one to go with you (every month)???

teacups!

my goal: go to disneyland one full day and one night after work every month. minimum. i definitely haven't been there enough in my life so far. i mean, i haven't used a map in years and i know where all the best bathrooms are but i haven't learned everything about the place. i'm kinda obsessing. there might be a lot of disney on this blog this year. just a warning to those alien readers who don't like disneyland. and by alien i mean people who don't like disneyland. how do you exist in the world?

p.s. i think this is the happiest i've ever looked on the blog. pretty sure it's cause i keep getting called "princess" by the cast members. or the fact that there is beer at california adventure. but most likely the princess thing.

valhalla goat farm bar soaps + baby goats!

2013-04-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

back in the summer of 2012 my mom gave me a bar of soap. the bar of soap was actually a bar of shampoo soap, from the valhalla goat farm. at first i was a little hesitant - washing my hair with a bar of soap? definitely sounds weird, but it's been a few months and i'm totally switched from liquid shampoo to bar shampoo.

shampoo bar on top, rosemary detox on bottom

since switching to bar shampoo, i've also switched to a bar soap for my face as well as body wash. all the soaps from the valhalla goat farm are all natural, and made with goatmilk! the shampoo works into a great lather, sometimes i don't even use conditioner (searching for a good, all natural alternative to conditioner)! it doesn't leave a residue and my hair looks just as good as it did when i was using a expensive salon shampoo & conditioner. i also started using the rosemary detox for my face, which i love! it has activated charcoal which is great for skin, and i love the rosemary scent!

a little bonus - the last time i went to my mom's house we made a stop at the farm to see the goats! two baby goats had been born just over a week before my visit, so i really wanted to go see the babies!

has anyone else tried a shampoo bar? would you ever try it? aren't the baby goats cute?

the (community) garden plot

2013-04-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

this year i've joined the community garden in eagle rock. i've lived in my house for 3 years, and have tried and failed to grow an edible garden in my yard. i'm pretty sure my failure has to do with the massive black walnut tree that is growing in my neighbors yard, and the black walnut seedlings that pop up all over my yard. its a long story, but basically most veggies won't grown near a black walnut tree. even a seed or a leave can ruin the soil. it only took me 3 years to figure out why my tomatoes kept dying.

now i've got a nice little plot at the community garden. during the fall/winter i planted a cover crop, and now i've planted in the plot!

this is my plot just after planting for spring.

2 weeks after planting. everything is looking good!

3 types of tomatoes: carmello, sun cherry (3 little tomatoes already growing), big boy

there are cilantro seeds in this planter

parsley and curly kale

japanese eggplant

in the strip of dirt along the edge i planted 4 different kinds of sunflowers.

i'm crossing my fingers for success this year. it's been 3 weeks and so far everything is looking good! my plants have grown, the sunflowers and cilantro is starting to sprout! i also planted some japanese mustard greens. i am planning on planting something else, maybe some chard. maybe some strawberries. maybe a zucchini? i'll be posting weekly updates on the garden!

and let the record show - fashion people can do things that don't involve fashion!

easter sunday + luna

2013-04-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

i first saw this dress in the window at the americana madewell store. i was running by the store (literally, i was training for a 5k that went through the americana) and did a double take. a few weeks later i went to try it on, but i didn't buy it. then i got one of those take an additional % off sale emails and what do you know, the dress was on sale. i was all set to order it, but i was like $3 away from free shipping. so i ended up back at the store and guess what! the dress was on bigger sale than online and i got the additional discount! i love madewell sales.

also featured in this post - my new dog luna! she looks similar to carlos but she isn't the same. her hair is lighter and longer. her ears are floppy. she is a little bit taller than carlos. just incase anyone is wondering, yes i did search for a dog that looked the same as carlos. i found her from a rescue in the valley.

madewell dress, free people jacket (silmilar), zara tights (similar), jeffrey campbell boots (similar)

i love the way my garden looks this time of year. i don't care about my lawn. i don't even water it, but the rest of the yard i try to take care of. i also love the way my hair looks right now. all natural color, and i love the cut (thanks to anjelica)! why was i coloring/not cutting my hair for so long???

paddy's pub

2013-03-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

i'm back! no explination for my lack of blog posts other than i just wanted a break. wasn't feeling inspired. maybe i just needed to buy new clothes?? so i bought a few new things, like another pair of those keds for madewell (cause why not?) and an oversized neon green tee that was on major sale - $5 - at madewell. and then naturally (since i don't own any other green) i wore the neon shirt on st. paddy's day. and how convenient was it that paddy's pub was just down the street from the bar i went spent st. paddy's day at? and i just recently watched all of its always sunny on netflix (better late than never). too perfect.

gap denim jacket, madewell tee (neon no longer available), free people skirt (similar), keds for madewell sneakers, elizabeth & james sunglasses

in other news - i got a bike. i'm turning into a crazy exercise person. re-decorating the house. going to be at disneyland more than any normal person should. now have two dogs. soooo, more good stuff to come!

holiday dress - pt. 3

2013-01-01T17:59:00.000-08:00

happy new year! i figured i'd better post the last of my holiday dress photos before its too late and holiday outfits are completely irrelevant. while i had originally planned to do 4 different looks with the madewell dress, i ended up just hanging out at home on new years eve. getting all dressed up seemed rather pointless when i'm just watching a movie at home. for christmas dinner i wore my penfield shirt over the dress to change things up a bit, plus i didn't really need a jacket!

penfield shirt, madewell dress, indigo by clarks booties, free people necklace (old)

holiday dress - pt. 2

2012-12-27T07:30:00.000-08:00

i didn't actually take these photos the day of the office holiday party. i had to take them two days after. why? let me tell you. it all started out with an email from drybar announcing the opening of the newest location in pasadena. the opening just happened to be the day before the office holiday party. i then received another email, this time from groupon, for you guessed it - a drybar groupon good only at the new pasadena location. so naturally i'd rather have someone else do my hair for the party, especially after working all day long. so i buy the groupon, make my appointment - which is supposed to last 35-45 minutes - leaving me with enough time to go home after the appointment do my make-up and get to where i needed to be at a reasonable time. the best laid plans.

i "ordered" the mai tai - loose, beachy waves. an hour and a half after my appointment my hair was finally done, didn't look like i had expected it too (i told the stylists not to curl my hair with the round brush, as it would fall straight within 15 mintues), and was running late extremely late. a 10 minute drive back to my house to finish getting ready and my loose, beachy waves looked more like the straight up. so it looked fine, but it wasn't what i wanted and OH YEAH, why did it take an hour and a half for the "stylist" to blow dry my hair?!?!

anyway, i am completely inflexible and was so annoyed at the entire situation. i missed the taco bar at the party. stupid drybar. i've given up on drybar, i won't be back and i don't reccommend you go. seriously, i could do my hair better myself. and then i had a whole bunch of technology issues and couldn't get the photos edited for like 2 weeks and so now i am finally able to post these photos.

madewell dress, free people pumps, free people jacket (old), luv aj bracelet and hand chain, marc by marc jacobs clutch (similar)

i could rant and rant about this not-awful but no where near good enough to return experience at drybar. on the bright side i had a groupon so its not like i paid full price or anything. now christmas is over and i have two more posts with this dress. is anyone tired of the dress yet? i'm not antianticipating anymore tech issues (but does anyone really?) so maybe i'll post more? who knows.

holiday dress - pt. 1

2012-12-10T07:44:00.000-08:00

i've been soo ~~lazy~~ busy lately!!! that's my excuse for not blogging. and now onto the post.

i decided to break my no unnecessary shopping streak (a.k.a. no clothes shopping) a few weeks ago and ended up buying that lace madewell dress that was on my fall/winter wish list - and it's going to be my holiday dress. i'm planning on wearing it for every single holiday related event, which is probably a crime of fashion in someone' book. don't care. i know i'm not the only one who bought a dress for a specific event, wore it once and now said dress is hanging in the closet but i can't get rid of it cause i just might wear it again... i don't want to end up on hoarders one day.

so one dress, 4 holiday events. first, was thanksgiving and i dressed the lace dress down because we don't get all fancy and stuff at thanksgiving. or in california.

madewell dress, gap jacket, frye boots (similar), elizabeth & james sunglasses

sooo what do you think? am i crazy for wearing the same dress all holiday season? i'm going to style it differently each time (duh). let me know in the comments!

transitioning to less waste - diy make-up remover

2012-11-15T08:19:00.000-08:00

i haven't given up on my goal of reducing the amount of waste i produce, even though its been ages since i first brought up the subject. i have been busy testing out homemade alternatives to all the products i used to buy, use then throw in the trash (or recycling)! soooo, one of my biggest waste creating products - the oh so convenient make-up remover towelettes. you know, they come in a plastic package (waste), you pull one out, clean your face, and throw it away (more waste). did i mention that these things cost at least $8 dollars a pack (before adding tax)? did i also mention that the number one ingredient is water? followed by other things i can't pronounce. yes ladies, we have been paying close to $10 for paper towels soaked in water. yup.

so i did a little internet research and found some recipes for homemade make-up removers. and then i felt awful because for years i'd been wasting my money on those towelettes when the whole time i had everything in my house to make a make-up remover. think of all the clothes i could have bought with that saved money!!!

ultimately, i decided to use the measurements from one recipe i found but different ingredients. this is literally the easiest diy ever and i'm almost embarrassed to even call it that, but i'm sure someone out there will be amazed at this. i decided to use coconut oil instead of olive oil - i don't know if you've heard, and its not scientifically proven, but coconut oil has magical powers. you can use it for everything. i'm pretty sure that when you use coconut oil in a homemade make-up remover it actually makes you more beautiful. like i said, its not scientifically proven but i'm like 90% sure its true. i also used dr. bronner's liquid soap instead of johnson's baby shampoo. dr. bronners is made from vegetables, completely biodegradable and yeah, i also think there might be some kind of magical powers in this soap (the website even says that its magic).

homemade make-up remover instructions:

grab a jar with a lid. heat one cup of water, you should probably do this on the stove and not in the microwave. pour hot water into the jar, and add one table spoon coconut oil and one tablespoon the soap of your choice. screw the lid onto the jar and shake to combine.

that is it. homemade make-up remover. you should wait for it to cool down before using it. and if you are sitting here thinking "zero waste? what about the cotton pads that you will use to apply the make-up remover?" i've got a solution for that too. i made some flannel make-up remover squares like these. you could also just use an old t-shirt that you cut into squares, but the flannel squares are cuter.

a few tips - do not use the peppermint dr. bronners, it will burn your eyes. i'd suggest the lavender, rose or the unscented mild baby soap.

will you try the homemade make-up remover? i've been using it for months and i works just as well as the expensive, throw away towelettes. let me know what you think in the comments!

angel wings

2012-11-12T07:30:00.000-08:00

these pictures are funny because i am standing in front of some street art that makes me look like i have angel wings. i am not an angel. neither is carlos. ask anyone. we are more like devils (i was sorted into slytherin on pottermore). on another note - it was actually cold this weekend. like below 50 degrees! at night! that's cold for los angeles. i made bf light the pilot light for the heater.

free people jacket (old, but similar), free people slip, lululemon leggings (similar), frye boots (similar), ray-ban sunglasses, dog not available in stores - he's one of a kind.

my sunday: brunch at urth. moca at the geffen contemporary. macaroons from bottega louie. stopping by the garden to water. dinner at la cabinita. i wish it was always sunday. happy monday?

splendid/ella moss sample sale - this weekend!

2012-11-08T07:52:00.002-08:00

with the election going on this week i almost forgot, but i want to let you all know that starting tomorrow (thats friday, november 9th) through saturday (november 10th) is the splendid/ella moss sample sale! see flyer & more info:

so, if you want to get a head start on your holiday shopping (wait... its not even thanksgiving yet!) or just need to stock up with some basics for yourself, this will be the place to get it! not only will there be women's from splendid & ella moss, but there will be men's, boy's and girl's and even stuff for babies! i'll be there, will you?

i voted for 4 more years!

2012-11-07T08:20:00.001-08:00

source

last night obama was re-elected president! i could not be happier, or more relieved, because this election season was exhausting and stressful. but it is finally over and obama is sticking around for 4 more years!

i love voting. i'd been carrying around my sample ballot in my purse for days before the polls opened. i had everything marked how i'd vote come election day, and when i got to my local polling place i was way too excited! i got my sticker and the rest of the day was a long one. waiting for 4 pm to come around, when the east coast polls start closing and results start coming in. at first it didn't look that great, but it was still early. then it just kept getting better and better, and it was called for obama!

there were also a lot of great changes happening around the country - allowing same sex marriage in maine and maryland! legalizing marijuana in colorado and washington state (which we failed to do in CA in 2010)! here in california, it looks like only one of my top 3 initiatives is passing. i can't see why prop 37 didn't pass. big agribusiness wins... for now.

did you vote in this election? i heard there were insanely long lines in some places. how do you feel about the outcome of this election? let me know in the comments!

p.s. i'm also really happy we get 4 more years of michelle obama's FLOTUS' style!

friday 5

2012-11-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

happy friday!

i couldn't not buy it...

fresh roma tomatoes for making sauce - diy next week!

pumpkin orange marigolds from the farmers market - bringing some fall color to my house.

pumpkins waiting to be carved at a pumpkin carving party.

a cute little pumpkin shaped rice crispy treat from one of the stylists!

have a good weekend!

pumpkin chocoloate chip squares + halloween costume

2012-11-01T07:30:00.000-07:00

happy day after halloween (a.k.a november 1st). if you haven't overdosed on sugar yet, i'm here to help with some pumpkin chocolate chip squares! but first, my halloween costume:

am i the only person who saw frankenweenie? cause NO ONE knew what i was dressed as. it was kinda depressing, especially with all the work i put into carlos' costume! whatever, on to the treats! these are perfect for curing depression caused by no one knowing your halloween costume.

pumpkin chocolate chip squares modified from this recipe
12-24 squares, depending on the size

ingredients
2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon all spice
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks butter, at room temperature
1 1/4 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup pumpkin puree - i made my own but you can use canned... i guess
12 oz semi sweet chocolate chips

step 1: preheat oven to 350. butter and flour a 9"x13" pan.

step 2: combine flour through salt in a medium size bowl and set aside.

step 3: combine butter and sugar in a large bowl using an electric mixer. once combined, add egg and vanilla extract. mix till combined.

step 4: add the pumpkin puree and combine using an electric mixer. the recipe i used warned not to worry if the mixture looks curdled, but i didn't think it looked curdled. maybe if you used canned pumpkin.

step 5: fold in chocolate chips. spread out the batter evenly in the pan. bake for 35-40 mins. let cool and cut.

these are a great treat to bring to work or a party, and pretty easy to whip up! i've actually already made two batches to take to work. next up with my pumpkin puree will be a savory dish. whats your favorite way to eat pumpkin?

bare legs

2012-10-29T07:30:00.000-07:00

it's hard to believe that november is starting in a few days and i'm still wearing bare legs! we had a few days of cooler weather and even some rain! and then another mini heat wave. 90 degrees in october? with the temps so high, i've been scouring my closet attempting to put things together that are weather appropriate but don't scream summer. my solution: oversized pullover with a sequin skirt.

free people sweater (old, similar), zara skirt (old, similar), frye boots (old, similar), elizabeth & james sunglasses, j.w.hulme bag

these photos are reminding me how much i need to take my boots to be cleaned. i guess i'll add it to my list of never-ending weekend errands. happy monday? at least its halloween this week!

friday 5

2012-10-26T08:45:00.001-07:00

lots of food related things this week. sometimes i just love food more than fashion!

cream of carrot soup from la cabinita - my favorite!

fall has arrived at the farmers market - butternut squash for soup, pumpkin for homemade puree, pomegranates for snacking.

real eggs from the farm - so pretty and better for you. why would you buy from the grocery store??

pumpkin chocolate chip blondies - recipe next week!

forgot that shooting flat can be fun!

happy friday!

fall/winter wish list

2012-10-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

the weather is finally starting to cool down a bit and i'm starting to feel like i need a few changes to my wardrobe as the season is changing...

1. rag & bone the skinny - my favorite dark denim skinnies are ready to be retired, so i'm in the market for a new pair.
2. paige verdugo legging - i need one new fashion denim piece. these paisley print leggings are perfect, not too loud but more interesting than a solid color.
3. penfield buffalo plaid flannel shirt - can't go wrong with a buffalo plaid flannel shirt. i would probably wear this every other day...
4. marc by marc jacobs mouse flats - i've wanted those marc by marc jacobs flats for oh so long, this might be the year i actually buy them.
5. madewell lily lace dress - nice enough to wear to holiday parties, but could also be dressed down for everyday!
6. free people oversized panda cardi - an oversized cardigan has been missing from my closet, and i've been getting tired of my oversized pullovers. this cardi is the answer!
7. sorel tivoli boot - i love my uggs, as ugly as they are but they just aren't cutting it anymore! with the rubber bottom and good traction these will be a perfect replacement to (old) uggs.
8. st. james striped tee - another classic that is (kinda) missing from my closet.

this isn't the most exciting and and trend-filled wish list, but since i'm on the reduced waste/saving money kick i need to be buying things that i can wear more than one season. what's on your fall wish list?

friday 5

2012-10-19T08:28:00.004-07:00

hard to believe that we are only 12 days away from halloween and the end of october! time flies!

a rainbow after the first rainy day of the season!

attempted to rescue a baby quail i found in my yard. carlos seemed to be very protective... or hungry.

toad-in-a-hole with dill pesto and horseradish-beet relish for brunch at auntie em's

spinning - my favorite!

my zero waste, healthy lunch. why don't more people bring their own forks? get your own reusies!

happy friday & have a great weekend!