Category Archives: Accessories

|| What I’m Lovin’ Right Now ||

Posted in Accessories, Beauty, Explore, Fashion, Food, Fun, Handbags, Music, Shoes, Television, Travel, Treats by

If you really stop and think about it, there are so many awesome, inspirational, entertaining, thought-provoking, exciting, deliciously superficial, silly, glamorous or happy things that happen around you everyday if you just open your eyes. I’m opening mine! In addition to the posts dedicated to sharing my personal highlights celebrating the things in life each week that made me smile (you can read my most recent Highlights here) – I’ve decided to start a new recurring blog post to share all of the random things big or small that came into my world, said hello, winked, then either promptly turned it upside down, inside out, or made me give a good “ooooh!” Here’s to having your world ROCKED by a little bit of everything with eyes wide open.

here’s what i’m lovin’ right now

the-carrie-diaries

{God bless the person who heard the cries of so many Sex and the City fans who’ve been going through Carrie Bradshaw withdrawal. This new series follows a 16-year-old Carrie prior to becoming the sex column writing fashionista strutting down 5th Avenue in 5-inch Manolos. Fun!}

the-carrie-diaries

{When I’m ready for my big walk down the aisle, I’m taking a cue from Emily Schuman of Cupcakes and Cashmere fame and hiring these guys! Instead of your traditional long form wedding video, Shark Pig takes a highly stylized approach to immortalize your big day by shooting on Super 8mm film and editing it into a music video inspired montage creating something magical and timeless. You HAVE to check out Emily’s big day and see their work. Enjoy!}

{Words to live by…}pinksign

circles

{Insert me here…NOW. Thx.}

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{I needed a full day of chill out music earlier this week and I knew Porcelain Raft’s Drifting In and Out was the vibe I was looking for. Hello Pandora and my new Drifting In and Out Radio Station. Set just the tone and mix I was looking for.}

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{Mixing my love of cupcakes and popcorn into one yummy treat? Yes, please! The next time I’m in Union Square in S.F. I’m stopping at American Cupcake for their Pink Popcorn Cupcake.}

{Bar carts as side tables.}

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{Well said glitter girls (and boys).}
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Highlights

Posted in Accessories, Explore, Fashion, Food, Fun, Treats by

It’s a dreary, rainy Friday here in L.A. Looking forward to spending the weekend catching-up with a girlfriend over pizza, sweets, and Sex and the City episodes; heading to yoga to hit reset, and spending some time with my boyfriend. Have an amazing weekend gang. It’s going to be a wet one here.

2013 is off to a great start! Closing the week with a few special moments over the last two weeks into the new year that have made it all the better:

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{Catching up with some old friends over a game of bowling and cocktails at Lucky Strike.}

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{I lost my beloved Ray-Ban aviators. Boo! Luckily, my amazing boyfriend replaced them as a gift on our 2nd anniversary last week. Yay!}

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{…And gave me this magical orchid to look at.}

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{The immaculate sunset on the drive home from Big Bear.}

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{Getting into the new year’s resolution spirit by returning to yoga practice.}

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{Sharing a Sunday snack while watching the 49ers beat out the Falcons for a place at the Superbowl.}

Highlights: Wrapping up the Holidays

Posted in Accessories, Breakfast, DIY, Fashion, Film, Food, Fun, Treats by

Mid-way through January already…geesh! It’s been so much fun reminiscing about a very memorable holiday season with you! I’ll be wrapping up my winter adventures with a few fun extra highlights gathered during my Christmas vacation. Next week, I’m looking forward to officially wrapping up the entire 2012 calendar year with a look back at all my favorites in film, leading up to my top 10 personal favorite blog posts of the year! Enjoy the long weekend gang! Here are this week’s final highlights from the holidays:

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{My new earrings worn on New Year’s Eve. LOVE.}

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{New year, new way to make breakfast. While I’m no stranger to making breakfast on a Saturday morning, I have to say it was a nice change of pace on a Thursday morning over the long vacation to get up and try something new. Rather than scrambling plain eggs, I decided to punch things up and add some bacon and spinach and opted to make roasted potatoes and toast on the side. I couldn’t have thought of a better way to start a Thursday.}

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{Making my first cup of tea in my new tea kettle that I got as a Christmas gift. There’s something so ritualistic and cozy about making tea the old fashioned way on a hot stove.}

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{As a stocking stuffer, I received this awesome sweet treat from Baked By Melissa. 3 mini cupcakes dipped in chocolate. What a great idea! I found out that you too, can have these bite sized goodies delivered right to your door step from their New York based shop. Check out their website for details.}

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{Baby it’s cold outside. Luckily, this new super soft scarf from The Gap helps.}

Golden Globes: Fashion Hits and Misses

Posted in Accessories, Beauty, Fashion, Film, Fun, Handbags, Shoes by

Not to brag, but this past Sunday I spent nearly four hours with the Hollywood elite at the Beverly Hilton Hotel sipping a cool beverage while rocking the most awesome ensemble to rival the stars…all from the comfort of my boyfriend’s apartment. Okay, so technically I was a few miles down the street, drinking bottled water, wearing a sweatshirt and some shorts; but hey – I was comfortable, warm, and had the best seat in the house!

The 2013 Golden Globe awards were surprisingly very entertaining this year. From the awesome duo hosting duties in funny gals Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, to the surprise range of unexpected winners (didn’t see Argo beating out Lincoln!), and some pretty moving acceptance speeches (paging Jodie Foster!). It’s also the time to discuss all things fashion. Prior to the broadcast, I spent an hour and a half watching the Hollywood glitterati make their way down the red carpet. Here are my top 5 best and worst dressed ladies. Looking forward to Oscar Night!

BEST DRESSED: The Hits

 {Taylor Swift}

Taylor Swift

 {Jessica Alba}

jessica alba

 {Kate Hudson}

hate hudson

{Emily Blunt}

Emily Blunt

{Shaun Robinson}

Shaun Robinson

WORST DRESSED: The Misses

{Sienna Miller}

sienna miller

{Emily Mortimer}

Emily Mortimer

{Mayim Bialik}

Mayim Bialik

{Rosario Dawson}

rosario dawson

{Alyssa Milano}

alyssa milano

**Disclaimer: Since it’s obvious I wasn’t at this year’s ceremonies snapping high res photos, all pictures are courtesy of Yahoo.com! Photo sources are noted below:

Taylor Swift – Photo By Steve Granitz/WireImage
Jessica Alba – Photo By Steve Granitz/WireImage
Kate Hudson – Photo By Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Emily Blunt – Photo By Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Shaun Robinson – Photo By Jason Merritt/Getty Images
Sienna Miller – Photo By Steve Granitz/WireImage
Emily Mortimer – Photo By Steve Granitz/WireImage
Mayim Bialik – Photo By Steve Granitz/WireImage
Rosario Dawson – Photo By Steve Granitz/WireImage
Alyssa Milano – Photo By Steve Granitz/WireImage

2012: How Pinterest Made Me Cooler

Posted in Accessories, Beauty, Dinner, DIY, Fashion, Food, Fun, Handbags, Inspiration, Treats by

March 5, 2012. The day I joined Pinterest, the latest social media craze that spawned yet another online addiction that I probably didn’t really need, but am more than happy with having. Once I figured out what the heck it was (and how to pronounce it), 2012 was never the same.

Pinterest appeals to my deeply visual side, my organizational side; and that side of me that loves to learn something new, how to do it better, or when I just need a little inspiration to change things up.

Pinterest has made me cooler. How, you ask? Let’s just say that thanks to the ideas curated onto my pretty awesome profile (if I do say so myself :)), I cook better, dress better, and my apartment has benefited from a few ideas sparked from a simple photo.

As of writing this post, I’ve pinned 643 images. Of those 643 images, I’ve managed to put a handful into action. In the spirit of looking back over the year, I thought it would be fun to share the recipes, tips, and products that I now treasure. Here’s how Pinterest made me cooler this year:

HOW I COOKED BETTER: Easy Garlic Chicken

1-68719933196_dlrL9hCf_c{Photo source}

Without a doubt this very popular brown sugar and garlic chicken recipe pin turned me into a mini-rock star in the kitchen and was my first ever Pinterest experiment. It’s super easy to make, and only takes a few ingredients: chicken breast, garlic, olive oil, and brown sugar. I like to add a bit more garlic to the mixture to give it a little more punch against the brown sugar and top it off with a few dashes of salt and pepper for more flavor.

HOW I ACCESSORIZED BETTER: Kaela Designs Cheryl Katch Hobo Bag

Cheryl Katch Hobo Bag w/ Acrylic Ring Handle

I stumbled across this unique and trendy bag on Pinterest from Kaela Designs earlier this summer. Aside from the shape and pattern of the handbag, I fell in love with the ring style handles. It really makes it stand out. To read about this addition to my collection from earlier this year, please see my blog post.

HOW I HOME DECORATED BETTER: Flower Arrangements 101

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I love flowers. I them so much I have an entire Pinterest board dedicated to them! Awhile back, I found Lauren Conrad’s “how-to” for flower arrangements via a pin. Above were my results! They added such a great touch of brightness and liveliness to my home for a week straight. I wrote a blog about making this simple and affordable flower arrangement courtesy of L.C. here.

HOW I BECAME CRAFTIER: D.I.Y. MAKEUP BRUSH HOLDER

1-203013895672305780_T2g7vbgw_c{Photo source}

The first image above was a pin I came across that made me want to combine my love of candles (but not the left over jars), organization, and presentation into one. This photo led me to try re-purposing an old candle jar that turned into the photo below complete with an organized make-up brush holder on my new antique vanity tray. I’ll eventually upgrade to a nicer candle jar, but liked how it turned out! To see how I did mine, please visit my post.

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These are just a few ideas learned from my online passion, pinning images! I look forward to 2013 where I’m sure a new resolve to make it the best year yet, with Pinterest’s help, will spark new ideas and motivation from a simple image and I’ll be cooler than ever! Happy Pinning!

The Christmas Project

Posted in Accessories, DIY, Fashion, Film, Food, Fun, Inspiration, Music, Treats, Uncategorized by

Welcome to December! And if we’re lucky, we’ll make it through the end of the world into an uncharted 2013 calendar year. Gotta love those Mayans! They certainly know how to stir up some drama. Couldn’t they have at least waited until AFTER Christmas to dub civilization over? That way, we at least get to die near our Christmas trees with a full stomach and new toys surrounding us? I suspect it will be pretty anti-climactic in the end, kind of like how Y2K came and went. This doesn’t mean that we won’t hear about it for the entire Holiday filled weeks ahead. So prepare mentally now for your Facebook feed to change tone; or not much at all if you have sarcastic, someecards.com loving friends like I do.

I’ve decided to challenge myself this month to not only survive the end of the world, but to grab 2012 by the balls and go out with a bang (probably not the best word choice in light of the end of time coming soon?). I really liked doing this for Halloween. I guess in theory it won’t be much different, you’re just swapping out pumpkins and horror for gingerbread and cheer! Being the slightly (okay, more than slightly) O.C.D. lover of setting goals and crossing things off lists that I am, I’ve decided to make festivity priority number one this Christmas. Here are my month long to-dos, a.k.a. – The Christmas Project:

1. Decorate my apartment.

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This year I want my very own Christmas tree! I made my first decorative purchase last week while at Trader Joe’s. This real mini poinsettia plant. It even had glitter on it! I couldn’t resist.

2. Watch at least 2 Christmas themed movies a week.

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This one will be completely do-able for me. Aside from being a total movie whore naturally, I already kicked this task off with my first festive flick, Love Actually (I never get sick of this one). Also on my list to bring in the cheer: Home Alone, It’s A Wonderful Life, The Family Stone, Trapped In Paradise (suggested by the BF), and a slew of others I’ll be watching thanks to Moviefone’s blog entry.

3. Get Christmas shopping done well before Christmas.

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I have a bit of a problem with waiting until the last minute to start Christmas shopping and then I’m in the throes of total chaos kicking myself. Not because I’m in the chaos (I kinda like being with other “last-minuters”) but because it takes circling 30 minutes just to find a parking space to even get in the door! Then again, I do tend to get the most creative and inspired when under pressure. Here’s an actual picture I took of the Westfield Culver City mall 2 Christmas’ ago on December 23rd (on my like 1 megapixel Blackberry I had at the time). What the heck was I doing in a mall 2 days before Christmas? This year, thanks to Pinterest’s awesome new secret boards; I’ll be visually prepared, organized, and done in a more timely manner…December 22nd, the latest. 🙂

4. Bake something festive.

1-Blog Pics{Photos courtesy of Pinterest and someone who stole them from someone else, who stole from someone else, etc..}.

I can’t decide if it will be cupcakes, brownies, or cookies – but they better look like snowmen, Christmas trees, a star, or something. These Pinterest photos I’ve been collecting (since like July) give you an idea of what I’m talking about!

5. Lots of Hot Cocoa.

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Again, I started this to-do already. My first official hot chocolate of the season, complete with whipped cream, captured above.

6. Be present.

Literally, be present. Not in a gift giving sense, but to really slow down and enjoy this time of year: the weather, the decorations while walking the street, my closet full of scarves, holding warm beverages, smiling at strangers, running up my credit card, parties, movies, shopping, wrapping presents, listening to Christmas music, and spending time with people I love to be around.

These are my Christmas to-do’s. I’ll report back after the holidays.

HAPPY DECEMBER TO ALL, AND TO ALL A GOOD MONTH!

🙂

Highlights: The Beginning Toward The End

Posted in Accessories, Fashion, Fun, Treats by

I love this time of year. It flies by in a flash because we’re in the midst of a season that’s unlike any other, celebrating all the way. After Halloween comes a birthday for a special person in my life, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s, and then my anniversary with said special person. As we enter the beginning toward the end of the year, I can say with confidence that it will be a memorable holiday season because I intend for it to be. Bring. It. On! Here are a few things that made me smile this week in the meantime:

{Scarf weather is now in full effect in the City of Angels and I’ve rocked them almost every day this week. This makes me happy!}

{After trying to enjoy loose leaf tea using strainers because I thought they were cool, I gave up and went with the more tried and true “T-Sacs” to keep those annoying leaves that still seemed to fall through the strainer out. I got these awesome filters during my recent visit to Bird Pick. The point? There will be lots of tea consumption this season. :)}

{I fell in LOVE with this limited edition Christmas ornament during a recent visit to Starbucks to grab a latte. It’s a ceramic shaped coffee cup encrusted with swarovski elements. It’s so me, a coffee cup that “glitters.” The hefty price tag made me put it down, but I had to get a picture!}

{My new “Fancy Peach” earrings purchased at Scarlet Mare Studio on Etsy arrived mere days ago. My first ever Etsy purchase, but definitely not my last. Check out their site if you like one-of-a-kind, eclectic jewelry.}

Okay, time to stop reading (though I appreciate it!) and head to the grocery store to stock up for all the Thanksgiving festivities coming next week. Have an amazing weekend! 🙂

Fall Uniform: Night Out On the Town

Posted in Accessories, DIY, Fashion, Fun, Handbags, Inspiration, Shoes by

Dressing up for a night out on the town is tricky as the climate cools. You want to look sexy chic, but don’t want to freeze your booty off or ruin a cute dress by having to cover up and wear a heavy coat. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve endured chilly temperatures in the name of fashion!

The look below came to me while experimenting on Polyvore.com. One of my favorite tricks when getting ready for a night out on the town during this time of year is to pair a dress with leggings and boots. You maintain great style AND added weather protection during those colder fall nights.

A sparkly dress paired with a blazer to keep warm works perfectly in my book and since the dress is quite “showy” I’d keep accessories very minimal and simplistic. Hoop earrings work best at drawing attention to your face, but not competing with the dress; and a small black clutch to hold your essentials adds the final touch for a polished look.

Here’s your fall uniform for a night out on the town with your best gals or that special guy  with link deets on where to buy (hey that rhymes!):

Sparkling Masquerade Dress, Black Crepe Open Front Blazer, Leggings, Clutch, Hoop Earrings, Boots

 

Fall Uniform: California Office & Interview Chic

Posted in Accessories, DIY, Fashion, Fun, Handbags, Shoes by

Admittedly, I’m not a fan of personally rockin’ the ultra tailored look to work because I don’t work in a law office (business suits – ugh!); but I can appreciate that high-powered, I’m a “bad-ass exec with my own assistant” look when I see it. (Excuse my French).

In general, L.A. is pretty casual with office wear, especially, if you work in the industry. It’s very common to see short sleeves, opened toed sandals, and jeans walking past women in the halls. Perhaps as I make my way up the professional ladder with my own assistant, my office attire will naturally grow a bit more more tailored (and hopefully I’ll build you a list with more Prada and Gucci and less H&M selections).

Don’t get me wrong, I very much like to look put together, professional, clean, and tailored; but with a casual edge, versus too structured. Thanks to Polyvore.com, I think I achieved an ensemble that screams “Hello Fall!” and would be something I would wear to a job interview or an important meeting at the office.

What I love about this ensemble is that you get to maintain a young fun look by building a base around black skinny jeans. I’ve always been a fan of black jeans to keep it casual (because you’re still in jeans!), but dressier because of the darker color choice. These black cap-toed pumps from H&M offer the perfect edge that prevents the look from being too stuffy. A simple ruffled blouse with a tailored blazer is always feminine and appropriate to easily accomplish a more polished look – but again, keeps it young and fresh because of the skinny jeans.

Jewelry should be kept to a minimum (save the chandelier earrings for when you already have the job!) with simple studs and a bracelet similar to the one I stumbled across from 1928 Jewelry (and is going on my must have list), this vintage silver lace stretch bracelet.

Finally, if you ever need an excuse to buy a new purse (NOT!) what better choice than a black satchel similar to the one from Big Buddha highlighted. This bag offers an expensive look without the price tag.

Either way, sporting this you’ll ace that job interview or kick butt in the staff meeting before you even have to open your mouth. Have a great week…

Fall Uniform: Casual Saturday

Posted in Accessories, Beauty, Fashion, Handbags, Shoes by

Aside from the season 2 premiere of American Horror Story: Asylum, I’m very much looking forward to embracing all the fall fashion to come. I alerted my Facebook friends via a cleverly worded status update (patting myself on the back), and now my fellow blog glitterati, that I give mother nature and her P.M.S.’ing attitude 2 more weeks before I’m rockin’ the boots and scarves regardless of the harsh global warming temperatures that Los Angeles is being subjected to. To show her how serious I am, I’ve even begun the process of planning a series of perfect fall ensembles, complete with staples every girl needs (and likely already has) in her closet to channel that fall state of mind. “If you build it, he Fall will come.” We’ll see, Kevin Costner.

This week, a fail-proof casual look while out and about on a chilly Saturday afternoon. I’d wear this to meet a friend for lunch, window shop around town, or to see a movie.

You can’t go wrong with an amber-colored scarf (which I’ll be heading to H&M myself to purchase in the very near future), a long black cardigan, dark blue skinny jeans, a simple white fitted top, black boots, a brown tote, and gold hoop earrings to balance out the look.

I actually own the boots pictured personally. If you need a new pair of knee-high boots to add to your shoe rack, you can’t get anything more stylish, comfortable, and affordable than these from Diba.

“If you build it, he Fall will come.”