Category Archives: Fashion

D.I.Y. Glass Bead Necklace Repair

Posted in Accessories, DIY, Fun by

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I have this great necklace that I bought several years ago that wasn’t at all expensive, but it was something that I universally loved because you could wear it with anything to instantly dress up a look. Until I broke it. I took it in for repair. Was bummed at the terrible job they did. It lasted for one wear. And broke again. It’s been sitting with my other functioning necklaces broken for at least 6 months and I’ve been on the search for that exact necklace ever since. Enough! Sometimes a girl has to take matters into her own hands, especially when said girl happens to dabble in jewelry making. A hobby of mine that I seriously need to get back into and with the success of giving new life to my necklace, I feel completely empowered to push myself to test my mad skills. 🙂

D.I.Y. // Glass Bead Necklace Repair

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{Tools: Crimp tubes, glass beads, silver coated wire, crimping pliers, cutters, bead stopper clip, and a bead board.}

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{Use the bead stopper to accurately place crimp tube and thread bead. Use crimp pliers to close the crimp tube shut above and below the bead. Repeat as necessary.}

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{Measure evenly spaced bead placement using a bead board for accuracy.}

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{Once you’re ready to add your clasp (I went with a toggle clasp because it’s what I had) create a loop, add a crimp tube to it and use your crimp pliers to close the crimp tube shut. Open the toggle clasp ring and secure inside the newly created loop on both ends of necklace.}

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{Finished toggle clasp.}

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{After completing this project using the materials I already had on hand, I’ll likely update my wire choice to something sturdier and darker (like the wire choice in the “before” picture above), but this will do for the time being!}

|| What I’m Lovin’ Right Now ||

Posted in Accessories, Beauty, Breakfast, Fashion, Food, Fun, Handbags, Inspiration, Shoes, Television, Travel, Treats by

It’s been a roller coaster on the weather front here in L.A. Eighty degrees one day, rainy and cold the next. I‘ve often wondered the affect an environment has on its inhabitants. If you think about it: can it be pure luck that this city, known for its fickle nature, from the weather down to the very people that walk the city streets (myself included) is all happenstance? This might be a bit too deep for a Wednesday. Luckily, there are things that you come across that stick the moment you come into contact with them. Things that you know that you’re not at all fickle about. For me it usually involves cupcakes, a ridiculously expensive handbag, a large bag of Hot Tamales, when you have a good book in your hands, hear a new song or see a new film for the first time and know that you’ve just experienced something special. Here’s to finding those things that stick. And…

here’s what i’m lovin’ right now

{Chunky necklaces over buttoned shirts // Full skirts as day wear // Badgley Mischka Provence One Piece Swimsuit.}

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{French Toast with Homemade Fresh Strawberry Butter // recipe here.}

{Best video EVER: 25 Ways to Wear a Scarf in 4.5 minutes.}

{Oscar De La Renta’s fun, wise words.}

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{I heart Mindy Kaling. The Mindy Project has been on the air for awhile now, but I took a short hiatus and returned to it recently, catching up on missed episodes and it’s been a welcome source of comic relief. I was also uber excited about Mark Duplass joining in on the fun for a few episodes. No spoilers! Did I mention that I heart Mindy Kaling?}

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{Mind wandering.}

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{Wine 101 for dummies // full article here.}

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{Dreaming big.}20121230-061429

{Insert me here…with a tropical drink…in a pineapple shell…with an umbrella in it…thx.}

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|| What I’m Lovin’ Right Now ||

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

We’re in the midst of the week of love! I know Valentine’s Day can be a bittersweet experience for many of us. Either you’re madly in love and totally buy into the tradition, single and fabulous, single and not very happy about it, attached but wonder where your relationship is going on this milestone day, or totally reject the idea that love should only be celebrated on holidays. I, for one, identify with the category that believes love should be a festive experience all year long. Sure, I don’t mind being treated extra special on Valentine’s Day, but would much rather prefer those flowers, to be taken out to a nice dinner, “I love you’s” or a thoughtful handwritten card to come at surprise random times just because it’s Monday or I’m having a rough day. Regardless of what your relationship status says on your Facebook timeline, know that there is always something to love, at any time of the year, for any reason. And if by chance you still can’t get over the fact that Valentine’s Day sucks after that sentiment, sit tight – it’ll all be over after tomorrow.

here’s what i’m lovin’ right now

{Look at this face! Tell me you’re not smiling right now?}

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{Michael Kors // Hamilton Large North South Tote. W.A.N.T.}

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{The Fast 6 extended trailer and my brown eyes met recently and it was love at first sight. Yes, I’m proudly OBSESSED with the F&F series! Eye candy, how I wish I could really drive on the 405, witty dialogue, high octane action, stylized film-making, and Paul Walker? Umm…yes, please!}

{Soul.}

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{Perfume bottles as vases.}

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{D.I.Y. glitter mouse pads // How to = here.}

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{Words of wisdom.}

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{Mara Hoffman // Beaded Chiffon Dashiki Maxi Dress.}

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{Gold sparkle french tips.}

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{Skinny Chocolate Parfaits // recipe.}skinny-chocolate-parfait

2013 Grammy Awards: Fashion Hits and Misses

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

Okay team, admittedly I totally dissed the Grammy’s broadcast this year by not watching any of the red carpet or the actual awards presentation. AND I have good reason! I spent most of the weekend sucked into the vapor of early British 1900’s life by indulging in the delicious mischievousness, and as a gal pal so rightly put it “20th century passive aggressive awesomeness!” with those crazy characters residing at Downton Abbey. After incessantly hearing about this show, I grabbed the first season and got to work on seeing what all the buzz about. Within 10 minutes, I knew I would dig it…and where I would be for most of the weekend.

Alas, the beauty of life these days is that you can catch all the re-caps the next day online minus all the commercials and boring speeches. So in salute to all things fashion, here are my top 5 hits and misses from the biggest night in music.

THE HITS

RHIANNA
LOVE everything about her look, super classy, a little showy and what a stunning color on her.
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TAYLOR SWIFT
Such a unique dress and she pulls the look together with a braided headband and dramatic cat eyes. Very 21st century Cleopatra.
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KELLY ROWLAND
This was a VERY daring choice and if you look closely, might be borderline too much, but she pulls it off and takes center stage because of it. Move over, Bey!
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 ROSCI DIAZ
Admittedly, I didn’t put two and two together when I first saw this picture (who is this?), but everything about her look is one of my absolute favorites of the night. Simple, sexy, classy!
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ALLISON WILLIAMS
Simply put, this is just a great dress. No muss, no fuss and she looks flawless.

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THE MISSES

ADELE
LOVE her, but the print on this dress and those shoes…
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FLORENCE WELCH
Again LOVE her, but those green turtle/alligator/scary spikes….
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Jennifer Lopez
The leg is distracting and the cut of the gown looks messy to me. I love a good top bun, but the pointy ones, I just can’t get into. Sorry J-Lo!
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KAT DENNINGS
Not a fan of the color, the fit on her chest (though she has a great one!), or her harsh makeup.
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TAMIA
The head cover, deep-plunging strangely shaped dress and it’s color, don’t make me love it. The clutch is cute!
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**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:
Rhianna
Taylor Swift
Kelly Rowland
Rocsi Diaz
Allison Williams
Adele
Florence Welch
Jennifer Lopez
Kat Dennings
Tamia

Highlights

Posted in Accessories, Explore, Fashion, Film, Fun, Handbags by

Hello Friday! Very happy to see you. It’s been a week of exploring, trying something new on the blog-front, and a bit of splurging. I finally joined the legions of gals who’ve been raving about the Birchbox and treated myself to a new handbag I’ve been eyeing for weeks. Details below. I’ll be anxiously stalking FedEx.com tracking where my new goodies are in the world until they hit my doorstep. So excited!

Here are this week’s happy highlights. Have a beautiful weekend…

EXPLORE| chemosphere

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On a dreary Saturday afternoon we headed up to the Chemosphere house to see the L.A. landmark perched in the Hollywood Hills. I first saw this unique octagonal home in Brian De Palma’s Body Double (1984) and was struck by how unusual and cool the architecture was and wanted to see it for myself.

FASHION| superbowl sunday

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Sporting 49ers jerseys to a Superbowl Party for added festiveness. Since they lost, I’ll just leave it at that.

BEAUTY| birchbox

I’ve heard several girlfriends rave about the Birchbox and this week I joined in. For a $10 subscription fee and after completing a short profile, each month you’ll receive the best in beauty and lifestyle in sample size right at your front door to try out a range of new products. If you love your sample, you can head to the Birchbox Shop to purchase a full size version of your fav new product. The best part? Each box is customized to you. I’m excited to see what comes in a few short weeks. If you’re interested, check out the video above and register to join their wait list. It took me about 3 weeks to receive an invitation. Looking forward to my monthly surprise and exploring new products! I’ll keep you posted.

BAG| urban expressions

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My handbag splurge from Urban Expressions, this Sinclair Woven Hobo. I went with the cognac color. It’s perfect for all seasons and looks oh so chic on the shoulder.

|| 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

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{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!}

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{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

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{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}

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{Emily Blunt}

Emily Blunt

{Shaun Robinson}

Shaun Robinson

WORST DRESSED: The Misses

{Sienna Miller}

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{Emily Mortimer}

Emily Mortimer

{Mayim Bialik}

Mayim Bialik

{Rosario Dawson}

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{Alyssa Milano}

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**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

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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!