Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone! Especially to my Valentine, Ryan!
xoxo
Category Archives: Life
|| What I’m Lovin’ Right Now ||
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?}
{Michael Kors // Hamilton Large North South Tote. W.A.N.T.}
{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.}
{Perfume bottles as vases.}
{D.I.Y. glitter mouse pads // How to = here.}
{Words of wisdom.}
{Mara Hoffman // Beaded Chiffon Dashiki Maxi Dress.}
{Gold sparkle french tips.}
{Skinny Chocolate Parfaits // recipe.}
The Christmas Project – Results
Christmas was officially over, but I was luckily still in the beginnings of a long holiday vacation. I love it when you have so much time off that you don’t even know what day it is, or even care for that matter.
When it came to festivities and the goals I set for myself to celebrate the season (dubbed The Christmas Project – thanks, I came up with that myself!), I did pretty well, though admittedly there were some…um…hiccups.
1. Decorate my apartment.
Result: DONE
While my prized glitter poinsettia plant (pictured in the header) died about 2 weeks before Christmas, all was well when my Christmas tree came along and provided the warmest, festive feeling whenever I was home. You can read about my tree experience here.
2. Watch at least 2 Christmas themed movies a week.
Result: DONE
Love Actually kicked-off a Holiday flick marathon for the whole month of December. Along with The Holiday, This Christmas, Just Friends, Home Alone, Fred Claus (which was so awful I turned it off so this might not count), Rare Exports, and Gremlins.
3. Get Christmas shopping done well before Christmas.
Result: DONE
I can proudly say that thanks to my pre-planning using a secret Pinterest board, this gal was done Christmas shopping by December 21st! Some of my favorites to hand out this year was an engraved business card holder for my boyfriend’s Mom who just started a new jewelry business, and tickets to The Groundlings (the best improve show in L.A.) for my boyfriend.
4. Bake something festive.
Result: FAIL
Let’s just say I did A LOT of eating of festive inspired cookies, but failed to actually make them. Honestly, this was the holiday goal I knew would be the most challenging for me to get to, even as I was typing it I wasn’t very confident. For now, this handy collage of images I made from Pinterest images will have to do in place of the fact that I was too lame enough to follow through.
5. Lots of Hot Cocoa.
Result: DONE
Okay, so I didn’t exactly count how many cups I’ve had, but suffice to say that I had at least 2 cups per week.
6. Be present.
Result: DONE (to the best of my ability)
This one is hard to gauge whether or not I actually accomplished enough to say one way or another. On the one hand, I listened to Christmas music, watched movies, decorated my apartment, wrapped gifts, and spent time with some of my favorite people celebrating the season. However, it’s no secret that this Holiday season was overshadowed by some bad news both personally and in the world around me. Suddenly, I felt guilty and a sense of missing cheer about wanting to be active in the season in light of certain events. I will give myself an “A” for effort because as I reflect, I know I did the best that I could, given the circumstances. Once we hit Santa Cruz and got into the spirit, I couldn’t have been more present and welcomed the feeling.
Missing Cheer
As I write this post a few short days before Christmas, I realize that many of us, myself included, are dealing with a myriad of emotions. The recent unthinkable tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary shook the country to its core. All the press about the “fiscal cliff” is creating anxiety of another recession. And personally, it’s been a tough couple of weeks for many reasons for me.
While I know that this time of year is always stressful (but usually over more trivial things like worrying about what to buy that ridiculously picky person for Christmas), this Holiday season has lost some of its spark, some of its cheer when thinking about all that has happened over the last few weeks in the world around me. My intent is not to be negative, but to acknowledge that the climate has changed for many of us, for causes similar and different.
Furthermore, the holidays can be a hard time in general. From the idea that we’re all supposed to have big green Christmas trees with presents galore spread all around it, spewing out onto the floor; to the idea that everyone goes “Home for Christmas” to share in cheer and laughter and food with extended family. Unfortunately, not everyone can financially afford this ideal vision or has the luxury of family and/or friends to share the season with.
I want to take a moment today, to stop and share a short post to send my thoughts to anyone who relates, who is having a rough time, and needs to know they are not alone. I can’t tell you how many different people I’ve talked to this week who are just not in the best of spirits for many reasons.
I’ve struggled myself between these difficult times and still wanting to enjoy the spirit of Christmas then feeling a sense of guilt because of it. Ultimately, I do hope that we can find that missing cheer, even if it’s just a little bit; honor the sadness, but celebrate as best we can and try spend this time as it’s meant to be spent: with love and appreciation for the life you have and the people that are in it.
“Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.” – unknown
2012: How Pinterest Made Me Cooler
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
{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
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
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
{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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
{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.
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!
🙂
Thankful
I loved this festive cake I saw in a bakery while in San Juan Capistrano recently.
It’ll be pretty low-key on my end for the long Holiday weekend. We went the total lazy route and ordered our big feast from a combination of The Honey Baked Ham Store and Bristol Farms. We even decided to change things up this year and have ham instead of turkey. Such rebels!
While I write a weekly post (sometimes twice a week, or when I can’t think of anything else compelling to write) where I reflect on the “Highlights” of the simple things happening around me; I thought this would a good time to reflect on what I’m truly thankful for in life in the grand scheme of things that is the year of our Lord, 2012.
My first apartment! I moved into my own place earlier this year and words cannot describe the sense of accomplishment and independence I feel every time I walk through the front door. This is my favorite wall in my humble abode and I’m thankful for having a small place in the world to call my own.
My best friend, who happens to be my boyfriend, for being the awesome guy that he is! This is an old picture I took last year while in Catalina Island. It’s a favorite of mine of us.
I’m beyond grateful in the midst of a tough economy to be working and working in the field that I actually studied in college.
I joined a book club this time last year and one year later, not only have I given myself the motivation to actually begin and finish a book (rather than juggle two at a time and never finish either one of them); it’s also opened my world to a whole new group of girl friends. We’re all ages and from different walks of life, bonded by our nerdiness for books. 🙂
One of the happiest things I’ve done this year was start this blog. It’s really given me the creative outlet that I had been craving for such a long time. Thank you to those that read, comment, or like even one of my posts. I’m grateful.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Fall Uniform: Night Out On the Town
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
Highlights: Fall Inspired
Hey there Glitterati!
Took a short hiatus but I’m back with tons to catch you up on! First, some highlights. Much needed smiles came from these recent findings. Coincidentally, they were all a nod to the Fall season:
{Do yourself a favor and go out and get a tub of Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Cream Cheese. I had my first bagel with this spread a few days ago and my tongue did the happy dance.}
{The Halloween decorations have begun! If you need an inexpensive way to salute the season, these pumpkin shaped lights from Target are perfect. Similar here.}
{While the heat is still ever-present in L.A. (and even I’m over it at this point), we did get our first Fall rain last week which promoted some candle burning at home and clean air (and mat) outside.}
{This t-shirt I saw in the storefront window at Wet Seal put a huge grin on my face – naughty, naughty!}
So much to talk about with you all, and I’ll get you up to speed. In the meantime, have a great week! 🙂
Highlights: Farewell September
The last Friday of the month has arrived. As we bid adieu to September, this last week was filled with lots of smiles in the simple things:
{A little peek at a recently finished wall at home. I’ve always been a fan of wall quotes and finally got an opportunity to put up one that I love to remind myself of everyday. How appropriate this phrase seemed under my new vintage-inspired wall clock.}
{Pink roses.}
{My first homemade cup of coffee using the just released Pumpkin Pie Spice seasonal edition creamer from International Delight. Yum!}
{Finally had one of the decadent chocolate bars I stocked up on from my recent visit to Dylan’s Candy Bar. Grade: A+}
Farewell, September.
All That Glitters 