Posts from — September 2009

When I moved into my boyfriend’s place, I happily set aside my girly taste so that our apartment wouldn’t look like a princess-inspired bachelor pad.  That compromise began to take its toll a year later when I realized my bedside table had become a graveyard for half-read books and my sad little Ikea lamp.  This past weekend we decided to make a few changes to our place, beginning with our nightstands.

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After a couple coats of primer, white glossy spray paint, knobs from Anthropologie and a new lamp (here), our bedroom now has a clean look that’s incredibly relaxing.

A few weeks back, I was invited to visit one of my all-time favorite stores, Planet Blue, for an early morning shopping trip (which they featured on their blog here).  I thumbed through lacy tops, flowy dresses and sparkly skirts, but ended up deciding on this slinky romper.  It’s made of silk so it’s wonderfully drapy and the open back is an unexpected and seductive touch.  I wore it out to dinner last night and almost felt guilty for how comfortable it was, but moved past that as soon as I realized how lovely an elastic waist can be after several plates of pasta.

On a particularly warm summer day when I was little, my grandfather surprised me and took a detour to the local ice cream parlor.  There’s really nothing better you can offer a five-year old and I promptly skipped out of the shop with a huge vanilla cone and an even bigger grin.  Seconds later, after a particularly enthusiastic lick, my frozen treat was splayed across the sidewalk and I was left inconsolable.

Yesterday kind of felt like that one moment was on a repeat cycle and I just couldn’t shake the feeling.  I had to remind myself that my grandfather walked me right back into the shop and got me another cone.  This time, with sprinkles.

Here’s looking to a brighter day today.

*image via flickr

It goes without saying that the city in which you live has a big impact on the way you dress.  Case in point: New York.  I’m always impressed by the amount of effortlessly stylish women running through the streets in high heels (since walking LA is an abstract concept).  Even those who weren’t necessarily dressed up still managed to appear put together, whether they accessorized a plain t-shirt with layers of gold necklaces or paired a sweet floral dress with biker boots.  Though I’m back in California, I want to focus on incorporating a bit more East Coast elements into my wardrobe and I’ve collected a few of my favorites here.

Studded Faux Leather Vest, Forever 21: $27.80
Sequin Boyfriend Blazer, Topshop: $160
Faux Fur Vest, BB Dakota: $57
Basic Oversize Crop Tee, Topshop: $32
Skull-Print Shirt, Alexander McQueen: $270
Button Shoulder Top, Forever 21: $24.80
Triangle Gem Skirt, Topshop: $160
5 Band Skirt, Pleasure Doing Business: $88
Chiffon Sequined Skirt, See By Chloé: $395
Brinx Boots, Steve Madden: $169.95
Platform booties, DVF: $395
Peeptoe Booties, Giuseppe Zanotti: $675

I had never heard of Whoopie Pies before I saw a sweet little line of them in Magnolia Bakery this past weekend.  Ever since I passed on the sandwiched little cakes, I’ve been wanting to make a batch of my own with a seasonal spin.  I referred to Martha Stewart, who not only provided an easy-to-follow recipe (here), but one that included pumpkin (something I add to just about everything in fall).  They turned out light and fluffy with a decadently creamy filling and their petite size makes them a welcomed alternative to pumpkin pie.

I arrived back in L.A. late last night full from a weekend of pure indulgence (it’s not every day I dine on things like toasted marshmallow shakes, ginormous bagels, Lombardi’s pizza and Magnolia cupcakes).  Despite the inhospitable weather, we managed to walk everywhere, including a drawn-out stop at Topshop where I found what could be the perfect blazer.  A huge thank you to everyone at Coach who put together an amazing trip and sent me home with some fantastic additions to my wardrobe (including the khaki trench coat and gray boots below).

Zara Blazer, Wish Dress, Express Belt, Michael Kors Watch, Gryson Bag, Hue Tights and Cynthia Vincent Wedges

These last two days have been an absolute whirlwind and I’ve loved every minute of it.  Here are the things that are still making me positively giddy.

-Touring the Coach store.   Their Fall collection is amazing and I can’t wait to get my hands on some of their equestrian-esque boots (especially the New Aida and the Sage boot).
-Getting to know the fabulous other bloggers I’m here with (like Krystal, Kelly, Rumi, Lulu, Karla, Taghrid, Natalie, Wendy and Keiko).
-Going to my first fashion show at the tents in Bryant Park (Ports 1961), which was filled with ethereal gowns in silvery pinks and translucent whites.
-Finally meeting my biggest blog crush, Melissa, of The Lil Bee.  Somehow she managed to be even funnier and sweeter in person than I had imagined.
-And best of all…my boyfriend’s flying out on the red eye and will be arriving early enough to have breakfast with me.

I promise to have a more comprehensive post on Monday filled with lots of pictures.  Have a great weekend!