blushing ambition

kanon vodka dinner

2012-01-26T12:00:00.000-08:00

Since I'm back to posting regularly and most of you don't seem to mind the Instagram photos, here are couple snapshots from the Kanon Vodka dinner at the Westerfield Mansion that I was lucky enough to attend last week. Ho-ly crap it was amazing. I was pretty stoked when I got the invite since it was going to take place less than four blocks away from my place but I had no idea that a location like that existed so close to me. Before dinner we got to drink this punch which we customized with our own choice of bitters (my favorite included a spray of absinthe and cherry bitters) while we explored the mansion. This place was AWESOME. My favorite room (aside from the library) was probably the watch tower at the top floor where we had a 360 view of the entire city. So surreal. Thanks Kanon!

The dinner (catered by Stag Dining) itself was something that I'm still dreaming about even a week later. It had been a while since I'd had such a fantastic dinner. Each course was paired with its own cocktail and my favorite was probably the smoked oyster chowder with dungeness crab... seriously, I still can't stop thinking about it. The deconstructed martini which came with it was equally amazing and came with, wait for it, a spoonful of BACON POWDER. It may have been all the alcohol but I found myself saying "OMG" multiple times throughout the night. We also happened to sit in front of Peter, the founder, who was really awesome and we ended up chatting with him the entire night about politics, soccer, traveling, etc. If you're reading this, Peter, come back to SF soon!

now and then

2012-01-24T17:47:00.000-08:00

Madewell chambray shirt, American Apparel sweater, A.P.C. parka, A.P.C. shorts, Rachel Comey boots, vintage Coach bag

Finally got these photos from my friend's SD card. The first set was taken a week ago while the second one was taken two months ago, eeesh. Not having an SLR camera is tough, guys. I've been using my Instagram to take outfit photos every now and then but I still haven't been able to get into the swing of blogging again since it's even more of a hassle right now. I'm still going through a bit of a transition in my life right now so until things settle down I can't blog regularly but thank you to everyone who is still around!

Anyway, I'll try my best to post with what little I have. I've been living in this A.P.C. parka since I got it two months ago and figured I'd include these two outfits in one post since they're so similar and it's kind of neat to see the changes in my appearance. For starters I dyed my hair black since I wasn't feeling the light hair anymore. I've been wearing variations of these outfits on a daily basis: collared shirt, pullover sweater, jeans, boots/flats, and a parka or trench. Not very exciting but oh well, it works for me!

I'm trying to figure out a short term solution for getting content on the blog but I may just have to start posting my Instagram photos here regularly since I'm a lot more active there anyway. It's kind of funny how much my outlook on blogging has changed, I think I'm more of a fan of "blogging on the go" with apps like Instagram and Twitter. What do you guys think? I know most of you might not even have Instagram so it would work out but the quality of photos wouldn't be the same as what you're used to seeing on here. Until I figure out whether or not I'm getting a new camera (suggestions, anyone?) that's my only solution.

chambray shirt from Painted Bird, American Apparel sweater, A.P.C. parka, Hudson Nico jeans, Bass loafers, Fjallraven backpack, Casio watch, Bonlook glasses

Yeahhh, my November was a lot like this outfit... sloppy. I think we took these on my birthday? I almost didn't post these but eh, at least it's something. I was super stressed out at the time and mostly unhappy. Well, I'm past that now. Time to leave the old and look forward to the new!

"Wuthering Heights" - Kate Bush

holiday outfit

2011-12-28T13:31:00.000-08:00

Equipment silk shirt, Gap pointelle sweater, A.P.C. trench, Black Milk pants, nOir necklace, Ray Ban wayfarers, Botega Venetta clutch, Jil Sander wedges

Took these photos for a Gap feature a couple weeks ago before attending a shopping event at Madewell for DailyBuzz Style! I'm still in LA visiting family so my actual holiday outfits included bare legs and shorts since it's really warm here. I did get to frolic in the snow last week with an impromptu trip to Tahoe though! I've never actually experienced a white Christmas since I've always spent it in Southern California. I guess I'll just stick to celebrating in shorts for now.

Oh I also updated my shop blog! Go check it out!

"Head Over Heels" - Tears For Fears

forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit

2011-12-12T17:24:00.000-08:00

vintage sweater from Painted Bird, skirt c/o Fancy Fine Vintage (thanks Ashley!), Fjallraven backpack, Rachel Comey boots, Karen Walker sunglasses

Can't believe it's been almost a month since I've posted. This may be my worst offense yet. These past few weeks have been a bit taxing to be completely honest. The biggest hurdle has been the unfortunate demise of my trusty camera: a blogger's worst nightmare. I made the stupid mistake of leaving a cola bottle with a lopsided cap in my waterproof backpack where my dear baby swam in sticky liquid for God knows how long until I opened my bag at the end of the night to discover an empty bottle. It was heartbreaking, to say the least. Throw in a couple more bothersome life changes (like say, my 23rd birthday) and that's me in a nutshell right now. But really, it's no use dwelling on things, I think I've dealt with enough these past few weeks. For deeply personal reasons that I don't wish to discuss at the moment, please don't ask questions or inquire further, it's really upsetting when strangers try to pry into your personal life when you choose to share only bits and pieces for a reason. Thanks everyone.

In more positive news, I did a video interview for Azalea last week which I've posted on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, etc. so you may have already seen it. They're hosting a giveaway for the Kiel Mead ring that I'm wearing in the video so go like their page by the 16th! I also modeled for Ashley's vintage shop Fancy Fine and got this awesome skirt as a thank you. I had a cold at the time so please excuse my sickly face, I had to blow my nose after every outfit! I still had fun nevertheless and I'd totally do it again. Let's see, what else have I been up to? I've been attending more blog related events in San Francisco like the Steven Alan opening with Refinery 29 and DailyBuzz Style's blogger event at Madewell. I'm still trying to figure out the camera situation but luckily I have awesome friends who have been helping me out. I managed to shoot some photos for Gap last week that I'm super excited to share but that will have to wait until the end of the week. Until then, cheers everyone!

Blogger Spotlight: Annabel Ly from AzaleaTV on Vimeo.

no more BARE legs

2011-11-15T14:52:00.000-08:00

Vince sweater c/o Shop It To Me, H&M shorts, bag c/o Coach, Ray Ban wayfarers via Swirl, Bass loafers, hat c/o Native LA

Enjoying the last bit of warm weather... two weeks ago? Not sure. Big whoops! Been feeling under the weather but I've taken a few outfits recently so I'm set for the week. Speaking of this week, if anyone is in the area I will be attending the BAREing it all panel at my alma mater UC Berkeley so come join (har har hence the punny title)! I turned down the opportunity to speak (seriously, who would want to listen to me?) but look forward to hearing what everyone else has to say.

Also, a big thanks to Equipment for the Style Spotlight feature!

"Heroes and Villains" - The Beach Boys

extra flamin hot

2011-11-03T21:30:00.000-07:00

Equipment denim shirt, T by Alexander Wang striped shirt, Hudson Nico jeans, Bonlook glasses, Fjallraven backpack, Vans sneakers

Okay, I know what you are all thinking. Where did all this hair come from?! I ordered these extensions in preparation for Halloween (okay maybe not...) so I've been exploring this mermaid hair fantasy that has always been an unreachable goal for me. My hair never grows! I think I'm going to trim it though, seems like it's too long for me. It was actually a big hit Halloween weekend (I wish I'd taken a photo of the whole outfit instead of just one of my make up) when I wandered around a friend's party looking like a creepy dead figure in a floor length gown with lace sleeves. Fun, fun.

Oh yeah, the beach. Halloween weekend was unseasonably warm like the rest of October so Lulu and I squeezed in an afternoon trip to Baker Beach to enjoy what was left of the sun. We finally found a store in San Francisco that carries those xxtra Flamin' Hot Cheetos after first trying them on our way to Coachella back in April. I actually used to bring as many bags as I could carry with me whenever I'd come back to SF from LA. Yeah, they're that good. So good that they made their way into my blog photos... no regrets!

Sorry to sound like a broken record but there's still time to vote guys! Thank you so much to those who already voted and have continued to vote!

"Wouldn't It Be Nice" - The Beach Boys

still warm

2011-10-26T18:38:00.000-07:00

White Crow lace dress, Gap denim jacket, Karen Walker sunglasses, Fjallraven backpack, Rachel Comey boots

Having internet problems at home so I'm borrowing my friend's but her computer keeps freezing every few seconds... I guess that means I should probably keep this short. Wore this out the other day while it was still warm. Seriously, Fall, where did you go?!?

Please don't forget to vote!

"California Dreamin' - The Mamas and the Papas

instagram'd

2011-10-24T22:48:00.000-07:00

Equipment silk shirt, A.P.C. sweatshirt, Theory shorts, One Language bag, glasses c/o Bonlook, Bass loafers

I haven't been able to take outfit photos like I've wanted to for a number of reasons so I figured I'd share a couple of my favorite recent Instagram photos. I've been using Instagram for a while (I'm ornithes on there if you want to add me) but lately it's been replacing my SLR since it's so much faster at capturing images in the moment. Obviously the quality isn't superb but I guess that's what I like about it the most: I love playing around with filters to get that grainy vintage feel instantly in your hand as opposed to waiting for a roll of film to develop. I haven't shot film in a while (became too costly after a while, same goes for polaroids) and of course nothing comes close to emulating that experience of being surprised with developed film or instant polaroids but these photos are still fun, no? This, however, is a different type of new experience which Instagram has really hit on the mark and I'm enjoying every bit of it on a daily basis. I remember taking on those "one photo a day for a year" challenges and failing but I've probably already done that without realizing it through Instagram...

I went to the Acre/SF x Refinery 29 party last week to support Jenny and Marcus and made the naive mistake of walking up to North Beach from downtown SF. Killer view but jeez, I could barely catch my breath by the time I made it into the store. I even had to take my glasses off for 5 minutes when they kept fogging up because of my body heat! The party was great though, I wish I went to these events more often. It was fun seeing a bunch of familiar faces too.

Of course this post wouldn't be complete without a comment about the weather. Yesterday I refused to step outside because it was so hot. It's the end of October, come on! I've been through five SF Indian summers so far and this one has been the worst. Of course it's nice to have warmer weather but it's hard to get into the Halloween/autumn spirit when you're sweating in shorts. A couple weeks ago it finally felt like fall (even with an abundance of wet sunflowers) but my new Loeffler Randall rain boots didn't arrive until the day after the rain had subsided! I have been, however, wearing my Bonlook glasses almost every day except it was probably a bad idea to wear them in the rain since I couldn't see a thing. I've been wearing contacts almost exclusively for the past five years so it's been a refreshing change to wear glasses most of the time and not worry if a contact is dry or torn.

I've also been on a huge burger kick lately. I'm posting these from latest to earliest. Yesterday I finally tried the brunch at Beast and the Hare (which is actually right below Brent's apartment except we've only been to dinner there once, huh), skipped the breakfast fare and went straight for the burger which had, get this: bacon, caramelized onions, AND a fried egg. Last week I went with a group of friends to the new Umami Burger joint that just opened in SF. None of them had ever been to Umami in LA and were all pretty impressed while for me it was a nice familiar taste of home. It was also the third burger that I'd eaten in a week (Super Duper was the second and a burger from Chez Maman was the first) so I was burger-ed out for a while. Next burger pictured came from Super Duper where I made the mistake of ordering the double burger thinking it would be like In-N-Out but quickly regretted it when I started feeling full and sick halfway through. Finally, Brent and I also really enjoyed the sliders at Jasper's Corner Tap & Kitchen, I think we went there before we saw Drive? Anyway, from what I remember the cute lil burgers came on a sesame pretzel bun and had blue cheese, totally worth it if you're in the area. I probably shouldn't admit this but I actually omitted two other burger photos (Red Robin lol and Chez Maman) because that would be a bit... much...

Okay, back to the weather. The warm weather hasn't been that bad. Sometimes I forget how nice it is to venture out to the Ferry Building with friends when the weather is nice. Most of the time I'm there I usually go alone but with friends it's easier to lose track of time drinking happy hour margaritas by the water and picking up Blue Bottle iced coffees. We have to enjoy it while it lasts, I guess, because we won't be able to stay out like this at 5pm again in less than a month... summer's really over, isn't it?

See the rest of my Instagram photos here. Also, please keep voting!

hudson jeans x nordstrom x blushing ambition

2011-10-19T18:08:00.000-07:00

Gibson Knit Riding Jacket, Equipment silk shirt, Hudson Nico jeans, Bass 'Wayfarer' loafers, Coach satchel, Karen Walker sunglasses

Well guys, I did it. I took the plunge and accepted a blog related challenge. I partnered up with Hudson and Nordstrom to style an outfit and participate in their contest on Facebook! Unfortunately it started raining the day I decided to photograph the outfit but I kept the sunglasses on and looked like an idiot anyway. I get a lot of comments asking why I wear sunglasses in every post (Blair and I bonded over this once, haha) and the only thing I can say is that I'm almost always in sunglasses whenever I go outside. I guess it's a safety blanket type thing, I don't know.

So yes, here's my look. Nothing too different from what I usually wear, haha. I'd really, really appreciate it if everyone took the time to vote for me in this contest (you can vote once a day)! I never do things like these so it would be amazing to win but I wouldn't be able to do it without your guy's help. I also hosted an event for them last week so look out for photos in an upcoming post! Thanks guys!

VOTE FOR ME ON FACEBOOK!

life is a mountain not a beach

2011-10-07T14:18:00.000-07:00

t-shirt c/o StyleMint, A.P.C. skirt, Coach satchel, Karen Walker sunglasses, Rachel Comey boots

Feeling more grumpy than usual, please excuse my sour faces. I've been a little under the weather this week. Hopefully the next will be better.

"Dans le même wagon" - Marjorie Noël

words to live by

2011-10-05T18:37:00.000-07:00

"Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle."

- R.I.P. Steve Jobs

cafe gitane

2011-10-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

Posting this on an empty stomach probably isn't such a good idea but I'm doing it anyway. Went to Cafe Gitane when we stayed with our friend in Nolita. I'll let the photos speak for themselves since my stomach is killing me but I HAVE to say this: AVOCADO TOAST. AVOCADO TOAST!

central park and shake shack

2011-09-27T14:39:00.000-07:00

vintage linen shirt, Saint James striped shirt, Theory shorts, vintage Coach satchel, Karen Walker sunglasses, Rachel Comey Miner boots

And here's the only other outfit I photographed in New York. It's kind of hard to be creative when you're working out of a tiny suitcase in unexpected weather. Same shorts, same bag... at least the shoes are different? Anyway, wore this to explore Central Park and hit up Shake Shack to see what all the hype was about.

So does Shake Shack compare to In-N-Out? I can only say that it wouldn't be fair to compare the two since they're two different things: Shake Shack was less of a fast food chain to me and more of a gourmet eatery. Plus In-N-Out is just something I grew up with that tastes familiar now matter where I go, you know? But that's just me I guess. Nevertheless it was delicious, so delicious in fact that I ended up going back and spending a total of $20 there that day. (Granted I never wanted to eat again after devouring a double cheeseburger, cheese fries, soda, and milkshake....)

"Under Your Spell" - Desire (I'm addicted to the Drive Soundtrack haha)

smorgasburg

2011-09-20T14:08:00.000-07:00

Here are the snapshots that I promised from Smorgasburg. Like I'd mentioned earlier, we didn't have as much time as anticipated to sample more but we were satisfied with what we got. The view was amazing as well with the clouds clearing over Manhattan so we ate our food right by the waterfront. Someone left a comment on my last post wondering how I could wear shorts in seemingly cold weather but the photos are deceiving: it was actually hot and humid. TOO hot and humid. One of my friends actually asked me how I could go out in a long sleeved shirt and hat... I don't know what I was thinking either.

From top to bottom: Choncho's chicken tacos, beef bulgogi bun from We Rub You, hot dog from Asia Dog, shrimp teriyaki balls from Mimi and Coco.

Looking back I wish we hadn't missed most of the vendors since I have no idea when I'll be back. I was bummed that I didn't get to buy anything from Whimsy & Spice since Jenna has been one of my favorite bloggers for quite some time now (thank for trying to get Mark to look out for me while he was packing up, I wish it had worked out!) For years I've been meaning to order something from their store but keep slipping up... I finally got my chance at Dean & Deluca right before I left and picked up a pack of brown sugar gingerspice cookies for Brent since he's also a fan. Unfortunately I didn't even get to try one since he took them with him to work and finished them all on Bart without saving me one. Rude!

down by the river

2011-09-16T19:22:00.000-07:00

vintage chambray shirt, Theory shorts, vintage Pendleton hat, Karen Walker sunglasses, vintage Coach satchel, Rachel Comey boots

Welp, I'm finally posting. New York was super hectic and I only managed to take outfit photos twice because I was... well, having too much fun. I'll post more about the trip in upcoming posts but for now I'll just leave these photos here. Too much to say in one post!

These photos were taken right after we finished eating our food from Smorsgasburg in Williamsburg where we were staying. It took us forever to leave our friend's apartment so we only managed to catch the last 30 minutes of it before it closed and ended up scrambling around trying to figure out what we wanted to eat. I'm saving it for the next post though!

"Voodoo" - Superpitcher

sheer goodness

2011-09-04T17:18:00.000-07:00

top and pants c/o Style by Marina, vintage belt, Karen Walker sunglasses, Jil Sander wedges

Whoops. I forgot to blog! I've been so overwhelmed with planning for New York and celebrating friends' birthdays that blogging was the last thing on my mind. I wore both of these Style by Marina pieces together when I got them in the mail... I guess this is as close as I'm going to get to owning a jumpsuit!

It seems so surreal to me right now but in two days I'll be in New York! Suggestions and tips would be appreciated since I actually have no idea what I'll be doing. Seriously, I don't even know what I'm packing. It looks like it's going to be raining? I always end up underpacking because I hate lugging too much stuff around but in this case it may be more efficient to overpack... or maybe I'll just wear the same things over and over again like I usually do. Hah.

"I Follow Rivers (The Magician Remix)" - Lykke Li

pools and rooftops

2011-08-27T20:50:00.000-07:00

thrifted top, Siwy denim shorts, Karen Walker sunglasses, Coach satchel, Rachel Comey Miner boots

Stopped by the Standard in downtown LA before driving back to SF with some friends. I arrived at the tail end of the party since I'd been hanging out with my family and getting lunch at Boiling Crab in Alhambra. SO FREAKING GOOD. Anyway I knew I wasn't missing much at the Standard other than overpriced drinks so I didn't really care about missing the pool party. I don't really go out much when I'm visiting family in LA anyway. Right now I'm hanging out with my younger brother and cousin who are up visiting from LA and are here for one more night. Sorry for being so M.I.A. this week!

"Le premier bonheur du jour" - Os Mutantes

looking like a child + gap mag feature

2011-08-20T20:13:00.000-07:00

short overalls c/o Denim Refinery, Saint James striped shirt, Karen Walker sunglasses, Rachel Comey Miner boots

I'm down in LA right now for my brother's birthday so this post will be fairly brief, sorry guys! This was actually from earlier in the week and was what I was wearing when I saw the dude from Arcade Fire at Barney's. Of all the things to be wearing when I run into someone cool like that I wear an outfit that makes me look like an 8-year-old kid, oh great. Seems like these overalls aren't such a big hit with the guys... every girlfriend that I've shown them to want a pair but my guy friends always cringe. Ahh well, who do I have to impress?

I also realized that I don't post very many pictures of myself with Brent but that's usually because he's the one taking my photos! This time Mike was with us so he took these, hah. Speaking of Mike, when he saw my feature at Gap Mag he asked me why I didn't submit any photos of him. Pfft. As if a whole post dedicated to him wasn't already enough? So ungrateful!

"Bigmouth Strikes Again" - The Smiths

hat hair

2011-08-16T21:53:00.000-07:00

thrifted sweater, Theory shorts, Pendleton hat via Painted Bird, Karen Walker sunglasses, H&M wool socks, Rachel Comey Bernard platforms, vintage Coach satchel

Hey, I'm wearing a hat! I'd been wanting to order this wool Pendleton hat for a while but always doubted that I'd be able to pull it off so I never got around to it. I don't know, I've always felt weird about wearing hats... I own a floppy hat from American Apparel but that's about it. I must have been on a lucky streak that day since I found this hat at a fraction of the price at Painted Bird right after seeing Win Butler shopping in the mens section at Barney's. Crazy, huh? I was looking at an A.P.C. shirt when I glanced up and saw him right in front of me but couldn't figure out how I knew him so I stared awkwardly at him until I realized, "OH SHIT THAT'S THE GUY FROM ARCADE FIRE RIGHT?" Funny how this ends up happening a few months after I wrote a long heartfelt post about them. I already felt really weird when he noticed that I was staring at him trying to figure out who he was so I didn't want to disrupt his shopping experience and left without saying anything. That would've been way too awkward, I'm content with just running into him.

I wore this to get burgers at Chez Maman in Potrero with my friends Chanel and Trang. Speaking of which, aren't my babies adorable? Since I don't have an "official" blog photographer I usually test my camera settings manually on whomever I happen to be with. So cute!

"God Only Knows" - The Beach Boys

something borrowed

2011-08-11T15:44:00.000-07:00

vintage sweatshirt from Painted Bird, Citizens of Humanity jeggings, Gap men's parka, Karen Walker sunglasses, Rachel Comey Miner boots

Someone asked me the other day why I stopped wearing this parka... THIS is why. I remember trying to convince him to add a parka to his wardrobe but he was skeptical about pulling it off and wouldn't listen to me. I found this in the men's section at Gap a few months ago, bought it for myself, and sold the parka I used to have thinking that I'd found a good replacement. Ahh well, it fits him better anyway! I'm still looking for an olive green parka though. I almost bought one from A.P.C. that I blogged about here but it sold out! Bummer. Has anyone seen any good ones out there?

Anyway, I have BIG news to share...

I'm going to New York next month!

Did I ever mention that I've never been to the East Coast? Weird travel phobia, I guess. I've never really cared about going but I figured I'd finally plan a trip out there since a few of my friends are going. I'm not sure how many Fashion Week related activities I'll be participating in but we'll see. I haven't really thought about that, I'm more excited about going on an actual vacation! Is anyone else going? I'll be there September 8th-13th!

"Comment te dire adieu?" - Françoise Hardy

dango dango dango

2011-08-08T22:03:00.000-07:00

thrifted cream sweater, Gap gingham shirt, Gap jeggings, H&M socks, Karen Walker sunglasses, Rachel Comey Miner boots, Fjallraven backpack

Here we go you guys, a true San Francisco summer! My friend Emily snapped these photos of me in Japantown after we'd finished getting ramen at Suzu. There's something about these unexpected overcast days that always makes me want to bundle up in the coziest clothes that I own. Comfy jeggings? Check. Oversized pullover sweater? Check. Wool socks? Double check. As for the shoes, what's better than breaking out my new Rachel Comey boots as soon as I received them in the mail from Creatures of Comfort? I don't mean to sound like a walking advertisement but all three pairs that I have are among the comfiest shoes that I own. I even received a sweet note from the girl who packed my order... turns out we've known each other for years through Livejournal!

After ramen we picked up treats at a kiosk right before it closed. I usually go for the anko (red bean) filled dango while Em got strawberry mochi ice cream. Anyone else find themselves humming the Dango song from Clannad? For the past hour I've been resisting an intense urge to photoshop cutesy faces onto the picture below...

ETA: well that didn't last long.

"Kaputt" - Destroyer

brunch at starbelly in the castro

2011-08-07T16:07:00.000-07:00

Apologies to everyone, these pictures are almost a month old but I kept neglecting to post them. Agh, sorry! A couple weeks ago Brent and I stopped by Starbelly to try their weekend brunch menu. I'd been there once before for dinner and it was pretty good but breakfast/brunch is usually my favorite meal of the day and I'd been itching to go back.

First we shared the french fries with three dipping sauces. Totally unnecessary given the amount of food we were getting but I had them the last time I was there and had been craving them quite a bit before that. Last time I also had a chorizo pizza but since they only serve brunch on weekends I knew I had to try their french toast and it did not disappoint. They even cure their own bacon! Brent got chilaquiles which were also pretty fantastic, overall, it was a great meal and I'd definitely recommend it.

easy breezy

2011-08-03T15:57:00.000-07:00

vintage linen shirt, H&M tank, Theory shorts, vintage Coach satchel, Karen Walker Sunglasses, Jil Sander wedges

What I wore to gorge myself at Tartine and shop for groceries in the area. In case you couldn't tell by now my days center around eating... I'm definitely feeling the repercussions right now. I'm starting to question my ability to get away with eating so much as I get older but for now I'll continue to enjoy it, albeit much more moderately. For now...

"I'm Feeling You" - capsule

all business, no play

2011-07-31T12:28:00.000-07:00

A.P.C. trench coat, Equipment denim shirt, Alexander Wang pencil skirt, vintage Coach satchel, Karen Walker sunglasses, Rachel Comey boots

"All business, no play." Can you believe some dude on the street hollered that at me as if it were a pick up line? What the hell? Seriously dude, you saw me from half a block away and that's the best you could come up with? COME ON!

Working on a mini make over for this blog. I haven't touched this layout in over two years so we'll see how far I get........

"Pura Saudade (Nova Bossa Nova)" - Fantastic Plastic Machine

i'm on a lake

2011-07-23T18:11:00.000-07:00

H&M blazer and tank, Siwy shorts, Coach satchel, Converse sneakers, Karen Walker sunglasses

Went to Lake Tahoe last weekend for some much needed sun and relaxation. I forgot to take my camera out for most of the trip I was there but managed to snap these on the first day. I posted a few pictures from my phone on my Tumblr but nothing beats the real thing: I can't even begin to describe how beautiful the scenery was. I want to go back!

green again

2011-07-14T16:28:00.000-07:00

Acne dress, Gap denim jacket, Rachel Comey boots, Karen Walker sunglasses, Fjallraven backpack

I'm surprised I managed to take photos this weekend, my left eye was droopy and swollen from really intense allergies so my sunglasses only came off when they absolutely had to at night. These were taken on the first foggy day we've had in a while but I insisted on refusing to wear tights just one last time. I'm actually proud of my jacked up legs!

I also dyed my hair again. Sometimes I wish I were cool enough to go full gyaru but I figured that the hair dye would be enough. For those of you who were wondering, I used Palty and I did it myself. I also wore orange lipstick (MAC Morange) out for the first time in a while. I keep forgetting I have shades other than my matte nude and red lipsticks...

"The Girl From Ipanema" - Pizzicato Five

burning up

2011-07-08T18:11:00.000-07:00

cropped top c/o Spotted Moth, vintage pleated skirt, vintage Coach satchel, Karen Walker sunglasses, Rachel Comey boots

Somehow these are the only two pictures that managed to come out from last Sunday and it probably has to do with the fact that we drove up north to drink beers at the Lagunitas Brewery and I may have had a bit too much to drink. Yikes. It was at least 25 degrees cooler in the picture above than in the one below where it actually hit 100. Oh jeez. I was actually happy to get back to San Francisco where the weather was just perfect at Baker Beach. I also may or may not have jumped in the water with my clothes on.......

"September (Fantastic Plastic Machine Remix)" - Earth Wind & Fire

favorite color

2011-07-05T18:12:00.000-07:00

floral dress c/o Yo Vintage, Rachel Comey boots, vintage Coach bag, Karen Walker sunglasses c/o Need Supply

Quick post before I meet some friends for happy hour. Spend most of this 4th of July weekend outdoors with different sets of friends taking advantage of the fantastic weather. I live two blocks away from Alamo Square but most of my friends live in the Mission so we usually hang out at Dolores Park. For once it actually feels like it's July in this damn city. We even squeezed in a trip to the beach on Sunday but I'm saving that one for another post!

If it were actually hot instead of just warm I would not have been able to get away with wearing this dress (in my favorite color!) buttoned all the way up but thankfully it doesn't get that hot around here save maybe two or three random days scattered throughout the year. Seriously, this weather is IDEAL. This has been one of my best Bay Area summers ever and we're not even halfway through it.

"Only You" - Savage

i drink too much coffee

2011-06-30T18:30:00.000-07:00

A.P.C. plaid shirt, thrift camel cardigan, Gap jeggings, A.P.C. loafers, Ray Ban wayfarers

Sometimes I worry that people will think I'm too boring. I mean, I always make a joke about being predictable but there are so many bloggers out there with their cute fancy ensembles yet I'm here posting a shirt, cardigan, and jeans... how boring! Well in any case, I wore this just to get coffee so any effort that I would have made to look decent would have gone to waste since I wasn't planning on going anywhere. But you know what? I'm okay with looking like this 70% of the time and sharing it even if it is boring. I hope you guys are too.

By the way, I still think this is relevant.

In other news, I'm working on a summer playlist right now. So far I have 17 songs but I'm still trying to work out the order. Many of them have already been featured here, thanks to everyone who actually takes the time to listen to the songs that I post!

"Rollerskate" - Matias Aguayo

pink pants

2011-06-26T19:29:00.000-07:00

vintage silk shirt, J.Crew pants, Rachel Comey boots, Ray Ban wayfarers

Feeling sick but I managed to get out for a bit to get a sandwich and cheese at Bi-Rite after sleeping 12+ hours last night. I don't usually photoshop my pictures but I had a pretty gnarly aioli stain on my top which was too embarrassing to leave alone since I apparently can't eat without spilling like a normal person. That aside, ham and swiss sandwiches from Bi-Rite are one of my favorite things to eat of all time mostly because it's just a baguette, meat, cheese, tomatoes, and aioli and I never like having too much on my sandwiches to begin with.

I didn't talk about the weather for once but still managed to go on a tangent about food. Apparently I don't have anything interesting to say about what I'm wearing! It's boring anyway. Oh, it may be a little late to mention this but I have a few spots open for ads if anyone is interested. Shoot me an email if you are!

"Joanna" - Superpitcher

hello summer

2011-06-22T19:56:00.000-07:00

open back dress c/o Aerie (thanks Lucy @ Shadow PR!), Swedish Hasbeen clogs, tote via Refinery29's shop crawl

I wore this to walk to McDonalds a couple days ago. No joke. Fast food cravings aside, the weather SF finally hit 80 degrees and damn, it was HOT. I was sweating even in a dress that could easily pass off as a nightie. Unfortunately this only lasted two or three days: today's temperature refused to pass the 60s and the rest of the week doesn't seem very promising. Oh well.

Don't forget to check out my blog on Facebook and Bloglovin'!

"Amor Fati" - Washed Out

blue bottle and miette

2011-06-19T21:28:00.000-07:00

I think I spend more time at the Ferry Building by myself than with other people. While it's fun to grab lunch and a drink with someone, I love being able to explore places like this leisurely and at my own pace. I usually start by window shopping at Sur La Table and work my way down the main hall stopping by each section to sample olive oil, cheese, etc. and finally end up at Blue Bottle. BEST ICED COFFEE EVER. It was nice to pick up a cup and sit down at the bar while watching people walk by.

Speaking of people watching, when I was sitting at Blue Bottle I noticed a pretty girl in line at Miette wearing a really cute outfit featuring a Fjallraven backpack. When I finished my drink a couple minutes I decided to get some macarons to go (rose and vanilla for anyone who's curious) so I wandered over and got in line. While I snapped these pictures to kill time I was surprised by a tap on the shoulder, it was that same girl I had noticed before: turns out she recognized me because of this blog! So awesome. If you're reading this, Mimi, it was great meeting you!

you know what i mean

2011-06-17T13:08:00.000-07:00

H&M cardigan, UO top, Siwy shorts, Rachel Comey boots, Fjallraven backpack

Impromptu beach trip! It wasn't exactly 80 degrees like the last time I was there but the clear skies and sun were enough to keep us warm although it was still windy. The best part about Baker Beach is it's proximity since it's only 15 minutes away from where I live. I was a little under prepared since my friend texted me last minute that we were going so I spent most of the time talking about food cravings and wishing I had a Coca Cola. Oh well, at least the warm sand felt nice.

When I was growing up in the SGV, trips to the beach were surprisingly scarce. Maybe it was the unavoidable traffic in LA that deterred us but I was never really into going to the beach to begin with. Or maybe I was too angst-ridden and pessimistic as a kid and hated anything that was remotely fun or too crowded. I always dismiss the idea of moving back to LA but sometimes I'm tempted to move down south again just to see if my experience there would be different now that I'm an adult no longer living with my parents. I'm not ready to leave San Francisco yet but who knows? We'll see.

june gloom

2011-06-07T20:18:00.000-07:00

Taylor jacket c/o BB Dakota, H&M lace dress, vintage Coach Satchel, Rachel Comey boots

In case you couldn't tell, the only times I'm really able to get shots of my outfits are when I'm hanging out with someone else while it's still light out on a day off. Same old deal, same old deal. Not even going to complain about the "summer" weather like I always do. Took these yesterday after a date at Tartine which preceded a trip to the movie theater downtown. Also somehow ended up this one Carl's Jr. downtown which never fails to have at least one crazy incident occurring with each visit. This time a confused patron propped open the restroom door with a chair to keep an eye on her belongings outside while I had a full and clear view of whatever business she was taking care of. Perfect way to end the night!

(can't tell if my eyes are closed or open in that last one, oh booooy)

Yikes at my wonky eyes. I like my hair color in these photos, it seems to drastically change shades every time the lighting changes. In Sephora one day my friend stopped to tell me that my hair looked almost golden under the harsh lights while no one really seems to notice when I'm out at night. I neglected to tell my mom hoping she would notice on my blog eventually and when I brought it up today and jokingly berated her for not reading my blog regularly she retaliated by saying, "You never post anyway." Thanks, Mom.

st. francis fountain

2011-06-02T14:03:00.000-07:00

cafe latte waffle knit sweater c/o white crow boutique

Met with Megan last week before she left for New York to grab lunch at St. Francis Fountain. I needed a bit of a pick-me-up so I went straight for a Coca Cola float as soon as I got there: nothing beats eating dessert before your meal. Our floats even came with cute paper straws!

I've been on huge burger kick lately and can't help but order a burger whenever I eat out. I'd had breakfast here before but had yet to try something from the lunch menu. The bacon may have been a little excessive especially after I'd downed that entire Coke float but I'm just going to repeat the same phrase that I employ whenever I start to ponder certain questionable choices: "no regrets."

true faith

2011-05-26T15:11:00.000-07:00

Gap denim jacket, Hope cropped top, vintage maxi skirt, vintage lace up boots

Wore this on Monday, I think? Went to get Vietnamese food at Out The Door in the mall and caught Bridesmaids at the Metreon. I also thoroughly embarrassed myself in the park outside the theater by almost falling into the water a couple times.......

Ohh and I guess I'm going to Russian River this weekend for a friend's birthday! Hopefully it'll be a decent break from reality like Coachella was because I really need it right now.

nowhere fast

2011-05-22T21:35:00.000-07:00

Saint James striped top, chambray top c/o bb dakota, april 77 jeans, rachel comey bernard platforms, coach satchel

Pictures from happy hour last week. Megan and I wore the same jeans and drank beers at Thee Parkside while trying to figure out why this photo of her from the last time we were there blew up on Tumblr (and landed on a couple thinspo sites??) Oh well! What else have I been up to... umm, I dyed my hair? Other than that, everything is pretty much the same I suppose. Nothing too exciting.

I don't think I ever talked about my Ina shirt here, did I? I'm a huge Ina Garten fan and had been looking for an oversized chambray shirt everywhere since I figured that would be the closest I could get to her even with my mediocre cooking skills weighing me down (I'm more of a Jeffrey to be quite honest). Oh Ina, oh Ina! But really, how awesome is it that she quit her government job and ended up where she is now? Okay aside from that Make A Wish fiasco I still think she's pretty freaking awesome.

automatic lover

2011-05-10T20:06:00.000-07:00

Acne v-neck and jeans, Elizabeth and James blazer via Swirl, Rachel Comey boots, Bottega Veneta clutch

Super behind on posting again, sorry guys. Things have been stressful and hectic (I'm transitioning into my full time job) but I'm hanging on. I wore this a couple weeks ago to drink free booze at that Refinery29 shop crawl but skipped the after party for a friend's birthday celebration. Probably not a good idea to pose for pictures after two or three drinks. At least I finally got to meet Ashley!!

Anyway, I'm really drained and have been out of my apartment from 7:30am-7pm so I'm going to have to cut this short, unfortunately. Enjoy some disco for now while I get my life together <3

bipolar blogging

2011-05-02T19:30:00.000-07:00

Equipment denim shirt via Hautelook, Siwy shorts, Rachel Comey boots, Fjallraven backpack

Whoops. Has it really been a week? I haven't been in front of a computer for more than an hour in ages. I guess this is what it feels like to have a social life outside of the internet, haha. Well actually, I've been a bit busy with my IRL life and it may have something to do with a J-O-B... will explain later of course. For now let's just enjoy my extended metaphor equating my erratic web presence to the weather in San Francisco.

A couple posts ago people were lauding my supposed take on the "denim on denim" trend but that A.P.C. dress is actually made out of linen, not chambray. This outfit would be more appropriate for those comments, I suppose. I thought about tucking in the shirt but the shorts are too low for that, what do you guys think?

bundled up

2011-04-24T20:07:00.000-07:00

vintage duffle coat, A.P.C. collared shirt, vintage wool sweater, Gap jeggings, A.P.C. loafers, Acne tote

I'm a little behind with posting, sorry about that! I'm still recovering from my Coachella weekend and trying to get everything together. I wore this outfit out this past week to grab beers with Megan at Thee Parkside's happy hour then burgers at Chez Maman. It's hard to believe that less than a week ago I could get away with wearing just shorts and a bathing suit when I have to wear layers like these in this rainy San Francisco weather. I want to go back to the desert!

Anyway, time to go finish watching the playoffs. Is it really that time of the year again? This year has flown by way too fast. I can't believe it's also almost summertime but that doesn't really mean much in San Francisco (i.e. the beach in July), right? Isn't it supposed to get warmer soon? Hopefully it'll be better by next week, it's been a while since we've hung out at Dolores Park on a weekend. Man, I need to stop complaining about the weather.

greetings from coachella

2011-04-21T01:30:00.000-07:00

vintage collared shirt, gifted Siwy denim cutoffs,vintage lace-up booties, Fjallraven backpack, Ray Ban Wayfarers

My favorite outfit from the weekend on day two of Coachella! Please excuse the crappy iPhone pictures, I didn't feel like lugging around my SLR and wanted to enjoy myself as much as I could without worrying about pictures and whatnot. I'm currently sitting in my room in SF with the heater on full blast since I still can't get used to the cold. I really miss the desert. When I got off the car Monday night to go into my apartment wearing only shorts and a cropped top I was greeted by the freezing rain (and this little cutie, of course). Man, it felt good to go on vacation. We stayed in a condo in Palm Springs with some friends from SF that I didn't know very well in the beginning but ended up really getting along with by the end of the trip.

crochet one piece from UO, vintage floral maxi skirt from Painted Bird, vintage Capezio bucket bag, American Apparel floppy hat, Rachel Comey boots

Friday was cooler than the rest of the weekend so I was a little more adventurous with my outfit and wore this maxi skirt that I'd picked up at Painted Bird the day before I left. It's hard to tell in the picture but the top part ties in the back and is connected to the bottom by a crochet pattern in the front so it's more risque than what I usually wear. Oh well, I tried right? I forgot my hat in the car when we got to the festival but I was better off without it later on when I was dancing to sets by Cut Copy and Boys Noize.

Every morning I'd wake up to this suit of armor in the corner of the room in my cozy little futon. The decor was so weird. There were also two dog statues in the living room and a pair of mannequin legs outside that were upside down in the corner of the back patio next to some cacti (our condo mates scared the crap out of us with this little arrangement on the last night). So many weird (but funny) things happened this weekend that I can't even begin to list all of them.

This was actually my first time going to Coachella so I didn't know what to expect so it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Reception was the worst problem and it was difficult to get a hold of people most of the time so I had a couple bad scares after being separated from friends but everything worked out in the end.

Friday was pretty chill, I saw Interpol but wasn't very into it since 1. I've already seen them multiple times, and 2. I didn't really like their new album. Next I met up with my roommates to dance to Cut Copy which was way more fun then sat down to listen to Crystal Castles which was okay but their live shows aren't very exciting. I like that you had the option of sitting things out if you weren't very into it or tired, the music still sounded great no matter where you were. I also got to see a band from my childhood, Caifanes, who were reuniting for the first time in more than a decade and a half. It was great to see a bunch of people who flew in from Mexico and all over the world just to see them and I talked to a few in the crowd while I enjoyed songs that I used to sing in the car with my mom as a kid when they came on the radio. For the last set of the day, I had originally planned to watch Chemical Brothers with my roommates but had to meet with my condo mates at Boys Noize because my phone was dying and they were my ride home. I ended up dancing my ass off there to a KILLER set and light show which blew my mind and made my night.

So let's see. Day two? I wore a white top and these Siwy shorts that my friends and I were randomly given outside the Ace Hotel on Friday (see first picture). I swear, after I put those shorts on I refused to wear anything else, they were so perfect for the weather in Indio. Sucks that I can't really wear them here in SF save a few random days in the year where it reaches 80-90 degrees. Also, I somehow managed to forget to eat (it happens to me sometimes) on Friday so I made up for it on Saturday with Chinese food and an ice cream sandwich from the COOL HAUS truck in the VIP section while hanging out with the people from the H&M tent and listening to Gogol Bordello.

I dubbed Saturday my "high school playlist day" so most of the bands that I saw were ones that I listened to heavily at the time like Broken Social Scene, New Pornographers, Bright Eyes, Animal Collective, and Arcade Fire. Prior to this I had met up with my best friend from home, Karen, but we were separated and I ended up spending most of Saturday between 6pm-2am by myself. It was actually kind of nice to be alone while listening to bands that shaped into the person that I was back in high school and although I'd seen most of them live already it was still a new experience. Bright Eyes was the biggest surprise since my last two experiences seeing them hadn't been too fun but Conor put on an amazing show and it was awesome to sing to songs like "Lover I Don't Have To Love" and "Calendar Hung Itself" one last time while still knowing the lyrics by heart after not having heard the songs in years. During Bright Eyes' set I ended up fairly close to the right side of the stage but as soon as it ended people started pushing forward and I found myself stuck in the middle of this crowd unable to get out since Arcade Fire fans were pushing to get as close as possible to the stage. See that last picture of Mumford and Sons before my phone died? I ended up a few feet closer than I was when I took that picture so I was in the front row by the time Arcade Fire came on. Animal Collective came before them, however, and they were fantastic as usual but I felt a little silly dancing to every song while everyone around me wasn't really into it and seemed to only be there for Arcade Fire. I even heard someone ask "Who's Animal Collective?" and this one group of teenage girls made faces when the music started and started taking pictures of themselves because they were bored. Seriously? Hard to believe that at one point Animal Collective was bigger than Arcade Fire but that just shows how far they've come, I guess.

Anyway, being front row by myself for Arcade Fire was a surreal experience I'll never forget. I already saw them a few years ago but this time around it was so much more different. The Suburbs came out in the middle of a fairly difficult year for me and I would listen to the album multiple times a day all the way through during long walks or commutes while reflecting on recent events and my feelings at the time. Arcade Fire put on one of THE best performances I've ever experienced and I can't even begin to describe how it felt to dance and sing along to the lyrics without ever missing a word or beat and getting to see them perform right in front of me every single song that I wanted to hear. I'd always listened to them all throughout high school when Funeral came out and a bit in college after Neon Bible but I'd never considered them my favorite band until it kind of just hit me in the middle of the show and I felt so incredibly lucky to be there witnessing that performance. When I looked up into the sky during "Wake Up" and saw those glowing inflated balls come down at me I actually teared up a little and it's an incredible image that I'll never forget even though my phone had died and I didn't have a camera to capture it... okay, maybe the moment didn't last very long since I spent the rest of the song deflecting hundreds of balls with my arms and trying not to get hit in the head but hey, it's still something.

T By Alexander Wang striped top, Siwy denim cutoffs, vintage lace-up booties, Fjallraven backpack, Ray Ban Wayfarers

Okay, okay. I digress. Seems like most people have been concerned more with the festivities than with the music itself which I went in thinking too but ended up touched my experiences, as cheesy as that sounds. Sunday, however, was mostly spent poolside at the Ace Hotel since I was way too exhausted from the night before to be there all day again so we didn't show up until later. I made the unwise choice to forget my bathing suit (after having in on me all day the day before, too) so I could only dip my legs in the water as I jealously watched everyone else swim in the water.

Ah well, I still had fun. I ended up really liking the Ace Hotel, maybe I'll take a trip back down there sometime to actually stay there although it wouldn't be as active and bustling as it was this past weekend. I always forget how fun it is to hang out by a pool now that I've been living in the Bay Area for so long. Is this enough of a reason for me to move back to LA? Doubt it, but it's a nice luxury to have when you're on vacation at least. As I write this I am curling up further under my two layers of blankets and covers and sighing repeatedly, I never though I'd miss the warm weather this much...

Don't know what I'm doing in that last picture but everyone looks cute so whatever, I'll still post it! I never realized how great cutoffs and boots go together until this weekend and I'm glad I went with boots rather than sandals, they really saved my life at the festival. At one point in the crowd this guy passed out and his head landed right on my toe... so scary. I was really good about staying hydrated so I didn't have any problems while I was there thankfully. Anyway, after the pool party we finally piled back into the car and tried to make it in time for Duran Duran whose performance was a HUGE disappointment for me mostly because I really wanted to hear Come Undone but they didn't end up playing it and chose to focus more on newer, crappier songs. Bummer. Afterward we wandered over to the other stage to dance to Chromeo instead of seeing The Strokes (I was never really into them, don't know why) was even joined by my friend from home again for a bit. Twenty years together and counting, right?

And finally, Kanye. What else is there to say? It felt like I was witnessing a once-in-a-lifetime performance and like at Arcade Fire I felt very lucky to be there in real life. I had a lot more to say about him but I'll just keep it to myself since I already went on that long tangent about Arcade Fire. Some things are better left unsaid.

And that concludes one of the best weekends of my life, thanks to everyone who actually took the time to read all of it.

coachella essentials

2011-04-14T21:21:00.000-07:00

neutrogena sunblock, evian spray, frizz-ease hairspray, tissues, eye drops, blotting papers from daiso in japantown, campus notebook from japantown, bobby pins, mac lipstick in honeylove, neutrogena sunblock stick, inhaler, ray ban wayfarers, neutrogena lip moisturizer (not pictured: travel deodorant, wet wipes, and too many allergy meds lol)

What I'll be carrying in my bag at Coachella. I'm currently in LA visiting family and tonight Ill be in Palm Springs! I've never been to Coachella (and I'm a Socal natice, ergh) so I'm pretty excited. I had a really bad allergy attack today and my right eye was swollen shut at some point but thankfully I'm better just in time. If anyone recognizes me don't be alarmed if I seem really out of it since I'll be pretty heavily medicated (jk its non-drowsy prescription stuff). Whatever, as long as I get to see Duran Duran and DFA 1979 I'll be fine.

I was able to fit all of my stuff in my One Language tote (that thing is HUGE seriously) but I can't tell if I underpacked or not. I brought a mix of things with me: crochet one piece + vintage floral maxi + straw bucket bag, vintage floral romper, vintage light collared shirt + Theory shorts + H&M x Marimekko swimsuit, Gap denim jacket + T by Alex Wang striped top + Current Elliott pencil skirt, and the rest of my toiletries. Oh, and a floppy hat!

I'll probably be posting pictures as I take them over at my tumblr so go look!

happy 2nd birthday blog

2011-04-09T16:31:00.000-07:00

Gap denim jacket, Acne v-neck, jeans, + tote bag (via Gilt), Rachel Comey boots

Hey look, I finally got it! One of my earliest posts on this blog involved me whining about this bag and two years later, I found it on Gilt and Brenty offered to buy it for me. That reminds me, apparently my blog is hitting the two year mark tomorrow! I'd like to thank everyone who has been with me since then for continuing to come back and I'd also like to wish a great big welcome to anyone who has found me recently. I think I finally know where I'm going with this blog and I'm sorry for being a terrible poster for a while, I promise I'll be a much better blogger now!

Hey look, Megan and I finally got a picture together! First we went to In-N-Out then met up with our friend Greg for ice cream at Humphry Slocombe then headed over to Daiso in Japantown to buy Megan's pup Penny a raincoat. Did anyone notice the tiny dried ice cream stain on my pants in the above pictures? Megan caught me right when I noticed it, but I guess I didn't clean it off well enough. So embarrassing! I thought about photoshopping it out but ehh, why bother? Time to embrace my inner slob...

And finally, some close-up gratifying pictures of our ice cream for everyone. Megan and I both got brown butter (and Greg dumped his scoop of chocolate on mine since they messed up his order and gave him that instead of the olive oil flavor) and Greg ended up with cucumber ice milk. If you're ever in the area, go!

p.s. I'm sure everyone by now know that I wear clip in hair extensions from time to time (I bought them at Sally's but I don't remember the brand, sorry) but every now and then I'll get emails from bewildered people asking how it grew so fast (really guys?). Oh, and I finally updated my shop. It'll only be open until Tuesday because I'm going to Coachella with Lulu so email me while you can!

Also, don't forget to add me on Bloglovin' and Facebook!

whoops i forgot a title

2011-04-06T18:20:00.000-07:00

Current Elliott gingham shirt, vintage pleated button skirt, thrifted belt, A.P.C loafers, One Language Amper tote

What I wore two days ago (same day that the last set of photos were taken). The weather's cooling down but it was warm enough to walk around wearing just a skirt and top. I don't know if you can tell in the pictures but my stomach is about to explode from all the food that we ate at Nopalito! I definitely l unfastened a button or rights soon as I got home.....

I'm in the process of updating my blog shop right now so everything should be up in a couple hours. Thanks to everyone who gas purchased something so far! Being in the city now has been a little tricky when it comes to selling since there's no longer a post office within walking distance so I can only go two or three times a week. Ah well!

lunch at nopalito

2011-04-04T17:38:00.000-07:00

Finally got Brent to come to Nopalito with me! I'd been there before (it's less than two blocks from my apartment!) but we always end up going somewhere else on our lunch dates when Brent is in the area. I've been a little lazy about taking out my camera when I go to restaurants and I think that my new phone is to blame since it's so much easier to records meals with an iPhone except I'm less inclined to blog about it here and more likely to post it on Tumblr.

When you read the Yelp reviews most people complain about how it's not really authentic Mexican food... well, one, I abhor most self proclaimed "foodie" Yelp reviewers, and two, most of the Mexican food people consider authentic is just as Americanized as Chipotle in my opinion, even in the Mission. Whatever dude, as long as my food is juicy and flavorful I don't give a crap about authenticity. We started with the totopos con chile which were tortilla chips dipped in a chile salsa sprinkled with cheese and cilantro and crema on the side. Brent went with the enchiladas de pollo con mole and I got a torta de chilorio which is what I usually get there. Everything was satisfying and delicious as per usual and I washed my food down with their homemade iced tea while Brent drank rosé (he said something about really liking their wine list, I guess).

silly goose

2011-04-01T16:48:00.000-07:00

A.P.C. linen dress, Chavi shirt c/o BB Dakota, One Language Amper tote, American Apparel floppy hat, Rachel Comey boots

The warm weather continues! I wore this to meet with friends in Berkeley and pick up some packages. The friend that took these for me isn't really familiar with my blog so he teased me the entire time that these photos were being taken but he cooperated anyway... he probably won't read this but thanks! One of the stipulations was that these photos had to be taken where no one could see us but on a campus like Cal's it isn't really a problem since there are so many little nooks and hidden spots that no one was around to make us feel embarrassed. Success!

BTW, do you guys like my Ina shirt? FINALLY FOUND THE RIGHT ONE! I forgot to pop the collar though...

the beach? in march?

2011-03-30T20:27:00.001-07:00

eyelet dress c/o White Crow Boutique, Amper Tote c/o One Language, Rachel Comey boots, Ray Ban wayfarers

If anyone needed a clearer example of how bipolar the weather is here in San Francisco, just look at my blog. A couple posts ago I was baring my legs at the beginning of the month then as the weeks progressed the weather got worse with a few nice days here and there. It's kind of hard to believe that in my last post less than a week ago I was wearing a heavy coat and oversized scarf when I post pictures from the beach like these! I had been wearing a different outfit earlier during a job interview and was sweating profusely in pants and a trench by the time I met up with Megan to enjoy the weather at the beach. I know 75 degrees isn't exactly burning hot (especially compared to the weather in LA, where I hear it almost reached 90) but here that's totally acceptable as beach weather. For further proof, refer to this post from last summer when Brent and I tried to have a picnic in this same location. Thanks, San Francisco!

There were people around us in bikinis and beach wear but I'm not really into that so I just wore a simple dress and threw on an H&M cardigan when it was finally chilly around 7. Can you guess where we went to pick up food for a beach picnic? Look, I'm all for eating at amazing restaurants around the city (last night Brent and I went to Frances for our two year anniversary, totally deserved their Michelin star!) but sometimes you just really want Taco Bell. How can you go wrong at a place with a 99 cent burrito that has Fritos in it and has Mountain Dew as a fountain option? Seriously, you guys.

And just for a little added bonus, here's a quick peek inside my bag. My red Millimeter Milligram is from Rare Device (they no longer stock it unfortunately), mini campus notebook is from a store in Japantown, make up bag is Fog Linen from Atomic Garden in Oakland, and I'm sure I don't have to list where everything else is from... one of these days I'll try to empty it out and show everything neatly organized.

By the way, I updated/reopened my shop blog with new things and deleted what was sold...

old favorites

2011-03-26T16:43:00.000-07:00

H&M coat, H&M scarf, Citizens of Humanity jeggings, vintage lace up boots

It was super chilly in SF yesterday so I pulled out this heavy coat from H&M that I've had for years. I haven't bought any new outerwear in a really long time (not including the A.P.C. trench) and it's nice to have these pieces which have served me well for the past few years. I think I picked up this oversized scarf around the same time; it's super ratty and old but I wear it to death anyway. I met up with Lulu for lunch (at our favorite local Chinese restaurant in the city, HAHAHAH) then we headed over to the Mission to meet with Ken from HIMYS. Luckily it didn't rain until they were finished with the shoot. Can't wait to see the pictures! I didn't have to pose (thankfully) this time around since it was Lulu's turn, maybe next time.

Okay, time to finish watching the USA vs Argentina match. GO USA!

a.p.c. ss11

2011-03-23T20:14:00.000-07:00

Currently in a funk. I wish the weather were warmer.

fifteen again

2011-03-17T20:53:00.000-07:00

thrifted top, vintage dress via Pretty Penny, drugstore tights, Rachel Comey bernard platforms via Jeremys

I cut my bangs too short last night and developed a giant pimple on my cheek. What am I, 15 again? I suppose I also decided to dress the part when I was pressed for time this morning before Megan picked me up to go to San Jose for the day and night. Actually, when I was 15 I had razor cut hair, wore really dark eye make up, and was 25 pounds lighter so I wore super tight tops and skinny jeans (yet I still managed to be voted most fashionable in my high school yearbook?)

Is it just me or are teenagers so much more well dressed now than when I was growing up? I get a little jealous when I see girls pull off super adorable outfits on their blogs that I definitely wouldn't be able to wear right now. Well, I could, but I would honestly just feel really ridiculous. Someone once asked me if I was ever afraid of looking too old because of my current style but I admitted that at this point in my life I would prefer to appear like I'm older than to look like I'm trying to look younger and keep up with trends.

Well, being in your early 20s isn't exactly old but it's more of a difference in lifestyle thing I suppose. Being out of college and being on my own feels so much more different than it did when I was still in school surrounded by my peers. Ahh well, I'll still love these mini dresses.

slightly delirious

2011-03-15T17:57:00.000-07:00

Acne jacket, Acne top, vintage plaid skirt, vintage lace up boots

I was feeling a little sick yesterday so I only stepped outside to get a chicken sandwich. It's a bit warmer now so I can finally get away with wearing this jacket instead of a coat. Oh crap, I was going to write more but my computer crashed while I was coding this so I'll cut it short since I'm finishing it from my phone. Sorry guys.

I also answered a few questions for Cal's Bare Magazine, heh. I was 100% serious about that Ina comment.

feeling helpless

2011-03-11T17:55:00.000-08:00

My thoughts are with Japan and everyone who was affected by the earthquake and tsunamis. Please do everything that you can to help by contributing to relief funds and efforts. [Red Cross]

an old familiar scene

2011-03-08T20:17:00.000-08:00

A.P.C. trench, thrifted Brooks Brothers shirt, Gap jeggings, Rachel Comey boots

Wore this out to brunch at Tartine with Megan after attending the Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise show in Oakland the night before. I can't even begin to describe how awesome the show was, everything felt so surreal. Definitely one of the best nights of my life. Afterward I met up with Brent to pick up bulk granola and oats at a local market and later made dinner.

When people ask me for tips on how to shop at thrift stores I always maintain that patience is the number one thing. Sometimes I'll spend an hour and a half in a thrift store only to find five things that I really like. I usually go alone and go through every single rack instead of just skimming them... it's a painstaking process but I've found so many awesome things like my duffle coat. Another good piece of advice is to check the mens section: I randomly stopped by a thrift store and found this oversized Brooks Brothers shirt for $2.50.

Also, a big thank you to Vogue Girl Korea for asking me to contribute to their 9th anniversary issue! I just got my issue in the mail but I don't have a scanner so a camera photo will have to suffice.

on a roof

2011-03-05T16:27:00.000-08:00

vintage duffle coat, A.P.C. Madras plaid dress, vintage lace-up boots

Spent the day with Megan since it was her 23rd birthday yesterday. Some friends from SoCal were staying in an apartment in Pac Heights so we hung out there most of the day where we had an insane view of the bay from the roof. At night we went to Front Porch for her birthday dinner and met up with more friends for drinks in the Mission... overall, it was a good day. I ended up keeping this A.P.C. Madras dress instead of selling it, I guess I just needed to wear it out for once.

And here's the birthday girl! She's leaving me for LA in a couple months for grad school at UCLA and she's currently living at home in Los Gatos so I only see her when she drives up here... for a second I was actually tempted to move back to LA (but only a second). I don't know if I'd ever be able to move back down to Southern California, I like it so much better up here. Maybe eventually. Anyway, I can't remember where Megan got everything that she's wearing but I know that I gave her the vintage denim jacket a few years ago and her dress is from Nasty Gal (navy is sold out but the gray version is still there).

where's the snow?

2011-03-01T18:53:00.000-08:00

A.P.C. sweatshirt + skirt, Rachel Comey boots, Fjallraven backpack

Went to Japantown to get a new doll while wearing this yesterday. Were we really freaking out about the possibility of snow up until a day ago? I know something light hit Twin Peaks but it wasn't very apparent the next day; in fact, the sky was super clear from Saturday until Monday. Silly San Francisco. It's cold again now but yesterday's weather was so great that I was fine walking around in this.

Posting these pictures just made me think of these three things: 1. I look too pale since I haven't been out in the sun, 2. my hair is too crazy because I need a haircut and haven't cut it in months, and 3. man, those scars on my knee are ugly, how do I get rid of them?

ps. Rachel from Need Supply just posted about a few of my favorite places in SF :)

orange and green

2011-02-22T14:39:00.001-08:00

vintage duffle coat, Gap jeggings, A.P.C. shirt, Jcrew socks, Coach purse, Rachel Comey platform clogs via Jeremy's

Two posts in a row wearing the same coat. Why? Because it's cold and I don't own very many coats! And man, I love this coat, best $3 I've ever spent on something that wasn't food. Does that make me boring? Sure, I'll take that. I haven't really been shopping in over a month (not including the jacket that my parents bought me for Chinese New Year or the random vintage t-shirt that I got at Painted Bird because it reminded me of one that my mom had) but there hasn't been anything new that I've wanted or needed other than new stationary or a desk plant. It feels nice to be content with your wardrobe without constantly wanting and needing more. I think I should probably get rid of more clothes but for now I'm keeping what I have with a few scattered exceptions.

Also, the post title reminds me of this one time 10 years ago in 7th grade when we were playing a trivia game in class and one of the questions asked for the school colors of some university that I can't remember so I said the first two colors which popped into my head: orange and green. No clue what I was thinking about but the boys in my class teased me about it for the rest of the year by shouting "ORANGE AND GREEN! ORANGE AND GREEN!" every time they saw me. Man, I forgot how much junior high sucked.

Oh, and the shoes. I bought these almost 90% off retail a month ago and I've been wearing them a lot (which you can tell by the love scuffs in the close up photo). Somehow I paid less for these than the worn pair that I scored at Buffalo Exchange but I really lucked out at the Jeremy's in Berkeley this time thanks to a friend who works there and texted me when they came in. I even saw the same pair at a local shoe store still being sold at full price. Seriously, if you haven't been to either location yet, go.

ps. I'm also selling a brand new A.P.C. Madras dress (with tags) in a size medium...

slightly irrelevant

2011-02-17T19:32:00.000-08:00

vintage sweater, duffel coat, and boots, Acne jeans, Coach purse

This is what I wore during and after this crazy storm that just hit San Francisco out of nowhere. Today I realized that after five years in the Bay Area I still don't own rain-appropriate shoes and probably never will since I haven't found a pair of rainboots that I actually like (and those Loeffler Randall ones still refuse to go on sale) so I just wore these trusty old vintage ones. Last night I somehow ended up walking in the rain and hail with two medium Domino's pizzas and while the pizzas remained relatively unscathed I ended up a soaking wet mess. Totally worth it, though.

So umm, what else? I walked around downtown SF with Lulu while she told me about her trip to New York. Call me boring but I'm not really into that NYFW scene and I don't think I ever will be (although this style.com iPhone app does come in handy). Did I ever mention that I haven't traveled anywhere past Texas or Mexico? I have this weird anxiety about being in a plane longer than two hours. I do want to go to New York soon and Megan and I were talking about going to New York to visit her cousin Sophie. Maybe in May? I'm more excited about going to various restaurants than anything (looking at Frances and Gennie's blogs for recommendations of course) and maybe some sightseeing but man, it'll be nice to go somewhere that isn't the west coast for once. Time to try something new in 2011, I suppose.

getting coffee

2011-02-08T17:10:00.000-08:00

H&M silk top, Acne trousers via Totokaelo, Rachel Comey boots, Fjallraven backpack, Ray Ban wayfarers

Is it just me or am I running out of things to say? I guess I'm not feeling very chatty right now. This is what I wore when Megan and I went to Blue Bottle before she headed back to the South Bay. Man I love their iced coffee.

Photos by Megan.

Here is my photographer's outfit (details here) and my iced coffee:

cool beans

2011-02-03T20:11:00.000-08:00

Gap gingham shirt, A.P.C. trench coat, Citizens of Humanity jeggings, Rachel Comey boots, Fjallraven backpack, Ray Ban wayfarers

Sorry I've been MIA... I finally moved to San Francisco! I live two blocks away from Alamo Square and can walk to Popeyes and Taco Bell. I posted two pictures on Tumblr but will be posting more once I'm settled in. For now enjoy these photos that Megan took before we went to In-N-Out today.

down by the bay

2011-01-26T21:53:00.000-08:00

vintage silk top, vintage Jordache skirt, Rachel Comey boots, random tote bag

Final shop update went up yesterday! A big thanks to everyone who has purchased something from my blog so far. I really appreciate your support! Sometimes I wonder if I should open an actual online vintage store but even my dinky little shop required more time than I thought so it would have to be a full time gig... wishful thinking, wishful thinking! Anyway, I wore this the other day when Brent and I went to In-N-Out. Usually we would just stay in for most of the day on our computers but the weather in San Francisco has been so nice lately that we actually stepped outside of his apartment for more than an hour.

Oh, and because someone said that I look down too much in my photos:

LOL. In addition to In-N-Out we also went to The Buena Vista Cafe for drinks. Oh damn those Irish Coffees were strong.

this is a post about in-n-out

2011-01-24T21:21:00.000-08:00

No words, just pictures.

last minute

2011-01-21T18:18:00.000-08:00

Gap men's parka, H&M tank, vintage maxi skirt, Rachel Comey boots
I'm currently on my way to San Francisco for my friend's birthday celebration. Megan and I are bringing a bangin' blood orange chocolate torte from Masse's, oh man. I was wearing this earlier when we were waiting for the post office line to let up. Speaking of which, I updated my blog shop late last night. I've been posting stuff in increments because the emails and shipping can get overwhelming. I still have 35 (!!!) more pictures uploaded that I need to publish and they're mostly tops and sweaters but I still need to write up descriptions. I'm aiming for having everything posted by tomorrow night or Sunday! I'm moving in a week, ahhhh. I can't believe this is actually happening.

things are looking up

2011-01-17T17:30:00.000-08:00

vintage Pendleton shirt, old Donkey Kong tee, Gap jeggings, Rachel Comey boots, Fjallraven backpack

Hi guys, my closet purge is still kicking my ass and I'm super behind on answering emails and photographing things for my shop blog. I *should* be posting around 20+ skirts by tonight if Tumblr stops being stupid about letting me upload images. I've also been busy sorting out my living situation but it looks like I'll be moving to San Francisco at the end of the month after all! I'll be living with some friends in Lower Haight and I'm super excited since I'll be able to see my friend Michelle every day and cook really awesome meals together.

By the way, do you guys like my boots? Sometimes I think it's eerie how lucky I get with clothes that I'd been wanting but I found these Rachel Comey boots at Buffalo Exchange in pristine condition for a fraction of the price (before my shopping ban of course). The best part is that I just happened to end up there because a friend had a gift card and would never have gone in otherwise (although I've been living a few blocks away for the past few years, hmph). To whomever dropped them off: thank you. You saved me over $200 on something I would have eventually bought otherwise! I was having a rough day/week but this made everything so much better.

I mean, I don't want to sound like I'm putting too much of an emphasis on acquiring material possessions but I think I was more affected by how much of a coincidence it was and how ~magical~ it is that these random little things can happen in your life. I remember looking at the shoes thinking from afar, "ohh, those look like those Rachel Comey boots I'd been wanting" and then feeling this strange giddy feeling when I picked them up and saw who made them. I'm not going to get too into explaining myself but for the past month I've felt a little numb about my life and everything around me. Maybe it's just because I feel weird about not being in school anymore but that little "jolt" I felt when I found the shoes reminded me that there's more to life than what you're used to and always expect to happen. It's really hard to explain.

this is a post about mike

2011-01-17T17:10:00.000-08:00

There you go, Mike. Happy? Earlier today we went to Tartine for some sandwiches and coffee. After a failed attempt to get soft serve ice cream at Bi-Rite, we took the J downtown so Mike could buy a pair of Oliver Peoples sunglasses at Barney's. I'm on a shopping ban until I finish cleaning out my closet so I forced myself to stay away from the 60% off shoe section... hardest thing ever. Around this time I usually save up enough money for a special shoe purchase (a couple months ago it was that pair of Miu Miu clogs) but I can't really do that at the moment since I'm in the process of starting a new part of my life after graduating. After Barney's we ended up at Bastille where I watched Brent buy a Flippa K shirt and oversized red sweater. If you're in the city and haven't been there yet you should check it out, they have a pretty good selection of Fjallraven backpacks. I almost bought a mini kanken in my favorite shade of bright green but ughhhhhhhhh. Maybe I'll go back later.

Well I guess this wasn't really about Mike but hey, isn't that picture enough? We like to go to Taco Bell together and when he's playing World of Warcraft he'll buy me a burrito from Papalote if I go pick it up for us. Sometimes we get into fights about who gets to spend time with Brent but in the end we always make up...

closet challenge

2011-01-13T16:14:00.000-08:00

acne printed t-shirt

So it looks like I may be moving to a much smaller place next month which means I have to get rid of most of my belongings. I'm trying really, really hard to condense my wardrobe especially since I know that I only wear about a 1/3 of it but it's so difficult to part with things when I'm so attached to them. I need to use these next two weeks to slowly purge my closet and figure out what works best in my closet. I didn't realize how draining this would be until I actually sat down and started sorting through everything. At one point I actually became really frustrated with myself for accumulating so much and had to step away for a couple minutes after realizing that I had a problem. Has anyone else ever experienced this? I'm expecting to feel cleansed (or some crap like that) at the end of this ordeal but right now I just feel overwhelmed.

I'm planning on donating most of it but since many people have been asking me about my shop I ended up making a Tumblr for these sales. I haven't put anything up yet but some cheap jeans (all below $20 shipped) and shirts should be up by tomorrow. My leftover silk shirts should be going up next week (it's going to take a lot more effort to let go of those since they're special to me) and I'll be parting with a couple sweaters as well.

FIND SHOP BLUSHING AMBITION ON TUMBLR

t-shirt and jeans

2011-01-06T19:24:00.000-08:00

A.P.C. trench coat, Acne t-shirt, Gap jeggings, A.P.C. loafers

I wasn't going to post but right when I had just finished complaining on my Tumblr about not being able to update I remembered that there aren't any cars parked behind my apartment since everyone is still on vacation. I keep forgetting I have a remote! Other than my recent Tumblr binge nothing else has really changed, I'm just sitting around in my cold apartment working on job applications and spending a lot of time on the internet. Oh man, the internet. After years of being active everywhere from various message boards to Xanga to Livejournal etc., I still don't understand some of the things or situations that I encounter. Oh well.

Yes, I'm wearing clip-in extensions. I bought them at Sally's a long time ago and don't remember the brand name. I can finally wear jeans, too! I don't feel as limited anymore now that I can wear more than just tights. I need to remember to stop running down steps, especially in the rain.

still not wearing pants

2011-01-04T23:55:00.000-08:00

Thrifted plaid flannel, Zara sweater, Drugstore tights

really digging this right now.

happy new year

2011-01-02T17:43:00.001-08:00

Gap mens parka, Gap gingham shirt, Theory shorts, vintage lace up boots

This post is actually almost a week old and has nothing to do with the title, but HAPPY NEW YEAR nevertheless! Wore this on my last day in LA to meet with high school friends for ramen and milk tea then met with my cousin and brother to watch Somewhere. I look silly wearing a parka and shorts but I STILL can't wear jeans because of my knees. I had a little mishap in the rain when I first got to LA and fell down some steps (completely sober, btw).

Expect more regular posting starting now. Vacation is over and it's time to find a full time job! I'm excited and scared at the same time but hopefully everything will work out. Fingers still crossed.

last christmas, i gave you my heart

2010-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas/Chrimbus or Happy Holidays/Festivus y'all!
crappy iPhone picture of what I wore on Christmas Eve (pre-booze):

pastrami at the hat

2010-12-23T16:57:00.000-08:00

Acne Beryl cardigan (christmas present!), Acne top

Sup guys, I'm currently enjoying my time in LA until I have to go back up north to begin my job search. Thanks for all of the comments about my graduation! I posted an outfit shot from that day on my Tumblr in case anyone is interested in seeing what I wore. Still getting used to not feeling pressured to finish a paper or study for an exam, it feels so strange! Maybe that's why this trip home feels especially relaxing. Aside from obligatory trips to In-N-Out and pho with my dad, I almost always stop by The Hat for lunch. I've been eating the same thing there since I was a kid: a classic pastrami sandwich and fries (although sometimes, if we're feeling wild, we order chili fries lol). Anyone else from the San Gabriel Valley? No matter how many miles away I am, I'll always consider it home.

snowflakes on my sweeeeater

2010-12-16T19:27:00.000-08:00

Not an outfit shot but whatever. I'M DONE WITH SCHOOL!! FOREVER! We're getting ready for a pretty big storm here and it looks like it's going to rain when my family is up for my graduation. Wow, I'm graduating guys! Feels nice. After that I'll be in LA for a week or so. Is the weather really that awesome over there? I hear people complaining that it's supposed to be winter and all but I'd rather have that over dealing with my frozen fingers as I type this. IT'S COLD! My parka + (aweeeesome) wool sweater barely kept me warm today.

Also, check out my Q&A with Teen Vogue. Thanks Naomi!

study break

2010-12-13T14:24:00.000-08:00

Gap mens parka, A.P.C. plaid shirt (BF's), Citizens of Humanity jeggings, A.P.C. loafers

OH MY THESE FINALS ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY. I already submitted a final 12 page paper a couple days ago but I still have a final paper and two more exams left. Come Wednesday at 11am I will be FREE FOREVER. This is what I wore to leave the apartment (and dismal Arsenal game, hmph) and walk around for some fresh air + coffee from Ritual. Man it's so nice to be able to walk anywhere.

Leave it to me to choose the two most unflattering photos of the bunch rofl. I have no idea why I was bending over, maybe I dropped something? I look like I need to poo! Sorry for sounding so vulgar, I'm a little out of it right now. I can't wait for these finals to be over. Oooh, you can kind of see my new ring in the next photo. Brent bought me that Mociun ring that I'd been wanting for my birthday. He even remembered that I wanted it in silver and not gold, hah.

Oh and since the fall colors match with this post, I'll post this video that I made when I was procrastinating yesterday. It's not really eventful, just nice music (Shugo Tokumaru's Tracking Elevator, I highly recommend it) with little clips that I filmed when I was on a train from Portland to Seattle a couple months ago.

portland to seattle from Annabel Ly on Vimeo.

burger bar

2010-12-11T22:59:00.000-08:00

Went to Burger Bar last week. It was kind of overpriced but I still enjoyed it (plus I didn't have to pay, hah). Word of advice: don't get a milkshake AND burger for lunch. Actually, we all got booze in ours. Was it even noon yet? Jeez. I hope you guys don't think I'm trying to promote bad eating habits...

And because he paid for me (and some of you seem to like him?), here's Mike. Thanks, Mike.

my 10 wardrobe essentials

2010-12-06T17:20:00.000-08:00

10 THINGS by ornithes featuring ballet pumps shoes

01. White high-top sneakers. Always a classic. I've had my Chuck Taylors since high school and somehow they've lasted all through college. I prefer mine as used up and battered as possible but when they get too dirty it's easy to pop them in the washing machine.
02. Red nail polish. My shade of choice has always been Chanel's Dazzling from the 2007 Holiday collection. I love painting my nails pink, black, and blue but I always go back to red when I'm bored with everything else. There's an Essie shade I've been wanting to try as well (and for a fraction of the price!) called Silken Cord but I've been putting it off.
03. Breton shirt. Okay, okay. So I may have gone a little overboard with this striped obsession but I will continue to swear by Saint James tops when it comes to satisfying it. I've never tried the thicker Meridien knit but I think I may prefer the lighter Minquiers top more. I know $65 may seem like a lot for a top but when I finally caved I ended up wearing mine almost every week (and am currently wearing a white and black one right now!). It's cozy, slightly oversized since its unisex, and easy to pull off. BF also bought me the Naval top recently which is a different, more fitted cut with fabric similar to the Meridien top but I still find myself wearing it the same way I would any other breton top.
04. Oversized black sunglasses. I've had my vintage pair of sunglasses for years after finding them at a flea market for $3 but I'm seriously tempted to upgrade to a similar pair of these Karen Walker frames. For now I'm satisfied with my trusty sunnies since they've never failed me all this time. Actually, I really doubt I'll ever replace them. I'd rather save my money!
05. Red lipstick. This one is a little tricky. I don't usually wear lipstick (something my mom constantly criticizes me for) but when I want that extra kick I alternate between Opium Red from YSL (which is longer available unfortunately) and MAC's Russian Red. I save the YSL lipstick for special occasions since it's so bright but Russian Red is great for every day wear since it's matte and lasts all day.
06. Wool cardigan with pockets. Emphasis on the WITH POCKETS bit there. I wont be too specific about color with this one (although a gray cardigan is pictured) but I still prefer this slightly oversized shape and style to most. I found the perfect black wool cardigan by Acne at Barneys the other day for 50% off which I may go back and buy if the small is still around. My favorite thing about cardigans is that you never have to think twice about putting one on if the weather's not too bad. I'm a hands-in-pocket type of walker and it always feels strange to wear any sort of outerwear without pockets...
07. Dark blue skinny jeans. I seriously live in my pair from the Gap. If you feel self conscious about looking "exposed" when you wear jeggings try wearing longer tops or cardigans over them. I felt weird for a while but got used to it since they're really not as obscene as I thought they would be. They're more like jeans than leggings in my honest opinion but ho-ly crap they're comfy. Like, dangerously comfy. So comfy you think you can get away with eating Burger King and Taco Bell in the same day...
08. Fjallraven backpack. Maybe one day when I can afford to save up I'll actually get a nice purse (like a Mulberry Bayswater or Celine tote ugh) but for now these backpacks really hit the spot. Right now I have two (Classic Green and Black for those of you who were wondering) but I really want to get another in navy, warm yellow, or rust... ps, did you guys see Camille's ice blue one? So tempting!
09. Black ballet flats. Alright, I'm totally cheating by posting these Repetto flats since I've been telling myself for years that I'd buy them but I just keep putting it off, mostly because it's hard to find a 40.5 and when I do, I'm saving my money for something else and I feel guilty about not . But uhh, if anyone out there wants to buy them for me I'm totally down (*COUGH*MOM&DADIKNOWYOUREADTHIS*COUGH*). Right now I have a pair from Zara that I bought a year ago but they're not real leather and are falling apart :(
10. Comme des Garçons wallet. After years of using random wallets (ranging from Hello Kitty to a dinky little coin purse) I finally treated myself to this cute little Comme des Garçons wallet in red after working this summer. The best part about it is that I'll probably end up using it for years so saving up was totally worth it. Feels good man.

birthday outfit

2010-12-01T18:42:00.000-08:00

A.P.C. trench, top, & skirt, American Apparel opaque tights, vintage oxfords

SO excited!!!!1! This is what I wore on my birthday to not really do much other than sit around and watch that disastrous Real Madrid game. I don't really want to talk about it. Zuni the night before was fun, it was my first time going there for dinner instead of lunch. This trench has already seen a lot of wear since it came in the mail.

In other news, B tried to make me a Rilakkuma pancake for breakfast on my birthday but it turned out completely janky. I wouldn't have it any other way though. Oh yeah, and I made a Facebook page.

oh, blerg!

2010-11-28T16:37:00.000-08:00

A.P.C. trench coat, Steven Alan dress, A.P.C. shirt, vintage oxfords

Just spent a nice relaxing weekend with family (thanks for taking my pictures, mom!) and now I'm back in Berkeley where the high in is in the 50s. Super excited about tomorrow, it's finally time for El Clásico!! Oh, and my birthday. Too bad I have a paper and presentation due right after. I'm keeping this short because all of my creative juices are running dry after writing 5 pages about baroque Spanish poetry...

I'm off to Zuni now for dinner. CHICKEN FOR TWO! Sounds like a good birthday.

wizard cape

2010-11-22T14:44:00.000-08:00

vintage cape, american apparel tights, vintage boots, lanvin x h&m sunglasses

I found this cape deep inside my closet when I was cleaning it out this weekend. I think I bought it at American Rag in SF right before it closed. I watched Harry Potter last night after a successful marg & guac fest at Chevys (SUNDAY FUNDAY!!). It was okay. The movie, I mean. I read the final book three times when it came out and I don't remember it being that boring. I guess nothing exciting really happened in the first half of the novel but the next one is going to be way better, obviously. Good thing I was drunk.

ohhhh here she comes

2010-11-18T12:30:00.000-08:00

A better photo of my hair from the last post. I don't know if you can tell but I'm wearing a braided double headband from Zara. I have no idea how it came out so well, I think I was watching TV while I put it up absentmindedly. I do remember taking out around 15 bobby pins at the end of the day though. Second photo has nothing to do with the first but I like it anyway. I hope he doesn't end up with carpal tunnel, seriously.

To answer a few questions about the photo in that last "happy" post: I bought the Totoro dolls at a kiosk in a mall in Southern California and the ceramic eggs are from Daiso in Japantown. I don't know if that kiosk even exists anymore or if the eggs are still around since it's been a while since I bought them. I don't know where to find them online, unfortunately.

Also,

wrinkled linen

2010-11-17T16:00:00.000-08:00

A.P.C. linen dress via Azalea in SF, H&M cardigan, vintage oxfords, fjallraven backpack

The next time someone asks me to summarize my style in one word I'm going to be crass and say it: I'M JUST LAZY. Sometimes I like to care a little but for the most part this is what drives the way I dress now. The busier I am, the less I fuss over my appearance. I admitted that for a while that I thought I was letting myself go, which is somewhat true, I suppose, but after a while I realized that I may just finally be getting comfortable with the way I want to look which isn't really anything special. So what if I wear the same things over and over again? Isn't that what you're supposed to do when you buy clothing you claim to love? As a friend of mine stated so eloquently:

my whole thing is just

stop being "things"

and just get dressed
c*****

Maybe I'm just a lil' cranky about everything that's been going on with Four Loko. THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS! Everything is good in moderation, guys.

bare legs in the fall

2010-11-15T21:47:00.000-08:00

vintage dress, H&M cardigan, vintage oxfords, fjallraven backpack

Slowly easing back into the flow of things. I think I just needed a month-long break from everything to reevaluate my life/relationship/friendships. I'm entering the "real world" in less than two months and I'm still not 100% sure about what I want to do. Or I think I know but I'm not sure how to go about it. I'm looking for a full time job at the moment but can't devote enough time to seriously look because of school.

OKAY THIS DISCUSSION IS TOO SERIOUS TO GO WITH THESE PHOTOS. I'm eating a horchata ice cream pop and prancing around in a mini dress in 75 degree weather, damn it. In November! Is it really November? I had originally put this dress up for sale but the buyer fell through so I ended up keeping it.

Starting to rethink these larger photos since they really show how haggard and frazzled I look after sleeping 12 hours. I've been sick, okay? I'll end this with this stupid photo with this stupid idiot who I want to punch every now and then. I'll still give him a bite of my ice cream though, even if he is a little vulgar.

things that make me happy #6

2010-11-10T12:42:00.000-08:00

the corner of my desk. I always watch Totoro when I'm feeling especially down. last week's South Park episode? ACE.

things that make me happy #5

2010-11-09T17:44:00.000-08:00

I've never been a handbag person, I use totes more often. now, this HOPE leather tote? best of both worlds.

bringing on the lulz

2010-11-09T17:06:00.000-08:00

vintage dress, parka from a korean boutique, american apparel tights, vintage boots, fjallraven backpack

Feeling totally drained after working on an essay all weekend. Sometimes I wonder if I force myself to feel this strung out and overwhelmed. Nay, I've just had a lot to deal with. Things are starting to look better, thankfully. Yesterday was a nice little break, except for that pigeon feather which flew into my mouth while I tried to imitate Lulu on camera. Actual video coming later.

...alright bitches, who am I f***ing kidding trying to be serious and laconic about this shit: A PIGEON FEATHER FLEW INTO MY DAMN MOUTH ON F***ING CAMERA. We played that shit over and over again so many times that Lulu and I both cried from laughing too hard. WHO THE HELL DOES THIS HAPPEN TO?! I mean really, I was just trying to enjoy my cream puff and blended drink from Coffee Bean (while making fun of Lulu) and this feather just happened to fly into my f***ing mouth. Editing that video is going to be a huge pain since I can't think about it without laughing insanely hard and wanting to pee myself.

Sometimes all you need is a really good laugh which takes over you so well that you totally forget about whatever problems or bullshit were previously messing with your mind, even if it's just for a second. Laughter is awesome, guys. Although most of the time the people around me are laughing at me, not with me. Hmph. Okay, now just look at LULU'S SHINY HAIRRRR...

things that make me happy #4

2010-11-05T12:19:00.000-07:00

watching this boy play video games. world of warcraft, starcraft, you name it.

things that make me happy #3

2010-11-03T21:00:00.000-07:00

acne pistol short boots, if I bought these, I would never take them off.

stop me if you think that you've heard this one before

2010-11-03T20:39:00.000-07:00

thrifted sweater, citizens of humanity jeggings, miu miu clogs, la dama crystal bullet necklace, fjallraven backpack

Looks like fall but sure didn't feel like it today since it was pretty warm. Stumbled around in heels today when I went to buy graduation tickets on campus. Almost tripped TWICE. I guess that's what happens when you don't wear platforms for two whole months. I don't know if I should start conditioning myself again or just resign myself to the fact that I am not a heel person. Right now the only shoes I really want are the Acne booties in the latest post but I'm tempted to look for a killer pair of platforms that I can wear at graduation. Ugh, my birthday is coming up too. I was definitely far more excited about it last year, this time around it's just... my 22nd birthday. Big whoop.

About my latest posts: they're just quick posts for every other day that I scheduled for the week to cheer myself up. Little reminders of what makes me happy. I'm trying to be positive here.

things that make me happy #2

2010-11-01T12:26:00.000-07:00

buttermilk pancakes from mama's. always ask for whipped cream.

things that make me happy #1

2010-10-30T11:00:00.000-07:00

mociun triangle ring, one day I'll get this. it reminds me of zelda.

i'm lazy

2010-10-28T18:18:00.000-07:00

acne v-neck tee, zara cardigan, citizens of humanity jeggings, vintage booties, la dama crystal bullet necklace, fjallraven backpack

Umm hi internet, it's been a while. Too many personal issues are sucking the energy out of me and blogging has been the last thing on my mind. I think being in bleh mode these past few weeks made me really want to change up my look so I've been putting in my clip on extensions to look somewhat different. since I don't really feel like myself. I've been drinking tons of tea and wearing this necklace which is supposed to have some sort of energy crystal. Uhh sure, I'll take that if it makes me feel less crappy. These were taken when I met with a friend for lunch and happened to have my camera with me, nothing special, just a normal outfit for classes.

Goofy face and thumbs up are still intact in that second picture, so I'm somewhat alright. Could be better though.

laundry day

2010-10-11T18:17:00.000-07:00

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american apparel bodysuit, vintage maxi skirt, vintage booties, coach willis bag

Outfit from two days ago, I'm currently studying for a midterm and quiz so I don't have much to say. Wore this out to get ice cream and other treats. I updated my blog shop yesterday but it seems like most of the things are already gone, sorry guys! I'll try to get some more stuff up next week since I'm still cleaning out my closet but can't bring myself to sell certain shirts...

portland day two (and a failed trip to stand up comedy)

2010-10-07T18:00:00.000-07:00

Super late, I know, I know, but I've been busy with school/life/yadayada. So let's see, day two... We met with Camille for food and shopping around downtown Portland. Lunch at Kenny & Zukes, then Frances May where Mikey freaked out over their selection of APC jeans (and bought a pair and wore them out, what). Oh, that first picture? Mikey thought it would be a great idea to order this breakfast hot dog... thing. A hot dog with bacon, eggs, and cheddar?! Well, I shouldn't speak considering I ordered...

...this. Waited an HOUR in the sun for these doughnuts from Voodoo. Does my bacon maple doughnut bar look excessive to you? I kept repeating to myself I'm on vacation, I'm on vacation when I was trying to figure out if I really wanted it. Although I would probably order it here if I could because I have no shame.

Aside from Frances May, I was really excited about finally seeing Stand Up Comedy in person but we were flat out of luck since we waited half an hour for someone to come back and no one ever did. They even had the latest Gentlewoman in stock, damn! I did a good amount of oogling from the window although it would have been awesome to actually see the SSWTR rainwear collection in person. Next time, next time...

Portland was awesome, I'd definitely go back and stay longer the next time around It's always fun to see Camille when she's in SF but this time I got to check out her hood, hehe.

portland day one

2010-09-29T13:48:00.000-07:00

vintage pullover, old cut off shorts, vintage boots, fjallraven bag

Since it's National Coffee Day, I'll start with these photos from Stumptown in Portland (which is actually attached to the Ace Hotel, next time I want to stay there). I had their coffee every day I was there, it was so addictive. I even brought home a bag of their Hair Bender blend for BF which we enjoyed this morning before driving over to work. Mikey and I came across this location when we wandered around downtown trying to figure out what to do and chatted with the super friendly barista who gave us helpful tips and ideas about where to go (try doing that at Ritual in SF where the workers are sour and rude). Their coffee is way better anyway.

Look at me, I'm wearing shorts! The Bay Area is currently experiencing a nasty heat wave and it seemed like Portland was feeling some of it too. I had been wearing pants on the flight but had to change into shorts when I couldn't take the heat.

updating from portland...

2010-09-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

vintage levis gingham shirt, acne needle high waisted jeans via shopbop, h&m cardigan, vintage lace up boots

I've been delaying this post far too long, forgive me, I've been busy. Last week I booked a last minute flight to the Pacific Northwest (!!!) and I am currently sitting in PDX waiting for my luggage. Which is late. Umm. Whatever, at least I'm here! These outfit photos are from last Sunday when Brent and I went out for ramen while the food ones are from the following day.

shades of greige henley via ssense, b.son cardigan, april 77 jeans, mezlan shoes

Had to include these photos, even if they're just shots where I'm testing out the lighting on BF. Those jeans are so old lol. I guess things do get better with age? Hah. I also wanted to thank everyone for your comments on that last post, it's nice to see that so many of you don't think of me that way and understand where I'm coming from. The internet is a tricky place but I'm dealing with it. Thanks for your support, guys.

Lunch at El Metate in the Mission. I'd been going for their tortas for about a year now but could never get BF to come with me. The thing with Mexican food in the Mission is that you're so used to having at least five or six restaurants in the same block serving so much of the same stuff that you never really bother to wander anywhere else. El Metate is a couple blocks east of BF's place so it's quite a walk but was totally worth it in the end. He had chicken enchiladas with green salsa and I had a torta with breaded chicken milanesa on dutch crunch (!!!!) and torilla soup. Soooooo good. And it's pretty close to Humphrey Slocombe too if you're in the area...

Anyway, since I didn't really get to vacation this summer I'm really glad I'm taking this last minute trip. I haven't been up here yet and I'll be in Portland until Sunday when we take Amtrak to Seattle to help my friend's sister move in. Plus Camille's going to show us around tomorrow which means awesome food and doooooooooooooonuts. Oh my gosh, DONUTS!

the happy couple

2010-09-13T20:37:00.000-07:00

on me: apc dress, h&m cardigan, vintage booties, fjallraven backpack
on him: apc shirt, april 77 jeans, ymc oxfords

I wish I could follow these photos with a detailed and flowery description about how wonderful and picture perfect our day was but actually, I don't wish that at all, I like the lulz that accompany this story. We took BART downtown to the only Del Taco in the city where we were harassed by multiple crazy people (God bless their souls, really, but we were way too cranky to deal with that). My go-to order? Two Del Classic Chicken burritos, they're 2 for $5!! Then we walked to the mall so Mike (BF's roommate) could pick up some war memoir at the bookstore and I made my routine venture into J.Crew to oogle everything there/try to convince Brent to buy more collared shirts.

We left empty handed and stopped by Coffee Bean where I tried to assuage my post-J.Crew window shopping pain with a Jasmine green tea latte. I guess I pouted so much (total understatement) that BF said he'd buy me that Saint James shirt that I wanted. I said he didn't have to (I mean, that's the coy thing to do right?) so we ended up going back down to BART to get home in time for the special episode of Jersey Shore until I stopped at the ticker and yelled "OKAY I WANT IT!" So up we go, up three flights of escalators until we end up at J.Crew (again) and I quickly snatch the shirt and give it to BF. It must have been karma or something but right when BF got in line to pay, my insides started to act up and next think I knew I was running to a bathroom and... well, I'll let you guess what happens there. Ten minutes later, I was still feeling sick and nauseated but Jersey Shore was about to start so we ditched BART and took a cab to get home in time.

Don't know what inspired me to write about all of that but this Jezebel article has been in the back of my mind for quite a while now. Somehow I got lumped into this "Marthette"category about bloggers with seemingly perfect lives which made me question my own approach to blogging... I mean, am I really that misleading? I try to be honest in what I write but damn it, I just really like looking at and taking pretty pictures and am insufferably picky about what I post. I just want to find and capture those fleeting moments that make me so happy, whether it's an outfit that brightened up my day enough to want to share it or a meal that I feel people may like to hear about. I love hearing about people who travel to San Francisco and try restaurants that I recommend or readers who tell me that my simple little outfits helped them find out something about their own personal style. And hey, pictures can be pretty and all but there's always so much more to people's lives than what you see on the internet and it's up to you guys to discern between the things you see and don't see.**

But I really, really do love my life even if I tend to complain about it. I love my boyfriend, I love my friends, and damn it, I really did have a ton of fun yesterday so every smile you see is genuine (especially this picture inside Del after finishing my burrito). I don't like embellishing my life or pretending that it's picture perfect since I'm perfectly content with the way it is and where it is going.

*for the record, I'm surprised these pictures turned out well since we were caught in a gust of wind as Mike took them and were both freezing so much that we huddled up and clutched my latte cup.

**also, I am not trashing the article at all, I can see where the writer is coming from. What you see online can be misleading but my point is that viewers should know that a blog cannot encapsulate every single detail in a person's life and it varies from blogger to blogger how selective they choose to be with what they post. I'm a very private person, I share what I want to share with people I don't know and keep the rest to myself or friends. If everything seems too perfect and impossible, I'm sorry, but there are things that happen to me behind the scenes that I really don't need to share on the internet (although I'm pretty sure that if you actually read my blog you'll find those random bits where I talk about having a bad week or complain about some stupid situation). I'll still make more of an effort to seem more real, okay? Even if that means more of my uncensored dry humor or current obsession with "Africa" by Toto...

Gott's Roadside in the Ferry Building

2010-09-11T19:46:00.000-07:00

Since when has Taylor's Automatic Refresher been referred to as Gott's? Oh, whatever, it's still good. This is where we spent our Labor Day eating classic American fare, fries and all. What's more American than a bacon cheeseburger (BF's chicken sandwich?) and cola? Yes, yes it's a total tourist trap but who cares, it's still pretty damn good. Here you guys can finally see BF's new hair which is my favorite haircut so far, although sometimes I miss his cute lil mop.

I also had my photo taken over at Work it Berk so ch-ch-check it out. I looked a little sloppy since I'd had a bit of a hectic day but ehh, what can I do? That's what school does to me.

bad posture

2010-09-06T22:06:00.000-07:00

khaki dress via parkrose vintage, h&m cardigan, thrifted loafers, fjallraven backpack

Not feeling very talkative right now but I'm trying to finish up a paper and I needed a decent distraction. Wore this out today with BF for lunch at the Ferry Building. We both wore similar shoes except his have laces and mine were much less expensive. AAAAAAAAAAAND this is where I realize I've been sitting in front of the screen for ten minutes ignoring my homework trying to figure out what to say. Maybe next time. ┐(´ー｀)┌

groups of three

2010-09-06T01:16:00.000-07:00

1. Addicted to Pinterest and letting my obsessive compulsive bookmarking run wild. I also listened to Toto on repeat all day today. Oh, and I ran out of invites so I can't help anyone get an account, sorry. Try applying? In any case, it's doing a helluva job distracting me from the loads of schoolwork I already have...

2. Doing one of those "what's in your bag" posts soon, I think. I just got a new wallet in a color that makes me smile every time I pull it out. Can't decide if I want to try a fun little video, I feel like I don't use that function enough.

3. Went out grocery shopping today to get ingredients for this chicken stew. Bad picture of Brent's new YMC woven oxfords which I wish were made in a size small enough for me. It's kind of nice that he lives so close to all of these little Mexican markets since they're so easy to get to and different from the usual trip to the supermarket.

sons & daughters in downtown san francisco

2010-08-27T22:22:00.000-07:00

Confession: this trip to Sons & Daughters exactly a week ago actually pulled me out of an intense appetite-stealing depression resulting from a certain personal situation. After a shitty, shitty week, Friday finally rolled around and my friends Megan and Sam invited me out for dinner before the Nasty Gal x Lookbook party (which I probably usually would have skipped out on if it weren't for my coworkers, it's just not my thing). Maybe I was still feeling under the weather when I first sat down but as soon as that meal started, I totally forgot about what was bothering me and just let myself go. It's kind of scary to lose your appetite when you enjoy food as much as I do... I'm feeling much better now, thank you.

The first thing that caught my attention and contributed to my abnormal burst of happiness at this restaurant? THE PLAYLIST. The Smiths, Bowie, Radiohead, Interpol, and even Arcade Fire... I could hardly sit still. The three of us went with the four course meal (sans the wine pairing, maybe next time) and while Megan and I chose all of our courses, Sam decided to let our waiter (who was really attentive and awesome about explaining everything) choose everything for him. Man, I wish all waiters were like him. Always spot on with his responses to our questions and never pushy, that's how everyone should be. First we had an amuse bouse with cucumber slices and little roe-like spheres of honey and bread with butter and hawaiian pink sea salt crystals while we waited for our first courses.

Next came my oxtail tartare with miso, juniper berry, chervil, and potato chips and Megan's cream of beet soup with creme fraiche. Our waiter chose the tartare for Sam and we were all quite pleased with our first courses. I remember trying my best to scoop up every last bit off of my plate... it was that good. The soup was also pretty decent from what I can recall but I definitely liked mine best. Megan and I chose the same second course, the sweetbreads and dungeness crab with pureed garbanzo beans, baby greens, and a light dijon foam. Sam ended up with the seared foie gras which came with a yogurt and concord grape granite. Terrific, terrific. My favorite part about that second course was definitely the crab since you could taste how fresh it was with just the right amount of seasoning.

And finally, the third course. This is where you can tell that I was starting to lose my light and I actually considered not posting these but it's so hard not to share them. Megan got the squab breast and confit leg with chickpeas, maitake mushrooms, and savory jus while Sam and I had the lavender pork belly and pork tenderloin with torpedo onions, an herb puree, and barley. Again, I am SO GLAD I chose what I got and I would definitely get it again. Okay, so maybe I just happen to be so in love with pork that I naturally gravitate towards it with every chance I get (Cochon 555 again next year, anyone?), but still, I've had some pretty mediocre pork tenderloin and this one was exceptional. I think the biggest problem I have with pork tenderloin is that I love it so much that I'm super picky about it and to me it's either not cooked right or overseasoned yet this one was just perfect. Even Megan who was satisfied with her own dish admitted that she wished she had chosen the pork.

(Not pictured is the fourth course, dessert, since I totally lost my lighting by then. In any case, we all had the vanilla panna cotta with blueberries and a lemon verbena gelee at the top which was fantastic, of course.)

For what you get, Sons & Daughters is totally underpriced since I'd usually expect to pay much more for the quality of food that I had there. At no point during the meal did I ever feel stuffy or uncomfortable, the entire time I was at ease talking to my friends and enjoying a spectacular meal. You know, even if you're not into the idea of spending so much money on pricey meals, even as a college student I try to set aside a bit of money so I can treat myself to a great meal every once in a while. Buying new clothes and other material possessions can be fun but to me, nothing compares to the simple inherent pleasure that you experience when that first bite hits your mouth and all of your senses start to work together to process the meal in front of you. It's amazing to see how much happiness can come from something as necessary as eating...

the hot tub's too hot

2010-08-24T17:05:00.000-07:00

modcloth blushing ambition dress, vintage loafers + sunglasses

Classic example of always wanting what you can't have: a couple days ago I was complaining about how cold it's been all summer and today I am reduced to one big pile of sweat in 90+ degree weather. I finally got to wear my namesake dress from Modcloth with this change in weather but still, why couldn't it go from 60s to upper 70s instead of jumping 30 whole degrees in a few days? Yeah, yeah, it could be much worse but jeeeeez. I'm just not used to this. I can't even form full sentences.

Wore this out to get ice cream and shop around Hayes Valley for a little. Brent bought a pair of awesome woven YMC oxfords while I oogled these Rachel Comey booties at Gimme shoes. One positive thing about the heat? My inability to spend money and buy any new clothes or shoes when all I wanted to do at that moment was to take everything off and lay around in an air conditioned room. If this weather continues into the school year I am going to pull a tantrum à la Zack Galifinakis: "IT'S NOT FUN WHEN IT'S SO HOT!!"

ETA: I look way too happy in these photos. I think it was the 6:00pm breeze that was rolling in, holy shit that felt so good. I just can't function in the heat, that's why I live in the bay area after all...

a day with a chu

2010-08-18T18:00:00.000-07:00

hope oversized cropped tee, old lux skirt, united bamboo booties, fjallraven kanken backpack

These aren't really the best photos of this outfit but they're the most decent ones in the bunch, even if they are horribly overexposed. Here we are walking home after a long day running errands downtown. This day was actually special for me since it is the second time in three months that we've been able to spend a whole day with each other (I always had work on his days off). The weather was actually decent, a little chilly at times, but still much warmer than most of the days we've had in the city.

I had to post these photos, they're too cute. I love this boy so, so, so much, even if he loves to wear ridiculous things (like these oversized leopard print sunglasses) to piss me off and is always teasing me about silly things. I wouldn't change a thing about him after nearly a year and six months and I'm super excited about finally getting to spend whole days together! I think our next adventure will be lunch at Wayfare Tavern to try Tyler Florence's attempt at making what he calls the best burger in San Francisco. Alright, TyFlo, I'll be the judge of that. Either way, I'm just happy that Brenty and I can finally go on cute little dates together, I really needed that.

Spicy turkey and three-cheese pressed sandwiches from Tartine. I missed this so much. I've mentioned this before but Tartine is only five blocks away from BF's apartment and back in the day we'd always walk there for morning pastries and coffee. I guess you don't really appreciate these little things and tiruals like these until you can't do them together anymore so this sandwich was especially delicious. I love sitting outside and watching people as they walk by, San Francisco is full of such interesting/weird/awesome characters. I can't wait to move to the city when I graduate.

Funny story: I was so annoyed with his leopard print sunglasses that I made him put on his roommate's Ray Bans for the photo. I guess it doesn't matter anymore since I posted the other photos anyway. Oh my silly Pikachu, I still love you even if you are a bit much sometimes.