Saturday, September 5, 2015

My Five Favorites in My Closet


The most loved pieces in my closet.  I thought it would be extremely hard to pick them.  But it was almost like second nature.  

When I got a request for this post on Instagram (thanks, Rosie!) I originally thought the most daunting part would be picking FIVE.  I was surprised with how easy it was to find the five favorites.  I automatically gravitated to them.  You should try it!  The trick is to not overthink it.  It will really help to reveal your true loves in your wardrobe.  

I included the style names and prices, just to prove that things don't have to cost thousands for you to love them.

So, on to my closet favorites!

{above} Tory Burch Aileen Heels  ~  $295
These Tory Burch "Aileen" heels are my favorites.  I love that they are intricately detailed with the white lacy scallops and they're not a basic pair, but I can wear them with just about anything.  The heel height is just high enough to look elegant and streamlined, but not too high to be painful.

While these aren't thousands of dollars like Louboutins (which I have been pining for), I'll admit that I have gotten better deals, even at Tory Burch.  These heels have proved themselves to be worth every penny of the splurge, measuring up in both quality and beauty.  These really do get better with age- they get more comfortable the more I wear them.


H&M Polka Dot Dress  ~   $34
I've worn this dress to death.  When I bought this at H&M, I never thought I would get as much wear out of it as I have.  But every time I put it on, I loved it even more.  From the classic print to the simple ladylike silhouette, this dress has become a staple.  When I wear it, I feel great, and I believe that's how you should feel in your favorite clothes.

Even my mother constantly remarks, "I can't believe that you've gotten so much use out of that dress, since it was so cheap."  But I would never describe this dress as cheap.  To me, the word cheap implies that is is bad quality for a low price- basically you getting what you pay for.  This dress was a gem of a find at H&M.  Truthfully, they do sell some clothes that aren't great quality, but this has held up through hundreds of wears and dozens of washes.


Longchamp Le Pliage Large Tote in Bilberry  ~  $145
I could fill an entire blogpost talking about Longchamp bags.  In fact, I have.  Twice.  But both of those posts were before I got this one in the purple Bilberry color.  It became an instant favorite.  Purple is my favorite color and this tote has travelled, come to work, been carried to the mall, and gone everywhere else in between.

I honestly believe that Longchamps are a great price for the quality, functionality, and design of the bag. They are definitely less expensive than a $1000 Louis Vuitton bag, but I find them to be much more chic in the understated design- still recognizable as a designer bag and iconic, but not loud and stamped in the label's initials.  Almost like a classic Parisian chic style- elegant and covetable, but minimalistic and easy.

My Uniqlo coat is the perfect length, the perfect cut, and the perfect weight for me.  I can wear it from fall to late spring.  Peacoats are so great because they look incredibly polished, even if you're wearing pajamas underneath.  (I don't, but you could... ;-)

Shopping in the girls section is one of the numerous perks of being petite- and one of the great benefits here is that girls clothes can cost significantly less.  First of all, they cost less at retail price, and you also save money you might have to spend getting it hemmed or tailored.  This coat was a wonderful inexpensive find that has gotten loads of wear.  While I do believe that you can spend a little more on a coat, since it's very important to get one of good quality, I couldn't pass this one up online and it turned out to be very well made.

Vintage Freshwater Pearl String  ~  Priceless
My mother gave these vintage pearls to me when she noticed how often I snagged them from her jewelry box and admired them.  They're a classic and the history behind them makes them so much more special to me.  Now I wear them with almost anything and they travel with me everywhere.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Retro Rows of Bows

 Dress: H&M    Shoes: Manolo Blahnik    Bag: H&M (similar)   Sunglasses: Jimmy Choo (similar)
Belt: Vintage Fossil (similar)     Nails: Essie // Mint Candy Apple    Eyes: Pixi  
H&M Bow Print Collared Dress + Manolo Blahnik Suede BB Kitten Heels + Jimmy Choo Tortoiseshell Cat Eye Sunglasses + Vintage Fossil Braided Belt + Essie Nail Polish in Mint Candy Apple + c/o Pixi Lash Line Ink

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread Mini Muffins {Vegan}


Baking is one of my favorite things to do.  It calms me down, helps me unwind, and keeps me occupied.  I loved whipping up different healthy treats (with varying results!).  I'll admit to some epic kitchen failures, but these Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins are my favorites.  If the concept of zucchini in a muffin sounds weird, don't worry.  You can't taste it, it's just a great way slipping in some veggies!


Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins
Vegan, Can be GF if GF flour is used 
makes 9
-
1/3 cup almond butter (I used homemade- recipe below)
1/3 cup shredded zucchini
1/3 cup granulated sweetener (I used Stevia in the Raw baker's bag)
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
3 tbsp flour of choice
2 tbsp chopped chocolate chips (I used Sunspire)
drizzle maple syrup (about 1/4 tsp)
pinch salt

Steps {as appearing in the video}

Add zucchini to a mixing bowl.  
Add in the almond butter, then the flour and granulated sweetener.
Give it a light stir, then add in the tiny bit of maple syrup and the vanilla and stir again.
Add the baking soda, stir in.
Sprinkle in the salt, stir in.
Finally, pour in the chocolate and fold the chips in.
Divide batter into the muffin tin and bake at 350 F for 10 minutes.
Take them out and cool for 20 minutes.  During this time they will firm up.  

Easy Homemade Almond Butter
makes 1/3 cup
-
1/4 cup water + more as needed
1/3 cup almond meal

Just mix until you get an almond butter texture!  If you add too much water, put it in the microwave to make it a little thicker.

This is great because I don't have almond butter in my house.  This is easy to whip up and works perfectly in baked recipes!  If you want an almond butter more like the store-bought in a can, you can add some sweetener to taste like maple syrup.

Hope you guys liked this video and try out the recipe!  Let me know what you think.  :-)

*do not use coconut flour

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Ruffle Hem Sweater

 Sweater: J. Crew (women's here)     Jeans: Paige     
Boots: Ferragamo (similar)     Bag: Tory Burch

I couldn't resist this sweater when I found it at J. Crew.  The ruffle hem adds the perfect touch of unexpected detail and a flair of fun.  Plus, the navy and black color makes it easy to wear with just about anything!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  I'm heading to Disneyland today with my family to celebrate a birthday.  We recently got annual passes, which I'm PUMPED about.  So prepare yourself for a few outfits at Disney!  :-)


J. Crew Crewcuts Ruffle Hem Sweater + Paige Skinny Jeans + Ferragamo Riding Boots + Tory Burch Mini Kira Bag in Blush

Thursday, August 27, 2015

Skirt the Rules around SF

In Union Square
 Skirt: Kate Spade    Blouse: H&M (on major sale!)    Bag: Kate Spade    Shoes: Jack Rogers

in Golden Gate Park
 Dress: H&M    Coat: Uniqlo    Bag: Kate Spade    Flats: H&M
Necklace: Sweet and Spark        Camera: Canon   Sunglasses: Polette  

I don't think this quite qualifies as a full "post", but here's a few outfits I wore on my SF trip!  The first one was for exploring Union Square and visiting Ghirardelli Square to try out the Soda Fountain Chocolate and Ice Cream shop.  We had just arrived in SF at about 4:00, so we didn't have a full day to explore, but it was fun to ride a street car down to the wharf and walk over to the square.  The cookie dough ice cream (was great.  Granted, there wasn't as much cookie dough in there as I would have liked, but there never really is in cookie dough ice cream...

The second outfit is from Day Two (see here).  This dress is my favorite in my whole closet, and it was comfortable enough for sightseeing.  I can't say the same for the flats... let's just say I was half walking, half limping around Sausalito.  But hey, they were cute!

H&M Sleeveless Blouse + Kate Spade Coreen Skirt in Hyacinth + Jack Rogers Liliana in Bone + Ghirardelli Cookie Dough Ice Cream + H&M Polka Dot Dress + Uniqlo Girls Trench Coat + Kate Spade Purple Essex Scout + H&M Gold Ballet Flats + Sweet and Spark 1970's Vintage Necklace c/o + Polette Vikki c/o + Canon EOS 60D 
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