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Day Style

Switching to Fall… Layering

Posted on November 3, 2015
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Pantones of the Post

I guess you could say we’re well into fall at this point. But for me, I still feel like were “transitioning” – maybe thats just the California POV, or maybe all of fall is an awkward transition into winter? Ya ever thought of that???

Reasons why its particularly hard layering the in the fall:

  1. The morning “it’s cold out now” dress routine hasn’t fully formed yet. For sure it takes time getting back into the swing of that! 😯
  2. Mr. Weather cannotttt make up it’s mind! Raining yesterday morning, sunny and 70 today, but 60 with high winds tomorrow?! Gimme a break! ⛅️☀️☔️
  3. Your office building still blasts air conditioning because winter heat hasn’t kicked on yet, but you started to heat your house already… outside air is brisk, but public transportation incubates in heat…Toooo many variables! 😩😩

Tips for tackling fall layering and the transition of season:

  1. Layering a light sweater or cardigan over a crisp button up. I love the shorter, boxy pullovers that allow some peaking out the bottom, really breaking up the colors and fabrics of your entire look.
  2. Speaking of crisp button up… those with no sleeves will be your savior!!! Layer them under sweaters, collar out, for that edgy, chic fall vibe without the urge to rip off all outer layers when you walk inside. 🙌
  3. Play to the fall color themes! – This straw fedora I wear most during summer but paired with black, olive and camel brings out a color palette which allows the hat to jump into the fall ready zone! 🍂🍃🍂
  4. Don’t forget the little guys! Stacking up accessories is another fall layering tactic (cause who really wants to be more covered in sticky summer😜). Bring on the hats, metal bangles/cuffs and chunky necklaces then you’re fall ready!! 

Since you can’t run out the door with your big winter coat just yet, take those tips 👆 to help you adjust your morning dress routine! I know for me, it’s always super hard to change dressing habits with the season. After all, your system was perfected for the last 3 months! Then poof! 😬 But before you know it fall will be gone too so get after it ladies! 👍💃

Wearing //  Shoes: Chloé / Pants: United Colors of Benetton (similar: here, here) / Shirt: All Saints (similar: here, here)  / Pullover: Urban Renewal / Bracelet: Thrifted (France Street Market) / Sunglasses: RayBan / Hat: Goorin Bros (similar: here, here) / Purse: Bottega Veneta //

Colors (left to right) // Pantone 432C / Pantone 454C / Pantone 7506C / Pantone 407 / Pantone 657C (75%) //

Beer Booze

Beer Rec: Churchkey

Posted on November 1, 2015
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Pantones of the Post

The Facts
Style: Pilsner
ABV: 4.9%
Brewer: Churchkey Can Co.
Location: Bellevue, WA

I have a feeling that our days left to bask in the warm sun are fading into the misty fog – after all, we did change the clocks back last night and that only ever means one thing…WINTER (and darkness 😩). But maybe I don’t have to be so dramatic yet, I have faith that November will yield a couple more park days, and when it does, grab a pack of Churchkey beer! 🍻😄

🎃 You know, I thought about reviewing a pumpkin beer today but truth be told I have never been THAT impressed with the pumpkin beer selection. If anyone out there has ever had one that actuallyyyy tastes like pumpkin, PLEASE comment below and tell me what it is!!! For the record, I have enjoyed the handful of pumpkin beers this year but never been balls out thrilled by their palette. I always want that pumpkin spice flavor and its never quite there. (So now I wonder, pumpkin beers a marketing ploy? Quite possibly…😒)

I digress.. back to the Churchkey Beer. First of all, as a graphic designer, I just DIE over this packaging design and the entire experience of drinking this beer. 🙌 Having to use a churchkey (included in every package) to open the flat top can takes me right back to the 30’s when this top was the only top. As if this beer isn’t already the most hipster thing ever… it’s brewed by two Portland natives who crafted this pilsner style recipe in their garage and served it to friends at BBQs, before solidifying the brand.😛 Now we taste!

TASTE TEST: 3 words: light, light light. Pours a pale yellow, translucent color with medium carbonation. Smells like spilt beer, actually mild hoppy smell too but not at all on taste. Definitely an easy drinking, sessions beer (aka you can have the whole pack and probably jam afterwards). A slight bitterness and very mild bite to it when swallowed, which is nice and a bit unexpected for a pilsner. Taste grain, grass, dirt, even all around farm. Overall a smooth, clean, straightforward and refreshing taste. You get what you get.

Hmm well, you get a little more than whats expected because on the spectrum of pilsner style beers this one is closer to the more flavorful end. While the packaging alone is enough to make me pick up this beer, it’s nice to know that what’s on the inside is equally decent as well. 👌

Churchkey is great for a pilsner, one of the cleanest, flavorful pilsners I’ve had! While it won’t be your the beer of the year, it’s a satisfying all around experience; serving it’s purpose of easy, social drinking. 

Actually, when flat top canned beer first came to market it facilitated much more social drinking 👫 – allowing beer lovers to drink their beer with anyone, anywhere…so thats exactly what you should do with this can! Grab a pack and a pack of friends and enjoy anywhere. 😋 Happy Sippin’ Sunday!! 🍻

Stuff // Beer: Churchkey (Found at Village Market, other locations here) / Camera: Polaroid (similar) //

Wearing // Shoes: Converse / Shorts: Vintage Calvin Klein (similar) / Shirt: Vintage Wrangler (from Afterlife) / Hat: Worth & Worth (similar) / Sunglasses: AJ Morgan Eyewear / Necklace: Afterlife //

Colors (left to right) // Pantone 195C / Pantone 702C / Pantone 2915C / Pantone 5783C / Pantone 475C //

Night Style

Eye’m Watching You

Posted on October 29, 2015
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Pantones of the Postpantone colors

Halloween is one of my favorite holidays because I LOVE COSTUMES. I always have… Like when I wore princess gowns around town ages 4-7, or when I refused to take off my bride costume at my cousin’s birthday (as if she could be the princess for the day!👸😝), or when I repeatedly wore my leopard print, spandex bodysuit to 1st grade the entire month of October 🐯…everyday…I mean who’s to tell me Halloween is just ONE day?! Certainly my mom wasn’t gunna! And now, today, I have 4 plastic bins in my attic labeled “costume box” with a mixture of old dance performance costumes, random pieces from my college greek-life party days, past halloweens, and high school themed dances. YES, I have kept it all. 🙊

Point is: I love to dress up.  

Maybe you’re like me or maybe you’re not… and thats why THIS 👆 “costume” is GREAT for Halloween parties. The easiest, but arguably the most fun, way to dress up on/near Halloween is to BUY A WIG. It’s the best costume strategy because in just one item you become an entirely different person character. 

This is my favorite wig store in the city. High quality wigs, like for real though, super soft haha. I’ve gotten all my wigs there. Yes I said, ALL, as in several haha. Then let your outfit fall into place once that wig undoubtedly transforms your personality. Thrift stores are always a good place to find the rest of your costume parts however, I got my shirt from Discount Universe, a sequin/graphic MECCA of a company – so loud it looks like Miley’s instagram barfed all over their website. Hey, I ain’t complainin’ (in this case) – their shit is fun as fuck! Excuse my language. 😁

I wouldn’t say I am an identifiable character for this look per say, BUT I am following suit in the “best costume strategy” approach: Wig+crazy loud shirt+american apparel anything+(sequins) = ALWAYS festive & instanttt costume. BAM.💥 Perfect for a pre-halloween party where you want to dress up but maybe not waste your “real” outfit. OR maybeeee you just want to dress insane because what other day of the year is it “acceptable”?! (I’m guilty of the latter fshoooo). 

So actually, I am going to be a raccoon for Halloween day (appropriate since I have had a raccoon infestation all year😒) but this is my outfit for tomorrow’s “pre-halloween-party-club-night.” Anyway, I wanted to post it before the long awaited festivities so that you guys had ample time to suck up the inspiration and go buy a fun/fierce/crazy/weird/whatever-your-pleasure wig for yourself! 

Dressing up in a wig and “different than usual” attire is a perfect clubbing look for Halloween. Idk about you but personally I don’t wan’t to be dressed as a rodent or blood dripping zombie when I go listen to some cute ass DJ play the house jams in a steamy club. Twirling under the disco ball isn’t nearlyyy as fun when your in a gross old cat lady costume (cough cough me last year) as it is when your in a fun blonde bob and sequins hayyyyyy. Which is why I usually save the real deal for the real day and my fun party look for the Halloween themed parties beforehand. ✨✨

OH speaking of clubbing and dancing under the disco ball….THIS FLASK BRACELET is everything and more. Forget slamming it down your pants or taping to your thighs, wear your booze in plain sight!!! I mean the designer that invented this is clearly on my level. 👏👏👏

Now youuuu just need to get on my level 😜😜…Join the wig party! Happy Halloween! 🎃

Wearing //  Shoes: Miista / Pants: American Apparel / Shirt: Discount Universe  / Wig: Wig Factory / Bracelet: Cynthia Rowley / Lipstick: Lime Crime //

Colors (left to right) // Pantone 433C / Pantone 310C / Pantone Cool Gray 8C / Pantone Cool Gray 11C / Pantone 7506C (75%) //

Stuff

How To: Throw a Pumpkin Party

Posted on October 27, 2015
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Pantones of the Postpantone colors

How to throw a pumpkin party basically starts with you walking into a Trader Joe’s. Come October, they have THE most pumpkin items I have ever seen; I’m surprised there’s not pumpkin spiced chicken at this point, honestly. Gather all the TJs pumpkin items and match it up against their wine isle…we’d have quite the battle! 🎃🎃🍷🍷

Also, let’s make one thing clear. Just because Halloween is in a few days doesn’t mean the pumpkin rally is over! Yes I know you, yes YOU, were definitely crying this morning when you thought you only had 4 more days of #PSL left! 😜 But really though, there is plenty of pumpkin to be had through November/the rest of fall… aka still plenty of time to have pumpkin parties…or re-label it Friendsgiving, who cares! Either way, one (important) word: pumpkin.❤️❤️❤️

So what does it take to throw a successful pumpkin party?! EVERYTHING PUMPKIN. #DUH 😋

We’re talking: Pumpkin beer, pumpkin soup, pumpkin ravioli, pumpkin gnocchi (yes MADE from pumpkin), pumpkin chocolate chip bars with a pumpkin cookie butter drizzle (yeah, I went there), pumpkin muffins, pumpkin roobios tea…The only thing missing?! THIS. 😯😣

But one might wonder, how do you make your salad dish pumpkin? Pumpkin seeds! I like to throw in sliced persimmon and pomegranate seeds with it for the ultimate “fall” greens mix.

🍻 Beer of choice? KBC Pumpkin Ale. 🍻 I must admit that it wasn’t very pumpkiny but that could be due my pumpkin flavored mouth overload from the meal, it sucked the pumpkin flavor from the beer. Either way I was thankful for how light the beer was since the meal was most def on the heavier side.

Plus, how to make drinking pumpkin beer not so basic?! Pour into a tall glass and coat it with a pumpkin pie sugar rim! You guys gottaaaaaa try this. 🙏 🙏 Not only is it THE cutest thing in the world and the only way you should be enjoying a fall pumpkin beer but it really tasted yummy too! Who knew sugar +beer mix!  So rim your glass with a mixture of cinnamon, sugar and pumpkin pie spice (also from TJs).

Oh and make sure to toss in a few of TJs 69cent pumpkins as decoration! And if you’re especiallyyy nuts like me you can make a bouquet of fall flowers with their mini-pumpkin branches hehehe (you’re not losing you’re mind – it’s not pictured here).

So venture into a Trader Joes and let your hands transform into pumpkin magnets! Don’t be like me last year and think “you’ll get to it” because before you know it the candy canes are coming out and the pumpkin frenzy vanishes. 😬🎃💔

…and nowwww we just wait for the chocolate covered Peppermint Joe Joe’s 😍

Stuff //  Trader Joe’s  (Yes all these things can be found at Trader Joe’s unless otherwise linked) //

Colors (left to right) // Pantone 5757C / Pantone 7500C (60%) / Pantone 138C / Pantone 4975C / Pantone 7526 //

Beer Booze

Beer Rec: Regalia

Posted on October 25, 2015
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Pantones of the Post

The Facts
Style: Saison / Farmhouse Ale
ABV: 8.5%
Brewer: Perennial Artisan Ales
Location: St. Louis, MO

I have a confession, Reglia is actually my middle name!! Ok fine, it’s not. 😑 But it SHOULD be since I’m SUCH a queen.😜 👑 Clearlyyy someone who knows me picked this beer out for the name and label alone; and that would be my roommate (hi!) who actually got me this beer for my birthday back in July. But I am so glad I let it sit on the shelf for a few months for 2 reasons: 1) The yeast in this beer and complex flavor does develop over time – aka it gets better with age. 2) Is the label not THE most Fall appropriate thing you have ever seeen?!! 😉🙌🍂

Reglia, made in Missouri, is actually inspired by the rustic farmhouse-style Saisons of Southern Beligum which is why it’s sort of straddling the line between Farmhouse ale and saison (even though they are quite similar). It’s brewed with barley, wheat, and spelt then fermented with Brettanomyces – usually a contaminant in beer but in certain Belgian styles, are highly encouraged.

TASTE TEST: Pours bright orange, opaque. Literally, cannot see through it. Super vibrant color, YES thats actually the color. Smells like a Belgian Tripel. Veryyy minimally carbonated- like barely any fizz. Complex. Wood notes. Sweet, honeycomb. Barely/wheat. Amber in color. Spicy aftertaste? Yeah I think that is one. Overall moderate mouthfeel, but def still some funkiness in there. Getting some caramel and butterscotch notes too almost, like burnt candy. Rustic wood/tree bark.

It’s all simply delightful! The color reminds me of streets covered in fallen leaves. That warm rich amber blanket that quilts the ground in fall. You know, the kind you see on the east coast but not in California (prob our only fault😝😉). Anyway I do highly recommend this beer. It’s easy on the mouth and a great “lighter” beer for the Fall (or even winter) season due to its “thickness.” Or maybe I am just completely obsessed with the label design hahaha. Try for yourself and decide! The label or the beer which is more “fall”?! LOL.

Slash WHO CARES! Happy Sippin Sunday! 🍻😄🍻

Stuff // Beer: Regalia (Found at Whole Foods, BiRite, Healthy Spirits) //

Colors (left to right) // Pantone 1355C / Pantone 151C / Pantone 4755C / Pantone 440C / Pantone 491C //

Day Discover Style

Treasure Island Music Festival

Posted on October 21, 2015
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Pantones of the Post

To be 100% honest I wasn’t ALL rainbows and glitter about the TI lineup this year. 😁 It’s a superb festival but it seemed like they fell a bit short in their stack. Although, when my girlfriend scored two VIP tickets you bet your ass I was as excited as everrrr!!!! haha 😄😄😄

As fall rolls in, Treasure Island Music Festival is a treat to go to at the end of a busy festival season. Right at home, easy to manage/navigate, less crowded, better transport and best part of all…they never overlap set times!! You don’t have to make that gut-wrenching terrible flip floppy decision on who you rather see more; it’s all available between a 50 yard walk. 👌🎪

I only went Sunday because I had prior (fancy black tie 💁) commitments on Sat so I can only speak to Sunday…sorry guys…surprisingly it was more crowded Sunday which I maintain is a result of all the chiller/more adult/real bands/less party people playing on Sunday…more family oriented you know? (hella babies with earmuffs on LOL, but I did say it was an “easier” festival so I guess I don’t blame those music starved parents hahaah)

Katie was party pooooooped after raging face on Saturday (so typical), and I was coming from a 5 night stretch of separate concerts/shows/events so we both weren’t exactly in the fattest rush to get there. Father John Misty being my required first act, and he exceeded expectations.

Father John’s new album is not only sweet and sarcastic in its messaging but just legit good tunes all around. And OH yes his performance was up to typical Father John standards – jumping on his bass drum, shaking his little tush, swung his mic around like a lasso, and his stand as a baton — the whole “rockstar” shebang. It was entertaining and brilliantly perfect…Including the pause to tie up his long hair into a man bun which he prompted the audience to take out your iPhones and snap away as if it were some monumental hipster rocker top knot moment. Father John LIVE is a game changer for loving his music (I highly recommend it) But…. 

Chvrches stole the show the day!!! What a funnnnnn way to watch the sun go down and launch into festival night mode. And after carbo loading on a burrito, Japanese rice and fried chicken, and a paella I was ready to dance!!! And dance we did. 👯Obviously adorable as ever, they hopped and danced and giggled and shouted at the audience. Pink and blue lights blaring, I def entered the rainbow glitter zone I didn’t think was possible this year. Their performance was everything and more you could imagine. ✨👅🌈✨🌈

Alright, I’ve written too much 😜 so comment below to know more about my TI festival look!… Other than the obvious necessity of layering and……….KIMONO 😉👘

Wearing //  Shoes: Converse via Waraku / Pants: Diesel / Shirt: Afterlife Boutique / Kimono: Vintage from Painted Bird / Necklace: Afterlife Boutique / Bracelet: France Street Market / Sunglasses: Afterlife Boutique //

Colors (left to right) // Pantone 241U / Pantone 296C / Pantone 635U / Pantone 7711U / Pantone 871U //

Booze Cocktails

Blueberry Moscow Mules

Posted on October 18, 2015
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Pantones of the Post

Moscow Mules are such a classic, easy cocktail that satisfy every time. Not to mention they are seasonally versatile so you can make them year round and they will always be appropriately refreshing. This time I wanted to take the mule to the next level by adding another ingredient: blueberry syrup. 😃

Don’t be intimidated the blueberry syrup is easy as pie! And totally worth it when you pour over the top and your guests oooo and ahhh in astonishment at your legit bartender status. Who needs a cocktail bar when you have a fancy Blueberry Moscow Mule pregame?! Which is what we did….naturally… 🍸😜🍸 Careful though, the intense ginger flavor (especially if you get Fever Tree) masks the alcohol taste EXTREMELY well haha so these little guys can creep up! Just a warning hehe.

Ingredients:

1 bottle vodka
1 pack ginger beer (Fever Tree is the best in my opinion)
4 limes
1 mint bunch
1 cup blueberries
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup water

Process:

  1. Make the blueberry syrup by bringing the ingredients (water, blueberries, sugar) to a boil for 5 minutes, then let it simmer for another 10 minutes until it thickens, then let cool.
  2. Pour 1.5 shots vodka into glass
  3. Fill rest of glass with ginger beer (about 1/2 cup worth)
  4. Squeeze 1/2 lime in each glass and give it a couple stirs
  5. Add in the ice and then pour a little blueberry syrup on the top
  6. Clap 1 mint sprig between palms to release oils and then garnish cocktail with mint and blueberries 

Roll up your sleeves and get going! In fact, I am going to take my own advice and make some right now before I head off to the Treasure Island Music Festival. 😊🎉 Like I said… who needs a cocktail bar when my own kitchen is a blueberry mule haven.

So I think I’ll sit on the deck now and enjoy a few before the tunes slash with some tunes haha – and youuuu should too…Happy Sippin’ Sunday everyone!

Stuff // Ketel One Vodka / Fever Tree ginger beer / Copper Mugs  //

Colors (left to right) // Pantone 7644C / PantoneCool Gray 9C / Pantone 543C / Pantone 370C / Pantone 454C //

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