July 29, 2015

LUST/MUST

LUST/MUST



LUST/MUST



LUST/MUST



LUST/MUST





LUST/MUST


Illesteva $175 -- Loft $19
Dior $530 -- Express $30
Madewell $60 -- Old Navy $17
Cameo $142 -- Old Navy $15
Chloe $1,850 -- Forever 21 $23


July 23, 2015

LACE-UP GLADIATORS

Image via WhoWhatWear

I'm loving the ankle wrap sandal trend, especially with a gladiator sandal. However, because of how an ankle strap cuts off your leg, it can be difficult to find a flattering pair. Try a nude or tan pair close to your skin tone and play around with different ankle strap positions. And don't tie them too tight!

LACE-UP GLADIATORS

Steve Madden $70 - J. Crew $88 - Gap $40
Splendid $108 - J. Crew $130 - Loeffler Randall $107 

July 20, 2015

GINGHAM DRESS FOR SUMMER

This weekend we we're lucky with incredible weather. On Saturday, I headed up to Sonoma for a friend's birthday and Sunday in the city was clear, sunny skies. It's one of the first times that Summer has actually felt like Summer. It had me mentally planning barbecues, picnics, and pool days... with a wardrobe to match.

FEMININE, GINGHAM DRESS

Dress, Modcloth $24 - Sandals, Even&Odd $36 - Bag, LucLuc $26
Earrings, Kendra Scott $32 - Signet Ring, Banana Republic $35

July 16, 2015

EASY, HEALTHY RECIPES

These days, it seems like people are always busy, doesn't it? But really, everyone is. Between working long hours, hitting the gym, happy hours, maintaining friendships and relationships, and keeping up with The Bachelorette, it's hard for me to find time to dedicate to cooking each night. I'm constantly browsing Pinterest for recipes that have the magic combination:

  • Minimal cook time
  • Minimal ingredients
  • Minimal pans and dishes
  • Easy instructions 
Ain't nobody got time for washing 10 pans and spending 2 hours stirring pots.

Anyways, it's proven difficult to find recipes that incorporate the above AND are healthy AND are fresh and exciting. The three recipes below have been on heavy rotation and are perfect for Summer. 


EASY, HEALTHY RECIPES

1. 5 Ingredient Easy White Chicken Chili from Gimme Some Oven - This recipe is so incredibly fast to make, and so flavorful. I made a huge batch of it and ate it a few times over the next couple days. It worked well both as a side and on it's own. This will definitely be a staple in my weekly meals!

2. Peanut Soba Spring Rolls from Lemon & Lemons - Spring rolls have been a long favorite of mine, and I recently realized how easy they are to make at home. I've tried tons of different combinations, but this recipe is my favorite. Plus, I think they are a impressive dish for company. Or take it up a notch and have a build your own spring roll dinner par-tay. 

4. Sweet Potato Chickpea Buddha Bowl from Minimalist Baker - Similar to spring rolls, I make all kinds of savory bowls for dinner. Taco bowls are another favorite, but the buddha bowl  is lighter and incorporates more vegetables. Plus, the tahini dressing is tasty. This recipe is easily adaptable to any starches and veggies you have in your pantry. 

July 14, 2015

BRUNCH IN SAN FRANCISCO: OUTERLANDS.

Last weekend, I had the most wonderful, leisurely Saturday. Seriously, I want to replicate it every weekend.

We woke up on a mission to have brunch at Outerlands. It's a popular spot and has been on my SF bucket list for awhile, so we drove across the city ready to brunch. We expected a long wait, so we headed on over to Trouble Coffee a few doors down and grab an ice latte.  (Side note, This American Life did an amazing interview with the Trouble owner. Click here to listen.)

Next door to Trouble is The General Store. We wandered in, lattes in hand, and oogled at all the pretty things. It's a design lovers dream. Full of magazines, small housewares, and vintage clothes. You will want to buy everything and take style notes from the girls working in the shop.


And then they finally called our name at Outerlands! The interior of the restaurant is beautifully paneled in drift wood with tons of windows and dark, concrete bar tops. I want the pendant lighting for my apartment. 

Everything on the menu looked so good, I couldn't decide. We ordered:
  • Toast with Strawberry Jam
  • Dutch Baby with Strawberries and Homemade Ricotta
  • Dutch Baby with Bacon
  • Rice Porridge
  • Fresh Squeezed Orange Juice

Dutch Baby with Strawberries and Ricotta Cheese
Rice Porridge and Toast with Strawberry Jam
All of the food was amazing, but the rice porridge was my favorite item. It's really comforting and flavorful, without feeling too heavy. The orange juice was also so, so good. I've heard good things about the lattes as well, but I skipped one since we grabbed some at Trouble. 


We ended the day with beers and card games in the park with friends. And that is how you have the perfect Saturday.


July 10, 2015

FRIDAY LINKS

My brain is in full summer mode. I am dreaming up trips from just down the high way to across the world. When I get the travel itch, it's very hard to shake so I've been trying diving deep in researching different trips. My travel bucket list is so long, it's pretty hard to narrow in on just one place. Austin? Peru? Miami? Thailand? The list keeps going...

A snap from last weekend's county fair.



- Are you in to meditation? I've given it a shot, but I find it pretty difficult. This guided meditation, eloquently titled "F*ck That", gave me a good laugh. 
- Tulum has been on my travel list for quite awhile, and I ooh'ed and ahh'ed over this guide on Design Comb. 
- I've been reading quite a bit on Medium lately, and I really enjoyed this story on therapy dogs in schools. The impact that therapy dogs, in conjunction with a school therapist, have had on the students is truly incredible.  
- A fascinating look at how Greenland Chef's are impacted by climate change. It's an interesting read from the perspective of a publication like Travel + Leisure, instead of a science or general news outlet. Also, how freaking gorgeous does Greenland look!?
- I'm starting to hit that age when friends are getting engaged and married. With that comes the bachelorette parties (I've already got one on the calendar for MDW 2016!). This article had me simultaneously laughing and shouting "YEAH, GIRL POWER!". It's crazy how long bachelor parties have been a tradition, while women were stuck sipping tea. 

July 9, 2015

POSTGRAD LOVES: AFFORDABLE ACTIVEWEAR

When the weather warms up, I find myself feeling more motivation to work out. During the winter I just want to sit next to a fire and drink hot chocolate (who doesn't?), but with the sun staying out late it's a lot easier to put on my sneakers and go for a run.

Besides all of this exercise, I find myself just throwing on activewear more days than not. I've been trying to purchase more cute activewear so I look a put together running errands. I have tried a lot of activewear lines, and found a few that are the best balance of affordability and quality.

Affordable Activewear
Tank, Lululemon $29 
Leggings, Z by Zella $25
Tank, Old Navy $11
Leggings, Gap Fit $48


1. Lululemon "We Made Too Much" -  I think everyone can agree that Lululemon has mastered extremely cute and also functional activewear. If you haven't checked out the WMTM section on Lululemon, go now. You can find great pieces at a significant discount. The only catch is that it's final sale, so make sure to read reviews and know your sizes before you order. I just got the tank top above and it rocks.

2. Z by Zella  - I love the Zella line at Nordstrom, but I also bought Z by Zella leggings on accident thinking they were the regular Zella line. Turns out, they are awesome. Z by Zella is exclusive to Nordstrom Rack and has cute basics that are so, so affordable. I'm talking $12 tanks people!

3. Old Navy - Some of my favorite leggings I have ever bought are from Old Navy. Since everything is always on sale, you can find pieces for extremely cheap. I'm not always a fan of the cut of the tops, but leggings are always a solid purchase. Stick to the Go Dry Compression line. I even just bought this skort for tennis! 

4. Gap Fit - Like Old Navy, Gap has sales almost all the time. The majority of my activewear wardrobe is from Gap and I tell people how great it is all the time. Gap has a steady stream of new arrivals that are full of fun patterns and interesting cuts. I definitely take notes for when they are having a sale or a promo, and I just scored this tank top for $9 today in store.