Trinkets

First off, I want to apologize for the quality of the pics on my blog.  I usually use my iPhone to take pics and occasionally, I bust out my digital camera.  The pics for this entry were taken with my digital camera and while natural light would have been the best, it's late and I had to make do with apartment lighting.

Ok, back to this post.  Like most girls, I have a fascination with costume jewelry or trinkets as my mom likes to call them.  She prefers that I buy actual jewelry but with said trinkets, I never have to worry about losing them or insuring them.  I have to say that I have a preference for rings but I do tend to buy a lot of earrings as well.  I'm working on the necklace and bracelet department but I have to admit that they do bother me when I'm wearing them.  Anyway, these are my most recent acquisitions:

1. These first two were from a street vendor outside of Eataly.  All her pieces were $10 and I had a tough time narrowing it down to these two.  I love the delicate nature of these pieces.  Now I'm not exactly a delicate flower but once in a while I like feminine pieces.

without flash

with flash

2.  I bought this next one when I was in LA in August.  I was gonna wear it to Val's wedding but it didn't really go with the outfit I ended up wearing.

 

3. I bought these next two pieces from my friend's Etsy store.  Again, I had difficulty narrowing it down to two pieces but I'm really happy with both.  I can't wait to wear them and I can't wait to buy more of her pieces.

4. Last week, I found myself on Times Square (don't ask).  I also just read about the opening of a massive Forever 21 there so I decided to take a gander (And no, Forever 21 opened earlier this year but I just recently read about it).  I actually haven't been inside a Forever 21 store in a long time.  It's always an overwhelming experience and the Times Square store makes overwhelming such an understatement (another post on that next time).  Of course I couldn't leave without a souvenir.

with flash

without flash

5.  This bracelet was an impulse buy.  I was paying for other stuff at All Saints and there it was all pretty just staring me in the face.  Of course, I had to have it too.Oh, and these come in different color charms.  I wish I bought the red one too.

on my wrist

close-up of charms

Ankle Boots

I've always like ankle boots but since I'm on the short side (5'4), it's hard to find the right ankle boots that won't make my legs look stumpy.  I think the trick is to find one that hits right at the ankle or lower for shorter-heeled or flat ones and just a hair above or at the ankle for those with higher heels.

The closest I've come to ankle boots/booties are these:

L-R: Burgundy Lapono, Taupe Mamimo, Black Patent Moulage (all by Christian Louboutin)

They're not exactly ankle boots/booties but like I said, they're the closest I have gotten to finding ones that actually work for me.  Also, these three pairs are in storage in Los Angeles and I have really been dying to wear a pair out since it's getting cooler here in NYC.  I have asked my mom to send me at least one of them but if they don't get here soon, I just might lose it and actually end up getting a new pair (not the best idea since I am without income right now).

The contenders:

Suede Wedge Booties, One by Elizabeth Brady

Wedges are great for NYC - they're not as bad on the ball of the foot since you have more support (or at least it feels like it).  Plus, I don't have anything gray BUT I'm not sure about the suede.  With the rain and snow, I don't think suede will survive a New York winter.

Leather Biker Boots, Burberry

This on the other had, is perfect for NYC - on the more comfortable side being that they are flat and totally my style (very rock and roll).  Problem is, they look sorta like two pairs of flat boots I already own.  Still didn't stop me from gawking at the window in the West Village.  I must've walked by the window to check these out more than 5 times, on the same day and in the rain.  Obsessed much?  A tad bit, yeah.  I still haven't tried them on for fear that I might actually walk out the store with them on.

Leather Wedge Ankle Boots, Pierre Hardy

This third pair is what you get if the first two pairs ever mated.  The perfect compromise - you get the toughness and the edge of the biker boots and I guess the wedge from the first pair.  Oh who am I kidding?  It's gonna be the second boot.  I just know it.



Images from Shopbop and Net-A-Porter.

Domestic Goddess??

I try sometimes.  I'm not that good at the cleaning part but I think I've got the cooking down pat.  This past weekend was gloomy and overcast so I decided to make something to cheer me up.  The answer - Mini Oreo Cheesecakes!  I'm not a big fan of cheesecake but I know people who are and nothing makes me happier than cooking for other people.  The result?  Pure sinful heaven!

before

AFTER!!

Just looking at the pictures make me want more, ugh!  See below for the recipe (it's super easy).  Happy baking!!

Mini Oreo Cheesecakes
Adapted from Martha Stewart's Cupcakes
Printable Recipe
Makes 30

42 Oreos (~1 package), 30 left whole, and 12 coarsely chopped
2 pounds cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 large eggs, room temperature, lightly beaten
1 cup sour cream
Pinch of salt

1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners or grease well with non-stick baking spray. Place 1 whole cookie in the bottom of each cup.

2. With an electric mixer on medium high speed, beat cream cheese until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Gradually add sugar, and beat until combined. Beat in vanilla.

3. Drizzle in eggs, a bit at a time, beating to combine and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in sour cream and salt. Stir in chopped cookies by hand.

4. Divide batter evenly among cookie-lined cups, filling each almost to the top. Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until filling is set, about 22 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool completely. Refrigerate at least 4 hours (or up to overnight). Remove from tins just before serving.

Val's Wedding

As I mentioned in an earlier post, I went back to LA late August for a short vacay and to attend my friend Val's wedding in Berkeley.  My friend Jen drove to LA from Arizona to pick me up and we drove north.  If you know me or Jen, you know it won't be a straight drive and you know the entire trip would just be pure silliness.

We left LA at 6am and we arrived in San Francisco at 9:30pm.  Good times!

Mandatory Hearst Castle stopover since we've both never been

silliness on the Heart Castle grounds

um, more silliness...

Pretty waterfall on the drive up....bruises on my leg on the hike down :(

Cocktail hour at the wedding

Alcohol + dancing = crazy Jen

I think the chick who took this pic thought we were/are retarded

I have more pics and Jen has even more (and sillier) pics....maybe I'll post more next time. 

Rock and Roll

I've always been a fan of Emmanuelle Alt.  She has perfected rock and roll chic with a Parisian flair of sophistication.  If only I had her closet (and her connections).  I can't wait to see what she does with Vogue Paris (and which new designers she will undoubtedly catapult into the spotlight) now that she's at the helm.

What you need to dress like Emmanuelle Alt:

• leather, leather, leather (pants, shorts, skirts, jackets, etc)
• perfectly fitted blazers and jackets
• killer shoes
• attitude!!

For more about her, click here (snippet below):

Only on the A train

Preface: I live uptown in NYC so I take the A train to get everywhere in the city.  Since I'm not a native New Yorker, I think the people on the train are sort of...odd.  Eddie and I talk about it all the time so when I get a chance, I'll try to document some of the oddities. 

Disclaimer: I'm not saying I'm better than anyone.  I just think some people are weird.

Today was a rainy day in NYC.  And not like a little drizzle.  It pretty much rained all day (I think it's still raining).  Anyway, Eddie and I saw this on the train:

Um, I think she was trying to dry her wet feet with napkins.  I mean, the weather forecast said rain.  Why would you leave the house in flip flops and try to dry your feet with napkins ON THE TRAIN where people can see you?  Sometimes it really boggles my mind.  What are these people thinking?!?

xoxo

Eye Candy

coz i've got boys on my mind...

Joe Manganiello

Ryan Kwanten

Jason Momoa

but Alex Skarsgard will always have my <3

Fall Pastels by Nanette Lepore

Who says pastels are only good for spring and summer?

Photo credit