Falling Slowly

Is it really time for the holidays already?! It literally seems like summer was just yesterday... Between moving into my new apartment (with Jessica of See Jessica Go), exploring our new DTLA neighborhood, studying for my GMATs and heading into the busiest time of the year at work, finding time to blog and keep up with reading blogs has been tough! I will forever love Coastalpolitan, but I think blogging will have to continue to be a rare occurrence given the other demands in my life right now...

As a quick check-in, though, I thought I'd share some highlights via pictures shot with my beloved new iPhone 4S (I couldn't be more excited to finally be rid of my ancient 3GS!). All photos were edited using the Camera+ app (collage was made using Photo Frame Maker HD).

Mignon (Downtown): One of our first DTLA discoveries was Mignon Wine and Cheese Bar. Conveniently located on 6th and Los Angeles, Mignon is cozy and stylish with its wraparound circular bar. The wine was delicious and the owner was personable and accommodating. I would definitely recommend this place for a low-key Friday outing with friends or even a date! Being able to hop on over to BabyCakes next door also made the visit a treat. :)

Mazinga (Koreatown): I always credit my undergrad days at Berkeley for introducing me to the amazingness of (and addiction to) Korean fried chicken and spicy rice cakes with ramen. Finding a place in LA that caters to these two cravings was a delightful surprise! Unlike most Ktown establishments, this place does not allow indoor smoking so my asthma-stricken lungs were quite happy. On me: Top from Reverie Market (online store launched by Danni of ohhellofriend. She is so crafty!).

Forneris Farms (Mission Hills): I've always wanted to visit a pumpkin patch and it's silly that it's taken me this long to go, but it was well worth the trip into the Valley! We roamed around the corn maze, picked out a medium sized pumpkin and turned it into an adorable Hello Kitty! It was pretty impressive, I must say!

Bricks & Scones (Larchmont): This place is undoubtedly the best study cafe I've been able to find in all of LA! There is always space at one of their spacious tables in The Study and unlike most cafes, it's actually quiet enough to concentrate. Their coffee and teas are tasty and I've always received great service while here. We've always lucked out with parking, but the private lot is rather small so I can imagine it being difficult to plan a full study day here without snagging a spot in the back. Bricks and Scones, I wish I could come study here everyday.

Los Angles County Art Museum (Mid-Wilshire): Ah, the beautiful LACMA lightposts! When Jess's best friend visited LA, we had to take her out here for a photoshoot. We missed the Tim Burton exhibit, but the brisk November weather still made for a perfect visit! On me: Zara ruffle blouse, Citizens of Humanity Avedon Jeggings, Marc by Marc Jacobs bag, Chanel classic studs. My unruly long hair is now the perfect length for my favorite side-braid hairstyle. Yay!!

Studio DeLucca (Long Beach): My friends and I spent last weekend down in Long Beach crafting some cute custom-made necklaces at Studio DeLucca. We've been wanting to try our hand at jewelry making for a while now and the class turned out to be an excellent choice. The studio was very homey and the girls running the studio were extremely patient, talented, and fun!

Lula Glitter Ballet Flats (J.Crew): My favorite of all my recent purchases!! I've been on the hunt for adorable glitter flats for some time now and the recent J.Crew 25% off sale allowed me to try both the Glitterati and Lula flats. I was sure I'd fall deeply in love with the classy looking Glitterati skimmers, but when the shoes finally arrived, I was surprised to find myself quickly favoring the more comfy style of the the Lula's. Both are beautiful, but these were definitely the perfect choice for me. I cannot wait to wear these with everything in the coming months! Lovelovelove.

Maybeeee, I will post up some more photos of my room and apartment, but I thought this was a great way to share some of my favorite decor items since decorating the apartment has been my biggest obsession lately. Luckily, our apartment comes with spacious walk-in closets for each of us, so I was able to get away with buying the smaller Koppang dresser from Ikea and decorating the nook with plenty of knick knacks! Found here: (1) Anthropologie flower wall hooks, (2) Desktop photo calendar by Irene Suchocki, (3) "I Love You, Blogs & Tea" print by Jen Ramos, (4) Tea light holders from IKEA, (5) Anthropologie Capri Blue Candle-in-a-Jar (Volcano is the best smelling scent EVER), (6) Anthropologie Zinc Letter "M", (7) Photo ledge from IKEA.

Happy Fall, friends! Hope to be back again soon! 

A Coralistic Summer

When deciding on my summer wardrobe color palette, I was focused on really building up a fun and colorful collection. White has always been my prime pick for the summer because of its simplicity and softness. However, this was going to be the year I was going to change it up a little! It's funny, though, how my mind seems to only know how to focus on one color at a time... So much for diversification. Over the past few weeks, there's been a clear winner... CORAL. My obsession with the color began back in my days of hunting down the perfect coral dress for Senior Prom... Perfectly balanced with just the right amount of energy for the summer, it's no surprise that my love for it has easily and quickly resurfaced... and not a complete surprise that I've been buying coral bits and pieces with a furor lately.

Essie Canyon Coral: I picked up this pretty polish for only $2 at Starlight Beauty Supply in DTLA! I love digging in the "value bin" and finding discontinued colors at an absolute steal. The store focuses more on China Glaze and OPI, but I've never left without some awesome Essie finds! I like to check out the bin here before heading across the street to Hollywood Nail Supply where I can score some newer shades for $3.50 (like the gorgeous Braziliant from the new summer collection). These two stores have become an addictive stop for me whenever I'm in the area...

Coral and Gold Bangles: I'm still learning how to accessorize more with bracelets and bangles, but this set was definite love at first sight (impulse buy!) while checking out at SUO in Monrovia. The store features the usual collection of cute dresses and tops, but lately I've really been lucking out with the jewelry here. Earrings, necklaces, and bracelets range between $8-$20 and offer up some unique alternatives to the likes of Forever 21 and H&M. I've been mixing and matching these bangles with some of my other bracelets and love that I can even group the bangles within the set for a different look each time!

Kimchi Blue Silk Tank: My coworker and I have been sneaking off to the Urban Outfitters near work every week or so and have been enabling each other to buy one too many things lately. I was happy when I found this tank on sale (had previously decided I couldn't talk myself into paying $50 for something so little...). The little flare out back is super fun and the lace detailing is absolutely adorable. I wore the top paired with white shorts for a daytime look and then quickly glammed it up with black jeggings, heels and a necklace for a night outing! Simple, fun and comfortable--this will be getting lots of wear for the rest of summer!

Mossimo Twist Bandeau Top: Ever since I can remember, I've bought most of my swimsuits from Victoria's Secret... probably out of laziness since it's a one stop shop. I purchased a cute dotted bandeau suit a few summers back and it's become the only one I've worn since thanks to the lack of strap tanlines. Since I've pretty much decided triangle tops are no longer for me, I've been in desperate need of an additional bandeau suit. This Mossimo suit from Target was the absolute perfect choice for that! Although more reddish looking in the photo, I guarantee that it's the prettiest shade of coral in real life. The best part is that it pairs adorably well with some other bottoms I have. Can't wait to wear this for the upcoming July 4th weekend!

Ecote Macrame Skimmer: Ecote sandals are quite the staple in my summer wardrobe. Thankfully, their flats are just as cute and comfy. My friends were a little cautious about me buying them and I was a little concerned about possible pairings, but I've literally been wearing these with everything! They're the perfect pop of color for any outfit and are so light, I catch myself reaching for these over my sandals even on weekends! Loveloveloveeeee. The Kimchi Blue Peep Toe in coral or yellow was also a covet of mine.

...And if all that isn't enough, I recently stumbled upon the most beautiful Coral Necklace from Bauble Bar. This gorgeous necklace was featured by the fabulous Budget Babe (fashioned after AnnaLynne McCord) and I cannot stop thinking about it! P.S. I am kind-of-sort-of really obsessed with those cute boat shoes as well...

I hope everyone is having a lovely summer so far! Work has been light and I can't lie and say that half-day Fridays aren't the most amazing things that's ever happened to me since I started working! ;) What color are you loving for the summer season? Any recommendations for some more additions to my wardrobe?

Self-Gifting: June Birchbox

June's Birchbox arrived yesterday! This month's samples were awesome, and from reading members' reactions on the web, the Laura Gellar full-sized Blush n Brighten Duo seemed to be the major attraction. June's theme was travel-friendly products, so all items in the box related to making trips easier and more comfortable.

If the Birchbox name is unfamiliar, here's what you need to know: each month, you receive a beautifully presented box of 4-5 samples (and some are actually full-sized products) at a cost of $10 a month (or $110 if you prepay for a whole year's subscription). Items included range widely but can be skincare, haircare, makeup, food (chocolates and other sweets), etc. It's just like giving yourself a gift regularly except you don't know what's in the package. The surprise and discovery elements are the best part!

I signed up for the March box and have been looking forward to the bright pink shipments every month since. Five of my coworkers have also signed up, and I love seeing what everyone gets since the box contents vary depending on skin type and complexion. I'm not always impressed with every single thing I receive but for the most part, have been very happy with my experience so far and think it's worth the cost.

June's contents and some quick thoughts:
1) Archipelago pomegranate soap - repeat from last month, which was surprising but it's okay because it smells good!
2) Deborah Lipmann Stripper To Go portable nail polish removers - each pack has a mitt that removes polish on all 10 fingers, pretty useful for weekends away when you don't have a bottle of remover
3) Sircuit Molecular Mist
4) Kate Spade Twirl perfume spray - I don't prefer perfume samples since these are always available from Sephora
5) Laura Gellar Blush n Highlight in Como/Portofino - gorgeous duo with shimmer for the summer

If you end up loving a sample, you can purchase the full sized item through the Birchbox store and get free shipping. They also sell other goods in the shop but only offer free shipping on the featured products of the month. There is a loyalty program that rewards you for spending through them, and when you rack up enough you can exchange them for products. The shipping promotion and rewards programs are good motivators to buy through Birchbox, because otherwise the price points are the same and sometimes slightly higher than the retail prices through Sephora.

What I think is a strong selling point of Birchbox is its content found in Haute Box. You'll find videos, articles and how-to's relating to beauty, sort of like having Total Beauty + Sephora rolled into one. It's useful also for learning how to use all the samples that came in your box.

From past months...(been meaning to post these for awhile haha)

Rustic looking package

Sweetly wrapped in hot pink tissue paper... love!

March box - I really liked the Pangea Organic lip balm (full size) and the I Need to Heal aloe mask

May box - the AHAVA hand cream felt amazingly smooth and the Bvlgari Jasmin Noir smelled really good!

Intrigued? Sign up through my referral link! Hope there's something awesome in the next box for you =)

Blockbuster Vegas

Vegas was epic, and it was a weekend I'll always remember. To celebrate our 25th birthdays, Jess and I organized a group of 39 people who stayed in 6 different suites/rooms to party it up in two nights of clubbing and one daytime pool party. It was the largest group I'd ever gone to Vegas with, and probably the last. Planning was really stressful but in the end, was SO worth it because everyone had an amazing time and all the logistics worked out!

Despite my eagerness to try out Rent the Runway since this post, I ended up not wearing dresses from the company, because the two dresses I would want to wear, I saw on friends in Facebook albums from their Vegas trips! There's a certain "look" to Vegas dresses and I suppose a lot of people had the same idea about RTR. Another time!

Instead, I went on multiple frantic last-minute shopping trips for Vegas two days before my flight, yikes! Vegas really creeped up on me - I'd been studying for GMATs, adjusting to a new job, hunting for a new apartment, etc. The weekend beforehand, I was too unmotivated to dress shop. And even though I had started looking for dresses as soon as tickets were booked, nothing in the past 3 months cried out to me.. I was searching for dresses that were eye-catching in some way... tight, colorful and/or mini (many girls opt for low-cut but that doesn't work for my body type!). Thank goodness for living in NYC, because in two days I went to 3 different Bebe stores, scoured Soho (H&M, Zara, Marciano by Guess) and found all I needed for the weekend. Funny enough, Jess and I ended up wearing Bebe dresses for BOTH nights!

My first night's dress (store link) I actually bought in Vegas an hour before clubbing! My friend Linda and I were shopping for straw hats for the next day's pool party, and stopped at Bebe when I saw this bandage dress hanging on the rack. The sales associate said it had just come out that day (I now know it was a re-promote) so fewer people would have it. The dress runs small (XS was teensy) but fit well and I had been wanting a bandage dress so this was a keeper!! At $98, the dress was less than renting an Herve aaaand I got to keep it. This dress replaced the original Bebe pink and purple ombre bandage dress which was a little long and didn't fit as snugly. 

What the sales associate mentioned about fewer people having the dress stayed with me that whole weekend, because I counted no fewer than 15 girls who were wearing Bebe dresses I recognized, even one that was the same as my 2nd night dress but in a different color. Their styles are very Vegas-appropriate! 

People got tired the second night, because there are only a few pictures taken, and fewer still of my dress. My camera battery died after the pool party so I didn't take any of my own. My dress is now sold out on the site but I loved the fluttery fabric and zing of neon! There is another version made for the Kardashians earlier this year that had orange on the bottom, which I prefer but can't find anymore. I got an XS but it was slightly big and I had to tape the top to prevent gapping...a far cry in sizing from the above bandage dress I had to squeeze into.

Stores that are great for Vegas dresses (any others?):

- Bebe

- Marciano

- Guess

- Asos.com (make sure to buy early before small sizes sell out)

- Shopbop.com

- Frederick's of Hollywood

- BCBG

- Forever21

- Lulus.com

And a few fun shots from Wet Republic pool party

So packed!! Avicii was DJing that day

Our cabana against the packed pool party

Straw hats were definitely on trend!

Avicii spinning, crazy high energy I LOVED it!! I'm in the front with the white hat =)

Dabbling in Baubles

Since working in a startup, I find myself being hyper aware and appreciative of other up-and-coming businesses, all the more so if they cater to me as a potential customer! Companies like Rent the Runway, Birchbox and my latest favorite, Bauble Bar, all make it easier for women to have increased access to quality goods at discounted prices. This era of online retail has given girls across the nation opportunities to buy things that previously were available only to the lucky few who lived in metropolitan areas and had select access. Sample sales that used to only be held in NYC are now online at Gilt, RueLaLa, etc. It's wonderful that businesses are democratizing fashion and luxury goods, making them available to a wider audience.

Bauble Bar does exactly that - it brings Henri Bendel-level costume jewelry online at amazing price points (ranges from $20 - 200 when it would go for a lot higher in stores) and I'm SO excited about it! The photography and layout of the site is clean and shows off the quality of each piece beautifully. In person, the pieces look great and feel well-made and long lasting. When shipped, each item comes in its separate pouch. I got a chance to visit the BB headquarters this week, see and touch some items and put in a large order! The girls are super sweet and got me obsessed with their products and business!

Bauble Bar is virtually the online extension of the Young Designer's Market in Soho, NYC. The YDM is one of my favorite places to shop in the city, and I always recommend it to visitors because they can find unique pieces from local designers at great prices. Jewelry and clothing is sold without expensive department store markups, and I rarely purchase my jewelry anywhere else anymore. Looking in my collection, I'd say 85% of all my bling come from YDM. From now on, I know it will be apportioned heavily toward purchases from BB! Since YDM is only open on the weekends, I'm restricted to going in person, but now I can browse online at BB throughout the week.

Onto the pictures, here are a few shots of what I got (also waiting for a yellow wrap bracelet that should arrive in a week):

I love gems and stones! Color-ready for summer =)

These bracelets have heft and feel so much more expensive than they really were

Love the coral pop against neutral colors

Not everything I got is available on the site yet, but hopefully they will be soon because I am definitely stocking up on the bangles in different colors. They're super pretty. I'm in love with everything I got, and want more! The site's offerings are well curated and you're bound to find something that suits your style (the founders personally select jewelry they want to sell).

Some others I'm really liking:

• Ice Sparkle Drops
• Neutral Bangle Set
• Nautical Bangle Stack
• Jewel Tone Pearl Necklace

Check out the site HERE (disclaimer: my invite link).. hope you find something perfect for you! Let me know if you find any new favorites! 

Bringing May Flowers

Many changes have taken place in the past few months! I've heard of people sometimes requesting for a "Pause" button in life that they can press, and take a breather. That came true for me these past few months, as I got an opportunity to slow down, look around me, and take my time in deciding what next steps to take. It's been refreshing and productive, and I'm fully prepared and desiring to fully rev back up again. Life keeps moving - you make the best out of what you're given, and sometimes you end up with something better than what you thought you could find.

Since the beginning of the year, I've moved out of the finance world and into the spunky and frenetic energy of start-ups. It's been a fantastic experience so far, and the flexible dress code only scratches the surface of its awesomeness. On the other hand, I do have almost three years worth of corporate workwear that I don't want to go to waste - and figured, why let it? I've realized I like putting an effort into looking presentable and working in a startup environment doesn't mean I have to wear jeans + a tshirt all day. Putting an outfit on that makes me feel good actually helps me get into the "working woman" mindset and feel more productive.

Some recent photos via iPhone since I rarely tote around a real camera:

DVF New Julian wrap dress in Sun Dial. Size 0

Picked up my first DVF wrap dress during the Bloomie's Private Sale! I am ecstatic about this purchase - the print is super fun and part of the Vintage collection (she brought back some of her best-selling prints from previous years), the material is silky soft and feels amazing against the skin, and price was 30% off! I'm now sold on the legendary DVF dress, a firm believer in the cuts and quality of her clothing.

As a petite girl, I will say though that the dress tends to gap in the chest area and I use tape to ensure closure up top as well as on the bottom, particularly on windy days. Googling around, I've read this is a typical issue with wrap dresses in general, so I wear a camisole and shorts underneath for work.

Another gorgeous silky dress I loved but didn't end up getting. Size 0 fit pretty well but could be taken in for better fit.

My valentine-y bracelet, along with two bead pieces that my roommates made for me =)

My first foray into DIY jewelry (not counting macaroni necklaces and plastic lanyards in elementary school). My roommates and I spent a few hours one night making our own bracelets. I'd been so excited to try this out after seeing the idea from our friends at for your inspiration! The preparation and production process was not as easy as I'd expected, but it was worth it for our colorful and unique wrist candy! I bought gunmetal chains and clasps at a jewelry crafts store, and 9 different colors of thick thread from a sewing shop. The hardest part was using pliers to grip open the chain links and force the clasps in (there HAD to have been an easier way, sheesh!). We used the tutorial from here if you'd like to give it a go.

And lastly, tulips have been popping up all over Manhattan! Must be part of a beautification campaign. & it's working, the neighborhoods and parks of NYC have never been so pretty this year!

In A Flash...

Apologies for our absence! Janice has been settling into a new job and after finally getting a steady pulse on mine, I've been focused on getting more involved with some extracurricular projects I've been meaning to get to since moving back to LA. It's been a fast few months, but I've been loving every moment of it! There are lots more exciting things coming up for the rest of the year and we can't wait to start tailoring the blog towards more of a city-centric featurette. We'll be featuring places we're going, things we're doing, and what we'll be wearing while we're at it!

For now, here are a few snapshots of the past few months of my life!

Lately, I've been...

Skipping down Embarcadero St. in SF:

Catching some Cal band tunes on Sproul Plaza:

Soaking up the beauty of LA art exhibits 

(that feature amazing shots of SF--the best of both my worlds!):

Eating some yummilicious Paulette macarons:

Sipping mojitos on vacation in the Dominican Republic
(in my fave new F21 summer dress, J.Crew belted for a perfect fit):

Enjoying some sun and fun on the shores of Punta Cana (with China Glaze High Hopes covered toesies):

Attacking a helpless (but scrumptious) grilled lobster (in the cutest dress I found at Target):

Inhaling the prettiest and tastiest sweets at POP Champagne & Desserts

(while learning how to do nifty tricks on my new Canon S95):

And of course... drinking lots of wine and champagne!! :)

Renting the Runway

I have a big Vegas trip planned for May and, after settling the issue of which hotel to stay at, the next logical question was "What am I wearing?!" The thing about Vegas dresses is that after you take a gazillion pictures posing every which way and the outfit is immortalized in multiple Facebook albums, it's tough to recycle them again. Unless the dress is black and you can accessorize differently, you want something new. I perused the usual suspects in search of Vegas dresses (read: on the very short side and clingy), but also remembered another option I had read about, Rent the Runway, and think I'll be using this service for my trip later in the year.

Rent the Runway is like Netflix but for dresses - you browse for dresses by occasion ("genres", if you will), by designer (searching by actor or director), or what the latest arrivals are. Depending on the retail price of the dress, rentals range from $50 - $300, which on the high end sounds a bit spendy for a dress you can't keep, but you get access to high end designers like Herve Leger, D&G or Proenza that you might not otherwise. The rental period is 4 days, perfect for a weekend, and then you mail back the dress and RTR takes care of drycleaning costs. For peace of mind about spills and snags, you can get insurance for $5, which is a good policy to have in place for the accident prone.

RTR also addresses two possible worst case scenarios - 1) the dress not fitting and 2) another girl wearing the same dress. They send a backup size for free, and also let you choose a second style for $25 more. The mirror image situation actually happened to my friend Michelle at Vegas, both she and another girl rented the same dress for Vegas but one of them had taken advantage of the backup option so they avoided being twins for the night. This is also ideal for Vegas, because you can get two dresses for Friday and Saturday night for less than cost of rental for two nights!

I think this idea is super valuable for special occasions like weddings, opening nights, or birthday weekends in Vegas - you want to be able to wear a fantasticly glamorous, dreamy dress but may not want to pay a premium for a designer piece you wear infrequently. RTR expands your closet into virtually endless options. Of course, there are some dresses that you may want to invest in and keep in your closet forever, but for occasions where you'll probably wear the dress once, RTR is perfect.

Another great aspect of this site is its up to date selection, constantly being replenished with the latest season's offerings, so you can check back in a few months and there will be new options to choose from. RTR sells dresses at a discount that start looking old or worn. Recently, they've also added accessories so you can complete an outfit with statement jewelry.

Personally, I love the Herve Leger section (can't resist the body-con style and colors!) and am leaning toward these dresses for Vegas:

Bright, eye-catching colors are great, and I love the back of the Sunset dress (left). I'll blog more about site when I actually go through the rental process and let you know if service is executed as well as the idea is.