after hours

Wearing | Forever 21 waterfall blazer • Forever 21 striped knit • Santee Alley sailor shorts
WeLoveColors burgundy socks • thrifted mary jane pumps

Time for me to force some of my favorite things onto you:
- Red velvet cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory. White chocolate shavings, cream cheese icing, two layers of red velvet cake, and original cheesecake sandwiched in between = a slice of pure bliss.
- Thrift shops in East L.A. (Eagle Rock, Silverlake, Echo Park). Not so much a secret anymore that this is where I find a lot of my gems. One word: goldmine.
- Bobbi Brown tinted lip balm in Pink Raspberry. Works like a chapstick, goes on like a creamy burgundy lipstick.
- Sofia Coppola films. Talk about dreamlike masterpieces. I still watch Lost in Translation and The Virgin Suicides wide-eyed over and over again, it's almost a religious experience.
- Elie Saab's Spring 2011 Haute Couture collection. BREATHTAKING. This man nails it everytime.
- Grocery shopping at Whole Foods. I can snack on enough yummy free samples to constitute a good solid lunch here. Plus, how can you go wrong with their full food court and enormous salad bar?! Heaven for the organic food junkie.
- Vintage Levi cutoffs. I own more pairs than countable on my fingers. And I refuse to buy denim shorts by any other brand.
- That fragrant, flowery smell when you bite into a rose macaron. Mmm.

lux mundi

Gary Pepper, how I wholeheartedly love you and your store. Being an owner, buyer, designer, model, stylist, blogger, manager, and almost everything else for your own boutique (and quickly gaining success after merely a year) is pretty freaking admirable.

Shop Gary Pepper Vintage, here!

oui, je suis

You can always dream and you can always draw and you can always write and read and sleep, so does it really matter where you are? Where I am? Shouldn't you be able to be happy then, anywhere? Because everywhere you go you have yourself and your own little world that no one else can touch. Am I crazy, am I making sense, do you know what I'm talking about?

blushing ambition

Wearing | Foreign Exchange blush-toned poncho top • Forever 21 striped knit • H&M over-the-knee socks • fur pillbox hat from eBay • thrifted lace-up booties

Currently lusting after anything and everything dusty pink, blush, pale coral, or rose colored:

via Polyvore

La vie en rose. I know, it's January... but there's no such thing as winter here.
And it's already always spring in my world.

Side note: While everyone is on the topic of who wore what at the Golden Globes, how wonderful and genuine was Chris Colfer's award acceptance? I couldn't stop smiling while watching this. D'awww. :)

in transit

Wearing | Forever 21 crochet knit cardigan • thrifted ruffly lace top • Levi's denim cutoffs • Express silky grey scarf • Steve Madden boots • Ray Ban aviators

This "winter" is probably the most unseasonably nonexistent one yet. I admit I kind of regret not taking advantage of the rare gloomy days we had to pounce around in my fur coats (which have woefully been collecting dust in my closet for who knows how long). In lieu of the death of winter, it's all sunshine and butterflies in SoCal with highs in the 70s. The return of all things girly—lace, floral, soft colors—is fast approaching! Spring, I'm ready for you.

shine on, you crazy diamond

First outfit post of 2011... finally! I should slap myself for not following through with my number one blog resolution: Keep up with outfit posts. I have far too many outfits in 2010 that I wish I had taken photos of and posted on here. Starting today, that's not going to happen—uh, as often—this year! Don't worry, I only make promises I can keep. :)

Wearing | pony print blouse from wholesale-dress.net • thrifted black maxi skirt • thrifted braided belt • Nasty Gal oversized wayfarers

Found this blouse (similar to this Paul & Joe Sister dress) on wholesale-dress.net! Animal pattern, ruffle neck, and all. Speaking of Paul & Joe, I think I might have possibly developed an instant and probably lasting crush on Paul & Joe Beauté. Not only is their makeup as wonderful as everyone swears by it, but it’s. Just. So. Cute. Every little packaging of foundation, primer, eyeshadow, lipstick, even moisturizer is like a hymn to loveliness. And now I must confess I'm easily weak for anything that fits in the palm of my hands with a high "oooh pretty" factor...

one of my longtime favorites part deux

via Miss Pandora

I lovelovelove Louise Ebel on Lookbook.nu! Parisian chic at its dreamiest.