all that glitters isn't gold.

h&m_pants&shirt/aldo_shoes

have a safe and happy new year!

out with the old and in with new

today's motto

you 

only 

have 

one life, 

(unless you believe in re-incarnation)

 

if you're not happy with the way things are...

change it

!

before...

inspired by this decorista . . .

I took this:

 alil 2buckchuck from trader joes to get the juices flowin

 all found at a local thrift shop for under $100

stay tuned for the after posts! 

sunday mornings.

ahh sunday mornings... 

something about the "day of rest" that makes everything feel peaceful & ok. this sunday was particularly nice since I got to do 2 things I love-shop&eat, with one of my best friends. "life" can get in the way @ times, but maintaining a meaningful friendship is important & worthwhile. 

there are somethings that time doesn't change and money can't buy.

 

bread&cie in hillcrest puts their gourmet twist on a grilled cheese sandwich. it is filled with nothing but goodness-brie, bacon, walnuts & honey. the panini style 'wich is on "levain bread," a bakery specialty. easy to recreate and pure deliousness.

pair it with a caramel macchiato, a raspberry macaroon, and some people watching on their outdoor patio and have a great sunday.

after the storm.

(h&m_jacket/AA_bodysuit/f21_jeans, accessories&boots/aldo_clutch)

the rain in so cal has been unrelenting this past week. for the most part its kept me cuddling inside with a glass of wine, trying out new recipes and organizing the thoughts of my life. with xmas just passed and the new year coming, I've began a notebook called passion=life. but I'll save that story for another post.

clogs can have a bad rep but I love them non the less. got these boots on an online f21 binge. they came out a little chunkier then I would want, but I like the idea of a clog boot & they'll be good to stomp around puddles in if the rain continues.  


what do you think about this clutch? I love any kind of animal print, obviously, so it screamed at me the minute I saw it. while editing the pictures, I noticed just how perfect it actually was with the outfit. I thought the zebra stripes and the blk/white polkadots balanced really well.

wood is good.

(AA_tights/vintage_dress/handmade_poncho/j.campbell_clogs)

sorry for the mean mug, I was glaring bc of the sun!

a softer set of eyes, and a ring that I love!

I'll catch your bad dreams

 

 hope everyone had a great christmas!

I found this "poncho," if you want to call it that, at flea market. I absolutely love it. Its handmade from ecuador. the dream catcher design is what first caught my eye but its so warm & comfortable; pretty much like wearing a fitted blanket. barely even felt like I got out of bed =) .on another cold day I think I'll pair it with a comfy white tee, some skinny jeans and black platform boots.

I got these jeffery campbell shoes on a trip to visit my bff in sf. of course I didn't bring any appropriate walking shoes, so I scored when I saw these at uo. at the time I just thought that clogs were so sf I had to have them, not to mention the low enough heel to walk in.

funny when the litas blew up did I just notice they were the same brand.

I loved j.campbell before I even knew I did. 

 

questions that I'll ask now and answer later.

when you look in the mirror, do you like what you see? can you face yourself, are you doing everything that you want to be doing and nothing that you don't?

what are you trying to accomplish, how are you going to get there?

who are you?

what could you have done better today?




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my eyes are as big as my stomach

whisknladle in la jolla was a great spot for a late lunch . being a sunday, obviously I needed to start off with a bloody mary (and end with a dirty martini?) the fries & mussels marinated in shallots, garlic & bay are def a recipe I will be diy-ing soon- delish, the salmon tartine- melted in your mouth and the egg nog (which I don't normally have a taste for) bread pudding was what I think xmas would taste like

black like my heart.

 no where else do I feel as calm and free. something about the fresh air, the calming effect of the waves crashing, the vastness of the ocean...a connection between- earth&me.

f21_jacket, accessories, boots, leggings/bcbg_sweater

the weather was gloomy and rainy which fit my mood . I love the sunshine, but a change in weather with crisp, cool air is refreshing . this is about as cold as its going to get . I'm still wearing leggings! (which by the way are so comfortable they've became my go to's when I'm lazy) but I love being able to layer up top. 
found these boots on f21 online; when they arrived, I wasn't disappointed . I love the lowcut, the length and width of the heel, and the buckle detail. I'm going to pair them with chunkier socks next. I'm getting more impressed with the quality of f21, they've really stepped up

love me some leopard.

 f21_dress/h&m_belt/evil genius_shirt/steve madden_boots

This outfit didn't turn out exactly as I wanted, mainly bc the black shirt was too big and it threw the proportions off, but I ran with it . I'm going to play with the dress more and feature it again . I love these shoes, they definitely g et a ton of wear, so letting you know now; this ain't the only time you'll see 'em! platform and lace ups, and they're super comfy and can take anything up a notch .


I love downtown, the "city" in general . SD isn't much of one, but I'll take it for now . what we lack in, we make up in sun&beach I guess . 
this was shot at city college in downtown SD

testing 1, 2, 3.

(nastygal_jacket/jes.simpson_shoes/f21_shorts/evil.genius_shirt/target_thigh.highs) 

I've always been adventurous when it comes to fashion . why not take a risk, its more fun that way . we are all on the path of self discovery and fashion is one form of expression, I dress how I feel.

I'm new to blogs, and photography, but I'm determined to put out the best perception of "my world" and I hope I gain a couple friends that can relate along the way . 

I've come to believe that blogging is an art form . why not? it ignites every creative bone in my body, and I love it for the challenge.

gp 



holidays in sunny san diego.

where the sun shines about 300 days of the year . took this pic on a harbor excursion tour

one lonely pic of me
f21_sweater, shirt, leggings/gap_jean jacket/cole hann_purse
had on some really cool rings I'll have to re-post

really gota get up on my outfit posts . ordered a camera and light and I'm holding myself accountable!

the rockettes on tour in SD . figured I had to see them at least once

winners vs. losers.

" The mind is its own place, and in itself Can make a Heav’n of Hell, a Hell of Heav’n  "

Winners and losers are largely differentiated by their way of thinking. It means that if your thinking tend to be nearer to the Losers approach, it is possible for you to shift yourself back to the Winners way of thinking. All you need is to be 100% honest with yourself, admit that some part of your life needs to be change and work on it.

Striking Differences Between Winners and Losers

	Winners	Losers
1	Winners focus on solutions.	Losers focus on problems.
2	Winners take responsibility.	Losers blame others.
3	Winners find opportunities in crisis.	Losers complain about crisis.
4	Winners enjoy being in the present and learn from the past.	Losers live in the past.
5	Winners make commitment and keep them no matter what.	Losers make promises that they always break.
6	Winners think about how they can achieve.	Losers give excuses.
7	Winners make personal development a priority.	Losers neglect personal development.
8	Winners face their fear, accept it and take the leap.	Losers dwell in their fear.
9	Winners constantly expand their comfort zone.	Losers stay in their comfort zone.
10	Winners take action consistently.	Losers refrain from taking action and lack consistency.
11	Winners take failure in their stride and learn from them.	Losers fear failure and avoid them at all cost.
12	Winners try different strategies when they are not getting the results they want.	Losers do the same thing over and over again expecting different results.
13	Winners set goals.	Losers lack goals.
14	Winners plan.	Losers hate having a plan.
15	Winners believe there are always things to be learn.	Losers consider themselves as an expert even though they know little.
16	Winners are humble.	Losers are egoistic.
17	Winners continue to hone their skill every other day without fail.	Losers make little effort in honing their skill.
18	Winners work hard.	Losers avoid work.
19	Winners give their best for the things that they decide to do.	Losers work half heartedly in everything that they do.
20	Winners are persistent and will do whatever it takes (ethical means) to achieve their goal.	Losers give up when obstacles pop up.
21	Winners manage their time well and indulge in high value activities that will bring them closer to their goals.	Losers lack time management skills and indulge in time wasting activities like playing games and watching re runs for the umpteen time.
22	Winners dream in the day.	Losers dream in bed.
23	Winners think about possibilities.	Losers focus on obstacles that will stop them from achieving.
24	Winners are certain.	Losers doubt.
25	Winners control their own destiny.	Losers leave everything to their fate.
26	Winners give more than they take.	Losers take more than they give.
27	Winners think whether the crowd is going in the right direction. If not, he will walk the other direction.	Losers follow the crowd.
28	Winners think and lead.	Losers refuse to think so they follow.
29	Winners listen.	Losers fight for every chance to talk.
30	Winners always find a better way to do things.	Losers stick to one way of doing things.
31	Winners spend money in seminars and classes to improve themselves.	Losers think that spending money on seminars and classes is a waste of money and they prefer to buy toys that gives them instant gratification.
32	Winners help others to win.	Losers refuse to help and think only about their own benefit.
33	Winners find like minded people like themselves that can bring them to greater height.	Losers find like minded people like themselves that will drag them to failure.

(via-www.healthmoneysuccess.com)

evolution.

which came first the chicken or the egg?

the first idea that came was wanting to open up an online store. the blog came after; as I began following other blogs and became (as geri hirsch would put it) "addicted." I was enamored with its diary like nature, the idea of peeking into people's personal style & finding some to identify with. 

the "blogosphere" is its own massive world and putting yourself out there for criticism & judgment (if you even make it) can be very intimidating. but moreover, it fosters creativity, & self awareness and is a plethora of inspiration waiting to be found. it is also very challenging and self gratifying to maintain. so even if no one ever reads this, I'll be happy to look back at myself 10+years from now.

on that note: I need to stabilize my posts & speed up the logistics process of posting actual pics up of my outfits!!! shooting for saturday!

xo

ever wonder how the west was really won?

bad girls, never looked so good. . .

 

 (via fgr - Abbey Lee Kershaw, Crystal Renn & Eniko Mihalik by Terry Richardson for Vogue Paris)

lack of posts.

sorry for the lack of posts, the holiday coming up, juggling my day job & finalizing details of the actual shop portion have kept me busy. not to mention that I have took on a DIY project and recipes that will keep my posts pretty stable in the coming weeks!

2011 is going to be an exciting year...

s t a y

         t u n e d . . .

until then enjoy some eye candy. 

 (via fgr - Katsia Zinga by Richard Bernardin for Grazia)
I love how pictures can have different feels. 

these feel like they came straight out of this fiona apple video. what ever happened to her...

xx-gp

current crave: crab cakes

 d i n i n g   o u t

Oceanaire in downtown sd immediately gives you the feeling of being on a cruise ship. as you enter you come up a winding staircase that leads you onto the "main deck." the decor is atlantic ocean meets royal caribbean. they offer a new menu daily with fresh seafood selections.  

(( pictures were taken on a camera phone, so I apologize for the quality ))

I'll have a ketel martini straight up, extra dirty with blue cheese stuffed olives!

perfectly paired with...anything for that matter

CHESAPEAKE BAY STYLE CRAB CAKES - w/ creamy mustard mayonnaise.

no imitation meat here, this little cake is 100% packed with fresh meaty pieces of crab that melt in your mouth with every bite.  definitely a staple to order. this was an appetizer, but they also serve it as an entree and include 2. the chunks of crab are hearty and 2 will serve you well as an entree.

 

KID DYNAMITE‛ BLUE CRAB CRUSTED NEW ZEALAND BLUENOSE w/ Sake and Soy Poached Bok Choy & Screaming Rooster Sauce (aka siracha for all those who know wassup).

 the waiter described this dish's spice factor as an 8/10. but I gaged it at about a 2.5. the fish was dense and filling, the sauce paired well. to me the best part was topped crusted crab meat topping.
 

I don't know if its the asian in me that got me to try both this and the dish below, but both feature familiar ingredients, not to mention that the fish below was completely fried, head and all! 

FLASH FRIED WHOLE NEW ZEALAND PINK SNAPPER‚ "ANGRY‛

w/ Trio of Chili Peppers, Garlic, Basil and Orange Zest.

and yes he really was "angry" you should have seen his teeth and the look it was giving! personally i think this dish was a gamble for the chef. although I am use to seeing this sort of presentation, I don't think many diners want to see the head and teeth of what they eat. the dish could feed 2 but was definitely 3x as much as getting it from your local asian market. which actually inspires me to do a remake of this recipe...

d e s s e r t

my taste buds were ready to try oceanaire's signature dessert the "baked alaska" but to my dismay the waiter unexpectedly informed me they were OUT! how could this be?! definitely not a highlight of the night. but i still had to get my sweet fix so we headed over to extraordinary desserts - who never disappoints! from the fresh edible flowers and fruit, the presentation and the taste, each dish there comes with sensory overload.

raspberry coffee cake.

dulce de leche cheesecake.

ahh-mazing! heaven in a bite. creamy, sweet-but not too sweet,

equipped with surprising crunchy bites of toffee

*what to order: Chesapeake Bay Style Crab Cakes with creamy mustard mayonnaise

*deliciousness: 5/5

this has to be the epitome of a crab cake. i would order nothing but this the next time I went. well...that and a martini.
*price: 4/5
fresh seafood, and fine dining - 'nuff said
*service: 5/5
waiters were very attentive and friendly. service was timely; never had to wait for anything. in fact, it seemed like right after you took a sip of water someone was standing right there to refill it. I also liked how they offered fresh olives, pickles, & radishes on an iced tray, along with a bread basket upon your arrival. a nice little detail.
*atmosphere: 3/5
the design concept was clever. overall it was a nice place but very compact.

wild dreams.

(via fgr - Liu Wen by Greg Kadel in Wild Dreams | Vogue Germany November 2010)

one day I'm going to try that make up, wear at least half the clothing I own for each take, and have a shoot in the middle of the desert

seriously though, amazingly beautiful

Fashions fade, style is eternal.
Yves Saint Laurent

hell's kitchen.

GET OUUUUTTT!!!



Its on tonight!

Do you watch hell's kitchen? Chef ramsey is HILLARIOUS