PNW Chill

Hi friends! Did we all have a delightful Christmas? Mitch and I had a super easy going day cooking a small dinner at home and going to the cinema to see Star Wars. Loved it, btw! Although this critical review makes some very good points! Currently, I'm definitely still in vacation mode, stuck in that lazy abyss between Christmas and New Year's. Although I'm enjoying it, my mind has slowly started pushing towards the inevitable hustle and bustle of January. I have to admit that I'm feeling a little anxious as I try to mentally sort out all of the things I need to do and plan for the goals I want to achieve in the coming months. My boo Katrina gifted me an amazing planner from A Beautiful Mess, which has greatly aided in getting me organized. Top of mind for me right now are developing a regular fitness routine, a wedding game plan, house chore schedule, blog goals and last (but not at all least), a plan for killing it at work. All of this downtime has served well for getting myself collected. I'll let you know how it goes in the coming weeks!

My vibes for the week have been PNW casual for ease and practicality. Transitioning from PJs to glamazon Kim just to run to the grocery store to stock up on more hot chocolate doesn't seem reasonable :) Heads up though, I have done my fair share of shopping during the break and have plans to reimagine my wardrobe for winter. Okie dokie, that's what I got for you for now. See you super soon, y'all!

Big Pom Pom Beanie Uniqlo, exact for $12.90!
Tommy Hilfiger Russel Duck Boot via Nordstrom Rack, exact (additional colors)


Shop the Look!

His & Hers: Vintage Holiday

Hello loves! I'm closing out this week with a fun and festive shoot I did with my blogger boyfriend, Hector. Ever since accidentally coordinating our flannels, we decided to coordinate on purpose for a vintage themed Christmas shoot. We met at the University of Washington on a chilly Saturday with glittery props in hand and found a magical archway of greens to serve as a perfect backdrop. Special thanks to baebae for snapping these photos of Hector and me together. It's nice to have a husband with a steady camera hand ;)

Thank you for another wonderful year on the blog, y'all. I couldn't have done this without the support and encouragement of my blogger bffs, Hector, Nini, Dara and especially Katrina, who is responsible for 90% of my blog photography and constantly holds me accountable to my blogging schedule (aka calls me out on my shitttttt). And of course, many thanks to all y'all who have continued to show interest in my small space on the internet, putting up with my foul language and silly outfit combinations. This has been such wonderful way for me to express myself creatively and I am grateful for all your love.

Wishing you joy and warmth this holiday season! :-*

On Kim
Vintage Plaid House Dress found thrifting, similar for under $30!
Green Plaid Blanket Scarf Romwe, similar under $15!
Black Glitter Pump Forever 21, a selection


On Hector
Peacoat Topman, exact
Sweatre United Colors of Benetton, exact
Plaid Blanket Scarf Forever 21, exact
Brown Velvet Pants Zara, exact
Shoes Aldo, exact

Casual Sequins

Happy Christmas week, my friends! Like many humans on this earth, I thoroughly enjoy this time of year. Friends, family, love and community. My family has always taken a more relaxed approach to this season, using it as a time to rest, recharge and have fun! This weekend with my brother and sister in Orlando did not disappoint. We celebrated sister's graduation, had a Christmas movie marathon, shopped till we dropped and had a delightful day at Disney. However you and your tribe like to celebrate this time of year, I hope you are enjoying yourself.

Today I'm coming at you with a festive look, mixing one of my favorite party frocks with every day wear. Honestly, I don't know what compels me to put these crazy combos together AND THEN also on my body, but it happens :) I chose dark neutrals to balance out all of the sparklez. I'm not sure how to categorize this look, but I'm feeling it!

I hope your week is off to a nice and easy start. And remember, Amazon Prime is for reals your friend for those last minute gifts! I've used my prime benefits more this week than I have all year. Good luck with all of your last minute holiday errands!

Wool Boater Hat Forever 21, exact (on sale for $9.90!)
Red Sequin Bodycon Forever 21, similar
Marled Longline Hoodie Forever 21, exact
Plaid Skirt Uniqlo, similar
Hollie OTK Boot Vince Camuto, exact (limited sizing), similar
The Claremont Leather Camera Bag by Lo & Sons, exact


Aaaaaaaaaaaand as a bonus, here are a couple festive pictures of Nini and me being silly :) Make sure to go check out her post today! Happy Holidays, y'all!

Travel Style: Lo & Sons OG Bag

Hey Y'all. Shit, I don't even know where to start. Basically I GOT MARRIED two weeks ago and life leading up to and beyond that event has been kind of crazy. I sort of feel like every other month I exclaim how busy I am on this blog BUT SERIOUSLY GUYZ it's a whole new level. It's a good and bad thing. On the one hand, I realize that I've been truly living in the present, enjoying time with my husband (ohgawd it still sounds weird) and sharing quality time with friends in both large and intimate gatherings. On the other hand, I really miss blogging so here I am! Ready to recommit to my little space on the internet. More details on love life later, I promise!

Today I'm reemerging on le blog with that PNW barbie vibe that I've been favoring lately. Who knew you could mix plaid and this giant pom pom beanie in so many different ways?! I've decided this is a perfect work to plane transition outfit. I feel stylish and put together for work but am totally ready to be comfy as fuck at the airport later :) These beautifully fitted joggers pants are what is making this all possible. I love the "casual cool" look you can achieve with these. Joggers seem to be pretty in right now but I always struggle to find a pair that fits well. Brooks Running seriously delivered on these pants. I love them extra because they're a local Seattle company!

The champion of my travel style today is my new bag from Lo & Sons! I debated for hours on black Friday on pulling the trigger on this bag. Mostly because it's beyond my comfort zone for spending. For a bag that performs this sort of function, I'd typically scour Ross (yes, Dress for Less!) and probably pay around $50 for something I deemed cute and functional. The last couple of bags that I used this strategy for didn't last me as long as I wanted. Facebook has been bombarding me with Lo & Sons bags ads for months now. The Claremont camera bag is what originally caught my eye (which I also snapped up for Black Friday :D!). After shopping a bit on their site, I came across their brilliant travel bag designs and eventually landed on the page for The OG. As an engineer with a penchant for design, I was so impressed by how much thought was put into this bag. For reals, you need to go watch the video to see what is up. After literal hours of going back and forth, I decided the deal was too good to pass up. At 35% off, the bag came to $200 and I went for it. NO REGRETS, Y'ALL. This bag is definitely something to consider as a nice treat for yourself or a dear friend who travels often.

Well, it feels good to be back :) I'm currently in Orlando spending time with my family. I promise to not be gone so long next time :)

The OG Overnight Bag Lo and Sons, exact (currently on sale for 25% off!)
Big Pom Pom Beanie Uniqlo, exact for $12.90!
Olive Puffer Michael Kors, similar
T-shirt Pink by Victoria's Secret, this one looks comfy!
Plum Plaid Aeropostale, similar
Women's Joyride Pants c/o Brooks Running (exact, men's version)
Lace Up Wedge Bootie Madden Girl, similar

Island Style: The Perfect Palm Print

Aloha, friends! Did y'all have wonderful Thanksgiving breaks? I'm feeling pretty thankful for time with friends and a chance to recharge on the unbelievable island of Oahu. I didn't mean to take a break from the blog but I was just enjoying time away from my laptop so much. I couldn't stay off my phone though. I basically flooded my insta feed with crystal blue waters and palm trees galore. I'm putting together a post to share recommendations on all my favorite outdoor activities from this week but first, a style post! Shall we?

I found this perfectly pink beauty and these amazing wedges at Nordstrom rack a couple weeks before the trip! I'm basically obsessed. My favorite pair of espadrilles gave up on me at the end of summer when one of the straps snapped. So I set out on a mission to find a replacement for this trip and couldn't be more delighted to have found this pair for $30! 30 must be my lucky number because I also scored the dress for $30 (originally $143!) :D I feel super A+ in this combo and can't wait to wear it more this summer.

Bae snapped these photos for me while we were at the Dole Plantation. We took a train ride and then grabbed some yummy dole whip. A perfect treat for a warm day. I felt like I was I was in a real life tiki room. The only thing missing were the singing birds. We fly out tonight on a red eye. I'm going to miss the balmy breeze but I'm looking forward to returning home! See you on the other side!

Crab Claw Dress in Bungalow Whitney Eve via Nordstrom Rack, exact
Wedges Ninewest via Nordstrom Rack, similar
Dragonfruit Bag via night market in Vietnam

PNW Puffy Layers

FRI.YAY! SO STOKED, GUYZ. The holidays. It's happening!!!! Today I'm coming at you with a photoset made possible by the lovely Nini. I think I've found a new favorite backdrop for outfit shots. And hello, post-shoot nachos?! Can't go wrong.

I'm feeling full on PNW (again). What do we think about using jeans as leggings for under dresses? I definitely think it works here but I'm trying to decide if this is something I should do on the regular, but I think it's a fair strategy for cold weather dressing. Thoughts? I'm still SUPER HAPPY with these duck boots. They are turning out to do be an A+ cold weather staple. I'd say the same of this olive puffer. Looking back on the outfits that I've posted over the last few weeks, I gotta pat myself on the back for my commitment to weather appropriate dressing so far this season :)

This weekend, I'm preparing for our trip to Oahu, woooooooo! You guys feeling the T-gives vibes? I'll catch you next week, fo sho!

Michael Kors Layered Puffy Vest via Nordstrom Rack, similar for $20!
Contemporary Hooded Funnel-Neck Dress Forever 21, exact
Knit Sweater Vest Forever 21, similar
Tommy Hilfiger Russel Duck Boot via Nordstrom Rack, exact (additional colors)

His & Hers: Burgundy & Flannel

Happy Hump Day, friends :) Today I'm bringing you a special collab post with my handsome friend, Hector of Geek-Q. We showed up to an outfit shot exchange wearing complimentary outfits and had to get a few snaps together! Conveniently, we were shooting in one of my old favorites, the stairwell of my old building and one of my former teammates obliged us with a few photos. Thanks, Jefffffff!!! :)

We were both channeling Nini that day and opted to feature burgundy in our outfits, or as she would call it, oxblood. And for whatever reason, we were both feeling dat flannel/PNW vibe so, here we are :) This week I'm all about GETTING IT DONE. Last week before Thanksgiving break, y'all! Next Monday, I'm heading to Hawaii (for the first time!) with bae for a whole week! I am seriously looking forward to sunshine time with him and friends. We'll be on Oahu so let me know if you have any favorite must-do's and eats!

Only a few more days to the weekend, WE CAN DO THIS!

PS. It's too bad that I already have a beautiful man friend of my own, or else Hector would be MIIIIIIIIIINE! No but seriously, how cute are we?

Stripe-Patterned Frayed Scarf Forever 21, exact
Pink Trench from Katrina, similar options (1, 2)
Flannel Aeropostale, similar
Baroque Skirt Forever 21, exact style (color soldout), similar options (1, 2)
Lace-up Booties DSW, similar



Fleece Jacket Uniqlo, exact
Plaid Flannel Shirt Uniqlo, exact
Cashmere Scarf Uniqlo, exact
Burgundy Joggers The Rail @ Nordstrom, exact
Sneakers Creative Recreation @ Nordstrom, exact
Hat H&M, exact

Better from the Back

Hey y'all. So to be real real, I've been pretty bummed about world events over the last couple of days. I've been doing a lot of reading, watching news/discussion clips and talking things over with bae. It's a lot to process and something that's at the forefront of my mind, but not something I am going to discuss on the blog. I think Garance Dore, one of the chicest Frechwomen alive, expressed some of what I'm feeling quite eloquently.

So, we'll just keep moving forward, shall we?

Today I am channelling Katrina's mantra of "elevated basics" and going with longlined layers of black and heathered gray for a simple, pulled together look. I hate to admit it but this outfit took me 20 minutes and a complete decimation of my closet to pull together. I wore it for a blogger brunch/meet-up and wanted to go for a chill but chic vibe. It's funny that such a relaxed outfit took so much to pull together but I felt cool so I guess the closet cleanup was worth it :) I LOVE the way this outlook looks from behind. Dat split-back vest tho, y'all!

Alright my loves, I hope Monday is a blast! I have something special with Hector coming up on Wednesday, so see you back here on Hump day!

Heathered Longline Knit Jacket Forever 21, very similar
Split-Back Longline Vest Forever 21, exact
Black Midi Dress Forever 21, exact, additional option
White Oxfords Urban Outfitters, similar (love the vibe on these!)
Checkered Scarf, Forever 21, similar
Quilted Backpack Olivia+Joy via Ross, love both of these moderately priced options (1, 2)

Eye of the Tiger

YAS IT IS FRIYAY! What a crazy week, y'all. I think I had 30+ students from my schools come through for interviews this week. I am definitely down for the weekend, which will inevitably include catching up on all the work I wasn't able to get to this week, but I don't hate it :)

I'm feeling the Madeline vibe from my outfit post today. It's totally the boater hat. I threw this outfit together to run errands and catch up with Katrina last weekend. I am really pleased with how everything came together. This tiger sweater is one of the most eclectic pieces in my wardrobe and it's been so much fun to rediscover old favorites like this gold buttoned coat from my early college years now that the weather requires outerwear. I love it when an outfit feels effortless, but super polished! And dang, I forgot how picturesque the residential streets of cap hill can be! This photo set just works!

I hope y'all have an amazing weekend. Stay warm and dry, my PNW friends! I'll see you next week :)

Wool Boater Hat Forever 21, exact
Double-Breasted Coat with Gold Buttons Forever 21, similar
Tiger Sweater Forever 21, similar options (1, 2)
Striped Dress Target, similar
Brown Riding Boot Vince Camuto via DSW, similar

Little Red Riding Hood

Okay, so the color of the coat is really burgundy but it's such a nice title, right? Happy Hump Day, y'all! Today I'm showing off one of my favorite purchases of the season, this beautiful coat! I picked it up at my fav, Forever 21, while recruiting in cali in October. At $55, I couldn't believe it was still on the racks! It's gorgeous and the material feels way more quality than $55, but then again, why would anyone in socal need a longline winter coat? :)

Keeping it short today! Hope y'all are enjoying your weeks so far!

Contemporary Hooded Longline Coat Forever 21, exact
Ribbed Knit Sweater Dress Forever 21, exact
Brown Riding Boot Vince Camuto via DSW, similar