Where Are Your Pants?

Hi Pretties! Here it is, my final post of January! Almost 16 days in a row of blogging! I'm definitely impressed with myself, not gonna lie. Not sure if I'll carry this habit into February, but I have some good things planned for le blog next month! Currently, I'm in Santa Monica with my Microsoft besties for some good ol' fashioned recruiting at UCLA and Harvey Mudd.

To close out the week, I leave you with this questionably short, but unbelievably fun ensemble. Husband immediately (jokingly?) questioned where my pants were when he saw me in this get-up, but I was definitely feeling myself :D Special shout out to Seattle weather for being so mild these last few days so I can rock everything sans leggings.

I wish you a wonderful week ahead, friends. I have a good feeling about mine :)

Wool Boater sold out from Forever 21, similar(save, splurge)
Cinched Waist Camel Cape Jolt, similar and exact spotted on Poshmark
Gid-Patterned Shirt Dress Forever 21, exact
Steve Madden Gorgeous Boot via Nordstrom, exact, similar for $35

Shiny and New

Oh, harrow! What's this you say? A style post on a Saturday? Well, I was down for the count yesterday because of a lovely migraine and I am determined to get through this 16 post challenge before the end of the month! I believe in myself :) Yesterday was my 28th birthday and although it was no where near ideal to be sick, I still had a nice day being babied at home by husband. My bfferboo and surrogate sister (aka Kasey and Niky) brought me my annual DQ ice cream cake! I don't expect these things, but I seriously appreciate their effort every year to do something special for me on my birthday. Mitch helped me rally enough to go see The Big Short and eat a late dinner at The Cheesecake Factory. So all in all, completely wonderful. Today felt like an extension of my birthday. My migraine was gone and I was able to catch up with old friends that I don't see as often as I'd like and get a board game in with my apartment mates before packing for my upcoming week in LA. Overall, feeling pretty damn good and ready to take on whatever is ahead for me this year!

I'm wrapping up the white shift series with this casual glam take. I treated the LWD like a long tunic and threw it over my favorite pair of jeans. I dressed the look up with a bold statement necklace and my new strappy golden sandals that I picked up on my last cali trip. I don't know what it is with my shoe luck at Nordstrom Rack, but I got these beautiful Calvin Klein "Abiba" sandals for $30! WHAT WHAT?! To finish off the look, I threw on my familiar friend, this longline knit jacket to keep the look weather appropriate.

Well, it's time to finish cleaning and packing before takeoff tomorrow. See you back here again for my final post of January!

Grey Longline Duster last season from Forever 21, similar(1, 2, 3)
Statement Necklace gifted, similar
Mock Neck Shift Dress Forever 21, exact (on sale!)
Jeans Forever 21, exact (for $7.90!)

Wool, Buffalo & Faux Suede

Hello hello, beautiful friends. Only 1 day from the weekend and 1 day until my 28th birthday! Wheeeeeeee!

For today's take on the shift, I've made it all about the accessories. This LWD is the perfect blank canvas for all of my go-to pieces. My obsession with my OTKs was seriously out of control last week but I #cantstopwontstop! This buffalo scarf has been a staple since last winter and my tried and true wool boater from the fall go together effortlessly.

I'm keeping it short and sweet today. Crossing off all of those to-do's one by one and as soon as I post this, that's one more off the list! Have a lovely evening, my friends!

Wool Boater sold out from Forever 21, similar(save, splurge)
Buffalo Scarf Forever 21, similar
Mock Neck Shift Dress Forever 21, exact (on sale!)
Steve Madden Gorgeous Boot via Nordstrom, exact, similar for $35

Dove Gray and Pure White

Happy hump day, pretty people! I'm back in the shift with some cooler than school metal studded loafers and my favorite summer to fall transition pieces that seem like they'll be perfect for winter to spring! Lols I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch, tho :) I am seriously feeling this dove gray + pure white combo. So fresh! This is probably my favorite way to wear this shift (so far). I'd definitely categorize this in the LA Luxe box.

So, midweek check in! How is everyone doing? I've gotten the chance to be pretty dang productive. I have to admit I was a little stressed on Sunday just thinking about my to-do's. For someone who is very organized and feels very capable, I still struggle with feeling stress even when it's for tasks I'm pretty confident I can complete. Maybe it's conditioning from college? Mitch worries about me when I get this way and seeing his concern is a reminder for me to truly evaluate if my stress is necessary. In this case, it wasn't and he was just what I needed to refocus positively. Partners- they're definitely a thing. I feel pretty lucky that I have multiple partners to rely on. Kasey always encourages me to put everything down on a list and cross each every little task off as I go along. So simple, but hellllllla effective. I also need to shout out Hector for giving me a much needed creative boost this week. Being able to take midday work breaks with people that re-energize you is such a privilege. Can't wait to share our next project with y'all!

One of my favorite lifestyle bloggers of all time recently wrote a post that's relevant to this check in. That's what's up for me. What's up with you? :)

Grey Vest Forever 21, similar
Necklace Forever 21, similar
Mock Neck Shift Dress Forever 21, exact (on sale!)
Circus by Sam Edelman Lali Loafer via Nordstrom Rack exact

Pretty in Pink w/ Rogue T&K

Hello hello, friends! Today I'm taking a pretty in pink approach to my new LWD. I feel demure in this ensemble, like I could be on my way to tea with Pippa Middleton or something of the sort. There's quite a few features that I like about this outfit- from the matching pointed pumps and classic leather purse in white to the blushing trench coat but my favorite is the ocean blue pendant lovingly made by my bfferboo, Katrina. She didn't realize she was making it for me at the time but when I saw it at one of her winter showcases, I knew it had to be mine! Her handmade jewelry line, Rogue T&K is brilliant. She's still building her online presence but if you're in Seattle, you can check out her collection at Revival Shop Seattle in cap hill!

Until the next one, my friends!

Mock Neck Shift Dress Forever 21, exact (on sale!)
Necklace one of a kind from Rogue T&K

The Perfect White Shift

Happy Monday, y'all! I had an extra long day, but it looks like I'll get this post in right before a new day turns :) Did y'all enjoy your weekend? I had quite a festive couple of days. On Friday, I celebrated my tea queen's 28th birthday with some gold ol' fashioned laser tag. Our team got pwned for each and every game and I was reminded that I don't really enjoy losing :P On Saturday, I threw a Euro-styled American themed birthday party in honor of husband's quarter century! It was super fun! Costumes were encouraged, many treats were consumed, games were played and the night ended with an epic Captain America pinata punch! I lazed around on Sunday in preparation of the work week and here we are! I'm ready to settle in for what needs to be an insanely productive week before I head back down to California on Saturday.

This week on the blog, I'm continuing my devotion to luxe minimalism by showing off how to wear this perfect white shift FIVE different ways. Yea, 5. This shift, all week baby. I'm obsessed. I bought it in my last online forever 21 haul. It was on clearance plus an extra 30% off bringing this baby down to a satisfying TEN DOLLARS. I love nothing more than a good deal! I am so pleased with the fit of this shift. The fresh, clean lines are the perfect canvas for this week's style experiments! For reference, I'm wearing a large (5'6", 34DD, 29" pants).

I wish you the best week ever! Is it nuts that we're already at the end of the first month of the year?!

Mock Neck Shift Dress Forever 21, exact (on sale!)
Calvin Klein Vallin Heel via Nordstrom Rack, exact

Food Friyay: California Veg

Happy Friday, friendz! Heading home today :) One of the things I'm going to miss FOR SURE are all of the fresh fruit and veggies. Fact: produce is more beautiful in California. For those of you that may not know, I've been a vegetarian since the tender age of 4. My parents decided to go veg when I was entering kindergarten and my whole family hasn't looked back since. Although it's not something I chose for myself, I honestly enjoy my veg lifestyle and am grateful to my parents for introducing me to vegetarianism. It's a deeply personal choice to be a vegetarian or vegan, especially if you're doing it for moral reasons. I don't believe in imposing my choice on others and have no intention of trying to persuade others to go veg or not, but I'm always happy to answer questions if you have them!

I always appreciate a heads up on delicious veg offerings so I figured I should give a shout out to two particularly amazing veg experiences I had while in cali.

Thuyen Vien/Veggie Pho | 1740 S Euclid, Anaheim, CA 92802

Okay tip #1 about this place: LOOK UP OPEN HOURS! Ugh, I totally didn't realize this place is only open for dinner Monday through Friday. Totally screwed me over a couple of times. But once I finally got it right, I was one happy vegetarian!!! This Vietnamese place will please meatatarians and vegetarians alike! My meat-loving foodie partner, Mahak, approves! As someone who grew up with a skilled Vietnamese cook for a mama, I can vouch for the authenticity of the dishes here. For first timers, the garlic chicken is an absolutely must. I'm not sure how they did it, but the chicken nuggets were delightfully crispy without being deep-fried. Our favorite dish was the clay pot "fish", which seriously tasted like my mama made it. I'm obsessed with the sauce they drizzle on top. Like for reals if I could only eat one meal for the rest of my life, fish in da clay pot would be it, y'all. I feel very strongly about this dish. We also got the bun bo hue aka Hue style beef noodle soup which is an awesome option if you love pho and want to explore other vietnamese noodle soups. The next time you're hanging around Disneyland, check out this amazing spot! The service is super friendly and the food is ridiculously cheap ($7-$9 per entree).

Veggie Grill | National Chain
I feel like veggie grill is super standard at this point, but I ate at Veggie Grill THREE TIMES over the course of a week so this dedication to them via the blog needed to happen. I've been in fucking lust with their buffalo wings for quite some time but this time around, I tried a couple of their salads for the first time and fell in actual love. Up until sometime this last year, I wasn't really that into salads. I didn't grow up with them and the concept of raw vegetables was not appealing to me. Something in my 27 year old tastebuds clicked and occasionally, I like to get down with the greens. Their quinoa power salad comes with a healthy portion of avocados (so you know it's good) and expertly strikes the filling but not at all heavy balance. The star of the show to is their banh mi salad. I mean yea, as a Vietnamese person of course I'm going to appreciate the concept of this offering but that salad is seriously a work of art. Whatever the fuck they did to that tofu is magic. Perfectly crispy and drizzled in crack sauce. Yum yum yummmmmm. I shall start a petition to build a Veggie Grill closer to Microsoft!

A cool pair of cali sunglasses would have really elevated these food pics, don't you think? :P

Pops of Neon

Happy Thursday! I just finished up my last recruiting event for the week at UCSD. I was on the recruiter panel for their CSE Day and only dropped the f bomb once! So proud of myself :D This cali sunshine has been sweet, but I'm excited to be heading home tomorrow. Mitch and I have a full social calendar for the weekend. Typically, our plans just include netflix and hopefully a round of pizza, but it'll be nice to so many opportunities to catch up with friends!

As always, extra looking forward to having access to my closet again. I was pretty lazy with my packing job this time around. The week after next I'll be heading to UCLA and HMC with Hector and Dara so I plan on stepping up my recruiter game :P For now though, I'm still using photos from outfits that I shot while at home. I'm still feeling that all black vibe but today's outfit has a pop of neon to spice things up a little. I like how easy it has been to get dressed each morning when I start with a base of neutrals. Not sure how long I'll keep this theme going but it seems to have been working out pretty well so far! What sort of style vibes have y'all been feeling lately?

Black Turtleneck from Target, similar
Black Mini Skirt with Neon Flowers from JCPenny, similar
Gray OTK Boots Vince Camuto, similar options(splurge, save)

Black and White Jam

Happy Hump Day, favorite friends! My minimalist streak on the blog continues with this school girl inspired black and white ensemble. It feels good to be back on the road for recruiting. Sometimes I feel a little overwhelmed when I review my calendar and count the number of days I'll be gone from home. But once I hit campus and start meeting with candidates and having shenans with my recruiting team, the trips go by quick and I end up having too much fun to feel anxious about the travel. I have to admit, the California sunshine helps heaps and bounds :) I have to run to the next thing, but I hope y'all are having a great week!

Wool Boater Forever 21, similar options (save, splurge)
Oversized Blazer H&M, similar options (1, 2, 3)
Top from Ross, similar
Plaid Pleated Skirt Uniqlo, similar
Steve Madden Gorgeous Boot via Nordstrom, exact, similar for $35
The Claremont Leather Camera Bag by Lo & Sons, exact

Camel Luxe

Still super feelin' this camel coat from last week. This coat is completely classic and I am confident that this is something that I will keep in my closet forever. I am will keep this minimal style post quite minimal :) Because I'm literally running out of the lobby for all day recruiting activities. Enjoy your Tuesday, lovelies!

Pearce Wool Coat Babton @ Aritzia, exact
Striped Midi Dress H&M, similar
The Claremont Leather Camera Bag by Lo & Sons, exact

Simple Black & White Pattern Mixing

Happy MLK Day, friends! Truth be told, I really wanted to write a post about the different reading materials that I have acquired for my quest to be a better ally but I haven't made a whole lot of progress so I'll save it for another day. This week, I am down in cali recruiting at UC Irvine. It's always complete shenanigans when I'm on these recruiting trips so I've planned ahead and have already queued up multiple style posts for this week. I feel so organized!

I'm loving this break from the PNW chill but I am totes missing my OTKs. I can't help but feel fierce and on point whenever I put them on. You'll see these babies on le blog three times this week :) Actually, the vibe for the posts this week is very "minimalist luxe chic." I've realized that I feel myself HARD whenever I'm rocking the neutral luxe look. I think this might be the theme for my style this winter. In the spring, I'm looking forward to committing myself to an insane amount of color so I think it's appropriate to cleanse my palate now with copious amounts of black, white and grey.

How are y'all enjoying your holiday weekend and paying your respects to Dr. King?

Black and White Buffalo Scarf Forever 21, similar options (1, 2)
Black Coat Calvin Klein, similar options (1, 2, 3)
Longline Vest Forever 21, similar options(1, 2)
Striped Shirt Dress Target, similar
Steve Madden Gorgeous Boot via Nordstrom, exact, similar for $35
The Claremont Leather Camera Bag by Lo & Sons, exact

Pinkies Up, Betches!

Oh yea, we fancy ;) Our master planner, Jen-bunny, absolutely LOVES high tea. And on the way (and back) to/from Whistler, she suggested two separate high tea experiences for the group. And then basically, we all ended up getting hella addicted to high tea. For reals, just preparing the photos for this post has me salivating. High tea is quite a lovely experience with friends. You should never rush tea and I love the feeling of enjoying time with company without looking at my watch. And of course, the pastries and sandwiches and unlimited tea are absolutely delightful. I always underestimate how filling all of the food is! Everything is so petite but there's so much of it! And it's SO DELICIOUS! So, without further ado, onto the foodporn photos!

Neverland Tea Salon | 3066 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC
This crazy cute tea salon was Peter Pan themed! The atmosphere was casual but seriously so charming. And so damn whimsical. More importantly, their tea hostesses are super gorgeous! Ah, I seriously regret leaving without telling our hostess how pretty I thought her face was. Okay, sorry, I'm off track. Uh. Tea was yummy. Food was delicious (very vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free) friendly. Cost was totally affordable and I can't wait to go back!

The Urban Tea Merchant | 1070 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC
This super fancy, modern venue was a definite contrast from the previous salon. Not in a bad way, but it was a different experience. More upscale and of course more expensive but still completely delicious and a very elegant experience. Their vegetarian options were a bit lacking but luckily I wasn't that hungry. I went for their fruit and cheese platter which ended up being quite a bit of food! Our tea hostess was a legit connoisseur and very sweet! TBH, this wouldn't be my go-to tea place purely based on cost, but I'd definitely recommend The Urban Tea Merchant for a special occasion high tea experience.

I think I'll pick up a proper tea dress for the next time! Do you have any other PNW high tea recommendations?