Tuesday, April 7, 2015

LA has brought me back from this unintentional blog hiatus!

Okay, okay, okay. I KNOW it has been almost seven months since I've last updated, but there are explanations! Moving across the ocean for the first time by yourself is pretty time consuming. I've been in out of trying to find a stable schedule and routine to fall into. For awhile I was working 60 hours a week between my nanny job and retail job, making it pretty much impossible to fit in time to put together a blog worthy outfit AND find someone to take pictures of me! 

Thankfully, I was beyond blessed to spend this past weekend in Los Angeles for the first time, and oh my God, I am completely under the dreamy spell of LA. For a great portion of my life, I for some reason thought bad of LA and thought I would never grow to love this magical city, but damn was I so wrong. I got to spend time with a lot of my really close Maui friends and stayed in Santa Monica and Pasadena. I enjoyed the sun and company of everyone and was in complete bliss for four full days. After being under the stress of job hunting and transitioning out of 60 hour work weeks, a vacation was very much needed. On vacation, there is endless amount of time to spend picking out outfits and picture taking time! 

These photos were taken by my beautiful friend Cera in Venice and Santa Monica!


This is right off Venice beach. There is an insane amount of incredible street art and this has to definitely be one of my favorites. Please ignore the no parking sign. I'm still cute so focus on that. 


This is my perfect love, Coren, on the Santa Monica pier! In these photos, I'm wearing an H&M divided red sun dress, paired with a thin brown belt from Forever 21. You can't tell in these photos, but I'm actually wearing my new favorite shoes, my Birkenstocks! 

Side ramble: For those of you deciding wether to invest in Birkenstocks or not, I 10000% say go for it. For months I've been researching and asking people how they feel about their birks, and I only heard amazing things. It is pretty pricey, but on the right website you can get them for as cheap as $100. I got mine in Nordstrom because I have very wide feet, so I had to have the physical shoe to decide what size to get. At Nordstrom, I got mine for roughly about $150, which IS a lot, but I also never have to buy a new summer shoe for the next 30 years. The only downside: the breaking-in process is pretty horrible. One lady I talked to said it took her about a year to break hers in all the way. I've had mine for about three weeks, and for the first two weeks I had to wear bandaids and socks to ease the blisters that had formed on the inner side parts of my feet. I needed these shoes for California, so I just bit my tongue and marched around Seattle trying to expedite the breaking in process.  I wore my birks my entire trip (about three weeks after purchasing) and they were lovely and felt totally find, but only realized I had formed new blisters below the old ones! This whole experience also depends on your pain tolerance and dedication to breaking them in properly. You guys can always comment or message me if you guys have more questions! 

These next photos were taken by my other half, Sophi, in Pasadena! I was completely entranced by how stunning and quaint Old Town Pasadena was! 



I found this red dress fifteen minutes prior to these photos for $6 at the Goodwill down the street! The brand is Tacera, which is apparently a line which is often bought via wholesale websites! This dress fit pretty much like a glove and was perfect for sunny and breezy weather Sophi and I were marching around in! Also, shoutout to my super embarrassing sunburn from walking from Santa Monica to Venice beach the day before. 

And then there comes this dress. 


I got this dress from the H&M Coachella Collection, and it's probably one of the most beautiful dresses I've ever owned. It fits so perfectly and DAMN look at the fabric! I wore this dress out to brunch and shopping with Sophi in Pasadena on Easter. I also paired it with simple wrap around braids for a relaxed, but dressed up look. 


Another side ramble: I recently purchased an Instax 210 wide format polaroid camera and it is worth every single penny. The film is outrageously expensive, but every picture I take I'm so excited and captured by how awesome it looks! It also fulfills the very common human desire of instant gratification. 

How beautiful is this back too?! Also shoutout to my awesome neon pink nails that I got done specifically for LA. 

In conclusion, my trip was absolutely wonderful and I still love wearing dresses everyday. I'll make the move down there very soon, because I was completely overwhelmed with how much I love California! I also thought it would be a fun new thing to add a song at the end of my posts, because I love music more than life itself, and it kind of puts you in the mood I was in during this post! I listened to this song on repeat while writing this entire post. I've planned out my schedule way better and promise promise PROMISE to post at least weekly! See ya cuties x 


Friday, October 24, 2014

Everyone should go check out Avid Approach and buy at least one dark lipstick.

Hello once again all you lovely people. Before I start anything, I just wanted to give a huge shout out to one of my dearest friends, Aaron Candelaria (soon to be Bode), for updating my blog and making it so beautiful! Aaron started his own web design business earlier this year, Avid Approach. Aaron's style is effortlessly beautiful and he is so easy to work with. He is great at listening to your ideas and making them come to life in a very timely matter. Aaron is so knowledgable and creative and if you need a website started or re-vamped, make sure to go check him out! You can also like his page on Facebook. 

Now onto clothing and makeup! 
Today I based my whole outfit around my current favorite lipstick, "Sin" from MAC, which I talked about previously in my big fall fashion post about two weeks ago. I think dark lipstick is the perfect accessory for fall because it can change the whole mood of an outfit quickly and effortlessly. Now I know there are a lot of people out there who are super timid and tend to shy away from dark shades, or even lipstick altogether. To those people, I can totally understand where you are coming from. It's definitely intimidating the first time you put it on and you're afraid of smearing, but I say try at least once. You don't have to buy super high quality and expensive lipstick either! My favorite lipstick brands are revlon, which are a liiiittle pricey than the other, but the Just Bitten Kissable jumbo lip pencils are just to die for, and are way easier to work with than an actual tube of lipstick. I also love NYX's brands of lipstick, and they have amazing matte ones as well. I will always pick a matte lipstick over a cream sheen one anyway, but I do wear regular ones too. You never know if you don't look good until you try it! (Hint: you will look awesome)


This is me sporting my gold septum again (finally) and Sin lipstick with Nightmoth lip liner, both which are from MAC. This is my favorite fall beauty look. A super light colored lid and a heavy lip color. 


Everything I'm wearing is from Forever 21, but my shoes are thrifted from Savers in Maui. 


You can see here i'm wearing one of my fall essentials, khaki pants, and I'm finally able to wear scarves now because I don't live in such a hot place! This is one of my favorite scarves that I own. This is one of my favorite and easiest looks that I wear, and I'm sure that everyone owns a variation of this outfit in their closets. 

See you cuties later! Remember to check out Avid Approach on their website and their Facebook!


Tuesday, October 21, 2014

I'm in Seattle and I'm absolutely loving it.

Guys! I finally made it! I have officially lived in Seattle, Washington for one full week! I packed up most of my belongings in three suitcases and moved across the Pacific Ocean and am now an official adult. It's very expensive, but very lovely. I live right in the college town of Seattle and it's a dream. The weather has been nothing shy of perfect. As I type this, the sun is shining bright and the sky is a luscious blue. The leaves are ever-changing making all the colors absolutely stunning. I walk up and down my streets and am so blessed to take in such beauty. 

From this exquisite weather, I can still wear clothes without having to be completely covered up in multiple layers and a raincoat. 

Hat, purse, sweater, shirt, and skirt - Forever 21. 
Socks - Urban Outfitters
Boots - I'm not to sure of the brand, but they were purchased from Macy's 




I am completely obsessed with this fuzzy sweater trend. I started to see it come around last fall, and I'm so glad that it is still alive and well. A sweater like this can look a little silly, but I think it adds great texture, and it is insanely warm when the wind is howlin' away. This outfit was perfect for opening a bank account and going to the DMV, which is what I did. 


Both of these sweaters are from Forever 21. 

I know this wasn't posted one week from the last one, but at least it was only two weeks right? Not like a month or two. I'm going to try really hard to start being way better at posting!! I would love to hear from you guys about what trends you want to see me style! Talk to you cuties sooner than later! 

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

It's october: LET THE SPOOKY BEGIN

It's october and I want to wear black everyday, eat candy, and watch one Halloween movie a day. Fall is definitely my favorite time of year because i'm not sweating constantly, everything gets spooky, and the most beautiful of colors come into style like maroon, mustard, slate gray, teal, and lots of plaid. For me, dressing for fall is something I've had little experience with because the only fall I've experienced is in my childhood, where fall fashion was not a big deal to me. After moving to Maui when I was 12, I had never experienced a true fall! But in 13 days, I am moving to Seattle! Yippee! So in anticipation, I have to been doing my research on how to properly dress in fall, and these are my favorite staple items. 


Khaki pants can be paired with deep, rich fall colors, but also transition nicely into spring and can be paired with soft pastel colors. 

Pleated skirts with tights, so you don't have to pack all your summer clothes away. 

More ways to style pleated skirts. (Also Taylor Swift is KILLING this whole fall fashion thing. She's someone I've been looking at for inspiration.)
A great maroon knit sweater. I think everyone should have a maroon one, but I also love grays and tans as well.


Leather leggings provide good warmth when the wind blows when you're walking around at night, and are super sleek for night life. 

and of COURSE lots and lots of flannels. Great for wearing on its own or layering underneath sweaters, or even tying around your waist to bring a little flare to your wardrobe.

Now since I don't live in 60 degree weather yet and have been getting dressed for 90 degree weather, these are my October inspired outfits! 

Shirt: Brandy Melville 
Skirt: Forever 21


I'm actually wearing a full bodysuit underneath with shorts underneath, which my favorite thing to wear under sheer dresses and skirts like this!


Choker: Claires
Skirt and Shirt: Forever 21


Chokers are definitely my favorite comeback of this season of fall fashion. I'm just angry how you used to buy them for 25 cents when I was a kid, and now I have to pay $4.50! 

For fall beauty looks, I am obsessed with dark lipsticks. I want every shade of purple and wine ever made. The shade I'm wearing in the photo above is "Cyber" from MAC. It's a black based purple and perfect for getting your spooky on~
Another favorite fall lipstick color of mine is "Diva" from MAC.
If Diva is all out, a nice alternative is "Sin" from MAC as well. Sin is just a tad darker, but hey, it IS Halloween season. 

Also i kept my Halloween bliss going with this fierce black mani.


I'll hopefully be more faithful to this as I go on. I'll also keep you all updated on the big move to Seattle! Luv ya cuties~




Thursday, August 28, 2014

Fall in the summer time!

Hello one and all! Knowing that fall is right around the corner, but we're all still viciously holding on to the last bits of summer we have left, I decided to combine both of those concepts! I've been noticing a lot of 70s coming back into style, which includes bell bottoms! If you didn't notice at Coachella this year, Kendall Jenner rocked the cutest bell bottoms, as shown here. 


I'm still trying to kind of accept the concept of bell bottoms jeans, but for now I'll obsess over comfy printed bell bottom pants. 


Everything i'm wearing is from Forever 21. 



I paired these bell bottom pants with a halter crop top to give it that summertime vibe, but paired it with the maroon sweater alongside the blacks and browns to embrace these staple fall colors.  I'm also completely obsessed with these giant gold hoops i'm wearing in the photos above and it's hard to pair them with every single outfit. I think every woman should own a pair of gold hoops. I think they look good on everyone. This is a super cute on the town look or festival look (minus the sweater of course). I wore this outfit to work all day and I was super comfortable with all the stretchy material.

Also, in case you missed it! I was on a back to school fashion segment with Akaku, a local television station on Maui. I'll see you all very soon! 

Thursday, August 21, 2014

I know it's been two and a half months but I promise there are reasons why it has been so long!!

Hi hi hi everyone! I know a lot of people have been asking why haven't I been posting, and here's the explanation! 

First of all, I went on vacation in Seattle for my older sister's graduation and that took up quite a bit of time in june! Here is a picture of my mom, Kathryn, and myself at Kathryn's graduation. 
(I'm wearing a denim jacket from Forever 21)

But I did take at least one ootd while I was there!

This dress is from H&M.

I also had a birthday and I got pretty distracted having fun oops. These are my outfits from the day before and the day of. 
My shirt is from Urban Outfitters. 

This dress is from Forever 21. 


The dress is from Mahina and my shoes are from Jeans Warehouse. 

The biggest set back that I encountered was that I got into a pretty serious car accident in the beginning of July, resulting in a broken clavicle where I had to wear a sling for two weeks, and then had to get surgery, limiting my outfit choices to bandeaus and stretchy strapless dresses for five weeks in total. 
Here is me looking real cute in the hospital before my surgery. 

This is what I looked like during post-op! Very strapless and very bandage-y. My top is from Forever 21!

So now I promise to start posting way more often! Now that I am all healed up for the most part. Ciao  beauties! 



Thursday, June 5, 2014

I really love the 90s and french braids. (I PROMISE i'll get better at this!)

Hi! Oi! Aloha! Hola! And hi in multiple other languages that I can''t put without looking up in google translator. I KNOW it's been over a month AGAIN, but I'm going on a trip to Seattle in 6 days (!!!!) so I'll definitely have lots of opportunities to blog there and gather a ton of inspiration! 

Today's post is all about braids! Recently, the dream of the 90s has been alive and well in fashion, and  in hair! I was completely inspired all the french pigtail braids I've been seeing online! 



So my beautiful best friend, Cera, helped me braid my hair!  Also, my cat decided to join us on our lil photoshoot, which was perfect because I was wearing a cat shirt. Shoutout to my cat for being the cutest. 


Shirt: PacSun
Flannel: I made it!!!
Boots: Forever 21
Earrings: Forever 21 



I was feeling a comfy look, but I think this outfit is perfect for an on-the-go kind of day because your hair is out of your face, and you get to wear a giant t-shirt as a dress and leggings! (Jah bless black leggings forever and ever amen). Also, I LOVE these knock-off Timberland boots, because they were only $20 on black friday versus the $160 they go for at Urban Outfitters. I also spice up every outfit like this with a fun, bright summer-y shade of lipstick! I got this shade from the drugstore a million years ago and I don't even know the brand or anything, which I know is super helpful. Also I love how these chunky bamboo earrings are coming back into style because I've been obsessed with them since I saw Kreayshawn rocking them all the time! 

God, what a lil angel. 

I hope to post again within the next week! Tell me what your favorite comeback styles are! Love y'alllllll