How to Pack Part UN - Consistent Color Palette

This is PART UN of my how to pack series! This one is all about packing clothing that is versatile and easy to wear.



I think I have found my Paris color palette! I was organizing my closet yesterday, and suddenly realized a common color theme. Black and dark gray items with corals, pinks, salmons, and rusty medium brown leather or bronze accessories. After seeing this packing guide on Pinterest, I've been mulling over what accent color to choose. I will be in Paris for 5 months, bringing only one checked bag and one carry-on! For me, that is a really frightening prospect. I figure that If I keep everything I bring within the same color family, focusing mostly on neutrals (like black), I can mix-and-match almost anything.

I've really been wanting an iphone lately, but since I'm going to be abroad, buying and committing to it now wouldn't make any sense, so I borrowed my mom's iphone (my Mother is cooler than me), created an Instagram account, and quickly took these photos! It saved me OODLES of time. Using my Nikon, I'd have to take the picture, plug in the camera, upload the picture, edit the picture, export, and then upload once more. Instagram just took twenty minutes off of my normal routine. I think the time it takes me to take and edit photos for this blog have been a major factor in my posting less and less often. Or maybe this simply bears testament to my laziness. One day, when I have my own iphone, I will use the crap outta Instagram!

I bought two new pairs of shoes that I'm super happy about. The only problem is I can't wear them yet because it's usually too hot outside, or I have nowhere appropriate to wear them! I'm all about flip flops and sandals in this desert heat (In case you didn't know, I moved back home to the California desert recently for the summer).

I thought I'd also share with you my favorite perfume: Marc Jacobs Daisy. Also here is my favorite waist belt, which I thrifted at a Goodwill for $2.


Check out Part DEUX of the How to Pack series here!

Happy Flowers

Just thought I'd keep this post simple, and share with you some photos I took of this lovely floral arrangement my mother threw together from the left-over flowers of a bouquet. The colors are so bright, they cheered me right up!

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Have you seen any bright floral-themed photos/products/blog posts? I'd love to see them, post a link!

Also, which would fit the best with my Etsy shop? I need some new images!

Color Palette - Peach and Green

Peach and Green: a slight variation on the Pink and Mint craze that is taking over an entire half of Forever 21's floor (have you been in there lately?!) This is a more muted, subdued version, for your viewing delight. The photograph is one of mine, and the clothing below are all items from asos.





I also love the metal-edged clutch. I've been seeing this on sandals and collars as well.



What do you guys think about this pastel craze? Metal-edged things?

Spring Has Sprung

It's official! Spring has arrived! ...at least in California (The flowers say so).

For those of you who live in colder, more seasonally varied areas of the world, I encourage you to live vicariously through these pictures of springtime blooms! I found these bobbing beauties at the Japanese garden (the one nobody knows exists) on my school campus. Many of these are soon to be posted in Etsy!

Enjoy!


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Which one do you like the most?

Lazy Sunday

Here's some songs I'm listening to this lazy Sunday. Also, a lovely photo I took on a walk around the neighborhood. It makes me so happy to see flowers blooming.

Treasury - Pattern, Shape, and Color

In class, we've been studying Henri Matisse and Fauvism of the very early 20th Century. The characteristics of their paintings are: the love of surface patterning using flat shapes, and the unashamed use of pure, bright color (perhaps my next art history post will be about these rad dudes). I was inspired by this mini art movement, but replaced their super-saturated color palettes for a more refined and soothing one.

I had to research color names, and these are the three I came up with to describe this Treasury: light azure, pale peach, and camel. It's fun to search color terms in Google images and see what pops up... or maybe that's just a weird quirk of mine!




If you click here, you can take a closer look at each fantastically minimalist/modernist item. :)

Color Palette - Diaphanous Rose

I've been seeing color palette images all over the place, especially in Pinterest. They're pleasing to the eye, they satisfy the visual artist in me, and they make for really good interior design color inspiration!

In accordance with this new craze, I've decided to make my own, using one of my photographs and some help from Pugly Pixel (Check out this site if you have photoshop, she's got lots of free downloads!)

I also included some items from Urban Outfitters for us to fantasize about.


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Party Like a Lady

You know those days where your hair does exactly what you want it to without even trying? Last Saturday was one of those days, and it was glorious! I rocked my new bangs, was struck by a sudden urge to wear this uber-girly outfit, saw a ballet based on Cinderella, and ate some really delicious food. As far as weekends go, I'd call this one a success, and as far as dates go, I'd say this one was excellent. I felt like such a lady, going to the theatre (said in a fancy accent). The great thing is, the cheapest tickets were less than $20, and when we arrived, they offered seat upgrades for free! I'd say dinner-and-a-performance is a great date idea, as well as being a slightly more interesting variation on the classic dinner-and-a-movie date.

I'm usually not one to be overly romantic and sappy when it comes to this holiday, and I certainly have never formally celebrated it to the degree I did this year. I must say, however, that it was really lovely, and I shall plan more things like this for future minor holidays. The next holiday is Presidents Day, so in accordance with my new-found interest in such holidays, I plan to eat lots of... vanilla pudding. I realize this has nothing to do with Presidents Day, but I'll take any excuse to eat gratuitous amounts of vanilla pudding. :D







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Also, this bag is awesome. I use it for everything, even carrying books around school. Why is it awesome, you ask? Because of the two strap options. You have shorter shoulder straps, as well as a longer, adjustable cross-body strap. It's a really helpful feature! If you're looking for a versatile bag, look for double strap/handle types.







Dress: Forever 21
Tights: HUE
Cardi: Target
Belt: Liz Claiborne Thrifted
Scarf: Walgreens
Flats: Old Navy
Bag: Forever 21
Earrings: Forever 21


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Cute as a Button

Every time I drive to work, I pass this little antique shop, with sparkling lights in its large windows, through which I see glimpses of the cutest. shop. ever.

FINALLY, after months of driving past, I scavenged a parking space and paid a visit to the store. Boy, had I been missing out on something special. Not only does she have a great selection, but her prices are fantastically affordable. The one thing I like (yet mostly dislike) about antique/vintage stores is the tendency to overstock every square inch of space with stuff, but her shop was refreshingly well-visually displayed. She also runs an Etsy! Rustic and Refined

While there, I bought some milk-glass vases, some decorative glass candle holders that look like curvy test tubes, a beautiful frame that looks like gold lace, some wee little doilies, and a myriad of buttons. All of these things I bought as photo props, to better experiment with Still-Lives (Lifes?), you see.

As of yet, I have only explored the buttons, placed upon the doilies and a few of my favorite dresses with their colorful prints.









These aren't buttons, although they would make any blouse proud, they are in fact earrings, which I bought from Francescas!

Mint & Rose Treasury

Hello! I was inspired by valentine's day and the color mint in this Treasury. Click here to check out all the amazing and really cute handmade & vintage items!

Still Life

Before I begin, I have to mention a grammatical nuance that is rather confusing to me, and now I am second guessing every single punctuation mark and word I've ever written in my entire life because of it.  What is the plural of "Still Life"?  There can only be two options, "Still Lifes" or "Still Lives."  Neither of them look right, so I'm going to opt for something completely different: still life photographs and/or paintings.  Problem solved! 

I've always loved pictures and paintings of objects, the way items are placed and lit can be so beautiful.  A still life has the power to turn ordinary objects such as fruit, a bowl, or a vase into something magical.  The thing I love about photographing inanimate objects is that I can compose them exactly how I envision, and they never complain.  However, I have yet to photograph a still life that I truly feel satisfied with and proud of.  In my eyes, there's always something missing.  I was able to use natural light from my three fantastic windows, and I found these flowers near my house, but the colors weren't exactly what I had wanted.  BUT, I can always use practice, so here it is!

I'm not sure which, if any, I should post for sale on Etsy.  Any thoughts?  Do my readers have a favorite?

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Floral, Brown & Dusty Rose

Today was my second day of the new semester, and I hereby declare it a success! Tuesdays are my longest day, so I opted (like always) for comfortable and practical tan flats, my old pair of extremely faded black pants, which some argue to be a shade of denim blue, a floral chiffon top, a super-soft rose-colored scarf, and a faux leather jacket to keep me warm in the crisp morning air as I traversed the mile from my car to my classroom.

I also tried out a new nail design, rose pink with burgundy half-circles at the base. I’m not sure how I feel about them, and I'm contemplating just starting all over again.

Pants: XHILARATION from TARGET

FAUX LEATHER JACKET: FOREVER 21

TAN FLATS: FOREVER 21

FLORAL CHIFFON BLOUSE: FOREVER 21

DUSTY ROSE PASHMINA SCARF: WALGREENS (Because why NOT Walgreens?!)

Some of my current favorites!