Favorite Things: Montara

A few generations ago, my family bought a house on the cliffs of Montara in California. When they first acquired it, it was just a single room and a fireplace. Now it's two bedrooms, a fantastic kitchen and a dining room as well as the Big room. Most of my family holidays have been spent here and more than a few of my favorite memories took place in that kitchen or on that deck. I've made friends there and grown up there. I solidified my love for my family and discovered some of my favorite foods there.  

Basically, I love it. 

We stayed there in May and I got to snap a few photos of the place, my cousins and the newest family member, my cousins baby boy. Here's some of my favorites...

Happy Belly: Wine Tasting

When I was back in California in May, I got to do one of my favorite things: drink wine. It was glorious; sunshine, rose, and some of the loveliest women I've had the pleasure to get breakfast wine with.

SO it's been a while....

Yeah. Sometimes you turn around and realize its been months since you've touched the internet outside of Facebook updates and the occasional Netflix binge. Lucky for you guys, I have a whole stack of photos and stories to share from the spring. So let it begin!!!

In May, I took a trip back to the Old Country (or, you know... San Francisco) with my cousins and some New York friends. It was amazing. Days of gorgeous drives, more than a few laughs, and our fair share of wine. 

I also got to use my new camera.

Here's a couple to wet your appetite.

Lookin' Good: Face Masks

There are few things I relish more than a day on the couch with a glass of wine, a good movie and a face mask.

It sounds silly and a little self indulgent, and it is, but I don't mind. I mean, why should a girl turn down a little self indulgence once in a while? 

I like to slather on a mask, plop down for some TV and just SIT. 

Then I wash it all off, take a washcloth with hot water and slap that on my face for a minute, then smooth on some vitamin E cream and call it a day. 

I have some favorite masks. I have combination skin, so mine are mostly in the clean-out-those-pores verity. 

My favorites are Freeman's Clay Mask with Avocado and Oatmeal, Freeman's Anti-Stress Mask, Origin's Clear Improvement and Soap & Glory's Fab Pore (which I talked about here as well- what can I say; I'm a fan!)

What about you guys? What are your favorite masks/ ways to indulge?

Lookin' Good: Red Lips

It's winter now.

This means one thing: Red lips time.

Maybe it's the dramatic weather, or the creaminess of my complexion this time of year (due to the lack of sun,) but something about winter makes me long for a red lip. I feel more put together with one.
And pulling out a crimson tube for touch ups is possibly the best part of being a girl.

I have a few favorites.

My favorites are MAC Lipstick in Russian Red, Benefit Benetint Lip Balm and Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet lipstick in L'Exquise.

Today is a Chanel kind of day, you know?

Then again... what days aren't?


What's you're favorite winter lipstick?

Makin' It Happen: Smashbook

Hi; I'm Katie and I'm addicted to scrapbooking.

No really though, I just finished my first scrapbook this week and I'm obsessed. Theres something deeply satisfying about taking paper and glue and making something adorable and, hopefully, worth treasuring. 

Today, while out on a grocery run, my roommate and I stopped my Michaels (cuz why not?) and I found this:

That's right kids; It's my first Smashbook.

I guess that means I'm finally a woman. 

Smashbook is a line of scrapbooks designed to be, well, smashed together. That is, it's not meant to be a particular style or theme but a conglomerate of scrapbooking bits and pieces. It's like a spiral-bound notebook but the pages are all cute and ready to be decorated. 

I'm going to use my Smashbook as a personal challenge: fill it up in the next 52 weeks. Hopefully, setting aside time every week or so to craft, create and look at old pictures will help keep me inspired. 

Here's to hobbies!

Wish List: Flats

Ok, I love the look of heels, but let's be honest: they're hardly practical.

As a result, the bulk of my shoe collection is flats. Unfortunately they're all wearing out at the same time. OH NO- now I have to shop.

Here's some of my favorites

Say Hello to My Jewelry

I finally have all my jewelry unpacked and set up.

Although many people subscribe to the jewelry box school of thought, I prefer to hang up all me jewelry. That way I can see it all and grab what I'm looking for in the morning.

Take a look and see what you think

Wish List: Vases

Here at our apartment we've gotten into the habit of having fresh flowers in our living room and... foyer? welcome nook? front hall? I don't know what it's called, but its the first thing you see when you get home and I like it. Anywho, since we've had flowers around a lot, it's got me thinking about vases. So here are some vases i've had my eye on.

Enjoy!

Never Ending Story Pt II: The Goods.

Remember that time I started sorting my clothes? I know it's been a while, but I promise I didn't forget.

Well I completed Step 1, which was getting rid of the pieces I don't wear or don't like anymore (which was a much smaller pile than I was expecting). With that phase finished, packing went much faster. Now that I'm unpacking, I'm starting Step 2. Step 2 is going through and assessing what I have going on.

So here's a brief overview of the closet:


TOPS

Looking at all my tops lined up, I have come to a conclusion: I'm not allowed to get any more cream or white button downs. Especially if they're sheer. To be fair, I wear all of them, but there is a limit.
I also noticed that I have pretty much all solid colors. A color locked or small scale pattern will sneak in there once in a while, or maybe some beading, but my tops are dominated by solid colors. The cut of my tops is fairly uniform: either button downs, semi-fitted t shirts, trapeze tops or camisoles. That's it.



OUTERWEAR

My jackets are kind of dull, really; either leather jackets (of which I have many like my boots,) or blazers. I have a grays, black and a red one. Boom.

I also have two vests, a black leather one and a fishing vest from my uncle. It sounds a little odd, but it looks awesome with everything and is so cozy.

I have a problem with buying orange and oatmeal sweaters. I just keep wearing and loving them; is that so wrong? They tend to be finer knits with some drape or cardigans. The chunky knits I have are few and far between. There's my Paris sweater from my cousin which I wear like a coat and my gold metallic sweater, the ultimate statement neutral. That sounds backwards, but just trust me on this one.


BOTTOMS

I hate jeans shopping, so when I find a pair I like, I just stick to that and don't deviate. As a result, all my pants are either from Old Navy or Uniqlo. My favorite cut is straight/ skinny, and I like some color; I have dark denim, gray, yellow, green, black and purple. S I've got some interest going on there.

As for skirts, I tend to go patterned on these guys. Looking at them all together, I tend to go with warm colors ranging from tans to reds with a black skirt thrown in for good measure.


DRESSES

I have a couple. this is actually the most diverse part of my closet. Most of them are plain, but I have a few ikat print and floral dresses. Color-wise, I have the whole spectrum: creams into pinks to reds all the way through to purples, browns and blacks. Even the cuts are diverse. Some full skirts, some straight cuts, fitted and draped, thin straps and long sleeves.











So that's what I'm working with. I have a lot of good base pieces, but a lot of it, but feels a little...stale. Or too much like college. Im not sure which; maybe its both. Either way I'm dissatisfied with my closet as a whole.

I think what I need to do next is look at my inspirations again and figure out my favorite pieces. I might even pack away my non-favorites for a few months and see if I forget about them or miss them. Although I love most of my closet, it lacks focus and a cohesive quality that would make it more functional and pleasing.

Now that I've looked at everything together, I'm ready for the next step: deciding what I love about my clothes and what I'm missing to take this pile of garments and turn it into a wardrobe.

I think I've got some more sorting to do...

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Inspiration: Gold

I'm a bit of a magpie. 

I love all things that sparkle.

That in mind, I started to look around me and I noticed how happy and warm and... fall like gold things make me feel. So in the spirit of the season, I put together some of my favorite gold images to keep me inspired all fall long and into winter. Hope this warms you up!

My Favorite Things: Perfume

I have a thing for smelling good. I hate leaving the house without a spritz of perfume. Perfumes are one of those things that make me feel complete. This is going to sound a tiny bit crazy, but I feel they take a group of garments and turn them into an outfit. They make me showered to clean and ready. They take me from awake to alive.


I really love perfume.
I wasn't kidding.

And I've gathered quite the collection over the years.

My relationship with perfume is a long one. So here it is.

me, loving one perfume best 

When I first started wearing perfumes every day, I started with the sweet, fruity ones like Ralph by Ralph Lauren. That one stuck for years; I was very into the signature scent school of thought. Like Belle in Beauty and the Beast when the shopkeepers like "girl, you've read that book!" and she's all "I don't care. Im gonna read it again."


That's right; I'm Belle in this story.

there are other perfumes? say WHAT

Later, I switched it up with florals when I discovered Stella by Stella Mccartney. I was extraordinarily loyal to my Stella, and still am in my heart. I still have a few bottles of Stella and Stella Fresh which I use regularly.

HELLS YES.

Then, about three years ago now, I realized something: by sticking to only one perfume, I was missing out on a myriad of scents. I could be wafting about smelling completely different and yet entirely like myself every day. Suddenly the walls of Sephora weren't just a shimmering collection of lights and glass, but a library of possibilities. I felt like Belle when Beast is all "here's a whole ton of books (ps please love me)" and she's all "What the WHAT? Awesome." Then she gives herself a mental high five.

Anyways, I became a woman of many perfumes. Not surprisingly, my collection expanded fairly quickly. After looking at them for a moment, I realized that I had, once again, fallen into a particular type of perfume: French, classic, and sexy. You might say that my perfume collection has matured as I have matured. Or you can say I have a weakness for Chanel. You would be right on either count.

Either way, my favorites right now are all have a crisp, old-world feel to them. On my nightstand, where they live, I have Eau de Fleures Néroli by Chloé, Chanel Allure, Coco Mademoiselle and it's predecessor, Coco, Love, Chloé by Chloé, and the recently rejuvenated classic Chanel No. 19 Poudré. I love them all for their subtlety and playfulness, their familiarity and  substantiality, but most of all for their sense of self.

Basically, I love them because they are everything a good book is.


And isn't that what all good perfumes should be?

So now you know my favorites, what are some of yours?