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...

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: 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?

Wish List: Black and Brown

It's always annoyed me when people tell me what I can and cannot wear.

I mean, I appreciate advice, but when a magazine screams at me that yes, I CAN wear polka dots or someone says "oh, you CAN'T wear a dress with those shoes" or "you CAN'T possibly wear a fanny pack" something snaps in my brain. 

Whatever that person has declared unacceptable, I must wear. Right. Now. Even if I agree with the person, like with the fanny pack (they just don't need to work- can we all agree on that?), I must prove that person wrong. It's part of a stubborn streak I have that flares up at fairly useless times. 

The most annoying "you can't do that" I've encountered in my travels is the no black and brown together rule. I personally LOVE this combo and have never had any issues with clashing-while-wearing. In fact, I usually get some kick ass compliments when I wear this combination. 

So for this wish list I thought I'd put a dream outfit together, black and brown and red (lipstick) all over. 

1. black blouse, f21

2. lipstick, chanel in pirate

3. rhinestone collar necklace, f21

4. waxed jeans, j brand

5. bon shopper, kate spade

6. jane 14L boots, frye

7. d-ring belt, DKNY

Recent Acquisitions

So I went shopping.

By shopping I mean I took one of my smaller paychecks to the clearance section of Target.

The clearance section of... Anywhere is a treasure trove for me. Searching through the racks and finding those little jems and then seeing the price tag? VICTORY!!!!!

So here's my bounty from my last Target adventure:

Posted with Blogsy

Apartment Updates

Can you believe it?

It's been two whole months in our apartment. We're getting fairly well settled in, and we've finally gotten some finishing touches done (well, for now- you know how it is)

Thought I'd give you guys a peek!

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...

Posted with Blogsy

Dress Is More: Leopard and Orange

Some of my favorite pieces have been impulse pieces.

When I first got the skirt, it was just a cheep thrill from Forever 21. I literally grabbed it and tossed it on the pile on my way to check out. I honestly don't think I remembered I had bought it until I got home. 

The same goes for my orange Uniqlo blouse. It was next to the cardigans and the color popped as I walked by, so I snatched it up.

Both of these impulses were excellent choices. Especially when paired together and put with my Ferragamo loafers. It all works together in an unexpectedly fantastic way. Just goes to show that listening to your gut pays off. Right?

Makin' It Happen: Chip Clips

Sometimes you have some extra scraps of fabric.

Sometimes you also have clothes pins.

Some other times you also need clips to keep chips and such fresh; a chip clip, if you will.

When you live with a Master Crafter, the math is really easy on this one. We made really cute fabric covered chip clips.

So here's how we did it:

First, we took apart the clothes pins completely, careful not to loose the spring.

Then the sticky part began. Using (FIND OUT WHAT GLUE), we stuck the flat sides of the clothespins on the fabrics. Once that was thoroughly stuck, it was wrapping time.
Little by little, we would spread some glue and use our fingers to roll the clothespin on the fabric as tight as possible and our fingers to spread the glue (hence the sticky).

We let it dry after each step.

After that, we Modge Podgeed them to seal them (and make them shiny)

Next day, we put them back together and BOOM- we have adorable chip clips.

Not too shabby, right?

Things I Want To Make.

Living with a master crafter makes one want to do nothing but craft. It's literally all I want to do. You may have noticed that my Pinterest has been inundated with DIY after DIY... this is no coincidence.

Seeing this, I decided this morning to focus in and maybe zero in on some crafts in particular that tug at the heartstrings. Or make me say "I-want-to-go-to-there". Either way.

Let's take a look, shall we?

Ok, lets break it down.

There are a few different categories going on here. There is jewelry, home, and cute little things.

The biggest category is jewelry. I have always been drawn to jewelry making, and have even worked for jewelry designers, so it makes sense that my brain would click when I see jewelry ideas. I really like that the DIY ideas I choose also happen to be my styles of jewelry: small and delicate or simple and linear.

 Then there's the home things. These consist of mainly shelves or vases. The shelving ideas is mostly wishful thinking (let's be honest), but it's really fun to look at. Maybe Future Katie will get around to those things.

Some of the projects I really get excited about are the vases, especially the ones with gold leaf or gold paint. I swear I must be half magpie; I just can't resist a sparkle!
I mean, look at those square vases with the little succulents- how cute are they?


Then, last but not least, there are the too-cute-to-stand things. like this guy:

I mean... do I even need to justify these guys?

I didn't think so either.