Hello Nikki

not leopard? not interested.

2012-01-29T10:46:00.000-08:00

lf stores car mar jeans, milau sheer blouse, ferragamo bag, steve madden heels

I need to kick this horrible habit of my late night eating out business. I don't remember the last time I had red meat but for some reason I had 3 cheeseburgers just within this week. 1 from in-n-out, 1 from pearl's deluxe, 1 from umami. And the winner? umami. I'm a sucker for sweet potato fries and though the thought of anything cooked medium grosses me out, it hit the spot at 1AM. Anyway, I was saving this outfit (the top mainly) for something exciting but decided it will be my staple uniform when I'm in a rush. Anything leopard catches my attention, that's for sure and I can't tell you enough of how many compliments I've gotten from these extensions. It's nice but it also gives me this weird complex that you can tell it's obvious but for the most part I think I have people fooled.

re-aclimating myself to life

2012-01-27T10:30:00.000-08:00

Dolce Vita boots, Forever 21 pants & trench, Vince scarf, Dita Sunglasses, Urban Outfitters Bag

I bought these nordic leggings and have been living in them for the past few days. It's been my default outfit since they are uber cozy and lately I've been on the go so much that comfort has been my main thing. Anyway, that explains the lack in blog posts. Just have so much on my plate right now but I promise I'll do more outfit posts again soon so stay tuned. Happy Friday!

#sexy

2012-01-17T21:21:00.000-08:00

"When you really want something to happen, the whole universe conspires so that your wish come true. "

-- Paulo Coelho

double trouble

2012-01-15T23:32:00.000-08:00

olsen twins

Highlights from the weekend: Brunch at Park Chow with my favorite LA road trip gals- Rach and Ruby. Reuniting with my other bests Liz and Cath at Mosto- a super cool tequila bar in the Mission-- excellent excellent scene. Imperial Day Spa because it was the only place that had 3 appointments available at the same time and despite our hesitancy, it became such a good massage. Our first choice Nob Hill Spa at the Huntington Hotel was completely booked but am planning to check that since I hear amazing things. Oh and I managed to eat lunch at La Mediterranee every single day this week! #success

destination: napa

2012-01-08T19:19:00.000-08:00

lna top, american apparel accordion skirt, urban outfitters flats, h&m hat, mango bag

I spent my weekend in Napa Valley and surprisingly it was the first time I visited for wine tasting. Last March I went barrel tasting in Alexander Valley and two years prior I went to Sonoma County so I was pretty excited to finally check out the heart of Wine Country. I was so happy to have a driver take us since I was getting used to being chauffeured around after my birthday. We checked out Honig, Hagafen, Del Dotto, Darioush and Domaine Chandon. So many other wineries I wanted to see like V.Sattui, Jacuzzi, Artesa and Caymus that I'm sure I'll be back in no time. My favorite of course was Honig since their Sauvignon Blanc is awesome and I'm not a big fan of reds but after having their Cab, I may be switching over. Hagafen was interesting since their wines are all kosher, Del Dotto was neat because of the caves and Darioush was just a pretty place to take pictures. Such a fun outing and way to end at Chandon for some bubbly. Oh and be sure to check out Rutherford Grill for some grub-- highly recommended.

rack rack city

2012-01-06T18:42:00.000-08:00

wacoal, wacoal, natori

These bras are my favorite brands. I'm not big on Victorias Secret, I am however all about Gap Body. These were a few of my newest purchases for the year along with a bunch of super cute underwear, tons of socks, and lots of vitamins. Oh and of course after I decided to give up alcohol as my New Years resolution, the first weekend into it had to be a pre-planned wine tasting trip. I decided to be realistic and chose to 86 hard liquor instead, leaving room for wine and champagne only. But then I realized Maria's bachelorette party in San Diego next month, Coachella in April and then her wedding in the Philippines all sort of require vodka/jager to happen and I'm not setting myself up for failure. So now I changed my new years resolution (again) to just not getting any parking tickets. I swear I spent a fortune last year.

2012-01-04T23:49:00.000-08:00

happy 2012.

2012-01-03T08:33:00.000-08:00

There Will Be Tears // Mr. Hudson

exactly what i need

2011-12-31T22:36:00.000-08:00

zara pants & top, urban outfitters bag, forever 21 flats, michael kors watch

I got lots of fun gifts for my birthday and the best one I received was a MacBook Air. I've been wanting one for a couple of months now so it's time to retire my old MacBook. So unexpected and so appreciated. I am very content with how 2011 turned out. 2012 is going to be a fabulous year. :) My only resolution-- is to quit with the exclamation points. I tend to get exclamation point happy when it's really just an empty overstatement. It's usually okay to use but in most cases I've just been so used to punctuating my simple sentences/tweets/captions for instagram this way so it doesn't sound so serious. Now, I think it's time to stop that. Period.

i wouldn't have it any other way

2011-12-30T22:55:00.000-08:00

My camaraderie with females is extremely high and am blessed to have a small close knit gang and various friends that factor into different areas in my life but aren't part of the same group. With these girls above, I have managed to celebrate my birthday with them consecutively for the past few years and it makes me really happy they wouldn't miss it for the world. We were stumped on deciding what to wear since every year we try to stick to a theme to make it more festive and found that difficult. Somehow surprisingly we ended up having matching shoes which was so unplanned but pretty cool. My mom wanted to host a small dinner for us which was nice since it was a good change up from our usual outings in the city and plus my BFF Tomiko is super pregnant so staying local for her was much more convenient. Had an amazing limo ride to the city that took us to Twenty Five Lusk, my favorite spot for drinks in SF then hopped around what felt like a million places afterward. I finally came to the conclusion that my partying days are over and that my career in this area will end at 27. I am satisfied I've experience enough (at least in SF) and that resume is now complete. I am so so excited to be 28 and I started it with such an awesome day. Here's what I wore for the evening...

american apparel body suit, forever 21 skirt, steve madden shoes, liv boutique clutch, aritzia blazer

yolo is the motto

2011-12-26T00:10:00.000-08:00

zara coat, sam edelman shoes, american apparel hat, louis vuitton bag

You only live once! ;)

Congrats to one of my bestest friends Maria!

xoxo

Oh and what do you know, guess who caught her bouquet? :P

the best is yet to come

2011-12-22T11:05:00.000-08:00

h&m dress, lf stores hat, xxi shoes, urban outfitters bag, hk tights

My girlfriend Maria is having her civil wedding tomorrow and the big shabang will take place in the Philippines next year in April. I'll be wearing a similar dress like this only without the tights to cover my bug bite bruises from last month (I can't believe they've lasted this long). Anyway, another velvet piece I like. I actually wore this to the Sara Bareilles concert a few weekends ago. I seriously want to freeze time-- it is slipping by way too fast! On the upside, I am very excited for a gazillion things in the near future, mañana to start with-- can't wait!!

try me, mister

2011-12-17T20:49:00.000-08:00

vtg chambray shirt, lf stores car mar denim, h&m shoes, urban outfitters bag, michael kors watch

I finally got the hair extensions I've been meaning to get for some time. A tad high maintenance for me to upkeep but pretty fun just to give it a whirl. Long hair reminds me of my younger days which speaking of age, the countdown to 28 is just a couple days away now. I started this blog when I turned 25 and am amazed how much I've grown since then. Not in the mood to get all nostalgic but I have learned a ton. Anyway, last year I got over facebook and was all about twitter. This year I'm all for instagram, working my way around path and am addicted to pinterest. Just your typical chameleon switching colors and changing with the times.

afternoon delight

2011-12-14T17:14:00.000-08:00

bayo shorts, dolce vita boots, xxi top, vintage mervyns velvet sweater, michael kors watch

During my thrift hunting days, I'd find duplicates of these kinds of velvet sweaters in different colors that I would swear I'd eventually use. I'm all about dressing in layers but it's the worst thing to do when you go shopping. I was searching for an outfit to wear for my birthday and a few holiday festivities but that was a complete fail after my pure laziness to try anything on kicked in. I did however enjoy one of my favorite meals- a custom salad from Blue Barn, a chocolate chip cookie from Susie Cakes next door, and a soy chai latte from La Boulange! So that was a success! Anyway off to spin now........

it's the way i'm feeling i just can't deny

2011-12-11T14:19:00.000-08:00

Jenna Lyon's Home (Creative Director of JCrew)

I am currently in bed and don't intend to leave my house after an ambitious day yesterday. My "Path" went something like this: Palo Alto to Potrero, a relaxing massage and spa day with the girls at Mizu, lunch at Source (this place is SO good for vegan/vegetarian food), finally got to see Cirque Du Solei's Totem by the ballpark (the acts are insane! Definitely recommend to go see this show!) Rushed back to Liz's for champagne and got dressed for the Sara Bareilles concert at Bill Graham--she is one of my favorite artists of all time. Such a great personality and good voice! After that we headed down a few blocks to eat at the Boxing Room since it was open till 1am. I haven't had a back to back day like that in so long, I'm beat.

never let the hand you hold, hold you down

2011-12-08T22:18:00.000-08:00

XXI sweater, LF Car Mar jeans, Louis Vuitton pouch, HK boots, Dita Sunglasses

Where I Land- JJ Heller

it was a veiled attempt

2011-12-04T19:16:00.000-08:00

forever 21 jacket, lf stores car mar jeans, chandelier tank, jessica simpson shoes

Had brunch at Bisou Bistro for Carolyn's birthday but still think Lime takes the cake for Sunday-Funday's. Went on my first hike yesterday at Mount Tamalpais then had my regular at Sol Food followed by some fancy thrifting at the Goodwill across the street. Friday had dinner with the girls at Burma Superstar on Clement which is opposite from Genki- one of my favorite dessert places. Really digging instagram lately so you can follow me there or on twitter for more pictures from my daily adventures!

tis' the season

2011-12-03T20:00:00.000-08:00

tango sweater, h&m shirt, dolce vita boots, zara bag

I don't know when my hair decided to become healthy all of a sudden but it happened. There was a time albeit not too long ago when the texture of my hair was so coarse it would naturally style itself. This silky smooth business I have going on is not usually the end product after dying it a gazillion times so now my use for hairspray just increased since my many attempts to fry it failed. Anyway, here's some pictures from the tree lighting ceremony at Union Square on Black Friday. Christmas in San Francisco looks like it's going to be very pretty!

december baby

2011-12-01T10:16:00.000-08:00

Kings Of Convenience - I Don't Know What I Can Save You From

808's and heartbreaks

2011-11-23T13:57:00.000-08:00

American apparel top, Volcom bottom, Jcrew hat, Le Sportsac Bag

Kua Bay has to be the most beautiful beach I've ever been to in Hawaii---- and that says a lot. The weather was overcast the majority of my stay but the ocean here was incredible. Probably the most serene and calming beach atmosphere- felt like I was in heaven-- hazy, soft waters, a perfect kind of turquoise. Super mellow. Humid. White powder sand, no signs to get to it. Locals. Hawaii has always been healing which is why it's my go-to spot when I want to retreat. Haven't been here in so long and don't want the gap to be so wide till I come back again. Felt so good to be in paradise. Pressed play to this playlist and all my worries just melted away.

Hawaii 11/11 soundtrack

1. Mrs. Cold- Kings of Convenience

2. Little You & I- Jason Mraz

3. Say It- Rihanna

4. How to Love- Lil Wayne

5. Cayman Islands- Kings of Convenience

6. Tell Him- Lauryn Hill

7. Always Remember Me- Ry Cummings

8. Re: Stacks- Bon Iver

9. The Chain- Ingrid Michaelson

10. Dreaming With a Broken Heart- John Mayer

11. See You Soon- Coldplay

12. Breathe- Telepopmusik

13. Your Love- Nicki Minaj

14. Oh Honey- Delegation

15. Holidays Miami Horror

16. Good Things- Rich Boy

17. Without You- David Guetta

18. Honey Baby Three Plus

lukewarm

2011-11-22T09:29:00.000-08:00

LF stores milau top, car mar shorts, h&m shoes, mango bag, michael kors watch

This was such a relaxing, low key weekend. I ran every morning, read each day, consumed one alcoholic beverage the whole time and have never felt more connected with my body. Out of all the outfits waiting to be worn out-- this was the only one that really made it. Was good to wear no makeup-- if anything just blush and eyeliner, didn't curl or apply product in my hair--truth I only washed it once-- gross, I know. I even brought my eye glasses along, laid on the beach till the very last minute that I had to leave to the airport- with sand and tanning lotion still on. I just wanted to rest everything and that went all according to plan.

hawaiian foodie

2011-11-20T05:09:00.000-08:00

Loco Moco, Potato Salad, & Malasada

Tex Drive In

This was my post-meal after ziplining and my classic meal I eat every time I'm in Hawaii (except the malasada-- wasn't fond of the filling). This was also the only time I ate outside of Waikoloa since everything is so spread out. But here are other foods I enjoyed during my trip that was walking distance from my resort.

Waikoloa Beach Marriott

My morning Spinach, Mushroom, Tomato and Onion omelette with a side of toast & OJ

Hawaii Calls Restaurant& Lounge

Mahi Mahi & Sweet Potato Fries

Eddie Aikau Restaurant& Surf Museum

Grilled Chicken Pesto Sandwich & Salad

Eddie Aikau Restaurant& Surf Museum

Tasty Edamame, Dragonfly Roll, Pineapple Upside Down Cake

Roys Waikoloa Bar & Grill

Ahi Tuna Poke

Sansei, Seafood, Steak & Sushi Bar

Hawaiian Host Macadamia Chocolates

Island Gourmet Markets (ABC Store)

Probably should've nosh'd these instead of blasting it all on here.. It looks so much better that way too. Next time. Oh.. and I will never say no to these! Nikki + chocolates = a match made in heaven :)

chasing waterfalls

2011-11-19T14:42:00.000-08:00

LF store emma & sam top, nike shoes

I love the picture above because we took it right after we finished zip lining and I still had the butterflies in my stomach. Wish I could relive that moment all over again. The guys recorded their flight in air but I was too afraid I'd drop my phone. Here's a super low quality snippet of me fidgeting with my ring before I took off.

bottom line

2011-11-19T13:57:00.000-08:00

Akaka Falls Skyline Adventure

The weather wasn't cooperative the majority of my trip but in hindsight it really forced me to step out of my comfort zone. Typically I imagine my Hawaii vacations to consist of laying on a beach 99% of my time (getting a tan) and the other 1% is shopping. This time was definitely different. I have always wanted to go zip lining and knew this was my number one priority when I arrived. We were a little apprehensive since it was beginning to rain heavily but somehow that added an adventurous tone to the whole experience. They provided raincoats, strapped us in our gear then we signed our lives away. We glided down 9 zip lines that passed some of the best scenery I have ever seen in my whole entire life-- 450 feet above the ground, soaring 3300 feet across at 50mph directly over a 250 foot waterfall. This is an absolute must do if you make it out here. Oh and make sure you put on bug spray! I don't know how it's even possible to get 15 mosquito bites on my 2 legs in less than 1 hour but it happened and I'm not complaining.. because yes, it was worth it :)

nothing ventured, nothing gained

2011-11-18T11:13:00.000-08:00

When I arrived in Hawaii, it felt foreign because it wasn't the "Hawaii" that I remembered. It was overcast, the waters were a deep blue, the sand/rocks were black and it felt a lot more remote. I stayed in Waikoloa which basically means if you want to see outside the resort, you will need a vehicle to get around. I decided to view the whole island via helicopter. I did a tour in Oahu a couple years ago but always wanted to see a volcano in action. Big Island boasts the tallest mountain in the world- Mauna Kea, the largest volcano on the face of the earth- Mauna Loa and Kilauea- the world's most active volcano. It has been continuously erupting since 1983 (year I was born!) and wanted to witness a natural wonder since it felt like a once in a lifetime experience. There are no words to express how mesmerizing it was to see the molten lava flow before my eyes and the feeling of being whisked through the desert to the hidden tropical valleys, waterfalls and rainforest-- seriously took my breath away. Something cool I also learned was that the Big Island is home to 11 of the world's 13 climate zones-- and I don't know where else you can find that many diverse climates in such a compact space but you can here and I'd recommend to come if you get the chance.

destination: big island!

2011-11-17T10:26:00.000-08:00

I was getting itchy feet so it felt like a good time to go to Hawaii for the weekend. Oahu has always been a second home for me but had some friends who were attending a wedding at the Big Island and thought it might be fun to try something different. I've only been here once when I was eight so my memory of it is a bit fuzzy but now after visiting this time time around, I'd say it's the biggest and bestest island in Hawaii. So much to do and so much to see, I'd come back here in a heartbeat. Definitely my new favorite destination and probably my most adventurous trip this year... Big Island, you have stole my heart. Pictures from my trip soon!

escape artist

2011-11-15T14:47:00.000-08:00

i know that it's coming

2011-11-14T07:48:00.000-08:00

zara metallic jeans, steve madden shoes, tsovet watch

I wore this outfit to the Kings of Convenience concert at The Fillmore two weeks ago and must say they are one of my favorite groups of all time. I've been looking for metallic pants and when I saw a post from Rumi, I knew I had to have them. I don't know if I have OCD but I have been cleaning/getting rid of old things non stop. I stumbled upon stacks of magazines and finally sorted through the images I wanted to keep. I've been meaning to post some things to sell but truth is, I've just been lazy. I can't believe we're already halfway through November- Thanksgiving is next week, school will be over, Christmas is near and then comes my birthday! We had surprise birthday party for Liz last night and for some reason I can't tell if I'm hungover or just plain sick but my head hurts and my body aches all over. It could also be from my workout but either way I could really use a massage right about now.

don't let the sun fool you

2011-11-08T11:14:00.000-08:00

Zara coat, LF car mar jeans, Aritzia tank, Forever21 headband, Rayban sunglasses, Tsovet watch

In love with this headband since it sorta serves the purpose of keeping my bangs in place and my ears warm from this 46 degree weather. Pockets and a hood probably makes this leopard fur coat the best thing ever. I can bear with the cold just seriously can't stand the rain.

too early to tell

2011-11-07T19:50:00.000-08:00

Painter Song, Norah Jones

I'm part of a project called "A Woman Who" which is a video series highlighting women who are making their mark in fashion, art, music and basically anything in the creative world. We shot the video about a month ago at Sawyer Camp Trail and the background of Crystals Springs was so scenic, it literally looked like a Bob Ross painting- one of my favorite TV shows growing up. There are a bunch of talented women involved and am very excited to see the final product. It may be awhile for them to complete it but till then here's a still shot.

i got nothing but i felt something

2011-11-06T21:06:00.000-08:00

forever 21 dress, sam edelman heels

Been waiting for an opportunity to wear this dress and it was perfect for Tomiko's baby shower which was held at Love Joy's Tea Room in the city. A few months ago we took tea at Crown & Crumpet for Rachael's shower and both places are the right ambiance to gather your girls and enjoy scones, tasty teas and sandwiches. I really like the concept of celebrating parties at a tea room since it sets such a fun mood and reminds me of being very playful and feminine-- two of the five words I would describe myself as.. the other 3? I will get back to you on. Anyway, here's a close up of my hair color.. I don't even know what I look like with my natural hair color full on but if I played make believe, this is how I'd want it to be all the time. My hair tends to get brassy real easily so to get it this ashy makes me a happy camper. (The tips are a tad lighter since they were previously blonde but from a distance it looks likeone color and I feel a lot more sophisticated with it.. Very fitting for the fall!

friendship is clairvoyant

2011-11-05T23:59:00.000-07:00

Had an awesome day and watched 50/50 which is currently one of my favorite movies out right now. Sounds weird but one of my favorite things to do in the whole entire world is to watch movies matinee-- solo! I know it's borderline creepy but I love it and another thing I love most is my girlfriends. They're a part of my life that just feels solid and I couldn't be more grateful for all of them. We had dinner and learned that I am probably the most slowest eater on the planet and I also decided to let go of my signature peace sign necklace among a few other things. Just felt in need for a change which reminds me-- I also parted with my ombre hair color and am so in love with the ashy brown I'm rocking. Went back to my old hairstylist Sunshine-- so if you're in the Bay and are looking for a new look, she is your go to girl-- 408.307.3111!

Oh, and I've been meaning to introduce you all to a good friend of mine. He's a very talented musician and designer and has been such a big inspiration in my life. Alex is responsible for a few videos from my YouTube and his channel is so impressive I'm sure you'll enjoy his music. Lot's of changes and think I had a good run for a last day before fall backwards. The weather is cold outside and it's beginning to feel more and more like Christmas which is very exciting. Anyway, here's to a sweet November and my last few months of being 27!

happy feet

2011-10-31T23:29:00.000-07:00

We danced the night away to Tiesto at Ruby Skye for the actual Halloween day. I swear, I can't believe I was able to muster up the energy for a big weekend, but then again this is also my favorite holiday of the year. This party was soooo much fun, I seriously felt like I could've been in Vegas-- and that says a lot considering I think the nightlife in SF isn't happening. Anyway, this was also the first year I didn't celebrate with my girlfriends, though I must admit matching with a dude is a lot more fun-- especially since we were penguins (Alex is obsessed with penguins). We used baseball shirts and made the back portion all black so it looked more legit. Used yellow socks and turned them into legwarmers, created penguin feet with foam paper and again the fun hats I found from LF. Surprised how much material I was able to use from only two stores for all the outfits!

where in the world is carmen san diego?

2011-10-30T20:02:00.000-07:00

lf stores hat, american apparel blouse & leotard, jeffrey campbell thigh high boots

I wanted to be Carmen San Diego months ago but knew finding the red hat would be a challenge. Strangely, I found this bad boy at LF now all I needed to do was figure out how I'd maintain staying cool indoors if I had to wear a trench coat/jacket. American Apparel is pretty much a default spot for anything basic and I think this sheer blouse came pretty close to what she actually looked like...

I also really like to tie in a theme with Mav's costume so I made him Where's Waldo for Halloween. Another effortless outfit courtesy of American Apparel and though it's been overdone.. I don't think I've seen a cuter Waldo than him.

geek chic

2011-10-29T23:07:00.000-07:00

h&m blazer, highlands uniform, steve madden shoes

Thinking of fun costumes for couples is one of my favorite things to do. Alex could be one of the squarest people I know so it was pretty fitting to come as a pair in this getup. The sad thing is, this was the least favorite idea I would've ever wanted to do. Really, school girl? We were going for a professor/school girl or teacher/student deal but instead I think we looked like Harry Potter... at least he did. Putting this whole ensemble was the most annoying thing only because it literally kept changing and everything I initially bought-- think racy/sexy--was inappropriate for the house party we were attending so I had to revamp almost everything from scratch. Basically the skirt I purchased, the shirt I wanted to wear that only came as a set with another skirt that I didn't plan on using, then deciding I'd just go for a blazer, being satisfied with the look only to find out the length of the skirt was way too short for the PG-13 party and after celebrating Halloween in Vegas last year, I was disappointed. Luckily, we improvised pretty well and found some neat patches to match, I got a skirt from Maverick's school's lost and found bin that they were disposing, then rushed to my seamstress to have it hemmed. I got a ruler, glasses, and one of his design books-- I originally had a Kama Sutra book for shits and giggles but of course that had to go! And overall, despite every inconvenience, I think our final outcome was perfect:

with all our props via instagram @hellonikki

let's put my thinking cap on

2011-10-28T14:00:00.000-07:00

So I've been brainstorming fun costume ideas since I feel exceeding the year before is always necessary. However the older I'm getting, the less creative it feels like I'm being and it's pretty hard to top off things I really loved in the past. Anyway, I got some pretty good inspiration that I think will do just fine. Can't wait to post pictures after the weekend! :)

so this is love

2011-10-23T22:43:00.000-07:00

Kings of Convenience - Cayman Islands

it feels so familiar already

2011-10-18T01:34:00.000-07:00

vintage mervyns plaid shirt, lf furst premium jeans, h&m shoes, rebecca minkoff bag

Whipped up a home cooked meal since it feels like forever since I've had that. Been living off of restaurant food which isn't bad, but there's something therapeutic about preparing your own food. I can never tire from my tomato, basil & garlic pasta and nothing beats a perfect Monday late night dinner like this. Eating out has become quite excessive for me so it's nice to enjoy everything I made from scratch. Although I did dine at some really cool places the past week like Umami Burger, Terzo, Bisou Bistro and Skool. You can check my nosh for more of my food adventures!

Oh and by request here's a little photo of my mavo pie. You can find pictures like these on my instagram: @hellonikki or follow me on twitter.com/nikkidesuasido for more frequent updates! xo!

been there done that

2011-10-16T19:02:00.000-07:00

furt of a premium poncho, dolce vita boots, ubi hat

Treasure Island Music Festival is one of my favorite festivals to attend in the Bay. Not only are the views of the city breathtaking, it's really small compared to Outsidelands and one cool thing I learned was that there are never any repeat artists, no overlapping set times, only 2 stages-- and all of this makes it a lot easier to maneuver through unlike Coachella where things are a lot more complicated. Everyone I came out to see, I've already seen at Coachella this year (Chromeo, Cut Copy and Empire of the Sun) but as always, I enjoy a lot of the side things going on when no one is performing- vendor booths, carnival rides, food trucks. But my highlight had to be the Silent Disco- haha this was actually really funny. When you enter this cove it is so quiet.. almost reminiscent of entering a haunted winchester mystery house. At first glance it basically looks like a bunch of people dancing to nothing-- really funny to watch. But once you place these wireless headphones playing music in your ears and participate, everyone grooving actually begins to make sense.

of course i'll come

2011-10-09T19:10:00.000-07:00

lf stores milau shorts, diabless top, nine west boat shoes, cooperative camera bag

October is a very festive time in San Francisco and one event I really look forward to is Fleetweek. I attended a yacht party hosted by Stanford's GSB and had an awesome time. It was very cool to watch the air show and see the parade of ships from our view and it was a really fun experience to be among all the other spectators on boats. Here's a little snippet of the Blue Angels in action.

i'm always trying to figure it out

2011-10-07T16:43:00.000-07:00

zara coat, lf stores emma & sam top, xxi shorts, steve madden shoes

I had dinner at Outerlands in the Sunset and this has to be one of my favorite places to eat! Such a cute and cozy spot that I'm sure you will catch me here at one point or another. This was one of the fur jackets I bought before I left to the Bahamas. Probably my favorite piece in my closet right now. I always refrained from wearing all black since I wore it almost everyday for 3 years straight. Now, I actually like the monotone look and it compliments well with this furry cover of mine. The best part? It has a hood and pockets! Extra brownie points in my book. And I know, I know.. I can't get enough of these shoes! At 5'1'' I need all the help that I can get! :)

Happy Friday!

baby it's cold outside.

2011-10-06T14:08:00.000-07:00

xxi parka, aldos shoes, louis vuitton pouch, lna top

When I visited Japan and Hong Kong, I remembered all the beautiful girls and the parkas they wore to keep warm during the winter. I purchased this one last year and finally made use of it since the weather completely dropped to what it was in just a week. It was the first time in a very long while that it rained so hard and if there is one thing I hate more than anything it's driving in the rain. It's cleared up, though it really feels like fall since the air is much cooler. The jacket keeps me dry and the hood keeps me bundled, the fur reminds me of my untamed mane-- which btw-- pause on that idea of extensions. Oh and the detail inside makes me happy.

stay hungry. stay foolish.

2011-10-05T20:20:00.000-07:00

The loss of Steve Jobs really hit home for me. Even though I did not know him personally, Apple products have been such a big part of my everyday life, it almost felt like I did and there is this deep gratitude I hold for everything he has done to contribute to that. I know the heaviness of losing someone so close and I remember my best friend Rod who passed away at such a young age in 2006 and I haven't felt that same weight till now. Things like this makes me very reflective how life is short and Steve Jobs was such an inspiration and made such an impact in this world, I thought I'd share this since it really resonated with me. My thoughts and prayers go out to his close friends and family and for everyone in my life, I am truly thankful.

you got it

2011-09-30T00:55:00.000-07:00

Fall essentials: a neat space, a touch of gold and a little bit of arm candy.

everything's working perfect

2011-09-27T23:21:00.000-07:00

zara top, lf stores car mar jeggings, steve madden shoes

I attended Gilt City's Blogger Brunch at Perbacco in San Francisco earlier today. If you aren't familiar with Gilt Groupe, it's an invite only, online shopping destination to luxury merchandise and experiences at insider prices. It was really cool to meet an impressive group of people in the industry from the Bay, who share the same interest and passion for fashion, food and fun. Aside the great company, the food was delicious and they gave goodie bags filled with cookies from Crumb that I've practically inhaled already-- the Lemon Sunshine is off the hook. This day was definitely full of eating since I later ate at Roses Cafe in the Marina for dinner and am so stuffed. I'm all about dining outdoors, especially at night and the weather we've been having lately has been perfect for that. Special thanks to Simmone and Beth for hosting such a successful event!

let's enjoy this time

2011-09-26T23:13:00.000-07:00

lf stores emma & sam maxi skirt, zara bag, diabless top

October is right around the corner and I've already decided what I'll be for Halloween, my favorite holiday of the year. Busy week ahead to ring in the new month with a few changes.. one being that I'm going to get hair extensions, courtesy of my hairstylist Mola so I'm excited how that'll turn out. Seemed like a fun thing to try and since I'm always up for experimenting with my hair and I can't wait to see the results since I'm a little over with this side braid business I keep doing as a default. Here's to a new look and long hair!

divide and conquer

2011-09-26T00:02:00.000-07:00

lush blazer, lf stores emma & sam tank, ferragamo purse, steve madden shoes

Got this blazer at Liv Boutique in the Marina and fell in love the moment I saw it. If there is a print aside leopard I dig most, stripes would be it. Horizontal seems to be the only thing going on in my closet so I was pretty stoked to discover this. Ate at some new spots recently that I really like so I decided to get back on photographing/reviewing dishes/restaurants I dined at here. Especially since I get a bunch of emails asking good places to eat in San Francisco or things like my diet? It's pretty hard to think on the spot of every place since there's a lot to choose from but my top recent spots are Delfina and Bi-Rite in the Mission- SO good!

endless summer

2011-09-18T18:46:00.000-07:00

american apparel hat, rayban aviators, lf stores top, urban outfitters sandals

It's interesting I thought I'd be homesick and now that I'm back I'm wishing I had an extra day to relive such an awesome trip. Some of my highlights I had was dining at Nobu then walking up to club Aura, which sadly I didn't have any photo's to capture my favorite night here. Thursday was their best night since a bunch of locals hosted the party and my best friend Veuve Cliquot felt like it was on tap at the table. I cannot stress how much fun this place is, almost reminding me of Vegas. Staying for such a long period of time in the resort it begins to feel like you're on a cruise where faces become familiar-- since it's big but really small at the same time. Oh and I played roulette and black jack for the very first time. I'm not a big gambler but I did win $15! (I only bought in $15 :P) Haha but it was a great trip and sad it ended so soon. I like the feeling of not knowing what the date is because time flew by so fast. If you make your way out here be sure to check out the other resorts like Compass Beach Resort (above), Bob Marley's Resort and my favorite- One and Only, Ocean Club. That's where I want to stay next time I come back!

that's where you need to go

2011-09-17T21:28:00.000-07:00

b swim monokini, rayban sunglasses, steve madden shoes

We decided to come back to Cain again since Friday's are apparently the best time to come. The eye candy, music and vibe was so much fun. As I've said many times before- I love love love day time parties. And just when I thought I got enough wears on this bathing suit since it does have a lot of mileage, I was happy since it forced me to stay away from the sun since I was afraid my tan line would look crazy. By this point, I was looking a little too dark where my gf's mistakened the contrast of my tan to my bare bottom as underwear.

the idea charmed me

2011-09-16T21:32:00.000-07:00

american apparel bikini, rayban sunglasses

Staying at The Cove inside the Atlantis has it's perks, which of course mine was the pool- Cain, that's exclusive to only adult guests. I could lay on the beach all day but it was nice to relax on the daybeds and listen to music and have a party feel. It's no surprise this spot was one of my favorite places at the resort that we came back twice in our trip. Out of all my swimwear, this has to be my best bikini contender and was so happy to find the top at American Apparel. It's a little complicated to put on but I love the double strings on the side and the coral color just screamed fun. I haven't worn a high waisted bottom since my trip to Mazatlan and thought the grid print looked cool.

this is perfectly normal

2011-09-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

hm top, bluette romper shorts, american apparel hat, steve madden shoes

My tan was in full effect by day one and I was borderline scared that I would be burnt by the end of the week since I got dark so fast. I'm telling you-- Australian Gold does wonders. We were so lucky the weather was perfect since we assumed after the hurricane and reports it would be rainy-- but we had clear blue skies in the day and warm nights for the whole trip! :)

it was a considerable distance

2011-09-14T23:01:00.000-07:00

leap of faith waterslide, the beach, & senor frogs

The Atlantis really lived up to it's standards and almost reminded me of a family vacation I went to at Hyatt Regency Waikoloa in the Big Island of Hawaii when I was ten. I think it's now called the Hilton Waikoloa Village now? But anyway, I think it was the Aquaventure water park that reminded me of being a kid again. This place has so much to offer and my hesitancy to stay for a full week completely dissipated after discovering all the things I wanted to do during my stay. The Marine Life exhibits at The Dig were amazing and as a connoisseur when it comes to beaches- the Bahamas has some of the best crystal clear turquoise waters and white powdery sands that I have ever seen. For once I didn't mind exploring "touristy" spots and a friend really wanted to go to Senor Frogs-- which personally is not my speed but I did have my first silly yard cup drink and ordered a sex on the beach-- an old beverage I used to get when I was like 21 and haven't consumed one since then. Overall it was very entertaining and we had a good time.

tropical contact high

2011-09-13T23:01:00.000-07:00

rachel roy jumpsuit, hm shoes, michael kors watch

Graycliff has to be one of the best dining experiences I've ever had in my life. It's the only 5 star restaurant in the Bahamas and has the third largest private wine cellar collection in the world. You can immediately feel the history when you enter this place and I was able to see the world's oldest bottle of wine and be surrounded by million dollar racks and get a tour after my tasty dinner. We waited in the living room lounge with drinks after our order was taken, relaxed to live piano music and when our meal was ready we were seated to our dinner table where I feasted on a caesar salad, perfectly cooked lobster and a chocolate soufflé. I also had my very first cigar that was created right in front of me-- and coming from someone who detests cigarettes I was still encouraged to try a world renowned Cuban cigar and to my surprise it was very smooth and flavorful. Graycliff is rated one of the world's Top 10 best restaurants by the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and it was a perfect way to dine here on our first night.

destination: bahamas!

2011-09-12T19:10:00.000-07:00

lf car mar jeans, aritzia wilfred tank, hm scarf, michael kors watch, marc by marc jacobs bag

For long trips I like to dress as comfortably as possible so these jeggings were perfect to wear for our red eye flight. Luckily I slept through the whole way since the duration to get to Nassau was longer than I expected-- especially with a stop over in Fort Lauderdale and the time difference combined. Anyway, we arrived to 90 degree weather and to a beautiful resort and it was good practice to be away from my cell phone/internet for a whole week straight.

i know this feeling all too intimately

2011-09-11T08:26:00.000-07:00

what's in my luggage

I'm leaving to the Bahamas today and I've been anxious for this trip all week. Partly because this location isn't even on my top 10 list of places I want to visit in my lifetime so I really am going in with no agenda and no expectations which might be a pretty cool experience. This is also the first time I'm going somewhere brand new- overseas, so packing was a tad tricky since I have no idea what it's like and I don't remember the last time I've been away from home for seven days straight. I wanted to make sure I was prepared for all occasions so I had to get organized since I like to travel as light as possible but that was a bit of challenge so this is what I decided to bring just in case..

my outfits for the week

My girlfriends chose this destination and rave about the Atlantis. I've watched an episode of this resort on the Travel Channel in Dubai and it seemed sweet so with 7 girls it could be a ton of fun. I can't figure out what's making me so uneasy though since this actually should feel natural since I've got the airport routine down to a T.. but maybe the thought of being on a plane again haunts me since last week there was so much turbulence I felt like I was going to die-- and that was a much shorter flight!

LF milau top, zara belt, bayo shorts, steve madden shoes, ferragamo bag

Anyway, I went shopping downtown the other day for things on my trip but I came out with 2 fur coats, a watch I already owned but lost, these shoes above that were on sale and some toiletries. Most are irrelevant to use in the Bahamas but I guess I'll just re wear stuff I have in my closet. I don't know where I even got the idea of not wanting to wear the same thing twice once it's been photographed? Oh well, ta-ta!

sangria sundays

2011-09-05T23:00:00.000-07:00

LF store car mar shorts, milau top, hm shoes, lv bag

Last year, I discovered one of my favorite day time events in LA- The Do Over! I've been wanting to hit this party up all summer but I saved the best for last and flew out just to come out to it's last Sunday of the season. The line was unbelievably long, being the fact that it was also Labor Day weekend. Thankfully my homegirl Karen was able to get us in with a breeze so we didn't have to deal with all the hassle. It was beyond capacity and they weren't letting people in for awhile. Towards the evening, it was packed and they really went out with a bang- delivering an amazing vibe-- all love-- and everything I remembered before. Though I really liked it's old venue at Cranes Hollywood Tavern but there really is no parallel to a backyard house party feel with music that just takes you back to every song you could possibly love that mixes into another tune to get you hyped. Plus, Mayer Hawthorne was there and I got to meet the famous Reggae Pops so I had a fun experience once again. Oh but I did forget that memo I told myself last year to avoid wearing white but nevertheless, I managed to stay sangria stain free. The Do Over will be coming to SF on September 18. I won't be in town but if you are, you should check it out- you'll be in for a treat. :)

girl power

2011-09-02T17:05:00.000-07:00

British Bazaar October 2011

If I could trade wardrobes with any celebrity it would have to be Alexa Chung. To me, she could pull off just about anything.

Hope everyone has a great labor day weekend because I know I will! :)

bells and whistles

2011-09-01T19:59:00.000-07:00

my back to school shopping list:

1.) Isabel Marant boots

2.) Thin gold rings

3.) Bottega Veneta credit card holder

4.) Karen Walker sunglasses

5.) Jo Malone mint & jasmine perfume

6.) Seiko watch

cemented into my mind

2011-08-31T23:47:00.000-07:00

I'm amazed of the amount of messages I got immediately after asking the name of the song in my previous post. Thank you to all for answering that, it's been in my head forever. I enjoy posting songs I listen to on my Twitter, which reminds me I've been idle and need to change that asap. Opened a can of worms today checking a Facebook I normally prefer unused- partly because of my frustration maneuvering through it, making me feel jurassic as an end result. I guess I keep it only to stay in touch with old friends so please don't be offended if I haven't accepted your friend request. There's nothing exciting on it that you can't find here :) Anyway, I'll end on that note.. it's bed time for me! Night!

too school for cool

2011-08-30T15:28:00.000-07:00

I need more hours in the day and energy like a bunny to tide me over till I get the swing of things. I'm pretty good at balancing my time but a shift in speed still takes adjusting so that's where I'm at now. Once I get the routine down, everything should be smooth sailing so that's exciting. Did some pretty awesome things since Vegas-- the Sade & John Legend concert being at the top of that list. I could care less about John Legend-- don't get me wrong, I love him-- I've seen him perform 4 times-- but Sade killed it.. she was AH-mazing!! Been a huge fan of hers since I was 12 so I was a happy camper I got to see her live. That's one check off the things I want to do in my lifetime.. Now time to tackle the rest! Here's to finishing the year strong! Bring it September! :)

I don't know the name of the song above and Shazaam has been incorrect every time I tag it!! I searched the lyrics on the internet but all these failed attempts makes me more determined to figure it out-- it's been my morning car ride song all week.. so if you could name that tune- give me a shout!

vega$ part 2

2011-08-24T21:13:00.000-07:00

an hour & twenty minute flight

ombre hair color by Mola

dahlia top, lf stores car mar denim cut offs, fcuk wedges

wet republic

ralph lauren bikini

finally made use of the bottom of the top i wore at coachella

.. and the top i wore at farmers market

view from Mandalay Bay

zara dress, sam edelman heels, rolex watch

DJ Qbert!

gifted shocking goat watch & thud rumble iphone case

sunisa, mirra, and me!

Magic Show!

bdg skirt, lf store milau top, h&m shoes, rebecca minkoff bag

shout out to kasil workshop :) thanks for the clothes!

.. and the friendly people at Stylecaster!

So my 2 day, one night trip to Vegas was a success! I'm amazed how much I could get done in such a short amount of time. I was able to shop at the Miracle Mile shops, attend the Wet Republic pool party, shop at the Fashion Show mall, have dinner at Scarpetta, and attend DJ Qbert's show at the Foundation Room in Mandalay Bay. The following day, I had lunch at Holsteins- another dining experience I had on my previous trip (must be obvious how much I love the Cosmopolitan), then headed to the Magic Show/Project Show! A short stay but definitely a sweet time!

merest and simplest of pleasures

2011-08-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

Just when I think my body cannot handle anymore and all I want to do is cave into my blanket all day, I decide to go for a quick trip to Vegas last minute. I don't know who I think I am sometimes but I know once school starts, my traveling days will be limited so this seemed like a fun spur of the moment thing to do. DJ Qbert has a show and I've been wanting to see what Magic is all about so here goes my one night in Sin City!

until i could get a grip on myself

2011-08-20T08:15:00.000-07:00

tango cardigan, lf store emma & sam tank, xxi skirt, jcrew hat, steven madden heels

My body is unbelievably tired you have no idea. I've been meaning to keep up with the blog posts but this week was so busy, I honestly had no time or energy so I'm sorry I've been a horrible blogger this past month! However, I went to bunch of cool spots in the city such as Bourbon and Branch, a really sweet bar I happened to stop by when 620 Jones was closed that evening (I hear it has a fun taco Tuesday scene I've been wanting to check out). We stopped by Ambassador before we visited Trigger- the coolest club in the Castro and I don't know where else in the city you can find ridiculously inexpensive drinks and the music is so on point. Thursday, I finally went to Public Works after hearing so much about it. I attended a private event but the weekends are supposedly insane, so maybe I'll come another time then. I also went to Velvet Cantina in the Mission and this is a place I used to frequent a couple years back when I was all about this area. You can't beat their pitchers of flavored margaritas and the atmosphere is really fun, especially since we were looking for a chill Friday night after all our our outings this past week. Oh, and I've managed to eat a turkey sandwich for lunch every day since Monday and at this point I feel like I could seriously turn into a turkey! My absolute favorite is from Simply Sandwiches in Palo Alto so if you're in the Peninsula- GO!

flashbacks

2011-08-14T23:08:00.000-07:00

Scored a VIP ticket on Saturday to Outside Lands, courtesy of my dear friend Catherine. There's something about music festivals that make me feel right at home. Especially since the weather was perfect and everything reminded me about Coachella. I attended the 2009 Outside Lands and I felt so giddy coming back all over again- such a cool vibe.

I really love The Black Keys and Muse and some of my favorite moments were roaming around tipsy and visiting the booths. The Garnier Fructis Salon had to be my highlight. My tambourine dream came true where we pretended to be rockstars, I had THE best time here. Wish I attended Sunday if I didn't have to go to Santa Rosa for my girlfriend's birthday brunch-- but then again we had an awesome time there too. Such a fun filled weekend! I love life! :)

LF furst premium boyfriend jeans, club monaco cardigan, zara leopard belt, dita sunglasses, urban outfitters wedges

girls run the world

2011-08-05T20:42:00.000-07:00

My life has been a whirlwind these past few days, so excuse the inconsistency of blog posts. I can't believe it's already August and summer is coming to an end :( At least there is such a thing called Indian summer, which is usually my favorite time of the year in SF. Plus, I'm going back to school so that's another thing to look forward to. With my new schedule, I will try my best to update as often as I can! TGIF! :)

i encourage you to try it

2011-08-04T23:50:00.000-07:00

Move over Sauvignon Blanc and Kettle Soda, I just discovered my new favorite alcoholic beverage: Veuve Clicquot Champagne. After Vegas, I 86'd all my regular drinks and replaced it with this. Oh and I learned how to open my very first champagne bottle- kinda late but am proud of it. :)

about me:

2011-08-01T21:00:00.000-07:00

beyond my expectations

2011-07-27T17:30:00.000-07:00

american apparel dress, steven madden shoes, michael kors watch

I can't believe the best party I've been to of all time happened on a Monday night. To think I had no idea LMFAO would be there too. There's so much to say about the awesome time I had here........ One word: Marquee :)

forget rehab, relax is where it's at!

2011-07-26T17:20:00.000-07:00

As a fan of Rehab, I've heard negative reviews about how it downgraded from what it was like before and because we wanted to go to pool parties on both days of our stay, we checked out Relax and I definitely would say this is the best day party for a Monday!

poolside

2011-07-25T17:32:00.000-07:00

mikoh swimwear

During the summer, daytime in Vegas can only mean one thing to me-- pool parties! Wet Republic and Rehab used to be my favorite places to go to but was told about a new spot called Encore Beach Club and was happy we went. There were a few others I wanted to see like Nikki Beach at the Tropicana and the Marquee Day Club but that'l just be another reason to go back soon! :)

viva!

2011-07-24T23:38:00.000-07:00

LF Skirt, LNA bra top, Steve Madden Shoes

XS is a regular club we visit every time we come out here. Nothing has changed about this place but is a good standard if you want to see one of the best nightclubs in Vegas.

Tres excited

2011-07-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

jcrew leopard scarf, michael kors watch, steven madden shoes, le sportsac bag

My girlfriend Maria just got engaged a month ago and I'm so happy to help her think of ideas for her wedding. The two of us go way back and we've traveled all over the world together like Hawaii, the Philippines and my favorite New York. Together we always have a good time filled with non-stop laughter. (We both are extremely easy going and silly especially after a few drinks) Oh, and she also introduced me to this wonderful world of blogging 3 years ago! So I'm grateful to have her as a friend, congratulations and let the planning begin!

collect and select

2011-07-20T17:22:00.000-07:00

I haven't laughed so hard out loud in so long for almost a week straight, I think I've lost a couple pounds doing so. My friend's seriously crack me up and I catch myself bursting into laughter by myself thinking of things they've done or said in that moment. I've been clearing out my room-- once again, always making space for.. something? I've been on edge lately and somehow think sorting through my junk will make me feel better, though believe me when I say I'm one of the neatest/organized people you could ever meet because I rarely have any clutter. I'm not a freak of nature I just simply don't like hoarding anything unnecessary- and that applies to almost everything in my life. It helps me remain as detached as possible. So I was going down memory lane removing things I no longer need and was highly entertained- partly in embarrassment of silly things that reminded me of certain time periods in my life. Next task will be my closet which I'm sure plenty of you will be happy about :)

cease and dissist

2011-07-17T15:23:00.000-07:00

milau top, car mar shorts, michael kors sandals, dita sunglasses

"I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you learn to appreciate them when they're right. You believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together." - Marilyn Monroe

what's good?

2011-07-14T09:45:00.000-07:00

Whenever I dine out I guarantee I will ask the server EVERY time, "What is the most popular dish on the menu?" It's my signature question that has never failed me and leaves me satisfied at the end of all my meals. If you know by now I've been an avid user of Yelp but now there's this new app that just released called Nosh that has now replaced the need for it. This app was seriously created for people like me who never know what they want to order but want to be certain their decision won't lead to disappointment. I've been joining a ton of new social platforms lately-- Google+ and now this, so if you want to follow me on Nosh and see what foods I enjoy, this will be the place to do so!

wandering tresses

2011-07-12T22:00:00.000-07:00

Misikko gifted me this pink ceramic flat iron and is something I'm definitely going to be using daily. My hair is naturally wavy and though I prefer it that way on most days, it's nice to change it up and wear it straight once in awhile. Check out the difference:

Even if you want tousled curls, I think starting with a straight base gives your hair a more polished effect. I've been so accustomed to using an old school gold Helen of Troy 1.5 inch barrel curling iron. I can't seem to part with it though I will give it a whirl with the flat iron one of these days. I hear it works just as well!

After, I use hairspray to keep the curls in tact keeping it nice and light without weighing it down. Bedhead's Hard Head is the hairspray of my choice but a lot of people do like Big Sexy Hair as well. You can add a shine spray or gloss after- I like Abba Pure Shine Spray- it smells so good.

I don't wash my hair everyday and as disgusting as that sounds I try to go for as long of a period as I can without having to. I use the pink Pureology shampoo and conditioner and if I don't have time to blow dry I'll occasionally use Agadir Oil to tame any frizz or flyaways.

always remember me

2011-07-10T21:18:00.000-07:00

cache dress, aldos shoes

The last time I wore a long formal gown was most probably in high school for prom, which dating myself was almost 10 years ago. This dress is actually from my cotillion on my 18th birthday and fortunately my mom saved it so I was able to wear it for the Glide SF Legacy Gala. Because of that, I was at an advantage that no one would have the same exact outfit since at the benefit I did notice a lot of double ensembles which would be my worst nightmare. Sad I didn't get a photo of the back part since it dips into such a sexy deep low v but I'm happy the straps for the halter stayed up since this dress literally feels like it weighs a ton. Anyway, this event was something really dear to me since I've volunteered and served meals here several times for the past couple of years now and it's such a moving and humbling experience. If you've seen the movie The Pursuit of Happyness with Will Smith, this is the church it was based on. A lot of people attended this black-tie affair to raise funds for the programs that Glide Foundation provides and if you ever want to give back to the community this is a rewarding way to do so.

on to the next one

2011-07-08T18:30:00.000-07:00

jcrew plaid top, sperry topsider boat shoes, rayban sunglasses

I've been wearing this shirt non-stop since I got it. Something about the colors that make me feel happy every time I put it on. I get a bunch of emails asking for suggestions of places to eat so I've been trying to tweet more the names of the restaurants I dine at. Today, I ate at Sol Food in San Rafael and opted for the chicken combo instead of my usual bistec that I've always ordered in the past. The limeade is amazing-- that is, anything you could drink out of a jar just makes it that much more awesome and the hot sauce is an absolute must!

ease up

2011-07-06T15:24:00.000-07:00

I finally gave up coffee once and for all but I've formed this unhealthy obsession with soy chai lattes from La Boulange that's got me driving miles away just for this thing. So I asked what kind they used and purchased it online so now I can make it at the comfort of my own home anytime. If you dig chai teas you'll definitely love this one by Big Train Spiced Chai- it's off the hook.

happiest place on earth

2011-07-04T22:00:00.000-07:00

Celebrated Maverick's 3rd birthday in Disneyland for the 4th of July weekend. Literally consumed more fried foods I'd eat in a month in just this trip alone but was worth it since this is definitely the place to be for fireworks. For the holiday they do special shows and the World of Color is definitely a must-see. Not a huge roller coaster fan but really enjoyed all the rides. My favorite had to be California Screamin' and whoever thought the idea of a fast pass was pure genius. Anyway, the heat was a tad uncomfortable but we cooled off swimming in the pool midday since taking the monorail back and forth to our hotel was a breeze. Plus with all the waterslides we had a blast even outside the park and was absolutely a perfect way to do it up for his big bash.

dime a dozen

2011-06-29T16:30:00.000-07:00

blake lively, rachel bilson, natalie portman, jennifer aniston, mary kate & ashley olson

I've been trying to venture off outside the Marina nowadays. Discovered my new favorite spot that has officially replaced Matrix for me. Twenty Five Lusk. This place is everything I would look for in a lounge- chill, classy, and mature. Has a vibe similar to one of my favorite restaurants, NOPA and is great to catch up with your girlfriends for a drink and pre-game before a night out. On Saturday, we went to Harlot- a club I haven't hit up in forever. That being the fact that I haven't been "out out" because I've been over the nightlife in SF but somehow this time around was a hit. Oh and I forgot to mention, I saw Anjelah Johnson at Cobbs Comedy Club on Sunday and she is probably my most favorite comedian now. Looking forward to this coming long weekend!

staples

2011-06-26T09:17:00.000-07:00

This is pretty much exactly what I use when I get dolled up. I don't necessarily have a preference to MAC makeup- it's just I was an artist there for a couple years so it's what I've been accustomed to. For foundation I like Studio Moisture Tint with a 188 brush. It's light and sheer and gives just the right amount of coverage to even out my complexion. My face is normally lighter than my whole body since I never tan that part when I'm out in the sun. I set it with Mineralize Skinfinish Natural with a 136 brush. I contour my face with a bronzer or a shade darker of the skinfinish. I apply Peachykeen blush or some variation of that on the apples of my cheeks with the 168. For eyeliner I like Fluidline in blacktrack using a 210 for precision and Graphblack Technakohl for my water line. I define my brows with Charcoal Brown Matte Shadow with a 266 brush. Zoomlash for mascara, my current favorite lipstick Vegas Volt, a little gloss in the center and for night #7 lashes.

I hardly wear eyeshadow anymore and to be honest for everyday I simply do my brows, liner and blush but here in this video Rei from Project Face did a dramatic look on me to change up my look. For a more detailed tutorial check out her page- she gives great tips and advice!

make you feel my love

2011-06-24T12:12:00.000-07:00

wilfred blazer, aritzia shorts, rebecca minkoff bag, steve madden shoes

This has to be the most perfect fitting jacket I've ever purchased. I wore this outfit to the fashion show last Saturday, minus the teal bandeau and watch. I kidnapped that Tsovet from a friend since it's been difficult to find a store that carries it. So bummed I just discovered my favorite #35 lashes from MAC are now being discontinued but on the upside my girlfriend Rei showed me some other ones that will suffice. She does a bunch of YouTube makeup tutorials and we did a video together where she painted my face since I get tons of emails about that. Will post soon!

best of both worlds

2011-06-22T22:45:00.000-07:00

hurley sweater, lf shorts, zara bag, fcuk wedges, vintage raybans, tsovet watch

If you've followed my blog in the past, you learned I participated in a lot of activities up north- specifically in Santa Rosa. It's been awhile since I visited considering this city used to be my home away from home. I went to their famous Wednesday Night Market, held on 4th Street downtown and had my favorite- Pasta King. I literally look forward to having this every summer and is always worth the drive up to me. I used to have this crazy obsession for it but when I came this time around it wasn't exactly as I once remembered but was still satisfying. Anyway, they also serve this at the Sonoma County Fair which is another past time I enjoy this time of year and is right around the corner! Can't wait! :)

lights camera action

2011-06-20T18:22:00.000-07:00

wilfred blazer, rebecca minkoff bag, steven by steve madden shoes, tsovet watch

I attended the San Francisco Art Institute's Fashion Show this past weekend at the Galleria. I was really honored to be invited since it's the largest student-organized fashion show held on the west coast. With an audience of over a thousand people, media and press coverage, I felt fortunate to have a front row seat at this event! It was cool to be in an environment filled with creative, professional, and stylish folks. The production class and designers did an amazing job and are truly talented at their trade. Makes me look forward to checking out more fun fashion shows in the future!

no big deal

2011-06-17T16:07:00.000-07:00

I intended to shop for an outfit for a fashion show I'm attending this Saturday, however, I managed to buy 3 books, a blanket, 2 bracelets and basically nothing that is related for the event. I easily get side tracked but along the way I discovered some new stores in the city that will be my new go to spots! anyway, happy friday! :)

what's in my bag!

2011-06-15T15:02:00.000-07:00

I just purchased this Rebecca Minkoff bag and this is a much larger size purse, in comparison to the other black satchel I got not too long ago but it fits just about everything and is a lot more functional. It's significantly heavier than what I'm used to carrying around but it's just a slight adjustment I can get used to. Here are the current contents inside.

fringe benefits

2011-06-14T19:42:00.000-07:00

Story of Lola top, Bluette Floral Dress, Sam Edelman Shoes, Rebecca Minkoff Bag, Casio Watch

Here are the photos as promised in case the video didn't capture the full outfit. Took this overlooking the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge in the Marina as the sunset.

Enjoy! :)

bf

2011-06-13T23:03:00.000-07:00

nikki: joie top, joanna: milau top

Joanna and I have known each other for over 12 years. It's very special to share a bond with someone who is so close to me for so long. Together we've been on a concert hype and because of the funnest time we had at Coachella this year, we already locked in our tickets for the event in 2012! I'm partial about the nightlife in the Bay and really enjoy more daytime activities unless I'm out of town. EDC is right around the corner and Burning Man which are two possible events we may or may not attend, but the second sounds pretty intense so we'll see. Just shot another video today and am excited to see what that'll turn out like! Stay tuned! :)

70743177825 (to the max)

2011-06-12T21:33:00.000-07:00

LF maxi dress, Silence & Noise Blazer, American Apparel Hat, Liv Boutique Bag, FCUK wedges

Here's another fun maxi dress I intend to wear more often now that the sun in San Francisco is beginning to come out. Awfully strange how it's been freezing here considering that it's already summer. I was reading my niece's middle school yearbook and was reminded of silly acronyms kids sign. My favorite I found was H.A.G.S. which stands for: Have a good summer! I'm totally dating myself when I say this but when I was in middle school I remember using "pager code" where numbers were assigned letters. It amazes me how useful this was back in the day before text messaging was invented and how easy it is to read after memorizing the alphabet. Oh and while I'm down memory lane, I wore this outfit to my godson's baptism held at St. Augustine. I haven't been there in years but if you're from the Daly City area like I was, this was the coolest spot to hangout after Gellert Park or Serramonte.

fish in the sea

2011-06-10T21:21:00.000-07:00

Thank you for the warm emails, tweets, and messages. I'm glad you all are enjoying my YouTube channel. Just to briefly answer some general questions, in the video Monday Morning the song is "Level" by John Mayer. In the second video After the Rain, the song is "Even After All" by Finley Quaye and in the most recent video Nomad, the song is "Waterfront" by Jaime Woon. Definitely stay tuned for more, I have some fun ideas under my sleeve. Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend!

xoxo, nikki

the air could move through me like i was a clean linen fluttering on a clothesline

2011-06-08T11:37:00.000-07:00

To Love Kuvaa top, LF love skirt, urban outfitters sandals

Here's a mental vacation courtesy of the cold weather. I would rather be planning what I would wear on my next tropical vacation and perhaps this would work. I love how the train flows out making it something light to wear when it gets hot. I've never been too fond of maxi skirts only because at 5'1'' they're usually too long for me but this one fit perfectly since the front part was shorter than the back, allowing me to walk with ease. I swear I was meant to live in the heat and now I have a closet full of summer clothes thanks to LF and am itching to put them to use. Let's see where the wind will take me next....

a fairly auspicious sign

2011-06-06T18:20:00.000-07:00

LF milau floral top, car mar bell bottoms, Jessica Simpson platforms, Velvet Throne feather earring, LIV boutique bracelets

My girlfriend Kathy created this really cool feather earring inspired by me. Strange since the only jewelry I tend to wear are my pearl studs, peace sign necklace, honeycomb ring and a watch. My style has been described as somewhat 'boho' and my nature has often been referred to as a free spirit- making me feel like a hybrid of a gypsy/hippie. Either way I dig it and my friend topped his aimless "monday morning" random clip and shot this ......... <3

i'm just getting a hang of these mini videos, they're fun.

a mad tea party

2011-06-05T22:15:00.000-07:00

inc dress, sam edelman shoes, liv boutique clutch

We celebrated Rachael's baby shower at Crown and Crumpet in Ghiradelli Square. This is a really cute tea room to gather your girls and host an event like this. I've been to tons of showers and this by far was the most chic and stylish one. We limited it to just two simple but really fun games- just enough for my attention span. The typical guess the size of your belly with a yarn measurement and the not so typical, preggers or porn- where you guess the facial expression, orgasm or giving birth.. haha. All in all it was a short, sweet and successful time and would love to attend something like this again soon.

if blondes have more fun, then make way!

2011-06-03T10:58:00.000-07:00

more pics of hair soon! xo

switching gears

2011-06-02T11:37:00.001-07:00

Red American Apparel Dress, Black & White Stripe XXI Shirt & Boots, M20 bag

I decided to change it up and went for a more subtle version of my blonde hair. My sister in law Mola did a great job and these are the before pictures. I haven't photographed the results yet but I'll put it on my next post. Was pleasantly surprised with the response of the silly YouTube clip I posted on here, so my 2 favorite video guys from ABS-CBN (The Filipino Channel) did one for me. I'm definitely into this after seeing how quick and effortless they're able to do it. You can check out their side thing, Digital Box Productions. Oh and I bought a tambourine the other day so if anyone needs a percussion in your band- I'm your girl!

street smart

2011-05-30T12:04:00.000-07:00

h&m kimono, lf stores chandelier tank, zara shorts, jeffery campbell wedges

Went to Stinson Beach yesterday and laid out all day. So happy the sun decided to come out but I definitely could've done without the wind. We had a very cute picnic but sand got into everything- including my camera, hence the first photo where my lens cap trapped. I got this cool top from the LF in Miami, finally got some funner pictures from Bay to Breakers, Vegas Volt is now my new favorite lipstick and my friend just made this quick clip of me rolling my eyes around.

blushbaby

2011-05-28T22:15:00.000-07:00

LF Store emma & sam white top, vince cashmere infiniti scarf, pink jbrand capris, sam edelman boots

Once Was Love- Ingrid Michaelson

This song has been on repeat this past week. Had brunch at the front porch, shopping in Union Square and the Marina then suddenly it began to rain like cats and dogs out of nowhere. I've been digging colorful pants since the weather can be so unpredictable and these shoes are my new favorite thing to wear. This 3 day weekend has been quite eventful even if I didn't leave the city and am excited for another fun filled day manana with the other best friend. Love my girls to death.

happy hunting

2011-05-27T21:28:00.000-07:00

bayo denim shorts, sam edelman boots, american apparel hat, LF Store emma & sam top, M20 bag

If you hang out with me long enough, you'll notice I rarely carry a bag/purse. Often times I end up attempting to stuff just what I need into a very small pouch (ID, cash, debit card, lipstick, gloss, & gum) then end up carrying the excess (sunglasses, cell phone, etc.) by hand. I can't believe I've managed to do this for so long since it got pretty annoying having to hold it around and forgetting other important things, so I started to use a purse and my wallet again. I bought this at Nordstrom the other day and really wanted a cross body bag that wasn't too large since I hate big bags. Just the right size to fit all my needs, minimal hardware that's just to my liking and I feel organized when I dig through this bad boy.

Anyway, we checked out Off the Grid at Fort Mason in the Marina and if you're into food trucks, this is your heaven.

hello nikki store

2011-05-27T14:59:00.000-07:00

www.hellonikkistore.com

Finally had some time to post this up and list a bunch of highly requested items from my blog. Shop for a cause this Memorial Day Weekend!

100% of the final sale price will support American Cancer Society - California Division

About this nonprofit:
The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service. For more information, visit www.Cancer.org.

Happy Bidding!

xoxo