Something To Try

Lately I've noticed that I have become increasingly interested in cooking and baking. Perhaps it's because I will be moving in with my boyfriend (this weekend!) and want to impress him with faboosh cooking skills.

As of now, my specialities are cheese omelets and funfetti cupcakes... which is not saying a whole lot!

But I am decent in the kitchen, and have always been my mom and grandma's aid during the holidays! I love watching cooking shows and can definitely do the basics, but I think it is time for me to really cook more. Like cooking from scratch... not boil water and put the pre-made ravioli in.

Here is a fun recipe that I saw on a domestic chic blog called Atlantis Home. Granted, it is a quesadilla, but at least it's a start!

BRIE, APPLE and ARUGULA QUESADILLAS

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 teaspoons apple cider

3 flour tortillas (white or whole wheat)

6 ounces Brie cheese, rind removed and cut into 1/4 inch thick slices

1 fuji apple, cored, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch thick slices

3 cups arugula

3/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Combine mustard and cider in a small bowl; stir well.

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Spread each tortilla with about 1 1/2 teaspoon of the mustard mixture. Place one tortilla mustard side up, in pan. Arrange one-third of cheese slices over half of tortilla; cook 1 minute or until cheese begins to melt. Arrange one third of apple slices over cheese; top with 1 cup of arugula. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Cook 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Repeat process with remaining two tortillas.

Yummy!

Jeff Koons for Kiehl's

Talk about a master collabo! Renowned pop artist Jeff Koons is teaming up with a-list apothecary Kiehl's to create a line of special edition products that supports the Koons Familiy Institute, a non-profit organization for missing and exploited children.

Woo hoo! Can't wait. Def gotta get me some animal balloon body butter.

Below, Jeff Koons balloon dog and balloon flower installation at Versailles Palace 2008 pop art exhibit.

The Adversary

"The enemy is a very good teacher."

- The Dalai Lama

Hawaiian Oasis

It's been a week since I've last blogged! Feels like ages!

Truth is, my sister and I went on a girls only getaway to Hawaii. We were in Honolulu for four nights and five days and it was the most relaxing, rejuvenating vacation I've ever been on! Basically we laid out by the pool + beach, shopped, and ate. Joy, in so many forms.

I took a well needed break from my laptop and on day 3 my Blackberry broke! I was completely unplugged from technology.. a detox from my fast paced texting-while-doing-everything LA lifestyle.

We stayed at the Westin Moana Surfrider Hotel, one of the oldest hotels on Oahu, pictured below, which is absolutely stunning. Falling asleep while hearing the waves crash is so peaceful. I was in heaven..

VACATION HIGHLIGHTS

~ Orchid leis
~ Non-stop laughter with my sister
~ POG juice at sunset, which mind you is the most amazing taste (besides black truffle) in the WORLD!

~ Shopping in Waikiki Village. I bought this amazing puff sleeve silk dress from Juicy Couture, $248 here (I justified this purchase because the sales tax in Hawaii is like 4%. Oh how I saved!)

~ Ordering and watching two movies in our big white hotel beds: 'Valentine's Day' and 'The Kids Are Alright'. Both uh-may-zing.
~ Spa treatments in the ocean front spa. The spa lounge had fruits and teas and these adorable White Lion honey pearls, which are exactly what you think they are.. little pearls of shimmery honey. So fancy and delicious! ~

And now... BACK TO WORK!

Sky Of The Sky

I was watching 'In Her Shoes' tonight (best movie ever by the way), and it inspired me to share this poem by E.E. Cummings, that Cameron Diaz's character Maggie reads in the last scene at the wedding. It is so beautiful - it speaks volumes...

I Carry Your Heart With Me by E E Cummings

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

Upgrade Of The Day: Fresh Flowers

There is nothing I love more than fresh flowers. Roses, orchids, peonies, and rananculus are my absolute favorite! As well as sunflowers, lilies, gardenia, hydrangeas, lilac... the list can go on forever.

I really think that flowers are some of God's best work.

Today, add some LIFE to your life! Splurge on yourself... get a dozen!

And when the flowers begin to wilt, dry them by tying them into a bundle with a ribbon and turning them upside down... and voila! Enjoy forever!

Butterfly Girl

"If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies."

- Author Unknown

Room Service

Megan Fox for Armani Jeans vid = steamy

Red Hot Scarlett

Scarlett Johansson in Mango's new fall ad campaign. These images inspire two ideas: 1. go to the gym 2. get excited for chunky winter knits and sweaters

Splurge or Save: Chain Embellished Bag

$19.80 or $170? Can you guess which is which?

Left: $170 Antik Batik 'Louise' pouch bag at Net-a-Porter,

Right: $19.80 Forever21 chain fringe bag

And on a complete side note, I really want this Reed Krakoff boxer alligator bag. Price tag: $6,999. A girl can only dream...

Mouna Crystal Headband

As seen on Emily from Cupcakes and Cashmere. So friggin' cute on her!!!

Crystal starbursts shine as they line this elastic headband. This is one of our most spectacular head pieces. Perfect for holiday, a night on the town, or a way to dress up jeans and a tee, this headband is an instant wardrobe staple. Choose from black or nude elastic band.

$168 at Love Berman. Enter coupon code: cupcakes at checkout to receive 15% of your entire order!

Good Deed Of The Day: Send White Light

When you hear and see an ambulance zoom by you in traffic, take a moment to breathe deeply and send that ambulance healing energy and Light. Somewhere someone is suffering or in danger. The shift in your consciousness, even for 5 seconds, will help to heal that person tremendously, and in turn heal a small part of the world.

Silent Meditation

Photos of Angelina over the years..

Higher Power.

Two Foods Two Places

With no particular theme or order of importance, these few simple discoveries have made my life so much richer:

1. Morning Star Veggie Bacon

Everyone who I've turned on to this veggie bacon now swears by it! Even my meat-eater boyfriend loves it! It is the most addictive delicious salty treat! Plus there's zero fat and only 60 calories per serving.

2. Nordstrom Rack

Hello $59 J Brand skinny jeans! Other N.Rack treasures include: $7 Hanky Pankies, $600 Alice+Olivia dress marked down to $100, and seasonal Stila makeup for half the price!

3. Pho Siam Thai Spa

$50 for a one hour massage. This Thai spa is a hidden gem - the best in LA! I love going to Burke Williams, but sometimes you wanna treat yourself without the financial guilt. Pho Siam in Silverlake is legit ladies! They also offer a $60 one hour Dermalogica brand facial.

4. 'Miss Meringue' Vanilla Meringue Fat-Free Minis

I ate half a tub last night. Woops. They're part crunchy/part melts in your mouth. Sweet yet airy... Mmm mmm! Lots of yummy flavors at Whole Foods (vanilla's the best!). Must try NOW!

Fashion's Night Out

Last night several metropolitan cities celebrated Fashion's Night Out, and while the main event took place in NYC, Los Angeles and London also celebrated with lots of parties and festivities.

I attended Fred Segal's Fashion's Night Out with my theester, Sari. It was the perfect girls night out. Fred Segal after all is my no. 1 all time favorite store plus they carry my line of crystal hair accessories. And the night was epic! A shopping party on a Friday night fueled by an open bar and live DJ?! What could be better!

I bought one of these amazing bracelets by Mary Kate Steinmiller, $75 each at Nina at Fred Segal. And although I could probably make these myself (for 5 bucks!!), I really loved them and decided to treat myself. I also like supporting other designers that I admire.

Shabby Chic/Country + a hint of crystal sparkle = me.

I also treated myself to two sweaters by Romeo and Juliet Couture: one buff colored cashmere pullover, and a long sleeve gauzy white top. Both gorgeous for fall!

I woke up this morning at a ridiculously early time (8:30am) I think because I was so excited about my purchases. Happy weekend everyone!

Death By Pedicure Tub

Absolutely tragic.

The girl sitting next to me at the nail shop, uncrossed her legs while getting a pedicure and her Blackberry fell into the pedicure tub and sizzled to its death!

I was in the next chair over tryin' out Essie's new Little Brown Dress (this season's it color) and flipping through a magazine... it was as if I saw it all go down in slow motion! Legs uncross... phone slides down leg... kerplunk! Splash! Tears of agony. Terrible.

So I thought to share the anecdote as a forewarning to my fellow pedicure-texters... it's a jungle out there! Be careful!

Confessions Of A Concealaholic

Whoever thinks of this shit (and the OPI names) is f**king brilliant.

'Confessions of a Concealaholic' is a group I should probably belong to, considering my serious makeup problem. Well, it's not realllly a problem, but I do buy more makeup than I know what to do with, am constantly being honked at for doing my makeup behind the wheel (see here), and getting into all kinds of trouble at the movies (see here).

I love Benefit. They are simply the best at creating witty cosmetic packaging.

Check these out:

Confessions of a Concealaholic, concealer kit, $36 by Benefit.

Girl Meets Pearl, illuminating highlighter stick, $30 by Benefit.

Want them both. Now.

Home Sweet Hollywood Hills

Finding a new place to live might be one of the most stressful and challenging things to do! EVER!

My boyfriend and I are moving in together and have been looking at places for the past 3 months. From Westside Rentals to real estate brokers, we must have looked at 100 different places! Nothing 'fit'.

Then one day, we were clicking around on Craigslist and saw a listing for a gorgeous house for a price so affordable we thought it had to be too good to be true! We decided to drive by the house to make sure that the address was legitimate. As we pull up to the Spanish style house, I start to get the chills.. yup, this is our house.. It is beautiful! Maple trees, and buganvilias grow over archways, rustic white shutters, and Mediterranean red clay tiling. We are in love!

Like crazy people, my boyfriend is hoisting me up so I can look over a wall to see more. We nearly collapse into the bushes as passersby look at us with suspicion, so we decide to halt our CIA style investigation and call the phone number on the for lease sign to get more information. We find out that the Craigslist post was a scam, and that the asking price for this house is TEN times what we thought it was. Hearing our disappointment and feeling hopeless, the realtor on the phone assures us that he would help us find a great place within our price range.

And so the following weekend, we have several addresses and open houses to visit. We spend the whole morning driving around, scoping out possibilities. Towards the end of the day, we come to a house in the Hollywood Hills. It looks promising but we can't really tell, so we get out of the car to examine the exterior.

At this point, I really have to pee! Like REALLY BAD. We've been driving around town for hours and sipping on Venti iced coffees. My boyfriend has to pee too! We give each other devilish looks. It is very remote where we are. Lots of land and trees. No one around...

loud whisper: 'Should I pop a squat? I'm gonna pee my pants!'

bf: 'Yeah, good idea babe. You walk up there a ways, and I'll keep a look out, and then, I'll go.'

me: 'No, I'm scared. Just come pee with me.'

bf: 'Okay fine.'

me: 'But don't look at me!! Turn around!!!'

So here we are. In the nicest part of the Hollywood Hills... Peeing. Together. In broad daylight.

20 days later, that house is ours. We signed the paperwork and everything! You know how dogs mark their territory... well, I'm convinced that our peeing on this property was a good omen. After months of searching, stressing, and cottage cheese ceilings, we finally found our home. A gorgeous house in the hills complete with a sparkling city view.

Home sweet home indeed.

Going Native

Tribal and aztec prints are all the rage right now. Truth be told, I've always been a fan of the funky bohemian look, and these key pieces reaffirm my love for all things Aborigines. Check it out!

Tribal one sleeve dress, Torn by Ronny Kobo, $110 at ShopBop

Simone Camille 'Amora' bag $1,860 at Simone Camille

Forever 21 multi-print top, $22.80 at Forever21

Hand woven 'Plateau Basket RP25' by African artisan, $44 at Indego Africa

Matthew Williamson aztec print scarf, $395 at Net-A-Porter

Rule Breaker

If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun.
- Katharine Hepburn