Guest Blogger: Pretty Little World

Pretty.Little.World is oh so pretty, and rocks my socks on a daily basis...


What is your current obsession?

I have two current obsessions: One is saying the word "awesome" every chance I can squeeze it into a sentence. I go through periods in which I have a favorite word, and most of the time I don't really know where it comes from. It just crops up and is there until something else equally ridiculous replaces it. One of these days I'm hoping that it will be a curse word, because I've since I first saw the Showtime show, "Dexter," I've decided that I needed to swear more in day-to-day conversation.

The second is buying bags. I don't know if this counts as an obsession, because it's not new, but I'm always looking at them, and I always want new ones, so that's sort of obsession-y. Here are a couple of my current favorites:




I realize that the LV Multicolor Speedy isn't anything new, but I just swoon every time I see those little candy-colored letters! The Chloe Saskia is a close second though. I didn't like this bag when I first saw it, but now its strangeness has kind of grown on me.


What are you wearing today?

Today I'm wearing my fav. blue linen shorts from Express. It took me absolutely forever to find a pair of shorts that I loved, but these were certainly worth the wait. (And they were on sale for $29.99!!). I paired them with a white and orange-y-red striped top from Target -- it has 3/4 length sleeves and makes me feel very French-chic. I would post a picture, but alas, getting a new house ready to move into has take a toll on my hair and "pretty time."

What are you listening to right now?

Right at this very moment, I'm listening to NPR. This always seems to be on my house. In terms of the kind of music I'm listening to, I keep going back to She & Him, Volume I. Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward are magic together. I'm never bored listening to that CD.

Who is Your Style Icon?

My style icon is certainly Diane Kruger. This girl absolutely never.ever makes a fashion mis-step. It really doesn't matter whether she's on the red carpet or walking to pick up groceries, she look phenomenal!






What Trend Are You Most Looking Forward To?



Fall fur. Whether it be real or faux, fur jackets, coats, boleros, scarves, vests, whatever...can have this stunning bohemian look to it. And it doesn't really matter what you have on underneath -- jeans, riding boots, a tee -- or if you have messy hair and no make-up -- you're going to look fabulous. If designer furs are out of your price range, vintage and thrift stores are great alternatives to finding pieces for under $150.00. And if you're firmly in the "no real fur" camp, lots of shops like H&M, Express, and TopShop do some really cute faux pieces!

Guest Blogger: Modelizing

I was bi-coastal for a while... Splitting time between Los Angeles, and NYC (and Westport, CT), soo much fun. I loved wandering around the city aimlessly, can't really do that in LA. Anyways, the thing I miss most is the window displays! So when I came across the blog Modelizing, I was stoked, then obsessed. I spent hours on the computer, going all the way back to her first post. The pictures conjure up tons of good memories. Check it out!

What made you start Modelizing?

I started Modelizing going into my Senior year at Parsons after I moved to the Upper East Side. I was taking the full course load, 19 credits, shooting 4 days a week, interning for Ryan McGinley, and even had a job during half of the semester. I wanted to escape and came up with shooting windows because they made me happy and it was the one thing I could do alone when it came to shooting fashion.

Any particular store consistently have your favorite displays?

Bergdorf Goodman, hands down. It's like an editorial shoot weekly. I don't know how they do it, but I like the fact that they are so consistently amazing. When it comes to non-department stores it's all about Valentino, which is usually incredible and innovative, as well as Calvin Klein. I also love shooting McQueen, but it's more about the clothes since there usually isn't a mind blowing display outside of it's usual 4 mannequins in a row.

McQueen smoking jacket

Your favorite designers?
That is an incredibly long and complicated list. But I will always love Tom Ford, I would love a suit from his store with some amazing sunglasses. I think I could rock it well even though he only does menswear these days. Karl Lagerfeld, Calvin Klein, Alber Elbaz for Lanvin, Helmet Lang, Ralph Lauren, anyone that can make an amazing pair of skinny black jeans/ J Brand for all of my ink coloured skinny jeans, Jil Sander, McQueen, Donna Karan, Donatella Versace, and Hedi Slimane for Dior Homme. That's the cliff notes main stream version, but I could honestly go on forever and bore people to tears.


Any Fall trends you're looking forward to?

I'm not a trends person, I've stopped reading style.com/looking at runway stuff because I like the windows to surprise me. It's weird but it works, otherwise I'd be bored by the time I saw it in person and wouldn't shoot it with the same sort of curiosity.

Guest Blogger: A Piece of Paper Beside the Bed

A Piece of Paper Beside the Bed the name of this blog alone conjures special feelings in me. My best thoughts are just before bed/right after I wake up. I tend to scribble them down, hoping they make sense/sound just as good later on... Well anyway, this blog is awesome at any time of day. Light on words, heavy on dreamy, stylish photos,Natty, answered a few questions for me check it out!




What is your current obsession?
Right now my blog Oh my god is like ice-cream for me (so delicious),
and finding & discover new things every day is like a game that I love playing.

What are you wearing right know?
Booties + a long sweater with my big ring.



Style Icon?
The goddess Mary–kate olsen.

What trend are you looking forward to?

Actually I looking for a pink bathing suit for summer & a Balenciaga ankle boots.
Do you now where I can find it?



What are you listening to right now?

I like Kenna, Estelle, bonnie baileys, Iio, Sean Paul
Crookers, Pharrell and many more.
I like to listen every day new songs so I changes a Lot,
But now the songs that I can no stop listening are
- American boy – kayne west ft Estelle
- Electropop - jupiter rising
- Come over – sean paul estelle
- Sun Red Sky Blue – Kenna
- Great Dj – Ting tings
- Ever After – bonnie baylies
- Your love – Outfield
- Trilogy - kelis
- Take You There - Sean Kingston

Guest Blogger: What's In Your Pantry

This blog makes me want to eat well all the time! When I have a craving for the naughty stuff, I go straight to What's in Your Pantry. It's like food porn. She makes healthy eating feel attainable. Sometimes books/recipes are a bit far fetched for the average person, not here though. Oh! and She's making her own Kombucha . You go girl! (I know I know I'm way too excited about the damn kombucha...) Yooli was gracious enough to answer a few questions. Enjoy. Thanks Yooli!

What made you start What's in Your Pantry?

I started my blog back in 2007 when I was working as policy aide for Congress and moonlighting as a personal chef during my nights and weekends. I needed an escape from my high-pressure day job and I wanted a place where my personal chef clients could go to look up a lot of the recipes I prepared for them on a weekly basis.

The original concept was a blog for foodies on a budget - the idea being that a well-stocked pantry and fresh quality meat and produce (purchased on sale or at the farmer’s market) could yield really satisfying meals that any budding gourmet could be proud of.

But then my life turned upside down! I quit my job, moved back to my homestate of California and started my first year of law school at UC Davis School of Law. After a really unhealthy first semester filled with pizza, beer, late night junk food binges and lots of soda consumption, I dragged myself home at Christmas 15 pounds heavier and battling acne for the first time in years! Once the New Year hit, I realized I would be turning 28 and needed to make smarter lifestyle choices. So as my diet and approach to eating changed, so did my blog.

So now What’s In Your Pantry? mostly focuses on healthy eating and my constant rambling thoughts on what exactly that means. (Does “eating healthy” include meat? Dairy? Soy? Conventional produce or organic? Local or not?) But despite these changes, I’ve tried to keep to the fundamental concepts of the original What’s In Your Pantry: sharing recipes for fresh, delicious meals while keeping an eye on the bottom line. My diet and recipes continue to evolve, so I’m excited to see where my blog will go next. Hopefully all of you will like them. Stay tuned!

What's your favorite thing to eat right now?

Right now, its all about amazing summer produce. Cherries, melons, apricots, avocados, corn and the first summer tomatoes. I can’t get enough!



Favorite cookbook/show/blog?

Oh wow, this is a really hard question! I don’t watch television very often, but I do enjoy catching the Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network. I love her unassuming style and she has simple, easy recipes that always work. In the age of over-animated, gimicky food stars, Ina Garten remains calm and pulled-together. I love that.

I don’t buy many cookbooks because I usually just riff in the kitchen based on what I have on hand. However, Heidi Swanson’s 101 Cookbooks website is a treasure trove of simple, natural, wholesome plant-based recipes that I adore. I am going to get her Super Natural Cooking book soon!

As for blogs – goodness, there are so many amazing blogs out there I can’t pick just one! But here is a cross-section of food blogs I read regularly: Orangette, LovIn My Tummy, Care to Eat, Simply Recipes, Dorie Greenspan, David Lebovitz, Wednesday Chef, The Kitchn, The Fitnessista, Pioneer Woman and Smitten Kitchen.

Did you grow up eating mostly organic/plant based foods?

As a Korean-American, I definitely grew up eating a lot of plant based foods. I don’t think I ever had an issue with eating my veggies because they were in everything, at every meal. Organic foods were more my own thing. I got into organics and gardening in 2000 after interning for Long Beach Organic, an amazing non-profit near my hometown that created organic urban gardens in blighted areas. I’ve always tried to buy organically whenever I could afford it, but up until recently, its always been an irregular habit. Right now, I’m trying to switch over completely to organics and figure out a way to eat as organically and locally as possible, while sticking to my budget.

Have you had a chance to visit local farmers Markets around the country, if so how do they compare to totally rad Northern CA?

I’ve been really lucky to have always lived in areas with amazing farmer’s markets. I grew up in LA, so I don’t have to tell you how easy it is to get to great markets in So.Cal! In Washington, D.C., where I lived most recently, farmers markets and CSA programs thrive. D.C. is literally less than an hour away from farmland in every direction. So places like the Arlington Farmer’s Market were always awesome to visit on Saturday mornings. And I like to visit markets wherever I travel – New York, Paris, Rome, Florence, Amsterdam, Seoul, etc. There are amazing markets every where, in every city. For me, its the best way to get a feel for a new city!

I think Northern California gets a lot of respect for its markets because the farmer’s market/organic/local foodie culture has been around longer than in other places, and so eating seasonally, locally and organically is just easier. Here in Davis, we have our farmer’s market twice a week and we have an amazing food co-op that stocks all the best foods from around the state. That’s definitely not the case everywhere, so I feel really grateful to live in such a health and eco-conscious town.

What's your favorite guilty pleasure food?

White rice and noodles. What can I say? I’m Korean. As much as I love whole grains, sometimes I just want a huge platter of white carbs. When I’m feeling the need, I go to the Chinese place around the corner and get a big plate of pan-fried noodles or make some fried rice at home. Its my comfort food.

All images via What's in Your Pantry?

Guest Blogger: Carolina Eclectic

I had the pleasure of asking Carolina of Carolina Eclectic Interior Design some questions. She has a colorful/cunning/clever blog, that consistently inspires me. (my alliteration for the day)

When did you realize you wanted to be an interior decorator?
Growing up my parents owned a series of rental properties. When they first started they could only afford to have one house, which was the one we lived in. They would buy rundown houses and would remodel them while we lived in it. As soon as it was done, they would rent it and we would move into another rundown house. Needless, to say I had an early exposure to construction and redecorating. Also, I always knew I wanted to work in a career that would allow me to be creative. I thought about being a fashion designer, graphic designer, photographer, even a singer. (Not that I'm that great of a singer). When I was 15 or 16 years old, a woman my mom worked for brought in an amazing designer to completely remodel her house. The designer was also an artist. Besides making an amazing modern home, he also added cool handpainted touches throughout the house. The instant I walked in and saw the finished product, I thought "This is it! This is what I'm going to do!"

Favorite neighborhood restaurant?
My favorite restaurant is a place called Brasil Cafe here in Houston. Its the most inspiring place in Houston! Any time I'm stressed or need some time to get inspired, I go over there and sit for as long as I need. I'm completely addicted to it! I included a link to some of my photos of it. Even the light is perfect there, so I take many, many photos there



How do you know when it's time to redecorate in your own home?
I know its time to redecorate when something is driving me crazy! I always examine every space whenever I walk by it. In other words, EVERY time I look at it, I'm thinking it over. It can be insane. So when I no longer enjoy the way a room is put together, I get to moving it around.

Best decorating tip you've ever been given?
I would say the best piece of decorating advice I have ever received is collect any image of a room that grabs your attention. I love to tell people to do this. I find that our subconscious has a clear image of what appeals to each of us. When you collect photos that catch your eye, you quickly set up a pattern. Its a great way decide what sort of look works for you.

Most Cherished piece?
Funny enough, as much as I love furniture; I can be very unsentimental about objects. At any given moment I can be ready to to trade anything in my house! I think if there were something I would not want to trade it would be my Midcentury desk that I work on every day. Its a beautiful piece! It reminds me of a cool building and it I love its woodgrain. I found it about 8 years ago at a garage sale. They were selling it for $30.00. I convinced them to sell it to me for $20 and they even delivered it! My husband and I laughed about that for a long time:)
Here is a picture of it:

Guest Blogger: Refined Palate

Refined Palate is my go to date night adviser, her recent review of my personal favorite Craft (and Craftbar) made me pick up the phone and rally a couple of girlfriends together for an impromptu night out. Her knowledge of food, the way she describes it and captures it in photos is sublime. Liz was kind enough to answer a few questions for me and send along her favorite photo of Michel Richard eating her brownie! Check Refined Palate out, especially if you live in Los Angeles, you'll never wonder where to go for a meal again!

1. What's your favorite restaurant right now?
French Laundry, Manresa, Urasawa and Providence

2. What's your favorite meal to cook?
I love to cook multi course meals

3. What makes an establishment unique?
A chef who is dedicated to his craft and respects his ingredients

4. Do you look forward to any particular season (truffles, summer fruits etc)?
I just love good food!

Guest Blogger: Style Copycat

Another one of my favorite bloggers, was gracious enough to answer a few questions for you guys... Su of Style Copycat. She has a supernatural ability, to hunt/gather street style photos that all share a common denominator. Her blog is nothing short of amazing. They're so many street style photos out there, it's so nice to go to Style Copycat and look at people from all over the world wearing a similar item in similar ways; but, of course with their own special quirks.

Thanks for your work Su!

Why did you start your blog?

I can say I started it by chance, as I never thought to have my own blog, so the reason why can sound a little strange. I have been working in the fashion business as coolhunter, stylist and designer for the last 8 years, so I visit often street style and personal blogs and keep hundreds of pictures in my computer. Some months ago I was working in a communication project for a museum and we had to design a blog for them. I wanted to make some tests before, so I create a trends blog that was the easier for me as I had those hundreds of pictures about street style. I made 4 or 5 posts for the test, and I was so surprised about the hundreds of visits and positive comments in just a few days, so I decided to go on.There is a lot of people that don't want or don't have time to visit many street style or fashion blogs everyday, so I try to put everything together and make it easy.

Favorite Style Icons?

I think I don't have any style icon, I mean I am not a real fan of any celebrity or it girl, I get easily fed up of them, I prefer anonymous people and bloggers.

Your Most Cherished Item?

I love specially bags and shoes more than clothes, but I think my favourite item is a black cropped leather jacket fropm some seasons ago, it is just perfect with everything.

What's first thing you notice in a person's outfit?

Never thought about that...but I think shoes, a good pair of shoes make th 90% of a good outfit.

Favorite designers?

So many! Alber Elbaz, Phoebe Philo, Cristina Ortiz...

Guest Blogger: Rich Hippie

My first guest blogger... Rich Hippie. She's super cute, from across The Pond and reminds me of a younger, cooler, British version of myself. She runs an awesome blog, and has her very own Rock n Roll style goin on, check her out. Oh and Rich Hippie, can you tell Topshop to hurry up and come to LA for me please??


1. Fave style icon?
I don’t have a style Icon, I just have my every now and then obsessions, at the moment it’s the entire cast of My so called life. I believe that I’m not influenced by appearance per say but by character. If you have an attractive mind, or the way you carry yourself, like do you play with your hair when you talk and how to walk...stupid shit, but that’s what truly makes you beautiful and unique....and then afterwards I just happen to pick up on something I like.

Music may be my most obvious references, but I don’t like being to literal, so yeah, music, the mentally ill and cats inspire me...... to sum things up.

2. At what age did you start developing your own style?
pretty much from the moment my mom allowed me to dress myself. It’s however changed about a billion times since then. I’ve been the wannabe princess that would only wear dresses to school, quirky and miss matched (but that’s mostly influenced by the horrible 90’s and how my mom used to dress me) and then to matchy!! I have this jacket covered with daisies (there’s a pic of it somewhere on my blog) that’s 12 years old and I had matching pants which my mom bought from H&M, wore it to my class photo in second grade. Tom Boy for a while (during puberty I declared me never becoming a girly girl) and the face where id only where something with a number on, then emo, punk, break-dancer (id always show my belly button) girly girl, preppy, Gossip girl, hippie, and now well I don’t know what I’m doing, just like my personality, my style belongs to a schizophrenic.

3. Where do you like to shop?
hmmm....im going to guess TOPSHOP

4. Favorite piece right now and why?
Denim shirt and Doc Martens

5. Most favorite trend you're looking forward to?
I don’t like trends, being trendy is character suicide. This fall I’m forward to trying out a peek-a-boo concept as showcased by Stella McCartney. Cuts and gaps in clothing either showing flesh or exposing a more sophisticated sex with lace....something like that....

Well, I’d like to avoid trying to define my blog. It used to be about style trends and everything glam, but I’ve been to lazy and then refrained from being too focused on everything Vogue, cuz in order to become those girls you read about so much you have to find yourself and what you feel comfortable in. Being weird and out of this world is not how those phrased to be so, look at themselves as.

So my blog is pretty much all about why I am the way I am and how I came to this. I am brutally honest and don’t believe in sugar coating things. I’m not a people pleaser so I’m not afraid of people hating me especially when that person makes me question my character. It’s about everything I love, but mostly about everyone I hate......THE END