Fish & Crepes

Insight dress : Zara bag : vintage hat, belt, citrine ring : F21 seagull ring : Target sunnies : Marni wedges

I've never been a big fan of crepes, until I was introduced to Coco's. Dissapointingly, I had my most bleh crepe in Paris. So having my first bite of the smoked salmon, cream cheese, baby greens, and red onion capers savory crepe at this Houston establishment was quite a pleasant surprise. To this day, I still swear by the salmon crepe. With a perfectly sweetened soft outer shell mixed with the flavorful sourness of the capers and buttery texture of the raw salmon, this delicious bad boy really gets my mouth watering. The sweet crepes are not bad either. The first time I stopped in, I ate both a savory and sweet crepe. Bad idea. I was overly full. I've now learned to reduce my crepe intake to one a day. A true life lesson from when your eyes are bigger than your stomach.

Also, don't forget to enter my Marc by Marc Jacobs earrings giveaway which ends this Friday!

Marc Jacobs Giveaway

Yes, it's time for another giveaway!
This time I'm giving away this pair of sleek, silver Marc by Marc Jacobs logo heart earrings.

The giveaway is courtesy of DesignerApparel.com, which is a shopping search engine that carries hundreds of popular brands. They carry a huge selection from major labels like 7 for All Mankind and Theory to smaller labels like Carmen Marc Valvo.

I love how shopping online these days have become so much easier thanks to search engines like DesignerApparel.com. If you haven't checked out their site yet, you should definitely do so. They even help you find out when your favorite brands are on sale! Now, that's what I'm talking about.

To enter this giveaway which is open to all U.S., Canadian, and all other international readers:

1. Leave a comment telling me what your favorite label is and email address.

AND

2. Be a Follower on Google Friend Connect.

3. For an extra entry, post about this giveaway on your own blog. Please leave a link to your post in your comment.

The deadline for all entries is this Friday, Sept.3. I will announce the winner next Monday.

GOOD LUCK!

Def-Defying

Target fishtail tunic : Tripp NYC skinnies : leopard Docs from Etsy : headphones and guitar necklace from Harajuku Loft : F21 cross ring : diy bracelet : tortoise shell wayfarers from Target : thrifted vtg bucket bag

Whew! These past two weeks have been pretty much non-stop. Hubby had surgery a couple of weeks ago, and I've been helping him get better. I've also started a new job which I'm pretty excited about. No, it's not fashion-related but the place is a well-oiled machine, there's plenty of challenging projects to keep me busy, and they have two of these amazing Flavia machines which help during those mid-afternoon lulls. I have also managed to squeeze in some time for Houston Restaurant Week and hang outs with friends. Of course, being completely finished with school does help. It's so nice to not have to worry about reading for classes the next day. I actually have my nights open now to catch up with friends, watch those movies I've accumulated on my Netflix list, remind myself that there is other music besides the stash of old cds that have been sitting in my car, and finally work on those personal projects that I thought would be lost and forgotten.

So I've long been contemplating the Doc Martens trend but never really got to the point of buying a pair. I never wore them in my youth, but I did own some knock-off maroon ones with steel toes that were fun to intimidate and kick friends with. ;) So how surprised was I when I pulled the trigger on a pair I found on Etsy which just happened to be in my size. Perfectly worn in and in a fabulous leopard print! I can see myself pairing these with a nice monotone outfit in the fall and winter. I love the slight tackiness of the leopard juxtaposed with the classic-ness of the Docs. I didn't really want to wait til the weather got cooler to wear these, so I pulled something simple together to go with these somewhat audacious boots.

Tonight I'll be attending a Paul Mitchell hair show. I've never been to one, so I'm looking forward to seeing what it's all about. In my mind, I'm imagining some crazy Medusa-like hairstyles.

Stay tuned for a giveaway Monday that will be open to all my readers!

Pop that (Fur) Collar

Proenza Schouler "Cindy" Strap Wedge

Thakoon Wedge Boot

So glad (furry) boot season is just around the corner.

The Price of Minimalism

Vanessa Bruno double-layer top : Serfontaine shorts : Colonial Madness boots : thrifted bag and bracelets from The Guild Shop : citrine ring from Erica's Jewelry : Target wrap ring : Urban Outfitters bar ring : Skagen rose gold watch

I'm starting to feel that maybe less is more. Lately, I've been drawn to muted colors, clean lines, and drapey fabrics rather than the usual bright colors and whimsical prints. I'm going to go on a whim here and say that certain Scandinavian blogs and Kate Lanphear may have a hand in the evolution of my wardrobe. As I color code my closet (yes, I think I'm being more OCD as ever), I'm noticing a larger section of blacks, grays, and whites. I'm currently in the process of a closet transformation. Had a major overhaul down at Buffalo Exchange the other day and boy, did it feel satisfying to let all that go. Whatever doesn't sell gets donated which makes parting with the clothes that much easier knowing that they may go to a home that actually needs them.

French designers have also played a major part in my growing love for soft fabrics and effortless looks. Vanessa Bruno, Isabel Marant, and IRO are just some of my current designer faves.

And no, I still can't believe my luck in finding this Alexander "Diego" bag look-a-like (minus the studs). I've been looking for a bag in this same exact color and not only did I find one in the softest pebble leather but in great condition for only 6 bucks at my favorite resale shop. Seriously, I have decided that The Guild Shop is officially my treasure trove. I always seem to leave with something amazing.

It's in the Details

Les Petites Collection knit tank : Stephanie b. cardigan : Jeffrey Campbell wedges : UO studded bracelet : tiger eye necklace I made in high school

Did anybody else see the Jimmy Kimmel episode last week with Jason Schwartzman? I've had a crush on that boy since his days in Phantom Planet. He had me cracking up from that darn cheeto pin to all the ways he hopes to embarrass his unborn child. I would like to catch a glimpse of those bushy brows in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World soon. However, it seems to be rather difficult these days to get me out of the house and into a theater. (mmm... i love you netflix) Those who have already seen it- what did you think? Worth watching? Or save my dolares for a cheeto pin for myself?

Bye Bye Birdie

Eight Sixty pocket tank : LAMade grey tank underneath : Primp sweatshorts : Mickey Dee's necklace from local Japanese streetwear shop : spike bracelets from Invasion Shop

I know sweats are supposed to be fashionable these days, but for the most part, I think I will relinquish that trend for home and gym use. I did, however, find these sweet little sweatshorts with black faceted buttons on the side (which I forgot to photograph) and a swallow print that's visible when cuffed. Surprisingly, this outfit was hubby-approved so I sauntered out the door in my embellished sweatwear only to be later reprimanded by my mother for not wearing something "nicer". Oh, if only she knew how fashion forward this look was. One thing's for sure, I could easily mistake this outfit for my pj's in which case I think I'll try to sneak into bed in this very same outfit and see if the hubs notices.

After writing this post, I received an update from Madewell on a lovely pair of sweatpants. From afar, I didn't even realize they were sweat material until I read the title. These could easily blend in with a nice tailored shirt and blazer or even a blousey cropped top me thinks. I'm kinda achin' over that striped pattern and those zipper details. Sigh.

Eyes Made Out of Hearts

Target Boyfriend tee : Miss Sixty white jeans : Melissa wedges : Zara bucket purse : Raffaello Bettini hat : heart sunglasses from L.A.'s Farmer's Market

There are several bridges like this one in my neighborhood that overlook the freeway. You get a pretty amazing vantage point making it a popular place for protesters and the like. It can also be relaxing to just sit here and look up at the sky on a nice, clear day like this one. Unfortunately, one of these bridges is already marked with sadness after a skateboarder plunged to his death from it just last year. Goes to show that beauty and tragedy sometimes go hand and hand.

On a lighter note... for those who enjoy food as much as I do, I would like to introduce an extremely tasty blog, The Little Things, created by my soon-to-be-married friends, Val and Mani.

I love reading about their adventures as they come up with drool-inducing recipes and also whip up traditional favorites. I'm really hoping to have a little food get-together with these guys soon. This sweet couple really inspires me to get my hands down and dirty in the kitchen.

Thank you V and M for the award!

Shoe Lust

Brought to you by Guillaume Hinfray.

And then there's this pair of sandals which didn't seem to fit with the rest of them, but I adore nonetheless. Southwest meets pirate. Holy cow.