Crisp White

'Tis the season for a crisp new look. One of my favorite colors for the winter time is white. Especially if you live in an area where it's chilly, there's something so magical about the way that white looks against snow, as said by Eva Chen, editor for Lucky Magazine. I agree with Eva, you'd be looking monochromatic chic against the natural background. Try out some of these pieces this winter!

#1 - For the Warmer Climates

#2 - Zara Knock-Off

#3 - Sleek White Skinnies

Healthy Sugar Snaps

One of my most favorite veggies is the sugar snap pea. It has the perfect amount of sweetness and is delicious all on its own, but try this suuuuper simple recipe that will give your peas a bit of a kick. Perfect for when you want something simple and healthy!

What you will need:
- Sugar Snap Peas (Any amount)
- Salt & Pepper
- Garlic Salt
- 1-2 Minced Garlic Cloves (Optional)
- Olive Oil or Coconut Oil

Directions:
Make sure that your sugar snap peas are free of the coarse ends and stringy binding. Then wash them if you haven't already. Proceed to turn up your heat to high and set down your saute pan. When your pan is heated up, add your choice of healthy oil (sounds ironic...haha), then toss in your sugar snap peas. Sprinkle salt, pepper, and garlic salt to taste. The ratio of salt & pepper to garlic salt should be about 1:1. Try not to use too much regular salt since you are using garlic salt. Turn down your heat to medium or medium-high, depending on your stove. Then add your fresh minced garlic if you decided to use it. Cook the peas for a total of around 10 mins. Make sure the peas are still a bit crunchy but little more tender than when raw. Enjoy!

Place a napkin on your plate to draw away excess oil (Optional)

Friends Wandering Maui

This weekend was such a crazy whirlwind of two days. Saturday morning marked the start of my best friend, Solana, and I's adventure for her birthday. We settled into a cozy little French restaurant named La Provence. I ordered eggs benedict w/avo and bacon, which came with a side of greens; absolutely to DIE for! Our sweet tooths were definitely satisfied when we tasted the fruit tarts. Deeee-lish! With full tummies, we made our way to a couple of nearby farms (which had the cutest puppies!), then drove down to Paia Bay to soak up some sun. We were privileged enough to make little fishie friends who tried to clean us (quite scary actually). The day carried on as we walked over to the historic Paia Town for some baked tofu from Mana Foods and a Cajun Fish Burger from the Paia Fish Market. A little trip to Mahina was a nice little pick me up for our jewelry boxes. We then made our way back to her house where we relaxed and watched The Internship. Dylan O'Brien is just perf. Literally. Following up was some star gazing, which was a great way to seize the day. The next day consisted of nothingness and watching 500 Days of Summer. Let me just say a few words, Zooey Deschanel + Joseph Gordan-Levitt = Wonderful. The two of us got some dinner at Kula Bistro before I got home to a hot shower and sleep. Twas a great, eventful weekend that was much needed! Here are some photos, or shall I say, my descriptors.

Thanks for reading loves! -xoxo

Fall Trends 2013

As the weather gets colder and the sun begins to dim, it's time to think of our Fall 2013 wardrobe. Check out some things that will be trending this fall:

1. Holographic - If the idea of holographic clothes scare you (don't worry they scare me too), try a holographic clutch or shoes with a holographic sheen.
An example:        #1

2. Burgundy - Whether you wear this wine color in a maxi dress, skirt, shoes, bag, accessories, or on your lips, burgundy is sure to make a hit this season! If burgundy lipstick is too overbearing for you, try to find a raspberry color. Still fall chic!
Some examples:    #1 in Black Metal Dahlia       #2 in Mulberry - Wine        #3

3. Oversized Sweaters - Good thing these are gonna be in style, because they're super comfy! Try pairing your oversized sweater with leggings and either combat boots, high tops, or booties. You could even play up your oversized sweater by tucking it into a skirt and wearing some heels. Have fun with pairing your average sweater and turn it into a stylish fall basic!
Some examples:  #1      #2      #3

4. Camouflage - Just as last years "hipster craze" went on, camo is again going to be trending for the fall. Some people love to wear oversized camo jackets with high waisties, crop tops, and combat boots, but if you're not into camo print clothing, a good alternative would be an army green anorak or a camo accessory (like a bow!)
Some examples:  #1       #2       #3

Be trendy, and stay stylish this fall!

Healthy Breakfast Idea #1: Colorfun

This morning I made myself a healthy breakfast to satisfy my hunger and please my taste buds. Previously stated, I am not a nutritionist or expert on health, but I do research and read things about it. I hope that this recipe will help you or inspire you to make yourself a delicious, good for you, meal!


Colorfun Breakfast 

Ingredients for pumped up omelette:
- 3 eggs (2 yolks & 3 egg whites)
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- 1/8 tsp. Dried Oregano
- 1 tbsp. Almond Milk (Unsweetened)
- Handful of some kind of sprouts (alfalfa, clover, etc.,)
- Avocado slices (however much wanted)
- Hot Sauce (however much wanted) (optional)
- Olive Oil/Coconut Oil for cooking

Directions:
Beat together eggs, salt, pepper, oregano, and almond milk. Pour a tadbit of oil into a pan and cook the egg mixture as you would an omelet. Fold in half on plate. Sprinkle over sprouts and place avocado slices on top. Drizzle with hot sauce if desired.


Ingredients for fruit salad (what I used):
- 6-8 Blackberries
- 6-8 Raspberries
- Handful of Blueberries
- Half a nectarine cut into pieces

Directions:
Combine all desired fruits and enjoy.

Suggested Beverage:
Iced Green Tea


I hope this gave you all some kind of inspiration on what to eat for your next breakfast!

Recipe inspired by Solana HP

Street Style: Solana

  

Name: Solana

Where did you get the components for your outift? 

"The ombre shirt is from Forever 21, the floral shorts are from 

Old Navy, the bracelets are handmade by my mom, and 

the belt is from American Eagle."

Who inspires you, fashion wise?

Youtubers: 

Jenn Im (Clothesencounters) 

Bethany Mota (Macbarbie07)

Alexa Losey (Smokeypinkleopard) 

Celebrity: 

Lauren Conrad

How would you describe your style?

"I would consider my style to be a mix between 

girly and casual with a hint of soft grunge."

Is there anything you have to say about fashion and style?

"Fashion and different styles really excite me because you can really show your personality through what you wear and in ways it can be a great creative outlet because you can play with different styles and accessories, it just makes me really happy."

Tips & Tricks

I'm not the healthiest person, and I'm in no way any type of dietitian or nutritionist, but here are some tips and tricks that I've recollected on my journey of weight loss.
For the record, I do not believe that everyone needs to be completely skinny as society intends; I do however believe firmly in a healthy lifestyle. Exercising and eating things that are good for you, can only help you. And if you're healthy and you feel alright with your body, then that is all that matters!

Tip #1 - Try to eat 5 tiny meals a day instead of 3 large meals.
Tip #2 - Eat slowly; savor your food.
Tip #3 - Instead of just counting calories try to look more at the total fat, total carbohydrates, sugar, and sodium.
Tip #4 - Drink cold water when you first wake up.
Tip #5 - Monitor your intake of starches (rice, potatoes, bread).
Tip #6 - Stay away from fried/processed foods.
Tip #7 - Exercise as much as you can!
Blogilates is a youtube fitness sensation right now and I myself, love her and her workout videos. It's easier to exercise when you have some motivation (a friend to exercise with, someone to egg you on about pushing yourself, thinking of your dream body)!

Hope these little tips & tricks helped or taught you something!
-xoxo

Summer Fashion Obsessions

I have been obsessed with quite a few things this summer. For the past 2 months I've come to love new things and things that have been around for some time. Anyways, in no particular order, I present to you my understandable, or maybe even frivolous, list of summer faves!

1. Daisies - I have no idea what it is about this simple flower that gives everything a bit of spunk. Whether it be a few daisies bundled in a vase, some daisy earrings, or my personal favorite, daisy printed clothing, I can't get enough of it. They're just so cute and dainty! I recently purchased this adorable tan colored dress from Wet Seal. To be honest, I don't usually shop at Wet Seal, but occasionally I find some really neat pieces (like this one!) The top portion is a bit sheer and embroidered daisies pepper it to give the dress a vintage feel. And for only $15? Why not?

2. Cut Out Dresses - I think there's something about dresses with simple cutouts, that really bring in an element of thoughtfulness. Nowadays there are plenty of options for where you want the cutouts to be. You can be daring and try out a dress with cutouts from below the breast, stretching to the hip, or you could try something less outgoing. In length, I really do love midsection cutouts on dresses for the summer!

*A dress that has the cutouts I like!         *Less Daring Cutout Dress       *Daring Cutout Dress

3. Messenger/Crossbody Bags - This one isn't just a summer favorite for me, but recently I've been finding it more useful. They're so easy to wear and they allow you to keep your hands free and your arms free of strain. Although there are many types to choose from, larger messenger/crossbody bags are great casual pieces to wear around in the day. And not to mention that any type of longer strapped bag, when worn, can trick the eye into visibly reducing the shortness of your shorts/skirts! (Definitely a plus for wearing short shorts in the summer heat!) 

Here are some ideas for cute messenger/crossbody bags:   #1   #2  

      The strap on this one is a bit shorter!   ------>                       #3

Birthday Shennanigans

On July 22nd, the night before my birthday, a couple of friends and I stayed up through the night. At 4:30am we headed out to see the sunrise at the top of Haleakala Mountain in Maui, Hawaii. Our car coursed its way through the darkness and made its way to the summit. I've never quite seen something as scenically beautiful as the sunrise from the top of a mountain! It was truly breathtaking. After watching the sun wiggle its way into the sky, we lounged around the gift shop and then headed off to breakfast at a little place called "Grandma's Coffee House." The food was absolutely delicious alongside a steaming hot cup of tea. But of course it was still the early morning! So we made our way to the Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm and walked around in the garden. We topped off the start of the day with a trip to the strawberry farm, where we got delicious strawberry lemonade and played with some cute bunnies! 16th Birthday = Major Success. Here are some snippets to guide the story along!

Seoul Fashion Week F/W 2013

I know I'm very late on this, but it's better late than never! When I was in South Korea, the Seoul Fashion Week was going on for Fall/Winter 2013. There were some very interesting designs that were unique in their own way. Fashion is a broad statement in the world we live in. Korean designers set themselves apart from American designers while maintaining a certain similar feng shui. One of my favorites was this elegant trench style dress from Vack Yuunzung.

Summer Beauty Favorites

1. Garnier Fructis BB Cream   2. Sephora Cream Lipstick in Mr. Lover   3. Maybelline Line Stilleto   4. Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Sunscreen   5. Benetint   6. Simple Radiance Cleansing Wipes

Style Steal: Miley Cyrus

Known for her daring style, and often perceived as hipster, Miley Cyrus can make simple look chic. One of my favorite, simple go to outfits inspired by Miley, is one that's pretty popular these days. Be effortlessly breezy with either a crop top or tank, high waisties, a plaid flannel tied 'round the waist, and some comfy kicks. Remember, don't let this sweltering weather force you to sacrifice your style; be chic always~

afflatusphere.polyvore.com

Hiking the Morning Away

One of these days during summer, I decided that I'd lose my hiking virginity. I've never been hiking, ever, at all, and not relatively close. I thought I was going to die [add sarcastic head roll here] and keel over, right off the side of the cliff. However, when I had finished after about 2 1/2 to 3 hours of hiking, I felt completely accomplished and happy that I got some source of exercise (my healthy eating has been going on break as well, yikes!). Here are a few photos that I took from the top of the mountain.

The Lahaina Pali Trail - Maui, Hawaii

Summer 2013: South Korea

Hello lovelies! For the whole month of June I was privileged enough to visit South Korea. I explored both the countryside and the city, and I can definitely say, the atmosphere there is truly breathtaking.

The city was particularly my favorite, and what's a trip to Korea without going to Seoul? The main hub for everything in South Korea would undoubtedly be that miraculous city. Here are some photos I took while I enjoyed my stay-