Questions From A Fellow Blogger

The Thinker by Auguste Rodin via Damforst Museum

Blogger Laura from Under The Sheets~Shhh reached out to all her fellow bloggers to answer the following five questions on their blog. So I did! To all who are not avid readers of her blog: it's a must read! One of my favorites! Plus, she resides in San Francisco, so she offers a peak into her fabulous city!

The Five Questions Are:

1) What topic would you write your book about?

photo by reway2007 via flickr

I've always wanted to write/illustrate a children's book. I think it would be a lot of fun and I like to draw. It would be an educational "you can do anything" or self-esteem type book.

2) What is one of your guilty pleasures?

photo by bellawaves via flickr

Friday nights watching Ghost Whisperer with a glass of red wine. Aw! I can't believe I admitted that. How embarrassing!

3) What are some of the things you do to get yourself out of a bad mood?
If it's day light, I love to go for a walk on the boardwalk or walk to the beach. It's so pretty, you can't help to be happy. Nighttime, I just eat a bowl of soy mango/vanilla ice cream!

4) How long do you think it will take to get the U.S. economy back on track?
I think we've hit rock bottom so the only way to go is up!

5) Do you think there is a fine line between creepy and romantic?

photo by sacred destinations via flickr

Yes, Prince Charming. At first he seems romantic. But then you realize he just wants to "rescue" you (from what I'm not sure) and hide you at his castle.

So I invite all you fellow bloggers to answer these same questions!

And Laura gave me a AWE-SUMMM blog award! Yay! Thanks so much!

I give the following Awe-Summm!!! blog award to the following:

1. Gals In the Know

2. The Beauty File

3. City of Dionne

4. Whimsical Rose

Let's Hula Hoop

photo by getty images on thats fit

June is the month Hula hoops were invented, 51 years ago! I loved hula hooping as a kid. Maybe I'll bring it back this summer!

Any one have any suggestions for a great brunch place in Santa Monica? It' my sister's birthday soon and we wanted to go for brunch and mimosas.

Hope everyone is having a fun weekend!

I Have Nothing To Wear

Carrie Bradshaw's closet: photo via I Love Rags

Have you ever had a clothing item that's been hanging in your closet that you just had to buy because it was sooo cute BUT you have yet to wear? I hate to admit it but I do! This is a sign that I shop too much or I don't go out enough ;)

I bought this Victoria Secret dress last summer and haven't worn it yet. I can't even believe this because I LOVE it! It's made with a soft jersey material and such a pretty aqua blue color. I must wear this dress soon!

I have these cute Michael Kors gold espadrilles (zappos) that go perfect with it.

I love the stripes on the side.

I feel so guilty buying this dress and not wearing it, SO I promise that I will wear it on the next date that my boyfriend and I have.

Beauty Secret #1

photo via cosmetic-makeovers

Be afraid, be very afraid..............of the sun!

I know it's difficult to hear. It lures you with it's sunny smile and seductive warmth but get too close and let your guard down.....you'll forever be cursed with skin like a raisin! As a former Aesthetician, I've seen some major sun damage, especially here in So Cal (sorry Cali girls). So please remember, although it feels and looks soooo good, the sun is your # 1 enemy. So don't go out to play without some good protection.

photo via dubplanet

A good sunscreen is the #1 summer essential must have! Don't worry, sunblock has come a long way since the goopy white mask. Sunblock is a must have for ANY outdoor activity, not just the beach. I find Zia Skin Basics spf 30 (purchased at Mothers Market or online) to be the best! It has a high spf without feeling like it. It does NOT make you break out either. Trust me, that is a high priority for me. I am always scouting for the perfect sunblock that can be applied effortlessly and leaves my skin shine and break out free.

It's light weight and your makeup applies nicely over it so I usually wear it even when I'm indoors for part the day.

#2: Powder Sunscreen for OVER you makeup (or in place of foundation and powder). This is the best creation EVER! I absolutely love Bare Escentual's Bare Minerals SPF 30. It doesn't feel caked on nor do you look like like a makeup face. Apply it in the morning after you apply a little concealer (for the touch up areas) and then lightly dust through out the day when your outside.

photo via kaboodle

#3: Besides combating the sun with sunblock, other essentials for the outdoors:

HAT

and Sunnies!

#4: And of course NO Fake Bake unless it's a spray tan! I swear by Mystic Tan. Nobody will know that it's not real.

photo via dailymail.co.uk.com

If you incorporate these essentials, along with others such as:

~no smoking

~no major drinking

~lots of h20

~healthy diet

~exercise

(That's easy right ;)

I promise you that you'll skin will stay looking like this.

photo via telegraph.co.uk

Rather than this in 10 years.

photo via save and conserve

Gone Camping

photo via tvtubers

I'm off to go camping this weekend in Santa Barabara. So excited but a little nervous. My first time!!! So, I'm not really the camping type of girl but I've got to try it once, right? Plus Santa Barbara seems like the perfect spot!

photo via geekologie

We're camping in a tent on a camping area on the beach. Oh, hope my tent is pretty and cozy ;)

photo via kaboodle

I think I packed all the necessities: makeup, hair dryer, heels! Just kidding. I'm going au natural, only bringing 1 lip gloss!

Wish me luck and hope everyone has a great weekend!

Ruffles Are So Summer

photo via exotic excess

I'm loving the ruffle trend right now. Is just so feminine, flirty and pretty!

photo via kaboodle

I bought this cute tiered ruffle top from Express (now it's on sale of course) and threw a braided belt on with it.

I want to buy a ruffle dress now.

photo via wet seal

This one is so adorable!

photo via forever 21

With the white belt.

photo via victoria secret

And I bought these shoes recently. They are on sale now of course for $99.99! Doesn't that always happen? Wouldn't they go great with the yellow ruffle dress?!

Frat House

photo via amazon

This past weekend, living in Huntington Beach, I was reminded of how I want to GO to the party not LIVE at the party!

I don't know if it's because I'm just getting older or just so over the party scene (and have been for awhile), I really dislike living in a noisy rowdy area. The neighborhood, especially on a holiday weekend, is one big frat party!

photo via virgin media

Don't get me wrong, I like to have fun and go to a nice party here and there.

photo by missapoo2 via flickr

photo by meanqueen119 via flickr

I always struggle with this. Huntington Beach is pretty and I live one block up from the beach at a great price for so cal. But its so rowdy. I just want my home to be peaceful and quiet. Am I asking for too much?

photo by zhushmanson via flickr

Do I need to move?

photo by gris1 via flickr

Party Like Holly G

This Memorial Day Weekend, please give a heart filled thanks to all our heroes who died for our country...........and then celebrate Holly Golightly style!

photo via ny sun

I absolutely love the movie Breakfast At Tiffanys! I've seen it so many times and I'm still not sick of it. Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly is the ultimate party girl! She knows how to throw a fabulous party: minus the smoking (yuck!).

photo via la times blog

Ooh, it looks like a bubbly hangover. A stylish eye mask will cure it!

photo via ecosalon

Darling, it's only noon, why are you waking me up!

Have a great weekend!

Calling All Clowns

photo by vaguely artistic via flickr.

(This clown/ballerina is on top of a cvs in Santa Monica on Main Street. So trippy to see at first and definitely interesting.)

I love stripes done right. I realize that this CAN be a difficult challenge though. If one has too many stripes within a room or if they clash with other decor OR if they are not the right colors, it can look like a circus. But when done right, it really spruces up a room!


I love the pink stripes mix with the yellow, red, lavender and light blue: so pretty!

Three photos above via living etc

This looks lovely with the light blue walls.

photo via southern living

I like the monochromatic use of stripes. What a beautiful and bright porch.

Or maybe just some striped Accessories:

photo via Elle Decor

photo via elle decor

Or on some flat ware.

Stripes are FUN!

Laugher Makes the World Go Round

photo via rock the trend

This past weekend I went to see Kathy Griffin at the OC performance Arts Center. Wow, I had some major laughs. I think she's hilarious! But I can definitely understand that she is either a "love her" or "hate her" performer. Also, her performance can be a bit hard to follow for some. She goes off on tangents and jumps around in what she is talking about. I could see how that could be so annoying but I don't think so and I love her!


photo via ny mag

Although, I am not a person who thinks its nice to make fun of people. Some celebrities I think are fair game. I mean, if you know your in the public eye and you continue to make a fool of yourself or do outrageous things (ie. Brittney, Paris, Housewives of whatever city), how can you be upset if someone is making jokes out of it? It's not malicious (usually) and all in good fun. And who else could get away with it but Kathy Griffin. The celebs still seem to talk to her so...

photo via the superficial

I really needed a good innocent laugh too. So the weekend was a success!

photo by carl jones via flickr

Doesn't laughing feel so good and make you so happy?

photo via marie claire

photo by eddie sweet daddy via flickr

photo by free style girlzz via flickr

Let's extend the good times and have a happy laugh filled Monday!

Side note: Warning: if you did not see the Survivor finale yet do not continue reading.

Yay! Did you see who won....I love when good things happen to good people! He deserved it!!!