simple s'mores.

Ever wish you had a personal fire pit with you 24/7? I sure do. After my visit to the Parker a few weeks ago, s'mores are always on my mind. When I came across a recipe for this delicious delicacy on pinterest, that only involved an OVEN, I couldn't pass it up!

This dessert doesn't even need step by step directions. Just remember to break all the graham crackers in half, cut a marshmallow in half {put the sticky side down on the cracker} & then set your oven on low broil. Watch those bad boys for a couple minutes, then put a Hersey kiss on top! How easy!? The warm marshmallow will melt the chocolate, leaving you with a tasty treat.

Simple S'mores are perfect for a little get together on a chilly night, a project with some kiddos, or anytime you are having a sweet tooth! It is up to you how many you make //  how many you can eat! I may just have to make another batch this weekend :) xx.

you nailed it.

Hi friends! Sorry I have been so out of touch this past week, my life has been crazy crazy -- working, friends coming to visit, & traffic, have all been keeping my calendar jam packed. In a good way! But I had to write a post about my new guilty pleasure slash obsession. You nailed it....getting my nails done.  

Word Zooey. 

Getting my nails done has become a special gift I give myself at the end of a work week. My nail color is a way to express my mood -- at the moment, I have a purple / gold on my accent fingers, describing my "hardworking but playful" mentality. Some weeks I decide to go with the grey {my mood is dark} or last week I had the Essie mint {yay I love my life}. It has been a trend recently to always have a glitter accent nail, reminding myself that every cloud has a silver lining :) 

I made a combo of a few of my favorite colors / nail designs. What are your favorites? 

Does your nail color reflect your mood as well? It is almost Friday, otherwise known as the day to care for my cuticles! xx

a mug masterpiece.

I am very happy to announce some great news! I am now working as the editorial assistant for The Effortless Chic. I first met Jen Pinkston, the creator of the site, while I was interning for The Bethenny Show last summer. She is a wardrobe stylist, blogger, wife, and of course, an absolute rockstar. I am so excited to start this new adventure in LA.

We are working out of her adorable home in the Valley Village/Studio City area. Look at her classy & chic office / home that was featured on Camille Styles' blog here.

Last week, we shot our first DIY project together. We wanted to do a post about florals (since we are both obsessed with having fresh flowers whenever we can) and decided to put a creative twist on it. The mugs serve as vases, while the flowers are a handmade arrangement from the Los Angeles Flower Mart, located in downtown LA. It was my first time exploring that neck of the woods + my first trip to Wurstkuche :)

Check out our finished product on the blog! It is perfect for a bridal party, any kind of celebration, or just as a pretty pop of color in your home! You can spell out any word your little heart desires, or keep it simple with your initial by your bedside table.

Anthropologie + Fresh Flowers = two of my favorite things. What word would you spell out? xx

juice me up.

In my post-grad life, I have spent more money on Trader Joe runs and coffee/juice than clothes, and I quickly realizing that I must be growing up! Fruit over fashion? This can't last for long. But I have recently become very addicted to the "green" drinks, whether it is the Green blends or Very Green from TJ's, I just can't get enough of them. 

Juicing has become such a trend, especially out here on the West Coast. Depending on where you live, there may be a juice bar around the corner or a farmer's market with fresh fruit & veggie blends, but if not - you can always buy your own juicer! This way you can make the most tailored combination for yourself including your favorite produce. I have learned that silicon-rich green pepper supports your complexion, aloe vera compliments cellular regeneration, mint eases stress, coconut relaxes the mind and body, and lemon is energizing, leaving you feeling revitalized. Using this knowledge, I add certain ingredients in my mix depending on my health and mood. 

My roommate bought a Juice Man a few months ago, and I just started using the machine rather than buying a few overpriced bottles a week. Yes, it may not be as quick and easy but it sure does save the buckaroos in the end. Here are some of my tops thus far ::

I have tried many green smoothies I have loved, such as the Whole Foods Green & Glowing (had one last night!) and Jamba Juice's Apple n' Greens. The Green & Glowing smoothie has unsweetened coconut shreds, amazing. I ask for vanilla almond milk to give it more of a sweet taste and it is the perfect treat! And this isn't just an LA refreshment since Whole Foods Markets are all over the country! Woohoo.

*Greens 2 @ Pressed Juicery :: kale, spinach, romaine, parsley, cucumber, celery, apple, lemon. Pressed Juicery is my favorite juice spot in LA, but those six dollar juice bottles are killin' me. I can't walk inside a PJ location without walking out with 5 minis (which are $4.50). They are great meal replacements and the Apple Strawberry Coconut serves as a delicious dessert. Go PEEJ.

*Greens 2 @ Kreation Organic :: A true salad in a bottle, Green 2 will help you bring balance to your body. While celery regulates your body temperature, romaine promotes healthy kidney function, cucumber supports your urinary system, and spinach aids in digestion, kale calms inflammation, celery improves your metabolism, and apple detoxifies. The taste is completely refreshing and you know it's just doing great things to your bod. 

*The HOMEMADE JuiceMan Green Machine  :: the blend i made this morning was a mix of kale, spinach, grapefruit, apple, lemon/lime, blueberries, & coconut h20. i never really make the same combination twice, i just keep testing my favorite produce to see how it turns out! plus, you get tons of vitamins and nutrition by experimenting. i always make sure to put in plenty of greens, and then decide different yummy fruits or additions from there. it's the cheaper version of the juice bar creations, & it is a fun DIY :) 


What is your favorite no guilt goodie?

it's a wrap.

This weekend was filled with pretty things. From the Splenda + Designlovefest event at the Grove {smile booth, moon canyon design, & striped straws were there, what more could you need?} to the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena - I definitely had my fair share of simple indulgences. & then of course there was delish coffee and libations in between :) Sounds like a terrific time off to me. 

What were your sweet sightings this weekend? Do share! xx

weekend wishes.

.01/.02/.03/.04/.05/.06/.07/.08

Happy Friday! What do you guys have on the agenda for the weekend? I have a lot of exciting plans this weekend that I will share with you next week on the blog. I will give you all a hint....two of my favorite things are on the calendar, coffee & flea markets. But in order to attend all of the fun events this weekend, I first have a couple errands on my to-do list... Shopping! Here are a few things that are on my wish list at the moment. Pink & gold seem to be the trend on this version of weekend wishes. 

Many of the items I am craving are things that make a perfect, relaxing weekend - including a coconut macaroon (my favorite!) candle, a memoir to cuddle up with, and a comfy but cute pair of lulu pants to lounge around in. The starry string lights would be the perfect touch to a headboard, turning your room into a whimsical wonderland. 

Enjoy your beautiful time off this weekend and make sure to have plenty of "me" time xx. 

Rooms I Fancy :: Cozy Chic

I have found that recently I have been getting crushes on....rooms. Certain decor and the vibe a space gives off makes me never want to leave. One of my first attachments to a room was when I walked into Alex Malloy's living room. Talk about the perfect mixing of prints, chic art, girly and feminine touches, yet it is totally inviting and cozy at the same time. It is important to make a house feel like a home, while always remaining super stylish and trendy. Sometimes I am scared to mix prints because I worry about clashing, but the variety in Alex's Venice bungalow reassures me that if you incorporate different patterns and colors correctly, the result can be completely flawless and fashionable. 

& don't forget to say hi to cooper on the couch! xx

grapefruit guacamole.

Do you love guac as much as I do? I found a fruity guacamole recipe on pinterest and decided to put my own twist on it, in other words, not following one step of the directions correctly! It is the perfect mix of refreshing & tangy, and there are only 4 ingredients which makes it super easy to make. It will be great for those summer BBQ's with a side of veggies or tortilla chips. I must say, it is even better than the Chipotle version my roommate grabs three days a week. Plus you get more bang for your buck! 

Ingredients ::

2 avocados 

1/4 onion, diced

1/2 grapefruit, peeled pieces

3 teaspoons of salt

Instructions ::

1. Dice the onion & toss into a bowl with 1 teaspoon of salt.

2. Add grapefruit pieces, but remember to remove the membrane before putting into bowl.

3. Cut and peel 2 ripe avocados. Mash the avocados with a fork.

4. Add two more teaspoons of salt & garnish with a slice of grapfruit!

Sometimes the mashing must be done with your fingers as well as the fork. Beware, things may get a little messy but that is the fun part! Enjoy!

sea the view in malibu.

Happy Tuesday! I am still struggling to get back into the swing of things this week, and  to leave the weekend behind! I took a day trip to Malibu on Sunday with a few girlfriends and hiked Point Dume, then we treated ourselves to a wonderful brunch at Moonshadows. I had a yummy heirloom tomato & burrata cheese dish that sounds simply amazing at the moment. Here are some pictures from my getaway ::

delicious coffee from primo passo coffee in santa monica

lucky ladybug!

pinch me.

overlooking the malibu beaches from point dume.

kirsten venturing towards the water. careful, girl. 

never have i seen so many beautiful flowers. and mailboxes!

Malibu is the perfect spot for a day trip. Since it is only 30 minutes away from Santa Monica, it is close enough to plan a last minute adventure, but far enough to enjoy your cup of coffee and JT's 20/20 experience :) Let me know if you want to join next time! xx

palm beach princess of prints.

"the lilly girl is always full of surprises. she lives everyday like it's a celebration. never has a dull moment, and makes every hour a happy hour."

Yesterday was a tragic day for every sorority girl, jet setter, country clubber, & tropical trendsetter alike. The sweet sweet Lilly Pulitzer passed away peacefully in her beautiful Palm Beach home, surrounded by her family and close friends. The preppy Pulitzer was known for her pink & green prints, colorful shift dresses, and creating the signature socialite uniform...even if it all began as an accident. 

Lilly opened her own juice stand in the orange state back in the late 50's, and needed a dress that would somehow disguise and camouflage all of the fruit spills. This is the moment when the vividly flowered patterns were first born, otherwise known as "Lillys." 

I have always been a huge fan of the Lilly brand :: and I am reminded of this every time I sip from her coffee mug, doodle in the large agenda, or remember that sentimental moment when I wore a signature Lilly dress to my college graduation. I truly believe that Lilly Pulitzer will never go out of style. 

When I was interning for Saks Fifth Avenue in Palm Beach back in 2010, I had the amazing opportunity of meeting Lilly and touring her jaw dropping jungle-like home. She was an absolute doll and her sense of humor and wit was so inspiring.  At that moment, I knew I wanted to pursue a career that was fashion related. She was not only a role model to myself, but to so so many and will be greatly missed. xx

park it at the parker.

Palm Springs, California. Home of desert divas, coachella cuties, and the only & only, Le Parker Meridien. Hands down, this is the most magical hotel I have ever been to. I seriously felt as if I was in a different world :: a world of fresh flowers, Jonathan Adler decor, limitless lemonade, Hermes soap, smoky smores bars, & hidden paths to private pools. Seriously, what else does a girl need? I am already planning my next summer getaway to The Parker - but next time, I am never coming back. 

welcome to heaven.

the lemonade stand.

room service rockstars.

teenage dream.

Last weekend, I was strolling back to my apartment when I literally thought JT was performing in my hallway. I gave the singer a little "WOO, go you!" and ended up chatted with him & his dad for a couple hours. To say I fell in love with this eighteen year olds voice slash everything would be both creepy & incredibly true. He came over again last night to play for my roommate & I and I am still replaying my recorded video over and over. Think Justin Bieber without the cough syrup addiction...& I promise you won't mistake him for a woman. 

The teenage chicks can't get enough of him (as well as the twenty somethings....) and you can easily tell this by his 50K followers + verified account on twitter. Check out his youtube page and make sure to watch his cover of Marvin's Room. He even sings The Script's, "The Man Who Can't Be Moved," talk about #dreamy. Big words come out of this just-legal-teen's mouth, but after he strums the guitar, you'll know why.

NOLAN SOTILLO. This guy is gonna blow up y'all.