Blair Waldorf, I Adore You!

Clearly I have issues. Not only do I watch Gossip Girl religiously, I wish I had Blair Waldorf's wardrobe. Each Tuesday I get dressed and go to work, only to realize that I have styled myself in all my preppy gear. I think it's a subconscious thing. Deep down I want to be Blair.

Today was no exception. Although I wore jeans (I can literally wear pjs to work--it's that casual), I dressed up the outfit with a black ruffle shirt, plaid jacket, and black and white wingtip Dr. Martens Mary Janes. But the finishing touch is the headband. Mine is from F21. They have the cutest, reasonably priced hair accessories. I own at least 10 from that store alone!

This particular headband has only been worn a few times because I feel like the flower is huge.

Sorry for the horrible iPhone photos. I was rushing out of my apartment as I took them.

And since this is a GG inspired post..how bitchy is Jenny? I really can't stand her. I hear she (Taylor Momsen) is not that great in real life either. I remember seeing pics of her a few months back. She is 16 and was full on smoking. I'm not going to judge; however, she's not even old enough to buy cigs and is supposed to be a role model. And take a damn shower already! Who do you think you are? Justin Bobby?!

Photo courtesy of: pichaus.com

Heidi Montag's Plastic Surgery

Poor girl. I really do feel sorry for Heidi Montag. She clearly has deep insecurities to have had so many plastic surgeries. She completely has body dysmorphic disorder. No matter how she alters her appearance, she'll never be satisfied.

This is how she looks now...

Will it stop? Or will she be like the cat lady one day?

Aside from the plastic surgery, how did everyone else like The Hills?

Photos courtesy of: Hollyscoop and Celebrity Smack

Weekend Recap

Hi friends! I hope you all had fabulous weekends in your parts of the world. Mine started out with a sinus cold, which I still have. My nose and cheekbones have been aching for a few days now. Regardless of my face pain, I had plans on Saturday that I was super stoked for--the Grilled Cheese Invitational! It's a competition between grilled cheese chefs, with one winner to be chosen as the best. I totally expected it to be Food Network style.

I had bought my tickets online and had no intention of letting them go to waste. I follow The Grilled Cheese Truck on Twitter and that's how I heard about the event. In LA there is a huge food truck world. People literally follow these trucks on Twitter, the trucks post where they will be each day, and people show up to consume in millions of delicious calories.

This is a yearly event and a worthy cause of breaking my Weight Watchers diet (which I have done poorly on this whole week). Or so I thought...

(I forgot to take a pic of my sammy! But here is a pic from The Grilled Cheese Truck)

Style side note: I found a bow hair clip that I have only worn a few times so I had to wear it. I think it did a decent job of hiding my horrendous roots haha!

Back to grilled cheese...

The place was crazy! There were only a few trucks, all of which had massive lines. We snagged a grilled cheese sample (1/4 of a sandwich) and some tomato soup (the size of a shot) and headed into the crowds. Aside from the delicious but small samples, everything else cost. I heard that you received two tickets to get two samples for free--not the case.

Luckily the sandwiches being sold were decently priced, but still...

I got a brie and onion grilled cheese from The Grilled Cheese truck and it cost $4. Added to the $13 for pre-sale tickets, $10 for two beers, and parking cost the event set me back $30. I would have been happier if we hadn't been charged to get in. Didn't make much sense to pay all that for a shot of tomato soup and a 1/4 of a sandwich.

Needless to say, we were over the long lines and craziness and left within a few hours. I won't be going back next year either.

Still feeling sick that night, I drove to my parents' that night to spend some quality time with my child (aka Chihuahua). As I have posted about before here, my dog lives with my parents because she has separation issues. She was a homeless puppy and is now terrified to be alone. Instead of torturing her, I decided it'd be better for her to live with my parents because someone is always home and we have another dog to keep her company if there isn't.

Snuggling with her made me feel better! At a mere 7 lbs. she's like a little stuffed animal.

I hope you all had great weekends and an even better week ahead of you!

Photo courtesy of: The Grilled Cheese Truck

Serene Surroundings

So many of my bloggin' buds have been posting about home decor and it's been way inspirational! I am living alone in my first apartment and certainly don't have all of the design elements down. At this stage in my life I don't feel stable. By that I mean I am not sure if I want to stay in this apartment or move on. I may find a roommate in another building (it would surely cut down on my high rent fees to have a roomie!) or even move out of LA...you never know!

If I could decorate in any way, it'd probably be in warm colors and with fall leaves everywhere. I have an obsession with all things autumn. Halloween too. I'd so decorate with that whole flair if it wouldn't make me look like a freak. I am sure there would be a classy way to do this though if I really wanted. However, that may not be ideal year-round haha!

Here are some items that are more bright and cheery, all from Pier 1. None of the items match, they are just some items that caught my eye.

Annie Wing Back Chair - $249.95

Blue Diamond Rug - $29.95

Ruffle Pillow - $39.95

Purple Ceramic Vase - $59.95

Four Seasons Wall Décor - $30

Antiqued Silver Oval Mirror - Orig. $199.95 Now on Clearance $149.98

White Butterfly Lantern - $12

Photos courtesy of: Pier 1 Imports

A Michael Kors Kinda Summer

After buying a pair of prescription Parker sunglasses by Coach that ended up being too big for me, I was thrilled to find the perfect replacement pair--Michael by Michael Kors Antilles.

Accoding to Dillards.com, they are "oversized for a glamorous look." They also claim that they are good frames for those who wear prescription glasses, as the lenses can easily be switched out...which is exactly what my optomitrist did for me.

So far I love 'em! They fit great, look great, and I can see great in them haha! The design is pretty timeless, which means I can wear them for a least a few years to come. That is important for this frugal lady.

I snapped some pics of me in the glasses this morning. Not exactly the most flattering, but oh well...



At department stores like Nordstrom and Dillards, these shades sell for $95. I think a reasonable price for a pair of designer sunglasses.




Photo courtesy of: Dillards

Beantown, Baby!

"...She said I think I'll go to Boston,

I think I'll start a new life,

I think I'll start it over, where no one knows my name,

I'll get out of California, I'm tired of the weather..."

When I flew to Boston back in the late summer of 2006 I was playing "Boston" by Augustana. Yeah, I know. But I can't help but associate the city with the song.

Boston was only my second trip to the East Coast. My first was the DC/Alexandria, VA area. I loved both regions. I am a huge history lover and there is something so special about that part of the country. It's so rich with monumental moments. To stand on a cobblestone street that someone else stood on 200 years ago makes me feel so incredible and thankful to be an American.

I actually wanted to move to Boston--and I still do but am unsure my Southern California body could handle the Massachusetts winter. I applied to grad school in the City. UMASS Boston. Unfortunately I applied to a masters program that I didn't have enough credits for. My problem was that I was going to defer and make up the classes but didn't explain that in my letter. I was told to take some courses and reapply...

Ahh, I digress haha!

Here are some of my favorite pics from my trip to Boston. There are also a few Salem pictures in there. Another amazing, quaint seaside village. As you can see from the first picture, there is a highway named after my family, so really I am meant to live in that region ;)

"...I think I need a sunrise, I'm tired of the sunset."

Spring Exchange

This may be a totally cheesy idea, but when the heck, I am a cheeseball!

With the weather warming up and all of the April showers, it's about time for those May flowers to pop up! For the last few months I seem to be snapping flower photos with my trusty iPhone wherever I go. I can only imagine what spring looks like in the Midwest, on the East Coast, heck, even in different parts of the world.

Here's my idea--a spring photo swap.

It doesn't necessarily have to be a pic of flowers; anything you feel represents the season will do. I'll try to swap people that live a reasonable distance apart from each other, that way you can experience spring in a new, exciting way.

Here's how it works:

-Leave a commet with your name, e-mail, and location by Friday, April 30

-I'll send you an e-mail letting you know who you are partnered with

-Snap a "spring" photo

-Print it out (any size will do but please use photo paper)

-Send your pal a note, including the photo by Saturday, May 8

Use your imagination! Buy a card, make a card, write directly on the back of the photo. Whatever you do will be great!

This should be quick and easy, but can be pretty uplifing to each recipient.

I hope you all can participate, I sure will be!

Off With Her Red!

Recently I won a bottle of "Off With Her Red" OPI nail polish from Fashion Court. Part of the Alice in Wonderland collection, this polish's companions include "Thanks so Muchness," (a pinkish red) "Absolutely Alice," (light blue sparkle) and "Mad as a Hatter" (purple sparkle). Each of the colors are stunning!

I can be quite the cheapskate, self admittedly, so this is my first bottle of OPI polish. I tend to go for the less expensive bottles. Upon polishing my nails with this bottle, I learned why OPI costs more. It goes on so smoothly and looks great.

My nails after I used "Off With Her Red". Not sure why I am posing as if I have a claw haha!

Image courtesy of: kaboodle

A Note From My Friend

I cannot even follow up with a post that compares to that which, Elana Pruitt of Good Girl Gone Shopping wrote about me. I literally got teary-eyed reading it.

You see, Elana and I first met after she hired me to work as a writer on her team at PlasticSurgery.com . Soon thereafter she came up with Beauty Chat, a blog dedicated to beauty and lifestyle. I started out writing posts and worked my way up to the Managing Editor position. Along the way, she also created her own personal blog, inspiring me to do the same. We always want to be like our mentors, right? Thus Join the Gossip was born in December of 2007.

Years have passed and I am no longer working with Elana on a day to day basis. I am, however, in quite arguably a better position--her friend. Our relationship has progressed from professional to personal.

This rad chick is the reason I get to go to LA Fashion Week shows, the reason I have written for several different outlets, the reason I love the blogosphere and have connected with each of you.

(Elana and I @ my birthday party back in August)

Please take a moment to check out her blog. You won't find another that's more insightful on fashion as she's a personal shopper in addition to a grammatical queen!

To read the amazing post that she wrote about me, check it out here.

Photo courtesy of: Good Girl Gone Shopping

Add a Little Dazzle!

I am a huge Target lover! I tend to drop at least $100 every time I visit. Sooo not ideal, but I just can't help myself when I walk into the store. They literally have everything. Today was no exception. In addition to purchasing a pair of shorts, two shirts, a cropped sweater, a birthday gift card, and stationary, I also grabbed a stunning headband.

I have a Blair Waldorf headband style obsession. They are to die for! Although she hasn't been wearing them as often that doesn't mean I'm going to stop anytime soon. Case and point, the stunner I purchased today.

For $9.99 I will def get my use out of this headband. It can be worn with a dressy outfit or make a more plain ensemble a bit more classy. In fact, I wore it to go to a birthday party at a The Room Santa Monica tonight.

Am I alone in my headband obsession?

My Weight Watchers Journey

As with many women…make that people…weight is something that has always bothered me. Even when I was a size 3 I was unhappy with my weight. Yeah, if only I had that problem now!

I am a small person—just under 5’2”, so a few pounds show more quickly on me than someone say 5’6”.

My senior year in college (about 5-6 years ago) I had some medical problems causing me to gain 40 lbs. in about six months. I kept trying to tell doctors that there was something wrong with me but of course they said it was my metabolism and eating habits. By the time I found a physician who would listen, it was too late. Since then I have never gotten back to my ideal weight.


A few years back I signed up for Weight Watchers online. I did the introductory three month program and lost 10 lbs. I actually kept it off for about two years, too.

When I started my current job I was a hot mess. I was commuting four hours roundtrip everyday. That meant grabbing food on the way to work and not eating dinner until 8 pm or later…not to mention eating out because we don’t have a break room here and I didn’t have anyone to lunch with. On top of that, I became a vegetarian last year. Because I hate cooking, I choose to eat a lot of Mexican and Italian food. Carbs galore!

Needless to say, it was no bueno and directly resulted in a growing booty! In the past two years I have literally gained 17 lbs. Yup, I just put my business all out there for the world to read. Not easy, but I am taking the Biggest Loser outlook for this season. If I put myself on blast, I will be held more accountable to making a change. Just don't ask me to get on a scale in front of my whole city haha!

I now live closer to my work and have incorporated chicken and fish back into my diet. So my eating healthy should be much easier. No more excuses. That’s why I decided to sign up for Weight Watchers online again.

It’s not pricey--$53 for three months and $18 thereafter. BUT having paid money, I don’t want to waste it so I know I will keep up with the diet plan. Plus, it helps that some foods/restaurants list Weight Waters points.

I am on the flex points system which means that if I go over my daily allowance of points (which is calculated by calories, fat, and fiber) I can pull from a weekly allowance I have to splurge. This is nice because if I am starving, I have some room to cheat a bit.

Yesterday is when I signed up. I am still getting used to staying within my budget, but I have done well for these first two days. I am pretty sure I will be successful with the food part of my weight loss mission. The exercise part is my nemesis.

The closest gym that I have near me is a 10 minute walk from my work. I never drive to them because I have to pay $4 to park…ridiculous! Since I usually don’t want to wake up early (I know…) and I don’t like walking in the dark back to my car, I need to find workout alternatives.


Yesterday that alternative was Runyon Canyon. It’s in the Hollywood Hills, filled with people and their adorable dogs, and once you get to the top of the hike there is a beautiful view! You can see all the way from Downtown LA to Santa Monica and the ocean. Breathtaking. Additionally, it doesn’t hurt that there are celebrities there. One day I saw Jennifer Aniston, Orlando Bloom, and Heidi Montag. Yesterday I saw Liz, the current “shop manager” of LA Ink. Apparently she still works there because she was wearing the shop shirt.

I’ll be sure to keep everyone updated on my Weight Watchers experiences, and let you know my next celeb sightings ;)

Photos courtesy of: unk.edu and oopshi.com

Tag Times Two!

This weekend I was lucky enough to be tagged by two beautiful bloggers, Chic and Pink and Fashion Court. Thanks ladies!

I think these posts are fun because you get to learn about your fellow bloggers. We are one big happy (hopefully) family after all.

I'll start out with the Socialite tag from Jules. I have recently started getting to know this amazing blogger. She sends the sweetest, most fun emails and i adore reading them. If you are unfamiliar with Chic and Pink (whose blog name actually has and and symbol, as opposed to the word, but Blogger won't allow), do check it out!

The rules:
1. Click on the above button and paste onto your blog/website
2. Answer the below questions
3. Pass onto 10 bloggers that you Love, go to their blog and let them know they've been tagged

Here is goes... =)

1. Who is your style icon?
Gwen Stefani. I like her look circa the early 90s the best, but no matter what she does, she does it incredibly well.

(I actually have one of her LAMB Rasta bags, similar to this one but in a different shape)

2. What is your favorite socialite lit book?
It’s def not lit, but I must admit (didn’t mean for that to rhyme) that I love The Truth About Diamonds by Nicole Richie.

3. Favorite party theme?
Black and White. Very classy.

4. Go to Halloween costume?
It used to be a schoolgirl.

5. Extravagance you cannot live without?
Eating out. It’s not necessarily extravagant meals, it’s just the frequency and amount overall spent on restaurant food.

6. Living person you admire?

My dad. We are a lot alike. Same personality.

7. Greatest fear?
Heights. I literally get dizzy and nauseous. Stairs with holes between each step—paralyzing for me!!

8. Trait you deplore in yourself?
I argue with my mom too much.

9. Which talent would you most like to have?
Acting? I wouldn’t mind being rich and famous ;)

10. Greatest achievement?
I think it’s pretty cool I double majored in college—print journalism and American Studies.

Next up is the Eight Things tag from Fashion Court. Of course, her blog is a must-read for me, as well as her tweets. This girl is so entertaining--be it a blog post or on Twitter! Please check her out as well.

Anyways, this one needs no introduction...

8 T.V. Shows I like to Watch:

1. 24 (devastated!!!! this is the last season)

2. Gossip Girl

3. Life Unexpected

4. Biggest Loser

5. Vampire Diaries

6. Supernatural

7. Dateline

8. LA Ink (I literally live across the street from Kat Von D's shop)

8 Favorite Places to Eat & Drink:

1. Taco Bell

2. Chipotle!

3. Juice it Up

4. Daphne’s Greek Cafe

5. Casa Sanchez (it’s in my hometown)

6. Macaroni Grill

7. Starbucks

8. Red Robin

8 Things I look Forward to:

1. Traveling

2. Meeting new friends

3. Reconnecting with old friends

4. Doing a blogger meet up

5. Moving to a new apartment

6. More writing opportunities

7. Angels baseball

8. Exploring LA more

I am not exactly planning and of these things, I am just looking forward to them happening at some point in my life haha!

8 Things that Happened Yesterday:

1. Easter Mass

2. Family came over

3. Felt the 7.2 Earthquake in Mexico that lasted well over 30 seconds!

4. I wore a F21 dress

5. Snuggled with my dog

6. Ate blueberry cheesecake bars

7. Watched the Amazing Race

8. Played Words With Friends numerous times

8 Things I like about Winter:

1. Peacoats

2. Scarves

3. Gloves

4. Christmas

5. Christmas lights

6. Christmas cards…although I haven’t sent in any in years =(

7. Seeing snow on the TV (but not actually having to deal with it here in SoCal)

8. Starbucks speciality drinks

8 Things on my Wish List:

I am going to be cheesy and go with the same things as those on my “looking forward to list”.

8 Things I'm Passionate About:

1. Music

2. Animals

3. Family

4. Religion

5. History

6. Honesty

7. Food

8. Sports

8 Words or Phrases I used Often:

1. "shut up”

2. "clearly"

3. "whatever”

4. "like"

5. "f*@k” ←I know it’s not ladylike

6. "dude"

7. "I hate chu"

8. “just kidding”

8 Things I Learned From the Past:

1. Don't trust a liar

2. Stand up for yourself (still trying to learn this fully)

3. Materialistic things don't matter that much

4. Be nice

5. Study while you are in school

6. Enjoy being a student and not having to be an "adult" full time

7. Being cool really doesn't matter

8. Let go of the petty problems (also still trying to learn ;)

8 Places I would Love to go Visit/See:

1. Rome

2. NY

3. Philadelphia

4. Ireland

5. The Northwest US

6. Charleston, South Carolina

7. New Orleans

8. Maine

(Maine pictured)

8 Things I Currently Want/Need:

1. Get into shape/lose weight

2. Read more

3. Travel

4. Pursue my goals

5. Live life to the fullest

6. My dog to live with me instead of with my parents

7. Buy and send a gift to my sorority sister for her daughter's 1st birthday

8. See Aziz Ansari live

OK so here's the "tricky part". I am to tag 10 people for the Socalite tag, and 8 from the Eight Things tag. Since i am doing two tags, let's meet in the middle--9. And I am re-tagging the ladies that tagged me in case they want to do each others'.

1. Chic and Pink

2. Fashion Court

3. Thoughts from Cali

4. Things To Do With Your Kids

5. KDC Event Planning

6. Good Girl Gone Shopping

7. Sweety P fashion Files

8. my {stylish} pursuit of happiness

9. The Style Archives

If you'd like to participate in either of these blogs, please choose which one--or both. If you prefer not to take part in the tagging, no sweat. I'll still adore your blog!!

Photos courtesy of: Stealthstyle.com, shopMLB.com, VisitMaine.com, PreppyMafia.com

A Martha Stewart Easter

I love eating hard boiled eggs on Easter, and I love decorated eggs...I just don't like doing any of that said decorating. I'll leave the creativity to Martha Stewart! Here are some beautiful Easter eggs I found on her site:

If you have the urge to duplicate any of these designs, just visit MarthaStewart.com for instructions.

Happy Easter, friends!

Photos courtesy of: MarthaStewart.com