StyleCake

Tuesday Chronicles

2011-11-15T14:20:00.001-08:00

After much neglect, and deciding to change the focus of my blog, I decided to create a whole new one.

I can now be found at Tuesday Chronicles

Hope to see you there! :-)

Uri and Loren: Save the Date

2011-07-20T15:46:00.000-07:00

Uri and Loren are complete geniuses and they're so creative together, so of course, they're Save the Date video had to be a reflection of that. It's so cute and quirky. LOVE.

Uri and Loren - SAVE THE DATE from uri mangune on Vimeo.

Bruno Mars

2011-06-17T18:21:00.000-07:00

Went to my first concert last week. Yup. My first concert. I was never a concert going person growing up, but when the opportunity came to see Bruno Mars, I was all over it. I even went out on a WEEKDAY (wednesday) to go to the concert. I really love him what can I say? I also got to see a few USF friends I haven't seen in a while, so it was lovely seeing them.

Anyway, he definitely didn't disappoint. And with my other fave, Janelle Monae opening up, I was so happy, definitely worth the 3 hours of sleep I ended up getting that night. It was all worth it just to hear Bruno sing my favorite song from his album.

**Please excuse the drunk talk in the background. SOMEONE couldn't stop singing at the top of his lungs during this song... **

Memorial Weekend

2011-06-16T19:10:00.000-07:00

What was supposed to be just me and Irwin visiting family, turned into a mini family reunion/Richie's belated Graduation party. It was so much fun catching up with friends and family, especially ones I hadn't seen in a while, and seeing my cousin's baby, Kaelan. Seeing the little ones is always fun, my god daughter Mia is a crazy little girl but I love her to pieces. And of course the food. Pamela took me back to our old stomping grounds from high school, Cortina's. The BEST Italian food ever. I crave it everyday. And at the request of my cousins, I made Richie's graduation cupcakes, Strawberry Cream in either Vanilla or Chocolate. And then with my parent's Filipino breakfast every morning, I probably gained about 10 pounds that weekend. But I ended the vacation with a small bout of food poisoning.. and went back to normal.

Can't wait to go back! I miss the kiddies already.

Richie Graduates

2011-06-15T18:59:00.000-07:00

Little Doofus graduated from college!!! I can't believe it. He's all growed up and graduating and working.. But he'll always be the Doofus I know and love. I was so happy to be home too, seeing the fam, the dogs, and of course, my date to the grad, my Tweedle Kat. LOVE seeing this girl, and I loved that my shoes enabled me to be at eye level with her. It was so good to catch up with her while the boring speakers were up at the podium. The only interesting speaker was Tommy Lasorda - his speech was truly inspirational (video below), and he was the only one to wake up our whole sleeping row.

And what started as a gloomy Saturday, turned into a fairly warm afternoon. The sun managed to be present when Richie finally walked to his seat. I had to resist the tears welling up as I saw him walk in his cap and gown... flashback of the times I'd play mean tricks on him when we were kids... his teenage years.. and here he is. All grown up. ::sniff::

Congratulations Doofus!! So proud of you!!

Business Casual

2011-04-13T13:37:00.000-07:00

My friend Kat recently decided to start "dressing up" for work. Over the past week or so, I've seen her transformation (and her shopping lists lol) and it's amazing! Not to say that she looked terrible in the beginning, but I love how stylish she's been looking lately, and yesterday I was so impressed (and in love with her shoes) that I had to take a picture. Especially since I've been too lazy to put up any of my own outfit posts.

It's amazing what some heels - or in this case wedges - and a blazer can do. Blazers have already been my go-to article of clothing lately, because I like the way they make any outfit look a little more polished, and scarves.. well, I ALWAYS have a scarf with me. They can always add a bit of color to any outfit and its just practical to have one especially in the Bay Area (where the weather is completely unpredictable). But I love how Kat dressed down what could have been a potentially boring, semi-suit outfit with cuffed, stone wash semi-ripped jeans. Love love LOVE.

Cheering for the Baby Faced Assassin

2011-04-05T20:08:00.000-07:00

One of the many things Ai and I agreed to do while she was here, was to get a sandwich from AK Meats, dessert at Creations (best Sago spot), and see the Warriors play (mainly to see Steph Curry and Monta Ellis). Nothing beats great conversations with her and Irwin, and their endless bickering, over delicious sandwiches and dessert. Fast forward to the Warriors game and the fun continued. Warriors won by about 30 points - pretty ridiculous. Naturally, we took loads of pictures and stuffed our faces. It's a good thing Irwin can tune out our stupidity while we giggle over a cute baby sitting next to us, and photos galore. A typical night out with the bff.

Fate

2011-04-05T19:22:00.000-07:00

Fate must've heard me complaining about how much I was missing my two bff's because they both happened to be in the city at the same time on ONE day only: Ai coming from a scary time in Japan, and Uri coming from, well, Sin City. So I HAD to spend the day with them, shopping, eating.. and mostly eating. Running through the rain, watching Uri open/break her umbrella, realizing we were the only minorities in the breakfast spot we went to in the Marina, and ending it with the best games ever: Telestrations and Apples to Apples. I lost my voice the next day, but it was totally worth it. I miss them so much already.

The Bodies Exhibit: San Jose Tech Museum

2011-03-13T18:48:00.000-07:00

On Saturday Irwin and I went to the San Jose Tech Museum to check out the Bodies Exhibit. I was really excited to see the various displays of the human body, and not in a form that I'm used to seeing. These were actual body parts, donated to the exhibit for the purpose of being displayed. It kinda made me not want to eat beef jerky again, but it also scared me away from ever smoking, eating anything that will increase my cholesterol/clog my arteries, and just make my insides look black or clogged. It was pretty interesting, but we weren't allowed to take pictures in that exhibit. So afterwards we went exploring and playing with all the cool little gadgets they had throughout the museum. Even got a robot to spell out our names... (although it could never get Irwin's name right, spelling it with a "b" instead of an "r". But all in all, awesome day date!

Greenhearts Family Farm

2011-03-13T18:28:00.001-07:00

A friend at work was telling me about becoming a CSA member (community support of agriculture), which basically entails signing up to support a farm, and in return, the farm will send you fresh produce straight from their farm and deliver it to your door. After researching some farms near me, I decided to go with Greenhearts Family Farm. I was so excited to open my first package, it was like Christmas Day. The vegetables are great, and the fruit was sweet. Plus, I'm not ingesting any pesticides, and since it's coming direct from the farm, I'm not losing the nutrients that are somewhat lacking in store bought veggies (that are often shipped from far away). Greenhearts family also has a set up at the Ferry Building Farmers Market, but since I hardly wake up early enough to go, this is a great alternative. It forces me to eat my vegetables and also to try some that I never would have chosen.

Thanks for the tip Tina!

Messy Side Braid Pony Thing

2011-03-13T18:11:00.000-07:00

H&M trench and jeans, Banana Republic sweater

Wore this outfit on Wednesday. I had almost forgotten about these boots, but this on/off rainy weather reminded me to use them. My hair is also semi long enough to put in a weird, messy, side braid/ponytail thing. I liked it. The boyfriend did too. Sometimes I get lucky when I play around with my hair in the morning.

Rattle Pops for Baby Jacob

2011-03-07T08:56:00.000-08:00

I made these back in January for another baby shower for a friend. Red Velvet, and now I wish I had taken pictures of the way they were displayed for the shower because it was so cute. Red Velvet as requested by the parents-to-be.

Christmas 2010 (3 months later)

2011-03-06T14:56:00.000-08:00

After sorting through what seemed like a thousand pictures, I finally was able to upload all my favorites. Warning: lengthy picture post!

Christmas Cake Pops

2011-03-06T12:57:00.001-08:00

I cranked out about 100 Christmas Cake Pops within the span of 12 days, just before Christmas. I had to get Irwin to help me make these because there was no way I could have done them all by myself. All red velvet. All came out perfect.

365 Photo Project

2011-02-21T07:47:00.000-08:00

StyleCake365

On my birthday, I decided it would be a good time to start my year long photo project, a picture a day until my next birthday. I've always wanted to do it but I waited for the "appropriate" time, and decided that the year I entered my late 20's would be as good a time as any to start this project. I'm loving it so far, and it's surprisingly easy (with the help of my iPhone). It'll be interesting to see how these images progress, or just see how random they get...

Love

2011-02-15T08:05:00.000-08:00

The day after my birthday, Irwin told me to pack for the weekend because we were going to leave right after work. I was excited and anxious, anxious because I had no idea what to pack. All he had said was to pack something nice and just regular clothes. I managed to throw all sorts of outfits into my overnight bag to only use one. We get to the airport, and as we're in line for security, he hands me my boarding pass: VEGAS??!! I was extremely excited because that meant I would be able to see my bff, Uri. If that were the sole reason we were there, I would have been just as happy.

It turns out he had one more surprise up his sleeve: The Beatles "Love" show.

Did I ever mention I'm a Beatles fan? Well I am. I LOOOOOOOOOVE them. And Irwin picked the show and decided it was perfect to fulfill my Beatlemania-ness and complete his Valentine's Day "requirement".

The weekend was absolute perfection. Irwin scored a huge suite at Thehotel at Mandalay Bay, we honestly could have fit another 2 couples in there, and discovered a second bathroom on the second day. It also had this awesome little "kit" in the snack bar of our room, called "the Love Box". It was an intimacy kit. You can imagine what was in there... Lunch at Hash House a Go Go where I had the best Bloody Mary of my life, possibly because it had bacon in it. Yup. Bacon. And white toast. Trust me, it was delicious. The portion sizes were ridiculous. Apparently this place was on Man vs. Food - to finish a REGULAR sized plate of food. It was completely delicious though. Then shopping galore at the ginormous Forever 21 at Fashion Show Mall - we got lost, and just when we thought the store was ending, we'd walk into another room. Then chilled for a bit, and went to the show. AH-mazing. At one point in the show, the cast walked off into the audience, and lucky me, I had an empty seat near the aisle, and one of the cast members sat there and put his arm around me. Sweeeeet. Now I can't stop listening to the Beatles.

I'm so lucky, blessed, thankful, for the most wonderful boyfriend/best friend I could ever have. I was smiles all weekend. I love you my dear, thank you again for the best birthday/Vday ever.

Sweet Heart

2011-02-14T07:45:00.000-08:00

After only 4 hours of sleep, we came back from my surprise birthday weekend, and rather than go to sleep, I decided I had enough energy to bake some Valentine's cupcakes. Devil's chocolate with strawberry cream, sprinkled with grated dark chocolate and a heart strawberry. I loved the combination of strawberry and chocolate, which was basically a remix of my favorite strawberry cupcake recipe. This also gave me a chance to try out the Oneida two tiered cupcake holder my friend Kat gave me for Christmas. It's pretty damn awesome.

On a side note, Happy Valentine's Day! I had the toughest time choosing a card from TinyPrints, so I chose 3 that I'm giving le bf throughout the day. He's lucky he can combine my birthday and Vday and knock it all out in one weekend, but I have to say this was the best birthday surprise ever. Amazing birthday weekend ^_^

27

2011-02-11T08:17:00.000-08:00

Mossimo tee, Forever 21 cardi, Normal Kamali blazer, Jeffrey Campbell Leopard Pixie (corset) wedge, Hostess Cupcake

Turned 27 on the 9th, and pranced around in an old park with my balloons and scared away an old man and his dog. Loved my little Hostess Cupcake though. I was dreading my birthday, but it actually turned out nice, really low-key. I've never felt more loved than I did that day. I have the greatest family and friends I could ask for, and apparently I have more to look forward to. I have to say, 26 was a fantastic year, and I can't wait to see what 27 has in store for me.

How to: Messy Top Bun

2011-02-10T20:48:00.000-08:00

So my friend Zinnia asked me how I did my top bun and found out that I couldn't explain it without showing to her. So hopefully, this helps. The leave-in conditioner I use is from the Body Shop, it smells like blueberries but I don't see it in the store anymore. Kinda sad cuz I'm in love with the smell and how soft it makes my hair. It also helps keep it soft and healthy throughout the day.

Sorry for the out of focus/stepping out of the frame/washed out lighting. And the random mark on my shirt. I think it's makeup. Maybe. First time making this kind of video. Enjoy.

Top Bun

2011-02-08T07:58:00.000-08:00

Electric sunglasses, vintage earrings, H&M sheer shirt, Bijoux pashmina

I've been digging this whole messy high bun lately. Feel kinda ballerina-ish, which reminds me that I'm the only person in the world who hasn't seen Black Swan yet. Anyway, had a fantastic weekend with Irwin's family in San Diego, so much so that it took all of Sunday and today to feel normal again. I really do love it down there, the weather, the people.. maybe one day. And I finally found the cable for my DSLR, so I can upload Xmas pics. Better late than never right?

Work Work Work

2011-02-02T08:15:00.000-08:00

H&M blazer and sheer tanks, Gap 1969 jeans, Aldo wedges, Louis Vuitton Neverfull bag

I've been really into blazers lately, not sure why. Maybe so I feel like less of a slob when I go to work? This outfit was my favorite so far, mainly because it was perfect for the weird, warm-for-January weather we've been having, and because it was the quickest outfit I pulled out of my closet this year. Work has been crazy busy, and I hope it dies down soon. I'm so drained from work that all I want to do is play Bloons TD4 when I get home - I'm an iPhone addict (help me). I usually save this bag for travelling, but it's been such a great help holding all the useless crap I carry with me all the time: camera, planner, copious amounts of food/candy, KOR delta water bottle, basically my whole life. I will definitely be using this when I go to San Diego this weekend for a wedding. I've got 3 weddings to go to this year, not too bad considering, and two of them are in Vegas. Hopefully I can sneak in some time with the nieces while I'm there.

Anyway. Since today is February 1, and all January I've been pretty much... lazy, I've decided to finalize my New Year's Resolutions:

1. Eat healthier - All January I ate marshmallows. I should stop before I start to look like one.

2. Exercise more - I need to get back into running, my energy level has been so low lately.

3. Read more - I vow to read (and finish) a book every month.

4. Improve my baking skills - Cake pops are fun to make, but I think I want to go back to regular cupcakes for now, possibly cakes too, perhaps cookies and macarons?

5. If I have nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all - I'm a pretty honest and straight forward person, but I've slowly realized that people really just can't handle the truth. Either that, or they just don't want to hear it. So for that reason, my lips are sealed.

Okay, gotta go, Bloons is calling me. Happy (really) belated New Year!

Vegas Christmas via iPhone (Part 2)

2011-02-01T08:15:00.000-08:00

My adorable nieces are addicted to the iPhone and Photobooth on the Mac. I miss them soooo much!

And I got to hang out with Uri and see her gorgeous new apartment - and naturally we went to get ice cream.

Vegas Christmas via iPhone (Pt. 1)

2011-01-31T08:18:00.000-08:00

Finally getting my act together. I've been taking a month long vacation and just relaxing and enjoying the new year. That and I thought my computer died so I couldn't upload pictures and/or blog - but it turns out the computer wasn't broken so I was just enjoying being lazy. I have yet to upload other pictures from Xmas and New Year, but I finally figured out how to download pics from my iphone to my mac.

Missing the fam already....

landing in LA, Mia, sleeping Mochi, Indian Bella, Bella taking pics of Mia and Caitlyn using Histogram, dericious cupcakes from The Cupcakery in Vegas - courtesy of Katrina, cheerleader Bella, sleeping Mia, our ice cream being made at Atomic #7 - liquid nitrogen was being "poured" into the mixers at this point, Healthy Heart with almond milk and agave sugar with whipped cream, Loren's Atom Split (I think - or it was a Strawberry Shortcake), Uri's Rocky Road (this place was amazing, making everything from scratch and choosing ur own ingredients, down to the sugar and milk, I need to go back there and try all the random ice cream mixes they had like.. Wasabi and Ginger?), me and Mia at Costco, Mia wearing my sunglasses, and the wonderful french braiding by Telley.

Say Cheeeeeese!

2011-01-07T15:52:00.000-08:00

I've been back since Sunday, and I'm STILL trying to adjust to my normal routine. I hadn't even looked at blogs or even Facebook since before Christmas and I finally logged on yesterday to post some pictures. I still have to upload the pics and videos from Xmas/New Year, but for now, I want to post the music video my brother made for his girlfriend for their one year anniversary.
Cuz. It's so cute. And kinda cool. haha. love you doofus!

Three More Days...

2010-12-22T17:45:00.000-08:00

till Christmas!

I've finally got some down time (i.e. sitting here at the airport) and thought I'd post some new things. It's been fairly hectic since I got back from Disneyland, baking cake pops almost everyday after work, buying White Elephant gifts, last minute (oh shoot I forgot that person) gifts, sending out the cake pops, sending out Christmas cards, and oh yeah, work. I'm glad I'm finally done with everything. Now if my luggage would just get to me in one piece that would be awwwwesome.

Being at the airport reminds me how much I hate it. I hate going through security, having to watch my stuff all my time, having my hands full with .. stuff. But here are a few things that help keep me sane when going through security.

1. I take off all jewelry, belts, phones, accessories, an put it in my purse or carry-on before getting to the airport, usually in the car so I don't worry about dropping anything and losing it forever.
2. I make sure my laptop is accessible - it's usually on the side pocket of my roller, or in my Tumi backpack. Either way, its somewhere where I can easily grab it and put it in the ugly gray bucket.
3. And lastly - SHOES!! I make sure I'm wearing shoes that will easily slip on and off and I'll always wear socks. It's gross not to.

Simple right? It's amazing how often I'll still see people fiddling with their things as they're trying to get through security.

Anyway - here is an update of my life via iPhone (thanks for the idea Uri!)

pictionary at work, cold stone at work, my new nephew Kaelan, first batch of Christmas cake pops, experimenting with glitter gradient designs, "Christmas morning breakfast" at work, Thank You cupcakes from work, tower of Hennessey (not real), real fake tattoo, cake pop bouquet, pop rock chocolate candy, cheese and chocolate fondue at work, hanging out with my love at the airport before leaving

k boarding now... see you soon!

Disneyland Christmas

2010-12-08T08:17:00.000-08:00

Disneyland during Christmas is even more magical than you can imagine. I love this place soooo much and I had a great time with Irwin, my bro and his gf, and my friend Thomas (aka Bui). There were a ridiculous amount of people there, but it didn't bother us at all. Rather than complain about the lines, we decided to stuff our faces the whole day. Nothing could get us down, and the weather was perfect, not too chilly or too warm. The best part of the night was watching the fireworks over the Sleeping Beauty castle, the fake snow, and everyone feeling all gushy while the lovey dovey Christmas music was playing. If you want to see the magical-ness, watch the video I took of the lighting ceremony of the castle. I want to go back every time.

Afterwards, we went to Uva bar in Downtown Disney to meet up with some old high school friends. LOVED seeing them! I didn't realize how much I had missed them till I saw them. I've missed my twin sister especially, so it was good to catch up with her.

Can't wait to be back home again for Christmas ^_^

Christmas Mochi and Pika Claus

2010-12-08T07:25:00.000-08:00

Yes. I am one of those people who dress their dog. Purely for my own amusement. Poor Mochi. I think she actually feels shame when I'm laughing to tears at her. It's okay. I still love you Mochi. And Pika.. is.. ridiculously hyper. Can't say anything else about that crazy dog. The first three pictures are going into our Christmas cards - I took about a million pictures because they would not stop moving! Anyway.

Merry Christmas! Love, Mochi & Pika

My poor mom has to cover our furniture with sheets or else the dogs will mess it up! Despite how it seems in the video, Irwin and Mochi are bff's haha...

2010 Holiday Gift Guide

2010-12-01T08:09:00.000-08:00

It's December 1st and the gift buying countdown has begun. I'm proud to say that I finished my Christmas shopping last weekend, but that hasn't stopped me from browsing. I'm really happy with all my purchases, including some of these items I couldn't resist buying for myself (i.e, the Laline Mousse Body Cream = I smell like a raspberry cupcake and my skin is oh-so-soft). And the newest version of my Kor Water bottle that I can't live without. But I managed to resist most purchases for myself (keyword: most) and I'm happy to be done with it. I wanted to list my top 10 gifts but couldn't resist adding the cardigan at the last minute because it looks so warm and would be the perfect gift to keep a good friend or family member warm. Now I just need to find the perfect wrapping paper and ribbon and I'll be set. Happy shopping!

1. Fuji Instax Mini - $130.00
2. Illume Boulangerie Jar - $16.00
3. Ray Ban P-Retro Cat Sunglasses - $135.00
4. Urban Decay, Book of Shadows - $54.00
5. Sweater Knit Boot - $14.00
6. Kor Delta Water Bottle - $19.95
7. Laline Cream de la Cream - $19.95
8. Cheap Monday Caitlin Glove - $61.00
9. Topshop Laptop Case - $40.00
10. Sephora by OPI Mini Collection - $22.00
11. Hold Me Close Cardigan - $59.99

A Day of Thanks

2010-11-24T20:47:00.000-08:00

Thank you. For everything. For being you, and for accepting me as I am. You all bring unbelievable joy to my life and I thank God everyday for you.

birthday baby cakes

2010-11-23T08:17:00.000-08:00

We celebrated Irwin's birthday over the weekend, had a mini staycation downtown, got a suite at the InterContinental - and I wanted to live there F O R E V E R. Had a few drinks with a couple of his close friends at Fuse and laughed at all the 18+ looking cats who were most likely our age or older. Sunday Irwin's parents had family over for his birthday, his cousin's birthday, and for his cousin who was visiting with her 5 month old baby, Davis. I wanted to bite his cheeks they were so fat. Fat babies are the best. And his lashes! Wow. I wanted to keep him.

Then there was SOOOooo much good food! Who needs Boiling Crab when Irwin's mom makes the BEST garlic crab EVER. Feasted on so much food, and indulged in the two cakes I made (1 by request from his mom, the other.. I just wanted to make it) I had decided to take a break from making cake pops and venture into my second goal - cakes. The first cake is Zuccotto, which is an Italian dessert cake that I used to make all the time.. like 2 years ago. It's almost like tiramisu but firmer. Aside from Paula Deen, Giada is my favorite when it comes to following dessert recipes which is where I found the Zuccotto recipe. The actual birthday cake was a recipe from Julia Child, her Reine de Saba, or Chocolate Almond cake. In my head, I had the idea to have a thin slice of each cake, one on top of the other, and oh em gee. It was heaven in my mouth. The chocolate cake ended up being more dense than I thought, but it was perfect pairing it with a slice of Zuccotto.

All in all, it was a great weekend.

Happy Birthday Baby!

2010-11-21T06:01:00.000-08:00

This post is dedicated to my Love. Happy Birthday Baby, I love you soooooooo much!

Look: Fall

2010-11-18T08:02:00.000-08:00

The leaves are finally starting to change color, looks like Fall FINALLY arrived. Got this semi-fur jacket from Next, and I'm totally in love with it. This will be completely worn out by Spring.

H&M sheer tank, Forever 21 maxi skirt, Next fur jacket

Look: Fur Vest Maxi Skirt

2010-11-17T08:08:00.000-08:00

Currently loving maxi skirts. Gives even more length to my legs and provides the right look for a transition into Fall. The fur vest is perfect for semi-chilly/sunny days, or at times when I want to add a little something to a simple or monochromatic outfit.

H&M fur vest, Forever 21 maxi skirt, Steve Madden clogs, Banana Republic top

Happy Birthday Doofus!!!

2010-11-16T08:16:00.000-08:00

This post is dedicated to the most ridiculous bro a girl could ask for. Happy Birthday Doofus. You're old now. Too old.

Look: Army Green and Leopard

2010-11-15T08:02:00.000-08:00

This fall weather has definitely had its up's and down's, and I'm loving every bit of it. Warm weather one day, cold and rainy the next - it's definitely keeping me on my toes. One one of the sunny/warm days, I decided to bring out my latest purchase - the Jeffrey Campbell Leopard Pixie. I had been searching for two things: 1. a platform/wedge ankle boot 2. a corset pump with leopard or red pattern in the back. The very next day, I found these, the most beautiful combination of the shoes I had been looking for from bare style. I was fairly giddy when I found them and it was as simple as click, click, bought.

H&M sheer tank and jeans, vintage blouse, F21 belt, Jeffrey Campbell Leopard Pixie Platform

My Best Friend's Wedding

2010-11-12T08:18:00.000-08:00

One of my bff's is officially a "Mrs.". And I couldn't be happier for her. The ceremony was at St. Ignatius Church, on the campus where I introduced her to him about 6 years ago. It was a tad bit cold, and a tad bit rainy, but the ceremony was gorgeous, no one fell, the Best Man and I remembered to bow, I didn't trip, she didn't trip, and somehow we were able to keep our tears in so as not to ruin our makeup for pictures. I was afraid being Maid of Honor was going to be stressful, but somehow Janelle had everything covered and she kept her cool.

After her wedding and reception, we had to go to yet another wedding for Irwin's college friend, but I couldn't wait to take off the dress and shoes. My dress was squeezing me so tight I couldn't eat right and I couldn't breathe. Remember that scene from Pirates of the Caribbean where Elizabeth couldn't breathe and she passed out? Yeah, that's how I felt. After the second wedding, I changed into my PJ's (the only spare clothing I had with me since we only stayed in the hotel for one night) and requested that we go to McDonalds where I promptly ordered a 20 piece chicken mcnugget meal and large fries. The perfect way to end a wedding filled Saturday.

Rattle Pops

2010-11-11T08:16:00.000-08:00

My cousin had a baby shower last weekend in LA, and unfortunately I couldn't attend. However, I decided to test my Cake Pop skills and made these baby "Rattle Pops" as one of my gifts for her shower. I also test drove my packaging skills to ensure that these babies made it to her party in one piece. And they did.

I had rushed to make these and ship them on time that I didn't bother to take pictures of them. Thankfully, my cousin's husband did.

My beautiful cousin posing with the Rattle Pops...

Cupcake Pops

2010-11-08T08:16:00.000-08:00

I've been a cake pop machine the past two weeks. After perfecting my technique, I decided to create cupcake pops, just in time for my friend's birthday. And I got to use the lovely cupcake apron my friend Adelita brought from Portland, which coincidentally matched my cupcake pops. After completing the first pop, I was so happy I almost didn't want to give them away. The best part? The red M&M that I was using as a "cherry" was actually cherry flavored, courtesy of holiday M&M's. I can't wait to make some more. Who's birthday is next? ^_^

Keith Urban

2010-11-07T18:30:00.000-08:00

Keith Urban came to work last week, and while I can't remember the songs that Janelle let me listen to in college, I was still excited to see him. He's extremely good looking in person and his guitar playing/singing made my heart melt. Nicole Kidman = lucky woman. Although I'm still not used to the name Sunday Rose. Sorry Keith.

Twilight/Giants Cake Pops

2010-11-01T08:13:00.000-07:00

Since Halloween was just around the corner, I decided to make some Halloween-ish inspired cake pops, and decided that the theme would be Twilight. Two different flavored cake pops, one for Team Edward and the other for Team Jacob. Team Edward's was red velvet with cream cheese frosting and a vanilla coating with white sugar crystals (cuz Edward "sparkles" - don't laugh, I totally got a kick out of that), and Team Jacob's was Devil's chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting and almond and chocolate sprinkles (cuz he's... hairy, and brown).

I had some leftover batter and decided to make some Giants cake pops since they are (winning - so far) playing in the World Series. What better way to show my SF love? These were a mix of the red velvet and chocolate flavors, but with the same designs - orange edible glitter with almonds and chocolate sprinkles. I brought them to work and gave some away over the wedding weekend. Got some pretty awesome feedback on them. Can't wait to make more.

My New Baby

2010-10-28T08:04:00.000-07:00

Just got a bike! Haven't had one since I was a kid, and I can't wait to take her out for a ride!

Janelle's Bridal Shower

2010-10-27T08:10:00.000-07:00

Last (last) weekend was Janelle's surprise Bachelorette as well as her Bridal shower. It was definitely worth all the stress of getting it together to see the look on her face as her sister brought her to Bliss at the W downtown. I forgot to take pictures of the inside, but it was fairly small as they were still renovating. But the best part of waiting for our facials (besides the sauna), was the unlimited brownie bar in the lounge area. I probably ate 5 million brownies, and a double the amount of these sesame/nut crackers. The facial was AH-mazing, and all of us walked back into the locker room looking sleepy eyed with a stupid grin on our faces. Afterwards, we went to Roy's which was just down the block for some yummy Hawaiian food. We ended the night early since we all had to get together for the bridal shower the next day.

The bridal shower was fun, it was tea-party themed, and everyone participated in a couple games and won some prizes. And of course, we got to spend some time with the bride-to-be :-)

_bachelorette party favors I put together for the bridal party - stuck to the theme of spa things like a sleep mask (SO comfy), aromatherapy candles, stress relief body wash, crystal nail file, aromatherapy lotion, and anti-bacterial stuff, all from Bath and Body works, and these cute little buttons I picked up at Michaels

_the bridal party at Roy's

_the hoodie I got for Janelle, it looked so cute on her!

_the toilet paper wedding dress models (the second dress won)

_bonding with Janelle

_the FOOD! (Thanks for the pics Jo!) - chocolate chocolate chip cookies, assorted cupcakes, cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches, bacon and egg (I think?) sandwiches, spinach filled pastry puffs, the cake pops I made for Joreen that she decided to share with everyone else, scones, and of course, tea. ^_^

Janelle's Wedding Shower

2010-10-26T08:22:00.000-07:00

Janelle and John's Wedding Shower was held at John's godmother's house in Oakland Hills, and WOW. What a gorgeous house, and what a gorgeous view. Note to self: Oakland isn't all that bad...

The cake was kinda funny, saying "Congratulation" - and nothing else. But despite its message, it was delicious. A bunch of us spent about 20 minutes trying to figure out what the petals on the sides were made of - I don't think we ever figured it out, white chocolate? or wax? I really hope it wasn't wax...

Stow Lake

2010-10-25T08:11:00.000-07:00

We had our a team outing at Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park a couple weeks ago, and it was really fun. We had pizza from Pizza Orgasmica (dericious) and took the paddle boats out and raced each other around the lake. This proved to be more painful than I thought it would be. My thighs were burning, and what started out as a cloudy/gloomy day, turned out to be sunny so I was pretty much sweating bullets trying to race away with Tina on my boat. Then we ended up at my favorite spot for dessert, I don't even remember what it's called, but its this place on Geary that serves fresh Manila Mango with coconut milk and sago. YUM. Good times. Love my team.

Thalassa

2010-10-22T08:36:00.000-07:00

I'd been pining to go to Thalassa in Berkeley for a drink and some good company, and it turned into a reunion of sorts - complete with a blast from the past named Garrett. Good times for sure, including some "moments" caught on sound and video in the bathroom with Renee, Judy, and Rina, and some um, "OMG" moments afterwards...

_The girls - and Garrett
_ me and Nee, passing the time taking pictures
_... and this time with Judy
_the girls taking advantage of Rina
_Justin
_legs
_Judy
_Irwin

Bake Sale!

2010-10-21T08:14:00.000-07:00

We had a bake sale at work a few weeks ago, benefiting the Children's Miracle Network and the Children's Hospital in Oakland. It was a huge success, and my team won! We raised the most money, thanks to our Cookie Grams. My Angel Lush Cupcakes turned out to be a huge success and it was completely sold out before the bake sale ended - woohoo! It felt great to bake for a good cause.

_The table set up next to us had this beautiful fall theme
_The table next to the Fall table was decorated in Harry Potter theme - unfortunately I didn't get to try the maple bacon cupcake...
_Cute mini cupcakes with regular sized cupcakes
_I forget what the other two pictures are of, but they just looked delicious
_Our cupcake stand, the Walmart cupcakes and my Angel Lush Cupcakes

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

2010-10-20T08:20:00.000-07:00

Had a date with Ai one Saturday. I was going to get a haircut and a perm at this Japanese salon and the Yelp reviewers' only complaint about the place was that they didn't speak English very well. So naturally, I enlisted Ai's help. And it was a good excuse to spend some much needed girl time with her. I ended up loving my hair and I'm definitely going back to the salon because they were fabulous. The rest of the day was spent shopping, mainly in Japan Town for the most ridiculous Hello Kitty stuff, one of which ended in both of us buying matching Hello Kitty wallets. I know. We ended the night with a photoshoot back at her apartment that was supposed to be slumber party themed but turned into a "what can we do with these Minnie ears? And Hello Kitty shorts?" As always, love this girl.

Photo Diary: Labor Day Weekend @ Lake Tahoe

2010-10-19T08:27:00.000-07:00

I had intended to go to So Cal for Labor Day Weekend, but that ended up not happening, so I managed to convince some friends to go to Lake Tahoe since the weather was gorgeous. Let's just say it was.. an epic weekend. I'm not allowed to say/show what happened, but we had a lot of good food, the company was great, and the weather was perfect. Minus my sunburn, it was a great holiday weekend.

_The guys were eager to fish, and we somehow stumbled upon this pond... beautiful, but no fish
_Kiki fishing with her Disney Princess fishing pole
_Justin feeding a squirrel
_Kiki, my new bff
_The best breakfast - prepared by the men
_End of fishing - caught a total of 14 fish? They were pulling them out of the water every 5 minutes so they were ridiculously happy
_tanning at the beginning of the day - ended with a bad sunburn, but at least no tanlines
_Justin prepping the fish, and the final product. Y U M.

Photo Diary: The Birthplace of Walmart

2010-10-18T08:53:00.000-07:00

This post has been a long time coming, but I've FINALLY settled down and gotten my act together.

These were taken during a work trip to Bentonville, Arkansas, the birthplace of Walmart. It was definitely a different world over there, but the people were so pleasant and pretty much EVERYONE has worked or know someone who works at Walmart. I was quite surprised to see a few Target's there but I found out they were actually in the neighboring towns. I love Walmart.

_Welcome sign at the Bentonville Town Square
_Old freight container
_The "first" Walmart - Sam Walton's first Five and Dime
_Signage at the Home Office
_City Hall
_Cute fireplace in equally cute cupcake shop across from the Five and Dime
_Flowers at the cupcake shop
_One of many Sam Walton plaque quotes at the Walmart Visitor's center

Julie and Julia

2010-10-05T20:37:00.001-07:00

WOW. I've been gone for a while haven't I? I've been busy, busy, busy, at work and on the weekends and when I get home the very LAST thing I want to do is go back to the computer. And when I FINALLY had some down time.. all my favorite shows came back!

But over the weekend, I watched Julie and Julia, and am now on this craze to blog and cook/bake. Am in dire need of Bakerella's book, Hisako Ogita's Macaron book, and of course, Julia Child's French Cook book. Mmmmmm butter and sweet, cake pop goodness. Speaking of the movie, it's on right now and can't seem to change the channel even though I know Glee is on. Crazy.

Anyway. I have a bunch of pictures to upload, and these are a few that I found I had missed from my previous posts.

Happy Birthday Mama!!

2010-09-01T09:30:00.000-07:00

I have no idea how old my mom was when these pictures were taken (I think I remember her telling me she was still in her early twenties). All I remember is how much I used to just stare at my mom's old pictures and dream of her clothes and how gorgeous she looked. No wonder my dad loved taking pictures of her.

Happy Birthday to the most FABULOUS (and fashionable) woman I know. I love you Mommy.

Look: Dress N' Boots

2010-08-31T09:27:00.000-07:00

Miss Selfridge dress, Kohl's vest and belt, random boots from Marshall's, F21 bag

On Cielo's last day with us, we went to get cupcakes in the Marina. It was a beautiful day in San Francisco.. I guess they got the memo that it was summer too late? The dress and boots I wore were perfect together that day, and I received many stares from girls who passed by me - what? haven't you seen a girl wear boots with a dress before? Oh Marina girls... Anyway, the boots were an awesome find at Marshall's - they were the first thing I saw on my hunt for some long, ugly skirts. And surprisingly light and comfortable. I'm addicted and have been wearing them with pretty much everything.

Heroics: A sneak peak

2010-08-30T09:12:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, I went to visit Devon's newly opened design studio/screen printing/store. I was so happy and proud to see how much he had accomplished. I still remember him selling tees out of his dorm room back at USF, and now he has his OWN store. It's great to see him come this far. I ended up being his assistant for the day, and it was really awesome to see his process.

_ The Heroics signage

_ A look inside the store - he was still setting up and you can kinda see the awesome screen printing machine in the back.

_ He was in the process of creating some tees for the production/rap group 1500 (who are an INCREDIBLE group of producers that have created so many hit songs that everyone knows and sings along to.. You may have heard of a lil song called "Billionaire" by Travi McCoy?).

_In that last shot he was making a special 1500 tee for me - for helping him out that day, woohoo!

All in all, my visit was unexpectedly productive. Check his stuff out at www.heroicsclothing.com. (I'm pretty much wearing out the Burnout Hoodie - one of my faves from his collection)

Can't wait to go visit again.

Look: Not Too Shabby

2010-08-19T09:12:00.001-07:00

Shabby Apple dress, f21 belt and earrings, Aldo shoes and bag

This post is loooong over due. I won this gorgeous Shabby Apple dress about a month ago from a contest hosted by the lovely ladies at AsianCajuns. I fell in love with the color and frilly drapes across the chest. It's so classy yet modern, and the material is so soft! It also reminded me that I do own something other than boots, so I busted out my peep toe pumps last worn on my birthday. Irwin says this dress looks like a Maria Clara dress because of the sleeves. I think this is better.

Look: Head Wrapped

2010-08-16T09:27:00.000-07:00

Levi's jeans, AA top, VS bandeau, Mossimo shoes, F21 headband and backpack, random jewelry and hawaiian bracelets

The Pistahan Festival was today, so we went to celebrate all things Filipino. Enjoyed the food, the music, the performances, and best of all, seeing a swarm of Filipinos together in one place. Not that it's lacking here in the Bay, but its just nice to see a festival that celebrates Filipino culture... I'm so Pinay.

Pika

2010-08-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

puppy love. no pictures of mochi. she can't stay still when pika's around.

Fun Fun Fuuuuun!!

2010-08-09T08:24:00.000-07:00

Went to the Giants game last week for our company's annual "Day at the Ball Park". Awesome times, and apparently the newest boy band emerged. Followed by a trip to Vegas for my nieces' combo birthday party and to visit the bff. Board games and St. Germaine, didn't know how competitive my cousin was against her own bff's, but good times were definitely had and I wish it didn't end.

business and pleasure

2010-08-06T09:14:00.000-07:00

had to go to LA for a quick work trip, stayed with the fam, enjoyed the fam, the food, the heat, and the dogs.

- took a picture of the toy soldiers my manager thought would look cool on the dashboard. amazing that it didn't melt in the hundred degree weather.

- my brother's dog Pika likes to sit behind your neck in the car, it was awkward at first, but she was so cute I tried my best not to move or bother her - she caught me mid-smile.

- my brother refuses to take a decent picture with me.

- Pika sitting on my brother's lap in the car. she falls asleep so fast.

- Venice beach at sunset.

Hawaii Photo Diary pt. III

2010-08-05T08:47:00.000-07:00

what's a vacation without stuffing my face? A few favorites (most of these pics were taken with Irwin's iphone4) - squid pancake from some hole in the wall japanese spot, fresh poke and wasabi poke from Ono Seafood, iced matcha green tea latte with a green tea macaroon, Irwin's failed attempt at eating the Man vs Food pancake from Mac 24/7, seared furikake ahi tuna (best fish I've ever eaten in my life), a dutch baby from The Original Pancake House (will attempt to make this next week), chocolate souffle from Roy's (I think there was too much hype for this place, kinda disappointing), japanese style "cupcakes" from Satura (just found out there's one in Palo Alto. sorry Sprinkles, I'm gonna have to get to you later), waiting at Roy's freshly tanned, what I wish I was doing right now.. cuz my tan has pretty much disappeared. le sigh.

Hawaii Photo Diary pt. II

2010-08-04T08:25:00.000-07:00

hiking through the rainforest (where it really rained - poured actually, go figure) to get to Manoa falls, realized they must have filmed LOST somewhere in here, my camera lens got all foggy from the weird rain/humid weather causing the images to look more surreal and fairy tale like, which I absolutely loved, worried that I was going to get Leptospirosis from the water, saw a few of these trees with the tarzan looking vines on them - I swear there were homeless people living in there, and a couple more views from the top of Diamond Head

Hawaii Photo Diary pt. I

2010-08-03T08:47:00.000-07:00

Now that July is over with and I have some time to breathe.. Here are a few things that I've seen..

a whole wall was covered with great quotes, but these two were my favorite, watching fireworks at Ala Moana park, glimpse of a sea turtle at Laniakea where they love to hang out, directions at the Dole plantation, one of the breathtaking views from the top of Diamond head, serene sunset at Waimea

Life's a Beach

2010-07-16T09:18:00.000-07:00

1. I love writing in the sand.

2. and 3. My beach essentials:

a. Hawaii beach towel from the ABC store

b. Le Sportsac vinyl mini backpack

c. Neutrogena Ultimate Sport SPF 55 sunblock spray (I was originally using Hawaiian

Tanning lotion SPF 4, but let's just say it worked too well)

d. Sunsilk Waves of Envy hairspray - I had searched high and low for this spray and of course
I found it in a Longs Drugstore in Ala Moana. It gives me that "straight from the beach"
look without actually going to the beach. I just brought it along to make my hair SUPER
wavy. I ended up buying two bottles because it works so well. And it just smells.. beach-y.

e. Fujifilm water camera - the last time I was in Hawaii, I didn't even develop the pictures,

but I swear I'm going to do it this time.

f. iPhone and portable charger - I managed to get my phone wet while hiking up to Manoa

Falls. Somehow I knew that would happen during this trip, which is one of the reasons I

didn't buy the new iPhone. Luckily Irwin had this portable charger with him so I could still

play Godfinger while on the beach.

g. book - I finished reading "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" and am now a huge Haruki

Murakami fan. I absolutely loved that book, all 600 something pages of it. Luckily I

brought the other book on my list, "Illustrado" by a Filipino author. First time reading

anything from a Filipino author, and I must say I like it. It's a bit verbose in the beginning,

but I like the way the story flows.

h. sunglasses - these are my wannabe Grey Ant sunglasses that I could not take off during

this trip. I managed to bend my aviators in some weird way, but these proved to be

the perfect substitute.

i. Aloe drink - Aloe + mangosteen + mango = perfectly refreshing island drink. Who knew?

j. Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut shortbread cookies = this is my favorite brand. The ones
that come in the box, or those Honolulu Cookie company ones, just don't compare to these.

4. Lanikai Beach - the most perfect beach on the island. We kept coming back to this beach for

the breathtaking view, the soft sand that was so fine that even when my skin dried, I would
still be dusting it off my body.

5. and 6. Irwin and I enjoying ourselves at Waikiki beach (right across from our hotel)

7, 8, and 9. A few of the beautiful views of the Waikiki strip/beach from our hotel room.

10. Palm trees against a bright blue sky - my view when laying on the beach.

11. I'm ridiculously happy right now.

Four Years

2010-07-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

This post is dedicated to my best friend, my rock, my everything. He gives me a reason to love and live my life the way I choose, and he supports me and worries for me every step of the way. He's one of the most intelligent people I know (shhh don't tell him I said that ^_~ ). He knows me even better than I know myself, and STILL loves me despite all my craziness.

Thank you for being you, and for always accepting me and loving me and showing me a love that I always thought was only possible in movies. I love you with all my being. And I mean this honestly: YOU.. complete.. ME. Happy Four Years baby, I Love You.

Happily Handcuffed,

P.S. I love our new song :-)

California Girls

2010-07-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

What a great way to come back to work from a much needed vacation.. Meeting Katy Perry!! She is more stunning in person and oh so charming. Love this girl! Can't wait till her album comes out in August!

Look: Ball and Chain

2010-06-29T09:34:00.000-07:00

Rumi Neely x RVCA dress, H&M harness/necklace, Jeffrey Campbell wedges, wayferers

Ever since I saw Rumi of fashiontoast wearing this cut-up shoulder bodycon dress last year, I knew I had to have it. I waited patiently through the fall/winter/spring for this dress. The moment she said it was available at RVCA, it was an instant click, buy, bought.

ph. by Irwin

The boys

2010-06-23T09:23:00.000-07:00

Got the boys to start posing with me, including the bf. So cute!!

Look: Fallen Soldier

2010-06-22T09:40:00.000-07:00

Married to the Mob hoodie, Old Navy jacket, A&F cutoffs, H&M tights, Aldo boots

Took the bf's bro and his kids out to some scenic parts of the city, mainly around the Golden Gate Bridge. We discovered abandoned barracks and what we assume were old prisons. It was sorta fitting that I was wearing my military jacket. Some of the buildings though just felt eery. Even though we were there in broad daylight. It's like you could feel a weird presence there. Really awesome. And creepy.

Monday!

2010-06-21T11:33:00.001-07:00

I swear the weekends are just flying by.. Luckily I have these at my desk to keep me going.. that and consuming copious amounts of matcha green tea that I swear is keeping more alert and focused throughout the day.

Happy Father's Day!

2010-06-20T11:07:00.000-07:00

I love you Dad!! Thank you for always making me laugh. And for always cooking bacon. You're the best!

Saucy Minx

2010-06-18T09:06:00.000-07:00

Uri and I had been dying to get Minx manicures since we found out about them a month ago. We decided to do this as one of our last hangouts before she leaves for Sin City. We picked the funkiest "stickers" we could find and were impressed by how awesome they turned out.

Uri = leopard print

me = some black and white cross hatch pattern

The receptionist told me M.I.A chose the same crosshatch pattern too. Awesome. She's just as crazy as me.

Look: Sheer and Sweats

2010-06-04T10:12:00.000-07:00

H&M top and shorts, F21 bralette, Cathy Jean wedges, Metro Park earrings

My Pretty...

2010-06-03T09:19:00.000-07:00

Memorial weekend was great because the weather was gorgeous and there was much food to be had. Went to a couple BBQ's and had an impromptu backyard BBQ because going to Napa on Sunday was ridiculous. Le boyfriend's mom and I created this wonderful concoction made of a little bit of muscato, sparkling water, and pureed watermelon. The fizz was just lovely when the watermelon was poured in, and it was such a refreshing drink on a warm day. Much better than the margarita we were both craving. We call it, the ZenTess (a combination of both our names).

Then I made a cake, an Angel Lush cake to be exact. First I made a batch for my friend Kat's birthday last week, and when I realized how easy and quick it was, I decided to make another one for a potluck at work. I figured fruity is the way to go since summer is just around the corner. Plus, I was dying to try a new dessert recipe.

Hipstamatic

2010-06-02T09:48:00.000-07:00

I love this iPhone App so much. It makes any picture look more interesting than it is.

1. The pin I received for doing Disneyland's "Give a Day, Get a Day Free". I loved being an "Honorary VoluntEAR!" Also, a pen I made at Disneyland as well. That Irwin bought for me. Love him..

2. A 2-in-1 plush panda I managed to convince Irwin to get for me (or was it Uri...). Did I mention that I love him? It's a pillow that can be folded in half so it looks like a fat lil panda. Oh the stupid things that Irwin helps me indulge in.

3. My bestie that is moving to Arizona, and our last pic together before I see her again for her bachelorette. Sadness.

4. Ai and I at Lot 46. Where we found St. Germaine. And where we found a woman with the worst boob job ever.

Everything is Illuminated

2010-05-31T20:30:00.000-07:00

Spent a horribly short weekend with my loves, which mainly consisted of copious amounts of caffeine to help us recover from the food coma caused by my parents and a Filipino feast for breakfast each morning... And just eating in general. Practically everywhere we went was motivated by food. Except Disneyland. Uri and I were motivated to obtain Mickey ears. Mission accomplished.

But a few notable things from this trip:

1. Creme Brulee Mochilato = Heaven.
2. Soda works better for me than coffee for a caffeine fix.
3. I love my friends more for thinking my parents are ridiculously funny.
4. So Cal weather can be just as unpredictable as Nor Cal weather - but at least its warmer down there.
5. A trip to Japan is going to be needed ASAP.

6. My brother is the awesomeness.. and he can EAT.
7. The next time a weird man with two chicks is taking our pictures at Disneyland with a bedazzled Hello Kitty Camera = "What did the five fingers say to the face?"

"SLAP!"

Uri and Loren: Engagement Shoot, Pt. 2

2010-05-30T20:22:00.001-07:00

Uri and Loren: Engagement Shoot, Pt. 1

2010-05-18T17:57:00.000-07:00

Uri and Loren are moving to Sin City this summer and for their photoshoot, they wanted to take pictures at some of the iconic spots in San Francisco as a reminder of the city where they met and (fell in) love. We were fortunate enough to get many photos sans tourists since we were going to fairly tourist populated locations, probably because the weather was gloomy off and on. Gotta love the Bay.

Location: Fisherman's Wharf

Coach

2010-05-13T07:38:00.000-07:00

images via cupcakesandcashmere

I've never really been a fan of Coach. Granted I have a Coach planner and a wristlet, but as far as going out and spending money on a purse, Coach was never up there for me. Until I saw the bag designed by Emily of cupcakesandcashmere. The pink just makes me want cupcakes and the design is so sweet and simple. Perhaps this will be my first Coach bag purchase? Perhaps.

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T18:23:00.000-07:00

I love you mama. Thank you for the love and the life you have given me.

i'm already plotting how i'm going to take over the world...

Eat: Vanilla Almond Tart

2010-05-02T18:07:00.000-07:00

We had an early mother's day for Irwin's grandmother, and since it was beautiful and warm outside, I decided against cupcakes and made a Vanilla Almond Mixed Fruit Tart. I made it just before going to church, stuck it in the freezer to speed up the firming process of the filling, and topped it off with the fruit and sliced almonds. It was an instant hit.

Look: H&M

2010-05-01T23:58:00.000-07:00

H&M tank, jacket, leggings, aviators, jeffrey campbell wedges

BFF: Outtakes

2010-05-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

my loves. my soulmates. my best friends.

Ai: Heroics photos

2010-04-30T12:55:00.000-07:00

My bff Ai did a collaboration on a t-shirt design with another designer friend from college, and asked if I could take some solo shots for his website. I was more than happy to oblige.

www.heroicsclothing.com

Janelle & John: Engagement shoot

2010-04-28T12:36:00.000-07:00

One of my best friends is getting married in October, and since she hadn't chosen to do engagement photos, I thought it would be fun to shoot her engagement/save the date photos. She's also leaving for Arizona soon so this was my excuse to hang out with her a bit before she leaves. We took pictures around the USF area where she and John met, and we were fortunate that the weather was absolutely gorgeous in the city. It was too warm in fact, but it was a nice break from the rain.

La Cumbre

2010-04-25T08:07:00.000-07:00

The first gorgeous weekend after the rain, bf and I decided to go to La Taqueria Cumbre in the Mission (that place you might have recognized from Man Vs. Food). I'm not a Mexican food lover, but DAMN. Best taco's I've ever had. E V E R. Then decided to walk around and found this awesome silver wall in some cooped up little alley beside a gated children's park and decided to take pictures. Snapped some more pics of interesting garage doors as well. We went to Bi-Rite for dessert where I ordered the Sam's Sundae (Chocolate ice cream with bergamot olive oil, maldon sea salt and whipped cream - discovered this while watching Food Network), and Irwin ordered a scoop of the Salted Caramel as recommended by all the Yelp reviews. All I can say is... it was interesting. I'm sure the regular flavors of ice cream were okay, but the ones we ordered were a little over the top for our tastes. Must go back and try the Earl Gray though...

Look: Hellz

2010-04-25T07:44:00.000-07:00

hellz bellz sweater, A&F shorts, vintage belt, Aldo boots, H&M aviators, LeSportSac mini backpack