ninja vintage

year of the dragon

2012-01-26T20:37:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! After returning from a lovely, long winter vacation, my computer monitor decided to poop out on me, so I couldn't update until I purchased a new one. I recently got an iPhone 4S, so I was able to survive on that for a while, though it's not the best for traditional blogging. It is, however, wonderful for photo-taking. I've especially been loving Instagram (I know, I'm kind of late to the party on this). Here are a couple of Instagram photos, one taken over the holidays and one from today:

Top: Sunset at Grand Canyon National Park. Pre-New Year road trip.

Bottom: Fun vintage fabric that I got at Salvation Army today. 50 cents!

holiday shopping

2011-12-08T14:41:00.001-08:00

The Poketo Annual Holiday Sale and Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Sale are going on this weekend in Downtown LA. I'm looking forward to scoring some awesome gifts for my friends and family. Both events are free admission with lots of free goodies for shoppers, so come on down if you're in the area!

delays

2011-10-17T18:40:00.000-07:00

Hi there! Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I just wanted to check in and let you know why the Etsy shop hasn't been updated this month. I've been spending the majority of my time helping my dad search for a new home out-of-state. This past week was actually the first time in the last month that I've spent more than 5 straight days in California, but I've been so busy with daily obligations that I haven't had enough time to work on the shop. I'll also be going out of state again this weekend to visit my grandmother in Seattle.

I'm sorry for the delay, but I'm sure you guys understand. Life can be unpredictable sometimes. I'll have a shop update for you as soon as I can. Take care!

shop sale!

2011-09-15T16:40:00.000-07:00

I'm finally moved into my new home, though there's still so much to be done before I can really get settled in. The cable was just installed on Tuesday. Half of my things are still in boxes. Life is a little bit hectic right now, but I'm doing my best to get organized so that I can start working on an Etsy update. I'm hoping to have a lot of new items up by the end of the month. Until then, everything that's currently in the shop is 25% off.

moving on

2011-08-26T11:38:00.000-07:00

Hello there. I'm currently in the process of finding a new home and moving out of my current one, so there won't be any blog or Etsy shop updates for the next couple of weeks. For anyone who's gone through the moving process before, I'm sure you know how time-consuming (and sometimes stressful) it can be. But! I'll be back before you know it. In the meantime, please enjoy this adorable puppy. (photo via tumblr)

shop update

2011-08-17T19:11:00.000-07:00

A few new items have just been added to Ninja Vintage. Someone please buy the heart skirt before I decide to keep it for myself. Seriously. It's awesome. I still have a couple more things to put up in the shop this week, so keep checking back!

I love vintage

2011-08-15T19:06:00.000-07:00

Another Ninja Vintage shop update coming this Wednesday. So much good stuff!

hot pants

2011-08-10T16:38:00.000-07:00

As soon as I set eyes on this silly vintage stationery set at Goodwill yesterday, I knew I had to have it. Notecards in the shape of little yellow floral hot pants - why not?

Ninja Vintage Etsy update tomorrow, mostly dresses and skirts (sorry, no hot pants).

art in the streets

2011-08-06T17:28:00.000-07:00

Busy week! 10 new items are up in the shop. I'm still working on the rest. Sometimes I underestimate how much time I need to get certain things done. I have the tendency to forget that my meticulous nature means that it takes me twice as long to do things, which can be both a good thing and a bad thing (in this case, kind of a bad thing).

The photos above are from the "Art in the Streets" exhibit at the The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA. The exhibit chronicles the entire history of street art, from the mass production of spray paint in the 1960s (I loved the wall of vintage spray paint cans) to Shepard Fairey's Obama "HOPE" poster in 2008 and the release of Exit Through the Gift Shop in 2010. So many fun and inspiring things to see. Next Monday is the last day of the exhibit, so I'm glad I got to see it just before it ended.

summer soundtrack: cults remix

2011-07-29T14:52:00.000-07:00

Here's another song that I've been listening to on repeat lately. It's a remix of the song "Go Outside" by Cults. They're a pretty stylish-looking duo, don't you think?

Instead of a small Etsy shop update today, I've decided to do a big update next week. 15-20 new items, including more pretty skirts and fun printed dresses.

Happy weekend!

food truck love, homer style

2011-07-27T14:38:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, I attended the Outdoor Cinema Food Fest at Exposition Park. This is a weekly summer event that's now in it's second year, and it's become one of my favorite things to do in LA in the summertime. This past weekend, they screened Reservoir Dogs. As excited as I was for the movie, I was even more excited for the food. I finally got to try the Border Grill Truck, from chefs Susan Feniger and Mary Sue Milliken. I can safely say that it's the best food truck I've ever been to (and I've been to many). Their quinoa fritters, Peruvian ceviche, green corn tamal, and churro tots were out-of-this-world good, and the service was fast and friendly. I can't wait to go back for more.

I also paid a visit to my favorite ice cream truck, Lake Street Creamery. I've tried a few of their flavors, but their donut ice cream is the one that I keep going back to (it tastes exactly like a powdered donut!). This time I asked them to make it "Homer style," with pink candy shell and rainbow nonpareils. Perfect! One of the many things I love about Lake Street Creamery is that they serve their ice cream in a waffle bowl with a wooden spoon. It's such a practical but clever twist on the familiar. If you live in the LA area and haven't tried it, you definitely should. I promise you won't be disappointed!

Here's a photo from the Outdoor Cinema Food Fest at Exposition Park, stolen from my friend because she has a fancy iPhone that takes fancy photos and I don't:

orange crush

2011-07-25T18:10:00.000-07:00

bonny naranja vintage sunglasses from MODvintageshop

essie nail color in braziliant from essie
layered dress from zara
clair vivier fold-over clutch from need supply co.
vintage orange leather bow flats from twin hearts vintage

I recently decided to join Pinterest and, as I feared, I've become a little bit obsessed. Pinterest is a site where you can save and share images from all over the web and organize them into different categories, or "boards." The items above are from my "orange" board. I also have boards for red, yellow, green, blue, stripes, and neutrals. Yeah, I told you I was obsessed.

You can check out more of my orange finds here and see the rest of my boards here. If you'd like an invite to join Pinterest, feel free to email me and I'll send one your way.

happy skirtday

2011-07-22T16:01:00.000-07:00

A few vintage skirts have just been added to the Etsy shop! Just a small update today. Now I'm off to get ready for my birthday dinner. I'm turning the big 2-6 today. Yikes! See you next week!

summer colors

2011-07-19T13:08:00.000-07:00

Fresh tomatoes from my little backyard garden, in brilliant red and orange hues. These also happen to be the colors that I want to wear all summer long.

Look out for a shop update later in the week. By the way, I just want to say thank you to everyone who's purchased from Ninja Vintage or sent me messages since I started the shop back up on Etsy last month. I really appreciate all the kind words and support.

Have a wonderful day!

ceremony

2011-07-18T11:41:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, I saw a movie called Ceremony, starring Michael Angarano and Uma Thurman. The cast was great and it was enjoyable overall, if a little derivative of films like Wes Anderson's Rushmore in terms of tone and storyline. Actually, it was a lot derivative of Rushmore, but I won't hold that against writer/director Max Winkler. Rushmore is a damn good movie.

What really left an impact on me were the film's visual aspects: the set and costume design, production design, and cinematography. Every shot was beautifully framed and every set was brimming with fun, interesting details and rich colors and textures. I just wanted to jump into this film and wander around in it for a little while.

Costume designer Heidi Bivens outfitted the cast in classic pieces (plaids, stripes, and vintage styles - right up my alley) in deep oranges, yellows and reds, with hints of earthy blue, tan and purple shades. The color scheme perfectly coincided with the film's autumnal beach setting and helped to give it a stylized, cohesive look. I went on IMDb to check out Bivens' other credits and, funnily enough, she was an assistant costume designer on another movie whose costumes I adored (and blogged about), The Baxter.

Below are a few screenshots from Ceremony. It was difficult, but I tried to narrow it down to the ones that I loved the most (so, naturally, I included a shot of bacon & eggs). It really is a gorgeous-looking film. I think it's worth watching for that reason alone.

cupcake royale

2011-07-15T16:05:00.000-07:00

In case you couldn't tell from reading this blog, I love sweets, especially baked goods (both making and eating them). The last time I was in Seattle, I visited the famous Trophy Cupcakes and I thought their cupcakes definitely lived up to the hype.

During my recent visit, I went to another awesome cupcake shop called Cupcake Royale. My cousin and her husband live right around the corner from their Capitol Hill location, so we stopped by to pick up a batch of their new strawberry cupcakes. We got strawberry shortcake, plain strawberry, strawberry velvet, and a coconut cupcake just for me. They all tasted delicious! The cakes were soft and rich and the buttercream was packed with fresh strawberry flavor. I shared these with three other people over the course of a couple of days. Though, if forced, I probably could've managed to finish the whole box on my own.

Have a great weekend! Eat something sweet!

flower power

2011-07-12T14:23:00.000-07:00

Here's a little preview photo of this week's Etsy shop update. I'm in love with this 1960s mini dress! Today I decided to break out my trusty mannequin and doll her up in some Ninja Vintage fashions. I'll be updating a few shop listings with new photos later today.

the right stripes

2011-07-07T21:05:00.000-07:00

striped backpack from zara
zig zag card set from wit and whistle

coney island crop top and pantomime plié dress from spotted moth

cha-ching purse bag from deep dark africa

vintage red & white striped skirt from hunt gather fashion

sneak preview

2011-07-06T14:47:00.000-07:00

I just got back from yet another lovely trip to Seattle. The weekend was filled with food, fun, more food, and absolutely perfect weather. Luckily, I was able to squeeze in a bit of vintage treasure hunting on my last day in the city. The Gunne Sax dress above is my favorite find. Look out for an Etsy shop update later in the week.

rainbow

2011-06-28T20:49:00.000-07:00

Hello! A few colorful skirts were added to the Etsy shop this weekend, and I'll be adding another (amazing) skirt tomorrow, along with couple of other things. I'm really loving bright, colorful skirts for summertime. I'm also loving the longer and fuller skirt styles that I've been seeing around lately. They're so elegant and easy to wear.

On Thursday I'll be heading to Seattle for the Fourth of July weekend. Very excited! I go to Seattle every year, but this will be my first time being there for July 4th. I'll be back next week, hopefully with some vintage goodies in tow to add to the shop.

Also, I just started a Twitter account for Ninja Vintage. If you want to stay up-to-date on the latest shop updates, sales, and promotions, follow @ninjavintage on Twitter.

See you next week!

first day of summer

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

Breaking in my new ice pop maker. Fresh strawberries, coconut milk, and a little bit of sugar. Next up: sweet tea & mint pops. Ah, summer, how I love you.

summer soundtrack: ben l'oncle soul

2011-06-20T15:30:00.000-07:00

Listen to the original French version here.

ninja vintage on etsy

2011-06-15T12:34:00.000-07:00

After a very long hiatus, Ninja Vintage is officially back on Etsy! There are only a handful of items up for sale at the moment, but I'll be adding more things in the coming weeks.

As a "thank you" to all you wonderful people who still visit this oft-neglected blog, you can enter the coupon code NINJAVINTAGE24 for free shipping on all domestic orders from now until the end of June. Click here to visit the new shop!

help japan

2011-03-15T21:18:00.000-07:00

The events that have taken place in Japan over the past several days are heartbreaking, to say the least. It is easy to feel hopeless at the sight of all that devastation, but there are ways to help, and every little bit counts. Listed below are just a few online resources that provide information about donating, volunteering, and locating family & friends in Japan. I'll be adding more links as I come across them.

Unpluggd

Unpluggd.com has posted a detailed list of donation services and relief agencies that can be found on the web.

The Lede

Robert Mackey's blog at The New York Times website also lists many organizations that are accepting donations for earthquake and tsunami relief, as well as a short list of resources for locating loved ones in Japan.

hitRECord.org for Japan

At hitRECord.org's online store, make a $5 donation and get 2 red "REC" buttons. 100% of proceeds go to globalgiving.org's Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund. You can also donate directly to the fund here.

Poketo

This post from Poketo's blog features artists who have pledged to donate 100% of profits from their print sales to Japan relief.

Waratte, Nippon

Another way that you can support Japan is through the Facebook community Waratte, Nippon ("Smile, Japan"). They are asking people to submit drawings, photos, and words of encouragement that will be then be compiled into a video and posted online in order to provide hope to the Japanese people. (Thanks to K. for sharing this link with me.)

Threadless

100% of net proceeds from the sale of Jason Yang's "Rebuild Japan" tee (above) will be donated to the American Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Fund.

marilyn at home

2011-01-17T13:22:00.000-08:00

I love this photo for many reasons. First, I've always wanted a cozy little reading nook like this. Second, Marilyn looks totally casual and cute in her button-down and cuffed jeans. Third, the art. I'm actually not sure whether this photo was staged or if this was a real spot in Marilyn's home, but I'm hoping for the latter. I'd like to think that she chose all that artwork herself. And lastly, the colors! Shades of seafoamy turquoise and pale pink next to the rich wood shelves make for such a lovely combination.

carey mulligan

2011-01-09T17:04:00.000-08:00

I've been a fan of Carey Mulligan since she starred in An Education, and I've been a fan of her style since she showed up to last year's Academy Awards in that Prada dress adorned with tiny metal forks, knives, and scissors. Seriously, that dress kind of blew my mind. She always chooses really fun and unexpected silhouettes, textures, prints, and colors. I love that she wears a lot of vintage-inspired styles, often with modern details (an architectural pleat here, an avant-garde print there). She always keeps it ladylike, but still interesting and youthful.

Also, Carey really reminds me of Edie Sedgwick with her blonde hair and dimples. She would've made a great on-screen Edie, don't you think?

a new year, a new hope

2011-01-05T18:04:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011! I've been hard at work on my first project of the new year: a gallery wall for my bedroom. I've spent the past few days finding the perfect shade of white to paint my wall and choosing which posters and prints I want to put up. I just discovered this awesome print on Etsy that perfectly combines my love of Star Wars with my love of Scandinavian design. It will definitely have a special place on my wall. The hard part will be figuring out how to arrange it all. I'll be sure to post photos of the finished wall once it's complete!

links for your monday

2010-12-13T13:35:00.000-08:00

Hi there! Here are a few enjoyable links to help you while away your Monday afternoon:

Design Sponge has a great collection of gift guides for everyone on your list, from flower lovers to cheese fanatics. The "gifts by color" lists are my favorite.

Susie Bubble of Style Bubble reflects on her deep affection for hats on the Lucky Magazine blog.

Siri at Ringo Have a Banana! always makes the best comfy-cool outfit collages.

Pretty pretty pillows! I discovered ferm living's amazing shop through Happy Mundane (one of my favorite design blogs), and I'm so glad that I did.

From In the Wabe: a puppy chow recipe and a cute puppy, too!

renegade craft fair

2010-12-09T22:43:00.000-08:00

Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Sale in LA this weekend! I'll be there on Saturday to stock up on awesome handmade goodies for my family and friends. You should go, too!

Visit renegadecraft.com for more info.

sofia coppola for louis vuitton

2010-11-17T14:25:00.000-08:00

Hello there. I know I've been absent for way too long. I've never been very good at being consistent, but I'm working on it. If anyone out there is still checking in on this little old blog, I hope you know that I appreciate it. Here's some Sofia Coppola for your trouble.

need supply sale

2010-08-02T20:35:00.000-07:00

Need Supply Co. is currently having an extra 30% off sale on lots of great summer items. Just use the code "SURPRISE30" when you check out. I finally scored the navy striped tank dress that I've had my eye on since the beginning of summer, at an amazing price. I already own a similar striped dress, but this deal was just too good to pass up!

mad men

2010-07-25T19:27:00.000-07:00

Season 4 starts tonight!

INCEPTION

2010-07-25T18:24:00.000-07:00

I've seen this film 3 times in the past 5 days. It is so mind-blowingly great.

I've been following Christopher Nolan's career since I first saw Memento in 2000. Each film that he's made since then has dealt with similar themes (loss, guilt, atonement) and possessed the same complexity, dramatic tension, and emotional resonance that have become his signature.

Nolan brings everything full circle with Inception. After seeing it for the first time, I felt that same distinct feeling that I had after seeing Memento a decade ago: astonished, amused, slightly unsettled, and knowing that I'd be thinking about it for days and weeks to come. There is no other director like Christopher Nolan. He is, arguably, my favorite director working today, and will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the greatest filmmakers of this generation.

summer shoe wishlist

2010-07-14T21:35:00.000-07:00

vans palisades vulc in hemp frost gray/yellow cream

toms classic linen slip-on in blue bridgeport

keep company the benten in navy

cheer up, charlie

2010-07-03T14:35:00.000-07:00

Charlie Bucket in his favorite napping spot on top of my bookshelf

summer purchases

2010-07-02T14:58:00.000-07:00

kimchi blue dress from ebay

shipmate stripe dress from shopruche.com

animal beach hut tote bag from julia pott's etsy shop

pizza & cupcakes

2010-06-27T02:38:00.000-07:00

Last month, I flew to Seattle to visit family and celebrate my grandmother's 90th birthday. I also ate some stuff.

roasted mushrooms & truffle cheese pizza

chocolate & graham cracker cupcake with marshmallow frosting

And, of course, I made sure to visit to my favorite ice cream shop, Molly Moon's. This time around, I got a scoop of their famous salted caramel. So, so, so good. I love Seattle.

the baxter

2010-06-19T15:39:00.000-07:00

Just watched The Baxter, starring Michael Showalter and Michelle Williams. Really funny. I love Michelle's sweet, understated vintage style in the film.

new york eats

2010-06-04T13:12:00.000-07:00

Since it was my first trip to New York, I decided to stick to the classics. Every meal basically consisted of some variation of bread, cheese and/or some type of meat. I probably should mention that, until recently, I hadn't eaten red meat in over 12 years. The reason I decided to start was so that I could enjoy a New York hot dog, which is just as arbitrary a reason as the one that made me decide to stop in the first place (I just felt like it).

Here are a few highlights from my NYC food adventures:

On our first night in New York, we went to Lombardi's for dinner, where I received an embarrassing amount of attention (and a free drink!) from the bartender and, more importantly, had the best pizza of my life. This is saying a lot, since I consider myself somewhat of a pizza connoisseur. I've been to the best pizza joints in California (Northern and Southern), Las Vegas, Chicago, Seattle, and New York. Of course I expected New York pizza to be the best, by far. It did not disappoint. This slice of pizza is the slice against which all other slices will be compared.

Gray's Papaya. This is what I gave up over a decade of red meat abstinence for. And you know what? It was worth it. My friend and I got the recession special: two frankfurters and a drink for $4.45. There is only one frankfurter in this photo because my friend stole the other one before I could get my camera out.

B.L.A.T. sandwich from Friedmans Lunch. This wasn't a planned visit; we just got hungry while walking around Chelsea Market. This sandwich was a nice surprise, though. A bit heavy on the L, but the addition of A (avocado), plus a good amount of herbed aoili, made up for that. I just had my very first B.L.T. a few months ago, but it's already my favorite sandwich.

On our final night, we had dinner at S'Mac. S'mac is a delightful restaurant in the East Village that serves macaroni & cheese...and only macaroni & cheese. There are four serving size options: Nosh, Major Munch, Mongo, and Partay! How could I not love this place? My friends and I shared a Major Munch-sized "Garden Lite," which was incredibly good. It was packed with veggies, so it wasn't just the constant taste of cheese and more cheese, which could get overwhelming after a while.

We ate much more than this. These were just the things that I decided to take photos of. Even after all this gluttony, I somehow managed to lose weight during my trip. How the hell did I manage this? My feet would probably tell you that it's because of all the walking we did, but I'd like to think it's because New York is just that amazing.

new york snaps

2010-05-26T12:57:00.000-07:00

Non-food-related New York highlights:

First subway ride and walk through Manhattan to visit the Met
Strolling though soggy, gloomy, beautiful Central Park
Attending a taping of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Exploring Strand Book Store (and buying way too many books)
Running into Patricia Clarkson and her dog while walking to Chelsea Market
Meeting Mindy Kaling at Magnolia Bakery later that day
Seeing the original Batman masks on display at the Tim Burton exhibit at MoMA
Visiting 30 Rock, where my television alter ego, Liz Lemon, works

New York food post to follow!

top 5

2010-05-07T00:25:00.000-07:00

Jon Hamm had to do last-minute reshoots for Mad Men on Sunday and couldn't make it to the Tootsie screening. What. A. Bummer. I went to Disneyland and watched Kick-Ass with my friend instead. I thoroughly enjoyed Kick-Ass. It was very violent and very entertaining.

Anyway, I haven't done one of these lists in a long, long time. Here are five people/places/things that I've been enjoying lately:

1. Beach House's latest album, Teen Dream. I love love love this band.

2. Donald Glover. He used to write for 30 Rock, and now stars in Community, a show that's only in its first season, but is already one of the funniest and most creative comedies on television. My friend and I saw him do stand-up at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood last month, and he had us laughing non-stop. Donald also blogs about cool stuff and writes and performs intricately worded rap songs with indie/geek leanings under the pseudonym Childish Gambino. He's a modern-day Renaissance man. I have a huge crush on him.

3. Party Down is another one of my favorite shows at the moment. It's about a bunch of failed actors and writers working at a catering company. The spot-on cast includes Adam Scott, Lizzie Caplan, and Martin Starr (of my all-time favorite Freaks and Geeks). The show just entered into its second season on the Starz network. The incomparable Jane Lynch was part of the cast in season 1, but left to be on Glee. Megan Mullally is taking her place this season. Her character is funny, but I still miss Jane. All episodes are available for instant viewing on Netflix, and you can also watch a few episodes on the official website.

4. Marias USA, a cool little independent shoe line that pairs simple shapes with interesting details. Their designs are fun, classic, and effortlessly stylish. Affordable, too! The Low Top and the Two-toned Flat are my current favorites.

5. Cute boys with cats on tumblr. What a genius idea for a blog. This cat totally looks like Tiger from An American Tail.

hamm & banksy

2010-05-02T14:09:00.000-07:00

This handsome, handsome man will be hosting a screening of Tootsie at the Silent Movie Theatre in Los Angeles tonight. To say that I'm "looking forward to it" would be a huge understatement. I get to see Jon Hamm and the (almost as good-looking) young Dustin Hoffman in the same evening. It's win-win!

Yesterday I went to a screening of the Banksy film Exit Through the Gift Shop. It was really great - unexpectedly funny and thought-provoking. It was interesting to see the story and process behind all the street art that's so prevalent throughout LA. There's so much amazing footage in the film. If it's playing anywhere near you, go see it!

happy earth day!

2010-04-22T14:35:00.000-07:00

the donut man

2010-04-05T19:37:00.000-07:00

I still haven't gotten around to sorting through the New York photos. I've been busy enjoying every second of my Spring break. So sad that it's coming to an end.

Last Saturday, I met up with my best friend for an early dinner at The Boiling Crab. Later that night, we picked up a few donuts from The Donut Man. We got a strawberry donut to share, plus one for our friend. It is the best donut ever. The strawberries always taste fresh and sweet (but not too sweet), and the donut itself is so big that you have to eat it with a knife and fork. In fact, this donut is so good that it made the cover of LA Weekly's "99 Things to Eat in L.A. Before You Die" issue.

We also tried a few cream puff-inspired donuts - French donuts filled with cream cheese and topped with powdered sugar. We got all three flavors: plain, blueberry, and raspberry. I liked the plain one the best, but all three tasted delicious. I was afraid that the cream cheese would be too rich, but it was really light and fluffy. I grew up 5 minutes away from Donut Man, and it hasn't changed at all since I was a kid. It's always been great. If you ever find yourself in the San Gabriel Valley area, definitely pay them a visit.

nyc

2010-03-18T14:45:00.000-07:00

Just got back from my first trip to New York City. I'll blog about it later, when I'm slightly less exhausted.

la street food fest

2010-02-23T00:34:00.000-08:00

The 1st Annual LA Street Food Fest was a couple of weekends ago. Since it was the first event of its kind in LA, I knew to prepare for disappointment. That being said, I actually ended up having a pretty good time. Sure, there were huge crowds and long lines, but the people were friendly, the DJ played good music, and of course, the food was delicious.

My goal was to visit three food trucks that I'd been wanting to try out. I was able to try two of them: Coolhaus and The Grilled Cheese Truck. I got to sample two mini treats at Coolhaus: a chocolate chip cookie & maple with candied bacon ice cream sammie and a brownie & strawberry ice cream sammie. Both were so good and perfect for the near 80-degree weather that we were having that day. My friends and I tried out a few different sandwiches from The Grilled Cheese Truck, but the hands-down winner was the Brie Melt - double cream brie, a slice of crisp Bosc pear, and honey on cranberry walnut bread. The textures and flavors were incredible! The perfect mix of creamy, crunchy, savory, and sweet. I've been craving another Brie Melt ever since. I plan on recreating it at home sometime soon. My hunger wasn't even close to being satisfied by the time I left the festival, so I ended up stopping for chicken wings at Kyochon (best chicken wings ever). Yeah, it was a fairly gluttonous day, but I'm not making any apologies. Food is amazing. Days like this make me feel lucky to live in LA.

I (h)EA(r)T LA

2010-02-13T09:08:00.001-08:00

Going to the LA Street Food Fest today, armed with an empty stomach and a fully charged camera battery. Stay tuned for photos! In the meantime, here's Amy Poehler and her dreamy panda boyfriend:

via Bust

Whatever you're celebrating this weekend, have a great one!

2010-01-12T17:47:00.000-08:00

pretty little basterd

2009-12-22T03:06:00.000-08:00

What is it about French women? They're just so effortlessly cool and chic...and they have such good hair.

I've been smitten with Mélanie Laurent ever since I first laid eyes on her in Inglourious Basterds. I haven't had a girl crush this huge since Julie Delpy in Before Sunrise (another French girl - coincidence?). If you haven't seen Inglourious Basterds yet...well, why haven't you? Laurent glows in every single frame (even when she's covered in blood), but the first shot of her in that red dress at the beginning of the final act is the real "wow" moment. Tarantino has featured some badass female characters in his films, but Laurent's Shoshanna may very well be the most badass of them all. Inglourious Basterds is out on DVD today, so go out and rent it if you haven't seen it already.

an education in fashion

2009-11-23T23:10:00.000-08:00

The elegant Carey Mulligan as Jenny in An Education. I saw this film last month. It's based on a memoir by Lynn Barber and written by one of my favorite authors, Nick Hornby. The costumes are so gorgeous and really help to visually illustrate Jenny's transformation from a schoolgirl to a young woman. The rest of the cast is great as well. I particularly loved Olivia Williams as Jenny's stern but caring teacher.

french navy

2009-11-22T22:57:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite bands, Camera Obscura, released a fantastic album back in April and I feel like a big dummy for just becoming aware of it now. Chalk it up to being really preoccupied, I guess. I'm definitely not as updated on bands & artists as I used to be, but thanks to a friend, I've belatedly discovered this absolute gem of a song (and video). Enjoy!

halloween

2009-10-30T17:39:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween weekend! This year I'm dressing up as a panda, my favorite animal.

pumpkin cupcakes

2009-10-25T11:32:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about the Fall season is the abundance of pumpkin-themed desserts. Last week, my boyfriend and I baked up a big batch of pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. They were so good! Even my boyfriend, who hates pumpkin and doesn't have much a sweet tooth, couldn't resist them. He said they're the best cupcakes he's ever had! We sprinkled chopped walnuts on top, which gave them the perfect amount of crunch. I'm already planning on making them again.

Get the recipe at Patent and the Pantry.

tonight

2009-10-15T17:56:00.000-07:00

Going to the midnight screening at the Cinerama Dome. I can't wait!

zombies & pie

2009-10-11T11:43:00.000-07:00

This weekend I watched Zombieland. I loved it. It managed to be clever, crude, funny, and kind of touching, all at the same time. I hope I start seeing Jesse Eisenberg in more movies after the success of this one. I've been a fan ever since I saw him in The Squid and the Whale. The boyfriend and I decided to watch Drag Me To Hell when we got home, which turned our Friday movie night into a really good, scary/funny double feature. I love Sam Raimi.

On Saturday, we went to an early evening screening of Paranormal Activity at Arclight Hollywood. Half the people at our screening were scared out of their minds; the other half were bored out of their minds. I belonged to the former half of that group. That movie thoroughly scared the bejeezus out of me, but I could see how some people might be bored. I think it all depends on how much patience you have and what kind of movies you find scary. Some people like those balls-out horror films, where the scares and gore come early and often. Some people like films with a bunch of creepy moments that hint at the big payoff at the end. Those are the kinds of horror films that I like, and that's the kind of film that Paranormal Activity is.

After the movie, we went to the Farmers Market and had dinner at Du-par's. I ordered the chicken pot pie because I don't recall ever eating it before (I'm Filipino-Chinese, so I missed out on a lot of American dishes growing up). The pot pie was flaky, piping hot and delicious. For dessert, I had to try a piece of their famous pie (yeah, more pie). I decided on blueberry cream cheese with a graham cracker crust. Holy crap, it was good. I didn't take any pictures of my food, as I'm usually apt to do, because I devoured it way too quickly. But there will be more photo ops - I still need to try the rest of their pies!

Ah, food and movies. My two favorite things. It was a good weekend.

Dress from Forever 21. Cardigan from H&M. Scarf from a thift store. Coach bag. Chinese Laundry boots.

shop update

2009-10-06T20:06:00.000-07:00

Pretty new dresses up in the shop.

an elusive outfit post

2009-09-30T18:11:00.000-07:00

First outfit post in a billion years, I know. I didn't really wear anything too great this summer. It was way too hot and I was way too busy to put any effort into dressing. I prefer Fall and Winter clothing much more.

This skirt just arrived in the mail, my first eBay purchase in a long time. I love the print. I bought three different items of clothing last week and they all have similar "folksy" prints and embroidery. It was completely unintentional. Honestly, I've been feeling a bit burnt out on fashion lately. The internet creates so much sensory overload that it sometimes makes it hard to figure out what I like and don't like. I guess it's good to know that I can always count on my subconscious to steer me along.

American Apparel mustard dress from eBay. Forever 21 skirt from eBay. Ivory cardigan from Old Navy. Faux leather woven belt from H&M. Black tights from Target. Me Too patent t-strap heels from DSW (I later decided that these were too dressy for day and changed into flats).

let the wild rumpus start!

2009-09-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

My best friend made these cupcakes, and they're kind of a big deal.

After being featured on several blogs, including Cupcakes Take the Cake and boingboing, her cupcakes made it onto the illustrious Huffington Post last week. Her Moishe- and Max-cakes are featured in a slideshow alongside other movie-themed cupcakes here. I'm so happy that my talented friend is getting the recognition she deserves. And I can vouch for the fact that all her creations taste just as good as they look!

fireworks

2009-09-02T05:12:00.000-07:00

Disneyland knows how to do them right.

strawberry fields

2009-08-23T20:17:00.000-07:00

I went to Serendipity 3 in Vegas and ate this. I think I'm still recovering.

orla kiely clearance

2009-08-14T13:28:00.000-07:00

For those of you who missed out on the Orla Kiely for Target collection while it was in stores, a select few pieces are still available on Target.com, and most of it is now on clearance for up to 50% off! I just placed an order for the trio of pear canisters and the flower serving tray (which I will be using as a food tray for my cats. Yes, I am vaguely ashamed about this). If you've had your eye on any of these pieces, now is the perfect time to buy.

Last week, I took a break from the craziness of moving to attend my cousin's wedding in Seattle, and today I'm heading to Las Vegas to celebrate my best friend's birthday. This has been an incredibly busy summer, but I'm definitely not complaining.

summer reading

2009-08-01T17:05:00.001-07:00

al & diane

2009-07-18T16:41:00.000-07:00

Hello! So sorry for the long absence. I'm currently in the process of moving to a new city. Busy, busy, busy. I'll be back as soon as I can.

kittens!

2009-06-27T15:08:00.000-07:00

So, the kittens have pretty much taken over. I don't really mind. The little one has had a few name changes since the last time I posted about him. Right now it's a toss-up between Charlie (as in Bucket) and Nibbler (as in Leela's pet from Futurama). Nibbler is a very appropriate name, since this little dude loves chewing on anything and everything, both edible and non. I was eating a bowl of cereal the other day and he literally tried to climb into the bowl while it was in my hands. The only thing is, I've always given actual names to my pets, not pet names. So that's why I'm leaning toward Charlie. Maybe Nibbler can be his alias, in case he decides he wants to join the mob or be a paid assassin when he grows up.

Anyway, I've been sick for the past week. Being sick + 90-degree weather = not cool. Not cool at all. But I'm on my way to recovery. Hopefully this bug will be gone by tomorrow.

I'll be adding some things to the shop in the next few days. A pair of boots are already up. I know that the shop's been pretty bare lately. A lot has been going on since summer started (the new kitten, lots of family activities, and an impending move - just to name a few). There might be some new and exciting changes coming up soon, but I'll post about it when the time comes.

two weeks

2009-06-21T23:51:00.000-07:00

My favorite song at the moment is "Two Weeks" by Grizzly Bear. The music video is a little bit funny, a little bit creepy, and strangely mesmerizing. Kind of like watching a ventriloquist's dummy.

And here's the same song, impeccably edited with footage from the 1956 short film Le ballon rouge. I love this one so much.

See both videos in HD here and here.

seattle

2009-06-18T22:07:00.001-07:00

Last month, I went to Seattle to celebrate my grandmother's 89th birthday. It was such a fun, relaxing trip. The weather couldn't have been more perfect.

I arrived on Friday and had a couple of days to enjoy the city before heading to my relatives' house in Port Orchard for the big birthday celebration. My cousin and her fiance escorted my other cousin and I all around Seattle and took us to some amazing eateries, including The Crab Pot (so epic that it was featured on the show Man v. Food) and Molly Moon's ice cream shop (monster-sized scoops and the most delicious homemade waffle cones, ever). We visited Gas Works Park, went to Pike Place Market to buy a bouquet of flowers for our grandmother, rode to the top of the Space Needle, and did some shopping inbetween. All I bought was food (sprinkles and flavored honey) - big surprise.

I'll be going back in August for my cousin's wedding. Can't wait!

great gatsby!

2009-06-17T15:38:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share a few photos from an event at New York's Governors Island, taken by Scott Schuman of The Sartorialist. These have been up on The Sartorialist for about a week, so some of you might have already seen them, but hopefully you won't mind seeing them again. Personally, I can't get enough of these photos. Everything about them is vibrant, sun-drenched, and perfect. This is vintage inspiration at its best.

checking in

2009-05-31T17:48:00.000-07:00

Apologies for my extended absence from the blog. The reasons for the hiatus are as follows: a Memorial Day weekend trip to Seattle, working on final projects for Spring semester, and my very recent acquisition of this little guy:

His (tentative) name is Tobias, and his meow is ridiculously loud.

I expect things to settle down as soon as my summer officially begins in about two weeks. I'll try to post photos from my Seattle trip this week. It's such a beautiful city.

four eyes

2009-05-15T16:03:00.001-07:00

More photos of James Dean for your viewing pleasure.

Have a lovely weekend!

do you like hot jazz?

2009-05-11T17:37:00.000-07:00

My love for Steve Buscemi and the Coen brothers knows no bounds.

breathless

2009-05-04T05:31:00.000-07:00

Jean Seberg in À bout de souffle (Breathless). What a beauty.

good day sunshine

2009-04-24T17:33:00.000-07:00

I've had this crazy adorable vintage dress on my "etsy favorites" list for quite a while, despite the fact that it will never fit me, so I figured I might as well share it. The daisies along the neckline and the little bow at the back of the waist are just so perfect. It's available on etsy, here.

The color yellow always puts me in a good mood because it reminds me of sunshine and flowers and all that nature-y crap that I love. So, in keeping with the theme of this blog entry, here are more yellow things:

(clockwise from top left) yellow canoe moroccan key rack from cut+paste; savica waterfall blouse from anthropologie; princess tina mushroom tote bag from giant robot; toms classic rope slip-on from endless.com; tana rolled-sleeve scoopneck from delias; mmmg class notebook from cut+paste; sunrise crochet top from shopruche.com

spectacular views

2009-04-18T16:16:00.000-07:00

Hello there! I just got back from a week-long vacation to Catalina, Mexico, and San Diego. I was so busy preparing for the trip that I completely forgot to mention it on the blog - sorry! I had an amazing time, especially in Mexico, despite the somewhat gloomy weather. Horseback riding was my favorite part of the trip. My horse, Morito, was small and fat and had an awesome mohawk. He would try to eat every flowery plant that we passed (he was particularly partial to the purple ones), and when I tried to steer him away, he made a frustrated noise and took a huge chomp out of the next plant that he saw. Stubborn with a big appetite, just like me! Back at the ranch, I met two little cats named Tigre and Pantera (the latter is pictured above). They were so relaxed and friendly. I had a very strong urge to smuggle them back home with me, but I controlled myself.

This weekend will be spent unpacking, unwinding, and catching up on all the luxuries of home that I've been missing all week (i.e., DVR and interweb). Regular scheduled blogging should resume very soon.

dream boots

2009-04-06T19:44:00.000-07:00

After months of searching, I finally found the perfect pair of brown vintage ankle boots. When I bought them, they were a little dingy and covered with tiny specks of paint, but it was nothing that a bit of leather cleaner couldn't handle. I can't wait to start making outfits with these bad boys. Outfits that I will undoubtedly forget to photograph, as usual (sorry about that).

shop update!

2009-04-04T20:22:00.000-07:00

Ninja Vintage update tonight! A few tops and a pair of shoes are now available. The rest should be up tomorrow. Click here to visit the shop!

breakfast with james

2009-03-30T07:34:00.000-07:00

spring is in the air

2009-03-27T17:40:00.000-07:00

This dress (by Motel) is currently waiting for me at the post office. This, to me, is the perfect Spring dress - peter pan collar, pleats, buttons, blue, and bunnies! It's almost sickeningly cute. I'm pretty anxious to receive it. I ordered it from the UK and I'm not too sure about the sizing, so I'm really hoping that it fits.

More Spring dresses that I love:

Cruiser Dress in Aztec Red from Steven Alan

Contrast Color Button Through Dress from Asos

Kloset Must Be Mustard Dress from Sunday Brunch

I guess I'm really into blues and oranges this season.

New items will be up in the store next week! I'll have some preview photos up tomorrow.

where the wild things are

2009-03-25T15:38:00.000-07:00

Words cannot describe how excited I am to see this.

Watch the trailer in HD at apple.com.

"did I offend you?"

2009-03-15T15:47:00.000-07:00

I just had to share this. It's a short film for Oliver Peoples Eyewear featuring Zooey Deschanel and Matt Costa, and directed by one of my favorite photographers/filmmakers, Autumn de Wilde.

a few things

2009-03-14T18:00:00.000-07:00

Just a few things of note:

Keep Company recently released their Spring 09 line - new styles, and gingham and watermelon prints!

Let the Right One In is one of the best vampire movies I've ever seen. Maybe the best. F. W. Murnau would be proud.

This is probably old news for anyone who lives near LA, but I finally had my first taste of Kogi BBQ this week and I am officially obsessed! Their tacos are so delicious. I'm going back for more next week.

I finally got a new camera, so expect more outfit posts and a site update very soon.

That's it. Short and sweet! Have a wonderful weekend.

amazing animals

2009-03-09T09:26:00.000-07:00

the hamster nerd, the kitten nerd, and the raccoon nerd bags by Insight

(also available in tank top form!)

via Karmaloop

would've, could've

2009-03-04T15:54:00.000-08:00

Here's what I would've purchased from the Built by Wendy sample sale:

Exploding Mouse tee. Ham tee (I love To Kill A Mockingbird).

Cashmere cardigan. Plaid strapless dress.

Gradient tees.

My friend just showed me this music video, in which the lead singer is wearing a similar striped tee. I thought it was a nice little coincidence. I've never heard of this band before, but I like the music video for obvious reasons.

built by wendy sample sale

2009-03-02T03:54:00.000-08:00

Starts today! Regrettably, I've decided to abstain from online shopping for a while because I need to save up for a couple of upcoming trips, but there's nothing stopping you from enjoying the deals. Have fun!

busy bear

2009-02-27T17:50:00.000-08:00

In addition to a candlelit dinner that he prepared himself, my boyfriend gave me a crocheted polar bear (with removable scarf!) and polar bear hair accessories for Valentine's Day. Food and bear paraphernalia - he really knows the way to my heart.

I apologize for the lack of updates lately, both on the blog and on my site. The reasons are as follows:

Two trips to Las Vegas last week, and the beginning of Spring semester somewhere inbetween. This week was my first full week of classes.
Also, I got sick the day after I got back from Vegas. Not fun.
I didn't have access to my computer for most of this week because it was being fixed.
It's become nearly impossible to take photos with my ancient camera. I'm still in the process of searching for a new (and affordable) one.
Some personal things that are causing me a bit of frustration/sadness/confusion/etc.

Unfortunately, I don't really have any relevant pictures to share from my last Vegas trip because of the aforementioned camera issues. Hopefully I'll be getting a new one soon. I hope everyone has a relaxing weekend. I'm definitely in need of one as well.

las vegas, las vegas

2009-02-20T02:23:00.000-08:00

This week has been crazy busy. It started out with a family trip to Las Vegas on Sunday. It was my second time staying at the lovely Palazzo hotel. I was sad to learn that one of my favorite spots, Mainland, had closed down since my last visit. Mainland was a fun, modern Asian fusion restaurant tucked away in a tiny corner of the Palazzo's second-floor shops. Their food was kind of hit-or-miss, but their toasted marshmallow milkshakes were incredible. The last time I was in Vegas, I had one every day that I was there (both with and without Malibu Rum). I guess now I'll have to go elsewhere for my toasted marshmallow milkshake fix. But even if I do find another place that makes this wonderful concoction, I doubt that anyone could even come close to topping Mainland's.

Anyway, enough with my sad rant. I have come here (at 2am!) to announce that I'll be going on yet another trip to good ol' Las Vegas this weekend, this time for my friend's birthday celebration. While I do go there fairly often, I think this might be the first time that I've made two trips in the same week. I'll be back next week with photos and whatnot. Until then, take care and have a great weekend!

happy valentine's day

2009-02-14T02:33:00.000-08:00

I hope that your day doesn't go like this:

(I actually wanted to post the disastrous Valentine's day date scene, but I couldn't find it on hulu.)

that's just my bag

2009-02-11T22:37:00.000-08:00

I love my bag. It's classic, unassuming, goes with everything, and fits all my essentials. It was also a gift from my grandmother, which makes it very special to me (side note: this photo is fairly old; I have since replaced my ancient RazR with a BlackBerry). Lately, though, I've been wanting something new. So, of course, I turned to the internet. I was looking for a bag that was neutral enough to go with any outfit, but that also had details that made it stand out. I also wanted something a bit roomier than my Coach bag, something that could easily hold a book or two, and maybe a light sweater. After a bit of searching, I came across these bags by Hoakon/Helga on Etsy:

Each bag is handmade from repurposed leather jackets. There are currently nine different designs. The Monarda (first bag) is my personal favorite, but I love the oversized houndstooth fabric on the Willow bag.

This electric blue Monarda is already sold, which bums me out so much. My heart skipped a beat when I saw it while browsing Hoakon/Helga's "sold items" section. Such a beautiful shade of blue. I'm crossing my fingers that the next batch of bags that are added to the store will include something similar to this.

rainy days

2009-02-07T16:38:00.000-08:00

It's been pouring down rain for the past several days here in Southern California. I've had the same vintage floral umbrella for years, which I found at one of my favorite thrift stores that no longer exists. I love my umbrella, but it has seen better days. It's kind of bent on one side and not very big and, therefore, not completely effective at keeping me dry. So, I decided to go on a search for a new umbrella that was both cute and functional. I pretty much hit the mother lode with umbrellas.net.

Bicycles, polka dots, florals, and stripes - definitely my kind of website! Living in Southern California, though, it's hard for me to justify spending nearly $40 on something that I'm only going to use a few times a year. I decided to browse trusty Target.com for some more affordable options and stumbled upon these:

Bubble umbrellas! Maybe not as overtly adorable as an umbrella with bicycles on it, but still pretty nice. Plus, they're sturdy and they get the job done. I just threw the Batman umbrella in there as a joke. Well, maybe I'm a little serious about it...

the bird and the bee

2009-02-05T16:49:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, I attended the Jimmy Kimmel Live show to see The Bird and the Bee perform. They just released a new album called Ray Guns are not Just the Future. I instantly fell in love with the lead singer and her gorgeous voice. Inara George has one of those unmistakable, striking voices, like Karen O or Jenny Lewis. And, like those two, she also has a really unique sense of style. Very feminine and vintage-inspired, as evidenced by the music video for The Bird and the Bee's "Again & Again" (which can be seen here).

The following is the music video for the song "Love Letter to Japan," from their new album, which I love because the guys playing Dance Dance Revolution remind me of my brother, who was pretty much the King of DDR back in the day. Whenever he would play DDR, a group of dozens would inevitably begin to form around him to marvel in his flawless technique. I was such a proud little sister. Anyway, this song is great. Enjoy!

animals with eyepatches

2009-02-02T17:07:00.000-08:00

Check out this adorable little pup! I believe he (or she) is a Shiba Inu, probably one of the cutest dog breeds out there. The shirt's not too bad either, but really, this is all about the puppy.

via Threadless

another sweet weekend

2009-02-01T23:23:00.000-08:00

Saturday's outfit. This was hastily thrown together after I realized that it was 80 degrees outside and I had to put my normal uniform of dress/cardigan/tights on hold for a day. I even used a different bag! This one has little raindrops printed all over it. It's one of my favorites.

On Saturday night I went to Chinatown for my aunt's 60th birthday dinner. Afterward, my cousins and I were craving dessert (unfortunately, the fortune cookie did not suffice), so we went to my all-time favorite ice cream place, Scoops. Scoops is a little shop in LA that hosts an ever-changing variety of unusual and intriguing flavor combinations. Every time I go, I always have a difficult time deciding which flavors to get. But no matter what I get, I'm never disappointed.

This time I picked Thai tea and black sesame taro (which tasted a bit like peanut butter). It was the most delicious bowl of orange and grey ice cream I've ever had! The flavors actually complemented each other really well. The other two bowls belong to my cousins, who got caramel Irish cream and strawberry banana, respectively. What a nice way to end a Saturday. I hope everyone's weekend was just as nice!

500 days of summer

2009-01-27T19:44:00.000-08:00

500 Days of Summer recently premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Basically, it's about a guy who falls in love with a girl who doesn't believe in love. The trailer looks great. Romantic and whimsical, but not cutesy. Joseph and Zooey make such a sweet couple. I just wish I didn't have to wait six more months to watch it.

Visit the official website to watch the teaser trailer. There's a scene of them frolicking through an Ikea, which, in my opinion, is one of the best places to go on a date.

the year of the ox

2009-01-26T21:42:00.000-08:00

donald duck

2009-01-25T20:42:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted an outfit in a while, so I decided to take a quick photo before heading out to the grocery store. I know everyone's all about Mickey Mouse these days, but I've always preferred Donald Duck. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because my mom always bought Donald Duck brand orange juice, and I'd stare at his smiling face on the front of the juice carton as I ate my breakfast every morning before school. Maybe it's because he was one of the crankiest Disney characters, so it was easier for me to relate him than to the perpetually jolly Mickey and Goofy. Or, maybe I just liked his funny duck voice.

Anyway, I got this shirt at Goodwill a while back and I wear it often because it's Donald Duck, of course, and also because it's really soft and drapes so nicely. I'm also wearing my J. Crew cashmere cardigan, which I wear whenever it's even remotely cold outside, black jeans from Old Navy (these fit so poorly, but they're all I have; I hate shopping for pants), black Chinese Laundry boots, my Coach bag that I always use, and a gold ring. Oh, and my Contigo travel mug.

Here's a better view of the ring. It belonged to my mom. I don't wear much jewelry, but I do wear this fairly often. Unfortunately, I have no idea what the Chinese character stands for. I asked my dad (who is half Chinese, but grew up in the Philippines) if he knew, but everything that he learned in Chinese school has already been long forgotten.

shadow puppets

2009-01-23T14:14:00.000-08:00

from Orange Moon Toys

hope

2009-01-20T16:29:00.000-08:00

HAPPY INAUGURATION DAY!

martin luther king, jr.

2009-01-19T10:56:00.000-08:00

"We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope."

dressing up

2009-01-15T17:25:00.000-08:00

I didn't have much to do today, so I decided to play dress-up with one of my favorite items from Ninja Vintage, the Zipper Dress (I ate lunch right before taking these photos, so please excuse the post-meal pudge). I experimented with a few different outfits, but these are the ones I liked the best. In the first outfit, I wore the dress over a vintage slip and added a grey cardigan. In the second outfit, I wore a black cotton tee underneath and changed the silhouette with a vintage wool pencil skirt and my trusty faux patent belt. Of course, there are many other ways to wear this dress. I'm certainly not the most innovative of dressers, so I can't even imagine how great this might look in the hands of someone far more creative/stylish than I.

I also wore the dress with this awesome coat from my shop (and oh, hey, you can kind of see my face - oops.). Someone needs to buy this soon, because it doesn't fit me and it's too good to go unworn and unloved. Every day it hangs there, taunting me with its adorableness.

And while we're on the subject of Ninja Vintage, I just added a sassy little Betsey Johnson dress to the shop today. More things should be up within the next week or so.

navy & red

2009-01-13T13:23:00.000-08:00

Here are some things that my friends got me for Christmas:

Bear salt & pepper shakers! These will be a great addition to my burgeoning collection of bear-themed items.
Flight of the Conchords - The Complete First Season. I've loved Flight of the Conchords for years, but I don't have HBO, so I never got around to watching their television show (except for bits and pieces on Youtube). Now I can watch it whenever I want. I bow down to whoever came up with the idea of putting television shows on DVD.
Last, but not least, a navy and red Orla Kiely wallet. It's so nice and has lots of pockets for all my cards. I love it!

I also picked up this shirt at Forever 21 this weekend. It's navy and red, like my Orla Kiely wallet, and it's plaid, like Bret's shirt on the cover of the Flight of the Conchords DVD. Coincidence. Too bad there's nothing bear-related about it. That would be way too weird.

sweet weekend

2009-01-12T09:55:00.000-08:00

On Sunday I had lunch with my friends at Porto's in Glendale. I had a grilled chicken sandwich (served with plantain chips on the side) and a yummy blended chai latte. My friends got a variety of sweet treats, including cheesecake, tres leches, and a piña colada cake (so pretty!).

I didn't get any sweets at Porto's because afterwards we planned on taking a trip down the street to Crumbs Bake Shop. Wow, that place is cupcake overload! Their cupcakes are the size of muffins, and there are so many to choose from. Upon entering the shop, my friends and I spent the first few minutes marveling at all the amazing flavors, like Banana Split, Apple Cobbler, Cookie Dough, and Neopolitan. I finally decided on Peanut Butter Banana (with chocolate creme in the center, which I was pleasantly surprised to discover as I was devouring it) and my all-time favorite, Carrot Cake. They were so delicious and rich. I would've felt guilty eating both of them by myself, so I saved half of each and gave them to my brother and my dad. I already want to go back and try some of the other flavors, though I might not be so willing to share them next time.

Yesterday I also collected some Christmas gifts from my friends, since I didn't get to see them around the holidays. I got some wonderful things, which I'll share in my next post. My friends are the best.