fly away home.

Engagement!

2012-02-22T19:31:00.002-08:00

I could write out this story in words, but we all know how many words a picture is worth. So I'll just let them do the talking.

Unbeknownst to me, Timothy had arranged for our wonderful photographer friend (secretly) took these pictures while hiding in the bushes! What a trooper. Check out her website here.

Whirlwind.

2012-02-19T19:38:00.000-08:00

Guys, whirlwind doesn't even being to cover it. I apologize for being MIA for a while, but I had a good excuse. Really, I did. Are you ready for it? Are you sure? Okay, here it is: I got engaged.

Wait, what?

Yeah, I GOT ENGAGED!

Can I get a giddy squeal?

Well, now I will keep you in suspense for a bit until I decide to share the story.

Cheers!

Boyfriend Style

2012-02-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

Who thinks it's about time Timothy was featured on this here blog of mine? I do.

I think this man is pretty freaking adorable.

T-shirt: Gap

Sweater: H&M

Jeans: Gap

Shoes: TOMS

Gee, do you think he's mocking me? It's okay, I still like him.

Timothy writes and entertaining blog about movies and games that you should check out- here.

Polka Dots

2012-02-09T08:00:00.000-08:00

I'm not really a polka dot kind of person, but I really like the rusty color of this top, so I thought I'd try it out. Since the weather has been so nice lately, I was glad I was able to wear it before springtime!

Blouse: Lush
Zipper Ankle Pants: Gap

Boots: Thrifted
Necklace: Forever 21
Bracelet: Forever 21
Watch: Gift

S'mores Cookies

2012-02-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

Do you guys ever just get a hankering for s'mores in the middle of a February day? No, just me? Well, s'mores are probably one of my top five favorite desserts ever, but they aren't something you can just make. In order to have truly authentic, perfect s'mores you need a fire and sticks and friends, which I supposed you could do in February, but it's not the same. So when my good friend, Catherine, and I spotted s'mores cookies on Pinterest, I knew we had to make them immediately.

These are really easy to make and they do taste like s'mores. Even though they can't beat the real thing, they'll tide me over until summer comes.

Recipe here!

Afternoon Walk

2012-02-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

It was really sunny over the weekend. Like "oh my goodness is it really still winter?" kind of sunny. So Timothy and I decided to enjoy the sun by having lunch and taking a walk along the Lake Washington. It was a really nice treat to be able to do this in February, and I hope the weather continues to stay like this until October. (It could happen, right?)

Blouse: Old Navy
Shorts: H&M
Tights: Forever 21
Shoes: H&M

Music Monday!

2012-02-05T21:19:00.001-08:00

Instagram Friday!

2012-02-03T09:41:00.000-08:00

Babysitting an absolutely adorable baby who belongs to my dear friend Ally over at His Story

Making Christmas-inspired decorations to help hang on to the winter season a bit longer.

Celebrating the marriage of two lovely people!

Reading a book perfect for February

Making delicious treats and crossing more things off our Pinterest to-do list with another dear friend.

Happy Friday!

Low Fat Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

2012-02-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

Happy February! What better way to start off the month of love than with some delicious cookies? (There are probably lots of better ways, but this is how I'm choosing to do it)

These cookies are really delicious, and really low-fat because they're made with applesauce instead of oil and lots of butter. So naturally, this was my excuse to have two, or three, or four... Eh, we'll just say I had a "few"

Recipe adapted from bakingbites.com

1 cup all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

2 tbsp butter at room temperature

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups quick cooking oats

1 cup chocolate chips (I used a combination of mini and white chocolate chips, and I may have used more than one cup...)

Preheat oven to 350F

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper

In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon, set off to side

In a larger bowl, use an electric mixer and cream together the butter and the sugars. Then add the egg, applesauce, and vanilla extract and blend.
Working by hand, stir in the flour mixture, and oats until just combined, then add the chocolate chips.

Drop the dough by the tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheet, and gently flatten each cookie.
Bake for about 10-12 minutes, then let cool and enjoy!

Makes about 10-12 dozen

What's in my bag?!

2012-01-31T08:00:00.000-08:00

*Oh look, I got a text message. Can you guy who it's from?*

Those who know me well know that I have a thing for oversized bags. In fact, I think the smallest one I have is this one, which still isn't very small. I don't know why I'm drawn to big bags, maybe I just like the comfort of knowing that I have everything I could possibly need. Or maybe it's just that the only bags I ever find that I like happen to be large. Either way, here is what in in my current bag!

Phone

Make-up bag

Glasses

Notebook for random jotting

Book- currently I'm re-reading the Great Gatsby.

(my very dirty) Wallet

Check Book

Sunglasses

Keys

Something to keep my breath fresh

And lately I've been carrying around gloves for driving and whatnot

What do you keep in your bag?

Bag: Steve Madden via DSW
Wallet: H&M

Music Monday!

2012-01-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

1994

2012-01-28T08:00:00.000-08:00

This awesome sweater is from the little boys' department at Old Navy, and I would probably consider it one of my favorite sweaters. That's right, folks, rocking clothes from a department not targeted to you is the new thing this year. Or maybe I just completely made that up. You decide.

Blouse: Gianetta via Nordstrom

Sweater: Old Navy

Jeans: Loft

Boots: Gift from my mom (Similar)

Instagram Friday!

2012-01-27T10:21:00.000-08:00

Building an awesome fort on a snowy winter day.

A homemade snack. Recipes for both are coming soon!

Re-reading old favorites.

Beautiful weather to make us forget about all the snow we just had.

Cheese Sticks

2012-01-26T08:00:00.000-08:00

I made these a while ago for our family Thanksgiving party, and they were a huge hit! They're really easy to make, and the come out wonderfully! I highly recommend them for your next gathering... or you know, just for fun.

Recipe adapted from Smitten Kitchen

1 1/2 cups grated extra-sharp Cheddar cheese

1/2 stick unsalted butter, softened and cut into pieces 

3/4 cup flour, plus more for dusting

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 

1 tablespoon half-and-half

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. In a food processor, combine the cheese, butter, flour, salt and red pepper until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the half-and-half and process until the dough forms a ball.

3. On a lightly floured surface, using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll the dough into a rectangle that is about 1/8-inch thick. With a pizza wheel, cut the dough into thin strips, each 1/4 to 1/3-inch wide. They can be any length from 2 to 10 inches long. You can cut them before or after baking them- whichever you prefer. Gently transfer the strips to a parchment lined cookie sheet.

4. Bake the straws for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the ends are barely browned. Remove from the oven and set the cookie sheet on a rack to cool.

5. Serve at room temperature, and enjoy!

Winter Yellow

2012-01-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

The snow on the ground is the last remains of what people have been calling the "snowpocalypse" in Seattle. We had a ridiculous snow storm for a few days last week, and I think it actually broke some records. Woo!

I really hate the snow. Like really. So I decided to sport my yellow sweater in hopes that it will coerce the sun to make its way over our sky. Do you think it will work?

I purchased this open knit sweater on a whim the other day when I was out running errands. This color has been one of my favorites (besides grey, of course) for a long time, so I was immediately drawn to this sweater. I didn't try it on before buying it, and I actually think I got a size too big, but it's just so comfortable I still love to wear it!

Sometimes I do really awkward things...

Sweater: Rubbish via Nordstrom

Woven Top: Thrifted

Jeans: Loft

Shoes: DSW

Necklace: Forever 21

Music Monday: James Vincent McMorrow

2012-01-23T13:00:00.000-08:00

Perfect for a rainy day!

Sunday Best

2012-01-22T19:19:00.000-08:00

Remember back to this post when I summoned your help when deciding the fate of my hair? (I.E. whether or not I should cut my bangs) Well, I decided to go for it! Some days they get really annoying, but I think I like them. Also, another obvious hair change is my DIY ombre I did a few weeks ago! Do you guys like it? I do.

Even though it was pouring down rain most of the day, we managed to snap these pictures in the 5 minutes break between downpours, which I was very thankful for.

I have decided that for 2012 I am going to try and wear more dresses. Let's face it, a girl can never have too many dresses. I am usually a pants kind of person, so I'm trying to get out of my comfort zone, but we'll see how long I last.

Dress: Lush via Nordstrom (Similar)

Cropped Sweater (also seen here): H&M (Similar)

Scarf: Thrifted

Tights: Forever 21

Shoes: H&M

New Shop!

2012-01-22T17:05:00.000-08:00

I know I just opened up my blog shop a little ago, but I have already made some improvements! Take a look! There is also a link to it in right above if you ever want to look at it later!

Fly Away Home Shop

Instagram Friday!

2012-01-20T15:03:00.000-08:00

Sleeping puppy

My favorite breakfast

DIY Ombre hair!

Research and inspiration

This weather is much different than that beautiful sunset I showed a few weeks ago!

2012!

2012-01-09T12:34:00.000-08:00

Guys, I'm back! Did you miss me? Because I sure missed you. What a crazy few weeks it has been! But now I am back for the new year and excited for what it has to bring. I hope you all had wonderful holidays, and in case you're not quite over the Christmas spirit yet, here are just a few pictures of what mine looked like.

Beautiful sunsets in December!

Christmas lights

My lovely mom!

Mr. Timothy

New puppy named Macy

I hope 2012 is treating you all well so far. Be sure to check back in the next few weeks for more exciting things!

Sunday Quote #18

2011-12-11T10:42:00.000-08:00

"It is not only fine feathers than make fine birds."

~Aesop

Peanut Butter Blossoms

2011-12-07T16:55:00.000-08:00

Thanks for hanging tight with me while I finish up my final projects. Only a few more to go and I'll be done! But let's get into the Christmas spirit for a moment and bake some cookies! Sound good? Good.

Peanut Butter Blossoms are some of my favorite cookies to make, and to eat. I love the combination of peanut butter and chocolate, but who doesn't? These cookies are really easy to make if you just follow this recipe.

Let me know how yours turn out!

It's December!

2011-12-01T09:07:00.000-08:00

Okay, raise your hand if you're also in the "I can't believe it's December already" boat because I sure am. Where did all the time go? This year has gone by incredibly fast, but I'm happy I have my little blog to remind me of what I did all year.

Normally I don't like to listen to Christmas music except on Christmas day, but this year I am feeling very nostalgic, so I have made myself a Christmas playlist, and will be listening to that. What are you favorite Christmas songs?

Whirlwind Weekend

2011-11-30T11:37:00.000-08:00

Hello, readers! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend; I sure did. It was great to be in Seattle for the weekend, even if it was very cold. Finals week is fast approaching, so I will be buried in projects, and will be eating, sleeping, and breathing Photoshop. Yay me!

In other news: I got a Pinterest! Let the time-wasting begin! I also joined IFB, so come find me there.

Also be sure to check out my shop; I will be adding more things soon!

More stuff to come later, but for now here is a pretty picture for you to look at:

From here via Pinterest

Re-Cap

2011-11-22T08:48:00.000-08:00

Here are some extra highlights of the wonderful, birthday weekend I had.

The from the courtyard of my apartment. *Notice Hollywood sign*

The Grove all decorated for Christmas.

Breakfast dates with cute boys (and bland food)

The best burger you can get.

Sweet potato fries perfect for fall.

Premier of Happy Feet Two in Hollywood

Celebrities arriving at the premier

Harrison Ford's star.

* Extremely* fresh orange juice that is to die for.

A perfect birthday weekend!

Santa Monica

2011-11-19T08:00:00.000-08:00

Can't go to L.A. without hitting up the Santa Monica Pier!

Blouse: Gianetta
Sweater: H&M
Bag: H&M
Pants: Gap

Shoes: Thrifted

(500) Days

2011-11-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

Have you guys ever seen the move (500) Days of Summer? It's one of my favorites.

Anyway, you know that bench where they sit?

Yep, we found it.

21.

2011-11-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

Guys, last week I turned 21. I know, it's weird. To celebrate, Timothy flew down from Seattle for the weekend! We had so much fun hanging around L.A. I'll be sure to fill you guys in on all the details in the next few days.

Of course the first thing we did was go to Starbucks...

Shirt: Thrifted
Sweater: Thrifted
Tights: Nordstrom

Boots: Alloy
Skirt: H&M

Sunday Quote #17

2011-11-13T14:24:00.000-08:00

"Fashion, as we knew it, is over; people wear now exactly what they feel like wearing."
- Mary Quant

Shop!

2011-11-05T10:01:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, I finally opened up my blog shop! More things will be added shortly, but check it out!

The Green Bag

2011-10-27T09:07:00.000-07:00

Not to be confused with the red bag.

Jeans: Loft

Shoes: Old Navy

Blazer: Nordstrom

Scarf: Modcloth

Bag: Nordstrom

Homemade Pizza

2011-10-25T10:19:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I purchased some pizza dough at Trader Joes thinking it would be a great idea to make pizza. Well, I stuck the dough the freezer and forgot about it until a couple days ago. I'm not really sure why I thought making homemade pizza was a good idea. I mean, it's delicious and all, but it takes so much more time than ordering a pizza or buying a pre-made one, and time is something a busy college student does not have. Anyway, I had the dough, so I decided to just go for it and make the pizza, and it turned out great!

This was as close to a circle as I could get it.

I topped it with barbeque sauce, feta cheese, chicken that I had previously grilled, and spinach.

Mozzarella cheese, of course.

Cook at 450* for about 12 minutes, and enjoy!

Sunday Quote #16

2011-10-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

"Clothes and manners do not make the man; but when he is made, they greatly improve his appearance."

~ Arthur Ashe, Tennis player

Sunday Quote #15

2011-10-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

"Fashion is about suspense and surprise and fantasy. It's not about rules."

~ Wolfgang Joop, Designer

Pink blazer

2011-10-12T22:01:00.000-07:00

Blazer: H&M

Chiffon top: Modcloth

Pants: Old Navy

Tea & Toast

2011-10-07T00:03:00.000-07:00

Welp, school has started again. That means lots of late nights and midnight snacks.

Only ten more weeks until I'm done with FIDM forever.

Signs of Autumn

2011-10-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

Guys, autumn is here, and I'm so thrilled! I love this transition stage between summer and autumn when it starts to get colder, but it's still light and sunny outside. It makes for perfect autumn walks, which I love.

Tim and I started taking pictures, but only got a few when my dog, Fletcher, decided he wanted to participate too. He was being so cute and cooperative, that I just couldn't be annoyed with him. Instead, I just went with it, and ended up having a blast taking these photos.

These are some of my new favorite pants, and I love the forrest green color- perfect for fall. I had purchased this shirt over the summer, but I think it still works for fall as well, as I can pair it with sweaters and jackets. This hat is also one of my favorite accessories courtesy of my boyfriend, Timothy. You can see him wearing it here. And finally, yes, these are my "real" glasses (meaning they have prescription lenses, not fake plastic ones).

Aren't we a cute couple?

I look really stupid in the photo, but I just had to post it because my dog was so cute!

Top: Norstrom

Pants: Gap

Shoes: Nordstrom

Hat: Express (men's section)

Glasses frames: Warby Parker (like every other blogger)

Los Angeles

2011-09-30T10:00:00.000-07:00

Exactly one year ago, I moved from Seattle to Los Angeles, which is kind of a big deal, if you ask me. In that year I experienced things I had never experienced before, and maybe never would have experienced if I hadn't moved. So to reflect on the past year, here is a short list of all the new things I have done since moving to LA.

- I have flown in an airplane by myself

- I have ridden in a taxi

- I have rented my first apartment

- I have paid bills

- I have been in a long-distance relationship

- I have ridden a public bus

- I have ridden a subway train

- I have been in the audience of Wheel of Fortune

- I have moved to different apartments three times

- I have suprised my boyfriend and my parents (on seperate occasions) by coming home without their knowledge

- I have gone to FIDM

I know it's not the most impressive list, but I like to think about all the things I have done in the past year and how much moving to LA has caused me to grow up. I'm sure there will be many more significant miletones in my life in the future, but I'm pretty pleased with these ones so far.

The Fair

2011-09-28T11:46:00.000-07:00

Last week Timothy and I went to the Puyallup Fair- a quintessential activity to wrap up the summer season. Because we're a little old for most of the attractions offered there, we mostly just enjoyed watching the people, and enjoying the lovely day with each other.

Apparently deep fried butter is a thing now

Typical fair food.

A "Zedonk"

I really wanted to feed the sheep.

Another deep fried food place. Just check out their menu.

Tim and I decided to stick to "conventional" fair foods, like elephant ears and scones.

It was a great end to the summer, and now I'm ready to welcome fall!

Fall Inspiration

2011-09-26T12:54:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen, it's officially fall- my favorite season. As I'm sitting here in the rain thinking about all the things I have planned for this autumn, here are some of the items I'm looking to for inspiration as we transition into the final months of 2011.

From left to right:

1. Rag & Bone Botany Tunic- $255 from lagarconne.com

2. The Skinny Colored Jean- $165 from farfetch.com

3. CALYPSO St. Barth Fur Yali- $595 from calypsostbarth.com

4. MAJE Indigo Blue Wool Scarf- $110 from stylebop.com

5. Christian Dior chocolate suede 'Saloon' boots- $768 from bluefly.com

6. Mulberry Alexa Soft Buffalo- $1,200 from intermixonline.com

Sunday Quote #14

2011-09-11T08:58:00.001-07:00

"A fashion is nothing but an induced epidemic"

George Bernard Shaw

No bake cookies

2011-09-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

These are some of my favorite (semi-healthy) cookies, and they're so easy to make!

Makes about two dozen

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup butter

3/4 cup peanut butter

3 cups oats

6 Tablespoons cocoa powder

1 teaspoon vanilla

Boil sugar, butter, and milk together for 1.5 minutes

Remove from heat and add the other ingredients and mix well

Drop by the spoonfuls onto wax paper and serve when set (I like to put them in the refrigerator to help speed up the setting process.

Voila!

Weekend

2011-09-02T14:54:00.000-07:00

Wow guys, summer is flying by really really quickly. It makes me kind of excited because it means I'm closer to moving back to the homeland (Seattle), which I couldn't be more ready for. L.A. is great and all, but I gave it the old college try, and concluded that it's really not for me. Seattle is where my family is, where my friends are, where my heart is.

Anyway, this past weekend, I went up to Oregon for a wedding of two of my favorite people. My best friend, Emily, and I actually set up the two of them a few years ago, and now they're getting married! Maybe we should open a business or something because clearly we're awesome at matchmaking.

Portland is so pretty.

Of course, we had to stop at Voodoo Doughnuts, a Portland staple!

This donut was called the "No Name." It was chocolate, rice krispies, and peanut butter.

This is my best friend, Emily (mentioned above), and I with the happy couple!

We were a happy couple, too.

Sunday Quote #13

2011-08-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

"Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening."

Coco Chanel

Red Bag.

2011-08-18T15:01:00.000-07:00

I noticed that I have been wearing a lot of blue lately because in my last two outfit posts, I'm wearing a blue shirt. I promise I wear other colors too, but I guess blue has been the favorite these days.

I recently got this headband (inspired by the one and only) from etsy, and I've been wearing it all the time- probably more often than I wear a blue shirt.

Seersucker blouse: Thrifted

Jeans: Forever 21

Shoes: H&M

Bag: H&M

Headband: Etsy

3 years.

2011-08-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

Today is my three year dating anniversary with Timothy Jo. I really love him a lot, and we've had some really fun adventures over the past few years.

This was taken one week after we started dating. Such babies! :)

My 18th birhday. I think we were listening to someone tell a story- hence the faces.

Our good friend took some pictures of us together. We had so much fun!

This is one of my favorite pictures of us together.

My high school graduation.

Summer trip to the San Juan Islands.

Us just being silly.

Christmas 2009

Our two-year dating anniversary.

My 20th birthday weekend at Disneyland! Such a fun surprise!

Here's to three more years, Jo. I love you!

Sunday Quote #12

2011-08-14T08:20:00.000-07:00

"When it doubt, wear red"

Bill Blass, Designer

The fountain.

2011-08-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

No, not the the movie. This fountain is in the little courtyard of our apartment complex, so I decided to be adventurous and go have a little fun playing in it. The water was much colder than I expected, so my fun was mostly spent outside the fountain barrier, but I certainly got splashed enough.

Shirt: Thrifted

Shorts: Thrifted

Shoes: H&M

Chanel Chic

2011-08-08T15:40:00.000-07:00

And now we return your regularly scheduled program. I know I've been gone for a while, but frankly, I'm not really sorry. Fashion school is hard, and I've been busy. So that's that. But I did decide that since I've been gone for so long, maybe I should show you what has been keeping me so busy. Here is an assignment I did for one of my classes.

Basically, I had to draw this fashion sketch (not my best work, I'll admit), scan it into the computer, edit it in Adobe Photoshop, scan in these swatches of fabric, edit them in Photoshop, then place the fabric onto the sketch (also in Photoshop). Then I had to draw these flats of all three garments (which I did in Adobe Illustrator), then bring them all into Photoshop, add the same fabric to them, then shade an contour them to make them look more life-like. Then, just assemble everyone on one page, and voila!

This sketch was actually inspired by one of my favorite bloggers Fashionnerdic, you should check her out.

Sunday Quote #11

2011-07-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

"When a little black dress is right, there is nothing else to wear in its place."

Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

2011-07-29T21:04:00.000-07:00

The other day, I was really in the mood for some good ol' comfort food, and what says comfort better than macaroni and cheese? I decided to take on the task of making my own mac-and-cheese because (1) I really don't like the boxed kind (2) it's healthier than said boxed kind (3) I have been on the hunt for the perfect, creamy, baked mac-and-cheese recipe. I used this recipe, but modified by adding some broccoli and bacon to give it something a little extra.

Cook the broccoli first, then add to the cooked pasta.

Add cooked bacon.

Add cheese sauce and bread crumbs and bake!

So where does this recipe fit on the "perfect mac-and-cheese recipe" scale? It was pretty good, and I will probably make it again, but it wasn't "the one."

Extra, Extra.

2011-07-18T09:37:00.000-07:00

Guys, guys, guess who I saw!

He was at the shopping center The Grove filming his show, Extra, and I just happened to be there the same day and time.

Sunday Quote #10

2011-07-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

“"Style" is an expression of individualism mixed with charisma. Fashion is something that comes after style.”

~John Fairchild

Skirting around.

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

Guys, I really hate wearing skirts. A lot. I can never find one that looks good on me, or that is long enough, or that fits well etc. I have about four skirts in my closet, but they tend to just stay there and never make an appearance. This morning, I put one of them on just to keep me covered while I was looking for something else to wear. I decided I wanted to wear this shirt, so I put it on, looked in the mirror and decided it look kind of good with the skirt I had just thrown on, so I left it. My life is SO exciting, I know.

I kind of liked the out of focus effect on this one.

Denim top: Nordstrom

Skirt: Honestly, I have no idea where I got this skirt.

Shoes: H&M

Grand Central Market.

2011-07-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

A few days ago, I wrote a post about my trip to Seattle and Pike Place Market. Well, this past week, I went to LA's version of Pike Place called Grand Central Market.

Right across the street from the market is the historical Angel's Flight- the shortest railway in the world!

I went right around lunch time, so there was a big hustle of business people getting their lunch. The market has a few produce stands, and tons of places to get a hot meal. It's a perfect place to grab some lunch.

Look at these giant chocolate chip cookies. They were probably the size of my head! And so many chocolate chips!

Seattle #3

2011-07-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

For my last day in Seattle, my dad, Tim, and I took a trip downtown to Pike Place Market- a Seattle landmark! We walked around for a bit, enjoyed the famous mini-donuts, some awesome greek food, and the lovely weather.

The sign.

I know it was sunny, but it was still pretty chilly. Plus, I'm used to LA weather- so, yes, I'm wearing a scarf... in June.

Somebody looks tired.

Actually, I look really tired, too.

After our trip downtown we headed to the Cinerama, a fifty-year-old movie theater in Seattle. It has one giant movie screen with about 800 seats. Currently, Green Lantern is playing, so that's what the three of us saw. It was kind of stupid, but it was fun to see in such a historic theater.

After all this fun, it was off the the airport for me to head back to LA. I was really sad to go because I had such a great week. Some of the other things I did included making dinner for Tim's entire family, hanging out with my best friend Emily (though nearly not enough), having a coffee date with Tim's mom, going on a daddy-daughter date, and seeing a ton of our church friends. It was a really special week, I can't wait until I get to go back.

Peanut Butter Pie

2011-07-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

So, during my trip to Seattle, my dad handed me this newspaper clipping of the recipe for Peanut Butter Pie, which I assumed meant he wanted me to make it. Well, you all know my love for baking, so of course I was going to make it. I don't remember the specific newspaper this recipe came from, but I took a picture of it so you all can try it at home! Enjoy!

The crust.

The filling.

Final Product.

Unfortunately, this was eaten too quickly for me to get a picture of the slices. Trust me, though, it was really really good. It has a really strong peanut butter flavor, so be prepared! Let me know how you did!

Seattle #2

2011-07-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here is part two of my photographical re-cap of my trip to Seattle! I'm noticing a trend that most of the things I did that week revolved around food. Hmm... what can I say? Good food is good!

Tim and I had a cupcake date at this local cupcake shop. I have recently discovered my love for cupcakes, which I always used to hate. But I especially love this red velvet cupcake! It was so good!

Tim was very happy about his german chocolate cupcake.

We also went to the local farmer's market. We didn't get anything except that lemonade I'm holding, but it was a really nice walk on such a beautiful day!

We also hit up my favorite burger place.

I was happy about my burger.

Seattle post #3 coming soon!

Seattle #1

2011-07-05T09:00:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I finished school for the spring quarter. The day after classes finished, I hopped on a plane to Seattle (my hometown) for a surprise visit that Tim and I planned! Needless to say, my mother was very surprised when I showed up on my parents' doorstep unannounced with a suitcase in my hand. My dad was equally surprised when he got home from work, and he was delighted that I was home for father's day. This little "vacation" was far from restful though because I only had one week to see everyone I wanted to see, and do everything I wanted to do.

Here is part one of my trip:

Tim and I went on many many Starbuck's dates.

But we also went to Zoka where my brother works. It has much better coffee than Starbucks, but unfortunately isn't as accessible.

Tim and I tried to go on a six mile hike on this little trail by my house, but the trail was closed! We did get to hang out by the entrance of the trail for a bit, though we were pretty disappointed that it was closed.

It was such a gorgeous day!

My parent's, Tim, and I went to the Northwest Coffee Fest on Sunday to taste some delicious coffee and chocolate. This is my brother working at the Zoka booth at the festival. We also went to the actual Zoka coffee shop, where we got a delicious mocha (pictured above).

We like coffee. (As you can probably tell by the number of coffee-related pictures in this post)

My parents. Aren't the cute?

Sibling love!

This is only a piece of my trip, and only part of what's to come. Stay tuned for part 2 of the trip later this week!

Sunday Quote #9

2011-07-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

"Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn."

Gore Vidal

100th post!

2011-07-01T18:18:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my 100th post! This is so exciting for my little blog, and I'm excited to keep sharing my thoughts with you all. For my ceremonial 100th post, I decided to simply list 50 facts about myself. Yes, it would make much more sense to list 100 facts about myself, but let's face it, I don't think anyone really cares to read that many things about one person, so fifty will do for now.

1. I am a neat freak.

2. I don't like to swim in any body of water except a pool.

3. I really love frozen yogurt. With sprinkles.

4. People usually guess that I'm much younger than I actually am.

5. I competed in the National American Miss Pageant for three years (When I was 13, 14 and 17).

6. I was born with no sense of smell. (Still don't have one).

7. Besides fashion, I'm also really interested in nutrition and personal training

8. I wore braces for 4 years, headgear for 2, and also had a lip bumper, a crib, and a transpalatal bar- all at the SAME TIME. Yes, I was that kid

9. I used to make video blogs on youtube with my friends.

10. Hate fruit (and anything fruit flavored), love vegetables.

11. I would like to paint everything with chalkboard paint.

12. I really like to chew ice.

13. I work at a wedding dress salon.

14. I would like to be a wedding planner, stylist, or a creative designer for a wedding dress company.

15. I was captain of my high school's drill team for two years.

16. When we were younger, my best friend Emily and I used to film our own cooking shows

17. I like to pretend I don't need coffee, but I have it almost on a daily basis

18. I only like romaine lettuce, and I only like the leafy green part of lettuce. I won't eat the light green, crunchy part.

19. For years every summer while I was growing up, I would to sell lemonade out of a cart my dad built for me. I made well over $300, too.

20. I also used to have a baking business where people wold place orders for baked goods, and I would bake and deliver them to their homes.

21. As a kid, I loved the movie Jurassic Park, but E.T. always (and still does) really freaked me out.

22. I read a lot and have a habit of buying way too many books.

23. I took swimming lessons, horseback riding lessons, piano lessons, and drum lessons. And I (regretfully) quit all of them.

24. I have restless leg syndrome

25. When I laugh really hard, I don't make any noise. My friends have deemed it the "silent laugh"

26. I don't like marinara sauce.

27. There are certain words that make me gag when I hear them.

28. When I was seven years old, I cut off the hair of all my Barbies because I wanted to practice being a hair stylist.

29. I generally don't watch TV shows when they actually air on TV. I prefer to watch them on DVD later.

30. I really love my boyfriend. Our three-year dating anniversary is in August.

31. I keep a tube of chapstick in every room of my apartment, plus the one I keep in my purse, and the one I occasionally keep in my pocket. I use chapstick a lot.

32. For a while in high school I had Ariel colored hair.

33. My best friend, Emily, and I wrote a magazine called Girl Talk when we were in middle school. We even had it printed, and we distributed it to our friends.

34. Movie theater popcorn makes me sick.

35. I really want to have a pet pig.

36. I love the book The Phantom Tollbooth. It might be my second favorite (next to Alice in Wonderland).

37. In Jr. high, I was in the play Our Town. I played Mrs. Webb.

38. I became a Christian when I was five years old. Best decision ever.

40. Most girls love shoes. But when I was little, I loved one pair so much that I wore them to bed.

41. I used to do gymnastics and play softball.

42. I wear glasses sometimes.

43. Skydiving is not out of the realm of possibility for me.

44. My brother got me hooked on the show Gilmore Girls. I now own the complete series on DVD.

45. I love to go to baseball games for the food.

46. I got my driver's license on my 16th birthday

47. I don't like non-solid foods such as pudding, yogurt, applesauce, ice cream that's melted, jell-o, or soup.

48. I really love to have my back scratched.

49. I've never had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

50. Timothy helped me come up with these fact. He knows me well.

Cookies.

2011-06-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

You know what I'm craving right now? These peanut butter M&M cookies Tim and I made the other day. They were so delicious.

Grocery Shopping

2011-06-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

Fun fact about me: I'm kind of obsessed with grocery shopping. During the last few months before I left my parent's house for college, I was the primary grocery shopper for the household because my mom hates to cook, and thus, hates to go grocery shopping. I, however, love to cook (as demonstrated by some of my other posts), so I volunteered to take on the duty of grocery shopper and chef for our house. Now that I live on my own, obviously I still hold this duty, so I've really become quite good at both activities.

To me, grocery shopping is not only relaxing, but it's also sort of a game. I love seeing how much money I can save. By using my rewards card, taking advantage of online coupons, and only buying stuff that is on sale, I usually save around $30 every time I shop!

Here are the results of my last shopping trip:

I had absolutely no food left, so I really needed to buy everything. For that reason, I didn't bring a list with me like I usually do, so I was afraid I'd overspend. But believe it or not, I got all of this food for only $65! I'm telling you, coupons are awesome- I saved $27.77 on this shopping trip, which is so great! The guy in front of me in line probably had half as much stuff as me, and spent over $100.

If you get into the rhythm with your local grocery store, you'll have a better sense of when the put certain items on sale. I also check my grocery store's website for new coupons daily, and I always look forward to getting their weekly ad because it has even more savings. Trust me guys, you don't have to have a family of four to be in to couponing. As a college student living in the savvy and luxurous Los Angeles, I find that saving is crucially important, and surprisingly easy.

What are you favorite money-saving tips?

I'm back!

2011-06-27T11:17:00.000-07:00

Guys, I'm back! Did you miss me? I missed you all, but I was busy taking a little trip to Seattle to visit family, which frankly, is better than blogging :)

But I am all settled back in LA now, and I'm ready to share with you all the exciting things I did this past week. Stay tuned this week for an overload of pictures! I hope you enjoy hearing about adventures as much as I enjoyed having them! Talk to you all soon.

Sorry!

2011-06-13T21:00:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've been gone for a while. It's finals week this week, so you can imagine how busy I've been with projects and whatnot. I promise I'll be back next week with tons of exciting posts, so stay tuned! Until then, I hope you are having some sunshine :)

Take a look at one of my final projects! Not bad, eh?

Pita Pockets

2011-06-10T12:42:00.000-07:00

Remember when I talked about my favorite pasta? Well, this is pretty much the same thing, but instead of pasta, I took all the ingredients and threw them into some pita pockets that I got from Trader Joes.

To refresh your memory, I just grilled some chicken, broccoli, sugar snap peas, and beans. Then I tossed them with some pesto and feta cheese and threw them in some pita bread.

All this is so easy to make, that I usually make lots of extra, then I use it for sandwiches, salads, pasta, or I'll just eat it by itself as a healthy, grilled chicken and vegetable dinner. Super easy, super tastey; it's perfect :)

Caramel Blended Coffee.

2011-06-08T07:57:00.000-07:00

You know what's delicious? A caramel frappucino from Starbucks. You know what's a bummer? The fact that they cost $4.

Summer is drawing near, and that means that Starbucks will be getting a lot of customers wanting the delicious treat. Trust me, having worked there for a few months last summer, I made my fair share of frappucinos- so much that I could probably make them in my sleep. But seriously, who wants to keep paying for much money for such a small drink? Not me. So what is a girl to do? Well, make my own, of course! Now, it's not entirely equatable to one from Starbucks, and the textures are pretty different, but it tastes very similar, and is much cheaper.

I used a recipe I found from here (one of my favorite blogs). This one happens to be a caramel flavored one, but you can easily use any flavor you wish. You can buy flavored syrups at any grocery store; vanilla and caramel are the easiest to find. However, you can also purchase the syrups directly from Starbucks! A lot of people aren't aware of this little tidbit, but it's true. All the syrups they use have a bar code on the back, so just ask the barista for a bottle (around $10 each)! This way, you can make you're own blended coffee whatever flavor you like!

Such a great, refreshing treat on a summer morning. I will definitely be a fan of these come July.

Sunday Quote #8

2011-06-05T11:00:00.000-07:00

"Happy happy fashion - there is not much more to it than that."

~ Marc Jacobs

Avocado Fries.

2011-06-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

Alright people, here is the last entry of what was a wonderful avocado week! I know, you're all so sad to see avocado week come to an end, but it might be back soon! Or who knows, maybe next there will be an asparagus week?!

Anyway, so you like french fries, right? Me too. I mean, really, who doesn't? However, I don't like the guilty feeling I get when I eat them (or maybe that's my stomach rejecting the high fat and calorie intake). So, how about something that tastes nothing like french fries, doesn't resemble french fries, and has nothing in common with french fries aside from the fact that they're fried? Yes, I thought that sounded like the next best thing, too!

Avocado fries are super easy to make (only took me 20 minutes or so), and are much healthier than french fries. Still, if you don't like avocados to begin with, the fried coating won't mask the taste, sorry.

Recipe adapted from Sunset Magazine and from Circle B Kitchen
Canola Oil for frying
1/4 cup flour
1 tsp Salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/4 cup bread crumbs
2 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted, and sliced into small wedges
Parmesan cheese to taste, optional

In a saucepan, heat about 1 1/2 inches of oil until it reaches 375 degrees
Meanwhile, mix flour with 1/2 tsp salt on a shallow plate
Pour bread crumbs on a shallow plate
Beat eggs together and place on a shallow plate
Sprinkle avocado slices with the remaining salt, then coat in the flour mixture
Once coated, dip avocados in the eggs, then in the bread crumbs and put on a plate off to the side
Fry a few avocado slices at a time, until the outside becomes golden brown- about 30-45 seconds.
Remove and put on a paper towel-lined plate, then sprinkle with salt and parmesan cheese.
Wait until cool and enjoy!

You know what would be good? If you put these on a hamburger. Mmmm....

Avocado Milkshake.

2011-06-01T07:10:00.000-07:00

Yes, you read that correctly. Avocado milkshake. When I first stumble on this recipe found here, I was immediately excited and eager to try it. But when I told some of my friends about my plan to make it, they all made incredibly disgusted faces similar to the ones I'm sure you're making now. Despite the not so positive reactions, I was still really excited to make this, sure that it was going to taste awesome.

And you know what, guys? It did taste awesome. So awesome that I will probably make it again. Trust me, you just have to drink it without being biased. Just don't think about what you're drinking, and concentrate on how good it tastes (and how healthy it is), and you'll love it.

Let me know if you braved this recipe and tried it out.

Very First Outfit Photos.

2011-05-31T08:48:00.000-07:00

I was looking through all of my pictures the other day, and organizing them into folders and whatnot, when I stumbled upon these photos! I had totally forgotten about these, but they are clearly my very first outfit shots! My best friend Emily and I used to pack suitcases full of our favorite clothes, drive somewhere and take tons of pictures in various outfits. We also used to play "dress up" (I put that in quotes because we were 16 years old when we did this), and play with different things in our closet picking out cute outfits. These photos happen to be from one of those days in February of 2008. Who knew these would eventually make it onto my blog?

I always look at these photos and wonder how in the world I was wearing shorts... in February... in Seattle. Clearly, it was sunny, but I couldn't have been that warm outside. Ah, the things we do for fashion :)

Keep in mind these photos were never intended to be "outfit shots" for my blog, hence the odd poses and poor quality.

Playing with a dandelion :)

Shirt: Borrowed from Emily

Shorts: Forever 21

Shoes: Payless

Avocado Toast

2011-05-30T09:19:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, I hope you're all enjoying your holiday weekend. This week is going to be avocado week on Fly Away Home, so stay tuned for delicious recipes using the awesome superfood!

This has become my favorite afternoon snack as of late, which is awesome because it's a pretty healthy one. I even have it for breakfast sometimes, too!

All it is is toasted Ciabatta bread (from Trader Joes), some mashed up avocado and a little bit of pepper. It's healthy, filling, and not to mention- tastey!

I used to hate avocados as a kid... until I actually tried one. If you know what to look for when choosing an avocado to buy you can get the best and tastiest ones, which make for great snacks! I mash up some of these puppies on sandwiches and toast almost everyday. They are one of the few "Superfoods" that are loaded with good things for you, so eat up!

I still don't like guacamole, though. But that's okay, it's probably not as good for you :)

My Hair.

2011-05-27T09:32:00.000-07:00

Alright readers, I really need your help with this one.

Should I get bangs?

Here is what my hair looks like now. I apologize for the poor photo, but you get the idea. Anyway, the last time I cut my bangs was in December 2009, so they've had quite some time to grow out. I'm not really sure if I like my hair better like this or not, and I really can't tell if it makes me face look any different, so I really need some other opinions! I've posted some other pictures of me below so you can see what I have looked like with bangs in the past. Let me know which one is your favorite!

This is my hair in November 2009

Summer 2009

October 2008

What do you think? Which one do you like best?

A neutral palette.

2011-05-25T07:15:00.000-07:00

This is probably one of my favorite outfits to wear. Period. It's so comfortable, so casual, but not sloppy, and it's so easy to just throw on and head out the door. I love it. Remember this shirt? Check out the post about it here. My roommate actually makes fun of me because I of how often I wear this shirt. What can I say? It was a good find!

For a long time, I had been on the hunt for a pair of pants that weren't jeans, weren't leggings, weren't trousers... basically I just wanted something different. When I spotted these at H&M on a shopping trip with Timothy, I knew they had to be mine because they were exactly what I was looking for. They're so comfortable and lightweight, they fit me well, and the color goes with everything! I mean, hello?! Perfect!

I decided not to accessorize this outfit because I really wanted the pieces to stand out for themselves. Next time I wear this, though, I might try red shoes, or red lipstick (like the one I'm wearing here)

*I was in the middle of asking Timothy a question when he snapped this picture (above). Apparently this is my inquisitive face.

I loved that Timothy caught the blue window shutters in the background. It gives the picture a little color, and I think they are so charming!

Top: Thrifted

Pants: H&M

My favorite pasta

2011-05-23T17:21:00.000-07:00

I really really like pasta, but I try not to have it too often because, well, it has a lot of carbs. Carbs aren't always bad for you, though. There are a lot of good carbs like those found in whole grain pastas, breads, and cereals. So, of course when I bought some new whole grain pasta the other day, I was excited to experiment with it.

When it comes to pasta, I tend just to take the foods I like and throw them together in a bowl with some pasta and call it good; and it usually ends up being really delicious. This is probably because I'm a pretty picky eater, so there is a limited selection of "things I like" to throw in with said pasta. But anyway, this has been my favorite combination of things recently:

Whole wheat pasta

Grilled Chicken

Red Onions

Brocolli

Peas

Pesto

Feta Cheese

Heat some salted water over the stove in a large saucepan until it boils (if you put a lid on the pot, the water boils quicker). Add your pasta of choice to the boiling water and set timer for about 11 minutes (or check the pasta box for exact time). While your pasta is cooking, grill chunks of thawed, boneless, skinless chicken (or you can use turkey or sausages) in a frying pan that has been sprayed with Pam (or you can use butter or oil). When chicken starts to become brown, add chopped onions (I used red onions) and continue to cook until chicken is cooked thoroughly and onions are brown and soft. When there is about 6 minutes left on the timer for the pasta, add broccoli and peas (or asparagus or bean or whatever), and let them cook with the pasta until the timer goes off. Then, just drain the pasta and vegetables, put them in a bowl, and toss in the chicken and onions. Lastly, add your sauce of choice (mine is pesto), and top it off with some cheese. I used feta, but blue cheese, parmesan, or any other cheese will work.

This is a super easy meal that only takes about 15 minutes to prepare- perfect for a college student. All the ingredients are fairly cheap and healthy, and it can be altered in any way shape or form. Use a different pasta, use different kinds of meat, add bell peppers, use alfredo- the possibilities are endless!

Leave a comment and let me know if you tried it, or let me know what your favorite pasta is!

Sunday Quote #7

2011-05-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

"Do you prefer fashion victim or ensemble-ly challenged?"

~ Alicia Silverstone as Cher in Clueless

These are a few of my favorite things.

2011-05-20T08:15:00.000-07:00

Here's a photographical list of some of my favorite things, in no particular order:

Asparagus. It's one of my favorite foods. Period. I love it so much, Timothy and I spent a good few hours photographing this bunch of asparagus, and this photo is now blown up to poster size and is hanging in my kitchen.

Dandelions.

Zucchini bread I made a few months ago. Email me if you want the recipe!

Giant sunflower I grew in my garden last summer. Aren't the colors beautiful?

Peanut butter blossoms, which we usually have around Christmas time in our family, but I'm totally craving some right now!

Early morning sunrises. Photo circa 2009.

This: the photo, the lovely girl in it, the beverage we were drinking, and the memories surrounding this.

* All food was made by me, and all photos were taken by me (minus the last one, which was taken by my friend)

Summer is near!

2011-05-18T07:59:00.000-07:00

I was out and about one day a few weeks ago, taking pictures of the inside of stores for a school assignment. While in H&M, I spotted this dress and decided to try it on even though I was really there just to do homework. Really. Anyway, I loved the dress, but didn't by it, which I tend to do. I'm not usually an impulse buyer; and I require a few days to think about purchasing something before I do it, which can get annoying as it results in extra trips to and from stores. At any rate, that night, I told Timothy about the dress and how much I liked it, and being the sweet boy he is, he went and bought it for me! I'm so lucky! I received it in the mail a few days ago as a half birthday present, and immediately put in on and started playing dress-up.

I wear this green jersey sweater, which can also been seen here, about once a week. Seriously, I LOVE it, probably too much. It's so perfect for when I'm feeling loungy, or when I'm going for a casual, comfort feeling. It keeps me warm, but it still a light enough weight that I can wear it in the summer.

It was so windy when I was taking these pictures! Even if it doesn't look like it is, I swear, it was. My hat even flew off twice! Though it was a struggle, the wind did help me get some cool shots like this one:

How do you guys feel about the maxi-dress? Staple fashion piece or fad? I think it has the potential to stick around for a long time, but I do think the crazy florals are a fad, but that's just my fashion school student's opinion.

Dress: H&M

Jersey Knit Sweater: Nordstrom

Hat: Ross

Shoes: DSW

Homemade Samoas!

2011-05-16T17:02:00.000-07:00

As soon as I received a box of Samoas (the best of all the Girl Scout cookies) in the mail from my mother, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to try the recipe I've been storing for months. I've been wanting to tackle making these cookies for a long time, but I wanted to be able to make them and compare results to the real thing, so I had to wait for Girl Scout cookie season. Since these are my favorite girl scout cookie, I find myself craving them all year long. So now since I know how to make them, I can actually have them all year long! That is, if I muster up the energy to make them often. Prepare yourself, these babies take about three hours to make, but are oh so delicious.

Cookies:

1 cup softened butter

1/2 cup sugar

2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Up to 2 tablespoons milk

Wax paper

Parchment paper

Topping:

3 cups shredded sweetened or unsweetened coconut

12 ounces good-quality caramels (make sure they're good quality or else when it sets the caramel part will be hard as a rock)

8 ounces semisweet chocolate chips

For the cookies:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large mixing bowl cream together butter and sugar until smooth. Slowly mix in flour, baking powder, and salt followed by vanilla and milk.* Take about half the dough and roll it in between two pieces of wax paper until it's about 1/4 inch thick.** Then use a cookie cutter, or any round thing (I used a sample cup from Starbucks) to cut out 1 1/2 inch circles. Then use a straw to poke holes in the middle, and transfer to a parchment lined baking sheet (see note below). Bake for ten minutes, then let cool.

* The purpose of the milk is to make the dough creamy, but not sticky. You may not even need to add any milk at all. I added the full 2 tablespoons, but then I had to add more flour. You want to dough to be moldable, but not sticky.

** This is what the original recipe says to do, but this DID NOT work for me. What I ended up doing what rolling the dough right on to the parchment paper, cutting out all the circles and just removing the excess dough.

For the topping:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spread coconut evenly on a parchment lined baking sheet. Toast for 20 minutes, stirring every five minutes until it becomes golden brown. Cool and set aside.

Unwrap the caramels and place in a large microwave safe bowl, and microwave for about 3 minutes until it gets melted. Check it every 45 seconds or so just to make sure. Then, fold in the toasted coconut.

Use a spatula or fork to spread the caramel mixture onto the cooled cookies. You may need to reheat the caramel to make it more moldable, which is fine.

While the topped sets, melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 second intervals until it gets melted and creamy. I only microwaved mine for about 1 minute and 30 seconds- chocolate burns easily, so don't over heat it. Dip the bottom of each cookie in the melted chocolate and place on a clean piece of parchment paper. Then, use the remaining chocolate, or melt some more and pour it into a piping bag or a ziplock bag with the tip cut off and drizzle chocolate over the cookies.

Let the chocolate set (I put my cookies in the refrigerator for about half an hour), then put them in a airtight container- or just enjoy!

The taste test:

I ate one of my cookies, then I ate one of the actual girl scout kind, and they pretty much taste the same. Mine are a little bit more crunchy, but all the flavors and ingredients are fundamentally the same, so they pretty much taste the same. I like mine a little better, but they are so time consuming to make that I think I'll just buy the kind in the box from now on. Plus, that money goes to a good cause.

Although, I did take one of my cookies and pop it in the microwave for a few seconds so the chocolate melted just slightly and the caramel got warm and extra chewy and oh my word people, if you make these, you MUST do that. It makes them ten times better!

Leave a comment and let me know if you took the plunge and tackled these babies. They're so delicious, but I was serious about them taking three hours...

Sunday Quote #6

2011-05-15T09:12:00.000-07:00

"Fashions fade. Style is eternal."

~ Yves St. Laurent

Recipe Ideas

2011-05-13T20:25:00.000-07:00

I have an endless supply of recipes stored on my computer, and I gather new ones constantly from the twenty different food blogs I read daily. There is no doubt that I can keep filling this blog with pictures and recipes of delicious foods. But is there anything specific you guys would like to see me make? You name it, I will find the recipe for it. So leave a comment with your suggestions below, and maybe it will be featured in a future post!

The pony shirt.

2011-05-11T07:07:00.000-07:00

I'm not going to lie, this isn't my favorite outfit, but I had just recently purchased this shirt, and was interested to see what I would come up with as far as styling it. I decided to go with some low rise skinny jeans and a lace "blazer, " but then I quickly decided against the blazer, though it's one of my favorites.

I have bad hair days quite frequently, hence the headband- a perfect, quick fix!

I know it's difficult to tell, but I do think this shirt makes my eyes looks really blue, which is always a plus.

Cropped top: H&M

Grey skinny jeans: Forever 21

Frozen smoothies.

2011-05-09T15:21:00.000-07:00

Recently, we purchased a blender for our apartment, and I must say- I really love blenders. I feel like it's one of those things that you don't realize how awesome it is until you have one. Needless to say I've been blending things like crazy! My favorite things to make, besides milkshakes of course, are smoothies. Now, I really don't like smoothies (it's a texture thing, I think), but I do like popsicles, so- combine the idea of a smoothie with that of a popsicle and you get frozen smoothies! Usually when I get a smoothie from Jamba Juice or Robek's I immediately put it in the freezer to be eaten with a fork later, but with the new addition of our blender, I can just make my own!

I've been experimenting with using different fruits and juices and whatnot, and so far my favorite has been the one pictured below:

This smoothie was made with:

Vanilla almond milk (which is delicious, by the way)

Strawberry, pineapple, banana juice

Frozen blackberries

Honey

Ice

The combination does sound weird, I admit, but trust me, after you freeze this puppy for a few hours and eat it with a fork or spoon, it tastes so good! It's a perfect frozen treat for hot afternoons, or even breakfast (which has been my choice the past few days)

So delicious!

Leave a comment and tell me your favorite smoothie!

Sunday Quote #5

2011-05-08T08:39:00.000-07:00

"Blue jeans are the most beautiful things since the gondola."

-Diana Vreeland
Fashion Editor

p.s- stay tuned this week for some more great recipes and outfits!

Friday night update

2011-05-06T21:54:00.000-07:00

Guys, this week has been really rough. I apologize for the lack of posts and exciting, pretty things to look at, but I am trying my best. Midterms are next week, and I've been working on my days off from school, so the only time I can do my homework is from around 9:00pm- whenever I have to get up for work. As crazy and stressful as it all is, I love it. I love what I am doing, and I am trying to count my (many) blessings before complaining about my workload. How about this new blog, for example? Isn't it great? The lovely Jennifer did it for me, and I couldn't be happier. It's just a subtle change, but I think the fresh look is fantastic!

I promise some more exciting posts are coming soon. I have some new recipes, and some new outfits to show you all. Plus, I got a remote and a new tripod for my camera, so I can take my own outfit photos now! Now if I can just find time to do it...

Seriously, though, God is good and that's all I need.

Happy May 2nd!

2011-05-02T16:22:00.000-07:00

These pictures were actually taken a few weeks ago when I was home for spring break. It is much much to hot here in LA to be wearing long pants and a scarf. Can you believe it? 92 degrees today! Woo, baby! Anyway, I hope there is at least a little bit of sunshine wherever you are, but I will happily volunteer to soak up some rays on your behalf if you'd like :)

White cami: Nordstrom

Cropped sweater: H&M

Scarf: Thrifted

Sunday Quote #4

2011-05-01T09:10:00.001-07:00

"Style is the hallmark of a temperament stamped upon the material on hand."

- Andre Maurios
Writer

Candied Almonds.

2011-04-30T11:18:00.000-07:00

Nuts are one of my all-time favorite snacks- I have to have them in the house at all times in case I get a craving. My favorites are walnuts, but I'm trying to give other nuts a chance too. They're also really healthy for you, which is even better!

It is nice to mix things up a bit, though and give candied nuts a try. In Portland, at the Saturday Market, they had this awesome vendor who just sold candied nuts of all different kinds. I mean, you can't get much better than cinnamon sugar pecans! So good! Anyway, since I don't live in Portland anymore I decided to make my own!

These are incredibly easy to make, and they're so yummy. I had to put foil over the bowl so I wouldn't grab a handful every time I walked into the kitchen :)

Here is the original recipe, but I had to adapt it a bit using the ingredients I had.

1/4 cup white sugar

1/3 cup dark brown sugar (I used golden brown)

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon sea salt (I used regular salt)

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 egg white

1 tablespoon water

About a pound of almonds, pecans, or any nut you want.

Parchment paper

Pre-heat oven to 300 degrees

In a small bowl, combine the sugars, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, and salt

Whisk the egg white and water together until it becomes foamy

Coat the nuts in the egg white and water mixture, then coat the nuts in the sugar mixture and toss around until they're all coated

Seen below:

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, and spread almonds evenly over the sheet.

Bake for 30 minutes at 300 degrees, stirring occasionally.

Let them cool, and enjoy!

Put these in a cute, decorative jar and they make a great gift!

Isn't this bowl adorable?

Lace cape

2011-04-29T13:46:00.000-07:00

Isn't this divine? I would love to wear this around everyday.

Found (on my favorite website): here

Backyard session.

2011-04-27T18:28:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite new outfits to wear! I mentioned this shirt here, and after I made a few adjustments to it (I took out the elastic at the bottom) it was ready to be worn! I'd had these shorts for a while, and they're one of my favorite articles of clothing. They're so comfortable and can be worn in a casual or dressy fashion!

I was really disappointed that the photos for this outfit didn't turn out at all. It was one of my favorite outfits to shoot, but the photos didn't come out properly. So, I apologize for the one measly outfit photo, but you get the idea.

Top: Goodwill

Shorts: Thrift store

Tights: Nordstrom

Shoes: DSW (remixed here)

Spring must haves!- Bracelets

2011-04-25T08:08:00.000-07:00

I've recently really gotten into bracelets. I never used to be a jewelry girl, because I really don't like wearing dainty little pieces, but I've have now seen all the potential jewelry can have, and have really been trying to incorporate some into all my outfits. Spring is here, and I think it's time for some cute new bracelets featuring the color of the year - Honeysuckle! I realize not all of these are honeysuckle, but they are in the color family, and they're all just so darn cute. Which one is your favorite?

From left to right:
1. Weekend by Maxmara Jewelry - $74 from matchesfashion.com
2. Double wrapped sliced leather bracelet- $65 from lpcollection.com
3. Orange Polished Stringray distressed bracelet- $105 from endless.com
4. Bow bracelet- $6.60 from hm.com
5. Vintage flower bracelet- $7.03 from dorothyperkins.com
6. Gold tone mesh bracelet- $75 from macys.com
7. "Made to measure" bracelet- $53 from modcloth.com
8. Peach band bracelet- $6.00 from newlook.com

Sunday Quote #3

2011-04-23T13:22:00.000-07:00

"Chic is where you find it."

- Bonnie Cashin

Current breakfast obsession.

2011-04-22T16:20:00.000-07:00

this is what I've been having for breakfast lately:

blueberry waffles with butter, brown sugar, and strawberries, and ice cold orange juice. such a perfect start to a sunny morning. look at how red those strawberries are!

Casual wednesday.

2011-04-20T21:55:00.000-07:00

Remember this shirt? If you don't, check out my post about it here!

This outfit is extremely comfortable, and perfect for those days when I just need something to throw on quickly. This has always been my go-to cardigan, and I love the new shirt I have to pair with it!

My brand new shoes my mom bought for me to replace the ones seen here. Since I have to walk about two miles to and from school everyday, my shoes wear down pretty quickly. I have already had to throw away three pairs :(

Plaid button down shirt: Thrift store

Mustard cardigan: H&M

Shoes: DSW

Necklace: Forever 21

Contentment.

2011-04-17T12:41:00.000-07:00

This week, my focus is going to be on contentment. It's so easy for me to lose focus of important things, and put all my energy into being stressed out. I get stressed out very easily, which usually leads to worrying- which I also do far too often. I worry that my school is too expensive, I worry that I'm not doing what God wants me to do, I'm worried that I don't have a job, I'm worried that I'm not doing well in school, I'm worried that I'm losing friends because of distance, I'm worried that I'm missing out on things. Most of my worries are silly and frivolous, I know, but that doesn't make me feel comforted. So this week, I'm just going to try and relax- but not be lazy. I need to relax and know that I don't have to be in control of everything, I wouldn't be at this school if it was too expensive, or if God doesn't want me here, God will provide a job when the time is right, someone will always be better than me, and I can't do anything about it. None of those things sound very comforting either, which is why it will be a challenge for me this week.

Any comforting words?

Playing catch-up

2011-04-16T13:37:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in far too long partially because I have a boring life, and partially because it's 90 degrees out today! I know! Hello, pool time! Anyway, I didn't want to abandon my readers (all two of you) so here is my blog post for the day. I have been trying to get into a regular schedule with school and whatnot, so I've been trying to figure out a blog schedule. I want to post three times a week, and I'm thinking Sunday, Wednesday, and Friday should be my blogging days. I know it is Saturday, but I haven't started the schedule yet, obviously. So! Look for my post tomorrow and keep up with me the rest of the week. I look forward to sharing things with you.

B

Gone walking.

2011-04-09T17:30:00.000-07:00

I went for a walk today. As unadventurous as that sounds, I still really enjoyed it. It was going to be a bit of an adventure because, let's face it, there aren't many places that allow one to "go for a walk" in the middle of a downtown metropolitan area, but I knew it would still be nice. I made this decision primarily because I had been inside all day reading and watching movies, and decided that the fresh air would do me some good (though it is only 58 degrees today), but also because I have lived in the city for six months, and I don't go out very frequently. My days are usually consumed with school and homework, which I'm sure will be the case when my classes start next week. But today is Saturday, and my classes haven't started, so I really had nothing else to occupy my time.

Since living in LA I have discovered that I really enjoy walking - contrary to my previous feelings that walking is a waste of time. It's not that I didn't think walking was good for me, but I just never saw the appeal of "going for a walk." I am a structured person. I need order, and plan, an agenda. I don't like to walk somewhere unless I have a purpose, a destination, somewhere I am trying to walk to. I would never just go for a walk for the sake of walking. But today, I did. I don't need to be anywhere at any certain time, I have no homework or studying today, I don't have a job (though currently on a mad hunt for one), so I went outside with no make-up on (hello, it's Saturday and I have no where to go, and I woke up at 11am, so...) with a book in tow just in case, and I walked.

I didn't walk very far because 58 degrees is a lot colder than I remember, but I did manage to find the LA Public Library, which is much closer to where I lived than I had thought. So of course, knowing me I went inside and spent quite a bit of time wandering around. There was a book I knew I wanted, but I doubted this library would have it. To my surprise, though, after only five minutes of looking- I found it! Well, after picking up a few other books I know I won't have time to read, I got a library card and took them home with me! This kind of ended my excitement for my walk because now I had a few heavy books (plus the one I brought with me) that I just wanted to go home a read... so I did. Now I find myself enjoying the 70 degree temperature of my living room while letting the sun soak in through the nine (yes, nine) floor to ceiling windows. It's a perfect Saturday.

I didn't mean for this to sound like anything deep or profound, but I do have to say that as much as I don't like living in LA, I can't deny that fact that it's beautiful.

Sunday Quote #2

2011-04-08T14:41:00.001-07:00

"Adornment is never anything except a reflection of the heart."

- Coco Chanel

Spring!

2011-04-07T14:33:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad we got to snap these photos during the only twenty minute sun break Seattle has had during the month of April. It was still pretty chilly, but I was determined to wear a dress because it's spring, darnit! I chose this gold dress because I wanted to see how I could rework it into an appropriate spring outfit - opposite of how I wore it here in December. I think I did a pretty good job of converting it into a fun, springy outfit don't you think?

gold dress: thrifted

sheer, floral top: thrifted

shoes: DSW

Hello.

2011-04-06T22:44:00.000-07:00

Alright, we will now return to our regularly (hah!) scheduled blogging. Seriously, these last few weeks have been a whirlwind. I feel more tired after my spring break than I did when my classes were in session. Traveling home is difficult because I am only allotted a week or so to see everyone and do everything I want to do while I am in Washington. This usually means catching up with at least three different people, spending time with my family and with Timothy, and doing "housekeeping" things like going to the dentist or optometrist. This does not leave a lot of free time, but at least I'm not being wasteful of my time.

All this to say, I had a really good break these past few weeks, no matter how stressful they were. I'm mildly bitter about being back in LA because honestly, I just really don't want to be here. I was just settling in nicely at home, and the time just flew by too quickly. Yes, I get to move back in December, but that is so far away! (wah! wah! wah!) It will be worth it though. Right?

I think that's enough boring things for today. I have some other posts, and lots of new outfit photos for you all to look at in the next few days, so stay tuned!