Lake Arrowhead | Food

I love the snow, or so I think. Where I live in Southern California, I get plenty of sunshine but no snow. Luckily, my family and I traveled up to Lake Arrowhead to enjoy a bit of wilderness and snow over this Christmas break. We took so many pictures that I will have to break this trip into three posts, but let's just say I'm having lots of fun playing with the fluffy snow!

Part one is mostly food, which to me is never a bad thing. Monday night we enjoyed making gingerbread cookies and hot chocolate. Then this morning we woke up at 7 a.m. to make egg nog french toast and spinach, onion, and tomato crustless quiche. The quiche was the star of the show, and we used this very simple recipe but improvised a bit by adding whole milk and diced tomatoes. We also had some yummy bagels from Avalon with Philadelphia Chive and Onion Cream Cheese (everyone must try this life changing cream cheese). The last picture is the view from our top balcony of the gorgeous Lake Arrowhead. I just love being able to see the lake or the ocean from my window!

Have you made anything yummy this Christmas break?

-Emily

2014 Christmas Gift Guide | DIY 'Reasons Why I Love You' Jar

I'm so happy to be back! School has definitely consumed most of my time, so it's hard to fit in time for blogging. But what better time to blog than Christmas break?

So, it's that time of year when you're scrambling to find last minute presents for the big day. Unfortunately, everyone's so busy that we often don't have the time (or the money) to go out and buy a present for everyone. Don't worry, I got you covered. I love receiving personalized gifts, so I thought my 'Reasons Why I Love You' jar would be the perfect gift to make. I had so much fun making this, and I hope you guys will too!

Materials // a mason jar, small pieces of paper, ribbon, and a hot glue gun

One // Start by tracing the inner rim of the lid and cutting out the circle. 

Two // Glue the paper onto the metal cap. 

Three // On each piece of paper, write one thing you love about that person! You could write about anything from your favorite memories to your favorite qualities you love about them. Cue the inside jokes.

Four // Fold the pieces of paper, and drop them in the jar! I'm not sure why this is such a satisfying feeling.

Five // Decorate by hot-gluing a label to the front and add a festive ribbon for some decoration.

What's your favorite DIY gift?

-Emily

2014 Christmas Gift Guide | Sass & Belle Owl Cushion

I am so excited to say that it's almost Christmas! With this jolly good season right around the corner, it's time to start thinking about presents. Here is the start of my 2014 Christmas Gift Guide for all you busy bloggers who need some help choosing out gifts for your loved ones.

To start of this series, I have an adorable owl pillow from Sass & Belle (They also have products on Amazon.) I am so excited to be the first American blogger to introduce Sass & Belle as they are truly a stellar shop from London. I corresponded with Joyte, and she was so prompt to reply and a great pleasure to work with. This cushion came wrapped in blue tissue paper and placed in the cutest, colorful gift box that I could essentially give as a gift right then and there. This makes buying from Sass & Belle the perfect place for busy people (just make sure to take out the receipt before you give it away!) I have never before received a product in prettier packaging.





Here's a little bit about *Marion from the Sass & Belle website: Marion is one of our more glamorous owls - originally from France, she used to be an actress where she lived in a grand French Chateau and she still likes nothing better than to hang out in jazz bars with some of her famous musician friends. This is a beautifully crafted patchwork cushion complete with blue floral print and black button eyes. My bed was so plain and boring, but when little Marion came along, she brought some vitality and complemented my blue blanket and tan pillows perfectly. Two other owls that I also love are Priscilla and Roxie. These owls would make the perfect gift for both young girls and grown women as they are so universal. Make sure to check out Sass & Belle other adorable Christmas gifts! 

What is your favorite product from Sass & Belle? What's on your Christmas gift list this year?

-Emily

A California Fall Lookbook Part Five | Blackout

Black. The universal color in the world of fashion. When done properly, an all-black outfit can instantly elevate one's style and make a person appear more confident. The key to wearing an all-black ensemble is contrasting the shades and textures. By pairing my new favorite faux leather and suede jacket on top of darker shades of black make the jacket standout as the central piece of the outfit. Black is also an extremely slimming color, great for those months when we add on a few extra pounds eating cookies and other sweet treats. A medium pink lip goes great with this dark outfit and either a high ponytail or tousled hair down add the perfect finishing touches to this chic outfit.

Necklace- Forever 21

Top- unknown

Jacket- H&M

Leggings- thrifted 

Ankle Boots- Designer Shoe Warehouse

A California Lookbook Part One | Transitioning Summer Into Fall

A California Lookbook Part Two | Fall Floral

A California Lookbook Part Three | Leaves and Layers

A California Lookbook Part Four | Scarves and Scarecrows

Have you ever tried an all-black outfit before?

-Emily

A California Fall Lookbook Part Four | Scarves and Scarecrows

The weather has finally start to cool down here in SoCal, and that means I get to start wearing my favorite long sleeves shirts and scarves. My cousin is wearing a plum scarf with intricate designs that add the perfect touch for a more stylish outfit. Whether it's going to school or going out shopping on the weekend, this casual, comfy outfit will leave you feeling effortlessly chic.

Shirt- Goodwill

Necklace- Forever 21

Scarf- Indonesia

Leggings- thrifted

Ankle Boots- Designer Shoe Warehouse (brand: Nicole)

A California Lookbook Part One | Transitioning Summer Into Fall

A California Lookbook Part Two | Fall Floral

A California Lookbook Part Three | Leaves and Layers

What are your essential autumn pieces for an effortlessly chic look?

-Emily

Haul | Target

My weekly posts are on Sunday, but who doesn't like an early treat? I'm such a rebel.

For those who have a local Target nearby, you know the wonders (and tricks) this store can have on you. When you walk in, the smell of popcorn, pretzels, and pizza wafts in front of your nose and you hear a slight grumble in your stomach. The $1 section draws you in as you notice the cute cards and random tid bits. Then you walk in and see a beautiful array of scarves, purses, and clothes and you just go wild. Let's just say, I quite frankly wouldn't mind living here.

As I was perusing done various aisles this afternoon with my lovely pal Emily (yes, one of my best friend's name is also Emily,) I plopped items into my basket as everything seemed to scream out "pick me! pick me!" Starting in the $1 section, I found some of the cutest, cheapest cards one will ever find. Each pack contains eight cards with matching envelopes for only $1! The designs change every so often, so it's always nice to see what new patterns come in. Next, we headed over to the makeup section, and boy, oh boy were we quite dangerous there. I picked up a couple "necessities" such as the Loreal Lineur Intense Brush Tip Liquid Eyeliner and the Maybelline Waterproof Falsies Mascara. I have never tried these out, so if you would like to see a first impressions post, comment below! My two soft spots for makeup, however, are lipsticks/balm sticks and nail polish. The wide array of colors just speak to me (am I the only one?) I settled on the Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy in All or Nothing, a beautiful light pink that almost looks white. Lastly, we headed over to Target's newest department, food (who doesn't love food?) After watching countless beauty guru videos showing healthy breakfast ideas, I succumbed to buy some good ol' Apple Cinnamon Museli Granola to sprinkle on top of my plain greek yogurt.

What do you buy when you venture into Target?

-Emily

A California Fall Lookbook Part Three | Leaves and Layers

This may be surprising or (unsurprising) to you, but SoCal still has sunny skies reaching temperatures of almost 80 degrees in the afternoon. So, this next look incorporates patterns and styles with a hint of summer attire, namely high waisted shorts. My cousin is wearing a key necklace from Forever 21, a heather grey top from H&M, a flannel from Forever 21, an army green military jacket from Ann Taylor Loft, and high wasited shorts DIY'ed by yours truly (with vintage, as in pre 2000's, American Eagle jeans.) This look has more of a men's attire inspired vibe complete with a messy high pony tail. The military jacket and flannel add those perfect touches of fall combined with a tied up shirt and high waisted shorts for that bit of coolness during the warmer hours. If you live in a place where the weather has already cooled down (lucky for you,) leave the top untied and swap the shorts for a pair of jeans.

How do you layer your clothing in the fall?

A California Lookbook Part One | Transitioning Summer Into Fall
A California Lookbook Part Two | Fall Floral

-Emily

A California Fall Lookbook Part Two | Fall Floral

I find floral a hard print to incorporate after spring and summer. However, a nice blend of autumn colors can lend a hand in cozying up some flowery attire. For this outfit, my cousin is wearing a light oatmeal sweater from Liz Claiborne, a maroon floral skirt thrifted from Goodwill, and Nicole ankle boots from DSW. The rolled up sleeves with the loose sweater add a casual feel to the outfit and make it perfect to wear to school or out on the weekends. The maroon colored skirt and the black ankle boots are the perfect additions to this California fall outfit.

A California Fall Look Part One | Transitioning Summer into Fall

How do you incorporate floral into fall outfits?

-Emily

A California Fall Lookbook Part One | Transitioning Summer into Fall

Though it still feels like summer in California with temperatures well above 80 and 90 degrees, fall has already begun. This transition period is often the hardest to dress for as I find myself yearning to pull out those cozy sweaters, knee high boots, and warm scarves while the rest of my fellow peers are still dressed in summer attire. Thus, this outfit is dedicated to inspire those who are wanting to combine the airy pieces of summer with the thicker clothing that resembles fall.

My lovely cousin, Nicole, is visiting with us for the weekend, so I decided to put the time to good use and do a photo shoot! This is look one of five looks that you will be seeing in my California Fall Lookbook. My most viewed post on my blog is my Summer Outfit Ideas Part One | Everyday Occasions, so I thought it was about time that I did another lookbook. 

This first look features a dainty key necklace from Forever 21, a slightly cropped white sweater from H&M, a blue and white paisley dress from H&M, and dark brown riding boots from R2 (I bought mine from Famous Footwear.) I layered a white sweater on top of my go-to dress of the summer, a sleeveless paisley dress, to combine summer colors and prints into a cozier look. The dark brown riding boots also add a nice hint of fall into the look. 

How do you transition your outfits from summer into fall?

-Emily

Review | Adovia Moisturizing Day Cream

As summer is coming to a close, the colder seasons start to kick in. Though I have oily skin, moisturizing is definitely an essential during the winter months. Adovia Mineral Skin Care is a brand that focuses on products that contain minerals straight from the Dead Sea. Today, I am able to share with you Adovia's Moisturizing Day Cream*, a hypoallergenic moisturizer suited for all skin types. Aside from being enriched with minerals from the sea, this day cream also contains natural sun protection, an essential for a California girl like me. The number one thing I hate in a moisturizer is if it makes my skin greasy, and I can wholeheartedly say that this is an absorbent, non-greasy product. The finish of this day cream reminds me of a primer, and my powder foundation adheres well to it. However, I have to say that the combination of my sweaty face (triple digits right now) and this extremely hydrating moisturizer does not work well for my oily complexion. Despite this, I would most definitely use this moisturizer for a nice day at home or for those colder, winter months. Come December, the Adovia Moisturizing Day Cream will definitely be my skin's lifesaver.

Would you be interested in trying Advoia's Moisturizing Day Cream? What is your favorite face cream?

-Emily

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using http://www.tomoson.com/?code=BOTTOMb2819bd17da71d8311cfb4b2bdab6766. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Celebrating my Mom's Birthday at Goofy's Kitchen

If it were up to me, I think every day should be a Disney day. In honor of my mom's birthday, I suggested having breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen, a character interaction restaurant at the Disneyland Hotel. My parents have always told me how they would take me when I was a little kid, but I never remembered it because I was so young! I was told that I used to cry when I saw Captain Hook, but thankfully many years later, I have successfully conquered my fears of the evil pirate. The prices are a bit high, but let's face it, it's Disney. The food was pretty tasty for a buffet, and my favorite had to of been the Mickey waffle with maple syrup, sooo soft, buttery, and sweet. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. Since it was my mom's birthday, two of the staff members came to sing their special birthday chant, and it was so nice how the whole room joined along! They presented my mom with a chocolate cupcake along with "Happy Birthday" and "I'm Celebrating!" pins.

I have to admit though, I was more excited to take pictures with the characters, then to eat. There's just something about meeting these story book fellas in person that I can't get enough of. The five year old kid inside of me just wants to escape. We were fortunate enough to meet seven characters that day: Goofy, Captain Hook, Pluto, Princess Jasmine, Chip 'n' Dale, and Snow White. I am so glad that I could meet my favorite Disney characters without the long lines! I would recommend making a reservation in advance to save a bit of waiting time since they do get quite busy. This is truly an experience that I would recommend to Disney lovers of all ages!

Have you ever been to Goofy's Kitchen? What has been your favorite Disney experience?

-Emily