Poprocks&Peacoats

Turquoise Take Off

2012-01-28T11:23:00.000-08:00

Teal tights, teal smoke, teal stairs, no joke: grab your helmet and let the turquoise countdown begin.

Killer Styling + JediSugar POP-UP Boutique

2012-01-26T15:45:00.000-08:00

To all my San Diego style mavens, save the date for next week's uniquely fabulous pop-up boutique. Hosted by Jedisugar on January 31st, come out and join SD's only re-worked vintage and customized clothing shop Killer Styling at Bar Basic for one crafty night. Don't miss out on a selection of hand-crafted designs from local clothing, art and jewelry creatives paired with local craft beer and pizza. Featuring live music by The Brothers Grimm and David Afterlife, enjoy local beats while you shop local treats! For more information and to RSVP, check out the Killer Styling Facebook event.

The Palmdale Dress $26

Yellow Submarine Structured Mini Dress $46

Silk Made Me Blush Number $46

Find these Killer vintage pieces at the Pop-Up shop!

Sugar Sugar

2012-01-19T14:30:00.000-08:00

While the holiday chocolates and goodies are well over and done with, my sweet tooth somehow manages to never fully be satisfied. Whether candy-coated, dipped in chocolate or smothered in sprinkles, I have yet to find anything that will truly curb my cravings. Rather than over-indulging in anymore sugary temptations, I think it is safe to say I found a much healthier alternative for the time being. These etsy treats are delicious without the calories, who could say no to that? I'm drooling already.

Candy Crunch Resin Bangle

Lunaricsales

Candy Glam RingPOP

Athinabella

Strawberry Dipped Chocolate

Kawaii Culture

Candy Buttons

Andie's Specialty Sweets

Pink Sparkle Cupcake Cameo Ring

Amylynnbuttchin Cameos

Cherry Rainbow Candy Necklace Jar

Start Fire Wire

French Macaron Ring

Miniature Patisserie

Masked

2012-01-17T10:15:00.000-08:00

~~What~~ who are you hiding from?

Birds of a Feather

2012-01-11T08:15:00.000-08:00

Flock together. Originally "byrdes of on kynde and color flok and flye allwayes together", this ancient proverb was first used in the 16th century by William Turner in the papist satire The Rescuing of Romish Fox. The meaning behind this old English phrase is that those with similar interests will congregate in groups. But is there really safety in numbers? I believe that feathers make the most beautiful accessory. Whether around my head or in my hair, on my neck or hanging from my ears finding a way to add a soft and dainty touch to any outfit comes easy. I am always sure to ask about cruelty-free feathers which makes me feel good knowing the birds who provided them are still wearing feathers, too.

Burgundy & Blue

2012-01-10T16:15:00.000-08:00

Just one of those burgundy and baby blue days. Skirt: American Apparel, top: H&M, belt: vintage, accessories: gold cuff, thrifted, geo-rings: THREAD show, bangle: Ignition Clothing. Nail paint: OPI Austin-tatious and Cuckoo for this color.

I Said Red

2012-01-06T09:15:00.000-08:00

Crimson. Ruby. Scarlet. Blood. Cherry. I am having an affair in red square. From my nails to my nylons, jeans and tops, my favorite place apply this kiss-me color is the lips. Stop traffic with a punch of red on your pout. Brighten up any outfit and show everyone who's smokin' hot. (And you don't have to be Abbey Lee Kershaw to do so)

Paint Me Pretty

2012-01-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

If I had someone paint a picture of me, I'd ask them to paint me pretty. If I had someone paint a picture of my life, I would ask them to paint it beautiful. If I painted anything myself, it would be everything but. I may be no painter, but art is beyond what you can do with a brush.

NAIL PAINT

WORD PAINT

WAR[HOL] PAINT

Andy Warhol | Campbell's Soup Can 1964

GIRL PAINT

Mark Demsteader | Shallow Water

HAIR PAINT

Thakoon Spring 2012

BODY PAINT

Gary Hume 1999

CONTESTED PAINT

Ellsworth Kelly | Colors for a Large Wall 1951

SPRAY PAINT

Banksy SF 2011

Sweet & Spicy Shrimp Tacos

2012-01-04T10:15:00.000-08:00

My love for Latin food has manifested into more of an obsession. Growing up, my favorite dish involved anything that was spicy which is probably why I fell in love with the rich and fiery flavors from south of the border. If I could, I would eat tamales, mole, enchiladas, carnitas, guacamole, ceviche and tacos al pastor everyday. Then in high school, my first job was at a local and family-owned Mexican joint. Translation: all my favorite combinations todos los dias. In college, I also spent sometime studying in Cuernavaca, Mexico where street tacos, Alambres (Mexican carne cooked on skewers) and savory salsas were a daily treat. On the walk from la Universidad to mi casa de mi familia Mexicana, my roommate Maria and I would always find a way to make a foodie detour. Nowadays, I love to make tacos and have almost perfected my OG shrimp version. I had some pineapple this time around and thought I'd get creative using this recipe from FoodFit as a backbone. Here's how you can enjoy the sweet & spicy shrimp tacos I made this time around:

What you'll need:

Pineapple Salsa

1 cup diced pineapple (canned and be sure to keep the jugo, you'll be using it later)

1/2 cup diced red bell pepper

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1/2 sliced jalapeno

2 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground cayenne pepper

1/2 cup lime juice

1 lime (cut into wedges)

1/4 cup diced red onion

pinch of salt
Tacos:

1 lb shrimp (frozen or raw is okay, too)

1/3 cup butter

8 corn tortillas

1 cup grated queso fresco

1 avocado (sliced)

1/2 red cabbage (sliced)

sour cream

Preparing the Salsa:

To begin, in a bowl combine the drained pineapple, diced red pepper, cilantro, jalapeno, red onion, ground cumin, cayenne pepper and 1/4 cup lime juice. Mix together and add a pinch of salt. Add in a splash of pineapple juice, and chill. (This salsa also tastes great by itself with chips!)

Preparing the Shrimp:

Depending on whether you are using raw or frozen, preparation will be slightly different, but I used a cast iron skillet over a gas stove for this. In the pan, add butter, 1/4 cup lime juice, another splash of pineapple juice and shrimp. Shrimp cooks quickly, so be aware that it may only take a few minutes. Let simmer in juices for a while after you remove from heat.

Taco assembly:

For these tacos, I chopped up some red cabbage, extra jalapenos and queso fresco to add on top. Heat up the corn tortillas separately. Start with shrimp, add cabbage, a spoon full of pineapple salsa, avocado slice, queso fresco, sour cream and wedge of lime for squeezing on the top!

Enjoy! xx

Designer Crush: Ana Chang

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

A new year, a new post. To begin 2012 the right way, I am excited to start off by featuring an inspirational and fashionable female who is also my newly coveted designer crush. Fearless and fancy, this 20-year-old bombshell is taking on the international design world and making her mark. Ana Chang is the maven behind her original self-titled clothing line. Currently residing in Guatemala, Chang's latin roots fused with her eye for feminine detail make her pieces both flirty and functional. I got the chance to interview Ana about her fashion icons, personal style, her recognition from Teen Vogue and what's next for her line in 2012.

[Poprocks&Peacoats] Being an up and coming international designer, what (or who) would you say influences your personal style the most?

[Ana Chang] My influences come from my everyday journey: music, blogs, magazines, fashion icons and the people around me. In Guatemala I believe we have the perfect weather, so basically we combine different season clothing in one outfit! I’m a very practical girl when it comes to fashion so you can find a lot of denim, cardigans, jumpers, flats, oversize t-shirts and one or two men’s shirts in my closet.

[P&P] Where does the fashion story of Ana Chang begin? Did you always believe you would be designing?

[AC] Yes, fashion has always been my only option when it comes to what I want to do with the rest of my life. Since I was little I have been designing and painting. I see fashion as the perfect and unique way to express what you feel, think and want to communicate to the world.

[P&P] What are some challenges (if any) you have faced being a young designer? What advice do you have for other young up-and-comers?

[AC] My main challenge has been organizing my time because of my school schedules, but I’m really working on that! :) I’m a very visual person so I always keep my agenda as organize as I can to work on school, my blog and other projects.

My advice is

1. Believe in your work and your own ideas! Unique ideas have more value than copied ideas :)

2. Work hard for what you want and always take the good things out from the bad situations. In life being positive has its rewards!

[P&P] How would you describe your latest line? What (or who) inspires the look of your pieces?

[AC] I made my first collection last year and was inspired by architecture. It had shift dresses, vests, black blazers and skirts. The main colors where: pastels, gray, white and black. I wanted to create a collection with basic clothing; easy to combine with anything else you have on your closet.

[P&P] Has living in Guatemala particularly influenced your work? Are there certain styles or trends that are original to your Latin roots that we can find in your collection?

[AC] Yes, it has influence on my work. The fashion industry in Guatemala is in a growing stage, where appreciation is taking place and I’m happy to be part of that. I’m blessed to live in a country with such wide material to get inspired from like: nature, colors, prints, native culture and clothing, are good examples of where my inspiration comes from when it comes to designing.

[P&P] Last year, you were featured in Teen Vogue as Blogger of the Moment, how cool was that?! What was it like to be recognized by such a respected company?

[AC] It has been the most amazing feeling ever! It’s such a great privilege to be recognized by them and I love that they are so open to new designers and the fact that they appreciate your work is indescribable. This gave me a lot of impulse to my new projects and ideas in fashion!

[P&P] Are there any fashion bloggers that you keep up with? Tell us a little about your blog, when did you begin blogging?

[AC] I’m a twitter fan so I follow all my favorite bloggers and designers and keep in touch with what they are doing and thinking. I keep up with Andy Torres from Style Scrapbook Elizabeth M, Craig Arend from Models Off Duty, The Persian Babe Refinery 29 and many more.

I started my blog a few years ago. My posts are about what I like in fashion and in music, my experience in fashion and achievements! You’ll see me posting a lot more this year! Be ready : )

[P&P] Last but not least, how can we get our hands on your one-of-a-kind threads? Can you tell us what is next for you?

[AC] I don’t sell my designs online yet but anyone that likes my work can send me an email and we will figure the shipping and everything out! Next year (2012) you’ll get to see all the process of my new collection and ill be posting all my designs. I’m planning my next fashion show with one of my friends that is also a fashion designer that will include two different lines, hopefully will be at the beginning of 2012. Can’t wait to share that with Poprocks and Peacoats :)

Want to keep up with Ana Chang? Find her on twitter, check out her blog or email her at info [at] anachang.com

New Year, New Muse

2011-12-31T14:15:00.000-08:00

Well 2011, you weren't very nice to me. In fact, you were a bit of a bully, but the thing is I am okay with that. I should have known that when one year is over and a new begins, the last expectation I should have is the year will treat me well. Pessimism is not my aim here, because I learned quite a lot in 2011. Admittedly, 2011 was perhaps the year I came to realize the most about myself, my beliefs, my family, my friends and my faith in humanity. Last January, I decided to nix the 2010 New Year's Resolution tradition and set a organizational timeline for the pieces of my life that were a bit out-of-place. While I feel I have followed through with getting my life together, I have also learned that having total control is really never possible. As 2012 begins, I will be setting my standards high. This time not for the year itself, but rather for my own well-being and staying true to being positive, productive and progressive. My hope for 2012 is that there will be a lot of doing what I can everyday to be a better person all around. Remembering, regardless of whatever I may be told, that in the end it's me, myself and I. Cheers to making this next year a one I'll never forget.

In Photos

2011-12-28T21:29:00.000-08:00

From Christmas to Hanukkah, the Holidays always are the busiest time of year for me. I'll let my pictures do the talking.

Sparkle Season

2011-12-21T14:11:00.000-08:00

What more reason is there to sparkle during the season that screams decoration and detail overload? That's right, I'm talking about sequins. See and believe it: this shiny trend is not just for costumes and kiddos, but the perfect way to jazz up any Holiday outfit. Whether as an accessory or overcoat, adding a pinch of sequins to your ensemble will have you the star of any party and not looking like a cheap Christmas ornament.

The Advantage of Vintage

2011-12-16T18:48:00.000-08:00

The thing I love most about vintage clothing is that it always begins a conversation. I'm not saying that I justify my purchases on the basis of talk-ability, but I feel that some clothing truly speaks for itself. Thrifting is one of my favorite activities because there is something about finding the oh-so-perfect treasure from the past that captures a moment in time. Clothing, itself is entirely affected by the context of it's generation, whether that's polyester in the 70's or cotton Levi's from the 90's. More importantly, I feel there is an advantage to all this. Nycole Garza, curator of Killer Styling, is changing salvaged drab into totally fab with her eye for re-worked vintage. Originally from the bay area, Nycole's sixth sense strictly in fashion has led her to work with the likes of the independent design shopping trade show THREAD. By "re-worked", I mean each piece is hand cut and edited to create something a bit more modern.

Last night, Killer Styling collaborated with jewelry designer Elisa Gonsalves and a few other local San Diegan creatives at El Camino for a Holiday Trunk Show. You can find Killer Styling on Facebook for upcoming events and etsy updates.

Christmas came early for me when I got to go home with this incredible Cherry Bomb mini dress in red.

With 2 for 1 drink specials, El Camino was packed in spite of the drizzly afternoon. Nycole and I below.

Pink, Purple & Pastel

2011-12-12T22:38:00.000-08:00

Pretty pink, purple and pastel color combo fashions combine just the right amount of sugar and spice that will be sure to help brighten up any rainy day. Think winter sorbet: a splash of sweet pink and violet perfectly compliment the sour baby blue. Today, I spent the afternoon on Melrose scoping out some of my favorite places such as The Wasteland and SLOW with my friend Josue. Then it was off to The Grove to hang with Maria and Stacy for some Holiday gift getting at Anthropology and Crate&Barrel. Let's just say everyone on my list this year will not be disappointed!

Source: Atlantic-Pacific, collage above: Vintage Pink Mini Dress (top), Anthropologie (middle), Kimchi&Blue (bottom), turquoise wooden and pink thrifted bangles

Mad for M.dot Design

2011-12-06T15:39:00.000-08:00

This past Friday, the opportunity arose for me to sit runway side to watch San Diego's home-grown cut & sew line by mastermind Michelle Aquino of M.dot Design. For the premiere of her latest holiday line "The Siren, the Muse and The Goddess", M.dot hosted a fashion party showcasing her newest collection. I was definitely excited to see so many flirty and functional pieces crawl down the catwalk. I was joined by two good friends and we enjoyed sippin' and schmoozing at the San Diego W Hotel. Designer and cut & sew extraordinaire, Michelle creates one-of-a-kind pieces out of her downtown workshop. Michelle is a graduate of FIDM and also an active member of San Diego's fashion community. Each of her designs are custom created out of her studio in San Diego. For more information on M.dot Design and check out her blog and find her on Facebook.

From fun and flirty prints, flowy and feminine monotone dresses, and contrasting color blocking--I could not but help but think how I wanted to be a siren, muse and goddess this Holiday season.

Take a peak at the new line for yourself!

The Fashion Show Re-cap, shot live at The W Hotel

Design Crush: Hester Crown Jewelry

2011-11-18T09:45:00.000-08:00

As I gear up for a weekend full of independent fashion and design as I head to THREAD in San Francisco, I could not help but feature a post about my latest crafty crush. Hester Crown is brainchild of Laura Pecenco of San Diego and her work is, hands down, creatively cool and uniquely chic. Originally from Northern California and after spending some time in Berkeley for her undergrad, this California girl insists that living in sunny San Diego keeps the motivational juices flowing and helps to inspire her. I met Laura when she was designing for her first jewelry company, Laurasaurus Designs. Sink your teeth into these colorful and delicious one-of-a-kind creations! With an eye for pushing the creative limits of contemporary jewelry, Hester Crown is Laura’s newest collection of artful pieces that you’ll definitely want to get your hands on. I caught up with Laura about her latest creations and inspirations.

Skeleton arm ring cast in bronze.

Lariat necklace with sterling silver cast doll arms.

Skeleton hands cast in bronze. Rose gold plate ear hooks.

All photos by Yeesheen Yang.

[P&P] From beetle wings to bones in bronze, tell us more about what inspires your unique designs.
[Laura] I think bodies are absolutely amazing and beautiful, and I wanted to highlight those forms. I love selecting items that are both elegant and slightly creepy... pieces that make you do a double-take.

[P&P] How did you come up with Hester Crown?
[L] One of my best friends, Ricki, actually came up with the name. I like that the name "Hester" has come to be associated with Hester Prynne from The Scarlet Letter - she is a strong woman with a very defiant nature. The "Crown" part is a play on both sophistication and on dental crowns (I have an obsession with teeth). I came up with the business because I wanted to separate these pieces, which are all cast or set by hand, from Laurasaurus Designs, the other jewelry business I run. Both jewelry lines encompass a quirkiness, but I feel that Hester Crown represents a different side of my work.

[P&P] Who are your favorite jewelry designers?
[L] My friend Norissa actually just told me about Pamela Love, and I think her work is gorgeous. I am also a huge fan of one of my jewelry instructors, Tara Magboo, who runs Adorable Mayhem.

[P&P] Where can we purchase our own custom pieces?
[L] My work is available online and at craft shows so far. I have an etsy site (hestercrown.etsy.com) - more items will be posted soon! I also have a blog and a facebook page . I will be at the SoNo Holiday Park Fest on December 4 and at the Bar Pink Holiday Craft Fair on December 10.

[P&P] What is your favorite part about jewelry designing?
[L] I love the casting process. It is so rewarding to go through the process step by step, end up with this seemingly ugly chunk of metal, and then turn it into a beautiful, finished product. But I also really love when someone really connects with a piece!
[P&P] Are you on Etsy?
[L] I am on etsy - hestercrown.etsy.com. I will be posting more items shortly!
[P&P] Tell us a little about what's next for Hester Crown.
[L] I am very excited about moving forward with Hester Crown. I plan to build up my inventory (I'm always working on new pieces) and get my jewelry into some stores. I am very much looking forward to the craft shows that are coming up. I will also be updating my blog and etsy pages, so stay tuned!

For more on Hester Crown, stop by the Facebook page for the latest on news, events and designs.

☮ ♥ & THREAD LA

2011-11-10T13:55:00.000-08:00

The Holiday Season is officially here, which means plenty of presents to purchase. Without a doubt, my favorite gifts to give are ones that I know the person will really love. That seems simple, but the task of finding the perfect present for everyone on my list does not always come at the perfect price and hardly ever found all in one place. This is what I believed until I discovered THREAD. Talk about ultra unique, one-of-a-kind and creatively chic designs, clothing and crafts under one roof...um, pinch me! From a DIY Booth to hourly give-a-ways, live artists and DJ beats, this localized shopping show is anything but ordinary and is headed to Los Angeles this Sunday. Taking over the Cooper Design Space at 860 South Los Angeles Street, check out deets and RSVP for $5 here. If anyone wants to know what my Holiday Shopping secret weapon is? Tell them I said THREAD.

Check out some of these snap shots from THREAD Show Los Angeles, taken by photog genius Raffi Keklikian. For more of his innovative amazing-ness, stop by his site or add him on Facebook.

Blogs on the Brain II

2011-11-07T09:34:00.000-08:00

When I started blogging, I never thought it would be anything other than a digital compilation of words, pictures, and inspirations. Since I started in 2009, my blog has managed to become much more than a series of posts about fashion and food, but rather manifested into a medium that has opened up doors that I never thought could be possible. There is an entire culture of writers, foodies and fashion folks in the blogosphere that are making major waves in the digital universe and beyond. When I get questions about why I blog, I have yet to refine the best possible answer. I attempted to do this, but as you can read...my true thoughts are still under construction.

However, I know that my blog is something that allows me to define and refine my personal taste and fashion sense. I think of my blog as a space where I can let myself to express, create and thrive by connecting with others who are doing the same. Right now, here are a few blogs I've got on the brain.

CLOSET RICH | Vintage & Pre-loved Fashion Finds

Major props for concept coolness, the Closet Rich blog is an extension of Closet Rich. An online store where curator Elizabeth Knott hand-picks designer and vintage finds which her site allows for viewers to buy or sell closet to closet.

A Cup of Jo | Magazine Writer & Blogger in NY

Joanna fills her blog with tid-bits on everything eye-candy: travel destinations, design inspirations, movie reviews, delicious treats, and the future of fashion. Not to mention she has perfected finding links that just about anyone will love which she includes in her posts. How cool is this?

Lookbook Cookbook | Vegan Food & Fashion

Food porn at its finest and I'm not kidding. What is better than food and fashion? When they are fused together to create a seamless collection of photographs giving a whole new meaning to tempting treats. Strawberry Coconut Ice Pop anyone?

Honestly...WTF | DIY & Everything Fashion

Seriously, one of my favorite blogs about art and fashion trends, tips and not to mention some of the most creative DIY tricks. Created by designer and stylist duo Erica Chan Coffman and Lauren Kolodny, get your daily dose of all things tastefully fashionable and artfully original. This velvet bow was all DIY. Honesty...amazing.

LACE REPLACE

2011-11-02T21:29:00.000-07:00

It must be something about the transition from October to November that makes me fall into the loveliness of lace. I find myself craving the soft and dainty look of lace with every outfit. One of my favorite go-to sites for ways to replace-using- lace inspiring ensembles is Boston based Lace Affair. (I totally have that red velvet cake dress on my radar!) My color pallet has undergone a shift as well--my September bolds and October brights have become neutrals and baby blues and creamy pastels contrasting with fire engine red. Hello November, I'm ready for you.

Candy Coated

2011-10-22T16:53:00.000-07:00

FOOT FETISH.

Beauty [CULT]

2011-10-18T22:01:00.000-07:00

What defines beauty?

Could it be the million dollar make-up industry that convinces us that the definition of beauty is something found in a tube, jar or at a store?

Or could it be the clothing designers and fashion folks who would probably suggest that beauty is translated in the clothes you adorn or the type of jewelry worn?

What about the plastic surgeons who have somehow managed to convince us that beauty can be transformational, just one procedure at a time?

Perhaps it could be the modern mainstream media that has manipulated all of these notions of beauty and transcribed them through channels of stereotypes and unrealistic expectations?

Regardless of how you approach the term, defining beauty is something done by the culture. Through time, American females have somehow fallen to the threshold of how we are seen within society. Whether we are the subject or the object, determining between the two is, unfortunately, never really up to us. This weekend, I took a day trip to the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles. The exhibition really put into perspective the reality of the iconic, yet ironic culture of beauty in the U.S. By combining mixed media graphic art, contemporary advertisements, photo shoots and video, I wandered the exhibition doing my best to wrap my head around something that I have always understood to be the truth.

Sometimes, there is much more beauty in the lies we believe than whatever the actuality that something truly is.

To me, beauty is more than the clothes you wear, the products you have, or the shape your body is in. It is much more than what money can buy or surgery can "enhance", rather it is the confidence that comes from feeling refreshingly satisfied, appreciated and happy from the inside out. I'd like to see money buy me that.

Stop. Play. Pause.

2011-09-23T15:55:00.000-07:00

Imagine if life were written as a song. Not a musical or a theme song; rather a carefully crafted work of listenable art that mimics the tune of individual experience, knowledge and understanding.

If life were written as a song, the variations in beats, rhythms and instruments would be the reflection of our daily actions, encounters and travels. Each song would be different of course; the lyrics of would be comprised of words and language we use to communicate and vocalize our opinions and beliefs. If the chorus signified the strength of repetition and solidifying the language in which we feel are the most important to repeat. If life was written as a song, what would yours sound like? Would it be worth listening to?

There comes a time in life where we are faced with a situation that has the power to alter our perception, preference and priority. A situation that has the power to change the song. Not as if we have asked for life changing circumstances, but perhaps was due to the string of individual choices that all seemed to point in a certain direction that lead to a climax that was never expected.

It is times like these that we must grow stronger and better than before. To stop and consider the reality that certain components of our song have been written for us. It's time to stop, play it over and pause when necessary because life is short and the music won't last.

MUSIC MUSE | FRIDAY TUNES

[1] Finally Moving :: Pretty Lights

[2] Hometown Glory :: Adele

[3] The Beginning :: Joey Fehrenback

[4] Dream :: Priscilla Ahn

[5] Broken :: Lauren Hoffman

[6] Down :: Jason Walker

[7] 4am :: Kaskade

[8] Never Alone :: BarlowGirl

[9] Last Night of The Dynasty :: The Shanghai Restoration Project

MIND BLOCK

2011-09-13T21:22:00.000-07:00

Thanks to artist, Peter Halley--I'm feeling brighter and bolder is better. Color blocking is a new way to approach loud pieces, by putting them together to create a contemporary look that is candy coated and perfectly sweet just in time for Fall.

Watermelon & Lime

2011-08-30T22:22:00.000-07:00

It's official, I have relocated. Goodbye San Diego and HELLO Los Angeles! As opportunities arise, it was important for me to make the right move for the right position and I can say I definitely made the right choice. Although I will no longer be living in America's Finest City, weekend trips down the 405 will occur regularly. Los Angeles may have my body, but San Diego will always have my heart.

My new job has plenty of perks, one being the fact that my love for food is shared by one of my co-workers who is the foodie phene behind TruckFood411. Tonight I was invited out to join him and his family for a food truck adventure to Northridge Din-Din A Go Go. Not only did I experience the most juicy and buttery Lobster Sandwich compliments of The Lobsta Truck, but I also finished with a watermelon+lime snowball from Breezy Freeze.

Let's just say, life in LA is off to a very good (and delicious) start!

The Standard | Bachelorette Weekend

2011-08-22T21:18:00.000-07:00

From Barbies, to boys; from play dates, to real dates; from camping, to concerts; from dress-up, to make-up; from girl scouts, to Girls Night Out; there is just something special about being friends since preschool. My dearest childhood friend Melanie is tying the knot September 9th and I could not be more excited for her! We spent a marvelous weekend sun bathing, eating sushi, dirty dancing, and sipping champagne poolside at The Standard in Los Angeles to celebrate her new life as a wife to be. Did I mention, I love champagne?

Katy Perry Party

2011-08-11T09:30:00.000-07:00

You make me feel like I'm living a Teenage Dream, but I'll only be your California Girl if you let me see your Peacock. I know It's Not Like The Movies, but you're so Extraterrestrial you make me feel like every night is Friday. T.G.I.F.

We sipped juice, without the gin; decked out in wigs and munched on colorful candy starbursts as we headed out to see Mrs. Katy Perry in concert in San Diego on Tuesday.

The Katy Perry Crew.

Teenage Dream!

Pearl

Circle The Drain

E.T.

California Gurls

WE ♥ KATY PERRY!

Homemade Craft Pizza & Beer Night

2011-07-27T20:51:00.000-07:00

My roommate has had a huge influence on the beer I drink. Honestly, if it was not for her and her impeccable taste for delicious beer, I would still be drinking Heineken. For her 24th birthday, I decided a craft beer and pizza night was in order. That means going all crazy with delicious ingredients.

Trader Joes Wheat Crust. Parmesan, Fontina, Asigo and Provolone Cheese Blend. Red onion. Brie cheese slices. Fresh Basil. Mushrooms & Prosciuto. 22oz bottle of Ballast Point Sculpin IPA. Spinach & Gargonzola cheese salad. Balsalmic & Mustard dressing.

The pizza was a success. Happy Birthday, Sarah!

Manic Monday

2011-07-25T08:30:00.000-07:00

Amy Winehouse joined the 27 Club yesterday. So hard to believe because she was too young to go. I read quite a few articles and tweets that bashed her lifestyle and shunned her as a criminal for her drug habits, but the truth is that she was only a victim. A woman with such tremendous talent was a victim to her own substance use and abuse. So in memorial, here my some of my favorite Euro Obsessions and then some. RIP MISS WINEHOUSE, you were one of my favorite Brits.

1) Amy Winehouse | Love is a Losing Game

2) Adele | Cold Shoulder

3) Lily Allen | The Fear + Everyone's At It

4) Corinne Bailey Rae | Till It Happens to You

5) Duffy | I'm Scared + Mercy

6) Bill Withers | Ain't No Sunshine

7) John Legend | Save Room

8) Norah Jones | Come Away With Me

Tostada Tuesday

2011-07-19T21:41:00.000-07:00

There is no question that being a lover of food has ignited a plethora of scrum-di-li-um-cious foodie bloggers that want to share their passion for good eats. I would definitely not consider myself a "food blogger", but have taken note that it has been difficult to find recipes for exactly what I am craving, up until now. Thanks to Gojee, perhaps the next best thing in recipe scavenging (aka Pandora for foodies), combines the best from food bloggers themselves in a website that makes it super simple and fun to choose what you want!

Yesterday, my sister and I were browsing through the mouth-watering photos of home-made treats, sweets and eats when we stumbled upon Roasted Vegetable Tostadas, from the kitchen of Erin Alderson and her yummy blog Naturally Ella. It's normally taco Tuesday around here, but we decided to switch things up a bit.

What you'll need:
2 large cooking trays
1 mixing bowl
4 corn + wheat tortillas (Trader Joe's has the best)
1 bell pepper
1 onion, we used red
1 tomato
1 avocado
2 tspns olive oil
1 can of black beans (we used re-fried)
1 lime
1 cup of shredded lettuce
Shredded pepper jack cheese
cilantro
tin foil (trust me, easy clean-up!)
ground cumin
cayenne pepper

Total prep time: 45 minutes

To begin:

Preheat the oven to 425. (Side note: This recipe makes 4 tostadas) In a separate bowl, combine 1/2 cup chopped red onion, 1 chopped bell pepper, cubed tomato and mix with olive oil. Using one of the cooking sheets, cover in tin foil and spread out on flat in order to achieve proper roasting. Place in the oven for about 30 minutes. Continuously check at 10 minute increments to make sure no veggie goes burnt.

Black Bean + Cilantro Spread: This was not apart of the Naturally Ella's original post because we went with re fried black beans. In a bowl combine chopped cilantro, lime juice and 1/2 can of beans. Mix together using a pinch of ground cumin and cayenne pepper. Set aside.

On the second baking tray, place 4 tortillas and sprinkle with pepper jack cheese. Place in the oven a rack underneath the roasting vegetables. The cheese and tortillas will cook in about 15 minutes, pull out of the oven and let cool and top off with black bean + cilantro spread. Place in oven for a few more minutes until beans are warm, then add lettuce, sour cream, sliced avocado and salsa if you wish. We used an extra spicy chipotle sauce, which was amazing!

From here on out, I know where I am going to be getting my recipes. Thanks Gojee & Naturally Ella!

Dream Catcher

2011-07-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have found that my style has been heavily influenced by my dreams. Whether a good dream or bad, there is just something inspirational about the unconscious world we create when we sleep. Muted colors, soft feathers, and light textures have made an appearance in my most recent purchases and preparing for tonight's Indian Summer is no exception. Can you tell I have been inspired by the Native American Spirit? Now, if only I could find myself a John Smith to complete my look.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

2011-07-12T20:23:00.000-07:00

6.30.11

From my affair with AIRR Supper Club to getting my American Pride fix on Independence Day, it's time for a blog break. Between fun on the Fourth and all other festivities since then and in between, I will state the obvious: the heat of July is getting to me.

7.4.11

Talamak

2011-06-27T21:54:00.000-07:00

New week, new playlist.

I have been in an entirely different mood lately. See if you can guess it.

[1] The Sounds | 4 Songs & A Fight | Something to Die For

[2] Toro Y Moi | Talamak

[3] Stars | Sleep Tonight

[4] Too Short | Two Step

[5] Temper Trap | Sweet Disposition

[6] Katy Perry | T.G.I.F

[7] Cosmo Speedway | Swiss Alps over San Diego

Old House Fair | South Park

2011-06-20T10:52:00.000-07:00

Cute as a button. One of the first sunny Saturdays in San Diego this month and I was off with my friend Nycole to explore South Park's Historic Old House Fair. As one of San Diego's oldest communities, South Park is home to historic craftsman houses, local and organic eats and little mom & pop shops. The annual Old House Fair is held to invite folks to take a peak inside these renovated homes with tours led by the folks whom are the homeowners themselves.

Aside from local food vendors, an array of eco-friendly designers, contractors and craftsmen lined Beech Street offering advice to homeowners about how to achieve the home of their dreams on a budget. From recycled cabinetry to gardening FAQ, my Saturday stroll around South Park got me brainstorming about a few things I would like to have at my house!

My favorite house was not even on the tour, it's official:

I must have a sea green home!

Perhaps the cutest of the shops was this local crafty gem!

Twitter and Business: The New Way to Twerk

2011-06-11T08:45:00.000-07:00

The following piece is a research paper I wrote for my Academic Internship course taken this past spring at UC,San Diego. Titled: Twitter and Business: Communication, Interactivity and Tweet-Ups in the Digital Age, my research delves into company branding and social media. I had so much fun putting it together and look forward to continuing my research on social media.

Abstract

Basic human interaction and human communication is transforming as users engage within mediums of the virtual space as part of an everyday routine. Today, communication is almost impeccably mobile due to cellular technologies with hand-touch and wireless capabilities. As a culture consuming these advances, incorporating social networking within ones professional and personal social life has put an inaugural shift in communication and interaction entirely. Communication in the most organic forms—a conversation between individuals—can now be done digitally and all in place due to the interdependence of virtual communities and Web 2.0. Conventional face-to-face communication is entering a renovation as individuals have turned to the social networking site to engage, interact and meet others.

Introduction

For start-ups, entrepreneurs, companies, and corporations, business is going digital. With the social networking muscle largely becoming the most talked about marketing and publicity resource, the true strength it possesses evolves on a daily basis. With the ability to create, develop and manage an online identity, the notion of the social network site has expanded far beyond belief in becoming powerful enough be redefined as social media. In today’s world, people no longer look to newspapers, radios, or television to get their daily news, gossip, or entertainment. Instead, people are turning to the internet and more specifically their social networks. The 21st century is known for its dependence on the World Wide Web and social networking sites have made getting updates easier and faster than ever. One of the more popular social networking sites that have sparked a new way for users to interact online is Twitter.com. First seen publicly in July 2006, Twitter originated as a “daylong brainstorming session” for employees of the podcasting company Odeo (Wikipedia.com) but has now grown into a prime resource for marketing, engaging and branding in the digital age.

Twitter combines all the things internet users enjoy, “social networking, texting, and blogging” (squidoo.com) which is no wonder it has become the world’s third most used social network site. There is much more than meets the eye in the Twittersphere (mashable.com), from being smart-phone friendly to serving as a medium to facilitate events where users can meet in person, businesses have tapped into Twitter by adopting communication strategies to actively engage with their consumer. Consumer and producer interactivity is the key to online communication and in developing a virtual community and brand image.

In addition to explaining the background and basic fundamentals of Twitter, my research is focused primarily on qualitative interviews with two social media professionals and specifically addresses the manifestation of the business culture Twitter has created for each individual, particularly virtually publicized events known as “Tweet-Ups”. Twitter has also provided a platform for many businesses to primarily communicate with their consumer as well as ignited a number of social media measuring sites that track Twitter analytics, which I will touch upon briefly.

Literature Overview

To further illustrate the power of Twitter in terms of business and branding, it is important to refer to the research published in regards to this subject by the professionals in the industry.

Joel Comm, author of Twitter Power 2.0 is an internet marketer and known as an expert on harnessing the power of social media and mobile applications in expanding brand's reach and engaging in active relationship marketing. Joel Comm is also a New York Times bestselling author and new media innovator. Twitter Power 2.0 is a look into understanding how to get started on Twitter as well as business tricks and strategies to build brand awareness.

Mari Smith is a renowned social media trainer and co-author of Facebook Marketing: An Hour A Day and considered by Fast Company to be the “Pied Piper of the Online World”. The Relationship Age is a compilation of social media specialists and professionals addressing the application of social media and the paradigm shift in the relationships consumers have with companies and products. With a focus on the profitable relationships that can be developed through the creative use of social media, internet marketing professionals explain and discuss methods for success in bringing these relationships to fruition.

Background : What is Twitter?
What began as a way for three software programmers to recreate the typical SMS text message in 2006 has developed into a network of almost 200 million users and 1 billion tweets a week (Twitter.com). Jack Dorsey, Evan Williams and Biz Stone, founders of Twitter, have gone on to create the most updated social networking site and have helped to grow a completely paperless marketing phenomenon.

The name “Twitter” comes from the dictionary definition: “a short burst of inconsequential information”, which is obvious in that each message sent has a limit of 140 characters. These short messages and spouts of information are called “tweets”. According to the TheGlobeandMail.com, initially there was no limit to message length, but when Twitter went public, the 140 limit was adopted because 160 characters was the SMS carrier which, then was left free intentionally leaving enough room for a username.

Usernames in the Twittersphere (mashable.com) have the at symbol “@” before them and are chosen when first getting started. “Your username, though, isn’t just a phrase you’re going to enter when you sign in. It will form part of your URL and will be visible whenever you promote your Twitter page. Choose poorly and you could affect your Twitter account’s ability to gather followers and build a reputation” (Comm). When creating a tweet, users can mention other usernames creating a hyperlink to that user’s profile page that will appear in the Twittersphere. Note in the above figure taken from Symomos (a social media measurement and analytic web company) that from 2009-2010, the percentage of users who provide a phrase for their username on Twitter increased by 40%.

‎

The hash tag is also used to create hyper links within tweets. Placing a hash tag “#” creates lists of Twitter users who have included the word or phrase in a tweet of their own. Twitter also includes up to date trending topics listed by hash tag each time you log in that are arranged by location. Hash tags can be used to create categories for just about anything, from #thingsthatdontmakesense to the #mtvmovieawards find what others are tweeting about. Hash tags have been also known to spark topics during times of crisis or disaster.

This is an example of local news anchor of NBC San Diego tweeting updates during the Tsunami in Japan:

KushiNBCSD‎ :: Can't stop thinking about #prayfor japan. New video this morning of #japan @nbcsandiego 5-7am and keeping track of local breaking news. Busy Twitter - Mar 14, 2011 4:17:09 AM

Due to Twitter’s real time results, users were able to post about news, events, and fundraisers surrounding the aftermath of the quake. In fact, many users were able to spread awareness for those need by including #Japan in their tweets.

Communicating using Twitter

Just as a traditional face-to-face conversation would consist of a combination of listening, acknowledging and responding: social networking sites have developed into social media for business when consumers can ‘converse’ with the company online. With Twitter’s combination of short, timely messages and user-friendly interface, there are a variety of networking capabilities: both online and offline. Allowing an interactive and virtual way of communicating, Twitter allows for users to tweet, mention and follow whom they wish.

Networking, in general, can be defined as “a way of connecting with other people who share your interests or who might be interested in what you have to say” (squidoo.com). Using this definition, Twitter provides an acceptable online and offline networking system; however, it might not be exactly what people initially expect. There are two different parts to Twitter’s internal virtual networking system: what you tweet and who you follow in addition to the offline meet-ups wherein users can connect in the real world known as “Tweet-Ups”.

When connecting with another user in the Twittersphere, you “follow” them and in turn become one of their “followers”. Perhaps the best use of the hash tag is what is known as follow Friday. As a strategy to receive more followers, there are ways recommended for marketing using the hash tag. “If that person finds you interesting, they tend to tell their followers to follow you. The most popular day when this is done is #FollowFriday. People usually give recommendation on people who are worthwhile following.” (The Relationship Age).

While Twitter allows for an updated list of what, where and why, a Tweet-Up is an event where users get to know who is who by connecting profiles to people. A Tweet-Up allows Twitter users to interact and network in person and meet someone they would have only known virtually. "And considered a great opportunity to really connect with the people in your network and share just a little more than 140 characters at a time" (socialhat.com).

Twitter and Interactivity

Beyond its social function, Twitter is used increasingly by business to communicate with employees and customers. The one-way transmission of information is morphing quickly into two-way interaction. Businesses can now communicate real-time message to the customers they want to reach. But with good conversation, there is also bad. Social networking profiles have allowed for individuals to voice their opinions with every comment, link, post and update in an accessibly digital public sphere which has proven to make or break reputations. Conversely, when customers are unhappy with a product or service, they can spread the word quickly – and do damage – with a few tweets.

This was the case for Urban Outfitters, a corporate clothing retailer, just a few weeks ago when Twitter user @AmberKarnes tweeted about a design that they had stolen from an independent jewelry artist. Her tweet then sparked a number of Twitter users who then began to respond diligently in disappointment to this news and proceeded to cause some serious negative attention to the company.

Interviews

Ricardo Sandoval is the Director of Production for NBC San Diego Morning Show and is also the coordinator of the first ever NBC San Diego Tweet-Up. As an active twitter user for NBC San Diego, Ricardo uses his Twitter profile for business and networking purposes. I contacted Ricardo Sandoval through Twitter and sat down to ask him a few questions about his involvement with social media and his job, specifically Twitter.

“For a television production company, we are late getting into the social media game, but we are realizing how important it is for business and image. Nationally, we have had a number of incidents where employees have put [their] boss on blast on Facebook or Twitter. Every few months, we have a lawyer go over the do’s and don’ts of the legalities of media. [For NBC] Twitter is a lot less interactive than our Facebook, if anything [users] will click on a link. Our links always direct back to our NBC website.

As the person behind the first NBC San Diego Tweet-Up, what were you expecting?

“We were surprised at how many people showed up. As our first event like this, knowing what to expect was difficult, but it was a great success and there are plans for another in the near future. It was a new way to publicize and event and the turnout was great.

When asked about having a personal Twitter account versus a business account, Ricardo responded:

“I often thought about having a personal account, but I often wonder who to follow. Most of the people I know on Twitter are through work or PR [professionals]. I interact more on Facebook and have more of my friends on there.”

Tweet-Ups are usually facilitated using Twitter, but also with the help of with other social networking platforms such as, Tweetvite. These sites help Twitter users organize, plan and find Tweet-Ups on the basis of interests, location and usernames. Tweetvite is different from other evite services being that it was built specifically for Tweetups and other events using Twitter. Offering complete integration for things like custom shortened URLs, tracking of tweets and re-tweets, event hashtags, and authentication of guests using Twitter.

Laura Rubinstein is founder and CEO of Transform Today, an interactive marketing and social media agency. Coach Laura is a Twitter user, Certified Social Media Marketing Strategist, Hypnotherapist and Master Leadership Coach, she works with business owners, speakers, authors, and service providers around the globe. Specializing in social media training, consulting and strategy development for business owners, Laura works with professionals helping them to develop their brand and buzz on social media.

Laura has mastered the art of relationship building and coached more than 1,000 business owners in relationship based marketing strategies. Using her hypnotherapy background, Laura brings a keen awareness of habits and motivators that cause action and results. I met Laura at a Tweet-Up in February of this last year and asked her a few questions about Twitter and business.

“What I love about social media is building relationships. For my clients, it is important to create an online image that represents an interactive business and one that customers can turn to the networks to communicate with. I learned launching an interactive Twitter campaign is something that does help with the overall company brand. Tweet-Ups are great because they allow users to interact in the real-world and network for employment opportunities. Social media is on the rise and I like being able to work with companies in helping them navigate the social media world.”

Conclusion

Twitter is social networking site that accurately fuses the requirements of a successful communication and marketing medium in a way that is unexpected and unconventional. Which should make no surprise that from 2009 to 2010 was when 44% of Twitter users joined the site and more than half of the users are companies, products and brands as seen in Figure 5.

Twitter is easy to use, has endless networking capabilities, and allows its users, companies and brands to represent themselves on the site. Its growing popularity is beginning to change the way the world has previously viewed online communication, interactivity and the way business is conducted. We can either accept it and join along for the ride or try to ignore it and risk getting left behind. Either way, Twitter is forever changing business, one tweet at a time.

______________________________

Work Cited

Comm, Joel. Twitter Power 2.0: How to Dominate Your Market One Tweet at a Time. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2010. Print.

Duxbury, Paul. "How to Use Twitter." Squidoo. Google. Web. 6 June. 2011.

Karnes, Amber. "Anatomy of a Trending Topic: How Twitter & the Crafting Community Put the Smackdown on Urban Outfitters | My Aim Is True." My Aim Is True | The Joy of DIY | Handmade Crafts, Cooking, Recipes, Gardening, Interior Design. 26 May 2011. Web. 5 June 2011.

Picard, AndrÉ. "The History of Twitter, 140 Characters at a Time - The Globe and Mail." Home - The Globe and Mail. 20 Mar. 2011. Web. 1 June 2011.

"Twitter." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation Incorporated, 1 Nov. 2009. Web. 8 June. 2011.

Van Grove, Jennifer. "How Twitter Users Changed in 2010 [CHARTS]." Social Media News and Web Tips: The Social Media Guide. 16 Dec. 2010. Web. 5 June 2011.

Rubinstein, Laura. "Social Networking and Tweet-Ups." Personal interview. 26 May 2011.

Sandoval, Ricardo, and Victoria Kohlhorst. "NBC Tweet-Ups." Personal interview. 27 May 2011

Smith, Mari. The Relationship Age: the World's Leading Experts Teach You Proven Strategies for Creating Profitable Relationships in the World of Social Media. Winter Park, FL: Celebrity, 2010. Print.

Snowden, Carey. "What Is A Tweetup?" Social Hat | Social Media Business Strategy Made Simple. 17

Dec. 2008. Web. 10 June 2011.

Turning Tables

2011-06-04T21:46:00.000-07:00

It's June. I am finding it harder and harder to believe how insanely fast time flies. Six months ago, I made a vow to continue to update and keep up with this blog, but have found that making promises to myself really only lead to disappointment. At times like these, I set up a date with my ipod. Lately, I have made a point to put the play in my playlists and asked my younger sister to compile a mix for me. It is so funny how even the slightest change in sound can completely turn the tables. May was a whirlwind of happenings, opportunities, people, places, stress and success. From the ups to the downs, reflecting back on the experiences I have gained from just in the past few months have helped to illuminate my priorities and strengths.

They say that everyone dies, but not everyone lives and this is something I completely believe. More importantly and all the more challenging--learning and living while living to learn. While I have not realized, good music heavily influences my life. I'm turning up all the lights and making this my moment for life, so tune in for new musically inspired posts. On my radar right now: Britain's Adele. Although she just recently postponed her North American tour due to laryngitis, her vibrant voice has gained some serious international respect. At just 22, there is hope for talent among my generation. (I was beginning to worry!)

Here are some tunes that I have had on repeat. Thanks for getting me through the week.
A Slice of the Play-Pie:

1 Adele | Turning Tables

2 Ellie Goulding | Lights

3 The Bravery | Ours

4 Nicki Minaj | Moment for Life

5 Rihanna | All of the Lights

6 GaGa | Bloody Mary

A Step Into Summer Sale

2011-05-24T21:35:00.000-07:00

As the season slips into summer, I am always finding myself wanting to change with the weather. I have recently been on the hunt for signature pieces that will spruce up the pastels of my Spring color palette and transform them into poppy hues of sunny San Diego reflecting the approaching June and July. What better to help me in my scavenger hunt for the perfect accessories and designer duds? A super sale. Not just any kind, but one that is giving some serious discounts between Thursday and Monday for their exclusive Memorial Weekend Sale! Shopmoderne.com is a savvy yet sultry online boutique where you can shop by style or designer. Use the promo code: MEM35 to get your stuff on sale too! Just a few things on my must get list that I am going to score at 35% off:

♥ LOVE these tees from Wildfox Couture!

Happy Shopping :)

Pretty Poppy

2011-05-08T17:20:00.000-07:00

The California Poppy should very well be my favorite flower, especially after todays adventure celebrating Mother's Day on a hike. We began with a breakfast of bagels with salmon lox and a basket of strawberries and aside from the wind, our day-trip to the Antelope Valley California Poppy Preserve was well worth it. Although this season was said to be disappointing considering the number of California Poppy's that usually bloom during their April-May season is enough to color the entire fields in orange. I took a few shots of the few that made it through the winter and plan on returning again next year to *hopefully* see the rest!

You're In & You're Out

2011-05-04T16:59:00.000-07:00

My take on what's hot & not this May.

:so in:

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
Hundreds of organizations and international groups have come together to support relief efforts after the massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan. It is not too late to help support a cause or give to those in need. Donating has become easier and you can start today by texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 contribution.

HOT NAILS

Since the debut of OPI Nail Shatter, this twist on nail design is cooler than you think. Good luck finding this Katy Perry inspired polish, this black attack nail trend is more than fine, fresh, fierce, but taking the high fashion look to the next level.

FOLK MUSIC

Classic and helping us all find our inner child. The 70’s have influenced our spring wardrobe and the tunes from Woodstock are on officially on our radar. Now that Mumford and Sons have snagged a grammy, this new age folk music is gaining some serious respect.

NANO BREWERIES

So you’ve heard of microbreweries: meet the even smaller, newer way to experience beer. The ‘nano’ is the next best thing in the craft brewing world and San Diego is home to quite a few. Serving up hand-crafted 50 gallon batches, Hess Brewery in Miramar is your stop for some local nano-goodness. We recommend the Intrepidus IPA to kick off this May the right way.

THE IPAD 2

Not only can you deck out your hardware in candy colored covers, this new piece of technology has two cameras for Face Time, HD video recording, dual-core A5 chip, 10 hours of battery life and all of that minus the 33% of the original Ipad. Yay Apple.

SHARING IS CARING

Welcome to the generation of sharing, from Zip cars to community work spaces and from blogs to social networks like Yelp, people are relying on others more than ever before. For your next vacation, think about traveling smarter by checking out a travel blog or hitting a hostel. You never know where you’ll end up or who you just might meet.

FOODIE TRUCKS

The best meal deal on wheels is cruising around San Diego and using veggie oil fuel. If you do not have a twitter already, here is the reason to get one: the @GreenTruck_SD is a eco-friendly food truck dishing out organic, vegan friendly options.

:so out:

TEEN MOMS

Okay, so we get that you are young, but frankly enough is enough of watching these teenage wannabes broadcast their baby-oops momma drama all over MTV. Since when has the “M” stood for Maternity?

TMI VLOGGING

Youtube might just have to start warning users to use at their own risk. Video blogging has become an internet sensation, but also stands as a double edge sword. One UCLA blonde learned the hard way after her rant on Asians in the library. In less than 1 week, her video racked up over a million views. Lesson learned: vlog responsibly.

OSAMA/OBAMA
Fox News is not the hugest Obama Administration fan, but goofing on National TV is taking it a little too far. Whether it was the intern that misspelled the President's name or a coy to cause yet another controversy: definitely NOT something that makes us proud to be an American.

ROYALLY OBSESSED
We get that Price William and Catherine Middleton had the wedding of the year, but some folks have gone a little too far in obsessing over this celeb couple. From t-shirts to nail decals and even a toilet seat, let’s congratulate these newlyweds by not going over the top.

Catch some of these featured in THE GAUGE of the 944 May Travel Issue, available online and in print.

May Day

2011-05-01T22:59:00.000-07:00

I can definitely say I have had my fair share of authentic Mexican experiences. I have lived in Mexico, worked at a family-owned Mexican restaurant and can comprehend a fairly decent amount of Spanish. But honestly, the last Cinco de Mayo that I can truly remember was bombarded with having to work until midnight on a school day during junior year of high school; servin' up todos los borrachos at Don Cuco's Mexican Eatery.

This year, I am setting things up a little differently. I am going to plan on checking out a Cinco de Mayo party that is said to be the best one yet! El Dorado, the craft cocktail lounge located on 1030 Broadway in downtown San Diego, transforms itself into one of the most authentic Drinko de Mayo parties around and I definitely looking forward to getting my fiesta fix. My friend Tabby of DiscoverSD gives the inside scoop at some of the party details:

This Thursday, May 5^th, El Saul Q Contra Los Marcianos will be hosted by E.Limon of Elzonkeyshow.com and special guest CHUCUCHU the Cumbia Masher. Azucar, a cumbia band consisting of Luis (guitar) and Jorge Medina (percussion), Omar Ramos (bass), Pablo Stanley (keyboard and vocals), Georgina Trevino (backup vocals), Brian Cortez and Luis Moreno (both on drums/percussion), will be reuniting for the event playing their own original songs and some classics from past decades adding their flavor. Describing themselves as a mix of hip-cumbia, electronic, and quebradita the band plays to their own unique beat.

Still don’t know what to expect?...when questioned: Saul Q replied, “Expect a real Mexican party by Mexicans and one white guy, Turbo”. Don’t contemplate any further and RSVP for the party here for no cover before 10pm, $5 thereafter.
________

Follow Tabby and her toxic tweets as DiscoverSD's event coordinator. Also be sure to check out @DiscoverSD for the latest and greatest in America's Finest City.

Art Meets Fashion

2011-04-30T21:21:00.000-07:00

Thursday April 28th was the Fashion Show launch of the Art Meets Fashion Exhibit series that kicked off at the San Diego International Airport. This collaboration is a fusion between two renowned networking organizations in San Diego: FOCUS & AMF. FOCUS, aka Fashion Opportunities Connect US is spearheaded by Felena Hansen, entrepreneur and marketeer and Art Meets Fashion (AMF) is led by Patricia Frisher. The two have been working together for past two years to create a showcase highlighting the talents of both groups titled "Opportunities to Inspire". For the project, each team is composed of a designer, artist, educator in competing to create a design for the runway as well as to be placed on display. It was truly an amazing to see each detailed piece make its way down the runway.

Easter Brunch

2011-04-27T14:37:00.000-07:00

Because I love breakfast and lunch equally the same, putting them together is my ultimate favorite. My Easter Sunday was spent at home with mimosas, strawberry cupcakes, a pastel pallet of eggs, Denver Potato pie, buttery croissants and a plate of strawberries & kiwis. But aside from all my favorites on the table, were my favorites sitting around the table. Being at home often always reminds me that my life is often fixated on the things that don't really matter, and that it's really important to stop and breathe every so often. Sunday was definitely a breath of fresh air. I absolutely loved being able to spend some time at home with my family and it was nice to have Bree's roommate join us as well.

These are the ones Sarah and I made: strawberry cups with cream cheese + real strawberry frosting & sprinkled in pastels. mmm. [Side note: I really like cupcakes, check out what's new at Cups La Jolla on a post I wrote for the DiscoverSD blog]

What's Easter without the eggs?

Our family Easter tradition is putting on an egg hunt for our dog, Lizzie. By hiding scooby snacks in plastic eggs all over the backyard, she sniffs her way and always finds them all.

♥

944::The Music Issue

2011-04-12T21:02:00.000-07:00

I definitely have a soft spot for music. Up until a college, being a musician was a part of my identity. My childhood was spent in song and behind the microphone: from the hours of private voice lessons, the talent shows, trying out for America's Most Talented Kid, the musicals, my six years in choir--and that is just to name a few. I appreciate musicians and especially those who are making a name for themselves.

Monday night San Diego's 944 Magazine hosted a launch party for this month's Music Issue at Analog. Lupe Fiasco is this month’s cover boy and he opens up to writer Ryan Cosby about his recent displeasure having to do with the recent tabloid news that his relationship with his record label has gone sour. You’ll also find highlights on San Diego bands to know if you don’t (check out: Family Wagon, Dirty Gold and The Burning of Rome) as well as snapshots of San Diego music lovers, top local music blogs and a look inside the indie dance scene.

It was fabulous being surrounded by the locals that are rocking the San Diego music scene. Here are a few shots from the night, take a look at the rest of the evening’s events here.

With live performance by Family Wagon.

PS. We Made This...

2011-04-04T02:19:00.000-07:00

Thread was such a success! Hundreds of locals sipped, snacked and shopped independent design and everyone I talked to was having a fabulous time. For the DIY Lounge, we started off with threaded bracelets. Take a peak at some of the awesome color combos!

Pictured: Kristen & Diane Thomas

A glimpse of the DJ booth, a snap shot of the blogger style off (please note the absolutely adorable teal jumper!) & of the Killer Styling booth

DIY NEON Straw Earrings

A special thanks to all of the lovely ladies of Thread Show + Elle Communications for inviting me to host the DIY Lounge and inspiring me to get even more crafty! Also, thank you to everyone who stopped by the lounge! For more DIY tips, ideas and how-to's, check out PS. I made this, with a claim to re imagine, reuse & reinvent fashion.

DIY @ THREAD This Sunday

2011-04-02T16:59:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow the THREAD Show is kicking off its first showcase of the season in San Diego! Not only will there be dozens of local designers, artists and fashionistas, but Thread is back and bringing in 2011 even better now that they have added a blogger style off, man cave, and a do-it-yourself lounge. This Sunday, I am excited to announce that I will be instructing the DIY Lounge where shoppers will get the opportunity to create a unique piece of their own! Stay tuned for some re-cap photos as I will be blogging from Horton Plaza tomorrow.

Get your fashion and shopping fix all in one place and support the creative folks who are transforming indie design as we know it. So stop in, shop, drink and get THREADed this Sunday!

Cannibal Flower | Los Angeles

2011-03-27T12:26:00.000-07:00

Cannibal Flower is a collective that produces shows every two months in Los Angeles that allows local artists to display their finest masterpieces. Complimented by local musicians as well as the creative minds and art fanatics residing in the greater Los Angeles area, the weather was not enough to rain on this parade! I brought two of my good friends from Santa Clarita to check out the show and also my San Diego pal Monty Montgomery had his work on display.

Today's Treasures

2011-03-16T21:38:00.000-07:00

A SNEAK PEEK:

Thanks Sherry Lou for showing me some awesome San Diego hot spots including Whatever in La Mesa and the Lemon Grove Am Vets (that is where I picked up the baby blue pumps!)

I highly recommend Whatever, a cute & quaint store where you can find adorable new and even used finds! I bought a vintage 80's black & white dress, and two other steals for under $30. Now, that is a deal! Am Vets on the other hand was great, aside from the fact that there were a few items that were definitely over priced...and for AM Vets? But I did pick up the blue pumps for a super sweet deal of $6, cannot really beat that! After our thrifty afternoon, Sherry's mom made the most delicious burgers for dinner that had mushrooms, ahhhmazing! Expect a blog post about my attempt at recreating mushroom burgers of my own :)

Kelli Murray | Proxart Web Feature

2011-03-16T21:00:00.000-07:00

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In preparation for Proxart Magazine's 5th issue release (awesome job!), they decided to highlight some of the articles from Winter 2010, including the one I wrote about the awesome Mrs. Kelli Murray! Take a peak at my article about this San Diego designer and artist with a one-of-a-kind style inspired by her femininity and influenced by the softer side of nature and beauty. The feature is up on the Proxart website this week! You'll also find the some awesome shots taken by my friend Kyle Ong. You can also see my article on my Q&A with founder Jason Peskin and PR director Brianne Bear of Project ETHOS.

If you're a bird, I'm a bird

2011-03-13T20:01:00.000-07:00

This weekend has been fabulous. Saturday began with a hot pink manicure then transitioned into an afternoon of March Madness at Balboa Park with my sister Bree.

So many pooches and everyone was decked out in St. Paddy's green, I already have my green outfit picked out for the 17th.

Then it was off to Project Ethos in Los Angeles at the Avalon. I brought along my friend Brett and we definitely had a great time and enjoyed the fashion, music and art. Sunday I woke up in Los Angeles to sunny skies and 70 degrees of perfection, so it was off to The Grove for breakfast and Melrose for some vintage shopping. I picked up some awesome jewelry, take a peak at my bird rings!

"If you're a bird, I'm a bird"

Indie Scene

2011-03-12T09:03:00.000-08:00

“Indie": a term loosely tossed around and often presented in front of nouns like music, art and fashion, is short for “independent” which is a state of being that we all know is quite challenging to achieve. When you're independent, are you really on your own? I have discovered that there is a movement to support the folks who are supporting themselves. Independent musicians, artists and designers utilize local media outlets, tradeshows, and events in order to secure commissioned projects in raising awareness and (if lucky) a paycheck. Being your own boss, publicist, marketer and curator is no easy task even for a team of professionals. The one-man-show mentality of the Indie scene is not only impressive but down right admirable.

This week, I had the opportunity to meet and chat with some fabulous folks who are taking the Indie Scene by storm.

Monday I interviewed Jason Peskin and Brianne Bear of Project Ethos, a multi-city production showcasing the latest in music, art and fashion on an independent level. The passion behind this project began with a vision for something innovative, a way for locals to connect with other creative like-minds. What started out as a small-scale bi-annual LA event, has snowballed into a movement visiting big cities like San Diego, Las Vegas and Chicago. For the full article on Project Ethos written for SDIndieFashion.com, an awesome blog about the latest in the San Diego indie sphere--take a peak here! Looking for Saturday night plans? Project Ethos will be in it's hometown for LA Fashion Week!

Wednesday I spent the afternoon feeling inspired by Sherry Lou, a friend of mine who also happens to be influencing the blog-o-sphere with her weekly fashion updates where you'll find all of her latest designs! Her blog, THREADED is a collaboration of San Diego inspired trends, tips and tricks that are definitely worth reading. Also, check out her fabulous handmade designs on Etsy, her latest stuff can be found on America's Next Top Model Naduah.

Thursday night I spent the evening with fabulous company at NBC San Diego's Authentically Local Fashion, Music and Art show featuring Art Kills Artists and co-sponsored by THREAD Show featuring local designers. The usual THREAD Show is a one day retail environment, bringing new fashion and art to trend hipsters alike. Art Kills Artists is an online collective that friend of mine + independent artist, Monty Montgomery, told me about. AKA allows real artists (the 'starving' type) and art lovers to connect online, purchase original art and create a community of publicity and awareness.

The Art Meets Fashion mission is to initiate collaborations between established fashion designers and visual artists of excellence, to showcase the creativity in San Diego, and to encourage local teens to be involved in the Arts. A good friend and colleague, Erinn Ryan of Killer Styling, who volunteer edits the Art Meets Fashion blog recently posted my Project Ethos article.

Spicy Salsa

2011-03-10T14:30:00.000-08:00

Seriously, so simple!

Spending time at the Farmer's Market has really helped to re encourage my love for cooking, but more importantly my love for making salsa from scratch with juicy tomatoes, fresh cilantro and red onion. I learned a thing or two while I spent some time living and studying in Mexico during college. Whenever I make this recipe, I always find that it disappears in almost the same amount of time takes to make!

Prep time: 10 minutes

What you'll need:

1 mixing bowl

2 large tomatoes

1 red onion

fresh cilantro

1 lemon

chipotle peppers*

SPICES:

ground cumin

salt

pepper

cayenne pepper*

Start off by cubing the tomatoes and add to mixing bowl. Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice in mixing bowl with tomatoes. Chop up cilantro (no more than 1/4 cup) and cut the onion into slices and then again into small cubed pieces. (I usually use 2-3 slices of red onion about 1/2 an inch thick, not too much but just enough!) Add cilantro and onion to mixing bowl. Mix together and add salt, pepper, ground cumin (~1tsp) and cayenne pepper for extra spicy.

I like to add in chipotle chilies. Which are dried, smoked jalapenos canned in a spicy tomato sauce, which is sometimes called adobo sauce. They are available in your grocery store in the Latin section and so incredibly delicious!

After you've mixed all the ingredients, you can enjoy immediately or put in the fridge for a chilled snack later! Serve & eat with chips, but also delicious with eggs, chicken and even with pork.

Enjoy!

White Alright

2011-03-04T11:00:00.000-08:00

You can never go wrong with white. Although I am a huge fan of color, the absence of it is just so much easier sometimes. Who even says you need color to stand out? My default is going with white, cream, ivory or something of the sort. Early this week, I took some time to re-organize my closet and color coordinate my entire wardrobe by color family. Neon and brights on one end, muted and soft tones on the other. I'd say it looks much better. much. Having all of my whites in one place is perfect.

Here are some awesomely adorable things in the wonderful color of white.

Delicate & Dainty

Jamie Lee | pagesixxx | in white Karen Walker Dress

Polar Bear

Emily of Cupcakes & Cashmere | in Zara Coat

Ivory Girl

Kelli Murray | blog | in Free People dress

Bright White

BLEACHBLACK BLOG | Kristin in Reincarnated Gap Stripe Button Up

Crystal Castles @ The House of Blues

2011-03-04T01:37:00.001-08:00

Musically minded and truly enjoying the magic spell. Maybe it's that I have been out of touch with how powerful good music truly is, but there is something about how I have been hearing music with whole new ears it seems. I saw Crystal Castles at the House of Blues last night courtesy of my friend Nycole. It was definitely a full house all the while the crowd completely entranced by the futuristic light show reacting effortlessly in sync with the techno beats and sounds. I took some photos while I was there, but they really do not do justice for how incredible and captivating Crystal Castles really were.

3 Eventful Things

2011-02-26T22:11:00.000-08:00

I've been busy lately, but I would like to think of that as a good thing.

FIRST|Poetry Slam

What I've grown to love about San Diego is that there is a massive appreciation for the creative scene and tremendous amount of local support for amateur writers, musician and artists. La Paloma Theatre in Encinitas is a perfect example of where North County poets can step on stage for the Annual Poetry Slam and compete in a series of rounds for a cash prize. The coolest thing: this local find is free (but you'll definitely find yourself donating a buck or two in the end because all the money goes to poet with the most points!) I was throughly impressed with all of the work!

More photos @ justbails.tumblr.com

SECOND|V Day

On February 19th, I attended UCSD's 2011 production of the Vagina Monologues, which I was a part of last year. Being my third time experiencing the show it was still as if I was watching it for the first time. This years cast was absolutely amazing and I really enjoyed their energy and could not help but be proud that I had been apart of such a phenomenal program with such a powerful mission.

THIRD|Project Ethos

Where can you find local designers, up and coming musicians and artists all under one roof, in one night? Project Ethos is redefining how cities like Los Angeles, San Diego, Scottsdale, Chicago and Miami are experiencing emerging innovators in fashion, art and music. 944 Magazine and DiscoverSD agree that this is more than just a showcase, but a contemporary cultural movement and one you definitely should not miss out on. Being my second time going, it was quite different from last year but in a good way. The location (this year it was at SD's Night Club + Lounge FLUXX) was great and I was able to chat with some talented folks that are making artistic moves!

Art by Bret Barret

LA based rapper Mann in the building!

Thrifty

2011-02-24T22:00:00.000-08:00

It's so true that you really will find the most unexpected treasures in the most unexpected places. Case in point: I always seem to find the best vintage and thrifty finds at the Salvation Army conveniently located just a few blocks from my parents house. Today was one of those really-awesome-everything-is-going-swell days and so I decided a trip to one of my favorite SA was in order. I was also inspired by Chelsea Lane's fashion blog [zipped] post on how to thrift, which offers some awesome insider tips from a real expert!

Here are a few things Bo and I found that I would agree are perfect for the chilly weather that San Diego and Los Angeles have been experiencing lately. I totally had chunky knits on the radar!

Cut-off sheer in dusty green!

Creme, Cranberry & Olive

A Walk in Balboa Park

2011-02-22T21:01:00.000-08:00

The whole family was in San Diego for president's day weekend and we took a day trip to Balboa Park to enjoy the rain-free San Diego weather. We stopped by the Spanish Village Art Center and checked out the open galleries. We picnic-ed with Dudley's famous rosemary & olive oil rolls, delicious!

Red Hot

2011-02-14T14:04:00.000-08:00

I spent the entire weekend indulging in all things sugary sweet and chocked full of goodness and I'd say it was well worth the tooth ache. Valentine's Day is right around the corner so my green thinking soon turned red when I saw red ripe strawberries at the store on Friday, and of course they were ever so strategically placed right next to the microwave melt-able chocolate perfect for dipping. Well, I put two together and you know what I ended up with? A whole lot of deliciousness!

A...MMM...AZING to say the least!

A few other super adorable ideas that are absolutely delicious and inspired by all the love in the air.

Now Every February, You'll be my Valentine

Violet Heart

Online @ LOOKBOOK | Light Pink & Black Hearts

I feel you in my Bones

AMYLYNNBUTTCHIN

Online @ Etsy | Red Skull Bow $12

Little Miss Vintage

Vintage SideShow

Online @ Etsy & 25% off right now!

Felt Madness

Felty Foxy Female, Joan from Mad Men

Online @ Renegade $16

Looks like I'm RED-Y for the rest of February!

Puppy Love

2011-02-13T18:23:00.000-08:00

How easy it is to be a dog? Well it's a life I'd love to live if I was this cute.

Lucy

Maggie & Baby

Puppy Prints in the sand.

Sarah, Tiffany and I took a trip the Ocean Beach Dog Beach and what a wonderful afternoon in the sun it was. Of course her pups were the most popular furry friends on the sand, seriously I wanted to take them home with me (and so did everyone else!)

Going Green

2011-02-08T23:16:00.000-08:00

I have realized, now that I have been living in San Diego for a almost three years, there is just something about the 70 degree February days that make me want to go outside and stay there. I've found myself fully enjoying the warmer weather and on to enjoy the greener side of things. So, I'm already obsessed with anything I can find in the color mint, but I have started giving all other shades of green the benefit of the doubt. Here are just a few ways I've been going green.

Cuckoo-for-this-color

No, but seriously I AM! Not only does it look good with beige, black and brown--but just about any other color you would not expect. I think my favorite is pairing it with anything orange!

E-Feature

Art by: Monty Montgomery

Paper-less publishing! Thanks to my good friends at Proxart, my interview with San Diego artist, Monty Montgomery, was featured on their website. Check it out!

Hillcrest Farmer's Market

Sunday Strollin' to the Farmer's Market

My favorite San Diego Farmer's Market (so far) is the one in Hillcrest! Located conveniently a few blocks from my sister's apartment, on Normal and Lincoln, is where you'll find this SD gem! A few weeks ago I bought some bell peppers and my sister picked up some awesome re-purposed jewelry. This week, I picked up an eggplant and boy, was that the most delicious eggplant! Sarah and I ate half of it earlier today!

I will be sure to post the what Sarah and I did, I have been meaning to post a new recipe!

Circuit Bird

Circuit Bird // sparkover on Etsy

I made a pair of earrings for my sister's birthday a few weeks back out of scrapped circuit boards, but did not get a chance to take a photo of them. I found a user on Etsy who got even more creative with old, recycled and vintage circuit boards. How cool is this?

Garage Pop & What Not

2011-01-27T18:14:00.000-08:00

Monty Montgomery // High Octane

It's always sunny in San Diego and yesterday was no exception. Especially when you find yourself on the eighth story over looking the downtown skyline at 2 in the afternoon. This is where I met up with San Diego artist Monty Montgomery at his Studio in East Village, to chat about his work as an artist and graphic designer. I met Monty while he was showcasing his art and painting live at the Thread Show this past November. I had assumed he would have been a San Diego native, maybe an inner-city hipster because of the bright colors, energy and cartoon feel of his work, but I've learned that this small-town Virginian is a San Diego transplant and was raised in woodsy Louisa: population 12,000.

I wanted to start with the beginning, so I asked him to begin with his life as a kid in the country. I find out that Monty spent much of his childhood in the woods, building forts with his brother and drawing at the kitchen table. "My mom recently told me that she always knew I was going to be doing what I'm doing right now since I was two years old, being an artist". But even though he was raised in the country-side, the meaning behind the colors and shapes of his work are very reflective of Montgomery's childhood. He shares with me that the bright stars that appear in a few of his pieces are the memories he had with his grandfather learning about the constellations as they would watch the night sky. What else inspires Monty's work--numbers, traveling, and "Even the lady in line at the grocery store can be the reason [behind inspiration]". When it comes to a starting a new piece, Montgomery carries around a mole skin to jot down ideas and even sketch something while he is away from his art desk at home.

Sneak Peak of some of the photos I took of Monty's Art Space!

His work was proclaimed by a fellow artist and friend of his as "Garage Pop"--edgy, energetic and all the while clean, modern and bold. As for advice for other artists, Montgomery insists that opening your eyes and taking the time to listen to others is what has helped him to discover the most about himself and his work. This is advice I would not normally expect, but after thinking about it, I can totally relate to life being about listening. Tuning into the world around you and learning to coexist and understand that we really are in constant transition and will forever be moving from one stage of ourselves to another.

The full article will be debuting soon on the Proxart website!

For more on Monty Montgomery, visit his website and online gallery here.

The Magic of Blogging

2011-01-27T14:30:00.000-08:00

What I love about fashion in the 21st century is that trends and style are mediated and discovered through social networks and communicated through online websites more than ever before. What I can especially appreciate is the convenience of receiving daily email updates from my favorite fashy sites like Refinery29 and LookBook that allow me to discover the risks others who enjoy the art of fashion are willing to take.

What I also love about fashion, social networking and the internet is the manifestation of the new-age "Trade Show". Today's trade show is much more innovative because thanks to online social networking, more of these designers and fashion-lovers are connecting in the virtual space and transforming the way we see, interact with and discover what we like and what know about fashion.

This past Fall I got the opportunity to work for Thread, a multi-city indie fashion, design and shopping event that showcases local designers and artists. For just 5 bucks, the ultimate shopping experience awaits you (did I mention there is also a complimentary style and make-up lounge and Thread has sponsors like Smirnoff and Popchips?!...which means free vodka samples!)

During the month of December, I also took a trip up to Los Angeles with a good friend of mine and checked out the Renegade Craft Fair and Unique LA. Both shows were quite different from one another, but every vendor that I talked with had nothing but positive feedback on their sales as well as how easy it was to participate in the show. Almost all of the clothing designers also had Etsy sites as well or some sort of "online shop". These Trade Shows truly allow guests to experience fashion much different than your typical day at the mall because who needs generic when you can buy something hand-made or one-of-a-kind?

But perhaps the mother of all Trade Shows is WWDMAGIC, or better yet: the best 3 days in Vegas that I definitely want to spend! Taking place February 13-16th, WWDMAGIC, presented by the MAGIC Marketplace and in collaboration with Women’s Wear Daily brings together the best assortment of apparel and accessories brands from established to new, progressive to contemporary and everything in between. With over 1300 vendors, how could I miss it?

FashionablyMarketing.Me, has recently set out to give away a chance to attend WWDMAGIC and is looking for bloggers to join as supporting correspondents. For a chance to enter, I had to answer the following questions about myself and my blog:

Q: How did you start your blog? What was the creative inspiration behind putting yourself out to the world?

A: My blog began as a way for me to write about my two favorites--food and fashion, but has manifested into much more than that. While I was an undergraduate in college, I studied and researched the development of online communities and the technological communication shift due to social networking and media. My blog is now a way for me to document bits and pieces of my life in a virtual medium and still remains to be representative of my life at its current state.

Q: From where you began to where you are now as an independent writer, what are three valuable things you’ve learned about your craft?

A: 1. Own what you say: Don't be afraid of the internet, but also be true to yourself. Although the content of my blog has transitioned, the purpose is still the same. I am the person I write for.

2. Pictures are worth a thousand words: Sometimes I opt to post photos rather than choose to write. I enjoy sites with pictures on them and I wanted my blog to be more than just words and thoughts, but also be aesthetically pleasing! Writing & blogging even compelled me to invest in a new camera, one that takes much better pictures and even panoramas!

2. Bloggers love other bloggers: I cannot emphasis this enough! When I first started, I assumed that blogging was something that was done exclusively online, but as soon as I started talking to people about PopRocks&Peacoats, I have been able to connect with and write about some of the coolest people, places and things!
Q: What is your personal style?

A: Thrifty and eclectic. I'm always finding myself rummaging through my moms old clothes and choosing to hit up Buffalo Exchange and Goodwill for vintage and unique finds. I also love to mix and match clothing and styles from different decades. I find influence in just about everything, but my style is very reflective of my life at that moment in time. Some days its sequins and sparkles and other days its slacks and solids.

Q: What brands are you head over heels in love with?

A: 1. Betsey Johnson

2. BB Dakota

3. Sherry Lou

Q: What are three of your favorite websites?

A: 1. Post Secret--I'm still on the look out for my postcard to show up!

2. LookBook--What better way to be inspired than by those around me?

3. Proxart--The up and coming art and culture organization with a mission to spread the word and work of those living in the suburbs. Also run by some pretty awesome folks I went to high school with :) They also have a rad magazine, blog and brand new talk show!

Q: Who are three people you love to follow on twitter?

A: Religiously--Katy Perry, Sara Daost, and Michelle Guerin

Q:What do you hope to gain from attending WWDMAGIC?

A: An opportunity to meet with other fashion lovers, trend-setters, social medialites and bloggers from all over. Also a chance to experience and discover fashion like never before. I can't wait!