Everyone on your Christmas list for $150. Really!

I recently purchased my copy of InStyle’s December/holiday issue. Aside from the fact that I was extremely disappointed in the way they styled Carrie Underwood’s hair (I seriously didn’t know it was possible to make her look anything less than perfect until their very sad cover shot proved otherwise…), the issue was fantastic. And when I saw that they had included a special gift guide section that promised to hit “every price point,” I was even more thrilled. I hurriedly flipped to the section, since as a typical college student I’ve been too preoccupied with finals to make the preparatory shopping lists needed to guide my holiday expenditures. InStyle made things easy in the article, separating gift ideas by the personality type of the recipient. I quickly flipped to the ‘fashionista’ section with the hopes of getting some good ideas for what to give my (very) stylish mother.

Unfortunately, InStyle seems to have no idea of what a realistic gift budget for a Christmasing college student really looks like. A $625 Alexander Wang cotton-polyamide crewneck sweater? A $350 calfskin Philip Lim wristlet? Oh, and at the lower end of things, a $140 Tom Ford gift set that consists of one bottle of nail polish, one lipstick, and pressed perfume powder. Excuse me?

That dinky little nail polish set would nearly empty my entire bank account. So I decided to tackle the impossible and budget a Christmas shopping guide that covers everyone on my list for a grand total of $150. Think it’s impossible? It’s not. Read below to get some ideas on how to construct a similar budget for yourself!

For Dad: Though he probably wouldn’t admit this to you, my dad is a huge fan of one particular male “beauty” product—Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Re-energizing Wash. From time to time, I see his eyes wander toward the Kiehl’s counter when my mom and I drag him along on a shopping expedition to Neiman’s. Lucky for him (and me!), Kiehl’s is promoting a special men’s skincare set for only $29.50. So this year, I’m getting him the gift that he wishes he could buy himself, but doesn’t actually get to avoid looking too metro: Kiehl’s Men’s Refueling Set, available for purchase at NeimanMarcus.com (with free shipping)!

For Mom: For my fashion loving, coffee addicted mother, I will be purchasing a two-part gift. A pound of holiday blend coffee from her favorite coffee shop, Café Brazil, and InStyle’s recent publication The New Secrets of Style. Made from a blend of cinnamon, caramel, French vanilla and hazelnut, the coffee will pack a lot of Holiday punch for just $12.99. And at just $19.77 on Amazon, InStyle’s book will be the perfect complement to a hot mug of freshly brewed grounds.

Order Café Brazil’s holiday blend for your favorite caffeine addict at: http://www.cafebrazilonline.com/p-11-holiday-blend.aspx

InStyle’s book is available at Barnes & Noble, InStyle’s website, and Amazon.com. Have it shipped straight to you from: http://www.amazon.com/Instyle-New-Secrets-Style-Complete/dp/1603200827

For Boyfriend: I feel like every magazine I’ve opened lately has promised me that boyfriends—and most other humans, for that matter—enjoy “experiences” more than gifts. So I decided that this year, I would finally listen to the experts and give my #1 guy something a little more creative than the usual JCrew apparel I snag for him with my employee discount. Here are my top three options for my outdoors loving, musical instrument playing boyfriend:

Option 1: Archery lesson at Conejo Valley Archers. He thinks bows and arrows are cool, so why not send him to a range to get some practice? The site is a training ground for the Junior Olympic Archery program, but members of the public can get in for—get this—$5.00. He doesn’t need to know the cost!

Option 2: Self Defense shooting at the LAX Firing Range. Guys are into stuff like guns, protecting themselves, and pretending to be private detectives/cops on the hunt for predators. This gift will let him use his imagination and play cop-and-robber with a bunch of other testosterone-crazed males.  He can play with high-end handguns, rifles, and shotguns for only $20.00.

Option 3: Classical guitar lesson. Probably the safest bet. He loves music, and this sounds like it would give him an amazing opportunity to learn from a pro. Plus, I’m sure to benefit from all the classical guitar infused love songs he’s sure to write for me after I present him with this gift. Private lessons generally run about $40 an hour.

For best friends, friends, professors, and everyone else: Don’t kid yourself; your best friend isn’t getting you a new Louis Vuitton either this Christmas. She’s a broke college student like you! So keep the gift exchange easy by handing her a thoughtful, homemade gift that’s got a lot of heart with a small price tag. For all of the above-mentioned names on your Christmas list, make homemade treats and pack them in a cute tin (you can usually purchase Christmas tins from craft stores like Michael’s or Hobby Lobby, and maybe even from CVS). Consider packing your goodie-filled tin with one (or all!) of the shockingly simple holiday recipes below. Your friends will never believe they’re homemade.

1. Oreo truffles: combine a package of smashed Oreos with Neufchatel cream cheese (I prefer to use mint Oreos for holiday truffles). Roll the mixture into a ball about the size of a walnut and let harden in freezer for 10 minutes—one package of Oreos should let you make up to 30 truffles. While the truffles are shaping up in the freezer, heat Baker’s white chocolate over the stove. Take truffles out of the freezer and dip individually into the melted chocolate, replacing covered truffle on a cookie sheet with wax paper to set. Refrigerate on tray for 30 minutes. Drizzle in melted dark chocolate to add some pizzazz, and add crushed peppermint as a garnish if desired.

2. Toffee bark: my friend Kate got me addicted to this recipe last Christmas. This version comes from an About.com posting:

Ingredients:

• 1/2 pound (two sticks) butter


• 1/4 cup brown sugar


• 1/4 cup granulated white sugar


• 1/2 box (about) graham crackers (not crumbs)


• 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips


• 1 cup chopped macadamia nuts

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 10 x 15-inch jelly-roll pan with non-stick foil. Arrange whole graham crackers (plain) to fit the bottom of the pan in a single layer, breaking up the last few to fit the space.

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add brown sugar and white sugar. Stir to combine. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat and let the mixture gently bubble for 4 minutes. Remove from heat.

Carefully pour sugar/butter mixture evenly over the graham cracker layer. Spread to cover. Bake for 10 minutes.

When done, remove from oven and let rest until bubbling subsides. Sprinkle chocolate chips evenly over the top. Wait about 2 minutes for chocolate to melt, then use a spatula to gently spread into an even layer on top of the toffee graham crackers. Sprinkle with the chopped macadamia nuts, pressing down gently into the chocolate.

Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate for 2 hours. Peel foil from chilled bark. Break into 2-inch irregular pieces.

3. Chocolate dipped jumbo stick pretzels: so easy, so cute. Dip one half of a jumbo pretzel into melted chocolate bark (white or milk chocolate will work). Decorate chocolate covered half with Christmas colored sprinkles, then stick into the refrigerator for about 20 minutes to let them set up.

Finish your goodie tin by including a Land O’ Lakes cappuccino classic mix – they’re only 60 cents a piece and can be purchased from any local grocery store. Tie a ribbon around the tin with a hole-punched picture of yourself and your giftee strung through it to personalize.

Feel free to go nuts and make as many of these goodie tins for friends and family as you want! The total cost of your ingredients should be no more than 30 dollars, and will ensure gift coverage for a large number of people.

Sibling or miscellaneous other: You’ve still got about $15.00 left in your $150.00 budget. For anyone that you don’t feel like you can cover with a goodie-tin, go with something simple, like a giftcard to their favorite store. Combine with a framed picture of the two of you and stuff all of the contents into a stocking from CVS for a cheery presentation.

Working Budget: $150.00

Total Expenditure: $147. 26

That leaves you smart spenders with $2.74 to spare—so buy yourself some nail polish and give yourself an at home mani-pedi. You deserve some primping after all that scrimping!

Happy shopping (and holidays)!

xoooxo

The December Issue

Dear Readers,

This is a special edition holiday fashion posting per the request of Tess Allen, who demanded that I share a few tips on just how exactly to deck the halls in the most stylish manner possible. I’ve compiled a few lists that I hope you all will find helpful…enjoy!

Do Buy! (The ‘Nice’ List)

*  Plaid: Always a classic. Dress up a basic button down with chunky costume jewelry—layer a mass of chains, pearls and rhinestones over a checked shirt and lumberjack is the last thing anyone will be thinking when you walk into the room.

*  Satin/Taffeta: A cute, playful holiday staple. Pair a flouncy skirt with tights and heels—it’s as much of a holiday classic as White Christmas.

*  Sparkles: But in moderation, please. Don’t let InStyle fool you; contrary to popular belief, a resurrection of Michael Jackson’s bedazzled blazer will not bring anyone holiday cheer. Go for a tank or a day-to-night sequined tee instead. For those who are afraid of looking like a disco ball, ease into the trend. Jcrew has a great collection of bejewled sweatshirts—they’re like training bras for sparkle.

*  Fur: Just don’t waste your money on the real thing. It’s definitely an on-point trend for the season and can add insta-glamour when paired with red lipstick, but don’t kid yourself; it’s a trend that’s holiday-specific and won’t last any longer than January, so there’s no need to break the bank on an expensive piece. Try a wrap or a vest in a solid color to start with—they tend to look more expensive. Forever 21 is carrying a few versions right now that should do the trick.

Don’t Buy! (The ‘Naughty’ List)

x    Tartan: Tempted? Just say no, and repeat: plaid is good, tartan is bad. If you must purchase something in this tired holiday print, make it wrapping paper. Exceptions: the Scotch-Irish, bag-pipers

x    Velvet: No. Unless it’s a Versace crushed velvet red-carpet gown, it will look tacky and cheap, plus start to smell really bad when you’ve spent too long roasting chestnuts over an open fire at a Christmas party. Finally, it won’t transition well into spring. There are other pieces more worthy of your wardrobe this season.

x    Neon: Nothing kills the soft glow of Christmas lights like the untimely re-emergence of a (polyester) material girl. It’s a misplaced color palette—stick to darker hues, unless you’re skiing late at night. Then, and only then, will highlighter yellow be appropriate.

x    Heels + Socks: The magazines want you to believe that this look is stylish, avant -garde, and original. It’s none of the above. You know that guy at the gym who always wears sweat socks with his Adidas flip-flops? Wear scrunched socks with your high heels and you’ll look exactly like him.

x    Knee Socks: Britney retired hers in the 90s. We should, too. “Oops, don’t do it again.”

Stocking Stuffers—for those who have been extra good this year

* Big rings

* Oversized knits

* Colored tights

* Heeled ankle booties

* Starbucks red cups (the gingerbread latte is a current favorite)

* Nails painted in rust, umber, or deep plum

Wishlist—items worth a long-term commitment

* Tall leather boots

* Day-to-night coat (look for interesting shapes, sturdy texture, and versatility)

* Classic belted trench

* Party dress

* Leather gloves (look for something sleek, not bulky ski resort-esque mittens)

THE BOTTOM LINE

This is the formula I always follow when getting ready for an event. It’s foolproof!

Step 1: Establish an “idea” of what you want to look like. Think key trigger words here, i.e. classy, elegant, hipster, trendy, vintage, glamorous, etc…

Step 2: Find an inspiration picture. In general, I always start with celebrities whose style is consistently on-point (aka Carrie Underwood, Lauren Conrad). Remember, they work with professional stylists every morning before walking out the door, so using their ensembles for inspiration is like having a one-on-one consultation with said stylist. Well, almost…

Step 3: Adapt your inspiration picture to fit your event. Sequined Versace mini-dress with Christian Louboutin heels too much for your boss’s Christmas party? Look in your wardrobe for pieces with similar textures and colors, and throw on a pair of sheer tights to tone down a red-carpet look into something more holiday party appropriate.

Here’s an example of the method I used when styling a recent test shoot for Currents Magazine. Thanks to model Kylie Potuznik for rocking the completed look so fabulously!

1. Look: holiday glamour

2. Inspiration: Molly Sims

3. The finished look, my way:

Final Thoughts

Remember, always try to incorporate things you already own! There’s no need to spend extravagant amounts of money on a wardrobe full of season-specific pieces that will say so long as soon as the bells chime on New Years.

And, most importantly—enjoy fashion, even if it means breaking a few of the “don’t” rules when you feel like it. “But I could never pull that off” should never leave your lips this season. Besides, you’ve been such a good girl all year long. You deserve to have a little fun.

Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and a successful Black Friday to you all!

xoxoox,

Karley

Fame + Fortune $$

**Edit: As promised, here is proof that yes…I have indeed “made it” in Hollywood. Thanks to pops, my #1/only fan for the screen shots!

- - -

I have recently come into a bit of celebrity. If you are interested in an autograph, feel free to approach me about it - if I’m feeling generous, I may say yes. Also, I’ve decided to start taking applications for a personal assistant. Because after my television debut on Monday, I’m sure that job offers will start blowing up my phone, and with all the red carpet appearances I’ll be making I feel that I’m going to need someone to pencil appointments onto my increasingly busy calendar.

Okay, real talk. I’m not a celebrity, but I definitely felt that I got the celebrity treatment this past Tuesday when I was an audience member at Rachael Ray’s “World’s Biggest Cooking Demonstration” (ever). Basically, a huge crew in LA beamed Rachael into the courtyard of Kodak Theater in Hollywood via satellite, where myself + 199 others cooked honey mustard chicken along with her New York studio audience and other participants all over the country. I ended up going to the filming with 3 of my sorority sisters, and it was an absolute blast. The event itself was amazing - aside from the fact that I had to meet up with the girls at 5:45 in order to get us from Malibu to Hollywood (with a brief pit stop at Starbucks) by our 7 am check-in time.

Honestly, I think all of our expectations for the filming were pretty low. But then again, maybe that’s what made everything seem so fabulous by comparison. 200 individual cooking stations were set up with all of the ingredients we needed to follow Rachael’s recipe. They filmed tons of shots of us clapping and going wild at our cooking stations (“more enthusiasm! make Rachael proud!”). The camera man did a few close-up shots of us, where of course we laughed with way more enthusiasm than anyone should naturally have for browning chicken.

The best part of the event, though, undoubtedly came at the end. Because you know how they say that “good things come to those who wait” and “blessed are the patient” and all that jazz? (okay, maybe that last one was a loose interpretation) - well, they aren’t lying. Because despite our low expectations for the event, we followed through and we showed up, and we had a BLAST - and to top the whole day off, we got free $150 dollar gift cards to Target…plus free parking validation.

Seriously, does it get any better than that? I think not. Pictures to come soon, so be looking for those and for the episode to air this Monday, November 15th on Rachael Ray’s talk show. But in the meantime, don’t forget: I’m always accepting rolling apps for that personal assistant position.

PS: here’s Rachael’s recipe for those of you who are into cooking. It was amazing! Definitely worth making if you’re trying to impress a boyfriend/boyfriend’s family. It’s easy and quick, but looks like it takes some serious effort.

Honey Mustard Chicken

Ingredients:

• 18 ounces chicken tenders, cut in half
• Salt and pepper
• 1 1/2 tablespoons EVOO, a couple of turns of the pan
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 carrots, peeled and thinly sliced on an angle
• 1 large parsnip, peeled and thinly sliced on an angle
• 1 large shallot, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons flour
• 1 3/4 cups chicken stock
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• About a 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
• About a 1/3 cup honey
• 2-3 tablespoons flat leaf parsley chopped, for garnish
• (have done and on serving plate) split corn muffin, cut side spread with a little butter then griddle until golden brown and toasted

Equipment:

• 4-quart dutch oven or deep skillet with a lid
• Large plastic cutting board (12” X 16”)
• Heat-proof tongs
• Large cooking spoon
• Large ladle
• Salad plate for chicken to rest on
• Oven mitt or towel
• Optional: Bench scrapers or food movers
• Plating: large shallow bowl or lipped dinner plate w muffin already toasted

Instructions:

Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat EVOO, a turn and a half of the pan, in a skillet with tight fitting lid over medium high heat. When oil is hot add chicken in single layer and cook to light golden in color, remove chicken to a plate and add butter to skillet and melt, add carrots, parsnips and shallots and season with salt and pepper. Cover pan and soften vegetables 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Uncover pan and sprinkle in flour, stir 1 minute or so, stir in stock and season with Worcestershire sauce, mustard and honey, add the chicken back to the skillet and thicken sauce to coat spoon. Serve with griddled buttered corn muffin toasted on griddle pan. Garnish with parsley.

As fast as you can

My favorite pair of running shoes are the ones I purchased this summer—the tread on my old ones had gotten run down, so when I found a shoe sale I pounced on a pair I deemed to be infinitely more exotic than my old breed. They’re gray Adidas with a pink mesh tongue and gray and pink laces. They’re edged in black on the bottom, and when I wear them, I’m not just going for run; I am a runner.

They aren’t the only pair of shoes I’ve been known to run in, though. I’ve run in 4-inch stilettos, in leather ballet flats, in boots and in zebra printed flip-flops. Because when you run from being uncomfortable, from anything that makes you afraid, from the unknown and from the future, you’ve always got to be ready to go, gym bag on hand or not. Those triggers can pop up anywhere—and they do.

But lately, I’ve been learning how to limit my running to the (figurative) track. Tracks have always seemed like a hamster wheel to me, and running one feels like you’re revolving around an unending ring of torture. When I first started running in high school, I could literally only make one full lap around the track near my home. But the longer I kept at it, the more I realized that running is only one part strength—the rest of it is endurance.

I had to start making the choice to keep going around that track. It’s about willpower, determination, about not letting yourself quit the second you start imagining a cramp. I used to run with music, until a running coach in college encouraged me not to. There’s enough noise in this world, she said. Listen to your body. So I did—and it scared me at first. The silence was sharp, and I hated being able to hear the sound of my own breathing. I would start off just fine, but by the end of the first mile I was running on high alert, afraid because my breath was coming in huffs that felt more like a rising panic attack than a healthy influx of oxygen.

After a month of running to the music of my own feet, though, I stopped begin afraid. I heard each breath, and even when I was struggling through a portion of my run, I stopped imagining that it would be my last. I stopped concentrating on the pain in my back, my knee, my ankle, my whatever, and instead learned to feel the wind, learn the rhythm of my own feet, hear the growing strength in my steps and know what it’s like to be comfortable without and sort of background distraction. It’s a painfully necessary thing, learning not to fear being alone with yourself.

And besides, running in stilettos just can’t be safe.

“Not that I have already obtained all of this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me…But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God as called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3: 12-14

Current status? Brainstorming ways to get invited to LA Fashion Week.

Just For Fun

Today is the first day I have actually felt like I have a life since getting back to Malibu in late August. That makes exactly one month of a life lived without any sense of ownership. It feels good to be back behind the wheel.

So what did I do on my first day “back” post sorority recruitment? I hung out with my sorority sisters. And despite the fact that we have been around each other literally 24/7 for the past month, we had a blast getting off campus and shopping around Santa Monica for the afternoon.

I don’t know what exactly it is, but something about Santa Monica just feels good. It’s colorful and alive - it’s a happier side of L.A. And really, is there anything better than perusing Third Street with a pumpkin spice latte in hand as the lingering hum of a street musician’s guitar serenades your walk from store to store? Even today’s breeziness felt good. Like a hint of fall, like a whisper of sweater-weather, like an invitation to start playing Christmas songs on iTunes.

Today’s top discoveries include…

Brandy Melville - amazingly chic store on Third. It’s like a taking a trip to the French Riviera, minus the fact that it’s more affordable and a Weezy soundtrack was playing on repeat the entire time I was shopping there. Look for stripes, one-size-fits-all baggy tops (perfect to pair with leggings), cheeky prints and Chanel inspired motifs.

White Clover - street musician. Incredible voice. Check out his music myspace at www.myspace.com/loversdreamers

Jodi Fuchs - artist based in Santa Monica. Stumbled upon her gallery as I was leaving La Grande Orange. Her work is seriously incredible. Bold color schemes, interesting patterns, mixed-media design…she’s pricey (at least for a college student), but her work is definitely worth checking out. Plus, she has cheaper prints available on etsy for the budget-conscious. www.jodifuchs.com

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This weekend I had the privilege of doing hair for the beautiful wedding of Mindi and Aaron Wood. Highlights from their Texas wedding include: the groom and groomsmen lining up on the chapel steps to “Nothin’ Fancy” by Dave Barnes, sliders and a mashed potato bar at the reception, a peacock inspired color scheme and a gorgeous cake composed of two different flavors; carrot and traditional white cake.

So happy I was able to be a part of such a fantasticly lovey-dovey weekend. Congrats, you two!

Pee on a Plane

Taking flights out of LAX is always so fascinating. Every time I step onto a plane in LA, I leave with the most interesting collection of Californians on board with me.

Today was no exception. Despite the fact that I’m currently as busy with Greek life as the gods on Mount Olympus, I took a flight back to Texas this afternoon to attend a rehearsal dinner and weekend wedding.

Almost immediately after I sat down at the gate, I identified my most interesting person of the day. She was petite, blonde, and skinny; she had designer shades perched on her head and a Louis Vuitton dangling casually from the crook of her arm; she was dressed head to toe in black, with the exception of the suede fringed boots she was sporting. Already she was shaping up to be a perfect embodiment of every stereotype associated with Malibu/LA.

But wait; there’s more.

Fringe boots was traveling with an entourage. Her “people” included: a towering boyfriend in a flat bill hat who I took to be a music producer or something equally as edgy, three kids under age seven (two of whom were twins), an Asian nanny and some sort of chauffeur/publicist/random professional in a suit.

Lets skip ahead a little ways. Fringe boots, boyfriend and 7-year-old are sitting behind me on the plane. The youngest ones are across the aisle, yelling across the plane angrily that Susie (Asian nanny) refused to let them watch a movie. I feel slightly embarrassed for Susie, but am not surprised because again; it’s so LA.

Here’s where Fringe surprised me. We were within minutes of landing in Albuquerque for our connecting flight when the kid behind me starts making uncomfortable noises. “I realllllly have to go to the bathroom,” he says at least three times in a shaky voice. Music producer ain’t havin’ it though. “I gotta go too man,” he says to the kid, “but you gotta’ hold it til we land. Five more minutes. You’re a big boy right?”

The kid is silent for about 10 seconds. “Yeah, I can hold it,” he says. And that’s when it happened. “Oh no,” I heard him say quietly. “Oh no.” He had peed his pants. Two minutes to landing and the kid had just peed right there on the seat. “What if they see, what if people see?” he asked again and again. His little voice was gripped by a child’s rendition of panic.

And you know what? Fringe handled the whole thing great. I kept waiting for her to call Susie over from across the aisle, or scold her son for embarrassing her/losing control/peeing on a public airplane seat. Instead, she said, “Get me a clean pair of socks.” She wiped that kid off, she cleaned the seat, she changed his clothes and told him nobody would know. In other words, she just took care of him.

“Nobody knows, nobody knows,” the kid repeated back, and it was clear that he had found comfort in her words. So thank you, LA mom, for cleaning up that pee the way you did. You could have shamed your son; it would have been so easy to hurt him or embarrass him while he was feeling vulnerable. But instead, you reinstated his sense of well-being and security. More than that, you gave him a love that wasn’t dependent on him coming to you spotless after being buffed and shined into childhood perfection at the hands of patient Susie.

Needless to say, I switched seats after the pee incident occurred. I was genuinely moved by the mother-son moment I witnessed, but I was more moved by the thought that pee could potentially be leaking down the aisle toward my carry-on. From my new seat, I watched as a flight attendant sprayed Lysol onto the seat after Fringe et al de-boarded.  I’m sure the spray down helped, but I couldn’t keep myself from cringing a little when a new passenger sat in the seat formerly known as pee seat. Let’s hope the saying is true: that what you don’t know can’t hurt you.

So, a toast in honor of Fringe. Here’s to changed perceptions and not judging books by their covers and all those other cliches that remain so poignantly true.

xxxooo

Jen Aniston and other important things

Before I begin on this blogging adventure, I suppose that a small introduction is necessary. I’m Karley, I’m a Texas girl living in sunny CA, and this is my first attempt at blogging.

I have secretly always thought of bloggers as glamorous. I’m sure, of course, that there are a few blogs nobody ever quite stumbles upon (no matter how poignant their entries may be). But for the Perez Hilton’s that rise above the masses to land a readership in the upper echelons of the blogging world, glitzy doors seem to fly open at the click of a mouse.

Edgy concerts and A-list club openings, chats about the debut du jour  of this or that up-and-coming fashion designer, wine tastings with the Kardashians and the respect of the chic-in-the-streets; this is the swag bag that the Perez’s of blog world seem to perpetually score.

Personally, I’ve started this blog because it’s actually part of the coursework for my Journalism 469 class at Pepperdine University. As of right now, I will be posting at random about things I like. This may or may not include entries on:

• fashion


• cooking


• hair/makeup


• painting


• writing


• events in Malibu and the LA area


• how-to’s


• desserts


• exercise


• music


• dance (especially hip-hop…I’m obsessed)


• people’s stories 

If I don’t post a follow-up blog tomorrow, assume it’s because my blog readership reached 1 million+ tonight and I’ve been invited to the premier of Jen Aniston’s latest movie, in which she plays a slightly varied version of the same role she’s been spinning on repeat since she left Friends.

Bad movies, great style.

xoxo