Monday, November 29, 2010



I found this great mugs for only $1 each at Michael's in Tacoma. I'm in love with them! And I can't believe they were only one dollar. You can't even buy a pack of gum for that! I stayed in my cozy bed all morning on Friday instead of getting up before dawn with the other Black Friday-ers, but I did end up going to do a little bit of shopping with my boyfriend and his parents later in the afternoon when the craziness had died down. Shopping is one of my favorite activities, but the thought of getting up while it's still dark + making my way through crowds of crazies outweighed my shopping urges this year. I am very glad I found these mugs though! Now the dilemna is: do I keep them, or give them away as gifts? I might have to go back and get more...

Giving Thanks






This year I am thankful for:
- (relative) financial security & loans that cover tuition
- a loving and supportive family
- my fun, lovable, crazy, playful puppy
- having two different homes in two different cities, both of which exude warmth and comfort. Many people don't even have a home that they love to come back to, and I am so, so greatful to have my own home and my parent's home to go to. I love both.
How lucky we are as a society! I hope we can better learn to be thankful all year.

Monday, November 22, 2010

these boots are made for sharing

twice-loved boots are the best kind of boots. That way, they are already broken in and ready to be all comfortable and worn-in in the perfect spots! These are on sale at The Mad Hatter in downtown Bellingham. I didn't buy any, but when I get home I will post an amazing thrifted find I got my hands on this weekend. I can't wait to style it!

snowed in







it's been a cozy weekend, but I want to be able to drive home tomorrow for Thanksgiving with my family!

Monday, November 15, 2010

this is my 100th blog post

A quote I stumbled upon today:
Coffee leads men to trifle away their time, scald their chops, and spend their money, all for a little base, black, thick, nasty, bitter, stinking nauseous puddle water.
-The Women's Petition Against Coffee, 1674

I would NOT have liked to be around these women in the morning (or any other time, most likely). Women's Petition Against Coffee?! unhuman.

Friday, November 12, 2010

words of wisdom (?)

Just a few words of advice, for you to take or ignore:
1. On days when it's hard enough just to get out of bed: remember that a pair of jeans are just as easy to pull on as a pair of sweats, and I guarantee you'll feel better throughout the day because you put those on instead.
2. Always, always say "thank you". Even, and especially, if the person has to do whatever they are doing for you because of their job. Always say thank you to strangers who do something nice, and definitely always say it to your family members and significant other. And don't just say it for the big, out-of-the-ordinary kind gestures. Say it after the small things. When I do something nice for someone I love, the absence or presence of a tiny "thank you" can make a big difference on how I feel after (not to mention how I feel about repeating the kind act..). Besides, what can it hurt?
3. Start listening to Christmas music as early as you want. Once the holiday Starbucks cups are out, music is fair game!

Thursday, November 11, 2010

stylish small children, pt 3

precious lil' guy in Madrid. Just imagine how chic his parents are!

Monday, November 8, 2010

hipsters need to sleep too!

Urban Outfitters is even trying to make a SNUGGIE trendy. Is this for real?

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Style in November

a few notable fashion moments of late:
Andrew Garfield, Carey Mulligan, & Keira Knightley at some premiere in Paris - when I saw this picture I fell in love with all 3 ensembles. I love the colors, and all three look effortlessly chic - which is a style I deperately strive for.

Jill Sanders' latest collection, my favorite two pieces. It's ironic that I'm always so drawn to color in collections, considering that my wardrobe is full of grays, blacks, and neutrals.
I DIE for this chanel leather coat. It mostly likely costs equal to half a year of my tuition..but a girl can dream!

Halloween Weekend

We had a house full of characters last weekend..













fun & exhausting weekend.

Carvin' Punkins

Us girls at The Palace had a pumpkin carving party the week before Halloween:
our graphic designer friends brought this, made out of rice krispie - so great!

our snacks: cookies, pumpkin muffins, homemade chocolate cake with peanut butter frusting, spicy thai peanut skewers, leg of zombie, chex mix, and various chips.

we had our adorable (isn't it?) crockpot going all night with hot cider in it, aka apple juice + honey + lemon juice + cinnamon sticks. Simmering together all night, it smelled heavenly.

one friend didn't bring a pumpkin to carve, so he spent his time collecting seeds out of the guts/roasting them! We had half with cinnamon & sugar, and half with garlic salt & evoo.

guts EVERYWHERE

Finished pumpkins! We had so much fun, even those who didn't carve. I'm considering this to be a new annual tradition!

Tofu Phad Thai

I made this yummy recipe a few weeks ago, after a very frustrating afternoon. I came home irritated and starving, and cooking this phad thai (and eating it, of course) was an amazing stress relief. By the time I had finished making it it and sat down with my roomate to eat it, I was laughing and forgetting about my awful afternoon. Hopefully it will down to the same for you! Not to mention, it is de-lic-ious.

Sauce:
peanut butter (chunky or creamy is fine, depending your taste)
juice from one lime
coconut milk
little bit of soy sauce
2 cloves garlic
crushed red pepper seasoning
couple tablespoons of diced onions
olive oil

One package of yakisoba noodles
one package of firm tofu
carrots, grated for garnish
bean sprouts

(alot of these things are approximate, because I didn't measure things when I made it + the amounts in the sauce depend on how peanuty/tangy/spicy you want it to be.)
To make the sauce: heat olive oil in a large sauce pan over medium-low heat. Add garlic, onions, and crushed red onion to the oil and let it simmer for a few minutes, to infuse the flavor. Next, add the peanut butter. When I made it, I ended up using about half of a small jar of creamy peanut butter, but that depends on your preferences. Stir constantly until melted, then add a little bit of soy sauce and about half of a can of coconut milk. When that is completely mixed, squeeze in the juice from one lime (I like things pretty lime-y, so you may want less). Stir constantly until completely mixed, then set aside.

To make the tofu, heat a small amount of olive oil with salt, pepper, and pressed garlic, to taste. Cut tofu into bite-size squares and fry in the olive oil until crispy on bottom and top.

Make the yakisoba noodles according to the package instructions - I made mine in the microwave and they worked just fine.

Put noodles on a plate, spoon sauce over the noodles, and add the tofu on top of the sauce. Garnish with a handful of bean sprouts and grated carrots, et voila! You have a mouth-watering, vegetarian-friendly, exotic dinner. Plus, the leftover sauce is great for dipping or spooning over chicken for a quick appetizer. Enjoy!