Tasseled

I was in the market for a new Iphone 5 case, and found this case/wallet combination.  It is so cute and practical, and I just love the tassel on the zipper.  I got it in black but thought the light pink was lovely as well.

Do you like my photography skills? :)

Since I have no physical office anywhere (just move from client to client), I carry my mobile office around in this tote everyday.  Given it's pretty heavy, I don't carry an additional purse to work.  In the past, that meant every time I went to lunch, etc., I had to carry around my phones (work and personal) and wallet in my hands. Although I'm proud of the balancing skills I've perfected (wallet on top of Starbucks cup in one hand, phones on top of takeout lunch container in other), my new wristlet has made life so much easier.  Yay!

Mars, steak & booties

Joshua Tree was so fun!  We played board games and drank wine by the firepit at night and hiked through the national park during the day.  It's definitely a landscape that is one of a kind, though I must say parts of it reminded me of the barren, desert-like landscape of West Texas.  If I ever made a movie set on Mars, I'd film it at Joshua Tree.

I would say one of the best things about being on a local study is going to dinner with the hubby during the week!  He had yesterday off for Veterans' Day, so we went out to Flemings for dinner.  It was one of my favorite nights in a while -- a good steak, yummy glass of wine, and handsome husband all to myself for a couple hours :)

My dinner outfit was sweater, gray jeans, and brown booties (wish I'd thought to take a photo!).  Booties are not part of my usual outfit repertoire, but I've been liking them more and more lately.  The only pair I own is a very old pair that's falling apart, so I'm contemplating a new purchase.  I just don't know if I should since I'm always unsure about how boots look on me.  Here are a few of the top contenders right now...

The fringe makes these fun
(click here)

From Old Navy!
(click here)

Simple and elegant
(click here)

Joshua Tree

Who else is excited that Friday's almost here?!  This weekend, hubby and I will be driving out to Joshua Tree National Park and staying in a rented house with a few other friends.  Although I'm not generally an outdoor enthusiast *massive understatement*, I'm looking forward to doing something different and new with a fun group of friends.

Prior to planning this trip, all I knew about Joshua Tree was that awesome U2 album.

This cassette tape was a staple in Mom's car growing up

Some fun facts:

• Joshua Tree national park includes 2 different desert ecosystems -- the Mojave desert (higher elevation) and the Colorado desert (lower elevation)
• Joshua Trees are found all over, both in forests but also as single specimens dotting the desert landscape
• Apparently it's got some of the most unique geological formations -- excited to hike out and take pics!
• It's only a 2 hour drive from Newport Beach, actually only a bit farther out that Palm Springs

I will let y'all know how it is and hopefully share photos when I get back!

A Joshua tree

Happy Halloween!

We are having a Halloween party at our place tomorrow, so tons of fun prep to do today!

A group of us are dressing up as Mario Kart characters.  Hubby will be Mario, but I decided to be a kart-less character, the cloud :)

I bought all my materials at Target last night, including:  white sheet, white balloons, black and white poster board, and fishing pole.  Wish me luck pulling it all together tonight!
By the way, if you can avoid it, do NOT go to Target today haha.  Last night was crazy busy with all the last minute halloween shoppers like me.






Our party will be a preparty before going out (no dinner), so I spent some time yesterday looking for inspiration for fun, spooky drinks and snacks.  Here's what I'm planning...

Caramel Corn (recipe here). Made this last year and there was none left the next day.  It's a bit messy and temperamental of a recipe, so I'm repeating the mantra "just have fun" while making it :)












Homemade guacamole and Halloween chips (recipe here) - I make this guacamole recipe all the time, but I'm looking forward to making chips from the tortillas we already have in the fridge!  Bought some Jack O'Lantern cookie cutters from Target yesterday.











Did you know there's such a thing as BLACK vodka?  Pretty much made for Halloween drinks :)  Martha Stewart has a bunch of fun black vodka drink ideas.

Recommendation: Foundation

For the last 2 years or so, I've been using Laura Mercier's mineral powder  as foundation, and I really liked it.  However, lately my skin has been getting much drier and, after doing some online research, it ends up that mineral powder is just about the worst type of foundation for dry skin.  It ends up just collecting in wrinkles and emphasizing them.  Soooo off to Bloomies I went in search of a brand new foundation!

Okay, is it just me or is choosing new makeup kind of intimidating?  I mean there are just SO many options and no definitive source to go to for recommendations.  I did a lot of online research and came up with a short list of foundations to try but I guess there's no substitute for going to store and trying them out.  Here is what I ended up buying and I LOVE both.  Though pricey, totally worth it and I think they'll be mainstays in my makeup routine going forward.

For lighter coverage, I use this everyday at work:

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Ultralight Skin Perfecting Makeup

Provides just the perfect amount of coverage to even skin tone but maintain a natural, dewy look.  Seriously, go get a sample of this at the makeup counter.  I like to combine it with a drop of this bronzer-like liquid and then apply with my fingers to get a glowy look.

For medium coverage, I use this when I go out at night:

Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat

Combined with this YSL under-eye concealer, this makes my complexion look flawless.  The other day hubby was in the bathroom when I applied this and he literally was like "wow!".  Haha if only boys knew how much makeup can do ;)  What's nice is although it covers a lot, it doesn't look at all cakey or even like I have makeup on!

Z'yummm

We spent the first weekend of August back home in Houston to attend 2(!) weddings on Saturday.  Seeing both our families, including both our parents, was just so nice and happy.  California is lovely and we've got some great friends out here, but there's nothing like home for me.  I ate my fill of queso, tex mex, and kabob (hubby's Persian).  

Speaking of tex mex, I made the greatest discovery a couple weekends ago...  Z'Tejas is in the OC!  Ever since I moved three years ago*, I've been lamenting the fact that there's no queso or Tex Mex -- in fact, it's probably the food I miss the most from home.  Well hubby and I were just walking through South Coast Plaza (the mecca of malls) and stumbled across Z'Tejas.  This was one of my favorite places in Austin, I ate at their location on 6th street all the time and the same person who started it opened one of my other faves, Jack Allen's in Oak Hill.  My favorite items are the dumplings, queso, and ancho fudge pie (it's better than it sounds, believe me).  MMMmmmm delicious!

does it get any better than free cornbread with every meal?

It got me curious, so I did a little google searching and apparently Z'Tejas was purchased by the same private equity investors who purchased and grew Flemings.  They're expanding, which is only good news for those of us outside of Texas without access to queso.


*Wow, can't believe it's really been 3 years!

Bachelors and tarts

Ok, I know I'm late to the game but I've just gotta discuss what happened last Monday on the Bachelorette finale.  Like most people (at least those I talked to), I was expecting Brooks to come back, say he made a big mistake, and propose to Des.  The fact that he didn't do so makes me SO happy!  I really liked Chris the whole way through - he seems very mature, open with his feelings (which Des said was important to her) and playful (albeit a tad on the boring side).  I think the 2 of them make a great couple, unlike Brooks and Des.

It reminded me, though, of how often I see women attracted to guys that don't return their feelings to the same degree.  It's almost like we're conditioned to think any guy who doesn't make us feel unsure and insecure is "lame" or boring.  Why??  I guess the thrill of the chase?

On another note, my dinner party last week went really well!  Here's the one photo I took -- half eaten slice of strawberry tart :-)