christmas sneak peak

One of my favorite gifts I've gotten (for my loved ones) is this vintage Dooney&Burke wallet I just got in the mail for my lovely mother c/o Bumble E Buck on etsy.
I am so happy with this purchase, aside from a few tiny knicks, which is expected when you buy vintage, it feels like new and is going to go perfect with her many purses. I know she'll appreciate a good vintage find like I do.

Today I am going to take it easy, work on a holiday story for work, wrap some gifts, and enjoy the cloudy/rainy weather.
Our Christmas wreath on the front door and our lovely little tree inspired me today to get more in the spirit.
Only three more days til Christmas!
Happy Wednesday :)

Holiday Wish List

Left to right:
j.crew blazer, vintage penny loafers, vintage coffee press, "old is cool" necklace, moop letter bag, vintage camera bag.

Stripes for work

I love stripes, and wear them all the time, however on this day I wanted to keep the striped understated as I was dressing for work. My wool flats added a pop of color (that's hardly noticeable in the photos) and still managed to keep the striped top the main focus.

My mom's lady-bag was just so perfect and simple.

My necklace is quickly becoming my go-to jewelry selection for more and more outfits. It has just the right amount of sparkle without being too much bling.  Definitely going to drape this around cardigans and other tops for holiday parties.

Speaking of holidays (Christmas is around the corner!) I just got half of boyfriend's gift in the mail today, which I can't wait to wrap up, and I need to get the rest of my ingredients for a lemon olive-oil cake I'm making for Christmas Eve.

Recipe for the cake coming soon...

I am so pleased to see this space coming more together and looking like an actual blog! I've enjoyed writing these little posts and hope to get better each and every time. Also, I will have more interesting backdrops for my very new outfit posts, now that I have the time to venture out, as well as more interesting and creative outfits.

striped tunic: H&M

cropped slacks: Target

maroon flats: UO

vintage bag: c/o mom

chain necklace: Ann Taylor Loft

Current Inspirations

Top to bottom:

The lovely, Calivintage

Chictopia outfit from Story of My Life

Vintage floral dress

The most adorable wooden ring

Urban Weeds, I wish there was a blog like this for my beloved Phoenix

Hiatus for finals...

Goodness gracious finals are just around the corner (ahem, a few days) and last minute presentations and reviews are swamping.
A study-overload is about to erupt, and I'm soooo eager for the semester to be over and get ready for the long-awaited holidays.
I'm also happy that I'll be able to keep interning at the Arizona Republic over winter break (interviews for spring internships are on Friday! Soy un poco nervioso).
I think this little cup of liquid strength will come in handy through next week.
Green tea has been my go-to refreshment as of late, and I've really grown to acquire it.
Ta ta!

weekday wardrobe

I've been trying to mix up my wardrobe lately, seeing new inspirations for my old (and new) clothes and create new looks for each piece I have.

I love my old little house, that clock is about as old as I am...

(tribal print dress: Target, tan cardigan: H&M, vintage oxfords, & mom's charcoal trouser socks.)

I'm so tickled by this oxford-sock combo, definitely need to get some good socks for those 30 degree mornings ahead.

(black knee high socks: Target, Levi's jeans, vintage oxfords.)

 Wednesday was a rather lazy day except for having class in the morning.
(grey knit cardigan: NY and Company, shirt: H&M, eternity scarf: Forever21.)


I've got a date with my handsome mister tomorrow, we're going to enjoy some organic pizza, take some photos and see the new HP movie, lol.


Happy Thursday

Current loves:

These things have either been infesting my dreams, shown up numerous times in my wardrobe or have been the cause of recent attempts to save money ...



Updated backpacks

(UO)

Lace ups

(UO)


Long and Oversized

(Blushing Ambition and American Apparel)


Neutrals

(J.Crew)


Holga Pinhole camera

(Lomography)








Happy Monday!

Case of the Monday's

Mondays. For me, a 14-hour day of school and work. But I do enjoy my Monday's because of a near three-hour break in between.
This Monday, Edwin came downtown and met me for coffee at one of, if not, my favorite coffee bar...
Lola (plus the website has an addicting song currently playing lol)

Let's try this again...

Three months! Ninety days! (Give or take). Since the last published post...
Where have I been.
Here is to my new strict vow to post at least once a week.
I certainly have had time to get enough inspiration for tons of entries.

We'll start with my day:

It's November 4.
While we valley dwellers should be enjoying ourselves in the fall weather that includes 60-70ish temperatures and falling leaves, we get almost 90 degrees with a huge heap of sunshine.
Tisk, despite the warm conditions, I could not help but wear these cozy shoes and heat retaining, err, black pants.

My absolute favorite shade of gray.

After classes, I set out with a friend to take a peak at the new Cityscape making its debut later this weekend.  Just a few blocks away from school, an Urban Outfitters, a quaint little café/grocery, a bowling alley, and a new place to escape will be here in time for winter.

Then I decided to do some people watching on the way back and sit in the shade where there was a surprisingly cool breeze.
I couldn't help but getting a photo of the popular installation at Civic Space Park...

I really hope to form this blog space into something great, something reflective and something to share.
End of the week already!
Can't wait for the coming weekend, dinner with Edwin's family, perhaps a museum, and catching up with my best friends.

:) Diana

Birthday weekend and the power of good food.

Last Saturday was my twentieth birthday, and it felt like any other day...


I think twenty is that median age where you surely have passed the teen-age and feel like you've been such an "adult" for a what have seemed to be a lengthy two years but not quite at the age where everything is available to you (mostly getting into some sweet concerts but happen to be at bars where the minimum age limit is 21, and of course...having a horizontal driver's license lol).
But of course, I am relieved to be rid of my teen years and anxious to start living a life that I can create, so happy content birthday to me.


Edwin and I had planned on celebrating out birthdays together (his was the very next day) a little differently...
We went out for breakfast both days and enjoyed some special treats.
After cruising down Central avenue, we came across Hob Nobs coffeehouse, a wonderfully renovated old- world house into modern day cafe.

Oatmeal and strawberries from HN's.

I have been dying to try this place all summer and we finally got around to it.
Nobs has amazing breakfast items and believe it or not, pizza that tastes like a slice of warm, handmade heaven.
We loved it so much, that we came back the next day for Edwin's birthday...and the next day for my second day of classes.

The waiters and cashier were probably surprised we weren't there again this week.









Needless to say, Hob Nobs is perfecto.
The rest of the weekend was spent with good friends and loved ones, and received some beautiful gifts.
It couldn't have been better.

:)

She was a daytripper...

Such a busy week before school,
Between training for the AZ Republic, doing photos for State Press Magazine, getting ready for my junior year in college (gasp) and finding time to stop and breathe, my poor neglected blog needed a fresh post;

Last Saturday morning Edwin and I decided to take a little day trip up to Flagstaff, AZ.
It made perfect timing because school starts in a few days and I considered it to be my little getaway, due to the fact that I missed this!
Bummer.
So without hesitation, I packed some snacks for us, brewed some coffee, popped in a new memory card in my camera, and off we went.
We stopped downtown for a while to check out some neat shops and had lunch at a nice little diner.
Afterwards, wanting to enjoy the crisp breeze and some change of nature surroundings, we drove out about 7 more miles to The Arboretum at Flagstaff.
This wildflower preserve garden is almost a mile-long loop of meadows, flower gardens, nature trails and green houses in one of Flagstaff's beautiful forests.
After wandering around the gardens for a bit, we figured we could walk off our food and go on a nature trail.

Walking through the trail

A field of purple flowers near a greenhouse

Yellow beauties

Amor

The serene meadow and absolute quiet beauty in nature hooked us...
We loved it, and and plan to go back in October when the weather will be more like fall.

We finally made it back around to the end of the trail and stopped in the gift shop for some sweet organic "nature-themed" t-shirts.

So inspired by our experience at The Arboretum, we threw on our new tees, and drove back downtown (looking like complete tourists) and went to a little coffee shop called Late for the Train Espresso.

Half hour or so of people-watching and some last minute browsing through shops later, we called it a night and headed back for the heat.

We were so pleased and relieved to have gotten away for a even a day.

(My apologies for the rhyme)

Goodnight, and until next time...

(Oops)

A coffee a day.

I have a firm belief that a good, strong but nicely crafted espresso will get my day off to the right start.

Even in the late afternoons or evenings I can polish off a steaming latte or ice cold brewed coffee.
And the usual response I receive when trying to put my adoration in metaphor is "Do you really need the caffeine?"...
No, truth be told. I do not.
The purpose is not for the instant jolt of energy (which almost never is a side-effect with me),
it is rather the sweet aroma and absolute decadence that my taste buds have come to acquire.
Not to mention the ever evolving theories on coffees' health benefits that can range from being a great source of antioxidants to possibly warding off different types of Dementia.
In lieu of my long-time relationship with this beverage, I have reminded myself to whip out my camera phone and
capture my daily coffee and pastry indulgences from local coffee bars during the week.
(I only wish I would have had my Rebel with me to have better quality images)


So enjoy and order up!

Lux Coffee Bar

La Grande Orange

Lola Coffee on Central

Lola Coffee on Roosevelt

Morning dates and ballerina hair.

This morning got off on the right start when Edwin and I took a drive down to a local Starbucks for delicious oatmeal and coffee, and caught a morning showing of Inception.

      Which I thought was a fabulous film.

Whilst getting ready to head out the door earlier, I felt such an agony in having to completely dry, and assemble a decent down hairstyle with my lion-like long locks per the usual.  I Instead decided to try out a new trend, a modern take on the Ballerina Bun.

(Variations of the new bun I happen to love)

After only a surprising few minutes to get the effect just right, (as if it's such a complex style)
I arrived at my low-key look for today :) Paired with an elbow sleeve striped top, cuffed boyfriend jeans and flat leather sandals.

I love going places early in the morning on a weekday, where it seems a bit quieter.
Later I hope to make time for yoga and test out my new tripod for my slr.


-Happy things.