BaubleBar Birthday

Today marks one month until my birthday. 

My birthday tends to get overshadowed by the popular drinking holiday that falls on the same day, so there aren't many traditions that I keep for the annual celebration other than some form of red, white and blue appearing in the mix. But there's one thing that always remains an important staple marking another year of birth - I get myself a gift. This year I'm finally going to purchase something from BaubleBar. I've been eyeing their colorful gems on favorite bloggers and Pinterest for too long, and have decided to indulge on my own. Hooray!

On Blogging

There are too many times when I think to myself, 'what's the point?' 

I look at my blog compared to others and can't believe some can receive such attention for reproducing content and offering very little creative insight. At others, I'm impressed and can't believe they can do it everyday. This little quote from a favorite, See Jane, has kept me blogging these past few weeks when I thought it was time to say goodbye.

What advice would you give to new bloggers?

If you really do love doing it, stick with it! Also, try not to compare yourself to others. There will always be new bloggers that come into the spotlight or those that get popular really quickly, but I think staying true to yourself is super important when doing this. 

In life and in the blogging world, staying true to yourself is the most important.

[interview from here; image via Pinterest] 

Simple Sterling

I have a pretty long list of daily blog reads, as I'm sure most of you do. While most of them consist of fabulously fashion-forward fashionistas based in some of my favorite cities, it's often hard to relate to them off the page - mostly because my daily nine-plus hour desk ritual doesn't call for red soled shoes or bow-tie ASOS skirts (nor does my budget). That's what I find most appealing about Taylor of Sterling Style (and Glitter Guide). She keeps things more real for the average reader than other favorites of mine, offering tips I can actually employ in my average, working-girl kind of life.  


{all images via Taylor}

happiness.

I had initially considered writing down some of my 2012 resolutions and placing them somewhere I'd see everyday; but I'm not that great with failure. I think I read somewhere that a greater percentage of individuals who make resolutions for the year end up breaking them before the first month. If I failed in that time, it'd break my heart.

Rather, I've decided to get inspired to create anew. I want to figure out what really motivates me - more than writing everyday for a full time job or posting on this blog has ever done; I want to do something that gets me excited everyday and I want to be original. I always thought I could make a difference; I think it's not going to be sitting at a desk daily, watching the sun rise and fall, telling tales that don't get my heart racing.

{image}

Happy Friday

Happy Friday! 

Words from Refinery29 local editor: "I completely believe in the transformative power of a gorgeous room, a witty object or a beautiful garment."

This completes my first week of posting everyday - after getting a few compliments while visiting my parents over Thanksgiving, I figured that it couldn't hurt to really try on the blog. So I picked a few favorites to get inspiration, and this week has been relatively easy in trying to find some great posts {it also doesn't hurt that I haven't been crunched for deadline at work}. Here's to several more weeks of this! 

ps. the delicious cupcake posted above is from Corner Cupcakes, a San Diego based food truck that won on the Food Network show "Cupcake Wars"!

Santa Barbara Girl

Though I've been living in San Diego for nearly a decade {gasp!}, I still consider Santa Barbara my home. While the city has changed a lot since I left - there are now more chain stores than I'd like to admit - there are a few simple pleasures I love to enjoy when I return home for the holidays. Until those sporadic dates appear, however, I recently discovered the adorable Samantha from Could I Have That. She helps ease my Santa Barbara nostalgia with her high fashion posts, foodie bits and Santa Barbara landscapes.

Outfit Inspiration

Since I finally took the plunge and joined one of the {too} many sites out there to foster creativity, it's only natural that I eventually became obsessed. Pinterest is relatively simple and easily passes away evenings or slow work days. 

The reason why I started this blog in the first place was due to my addiction to certain fashion bloggers like Cupcakes and Cashmere, The Man Repeller and The Glamourai, daily outfit inspo reads that keep me going. While I'm not posing, at least there's a better idea of what I might be wearing, had I the pocketbook of said bloggers. 

{all images via Pinterest}