Double Take.

JCrew blouse & boots//Gap skimmers

Here's to a beautiful weekend at the beach - rain or shine. The view along the way is enough to make you do a double take. Absolutely incredible. Happy Easter! xo

Pineapple Upside-Down Pancakes.

I could kick myself for not stopping for my favorite pancake spot in Colorado during our recent road trip. I've never had anything so good in my life (and I don't even like pineapple). Let me just break it down for you - pineapple pancakes with vanilla creme anglaise and topped with cinnamon butter = heaven. It takes forever and 3 days to make, but the end result makes for a delicious breakfast (or breakfast for dinner).

Pineapple Upside-Down Pancakes

Ingredients:

For the pineapple:

• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 cinnamon stick, broken in half
• 1 large pineapple, peeled, cut into eight 1/2" rounds, cored
• 3/4 cup dark rum
• 1/4 cup (packed) dark brown sugar

For the pancakes:
1 cup all-purpose flour

• 3 tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
• 1/2 tsp bourbon vanilla extract
• Nonstick vegetable oil spray

Directions:

For the pineapple, melt butter with cinnamon stick in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Cook until butter begins to brown, about 2 minutes. Add pineapple slices and cook until light golden brown, 4-5 minutes per side. Remove skillet from heat; add rum and brown sugar. Cook over medium-high heat until juices are thick and syrupy. Transfer pineapple to a plate; let cool. 

For the pancakes, preheat oven to 325°F. Set a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Whisk flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Add buttermilk, egg, butter, and bourbon vanilla extract; whisk until smooth. Heat a griddle or large heavy skillet over medium heat and lightly coat with nonstick spray. Working in batches, pour batter by 1/4-cupfuls onto griddle. Cook each pancake until golden brown and bubbles form on top, about 2 minutes. Top each pancake with a pineapple ring. Flip; cook until pancake is golden brown, about 2 minutes. Place pancakes on prepared rack and bake in oven until cooked through, about 5 minutes.

Bourbon Vanilla Creme Anglaise

Ingredients:

6 large eggs

1/2 cup sugar

2 cups milk

1 1/2 tsp bourbon vanilla extract

Directions: Fill a large bowl with ice water and keep nearby. Separate the eggs, only keeping the yolks and discard the whites. Beat the egg yolk with a whisk until smooth, about 2 minutes. Add sugar and whisk until the sugar is fully incorporated and the yolks are a pale shade of yellow, about 2 minutes. Heat the milk in a double-boiler until almost simmering; do not let come to a boil. Slowly pour the hot milk into the egg and sugar mixture, mix constantly and return the custard into the double-boiler. Gently hear, stirring continuously. Remove the top part of the double-boiler and sit over the bowl of ice water to cool. Stir in the bourbon and stir mixture every-so-often until fully cooled.

Cinnamon Butter

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened

1 oz granulated sugar

2 oz brown sugar

4 tsp ground cinnamon

Directions: Mix and beat butter, sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon together, until smooth. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Enjoy!

Bombs Away.

FAY jacket, $108,610 / Burberry Brit metallic jacket / Alexander Wang jacket / rag & bone colorful jacket / Scotch & Soda summer jacket, $155 / Dorothy Perkins printed jacket / Topshop college jacket / Oasis printed jacket, $91

I'm not gonna lie - I love a good bomber jacket. No matter the fabric, pattern or cut, a bomber jacket offers clean lines derived from a more utilitarian purpose. 

I attribute my fathers influence to this love as I would dress up in his uniform as a little girl....

 Cute bangs, huh?

Perfect Fit.

Gap

Feeling a little like Goldie Lock here - most skinny jeans are too tight in the legs or the rise is too low, but these Gap skimmer jeans fit just right. Obsessed.

On the real though, the lighter denim is a bit too see-through for my taste. So unless you are willing to part with your pockets ie cut them out, I wouldn't recommend. Sad, because I love, love, love the highlighter yellow pair.

3 Things.

Time really does fly when you're having fun, but feel that I got a lot of "me" things accomplished this weekend including (but not limited to) a big haircut, indulging in my favorite blood orange lemonade from Purple Onion Cafe, checked off some older movies I've wanted to watch off my list, caught up on my March magazines, and took a Sunday drive along the coast, and most of all enjoyed the beautiful California sunshine. Spring is in the air.

1. Loving my freshly cut locks and equally as excited to donate to Pantene Beautiful Lengths (again).

2. Enjoyed the last driving views from Devil's Slide (the new tunnel opens today)

3. Preserve Jalapeno jelly - it's unbelievably delicious.

Mori Point.

eShakti dress c/o

Last Sunday, my guy wanted to take a drive along the coast just to get out of the house for a bit. Since we had been cooped up all day I decided to throw on some bright lipstick and new dress from eShakti and head out on our adventure. We found ourselves at beach with slate gray sand just before sunset. Just gorgeous. Though my dress wasn't the most practical for the beach, I love its feminine, flirty structure. I opted to alter the length after realizing I don't have anything that hit midi-length in closet (and because the opportunity to customize a dress & make it my own special piece is too good to pass up) and couldn't be happier with the result. Now if I had just thought to bring something a little warmer to wear on top because as soon as that sun went down...brrr.

Dream Come True.

Aveda, Pure Abundance

If I've said it once, I'll say it again Aveda's Pure Abundance is my absolute favorite product for hair. It takes my day 2 hair back to a presentable place even in this misty, foggy San Francisco weather. Can I get an Amen up in here? That's something to be thankful for.

Goldfinger.

Tom Binns classic cigar ring

What doesn't Tom Binns do right? I'm tempted to buy 5 in attempt to recreate Balenciaga's futuristic gold rings from the S/S 13 runway. Typically the rule of thumb is a little goes a long way, but in this case a lot takes things to the next level.

Spring Forward.

Giuseppe Zanotti satin pumps / J.Crew vintage heels / Ivanka Trump floral print shoes / Anniel stacked heel / Canvas sneaker, $145 / Sperry Top-Sider vintage style shoes / Keds floral shoes / Kate Spade high heel pumps

Pumps, peep toes and tennies - floral patterns are dominating footwear providing an added spring in your step this season. Personally, I'm totally sprung over these flowery options. What about you?

3 Things.

The weekend in San Francisco was nothing short of beautiful and relaxing - always a winning combination in my book . From a delicious "family" dinner with my guy's brother and his hubby at Lolo to an impromptu drive down the coast to preparing Sunday dinner with my favorite, I couldn't ask for more. Here's to a smooth and productive week. Happy Monday!

1.  Ziggy's lazy Saturday afternoon serenade.

2. Getting in touch with my Irish side at my local watering hole

3. Beach babies at sunset

Adjustment Period.

{mixing & matching our items}

Life has changed so much in only one week. Now, after a long day of work I look forward to having dinner and spending the evening with my favorite. Living alone for as long as I have its been quite an adjustment, but so much fun at the same time. I can tell Ziggy loves it too.

Corn & Asparagus Salad.

I just love a good pot luck at work - yum!

Ingredients:

6 ears yellow corn, shucked
2 bunches asparagus, trimmed
1 small red onion, diced small
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions: Fill a large stock pot with water, salt and bring it to a boil. Place shucked corn in boiling water and blanch the corn for 3 minutes until bright yellow and then toss the corn into an ice bath. In the same water used for blanching the corn, blanch the asparagus for 1 minute and toss into the ice bath. For the corn, once cooled, remove the kernels off the cob with a sharp knife and cut the asparagus into 1-inch angled sections. Place both the corn and then asparagus into a medium size bowl. Add diced onion and basil leaves.

In another medium size bowl, mix together sugar, vinegar, salt, and pepper. Drizzle over corn and asparagus. Mix together well and chill or serve at room temperature.

Off The Grid.

rag & bone pattern dress / Topshop pattern dress / Marni / Jil Sander coat / Manolo Blahnik black cork wedge / Elie Saab / Calvin Klein jewelry / Topshop jewelry

You can run, but you can't hide from these cool geometric patterns. Must have.

See Through.

Typically I'm not one to share the contents of what is inside my (honestly, at times messy) handbag, but Charlotte Olympia's transparent clutches are just too cool to pass up. Depending on my mood, the lining can take me from a more neutral or classic feel to an edgy leopard print. Love!

3 Things.

We made it! Our road trip from North Carolina to California was a success and we arrived safely in San Francisco on Saturday. Thanks to a mildly absurd number of cups of coffee, flavorful (and sometimes questionable) BBQ from state-to-state, catching up with old friends and making some new ones along the way for getting us through the loooong journey. This trip was such a departure from anything I've ever done before and so grateful to have the opportunity to see our beautiful country with someone I love so much.

1. Our route to California. All 2,961 thousand miles of it!

2. New coffee table and glass art for the apartment all made by my favorite.

3. Ziggy getting comfortable in his new Mini.

California Love.

I saw some amazing landscape while traveling this week; this is my favorite view right before we crossed over into sweet home California.

Smoke & Kisses.

ban.do.

Love.

For The Love of Ombre.

OTTE long dress / Hervé Léger bandage dress / Oversized top / Stella McCartney / True Religion turquoise shorts, $275 / Reed Krakoff ballet shoes / Diane von Furstenberg handbag, $415 / Prada handbag / Topshop tear drop earrings

Ombre hair may be out, but ombre clothing is another story. And with all the vibrant colors, I can't think of a better way to welcome Spring into your wardrobe.

Congratulations to Deanna G for winning the Reem Acra giveaway! I'm excited to share a little memory from fashion week.

Python Print.

Tom Ford anaconda boots

I'm deathly scared of snakes, but this kind I can certainly get on board with. Over-the-knee python boots with gold heel details - I swoon.

3 Things.

The road trip is off to a great start. As soon as I landed in North Carolina, I hopped in the (huge!) moving truck with my favorite and our cross country adventure officially began. We headed up through Tennessee and landed in Louisville, Kentucky where we stayed the night with some friends. Day 2 we started off early, crossing through Indiana, Illinois, Missouri and finally stopped in Kansas where we will be for a few days. Then, we we'll continue on our journey until we arrive home sweet home in San Francisco.

1. Our home away from home for the next week.

2. An amazing dinner while in Kentucky. I had some braised veggies that I haven't been able to get out of my mind since.

3. Currently stop - the beautiful and freezing state of Kansas.

Princess Moment.

Herve Leger dress//Pencey shoes//Fenton Fallon jewelry

Don't mind me, just reliving a total princess moment. Not sure if it's transparent, but I love The Plaza Hotel and dream a little too often of living there some day. Until then, I should stayed focused on everything exciting happening now. Tonight I'm flying to North Carolina to see my favorite and Saturday morning we begin our road trip to San Francisco. I have to admit, I do have butterflies. Things are changing in such a great way.