A Garden

   I've been savoring the last of summer by spending a lot of time outdoors lately. Apart from a much-needed camping trip to Yosemite (pictures soon),  I've also been spending my lazy afternoons sitting around in my boyfriend's amazing backyard. I wish I had a garden of my own! Helping my boyfriend and his brother water their herbs and veggies really brightens my day, especially before I have to go to work.

   Gardening is awesome. Seriously, it's such a relaxing and rewarding experience. Although it's not my backyard, I often find myself eager to help tend the garden and get my hands dirty. There's nothing quite as satisfying as growing, harvesting, and preparing meals with produce fresh from the backyard. People tend to live life with such a disconnect from our environment and the very things in nature that we rely on and cannot exist without. It's good to be reminded that we have evolved to be a part of our planet and to take care of it, not to simply take. 

   When you put a lot of hard work into something, you really learn to appreciate what you're doing.

   In case you're curious, my boyfriend and his family are growing onions, bell peppers, various assortments of tomatoes, thyme, pumpkin, lavender, basil (homemade marinara sauce simmered in wine is ridiculously tasty!), eggplant, chili peppers, and more. :) Have I convinced you try your hand at this yet?

   Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Change Is Good

   It's generally not a good idea to take time off and let your blog collect dust (oops), but a series of events and circumstances have happened to me recently and absorbed most of my time. I'm now attending a new university, I just returned from a camping trip in Yosemite, I'm recovering from some car troubles, and I had to move unexpectedly this summer. With school and work consuming most of my time, I'm going to do my best to engage in the blogging world as regularly as possible. :)

   That said, I made a few changes to my blog. I've decided to focus less on fashion and more on other things that inspire me - art, food and wine, design, making environmentally conscious shopping choices, and the little things here and there that make life exciting. We live in an acquisitive culture, and while I'm all for stocking up on fall booties and gushing over a new pair of earrings, I am also a firm believer in selective shopping and saving more money than I spend. Life extends far beyond material possessions (though browsing through scores of fashion blogs online could certainly convince you otherwise). I want to get back to creativity and the things that I'm truly passionate about and enjoy. After all, what's the point of a lifestyle blog if it's not personal enough?

   On that note, I'd like to share a few things that inspired me this week...

1 & 2. Dean and Deluca's Oats & Honey Pancake Mix + Black Truffle Pesto + Balsamic & Herb Dipping Oil (perfect for entertaining or keeps!) and their Tunisian Spreads Collection ft. a black olive spread, sun-dried garlic spread, an artichoke spread, and garlic cloves blended with olive oil (is anyone else thinking sandwiches?!)

3. Terrain candles: Milk & Honey + Pumpkin. I don't know about you guys but I am so ready for Fall and holiday-scented candles! 

4. Belle Maison's DIY candles (so darn pretty)

5. Cinnaholic's vegan cinnamon buns with custom-flavored frosting and toppings

* I discovered this urban treasure just yesterday and (please pardon my fangirl moment) OH MY GOD, these bad boys are so delicious! They tasted better than any other cinnamon bun I've ever had in my entire life! If you ever find yourself in Berkeley or San Francisco, you would be crazy to not stop by this place. Seriously, Cinnaholic's cinnamon buns need to go on your bucket list. I am officially obsessed.

6. Some gorgeous art by Chipmunk Cheeks on Etsy.

   I'd like to mention that my aunt recently returned from Seattle and generously had me try some garlic truffle salt and basil olive oil from Pike Place Market. I learned a valuable lesson: some things are actually worth indulging a little extra money on - fresh seafood, shade-grown & fair-trade coffee, and quality condiments. I tried both the basil oil and garlic truffle salt, and I was blown away. The flavors were intense, and the oil was so ridiculously fragrant. A little goes a long away, so you definitely get your money's worth. You don't need to get too fancy, but investing in select top-shelf oils and condiments can make all the difference in your culinary endeavors. Doing so, I've learned, can create a rich, multi-dimensional flavor profile that simply wasn't there before.

   I hope you'll enjoy my new take on this blog, and thank you for stopping by! :) Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone!