Small-Town Charm

Did you grow up in a big city, a small town or something in between? All my years of living in the Bay Area and Los Angeles make me googly-eyed over small towns. They just seem so quaint and charming, like a scene out of The Gilmore Girls. My sister's boyfriend Jordan grew up in Happy Valley, Oregon (what a name!), with a population of about 15,000 people. Everyone owns a sprawling plot of land, and Sophie insists drivers never honk. Jordan's neighbors regularly put out a table with extra produce and flowers from their garden with a little sign for people to help themselves. Isn't that sweet? Just thinking about it makes me want to write them a thank you card for their awesomeness.

Well Said, Sweatshirt...

...I completely agree. :)

(Sweatshirt by Express)

Going Lovely x Anthropologie Event

Over the weekend, my friends at Going Lovely hosted a DIY workshop at Anthropologie. We made holiday wreaths and sipped mimosas. It was really festive and relaxing.

Sophie and I got dressed up just for fun. She wore a gold-flecked dress, and I wore polka dots. 

Our friend Ali killed it. She was finished before anyone. From now on, I shall call her Master Crafter.

These are the scallops we used to cover the wreath base. I could scallop all day long. 

Here are our finished wreaths! (And that's my friend PJ on the far right who is half of the Going Lovely team. I felt like I knew a celebrity ;) Thanks for the fun day, Going Lovely! 

(Top photo and last two photos by Heather Elizabeth)

Marissa Mayer On Overcoming Shyness

Are you shy? In college, I tried out for an a cappella group and felt so painfully shy about singing aloud that I turned my back to the group and auditioned to a blank wall. (I didn't make it, ha.)

I'm not so shy anymore, but I'm surprised when I hear about successful big wigs who are. Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo, admits she always wants to leave within the first 15 minutes of any party. To help her deal, she says, "I will literally look at my watch and say, 'You can't leave until time x. And if you're still having a terrible time at time x, you can leave.'" When the time's up, she usually overcomes her social anxiety and ends up having fun.

That's a good rule to follow when doing anything that pushes you outside your comfort zone, don't you think? What, if anything, makes you feel shy?

p.s. The inspiration behind the revolving door was the inventor's social phobia of opening doors for women.
p.p.s. I didn't know returning items to a store is a common cause of social anxiety—I totally get oddly anxious over that!

(bottom photo via CityGirl Searching)

Short-Sleeved Wedding Dresses

Now that Alan and I've been engaged for a few months, people are starting to ask if we've started planning yet. And so far, I've decided upon the following very important details:

*I'd like to get married not during winter.
*There will be no mason jars and no barns.
*There will, however, be Carlos Santana. (Cambodians + Santana + weddings—it's a real thing. I don't know why, but I like it.)
*I'm leaning towards wearing a short-sleeved dress. They're so pretty!

I especially love wispy, barely-there short sleeves. 

But I waver between intricate and simple sleeves. 

You can't go wrong with simple sleeves (I've been in love with this dress for years now)...

But then again, intricate sleeves can be so fun.

What's your favorite wedding dress style? Are you a fan of sleeves, short or long?

(Top photo via Going Lovely)

Our Next Vacation: Muir Beach

Alan and I have been overdue for a little vacation time, so I'm excited for our next getaway to Muir Beach. We booked an Airbnb rental for a few days at the beginning of next year. I've always wanted to try Airbnb because the houses always look spectacular. The one we booked is nestled in rolling hills with a killer view and deck— I can't wait to soak in that hot tub! 

Best of all, the house is within walking distance of beautiful Muir Beach...

...and Slide Ranch, a cute little farm.

And just two miles away are the majestic Muir Woods. It's going to be cozy central. I can't wait! (Isn't it crazy to think that some people live like this on the regular?)

p.s. I'm definitely feeling the happiness boost effect from vacation anticipation.

Thai Noodles: Pad See Ew Recipe

Alan likes to joke that I vote for Thai noodles every time we're trying to decide what to eat. But it's so true! Who can resist savory, pan-fried, noodle-y goodness? At our favorite Thai restaurant, we always order two things: the pad see ew and the pad kee mao rice noodles. Have you ever had either? Pad see ew is savory and a little bit sweet, while pad kee mao is spicy and garlicky. They're a total comfort food for those nights when you just want to wear sweats and curl up on the couch. My friend Roy shared his pad see ewe recipe, and it was so delicious and super easy to make at home. Here are some of the key ingredients you'll need...

Ankle Boots

When it comes to boots, I've mostly worn tall ones in an effort to counterbalance my shortness (or something like that). But I keep seeing cute girls of all heights rocking ankle boots, so I decided to give them a try. I've had my eye on this splurge-y pair by Rag & Bone and was happy to find an affordable look-a-like version. The verdict? They're so comfy and add a tomboy edge, which I'm a big fan of lately. What do you think? Would you wear them?

(I'm wearing an Anthropologie sweater (past season), an Equipment blouse, Urban Outfitters BDG jeans (similar here), and DV Jaxen Boots).