This past week I celebrated my thirtieth birthday and it was a pretty spectacular experience that included a family dinner at one of my favorite restaurants in San Francisco (restaurant review upcoming), a trip to Sonoma, wine tastings, and a weekend in Glen Ellen with my family & friends.
Here are some highlights from my birthday weekend!


{My colleagues are so amazing – I’m a lucky girl!}




{Wine tasting, delicious food, fabulous views – Living the DREAM}

{We’re a fashionable crowd}







{Speaking of lucky…}
Thank you to all of my friends & family who helped make my 30th birthday weekend so amazing & memorable – I appreciate it more than I can say!
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November 7, 2012 | Categories: Fashion, Fitness, Food | Tags: Apple tart, Audelessa, Autumn, b-day, Benzinger, Birthday, birthday celebration, birthday dinner, Birthday dress, Birthday flowers, Birthday gifts, Birthday party, Blogger, Blogger birthday, Blogger fashion, Blogger Street Style, Blogger Streetstyle, blogger style, bouquet, California, California fashion, California style, chocolate cupcakes, Cookies, cupcakes, Dairy-free, Desserts, Fall, Fall 2012, Fall 2012 Accessories, Fall 2012 clothes, Fall 2012 Clothing, Fall 2012 Coats, Fall 2012 Dress, Fall 2012 Dresses, Fall 2012 essentials, Fall 2012 Jackets, Fall 2012 necessities, Fall 2012 Outerwear, Fall 2012 Street Style, Fall 2012 Streetstyle, Fall 2012 Style, Fall 2012 Styling, Fall 2012 Trends, Fall accessories, Fall clothes, Fall Clothing, fall coats, Fall dress, Fall dresses, Fall Essentials, Fall Fashion, Fall jackets, Fall Necessities, Fall outerwear, Fall Style, Fall Styling, Fall trends, family trip, family vacation, Fashion Blogger, Fashion Blogger birthday, Fashion Blogger Fashion, Fashion Blogger Street Style, Fashion Blogger Streetstyle, Fashion Blogger Style, Ferry Building, Ferry Building Farmer's Market, Ferry Building Market Place, Figs, flowers, fruit tart, Garden Court, Garden Court Cafe, gifts, Glen Ellen, Glen Ellen Cottage, Glen Ellen Inn, Glen Ellen Inn Cottages, Glen Ellen Restaurant, Glen Ellen Vineyard, Glen Ellen Wine Tasting, Glen Ellen Winery, Glunte-free Food, gluten free dessert, Gluten intolerance, gluten intolerant, Gluten-free, Gluten-free bar, Gluten-free cookie, Gluten-free cupcake, gluten-free desserts, gluten-free diet, gluten-free menu, Gluten-free muffin, Gluten-Free Pastries, gluten-free restaurant, grain-free, Greens, Greens Restaurant, Halloween, Holiday season, Holidays, Long Weekend, Mariposa, Mariposa Bakery, milk-free, Northern California, Pardon My French, Pardon My French Sweater, Restaurants, San Francisco, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Fashion Blogger, San Francisco restaurants, San Francisco Street Style, San Francisco Streetstyle, San Francisco style, San Francisco Vegan, San Francisco vegetarian, SF, SF Fashion, SF Fashion Blogger, SF gluten-free restaurant, SF Restaurant, SF Street Style, SF Streetstyle, SF Style, SF Vegan, SF Vegetarian, Sonoma, Sonoma restaurant, Sonoma Square, Sonoma Vinea\yard, Sonoma Wine Tasting, Sonoma Winery, SunFlower Cafe, Sunflower Caffe, Three day weekend, trip, vacation, Vegan, Vegan Bakery, vegan cookies, Vegan cupcakes, vegan dessert, Vegan fruit tart, Vegan life, vegan lifestyle, Vegan living, vegan muffins, Vegan Pastries, vegan restaurants, Vegan tart, veganism, Vegetarian, Vegetarian Bakery, Vegetarian life, vegetarian lifestyle, Vegetarian living, Vegetarian Pastries, Vegetarian restaurants, vegetarianism, Vineyard, wine tasting, Winery | 7 Comments
Fashion:
Jackets and blazers and coats – Oh My! Chic jackets, blazers, and coats in brilliant jewel tones, soft velvets & corduroy, fun patterns, formal tweeds & brocades, and freshly pressed trenches will all make appearances this Fall, so get a head start with WhoWhatWear’s Street Style with Adam Katz Sinding: Chic Outerwear.

Sweatshirts don’t have to be boring or gym-worthy, this season you’ll want to find a sweatshirt with a cute patterned or retro design to pair with your separates. Bright colors, fun nostalgia-inducing graphics, even highschool letterman-style sweatshirts will be hitting the streets – Trend: Sweat Chic.
There’s nothing quite like seeing what one of your fashion idols has their closet to get you in the mood to revamp your own wardrobe! Luckily for us Harper’s Bazaar is taking you on a tour of DJ, model, and Chanel ambassador Leigh Lezark’s fashion collection – Closet of the Month: Leigh Lezark.
When you’re fashion-obsessed the passion for fashion doesn’t stop with clothing and accessories, it extends to ever facet of your life. Like Tom Ford said: “Fashion is everything. Art, music, furniture design, graphic design, hair, makeup, architecture, the way cars look – all those things go together to make a moment in time, and that’s what excites me.” So let’s enjoy this tour of a fabulous, fashionable, organized home – The Brunette’s My home, my essentials.

One of the reasons that I love doing Style File posts is that you get to recreate and put a fun, fresh spin on an outfit that someone you admire has worn. Whether it’s a celebrity, a model, a blogger, or a fashion editor, you’re taking the time to really look at their personal style and try to recreate a look that you love. Smile For Style agrees and has shared her picks for this killer look from Revenge start Ashley Madekwe – Get Her Look: Ashley Madekwe.
Health & Fitness:
If you could make some small changes in your life and boost your mood and ultimately your happiness, wouldn’t you? Best selling author Gabrielle Bernstein shares her tips – From simple things like starting the day with positivity to practicing self-love.
Happiness 101: 6 Ways To Be In A Good Mood All The Time.

I don’t know about you, but I like to hold onto Halloween for as long as possible, and that means making Halloween-style treats wellllll after the holiday itself passes – Sweet Vegan Treats For a Happy Halloween.
Taking some time for a calming yoga routine each day could not only help you cope with everyday stress, it could also give you a great energy boost – Yoga Moves for a Pick-Me-Up from Women’s Health.
The ladies over at Tone It Up! are known for their great outdoor & beach workouts that you can do with little to no equipment and their latest, Halloween inspired workout is another fab example filled with bridges, planks, and cardio – Your Tone It Up Tuesday SpOokTacULaR Workout!

Pizza is the ultimate comfort food but unfortunately it’s not usually on the approved foods list for the conscientious, healthy eater. But what if it could be? Check out these killer veggie-filled recipes and get cooking! Green Garden Pizza, Garlic Flatbread/Pizza Crust, Heirloom Tomato & Sweet Corn Pizza & Swiss Chard Pizza from Gluten Free, Soy Free Vegan.
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November 5, 2012 | Categories: Fashion, Fitness, Food, Links You'll Love | Tags: Adam Katz Sinding, Ashley Madekwe, baking, beginner fitness, beginner workouts, beginners fitness, Beginners workouts, Blogger, Blogger fashion, Blogger Street Style, Blogger Streetstyle, blogger style, Bougeotte, Calming yoga, Celebrity DJ, Chanel, Chanel Ambassador, Chanel Muse, Chic Outerwear, Chic Sweatshirts, coats, dairy free baking, dairy free dessert, Dairy-free, dairy-free dessert recipe, Dairy-free desserts, Dairy-free pizza, dairy-free recipe, DJ, Easy vegan recipe, easy vegan recipes, easy vegetarian recipes, Endorphin boost, energizing yoga, Energy, energy boost, Energy boosting workout, Energy boosting yoga, Fall 2012, Fall 2012 Blazers, Fall 2012 clothes, Fall 2012 Clothing, Fall 2012 Coats, Fall 2012 essentials, Fall 2012 Fashion, Fall 2012 Jackets, Fall 2012 Outerwear, Fall 2012 Street Style, Fall 2012 Streetstyle, Fall 2012 Style, Fall 2012 Styles, Fall blazers, Fall clothes, Fall Clothing, fall coats, Fall Essentials, Fall jackets, Fall outerwear, Fall Street Style, Fall Streetstyle, Fall Style, Fall trends, Fashion, Fashion Blogger, Fashion Blogger Fashion, Fashion Blogger Street Style, Fashion Blogger Streetstyle, Fashion Blogger Style, Fashion Magazine, Fitness, Fitness for beginners, FitSugar, Food, food blogger, French fashion, French Fashion Blogger, French style, Gabrielle Bernstein, Get Her Look, gluten free baking, gluten free dessert, Gluten Free Soy Free Vegan, Gluten Free Vegan, Gluten-free, gluten-free diet, Gluten-Free Food, Gluten-free pizza, Gluten-free pizza crust, gluten-free recipe, gluten-free recipes, grain-free, Grain-free baking, grain-free dessert, grain-free dessert recipe, grain-free recipe, grain-free recipes, Halloween, Halloween Baking, Halloween Desserts, Halloween recipes, Halloween sweets, Halloween treats, Hapiness 101, Happy Halloween, harper's bazaar, health, healthy, healthy life, healthy lifestyle, healthy living, healthy recipes, How to be happy, How to be in a good mood, Improve energy, Increase energy with yoga, jackets, Karl Lagerfeld, Karl Lagerfeld muse, Leigh Lezark, Leigh Lezark's Closet, May Cause Miracles, model, Model closet, Model fashion, Model fashion collection, Model street style, model streetstyle, Model Style, Mood booster, My Bougeotte, Nutrition, outerwear, Paris fashion, Paris street style, Paris Streetstyle, Paris style, Parisian Chic, Parisian clothes, Parisian clothing, Parisian fashion, Parisian Street Style, Parisian Streetstyle, Parisian style, Pizza, Quick vegan recipe, Quick Vegetarian recipes, Recipes, Refinery 29, Refinery29, Revenge, San Francisco, San Francisco Blogger, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Fashion Blogger, San Francisco Food Blogger, San Francisco Street Style, San Francisco Streetstyle, San Francisco style, Self Love, SF, SF Blogger, SF Fashion, SF Fashion Blogger, SF Food Blogger, SF Street Style, SF Streetstyle, SF Style, Smile For Style, soy cheese, Soy-free, Soy-free vegan, Soy-free vegetarian, Spirit Junkie, Steal her Style, Steal The Style, Street style, Streetstyle, Style File, Sweat Chic, Sweatshirt, Sweatshirt Trend, The Brunette, Tone it up!, Toneitup, Track suit, Treats, Vegan, vegan baking, vegan dessert, vegan dessert recipe, vegan desserts, Vegan Halloween Baking, Vegan Halloween Desserts, Vegan Halloween Recipe, Vegan Halloween Treats, Vegan life, vegan lifestyle, Vegan living, Vegan pizza, Vegan Pizza Recipe, Vegan recipes, veganism, Veganism for beginners, Vegetarian, vegetarian baking, Vegetarian dessert, vegetarian dessert recipe, vegetarian desserts, Vegetarian life, vegetarian lifestyle, Vegetarian living, Vegetarian Pizza, Vegetarian Pizza Recipe, vegetarian recipe, Vegetarian recipes, vegetarianism, Vegetarianism for beginners, WhoWhatWear, Women's Health, Women's Health Magazine, Womens Health Mag, working out for beginners, workout, workouts for beginners, yoga, yoga routine, Yoga workout | 2 Comments
As I’m sure you’ve already picked up, I’m a big fan of Fall in general and Halloween in particular {Fall Fabulousness, All Hallow’s Eve & October Round-Up}. This year I was lucky enough to attend two fabulous Halloween parties in Sacramento as well as act as American River CrossFit’s team photograph for CrossFit West Sac’s charity Breast Cancer competition.

This year I was excited to dress up twice, the first time as Wendy from Peter Pan in a vintage yellow nightgown and the second time as The Black Dahlia in a fabulous little black dress that my friend made.

But don’t worry, I’m not the only one who dressed up for Halloween this year. Bones dressed up as a CHICKEN! Again. Clearly it’s his favorite costume, doesn’t he look enthusiastic?

{Mammograms In Action – Barbells For Boobs}
And the day before Halloween I watched the exciting Barbells For Boobs charity CrossFit competition which included every shade of pink known to man and even Jessica Rabbit in a stunning red gown.
How was your Halloween? What did you dress up as? What was the best costume that you saw?
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November 2, 2012 | Categories: Fashion, MCLV Style | Tags: 1920's, 1960's, 1970'd, 1980's, 20's, 2012 costume, 2012 costume ideas, 60's, 60s costume, 60s makeup, 60s model, 70's, 70s costume, 70s makeup, 70s model, 80's, 80's movies, 80s movie costume, 90's movies costumes, 90s movies, Alfred Hitchcock, Alice, Alice In Wonderland, All Hallows Eve, Almost Famous, American River Crossfit, ARCFit, art deco, audrey hepburn, Autumn, Bearded Nun, beauty, Beauty Ideas, Beauty products, Big-screen costumes, Blogger, Blogger fashion, Blogger Street Style, Blogger Streetstyle, blogger style, Bogart, Bogie, Bogie & Bacall, Bohemian, bohemian chic, boho, boho chic, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Caddy Shack, Caddy Shack costume, Carey Mulligan, Carnival, Carnival reveller, Carnivale, cat-eye, cat-eye makeup, Cher Horowitz, Christian Slater, Cleopatra, Cleopatra makeup, Clue, Clueless, Clueless costume, Corey Mason, costume ideas, costume makeup, Costumes, couple costume, couples costumes, Couture, couture costume, Creative costume, CrossFit, CrossFit Competition, CrossFit gym, CrossFit instructor, Dahlia, Daisy, Daisy costume, David Larry, Deadliest Catch, Deadliest Catch costume, Designer costume, Detective, Dia De Los Muertos, DIY, DIY Costume, DIY Halloween, DIY Halloween Beauty, DIY Halloween Beauty Ideas, Do It Yourself, Do It Yourself Costume, Do It Yourself Halloween, Drag, Drag Queen, dramatic eye, dramatic makeup, dressing in drag, easy costume, elaborate mask, Empire Records, exotic eyes, eyeline, eyeliner, fake eyelashes, Fall, Fall 2012, Fall Holidays, Fashion, Fashion Blogger, Fashion Blogger Fashion, Fashion Blogger Street Style, Fashion Blogger Streetstyle, Fashion Blogger Style, fashion costume, Fashion Designer, Fashion Designer costume, Fashion-forward, Fashionologie, fashionology, fisherman, For Halloween, Frida Kahlo, Fun costumes, Gatsby, Gatsby chic, Gatsby costume, Gatsby Fashion, Gatsby Girls, Gatsby Style, Gatsby-inspired, geisha, Geisha costume, Geisha makeup, Ghoul, Ghoul’s Night Out, Glamorous Geisha, Great Gatsby, Great Gatsby costume, group costume, Gwenyth Paltrow, Gwyneth Paltrow, Halloween, Halloween Beauty, Halloween costume, Halloween costumes, Halloween decor, Halloween decorations, Halloween makeup, Halloween Picture Frames, handmade costume, Heathers, Heathers costume, Helena Bonham Carter, Hippie, hippie chic, Hitchcock, Holidays, Holly Golightly, How CrossFit Has Helped My Relationship, Humphrey Bogart, Japanese makeup, Jason Wu, Kelly Framel, lady gaga, Lady Gaga’s masquerade ball, Leonardo DiCaprio, Liquid eyeliner, Liv Tyler, Liz Taylor, London mod, Looking glass, make up, makeup, Makeup how to, Makeup products, Makeup tutorial, makup for costumes, Margot Tenenbaum, Martha Stewart, mask, masquerade ball, Memoires of a Geisha, Mia Farrow, Mime, Mod, Mod costume, Mod makeup, Mod model, Movie character costume, Movie costume, Movie costumes, Movie Halloween Costumes, Movies, Mrs. Peacock, Neverland, Nun, Nun costume, P.I., pairs costume, Paleo, Paleo Challenge, paleo diet, paleo eating, Paleo recipes, Paleolithic, Paleolithic Diet, Penny Lane, Peter Pan, Pin up, pin up girl, plaid skirt, Prabal Gurung, Primal, Primal diet, primal eating, Primal food pyramid, Primal recipes, Private eye, products, Queen of Heart, Queen of Hearts, quick & easy costume, quick costume, Refinery 29, Refinery29, Retro, retro-inspired, Richard Harrow, Robert Redford, Rupaul, Sacramento, Sacramento Fashion, Sacramento Street Style, Sacramento Streetstyle, Sacramento style, San Francisco, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Fashion Blogger, San Francisco Street Style, San Francisco Streetstyle, San Francisco style, SF, SF Fashion, SF Fashion Blogger, SF Street Style, SF Streetstyle, SF Style, Shannen Doherty, shopping at thrift store, Sleuth, smoky eye, Spooktacular Beauty, Steve Jobs, Street style, Streetstyle, Style, Sugarhigh, Teddy bear, The Birds, The Black Dahlia, The Glamourai, The Great Gatsby, The Man Repeller, The Paleo Diet, The Rockettes, The Tenenbaums, thrift, thrift costume, thrift shopping, Thrift store, thrift store costume, thrifting, Through The Lookingglass, Tippi Hedren, Tippi Hedren in The Birds, twiggy, Twiggy makeup, Twilight, Vampire, Venetian, Venetian Carnival reveller, Venetian Carnivale, Venetian mask, Venice, vintage, Vintage inspired, vintage shopping, Walking Dead, Wendy, White Rabbit, Winter, Winter 2013, Zombie, Zombie costume | Leave a comment
As October progresses the reminders that it’s holiday season are everywhere – Store decorations, TV commercials, sale annoucements, magazine advertisements… Luckily for me the holiday season begins with my favorite holiday, because as much as I adore candy canes and the scent of evergreen, I’m a Halloween girl.
You get to be a kid for a day – Candy, costumes, pranks, parties, and a general feeling of nostalgia and excitement – What’s not to love?
When it comes to costumes I’ll always choose innovative & novel over skin-baring. In recent years I’ve been Holly Golightly from Breakfast At Tiffany’s, Cleopatra, a Venetian Carnival reveller, and Twiggy. I’ve seen so many creative costumes over the years that I’m at a loss for why you’d want to pick a cookie-cutter one when you could put a little effort in and end up with something one-of-a-kind that you absolutely love.
So with that in mind here are some fun links to get your creative juices flowing for this year’s costume!

The Man Repeller’s For Halloween – Her fun suggestions include: Steve Jobs, Rupaul, Frida Kahlo, Margot Tenenbaum, Larry David & Richard Harrow.
If you’re in the mood for a fashion-forward costume check out Fashionologie’s Fashion in Costume: A Look Back at Halloweens Past for great inspiration from models, fashion designers, and couture collections.
Are you a movie lover? Check out Refinery 29’s
5 Big-Screen Halloween Costumes That Are Total Oscar Winners! I love these kinds of costumes since they’re always a little open to interpretation and this post includes gems like Liv Tyler’s character in Empire Records, Liz Taylor’s Cleopatra, Daisy from The Great Gatsby – The original or the upcoming remake – The Queen of Hearts from Alice In Wonderland, and Tippi Hedren in Hitchcock’s The Birds.
If you’re not interested in spending a fortune on your costume, want to find something wholly unique, or even if want a costume made up of pieces that you can wear again, heading to a vintage shop is a great option. Fun ideas from Refinery 29’s How To Thirft 6 Super-Easy Halloween Costumes include Martha Stewart, fisherman from The Deadliest Catch, and The Rockettes.

Doing your makeup for Halloween can be one of the most fun parts of getting ready. Whether you’re recreating Cleopatra’s famous exotic kohl-lined eyes, adding oozing sores & blood for a Walking Dead-inspired get up, or whiting your face out so you can be a Vampire or mime. The Glamourai put together fabulous tutorials to help you perfect the makeup for your costumes – Everything from the wide-eyed look of the 60’s to the glamorous white-faced Geishas to Bogie-inspired detectives – { DIY } Halloween Beauty Ideas, { Behind The Scenes } Spooktacular Beauty & { Ghoul’s Night Out }.
As for my costume this year I wanted to be the Mad Hatter… But the costume I ordered didn’t fit. Either of them. 😦

But with a last-minute party scheduled for this evening in Sacramento and no costume planned yet I’ll be giving you hints and sneak peeks of my shopping & planning all day today… So be sure to keep an eye on Twitter, Facebook, and/or Instagram for updates!
Have you picked your Halloween costume yet? What’s the most creative costume that you’ve ever worn?
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October 20, 2012 | Categories: Fashion | Tags: 1920's, 1960's, 1970'd, 1980's, 20's, 2012 costume, 2012 costume ideas, 60's, 60s costume, 60s makeup, 60s model, 70's, 70s costume, 70s makeup, 70s model, 80's, 80's movies, 80s movie costume, 90's movies costumes, 90s movies, Alfred Hitchcock, Alice, Alice In Wonderland, All Hallows Eve, Almost Famous, art deco, audrey hepburn, Autumn, beauty, Beauty Ideas, Beauty products, Big-screen costumes, Blogger, Blogger fashion, Blogger Street Style, Blogger Streetstyle, blogger style, Bogart, Bogie, Bogie & Bacall, Bohemian, bohemian chic, boho, boho chic, Breakfast at Tiffany's, Caddy Shack, Caddy Shack costume, Carey Mulligan, Carnival, Carnival reveller, Carnivale, cat-eye, cat-eye makeup, Cher Horowitz, Christian Slater, Cleopatra, Cleopatra makeup, Clue, Clueless, Clueless costume, Corey Mason, costume ideas, costume makeup, Costumes, couple costume, couples costumes, Couture, couture costume, Creative costume, Daisy, Daisy costume, David Larry, Deadliest Catch, Deadliest Catch costume, Designer costume, Detective, Dia De Los Muertos, DIY, DIY Costume, DIY Halloween, DIY Halloween Beauty, DIY Halloween Beauty Ideas, Do It Yourself, Do It Yourself Costume, Do It Yourself Halloween, Drag, Drag Queen, dramatic eye, dramatic makeup, dressing in drag, easy costume, elaborate mask, Empire Records, exotic eyes, eyeline, eyeliner, fake eyelashes, Fall, Fall 2012, Fall Holidays, Fashion, Fashion Blogger, Fashion Blogger Fashion, Fashion Blogger Street Style, Fashion Blogger Streetstyle, Fashion Blogger Style, fashion costume, Fashion Designer, Fashion Designer costume, Fashion-forward, Fashionologie, fashionology, fisherman, For Halloween, Frida Kahlo, Fun costumes, Gatsby, Gatsby chic, Gatsby costume, Gatsby Fashion, Gatsby Girls, Gatsby Style, Gatsby-inspired, geisha, Geisha costume, Geisha makeup, Ghoul, Ghoul’s Night Out, Glamorous Geisha, Great Gatsby, Great Gatsby costume, group costume, Gwenyth Paltrow, Gwyneth Paltrow, Halloween, Halloween Beauty, Halloween costume, Halloween makeup, handmade costume, Heathers, Heathers costume, Helena Bonham Carter, Hippie, hippie chic, Hitchcock, Holidays, Holly Golightly, Humphrey Bogart, Japanese makeup, Jason Wu, Kelly Framel, lady gaga, Lady Gaga’s masquerade ball, Leonardo DiCaprio, Liquid eyeliner, Liv Tyler, Liz Taylor, London mod, Looking glass, make up, makeup, Makeup how to, Makeup products, Makeup tutorial, makup for costumes, Margot Tenenbaum, Martha Stewart, mask, masquerade ball, Memoires of a Geisha, Mia Farrow, Mime, Mod, Mod costume, Mod makeup, Mod model, Movie character costume, Movie costume, Movie costumes, Movie Halloween Costumes, Movies, Mrs. Peacock, P.I., pairs costume, Penny Lane, Pin up, pin up girl, plaid skirt, Prabal Gurung, Private eye, products, Queen of Heart, Queen of Hearts, quick & easy costume, quick costume, Refinery 29, Refinery29, Retro, retro-inspired, Richard Harrow, Robert Redford, Rupaul, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Fashion Blogger, San Francisco Street Style, San Francisco Streetstyle, San Francisco style, SF, SF Fashion, SF Fashion Blogger, SF Street Style, SF Streetstyle, SF Style, Shannen Doherty, shopping at thrift store, Sleuth, smoky eye, Spooktacular Beauty, Steve Jobs, Street style, Streetstyle, Style, Sugarhigh, The Birds, The Glamourai, The Great Gatsby, The Man Repeller, The Rockettes, The Tenenbaums, thrift, thrift costume, thrift shopping, Thrift store, thrift store costume, thrifting, Through The Lookingglass, Tippi Hedren, Tippi Hedren in The Birds, twiggy, Twiggy makeup, Twilight, Vampire, Venetian, Venetian Carnival reveller, Venetian Carnivale, Venetian mask, Venice, vintage, Vintage inspired, Walking Dead, White Rabbit, Winter, Winter 2013, Zombie, Zombie costume | 3 Comments
Fall is by far my favorite season – I love the weather, I love the fashion, I love the holidays, I even love the decorations – From Halloween pumpkins to Autumn leaves to Thanksgiving turkeys. And here in San Francisco, Fall has most definitely arrived.

As far as I’m concerned the decorations box or closet it one of the best parts about changing seasons! So why not try some of these fun ideas to spice up your home for Fall – Glitter Guide’s 10 Simple Fall Decorating Ideas.
If you’d like some seasonal pictures frames why not try this too cute technique to spice up your photos! Easy Halloween Framed Pictures from Lilac & Lace.
If you’re not in the mood for traditional orange pumpkins this season than give this fun new style a try – DIY Glitter Pumpkins from The Glitter Guide.
Taste of Fall
A lot of what makes Fall to me is what I’m putting in my mouth! 🙂 I’m always dying to break out the squash, pumpkin, and apple pie by the time Summer wraps up. Here are some fabulous recipes to get you in the mood too.


What’s your favorite part about Fall? Do you like recipes that showcase all of the Fall produce that’s hitting the stores?
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October 8, 2012 | Categories: Fashion, Fitness, Food | Tags: Almond cheese, Almond parmesan, Angela Liddon, Apartment decor, Apartment decorating, Apartment Decorations, Apple cider, Apple cookies, Apple Pie, Apple Pie Smoothie, Apple smoothie, Autumn centerpiece, Autumn Decor, Autumn decorating, Autumn decorations, Autumn Holidays, Autumn leaves, Butter, butter recipe, Butternut squash, Butternut squash and kale, canned pumpkin, Caramel Apple, Caramel Apple Chip Cookies, Caramel cookies, centerpiece, Chai Spice, Chai Spice Snickerdoodles, Cheesecake bites, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread, Chocolate Mousse, Choosing Raw, Cinnamon rolls, Cocktails for Fall, Cookie recipes, Creamy Pumpkin Pie Smoothie, Decor, decorating, Decorations, designer decorations, designer pumpkins, DIY decor, DIY decorations, DIY Holiday Decorations, DIY Picture Frame, Do it yourself decor, Do it yourself decorations, Do It Yourself holiday decorations, Drinks for Fall, Eat Live Run, Fall, fall baking, Fall beverages, fall centerpiece, Fall cocktails, Fall cookies, Fall decorating, Fall Decorations, Fall desserts, Fall drinks, Fall Holidays, Fall leaves, Fall smoothie, Fashion, Festive cocktails, Flavored butter, Food blog, food blogger, Fresh pumpkin, Gena Hamshaw, Glitter Guide, Gluten-free, gluten-free bread, gluten-free desserts, gluten-free pumpkin bread, gluten-free recipes, gold pumpkin, Halloween, Halloween decor, Halloween decorating, Halloween decorations, Halloween Picture Frames, Holiday, holiday centerpiece, Holiday decor, Holiday decorating, Holiday decorations, Holidays, Home decor, Home decorating, Home Decorations, homemade butter, how to buy a car, How To Roast A Sugar Pumpkin, in Pudding, in Pudding and Chocolate Mousse Parfait, Jenna Webber, Kale, Mantle, Mantle decor, Nightmare Before Christmas, Nut cheese, Nut cheese recipe, OhSheGlows, Parfait, Pecan cheese, Pecan Parmesan, Picture Frames, Post Punk Kitchen, Pumpkin, Pumpkin Bread, Pumpkin butter, pumpkin cheesecake, Pumpkin Cheesecake Bites, pumpkin cinnamon rolls, Pumpkin puree, Pumpkin Rolls, pumpkin seeds, Pumpkin Smoothie, Raw breakfast, raw desserts, raw diet, raw food, raw food diet, raw recipes, Roasted Butternut Squash, roasted pumpkin, Root vegetable recipes, root vegetables, Root veggies, silver pumpkin, Snickerdoodles, Spiked cider, Spiked Cider Cocktail, squash, Squash and Kale, Sugar Pumpkin, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving decor, Thanksgiving decorating, Thanksgiving decorations, The Fitnessista, The Glitter Guide, Turkey, Turkey decor, turkey decorations, Vegan, vegan blog, Vegan bread, Vegan Cinnamon Rolls, vegan cookies, vegan dessert, Vegan food blogger, Vegan living, Vegan mousse, vegan parfait, Vegan pudding, vegan pumpkin bread, Vegan Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls, Vegan recipes, veganism, Veganism for beginners, Vegetarian, Vegetarian living, Vegetarian recipes, vegetarianism | 5 Comments
Fashion:
Whether you’re watching the US Open or America’s Cup, a stylish spectator outfit is a must – US Open 2012 from Net-A-Porter.
Are you starting to prepare your wardrobe for Fall? A great skirt with tights & killer boots is always a fabulous option so check out WhoWhatWear’s suggestions for Fall 2012 – Market Watch: Fall Skirts.
One thing that I always look forward to when Fashion Month rolls around are the Garance Dore and Net-A-Porter Fashion Week video collaborations Pardon My French. She talks to fashion greats, reviews the collections, meets designers, interviews fashion insiders, and just generally gives you a great behind-the-scenes look at all of the Fashion Month madness.
You know how much I adore a versatile piece in my wardrobe – especially when it comes to packing for a trip. Refinery 29 clearly agrees – Oxford Shirt Styling Tips: 1 Oxford Shirt, 3 Easy Ways To Style It.
One of the fun Fall trends this year will be finding pieces that have your favorite artwork translated onto them – Whether you’re a fan of the Renaissance Masters or Graphic novels, there are pieces out there for everyone! This Time Tomorrow – Wearing Your Art On Your Sleeve.
Health/Fitness:

Don’t have time for a run? Not interested in the membership fees at your local gym? Why not head online to find the perfect workout for yourself – Fit Club: The Country’s Best Virtual Workouts.
Are you looking for some healthy meals to feed your family to ensure that they’re getting all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that they need? Here are some great recipes to try:

No matter how much time you spend in the kitchen familiarizing yourself with new tools – or re-familiarizing yourself with tools you haven’t used in a while – is an important part of staying on top of things so check out The Blissful Chef’s Cooking Tool of the Month Series.
Medicine and bosu balls are two of my favorite gym toys – If you use them right they can keep your workouts both challenging and fun. Don’t believe me? Check out FitSugar’s Don’t Let the Medicine Ball Intimidate You — 5 Easy Moves!
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September 30, 2012 | Categories: Fashion, Fitness, Food, Links You'll Love | Tags: 1920's, 20's, 20's fashion, 20's inspired, 20's style, Amanda de Cadenet, America's Cup, America's Cup World Series, Angela Liddon, Anna Dello Russo, Apartment decor, Apartment decorating, art deco, Autumn Decor, Autumn decorating, autumn decorating ideas, Autumn decorations, baroque, Baroque art, Baroque Masters, beginner fitness, beginner workouts, behind the scenes, Belle Maison, Blogger, Blogger fashion, Blogger Street Style, blogger style, Bohemian, bohemian chic, boho, boho chic, bombshell, bosu ball, bosu ball workout, brights, Brocade, cartoon fashion, circle skirt, Comic books, comics, Cooking appliances, Cooking tools, Daisy, Decor, decorating, decorating ideas, Decorations, DIY, Do It Yourself, dramatic, easy decorating ideas, Easy Fall decor, Easy meals, easy recipes, Easy vegan recipe, Evan Thomas, Fall, Fall 2012, Fall 2012 clothes, Fall 2012 Fashion, Fall 2012 skirts, Fall 2012 Style, Fall 2012 Trends, Fall clothes, Fall Clothing, Fall Decor, Fall Decorating ideas, Fall Decorations, Fall Fashion, Fall Muffins, Fall skirts, Fall Style, Fall trends, Fall/Winter, Fall/Winter 2012 Trends, Fall/Winter 2012/2013, Fashion, Fashion Blogger Fashion, Fashion Blogger Street Style, Fashion Blogger Streetstyle, Fashion Blogger Style, Fashion interview, Fashion Week, Fitness, fitness goals, FitSugar, fluted skirt, Follow Your Bliss, Food, Food processor, Garance Dore, Gatsby, Gatsby chic, Gatsby Fashion, Gatsby Girls, Gatsby Style, Gatsby-inspired, Glitter Guide, gluten free baking, gluten free muffins, Gluten-free, gluten-free desserts, gluten-free meals, grain-free, grain-free muffins, graphic novels, Great Gatsby, Halloween, Halloween decor, Halloween decorating, Halloween decorations, health, healthy life, healthy lifestyle, healthy living, Hippie, hippie chic, Hollywood, Hollywood Golden Age, Home decor, Home decorating, Jazz age, jewel tones, Kitchen appliances, Kitchen tools, mandolin, MBFW, medicine ball, medicine ball workout, Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, Mini skirt, Miss Lily's, mix and match, mix n match, mixing & matching, mixing & matching patterns, mixing and matching, Muffin recipe, Net-A-Porter, New York Fashion Week, Nutrition, NYFW, OhSheGlows, old school, Old school glamour, one shirt three ways, online workouts, Oxford, Oxford Shirt, panel skirt, paneled skirt, panels, Pardon My French, patterend panels, Patterns, Pencil skirt, Photographer, pilates, Pin up, pin up girl, pinup, pinup girl, printed skirt, prints, Pumpkins, quick & easy, quick & easy meals, quick & easy recipes, Quick meals, quick recipes, Quick vegan recipe, Race watching, Refinery 29, Refinery29, Renaissance, Renaissance art, Renaissance Masters, Retro, retro-inspired, San Francisco Fashion, San Francisco Fashion Blogger, San Francisco shopping, San Francisco Street Style, San Francisco style, Seasonal decor, Seasonal decorating, secretary look, secretary skirt, sexy secretary, SF Fashion, SF Fashion Blogger, SF Shopping, SF Street Style, SF Style, sheer panels, simple decorating ideas, Simple Fall Decor, Skirts, Spectator, Spiralizer, sport, sports, Sports watching, squash noodle, squash pasta, Street style, Streetstyle, Style, The Blissful Chef, The Glitter Guide, The Great Gatsby, The Wannabe Chef, This Time Tomorrow, US Open, Vegan, vegan baking, Vegan meals, vegan muffins, Vegan recipes, veganism, vegetable noodle, vegetable slicer, Vegetarian, vegetarian baking, Vegetarian meals, Vegetarian recipes, vegetarianism, veggie noodle, veggie pasta, veggie slicer, Versatile, versatile pieces, vintage, Vintage inspired, vintage inspired fashion, Vogue, Vogue.com, WhoWhatWear, working out, workouts, workouts for beginners, workouts online, yoga, zucchini, zucchini noodle | 1 Comment
Other than my dear friend Liz, the remainder of the MCLV Personal Style photographs are taken by the current boyfriend Sean. He has written a guest post for us in the past and trained me in the ways of CrossFit, but has never been featured on the blog for his fashion prowess before.
That is, until today.
True, he spends the majority of his waking hours in workout clothes, but when he does deign to put on street clothes, he has a great personal style.

When we initially met in our senior year of high school he was extremely preppy – Polo shirts, button downs, and wool or cashmere collared coats. But over the years his style relaxed, becoming more and more low-key, and when we got back together two years ago he wore very little other than t-shirts, jeans, and flip-flops.

But miracle of miracles, over the last two years his sense of style has begun evolving again. And more than that, he has actually started to enjoy clothes and fashion more, like he did when he was younger. Now he shops online, asks for advice on putting together pieces in his wardrobe & picking things out, and genuinely has an interest in shopping and expanding his wardrobe.

These days he prefers to keep his daily look low-key and minimal, and primarily wears black, white, and navy. Jeans are usually his preference and he traditionally pairs them with a Lacoste Pima V-Neck, a button down, or a Polo shirt. As for brands, we’ve found that the shirts that fit him best are Express for Men and Lacoste, they both have slim fit versions that work well for his frame.

When it comes to shoes he’s tried virtually everything, from boots to slip-ons to boat shoes to loafers. He loves slip ons and its all I can do to make sure he doesn’t wear his rubber soled slippers out of the house. The most worn pair of shoes he has are his tan, lace-up Banana Republic loafers, but he did just get a new pair of slip-on boat shoes that are very versatile.
They can even be worn with pink!

And a style post wouldn’t be complete without mentioned his creativity, he picked a kick-ass Halloween costume last year that suited him quite well despite being an incredibly last-minute choice – The Travelocity Gnome! 🙂

In the mood for more? Check out my Let’s Hear It For The Boys post filled with tips, ideas, and inspiration for putting together a complete and stylish wardrobe.
What do you like most on the men in your life? Are there certain styles that appeal to you more than others? When it comes to mens accessories, do you think less is more?
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July 26, 2012 | Categories: Fashion, Fitness, Food | Tags: American River Crossfit, ARCFit, Banana Republic, boat shoes, boy clothes, Boys, Button down, button down shirt, cashmere coat, casual, casual clothes, casual clothing, Coat, collared coat, CrossFit, dress clothes, dress shirt, dress shoes, Express for men, Fasting, Gap, Gnome costume, gym, gym clothes, Halloween, Halloween costume, Intermittent Fasting, intermittent fasting and meal frequency, Intermittent Training & Stubborn Body Fat, jacket, Jeans, Lacoste, loafers, Low-Intensity Fasted Cardio, low-key, male clothes, Martin Berkhan, men, mens clothing, mens style, Menswear, online shopping, Pima V-Neck, polo, Polo shirt, relaxed, Sacramento CrossFit Gym, Sacramento gyms, shirt, Slacks, slip ons, slippers, Street Clothes, street fashion, Street style, T-shirt, tee, top siders, Travelocity Gnome, v-neck, wardrobe must haves, what a man should have in his closet, Wool coat, working out, workout, workout clothes, worn jeans | 2 Comments
And by candy I mean fabulous things that I want – Jewelry, clothes, nail art, and accessories galore. All with fabulous skull designs.
So… I have a thing for skulls. Not a creepy morbid type of thing or a Halloween-only thing, just a deep and enduring love of all things skull adorned.
I think perhaps because I’m born on Dia De Los Muertos…

I mean, how cute is that???
So in celebration of my skull love I’d like to share some adorable pieces and pictures and inspiration that I’ve found, and hopefully convert you all!
How killer are these leggings? I love the idea of a fun printed piece like this one taking center stage in an otherwise minimally styled look, but Fashion Coolture proves you can take things a step further and add another printed piece like this striped top. It’s busy but it works.

Why not wear a swimsuit with your pants? Why not wear a skull adorned swimsuit with your pants?

{Top Left: Nemesis Women’s Punk Rock Collection Skull Leather Cuff Band Watch – $40 @ Endless.com, Top Right: Dogeared Skull Charm – $35 @ CUSP, Bottom Left: Alexander McQueen Swarovski Skull Ring – $200 @ Net-A-Porter, and Bottom Right: Cherry Skull Double Wrap Bracelet – $250 @ Alexander McQueen}
Clearly Lee McQueen and I had something in common…
And just in case you were worried that skulls were too serious for your style, Betsey Johnson gave them a colorful new makeover!

{ Left: Betsey Johnson “Rio” Skull and Cherry Mismatch Earrings – $50 @ Endless.com & Right: Betsey Johnson Skull Fruit Stud Earring – $30 @ Piperlime}
And the new piece that I just ordered online in celebration of this post?


{You can shop similarly adorable Skull Candy pieces over at ASOS Fashion Finder}
Come on, tell me the truth, are you a convert now? 🙂
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July 19, 2012 | Categories: Fashion | Tags: Alexander McQueen, Amazon, Anouska Proetta Brandon, Asos, Asos Fashion Finder, Asos.com, Betsey Johnson, Betsey Johnson "Rio" Skull and Cherry Mismatch Earrings, Black nail polish, Blame It On Rio, blood red nail polish, Brazilian fashion, Brazilian fashion blogger, Brazilian style, Cherry Skull Double Wrap Bracelet, crimson nails, CUSP, CUSP by Neiman Marcus, Dia De Los Muertos, Dogeared, Endless.com, Fashion, Fashion Coolture, Flavia, Flavia Desgranges van der Linden, gold jewelry, Gold Skull Jewelry, Halloween, Irish fashion, Irish Fashion Blogger, Irish Street Style, Irish Style, J.Brand, Leather Cuff Band Watch, Lee McQueen, manicure, Manouch, nail art, Nail Art 101, nails, Neiman Marcus, Nemesis, Net-A-Porter, pedicure, Peoples Market, Peoples Market Skull Blouse, Piperlime, Punk Rock Collection, punk rocker, Rio, Sequined skull tee, Silver Mystery Skull, skinny black pants, Skull, Skull accessories, skull and cross bones, Skull bathing suit, Skull blouse, Skull bracelet, Skull candy, Skull Charm, skull design, Skull Earrings, Skull Fruit Stud Earring, skull jewelry, skull nail art, Skull Nail Art Tutorial, Skull nails, Skull necklace, Skull one piece, Skull pendant, skull print, Skull ring, Skull tee, Skull Watch, Skulls, Street style fashion, Style, Swarovski crystal double-skull ring, The Man Repeller, TMR, Wikipedia, Women's Watch, Wrap bracelet | 1 Comment