Friday, April 11, 2014

You're Handsome, I'm Handsome, WE ARE HANDSOME

Australia has stolen my heart. It all started with Tiny Tea and then I magically found Beginning Boutique. Next thing you know I'm scrolling through travel pictures and planning my fantasy vacation to Australia… *sigh*

The Mercedes-Benz Australian fashion week has been going on all week and I've found some new favorite designers I want to share with all of you. Since it's warming up quickly over here in Cali, let's start with the fabulous swimwear of We Are Handsome.


We Are Handsome has the most amazing prints for bikinis, one pieces, and cover ups. They stick to animal prints, jungle themes, or beach views. The first time I was introduced to them was through this flawless *cheeky* picture: 

Get the bikini here

You've probably also seen Rihanna and other celebrities wearing their swimsuits on vacation: 
Get a similar print here

This week though they took the animal prints to a whole new level. They had a live snake slithering around models next during the fashion show! Animals make any fashion show instantly more magical (see ETAM's show from 2011)




I absolutely love this blue floral tiger pattern


Goddess





Their new collection "Tropic of Babylon" is available online and in stores now and includes swimsuits, coverups, dresses, leggings and more! See some shots from the collection below:





*Dreaming of sunshine*

Ciao ciao, 
Kk



Tuesday, April 8, 2014

What to wear while working out

In the latest issue of American Vogue, Emily Holt writes a charming and relateable article on her transition from "ratty" tshirts and stretched out yoga pants to nike pants and Athleta tanks. Her article argues that a more styled outfit not only makes you look hotter, but encourages you to work harder too.

Now I half agree and half disagree with the article. I personally know how motivating sleek new workout gear can be. Two Christmases ago I got nike running gear, loads of it. I was in workout clothes heaven and wore my new gear for weeks. It made me look smaller without even having to leave my room! And wearing workout gear throughout the day actually motivated me to workout more. 

When I went on my first long run though, I started to notice my nike sports bra, despite being adorably cute, was cutting into my skin. Then Victoria secret came out with vs sport and the pink line picked up workout gear too. I got a few of the pink yoga pants and a vs sport bra. The yoga pants were comfy and adorable, but instantly showed sweat anytime I worked out! The first time I wore them to the gym my mom asked me if I wet my pants... Not a good look. The vs sports bra also cuts into my skin while I'm running long distances, but it does make me feel like a sexy superhero so I'm keeping it for yoga classes ;) 

The outfit that I've settled on for long distance running is my nike running tights, a tank or tshirt, and sports bras from target! Seriously, they're super cheap but get the job done and never cut into my skin.

If your looking for funny workout tshirts or tanks go to lookhuman.com

That's where I got this baby:

Channel your inner Elle Woods on your next workout 😊

Here are some more adorable workout tanks from look human:

Go to their website and search for your favorite music artist, movie, or pop culture reference and find the right tank for you! 



So I obviously still wear my nike bras when I'm doing shorter runs, or when I really want a cute outfit to motivate me 😜 

The one thing I'm in total agreement with Emily Holt is get the right shoes for your workout! I know nike makes cute pink cross trainers and tie dye unicorn sneakers but don't fall for it! Make sure your shoes match the workouts you'll be doing or your just going to destroy your body. I found that Brooks Ghosts work really well with my specific running stride so I just keep going back :) 

If you're experiencing shin splins I would also highly encourage you to get some compression sleeves. You can get them in different colors to match your workout clothes/shoes. I got green ones for a st Patricks day half marathon:


I also use kt tape for shin splins, ankle pain, and runners knee. Again they come in almost every color:

My point is, find the clothes that work best for you! If you've been stuck in the ratty tshirt and worn out yoga pants, switch it up! Try some running tights or tanks made specifically for working out! If you find that designer workout gear isn't ... Working out... Ditch them and go back to your tshirts. Working out is a personal thing. Were all working towards different goals and we all have different comfort levels.

Just make sure you have the right shoes!!!

Ciao ciao,
Kk

Monday, April 7, 2014

Marathon milestones and organic beauty supplies


My marathon is suddenly just around the corner. I feel like it was just last week when I was doing 15 miles but now I'm doing 20! Finally! I found an awesome park with plenty of wildlife to run around. 
Because that really is the best part of running: exploring. Exploring your neighborhood, exploring other neighborhoods, exploring the beach, exploring the city. Everything. 

Just the other day I was driving somewhere and kept thinking "this is too far!!". Traffic usually makes me anxious and I always end up stressing about what I need to do as soon as I get to the place I'm going, and then what I need to do when I get home. 

Two days after that particular drive (that was too far) I went on a 7 mile run and ended up at the spot I was driving too before. This time it seemed so close! And the trip was so relaxing! I had completely missed all the beautiful white flowers popping up out of the sidewalk, and the perfectly sculpted golf course with just one random palm tree growing in the oddest directions. I had missed so much beauty hiding in my own neighborhood!


This park is only about a 2 mile loop. Which does in fact get a little boring at times. The wildlife there was enough to keep me entertained for most of the run. Take this guy, he kept trotting behind me every time I passed him until I was just out of his reach. I think he's a goose? Or some large duck? Comment below if you know! I've never seen one colored like this. 


Of course a lot of my run was in a more urban setting. The view from the overpass at sunset was cracking me up: 

Finally, I had finished my 20 miles!! Now to celebrate with a philosophy bubble bath and some Tiny tea =) 

Cheers!

If you've read some of my previous posts, you know I've started eating only organic foods. Well I decided during my run that I should move to organic beauty products as well. 

Burt's Bees facial cleansing towelettes: First off… they work. Make up remover wipes that get EVERYTHING off are rare (at least in my opinion) so I was worried a natural wipe wouldn't do the trick. Secondly, they smell amazing. The white tea extract smells refreshing and soothes your mind before ever even touching your face. Now I was looking for only organic products but these were the only make up remover wipes I could find at my local organic/vegan/etc. store. The 99.1% natural is a bit strange… but I googled all of the ingredients I didn't know of (linalool, limonene, dicaprylyl carbonate) and they all turned out to be natural chemical compounds. 

Meanwhile my last makeup wipes (Olay fresh effects) have an abundance of chemicals I didn't know of. The first one I googled was dimethicone, and after reading reviews and explanations from multiple sources I've learned that dimethicone forms a artificial coating on the outside layer of your skin. This means that it not only traps a bunch of gunk underneath that artificial coating (hellllooooo break outs) but it also can make your skin age faster because it's keeping your skin from doing its normal routine. 

Another ingredient in my old makeup wipes was polysorbate 20. I did some research and it sounds like polysorbate in it's natural form is harmless, but the "20" means that the polysorbate has been treated with 20 parts of ethylene oxide. Anything that has been treated with ethylene oxide has the potential of being contaminated with 1,4-Dioxane. All bad. Check for polysorbate 20 in your ingredients, it could be why your having an allergic reaction to the product (found in sunscreens and soaps too!). And remember, absorbing chemicals into your skin gets even worse in a hot shower/bath when your pores are wide open!


The second product I got was this lovely anti itch cream. Apparently mosquitos like to hang out at the park I ran around for four hours… 
Anyways, I was again worried that the product wouldn't work because it's organic. At first I thought it wasn't working at all but it just takes some time to work! Unlike other anti itch creams, like cortisone-10, this one took a good ten minutes to start working. It even has some texture to it which made my bites feel itchier at first, but after 24 hours of use I'm itch free and the bites have almost vanished! Huzzah!



I also stocked up on Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps!! These soaps are AMAZING. They smell and feel like heaven and your skin just loves you after using it. I have one at each sink and one in my shower. They are seriously mother earth's gift to mankind and everyone who uses mine immediately asks where I got them (at Mother's market!). 


Finally… and probably the most horrifying… is conditioner. I have a HUGE head of curly, thirsty, crazy hair. Conditioners have always been a product I will drop plenty of money on to ensure they will actually help my mess of hair. I haven't used this conditioner yet (still using up the last bit of my old one) but I'm crossing my fingers I have as much luck with this as with the other products. 

Helios (beta below) and I are both getting rid of harmful products. This poor little guy had an addiction to a squeaky shark toy but that toy seems to have been harming the water (the toy was originally washed with a product to make it safe for a fish tank  but doesn't look like it worked). 

He's pretty upset I took his "buddy" but his water is looking a lot cleaner. Here's hoping my natural products will help my skin look and feel better as well!

Ciao ciao, 
Kk


Sunday, April 6, 2014

New blooms and my new summer uniform

Ladies and gentlemen may I introduce my new favorite outfit and my baby plants!!!

I can't even begin to describe how perfect this two piece set is!! The top is a halter top with two different ties, so just imagine two bows on the back :) The bottom piece is a skort (something I haven't owned since elementary school). I tore it open as soon as I got it and wore it for the rest of the day while gardening. It's from Beginning boutique and the reason why I am obsessed with their store now.

Click here to go to Beginning Boutique's online store (scroll down to see me on their homepage!!)

Hey there!

Here are some new sunflowers that just started sprouting! I found out this week that it's extremely important to use ONLY organic seeds! Seeds that are not organic usually have the pesticide "neonicotinoid". Neonicotinoids are an insecticide that have a similar chemical make up to nicotine. If your seeds arnt organic, they probably have Neonicotinoids in them, which means if your planting "bee friendly" plants but they're not organic, they're actually killing the bees!!!

I had to toss out some seeds I had that weren't organic and start all over with organic seeds: 

These seeds might not be organic, but they were a present from the boy :)

I got the day off on Friday so Spencer and I decided to take a morning walk through Disneyland! I'm excited to see the park is planting wildflowers! (Good for bees)

Taking a stroll around the castle ❤️

Dressing up for Disneyland is always half the fun! Wildfox is usually my go to for Disney. Their clothes are quirky, comfy, and usually the perfect pastel colors for Disneyland!

 The tights I wore were another easy go to: DKNY thigh high look a likes! If your a shorter lady like myself, you know how difficult it gets to find the perfect thigh high that stays put and doesn't squeeze the wrong areas. Just toss on a jersey dress and bam! Done.


Sweatshirt: Wildfox "I'm really a unicorn"
Tights: DKNY
Boots: Enzo Angiolini 




I win!!!

Since I live so close... We usually go home to eat lunch and nap haha I wasn't sleepy so I did another outfit change: 

Dress: free people 


Ciao ciao, 
Kk



Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Pokemon and Sailor Moon Trends xo the 90's

This is no April fools joke… Pokemon are popular again…

Many of you probably already know that Google's "April Fools" prank was … well not really a prank. Actually it's more like the only reason I ever downloaded the Google app. The only thing keeping me from deleting it so far is I haven't found all 152 yet (but I did just find a list of all the locations in case you want to beat your friends… mawhahaha)

It's pretty amusing to find Pokemon wandering around your map:

All you have to do to play is download google maps or update your app and hit start!

The video for this new game is more like a prank because it makes it look like you can see Pokemon on your phone as you walk around. Seriously though that would probably cause a lot of accidents, but can you imagine really going on a hike and seeing a Charizard running at you through your phone??

Ok, maybe it's just my generation. I used to collect the cards in elementary school but instead of "battling" them I would literally draw pictures of a ranch with all of the Pokemon in certain spots (plants type in the garden etc.). I was ten don't judge too harshly…

Here's the video: 




I gave up with Pokemon after Mew. I had a goal of 150, and as soon as they raised the bar I was done. The pictures are still adorable though and have in all seriousness really influenced my own sketching and drawings (I do cartoon pin-ups for friends and my sketches are very cartoony in general). Here are some old favorites of mine:


 


Which were your favorites?? Comment below xo

I know that they're still making new Pokemon (I don't know most of the ones google wants me to find) and new games and movies etc. but I'm happy to say the classic Pokemon are getting a nod from the fashion world as well. 

The brand O-Mighty is known for making clothes covered in famous prints. They have Hey Arnold! tees, little Mermaid clothes, and even old computer logos are printed over and over on tees. I honestly hate their website and have never been able to last more than a few seconds on it. It's just too much going on and you're not able to do a quick search for the item you want (who has time to scroll through all those pages!?).  I gave up on the company awhile ago but am happy to say I found a new store that carries a few of their items! 

Everyone, I give you my new favorite store: Beginning Boutique
Beginning Boutique has an amazing selection of romantic, hip, trendy, and silly clothes (and incredible jewelry!!).  I've recently purchased a set from them that I'm excited to post about in the near future. But now… for the Pokemon tops!!

Beginning Boutique currently has Squirtle and Charmander crop tops available: 


The coloring of the Squirtle one actually looks better in real life (in my opinion). See a Beginning Boutique customer in the Squirtle top below: 



So adorable! 

Beginning Boutique also has an Artemis Crop available: 

If you don't know who Artemis is, he's Sailor Venus' side kick in the Sailor Moon mangas (and tv show). The Manga books are still available (and covered in beautiful images). I wish Naoko Takeuchi would make more of them!

Naoko's drawings were another strong influencing factor in the development of my own sketching methods: 


Venus and Artemis



*So dreamy*

Plenty of other companies have already made Artemis and Luna (black cat) themed clothes. Take for example Brandy Melville: 

And Wildfox: 

Both of these tops are sold out from the stores but occasionally pop back up on eBay. That's how I found my Luna Baggy Beach jumper from Wildfox: 

I was wearing it over a maxi dress while exploring Santa Cruz last summer ❤️


Rumor has it there is going to be a new Sailor Moon series coming out soon!! I've been combing the internet regularly looking for updates ;) The 90s child in me is so incredibly happy right now. 

Ciao ciao, 
Kk