With winter here, the cold weather, and the holidays in the air, hot chocolate is the perfect comfort drink for the season. I was craving a rich cup of hot chocolate last night so I decided to make one and add a little fun spin to it...by making it a red velvet hot chocolate!
So red velvet cake is basically a cake flavored with cocoa powder for a chocolate-y taste and vinegar to make the cake rich and fluffy. Red food coloring started being added to this cake batter years after its creation to enhance the red color. I basically added these same concepts (minus the vinegar) to typical hot chocolate ingredients. It turns out so rich and, well...velvety! You'll definitely want to share these with friends and family.
These are the ingredients I used...
I started by simmering skim 1% milk in a pot. Most people use whole milk, which makes the drink creamier, but I personally can't take the taste of all the fat in whole milk.
After simmering the milk, I added cocoa powder and semisweet chocolate until the chocolate melted and the cocoa was incorporated. To the mixture, I added vanilla and some red food coloring to enhance the chocolate flavors and intensify the red color. And voila!
I topped it all off with mini marshmallows which nicely melt into the hot chocolate. I'm dreaming of this hot chocolate as I type this, it was that good! (Recipe at end of post)
I enjoyed my yummy red velvet hot chocolate by the fireplace surrounded by Christmas decor.
Ingredients:
2 cups milk of your choice
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 cup of semi sweet chocolate (chopped or chocolate chips)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon red food coloring
Directions:
1. Put the milk into a pot and heat on medium until it simmers.
2. Once the milk has simmered, add the cocoa powder and semi sweet chocolate and whisk until melted and incorporated into the milk.
3. Add the vanilla and food coloring. Whisk until incorporated.
4. Ladle the hot chocolate into a mug and too with marshmallows.
This weekend I had the honor of attending the wedding of a close friend of my boyfriend's. It was a beautiful wedding, and it was apparent the couple was really happy. In addition to the traditional Armenian dinner, they had a buffet of every type of seafood you could imagine plus a whole roasted alligator, which I tried for the first time! (tasted like chicken)
I really wanted to step up my fashion game for this wedding and I was so happy with how my look turned out. I received so many compliments so I wanted to share my outfit and where you can shop for each piece.
Here's my entire look...
My dress is from Her Velvet Vase. I fell in love with it immediately when I saw it online. It's super fashion forward and the top draping gives it an edge, while also covering any problem areas I had around my waist.
My shoes are from Nine West, and I have to say they were extremely comfortable for being a high stiletto heel. It was perfect for dancing the night away. I got them a while ago, but I found them still available here.
My necklace is inspired by Cartier Amulette collection and I snagged this piece at Levik's Jewelers.
Lastly, I really wanted to pair my red dress with red lips so I ventured out to Ulta and discovered this Matte Lip Cream from NYX in Amsterdam and it was amazing. It goes on like a gloss but it's consistency is like a cream and it stays matte on your lips. I found also that I didn't have to keep reapplying it all night because it stayed very well. These lip creams come in a set of 3 including this red Amsterdam color.
What do you guys think of my look? What are some of your favorite black tie looks? Share them with me!
It's December! I really can't believe how fast the year went by, but I am also so excited for the end of the year holidays. I love decorating and entertaining with festive ornaments, decor, and accoutrements and I want to share some of my favorite swag of this season. These pieces are trendy and really compliment most decor that you probably already have, so they are perfect. The prices on them are super budget friendly as well.
1. Mercury Glass Tree - Target
2. Winter Berry Wreath - Nordstrom
3. Gold Antler Pillar Candle Holders - One Kings Lane
4. Merry Christmas Garland - Paper Source
5. Sequin Noel Decorative Pillow - Target
6. Red Etched Cocktail Shaker - Pier One
7. Kate Spade Fa-La-La Globe Ornament - Nordstrom
8. Reindeer Wood Napkin Rings - Paper Source
9. Naughty/Nice Dishtowels - Nordstrom
10. Nordic Snowflake Dishware - Crate and Barrel
I'm wishing all of you happy holidays and hope that you will be reveling in the holiday cheer and entertaining with fun decor and ornaments!
I'm hoping all my followers had a great Thanksgiving and enjoyed the leftovers as much as I did! This year I poked up all my leftovers and made a colossal turkey day sandwich that makes you wish Thanksgiving was every day.
When I say this sandwich is a colossal monster, I'm not kidding. I made this a triple decker sandwich so I could fit all my favorite side dishes into it.
I used oat nut bread and toasted it a bit. You can use your favorite kind of bread, but I find grainy breads like wheat bread go better with the flavors in the rest of the sandwich.
I like warm sandwiches so I heated everything up, including the turkey. To the sandwich, I added stuffing, mashed potatoes, and cranberry mayo, which I made by mixing leftover cranberry sauce with some mayonnaise. All the recipes for these sides can be found on my post on last year's Thanksgiving: http://www.taltalsays.com/2014/11/thanksgiving.html?m=1.
Here's how I assembled my sandwich...
1. Mix 1/4 cup of mayonnaise with 1 tablespoon of cranberry sauce.
2. Toast 3 pieces of desired bread. Spread the cranberry mayonnaise on each slice.
3. Warm the turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes.
4. Start assembling! To the first slice of bread, spread first the stuffing, then the mashed potatoes, and then some turkey.
5. Top this with the second slice of bread and repeat step 4. Top that with the last slice of bread.
It is finally starting to feel like fall in LA (for now) so it's time to bring out your sweaters and coats! I have high hopes this weather will last if only so we can all start wearing the fashion. I love everything about fall...the fashion, the crisp air, the pumpkin treats, and fall air scents. Anyone agree?
Fall, in my opinion, is the most fashionable season because there are so many pieces you can wear and layer. Your body is a beautiful canvas for layering the best trendy fall pieces and I'm here to talk about the trendiest of trends this fall, whether its fashion, accessories, new designer collections, or scents...these are the essentials for any gal!
1. Backpacks: Ditch your ordinary purse this season and opt for a modern, grown up backpack. When a backpack is leather and possibly adorned with studs and such, it takes a school days nostalgia item to an adult world. This Michael Kors pink/beige backpack is really fun and the zippers add a cool element.
2. Suede Apparel: The 70's are totally back this season and suede is a great representation of the era. Suede takes a look to a sophisticated level, good for work and play! I especially like suede pieces in earthy shades like brown, tan, and this burgundy like this burgundy shift dress from Forever 21.
3. Earthy Scented Candles: Gone are the days of pumpkin and gingerbread scented candles for fall. Change up the scent of your home by using candles with earthy scents rather than fruity or typical holiday ones. This Mahogany Teakwood candle from Bath and Body Worksis a perfect woody scent.
4. Marc Jacobs Alice In Wonderland Phone Cases: I am loving Marc Jacobs' new collection of Alice in Wonderland inspired phone cases. There are so many different cases, exhibiting different characters from the movie. This Door Knob character case is my favorite one.
5. Sugar Paper LA for Target: Sugar Paper LA is a really cute stationary store in LA specializing in stationary, gift wrapping, and the like. I was so excited when they brought in a line of products to Target! There are a bunch of really fun gift wrapping supplies just in time for Christmas. All the products have gold accents, which, as you know, is my favorite color accent. This Sugar Paper LA 2016 Planner is so practical, and so pretty to boot!
6. Dark Purple Lips: Berry shade lips scream fall! I'm loving more purple tones, its a cool change from deep red colors. Paired with a fresh face and dramatic lashes, its the perfect look. I'm obsessed with Bite Beauty Cashmere Lip Cream in Bordeaux.
7. Y Necklaces: Y Necklaces are necklaces with a hanging accent that makes the necklace create a Y shape around your neck. I think its super trendy and a great way to bring some attention to your decolletage. It looks amazing worn with a deep cut top. This Vince Camuto Y necklace with crystals has detail to spark interest.
8. Over the Knee Boots: Over the knee boots are kicking booties off the list of fall trends this season. These boots are so chic and pair well with clothes that fit the 70's trend. They look great with dresses and skirts, but just remember not to let the gap between the boots and the hem of your dress or skirt exceed 5 inches. These black suede over the knee boots from H&M are simple yet so, so elegant and fashion forward.
What do you guys think? Are there any other notable trends we can share? Happy fall and happy shopping!
Not to be cliche, but one of my favorite things about fall is the abundance of pumpkins. I love carving and decorating them and I love eating them in various kinds of desserts. And since today is National Pumpkin Day, I wanted to share some pumpkin fun!
I started my day with these cute Halloween themed donuts from Krispy Kreme. The monster donut is a cream filled pumpkin donut and the other one is a pumpkin spice donut. And, of course, I paired it with a pumpkin spice latte. Yuuuumy!
Every year I go to a pumpkin patch here in Los Angeles and buy pumpkins to carve and decorate with my boyfriend and this year, I painted them with a black, white, and gold color scheme. I wanted to make them look like they were all part of a collection. I loved how they turned out! They look like decor you can buy at Home Goods.
I bought some gold studs in square and circle shapes and added them to a black painted pumpkin. I alternates the two stud shapes to add contrast. I painted the mini pumpkin in alternating black and white and added gold glitter to add sparkle.
I made the owl pumpkin using a cool kit from Target. It was super easy...I just painted the pumpkin black and attached the owl eyes, wings, and stars on its chest with adhesive stickers.
My favorite technique was on the white pumpkin. I repurposed some gold flash tattoos I had leftover from the summer and applied them to the skin of the pumpkin. I think it made it look super chic!
Wherever your pumpkin adventures take you, I hope you enjoy it. Take advantage of this yummy treat before the season is over!
This weekend marked the 67th annual Emmy Awards, which honors outstanding television shows. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a huge fan of quality television programming...nothing excites me more than keeping up with shows that keep my curiosity and binge watching shows that I hear are amazing. This year's Emmy's has inspired me to watch so many notable shows and has also left me ecstatic for my favorite shows getting the recognition they deserve.
Everyone (for the most part) on the red carpet was stunning and beautiful. I love my fashion, especially at events like this where celebrities really go all out. Theses are my top 3 favorite looks from last night...aren't these drool worthy?
Taraji P. Henson in custom Alexander Wang
Clare Danes in Prada
Lady Gaga in Brandon Maxwell
Taraji looks amazing with a bob and she has such a perfect amount of sexiness from the sheer skirt on the dress and the triangle cutout on her torso. Black is the new black!
Clare Danes looks stunning as well with the chains on her dress, adding an element of hard and soft when paired with the sequins and her feminine hairstyle.
Before I continue, can we talk about how amazing Lady Gaga looked? She is one of my favorite artists and her transition to television in the upcoming American Horror Story Hotel brings me so much excitement. It really shows her range in talents and I can't wait to watch it. She's really toned down her crazy outfits to a more modern and sleek look. Everything from her hair to the peplum on the side of her dress screams elegance.
Honorable mention to Julia Louis-Dreyfus for those amazingly eye catching and beautiful earrings. How can you not stun in 28.78 carat diamond earrings set in platinum designed by Chopard?!
Now let's talk about the lovely host, Andy Samberg. I think Andy is adorable and he has me in tears with his musical comedy with The Lonely Island. I have to say, though, that he was a little disappointing for me as a host. His jokes fell flat and I found myself kind of waiting for him to stop talking so the show could go on. Bring back Tina and Amy! What did you guys think?
The show itself though, was pretty awesome. My favorite moments included Viola Davis' speech after winning Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. It was very inspirational and empowering. Here's the speech, in case you missed it...
Tracy Morgan also presented at the awards after recovering from a severe car crash with an 18 wheeler truck last June. His speech was also inspiring and a testament to his strength and passion to share comedy with the world.
There was also a montage of shows that ended this year, which...spoiler alert...showed us a bunch of spoilers! That was a little annoying, as I hadn't seen some of them. So if you haven't finished watching Boardwalk Empire, True Blood, Sons of Anarchy, or even Two and a Half Men, avoidthis montage video at all costs!
The winners this year were so deserved, in my opinion. There were also many shows that I haven't watched, but received awards, so now I am totally going to take the time to watch them!
Olive Kitteredge was a limited series that won a bunch of awards including Outstanding Limited Series and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series. I haven't watched this show, but this is an example of one that I will look into based on it being so widely received.
I am uncontrollably happy for the winners of Veep, because that show's writing and actors are phenomenal. I don't think there is one episode of that show I have watched and not laughed hard. I am also happy with Uzo Aduba's win for her amazing portrayal of Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren on Orange is the New Black.
One of my favorite moments of the night was Jon Hamm receiving the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Don Draper in Mad Men. The show ended this year and Jon finally got the recognition he deserved for such a good performance throughout the series. He even climbed onto the stage instead of taking the stairs, which was so charming in his Jon Hamm way.
I'm also excited for Amy Schumer receiving the award for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series. From obscurity doing Comedy Central Roasts to being on top of the comedy world. I always love and support funny women in the industry.
Of course, who could forget my beau, Jon Stewart, and all the wins for the Daily Show. Also, so deserved! We'll miss you Jon...
I know I'm a horrible TV fan for this but...I haven't seen Game of Thrones yet. I've always heard great things and the amount of awards it received last night obviously supports those opinions. So I think this will definitely be my next series to binge watch.
What did you all think of the show? Were there any shows you think deserved awards that didn't receive any? What shows do you think are binge worthy? Help a sister out with deciding what to watch next!
Last weekend, my boyfriend and I were looking for a cute little place to have dinner and we stumbled across this place, Vinoteque on Melrose Ave, which I remembered my cousin, Mimi, suggesting to me. It's known for it's amazing wine selection and tapas style meals. For those that don't know, tapas are small plates which are shared among the table. Vinoteque was a good fusion of French and Spanish style tapas.
What I loved the most about this place was the ambience in the outdoor patio where we sat. It was a courtyard area with vines growing all over the walls, a calming fountain in the center, and a projection of a film noir silent movie playing in the background. It was a really nice date spot, but I would also totally come here with a girlfriend and I saw a group of people celebrating a birthday in a secluded cabana.
Make sure to ask about the wines! Most of the wines are French and I had a hard time deciphering what was what so I just ordered one that wasn't so great. Luckily, they allowed me to taste it and order another one since I didn't like it.
We started our meal with truffle fries (of course, my favorite) and the dipping sauce was a type of salsa, which really complemented the fries.
Then we had some fried artichoke hearts and let me tell you...I dreamt about these after eating them, because of how good they were. I have a mind to recreate these babies on my own at home.
Next, we had little mini Croque Monsieurs, which are French ham and cheese sandwiches. They were topped with balsamic vinegar, which really completed the dish. We also had these amazing sliders, which I really enjoyed. It had a tasty combination of sun dried tomatoes, onion jam, and harissa mayo...this was to die for.
Lastly, we ended our meal with the usual tapas dessert...churros! They were mini bite sized churros and were paired with a caramel sauce and boysenberry jam to dip the churros in.
If you're looking for a place to catch up with a friend or to impress your date, Vinoteque is definitely the place!
This past weekend, I was invited to one of my girlfriend's homes for afternoon coffee. I was super excited about getting together with my friends and I wanted to bring some homemade treats with me for us to share, but I was really in a time crunch and didn't have time to make a dessert from scratch.
Thank goodness I had some pie dough I made a few weeks ago stored away in my freezer and ready to go! I cut one corner and bought a canned cherry pie filling to go into my dough for the sake of time, but despite it not being homemade, it was still delicious.
I still wanted to put my own spin on the pie so instead of making one giant pie, I made mini individual sized pies! They were so cute and easy to distribute to whoever wants them without cutting into a whole pie and making a mess. I also made a lattice crust to give it that extra aesthetic to make it look like a miniature pie. It's super easy!...
After making the pie crust (recipe at end of post), use a cookie cutter or a cup to cut circles from the dough that are 4 inches circles. Place the circles into buttered muffin/cupcake tins and fill them with the cherry filling, 1/4 of a cup.
Photo courtesy of tablespoon.com.
Then get to work on the lattice crust! Use a pizza cutter to cut small even strips of dough and use basic weaving over and under techniques to create a rustic look with the lattice. With this size of a pie, I used 6 dough strips in total: 3 horizontally and 3 vertically. Brush the top of the pie with an egg wash (a beaten egg) to give it that golden finish in the oven.
I baked these babies at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until the crust is golden and the cherry filling is oozing and voila!
These could have come out a little prettier, as my lattice crust needs a little work, but these pies tasted like perfection. Little personal cherry pies with sweet, juicy cherries wrapped in a soft, buttery crust. These are sure to appeal to your guests tastebuds as well as their eyes!
Pie Crust Dough Ingredients:
2 cups all purpose flour (sifted)
1 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup butter (cold)
5-7 tablespoons cold water
Directions:
Put flour into a mixing bowl with the butter.
Using a pastry cutter or dough hook, cut the butter into the flour.
Add the salt and water.
Mix until dough is formed.
Cut the dough in half and wrap both separately in saran wrap.
One can be used for freezing. The other should be put in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to cool before rolling it out to use.
Miniature Cherry Pies
Ingredients:
Pie crust (recipe above)
4 cups of pie filling (the filling can be altered at your choice i.e. apple, blueberry, peach, etc.)
1 egg, whisked
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 12 muffin tins with butter or cooking spray.
Roll out a single pie crust on a flat surface. Use a large cookie cutter or a cup to cut out circles that are 4 inches. Press each circle into the bottom of the muffin tin so that a tiny rim of dough sticks out at the top. Repeat with the other 12 tins.
Fill each cup with 1/4 cup pie filling, or until the filling nearly fills the cups.
Use the remaining dough to cover the tops of the pies. To make a lattice crust, use a pizza cutter to cut out thin strips of dough, then lace together to form a lattice. To make a standard crust, cut out a circle of dough large enough to cover the top of the crust. Use your fingers to gently press the top crust to the bottom crust until they stick together and no gaps remain.
Use a pastry brush to brush the tops of each pie with the whisked egg.
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the filling begins to bubble.
Remove and let cool for at least 15 minutes. Then carefully use a knife to loosen the edges of each pie and gently lift each pie out. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate.
It's June and its finally getting warmer outside, which means its time to break out your short shorts, bathing suits, and espadrilles in your favorite warm summer colors! Some fashion pieces never go out of style, but its always a good idea to add trendy, new things to your wardrobe. This summer, I'm obsessed with six new trends that I want to share with you. They can all be used separately and incorporated into your current pieces or even worn all together. Here they are! My summer must have trends for the 2015 season...
1. Updated Aviator Sunnies: Aviators are a universal sunglass shape that looks good on almost everyone, so when I saw these new age Prada aviator sunglasses, I knew I had to have them. They are a fashionable spin on a classic sunglass. Ditch your played out cat eye sunglasses for these! Available at Nordstrom.
2. Stacked Jewelry: Gone are the days of a statement necklace or ring. Welcome the stacking of more slender and elegant pieces of jewelry to complete your summer look! I love these stackable zig zag rings. These particular rings are gold, rose gold, and white gold with diamonds from Levik's Jewelers. You can also find similar but more affordable rings in department stores, but investing in a few pieces of fine jewelry is beneficial for any fashionista.
3. Fruit Patterns: I love the fresh look of fruits on various items of clothing, especially for the summer! My favorite are pineapples...they just scream summer. I found these cute shorts from Sears. They work really well and look great for festivals.
4. Fringe Details: I'm loving fringe details throughout many pieces of fashion this summer. I especially love them on these gorgeous shoes from Miss Guided US. How can you not be obsessed with these?
5. Rosy Brown Lips: I'm trading traditional summer red lips for these smoky pink shades, which I think is super elegant and fashion forward. Most of all, its not an expected shade that everyone else is going to be wearing this summer. This shade can be found at Sephora.
6. Watches with Fabric Bands: I'm so over the typical bracelet, metal band that everyone wears nowadays...I'm looking at you, Michael Kors watches! Instead, opt for these really fresh looking watches from Daniel Wellington. This particular watch is called Classic Southamptom Lady...it doesn't get more summer than that. They come in multiple colors that fit anyone's taste. I got mind from Levik's Jewelers, which is now an authorized Daniel Wellington retailer!
What do you guys think? Are there any other trends I should consider this summer? Let me know! I value all fashionista opinions. Happy shopping and happy summer!
Somehow, my invitation to the Met Gala always gets lost in the mail every year! But that doesn't mean I still don't admire the fashion from afar and this year was no different. Last night, the most fashionable elite strutted their designer looks to fundraise for the Metropolitan a Museum of Art Costume Institute in New York City. The theme this year was "China: Through the Looking Glass" and I was pleasantly surprised that many of the attendees dressed for the Asian theme.
I was majorly stunned by all the fashion. I loved the risks people took with their looks and while some might have missed the mark, others were spectacular!
These were all stunning looks but my top three favorite looks of the night were what I thought were most elegant and fashion forward looks...I die for Gigi Hadid's dress!
Rosie Huntington-Whitely in unknown
Gigi Hadid in Diane Von Furstenberg
Kerri Russell in Altazurra
But of course I can never forget my Met Gala queen who always slays the Met's red carpet, Sarah Jessica Parker! She may look like her head is on fire, but damn she looks good with it! SJP, you get it girl!
What did you guys think of the fashion at the Met Gala this year? Let me know if I missed any other beauties!
I love everything about France, especially the cuisine. So when I heard about Republique and its French inspired bakery and architecture I knew I had to see it for myself. I came here for lunch with my brother and was immediately mesmerized by the rows and rows of pastries next to the cashier.
After ordering our lunch (and a bunch of pastries), we sat at our table, which was lit by the sun beams coming in from the skylight windows from above. It was a bit of a cold day, but the natural lighting made it feel like we were sitting outside.
The design and decor of the restaurant also was reminiscent of Paris and some of its Gothic architecture.
I'm a sucker for glass door refrigerators. I love seeing the products available at restaurants!
When our food was brought to us, I couldn't wait to start eating. I know it was lunch time, but Croque Madame's are one of my favorite French treats and I couldn't resist. Meanwhile, my brother ordered a burger that had dry aged beef. The drinks vary each day based on seasonal items available. We ordered a delicious grapefruit lemonade. The Croque Madame, by the way, was spot on!!
I was loving this wine tower where the bottles were used serve us water.
I have this thing with floors and their beauty. I was loving this green, white, and black tile!
We took our yummy pastries home to enjoy. My favorites were the glazed and chocolate donut like bombolinis. Pictured are also a chocolate bundt cake, banana Nutella croissant, and a coffee cake.
Last year, I ate at a cute little bunch spot in Santa Barbara called Scarlett Begonia and had the best lemon ricotta pancakes. Since then, I've been trying these pancakes from other brunch spots and I have yet to find one that was as good. Obviously, I can't be going to Santa Barbara every weekend for brunch so I decided to try to make these pancakes on my own. My lemon ricotta pancake recipe was so delicious and I'm very excited to share it with you all!
These are the ingredients I used. I like using Kodiak Cakes pancake mix because it has a hint of honey in it, which just adds a little extra flavor to pancakes. I also like using fresh blueberries rather than frozen, I think it makes the pancakes taste fresher. Most recipes suggest using whole milk ricotta cheese, but let's face it...summer is coming and even though I'm eating pancakes, a girl's gotta cut calories somewhere, so I used low fat ricotta cheese.
When adding the ricotta cheese, the batter will look a little curdled. Do not panic, this is normal! The cheese makes it a little lumpy. It's important to not mix the batter too much to make it smoother.
A griddle is the best way to get the perfect pancake.
Short stack of delicious lemon ricotta pancakes!
Ingredients:
Makes 6 pancakes
1 cup of Kodiak Cakes pancake mix
1 cup of water
1/2 cup of low fat ricotta cheese
1 tablespoon of lemon zest
2/3 cup of blueberries
Directions:
Mix 1 cup of pancake mix with 1 cup of water.
Then, mix in 1/2 cup of ricotta cheese. Do not over mix it. The consistency should be a little lumpy.
Wash and fold in the blueberries.
Heat a griddle to 325 degrees and butter the griddle. I like using cooking spray instead, but either one works.
Ladle a spoon of the batter onto the griddle. Let it cook until bubbles start forming at the top (about 1 minute).
Flip the pancake and let the other side cook for about another 30 seconds.
I'm always on the lookout for the newest nail trends, because let's face it...they don't change that often! I'm not that big of a risk taker on nail shapes because I'm obsessed with my own squoval shape, but new designs are always on my radar.
This season, I'm obsessed with clean lines on nails. Letting your natural nail shine through alongside a cute spring color makes your nail design look really modern and cool. I love the geometric and architectural lines in this look by Buff and Tweeze...
And I'm head over heels for these tiny shapes traced onto nails by Olive and June...
This was my attempt at creating this look. I used masking tape and French tip tape to create the clean lines and painted over them. I removed them when the nail polish was completely dry...
Whether its at a salon or a DIY at home, this look is sure to keep you ahead of the trends and is a perfect spring look!
Hello! Hello Kitty is one of my favorite iconic characters and this year, she is celebrating her 40th anniversary! I remember as a kid always asking my dad to take me to the Sanrio store to buy me Hello Kitty stickers. I was obsessed and I still think she is the cutest. When I heard the Japanese American Museum in Downtown LA was holding an exhibit for Hello Kitty for her 40th anniversary, I knew I had to check it out. If you're a fan of hers or even a fan of Japanese art, this exhibit is really worth seeing.
The entrance to the exhibit with this Hello Kitty block sculpture.
She's ageless?! Girl's gotta tell me her secret...
The exhibit included relics from the 70's and 80's like backpacks, notebooks, and stickers designed with Hello Kitty on them.
I had a lot of these items as a kid.
Hello Kitty's family, minus her twin, Mimmy.
These adorable Hello Kitty bride and groom!
How Hello Kitty looked the year I was born.
Her bows lead to the next room of the exhibit.
There was also a hall of different takes of adapted Hello Kitty art, which was super creative.
My favorite part was the room of Hello Kitty fashion, where different dresses were on display made of Hello Kitty dolls and fabrics.
This dress made of Hello Kitty dolls was worn by Lady Gaga.
I'm about 14 apples tall.
The sculptures throughout the museum were also very artistic.
Pharoah Kitty.
Kitty hieroglyphics.
Japanese Kitty.
And the man who put up with my Hello Kitty fever.
The exhibit is going on until May 31, so make your way there before its gone!