Industrial Delux

I love modern interiors, but I am always afraid that in executing a modern look it may come off too cold and stark. I love these inspirations from Design Sponge. They all have an industrial quality that is made richer with lux accessories and hints of natural materials and warm tones. This is a great way to approach thrift store and craigslist finds like these:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/fud/1616031534.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/fuo/1611284127.html

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/fud/1616685381.html

BOBA!

How can a drink be so interesting? It's just liquid you suck through a straw, right? Ah, but that's the beauty of Boba, it's not just liquid-it's chewy treats too! Lately, my addiction for Boba is out of hand, I have to have at least 1-2 a week! For those of you who haven't experienced the joy of Boba I have included a link to the history below.

These tasty tapioca and tea treats are at the top of my indulgence list right now! My favorite spot is J&S Coffee Tea House in the Pacific East Mall in El Cerrito. It's right next to Bridges Rock Gym and makes for a great mid climbing refreshment. I recommend trying a classic milk tea or coffee milk tea at first and then venture into the more interesting flavors. Yum, Boba!

History of Boba (Bubble Tea)

http://www.bobateashop.com/bhistory.php

Yay friends!

A couple of my friends sent me the sweetest notes this week. Having people in my life that are so encouraging means everything, it provides the motivation and inspiration to keep creating. Thank you Jodey and Lissa!

"I love your blog! I just discovered it tooling around on facebook....Its so sensitive and unassuming but yet right on the button of all things now and beautiful and in a strange way quiet yet incredibly now and current!!....keep it up girl."
Besos
Jxxx

"Hi friend,i am loving your blog. :) truly so fun"
-Lissa

Springtime Sweetness

All this rain is making me crave sunshine, springtime clothes, and picnics. When the sun does come around here is a look I will be wearing, for sure. I love the playfulness of all these items. This look channels the girl next door with sweet details like bows, ruffles, and rosettes. It also incorporates fun prints like plaids, florals, and stripes (check out tips on mixing prints on Amber's Notebook).



Click on the images below to add some summer sweetness to your closet:

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Quote of the week

"Every life is narrow. Our only escape is not to run away, but to learn to love the people we are and the world in which we find ourselves."
Mark Haddon

Ohno, Oh yes!

I love watching the Olympics. I wish I was good enough at any of my many sports to be an Olympian...a girl can dream. Not only are the Olympics full of tear jerking stories of triumph and defeat, they are also inspiring. I love all these things about the Olympics, but the thing I love the most right now about the event is Apolo Ohno. I am so into the half Japanese speed skater. He is just too cute with his big white teeth, unassuming sweet looks, and his ripped legs!

Oh Apolo: how I could make you over in some steezy G-star outfit, shave your "flavor saver", and burn that bandanna, and you would be near perfection. I wonder if he'd be up for the makeover and a date with me...again, a girl can dream! Ha!

The Weekend is Over

Sadly, it's Monday and the weekend is over. How was your weekend? I spent the weekend in town, which these days is a rarity. I had a night out on the town in Oakland and had some amazing sushi at Ozumo. The sashimi starter was my favorite, it was fresh and delicious. This is definitely a go to spot in Oakland. We hung out in the bar watched the Olympics and ate delectable sushi.


This weekend I also spent some time with my dear puppy, Amos. Amos had surgery on Friday and had to have a growth removed from his jaw. I spent most of Saturday lounging on the couch with him and making sure he was resting and comfortable. He is such a little trooper. He is recovery nicely and he can't wait to get outside and play!



To wrap up the weekend I watched some mindless TV marathons with friends and caught some more of the Olympics. I also spent some time climbing at the gym after hours. It felt good to be climbing with friends again after my finger injury and I am more motivated than ever to get back into shape and climb hard.



Have a Happy Week Everyone!

Love,
Izzy

White Hot

For my home, I love to collect white trinkets: milk glass, ceramic vases, etc. I love all the white home accessories and furniture that are out right now. White is the perfect way to add modern and romantic touches to a home. I particularly love the contrast of a collection of crisp white vases against a dark painted wall. Here is an inspiration board with some examples of how to do white right for the home. Click on the images below to purchase some affordable options to accomplish this look.

Trend: Army Green

I am loving the trend of Army green right now. It's been popping up all over the place in varied hues. I love this dusty army green in the first pic from Charlotte Ronson. I like these greens as a neutral compliment to black, white, and grey and popped with red for a little bit of fun. It is a really nice way to soften up an edgy look. This is an awesome color that will wear well right now and translate easily into spring.

Check out some fun army green items here: http://www.shopbop.com/shop-shopbop-lookbooks-camo-military/br/v=1/2534374302168290.htm

*images from
http://www.charlotteronson.com/runway/images/runway_images_spring10.php

http://www.shopbop.com/studded-wide-belt-robert-rodriguez/vp/v=1/845524441861604.htm?folderID=2534374302062844&fm=other-shopbysize-viewall

http://www.eonline.com/photos/gallery.jsp?galleryUUID=6#60129

What's in a Nickname?

I have earned so many nicknames throughout the years. This one makes me laugh every time. Izaster! It's like some sort of reckless super hero. I've also been called Blizzardbelle which started when I went on my first ice climbing trip. It's seems like all the nicknames I am given have a sort of spastic super human quality, I wonder what that means... maybe it means I kick ass and take names and in the process it's possible I trip on my own foot or fall backwards in my chair! But hey no one is perfect!

Another good nickname is The Izness, that one makes me think of the business, which makes me feel like a boss and I guess this one makes sense since I am pretty bossy (or so my kind and very blunt friends have pointed out)! Anyway, this post is random, but I was just thinking about how fun nicknames are and how they say a whole lot about a person cause they are dreamed up by the people who know you best, your friends!

Above is a pic that I thought summed up "Izaster" pretty nicely! This is what my weekend of snowboarding in Tahoe looked like! Can you say spaz! Ha!

Inspiration

"Mezameru maeni" 目覚める前に before you awake"

"Yuuwaku" 誘惑 allure"

"Carry On"

"Superstition"

I am so inspired by artist Audrey Kawasaki. Her paintings are so moving. They are sad, sensual, mysterious, strong, and delicate all at the same time. I have tried to buy a print of hers multiple times, but they are always sold out (how I wish I could afford the real thing, but maybe one day). In the meantime I just added myself to her mailing list in hopes of getting to her site to purchase a print before they rapidly disappear.

Above are some of her paintings from 2009, she has a few new pieces already for 2010 and I can't wait to see what she has to show us in the rest of the year to come! Be sure to check out her site!

*images from http://www.audrey-kawasaki.com/index.php

Quote of the week

This weeks quote, is not one quote, but two. These quotes complimented each other so well I had to post both.

Growing up, I promised myself one thing. I promised to follow my heart and my passion to guide me to what I did for a living. Every career choice I have made has been made by following my bliss and I have no regrets.

It's hard to give up childhood and commit to working for the rest of your life, but at least if you have to work you can work doing something that speaks to you.

These quotes are to remind us that if you want something bad enough you can overcome anything and if you get to do something you want that badly you are pretty damn lucky. Ambition is like love, impatient both of delays and rivals.

Buddha


Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.
Buddha

Happy Valentine's Day

I'm heading to Tahoe for the weekend so I wanted to take a minute to wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day before I left.

May you all find the kind of LoVe that stops the world dead in it's tracks.

XoXo-Izzy

Shoes!

I have been on the hunt for the perfect black pump for a while now...so imagine my delight when I found these lovely suede Via Spiga pumps on super mark down at Nordstrom! They are on my feet at this very moment and to my pleasant surprise they are actually comfortable!!! These are gonna be my new "conquer the world while looking hot" heels! Yay!

Gung hay fat choy!

Chinese New Year starts Feb 14th and I am getting myself prepared. I am lucky enough to have traveled all over China and I have picked up some tips on preping for the New Year. Here a few key things to do to welcome in the new year:

1. Clean your home

2. Get your hair cut

3. Buy yourself some new clothes

4. Add blooming flowers/trees to your home (do not choose white or yellow flowers-red is lucky)
5. Make amends and build better relationships with people in your life

6. Settle your debts

7. Have a New Years Eve family dinner
8. Open every window and door at the stroke of midnight New Year's Day to let the old year out.

Latest Obsession

I just bought a very cute plaid corset style top and silk/wool draped dress from All Saints. I am super obsessed with All Saints collection of tough yet femininely styled dresses and tops. Their pieces are in amazingly luxurious fabrics and have an abundance of design detail, unique patterning, and great muted colors. Also a great little bonus is that all of their online orders have free shipping! Hooray for shopping without ever leaving the house! It's a dangerous luxury!

Quote of the week

"Love the moment. Flowers grow out of dark moments.

Therefore, each moment is vital. It affects the whole.
Life is a succession of such moments and to live each, is to succeed."
Corita Kent

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday everyone! Get out this weekend and live! Forget about work and go outside an play! I'll be in Tahoe this weekend riding powder with friends! What are you gonna do?

RIP Georgelle Hirliman

What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us;

what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.

Albert Pike

January 29th, my mom's dearest friend, Geogelle Hirliman passed away. She was a published writer and active blogger and a wonderful artist. She will be greatly missed. The people who's lives she touched will remember her forever. I will always have fond childhood memories of sitting on the floor of her house building Lego castles, aspiring to be the kind of artist she was.

http://writerinthewindow.com/

Paris Je T'aime!

My great, great aunt Jany lives in Paris. My aunt and uncle are planning a trip in March to visit her and my aunt has planted the seed in my mind that I should come along...

My mom's side of the family is very rooted in their French culture, my Grandmother was born and raised there and my mom spent her childhood in France. Even though I was raised with rich French traditions, I sadly have never been to France (or Europe at all for that matter).

Which leads me to one conclusion... You only live once right? So I better get my butt on a plane! Here's to the hope that I can organize a trip across the world in one month and actually get the time off work!

Quote of the week

I am always inspired by wise words. I have been known to post a lot of inspirational quotes on my Facebook page, but I have yet to do it here so this is my first attempt. Once a week I'd like to post a quote that inspires me. Finding inspiration in simple things is the key to staying passionate about life and not becoming complacent. Enjoy...

"All men DREAM, but not equally.

Those who DREAM by night

in the dusty recesses of their minds,

wake in the day to find that it was vanity:

but the DREAMERS of the day are dangerous men,

for they may act on their DREAMS with open eyes,

to make them possible."

T. E. Lawrence

A "Do"

I am loving this tossled look. I'm gonna have to try this...