Why Oui Oui

I'm totally into french braiding my hair...maybe because I never knew I could do it until one day I was on a conference call & instead of picking at my split-ends, I decided to braid my hair out of my face. AND IT WORKED. It doesn't look professional (or like this for that matter), but I like that it's somewhat messy with my layers falling out in between. It's great for hiking / walking around to get my stupid grown-out bangs out of my FACE. I shall do a tutorial soon.

It was one of my good friend's birthday and I can't even remember the last time I went out. But I did buy this skirt at F21 in Columbus, OH, just in case I needed an appropriate going-out outfit. After I put it on, I spent the next 20 minutes figuring out if I should tuck in my shirt or leave it tucked out (I opted for tucking it in).

united colors of benetton sweater, f21 skirt, chinese laundry shoes

We went to Bar Copa, a place in Santa Monica, that I enjoy. I went there for my birthday & they play pretty good music...but the place is SO SMALL and it gets SO HOT. Like everyone looks like they spent 3 hours in a sauna by the time they leave...I'm talking bangs & hair sticking to your face, makeup smeared off, and random wet spots on your clothes (could be from the spilled drinks, or from your sweat...or even someone else's sweat. I KNOW.) But music is good.

I realize that all of my pictures look the same. I'm with the same group of guys and we (basically) always have the same expressions.

For those who were wondering, running has been good, but I'm really into hiking! Recently went to Runyon Canyon in Hollywood & while I didn't enjoy it as much as Mandeville in Brentwood, it was still fun to go with my friend. JUST CROWDED. And everyone goes to BE SEEN. WHY DO YOU NEED FULL MAKE-UP ON A HIKE? The views were nice, and you even got to see the Hollywood sign. But last Saturday I went to Mandeville by myself because it was closer & a little more...hiker-ish. Is that a word? Ugh, when did I become a HIKING SNOB?

me with my friend, rhona

you know i took mr. ez e!

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The Calorie Counter & Backpacker

I wore this to a dinner with my friends...we went to Outback Steakhouse. Did you know they now put the calorie count next to the menu items? WHY! Does not need to know how much a Bloomin' Onion is in calories! (I still ate it) Although, it does deter you from adding extra fries on the side.

lucie rose top, express shorts, aldo heels, jcrew bracelet

The weather in SoCal has been REDUNKULOUS you guys. I'm talking, it's like 80-degrees in the day, low 60's at night. Apparently we don't believe in much of a winter, and definitely don't believe in spring.

I've been taking advantage of this by doing what I've never done before...HIKING! Apparently that's like, the hip thing to do in LA...WHO KNEW? It's such a great workout, without you really knowing you're working out. I lie. Sometimes it's painful. Like is-this-hill-done-oh-when-will-this-pain-end-painful. But the feeling of accomplishment, plus the views (when the smog is gone) makes it all worthwhile. And yes...I take Ezio! Hikers are so friendly, like almost-scary friendly. Dogs are off their leashes, people offer your pooches water, and you can literally strike conversations with any passerbyer (definitely not the case when you're on the streets of LA).

on one side of the view - the pacific ocean

on the other side, downtown LA

the hills that we've just hiked - 2 1/2 miles in

my friend bri & i and our two pooches: duke & ezio

atop of one of the peaks

i'm pretty sure aliens did this

mister easy e chompin' at the bit to start walking

a pooped ezio gets the VIP treatment from rye bread

taking a breather!

one of my favorite pictures

Also, per your request! Extra pictures of Mister Easy E himself:

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A Much Needed Recap

I know I've been MIA for awhile now, mostly because my smugmug account (aka sistah's account) was not allowing me upload pics, so everything was just sitting on my hard drive. What's the point of blogging without pictures?

So I'm back from the O-H-10, which was amazing. The weather couldn't be "better" (relatively speaking) - I had a white Christmas, but the snow quickly melted when it hit 50-something degrees, making it hard to go sledding, but easier to go shopping. PRIORITIES PEOPLE.

This post will be some highlights of photos to quickly recap the holidays...and I'll be back to fashuns / outings / makeup postings quickly hereafter.

On Christmas Eve, it's Rye Bread's family tradition to spend it at his parents' house:

banana republic dress, hermes bracelet (my christmas gift!)

my "growing" family

rye bread: united colors of benetton sweater, club monaco slacks / ezio: mickey mouse sweater

rye bread's cousins

Cut to my red-eye from LAX to Ohio

my ohio-based family
martin + osa button-down, citizen jeans

christine: express shirt, american rag jeans
red lips for my nieces

I decided to stay in Ohio for NYE, as I haven't seen my family in quite awhile. So I was scrambling after Christmas trying to find an outfit to wear.

h&m lace top, f21 skirt, chinese laundry heels, hermes braceletmom: "we're late! what are you doing?"
me: "taking pictures"
mom: "why?!"
me: "for my blog"
mom: "okay i want a picture too"
my dad taking a shot
my cousins & mom having fun on the dance flo'
my turn to dance with my mom

I spent the entire week between Christmas & New Year's with my family & we went to the zoo, the mall (a lot), and ice skating. It's good to be back in LA, but I already miss my family!

How were your holidays spent? Any good presents? Because, let's be honest, that's all I care about. New Year's Resolutions? Do you guys even believe in those anymore?

OH! I just got nike+, so find & add me as a friend if you guys want to start running challenges, username: hoisinivy (of course).

questions? ask here! / twitter tracker

PMN: Chains & Roses

When I met up with Issa a couple of weekends ago, she was gracious enough to bring a little present courtesy of PMN. It instantly became one of my favorite shirts to wear! I did the sniff-test on this one too. Looked clean enough to me.

thifted shirt, american eagle shorts, js dany platforms

We had our "inner sanctum" Sekret Santa exchange last night at Jones in Hollywood. To help ease the gift-giving process & avoid the dreaded sole gift card exchange, we all made a list of 3 or more actual things we'd like (in addition to a few stores that we wouldn't mind getting gift cards to). For instance, I listed a french coffee press (which I did get!), Rhona listed a DVD set or some weights, Tim listed a baseball cap & books, Anthony listed a KCRW membership, & Arthur listed items from Uncrate & J.Crew...

jones

whoa where IS my HAND going?
"zomg you got me a j.crew shirt!...WTF i said XS! this is an S! RETURN IT IMMEDIATELY." "but we couldn't find XS at J.Crew" "UNACCEPTABLE"
chu know me mang

early johnny depp years with 21 jump street. a baseball cap that fits tim's noggin'? that's a first.

classin' up my mornings with a french press.

...When it was Rye Bread's turn to list some items...he only listed places he wanted gift cards to. BORING. We wanted GIFT ideas, not gift card locations. After several emails making fun of him (including he should have asked for the United States of America Gift Certificate, aka: cash), he amended his list to silver bullion or the Chinese Yen (being a smart ass). As luck would have it...*I* ended up getting him (son of a bitch! I already have to get him a gift, now I have to get him ANOTHER one?)...so what did I get him? You got it. SILVER BULLION! That's what he gets for being a smart ass about our gift exchange. He had no idea I would go that far...SURE DID.

anthony says "i wish my gift would appreciate in value"

As you saw in my other pics - we got a Christmas tree! I've never picked out a Christmas tree before, but I had this fantasy that it would be after sunset, on a cold winter's eve with a thermas full of hot cocoa under a string of lights...well cut to last weekend where it was over 80-degrees with a 40-minute line. But I was able to bring Ezio, so that was a plus.

on the car ride to home depot
"omgwtfbbq, i am not moving yet i am going somewhere"
"is THIS the right one? this is the THIRD tree!"
"please don't pee on the floor...mehhh you just did...how am i going to clean this up?"

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As a gift for dealing with all of my pictures...here is an outtake!"me so tired...me go night night.."