Denim-on-Denim + Stripes

I used to think that denim-on-denim looked really dated and was a fashion faux pas but I proved myself otherwise with this outfit. As long as the 2 denims are in significantly contrasting colors, it totally works! One of my favorite combos lately is pairing a chambray with stripes of any kind and I think a brighter top adds interest to the whole look. I wore this out exploring the city one day, hence the comfy shoes. 

Old Navy western chambray (buy) -- Old Navy pullover sweater (similar but more colorful) -- F21 skinny jeans (similar) -- natural canvas TOMS (buy)

 Side view...the sweater is actually more of a coral color in person but might look red in these photos

 Accessories: layered leaf necklace from Lovisa (similar) -- thrifted ring (similar) -- Nails - OPI, A Grape Fit!

Now some belated photos from a bike ride from San Francisco across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito!

 Ready to go on our Blazing Saddles bikes

The lovely Golden Gate Bridge on a clear day

I love how SF is such a walkable city, even with all of its hills. My TOMS are the most comfortable shoes I own and have been with me all over the place. Oh and if you have Instagram and want more up-to-date posts, follow me!

How do you wear chambrays and do you enjoy walking around your city?

Green Fashion: Eco Swim by Aqua Green Swimsuits Review

I was recently contacted by someone representing EcoSwim by Aqua Green to see if I would be interested in reviewing some of their swimsuits and of course I was thrilled to since I'm definitely an advocate for anything that is environmentally friendly. They are a U.S. based company that makes stylish swimwear from sustainable materials and uses proceeds to fund beach/waterway clean-up projects. The brand has been featured in magazines like Cosmopolitan, In-Style, and Shape but their mission statement says it all:

"Our mission is to provide fashionable, excellent quality, and planet-friendly swimwear. We will achieve this by embracing sustainable technologies and methods, hence reducing our carbon footprint in the sand. Our vision is to be the most sustainable swimwear manufacturer on the planet. We're not there yet, but with every sunrise we try harder."

It's incredible how they are striving to find the most eco-friendly alternatives not just for their manufacturing needs but even for the source of elastics/tags on their swimsuits. They are partnered with Repreve, which is a brand of fabrics made from 100% recycled materials from post-consumer and industrial waste. This really proves how passionate they are about saving the environment and that every detail counts. 

Unfortunately, the sample sizes they sent were too big for me to try on but below are several photos that I took as well as some promotional ones. From browsing online, I can honestly say that most of the styles offered are actually functional and fashion-forward!

I loved the print on this! You can purchase the separates here and here. 

This style is super adorable if you want some more coverage. 

On a model to give a better idea of fit.

I actually really like this one too!

I won't be able to discuss how the suits fit on petite bodies but I know that size 4 is the smallest they have. Just from touching and pulling on the elastic parts of the items sent to me, I can tell that the overall quality is exceptional.  There is quite a bit of resistance on the bands which indicates that they will last and the swimsuit won't lose elasticity easily. The material in general feels dense and thus more expensive. One major selling point (to me at least) is that the tops are nicely padded...Hallelujah for all the small-busted women out there! The padding actually looks really natural and aren't the ones that you can remove so it will stay in place.

All in all, I think the EcoSwim suits are stylish and worth buying...I would get the polka-dotted one in a heartbeat if I knew it fit. Find EcoSwim suits online at various retailers and visit them on Facebook and Twitter.

Disclosure: Items were sent to me from EcoSwim for reviewing purposes.

Cream with Colorful Accents

Gosh I really need to remember to buy a tripod for my little point-and-shoot so I can take better pictures than the ones in my dinky room. =P Any recommendations that work for such cameras but won't break the bank? I still think I might be embarrassed to take outside photos by myself though. haha

This is an older outfit that I wanted to share because I came across a necklace I had never worn before and wanted to plan my outfit around it. I stuck to neutral cream and black but added a colorful cardigan so that it wouldn't look too boring. I would say 1-2 colorful accents typically work well to jazz up an otherwise 'blah' outfit.

old cream lace top from Ross (similar or cute one here) -- H&M cardigan (similar) -- H&M black skinny pants (similar here and here)

Accessories: F21 beaded necklace (similar) -- gifted Swarovski white watch (similar but with gold) -- silver mesh ring from HK (similar) 

cream-colored booties from HK that my sister got for me (similar)

Here are some photos from my recent food adventures at Sauce (131 Gough Street) in San Francisco.

tater tots with white truffle oil and cremini mushroom plus a smoked gouda and bacon cheese sauce = HEAVEN!!

prosciutto wrapped Hawaiian butterfish with arugula salad and herb risotto...so good!
Last but definitely not least...

My new Michael Kors watch in rose gold...been wanting this baby for months! (taken on Instagram)

What kind of colorful accents to you like to add to your outfits?

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend ahead of them! I'm off to Vegas for yet another wedding so I'll be back next week!

Influenster Love VoxBox Reviews

I had been eagerly awaiting this package in the mail and after a few mishaps with the postal delivery, I finally received it about 2 weeks ago. The suspense as to what was going to be included in there was killing me too but I was pleasantly surprised when I opened it up...

If you aren't a part of this community already, I encourage you to join now! Influenster is an awesome site for bloggers to participate in if you love to try the latest products and want to spread the word about which ones you like most. The best part is that it's FREE!! Learn more and register here.

Ghirardelli Gourmet Milk Creamy Devotion Bar:
If you enjoy creamy, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate then look no further! This 32% cacao milk chocolate is not overly sweet and very decadent...I couldn't put it down after trying only one square. Let's just say I finished the entire bar in 2 days. =X  I obviously really loved this and look forward to purchasing it at my local Target or Safeway.

Truvia Natural Sweetener:
Truvia comes from the leaves of the stevia plant and is the first all natural sweetener on the market. I appreciate the fact that it is healthier and has zero calories but after being a loyal Splenda-user, it just doesn't taste the same. Personally, I feel like I need to add more Truvia to obtain the same level of sweetness as half a packet of Splenda. Maybe I'm just being nit-picky but am guessing it will grow on me after my taste buds give it a couple more chances.

Stash Herbal Tea Sampler:
This 9 flavor sampler is a tea lover's dream come true with exotic ones like mango passionfruit and wild raspberry hibuscus . They are caffeine-free and all natural so that's always a plus. I prefer my tea to be caffeinated but I still gave it a whirl. The aromas were what I enjoyed the most about these tea bags but didn't like that it tasted too fruity after a while.

Gillette Venus & Olay Razor:
This one was a definitely winner in my book! The pivoting head made it easy to maneuver around tricky areas, the 5 blades gave a close and lasting shave, and the Olay Moisture Bars left skin feeling smooth. I love that the Olay Moisture Bars eliminate the need for shaving cream which in turn, reduces waste and saves money. I am sold on this product and will be running to the store to get extra cartridges once this one runs out!

Kiss Nail Dress:
Nail fashion is the new trend and I'm jumping on the bandwagon. This product is super simple to apply and comes in 18 fun colors/patterns! It includes a set of 28 stickers that you mix and match to fit your finger or toe nails. I was able to find ones that fit all of my fingernails and are meant to last up to 10 days. On the directions, it says to stick on and file off excess but I recommend cutting off the extra portion first with eyebrow scissors if you have short nails like I do. Gone are the days of nail polish fumes and messy spills...hooray!

Uploaded from Instagram

(click on product names above for more info)

I hope I provided some useful insight to these items and have convinced you to try them out for yourself. Leave me a comment if you have experienced any of these before!

Disclosure: Complimentary products were provided to me from Influenster for review.

Hello World! Tribal Print and Acid Wash Jeggings

Wow I can't believe how long its been since I posted! March was filled with weddings and Australian friends visiting so it's been overwhelming to say the least. I have missed blogging and of course my awesome readers. =) I'm back and am hoping I can keep this up!

Here is a belated outfit post from Chinese New Years:

At the Chinese New Year street festival 

AE cardigan (similar) -- tribal tee from Australia (similar) -- Target acid wash jeggings (similar) -- thrifted ivory kitten heels (similar) -- H&M brown slouchy bag (similar) 

Side view

Accessories: Marc by Marc Jacobs wishbone necklace (similar) -- H&M orange cocktail ring (similar) -- thrifted 'knot' bangle (similar) -- H&M braided bracelet (similar) -- Nails - OPI, A Grape Fit!

Perfect bowl of noodles (aka pho) for a cold, rainy day with a side of Vietnamese coffee

Tribal prints are so in right now and I'm totally digging it! Are acid wash jeggings making a comeback or am I stuck in the 80s? haha Mmm looking at the food photo above is making my mouth water. Anyway, hope you enjoyed this post and look forward to hearing from you out in the blogosphere!