Hats Off!

It's graduation season, so to celebrate all of the grads doing good for the world (and one especially dear to my heart who received her Masters in Special Education), I share with you an absolutely delightful dessert made by my amazing friend and favorite couture confectioner (accountant by day, Martha Stewart by night):

Drink with chai for complete sugar overload.  Ghirardelli Squares melted on Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, topped with M&Ms and decorating frosting.

More creations over the years by The Couture Confectioner:

Cake for Sex and the City themed bridal shower.  

Cake and guitar cake for Hannah Montana themed birthday party.

Lion cake pops - favors for a 1st birthday party. 

Cake using a basket weave technique with gum paste flowers - "just a practice cake."

Birthday cake and cupcakes for Toy Story themed birthday party. 

Wedding cake to match the bride's sunflower bouquet.

Memorializing The OC...

With last weekend's Memorial Day came a birthday bash for a special friend at a beach house in Dana Point (special, in part, because she is pretty much the only reason I would venture to the OC).  It's not Kyoto but there is some green...from early morning color blocking to embracing the uni-color trend.

Looking over the Dana Point Yacht Harbor.  Joie Yellow Cardigan.  Paige Verdugo Ultra Skinny Green Jeans.  Coach Flats.   

St. Regis for brunch.

Post brunch chai on the deck of a beach house.  Veronica M. Jumpsuit.  Michael Kors Salinas Sandals in Whiskey.

Kimora Lee Simmons Green Initiative Malachite for the Empowerment Fund, Kate Spade, Jade bracelet from China. 



Birthday Macaroons!  La Provence.  

Going Green (in Kyoto)

Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in LA anymore...not a palm tree in sight.

Go on cycling tour of Kyoto: First stop, Nanzen-ji (classic zen temple).

Second stop, Ginkaku-ji (silver temple that is not actually silver...).

Third stop, Kinkaku-ji (amazing gold temple that is actually gold).

Abandon bikes and enjoy view.

Hop on wildly efficient train system, get off at Saga Arashiyama, and walk through Sagano Chikurin (bamboo forest).

Freedom (in Tokyo)

Or, perhaps freedom is a last minute trip to Japan, while donning metallic nails and another blue romper, and...

Running around Harajuku.  Meiji-jingu Temple, Ramen, Takeshita Street (where Harajuku girls live and shop to J-pop), Crepes.  Forever 21 Romper, Juicy Couture Charmbracelet, OPI DS Radiance Nail Polish.

Seeing amazing, out of this world, large architectural storefronts for designers in Ginza and Omote-sando.  Tod's. Prada. Mikimoto. Bape.

Walking through the Tsukiji Fish Market at 5 a.m. to wait in line for sushi at the highly recommended Daiwa Sushi.  Seven Roxanne Distressed Skinny Jeans, Coach Flats, Fluxus Tee, Kenna-T Leather Jacket, Library Scarf, Louis Vuitton Damier Neverfull Bag.

Catching some sumo (at the cleanest sports arena imaginable, where a woman actually thanked me after coming around to pick up my trash).

Crossing the Shibuya intersection from both angles and watching the sea of people (men in bespoke suits and women mobbing in heels and the latest frilly skirt or knee highs), day and night. 

Think NYC multiplied by ten with incredibly nice, polite people who do not bump into you and would likely chase you down, putting their life at risk, to hand back the cash you dropped, and then thank you for taking the time to stop (e.g., after my credit card fell out of my pocket on the train, a man dashed off the train - even though it was not his stop - and followed me down the stairs to give it to me, thanked me, and then sprinted back to get back on the train).

Freedom

To me, nothing says (temporary) freedom from the corporate world like colorful nails and lounging in a romper during the week.
 

OPI colors: Miami Beet (pink), Need Sunglasses? (yellow), Funky Dunkey (purple), Don't Mess with OPI (green), Swimsuit...Nailed It! (blue).

Lounging.  Joie Romper.  Sam Edelman Flip Flops.  Gucci Vintage Bag (one of my best finds in DC).  Anthropologie Mug (mugs sold out but matching plates found here).