{GBF Loves Coachella} An American Cowgirl

We have a family friend who is John Wayne's Asian doppelganger. He's 6'4, wears Levi's on Levi's, walks around in cowboy boots, and owns a ranch in Orange County. For years, he was the coolest person I knew. When we first moved to the US, we'd visit his ranch on the weekends and I'd ride his horses feeling oh-so assimilated even though I spoke very little English, wore sweatshirts printed with nonsensical phrases like "Shine Star Pretty," and was rocking sneakers stitched with Chinese characters. But when I was on the horse at the ranch with uncle John Wayne, I felt like an American girl.

Our visits grew more and more infrequent as I got older until one day they completely stopped. So I stopped riding horses. And it wasn't until a decade later that I got back in the saddle. The first five minutes were pure bliss as memories of my cowgirl days came flooding back....and then the wheezing, itchy eyes, and the gradual closing of my airways flooded in. I had become deathly allergic to horses.

So now I can only admire them from a distance. But at the Stylecaster x UGG Australia Coachella Style Haven, I couldn't help but get a little closer than I should as horses will forever tug at my heartstrings. At a time when I was a complete foreigner standing on foreign soil, they helped me feel like I was home.

top {motel clothing c/o | similar}

kimono {boohoo}
pants {boohoo "Judith"}
purse {Katherine Kwei}
sunnies {Warby Parker "Hall"}
flower crown {modcloth c/o | similar}

{live fabulously}

 

{GBF Beauty + Video} Camera Ready Complexion

Recently, the GLAM crew, celebrity makeup artist Marissa Machado, and I made a beauty video showcasing how to achieve easy breezy camera ready complexion with the help with CoverGirl products. The makeup application was desperately needed as my contact lens had been irritating my eyes all morning causing major swelling and redness. Five minutes before the video shoot commenced, my left contact lens split in half inside my eye so I had to take both lens out and thanks to Dad's genes and my bookworm disposition, I shot the entire video half blind. That day, the world was a flurry of blur.

By using the the Cover Girl TruMagic Skin Perfector, TruBlend foundation, and TruBlend Pressed Powder, Marissa was able to work her magic and cover up my swollen eyes and irritated skin. And even though I couldn't see what I looked like, I felt fabulous knowing I was in good hands. 

{live fabulously}

 

{GBF Loves Coachella} Off The Beaten Path

Typically, my days are planned to the nanosecond as Jenny the lawyer hates leaving things to chance but I always go with the flow at Coachella as the mere flutter of a butterfly's wing can alter the course of everything. And that's exactly what happened on Coachella Sunday. My day kicked off poolside at The Ingleside Inn BMF Music Lounge sipping mojitos while swaying to hip hop jams alongside NAS and friends. Then we hopped next door to the GUESS Hotel at the Viceroy to soak in just a bit more sun before heading out to the Indio desert. 

But things took an unexpected turn while driving down Indian Canyon Road in my friend's Jeep RUBICON. Our vantage point was city life to the left and rocky mountains sublimely flanked by the afternoon sun to our right. And in a split second, the four of us decided to veer off the road and up into the mountains for a bumpy desert excursion. With no doors on the Jeep, not only could we see the ground beneath us and the tires grinding on each rock, I could feel my hair whip lashing across my face and taste the dirt particles in my mouth. When the car finally stopped, we were in the middle of nowhere with no soul in sight and the city a distant spec. We stayed there, soaked in the experience, and enjoyed every single moment.

My striped cap sleeve pintuck GUESS top and denim cut-off shorts were the perfect companions for my desert adventure as the breathable semi-sheer top and comfortable shorts kept me cool and agile. The outfit was yet another versatile look that fits in equally at fabulous pool parties and rugged terrains. Without a doubt, our afternoon spent off the beaten path with friends I'd happily get lost in the desert with was one of my favorite Coachella moments.

top {Guess}

denim shorts {Guess c/o}
denim shirt {Guess c/o}

ankle boots {Guess "Sana" c/o}

sunnies {Warby Parker "Hall" c/o}

{live fabulously}

 

{GBF What I Wore to Rivabella} Hide the Food Baby

 I always find myself starved by the end of every Coachella weekend. With so much to do, see, and hear, eating takes a backseat. So last week, I pre-plumped with a decadent dinner at Rivabella. Sitting on the border of West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, the restaurant is a sprawling display of lush Tuscany farmhouse meets Weho chic. The fare is classic Italian with a few modern twists that satisfies every taste bud. 

The refreshing sea bream crudo and generously stacked caprese salad were my favorite starters and piqued my appetite for the rest of the meal. I've never meet a pasta I didn't devour and the pappardelle drenched in lamb ragu was no different as it stirred up delicious memories of dining moments in Tuscany. Each bite of the bone-in ribeye melted in my mouth as the flavor of the rosemary olive oil was the perfect pairing for the juicy red meat. And just when I thought I couldn't eat another bite, a towering cronut stuffed with vanilla almond cream flirted with my waistline. Each bite of the flaky cronut oozing with sweetness was heaven on earth and before I knew it, the entire tower had disappeared into the darkness of my stomach. I went to sleep that night nurturing a happy food baby.  

In anticipation of my big Italian feast, I decided to wear my wide leg elastic waist Three Dots pants so I could eat with abandon. I dressed it up with a flowy pleated tank top from Line & Dot and a dressy tweed jacket from McGinn. I also brought out my new Sheena Sujan Adora tote to play as I love the boxy style and the not so overpowering petite size The outfit is the perfect Saturday night camouflage to hide food babies.

photos by Rachael

tank top {Line & Dot | in pink}
pants {Three Dots c/o}
tweed jacket {McGinn "Reina"}
purse {Sheena Sujan "Adora" c/o}
collar necklace {Samantha Wills c/o}
watch {Guess}

{live fabulously}