Emma Watson’s Braided Updo

She and I share the same initials. Naturally, we also share hair secrets. I mean, we’re close, she and I. We may even start a friendly competition of Who Braided Best, as Emma Watson wore a super complicated braided updo to the premiere of the Bling Ring movie, and I wore the same updo  to work and around my apartment just a day later. In my opinion, my updo was pretty successful. Girls were intrigued by the labyrinth occupying my skull, stopping me to stare at its intricate braiding and taking it in for quite some time before moving on. Guys, on the other hand, seemed perplexed. “It looks like a basket",” and “Wow, that’s…complicated” were the closest things to compliments I got.

Personally, I really liked it. Typically the only kind of updo I attempt is a two-second top knot (and I don’t even use an elastic…or a brush…or a mirror), so something this complex is not usual for me. It felt like I could go from a yoga class to, say, a movie premiere, without feeling too dressed up or down.


For a  tutorial on how to recreate Emma Watson’s braided updo, head over to Totalbeauty.com.

Share Your Love

I came across this video recently, and found it incredibly cute, and touching, and well, beautiful.

Have you ever been shocked to find that someone you wanted to like you, actually liked you? I can remember a few moments like this. There’s nothing quite like it.

Polka Dot Talk

I saw this shirt in a store about a week ago, and it was one of those moments when I instantly knew I wanted it. Occasionally I debate about purchases – sometimes based on price point, need of the item, or occasions on which I may actually wear it – but this one was for sure the sec0nd I locked my eyes on it.

I’m debating if I should sew gold sequins on the yellow dots. Even this shirt can be improved upon by sparkles.

Polka dots are such a fun, timeless, yet trendy pattern. They’ve been a staple in my wardrobe since 1991. Possibly earlier, but I started having a say in my wardrobe around that time so I can only take credit for what happened after that point.

Polka dots remind me of Springtime. Wearing them is like throwing confetti on your clothes to celebrate the arrival of Spring. It’s been a gloomy couple of days in Santa Monica, but today the sun has started to peek through the fog. Below are some of the polka dot pieces I’d love to wear this Spring.


Karen Millen bubble dress / TFNC / Halston Heritage retro dress / Kate Spade / Madewell / Kate Spade wool scarve / Kate Spade / KATE SPADE NEW YORK Mercer Isle Cindy
Clearly Kate Spade and I are kind of having a moment right now.

Happy Friday!

For your entertainment, below are some of the links I found interesting this week:

Oh Em Gee, Los Angelenos. How fun would this be? If this goes into effect, I may regret supporting it one late night/early morning in the future, but for now I’m on board.

After all their dreams came true: one of the reasons I’m thankful the internet exists.

HBO’s Girls. People have a lot of opinions about this show. I found this article spot on.

 I felt really big and then really small.

This weekend I’ll be celebrating my Irish heritage in full force. My roommates and I will be having an Irish brunch on our rooftop and I’m making green Jell-O shots! Which I think of as traditional brunch fare.

 

I’m gonna have to pull out the Irish Princess crown again. Yes, I kept it from last year.

My Little Pink Room

At the end of April, I’ll be moving out of the house I have shared with three girls since 2010. When I first moved in, I painted my room pink, because I’ve always wanted to. Rainbows and flowers and sparkles abound. It’s super girly, so much so that we named my room The Unicorn Grove when we first moved in. The other girls named theirs The Belfry and The Duck Pond, if my memory serves me correctly. Our house we named the Bunny Hole, since we were all born in the year of the Rabbit. A lot of fun times have been had at the Bunny Hole, and I will really miss living here. While I’m sort of looking forward to developing a new, semi-adult style, today I looked around my little pink room and took note of all the things I’ll miss about it.

The display of all the sweet cards I’ve received over the past year. I hung them on a string calendar from 2011 my brother and sister-in-law gave me.

The Woodruff Ave vintage sign I found at the Rose Bowl Flea Market. It’s resting on my bookshelf now. (Woodruff is my last name.)

The anthro knobs I hung by my closet to hang my baubles on.

This candle, which I’m literally burning out. I have big plans to refill it with my own homemade candle, though!

The window that makes my room the hottest in the house. While that may not be ideal for some, this Florida girl thrives in the heat. As does this little baby succulent Valerie gave me. Look, he’s so alive, Val!

This quote inspires me to live and act extraordinarily, even in ordinary circumstances. Here’s to the beginning of a new Fairy Tale.