Autumn Glow

Some pictures I took during my weekend in Rancho for the holiday. The trees in my parents' backyard glow with sunlight every afternoon.

Cookie Monster

The holidays in my family always include these cookies. They go by many different names, each culture seems to have their own. Since my Italian great aunt is the one who makes them, we always referred to these as 'Aunt Ann's cookies'. I was on Wordpress today catering to my other blog when I found these awesome pictures in a blog called Cooking-Spree. Here's my favorite photo from the 'Mexican Wedding Cookie' post, I'm now more than inspired to make my own batch this year:

Build-a-Burberry

I ran across a Time article that was about Burberry's new customization service, Burberry Bespoke. Unlike most luxury brands that offer customization options, Burberry's service allows customers to build a trench from scratch. According to Time, customers can create up to 12 million different combinations by having a vast amount of options such as fabric color, fox-fur collars, and brass-studded sleeves.  

While it's great that an iconic major fashion house is allowing customers with the means to personalize such a large purchase, a work of art from a major fashion house is not a car. Would you buy a painting from Monet, but customize it by incorporating your favorite colors? Of course not. You spend that much on a work of art because you love the artist's unique style. Minor customization options such as monograms are offered by other luxury brands, but they don't take away from a piece's overall aesthetic. 

Burberry does take some precautions to ensure the customized trenches do not become victims of the fashion-challenged. The most amusing aspect of Burberry Bespoke is that in an effort to preserve some of the brand's integrity, you can't choose options that clash. Time mentioned that they had attempted to pair an olive trench with a fuchsia and red checkered lining, but thankfully Burberry Bespoke's concierge service politely steered them in a different direction. Personally, if I were to purchase a Burberry trench, I would want it to be unmistakably Burberry. I don't think red and fuchsia checkers would get that.

Image from Ingridslifeandluxury.com

Treasure.Island.2011.

Thanksgiving

This year, we went to my Aunt's house for Thanksgiving. She lives in a gorgeous house up in the mountains. Each year, despite wearing our best, my cousins, sisters and brother climb up the hill behind her house. We usually find deer or a hidden road, but this year we made it to the star that is illuminated every year for the holidays. We made it up there just as the sun was setting, so the views were perfect.

Desi <3

Chinatown

My friend Jasmine and I went to Chinatown near Downtown L.A. last week, where I found these awesome lanterns. We stumbled upon a shop that sold lanterns in all shapes and sizes. After much deliberation, I decided on these ones-they came with lights that emit a beautiful, soft glow.

Century City skyline

Cities are prettiest at night :)

Dos and Don'ts of eye contact

As a fan of both bananas and eye contact, I thought this was hilarious. Via Tastefully Offensive (http://www.tastefullyoffensive.com/). 

Masquerade

Awesome masquerade mask my aunt had laying around. Suits me, don't you think? :)

M-O-N-E-T-I-Z-E

After months of playing around with themes, names, and content-I FINALLY have my first post on what will be my official and soon-to-be-only blog. I have a few blogs over on Wordpress I need to take down and place here, but first-my inaugural post. I plan to post a lot more now that I'm finally settled in my new apartment in Los Angeles (after 3 months! So not like me-oops!). L.A. has always been one of my favorite cities, so stay tuned as I share my newest finds around this amazing city. It's time to dust off the digital camera and start writing, because I think I just unearthed where my creativity had been hiding. More to come :)

-AnnaMarie