Crossroads Style Council // Crossroads Camp 2014

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If you follow me on social media, you may have noticed that I took a short road trip with my Crossroads Style Council blogger babes up to Sonoma to attend part of the annual Crossroads Camp for all Crossroads Trading Co managers. And if you don’t follow me on social media, what’s up with that? Let’s be friends!

We drove up to Sonoma early Tuesday morning, coffee being our first stop of course, and arrived late that afternoon. We were a bit behind scheduled when we arrived (how many times can you imagine we had to make pit stops with seven girls drinking coffee all morning?) so we were ushered straight to the blogger panel where we discussed the Crossroads Trading brand, company, and shared our personal Crossroads love stories. After the panel, we were able to freshen up a bit and mingle with the wonderful Crossroads staff over wine and a locally resourced, organic dinner! I’ve always known from my experiences in store that the Crossroads staff were all lovely people, but this trip really cemented what great people work for this company!

After dinner, the style council hosted some DIY stations and then we went to our hotel to pass out from our exhausting day!

Here are a few ton of pictures from the trip!

L to R: Kristin // Amelia // Micaela // Mary // Leah // Yours Truly // Grasie // Beth

These girls are simply amazing! Honestly, I was a bit intimidated leading up to this trip; these bloggers are established and are big names in the blogger industry. I am a very small fish in a very big, complicated pond compared to them. I was nervous about what I would say on the panel, what I should wear, what I would even talk about with these girls. It turns out it was all for not, because although I was the only one who didn’t personally know anyone in this group, I was embraced and from the first minute of these girls, I felt like I belonged. We got along so well! I did not even notice until more than halfway into our eight hour car ride that we had not even turned on music yet because we were talking so much! Thanks to Beth, we played a pretty epic questions game. What is said in the Crossroads Style Council car, stays in the car! Don’t be fooled by bloggers, or at least this group: these ladies have so much knowledge, depth, warmth, kindness, and are so much fun!

Also, I need a tan. Like, yesterday.

Pit stops are for Instagram moments.

// Dress: Thrifted via Buffalo Exchange // Hat, belt bag, + boots: Thrifted via Crossroads Trading Co // Sunglasses: Urban Outfitters //

Isn’t it funny how random diners in the middle of nowhere ending up being the best?

When we finally arrived to Westerbeke Ranch, it was the most gorgeous place I’ve been to! The difference between Southern California and Northern California is mind blowing. I am definitely proud to be a Nor Cal girl!

 

Getting to share our thoughts and opinions about Crossroads straight to those who have control was a really great experience! I think we as a group had really great and exciting ideas to pass along to the managers!

We hosted four DIY stations for the Crossroads managers after dinner.

// Graphic Tee // Wine Stoppers // Distressed Denim // Instagram Tutorial //

I attempted to distress a denim jacket with Beth’s guidance; once I put it through the washer and dryer, if it is successful, I will be sure to share it with you!

Graphic tee photo stolen from Kristin’s Instagram.

After we hosted our DIY stations, we went straight to bed! It was a long day!

I am now sitting here, wearing my Crossroads Camp 2014 tee, wishing I was back in beautiful wine country with these ladies! I look forward to the next blogger adventure!

I will be sharing the outfit I wore the night of the festivities in my next outfit post! Until then, I will be working on that tan.

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Friday favorites

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And, I’m sick. I probably get sick once a year or so but when I do, it lasts a long time. Weeks. So that is something to look forward to. Not to mention the 8 hour train ride back to LA on Sunday. That will be super fun, too. I shouldn’t be complaining though! It is Christmas and that is time for cheer!

My cheer to you is yet another Friday Favorites!

• Listen to this: Kelly Clarkson, Wrapped in Red. This is all I have been listening to since it came out. That is something people say and it’s usually an exaggeration. This is no exaggeration. I take my Christmas music seriously and this is almost right up there with Mariah Carey’s original Christmas album. Yes, almost, because no modern day Christmas album will ever be able to compete. And the originals are classics. Unless the Backstreet Boys put one out. Then my life will be complete. Until then, I have Mariah and now Kelly.

• Read this: Amazing Shadow Sculptures by Time Noble and Sue Webster. I am the least artsy fartsy person in the world. I can barely draw a straight line and I have no idea how to interpret a canvas with a smear of red paint on it. The shadows projected on the wall are made entirely from garbage and discarded scraps of wood and metal, and are amazing. Take a look!

• Watch this: Decade by Decade: A Modcloth Timelapse. Have you ever wondered what it looks like behind the scene’s of a photoshoot? Specifcally, a ModCloth  photoshoot? Wonder no more! Take a look at a full day of shooting with ModCloth in just under a minute, and see how many times you can spot me! If you check out ModCloth’s other YouTube videos, you may also see me pop in a couple more! Like maybe here, and possibly here as well.
  

• Eat this: Spiced Apple Swedish Meatballs. I made these for a Thanksgiving appetizer, actually a double batch and they were gone before the deviled eggs. Nothing is ever gone before the deviled eggs! They are delicious and I need to be invited to another party so I can make them again. I actually used cranberry apple butter from Trader Joe’s because I could not find apple butter and I think I’m glad that I couldn’t find regular apple butter.

• Wear this: Superhigh Lovestoned. This LA brand’s current lookbook may be the most perfect lookbook I have ever seen. I aspire to be a part of a lookbook this magical. So free spirited, so bohemian, so rock and roll, so everything that I wish I was. I am completely in love.

• Blog love: Dentelle + Fleurs. All I need to say about Gabrielle is that she is a breath of fresh air. It can be a bit tiring to see bloggers load on the trends and freebies. I like reading blogs that showcase what real woman can be creative enough to put together, not what people say they should wear. This girl keeps it real.

Happy Friday Why do I do This to Myself Fail!

Why am I so embarassing to myself?

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Friday favorites

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I am currently baking over 100 cupcakes, and possibly a last minute cake because I never think that enough is actually enough, for my brother’s bar. My sister is hosting the second annual Thanksgiving canned food drive and dinner and I am in charge of dessert. Now to anyone else, this means some cupcakes and cookies and call it a night. To me, this means that every single person who touches a cupcake must have a Heavenly experience and therefore need another, hence, enough is never enough.

I am majorly stressed out at the moment and no one should even look in the direction of my kitchen until I am done. Instead, direct your attention to the below Friday Favorites.

• Listen to this: Best Voicemail Ever Gives Hilarious Play-by-Play of Car Accident. While I do not condone uncessesary violence, even if it is little old lady against an adult male, this has to be the funniest voicemail anyone has ever left or recieved.
  

• Read this: 30 Things You’re Only Afraid of if You Live in Los Angeles. Yes to 90% of these. Especially the earthquake ones. ESPECIALLY being on a freeway during an earthquake and a bridge falling down on top of me, or collapsing below me. And driving over the mountains. And helicopters shining into my bedroom window. In short, yes. Los Angeles makes me a scardy cat. Why does everyone want to live there?

• Watch this: Reverse Pickpocketing. Restoring my faith in humanity. If I had extra money, I would love to do this. I think more than college students should be targeted, but it is a step in the very right direction. Helping people makes my heart smile.

• Eat this: Cranberry Crostini. Last year Ugly Mug and I were in charge of Thanksgiving appetizers. We went a little overboard and bought out the cheese and deli section at Trader Joe’s and had cheese coming out of our ears. This year, I want to pick a select stand outs and keep it simple. These cranberry crostinis look and sound perfect!

 

• Wear this: Karen London. You know I am not much of an accessories person; I want to be, don’t get me wrong. I love stacked rings and layered necklaces, I just don’t have the patience for it all and I am constantly fidigiting with it all. But, there is something about Karen London jewelry  (as seen on Dylana Suarez below) that is so special. They are statement pieces without being costumey. I can get down with that.

• Blog love: Wendy’s Lookbook. If I could only describe Wendy in one word, it would be “polished”. That is exactly what she is. Pretty and polished. Her posts are actually enjoyable too, which I cannot say of all the blogs I follow, or even love. Sometimes I just scroll through for the photos. But not on Wendy’s blog. Cnogratulations for taming my short attention span Wendy!

Happy Friday whaaaaaaa jump fall Fail!

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Friday favorites

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You guys. I ranted and raved and whined and acted a fool about the weather in yesterday’s post and today I was rewarded. It is overcast, and some might even say chilly. Lesson of the day? Whine and snivel and you will get what you want. Win.

Plans this weekend? The Christmas tree lighting at The Grove is on Sunday and I am so excited to go! I am obsessed with Christmas and there is going to be a huge tree, pretty lights, fake snow, hot chocolate, and Christmas cheer!

• Listen to this: Ian Axel “Say Something”. My instructor put this song on during our cool down stretch at the end of a kickboxing class I took the other day and for some reason, I immediately resonated with it and googled the lyrics to find it. I just think it is a beautifully sad song. I’ve never heard of Ian Axel before now, and came to find out he is now a duo called A Great Big World. I can’t wait to hear more.

• Read this: Batkid Fights Crime in San Francisco: This might be the sweetest, most awesome, tear jerking thing ever in life. Miles Scott, AKA, Batkid was granted his wish today by the Make a Wish Foundation and ran all over San Francisco today rescuing damsels in distress, fighting crime, and putting away the bad guys. Stuff like this makes me believe in humanity again. You can read updates and see photos by clicking the photo below!

• Watch this: What I Kind Campaign? And then watch the Finding Kind documentary. It’s not a secret that I am in love with Aaron Paul, because, who isn’t? But I think I may just love his wife, Lauren, even more. Lauren is the co-founder of Kind Campaign, which is a non profit documentary and school program to teach girls about kindness and to fight toward an end to girl on girl bullying and violence. They have made a documentary, traveled the country with their program, speaking with girls in middle schools and high schools. She is a true inspiration. And gorgeous. And I think I am more jealous of Aaron Paul because he is married to her than I am of Lauren Paul being married to Aaron Paul. Woman crush, for sure.

• Eat this: Pumpkin Spice Latte. Is it really that big of a surprise? I am obsessed with all things Autumn, holidays, and pumpkin, so finding a recipe for a homemade pumpkin spice latte seemed necessary. I found one that can rival Starbucks’ recipe, for sure; you can even make this recipe sugar free by trying with honey or any other sugar substitute!

• Wear this: American Two Shot. Can I have all the things? Just all of them. It will make me very, very happy! I think I stumbled upon American Two Shot randomly on Instagram. Oh the magical things that insomnia leads you to!

• Blog love: A Fashion Nerd. Another blogger/model? Huge bored, right? No. Not at all. Amy is one of those super awesome, authentic, can literally wear anything and look amazing kind of gals that I am super envious of. I think you should check her out. She has my recommendation and although that means nothing to anyone, it at least means that I think she is one of the coolest chicks on the internet.

Happy Friday ‘why don’t people have common courtesy anymore” Fail!

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