Stacker Style: Pilot's Landing

Is it boot season, or what? Better question, has the skinny jean + boot combo been my uniform as of late? Strong yes. I basically wear these gray skinnies over and over and over and over. They're one of my most comfortable pairs of pants ever and they go with everything I own. I bought this denim jacket when I saw it floating around the interwebs because I am not one to pass up a bomb denim coat. In retrospect, I do wish I stuck with a small vs. sizing up to go for that "oversized" look (note to self: when something is already "oversized," there is no need to size up...). After putting this look together and subsequently staring at these photos while doing this post, I also realized that my wannabe pilot game is super strong. Should have gone for the high top (gun) bun. Another note to self has been made for the next time this outfit comes out to play.

Stacker Style: Brown Babe

I think most of you follow me on Instagram, so you've undoubtedly seen some of these sick shots captured by my pal and photog extraordinaire, Melissa. I was honestly just waiting for the inspo bug to bite before I started sharing all the gems we shot together. Well, the time has come, and here they are.

Stacker Style: #SettingTheBar with Macy's

Hey girl, hey (or guys, you're welcome, too). I know it's been a minute since you've seen my face on your screen. You might have even noticed that the blog got a little bit of a lift. In the time that I've been away, I had a chance to regain some of my blogging juices and now, here I am! I don't want to promise too much just yet, but for those who are still with me, let's just say some tasty stacks will be back and better than ever. For now, let's take a moment to salivate over this style stack -- more, specifically, this delicious cropped coat. I will be honest - when I saw it online, I wasn't completely sold. It took a trip to mall and a minute in the fitting room to realize what a treasure I had just found for my closet. And, as soon as I hit the register and found out that it was just under $50, I knew that I was comin' up. I've been looking for a furry jacket all season long and could not be more stoked that I found this guy. Paired my new coat with a pair of skinny motos from True Religion, some classic black OTK boots, and some big, round frames for the ultimate 70's girl glam. What other statement making outfits will come together with this coat? We shall see. We shall see.

Stacker Style: Indian Summer Soiree

BCBGeneration Suede Jacket (40% off with the code, "Chandamheer40") | Old Navy Chambray | Blank NYC Denim skirt via TopShelf Style | ECTU LA Crossbody c/o | Zara Booties

The end of San Francisco's summer is near and this girl is trying to hold on to every bit of sunshine she can. Fall has started to creep its way back in now that October is officially here, but luckily for us city folk, we have at least a week or two of "summer" left. For those who follow me on Instagram, you'll notice that I just got back from Austin for Austin City Limits. I'm a festival child at heart and I was more than happy to sweat through 90+ degree weather. in anticipation for the festival I stopped by TopShelf Style and fell in love with the denim skirt pictured above. It was the perfect Austin companion, and as you can see I've been wearing it nonstop. But, 90 degree Austin is no 60 degree San Francisco, which is why I've started to slowly layer up. While it would have been more than foolish to wear this beautiful BCBGeneration suede coat in Austin, it was more than acceptable for SF's cooler evenings. While I am bummed the beginning of fall means saying "so long" to many of my warm weather attire, I'm not mad at the idea of wearing cozy jumpers, coats, and booties. Not mad at all.

Stacker Style: #FoundAtSimon

I'm on a boat! Just kidding. I'm on a parklet, but it looks like the interior of a boat, no? Non-sequiturs, aside, these are the rest of the shots from my day with Melissa. On this day, we shot some hair shots (you saw them, here), had brunch at one of my favorite neighborhood spots, Marengo on Union, and caught up with some girl talk and coffee in the sun. Going back to Marengo - they've got mean chicken and waffle sliders, legit biscuits and bomb Bloody Marys. We got there early and were able to sneak a seat in the back patio - talk about your perfect morning. Even better? It was 90 degrees out! In hindsight, wearing all black probabbbbbly wasn't the best idea. Was I hot? Yes. But, I was really excited to wear some of my new finds from my event the weekend before with Teen Vogue at Stoneridge Mall. I came out like a bandit that day - a couple new pairs of jeans, some fall staples (jacket, poncho, hat) and a rocking new pair of flats. You'll undoubtedly see many of these pieces on rotation coming up on the blog (or on my Instagram), but the first full outfit feature is this ole post right here.

Beauty Bites: VERB Hair Products

One of the trickiest things about having naturally curly hair is finding the proper products to make it shine. I have my set of favorites, but every now and then I love testing out some new stuff to see if there's anything else that will give my hair life. Earliest this month, I was introduced to Austin-bred hair care brand, VERB. I've been using the brand now for about a month and can't say enough great things.

Stacker Style: Classic Color

If there's one thing I know, it's that black is always a winner. When I'm in a clothing rut, or just can't think up something new to wear, I revert back to black. In fact, my closet is is almost overtaken by my black dresses, tops and tees, but, what's one more piece to add to the collection? This linen number is the perfect blend between comfort and ease. It's great for slipping on and running out - errands, lunch date, stroll through the neighborhood? Check, check and check. And the fact that it's my color of choice these days? Done.

Stacker Style: Outside Lands Day 3

We made it to the third and last day of my Outside Lands outfit recaps! Hooray, hooray. On day three of the festival, I decided to go for another full length maxi, because why mess with a good thing? Typical to Chanda fashion, I couldn't help but finish off my look with a pair of comfy footwear (this time, OluKai's "Hema" leather sandals) and another signature hat (the bigger, the better). If there's one thing I love, it's this outfit combo. Day three was significantly cooler than the first two days - luckily my long maxi kept my legs covered up and I was smart enough to bring a thick denim jacket. Because I wanted to be as handsfree as possible for optimal dancing, I opted for a chic fanny pack, which also served as a belt for my dress. Two birds, one stone, folks. And boy did I dance. On day three, I caught my favorites: Odesza (seeing them again this December!), Sam Smith, DJ Mustard (amazing.) and good ole Sir Elton John. Nothing like finishing off your night to some "Tiny Dancer."

Stacker Style: Outside Lands Day 2 - #AnywhereAloha by Olukai

Aloha, friends! Day two of Outside Lands was a blast - good music, good hangs, good people, great food and just all around good, good vibes. Like most years, what I wear to the festival is a top priority. Outside Lands is a tricky one - it's hot (but not as hot as Coachella), cold ( the #fogust runs deep), and there's lots of walking from stage to stage, through dust and up and down mini hills. So, with each new year, I get wiser with my shoe selection and avoid anything that my feet won't be able to stand after an hour of dancing. This year, I was lucky enough to partner with OluKai and hang out with their at their beautiful #AnywhereAloha booth. For those of you who may not already be familiar, OluKai is a a Hawaiian leather footwear brand that rocks at making comfortable shoes and sandals made for adventure. And, if my five or so past years at OSL have taught me anything, it's that San Francisco's best music festival of the year is truly an adventure.

Stacker Style: Outside Lands Day 1

If there's one word the majority of my pals would use to describe me, it's "sassy." Fittingly that the nickname "Sassy Stacker" just rolls off the tongue, no? So, it was hardly a surprise when I rolled up to the first day of Outside Lands in my latest new purchase  - my sassy tee. As soon as I saw this sucker online, I added it to my cart and hit express shipping, please. All jokes aside, I can always count on Lulus to hook a girl up and have just what I need when it's time to hunt for the perfect festival pieces. Each year at OSL, I go for easy, casual comfort. Because I knew I'd be running around all day, I decided to slip on a pair of my trusty ole distressed denim, an easy breezy tee, a flannel for layering purposes, beanie (my hat-wear choice of the day) and some slip ons to take me from point a to point b. All in all, almost everything, aside from my new tee, was just mixed and matched from something I already owned in my closet. Don't you love it when it all just comes together like that?

Crunch Gym: Free Membership Giveaway!

It's been a crazy couple of months. Between the long hours in the office, weekend trips and overall adult responsibilities (they're real, you guys!), I've found myself spending less of my free time in front of the screen and more of it out and about, doing the things I love. One thing I've found myself trying to do more of is work on my fitness routine. Yes, summer trips require two piece sets and swimsuits galore, but more than anything working out has helped me take a breather from a busy day, giving my mind some "me" time to wind down. And my favorite form of "me" time? Yoga. Don't get me wrong, I love trying other workouts - from spin to dance to rock climbing and boxing - but the one thing that I always go back to is yoga.

Stacker Style: Sip Champagne When We Thirsty

It's been a while since I've shot with my pal, Melissa, but every time we get together I get so inspired by her work. A few Saturdays back, we got together to indulge in some cream puffs (more to come on that), catch up and sneak in a quick little shoot. I've got to admit, I'm a bit rusty (been on that blog break, you know?). Luckily for me, Melissa basically does all the work, so I still come out looking much better than I could have. Since cleaning out my closet (I got rid of six bags of stuff you guys), the favorites continue to make their way into my daily rotation. Hence - you're seeing some familiar pieces, just in different ways. But hey, that's real life for ya, yeah?

Stacker Style: Green Thing

I'm a creature of habit and comfort, which is why I've been picking out my favorite easy ensembles and wearing them nonstop. Quite possibly the most comfortable pair of jeans I own hails from LA's own Denimocracy. No doubt you've seen them saunter across my Instagram these last few weeks (okay, months), but can't help but wear 'em out (pun intended). A month or so ago I went through my closet and noticed that all my good flats were gone. Not one to sit around and wait, I took matters into my own hands and ordered up a handful of new flats, including these grey beauties by Sole Society. Do they fit the comfort criteria? You betcha. And what's a comfy 'fit without a relaxed linen shirt? Thankfully, J.Jill continues to impress. I grabbed this casual blue and white crisp linen top from their summer collection because my closet deserved to have it.

Beauty Bites: Beauty Packing List with Ulta

When it comes to packing for trips, I've always tried to get everything I need into one carry-on and tote bag. Past years have taught me that no one wants to be that person with the huge suitcases trying to navigate from point A to point B. So, along with cutting down on my clothes, I've also tried to be very smart about my makeup stash. Luckily for me, skincare and beauty products are so tiny, I can always get away with packing jusssst a little more than I should. But, for those quick weekend trips and shorter summer getaways, there's a few things you will always find in my bags.

Stacker Style: Leaf it To Me

Ah, Palm Springs. It's a place that holds a special place in my heart. It's hot (like really, really hot), quiet (in the most relaxing way) and feels like it's worlds away, even though it's just a short hop, skip and jump from SF. I flew down to LA and drove to Palm Springs for the Fourth with some gal pals and it was just what I needed. Not only did I get a wonderful golden tan, but I also got to rock all my warm weather wear. I'm a girl who loves her heat. Although I spent a good 80% of my day in a bathing suit, I did manage to pack some summer wear for the times when wearing my suit wasn't acceptable in public spaces. On this particular day, I swapped one two piece for another. Saw this adorable set on Lulus.com and knew it had to come with me to Palm Springs. I picked up the fanny pack just a day before my trip and seriously hit the jackpot - it was $6, you guys. Can't wait to wear this guy at my next music festival (OSL, I'm coming for ya!). Anyhoo, I've got more posts coming your way. But, for now, let's start here.

Food Friday: Blade and Bow Whiskey Tasting and Dinner

Ah yes, yes, y'all. A double dose of Food Friday in one week! Last Thursday, I made my way to Hotel Palomar's Dirty Habit restaurant for an evening of southern charm with Kentucky-based Bourbon brand, Blade and Bow. Now, full disclosure, I know just as much about whiskey as I do calculus. (I majored in English Literature back in my Bruin days, in case you couldn't tell.) But, just because my knowledge of bourbon isn't as strong as my mastery of the English language doesn't mean that I can't appreciate and recognize a good drink when I taste one. But of course, because this is Food Friday, this stack will be stuffed with plenty of food porn to feast your eyes on, so don't you worry. Now, let's get to it, shall we?

Food (almost) Friday: Glen Ellen Star

Glen Ellen Star, 13648 Arnold Drive Glen Ellen, CA 95442



For a moment, let's just pretend that this post isn't terribly tardy. Can't do it? Okay, well that's why you're getting a stack of Food Friday early... let's just call this one Tasty Tuesday? Alright, now that I'm done being a cheese-ball over here, get your napkins situated and your forks ready to dig in because this post is sure to make your tummies rumble.

Stacker Style: Ripped Jeans 'n Things

Just a quick little post to let you know that I'm still here... I know it's been quite on the pancakestacker front, and I don't want to make promises and tell you that my cadence of posting will suddenly go up. But, I can tell you that as soon as I get my blogging groove back, it will be as though I never left. Until then, catch up with me, here.

Food Friday: Hecho

Hecho 2200 Market Street


Ready for another serving of Food Friday? Last week, I talked to you guys about a little walking food tour I took along Market Street. So, to continue the tour, this week, I'm sharing another stop we took along the way! Hecho is an adorable Mexican restaurant and bar located near SF's Castro district. The restaurant is open for dinner throughout the week and brunch on the weekends. It was my first time visiting, and I immediately fell in love with the restaurant's interior and decor. Because the restaurant gets such great natural light, the space feels open and airy. The first thing you'll probably notice when you visit the space is the amazing bar seating. Now that Hecho has officially launched its new weekday happy hour ($5 coronas, $6 quesadillas and $7 margs!), you can bet you'll find me seated at the bar, snapping Instagrams and taking advantage of the 5-6-7 deal. It's the cutest place to grab a drink with friends on a Friday after work, and an even better choice if need to fill up before heading to the Castro for a full night of dancing. As for the food, we were treated with refreshing margaritas upon being seated, along with nachos a la plancha, fresh guacamole, and seasonal veggie quesadillas. Since we only were able to try a sample of their appetizers, I'm definitely looking forward to heading back and trying something off their dinner or brunch menu.

Treat your eyes to more food porn after the jump!

Beauty Bites: Clarins

It's no secret that I'm a Clarins lover. Ever since being introduced to a selection of their products a year ago, I've been hooked. So, I decided to take the next step and I scheduled my first facial at their Bloomingdales spa location. Truth be told, I've always been reluctant to try facials, as I'm very particular about who touches my face. But, because I'm such an avid user of Clarins products, I knew I'd been in good hands with their team. After answering a few questions, we decided on a moisture-replenishing treatment for my skin, where my aesthetician focused on my problem area - my eyes. I've always had bad bags under my eyes, so I was really looking for some pointers on how to get rid of them. During the treatment, my aesthetician did gentle massages around my eyes to help with blood-flow and reduce puffiness. Results? 50 minutes full of bliss and relaxation. And because Clarins was offering a gift-with-purchase that day, I couldn't help but leave with a few goodies to round out my collection of skincare items. To see my current rotation of day and night skincare products, click for more.

Food Friday: M.Y. China

 M.Y. China 845 Market Street  You've waited long enough, so I present to you another edition of Food Friday. Last week, I was invited to attend a walking food tour of San Francisco's Market Street - quite the great idea, right? SF has so many great eats to offer, why not break it down by street? I hadn't been to any of the places on the tour before, so it was fun to try each spot's bites and beverages. The first place I went to was M.Y. China, which is conveniently located in Westfield Mall. I know what you are thinking - mall food? For all intents and purposes, I guess you could call it "mall food," but it's really not what you think when you think of mall food. Reason being? M.Y. China feels like a cozy restaurant tucked away in the mall - a place to grab happy hour, or just a bite to eat if you're in the area and want to get away from the mall's fast-paced environment. We had a selection of small bites including a delicious citrus glazed chicken (served on a skewered pineapple!), shrimp tempura bites with a sweet and sour dipping sauce, and their new lychee sangria with bursting boba.

Stacker Style: Best of Basics

And here you have all of my favorite basics in one post - bookmark this one, because if you add them to your closet, they'll be your favorites, too. Let's start with the layering pieces - this denim jacket, which you've seen over and over and over again, is a favorite for good reason. It's got the perfect wash and distressing to it - looks vintage, but, surprise, surprise - it's not! And the fit? It's oversized just to my liking. I plan to keep this one in my collection for years to come. Next up, we've got the essential sweater. This one is from J.Jill's collection - it comes in plenty of colors (navy, neutral, lilac!) and is an amazing layering piece for San Francisco's fickle weather. Next up we have the jeans - I love these skinny ankle-cropped pair that I picked up last November at Nordstrom Rack at price that can't be beat (they were definitely under $75, if you can believe that!). It's hard to find a good pair of white jeans, so my rule of thumb is, if it fits just the way you like and you love them, don't pass on them!

Finally, we've got the accessories. Starting with the bag, I grabbed this reversible vegan leather tote at Nordstrom for under $50. It has become my staple work bag - perfect for carrying my laptop and lunch and everything in between. It's so popular that everyone usually sells out of it in a flash. I have a bucket bag from the same brand and love it just the same. I am still on the hunt for the best basic black sneakers and flats, so in the meantime, I've been finding myself drawn to grey. These New Balance sneakers are comfortable and go with pretty much everything (I recommend sizing up half a size). So, there you have it - what's on your best of basics list?

Stacker Style: Flowy Frock with Lulus.com

So, I still owe you all a Coachella recap (it's coming, I swear!), but in the meantime, here is another Lulus.com outfit I wore to the festival. No, these photos weren't snapped there (I tried!), but could have fooled you, right? In any case, this dress was the perfect festival companion - loose, breezy and cute (obviously). I was bummed I didn't get any shots of this frock while at the festival, so I had to snap a few as soon as I got back. I paired the dress with some simple, braided sandals and a lightweight crossbody (a must, when you're grooving all day and night long).

Stacker Style: Linen Lover

I owe y'all a post or two (or three or four?). I've been spending the last couple of weekends on a plane and away from home, so getting a post in has been tricky. Alas, here I am spending a couple of minutes before bed getting something up because I'm long overdue. But, enough about my whereabouts and onto this look. I recently received this henley from my pals at J.Jill (it's one of my favorite items from their April arrivals). The first time I wore it, I was actually on a plane, and I loved it because it was the perfect travel item - lightweight linen and easy to wear. On warm days, I pair it with a simple pair of shorts (like these ruffle ones I'm wearing above from Lulus.com). On breezy days, I pair it with cropped white denim and call it a day. I just love how versatile it is.

Stacker Style: Stone Cold Fox #RevolveFestivalStyle

I know a lot of people say that a romper is a no-no for festivals, but I'm part of that 2% that says otherwise.  I live for rompers (just search my blog and you'll see), so when I got this one in the mail just in time for Coachella, I was one happy little chickadee.  Because the romper is so beautiful on its own with its white lace cutout details, I opted to dress it up with some metallic tattoos and rep lips. Always red lips. Added a pair of my newest comfiest wedges to finish off the look. I ended up wearing this getup to the People StyleWatch and Revolve Clothing party hosted by Nikki Reed, as opposed to the festival itself. It was such a beautiful party complete with a taco bar, flower crown station (duh) and live music by Jhene Aiko. Stay tuned for my Coachella recap post headed to you later for photos of the party and more.

Stacker Style: Going, Going Palm (Springs)

At last, the first set of my Coachella photos has arrived. This year, I teamed up with my pals at Lulus.com to show you some of my festival attire, starting with this number right here! I am a sucker for shift dresses and find they suit my body just right. If you're like me (thiner waist, but wider hips), then definitely look into shift dresses. This palm-tree printed one was just perfect for the desert - palm prints in Palm Springs? Very meta. To offset the white and midnight blue (seemingly black) print, I opted for a contrasting bucket bag. As soon as I saw this bag online, I knew I had to have it! It's the most amazing color and so incredibly roomy. I accessorized my look with some Hot Jewels body tattoos because what festival-goer goes without?

pancakeREVIEW: Shoes of Prey Custom-Designed Sandals

About three weeks back, I was introduced to the Australian-based shoe retailer, Shoes of Prey. I had never heard of the brand before, but was intrigued when I found out they were launching shop at Nordstrom. I've always associated Nordstrom with great service and quality, so anything the brand partners on, I'm all ears.

Stacker Style: Boba Babe

last weekend, i traveled quite a ways to get my hands on this boba. i wasn't feeling too hot, but decided not to waste my sunday in bed. i reasoned with myself that if i could just get out of bed and into a cafe, to keep up with my spend-part-of-each-weekend-reading-in-a-cafe routine (see, here) that i could treat myself with a matcha green tea latte boba from boba guys (as pictured above) and everything would be a-ok. it was a seemingly sunny day, so i put on my sunday's best (a really cute dress, very appropriate for sunshine), hopped on a bus and got to that cafe. as soon i got there, i knew i had made a mistake. it was freezing and all i had was a light jacket and my bare legs. i thought maybe after i settled in with my book and a cup of hot coffee, i'd be okay. after a couple of hours, i realized it wasn't happening. so, i packed up and made a long walk to get my boba. it wasn't  even on my way, in fact, the bus stop home was much closer, but i had my heart and mind set on boba. so i trekked on, for what felt like hours, but it was probably only 15 minutes, anddddd...the boba shop was closed. heartbreak city. i walked all the way back to the bus stop, made my way home and came down with a cold.

needless to say, these photos are not from last week. 

Food Friday: Chino SF

Chino SF 3198 Guerrero Street  2 / 5 Stacks There are a couple things I'm all about in this life - buns and dumplings for sure two of 'em. I've spent the last three or four weekends in the mission. One of my new favorite things to do is spend part of my weekend reading my latest book in a cute cafe (this past week it was One Plus One by JoJo Moyes in Cafe Sophie, and the week before that I was at Four Barrel reading Moyes' The Girl You Left Behind).  So, on my way to my various cafes, I've often passed by Chino SF. For those who aren't familiar, Chino SF offers a modern take on classic Chinese cuisines. I'm often put off by "hip" restaurants offering modern renditions of classic meals, but, I am a sucker for a cute space and Chino SF has definitely got that down. Needless to say, they reeled me in with their paper lanterns, light strings, and hip, colorful interior. So was the outside as good as the offerings within?

Stacker Style: Work It, Berk Q&A

The lovely Brittany of Work It, Berk recently asked me to partake in her Work It, Bloggers series. We met up one beautiful Saturday afternoon in the Mission and Brittany introduced me to my new favorite alley in town. You guys may have already seen some photos from this alley (exhibit a). What can I say? I'm a sucker for street art. Anyhoo, enough about the alley. As part of her blogger series, Brittany asked me a few questions about blogging. So as not to ruin the fun, pop on over and give her site a gander to see what we chatted about.

Stacker Style: A Stripe Situation

lately, my closet picks have been full of black and white. sure, i pick out a colorful frock here and there, but i've found myself more drawn to the dark side with little pops of print. i've had this loose, billowy top in my closet for at least five years, but recently rediscovered - truth, i haven't done laundry for like a month (i know, i know), and "rediscovered" the top as i frantically searched for something to wear. speaking of, today is actually supposed to be laundry day, but i've been on a house of card netflix binge. wanted to see what the hype was all about and now that i'm fresh into season two, i completely understand. sundays are the best, aren't they?

Stacker Style: Black and White Remix

As I'm sure you've noticed, I've spent a little less time here on the interwebs. Been spending a little more time living and a little less time documenting. I've loved my blog to pieces these last four-almost-five years, but I'm still thinking about what's next for my little space on the web. In fact, part of me is considering dissolving my blogger and resurrecting my tumblr. If anyone has any thoughts, I'd really love to hear them. I think I'm just trying to find the space where I can make my content more real and attainable.

Food Friday: Another Visit To The House

The House 1230 Grant Avenue
4.5/5 Stacks



As I mentioned in my stack of leftovers, I made my way back to The House for my birthday dinner. It's been on my must-revisit list for a long time, but I've been concentrating on knocking out all my must-try places first. In any case, I was very excited to come back and was equally as happy that the restaurant hasn't changed one bit. If anything, the food has gotten that much better since the last time I was there.

Beauty Bites: Nude Skincare's ProGenius Omega Treatment Milk (and giveaway!)

Earlier this year, I let you guys in on some new skincare products in my beauty rotation (namely, Nude Skincare). Remember when I raved about their face mask (which I still love, by the way)? Today, I'm back at it with the love for Nude and introducing you guys to my new daily moisturizer enhancer.

pancakeLEFTOVERS: February

Generally speaking, February is my favorite month. There are many reasons why this is so: it's a month dedicated to love (ah, amor); it's a short and sweet month with a nice little break in between (thank you, President's Day weekend); and, I happen to celebrate my day of birthday during this grand month (age of aquarius, y'all!). So, you see, February is the best. But I'm not biased or anything... And because it is such a grand month, there's no way I could miss out on sharing some highlights. Here we go!

Stacker Style: Overalls (Sometimes a Fashion-No)

Sometimes, you wear overalls and you look pretty cool. Other times, you wear overalls and you look like this. HA. I debated whether or not these photos would make it up on the blog, because I wasn't sure if I wanted y'all to see my fashion flub. But, because I don't take myself too seriously and you shouldn't either, I said why the hell not. Sometimes we wear things and we feel really good. Other times, we wear things and we have a really long w-t-f moment. This is my moment. On to the next!

Food Friday: Four Favorite Foodie Spots in San Mateo

Alright, you guys. Here's the scoop. I recently partnered with HP, who is currently on tour with Meghan Trainor (you know her from her catchy "All About the Bass" hit), to #BendTheRules bring you a different kind of Food Friday stack today. Taking inspiration from their HP x360's four modes (laptop, tablet, tent and stand), they've asked me to interpret the number four in any way I'd like. What a better way to do so than with a super stacked Food Friday post, right? (Four times the noms, y'all!)

You know that I'm always sharing what I eat with you over on Instagram, but not all the places I dine at are SF-based. Take for instance, last week's trip to Oakland. Thought I'd flip the script once again and take you to the other side of town. Having grown up in the Peninsula, I have more than a couple of favorite places that I like to give my money to on the regular. And because I love them, I thought you just might, too. So, if you find yourself in San Mateo, here are four foodie spots you've just got to visit.

Stacker Style: Zoo Party

I like to think of this outfit as an intersection of my animal pals. I've got my faux-leather reptile-embossed sleeves, leopard-print booties, and a furry, Zebra (or Panda?)-colored faux-fur vest. It's like a trip to the zoo, but on my body. (That was kind of a weird sentence, no?) It wasn't planned; I just mixed all the things I've been wearing on rotating and decided to wear them all at once. But, the best outfits often come together unplanned. Pretty cool when it just works out like that. Remind me to plan-less more often. (I'll cross my fingers it turns out as hip as this.)

Stacker Style: Whoop! There It Is

I'm taking it back to the old school, 'cause I'm an old fool, who's so cool... with these Saucony kicks and the flannel around the waist. I scooped up these sneakers because I remember having a couple pairs back in middle school. They were so, so incredibly comfortable that I figured I'd treat my feet and bring these babies back. Now, what color for my next pair?

Food Friday: Hopscotch Oakland

Hopscotch 1915 San Pablo Ave. Oakland, CA 94612

3/5 Stacks 

Let me start off this post by saying, I never go to Oakland. I really, really want to make more of an effort to get out there and enjoy the sunshine, but I'm like a lost puppy when I get there and just have no idea where to go. So, I make it out there about once a year (yikes) and it's usually for their Eat Real Fest at Jack London Square. Well, I'm happy to say I made it out early this year (cue claps and cheers) for none other than Oakland Restaurant Week. I asked my savvy Easy Bay friends where I should go and everyone said Hopscotch was well worth the hype. After taking a gander at their menu and seeing Kimchee Fried Rice and Shoyu Eggs with Pork Belly, I was sold. So, I put on my Oakland sweatshirt (which is probably the most ironic thing I own by the way - 1. because I bought it at UO, of all places and 2. I live in the most non-hip neighborhood in SF) and made a trip of it. 

Stacker Style: #Momentsofchic with Piperlime

Every once in a while, when I'm not galavanting in sneaks or boots, I like to put on a pair of heels. And with that, comes the opportunity to slip on a pretty dress or bold skirt - cue this Finders Keepers skirt from Piperlime. When it comes to skirts, I'm typically more of a midi / maxi gal. I get a little shy showing off my stems, so I prefer keeping it conservative. But, every now and then you can't help but make a statement and show a little leg. I initially tried to wear this bad boy with sneakers (yes, I really did try very hard),  but none of my sneakers would do it justice and I realized only a pair of heels would. Doesn't mean I won't try again, though. Stay tuned on that - we'll see if I can make it happen.

Food Friday: Brenda's French Soul Food

Brenda's French Soul Food 652 Polk Street
Rating: 2.5-3/5 Stacks

Let me start by saying New Orleans has been on my to-visit list since 2010. It's 2015, and so I think that means I should just book a ticket and go, right? In 2015, I want to be more spontaneous. I want to travel, I want to see things, explore, feel more, and be. I know you guys clicked on this post because you wanted to see some food porn, and instead here you are getting emotional word vomit. So, before I digress any further, let me just say, if you've been to NoLa, please leave a comment and tell me to go - what should I see, eat, do? Okay. Now, here's your food porn.

Beauty Bites: bareMinerals' Complexion Rescue

It's that time again - another Beauty Bites post, y'all ready? Here we go. I recently had the pleasure of partnering with bareMinerals to test out their new Complexion Rescue Tinted Gel Cream, which launched just last week. I was really excited to try this because as someone who doesn't use powder or foundation, a light, moisturizing tinted cream is basically about as "foundation-y" as I will get. I know that sounds a little silly, but it's true! While I love what powders and foundations do for the skin, I personally tend to overheat (seriously) when I wear them, so I stick to moisturizers (or BB creams, if I am feeling especially fancy). So, when I was invited to try out bare's newest product launch, I thought it couldn't have been a more perfect fit.

Stacker Style: No Parking

Some days, it's just better in black. (And maybe a touch of leopard and gold, because why not?)

Food Friday: Plow

Plow 1299 18th Street
Rating: 5/5 Stacks 

You've undoubtedly seen the photo from what I assume to be the most Instgrammed brunch spot in the city. Have you gotten plowed? Because I did. And it was magical. It was on my list for all of 2014 to eat at this spot, but since it's a little far away from where I live in the city (hey, sometimes you don't want to take the bus for over an hour, okay?) I never found myself able to go. Then 2015 came around and my friend (with a car, hooray!) helped me fulfill my dreams of #gettingplowed. It's a real hashtag, you guys.

Stacker Style: (Pan)cake Cake Cake

Just some quick snaps in front of my favorite pink wall. I swear this wall is always changing. First it was pink. Just pink. Then it said "Sovereign," (remember these shots?), and now it says "cake." I like to think they knew I'd be stopping by.

Beauty Bites: NUDE Skincare

I'm pretty serious about my skincare routine. Last year, I started to up the ante on what I put on and how I take it off. If you must know, I've recently become obsessed with researching and trying new products, and with the cold weather creeping in and out, I've been looking for some gentle products so as to not dry out my face. My latest must-have that's now found a prime spot in my bathroom cabinet? NUDE Skincare. Full disclosure, I've tried two of the three products shown above, but both have made my skin feel and look great. For those of you who may not have heard of NUDE, get ready to for me to give you the 4-1-1.

Baby, I'm Back

I know, I know. Where have I been, right? I've got to tell you guys the honest truth - the last couple of radio silent weeks, I mostly thought about how to continue my blog. I know. Don't get me wrong, it's not you (I love you guys) - it's me (hah!). I was lacking a bit of inspiration (which happens) and didn't want to keep going for the sake of just getting a post up. But, because I just can't quit you, here's a post, so you know I'm still alive and whatnot. I'm still figuring it all out and mostly just enjoying the slow snail pace of it all. Thanks for being patient with me while I get my creative juices flowing...