Food Friday: Charcuterie with Columbus Craft Meats

If there's one thing I love, it's a three-day weekend. They're far and few, so when they come around, I'm all about them. More often than not, I prefer to get out of town and get to exploring. But, when an extra day is involved, I love hosting, having people over, and sometimes, taking that extra day just for me! Sometimes, it's nice to put together a little somethin' somethin' - whatever the occasion. Girls' night? You betcha. Date night for two? Yes, yes. Solo night in? Absolutely. So, in the spirit of the three day weekend, I've partnered with Columbus Craft Meats to give you three easy peasy charcuterie plate ideas. You can take one, take all, mix, match - whatever works for you!

Stacker Style: Retro

If my last outfit looked like a cross between Miami Vice and 90's revival, then let's say this one is a cross between Penny Lane and your classic retro thrift shop. (Something about my vest reminds me of a shaggy rug or frou frou coat you'd find at a thrift shop...) This is one of those outfits that I put together in five minutes or less - literally grabbed the clothes and got in 'em. Regardless of my mixing and matching, I'm still stoked about what came of it. Sometimes thinking less yields the best results. (Something I'm trying to put into practice just a tad bit more these days.)

Coachella 2016 Recap

Ah, the long-awaited Coachella recap. I know, I know - it's been a long-time coming, but better late than never, right? This year's Coachella will go down as one of my favorites. Truth be told, I'd seen nearly everyone on the bill at least once before, 2013's dust storm had nothing on whatever this year's deal was, and I inhaled pounds and pounds of dust and dirt. But, I spent three days in the desert (aka my favorite place) with my best friend and got to dance around like a flower child more than you know. Hence, another successful festival in the books.

Beauty Bites: COSMEDIX

I've been trying to make more time in my week for the stuff I love - yoga, blogging, weekly bouquet runs - aka "me" time. Different from my last dose of "me" time, the things I'm doing now are less about mindless relaxation (otherwise known as vegging out, or Buffy marathons on Netflix) and more about personal productivity and overall zen. In that "zen" bucket includes elusive massages (counting down the days until my next one!) and pimping out (yes, I said "pimping") my beauty routine. And what is more "pimp" than a fabulous facial? Not too much. So, when COSMEDIX invited me to try their customized facial at SenSpa, it couldn't have come at a better time.

For those who may not be familiar (and truth be told, I wasn't until my facial), COSMEDIX is a skincare brand that focuses on using "the science of nature to deliver results." Their tagline, "Clinically smart. Naturally beautiful," best describes their science + nature duo.

Stacker Style: Superstar

I sourced the interwebs long and hard to find these sneaks (which, conveniently enough, you can't see in the preview photo above, but...) and then I found them. Adidas Superstar, you're a hard one to find. But, like all good things, it was very much worth the wait. These classic kicks even inspired this outfit, which I call a cross between Miami Vice and 90's revival. I'm not really sure which one I was going for, but whatever works. Also, this is the first time since I was maybe 5? that I put my hair up in a pony. Between me and you, I think it just adds to the look.

Food Friday: Gaspar Brasserie

Gaspar Brasserie 185 Sutter Street



Earlier this month, I was treated to a weekday fun lunch at Gaspar Brasserie. It's not often that I make it to a sit-down lunch during the week (that work life, you know?). But every now and then, be it a special occasion or event, I get to sneak out and enjoy some sit-down noms. This was one of those times.

Beauty Bites: A Date with Dior

It's not often that you're offered a date with Dior. So when Christian comes a-calling, you gotta answer. The day after I returned from my Coachella / SoCal adventure, I got in a car and made my way down to the new Dior Beauty boutique at the Westfield Valley Fair Mall in Santa Clara. It's actually one of three brand new boutiques solely dedicated to beauty opening up this year - meaning makeup, skincare and fragrance all in one place. Oh, oh and did I mention the boutique is the largest one in the country? Yeah - endless cosmetics, you guys. Starting this month, they'll even have a private spa room for facials, so you can get that full beauty game going in a day's visit. So, you can see why I didn't want to miss out on previewing the new space, right?

Blogger's Block

Hey, we've always, always been honest with one another, right? So, how about we clear the air? My name is Chanda and I have Blogger's Block. Blogger's block - it's a real thing, I'm sure of it. You may have noticed that since Coachella, I've been on a bit of a blogging break. Call it blogger fatigue (hey, I've been at this for almost six years, you guys!), or what have you, but it's real and it's been hitting me hard.

In the time that I've been away, I've been busy bee-ing it up in real life - attending events (which I'm so very grateful to be invited to), hanging out with friends (and NOT 'gramming about it - kinda sorta real hard for a chronic social media-er), listening to Drake's new album (#views), and just taking a general breather for myself (only child syndrome embraces the "me" time real hard). But, because this little space on the internet means so much to me, not a day has gone by in which I haven't thought about it.

And because I think about it (and you), I'm here trying to mend my ways. I may post less often that I used to, but I'm still very, very grateful for all of you who still poke around every now and then to see what I'm up to. So, with that, here's my attempt at filling you in on the last month.