Apple Crumble | A Dessert for the Holidays

listening to: Oh No! | Mindy Gledhill
So, I really enjoy apple crumble as a dessert item, especially in the months of November and December. It is really easy to put together and not that time consuming, PLUS, it smells like 'winter holidays'  when you bake it. So I thought I would share with you the recipe I use to put it together.



I adapted this recipe from allrecipes and adjusted it to my liking. Assuming that this is not a dessert meal, that this is not the only dessert, plus everyone will have a (approx) 2x2" serving, I estimated that this could easily serve a little more or less than 8 people.


You will need:
•2 mixing bowls, measuring cup and utensils, knife, peeler, and a rectangular baking pan
•7 granny smith apples, skinned, cored, sliced
•2 tbs + 1½ tsp white sugar
•½ tsp ground cinnamon
•1¼ cups brown sugar
•¾ cup+ 3 tbs old fashion oats
•¾ cup + 3 tbs all purpose flour
•1¼ tsp ground cinnamon
•½ cup + 2 tbs cold butter


1) preheat oven to 350° F (175°C).
2) Toss cut & skinned apples AND the first three things in the ingredients (italicized) into the first mixing bowl
3) Next add all the other ingredients into the second mixing bowl and mash the mixture until the butter is evenly spread and mixed.
4) Pour the apples into the baking pan.
5) Pour the second mixing bowl mixture onto and over the apples. Make sure that the mixture is spread evenly over the apples. Pat to even the topping if needed.
6) Pop the baking pan into the oven (middle rack if possible) and then bake for about 40 minutes, or until golden brown.


Whenever I make this, the entire kitchen smells of a beautiful cinnamon-brown sugar-oat scent and instantly I feel cosy and in the 'holiday mood'. I know this post is a little late for you to try out and bring to Thanksgiving potlucks, but I hope you try this out another time for yourself, or the next holiday gathering. Bon appétit!

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striped turkey | a personal take on holiday styling

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
(I just noticed my hair is slightly red, no I have never dyed my hair, and no I did not edit any of these photos).

I hope everyone is having a very nice turkey day. Either busy at gatherings or just at home with just family. As promised, here is a more toned down holiday outfit. Very simple and easy to put together.
I styled a sweater that had a very Thanksgiving color-scheme with a normal dark blue button up inside. Then, because it is not very chilly here in southern California on this Thanksgiving, I decided to wear a skirt. If it gets chillier later, then I would put on some sheer black tights. Below (not pictured) I just had normal black flats on, that had a little bit of silver rings and bells on them for the holiday look.


This is mainly a Thanksgiving look so I didn't wear any makeup because I don't think that Thanksgiving is the occasion to go all shimmery sparkly and fabulous. (Save it for New Year's and Christmas). Thanksgiving is a day to be thankful for the things you have, and to spend it with the ones closets to you. I did not think that attention grabbing make up would be appropriate. But for slight makeup application I would suggest a neutral light bronze shadow such as Benefit's Creaseless Cream Shadow in R.S.V.P or Birthday Suit, a coat or two of mascara, and then eye liner. Of course, a strawberry red lipstick wouldn't hurt either. Nails, could be champagne pink shimmer or a dark cherry red.

Sweater | Madewell
Blue Button Up | Abercrombie & Fitch in Vermont (I don't know if that makes a difference)
Skirt | f21Black Embellished Flats | Jessica Simpson
This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the opportunities and chances I am given, the people who help me become a better person in life, my calc III professor specifically from this quarter, and all of you guys who faithfully come back and read my blog posts.
What are you guys doing this Thanksgiving, and what are you thankful for?

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the Lost Bean | on my love for espresso drinks & occasional tea time

If you know me in person or if you know me more than just as an acquaintance, then you probably know I love my espresso drinks. Ever since Europe 2012, 'cafe au lait/cafe latte' in Paris, and 'latte macchiato' in Italy has changed my coffee life- the way I look at chain store cafes (i.e. Starbucks & Peets & Coffee Bean), how I rate drinks, and the places I buy my espressos from.

geometric | a personal take on holiday styling

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and most of us are probably going to celebrate with family, or with friends, and if not then I'm sure you can still have a blast by yourself jamming to Christmas tunes prematurely or scheming out your black friday strategies. For those going to family/friend holiday gatherings, or even if you aren't doing anything and just want to for fun, I put together a holiday look for holiday events.



I am wearing a medium-length white peplum dress top that has strands of glitter thread running through it and two rows of pearls lining the neckline. I thought the sparkles and pearls go really well with the holiday season as it gives a very winter-esque/snow-esque vibe to the outfit. I style the top with a neutral, leather belt to accentuate my waistline. And because it's going to be cold outside, we can't forget to wear leggings underneath! (Also because the top might be too short.) I chose a cranberry red one.


Because it is the holidays, I caped this white coat deciding that this thick geometric-patterned white coat would best suit the peplum dress.

(Doesn't the coat remind you of something the White Witch (from Narnia) would wear? Or maybe she just wears fur...)

To top the look off, I applied Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine in #61 Bonheur. The shade of the lipstick is actually not as light as seen in the picture, it is actually darker and has a bit of a grape tinge to it in real life and in sunlight/indoor lighting. I sadly did not include any shoes in this style, but I would definitely pair it with chelsea boots, or any low cut ankle boots. A pair of black normal flats or smoking flats would also do as well.
I do apologize for the low iPhone quality photos in this post. But I hope to improve that in the future, or minimize using my iPhone (okay maybe that won't happen as much as I hope it would be, but I do apologize). Anyways, stay tuned for more holiday outfits to come!!
Please comment below for suggestions, or requests on what you would like to see on my future blog posts! Thank you!

Beautiful Window Displays

Deep in my heart, I have always wanted to visit Bergdorf Goodman when I am in NYC.  Every single time though, by the time I shop my way from the bottom of 5th to up to towards Central Park, I'm already exhausted, and the day has basically come to an end (aka DINNER TIME! need food!!), so it's always been a sad "next time" to Bergdorf.
If you ask me what my favorite department store is, I can safely assure you that I frequent Bloomingdales. I also sadly have never been inside of the Bloomingdales flagship on Lexington (3rd) & 59th , just passed it on my way to Dylan's Candy Bar (heheh) across the street. Bloomingdales and their checkered black white glossy floors, so chic.
ANYWAYS...cutting to my point, three/?four? days ago, I saw via Twitter that Bergdorf Goodman and Bloomingdales were live tweeting their 2013 holiday windows unveiling!


(img source: bergdorf's blog) Bergdorf's theme this year is "Holidays On Ice" where they had acrobats "catapulted from the store’s fourth floor..." (source) and perform off the building walls.

(img source: bergdorf's blog)
Meanwhile, up two streets at 59th, Bloomingdales kicked off their event with a live performance from Josh Groban, followed by the unveiling of their holiday windows "...featuring seven different vignettes inspired by lyrics from classic holiday tunes included on Harry for the Holidays..." (source).



(all 3 img sources:Racked NY)
Ahh! So beautiful. I have to say Bloomingdale's is my favorite because it's cuter, but Bergdorf's definitely win for being more beautiful and elegant. It definitely is beginning to feel like the holidays! Wish I was in NYC.... Which department store is your favorite?

Pain Au Chocolat | An Easy-Make Pastry Review

So I normally don't review food products, and wasn't planning on it for this blog, but I discovered these amazing croissants, and I just thought I had to share this wonderful goodness with everybody! I have been frequenting Trader Joe's with my roommates recently, and I just happened to see this on one of the trips there, specifically in the freezer aisle. The Trader Joe's 4 Chocolate Croissants in the freezer aisle. My only intention at the time was to grab something that would be a quick make for morning rushes before classes. When I finally decided to make them, I was so surprised to read that they require a 9 hour prep. Wait. 9 HOURS?! It turned out to be not as tedious as I thought it would be...
In a little more than five steps:
1) Figure out what time you want to have breakfast the next day, and count backwards 9 ½ hours
2) At T_consumption - 9½ hours (night before), take out how many you would like to have in the morning, and let it sit in room temperature on a baking sheet or foil.


3) The next morning you will find that it has miraculously risen over night! (Quite dramatically..)


4) Preheat the oven to 350°F, and then pop the croissants in for 20 minutes
5) Take them out, and let them sit for another 10 minutes (ugh! enough waiting already)
6) Consume!!


Each pain au chocolat has 2 strips of chocolate inside. They are small/medium in size, but I think they are a tad sweet so 1-1½ of a croissant will be plenty for one. And I guarantee, if you do it somewhat correctly, they will be the flakiest, softest little "pre made/easy bake" thing you'll make.
Some compare these to the croissants in Paris, personally I think nothing compares to Parisian croissants in Paris, but... these come pretty damn close.

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Cloudy Blues

It's been a tad chilly lately. A bluish grey palette in the sky when I woke up, generously covered with clouds.


Today I styled a denim cropped jacket on top of a white lace dress, and because the temperature was mid 60's I wore a pair of dark grey skinny pants underneath. And then black chelsea boots to finish the look off.


White Light Wash Striped Jacket | Free People
Daydream Dress | Wasteland
Pants | F21
Chelsea Boots | H&M What are your chilly fall day go-to outfits?

// If curious: Eye makeup wise (not pictured), I lightly swept a rose-pink shimmer across my eye lids as a base, and then contoured the outer edges of my eye lids lightly with a medium purple shimmer, all from Jill Stuart's Summer Dress Palette in #102 Cocktail Dress. Then lined it off with Clinique's pencil quickliner in Grape.

Special thanks to C for helping me take the two bottom photos, and bike kudos to S.

HAIM Sisters | Current Style & Personality Muse

Ever since I discovered HAIM (pronounced hI'em) on SirusXM Alt Nation early in the school year, I have gone from not knowing them at all, to shamelessly busting out my side to side swing-step-snap dance move, along with mouthing the lyrics, and dramatically "performing the song" wherever I happened to be.

A little on the band before we begin. HAIM is made up of the 3 Haim sisters- Danielle (oldest in term of age), Este (middle child, aka "cray-bass-face") & Alana (youngest, aka "baby haim"), from San Fernando Valley. The band started out as a family band (with mom and pop) that did covers for charity, it wasn't until later that the band started performing as supporting acts for other bands.

ONTO THEIR STYLE....  the Haim sisters give a laid back, relaxed, "LA based girl goes to Palm Springs" style vibe.

(img source: web)
Este (blondest-hair colour one of the three) is caught mostly wearing a casual little black skater dress, while Danielle and Alana have black frayed cut off shorts, leather pants, or any black bottoms. Their staples include but are not limited to black leather moto jackets, green utility jacket/vest, black ankle boots, white-t, and occasionally red lips (by Este...total women power symbol here!). OH! and how could we forget- their iconic long carefree brown-blonde hair just flowing loosely in the wind.

(img source: web)
Their color palette is mostly black and a little white, however they don't resort to black. I think they just enjoy wearing black when performing so that is the more common "image" of them. Other clothing pieces are in faded/light colors that don't draw too much attention, but I do enjoy how their clothing pieces are very 90's rock reminiscent. Quite a few self-cut old school band tee's, cloth bomber-varsity jackets, and denim clothing. It's so hard to just give them a 'type' but if I had to choose to categorize them, it would be "90's biker chic-meets charity store-on Melrose Ave". Confusing. I know, but these girls sure know how to put me in the "friday nights in/with the bestie/jumping on the bed/record spinning" mood, scream "go girl power!", and make me groove with those sneaky R&B rhythms in their tunes.

(img source: oliver walker) -------------------------------------------------------------------------- I haven't gotten the chance to see them live yet, but that is one of my goals...and also to meet them!! (my dreams are kind of big yeah I know.) Here's one of my favorite performances from the sisters, the entire video is 18-19 min long, but watching a little will get you a good dose of Este's cray face that I find so entertaining. THEY ARE SO RAD!! UGH! ♥

Winter 2013 beauty trends

1) bold brows
Yes, Camilla Belle sport it best originally, before Cara Delevingne was all the hype.

(img source: web)
Suggestions on which products? I haven't personally tried any of these, but from ratings I've read, I'd fill it in with Anastasia Brow Wiz pencil and spooly duo, or if you prefer powder, ELF makes a good brow kit.
2) wine red lips

(img source: tumblr)
For the berry stained, petal kissed lips, berry-purple-red might just be in this season. For that just kissed look, natural, slightly dark, and on the matte side- I've been looking into MAC's matte lipstick in diva and MAC's frosted sheen lipstick in rebel. Rebel seems more purple based where as diva is more red. (If you want a not-as expensive dupe, Wet&Wild's cherry bomb is an excellent dupe for diva!) If lipsticks aren't "your thang" and you prefer lipstains, then I recommend Clinique's Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Grandest Grape.

3. kohl liner

(img source: tumblr, deviantart (below))
Bust out those kohl liners again, navy blue, camo green, or even charcoal black, because 90's grunge is back again. I've been waiting F O R E V E R! for this trend to come back because personally it's a my favorite. It's Margot Tenenbaum meets teenage school girl in G.B. I was so excited when I started seeing Topshop and Zara starting bringing tartan, dark sweaters, and heavy boots back into the picture. When Office started their overly abundant supply of cut out chunky black boots, I knew this end of street-style fashion hit jackpot again! Every ad shot around a British themed location ugh! So perf! Clap your hands together for punk rock, grey gloomy weather, and cobble stone streets. Hurrah for black/red clothes, tight leather pants, and over abundance of zippers! Someone spin some Arctic Monkeys for me cause I'm going out dancing with my doc martens on tonight!I will be posting later on when I have time on holiday makeup and winter style. Thanks for reading!