KINSEY MICHAELS: November 2010

White Lights

Tree decorating with my family has always been a sporadic, spur of the moment thing. And usually we wait until December. But this year, we started early, on Black Friday! I spent the afternoon with my sisters, my Mom, and her b/f. We listened to holiday tunes and took turns unraveling all of the ornaments out of storage.

{The tree, sans ornaments, but all lit up!}

{The absolute best thing was hanging out with my younger sibs}

{My sister climbed the ladder to hang ornaments at the top!}

{I wore my new J.Crew tank top, Forever 21 skirt, and a $3 necklace from Target that I got on clearance!}

{The decorating nearing completion}

After we were done, we relaxed at the table with chips, a yummy homemade queso dip, and cold drinks. I love the holidays.

Night at the Casino

I was so ready to break out my barely worn snakeskin-patterned leggings and lace dress. All for a night of gambling, dancing, and drinks in honor of my friend Ryan's 26th birthday. We celebrated at Foxwoods, a huge casino located about 2 hours south of Boston. The night was SO much fun!

{In awe of the beautiful tree which enlivened the main entrance}

{Slot machines! I ended up breaking even on The Wheel of Fortune!}

{A birthday toast to Ryan}

{My rum-based Raspberry Lemonade cocktail - so good}

{We all shouted Happy Birthday! when the waitress surprised him with a sundae}

{Hanging out at the Atrium Bar with Meghan and Katy}

{Drinks & dancing at Scorpion Bar}

Overall, an awesome night!! And is it just me, or has this weekend felt so long? {In a good way of course!}

My Blogging Birthday

1 year ago, I started this blog! (with this post) And in 1 year, I...

Discovered a thriving community of stylish bloggers in Boston
Met Bruce Jenner at BlogHer
Turned 24
Walked in a runway show for The Swapaholics
Promised everyone a video blog... (oops)
Finally found a wine that I kinda like!
Met a blogger IRL, for the first time!
Amassed a great readership, of which I am thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you so much for reading!

A Hint of Leopard and Chains

I am in an unbelievably good mood today. It might be because my friends and I are going to be wreaking havoc at the local casinos this weekend, (like we did 5 months ago). Or, it could be the fact that it's Friday, and one week from now I'm going to be putting up the 9 foot Christmas tree with my sisters, who will both be home from college.

A couple of weeks ago, I bought this adorable Betsey Johnson belt. Wearing it reversed allowed for this pretty leopard-like pattern to pop against my navy blue and grey outfit. The Twelve by Twelve pleated skirt has a raw edginess to it with just-barely-noticeable chains wrapped into the hemline.

How do you like to infuse animal prints into an outfit?

A Funky Side of San Francisco

San Francisco is known for a lot of things - infamous for its bridges, morning fog, and steep hills, but it also has thriving neighborhoods adorned with eclectic shops, cafes, and street murals lining vacant alleyways. I spent a few hours walking around the Mission District, and up and down Haight Street. I was in awe of the scenery. I can't say I've seen anything that even comes close to this in Boston!

The ferry ride over on the day prior was so windy - my hair couldn't catch a break!

Here, these huge murals are acknowledged and appreciated by the community as art - not graffiti, which is decidedly a more negative term.

It was so much fun to take in the bohemian/hippie culture on Haight Street. Everything here, from the street style, to the types of stores, had a very different feel compared to the more mainstream city neighborhoods.

Next time I visit, I'm taking a tip from Nicole and making it a point to get some yummy Mexican food in The Mission!

Side Ponytails and Pretty Eventful

While contemplating what I was going to wear to my friend Stephanie's fashion show/charity event in Boston, I thought to myself, I should try something different with my hair! I decided on an unexpectedly fun side ponytail. Stylish celebs like Lauren Conrad and Carrie Underwood have seemingly pulled off this look effortlessly.

A mini fashion show featuring five models (including our very own Katy Rose of ModlyChic) showcased clothing from Turtle, a local boutique.

It was a blast hanging out with other bloggers that came out to support Stephanie. I love that Boston has a true community and there's never a shortage of others who appreciate fashion.

{Stephanie, me, and Katy Rose at the after-party}

{Jaime of La Vie J'aime, me, Katy Rose, and Becca of Free Honey}

At the after-party, we noshed on craft cocktails and flatbread pizzas! And I happily took off my 5 inch platforms, which were getting tricky to walk in.

{Hanging out with Stephanie and the models}

Have any of you tried the side pony?

Strutting Down the Catwalk

Fashion bloggers in the Boston area rocked the runway a month and a half ago when The Swapaholics hosted a "Sip N Swap" event. Our objective was to mix and match swap finds to create a fun look. (If you recall, I posted about the event here). Having the opportunity to participate in the fashion show was a highlight.

Watch my debut on the catwalk, as well as a few other blogger's chosen swap outfits!

Happy Monday!

My Home Away From Home

A sweet little ending to my vacation was a weekend in San Diego, my former home and a city I am absolutely head over heels for. If I could, I'd pack my bags and move back tomorrow, but for now, an occasional visit suffices.