Let's Mix Things Up A Little....

I've been feeling restless lately so I've been trying to mix things up a bit.....starting with my outfit choices. You already know from previous posts that mixing prints is hands down my favorite trend this season. How appropriate considering the state of mind I've been in.  I'm ready for some major changes and I feel like it could all happen really soon.

"They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself"
-Andy Warhol

I couldn't agree more.

xoxo,
Munkeh

Blazer- Forever 21
Blouse- Forever21
Skirt- Forever21
Shoes- Zara
Necklace- Forever21

Groovy Baby

I feel like I belong in an Austin Powers movie in this outfit.  Couldn't you have seen Heather Graham wearing this as Felicity Shagwell?  I made this romper with the  60's go-go dancer in mind. I love this print and the fabric is very silky and comfortable. Almost feels like pajamas, perfect for a hot summer day.

Oh, behave!

xoxo,
Munkeh

Paisley Silk Romper by me
Shoes- Forever 21

90's Nostalgia

I am so excited that overalls have made a comeback this season!  It's so 90's. I used to have a long denim one and a short denim one and I practically lived in them everyday. I'm actually kind of sad that I got rid of them now. But I found this Zara one and they are fabulous because I can dress them up or down. Wearing these, has made me feel a bit nostalgic. The 90's were great. Here are some of my favorites. I'm sure I'm leaving a bunch of stuff out too.

Fashion: Overalls, Butterfly clips, Scrunchies, Jellies, Grunge, Flannel Shirts, Doc Martins, Tatoo Necklaces,

Movies: Clueless, Fear, Con Air, Sixth Sense, Forrest Gump, Braveheart,  Titanic, The Matrix, Pretty Woman, Jurassic Park, Ghost, Dances With Wolves, Unforgiven, Boogie Nights, Scream, Shakespeare in Love, The Big Lebowski

TV: Friends, Fresh Prince, Melrose Place, 90210, Felicity, Dawson's Creek, Baywatch, Saved By the Bell, Boy Meets World

Music: Nirvana, Spice Girls, Radiohead, Backstreet Boys, Brittany Spears, NSync, Christina Aguilara, Green Day, Shaggy, 98 Degrees, New Kids on The Block

Miscellaneous: Beanie Babies, Pagers, Pager Codes (911, 143) , Mario Kart, Mortal Kombat, Sonic the Hedgehog, Trapper Keepers, Baby Sitter's Club books, Sweet Valley High books

I'm totally buggin...

xoxo,
Munkeh

90's chic
Crepe Overalls - Zara
Striped Tank- Chocolate
Necklace- H & M
Colorblock Sandals- Forever 21

Hippie Philosophy

Hippies believed that the way to resolve differences among people was peace and that the way to peace is through love and tolerance. I try to incorporate this philosophy into my daily life but some days are challenging and today was one of them. I think the only thing that was hippie like today was my outfit. haha. I saw the true colors of a couple of people today and while I was disappointed in one, the other I was not surprised. I don't tolerate fake people and really dislike people who think that they can talk about me behind my back or never look the side I'm on until they need something from me and then behave like they are my new best friend. Or even worse, are the ones who pretend to be on my side the whole time and then given the opportunity stab me in the back the first chance they get.  But I took the high road today like I always do and that's okay. You know why? Karma's a bitch.

Peace love and happiness.

xoxo,
Munkeh

Hippie Chic
Tie Dye Silk Dress- Alice + Olivia
Denim Jacket- I & M Jeans
Necklace and Shoes- Forever 21

Gatsby

I should have been alive during the roaring 20's. The clothes from that era are amazing and elegant and I wish we still dressed like that today.  Well, I still do sometimes. I'll wear a beaded flapper dress with a blazer to work. We are going to see Gatsby this weekend and I can't wait to drool over the costumes.

You are all the cat's meow!

xoxo,
Munkeh

Daytime Flapper
Dress- Forever 21
Scarf- Forever21
Shoes- Jessica Simpson

I beaded this entire dress by hand.
I wore it during LA Fashion Week for one of my shows.

I want this dress!!!!!!
It's by Needles and Thread
available on asos.com

Prada selected costumes from Gatsby to showcase in their Soho store.
How beautiful are these dresses?!?

Prima Ballerina

I have wanted a fluffy ballerina skirt for a very long time so I finally made one. It's a fun piece and just like my feather items, I don't need a special occasion to wear it. I've worn it to work a couple of times and to the grocery store on the weekend. I'm actually thinking of making another one in black but even fluffier.

Everything is beautiful at the ballet.....

xoxo,
Munkeh

I love the mix of prints and the contrast of masculine and feminine.
Skirt- me:)
Rhinestone Army Jacket- Alan
Sweater- Forever 21
Shoes- Jeffrey Campbell
Necklace- Forever 21
Belt- Ebay

Denim and Tulle
Skirt- me :)
Shirt- Forever 21
Shoes- Breckelles
Necklace and Belt-Forever 21

Southwest Flair

I'm really digging the southwest trend this season, especially the details on tops and dresses.  I found this sweatshirt in H & M.  I love it! It's pretty much my uniform on my days off.  I took today off so I could pick Chris up from the airport. He's been gone for almost 3 weeks working on his webisode. It's turning out really great and it's super funny. I can't wait to share it with all of you!

Have a wonderful afternoon!

xoxo,
Munkeh

Sweatshirt- H & M
Jeans- NY & Co
Shoes- Zara

Sunshine!

It was the perfect weather all weekend. I decided I needed to relax this weekend and enjoy the sunshine. I was in Old Town Pasadena today with some friends. We did a little shopping, had dinner and saw Star Trek which was awesome! Action packed and fun to watch. I even got a little teary and emotional towards the end of the movie. Not to mention, my friend and I quite enjoyed looking at Chris Pine.

I was excited to wear my new Zara skort and Topshop tiger sweatshirt.  I first saw this sweatshirt in LOOK which is a British magazine. After some creative searching on the internet, I was able to track it down at Nordstroms. I love this thing. Anyway, turning in. Back to work tomorrow.

Live long and prosper everyone!

xoxo,
Munkeh

Embroidered Tiger Sweatshirt- Topshop (available here)
Skort- Zara
Shoes- Zara
Jaguar Necklace- Ebay

Animal Kingdom

I love animal print. I don't just mean leopard and zebra but actual prints of animals.  I have stuff with monkeys, birds, tigers, elephants, giraffes and my latest find was an abstract panda face sweater.  My husband and I just recently celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary. We spent the day at the San Diego Zoo. Of course I flipped out over the monkeys and giant turtles. And I told Chris that when we get a house I'm getting a giraffe, a rhino and a panda. Besides being our wedding anniversary, that day was important because that was the beginning of the "news" I've been waiting for. I'd been waiting for their phone call and had to take it. So, I had my first informal interview at the zoo while an elephant started to trumpet  behind me. What a way to make a first impression.

Somebody posted this and I thought it was funny:

Please do not feed the squirrels. If you feed the squirrels, they'll become overweight, and prone to disease. Their population will grow, and they'll lose their ability to forage for food on their own. They will expect you to feed them and will attack you if you don't. They'll become like little welfare recipients, and you wouldn't want to do this to them.

Sign in Rocky Mountain National Park

Don't feed the animals!

xoxo,

Munkeh

Hello Panda!
Sweater- Debut
Skirt- Forever 21
Shoes- Forever 21
Necklaces- Ebay

Chris vs. Monkey
Who are you betting on?

It's a tie!

Munkeh vs. Monkey

Happy Anniversary! xoxo

I really love this fabric! The giraffes make me smile.
 I made this dress and am currently working on a pair of shorts and jacket.
Shoes- Jeffrey Campbell
Necklace- Ebay

I saw this dress on Miranda Kerr and fell in love with it. I found it on Ebay!
Dress- French Connection
Shoes- Forever 21



The following photos are some pieces from my Spring 2013 Collection.
Playful Animal Prints

Rochelle Carino Spring 2013 Collection
http://rochellecarino.wix.com/rochellecarino

Rochelle Carino Spring 2013 Collection
http://rochellecarino.wix.com/rochellecarino

Rochelle Carino Spring 2013 Collection
http://rochellecarino.wix.com/rochellecarino

Rochelle Carino Spring 2013 Collection
http://rochellecarino.wix.com/rochellecarino

Rochelle Carino Spring 2013 Collection
http://rochellecarino.wix.com/rochellecarino

Rochelle Carino Spring 2013 Collection
http://rochellecarino.wix.com/rochellecarino

Wonderland

I felt like Alice in Wonderland today. My journey through the looking glass began this morning with a meeting at work where I got to meet one of my favorite designers Tommaso Aquilano from the the brand Aquilano Rimondi. His new collection is partly inspired by the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland. His pieces are exquisite and the details are amazing. Not to mention, he has a fantastic sense of humor and genuinely loves what he does. I decided that when I become a world renowned fashion designer, I want to live in the Italian Riviera for a while and look fabulous everyday like Sophia Loren. I'd drink the finest wine, showcase my collection during Fashion Week in Milan, go on romantic gondola rides in Venice with Chris and then repent all my sins at the Vatican in Rome...sigh. But for now, I'm enjoying life in Wonderland. I got some great news, not "the" news but great news none the less. I was invited to join an exclusive network of international fashion designers, buyers, and magazines. I was just reading about this group in the WWD. They carefully screen every new designer to ensure quality standards and ensure the integrity of the community.  They found my website and I am extremely flattered that they invited me to join. It can open up doors and possibilities that I can't even imagine.

I'll end this post with some of my favorite quotes from Alice in Wonderland....

“How puzzling all these changes are! I'm never sure what I'm going to be, from one minute to another.” 

“Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"
"That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.""I don't much care where –""Then it doesn't matter which way you go.” 

“Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

"You're mad, bonkers, completely off your head. But I'll tell you a secret. All the best people are.” 


xoxo,
Munkeh

I was in a playful mood today so I mixed up my prints
Dress- Rochelle Carino
Shoes- Go Max
Sweater- Forever 21
Necklace- Forever 21

Tommaso Aquilano of Aquilano Rimondi.

"Queen of Hearts"
I love this dress.

Such a fun dress. Those boots are to die for!

Love this!

The heart on the back is too cute.

The picture doesn't do this stunning outfit justice.

Love this print.

It's All About Balance...

Life is all about balance...You take the good with the bad, you laugh and then you cry, you love and then you hate. That pretty much sums up my day. I had a flat tire because I drove over a nail. I was on the phone with my husband and he was telling me to call AAA to come change the tire to the spare and then to go buy a new tire after work which would cost around $75. Kinda sucks to spend that money but these things happen. But I really lucked out because I happened to be at a gas station that had its own mechanic. He overheard my ordeal came over and offered to patch the tire because nothing else was wrong with it. It cost me $10 and I was happy that I didn't have to spend the money on a new tire. Cut to 2 hours later......I just got home from work. I was crossing the street and my phone fell out of my bag. I couldn't get to it on time due to oncoming traffic and I watched helpless as my phone got run over. As soon as traffic cleared up, I ran out to get it and saw that the screen was completely cracked. The phone still works though which is a miracle. I called my husband to see if we had insurance on the phones and he said yes but I still might have to spend $70 on a new phone anyway. So, I saved the money on the tire but now I have to spend it on a new phone. All I could do was laugh. That theme was evident in my outfit choice as well. I have this really pretty pleated dress from Victoria's Secret. I balanced out the femininity with the masculinity of an army jacket.

So, I'm going to finish my healthy dinner which is a grilled chicken salad, and then go get some very unhealthy ice cream for dessert on my way home from getting my new phone. Hey, it's all about balance, right?

P.S. Actually everything ended up working out great. Just got back from Best Buy and not only did I not have to pay for the new phone, I ended up getting $50 back because the phones are on a special sale. Thanks universe! :)

xoxo,
Munkeh

Feminine and Masculine
Dress- Victoria's Secret
Belt- Ebay
Jacket- Alan
Necklace- Forever 21

I love the color of this dress. So girly. I was told I looked like a princess today. haha

Cherry Blossoms

My favorite flowers are cherry blossoms so when I found this kimono jacket at Forever 21 I was very excited. But besides being pretty, I love what cherry blossoms are a symbol for. They are a symbol for hope and love and since the blooming season is so brief they also serve as a symbol for humanity and mortality. Like cherry blossoms, a person's life can end at any moment. The human condition is epitomized through the cherry blossom, reminding people that life is too short to waste and that they should live life to the fullest. This reminds me of my favorite story. I've posted it in the past but I love to repost it as a reminder. I hope you all find it as special and inspiring as I do. 

A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. 

After 2 years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house." The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house" 

Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them. 

Blessings to all my crackpot friends.The graces of living within the moment...

xoxo, 

Munkeh

Kimono Jacket- Forever 21
Tank- Rochelle Carino
Faux Leather Fringe Skirt- Forever 21
Shoes- Asos
Necklace- Ebay

Right on Target

I am having one of those philosophical, what is the meaning of life and how do I fit into it, kind of days.  It all started when I was given a bit of information from a third party regarding my "news". It wasn't bad or good, just information that really has no meaning right now because it was taken out of context and not directly from the main source. However, it started the mish mash of thoughts in my head. Sometimes I wonder, what's the point? Is it worth all the anguish and disappointment?  And no matter how disheartening it gets sometimes, my answer is always absolutely yes.  Because along with all that comes passion, excitement, love and true happiness. And that even though I feel lost sometimes, I know deep down that I am right on track and that someday whether it's tomorrow or 10 years from now, I will get there. But enough with all the deep stuff.....you know who else is right on track these days is Zara. I must say, they have outdone themselves this season. So many great pieces at a great price point. I want it all and I want it now!!!  I did manage to snag some of it but not I'm not even close to half of my list. Did I mention my birthday is coming up........

Stay on track and never give up! Life is too short. Go after what you want.

xoxo,
Munkeh

Everything is Zara except for the jacket. I needed these shorts in my life.

The front of the top is faux leather and the back is sweater knit. I get so many compliments on these shoes it's ridiculous.

I love to mix prints!
The bomber jacket is Zara. It's all embroidered and has little mirrors sewn onto it.
Pants- Forever 21
Shoes- Jeffrey Campbell

I saw this outfit on Blair from Atlantic Pacific and needed to have it.
The top looks great with leather pants or a plain skirt.
The skirt looks great with a blazer or just a simple t shirt.
And of course these amazing shoes go with everything!

I just got this skort. The front looks like a skirt but the back is shorts. It seems like everyone has this,
but it's just too great of a wardrobe piece not to have it.

This is on its way! I love the tiger print and I plan on wearing it with the above skort :)



My birthday wish list is below......

Must have this jacket. My friend has it and I tried to steal it from her.

How cute are these shorts?!? I wouldn't wear it with the jacket, it's a bit much even for me
but I have plenty of things in my closet that need to be paired with these.

Love this!

Matching shorts to go with the above kimono jacket. 

This sweatshirt is already sold out in my size online but there may be some random ones floating around in stores.

I want the whole outfit.

This jacket needs to be in my closet.

Leather overalls!?! Come on! Must have item of the season.

The whole outfit....sweatshirt with embroidery and the leather skirt has embroidery on the sides.

Love this jacket but it's sold out almost everywhere :(

And this concludes my homage to Zara.... to be continued soon ;)