the aztec bodycon.

i feel out of my comfort zone in bodycons, especially post-minis, but i recently came home with a couple. i can never pass up a good dress, because they are instant outfits. ones with prints and patterns, like this aztec dress from Patty's Closet, don't need much else to complete the look. in addition, the busy prints are excellent for camouflaging bulges. i mean, it takes a lot of effort to suck in your gut!

this weekend, my high school girlfriends and i had our annual christmas get together. we had such a great spread of food and drinks. a good time was had catching up while the kids played, and we were lucky enough to see jupiter and three moons with my friend's new telescope.

how was your weekend? do you have big plans for NYE?

steak, salmon, and all the accoutrements.

christmas gifts for the girls...mani/pedi in a jar.

(dress c/o Patty's Closet (808-235-2924); h&m bag; Lulu's shoes (buy))

animal print mix.

this skirt is an animal print lover's dream. i spotted this skirt before i even walked into Patty's Closet. well, as soon as i walked in...and i went through the motions of trying it on even though i knew i was getting it. i was already sold on an animal print pencil skirt but was jumping for joy inside when i saw the zipper in the back. i'm wearing it with a sheer blouse also from Patty's Closet. the neckline and shoulders have pretty detailing that you can't see in these photos, unfortunately. the only fail was the blouse getting stuck in the zipper every time i used the bathroom. on one occasion, i actually had to leave the bathroom and get someone to help me. fashion always comes with a price, though, right?

lunch with a friend included pizza, salad, and my newest obsession...san pellegrino sparkling beverages.

(outfit c/o Patty's Closet (808-625-6441); bag & shoes c/o JustFab)

shop the look:

the basic maxi dress.

stick a fork in me, i'm done.

hope everyone had a wonderful christmas. we sure did. many of our extended family members are sick, so it was just immediate family this year. we kept lunch super simple, which was nice, played lots of fun games...our annual dice game, trivia, and bingo, and ate constantly. i was up till 3am last night wrapping presents, so i'm having a hard time staying awake. time to shower and hit the sack.

bummed that i have to work tomorrow and will probably [lazily] throw on something comfy and casual like this maxi dress from Persun. it's the perfect length for flats.

what did you get for christmas?

guava bread.

getting creative with our bingo pieces.

foxy brown and her christmas gift...wag 'n' woof.

(Persun dress c/o (buy); JustFab bag c/o; Vince Camuto shoes)

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happy festivus.

just dropping in to say a quick hello and to share a few festive things we've done so far...

it was a long day at work trying to get everything done before christmas, but i managed to take the minis to see the christmas lights at a nearby neighborhood...three blocks of decorated houses.

one house even had a light show + music...

and a decorated fish tank!

we played our annual dice game at the office christmas party...

how bbq is done!

a few sips of some sparkly...

a christmas plant from a client...

did something wintry...ice skating.

merry christmas from [oomph.]!

sequined skirt.

i survived.

the weekend, that is. saturday morning downpours cancelled our hike, so we ended up grabbing coffee and catching up. although i missed out on the workout, it probably was best. my head was stuffy and i had a lot of sinus pressure...probably would have pushed myself too far, especially with the six hour shopping marathon i did after that. but happy to say that i've finished 98% of my shopping. yes, still not done, but the remaining are gift cards. tonight i'll be wrapping presents and getting ready for our office party tomorrow. i may be wearing this sequined ensemble for tomorrow's work festivities. the skirt is from Patty's Closet. if you need a last minute party outfit, Patty's Closet has lots of cozy sweaters, dresses, and sparkly sequins, all of which are appropriate for the holidays. and, for more ideas on what to wear to your parties, you can check out the latest East vs West Coast series here.

if you follow me on instagram, you may have seen my new 50mm f/1.4 camera lens. if you are a self-photographing blogger without a lot of working space, this may not be the ideal lens. you'll have to set up far, far away from the camera to get full length shots like these, and you risk focusing on everything between you and the camera. but still an amazing lens (can you tell the difference?!) that works wonderfully for portraits, cropped bodies and general photography.

are you ready for christmas?

(Patty's Closet skirt c/o (808-235-2924); coach wristlet; Lulu's shoes (buy); ON top)

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cold weather comfort.

when the weather is chilly, sometimes you have to give in to comfy. both minis are sick, and i'm starting to feel something coming on, but this is the last weekend to get things done before christmas. i'm starting the weekend off with an early morning hike tomorrow, then shopping like mad till everyone is checked off my list. sunday, i'm meeting up with a girlfriend to exchange gifts then spending the rest of the night wrapping presents. hopefully i can get everything done so that i can relax and enjoy christmas eve. below are some photos from our hike last weekend at 'aiea loop trail.

what are your plans for the weekend?

while this is a fairly easy hike that is level most of the way, the 'aiea loop trail is still a nice workout due to its length. the approximately 5-mile trail has its share of ups and downs, ducking under and climbing over fallen trees and takes anywhere from 1.5-3 hours depending on your pace. you can always start from the bottom and hike up if you want more of a challenging workout.

view of the H-3 freeway.

(mossimo jacket; harem pants via oomph;

Lulu's shoes (buy); sweater, local store)

ankle boots + gingham.

second year in a row that i've stocked up on button down shirts on black friday. these are my absolute favorite shirts because of their versatility. they work with shorts or skirts, look good left out, tucked in, or layered under a jacket or sweater, and can be casual or dressy. here i'm wearing it with denim, because with all the rain we've been having lately, it's hard to put on anything but jeans and boots. i almost got this 773 bag from JustFab in black; so glad i went for the purple. it makes a nice colorful addition to monochromatic outfits such as this one.

by the way, i never knew what these shirts were called; i say button down for lack of a better term. after googling, i learned that button down refers to a collar that is actually buttoned-down, like this. the term that i'm looking for is button up, or simply button. front. duh.

(Libi & Lola machu ring (buy))

wonton mein on a chilly day...

mischa boots | 773 bag in purple

(gilly hicks shirt; pacsun denim; bag & boots c/o JustFab)

east vs west [coast] style. holiday cocktails.

as this holiday edition of east vs west coast style comes to a close, i hope the girls and i were successful in providing you with ideas on what to wear to all of your holiday get togethers, from some of our favorite places. the holidays are filled with opportunities to get dressed up, but that doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune. consider renting a dress for the night or incorporating work separates that can be used after the night is over. we're signing off with what we might wear for holiday cocktails. thanks to Patty's Closet for contributing to our outfits.

visit the girls to see their outfits in detail.

east

Jackie / Living After Midnite / New York

Meaghan / District Sparkle / D.C.

Tracy / TheRightShoes / New York

west

Ashley / Pursuit of Shoes / California

Ashley / Golden Divine / California

Becks / oomph. / Hawaii

this sweater from Patty's Closet is perfect for dressing up jeans or a plain maxi skirt. it has just the right amount of sparkle for the holidays, but it's still subtle enough to wear throughout the year.

we had horrible weather the past two weekends...it rained non-stop. these pictures are a combination of the two times we tried to shoot this outfit.

(sweater c/o Patty's Closet (808-625-6440); Lulu's shoes (buy))

in case you missed it:

east vs west holiday edition . holiday party
east vs west holiday edition . girls' night out
east vs west holiday edition . new year's eve