Ari’s Cali Edition

Posted on September 12, 2016 by itsapplesandorangesblog

A Golden State of Mind…..

So the time has come to recap both of our magnificent trips to the golden state, California! I (Ari) have visited the cities of Sacramento and San Francisco before and my sister Gwen had never been. Both of us embarked on the journey to the west coast for some birthday celebrations and all around good times with friends. Below is a compiled list of some places I thought were worth checking out if you are ever in the Los Angeles area. Stay tuned for part two where Gwen covers San Diego and more!

Grub:

California foodies did not disappoint! Here were some eateries I thought were yummy.

Grand Central Market- This plaza is extremely popular for some famous eateries like Egg Slut and Ramen Hood but don’t count out any of the others! “ress brothers juicer”gives you the pick me up you need after the long flight to Cali from the east coast. “Saritas Pupuseria” and “Tacos Tumbras a Tomas” both give you a taste of the local latin flair for those who are money savvy and want the most bang for their buck!
In and Out– Need I say more?
Candela Taco Bar & Lounge- Located on La Brea avenue this place offers great food including specials and promotions like “margarita mondays, tango tuesdays and taco wednesdays. With live music and performances you cannot beat the authenticity and price of this special bar.
Cj’s Cafe– With its seemingly small exterior it might be easy to miss this cafe, but it could be hands down one of the yummiest casual spots yet! Cj’s serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and fresh juices! The menu ranges from traditional american fare to mexican and beyond. The staff was extremely accommodating and friendly and the food was delicious. Try the huevos rancheros for breakfast and watermelon/ cantaloupe fresh juice the morning after a night out.

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Tourist Attractions

Lacma– Known for its popularity amongst bloggers, you can’t help but at least admire the instillation and relax with friends on a chilly evening amongst the lights.
Griffith Observatory-This free attraction is amazing for panoramic views of the city including the Hollywood Sign. You can also visit the planetarium and explore the exhibits during regular hours.
Venice Beach & Santa Monica Pier– These are must sees anytime you go to LA. They both represent the quintessential Cali lifestyle and leisure we all know and love, surf sand beach!
La City Hall Observation Deck– Although most may not know it, if you go to city hall and get a free visitors pass you can go to the top of the roof where they offer amazing views of the city from a different perspective. Its free and easy!

Night Life

Sunset Blvd- Bar hopping galore! “Fiesta Cantina” was a great spot to grab a drink. Not for the faint of heart, “Flaming Saddles” is a Gay bar catering to scantily clad men in tightey whitey underwear- yes please!
The Arglye Hollywood Nightclub- This swanky spot is perfect to get dressed up and sexy with your girls to dance the night away.

This was just a short list as I’m sure LA has so much more to offer. Stay tuned for my sisters secondary post on her favorite spots in other cities.

XOXO -ARI

ASOS SWIM

Posted on June 9, 2016 by itsapplesandorangesblog

ASOS is literally my go to site whenever I am in need of special one of a kind pieces. This time around I wanted to treat myself to some stylish swimsuits for my tropical get away with my sister and mother. Not only did these suit me perfectly for the trip but they are also versatile for pretty much any water related event. With recent weight gain I desired more coverage with certain trouble areas and figured one pieces were the way to go. When looking for bathing suits I look for a couple of things, texture, details, and shape. I prefer feminine sweetheart neck lines that accentuate my bust with added surprises like the peplum to give the illusion of a curvier bottom half. I typically steer clear of added material to my chest seeing as it can draw the eye more to this area but could not resist this beautiful ruffle frill trim on this white polka dot suit! Sometimes it’s ok to let go of your style rules and it can pay off in the end. Lastly the scuba material really helps to create structure and sculpt any problem areas like the tummy. This white suit is unfortunately out of stock for the moment but the red peplum is still available in black. I have also linked similar items that may be of interest down below.

Disclaimer, if you are more into comfort versus style these wouldn’t be for you! I couldn’t exactly lift my arms with the shoulder straps and the scuba material peplum sucks you in for a tight fit perhaps not working well with water sport activities. These suits are meant to be admired and sun bathed in :0)

XOXO- ARI

ASOS Swim Suits- Here, Here, Here, Here, Here, Here

Worth the picture still…

Posted on February 1, 2016 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Although this post may be a bit delayed I still wanted to share a small moment with me and my sister and co blogger Gwen. She came to visit Florida for the holidays and per usual we didn’t get as much blogging or pictures as we would have hoped due to actually spending time together like normal people. It’s sad to say most times these perfectly curated and set up photos are what people post to show how much of a “good time” they are having. In reality they aren’t present in the moment and just experiencing everything from behind a lens. On this day we went to a Lakeridge winery (beautiful location close to home) and sampled some amazing wines. My outfit was inspired by this cool denim buttoned overall dress purchased from Forever 21. I wanted to keep everything else lady like and in proportion so I went with an old navy basic striped round collar shirt, nine west black patent leather booties, asos frilly socks, urban outfitters sunnies and my neutral Kate Spade chain link purse with my signature puff ball accessory. Links to items can be found below. Don’t forget to spend time with your loved ones and appreciate the non-picture perfect moments in between.

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Forever 21 Denim Overall Dress

Asos Jonathan Aston Socks

Urban Outfitters Sunglasses

XOXO- Ari

The Big Three O!

Posted on August 4, 2015 by itsapplesandorangesblog

Well my friends the day has come, the birthday with the massive stigma behind it, the one where you start questioning life and what is to become of it. 30. I know it’s only been about 24 hours since my birthday but I wanted to shed some light on the fear of getting older and some encouraging tips for anyone (no matter what age) who feels a certain way about the way life should and should not be. Lets see if I’ve gained a bit more wisdom in the last day.

Where you are in life shouldn’t impact who you want to be: Often times we can find ourselves feeling defeated before we even try. The whole “woe is me” mentality kicks in and we tend to look at the big picture and become fearful or doubtful instead of focusing on the small steps it takes to actually get there. So repeat after me : You’re never too old, too far behind or too inexperienced. Anyone can begin anywhere.

Happiness is truly up to you: The kind of day you have is completely in your hands and you alone have the power to change that. I myself find it very easy to sulk and moan about everything that’s going wrong but, how you react and your overall perspective on life will make or break any situation. I feel that waking up each morning with a fresh outlook can also make a huge difference. Whether you have a journal or declare it out loud, starting your day with an open and grateful heart will surely start you off in the right direction. Lastly, Enjoy the little things, they are what end up shaping your life.

Its ok to say no: This is a tough one for me, I am the ultimate people pleaser, I love to make everyone happy and it truly brings me joy to help others. These are all great qualities to have but not at the cost of your sanity and happiness. Repeat after me again: NO!

I haven’t figured things out yet: Lets just face this fact right now, it will take you almost your entire life to “figure things out”, the best any of us can do is to take each day as it comes. With a little humility, honesty and happiness, life can be a little simplier.

I am of a certain age but haven’t accomplished as much as (insert whomever here): Comparing your life to someone elses only makes it more difficult to focus on ourselves. Feeling unbalanced or stuck in a “rut”? pin point out the problem and go from there. Then ask yourself if youre happy in that specific area and begin to take the steps needed to work on it. As written above try not to focus on the end goal so much and work on each baby step needed. We all know that prior to a baby walking it needs to be able to lift its head, roll over, sit up, crawl, pick itself up etc… and with each milestone there is always a celebration (if you have children or are around them you know what I am referring to) give yourself praises for accomplishing that one step, move on to the next one and “up the ante”.

I hope these were of help for those needing a little boost of encouragement. Not to contradict my “just say no” policy but I “said yes” to some pretty amazing things this year which in turn made me a much more happier, grateful and braver person. Here are some of them…

I said yes to moving to England for 6 months and had the most life changing experiences ever!

I said yes to a solo trip to Paris and it was the most magical time of my life!

I said yes to trying new foods (this might actually be a problem)

I said yes to meeting new people and put myself out there and in turn met some amazing new friends.

Today I say yes to embracing this new chapter of life. I encourage you to do the same!

P.S I also said yes to roller skating in Brooklyn bridge park last night. Which resulted in tumbling to the ground. Oh the joys of being 30. (This was prior to falling when I thought I was cute)

xx, Gwen

Lauren Conrad “Style”

Posted on May 3, 2014 by itsapplesandorangesblog

When I was younger, I used to be an avid reader and would actually take on the tasks to finish lengthy materials super fast even if it meant getting some reading done at the dinner table or spending my summers at the local library. I loved where my books could take my imagination and how they made me feel. Throughout the years, school (in particular college) left a slight disdain for reading since it became more of a chore and not a hobby. I have made the choice today to get back to one of my favorite past times and enjoy reading just for the sake of it. Although it is more of a helpful guide versus a narrative “Style” by Lauren Conrad is a fun introductory easy read to get me back into the flow of things. I picked it up at my local Marshalls at a discounted price just merely based on the aesthetic appeal (great coffee table look) but quickly discovered that it actually had some awesome advice, guidelines, tips and tricks for the everyday girl interested in all things relating to fashion and beauty. Her simple yet chic look is broken down for even the basic beginner to be able to obtain as well as life and beauty hacks. From closet organization to choosing the right denim for your body type, this book has a little something for everyone and is an easy flowing read! Links below.