♘ East Post ♘

Long time no see! It has certainly been a WHILE since I last posted. And what a lot has changed in the past few months since July! 

Since that time period, I have moved (to a new neighborhood that I LOVE, about 10 minutes drive from my work!); I am in recovery from a bout of sinusitis-antibiotic-induced candida overgrowth (low carb no more! you're now looking at a most-of-the-time pescatarian!); and I am in an ever-grueling tug-of-war with work & play. That last bit has certainly been the most grueling; balance is no easy endeavor. 

I am pleased to say that my life looks pretty good and is finally together at this point in time. I have a good job, a lovely apartment, am in good health, and feel supported and loved by family & friends. I've been in LA for nearly 9 months now! Since the day I came back, I've thought of my return as a fresh start, almost a rebirth of sorts. I can't say that my life is perfect, but with a 9-month incubation period, I feel more settled and content than I have felt in years. 

That being said, I did not leave Los Angeles County (that's right, literally stayed in the city!) for NINE MONTHS! Enough to drive a girl insane, am I right? Late October called for a trip to the (b)East Coast!

I visited Connecticut to see my dearest best friend, Miss Reina! It's been two years since I have witnessed a fall in New England, and boy was it good to be back! The crisp fall air, the wool & sweater vests & booties & tights, oh, how I missed living in real fall fashions (nevermind this 100-degree LA nonsense). But alas, it was a much-needed mini vacation, and coming back to Los Angeles never felt better!  

My style has always thrived in temperate weather; it was in college when I really started to get into fashion. It was also in college that I met Reina (!!!), studied Russian, and created the basis for what became Russian Dressing in my first post-grad few months. I regret to say that I missed my blog's 1 year anniversary, but better late than never, right? 

My recent return to the East Coast reinvigorated a tenderness I occasionally forget that I have. Beneath it is pain. There is something so beautiful, and still so gorgeously sad, about autumn in New England. An energy of warmth, harvest, and love, but also, the rich journey of life, as the transformation of the leaves unfolds before your eyes. 

All of this being said, LA is where I belong. :)

Cape: Halogen (Nordstrom) | Skirt: Eva Junie LA | Shirt: Eva Junie LA | Mary Janes: Topshop |

Sunglasses: Michael Kors (Nordstrom Rack) | Purse: Clare Vivier

xo ♡ SFB

○ Low-Carb Lust: 85 Degrees Cafe ○

Happy July! I started a new job recently and have been very very busy, from visiting friends/family to finding my work-flow to finding any time to relax, to be quite honest. Nonetheless, I always make room in my day for coffee, and the weekend is no exception. 

Being a South Bay native, a Taiwanese foodie (did I mention that I'm obsessed with shaved ice?), and a low-carb lady, enter: 85 Degrees Cafe (the Torrance location is my personal go-to!) 

I admit my focus on food, and specifically Russian food, has not been at its prime for a few months now, but who doesn't love a little cheat day (cough, months)? Cheats galore are exactly what you'll find at 85 Degrees, from their beautiful confections behind the glass case to their more "plebian" nosh that you (yes, you...no waiters here!) deliver to the cashier on a tray. 

Food aside, my main "naughty nicety" of interest is their rendition of SEA SALT COFFEE. Caloric indulgences aside, this treat is a low-carber's delight: sugar levels are adjustable; flavor is packed to the brim with rich whipped cream topped with cocoa powder and....you guessed it: sea salt. Keep in mind, weight watchers: the heavy cream does NOT make this a low-cal beverage. But is it low-carb? Go for the 1/3 sugar option (lowest level available) & the answer is YES. :)

I may or may not be more obsessed with this treat than I am with Taiwanese snow (as a frozen yogurt addict, that's saying a LOT!) I admit, I've let my keto-flow slide a bit since my move to Los Angeles (carb creep indeed) but this is the my solution to the less-than-tasty-sounding Bulletproof Coffee popular on the Keto subreddit. It's certainly an indulgence, but 85 Degrees knows their coffee, their carbs, and their versatility in addressing everyone's sweet tooth. 

I implore you to check out 85 Degrees Cafe if you're ever in the South Bay (there's also a Gardena location!), Orange County, or of course, Taiwan. 

xo ♡ SFB

♛ Trash Queen ♛

I'm like hey wassup hello, seen your pretty ass soon as you came through the door; I just wanna chill, gotta sack for us to roll; married to the money, introduced her to my stove, showed her how to whip it, now she's remixin' for low, She my trap queen, let her hit the bando. 

I admit, I have not been able to resist this song (as annoying as it's gotten at this point in its overplayed-on-the-radio cycle) since the get-go...and I dig this remix. I'm no trap trash queen, but these pictures may say otherwise. ;) 

Many thanks to Kaelin Bohl for these photographs.

Jacket: Thrifted (Wet Seal) | Pants/Culottes Le Joli Boutique (also here) | Sunglasses: ASOS | Top: Bebe | Booties: Bottega Veneta | Purse (gifted hand-me-down): Marc Jacobs

xo ♡ SFB

回 Giving Jello Another Shot 回

I don't know about you, but my most immediate connotation of the word "jello" is probably, well...college. A few too many memories of a few too many shots in solid form, and maybe you're actually thinking "vomit". I'm here to #takebackthenight (sexual assault should not be taken lightly in ANY context, but this pertains very visibly/realistically to college) by taking back the gelatinous sundae (bad pop culture reference, I know) from midcentury antiquity. Also-shoutout to Refinery 29 for already having done so. 

I openly admit: I'm currently trying to lose about 5-7 lbs. Jello is one of my go-to's for weight loss-friendly (& tasty) snacking. Consider it my housewife-inspired gelatinous version of biohacking...inspired by vintage Betty Crocker recipes.

Speaking of snacking, I've certainly enjoyed jello as a snack in various modes...on its own, in coffee, and in my obsession-of-the-moment, snow (otherwise known as Taiwanese shaved ice).

Ever since I saw it on the menu at Boba Time (Koreatown's finest, no doubt!), coffee jelly has been calling my name. Sweetened coffee-flavored jello cubes as a boba substitute? Yes please! (take note any low carbers: coffee jelly is a fantastic boba substitute that remains authentic to the cuisine). 

I am hopelessly enamored with snow, specifically from SNOW LA in Koreatown. The perfect topping to this obsession: (my minor obsession) almond jelly! Perhaps a modern take on a midcentury Jello-made icebox cake? Sure, why not?

I'm no modern Holly Housewife, but I do think it's worth it to put down that popsicle and to give jello another shot ;) 

xo ♡ SFB

◯ Citrus-in' Pretty ◯

Orange you glad it’s finally June? It may not be quite summer just yet, but I find citrus fruit to be synonymous with the season. There's something about its sentience, its color scheme, better yet, its TASTE, that makes citrus one of my favorite fruit choices, during the rare occasions that I do eat it. I may prefer it in confectionary dreamsicle form, but during the rare occurrences that orange finds its way into my wardrobe, I try to keep it refined and dreamy. Loud? Well, I'll save that for festival season n' pool parties. ;) 

If you have taken a look at Russian Dressing in recent weeks' past, it may as well be called "Korean Dressing" simply based on how often I hang out (and shoot!) in Koreatown. This outfit was no exception...nor was the context. 
I haven't blogged about it recently but one of my hobby realms of interest is housewives and the midcentury aesthetic and lifestyle. This dress feels "mod" in that it is a nod to the 60s color scheme and cut, yet the material is so sheer that I have to wear nude undergarments with it. I bought it from Wasteland on Melrose Avenue intended as a "work wear" piece. While I certainly have worn this in a professional business setting (as originally intended), it almost feels more suited to grocery shopping. Can you tell I went grocery shopping in these photos? (Indeed, I actually did). 
Speaking of grocery shopping, what are your thoughts on the anthropological dissection of Upper East Side housewives (NYT article from last weekend)? It's articles like these that remind me as a feminist that we still have a long ways to go. This applies beyond the workforce, and extends into our lifestyles and....fashion. Thoughts?

Everyone knows that our outward appearances, encompassed in our weights/beauty routines/clothing choices, are correlated more or less (with some exceptions) to our socioeconomic status. I will admit as both an aspiring blogger, the high standards for Angeleno "pretty young things", and my "Millenial slashie" career aspirations, I care a lot about my appearance. Don't we all, though? On top of the struggles young people face to financially make it own their own in society, social media reminds us daily, if not hourly, that we have to look pretty doing it as well. This outfit made me feel like a housewife; it brought to mind the archaic, yet simultaneously contemporary, context of the article I mentioned. 

If we think of our self-esteems like food consumption, it's better to shop for sustainable compliments, am I right? Our lifestyle choices extend beyond what we consume, but also in what we create for ourselves. 

Dress: Da-nang (Wasteland LA) | Shoes: Michael Kors | Belt: Pitaya St Louis | Earrings: (also here) Whole Foods
All photos courtesy of Kaelin Bohl Photography

xo ♡ SFB

⌨ Internet Friends ⌨

Hello! I apologize for having taken a slight hiatus from blogging, but I have been a very busy bee these past few weeks. From working two jobs (now reduced to one...more on that later) to moving into my new house...to having pretty much NO free time-a break wasn't just an aha! "good idea"...I was simply in survival mode. That being said, my house didn't have fully-functional Internet until just today. But I'm baaaack.

I find myself spending more and more time in the heart of Los Angeles, in the real "city" sections, around Koreatown and Downtown LA. LA is historically the definition of "urban sprawl"...something that's been changing as of late...and something, or somewhere, that I'm keen to explore. 

Throughout my adventures in Koreatown with my lucky resident best-friend and unofficial blog photographer Kaelin Bohl, it truly feels like the future of LA. As one of the most densely populated regions of the city, it's also one of the few true walking areas of the city...parking is near-impossible. There always seems to be so much going on, the food is phenomenal, and it's a melting pot of different cultures. 

My newest obsession: SNOW. SnowLA Shavery in Koreatown is probably my favorite. 

I mentioned I didn't have Internet for a few days upon moving to my new house. This shirt (purchased a few months back) made me a living paradox. Emblazoned with random doodles of toys like Furby, characters like Moomins, lots of Internet-ready "Tumblr IRL" concepts...this Monki tank called to me. Internet-inspired Tumblr fashion, am I right?

Top: Monki (@ ASOS)

Skirt: Minkpink (@ ASOS)

Bag: Lulu Lemon

Shoes: Jellies: Jelly Beans at Princess Polly (available here...also worn HERE)

How do you feel about Tumblr? What about "Tumblr fashion"/Internet-driven fashion (a la VFILES)?
PS...not to be a terrible self-promoting pest, but check out my Tumblr...the only other place I promote it is on Tinder...but I do happen to have one! ;)

xo ♡ SFB

☹...They Tried to Make Me Go to Rehab...☹

All photos by Kaelin Bohl Photography. 
Jersey: Rehab | Pants: Le Joli Boutique | Shoes: Michael Kors (via DSW) | Bag: New Look @ ASOS | Earrings: Urban Outfitters

xo ♡ SFB