Since moving to San Diego, I’ve certainly upgraded from ratty T-shirts for the gym to fluorescent, dri-fit tanks and patterned leggings for the yoga studio—and I like it! Given the weather and look-good-feel-good attitude in Southern California, being active is a big part of life here, and I like that I can exercise my right to style even during a boot camp class.

So I’ve partnered with San Diego-based Road Runners Sports, the walking and running store with locations around the U.S. and an online store, to show off a look from their in-house line, R-Gear, and offer a $100 giveaway to My SoCal’d Life readers (more on that below).

I wanted a mix of pattern, color, and comfort. Hot pink is one of my favorite colors, so this Fast and Fab Singlet in poppy pink was an easy choice. It’s lightweight, which is ideal for hot days and sweaty workouts. Nice criss-cross pattern in the back, too, no?

As for shorts vs. pants, I prefer leggings, but it’s hard to find ones that are flattering without being crazy expensive, but these SpeedPro polka dot compression capris keep you looking lean without the suffocation factor. And for me, $50 for high-quality pants that’ll last especially when I use them 1-2 times a week is worth it. Side note: That’s me in crow pose. It took me six months to get there, and though I’m not sure it’s 100 percent correct, it feels pretty awesome to hold myself up finally. And now I’m this close to nailing a headstand without a wall. Second side note: The shoes were from a previous Road Runner purchase. They’re my first pair of black kicks, and I dig ’em. OK, yes, I like to work out, but this R-Gear Cozy Cardi is my new favorite piece. It’s flowy and warm and feels like a blanket without making you look like an Olsen twin drowning in fabric. The arms are fitted to lend structure and the back detail gives it style, but the rest is drapey-chic, as I like to call it. And since I’m always, always cold, it’s ideal for post-workout when I’m running errands and also for plane rides when I’m usually chilled to the bone.

And now for a giveaway! One lucky My SoCal’d Life reader will win a $100 gift card to Road Runner Sports. You can buy anything you want, whether it’s from their R-Gear collection, Nike, UnderArmour, or the other lines they carry. Here’s how:

1. Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below. There are multiple ways to enter, so the more times you enter, the better your chances of winning.
2. The contest will run until 11:59 p.m. PST on Monday, June 1, after which a winner will be chosen at random.
3. Open to U.S. residents only.

Plus, use the code CX15F216 at checkout for an 11% discount off R-Gear products + free shipping. Good luck—and werk it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post was sponsored by Road Runner Sports. I received compensation, but as always, all opinions are my own.

The post Workout Wear with Road Runner Sports + a giveaway appeared first on My SoCal'd Life.

Chocolate walnut cinnamon rolls (via The Little Epicurean)

Carolinea typeface (via Creative Market)

DIY painted coasters (via The Lovely Drawer)

Turtleneck style (via Who What Wear and We Wore What)

Cuban-style black beans with coconut cream rice (via The Clever Carrot)

Follow me on Pinterest for more picks!

The post Pin-spiration appeared first on My SoCal'd Life.

I know hardly anything about makeup and still don’t know how to deal with my curly hair, but skincare? Skincare I know and love. Ever since I received my first Clinique 3-Step kit, I’ve been diligent about scrubs, moisturizers, SPF, eye cream, and everything that goes along with it, and part of my morning routine involves reading about other people’s routines on Into The Gloss‘ Top Shelf column.

Here’s a little rundown of what I use, what I love, and what you should try:

Almond oil—If I don’t lotion up after a shower, it just feels wrong, but after realizing how many chemicals are added to affordable body lotions, I decided to go au naturel with a 100% organic almond oil. It’s very cost-efficient and a little goes a long way. In the end, my skin feels moisturized—with a bit of a glow and without the grease (after it dissolves within a couple minutes.)

Glow Face and Body Lotion—Speaking of glowing, this SPF moisturizer I won in a recent blog giveaway has been a great addition to the mix. The mineral mica adds a subtle shimmer, and even though the consistency feels thick, it blends easily. Bonus points for the plant-based ingredients list.

Murad Active Radiance Serum—I’m approaching 30 years this year, and even though I’m totally fine to hit a new decade, I’m not fine with the fact that my skin doesn’t bounce back so easily anymore. This serum is filled with powerful ingredients that make your skin more radiant and fight environmental pollution. Since adding it to my routine two months ago, I’ve noticed a brighter complexion. It’s definitely a splurge, but fortunately, all it takes is one pump per use. (Look for it on Amazon, where it’s half the price.)

Burt’s Bee’s Eye Cream—When I was in college, my doctor friend mentioned that the skin under the eyes is the most delicate of all. Ever since then, I’ve diligently applied any moisturizer (with my ring finger, as it has the lightest touch) to the eye area. But re: that whole not bouncing back as quickly thing, I recently decided to spring for an actual eye cream. On the scale of eye-specific creams with natural ingredients, this one is relatively affordable. Plus, the squeeze tube is quite handy.

Alba Deep Sea Facial Mask—Truth be told, my favorite face mask is a neem powder I bought in India for $3. I’ve run out and while I bide my time until my mom brings me another pack from the motherland next month, I’m using this skin-brightening formula by Alba, a brand known for its mostly natural ingredients. You wear it for just 5 minutes, so it’s low-effort. The results aren’t earth-shattering, but my skin does look more fresh after use.

BeautyCounter Lustro Face Oil 2—At $64, this face oil is the most luxurious part of my regimen, but full disclosure, I was lucky to receive this bottle for free at a media preview. I use this jasmine-scented oil—like the almond oil and serum, a little goes a long way—to touch up any dry spots post-moisturizer. It smells divine, so I try to make it the very last step before I hit the sack so I can sleep with the scent on my hands.

Vicco Turmeric Skin Cream—With a blend of turmeric and sandalwood oil, this Indian moisturizer pulls from Ayurvedic tradition  and is formulated to brighten skin. Loyal fans love how gentle it is on problematic skin and many say this cream is the reason their skin has stayed so young and supple. On its own, it’s not moisturizing enough for my combination skin, so I follow it with the Lustro Face Oil. It’s worth mentioning that the aroma is strong. I love it, but it might not be for everyone.

Now Argan Oil—I may not know how to style my hair, but healthy hair is paramount to me, especially after struggling with issues of for a while. To combat the dry climate in San Diego, I’ve jumped on the argan oil wagon. Rather than paying extra for the famous Moroccan Oil brand, I bought this cheaper version. Just 2-3 drops midway down my hair, and my ends stay hydrated and healthy.

There are a few others in the mix, including a rotating set of cleansers and face scrubs from Simple Skincare and Neutrogena, but the above products are my favorites. (If I want to splurge, my absolute favorite face scrub is this Walnut Complexion version by Ole Henrickson.) If you need a primer on what order to layer your beauty products, check out this handy guide.

Would love to hear if you have any others I should add to my rotation!

The post my 8 must-have beauty products appeared first on My SoCal'd Life.

Gift guides can go one of two ways: 1. They can be beautiful but totally unattainable with ludicrous prices or 2. They can be well-edited with every budget in mind. I’d like to think mine is of the latter bunch. So here are 10 giftables for her, him, the kids and the home, all from San Diego small businesses!

Leather envelope laptop case no. 003 by Shop Boutonne, $119

Hip Hip Hooray coasters by Odd Daughter Paper Co., $20 for set of 6

Frailera glitter sandals by Avarcas, $54

Gourmet Sea Salt Sampler Set by Salt Farm, $32 (Purchase in store or over the phone)

Siren Mexican blanket from Gunn and Swain, $35

Rosewood coriander organic and soy candle by Often Wander, $24 (available in store and by phone, but she also has other candles on her site!)

Gold-dipped rose quartz earrings by JaxKelly, $25

French New Wave art clutch by Modern Haus Design, $165

Recycled Stone Brewery beer glasses by Bottles & Wood, $30 each

Chaser Ellis tote by Rais Case, $345

The post san diego-style gift guide: for her, him, home and the kiddies appeared first on My SoCal'd Life.

I’m that girl (woman? person? what are we saying nowadays?) who will get up in your grill if you don’t slather on SPF. I’m that girl who feels unlike herself if she doesn’t moisturizer her face after washing it. And I’m that girl who is devoted to weekly exfoliating sessions, not to mention face oils and eye cream every day.

So you could say, I’m a wee bit into skincare. I’m not a makeup fan, but I get so much satisfaction out of nurturing and nourishing my skin. A part of it is vain (wanting great skin when I’m older), and the other part is common sense (avoiding skin cancer).

So when Simple Skincare asked me to review some of their products as part of their Kind to City Skin campaign, I figured it was a great fit. The campaign is a global initiative to help women understand the impact that city living—both environmental and lifestyle-related factors—can have on their faces. My years in New York City came with plenty of skin assaults, from the pollution and humidity to the stress and late nights out, but San Diego presents its own set of challenges, the biggest of which is the constant sun and need for SPF. (I know, life is really rough.)

Simple prides themselves on zero harsh chemicals and zero artificial perfumes or dyes, and these days I’m looking to eliminate as many negative ingredients as possible. Bonus points for the brand’s efforts to keep prices low; you can find Simple at Target!

Here’s a look at what I loved, along with a chance to win a skincare pack giveaway!

Foaming Facial Wash: Usually I find foam products, whether they’re cleansers or shampoos, to be too drying, but this one (above) left my skin nice and soft. Just one pump for one session is all you need.

Protecting Light Moisturizer with SPF 15: Simple polled women in the top 40 markets and found that 59% of women are not actively trying to protect their skin from sun and wind. Sorry, but that’s just plain stupid to me. If not for the cancer prevention, do it for the vanity! I prefer more SPF in my moisturizer (SPF 30 is ideal), but some people find that too heavy or greasy. This version is ideal for those people since it combines sun protection with a silky finish. No strong sunscreen-esque fragrance either.

Nourishing 24-Hour Day/Night Cream: I love this stuff! It’s luxuriously creamy with a good deal of moisture for people with combo skin like me or those with a more oily profile. Dry skin folks may want to pair this with a face oil at night.

Ultra-Light Gel Moisturizer: This one (above) was too lightweight for my skin. If you have oily skin, perhaps the Ultra-Light Gel Moisturizer will be your new best friend, but my skin appreciates cream-based formulas.  I needed to layer this one with a round of the Nourishing 24-Hour Day/Night Cream.

Cleansing Facial Wipes: I’m usually a stickler about washing my face (with cleanser) before bed, but lately I’ve been getting into a bad habit of passing out on the couch post-Netflix and crawling into bed immediately. (Funny how in college I sometimes wouldn’t wash my face because I had a long night out; now I sometimes don’t wash it because I’ve had a short night in.) Either way, no bueno. These wipes came in handy for those times of extreme laziness. They were also clutch when my friend’s dog licked my whole face.

Eye Make-up Remover Pads: My favorite of all the products, these pads are a must for people who wear eyeliner or eye makeup on the daily like I do. I used to just rub my eye makeup off with water, but I can’t imagine that’s wise considering how delicate the skin is around that area. Also, that method rarely got all the makeup off. But these wipes are soft and non-drying, and were key to removing mascara without eyelash casualties. The morning after, I’d wake up with a blank canvas as opposed to quasi raccoon eyes.

The Kind to City Skin campaign has a few other easy tips to keep your skin glowing:

• Eat walnuts (omega 3’s), avocados (vitamin E), salmon (omega 3’s), and even Brussels sprouts (antioxidants and vitamin C).
• Workout. It increases blood flow and helps flush cellular debris out of your system.
• Stress less. Unplug, unwind, do yoga, go for a walk—just do something that keeps you in a happy place because stress will eventually show up on your skin.

Now for the fun part. I’ve teamed up with Simple to give away full-size versions of the above six products to one lucky reader (actual retail value $53)!

The details:
1. Enter via the Rafflecopter widget below. There are multiple ways to enter, so the more times you enter, the better your chances of winning.
2. The contest will run until 5 a.m. PST on Monday, June 30, after which a winner will be chosen at random.
3. Open to U.S. residents only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I participated in this sponsored campaign on behalf of One2One Network. As always, all opinions are my own.

The post simple skincare: a review + a beauty gift pack giveaway! [now closed] appeared first on My SoCal'd Life.

I told myself I wouldn’t do it, but I chopped most of my hair off yet again. The first time was back in 2007, during my senior year of college. I was going for a Victoria Beckham-inspired graduated bob—trust me, it was trendy at the time—and I loved it, except for the fact that it required frequent trimmings and was a mother to grow out once I was over it. (By the way, I’d get my trims at an Aveda school—very cost-effective!)

For the last few months, I had been kicking around the idea of lobbing it off, and it got to a point last week where it just had to be done. Last night I did it—with inspiration from here and here—and it’s like a weight’s been lifted. Sure, I’ll hate growing it out when the time comes and I’ll look 12 when I don’t style it properly, but I just needed to rid myself of the physical and emotional baggage.

For starters, the long hair just wasn’t doing anything for me style-wise. I used to embrace the bohemian, free-flowing, California-girl long locks, but it got so lengthy that it just hung there. I also felt like it enveloped my whole face. That was the first sign.

The second sign was that I’ve been in such an emotional rut lately between keeping up in the freelancer hustle, figuring out what’s ailing Teddy*, and questioning various life decisions. I’ve been putting a lot of pressure on myself, comparing myself to others, turning into a little hermit, and basically doing everything you’re not supposed to do when you’re bummed out. So I needed a fresh start, something that would put me back on a positive path. A drastic hair cut seems superficial and a little silly, but I needed to feel like a new person, or at least a refreshed person. Something needed to change in a big way to snap me out of my fugue.

And best of all, all 9 inches are going to Pantene’s Beautiful Lengths donation program, which creates wigs for women who’ve experienced hair loss due to cancer. Unlike Locks of Love, which sells wigs on a sliding scale based on the consumers’ incomes, Pantene gives the wigs for free. Plus, Pantene requires a minimum of 8 inches, compared to Locks’ 10. For a more in-depth comparison of their differences, check out this great post by Glamamom.

Obviously a cancer survivor getting the chance to feel like her old self far outweighs my need for a refresher, but in the end, it’s a win-win. And I’m thrilled!

P.S. Shout out to all the style and beauty bloggers who are photographed every day. I’m not opposed to the occasional in-action photo for my posts and am actually super comfortable on TV, but something about that DSLR up in my grill for the picture on the right was quite awkward. I told Eaman to say something funny, so he said, “Poop.”

*For those who’ve been wondering, Teddy is doing better. While we were away two weekends ago, he had some, er, bowel issues, and we had to put him on antibiotics. (Thankfully my friend who watches him is a saint and took good care of him!) To really get to the bottom of whatever is upsetting his GI system, we’re trying a stronger antibiotic this week. If we see improvements, he’ll be on it for 7 more weeks. So far, things are going in the right direction, but I hope the medication actually cures the problem and isn’t just a Band-Aid for temporary relief. That said, Teddy is still his loving, playful, often naughty self, and even gained back three pounds. Woohoo!!

The post new haircut, (hopefully) new state of mind appeared first on My SoCal'd Life.

Some light reading for your Friday:

The wildfires that have been raging through northern San Diego are just terrible. More than 10,000 acres have been burned, people have been evacuated, homes have been destroyed, and so far, one burned body was found. Sad and scary. I’m thankful that my worst problem is our sweltering apartment. Thankfully today the temps will start dropping, and the weekend should get the city’s thermostat back to normal. Fingers crossed.

How to plan your perfect nap.

Jaden Smith’s cryptic tweets actually make total sense as Garfield cartoons.

What’s the most commonly spoken language in your state after English and Spanish? California’s surprised me.

I’m obsessed with reading really detailed food and beauty diaries. This Cindy Crawford piece is no exception.

Now for a giveaway! Australian activewear brand Lorna Jane will be hosting an event tomorrow in La Jolla with a workout led by LJ herself, Drybar blow outs, healthy juices from L.A.’s Juice Served Here, and for the first 5 My SoCal’d Life readers to show up, a $50 credit to spend in the store. Just tell them “My SoCal’d Life sent me.” I’ll be there, so I hope to see your workout-ready selves tomorrow, too! Here’s all the info and you can RSVP right here:

Hope to see you there, and have a lovely weekend!

First image via

The post weekend reads + a giveaway featuring lorna jane activewear and drybar! appeared first on My SoCal'd Life.

I may be a writer by trade, but I love using this blog as a platform for exploring good design and style. And when I find something good, you better believe I’ll share it with you.

Case in point: These genius fashion illustrations created by Singapore student Gracie Ciao, who bends, shapes, and positions real flower petals into stunning dresses. Besides the vibrant colors, I love how just a little finessing results in texture and volume.

Check her out:

The post transforming flowers into fashion appeared first on My SoCal'd Life.

But those style habits came to a screeching halt when I backpacked for a year and then moved to laid-back SoCal and began working from home. When I moved to San Diego, I was either working at the kitchen table or playing at the dog park. Plus, to grossly generalize, I felt like no one else here cared about style, so why should I?

Well now the sartorial tides have shifted. For starters, I’m working in an office (at San Diego Magazine while an editor is on maternity leave) and the motivation to dress up is so much greater. But more than that, I’m realizing that frankly, I do give a damn. And though San Diego doesn’t embody the epitome of style, there are some really stylish women who give a damn, too.

So. I’ve been doing some shopping. Not extravagantly—just classics to create a base. I got these jeans (well-made jeans do make a difference), these boots (on sale and as an early birthday gift from my parents), these flats (much cheaper at Nordstrom Rack) and a few other items no longer online (sorry!).

But what I really want help on is my accessory selection. I used to be all about the bling—heavy necklaces, beads galore, shine to the max—and while those are fun for special occasions, SoCal dictates (and I now crave) more dainty pieces for day-to-day.

Here are 6 items I’ve had my eyes on:

Satomi Kawakita hexagon necklace [editor’s note: A girl can dream.] //Mixed Media necklace

Top Point Pull Through earrings // Sisters Braille cuff

Gorjana shimmer marquee ring // Upper Metal Class skull earrings

Speaking of accessories, in case you missed Friday’s post, I’m giving away one filigree headband by the talented Regina Morrison of Acute Designs. Super easy to enter, awesome prize to be won.

The post a note on style + 6 pieces of jewelry i need appeared first on My SoCal'd Life.

I recently stumbled upon ModCloth, an online curiosity shop of clothes that veer hipster, home decor that veers funky, and odds and ends that seem just a little out there. You might not fill every room with things like a quirky creamer or plasma bulb night light, but I do think a piece here or there makes for a great gift or conversation starter. Here are some of my favorite finds from the site:

Clockwise from top left:

Down to a Diner Art Creamer Caddy (love this!) // Abode Well Wall Decor // Totally Tulip Container Set // Watt Dreams May Come // EP Phone Home iPhone Dock // Here and Lair Pillow in Mountains

(I also bought this very cute cardigan)

 ModCloth did not sponsor this post. I just happen to love their products.

The post favorite online store alert: modcloth appeared first on My SoCal'd Life.