Crossroads Trading Co. Shopping Party

The invite.A girl wearing a Chanel pin has to be a blogger!
Line for the fitting room.

One of the many racks at the Hotel Monaco.
Where the bubbly was waiting!Motorcycle Jacket H&M via Crossroads | Purple Bondage Dress Diane Von Furstenberg  via Crossroads | Navy Suede Ulltra Pumps and Black Zipper Bruffle Satchel  Steve Madden | Necklace Forever 21

Something I have always heard about, but had never been to, are those secret sales where a select few make it to a shopping event where there is an array of designer items usually in sample sizes. I finally had a chance to go such an event thanks to my favorite store Crossroads Trading Co. 
Last week I received an email from Crossroads where the first 120 people to RSVP would have a chance to shop the best of their 6 Bay Area stores in one location to be determined in San Francisco.
Needless to say, I RSVP’d almost immediately and today went shopping and met a lot of fascinating people at the event. Among them was fashion blogger Kathleen Murillo from Inspirafashion. She is featured in the invitation to the event as well as in the following photo with a green peplum tank, pencil skirt, leopard pumps, and gold Chanel pin. I took the photo of her because of her cute outfit (and the lovely pin) and did not know who she was until we met while waiting to redeem our free drinks at the bar. She is very talented when it comes to styling clothes, and I would highly recommend visiting her blog. I ended up purchasing one of her picks at the event (a Tory Burch pink printed dress).
The event was held in a ballroom of the Hotel Monaco on Geary Street. There were some pop-up tents used as fitting rooms that reminded me of being at a beach. Waiting in line was not a problem, but I would recommended encouraging ladies to wear leggings and a long tank to such an event (even Black Friday) in order to try things on in the aisle if there is a long line. Of course a line is a great place to socialize, but for a girl on a mission, trying a dress or top right away can prevent carrying an extra item throughout the store and frees up room in your arms for something else.
I had a great time, and it was not my usual Wednesday evening since I am usually at class, but it was well worth the trip and I am glad my plus one (aka Vivian) enjoyed the experience as well!
Hope you enjoyed the photos she and I took and if you have a Crossroads Trading Co. nearby, make sure you visit when you have a chance! You never know what treasures you will find; I found a bunch at this event despite all my socializing, and because of my recent closet clean out, spent less than I had expected when I used my trade credit. Great clothes at affordable prices- Crossroads stores, and pop-up parties, never disappoint. 

Cal’s First Home Game

Welcome Home!
That was the theme for Cal’s first home game against Nevada at the newly retrofitted California Memorial Stadium!
Within 18 months the stadium was updated and seismically retrofitted to stay standing during a major earthquake (critical since it is located right on the fault line). Last season, loyal fans had to travel to AT&T Park in San Francisco to catch Cal’s “home” games. Although the team and fans spent a season away campus, both now have a stadium worthy of being identified as a bear’s lair. It amazes me how much time and effort was placed by our Fire Prevention Team on-site to ensure the building was up to code, safety regulations were met, and that the renovation was completed among other construction projects going on throughout campus. Despite the team’s loss in their new home, with the final score of 24-31, I was blown away by look and feel of the new stadium and expect more from the team later in the season.
As you you can see from my photos, the stadium was packed and there was a lot of excitement and team spirit in the air. Cal’s 3 touchdowns lead to the firing of the Victory Cannon. The marching band did not fail to disappoint during their pre-game show as well as their festival themed half-time show. I enjoyed their version of “Paradise” by Coldplay and “You are Gonna go Far Kid” by The Offspring. More food options were available at the concession stands, even gourmet items! 
With all the excitement and new amenities offered at the game, I am starting to feel like I should buy my tickets for the rest of the season!

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F.A.S.T. Fashion Show: Fantasy

As I noted yesterday, I did not have time to post my own outfit (or take a photo of it) since I was attending the F.A.S.T spring fashion show. The theme of this semester’s show was fantasy, and I had a blast taking photos of these outfits. It is funny, but one of the only reasons I knew about this event is that I signed up for the club my first semester as a Freshmen, and went to about 3 meetings and never was as motivated to design anything. I did enjoy being a part of the front row crowd taking photos with other people. These are not all the outfits showcased, but they are my favorite. I personally believe my best shot is the one of the red dress, just because it reminds me of something Valentino would create. I admire the hard work, craftsmanship, and detail put into each outfit. Maybe someday I will dust off the sewing machine and create my own looks, but until then I will have fun simply styling myself everyday.
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