Kinsington Post

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!!!

2010-05-12T20:26:00.000-07:00

I don't want to admit how many times I just watched this in the last 30 minutes.

wind layer

2010-05-04T21:16:00.000-07:00

wind layer from charlie_ on Vimeo.

My friend, Charlie, is an amazing photographer and videographer. He has an incredible ability to capture a mood and a feeling in such a subtle and elegant way. I know he has a wealth of ideas and story lines cultivating inside his head at all times. He's super creative and we are lucky to catch a glimpse of what goes on up there through the work he produces. His passion is inspiring and is apparent in all that he does. You can see more of his work on his blog, Nikkou and on Flickr.

Vintage finds

2010-04-23T20:08:00.000-07:00

Today I scored big at the Salvation Army! I was in the mood to do some casual browsing but ended up walking away with more than I had bargained for! After almost two hours of digging through dusty bins of junk and hopefully a well spent $55 later, I left with two huge shopping bags and a bunch of awesome finds. I've never spent that much money at a thrift store so it kind of hurt, but at least I can say it's going to a good cause, right?

I have never owned cowboy boots but have always wanted a pair. I've always envisioned them in a really fun color. Well, today was my lucky day! I found this amazing pair of bright cobalt blue boots, and I couldn't be more thrilled! I can't wait to wear them. Now I just need to figure out a suitable outfit...

I love vintage belts and have quite a collection going. At 50 cents a piece, these two were a steal!

I was there as the workers were setting out bin after bin of new arrivals. There were women swarming all around hunting for a good find. Luckily, I have a fairly discerning eye and can spot what's worth being snatched up. I think I found the pick of the litter with these two vintage bags along with two others that aren't pictured. I found an Elliott Lucca metallic hobo and an authentic Coach brown suede hobo...score!!

I absolutely love this one!!! I'm obsessed with grey these days, I guess along with everyone else. But this bag is just awesome...I've never seen anything like it. The shape is adorable and the detailing is great. I'm pretty sure it's from the 80s.

This dainty little bag is in pretty good condition considering it's probably from the 50s or 60s. It has a few stains but they're pretty minor. It's a frame purse and I love how the plastic handles are incorporated into it. Sequined bags are normally so flashy and over the top, but I think this one is elegant and timeless. I wish I could read the faded label inside to see who made it, but whoever did, well done!

Here are some non-vintage but also noteworthy finds...a pair of high-waisted Marc Jacobs jeans and a yellow pencil skirt. Both fit perfectly!

Late night snack

2010-04-23T18:34:00.000-07:00

Hands down, the easiest dessert ever! And it's even easier with the help of a friend...thanks, Katrina!! So yummy!

Sunset from my window

2010-04-21T23:21:00.000-07:00

First Pack

2010-04-15T00:46:00.000-07:00

Oh how I love my SX-70! Here are a few pictures from my very first pack of Polaroid 600 film. Thanks to The Impossible Project, Polaroid film is making a come back. They even signed on Lady Gaga as one their new creative directors, which sounds kind of ridiculous to me but I'm not complaining. Film for my SX-70 is now being made and I couldn't be more excited! Can't wait to try out my new pack of black and white PX 100 film.

Tastes like summer

2010-04-10T22:58:00.000-07:00

I couldn't have asked for better weather on my two days off this week. The clear skies made me want to get out and about. I ended up going produce shopping to buy some berries for the fresh fruit cake recipe I found on one of my favorite websites, Design*Sponge. I love cooking but I'm not much of a baker since I don't like abiding by the strict recipes that baking normally involves. So, when I do bake it means that the recipe has to be super easy. It was simple and surprisingly delicious! The fresh fruit and the lemon zest made it feel and taste like summer =) Here are the before and after shots. It looks prettier before!

Love at first sight

2010-03-19T13:05:00.000-07:00

I am fascinated by all things vintage, they exude so much character and charm. I've always loved collecting vintage clothing, jewelry and bags, but cameras are now on my radar. Thanks to my friend Charlie, who is a super stealthy Ebay sniper =), I am the proud new owner of a Polaroid SX-70. It is originally from 1978 and it's in great condition. I've only had it one day and I'm already on the look out for a second one! It has arrived just in time for my upcoming mini road trip! I can't wait to start shooting with it.

Favorite meal of the day!

2010-03-19T03:26:00.000-07:00

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, despite the fact that I am not a morning person. This means that my breakfast time is more like lunch time by other people's standards. This is definitely a problem because most places stop serving breakfast around 11am.

Since I have lived in SF, I have heard countless people rave about Dottie's as one of the best places for breakfast in the city. I have seen the ridiculous line that forms outside most mornings. I've never been too keen on standing in a long line on the street, especially in the Tenderloin. However, I happily discovered that Dottie's serves breakfast until they close at 3pm!

One Thursday, I'd woken up at noon and a couple of friends and I headed over to Dottie's at 1:30pm (my ideal breakfast time). There was no line and very few people at that time. We waltzed right in and sat right down. I felt so lucky to have bypassed all the craziness on my very first visit. It's cute, quaint and quiet. I was surprised how small it is, which is probably part of the reason why people wait so long to get in. I was curious to see how good the food was since there is so much hype about this place. But I quickly realized that the rave reviews are pretty legit. The blueberry cornmeal pancakes were amazing! I also ordered the black bean cakes. They were nothing out of the ordinary, but they came with a slice of jalapeno cornbread which was some of the best cornbread I've ever had.

Going on a weekday at "lunch" time is definitely the way to go. I can't wait to go back for more!!!

black bean cakes, friend eggs, potatoes and the best part...toasted jalapeno cornbread

sooo stuffed...

sooo done!

A foggy day on Chestnut Street

2010-02-19T00:04:00.000-08:00

It is so rare for my friend, Carrie Anne and I to have a day off that coincides. Today was one of those lucky days where we actually got to hang out. We were hoping to spend a warm day at the park, but the sun was nowhere in sight and we ended up on Chestnut Street in the Marina.

I was starving so we ate at the first place I layed eyes on... Pacific Catch. It was one of those too late for lunch, but too early for dinner meals. Timing was perfect because we were able to enjoy $3 fish tacos, sweet potato fries and hawaiian poke during their happy hour. It was definitely a very happy hour! =)

Then, we moseyed on down the street. There were dogs everywhere, and the Marina District is probably one of the few places where you can find a dog dressed in a collared shirt and sweater...so cute! I guess the yuppie attire comes with the territory.

We escaped the cold by browsing at the Gap for a little bit.

I got excited when I saw that they had Converse on sale. I already own a green and grey pair.

We were trying to decide if we were cool enough to pull off the black high tops.

Carrie Anne was good and didn't buy anything. I, however, couldn't resist a bargain. The high tops were a stretch for me, so I took the safer route and got the blue low tops. They were on sale for $19.99, but with my $10 gift card they ended up only costing $9.99. Such a steal!

Basically, we only went shopping to kill time and allow our stomachs to digest lunch so that we could eat a Kara's cupcake. Carrie Anne had never been there before, so I was so excited to introduce her to the best cupcake I've had in the city. I went in knowing that I wanted a carrot cupcake, and I got super sad when I didn't see any. I thought they were sold out, but the lady brought out a freshly iced tray and it made my day! Yummy, yummy in my tummy!

A work in progress...

2010-02-18T04:24:00.000-08:00

I am a highly visual person, so it is fitting that I am finally trying to embrace photography. I remember taking a photography class back in middle school, but the interest never really stuck. Then in college, I took a handful of classes for my Visual Communication major and I learned to enjoy studio photography. But, I have never been skilled with the art of natural light and it is something that I have always wanted to improve upon. I began using my Cannon 10D, in college and I am learning how to use it all over again. I want to know how to use it to the fullest extent and vow never to rely on the programmed settings ever again. I am forcing myself to shoot only in manual. Since my camera has only seen the light of day in the last couple of weeks, this will most definitely be a work in progress. But, I couldn't be more excited!

On the bus...the 38

I love how photography encourages me to observe my surroundings with a more meticulous eye. It's like I am visually hunting for the details that I normally overlook when going about my daily routine. I've passed the cable cars at Powell and Market Street a million times before, but I've never noticed this detail on the side of the cars until now.

A Day For Love

2010-02-14T23:56:00.000-08:00

Love from my love
A beautiful bouquet of roses was delivered to me while I was working yesterday. It was such a sweet surprise. Thank you.

Handmade Love

I made these barrettes and necklaces for two very special friends.

Family Love

I had a wonderful evening celebrating Chinese New Year with my relatives. The counters were overflowing with delicious Chinese food from Hong Kong Lounge. I had to control myself enough to save room for a second dinner a few hours later. It was such a treat to see my grandmother who is visiting from Mississippi. She just turned 87 years old this month and she looks great!

Friends and Food Love

Afterwards, I met my friends at Chapeau, an adorable little french bistro on Clement Street. We enjoyed a few drinks and delicious food at the bar. I had the Dungeness Crab and Avocado Napoleon off of their special Valentine's Day menu.

Sweet Love

Then we headed a few blocks up the street to Genki Crepes for dessert. You can smell the sweet goodness from a mile away. Three of us shared a crepe with ice cream, bananas, strawberries and nutella. Yummy!

Shoe Love

While we sat and shared our crepe, we admired our lovely shoes. =) Vince Camuto, Michael Kors and Bakers. Just proves that you can find great shoes at any price point.

There's a lot to love

A joyous end to an amazing day, a wonderful Valentine's and a very happy Chinese New Year!

Evidence of a shopaholic

2010-02-06T01:42:00.000-08:00

True shopaholics probably have a stash of shopping bags just waiting to be reused. I have quite a collection of perfectly good bags that I can't bare to throw out. I needed to wrap a Valentine's gift and decided to use an old Anthropologie bag. The cream paper has a nice weight and texture which makes for very nice wrapping paper. I cut the handles off of the bag and coiled them into rosettes. With a few drops of super glue, they were done in an instant. I used one of the rosettes in place of a typical bow to add a punch of red for Valentine's. I feel the end result is clean, simple and elegant. I ended up using the other rosette to make a hair clip. It was as simple as slipping a bobby pin through the underside threads of the rosette and securing it with a a little glue. I feel it's an easy way to make good use of shopping bags that otherwise lay around.

Something new

2010-02-04T23:24:00.000-08:00

Hello there!
The year is off to a great start and I am excited to give this blogging thing a try. I'm a little late to the whole phenomenon, but I hope to share with you all the things that excite and inspire me. Over time, I'm sure you will see that I love fashion, food and everything in between. I hope y'all enjoy!
Sincerely,
Kinsey