Bleeding Blue

Since returning to the United States last spring, the 2016 presidential election has been a hot topic in both the news and media. The 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution has given me the liberty to express my choice and I am proudly exercising that privilege. 

I chose to wear ALL blue to the polls as a cheeky expression of my left leaning preferences, so I paired this light-colored chambray shirt with dark denim skinny jeans. The chambray is a bit snug on me, so I could have easily worn a white tee-shirt underneath and left in unbuttoned. I've never mixed different variations of the same material in one outfit before, but I think I would like to try this again.

If you haven't geared up for spring and purchased lace-up flats yet, please do yourself a favor and buy a pair right now! I am obsessed with how comfortable and fashionable these lace-up flats are and how they make me feel. Each step I take in them makes me feel like a prancing ballerina as she waltzes through a field of wildflowers. Okay, maybe not majestic..but they do make me feel very confident/special when I wear them. 

Chambray: American Eagle

Pants: Forever 21

Shoes: UrbanOG

Some states have already had their primaries, but I encourage everyone with upcoming dates to head to the polls this year and vote for the candidate that you feel is best. 

xx Besos, 

Erika

Proud to be an AmERIKAn!

Happy Independence Day, America! It's the time of the year where people get to drink American flag printed Budweiser cans and blare "Proud To Be An American" and no one bats an eye. This year I'm feeling patriotic as ever because for the first time in a long time, I am not abroad on 4th of July. Setting off fireworks and wearing a weekend's worth of red, white, and blue is everything I want and more. I hope everyone is being safe this holiday weekend and has an amazing independence day.  

Besos, 

Erika 

T-Shirt: University of South Carolina

Shorts: Gangnam Subway Station

Shoes: Converse

Chambray: American Eagle Outfitters 

Lipstick: Etude House

Happy Canada Deh

It's July 1st! So you know what that means, right?! It's Canada Day!! While I may not be Canadian...Canada still holds a special place in my heart. Being an expat in South Korea was lonely at times, however I was fortunate enough to meet some of the most incredible people, many of whom were Canadians, that shaped my life forever. So bust out the two-fours and eat poutine until your heart's content. I may not be in Canada to celebrate, but you better believe that I am decked out in red and white today and will be going out for a rip ;) 

 xx Besos, 

Erika 

Crop: Forever 21

Shorts: TJMaxx

Shoes: Shoopen

Lipstick: Nature Republic

Baked Falafel Recipe

Hi, y'all! It's been a while... after going on an unbelievable trip across Southeast Asia, I've since "officially" moved back home to Canada after living in South Korea for two years!

BIG STUFF!

I'm still going through a lot of adjustments, but one of the first things I wanted to tackle (and share with you) was my diet.

After eating my way through Southeast Asia, then coming home for Christmas (turkey coma), then visiting friends across Canada (read: eating out + ordering in), I decided it was time to get back to cooking!

So, here is a simple recipe for making baked falafels at home!

 

1 cup dried chickpeas
1/2 large onion, roughly chopped (about 1 cup)
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon salt
1/2-1 teaspoon dried hot red pepper
4 cloves of garlic
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon baking powder
4-6 tablespoons flour

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

Place drained, uncooked chickpeas and the onions in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Add the parsley, salt, hot pepper, garlic, and cumin. Process until blended but not pureed.

Sprinkle in the baking powder and 4 tablespoons of the flour, and pulse. You want to add enough bulgur or flour so that the dough forms a small ball and no longer sticks to your hands. Turn into a bowl and refrigerate, covered, for several hours. 

 Form the chickpea mixture into balls about the size of walnuts onto a non-stick pan.

Bake until brown (about 20 minutes).

Stuff half a pita with whatever you desire! I served mine with cucumbers, lettuce, hummus, hot peppers and feta cheese.

Enjoy!

Wandering

I have a confession to make.

I am an overpacker. 

No matter how much I try to be a smart packer, I always end up bringing too many clothes and/or too many pairs of shoes. I wish I could say that I've learned from my past mistakes, but as I continue to travel South East Asia, the story remains the same.

Here are a few snaps of me wearing my male travel companion's clothes in Vietnam, because I still haven't learned to pack appropriately!

I'm still on the pleather-legging-loving-train.

Bisous!

Marie-Anne

Halloween Inspired Outfit Four

The Pumpkin Queen

I've recently become obsessed with orange and would wear it every day if I could. This look takes Halloween fashion pretty literally, but many of the pieces can be worn after Halloween. If not paired together, the sweater, shirt and purse can all be worn again.

Halloween is a time that you can dress up as someone else or you can stay true to your own style. I hope everyone had a great Halloween last weekend. Have fun this weekend. 

Socks: Tabbisocks
Skirt: Nostalgia
Sweater: Chinti and Parker
Shoes: Charlotte Olympia
Purse: GIVENCHY

Besos, 

Erika

Halloween Inspired Outfit Three

Vampire Vixen

I'm typically not into Hot Topic-esque fashion, but I sometimes cant help myself from dressing very young around Halloween. This look is very vampire inspired, without being a costume. I own a backpack very similar to this one and I'm always shocked by how many compliments I get when I wear it. 

Shirt: Truffle Shuffle

Sweats: Zoe Karssen

Backpack: VANS

Ring: Bernard Delettrez

Besos, 

Erika