Food Friday

Del Monte Cafe 1901 Santa Barbara Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401

Huevos Rancheros Special of the Day

For some reason, entering through the doors of SLO's Del Monte Cafe seemed more like entering through the doors of a time machine.  We stepped inside the cafe for a quick breakfast,  and I seriously thought I accidentally walked into the wrong era. Pleasantville, anyone? I can't exactly explain the reasons why, but if you've ever been there you would know what I'm talking about. Just like its acronym, SLO is generally a slow town. And, I don't mean that in any disrespect, for it's definitely a charming little place to be, but just not my cup of tea. I am far too much of a city girl.

Is This The End, or Just The Start of Something Really, Really Beautiful...

Dress: A'gaci; Necklace and rings: Forever 21


Voxtrot - The Start of Something

A couple weeks ago, I saw this dress at A'gaci and heard it calling my name, tempting me to try it on. Unable to resist, I quickly made my way to the dressing room and slipped it on. I fell in love with its soft pink color and the way its sheer fabric draped my body. As soon as I put it on, I knew that it would be a crime not to buy it. I instantly pictured myself wearing it a score of accessories and shoes in my closet, which pretty much sealed the deal.  I always find myself trying on (and consequently purchasing) a dress even though I don't necessarily have an occasion to wear it. I cannot even begin to tell you how many dresses I have hanging in my closet with tags still attached to them. Nonetheless, I still find myself swooning over dresses and adding them to my "I will totally wear this one day" closet collection. *Sigh. Even though I may be $30 poorer, the way I see it, I am definitely one beautiful dress richer. And, the minute that special occasion comes up, I won't be scrambling around like a chicken with its head cut off, because I know just which dress I'll be treating to a night out around town.

P.S. Today is the LAST day to enter my GIVEAWAY with The Body Shop. The contest runs until 12:00 Noon PST, so get those last minute entries in for your chance to win some free swag! Oh, and for those of you wondering, Wisdom Wednesday will be back next week, so start thinking about what you'd like to share with pancakeSTACKER! :) Happy Wednesday, loves!

If you enjoyed this post, don't forget to show some love and "like" pancakeSTACKER on Facebook!

Go, Baby, Go, Go. We're Right Behind You. Go, Baby, Go, Go. Yeah, We're Looking At You.

Dress worn as top and skirt: Forever 21; Necklace: Nordstrom; Shoes: Baker's; Photos by: Tripod


Garbage - Cherry Lips

Slowly, but surely, I have been trying to incorporate more color into my wardrobe. You may remember that for a little while, I went through a navy blue and black phase. While I'm still wearing navy blue here, I thought I'd spice things up with a hot tamale red skirt. This skirt is not only comfortable and figure-flattering, but more than affordable. At $3.80 (yes, you read that right), the price tag only made it that more appealing. The navy blue dress (that I wore as a top) was just as much of a steal, at less than $15; and the fact that I can wear it as either a dress or a top makes it well worth the money. Don't you just love the puff sleeve detail? I sure do! I got the necklace at Nordstrom after passing by it day after day. I finally caved in and decided to buy it. Maybe it's the fact that it reminds me of candy and tickles my inner foodie heart, or maybe the vibrant colors drew me in, either way, I was glad to add it to my growing necklace collection.  I purchased the glittery pumps back in February for my birthday at Bakers. They're very reminiscent of the Steve Madden Caryssa pump, but I am almost sure I got them for half the price. All in all, I think I am well on my way to making my wardrobe much more colorful. 

Don't forget, you have until Wednesday to enter my GIVEAWAY with The Body Shop! Don't miss out on free goodies! And, as usual I'd be ever so grateful if you would show some love and "like" pancakeSTACKER on Facebook!

Little Lucca, Lotta Sandwich

Little Lucca Sandwich Shop and Deli 724 El Camino Real South San Francisco, CA 94080

Last Friday, I had one of the best days off I've had in a long while. I should have known my day was going to be nothing short of awesome, when it started with a little lunch date with my coworker, and friend, Doug. He's a fellow foodie, so we both take pleasure in all things taste bud-worthy. We decided to stop by Little Lucca to fill up on some sandwiches. Little Lucca always has a line that extends out the door. You can bet you'll be waiting for at least 20 minutes, but please know that it is very much worth the wait. I went for my favorite Roasted Turkey and Cranberry combo on dutch crunch, while Doug ordered the Ultimate BLT Club.

Come on Dance, Take a Chance on Romance, We Only Get One Shot at Love.

Maxi dress worn as skirt, rings, belt, and top: Forever 21; Shoes: Urban Outfitters: Necklace: H&M; Photos by: Me via my tripod

Sia - Clap Your Hands (Fred Falke Remix)

Fred Falke remixes, maxi dresses, and those Urban Sandals -- told you I couldn't get enough of 'em! I hear this song at work every now and then, and at first I hated it. I really hated it. And then, I listened to it one night on repeat maybe 20 times in a row. Not even joking... It was a late night, I had a venti vanilla soy latte, and I had a lot of cleaning to do. Somehow, listening to this song over and over put me in an extremely jolly mood, and cleaning went a lot faster. I just remember dancing around my room and singing "clap yourrr handdds!" Then I found this Fred Falke remix, and well now, I'm even more in love. I bought this maxi at Forever for $10 a year ago. I wore it twice, and then let it sit in my closet for months and months and months. Recently wore this combo to work, and now I'm on the hunt for more maxi's. Something about wearing a maxi makes me feel a lot more liberated. Anyone else feel that way?  Before I go, I just wanted to take a moment and thank all of you for your super sweet and caring comments on my last post! Feels so good to have such amazing blogger buddies out there :)

Oh, and one more thing... that delicious stack I've been hinting at? Well, it's here! The Body Shop and I have teamed up to offer one special reader a few goodies from their new Honey Bronze Collection. All you have to do is (1) leave a comment on this post with your email address and (2) follow pancakeSTACKER on Google friend connect! That's all!

FOR AN EXTRA ENTRY (Leave a separate comment for each!)

1. Follow pancakeSTACKER on Bloglovin'
2. Like pancakeSTACKER on Facebook (see down below)
3. Follow @pancakeSTACKER on Twitter
4. Tweet about this giveaway -- "Have you entered @pancakeSTACKER's @TheBodyShopUSA giveaway yet? Enter now for your chance to win! http://bit.ly/euQz4Z"
5. Follow @TheBodyShopUSA on Twitter
6. Like The Body Shop on Facebook
7.  Sign The Body Shop's petition to stop child trafficking

With so many chances to win, I don't know why you wouldn't enter! This giveaway is open for one week and closes at 12:00 p.m. PST on Wednesday May 25, 2011. Winners will be notified via email and have 24 hours to respond! Good luck to all :)

"Like" pancakeSTACKER on Facebook for an extra entry!

In Your Eyes I See The Eyes of Somebody I Knew Before, Long Ago

Denim shorts, necklace, and rings: Forever 21; Plaid button up: Ezekiel via Nordstrom (Men's dept); Fedora: Nordstrom; White tee: H&M; Photos by: Me via me new tripod


Miike Snow - Animal (Fred Falke Remix)

Snapped up these photos last week when the sun was still out and about. I rarely wear jeans. Truth be told, I rarely wear pants. The exception to my jean rule: jean shorts. I have been searching for a good pair of distressed denim for some time now. Came close twice, but ended up returning both pairs. Found this pair at Forever 21 and fell in love. When you have a little bit more junk in the trunk, it's nice to find a pair of bottoms that have a nice stretch. I got this plaid button up a long while back in the Men's department at Nordstrom. I'm no stranger when it comes to shopping with the big boys, especially because I find so much of their stuff to be so cute and Chanda-friendly. Funny thing is, my coworker has this exact plaid shirt. It goes without saying (but I'll say it anyways), I wear it ten times better than he does. I'm crossing my fingers that, one day, we both wear it to work at the same time, and then we can be twinsies! I'll be sure to let you know how that one goes.

In other news, I am sad to report that I missed Bay to Breakers...again. This is the first time in five years that I have even been close to being able make it, seeing as how I spent the last four studying away in LA. I had the day off work,  made plans with friends, and I was really looking forward to going, despite the reports of some ominous storm looming, but alas, it looks as though I will have to wait  again until next year to attend. I got in a car accident Saturday afternoon while I was on my way to work, when someone decided to ram into the back of my car, leaving my whole backside smashed. Not only did the car crash ruin my car, my plans to attend B2B, and my whole weekend (and upcoming week(s), I'm sure), but I've had to stay in bed all day because of my sore body. (Speaking of staying in, anyone want to suggest some quality movies on instant play Netflix? I'm running out of movies!) While I was undoubtedly very shaken from the incident, I'm just extremely grateful that I wasn't seriously injured. So, for all of you drivers out there, please, please be careful! One second changes everything.

(Oh and just so I don't end on a depressing note (ha!), I have an extra yummy stack cooking up for you. Make sure you check back in a few, so you don't miss out!) 

Don't forget to "like" pancakeSTACKER on Facebook for all my latest news and updates!

Good good good good vibrations.

Just some shots from last week's Cinco de Mayo celebration. Pretty sure no one else's Cinco de Mayo could even come close to how fun mine was (unless, of course, you were fiesta-ing it up with me). After work, I spent my night under the stars with some tacos, drinks, s'mores, laughs, all surrounding by some pretty great people and an abundance of good vibrations. I do have one confession, however, and this might be shocking to all of you, especially considering what a foodie I am, but this was my first s'more experience... ever. Yeah. I know. My friends were shocked too. Overall, it was such a lovely and relaxing evening. I love simple nights that just come together, don't you?

Bohemian Rhapsody

Maxi dress worn as a skirt, belt, rings and crop top: Forever 21; Sun hat: Nordstrom; Shoes: Urban Outfitters; Necklace: The Vamoose via Jillian of Cornflake Dreams; Photos by: Me via my new tripod!

Joe Edmonds -- Bohemian Rhapsody (Arranged for four violins)

You got a little sneak peek of this outfit via my Facebook fan page, and Monday's post, and now you have the whole enchilada! Delicious, isn't it? Lately, I have been absolutely obsessed with maxi's. Maxi dresses, maxi skirts, maxi dresses worn as skirts -- I want them all! The whole maxi obsession has been even more exciting, given the fact that I have been able to give a new life to all my old maxi dresses that have just been collecting dust in my closet. Trust me, you will be seeing a LOT of this type of outfit in the future. I have been dying to get a little color into my wardrobe, so when I spotted this dress at Forever 21 for only $10, I was sold. This tribal-inspired maxi features some of my favorite colors: teal, brown, and purple! Since it was such a sunny day, it was the perfect day to pair the dress with my new gold sun hat. I have also recently added three new hats to my once non-existent hat collection. Again, it's safe to say you'll see some new hair accessories soon, too. I received this beautiful Vamoose Amethyst Pendant via a giveaway from Jillian of Cornflake Dreams a little while back, and I am just now getting around to giving it the much needed attention it deserves. I have been in love with The Vamoose, since forever and a day ago, so when I won this giveaway, I was beyond ecstatic. And, for those of you who don't know, Amethyst just so happens to be my birthstone. Lastly, I picked up these sandals on sale for $20 at Urban Outfitters while I was in LA. I can't tell you how comfortable these are. I wear them basically everywhere, and I feel sad every time I have to take them off my feet. But, I guess it'd be kind of weird to wear them to bed.



Did you fancy my outfit? Then come "like" pancakeSTACKER on Facebook!  

Brush With Fashion: The Body Shop San Francisco

The Body Shop Brush with Fashion Makeup

A couple Wednesdays ago, I was invited to preview some of The Body Shop's new products, as well as their upcoming makeup line, Brush with Fashion, at their downtown San Francisco location. I had a great time learning about some of the new lines, hearing about a few of the issues the brand stands for, trying out amazing makeup and beauty products, and getting a fresh new beauty makeover, which was perfect for Spring! Below you'll find a few of the pictures I snapped from the event, along with some of the background information I learned that afternoon. 

Mama Bear

I just wanted to take a moment to introduce to you my mama bear. I stole this picture from her a long, long time ago, and it's one of my favorite photos ever taken of her. Undoubtedly beautiful on the outside, my mom has one of the most beautiful souls of anyone I know, and that's a fact. Anyone who has met my mom can tell you that I'm not exaggerating. She works harder than just about any woman I know, and each day she selflessly gives to all those around her. I can only hope that one day I will grow up to be just as strong as her. She'll probably scold me once she gets around to visiting my site and finds out I posted this picture of her for all to see, but how could I not? She's super styling! And, if you couldn't already tell where I get most of my swag from, it's simple -- I get it from my mama.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom. I love you!

Food Friday: Larchmont Bungalow

Larchmont Bungalow 107 North Larchmont Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90004

You saw the above picture, and it undoubtedly stopped you in your tracks. But wait, is that cake? No, no sir, it is not. Cupcakes, maybe? Nope, wrong again. Well, my word, what on earth could it be? Are you ready to find out? Do you really want to know? Pancakes. Red and Blue Velvet PANCAKES. That's right. Your eyes are not playing mind games with you. Those are indeed pancakes.

Wisdom Wednesday

“We attain freedom as we let go of whatever does not reflect our magnificence. A bird cannot fly high or far with a stone tied to its back. But release the impediment, and we are free to soar to unprecedented heights.” --Alan Cohen

Tiiu Kuik by Camilla Akrans for The New York Times T Style Magazine Travel Summer 2009

I should start off by saying that in the past, I have been guilty of being afraid to fall, even before I have left the ground. When I was in high school, I was somehow sure I wouldn't get into some of the top schools I applied for. I remember bawling my eyes out when my father told me he only wanted me to apply to my top three choices, which also happened to be the top three schools most everyone in my high school applied to as well. In the end, I applied to maybe 11 schools, which in retrospect, was a huge waste of money. My mom and dad had no doubt that I'd get into my choice of colleges. Of course, in the end, they were right. Funny how our parents and grandparents just know things, eh? Almost five years later, and now, I'm recounting this story to you. So what's the point? Well, looking back, I had to wonder, what was it that gave me so little faith in myself? I knew I was capable of getting accepted into the college of my dreams. So, why was I so reluctant to believe in myself? Then, it hit me. Just like the little bird with rocks tied to its back, I had other little birdies chirping away at me telling me that my goals were just too unrealistic. Birds chirping that I should really settle for less than I deserved. Needless to say, those little birdies were quickly cut out of my life as soon as I opened by eyes and ears and stopped listening to their cacophonous songs. We just weren't singing the same song. 

So what does this have to do with today? Well, I noticed that I have been going through that same stage. Slightly afraid of what's to come, I have been hesitant to make moves and have let silly doubts get in the way of taking chances. But, why? As I was browsing though my daily reads, I stumbled upon the above quote and remembered that my wings are ready to soar to unprecedented heights, just as long as I let them. I just have to take that leap and fly. So, with the risk of sounding like Oprah, I tell you, let go of the doubts that are holding you back. This is probably the most preachy I will ever get on this blog, but, I thought you should know that your wings are ready to get some air, too.

That's my wisdom for this Wednesday. Don't be afraid to share yours with me below. If you enjoyed this post, don't forget to "like" pancakeSTACKER on Facebook!  

pancakeLEFTOVERS: Super Stack!

You probably thought I forgot all about this monthly tradition, didn't you? Well, ha! Fooled you! Since I neglected to do one for February and March, you get a triple stack of pancakeLEFTOVER's sticky sweet goodness. Can you believe that it is already MAY? I can't fathom it at all. I mean, this year is just zooming on by. So, before we move on to another beautiful and possibility-filled month, let us take a look back at some outfit highlights from April (and February...and March).

 All photos by: DJ Lan

As we enter into a new month, the first thing I think of is how can I make this month better than the last. I am always looking for ways to improve. And when I say "improve," I mean in every way possible -- body, mind, and soul. In retrospect, April was a great month. After taking a mini-vacay at the beginning of the month, I came back with new priorities and my goals in sight. I regained my focus, and I would like to think that I was a much better blogger (compared to February and March). Moving forward, I know that things can only get better. It feels so strange to think that it has almost been one whole year since I graduated from college, and I am still trying to find my place. In fact, a lot of my younger friends are graduating both this month and next. And you know what that means... they will join the "What in the world am I going to do with my life?" club. And to those kiddos I say, brace yourselves --the journey is just beginning. In the last month, I met some really awesome people, attended some great events, and slowly inched my way a little closer (I think?) to where I want to be, and all of this was due to blogging. I am excited for what is to come, because I know that golden door is just waiting for me to open it (or build it, whichever comes first). So, here is to May -- a month filled will opportunity and success. Let's make it a great one.




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