Dia De Los Disney

October 24, 2013 Nina Penalosa5 Comments

My trip to SoCal was way too short, but I’m happy that Tim and I were able to go on a getaway anyhow. And it included a free day at Disneyland (my cousin’s girlfriend works there and signed us in — THANKIES, JOLENE!), so you can’t beat that! I’ve never been to the park during Halloween time, so I was really excited to see how it would be decorated. I have to be honest though… I was a bit underwhelmed. The front entrance and Main Street are adorned with jack-o-lanterns, but the rest of the park looked like its normal magical self (totes not a bad thing, but still!). There were some wonderful Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) decorations in Frontierland though, and of course the Haunted Mansion was decked out with The Nightmare Before Christmas decor (my favorite!). Oh, and then there was Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy. Like they say on the interwebs, that sh!t was cray. It seemed like the ride was a lot faster, and there’s this creepy fiery galactic space giant that is made of the stuff of nightmares that shows up right at the very beginning of the ride. No me gusta. #scaredycatforlife

The highlight of our time at the Happiest Place on Earth had to be when Tim spotted the Disneyland unicorn, Daisy Duck! I frequented Disneyland a lot as a child (and now adult) and I have never ever seen Daisy there at all. She was the one character I wanted to meet so badly when I was little! While we were walking down Main Street to go to the parking garage Tim said, “Hey, didn’t you want to meet Daisy?” and I was thinking, “What kind of a question is that? OF COURSE I DO.” And then he pointed to the left and there she was, looking all fabulous in pink and lavender! I let out a dramatic gasp, like so dramatic that it made the back of my throat dry and hurt my chest a bit from all the air I quickly sucked in, and then I found myself jumping up and down asking Tim if we could get in line to take a picture. Who knew the site of a fancified duck could make a 27-year-old woman go kuh-ray-zee? But we are talking about Disneyland, therefore anything goes! Unfortunately, the cast member escorting her said they were closing up the line and that she’d be coming back at 3. And so I waited. I mean, I had only been waiting to meet her since I was 5, what was an hour and a half more going to hurt me?

I could’ve easily run up to the front of the line when Daisy came out again, but I didn’t want to be that adult who cut off the little children. Plus I would’ve felt painfully awkward despite the fact that I’ve wanted to meet her long before any of them were even a zygote! Once it was my turn she pointed at my dress and motioned for me to curtsy with her for the picture. And when Tim was done taking pictures of us, she pointed at him and waved her arms for him to come over. She gave him a once over and nodded her head in approval. And she blew many kisses to him! I wasn’t even mad that she was flirting with my boyfriend. It was fuggin’ adorable. 😀

I’ll be blogging a bit more about my trip to Disneyland and San Diego over the next few days (and it’ll probably bleed into next week), so stay tuned! 😀

Cheers,
Nina

geek style

Once Upon a Bauble…

September 28, 2013 Nina Penalosa5 Comments

Hey my little ponies! I’ve been absent from le blog for a bit because…

Both of my jobs are keeping me busy. Way too busy, in my opinion. But hey, mama needs $$$
Number 1 has kept me away from doing outfit shoots. 😦
In my spare time I’ve been working on new necklaces for my Etsy store, which has been rebranded as Le Fancy Geek Boutique! 🙂

For those that follow me on Instagram, you already knew about #3 as I’ve been posting photos of my latest creations every so often. I’m really excited with the way they’re turning out! I promise they don’t look all blurry like they do in the picture above though. I still need to tweak with the other designs I came up with. My 11th Doctor and Rory images printed out too dark and the Stormtrooper’s head needs to be reduced in size since the glass magnifies the image a bit. <— that sounds like gibberish. o,0

And there are still some other non-bezel pieces that I need to work on before I open up shop again. I have some little Lego looking Doctor Who toys that I’m going to be making necklaces out of just in time for the 50th anniversary!

Do you see any of your favorite characters in there?

Cheers,
Nina

geek style

Chicken Little

August 27, 2013 Nina Penalosa18 Comments

outfit details – chicken pullover + earrings: ModCloth (no longer available) // dress: Xhileration (buy here) // flower: Icing (buy similar here) // ring: gift from my aunt // glasses: Derek Cardigan (buy similar here) // flats: Report // watch: Timex x Disney // purse: LeSportsac (buy similar here)

Ever since Sunday night I’ve shifted into full-on teenybopper mode thanks to *NSYNC’s brief but oh-so-magical reunion on the VMAs! I’ve been bumpin’ No Stings Attached in my car and watching old concert footage on YouTube, and even though my sister lives all the way in San Diego, we’ve been fangirling together via text. 😀 I really wish they’d get back together for a reunion tour, but Justin Timberlake’s solo career seems to have gotten way too successful for anything like that to happen. *le sigh* I’ll just keep on wishing and hoping!

Anyhow, look at my uber cute chicken sweater! I saw it on ModCloth awhile ago and felt that I MUST have it because it’s stupid adorable and because I call Tim “Chickens” all the time. Also, there was only one more in stock and it happened to be my size — ’twas meant to be! And I know… you’re thinking, “Why the hell do you call your boyfriend Chickens? Weirdo.” It’s an odd nickname to bestow upon your beau, I realize that, but its origins come from when I used to have an Android phone and whenever I tried to swype “boyfriend” into a text message it would autocorrect to “chickens.” Tim’s been Chickens ever since. 🙂

Do you have any silly nicknames for your significant other or best friend?

Cheers,
Nina

PS: Tomorrow’s the last day to enter to win a bag from my Back to School LeSportsac giveaway! Don’t forget to enter!

geek style · shoppin'

Wishful Wednesdays #4: I Don’t Wanna Grow Up

August 21, 2013 Nina Penalosa6 Comments

floral LeSportsac hobo // Neapolitan glasses // “Looking to Tomorrow” dress
Snow White iPhone case // “It’s a Small World” doll // Bass saddle shoes

Today’s Wishful Wednesdays post is filled with items that remind me of my childhood!

As you may know, I’m crazy for anything that has a floral print! Roses aren’t necessarily my most favorite flower, but my family’s house has always had a hot pink rose bush by the front door, so roses often remind me of home and Beauty & the Beast, naturally. And the shape of the bag may look familiar to you kitties — it’s LeSportsac’s Heather Hobo in their “Royal Rose” print, just like the one I’m giving away in this post! I felt my eyes widen in awe when I first saw this print debut a few months ago and I’ve been lusting after pretty much any of the bags they have in that print ever since.

One of my favorite ice cream flavors as a kid was Neapolitan because it had the best of 3 worlds: chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry all in one! I first saw these adorable chocolate and strawberry wayfarers by Rivet & Sway on Diana’s blog Our City Lights about a year ago. One can never have too many glasses (Tim would totally disagree), so I hope to add these to my collection someday 🙂

This dress from ModCloth is called “Looking to Tomorrow” which is a clear nod to one of my favorite gingers, the lovable orphan Annie! I remember my Auntie Nelly bought the VHS (totally dating myself) for my sister and I and we watched it sooooo many times. Part of the reason why I love this dress is because if I were to wear it around it would be like a secret cosplay. All I need is a gold heart shaped locket from Tiffany’s and I’m good to go… except that sh!t is expensive so I’ll settle for something secondhand or faux vintage.

And this installment of Wishful Wednesdays wouldn’t be complete without any Disney items! The illustration of Snow White on this iPhone case is so pretty, and a perfect way wave my Disnerd flag all day, err’day. She was also one of my favorite princesses as a kid because she has black hair, and I have black hair (oh, vanity). The little can-can dancer doll is from Disney’s Animators Collection of Small World dolls. I’m stupid and didn’t pre-order it and now it’s sold out online. SACRE BLEAU! I went to the Disney Store in Modesto yesterday and asked about them and the Cast Member told me that they haven’t heard anything about getting a shipment in. *le sigh* I want the french doll in particular because the can-can dancers were my favorite part of the ride when I was little. I loved them so much that my answer to the age old question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” was “a can-can dancer.” So the doll is basically a physical form of my childhood dreams and I WANT IT. Did I also mention that she sings “It’s a Small World” in French?

Rounding up my wish list are a pair of classic saddle shoes by Bass. I had a pink and white pair when I was in pre-school, and I recall passing by Stride Rite all the time and I kept saying how much I wanted the “50s shoes.” One day Auntie Nelly and my grandparents took me to get a pair, but they didn’t have black and white ones anymore so they brought the pink and white pair out for me. Unfortunately they were too tight, but I got them anyway — I started real young on the whole these-shoes-hurt-my-feet-but-they’re-so-cute-I’m-gonna-get-them-anyway trend that’s so popular among women. I insisted that they didn’t hurt because I did not want to leave without them! I’d like to think that I’m a bit wiser these days and only get shoes that semi-hurt if I know they’re going to be okay once I break them in (does that even make sense?).

What’s on your wish list these days, kitties?

Cheers,
Nina

geek style · giveaway · shoppin'

Old Navy Blogger Night in Dublin

July 24, 2013 Nina Penalosa2 Comments

I’m very pleased to announce that this Friday I’ll be at the Old Navy in Dublin, CA from 5-7 for Blogger Night! Myself and a couple of other fashion bloggers will be on hand to give styling tips and also help put together outfits for customers while a DJ spins some fun tunes! And for those who try on outfits we help style, they’ll get a complimentary coupon to get 10% off their purchase and their picture taken. Sounds like fun, doesn’t it? WEEEE!!!

If you happen to be in the area I would love for you to come!

Here’s a little somethin’-somethin’ I put together based on what was on Old Navy’s online store:

outfit details – Minnie Mouse shirt // raspberry blazer // navy skirt // multi-color skinny belt // crossbody bag // lavender ballet flats

I hope to see you there!

Cheers,
Nina

geek style · the biblio files

Curiouser and Curiouser…

July 2, 2013 Nina Penalosa14 Comments

outfit details – dress & belt: Heart Soul // cardigan: Lily Pulitzer (Goodwill find) // necklace: Hot Topic (not available anymore) // purse: LeSportsac x Fafi // keychain: Tado // shoes: Dirty Laundry // watch: Timex x Disney // ring: ModCloth (buy here) // glasses: Derek Cardigan (buy here) // leather bound book: Barnes & Noble (buy here)

Vanessa of Nessbow asked myself and a few other bloggers if we’d be interested in doing a blog collaboration by putting together outfits based on our favourite fairy tales. I was excited about the idea, but overwhelmed by what character I could possibly seek inspiration from. TOO. MANY. CHOICES!

While browsing through Ross last week, I came upon this white lace dress with a pleated black bow belt and immediately thought that it would be perfect to base an Alice in Wonderland ensemble around it! But I need to be honest: I’ve never actually read either Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland or Through the Looking Glass. AH! I have a copy with both books in it, but every time I attempt to read it I just immediately flip to “Jabberywocky” because that poem is my jam. I know that poem by heart! ❤ And of course I’ve seen and love the animated Disney film.

Anyhow, I found this blue Lily Pulitzer cardigan with crystal buttons for $3.25 the week before at Goodwill! If that’s not a thrift score, then I don’t know what is. I think my outfit would’ve looked better with my black ballet flats, but I’m pretty sure my house ate them because they’ve been M.I.A. for at least a good month. *sigh*

My LeSportsac x Fafi bag is something I’ve had for years. I remember being so excited when I found out about their collaboration! The design Fafi created has a Wonderland feel to it so I felt that it would go perfectly well with my outfit 🙂

What’s your favorite fairytale?

Cheers,
Nina

PS: Here’s a video of The Muppets performing “Jabberywocky” 😀

geek style · the biblio files

Once Upon a Fable

June 29, 2013 Nina Penalosa4 Comments

outfit details – dress: Fun & Flirt // necklace: Once Upon a Smorgasbord // belt: Xhileration // watch: Timex x Disney // glasses: Brooks Brothers (buy here) // boots: Rampage (buy similar here) // purse: Kate Spade (buy here) // keychain: Arpakasso

Hello kitties! I didn’t realize it’s been well over a week since my last blog post. Whoops! The the blog negligence is unintentional — as I’ve mentioned before, posts may be sparse as I’m balancing out two parttime jobs, but I’ve been finding myself getting reaquainted with a pastime that I feel I have been neglecting for far too long: reading.

I love reading and despite the fact that I’m a reading tutor, I’ve been having difficulty focusing on the written word as a recreational act and I find that rather bothersome. To ease back into it, I binge read volumes 15-18 of Fables, a graphic novel series I got into 3 or 4 years ago. Of course it’s easy to breeze through a graphic novel in an hour or two, but it still counts as reading! And if you haven’t heard of Fables, you MUST look into it if you’re into fairytales, folklore, mythology, and Once Upon a Time. It’s about a group of characters from all walks of literature, particularly fairytales and folklore, who seek refuge in New York City and build their own community called Fabeltown after a force known as the Adversary exiles them from their homeland. READ IT. IT’S AWESOME.

And I just finished reading Neil Gaiman’s latest novel The Ocean at the End of the Lane. It is absolutely beautiful and magical and dark and just simply amazing! I don’t want to get too into though since I feel like it’d be more appropriate to blog abou it after I go to his singing in Santa Rosa next Saturday. That’s right. I’MMA MEET MR. NEIL GAIMAN!!!! ERMERGERD. ERMERGERD. /fangirling

Shall I talk about my outfit though, since this is a personal style blog? Okay, cool. After putting it together I realized it paid a teeny tiny nod to Fables with my Snow White necklace (one of my favorite characters in the series), my beloved Kate Spade typewriter bag with the little Arpakasso keychain, and my red cowboy boots. There’s a particular extension of Fabletown known as The Farm where all the furry fairytale characters live and at one point in the series a scribe comes to investigate. I won’t say much more about that because you need to read it!

Next up on the reading list might be Stardust by Neil Gaiman. I don’t think I’m quite ready to leave the world of science fiction and fantasy just yet. What’s on your reading list this summer?

Cheers,
Nina

geek style · pup life

Huckleberry Blues

June 15, 2013 Nina Penalosa1 Comment

outfit details – skirt/shirt/belt: Mossimo (buy skirt here) // horse brooch: vintage // straw hat: H&M // backpack: don’t recall, but it’s actually for kids! // shoes: Blowfish // glasses: Derek Cardigan // Duffy Bear keychain: Disneyland (buy here)

Hello kitties!

Summer school started up at the junior college I tutor at, so I’ve been adjusting to waking up at the ass crack of dawn to make sure I get there by 8 am Monday-Thursday. So far my body has taken a liking to passing out as soon as possible once it realizes it’s at home. I forgot how amazing naps are! Except I hate when I doze off well after the sunset because I feel all kinds of discombobulated. Like, “OMG, it’s 8:15! Am I late for work?” Also, where the hell did June come from? Wasn’t it just January? What is happening? How are we at the halfpoint of 2013 already? I haven’t accomplished many the of the goals I set out for myself to achieve this year, but I figure I still have 6 more months to change a few things.

Anywho, let’s talk about my outfit! I wore this last week when I hung out with my bestest friend, Shanice. We went out for a long walk with Rory by a levy, had ice cream, and did some shopping (at Target of course. Where else would we go?). And speaking of Shanice, she’s graduating today! YAAAY!!! Unfortunately I have to work during the ceremony, so I can’t witness her workin’ the cap and gown, but we shall meet up later for ice cream. We love ice cream, okay?

I was in a bit of a Mumford & Sons mood when I threw this outfit together. Not sure if you can tell considering the fact that my backpack has Hello Kitty buttons representing my initials on them. And yes, N.P.H. are my actual initials. That’s not there for Neil Patrick Harris (even though I do love him). When I think of Mumford & Sons, I think of old, rustic, antique items. Not really sure why. So I put this newish-but-old-looking straw hat on my noggin to protect me from the sun, but it was crazy windy that day and kept flying off my head. And my skirt has engineer stripes on them, which says “old timey” and “Mumford & Sons-y” to me. I think my outfit would’ve looked cuter with a pair of brown cowboy boots, but since we were going on a walk I opted for something more practical.

The horse pin I’m wearing on my shirt is a flea market find. I remember digging through a bag full of vintage costume jewelry and had to stop myself from doing a happy dance when I found it. Gotta keep it cool at the flea market, y’know? If a seller can see you like it, they’ll most likely try to get top dollar from you! I don’t remember how much I paid for it, but I recall it was a pretty good deal considering that I got a few other things from the seller too.

Alright, enough blabbering from me. I gotta go get ready for work! I hope you kitties have a lovely weekend ahead of you >^__^<

Cheers,
Nina

PS: Here’s some Mumford & Sons for your listening and viewing pleasure 🙂

geek style

Once Upon a Smorgasbord Update & Sale!

May 14, 2013 Nina Penalosa6 Comments

Hey all! Like I mentioned in my last post, I started a post Mother’s Day sale on my Etsy store Once Upon a Smorgasbord since I wasn’t able to do one in time for the actual holiday itself. Oops.

From now until May 20, use code OOPS10 to get 10% off your purchase 🙂

Here are some of the latest additions to the store:

A vintage illustration of a mother and child on a French chandelier crystal pendent

Cheers,
Nina

geek style

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes

May 9, 2013 Nina Penalosa7 Comments

outfit details – pullover: Forever 21 // dress: BCX (buy here) // ring + earrings: Once Upon a Smorgasbord (buy here and here) // glasses: Derek Cardigan (buy here) // shoes: Mossimo

I was looking through my wallet the other day and noticed that I never took out my Annual Pass to Disneyland despite the fact that it expired two months ago. *cries* A key to happiness with an expiration date is the saddest thing ever! Wah wah wah. #firstworldproblems

So today’s outfit is a “what I’d wear to Disneyland” kind of a thing, but really — I’d wear Disney related clothing ANYWHERE. 😀

I actually wore this lacey navy blue dress on my last trip to Disneyland (seen here). Annnd, this is the dress’ third appearance in an outfit post (seen here). Sorry I’m not sorry for recycling! I got my lavender Cinderella pullover a couple years ago when Forever 21 first started selling them. Naturally, I went ape sh!t and bought almost every friggin’ one they had, except for yellow Lion King pullover which they never had in my size every time I stumbled upon it. RUGH!

The jewelry I’m wearing is made by yours truly and I just put them up on Once Upon a Smorgasbord! Don’t worry, I’m just wearing them for show in this outfit. I didn’t actually go out and about wearing them! And with Mother’s Day coming closer and closer, it’s too late for me to have a sale like I originally intended. Mah bad.

So bad news: if you want to buy something for your mama from Once Upon a Smorgasbord, it won’t ship out on time.

Good news: I’m going to start a sale ON Mother’s Day! I’ll be adding more things to the store, so be on the lookout for more info on that and a code to use at checkout 😀

Cheers,
Nina