This is not a Christmas list…just a few things I can’t get enough of as of late.

1. Snarky Santa Creepy Christmas Card I am obsessed with Sweet Perversion on Etsy…hope you don’t get offended easily!
2. LAKERS gear-I can’t tell you how excited I am that the NBA lockout is over and it will soon be Lakeshow time! I bought tickets to a game this a.m, and I am already planning what to wear-my boyfriends Lakers Santa hat is a given, obviously. Yep, he has one.
3. O Gorgeous Gym Bag This super cute and sparkly gym bag is nice and comfy at the very top of my wishlist…freaking love it-talk about gym motivation, I wouldn’t want it to just sit there.
4. Celestial Seasonings Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride Tea I never thought I’d be obsessed about a tea,let alone blogging about it…but I am. This stuff is SO good, especially if you love sugar cookies but also like fitting into your skinny jeans. Ugh, it’s so annoying when people say things like that, isn’t it? SORRY.  I mean, there is NOTHING wrong with cookies! However, it’s pretty freaking fantastic how an herbal tea can taste like my nana’s sugar cookies, with none of the calories. My boyfriend was pretty amazed too, and wonders if someone can make tea that tastes like pizza.

Fair question, I suppose.

Hope your week is going great, loves.  I am feeling pretty damn festive as of late, and it’s only increasing-this weekend it’s finally Christmas tree time! xo!

P.S For the last two years, I’ve published “My Badass Christmas List” and they’ve been two of my most popular posts.  In lieu of a list this year-and partly because I still want everything on these lists-here they are if ya missed them.

My Badass Christmas List-The Original

My Badass Christmas List-Volume 2

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I miss fashion. I miss living it, breathing it…and writing about it.
I miss feeling inspired, and I miss using my blog as my inspiration board.
Well, there is no time like the present to get back to my roots.







Images via Gabby,she wrote, Neon Sugar & Simply Chicc

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“If it was easy, don’t you think everyone would be doing it?”

I generally like to think of myself as someone who rises to the occasion.  Who looks no in the face and demands YES, and also NOW,with a toss of my (perfectly curled) hair and a freshly manicured hand on my hip.

I am not rising to any occasion, except that of pacing around my condo playing out all sort of completely counter-productive scenarios in my head.  When I hear no, my heart starts racing and anxiety makes herself comfortable and I no longer demand yes, but find myself timidly whispering it, and even I don’t believe myself.

My boyfriend and I are about to do something BIG, and life changing and it’s crunch time. We are almost there…literally.  Of course, this is when things go awry.  When I made a big mistake. My anxiety L-I-V-E-S for these moments, when I feel like I’ve let someone down (my personal hell), or yet another affirmation that I am in fact, NOT perfect (another deep dark personal hell), breeding negative thoughts that produce a negative reality.  A paralyzing reality, really.  I wrote much more on my struggle with anxiety here. Yeah, I’m a believer in your thoughts creating your world…and my thoughts have been my worst enemy this week.

I’m writing this more for myself than for anyone else.  Simply as a reminder, a public declaration of sorts…that I am a badass (and you are too).  A badass who is not perfect, misplaces things, gets trapped inside her head sometimes…but a badass no matter what. I think the true definition of badass is someone who makes mistakes, but then takes responsibility and fixes them.  Gets it done. Stands in line.  Sits in traffic. Asks for help. Sucks it up. Understands when her boyfriend is less than thrilled about the whole ordeal (why should he be?), but doesn’t push him away.

Today, I will not throw my wet hair up in a bun and run out the door in an old shirt and jeans.  Today, I will look like someone who has it all together.  I will fake it until I make it.  I will keep moving forward, keep taking care of business. Sink or swim-and I love to swim  Today I will toss my hair, I will demand YES, and I will believe in myself.  And I will get a gd manicure.

“Anything worth having, is worth fighting for.”

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Currently, I’m on the verge.
I also can’t believe it’s December. My calendar is starting to freak me out, but I really want to make a conscious effort to remember who, and what, really matter. Sometimes going to 2 cocktail parties in one night really does matter…but other times staying home and making Christmas cookies with friends matters even more.

Currently, I’m hoping the Lakers win tonight. Sore from all the running I’ve been doing lately. Taking a night off.

Currently, I’m so insanely happy and a little bit sad at the same time. I believe in focusing on the happy…but it’s important to listen to the sad too, acknowledge it instead of pushing it away, and be kind to yourself. Be kind to myself.

So much in my life is changing, and while change is usually a zone I’m unnaturally comfortable in, I’m having a hard time with SO MUCH CHANGE SO FAST. It’s good, it’s bad, it’s everything in between, and I feel overwhelmed, over extended and super impatient. I want it all to happen NOW. But I’m just trying to hold onto the everything in betweens, because that’s really where the magic truly happens. The little moments? Yeah, I don’t want to miss them.

Currently, can’t stop thinking about something a friend told me about challenges and tests and karma.  This is a blog post waiting to happen, I just can’t coherently translate it from my lil pea brain to wordpress quite yet, and I want to do her justice.  But I love when you have one of THOSE conversations with someone and it just makes so much sense…

Currently/always, I suck at outfit posts. This is from Thanksgiving Day, and seriously…excuse my grandparents garage as the lovely backdrop, I originally forced my Mom to take pictures in front of my grandpa’s gorgeous rose garden, but I felt like they came out totally contrived. Which maybe is beside the point? Or IS the point?  I think too much. ANYWAY, here’s what I wore on Thanksgiving.  Ya’ll can breathe now.

Currently obsessed with sweater dresses. So comfy. Was originally going to wear black tights and black boots, but a spur of the moment shopping trip on Thanksgiving Eve with Ali found me in OTK socks and my fav brown boots. I got these socks in grey, black and white…love love love. The dress and socks are Forever21…can’t find the dress online but they are everywhere in the stores. Black watch is Gucci from 09 I believe. Liz standard bangles and rings…I mean, I have no idea. I literally have bangles in my car.  SEE I’M SO BAD AT THIS. Regardless, Happy December from Bella and I. Sorry this post is such a hot mess.  Welcome to my brain right now.

OH and…currently, totally freaked the eff out because I’m transferring hosting services this weekend…so if the blogs down, that’s why.  I’m so excited…I’m soooo scared.

Since I LAG and my blog is going to be down, I haven’t wanted to post this years Badass Christmas List yet…but here is last years.  I basically still want everything on it.

XOXO!

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Hi lovers.
I hope ya’ll had a good weekend (And Monday!) I went shopping with my sister, got my Forever21 bag WOOT, among some other odds and ends, and I also got to see my lovah Ali…took her out for her bday dinner and watched the Lakers go down in flames. Good girly time is priceless. I have to say that my favorite time with any of my friends is in the bathroom getting ready!  Is that weird?  Do you guys do that too?

Remember when I used to be a fashion blogger?! Me too. It’s just been a hot minute since I’ve stumbled upon anything badass enough to share, and that hasn’t already been shared 25 times. Candy & Caviar is badass x a billion–gotta thank my friend Daniel (no offense meant at all, but gay guy friends ftmfw) for the heads up…I want it all! I.die. “Little girls who dream big, make it big” is the philosophy of designer Candy Lin, and I couldn’t agree more. Now look! PRETTY! Zippers! The line is also super affordable, and I plan on rocking quite a few pieces in the near future. (After Steven kicks my ass a little more.)

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Badass is a word I use a lot over here-hence, The Badass Files. I love what it means to me, and I am not offended when someone calls me a Badass Bitch. I’m honored. A post on what being a badass bitch really means to me would never be complete without my love, Bella of Vintage Lollipops, the most badass of them all. Big heart, gorgeous soul, amazing closet but does NOT mess around. She grabs life by the balls, and inspires me in the process. And let me tell you-just writing this post has made me feel BETTER. We do not mean to offend, so switch out our filthy language for another word and our sangria for some Starbucks if you need to, as we sprinkle you with our badass fairy dust. Here is our lil collab, a tongue in cheek guide to being, yep…A BADASS BITCH.

A Badass Bitch would never...By Bella

There are moments in a woman’s life when everything is wrong, and nothing’s right… or everything is right and nothing’s wrong. And whether you’re the type that calls on a friend for support, drinks sangria from the bottle, inhales a cookie (or 5) when no one’s looking, or all of the above, we think a woman needs to be one thing… badass.

When it comes to the art of dating, more cases than not seem a careless coloring book filled with unexpected connect-the-dot conundrums to be solved and dissolved. And while the dating disasters of our time are real page turners, a badass bitch understands the notions that while women are from Venus and men are from Uranus… Venus can tell Uranus to F*** off anytime she wants. Okay, but I admit, dating is something of an exhilarating obstacle… I mean, there’s the first obligatory phone call, the first kiss, the first rush of something you swear you’ve never felt before, are certain you’ll never feel again, and the first of all the other many firsts we eventually come to either love or hate entirely.

However, a badass bitch also knows that she must always set the bar higher than the last because a girl’s just gotta have a goal. But come on, when a man proclaims his ever dying affections for you, as sophomoric as they may sound via text message, when it’s followed with, “I’ll pick you up at 7 o’clock, I’ll just stop by my parent’s house and ask for some gas money.” we’ve gotta draw the line somewhere. In this revelatory moment (because yes, this really happened), a badass bitch would never succumb to this sort of omfg nonsense. So, she takes said bar and moves on to the next. She takes the old bar and chucks it. Why? Because she can.

Because (you) She Can. ..By Liz

The badass bitch answers most questions directed towards her this way, but you must understand she never means it in a careless, screw the world kind of way. Quite the opposite, you see. The badass bitch has earned the right to say this, to believe the fundamental fact that she can do anything, have anyone, carve the life she wants for herself…because she can. Because she’s fought-not so much with others at a seedy bar, although that may have happened too, but she’s fought with herself-the hardest fight of them all. With the inner demons that hold her down, tell her she’s not good enough, pretty enough, funny enough. Or maybe she’s too pretty, too funny…nobody will take her seriously, so why try? She’s faced the broken hearts, broken heels, broken dreams we all struggle with, again and again.

Yes, the badass bitch has been there, crying on the floor, hating life, guzzling sangria out of a bottle like it’s her job. So what makes her so different, you ask? She got up the next day and decided to be fabulous, because it’s a choice, not the amount of dolla dolla bills in her bank account or the brand of her heels that make her who she is. The badass bitch knows when to ask for help. She was at the end of her proverbial rope…so then she called a friend to bring some extra over along with some bubbly and they leaned on each other. It’s a choice to be a badass bitch, to not give a damn what people think and live your life, chase your dreams, TRY AGAIN, drink your sangria, love fearlessly and KNOW YOUR WORTH. It’s a choice to demand the best, because you deserve it.

Are you a Badass Bitch? The ultimate badass bitch-ness Challenge

By your badass bitch fairy godmothers Bella and Liz

1. You’re a Badass Bitch if you can accept that women are Venus and men are from Uranus.

2. You’re a Badass Bitch if you drink sangria from a bottle. I mean, obviously.

3. You’re a Badass Bitch if you wear vintage fur, because let’s face it… the people who killed those defenseless little animals are probably dead by now.

4. You’re a Badass Bitch if you’ve ever thought about burning every single bra you’ve ever owned. (I actually set my bra and subsequently, almost my condo, on fire last week…by accident, of course. So think about it…but don’t DO it.)

5. You’re a Badass Bitch if you have at least one cyber stalker.

6. You’re a Badass Bitch if you overlook the stereotypical aspects governed by society.

7. You’re a Badass Bitch if you refuse to let your relationship status, job title, bank account define you.

8. You’re a Badass Bitch if you make the hard decisions, albeit making your own rules up along the way.

9. You’re a Badass Bitch if you (try) to never hate on other women-you’re a badass bitch, not a Mean Girl!

10. You’re a badass bitch if you’re reading this right now!

Above all, you fucking deserve to be treated like a queen, not a drama queen. You will not settle for anything less than your extraordinary worth. You will not settle, period. If a guy doesn’t call you/please you/call you/date you/show up/show down/or prove he’s deserving of your very presence… well then, ‘you just weren’t that into him anyway’. You are fucking amazing. And remember, no one said it better than Vera Donovan & Dolores Claiborne: “Sometimes you have to be a high-riding bitch to survive. Sometimes being a ‘badass’ bitch is all a woman has to hold onto.”
Love always,

Liz and Bella

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I rarely do interviews on my blog-this might be my second in almost a year-and that’s because I only do them with people I secretly want to stalk, so an “interview for my blog” is totally a good cover.

I’m sure many of you are familiar with Wendy Brandes…jewelry designer/blogger/entrepreneur/fashion industry rock star…girl crush. Blogging has brought so many wonderful people into my life, and Wendy is one of them. I admire her, covet her jewelry, and appreciate the business and personal advice she has given me lately. She was gracious enough to answer a few of my questions…watch as I go from normal to creepy in about 30 seconds.

{Rocking her Swear Rings that were on my Badass Christmas List}

How did you get started in the fashion/design industry?

I couldn’t find the type of jewelry I wanted to wear so I made it myself. I like lots of detail and lots of heft. You have to experience my pieces in person to really understand them because pictures can’t convey the physical impact of an ounce of gold in a ring or necklace. It’s a very sexy feeling.

What are your favorite pieces in your collection and why?

The most recent designs always get a lot of wear. Right now it’s my Chicken in Egg locket and my Virginia Woolf Whistle. They’re tricky mechanical pieces that are good examples of the type of work I do. When I meet someone new, I can easily show them my signature style. One piece I wear all the time is my onyx skull ring because … well, look at it!

{Image credit-Jennine Tamm Jacob}

How do you not fall into the dark side of the fashion industry? I avoid the dark side because I’m a Jedi knight!

What 3 things should a girl always have in her bag? A phone, red lipstick and a Saturday night special.

Drink of choice? Champagne.
Red Lipstick of choice? I can’t quit MAC’s Lasting Lust.

You are the epitome of a badass bitch, in my opinion. And my opinion means EVERYTHING. lol. How do you stay grounded?

My badass parents raised me well.

What article of clothing would you never part with?

Wait, is this a Sophie’s Choice question? If I say I’d never part with one item, am I implying that I WOULD part with the rest? I want to keep it all!

Since you’re often in the front row…what fashion show has been your favorite? Is that even possible to answer?

I’m friends with some designers and, of course, they all have the Best!Shows!Ever! If you can get me a time machine and an invitation, I’d like to attend John Galliano’s Spring 1995 show. Check out Linda Evangelista in the yellow tulle and feather gown about five minutes into the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEQHBF0xvCg

Will you hang out with me in NYC? (That? Would be where I become a stalker)

hahaha Not only will I hang out with you, I will also treat you to peach sangria at Emporio. But that’s only available in the summer. Hmmm…what will I treat you to in the winter? A hot toddy?

Told you. Badass. Thanks, woman…a hot toddy will be fabulous, can’t wait!

You can check out Wendy’s amazing jewelry here, and her blog here.

I miss your blogs…sorry for the lame ass apologies, busy busy, KNOCK KNOCK and all…working on the balance thing. Life is good, though!! I hope you are too. xoxo

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Another Liz and Kristin production…This time, we’ve styled each other for DATE NIGHT. First up, Liz for Kristin.

Couple things you should know-Kristin’s hubby likes her in black. He also really likes the movie Underworld, so I took a few cues from Kate Beckinsale’s character, minus the guns, etc. My goal for this ensemble is for hubs to be so mesmerized that after he picks his jaw up off the floor he will immediately go and buy Kristin a pair or four of Loubies and put them under the Christmas tree. Hi hubs!

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Kristin in person (woop!) and I KNOW she could pull this sexy, badass look off and get her Loubies. We play dirty.

H&M Dress, Marc by Marc Jacobs Sequined Cardigan, YSL “Court” heels, YSL leather clutch, Swarovski cuff at Asos, House of Harlow 1960 Black leather and crystal cocktail ring

Next time I see Kristin, I am so doing her makeup because she basically has the perfect face…for date night I would smoke her eyes out in blacks, greys and purples and keep her lips fairly neutral…kissing is way easier that way. RAWR.

Kristin for Liz…
Ok, ladies. We all love our Lizzy like mucho right? You wouldn’t be reading this otherwise. So, I’m sure you can feel me when I say that basically it’s gonna take one HELLUVA kick arse guy to be good enough for her in my book. Therefore, I put together a look that I think this Mr. Right would said…sexy, yet classy! I’m not even going to attempt to address makeup. That would be like me telling Rachel Bilson what to wear. Liz has got that covered. I did however include my new favorite scent. He’ll be like a moth to a flame. Like there was ever any doubt!

Oh, and the next time I see Liz I’m gonna give her a HUGE bear hug as I don’t get to hang with her nearly enough! Sigh.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Dress, Miss Dior Cherie Eau de Toilette, Lulu Guiness Clutch, Topshop Bangle, Joan & David Heels

I think she’ll get her Loubies and I’ll get my man, no?

P.S. Kristin is giving away some Perricone Cold Plasma…check it here!

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Hey Santa,

I don’t know what got into me tonight! I’m pretty sure some of the things on this list will put me on a one way train to Naughtyville, but Santa, trust when I say this is the innocent version. And I’m really nice usually, and say BADASS in a loving, warm fuzzy kinda way. Anyways, here is my Badass Christmas list…some things I need, some things I love and some things that are just pure badassery.

Denim and Lace=Badass. 80′s Purple $57

Love this jacket! Size down so it’s extra cute and not at all practical. I live in Southern Cali, yo. We don’t exactly take our outerwear seriously. Obey $100

{I’ve got a runner in my pantyhose…I’m not wearin pantyhose…}

These boots…I have no words. Well, I have lots of words but I’m trying to keep it a lil bit classy, if that’s even possible after posting these! BADASS. I don’t know if I could pull them off, but I would certainly give it my all, but not in a leotard. Fun holiday tip from Liz-Send picture of badass boots to guy you’re dating. Await reaction, it’ll be a good one. Naughty, naughty…sorry, Santa. Report Footwear $400 Speaking of being at a loss for words…
Wendy Brandes Swear Rings. Need I say more?! I die over these omfg. These are the epitome of Badass, and so is Wendy-check out her fabulous blog here also.

Alexander Wang Coco Duffel. Le sigh. Never gonna happen. I know. Mayra, hold me.

I wouldn’t kick this bag out of bed though! Super cute and look, sparkly! Diesel Photoscience Bag $382
My Mom has always worn Movado’s. Hers is small and dainty. I, on the other hand-get it?- only wear men’s watches, and I like them big, blinged out and badass. Movado Mens’s SE Extreme $4, 495 Umm yeah. SANTA, you look really good today. Just sayin.
Fragrances are always on my Christmas/Birthday lists, they’re easy and people can’t go wrong. Gucci Rush is my favorite for Badass evenings…sexy and I’ve never met a guy who didn’t like it. One of my favorite badass makeup tricks is to heavily line the inner bottom rim with black liner. You need a really good pencil for this, and I’ve been on the lookout for a new one. So, I asked bff/makeup artist/all knowing beauty product whore Istvan and it was settled. Armani Smooth Silk Eye Pencil in #4-Black.
Oh I know. STOP WITH THE COLD PLASMA, right? Well, loves…I can’t. Stuff is GOOD. I’ve been having lot’s of late nights and the guy I’m currently making out with has sexy scruff so my skin should be all messed up, but since I started using this lil bit of magic in a jar not so much. TMI? Whatever. It’s badass, I highly recommend it, and nobody paid me to say that. Perricone MD Cold Plasma $150

Yeah…lot’s of late nights lately, so when in doubt, a badass girl needs some new sunnies to hide all evidence…and all that smudged Armani eyeliner. Ray-Ban Wayfarer Square $189

Happy Wednesday!

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First things first…how BADASS are these shoes? I need them. They will make my tonsils stop hurting, my fever go away, the douchebags stop bugging, I’ll probably never have PMS again, my money worries will fly out the window because how could a client say no to me if I was wearing these? They’d pay me extra, yo. SEE! Justified that purchase. Done and done.

As I was saying…fabulous new sponsors and tomorrow one of them has a new giveaway for you! This one is for my entrepreneurs, dreamers, go-getters…basically, my soulmates.

Sorry for being M.I.A with comments and such…not feelin so hot. This year needs to end.

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