Freaki Waikiki

When we took a road trip to the North Shore, my sister and her friends made fun of me for bringing "too much stuff".  Obviously, I do not think there is such a thing as too many outfit changes when you're on vacation.  Whether it's a three-day weekend or a month-long jaunt, I strictly adhere to an old-timey ocean liner method of dress when out of town: casual, semiformal, and formal (although "formal" often gets revised to "cute pajamas").  Mostly because it's the only time I can get away with changing my clothes three times per day, and also because it's really fun to mix and match and pull and plan your ensembles in a way nobody has any time for in everyday life. 

Dress: Unknown; Bikini: F21: Sunnies: Random Street stand in Echo Park; Necklace: AppleLatte on Etsy

Heidi gave me this amazing crochet dress and at first I was afraid of it, fearing crazy-looking tanlines.  But once it was on (along with my super cheap Prada "Baroque" knock-offs), I discovered this dress was the most comfortable thing in my suitcase.  The true mark of love: it may have been the only time the entire trip I was more fixated on the waves than what I was going to wear later. 

 

xoxo,

Olive

All photos property of VisforOlive.  Do not reuse without permission/credit of site. 

Vegetarian Imposter: Shepherd's Pie Edition

One of my favorite pastimes is tricking die-hard omnivores into enjoying a meatless meal.  One of the best ways to do this is to prepare a meat-free version of a dish they know and love, and only tell them that you have substituted beans for meat after dinner is served and they have complemented you.  I find this method to work nine out of ten times. 

In the event that the omnivore is an observant-type, and smugly points out before you can serve dinner that there's no meat in the meal, you can give them a long-winded and passionate speech about how beans are just as filling as meat, and provide more fiber but less saturated fat.  Or, you could just copy-paste this onto a flashcard in your brain and parrot away.  After they have resolved to never return to your high horse dining room ever again, they will begrudgingly admit how much they loved your inventive use of legumes.  Trust me. 

Recently, I tricked my grandpa into enjoying a vegetarian Shepherd's Pie.  He is a Russian veteran who refers to vegetables as "rabbit food", and to rabbits as "soup meat", so if he approves I'm sure even the most carnivorous-leaning palette will. 

Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie
Makes 4 servings (*it's more like 6)
Prep: 35 min
Bake: 25-35 min

Ingredients

• 3 small potatoes (3/4 pound)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon  dried basil, crushed
• 2 tablespoons  margarine or butter
• 1/4 teaspoon  salt
• 2 - 4 tablespoons  milk
• 1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
• 1 medium carrot, sliced (1/2 cup)
• 1 tablespoon  cooking oil
• 1 15 ounce can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 14 1/2ounce can whole tomatoes, drained and cut up
• 1 10 ounce package frozen whole kernel corn or mixed vegetables
• 1 8 ounce can tomato sauce
• 1 teaspoon  Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon  sugar
• 1 cup  shredded cheddar cheese (4 ounces)
• Paprika (optional)

Recipe at Better Homes and Gardens 

 

Even got them to eat a side mixed greens salad with olive oil+lemon+salt & pepper dressing and cucumbers.

xoxo,

Olive

All photos property of VisforOlive.  Do not reuse without permission and/or credit of site. 

Black Stripe Yellow Paint

Everyday on the drive to work, I pass this amazing building and I am sort of obsessed with it.  It sits at the end of a pretty rough-looking strip of tchotchke shops, a Pentecostal church, an independent tax preparer's office, and a dollar store that I am pretty sure is run by Chihuahuas because that's the only living things I ever see coming or going from inside of it.  The black and white building used to be some sort of outrageously overpriced... I don't know, home type store?  I guess if your home includes things like a $179,000 15-foot tall scrap-metal horse, then yes, it used to be a home type store.  And yes, that was the actual price on the actual price tag, of which every item in the store had one.  Which is why I don't think it should be called a "former gallery".  In case you were wondering. 

I guess the market for $179,000 metal horses is competitive, because the store soon shut down and was empty for a few months.  Recently, some new people moved in and started construction inside.  I really hope they don't paint over the graffiti-type art covering their building, but I dragged Candace Evangeline down there to help me with these photos in case they do. 

Dress: F21; Shoes: Bee Boutique Silverlake; Scarf: Anthropologie;

Necklace: TopShop LA; Bracelets: Various

 

 

 

xoxo,

 

Olive

 

 

 

All photos property of VisforOlive.  Do not reuse without permission/credit of site.  

Music Love Monday: Young and Beautiful

Saw The Great Gatsby this Saturday, and I loved it.  Obviously.  I'm not doing a post on the film though, because my inbox has been flooded for weeks with "Gatsby Fashion How-To!!!!!" articles from The Zoe Report to Who What Wear and everyone in between. 

Baz Lurhmann films always have great soundtracks, and this haunting song from Lana Del Rey loops in and out of several scenes.  I have it on repeat and even though the video looks like it was shot with the 8MM app and I wish there were at least a few cutaways to the film (because they would fit, like, perfectly), I still love it.  This song sounds best if you can listen to it while staring out a rainy window at your English country retreat, taking in the rolling green hills, musing on the last eighty years of your life, and crying over all of the people who have disregarded your feelings since you were a fifteen-year-old American debutante (mostly your philandering alcoholic husband), while simultaneously feeling gut-wrenching guilt over all of the poor people whose lives you have ruined for your own entertainment.  Don't worry if you just have an i-phone, it sounds pretty good on that too.

Happy Music Love Monday!

xoxo,

Olive 

Image appears courtesy of EW.com, Video courtesy of Lana Del Rey Vevo. 

Savage Adventures

VisforOlive has been quiet ever since the show went on hiatus at the beginning of last month.  I've been working a lot on other projects, and getting out of L.A. to lie on new beaches (in Hawaii and Mexico) as much as possible.  Here is a small slice of where I've been and what I've been up to...

 

 

 
xoxo,

Olive


All photos and video property of VisforOlive.  Do not reuse without permission and/or credit of site.  Song in video is "Redheaded Girl" by Tijuana Panthers, all music rights remain with them. 

She's Clairvoyant

Normally, I am a fan of structure, clean lines, and simple outfits.  And although I still am, I'm really loving the band-aid influence everywhere for Spring/Summer 2013.  There's something about the free-spirit vibe that comes with loose clothing (or lack thereof), familiar textures, and easy femininity that goes perfect with warm weather.  These shots from Vogue Russia and Galore Magazine's April issues capture the look and feeling of this season so much that I can't stop staring at them.

More + Galore if you follow me...

Observe and Report

Took some time recently to explore the Observatory with Candace Evangeline.  I love how everything up there seems to have been trapped in a time warp, and hasn't changed all that much from the 1950's.

Shirt: Thrift; Scarf (used as headband): Vintage/Estate Sale; Skirt: Self-design/handmade;

Shoes: Target (old); Purse: Cheap shop in Echo Park

 

Three things you must do when you visit the Observatory:

 

1.) Watch a show in the planetarium.  Tickets are only $7 and worth every penny!  The best part is that no kids under 5 are allowed after the 12:45pm show.  Well, I guess that's not so good if you have kids under 5.  But it's awesome if you like to remain uninterrupted by crying while you pretend you actually are flying through the cosmos. 

2.) Eat at Trails.  Trails technically isn't at the Observatory.  It's on a path that winds you down a short walk to the Fern Dell entrance of Griffith Park.  Trails is a super cute, old-fashioned "hiker's food stand" with a huge patio filled with picnic tables.  The food is something I refer to as "inventive vegetarian".  As in, the menu reminds me of food you might be served in Big Sur, by a lifelong vegetarian.  Last time I was there I had a lavender cookie and a basil lemonade, both delicious.  But there are lunch options, too - they are famous for their insanely good avocado sandwich. 

3.) Take a picture in front of the James Dean statue.  It's on the same side of the planetarium that looks out to the Hollywood sign. 

 

xo,

Olive



All photos by Candace Evangeline.  All photos property of VisforOlive.  Do not reuse without permission.