Oakland Guide with Abe's Market

I was recently asked by Abe's Market to create an Oakland guide for their Summer Roadtrip series on their blog. I always love sharing my favorite local haunts and being a huge fan of the all natural retailer, I was more than happy to oblige. You can check out the entire guide here. They have also put together an awesome sweepstakes in honor of their Summer Roadtrip series, and a special selection of products all by local Bay Area sellers. You can also find products from the other cities across the country, which is a great way to find out local artisans in your area. Enjoy!

Oakland Guide on SF Girl by Bay

If you follow me on instagram you probably know I'm having a little bit of a love affair with my adopted city, Oakland. So I was beyond thrilled to be able to contribute an Oakland guide to one of my favorite blogs, Sf Girl by Bay this week. If you missed it read the entire post here. I want to thank Victoria again for having me, it was so much fun to be able to share all my local favorites.

Andrew Gallo in Iceland

I've been fascinated with Iceland for some time now, whenever I see photos it always looks like a magically beautiful country. So when I saw the most recent series of images from Director Andrew Gallo, I couldn't get enough.

Vacation Lusting: Dedon Island, Philippines

Recently, my Husband and I have been trying to plan our belated honeymoon. We've decided to go to the Philippines but now we just have to decide which of the over 7,000 islands we'll visit! It's so hard to pick because every place I find looks more beautiful then the last. But this resort, Dedon Island, is really calling my name. Designed by Jean-Marie Massaud and his architectural partner Daniel Pouzet with the vision of a sustainable lifestyle and love of the outdoors, It just looks like paradise doesn't it? I'd also love to hear any recommendations from readers if you've been to the Philippines.

Happy Mundane in Hawaii

As many of you probably know I'm a huge fan of anything Jonathan Lo of Happy Mundane does, I just feel lucky to call him a friend. He recently took a trip to Hawaii and I've been obsessed with his instagram photos from the trip, so I wanted to share here. I think I need a vacation :)

My Buick Encore

When I was recently approached to partner with Buick for their pinboard to dashboard program to introduce the new Buick Encore I was intrigued but hesitant, because I had not had much experience driving Buicks. But when they showed me the new car which is coming out in 2013 I was instantly smitten. Perfectly designed for a younger urban audience it has great details and is beyond cute. So when they asked me to conceptualize what I would have in mind for my ideal Buick Encore I was so excited to get started putting together a little mood board that epitomizes what the Encore is to me.

Image Sources: 1. Rowers 2. San Francisco Skyline 3. iPhone Cover 4. Girl on Street

Though this post is sponsored by Buick Encore, the opinions shared in this post are 100% my own.

Guest Post: Jennifer Chong's Trip to Southeast Asia

hi friends of conundrum! this is jennifer from jchong studio so glad to be with you all while maia is getting ready to tie the knot! maia and travis are considering southeast asia as their honeymoon destination so i thought it would be fitting to share some of my favorite photos from my trip there.

two things most people know about me is 1. i love food and 2. im always traveling. i love exploring new places and cultures i am always fascinated by what i learn. i took some time off and traveld to thailand, laos and vietnam a few years ago and absolutely fell in love. i usually don't make 'repeat' trips because my goal is to travel to a new place every year but southeast asia is one of those places i'd always be happy to go back to. i hope these images inspire you all to travel there one day!

Images: 1. Chiang Mai, Thailand 2. Chiang Mai, Thailand 3. Halong Bay, Vietnam 4. Sapa, Vietnam 5. Luang Prabang, Laos

Happy Friday

I'll leave you for the weekend with these lovely images from The New York Times Magazine. It reminds me yet again that I badly need a vacation :)

Travel Lusting

Do you ever get that overwhelming urge to just jump on a plane and escape to somewhere completely foreign? Lately that's how I've been feeling. Maybe it's because I've been so busy with work, but I find myself scrolling through my travel pinterest board and longing to take a break in an exotic locale. Below are just a few of the spots that have really been catching my eye. Image source: 1. Chocolate Hills, Philippines by george steinmetz 2. Tuscany by Kirsten McKee

Escapes: Alameda Antiques Faire

I love going on local mini adventures, especially in the Bay Area and northern California, because there is literally no end to the amazing escapes and day trips nearby. This past weekend I finally made it to the Alameda Antiques Faire, an extensive antiques and flea market with the view of San Francisco in the background and food trucks parked on the outskirts. I had actually heard about the market before even moving out here and believe me, it did not disappoint. Below is a little visual round-up of some of my discoveries, but I think I would have to go back several more times before seeing close to everything.

1. Vintage bags from Fendi and Dooney & Bourke are abundant, I could have easily overspent.

2. The view of the market with the San Francisco skyline in the background.

3. Get yourself some rum while browsing.

4. I met the most adorable couple while waiting in the food truck line. April is a local designer of handmade accessories for women, from fascinators to sashes and more, I definitely recommend checking out her site Amour Ame.

5. This girl was so stylish with her bright yellow sweater and shoulder bag as backpack.

6. The Chairman never disappoints.

7. Art for sale.

8. A gorgeous pale pink silk chiffon dress with gold bead detailing.

Vacation Envy

Earlier today while perusing my twitter I came across a tweet from a fellow blogger about her vacation on the beach in Puerto Rico. It immediately made me so nostalgic for my own vacation to Puerto Rico with my hunny last year. The warm sun, beach and blue water is all I can think about right now. To tide me over I've just been scrolling through endless images of vacation inspiration on my 'Escapes' pinterest board and I thought I would share a couple of my favorite beachy, jealousy inducing images.

New Everything

A little over 2 weeks ago Travis and I embarked on a new adventure literally and figuratively. We had packed up all of our belongings into 2 moving pods, got into our car and started our long drive west. I had hoped to share many pictures from our 3 day drive from Madison, WI to Oakland CA, but alas there was a minor phone mishap (lets just say someone left it on the roof of the car and it went flying off at 30 miles an hour) luckily the phone was retrieved but I couldn't use it until it was repaired so the trip went undocumented. Some of it was flat and boring, I'm thinking of you Oklahoma and Texas, while other parts of the journey were beyond spectacular, like the sunset while driving through New Mexico. And then we finally arrived in the Bay area, without any of our furniture and only a couple days until I started my new job at Williams-Sonoma, we attacked the city with gusto. Eating and exploring our way around our new neighborhood, which led to mishap #2, waking up with food poisoning on my first day of work! Other then a few minor incidents we have made a pretty smooth transition into our new home and life. 


In the next few weeks I will be trying to get back to normal posting, it might be more sporadic though since I am still getting my feet under me. I will also be trying to intersperse posts here and there about my new hometown, which I'm absolutely in love with! Along with the ups and downs of relocating, So look forward to those. 
Thanks for reading! 
*note: images below are not mine, but were found on pinterest, I hope to share some of my own photos soon.

My Absence

Some of you may have noticed my lack of posting for the last couple of weeks and while I probably won't get back to normal posting for another week or so. I wanted to explain my absence.


The last couple weeks have been a whirlwind of change, mostly very positive and good change (which I will explain later) But there was one change in my life that has been more difficult, and that was the passing of my grandfather. To say he was an extraordinary man would be an understatement. He had a life so full of creativity, ingenuity, adventure and curiosity it would put some of the greatest minds in history to shame (in my humble opinion). A scientist and inventor who started his own business while raising a family and traveling to far off places, such as Ethiopia, Greece or just camping in the boundary waters. He never sat still, or stopped learning and always had some new anecdote or invention to discuss with anybody who would listen. I'm continually impressed by him and hope the stories of my life will someday equal his. He will be missed.


I also just wanted to mention quickly the positive changes that have been happening in my life. I got a new job in San Francisco and am moving next week. I will of course be posting more about this major upheaval, which I'm beyond excited about in upcoming weeks, but that is one of the reasons why I have been so busy, too busy to post. 
Below are just a few pictures of my grandpa.

Lottie Davies

Lottie Davies is one of my favorite photographers. Her images have this remarkable quality of pulling the viewer in and leaving them with an impression long after they have looked away. She is London based but travels far and wide to capture some of the most stunning visuals I've seen.

Turquoise Water

Is there any more perfect scene then this one? via pinterest

Bay Area Beach

Oh how I wish I could be on vacation here right now, instead of sitting at my desk in the frigid air-conditioned office. What ever happened to fresh air? image via pinterest

Hobbit Hole

What?! You can visit the homes they built to film the Lord of the Rings movies? I'm booking my flight to New Zealand for sure. Via Fresh Home

Björk’s house

Rumor has it this little house on an island near Vestmannaeyjar (a small archipelago off the south coast of Iceland) is owned by singer Bjork. I don't know if it's true or not but it certainly is amazing, I don't think you can get more secluded then this. Sometimes when I'm feeling more anti-social then usual I fantasize about building a little house on an island just like this, the perfect escape.

Via Zamaan Online

San Juan Vacation

I've been home for almost 2 weeks so I thought it was about time I shared some of my recent vacation pictures. It was such a amazing trip and looking at these image makes me want to go back right now, good thing spring is slowly creeping closer.