Everlane Ponte Collection Dress Review and Clean Edge Tee Review

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For the most part, I try to group my Everlane reviews into categories that make sense (like my Everlane Sweater and Silk Review and my Everlane Tees Review) or as single features (like my Everlane Modern Point Review, Modern Loafer Review, Street Shoes review, my Everlane Modern Zip Backpack Review, and my Everlane Petra Review).  I also have a Fall 2015 Sweater and Silk review.  But for now, I'm going to combine a review of the Ponte Collection Dress and Clean Edge Tee even though there's no real reason for this grouping, other than I bought both of these items around the same time.  Like my other reviews, I hope this will also help you figure out your Everlane sizing. {edit: Since I've reviewed so many Everlane items, I've organized all my Everlane reviews here based on what I liked/disliked.}

So without further ado, first the good news: the Everlane Ponte Collection short-sleeve dress is one of my favorite clothing purchases this year.  The fabric feels super luxe and has a great stretch so it's super comfy.  I love the casual look of a t-shirt dress but I always find that the material for those kinds of dresses are a bit flimsy or sheer.  But this is sort of the luxe version of a t-shirt dress.  The heavy material masks any lumps, like love handles or a belly.  It's just much more structured but there's still a stretchiness that makes it comfortable.  I also like that the sleeves are only about a couple inches above the elbow so it hides and holds in my "chicken wings/bat wings" (i.e. flabby triceps).  The only one thing I didn't like about this dress is that it doesn't have pockets (but this is just a personal preference, I love a dress that has pockets).  Also be warned the ponte material is heavy and it's definitely not a dress for the summer.  Yet it's perfect for the fall and winter months (with layers), and it's such an easy thing to put on when you want to look instantly polished (plus it's perfect pretty much year around for SF).  I purchased this dress in a small and it was the perfect fit (for reference I'm 5'4" and I wear about a size 4 or small in other brands).

Unfortunately I didn't like the Clean Edge Tee as much.  I love Everlane's other tees so I thought I would give this one a shot, however it's unlike all the rest.  First of all I purchased a size small (which I'm finding is my size in most things Everlane) but the fit on this shirt was waaaay oversized.  The small felt like a large.  Also the way they achieve a clean edge on these tees is through a very stiff bonding of the cotton.  It almost feels like they stitched some cardboard inside the edges.  This makes for a generally uncomfortable fit on the sleeves and at the hem.  For a similar look but a much better fit, I recommend the drop shoulder cotton tee.  

Like all my other reviews this review is done with items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored.  Thanks for reading and stay tuned for my big Fall 2015 Sweater and Silk Review!

Everlane Modern Zip Backpack Mini Review

Instagrams from @briannasharm, @zoey_bloom, @takemeafk, @levoleague, @lifewithleroy, @marapparks, @haileymoon, @missandiemercado

In all honesty, I'm not really a backpack person.  But if my goal is to review all things Everlane (find all my Everlane Reviews here), then I would be remiss not to even try out their popular modern zip backpack.  In general I'm a fan of most of Everlane's accessories, like their Petra Tote and their various shoes (Everlane Modern Point, Modern Loafers, and Street Shoes).  But long story short, I'm not as much of a fan of their Modern Zip Backpack.

I purchased the Modern Zip Backpack in mini.  The mini isn't that much smaller than the large.  It's only about 0.25" less in width and about 2" shorter in height (measures 11.5"L x 6"W x 15"H).  But compared to the large modern zip, the mini doesn't come with outside side pockets or a laptop pocket inside.

But here are the things I did like about this backpack:

-the style is simple but gorgeous.  I love the contrasting black leather with white zippers and light colored canvas (the color I purchased is called Stone and it's the lightest of the bunch).  

-the backside and straps are lightly padded, as all backpacks should be, to make for a comfortable fit

But this is why I ended up returning the backpack:

-the backpack felt like there was more style over substance.  I tried wearing it with various heavy books inside, and it just doesn't feel as sturdy as my favorite Fjallraven backpack (but to be fair, Fjallraven is meant to be "durable gear").

-the mini size, like I mentioned above doesn't come with a laptop compartment inside or outside side pockets to hold water bottles (it only comes with the larger size), which I feel like are necessary on all backpacks (so really, I would say with the minimal size difference, but great difference in features it might make more sense to just buy the larger size instead of the mini).

-these are minor annoyances but because the straps are part canvas, adjusting the straps are a bit difficult (and impossible while wearing the backpack.  I guess I'm just used to being able to adjust the straps while wearing it because I grew up doing that with my Jansport backpacks with their nylon straps).  Also, the square zip pocket in the front is hard to open and close quickly because of the pocket corners and also the zipper isn't the smoothest.

I think if you're looking for a stylish backpack that's more form over function, this will work just fine for you.  I think for me, if I'm going to be wearing a backpack, over say a Mansur Gavriel bucket bag or lady bag, then I really need to carry quite a lot of things.  And this is why stylish backpacks just aren't my style.  For this reason I probably won't be doing an Everlane Petra Backpack review.

Other reviews of the modern zip backpack (all on the larger size): review of the large modern zip, review on reddit, and another review about the larger size.

For my other Everlane reviews the links are listed on the right if you're on a computer, or scroll to the bottom if you're on your phone (all reviews are done with items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored).

Where to eat: Portland, Oregon

Currently I'm still in Japan but 2 weeks ago my husband and I were one of our favorite cities, Portland! We were there last year, around mid October and even though it rained the whole time we were there last year, we loved the city. This year the weather was perfect and it made Portland even lovelier.  

Portland is just one of those cities that has so much character and so much to do. We've been there twice for about 3 days each time and I feel like we have only explored 10% of the city. In fact because I get to set the itinerary, we have only really shopped and dined in Portland. We haven't done any of the awesome nature stuff that surrounds this city (not even the Japanese garden or rose gardens, I know). Well that's saved for next time. 

So what did we do? Well first we went to pick up my new iPhone at the Bridgeport Village in Tirgard (yay for no sales tax!  All big purchases should be done in Portland!).  

Then we headed to Le Pigeon for one of the best meals of my life. I'm not even exaggerating (that much). It was really good and all foodies need to go to this French American Restaurant. 

We ordered the 5 course tasting menu, which were smaller items from the main ala carte menu. I saw a couple things I really wanted to try and so l politely requested those dishes and they were okay with that. Surprisingly, I liked the dishes I didn't request more.  

First course was the steak tartare topped with calamari, Brussels sprout chips, a kimchi mayo sauce, and mint. This was one of my favorite dishes. All the flavors worked so well together though it was unexpected. 

Second course was a foie gras 'hot brown' with turkey, toast, cheese, and bacon. I requested this one but ended up not liking as much (there's something about foie gras and deli type turkey meat that just doesn't quite go together). 

Next was my second favorite dish, a fish dish with the most delicate of flavors and the best texture.  Then we had the beef cheek bourguignon with risotto.  Again this was another dish I requested, but ended up liking the fish dish better.  And for desert we had a type of hush puppy, a foie gras ice-cream sandwich and a foie gras ice-cream coke float (sounds terrible but surprisingly good).  All this for $75, and wine pairings for $40.  And my husband got a non-alcoholic pairing for $25 and it was worth it (think lots of gourmet sodas in really surprising flavors-like the foie gras coke float).

One of my favorite things about Portland is the low level of pretension that permeates the whole city.  After having one of the best meals of our lives, we went next door to the bar The Wurst and had some awesome local brews and played some classic video games like Street Fighter.  I got to brush up on my skee-ball skills (though my husband is still better at it than I am).

The next morning we had some classic Swedish food at Broder Cafe since it was within walking distance from our AirBNB.  Their Lost Eggs (eggs underneath a creamy sauce) was delicious as well as their Danish Pancakes (which are more like donut holes), which super fluffy and delightful.  There is definitely a wait for breakfast/brunch on weekend mornings. But we got there around 9 and found it was only a 30 minute wait (I've waited over an hour at SF places--Outerlands anyone?-- so this wasn't so bad)

Portland has 2 great donut places: Blue Star Donuts and Voodoo Donuts.  Both places are famous, but personally I like Blue Star better and there's less hype (and thus less of a line there).  The flavors at Blue Star are also more unique (creme brûlée, basil blueberry, etc.)

And if you get a chance, you have to sample some of Portland's beer.  They are a huge beer town with breweries like Rogue and Deschutes.  Here's a list of their top craft beers.

So what is on my list of places to eat?

Le Pigeon (they have a sister restaurant called Little Bird Bistro if you can't get a reservation at Le Pigeon, but they're more of a burgers kind of place).

Pok Pok, some really delicious authentic Thai food

Tasty n sons

Screen Door (southern fare)

Carte Blanche (on my list though I haven't eaten there yet)

Pine State Biscuits (for breakfast/brunch, and get the Reggie or Reggie Deluxe)

Broder Cafe

Olympia Provisions

Hapa PDX (and all the other food trucks in this really cute little gathering spot)

Clyde Common (also something to try for next time for me)

Andina (Peruvian food)

Nostrana (delicious Italian, really great pizzas)

For more ideas, here is a list from Eater Portland

Bye Portland! Until next time!

Temporary Housewifey Extras

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Hi guys, so just a quick update on what's going on in the Temporary Housewifey world.  I have  a bunch of Everlane reviews coming up, including one on the Everlane Ponte Collection dress (which I loooove), the sweater tee, the Everlane Scuba sweatshirt (which I'm waiting for), and their Street Shoes in black (though I already did one for the white one), and the Everlane cashmere  sweaters (I just put my order in on this one).  Looks like I'll be doing a Fall 2015 Everlane sweater review soon!

Also I made another blog called Temporary Housewifey Extras the other day to get some domain authority for this blog (for SEO reasons).  If you're thinking, "Another blog?!  But you just finally got non-relatives to start reading this blog! Why would they read another blog?" you would be right.  But for those of you who are interested in the marketing behind the blog (i.e. how to get "found" by Google so you can be found by readers) and any other lessons I'm learning in digital marketing (SEM, social media marketing, and google analytics, etc.) (p.s. did I tell you I'm taking classes for this now at General Assembly) this is a place where I'm going to write about it.  It's almost like a behind the scenes of the blog in some ways.  I'll also write about other things that interest me that don't quite fit on this blog.  For this blog I'll be sticking with product reviews, anything fashion related, some "Let's Get Real" stories, and my food and travel reviews.  Speaking of which, I'm off to Tokyo for this weekend and Vegas for the weekend after.  Have a great weekend y'all!

{Oct 2016 edit: just to let you know that this page is now defunct.  I guess one of the lessons in blogging is that you can always try new things but you never know what will stick.  This definitely did not stick}

Where can I buy a Mansur Gavriel this Fall? Restock on October 20th!

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So I've had a couple questions on my Instagram from people who are wondering how to get their hands on an MG bag since they are continually out of stock pretty much everywhere.  So here are some of the ways and places that I've found these bags (as a US resident).

These stores carry these bags and as the restock date on the MG site approaches, some of these stores will sell the bags as soon as they get it (which is before the MG restock).  Already I've had success with Shopbazaar, and was able to order a mini brandy bucket bag last week (to replace the mini royal blue bucket bag I decided to let go).  Here are the other stores I would try:

Opening Ceremony (you have to sign up for the notification but it's worth it if you really want an MG)

Barney's (they've had stock issues in the past but seem to be the ones with the most stock available)

The Line (small NYC based shop with great customer service)

Mohawk General Store (small LA based shop with great customer service)

Steven Alan

Stores I would avoid or haven't tried, but do carry MG bags:

Bergdorf Goodman (tons of complaints on canceled orders, and they have cancelled 2 of my order as well)

Matches (just haven't tried this shop)

Other tactics/resources include:

Just googling Mansur Gavriel and checking the shopping section of Google

The Mansur Gavriel sub forum on Purse Forum

Or you could just wait for the restock on Mansur Gavriel, which is set for October 20th at 11AM EST (or for us Californians, 8AM).  I wrote my tips on the restock purchase process here but I'll copy it here as well (I was able to get the Lady bag that I wanted with the process below):  And I would just add that browse the site and already know what bag you want days before because they do shutdown the site right before they launch so you can't browse then.

Get on the site about 5 minutes before the launch and already have the bag you want picked out and just keep clicking refresh from about 2 minutes before or so.  And if you're lucky enough to snag the one that you want, go to checkout asap.  You only have 5 minutes to complete the purchase once you get it into your cart.  Also, they have a limit of one bag per customer.  If you don't get your first choice, you probably won't be able to get your second unless it's a tote or backpack but it doesn't hurt to try.  

Everlane Modern Point Review

So far I'm a big fan of Everlane's shoe selection and I've done an Everlane Modern Loafer Review and an Everlane Street Shoe Review.  Today I'll be reviewing their Modern Point Shoes and spoiler alert: I love these Everlane shoes the most.  

First, if you wanted to see the difference between the Modern Loafer and the Modern Point:

Comparison photo of Everlane Modern Points and Everlane Modern Loafers

As you can see, the Modern Point is a sleeker shoe (which I prefer) while the Modern Loafers are of a more classic and traditional style.  As for sizing, they are consistent.  I purchased the both the Modern Point and Modern Loafer in a size 8 (while for Everlane's Street Shoe, I had to go another half size up to 8.5; and for reference I usually wear a TOMS 7.5).

Now what I love most about the Modern Points, other than the sleeker style is the type of leather they used for this shoe.  It's a very soft and flexible leather so it doesn't require a breaking in period (if you read my Modern Loafers Review, you know that I used the freezer method to break-in the shoe instead of actually wearing them to break them in).  With the Modern Points, I didn't have to do that.  It fit like a glove from the very beginning.  Also the leather around the ankles and Achilles on the Modern Loafer is a lot stiffer and thus hurts those areas after wearing it for awhile, but that's not a problem with the Modern Point (the leather doesn't come up as high on the Modern Point so it doesn't hit those areas).

As with the Modern Loafer, the bottom of the Modern Point is super smooth and slippery so I recommend getting Foot Petals Sole Stopperz (I bought them for the Modern Loafers and luckily it comes with 4 so I had two left for the Modern Points).  

If you're deciding between Everlane's Modern Loafers or the Modern Points, and you like the look of both of them, I would recommend the Modern Points.  It's just a much more comfortable shoe and it's about $15 less (which is enough to go buy one of Everlane's plain tee).  But really you can't go wrong with either one!  Both are well-made, sturdy leather shoes crafted in Italy.  

{And if you're wondering why I didn't compare the Everlane Street Shoes with the Modern Point as much, it's because those shoes are quite different from each other.  But if you would like more details on that comparison just let me know in the comments below, thanks!}

After I had purchased the black Modern Points, I was thinking about getting the black and white pair (that's how much I love these!) but unfortunately (or fortunately for my wallet) they're out of my size now.  The black and white pair are the perfect substitute for the trendy Celine pair on the left.

For my other Everlane reviews (on their other shoes, sweaters, shirts, and their Petra tote) the links are listed on the right if you're on a computer, or scroll to the bottom if you're on your phone (all reviews are done with items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored).

Mansur Gavriel Crossbody Bag Review {updated Feb 2017}

After doing 7 kinds of Mansur Gavriel reviews (including multiple Mansur Gavriel Lady Bag Review, the Mansur Gavriel bucket bag review, the tote review and a general review of their leather quality and care) you would think I would have run out of things to review.  Well not quite!  This is possibly my last Mansur Gavriel review, at least for the near future, since this is the last of my MG collection.

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I originally never planned on getting the crossbody since I had so many other MG bags already (read about my bag addiction here), but I loved all the other MG bags that I had so I thought I would give this new style a shot.  And I'm so glad that I did!  Unexpectedly, this is one of my favorite bags from their collection.  These are the reasons why I love it so much:

Pros:

-The bag is super simple but really stylish at the same time.  Plus it's versatile enough to go from casual day bag to a night bag.  I especially love the neutral sand color.

-The calf leather on this is great.  There was a faint chemical-type smell that I also noticed on the Lady Bag, but it was much more faint on the crossbody.  I only noticed it when I put my nose right up to the bag, but that's about it.

-There's no color transfer from jeans to the bag (always something to worry about on a light colored bag) {update 11.16.15: actually I wore a semi-new pair of black jeans and now my sand cross-body is looking a little gray on the back, so yes color transfer is possible, but I blame the jeans, and me!}.  {update 11.21.15: I just used Chamberlain's Leather Milk No.1 (featured here) and all the streaks and transferred color is gone.  Looks like new again!}

Pro/Con

-The size is something that can be seen as both a pro or a con, depending on what your needs are.  I love that this bag fits the essentials: phone, wallet, keys, and sunglasses.  But if you're looking to fit anything more than that this bag will be too small for your needs.  It measures 7" x 9.25" x 2.25" and it's that 2.25" that makes this bag feel extra small.  The crossbody is a really structured bag so there's no give to that depth.  If you're looking for a small bag from Mansur Gavriel that can fit a bit more than the essentials then I would recommend the mini mini bucket bag or the mini bucket bag.  Both fit more than you would expect.

But if you're looking for a classic and timeless bag, but don't carry a lot, then the cross body is the bag for you.  Lately, it's been my go-to when doing errands.  It's so easy to just throw everything in there and head out the door (and the magnetic closure makes it super easy to open and close, no fiddling with clasps or drawstrings).

{2.28.17 edit: I thought I should probably let you know that I ended up selling this bag awhile ago because after daily use over 6 months, the leather straps that attach to the body started to crack and crumble.  From what I understand though, this only happens with the calf skin leather versions and veg-tanned leather should crack and soften like that.  Oh also, as the leather softened, the imprint of the magnet closure became more visible and took away from the overall clean look}

Madewell Transport Tote vs. Cuyana Classic Leather Tote vs. Mansur Gavriel Tote vs. Everlane's Petra and Day Market Tote {Updated January 2021}

I was unfortunately not able to compare these two very similar totes side by side since I ordered the Madewell Tote first, didn't care for it so returned it and then purchased the Cuyana Classic Leather Tote.  But here are some of the similarities and differences I noticed between the two bags (also you can read a whole reddit forum discussion here).

First the dimensions: The Madewell Transport Tote (in black, with tan handles) measures 14.25(h) x 14.25(L) x 6(w) inches with a 8.25 inch strap drop.  The Cuyana Classic Leather Tote measures 13(h) x 18(L) x 5(w) inches with a 9 inch strap drop.  So the Cuyana tote is a a little shorter, but a lot wider.  However, since the leather on the Cuyana bag is so soft and smooshy, it's quite easy to fold in the sides a bit to make it less wide (like the picture below).

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Though the totes are really similar, here are the reasons why I think the Cuyana tote is better:

-First off, the leather on the Cuyana tote is amazing.  It's super soft and smells wonderful. The smell reminds me of the leather of Balenciaga bags, even though the textures of the leather are different.  The leather on the Madewell tote is stiff and feels and smells like cheap leather.

-The difference in the leather is probably due to the fact that the Cuyana tote is made in the US while the Madewell tote is made in China (plus Cuyana is a brand all about producing top quality items).

-The strap of the Madewell tote is a just a tiny bit shorter, but it can make all the difference when trying to wear a tote bag over the shoulder when wearing a winter coat.  I think the Cuyana bag might fit, while the Madewell tote most definitely wouldn't.  

The Cuyana tote also comes in 3 different variations: the classic, the tall tote and the zippered tote.

So as you can see, my vote clearly goes to the Cuyana tote over the Madewell tote.  But if we were to have a broader discussion about all the totes that I own (including the Mansur Gavriel Tote —reviewed here—and the Everlane tote), I would have to say my favorite is probably the Everlane tote.  I love the smaller shape, the adjustable straps, and the two deep interior pockets with snap closures.  The Mansur Gavriel is good for just piling things in, and it holds its shape really well.  I think in general I'm just not a soft tote kind of gal.  But if I were to choose one, it would definitely be this Cuyana tote.  

Have you guys checked out Cuyana before?  I'm in love with their products and their site

I personally purchased all of these totes and were not paid in anyway to make this review (just trying to help fellow-tote lovers!)

{Feb 2019 update: Things have changed in the 2.5 years since I've written this review.  The leather on the Everlane petra tote stiffened up and became rubbery, which I really disliked so I sold it.  I also did not keep the Cuyana and Madewell totes because in the end I wanted to limit the number of totes in my closet.  I have a friend who used a Cuyana tote consistently for 1.5 years and the strap broke on her.  Also I had the Cuyana Leather Travel Bag for a brief time but also sold it because I found the leather quality on that to be not as great—it was very thick and pebbly.  So what totes am I currently using?  I love my Celine small cabas tote (reviewed here) and my Everlane Day Market Tote (reviewed here—which is very different and better made than the original line of heavy Petra totes IMO even though the leather is of a thinner quality. You can see how the Everlane Day Market Tote wears even after 100 uses here). I also love Cuyana’s Classic Structured Tote since it has an extra layer of microsuede on the inside to allow the bag to stand up on it’s own and make the bag overall less floppy. If I were to get a tote bag to replace my Celine one I would probably go for this one. However if you’re in the market for a lightweight, slightly floppy tote then Cuyana’s Classic Leather tote is the one for you.}

P.S. My friend has Cuyana’s small Carryall tote in stone and has been using it almost daily for at least 4 years. The long crossbody strap broke in year 2, but the bag itself is still going strong, which I think is a good testament to the quality of the leather Cuyana uses as well as it’s durability (well except for the strap). She replaced the strap but here she is modeling her very well used Cuyana tote for me: (also she’s tiny so the small bag looks huge on her fyi)

{January 2021 update: For those of you guys on a budget, Quince (also known as onequince) has some very similar totes for about half the price. Quince is an ethical company that contracts with the factories directly in small batches at the best possible prices (thus also preventing waste by not overproducing a certain item). My review of the Quince leather tote is here (where I also compare it to Cuyana’s leather). I would say Quince’s tall tote is like Cuyana’s structured tall tote and not the floppy one I reviewed here. Quince’s selection of totes can be found here. But if you’re looking for something like the Cuyana structure tote, unfortunately they don’t have anything like it anymore.}

Travel Recap: Morgan City and New Orleans

It's been a couple weeks now and I'm very much behind on my posts, but here is a recap of our trip to Morgan City and New Orleans, Louisiana.  It was both Brian's and I first time to this hot, humid southern state so we didn't know quite what to expect.  One of our first stops in New Orleans was Magazine Street, where we had some brunch and then walked around for some window shopping.  They had a lot of great stores with antiques and other vintage items.

And the local Alligator Museum.

My friend's wedding was about an hour or so away from New Orleans in Franklin, Louisiana.  We stayed in the neighboring town of Morgan City, where we were lucky enough to catch their one big event of the year: The Shrimp and Petroleum Festival.  It was a cute small town festival, located under a freeway.  There were some unique and home-made items for sale...

like a logging truck...

and alligator heads...

and instead of stuffed-animal prizes, you could win live bunnies.  It does seem a little irresponsible to be giving away live animals as prizes, especially to kids who might be unprepared to take care of them (that might be why the local park nearby has some "wild" bunnies on the loose).

And my friend's wedding was in the backyard of a family home, and it was gorgeous!  A dreamy wedding out near the bayou.

The next day we went on a plantation tour at Oak Alley Plantation, one of the many plantations that line the banks of the Mississippi River.  This particular plantation was named after the row of twenty-eight, 300-year-old oak trees planted out front.

And we ended our trip back in New Orleans where we wandered around the French Quarter.  Bourbon Street with all their strip clubs and public drunkenness was a little less appealing, but the rest of the French Quarter, especially Royal Street with their shops and characteristic architecture, were great places to browse.

And we also caught a very intimate performance by a New Orleans Jazz group at Preservation Hall.  If you ever have a chance, I would say this performance is a must-see in New Orleans.

Let's Get Real: I buy too many bags

For those who regularly read my blog or follow my instagram or just know me, you know I love bags.  I mean love love love them.  It all started back in middle school with my first Coach bag {well it wasn't even really a bag}.  I still remember it, though I've sold it a long time ago.  It was a white nylon clutch covered with big colorful C's {back when logos were all the rage}.  I quickly went from the clutch to a small gucci purse {red canvas covered with small G's} and then on to Louis Vuittons in college and after {my first LV was a damier ebene speedy 30}. In grad school it escalated to a crazy collection of Balenciaga city bags, then on to Chanel and one Hermes kelly.  I still have the Kelly but all the other bags have been sold off as well {I love bags but I realized I'm not really attached to them.  I usually fund my next bag purchase with the sale of another}.  I finally have a small collection of Givenchy, Chanel, and Mansur Gavriel with some odd brands here and there {Fendi, Clare V, Celine, Lululemon, Louis Vuitton}.  Compared to what it used to be, my collection has shrunk quite a bit {thank goodness} but still there's no denying that I still have quite a few bags.  And you would think with posts like these where I talk about having enough, I would recognize I have too much {and I do, I'm fully aware of and am still working on my materialistic habits}.

Most people don't really understand this hobby of buying bags, and to be honest I don't quite understand it myself.  I guess it's like trying to explain your sexual orientation, you were just built this way to like what you like.  That's why I like the PurseForum so much because there are other women who understand my bag-craze and there's really no judgement on your purchases.  The women there are supportive of your bag purchases {unlike my mom and my husband who just shake their head when I buy another bag} to the point of enabling.  Yes, it's a little dangerous for your bank account, so it's good to know that this is just a hobby, and bags are just one part of your overall style {but in some ways they can be investments: like Chanel bags that increase in price 15% every year} .  Nowadays I usually go on the forum to get more information about bags, or like with the Mansur Gavriel bags, help those who are looking for more information.  For years I've tried to hide my bag addiction, though really I was fooling no one {one of my best friends most frequent greeting is, "Is that a new bag?"}.  These days, the blog and my instagram account is a way for me to channel my interests in a productive way.  I probably won't be getting over this addiction any time soon so I might as well make it worth something to someone other than myself.  And as long as I don't fall below the poverty line buying bags, I don't think there's anything to be ashamed of.  In the meantime I hope you enjoy my little collection and all my bag reviews!

Everlane Modern Loafer Review

Everlane, as you know is one of those brands that I like to review. I've done 4 so far: the Everlane  Tote, cotton tees, sweaters/sweatshirts, and the Everlane Street Shoe Review.  But I forgot to review one of my favorites the Everlane Modern Loafer.  I've actually have owned these for months now but they're just not the right shoe for summer.  Now that Fall is right around the corner, this might be the perfect time to review them.  Also Everlane just debuted their Modern Point Shoe yesterday so check those out too!  I'm really tempted to get those as well. {update: I couldn't resist and I ended up buying them!  Find my Everlane Modern Point Shoe Review here.}

{12/2016 edit: You can find all the Everlane shoes I've reviewed interspersed in this list of all my Everlane review here.}

First off, these Everlane loafers come small so order a half size up from your normal size (for reference, I'm a 7.5 in TOMS but in these I had to get an 8; but for the Everlane Street Shoe I had to get an 8.5 or a whole size up).  My feet are a bit on the wider side so when I got the loafers they fit perfectly length-wise but were a bit tight near the front of the foot.  I could have just broken them in over time, but I wasn't willing to put in the pain and time.  So I did some research and found several ways to stretch out the shoes.  The one that I tried and worked really well for me was the freezer method.  This entails using a plastic bag about half full of water (I used double ziploc to ensure there were no leaks and make sure you try to squeeze out all the air) and stuffing it into the front of the shoe as best you can.  I left it in the freezer for about a day to let the ice freeze and stretch out the leather.  The next day, just let the shoe warm up a bit and then remove the bag of ice.  Ta-daa, a stretched out shoe in one day.  This isn't a miracle-worker so don't expect it to be a drastic change, but the leather has some give now so it's a bit more comfortable.  Here are more tips on how to stretch out a leather shoe.

Once I stretched them out, they were the perfect size.  I've received so many compliments about these shoes, especially from some of my more fashionable friends.  So they're now my go-to for occasions when I want to look put together but I don't want to wear heals.

The bottom of the shoes are super slippery and thus a bit dangerous, especially for me since I'm not the most elegant of people.  So I bought some foot petals in clear.  

Now these shoes are perfect!  I can't wait to pair them with some of my Fall sweaters and coats.  For my other Everlane reviews (on sweaters, shirts, and their Petra tote) the links are listed on the right if you're on a computer, or scroll to the bottom if you're on your phone (all reviews are done with items I've purchased for myself and are not sponsored, but if you'd like to help me purchase more items to review, please use my referral link here).

Anyone else try the modern loafers?  What did you think of the sizing?

{More reviews from other bloggers: Everlane Modern Loafer Reviews here and here.}

{update: just found this on Everlane's Tumblr page comparing their Modern Loafer with J.Crew's new loafers}

{8.7.16 update: So I've had these loafers almost a year now and I didn't actually wear them as much as I thought I would.  I find myself choosing Everlane's modern point over the loafers every time.  And when I try them on again today I find that the leather on these loafers are still quite a bit stiff and squeeze my foot.  So in all transparency I'm going to sell them.}

{12/2016 update: And if you're curious, my favorite shoes of this year (because they are most comfortable and well-made) are the Felize loafers from M.Gemi and the Street Sandals from Everlane}

What's coming for Mansur Gavriel in 2016

It's a new season for fashion, Spring 2016 that is, and for the first time ever Mansur Gavriel has presented during NYFW (New York Fashion Week).  Here are some pictures and articles of what they have in store for their customers.  

MG on Business of Fashion

MG on Fashionista

There is also a mini Lady Bag coming up.  I'm excited about that but I'm not sure if I'm really feeling their new bag designs and their upcoming shoe collection.  What do you guys think?

What to eat: New Orleans, Louisiana

Hi y'all!  It's been awhile since my last post but I've been trying to catch up after almost a week in Louisiana.  I was there for a friend's wedding and we decided to stick around some extra days to explore New Orleans since my husband and I have never been there before.  I'm still working on putting up a recap post on the trip but in the meantime, here's another edition of "Where to Eat" though actually this time it's "What to Eat" since it's not so much about where you go but just enjoying the cuisine of Louisiana.

We got in late to New Orleans, so we decided to stay at a hotel near the airport the first night.  And one of the few places still open late was Harbor Seafood & Oyster Bar in Kenner, Louisiana.  This place was amazing and easily one of my favorite meals of the trip.  I decided to dive right into the local cuisine and so I order the Swamp Platter pictured above.  It included: fried alligator, fried crawfish tails, fried frog legs, turtle soup, crawfish étouffée, and cajun boiled alligator sausage.  My favorites were fried alligator {tasted like a moist and tender chicken but less dense.  They should call alligator meat "it's chicken, but better" or maybe "I can't believe it's not chicken"} and the crawfish étouffée.  The frog legs were also like chicken, but alligator was way better.  And I washed this all down with $2 pints of Abita draft beer.  If I'm ever back in the area,I'm definitely coming back to this place.

Having filled my quota for exotic meats, the next day was a welcome dinner hosted by the bride's lovely family: a cajun crab boil with fresh crab caught out on the bayou.  The crab had super hard shells and not a whole lot of meat.  But it was still super tasty.  And the locals here just use their butter knives to crack these suckers open.  I got the hang of it and ate about 4 of these crustaceans.

When in Louisiana, don't forget to try the mint juleps.  Here I have a "flight" of mint juleps: a lemon mint julep, the classic, and a blackberry frozen.  To be honest, all of it just tasted really sweet.

I was tempted to buy some of these cans to eat some alligator at home but decided against it.  Better to keep the memories of good alligator-eatin' in Louisiana instead of trying to recreate it at home.

Also, you can't miss out on Louisiana oysters.  These guys were huge, but so fresh and delicious!  And fairly cheap too.

For our last dinner in New Orleans, we decided to try fancy Cajun/Creole food and tried out a restaurant called R'evolution located in the French Quarter.

We ordered, a pasta, a steak, a bouillabaisse, and some crab beignets.  The crab beignets were phenomenal, they were probably the best thing I ate during the whole trip.  And I finished the meal with their "lemon ice box" cake.  It was like lemon ice cream cake and the perfect end to the meal.

Finally, we stopped off to get some regular square beignets on the way to the airport.  I forgot to take a picture of them, but here's an illustration below.  They tasted a lot like malasadas, which are Hawaii's version of donuts.  I guess fried dough is fried dough.

Anyways I hope you enjoyed this short recap and hope y'all have a great week!

Monday Muse: Brene Brown on Having Enough

source

What we know matters, but who we are matters more. Being rather than knowing requires showing up and letting ourselves be seen. It requires us to dare greatly, to be vulnerable. The first step of that journey is understanding where we are, what we’re up against, and where we need to go. I think we can best do that by examining our pervasive “Never Enough” culture.

I see the cultural messaging everywhere that says that an ordinary life is a meaningless life. And I see how kids that grow up on a steady diet of reality television, celebrity culture, and unsupervised social media can absorb this messaging and develop a completely skewed sense of the world. I am only as good as the number of “likes” I get on Facebook or Instagram.  I know the yearning to believe that what I’m doing matters and how easy it is to confuse that with the drive to be extraordinary. I know how seductive it is to use the celebrity culture yardstick to measure the smallness of our lives.

What makes this constant assessing and comparing  so self-defeating is that we are often comparing our lives, our marriages, our families, and our communities to unattainable, media-driven visions of perfection, or we’re holding up our reality against our own fictional account of how great someone else has it.

To grow a relationship or raise a family or create an organizational culture or run a school or nurture a faith community, all in a way that is fundamentally opposite to the cultural norms driven by scarcity, it takes awareness, commitment, and work… every single day. The counterapproach to living in scarcity is not about abundance. In fact, I think abundance and scarcity are two sides of the same coin. The opposite of “never enough” isn’t abundance or “more than you could ever imagine.” The opposite of scarcity is enough.

-Brene Brown

Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead

By Brené Brown

Buy on Amazon

Mansur Gavriel Leather Care: Leather Conditioners and Protectors

Since my first Balenciaga bag over 10 years ago, I've loved high quality leather bags.  Like good wine and good people, good leather bags get better with age.  But of course there's some upkeep involved.  I used to condition my Balenciaga bags with Lovin my Bags, which was alright. I didn't actually love Lovin my Bags.  So when I bought my Mansur Gavriel bags, I did some research on the type of leather conditioners and protectants out there.  And since I couldn't find any in-depth reviews of these products, I ended up buying a few to test out.  

[edit: These products are recommended for darker colored veg-tanned leather or calf-skin leather bags.  These products can be used on cammello or brandy veg-tanned leathers but just be warned that it will darken the natural leather color.  Read all about it here.]

I purchased the following conditioners and protectors: 

Chamberlain's Leather Milk Natural Leather Care Liniment No. 1 | Leather Conditioner and Cleaner

Chamberlain's Leather Milk Water Protectant No. 3 | Natural Leather Protector and Conditioner

Leather Honey Leather Conditioner

Blackrock Leather 'N' Rich Cleaner Condition Preserver 4 Oz

Apple Brand Garde' Rain & Stain Repellent

Chamberlain's Leather Milk Natural Leather Care Liniment No. 1

This is a water-based leather conditioner (more FAQs about it here) and it was the most liquid of all the formulas.  It smelled and looked a lot like almond oil.  The Chamberlain's products all come with a terry-cloth like sponge, which is great.  Put some of the leather milk on the sponge and buff it into the leather.  The formula does go on a bit streaky so you have to be careful to use thin even layers.  There is also some color transfer onto the sponge when using it on veg-tanned leather but no color transfer onto the sponge when I treated my navy calf-leather lady.  

Chamberlain's Leather Milk Water Protectant No. 3

I didn't know what the difference between no. 1 and no. 3 were, and since both seemed like great leather conditioners, I wanted to try out both.  No. 3 is a wax/oil-based leather conditioner and protector, while no. 1 is more of a leather conditioner/cleaner.  I think if people purchase both, they usually treat with no. 1 first and then follow it up with no. 3, but for this review I just tested it out on the veg-tanned clutch that comes with the MG tote.  No. 3 has a gel-like consistency and has no smell.  There is also no color-transfer when used on the veg-tanned leather.  This product, unlike no. 1 didn't go on streaky.  I can't say how well it protects since I haven't taken it out in damp or rainy conditions yet, but I might do an update when I do just to let you all know how well it works.

Leather Honey Leather Conditioner

The Leather Honey is super sticky, exactly what you would expect a product called leather honey to feel like.  On the bottle it recommends using it in a warm room to help spread the product easier.  So you can imagine a little goes a long way.  They recommend using a lint-free cloth, so I tried it with a microfiber cloth I had lying around.  It definitely was not the easiest to use but thankfully the product was not streaky so it didn't require perfect application.  The smell was not great, but faded when you let the product dry.

Blackrock Leather 'N' Rich Cleaner Condition Preserver

The Blackrock cleaner/conditioner has a creamy texture with a bit of a chemical smell which went away when it was fully dried.  When I applied it using the same cloth that I used for the leather honey, there was A LOT of color transfer from the leather to the cloth.  When I was done with the sample spot, I was surprised there was any color left on the leather.  The application was noticeable but not too streaky.

Apple Brand Garde' Rain & Stain Repellent

Finally the Apple Brand spray is just a protectant.  It is meant to protect your leather against rain and salt {it's also great to spray on leather shoes}.  I sprayed my veg-tanned tote and first the spray droplets were visible, but in several seconds it faded.  I haven't encountered any rain yet so I won't know how it holds up, but after I treat both the tote {with the Apple Brand Garde} and my veg-tanned lady bag with Chamberlain's no. 3 I might try a small experiment with some water and let you know how the hold up.

Here are some of the test samples:

Chamberlain's no. 1 is on the left, untreated in the middle, and Blackrock on the right.  The picture above is in full sunlight and the picture below is the same thing in indirect sunlight.  You can see how you have to be careful of application and make sure you treat all areas of the bag.

In the picture above, you have Leather Honey on the left, untreated in the middle, and Chamberlain's no. 3 on the right.  The picture above is in direct sunlight and the one below is in indirect sunlight.  You can see the with these two products, the treatment itself is not so noticeable.

So my final conclusion?  Chamberlain's no. 1, Chamberlain's no. 3, Blackrock, and Leather Honey all work well, even though they're all really different.  But if I were to choose just one of these products it would be Chamberlain's Leather Milk no. 3 since it is both a conditioner and a protector.  With the other products, once you condition and/or clean the leather you would still need a protector, like the Apple Brand Garde {which I don't have any pictures of, but really there's nothing to see since it dries invisible}.  My second favorite is probably Blackrock since it was easy to work with and wasn't really streaky.  The Leather Honey was hard to work with and Chamberlain's No. 1 was too streaky.  However, I did use it to fully condition my calf-leather lady bag below and it helped lessen the smell immensely.  It also got rid of some dirt marks and gave it a subtle shine {see the picture below of my fully treated lady bag}.

I used the Blackrock conditioner to buff out some of the scuff marks on my tote.  Before picture on top and after picture below.

Well I hope you found this useful and not too long!  And if I ever try out the bags in the rain, I'll update you all on how the the leather holds up {let's hope the products do their job!}.

Let's Get Real: I'm addicted to Netflix...and PBS and HBO

Watching TV is my longest running addiction.  I remember being glued to the TV for most of the 90's watching Nickelodeon and USA mostly.  My favorite shows ranged from Doug and Rugrats to reruns of Wings, MacGyver, Charlie's Angels, and Golden Girls.  What can I say, I've always had an eclectic taste when it comes to television.  Now, I watch whatever I want on demand through Netflix, PBS, and HBO GO.  Netflix is probably the best $8 I spend every month, and I pretty much watch everything from Korean TV series, Ken Burns documentaries and weird French films. I love them all.  Now that I don't have a regular work schedule, I have to always be mindful to control my addiction.  I admit, for several months when I was feeling especially lost in my career goals, I spent quite a few hours binge watching TV shows and movies.  But you can only do that for so long before you start feeling like you're really wasting your time.  Luckily, I'm better at it now though I still watch a lot of TV.  But to make myself feel better for all those hours spent in front of the flat screen, I decided to write up this blog post so at least one good thing can come out of it.  These are some of my top recommendations for binge-worthy TV shows {in no particular order}.

1) Sopranos {on HBO Go or HBO Now}: It was one of the best shows over 10 years ago, but it still stands the test of time.  It was the first of it's kind {strong group casting, unpredictable and intense plot lines}, but it's still one of the best.  It starts off slow, but I promise you'll be hooked if you give it a try.

2) The Wire {HBO}:  Again, one of those classic binge-worthy TV shows.  It starts off slow and there's also a lag around season 2-3, but stick with it.  It gets better.

3) Mad Men {Netflix}: I was late to the game on this one because when it first came out, I had no patience for the slow pace of the character development.  But once I started binge-watching it, I couldn't stop.  And I caught up with the whole series about a month before the final season.  I love love love this show.

4) Breaking Bad {Netflix}: I also caught up on this one about mid-way through the series.  This is one of the few series my husband got hooked on, and he has no patience for TV so you know it must be good.  The show keeps a great momentum throughout the whole series.

5)  Boardwalk Empire {HBO}: In the same vein as Sopranos, but with the awesome 1920's period design.  Definitely binge-worthy and one of the few times I really loved Steve Buscemi in a role.

6) Game of Thrones {HBO}: It was so good I read the books.  And I have to say this is one of those rare occasions that the TV show is better than the books.

7) Downton Abbey {PBS}: Things have gone considerably downhill after Matthew died {and this can't possibly be a spoiler since this happened over a year ago}, but they've kind of limped along.  The final season airs this year.

8) House of Cards {Netflix}: First 2 seasons were good, the third not so much.  We'll see how the fourth one is.

9) Sherlock {Netlfix/PBS}: This is more a miniseries than an actual TV series, but no matter.  It's good.

Honorable Mentions:

-Walking Dead {Netflix/AMC}: I was obsessed with this show for the first several seasons but I've lost interest in the current seasons.  I'm sure I'll finish watching to see what happens but I'm no longer in its grip.

-Lost {Netflix}: I have to mention this show because it was the first TV series I ever binge-watched, but compared to some of the ones in the list above, it can be a bit slow and at times nonsensical.  If you like logic, you probably won't like this show.  But I'm also biased because it was filmed in my hometown, and I got a thrill whenever I recognized scenes from home.

-True Detective {HBO}:  Season 1 was stellar.  I haven't seen season 2 but I haven't heard any good things about it.

-The Newsroom {HBO}: Season 1 only.  Some brilliant writing in the first season, but then things get weird and boring by season 2.

-Other favorite HBO shows: Veep, Girls

-Other favorite Netflix shows: Orange is the New Black, Parks and Rec, Modern Family, The Office, 30 Rock, United States of Tara, The Killing,  The Fall, Chef's Table, Broadchurch, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries {current obsession}, Fleming the man who would be Bond, Bomb Girls

-Other favorite PBS shows: Poldark, The Crimson Field, Call the Midwives {Netflix too}, The Paradise {Netflix too}, FrontLine documentaries.

At this point you might be asking, what shows haven't I watched.  Well these are some of the ones I've watched a couple episodes of and couldn't get into for one reason or another: Scandal, Revenge, Sons of Anarchy. Marco Polo, Peaky Blinders, West Wing, Parenthood, White Collar

In terms of TV, the really good options are running out {which is a very good thing}.  Do you have any TV or movie recommendations? 

Mansur Gavriel Bag Leather Quality {Updated Feb 2018}

There has been a noticeable difference in the quality of the calf leather before and after the summer restock.  Any calf leather purchased before April, was a high quality smooth leather with a sheen to it.  But calf leather bags purchased after April, mostly those made for the June restock is a seemingly lower quality leather that feels spongy/rubbery, is matte and smells a bit like chemicals/bleach {this was my major complaint with the navy lady bag from the first Mansur Gavriel Lady Bag Review}.  The picture above are all my calf leather bags.  The navy blue Lady Bag and sand Crossbody are from the recent restock while the royal blu bucket is from earlier in the year.  You can't see the differences there, but the picture below shows the difference.  The older, better calf leather is on the left while the newer and but lower quality calf leather is on the right.  It's only a subtle difference, but in-person the differences are huge.  

via from frankiextah

Another comparison shot with the older, better calf leather on top and the newer calf leather on bottom.

If you are new to the Mansur Gavriel market, stay away from the calf-leather and stick with the veg-tanned leather bags.  The calf-leather is more expensive and at the current quality, it's not worth the money.  Meanwhile the veg-tanned leather seems to be of the same quality and at a lower price point, it's just a smarter purchase.  If you did end up already getting a calf-leather bag from the last restock, don't despair.  The smell does go away after awhile.  Also by using a leather conditioner, like Chamberlain's leather milk, Leather Honey, or Black Rock the smell fades much quicker {and it makes your bag look better}.  If you're interested, I reviewed different leather conditioners and protectants for Mansur Gavriel bags.

MG calf-leather bag owners, is your leather like mine?  Or I wonder if it was just a bad batch?

Feb 2018 update: I feel compelled to update my post even though this is several years old with this review I just found.  It seems that MG leather quality isn't as good as I initially thought it was.  Also I can attest to this because my calf-skin crossbody leather began disintegrating where the straps met the body of the bag.  

Monday Muse: Amy Poehler on Writing

source

"So what do I do?  What do we do?  How do we move forward when we are tired and afraid?  What do we do when the voice in our head is yelling that WE ARE NEVER GONNA MAKE IT?  How do we drag ourselves through the muck when our brain is telling us youaredumbandyouwillneverfinishandnoonecares?  Well, the first thing we do is take our brain out and put it in a drawer.  Stick it somewhere and let it tantrum until it wears itself out.  You may still hear the brain and all the shitty things it is saying to you, but it will be muffled, and just the fact that it is not in your head anymore will make things seem clearer.  And then you just do it.  You just dig in and write it.  You use your body.  You leave over the computer and stretch and pace.   You write and then cook something and write some more.  You put your head on your heart and feel it beating and decide if what you wrote feels true.  You do it because the doing it is the thing.  The doing is the thing.  The talking and worrying and thinking is not the thing."

Yes Please

By Amy Poehler

Guide to 24th Street Mission, San Francisco

I spent almost 4 years working at San Francisco General Hospital, which is at the end of 24th street in the Mission District, so I know this area pretty well, especially when it comes to food.  And so it's of no surprise when I say that this street is one of my favorite in the Mission {and that's saying a lot because the Mission District in general is an amazing place to shop and eat}. I would tell tourists that if they want to get the true flavor of SF culture, they need to spend some time in the Mission in general.  It's definitely hipster land, with expensive and well-curated shops, but you also get some amazing high-end food, some even more amazing cheap Mexican food, and lots of different kinds of people: hipsters, long time SF residents, a large Hispanic community, some crazy homeless people, and tourists.

But before I wax on endlessly about the Mission District, let me just focus on 24th street, 12 blocks of it to be exact, from Mission {where the 24th Street Mission Bart Station is located} down to Portrero Ave.

24th Street has a ton of murals and street art as well as a smattering of art galleries, mostly focusing on Hispanic art.  If you love art, just walking down the street is a fun experience.

If you're coming from the 24th Street Mission Bart station, one of the first places I like to eat at is Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen.  Their pastrami sandwiches are good {well I've been to LA Jewish delis and I would say those are marginally better but this is the best I've ever had in SF.}  It's almost always packed at lunch time so I would say go a little early if you want to get a seat.

My next favorite stop is Knead Bakery located inside Local Eatery.  Local Eatery is a restaurant, which you can skip, and instead go straight to the back to the bakery.  Their croissants are good, but the thing to get is the pommel d'amore which is basically creme brûlée combined with a kougin aman, or the creamier and flakier cousin to the Chinese egg custard tarts.  I'm only slightly exaggerating when I say that this pastry is life changing.  Here's a picture of it on yelp.

As you walk further down the street, you'll find the original Philz coffee shop.  I find that all the new Philz coffee shops that are opening around SF to be so sterile in comparison to the original, which feels like your long-time neighborhood coffee joint.  The coffee here is incredible and worth the wait.  If it's hot, get a mint mojito ice coffee and if it's cold get a mocha tesora.  And you're allowed to sip it and ask for more or less of something; they want to make your cup of coffee perfect for you.

My favorite ice cream shop in SF also happens to be located on 24th street.  Humphry Slocombe makes the most interesting flavors around, but they are almost always amazing (except for Jesus Juice, don't get that one).  They're known for Secret Breakfast {vanilla, cornflakes and bourbon} and Blue Bottle Vietnamese Coffee, but I also love Brown Butter, Eton Mess {strawberry cheesecake I think}, Oolong Tea, and Salted Watermelon sorbet.  The pictures below are from 2 different times and you can see that their menu changes quite a bit.  Next time I would love to try the Jasmine Lychee.  And don't forget to sample flavors before you order!

There's a couple independent bookstores on 24th street.  Alley Cat is my favorite.

And Tacqueria Vallarta is my favorite taco place on 24th street.  They have a taco cart right at the entrance where they grill the meats.  It always smells amazing.  I usually get 2-3 tacos and it's the perfect amount.  They recently raised their price to $2.50 per taco, but a $5 meal isn't a bad deal.  The salsa condiments are all self-serve so you can get as much or as little as you want.  Pictures below are my 2 favorite tacos: Lengua (beef tongue) and Buche (pork neck).

If I'm not in the mood for tacos, then I go to La Palma where I get either their Enchiladas Verde or a burrito {a friend told me that their chicharron burrito is delicious, but I haven't tried it yet.}  I also love their guacamole and chips {I think the best in the city}.  All salsas, guacamoles, and tortillas are made in house.  Often times I see one of those walking food tours stopping by to watch the Mexican grannies make the tortillas in the back.  

And near the end of 24th street, don't forget to stop by dynamo donuts for some Four Barrel coffee and gourmet donuts {they're famous for their maple bacon donut pictured above}.

That was just a quick run through of all my favorites but here is a comprehensive list below, in the order of Mission Street-->Portrero Ave

{BROWSE}

Mixcoatl Arts and Crafts: Mexican Day of the Dead art

Adobe Books

Mission Skateboards: newish skate boarding shop

Alley Cat Books

Foxglove: cute clothes and accessories

{EAT and DRINK}

Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen

Knead Bakery

Philz Coffee {the original}

Sidewalk Juice: for fresh juiced juices

Haus Coffee: a hipster haven coffee shop with great lighting

Tacqueria Vallarta

Humphrey Slocombe

Tacquerias El Farolito: home of the super burrito, delicious but get ready for a major food coma after you eat it {even just half of it}

La Victoria: a great Mexican bakery

La Torta Gorda: another great Mexican restaurant.  I love their Huitlacoche quesadilla {side note: I just had to look up how to spell huitlachoche and have just learned that it translates to "corn smut"--what!  And it looks pretty gross too.  It's a fungus that grows on corn.  And this whole time I thought I was just eating a special corn.  Well learn something new everyday.  But it's delicious, no really it is}.  Their tortas, which are like Mexican sandwiches, are pretty darn good too.

St. Francis: a very popular hipster diner.  Food is so-so but the lines are not worth it {especially when there's so much good food around you}.

Pal's Takeaway: Inside Tony's liquor store, there's a sandwich counter that specializes in seasonal gourmet sandwiches.  These are no ordinary sandwiches!  They usually only have 2 options a day, which you can look up online.

Dynamo Donuts

Well that's it for one street, but the whole Mission District is incredible so go check it out if you have the chance!

Mansur Gavriel Large Tote Review

It's becoming almost a regular Monday with Mansur Gavriel on the blog here.  Here are past MG posts if you're interested: Mansur Gavriel Lady Bag Review Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 and the Mansur Gavriel Bucket Bags Review.  But since I have the large tote bag as well, I might as well review it here.  I don't use totes very often, but I did occasionally use the Louis Vuitton Damier Neverfull GM {the largest size} for the times I traveled.  But I found that the Longchamp Le Pilage was so much more useful {and light} for traveling and so I sold my LV {having a tote that can zip up at the top is pretty clutch for traveling}.  Then when the MG tote came out, I decided to try it out as a work/school bag.  I also have Everlane's Petra Tote, but that's quite narrow and doesn't work as well when you want to carry bulky things {it's perfect for laptops and textbooks}.

Pros:

-The veg-tanned leather is amazing!  Smells great and feels super durable.

-The coated pink color on the inside is the perfect pop of color to a normally boring black tote. And since there is no closure at the top, the pink is really easy to see.  I also learned that the coated interior gives the bag more structure so it won't become super slouchy with time {which is great for a tote}.

-It comes with an attachable wallet, perfect for the small things that might end up lost in a big tote.

-The large tote size is perfect as a work bag or even an overnight bag, since you can really pile things into it.  

-Also the minimal hardware and the veg-tanned leather choice means this bag is super light!

The cons:

-Since there's no closure to the top of the bag, you not only can see the pink interior but also everything else that's in your bag.  So I wouldn't recommend using this bag if you're going to be traveling or in crowds.  It might be too tempting for sticky fingers.

Here are some other great reviews of the MG tote bag: a cammello/rosa tote bag, a black/flamma tote bag, and a review of the small tote bag.