Fonda Dela Madrugada

Tokyo's culinary arts are as innovative and progressive as it's fashion. However, when it comes to Mexican food, I find Tokyo to be a few steps behind the Taco trucks. Since I have moved to Tokyo,  I have yet to find anything comparable to my favorite "American West-Coast" Mexican food. ;)

All held true until last week, when my beautiful buddy held her birthday shin-dig at a restaurant that served up legit Mexican. Fonda Dela Madrugado, what we called the "dungeon in the ground", had tasteful decor, unlike the "trying to hard", "tacky themed", Mexican restaurants I have frequented. The food was delicious and the atmosphere would be hard to beat if we had been in Mexico ourselves. Dinner included all the favorite authentic dishes paired with Cadillac and Strawberry Margaritas to wash it down. Don't like Tequila? The Sangria was on point! Besides the food, the live music had us all on our feet, dancing around the table to La Bamba and Bidi Bidi Bum Bum. 

The atmosphere + food + music = a night in the memory book. ME DIVERTî!

Three, steep stairways until you get to the restaurant

Jalapeño Poppers! OISHIKATTA NE!

Beef and Chicken Tacos... Solid!

"Feliz cumpleanos a ti, Feliz cumpleanos a ti"

Birthday FLAN!

Started with two, but once Bidi Bidi Bum Bum began everyone got on their feet.

Accessories: My Favorite GOLD pieces     Dress: Victoria Secret

~* I have fallen behind on my restaurant posts and look forward to catching up in the next few days. Stay tuned to salivate over a few of my favorite gems! *~

Just hangin' in my White Tee

I tend to keep my style quite minimal on the weekends. A white tee always brings a straight forward approach to a look and keeps things easy breezy. A quality white tee is definitely up there on the list of wardrobe staples a woman needs to have in her closet. The main focus is the shape, cut and material. Chose one that flatters your body and is durable. Just like denim, the styling possibilities are countless. I combined the two basic pieces and styled with a few accessories. Simple Saturdays..

White Tee: LoveBoat   Denim Skirt: TopShop 

Necklace: French Boutique in Akasaka    Belt: Banana Republic

Ring: Harajuku Shop

Take Notes

I am super excited to be styling in the studio tomorrow!! Preparing for today's pull, I can't help but be inspired by a few men that know their fashion. Whether it is their stylist or wife, these boys know how to dress...They aren't hard on the eyes either.

Trousers and Vintage

Channeling my inner Charlie Chaplin and feeling the need for a change from dresses and shorts, I put on my light-weight trousers for ladies night. I kept the styling simple with a basic black tank, fedora and vintage gold accessories.

Happy Weekend..

Tank: Zara                 Trousers: Banana Republic

Belt: Grandma Heirloom.. My favorite Vintage

Fedora: Uniqlo     Cuff Bracelet: Vintage

OPAL RING: Vintage gifted from my Mom

Beach Bag Blues.. Kaimono ni ikitai!

What do you carry to the beach? Do you use an actual beach bag? A cool tote that can go from sand to dinner? This summer I am spending a majority of my weekends on the beach and the device to carry all of my beloved belongings has become my biggest accessory. Unfortunately, I am slacking in the "cool" beach bag department and carry around a tote that came in my luggage set.. LAME. It is heavy, has no inside organization and the material is not set for the sand. A little late in the summer but right in time for sales,  I am on a quest to find my little beach buddy. Not sacrificing style for function, of course..

If you have any tips, trends or suggestions, I'm all ears! Here are a few that I like so far.

Jonathan Adler

Rag and Bone- Tote Bag

Tory Burch- Trompe l'oreil Tory Tote. (Is that long of a name necessary for a beach tote?)

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Nanette Lepore- Straw Tote.. This just may be the winner. LOVE THIS

Photos courtesy of ShopBop.com

GROM GRAND OPENING

I attended the Grand Opening of GROM, an Italian gelato chain, in Shibuya. Currently, GROM has three locations here in Tokyo and even one in Osaka. With stores all over Europe and on both coasts of the US, one in NY and one in Malibu, this organic gelato company is making a global impression!

After sitting and talking with both CEO's and devouring multiple taste tests, it is clear why this Italian desert chain is so successful. Owners Guido Martinetti and Frederico Grom, started their company nearly 8 years ago. With just an idea and humble beginnings, the two owners brought back "old-fashioned" gelato. Returning to the roots of the Italian frozen desert, they combined premium, organic ingredients, processing it by hand and focusing mainly on quality control. The proof is in the pudding. It's to die for!

The mass buzz surrounding the opening in New York, was followed by enormous lines outside their store in Shinjuku. As a fellow citizen in queue, I can confirm it was well worth the wait! So I was thrilled to partake in the grand opening of GROM in Shibuya with friends, fellow fashionistas and bloggers. OISHIKATTA!!

Me with owner Federico Grom

After taste testing almost every flavor. I decided the Vanilla and Blueberry Gelato were my favorite!

The ladies with owner Guido Martinetti

Fellow taste testers. Lovely company! Onon and Rie.

Fashion Director, Kanoko and fellow Blogger Natsu

Top: TopShop             Shorts: LoveBoat