Letters Impromptu

concept fashion week

2012-03-13T22:41:00.000-07:00

(wearing Elaine Marie's fall 2012 line with Meghan Mooberry and Nicole Castillo)

Photos of the 2012 fall collections from LA Concept Fashion Week. I had the honor of modeling for Elaine Marie Style again for her installment at the Ace Gallery. The photo above says it all - her fall line is a mix of British grunge style from the 70s with some 60s flare. I didn't get to take photos of all of the designers' collections, but I enjoyed the creativity and variety I saw. I even had the pleasure of meeting fellow blogger Joellen when she stopped by our installment.

Standing in 5 inch heels is a pain.... but definitely worth it to part of an amazing event!:)

Love,

Samantha Mariko

my senior recital

2012-03-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

(photos taken by Gabe)

The Program:

Sonata in a minor, D. 784…………………..Franz Schubert

(1797-1828)

I. Allegro giusto

II. Andante

III. Allegro vivace

3 Etudes, Op. 42 ……………………….Alexandre Scriabin

(1872-1915)

No. 4 in F# - Andante

No. 8 in E –flat - Allegro

No. 5 in c # minor - Affannato

Klavierstücke, Op. 119……………….... Johannes Brahms

(1833-1897)

I. Intermezzo in b minor – Adagio

II. Intermezzo in in e minor - Andantino un poco agitato - Andantino grazioso

III. Intermezzo in C – Grazioso e giocoso

IV. Rhapsody in E-flat – Allegro risoluto

Rain Tree Sketch II

(in memory of Olivier Messiaen) ……..…Toru Takemitsu

(1930-1996)　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Scherzo No. 3, Op. 39…………………….Frédéric Chopin

(1810-1849)

My program was bigger and longer than I thought it would be. Now that I'm done with my final recital of my college career, it does feel very weird. But I am still relieved that I am finished.

I would like to thank all of my friends, family and colleagues that came to support me at this important moment in my life. It is hard to put in words how much I appreciated it. Thank you to Jontynise Smith for doing a gorgeous job with my hair. And thank you to those of you who could not make it but wished me luck!

And one more picture.. this is too cute that I have to put it up here :)

My youngest audience member! She is so adorable.

Love,

Samantha Mariko

almost...

2012-03-09T13:46:00.000-08:00

In about 6 hours, I'll be performing at my senior piano recital.

I can't believe I'm almost done with my bachelor's degree...

I really hope it goes well and I can't wait to see all of my friends, family and colleagues.

( photos from my performance at Santa Monica Emeritus College earlier this week)

Love,

Samantha Mariko

glam it up!

2012-03-05T11:12:00.000-08:00

I'm excited to show you the finished product from the glamour photo shoot that I did a few weeks ago with John & Tweedy Cudal and makeup artist Adrienne Cawili. Do you like them?

Now I'm off to a class Santa Monica to perform my entire program for my upcoming piano recital.

Hope it goes well!

Love,

Samantha Mariko

on the go

2012-03-03T13:54:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone, thought I'd like to share my day-to-day makeup routine

that I use on the go.

Most of these are drugstore brands and are affordable. The B.B. cream is really light, which is good for my skin because it gets oily. These creams are popular in Japan, and now you can get them at drugstores!
The Falsies mascara works SO well - it makes my lashes twice as long and full.

I love the sparkles in the stila brown eye shadow kit. The Maybelline bouncy blush is, well... bouncy, and the color is very subtle and pretty (I'm using the shade "rose petal"). The smashbox eyebrow kit is very easy to use - it comes with two shades of brown and wax to keep it in place the entire day. I recently bought the Master Precise eyeliner and... I LOVE IT. It's probably the best liquid eyeliners I've ever used.

Hope that was helpful :)

Love,

Samantha Mariko

in two weeks.

2012-02-28T10:28:00.001-08:00

(dress: Saks Fifth Avenue; necklace: Black Market; ring and shades: Rimo)

My "other" photos from Wayfarer's Chapel. I had them taken for my piano recital posters, which I'll be putting up at school. The dress was the last one in my size! I ordered it online and it fits perfectly :)

Less than 2 weeks until my recital! I'm playing a lot of my favorite works
so I'm excited.

Love,

Samantha Mariko

Robertson Blvd.

2012-02-22T23:10:00.000-08:00

Today, I had the pleasure of working with Japanese model Melody Yoko.

She is visiting LA to shoot a TV show episode that airs in Japan to promote a boutique called Beckley.

Apparently, she produced a watch that is supposed to be sold there.

(from left to right: Alissa, Mizuki, Melody, and me)

She's one of the sweetest girls I know and is humble about her work, which I admire.

I've seen her several times in issues of GLAMOROUS magazine and on the runway show TOKYO GIRL'S COLLECTION, which is a pretty big deal in the Japanese fashion world.

You can check her out on her website or her Facebook page . She really keeps her fans up-to-date with her work!

I had so much fun! Can't wait to get a hold of one of those watches :)

Love,

Samantha Mariko

now I know

2012-02-18T23:33:00.000-08:00

Today, I had a glamour photo shoot with the coolest photographer couple John & Tweedy Cudal.

I did a shoot with them last year with my boyfriend and they did a great job.

My look from today:

(hair & makeup by Adrienne Cawili)

Everyone was so chill and relaxed - it was an enjoyable experience and I met some great people.

Thanks everyone!<3

Fun fact: I paid my mom a surprise visit last night for her birthday and she mentioned my previous blog post at Wayfarer's (Yes, my mom checks my blog :P). I told her that indeed I went there and I had this weird hunch and I asked her, "Wait... did you and Dad have your wedding there?" 「そうだよ、知らなかったの？」("Yes, you didn't know?") Well, now I do and I'm glad they got married there. She went on to tell me that they are very accepting of people of other faiths and lifestyles, and it turns out they do same-sex weddings, which I think is pretty awesome. :)

That's it for today I think.. thanks for reading <3

Love,

Samantha Mariko

love day

2012-02-16T21:10:00.000-08:00

A little late for a Valentine's day post, I know.

My man and I went out to eat at Sawtelle Kitchen in Santa Monica for dinner, which was a great choice.

Seafood spaghetti with white-wine sauce - superb.

(top: Topshop; skirt & purse: Jason Wu for Target; cardigan: Rimo)

My man surprised me with cute Valentine's day cookies, too :)

I'm so glad to have spent a relaxing day.

Hope yours was enjoyable too!

Kisses,

Samantha Mariko

by the seaside

2012-02-09T22:27:00.000-08:00

(shirt & belt: Urban Outfitters; jeans: Madewell;

purse: Jason Wu for Target; sandals: H&M)

Photos from an outing in Palos Verdes, at Wayfarer's Chapel.

The weather was perfect to wander around and absorb the beauty of it all. It had been a while since I'd seen such a glorious view of the ocean. So much blue that it's almost blinding (in a good way).

Another reason I went here was to have some photos for a poster for my senior piano recital at UCLA.

Perfect location, and I got some decent photos (not posted in this blog :)) I will probably post them later on though!

I hope you enjoyed the scenery in the photos!

Love,

Samantha Mariko

natural light

2012-02-08T15:24:00.000-08:00

(photos by Narciso Carlos)

As promised, here are some of the photos from one of my previous photo shoots.

The photographer wanted to experiment with natural light in his apartment, so they are quite simple.

Hope you like them :)

Love,

Samantha Mariko

dineLA at comme ca

2012-01-30T16:38:00.000-08:00

Hello lovelies<3

I had the luxury of dining at a French restaurant, comme ca, for dineLA last night with my friend Y.

I enjoyed a delicious 3-course meal consisting of a roasted beet salad, coq au vin and ...

profiteroles :)

Every dish was pleasing to the eye and, of course, the mouth. Yum!

(blazer: H&M; shirt: Zara, bag: needsupply.com)

Isn't it such a cute restaurant? The interior was nicely furnished, too.

I know it's hard to see my outfit in this photo, but you can go to my Ameblo (short for Ameba blog) to see a better image :)

A great way to end a lovely weekend full of successful photo shoots and good food :) Pictures to come up hopefully soon! Have a great week!

Love,

Samantha Mariko

jason wu for target!

2012-01-25T18:05:00.000-08:00

I was excited to find out that Jason Wu is collaborating with Target!

(images courtesy of Google)

His collection looks so chic and elegant, with bold colors, spring florals, and stripes. Some of the blouses and skirts can be worn in an office, no? Looking through his designs made me think of spring & summer & warm weather :) Can't wait to see them in person!

Love,

Samantha Mariko

rainy days and mondays

2012-01-24T00:30:00.000-08:00

Just finally getting over my cold that kept me in bed for almost 2 days. Even so, I managed to go to a music video shoot for Pink Martini and Saori Yuki's new song, "Is that all there is?" (we filmed this from 10pm to 2am in the cold drizzle, mind you). Despite the weather, I enjoyed the crew and the fact that I got to ride a pretty sick motorcycle in heels and a dress :)

The rainy LA weather can be a bit gloomy and bothersome sometimes, but it is nice for a change.

Some photos I found on Google that I like:

Enjoying some beautiful, classical piano music on a rainy Monday... <3

Love,

Samantha Mariko

lazy monday

2012-01-16T22:06:00.000-08:00

(Sweater: Nordstrom; skirt: Brandy & Melville; socks: J.crew; shoes: Madewell)

My day in pictures - G and I stopped by Urth Cafe for a quick lunch, and then headed over to Diamond Bar to see what it's all about. With some helpful recommendations from a friend, I checked out some Asian-style clothing and cosmetics stores, and then had dinner at a Japanese curry restaurant called Coco Ichibanya. The eggplant curry was so light and refreshingly yummy! The last couple of photos are in Genki Living, a Japanese -style dessert place. Isn't their interior so unique? It felt like I went back to Japan in the 60s or 70s. What a nice surprise :)

I hope you had a lovely MLK day <3

Until next time.

Love,

Samantha Mariko

healthy choices

2012-01-10T23:23:00.000-08:00

Here it is! My first cooking post.

Tonight, I made basil chicken breast & a vegetable medley, paired with a parmesan-asiago rosemary roll from Trader Joe's.

Both were really easy to make.

For the vegetables, I used olive oil, minced garlic, salt and pepper to sautee the yellow & red bell peppers, green beans, carrots, broccoli, and mushrooms.

I sliced the chicken breasts into smaller pieces so that they would cook faster, and cooked them in olive oil, salt & pepper, and basil. I accidentally added a bit too much olive oil to the pan, but it actually gave more juice and flavor to the meat. It was surprisingly delicious.

Next time, I want to try a red wine reduction for the chicken :)

Cooking is so fun, I wish I had time to do this more often.

Anyways, cheers!

Love,

Samantha Mariko

hapa love

2012-01-06T21:53:00.000-08:00

(shirt: blacklava.net; cutoffs: vintage Levi's; shoes: Converse; earrings: gift)

Growing up, I would always be confused whenever I had to check a box to describe my ethnicity-
Asian or white/ Caucasian.
That's why I love the hapa shirt my guy gave me for Christmas. It's the only box I should be checking now ;)

You can view more hapa shirts here.

I had received these earrings a while ago but never had the opportunity to wear them. They're handmade Native-American turquoise earrings - the color seemed appropriate for the warm LA weather.

All in all, even if you can't find a shirt to describe your ethnicity, you should be proud of who you are. I definitely am!

Much love,

Samantha Mariko

2012!

2012-01-02T00:19:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone!

I kick-started my year with runway shows and performances in Little Tokyo for A Japanese New Year's Celebration. It was so warm today but I had a great time :)

(shirt,vest and hat: 2WJD; jeans: BDG; shoes: Madewell)

The runway show was for the boutique 2WJD, and I sang two songs, an original called "Miss you" and a cover of "Tomoshibi ~when the earth shakes~" by Sunplaza Naganokun.

Not everything went as planned, but we made do. It was definitely a great experience.

And with the team:

I don't know where I'm looking :)

I am so excited for this year, I hope you all have a wonderful 2012!

あけましておめでとうございます！

Love,

Samantha Mariko

looking back

2011-12-31T19:10:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that 2011 is finally coming to a close. This year was a very exciting year for me - many new experiences, people and places. Some memorable moments:

1. My first piano recital at UCLA

2. My first kimono fashion show at LACMA

3. Dying my hair for the first time ever

4. Winning first prize at a Japanese speech contest at CalState LA

5. Meeting some awesome Japanese models Melody Yoko, Audrey Ayaka, and Akane Nakajima

6. Going to some amazing concerts (B'z, Dreams Come True, Suburban Legends, Neon Trees, Yuja Wang)

7. Participating in my first runway show for 2WJD, as well as subsequent ones

8. Participating in several Japanese festivals in LA

9. Expanding my modeling portfolio

10. Turning 21 :)

11. Starting my first blog on Wordpress

12. Starting my second one here in October

13. Finishing my classes at UCLA!!

14. My 2 trips to San Francisco with my man

15. Celebrating my one year with him <3

The list became a bit longer than I thought.. but there you go.

What was your most memorable moment of 2011?

Also, I just want to thank all of my followers and readers for reading my blog and leaving wonderful feedback. All of the comments mean so much to me (I read all of them!). I am honestly surprised to see that this blog has reached over a thousand views in 3 months. Thank you!!

あなたにとって、来年も良い一年になりますように☆

Hope you have a great year! See you next year!

(from the above-mentioned kimono show :) )

sunny days

2011-12-28T23:06:00.000-08:00

Day two of my SF trip, downtown!

I love the huge Christmas trees :)

(sweater: Madewell; purse: Gap; boots: Dolce Vita for Target)

It was a perfect day to wear my new sweater from Madewell - it's so warm & cozy I could probably curl up in it. Luckily, an oversized men's collared shirt paired well with the sweater.

Thank goodness I wore my Dolce Vita boots because it's quite a walk to the Ferry Building.

I did some vinegar & olive oil tasting at Stonehouse Olive Oil (so good!), bought macaroons at Miette again, and tried other things as well. But I think my favorite purchase was the gouda cheese from Cowgirl Creamery. Can you tell I love cheese?

To end my last night:

My camera doesn't do the gorgeous scenery justice from Twin Peaks but.. oh well.

Good night San Francisco <3

Until next time.

Love,

Samantha Mariko

back in san francisco

2011-12-26T23:36:00.000-08:00

I am so happy to be in San Francisco again!

It's a lot sunnier than it was in the summer- a pleasant surprise.

A few things I did today:

(Knit shirt: Nordstrom; scarf: Rimo; purse: Gap)

My first time going to Haight Street!

So many vintage stores and boutiques that I couldn't even get to them all.

But this store has got to be the creepiest store I've ever been to.

Antique baby coffins, old photographs, dentures(?!), taxidermy chicken dressed up in a suit, and an abundance of skulls. It was definitely interesting, almost like a museum.

On a brighter note, I stopped by an adorable-looking hot cocoa bar called Coco Luxe.

Their Black & White hot cocoa was delicious! I finished it in less than 5 minutes.

I'm looking forward to more shopping and good food tomorrow!

I'm always discovering new things when I go to SF. The fun never stops :)

Sweet dreams <3

Love,

Samantha Mariko

happy holidays

2011-12-24T22:24:00.000-08:00

(Dress and gloves: Zara; fur wrap: H&M)

(Photos by raldigiphoto)

Some unedited shots from a photo shoot I did in San Gabriel last weekend. The location was so gorgeous and I had a great time doing this shoot! I was trying to go for the 40s glam look..Who would have thought the fur wrap would come in handy again.

On a different note, I am enjoying the holidays away from home for once and stuffing myself in the process. I hope everyone else is able to relax and spend time with their loved ones :)

Merry Christmas!

Much Love,

Samantha Mariko

P.S. I found out that I was featured on half-asians.com !! No wonder I was getting more views than usual.. Anyways, thank you Jody for featuring me and thanks to those that saw it :)

sale?

2011-12-22T18:49:00.000-08:00

Rumor has it that there will be a sale at Zara starting tomorrow! The layout of the store is different, which I think gives it away. Anyways, this is perfect for last minute shoppers. They have lots of good items this season, including coats, dresses, and shirts.

I may have caught the shopper off guard :* Oops.

Happy shopping :)

Love,

Samantha Mariko

for beauty

2011-12-20T12:50:00.000-08:00

I wanted to avoid posting 2 beauty/makeup posts in a row, but I really want to show all of you some of the early Christmas gifts I received. With compact-size beauty items, I think I'm ready to travel :)

"Lola" by Marc Jaocbs solid perfume (doesn't it make a cute ring?)

Shea cashmere hand cream ( it has a wonderful scent and leaves my hands feeling incredibly soft)

I also recently tried the L'Oreal Colour Riche lipstick in Sunset Red.

I don't usually wear such bold lip colors, but this shade is perfect! And it stays on forever.

Getting more and more excited for the holidays :)

Kisses,

Samantha Mariko

stiletto

2011-12-14T12:42:00.000-08:00

Ever since I started using liquid eyeliner, I've never really found the right kind until now. Maybelline Line Stiletto Ultimate Precision Liquid Eyeliner is true to its name. It's so easy to apply and it comes in 3 different shades. I chose the brownish black so I can wear it for everyday since it isn't as harsh as black.

Paired with Rimmel Max Volume Flash Waterproof Mascara:

What are your favorite eye-makeup products?

Love,

Samantha Mariko

sweet

2011-12-09T11:45:00.000-08:00

Last night, I went over to Iota Coffee & Bakery in K-town for my cake fix.

Such a spacious cafe and so bright! I was quite pleased.

And the banana cheesecake & Sakurambo tea I had was delicious. Their portions are pretty generous, so I feel like I got my money's worth. Take a look at the presentation of the sweets!

(shirt: H&M; pencil skirt: Zara; ring:Rimo)

Next time, I'd love to try their breakfast & lunch menu!

This place is definitely worth checking out :)

Love,

Samantha Mariko

so much drama

2011-12-07T23:32:00.000-08:00

I'm sure many of my friends know this, but I am a huge fan of Asian drama, Japanese ones in particular.

Right now, I'm watching "Sengyou Shufu Tantei (専業主婦探偵)," which translates to "Detective Housewife." There's a brief synopsis on Dramawiki, but basically Kyoko Fukada plays a naive housewife who is irritatingly optimistic. Of course, her husband (Naohito Fujiki) finds her behavior to be overwhelming and has an affair with another woman, and the housewife somehow ends up being a detective's assistant, etc.

I love all of the actors in this drama, especially Kenta Kiritani, my new favorite actor :) As the detective, he switches from serious to funny in seconds, a quality I really like in Japanese actors. His impression of Osaka dialect is hilarious (which is interesting because he is a native of Osaka prefecture). And Kyoko Fukada is adorable as always, especially with her short do and glasses.

The theme song for this drama is a catchy electro-pop song - "Spice" by Perfume.

They are such a cute & upbeat band.

Watching these dramas and listening to this kind of music really makes me want to go back to Japan. One day.. :)

Love,

Samantha Mariko

bulgogi!

2011-12-07T23:02:00.000-08:00

I'm finally done with finals.. forever! My my Korean final as my last one, so naturally I was craving Korean food. To celebrate, Gabe took me out to a delicious Korean BBQ restaurant.

Soowon Galbi isn't all-you-can-eat, but it was clean with a friendly atmosphere.

Most importantly, they had the most side dishes I've ever seen and the best bulgogi!

I was in heaven with every bite.

Looking at these photos is making my mouth water again - it was that good.

Great way to end my last quarter :)

Love,

Samantha Mariko

sparkle

2011-12-03T00:35:00.000-08:00

Made it to the Grammy concert after-party this week at the Conga Room. The space was a lot nicer than I expected, but the crowd was, to put it bluntly, quite sparse for an after-party. Anyways, we decided to play around with my new camera and we got some cool shots:

(shirt & skirt: Urban Outfitters; clutch: Zara)

Sequins and velvet are a must this season! The gold clutch made my all-black ensemble a bit more fun :)

Spice up your look with cute & funky accessories too!

Love,

Samantha Mariko

youth street design with kay lim

2011-11-23T12:37:00.000-08:00

These photos are from a photo shoot featuring outfits by the talented designer Kay Lim.

Having a photo shoot in downtown LA was really exciting - I feel like I got to know the area a little bit more.

Working with this team was a great experience. You guys were awesome! :) I hope I can collaborate with them again in the future.

If you like what you see, you can shop for KayLimDesign on Etsy. My favorite item was the skirt :)

I hope you enjoyed it!

xxoo,

Samantha Mariko

go go go!

2011-11-20T21:59:00.000-08:00

A quick outfit post for today:

Trying to stay warm & cozy on this rainy Sunday!

(Fur wrap: H&M; leather jacket: Brandy and Melville; vintage cutoffs:Urban Outfitters; booties: Dolce Vita for Target)

Inspired by Lena Fujii in the October issue of ViVi magazine.. <3

I hope you had a lovely weekend!

xxoo,

Samantha Mariko

lace & bows

2011-11-19T23:11:00.000-08:00

Today, I would like to introduce one of my favorite boutiques in LA, Rimo.

It's located on Sawtelle Blvd in Little Osaka.

I love coming here because they always have something cute that I'll like.

( I ended up purchasing the black card case above!)

I talked to Sara from Rimo, and she recommends the following items for this season:

(Lace bell-sleeve dress, $53.50)

(Rayon print dress, $37.50)

(Earrings! approximately $10 each)

This shoulder bag caught my eye:

(Leather shoulder bag, $50.00)

Sara describes Rimo as one big closet where customers can pick and choose different items to add to their own individual wardrobes. The prices, she says, are the average of H&M, Forever 21, and Urban Outfitters- the clothes and accessories at Rimo are affordable and fashionable at the same time. Rimo is aimed towards a younger crowd, but she says that there is something for everyone.

Her message to fans and customers of Rimo: "Fashion is fun! Since we have to wear clothes everyday, we should try to enjoy creating outfits that will make our day."

I hope you enjoyed it!

xxoo,

Samantha Mariko

friday night

2011-11-06T00:38:00.000-07:00

I didn't think I would return to Abbot Kinney so soon, but I was eager to see what Abbot Kinney

First Fridays was all about.

One shop that caught my eye: Zingara. They sell handcrafted and authentic pieces.

The interior atmosphere was so cozy - I loved it!

In the back of the boutique, we were able to make s'mores by the fire and get free henna tattoos.

Pretty cool, right?

At one end of Abbot Kinney, there was a cluster of food trucks.. mmm!

I hope I find even more surprises next time :)

Hope you all enjoyed it!

xxoo,

Samantha Mariko

yuki a. music

2011-11-03T22:50:00.000-07:00

I had the honor of attending friend & colleague Yuki A.'s concert at Fowler Out Loud.

Her performance included an eclectic mix of covers and originals, including a song dedicated to her fiance :)

What a great performance! The combination of her vocals, guitar and piano playing are beyond amazing. And props to her talented band! I am so proud of her, and I hope she keeps creating wonderful music.

For more about Yuki A., you can visit her Facebook page, or listen to her music here.

Good night everyone!

xxoo,

Samantha Mariko

leaves & lights

2011-10-30T23:04:00.000-07:00

From a photo shoot in Fullerton:

(top:Brandy & Melville; skirt: needsupply.com; platforms:Blackmarket)

Relocating to Downtown Fullerton for some night life:

(dress:needsupply.com; shoes:Jeffrey Campbells)

Many thanks to amazing photographers John and Tweedy Cudal, and make-up artist Rosie Chhun.

And congrats to Gabe on his modeling debut :)

Hope you all had a good weekend and happy Halloween!

xxoo,

Samantha Mariko

abbot kinney

2011-10-23T18:50:00.000-07:00

This morning, I stopped by Jin Patisserie on Abbot Kinney for exquisite tea & cake.

I was also delighted to find a cute Japanese goods store called Tortoise General Store, located a few shops away. They have some unique kitchenware and other supplies, some which are handmade!

Some of their items were reminiscent of my childhood days (such as the picture books on display and the tops). In the end, I decided to purchase a pair of pretty wooden coasters.

To learn about their private workshops and events, you can visit their website here.

I hope you enjoyed it!

xxoo,

Samantha Mariko

concept los angeles

2011-10-16T23:04:00.000-07:00

Last night, I had the honor of representing designer Elaine Marie in her installment at Concept Los Angeles.

(with models Chara and Nicole, and with the lovely designer above)
Her outfits are so cute!

For more about her line, click here.

There was so much to see at this event - so many talented designers and models.

From the Thai Nguyen runway show (I am in love with these dresses!)

I hope you enjoyed it!

You can go here to find out more about Concept Los Angeles.

xxoo,

Samantha Mariko

sunday morning

2011-10-09T22:09:00.000-07:00

Spent a lovely Sunday morning at Redondo Beach Pier.

(top:needsupply.com; pants:zara; sunglasses:rimo)

There was a beautiful jewelry shop in Fisherman's Wharf called Mie Pearl.

The Japanese owner and his wife were so kind. They let me pick out an oyster and mounted my pearl on a ring. I love it!

To finish it off sweetly, I headed over to Handel's Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt. The best ice cream I've ever had hands down. Click here for their website. Enjoy!

xxoo,

Samantha Mariko