Nicolette Barba /

I really can’t explain how unique Los Angeles is. For those of you who live here, you know, but for those reading this that don’t know what living in Los Angeles is like, it’s not like anywhere else. You can find literally any kind of food you want, you see all shapes/colors/sizes of people on the streets, you see frazzled want-to-be actors running lines as they walk into their auditions, you witness near car collisions on almost every corner, the car honking never ends and while all that chaos is happening, it’s where magic is made. It might be too much for people who aren’t used to it, but for me, it’s home.

Getting to walk around this city is so much fun! My mom and I love to spend afternoons in Los Angeles when we get the chance to. There are some beautiful museums and buildings that are truly awe worthy. Here’s some documentation of our last trip up there!

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I absolutely LOVE Express for my jeans. I buy all my jeans there, and I refuse to buy them anywhere else. Express fits my body really well, and my size doesn’t fluctuate based on the style, which I like. It’s gotten to the point where I wait for a sale, (buying them regular price hurts my bank account) and then I buy a couple pairs online without needing to try them on. It’s great! These ones above feel like leggings, that’s how comfy they are!

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This building, otherwise known as The Petersen Automotive Museum, is HUGE. It’s designed by Frank Gehry, and it’s really outstanding. A beautiful piece of artwork on the corner of Fairfax and Wilshire.

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Again with the basics! Solid black tee, that’s got a cool criss cross front and then a longer back. I can wear this with almost anything!

What I’m wearing: Express Jeans, Express Tee, Cathy Jean Wedges (unfortunately this brand has gone out of business)

Accessories: Basic Forever 21 Jewelry, Fedora, Apple Watch

Nicolette Barba /

Drum roll please…

We’re relocating to Vancouver, British Columbia on April 1st! My dad, Eric, has been hired by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) to be the Creative Director|Visual Effects Supervisor of the Vancouver facility.

Here’s the official press release from The Hollywood Reporter.

I couldn’t be more proud of my dad, and I’m so excited for what this adventure has to offer for our family. Unfortunately, my brother Cole, will not be relocating with us. He will be staying behind in CA to continue his college education at Marymount California University.

We will certainly miss California, but we’ve lived in Vancouver once before for an extended period of time when my dad was shooting TronLegacy in 2009 and we loved it! Vancouver has so much to offer, and I can’t wait to see what the move brings to this next chapter of our lives as a family.

Follow along on our journey as we figure out a whole new city, with pugs and all!

 

XOXO

Nic

Nicolette Barba /

I think Californians can be misunderstood with our interesting style choices, mostly because our weather isn’t like the rest of the country. Don’t get me wrong, shorts and UGGS should NEVER be a thing, and Northface vests and flip flops also look ridiculous, but it really can be hard to figure out what will keep you warm/cool on those days that are just simply confusing.

We’ve recently had a lot of days that are rather chilly in the morning, but by the afternoon it’s HOT and your outfit that you thought would be perfect, just isn’t right anymore. I call this the “in-between” style because we don’t actually get a large variance in seasons like most states, but we do get days that emulate certain seasons. Some days are a cross between spring and summer, and others are like fall and spring but either way, deciding what to wear is just annoying.

My favorite style for days like these is to wear something that will definitely keep me warm, but can also convert into a cool outfit for when the day turns hot. And no, I don’t mean layering, not fully anyways. I hate lugging around multiple layers, it drives me nuts. I prefer to wear something like below!

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RBF much? I love this style! The warm pink boucle coat is thicker than a sweater, so it kept me warm during the colder part of the morning. As soon as it got warm I was able to take off the coat and I was in a super simple grey t-shirt and white ripped jeans.

What I’m wearing: Pink Boucle Coat (not the exact one I’m wearing, but similar), White Ripped Jeans, Sam Edelman heels, and just a plain grey t-shirt.

Accessories: Steve Madden Purse, Apple Watch and necklace from Forever21.

Best of luck with getting dressed!

XOXO

Nic

Nicolette Barba /

Every woman needs an arsenal of basic bags/shirts/accessories etc. to have versatility in her wardrobe. We love this basic Tote Bag from Target that’s got tons of space for whatever you might need to toss in it throughout the day.

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Target calls this color Drop of Blue and you can get it at a totally reasonable price!

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Get it here.

 

Like what we’ve got? Follow us on Instagram @dulcemeetsgabbana to never miss a post!

Happy shopping!

 

XOXO

Nic

Roma Barba /

One of my favorite dinners that I make is Ina Garten’s Crispy Mustard-Roasted Chicken. Barefoot Contessa is my all-time favorite Food Network Hero, and in my next lifetime, I plan on coming back as Jeffrey. I mean, is this guy the luckiest hubby on the planet or what?!? One of the ingredients I swap in when I don’t have buttermilk on hand is Coconut Milk. It works just as well as the Buttermilk, and I’ve always got it on hand since I use it for many other dishes in my kitchen.

I only use chicken thighs in this recipe as we love the juicier darker meat, and I buy it in a bulk pack at Whole Foods. Sometimes you get 6 large thighs in the 3-pack and other times, you get 7-10 smaller pieces, but I use the entire 3-pack and it works out great!

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This dish has become a family favorite and I wouldn’t change a thing about it, and it’s in our dinner rotation so we have it at least once a week. I always serve it with baked potatoes and steamed broccoli and I’ve served it at dinner parties as well…it’s that good!

Get the recipe here.

Enjoy!

Roma xoxo