I truly felt like an alien when I was child. Perhaps it was because I really was different: An identical twin and the daughter of an Indonesian mother and Dutch father (less common in the States than say, Amsterdam or Jakarta). These days I feel less like an alien and more like a foreign exchange student, especially when I am with my Southern friends, of which I have many and with whom I am very close! For starters, their sayings leave me both confused and amused--like they're speaking a different language, parts of which I get... and don't. Then there's the food: TK. And how I wish I had their Southern grace, their ability to converse and light up a room! This season's must-have western boots, a staple among my LA-based Southern girls, may help me bridge the gap. I believe I can adapt them into my city slicker wardrobe and still look like... me. Particularly these by Alexa Chung, above,

P.S. I highly recommend my friend Reese Witherspoon's new book Whiskey in a Teacup, chock full of hilarious stories, amazing recipes, and explanations of all those darn sayings!

When I was child, I sometimes felt like I was an alien. Perhaps it was because I really was different: An identical twin and the daughter of an Indonesian mother and Dutch father growing up in NYC. These days I feel less like an alien and more like a foreign exchange student, especially when I am with my Southern friends, of which I have many and with whom I am very close! For starters, their sayings leave me both confused and amused--like they're speaking a different language, parts of which I get... and don't. Then there's the food: TK. And how I wish I had their Southern grace, their ability to converse and light up a room! This season's must-have western boots, a staple among my LA-based Southern girls, may help me bridge the gap. I believe I can adapt them into my city slicker wardrobe and still look like... me. Particularly these by Alexa Chung, above,

P.S. I highly recommend my friend Reese Witherspoon's new book Whiskey in a Teacup, chock full of hilarious stories, amazing recipes, and explanations of all those darn sayings!