Be the Queen

Awesome Friday Thoughts via The New York Times article How to Project Power:

You can achieve influence over others by being intimidating and aggressive, but Gruenfeld encourages her students to consider the duties that come with power. ‘‘Think of yourself as a protector,’’ she tells them. This is especially true for women working in male-dominated environments like Silicon Valley. ‘‘I have in mind the queen,’’ Gruenfeld says. ‘‘She has dignity and respect, and she makes people feel safe, but underneath her cape is a sword.’’

Image via Trendhunter. Dolce & Gabbana Alta Moda Fall/Winter 2015 couture show in Capri, "La Canzone Del Mare" photographed by Boo George for Vogue Japan October 2014. 

And here we are 9 months later

Mike sheds weight. B rocks in white. 

Temporary elation/exhaustion since baptism took place during her regularly scheduled morning nap

 The homestead - 34 years strong

Lake

The Judge Ben Wiles

Lacy & JP get hitched. I drink my weight in Magic Hat.

We have a 9 month old! And We live in Dallas! We're all caught up.  

There is so much I'm trying to hold onto. Four weeks ago she started waving.  It felt so momentous.  She loves to wave. She waves backwards at herself. Twists her hands all around. The switch really flipped around 6 months, all of sudden, overnight/eye-blink, she was acutely aware.  Of us, of lights, kitty, strangers.  Screamed at bedtime, sobbed for 20 minutes before falling asleep.  My sweet little baby has become toddler-esk.  She throws things, bats at objects she doesn't want.  She is wily and untamed. She prefers to stand.  Shimmies around the house crawling at breakneck speed.  Yelps and screams at the top of her lungs.  Loves bath time, hates when bath time ends. She has her first cold, coughs like crazy and it literally hurts, deep down in my bones when I hear her cough in her sleep.  Strangers always remark how beautiful she is, her long eyelashes, her sweet demeanor.  My heart is in a constant state of bursting. 

One Week

Best week. Hardest week.  More love then I ever imagined.

The Minimal Nursery

This is by far our favorite room in the house with it's south facing windows looking out onto the rose bushes.  We hope B will be pleased with our handy work :)

The prints are from Animal Print Shop, the mirror from West Elm, Modena crib from Walmart, rug from One Kings Lane, dresser from Etsy, abstract mobile from Etsy, Goldie rams head from CB2 lamp from vintage lighting store in Burbank.

On looks

photo via Vanity Fair

I read and re-read Nora Ephron's Final Act written by her son Jacob.  This paragraph, particularly the last sentence, resonates with me deeply. It is not so much about vanity, as it is about the female condition and how love can be transformative at any age.  I've been thinking a lot about the brutal nature of media and appearances (particularly living in a city renowned for it's vanity) and think of Hilary's quote, which I think of anytime I find myself criticizing another's appearance.  Keep it in check.

"She had fallen in love with and married a man who was as fastidious about presentation as she was. Even in the hospital, day after day, Nick arrived looking impeccable in his fancy slacks and his beautiful loafers, because getting dressed up was a way to say to her that things were still normal, that he hadn’t lost hope. All sorts of men had rejected her when she was younger as cute but not beautiful. She wrote about it, turned it into a comic riff — everything is copy — but privately, it was heartbreaking for her until this noble man came along and made her feel that she was as fabulous to look at as she was to talk to."

-Berstein, J. New York Times (2013, March 6)

Around and About

It's been particularly rainy and cool here.  The fog and ocean air make me think of the very tips of the Canadian border towns in the Northeast and Northwest.  It's not so bad to give up sun for a few days.

in my head

Bits that are whirling around in my head of late.

Dreaming of motorbikes and design. This article makes me want a custom bike and be best friends with these creatives.

This blog is stark and lovely.

An evening with Grace Coddington? Why that sounds delightful, count me in.

These will make RAD gifts because they have actual purpose! Thanks, Cool Hunting for the hint.

I'm selling these stunners on eBay as I bought the wrong size, but boy they look good.

The photo I snuck-took when I visited the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.  Bruce Davidson's street photography is raw and cutting and will latch onto you. 

boots I bought and love

Sam Edelman, Vince Camuto, Rag & Bone

I think boots are the best. I wear them year around (which you can really say about any piece of clothing in LA) but I feel they are the best investment. Plus no one will no you're 3 weeks late on that pedicure.  I found the Rag & Bone Newburry's on eBay for $280.  They run very large in my opinion and/or I'm beginning to sense there is some vanity sizing thing happening in the shoe department.  I have steadily been making my way down from a 37 to a 36.5 and now a 36. So, cheers to small fair feet!

thank you for shopping

I have come off the rails.  My internet shopping spree is mostly fueled by motivation to snatch the most discounted of discounts on items I have been eyeballing through Fall 2012.  It's just an added bonus when I can actually manage to find gift items as well, because let's be frank, we online shop for ourselves, right? Dear god I hope I'm not alone on this one because I'm desperately trying to ignore-away the guilt monster sitting in the corner and I need to know I'm in the company of other internet shopping obsessors. In rapid succession I managed to grab the Alexander Wang Cato wedge boot from Net-A-Porter for 50% off, Chanel eye cream from Saks (they gave me $25 gift card for my $100 beauty purchase + it's a gift!), much needed 6" salad plates from Crate & Barrel plus some bangin' brass candlestick holders and a full sweep of ASOS (or a-sauce as my friend says) allowed me to grab 30% off a trunk load of shirts for the dude and a few pieces for myself, notably Le Catch's leather sleeve embroidered top.

From There to Here

short hair don't care

 

Summer setting on Skaneateles Lake

 

 Montauk

learning things at Create and Cultivate

 wee! ciao!

 Marie Nail obsession

 a lovely romantic wedding in the desert

 

a new niece!

It's been seasons of change.  I started a new job (from finance to jewelry), I chopped off my hair (thank you Amanda at Arrojo), a dear childhood friend got married, I traveled to Montauk and stayed at the enchanting Ruschmeyers where I crafted, learned, ate and drank.  I traded in our golden nugget (a 1980 diesel Mercedes) for tiny, Italian hot wheels which I totally adore.  I have become addicted to nail art. One of my dearest childhood friends was married in the sweetest ceremony on a ranch in the desert (the groom sang Dylan) and we welcomed a new niece into the family. Well, it only took me 6 months to wade through all of that and get back on the interwebs and I'm so happy to be back :)

Top V

[ ring, bracelet, Saint Michel, shirt, shoes]

Today from around the interwebs these are my top 5 best finds/want to buy but trying my damndest to practice restraint.

Current Arsenal

Just a few things I'm depend upon to get me through the day:

Alterna Caviar Dry Shampoo

Josie Maran Natural Volume Lip Gloss in Precious

Covergirl NatureLuxe Silk Foundation

Maybelline Great Lash Lots of Lashes

O.P.I Orangy Red
Sephora Super Nourishing Lip Balm
Nars Illuminator
Chanel Beige Mini (via eBay)
Sephora eye shadow in sparkly gold * just a dab in the center of the eye

Packing Up

I have this terrific friend - let's call her Jill - who has the ability to forsake the mundane necessities (umbrella's, carry on luggage to name a few) and seek out creative, beautiful alternatives.  On her last trip to LA I just about stole her carry on.  It was love and gasp at first sight.  Steamline Luggage is just about the sweetest looking mini trunk for you're fantastical weekend jaunts.  It's surprisingly compact and fits enough for a long weekend away.  I tossed in a few more pics from her visit which involved the very cool 140 Maison Hotel in Beverly Hills, brunch at Cooks County - whose server staff get's an A+ for the striped apron uniforms and drinks at Casa Del Mar. 

The House of Charlotte

On the list of my most favorite activities, I would have to say home-peeping has got to be at the top.  I get to see a lot of off the hook homes here in LA, as my man is a realtor, but it's not often that I get the chance to preview homes whose owners are kick ass designers and whose great taste I can only attempt to mimic.  And then let me photograph will nilly. Charlotte Bjornlin D'Elia is in fact my husband's Aunt, so yes, technically we're family - full disclosure here! She and my husband's late uncle resided in Santa Monica Canyon - a tiny enclave nestled between the slopes of Santa Monica and the Pacific Palisades. During my last visit I had the chance to preview her jewelry, an array of gilded round gemstones, pave diamond encrusted necklaces, and handmade chunky, silver chains.  Besides her amazing talents, their home is full of ooh-ahhh worthy artwork (big guns like Picasso and Chagall), vintage pieces (like the Good Year sign) and Swedish ephemera.  So, like the photo-snapper-stalker that I am, I couldn't help but capture a few pics of their unique homestead. You can see Charlotte's full line of jewelry here.  Enjoy!

Thrifting Gold

<vintage velour leopard print top a $8 and vintage St. John's sweater dress $13>

 Santa Monica Main Street has a few spot on shops that I continually hit for amazing pieces.  My most beloved is St. Matthews Thrift.  One, because it's 2 blocks from my house and two because it's much more manageable than a giant box Goodwill.  Its also has some of the most choice pieces - vintage accessories, dresses, dinnerware, and out of print books.  Like any thrift store, you must be patience and willing.  But there is gold if you're willing to look.  I've scored Marni, Christian LaCroix and Dolce and Gabana at insanely rock bottom prices.

Morning Glory

 

My go to morning breakfast: cooked brown rice, dried berries, slivered almonds, cinnamon and coconut milk. All neatly packed in a preserves jar. 

Ode to Old Navy

<Tie front hem blouse in poppy, vintage crew neck tee, jersey stretch tank, waffle neck sweater>

Oh sweet, cheesy Old Navy. I'll admit I'm a sucker for a coupon and Old Navy is like the crack to retail-mommy couponers. And now me.  When I saw the ad for 30% off my entire online order, I just went for it. Here are four items I've purchase in the last week which have become the truest, dearest staples for LA living.  I wore the bright poppy orange tie front blouse through an entire weekend.  From brunch to shopping to a friends birthday party.  And then I went and bought it in bright cobalt blue.  'Cause it's that good. It's sexy and laid back.  The distressed tee and tank are no brainers at $10 each.  This waffle sweater is part Vince, part A. Wang.  I bought it in the off white and it's slouchly lovely.  Just the right weight to wear alone, no jacket or warm weather accessories needed.

Italian Beachside Weekend

This weekend was simply divine.  We had family in town so we took advantage of their hotel amenities and kicked it poolside at Shutters.  While it's on the pricey side for hotels in Santa Monica, it's a perfect marriage of East Coast Cape-Codness and SoCal beachy.  We hit Ado for our Italian family dinner (you truly feel like you're in Italy, the waiters all speak Italian and the table service is impeccable - if you're trying to impress, take 'em here!) and the Farmers Market for Sunday Brunch.

Pretty Underthings

My bralette obsession continues. I won these beauties on eBay where shopping = winning! All for > $20.