Support Your Local Art Walk

Once a month several cities hold an art walk. Galleries stay open late and it's a fun opportunity to get to know local artists and where they show their work. My dear friend, Virginia, created an author series featuring head illustrations of Marquez and Bukowski. Her work and those of several others showed at the Hibbleton Gallery in Fullerton.

I had my nails done the night before and couldn't help but notice that the squares reminded me of frames. I like the idea of art outside the frame. Sometimes the best work is not done between the lines, but rather on the edge of it. I encourage you to check out your local art walk for a night on the town that will pique your interest and get you involved in the community. And check out your local nail artist as well. This set was done by Sherri Traweek.

i carry your heart

My boyfriend and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary this past Saturday. The time has gone by so quickly. It seems like we just met, and yet, it seems like we have known each other our whole lives. It's a great place to be.

His gift to me was this storage unit he built after several trips to Home Depot. It is specifically built for shoe storage! Isn't that amazing? It has helped keep my room much cleaner. And now I can go buy more shoes!!! He told me that he loved that I have a passion for shoes. It was such a relief to hear that he gets me. I have dated some horrible guys in the past; guys who used to give me lots of grief about the stuff I bought. So it is so nice that this guy not only helps me add to my collection with a place to house my hobby, but he also buys me shoes on occasion (like the Lobster Crocs pictured above). I am so blessed.

We have a thing about lobsters, my boyfriend and I. We are each other's lobster, and it has become sort of an inside joke. So for my gift to him, I altered a T-shirt. I stenciled on "Smug Lobster" and used a design from my friend, Virginia, to complete the look. The shirt looks very cool, almost vintage. And I love that we both handmade each other gifts this year. I even baked cookies! Something I never do. But these pumpkin, chocolate chip, cinnamon cookies were well worth the try.

I didn't get a card this year, but I did do something quite romantic and write down ee cummings' "i carry your heart" on stationery and gave it to him. Hands down, this is the most romantic poem I have ever read. And it really got me thinking about love. Good love inspires us. It makes us want to write. Even if we are not a poet, love is the guiding force to finding the right words, the right expression. I have been so lucky in love of late. The blog comments I get here have been full of support and encouragement. I feel so deeply loved by everyone who reads and writes some words. Your comments are like poetry to me, and they too get me thinking. Because I love to write and because I run across so many people who inspire me, I am able to blog. It is how I share in that dialogue of sentiment and warmth with friends, family, and maybe even strangers across great distances. Your words are appreciated. Your words are kind. I carry them in my heart.

Fashion's Night Out 2012

After experiencing some intensity last month, I am ready to start September and my favorite season (Fall!) off with some glamour. I think it's Samantha on SATC who says she needs "some glamour" in her life. And that's definitely how I felt in the weeks leading up to last night. I knew it would be good and just what I needed and well....I got my just desserts.

Thank you Anna Wintour, for encouraging us to go shopping while stores serve us food, drinks and play music. It's hard to go back to normal shopping after Fashion's Night Out. FNO is meant to encourage consumers to go out and spend money; it's about investing in the fashion industry. Not to mention, FNO kicks off Fashion Week in New York and begins the Domino effect of fashion weeks around the world (Milan, London, Paris). Fall collections (as previewed in the September issues of fashion magazines) debut in stores just in time for FNO. So in my book FNO marks the official end of summer, the time to start buying for fall (or begin Christmas shopping), while the fashion shows you see start you thinking about Spring. The whole of the year in terms of fashion truly eclipses in September.

This is definitely my favorite shopping holiday (Black Friday being my second). I chose to head out to Fashion Island in Newport Beach, because that's where I attended the first FNO three years ago and remembered it being amazing. I'm blanking on what got in the way last year, but it felt good to be back and helping the economy. I purchased the most amazing top at Juicy Couture, incorporating the embellished trend. It has rhinestones and spikes all over it. They have it in black too, so I am thinking I may have to head back for a duplicate in the coming weeks. Especially since I scored an awesome coupon last night that is good for the rest of the year (thanks Juicy!). This was the only piece I bought though, because I am going on vacation next week. And vacation requires $$$.

Well, that isn't entirely true. I was going to resist Casey's Cupcakes but they made the cutest ones for FNO. They were red velvet with pink frosting and topped off with a glittery shoe. I have said many times that I could eat a shoe I love it so much, but this time it felt good to actually eat a shoe that tasted as divine as it looked. Even the cupcake place participated in FNO and gave me a free mini cupcake for purchasing the special edition one. I also made a stop at the new Lette Macarons and indulged salted caramel and dark chocolate wonderfulness. Oh soooo good!!

Other fashionable stops for the evening included Bloomingdales, Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus (though they didn't seem to have any festivities); Kate Spade had super cute displays and their salespeople were kind as always serving up lemonade and cookies; it was all about bikinis and martinis at Trina Turk. They served up sparkling wine and a signature pink cocktail. I loved all the prints, colors, and sparkly shoes at that store. By far the most festive FNO party at Fashion Island! Jonathan Adler didn't have much of a party, but I loved the Union Jack coasters (of course). But the people at Juicy Couture are just hard to beat. They served champagne and were friendly as ever. There was also a giant catwalk and mini fashion show right outside.

And since the evening was all about glamour and presentation, I thought it was an occasion that warranted dressing up. I wore some happy color combos including a yellow Jill Stuart , orange Kate Spade clutch, rainbow shoes and jewels from Kate Spade, while stacking my arms with vintage gold and rhinestones along with local favorite Gorjana-Griffin. I got my toes pedicured yesterday and I liked that they matched my clutch. The other color on my hands is really cool too (Bikini so Teeny from Essie). And you know what they say, the happier the colors and you are with your outfit, the happier you will feel. And that couldn't have been truer than last night.

Happy (fall) shopping!!

Turquoise Affair

Last night was magical. It was the opening party for Art a Fair, an event I attend every year in my hometown of Laguna Beach. Art a Fair is always like a reunion. I run into lots of familiar faces, including this one and was invited by the lovely and sweet Elizabeth - whom I adore.Elizabeth makes beautiful jewelry that you will be seeing in print shortly : )

As a girl who loves to play dress up, I auditioned several outfits before settling on one of my absolute favorite maxi dresses/best purchases of all time from H&M. I wanted to wear a handmade statement piece since this was an artisan event, and I loved adding the turquoise on turquoise of one of my favorite (if not my favorite) necklaces by the fabulous Denise Yezbak Moore. I topped it off with a vintage ring, a huge green rock ring I found in a tiny store in Vegas, and my Gorjana Viceroy bracelet. I had to wear huge wedges since this dress is long, so my shoes are Juicy Couture, and my feet still hurt from walking in them all night : (

Please excuse the stereotypical self-portrait shots of me. Being an editor, I am very picky about pictures and all the ones my boyfriend took of me outside, I just did not like. Mad props to our photographer at work who can always get a good shot of me. Now, that is talent!

After Art a Fair we went out for a romantic dinner at French 75, one of my absolute most favorite places in the world let alone Laguna. We ate outside by a fire, sipped champagne, ate mussels and olive tapenade and watched the stars glow over the ocean. This place houses so many memories for me. I remember my 25th birthday inside the French restaurant while decorated for Christmas, my mom's first visit to Laguna Beach, and my friend's going away party where we danced to the piano player's music. I remember when my former roommate and I would wander the sidewalks of Laguna Beach after work in the summer and we would just tell each other "We are so lucky to live here." I found myself saying the same thing last night as I walked the sidewalks, my feet blistering, holding the hem of my dress up so as not to crush it beneath my wedges. I looked up at the lights from the houses on the hillside and smelled the salt in the air and felt the chill on my skin; this is a blessed life.

Glitter & Glamour

Last night I was lucky enough to attend Directives West First LA fashion show at the patio at CMC. Fashion is one of very few motivators for me to drive to Los Angeles, but I was glad I did, as this show was amazing! Thank you Directives West for having me.

Trendspotting: lace, flowy layers, tribal prints, and bright colors. I love color, so I am especially happy that that trend is here to stay for now.

One of the highlights of my evening was meeting the lovely Kristen of Glitter 'N Glue. If you are not reading her blog, you should be! So go, read now! Kristen is super sweet and looked so fabulous and chic.

Another highlight for me was busting out this dress I have wanted to wear for a long time, but was saving it for the right occasion. It's by Haute Hippie (my fave!) and is oh so delicate. I scored this dress from Saks Off 5th Avenue. I think it was only like $70, and if you know the price point of a regular HH dress, you know this is a major steal. I layered it up with vintage jewelry + Juicy Couture bracelet and cocktail ring (you have to wear a cocktail ring to a fashion show) and my beloved earrings from Christine Wallace. I don't normally like pictures of myself, but I thought this dress deserved to be shown off.

Have a glass of champagne and peruse the pics from the show. Then check out Kristen's blog and get some inspiration to craft up your own runway ready look. Cheers!