More

I'm so very thankful for all that has happened in my charmed 30 years of life. If there's one thing many of the women I know have taught me, it's that it's OK to always want more. I don't mean that in an insatiable, greedy way; I mean wanting more from life. 

I admire people who have a vision and work really hard to make it a reality. But what seldom gets talked about is what happens after you achieve a goal; what happens when things get too real. For me that can sometimes mean being caught up in a routine or getting too comfortable. Routines and comfortability aren't bad on their own, but for someone like me they can be. I rely on the unknown to push me further. 

Sometimes wanting more comes with guilt. It's easy to feel guilty when you're already so blessed, but you can't help but wonder what's next. Achieving the vision you have for your life might call for changing things up; for letting go; for making a sacrifice. I have had to be very honest with myself lately about what I am willing to give up to take the next step, because I am not someone who will always be happy standing in the same spot, watching the world go by. 

My desire for more was fueled recently after meeting Rachel Zoe at a Business Chicks event. Meeting one of my heroes and hearing her story firsthand reminded me that ambition pays off, and  I was in a room full of other women who felt the same way.  One such woman whose creativity and quest for more that has always kept me going is my friend Virginia. Not only is she a mom and an artist, but she is a true boss lady. We met seven years ago working at a magazine where we always dreamed of more, and now we've both come so far. 

Today we toured the offices of Orange Coast Magazine together and I couldn't help but remember us as a newly minted graphic designer and assistant editor starting out and learning the ropes. We both know what it's like to be rejected, to not be able to see beyond a cubicle wall, but we are both proof that more is possible, so long as you want it bad enough. 

Day Made

I am beyond honored to have been named Made Woman Magazine's Made Woman of the Month. I've interviewed so many amazing women because of my contributions to this magazine, but I never dreamed I would be counted as one of them. You can check out the article here.

I hope this goes to show that comparing yourself to someone else is never the answer. Just keep working, stay humble, and never lose sight of the mission. That's how you become an example. And how you get MADE.

Chic in Chicago

One of the things I would consider a perk at any job is the ability to travel. Every year NAILS Magazine goes to Chicago to attend America's Beauty Show. I never had the urge to go until a couple of months ago when something nagged at me to volunteer. I had this sudden curiosity to see Chicago, a city I had long heard of, and now was desperate to see. 

I've always been a fan of exploring new places and Chicago is a city that's fun to get lost in. I stayed at the W, saw the Bean, had cocktails and tacos at Mercadito, stopped in for a Midnight Kiss at Elephant & Castle (I was attracted to this pub because it shares the name of a tube station in London), had breakfast at the new Seven Lions, and a pretty great business dinner at the Gilt Bar. 

Food and drinks in Chicago are pretty fabulous, but the Chicago Art Institute is the place I would really like to revisit. I had the opportunity to attend the Beauty Changes Lives gala honoring Leo Passage my second night in the city. Only one wing was open for partygoers to peruse, and luckily for me it was the Modern wing, my favorite period in art and literature. Picasso paintings danced along the walls and sculptures took center stage. Downstairs, a live fashion show took place with models wearing works of up and coming designers along with avant garde hair and nails. I posted some of my favorite pictures here. 

While most guests chose black to wear to the event, I opted for white. I had packed black, but at the last moment I craved the clean crisp lines of a white linen and feather blazer from Elizabeth and James and a BCBG pleated white dress with simple black pumps. It was cold outside, but to stand out in the crowd was completely worth the risk. 

Our last day in Chicago a mini miracle happened. The snow fell in droves and blanketed the streets, caking my hair and gloves. Even though it had been 90 degrees in Orange County, the extreme difference in weather made me inexplicably happy. It was like being inside a snow globe, newly shaken. Living somewhere that is beautiful but un-seasonal can make you crave days like this, where the bite of the cold doesn't even seem to phase you. I stood outside in my bare legs and un-waterproofed boots to allow the snow to fall on my shoulders. My flight home was delayed over three  hours, but looking back, I think it was all worth it. I may forget the outfits and hairstyles the models showed off; the taste of a meal may fade; I can sleep off the best glass of French wine; but watching the snow fall stirred something in me that I never knew was missing. Until next time, Chicago. 

The Things We Want

Things I wanted recently that I bought: Champagne sweatshirt from Blonde Design, Vera Wang White booties (purchased from a wedding site, even though I'm not a bride), and a Stace Face mug from Starbucks (the mug is an ode to Stacey Bendet, one of my favorite designers).  

When it comes to shoes and things I have a tendency to get what I want, and it's not always because I work hard for them. Sometimes I get gifts (or gift cards, thanks to Christmas), or sometimes I just wait it out for the ideal sale. Sometimes I even (gulp) charge these items to my credit card. There's nothing quite so motivating as getting what you want, especially when you don't have to wait to get it. I found all of these items via Instagram, and purchased them almost as soon as I was done hitting the "like" button.

It wasn't until today, when people at my work were asked to give feedback on the type of work environment that we want that I got to thinking about wants and needs on a deeper level. Sure, I have a long wishlist of components that would make up the perfect place to work, but I know now that there is no "perfect" place to work. Every job has its perks and occasional drawbacks. I read my email  back to myself and began making corrections; there wasn't a point in presenting upper management with a shopping list peppered with my point of view. Instead, I started off by thanking them for being interested in my feedback to begin with. After all, they didn't have to ask. I then acknowledged their goals so they knew I had heard them out and didn't just read the part that said "Please send your feedback." I offered up my concessions, then offered a few small details about what works for me. The result wasn't a ransom letter (these people after all supply me with the funds to buy my shoes) but a professionally articulated statement of what I thought I would need to be that much more successful at my job.

This exercise reminded me that some things are worth the wait, or worth working for. Take this blog for instance. I almost didn't type this post, because I wanted to go to sleep and call it a night. But it hit me that I wanted to write. Sometimes getting what you want requires pain and perseverance, and knowing this, I have been trying to avoid the uncomfortableness of it all. I had forgotten how good it feels to publish a post; to talk freely with my boss; to save up for something I really wanted. 

If you focus on delaying gratification just a bit, you might actually end up with the thing you never even knew you wanted. Case in point, this cool blue Nubar nail polish, gifted to me by a sweet friend at the company. I have wanted so badly to find my footing in the nail industry over the last two years. I have worked tirelessly because I wanted to learn; to prove that I belonged. At a certain point I forgot about wanting that so badly and just started being myself and doing my best. The result is a pretty great work relationship and cool moments like seeing my name on a polish bottle, something I never would have dreamed of wanting previously. 

I caught myself thinking I would have to go out and buy some new clothes for a tradeshow this weekend, but I stopped and realized how ridiculous that is. The fact of the matter is, I don't need anything new. I have plenty. It's time to stop wanting and start appreciating. I'm so glad I stayed up to write this post. 

NYFW Spring/Summer 2015

When I was younger I would stay up late and watch the Style Channel. At about 1 a.m. they would show runway shows from Fashion Week around the world and highlight trends. Watching these shows made me determined to go to Fashion Week someday. Every season I head to Style.com and watch the latest slideshows, enjoying ready to wear, couture, bridal, and resort from the comfort of my desk. When I was hired to work at NAILS, I was told I had the opportunity to actually attend NYFW. While I didn't believe it at first, I found myself inching closer and closer to my first trip to New York and the fashion olympics.

It has taken me a long time to post about this experience because I have been digesting it for a month. While at Fashion Week I was live blogging for NAILS and when I returned I had to complete my NYFW story for the November issue of the magazine. Getting caught up at work and financially has taken a while, and writing my story down was like letting out a good cry. I ended up with nine packed pages, detailing every sequin on a dress and how it felt to be nudged by makeup artists and cameramen. The only problem was, as my boss pointed out to me, nine pages of pure prose is a bit long for a story in a magazine (and of course a blog post). Instead of telling you everything that happened and what it was like, I decided to share some of my favorite images that aren't in the links above. The rest are on my Instagram feed. 

I count myself extraordinarily blessed to be able to say I made this trip and saw five fashion shows (Raul Penaranda, Opening Ceremony, Alice + Olivia, Libertine, and the Blonds). Fashion Week is a lot of work. Being in New York was almost too overwhelming. The pressure to put out a magazine is one thing, but the pressure of setting trends for the next six months is entirely another. It takes a complete mess and utter chaos to create something so ethereal to walk the runway. While I didn't get to meet any of my fashion icons, I did get to meet a lot of amazing people who make the magic of Fashion Week come alive. While it's not all champagne and parties, it is a milestone experience to feel the thrill of so many industries converging and being at the center of it all. Fashion Week is about possibility. It's a dangerous thing to try and predict the future, but the fashion world does so season after season with great flair. We don't have to follow suit, but more often than not, we do. NYFW made me excited about the coming seasons, and just as it had when I was younger, hopeful for the years ahead and all that's possible for your future self.