Turning on the Bright Lights and Living Colorfully
Things that make us daydream
"I saw that my life was a vast glowing empty page, and I could do ANYTHING I wanted." It's the middle of the week and I think we all could use a little motivation to get us through to the weekend. Do you follow Eugenia Clara on Instagram? How gorgeous are these hand drawn doodles showcasing little ...
Have you guys ever been to Think Tank Gallery? It's this little gem hidden away in the Garment District of Downtown Los Angeles. Sandwiched between tiny stores that are packed with bolts of fabric, you'll find this gallery tucked away upstairs at 939 Maple Ave. It's tough to find your first time, but definitely worth the ...
I’ve been on cloud 9 since I got engaged. I’m excited, and also a little scared, at the thought of wedding planning. So far, we’re thinking the wedding will be sometime in the Spring of 2017, which gives me over a year to plan. I’d like to think I’m going to diet and work out in beast mode, but we’ll see. I’ve been daydreaming about what I’m going to wear, what I want my colors are going to be, what quirky venues I’d like to check out, etc, etc. You can check out my Wedding board on Pinterest here. I have a whirlwind of ideas running through my head, but when it comes to how I want to look on my wedding day, 60s style seems to be a recurring theme. I am so inspired by the 60s… thick eyeliner, dramatic lashes, flowy dresses, gem tones, and best of all, the BIG 60s hair. YUM.
Have you guys watched Season 7 of Mad Men? When I first started getting into Mad Men, I really liked that 50s Betty Draper look with the structured hair and sweet little pinup dresses… but I was in LOVE at the women’s style in the final season, when the show was set in the 60s. The hair and makeup was amazing.
I’ve come to the conclusion that I need big 60s hair for my wedding day.
If you guys have any tips on hair products, styling tools, extensions, anything to achieve these Big 60s hair looks, please share!
BRUNCH & BOOKS STAYCATION
Sometimes you just want to get away for a little bit. Not necessarily for a long, carefully planned vacation, just an extended weekend… a couple days off either at the beginning or end of the week where you can stick around locally and take your time doing the things you really enjoy. For me, that’s a brunch & books staycation in Los Angeles. I love being able to go to a bookstore, then walk over to a place where I can grab brunch or coffee. Here are my 3 favorite bookstore and restaurant pairings, that are in walking distance of each other, whenever I need a little staycation.
Los Feliz – Skylight Books and Alcove Cafe
Skylight Books is one of my favorite bookstores, and a perfect staycation stop if you’re living in Los Angeles. They have such an unique selection including works from local artists and writers. They’re open from 10am to 10pm- it’s just so gratifying to have places you can visit that are open semi-late. Skylight has 2 locations that are right next door to each other. Their main store is bigger and serves as a general bookstore, but they have a smaller store just outside that I’m in love with – Skylight Arts Annex. The Arts Annex store focusses on design, architecture, fashion, art, and geek chic flare like sci fi, zines and comics. Their magazine section alone is pretty amazing – they manage to curate the most luxe and beautiful magazine publications I never knew existed. LOTS of coffee-table books… ones with lots of beautiful photography. Needless to say, you can spend hours in there just looking through pages and pages of art books. I also just like the fact that it’s a smaller space with lots to offer – feels cozy and grand all at the same time.
Whenever I’m at Skylight Books, I need to go to Alcove Cafe. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, but it’s pretty much all about their patio. This is one of my favorite places to enjoy breakfast and some reading. With a gigantic cup of coffee of course. And if you’re ever there for dinner, they have a beautiful bar area, and delicious entrees. I really like their fish tacos, especially on a warm Summer night on the patio.
Pasadena – Vroman’s Bookstore and Urth Caffe
Vroman’s has 2 locations in Pasadena, but my favorite one is on Colorado Blvd because there’s so much to do in that area. It’s two stories, with huge selection of books. But my favorite is of course the Art section. Right next door is the Laemmle Playhouse 7 where you can indulge in unique and entertaining independent films. And across the street is Urth Caffe. Urth also has several locations all throughout Los Angeles. This Pasadena location is super convenient because it’s huge… I never have a problem finding a table, and the line goes pretty fast, no matter how busy it gets.
Happy National Donut Day Everyone! Donuts make me so happy. Just looking at them puts me in a better mood. Of course I prefer eating them. I hope you're biting into a warm, soft, plush, delicious donut right now. Here are my 5 favorite places to get donuts in Los Angeles. CAFE DULCE Cafe Dulce, located in ...
I'm not really a Work Hard Play Hard kind of gal. I'm more of a Work Hard REST Hard kind of person. A couple weeks ago, I took a few days off to really relax. We spent a few days in San Diego, and the rest of the time devouring books and brunch. It was pretty spectacular. ...
Hey guys. I've been dreaming big lately. In lots of color... I took a couple days off recently, and I'm taking several more off next week for a doubly extended weekend. I'm not very good at using my vacation/PTO, which is terrible, so this time off has been a real treat. I have a weekend trip planned, but nothing ...
Hey Everybody! If you heart small business, local talent and handmade products, the Unique LA Spring Market will be taking place on May 9 and 10, from 11am to 6pm. I'm saving my pennies for pretty stationary and heavenly candles. Admission is only $10 for both days and includes the following: (more…)
I'm not sure where to start. There's simply too much awesome. Hello Kitty Con was one of the most happiness-inducing events I've been to. It was an incredibly crowded event, yet everyone seemed positive and just plain happy to be there. The majority of these photos are from Hello Kitty Con 2014 and some are from the Hello! ...
Pom pom accessories, sassy panda throw pillows, super hero couture and unicorn dreams. Meet a few of the talented and fabulous gals from this year's Designer Con. (more…)
