August 16, 2013

April 23, 2013

Hula - The Politics of Dancing

Krista Von Stetten pulled up to the nursery at Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden listening to The Descendents soundtrack on ITunes. Hearing it reminded me that I  L O V E Hula and Hawaiian music. The above image is the cover of Award winning historian, Adira L. Imada's Aloha America - Hula Circuits Through The US Empire - a work that maps hula as a cultural and political practice that has enabled Native Hawaiian survival despite missionary and colonial repression. 

March 27, 2013

Tasselmania

These fab tassel's by Clare Vivier are part of a collection she designed for h&m spinoff, & Other Stories, and are available in europe. I'll be checking on this fun flair and hope they become available to US shoppers soon!
Clare Vivier bags and accessories are the highest quality and style.
Cinco Powell is another bag/accessory store touting tassels - love that green!

March 22, 2013

This Moment In Time


photos by Bill Cunningham via nytimes

Freedom - good taste is whatever you want! 

March 21, 2013

Spring Goop

photos via goop
This morning's inbox from goop: confounding spring looks. I'm a fan of goop and Gwyneth, and wear what you love no matter your age! What's the deal? Does she love these ensembles? Do you?
Yea or Nay?

March 5, 2013

Summerland Folk Way Treasures


The drive from Pasadena to Ventura is hectic with interstate freeway convergence zones every which way. Think "the 210 to the 134, to the 101..." on and on it goes. As one travels north away from the San Fernando Valley to Ventura where the 101 meets Pacific Coast 1, the vast ocean is instantly the main attraction. In honor of our pledge to go to the beach more often, we visited a place called Summerland. Sounds nice, right? I wanted to see samples of hand blocked fabric by Les Indiennes at a shop called Botanik on Lillie Avenue (the fabric was gorgeous albeit more dijon and than sun king gold). Across the street was the gallery, Just Folk, a vast and stunning collection of primitive folk art in a modern structure that was inspired by a barn. One of my favorite things about this place was the smell of ocean, burning wood, antiques and a kind of beeswaxy, old church essence that made me happy. The collection belongs to the successful television producer, Marcy Carsey and her partners. Guy was more enthused when he found forged tools, and the upper deck where he could see across the highway to the sea. My favorite pieces of the collection were the Lion sculpture by American Folk Art hero, Elijah Pierce and the quilted textiles mounted on the weathered barn wood. 

March 1, 2013

Test Prep


study for the SAT or lounge by the pool?

February 21, 2013

Beauty And The Beach

Proactive skincare on Chinese beaches - the facekini

February 18, 2013

Keep At It

via permadirty project space

February 15, 2013

February 13, 2013

21

Solveig at 21

February 11, 2013

Throwing Light On Los Angeles

My obsession with LA architecture led me to the discovery that Moby, yes, smart, sexy animal loving MOBY, keeps a blog called Moby Los Angeles Architecture Blog! On Moby's blog is a map via Archinect News that displays the utter magnitude of sprawl - doesn't even display the surrounding suburbs. This map illustrates how all these nice, big US cities together could fill the entire area that is LA. The gifted artist Moby elucidates upon his oberservations of this vast landscape in a video produced for last year's Pacific Standard Time exhibition - it rocked!

January 12, 2013

Potato and Bean Gratin - In the Kitchen

I prepared this out of focus bowl of Great Northern beans in the oven. Cooking the beans in the oven rather than the stove really helped them keep their shape; they seemed less watery and more savory. After cooking the dried beans, I prepared a delicious bean and potato gratin! We loved this - especially with breadcrumbs toasted on the top. It was so good I forgot to take photos of the gratin. Check out Mark Bittman's recipe here

January 11, 2013

Book Stand - LA


This winter I feel like I'm missing out on titles to read and more, art books!
Art books and creative journals curated by Los Angeles based, Claire Cottrell. Selections for sale include rare and unique books, magazines, videos and zines unveiled. The online experience is polished and organized by collection, and is a holiday from busy, cluttered sites!

I repeat to my kids over and over that reading is sexy, and Book Stand donates $1 from every purchase to The Library Foundation of Los Angeles

January 10, 2013

Chris Benz - Of The Now

Chris Benz Resort 2013 is vintage-inspired fabulousness wherever your destination - see here:
80's OMO Norma Kamali style
Tropical Miami modern
Saint Tropez nautique 
70's Diane von Furstenberg
images via Chris Benz

January 8, 2013

Two Are Better Than One - Sweet Youth

young son in double at joshua tree the day after xmas - mirrorgram is the fun app!

Expressive Treasures- Vintage

Vintage, modernist, gothic, abstract, shiny and brilliant treasures via Etsy






January 7, 2013

Life Pretty

I couldn't imagine anything more fabulous than owning a book shop in a village in Burgundy, France. I met George at a going away party for Guy's colleagues, Tim and Kim, who were leaving Southern California and moving to Seattle. George arrived at the party alone and explained that his girlfriend had moved to the heart of France and was living the dream, operating a small book stand in a picturesque village where everyone knows everyone (imagine David Sedaris' life in France with Hugh). Although the couple only sees one another every few months (George travels a lot), he beamed as he recounted the ways this lifestyle is a happy one and really keeps him going:

1. Living apart makes them appreciate one another.
2. Separately, they have nearly grown children.
3. A quiet, romantic place to live out their years with a little business to keep them involved with tourists and neighbors.
Guy and I in Antibes last April

We drove home to Claremont and talked all the way about what it was like when we lived and worked apart over the years. It's true, we ALWAYS had the most fun scheming, planning and executing a way to be together (with or without kids) when we were separated by Guy's life at sea. Contemplating the changes in our life and moving around the country gave us much to think about on our drive. I took off my party clothes and went to sleep dreaming of the Bourgogne, wine, and macarons. I woke up the next morning with the holidays full on. Not giving much attention to skiing the les Alpes and living in France; but, thinking of Tim, Kim, and their little one moving in the heart of Winter to Seattle to be close to family - something I am more familiar with. Living in Seattle was sweet because we were close to family and friends, and experienced the unconventional style of living apart together.

January 5, 2013

January 4, 2013

Football Fiesta & Fashion

while we cheered our beloved emerald-clad ducks to sweet victory in the fiesta bowl, Etsy's style council broadcast a viridian themed treasury celebrating Pantone's 2013 color of the year - yes, emerald! Select items of interest from the campaign curated by Etsy's Nicole Smith:

January 3, 2013

Identity Crisis



Oh, I've been waiting, definitely! Searching for my waist so I can wear my big, brown leather belt with soft, cloud colors this spring. Stylish ladies of LA are turning on the neon, but i'm hanging out in the storm, everyday. Inspired by Bruno Cucinelli 2013


January 2, 2013

How to Live with Young Adults or Infinite Love With Fulfillment



groove to my sound track for living with young adults holiday 2013 -  

Young Again - Paul Banks ++ Despues del After - Kinky ++ Saturdays - Cut Copy ++ Life Magazine - Cold Cave ++ No Es Que No Que Tierra - Hello Seahorse ++ Youth Lust - Cold Cave ++ Drift Dive - The Antlers ++ Vanessa - Grimes ++ I Carry The Fire - El Perro Del Mar ++ Infinite Love Without Fulfillment - Grimes ++ Andamios - Cafe Tacvba ++ How to Live With a Pantom - Shintaro Sakamoto ++ Lonely Satellite - Yura Yura Teikoku ++ Skin - Grimes ++ Tounges - d'Eon ++ Video Games - Lana Del Rey ++ You Just Decided - Shintaro Sakamoto ++ Genesis - Grimes ++ Beautiful - Yura Yura Teikoku ++ Oblivion - Grimes ++ Slow Lights - Sin Fang ++ The Base - Paul Banks

January 1, 2013

New Year Age


Guy said he wanted to visit the ocean more often in 2013 and we resolve to do so. We walked in the sand at Newport Beach this New Year's afternoon. What IS the phenomenon when the atmosphere mirrors the sea? Is there a name for it? It was a dreamy sky with broken waves appearing to look like the broken clouds overhead. It felt like relief to be covered up and sheltered from the familiar bright, extraordinary light. 
Happy New Year!