☮ ♥ & THREAD LA

The Holiday Season is officially here, which means plenty of presents to purchase. Without a doubt, my favorite gifts to give are ones that I know the person will really love. That seems simple, but the task of finding the perfect present for everyone on my list does not always come at the perfect price and hardly ever found all in one place. This is what I believed until I discovered THREAD. Talk about ultra unique, one-of-a-kind and creatively chic designs, clothing and crafts under one roof...um, pinch me! From a DIY Booth to hourly give-a-ways, live artists and DJ beats, this localized shopping show is anything but ordinary and is headed to Los Angeles this Sunday. Taking over the Cooper Design Space at 860 South Los Angeles Street, check out deets and RSVP for $5 here. If anyone wants to know what my Holiday Shopping secret weapon is? Tell them I said THREAD. 

Check out some of these snap shots from THREAD Show Los Angeles, taken by photog genius Raffi Keklikian. For more of his innovative amazing-ness, stop by his site or add him on Facebook. 

Beauty [CULT]

What defines beauty? 

Could it be the million dollar make-up industry that convinces us that the definition of beauty is something found in a tube, jar or at a store? 

Or could it be the clothing designers and fashion folks who would probably suggest that beauty is translated in the clothes you adorn or the type of jewelry worn?

What about the plastic surgeons who have somehow managed to convince us that beauty can be transformational, just one procedure at a time?

Perhaps it could be the modern mainstream media that has manipulated all of these notions of beauty and transcribed them through channels of stereotypes and unrealistic expectations?

Regardless of how you approach the term, defining beauty is something done by the culture. Through time, American females have somehow fallen to the threshold of how we are seen within society. Whether we are the subject or the object, determining between the two is, unfortunately, never really up to us. This weekend, I took a day trip to the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles. The exhibition really put into perspective the reality of the iconic, yet ironic culture of beauty in the U.S. By combining mixed media graphic art, contemporary advertisements, photo shoots and video, I wandered the exhibition doing my best to wrap my head around something that I have always understood to be the truth. 

Sometimes, there is much more beauty in the lies we believe than whatever the actuality that something truly is. 

To me, beauty is more than the clothes you wear, the products you have, or the shape your body is in. It is much more than what money can buy or surgery can "enhance", rather it is the confidence that comes from feeling refreshingly satisfied, appreciated and happy from the inside out. I'd like to see money buy me that.   

Watermelon & Lime

It's official, I have relocated. Goodbye San Diego and HELLO Los Angeles! As opportunities arise, it was important for me to make the right move for the right position and I can say I definitely made the right choice. Although I will no longer be living in America's Finest City, weekend trips down the 405 will occur regularly. Los Angeles may have my body, but San Diego will always have my heart. 

My new job has plenty of perks, one being the fact that my love for food is shared by one of my co-workers who is the foodie phene behind TruckFood411. Tonight I was invited out to join him and his family for a food truck adventure to Northridge Din-Din A Go Go. Not only did I experience the most juicy and buttery Lobster Sandwich compliments of The Lobsta Truck, but I also finished with a watermelon+lime snowball from Breezy Freeze.  

Let's just say, life in LA is off to a very good (and delicious) start! 

The Standard | Bachelorette Weekend

From Barbies, to boys; from play dates, to real dates; from camping, to concerts; from dress-up, to make-up; from girl scouts, to Girls Night Out; there is just something special about being friends since preschool. My dearest childhood friend Melanie is tying the knot September 9th and I could not be more excited for her! We spent a marvelous weekend sun bathing, eating sushi,  dirty dancing, and sipping champagne poolside at The Standard in Los Angeles to celebrate her new life as a wife to be. Did I mention, I love champagne? 

Cannibal Flower | Los Angeles

Cannibal Flower is a collective that produces shows every two months in Los Angeles that allows local artists to display their finest masterpieces. Complimented by local musicians as well as the creative minds and art fanatics residing in the greater Los Angeles area, the weather was not enough to rain on this parade! I brought two of my good friends from Santa Clarita to check out the show and also my San Diego pal Monty Montgomery had his work on display. 

  

If you're a bird, I'm a bird

This weekend has been fabulous. Saturday began with a hot pink manicure then transitioned into an afternoon of March Madness at Balboa Park with my sister Bree. 

So many pooches and everyone was decked out in St. Paddy's green, I already have my green outfit picked out for the 17th. 

Then it was off to Project Ethos in Los Angeles at the Avalon. I brought along my friend Brett and we definitely had a great time and enjoyed the fashion, music and art. Sunday I woke up in Los Angeles to sunny skies and 70 degrees of perfection, so it was off to The Grove for breakfast and Melrose for some vintage shopping. I picked up some awesome jewelry, take a peak at my bird rings!

"If you're a bird, I'm a bird"

Day Trippin' to Unique LA & Renegade

What better way to spend a Sunday under the sun? When you pair it with shopping over 500 local designers, artists and crafting professionals in one city all in the same weekend! 

 

& 

FIRST STOP: RENEGADE @ THE LOS ANGELES STATE HISTORIC PARK

"I left my heart in San Diego" --true that! 

These skull pillows were made from recycled vintage sweaters!

LOVENAILTREE // Love them & their stuff. 

Good enough to eat--delicious candles for your eyes & nose! 

UP NEXT: UNIQUE LA @ CA MARKET CENTER PENTHOUSE