be back in a new york minute

excited to be headed to the big apple this weekend...would love any suggestions and reccommendations for sight seeing, museums, shows, shopping, amazing food, or simply good ol tips for the city!

mad about mad men

undoubtedly, mad men has got to be one of the most styish shows currently on tv. the signature pencil skirts, fitted sweaters, slim suits and skinny ties, have prompted a madness for mad men with a slew of viewing parties, dressed to par of course, and fashion designers basing their collections on the show. now viewers can submit a photo for a chance to win a walk-on role on the show - but not everyone can pull off mr. don draper quite as well as my personal vote below, jordan crompton!

cool hair* hot days*

wearing your hair long, primped, and glamourous in the summer is an almost impossible mission to accomplish. in this case, you come to adopt several hair variations that will keep you cool when its really hot ... and best of all maintaining an effortlessly chic look. no need to worry about wind, beach, frizz, humidity and those other notorious hair kills with styles like the messy bun, side twisted braid, good ol' fashion pigtails, beach waves, natural curls, and with a neat headband to bring it all together, your hair will be ready to keep you cool and chic even when the the weather may be hot and sticky.

local gem: the six

on the primarily dismal block of pico blvd, enters a hip, eclectic, fresh yet rustic restaurant called the six. the decor included recycled wine crates, photo wrapped lamps, oversized wine bottles, and light bulb pot racks hanging from the ceiling. the communal table in the middle of the room was filled with groups of business clad individuals engaged in some afternoon drinks and nibbles. the ambiance was perfect and the food absolutely superb. my personal favorites were the mouth watering truffle oil infused pizza with goat cheese and vidalia onions, the addicting parmesan truffle fries and of course six cheese mac n cheese. if you haven't already guessed, their menu offerings includes all things 'six'... six veggies, six starters, six pizzas, six sandwiches, etc. with this approach i wouldn't mind eating here seven, not six days out of the week.

images via kevin eats

post weekend wonder words

finding your passion is half the battle. where is your inspiration from?

splash of watermelon stars

being the kitchen minimalist that i am, i thought these watermelon stars i came across on nobiggie made for the perfect 4th of july weekend treat. clean, fast, simple, and delicious - not to mention, there are more than a couple creative ways to serve them! hope you all have a fun and refreshing holiday weekend - mine will be filled with some fun in the sun, bbq's, much needed rest and relaxation, and of course a splash of watermelon stars...

via kami at nobiggie

cinespia

for the past ten seasons, a swarm of people line up hours to watch an outdoor flick with some edibles, wine, and blankets in hand. they picnic under the stars and listen to the sounds of a dj spinning tunes in the background. the twist is: it is at a cemetary. cinespia screenings are widely popular and occur every saturday and sunday during the summer on the lawn of hollywood forever cemetary. at first i was completly skeptical of the concept but based on the feedback i have been hearing, i might just have to add this peculiar outing to my summer to do list...

baggable

the items you tote around daily in your beloved bag always seem to change with the season. being in socal, sunglasses are a year-round staple. for the most part i have been anti carrying around a large suitcase looking bag for fear i wont find a thing once i dig my hands in there. in an attempt to narrow it down to the basics here is my version of baggable:

- wallet (the invasion of the credit cards)
- blackberry (although the iphone 4 has surprisingly tempted me)
- pen & paper (always come in handy)
- eyeglasses (yes yes, havent converted to contacts yet!)
- playing cards (dont laugh, i might 'bag' them out)
- lip balm
- mints & gum
- lotion & perfume
- hair clip

what I should probably add:

- camera
- snacks
- ipod (confession: never owned one)

what is your version of baggable?

king kong meets LA

how do you get the buzz out there that Universal Studios is launching a new King Kong 3D ride during 4th of July weekend? make the massive monster invade the santa monica pier for a publicity stunt like no other...peter jackson style.

photos via jonathan alcorn

summer scarfin'

some seasonal trends seem like a disconnect. take scarves in the summer for example. one would wonder why would you wear an accessory that is intended to keep you warm during the warmest season yet? however summer scarves are super light, thin, and the patterns spruce up any basic tee or dress. not to mention, there are multiple ways to wear them, not just bunched around the neckline. anthropologie has several breezy options to choose from but after the mall run i did this weekend, I noticed nearly every store was summer scarfin'

running on empty

similiar to the bike jam post, it is hard to imagine LA without so many cars. ross ching did just that and asked himself "what would the scene look like if everyone's car dissapeared?" the result lies in a time lapse video he created, appropriately titled, running on empty.

there has been some mixed reactions. does this hypothetical scenario strike you as surreal and peaceful or somewhat eerie?

Running on Empty from Ross Ching on Vimeo.

quite interesting to read the process of his project as well.

accessorize accordingly

we all know the power of accessorizing can make or break your entire outfit. lately, the pieces i have found to make a bold statement are chunky necklaces and cocktail rings, which can compliment perfectly when paired with a LBD or even jeans and a tee.




1. ABS Messy Knot - $150
2. Aqua Lucite - $25
3. Fiona Paxton Avon - $200
4. ABS Vintage Rock Shag - $225
5. Fiona Paxton Sylvie - $264
6. Gemma Redux Chain Necklace - $190
7. Aqua Lucite Pearl - $55
8. Aqua Lucite Gold Chain - $38

1. Tre Jewelry Glass Ring - $98
2. Kendra Scott Lora Ring - $55
3. Kate Spade Blowing Baubles - $95
4. House of Harlow 1960 Sunburst Leather - $70
5. Kenneth Jay Lane Jonquil Dots Cocktail Ring - $135
6. Trina Turk Jewel Crusted Ring - $88
7. Ollipop Jade Ring - $58

bang it out

these images make me want to trade my grown out side swept bangs back to wispy front bangs...

to bang it out {again} or not to bang it out ... that is the question...

Images: Valentine, Zooey Deschanel, Striped Zebra, Fuji Files

{weekend} wonder words

have a 'love'ly 3day weekend...

LA's new backyard blowout

we may have heard of pop up sample sales and boutiques but now lets make way for a pop up outdoor club called Beachwood. every Saturday from now until September, soak up the sun for seven hours of laid back California fun in what looks like a massive backyard blowout. whether you choose a breezy cabana brunch or bottomless mimosas, expect a slew of bathing suit clad bodies, a jam packed dance floor, bubbly hot tubs, relaxing massages...and of course it wouldnt be a backyard bash without those squirt guns!

cecilia cassini

as soon as you find your passion, you are never too old or too young to live your dream. case in point: cecilia cassini. this LA-based, eco-friendly fashion designer who models all of her creations, has been commissioned by the likes of diane von furstenberg, has dressed young hollywood on numerous occasions and is in discussions with project runway producers. her collection is featured in high end stores such as fred segal and has received an extensive amount of media exposure. now for the kicker: this talented designer who is considered a fashion prodigy by many in the industry is a mere 10 years old. watch video

thx thx thx

Leah Dieterich's mother always told her to write thank you notes. So she listened, and began sharing her appreciation to essentially everything, with essentially everyone. thxthxthx is her daily exercise in gratitude. From friends and family, love and loneliness, light and darkness, to my personal favs shown here: meetings, uncertainty and suggestions, Leah sets out to acknowledge them all, in a unique, quirky, humorous and always entertaining way!

race yourself

here is a new way to look at yourselves: through the eyes of another race. set up like a photo booth, the human race machine is a diversity tool that allows you to see how you would look like in a variety of races ranging from caucasian, middle eastern, african american to asian indian, and more. a former boss had photos morphed of herself with a spectrum of races and although unique and powerful, i presume it is costly as well. in the meantime, if you want to get a fun/quick/free fix of yourself as an alternate race, visit face of the future , where you can transform yourself in a matter of of a photo upload.

bike jam

when i see videos like this, my desire for a bike escalates. can you imagine a third of the population biking as a main mode of transportation? maybe not in LA - but that's the case in the Netherlands. Watch.

{weekend} wonder words