pin it

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I’ve been on Pinterest for a while now pinning all things white apparently. Hmm, can’t imagine this look will go over well during preteen video game pizza nights, but I’m thinking of ways of pulling it off. As you may know, it takes me a long time to decorate. So I’ve been creating my spaces online, (over-thinking them), and figuring out how I can re-create them in my home. So far, our classroom/studio/work area is taking shape – thanks to the help of my boards of inspiration. Join me!

plumed serpent

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I absolutely love being in the presence of deities, gold, turquoise and Mesoamerican artifacts. It feels so majestic. One of my favorite places to visit is the Museum of Natural History in NY. I spent many hours gazing at Moche vessels, wondering what they were like and trying to read their codices. I felt the same spiritual presence during LACMA’s opening for Plumed Serpent. Another deity that has always fascinated me is Quetzalcoatl – and how his followers flourished as a cultural, political and artistic society successfully resisting Aztec and Spanish control. Children of the Plumed Serpent: the Legacy of Quetzalcoatl is up and ready for your perusing. Oh. You have to see the turquoise covered skull. I collaborated with LACMA during press day to get the word out via Twitter – the image of the skull proved to be a favorite amongst those who did not have access to good ole LACMA. If you do – no excuse. See you there!

easter

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I suspect we won’t be cracking these over anyone’s head for good luck if it means days of clean up and vacuuming (oh, alright, I’ll live a little). Inspired by Spanglish Baby and the 2 Good Eggs, we spent the afternoon with dye, glitter, confetti and eggs. Admittedly, I never heard of Cascarones (lowers head in shame). Year after year, we just boiled and dyed eggs. Boiled and dyed. Year after year. And I can say with assurance that they never looked as good as these. Hey, a career in the arts does not guarantee good Easter egg design skills. But it was an afternoon well spent as we reflected on all the great things that have happened over the last few weeks. A time for renewal indeed, as we open new doors and enjoy every moment…More to come on that.

aphrodite

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When I lived in NY, it was impossible for me to visit a museum and not feel the need to work there. I had a bit of an addiction. There was a point when I actually worked at four museums simultaneously – all contractually – hopping from one to another in one day as an educator. It’s easier to do when you live on the east coast. I didn’t have to drive. When I moved to LA, I struggled with the layout of the land. A lot. The driving and traffic really got to me after a while and I tried to think of ways to continue my passion and work for museums without the worry of 40 people waiting for me while I was parked on the 405. Hence, the blog. This whole Art Muse concept has opened so many new doors for me – including the opportunity to write for different publications and exercise my new love for photography. Of course, when I arrived at the Getty Villa’s Aphrodite reception, I wanted to stay and work there. Wouldn’t you? It’s one of the most magical museums I’ve been to. To see Aphrodite in all her glory turned a regular Tuesday night into an evening of nostalgia for me – I was reminded why I love museums so much. Perhaps this overwhelming feeling of happiness was the result of being in the presence of the love goddess herself. I don’t know. You tell me. If you live in Los Angeles, the show is now up for your viewing and offers new insight on her life, relationships and origin. If you’d like to know a bit more, check out my post for CBS Best of LA.

(Aphrodite images provided by The Getty)

joshua tree

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As we drove through the desert, my husband looks over at me and says “Do you hear that? It’s the sound of nothing.” It felt as if we were gliding our way around Joshua Tree National Park – truly a delightful experience. So much so, I decided it would be fun to throw on heels and a trench and walk down a deserted path. It’s not the kind of thing I do on a Sunday morning (er, make that any morning). Baby Blue is back at the dealership (we name our cars as only dorks would do) and I’m well back into the groove from my 48 hour respite. After yesterday’s flight from Oregon (mother nature was keeping it real on the plane), I’m so ready to head back to Palm Springs.

(Car shown: Toyota XLE Hybrid. I was selected for participation in the TWIN community through a program with Clever Girls Collective. I did not receive any compensation for writing this post, or payment in exchange for participating. The opinions expressed herein are mine, and do not reflect the views of the Toyota)

chasing the sun

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We escaped the rain last weekend by heading east and taking in a bit of the sun in Palm Springs. A few weeks too early for Coachella, we decided to just blast the music in the beautiful XLE Hybrid Toyota so graciously lent me for a ride and drive experience. The drive was excellent, and we seriously did not fill the tank once round-trip. We just wanted to rest, eat, rest and eat some more. And so we did. We savored every bite at Copley’s and strolled The Design District. It was great to get away from the gray skies and throw on Spring colors for an evening out.

(I was selected for participation in the TWIN community through a program with Clever Girls Collective. I did not receive any compensation for writing this post, or payment in exchange for participating. The opinions expressed herein are mine, and do not reflect the views of the Toyota)

cruisin’

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What’s all this #TotoyaWomen stuff on my Twitter timeline? Since when am I a car person? It took me by surprise too but when Clever Girls Collective and Toyota collaborated and took me along for the ride (ahem), I really wanted to see what these Hybrids were all about. I’ve been steadily going down the ‘is this really necessary’ path when I got rid of my SUV. Unable to get Hybrids at the time, hubby and I purchased smaller fuel efficient vehicles. I was given the opportunity to drive the Prius C – all colors of the rainbow – during my trip to La Jolla (HERE, HERE and HERE again). Smooth as silk, and quiet to boot. Now, let’s face it, am I the right gal to tell you about the mechanisms of the car? Neh. However, as someone who is actually quite proud of her parallel parking skills (Hey, you try squeezing into a miniscule space in between a van and a pimped out motorcycle in Midtown, NY. An accomplishment worth a gloat) the Prius C is a phenomenal car for the urban dweller. And, easier on the pockets for those who live in stop and go driving areas. Expect a few more Hybrid posts, as I have a beauty sitting in my garage right now just waiting to be taken out for a spin. Ah well, guess I’m a car person now.

(I was selected for participation in the TWIN community through a program with Clever Girls Collective. I did not receive any compensation for writing this post, or payment in exchange for participating. The opinions expressed herein are mine, and do not reflect the views of the Toyota. Kindle c/o of Toyota)

frida

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A few weeks ago, my son and I headed to the library to grab a few books about the life of Frida Kahlo in honor of Women’s History Month. To show him more images, I grabbed a few of my old books. I had no idea I had so many until I walked over to him with a stack in my hand. We talked about her life, her paintings, symbols in her work, her relationship with Diego (the 12 year old version of it) and her beautiful traditional clothes, hair pieces and beaded jewelry. It reminded me of the coral necklaces I have from Ecuador, and how much I love wearing them. But as you can see, I have to be careful with such pieces – as I have a cat who loves, I mean loves, my books and jewelry – and will go to great lengths to get a nibble at them.