I was like a kid in a candy store the moment I entered the Calder exhibition at LACMA. I love the his kinetic sculptures and all their cosmic wonder and cannot get enough of the juxtaposition that exists that between the geometric and the organic. It’s nothing short of a visual delight.

Calder and Abstraction: From Avant-Garde to Iconic is on view at LACMA until July 27th, and includes forty years of Calder’s sculptures, mobiles, stabiles and maquettes.

It’s exciting to see Calder’s evolution into complete abstraction. His work just resonates with me and my own need to simplify and declutter. I found a sense of calm looking at his gravity defying, delicate sculptures, which leave these most beautiful, almost sketch-like, shadows on the wall.

Photos were provided to me by LACMA and were taken by Frederik Nilsen

So … I decided to do a recap of some of my blog’s highlights of 2013. It’s been a full year to say the least. I’ll try my best to be sum it up. My memory decided it was going to quit after I tried to overload it with dates and numbers, so they’re not in a strict order or anything.

I started off 2013 with a trip to Michigan with Ford, and had the best time ever (even though I got sick with a cold mid-trip). I got to visit the Henry Ford Museum , which houses the Kennedy car, Rosa Parks bus and Lincoln’s chair. One of the most unforgettable experiences I’ve had at museum.
My blog was given a facelift, and I started adding more style posts. Just for fun. I love clothes, accessories and all that good stuff. Little did I know that these pictures would open up a few new doors. Putting these images all together has given me lots of new ideas for 2014.
Ah, The MoMA. I went to NYC twice in 2013 (or was it once in the end of 2012?). It’s my hometown and I can never go without visiting at least one of my favorite museums. This particular trip was for the LATISM conference, which was held a few blocks away from MoMA at the Waldorf. We were working with our client  but during a lunch break I stopped by to see a few Pollocks and Cezannes.

I became a beauty blogger for Babble. Starting with my post about turning 40. Oh yes, I turned 40 is 2013 too!
This is from my trip to Miami. Part work, part fun. My boyfriend (who once lived in Miami) took me to Morakami in So. Florida. Beautiful place! He flew back here for a visit, and I took him to Huntington Gardens for Japanese Zen beauty. This was the last trip before he finally moved west.

A few months into working with Babble, I also started contributing to their Style Channel. I also wrote a few posts

Lots of cool art shows happened this year, like Hush. You can see more art stuff here.
My Day of the Dead posts were a lot of fun, and were featured on and NBC Latino.
And recently I was listed in Babbles 100 Best Blogs of 2013, which was truly an honor to be in such great company.

Putting these images together has given me lots of inspiration for the new year. In the beginning 2013, I had several goals for the blog but left room open to explore – some ideas worked, some didn’t. That’s the great thing about blogging. It’s just an organic process that just progresses through time. I’m super excited about 2014, and all that awaits! Here’s to a prosperous new year!

As you can see by my Gift Guide (or wish list for some items), I miss working for museums. I’ve often thought of ways I could possibly incorporate it back into my life. Maybe lecture on the weekends or teach a workshop at night? Not sure I can swing it right now. In the meantime, as I finally start the process of decorating my home, I can’t think of a better place for inspiration than a museum. It also inspires me to add more statement pieces into my wardrobe. I recently wrote a post for Babble where I listed several museum gift stores as shopping options for the holidays, and found myself wanting everything.

If you’re still looking, here are a few options to get add a bit of fine arts to your list.

1. American Thumbprint Goblets at The Met Store
2. Guilloché Stripes Scarf at The Met Store
3. Edgar Degas: Spanish Dancer Sculpture at The Met Store
4. Tibetan Pendant Cuff in Turquoise at The Met Store (My pick is also featured on Latina)
5. Modern Women – Women Artists at the Museum of Modern Art
6. Peacock Feather at The Met Store
7. La Dolce Vita Necklace at Legion de Young
8. Tapestry Soap Dish at The Getty Store
9. Gingko Votive at The Huntington Museum

This post is in collaboration with Conair. All opinions are my own.

As I’ve gotten older, I focus more and more on my skin and hair. I feel that if your hair is shiny and your skin is glowing, all you really need is a bit of mascara and gloss, and you’re all set to go. And with holiday season right before us, I really need to be able to get ready quickly for events after a full day of work. When Conair reached out to me about their Infiniti Pro and Cleansing Brush, I definitely wanted to try it out. I actually used to use a Conair hair dryer years ago when I was in college (it has since been discontinued) that I couldn’t live without. Similar to the Infiniti, it had a comb attached and cut down on my drying time. In fact, I had it down to 30 minutes – pin straight!

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So I just spent a really long time hanging out at Minted.com. It started with browsing through the photo holiday cards to creating mood boards and then back to holiday cards. I played around with a few of the designs and my own images, and am realizing that I have fallen behind on my holiday card game. I can’t believe it’s the 16th already! If you’re in the same boat as me, you still have time to send a beautiful card to your loved ones! I snapped a few pictures of my son the other day dressed in very mom-approved clothes, which I’m sure the grandparents would be appreciate very much. Looks like this design is the winner. Still trying to decide! If yo don’t have a picture to upload there are tons non-photo designs to choose from!

I’ve been eye-ing the BCBG Loretta sweater for weeks now, and finally got it after it went on sale. I had the devil on one shoulder telling me it’s OK to buy something for yourself and an angel on the other telling me to stop being selfish because Christmas is around the corner and this was no time for indulging. When I saw the sale, I took it as a compromise. This sweater is perfect with skinnies, a pencil skirt or even an A-line. I’m excited to play around with looks. Maybe I will get some inspiration from the list of 40+ Style blogs I created for Babble a few days ago. I loved looking through all of the pictures, bios and posts. You must check it out. Lots and lots of style inspiration. I also found several beauty blogs for women 40, 50 and up. I’ve been on the hunt for those because my skincare concerns at 40 are so different than what they were 10 years ago. I also want to see blogs that focus on makeup tips for someone over the age of 35. I like my makeup classic with a fresh twist. Mary Kay always send me great stuff along those lines, like their holiday bundle of makeup goodies. I’m actually wearing MK Rock ‘n’ Red Lip Gloss, Shy Blush Cheek Color and Love Lash in black.

These make the perfect gift for the classic woman. And I also love that they take the guess work out of which products work together. Their site has different looks, sets, everything. Now …. to find a pencil skirt to go with my new sweater … (that may need to to wait until the 26th!)

Mmmmm, coquito. It tastes as refreshing as it looks. The holiday season is here and all I could think about was having a coquito. There was always someone in my family who had a fresh pitcher in the fridge just waiting for the next get-together. My uncle used to host Christmas Eve dinner at his house, and there was always music, laughter, coquito and plenty of food (Boy, do I miss his pernil). It’s a drink that is just synonymous with family, dinners and celebration. If you’re unfamiliar with coquitos, they’re pretty much the Puerto Rican version of “spiked” egg-nog. If you’d like to try it, here’s a recipe. But remember – The key is to leave it in the fridge for a while so it can thicken up!

1 of can of evaporated milk, 1 can of condensed milk, 2 egg yolks, 2 cups of sweetened coconut milk, a pinch of salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of nutmeg, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and 1 cup of Puerto Rican white rum.

I just mixed everything in the blender. I’m a light-weight so the one cup of rum was fine for me. You may add more. My boyfriend said it needed more. The consistency will thicken up and the flavor will be richer after being in the fridge for several hours. And enjoy!

If there’s one thing Los Angeles has it’s good food and great restaurants that are impeccably designed. Interior design is something I’ve always been fascinated with, primarily because it’s something I don’t think I’m very good at. Being surrounded by beautiful art most of my life certainly didn’t rub off on me when it comes to coordinating furniture pieces, textures and patterns, I’m afraid to say (but I’m working on it). I over-think it to a point of stagnation. I’ve been saying I’m going to design my home for years now, and have not taken the plunge. I admire and respect those who have the foresight to see how a space can be transformed. It’s something that’s been on my mind as of late, and I made it a point to share all these woes over the weekend with Heather Ashton, who is the designer behind Caulfield’s Restaurant in Beverly Hills. She suggested that I just go for it starting with a coat of paint. She also shared how she mixes vintage accessories, art and New York style into her designs as you can see by these images. As we sat and talked over a cup of coffee, I felt like I was at a bistro in midtown, relaxed in my leather armchair taking in the ambiance and listening to the soft hum of conversation around me. And that is exactly what I admire about interior design – the way it resonates with people and impacts your overall mood and experience.



The owners of Caulfied’s Bar and Dining Room reached out to Heather to help refresh their restaurant, which is located at Thompson Beverly Hills. Upon entering the dining room, I noticed a chic banquette, beautiful antique mirrors, art work (I spied a print of The Absinthe Drinker by Degas), the lighting installation, window treatments and the leather armchairs and tables, which were custom designed. I also loved the antique white brick walls, which made the restaurant feel warm and cozy.

Now all I need to do is head back with friends. I found a perfect spot for a celebration dinner! To see more of Heather’s work, check out her portfolio.