Posts from — July 2013

I love Ace Gallery in Los Angeles. The space is absolutely amazing. The gallery is located on the 2nd floor of an 11-story high building but feels like a museum when you’re inside. We checked out a few openings there last week – Bernar Venet and Phil Frost.

Bernar Venet’s work is simply beautiful. The exhibition “Indeterminate Lines” was so peaceful to look at. The lines are organic, vague even in all its geometric glory. The sculptures felt strong and commanded attention. I really loved Venet’s approach to the work. He says, “My sculptures are all about how they are made and how metal resists. They are a test of strength—a battle between myself and the piece of metal. It is a struggle between the artist’s will and the rigid nature of the laminated bar. I suggest which direction to go, but I am guided by the metal bar, which in turn also resists me. There is an interplay of concessions. When I have to let the bar remain autonomous, the result is a testimonial both to the act of forging and to the possibilities of a material which I do not change beyond the limits of its natural characteristics.”

Phil Frost is a New York based self-taught contemporary artist. The exhibition is called “Solace of the Sword” and alludes to the ascetic life. It also refers to the internal struggles involved in the act of painting. I can certainly relate to that. Painting can be an exhilarating and unnerving personal journey. It requires a lot of patience, time alone and focus. It is something very familiar to artists … bloggers, writers or anyone who makes a living creating can relate to the feeling of solitary confinement. Both shows are up until September. There’s also a rotating exhibition of selected artwork. Full list here.

My week in pictures is a few days late. I’m finally getting in some photo-editing time after a week of travel, lots of catching up and a few life-changing events. Where do I even begin?

Well. Let’s start with last weekend. A few friends and I stopped by Luis de Jesus Gallery to see the group exhibition – The Road . The exhibition is about all of the choices presented in a journey. It explores free-will, fate, irony and irrationality and represents the achievements and failures experienced along the way. And may I also add that this exhibition was quite indicative of the week that waited for me (A week of inspiration, a car accident and my boyfriend relocating to Los Angeles). I am in an entirely new chapter in my life right now. And where will this road lead me? I think this time around, I’m going to just go for the ride. Too much over-thinking in my 20s. Too much trying to have it all in my 30s. Tomorrow – I turn 40. I’m gonna go ahead and pat myself on the back for all those accomplishments and equally embrace all those failures as well. Because without them, there would be no successes. This is really an amazing time.

I flew up to San Fran this week for the Alt Summit conference, which was amazing. This was sort of a mini version of the main conferences held in Salt Lake City and NYC but I certainly left feeling very inspired. I will share all of those details this week. But seriously, the aerial views from LA up north are breathtaking.

And viva los avocados! My friend Maura (and awesome food blogger at The Other Side of the Tortilla) hosted an lunch for our client Avocados from Mexico. About 10 food and lifestyle bloggers were invited to partake in an afternoon of fruitful indulgence.

This. Best foot bath ever after admittedly wearing heels throughout a conference. Not advised. But if you’re anything like me and need/must wear heels (even if you’re on foot all day), this is an awesome little recipe to help relax those muscles. And speaking of travel, I also wrote an article about my partner in crime, Ana, who has the whole beauty/travel regimen down to a science. Here are her tips. I also did a round-up with Maura, who is also an Editor for . And if you’re into bright lip color this summer, my orange lips were featured (and in good company) on Mamiverse.

As you know, I love Mary Kay products. Ever since we worked with them at the LATISM conference in Chicago and their Blogger Retreat in D.C., I’ve been hooked! I’m hosting a giveaway on Babble. Check it out and enter to win Mary Kay’s Five-Minute Face Look and a 5-piece Brush Collection with bag. Good luck!

My son hasn’t even landed in Philadelphia yet and I already miss him. He’s on his way to visit with his family and attend film camp. He loves visiting the east coast. He feels his roots are planted there, although he was too young to remember much of what happened when we lived there. He was 5 when we moved to Los Angeles. I’m so happy and thankful to loving family members – He gets to travel and have different experiences. This kid is certainly loved by many. In fact, the picture you see below is right before we moved here. Time goes by so fast.

Aside from helping my son get ready for his trip, I only have online ventures to share this week. I have seriously been in front of the computer non-stop for the exception of having lunch at Stanley’s and a quick run to Nordstrom Rack, where I picked up this putty colored (all-purpose) Vince Camuto Satchel. I just had to have it. It has snaps on the side and opens up into a tote. I also stopped by Macy’s to look around, and picked up this pretty Metal Paddle necklace from Lucky Brand.

This week on Babble, I shared my recommendations for rose and peach colored blushes for olive skin, I had fun listing 5 candy colored nail polishes to brighten up your work day and I got a lot of great responses from my 5 Things I learned from Dominican Hair Salons. Also, we had a really fun Twitter Party with Neutrogena this week, where we talked about how we protect ourselves and loved ones from the sun. We have another Twitter Party this week with with special guest celebrity stylist . That should definitely be a fun one. I’m looking forward to her tips. Oh, and did I mention I will be moderating the Twitter Party from San Francisco? As I mentioned in my previous post, I will be at Alt Summit SF. Very busy and exciting week up ahead. I better rest up this weekend!

Watching last night’s fireworks – with my son – while relaxing on a blanket under the star-lit sky – was perfection. It felt incredibly good to relax and watch the sky light up in awe.

So I dusted off the old sketchpad this week! While watching sitcoms and snacking on the couch with my son, I sketched a few things. I remembered how wonderful (and frustratingly good) it felt to draw a portrait. I will work on a few more sketches before I start posting them on the blog. I’m a bit rusty!

In anticipation, I’ve been putting aside a jewelry pieces and outfits in preparation for my Alt Summit San Fransisco trip this month. It’s a short trip but I’m very excited about going. Can’t wait to be around the creative energy in one of my favorite cities – San Fran.

Also, this week – You can find me on Babble sharing my beauty tips for turning 40, my skincare tips for teen boys and my favorite vivid lips colors for summer. We also have a fun and yummy campaign with Avocados from Mexico over at LBConnect – There will be awesome recipes running about the blogosphere.

Have a great weekend!

I saw this dress in Banana Republic and just fell in love with the color. I don’t typically wear dresses that flare out – I tend to stick to pencil skirts, as I find them more flattering to my figure. But, it’s summer. It’s hot. And I think it would make a perfect dress for summer events and dinners. For a day time look, I paired with it neutrals but I think it would also look great with a black belt and heels. Maybe I’ll do that look for my birthday, which just so happens to be this month. The big 4-0. This month also started with a wonderful collaborations. I’m very excited to announce that I’m a Bablle Beauty Blogger! Make sure to check me out there!
(dress + bracelet: banana republic, shoes: zara. purse: michael kors)

I drove by My Sweet Cupcake in South Pasadena and just couldn’t resist. I picked up cupcakes for my son and I (they’re already gone) to start the 4th of July celebration. Hoping you and your family have a wonderful and safe day!

Here’s the Richard Artschwager retrospective (mentioned here and here) I attended a couple of weeks ago at the Hammer Museum. The exhibition features over 145 works spanning six decades, and includes (as you can see) sculptures, paintings, drawings, photographs and prints. According to the Curator Jennifer Gross “Artschwager had come to the realization that art lay as much in the seeing as in the making—that it lay in one’s perspective on things, not just in craft. While he would continue to be an object-maker whose attention to detail was ‘fanatical,’ he was determined that his future efforts would be applied to things to be looked at, to what he identified as the ‘useless’ realm of art.” What I enjoy the most about his work is that it doesn’t really fit into a particular category – Every gallery space had its own story and offered something new. As the viewer, I was able to take part in the artist’s exploration of the world around him as he blurred the lines between illusion and reality with each work of art. If you live in LA (or visiting), the show is up until September 1st. Check it out!

(pics c/o of the Hammer Museum)