I like to go from a very subtle makeup look to a very dramatic red lip … But at the end day my goal is to keep it all very clean and classic. You can’t go wrong with Chanel’s Rouge Allure Velvet (Love La Fascinante and 99 Pirate) and the beautiful L’Oreal Paris products I was recently sent like their Visible Lift Blur Foundation and Colour Riche Dual Effects Eye Shadow in Bronze for the perfect holiday look. I added a bit more drama to my eyes with La Ligne de Chanel (which is my go-to liner these days), Urban Decay Lashes and L’Oreal’s Miss Manga Mascara. And because I will always be a New Yorker (no matter where I live), black is necessary. Love this Ann Taylor embellished sweater and my April Martin necklace, which was given to me by best friend as a birthday gift.

I haven’t planned what we’re doing for the holidays yet. I feel like everyone started Christmas back in the summer and I need to catch up. What’s up with the pace these days? We just hosted Thanksgiving dinner – One holiday at a time. We’ve been decorating our tree the weekend after Thanksgiving for as long as I can remember, and I plan on keeping it that way. We put the tree up last night and I look forward to decorating it with my son tonight to mark the beginning of the holiday season. Hope you all have a great week!

Currently fascinated with the lives and work of Bruce Davidson and Paul Caponigro – Two American photographers who were both drawn to the UK during the 1960s. The combination of their work offers up countless stories of the more gritty, evocative street culture of England and Scotland and the mystical landscapes Ireland and Britain. I think what I’m drawn to the most is the process of photography we no longer see (view video below) in today’s snap it and go culture. These photos bring us back to the raw, journalistic and mysterious aspect of capturing a moment in time. I’m very excited that these works have been brought together into one comprehensive show, which includes a catalogue and 16 minute film.

Bruce Davidson/Paul Caponigro: Two American Photographers in Britain and Ireland is currently on view at The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. After a successful run at the Yale Center for British Art in New Haven, the exhibition focuses on the contrasting styles of two these two extraordinary photographers. The exhibition features 150 works including the film Still Looking created exclusively for the exhibition by Huntington filmmaker Kate Lain. Both artists are both still alive and practicing, and did not meet each other until recently during the exhibition in New Haven.

Thank you Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens for the images and video

For the exception of baseball, my son has been in just about every sport you can think of. I think that’s the only way for a kid to find what they love – expose them to many different things to see what sticks. I wasn’t all for tackle football, but I let him try that too. I think my biggest act of love was sitting through 90 degree weather (thanks, LA!), four times a week for 3 hours a pop to watch him practice. So not my sport but my son is a die-hard football and Eagles fan (he wants me to add that he loves LeSean McCoy). But he soon learned that playing it was an entirely different thing. If it were up to me, he would be doing track or soccer but it was not his passion (neither was guitar, piano, dancing, water polo and all the things parents sign their kids up for). But this year, he tried out for wrestling and he loves it. There’s definitely a brotherhood between his coach and the team that he will remember forever. He heads over to practice every evening after homework and tutoring. Like I said, there’s much to do this semester, as he continues to get acclimated to the high school pace.

High School isn’t just all grades and sports … It’s chock-full of friends and girls too. There are days he leaves here with more cologne on than a club in mid-town Manhattan. He also thinks about his appearance, and asks me to help him do his hair in the morning (because it needs to be very Henry Cavill), schedule his barber shop appointments and help him figure out which skin care products are the best for him. And of course there are days where he’s like “meh, who cares.” But I’m definitely starting to see a lot more self-care habits these days.

Mary Kay sent me their latest product MK High Intensity Sport Cologne which, according to my son, smells delicious. It has a very fresh and invigorating scent with hints of crushed mint leaf, violet pepper, wild birch bark and amber. He’s right – It really does smell delicious. I would love for you to try too along with a few other Mary Kay Men products.

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I’ve been wearing this long cardigan from over and over for the last few weeks. Between work, events and school meetings, this has been perfect for every thing on my schedule. The length is a great combination of cozy and dramatic all in one. I wore it over a simple outfit with heels for the Tylenol lunch I attended with friends/bloggers at Bouchon Bistro. It was for an initiative called #SmilingItFoward – If you send a picture of your child smiling post-sick – You know that smile! The one that says “I feel better, mom” and confirms everything is going to be OK - $1 will be donated to the Children’s Health Fund to help ensure doctor visits for those in need. I seriously love being a part of these kind of programs that encourage families to share their stories and help those who need it – especially when it comes to doctor costs. We were invited to help share the information and encourage other moms to upload their pictures and help spread the word about CHF. I also wore my comfy sweater to a mom.me soirée – Another platform that encourages mom to share their tips, stories and gems of wisdom (with Latina flavor). I write for them and do a bit of social media () on their Facebook page. It’s finally chilly here in LA but not quite coat weather so this look worked our perfectly for all I need to do.

If you want pure comfort and style for any of your upcoming events, a long cardigan is a great piece to have in your closet. I also suggest bringing up the look with a panama hat (love this one) and boots (dare to go over the knee?). I hope you’re having a fantastic week!

Right after 9/11, a friend of mine and I curated a show that focused on the stereotypes of Islamic cultures by featuring artists/photographers/film makers whose work represented the larger discussions that were taking place during the time. Our show “Body” had a very successful turnout with artists who taught us so much about the misconceptions of Islamic cultures. Although New York/New Jersey is a “melting pot”, there is much segregation and stereotyping within the local communities themselves (even if they look diverse on the outside). Fortunately, I was in the museum field at the time, so the conversations taking place around me (Shirin Neshat being my biggest eye opener) were void of sensationalism – Unlike today’s social media world (the field I am currently in). I have to sift through memes and misinformation on Facebook just to see Neshat’s updates, which just goes to show the state of conversations today and how quickly misinformation can spread. As an art historian, a witness to how art can redirect/shape dialogues and a strong believer that knowledge gives birth to empowerment, I want to share this extraordinary museum initiative called LA / Islam Arts.

Underscoring Los Angeles’s role as one of the epicenters of visual constructions regarding Islam and the Middle East, through architecture, film and its large Middle Eastern and Islamic populations, LA/Islam Arts Initiative will take over Los Angeles from October-December with a series of events including video installations, scholarly symposia, films, concerts, performances, and more. If you live in LA, I strongly encourage being a part of this much-needed museum conversation. The first of these shows are Doris Duke’s Shangri La and Shangri La: Imagined Cities, which are currently on view at Barnsdall. Both shows anchor this highly anticipated initiative and provides a collective overview of contemporary works that produce a multiplicity of worlds, interpretations, and investigations without ignoring the implications of organizing around particular geographic or religious lines. If you want to see the schedule of events, visit LA Islam Arts for more info!

(Doris Duke Earrings and Hand Mirror)

About a year ago, I started to feel TMJD creep in but wasn’t sure what was happening to me – pain, vertigo and basically an assault on my central nervous system. My ability to deal with day to day things started dwindling as the pinched nerves and flight or fight response turned my life completely upside down. It’s hard to believe that your jaw muscles can cause so much havoc but, believe me, they can. However, can you believe that this “flare-up”, as much I didn’t feel it at the time, is the best that happened to me? One day, I will jot down all the reasons why … But I will share that the woman standing in this picture feels incredibly strong (with a new definition of strength), happy and incredibly blessed to have the family and friends that I have. Sometimes it takes a debilitating illness/disorder to truly break you so the light can come in. I still have symptoms but my perception and the healthier road I embarked on has opened up the world for me in ways I never imagined.

A light that came through was the commitment and love that I received during a time when I was likely not the easiest (head splitting migraines that shoot through your eye will not make you pleasant, my friends). The obvious was my mom, who talked to me several times a day to reassure me that I will be OK. But the biggest gift I received was from my guy. I’ve never – ever – felt that type of care from a man. Ever. It was the kind you dream about but are convinced does not exist. I’m not talking grand, bells and whistles gestures either. I’m talking simple things – the kind that family does for you when you are not well. Pure unconditional love. Had I not been ill, I don’t think I would have taken it in the way I did. I had to trust. I was forced to let my guard down. There were so many days/nights he just sat with me and held my hand, walked me through the pain, meditated with me, made food I could chew, called to check in all the time and just simply watched over me. He was consistent and patient. When I could not do much, he held the house down, which was so important because I’m sure it wasn’t easy for my son to see me in pain and not truly understand what was happening. In so many ways, the whole experience was a huge blessing and I now deeply recognize why this needed to happen. When I was at my worst, I kept asking God to please show me what He wanted me to see from all this. I see it now, and the way I feel today is only the beginning. And to keep the promise that he will always be by my side, I got a beautiful engagement ring. It’s wonderful have, it really is … But he already delivered his in sickness and in health promise.

So here I am in my staple pencil skirt and a classic trench feeling wonderful after a weekend of Day of the Dead activities at and a bit of Ann Taylor shopping. I cannot get enough of their purses – Always chic with a great price range for those of us who love lots of options. And with all my experiences this past year, I just find the biggest joys in simple things like a great coat and a beautiful clutch. It was the perfect Fall weekend as we celebrated the death and life of those we love as well as the symbolic deaths that give us new life.

(H&M trench coat , Marciano Brea Pont Cutout Crop Top, Bebe Bodycon Midi Skirt, Steve Madden leopard pumps, Ann Taylor Pebbled Signature Crossbody Bag)