So this “I only wear black for the holidays” lady decided that red was OK too (I will be sure to share the outfit details next week because I love this jumper). For today’s post I would like to share that I’m totally hooked on jewelry tattoos. Completely hooked. First, let me say that when I saw these around the web, I thought it was a pretty trend for the youngins. It was something I admired from afar, but never thought of getting them for myself. Coincidentally, around the same time, Bling Tattoos reached out to me about their product so I jumped at the chance to try them out.

You can’t see it here, but I created anklets and back tattoos just for fun (because I got carried away). But to go out, I used the patterns as bracelets and rings, but you can design an entire arm or leg piece with these. Trust me, once you apply one, it’s hard to stop.

If you want to try these out, there’s a 20% off holiday sale going on right now. Check out their blog for ideas!

In my last post, I said we were going to decorate our Christmas tree that weekend … Turned out, my son got sick with the flu then passed it along to my fiancé so plans changed from silver and gold to herbal teas, medicine and lots of broth. The tree was up and beautifully lit but the ornaments needed to wait until my guys got better. After all, my son was not going to miss our holiday movie night tradition while pulling out the ornaments we’ve collected over the years. To add, it was around this time last year that I was in and out of the hospital trying to figure why I felt so unwell. Even though I am still working on it, it feels amazing to end the year on a healthier note. And to that I say, wear lots of gems, faux leather and switch up your regular winter color palette because life is good and there’s much to celebrate.

I’m so in love with all things Ann Taylor right now. They have the most beautiful and elegant sweaters for the holiday season, like the Ann Taylor cardigan (embellished) in this picture and the black one I’m wearing in my holiday makeup post. I would have typically gone with black/dark skinny jeans but decided to go change it up with my faux leather pencil skirt from Zara, which I wore in the scorching heat in Vegas … Aah, feel much better to wear it in cooler weather. Hope you all had a fabulous weekend!

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.

[Read more →]

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!

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)

This post is in collaboration with Nescafé with Coffee-mate. Story and opinions are my own.

There are two things that I need to get me going in the day – Coffee and Art. If I don’t drink my morning cafecito, I feel like I’ve missed something. It’s been a ritual of mine since I was about … 22 years old. I started a job in Wall Street (while working on my art teacher credentials) and wanted to partake in the morning coffee talk with employees so I grabbed a cup of coffee, and played grown up with everyone. I was right out of art school, and had never done the corporate thing. Needless to say, I never did fit in, but I’m thankful for that experience because I used it toward the art history career a later embarked on. It taught me about the importance of daily rituals and routine. I took my coffee habit with me all through the museum world and now as a content creator. It was especially a much needed pick me up during grad school and those long nights studying. To this day, there is nothing like sitting down with one of my art books and a warm cup to set the tone for perfect Sunday afternoon.

I’m a big fan of flavored coffee especially during the holiday season. For some reason, I start craving flavors like Vanilla and Hazelnut. I was sent a few Nescafé with Coffee-mate products to try, and I really love the taste. My personal fav is their French Vanilla creamer to go with my French art books. OK, totally not planned but as I’ve said before, I have a thing for the French.

If you want to have your own book and cafecito experience, I’m giving away a two week supply of Nescafé with Coffee-mate Creamers for one lucky reader. All you need to do is tell me in the comments section below what you think is the perfect pairing – Ingredients, a beverage, a snack – Whatever it is, tell us what you think goes better together?

The winner will be randomly chosen through Random.org. The giveaway ends Tues, November 4th at 9am PST. By November 5th, the winner will receive an email in addition to me announcing it here on the blog. The winner must respond within 48 hours otherwise another winner be chosen. US only. Good luck!