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!

Remember that POT restaurant post? The one with the amazing Korean dishes like BBQ Galbi and Kimchi fried rice? Well, that restaurant is located at the LINE Hotel, where the We All Grow Summit (W.A.G) is going to take place (I write all about the summit here). We’re very excited to have this conference at the LINE in Koreatown. It’s so important for us to show the different cultures of LA. The ones you don’t see on TV and hear about in music. When I first moved here, it was either the west side or the valley … and nothing in between. That is, until I started going to art shows around the city, which gave me a whole new perspective about this new place I call home.

The LINE is perfect for W.A.G. From the Sydell Group, Roy Choi, Houston Brothers, Sean Knibb and Poketo, the hotel defines collaboration and vision. Latina Bloggers Connect was founded on that principal – Community. Together, we support bloggers and brands in building authentic collaborations. When the two meet, lots of magic happens – stories are shared and long-term relationships are developed. And like LBC, the LINE is loud and proud about its cultural pride, diversity and roots. Every where you turn, you will be reminded of the area’s many cultures and urban subcultures illustrated by the strategically placed religious candelas, bowls of fruit, lollipop roses, tamarind sticks, stickers and bodega bowls of candy placed around the bar.

Then there are the outdoor areas like the Commissary, which is a greenhouse focused on fruits and vegetables and homage to all the people and families in Southern California who work on farms to bring food to the table. What’s there not to love about that?

Aaaah, the accommodations. These beautifully designed concrete rooms have a fantastic view of the Hollywood Hills and city sky line. With desks as headboards (which is an awesome use of space), it’s perfect for those, like us, who need our laptops to pay the bills. I’ve spent many nights during travel on the computer in an uncomfortable chair. I really like how you can face the sunshine while you get that to-do list done. Also, note the upholstered chair in a vintage Mexican serape. Another added touch that celebrates the cultures of the community.

You’ve probably seen this picture before. It was shot during my first visit to the LINE when Ana introduced me to the space to check out all the cool things W.A.G. guests will be a part of. This random picture is actually one of my favs, as it features art (Curtis Jere Birds In Flight) and my work (which also takes place on my phone)

Too bad the conference takes place in February or you would have found me by the pool the whole time. Surrounded by citrus trees, flowers and the Commissary, this might be may favorite spot in the entire hotel. The jury is still out on that one. I will need to test this out during warmer seasons.

And, finally, here’s part of the WAG and LBC team taking it all in by doing something we rarely do – Relax. Like I said, we’re excited (nervous, anxious) for the launch of this summit. Moreso, the opportunity to unite with old friends, colleagues and meet new talent and future partners. Great hotel for this kind of reunion. If you want more info, check out the LINE hotel site. Until the next post!

Leave it to me to come up with a look that will make my Thanksgiving feasting convenient. I focus on the eyes so if my lip color fades (yes, from eating), I will still look put together. I wear lose fitting clothes as opposed to my staple pencil skirt because I am usually cooking something (and because comfort) so I wear an outfit that can go from the kitchen to the table like this patterned jumpsuit.

I was sent a few goodies from Urban Decay and L’Oreal Paris that was perfect for an all-natural Fall look for Thanksgiving. And when I say Thanksgiving, I’m not talking about a huge Rockwellian dinner. Not everyone has that. This look is for anyone who likes a delicate all-natural look this time of year and looking for a more earth-tone palette for their upcoming plans. Whether you’re spending it alone, with family (large/small), with friends, on Skype (I’ve had those) or not doing the hype at all … You won’t regret dolling up to celebrate the blessings we have around us. To get your look started, make sure you exfoliate and moisturize to prepare your face for the awesome foundation that is L’Oreal Paris’s Visible Lift Blur. It feels like silk. Oh, and you will also love Urban Decay’s Naked Illuminated powder but more on that in bit.

Like I said, I plan on cooking and eating so I want my makeup to be natural with a bit more emphasis on the eyes. The Urban Decay Naked2 Basics eyeshadow palette is perfect for this. Two or three colors are fine for creating a complete look or you can go shadow-happy like I did. There are so many pretty colors to play with, you really cannot go wrong. I did a lot of combining and blending starting with the lighter shade (Skimp) on the brow bone and the inner corners of my eyes. I combined the second and third shade (Stark and Frisk) and applied it on my eye lids. This first step already drastically brightens up your eyes (). I used the fourth color (Cover) and started blending from the middle of my lid to the end of my eye and created a cat look effect. I used the 5th color (Primal) to blend Cover throughout the crease of my eye. I used the Skimp color again and slightly dabbed it onto the center of my eye lid to create the illusion of light and depth (something I’ve always done in my portraits). The final touch was the darkest color (Undone). I used this to darken the edges. I lined my eyes with Chanel’s Eye liner duo powder and used L’Oreal’s Voluminous Miss Manga. All you need to do next is apply L’Oreal Paris’s Visible Lift Blur Blush and their Tender Me Mauve lip color. Since your dinner is probably burning by now, set your makeup with that Naked Illuminated by Urban Decay I mentioned above. I love it, love it. And if you’re doing a candle-lit dinner for two … Your skin will look amazing.

If you want a bit more drama (your personal style is the only drama that is acceptable during the holidays), try Urban Decay’s Fast, Easy and Sexy partial false lashes (Yay! No more trimming). These may have convinced me to wear false lashes more often. I just don’t like the fuss of applying them and the shadow I see when they’re on (I really just can’t ignore that they’re there). But half lash? Simple to apply? Now, we’re talking.

Hope you’re all having an amazing week!

An Opening of the Field is an exhibition featuring the artists Jess, Robert Duncan and their circle. That alone is fantastic as far as my “I love collaborations” mind goes. This is the first exhibition to focus on the artistic production and relationship between the artists and their friends. It makes me wonder what kind of show my friends and I would have. I would love to see what kind of brilliant exhibit curators Christopher Wagstaff and Michael Duncan would put together. What they would do with forensic scientists, writers, photographers and bloggers remains to be unknown but An Opening of the Field: Jess, Robert Duncan, and Their Circle, has already been honored by the International Associations of Art Critics-United States with an award in Excellence in Art Criticism and Curatorial Achievement for Best Thematic Show Nationally (Currently on view at the Pasadena Museum of California Art).

Jess and Robert Duncan were one of the most captivating artistic couples of the 20th century. The artists shared a romantic and professional partnership that can be seen in many of their pieces. The mutual appreciation for mythologies, transformative narrative and the appropriation of image is evident in Jess’s paintings and Duncan’s colorful abstract drawings.

The exhibition also includes works by members of their circle – R. B. Kitaj, Edward Corbett, Wallace Berman, Lawrence Jordan, George Herms, Jack Spicer, Robin Blaser, and Michael McClure. I mean, that’s a quite a group of friends. Makes me think of the saying my grandfather used to tell me dime con quién andas, y te diré quién eres. The show alone is a remarkable collection of people inspired by one another.

You can learn more about Jess and Robert Ducan at PMCA. The show is on view at the Pasadena Museum of Art until January 11, 2015 before traveling to the Katzen Arts Center at American University. If you’re nowhere near, you can grab yourself a beautiful catalogue.

Thank you PMCA for the images.

Let’s talk about beauty priorities for a second, shall we? As I’ve gotten older, my taste, outlook and appreciation for the practice of beautifying oneself has evolved drastically. Over the years, makeup has become my pick-me-up friend – the one who tells me you still got it, let’s be fun, girly, flirty, vampy or sexy. It’s also that friend that reminds me that I need to take care of my skin if I want my look to be flawless and that all I need to do is add a touch here and there to enhance my own natural beauty. Sometimes it protects me from looking utterly exhausted, which is what this here post is about (sort of). I spend a lot of hours working in front of a computer and the wear shows on my eyes at the end of each day. My word of advice for something like this would be take moments to breathe, drink lots of water, eat well and try relaxation techniques to help soothe eye strain. My second word of advice – if you need to go out but don’t want to look like you’ve never slept – is to learn a few simple yet very effective makeup tips.
I give a full breakdown on (Oh yes, there’s a before shot in case you wondered), but you only need a few products and about 15 minutes to go from tired to refreshed (well, on the outside at least. Get your sleep!). When I’ve been working for a long time, and need to make an evening work event or PTA meeting (I chair an arts program at my son’s school), I do a few basic steps to get ready. I exfoliate my face and moisturize (you can use a BB cream), apply my foundation, add my concealer (in a v-shape for better coverage on those big eye sockets of mine), dab a bit of neutral light shimmer on the inner corners of my eye and brow bone. I use neutral tone (a shade darker than my skin) on my eye crease and a lighter color (a shade lighter than my skin) for the eye lid. This basically gives the very subtle illusion of a refreshed eye. For your makeup, all you need is a simple cat eye and a bit of liner on your lower lid (stay away from the water line for this one and let your upper lid liner do its job). Lightly color in your brow, add mascara, blush and gloss. These basic products should be separated from your makeup case, and placed in a convenient spot so you can do it quickly with no fuss. Like I said in the beginning of this post, my relationship with makeup and beauty has changed so much over the years. And I often wonder why many beauty brands don’t work with women of all ages as much. As a 41 year old woman, I can tell you that I love to look and feel just as beautiful as I did when I was 25. I can also tell you that I’m a much smarter consumer today than I was back then and I know what suits me and works for me way more than I ever did. I would also like to share that most of the hits to my blog come from two slideshows I did – Style Blogs for Women Over 40 and Beauty Blogs for Women 40 and Up. Yet, brands are using their budgets for the younger demographic (for the exception of a few beauty bloggers I know, who have a huge following because readers trust their knowledge). It was a point I briefly brought up in this month’s issue of iBlog magazine. I was asked about the obstacles a style blogger (or any niche, really) faces when trying to create a business out of it. Here’s what I said … The blogging business is a booming one. In fact, it’s why my eyes are so tired most of the time. There’s room for everyone but not every path is the same and not every brand is going to ‘get’ it right away. Marketing traditions are very hard to change. But I have seen a huge evolution online and am honored to work with and for campaigns that focus on women empowerment. We’re getting there, and I commend all the women out there who have used their platforms to change old ideals about aging, beauty and the way brands view women in this age of technology.

I think I may need to just do some sort of romper/jumper/jumpsuit haul. I can’t get enough of them. The other day, I wandered around Macy’s looking for some sort of beach wrap to no avail (summer clothes are all gone despite the heat wave weather), and ran into this jumpsuit. I was totally distracted by it so I tried it on. It’s beyond perfect for so many things and can be worn during the winter with a leather jacket or blazer. Total win/win. Because I like a minimal look, I just wrapped an Anthropologie belt I have from a few years ago, and done.

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GAMORA, GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
This pretty young lady is my friend’s daughter and one of my son’s closest female friends. They’ve pretty much grown up together and he is now kind of like her big brother ‘protector’ at the High School. When my son was looking up Star Lord costumes for himself, he said “You know who would make a great Gamora?” At that moment, the wheels started turning as I have been talking to the awesome people at Fandango to recreate something for Halloween. And here you have it, Gamora. If you’d like to recreate this look, I list the products I used here but I break it down on Fandango.

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My sister was here in August so I was planning way ahead when I did this Day of the Dead sugar skull look. But it’s something that I really wanted to do with her since I saw her recreate the look I did for NBC Latino last year. There was no time better than the present.

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