All Hallow's Eve

Hi friends. Big plans tonight? I think this is the first year EVER that I won't be dressing up for Halloween.  I'd love to hear about your plans tonight and what you did over the weekend. Send links to blog pix too!

If you haven't checked out the recent photo shoot for my partner blog, Secondhand Star yet, you must visit! Click here and here for more pix from the entire shoot, including myself & Noa along with some killer models rocking some of our vintage redesigns.  More details on this outfit too!

Have a fabulous evening! xx

Hot Pumpkin! (Happy Halloween)

We did our yearly pumpkin patch visit on quite possibly the HOTTEST day EVER. And in the valley. (For those of you not in southern cali, "the valley" is notoriously 10-20 degrees hotter than LA, especially in comparison to Venice Beach... eek!)

I literally had to change my clothes from jeans to this random dress I found in our car. (Which reminds me, once again, that it's a good idea to keep a few things on hand for this very reason. See this Fashion Trick post here.)

This place was an actual working farm and had enough to see and play with for an entire day.

I personally thought the house made of pumpkins was the coolest part. 

We ran into friends, had fresh lemonade and kettle corn... I got a sunburn and near heat stroke, but another beautiful memory made.

PS - Wanna make an easy (high fiber, low fat) pumpkin muffin recipe? All you need is a can of pumpkin and cake mix. Click here!

PPS -  How quickly has this year flown by?! I can't believe it's almost Halloween! Have a wonderful weekend, lovelies.

Some enchanted evening...

I don't think there's anything more fun than getting together with girlfriends, all seriously gorgeous and talented in their own right, and making magic happen.

Hop on over to Secondhand Star (click here!) and see the first round of pics from our Model Shakedown party, featuring several of our vintage redesigns.

Photo by Karri Bowman

Dress - Vintage Redesign by Secondhand Star 

Makeup by Lisa Dempsey

Crème + Grey

For a brunch date with little sis, her ridiculously cool girlfriend, (I styled a sweatshirt/skirt combo that I stole from her - coming soon) and the monkey, we took a walk to Abbot Kinney to enjoy our favorite coffee and shopping spots.

It was still warm enough to rock my lace shorts and a thin blouse, but I literally threw on this cashmere tank on the way out the door. (I mean, literally. My closet is a hidden wall right by our front entrance.) I'm always tossing things on at the last second and hoping they work.

I needed just a tad more warmth and this did the trick. I'm so glad I kept this tank because I've worn it a million ways. It was a long, beautiful piece that got a hole right front and center. But I couldn't part with it's yummy-ness, so I hacked it off. (Consider this before you toss something you love!) Sometimes I wear it at home over a nightgown and it just feels luxurious. (Side note - I must do a comfy clothes clean-out, revamp soon! Who's in?!)

Anyway, we thoroughly enjoyed our early afternoon stroll and leave it to little sis to find the coolest shooting spots too. 

We headed to Principessa, the most beautiful store on the block and full of inspiration.

They carry everything from high-end vintage couture, to the most spectacular and interesting labels. I could close my eyes and point - and pick out the most awesome outfit anywhere in there.

 We ended our day at 3 Square cafe and bakery and planned our next mission.

 Which among other fabulous things, included getting a certain someone down for a nap!

Blouse & Bracelet - Vintage, Boots - Steve Madden, Bag - American Apparel, Stella is wearing a hand-knit, vintage slip dress from Goodwill.

Sunday Find ~ Floppy Hat

I was happy to arrive back in Venice Beach to a much cooler weather forecast.

We spent a lovely (and warm!) weekend away with friends and family near San Francisco. But it felt a little more like a summer getaway than a festive, fall celebration. Loving a reason to pull out tights and this fabulous floppy hat I found for a steal.

While out shopping recently,  I found a pricier version that had me damning our adult responsibilities (You know, little things like rent and feeding the child...) when the hubs said in a very nonchalant way, "Babe, can't you find something even cooler for really cheap at a thrift store?"

And... my work here is done. 

Velvet Blazer - Vintage 70's (it was my mother's) that I had tailored, Striped Dress & Necklace - (unknown labels) via clothing exchange, (See how to host a clothing exchange), Checkered Shirt - Forever 21,  Booties - Ash

P.S. ~ Happy Birthday to the best guy I've ever known.

Blazer Day #4 (& Momo's Bracelet Winner announced!)

Whenever I visit one of my favorite friends, it's always a delight. She has the loveliest garden and always treats me to an overflow of wine and yummy food.

 Blazer Vintage Nordstrom

(See look #1, #2, #3)

Bow tie blouse - Vintage (last seen here on Sterling Style)

Red Shorts - Redesigned vintage by Secondhand Star

Shoes - Vince Camuto Moma's

We soaked up the sunshine and catch-up conversation, then ended our evening at the opening of the coolest damn General Store you'll ever visit. Complete with old fashioned candy, vintage patterns & records, photography, home goods and more. The best part was feeling like you were transported into another era all together... Well, that and the seriously heavy hand in Mexican culture. Pretty much my kind of store. Visit if you can!

Villainy General Store 

Echo Park

1519 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

P.S. Congratulations Heidi from Moda Photography! You're the winner of the art deco bracelet from Momo's March!

Blazer Day #3

I wasn't kidding when I said I wore this blazer for a week straight. Here's what I did with it for a quick meeting and design drive-by.

Blazer - Nordstrom Vintage

Blouse - Vintage

Pants - Ralph Lauren

Sunglasses - Cheap Monday

(See blazer look #1 here & #2 here)

Blazer Day #2

I forgot how much I loved wearing my hair like this since the top knot bun has been playing center stage as my go-to hairstyle lately. It seemed a fun way to balance out an otherwise serious outfit.

 Blazer - Look #2 of fave "new" fall item

Jeans - Genetic (similar here)

Sweater - Michael Stars Cashmere

Scarf - Vintage

Skinny Trick ~ Veggie Muffins

I made these incredibly tasty, veggie filled muffins the other day. This recipe makes two dozen and I sent half of them to the hub's office, the other twelve lasted about two days in our house! (That means the two year old, picky food monster devoured them too!)

 Zucchini/Apple/Carrot Muffins

(Adapted from A Bountiful Kitchen)

1 1/8 cups sugar
3 cups flour
2 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
A pinch to 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg (can be omitted)
2 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3/4 teaspoons baking powder
4 large eggs
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 tablespoon vanilla

3 cups peeled grated carrots
2 cups zucchini, unpeeled
2 cups apples, (I used Fiji) grated

If you have a food processor, it's the easiest way to shred the carrots. I tossed them in and let 'em whirl while I grated the apples and zucchini with the peel still on (more fiber - fiber is good) with a traditional grater. Beat the eggs and oil, then fold in the rest of the ingredients - flour last. Fill about half full into greased muffin tins. Bake at 375 for 10-12 min.

Same Blazer all week

I was so happy to score this little Nordstrom blazer (I think a little boy's size) at Buffalo Exchange recently. I traded in a bunch of stuff I no longer wear, for a few key fall pieces. I was so giddy when I found this thing, that I couldn't help but wear it consistently for several days in a row, for several different occasions ~ all of which I'll show you this week!

Blazer - Vintage Nordstrom via Buffalo Exchange

Skirt - Forever21 

Vintage Dress worn as a top

Shoes - Kensie Girl 

Purse - Vintage

Bedding - John Robshaw

Beauty Trick - Vitamin E

OK, so this isn't an unheard of secret or trick... but sometimes you just have to go back to the basics. I recently fought off a yucky cold/flu in addition to the dry weather doing a serious number on my skin. I remembered a makeup artist I worked with on a film years back, told me I should use pure vitamin E oil like a moisturizer, at least once a week.

So I picked some up at my local health food store and have been using it, forehead to chest, for the past few days. Now I wonder why I ever stopped! My skin literally drank it up like water, and now feels subtle, refreshed and baby soft. Not to mention, super glowey too. And the bottle only cost me $3.99 ~ try to beat that.

P.S. You can still win this bracelet below! Contest ends tomorrow! Enter here! 

ZOUK Los Angeles

So imagine you and your best friend, (who also happens to be your sister) live on different continents, (California & Australia) but several times a year you travel the world together, using your impeccable taste to collect one-of-a-kind home décor pieces, jewelry and clothing... and this is your job.

Now imagine that you're also Swedish, blonde, and gorgeous.

Imagining? Good. Now you have a little insight into what it's like to be sisters, Jenny Best and Katharina Tagliaferro ~ the owners and creators of Zouk Los Angeles. I was lucky enough to cover the opening of this eclectic little store and meet these two fabulous women (& all of their treasures) myself!

Upon arrival we were given our choice of these delightful & colorful thin wax bracelets, which in itself, was pretty indicative of the bright spectrum of eye candy ahead.

No sooner did we fill our faces with delectable tapas from around the world and crisp pinot grigio, were we whisked away into an oasis of beauty! Everywhere we turned we found another item to ooh and ahhh and lust after.

From art, to candles, to luxury towels that my friend and I actually thought were blankets!

 To what I'm pretty sure was the coolest damn bull hanging I've ever seen.

I was almost out the door when I spotted the most adorable little sweater I desperately wanted to take home to the monkey.

But what I loved most about this evening and these women in general, comes in the form of two very charitable hearts. 3% of all sales will be donated to the buyers choice of either amFAR, Doctors without Borders, Heal the Bay, OPCC, The Humane Society or WFP. Now that's something fabulous to get behind!

If you live in the area, do not hesitate to stop by. I promise you will be inspired!

Zouk Los Angeles

1311 Montana Ave., Santa Monica, CA

310-260-1230

{I wore a satin backless dress (unknown) as a top, vintage slacks, leather jacket designed for me in a film and  Sam Edelman Novato Platform Pumps}