this “gangsta” card series from farewell paperie is pure genius…
i heart packaging | capsule collection from need supply co. | find it here
bubbyandbean | art + illustrations + greeting cards by melissa baswell | find this here
i don’t know why but summer get’s me in the mood for yummy hot dogs. sometimes endless toppings will do, although there’s nothing better than a straight up “meaty” dog. so whenever i’m riding down washington blvd in culver city, i have to make a pit stop at let’s be frank, get my fix (grass-fed all beef, local, yup it’s all good) & wash it all down with an iced cold cheerwine. i simply can’t resist their tricked-out portable trailer & friendly service!
let’s be frank | helms ave. between washington and venice blvds | hours: wed-fri: 11:30-3:30 weekends 11:30-4:30 | follow on twitter @letsbefrank
when i tell people where i live, most pause & give me a half smile. Yes, i live in south la, yup that south la. “is it safe? aren’t there shootings all the time?” time after time, it’s those questions that constantly remind me about the stigma that was left behind from the riots & media smears, but the truth is there is something special that most will never understand. the west adams area although riddled with old wounds & faded stories is also a wonderland of magical history & where i have lived for more than 20 years. this area is my home, & like most la neighborhoods it’s not all shiny & new, but i can appreciate the architecture, the culture, & the streets. where else other than the south can you see this concentration of hundreds of unique homes; from wikipedia–”queen anne, shingle, gothic revival, transitional arts and crafts, american craftsman/ultimate bungalow, craftsman bungalow, colonial revival, renaissance revival, mediterranean revival, spanish colonial revival, mission revival, egyptian revival, beaux-arts and neoclassical styles”
so, when i heard about jett loe’s kickstarter project untold la (which has now been fully funded!) i grew with excitement that somebody had grown to love this place like many others & myself. i loved the idea of showcasing (in ipad form of course!) these history-rich neighborhoods, into something many generations will cherish & appreciate to come!
my own shot of the “six feet under” house. i love walking near here…
Filed under: around la, design, monicais..., thoughts Tagged: design, historic west adams, jett loe, jett loe kickstarter, jett loe untold la, jett loe west adams, monicais, untold la, west adams, west adams architecture, west adams monicais, west adams untold la 
one of the reasons i love summer is all the drinks & food that gets shared with family & friends! So my summers always start with a visit to border grill. nothing’s better than enjoying a fresh drink with warm breezes, house-made chips & border grill’s tasty salsa sampler. (i eat two servings each time!) everything is pretty amazing & the mexican flavors are beautifully married & complex (the enchiladas are my favorite). bonus: the eye-catching view of skyscrapers & la lights while dining…a must
445 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90071
phone: 213.486.5171
cell phone case | scarf | earrings | wallet | shoes | handbag | dress
all from otte ny
totally inspired by this whole outfit. love how stylish solange looks!(i mean, when is she not?) another reason to get excited about madewell’s new campaign! can’t wait to see more…
i can’t even keep up with all of the styles, i love from clare vivier. i truly believe she’s mastered the art of simplicity. never have i been so smitten with a handbag designer’s ideas & practicality, especially with this timeless duffel (“duffle”, however you wanna spell it!) creation. i’m excited to finally get the messenger bag in azul (in november! can’t wait!), but for now i will lust this one from afar…
| find it here |
i’m supremely addicted to jessica hische’s doodles blog! (beyond talented, just look at this magic ) these little blurbs make me smile & are the perfect amount of inspiration when i’m need a creative boost…
although i religiously wear black like nobody’s business, i have been leaving my comfort zone and wearing more neutrals. i’ve been wearing neutral nails & kinda loving it, so these combinations with earth tones are calling to my softer side…
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i love getting tips on new places to try & luckily this one was just down the way from work. cyndi finkle and mel cain’s collaboration, coffee + food is a beautiful space with killer sandwiches & smooth aussie brewed coffee. the cafe is airy & the perfect place to catch a quick bite & watch the staff charm guests. both cafe items i tried were fresh & filled with complex flavors, that had me wanting more! i’m so glad this little gem is here to stay…
coffee + food 5630 melrose avenue la, ca 90038 m-sa 7a-3p twitter @coffeeplusfood
i love when i come across a new product line, but more importantly when it has a brilliant story to tell. upon, seeing these gorgeous bags & accessories (discovered them on instagram!), i had to find out more about the unique women behind this innovative brand! karla gallardo & shilpa shah are the founders of cuyana, a san francisco start-up, that believes in sourcing quality products from talented artisans & giving back to support the development of water projects. what’s better than shopping & paying it forward! i definitely have my eyes on that beautiful tote, but that quilted bag has stolen my heart (how chic is that little number?) & you won’t believe the prices!
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it’s that time of the year where everyone has their gift list & then their personal lust list! i know i do! mine just happens to have handbags & these are my picks for this holiday season. i’m really loving smaller compacted pieces or that one unexpected jolt of color. love bags as much as i do? follow me on pinterest and share your faves!
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i can’t escape that i adore black & that half of my closet is total darkness. it always feels right; chic, slimming, easy, sophisticated, & cool. i don’t mess with a good thing. i can’t even explain my fixation with porcelain black’s (singer, artist, & now designer) studded bucket bag from her new line noir by porcelain black. it’s the one thing i’ve been looking to add to my wishlist & it’s beyond affordable! and if someone could just gift those acne boots under my well lit tree, i’d just dieeee. hello christmas gift to me? yup…
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hope everyone’s year is off to a great and positive start! i can’t wait to dive into new projects & plan much needed vacations…xx
today after visiting madewell at the americana, i can’t help but lust over these perfect shirts! they are so clean and would be great additions to any spring wardrobe, preferably mine! i have decided to challenge myself this year & purchase only things with “classic” appeal. no trendy stuff is going to sit in my closet anymore, year after year & wait for the great toss-out to goodwill. it stops now. what are some of your fashion goals this year? let’s hear ‘em…
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i can’t help it, i love valentine’s day (the stuff, not the pressure!) & all the copious amounts of pink & red everywhere. pinterest is a dream right now & these are some of my favorites. scanning through these pins are inspiring & perhaps these colors just help lighten up my mood!
follow me on pinterest here!
so this suit & tie thing has gone to my head.. (thanks justin!) i have this striking urge to wear skinny & bow ties, white crisp shirts, & watch annie hall. i wouldn’t mind trying this androgynous look, packed with a punch of red lip color…how about you?
hi guys! it’s been quite awhile since i’ve updated, but things are well and changing. i was working quite a bit and took on an internship that then developed into a new job! it’s quite exciting to start something new & figure things out. new is always good. in the meantime, i’ve been exploring new places (coffee shops, yep i can’t resist them!) & eating brilliant things. for now i leave you with shots from dripp in chino hills. this place is quite glorious, really. i mean, look at this place! i wish this wasn’t so far from me, i swear i would be here every single day. they have superb coffee and the staff is super nice (plus if you know what bruxies is you’ll know why this is an added plus near dripp) enjoy!
dripp 13855 City Center Dr #3015, Chino Hills, CA 91709 twitter @dripp
everytime i’m out shopping or around town, i keep thinking about this specific ralph lauren collection from his spring 2013 runway show. the colors, the flowiness of the fabrics & the bold shots of color. i’m on the hunt for things that remind me of these girls. being a lover of winter, i’m sort of shocked i’m welcoming the warm weather for a chance to wear something reminiscent a spring/summer in spain… bougainvilleas & sangria anyone?
