Today's mantra. xox

To be free

Being careless, if only for a minute, is the absolute more freeing feeling in the world. Wishing you a moment of carelessness today, tomorrow, now. xox

Chez moi

Somewhere in Venice, CA., a young couple working in TV is living in my dream home, The Palms House, as designed by Daly Genik Architects. Not. Fair. xox

Abolute truth. xox

Positively obsessed

Absolutely in love with LA band Vanaprasta. That voice...wow. xox

Sun Dance

This warm weather is making me seriously giddy. Spring has sprung and soon summer will come. Finally. xox

"Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm." Audrey Hepburn

Some kind of wonderful

This South African wedding captured by Modern Hearts left me speechless. The third picture from last might be the best couples portrait picture I have ever seen. Stunning. xox

Pretty in pink

Top photos via Shopbop; bottom ones via Just Jared

Quite possibly the most underated of combination. Love the work of designer Jenni Kayne. This dress is no exception. What is simpler then a column of fushia silk? Add a second paler shade, a stunning confection and you've got a timelesness only rivaled by the ubiquitous black gown. Loving the look on the always-lovely Nikki Reed. xox

“The only obsession everyone wants: ‘love.’ People think that in falling in love they make themselves whole? The Platonic union of souls? I think otherwise. I think you’re whole before you begin. And the love fractures you. You’re whole, and then you’re cracked open.” The Dying Animal, Philip Roth

Oh yes!

This is the dream. I have never been on a motrocycle but i find there is something so sexy about a strong manly man (as opposed to a douchebag) riding high with his lady friend. And the fact that she is facing him? Reminds me of the Aerosmith video whom I dreamed to emulate as an over-hormonal teenager. Love xox

Loving this painting by Georgia O'Keeffe: It was yellow and pink III. xox

The fire within

My idol, Meryl Streep

 I believe ambitions get formed from a very young age, whether we realize it or not. Some people have a clearer understanding of what they want their lives to be, of course. I'm always amazed at these people who have inherently a sense of confidence about their abilities and who set out to reach their goals very early on. I was reading on interview on Jennifer Lawrence the other day in which she explained the pressures of growing up with two older brothers who seemingly had it all figured out. One was a star athlete, the other, a straight-A student. Lawrence claims she was neither good in school nor very athletic. But at 15 years old, she was sent a script and told her mom: "I got this, I understand this." And the rest is history...girl got a Best Actress Oscar at age 22 (!!!!!!). This, is not always the norm however and for some, it takes losing one self along the way, trying different things, screwing at others, to get back to your first love. Although I absolutely love to write, I have always felt that my place was in front of a camera. Not because I'm narcissistic (in fact, I hate having my picture taken and I am very hard on myself) but because, when I'm in front of a camera, I feel at ease. I've got this. And this is, as a matter of fact, not given to anyone. Whilst I love the job I am doing now, I feel like my true ambition is starting to become clearer and clearer (whether it be acting or being a journalist/host -what i studied in-). And thus, I will be setting out on a journey to make it happen. I might screw up, it might be hella hard, it might even change along the way, but I feel like in order to honor who i am and to unleash my true potential, i need to give it a shot. Wish me luck. xox

P.S. What are your ambitions? What have you always dreamed of?

xox

Pulp fiction

Loving the work of pulp illustrator Virgil Finlay. xox

To be

As I continue to scout for my new home, I keep this picture in mind. This is what i aspire to be. I want to be welcoming and relaxed. I want people to feel welcome, to feel at ease, to feel like home. I want to extend my home to others. Truly. xox

Belieber

Never ever in my life would I have ever thought I would post some Justin Bieber up in here. But this...this is just too good. Consider me a belieber. xox

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.' To this day, especially in times of “disaster,” I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world." Fred Rogers

xox

Sink your teeth

Want, need, yearning for a shark tooth necklace. To give me strength, to feel the power of the sea on me, to adorn the chicest or more casual of outfits. Be mine. xox

2 kids later...

Jesus Christ! Keri Russell looks incredible! I have always loved her (i think she is a true natural beauty) but after two pregnancies...to look like this...Bravo! xox

Finally

Before Midnight: SFIFF 56 Trailer from San Francisco Film Society on Vimeo.

It's here! Very, very excited for this movie as I have mentioned- oh, a billion times- on here! Be still my heart. xox

xox

Fairytale

Loving the work of photographer Rodney Smith. So surreal! Feels like a dream. xox

Grateful

I haven't always felt grateful for the things I have in my life. In fact, this is a fairly new concept to me. There was a time where I was in a very dark place and didn't feel lucky at all. I wanted to be someone else, to live someplace else, to own what others owned. I was repulsed by my own existence and thought everyone had it better than me. Then one day, I realized that I was pretty darn lucky - I think I realized this the day I stepped out of my depression. I had a sound body, a sound mind, good people who loved me, a roof over my head, ambitions and the will to change whatever was going wrong in my life. While I was in Florida, I watched a mid-day program (which shall remain nameless) on stress and more precisely how to de-stress your life. The number one thing was to be grateful. To focus on what you have instead of what you lack. In fact, gratitude is the number one pillar of meditation and brings about peace of mind and a sense of purposefulness. Ever since I climbed out of my dark place 3 years ago, I feel grateful every single day. I even feel grateful for the crappy days! I urge you to try it. I feel a peace in my soul and it fills me with immense joy. Without falling too deep into sentimentalism, life is pretty fucking spectacular. Don't ya think? xox

"I don’t want to be told that the moon is beautiful despite the fact that it is cratered, 
I want to be told that the moon is beautiful because of the fact that it is cratered, 
and that the blinding sun can’t help but shine a light on this broken beauty."

The shining

Colors, greenery, tanned skin. xox