Vulnerability is the truest part of life. 

Owning it.

I've realized it is completely impossible to be happy if you don't take responsibility for your life.

on representing flora

cy twombly

robert mapplethorpe

robert mapplethorpe

robert mapplethorpe

nick knight

nick knight

nick knight

nick knight

araki nobuyoshi

araki nobuyoshi

araki nobuyoshi

araki nobuyoshi

I declare.

DECLARATION OF SELF-ACCEPTANCE

I will not judge myself

 or degrade myself.

I will not blame myself for mistakes I made,

but atone and have mercy on myself

as I know God has mercy upon me.

I will not compare myself to others,

for I know God made me who I am for His purposes.

I will not put myself down,

for in doing so I put down God's creation. 

I know that as I am kinder to myself,

I will have more capacity for kindness to others

and they in turn will be kinder to me.

I will be easier on myself

than I have tended to be,

for no one knows more than I do

the pain that I have been through.

I realize that to love myself

is to love as God loves,

for He loves the world

and that includes me.

Amen

(Marianne Williamson)

Bold moves.

Finding inspiration in the clean lines and strong graphic forms Rafael de Cardènas' work.

Favorite things.

Vintage 501's & old school New York haunts. Rainy nights and windy days. Random run ins and subway scuttles that leave you bonded with your seatmate. Cold martinis and great conversation.  Unintenional trips down memory lane. Bustling French bistro's that feel like the last vestige of real New York. Dank smells and loud characters. Yellow cabs & sidewalk record sellers. 

Autumn light.

Occasionally I remember the healing power of standing in front of a painting and I find my way into a museum.   There are a few artists whose work I always find solace and a glimpse of grounded peace amidst the emotional yo-yo that is life. George Inness is one such artist whose landscapes always feel a bit like coming home. I won't attempt to describe it any further because really, I can't.  You'll just have to have a look for yourself.

Sometimes there is no better tonic than wandering the streets of New York alone. 

I learn so much from this little girl its incredible. Recently I was thinking about the way she sees the world. She has no understanding of negative energy or danger. So she sees every new face & every passing stranger as a potential friend, someone on her side. And you know, that's what she attracts. 

The divine law of attraction at work right there, again and again. Isn't that beautiful?

To the future

We must teach our children

To smell the earth,

To taste the rain,

To touch the wind,

To see things grow,

To hear the sun rise,

And night fall, 

To care.

-John Cleal

Note to self

       

Sometimes.

Sometimes when the going gets tough you just have to sit down and let it go.  Stop trying to figure it out.  Stop trying to think you have control and just let go, get quiet and listen to what your gut is trying to tell you.

Silve & gold

My friends are my life force, my surrogate family and most of the time the reason for my sanity & success.

I could not go a day without the love and support of my friends. They push me when I need it. They offer an open ear, heart and arms at all hours of the day and night.  I am grateful every day for these wonderful, deep, loving and gracious people in my life.  They are everything. 

Note to self.

In order to rid yourself of conflict you must accept the beauty of the life you have, not covet someone else's.

In this world of social media I think we all experience moments of life envy- seeing a curated momentary snapshot into the world of an acquaintance or perfect stranger and feeling some kind of lack.  I've done it- occasionally I still do it (mostly looking at work other stylists are doing) and wondering why I'm not on that job, working with that photographer, client etc etc etc. In these moments I realize the detriment of social media (isn't it meant to connect & inspire us?) and the danger of losing touch with my own life and all the beauty that it holds.

The power of minimalism

I consider myself a minimalist in most areas of my material life.  My favorite pastime is getting rid of things which pairs well with the fact that my second favorite pastime is acquiring things.  Those of you who know me & have seen my living space would be shocked to think there was much left in my closets & cupboards to declutter but when a friend told me about a book she was reading it piqued my interest.  Marie Kondo is an organizing guru/celebrity in Japan. Her book "The life-changing magic of tidying up" made me rethink my relationships to the objects in my house. For the last week I have fallen into the Kondo vortex and have purged over 15 garbage bags of items that no longer bring me "joy"- this is her litmus test on whether to keep or toss an item. Regardless of how much you have spent on an item or the sentimental value it holds (her point is that most of us hold onto items for nostalgic reasons only to put it in a box on a shelf). I have to say it is remarkable how much of a difference I feel in my space and in my head and body. I have always felt that clutter is a subtle form of insanity & anxiety. Have you ever gone to someones house that is filled with clutter and excessive stuff and felt the frenetic energy?  I think people tend to think of minimalism as cold and sterile but you can still create a warm, comfortable environment without the dead weight of chaos and stuff around you. I highly recommend her book, even if you take apply only a fraction of her philosophy to your home you will feel a transformation.

West coast dreamin'

Color Pop

Since redecorating (if you can call it that in such a small space) my apartment these last few months I've been trying to soften the stark white & grey with a balance of saturated hues of pinks.  One of my favorite product designers Scholten & Beijings make pieces that feel like they perfectly balance the campiness of bright colors with chic forms making my typical color phobia a warm welcome.  See for yourself:

Fall forward

This look is making me lust for leather pant & fedora weather. 

Notes on motherhood

A few things I've learned in the short time I've been a mama...

1. Being self-sacrificing doesn't make you a good mom. It makes you a martyr and you will end up an angry & resentful woman later in life.
2. Having boundaries, even when your child is staring at you begging and crying is often healthier in the long run and better for both of you.
3. Learning to respect yourself and be an example for your baby is one of the most empowering things you can do.
4. Some days you may make it through a rough day by feeding your kid nothing but white bread and ice cream and that is just fine.
5. Giving your child 20 uninterrupted minutes of present playtime together is way better than giving them an hour of distracted interaction.

Note to self

Found this quote today and find it pretty spot on: 

"Whatever you resist you become. If you resist anger you are always angry. If you resist sadness, you are always sad. If you resist suffering, you are always suffering. If you resist confusion, you are always confused.  We think that we resist certain states because they are there, but actually they are there because we resist them. -Adyashanti

On the road again...

Traveling for work again and getting some down time with the family before I jump into high gear. I feel so insanely blessed that I get to travel to beautiful places, bring my family and work with people I love. I am grateful beyond belief. 

jet laggers. 

The long game

"Awakening is possible only for those who seek it and want it, for those who are ready to struggle with themselves and work on themselves for a very long time and very persistently in order to attain it."- G.I. Gurdjieff

I've been loving this IG account called 'Mindopennetwork' if you happen to find yourself needing some motivation, inspiration and support on the divine path of self exploration.