Blown A Wish

Los Angeles: the current site of very hot summer days which lead to warm summer nights.  This dress keeps me somewhat cool in the heat and is fun to spin around in while humming My Bloody Valentine songs in my head east of the LA River.

{Dress: Funktional, Sunglasses: U/O, Boots: Clarks}

Tuesday Tunes: Melody's Echo Chamber

This week I'm actually sharing a current artist and not just a love of mine from the nineties, one of my new favorites (and a total French babe as well) Melody Prochet, a classically trained musician who's music project goes by the name Melody' Echo Chamber.  She teamed up with Kevin Parker from Tame Impala to release this dreamy-psych-pop self-titled album which will be out in September.  She will also be opening for The Raveonettes on their fall tour. "Endless Shore" is Tuesday's Tune.

August Challenge: Donate IV

Today is the last Monday in August and will be the last segment of my August Challenge to donate.  It has been a great month as I have pushed myself to focus on donating once a week within this month.  First starting with going through our home and boxing up clothes and household items we no longer use or need and donating to the Salvation Army.  Next was donating of money (or time as "time is money") in which I tithed at our church and am sending in money for a charity to build a well in order to provide clean drinking water given that "one in nine people lack access to clean water." The following week, I chopped off my mane and donated it to an organization which provides wigs for children with hair loss at no cost to the families.

This final week I am donating my blood.  The Red Cross is always in need of blood and it is such an easy way to donate as we all have blood and it replenishes itself.  I am blood type O+ which means there is great use for my most common blood type.    In order to donate blood to Red Cross, click on this link and type in your zip code to see where the closest donation center will be for you, then just schedule an appointment.  It is super easy and a great way to donate and give if you are not financially able.
**Also, I have received a few comments of people also participating in this donation challenge.  If you have donated recently, please let me know in the comments as I love being inspired by others as well!

Friday's Letters

Dear Sebastian, You are so silly and sometimes sassy. So much personality for such a small little guy.
Dear Husband, Other than stealing my laptop this past week everyday, you have been pretty darn rad and so sweet to me. Thanks for that.
Dear Hot Weather, I'm not saying you have to leave, but you can't stay....sooooooo.....???
Dear Self, I know you have been busy but remember to take time to do things you love to do for you, and also to work out more because you love getting amped on endorphins (it's the bro in you).

Dear East Downtown/Boyle Heights, With your cheaper rents, awesome buildings, the way you remind me of Brooklyn and incredible views of the city, you are looking very appealing for when our lease is up. Just sayin.
Dear Long Hair, I thought I would miss you a lot more than I actually do.
Dear Short Hair, You are welcome to hang out for awhile, as it is so nice for a change. Also, you are super easy to get along with and I love your friend you've brought along with you, sassy 'tude.
Dear DMV, You truly are terrible.  Why are your lines so incredibly long even now that you offer online services and have registration kiosks?! And why do you make everything difficult?
Dear Readers, I know I have been slacking a bit lately on posts, but I will try to make September a better month. Thanks for stopping by!

{Pin}spiration: Neutrals

Two weeks ago, a heat wave began in Los Angeles which really got me into Summer Brights and although the heat wave has really not gone, as of yesterday it has began to subside (slightly).  This heat has gotten me through brights on to neutral and whites.  Wearing light colored clothes reflect the sun as opposed to absorbing it and it just feels so dreamy to be wearing white on white with a pop of color whether it be a belt, shoes or a bright lip.

All images via Pinterest

Tuesday Tunes: Laid

Just because. Happy Tuesday!

August Challenge: Donate III

Hello everyone and happy Monday to you! So last week was a bit crazy, hence the lack of posts.  My sister-in-law got married on Friday (it was soooo beautiful!!) so there was the rehearsal dinner on Thursday and my other sister-in-law flew in with her husband on Wednesday so we showed them a few of our favorite spots downtown and had a great time!

Anyways, this week's challenge is actually something I did last week (Friday morning) which is the donation of hair.  I have had long hair for the last 7 years and I decided it was time for a change.  I donated almost 14 inches!!!!  I was so excited yet nervous, but I am so happy I did as it is something I have always wanted to do.  My hair has been colored before and Locks of Love has a bit of a bad rep due to selling off hair and charging families for wigs, so I researched many different companies that would allow for hair that has been colored and places that give away the wigs for free to children that have had hair loss for any reason (cancer, alopecia, burn victims, ect).  I decided to donate my mane to Children With Hair Loss which was started in 2000 due to the fact that most organizations charge families for wigs and they do not.  (sidenote: Wigs for Kids is another great organization, but because my hair has been colored, they can't accept it).  If you either cannot or do not want to donate hair but you want to help out by donating either money or your time, click on their name above and check out their website (to be honest, most places do prefer money donations over hair, but I had hair to give and money is SUPER tight right now).  I am really happy with my decision, I love my new do and I'm glad to possibly be helping a child feel beautiful again.

August Challenge: Donate II

Here we are for the second week of the August Challenge to donate.  Last week for me was donating clothes, books, electronics and other items around our home that we no longer need or use.  It took me almost a whole week to pack stuff up, but two large bags and one box full later, things are being dropped off at the Salvation Army today! =)  Okay, so this week's donation for me is money.  Yes, I am challenging myself to be more generous with "what makes the world go 'round."  I live one block from skid row so I am sure I will have more than enough opportunities, but it can be more than that.  Tithing to church, donating to an organization, buying goods at a bake sale or even just inviting friends out and treating them just because; all of these are great ways to be giving with money.  They say "Time is money" so even taking time to help others (friends, family or strangers) in any way would be a great way of giving money if you do not have much to give.

Friday's Letters

Dear Downtown LA, You are absolutely disgusting in any temperature over 80 degrees.  Walking in your 93 degree weather mixed with smog, dog poop (seriously Spring Street dog owners, clean it up!) and the smell of pee makes me miss living in the suburbs. You are lucky you get the cool breezes in the evening and you are so rad, so I forgive you.
Dear 90's, I am so happy you are back as you were dearly missed.
Dear Husband, Please try to have more patience with me.  I know I can be frustrating at times but I don't mean to be.
Dear Mattress on the Ground We Call Our Bed, I hope you like your new Anthro quilt. Now if only you didn't live on our floor.....
Dear Heatwave, You have officially gotten me over summer. I am longing for crisp air, chilly nights and dead leaves.
Dear Earthquakes, Thanks for only being little jolts.  You have made your point, now leave us alone.
Dear Next Week, You are going to leave me with my hands full, but in a good way. Super excited and see you soon!

{Pin}spiration: Summer Brights

Lately, it has been disgustingly hot in LA, and walking around in the city in the heat grosses me out. Luckily, these brights have been cheering me up and have helped me to embrace our August weather.

All images via pinterest

Tuesday Tunes: Romeo&Juliet Soundtrack

This was probably hands down my favorite soundtrack that I still listen to sometimes.  As a kid, most of my cd's were soundtracks and the majority of those were Disney movies (yes, if you are thinking we should get together one day and sing Disney songs word for word I couldn't agree more).  I also had the Bodyguard soundtrack (RIP W.H.) and of course, Clueless (duh!) but Romeo & Juliet is so incredible! From the artwork and cd booklet I read through all the time to songs from Radiohead to The Cardigans, Garbage, Butthole Surfers, The Wannadies and Des'ree.  Every song was perfectly chosen for the movie and to this day it remains one of my faves!

I found this video someone made on youtube with clips from the movie to "Talk Show Host" which is great!

August Challenge: Donate

Okay, so lately my husband and I have been getting caught up and carried away with life.  We have let our home become a disaster zone, have been going out way too much and have not gotten back into working out since our New York trip.  Last week a situation occurred that caused me to think about our life here and what is going on.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE going out with friends and love eating out places, but I feel like we have been so blessed and have been being a bit wasteful, even though we are surrounded by so much poverty and people in need.  This month, I am challenging myself and who ever else wants to participate to a donation challenge.  Once a week in the month of August donate something in order to benefit others, post it on your blog Monday every week and leave a comment so we can get inspired by each other's generosity.   This first week, I will be cleaning out our dresser and closet and donating clothes, books, and household items we no longer need.

pic source

Grand Park DTLA

A new park opened up in Downtown LA last week and on a hot Sunday afternoon, my husband and I walked over to check it out.

Prior to walking over, we walked to Little Tokyo and got a frozen treat with every intention of eating it near the fountain.  Alas, my treat was gone two blocks before we reached the open part of the park, but it was refreshing!!

Grand Park is mostly concrete (which is not totally what I want out of a park within a concrete jungle), however, it also very cool.  There is a huge fountain with an incredible light show at night and a wading pool underneath where tons of kids were frolicking and splashing around in their bathing suits.  It is definitely family friendly but also a great spot to hang out and catch up with friends.  I am hoping perhaps they will have summer movie nights on their performance lawn?! I am excited to go back in the evening so I can see the fountain at night!