Exploring Downtown L.A.

Here’s an oldie but goodie from my Corriney who writes for our mother/daughter blog and sometimes for me here. Thought I’d share her post with you since everything she does makes me such a proud momma. So here is some of her awesomeness on photography and art, and if you aren’t following her words on that blog, please do. She wrote:

Here are some snaps from my eventful day of filming.

Corrine's photography of Downtown

If you didn’t know, I love art and I love making it too. I died from happiness a little when I saw this poster that said “Paint or Die”. Nice, nice, props to you friend, whoever posted this. Really though, paint or die. x______x

This whole wall was filllllled with posters and graffiti, stickers and paintings. People just pile it on, layer after layer so you can still see some paintings that were once there underneath it, too.

Also, spotted the love of my life while I was there. This beautiful Husky baby named Cash, just hanging out on his second floor window.

He was so so precious, I just wanted to give him a great big hug. Spot the tag at the right, just beneath the window? It says #HewittHusky. I googled it and yeah, he has his own twitter account. That melted my heart, I tell ya. One guy walking down the street told us the dog’s name and that he thinks he’s a mountain goat. Awwwwwww.

This day showed me a lot of adventure. it was easy to get lost and forget about myself, to float around like a ghost for a little while. I love blending into my surroundings, and I must say, this space felt like home. I see myself in this place in the future.

-xx, C

If the shoe fits

If the shoe fits!

Wear it! With everything am I right?! <—- I should totally do stand up! So style watch… here we go, let’s do this Fall style! *Still doing that Fall evoking thing over here in L.A.* Today I’m going to show you how you can wear one pair of shoes, three different ways this season, and yes with open toe heels! I took my current favorite pair of pumps, these Calvin Klein Vivian patent snake print sandals, and styled them three different ways. And even though it’s getting cooler out, there are a ton of ways you can still get away with wearing your open toed pumps this Fall season!

Take this look out to a brunch meeting or just to a night out with the girls, I call this the ‘casual ballerina’ look. Taking casual to another level here with this JustFab Mandy jumpsuit, which is comfortable and cute with it’s zip up front (and back), and front pockets. I wore this out with my Calvin Klein’s, and even though it’s getting cooler out, the jumper and jacket keep me warm enough. These heels are 4″ leather heels with the daintiest of pronounced platforms, are covered in a sleek snake print, and have a strap that wraps around your ankle. To top the look off I wore this faux leather Easy Jacket also by JF, and to keep the whole ‘ballerina’ thing going, I did the ‘off duty ballerina’ top knot accessorized with this beautiful beaded Free People headpiece. The makeup featured is the ‘line dance’ makeup look, and to see how I did it, head on over to my beauty channel here and watch the tutorial! It took all of five minutes to do! I hope you like it!
 
Prance around an event in this ensemble or just around – out on your next date night, I call this the ‘sporty chic’ …. and yes I am wearing sparkly ankle socks with these heels! Open toed heels worn with socks are all the rage this coming season! Hey Beyonce did it, so we can totalllyyyy pull it off! I really like how the ankle socks add a bit of edge to the look (and keep my toesies warm), and I kept it girly with this checkered scuba skirt and lace top. If it were a bit colder out, I’d just top this look off with a nice denim jacket and bam ready to dance the night away!
 
And this look…. which we’ll call the ‘business girl gone bad’ ….because one, I like naming things and two, because I feel like it’s something I’d wear to the office and then run off to an event in! Also take note of this pose, it’s apparently my most favorite pose to do ever. Not sure what it is I’m doing with my arms but we’ll go with it. 
 
So even though it’s windy out, I can still wear my heels so long as I wear these sheer floral tights….and a warm jacket. I’m a bit obsessed with printed tights these days! But for good reason! They’re just so cute with my sandals, and in this JF dress I’m feelin foxy!!! Foxy is still a thing kids say these days right? Well I was feeling foxy and fabulous! I accessorized the look with black chandelier earrings and since the dress has front slits in it I decided no necklace was neccessary. Instead, I slipped on a chunky ring and off I went!  
 
So three fun looks, for three different occasions, styled with one pair of sexy heels. Gotta love how creative us ladies can get when the season changes! Beyond all of the recipes I can cook up that include pumpkin puree, I also love my layers. I’m telling you, Fall season tis the best season! What do you love most about the Fall? About the change in weather? P.S. I say there are no rules in fashion, wear what makes you feel confident! Unless they’re flip flops…..I would say to stay away from socks and flip flops whenever possible 😉
 
Thanks for sharing in my themed fashion tour today, and I’ll see you soon with another look combining a hairstyle and makeup look you’ll see this Fall! Click here to check out the latest in my series and happy pumpkin spicing! 
 
 
 
xoxoxo- Jess
 
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Why you’re allowed to let yourself go

Ever since I had my daughter – at 16 – I hear all the time, ‘oh don’t let yourself go’, or I hear people talk about how someone else has ‘let themselves go’. What’s that supposed to do to our confidence and to our thought process subconsciously? Ah yes, tell us not to go up for that second plate of food, that it’s not ok to leave the house without any makeup on, and to not wear sweat pants out to run errands in. What?!?! I love wearing sweat pants and I REALLY love not wearing makeup. 
 

Why is it ok to tell young girls and women that they shouldn’t let themselves go, that they should always put their best foot…and face forward? It’s not. I say let go, let it all go. Go a few days without washing your hair, the natural oils will rehydrate your scalp anyways. Go a few days without looking in the mirror, you’ll find you really appreciate everything about your face when you finally look again, and go a few days without wearing makeup! Your skin will breathe, you’ll save some time in the morning, and you’ll remember what you look like when you’re not all ‘done’ up and that is a beautiful thing. 
 
With wild abandonment I think you should let yourself go. Not only with hair and makeup but with adventure and creativity. Makeup isn’t everything and neither is working 24-7-365. There isn’t one woman I know who doesn’t look beautiful without her makeup on. Yes it enhances your features, but also your features don’t need any enhancing. I suffer from this sometimes myself where I think I HAVE to have makeup on, and I post those moments (see above) and I make fun of them because it really is silly to think that you…that we….that I …am any less glamorous without my winged eyeliner. I do love that darn winged eyeliner look though. 
 
I also need to take my own advice on this sometimes, but I do truly believe that in life everything is about balance. Having that second plate of food because your cooking is bomb, and then working out and staying active…balance. Getting dolled up for work or for a night out and crimping our hair and primping and spraying and teasing…and then taking a few days to go makeup free and let your skin and hair breathe a bit….balance. It’s all balance and I think you should totally let yourself go to balance out this world of air brushing and size 00 runway models. This is what our daughters and sons see.  
 
Take it from a lady who has to get dolled up most days because she’s in front of a camera, and who’s perpetually eating ‘clean’ and living a healthy lifestyle, not only for health but also because she’s going out on auditions against girls 12 years her junior and to casting agent that kind of thing matters. Take it from me, YOU are allowed to let it all go and you’re beautiful. We need to hear that not only as girls and women and mothers, but as humans, and if this be your Monday Mantra than I’m glad you stopped in for a quick read. ‘Be-You-Tiful”. 
 
 
xoxoxo
tee1

The Beauty Of Confidence

As a woman, heck as a human, I have my fair share of insecurities. It’s something we learn living in a society built on image and status, but it’s also something we unwillingly accept from judgements passed on to us from others. Something I always try to teach my daughter is that the the one thing you can wear everyday, the one thing only you can give yourself, the most beautiful accessory, is confidence. “Confidence and being comfortable are things you can see on the outside when you feel them on the inside.” – Carrie Underwood 


I heard this quote from the ever beautiful (on the inside and on the outside) Carrie Underwood. If you know me than you know I love country music. I like LOOOOOOVE it. I bought Carrie’s first album after she won American Idol back in 2005…whew time flies! And I love her, I love what she stands for, I love her voice, and most importantly, I love what uses her voice for. She conveys love, confidence, and empowerment to her listeners, to women, and I respect that she hasn’t let the industry change her. 
 
This campaign is sponsored by Almay who recently named Carrie as their latest ambassador, and I think that says a lot about the brand. Usually when a celebrity personality and a brand team up, you hear the celebrity say things that are out of character for them.  So I was pleasantly surprised to read and hear Carrie’s words in her own….words, on what she thinks makes a woman truly beautiful and why she chose Almay. 
 
I’ll share with you the video of her that I’m talking about, just click here. I’ve always loved her, I really enjoy her music, and I find it really lovely that she remains true to her own brand, still inspiring, still giving words of encouragement, and still doing what she loves. This video made me think about my own definition of beauty so here goes. 
 
Beauty is something that everyone possesses. Most people think of beauty and what comes to mind for them initially, is the esthetically pleasing kind. Yes, outer beauty is indeed beautiful. But ‘looks’ fade with age, everyone is beautiful when they are young, what makes you beautiful as you go through life and age in years and in experience, is just that. Experiences. Your thoughts, your dreams, your words, your feelings, all make you beautiful because they make you an individual. 
 
No one can take away what makes you beautiful, you can only add to it. I, like most women love makeup and clothes, and perfumes, and all things girls, and though they enhance my personality and my features, they don’t make me beautiful. My ability to love unconditionally, the way I’ve raised my daughter, my loyalty to my friends, my honesty with myself, and my big ol’ cheesy heart make me me. I like that. 
 
This video provoked me to feel these things so I’m sharing them with you. It’s been a hectic few weeks but I wanted to say hello and that you are not forgotten, and that you too are beautiful!
 
So tell me what you think makes someone beautiful, how is beauty defined to you, thank you for reading and I’ll be back here soon. And thank you to Almay for having me a part of this campaign, I truly am inspired by this beauty:

 

 
BE-YOU-TIFUL
 
xoxoxo
 
Jess