Sun Kissed.

A fantastic holiday weekend......What did you do?

Self. Malibu Beach Inn.

Fun In The Sun Manicure.

Song For The Ride. Morrissey. Lazy Sunbathers.

H & M. Printed. Turtle.

Mega Margarita.

Mot Pour Amoureux.

I saw Midnight In Paris tonight. As a huge Woody Allen fan I wasn't expecting anything but amazing. However, in this case I would use the words simply and charming to describe this lovely story. I really think this movie came out at the perfect time in my life. I'm obviously not going to go into details for those who haven't seen it yet but I feel incredibly fulfilled and connected on the emotional scale right now. Happy, sad, enlightened, hopeful.....It's all there. Paris has always struck a tender nerve for me...more so this past year than ever, and I really hope to make it back there some day.....

It would be wonderful to be in love in Paris but I think the city itself is full of enough to get by.....

Images Via Tumblr

On pardonne tant que l'on aime

Chocolate Chip.

I recently had some corrective surgery on my upper female parts. No, I'm not becoming a porn star. I just had to fix a few things. Obviously I'm not a very private person in SOME aspects of my life. This being one. Anyway, I took a week off of work and when I came in today (not in the best of moods) I had a wonderful surprise waiting on my desk. A large Mrs. Fields titty cookie cake!!! Not only does this oversized mouth watering chocolate chip party in my mouth cookie make me SO happy but the fact that the people I work with actually make me want to get up and go into work. It's a rare occasion when you can combine your work life with your personal life and have it flow. I work with one of my very best guy friends and two gals who are now like my sisters. This cookie, like my job, and the wonderful people I work with has it all. Unfortunately at some point, probably by tomorrow I'd say, this cookie will be gone, but I plan to eat up this job for as long as I can. Another fun and funny gift to put in the idea box!!

AND check out my work site here!!

Chax: My work name. Short for Chacken. Changed from Chicken.

Happy Birkin.

It was my best friend CC's birthday on Friday. (If you haven't noticed, I have a lot of best girlfriends and I couldn't be happier about it). Our CC is a special one. Extremely hard to shop for but at the same time really doesn't expect to be shopped for. Unlike myself, she is very low key about her Birthday. We decided to go to Barney's Rooftop Restaurant for lunch and then do a little shopping. One of CC-fashionta's main goals in life is to own an Hermes Birkin. Naturally none of us can afford this at this point so we incorporated her goal into her birthday lunch. Alex, who you have met in previous entries and by now understand her knack for kitchy ideas, came up with an affordable Hermes Dream for CC! Below you will see a picture of an Hermes shopping bag filled with gorgeous Orange Roses. It matches, it's cheap, it makes a fabulous centerpiece, and it's CC. Of course we gave her a gift certificate to start her Birkin fund ( hopefully those gift certificates don't expire), but the smile that the Hermes floral arrangement brought to her face on that sunny rooftop was priceless. Something so simple and sweet is worth way more than a 10,000 handbag, and at the end of the day it makes that low key birthday seem like the biggest party you've ever had. Try it sometime....I'm sure Alex wouldn't mind if you stole her idea!!

CC & Her Flowers.

1974.

Happy 37th Anniversary to my wonderful parents. If I plan on being as happy as they have been for 37 years I better get to work soon.....

Vibe With It.

This week's beats....

1. D'Angelo - Send It On - Voodoo

2. Erykah Badu - Love - New Amerykah Part Two : Return Of The Ankh

3. Sly & Robbie - Joy Ride - A Dub Experience

4. Trio Esperana - Nao Aguento Voce - Brazilian Beats 'n' Pieces

5. The Delfonics - Didn't I Blow Your Mind - Didn't I blow Your Mind

6. Herbie Hancock - Funk Hunter - Return Of The Headhunters

7. Ozomatli - Can't Stop - Don't Mess With The Dragon

8. Peanut Butter Wolf - Phonies - My Vinyl Weighs A Ton

9. Roy Ayers - Life Is Just A Moment - Mystic Voyage

10. Sade - The Moon And The Sky - Soldier Of Love

Wild Thing.

I've felt one of these things at one point or another.......

Via Le Love

Surfs Up.

...To Be read as if it were yesterday. Thanks blogger for being down all day.

Today is a day I really appreciate that my family and friends have their health. But today is also a day I really question why certain people do not. My best friend of 19 years recently lost the light of her life. Her father, John. This is a hard subject to write about not only because it's heart breaking, but never having lost a family member that close to me I'm not quite sure how to write about it. So here it goes....

John lived on the gorgeous island of Maui. Now, I was only in his company a few times, but he was on of those people I knew really well given my friendship with Jess. He was sarcastic, loving, and a wonderful role model for my best friend. I got to know him a little better in my late teens/early twenties and I really started to see a lot of him in Jess. He was ill for quite a few years....I think it was 13 to be exact, so using the word fighter to describe him is a pretty big understatement. Jess and I swear it's because he lived in such a peaceful place he was able to enjoy more of his life then some expected. We've both agreed if we ever get sick (knock on wood) that we will retire to Hawaii and live it up like her dad did. Surfing and sun.

Jessica is one of my strongest friends. It's a rare day that she breaks down and cries. She has definitely had a few bumps in the road of life but she really has it together. I usually cry over a silly boy or slamming my finger in a door like an idiot, and when I call her hysterical her response to me....Jules, It's all relevant. Go ahead and cry. Amazing right? Someone who has been through the worst, but will still sit on the phone and listen to me bitch and moan about the littlest thing. Jess doesn't have to try or work at being a best friend. She just is. I really do believe that if you understand the true meaning of friendship you will be blessed with a Jessica in your life.

John passed away exactly 6 months ago today in the arms of Jessica. I consider her lucky it happened that way because his spirit didn't get too far. Don't get my wrong....he's for sure be boppin' and roaming around the world finding the best waves to ride, but man if I don't see him in Jessica I'm crazy. Every time I see her she looks a little more like him, is a little bit stronger, and has another idea about life that her Dad would be so proud of.

To my readers....life's too short to get caught up in the little things. If you have a Jessica, make sure you keep her around. You'll learn a lot from her. And she most likely has a kick ass Dad!!!!!

R.I.P John. Miss you. And your homemade Yams.

Jessica & John.

50/50

My style ranges but a staple that you will usually see me in is one of my vintage tees. I have a specific drawer for the ones I wear the most and an area on the top of my closet where I keep the tees that I never wear but have no interest in getting rid of. Not only does the combination of that amazing soft poly/cotton worn fabric give me the biggest excitement quivers but every shirt I have has a story that is special only to me. That of course is what makes it vintage. It is vintage for me and before me vintage for someone else. Kinda fun to wonder where these shirts have been? And before a good wash and dry kinda disgusting. Below are a few of my favorites.....Got one?

The Collection. Some of it.

Black Flag. Would sell for a BOAT LOAD on Ebay.

Given to me by my ex-boyfriend Bryan.

Probably the most special tee I have.

Monkeys Tee.

A gem I found in a pile of shirts at a warehouse in Gardena.

My brother and I have a serious love for Monkeys.

My signature Vintage Cut.

GG Allin.

A fan of his and another given to me by my ex

on a day I was panicked for a new shirt.

Signature cut.

Hardware Doin' It.

My Dad's Band shirt from the 70's.

Man...What this thing has probably been through.

A VERY special shirt. More of a show piece than a wear & wash.

Cactus Tee. Gardena Warehouse find.

So fitting with my style.

New Orleans Tee.

A Jet Rag Dollar Sale Find on a Hot Summer Sunday.

Lakers. Wilt Chamberlain Tee.

Wasteland on Melrose.

Bought for $16. This shit goes for $$$$ on Ebay.

Samhain Tee.

An Ebay surprise from my ex.

Clearly he understands my love for Vintage.

Especially when it's a good band tee.

Sun And Shades.

I had an absolutely fabulous time in the desert this past weekend. A weekend away with a few of my best friends and my fabulous cousin is just what the doctor ordered. Seriosuly. I've had strep for the past two weeks. My NUMBER 1 suggestion while in Palm Springs (aside from sipping an AM Pina Colada) is to stop at Norma's Restaurant in the Parker Hotel and indulge in the Real Tuna Tuna Salad Sandwich. Oh. My. God. I've never been a big tuna person but holy hell this sandwich has been something we have all been longing for since our last visit to PS. The multi-grain bread and their secret tuna creation goes down OH so smooth. Of course, leave it to me to have the number 1 thing to do involve stuffing your face. But come on, vacation is everyones excuse to eat what they want. Right?

It's not rare, but never easy to plan a group trip at this age. I have really learned to embrace each and every vacation/weekend getaway I get to share with my friends. Every laugh is one I will continue to laugh about, every picture is one I will continue to glance at, and every memory is a story that will continue to be told.

Until the next trip......We are thinking Catalina. Old School.

Norma's.

The Real Tuna Tuna Salad Sandwich.

Myself. Cousin Billy.

Alex. CC. Myself. ( Missing Our Jackie)

Billy. The Parker Doors.

The Desert.

Off to Palm Springs this weekend.....

You'll find me by the pool or in a dinosaur. And definitely eating ice cream...

Images Via Tumblr

West Coast.

You guys don't need to read a novel right now... ( Nor will I make it an ALL the time thing)....I just wanted to share my favorite photo this week. Made my computer/phone background cut. I totally vibe with Estevan Oriol's style.....So RAW. He's showing at Moca Los Angeles right now with a bunch of insane street artists. If you're an LA local definitely check it out and peep his site here..

West.Coast.

The Little Things.

It's the little things in life that make a difference. As we know, and I've said before, not only visually but emotionally. Something as simple as these Vintage Aunt Jemima Salt & Pepper Shakers make me feel so completely comfortable. I'm sure you think I'm coo coo for cocoa puffs BUT hear me out.

I've been looking at these tiny little shakers since I can remember. They've always had the same antique and unique vibe to them. When my family moved from Philadelphia to California 18 years ago these shakers made the 3,000 mile trip with us. They've survived three moves, the big 94' earthquake, and plenty of cooking fiascos in the kitchen. I never really thought twice about them until recently. It isn't everyday I get to come to my parent's cozy home, so when I do I now take time to appreciate the little things that make this STILL my home. My mom is an excellent decorator. Much like my previous post on The Details of my best friend Alex, my mom has kept her details an ongoing trademark in her years of building our home. I honestly think she keeps these knick knacks around to cater to my fear of change.

A quick glance at these small figures sends my mind flying back through the years they've been beside me. It's not what they are, what they feel like, or their purpose, but the awareness that they started THEIR lives sitting on top of a stove and now hold 25 + years of OUR lives. After that long the little things really don't seem so little anymore....

Unfortunately because I feel this way I have boxes upon boxes of these little things in my garage and I will argue anyone who says they won't be useful one day.....

I've actually come across a set of the same Vintage Aunt Jemima Shakers for sale online! If you dare to start your collection of memorable junk then check them out here!

Vintage Aunt Jemima Salt & Pepper Shaker Set.