do do do doo de de doo bop!

-Heard "Rider's on the Storm" via Fringe-

I love that show and that song!

Double Exposed Sunburst Silhouette

This capsule of photos demonstrates my Friday mood right about now. The song and the electricity, power, shower in the show paired with the song motivated me to post these moody photos from the past weekend. No, there weren't any lightning storms and no, we didn't have any rain, but the photos feel like the weather is off. I like that vintage cameras and film force us to feel! I hope you enjoy! They're fabulous Polacolor 669s that I took with my vintage, Polaroid Land Camera over the holiday weekend in Utah, utilizing expired film from 2001! I am in love with the colors that the film produces. This is my favorite double exposure of my friend, Catie, the designer for Collarbone Jewelry by Catherine Luckett. 

She is amazing and you'll love her jewelry line even more than these blown up photos. Get ready cause I am posting the line next and the two new pieces she graciously gifted me for some traded pieces! Send her an email to find out which boutiques she is selling her wares in locally! 

Bathing Beauties Circa Sunset

Double Exposed Figure: Brick White Picked Fence

Double Exposed Brick Mortar Shadow

xo Love you Catie! <3 u 

-Brooke-

Saturday's Stake Out: stalking Sushi-Gen in a new dress!

-Worn to Stalk Sushi-Gen on Mission: Little Tokyo-

Dress: altered vest (found in the outskirts of the fashion district at an overstock store in a men's sz. 4XL...YIKES), Laced Stiletto Booties: Guess from Norstroms, Bracelet Black Leather Clutch-J crew circa 2003, Jewelry: layered multi-colored metal necklace-The Extras from Karmaloop, Attached Jade and Knotted Buddha Charm- found at a trinket shop in Little Tokyo, A turquoise and Jade Buddha Necklace-gifted (from step-mother) high end designer, Turquoise Feather Earrings-gifted by my hubby from EVE in LBC, Sunnies: Quay, Noir Feathered Rosette Hair Fascinator: Self Made from a satin ribbon rose, hot glue and three long black feathers secured with a bobby pin, Red Hair, courtesy of my own Wella color mix of dark auburn and deep cherry with 10 volume developer & Nail Polish-Essie Petal Pink!

-"I want to go to there!" by, Liz Lemon on 30 Rock-

I ate the delicious appetizers (cucumber seaweed sunomono, miso soup, seaweed salads, fried salmon skin salad with a organic spring mix and sprouts etc.)! I received my sashimi deluxe platter, rice, tempura & sauce, and my hubby received his sushi deluxe platter so we were ready to feast. Right there, I have my soy sauce in hand to mix with wasabi. I ate fresh ginger that wasn't dyed pink (right!) and my palate was cleansed and ready to enjoy the freshest way fish in all of Los Angeles! Yelp was correct and Sushi-Gen lived up to all the all the hype, supposed long wait lists and ridiculously "perfect sashimi & sushi" expectations! The chefs were cheerful all night long, singing and chanting as they received high tips and when they served special dishes to the customers sitting at the bar (who were willing to eat and pay for whatever the sushi chefs' made for their delighted customers)! Our server was so sweet and pleasant was quick on her feet and always checked to make sure we were satisfied and enjoying our choices. She explained the menu with expertise as well as the portions. There weren't a gimmicks, hype or up-sales on her end and I personally appreciate that aspect of the service.

 In college, I worked numerous years as a server in upscale and in mid-range restaurants. I loathed being forced to up-sell crappy food/specialty drinks or price pointed not discounted items on are menu or not. Additionally, I hated the gimmicks unless they were truly special cuts of fresh fish, interesting scallops or tuna that came in because the chef got lucky, went fishing or his friends did. Sometimes specials were cool because the sous chef or the chef went to a mid-week farmer's market on a whim and found something extremely special, fresh and in season. This can also happen if an employee working at the restaurant or the chef's garden started exploding with way too many vegetables or fruit and then those specials mean something. That's why you ask questions and determine if the special is actually special. 

Occasionally, restaurants run weekly specials and they purposefully order extra of the ingredients to meet the special's requirements each night. That is not really a special but a price pointed weekly meal plan that is a restaurant gimmick. I think why isn't on the dang menu. Good lord! Otherwise, avoid specials at like the plague unless you are at the most upscale, highly reviewed, perfect palace of a restaurant or you will be unimpressed my mediocre, at best, or miserable food that is rarely fresh and basically tasteless.  That's the American way! 

Fortunately, most ethnic restaurants do not subscribe toe following philosophy! Moreover, no matter how cheap and how much food. Up-sales and specials are meant to clean out the older items in the cooler and I hate when the server gets stuck trying to beg us to buy these things and trying to up-sell drinks and things probably don't not want or that the second in command is still developing as his signature dish when the chef has a night or lunch off. Don't fall for it. Cort and I always know what we want and usually end up making good decisions. We tend to ask if we have questions as expert foodies! This was not a problem at Sushi-Gen. We avoided the lines and made a reservation early (over two weeks before) and we were ten minutes late and there were no problems!

-Costume-Long Sought After Asymmetrical LBD-

-A Light-Weight Sweater Dress, a DIY!-

To make the dress I pinned the shape I wanted around my figure. I took it off, cut straight down the edge where the seam was, put the dress right side together by folding it over, I created asymmetrical sleeves and sewed up the sides leaving tiny slits that are different lengths on each side of the sheath. The finished product is streamlined, classy, sensible and comfortable. I love it, a lot! Make one if you like to sew. This is the easiest DIY projects I have ever completed and I complete a lot, including customized tailoring work! Do it! You know you want to. I can re-do and video when I get a camera and post it on Vimeo for you on here if there's interest! Keep me posted!

I have a slight cold and the camera situation is a bit murky until it's replaced. I am on a hot trail for a nice new canon rebel, but expect some posts next week to be the bare bones basics (i phone pics & hipstmatics). Posting may be a bit spotty until I am feeling less yucky, eew! Thanks for your following and to all the new buzz that's being generated! I am so grateful for your genuine interest and your nice comments! You are appreciated! It's still Saturday! I made it! Phew! Take time to enjoy a fabulous week all! xoxo
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Post Flapper Dancer

I Wish I Could Dance

 

So, I broke my leg today so no more stylish shoes for me, but gere;s what I wore to work on the 2nd day of school.

I wore Minnetonka ankle booties with deeply discounted lace hosiery, a Luxe dress, a Charlotte sweater, thrifted and gifted jewels, one necklace from my collection and Marc Jocobs sunnies.

Back to School

I'm a Teacher Again, but I still Have to Look Stylish!

 Comfort Clothing

  

 Now, my kids are my photographers and I have the same backdrop every day, bummer. I think the move downtown will make things easier!

 I made a new friend with a beautiful dragonfly.

 I wore Steve Madden flats for comfort, Theory pleated trousers, a thrifted Dana Buchman sequined tank, my bullet necklace and my own jewels.

Vacation Polaroids 669

A Few Expired 669 Polaroids to Hold You Over

These are a couple of shots we took on our vacation. Enjoy!

Prancing Around in my New Blouse and Heels From Lola

A Lovely Day for Posing in the Sunshine

I wore cute little heels found at that little boutique called Lola on Linden street in the Arts District of Long Beach. I also wore a gold skirt found at a consignment store in La Jolla, a off-white, silk shirt found at Lola, an off-white Anne Klein camisole, a thrifted Chanel knock-off blazer, and a brand new lovely necklace made by yours truly which I've named The Meg!

Our New Loft Downtown: I signed a lease in this outfit

The Blackstone Luxury Lofts

We're moving to an awesome loft in Downtown Los Angeles on Broadway near everything fun that we like to do so we can play more often! This is our new parking garage! We'll be living in the Blackstone Luxury Lofts. They're not quite finished, but the units are completed! Yay! New fridge, dishwasher, and 2 walk in closets! That was a sell for me and we signed the lease then and there. To take a peak and really see where we'll be living and how fabulous it is go to this site to see flickr photos! They're pretty gorgeous. Our unit has two walk in closets and two window seats so it is a little more sexy then the average lofts we saw while browsing! It had our name all over it!

Party September 9th for Art Walk!  

We're attending a party on September 9th, the night of art walk and we hope some of our friends will turn up to play. Unfortunately, we have to take measurements for the sliding doors we plan to install to create a secluded bedroom! 

My Outfit

I wore Kenneth Cole wedges, an asymmetrical Ann Demeulemeester skirt, a vintage Dana Buchman sequined, silk tank, a gifted from mom, handmade in Hong Kong silk blazer that my Grandmother had made during the Olympics a long time ago (I love the off-white silk lining), a thrifted off-white Lucite bracelet, my bullet necklace, and a new necklace that I changed last night that was made to showcase the skeleton key that my wonderfully, blissful friend Megs sent me via snail mail (I'll most the new incarnation of the necklace tomorrow in all its glory) and Chanel nail polish which just chipped so I had to fix it. I am drying as I type!

 

Another Lovely Black Dress With a New Necklace

Black Laundry

A brand new look that was almost entirely thrifted!

I wore shoes by Guess, a Shelli Siegal Laundry dress, thrifted bracelets, one thrifted necklace and another one I made, homemade earrings, gifted clips from my mom and a Moyna clutch. I absolutely love hte neckline on this dress and all the chain. It is incredible and I only paid $9.50 for it at a great thrift store, Out of the Closet! 

 

Black is Back

Two Different Summer Days Wearing Black and Enjoying the Heat

Trina Turk swimsuit and Anthropologie shades on an desperately, swelteringly hot day.

This is the new necklace I made and wore in the shots below.

Calvin Klein Black Label dress, new Kenyae necklace made by yours truly, Anthropologie pearl necklace, mother of pearl earrings from my hubby and Pink label sandals from Anthropologie.