Happy Halloween!!

Betty Grable Halloween!, originally uploaded by Lisa Kettell.

Visual Mood Mondays

I Can Do This, originally uploaded by Stephanie Ryan Art.

Perfect Halloween Inspiration

I finally found some images that are inspiring me for Halloween!! These stunning images are from V Magazine and were shot by the hugely talented Mario Testino. I really love the colors of the wigs here because they are subtle yet striking. I can't believe Halloween is in one week...so I really gotta bust a move on finding a good wig. I think Ebay is going to be my best bet so off I go...

Have you decided on a costume yet??

The Manifesto of Encouragement

Bago (Burma) - Monks in meditation, originally uploaded by streetcorner.

I came across Danielle Laporte's website, White Hot Truth by way of one of my favorite inspiring ladies + life coach (mine!) Kate Swoboda. While strolling around Danielle's website I was particularly moved by this manifesto. Pieces of it actually brought tears to my eyes and showed me how much I was in need of some encouragement. So I'm reposting this with the hope that it touches someplace in you that needs encouraging too.

The Manifesto of Encouragement

Right now:

There are Tibetan Buddhist monks in a temple in the Himalayas endlessly reciting mantras for the cessation of your suffering and for the flourishing of your happiness.

Someone you haven't met yet is already dreaming of adoring you.

Someone is writing a book that you will read in the next two years that will change how you look at life.

Nuns in the Alps are in endless vigil, praying for the Holy Spirit to alight the hearts of all of God's children.

A farmer is looking at his organic crops and whispering, "nourish them."

Someone wants to kiss you, to hold you, to make tea for you. Someone is willing to lend you money, wants to know what your favourite food is, and treat you to a movie. Someone in your orbit has something immensely valuable to give you -- for free.

Something is being invented this year that will change how your generation lives, communicates, heals and passes on.

The next great song is being rehearsed.

Thousands of people are in yoga classes right now intentionally sending light out from their heart chakras and wrapping it around the earth.

Millions of children are assuming that everything is amazing and will always be that way.

Someone is in profound pain, and a few months from now, they'll be thriving like never before. They just can't see it from where they're at.

Someone who is craving to be partnered, to be acknowledged, to ARRIVE, will get precisely what they want -- and even more. And because that gift will be so fantastical in it's reach and sweetness, it will quite magically alter their memory of angsty longing and render it all "So worth the wait."

Someone has recently cracked open their joyous, genuine nature because they did the hard work of hauling years of oppression off of their psyche -- this luminous juju is floating in the ether, and is accessible to you.

Someone just this second wished for world peace, in earnest.

Someone is fighting the fight so that you don't have to.

Some civil servant is making sure that you get your mail, and your garbage is picked up, that the trains are running on time, and that you are generally safe.

Someone is dedicating their days to protecting your civil liberties and clean drinking water.

Someone is regaining their sanity. Someone is coming back from the dead. Someone is genuinely forgiving the seemingly unforgivable. Someone is curing the incurable.

You. Me. Some. One. Now.

-Danielle Laporte

Visual Mood Mondays

I'm starting a new weekly column called "Visual Mood Mondays" to show you what I feel purely through photographs. So here we go...

















{All images via flickr}

The Moxie of Princess Margaret

Princess Margaret Rose was Queen Elizabeth's glamourous baby sister. The Queen loved to have her at events because it was Margaret who made everyone laugh and kept them entertained. I love her sense of style in these photos, she lacks the stuffiness that seems so prominent in the Royal Family. She looks more like a budding starlet than a princess...

















{All images via Flickr}

All You Need Is...

"Do you want me to tell you something really subversive?
Love is everything it's cracked up to be.
That's why people are so cynical about it...
It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for.
And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything - you're risking even more."

-Erica Jong



{Image via Flickr}

Les Demoiselles De Rochefort

I *love* vintage musicals, add to that being set in France and I'm in heaven!! I finally got around to watching "Les Demoiselles de Rochefort" (The Young Girls of Rochefort) and it was such a delight! Catherine Deneuve and her real life sister Francoise Dorleac play twins, Solange and Delphine. Tragically, Francoise was killed in a car accident in Nice, France shortly before the film's premiere.

In this French homage to the Hollywood musical they dance, sing, and look for their true loves in the small town of Rochefort while dreaming of going to Paris. This film is a follow up to The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, which I blogged about here. Although The Umbrellas of Cherbourg was visually stunning, I didn't really like the film but I thought this film was incredibly entertaining and witty. I'm still humming this song. A must see for anyone who loves vintage musicals!!











{All images via Flickr}

Rainy Reasonings.

When I was in NYC last week it was raining and I loved the way almost all the New York ladies were prepared with fashionable wellies. I almost bought a pair from Hunter while I was there but was reminded that I live in LA where it barely. ever. rains. Flash forward to today in LA where there is a torrential downpour happening outside!! I should have followed my instincts and invested in any one of these beauties below:

Wellies!! by Kelly Valentine featuring wellies boots

See by Chloé Lace-up Wellington rain boot, $215
Hunter Original short Wellington boots, $105
Chooka Boots Signature Solid Rain Boot Mimosa Yellow - Jildor Shoes,..., $30
Hunter Women's Original Rain Boots - Fuchsia, $115
Burberry Smoked Check Rain Boots - Bloomingdales.com, $275
Chooka 'Posh Dot' Rain Boot, $65

That's One HELL Of A Hat.

I have a bit of an obsession with hats. Especially vintage hats. To me, there is nothing more sophisticated or sexy than a well placed hat. I'm even planning a trip to the Kentucky Derby next year just because I want to wear a damn hat. That's how much I love hats. I'm willing to fly across the country just to wear one for a single day.

Any Favorites??













{All images via Flickr}

I Heart New York City + Fleamarket Finds.

I Love New York, originally uploaded by CiaoChessa.

I recently returned from a magical trip to NYC. I hadn't been there in almost ten years, so my trip was long overdue!! I'd been dreaming about the city all summer so I knew it was time. The biggest priority on my agenda?? To get to a flea market while I was in town. I was not disappointed. After doing my research, I found this great article on the best flea markets in the city. I decided on GreenFlea, mostly because of it's proximity to where I was staying. Overall I would say it was a smaller flea market but it was laid out really well and had lots of vintage sellers. Since it was mostly outdoors I almost missed an entire section that was located inside the building next door!! I'm always on the lookout for vintage books, jewelry, clothes, and art. I walked away with the beauties below:


*Antique poetry book by Robert Browning from 1885 for $7
*Vintage Sequin sheer top in amazing condition for $25
*Vintage dress with chevron pattern $10
*Vintage gold necklace $10
*Vintage black iridescent bead necklace $10
*Vintage puffy star earrings $6