2 broke LA girls

Put on Purple for Lupus Awareness!

2013-05-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is National Lupus Awareness day, and the campaign is "Put on Purple" - Friday, May 17th!

Need some ideas for what to wear?

Get the picture? ;)

Post your purple outfits on Instagram and tag #POP #lupusawareness #lupusorg and #PutOnPurple. I will post my faves on the blog! (with your permission of course!!). I'm @jajajanea. You can also tag #2brokeLAgirls

Visit @lupusorg on twitter for their daily lupus facts and to learn more about this disease. Together we can raise awareness about this cruel mystery!

img srcs, if not noted above

May is Lupus Awareness Month!

2013-05-03T14:41:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! I haven't posted since I announced that April was National Poetry Month ;) But this is a worthy cause nonetheless.

I'm joining my friends in the Lupus Foundation of America's annual Walk to End Lupus Now this September. My friends and family are raising money for Team Jo Koy, to reach the Lupus Foundation's overall goal of raising $300,000.

source

Friday, May 17th it's gonna be time to POP! or "Put on Purple" for Lupus Awareness. I want to see everyone's best #OOTD* with something purple in it in, and tell people why! We can all show support for those who suffer from its brutal impact.

You can follow the Lupus Foundation on twitter at @LupusOrg, and they'll be tweeting important facts about the disease on a daily basis as well as signs to look for that you or someone you know may have lupus and not even know. You can also join our team by clicking this link. Feel free to share on Facebook, and follow his Facebook page here.

This is a cause very dear to me as some of my closest friends and family have been struggling with this for years. This will bring us steps closer to solving the cruel mystery of lupus!

Until next time...

*for the uninitiated, OOTD stands for outfit of the day. take your best instagram selfies in something purple!

April is National Poetry Month

2013-04-09T05:00:00.000-07:00

Hello chums! I do apologize for the lack of posting but school and life is just getting crazier and crazier. I will try to be more attentive.

As you may or may not know, April is National Poetry Month -

source

Here's a list of ideas from poets.org to catch up on what you've been missing so far:

01. poem in your pocket day

02. read a book of poetry

03. take a poem out to lunch

04. put a poem on the pavement

05. memorize a poem

06. revisit a poem

07. put poetry in an unexpected place

08. play exquisite corpse

09. attend a poetry reading

I think it was last semester that a dear friend of mine, Michelle from {west coast north east}, did a poetry bomb on her campus. I thought that was a great idea so I might do a little guerrilla poetry bombing myself. I read this poem "Near Olympic" last semester in a survey course and fell in love with it. It's by poet Tim Steele, and you can read it online here.

Red Hen Press is offering a Buy One Get One special on their catalogue. See their promotion here for more details. Bank Heavy Press will be holding its monthly reading series at Gatsby Books in Long Beach. And while not exactly a poetry event, there may be a poet reading...at Literary Death Match on April 18th. Maybe you'll get inspired by a story to write some poetry.

There are several events coming up in the local Los Angeles area featuring the first Poet Laureate of Los Angeles, Eloise Klein Healy. She will be appearing this weekend at Beyond Baroque along with Holly Prado, Harry Northup, Suzanne Lummis, and more. It will be my first time to hear Eloise reading, so I am very excited about that! Also, I did my poetry research paper on Suzanne Lummis and the Stand Up Poetry movement and became a huge fan. I've watched her read on YouTube but never in person. I always leave the Beyond Baroque events with a new ear and eye for writing.

What are some of your favorite poems?

Delightful Prints

2013-04-02T16:00:00.000-07:00

Thanks to tumblr I found this dress -- where have you been all my life? It's got me pining, seriously.

After some Google searching I found it here ... but it's out of stock! I guess my next option is eBay?

More amazing print dresses -

modcloth butterfly print dress

orla kiely fall 2012

As you can probably tell, I love these kinds of graphic printed dresses...(here) and (here). The Orla Kiely is a little out of my price range, but with a good sale I could probably catch that butterfly dress.

Spring has sprung! It's time for showing off our stems ;]

post contains a modcloth affiliate link

Pins of the Week

2013-03-28T05:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Thursday and Happy Spring Break to Me!!!

Here are some of my favorite Pins of this week. Great images to take me into Easter break :] Hope you enjoy them!

sassy gal (link)

What I like about this pin: the little girl has so much style, just like her (what I'm assuming is her) momma. So cute. Love the haircut and the sunnies. And it's black & white - just like the graphic Spring trend.

sheet music (link)

What I like about this pin: The oversized framed sheet music just says so much. It shows how important music is to most people. It serves as functional visual art as well as evoking the physical reactions almost everyone has when they listen to their favorite music. In this capacity it ties together a simple design for everyday life. It's just beautiful.

punctuation mark (link)

What I like about this pin: The semicolon is one of the most underrated punctuation marks but also one of the most widely misused and abused. I can handle a comma splice; I loathe the misappropriation of the semicolon! Don't know which one to use? Here's a handy guide. I wish I would have thought of this tattoo first! I just love the caption under the pin: They’re kind of metaphorically representative of the ability to stop, but the choice to continue.

heart reading (link)

What I like about this pin: Welp, I love reading. I love big chairs. And I love pictures of little kids reading. So this is just about everything that I love in one image. If this print is available for sale anywhere online I would love to have it.

living room makeover (link)

What I like about this pin: I actually love everything about this pin. The living room makeover features a mix of vintage and second-hand finds from Craigslist, flea markets, and garage sales combined with new pieces. The old pieces refurbished or otherwise enhanced, mixed with the green shrubbery and the bright natural light *kisses fingers* perfecto. Dream living room for sure.

Any *must see* pins for us? Let us know! Happy Easter ♥

Insta Weekend Recap

2013-03-26T05:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Tuesday!

Long time no blog -- Spring break is just around the corner and I, for one, cannot wait. Had a long weekend of work, fun, and studying -_- but mostly fun! With friends and family. Las Vegas weekend one has come and gone...weekend two (Jenny Lewis & Postal Service!) is shaping up to be just as eventful...

Prior to leaving for the weekend I went on a mini spree--

black maxi; striped tees; grey knit moto; OPI polish;
beaded necklace; silver necklace; red purse; felina bras;

Great deals. Mix and match with stuff i already owned --

studded sweatshirt; beaded sandal; josep! tank;
jean cutoff shorts (similar?); rose print scarf (similar)

Drove to Vegas very, very early in the morning. Straightened my hair first thing in the morning...even though I've been giving it a break. Anyway I wore the blue striped shirt ^^ up there as well as the turquoise beaded necklace.

Then later that day I had a little bit of work to do. Like blow up mannequins and man the merch table.

ting! ting! ; never skip a beat t-shirts

This t-shirt designed by artist Alex Roman, a.k.a. Donkee Boy has been spotted on the likes of Anjelah Johnson and Musiq Soulchild. It's such a great design, and part of the proceeds of its sale goes to the Lupus Foundation. Awesome. It is currently sold out on the artist website but will be available soon!

never skip a beat ♥ ♥

Last day OOTD - black & white striped maxi I picked up last year. Perfect for Vegas (perfect for anything, really) - easy, breezy, beautiful. Can dress up with a blazer, down with a cardigan, casual with a denim jacket. I usually wear with platform wedges, but wore the flat sandals ^^^ up there. And the silver necklace.

nail color: OPI I Forgot My Czech Book; glasses - Warby Parker;
curves - my own :p

Sorry for the repeats if you're already following me on Instagram! But if not, feel free ;] How was your weekend? Too long ago to remember?

this post contains affiliate links.

Bye, Bye, Bye (Google Reader)

2013-03-20T05:00:00.000-07:00

So the whole internet exploded when Google announced that they were discontinuing their Reader app. I am the saddest panda in the universe. It's such a great way to follow blogs and just because user numbers have dropped a little bit they're going to inconvenience the other millions of people who still use the service. But I am rambling and saying things that many others have said better anyway...

I'm switching to Feedly! Well, seeing how this works out anyway. I use Google Chrome and it's an extension (as far as I can tell so far) and it imported all of my blogs and kept my starred posts and everything. And it's preeeettttty!

my *starred* posts on Google Reader
as shown in Feedly

clicking on post title, full post shown
easy peasy!

There's also Bloglovin' and they're also making the transition from Reader very simple.

A lot of bloggers swear by it, and right now it's trending on Twitter (as of 3/15) -- and if you're a part of the IFB community then you know how popular the service is...but I haven't gotten used to the layout yet. BUT You can follow us on bloglovin here! (or in the sidebar by clicking that button)

And a new one I hadn't heard of called The Old Reader. I can't quite figure it out yet but...I think it's still in the works?

I'm kinda digging Feedly. Any other ideas? You've got until July 1st to make the change. Make it happen! What's gonna happen with Google Friend Connect? How do you read this blog?

Tyler's Surprise Party (Part 1)

2013-03-18T11:00:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know... i am a single mom to an amazing, smart, 7 year old boy named Tyler Sebastian.

He is the love of my life. I was blessed with him when i was 20. And although he wasnt part of my original plan... i have learned that this has been the BEST PLAN that i have been blessed with.

I have been a single mom for many years now... and i have only been able to afford 1 birthday party since he was born.

The last few years i have worked so hard to build a savings and save for a future. This past year in particular... i have worked my butt off. So... with that being said... i now have the savings to be able to throw my amazing 7 year old son a surprise birthday party!!

SHHHHH!

My son, is EXACTLY like me. He doesn't like what others like. He's very confident and doesn't care what people think. He marches to the beat of his own drum. He knows what he loves, and there is no compromising. He has always been this way.

So coming up with a party theme idea was sort of difficult. But knowing my son... i have decided to have a birthday theme of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid". He loves to read. He is a very smart kid. I'm not just saying that because he is my son, but truly... he is so smart. Excels in Math (He's learning 4th grade math and he is in 2nd grade) He loves to read just because... and he loves discovering new things.

So here is my inspiration board for Diary of Wimpy Kid. I will try to do everything myself...

I haven't baked for the last 2 years. It reminds me of my dad and my childhood, which is why i love to bake. I have been working my butt off the last two years and i had to give it up :/ Janea... is probably heaven sent into my life. She is one of my best friends. I adore her. I wish i could see her more. She knows that baking is my passion and she has always pushed me to continue baking. So when i saw her a few weeks ago... she bought me the cutest cake gift ever! She got me a cake thermometer and cute cupcake tins. She told me: ''You need to start baking again"... and with that... i will start baking again because i should not give up on something i love just because i am busy working two jobs.

I will try my hardest to replicate this cake for my sons birthday and i will be so happy if i can nail it before his big day comes. If i can do this... it will be the best gift i can give to him on his big day.

For now.. these are all the ideas i have for his birthday. Sorry this post is sooo long but.. . i had to share his special day plans with you all :))

Please feel free to share any DIY Birthday ideas you all might have :)

Call Me (Crazy, Maybe?)

2013-03-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

Is it crazy that even though temps are starting to rise into the mid-70s and low-80s in Southern California that I'm still over here craving cozy sweaters?

This one is my favorite. It's from American Apparel and I try to wear it as much as possible. I got it in a medium and it's still very large, but it's oversized in a grampa sweater kind of way. I am fairly certain it's a unisex garment, so that's why it's really big. My friend's kids love to sneak into my lap when i'm wearing it so they can feel its warmth! I love this pullover!!--

source

cool camera pic, girl

And this one! So welcoming, and it looks great in blue. I love the red, too but red isn't a very good color for me. But this is just adorable --

hello merch; as seen on abbey & holly

And of course, Forever 21 always has the cutiest sweaters -

sequined pullover; hogwarts pullover; studded pullover *

In the hot weather I'd wear with leggings (my favorites are the plain old AA cotton spandex legging) or with some shorty shorts. Maybe even a skater skirt or a thin maxi. But I just love sweatshirts, and love all of these feminine, fashionable options.

Am I crazy wearing sweaters in the 80s in LA? Probably...

Have a great weekend!

eShakti.com promo code 2BRKELGRLS promo code valid through 3/20/13.
Order while you still can!

*affiliate links

The Postal Service @ Cosmopolitan

2013-03-13T05:00:00.000-07:00

I cannot even begin to tell you all how unbelievably excited I am to go see The Postal Service on their 10 year anniversary tour!

source

I spent many a night listening to Give Up til the wee hours of the morning. I remember sitting on front porches and misfit hotel rooftops and driving on the dark and windy Pacific Coast Highway with the windows down and the music way up...singing at the top of my lungs so many moons ago.

This time we're all grown up and going to Vegas, baby. And at the Chelsea Ballroom @ Cosmopolitan no less. Very swanky and very glam. I'm going with my bff and we're gonna have a ball. OH! And, Jenny Lewis is opening too!

isn't she adorable?

source

Since I'm an obsessive planner I've already scoped out the layout of the place, found some photos of concerts that have already taken place there to see how it looks when it's sold out, drink prices, etc. It's going to be super packed, super hot, and super expensive lol. Hopefully not too crowded since Coachella is the same weekend, so most people will probably be there anyway.

I've got so many ideas of what I want to wear. Most likely it will be some kind of shorts + tank top ensemble because I don't like being hot. Probably resembling the second of Lewis's photos ^^ I get cranky when I'm hot!

If you're going to be there, let me know! I already found out a couple of people I know are going. It's going to be a blast!!

p.s. You've still got time to use that eShakti.com promo code for 20% off until 3/20/13: 2BRKELGRLS

Hair Restoration!

2013-03-11T05:00:00.000-07:00

You may remember that I've been doing lots of stuff to my hair lately. First I just dip-dyed the tips turquoise. Then went full on for a head of pink hair (or fuchsia, magenta??). Then purple. Now black. Sometimes my hair is curly. Sometimes it's straight.

note: this is NOT me. she's gorgeous.
and has perfect curly hair. and i don't have an original source.

Right now, it's err...in between? I think the stress made my curls loosen up and they've turned into smaller waves. Which is fine, but whatevs...

So when I give my hair a break like this, I often do a coconut oil hair mask treatment. You can click this link and look through any tutorial you'd like to follow.

img src: amazon.com // tj's coconut oil

I usually do a mix of coconut oil and olive oil, but have recently added in Dr. Bronner's Rose Liquid Soap because it's got all the essential oils, etc and cleanses while it's moisturizing. Plus it smells really good. Like sweet rosewater. Nice and pleasant.

img src: amazon.com

The ingredients: Water, Organic Coconut Oil*, Potassium Hydroxide**, Organic Olive Oil*, Natural Rose Fragrance, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Citric Acid, Tocopherol

I keep it in anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how sidetracked I get with homework and picking stuff up around my apartment. I'm not sure if leaving it any longer than 30 minutes really does anything, but you can consult the experts on YouTube for that one. Anyway, I have been doing this for a really long time and it feels nice afterwards.

I usually rinse it out with apple cider vinegar and it leaves my hair feeling really nice, smooth, and clean. I found out about this though from a natural hair care website, about deep conditioning before shampooing. It feels great.

If you have problems with dry hair maybe this could help you out! I'm gonna keep doing this until my curls bounce back :]

dream hair

(* CERTIFIED FAIR TRADE INGREDIENTS

** None remains after saponifying oils into soap and glycerin)

Eshakti.com promo code still valid through March 20, 2013 - Use code 2BRKELGRLS at check out.

Dapper Day Spring 2013 - Very Picture Heavy!

2013-03-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

So a week and a half later I made time to write a post about Dapper Day at Disneyland! I took some pictures on my cell phone (I can't believe I forgot my camera -- and my jewelry!!), and some others I stole from my friend Nicole ;]

I woke up at 5 a.m. which I never do. I was out of the house by 6 a.m. to get gas and pick up my bff Niva and head to the Happiest Place on Earth for a day of ~fancy fun~

First shot of the day; wearing Sephora Collection lipstick, Forever 21 Sunglasses

We had to get there so early, because as I mentioned in the other post, we got the chance to visit the legendary Club 33 for a nice, simple breakfast. The dining room is so lovely, as was the Trophy Room. It's not for the faint of heart, nor for those who object to taxidermy...

photo credit: Nicole Johnson

More photos inside Club 33 from my phone -

a dapper flapper | walt & shirley temple |
my rose ring & a ticket to ride the main car of the lilly belle train

I tried not getting caught taking selfie mirror pictures --

But I got caught!

I got busted by Courtney :]

I didn't know it was going to be so windy that morning, and I spent most of the time holding my skirt down until I found some shorts at a shop across from Indiana Jones. Ughhh. And it kind of killed my hair, too. Oh well! Still had a great time.

besties

michelle (made her own dress!),
nicole (custom dress from time machine vintage etsy shop)
niva (put together outfit from closet); me (ditto!)

Some great shots from around the park -

Sleeping Beauty's Castle || The treasure room on Pirates
Dapper people on the red truck || and on Club 33 Balcony
First 3 pix, Nicole; Group pic mine

Random dapper dudes mourning in front of the Haunted Mansion -

photo - Nicole Johnson

I haven't been on the carousel in Fantasy Land since I was a little girl. I thought I was going to get motion sickness or trigger my vertigo but I managed not to get dizzy!

Cool light trick, Nicole!

Niva dressed as a paper girl, I was kind of like a cat lady lost in the wrong decade lol

It was a very long day, and I finally got to see Carsland. I didn't get to ride the new rides because the lines were so long. I can't wait for the autumn Dapper Day date and maybe dress up for an actual era. I was originally going to wear one of my grandma's dresses but I decided against it at the last minute. Now that I know I can handle a breezy day at Disneyland in a pair of oxford booties, I think I'll be okay in a vintage dress.

Until next time!

don't forget, eShakti.com is offering 20% off any item (except clearance) with promo code 2BRKELGRLS until March 20th. Hop to it!

Another eShakti Success! Plus a Promo code :]

2013-03-04T05:00:00.000-08:00

Happy day!

I was contacted again by eShakti to try out an item from their new Spring collection.* I was very excited because I loved my other dress soo much.

I got my new eShakti dress in the mail just a few days ago, and sorry for the repeat since I did post a "selfie" on Instagram -- but here's how I wore it the first day I put it on:

yes, I took it in a restaurant bathroom. sue me.

I chose to go with a wide scoop neck, a tank sleeve, and knee length for my customization And of course, I kept it *with* the pockets, because who doesn't love a dress with pockets? And like I said before, what I love the most is that the dress can be tailored to my specific needs...like a larger bust size! It's so nice not to have smooshed boobs in a dress. (update: style number is CL0026027 and currently unavailable; will get an update as soon as I get a date)

It's fully lined and the fabric is nice and sturdy, so you don't have to wear a slip but I wore a half-slip anyway because it was kind of windy and I don't want to give anyone a free show ;]

Here are some of my new favorites:

Hot Air Balloon!

Retro Zig Zag

Puddy Tat (with hearts!)

Further -- eShakti now offers sizes 0-36W in addition to their custom sizing. You can add or remove embroidery, the pockets, or any other embellishments. Your money, your dress, the way you want it ^_^ And to make it even more awesome, they are offering 20% off for all of our lovely readers with the promo code 2BRKELGRLS through March 20th. Take advantage while you can!! (update: due to a technical error, the code was extended from the 10th to the 20th of March)

Happy shopping--I'm gonna go twirl around some more in my dress...

*FTC disclaimer etc: dress offered for review, but the truth of the matter is i really love the dress. my opinions were not influenced by the offer of free product, etc, etc.*

Dapper Day Preview

2013-02-22T05:00:00.000-08:00

I've got a LOT of schoolwork to do in the next two days. I've got no choice but to make it happen because... I am going to Dapper Day at Disneyland on Sunday !!!

source: dapperday.com

I'm so excited because I've also got theee greatest opportunity of a lifetime for a Disney freak like me... I'm going to Club 33! My friend totally hooked me up with this visit (thanks Nicole!!), and I decided to treat myself BIG TIME. I am esssploding with excitement. If you're not familiar with the legendary Club 33 you can read all about it on the Wiki page.

Anyway, Dapper Day is a wonderful day to get all gussied up for a magical day at Disneyland. I'm not feeling too creative right now though. I was planning on wearing one of my grandmother's dresses, but I'd have to take such care with it so I'm just going to go simple and black --

of course, they're all from f21: top, skirt (similar), belt // *affiliate links*

May wear a denim jacket or a white (faux) leather jacket. I'm thinking I will wear my brown oxfords, just because they're so comfy even though they don't exactly match, BUT I love these grey shoes with the pink soles. If I find them, I will get them. You mark my words! (Edited to add: I ended up grabbing these lovely shoes...but I still want the grey oxfords!)

both shoes @ DSW

And of course last but not least the finishing touch-- hair & makeup. I have my hair up in pins so that I can make it big and wavy, and I want to find a really good red lipstick. If not, I have a couple of pinks that may work --

glamour inspiration via pinterest

I am going to try to get lots of pictures of the fabulous magical day. There are going to be so many well dressed Disneyphiles there and I cannot wait!

Random Thoughts for a Wednesday...

2013-02-20T16:03:00.000-08:00

This might be my only entry for the week since I'm not feeling all that great. And school is a time suck...but I shouldn't say that because I actually really like school...anyway.

I am a pretty liberal person. I think that all bodies are good bodies. Anyone should do whatever makes them happy. I don't care if your hair is green, blue, pink, blonde, red, black, whatever. I don't care if you have a face full of piercings or no tattoos or wear clothes that you "shouldn't" wear.

still seeking original source

It's so easy to slip into the, "ooooh she does NOT look good in that outfit" kind of mentality. I catch myself doing it sometimes and I feel ashamed for making those kinds of judgments.

Why should I get so wrapped up in what others are doing?

I want to keep reminding myself of these things --

Replace judgment and criticism with love... and...

You look beautiful today :]

Find what makes you happy and keep doing it. I love changing my hair color. I get bored easily.

My hair was pink, then purple, then whatever color ...now I colored it black but I still left some of the purple/fuchsia. I don't feel guilty that I don't wear my ~natural~ color or texture. I'm biracial and my hair is naturally curly. Should I feel guilty because others think I should wear my hair "the way nature intended?" Ummmm no. I do what I want.

Anyway I lost track of where I was going with this post, but I just wanted to emphasize that no matter what I may say in a post about clothes or makeup or whatever "looking good," it's not meant to offend anyone.

/rant

My Kind of Love Story

2013-02-14T05:00:00.000-08:00

So, obviously romance is in the air right now. I'm not into this kind of love story -

But... Today is the day for romance... i guess!

ryan gosling photo courtesy elle magazine; valentine my own creation ;]

Here are some of my favorite love/hate/heartbreak movies:

breakfast at tiffanys

gone with the wind

the awful truth (the good version lol)

eternal sunshine of the spotless mind

heathers

And so many more. Like I said on Monday...I'll be spending my Valentine's Day with John McClane. Yipee-kai-yay.

Hearts on Hearts on Hearts

2013-02-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

Hello beauties!

I hope everyone had a fab, fun weekend. Nadia and I went to Unique LA's Fake Prom fundraiser.

Some people went all out in their prom garb from cutesy ball gowns to full on 80s puffy sleeved party dresses...the best group was the punk rock prom group in the denim and leather jackets. They looked pretty bad ass!

I tried this dress on because the vision I had in my head, I wanted to look like a giant birthday cake...

Windsor. Too pricey. Too tiny.

But quickly remembered - these dresses are made for 15 year old bodies, not for mid-20-year-olds.

So I wound up going to Nordstrom Rack and found 2 sequin tops, one silver & one turquoise, and I got a simple black maxi skirt at Forever 21. My friend lent me her jacket, and I wore 5" open toe platforms because generally i like being the tallest person in the room :p

My curls would not separate for all the tea in China!

I just did a simple face makeup. Big eyelashes and a gold and bronze smoky eye with a coral lipstick. Good times were had by all...

*****

So running around the mall all day long I saw so many cute Valentine's Day outfit ideas. I love almost anything with hearts on it, and for me, the more color the better. If I'm not wearing all black, I like to mix lots of colors and prints. Dream Valentine's outfit--

mod cloth heart over heels dress || forever 21 heart stud bag (alternate: quilted heart crossbody) || UO kimchi blue pumps || love waist belt || nars falbala || butter london disco biscuit

As for me, I'm going to watch the latest installment of my favorite film franchise of all time -- A Good Day to Die Hard. I cannot wait! I hope you have some awesome plans! Even if it's spent just pampering yourself for a day :]

*post contains affiliate links*

And the winner is...

2013-02-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

Hello, hello!

Thank you to everyone who entered our awesome giveaway sponsored by Planet Beauty.

The lucky winner is . . . Erika Chilton!

Please look out for an email from us & respond within the requested time. I hope you enjoy your new, fab hair product!

And if you didn't win, don't fret - we're actually having another giveaway soon. A little thank-you for our friends, old and new :]

Meg Cohen

2013-02-06T05:00:00.000-08:00

I am very blessed to have an amazing job. We get free perks all the time from clients. Managers often receive awesome gifts and they always love to share the wealth with the aspiring wannabe future Directors (Me :/).

One of the Directors in my department received a shipment of Meg Cohen Gloves from one of her big accounts.

Ive never had anything cashmere, so i never realized how soft it felt. It felt like clouds on my pretty little hands.

These gloves are so pretty. They retail for $65.00. I know that might seem like a lot, but these are a statement for any winter outfit.

More info can be found here :)

don't forget -- today is the last day to enter the giveaway!

Venice Shoot, Continued

2013-02-04T04:00:00.000-08:00

More photos from our Venice shoot. Thanks for everything Aileen!

shorts F21; pink top, small fashion store;
watch Michael Kors; bracelets Ted Baker

top F21; pants F21

sunglasses, $8 on the boardwalk

janea's glasses, h&m $8

aileen tried taking this on the move as quick as possible
...janea needed a diet coke!!

I must say, I'm not much of a model but Nadia is a natural! It was fun, and Aileen is a pro. Maybe next time we pick a location that's not so crazy! Venice on the weekend in beautiful weather is a madhouse.

Until next time...

Venice Shoot - Aileen Aquino Photo

2013-02-01T05:00:00.000-08:00

Here is another set from our shoot with Aileen Aquino. We hit the beach because the streets and Venice Boardwalk were so packed! We could hardly walk around or get set up so we tried to go on the run...

"venice morning, oceanfront walk people of venice, smiling, sunned, enchanted venice magic dazzling eyes with world, with city with street & ocean........." Stuart Z. Perkoff

click to enlarge

On Nadia: "Love all, trust a few" Shakespeare tank- F21 ($10.80); Twill Skinny Pant - F21 ($15.80); Converse sneaker (approx $40); Michael Kors watch ($250); Coach messenger bag

On Janea: Mickey sweater - Gotta Have It Vintage ($30); "Unknown Pleasures" tank - UO ($30); Tricot nylon legging - AA ($34); Nike sneaker; Dooney & Bourke shoulder bag - Goodwill; Chain link bracelet - Oh, She Dabbles giveaway

Have a great weekend, and don't forget to enter our giveaway! Just a few more days left.

*post contains affiliate links*

Product Review: eShakti.com

2013-01-30T04:00:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time coming but I've finally got pictures of me in my eShakti dress. Well, good quality photos at least. I've worn this dress probably 7 or 8 times in the last month and a half that I've had it!

In the middle of winter you wouldn't exactly expect gorgeous, 80-degree weather, but we are pretty lucky in L.A. It was the perfect day for a photo shoot with the beautiful and talented Aileen Aquino.

on nadia: forever 21 shorts, jessica simpson shoes, ted baker bracelets
on janea: eShakti dress, forever 21 sandals, h&m sunglasses

We were contacted to give eShakti a try. The selection is great! They ran out of the fabric from the first dress I wanted, but I finally decided on this adorable swan print dress.

The process is so easy to get a fit dress. It doesn't cost much more to get a custom size, but if you can wear a dress from a standard size then that's great too. I always need more room in the bust area. And it's nice to get the dress in the mail and the tag size says "custom."

The quality of the materials is wonderful, and the dress is fully lined so I don't need to wear a slip underneath, and best of all -- pockets!

Here are some more of their adorable dresses--

I hope you give them a try. The dresses are totally worth the money, and you'll get gobs of compliments when you're wearing them.

venice photos, all rights reserved: aileen aquino photo (portfolio, blog) .. p.s. don't forget to enter our Planet Beauty giveaway!

**although the dress came compliments of eShakti, the thoughts and opinions expressed are my own**

Planet Beauty Giveaway

2013-01-28T04:00:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone. We're excited to announce our first giveaway with Planet Beauty. We have been lucky enough to partner up with them and try out some amazing product, and here's what we have for this giveaway for one lucky winner.

First is Catwalk by Tigi - Your Highness Root Boost Spray (retail approx $11). Gives your hair an instant boost. If you're like me, your hair falls flat easily. This spray really helps combat the flat hair! Next is one of my FAVORITE products.

Bed Head by Tigi - After Party (retail approx $16). Oh man, this has really saved me after a long night out at the bar or club, and not wanting to really wash my hair the next day because it still looks good, but smells awful. After Party goes on smooth and silky and smells so good. It removes smells in a flash!

AVA hair oil (retail approx $30). I haven't tried this one yet, but it's a new product. It's a paraben, alcohol, and sulfate-free protectant. I am on the hunt for the best hair oil and this looks like a great contender. I wish I could enter the giveaway just for this!

Here's how to enter--

a Rafflecopter giveaway

As you can see above, "like" Planet Beauty on Facebook (or follow on Twitter if you do not have FB, and leaving a comment are the main methods of entry, and the other entries are extra.

Please, please make sure to leave a comment with your email so we can get a hold of you. The winner will be contacted within 48 - 72 hours following the end date of the giveaway. Planet Beauty is shipping the product out, but please email me at 2brokelajanea AT gmail.com if you have any questions or problems.

Giveaway is open to US residents 18 and over. Please see full giveaway rules for more details. ~~Contest starts Jan 28, 2013 and will run until Feb 6, 2013 at midnight (EST).~~ We will announce the winner as soon as possible. (this giveaway is now closed)

Good luck, y'all!!

LA Art Show

2013-01-23T22:06:00.001-08:00

(Image Credit: LA Art Show)

I consider myself to be an eclectic-loner who is madly in love with music, photography, art, fashion, and anything and everything that has to do with creativity.

My happiness thrives off new amazing discoveries that tickle my fancy.

Last year- i attended the LA Art Show.

It was amazing.

I cannot describe the feeling of looking at pieces that a person poured their heart and soul into. Its simply breathtaking.

The Art Show is taking place this weekend and it is on TRAVELZOO! Tickets are normally $18.00, but its now priced at $10.00 if booked through Travelzoo.

Don't have anything to do this weekend and want to try something different for $10 buckaroos? Head down to the LA Art Show at the LA Convention Center, and I'm pretty sure you'll be happy you did.

I got my ticket already- and i have an amazing Sunday date planned with the love of my life, Tyler (My son). Cant wait!

More info can be found here!

P.S. I would've posted more pictures... But i don't want to get sued by all the amazing artist that will be there. See you there!!! :)))

Will you... Go to Prom with Me??

2013-01-21T12:30:00.000-08:00

(Image credit: Unique LA)

I do not take credit for this... AT ALL.

Janea was the one who actually found this event. I am simply just writing about it. So kudos for her for finding this awesome event that you should go too =D

Unique LA Presents, 'FAKE PROM', a fundraiser for Inner City Arts for Kids.

Did you go to prom? This your chance to RE-DO your prom!! If you went to prom and you just want to support a great cause and go have a few drinks... then this is for you.

(Image credit: Unique LA)

Stats:
-Students in the LAUSD are among the nations top risk to drop out of school
- Only 48% of African American & Latino students who start 9th grade, graduate 4 years later. (WOW.)
-Most students in California do not receive Art Education, even at the level that State Law requires
-Children who attend schools with high levels of poverty, have the least access to Art Instruction

About the event:
February 9th. 8 PM - 12 Midnight
Inner City Art Campus
720 Kohler Street in Downtown LA
More info here

Prom Info:

OPEN BAR.
Awkward Prom Photo
Treats from Tender Greens
OPEN BAR!!
Build your own Corsage Station
Dance to the beats of DJ Bryan Davidson
OPEN BAR!!!!

Tickets: $35 ++

If you believe in Art and supporting children who want to create something beautiful... please support this.

I will be at the bar drink my litto heart out and taking awkward prom photo's with strangers :) See you there!!!