INSPIRED SHANNON

NY, NY

2012-02-08T10:01:00.000-08:00

The vibe of New York is infectious, but no more so than during New York Fashion Week. The powerhouse editors, waify models and the fashion community converge in the city for a glimpse into the future. Each show is a curated art exhibit, each party is a chance to mingle with the dreamers & the ones who made it and each corner you turn is a chance to be inspired.

Every September and February when I head to NY, I cannot help but be overwhelmed with feelings of excitement and joy of what's to come. This is evident by my two giant suitcases...one filled with entirely shoes: the highest of high heels, edgy, ass-kicking boots and staying true to my California girl self; Converse and the other with party dresses, plenty of faux fur and a pair of Isabel Marant zippered leather pants I only bring out to wear with the aforementioned boots.

Stay tuned for updates from the tents, photos from the city that captured my heart and of course, shout outs to the amazing meals and cocktails that await.

Image from Pinterest

Farmer's Market Fresh

2011-09-28T00:00:00.000-07:00

On Sunday I went to the Hollywood Farmer's Market and stocked up on the fresh produce, the still-in-season strawberries and farm-grown eggs (the chicken, not the egg.) I've eaten only from this shopping trip and couldn't have enjoyed each and every meal more. I cannot wait to go back next Sunday and pick up some peppers (for fajitas), sweet potatoes (mixed with chopped pistachios for a new take on mashed) and apples (at the peak of their season.)

[Homemade Tomato soup + giant grilled cheese croutons]

[Farm fresh eggs]

[Seedless grapes + ripe strawberries in my favorite teal bowls]

[Last night's dinner (honey and bread also from the market) spread]

Big Purchase

2011-09-26T00:00:00.000-07:00

As my mom said, this weekend I put on my "big girl pants" and bought my first car. The whole thing happened unexpectedly (as most good things do!). I went for a run in Santa Monica along the beach, got a strong cup of coffee to warm and wake up post-workout, then went to one (yes, just one) car dealership. After many hours of negotiations and me leaving for a bit to get the below manicure (& pedicure) and call my dad to freak out, then went back to seal the deal. While there were many car options out there, I'm over the moon happy with my choice (a Prius) and feel a step closer to "real" adulthood and being earth-friendly.

Chinese Food + Wine

2011-09-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

Not every day is perfect. Not everyone is perfect. It just so happened that on a Monday night one of my best girlfriends and I had our crappiest days. Solution? Ordering massive quantities of P.F. Chang's and cracking open a bottle of Willy Jack (check out your nearest BevMo!, its a hidden gem. Seriously. All of my friends are hooked.) We didn't finish the food or the bottle, but talking about our woes certainly lightened the mood of the day. Cheers (with glasses and chopsticks) to fantastic friends who make it all better!

Cravings

2011-09-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

Since I've been home for just a little over 24 hours I've done some of my most favorite and comforting things: seen good friends, watched trashy TV, eaten at In-N-Out and even gone through a pile of long-overdue magazine stacks. This weekend I'm really looking forward to being low-key and keeping the focus on relaxing moments and to-do's.

[Home-cooked meals]

[Mounds of blankets]

[At least four of these will be viewed]

[Enjoying ice cream while its still warm outside]

Status Update

2011-09-13T20:16:00.000-07:00

A week in New York and I'm coming back (yes, on the plane) energized- albeit walking everywhere in place of cabs (except in the near constant down pour I experienced the first few days.) For once I listened to my body and ate well - pork buns at Ippudo don't count, right? - drank minimally and exercised.

At some Fashion Week events I bumped into friends who commented on how and why I do what I do. Being surrounded by thin, beautiful people who stare at food rather than consume it. Crazily enough, I don't notice. Not in the slightest.

Much more on NY and Fashion Week soon. Stay tuned for lots of exciting updates!

Palmilla Panela

2011-08-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

Just a few weeks (although it feels like days in my head!) I came back from the gorgeous One&Only Palmilla resort in Los Cabos, Mexico. Despite my beautiful surroundings and relaxing environment, there was one point in the day we looked forward to (and even coined it a nickname) "magic hour." We would arrive back to our hotel and apparently (because I didn't notice until maybe the fourth day) the shades were lowered and the entire room was candle-lit. There were chocolates left and fresh (homemade) tequila was around for enjoyment as well. But my most favorite was the marinated panela cheese with a side of mixed nuts or croutons. I gorged myself so much that our butler (yep, you read that right) would bring me extra. Within one day of arriving back in LA, I figured out the recipe. Super simple guys. Great for parties.

Marinated Panela:

Queso Fresco cheese
2 parts chile powder
1 part paprika
The teeniest bit of lime juice (fresh squeezed)

Cut the queso fresco in teeny rectangles and pour the mixture over, coating each piece well. Serve immediately. Serve with cute toothpicks!

New Season Resolution

2011-08-30T19:12:00.000-07:00

It's nearly September. I haven't blogged in ages. My jeans barely fit. My hair is blonde. I'm tan. Explanation: fun happened. Solution: it's time to get in shape; for good. While this isn't my usual fashion or trend category post, I think some readers can relate (and hopefully support) to my journey.

Let's get real. Stats (Shannon-style):

Weight is equivalent to college graduation time. Several years later....
A workout consists of half-assed tries that barely result in sweating
I'm awake more of the day than I sleep
My fridge contents are: several bottles of white wine, at least 12 types of cheeses and a shelf of flavored beverages and mixers. (My freezer has 3 types of ice cream [one homemade] and a flask.)

I'm running the 2012 NY Marathon, I'm signed up for (well, after I post this) the Surf City half marathon in February and I've got about 6 packages to Exhale's (amazing) Core Fusion classes. Ambitious.

So where do I start?

Tracking food entries/weight through the MyFitnessPal app (I highly recommend).
I set my alarm for 5am this morning and made it to the gym by 6am. Gave it a legit 45 minute try and then went home. It's a start. Don't hate. Repeat daily.
HBO GO and Netflix have ruined my evening reading time. Aka falling asleep 15 minutes after opening the book. The Corrections has been waiting to be finished all summer. Let's get on that.
I'm feeding my body with more good things than bad. This takes time. And sacrifice. And will power. All of which I'm working on. I had fries with my turkey burger lunch and let the salad go to waste. Truth. I also had a handful of raisinettes and half of a (not worth it) chocolate chip cookie. But a light dinner of hummus and pita helps to balance out the day.

Please note, that I'm not overweight or anything close to it. Living in Los Angeles certainly screws with your "normal" scale, however, I'm constantly tired, my eyes are usually blood shoot and wrinkles and grey hair are knocking on my twenty-something door. It's time for a change. Because any of us know that you don't get to look like Giselle if you're sitting on your bum...well only if you're the real Giselle because she's borderline perfect and apparently has a 6-pack two weeks after childbirth. I digress....

Distraction(s)

2011-04-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

I'm not really sure what's caused me to be so distracted from blogging. I keep going through this checklist in my head:

I like writing
I like scouring the internet in search of cool stuff
I like doing web design (although "doing" is probably not the appropriate verb)
I take pictures of everything
I'm on a computer for practically 10 hours a day

Work/life/fun all got in the way (and all totally worth it). Here's some snippets:

Not my work, but how awesome is this?

The Sweet Life

2011-04-04T00:00:00.000-07:00

DL's banana loaf

After a brief hiatus from the blogging world, one darling book brought me back. The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz chronicles the journey of a pastry chef (David) leaving his roots (San Francisco) and going on an adventure to a city (Paris) where he hardly knew a sole or how to navigate the city. His story vividly reminded me of my own. Nearly 3 years ago I took a leap, a huge leap to move cross country and start life over. Not knowing the roller coaster that was in front of me I welcomed everything and everyone I met and embraced my new "home" completely.

David's closing lines resonated deeply with my own experience, "I embarked on a new life in Paris without knowing what the future would hand me. Because of that, my life's turned into quite an adventure." Whether your own "big thing" is moving or starting something else new; do it. Life's too short to sit and plan. Make something happen.

Looking forward to the many wonderful adventures 2011 will bring. xoxo -S

Tartine Treat

2011-02-15T00:00:00.000-08:00

Without talking to each other about it, both my mom and grandma each got me a different Tartine cookbook for Christmas. As I unwrapped each of them I was blown away. The famed bakery holds a dear place in my heart. I'm a sucker for anything French, anything sweet and places tucked away that seem like my own discovery and secret place (though, Tartine notoriously has lines wrapping around the building, despite not having a sign.) I've got the sticker from my very first order at the legendary SF bakery on my fridge and have a frangipane croissant from a subsequent visit in my freezer. Just talking about the bread pudding (makes me melt!) and the banana cream tart (better than anything x10) makes a series of expletives come out of my mouth. Overjoyed at both of my gifts, I had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to use these books and an impromptu dinner party was just the fit. However, each and every recipe tested my patience in the kitchen. I ended up covered head to toe in flour and sugar by Sunday evening.

On the menu:

Mini prosciutto sandwiches on homemade (Tartine country bread - have you ever made a live starter? It's more demanding than a 6 week old puppy) bread with apricot spread
Mint hummus with corn chips
Mixed greens salad (with dressing from this Alice Waters cookbook; yep, I cheated and went to Berkeley. I also nearly passed out when I met AW a few years back, I digress...)
Potato focaccia (country bread as crust, minus the retardation process + artichokes & sea salt)
Browned butter lemon bars (substituting lemons for Meyer lemons + adding pine nuts to the crust)

*Happy Birthday to my one & only, Yolaine! My sister from another mother. Besos mon amour!*

My most favorite gift

Fragrance Counter

2011-02-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

Partial view of my fragrance collection

Some women need lipstick or mascara or hairspray to feel "okay" enough to go out the door. I don't fall into that category (mainly because I rarely use any of the aforementioned items.) What I feel absolutely naked without and will spur a mini-panic attack is some sort of fragrance. I wear a powder-scented lotion, in fact the same one for the past 12 or so years, and a light spritz of any of the following:

Bond No. 9 "Union Square" Andy Warhol Edition - a scent that I truly treasure. It's more floral than anything I wear, but musky enough to be sexy. I wear it mostly on nights out, but only sparingly since the bottle is nearing it's end; so if I'm wearing it around you - you're a special person to me!
Viktor & Rolf "Flower Bomb" - As you can see by the bottle, I typically wear this every day and I'm a huge fan of this scent's lotion companion.
Jo Malone "White Jasmine & Mint" - This is my go-to summer scent. It's refreshing (mint) and mildly floral (palatable) and honestly smells like a men's fragrance (yum!)
Gucci II - There are just remnants of liquid left in the bottle. Reminds me of my early 20's and brings back memories with every whiff.
Dolce & Gabanna "The One" - Truth be told, the Giselle ad sold me. Then the powdery scent reminded me of my lotion. It's casual enough to wear on the weekend running errands and intriguing enough to wear on a date.

Oh, and if you're a guy with the two below fragrances a.) kudos and b.) if I see the bottle I will shamelessly spray it on myself. Since the CK One days (come on, you totally remember them!) I've taken it upon myself to continue in the unisex cologne tradition. Deal with it dudes.

Home Cooked

2011-02-03T00:00:00.000-08:00

PB Rice Krispie Treats

While one of my most favorite things to do is go out to eat, but there's just something special about having a home cooked meal...especially when your mom is the one doing the cooking. During my latest trip (yep, another airplane) to Arizona I totally gorged. Creme puffs, margaritas, my super top secret guacamole recipe, grilled asparagus (all-time fav) and peanut butter Rice Krispie treats...I'm still reliving all the delicious meals in my head. And it's making me hungry!

Blue Curacao Margs

Thai Pasta- spicy, spicy, spicy!

So not a fan of roses, but these ones were sweet

New shoes - crazy obsessed; must find somewhere to wear this weekend

Arriving home to LAX

Eternally Connected

2011-02-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

Pardon my crooked tights

Generally I keep things simple - one wallet (see my dedicated post here), always a nude gloss, a camera of some sort and gum [wintergreen in case you were curious.] Most of which I can toss in a crossbody bag or even a clutch. But as of late all of my devices have got in the way. The devices and their chargers and ear pieces and cords of all kinds take up so much space. Not to mention each device has a different function, service provider and phone number. It even got so bad that I noticed my most recent manicure was the same color as one of my Blackberries. Despite the tech theme, my Minx nails are beyond awesome. They stay on for weeks at a time (approaching week dos) and come in varieties of designs. If you're local, see Leticia at Plush Beauty Bar. She's amaze!

My fully-loaded brand new MacBook Pro (excellent way to start off the week!)

Blonde Ambition

2011-01-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

I have an absolutely overwhelming urge to go blonde. Blonde, blonde, like the lady above or the new Giselle-featured ad below that started this yearning. I'm trying to justify the act based on half of my hair already being lighter...summer is coming...I need my hair done anyway. There's a few more weeks until my next hair appointment, so in the meantime I'll just ogle all of the beautiful blondes to help me find my perfect shade.

Images via weheartit

Year of the Short

2011-01-26T00:00:00.000-08:00

To this day I have an extreme phobia about wearing shorts. Growing up, I was sent to the principals office every time the weather warmed up. My shorts never passed the "finger tip" rule. What my school's didn't take into account was that a long-legged girl most likely has really, really long arms too. Who else could palm a basketball at the age of sixteen? (And still can...) Based on my constant stream of punishment and embarrassment for being all limbs, I stopped wearing shorts of any kind for nearly 10 years (tragic.) Only within the past few years have I slowly "accepted" shorts back into my wardrobe. I'm still paranoid that they look too short or all you see are giraffe-like structures coming out of cut offs, but I'm warming up to them...especially with all the cute looks I'm seeing everywhere (Refinery29, stop making me want to shop!!)

And to be 100% honest, this recent comment made me a little bit more confident about wearing shorts:

Random person I've run into several times in the last week and a half (Oh, LA): "Yo girl, you are banging, but damn, you were really banging last week with those shorts on. You better hang around here all the time, especially when you look like that."

Le sigh. This might have to be the year of shorts. Should I do it?

Images courtesy of weheartit

Clearly I don't recommend these, but the wolf just makes this look so magical ;)

Work Hard, Play Hard

2011-01-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

I can't count the number of hours I worked last week 80? More? It got so bad that an intern candidate even told me I looked like I hadn't slept in days :/ ...so when this weekend arrived I made sure to stay off of the computer, Blackberry and email. And indulged in fun, food, drink & friends...

It had been months since I straightened my hair, and I can attest that Jade's (see a post on her amazing work here) goal of me having, "super long hair like a fucking stripper," has finally been met. I cannot even get it all in a single frame. I also made it a point do do a bit of shopping on Main Street in Venice/Santa Monica, and was sure to fill up at The Rose (one of my most favorite spots in the city) with some fresh fruit, granola and new to their menu, a giant Spanish latte. Unfortunately, plain yogurt never photographs too well. Sorry about that. It was delicious; swear!

Even though this week will be equally as crazy as last, I can look back on these snippets of my weekend and get inspired to power through to the next.

(Apologies for the missing posts last week, somehow they were all deleted and posted straight up blank at like 1am on Friday morning. I'll make up for it this week! xo!)

Ruby Red Grapefruit, from the farmer's market

Power lunch at The Rose

Making me actually excited for a Spiderman movie

Lazy, but awesome idea

Overdid the reds, ready for summer & white vino!

Huckleberry/Santa Monica - amazingness

Venice sunset to close out the weekend

Perfect Weekend

2011-01-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like 82 degree weather in January...over a weekend...over every single day of a long weekend. Needless to say I was in my apartment about 4 hours total and utilized the outdoors as much as possible. If I had to narrow it down, my top five things about this fabulous weekend were:

Indulging in Snoqualime's Honey Cinnamon ice cream. Total game changer.
Headed to "my beach" [Zuma] to recharge (so maybe it's a public beach, but since 2005 it's been one of my fav spots to hang when I want some quiet)
Apple TV!! (I'm seriously over-geeking right now. Before you think I'm all tech-savvy with my gadgets; think again. I'm technologically inept. There's a 99% chance I'm still staring at the box wondering if it will just work on it's own.)
Realizing that strange men (or doormen at Darkroom, ahem) will hit on you when you wear 5 inch heels & shorts (...but also make you and your girlfriend laugh for a good hour straight.)
A much needed In-n-Out run. The burger was bigger than my thigh. Photo proof below.

Vanilla Sky

The Ballet Lesson: Redux

2011-01-13T00:00:00.000-08:00

You have to be living under a rock to ignore all of the Black Swan hype that's happening. I mean the Rodarte tutu's alone are enough to make any girl go gaga. Long ago, I too was a disciplined dancer who thrived on multiple classes a week and prancing around in pointe shoes. When I was home over the holidays I found my ballet bag filled with pink tights, colorful tutus and black leotards. (I'll skip over the part where I tried to perform in pointe shoes for my family and promptly got laughed off the stage in our living room.) I snuck the basic ballet necessities into my suitcase and set myself on a mission to find adult beginner (le sigh) classes in LA. This week I took my first class in 8 years. To say I'm sore is an understatement. Sure I can run a distance race at a moment's notice, but dancing works the body in a whole different way. Totally hooked. I'll keep you all posted on my progress throughout the coming months...and hopefully with some dedication, I'll be twirling (and giving non-embarrassing performances) on pointe shoes again in no time!

My point needs major work

Convertible tights = fun!

Stolen shoes from home

I Don't Know How I Lived Without

2011-01-12T00:00:00.000-08:00

...Swackett. It's 50 and overcast out...80 and sunny...29 and rainy...whatever the weather is, we all ask ourselves - what do I wear? Well, the new Apple App (for your computer) tells you! It's a bit cool in Los Angeles, but sunny - Swackett (Sweater, Jacket or Coat - get it?) tells you that sunglasses and a jacket are most appropriate for the daytime. For you (okay, me) night owl's there's also a "tonight's forecast" option so you know exactly what to chose for a fab (and warm!) night out. Plus, the graphics are so cute, how can you not want to log on a few times a day!

Comforts of Home

2011-01-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

My most favorite boots will be making their rotation, starting today

I'm not one for routines, schedules or setting plans light year's in advance. But, something about being home at the start of the New Year just feels right. In the past 24 hours I've gone to spin class, stocked up on detox-able items from Whole Foods, slept for 12+ hours and welcomed my full closet of clothes...and maybe hid my suitcases and any sign of an airport (I could go eons without eating peanuts or pretzels again) far into a closet crevice. I'm really looking forward to seeing (long lost, sorry I've been gone so long guys!!) friends, taking a weekend run up Runyon and seeing where 2011 takes me.

Beds with colorful pillows are so enticing - especially when you're going on no sleep

The newest hybrid apple variety, quite delicious

My favorite time of the week - Monday night spin

Warm scented candles for chilly nights

Photo Diary 1: Vegas

2011-01-10T00:00:00.000-08:00

Pretty much sums up my current state of life

A blur. That's what my life has been since mid-December. I promise to get back to blogging regularly. Promise. I've spent the past 6 days in Vegas and am coming out of an additional haze. One that can be easily lifted with lots of water & sleep. Spending another week away from home turned out to be a blast: my hair's now blonde, I met DJ Steve Aoki (he's so kind) and vowed to give up french fries (even the delicious waffle ones) for a long, long, long time. Oh, and one big, important thing - I got an iPhone 4!

Holiday Treat

2010-12-20T00:00:00.000-08:00

Essie's Fishnet Stockings polish

Every year, I spoil my office and friends with a sweet/salty homemade candy combo. This year, I took (and adjusted) this recipe from The Pioneer Woman for dark chocolate covered toffee. I decided to top the toffee with big chunks of sea salt so besides the crisp crunch from the toffee, there was another layer of flavor. Mmmm...I've got one container left and I'm so, so, so tempted to keep it for myself! Happy Holidays everyone! xx!

Feather Hair Extensions

2010-12-09T00:00:00.000-08:00

When I told people that over the weekend I got feather hair extensions I got a.) silence, b.) laughs in my face or c.) confusion. It wasn't until those disbelievers saw them in person that they changed their attitudes. You see, since last fall and a visit to one of my favorite stores in Manhattan, M&J Trimming, I have vowed to bring feathers back. (My best friend still thinks I'm insane. Esp. when I would braid strands of feathers into my hair or wear them as bracelets.) Less than 24 hours after discovering feather hair extensions (Featherlocks) were newly available in Los Angeles, I had them in. (I'm also hyper-implusive, but that's another post altogether.) So far there are turquoise, purple, yellow and a few natural ones in there. They last as long as normal hair extensions do and the best part is you can treat them like your normal hair and even get your hair colored with them in! Crazy obsessed.

The Best Christmas Dish

2010-12-08T00:00:00.000-08:00

For Thanksgiving I made (for the first time) an entire homemade stuffing. While it sounds easy, let me warn you, it takes hours - but the results are most definitely well worth any wait. Even though it's only a week or so past TGive, I cannot stop thinking about making this recipe with my family for Christmas. YUM! Sourdough bread + prosciutto + Fuji apples + Parmesan + butter = pure bliss. For the whole recipe from Food & Wine check it out here.