Movie Magic.

December 5, 2013

Los Angeles, CA

Over the little holiday break, I have to admit, we watched a TON of movies.   We would go out to screenings and then return home and put in another movie right after… and it was glorious.  As I mentioned in a previous post, I somehow got very lucky and was plucked- at random- out of the many other SAG members to be part of the nominating committee this year (in the film category).  It’s been so motivating to attend and watch such great films and while I certainly don’t LOVE them all, I can always appreciate a great performance.

To be honest, although it always seems so very glamorous, the entertainment industry can be quite rough, and in a world where ‘NO’ is profoundly more popular than ‘YES’, it’s truly necessary for me to take moments like this past weekend, to sit down and enjoy a good movie, listen to the actors inspire audiences with their authenticity and creativity, and just remind myself for a second why it is that I moved to Los Angeles to begin with.

One thing I noticed while watching a lot of these movies, was that while many of them were at least loosely based on some sort of real-life story, they were also similar in how depressing they were.  One day, my sister called me to go over some details for her upcoming wedding and she was quite concerned to find me sobbing mid-day, as I was watching one of the many moving films I’ve recently been sent in the mail.  “You gotta stop watching these” she said, “you sound like a mess”.  Truly, I was a mess, but every once and a while, I find that it’s nice to be reminded about how moving a film can be- it’s both motivating and exciting to me.  Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had the ability to not only become lost in a movie while watching it, but to then continue to be consumed by it for days later.  I sit and think on it and it continues to affect me for days, which is why I really can not watch scary movies. 

With that, my refreshed outlook on the acting world has inspired today’s Audrey Hepburn-esque look.  She’s timeless and one of my all time favorites.  Whenever I need inspiration, I look to her films for a quick dose of her creative beauty and: voilà! I’m ready to face a whole wall of ‘NO’s. 

This embellished sweater from RUCHE is perfect for the holidays and is a classic piece to add to your closet but I also love the open back! I paired it with my favorite new bracelet, also from Ruche (that seems to go with just about everything I wear right now).  For more inspirational holiday looks, check out their entire collection here

Sweater: Ruche

Bracelet: Ruche 

Heels: Guess (SIMILAR)

Photos By: Jennifer Biswas

A December to Remember.

December 2, 2013

Rodeo Drive. Beverly Hills, CA

It’s beginning to look a lot (more) like Christmas over here in Los Angeles- artificial snow and all!  Cyber Monday, Black Friday, and Thanksgiving have all come and gone at this point, and believe it or not, there’s only a month left of 2013.  Wait… what?  Am I the only one who feels a bit rushed here?  Where did all the time go?   I guess that’s a common complaint for this time of year- but with Thanksgiving falling so late, it all seems to be coming at me a bit quicker than I can recall in years past. 

Oh well! Sometimes not having a lot of time to dwell over gifts and travel/holiday plans is best.  Actually, I knocked out almost all of my holiday shopping online last night and finally booked my flight back home for Christmas... annnnnd I'm exhausted.

Speaking of exhausted, I was lucky enough to be able to attend a wedding this past weekend for some dear friends in which the time they spent planning, was, (in the wedding world) unspeakably short.  In just a couple of weeks, this couple and their families were able to put together what was one of the most beautiful weddings I have been lucky enough to attend.   What made it so wonderful wasn’t some fancy band they had playing or venue they'd rented out, it was the heartfelt speeches, the closeness of the two families uniting, and the admiration we all had for these two truly exceptional people, (who have been dating since they were in middle school!).  While elaborate weddings can certainly be a blast, what truly matters is the celebration of love, and when that is so profoundly genuine, (grand or tiny, planned out for many years or just a couple weeks) it’s rare to find the kind of bond I witnessed this past weekend. 

Therefore, I guess what I’m trying to say, is that even though we may feel a bit rushed (like I feel currently about getting things accomplished before the close of the year, or perhaps my friends may have felt when planning a wedding with only a couple weeks of preparation available to them), the truth is that ready or not, life comes at you quickly.  So with that, I’m going to work as hard as I can to get things done this month because we still have time before the year is officially wrapped.  With that, I'm going to rip off the slogan from that one car commercial and vow to make this a "December to Remember". 

Dress: Ruche

Tights: Forever21

Boots: Aldo 

Black top: H&M (similar) 

Giving Thanks

November 28, 2013

Los Angeles, CA

I have never been much of a chef.  In fact, I have always had an incredible knack for burning even the simplest of meals: easy mac, frozen pizzas, microwavable veggies, anything intended for easy and effortless - I’d somehow find a way to turn to charcoal.   That’s why for Thanksgiving, a holiday focused so heavily on food, I’d always steered clear of the kitchen.   Instead, I’d allow my Mom, aunts, and sister to work their cooking magic while I was usually more helpful in the “admiring department”- letting them know how great everything tasted (pretty important job if you ask me… in fact, I don’t know how they are surviving this year without their number one admirer).

This year, however, I stayed in Los Angeles for the holiday and so I figured in order to honor my family properly, I better try my best to cook at least one dish on my own.  So after a delicious brunch this morning, I put on my Anthropology apron (which always makes me feel more official in the kitchen) and actually pulled off what appears to be quite a delicious pumpkin bread.    Who knew I was capable of such a feat?  Not only has it left my apartment smelling like a treat, but it’s made me feel a little more festive this Turkey Day afternoon. 

Thanksgiving is such a wonderful holiday isn’t it? We get to take a day off, eat delicious food, and remind each other how grateful we are to be here and have one another in our lives.  It has always been my favorite holiday and though we may not be able to celebrate with some of our family or friends directly, it is just important to take the time to recognize all that they do for us and all that they mean to us.  So this silly little pumpkin bread is for you guys back in New Hampshire, my (f)east coast family who may never get to taste this amazing pumpkin bread but who I love dearly and am forever grateful for each day.

Don’t hesitate to send your friends a little text or shout out of thanks- it’s important to recognize those who make your days brighter.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Xo