Love to Haiti

If you’ve been avoiding reading the news about Haiti this post is for you.

While stories about Haiti can be depressing and overwhelming there is inspiration, hope and good news to be found amidst the plentitude of bleak statistics and heartbreaking details filling the media landscape about the current conditions in Haiti.

Far from intending to make light of the situation in Haiti, this post is intended to illuminate the capacity of the human spirit to shine in even the most difficult moments. The following two excerpts are from stories that attest to the strength of humanity and ingenuity as well as provide reminder that even when it appears that one may have nothing, it is still possible to create something wonderful.

These stories may surprise as they involve Haiti becoming more eco-friendly even in a time of crisis and not crying, but singing by remarkably, resilient Haitians. The excerpts are sourced from MSNBC, and The New York Times.

The Sun Shines in Haiti

With fuel sources low and dwindling, it has become increasingly difficult to cook food and provide electricity in especially important spaces like those providing medical aid to the wounded.

To cook food, families are starting to use donated solar ovens and additionally, water is being purified using solar power. As reported by MSNBC: “A solar-powered mobile water purification system, donated last year by the Haitian Project, was pulled from the rubble and put into service at a Red Cross aid station. Every day, the Mobile MaxPure rig is turning 30,000 gallons of contaminated city water into drinkable water.”

http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/01/19/2178696.aspx <http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/01/19/2178696.aspx>


Singing in the Dark
Photographer Damon Winter was in Haiti one of the first nights after the initial quake. While he wasn’t able to photographically capture the goings on in the dark, he could hear them. This is what he said:
“There was one thing that didn’t really make pictures. It was my first night here last night. We were staying at a hotel on the edge of a pretty heavily damaged neighborhood and at night, you could hear people singing.  People are out on the street at night. It’s really hard to photograph because there’s no electricity. It’s pitch black. But all night you could hear them singing prayers. It’s pretty amazing the ways that people are dealing with this tragedy. It says a lot about the Haitian character. They are an amazing people.”
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/15/assignment-19/

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If you’re interested in helping with the situation in Haiti (or helping even more than you already have), you may want to check out www.lime-aid.tv <http://www.lime-aid.tv> . They are accepting donations of food (specific staples that are listed on their website) that they will be shipping to Haiti within the coming weeks. The food will then go to Haitian children foundations ANA Children’s Center and Brebis de Saint Michelle Orphanage.



xxNB

the Hot ticket party

As the Winter season in So-Cali breezes by, everyone is finally settling into 2010. We are now in full force figuring out plans of action for 2010.  So much has already happened in the course of this new month, new year, and new decade. Political plans proposed, and untimely disasters struck. We're reminded once again, early this year, of how precious life is, and to be ever so grateful of each day on earth. While it is easy to let these grave happenings depress us, it is important to remember to stay positive and present:   Live For Today...Plan For Tomorrow...Party Tonight..!!!
(This may even include partying to raise money for “Haiti relief” or any great cause!)

I give you a sure remedy to engage proactively especially if the news has got you down:
Two words—House Parties.

Here are my 6 reasons these will be making a comeback as the hottest ticket of 2010.

 1). Friends: The Best Company. 
 Arguably the best company is the company of friends whether they be new friends, old friends, neighbors, and even those faithful party crashers.  Seeing friends laugh and connect can be a a great way to get inspired. If you are a writer, director, actor, in entertainment biz, et al... sometimes you’ll find yourself at a party where inspiration is sparked. Tag lines can be created from embarrassing drunken blunders, and even games like "spin the bottle" can point you in the direction of a great story or character. Think of the spec video ideas for YouTube or Vimeo! You might even meet the love of your life, but realistically a sweet one night stand likely to boost the ego Californication style is a more likely possibility.

2).  Feed a good time.
  Go for the food.  If you have a good host, it's likely he or she host will whip up a spread because one of the best thing about house parties is good food.  It could be an important key to the makings of a successful party. Great food creates a buzz at parties with comments like, "Did you taste that dip. Fabulous cheese plate. The chicken was delicious!" When people are fed well, they feel good adding to the enjoyment and possible longevity of any party.

3). Boozing.
It’s a little safer to have a few drinks with your belly full of food. And to some a party just isn’t a party unless you’ve got a well rounded stock of booze options. Cocktails like Mojitos and Chocolate Martinis can be decadent treats, but of course caraffes of wine, bottles of beer and a keg or two will always be enjoyed as a mainstay to add a little social lubricant to the party's atmosphere.


4). Photos— 
Everyone loves a good party photo, and as of recently, everyone loves FB-posting party photos even more. The especially odd ones always seem to get tagged where one's head is twisted, angled just so making you look 10 pounds heavier or to the point where you don't even recognize yourself. Then of course, there are the end-of-party photos where one often looks delirious with half-closed eyes, and most likely a quintessential "boob” shot will make its way to the photo assembly. (Last year, I saw more boob photos then ever.) There are also those party-goers who post photos to show that they were there—a secret level of exploitation if you ask me because it does matter in this day and age who you are seen with and who you hang with.  I wish this weren’t the case, but it is all true especially as I observe all the Facebook scensters.


5). Themes...
One cool part of a theme party is that getting dressed for the theme can get you in the mood for the party before you even arrive. Theme parties can magically transform a regular get-together into a new world of fun.  I personally love theme parties, and have hosted as well as attended several great ones. I once went to a murder mystery themed party where everyone was given clue when they walked in the door. I’ve also enjoyed a simple yet extremely satisfying black-and-white-and-mustache party. Whatever the theme, it’s sure to spark interesting conversation. The House Party can be a theme unto itself!


6). Free!!   
Yes folks, free entertainment in the company of your friends with food and liquor for a sure hangover (think yummy Sunday grubbing) as well a possible theme and likely photos documenting the whole night... It’s kind of like free press!! The House Party is a chance to connect with potenial new friends, or at least some soon to be Facebook friends. The party (or you) could be the talk of Facebook for the next, er, three hours! And you never know when new acquaintances will pop up at the next House Party near you.

World Class Bella

Lately, I’ve come across friends who have the “will” to pack up their belongings and take off for a great adventure. At any given age we are soul searching, it’s a necessary assessment we must do throughout our lives. The grand plan and the journey that will take us there, is just not going to be handed to you. Seeking and doing it is the key to this on-going process in making a successful creative sphere.

California designer Angela O’Brien and her husband did just that. They embarked on a year long excursion, not knowing their plan, but riding their intuition that the freedom of gaining cultural experience and being enriched in their day to day lives would lead them down a golden path.  It was the unknown land of the Balinese culture that Angela soon embraced, and one part of the journey that led her to finding a passion for design. 

Cleobella began as a way of expressing the beautiful artistry she discovered abroad. Angela’s designs are works of art. Each collection is handmade by artisans in Bali, Indonesia. Since there is no machinery involved, each piece is unique and can vary slightly. It's also what makes the look of each piece so bold, beautiful and chic. Travel-inspired patterns are flush with her attention to detail, and bring forward a feminine flair that will enhance your every day ensemble and rock your sexy evening attire.

I was luckily enough to be introduced to Angela at a luncheon, and was enamored with her sweet, generous spirit. I could tell that engaging in a year full of travel, and surrounding herself with diversity of cultures has humbled her soul and has made her keen in her ventures.

When I set my eyes on her hot pink clutch design,  I knew I had to have one, and I also knew her travel inspired creations had arrived!

Check out the Cleobella website for store locations and an on-line store is coming soon. Cleobella  supports CARE ( www. care.org/ women helping women)  www.Cleobella.com

 Treasures in the Fortress.

                                               
On a recent trip to Greece I was in search of a sweet, decadent taste for a possible new flavor for my lip balm line. From my previous travels and adventures, I have found that taking a trip out of town inspires many lip balm flavor ideas. However, this wasn't the case in Greece.

Don't get me wrong, the flavors that enrich Greece are incredible whether one is sampling feta cheese, olives or a local wine. Since being back, I often crave an authentic Greek meal as some of my favorite dishes are now from Greece (more on that later).

I found that the most often used sweet in Greek desserts is honey. I've experimented with all natural honey flavors for batches of my lip balms, but for one reason or another, honey has never mixed well into my recipe. The formula is just off. That is not to say that someday I may perfect a honey-infused recipe that works, but for now, it's not something I'm ready to spend time making possible. So, after a week, I gave up searching for lip balm flavors in Greece and focused on the art scene.

I soon embraced the artistry and craftsmanship of their jewelry. In Old Town Chania (pronounced H-ania), a Venetian fortress on the island of Crete, you can find many celebrated local Cretan artists. Their craftsmanship is impressive and I wished I would have had more change to spare for such treasures. The jewelry makers include a mix of Venetian glassblowers and jewelry designers crafting pieces by hand. Their art form significantly reflects the unique Grecian goddess style. Many of these jewelry artists use turquoise from the depths of the Turkish mountains. One of my favorite artists uses semi-precious gems intertwined in his jewelry in a kind of macramé style—so stunning. Each design and stone places a powerful energy in each piece with the stones embodying a particular mood and spirit.  I fell in love with each piece I purchased and have been wearing them often since I returned.

Now,  with a natural love for promoting all that I do and see, I would like to give names and websites to some of the artist shops I visited, but unfortunately most of these locally run shops sell only locally—most don't even have websites or email contacts. I do have a street address for one of my favorite shops called Po'sov. The main artist here is Christina Douka. You can find the shop (and the artist if you're lucky) at 19 Theotokopoulou Street located in Old Town Chania. If you start there, you'll see the cobblestone street that leads into a narrow walkway of many more fantastic shops.

I must warn you: finding one's way around Crete provides somewhat of a challenge, but with a little patience and determination, you'll end up finding treasures. 
                                                                                

A sweet farewell to my fairytale '09...  Welcome Twenty10

For some it might not have been a close-to-perfect year. I heard grunts at the proposed presidential plans as well as at the flashy scandals filling celebrity media news. All this proposed “change” seemed to culminate into a vicious cycle of over-analyzation by many news outlets who seemed to turn so called news into chatty gossip.

In the Facebook and Twitter worlds it came down to interesting shared topics, and some commentary expressed through personal banter. It has certainly been a year for opinions, mindless topics, scandalous behavior, and free-for-all discussion. One positive light came of all this… a wealth of  communication both negative and positive. People shared their minds, raved about their likes and dislikes. It was as though a once-quiet storm erupted into sound—sometimes in cacophony, sometimes in harmony—now it wasn’t just the media who was publicly sharing their issues. The people spoke. Select blogs and Twitter feeds increased their influences or grew a stronger presence this year. 


Some friends felt confused about the meaning of life as economic set backs put a tail spin on their invested well-being.  For a handful, it felt just like another year. And there were a few who had momentous acquisitions.

There is much more I can get into when it comes to this… for now I will speak easy of my magnanimous year as it’s been 6 weeks since I wrote with consistency. My life, in a nutshell, has been a whirl of change, but one that has complimented my outlook and achievements. For me, 2008 was something to leave behind. Though there were sweet memories, at the end, it fell short of my beliefs. There were people in my life that provoked my attention in a manner of disrespect, and as a result I fell into a trap of contemplation. I knew I was alive and well, but my actions did not reflect this. 
So, I sat at the midnight hour of the beginning of this year with my eyes closed listening to the humming sound of deep breaths. I came into this  year of 2009 with sound mind and quiet spirit. It was the first time my lungs expanded so purely at the strike of midnight. 
I began to make manifest the thoughts springing up after enlightening meditation. Yoga is a beautiful practice by which to come into a new year. I highly recommend it in times of contemplation; it can change you.

7 months later my soon-to-be husband and I were sitting at a campfire looking up at the shining stars with the warmth of the fire by our faces, smiling new friends, and sheets of laughter that echoed through the tall trees and gleaming streams of Kern River. I spent most of this year exploring life, love and  friendship all over again. The experience kept my heart beating for more and  my mind full of new ideas. I’ve been inspired and enlightened to the next level. I not only found my soul mate and fell madly, deeply in love, but I also rekindled my faith in strong and solid friendships, ones that I can truly count on. I'm writing this because in one year's time, life can change so dramatically—some for the good and some for the bad. For me, 2009  was a change of a life time, marking 2009 as the best year of my life so far.

When my friends call up with heavy minds and heavy hearts, I look at them knowing brighter days are to come. You just have to have faith. It will not come automatically, but it will come if you allow it to.  My tip: “be real with your actions”, have a good cry, and let it go. Something much more significant will come if you do.

Dear friends of Maharlika, Chris and Is the Balm. Thank you for inspiring us and surrounding us with your friendship. I have much more to blog. This is just the start after a 6 week hiatus.  We (Chris and I) have been off getting married, visiting the family, moving into our new magical place and enjoying our first Christmas and New Years holiday together. Now that the year is closing, we are getting settled. 

The blue sky of 2010 is arriving.  I will embrace it and take each day by the hand knowing each day will be different—some significant and some, just another day. Whatever your 2010 may be,  a wish for Good tidings to you. Happy 2010!!

Battle of the Networking Style

 

 Just the other day I attended Style Wars by House of Diehl in support of stylist and fashionista friends Deoshia Hopkins (known as Dee Dee.. Deedub), and her partner in crime Lisa Davis.   When I checked out the site to buy my tickets ( http://www.houseofdiehl.com/stylewars/ ), I didn’t know what to expect as this was the first time I had heard about this competition. My first thought while scanning through the site was; what a great way to promote up-coming fashion stars and I was all for it. Some of the most talented friends I have are in fashion and most were not formerly trained or schooled. They just seem to have a natural sense of fashion and elegance that proves that training is not a prerequisite for great style. For me there are three kinds of fashion personalities. 1).  The general population- people that look at ads, catalogues, shop at malls in search of what they saw that looked good on someone else. 2). The bourgeois- the seeker of labels (label whores if you will), as if the only way to real style was through designer labels and your pocketbook 3). The uncompromised- seekers of their own personal affinity with good looks and great feel, not dependent on popular vote or price tag. The problem with the third group, the one that most accurately describes our Dee Dee, is that sometimes it can be difficult to catch the eye of the more established fashion machine and get promoted.

 Enter Style Wars--A project runaway type event on a racetrack. Side by side, 2 teams are given design themes, and armed with a small collection of personal supplies and a selection of objects provided by the host, they are challenged to re-invent style in under 5mins. The audience cheers with exhilaration in anticipation of what these stylists will conjure up to dazzle them with their unique vision.

So there I was, standing on my seat, wide eyed and exhilarated as each concoction Team Dee Dub came up with seemed to out style the last and dominate their competitors.  I knew DeeDee possessed great fashion sense but the ability and confidence to whip up cool, edgy, wearable garb in just under 5 mins. WOW!  Team Dee Dub killed it, winning over the judges handily. With each passing challenge they displayed an almost sixth sense for how each swath of fabric, metal screen, strip of tape and even parts of a lawn chair would meld together to create a runway ready showpiece. As the time came for the final round, we were sure that Team Dee Dub would emerge victorious against the more established industry challenger who had competed in previous events. The final theme was "Pimp my Bride" and the last two teams were given a box that contained a secret ingredient that they were to use in their ultimate creation. Team Dee Dub opened the box to find a fully completed wedding dress and the other team discovered a box of trash bags. Now at first glance, getting a completed wedding dress would seem like a blessing, but being tasked with creating a unique look and to think outside the box, it would prove almost useless as they would surely be labeled as cliche. As the other team was hurriedly slapping trash bags all over their model, Team Dee Dub was creating a truly unique wedding dress out of the ripped train from the dress, a colorful armor like chest piece and lace belt. I mean this dress was amazing, it was as if it had come off the runway in Milan and all in under 5 min. As for the other team, their wedding dress looked like, well... trash, layers of clear trash bags, bunched together in an awful mess. The only part that looked like it belonged on a pimped out bride was the head piece and that was something that was provided in the kit.

At this point we were all certain that Team Dee Dub would take it, they had done an amazing job and everyone seemed to feel truly inspired by the work... boy were we wrong. The judges, despite overwhelming audience support for our champions in cheers and applause, voted for the trash bag bride, a look that was decidedly "un-pimped". In defense of their decision, the judges cited the creativity of using trash bags, mind you that was a prop that was given too them to use not selected by them as part of their unique sense of style. We were robbed....

To be fair, fashion is largely a matter of opinion and it would appear that the judges have achieved some degree of personal success in their careers, demonstrating an understanding of what fashion works and what doesn't. What I feel was really in play here was a bias towards a more "trained" veteran designer over an unknown that just has good taste and talent on her side. In the end, much to our disappointment, the judges opted for a familiar face over the renegade newbie.

 Bravo!! Dee Dee and Lisa Davis, your sense of style and sophistication impressed many that were out that night, including me... This was only the beginning, you have a bright future ahead.


     All Photos taken by Justin Johnson

  

Romancing the Style

I have always been an ardent supporter of independent designers.

Whether they are local or not, I have been fascinated by the

creativity they possess when they are truly

passionate about their craft.

On my journey to develop a very personalized look for my upcoming

wedding attire, I stumbled upon a talented artisan pair in a shop

called Lo Boheme .

This wife-husband team creates fanciful accessories

that capture a unique bohemian vintage inspired look that I find

delightful. After just one look, I knew I had to order one of their

beautifully romantic pieces to complete my ensemble. These days, while

many trend followers are going for the rough edged, punk rock, Sid and

Nancy vibe, I opted to turn back the clock to a time period in which

feminine flair was alluring sex appeal. Each head piece design is

uniquely handcrafted with an Art Nouveau sensibility that breathes

life back to an everyday sophistication.

A Lucent Dream awaits…

I’m in dreamy heartfelt state of mind as my wedding in Greece awaits… the next few weeks I will be dedicating my writings to dreams, fantasy, and exploring a period in time of love, passion and romance.

Last week I had a date night with my beloved. In true lovers fashion I was whisked away to a magical castle full of magicians, beautiful imagery, fantastical costumes, songs that made your heart beat faster, and your childlike eyes come alive.

The Lucent Dossier experience steps into it’s own magical world, creating an ensemble balanced by movement that projected grace, strength and flexibility. A collection of wondrous passion brought on by love and inspired hope of a time period that I can only envision when I close my eyes. I was completely enchanted by sparkles that landscaped a candy like utopia of bustiers and tousled hair engaging in titillating acrobatic performances. As the music flowed and songs came alive with vibrancy, I drifted into a blissful atmosphere that delighted my soul. When silence dawned and the curtain drew, I could feel the audiences vibration in time with my own. They felt the experience too.

There were little pit stops before and after the experience… alluring you with the same magical potions and dreamlike state of mind throughout. We stopped for a past life reading at the Lucent “Post office”… As we sat down, an enchanting woman with a beautiful birds nest perched in her curly waves of  hair,  peered deeply and intently into our eyes and with a smile of certainty she pulled out two letters. Each personalized envelope, a “dossier", that was handed to us contained scribes of great insight. As we finished our postal business, in her sweet soften spoken tone, she offered us a spoonful of her magical handmade chocolate and sent us on our way…

I copied our notes for you to read and pictures for you to gaze upon if you should ever want to be enchanted by this dossier experience.

 

 

http://www.curiousjosh.com

http://www.lucentdossier.com

 

So you think you can Truffle?

I am a big fan of chocolate and one of my favorite chocolate delights is a truffle.

Enter truffle class 101—the class took place in a sleek downtown loft that is also home to Learn about Wine.  Paula Page who has vast knowledge on wine paired this stellar truffle class with exquisite wine choices poured. 

                 Happy Birthday to me...

Moving Soul

This journey took place twenty years ago. A young ingénue, who wore many hats as a fashion statement, discovered her journey was the along the path of the many lives she had once lived. She soon realized that each individual she came across was for a reason. Some to protect and nurture, others to inspire and still others to disappoint. The ones who shown her disappointment, shed light on the direction she was headed and in the end gave her a great and powerful knowledge. The ones who inspired were always fleeting, but remained close by, shared admirations and bore the resemblance of a true competitor seeking it’s own recognition. The ones who protected and nurtured were rewarded with abundance, and an insight to a moving soul.