I had heard about the super bloom of wildflowers in the California desert over the years but never thought much of it. Most likely because we have been experiencing a serious drought and for years there hasn't been much to see except brown, dry brush. This year though, we finally got some much needed rain, and lots of it (at least for us). Spring came early for Southern California, the wildflowers have been exploding all over the place. I see them allover on my hikes and daily errands in the car along the roadside.
I had heard reports from friends who had visited Anza Borrego and the Poppy Reserve that it was packed with people and traffic with long waits in the car. Neither are ideal if you are traveling with a 5 year old! I was looking for a little less of a commitment than A.B. or Death Valley since it was going to be just me and my son. My husband was off skiing for the day in Big Bear and I had a restless boy to entertain. I decided to chance it and set off early in the am, by 8 after an initial travel delay. After a 70 mile drive, (5 fwy to the 14 fwy) we arrived a little past 10 am, and already the line of cars was snaking down and out of the Poppy reserve half a mile down. I would recommend setting out by 7 am for a 9 am arrival for less traffic and best light. I had heard that wildflower gazing was best accessed from the side of the road and not actually from the reserve itself. Because the reserve is protected land, visitors need to stick to trails and not wander off into the fields. I decided to pull over and bypass all the people crowding at the road side and wander through into the fields and low and behold Dries and I were alone with the poppies. It was magical, a perfect day with perfect weather. The sky was blue, there was a little crisp chill in the air with a slight breeze and the sun was shining bright. We took care where we walked and were careful not to trample or pick any flowers.
Dries watches my husband Raf and I take a lot of pictures, either of jewelry or travel or daily life. We gave Dries one of our old cameras and he likes to practice along with us. This trip seemed like a great opportunity for a beginner photography lesson. We practiced composition, how to hold a camera and how to find your light source. He was so proud and it helped him learned to look more critically at the scenery. He took the picture of me above and the one below is his holding the flowers. Love the macro perspective with his little fingers!
We found a farmhouse and a ramshackle old trailer that made for some good exploring. For the video, scroll down to the end!
Dries was ready to get on the road at this point so we decided to head back to LA. As we walked back to our car, we saw even more cars had joined the line to get in the reserve and there was a line to head back to LA! I had noticed patches of yellow flowers on the way in so I wanted to make sure to check them out on the way back. I'm so glad I did, they were really stunning with views of the snow covered mountains in the distance.
Snow covered mountains in the distance. The colors of all the wildflowers are just incredible. All the photos published here are all #nofilter and not retouched!
Check out the video of our wildflower adventures!
Hope you go out and have your own adventure and of course, remember to treat the wildflowers with care and not leave any garbage. It is a tricky thing to experience being in nature without affecting it at all in any negative capacity. Car exhaust, touching or trampling plants, garbage and human negligence all take their toll on the landscape. Instead of only viewing nature through the lens of a screen it's crucial to go have the physical experience of sight, sound and smell. How else can we teach our kids to care about the environment if they never experience it firsthand? Being a native of California, I love that within one hour, you can be swimming at the beach, skiing in the mountains or walking in the desert. We truly are so lucky to have such a varied landscape. Go out and explore, I'd love to hear what you find!
Mood boards for some of the shows featured like Wallander, Man in the HIgh Castle and Mercy Street.
I recently had the pleasure of visiting the LA campus of Fashion Institute Design and Merchandising (FIDM for short) to talk to their Honor society, Phi Theta Kappa. We chatted about the pleasures and pitfalls of owning your own business, the importance of social media, trend forecasting and networking with other like minded entrepreneurs. I love meeting young people, interacting with them helps me to stay current with today's trends and tomorrow's customers. After my talk, I checked out the TV costume design exhibit next door at the FIDM Museum, which to my delight had costumes from many of the shows that I love to watch. Costumes range from period to contemporary and include Wallander, Downtown Abbey, Roots, Sherlock Holmes, Mercy Street, The Man in the High Castle, Game of Thrones, Empire, Veep, American Horror Story, Transparent, Jane the Virgin, My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and Scream Queens. This exhibit is free to the public and open Tuesday-Saturday 10 am -5 pm until October 15.
Love Downtown Abbey, so of course I made a beeline for these dresses, immediately upon entering the exhibit. Love the signature twenties era stying of the drop waists for Lady Rose on the front rightand flapper sequin beading and long necklace for Lady Mary in the back. I remember her wearing this dress!
Winter is coming! I look forward to watching G.O.T. every season for the amazing sets and locations. It was fun to get a chance to witness the elaborate beading, incredible attention to detail and substantial costumes up close in person.
I was late to the game on Veep but once I checked it out, it quickly became one of my favorites. Julia Louis-Dreyfus is a comic genius and the rest of the cast is equally talented. I like that it's similar to House of Cards in that you feel like you are getting an accurate portrayal of what life in politics entails but it does it with humor instead of shock value. There are so many heavy dramas out there right now that it's refreshing to watch a light one without all the angst and turmoil.
I'm a bit of a scaredy cat so I will admit that I don't personally watch American Horror Story but my husband does so I will see snippets here and there. I love that the most recent season was filmed at Cicada in downtown Los Angeles, in the historic 1928 Oviatt building which I walk by every time I'm running errands in dtla. My best friend got married there so every time I would see episodes of AMHS, it would bring back happy memories. In my opinion, the costumes, and locations are the best part of AMHS. I love the dark moody vibe of the show, and in particular Lady Gaga's wardrobe. Divine!
Love the color of this pink faux fur jacket, it would go great with my rose gold hair! Haven't seen either Scream Queens or Empire but liked what I saw costume-wise!
Love me some Benedict Cumberbatch, and love even more that his fans are called Cumberbitches. (I will neither confirm nor deny that I might be one). I wish Benedict would give the movies a rest (I did like Imitation Game though) and return to filming this great show.
As Mother's Day is rapidly approaching, it's time to start gathering ideas on how to celebrate your wonderful mom, wife, girlfriend, or treat yourself! Start the day off right with this Rosé Slushy recipe from Style Me Pretty. All you need is a bottle of rosé, some lemonade, ice cubes and a sprig of lavender for decoration. A very simple yet deliciously refreshing drink that anyone would enjoy; plus it's pink!
Some of the best gifts (a drawing, an extra long cuddle, coffee in bed) are free but if you feel so inclined to want to purchase something, here are a few suggestions that can please even the pickiest of mothers. Perfect style additions for a mom on-the-go; This Zara bomber jacket is a nice way to keep comfortable and warm but also keep up with current trends as it is designed with a beautiful Asian motif. This can be dressed casually with jeans, or dressed up with some jewelry for a night out! Suede slides are on every Fashion It girl these days and these cute ones by Mango are actually something I purchased about a week ago, and they are beyond comfy yet super stylish. They have a 3 " stacked heel yet I wore them all day and was able to accomplish running errands and then go grab a bite to eat later. I ended up with a lot of compliments so I highly recommend them! The other shoes from Gucci are something I am secretly hoping to receive on Mothers Day (hint, hint family). The subtle pattern will go with everything in your wardrobe and the slipper/mule style is very trendy this year. Flats are essential for any mom, and these have a leather sole that will ensure comfort.
Aliya Rose Quartz Earrings
Berget White Topaz Locket Necklace
Marlien Dk. Blue Opal/Pearl Ring Set
Initial Bracelet
She can never have too much jewelry! My Aliya rose quartz earrings are a great gift for their soft color and daintiness. They complement any skin tone and also be a great gift for moms with young kids who love yanking everything. This is also a best seller item so you really can't go wrong.
My Berget locket necklaces are a new favorite of mine. Shown here in rose cut white topaz, I love how the stones dance and shake. I chose clear to go with everything but they also can be personalized by adding in photos or with different birthstones or her favorite color. What better way to show your love than with a photo of you or your siblings?
Stack rings are always a great gift because they can be worn together, separate, on both hands, or any way you like. The Marlien ring set. in dark blue opal and pearl is a great option for a woman who likes having variety in her jewelry. Set of 2 cabochons and a diamond cut band. This is also offered in chrysoprase, find that set here.
Initial jewelry is a simple accessory that is fun to wear. Whether it's the letter of her first name or of her children's names, she is sure to cherish it. It is very lightweight, and the thin chain makes for better comfort and fit on the wrist. The chain is also adjustable so you don't have to worry about fit. Available in any letter in 14k yellow gold or 14k white gold. I love to wear mine layered with a bunch of bracelets, like I did here.
Tom Ford lipstick in Forbidden Pink
Tata Harper Revitalizing Body Oil
Any one who knows me knows I'm a beauty product junkie. I'm always looking for a new favorite. This Tom Ford lipstick has been in heavy rotation since I got it. This one is more expensive then I would usually choose, but I love the chic packaging, smooth application, and lasting pigment that's not drying. I chose Forbidden Pink which is one of their best selling shades for good reason. The creamy rose color brightens up my complexion when I'm tired and just makes me feel a little more pulled together. The pleasing scent is a bonus, (I'm a sucker for a good scent!) Find this or other shades from Nordstrom here!
What I love about the Tata Harper body oil is that it is 100% natural and free of synthetics, toxins, artificial fragrance, artificial colors and is not tested on animals. Everything is made on her farm in Vermont. The vibrant scent comes from the flowers and grapefruit used to make the oil. This product is great for moms on the go as it is fast-absorbing and extremely hydrating. Infused with essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients for soft, silky and rejuvenated skin! She's also offering 15% off with code: THXMOM for mother's day, to use click here
Who doesn't love a good spa day? Moms deserve to be pampered, and the Ole Henriksen Spa is just the place to do it. His products have been featured in magazines like Vanity Fair, Elle, and Marie Claire. It's a celebrity favorite spot, Charlize is one of their regulars. If I can look a little more like Charlize, well then it's worth it, right? Trust me, I've had a lot of facials in my day, and this place is by far the best. I've been going here for years because unlike some spas that just rub cream on your face and call it a day, at Ole they are utilizing the latest technology to give you more long term benefits than just a nice smelling face cream. I've had facials in spas, and in a dermatologist's office and this is a nice combination of both. Usually the spa experience is a little too frou frou without much actual science behind it, and the dermatologists can be a little too functional without any of the soothing relaxing qualities. This combines the best of both. My favorite treatment is the advanced HydraFacial because let's face it, after becoming a mother you're always looking to hide lack of sleep and a tired complexion. The facial will leave you glowing, and the hydrotherapy soak lets you unwind with lit candles and soothing aromatherapy. I like to read a book when I'm in there while sipping on a glass of champers. I highly recommend the Champagne Relaxation package: which includes a facial, a massage, a salt scrub, a hydrotherapy soak and a glass of champagne. Perfection! I think I may just be treating myself to one of these! Treat yourself or your mom by going on to Gilt.com and take advantage of their Ole Henriksen Spa promotion up until the end on July; check them out here!
