The Majorettes.

When it's rainy and cold and lil' sis is visiting from far and away, what better than to indulge our inner girliness with an impromptu dress up sesh and photo shoot? I was happy to play makeup artist, wardrobe consultant and photographer to the extraordinary Gina, who played lil' Ms. Star, and who, I must admit, worked the camera like the diva that she is. This is no fashion blog but I've gotta say, my page dazzles just a bit more with stardust now...

twinkle, baby.

The majesty of the trees.

And we are thankful...

When you're far from home, there's no better place to celebrate the holidays with than friends and family of dear friends, especially when it's as classy an affair as the Turegano's annual Thanksgiving gala. With sisterface in town, Annette and Bernadette's Aunt and Uncle opened up their warm hearth and poured wine glasses by the liter, shared old-time memories and served up a delectable feast outfitted for kings and queens. I have to pardon myself here, as I forgoed the 'traditional' (by the South's standards, anyway) meal enjoyed yesteryear with the William's brood- a full on affair of gumbo, crawfish bits, dirty rice and other Southern treasures- and instead made way for the good ol' fashioned Yankee way of doing Turkey day up, complete with stuffing (or oyster dressing, as we folks call it), mashed p, sweet potatoes covered in marshmellowey goodness, and of course, a generous dollop of cranberry medley. Ahhhh, my palate was thanking me, as was the belly, evidenced by the generous bulge making its way over the loosened belt. Til next year, mazeltov!

FAMILY.

The Colors of the French Q.

With sisterface in town for the first time, it was wholly necessary to introduce her to Nawlins' in proper style. Nothing beats a whole day excursion, kicking off with Old Mama Leah Chase's Dookie Chase's mean ass fried chicken and read beans 'n' rice, followed by a lazy streetcar ride downtown by way of New Orleans illustrious St. Charles Ave. Add some street art gazin' and impromptu magic shows and voodoo jinx, a pit stop at Cafe Du Monde for their powdered sugar beignets and iced coffee and plenty of live court-side brass band music, plus one adorably mischeivous pup! in the mix, and you've got yourself a slice of Nola bliss, extra butter, please. Such good times with baby sis, romping all ova town with that Big Easy swag.

Bay Grays.

I can't imagine a more perfect day than hanging out in the San Francisco Bay with someone who's more than just a friend; we may not share blood lines, but Kibos and I share a sisterhood unlike anything else. I had the fortune of visiting California on my Thanksgiving break and despite bleak skies and that immutable fog, we took to the streets and indulged in shopping, noshing on the city's best and giving our dermis some much needed soaking at Kabuki spa in Japan Town. Didn't matter that the sun took an early hiatus; we brought our own sunshine, capturing a few shots along the way. Here's to a perfect afternnon, with one of the loves of my life.

it's time to get back on the grind.

Sometimes it takes a fellow blogger (he-llo, ogoingorogue!) to bring out the inspiration in you to do what you love best, but forgot what that was and how to do it. i don't care anymore how rusty i am or what audience i'm catering to. all i know is that blogging makes a way to bring inspiration and creativity to a heightened platform, to display all that you find beautiful and moving, to turn your life into art. THAT is what i love about blogging.

so instead of perusing other's sites endlessly (i.e. swankheights, cupcakesandcashmere, glamouri, ogoingrogue- some of my latest faves), i thought i'd climb back onto the old, familar wagon and breathe some of my own life into the blogsphere.

not that i have anything interesting to write. or anything relevant, persay. but writing just for the sake of writing. scratching that itch, letting the keys on the keyboard go rampant with their click-click-clicking, feeling for the time being that your brain is being lit with the force of creativity within you.. tis a good thing.

all i can think of for now is that somehow, mini-inspirations come to me like dippin' dots at a summer fair, one at a time, each delicately encased in their own rainbow-locity.

here are some of the things i'm having a real kick with:

1. gourmet spices to kick up the flava (got some this past weekend at the Freret Street market)



2. swanking out the digs- picked up some cool frames, a few decorative pillows, a faux fur throw, a really wicked bulletin board decked out in supafly fabric (a DIY i shamelessly didn't author), some gorgeous hydrangeas in an elegant glass and some quintessential New Orleans inspired coasters to scatter amongst the abode...who said that beautiful things in small packages don't have the power to lift even the most sullen spirits?



3. owning the power to my life. realizing that i can live the life i envision and still be an amazing, tour de force of a woman. knowing that love isn't just about sacrifice, that it's about giving and growing and becoming who you're meant to be without the cost of losing your happiness and sense of self.



there are good things in store. but for now, my few dear readers, i appreciate you and the beauty you bring to my life. <3