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

I AM WOMAN. HEAR ME ROAR.

I spent a liberating weekend in the Vail Alley with some of the besties, gallavanting away through Colorado's gorgeous Rockies as I caught up on some much needed R & R + long awaited schmooz time with the gals. To say it was overdue is an understatement; bathing myself in the glow of their brilliant phosphorescense and being front and center amdist 360 views of natural, untethered beauty all around me was like taking a wire and zapping myself back into the current of Life. The photos are epic, me thinks, but the entire experience itself was nothing short of amazement. crossing Shrine Path's opening
beautiful women

behold, the sexiest port-a-potty to ever be seen!

a view to kill for

the gorgeous Beaver Creek Westin resort and spa

...and the breathtaking view from our window

always ready to whip out another hike

Autumn foliage

Piney Lake

crossing the threshold

the crunch of leaves under our feet

The noble Aspen trees

We brought it.

The gorgeous Ms. Kibos

...and the incomparable Ouja

and onward she goes

the trees have eyes...

gold rush

Piney's breathtaking foyer

Whatchu know 'bout dis?

Lush.

Aspen

trailblazing

every tree loves a hug.

Whoa now! Cruisin to the rhythm of the beat.

log fever

pimpin' aint easy

my other half

gorgeousness, personified.

Hapa Hapa!

of course I've gotta post one of these

Vin 48

hot tub melodies

strike a pose

Wintry Colorado...meets Nawlin's style Gumbo

our suite (no pun intended) kitchen

hotel exterior

lounging in the lobby

cerulean baby blues

ahoy, matey! we caught one! (sike)

our ramen chef

sweet escape.

Floss it, baby.

ready, set..
floss!
Sometimes the most inane shit catches your fancy, like de man flossin the pearlies in the early am. Certainly doesn't hurt when even the camera winks at his superhotness (and the creeper status gf who's snapping away like the paparazzi in the background). What can I say, I love him. Him and those freshly flossed ivories. ;)