Category: Fab Finds

happy tuesday, everyone! i am in such a great mood today, most likely attributed to the fantastic weekend i had. 😉 here are a few reasons why oct. 10-12 rocked my socks off…

1. FABulous wedding @ the W Hotel, San Diego

i spent 2 nights at the super fun & hip W Hotel in San Diego for saturday’s wedding. the couple is one of my faves; they are SOOO sweet and tons of fun. the bride & i hit it off from the get go and i know we will have serious post-planning withdrawal. their chartreuse & chocolate celebration was modern, funky, and seamless. just the way i like it! we had some AMAZING vendors on board, and i’ll share about them all when the photos come in. for now, i have to give some shout outs to deeeelightful florist nellie of stems design studio & two of my favoritest people in the world: nate & jac of the image is found. as usual, they brought the party… and the crazy. here are a couple of snaps they caught of me & anna in their crazybooth. see the rest on THEIR BLOG!

this photo of anna is hilarous! “You caught like three feet of air that time!” – napoleon dynamite. **you can also see 2 of anna’s 8 tattoos in this pic: one on her ankle and one on top of her foot. that tiny line is actually 3 words in latin.

rawr!!

HAHA! this totally cracks me up, but i love it. my gold dress is by tory burch and is on sale right now at net-a-porter! the skinny green belt is from banana republic and my headband is from forever 21. anna is dressed in a zara sweater, a top from gap, banana republic skirt and bcbg flats seen in the running pic above.

2. my SUPER SWEET bride gifted me with (not one but) TWO twigs and honey pieces!! myra — you are a serious rock star! i loooove them! proof positive: i wore the brown one to church on sunday and the grey one out running errands yesterday. 😉 you can also peek the incredibly beautiful birdcage veil + hair flower myra crafted for the bride.

isn’t this stunning??

3. my new purse arrived — eeeeek!! it’s rebecca minkoff’s morning after bag mini in sea green, and it is the perfect size & color. (disregard the word “mini” in the bag’s name. the regular sized morning after bag is GINORMOUS and this “mini” is slightly bigger than an LV speedy 30.) i’ve already performed the bag transfer. it will probably be attached to my shoulder for the next month. 😉

the color is sooo off in this pic. it is a much deeper, richer color in person. i’ll have to snap my own pic to show you soon. 😉

4. cal continues to work its way up in the football rankings. gooooo bears!

hope you all have a fantastic week! my 5th wedding in 5 weeks is this saturday, and i CANNOT wait for the elegant, gorgeous affair. xoxo, angel

i love music. as a child, i used to stay up late at night with my clock/alarm/fm radio underneath my pillow, wanting to hear just a few more songs before drifting off to sleep. as a teen and in college, i set a timer on my CD player so i could slip into my dreams carried on the notes of my favorite artists. to this day, i am the most productive when i am listening to music. (as i write this, “razorblades” by the strokes is playing in the background.) i can’t drive without my 6-disc changer loaded up with some great tunes. music is simply a part of how i live.

although i’d like to say i just have a knack for finding the best new music, i’ll admit i have a few friends that serve as my musical gurus. they never fail to point me to fab artists they know i’ll love. everyone needs a music guru. 😉 i won’t presume to be yours, but i thought it would be fun to share a great new musical find with all of you.

fleet foxes

last week i discovered a delightful band, and i can’t stop telling EVERYONE how wonderful they are. i’ll begin by saying my musical taste is the very definition of eclectic, so don’t write me off if you don’t instantly love this band. but, you’ve gotta give them a try. the band is called fleet foxes, and their self-titled debut album spells perfection to my ears. it all began with a superficial glance at their album artwork. the quirky historian in me couldn’t resist recognizing (and getting giddy over) the painting gracing the cover: netherlandish proverbs (aka the blue cloak) by pieter bruegel the elder. my eyes then scanned the nearby review placard, where the band was compared to The Shins and My Morning Jacket, two bands I already adore. sold! before i had returned to my car, i had discarded the shrink wrap and was anxious to give the disc a (literal) spin.

i was instantly overwhelmed. from the very first note of the very first track, i knew i had found something special. from the harmonies, the lush layering of instruments, the folksy feel, the haunting lyrics… i was smitten. for five days now, i have been able to listen to little else. each song has an ethereal quality, similar to the music of rufus wainwright and (another one of my faves) iron & wine. it’s also a good sign that nearly every band they credit as an influence (on the inner cd envelope) is on my list of musical loves. who lists debussy and the beach boys as influences? they do. haha that’s just how they roll. the crème de la crème: guitarist robin pecknold wrote a beautiful essay on the back of the cd jacket about how music can be so closely associated with memory. he signed the essay “warren gamaliel bancroft winnipeg harding.” seriously… someone who comes up with such an awesome pseudonym has got to be rad. as i drove along pch to malibu last week, i fell in love with this album. the beauty of their music swept over me and i was nearly brought to tears on several occasions.

okay — so now you know i am a total emo mess. 😉 the album has already been met with critical acclaim, receiving 4/5 stars from rolling stone and many other glowing reviews. my fave tracks are 6, 8, and 10… although all 11 are really fantastic. i hope some of you will give it a spin and let me know what you think! feel free to share any other bands you think i’d love, too! happy listening!

xoxo, angel

i did it! i actually subjected my unsullied, undefiled hair to the world of chemicals and processing. and you know what? i may be spoiled for life. last week i went to a popular koreatown salon to get a digital perm. although i was pretty terrified before, during, and the first 2 days after the process, i have no regrets and am very pleased with the results. the goal was to obtain luscious wavy curls that a) had staying power and b) were easy to maintain. so far, the digital perm has met both objectives!

one of my dear friends works in a salon and recommended the halo line of products specifically formulated for curly (natural & permed) hair. gotta protect the investment, right? it meets all of my needs in a hair product: smells delicious, is adorably packaged and it works! at $16-$18 per item, the price is not bad for professional hair care products.

shampoo, conditioner, and curl enhancing crème

best of all, the system is such a breeze to use! i wake up, use the shampoo & conditioner, and then towel dry my hair. after 10-15 mins or so, i rub a small amount of product all over my hair, from roots to tips. then, i twist my hair into sections. that’s it! i let it air dry and the look lasts all day. if i was one to spend time doing my hair, i’m sure a blow-drying with a diffuser would make the look even more polished. too bad i can’t bear to spend more than 15 minutes doing hair or makeup!

ok, ok… i’ll share a pic because i know the blog police won’t let me get away without one. 😉

ta-da! this is me on saturday at a lovely wedding at the kellogg house. (such a charming venue, btw!) i’ll note that this is after 11 hours in 90 deg temps, so the hair is a bit wilted with sweat. 😉 haha but i love it! easy, beachy hair without rollers or a curling iron.

and just for fun, here’s a pic with my darling asSIStant anna. she’s always asking why she doesn’t get enough press time on the blog… haha! i will do a fun interview with her soon so you can all get to know her a bit better. she’s a crucial part of the execution of each and every wedding i do and i’m so lucky to work with my little sis. <3

me and my stunning sis!

hope you all had a fabulous labor day! xoxo, angel

to say that i love the work of myra callan, owner of twigs & honey, would be a mega understatement. i stumbled upon her etsy shop (i was tipped off to her talent by my darling bride nari) a few months ago and have been swooning ever since. myra, a recent newlywed herself, fashions whimsical, one-of-a-kind accessories out of feathers, beads, crystals, and ribbons. from hair pieces, headbands and veils, to necklaces and unique bouts, each item has a special air of magic to it.

when i adore something, i REALLY adore it. myra’s creations are in this category of beloved things. her aesthetic seems perfectly aligned with mine: playful, feminine, vintage-inspired, and eclectic, with a touch of whimsy. i love poring over the items in her shop (many are custom orders) and imagining how they will sparkle when they are worn by a delighted bride or customer. for the bride who wants something different to adorn her head on the big day, i enthusiastically suggest checking out myra’s work. i also think her pieces are fabulous as everyday accessories for the fashion-forward. here are some of my favorite pieces by myra, new & old. if you like giving gifts for mother’s day to non-mothers, feel free to order me one of these. haha 😉

i love, love, LOVE the colors. so dramatic.

a darling headband – enchanting in its delicacy.

the textures in this one are fantastic.

the ruffly petals make this perfect.

this is my absolute favorite item in her shop right now. deeelightful! how rad would this be with a plain white tank, some favorite jeans, and my kelly green suede marc jacobs flats?? haha


i have to add that myra is one of the sweetest people you’ll ever e-meet. i know if we met in person we’d hit it off! till then, i will have to snatch up a few of her pieces. thank you, myra, for sharing your gorgeous handiwork with us! xoxo

every girl needs her own favorite beauty finds. i love swapping products with my sister and girlfriends, as well as reading reviews of new items online. in honor of the wonderful discoveries i’ve made in this arena, it’s time for another beauty-inspired installment of fab finds! please join me in little virtual swap here on the blog. below are some of the fabulous things that rock my beautiful world; make sure to share your favorites in the comment section! fab find: kiss me mascara by blinc it was a mixture of fear and curiosity that overcame me when i first read about this mascara. on the company’s website, a funny animation demonstrates how the mascara does not “paint” lashes, but “tubes” them by creating water-resistant tubes around each one. the result is perfectly primped and natural-looking lashes with zero clumping. to remove, you simply use warm water and “gentle pressure” to slide the tubes off. truth be told, i was freaked out at the prospect of pulling little tubes off of my eyelashes. BUT, when santa left me this mascara in my stocking at Christmas, i had to give it a whirl. i LOVE this mascara and don’t think i could use anything else now. it really makes you look like you just have incredibly long and lovely natural lashes. and the formerly-dreaded tube removal?? though nervous at first, i’ve become a total pro. the “tubes” are black and just look like individual false lashes. i haven’t ripped out any real lashes… yet. 😉 fab find: stila lip glaze i’m not sure if i can call something a “find” when i ‘found’ it in high school, but a post about beauty products would be incomplete without a mention of my beloved glaze. i am definitely not a lipstick girl, and much prefer the glossy, fresh and youthful look of this product. it comes in an array of tasty colors named after various fruits + foods, but my absolute favorites are grapefuit (a sweet light pink) and vanilla (champagne/nude color). they are sticky, which i know is not ideal when you have long hair. but, i prefer sticky with staying power over non-sticky products that are gone with my first sip of water. 🙂 fab find: stila illuminating powder foundation i’ve been using this fabulous product for years and it is a mainstay in my makeup bag. i love the sheer & natural coverage of the powder, with a touch of subtle sparkle. i have never been able to do liquid foundation… it just seems icky to me. i stick with my spf, lotion + powder and am good to go! fab find: nars blush + bronzer oh, the woes of being pale and freckled! haha my complexion is very pale, and i am almost unable to tan. my face freckles, and the rest of me burns and then fades back to ghastly white. i rely on my blush and bronzer to add some life to my visage. nars is my favorite because the colors are so natural and complementary. i actually use the pictured duo that has the blush and bronzer side-by-side for easy access. fab find: dr. hunter’s rosewater + glycerine hand creme from caswell massey caswell-massey is a big part of my childhood memories. i remember following my mom around the store, picking out beautiful boxed soaps and gifts for friends. i would devour the catalog when it arrived in the mail, relishing the little historical tales that accompanied the product descriptions. the company, founded in 1752, has dubbed itself “america’s original perfumer.” their products have been cherished by presidents (washington, adams, eisenhower, and kennedy) and have a wonderful air of nostalgia about them. {check out a cool historical timeline here} from the packaging to the fragrances, everything is delightfully charming. i love the old-fashioned-ness of it, and imagining the ladies in victorian times using the same products i enjoy today! the scent of their cucumber and alder cream products instantly transport me to memories of my mother. 😉 anyway…. all this to say i still have my favorite c-m products and have the catalog delivered to *my* home now that i’m all grown up! this product is a classic and is UNPARALLELED if you want soft hands. i get a lot of comments on the texture of my hands (weird, but true) and i always attribute it to my use of this product. the thick, scrumptious creme is best applied at night when it can soak in (and not make a greasy mess everywhere). i wear gloves to bed if i want extra-extra moisture. the result is truly incredible. the scent of rose is pretty strong, so if you share the product with you guy, be warned. 😉 fab find: burt’s beeswax lip balm i am addicted to this little tube of moisture. 😉 it’s simple, colorless and it works! i definitely recommend going with the original beeswax lip balm. i just tried the “replenishing” version (with pomegranate oil) and it has the worrrrrrst taste. no, i promise i’m not eating it. just trust me on this one. fab find: victoria’s egg white soap you are going to LOVE this! i first got hooked on this product while working at anthropologie (little known fact: i worked there while in college and helped open the berkeley store!). it’s one of those quirky bath products they sell and my interest was piqued. if you’ve ever seen a pic of my mother, you know she looks INSANELY good for her age. 😉 well, she attributes this to her faithful beauty regimen, which includes eggs. a cleaner, less messy option than raw eggs is found with these soaps, which my mom has now adopted as well. i like to lather, apply, and let it “sit” on my face for a few minutes. when you rinse, your skin is instantly tighter and more radiant. adore it!! now it’s your turn! i can’t wait to see what fab finds my readers have to share…

happy new year! i am so exited for what is in store for my 2008, including lots of stylish, creative, and utterly fabulous events. my apologies for the unexpected blogging hiatus. i joyfully embraced the holiday season with my family and enjoyed a wonderful time of celebration with them. to kick off the new year, erik and i embarked on a much-needed vacation! it was so refreshing to enjoy a change of environment for a week! i just returned home sunday night and am still playing catch up. but, i felt it was high time to finally get back on the blogging wagon! you can look forward to more inspiring weddings and fab finds in coming weeks.

for now, i’d love to share with you all a tasty restaurant i visited the day after Christmas: kula sushi bistro. the restaurant took over the space once housing the short-lived restaurant aphrodisiac. apparently my mom’s fiancé was a fan and called trying to make reservations. he was surprised when someone answered the phone and told him that aprhodisiac was gone, and a new restaurant had taken its place. but, being an adventurous patron of LA’s food scene, he decided to give it a try. he visited once before deciding it was worthy of hosting our little after-Christmas get together and made quick friends with the management. he always makes friends at the right places!

the restaurant is owned by a Japanese company that runs a large chain of restaurants on the other side of the pacific. in light of my positive experience there, i hope it fares better than its predecessor at the location! everything was delicious (well, except one dessert mentioned below…) and the service was top notch. i also loved the sleek, modern décor and neutral tones of the restaurant. i would definitely visit again!

a sampling of our dinner…

perfect calamari: fresh, not overcooked, and fried in a thin batter that wasn’t overpowering. served with tasty japanese aioli for dipping and a twist of lime. we had two orders… it was that good.

a spider roll – tempura soft shell crab! one of my favorites.

spicy shrimp accompanied by tempura shiitake mushrooms.

at this point, we put the camera down and enjoyed the rest of our meal. 😉 we devoured, among other things, two spicy tuna rolls, a caterpillar roll, a rainbow roll, maguro sashimi, a kula roll (shrimp, eel and tamago), soft tofu with avocado, and all three desserts. the coconut cheesecake with mango sauce was amazing!! the molten chocolate cake was good, but nothing remarkable. the green tea crème brulée was TERRIBLE and we begged them to take it off the menu. hopefully they will follow our advice when they officially launch!

kula will begin advertising this month to announce their official launch. in the meanwhile, you can enjoy the restaurant before it becomes wildly popular. i think there were two other tables occupied when we were there. tasty sushi + top notch service puts kula on my list of fabulous finds. 😉

kula sushi bistro – 310.282.8870
10351 santa monica blvd. (@ beverly glen) / los angeles, ca 90025

i looove getting my hair cut! it is such a silly luxury for me. some people are astonished when they hear i only get 3 or 4 haircuts a year, if that. most of the time they consist of a clean up of my layers and 1-2″ off of the length. i have always had long hair and frankly, it’s what i assumed look best on me. i lacked the guts and motivation to do anything different.

i am allll about low maintenance. most days you will catch me with it all down, in some state of semi-wetness from the day’s shower. i never blowdry and rarely heat style! i know, i know… BORING. last week i was thinking i was about due for a semi-annual cut, and started thinking about doing something crazy. for me, crazy is anything beyond a trim. so don’t get your hopes up!! i guess i had finally “had it” with my hair, and saw an open afternoon on my calendar. i made an appointment at my favorite salon and mustered up the courage to take the plunge. i was going to chop it off!!

so last wednesday, with much trepidation paired with excitement, i had SEVEN INCHES taken off of my hair. i honestly expected to hate it, go home and mope for a week, and then suck it up and “live with it” while it grew back. i just needed the change. imagine my sheer and utter delight when the haircut was complete and i LOVED it!! i loved it so much i returned on Friday to take off even more!! on Friday she made the cut a bit more a-line (1.5″ longer in the front than in the back) and added choppier layers. it’s so much fun having this shorter ‘do. i get excited when i dole out a smaller portion of shampoo, or put my hair up in a “baby ponytail”. I like when the shortest layers fall out of my ponytail and i feel like i have an actual HAIRSTYLE! 😉 the best part is, it’s still super low-maintenance!

unfortunately, all my attempts at self-portraits were too pathetic for posting. they also had these weird stripes going through my face. luckilly a new point and shoot is on the Christmas list! for now, you’ll have to take my word that i actually went through with the hair cut.

where the magic happens… (photo courtesy of wax poetic salon)

the fabulous haircut took place at my salon of 2.5 years: wax poetic salon/spa/gallery in burbank. it is such a wonderful salon!! where else can you have your hair cut, listen to some great tunes, sip on a drink from their e*lix*r bar and even browse their gallery of artwork?? they also use bumble and bumble products exclusively, which smell yummalicious and make my hair feel ultra silky. to top it all off, they have a rad boutique that even features some tarina tarantino pieces!! if you just threw in an ice cream parlor and a shoe store, i think i’d move in. 😉

for the first year, i went to one stylist exclusively. when she left, i was crushed! i decided to try out someone new @ the salon before giving up hope, and found that i love her just as much! if you want to see who i see, ask for nicole and tell her angel the wedding planner sent you! 😉

note: i promise part 2 of karen + erik’s incredible wedding is coming up early this week. i just felt compelled to drop in this little fun post in the interim!

my last post did more than just evoke memories of an incredible wedding i worked on last year. the site of the wedding, the historic paramour estate in the hollywood hills, has always been a favorite of mine. i first fell in love with it when i saw photos of another spectacular wedding held there… that of jewelry-maker extraordinaire, tarina tarantino, in 1999.

i thought i’d take the time to introduce you all to another fabulous find in my life: the whimsical, fun, and altogether delightful jewelry of tarina tarantino! i often tell people that i’d take a pink box (from tarina tarantino) over a little blue box ANY day, and they usually scoff. but i mean it! since early 2000 i have been completely enamored with tarina’s collection of glittering barrettes, earrings and jewelry and have amassed for myself quite a dazzling collection (if i do say so myself… and i do!). her work inspires me because it is so fresh and youthful. it’s the kind of jewelry that makes people stop and smile!

tarina made her first splash in the industry with her quirky crystal barrettes depicting adorable butterflies, dragonflies, and flowers. i have a number of these original designs and still wear them all the time. tarina soon drew a celebrity following and opened her flagship boutique (which is too cute for words, i might add) on melrose. her favorite implements for constructing these unique pieces include lucite and swarovski crystals. i like to call it grown-up costume jewelry!

today, tarina has built a veritable empire on all things adorable. in recent years, she has only made me love her jewelry more with the introduction of the “pink head” line. it’s a sanrio-licensed accessories line featuring the beloved hello kitty, spruced up tarina style! this hello kitty has pink hair (just like tarina!) and has taken many incarnations. although i still love all of tarina’s wares, the pink head collection has become my line of choice. 😉 i have loved hello kitty since childhood and am so excited i have a way to indulge my inner child without buying clicky pens and stationery! (note: she also has introduced a barbie line, if that’s more your style…)

at nearly all of my weddings you will find me sporting something tarina tarantino. whether it’s an oversized pink head pendant or a more “vintage” bauble covered in crystals, i love adding that bit of playful sparkle to my outfit. tarina does have a bridal line of accessories that i think would be perfect additions to a wedding day ensemble, in case you’re interested. 🙂

here are some favorite pieces from my own collection… photos courtesy of tarinatarantino.com

the necklace that started it all… my very first piece, still in heavy rotation today!

i loooove my chunky, funky bracelet!

there are only a few times a year i can wear this without being obnoxious. 😉

my first pink head piece, received years ago from erik. 😉 he surprised me with it one day, for no reason! he hid it in the 18th hole at a mini golf course and you should’ve seen my sheer delight when i found it. sooo sweeet….

if i’ve piqued your interest and you’re in the l.a. area, i highly suggest visiting her adorable boutique. for all of you who may be further away, her interactive website is a lovely distraction until you can get out here! enjoy!

xoxo, angel

today i wanted to kick off a new type of post on this blog, categorized as “fab finds.”

my main goal with the blog is to share photos and recollections from my weddings + events, so you can get a glimpse of my style, personality, and love for what i do. but beyond that, i think my clients might enjoy some peeks into my closet, makeup bag, and list of favorite things/places. think of it as another way to get to know me and find something new and fabulous, too!

without further ado, my first installation focuses on fragrance. there is something so evocative about scent. they say that smell is the strongest sense tied to memory, and i can attest to the truth of that assertion. the opulent fragrance of chanel no. 5 instantly takes me to my childhood memories of my mother, dabbing herself with the classic perfume at her desk vanity. the aroma of roses conjures thoughts of my late grandmother, who was always emanating the scent of the sweet blossoms. and then of course there is the scent of my husband’s cologne, and all of the joy and delight i attach to it. i feel comforted everytime i catch a whiff. 😉

i thought it would be fun to share with you some of the enchanting fragrances that sit on my own dresser and of course, to hear your favorites as well! many brides opt to select a special perfume for their wedding day, or hope to launch the use of a “signature scent” on the big day. perhaps you’ll find some inspiration in these great finds! i know that everyone has very particular and unique taste when it comes to perfume, and keep in mind that a perfume will play out in a distinct way based on your body chemistry. so if you don’t like my selections below, at least you know what to get me for Christmas! 😉

my everyday fragrance and one of my newest scent-loves is hesperides, by fresh. it is a joyful medley of bright citrus scents, dominated by Italian lemon and grapefruit, as well as hints of jasmine and peach. it is extremely clean and light, yet long-lasting on the skin. i was introduced to it by my dear friend kristin, who gifted me with the boxed set of soap, lotion and perfume. i’m hooked!

other current favorites include…

  • incanto shine, by salvatore ferragamo. every season they come out with a slight variation on their young, fruity scent. i am almost out of this and it is soo yummy. it makes me feel very girly. key notes include pineapple, passion fruit and freesia.
  • bright pink crystal, by versace. it’s ultra feminine, light, and ethereal. a romantic fragrance that is perfect for a wedding. dominated by notes of pomegranate, yuzu (a Japanese citrus) and peony.

  • stella, by stella mccartney. i would describe this scent as mysterious. it is unlike anything else i wear, but i really enjoy it. it’s actually the one i wore on my wedding day! key notes are rose + amber.

and though i hesitated to divulge my “secret”, precious, most favorite scent and perfume in the world… i thought it would be worthwhile to share this information in favor of the common good. if everyone wore this scent, it might diminish the “rarity” of the perfume… but things sure would smell a lot better. so, i introduce you to the love of my scented life: éclat d’arpège, by lanvin. it.is.amazing!!!

i first discovered it earlier this year during one of my leisurely trips to the perfume counter @ nordstrom. up until that point, i had never found something that wholly and completely entranced me. i hadn’t found my “signature scent.” i am also very picky when it comes to perfume… i don’t want anything that is overbearing, cloyingly sweet, musky, or woody. i encountered more than my share of patchouli during my 4 years at berkeley, thank you very much! when i took my first whiff of éclat, i was completely enamored.

from lanvin, here is a look at the scent “notes” that unfold in this perfume, each standing out uniquely like the distinct notes of an arpeggio (hence the name, arpège in français). p.s. little-known random fact: i began learning french at age 6… and neither of my parents is french!

Top Notes: Sicilian Lemon Leaves, Green Lilac

Heart Notes: Wisteria blossom, Green Tea Leaves, Peach Blossom, Red Peony, Chinese Osmanthus

Base Notes: White Cedar of Lebanon, Sweet Musk, Precious Amber

the fragrance can be a little harder to find in stores, but it is sold pretty commonly online. enjoy!

what are some of your favorite scents, or the one you plan to wear on your wedding day? i’m always up for finding something new!

hope you all had a restful weekend~ i completed another beautiful wedding on Saturday and have two left this year! what an incredible year it has been… xoxo, angel