gratitude for health

[artwork done by and for by way of ney]
[skull drawing by Jesse Young]

It is always good to have reminders that put life in perspective. That seems to be the theme of my life this year. The most recent reminder is about contentment. Being content with who I am and what I have. I was talking to one of my best friends yesterday and we were discussing our physical bodies. Not our body image and what we think about how we look. Our conversation was focused more on what our bodies give us and where they let us down. It seems like it's been a long time since I felt rested, fully rested. 

(Sidebar: I have felt better in the last few months of doing Pilates multiple times a week than I have in a long time. I sleep better, and more importantly, wake better. I move better, and feel stronger in so many ways. Sure, my body is changing as well but the greatest part is the way I feel.) 

Anyway, she got me thinking about how good we really have it. We were laughing because she is pregnant and has been truly exhausted as the little life grows and develops inside of her. She said, "Now that I am going through this it makes me realize how really good I felt before." And I'm sure that's true of me. There are plenty of days when I think I feel slow to rise, slow to start, lagging during the middle of the day, and waiting for bedtime. 

I realize now how lucky I really am. Lucky to have this body. This body lets me work and play and do both hard, and well. It lets me play volleyball every Wednesday, soccer every Sunday and work hard through my Pilates program. It lets me run around and play with the little kids in my life, toss them in the air and laugh like crazy. It lets me walk off daily stresses by the beach and rest well through the night. It lets me love hard and feel much and supports my body, my mind and mostly my spirit. Without the gift that this body is, I wouldn't be able to live the life that I do, the one I feel called to live. 

This conversation with my best friend wasn't meant to be a deep or thought-provoking one. It was just a comment about realizing how good I've got it now while my body is working well and supporting all of me. One day, hopefully, my body will help me support and grow another life. For now, it's just me. 

I'm grateful for the perspective that she gave me in this short conversation. 

Grateful for the healthy body that I have. 

Grateful for the life I get to live.

No matter the state of our bodies, we've got to be grateful for what we've be given, no?

5 things: hair

I've had a few people ask me lately what I use in my hair. That is probably only because my hair is the longest it's ever been right now (and needs a haircut). So, since you've asked...here is a 5 things about my favorite hair goodies. 

1] square silk scarves: Holds it all back when you need it to. So many ways to wear it! (Watch the video how-to here.) This one is Juicy Couture and I love this ban.do one and you can also find them at your local swap meets and vintage stores. My favorite one is a vintage Chanel scarf (seen here). 

2] elegant antistatic paddle brush: Good for straight and/or static prone hair.

3] goody spin pins: Makes putting hair up in buns amazingly fast and easy and holds all my hair up really well. I also love that they come in blonde or brunette. Seriously, these things are awesome!

4] shisedo tsubaki line: Changed my life forever! Smells amazing and feels even better. This mask is a life saver. 

5] l'oreal elnett hairspray: Great hold with a little shine. 

beauty CULTure

[image via Style Spin]

Alright ladies, months ago (here & here) I posted about the Beauty CULTure exhibit at the Annenberg Space for Photography. Have you been yet? If you haven't been, you need to go. Here are a couple of reasons:

1] It's EYE OPENING! Majorly helps you to expand what you see as beauty and what lengths people should, or shouldn't, go to obtain it. 

2] It's free!

3] It's an interactive, gorgeous exhibit and not one you have to be at all day to feel like you've got the whole experience!

4] It's pretty central to everyone in LA, nestled into Century City. 

5] It closes in just over a month!

Have you already been? 

Yes, what did you think? I was so conflicted about feeling like the beautiful women were in fact beautiful after seeing the documentary about how we are influenced by the industry as a whole.  It kinda made be feel guilty about seeing the models and works of art. 

No. Do you think you'll go? If you do, will you let me know what you think?

5 things: makeup

[layout and choices for by way of ney]

I am not a big makeup girl. That said, I also have days where I think, "I'm really glad I'm not a guy because today I really need a little makeup to freshen myself up. On those days when I really need and extra boost to get me out the door, these lovelies are my little lifesavers. 

1] Tarte cheek stain in Blushing Bride 

2] Maybelline Define-a-Brow in Light Blonde 

(because my hair is naturally very light and I have fair skin, my eyebrows are practically see through...this helps!)

3] Bobbi Brown eye shadow in Slate is the perfect mix of a warm grey 

4] bareMinerals Faux Tan bronzer is perfect for an all over glow on your face when you haven't been in the sun 

(or when you've been good and have been wearing sunscreen)

5] Bobbi Brown lip gloss which I have in three colors 

(aubergine, petal, & buff) that I choose from depending on the day

What are your favorite makeup finds?

Also, if you missed the other 5 things, by way of ney, posts you can find more of my favorites, like this one, by clicking on "5 things" under the features. Or by clicking this link.  

5 things: beauty

[layout and choices for by way of ney]

These days that seem to fly by with not enough hours have helped me to realize what things I rely on in my daily "beauty" regime to make me feel good.  It doesn't take a lot these days, or I don't have time for a lot, but these 5 things help make me feel good, refreshed, full of life and still "put together" despite the lack of time spent on myself.

1] clarisonic: Totally renewed the texture and feel of my skin. It takes off my daily makeup and exfoliates at the same time.

2] dermalogica antioxidant hydramist: I can't say enough about it's abilities to keep me feeling dewy & hydrated. I love taking the mini bottle along with me on flights, no matter how short or long. 

3] essie nail polish: I really haven't seen a color I don't like. Stays on long and has a brush shape that even makes it easy to do on my own. Plus, just having my nails painted makes me feel much better over all. Totally a trick to make my mind think I've been spending more time on myself than I have. 

4] tweezerman tweezers: I use these for everything from stray eyebrows to removing flakes of skin.

5] sugaring: Sugaring? you ask. Yes, sugaring from Lisa at SugarMe. Converted me from a waxer & shaver to a sugaraholic. It's all natural (edible actually because it's only sugar, water, lemon juice), hurts less, makes your skin feel great and is ingrown proof. Need I say more?!

If you feel like me these days and need an extra bit of pep in your steps, these 5 things are the way to go. 

interesting and controversial

[painting by Pablo Picasso via we heart it]

When you think about all of the things happening in this world that need fixing it can feel really daunting. Like, how could we ever get to the point of feeling that all is well?

Childhood malnutrition is one of those problems. If we can't even get everyone water, how could we possibly solve malnutrition? This NY Times article is so interesting to me. It makes solving this problem seem so easy, just so obvious. It seems the cure to malnutrition is breast milk: all natural, easy, self-sustaining breast milk.

Read the article. What do you think? It reminds me of the controversial story of when Selma Hayek was in Sierra Leone in 2009 and breastfeed another woman's baby. Americans were freaked out over it and yet it seems that the World Health Organization would applaud her.

beauty CULTure [revisited]

[photo by: norman jean roy]

Almost a month ago I wrote about my venture to the Annenberg Space for Photography to see this exhibit. Matthew Segal, for Los Angeles Magazine, wrote this about it: "Is she hot? Too taut? Not taut enough? After delving into androgyny and pugilism with her stints in Boys Don't Cry and Million Dollar Baby, Hilary Swank demonstrated she was all woman in this 2004 photograph by Norman Jean Roy. Miles beyond our zaftig past, she embodied our transforming notions of what's feminine and pretty. In Beauty Culture (May 21-November 27), the Annenberg Space for Photography focuses on how the lens has fed and been fed by our billion-dollar obsession with female beauty. Works by Chuck Close, Man Ray, David LaChapelle, Lauren Greenfield, and dozens of others will be on view, making voyeurs of us all."

If you needed another sales pitch to get you there, hopefully that will intrigue you enough.

beauty CULTure

As soon as I heard about this exhibit I knew that I wanted to go. I gathered my mom and sister and went to the Annenberg Space for Photography which is neither a gallery or a museum because it is a nonprofit fully funded by the Annenberg family.  The space is purposefully interactive with a 31-minute long documentary feature, 170 prints, a reading room, and multimedia stations. The exhibit was both amazing and startling. 

As soon as we arrived the documentary feature was beginning so we quickly sat down and were captivated. The images and commentary revolved around how feminine beauty has been defined, the industry that fuels that definition, and the photographers who capture it all. It led us to the point of realization that we have both celebrated and been abused by our understanding, or misunderstanding, of beauty. 

After the documentary was over we walked around the halls filled with images of women. Many of them were images that we've all seen before; from Twiggy to Heidi Klum...

photo credit: unknown, possibly Barry Lategan

photo credit: Gilles Bensimon

 ...but some were images we never hoped to see. Of botched plastic surgery and faces contorted by the undying desire to change what was gifted to us by birth.

photo credit: Lauren Greenfield

photo credit: Lauren Greenfield

Walking through the halls of these prints after seeing the documentary made it extremely hard not to feel conflicted. It was challenging to turn off the part of you that recognizes these images of women, mostly models, that we've all grown to believe as the epitome of beauty. As I looked at image after image is was clear to see why these photographs have had such a profound influence on us. 

The thing that stood out to me most was something that a female photographer, whose name I don't remember, said during the documentary, "The important thing is to not get lost in your own reflection." To me this meant that there is nothing wrong with the recognition of beauty, whether in yourself or someone else, but that we need to remember that what we see in the mirror is not our true identity.  

This exhibit will run until November 27th. Get there!