life checks in

live life consciously and authentically —

understanding that things do not happen to us,but rather for us. 

- e.lanahan

happy monday blogiverse! this weekend i decided to take a 6hr road trip up north to the santa cruz mountains to visit my dear friend caitlin. for x number of reasons, i really just needed to disconnect with my non-stop city life and sit in the wilderness to just be. to literally stop.
it's that moment when you enter the cabin in the woods with zero cellphone connection and no tv and think, "what did i just do? get me to the nearest air conditioned hotel!" followed immediately by "idalia, stop. think. be." and so i allowed myself to stop, think and be.
only when we learn to disconnect from what we consider our life, and not become attached to objects or people, can we really allow ourselves to be genuine with our emotions. we can learn to separate fear from reality, truth from fantasy, words from deeds, and action from retreat. we can open our heart and be conscious. we can speak and act from a place of pure authenticity. as allan lokos once wrote, "your actions are your only true belongings." 

ego and pride checked out. and life checked in.

*thank you toters for the woods.

*please note that i forget my memory card at home so my camera was of no use. all pictures above were taken by my blackberry & iPhone.

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sneak peak bello mag: chris powell edition

could you believe?!
what started off as a day filled with headaches (something i'm not naturally prone to), ended with meeting one of the people i most look up to - chris powell.

in case you've been living under a non-active rock, and may not be familiar with his face, i strongly urge you to check out a show called extreme makeover, weight loss edition. get ready be inspired and rejuvenated! and let me say, meeting him (and his wife) in person was even more of an inspiration!

here is a teaser shot from bello mag's fall fashion issue with chris on the sports section cover coming out early september - don't you worry, i'll remind you to check it out when it's out!

the issue will first be available on iTunes app for iPad & iPhones.

photography/editor in chief: aleksandar tomovic
www.alekandsteph.com
styling/fashion editor: warren alfie baker
grooming/executive editor: leslie alejandro

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darling on display

i actually had posted the "don't be like the rest of them, darling" quote in a previous post but as i was window shopping on venice beach this weekend, i found it on display.
sigh.

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tuesday's tune: home

this song was constantly playing in the background of the women's gymnastics opening segment during the olympics. i thought it so soothing and lovely...

hold on to me as we go

as we roll down this unfamiliar road

and although this wave is stringing us along

just know you’re not alone 

'cause i’m going to make this place your home 

settle down, it'll all be clear 

don't pay no mind to the demons, they fill you with fear 

the trouble it might drag you down 

if you get lost, you can always be found 

just know you’re not alone 

'cause I’m going to make this place your home 

- phillip phillips / home

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icone du jour: queen rania

not only beautiful and (oh did i mention...) a queen, rania is mostly known for all her humanitarian work. because there are too many incredible qualities to even mention in a short post, you must check out all her good works on her website (click here). 
she's married to king abdullah ii ibn all hussein of jordan. 

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love #8

this woman really does transcend time.
kate moss is mesmerizing in love #8 autumn/winter 2012-13 issue.

photog cred: tim walker 

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insta-week

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1.cupcakes for co-worker's birthday
2."douche parking" on curbside. apparently a l.a. phenomenon
3.macaroons
4.my monster, sandy loo 

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abbey road

oh yes i did!
i walked the most popular street in the world (at least to me) : abbey road. this famous road gained its unrivaled popularity thanks to the release of the beatle's album in 1969.

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tuesday's tune : queen of california

despite his not-so-popular-personal life, i still love john mayer as a singer and performer. here is the video release of his new single, "queen of california" holding a hopeful tune to its bittersweet lyrics. 


enjoy!


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insta-weekend

my first weekend back in the states was spent (wait for it... wait for it.....)under the sun! here are some instagram shots of my relaxing days. 
saturday was all about the pool and reading which happens to be one of my favorite pastimes. 
to my delight, i was able to play softball again on sunday (hence the budweiser beers...as if we couldn't get any more american).


more england pics to come, so stay tuned!


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oxford one

over this past weekend, i ventured on an hour out of london to oxford - a town best known for it's prestigious university (and also the inspiration for "alice in wonderland" and "the chronicles of narnia"). after overhearing one of the tour guides, it is also where part of the last "x-men" was filmed, as well as "harry potter".
the first day was spent walking the busy streets and then taking a non-touristy journey along the thames river to a restaurant (which you can only get by foot) called the isis farmhouse to have some cider underneath a willow tree. can anyone say mary poppins dreamland? 


that night i stayed at the malmaison hotel which started off as part of the oxford castle turned prison in 1785. in 1996 the prison closed and was transformed to this luxurious boutique hotel.