for the love of food

I'm not picky enough to consider myself a foodie. While I do enjoy both cooking and dining out, I tend to be rather indiscriminate and can make due no matter where I sit down at the table. I don't eat much fast food and I try to make smart choices in the kitchen, cooking nutritious meals using organic products. These concepts seemed completely ordinary to me, and therefore perhaps went under appreciated. Growing up in the country, my parents had a garden for homegrown vegetables and raised cattle for beef. It has only been in recent years that I realized the rarity of my upbringing, and how disconnected many people are to the origins and process of healthy, natural food. I have several friends who are actively contributing to the social reawakening in this real food movement. Nutrition education programs for our youth are the key to our community's, and nation's health in the future.
Learn more and support them here:
The Wellgro Co: thewellgroco.com
Enrich LA: enrichla.org
Peacemeal: peacemeal.us

back in action

Luck, sweat, and varying degrees of creativity would be how I'd describe the last week. Luck because sometimes things just fall into place at just the right time. The sweat comes in because it is something I'm keenly aware of as I re-acclimate to the already warm and balmy weather.
And there were several instances of creativity. The Food and Wine Fest let me marvel at culinary genius and taught me how to prepare a rather grandiose scallop. At the Art from the Ashes opening, I got to witness art building community for the sake of a community rebuilding - and see another fine piece by my friend the lovely and talented Susi Brister (seriously, check out her work). And lastly, while a business casual wardrobe job doesn't particularly stretch the limits of one's imagination, I did win the accolades of a major client and meet a fab crew here in the ATX whom I hope to collaborate more with soon.
Intersperse the week with dogpark, some chips and queso and some backyard grilling time with friends, and it felt like my first real week back in action in Austin. I now really notice and appreciate the city's thriving culture and community.  

Halting the Hiatus

I must apologize for being completely delinquent with my blog updates. I'm truly going to make a concerted effort to revive I Love Mants, because I still do, in fact, love mants. However, managing the Market store blog (marketla.blogspot.com) and all the infinite social portals that demand periodic attention often takes precedence.

If you were wondering "mants" is the term I coined to describe stylish menswear-inspired ladies pants.

Hmmm...

Doubtful, despite my bestest stratigery, that I can pull of a quick jaunt to NYC fashion week this year...but nonetheless, there will be plenty of Fashion Night Out festivities in LaLa-land.

FNO local event listings here: http://fashionsnightout.com/fno/outside-nyc

whirlwind

Where did August go? Its been a busy month. Here's how my last week has played out:

Styled a shoot in the desert, where the 100 degree wind made it feel like you were standing in a hair dryer. Despite everyone being tired, stinky and covered in a light layer of grit by days end, the images will be incredible, thanks to the talented EsmeandEve.com.

Drove to some part of town where it turns into yellowish hills dotted with grey rectangular industrial buildings where I picked up samples for the Market line (www.marketla.blogspot.com)...its going to be so good.

Styled another shoot at the beach and worked at the boutique simultaneously...don't ask how that's possible.

Booked a closet service job, thanks to Yara's chattiness, which I'm sure will be a treat for my OCD to go wild and will as always pose a slew of unforeseen challenges.

Schlepped through the fabric district downtown in the heat, endured the customary cat calling, and dug through some incredibly hideous (to the point of humorous) fabrics to find the perfect few. Tomorrow I deliver a trunk load to the same grey warehouse and hold my breath until mass quantities arrive.

In the midst of all this, I did returns from the shoots, rocked out to Petals, checked out Gjelina's (yum), made it to an Angel's game and squeezed in brunch with a dear friend.

Oh, and me and the sis have teamed together and are cookin up something big...so stay tuned.

I guess its no wonder that it seems like the month has just evaporated in the late summer heat.

Late Summer...

The 5 most exciting purchases I've made for late summer:

Garnet colored high-waisted skinny jeans (love color and endless possibilities)

Bright kelly green ballet flats (more loving of color)

Ultra-glam, slit-front batwing black maxi dress (very Zoe)

Soft charcoal grey v-neck t shirt for $5 (it screamed "live in me")

Coral chinch bug necklace that makes me laugh (because it's stupid)

Top 5 apparel pet peeves:

1. Collarless buttondowns, or as I call them "the Montel Williams."

2. Prints that stop at the side seams. Sort of a half-hearted attempt.

3. Synthetic fabrics like mesh. Just creepy.

4. Pleather. Either do it or don't.

5. Pretty much all shoes made of rubber, but particularly crocs and flipflops. Just sloppy.