Who Wants Waffles?

I took this photo last November. It was one of the best waffles I've had in my life and I made it! I'm still a bit in shock to be honest with you.
If you like pumpkin bread or muffins, you need to buy this.
I know it's about to hit the shelves again at Williams Sonoma. It's called Spiced Pecan Pumpkin Waffle and Pancake mix.
I really wish I could flip pancakes. Isn't that the coolest trick?

Banks of New Orleans

New Orleans. I am sad but will avoid pontificating. What gives me the right when I'm in SoCal?

Here's some art in New Orleans by my beloved Banksy.

Oh and don't you worry. I will howl over the next earthquake.

Trinity Tombstones

This graveyard is at Trinity Church in Manhattan. It was founded in 1697 by King William III of England. I was in awe because in California, the only place you'll see anything roughly resembling this is at Disneyland.

Halloween was just about my favorite holiday growing up. I've always been intrigued by dark, creepy things. One of my favorite books as a girl was a biography on Jack the Ripper (with photos!) I also read everything I could by Stephen King.

I can just imagine my parents. "At least she's reading."

Back to Halloween. Our home had a long, tunnel-like entry thick with plants, a lone lantern and lots of corners. My brother and I tricked it out with spiderwebs, fake bats, fake blood and body parts on the floor, a flickering lightbulb, fog machine, spooky music and tombstones, naturally.

Our best guests were trick or treating toddlers. They'd be all smiles and then stop abruptly at the mouth of the entry. First they'd look up at their parents in confusion, then back to the front door where they knew treats were waiting for them. The crying would begin and our decorating efforts were officially a success.

For the kids brave enough to walk to the front door, we let them relax long enough to receive their candy and then jump from the bushes to chase them away. Ahh. Memories.

So when I found this graveyard I got a bit emotional because I was in New York to see my brother. He had a bit of a health scare and pulled through like a champ.

I'm not so dramatic that I was thinking my brother could be here pushing up daisies. I just thought, hey, I have some great memories with my brother. Damned doctors better not screw up again. Isn't reality always more frightening than fantasy?

Anyway, back to the the church. Isn't it breathtaking?

Melvin Sololsky

Fahey Klein has the most incredible upcoming exhibition of photographs by Melvin Sololsky.
It begins Sepember 4th.

Most of them were taken in the 60's. Possibly my favorite decade as far as fashion goes.

Check out a preview of the show here.

But honestly, you must see Sololsky's personal website.

Plus, he's not strictly into fashion.

Crazy 4 Cult

My sleeping pattern is so messed up, I'm up at 4:30am and it's my day off. Oh well.
The other day I checked out the latest show at Gallery 1988.

Crazy 4 Cult feaures different artist's spins on cult classics like Barbarella, Office Space, The Wizard of Oz, The Shining, etc.
I don't know/forgot to note who created each piece above, but the first two are by Shepherd Fairey and Carlos Ramos.
I like the doll from Office Space because I could totally use it as a punching bag. That guy was so creepy.

Click for more info at Gallery 1988's website.

Richard Is So Cheesy

Ladies and gentlemen, Richard Cheese.
Don't forget to tip your waitress.

Genevieve Gauckler

What's not to love about Genevieve Gauckler?
She lives in Paris, and remembers being inspired at an early age by colorful breakfast cereal boxes.
She has created illustrations for Beck's new album and website and exhibitions at Colette in Paris.
Her favorite places are Japan, India and the French countryside.
Isn't she great?

That's Incredible!

Hi folks. I'm back after a brief break.
Thanks for bearing with me.
Let's get things going with the photography of Li Wei.
The Chinese performance artist says he doesn't use photoshop, just mirrors & hocus pocus.

I'm Out

With a busted computer, it's not fun to blog.
I had a tooth drilled on Monday and I'm leaving town in a few days.

While I am gone, enjoy Jenny Lewis for her sweet heartbreaking voice and this interview that sealed the deal for me.

My friends and I had that song memorized word for word. Must be an LA thing.

M.I.A.

I spilled wa er on m compu er.

A couple of bu ons do no work.

Here are Jimm and Paper Planes for our enjo men .

Winning Style

Clara Bow & Cary Grant aren't just stylish. The original It Girl & my favorite leading man are simply perfection.

Here are my five fabulous winners of the Style Statement book. They are on their way to style star status. Below are samples of their letters.


Jade

Geek Seeks Chic Tweak! If anyone needs a style statement, it's the gangly geeky style-chameleon boyfriend of one of LA's hottest upcoming interior designers! I think what prompted it was seeing Patrick's giant allocation of closet space for his fabulous attire compared to my patchwork corner of assorted polos and casual button-downs.

Carly

I just had my first child and I'm terrified of becoming "Mom" and losing myself in the process! Identifying my style statement will help me stay focused on staying true to myself, which is an invaluable lesson for my brand new daughter. I can be a fantastic mommy and uniquely fabulous at the same time. :-)

Lucy

I'm a girl of modest means, from a small Midwestern town. I've always known that I'm a city girl at heart though. I'm now attending my dream school in New York City. All the fashion choices leave me confused though! I've been saving up to have some more pocket money to spend on myself, and I want to make the right choices.

Lisa

I've never accepted being a curvy chica. I thought I had a handle on my sense of style when I started college, and even after I got married, but then when motherhood rounded the corner, it all kind of went downhill from there! Moms really do lose themselves, in a way, by turning all that previous attention saved for themselves and their spouses outwards to their children, giving 110% every day, 24/7, 365 days a year.

Allison

As the mom of a three year old daughter, starting my PhD coursework this fall.Going through some major transitions in my life, I've come to realize that I've put myself second and let myself go somewhat. I've been feeling like I need to figure out who I am again. I realize that truly being myself will set a good example for my daughter as well as being something I deserve.

I just remembered another question Danielle asked me when trying to figure out my style statement. She said, "Imagine Annie Leibovitz is taking your picture. What would the setting look like and what would you wear?"

My answer was not too different from Carrie Bradshaw's gown orgy in the Sex & The City film. That AND Annie Leibowitz? A girl can dream...

A big thanks for everyone's entries! I wish I had a million copies. For those who didn't win, most of you already seemed to be started on the right path!

Last Day To Get Your Style

I've received so many great entries for the Style Statement giveaway.

Today's the last day to send me a note explaining why you need one & five lucky folks will get Carrie & Danielle's book!

Please email it me at suzzo77@gmail.com by 5pm PST!

Above is Natalie Portman in an amazing shoot for Style magazine.

Heaven, I'm In Heaven

I about dropped the magazine when I opened Elle Decor this month. Nanette Lepore has my dream home.

I am dying over the ship chandelier and her dressing room. Evita over the fireplace and the wood paneled walls. The historic feel and then the surprise of red lacquer kitchen cabinets!

Thank you for sharing your home lovely Nanette. Thank you for making the girly dresses I love to wear too.

Heart of Glass

I recently watched Blue Velvet for the first time.
Now, I'd like to stay home and watch Mullholland Drive over and over again. (Which I've seen and love.)
Getting my fix with Gucci's first tv commercial, also directed by David Lynch.
This was for spring 2008, but it makes me crave the fall.

80's VW Heaven

No, not the bug silly.
Vampire Weekend works 80's prep until they are magically transformed into a goth/metal band.

It's so John Hughes.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Wolfmother is kind of breaking up. Frontman Andrew Stockdale is a lone wolf now. (I promise that's the last cheesy wolf reference.)

When I heard this, a gem of a memory popped up from the 2007 Grammy Awards.

Andrew came walking down the red carpet with that big afro of his and I was so excited. I noticed the silver unicorn necklace and he confessed his girlfriend gave it to him. Aww.

Since The Police were being honored that evening, I asked him if he had a favorite Police song and if they were an influence on his music. Yeah, yeah it's a generic question that most musicians responded to with a pretty generic answer.

But he kind of looked at the carpet for a moment and then confessed they hadn't really been a big influence on him. That perked my ears. I asked who, expecting Led Zeppelin and he said Prince.

I asked him which song and if he'd sing a little of it for me.

I Wanna Be Your Lover....