LA Weekend Away

I had been meaning to make a trip to LA for so long it seems, and finally last month I found multiple excuses to make it happen! The weather was perfect and I was able to squeeze in many of the things I'd been planning on.

My friend Kelli joined me and we started our trip on a Saturday morning by getting settled in at our perfectly located hotel, The Farmers Daughter on Fairfax. A laid back brunch at their adorable attached restaurant Tart was the perfect start and kept us coming back for more the whole trip. Top recommendations include weekend mimosa and punch bowls, their amazing kale salad, the brussels sprout sandwich and the champagne ginger cocktail.

Saturday was spent doing a lot of walking and window shopping. And then we topped of the day with some nightlife with Marty and Elayne's charming lounge act at the Dresden. Apparently this show has been happening for over 30 years, but really it seems like at least 50. A total time capsule and highly recommended. If you are in LA go to this show!

My big excuse to make this trip happen was to attend a vintage hairstyling workshop by Tony of His Vintage Touch Hairstyling at the Pinup Girl Boutique in Burbank. The boutique had the cutest clothes, a great selection of some of my favorite makeup lines (Lime Crime, Julie Hewett, Vanity Mark), and an amazing window display (think 50's department store).

The vintage hairstyling workshop was such a treat and everything I had hoped for. Tony's workshop was so fun and visiting the boutique was very inspiring. Tony is adorably charming, very funny and a master at vintage styles. Below are a few pictures of the seriously amazing styles Tony demonstrated for the workshop, and a picture of him and I.

On my last day of the trip I visited the downtown LA ModCloth offices. A few of the crew that I have worked on shoots with for ModCloth are located here so I wanted to go and say hello and see the space. These pieces on the entry windows really wowed me. Read more about these illustrations from street artist Becca Midwood here.

They also had this synchronized swim patterned wallpaper that I still can't get out of my head! I would love to see this on the walls of my Esther Williams inspired bathroom.

Ok, just two more ModCloth office pics! But I may have to do another post showing off their SF office, it is equally inspiring and adorable.

And last of all we were lucky to get to squeeze in a visit to the LA County Museum before our flight out that day. There was an amazing Calder Exhibitions I was excited to see. And an unexpected free exhibition in another building on their grounds, Diane von Furstenberg: Journey of a Dress. I was completely inspired and so happy I caught this!

Next time I make it to LA I plan to be looking up more at the amazing old signs, visit the makeup stores, check out a few more bars on my list, do more vintage and fabric shopping and will be sure to visit the Nickel Diner when they are open. I'll look forward to it!

My photographer friend Joshua Cobos took this picture of me as I was leaving the Burbank after the hairstyling workshop.

Next up NYC and Brooklyn at the beginning of May, I can't wait to report back!

Monday Music Makeup Muses

At the start of this new year I began posting a weekly 'Monday Music Makeup Muse' on my Fox & Doll facebook page. These ladies inspire my love of stylish hair, unique makeup and one of a kind outfits. And of course this is the music that moves me.

So here is the wrap up so far for the first few months of 2014.

Each image includes links to one or two performances of these amazing ladies. 

A few highlights:

An early Dolly Parton performance that is stunningly moving  

The Shangri-Las doing their amazing girl group thing

Some sassy Nancy Sinatra with her backup dancers, all in boots of course 

Sandie Shaw at a super 60's dance party in the cutest dress doing one of my favorite ever pop songs

Ann Margret as a cartoon on the Flintstones, ‘Ann-Margrock’

And one of my all time favorite movie sequences featuring John Cameron Mitchell as Headwig

Click on the album and check the image notes to see all the linked videos

There will be more 'Monday Music Makeup Muse' to come in future months so check back on my facebook page. And requests are welcome! Thanks, Shana

And a few more images I just loved: Tina Turner, Dolly Parton, Nancy Sinatra, Honey Ltd, Sandie Shaw, Ann Margret

Heart Jewelry

A little teaser for pre Valentines Day.

Some heart themed jewelry designs of mine:

All items available for purchase here

And this darling little charm bracelet is the newest addition, made by special request for my nieces 8th birthday earlier this month. I am so in love with it that I decided to add it to my line in, sizing for all ages.

Granola Perfected

I have been working on perfecting this recipe for many years, actually I have probably been making this since I was about 19 years old. I love to make a big batch about once a month to have around for breakfast and snacking. It always comes out a bit different depending on what I have around and my 'flavor mood' when I'm making it.

This is my basic recipe, but no need to follow closely. As long as your proportions are semi-similar and you don't burn it then it will come out super yummy!

I am also posting the original recipe I based mine off from Moosewood Restaurant, so you can see how a recipe can evolve over the years based on your own personal likes.

Granola Perfected

Ingredients:
4 or 5 cups rolled oats (not quick oat)
2 cups coarsely chopped nuts (pistachios, almonds, walnuts, cashews, pecans)
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/2 cup shredded coconut
4 tbsp sesame seeds
2 tsp cinnamon 
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 honey
1 tsp fine grain sea salt
1 tbsp vanilla extract

Sometimes I also add:
1/4 cup chopped crystalized ginger 
1/4 cocoa nibs
3/4 dried fruit
lots more coconut (because this is one of my favorite things ever)

Directions:
1. Place all the dry ingredients (nuts, oats, seeds, salt and cinnamon) in a large bowl and stir together.
2. In a small saucepan on low heat, warm the oil, honey or syrup, and salt.  Stir the vanilla.
3. Gradually pour in the warm oil and honey over the dry mixture and stir until all the ingredients are evenly coated.
3. Spread the granola on an un–oiled baking sheet. In a preheated 325 degree oven, bake for 30 minutes. Check at 15 minutes and stir if needed or desired (you don't want the bottom to burn and this prevents clumping, but I like clusters so I try not stir if I am not at risk of burning the bottom).  Remove from oven and let cool completely before storing.

Yields: apx 8 cups
Hands-on-time: 15 minutes
Baking time: 30 minutes

Original Moosewood Restaurant Ingredients:
1/4 cup safflower oil
1/2 cup maple syrup or honey
1 tsp. fine grain sea salt
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
2 cups coarsely chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, cashews, hazelnuts)
6 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
3/4 cup dried fruit
1/3 cup shredded coconut
2 tbsp. sesame seeds

Happy Baking!