I had a late afternoon meeting at the Langham Hotel in Pasadena with the always delightful Miss Charlotte of Plum Pretty Sugar. It was Charlotte’s idea to meet so far out of my zipcode and my dearest friend Mary was kind enough to drive. We ate lunch on an outdoor patio overlooking a sprawl of lawn that would make any character in the Great Gatsby envious. The property is so stunning and I loved that I felt like I was in another part of the world. I highly recommend you visit the hotel if you are planning to leave your zipcode anytime soon. Pasadena is a lovely little city and is worth every ounce of stress it causes you whilst you try to get there.

 I had been complaining to my Fancy about the light not being good enough in our apartment as I desperately need to finish shooting my products for my website. I do own this light set-up, which is great for product shots and consistency, I highly recommend.  I also own a nice flash that makes your photo’s look like they were shot in natural light, but I guess I am both a complainer and a procrastinator. I want natural light (also that means I don’t have to bring out extra equipment, talk about a lazy bone Jones).  The Fancy suggested why don’t I shoot in the bedroom, we have very beautiful light in there. Then I wondered how could I be so dumb?  I even shot in the bedroom last weekend (the bed and night stand, which no has nothing to do with my website).  I really never even considered setting up my shots in the bedroom, why? because there’s not a table in there. Who am I?  Really I had to kick myself in the bum for being so short-sighted and not coming up with this idea on my lonesome. I mean it’s not like we don’t have about half a dozen little side tables here and there and if worse came to worse I have not one but two painted wood boards for shooting.  Sheesh, common sense is not so common.  Luckily for me I am great at making up for lost time, as seen in exhibit A above, a fine specimen of my bedroom light if I have ever seen one.  Now I must get back to shooting products and not the props.  Wishing you a happy + productive weekend!

I went to a birthday party on Sunday and volunteered to take photo’s for the birthday boy.  I of course lost my mind when I saw the fella pictured above.  The ears?  Could they be any better?  A bit of a lazy eye and a terribly sweet disposition, a near perfect package.  When the guest of honor scrolled through my shots he commented, “there sure are a lot of photo’s of the dog”.  I am sorry, I am impervious to a face like this.

This photo is from the new issue of Rue Magazine, it’s by the incredibly talented wedding photographer Elizabeth Messina (yes you can hire her to shoot you and your betrothed!) and I am completely nuts for it.  It has a retro vibe without resorting to any sort of obvious retro processing.  I feel like it could have been taken on the set of Valley of the Dolls, so 60’s and carefree.  I love everything about it and you know I am not one for saturated colors preferring a subtle palette to anything with a pop but that’s the testament to Ms. Messina’s talent even someone as set in her color ways as myself can throw caution to the wind and embrace the vibrance of this shot. Summer is officially only 20 days away!

I usually don’t post photo’s of myself.  Like the Yeti, Big Foot and the Lochness Monster I don’t much care for my photo being taken. The Fancy says I am terrible at it too–word. I always either have a startled look in my eyes or a fake frozen smile (or both if I am feeling particularly photogenic).  If this photo looks familiar it is only because I pose like this in every photo.  I think my nose looks too pointy (which it really is) when I look the camera straight on. If I did this shot straight on I might have cut you through your computer screen and that wouldn’t be a good way to start the day now would it?  I am showing you this image because I really wanted to let you know how obsessed I am over my new drugstore foundation find–NatureLuxe by Cover Girl. It is perfect for my dry skin, age spots and crinkly eyes (look what  you have to look forward too!) without feeling heavy and allowing my skin texture to still show through so it doesn’t look like I am wearing too much foundation. All I ever wanted in life (okay one of the things) is flawless skin.  I want my skin to always look fresh, dewy like I am not trying too hard (the mascara is a totally different ball game).  I still am using the L’oreal Infallible, never fail, lipgloss in Suede, I think it’s the perfect nude lip color and you can build it if you want a more nude/opaque look (ala Bardot). I think I should buy stock in it, I have sold more tubes of that lipgloss….I am using my favorite cheek stains from Tarte for blush, I promise you if you can’t put anything else on just squash the tube on your cheeks it is instant pretty (yes, it’s as easy as a squash/smoosh, quick rub in).  I am leaning towards more peachy tones lately so I have been using Tipsy (the tube should last for like ever). If your skin tone is more on the Snow White-ish side may I suggest Flush?  It’s a perfectly rosy, natural blush. You will love it. My mascara?  It’s pricey but worth every.single.swipe.  I have tried to stray because I use so much mascara I would prefer to just be in love with a drugstore brand but hands down there is no better mascara for me and my oily eyes than Tarte’s ‘Lights, camera, lashes’. A couple swipes and I look like I have false eyelashes and I am sorry but that’s where I draw the line at looking natural, I want to look like a doe.  That’s my thing the mascara, I am one of those people that won’t leave the house without it (or my foundation or blush).