The Cream Event {TICKET GIVEAWAY!}

If you're anything like me you cringe at the idea of having super conventional wedding--you want there to be personal touches, you probably prefer pink ranunculus to red roses, and you are likely most concerned with the fun factor--enter the ambassadors of fun: Kelly and Paige of Bash, Please  and their curated weeding event The Cream (formally known as Hitched).  The Cream brings together the quirkiest and most imaginative wedding vendors in SoCal for a bumpin' bash that is sure to please. So, if, like me, you're about to tie the knot--this is the event for you to meet all the vendors that will make your wedding day just as wild, special and outrageous as you are. I'll be there--with bells (and probably a crazy outfit) on.

I've joined forces with The Cream chicas to give away 2 tickets to one lucky JB reader to attend the next Cream event on Thursday Mar 01, 2012 at the Book Bindery in Culver City ($45 value). To enter, click here and read more about the event, then leave a comment below with one Cream Event Vendor you'd love to get down and boogie with on the dance floor.  One reader will be selected at random. Comments close on Monday morning at 9am PST. You can find tickets to the event right here! Woot woot! Now everybody sing!

Cream. Get on top
Cream. U will cop
Cream. Don’t u stop
Cream. Sh-boogie bop

U’re so good. Baby there ain’t nobody better (ain’t nobody better)
So u should. Never, ever go by the letter (never ever)
U’re so cool (cool)Everything u do is success
Make the rules (rules) Then break them all cuz u are the best!

~Prince 

Thank you.

I would like to take a moment to give gratitude for your comments both here on the blog--as well as on Pinterest yesterday. For me, sharing is cathartic--and hearing your stories and words of encouragement touched me deeply. I truly appreciate that you took the time to listen, and to share, and how thoughtful and generous of spirit you are. Cheers to keeping it real, keeping it open, keeping it supportive, and keeping it lovely. Thank you so much.
~Justina

Loving Ones self: an open letter to my pinterest followers

When I started my 'Zany and Zaftig' column on this blog it was in response to so many readers requesting that I show more style posts--because there were so few outlets that showed curvy gals' style. When the other day I decided to create a Pinterest board also celebrating zany and zaftig women, I could never have imagined the sh*t storm that ensued.
 The below photo in particular garnered over 230 comments that ranged from "fatty" and "porn" and "fat is not beautiful. Period." to long, crazy and mean-spirited discussions about obesity, health, anorexia, metabolism, and endless debates over the use of the term "real woman."  I was at once disgusted, fascinated, intrigued and overwhelmed by such passionate responses to (in my opinion) a beautiful size 14-16 woman siting in a peacock chair. I mean seriously.

I pinned these images mostly for the sake of diversity. I believe very much in diversity and that it is diversity itself that is the most beautiful and intriguing. I don't just pin curvy gals, I don't just pin black girls, I don't just pin white girls or skinny gals or girls who look like me. I pin all kinds of ladies--and other stuff--that--for whatever reason, I find to be refreshing and beautiful--inside and/or out.
 
Many of the comments on this photo saddened me because it became so clear to what degree media has created an atmosphere of self-hatred and a trite ideal of beauty.  As I try and work my small corner of the Internet to work against these stereotypes I see how deep in it we all are. I spent a long time debating whether or not to sensor the comments. As the board curator, I have the power to delete comments. And while some of the discussions and comments were so utterly offensive that part of me really wanted to delete--I realized just how much this dialog was necessary--and I left all the comments--the good, bad and ugly--up. I still don't know if I made the right decision.

The top photo is me.  Size 14.  Unphotoshopped--with all of my cellulite and my curves (taken before my pregnancy began). My doctor (thank god) has given me a perfect bill of health. Quite frankly, I like me this way, and so does my fiancé. I am not ashamed by my body.

Could I exercise more? Sure. Could I eat healthier? Absolutely. But shouldn't all of us always be working on ourselves, be it physically, emotionally, spiritually, intellectually or otherwise? I think so.

I also think that while we are all working on ourselves, let's also try and be a little nicer to ourselves--to each other, and to celebrate diversity in all its shapes, sizes and colors, huh?

Linens that are just to dye for

To have both expensive taste and a thrifty mindset can be a blessing and a curse. My favorite linens at the rental warehouse cost close to three bucks a pop to rent and since I need 200 of them, I was looking at around $600 just to rent napkins. I couldn't bring myself to do it. So I spent one afternoon last week hopping around some of my favorite thrift shops and amassed 200+ vintage linens--all different.  Yesterday I had my girls over and we had a little cake tasting and craft night. One of the things we worked on was dying, washing and folding all 200 napkins.  The whole thing cost me about $55 for the napkins and $5 for the dye--saving me a good $540 on napkin costs--and I am giddy with the results. They are all so friggen pretty and I know they will add a personal touch to the reception that, even the very pretty rental linens, would not have added. I can't wait to show you what other little thrifty things I've got up my sleeves!

This little glass house

This Little glass house makes me want to start collecting more discarded windows.
Stephen and Lucy Marr - Hairdressers and Skincare Developers in their glass house - Auckland - Nov 21, 2011 - by the Selby

Da Jungalow is in da Houzz

We have been getting a good amount of jungalove lately-- today, I've gotta give a big THANK YOU to Cathy Lara over at Houzz for featuring a tour on my 'Eclectic Los Angeles Bungalow." Click on over to read the full article where I talk about the jungalow and even share what colors paint I've used and where I found some of my favorite pieces. Happy Friday my friends!

The Tiniest Garden, like ever.

Jason bought me this tiny, tiny garden. It's the tiniest garden ever. Even too tiny for the L'il Boomba to play in. It's also my new favorite thing, like ever. He got it from artist Nicole Ohayon who lives and works out of the Brewery Art Colony in here L.A..

This ^&*# is starting to get real! : The Nursery AKA the Baby Cove 1.0

Instead of calling our little one "it" until we find out the baby's sex, Jason and I have taken to calling him/her 'L'il Boomba.' And as my belly grows and grows, despite being busy with work and wedding plans, I can't help but daydream about the 'Baby Cove'-- the room that was once my Lady Cove which--after the wedding--we will transform into the Baby Cove.  I have not allowed myself to buy a single thing for L'il Boomba yet-- and that has taken a great deal of restraint-- let me tell you. (Although we have started to get a few hand-me-ups from friends who recently had little ones of their own (thanks Joy!)...But as my Little Boomba board starts to fill up on Pinterest--ideas fly around in my mommy mind of ways to surround our little Boomba with beauty, comfort and love as we begin to welcome the Boomba into this world.

And yes--even as my jeans fail to button around my expanding waistline--I'm still tripping out that we're having a baby!

Yellow cotton + leather sandals by Zuzii
Classic Bench With Storage on One Kings Lane Today
Wall-mounted fan
Colossal Dot Curtains from Anthro
Colette Bream - Star and cloud Pillows
Vintage Crib
Chevron Rug from Urban

Smart Art

 

So, I have a friend, Allessandro Guiliano.  We met during fashion week in Paris about a dozen years ago and have been the best of friends ever since.  Ale', like me, is a gypsy.  So, when he hit me up last week from HOng Kong and said he had left New York via India and would be coming through LA  I was not surprised.  Oh, the life of a jet-setting gypsy!  I was however shocked when he arrived and told me his plans.  He travelling to 11 art galleries in 7 countries in 2 weeks for the Damien Hirst Global Spot Challenge!

Ale' is not only a jet-setting gypsy, he is an artist.  He is on this mission as a part of an installation he is creating surrounding this crazy challenge.  Art breeds art.  So, of course- I wanted in!  Above you will find pictures taken by, well, yours truly :) from the show in Beverly Hills I took last week.  Ale' got his stamp- proof of his passage through LA and the Spot show.  All 11 stamps and he will be gifted a special Damien Hirst print.

I have never been particularly fond of Damien Hirst, but those spots .. .  hmmmm . .. While at the exhibit, a group of kindergardners walked in.  I had a flash that I wanted to bring my little misses, so after school the next day I did.  She loved the spots. The guy below, maybe not so much.

And you . . . what's your take on the whole thing? 

                                                          Make LOve, Make Art!

                                                                     XOxo  

Tablescape : Keeping Green

When I say keeping green, I am referring to both the green in my bank account as well as my hopes and plans to not torture mother earth on our wedding day. Some things that are helping me along this journey are: plates that are made from fallen Areca leaves (seriously!), upcycled jars for centerpieces, planted (living) floral arrangements and having a (mostly) vegetarian, local, in-season menu. (How pretty are those Ranunculus!?)

For those of you who are getting all romantic with your lovers tonight, I wish you a lot of hot, fun, silly, butterfly-filled moments. Being in love is f*cking rad, isn't it?

Painted mason jars
Flatware
Plates made from fallen leaves
Blue Ticking Napkins
Burlap roll for runners
Ranunculus Via here
Gelato Artigianale