bloggers we read.

I've been hooked on these blogs almost as much as I've been hooked on Breaking Bad (had to throw that in there) These blogs are witty, inspired, and a seriously great read.

Here are my top blogs of the moment in no particular order:

1.The ManRepeller
-High fashion sometimes isn't so Man-Friendly, but it is beautiful. The woman behind the ManRepeller is seriously entertaining and oh-so witty.

 

2.Mr. Kate-
 A DIY queen/Fashionista/Awesome human. I love her outlook on life, and her posts are always a must-read.

 

3.Peace Love Shea-
 LA born and raised, she has a cool style. I love her editorial style photoshoots

 

4.Spicy Stiletto
She mixes food and fashion...need I say more??

 

5.The Sartorilalist
The photographer captures beautiful street style from places all around the world, inspiring both fashion and travel.

 

6.Cupcakes and Cashmere
Another food/fashion combo blog. But she is definitely not like the rest. Each post is done with such care and intent, it's always a great read.

 

7.dependswhatdayitis
Inspiration blog, is  like a daily post of the best inspiration boards out there. Always kind of random but have a common theme.

8.Honestly... WTF
This one is just great. Love everything about this lifestyle blog, just check it out and you'll see what I mean.

 

 Photo credit to their respective blogs.

XO, Jax



Day-cation thanks to Splash House.

Splash House pool party was one of the best Sunday Day-cations I've had in a long time. What is Splash House, you ask? It's an epic pool party hosted by three different hotels in the retro glam Palm Springs. It was a two day event, I only made it out on Sunday, but looking back I wish I would have stayed the whole weekend.

 

 I ended up going by myself, which made me nervous at first, but once I got there all my nerves floated away. I can not express how much fun I had. I met such great people, danced the night away, and am already planning on going next year.

 

They say a picture is worth a 1,000 words so a video is worth much more. So I'll just let the video do the talking. :)

Music cred: No No No: Pumping Blood

I hope you enjoy my video and I hope you make plans yourself to go out to the desert.

XO, Jax

Day-cation Link

life manual

Wouldn't it be great if we knew how to execute everything we hope to do without help? I constantly find myself wishing for some sort of "Life Manual" but it doesn't exist. The more I experience and learn, I realize that there are so many different ways to get to the same destination in life. In light of that, I have found some really great articles on different sites that have helped me get to where I'm going. 

In no way do I expect this to turn into a manifesto of your life, I just thought I'd share some good reads :)

Confidence, Excellence, and Independence: Business Lessons written by: Lewis Howes.

Jay Z is all about confidence.
Image credit: Medieval Beatz
 

This article was not only well written, but had some great points. These days all you have to do is pop on Pinterest to find some inspiration nuggets, but this article goes beyond the famous quote and actually explains the meaning behind them.  

The Power of "No" written by: Shane Snow

 

Photo credit from Bing
 

The title says it all. I know as 20 somethings especially, we feel like saying no to something means turning down a life changing opportunity. While I do think this is the time to lean in, take chances, and go for the crazy idea; it's also just as important to say no and not over commit yourself. You may be phenomenal at doing something but if you're juggling 9 other things there's no way you can show how awesome you are.

When Social Sharing Goes Wrong written by:Elise Hu

 

 

Photo Credit Glamour Magazine
 

This lesson should be taught in grade school. Social media isn't going away anytime soon, yet people of all ages still don't see that what you post, share, or tweet matters. The internet is written in ink, once it's out there some search engine will find it. While most people aren't going to post threats or bash their boss (that just reckless), it's still important to understand the posting of every single photo of  that wild bachelorette weekend isn't necessary, and it can come back and bite you. 

 

All in all these are all about getting yourself together and showing how great you really are without silly mistakes getting in the way. Good luck out there, and let me know what you think.

XO, Jax

fame

There's a little movie that entered infamy by singing the words "I'm gonna live forever." Fame is arguably the ultimate American Dream. Entertainment is one of America's major grossing exports and even though movies are rarely entirely shot in Hollywood, it's star performers still live forever. Here are some new starlets that I believe to be next to enter infamy and live forever. 

Anne Hathaway

We first saw her as a lovable princess in The Princess Diaries, and most of us thought, lovely another cute actress from Disney. Then, completely changed pace in Rachel Getting Married and Love and Other Drugs. After all that she transforms herself again in Les Miserables, singing gut wrenching ballads leading her to straight to the Oscars. She has throughly proven that not only is she talented but a true chameleon.

Lena Dunham

She has been proclaimed as the voice of a generation. She not only stars in the HBO series GIRLS, she is the driving force behind it. Her complete raw honest writing for the show has taken the series from a Sex and the City look alike to a complete new level. Showing no mercy Lena writes and acts life as it is for 20 somethings in this generation, and for that I believe she is just starting her reign over young Hollywood.

Jennifer Lawerence

She has starred in successful indie film The Winter's Bone, She blew competition out of the water with her blockbuster franchise The Hunger Games, and is co-starring in the breakout hit Silver Linings Playbook. She is changing how people look at actresses because she doesn't seem to fit any mold given to her. She's beautiful AND talented, she's starring in a huge blockbuster AND winning Oscars. She also doesn't seem to care too much about all of the fame. She is now seen as Hollywood royalty, but she still has managed to keep that 'I wish she was my friend' feel.

I, for one, am excited to see Hollywood return attention to talented people rather than fleeting trend setters. Hopefully these women continue to inspire me to keep breaking the mold, because the world needs more individuals and less remakes.

companies worth investing your pretty penny

There are many choices when you buy lovely things, but not all beautiful things are backed by equally beautiful companies. Think of every dollar that you spend as a little investment into the company you're purchasing from. Now, more than ever, it is important to look a little deeper to see what companies stand for. These five companies serve to improve lives of people all over the world through the sales of the amazing products they create.

Alex and Ani

 Alex and Ani is a company that creates one of a kind bracelets and bangles. Their mission statement says that they believe in the power of positive energy through the unique beauty and symbolism of their products. They use recycled and eco-friendly materials, so that their economic footprint is
 the size of a pair of toddler shoes. Their Charity by Design line features charms designed for over twenty different charities including; Stand Up 2 Cancer, African Rainforest Conservatory, and Friends Of Jaclyn. The whole Alex and Ani line is available on their website, in local boutique stores across the country, and at Nordstrom.

Sevenly

Sevenly is a company that teams up with a different charity every seven days to use local artists to create a clothing line. Seven dollars from each product sold is donated to the charity they've teamed up with that particular week. The premise of the company is already pretty intriguing...each weekly design is one of a kind, never sold again. Not only are the t-shirts fashionable, they are functional in helping countless people across the globe. Sevenly has teamed up with many different organizations, often ones that do not receive much press or funding otherwise. Their unique tees are available on their sevenly website.

Tarte Cosmetics

Tarte Cosmetics is not only a personal favorite of mine, but it is also a company worth looking into. Each one of their products from the very start are formulated without parabens, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances. Tarte is also cruelty free, which means their products are not tested on animals. The company is very conscious of the resources they use to create their product, and invests in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and uses recyclable material. On top of their "do good" mentality they keep coming up with even more beautiful packaging. In their latest summer line they team up with synchronized swimming troupe, The Aqualillies, to create beautiful mermaid-esque waterproof make-up. You can find Tarte on their website or in Sephora stores.

Krochet Kids

Krochet Kids started off as a small charitable project working with under privileged countries to train the local people in a marketable skill and, in turn, pay them a fair wage. Since it's beginning, the company has blossomed into a successful business. One of the coolest things about each Krochet Kids product you can see the name of the person who created the product on a small label inside. You can even write them a thank-you note! Handmade beanies and hats are what the company has become famous for, but on their website they also have men's and women's clothing lines. The full selection is available on their website.

Badfish Booty

A company inspired by the sea, Badfish Booty makes jewelry out of shells naturally found in the oceans and bays of Hawaii. With every purchase made they donate their time and energy to local and international charities. Each piece is uniquely designed and hand crafted by members of the company. Their famous 'Booty' ring, featured below, is an easy way to spice up any wardrobe. Pieces can be specifically designed by request on their badfish booty website.

Even though we live in a time where choices are constantly surrounding us, sometimes choosing the right one is a little more difficult. Our hope is that this list inspires you to look a little deeper into the companies we all invest in. These are only five out of the many, continue the search and let us know what you find!

Photo credit to all of the respective websites.

XO, Jax

cleanliness is yumminess

I love being able to buy organic produce whenever possible, however,

sometimes it can break the bank (especially after an accidental

shopping spree...oops). I like doing good by my

body so I do what I can to clean my produce without buying one of those "fruit

& veggie wash" products from the market.

My personal favorite product to clean my produce is lemon essential oil

(side note, using a certified pure theraputic grade essential oil is

crucial since not all essential oils are safe to ingest. I use DoTerra).

Take a large enough bowl to fit your items and fill with water.

Add 5-10 drops of lemon essential oil depending on the size of the bowl.

Swirl around for a few seconds (they won't mix completely)

Let the fruit or vegetables soak for a a few minutes

Then just give them a good rinse with clean water to get any residual lemon

essential oil off and voila!

Another great way is using the same big bowl of water and adding 3-5

tablespoons of baking soda. Then follow the same directions as with the lemon essential oil.

With both methods you'll see your water get nice and dirty which means

your fruits and veggies are clean.

I prefer the essential oil method because I feel like the oil leaves a

little coating on my fruit so it smells good and feels really clean.

However, I use baking soda a lot because I ALWAYS have it on

hand in large quantities and sometimes I don't want my cauliflower to

smell like lemons..although I have to say the lemon flavor on the strawberries is super yummy! Either way is safe for you and both methods work really well.

And there you have it: the easiest and cheapest way to clean your produce!

Naturally,

Abigail

the rest is just minor details ;)

The greatest thing in life is to enjoy it with people you love. In my point of view one of the most important ingredient in making a fabulous afternoon BBQ is the guest list. Even if you mess up the food, over pour the drinks, or any other crazy thing threatens your party, if you have your very best friends there you will surely have a great party. The rest is just minor details ;)

XO, Jax

weekend activity list

As "grown-ups" we no longer get a three month long summer vacation where we enjoy everything under the sun. We have to pay bills, go to work, and make the most of weekends. But with the beautiful weather peeking out behind the clouds there is still a lot of fun to be had. Here's some summer ideas that can fit into everyone's busy schedule.

Close to home concerts

 Unless you've been living under a rock you know what music festivals are. Coachella, Stagecoach, and Lalapalooza are some of the most popular but they are also very expensive and can require more days off of work than some of us can manage. So for a night of live music check out these venues around Southern California.

The Observatory in Santa Ana

House of Blues in Anaheim

The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles

Camping Adventures

Reconnecting with nature is one of the best and easiest ways to relax and unplug. Whether you're "glamping" or roughing it make sure to check out these areas.

Doheny State Beach Campground

Kirk Creek Campground in Big Sur

Silver Strand Campground

Photo Credit: Martha Alejandre

Act like a kid

There are plenty of reasons to spark your inner child and have a ball. Boomers they have adventures that would make Barney Stinson say "AW....wait for it....SOME" Pole Position Raceway is a high speed go karting experience for every age. 

Boomers

Cosmic Bowling

Pole Position Raceway

These are just some silly suggestions to get you out of the average box. I guarantee that these adventures will result in some sort of story to tell all your 'not so awesome' friends ;)

XO, Jax