May
04

Locks of Love…

By Samantha. No Comments »

 

My hair before the big chop for Locks of Love

 

I am on a Spring Cleaning kick that I am trying to extend to all facets of my life.  It is not happening overnight but Spring is here until Summer Solstice on June 21st!  This week, amongst other projects, I decided that I was ready to do something different with my look.  I was planning on a short bob at the chin, but then realized that going a little shorter would allow me to make a donation to Locks of Love.  

 

As a cancer survivor myself, I got very excited about the impact a few more inches could make on someone’s day-to-day life while battling cancer.  So, I headed into my hair stylist, told her the plan and walked out with a new hairdo and a 12-inch braid in a bag!  I will be shipping off my snipped locks to Locks of Love this coming week.  I feel lighter and excited about the new look, but more importantly I am thrilled to think of the ripple effect of this decision.

May
01

A Lovely Saturday Morning Gift to Myself

By Samantha. No Comments »

 

A moment of peace in the garden

I did something on Saturday morning that I rarely do. I took an hour for myself and actually just relaxed.  I, like all of us, am constantly running from one thing to the next without much time to recharge.  When I do find myself with free moments without work or other commitments, I usually feel compelled to pay the bills, organize my office or do laundry.  I have been feeling lately that the pace dictated by my to do list does not leave any space for reflection, rest or creativity.

So, Saturday, when faced with a small window of “me” time, I opted to take my coffee outside, rip open the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty book from last year’s Met exhibit (that has been sitting unopened on my desk since then) and casually read in the sun.  It was probably no more than an hour, but the benefits have been lasting.  It was incredible and felt like a precious gift to myself.  I have felt a new surge of creativity brewing. And, somehow, contrary to my normal belief, everything else that had to get done did.  The rest is still sitting on my to do list, waiting for its turn to take center stage.

 

Apr
26

A Saturday Afternoon Twist on Carrot Bread

By Samantha. No Comments »

"Hugging" Carrots from the Santa Barbara Farmer's Market

A few weekends ago, my daughter and I bought some delicious carrots at our farmer’s market.  It ended up being a cold and rainy Saturday afternoon so we used some of them to make our own little twist on Mark Bittman’s Carrot Bread recipe in How to Cook Everything.  Here is our variation below.  It was the perfect Spring treat. Enjoy!

The final result---delicious carrot bread

 

Carrot Bread (adapted from Mark Bittman’s How to Cook Everything)

Makes 1 loaf (or ring in our case)

Time: 1 1/2 hours

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose whole wheat flour

1 cup stone ground wheat flour

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) melted butter plus more to grease the pan

1 1/4 cups milk

1 cup peeled and grated carrots

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Farenheit.

2. Combine all the dry ingredients. Beat the eggs with the butter and milk. Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the wet ingredients into it, along with the carrots.  Using a large spoon or rubber spatula, combine the ingredients swiftly, stirring and folding rather than beating, and stopping as soon as all the dry ingredients are moistened.  The batter should be lumpy, not smooth.

3. Pour into the prepared loaf (or ring) pan and bake about an hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out dry. Cool on a rack for at least 10 minutes before removing from pan.

ENJOY!

Apr
24

My First Coachella Experience: A Report Back from the Hot Desert

By Samantha. No Comments »

 

Coachella Day 1: LemLem Dress, Adesso Jewelry (Awendela Turqouise Necklace and Chumana Bracelets on me, Koko Wrap Bracelet/Necklace in Black on Tara Miko), J.Crew Hats and Paige Denim Cut-offs---ready for the heat!

I am back from a very fun and HOT (over 100+ degrees every day) weekend at the Coachella Music Festival. I went to volunteer at the Full of Life Flatbread booth, promote Adesso and Happy Hemp and, of course, to hear some great music.  All of those objectives were happily achieved!

The Coachella Music Festival is two parts music, one part fashion expo and one part grand meet and greet  for all types from all over the world. I really enjoyed meeting and talking to people from all over the world while working at the booth and wandering around the festival.

Lovely Anna Lundberg from Sweden (via NYC!) sported the Awendela Turquoise Necklace and flowy dresses and sneakers throughout the festival.

 

A layered look with the Ginevra Single Strand Necklace in Light Orange.

 

Professional Surfer Rob Machado came to eat Flatbread multiple times throughout the weekend! Thanks, Rob!

 

Some Adesso bracelets from Fall 2011 were spotted at the Coachella festival in the VIP area.

 

One of my favorite bands from growing up, Madness, put on an amazing show!

 

My Coachella staples: Mikoh Swimwear, Adesso Jewelry and VivaPops popsicles.

 

When it cooled down, the desert nights were beautiful.

 

Tara Miko and I enjoy our last night at Coachella (I am wearing the Taini necklace and Amitola Wood Bead Necklace #1)

 

My wardrobe essentials were made up of Mikoh Swimwear bikinis and cover-up, a cool LemLem cotton Helina dress, my Isabel Marant sneakers to stay comfortable while on my feet for 16 hours a day and, of course, my favorite pieces from the Adesso Totem collection! My favorite music shows: Kaskade, Bon Iver, Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre, St. Vincent (her curly hair reminds me of my daughter’s and is so fantastic…) and Santigold (her backup dancers were amazing!).  My favorite eats: VivaPops organic popsicles, CoolHaus Ice Cream Sandwiches, the Happy Hemp seed and mushroom Full of Life Flatbread and the Kogi Korean BBQ food truck.

It was a wonderful (though somewhat exhausting) time! However, I am very happy to be home and getting back into the swing of my (somewhat) calmer life! Have a great week!

 

Apr
18

Happy Outlook. Happy Hemp. Happy Tara Miko.

By Samantha. 1 Comment »

Tara Miko Grayless of Happy Hemp

I have had the great fortune to welcome Tara Miko Grayless, founder of Happy Hemp and Director of Sales for Adesso, into my life in the last year. Tara Miko is an amazing business woman, has a great spirit and loves to make people laugh! In 2010, she founded Happy Hemp after 10 years in the LA fashion industry and moved to Austin, Texas to try out a different pace of life. Since then, Happy Hemp has flourished and she has become part of the Adesso team as well. I personally am addicted to her Happy Hemp product and use the raw, vegan seeds on my morning oatmeal, salads and pasta. If you will be at Coachella this weekend, come meet Tara Miko and I in the VIP section with Full of Life Flatbread and taste the Happy Hemp Seed and Mushroom Flatbread on the menu!

Happy Hemp Seed & 'Shrooms Flatbread Pizza At Coachella

Check out our Q&A with Tara Miko below and check out her incredible Happy Hemp website as well!

Fill in the Blank

Name: Tara Miko Grayless

Location: Austin, Texas

Tara Miko's new hometown of Austin, Texas

Astrological Sign: Aquarius

Style icon: Georgia O’Keeffe. Her art inspirers my dress. Her layer of colors. Her rich use of texture. Her mesmerizing landscapes.

Georgia O'Keeffe

Doppelganger: Catherine Zeta Jones

Dream Destination: Africa. I have always dreamt of a going on a safari.

Most Treasured Possession: My great grandmother’s worry stone. She passed away with it in her hand. I love the magic, knowlegde and wisdom the little rock holds.

How would you describe your style in 5 words or less? Ethnic edge/twist of rocker.

Pets: Three: Oliver, Golden Retriever; Moka, Mutt and Marley, mi gata.

Tara Miko wearing her favorite Adesso piece from the Totem Collection, the Misae Necklace

Favorites

Magazine: Vanity Fair

Adesso Piece: Misae Necklace (available at Taigan.com) from the Totem Collection (shown on Tara Miko above)

Color: Turquoise

Scent: Gardenia

Designer: Ralph Lauren. I love his rustic, Native American approach.

Piece of clothing: Jean Jacket!!

Locale: Santa Fe, New Mexico

Recipe: Chilies Nogada when my mother makes it. Something about her cooking them, makes it better!

Questions

If you could have one super power what would it be? To breathe under water. I am fascinated by the sea. I want to be a mermaid.

Which accessory do you never leave home without? My Indian scarf. I wear this black and white Indian print scarf with pretty much every outfit. It is my go to for a complete look and an unexpected fashion twist.

Any tips for our readers on how to incorporate wellness into a busy lifestyle? Breath. We mindlessly inhale and exhale all day. To stop and take a deep breath before driving, a meeting, eating. Creates awareness and calmness in the body. Founding Happy Hemp led to a complete lifestyle change for me. Everything clicked and my mind, body and soul all synced up and are now working together. I am happy now in the moment and founding my company has helped me achieve this. Happy Hemp provides so many health benefits, ranging from aiding indigestion, insomnia, weight control and overall well-being. I love doing something that I believe in wholeheartedly.

Happy Hemp Packages (delicious raw, vegan hemp seeds that make everything taste better and have infinite health benefits!)

What words or phrases do you most overuse? Usually they are 4 letters.

What quality do you most admire about a person? I admire people who survive but are not victims. It is a real test of a person to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep moving forward. I love to be around people who chose to live!

What was the best advice you were ever given? Get out of your own way…

Another beautiful view of Austin, Texas

What 5 places are a “must visit” in your hood + why?

I am newbie Austin resident and have found several “must visits” in my time so far!

Must Eat: La Condessa

Must Do: Town Lake. Kayaking is the latest adventure.

Must Drink: Bar Illegal. Ummm mezcal.

Must Listen: ACL!!! (The Austin City Limits Music Festival)

Must Experience: Keep Austin Weird. Just drive around you can’t miss it.

This or That

Silver or Gold: Gold

Morning or Night: Morning

LA or NY: LA in the morning. NY at night.

Heels or flats: HEELS!!!!

Thanks, Tara Miko!

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