The Black Duck

I'm obsessed with Oaxacan black pottery.

The other day, my toddler threw my Oaxacan black duck pottery I found at a thrift shop on the ground and it found its final resting place in the trash. That duck had a lot of personality and it always put a smile on my face. I had a bad feeling I wouldn't find another like it.

As I searched for a replacement, I came across one that looked similar... as well as other Oaxacan made goods that I'm obsessing about.

Photo by frankenschlz

Casa Santiago

We Love Our UPS Man

He brings us goodies! Tonight my kids got a special care package from Native Shoes. My kids are crazy about them. They are easy to slip on and cuter than crocs. Perfect summer shoes since they can get wet. That reminds me that summer is almost over! How did that happen?

Working It Out

As if we can squeeze anything more into our busy days...
After having two kids, I still have a closet full of clothes I hold onto in hopes the twenty...er...fifteen pounds of post pregnancy weight will one day disappear. It's been a few years and it hasn't budged.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Sometimes you need a little... actually... BIG push in the right direction. Check out my amazing trainer who is going to transform me.

This is Sasha's before and after. She said she has topped 175lbs.  Hard to believe when you see what she looks like now.  Check her out: http://www.sashabrownpt.com/

Date Day at the Flea Market

One thing I really miss doing before kids is browsing. Now, I'm on a constant clock. I may be quickly looking things over...but it's not quite as luxurious as browsing.

Recently, my husband and I decided to do a "date day" instead of our usual "date night." We wanted to do what we once liked doing as a couple sans kids. With a sitter scheduled for 7AM, we grabbed coffee and spent our time browsing the Rosebowl Flea Market for Midcentury furniture, Art, Jewelry, and Knick Knacks...

It was a nice date. I highly recommend it. We walked away with a lot of inspiration, a potted plant, a few pieces of vintage jewelry & watches. We also almost scored a patio table and a piece of art if we had the means of lugging it back home.

I would love to collect vintage suitcases and trunk. Stack them like this. Fill them up with mementos I keep around. Decorative and functional. 

Piles and piles of fashion jewelry

Amazing rich colors

Old railroad nails. I want them for some reason.

I love old glass bottles and containers. 

Love Notes

My daughter leaves me little drawings or notes everywhere around the house. I'll find some taped to the walls in my bedroom, in her room and in the kitchen. I think she's caught the bug from seeing me sketch in my notebooks.

I often open my notebook to find that every few pages, she's written or drawn her own inspirations. It's always a surprise and makes me reflect on how even a four year old has so many ideas and thoughts moving around in their head. I'll call her over and ask her to explain what she's drawn or written and sometimes her elaborate stories are far more interesting than what's on paper. It's so beautiful because it comes from such a pure place.

Imagination is key to staying youthful. I think as we get older, our knowledge of life and its complications can wear down our ability to imagine.

Her self portrait. It makes me extremely happy that she has a big exaggerated smile on her face.

Bieber Fever

So, what's the deal with the Bieber fever and how do we cure it? It's a real thing. My son has got it bad and he's only 21 months old. He starts screaming and pointing to our ipod station. "Baby, Awww, Baby!!!" every single day for the last few weeks.

If we don't hop to it right away and play him the "Baby" song, he's screaming like he's in dire pain. Also, it has to be on repeat at least ten times. The sickness usually rears its head anytime from 3PM until 6PM. It was cute at first, but now it's borderline freaky.

I do have a favorite verse though maybe because I was once wooed with a ring and it worked!
"For you, I would have done whatever
And I just can't believe we ain't together
And I wanna play it cool, but I'm losin' you
I'll buy you anything, I'll buy you any ring..."


I leave you with this video:

Eye of the Day

My friend, Italia every once in awhile posts the "Eye of the Day" on her blog. I'm totally into it, since I love to see her creations and I love makeup.

All you get is one eye. That's all she lets on. So you're left to fill in the blanks. It's a tease for me because I want to see the full package. The other eye, the lips, the face and the outfit that goes along with it. Maybe that's the point. Genius.

Here is one that she created for me using my favorite color palette of right now. Navy, Yellow, Coral and Rose Gold.

The Glow

Wow, I came across this blog, The Glow today and was blown away. It's so beautiful and adoringly sweet. Love what it's about. Love the name. Love the moms featured. I'm a huge fan for beautiful photography and getting a sneak peek into people's lives. In this case the lives of inspiring moms.

"The Glow is a glimpse into the world of inspiring and fashionable moms. Here you’ll find their styling ideas, go-to gear, multitasking secrets, and enviable decor."

Love

I'm just so excited about the colors and prints that I've been seeing. Love the menswear inspired looks. Casual, simple, flowy, but with some structural accents. I'm obsessed!

Love the colors. Easy breezy.
(via Hanneli)

Balmain 2012

Marc Jacobs on top and Missoni on bottom

Something about Coral Red. When I see it. I lust for it.
(via Hanneli)

Gold Wins

Gold prices have skyrocketed. Over $1700 an ounce. I weighed a bangle of mine and it was close to an ounce. Gold has now reached the same price per ounce as Platinum! Wow.

With these prices, jewelry trends have been and will increasingly be heading towards more creative metals and materials. Hold onto your gold.

Came across a photo of John and Yoko while surfing the web. Love this one. I couldn't tell you how I got here or there, but I can tell you where I began...

Started looking at resort wear 2012. Picking out some looks I'm into these days...

Stella McCartney (love all white)

Erdem (Floral print and red pants so great)

Stella McCartney (Blazer, cropped pants and pop of color. My favorite!)

Stella McCartney

then I think I came across a photo of Yoko wearing a menswear outfit... since menswear is so hot right now.

Funny how one thing leads you to another? Before you know it, you're on a whole different path and you just keep going because you don't know where it's going to take you.

All we are saying, is give peace a chance

Girl's Night Out

It's always nice to have a night out without the family every once in awhile. Don't get me wrong. Love them to death, but sometimes mom's need a recharge. We need to talk about "girl" stuff with our girlfriends. Discuss topics in detail without being cut short. Put on a little makeup, style our hair and pick out the outfit that has been reserved for a special occasion. Go to a non-kid friendly restaurant and order off a non-kid menu. Chew slowly and prolonging your usual quickie dinner to a four hour one with a happy ending dessert.

I had one of these night tonight and I thank my girlfriends for always being there when I need that recharge. Surrounding yourself with good people = happy life.

Blah, Blah, Blogging

So my new favorite pastime is following blogs. My Us Weekly(s) have been stacking up as I now find every opportunity to get to my laptop to read new entries. It all started when my friend one night suggested that I read this blog, Into the Gloss since I'm so obsessed with beauty products.

As soon as I got home, I took off my shoes and committed myself to hours of Into the Gloss and into the night. Since then, I've been following so many blogs and have now been blogging much to my husband's dismay (he has a lot to compete with these days)!

Today, I found a couple of interesting entries pertaining to jewelry on Into the Gloss, Love Adorned

Monday Night Special

I look forward to Monday nights! After running around with my kids. Dropping one off here and taking the other one there. Napping one before picking up the other. Taking calls and texts. Following up on emails and scheduling appointments in between. I get dinner ready, feed the kids and wait anxiously for "dad" to come home so that I can drive forty minutes away to my metalsmithing class.

It a place I can go for a few hours and not worry about this or that. I can just enjoy being a student surrounded by my peers. My happy place where I learn new techniques and come in contact with hot flames and heavy/sharp tools. So fun.

This week I spent most of my time ceremoniously banging a bracelet into a c-shape and flattening the arms. Listening to the hammer hit metal around an anvil was surprisingly meditative.

Here is what you learn in jewelry making:
--However patient you think you are, you can always be more.
--Anything handmade isn't perfect. Embrace the flaws.
--Sometimes your designs can evolve on the spot and you just go with it because it feels right.

Bottom line, if you put your heart and soul into anything (adding a little blood, sweat and tears along the way), you'll end up with something spectacular.

The teacher's workspace. A whole lot of things going on. 

Did you know that even the simplest design can require many many tools?

Oh, Audrey

We named our daughter after one of the most iconic, graceful, noble beauties of all times. Audrey. Audrey Hepburn was a favorite of mine when I was young and into watching old Hollywood films with my dad. Something about her poise and femininity was awe inspiring.

Here are some photos of Audrey throughout her years. She was classy, subtle, very beautiful and multi-faceted. She also maintained this grace throughout her life. Kinda like the aesthetics I'm attracted to. Classic, subtle pieces that hold the test of time.

Oh Audrey J, one day when you're much older, we'll watch Audrey Hepburn movies together and read about the woman you were named after.

Splendor in the Grass

Have you seen the movie classic, Splendor in the Grass with Nathalie Wood and Warren Beatty? It's an amazing film with phenomenal acting. Nathalie Wood is just so breathtaking. Here are some photos of her in case you don't know who I'm speaking of.

I was really young when I first saw Splendor in the Grass with my parents. I remember crying so much in the end. I didn't fully grasp what was going on, but I felt the pain of wanting a fairy tale ending that never came. I watched it again in my 20's and I felt the pain of two people in love who could never be. The poem Nathalie Wood recited in the end got me every time.

Now, I watch it and the pain isn't as severe. The poem puts everything in perspective and is so relative to the phase of life you are in. It's completely morbid but so true about how painful growing up really is. Your experiences can never be taken from you, but what was once had...will never be.

I wish for my children a magical childhood. With all it's glories. Although I wish to protect them...always, I know that will be impossible. So, whatever pain they may come across, I hope will quickly be forgotten. I wish for them to have the strength to take on all the good and the ugly and by these experiences, be shaped into amazing people.


What though the radiance
Which was once so bright
Be now for ever taken from my sight,
Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendor in the grass, 
of glory in the flower,
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind; 
In the primal sympathy
Which having been must ever be;
In the soothing thoughts that spring
Out of human suffering;
In the faith that looks through death, 
In years that bring the philosophic mind.


<Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood>
--William Wordsworth

Love Conquers All

I really wanted to use this name for my blog site, but of course someone has already claimed it. It's a beautiful phrase and people who live by these words are true romantics. In times of struggle, may it be internal or external all I need to do is call up my mom, or partner, or a friend, or get an enveloping hug from my kids and all is washed away. To me, as the Beatles once sang, "Love is all you need..."

When developing my jewelry line, Soyoung, which is still a work in progress, I look to these three words to inspire me and to translate them to my designs ("Love Conquers All"). You'll see what I'm talking about when you see its debut.

Though the obstacles of Gold/Silver and material prices rise everyday and causes an hinderance for most fine jewelers. It just goes to show you what an investment fine jewelry can be.

You've seen the "Cash for Gold" signs everywhere. The demand is insatiable. Does that I mean that I am going to run with my old, gold, out-of-fashion jewelry to the nearest Gold broker? I don't think so. I am a romantic in many ways and hold great emotional attachment to my jewelry. Even the gaudy 80's stuff holds a place in my heart. 

However, I am Korean and my mother has told me on more than one occasion that traditional 24kt tiny rings and bracelets received on my first birthday ("Dol", is the Korean 1st year celebration), and my children's could be melted down in the future if we faced any financial hardships. These gifts are not meant to be worn but to be kept as a keepsake. I think many cultures view gold jewerly as currency.

Here is my 4 year old showing off her baby jewelry. Koreans gift children with 24kt etched rings and usually bell bracelets for their 1st year birthday.  I am told bells are symbolic of warding off evil and protecting baby.  The gold rings are symbols of luck and fortune.

I know a woman who wears this gorgeous antique diamond brooch turned into a necklace that is from the Holocaust era. When she was leaving to come to the United States from Israel, with very little money in her pocket, her mother said, "take this and if you ever need money sell it". 37 years later, this woman is a very successful and is very proud that she never had to sell the heirloom. What wonderful symbolism of her success.