LA Lady

{Reese enjoying the busy hustle of the city}

 

I spent most of my young adult life living/working in downtown LA. I went to college there, called it home for three years and even after we moved away to start our family, I commuted daily (in the most ridiculous, devil traffic)

I like to find any excuse to drive down, to work or explore.. I avoid the traffic of course by waiting until after rush hour to head down and leave by no later than 2pm.

{Restaurant across from the Cal Mart where I work(ed)}

I had to go down today for work, needless to say I spend about an two hours in the office and then got to go out and wander around with Reese for a bit (30 whole minutes) before the tantrums started and we had to make our way back to the car.

 {Metal STOP sign}

 {The Falls}

I've always loved this door! I want to make one similar to this one day.

I'm a sucker for detailing. You can often see this in the way I dress, I keep everything very simple except for the details, accessories. 

{Main Street Shops}

 

{The Last Bookstore}

Of course I had to make a pit stop to The Last Bookstore... I would trek down everyday after work, even while hugely pregnant, and carry a purse full of books home.

{BOOKS!}

I think Reese and I may make another trip down to Olvera Street sometime within the next couple of weeks, once it cools down...

Have a wonderful weekend!! We will be spending ours with family and celebrating the best man on earth's Birthday, Happy Birthday Mr!!

xoxo

Doll Face

I hope this Thursday finds you well!! It finds me sleepy...

And on that note, I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've gone out and had people ask me what mascara or lipstick, perfume etc. that I use. 

I am extremely minimal when it comes to making myself up. I do not like looking like a clown and I do not have the time to take 40 minutes on my appearance, unless I want to hear a screaming baby as background noise for the entire 40 minutes... not fun at all and I'll probably end up looking like a clown anyway from the stress of trying to hurry up.

It literally takes me five minutes to do my make up and I wouldn't have it any other way. I'd rather spend all my time playing with my little terror anyhow even if my appearance does suffer.

I pulled together the BEST products that work for me every single day. 

 {Garnier B.B. Cream}

Up until I found this product I was spending $30 on Benefits 'That Gal' face primer, I will never go back... I also am not the best at making sure to moisturize every day, put sunscreen on blah, blah.. I'll probably look like a leather couch when I'm 50... yikes!! Anyhow, this does it all for me! Not only that, I went through a bad skin phase late in the game (at 22!) and I still have scars that are fading away, these cover everything up without using more than 5 dabs, one on the forehead, cheeks, chin, nose, done!

{Clinique 'Stay Matte' pressed powder}

I take a big feather brush and bypass the application sponge that they give you and just sweep a tiny amount to get rid of excess shine.

{MAC creme blush in Posey}

I love this so much, it gives me a natural looking glow when I apply a tiny amount to the "apples" of my cheeks. 

Reese also loves this, today he decided to stick his fingers in it and smear it all over my leg, his jammies and the floor when I turned my head for one second to find my brush.

 {Covergirl Lash Blast Mascara}

NO CLUMPS!! I get ridiculous comments on my eyelashes.. stopped all over the place with women (sometimes even men) asking if they are real... I'm pretty sure they are talking about my eyelashes.. ha

Yes, they are real. No, I do not use false eyelashes, never have.

 {Rogue Coco Lipstick}

Yes, it is expensive, but if you're going to wear lipstick you better be willing to pay top notch for it! This is moisturizing and looks amazing on!

{Coco Mademoiselle perfume}

Don't waste your money on Eau de Toilettes.. two things that I make sure to never go cheap on are lipstick and perfume. You won't regret it! One spray is all you need and it will last all day.. even longer if you're like me and wear the same pants more than once... (don't judge!!)

 As you can see my make up stays on well through the day and night. Even after wrestling a small child and being out most of the day, in the ridiculous heat.

(This was taken at 10pm yesterday night and yes, I could use some powder on my shiny five head.)

 xoxo

Iron Chef

   {Fresh Asparagus}

I am by no means a great cook..however, I do enjoy eating and eating well.

Ever since I found out I was pregnant with my little boy I made sure that we have the best of everything from top notch veggies, meat etc. I also breastfeed which is another reason I like to eat well and besides that, fast food grosses me out now... I think its knowing that everything I eat is still getting filtered down and fed to my son.

                                  

 {Baked chicken with fresh cracked pepper, cayenne pepper, sea salt and olive oil, hummus, organic brown rice and fresh asparagus}

This is quick, easy and healthy enough to slam back before the baby wakes up and it will also be Reese' dinner tomorrow night (pureed and frozen in cubes to be pulled out during feeding time) He's an adventurous eater as long as it isn't fruit. The boy cannot stand sweets.

{New White Roses and Eucalyptus}

I hit Trader Joe's today and couldn't resist picking up these pretty things.

{The Best Ice Cream Bars}

The thing that I can NOT and will NEVER give up is ice cream in any form, shape, size...

Don't mind said chocolate ice cream bars smeared all over my face below...

{New fall flannel-Willow and Clay}

Reese and I also picked up some new threads

{New Oshkosh jeans}

He still prefers to be in a diaper.

 {New earrings that will be coming soon to the shop}

Have a wonderful Wednesday!!

Closet Makeover- Fall Edition

{Statement Glass Necklace}

 Those that know me know that Fall is my favorite season of all time.

I love pushing my summer clothes to the side and bringing in heavy sweaters, boots, chunky colorful statement necklaces, and wash it all down with a cup of pumpkin spice coffee.

{Longitude Sails Boatneck}

 

{Mahogany Wood Boots}

 {Embellished Tank}

 I also think it's the perfect excuse to add to my ridiculous striped 3/4 sleeve shirt/sweater collection... 

You can also see my stripe obsession creeping into my sons wardrobe... poor kid.

 {Basketweave Halter Dress}

 {Wrapped Boucle Sweater}

 {Fitted Chambray Buttondown}

You'll see my wearing this exact chambray shirt all fall long! 

{Spotlights Velvet Belt}

{1969 Real Straight Trouser Jeans}

{Suede Pumps}

Around Here

{Perfume bottle and other trinkets on top of mirrored vanity tray}

 

I've steadily been growing my vintage and antique home accessory collection over the past couple of years.

 I like to give myself a budget weekly which I will not disclose, and I also make a list of the things that are missing from my collection so I don't come home with 10 vases when I already have a collection.

I also am very lucky that Kye's dad is an antique dealer and gives us first pick of all items that we (AKA, I) can't live without.

I'm excited to share with you all my favorite pieces along with things that I've been up to.

 

{my favorite piece of furniture an antique book case from the 1900's}

We still need to add handles... took us a while to find suitable ones. All items on top are vintage treasure with the exception of the candles and flowers of course

{Vintage box and found wood}

{Vintage elephant vase sitting on top of my desk}

Also, my current reads 'Vogue' September Issue, 'Cupcakes and Cashmere' by Emily Schuman, Parenting magazine (of course!) and my black leather journal that I scribble notes and ideas in.

{New bouquet of fresh flowers in vintage hand painted butterfly vase}

{Fresh dried and tied lavender bouquet}

New Listings!!

My shop has been updated!

I'm constantly adding new items everyday and as quickly as my little hands will make stuff ;)

 

 

You can take a look at my shop here:

Gypsydenbynicole

Love, Nicole

Mother's Day

So this year, I get to celebrate my very first Mother's Day! My son is turning 4 months old on May 17th and he keeps growing like a weed! I'm in awe at how quickly he is learning to play, love, share, laugh.
It really does just feel like yesterday that his Dad and I were in the hospital waiting patiently.... (well not so patiently) for this little boy to come into our lives and make us a family.
And on that note, before I get too teary eyed ;) I pulled together a couple of items that I think would be a home run for a Momma such as myself.

Jar Tumbler with Chalk Center $13

Poppy and Pearl Co

Book: My Life and Times By: Henry Miller $25

Decortiques

 

Earrings: Amethyst Wire Wrapped $34

Adriana Soto 

Tee: Sonic Youth -Goo ;) $20

Positively Wildes 

 

Poster: Chanel No5 $76.34

Emma Kisstina 

Ring: Vintage 120 Carat Old European Cut $10,000

Erstwhile Jewelry 

 Earrings: Vintage Hoop with Sea glass daggers $23

Gypsydenbynicole

Sailing Ship Paper Mache' for my son's room $168

Liliputloft

Tea/Coffee Pot $63

Coucoumadame

 

Sunglasses: Wooden Heart Shaped $75

Tumbleweeds 

 Bag: Brown leather, big enough to fit all baby gear $160

Sidneyandsons

Love, Nicole