In which I cradle Steven Tyler's Yorkie...wait...that didn't come out right......

Vegas was increadible. Well, not Vegas itself, but the trip. Vegas met all my expectations:

Ugly carpet, a thick smell of cheap cologne in the casino (we stayed at the MGMGrand), over

priced goods (and by "goods" I mean "bads" like embellished denim and brightly colored high fructose infused alcoholic beverages) and people clinking their glasses together and yelling, "Vegas BAABAY" or "ONLY IN VEGAS." Annoying.

On the bright side, I got to occupy the same small room as a bunch of badass pop stars and musicians. Gwen Stefani and the rest of No Doubt, Mary J. Blige, Greenday... and finally Steven Tyler. 

I never imagined I would end up in the Aerosmith dressing room playing with Steven Tyler's 1.5 pound Yorkie, but that's where I found myself on the second night of the Iheartradio Music Festival.

I'll share the abridged version. I'm sitting in the press room backstage, minding my own damn business when I notice Joe Perry enter. So I says to myself, I says, "Holy shite. Steven Tyler is about to round the corner. This is going to be surreal. And I'm totally gonna attempt to make eye contact with him." I immediately regretted that last bright idea, cause I did catch his eye, but then it didn't stop. That dude fuckin' stared me down whilst ignoring his publicist's request to step in the opposite direction and smile for the camera. He walked right up to me, stopped, put his arm around the back of my chair, smiled and asked, "How you doin?" 

At this point my face was burning with embarrassment. A room full of people were staring at him wondering where he was wandering off to, and therefore staring at me. I would like to pretend that I said something hilarious and charmingly clever, but I just croaked out. "Well... thanks."

He was ushered back to the spot he was supposed to be and I looked at Jonathan. Who was oddly beaming with pride that Steven Tyler had decided to hit in his wife. It's not that Steven Tyler is particularly attractive to me. In fact, he is older than my father. It's just that he's an American sex symbol, and I've got an immense amount of respect for the man, his career.... and his fashion sense. 

Minutes later, we ran into him in the hall... I took the opportunity to ask for a photo. He asked what my story was. I told him I was a pet photographer, slipped my business card in his pocket and sauntered off. Moments later I received a text from his assistant asking if I could come to his dressing room and snap some photos of his dog, who travels with him. 

Many of you might not know that Celebrity Pet Photographer is at the top of my list of dream jobs.

So there I found myself. Amongst all the scarves and sunglasses and low rise bellbottoms. On the floor with Butch, his Yorkie.... who was sleeping comfortably in his purple play pen snuggled next to a stuffed T-Rex. Sadly I didn't have my camera (IDIOT), so I did the best I could with my iPhone, got his assistant's info in the hopes to set something up in LA, sat there and looked pretty for about 25 minutes (that's what you're supposed to do, right?) and left with a hug and a kiss on the cheek. 

Jonathan was happy to see that I made it back from the Aerosmith dressing room in one piece. 

So that's my exciting "Vegas" story. I played the slots that night and won 100 dollars.

Indian Summer

As I scroll down in Instagram I see all my Texas friends' pics of the lovely, overcast, cool, fall weather. However much I would love to bust out my sweaters and boots and drink some sort of seasonal latte...we here in California are experiencing somewhat of an Indian Summer. Apparently in LA, the cooler weather doesn't start happening until mid October. So, I guess I'll still be sporting nautical stripes and shorter skirts for a wee bit longer. This seashell belt was a thrift store find. One of those ones that you lay your eyes on, and immediately drop to your knees and thank the second-hand shopping Gods. Anything that has anything to do with the beach or ocean I LOVE. Even the cheesy stuff, like seashell/macramé decor that can be found in any dirty little shell shack. (Oh, I just thought of one exception: Puka shell necklaces. Those irritate me).

The hand gesture in the first photo is me attempting to push my hair back... I'm not vogueing or anything... You wouldn't judge me if I were would you?????

Nautical Stripe top: F21 (similar), Wedges: Dolce Vita, Skirt and Belt: Thrifted, Bag: Vintage Coach, Pelican Earrings: Found at a shell shack in St. Augustine, Glasses: Benson&Ashley

Thrift Shop

This song was shared with me by a friend who knows me well. 

Hope it makes your day like it did mine!

Amalgamation Nation

This look gives me a lady boner. Mostly because I feel like it honors the thing that has somehow evolved to become "my style". Sometimes when I'm putting something together, or even after I've left the house I don't feel like me. I might feel dainty, cute, rock n' roll, boyish or the like....but not like me. It might be a good idea to take a break from pinterest, or even from looking at other style blogs. It inevitably influences you. It's like you get this image stuck in your head of fucking Erin Wasson standing on the street in NY being all skinny, edgy and annoyingly perfect and bad ass, and you try to achieve a similar look, but it doesn't quite pan out. Whhhyyyyyyy???

When you have such a focused goal in dressing, it's easy to get distracted from what's important about it: expressing yourself. Instead of having fun you're trying to achieve some kind of "look" that's not you....that's why you end up in an irritable mood with a floor full of clothing. Usually you're left feeling awkward. Not to say that you shouldn't look around you to be inspired..you should! Be inspired by someone's bravery or boldness with color or the way they look totally sleek and put together...and leave it there. Avoid judging yourself or trying to place upon yourself some sort of expectation

.....of yourself. (By "you" I mean the "royal you", and by the "royal you" I mean "me" mostly).

If someone asked me to describe my style, one word that would come to mind is "amalgamation" .... When ever I go for anything too specific I feel like a fraud. So I suppose at my best, I go for everything. This outfit, for example, is what would happen if Betty Draper, Mama Cass, Ralph Lauren and a street punk had a baby. 

Please note the Beehive. This newly discovered hairdo (for me) took less than 5 minutes, and is my most recent favorite thing. How-to coming soon!

Catalina Initiation

The significance of our trip to Catalina Island this past weekend is something that took me a minute to figure out. I was so absorbingly happy from the moment I set foot on the island. For obvious reasons of course (clear water, friends, sunshine, booze, more importantly: breakfast sandwiches, etc...), but there was something felt in me that was more significant than "happy" or "relaxed". Maybe it was that I would never do anything like decide to hop on a ferry and take a weekend trip to an island and sleep on a sail boat under the stars in Texas. And not just because there's not an ocean in Texas, but because I never really did anything spontaneous back home. 

Or maybe it was because I've struggled with anxiety (the levels of which have ebb and flowed) since I was 17, and went into this situation knowing I would not be in control. I would be on an island. I would be on someone else's sail boat rocking in the ocean.  (What if the I get sea sick..how embarrassing?! What if I feel trapped in the middle of the night and can't get away?!? What if I have to poop?!?!?) Perhaps this seems stupid, but sometimes I even have issues riding in other people's vehicles because some fucked up part of my brain is so terrified at the fact that I am not in anyway in control. 

Me on therapists couch: Regardless of all this, doc, I did great, thanks... pass me the tissues. 

Not to mention how reassuring it was to be with several people who have open-heartedly accepted me and Jonathan as family. To have positive, working, giving, hilarious, creative adults we can call friends out here is such an incredible blessing. And to be with this group in one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited just reminded me of how thankful we should be.

In the blink of an eye our lives changed, and all we did was work hard and pray.

You know what? Maybe I just had too much time to lay on the beach and think about it all, but either way this was a special trip.

An initiation into our new life.

I know:

BOOOOOR-IIIIIIING

The exciting stuff is listed below in no particular order

-Ferry rides are fuuuuun, and there's 2 bars on the one that goes from San Pedro to 2 Harbors. 

-Natalie Wood drowned at 2 harbors, so there's your spooky Hollywood history 

-We saw seals and Jonny saw an octopus while snorkeling

-I snorkeled. (huh?)

-There was a counter you could walk up to and order delicious breakfast sandwiches.

-We slept underneath more stars than I have ever seen. 

-We ate Frito Pie. 

-We paddle borded.

-We napped on the beach.

-We woke up early in the sun and drank coffee on the boat. 

(This was my favorite part of the trip. The light was so beautiful.)

Black Wings

Homies, when all else fails wear all black and funk that shit out with a bright lip and winged eyeliner. It's a no fail way to make yourself feel chic-as-fuuuuu.....

LF has been having a HUGE sale for the past 2 weeks. Shamefully I have shuffled my ass in there to pluck up different pieces here and there again and again. I can't HELP myself. 60% off everything and shoes that are normally $200 for $48. On top of that, all the shop girls are so sweet and stylish, it's such a pleasure to browse and chat and what-not. 

Anyhoo, I got this bustier. I had a great one I picked up at Laced with Romance in Austin, and I lost it in the move so I've been in the market for one. This is such a versatile piece in any wardrobe. Easy to dress up or down. Throw a blazer over it to tailor it out, or rock it with a short skirt if you're feeling 

sass-ayyy. Plus, it's always good to give the girls a lift every now and then. 

I love these pleated PTA mom pants I found at a thrift store too. They have a tendency to FUPA out (if ya know what I mean), but I don't mind it. Particularly when you pair them with a slim top. It adds a nice curve on the sides, yes? 

Bustier: LF Stores, Pants and Bracelets: Thrifted, Shoes and Belt: JCP (similar), Necklace: Gift from mama, Earrings: F21

Hawthorne Skate

It was hot. It was crowded. It was the most fun I've had shooting in ages. I got to assist my bud Patrick on the opening of a skate park in Hawthorne last week. It was so nostalgic watching all the skater dudes and dudettes. Transported me back to high school. Chucks, Vans, skate punk, decking out your gear with stickers and permanent markers. (I've never seen so many Black Flag/Bad Religion T's in one place. It made me happy). I didn't skate myself, but I sure did think skater boys hung the moon, and sat my ass on many-a half pipe after school.

Lemme tell you: the skate scene in LA is fucking LEGIT. These kids were chomping at the bits to get into the park and skate their asses off. Also, Pat and I both were surprised by how polite everyone was. All the experienced skaters were helping out the ones that were there to learn, saying excuse me if they bumped into one another, screaming and clapping when anyone landed anything impressive etc. I was a little timid... worried they might think the photographers were in the way, but they were happy to 

show off for the camera.

Just so ya'll know this guy's tattoo says "what the fuck, fuck shit up." Sick dude. 

The Troubadoors Premiere!!!

I'm so pumped! My most beautiful and talented bestie, Haley Esposito has been working (along with the magical Brina Palencia, Paul Wingo, Chuck Huber and Christopher Sabat) for over a year on this web series she created. You may remember the filming from here. Today is the premiere of the first episode, "Labor Day". 

I make a itty bitty cameo in this and sing the vocals for the song in the beginning along with Brina and  (who wrote all the music) and Haley. Jonathan plays the blind dude in the kimono. Take a couple minutes to check it out. It's funny and comes with an original song and music video at the end!