A Fishing Town with a Drinking Problem

 I'm pretty sure the tourist department of St. Augustine Florida needs to give me at least a couple thousand doallars. For real, I'm singing that tiny town's praises every chance I get. Proof here, here and here. What's not to love? Being the oldest city in the U.S. located near what happens to be one of the most beautiful beaches, it has everything.
Inner coastal salt water river with oyster beds, manatees, dolphins, and all together adorable "drinking town with a fishing problem" charm? Yes. Gorgeous Spanish architecture ? Si Señor! Historical (haunted? see orbs in photograph below..spooooooooky) downtown with one of the oldest cemeteries in the nation AND a haunted lighthouse? Ehhhh I'm not too into being scared shitless, but if you are...this is your place. Ponce de Leon's supposed Fountain of Youth? Who doesn't need one of those?

Pirate history! Sea turtles! Gorgeous Spanish Moss! HUGE thunderstorms!

And finally the most beautiful un-commercialized beach. That's right. No high rises, no Señor Frogs, no ass wangs trying to sell you stupid Rastafarian-style hats.

Everyday a tidal pool forms when the tide goes out. It can get about 3 feet deep or so, and becomes this sort of wading lagoon for people who aren't necessarily wanting to deal with the Atlantic waves. I did lots of wading there. And I didn't want to come home.

Homegirl Heroes: Emma

I bonded with Emma over cigarettes and the topic of vintage clothing on one of my first nights living in LA. I remember thinking how pretty she was when an Australian accent came spilling out of her mouth as she spoke. It took strength not to roll my eyes. Psssh. Gorgeous AND she has an accent.

She's more than easy on the eyes, though. Emma recently wrapped shooting her first short film, Grace, which she just so happened to write, direct and produce (I helped her out with photos and wardrobe as you may remember from this post). Homegirl's got a keen eye for antiques, and she is ballsy when it comes to rockin' her super rad thrift store finds.

Emma's fuckin' fierce, and I don't mean that in a "Top Model" type of way (although she could be a top model). I more mean it in a "screw with me or my friends and I'll slice you" type of way. Her no-nonsense attitude makes her playful side even more endearing though. She's genuine... and it shines through in her artistic endeavors.

I spent an afternoon closet-digging, shooting, and lounging with Em not too long ago, and decided she would be the perfect guinea pig for this new monthly segment on ol' blog.

Read Emma's interview below.

How did you end up in Los Angeles?

Whilst studying Production Design at film school in Sydney, I found out that upon graduating, I would be eligible for a 12 month student work/travel visa. I was on the plane to LA 3 months after graduation day. That was 2.5 years ago I haven't looked back since.

Of all creative outlets why did you choose film?

I think film chose me really, sounds wanky, but it's true. I was studying Interior Decoration at the time and the head of Design at AFTRS (The Australian Film Television and Radio School) came to lecture us. She spoke about Production Design for film and TV and how it incorporated interiors and furniture and decoration. It wasn't until after her talk that the lightbulb turned on and I realized that was what I was supposed to be doing.

What was the most intimidating part of making your short film, Grace?

Fearing that it would be shit. I feel like I knew I could do it, but I went through ups and downs of self doubt. Apparently that's normal and a sign of wanting to be great, but at the time it's hard to tell those thoughts to shut up. I also feared that I would find out that my film was actually crap and not festival worthy at all, and all this time I thought my idea was good. I guess those feelings faded away gradually throughout the whole filmmaking process. The more it came together.

You obviously have a passion for antique furniture. When did this love affair start? Do you have a early memory with any specific piece?

Good question, I actually have no idea when or how it came about. I don't remember either of my parents having a love affair with furniture or antiques. I do remember always re arranging my room. I loved moving it around to see what it looked like from different angles.    

Vintage furniture and vintage clothing....what do you look for when you're collecting?

Vintage furniture that I love is mainly Mid Century Modern and Victorian. They really go well together. I also love velveteen sofas and chairs. I have found that I have a love of vintage print too, rugs and throws. I love a good bargain. Most of my home is off craigslist or from a thrift store.

Vintage clothing never ceases to amaze me. I couple years ago I was obsessed with vests and leotards. I had over 14 of each at one point. I still have most of them in a box in my Mum's garage in Australia. They will make it over to LA one day. Whilst shopping for thrift vintage now I usually just buy what is practical for me. A little 80's/90's silk top I wear tucked into high waist skirt or pants on a night out, is usually easy to find. My favorite always being an oversized wool cardi, I almost have one in every color :)

With both vintage furniture and clothes I feel like they speak to me, like they need me to love and appreciate them.  I get sad when I see once beautiful pieces broken and damaged on the side of the road or alley. 

Choose a super power. 

If I could have a super power it would be to move things with my mind. I love it in movies when people have this power and they get into a fight with their enemy and they just throw them up against the wall with their mind. Badass. I could think of a few people I would've done that too ;)

What's inspiring you currently?

I think what's inspiring me at the moment is the thought of what the future has in store for me. I have only just began to scrape the surface of what I'm capable of and that's kind of an awesome feeling. 

www.emmalesliefilms.com

Adventures in Big Sur

Have you been to Big Sur (or more inappropriately Big Fuggin Sur)? How I have gotten this far in my life and not witnessed the beauty that this place has to offer is a mystery. When we began to ascend the PCH approaching Big Sur I almost teared up around every bend in the road. (Pro-tip Andrew Bird is the best nature gazing music EVER). 

We took the camping trip for our two year anniversary. Maybe you're thinking what I was thinking. Camping? For a wedding anniversary? Yaaaaayy.... Sleeping on the grooound.....

But that is because where I grew up, "camping" meant "sleeping in an otherwise mostly deserted nature-area because we had no where else to consume alcoholic beverages" Ya' know, CAMPING! Also I went hiking. Which turns out is just walking in nature. For some reason I thought it would involve climbing and being forced to eat granola or something. So now in my late 20's, I realize that I love hiking AND camping......with an Airstream. 

Big Sur is one of those magical places that sucks away any anxious thoughts that typically riddle your skull in real life. It's no wonder Kerouac and Henry Miller chilled here. The weekend was full of sticking feet in waterfalls, visiting local cafes, watching sunlight glimpse through the thick shade of the Pine and Redwood trees, cruising on the edge of cliffs (this is where aaaaallll those car commercials are filmed), and drinking wine and whiskey, warming our toes by the fire. 

Being unplugged for 3 days was a gift. On the drive home, once we got a signal, I began to catch up on  social media happenings. In doing so I became intensely aware of how certain updates and photos made me feel. It was so easy to just stop following people or hide them from my feed. I suppose when you see it everyday any negative feeling that pops up just becomes normal. To be away from it was eye-opening. Ain't nobody got time for that. 

Lula just exploring naked like a BOSS. 

The cutest (and only) coffee shop in Big Sur

Henry Miller Library. Strange lawn art. 

If my mother was a restaurant she was be Deetjen's.

Dealing with Fear: It's All in How You Look at It.

Fear. It's been a larger part of my life than I'd like to admit. Since I've moved to California, quite frankly, I've been beating it's ass. Two major moments of clarity oddly enough have happened on my friends' sailboat (read other epiphany here). Also oddly enough that first picture I will title, "Bird Shit Rock" is a perfect metaphor for the strategy I've found works best for rising above fear and enjoying your life: It's all in how you look at it. 

We went for a "sail around the marina" for Jonathan's birthday. The boats in the marina float on calm waters. Lots of charming sites too: beautiful yachts, goofy house boats, screaming seals, leather faced orange boat-living people. It's thoroughly entertaining, and completely manageable anxiety wise. It was chilly that night, but we had pizza and champagne and warm coats to cuddle up in. Before I knew it we were very close to exiting the serenity of the marina and entering the motherfacking Pacific Ocean. The panic kicked in. 

This wasn't the plan! Uhhhh Cap'n,  it's lookin pretty choppy out there! I'm gonna get sea sick! I'm on a boat.... I'm trapped on this boat. The water is too cold to swim back! We're all gonna die. I don't know how, but we are...going.....to DIE!

Right before I peed my pants I noticed the exit of the marina is lined with a rock wall where hundreds of birds sit to sip in the sunset. While enjoying the view, they like to poop. Ya know, like birds do. The white mess has completely Jackson Pollocked this massive pile of rocks....and it's kinda beautiful. You get what I'm saying? The doo doo is beautiful if you forget it's doo doo for a second. I forgot we were floating out to sea and frantically started snapping away with my camera and when I looked up we were rocking on the open Pacific. 

Woe. I'm not scared. It is breathtaking. This looks like a vintage OP tee shirt. My friends are awesome. I'm drinking champagne. On a boat. Happy birthday babe. I laughed out loud. 

The idea that I probably wouldn't have gone on the sail if I knew we were going out to the ocean because I was "anxious about it" is ASININE.  GAH! I'm a whiney baby sometimes! So many otherwise amazing moments in my life have been obscured in my mind by my anxiety. But the fix is to just look at the moments differently. Live in the now as much as humanly possible. And when you do get scared, let yourself go there for a moment and snap back to reality. 

The beauty of a sunset (or a rock covered in bird excrement) will always be there to remind you that it's worth paying attention to the world outside of you as opposed to obsessing over thoughts or fears fabricated in your mind. 

Do YOU have a bird shit rock? Something that should've been ugly that turned into a beautiful experience?

And for your listening pleasure, A SONG to match this post.