This was probably one of my favorite shoots I've ever done! I had the pleasure of working with Saltwater Luxe, a casual luxury brand based in Long Beach, California. No joke, their office is two minutes from my apartment!! As you guys know, I'm a huge advocate of ethically sourced goods and Saltwater Luxe is Los Angeles made (yay no sweatshops!), and often sources vintage fabrics reducing their carbon footprint. Their style is beachy bohemian with a little adventure. Toria Webber (model) and I sought to capture the wanderlust #SWLBabe vibe and hit the road on a day trip to Angeles National Forest just east of Pasadena. Side Note: I highly recommend going on a weekday, there were barely any cars or people! We also ventured around some neighborhoods around Pasadena. It was so much fun and I can't wait to work with Toria and the gals over at Saltwater Luxe again in the future!
StyleWe Collaboration
Went on a little adventure with my boyfriend Zach to Mount Baldy in Angeles National Forest this past weekend. I was seeing photos on Instagram of snow in LA and I had to find it! On this trip I decided to incorporate some of the pieces StyleWe recently sent me. They sent me the black dress and the gray fringe sweater and I'm obsessed! Their company is really cool because it's all independent designers, unique designs, and a community of designers and buyers communicating, sharing, and recognizing each other. They describe themselves as, "Designers At Your Fingertips."
In my first look I felt like a mystical snow vampire goddess or something! Such a beautiful black dress. The fringed sweater was interesting because it was like a cardigan but had one button on each shoulder attaching the bottom of the cardigan to the top giving it a cool wrap vibe. Overall, very impressed with the quality of the clothing and their commitment to unique pieces!
Maui, Hawaii
So when your parents invite you on vacation you say yes, always... unless for some reason you REALLY can't get out of work, school, or have some serious life complication or situation you're dealing with. Because when parents take you, you don't have to constantly calculate if what you're about to do will fit in your budget... and they love you unconditionally and are actually really fun to hangout with (my parents are at least). I know I know, I got pretty lucky!
This winter break, Zach had a longer break from graduate school than usual so we went to Maui in the third week of January to avoid the peak times. To be honest, I can't remember the names of half the places we went to because most have super Hawaiian names that I can't even pronounce haha.. but I will do my best to recall!
One of the big highlights was the Road to Hana. I do not recommend this drive if you get squeamish about dangerous roads, heights, or rocky cliffs, however it was really beautiful. There are multiple waterfalls, black sand beaches, scenic landscape you would see in Jurassic Park, and gorgeous coastline. Perhaps one of the best stops on the Road to Hana is Coconut Glen's, non-dairy coconut based ice cream aka a vegan's dream. Side note: before I went vegan my favorite ice cream was peppermint (no, not mint chocolate chip - the REAL seasonal peppermint), and I have never been able to find vegan peppermint ice cream before... until COCONUT GLEN'S! Not going to lie, I got seconds it was so good. No shame people.. No shame. They had other great flavors too and awesome coconut candy (and I'm not even a big coconut fan).
Another big highlight to the trip was scuba diving Lanai with my dad with Extended Horizons. We saw dolphins twice above water and once while diving and I was freaking out.. they're my fave animals along with small dogs! We saw multiple whales on the boat too. The place we dove is called Cathedral 1 because of its underwater tavern-like formation. It was probably the coolest spot I've ever dove. Also, the dive staff and captain were awesome and so informative!
We spend a lot of time on different beaches, went to different hotels during the day, visited the Nakalele Blowhole, and went on a whale watching booze cruise. The cruise was on a catamaran called SeaMaui and was such a blast. We had a lot of whale sightings, got a little buzzed, and noshed on some food.. not too shabby.
Overall it was a wonderful trip with my parents and boyfriend, Zach. Until next time Hawaii!
Local Nomad Collaboration
Explored around Papago Park in Tempe with my sorority little, Elizabeth for a shoot! We collaborated with Local Nomad Shop in Uptown Plaza in Phoenix and I styled the looks. All their pieces have such a cool back-story and the store owner, Lauren, seeks to find super unique, ethical, and sustainable vendors. As you guys know, I'm a huge advocate of local and sustainably sourced goods (especially ones that are cute..hehe) so it was great to work with Local Nomad Shop! Working with companies that share your values and interests are important in order to be genuine to yourself and your audience. I understand that it may be difficult at times to always be wearing/eating/using sustainable products, but every little bit helps!
Boyce Thompson Arboretum
One of my oldest and best friends, Kelsey Hughes, and I decided to go on a day trip to Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior, AZ about an hour or so out of town. I was amazed on how much there was to do out there! We just went on the main trail which passed through multiple greenhouses, a bridge, a creek, and a short scenic hike around the area.
I recommend going here during the winter because everything is outside, not much shade, and your going to be drenched in sweat, likely getting a sunburn in 90+ degree weather if you don't. Unlike most national parks, scenic areas, and nature spots, there is an actual address to pinpoint where you are going and there is a huge parking lot which makes life way easier. You likely won't have cell service all day either and there aren't any food or snacks to buy so make sure to pack your own food! This is definitely worth a trip and makes for an awesome get-out-of-town day trip with friends!
Denim Shirt (Kelsey) - American Apparel
Black Distressed Skinny Jeans (Kelsey) - Topshop
Cream Fringe Sweater (Allison) - Free People
Vegan Suede Brown Hat (Allison) - Gigi Pip
High-Waisted Blue Denim Skinny Jeans (Allison) - Free People
Brown Vegan Western Booties (Allison) - Coconuts by Matisse
Black Vegan Suede Hat - Free People
Army Green Denim Shirt (Allison) - American Apparel
Taupe Shirt (Kelsey) - Kastlfel
High-Waisted Black Denim Skinny Jeans (Allison) - American Apparel
Maroon Fuzzy Sweater (Allison) - Kensie
Black Tri-Blend Racerback (Allison) - American Apparel
Vegan Waterproof Hiking Boots (Allison) - Jeffrey Campbell, purchased on Poshmark
Camelback Mountain
Went out for a shoot around Camelback Mountain to feature some of my new pieces I got for the holidays (aka my mom and I went to Nordstrom Rack together over Thanksgiving weekend, I found cute stuff, and she saved it for me to open for Christmas). One of these items being this flouncy pirate-looking top from Free People - at least my dad thought I looked like a pirate haha but it wasn't exactly the look I was going for. Second, being the vegan suede fringe vest! I always love finding synthetic suede and leather, it gives me hope about the future of ethical fashion!
White Top - Free People
Distressed Denim Jeans - Nasty Gal
Taupe Fringed Booties - Coconuts by Matisse, purchased from ShoeMall
Vegan Suede Fringe Vest - Bagatelle Collection, Nordstrom Rack
AZ Road Trip
I went on a road trip around Arizona with some of my girlfriends (Courtney, Blake, Alex, Tiffany, and Brooke) and it was such a blast!
Driving from Scottsdale, we went to Sedona on Day 1, hiked around Bell Rock, went to the downtown, saw Christmas carolers, and ate at a bomb Mexican place for lunch. We then spent the night at Alex's family's cabin in Munds Park, just a little north of Sedona. Alex's parents were SO nice and went up there earlier that day to set everything up for us. Her mom even left dinner in the fridge. So sweet.
On Day 2, we drove through Williams, had lunch and explored the area, then got to the Grand Canyon around 3pm. The Grand Canyon was FREEZING! We got some good photos (and laughs) there but we were not prepared for how cold it was. We were originally trying to spend the night in the Grand Canyon, but they have little lodging around the area and we didn't want to get hotel rooms. We ended up finding an amazing Air Bnb in Page about two hours north. It was way better than we were expecting!
On Day 3, we went to a crepe place for breakfast (I got vegan creme brûlée oatmeal with berries!) and then were on our way to Antelope Canyon. We decided to go to the lower part of Antelope Canyon from the reviews I saw online. It was cheaper (I think $28 or something), less crowded (supposedly), there was more climbing and stairs, and you didn't need to make a reservation. However, the tours did have a good amount of people and it was difficult to capture photos without strangers in the background. We left Antelope Canyon to travel to the instal-famous Horseshoe Bend on Lake Powell. The views were gorgeous and Courtney was giving us all heart attacks with how close she got to the edge (smh). We then began the drive back to Scottsdale (about 5 hours) and Alex dropped us off at our places. It was such a great trip with such great people.
KEEP READING... :)
I also partnered with a brand called Kastlfel for this trip and we got some really cool photos of their merchandise! Part of the reason I was so drawn to Kastlfel was their commitment to sustainability. As you guys know, I'm secretly suuuuper granola/hippie when it comes to the environment and ethically/sustainably sourced products. Their clothing is made from recycled plastic bottles and is actually so practical and soft! You could say I'm a HUGE fan.
Happy Holidays
Hi all and Happy Holidays! I don't say this to be politically correct, trust me haha. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, Happy New Year etc. etc. I actually come from a mixed religious family. My father is Jewish and when he married my mother, who grew up in a Christian family, they agreed to raise the kids Jewish. She converted to Judaism when I was a kid but then read the Bible years later and became a Christian when I was in high school. My brother became a Christian in college. I consider myself Jewish however I am not super religious. I do believe that God has a plan for all of us, a better plan than we may have for ourselves and to trust in Him always. Christianity and Judaism have the same basic values; treat others with respect, be truthful, value life, and generally just be a good person. So, on that note, I wish you all Happy Holidays!
These photos are from a little adventure Zach and I took to Snowy Pines Xmas Trees in Long Beach, CA. Even though we weren't getting any decor or a tree this year because we were going to be out of town, I thought it would be fun to help us get in the holiday spirit. Spoiler Alert: we definitely got in the spirit after our little outing!
Vegan Felt Hat: Target
Lace Dress: Free People
Sweater Shawl: American Apparel
Thigh-High Tan Socks: American Apparel
Vegan Black Thigh-High Boots: Jeffrey Campbell, purchased from Nasty Gal
(I know what you're thinking, Jeffrey Campbell NEVER makes vegan boots!! These were quite the find on Nasty Gal and I got them on sale - YAY!)
Copper & Lace XO
My love, Zach, is kind, smart, genuine, funny, motivated, and so very handsome. I'm very blessed to have him in my life. I'm also very thankful that he puts up with me taking girly girl photos such as this one :)
Lace Dress: Free People
Copper Jewelry: Collected from Arizona artisans and random places
Desert Stardust
This was the same day as the Cotton Field excursion, however different vibes call for a different blog post! Ryen was awesome and let me get a little creative and put glitter/foil all over her face. Made for a beautiful stardust effect or starDUSK in this situation because it was sunset :)
Denim Shirt - Buffalo Exchange (consignment store), brand is Madewell
Tan/Brown Vegan Western Boots - Coconuts by Matisse, purchased from ShoeMall
Brown Vegan Western Boots - Coconuts by Matisse, purchased from Amazon
The Scottsdale Cotton Fields
I went out exploring with my friend, Ryen, for a photoshoot. I've seen these cotton field photos all over Instagram for years and have never been able to find them and when I did they were out of season.. until NOW! These cotton fields were so dreamy.
Rust Sweater - Mom's Closet
Brown Distressed Jeans - Free People
Tan Hat - Urban Outfitters, Ecoté
Brown Vegan Western Boots - Coconuts By Matisse, purchased from ShoeMall
Vegan Suede Olive Hat - Free People
Turtleneck Sleeveless Top - Free People
Brass Necklace - Buffalo Exchange
Rustic Car - Becca Booker Media
Went out exploring with my gal pal/old co-worker, Becca Booker, to take some pics. We found this random spot near the 101 freeway which was a private lot that held sooo many horses! Instead of just backtracking once we found out it was private property, we asked one of the guys if we could take some photos around the area. We told him 15 minutes.. we were def there for an hour haha. Cheers to random/semi-deserted ranches off the freeway!
Vegan Suede Hat: Free People
Necklace: No Brand, Purchased from Poshmark
Lace Racerback Bralette: Free People
Sweater: Free People, purchased on consignment from Buffalo Exchange
shot by @beccabookermedia, edited by me
Deserted Farm - Becca Booker Media
Part 2: This was the same farm/deserted horse stables in Scottsdale that I explored with my friend, Becca - pretty cool area! Also, I'm obsessed with this vegan leather jacket I purchased off of Mercari. It's a new app that is similar to Poshmark but is less of a social network and they only take out 10% of sales instead of 20% like Posh. You can buy new or used items on the app, I highly recommend it! By the way, this is not a sponsored post, I just genuinely like using these apps haha. My jacket was gently used, so yay for reducing my carbon footprint (and getting a good deal)!
Vegan Felt Hat - Target
Vegan Leather Jacket - Free People but purchased on consignment app, Mercari
Lace-Up Black Top - Free People
High-Waisted Black Jeans - American Apparel
Vegan Western Boots - Purchased from Free People, brand is Coconuts by Matisse
shot by @beccabookermedia, edited by me
Hay Girl (Ryan Gosling Pun Intended) - Becca Booker Media
Part 3: Again, this was the same farm/horse stables my friend Becca and I came across in Scottsdale! I'm a big supporter of American-made products and clothing. Unfortunately, in today's global economy most of our clothes are made in other countries and is hard to avoid. That's why I get very excited when I find American-made cute clothes (it also helped that I worked at American Apparel for close to three years lol).
Velvet Choker Necklace - Target
Denim Shirt - American Apparel
High-Waisted Black Jeans - American Apparel
Vegan Western Boots - Purchased from Free People, brand is Coconuts by Matisse
shot by @beccabookermedia, edited by me
Eaton Canyon Trail & Waterfall, Pasadena
Hey readers, meet my handsome boyfriend, Zach. He really is the best. He's currently working his butt off getting his doctorate in Physical Therapy at California State University Long Beach, but when he's not studying or at class, I'm probably nagging him to go out and adventure with me. This includes but is not limited to traveling, going on photoshoots (he hates that, but also secretly gets into it too haha), trying new vegan-friendly restaurants, going to events/festivals, etc. A few days ago, I used one of the "2 hour photoshoot" coupons he gave me as a birthday gift. Yes, you read that right.. he knows how much I like to take pictures and issues me photoshoot coupons. Haha I love it. Anywho... we went out exploring in Pasadena at Eaton Canyon Trail and Waterfall. To be honest, it was way longer of a hike than we were expecting... like an hour to an hour and a half just to get to the waterfall which was not near as big as I had seen in photos, but it was still a nice time to spend together. We followed our hike/photoshoot with a yummy dinner at Little Pine - a super cute fancy vegan restaurant nearby. Their mac n cheese was to die for. Like I literally thought it was real cheese. Bomb.com.
Brown Hat - Brixton
Brown Dress - Free People
Vegan Suede Hat - Free People
Gray Sweater - Free People, purchased on consignment from Buffalo Exchange