tacori xo

One of my favorite booth’s at last month’s Lucky FABB conference was the LA based jewelry design company Tacori. They were friendly, fun and had a display of beautiful, sparkly pieces of fabulous jewelry that they encouraged me to try on! Then they snapped my photo, last seen here. While I was there I entered to win a pair of amazing chalcedony stud earrings and to my surprise, they showed up on my door this morning! How exciting!! The presentation was really special and they are gorgeous! I am thrilled to be rocking this awesome pair of earrings from their new 18k925 collection. Thank you Tacori!


drago centro

I have a secret… the bar menu at Drago Centro is tasty and inexpensive! It’s a little hidden gem I discovered a few years ago and it has become my go to place in downtown L.A. for a quick cocktail and bite to eat. I have never actually even eaten off the regular menu (which I hear is tasty as well) because I always crave the olives and flatbreads on the bar menu. With $5 cocktails and most food items in the $5 range you can’t go wrong!

Chorizo and mussel flatbread

Oysters

Cracklins, olives and cocktails

Sausage and rapini flatbread

Drago Centro is at 525 South Flower Street Los Angeles, CA 90071

{not} just another tequila sunrise

I love a fresh, homemade cocktail on a hot summer day and there is nothing like a tequila sunrise! It’s best with fresh squeezed orange juice and homemade grenadine. It’s a great brunch drink and would be lovely for Mother’s Day! Cheers!

Tequila Sunrise
1 1/2 oz of tequila
3/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (we used Cara Cara oranges)
ice cubes
1/2 oz grenadine syrup
1 orange slice for garnish
1 maraschino cherry for garnish

Homemade Grenadine
2 cups pomegranate juice
1 cup pomegranate seeds
1 cup sugar
Put all ingredients in a pot on the stove and bring to a boil.
Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 15min. stirring occasionally.
Remove the seeds with a fine, mesh strainer and smooth the seeds in the strainer with the back of a spoon to release the rest of the juice into the mixture.
Cool to room temperature before using.
*The grenadine will keep in the fridge for awhile.

Stir or shake together tequila and orange juice. Fill a chilled 12 ounce glass with ice cubes; pour in orange juice mixture. Slowly pour in the grenadine, and allow it to settle to the bottom of the glass (be patient). Garnish with a slice of orange, and a maraschino cherry. Have a great week-end!

wine down lounge

Wade and I had the privilege of photographing The Wine Down Lounge for their new website. It’s a cozy hidden jewel tucked into the bottom of the historic Breakers building on Ocean Avenue in Long Beach. The top of the building is home to the prestigious Sky Room restaurant which has been around since 1938. The WDL has a great wine selection, whether, by the bottle or by the glass and a delicious little food menu (I would highly recommend the truffle fries!). The guys that run the place are super laid back, knowledgeable and approachable so it is guaranteed to not disappoint. We had a great time doing the shoot and maybe, just maybe, enjoyed a little food and wine while we were at it! These are a few of our favorite snaps from the evening:






The Wine Down Lounge is at 210 East Ocean Blvd. Long Beach, CA. Cheers!