Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Shots!

This is something for all you photogs out there.  Check these vintage black and whites out.  The juxtaposition in some of these are quite fascinating.

50 Unexplainable Black and Whites

Yes, please!

Recently wrote an article for Curvy Magazine on some of Spring/Summer's top trends. The list includes bright neon colors, pleated palazzo pants, and this KILLER jacket from ASOS Curve.  I need this in my life, oh yes, oh yes I do. :)


Hope you all have had a happy hump day!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Check Out the Digs

Last Friday, I joined the Ruskie (slang for a Russian person) for a night out to watch a mock live-radio show at Club Fais Do Do (pronounced fay-doh-doh), The show is called Lost Moon Radio. This is what I wore, including a couple of venue photos.  Sorry the photo quality is so poor. Only had my phone to document that night.

Some of my favorite things: Tie-dye Circle Scarf by American Apparel, Blazer by Torrid, Suade high-heeled clogs by Baker's

Club Fais Do Do
Dressing Room

Lost Moon Radio is a fun and smart, yet small production that is based in my hood, Mid-City, Los Angeles (at least their performances are). The live production involves "radio" episodes containing witty and sometimes dark, satirical skits.  It's hosted by an "Interplanetary Disc Jockey" named Jupiter Jack who's joined with talented actors that perform droll bits and mock-commercials, all of which are accompanied by a live band.

After an hour and a half of stomach-aching banter, the show ends but the band doesn't, and concludes the after-show with live-band karaoke. As a filipino, this is the BEST way to end a show. Y'all know Asians love karaoke, right?!

It's pretty cool entertainment. If you live in Los Angeles, like theatre and live music, you should definitely check this little gem out.

Peace, love, mounds of joy and muscle-powered cars,

Joy*

Jimmy Fallon/Stephen Colbert Project

"Be an opener of doors for such as come after thee." - Ralph Waldo Emerson, American Poet, 1803-1882

Check out this DonorsChoose.org project Jimmy Fallon and Stephen Colbert are working on to raise funds towards public education.

Please donate! Our schools are suffering and we all know knowledge is power. Even a dollar will help.

Meet the Man With 82 Tattoos of Julia Roberts’s Face

Obsessed Julia Robert's Tattooed Fan

Wow, $100,000! Really?! Perhaps the cult of celebrity admiration has gone too far. You think Beverly Hills' most glamorous prostitute, Vivian Ward, would give this guy the time of day?

Speaking of Pretty Woman, at the tender age of 10, I stayed at my pseudo uncle's Las Vegas motel. It was a smoke-stained, kinda crummy but not too bad momo that we visited once a year, placed just off the famous casino strip. Pretty Woman was playing in the lobby and my mom scolded me for sneaking in to watch it. I guess hookers in Beverly Hills weren't the best content for a 10-year-old. But, I'm glad I did, otherwise I would have probably learned of the greatness that is Prince much later in life.

Mil Besos. EnJOY!

Happy Tuesday!

I know I have detracted from the fashion world a bit, there are so many other things out there to talk about! I have fallen in love with the Interwebs and have been drunk with the notion of finding all of its treasures, specifically web videos.

I recently started contributing to this news site, the Pacific Palisades Patch. To accompany one of my articles, my sister and I produced a broadcast video. It took a lot of hard work but really made me think of considering film as an avenue of creativity. Since then, I've been exploring the world for motionography and film and have been oogling over all these great videos. I've gotta get some people together and produce one of my own. Even if it's a one minute short.

Here are a couple of vids that I found interesting and well produced.



One Minute Puberty from bitteschön.tv on Vimeo.


Any of you seen any cool vids on YouTube or any other site lately? Please share.

Mala Vida!



Mala Vida cover by Nouvelle Vague, Mareva Galanter & Liset Aléa, while waiting in Paris Airport. Not the best sound quality, but still kickass cuz they did it in the middle of the airport. If this happened while I was impatiently waiting for a plane, my spirits would greatly be lifted.

Thank God for the gift of sound and music.

Spanish Lyrics:
Tu me estas dando mala vida
Yo pronto me voy a escapar
Gitana mia por lo menos date cuenta
Gitana mia por favor
Tu no me dejas ni respirar
Tu me estas dando mala vida
Cada dia se la traga mi corazon

Gitana mia!
Mi corazoncito esta sufriendo
Gitana mia por favor
Sufriendo malnutricion
Tu me estas dando mala vida
Cada dia se la traga mi corazon!
Dime tu porque te trato yo tan bien
Cuando tu me hablas como a on cabron

English Translation:
You’re turning my life upside down
I’ll run away soon
My gypsy girl realize at least
My gypsy girl please
You don’t even let me breathe
You’re turning my life upside down
Each day my heart is taken in

My gypsy girl!
My little heart is suffering
My gypsy girl please
Suffering from starvation
You’re turning my life upside down
Each day my heart is taken in!
Tell me why I treat you so well
When you treat me like a jerk

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Hey, You!

Quick survey to my 8, yes 8, followers :)

I'm the kind of gal that prefers pearls over diamonds and moons over stars. What kind of gal (or woman) are you?

Did you know that pearls are the oldest known gem? Traditionally, they represent purity, innocence and wealth. 


So, tell me what you like. Pearls, rubys, the moon, the sun, the stars? What are your hopes and dreams? Love life? What are favorite fashion trends this season? Anything!

Feel free to answer in the comments section. I'd love to hear from you.  I hope you enjoy the weekend and have a good week.

Peace, love, and muscle-powered cars,
Joy*

Friday, March 25, 2011

Secret Stair Session

So, my dear friend Julia got me this book last year for my birthday. It's called Secret Stairs: A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles. And in an effort to be more active, I decided I would visit each staircase listed in the book and document them.  So far, I've been to 4 out of 42.

Here are photos I took with my sister and her gbff (gay-bff) from Staircase(s) no. 31 in Hollywood.   The walk includes landmarks such as Shakespeare's Bridge and a handful of production studios.

Incredible mural at Hoover Park in Silverlake where our hike began.

Super silly, yet fierce these two.



Shakespeare's Bridge.  Outfit: Tweed bead-embellished blazer by Torrid, Red Love Dunks by Nike, Tie-dye circle scarf by American Apparel, Glasses from Venice Beach: The best place to get shades!

Shakespeare's Bridge

After our 2 hr excursion, we treated ourselves to some well-deserved sushi.  Both my sis and Rene tried raw fish for the first time AND liked it.  So proud!

The Power of NOW!!!

It's amazing how things in life are so connected. At a point where I'm learning more about myself, I've been on this whole NOW kick.  I want to get a full-time job now. I need to fix my roof now.  I have to write 5 articles now.  It's time to take more pictures now. You get the picture.

Well, as newcomer to blogging I've been exploring more of what the Interwebs has to offer. And, as life often suitably dictates, whilst clicking through this virtual world,  the word "now" has popped up everywhere.

It all started when I started reading ThinkSimpleNow. A daily motivational, which in one of it's many uplifting dailies mentioned The Power of Now, an inspirational non-fiction by Eckhart Tolle (now on my wishlist at Amazon).

Then all these other "now" things popped up, more specifically sites. DemocracyNow.com is one of note, as well as Now.org (the National Organization of Women).  But while perusing the blog world, I came across The Man Repeller. Not a "now" blog, this satirical and genius take on ludicrous fashion that inevitably repels men pointed me towards NOWNESS.com.

Talk about AMAZEBALLS! While those other political and inspirational sites are great to read, inquiring about world issues and self-improvement and all, the artist inside me was ecstatic over the fact that I've stumbled into the greatness that is NOWNESS.

Described on their website:

NOWNESS is the digital leader in luxury storytelling. Each day, NOWNESS showcases an exclusive premiere of the most inspiring stories influencing contemporary culture and global lifestyle, previewing the latest in fashion, gastronomy, art, film, music, design, travel and sport.

NOWNESS collaborates with the world’s foremost designers, creatives and thinkers in the luxury industry. NOWNESS is an innovative space where ideas, both timeless and timely, are first and foremost. 


With it's countless eye candy relating to fashion, photography and other mediums of creativity, this site will leave you glued to your computer for days! If it wasn't for the late hour,  I would totally browse until my eyes were dry and my fingers hurt from clicking so much.

But it's late. I guess I will have to explore the goodness when the sun rises. Until then, goodnight sweet, sweet NOWNESS.

If you have a few minutes, check out this clip from NOWNESS called Advanced Style: Age and Beauty. It's a trenchant point of view of eccentric sartorialists with addicting  appetites for fashion.  Also termed by one as "the anti-fashion in fashion."

Such an interesting video, it makes us fashionistas look crazy! But these women are OG fashionistas. They have such exuberance for fashion, you can't help but fall in love them. Primed for cool threads long before the likes of modern day icons like Lady Gaga and Madonna, I could only hope I have their confidence and grace when I grow old.  I could do without some of their fashion sense, but hey, gotta give them major street cred...and gotta give it to them NOW. :)

Peace, love, and muscle-powered cars,
Joy*

p.m.s. Please excuse the rather high volume of linkage.  I just wanted to promote those noteworthy sites.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Got 12 Minutes and 51 Seconds?

Here's a short film from Ruairi Robinson called Blinky™, an intriguing take on man's thirst for and reliance on technology.

Click here to check it out:
Blinky™

Shots! shots! shots! sh-sh-shots!

As DSLR's are now much more affordable, the average joe or joy :) is venturing out into the world taking photos, mimicking the likes of Diane Arbus (my absolute favorite photographer) and Robert Doisneau.  I happen to be one of them.

Here's a very cultural series of shots from an excursion I went on last summer to Downtown, Los Angeles.












Everywhere we turn, there are elements of surprise and beauty.  Luckily, we live in a generation where we can so easily document such. Perhaps it is a bit of an overload, but worth the allure nonetheless.

Now, get out there and take some shots! No, no, not those kind of shots...oh hell, go ahead....live a little...

Peace, love and muscle-powered cars,

Joy

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

"Big Girls Need Big Diamonds."

Mom and I fell in love with you.  Elizabeth Taylor, you will be dearly missed.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Hot Spring/Summer Style Trends

I recently wrote an article for Curvy's Online Magazine about this season's hottest trends.  As a fashion forward lady, I am always willing to give style tips. If you'd like to check out some of Spring and Summer's hottest looks, check out my article.


10 Hot Duds Before the Summertime

Sex Pot? More like Sex Cauldron.

Here are some shots from a session that my friend, V, and I did shortly after breaking up with my ex in 2009.  I was in need of a confidence boost and this photo shoot definitely did the job.










I know we've been told many times, but I can't help but be cliche and say that women are sexy in all shapes and sizes.  But it's true! And I am an example of that.

As a voluptuous lady, I encourage you to go out and take shots of yourself.  So ladies, put on a snazzy outfit, paint your face with some gorgeous makeup, try a new do, and take photos of yourself in beautiful surroundings.  Embrace your flaws and show the world, and more importantly yourself, that you are alluring, charming and most of all, SEXY!!!

Credit: 
Photography by Vanessa Moller
Hair, Make-up, Styling by yours truly
Bike: Gift from the ex. Purchased at Chubby's One Stop Cruisers. Thanks J, for giving me the bike of my dreams.  


Sweatshirt by American Apparel, Bra by Cacique.

Gotta love fat-bottom girls!

Check out these photos from Skorch Magazine Online.  I am inspired by the wall shadows  and sprinkles of color in the outfits.



Photographer: Iwona Bielecka www.iwonabielecka.com
Model: Joanna Sixa Sikora
Stylist: Marta Galka
Make-up & Hair: Marianna Jurkiewicz

Friday, March 18, 2011

Yes, please!





How amazing is this vintage-inspired swimsuit by Monif C?! Not only does the ruching slim the tummy but it shows some skin in the mid-section for a bikini-like feel.  HOT!

Credit: Photo sourced from Curve Appeal, Swimsuit by Monif C, Model: Fluvia Lacerda
If I were to reincarnate into anything or anyone, it would be this little guy.


MC Escher's "Three Worlds." If only life in Los Angeles were that simple.....

By George, I've done it!

I've finally made my own blog! I admit, it took some much needed contemplation but I realized that we are privileged to have our voices so easily heard, so I revel in the opportunity to share my thoughts, views and lifestyle to the world. 

Peace, love and muscle-powered cars!