Dancing faves: Mariel Martin

Some days I feel most inspired by fashion, music, film, food, politics, world and social issues. But today is a dance day. I'm currently on hiatus with dance but its been my first love since I began jazz class at four and danced to "yellow polka dot bikini". :) Anyway long story short, here I am, still in love with it. I know amazing dancers and am inspired by sick choreographers. This girl's talent is a force to be reckoned with. Mariel hails from the SF bay area and is a Funkanometry SF Alumni. I've taken about 3 of her workshops and they have all been challenging. She's one of the people whom you can sense a genuine love for her craft. This is not a bandwagon trend for her, nor does she seem to wants international fame. She just loves to dance and she's damn good at it. Her style is really undefinable and I literally gawk at her dance videos on youtube for hours. People like Mariel help me remember why I fell in love with dance in the first place. Check her out!

to suscribe to Mariel's youtube channel click here

Jimmy Choo Magnum Sandals

I have this uncanny ability to believe that I can go out and purchase an item that is way beyond my means. I

know I don't but it's still nice to look at them. These gorgeous neon heels are part of Jimmy Choo's

2011 Cruise collection. The Mangnum sandal is my absolute favorite. It's inspired by the brazilian beaches and carnival festivities. These are perfect for summer and late spring due to the lime color. Tanned skin would make these pop!

To check out more of the Choo Cruise 2011 collection click here

Images via Jimmy Choo

SNAPSHOTS: Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra

Photo via Dr. Macro's

"There are never enough hours in the days of a queen, and her nights have too many"- Cleopatra (1963)

OPI Nail Lacquer collection: Burlesque

OPI is one of our favorite nail polishes. In comparison to other polishes you could say OPI is that MAC of nail lacquers, as they provide a plethora of colors and options. Each season they have an amazing debut of collections and new lines. This season was no exception. OPI's holiday promotion featured a color scheme for the musical film Burlesque. Half of the line is made of glittery bases while the other half is shimmery. Because glitter polishes are brittle and don't last on your nails we went with the shimmer line. Kenya's favorite is the golden, Cleopatra-esque "Rising Star".

Beautiful! Perfect color for NYE!

xoxo,

Tia and Kenya

My Dream Room

You could say my room isn't the most jazzed up bedroom ever and I'll admit most of that is my fault. But I've been thinking lately about what I want my room to look like, or what theme I want my room to have and I've come u with one spectacular idea. 80's Theme. I love everything that has to do with 80's, so why wouldn't I want the coziest room ever on earth?

IN LOVE WITH: HERVE LEGER

I worked at BCBGMAXAZRIA for 2 years. Even though I severed ties with the company for personal differences I cannot deny how enamored I am with the clothing. To this day I still pop myself into various BCBG stores and gawk at the tempting beauties on the racks. How I wish I could buy everything! Every season when collection catalogs would come out I drooled over each new Herve Leger dress (which is the highest line for BCBG).Each dress is typically a short, cocktail, bandage dress that is coordinated in a simple yet fresh fashion. Celebrities are addicted to Herve Leger, as they have the means to purchase this line. I don't blame them. There is a signature look to the line and each dress customs itself to your curves. Whenever I enter a BCBG or thrift shop I always hope to find Herve Leger there due to a fluke, but I've had no luck. One day, one day.. I will own one of these beauties.

Cassie in Herve Leger

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FROM THE VAULT: DISNEY CHANNEL "EXPRESS YOURSELF" COMMERCIALS

 

YES!!!!!!! Remember these? Remember when the Disney Channel would become Zoog Disney for teens on the weekends? Remember they made new movies for every month?Remember all the cool shows like: Lizzie McGuire, Even Stevens, Famous Jett Jackson, So Weird, Bug Juice and The Jersey? Boy, I miss my adolescence. I don't miss the miserable days, but I definitely do miss the purity and excitement of everything I felt or experienced. Sometimes I think I am permanently stuck in Neverland. It's so cool to look back at things that you took for granted or just glazed, you find that you really appreciate them after their passing.

I'm also baffled to see how mini Hilary Duff and Shia LaBeouf look. They were babies! The magic of the Disney kids definitely ended when these kids exited. Take another trip down memory lane with the commercial series "Express Yourself":

Hot track: Junior Sanchez ft. Benji & Joel Madden



As you all know I love these boys! But this song is so fun to me. Everytime I hear or see the vid I want to head straight to vegas and party with the DCMA crew. If the Madden brothers released their own album at this time it would've sounded like this. They were at a very dance-techno-rock- pop stage and I can't get enough of it. Ignore Ms. Hilton's presence...this was during her stint as Benji's girlfriend. I can't help but laugh when she enters the room. One thing about Paris, she believes in herself ALOT (a.k.a. she's conceited)!

ENJOY !!

xoxo,

Tia 

Graduation day

Hallelujah! Praise the heavens! I am finito! The feeling is surreal and I must admit that I almost succumbed to bursting into tears, but I contained myself. The most fulfilling feeling was seeing my mother proud. We made it! Her and I did it together. We roughed it out for the past 5 years as I changed majors 3 times and we saw the disenegration of our family. With our broken home came many financial dilemmas which caused me to break from college for a year. But I never gave up and neither did she. While my mother has been battling many problems with her identity as a single parent and woman she has never been selfish or uninspiring. That year she vowed to pull funds from her retirement if I promised to finish school. I agreed and despite the many fee hikes during the year she never complained and I trudged along. My mother's support drove me succeed. If at any time I failed or gave up it was a slap in her face. So here we are...accomplished. I carried my tuition myself this year but I couldn't have done it without my mother or the support of my sisters.

More pictures after the jump:

Best in the Burbs

It's official, Chris Webby's highly anticipated 5th mix tape Best In The Burbs just dropped today, and you better believe I'm listening to it RIGHT NOW! From what I've heard so far I will have to agree with him when he says this is the best he's done yet. So far my favorite track is Starry Eyed, but I also have to say that I like Runaround Web because he samples Runaround Sue on the song, so I fell in love immediately. If you guys want to have a listen for yourself go to http://www.datpiff.com/Big_Mike_Chris_Webby_Best_In_The_Burbs.m180642.html  or go to his youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/ForTheBurbs#p/u/15/8TTK1bqyR-A and check it out. Webby recently sold out his first headlining show at Toad's Place and from what I've heard and seen the show was amazing. This kid is amazing to me and I can't wait for him to get signed because he fully deserves it.

Band Of The Week: The Lostprophets

Last week wasn't the easiest week for me. With a bunch of homework to do before Christmas break and having to deal with all of this immature high school drama, I had to find something that could always pick me up no matter what. That answer was The Lostprophets. I discovered this band last year while I was on DCMA Collective, and at that instant, thanks to Tal Cooperman, I found my new love. I would go on DCMA's website almost everyday just to listen to For He's A Jolly Good Felon. I don't know what it was about this band that was so fascinating to me at that time, but my semi-obsession led me to another one or their songs from their 4th studio album Where We Belong. This song was my pick-me-up everyday after school. It always brought me back to a calm and happy place. They are a phenomenal band that you guys should check out.

Perk up: Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt Dance promo

 I know 500 Days of Summer came out many moons ago, but this video is something that I can't let go of. When I'm gloomy it helps me perk up sometimes.This promo was done for the film and directed by Marc Webb. I found it refreshing that a film was promoted in a more free loving and creative way vs. only a standard trailer. This really cemented my love for Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He is an actor to be cherished in this generation because his talent and work ethic resemble those of Old Hollywood. He can sing, dance, act and who knows what else! Acting is not the limit for him, he is an entertainer.Not to mention he is very attractive and charismatic. Same with Zooey, the song featured on this promo is her very own. She has a band called She & Him and the song is "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here".

Hope this made you all smile too!

xoxo,

Tia

2 fave film franchises, 2 let downs

Anyone seen the Transformers 3 trailer yet? I have and I'm not to happy with it. 

I won't lead you on with a large post. I hate it. I hate what I've seen thus far. Good news is...that is the first of many trailers and only a small portion of the film. So hopefully it gets better. Cool concept, robots on the moon. But ummm... Michael Bay... no Shia in the first peek of  Transformers 3? What were you thinking?! No Optimus Prime? What were you thinking?! The next trailer better be beefed up with LaBeouf, metal, cars, robots and explosions! Don't let us down. The most we are all hoping for is a decent storyline and character development this time around, is that asking too much? I think not.

Check out the trailer below:

 and finally...

 

What in the Kraken is this? It's going to take alot to win me over with this fourth installment. No Will Turner, no Elizabeth Swann, no Calypso/ Tia Dalma, no Flying Dutchman and no Davy Jones! Pretty much no characters that you've bonded with during the first 3 films! Captain Barbosa and  Captain Jack Sparrow are the last of the Mohicans in this film. I love those two characters and adore what Depp has done with Sparrow. I'm not sure if Cap'n Jack vs. a new nemesis ,Captain Blackbeard (blah), make a fourth Pirates film necessary. My advice, bring back Davy Jones and Will and now we're talking! No zombies please. I consider myself a loyal fan of this series, so I'll stick it out and tell ya'll what I think in May.

Nicole Richie's Marchesa wedding dress

The odd anticipation in me has been bubbling up to see Nicole Richie's dress. As a fashion addict I knew it would be a sight to see..and it is! My dream wedding dress that I concoct in my mind every so often has the ingredient of long lace sleeves and a lace bodice. The bottom piece just adds to the awe factor. Her dress was designed by famed design house Marchesa and was custom made for $20,000. Nicole's inspiration for the dress derived from Grace Kelly's wedding dress. It was kind of a shock to see her in something so regal and formal vs. her ritual bohemian look, but I love it. It works for her. The dress elongated her petite frame instead of swallowing her. She looks beautiful and Joel seems happy as hell! Congrats to Mr.& Mrs. Madden!

Grace Kelly & Prince Rainier on their wedding day

xoxo,

Tia

Band/Artist of the Week: Bruno Mars

When I first heard Bruno Mars featured on B.O.B's "Nothing On You" I had complete mixed feeling about this kid. I didn't like the song at all but I liked his voice a lot, and then Travie McCoy's "Billionaire" came out and I started to warm up to him a little bit more. But he just keeps surprising me and winning me over with his undeniable talent. First I fell in love with "Just The Way You Are" and now "Grenade" . He is just too amazing to me and I just can't stop listening to his music.

SNAPSHOTS: Frank Sinatra & Ava Gardner



Sinatra & Ava were one of the great loves of the century. They both loved each other deeply but could not move past the lows of their relationship. They were too similar. Both had an appetite for nightlife, drink, sex, the arts and many other vices. They both feared being alone and shared explosive tempers. Everything about their relationship was public, from their affair while Sinatra was married, to their marriage, their divorce and their remaining friendship. Ava never re-married after Frank and both have referred to each other as the love of their lives. After Ava's crippling stroke in 1986, Frank covered her medical bills due to her financial debt.

Out of all the glamorous actresses from the golden era of Hollywood, Ava is my favorite.

She was beautiful beyond description but she also was an underrated actress. There was an authentic touch in her acting. As with every famous actress in order to see the true talent you must look beyond their epic beauty. She was also a hellcat. Ava took nothing from anyone. She was a handful, a woman who could definitely hold her own. Her temper has its own legend in Hollywood. She once beat Howard Hughes over the head with a glass ash tray (after her punched her and dislocated her jaw) so badly she thought she killed him. Their relationship was too volatile and Ava declined his marriage proposals. She said:

New Year's resolutions...comin up!



The new year is among us and I could not be more excited. I will be graduating from college in 2 weeks which means I will be free! School has transformed me into a better person but it has also hindered me. The amount of time I focus on it leaves a small fraction for me. I've become a safe and routine person. This is wonderful, but it is somewhat boring and unfulfilling. I'm sure many of you can empathize with me. For me to fully explore myself and grow in various ways I've composed my resolutions for 2011.

1. Vacationing

All work, no play. This somehow became my mantra. I didn't intend it to but it just happened. My schedule doesnt permit "fun having". If I wasn't at school, I was working, if I wasn't working I was at dance practice and if I had neither I was doing homework or catching up on sleep. I've been doing this for 3 years straight and this semester I finally cracked. It drove me into a temporary depression. I made the decision to take a month long hiatus from dance to recuperate. I felt the change immediately but without it, my life remains crammed. Vacations don't have to be extravagant, they can be tiny trips. This could be going on a weekend trip to Monterey or Santa Cruz. It must be done every once in awhile, otherwise you lose your sanity. These amongst other things are very cheap alternatives in this economy. I hope to take more mini vacations with the people I love to catch up/bond and live life while I'm young.

2. Wardrobe and Hair Experimentation

This is pretty self explanatory. I have so many amazing clothes in my closet and many of them are NEVER used. Why? I simply don't have the time to wear what I want when I want to. Fashion is something I truly enjoy. I love to shop and I love to create ifferent looks. At work I wear a uuniform and at school I'm so exhausted that I only wear sweats and sneakers. When I participate in outings that's when the real fun begins. It's such a minor thing but it is something that makes me happy.

3.Confidence 

I've struggled with lack of confidence my whole life. I'm not going to lie. I'm a a leader, I'm a bold person but the moment someone tears me down it kills me. Their comments never leave my mind and I take them really hard. This is not healthy as it has put me 2 steps back after taking 3 steps forward. To live with yourself happily you must trust yourself and your judgement. Do not look to others to properly identify yourself because no one knows you like you do. Good friends and people are very hard to find. When you do find them, keep them close and remain loyal. Your true friends and family will always be there to build you back up and offer you truth, not acquaintances. I believe my sisters words over anyone else. They tell me the truth: what I'm good at, what I need to work on, what I'm capable of, what I shouldn't have done etc. It's ok to be an aggressive and ambitious woman. It doesn't make you a bitch, people will call you that because they are uncomfortable by your very presence. I've experienced this my whole life, and when I asked one girl why people I didn't know very well were judging me unfairly she replied, "because you have a strong presence". At the time I thought this was BS, but I've came to realize it could be true and that this is not a bad thing.

   CHEERS TO THE NEW YEAR!

xoxo,

Tia

Band Of The Week: We The Kings

We The Kings is one of my favorite bands. Gotta love them and so this week basically I've been listening to their first self titled album and I fell in love with them all over again. Since I became fully obsessed with them this week I thought 'Hey why not post some of their videos'.