Monthly Archives: May 2014

Creative Profiles

my rituals: floral designer + illustrator nicole moser of bloem hill

May 9, 2014

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I follow a lot of wedding planners on Instagram and Pinterest not because I’m itching to walk down the aisle, but because a part of me daydreams about becoming an event designer. Let’s be real though, I’d be kind of terrible at it. I don’t love working weekends, I crave a regular schedule, and I’m not the strongest of leaders. So you can understand why I like to live vicariously through them.

Writing for a wedding magazine has helped introduce me to more and more of these peops, and that’s how I stumbled upon Bloem Hill, an Encinitas-based floral design studio led by Nicole Moser. Her bouquets range from rustic and colorful to sleek and monochromatic. Luckily for us, she’s happy to impart her wisdom and recently taught a floral design workshop in partnership with Urban Craft Camp. Plus, she’s a San Diego gal through and through, so I wanted to get to know her a wee bit better.

Today she chats about traveling alone, color-spotting, and the next White Flag event. If you don’t know what the White Flag is, you must read ahead.

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Style + Beauty

transforming flowers into fashion

May 7, 2014

Fashion illustrator Gracie Ciao // My SoCal'd Life, a lifestyle blog

I may be a writer by trade, but I love using this blog as a platform for exploring good design and style. And when I find something good, you better believe I’ll share it with you.

Case in point: These genius fashion illustrations created by Singapore student Gracie Ciao, who bends, shapes, and positions real flower petals into stunning dresses. Besides the vibrant colors, I love how just a little finessing results in texture and volume.

Check her out:

Fashion illustrator Gracie Ciao // My SoCal'd Life, a lifestyle blog

Fashion illustrator Gracie Ciao // My SoCal'd Life, a lifestyle blog

Fashion illustrator Gracie Ciao uses flowers in her creations // My SoCal'd Life, a lifestyle blog

Food

pineapple-coconut chia seed pudding

May 5, 2014

Pineapple-Coconut Chia Seed Pudding recipe // My SoCal'd Life, a lifestyle blog

Chia seed pudding seems to be all the rage in Blog Land, so after Pinning a few recipes to Pinterest, I finally bit the bullet and made a combination that was right up my alley: pineapple and coconut.

A little background: Chia seeds are extremely high in fiber, omega 3s, and protein, and are popular additions to smoothies, yogurt, salads, and baked treats. (I wrote about chia’s then-superfood status for Details magazine back in 2011.) Athletes love its slow-burn properties and throw the seeds in water for a pre-workout “fresca.” Leave the seeds in liquid over time, though, and the mixture turns into a gel, which brings us to pudding!

This chia seed pudding recipe is super easy, and given that I’ve been trying to decrease my sugar intake—I had two porcelain crowns put in at the start of the year, that’s how bad my sugar addiction is—I’m so excited to have a healthier option when I need something sweet.

Here are some pointers:

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Creative Profiles

my rituals: ceramic artist rissa sandman of theCoastal + a giveaway! [now closed]

May 2, 2014

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Coasters. I’d like to thank Pinterest, craft blogs, and Instagram photos of perfectly styled tabletops for popularizing this seemingly minuscule home decor detail. Now I’m nuts for them. The patterns, the colors, the shapes—who knew I’d be gaga for something that keeps water rings off precious tables?

But there I was gawking at Rissa Sandman’s coasters on Pinterest one fateful night. I loved the simplicity of her designs (hand-painted styles that come alive on a blank white slate) and the use of recycled cork on the bottom. (And by the way, she’s currently offering free shipping with a coupon code on her Etsy page!) Even amidst a huge wholesale order, the central Californian carved out time to share her rituals—and a giveaway for a set of handmade coasters! More on that below:

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