It was a chalkboard scribbled with “Surf Board” that drew me in. Charity Hestead had Instagrammed a shot of the board, and I just loved the hilarious mix of DIY dainty and raunchy Beyonce. Since Instagram is a bit of a rabbit hole, I descended deep into her feed to find a fellow San Diegan, social media maven, and vintage shop owner with a penchant for crafting, hiking, and a strong commitment to Beyonce lyrics. (Another chalkboard shot reads, “I woke up like this.”)
I asked Charity to tell me a bit about herself and her rituals, because if a girl has that kind of taste in song lyrics, she must have good taste in everything else, too. Today she talks about no-regret donut breakfasts, growing a garden in an apartment, and doing the long distance thang.
I haven’t spent all that much time in Pacific Beach, a typical SoCal coastal neighborhood with surfers, skaters, party hoppers, and the like. But I have spent enough time there to know about the famous Slomo, who frequents the boardwalk on roller blades… on one leg… and in slow motion.
As it turns out, Slomo is actually 69-year-old John Kitchin, a former neurologist who decided to leave his life of materialism and working himself “into oblivion” to, quite simply, do what he wanted. And what we wanted to do was skate.
In this New York Times documentary, filmmaker Josh Izenberg gets to know the man behind Slomo, who talks about taking the other fork in the road, the neurological pleasures of skating, and why he used to be a self-proclaimed asshole. It’s a very cool film that serves as a great reminder to step back every once in a while, evaluate the day to day, and decide if what you’re doing in life is as fulfilling and thoughtful as you’d want it to be.
Say what you will about social media, but sometimes it can lead to really wonderful things, like discovering Young Hickory, a part-cafe, part-beer bar spot in North Park. I had seen an Instagram of their acai bowl, which first piqued my interest, but once I found out they brew Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, I was sold. It didn’t hurt that their logo and decor scheme are totally amazing, too.
St. Patty’s Day, the dog beach, Imperial Beach, Alchemy’s 5th anniversary party, the South Park Walkabout, and a night I managed to stay out past 11pm (shocker!) — here’s a look at March.
The cupcake pan: vehicle for delicious sweets but capable of so much more. Quick breakfasts, healthy muffins, perfectly portioned desserts—here are a few ways to make use of the totally versatile kitchen tool.
When I lived in New York, I think I bought an article of clothing or an accessory once a week. That doesn’t speak well about my spending habits, but that’s just what happens when you’re in a pedestrian-friendly city. I’d walk everywhere, pass by H&M, and walk out with something I probably didn’t need but loved nonetheless. Fashion was really important to me as a young person in a big city, working in a creative field.
But those style habits came to a screeching halt when I backpacked for a year and then moved to laid-back SoCal and began working from home. When I moved to San Diego, I was either working at the kitchen table or playing at the dog park. Plus, to grossly generalize, I felt like no one else here cared about style, so why should I?
Well now the sartorial tides have shifted. For starters, I’m working in an office (at San Diego Magazine while an editor is on maternity leave) and the motivation to dress up is so much greater. But more than that, I’m realizing that frankly, I do give a damn. And though San Diego doesn’t embody the epitome of style, there are some really stylish women who give a damn, too.
I first spotted Regina Morrison’s accessories line, Acute Designs, at beloved San Diego boutique Pigment in North Park. I loved how delicate the earrings looked—simple enough to jive with San Diego’s laid-back dress code but still unique and stylish. Once I discovered her headbands and hair pieces, that’s when I really fell in love. They’re intricate, delicate, and feminine, worn just as easily for your wedding as they are to a nice dinner out.
Regina herself is an inspiring woman. A former slave to the 9-5, she quit her day job and found her way to owning a business. A self-made woman indeed! Today she shares a peek into her creative process, which involves her two awesome dogs among other things.
And make sure to scroll all the way through: We’re giving away an awesome Acute Designs piece!
Thanks to A Pair of Pears, I recently discovered the awesome work of South African artist Lorraine Loots, and I just had to share. For every day of 2013, Lorraine decided to make a tiny painting (“for ants”)—everything from dogs to surfers to landscapes. Going into the new year, she’s continued the practice, and it’s a good thing she did—her miniature portraits are detailed, beautiful and a testament to creativity. Here are some of my favorites:
