The Art of Philanthropic Footwear

What do you get when you combine a visionary philanthropist, an "artsy/hipster" aesthetic and shoes? The correct answer would be TOM'S Shoes, a company that matches every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. Most people have so many pairs of shoes in their closets that they have to stack, shove and pile them in. I take so many things for granted and when I'm being mindful of all of the things I take for granted, I don't even think about not having a pair of shoes on my feet. I can't imagine going a day without shoes, can you? 


Well, in 2006, my future husband who doesn't know me or that we will one day be married, Blake Mycoskie, was traveling in Argentina and was moved by how many children didn't have shoes (How sexy is that, a sensitive man...sigh). Many children in developing countries can not afford shoes and are at risk for injury, infection and soil-borne diseases. Moreover, many schools require children to wear shoes and the ones who can not afford them don't go to school and receive an education.

photo courtesy of Toms blog. Shoe drop in Argentina.

TOMS not only supplies shoes to children in need, they also raise awareness with campaigns like One Day Without Shoes and the One For One Movement. I love this quote by my future husband, Blake Mycoskie, "Giving is what fuels us. Giving is our future."

photo courtesy of giving partner operation blessing

I just purchased one of the newest TOMS styles, a cool crochet pattern. They go with everything and are so comfortable, they form to the shape of your foot! I just wore mine to a gallery event last night. Little black dress plus TOMS= dynamite. Take a look at the TOMS webpage, "How We Wear Them," to get some great outfit ideas (If you're looking for the perfect shoe to complement your wedding gown, look no further 'cause TOMS has your back). You can dress them up or down and the more pairs you have, the more pairs underprivileged children around the world have! TOMS boasts many cool new styles- their design team is super talented and creative. 

The silver women's glitters may be my next TOMS purchase.

OR, a pair of tiny TOMS for my future hipster baby.

I love when art, creativity and doing good all come together to form a badass concept like TOMS. 

Search Amazon.com for toms shoes

Artist Spotlight: Russell Stephenson

Frankly, I am obsessed with abstract artist Russell Stephenson's multi-layered and meditative paintings. They're masculine and sexy, to be quite blunt. I half expected them to smell of leather-bound books and rich mahogany. I've heard paintings described as "sexy," but I guess I just hadn't met one in person yet. Stephenson's series, "Approaching Infinity," is "sexy" done well; no cheaply painted nude women with puckered lips or uninformed slash abruptly applied brushstrokes of an abstract artist who thinks they're de Kooning incarnate. Stephenson's work is abstract art done well. Upon viewing his deceptively "simple" canvases, one is absorbed by the complexity of layers and gradations of color- all deliberately painted. One finds themselves transfixed and unknowingly serenaded into a contemplative, meditative state. 

Russell Stephenson, "Approaching Infinity", oil on panel, 48"x60"

Stephenson is a native Texan who paints full-time while also employed as the professor of drawing at The International Academy of Art and Design in San Antonio. His academic training as an artist clearly reflects in his latest series. Stephenson studied multiple mediums throughout his education, (sculpture being one medium, which explains the sculptural quality of his paintings) receiving a BFA from College of Art at Portland, Oregon and a MFA from University of Texas at San Antonio. He is exhibited and collected nationally. 

My interior design eye can't help but share with you how gorgeous Stephenson's work could look in a residence or office, so,  I have photoshopped his paintings into various interiors. Plus, I am a huge advocate of supporting the arts (duh, I mean I have a blog dedicated to this topic) and helping others discover original artwork and how it's waaaaayyyyy cooler than defaulting to generic prints that millions of other people also have hanging above their sofa at home. Original artwork can also be done inexpensively, so don't give me that excuse either!

photo courtesy of PBC Style, Todd Romano. Stephenson, "Flux," oil on panel

photo courtesy of House & Home. Russell Stephenson,
"Dreamland 1," oil on panel

photo courtesy of the style files. Stephenson,"Dreamland 2", oil on panel



photo courtesy of apartment therapy. Stephenson,"Transcendental Excursion," oil on panel

photo courtesy of decor pad, nate berkus. Stephenson, "The Limit Does Not Exist,"
oil on panel, 48"x40"

photo courtesy of apartment therapy. Stephenson,"Flux", oil on panel

photo courtesy of urban farmhouse. Stephenson, "Plateau," oil on panel, 36"x36"

The Art of Haircare: Agadir Argan Oil

If you haven't heard of Agadir Argan Oil yet, then let me rock your world by informing you about this lil' magical potion that will seriously transform your locks. 

It's pressed from the fruits of the Argan tree, a native Moroccan wonder that blah, blah, blah, blah...all you need to know is that this little bottle packs a big punch. It moisturizes and replenishes your hair, but the best most amazing part is that it's super lightweight and non-greasy. It's perfect for us working girls in that you can quickly apply it in the a.m. before blow drying and leave it in all day for continuous conditioning, protection and shine. 

I've recently been trying to grow my hair super long and was introduced to Agadir Oil by my incredible hair stylist Lisa (no, seriously, she's super talented. I mean, she just did 2011 Paris freakin' fashion week!!!) at Twirl hair salon, THE coolest hair salon in all of San Antonio. I need to blog about it, it looks like Wonderland in there. Anyways, super long hair gets damaged and "scragly" easily, but mine has completely transformed since using Agadir Oil. It's literally a miracle- no tangles & flyaways, fewer split ends, manageability, considerably shinier AND my hair still has volume (amaazzinnggg). Usually, leave-in conditioners and other moisturizing products weigh down hair making it impossible to achieve both body and health. Well ladies, we can have it all now! Yes, you can have your cake and eat it too! 

Every gal needs a bottle of this magical elixir. Agadir oil is to fabulous hair as linseed oil is to an oil painting. To master the art of having gorgeous hair, Agadir Argan Oil is a must.

Mastering The Art Of The Margarita

Any of my friends can attest to the fact that I DO NOT mess around with my margaritas. They're a true art form and a bad marg can turn you off for the rest of your life. I am here to redeem the margarita. And when I say margarita, I do not mean that phosphorescent frozen neon green radioactive crap.Now, when I order a margarita, I don't want it to taste like melted Sourpatch Kids candies or reflect what that calorie content would be. If you use a sweet & sour margarita mix, you might as well be slurping up congealed & frozen Sourpatch Kids. Gross. As Tina Fey/Liz Lemon would say, this is a "DEALBREAKER." Never ever ever ever ever ever use sweet & sour mix and call it a margarita, it's a disgrace to margaritas all around the world.You ask, how then can I make a real margarita? Well, I am willing to share my fabulously fresh, amazing and lower cal elixir. 

The Perfect Margarita

Coarse Sea Salt- for rim of glass

Chile Powder- I recommend "Trechas"

Ice

1 1/2 oz. tequila blanco- use 100% agave. I like Cuervo 1800

1 1/3 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice- use key limes, they're slightly sweeter than the regular lime

1/2 oz. Cointreau

1/2 Tblsp. agave nectar

1. Squeeze a few extra limes into shallow dish. 

2. In another shallow dish, mix coarse salt and Trechas chile powder together.

3. Dip rim of glass into dish of lime juice and then into dish of salt and chile powder mixture.

4. Fill glass with desired amount of ice; add lime juice, agave nectar, tequila, Cointreau in that order,  I've found it mixes best this way and melts less ice.

5. Stir a few times until evenly mixed and chilled

6. Serve and enjoy the perfect margarita!

If you are SUPER lazy and want an even quicker but still relatively low cal margarita, enjoy the one minute margarita:

One Minute Margarita

1/2 c. Simply Limeade- organic and not super sugary 

1 lime per glass you intend upon making

1 oz. tequila blanco per glass

1. Fill glass with desired amount of ice.

2. Pour tequila and simply limeade over ice.

4. Squeeze lime into glass, stir until evenly mixed and enjoy.

San Antonio, TX. boasts some awesome margaritas if you know which ones to order. My all time favorites are:

#1 SoLuna Restaurant's Margarita Chispa- Best margarita of my life. Super light, crisp and refreshing. It's made with fresh squeezed limes and all of the good stuff. I've tried to find a restaurant that serves a better margarita and I've never ever found its commensurate. Be careful though, these bad boys are muy fuerte (very strong). 

#2 Urban Taco's Margarita Classico- Great and refreshing margarita. Not quite as light and crisp as the chispa, but dang good, especially when paired with their taco trio platter. Also, Urban Taco is home of these incredibly addictive, perfectly seasoned Jicama chips that are half the carbs & calories of regular chips and not as filling. They are awesome but highly addictive.

#3 La Gloria's Margarita Classico- Also a refreshing & delicious margarita. Specializing in Mexican street food and situated in San Antonio's "it" place, the Pearl Brewery, La Gloria has a great vibe, food and most importantly, margaritas. It's the perfect place to take out-of-towners to or to visit if you're a tourist looking for great places in San Antonio.

A Daring "Palette"

As far as I'm concerned, eating is an art form; especially when it comes to refining your palate and broadening your mind to embrace the exotic. Exotic and amazingly delicious is just what my boyfriend and I recently found deep in the heart of San Antonio... Kohinoor, a little "hole-in-the-wall" restaurant serving up authentic and scrumptious Pakistani food. Most places scrimp on expensive spices and Kohinoor is not one of those places. Each dish is laden with beautiful and colorful spices and the flavor mirrors that.

Kohinoor. 8513 Starcrest Dr., San Antonio, TX. 78217

The owners and employees couldn't be more welcoming and friendly. They helped guide us through our selections, laughing along with us at our novice in the area of Pakistani cuisine. AND, they remembered us and how many times we had visited each time we stepped in the front door. I felt pretty special, not gonna lie. I couldn't urge my friends and family more to branch out and go on an adventure to Kohinoor for some yummy yummy food! Here are my suggestions for anyone cool enough to venture out and try something new!

Apparently, I was informed by my boyfriend that I was a freak for LOVING the salty lassi drink and I raised the brow of Ali, the restaurant owner's son, when I ordered it,  but I think its so refreshing and exactly what I want to drink on a hot summer day in San Antonio. Truth be told, I have had a salty Lassi before, one of my friends in college who was from Karachi, Pakistan introduced me and I acquired the taste for it. Basically, it is a traditional yogurt-based drink that is blended with water and regional spices (sometimes mint too-my fav).

The Butter chicken (pictured above) is one of our all time favs. Look at all of the herbs and spices in there, its unreal to find this high quality at such a reasonable price. This dish is pretty spicy, but I am a complete and total spice wuss. Despite the inferno in my mouth, I couldn't stop eating it because it was so so so so so so so good!

  Pictured above is the chicken karahi. AMAZING as well. The chicken was so tender it almost fell off the bone before I could eat it. The naan is as close as you can get to heaven, it tastes like you're eating a warm fluffy cloud. Honestly, I've not had one sub-par dish at Kohinoor. It isn't all that spicy, just has a lil zing to it. 

I've got a lot more to try on the menu and am sure that each new dish will be as tasty, high quality and authentic as the latter. If you're lookin' to spice up your life, I HIGHLY recommend swinging by Kohinoor!

The Art of being Gwyneth Paltrow- A Poor Girl's Guide: Part 2

Dearest Gwyneth,


How DO you do it all? As soon as the clock struck 6:00 pm and work was finally over, I transformed from "chic" art consultant to tired working girl sporting Nike shorts, an old sorority tee and my fabulous go-to coiff, a sloppy samurai inspired bun. While I did fall short of being Gwyneth-esque whilst cooking away in the kitchen, the girls and I did manage to cook up a gourmet and budget-friendly meal by revamping Gwyneth's Duck Ragu recipe from her new cookbook, My Father's Daughter. I don't wanna brag, but it was DELICIOUS and fed up to six people for a whopping $19.87. Here is the just as yummy but "ramen noodle price tag" and working girl 30 min recipe:

Poor Girl's Gwyneth Wanna-be Chicken Ragu:


1  H-E-B Original Rotisserie Chicken (pre-cooked)
3  Tablespoons Olive Oil (extra virgin schmirgin...most ppl lie about that anyway...)
Sea Salt
Ground Black Pepper
1  Med. yellow Onion, Peeled & Diced
2  Med. Carrots, Peeled & Diced
2  Med. Celery Stalks, Diced
5  Cloves Garlic, Peeled & Minced
2  5 in. Sprigs Rosemary, Remove Leaves & Mince
3  14 oz. Cans Peeled Whole Tomatoes With Juices
1  c. Red Wine (Franzia will do...not. It's never ok. Trust me, I witnessed a friend find that out in college)
1/4 c. Tomato Paste, Plus 2 More Tablespoons
1  1b. Pappardalle 
Grated Parmesan

1. Saute minced onions, carrots, celery, rosemary and garlic in olive oil in large & relatively deep saucepan over medium high heat. Stir occasionally until softened, about 15 minutes, then lower to simmer.
2. While vegetables are cooking, shred rotisserie chicken into small chunks, they don't have to be perfect.
3. Boil water and cook pasta. I usually add a dash of olive oil and salt to boiling water- it gives the noodles an extra little zing and the oil keeps the noodles from sticking together in a big lump.
4. Add tomatoes with their juice, tomato paste, chicken and wine to saucepan. Throw in a large pinch of sea salt and sprinkle with pepper. Bring to a boil, then allow juices to simmer together until you're ready to serve over Papardalle!
5. Divide pasta amongst bowls, add the ragu sauce and shred parmesan cheese over each serving.

Another great recipe we tried last night was inspired from Gwyneth's cookbook, but my friend Stuart (Check out her blog, Gypsey Caviar) added her own little zing to it!


Gypsey Caviar Kale Chips

Fresh Kale- however much you wish to cook

1. Preheat Oven to 400 F

2. De-stem & De-stalk Kale 

3. Toss Kale in Bowl With Olive Oil, Sea Salt, Cracked Black Pepper & Dash of Chili Powder 

4. Spread single Layer of Kale Onto Baking Sheet & Cook Unitl Crispy, About 15 Minutes

5. Enjoy This Crispy Superfood Snack!

This Photo Looks Super Blurry & Is A Weird "Hulk" Green, But You Get The Picture

  

The Art of being Gwyneth Paltrow- A Poor Girl's Guide: Part 1

My girlfriends and I have always been mesmerized by the enigma that is Gwyneth Paltrow. How the hell does the woman juggle it all and still manage to look effortlessly chic? I mean, she even looks messy-ethereal gorgeous when snapped by the paparazzi having a wardrobe malfunction going through airport security- and ladies, we all know that airport security is about the most unflattering and unchic place on Earth - this, my friends, is a freak-of-nature situation that only Gwyneth could emerge from triumphant!

Evidence.

So, when I received Gwyneth's newest cookbook, "My Father's Daughter", for my birthday from one of my favorite people in the world, Christie, I knew it would be sheer and utter "Palfection" (Paltrow + perfection). I poured over each glossy page with my disastrously chipped and chewed on nails, hoping to uncover the secret ingredient for "Palfection." Much to my chagrin, I only found photos of perfectly flaxen haired beauty "sweating" (let's be real, Gwyneth doesn't sweat like us mere mortals, she glistens) over beautifully roasted rosemary chicken, buttered corn and duck ragu.

This is exactly what I wear in the kitchen...

I also look like this whilst sniffing fresh produce at the store.

While the rest of humanity can't be married to an English rockstar, star in academy award winning movies, record CD's, manage an incredible blog (Confession: I have been a GOOP devotee since its very beginning), work out every day (or once a month in my case), become a top notch chef & write a cookbook all while juggling motherhood and effortless chicness, we can pretend to for one night and parody ourselves in the company of best friends. 

Thus, I lay the groundwork for The Art of being Gwyneth Paltrow- A Poor (Working) Girl's Guide: Part 2, an evening in which my dearest friends, Mary and Stuart, and I will attempt to juggle it all and cook a Gwyneth meal from her new cookbook. But, we can't quite afford ingredients such as duck and duck bacon, so we will be adapting it to fit our "ramen noodle lifestyles." Tune in tomorrow to see how we transformed Gwyneth's Duck Ragu recipe into a wallet friendly and quick "working girl" concoction...all the while looking "painfully chic" after a long day's work. 

Can we pull it all off and achieve "Palfection?"... Tune in tomorrow to find out!

Photos courtesy of google images.

A Couture Corgi

After my last blog entry about the incredibly awesome art form known as yarnbombing, I decided to brush up on my knitting skills and start a new knitting project. So, I headed down to the local Yarn Barn for inspiration along with my crafting partner in crime, my mother. The Yarn Barn is a Mecca filled with brightly colored threads, needlepoint patterns, helpful employees and as I uncovered, doggie couture books. (Confession: My family is one of those weird ones that LOVES dressing up their pets. For Halloween, Christmas and Easter, you will find our dogs sporting bunny ears, Santa hats and devil horns. Our Shih Tzu even donned an English tea hat for our Wills & Kate royal wedding party. It's weird, but we've all got a few quirks...)

HRH Mimosa Farrah Fawcett, Duchess of San Antonio

After spending a ridiculous amount of time at the barn and awkwardly trying to contain my laughter over the doggie sweater books, I finally concocted a plan for my knitting project: a bowtie for my boyfriend's new Corgi puppy, "Henry," who is quite the little gentleman.

He needs a bowtie to match his "gloves"- his white lil paws look like gloves, am I right?

I based my pattern on a few that I found in the doggie couture books and on Ravelry.com, an awesome website with free patterns that the sweet girl at Yarn Barn told me about. Below is an adorable photo of a pattern by Posh Pooch designs, which I am basing most of my pattern on but adapting from crochet to knitting.

How adorable will this look on Henry?!

The Yarn Barn had so many different yarns that it was nearly impossible to decide on just one. I finally chose a very "refined" cranberry tweed that should look very becoming on Henry. I haven't gotten very far on the bowtie as I fell asleep on the couch thirty mins into knitting, but here it is thus far:

I will be sure to post the finished bowtie as soon as I bind off! If there are any other doggie couture knitters out there in the blogosphere, I'd love to hear about your projects and pattern suggestions!


-B

Grafitti, Granny Style

ATTENTION GRANNIES: Knitting is no longer just for making your grandchildren itchy Christmas sweaters they'll never actually wear. It's now an international urban subculture of artists who refer to their work as "Yarnbombing," knitting onto urban structures. Some call it grafitti, some call it art. Whatever it may be, its "bomb" (yes, a pun was intended), and I love the colorful and kitschy vibe it exudes. Plus, some yarnbombing is comedic genius expressed via yarn and needle. Knitted hats and 80's throwback legwarmers on sculptures are playful and silly. My personal favorite is the knitted bikini and sweatband on a nude reclining woman sculpture, my college art history professor would faint. 

I love that you can't help but smile as you walk by, which is one of the central purposes of yarnbombing. How cool are these artists!? They are like fuzzy vigilanties, spreading smiles and joy across the city one stitch at a time. Their slogan is actually, "Improving the urban landscape one stitch at a time," so I can't take all of the credit for the latter corny comment....

Visit http://yarnbombing.com for more information on this awesome art movement or to see where the next yarnbombing will occur in your city!

Guns and Grits and Pearls, Oh My!

Oh My! is a common reaction when it comes to San Antonio artist Robert Tatum's work. That, and giggles mixed with raised eyebrows, especially when one is faced with a painting of a vixenish and buxom deer wearing a Madonna inspired bustier and pearl necklace...


Tatum's graphic design background and Venice Beach laid-back California attitude definitely come across in his artwork. The instant you meet him, you feel like you could pop open a cold one and talk about anything and everything under the sun, no pretenses. 


The work in his current exhibit, "Insert Clever Title Here," has a similar disarming and easygoing nature. Tatum, like his art "put it all out there," inviting others to do the same and discuss things that aren't necessarily status quo, laughing it off. Tatum is the first to tell you about his go go dancer mother and joke about "the white trash elements" of his family. It's refreshing. After all, everyone's got a stripper or weird uncle in the family. Tatum's work reminds me to relax, call a spade a spade and cut up about it with friends and family. As art critics say, great art evokes a feeling/message/universal truth and right now Tatum's work is telling me to go grab a Corona with my friends... here's to you Ruskin, Alloway and Roberta Smith. Cheers!


View more of Robert Tatum's work at: http://www.anartegallery09.com/tatum.html