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!