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Visit Me at Parachute

Since October 2014, I’ve been working full-time as the Director of Content and Marketing for Parachute, a home essentials brand based in Venice Beach and founded by Ariel Kaye. Parachute is a direct-to-consumer business, and by simplifying the traditional retail process from start to finish, we’re able to deliver premium quality products without the higher price tag.

Beyond the dreamy bedding collections and accessible pricing, I was attracted to Parachute because it’s an eco-friendly and socially responsible company. I’ve never been interested in fast fashion or services that are not environmentally sustainable. So when I discovered that Parachute is made of 100% Egyptian long-staple cotton, manufactured in an Italian mill that’s been family-owned for 80 years, certified Oeko-Tex and packaged in reusable fabric pouches, I was impressed immediately.

Having worked as a writer and branding consultant for many years, I was separately inspired by the public’s growing interest in sleep and wellness. You spend a third of your life in bed, so your sleep experience matters! Working with Parachute has enabled me to research, create and publish content that both enhances your sleep experience and inspires your waking moments – stories that investigate various sleep trackers, educational pieces on choosing a pillow fill that’s best suited for individual sleeping habits, bedroom decorating advice from interior design experts and helpful tips on how to care for different bedding fabrics. It’s smart, it’s fun and it’s content I’d read myself – which makes all of this work extremely rewarding.

So please do check out the Parachute Blog, join us on Instagram @parachutehome, like us on Facebook and all that jazz. I don’t have much free time to post here these days, but my interests and aesthetic are very much part of the Parachute brand identity, so there’s plenty of great stuff to discover there. If you’re interested in partnering with us, please do not hesitate to reach out.

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One of my key takeaways from 2014 is to always have a red sweater on hand.

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Winter blues by the extremely talented elizabethgadd.

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Work by Land

Land is a commercial and artistic design firm by Caleb Owen Everitt and Ryan Rhodes. Based in a brick warehouse shop in East Austin, Texas, these dudes are turning out some of the best and most interesting work I've been seeing lately. In the words of Stay Wild magazine, "their hands are the face of your favorite outdoor brand." And indeed they are. Their typography, art and miscellaneous branding for clients including Poler Stuff, Patagonia, Deus Ex Machina and the like have solidified the look and vibe of the outdoorsy revival. Below are some of my faves...

(Top to bottom: West America, Patagonia, Easy Tiger, Easy Tiger, Yonder Journal, Hufnagel Cycles, West America, Flat Track Coffee, Deus Ex Machina, Poler Stuff, Patagonia, Kartwheel, West America)

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She's Lost In Tokyo

My good friend just left on a jet plane to Tokyo and I'll be living vicariously through her adventures. I've been wanting travel to Japan for ages – somebody get their Tourism Board on the horn! Inspired by her upcoming jaunt and a recent post on Jackie Magpie, here are a few Tokyo snaps from around the interwebs. Their appreciation for pastels is seriously next level...

Fake sushi.

Edible Hello Kitty.

Tokyo intersection.

Kawaii bridge.

Street style.

Tokyo Nakame lanterns.

Strawberry confections.

Kawaii ferris wheel.

[Sources, top to bottom: Javieria Casablancas, Auerpera, ShishixMoshie, Beatriz Marques, Bubblysan, Flyingmonkeys, Malin, MaRi Endo]

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We Are Tiny: A Photo Series by Randy P. Martin

I don't require much reminding to hit the road and discover this great big beautiful world. But I still appreciate the message behind this photo series, We Are Tiny, by Randy P. Martin.  

(Source: Paperfinger; via Fubiz)

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World of Juju

Shout out to Miss Moss for sharing the hidden gem that is Juanel de la Forêt's Instagram feed. A photographer from Cape Town currently working in Paris / London with her partner Jesse-Leigh Elford, de la Forêt takes eye catching snaps of her day to day life between traveling and shoots.

(Source: Miss Moss)

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Photography by Anton Bruehl, 1936. Polka dots, good light and nice lines are timeless.

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The painterly quality of this series by Davis Ayer is extra dreamy. Part of the 'Naked in Gold' project shot in Joshua Tree with some excellent photographers and Instagram stars.

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Burning Man 2014

Instagrams from this year's Burning Man festival are positively mesmerizing. The Embrace sculpture, pictured at top and bottom, is especially profound. Funded in part by a successful Kickstarter campaign, the 72 ft wooden cathedral-like sculpture of two human figures was designed to celebrate relationships and connection. In the words of one viewer, "Watching this work of art catch fire at sunrise on the final day was a most humbling experience...the skin burned to the ground but the integrity of the structure remained. There is a kind of love that withstands everything." Burning Man seems like an experience that must be had, and I intend to go at long last next year. Anyone care to join?

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Instant Life

French photographer Florian Beaudenon's series Instant Life offers a peek into the homes and lives of different men, women and families, inviting viewers to survey their belongings and behaviors from a bird’s-eye view. Very cool.

(Source: mymodernmet, via miapunya)

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Girls and Machines

Girls and Machines is a pretty great tumblr I stumbled upon recently.  Some of the images can be cheesy and/or chauvinistic, but they are all a revelation. As a sociologist and riding enthusiast, I've always been intrigued by the interplay between women and wheels – and by society's representations of the two. Photography throughout history has depicted girls and machines as empowering, fetishistic, sexist (and so forth) depending upon the advertising, propaganda and fashion at hand. Below are a few random favorites from the blog. Check how they differ in their portrayal of women! Wild.

Good Year Tires, 1964.

Mini Cabriolet, 1991.

Ford Mustang, 1969.

Lancia Gamma, 1976.

De Soto-Plymouth Coronado, 1954.

Chevrolet, 1966.

Amante, 1969.

Volvo P1900, 1956.

Peugeot 504, 1971.

Ferrari Studio, 1974.

Pontiac Phoenix, 1979.

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Madonna Inn

Welcome, friends, to the Madonna Inn, the delightfully kooky and kitsch landmark hotel in San Luis Obispo, CA. No road trip up the coast would be complete without a stop at this legendary and conspicuous haunt.

Behind these double doors awaits an explosion of color.  No, seriously, stay back if you have an aversion to pink.

The inn was established in 1958 by Alex Madonna, a successful construction magnate and entrepreneur, and his wife Phyllis. Visitors passing through are welcome to take in the outrageously decorated steakhouse, bar and world famous bakery on site.

There are 110 individually decorated guestrooms, each with a distinct theme and color, for overnight lodging. I didn't stay in any of these gems, but I did enjoy an afternoon and evening of over-the-top confections, martinis and salsa music by the resident Sunday night band. Until next time! (Sources: RebeccaPrus Instagram, TomorrowGirl Flickr, We Are Eat, Madonna Inn)

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Terrific Typography for #DSLettering

I really love the hashtag challenges that Design*Sponge has initiated via Instagram. The venerable blog selects a monthly theme, idea or challenge and collects entries via hashtag, the best of which are showcased on the Design*Sponge website. They've all been beautiful and really fun to partake in, but I think the recent #DSLettering challenge might be my favorite thus far.

In the words of Design*Sponge founder Grace Bonney, "There is absolutely an art and a real skill behind exquisite lettering, and this month’s challenge is about celebrating and showcasing that art everywhere you see it. So when you’re out and about, snap a picture of eye-catching lettering you see near you...signs, cards, details on packaging."

From old roadside signs to new stationery and storefronts, unique Instagrams from around the world were shared via #DSLettering. The typography above is among some of the most striking for me. (Sources, top to bottom: Mas_Vale, Lovelydetails, Saltabie, ScoutsHonorCo, Susie_Bauer, DsgnCuriosities, AModernMythology, ltburke, ValerieLily, ThePaulRudolph, Clewis10, Anyeske)

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Pari Dust

Pari Dust is a sublime art and fashion blog I started following earlier this year. In the simple words of its creator Pari Ehsan, the site presents "style inspired by all the exquisite art and architecture that surrounds me." And that's what I love: beyond the beautiful fashion she wears, the carefully considered hair and makeup...is a singular and perfectly executed vision. So many blogs try to be so many things, but hers is focused and one of a kind.

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Catalina Island: A Birthday to Remember

To celebrate my birthday this year, I explored Catalina Island for the first time. I snorkeled, swam, biked, boated, ate, drank and watched a full moon rise over the coast of California. Sigh, what a day...

Unbeknownst to me, Catalina Island is considered 'The Birthday Island' -- meaning free ferry ride, free ice cream, free coffee, free parasailing, and all sorts of other deals on activities, shopping, dining and lodging.

I suggest bringing a bike on the ferry to cover a little more ground. Then be sure to explore Avalon Harbor, the iconic Catalina Casino, Descanso Beach and have a Bloody Mary at Marlin Club Bar. I was only there for the day but it was totally worth it. I look forward to touring the rest of the island some time this summer!

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Dusty rose and soft blue over downtown LA.