Shiny & New

I am not someone that will pull out my credit card every time they release a new version of one of my favorite gadgets. I am still using my first generation iPhone! So several Kindles have come out since I bought mine 4 years ago and I felt no compulsion to change. Until lately when the battery was having an issue then I heard about a really good deal, if you have an Amazon-Chase credit card, which I do, using promo code KINDLE40 gets you 40% off on Kindles & Kindle accessories through August 15th. Too good a deal for me to pass up.

I opted for the lowest priced Kindle with "special offers", normally $79, I paid just $47! I love it! The glasses above will give you an ideal of the size, it is just 6.5" long (the screen is still 6 inches) and so very, very light weight. The type has more contrast, making it easier to read. The page turn is much faster too and once you get use to it, the navigation is very easy. 

I was also able to use the code to buy this groovy Vera Bradley cover and saved myself another $15. You can also use to buy skins, reading lights and/or chargers, basically all things Kindle, including the Kindle Fire. There is a $100 cap on using the code. If you don't have an Amazon credit card, you can sign up and get a $50 gift card that can also be applied! I really do like this card cause the points you earn show up automatically at check out with the option to apply them to purchases. I am also a big fan of Amazon Prime, I use it more than I ever imagined I would.

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Mission Organization

Some of you will recognize this kawaii cart from last weeks "Want" post. I was able to make it to iKea and bought two. Along with a lot of other stuff I discovered I needed, that store is a little like crack for me. It is a bit more blue than it looks here and you do have to put it together. On my own iKea experience scale of difficulty, I rate it a 4... 2 if you have another set of hands. 

Best of all, its usefulness has exceeded my expectations, it has become a little office on wheels. Not only does my 17" Mac Book Pro fit perfectly, the well like design of the shelves means I do not have to worry about it being knocked off. It is easy to pull it up next to my bed and get to all the gadgets I use regularly... and slide them away easily when I am done. I love it, love it, love it!

Another good find for easy and attractive storage are cast iron wall hooks. I was able to utlilize the space behind my front door with this fun, vintage looking hook that I searched out on Etsy. They come in a variety of styles and finishes. I was not crazy about the color of this one when it arrived so I just sprayed it orange.

A place to hang my many shopping bags, keys & jackets. I also love this rolly ikea shopping cart, which comes in handy for flea or farmer's markets.

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Truck Stop

Every Friday through the end of August the Chef's Center in Pasadena is hosting a Food Fair with different food trucks and local food artisans selling their wares. Giving foodies a chance to sample a few different cuisines at one cozy venue. Last week was my second time and the Border Grill truck was defiantly plenty popular. No surprise since it is owned by two master chefs, Mary Sue Milliken & Susan Feniger. They feature an inovative take on Mexican street food, like these two cones pictured above, one featuring a green corn tamale mixture (so good) and the other a Peruvian ceviche. 

While the Flying Pig offered up some yummy asian fusion. I tried the pork belly bun above, a soft steamed bao bun with pickled onions, a crisp slice of cucumber and pork belly with a spicy "special" sauce. Delicious.  

At my first event, it was pretty hot and a little overwhelming. I think I changed lines about 4 times before I actually ordered. I went with straight American fare, opting for these loaded fries from the Meet n' Potatoes truck. Really tasty, hand cut fries topped with pastrami, lettuce, tomatoes and a special sauce. 

There is a nice camaraderie among foodies at these events and complete strangers are nice enough to let me photograph their meals. Which is a good thing since the loaded fries left no room for anything else. I heard good things from those that sampled the India Jones Truck, pictured above a chicken curry and garlic naan bread. 

My friend Karen Knauer gave a thumbs up to this smoked chicken taco from the Flying Pig. Topped with a mango salsa, green curry aioli and honey roasted peanuts. 

We also tried some mini samosas filed with spinach and paneer from the No Tomatoes truck. Surprisingly light, with a nice flaky crust and a good amount of heat.  In this one trip I sampled, Indian, Asian and Mexican with a total cost of about $17. 

Every Friday, through the end of August, new trucks will roll up to this great little spot serving food from 6-9. They also usually invite a dessert truck and  there are tables set up selling tasty looking, locally made baked goods. There are picnic tables for diners and street parking was plentiful. To make it extra easy you can follow the Chef's Center on Facebook or on Twitter.  

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Want

I find Pinterest very useful for two things; photographic inspiration and for keeping track of items I want & need. I chose some of my favorites to tell you about (many I discovered via other pinners) and at the top of my list are these new Orla Kiely designed Method soap bottles due at your local Target this fall. At just $2.99 each I will take at least two of each. 

I have been wanting this RÅSKOG iKea trolley since I first saw it months ago. I was further inspired when I saw how this blogger used them for bedside tables. I can think of so many uses I may just get two and at only $49.95, why not? 

I am a sucker for pretty packaging (just refer back to the beginning of this post) and Pau & Joe have nailed it with this. Right down to the embossed design on the actual lipstick. ❤❤❤

I love enamel and I love orange and these kettles are just so sweet. Sadly way out of my price range but pinning is free!

If I were to spring for some pricey enamel then make it Cathrineholm, created in part by Norwegian mid century designer, Grete Prytz Kittelsen. It is all highly collectible and increasingly hard to find. I am still on the hunt for my first piece. I pinned this drool worthy collection above via Ampersand Vintage Modern's interesting story behind these designs. 

 

 content © Lara Rossignol

Kawaii Kool

So far it has been a glorious summer in California. I am in what is known as the San Gabriel Valley and it can get pretty darn hot. Luckily, I have central air and some strategically placed fans.

As much as I love the ascetic of a vintage fan, there is a lot to be said about the functionality of the new ones. They also tend to be a lot quieter, so I was excited to find this beautiful Hunter fan, which combines old school design with brand new technology.

I think it is the perfect style + function choice for my bedroom.

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Lucky 13!

It has been an eventful summer for me so far and next week I am shooting a big project for Chronicle Books. It should be a really fun shoot and I am madly prepping, which imo is the most essential step to a successful shoot. Last week, I did two shoots with two very different actresses. A PR shoot with the groovy and super kawaii Janet Varney. Then I got to work with the legendary, three time Oscar nominee Diane Ladd. Those being for a magazine, I will post after they are published. I also have two shoots coming out in issue 10 of Babiekins Magazine.

 

hair & make up by Eric Barnard ~ all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Summer Reading

 Eleanor Rushing, an odd little character plagued with a delusional disorder called Erotomania. I read this one many years ago and it has lingered with me, almost haunting me. Funny, heart wrenching and just the slightest bit creepy. Not available in e-reader form but you can find used copies on Amazon for little more than the price of shipping.

Speaking of creepy, I discovered author Gillian Flynn a few years ago with her first novel Sharp Objects. She has a knack for keeping one glued to a story and same was the case for her next book Dark Places. So I pre-ordered her newest book Gone Girl without even reading the description. It is next up on my reading list and I can't wait to dive in.

Geek Love is one of my all time favorite books and is now available for Kindles. It has had many cover incarnations and was once a rumored David Lynch film project. Katherine Dunn's mesmerizing way with words kept me fully drawn into her odd but fascinating world of circus freaks.

 The Giant's House, may just be my favorite love story of all time. It is about changing one's expectations and discovering an unconventional love as a result. I actually gave a copy as a wedding shower gift to a friend once, I loved it that much. 

We lost a true American treasure with the recent passing of Nora Ephron. One of the great female voices of our time her words are relevant, funny and painfully honest. Two of my favorites; Heartburn a fictional account of her first marriage and the movie version is excellent. I Feel Bad About My Neck: And Other Thoughts About Being a Woman gives women a chance to commiserate and more importantly laugh about the inevitable aging process. 

 content © Lara Rossignol

Happy 4th!

A little salt on watermelon brings out the sweetness. Happy Holiday!

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Sweet 13

Last weekend, one of my favorite subjects officially became a teenager. I took these on my last visit to South Carolina. Cajun, a stubborn, beat up old nag of a horse is the love of her young life.

And I think it might be fair to say, the feeling is mutual. 

Still one of my favorite shots taken when Izzy was barely 4 years old.

To say the years have flown by feels like a serious understatement. A blink, that is how it seems.

Ahhh young love.

 

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Specialization

Photographers are usually defined by what they shoot and back in the day I would have called myself a "fashion & celebrity portrait" photographer. However as I've evolved, the lines have blurred until there are almost none. Still, clients usually just want to see work that pertains to their needs so creating visuals that highlight my specialties seems a timely ideal.

This is where I think Issuu is a fantastic tool. A way to create instant portfolios, easily accessible online. Now with 2 reps to provided materials for, it is also more cost efficient. To view on a tablet use this link.

 

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Double Twist

For a Father's Day brunch, I pumped up the volume on some banana bread muffins with a dollop of Nutella...

... plus a dark chocolate covered pretzel on top. Adding a nice salty & sweet twist. Next time I might try adding some to the batter too. So easy and perfect for any occasion. 

 

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Change of ❤

I finally got a chance to work on a shoot I did before my move west with my friend Amy Chen. When we shot these, Amy was pursuing a career as a Professional Poolplayer. What a difference 8 months makes, not long after shooting these she put away her cues, moved to Florida and went back to school to study animation. 

I was able to easily clone out the pool cue in the first shot, so she can use it for her new career. However because how she is holding the cue in this shot, it is not really possible. One day she may want to return to pool, many pro players have two careers, since pool rarely pays the bills. A pro player I knew said to me once, "It is a strange sport, you have have to work so hard for so little."

Of course I shot some variations without a cue at all. Always a good ideal to mix it up.

hair & make up by Faith Brooks ~all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Sweet Life

Healthy does not have to mean boring and while I am on a personal quest to eat better I have discovered some new favorites. This combo above is just wonderful. A cup of mango non fat greek yogurt with a yummy blend of fruit called Very Cherry Berry Blend. It is in the frozen section of Trader Joe's and is also great paired with ice cream or angel food cake.

Of course it is hard to say no to everything fried, so opt in on an occasional splurge but go with sweet potato fries! Sweet Potatoes are one of the healthiest things on the planet, loaded with A & C vitamins, protein and fiber. An average restaurant serving is about 350 calories and my new favorites are these from North Shore Burgers. 

Sometimes you just have to allow yourself a tinsy splurge... Creme brulee is my all time favorite dessert and Whole Foods makes a single serving take out version that is very good. To keep it even lighter I paredown my entree to just a healthy soup, to balance out this rich treat.

 

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Rep-tastic

I am excited to announce I now have a new east coast agent, James L. Taylor of the newly launched: JAMESreps. James has been in the business for many years, working with some well known agencies. We actually met years ago via a mutual love for pool and played in the same NYC league. His recent decision to start his own agency seemed like the perfect opportunity to finally work together. Yay for serendipity! 

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Happy on a Stick

These "fruit frenzy" pops from Trader Joe's give you a lot of bang for your calorie buck at just 120 per bar. Also at a great price, you get 4 big pops for 1.99. A tasty combo of raspberry, lemon and strawberry, these will be on my shopping list all summer.

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Summer Shoe Love

I am a big fan of Clarks and am loving my brand new Seymour Dive flip flops. Not only are they nice looking but they have a lot more support than the average thong style shoe.

However the true genius of this design is the adjustable strap! So clever I can not believe that I have not seen it before. No two feet are exactly a like and if you're at all like me, your feet can expand and contract at will. How I wish I had these when I flew to Texas last week. I may have to purchase a pair in one of the other colors.

I have been on the hunt for a while for a good athletic shoe that does not hurt my hard to fit feet. I finally found this amazing pair by Rockport. (A belated birthday gift, thanks Mom!) Not only do they fit great, they are amazingly light weight and I think they are pretty kawaii too!

June already! Is it just me or is time just flying by?

FYI: the beautiful cactus textile above is designed by Skinny Laminx.

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Kawaii in Austin

Last weekend I visited my good friends Al and Heather in Austin and they treated me to a little of the local fare. Including some do-nuts from Shipleys, a Texas original.

From the awesome basic cake to sprinkles and coconut covered to cream filled... they offer up plenty of tasty, doughy goodness. And just like Texas, these puppies are big. They also offer "Kolaches" a rolled up bread thingy filled with yummy things like sausage or ham and cheese. Yee haw!

 

model:Maxfield all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Little Splurges

Wonderful 'lette macarons in salted caramel, raspberry and lemon... love these! They are as tasty as they are pretty. The store is located in Pasadena's thriving "Old Town" shopping area. 

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Sweet Inspiration

You know the old saying: When God hands you blueberries... make pie! Spying these below on a recent trip to my local farmer's market gave me the ideal to make some rustic mini pies. 

After washing them and removing any stems, I tossed them in some lemon curd and added a 1/2 cup of sugar. I used a store bought crust and a large round lid to cut out circles of dough and then pressed them into a lightly greased muffin tin. Then I just pricked the bottom of each with a fork before spooning in the filling.

I baked them in a pre-heated, 350 degree oven for about 25 minutes, until the crust was golden brown. Let cool before trying to remove them from the pan. It is ok if they crumble up a bit, it just adds to the "rustic" charm.

Tea Towel via the wondrous Skinny Laminx!

 

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol

Savory Inspiration

Be inspired by what you find when you shop for fresh produce. When I saw this package of mini heirloom tomatoes at my local Trader Joe's, I was inspired by the colors to make a fresh spring salad as a main course for a special lunch.

Letting the tomatoes be the star, I just added some thinly sliced red onion, mache lettuce, avocado and just a bit crumbled goat cheese. 

I used the same simple vinaigrette I described in this post which I like to assemble in a glass storage jar with a tight lid. It makes mixing it easy as well as storing any leftovers.

My very favorite way to eat salad is to add a cup of warm steamed rice just before serving. Not only does it make a more complete meal, but it is so delicious. I use jasmine rice, but you can use any rice you like. It's an especially great way to use leftover rice. To re-steam cold rice, just place in a microwave safe bowl with a damp paper towel covering it and heat for 1 to 2 minutes.

I am not a big kitchen gadget person, I still use a hand mixer (!) but I'm really glad I invested in a rice cooker. I use and highly recommend this low tech and fairly inexpensive Panasonic version. 

 

all photos & content © Lara Rossignol