Total Getaway.

Exactly a week ago to the hour, I was packing my bag and running off to borrow a tent for a little weekend camping trip with my friends (& best travel companions) Monica and Vanessa!!  It was only a 30-hr vacation, but I have to say it was the best 30-hr escape I've had in a lonng time! Since we got back both Vanessa and I edited together our own J.T. road trip video, compiling our own video footage and photos.  It's pretty cool watching both to see the different footage!! So watch, enjoy, and then make a trip to Joshua Tree yourself :))

The Lorax from GoldenGirl Olive on Vimeo.  V is for Olive Blog

Clearly, we had a particular soundtrack to this road trip because Vanessa and I did NOT conspire to both use songs from Foster the People.  But I will take credit for introducing them to my latest obsession!!

One of the main purposes of this trip was to visit this place called the Integratron that Vanessa had seen featured in a documentary.  Built back over a magnetic field back in the 40's, this acoustically perfect building was scientifically designed to heal and nurture the body through sound.  Our curiosity was sparked and the little hippies inside us were psyched to explore what they refer to as a "sound bath."  I am a skeptic of many kinds, but the Integratron was super rad and after a 30-min sound bath and baby nap my friends and I emerged from the dome feeling renewed inside and out!  Anyway, I highly recommend you check it out if you haven't heard about it.

Hope you have WONDERFUL weekend!!

See MORE Photos AFTER the jump!!

San Francisco, you steal my heart away.

A little photo montage to take you though my road trip to San Francisco!! Regardless of it ups and downs it was a fun trip.  And like always, a little part of my heart feels as though it was left behind in this amazing city.  Sit back, relax, LA--> SF here we come! Hope you enjoy..

I don't know that I suggest my driving style, it doesn't appear to be the safest..  :) 

Pit stop..

I'm not all that into tourist havens like Carmel.. So I made my rounds then waited at the car.

Check out the little photo montage I created with the photo I took on my first trip ever to New York City this past December.  It's such an amazing city.  So much so, that in a year from now I hope to be living there.  I know exactly what I want; an awesome space/loft in Brooklyn to share with a couple of really cool, artistic and ambitious people (& clean!).  Sooo...if your in...let me know :)



Feel free to comment on youtube, and follow my channel.  More fun videos will be coming :)

life can get so complicated.

But it's okay.  Everything I put myself through will make for a really good story one day.  So yeah, my three week old Isuzu Rodeo passed on to engine heaven yesterday.  Kind of my fault.  Sometimes I have this tendency to push things to the absolute limit.  I'm one of those people that will drive around on E, leave  at the very last moment possible, and agree to be in fifty places at once.  I like the adrenaline rush that is derived from the idea of not knowing if I will be able pull it off.  And knock on wood, I usually pull it off.  I've only ran out of gas once, and really I was just being stupid when that happened.

So when I knew that I should probably get my oil checked before I headed up to SF, the 'risk taker voice' stepped in and said, meh its fine, just go.  And in all fairness, my oil was supposably changed and checked three weeks prior.  But its weird because I also felt like something was going to go wrong, I just had this feeling like.. your not going to make it there like you planned.  I don't know why, I'm usually really good about listening to that inner voice thing, but for some reason, this time, I was like whatever, I'm sure it will be fine.  But as it turns out.. yeah, not so much.  Now I am without my Isuzu, and back in L.A.  What sucks is that I feel like I ran smack into a brick wall.  I am without an operating car and without a home. And without a way to get to San Fran.  Anddd.. most of all my belongings are in Chicago.  Ugh.  For the last few months I've been going through this weird streak where every set of plans I make falls through the grates, sucking me into the current of unexpectancy.  I'd be lying if I didn't admit to enjoying it, but now I really just want a cute little apartment (or room) to call my own and decorate.  Not to mention how ready I am for a job with a little regularity and structure.

Heres a little photo montage of my morning yesterday.

Its 7:30am, ready to hit the road..

San Fran get ready..

And I'm off!

Engine trouble.. there is absolutely no oil.

yeah, that's my pouty face..

waiting for my friend Monica to save the day

boredom on the shoulder of the freeway.

seriously, its 114 degrees outside. no air.

watching semis fly by..

my poor baby..

off to the nearest mechanic.

After hearing I needed a new engine..

we headed to margaritaville

 to ease the pain..

i like my lips..

..like i like my bread.  "NOT SOGGY." [[Thanks Gitis, for the way you put that, it was the hardest laugh all day.]]  When you talk to your bff that lives in Nashville (aka. too far away) funny discussions are bound to come up.  And in this case, it was lips.  I am very particular with what I like, thats all I'm going to say.  And when you find something you like (and if that doesn't happen very often) you have to try and hope you can hang onto it.  Thats assuming there is something to hang onto.

Its been another fab day in San Fran!  I got new tires, my spare is back where it belongs, I found a promising potential job, did a little networking, met some fun people, found a fab little jewelry shop and best of all, I think I have decided on what area I would love most to live in!! Not only that, but this city is so inspiring and I totally NEED to live here.

Some people need caffeine to wire them up, other people need drugs.  All I need is ridiculous amounts of inspiration.. art.. passion.  Right now there is so much build up inside, my hands are jittery.  I'm feeling that sudden urge to jump up and down and scream.  However, I am attempting to repress these desires until tomorrow.  I need a studio, BADDDD.  I want to draw and paint so desperately.  What sucks is that I have my old huge sketch pad in the back of my car, but all of my pencils, pens, brushes and paints are back in Chicago.  I'm about to go to Blick and just re-buy it all.  Only, I'm sure I can't afford to do that.  Ugh.

I think I'm going to have to admit that driving back to Chicago with all of my belongings was not the best move.  But how was I to know.  Well, okay thats a lie, I should have known.  I never liked the state of Illinois.  I could go on serious hate rant.  Like, for example: the people have no sense of style, there is no individuality, so much of everything is commercial and/or part of a corporation/franchise, people think you're crazy if you eat healthy, everything is way too spread out, all of the houses look the same (&ugly), most of the guys are d.bags, very few people have any real drive or motivation to do something great with their lives, etc etc.  I am not a fan.  [San Francisco on the other hand, polar opposite.]

The thing was, I needed to get out of Los Angeles. I had lived there for five years, I was too comfortable.  I still love it but I needed to shake things up.  I wanted a city with a little more soul, and not as spread out.  I want to not have to use a car.  Then I thought, oh I'll go back to Chicago, be the better daughter, sister, grand-daughter, whatever...and be close to my family.  Okay, and mostly I wanted to be in a close proximity to my three closest friends that I love and miss so terribly.  I felt bad not being able to be there for my little (and twice the size of me) brother, and my mom.  Then no one can make me feel worse for being so far then my grandparents..  So I caved, even though the thought made me sick to my stomach.

And it was lame.  I tried it for just over a month, and I spent most of that time imaging that I was somewhere else.  I tried to work my ass of making jewelry, editing, and other misc tasks, but I was so bored in my environment that it was often forced.  It was fun to hang out with my friends, I did enjoy our dance parties, midnight drunken bike ride escapades, but I imagine that can only be exciting so many times.  And I know we have just as much fun (if not more..) skinny dipping in Hollywood.

So in conclusion, and I hope this doesn't sound mean, but I'd rather be selfish than hate my life.  I was as empty and irritated there as I am excited and inspired here.

I don't regret driving back though, I had a great road trip with my brother!  It makes me so happy that we're able to talk about almost anything (with zero awkwardness), have fun, be silly, and rock out to music. For as much as we get along, we sure do know how to piss each other off though.  But the time spent was well worth it, and I think it made up for some of the lost time.

And look, this city is already motivating me enough to blog each day...
suki suki..

An Adventure Back in LA.

Spontaneity is the quality of being able to do something just because you feel like it at the moment, of trusting your instincts, of taking yourself by surprise and snatching from the clutches of your well-organized routine a bit of unscheduled pleasure.

- Richard Iannelli

It was a fabulous, unintended three weeks.  There are no words to express how grateful I am for my old and new friends in this city.  I came back on a whim, and I have to admit, its was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made.. ever.  I flew back with two bags, one filled with my jewelry designs and supplies, the other filled with my belongings.  It was the most liberating feeling to know that at that moment in time, I held in each hand my only responsibilities. I was returning with three priorities: (1) showcase my jewelry line at a few events, network, expand the exposure and sales of Garage Gypsy, (2) buy my old, inexpensive 'dream' car to a) retrieve a few belongings I had left behind, b) run me around the city, and c) deliver me to my next destination, (3) see Phoenix play live in SB with my bffs.

It was a fun adventure, I came with a purpose, but flew by the seat of my pants the whole way.  I had the best of both worlds.  I met an array of amazing new people, all of which I hope to cross paths with again, and I was reunited with old friends.  There are just so many reasons I love this city: farmers markets, runyon canyon, meeting other creative designers, artists, musicians, Nature-well (and all other juice/health food stores), piloxing and classes at Crunch, friends that will carry you home from the Fuck Yeah Feast after too much alcamahol, and the fact that in five minutes, I can be at a cute coffee shop, Whole Foods, The Grove, Blick, art museums, or Target.  This all makes it very hard to leave, but my soul is just screaming for a new adventure.  A new city to discover, learn, get lost in and conquer.  I guess, after all, I am just a rolling stone.

Meet Murtough, my recent obsession and biggest headache.  Don't ask me why, but I always seem to be  attracted to objects or what have you, that are most likely to cause me more grief.  On the other hand, they seem to feed me with the most gratification.  How I ended up purchasing another vehicle will remain a mystery to even myself.  Once I get an idea in my head, assuming I want it bad enough, I just do whatever it takes to make it a happen.  I like to think of this quality as one of my better strengths, but in reality it can easily become my greatest weakness.  Hmm..

San Francisco [[Day 1.]]

Today (mind you it's still only 10:30am) has been the perfect, worst day ever. Okay not ever, but I'm feeling a tad bit dramatic from the overload of emotions that are racing through my body.  Just to highlight this day starting at one am, I've had a blow out on the freeway, my car battery died, I've had three hours of sleep, which I enjoyed in back seat of my car, and my driver door lock got stuck in the 'locked' position.  Not to mention the doubts I have about my Isuzu making it to Chicago, this homesick feeling for LA, and the rapid dwindling of funds in my bank account.  I would be lying if I didn't admit to wondering if, this was such a good idea.  BUT, despite all these little punches, I am too amazed by San Francisco to really let it get to me.  I am in love with the eccentric yet elegant town homes knit closely together, each accompanied with it's own steep stairway that leads to unique front door.  I could definitely live here, in Noe Valley to be exact.  Mostly because there is a line of cute coffee shops, dark bars, cozy restaurants and a Whole Foods surrounded by ridiculously cute homes.  Okay, who wants to find an apt with me?