Study of Perspective, 1995-2003 — Ai Weiwei

Art Basel 2018

Art isn’t for everyone, but everyone does have an opinion about it.

Art Basel 2018 has come and gone and in case you don’t know what it is — Art Basel is the world's largest art fair and basically consists of work from galleries around the world, exhibited in the center in Miami. It’s grown to include some art shows around Wynwood, Design District, throughout Miami Beach, and of course, a bunch of parties. I’ve been attending for a few years, but this year I posted quite a few stories on Instagram, and one of the nicest comments I received was “I feel like I’m there.” After looking at all the celebrities who flocked to Miami Beach to look at art this year, it’s no wonder so many people felt FOMO for missing out - it looked so flashy and unrealistic. The point of social media should not to show-off but to share life. And I will happily continue to try to share it as realistic as I can.

Low Tide, 2018 — Antonio Cazorla

Art Basel, Day 1 — Wearing: Marni Dress | Vintage Belt | F21 Shoes

In case you don't keep up with #art, don’t worry you’re not alone. I love art and I didn’t know about Art Basel until I moved to Miami. I’ve loved art since I was young, I’ve studied almost all the artists I find in museums, constantly finding out about new ones. I grew up calling the Met and MoMa my second home. What I love about Art Basel is, it isn’t the art you find in a typical art museum. It’s new, it’s different, and whether I like it or not, it makes me wonder what the artist was thinking. So let me answer the obvious question: Does everyone attending Art Basel care about art? Nope. Truth is Art Basel is a social event where you can post pictures of art and say “Yeah, I’m cool, I Basel.” Is that a bad thing? Well I honestly don’t really care why people go, love it or hate it, Art Basel is an experience. Some people definitely get caught up in the glitz and glamour of the artsy scene and pay to enter these exhibits that display expensive art pieces, most pieces that cost as much as your college tuition.

Art Basel is so expansive it is nearly impossible to categorize the art. Some of it feels same-old-safe, some is so "out there" it is incomprehensible. Just because it’s displayed doesn’t make it good — You can hate it, you can love it, you can think you get it or you can look at it and say wtf, but in the end, you’re never wrong. What I loved most was seeing my friend and husband ask for the artists’ intent, if they liked the response they would glance back at the piece.

The main Art Basel show is in Miami’s Convention Center, from there Miami Beach offers art shuttles to take you to Pulse and Scope art fairs (giant tents full of people and art). Then there’s the other side of Art Basel in Wynwood, where you find the new artists. If it wasn’t for Basel, a lot of artists wouldn’t be able to have gigs year-round. It’s the place that jump starts a lot of careers. It’s fun seeing the walls of Wynwood repainted, walking the streets and absorbing all the art vibes. If you really want to get a little feel for Art Basel, Scope Miami does an amazing job at providing a 360 view of their art show.

If you kept up with Art Basel through social media, don’t be fooled to feel FOMO. It comes back around every year and when you attend (if you want to), you’ll have the chance to run from Pulse, to Scope, to Design Miami, to Wynwood galleries, and all the parties in between. That will be the time when you can decide whether or not it was worth it to you. Some love it, some hate it, some hate to say it because they can’t pronounce “basel” but no matter how you feel, we can’t deny Art Basel is an experience.

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Trail of the Golden Lasso, 2018 — Sharon Moody

Art Basel, Day 2 — Wearing: Nicholas Dress

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Tea for Life

My mom (the main influencer in life) taught me, at a very young age, that there’s a tea for almost everything! Most people who know me, know I love tea (obsessed even). I am constantly drinking tea at work or at home, and I believe these delicious, herbal blends can help heal us from the inside out. So when coworkers or friends tell me of their: Stomachache? I say “drink tea.” Lack of energy? Tea. Can’t sleep? Tea. Want clear skin? Tea. So I figured why not share a post on which teas I use for what problems:

to Sleep

You’ve probably seen the “sleepy-time” tea options at the store. If you find yourself tossing and turning in bed for an uncomfortable amount of time before freaking out, or worse, reaching for the medicine cabinet, grab some Chamomile tea. It’s known for its calming effects by reducing overall stress and anxiety. Proven to increase overall sleep quality by decreasing the amount of time it takes to fall asleep, and the number of times you might wake up in the middle of the night.

Common Cold

While Echinacea tea will not cure your cold, it will help make your symptoms feel better by easing a slightly blocked nose and the tickle in your throat. Echinacea provides a huge immunity boost, which can help reduce the length of a cold, soothe your sore throat, and reduce your scratchy cough. Most  “cold time” teas have Echinacea in them, but now you know why!

Skin

My absolute favorite is  Green tea, not only for its soothing taste, but its filled with antioxidants. Proven to help improve the look of blemishes and skin redness. A cup a day can help your skin maintain clarity, but it’s also been proven to work when applied topically (hence a few green tea products).

Stomachache

To melt any gastro problem away, Peppermint tea happens to do the trick every time. Peppermint has been shown to have a basket full of benefits for the digestive tract, including its ability to relax spasms happening in your digestive system, relieve indigestion, pass gas, and work to aid the digestive process. Additionally, it’s been proven to ease symptoms of the way to common, but not talked about enough, irritable bowel syndrome. For issues like nausea, Ginger tea is fantastic for its anti-inflammatory properties, like calming the stomach down and easing any signs of vomiting.

Lack of Energy

There’s more than one type of tea containing caffeine, but Black tea is by far the most energy-boosting tea I know. An eight-ounce serving typically provides half the amount of caffeine as coffee; so if you’re looking for an energy boost that’s not as intense or jittery as that of coffee, aim for a cup of black tea to start your morning. matcha is known to provide a more steady flow of energy throughout the day instead of coffee’s instant boost—which is perfect if you’re looking to avoid a hard afternoon crash.

Wearing: Patbo Skirt | Chaser Tank Tee | Fendi Boots

Random post about tea, well not so random, since I was battling a cold (for a day). Traveling between sunny Miami and cold New York takes a toll on my body. Not to mention wearing this outfit when Miami weather decided to suddenly drop 20 degrees… but what can I say, I really wanted pair this ruffle skirt with an edgy band tee.

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Podcasts You Should Listen To

I love reading and writing, but in moments when I can't do either - whether driving or working out, I love podcasts for my daily dose of inspiration, insight, and humor. I specifically love podcasts hosted by women (sorry boys) on the topics most relevant to our daily lives. There are so many more available, but let me not overwhelm you. 

1. GirlBoss Radio

Real, Inspiring, Informative | Talks with boundary-pushing women who've made their mark

Nasty Gal founder Sophia Amoruso at the helm, the #girlboss ethos is brought to your ears. Girlboss Radio features talks with high-profile, cool-girl guests, who talk about their paths to success and challenges along the way. For fans of Amoruso's unconventional path to business building, the show's also a window onto her world, with some solid advice and lessons learned. 

2. We Met At Acme

Witty, Funny, Relevant | Captures the 20-something expereince in the crazy world of NYC

Podcast by Lindsey Metselaar, a native New Yorker, who talks about millenial dating in NYC. "We live in a generation of suppressing and not expressing", the podcast touches on subjects we don't generally talk about, but we all want to know about. We Met At Acme delves into sex, relationships and vulnerability, with some hilarious anecdotes along the way. 

3. hey, girl.

Powerful, Positive, Loving | Unites the voices of phenomenal women near and far

Hosted by Alex Elle, an author, wellness consultant, and creative living in the Washington, DC. Created with sisterhood and storytelling in mind, Alex sits down with people who inspire her. From friends to family members and strangers, the hey, girl. guests give us a peek into their stories through candid and intimate conversations. 

4. The Lively Show

Inspiring, Positive, Conversational | Talks from bloggers, entrepreneurs to health & wellness experts

Hosted by Jess Lively for her inspiring chats with guests who on their path through life and the advice or ideas they can offer listeners looking for ways to live better, healthier, more fulfilling lives. While Lively's approach is fresh-scrubbed and full of positivity, she doesn't shy away from being real about her own struggles with eating disorders, work-life balance, and divorce.

Wearing: Vintage Mona Lisa (similar) shirt | Trina Turk (similar) pants | Celine shoes

The best vintage pieces are the ones with stories behind it. This Mona Lisa top in particular, channels my mother's spirit when she first moved to NY in the 80s —and so I tried to be bold and mix in some plaid patterns. 

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Wearing: Armani Exchange Blouse | Greylin Jumpsuit | Sam Edelman Shoes

If you've read my previous posts, you probably noticed my random thought topics. Unfortunately this week has been too much on me, so I wrote a post on facebook instead. Today's blog post is simply an outfit one. Wide-leg jumpsuits make for the ideal transitional weather wear, they’re effortless, comfortable, and sometimes chic - especially when you can layer a turtleneck under or throw a bomber jacket over. In this case, I took my silk pin-striped dress and layered the jumpsuit over it. 

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