A Simple Preview:

      Snapped a couple pictures at West Cliff here in Santa Cruz recently, full style post and color images will be showing up soon! Stay with me : ) Also, I announced on Facebook that I will be showcasing a new feature on the blog tomorrow called "Sunday Morning Cartoons." Incredibly stoked on that new adventure, I hope you will be too. 

Yours,
Nico

PS: Notice the Jenna Hutchison Photography stamp? This girl and I have been friends for years but it was the love of taking photographs that brought us together again after a long hiatus. I love her beautiful kindness and talent, you can view her tumblr by clicking here.

A Garden That Grows On You:

Purple cauliflower that I have been growing in my backyard, I've been waiting patiently to harvest the vegetable.

      If you happened to check in earlier this week than you likely read this post where I mentioned that I have been feeling pretty under the weather. When you are home sick you can go a little stir crazy but lack of energy can keep you from escaping the confines of your home. When I'm sick but craving the outdoors, I retreat to my small but essential backyard. In the Spring and Summer months it is one of my favorite rooms in the house and perfect for entertaining, grilling, or tending to the plants and flowers. Here's a little peek at the space I have been savoring lately:

When I first moved into my apartment over two years ago my backyard was cleared of all plant life. This Calla Lily randomly showed up on day and I have been enjoying the blooms ever since. 

Tuberose roots that I planted shortly after taking this photo. I have never grown this fragrant flower before and I cannot wait to have the plant's heavenly scent drift thru my backyard!

I've never really been much into garden statues but I couldn't
resist this gnome that reminds me of the movie Amelie!

Last season, I could not for the life of me get cilantro to sprout. This year I have had no trouble at all. I'll be sure to share the secret when I figure out what I did right!

The cyclamen I featured in my "Cosy Casa" post have since been moved and planted in my backyard along with green zebra tomatoes and lemon thyme (which is in the teacup planter).

I purchased several hydrangea plants last year (I love having these cut flowers in my home but at 3 dollars a stem I decided to just purchase my own plants) and I'm happy to announce that they survived the Winter and I hope to see them bloom in shades of white, pink, and blue very soon! 

I planted strawberry plants last year and they happened to make it thru the winter also! It's so nice when plants weather over because it saves you money from having to buy new ones the following growing season. 

I bought this zucchini squash plant when it was about 3 inches high, currently it has reached about a foot in height and diameter and I know its going to get MASSIVE. I hope that the $2 I spent on the plant returns the favor in yummy veggies! 

      I've still got a few more plants that I would love to add to my yard as the frost disappears for good. Ancho peppers (for making carne con chili) are a must as well as a few more herbs (for drying out and using in the winter as well). Growing your own produce is a fantastic way to get exercise as well as save a bit on groceries. Do you have an outdoor space that you love? Perhaps your own yard, a community garden, or just a local walking trail you adore? I'd love to hear all about it!


Yours,
Nico

Sick Daze:

Sick Daze: by nsaich on Polyvore

      Nico is not in at the moment, her body has been temporarily taken over by the flu. But do not fret, measures have been taken to fight this nasty monster! An inundation of OJ, hot tea (with honey), and chicken soup should scare the beast away in no time! 

Sabrina's Sweet & Sultry Wedding Look!

      In high school you could often find me giving makeovers to all my best girlfriends. I may even have been on a few parent's hit lists after bleaching their daughter's hair! My friend Sabrina was one of my favorite people to work with, she had thick gorgeous hair and was always willing try something new and exciting with her style or beauty routine. Plus Sabrina always seemed to exude a mellow calm attitude while still being adventurous and cool. As young girls we had so much fun playing dress up and experimenting with the latest makeup trends so I'm sure you can imagine my delight when she contacted me about helping her create her look for her wedding! Weddings are such sacred and important days filled with love which is why it is so important to me that a bride look her absolute best! Sabrina sent me lots of fantastic inspiration photos to help me carry out the hair and makeup she wanted to achieve. The day of her wedding shower (and our trial run) we went with a bold red lip along with structured brows and a winged cat eye complimented by fresh flowers in her hair. I thought she looked ridiculously lovely and happy at the end of our time together and I was even more impressed with Sabrina's demeanor now than I was when we were in high school! On the precipice of marriage, just hours before she needed to be dazzling for her wedding shower, and dealing with all the stress and scrutiny that being a bride  can entail.... Sabrina still maintains that same sense of serenity and adventure that she always did. I can tell by her demeanor that Sabrina's marriage will endure anything with her strong and kind character traits. I just hope that I can create a look for her actual wedding that is as amazing and gorgeous as she is! 

Sabrina's Wedding Look by nsaich featuring mac cosmetics

Matthew Williamson hair comb accessory, $190 / Make Up For Ever / Lancôme / MAC Cosmetics / Christian Dior waterproof mascara / MAC Cosmetics , $22 / MAC Cosmetics / Diptyque / Bobbi Brown Cosmetics / Benefit nail polish, $25 / TRESemmé styling product / Pier One Peony Bouquet - Cream / Henri Bendel Round Bobby Pin Pearl Set


      I always strive to make the wedding makeup experience more enjoyable for any bride-to-be. Using my most loved, tried and true products is a must and there is no question over whether to use waterproof mascara or not! As a finishing touch, I love to bring several samples of fragrances with me for the bride to pick and choose from as well as offer her a dab of indulgent hand cream. With all the hand holding, hand shaking, and ring wearing one does on their big day... you want to make sure your paws are hydrated and elegant enough to display a sentimental ring! 
      For Sabrina's actual wedding day we plan on doing things a little differently so be sure to stay tuned! 


Yours,
Nico

Cozy Casa:

A faux tiger throw that I scored at the local Santa Cruz 
Antique Fair that adds a touch of drama to a side bench.

     Lately I feel like my home resembles more of a museum of curiosities than an actual residency but that doesn't seem to stop me from being attracted to the strange and unusual when it comes to home wares. Rocks, crystals, and second hand finds seem to be my favorite items of choice. I love the character, patina, and history of old objects because it's almost as if they have lived an entire life before I found them and their presence in my home will write a new chapter. Fresh flowers and plants litter every nook and corner of my house and typically take their sabbatical in my backyard and get planted  (bouquets of roses get hung and dried and used for other purposes). Occassionally I find a new item (a rarity for me because I prefer to unearth items at goodwill) that I can't resist and I might make the splurge after careful consideration. I think that it is important to make your home one that you enjoy and love spending time in. The world can be such a chaotic and crazy place and I strive to create a sanctuary in my cozy casa to return to each day! I try to only bring items into my home that have a purpose and function to avoid lots of clutter but a few extra nick nacks always seem to sneak in one way or another! What do you like to do in your own space to make it feel more personal and cozy?

Hot pink Cyclamen flowers that I picked up at the Santa Cruz Flea Market, just $1!
 The young lady I purchased these from said that her and her father grow plants
 together and sell them, isn't that an excellent way to bond? I know I love 
gardening with my father too! 

Picked up this lustrous Amethyst crystal cluster at GemShow, by far one of my favorite 
stores in the area which specializes in rocks, minerals, and unique stone jewelry.  

This white hand (scooped up at the Santa Cruz Flea) that I use to display 
jewelry is actually an antique latex glove mold! I'm obsessed with it's 
sleek and strangeness. Random fact, I happen to be HIGHLY allergic 
to latex, I even have a massive scar from a band aid that I left on too 
long after receiving a wretched oven burn. 

      I can't seem to ever have enough rocks and crystals in my home, I believe them to be natural works of art and scatter them liberally in every nook and cranny. Lately, I love the idea of filling potted plants with sparkly gems..... 

....Which is what I did for this lavender orchid that I purchased for my boyfriend. 
He is an artist and I love bringing him unusual varieties of flowers to draw and paint. 

      Daffodils have been flooding my home lately, their happy appearance instantly brightens my day and yellow daffodils happen to be a very inexpensive flower (budget friendly and beautiful). I picked up three bunches at Whole Foods for less than 5 dollars! If you do keep fresh flowers in your home, be sure to change the water in the vase daily for maximum bloom longevity!

Displaying paper whites on a blue and white printed plate in my bathroom along with a new product, Kiehl's Creme De Corps light-weight body lotion. So far I love this lotion, not sticky or overly scented in anyway and leaves your skin supple and hydrated. 

Yours,
Nico