LA-nniversary: My Experience In LA & Stereotypes

As many of you know I moved to LA with my husband a year ago and it has been an incredible journey. We felt that moving to a big metropolitan area would give us more opportunities and experience a change in culture, so we definitely got that in LA! Below are some of the things that I have learned while living in LA, some you may know already or you may learn something new today.

1. A car is very important, but not 100% essential.

 LA is not a very commuter friendly city, but depending on your location you can definitely make it work. I was lucky enough to find a job that was located across the street from a Metro stop, so I walk a couple blocks to get to my nearest Metro stop to commute. The same train line goes to DTLA where my internship is located. Other routes may consist of multiple buses and train transfers, so I definitely try to plan out my travels. Parking is a nightmare! Make sure to read ALL signs and that your tags on your car are up to date. The parking authority may just skip the fine and go straight to towing your car.

2. Cultural & Foodie City

I'm not exaggerating when I say there are hundreds of different neighborhoods within Los Angeles. Within many of those neighborhoods are different ethnic group, so food and architecture go hand in hand in those areas. I live in Koreatown, so Korean BBQ is really popular. It taste great and can be very inexpensive depending on the establishment. Little Tokyo, Chinatown, Thai Town, and almost any Mexician place I have tried are great as well. Also, food trucks. Follow them on social media to check their next location.

3. Fitness is everything

Group classes, state of the art gyms, hikes, bike paths, and personal trainers are all the rage. I've taken my fair share of Zumba, Groov3, and hip hop classes to know that people religiously attend these classes.

There other side to physical appearance is the superficial and unhealthy one belonging to those who are in the public eye. I know one specifically who only drinks protein shakes all day long, then they will have two bits of a salad at dinner. I also grabbed dinner with someone who was "starving", they proceeded to have a buffalo wing and a liquid diet. Yes, they look amazing but it definitely lives up to the stereo type. Especially in Hollywood. "The camera adds ten pounds", so it's important for them to stay lean and fit because a gig can come up at any second.

5. Do not freak out over a celeb sighting.

It is tacky to run to someone and ask for a photo. Also, don't take photos of them from a distance. Celebrities are people too, so respect their privacy. If they are working an event or are making an appearance, then go for it. 

6. Cost of living

 Are there apartments for rent in LA? Yes! Are they modern and luxurious?! Of course, starting at $2,000! Oh, and that's for a one bedroom. You must dig, dig, dig to find the best deals when it comes to apartment hunting. My husband and I ended up with a studio apartment in a social area for $900, with all utilities included. The apartments might not be in your ideal neighborhood, but if you are willing to make a small commute to the areas you like, then it's no question. Parking is a nightmare, so be sure to factor that in when searching for apartments. There are many restaurants and apartment buildings in our area, so finding parking is like coming across a unicorn. We would spend HOURS driving after work as a team trying to find a parking spot daily. We ended paying for monthly parking space at a garage two blocks away. It is $120 a month, but we can come home with ease everyday.

These are the top things that I've learned in LA. I know that there is so much more to this place and I'm excited to learn more about it everyday.

XX, Rosany

Classics Are Always In Style

Classics Are Always In Style by rosanybrown featuring black home decor

I've worn glasses since the age of 7. For those that wear glasses, you can understand how choosing the right frames can be an overwhelming task. 

Should you go the trendy route? Should I stick to classic black rimmed lenses? So many options! 

It's the first thing that people notice about you, also you can be committed to your frames for awhile depending on the price. 

So, when Warby Parker asked me to join them in sharing their Half-Decade Collection, I absolutely agreed. I love their classic frames, especially the Roosevelt. They re-released their first-ever collection with updated hues and a 5 engraved on the temple tip. 

Below are some of the frames. I feel like anyone of these can easily work with the outfits above. Playing with shapes and patterns in your outfit can really help compliment the frames.

http://www.warbyparker.com/half-decade

Remember to never stop dreaming!

*The opinions on this post are my own.*

Eating Your Way Through Miami

I recently had the a great opportunity to assist my husband at a dj gig in Miami. I'm grateful for that opportunity and I am now in love with Miami. I did not want to leave! Below are some of the restaurants we tried while traveling.

Restaurants

Havana 1957

- There are many locations of Havana 1957 in Miami, so check for the one closest to you. The variety of mojitos was heaven sent! The mango mojitos were amazing and the pork shoulder I had was out of this world. I definitely recommend making a stop here if you are looking for great Cuban food. 

Kush Wynwood



- Jorge at the Avalon Hotel highly recommended we visit the Wynwood area of Miami and we were grateful for this suggestions. Kush Wynwood was one of the restaurants on our list. The location is small and has a hipster vibe, but the menu is like no other. We decided to try to Alligator Bites, which are flash fried and not deep fried. It was light and fluffy, served with old bay seasoning and garlic aoli, and it was absolutely delicious.

World Of Beer

- If you love beer, then this is the place for you! Think of any country and they most likely have beers from there. It was a great open atmosphere and a place we frequented during our visit.

Bar Louie

- Mango Margaritas. Burgers. Do I need to say more to make you try it?

Antigua Guatemala Restaurant

- We had our taste of Cuban food, so we were ready for something new. We were directed to Antigua Guatemala Restaurant and we never looked back. The food had large portions, it tasted great, and really flavorful. The best part was it was super cheap! Dinner for three people was about $35!

11th Street Diner

- Great alternative than pricey locations on South Beach and IHOP. Food and prices were great! Location was a bit small, but sitting outside helped make the diner feel bigger.

Stay tuned for local places to visit while in Miami!

Holiday Gift Ideas For Young Adults

Holiday Gift Ideas For Friends by rosanybrown featuring a holiday glassware

As a fellow 20-something, transitioning from the college life to the adult world has been a fun journey. My apartment decor is changing to mirror my new stage in life, so why not take the holiday season as an opportunity to gift these items below.

Good Quality Make-Up:

I'm guilty of cheapening out on make-up, so I've started using the right tools and increased the quality on the products I use. I'm obsessed with the beauty blender because it prevents your foundation from looking streaky. I also love the Smashbox Color Correcting Primer! I tend to get redness on my face, so applying this under my foundation has really been amazing. A neutral eye shadow palette is great for any woman, since you can get so many looks out of one set. It's completely worth the investment.

Personalized:

I received home made coasters last year with my new last name initial ("B") and we loved them! It was such a beautif gesture and time when into a great gift. I also like the idea of have a canvas and documenting all the places you've actually been. 

Home Decor:

I always disliked when my mom was gifted house items while growing up. I personally felt like she didn't actually get a gift that helped her in anyway, but now I see that the home is a reflective of yourself. Help the young adult in your life transition from the college decor (plastic stem wear, posters, or anything that's in a neon color). Also, multifunctional items will win you bonus points! The cake stand that turns into a punch bowl. Hello!

 

Have a great holiday! 

Fashion Week Los Angeles: Day 1

I had the great opportunity to attend the LA Fashion Council Fashion Week in downtown LA. It was located at Maker City LA at The Reef and I was greatly impressed with the different shows that I attended. For some reason I expected collections that would not be finished or cohesive, completely blown away. I can honestly say I walked away with some favorite designers to follow. Below are my personal photos and overview of some of the shows I attended. Please follow LA Fashion Council (@lafashcouncil) on social media and online to get a comprehensive review of all the shows.

Sania Josiah

Sania Josiah is a recent grad from FIDM and the winner of Los Angeles Fashion Council's Open Runway Season two 2014. She is from West Africa and her heritage was the inspiration for her collection. There was a great leather jacket that was presented that made my jaw drop, but was not able to grab a good photo of it. Follow and see more images @_SJosiah_.

William Bradley

The Spring/Summer 2015 collection is inspired by Pablo Picasso's "The Blind Man's Meal". It oozed sophistication. Since moving from Alabama to Los Angeles, partners Brad Parnell and Rodney Jones have really found their focus on their collection. I loved his collection! It featured a great white tulle skirt with black feather accents that I'm completely drooling over. For images of the collection follow @_williambradley and visit www.williambradleycollection.com.

Stella Proseyn

Designer Debbie Talanian had great ready to wear pieces that you can immediately see yourself wearing. 
I really love skirts and this simple black skirt with the underlying textures was one of my favorites! The line was inspired by art and architecture. To see more great images follow @stellaproseyn and visit  www.stellaproseyn.com.




ODYLYNE: The Ceremony

Los Angeles based Stephanie Lampkin is the fashion designer of Odylyne.  The collection was a modern take on bohemian chic and vintage styles. ODYLYNE: The Ceremony will showcase a variety of wedding and bridesmaids dresses in hand dyed silks to foiled laces and will also offer a beautiful "honeymoon" resort collection. For "The Romantics Collection", Lampkin worked closely with Kate Thompson of Amaroq. The collection was inspired by the Romantic Art Movement from the 1800's.

I really appreciated the use of classic fabrics in modern silhouettes. The best example of this is the crop top/skirt ensemble below. I also love that the classic head pieces were tossed out of the window. The use of such different and distinct headpieces is refreshing for the bridal industry. To see more of the collection and images follow @odylyne.

Stay tuned for my day two recap of Fashion Week LA!

Maxi-mizing Your Wardrobe

Happy Labor Day Weekend! I hope you aren't working, but if you are then thank you for going to work!

I have been away for awhile as I've been getting a little busier in LA, but I would love to do a blogpost series for the fall. There are many pieces that can transition from summer to fall, so I'll give you some tips on stretching your wardrobe with specific items. I would like to thank Emily for the request!

Maxi dresses are a great summer staple. They are also great, because they are very versatile in what situations you can wear them. A floppy hat, sandals, and a belt would be the ideal summer look for the dress, so below I've put in some examples on how to transition it into fall. 

1. Will the print work for fall? 

Summer is full of bright colors and bold patterns. To turn down the print pick the darkest color of the pattern and pick your accessories around that. For example, below the darkest color in the dress was black so I accessorized with black pieces that are appropriate for the season. If the dress only has a bright colors in the pattern, then it will most likely not work for fall. 

2. Will the fabric work?

If you have a really sheer fabric, then it may not work. Make sure that the dress is cotton and that you won't freeze in it, if it's really chilly outside. If you REALLY want to wear it, then wear tights with a fleece lining and wear boots.... now you're set. 

3. Accessorize

To really get away with the look ensure that your accessories work for the fall. I really like making the dress edgy with a motorcycle jacket. Also, layering a sweater over the dress and wearing the belt on the outside to cinch your waist for a more casual is a great option. 

Try out the trend this fall and tag me (@rosanybrown) in your comments on Instagram! I would love to see what looks you've created. 

Maxi-mizing Your Wardrobe by rosanybrown featuring a wool fedora

Follow me on social media to know what next summer item I will help you transition into fall. Comment below for any requests. 
 

Romantic Thoughts

Untitled #35 by rosanybrown featuring lace short shorts

I used to think that lace was only suppose to belong in grandma's house and used as a table cloth. The recent laced short trend has completely changed my opinion. 

I feel that lace shorts are a great summer short option and can be paired with many items. The shorts will make the outfits look more feminine, if that is something that interest you. They can be worn for many different occasions.

I tend to spill drinks and food on myself all the time, so the all white is not jumping out to me. I like the Alice & Olivia shorts due to not being all white, which is $385. These $31 Jane Norman cream shorts are also a great steal. 

Remember to never stop dreaming!