EDGEMONT

 (All Saints 'Quinta' Sweater in Chalk, Paige Edgemont Denim in Tea Leaf Green (Black), Zara Messenger Bag, Kontraho 'Prism' Necklace, Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black Rollerball, Revlon Lip Butter in Juicy Papaya)

A casual look for an early morning ride on the Buell to Jinky's cafe for breakfast. Nothing says 'it's the weekend' more than soft oversized knits, skinny jeans and overpriced buttermilk pancakes. This sweater is my current favourite for the slightly cooler fog-tember mornings in LA, enjoyed here with my favourite olive green coated jeans from last season.   

BIRKS

(Birkenstocks - Arizona Amalfi Leather Black, Elizabeth and James 'Nirvana Black' Eau de Parfum 1oz, Michael Kors Chronograph Layton Watch)   

So...I finally caved. Welcome to BIRK-NATION!

 I'm not going to waste your time by telling you all about how ghastly Birkenstocks are, or how much of a struggle I went through pondering whether to buy or not to buy. I'm sure that has been covered by every other fashion-blogger out there. The truth is; a) This trend is so far gone that I no longer feel like  a freak for donning a pair, b) I like them and c) my word they are comfortable. 

The lady serving me at the Birkenstock store (which by the way is a terrifying place filled with all manner of nurse shoes) assured me that "they are so durable and will last for years and years and years," which was mildly terrifying, as my real question is more along the lines of, do I want them to last that long? 

In my time I have done some strange things fashion-wise, but this sartorial choice doesn't rank nearly as highly on the bizarre-scale as the time that my seven year old self paired sneakers with her oshkosh b'gosh mum jeans. Man was that embarrassing and I agonised over those photos for a great deal of my teen years ....but wait it would seem that now it's ok to do that as well! *Normcore fashion high five*. Fashion is a funny thing, isn't it? I think that all I have learnt is not to hate on any trend...at all...ever, as sure enough next season you will find yourself eating your words and wishing you had kept your big mouth shut.   

P.S. On a side-note, after a week of intoxication with every roll and the increasingly despairing thoughts regarding how quickly my rollerball of the Elizabeth and James 'Nirvana Black' will run out, I did the unthinkable and got the medium sized bottle (my first bottle of perfume in two years.) No regrets so far as I am well and truly hooked! 

N.B. apparently it's quite like Black Orchid by Tom Ford (here) so if you're a fan of that you should really check it out.  

NIRVANA ON FRIDAY - ENLIGHTENMENT SMELLS WAY BETTER THAN TEEN SPIRIT!

(Elizabeth and James Nirvana (Black) For Her, Michael Kors Chronograph Layton Watch, Nuxe Rêve de Miel Lipbalm, Jules Smith Wishbone Necklace)

Nirvana - the imperturbable stillness of mind after the fires of desire, aversion and delusion have been finally extinguished. 

Friday is the day of the week that I get stuff done and tick a multitude of items off my ever-growing to-do-list. Funnily enough it is also usually a day that I feel the most connected, present and mindful, irrespective of what the day may have in store for me. This desire to remain present and to live fully in the moment has stemmed from my introduction to the teachings of the vietnamese born Buddhist monk, Thîch Nhât Hahn through the book 'You are Here'. I would really recommend this book as it was an important wake-up for me to remember to be considerate and mindful as we only live once and we are all here together. Please excuse the impending irony of my material consumption in the face of a spiritual release from materialism but when I saw this new Elizabeth and James fragrance called 'Nirvana Black' in Sephora the other day, it seemed very fitting. The scent won me over as it is not too sweet but not too masculine with the perfect amount of smokiness. Nirvana Black is more of a winter fragrance in my mind but that's not going to stop me from spritzing it all summer long!      

 Another element of my renewed zest for life has come in the form of a desire to balance myself nutritionally and as such this morning's craving for a healthy power smoothie came as no surprise. 

My go-to smoothie of the minute consists of the following:

- Maca powder (for fertility) - I use the HealthForce MacaPower (here). 

-Berries (for chemoprotective and antioxidant benefits as well and the prevention of macular degeneration)

-Spinach (for flavonoids, which protect against free radicals)

 -Watermelon (as it is the greatest natural source of Lycopene, an antioxidant that promotes heart health.) Watermelon, due to its high water content - 90% water - is also great for fighting off dehydration during this intense Los Angeles heat wave.  

"Nirvana is the Ultimate Truth. If it is ultimate there can be nothing after it. If there is anything after Nirvana, then that will be the Ultimate Truth." (Rahula, p.40)