Nude Mood

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This look is a departure from my usual. It's way more feminine and sweet than how I normally dress. It was nice to step out of my comfort zone. I was instantly drawn to the pale peachy nude hue, as well as the sheerness. It caught my eye at the start of summer, which is the perfect time to manipulate consumers into purchasing stuff like this😜.

I wanted whatever this dress was emanating. It's actually a romper. Bathroom endeavors a bit more challenging, but such is the sacrifice for looking nice sometimes. The piece is by Zimmerman. Anything I've ever had from them over the years has served me well. This is a one piece look. I usually find dressing like that a bit lazy, and I love to pile on my random jewelry, but it was sure swell to just be super girly in this dress. Nude Jimmy Choo shoes to complement. That's basically it. This is a beautiful summer date night ensemble. I mean, I can't prove that theory yet, but I will next summer😹.

Dainty yet statement sunglasses are the only needed accessory, except a pretty neutral feminine purse. These glasses are Miu Mui. Anything lady like goes, stay away from sporty today. I also like the berry lip here. I normally prefer a more nude lip, but that would be too monochromatic and rehearsed looking. If you are a girl, or not but like dressing like one, I highly recommend owning something like this. Ooze with womanhood once in awhile. You earned it.

❤️, LB

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Yo, DJ, Pump This Party 📀📀

I know I haven't written about this in awhile, but rest assured I'm still in DJ school. I think I have a harder time writing about it because it's so incredibly important to me. Out of everything I'm currently doing, and out of everything I'm going to do, this is really my dream. All roads for me lead to standing in a corner in a little club/ bar in Brooklyn, just playing music that is meaningful to me. Showing people a good time, making them move, making them feel. Helping them leave their lives at the door, and just release into lyrics and melody.

I get so lost in my music, whether I'm working out, cooking, or standing on a line. I can be in traffic forever (except if I have to go to the bathroom😝) as long as I can hear music I love. My headphones instantly create an invisible force field around me. I feel all tension in my body melt. Being a giving natured person who has tapped into her need and love to share, it makes perfect sense that I'd want to give others the same musical experience.

A DJ friend of mine recently told me that sometimes after a gig, people will just come up to him and hug him. I GET THAT COMPLETELY. Music is one of the most visceral, honest gifts we have in the world. It has the power to unite people across the globe, in all walks of life. Music doesn't judge. It cares not about your emotional issues, your weight, or your financial status. It loves you and will hold you up if you are dying, or have suicidal thoughts. It sheps nachas as you kiss someone for the first time. It memorializes and celebrates your life throughout every single moment. It's there for you if you are deaf. Through heavy beats and sign language, it finds its way into your body, though maybe not your ears. It pumps us up and calms us down. I could not live without it. Could not.

Like all things that excite me, my love for a heavy beat and a brilliant, or even just an honest, lyric are meant to be transmitted. A great DJ has the ability to heal and spread joy. Oh man, I can't wait for that. I won't care whether or not two people are listening, or two hundred. If I feel what I'm playing, then I will go to bed happy that night. I feel this way when I write. If I write something I'm proud of, then the process stops there. It doesn't matter how many hits, likes, or views it gets. It's gratifying enough putting out something of quality. If you shoot your arrow in the right direction with the right intention, it will land properly.

One of my favorite things about this particular journey is all the really nice people I've met at school. I see my instructors at Scratch every week. I love the encouraging, supportive, educational, and FUN vibe they consistently send me. It feels great how much they're rooting for me. IT IS HOW EVERYONE SHOULD TREAT EACH OTHER AT ALL TIMES. Recently I dragged SF, the Bert to my Ernie, clubbing in Crown Heights and Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Um, we came home at 6:30 am. It was wild. We felt like Thelma and Louise, minus the part about killing someone and covering it up. There's always next time!

We went to see a couple of Scratch DJs play in different venues, unintentionally meeting up with other fun DJ peeps who I know from school. The music was insane. Rogue, Noumenon, and Esquire are wizards! Everyone we met was so nice, so chill, so cool. No one was dressed up. No one had a shred of pretense. Just people out to have a good time. Living in a homogenous neighborhood can really bring one down. It feels stale and stifled. It can be a hard place to live, which is why I've retreated so much, burying myself in my true friends, my family, and my passions. Many DJs I've spoken to claim to be very antisocial. Despite performing in public spaces, it's a very solitary endeavor. You've got to be super focused, on your toes, aware of the crowd, and exact with counting beats. No wonder they loathe requests! By the way, loathe. Don't. Do. It. They'll put a hex on you. You live in the music, which lives in your head. When I'm interrupted while listening to something, it drives me crazy. It feels so invasive. It's like someone barging in on you while you're getting undressed.

A few months ago, I went alone to an event at my school. Different guest DJs were spinning. It was a room full of all kinds of people standing on common ground. We all knew why the other was there. Friends, strangers, colleagues, students, battle champs, it didn't matter. Everyone just showed up to hear, learn, and teach. I realized I was happier in that room full of strangers than I'd be if I was at a bar mitzvah knowing every person there. Just because someone knows you, it doesn't mean they recognize you. It was wonderful and unfamiliar to be in an environment of creativity and encouragement.

I'm 39 years old. It's crazy it took this long to experience. It shouldn't be that way. This is how things should be all the time, and I felt a bit sad that I've never lived within that. I simultaneously felt grateful that I finally had this revelation. From that moment on, I decided it's that or solitude. I like myself way too much to feel I'm surrounded by the wrong people. I always say I enjoy my own company, and I do. I don't need people as white noise. Silence is so beautiful. It's underrated. I'm not afraid of my own thoughts, I can be alone with them. And eventually, I will play them for you, and we will connect while most likely never exchanging a word. Music, like love, is universal. Sing in the shower today, or in your car. Dance while you cook. Bust a move in front of your bathroom mirror. Send a friend a song you love, like I do every week on this blog. If you listen closely, you'll feel me saying something. Just no requests please, it's super annoying. In the words of Jay Z, "If y'all got love for me,I got love for y'all. And if y'all go to war for me, I'll go to war with y'all". Oh, and watch The Defiant Ones on HBO. Tonight. 📀🎧🎼❤️, LB

French Toast? OUI ‼️

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You may not like the French, but I'm assuming you like French toast. If not, you're crazy.

Many a New Jersey teenage night was spent in a chrome diner booth, eating this with my friends after a movie. In West Orange NJ, this was literally the highlight of my otherwise bleak week. I can't believe it took Dr. Atkins to point out that THIS IS A MAJOR CARB. My mother used to say with conviction, "It's not the bagel, it's what you put on the bagel." So I'd eat ten plain bagels, thinking I was doing myself a favor, especially if it was "whole wheat". Same philosophy with pasta; marinara sauce, no problem🍝‼️. It was a vegetable, since it's tomato based. I felt vastly superior to anyone eating fettuccini Alfredo or a bagel and cream cheese. Atkins must have seen a nation of thick people such as myself, and thought Jackpot‼. This was gonna be easy. Truthfully, I'm deeply grateful to him because his food philosophy of essentially no carbs, does seem to work for me overall. Believe me, I indulge but with awareness. The carbs I do choose are carefully selected and portioned. I'm not blessed with a naturally speedy metabolism, and have never been one of those annoying bitches who can eat what they wanted. The little carb thing jives with my bod. When I was recently in Italy, I basically wore a t shirt that said "Dr Atkins can F himself", since I was on a diet of pizza and pasta🍝🍕.

Actually, that Is a t-shirt I'd totally buy in real life. I'd laugh if I saw it on someone else. I know in most other parts of the world, the Atkins philosophy is looked down upon, but in the Tri State area it's alive and well. Maybe our carbs are loaded with more chemicals and therefore not easily digestible. Whatever the reason, this is where I live and I have to adjust to what's being sold on American supermarket shelves. It's no surprise that due to my French toast/bagel/pasta affinity in days of yore, that I was more than double the size I am now. I was never heavy, but the word "zaftig" would occasionally come up. That sounded like an insult; "voluptuous" felt like more of a euphemism. End result: yes, French toast is a delicious, fattening carbohydrate. It is a decadent treat that I will indulge in occasionally. This is hard when I make it every single week for my kids. I will sometimes sit next to them and stare creepily at them while they pick at it, willing them to wolf it down so I can partake vicariously. I have been known to lick the syrup off the plate at the end, so I can at least taste that part.

Believe it or not, motherhood isn't as glamorous as it seems. I do love making French toast, since I really enjoy using my griddle. I also feel like since it's made with eggs and milk, I can pat myself on the butt for giving them some calcium and protein😜. I started this weekly ritual when my kids went to a Jewish summer camp, that gave each child a large challah every Friday for Shabbat. The challahs would pile up, leaving me feeling like Lucy and Ethel in the bread episode. French toast was the solution to drowning in challah. Allow me to share:

 Ingredients:

  • A large chocolate chip, cinnamon , or vanilla crumb challah, cut into inch and a quarter slices.
  • Equal mixture of well beaten eggs and milk. I never measure, but try 6 eggs and a cup of milk, adding more if needed. The mixture should be a pale yellow.
  • A couple dashes of vanilla is the secret.

Directions:

Submerge each slice into the mixture until both sides are covered. Don't over saturate. Fry each side in melted butter until golden brown on each side. Cool on a wire rack to prevent sogginess. Top with syrup, whipped cream, powdered sugar, or fresh berries. I'm not really reinventing the wheel here, but when something is this good, we can respect the essence of the dish. 


PS; forget skim milk. No point. Go for the gold with the highest percentage you have on hand. Otherwise it's like ordering a Big Mac and a Diet Coke.

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The Chosen Ones 🤔

So we just finished Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. My restructured family of six had a thoroughly enjoyable few days. It felt great to be back in my kitchen, making requested family favorites that I save for special occasions. Even though it was just us, I busted out my best china and silver. The flowers, food, and festive mood were all on point. Despite my wanderlust and large eyes for the world, I'm a true homebody at heart. There was great table talk, lots of Monopoly, focus on family, and synagogue. I have mentioned many times about my deep connection to synagogue and prayer. I was really looking forward to enjoying that dose of spirituality with my daughters (in our orthodox synagogue the men and women sit separately).

Growing up, synagogue on the High Holidays meant three hours of trapped boredom. You were not allowed to leave unless your bladder was bursting, and everyone's breath was terrible. Boredom would lead to gossip and chatter, which clearly was counterproductive to seeking a state of higher being. I, as well as my kids' dad, am much more chill with that. I believe in quality over quantity, so as long as we've showed up, communicated with God, and heard the shofar a few times, we can exit on a high note. We aren't the first nor the last to be there. I'd rather, as a parent, transmit a feeling of enjoyment for Shul , rather than a sense of entrapment. I want my kids to regard it as something they want to do. However as a child,  I learned how to sit and exist in a state of boredom, something most kids today simply don't know how to do. Being bored and un entertained is an important skill. Life does not owe us constant stimulation. Sometimes you just have to wait and be quiet, end of story.


Usually, when the Hebrew words in the prayer book don't grab me, or when I just want to learn the content from a different perspective, I read the English. For the first time, a lot of what I read was upsetting to me. First, the hundreds of pages devoted to guilt really struck me as tremendously manipulative and wrong. Fire and brimstone isn't loving or inviting. I love God, and I know God loves me, so please don't threaten me with the details of my impending, excruciating death in order to get me to comply. Who the heck wants to sit there reading that all morning? Having been conditioned to trust this as normal my whole life, I never paid attention. Judaism prides itself on being a religion where questions are encouraged, so I'm asking; why make religion about fear and guilt? I'm not asking to get answers, I'm asking just because there's no reason not to. I know the answer, and I'm certain it's the wrong approach. I want my kids to be good people because they know in their hearts it's the right way to be, not because they fear punishment.

Second, the amount of people in the synagogue on the High Holidays is famously quadrupled. This is not a comment on regular attendance; that's not of interest to me, nor is it my business. It's what it represents; we are taught that if you sneak in to this building before Yom Kippur is over, you juuuussstttt may make it into the Book Of Life. It's a loophole that is, once again, highly manipulative. It's like the teacher himself telling the students to not bother with studying all semester; just use the cliffs notes before the final and you'll pass. It all goes back to escaping illness and death. It's like a video game of how to outrun the Grim Reaper.                     

The content of the prayer book that really bothered me this year was all the mention of how Jews are the Chosen People, another notion I never questioned. I'm in the club, I felt special and superior to the rest of the world. Feeling that way is something to savor, not question. If you're fortunate to be born amongst the selected, shut up and go with it. As my eyes are opening up, taking my heart with it (perhaps it's the reverse), I'm increasingly uncomfortable with that idea. If God created every single person on earth, do we really believe He bothered with making MOST OF THE WORLD substandard?? That a tiny minority is truly better than everyone else? It's so elitist, snobby, and obnoxious. In yoga the knowledge that each one of us has the same beautiful, magical spirit feels so right. It's what connects us all. It's what makes each one of us a root in the tree of life. Learning this has given me such an increased gratitude for life. A dear friend of mine, who isn't Jewish, recently said, "you all live so sectioned off, and then wonder why most people don't like you". This person has many close Jewish friends. He said it from a place of love, not antagonism. It struck me in its correctness.

I was discussing the idea with my yoga teacher recently, how Jews are prohibited from getting tattooed. It will keep you out of a Jewish cemetery. I'd always felt I'd be the perfect candidate for a tattoo, since I love words and using the body for expression. However, I probably would have chosen something stupid that I'd regret later, so I'm not entirely sorry to have the threat of being separated from my children in eternity looming over me. Plus, no 75 year old woman looks hot with a tattoo. Men, of course🙄, seem to get away with it better. Quel surprise. I recall learning the reasoning behind this prohibition in high school. That since Jewish people are One, we can't do things that mark us as different from one another. I always liked this concept of unification. However, my teacher responded to that with, of course our bodies are all so clearly different; it's our souls and our spirits that are One. The exterior doesn't matter. The bodies are so temporary. What's INSIDE is what matters. This was so clear to me. I felt bathed with revelation, which is always a yummy feeling.

A friend of mine recently got a dog, after many years of thinking he'd never want one. He loves this pup. His wife, in telling me her husband's change of heart, said something so great. She recounted how in learning he loves his pet, he said,"it feels good to be wrong." I loved that, and I can relate so much. It indeed feels wonderful to be wrong because when we clear our heart of wrong, of untruths, we then make room for right and truth. Being open hearted and filling that space with other views, different thoughts, new experiences and understandings, is what makes us appreciative to be human. Which is why I no longer believe in the elitist Jewish club. Everyone is special, not just us. How can we teach genuine kindness to our kids and instill superiority simultaneously? It's contradictory. It isn't nice. And it's not respectful of God, to assume most of His creations will be left in the dust one day. See ya later, REST OF THE WORLD, the messiah only has room for US. I'm not comfortable with that anymore. It feels good to be wrong. I also always used to love the reverence of the service in which a small section of the congregation, descendants of the high priests, bless the rest of the community. This holy act is so serious, one must not glance upon the priests during the blessing. It occurred to me that this was even more exclusive still. That even amongst ourselves, we are dividing and deciding who is higher up on the totem pole. This was always my favorite part of the prayers. This year it turned me off. This is what I thought about during services this year; not begging and pleading that I don't get hit by a bus this year, or that lightening won't strike me if I "do something bad". Rather, I kept my palms turned upward, receiving newness. Not of a new year, but of a new day.

Every day signifies a new year, not just these two or three of the holiday. I contemplated the turns my life has taken, and how I'm ready for more. I thought about how proud I am of my family and it's unconventionality. Because after all, we are indeed the same inside. I gave myself over not to fear written in a book, but to my trust in God and His universe of support. The grounding in the ground, the limitless sky. The changing of the seasons that will soon occur. The flow of life. No punishment, just belief. It's a gentler approach. We need more softness in life. I love being Jewish, but I like being human even better. All of us were chosen to have our spirits catapult through space and timeand land on this planet for however many years. If you have ever lived, you have been chosen.  Best wishes for a happy and healthy life, The B 🐝                             

Sari not Sari

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A couple months back I wrote a post on my special meeting with my fashion queen Norma Kamali. After an exclusive interview and chat with Norma, she had a private sale of her fashion archives. The clothing at this sale consisted of major pieces spanning the Decades of Norma. The items were one of a kind.

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I felt so special being there, taking part in these chapters of fashion history. It was less about the clothes themselves, and more so about what Norma represents as a massive creative force in the world. She is a deeply giving woman in so many ways, aiming to share her ideas on a multitude of topics. Fashion, health, beauty, wellness, dance, philanthropy. She is an astonishing woman. She is a true champion of women worldwide.

One of the unique pieces I was lucky enough to secure, was a beautiful two piece Indian inspired Sari outfit. I've never owned anything like that. It was beyond sexy, a long sarong wrap skirt with a backless halter top. One day I'm certain I will have a special occasion to wear it to. Always buy what you love, the right event will reveal itself. Don't shop according to a formula. Buy things from the heart. Believe you'll one day have a place to wear it, and you will. I promise, life really does work that way. Just keep envisioning.

This outfit is a major celebration of the female form. Like all of Norma's designs, it highlights and encourages women and femininity. I swear I felt like I had magical Kardashian powers the instant I put it on. The va va voom factor was kickin. I rarely wear my hair up, but this felt so elegant, and highlighted the backless effect. What's great about a Kamali piece is that it's wear and go. Even the most glamorous stuff is so easily thrown on. After my hair and face looks right, my patience quota for actually getting dressed is full. I'm done at that point,and I just want to get out of my house. I'm either anxious to excitedly get somewhere, or anxious to get whatever it is the hell over with 🔫. For this alone, Norma deserves a thank you; the effortlessness in her designs is legit. So not sari I bought this gem! I'll let y'all know where I ultimately wind up wearing it. Stay tuned, Blagaphiles. Have a rocking week. Love, LB

Peach Blackberry Crumble

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Can someone let me know the diff between a crisp and a crumble??? I'll eat either so it doesn't really matter, but I'm curious. I loooove a good crumble. It makes me feel like I'm doing myself a dessert favor by eating a fruit based treat. It's just fruit, right😉? It's vastly disappointing when you're at an event and are served a crumble with canned fruit. Ew! Fresh, seasonal fruits are what makes this. Apples or pears in the Fall and Winter, peaches, nectarines, and plums during Spring and Summer🍎🍐🍑🍓🍒🍏.

The topping is always the same. With the peaches etc you can use any fresh berries. I've used blackberries, raspberries, or blueberries. If using the plum variation I think I'd leave that alone. The berries contrast beautifully color wise with either white or yellow peaches. I'm not a cooked strawberry lover, but that's probably just as good if you are. I've seen recipes that call for boiling and skinning the peaches first. It took me years to realize that's the biggest pain in the 🍑, and completely unnecessary. Recipes aren't binding constitutions; make it work for you. Don't sacrifice flavor and presentation, but eliminate a step that will go undetected. Not skinning the fruit is a major time savor. No need to peel apples either, I like the skin. Your guests won't say, "I can't believe that lazy bitch didn't peel her apples". Anyone who does, can make like a tree and leave (thanks, Biff, from Back to the Future) 🍃🌳.

I decided to make this JESScipe because I needed to find the perfect use for all the fresh fruit my kids and I picked at Alstede Farms in New Jersey. This is our favorite summer activity. Using our bounty felt good! What I love about taking them to the orchards, in addition to the obvious, is that it's a SCREEN FREE ACTIVITY, a rarity in today's times. It's wonderful to enjoy a wholesome, nature oriented pastime together. No beeps, buzzing, and hideous frozen face time expressions. Just sunshine, trees, and seasonal offerings. Ok, back to the crumble!

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This dessert is also so great because you serve it in the dish it's baked in, oven to table. Unless you want to then spoon it into individual serving ramekins or dishes, which is easy and lovely. Just do it carefully so the topping remains intact and on top. This is impressive and delicious either way. Go for it with vanilla ice cream on top if you wish.

Ingredients

  • A dozen firm peaches or apples.
  • Zest of one orange.
  • sugar.
  • Light brown sugar.
  • Flour.
  • Salt.
  • Cooking oats.
  • Pint of berries.

 

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Directions

Oven 350. Butter a large baking dish, about 9x13. Take a dozen large firm peaches or apples. If using plums I'd do maybe 16 since they're smaller. Slice the fruit and place in a large bowl. Add the zest of one orange🍊. In a pinch I've used a lemon 🍋and it was just fine.

Add a quarter cup each white sugar and packed light brown sugar. Then add two to three TBSP flour. Toss gently but well.

Then gently mix in a pint of berries. Let mixture sit for five minutes.

Put the fruit in the baking dish and smooth the top.

Mix one and a half cups flour, three quarters cup white sugar, and half cup of the brown sugar in a separate bowl. Add a quarter tsp salt, a cup and a half quick cooking oats, and half a pound of cold diced butter. Mix in a mixer with the paddle, or I use my hands. Mix well until the butter is pea sized and it all looks like a crumbly topping.

If you're using apples or pears, add half a teaspoon of cinnamon to both the fruit mixture and topping mixture. Put topping evenly over fruit. Berries should be evenly distributed throughout. 

Bake for an hour. Topping should be light brown. Your home will smell incredible; savor that! This is a great dessert to assemble in the morning and refrigerate, and bake as your company arrives. The scent will be most inviting and homey. If making this a day ahead, just refrigerate when completely cool and reheat before serving. Crumble or crisp, either way it will be gobbled up in a matter of yummy minutes.

🍴 PS: if using apples or pears, optional addition of half a cup each of raisins and walnuts. If that's your thang.

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Oreo Chic

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Out of all my new looks from this day's shoot, this was my fave. It's so different than my usual, in that it was so elegant. Still effortless, it took five minutes to put style, but I felt like Audrey Hepburn. I had never worn all these pieces together until I was futzing around in my closet, coming up with new ways to wear old stuff. This was spot on. This DKNY parachute skirt was easily one of my summer gems. Light, long, easy, feminine yet urban. The waist band cut me at the right spot, which served as a good springboard for the cropped white button down. I love how this shirt is the right mix of classic, chic, demure, yet sexy, showing just a smidgen of stomach. It's covered yet playfully revealing in a subtle way. Sometimes subtle is best!

My ubiquitous large scale Michael Kors belt is so often seen because it works with sooooo much. Lady Blaga is a mix master, if I do say so myself. I'd much rather reuse my stuff creatively than buy new. I'd much rather save my money and flex my styling muscle 💪🏼. It's amazing how many more outfits you have than you realize. Sometimes just relocating an item in your closet to another section, is enough to remind you of the uses for it. Fresh location, fresh visual, fresh ideas 👀. The Stella shoes are chunky, street, and give cool gravity to the volume of the skirt. Everything is black and white here. Chic and cool to the max. Don't F with a classic. Hair up, a departure for me, but I loved the clean, composed effect. If I actually had a meeting, I'd have slayed (instead I changed for carpool shortly after😹).

The ultimate accessory was this AVI medicine bag tote. Like a good old fashioned doc that pays house calls, this style bag is always a winner. It's structured and keeps all the crap in my purse in check. An outfit such as this which is based on structure, would look wrong with a slouchy cross body. Statement Prada sunnies needed to finish up the glam. This is an unfussy look, which is often needed to counteract the messiness of life. Listen, we can't always actually have our shit together. That's a fact. But, who says you can't look the part? Black, white, and right all over is a key component in any wardrobe. 🎹🗝, LadyBlaga

Rice Salad

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Back to school, the seasons slowly showing signs of change, markets starting to sell pumpkins, all hints that Autumn is around the corner. I love living in a climate with four seasons. I'd go nuts if every day looked the same. Too much sunshine for me is like constant forced smiles and happiness. It's irritating. Sometimes you just need a good, cloudy dark day. Nothing should ever be homogenous all the time. Being aware of the seasons, and what each one has to offer us as humans inhabiting the planet, keeps us on our toes. We are responding to the elements though we usually aren't cognizant. Mother Nature holds us up whether or not we thank her, much like the symbolism in the classic children's book "The Giving Tree". Looking around us, taking a moment to pay attention to the changing leaves in all their jewel toned glory, breathing in crisp air, putting on a cozy sweater, these are all yummy, wholesome feelings. No iPad required! Good, old fashioned sensation. We can check our insta a hundred times a day, calculating likes, but it will never feel as satisfying as basking in a beautiful Fall morning. As the seasons naturally change, what we are driven to produce in the kitchen does as well. Recipes are seasonal, as they should be, celebrating what certain times of year have to offer us. It feels wonderful to capitalize on nature's offerings. I will never tire of a fresh Fall Martha Stewart magazine cover. The visual alone starts my culinary juices flowing.

This wild rice salad was made up on the spot, with stuff I had in my pantry. I know it's so annoying I keep saying that, but it's true. First off, I'd never lie. I'm way too emotional to be good at it. Granted, you can't see my face now to give anything away, but it's never been my style to be anything but blunt. Lol, so if you know me and my eyes are pointed towards the floor, chances are I'm attempting some form of rare bullshit. Second, I think I've proven I'm pretty darn capable in the kitchen. I've actually become quite good at inventing cool jesscipes with whatever my pantry is stocked with.

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Tzvia and I did a super last minute mini food shoot. As in, the night before our big Blaga Fashion Week pow wow. I had zero time to prepare, but found some solid ingredients in my often well stocked pantry. This wild rice salad was a fun challenge to put together. You've seen one hearty rice side, you've seen them all, right? This is a nice one. It's grainy, earthy, yet has a lovely unexpected sweetness because of the orange factor, grapes, and dried cranberries. Loved including the champagne vinegar! I rarely use it, and it was an Ah Ha moment. If there's anyplace to play around, it's your kitchen. If it's gross, just start again. No biggie. Unless you're married to one of those vacuum cleaner men who eat anything, in which case you're lucky.

A nice range of colors and textures liven up this basic starch. Eat color, feel color, see color. Always aim for technicolor in your life. Color is always here for us, we just need to bring it into our lives. Just like nature and love. 🍂🍁🍃🌻

 

ingredients:

  • Dressing; third cup each olive oil and fresh squeezed orange juice.
  • One and a half oranges.
  • I tbsp each white wine vinegar and honey.
  • Half teaspoon kosher salt, quarter pepper.

Directions:

Whisk together vigorously. A cup of black wild rice cooked according to package directions. Mix with a cup each of halved green grapes, dried cranberries. Half cup each of chopped scallions, toasted slivered almonds, toasted coarse chopped pecans. Add the fresh zest of one orange to compliment the vinaigrette. Leave some zest, nuts, and scallions sprinkled on top. Let sit together for a half hour to an hour before serving at room temperature.  Enjoy!

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One Year Later

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It's the start of another Jewish new year. As I reflect back on the course my life has taken since last Rosh Hashana, I'm amazed. New Years are just that; an entire year of your life that can be brand spanking new. Most people live their whole lives doing the exact same thing all the time. One of my favorite IG quotes is "how dare you do the exact same thing for 75 years and call it a life". This can be hard to read, since it calls you out on your shit. I mean, with all the things out there to learn from and experience, there is no reason at all to not take advantage of the gift of a whole new life cycle. God is like, wake up people! He literally commanded us to use that shofar as an alarm clock. He even instructed us to listen to it a certain number of times to ensure we don't just keep hitting snooze. The shofar holds power, not the actual horn of the ram, that's magical thinking, but in what it symbolizes. Of all the nutty things Jews observe, this is one of the good ones. The piercing sound of anything causes us to stop and take note. An ambulance leads us to be momentarily grateful for our health. A police car causes us to pass judgement and take stock of our morality. A fire truck makes us feel relieved our home isn't in flames. Another kid crying or throwing a fit gives us a fleeting air of superiority ("my child doesn't act like that"🙄).

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The shofar isn't meant to just jolt us two days out of the year. It has the message of "Dudes, feel this way every single day. PAY ATTENTION". You cannot make any sort of changes without first paying attention to what needs to be altered. Acknowledgement is first and foremost. Chances are, if your life is entirely linear and stagnant, there's something you aren't dealing with. It doesn't mean there needs to be a constant restructuring of one's life in drastic ways, but there is ALWAYS room for major improvement. We are never to stop going forward. Years bleeding into years is a red flag. People wishing each other a Shana Tovah, a Good Year. How does one define a good year? It's pointless to define "good" as "same", then people would wish each other a "same, uneventful year".  Good has got to mean really, truly good. Not that no one got sick or died and that you once again outran the Angel of Death, but that you maximized your time here. It's like that saying "everybody dies but not everybody lives". Drake sings that line on Nicki Minaj's "Moment for Life". It gets me every single time.

Last year, I prayed for certain things as we all did. I've watched in wonder as many of those things have come true. It's as if I'm watching my life in a film, as an objective observer. Its a fascinating and humbling thing to see your life take shape. It can't just be luck or Mazal, that's too haphazard. We accomplish only what we set into motion. Not with empty words once a year in synagogue, but with persistence and a clean heart. This morning in yoga, as tired as I was from holiday cooking (which I enjoyed so much), I wanted to mentally prepare for the New Year. I no longer place such emphasis on these dates on a calendar, since every single day is the start of your life all over again, but such is the nature of tradition. My thought in class was this; with each yoga position we change shape, take on new motions and physical and spiritual formations. We keep flowing, keep breathing, doing our best in that moment. We are so aquatic, and water never stops moving. As we take on new shapes, we learn that we will achieve newness no matter what. We are safe to keep going. We are more pliable than we give ourselves credit for. We are supported by air and earth. We are meant to move with the cycle of the atmosphere. The more we realize what's out there, the more exciting life becomes. Pray for new, be new, create new. Don't just rely on God to give it to you; He is very busy. He's given you all the tools. Let's get to work 🔧🔨🔩🔑🚪

Lady Blaga attends Alice and Olivia

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So I fell down the rabbit hole at this show! That was a nod to Alice in Wonderland, for anyone who may think that animated characters are limited to that which resembles human excrement 💩😷. What was so cool about viewing this collection, was that it was a walk through, as opposed to a seated show. It was like walking through a costume exhibit at the MET, but the models would occasionally crack a smile or move. The music set the mood; DJ Mia Moretti spun 60's and 70's Rock. She herself was dressed to kill, as per usual. It's so important for music to be an essential part of seeing a collection. It was an instant vibe creator, which is what music is of course supposed to do. There were all these cool sets and backdrops where pairs or groups of models stood. It was anything from a turquoise and black staircase to a sexy bedroom scene. The clothes were super bright, shiny, metallic, very rock and roll. Many pieces would be applicable to several decades. Hot pinks, sequins, mint greens, and deep blues drew the eye in immediately.

Moving through the exhibit indeed felt very much like a dark, sexy fairy tale. There were walls covered in scrawled messages of female empowerment, which of course was the perfect backdrop for this selfie nation. No judgements, I did it too. There was an old school silk glam chaise lounge to drape yourself over. I felt like I'd stumbled into an after party for Led Zeppelin. It was the perfect marriage of fashion and rock n roll🤘🏻. I especially loved all the multicolored striped sequin work. My outfit choice happened to have worked perfect thematically, a happy accident. My Jazmin Chebar wildly patterned silk and leather dress, feels to me like I was rifling through Steven Tyler's closet. It's not vintage but it looks it. My electric blue tights popped my yellow open toed sandals. The tights were a last minute addition which were a game changer. Also, I didn't have to shave. On my head was my huge, wine colored ribbon headpiece, a favorite of mine for years. It's a modern take on Anne Boleyn. It literally elevates any outfit I wear, as in it adds half a foot of height. The royal blue Gucci clutch was, well, clutch. Everything in this look was strong, deeply hued, but no piece was obnoxious. They all stood on their own, but worked together here. Sometimes you need one bold focus, but for Fashion Week you gotta be bold all over. In the right way of course. This show was indeed full of whimsy and wonder. Now "Drink Me".

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photography credit- alexandra gorgon @atg_photo

photography credit- alexandra gorgon @atg_photo

Lady Blaga attends Leanne Marshall

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FAVE!!!! This show knocked my Spanx off, and that's no easy feat. I mean, I've pulled muscles wrestling with that shit. This collection was so many things: feminine, flowy, sexy, angular, delicate, bright, timeless glamour mixed with sharp, modern cuts. When fashion reviews use so many words, it sounds like the writer is sitting there with a thesaurus, piling on the verbiage to distract from the fact that they have no clue what they're talking about. But Lady Blaga was enraptured and totally focused, as I am in all aspects of my life.

The pieces were so wonderfully lady like, and honoring of a female body, yet at the same time there was a clear "don't fuck with me, I'm no idiot" feel. Pretty but powerful. Aware of my feminine wiles. I'm here to have fun, but make no mistake, I'm running the show here. The wonderful jelly bean colors were delightful. My favorite was the bright, burst of sunshine yellow line, particularly the cutout two piece pants outfit with the billowy sleeves and diamond shape ab cutouts. I'd wear that in a heartbeat, and I'm certain every eye on the room would pop out of its socket. But you know what? I wouldn't even care about that, since I'd feel like a million bucks in it on my own.

The footwear was rad! Sea foam greens, bright whites, super chic affairs on the feet. It was thrilling to see plus size models too. Major points for celebrating all shapes and sizes. Oranges, teals, hot pinks, black too, all lent itself to a tropical paradise. The pieces would be perfect for the tropical trip of your lifetime, but can easily kick ass right here in the urban , harder to impress concrete jungle of NYC, bless her lil heart. The mix of strength and femininity was killer. That is a Blaga point of pride, so I look for that in how I dress. I felt at this show like how I felt as a kid, standing on the edge of one of those brightly colored plastic ball pits; I wanted to dive right in and be buried in color and sensation.

Leanne, take me with you!

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As for my ensemble to this show, it worked perfectly with that formula of lady killer. A feathery, flirty Carven miniskirt. A cropped vinyl zipper top, under a gold and black striped fitted Sonia Rykiel blazer. Sleeves up, collar popped, of course. My vintage, real deal bowler hat cocked jauntily to the side (I just wanted to use that phrase). That was a Vegas purchase, from a vintage treasure chest called Suzy Creamcheese. I wear it a ton. I loved it with the round Krewe sunnies. I felt a bit like Yoko. Gold Anya Hindmarch potato chip bag, named as such since it was inspired by chips. Really! Orange traffic cone kitten heels by Manolo, to really stop traffic. And so I could avoid needing to amputate my feet. Always a plus!  This look was a drop dominatrix ring master. Why not, right? I love that even though it was black based, it had a great mix of textures and patterns, which translated as richly interesting. No basic black here whatsoever. Cirque de Fashion Week was the hottest ticket in town, yo.
 

photography credit-

Matt IG-  @usukumah

Ana Teixeira IG- @tayshayra

Vlad VP visuals IG- @vpvisuals

Andrew Werner IG- @andrewwerner

Lady Blaga attends Dan Liu

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Day 2 for me of NYFW began with the sherbet colored hues of Dan Liu. The collection was so happy, feminine, and sweet. The gelato colors of the pieces beckoned me towards a beach vacation. Yes, please🙋🏼. Any clothing that instantly makes you feel as if you're relaxed at a resort, dangling a glass of Rosé' while smiling and laughing, is clothing worth owning.

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His goal with this collection was not only to conjure up imagery of the ocean and sun, but more so how does the ocean and sun MAKE YOU FEEL?  What a gift to give your clients. Emotion through dress is an art form. I wanted to eat these clothes, since they looked delicious. The incorporation of peacock feathers throughout the show was majestic. Who isn't moved by the glory and poise of a peacock, the most magnificent bird on earth. Peacocks hold wonder. Everyone anywhere will stop to watch a peacock fan her feathers. It's one of nature's wonders. Dan Liu transmitted that feeling of lovely wonder into his designs.

My favorite part was when after the show, he appeared to be crying as he was bowing with gratitude. For the audience to feel, the designer must feel first and last. Their emotions bolster those watching. It's wonderful when that connection is made.

"Wonder" was the theme that day, since I wore a Wonder Woman muscle sweatshirt. I paired it with, what else, but these enormous scale, bright red, satin pants. It was her cape as pants‼️. Every super heroine needs her headgear, and my NiniK knit crown was perfect, with its halo of red beaded orbs. Fingerless studded leather gloves always help save the world. Driving home my metallic message was this blindingly gold leather jacket, that's covered in silver and gold hardware. If Michael Jackson and Beyoncé had sex, the result would have been this jacket. We all know that's not happening for numerous reasons, but a Lady can dream. This outfit was a huge hit at the show, it was fun to be stopped about it. I mean, if Fashion Week isn't about superheroes saving lives, than I'm not sure what it's purpose is 😝😉😉... They don't call them "fashion victims" for nothing.

Eat some gelato today🍧, you dessert it.

 

north of manhattan Lauren recchia

north of manhattan Lauren recchia

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india de beafort

india de beafort

photography- Daniel Perry www.danielperrystudios.com

photography- Daniel Perry www.danielperrystudios.com

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bloopers

Fashion lovers, Blaga babies, foodies, music maniacs, life livers, whatever brings you here today, I leave you with this. This is the blooper reel to end all blooper reels. Ready? You earned it, after listening to me wax philosophical about clothing. Ok, picture it. Day 2, my Wonder Woman look. I was confident, comfortable, and knew I looked unique and fun. I was ready to rock it. I also had my period. The crime scene kind. The only item in my sparkly gold Edie Parker oval shaped purse was a giant, orange maxi pad. I think it was from 1973, before companies became sneakier about feminine product design. If there was a maxi pad museum, this would have been exhibit A. Lady Blaga entered the tent, about to go backstage. A dozen black PR people, clutching their clipboards, were standing around giving orders. I dropped my purse, the pad went flying. As in, it had an actual trajectory that could have been charged my NASA. Tzvia lunged for it. It was too late. There were audible gasps of horror from the aforementioned PR bees. Wanna know what I said? Here goes. "I guess I'm the only chick on this building that still gets her period!" THAT, my Friends, is how Wonder Woman saves her own ass. Every single damn time. I think an ear shattering mic drop is in order. Thank you for following my fashion week journey, it was a pleasure to attend and report back to you. We will resume out regularly scheduled program after you've had your fill. Create, create, create. Ideas, love, laughter, connections, anything worthwhile. That's the message here. It's a good one. Have a beautiful, picture worthy day. Smile, but look like you don't really care📸. Nah, disregard. Look like you do care. It's better that way. I love you, I promise. LB 👁❤️U.

Day 1 Lady Blaga does Fashion Week

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Lady Blaga is changing her format this week‼️ Still on a sugar high from the fantabulous NYC Fashion Week, it's my utmost joy to present you with my take on the events I was thrilled to attend. The vibe and mood of FW is everything you'd imagine it to be. I felt like I was on Sex and the City. This is the stuff of NYC dreams. It's why people move here. The creativity, boldness, ideas, originality, fun, and fearless fashion front runners. The weather was consistently picturesque, which helps everyone's mood🌞🌞🌞. Men in skirts and dresses, wild headpieces, drag queens, anorexic fashionistas posing with ice cream cones they're pretending to eat, heiresses who clearly brought their own photographers, babies as accessories; anything went!

To kick off my fun at NYCFW, I needed the perfect statement outfit. My choice was met with quite a reaction. The focal point was this custom, wildly emoji embellished denim jacket. This was a gift from Tzvia, a surprise. I was floored. I'm not used to getting surprises from others, I usually give them. I was so moved by how much thought and love was put into this. On the back it says "The Real Lady Blaga". Imposters; stand down! This jacket is strong, it needed accessories to the max. Oh, wait, I think I bought a hat with cat ears many years ago. Done! Scratching and clawing my way through Fashion Week. After all, men are dogs and women are cats. That's not derogatory, justmVenus Mars thing. All good. The right under-pieces were needed to anchor the look, but yet hold their own despite the outer wackiness. Norma Kamali to the rescue, as per usual. This looked like a jumpsuit but is two separate pieces. It's a bathing suit really. I wear it as a bodysuit. The studded leggings are from the same line, all of Norma's pieces work together. I legit felt like Sandy from the last scene in Grease, after she's transformed herself and busts into that carnival like an Australian gangster. Btw, my daughter is a high school senior. Those actors playing seniors at Rydell High were minimally 45 years old. So what? Neon pink long gloves and neon Marc Jacobs pumps popped my limbs even more. High wattage accessories are a must. I felt like a true Fashion Week player in this outfit. I felt like I belonged. You know what? Damn right I did.  

Despite the obvious superficial trappings of such an environment, I have to say that I was so uplifted by how nice and friendly most people were. We were all teetering in our stilettos on common ground. I met a lot of really interesting and cool people, exchanged deets and ideas, hung with fellow bloggers, and got to be a part of an atmosphere where the freak flag is celebrated and encouraged. It was very exciting. I thrive on creativity and being part of the creative community. I felt like I was amongst my peeps. Sitting front row at so many shows was such a treat; I'm sooooo appreciative of all the gracious and overly accommodating PR teams and photographers who were so helpful to the Blaga team. Smiles and great attitudes are the best accessories😀. Positive energy is always in style. I went with open eyes, a curious mind, straight posture, and some heavy swag. If there was anytime to bring some sass, it was then! The boundary less mood and lack of judgment of the wacky felt like home to me. I've always been told I'm "out of the box", a phrase I hate. Don't label me a renegade, that's still a label. It serves no purpose. Hanging amongst thousands of people who wouldn't be caught dead in a box rocked. I promised myself awhile ago I'd find creative people, my people, and collect them. Well, they were gift wrapped for me at Fashion Week. Even if you connect with someone for two minutes, so what, it's still a quality two minutes. Quality minutes build a quality life. Absorbing innovation gets the wheels going. Create anything, just create. Don't wait to do something because you could die tomorrow. Do it because you could LIVE tomorrow‼️.

PS- Lady Blaga was magically transformed from a minivan driving mom into a glamour puss by my unbelievably loyal glam squad. Karla and Brittany are beauty magicians. Not only are they the sweetest, most supportive comb and brush wielding cousins in the biz, but they are abnormally accommodating.  As in, they came to my home at 6 AM. That's simply an unacceptable time. I've known Karla of @kbelloorganichair for ten years. If anyone has a front row seat to my journey, it's her. She's been there as a stylist and friend every step of the way. I'm not kidding when I say none of this would have happened without her making me feel great. Brittany is the reason for the term "makeup ARTIST". Love these girls with all my heart❤️

Go be beautiful, both inside and out. That's a direct order, given with love and support. Read on for more of the front lines of fashion...

DAY ONe  

Galtiscopio spring 2018

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What a way to kick off my week, by sitting front row to view the beautiful and impressive collection at Galtiscopio. This is the show of kitty cat hat and Blaga denim jacket fame😜👏🏻. I purchased that hat many years ago. The one and only time I wore it,

A) People made fun of me. Fuck them; who's laughing now?

B) It kept falling off my head, driving me crazy.

I had a string put on it literally the day before fashion week. Thank you to my incredibly talented tailor, Letitia of Bashert Designs, for enabling me to get my purr on🐱👑🕶. Letitia has bailed me out of many a fashion emergency😱😉. The hat was a hit amongst the fashion forward, and it was unique and fun to wear. The team at Galtiscopio could not have been more welcoming. The atmosphere was so alive and abuzz with excitement.  The collection had vibrant, flowy silk pieces. Very feminine and sexy dresses with wonderful crystal detailing. The rich colors were very inviting. There were some hot, fun oversized t-shirts that would look great as minidresses with opaque black tights, or worn over leggings and boots with a boyfriend blazer. My ultimate salivating over piece was this long, silver open jacket. I went nuts for it. It had a sheer quality that let the piece breathe in its movement and statement. It almost felt like a robe, and I'm all about the robes now. It was so badass and rock and roll. It must be worn on a stage. Need!

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I loved this metallic sheer one shouldered top with tailored black slacks. The collection was entirely realistically wearable. I mean, is anyone really wearing the Big Bird inspired ball gown, seen on the runway, to a bar mitzvah??? Functionality is important. I loved the live musical acts that kicked off the show. A great move to create a lively mood. Ray J has a great voice 🎤.

My favorite moment was when the designer, Ying Lau, came out at the end. She seemed so humbled and grateful. It's a joy to see people work so hard, and watch them revel in their ideas be brought to fruition. I was honored to be a part of that for this woman. Good for anyone that works hard and creates!! Clap for them 👏🏻. 

Thank you, Galtiscopio, for such a beautiful experience. I hope we meet again, especially on my body.

Photography credit- fashion week online

Photography credit- fashion week online

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day one

concept korea spring 2018

Ok, MAJOR‼️. While all of Fashion Week is so exciting to be a part of, it's no secret that the events held in the main location have amped up adrenaline. Rolling into the epicenter of NYCFW is a sight to behold. It's a convention of colors, creativity, giant balls, and people screaming for attention while trying to look like they couldn't give two shits. There are clusters of photographers on street corners, poised and ready to capture the fierce and fabulous. I was so appreciative when any photog stopped me; this spared me from looking like a giant unnoticed asshole, who just plopped some insanity on her head as she ran out of her house in New Jersey. Imagine prancing around with a nutso hat/headpiece and no one gives a crap. EEK.   So thank you to the camera peeps for making me feel like part of the gang🙌🏻😎🎩. All my faves are credited below ❤️.

The mood before Concept Korea was rocking! It was clear upon entrance that this show smacks of gravity and importance. It was legit Devil Wears Prada. The goal is to showcase Korea's incredible well of talent and design, choosing new designers each time. I love this idea; if you're talented, join us, and we will get you out there.  I was psyched to see two designers bust their shit. Lady Blaga was invited to this show because my beyond talented and lovely photographer, Rachel Lee, who is a chief photographer for Concept K. All those stunning pictures you see on my IG and the blog, it's all Rachel. She is a marvel. I've never met a sweeter, more humble, more focused woman. She works so quickly, and with the purest intention. Her eye is magical. Her photos make me feel beautiful. She is generous and gracious, and rolled out the red carpet for me. Rachel, it's all you, Gurl. Oh, and if anyone tried to launch a shade rocket at us that day, we were like ,"um, yeah, so we know Rachel." Squad‼️     

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I genuinely went nuts over the entire LIE collection. I'd wear every single piece. It was so bright, colorful, clean, and chic. The colors were girly, while making a very strong "fuck with me at your own risk" statement. There was a sexy effortlessness to the designs. I loved the relaxed, flowy vibe. LIE incorporated a lot of well placed words on the clothes, even on the faces of the models. Genius. The models' eyebrows were covered with the words "perfectly imperfect". I saw this being prepped backstage prior to the show, and I went crazy. This is my dream, to inject smart words absolutely everywhere. Everywhere. There is no reason fashion cannot read as intelligent. Thought provoking. Women are both beautiful AND smart. LIE honored that. I felt that this designer was truly a champion of females. Thanks, Bro!!  The second collection, Greedilous, was a feast on the eyes. Totally different mood. LIE was clean, this was a visual explosion. Intricate patterns. "Don't ever accuse me of being feminine" florals. Fitted bright red rock and roll flared suits. Loved the male models rocking these looks too! Despite the flowers, the cuts somehow made certain pieces hotly unisex. In the swag bag, I was excited to receive an oversized Greedilous t-shirt. A cool guy could easily rock it, just as I can, by making it fun and sexy with black tights, and most likely a bowler hat, making it a minidress. Throw on a leather jacket or a blazer, and your statement t shirt just gave you an outfit. Yeah, Son. After the show, I met the Greedilous designer backstage. She was so sweet! I love watching others succeed, especially when they're nice (when they're not 🖕🏼🖕🏼🖕🏼). Out of all the colorful characters I met at this show, my all time faves were Jean and Valerie, the Idiosyncratic Fashionistas. These broads are in their 70's. They started a fashion blog ten years ago for older, bolder women. Yasssss‼️. I zeroed in on them immediately. Their headgear was wilder than mine. Ladies after my own heart! They were so nice and encouraging. I love what they're doing, and what they represent. Be on stage, no matter your age. Rock it until forever. No one ever has to fade into the background. Ever. Make the world understand your relevance. There is endless fun to be had. Keep going. They were the perfect people to represent my feelings from Concept Korea; innovation and originality to the max. Wit, intelligence. Replacing Tits and Ass, to Wits and Sass(that's a Lady Blaga original). You'll one day be wearing that on an oversized t shirt.... Love, Lady Blaga

 

Photography credit- fashion week online

Photography credit- fashion week online

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Photography credit for my looks- 

Mauricio E Cuevas www.ArmandHugon.com

Pratya J www.pratyajankong.com  

Sara Nicole saranicolemodel.com 

Marquis Perkins marquisperkins.com 

 

jenna dewan tatum

jenna dewan tatum

the idiosyncratic fashionistas

the idiosyncratic fashionistas

j. alexander

j. alexander

king combs

king combs

kenneth faried 

kenneth faried 

weworewhat danielle bernstein 

weworewhat danielle bernstein 

so you had a bad day

I recently sat in a group circle at a healing yoga workshop.  It was comprised of a lovely group of women, most of whom were new to me. When it was my turn to say how I'd come to be there, I briefly described my fairly new relationship with yoga. I never thought of it this way, but I heard myself saying, "there are no more bad days". This choice of words was so interesting to me, and it seemed to really resonate with the group. Everyone nodded and understood. I gave it thought after the class. I wanted to delve into those words that accurately tumbled out during an honest moment amongst strangers. It's really true though; while there are and always will be, difficult days, I can't recall a time I labeled an entire day as "bad". Believe me, I've had many one could sum up as such. Divorce is no picnic. Telling your children about divorce is one of the scariest, worst things you may ever have to do. It was easily the most terrifying moment of my adult life. After I did it, my whole body crashed for four days. The weight of the pressure of revealing that truth, absolutely pummeled me. I felt like I'd been hit by a truck. There are difficult days dealing with a marriage too. No relationship is always totally smooth. Married couples can have bad periods that last months. Loneliness and strife will find us all, married or not. It's part of life. We have been given a vast spectrum of human emotions, half of them super shitty. This most certainly includes raising children. Hard days at work, a lousy moment with a friend. The list goes on. And it always will. To daydream about reaching this fantasy state in our lives, when all will be aligned, thus allowing us to finally be happy, will never happen. Even if all your circumstances are in sync, emotions and situations change minute to minute.

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We can control almost nothing in our lives. Energy is constantly flowing in all sorts of directions. Take a mood swing. Blissful one moment, enraged the next. Your mood can be consistently cheerful one day, but your child's can be bitchy, therefore causing drama that you hadn't factored into your day. The plan you had to be happy that morning, despite your purest intentions, has been derailed by any of a number of things. Accept that as a possible looming reality. You're really never at the wheel, even though you cleaned, detailed, and gassed your car like a good girl should. Wanna know why I think I no longer have crappy days? Purpose. When you aren't certain and clear on your purpose in life, even seemingly great days feel shitty. Feeling adrift, even under a veneer of togetherness, is an extremely unsettling feeling. You may try to distract yourself with shopping, errands, putting down someone else, but the subconscious gnawing continues. Many mothers jump to the silly martyr excuse, that their purpose was to have kids. I did that, and it's lazy bullshit. First of all, then how do you account for the years prior to giving birth? Second, what an insane amount of pressure to put on your children, for forcing them to provide you with a reason for your existence. It's like expecting a baby to heal a marriage. It's actually the opposite of a selfless mommy martyr. It's selfish to dump your purpose onto any other person, especially a little kid. Find it yourself. Yes, that's a scary prospect ,but so what? It's our responsibility. There's no way around that. Out of basic gratitude for having been born, we simply must. We owe it to ourselves, to God, and to everyone we love. Some of our purposes are the same, some are vastly unique. Everyone can give and receive love, but not everyone will be a talented painter. We can all use our bodies to physically hug and kiss, but half the world shouldn't be legally allowed in a kitchen to cook for others. We can all smile, but we all can't teach math (I sure as hell can't). Some of our purposes are highly specialized and individual.

There was one Michael Jackson and one Stephen Hawking. But every single human being has the ability to be nice to someone else. To love. To support. I'm not talking about a sociopath with faulty wiring. I mean typical humans. We can all share, we can all receive. Often these abilities can be buried under years of emotional sediment, but the capability is indeed there. Many years ago, I did do some yoga regularly when I lived on NYC. It drove me crazy that during shivasana, when we are meant to lie still on the mat at the end of class, sealing in our practice, that I could not keep the palms of my hands facing upwards. It was an awkward, intensely uncomfortable feeling. I couldn't articulate what the issue was at 23 years old, but I never forgot about it. It was this: for whatever the reasons were, I was not able to receive. An upwards, open palm is receiving of the energy of others,of welcoming what the environment and atmosphere is trying to give you in that exact moment. In order to fill yourself with that, there must exist an opening in which to do so. I was closed on certain levels, so even the small act of positioning my hands a certain way was difficult. I tried but then would flip them back downward. I would recognize the same bodily discomfort when my stomach would clench, or I when I would wake up with a locked jaw and my fists balled up. I would literally pry my fingers open. This is how significant a closed palm is. If you can't even be receptive while you're asleep in a subconscious, relaxed state, certainly you'll be closed in a conscious state. Our bodies are not what we are comprised of, they are just the external part of us. However, our bodies are our most important messengers. The human body is so complex; if one of the thousands of things that make it work are off, everything feels off. The physical pain we get used to is staggering. Instead of tapping into why we get migraines, we usually just accept that we have migraines. Back pain, inflammatory bowel disease, a curved spine, headaches, the list of how stress manifests itself goes on.


 In yoga, not only do you elasticize and become aware of your physicality, but of your emotional and mental state as well. All parts of you are forced to, as they always are meant to, work together. People feel safe on the mat because things are finally starting to feel aligned. The trick is to keep the feeling of safety and openness with us all day. This is not easy, but it becomes easier through intention, purpose, and awareness. Denial perpetuates problems. Facing shit gets rid of it. It sometimes is just that simple. Uncovering and discovering my inner parts had brought me tremendous joy. We are made in god's image, therefore we are infinite. There is literally an entire world inside you waiting to be looked at. If you don't uncover it no one else will. No one else can. In the above mentioned yoga workshop, the gist was that we fatigued our muscles, then lied down on our backs and just shook. We just all lied there, silently quivering, releasing years of built up pain and trauma. It was wondrous. I softly cried with gratitude at the sheer ability we have to heal ourselves. It is so sad our children are not being raised to know this, and even sadder most people grow old and die without ever knowing their own power. This went on for about twenty minutes. No one wanted it to stop. It was incredibly humbling to have been introduced to this gift. It felt like possessing a magical power, which it indeed is. This, folks, is why I no longer have "bad days"; because I know this. I cannot not know it. At every miserable, disappointing, irritating moment in life, you can steer yourself to a safe port. Bad times, yes. Always. It's unavoidable. Expect it. But understand there's a way out of your own pain. As my teacher Betsy says, "You are all you need." I've referenced that before, but I say it to myself constantly. This notion brings me comfort. Comfort helps get rid of bad days:).

Seek and hold onto those you find comforting. Eliminate those who bring discomfort. Open your palms, receive what it means to be soothed by those people. Receive what it means to take yourself down from a ledge. An open heart, together with open hands and an open mind, make so much room for good stuff. You are incredible because each one of you is all you need. Retracing back to how I started to speak about purpose... To heal yourself, to heal others. To comfort yourself, to comfort others. To open yourself, to open others. Knowing I can do this, understanding the reason for my existence, is a sure way to wake up smiling every day. Unclenched jaw. Open fingers. A relaxed belly. Open eyes, open in the real way. Many people with perfect vision cannot see, just as many blind people are deeply intuitive. I will keep honing and discovering channels in which I can honor my responsibility. It feels awesome.

Love, LB

Private Benjamin 2.0

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Hey, Peeps. So this look was an exciting discovery for me, because it was accidentally meaningful. I was putting together looks for the most recent fashion shoot, and combining the nautical striped jacket with my favorite worn in, camouflage shorts was a brilliant idea for Labor Day. Yes, I know that just passed in the states, but so what. It is always the right time to reflect on how damn lucky we are to live in a country where freedom is so deeply valued and promoted. There is never a time I don't drop my kids at their Jewish private school, where I don't think of how blessed we are to be able to safely practice Judaism in America.  Having grown up constantly hearing about how my grandparents survived the Holocaust, having gone to visit the concentration camps in Poland as a teenager, having my father in law tell my kids how rocks were thrown at him as a little boy because he is Jewish. My son is the same age as he was when that happened. It kills me to think anyone would ever do that to my baby.

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Going to synagogue freely is a gift. Putting a menorah in my window is a gift. Having an annual Israeli day parade is a gift. By venturing out of the opaque bubble in which I've always lived, I am FINALLY starting to meet all kinds of people from many different backgrounds and ethnicities. I mean, Jeez... What the heck were we taught to be so scared of?... Differences are a gift as well. I know I sound like Kimmy Schmidt crawling out of her psycho, underground cult cave, opening her big eyes to the world, but Good. For. Me. This country is brimming with all kinds of worldly ingredients, because in it we have the freedom to mix up our own lives. Despite what your opinion may be on the current government, it doesn't matter; America was built on the premise of Liberty. We've got a massive statue in a dress to prove it. I kayaked near her on the Hudson River recently! Who knew that a little J Crew jacket and Current Elliot shorts could have had such an emotional impact on me,while belts and shoes were flying all over my closet?? Inspiration can hit anywhere, anytime. It is raw and unplanned. No plans necessary. If it's there, it will come.


My friend CR, a wise yogi, recently told me that there is a week long army training program in Israel. People can apparently pay and have a somewhat Israeli army experience. Supposedly they're really tough on you; wait, isn't that just flying on El Al?? Adding this on to my ever growing to do list. I might look like Goldie Hawn in the classic movie "Private Benjamin", but I would love this. See what ideas come to us when we feel free? Anything is an option, everything is an opportunity. And looking like Goldie at any stage in her rad life ain't so terrible. I'm so happy I didn't toss this jacket. I bought it because of the Jackie O vibes, then almost got rid of it for the same reason( I just outgrew that concept, though it's so elegant). I knew it would one day serve the right purpose. F dates on a calendar. They're numbers in a tiny box. Live Liberty every single day. Don't not take advantage of where we live. Freedom starts first and foremost in your own mind. 🇺🇸🗽🚢
Love, Lady Blaga

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Blintz Kreig Bop

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These heavenly, indulgent chocolate crepes (or blintzes in Yiddish terms), are one of my proudest culinary achievements. Determined to make homemade cheese blintzes for my father in law years ago, I found this recipe from Rabbi Gil Marks. I bought a special crepe pan, mini ladle, and wide spatula. I handle these items super carefully, hand wash them, and store them in a scratch free zone. Making the crepes isn't difficult, but it is a bit of a to do (or potchka in Yiddish terms), since it entails several steps. Not a problem, I just break them up and do one step per day over three days. I find that less overwhelming than doing everything in one day. I learned these tricks over the years, after initially intending to do everything at once. I wish I hadn't felt I had so much I needed to prove to myself... Older and wiser really is a thing🤔😏. Making this process easier on myself allows me to make these treats more often, since the task is less daunting. I do, however, truly enjoy this recipe. I feel so accomplished at having my own Creperie👏🏻.

Blintzes are a traditional Jewish food, and I love a good throwback. I love connecting to my heritage through food. Kicking it old school in my kitchen. I use Rabbi Marks's crepe recipe but use bars of milk chocolate as a filling🍫. Yes, you read that correctly. I understand if you now need a moment to regain composure. I have made the blintzes with cheese, buttered mashed potatoes, and even plain sprinkled with powdered sugar and whipped cream. My family loves the milk chocolate variation the most. They're a joy to assemble, knowing the reaction that will follow. Ready for this?

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup of milk
  • 1/2 cup of water
  • 3 eggs lightly beaten
  • 2 TBSP butter
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup flour

Directions

To Make the crapes:

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Wish together milk, butter, eggs, salt, water.  Gradually whisk in the flour to make a smooth batter.  Make sure there are no heavy lumps.  Cover and refrigerate for at least two hours.

Heat skillet over medium heat and brush with oil.  Pour two TBSP batter until the pan is coated.  Cook for one minute until the edges are brown.  Flip onto a dry towel or wax paper.

Filling:

I melt Nutella in a small pot, using some heavy cream to thin it out (just a tbsp or 2), which makes this insane Nutella sauce to drizzle over. It's so decadent and rich. The blintzes freeze really well in layers of wax paper. Just fry in butter right before serving.

I put four squares of chocolate in the middle of each crepe. I often serve the blintzes with a plate of sliced fresh fruit 🍌🍓. Any type of berries looks gorgeous too. This has become a standard birthday specialty in our home, and it's what my kids requested I bring to Visiting Day this summer at camp.

Now back to the directions... Fold the bottom of  each crepe over the filling.  Fold the sides over and roll up the crepe.  Preheat over to 350 and grease a pan. Lightly cook until golden brown.

This serves so beautifully, with little bowls of toppings put out. Fruit, whipped cream, powdered sugar, chopped toasted nuts, chocolate sauce, mini chocolate chips. Treat it like a sundae bar. It's honestly the cutest. Even if you make this just once a year, it will make a wonderful impression. Btw, the title of this post is a nod to The Ramones. Blintzes and punk rock are a recipe for greatness🤘🏻🍫

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