insta.life

i've been hacked

My blog was hacked today and everything is destroyed... I will be temporarily offline while I decide what my next step is here.... fix it, or change it up.... sad day :( 

summer shopaholic !

There is something about the hot summer weather that brings out the shopaholic in me! I thrive off of finding that perfect vintage piece, that handmade one of a kind item, that rare find to add to my collection!!! This week I racked up some pretty cool pieces from all over town. The Goodwill is definitely my go to store when I am on the hunt for something original. On my last haul I managed to get 6 dresses, a long red jacket, and a pink tie-dyeish blazer for under $100. Beat that! I am obsessed with turquoise stones, white lace, aztec anything, fringe and tassels... and that is exactly what I found while out on the prowl. Here are some pics of my life over the last week on instagram! Summer bling, cute hats, arm candy, new aztec ring, free people sidewalk sale, and celebrating in my new vintage dress! Hope you enjoy my pics, and please feel free to check me out on instagram @danaleecalabrese for daily photo blogs! xxx

wild - - fox

My sister collects rosary beads so when I saw these broken heart friendship necklaces by Wildfox I knew I had to buy them! One for me, one for you!!! My sister Jen has two small children so we figured I would get the wild half... I guess I am a tad bit wilder and she sure is a fox! It's the perfect gift to give someone you love, especially when you live so far away... the broken heart becomes whole again when we are together. They are sold together for around $80. Love it? You can buy it at WILDFOX  , or give eBay a shot! Happy Hunting! xxx 

teddy girl style

My character for the music video "Mouthful of Me" was highly inspired by the 1950's Teddy Boy look. Fitted suits, rolled up jeans, oxford flats, black ribbon tie... aaahhhh soooo lovely!!! It's funny how this is considered to be a boy look, but I felt super sexy and feminine rocking this style. I guess I was never the pink and frills kinda gal! But hey with the right leather jacket pink frills looks amazing! {we will save that for another post} I got my button down and skinny black pants at H&M, stole my man's hat & tie, bought some black suede shoes and stuck a cig in my mouth.... this look is so simple to recreate and you probably already have all of the pieces laying around your house!!! I'm thinking the next time you head out on the town you should really stray away from the norm, wow your friends and show them your Teddy Girl Style!!!!  Ps. the top right photo is me, and be sure to click on the link to check me out as "Frankie" in the music video! xxx

mouthful of me : press release

"MOUTHFUL OF ME" to be first single off hit songwriter Annet Artani's new album

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
: New York, June 21, 2012

Annet Artani's new single, "Mouthful of Me" is only a metaphor! We've all looked over at someone and thought they were just delicious. In this song, dreamed up by the writing team of Artani and guitarist Eric Nicolas, Annet is the one on the menu.

When Annet first performed "Mouthful of Me" to a packed house at NYC's famed Bitter End, the crowd went mad. The song, a dark pop tango, became the obvious first single, and its creepy, oral-erotic theme generated the idea for the video.

Facebook is responsible for connecting Annet and her dark video auteur Torgeir Ensrud, a Norwegian director and visual effects specialist, who invited her out to shoot the video at Joshua Tree National Park. Ensrud and his wife, Dana Lee Calabrese Ensrud, work as a creative team, and Dana also plays Annet's love interest in the video. Annet's sister, Artemis, was the hair and makeup artist for both girls. The casting of a woman as the love interest was no accident either: Annet is an advocate for gay rights, marching in last year's gay pride parade in a wedding dress, as well as a proud resident of NY State, where two people of the same sex can now legally eat white cake off each other's plates.

"Mouthful of Me" follows the 2009 single "Alive," which Annet released on Ultra Records. Critics have recently compared Annet to the late, great Amy Winehouse, as well as to Joss Stone and Gwen Stefani. But as “Mouthful” makes evident, she is very much her own artist. Annet is probably best known internationally for writing the platinum hit ballad "Everytime" with Britney Spears, featured on three separate albums, as well as for being a Greek pop star, thanks to her star turn on the hit show "Fame Story" and her representation of Cyprus in the Eurovision Song Contest with "Why Angels Cry.”

She currently resides in New York City and is recording the rest of this album in Harlem with producer-engineer Zak Soulam and her writing partner, Eric Nicolas.

ride free

While cruising around tumblr. today I found this amazing image. For a second I got lost in the beauty of it. What I would do right now to hop on a horse and just ride free... This photo inspired me so much that this weekend I will be heading to Malibu to ride on the beach. I can't wait! It reminded me not to forget to "Enjoy the little things"! Please feel free to follow me on tumblr.  for daily inspiration photos! xxx

glitter and gloss

Seriously how amazing are these paintings!?! There was one good thing that came out of my $16 movie ticket to see Prometheus and it was the discovery of Anja Van Herle. Her amazing Audrey Hepburn inspired paintings adorned the walls all around me! These woman are sexy and beautiful, her work is astounding, and I strongly suggest that you check her out! xxx

www.anjav.com

treasure hunting

   

I have been thrifting around town lately and I wanted to share some of my cool new finds! Festivals are always a great place to snag one of a kind gems and that is exactly where I found this funky skull ring! Honestly it's more of a costume type of thing for me, but it caught my eye and was too cheap not to buy! I found my dragon claw ring [ggrrrr] while exploring Downtown L.A. Shopping downtown is always fun because you can bargain with them most of the time! But I have to say no matter where I am my favorite place to bargain shop is at the Goodwill. There is just no better buy! I can get lost in there for hours and come out with so many amazing pieces. I have been raiding my grandmothers closet since I was a child so you can imagine the adrenaline rush I get from being able to raid millions of closets!?! Pure bliss! haha... I managed to sneak out the door with a really cool aztec printed blazer, a red quilted tassel purse, a blue fringe purse, a dress, and a vintage suitcase! Score! p.s. please excuse the poor quality of these pics! Would you believe me if I said I am actually a photo editor... ?!? 

love and lake hollywood

I have been living in Hollywood for several years now, yet this is the first time I've ventured over to Lake Hollywood. I am so kicking myself in the ass for not getting there sooner! But hey, better late than never right??!! Besides the monster gate surrounding it the view was pretty gorgeous and when you get over to the bridge there is a pretty amazing view of the lake and the Hollywood sign. I was dressed up pretty green and girlie for an event at Fred Segal. I did not end up attending, but after looking at these pics I freakishly match my surroundings...

Dress Lucy & Co. // Claw Ring Downtown LA {similar} // Kate Spade Chantal Shades // Red Leather Bag Anais Boutique // Man Accessory = Husband.

summer lovin' had me a blast

Summer finally feels like it hit Hollywood and I am lovin' it! I really LOVE shoes, but I hate wearing them! hahahaaa.... so the more I can run around barefoot in the grass, the better! Yesterday I was so busy running around the fashion district of downtown L.A. that I didn't have time to post this, so this is my Friday outfit! I found some reaallllly cool stuff down there that I will post in my next blog... It was super fun and reminded me a tad bit of New York, so when I am homesick I will just hop on the metro to the concrete jungle! Ahh the smell of garbage....

Headband Elle // Dress Gift // Leather Tooled Bag Morocco // Shoes Chie Mihara // Skull Bracelets South Sun // Turquoise Ring & Cuff Mexico 

moroccan nights

Summer is here and I really want to make my outside space a bit more cozy! I picked up these wood pallets today and I am planning a little DIY project! I think I am going to try to build a daybed of some sort?! I just purchased a really beautiful Moroccan style lamp and some outdoor pillows. I am going for a Moroccan get-a-way feel! A couple of sheer white curtains and a few more hanging lamps and I will be on my way to pure outdoor bliss! Will post pics as soon as my project is complete! Cocktails ladies?! xxx 

bypolliani bags

I was first introduced to Janka Polliani by my other half who worked with her in Norway... since then I have been totally hooked on her blog! I am completely obsessed with her handmade leather bags. Created by the husband and wife duo, BYPOLLIANI is their brand. From my understanding the iPhone cases will be released tomorrow, June 1st and the bags to follow! My only problem now is that I love them all so much I cannot decide which one I want!!! The white fringe bag is definitely a front runner for me, but as far as the iPhone bags go I am totally torn. Maybe I need them all to coordinate with my outfits?! You can buy them here: WWW.POLLIANI.COM 

tattoo inspiration

I am getting really anxious these days to finish my sleeve so I created a tattoo vision board! I started it almost 2 years ago, time flies! The idea basically comes from a poem my other half sent to me once upon a time when he was madly in love before the old married couple set it... haha! The longest sentence ever! So, the lower portion of my arm is going to be "love and madness" surrounded by a rose garden, because after all it was in a rose bush that madness went sooo "mad" that "he" poked out his beloveds eyes and left "her" "blind"! The upper half is going to be "love is a battlefield", old fighter planes, bombs, etc... and all the fillers will be life in between! I have an amazing tattoo artist who started to draft the top, the only problem is that he is in NJ and I moved to L.A. So I am looking for an amazing tattoo artist in Los Angeles. I am really scared because I have gotten a bad tattoo here and there before... but I am really excited to meet some new super creative and talented artists to help me create the perfect masterpiece on my arm! Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated! xxx

follow me on instagram @danaleecalabrese for my daily photo diary xxx

all natural, arbonne!

While visiting New Jersey my sister had an Arbonne Party and I must say I was very impressed by the products. 100% VEGAN and pure quality. Founded in Norway and developed in Switzerland no wonder this product is sensational! I lived in Norway long enough to know the woman there are gorgeous and they must be using something on that fabulous skin of theirs! I think I just discovered a little secret. ARBONNE! Start reading the back of your make-up and skin care because you will be shocked what we are allowed to buy here in the U.S.!  I learned at the Arbonne party that make-up manufacturers are allowed to put mineral oil in our make-up. This is a toxic substance that the government does not allow oil companies to throw out, so they sell it to the cosmetic companies and we put it on OUR FACE??!!!! Wait... we are not allowed to throw it our because it is TOXIC, but we can put it on our skin? hmmmm.... where is the logic? Be aware and know what you are buying, and check out ARBONNE! if you want to be chemical free and fabulous! xxx

born to run

 You would think that if I grew up with New York City in my backyard that I would have been to the Statue of Liberty before, right? No! Well ages ago I ferried around it, but this was the first time I actually docked and walked up to that sexy lady! Too bad she is actually closed for renovations until October! Bummer!!! But it was still a breathtaking sight. We also explored Ellis Island. I was curious to see where my ancestors bravely entered this new land! I actually got the chills walking around that place. People always say Americans don't have history, but this was a HUGE piece of my history. A place where the brave and adventurous souls ventured to from all corners of the world looking for a better life, a free life! I know that whatever ancestor of mine came here has passed down the adventure seeking, rule breaking, old wandering soul gene to me... and now I am on a mission to trace back my roots to the very person that touched American soil and made me who I am today.Think I can find them?!?

[wearing] Born to Run Shirt : Urban Outfitters / Skirt : Free People / Knuckle Clutch : Anais Boutique and as I posted this I realized I was wearing red, white, and blue! America! xxx 

vintage poncho

I snagged this awesome find at the Urban Renewal Project right outside of Urban Outfitters in Hollywood right before I flew east to visit my family. [pictured at Overpeck County Park, NJ] It was a steal at $35 marked down from $100. If you are in the Los Angeles area I suggest you check it out. The prices are anywhere from $20 to $500. They have some really cool vintage and one of a kind finds! Now if only I can manage to squeeze myself a little rack somewhere in there.... hmmmm....

a day at anais

Today I spent the day at a cute little shop called "Anais Boutique". I spent half of the day visual merchandising and the other half drinking champagne while trying on all of the clothes! [hard life] I found some really amazing pieces that you will get to see in the posts to come!!! xxx

[wearing my favorite high wasted floral shorts from urban outfitters, a must have in every wardrobe!]

leather for sale !

 

  

 

On my last trip to Mexico I picked up [3] of these amazing leather tooled purses! I could not decide which one to get because I was so in loveeee with them all. But, lucky for you I have chosen one [the pink & green one] so the other [2] are currently up for grabs! With that said they are $40 a piece, handcrafted, 100% leather, and very original! It's the perfect size for your iPhone, keys, and must have essentials! My recommended uses are bike riding, bar hopping, & gypsy roaming! The strap is long enough to wear it as a side purse, or change it up and wear it around your neck! I really love these and I hate to see them go, but why be greedy!?! haha.... 

I will ship anywhere in the USA for free. I will ship anywhere worldwide for a shipping-fee depending on where you are [message me] Oh, and you get a pretty handmade origami dove or crane with purchase! If you live in L.A. I will meet you and we can exchange somewhere in public! I accept paypal. Email me // danaleecalabrese@gmail.com 

oh sweet josephine...

My grandmother "Josephine" has always been my fashion icon. I remember as a really small child I loved getting dressed up in her clothing, and I still do! I'm wearing her vintage hot pants, together with a vintage victorian shirt, and a hat that my beautiful mother sent to me! Together this outfit is [ 3 ] generations of greatness!!! I hope that one day when I have a daughter she will carry the old soul gene as well! "Beauty without expression tires" [Ralph Waldo Emerson]