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 

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... ?!? 

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

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!]

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]

paparazzi

Yesterday I was attacked by a rogue paparazzo.... and it was hysterical. 

Good thing I was wearing my favorite moccasins. xxx

happy hump day !

Just a couple snapshots from my day! A little arm candy... my favorite vintage yellow jacket by Joseph Magnin [that jacket got me a first class ticket from LA to Amsterdam!!!] + my new turquoise wrap... a bottle of 1985 Vintage Porto wine [cannot wait to pop that baby open] and me, myself, and I posing with my Diana f+ camera, wearing my favorite vintage floral mini! aaahhhhhh..... xxx 

hear no, see no, speak no : evil.

I am Cleopatra
Caesar's former lover, now I am yours

Marc Antony, you're biting off
More than you can chew

Hear no evil : See no evil : Speak no evil

 I'm having major bursts of creativity these days, and loving it! I listened to the lyrics of this song by The Sparks and got really inspired. There is really nothing better than being able to express yourself! Especially by wearing black lace and turquoise, yum.  

BLACK LACE MAXI DRESS// FOREVER21 

BEADED HEADBAND // ELLE

TURQUOISE CUFF// MEXICO

WOOD BANGLES // ANIAS BOUTIQUE

TURQUOISE RING // KINGS BEADS

life lately

I have been so busy lately I have barely had time to breathe! But here are some instagram pics of what has been going on over yonder! Hollywood Life, San Diego Road Trip, Mexico Adventure, Joshua Tree Music Video (my hubby and I filmed a music video for the super talented Annet Artani!) Besides that just gathering trinkets and threads, shopping up a storm as usual, and getting ready to resell it all!!! (well maybe not all of it) Happy Friday and don't forget to follow me on instagram!!xxx

diy bleach out !

Have old t-shirts laying around? Here is a really simple way to give it a fresh new look. First find a t-shirt you want to destroy. I didn't have any rubber bands laying around, so I decided to use twine. [which turned out to be a blessing in disguise] Next wrap your shirt in different size knots. I went crazy! After you make your knots take the twine and wrap it around the entire shirt in different places. After you are happy with your wrapped up tee, grab yourself a bowl and some bleach. I wanted to make sure my shirt got completely bleached out so I filled up about half of my bowl with bleach, then added warm water to the rim. I let my shirt soak overnight and in the morning I hung it for a couple of hours. Throw it in the wash machine and presto! You have yourself a new shirt!!! You can't really mess up, so have fun destroying your clothes and let me know how your bleach out goes!!! xxx

wildcat !

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK

Sometimes you just need to have a fun photo shoot with your husband! He doesn't mind a little under boob showing, so why should I?! I feel like a WILDCAT! prrrrr.... I'm wearing a leopard Michael Kors jacket and well, nothing else! I cropped it off at the privates and had some fun in photoshop! Besides that I just finished bleaching out a t-shirt and it looks way cooler than I thought it would! Is it just me or do things look better destroyed?!!! DIY pics coming up very soon! nighty, nite xxx

KONY 2012

I watched this video and I really love what they are doing. It's true when they say how times have changed and because of tools like Facebook we really have the power to change the world!!! I believe it! You should watch it, take the pledge, and share it!! Things like this should not be happening to helpless children, or anyone for that matter. Check out the website Invisible Children.  

"There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come"... YES!!!
FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK!

i have my [eye] on you...

gold sequins top-lily white // navajo pillow-ikea // eyeliner-mac

Inspired by my last post... I went looking for gold, and that I found! I was on a mission to find a gold top, so you can imagine how happy I was when I came across this pretty little gem! It was the only one on the rack and I got it so cheap it feels like stealing... do I even dare say? Ok, $10. Yup, marked down from $38. There is seriously something about the hunt and then the capture that really gets my adrenaline pumping!!! If you seek, you shall find! xxx