Hollywood Hair Stylist Q&A

Y’all read me profess my love for hairstylist Meredith Morris last week here.  Today Meredith has kindly participated in a little Hollywood Stylist Q&A for both myself and all of you!  This girl has experienced it all, and I’m so fascinated by her and always asking her questions about her life and career.  I loved spending the day with Meredith and her sweet trio of pets,  rescue dogs Draper and Desmond and Miss fancy pants kitty cat, Winnie Cooper.  Swoon!

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Q:  What is one of your proudest accomplishments in your career?

A:  I’m lucky in that I have proud career moments every day, whether it be watching a client walk the red carpet with confidence or simply hearing from a client that they love their cut/color and have gotten compliments on their new look.  Someone trusting me with their “crown jewel” makes me feel proud and accomplished.  

 

Q:  What are some challenges you’ve had to overcome adjusting to the culture change from Mississippi to Los Angeles?

A:  I have been living in Los Angeles for ten years.  I must say that I just had no idea what to expect, I only knew I wanted to be part of the “taste making” culture of Los Angeles.  I grew up fantasizing about life in California and I am a huge lover of film.  I think the hardest thing for me to get my head around was how steep the competition is here.  Everyone is beautiful, everyone is a talent, and I early on learned that you just have to be patient, work hard, and keep yourself grounded.  I believe I have had success in this city because that is how I have spent the last ten years living.  

 

The weather is also a huge help.  I love the health culture, and as a Mississippi girl I love the outdoors and have embraced so many wonderful outdoor activities.  Even after ten years of living here I drive down the palm tree lined streets and think to myself “Wow, I can’t believe I get to live here and be part of this magic.”

 

Q:  Do you have any Hollywood hair icons?

A:  I love Hollywood glamour!  My beauty icons are Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, Doris Day and of course, pinup girls.  I love the detail and the formality of their styles.  They are probably the most influential ladies in my personal style and my personal look.  

 

Q:  Which celebrity hairstyles do people seem to most want to copy?

A:  The most exciting thing about being a hair stylist in LA is that I am part of a community that sets trends.  The work that I do is the work that people clip out of magazines and take to their local stylist to recreate.  That is such a dream to me and I pinch myself that people have that much respect and love for my personal passion.  

 

Rachel Bilson ombre, Kate Middleton layers, Christina Hendricks red, Michelle Williams pixie, Amanda Seyfried blonde, and Victoria Secret model hair… I  die for Victoria Secret model hair; It’s so beautiful, sexy and effortless looking.  I think these are the most requested looks and trends today.  I prefer rather than copying the look of a current hair icon, enhancing and giving each client their own individual look. These girls obviously can serve as inspiration but I feel it my duty as a hair stylist to be honest and to tell my clients why I see the importance of designing and creating a look specific for her face shape, her coloring, and her personal style.  It’s never about recreating something that’s already been done, it’s always about personalization and customization. 

Q:  What inspires you?
A:  I’m never lacking inspiration.  I’m most inspired by the people that I work alongside.  I love that I am able to work in a salon and amongst people who share my love and passion for making people look and feel great!  
 
People watching also inspires me.  I’m constantly seeing young people “breaking the rules” with creative and bold personal style.  I love that being part of this Hollywood madness pushes me to be better than my best.  This creative freedom is what keeps me inspired and on my toes and that’s why after 13 years, I am still as passionate as ever about great hair.


Q:  What are your favorite hair products for the average glam girl?

A:  I am such a product junky!  I swear my bathroom looks like a Sephora or Ulta.  I love high end products along with inexpensive drug store treasures that I have found.  I’m a firm believer in playing around and cocktailing products to find that perfect combination that works for you.
  • Oribe – my favorite product line.  Tom Ford collaborated and did the fragrances for the product, so not only is every product perfection but they also smell so rich and expensive.  
  • Psssssst Dry Shampoo – my favorite drug store product that I cannot live without.  Every glam girl needs this product.  

Q:  How is celebrity hairstyling different from regular hairstyling?

A:  I style my salon clients with the same love and care that I style a celebrity walking the red carpet.  I think the difference is that styling a celebrity the stakes are a little higher.  The celebrity is going to be photographed and scrutinized and picked apart.  I try and not get too in my head about it and I always do my best to work with the stylist, makeup artist, and celebrity to create a perfect well rounded look that will have her feeling most confident.  After all that’s what it’s all about, confidence!  Confidence is what is beautiful and confidence translates.
 

Q:  To what do you attribute your success for becoming one of LA’s sought after stylists?

A:  I think I have managed success in Los Angeles because I have maintained my integrity behind the chair.  I’m a girl’s girl.  My love and care for each person that trusts me with their hair comes out and I think that trust is what has helped me create success for myself.  I have never taken any client or job for granted.  Hair is everything to people and I think my appreciation for that is what has helped me achieve so much here.  My parents always told me that when you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.  I believe it to be true.  I am so blessed that I have found a job and career that allows me to express my creative skills and share my heart so openly while making people feel better about who themselves.  How lucky is that?!

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I mean…how can you not love this girl!?  Thank y’all for reading and thank you to Miss Meredith for sharing her insight with us.  Check her out at Studio DNA, on her website, blog or via instagram.  She has a new pinup girl ‘do that is to die for!!!  XO –

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C’est La Vie

When I saw this sweater on Forever21 online, I was like…I have it have it.  Now.  Obviously it’s cute, but it also reminds me of my B*Witched cd I had in the fifth grade.  That music video is so terrible.  Terribly awesome.   In fact, that gem is somewhere in my childhood bedroom under the bed.  I admit that I just recently got rid of my cd tower and buried my cd’s in a giant cd case that has found it’s new home safely under my bed in Mississippi.  You can’t get rid of those babies! I have to have proof that yes, I actually paid money for the Crazy Town, Brandy and Space Jam cd’s.  And maybe stole a Coolio cd from one of my siblings.

Back to clothes.  When I ordered this sweater I thought it was a normal person sweater.  When it came in it looked like I had swiped it from my fifth grade closet…while in fact listening to B*Witched, because it is actually a KIDS SWEATER.  Since when did Forever21 have kids clothing?  I took this rare coincidence as a sign I must in fact find a way I could wear the now “cropped” sweater and keep it, so I layered it over a strapless dress and voila!  Instant love.

sweater – Forever21, also love this one (would totally buy if I was still a Williams) and this one / dress – Tracy Feith for Target (old), love this one (on sale!) / heels – Prabal Gurung for Target, similar here / bag – Chanel / bracelets – Derng Rose Gold Pave (c/o), J.Girls Jewels Gold Pave (c/o), Michael Kors watch, assorted David Yurman / cocktail ring – La Dama / nail polish – Essie Fiji 

 

Thank you for reading!! XO –

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Caramel Apple Grilled Cheese Recipe

 

When I saw this sandwich on How Sweet It Is (obsessed with this food blog), I knew I was going to be trying it. Caramel.  Apple.  Brie.  What more do I need to know?

This sandwich was so good I ate mine over the sink rather than plating it to sit down.  That’s a deliciousness giveaway right there – if you’d rather eat it standing in the kitchen than sitting at the table, it’s good.  I’m a big fan of the combination of cheese and bread in any form.  They are two of my all time favorite things, in addition to cola bottle gummies, air conditioning and the Real Housewives…but now we’re getting off topic.

This truffle grilled cheese is pretty incredible too, in case the idea of caramel in your sandwich isn’t striking your fancy.

But it should.  Oh, it should.

I strongly encourage you to try this sandwich that is breaking all the rules of grilled cheeses.  Amazing.Tell me…would you put caramel in your grilled cheese?  Thank you for sharing your thoughts!! XO –

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Friday’s Five

– unripe oranges on an orange tree in Orange –

– Christian finding the wine he’s been hunting down for over a year and cleaning house –

– spending Labor Day at the beach with friends –

– spending the evening at the Orange International Street Fair and wanting to eat everything –

– Dr. Barnes bringing me home something I’ve been wanting…a (replica) skeleton head!!  He came in second place in a plating workshop and he kept the gift card while I’m keeping the skull.  We named him Brutus.  Just in time for Halloween! –

 

Other Mentions:

  • This too-good-to-be-true (literally) Mean Girls – The Reunion preview.
  • This girl’s impersonation of Kourtney Kardsashian that is SPOT ON.
  • Finally finding the time to hunt down the Lindsay Lohan / Oprah interview and watching it here.
  • Hearing that Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele’s Fifty Shades of Grey characters have been cast…and being more than a little devastated that my beloved too-gorgeous-to-be-true Matt Bomer didn’t take the lead role.
  • This cat doing the exact same thing I do when Christian discovers that I ate the entire pint of gelato without giving him a bite.

I enjoyed having an extra long holiday weekend last weekend, having Tuesday off in addition to Labor Day.  Christian and I spent plenty of time relaxing and spent the actual holiday at our favorite Orange County beach with friends.  I finally treated myself to a mani/pedi, and I can’t even express how much happiness it brought me!  I am crazy excited to bring that unnecessary luxury back into my life now that I’m employed again…along with reformer pilates classes and a DVR.  I refuse to put my love affair with television in the backseat.  It’s probably not a healthy addiction…but I have no excuses.  I LOVE TV.

This weekend I plan to paddleboard with Christian, watch some movies on my “to watch” list (I always have a running list) and let Christian run the ship since he has this coming week off of work.  Whatever he wants to do goes…which is why I’ve agreed to go camping next weekend.  We plan to camp with some couple friends, which I think will make all the difference!  Sara and I can drink wine and eat s’mores and the boys can do whatever boys do when they go camping.

What do you plan to do this weekend?  And tell me…what fall shows are you excited about coming back on?  Thanks for reading and have a fabulous weekend!  XO –

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Southern Style in Southern California

I was honored to have the opportunity to share how I’ve tried to combined my Southern style with the styles and trends of California girls in this month’s VIP Jackson Magazine.

You can check out the article here.  A big thank you to the fabulous staff at VIP for this opportunity!  It’s always a treat to work with this group.

 (All images via VIP Jackson Magazine)

Thank you so much for reading! XO –

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Hair by Meredith

Y’all have seen me mention Meredith Morris on CBL here and here, but it’s time I share some more info about this fab lady.

I met Meredith through her cute-as-a-button mother, Marilyn.  Marilyn and I did Pilates together at my beloved Pilates Studio back home in Mississippi.  Marilyn shared my blog with Meredith and as soon as we got to know each other we were instant friends.  Meredith is one of those girls that you meet and in 10 minutes you feel like you’ve been friends 10 years.  She is positive, encouraging, cheerful and she’s quickly serving as my Mississippi to California role model.  She has adjusted so well here while still holding onto her charming Southern roots.  I love that she often uses the phrase “living.”  Ex:  “I was tired today but decided to go hiking and then hit the beach instead of staying in bed.  Living.”  I am kind of obsessed and have now completely stolen the phrase from her – just ask Christian.

In Mississippi, I adored both Syd Curry at Smoak and Lauren Longo at Gloss.  Both stylists are fabulous and Syd styled my wedding mane, while Lauren gave me some fabulous highlights for the wedding festivities.  My inner lazy was just letting the highlights grow out, so when Meredith suggested adding some subtle ombre into my hair I was instantly onboard! Meredith recently rejoined the Studio DNA team in Hollywood and I was excited to see her new work digs.

She has spent almost 10 years in Los Angeles and has styled the hair of Hollywood stars and starlets from A to Z. She’s a pro and a beauty trendsetter, and to have her color my hair was such a privilege.  Along with my (now two pairs of) Chuck Taylors, my new ombre hair is another West Coast-inspired moment…and I’m loving it!

This is air-dried, untouched hair…don’t be frightened (even though I am)!

This picture shows how annoying I am.  And how much I adore Meredith for putting up with my shenanigans with her sweet smile.

I’m obsessed!  Thank you for reading and a BIG thank you to Meredith and Studio DNA for my new beachy ‘do. You can also visit Meredith’s brand new blog, Now That’s The Look or check out her instagram account or personal instagram.  If any of you are in the Los Angeles area, be sure to check her out!  You won’t regret it.  XO –

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Friday’s Five

– making peanut butter chocolate brownies for my guy –

– my new favorite lipstick shades, Catfight and Anarchy –

– these crazy Dr. Seuss-looking trees in Huntington beach that have me mesmerized –

– a sweet happy and note from the darling Amy at Coffee Beans & Bobby Pins –

– really excited to receive this super fun Diamond Candles…dying to burn this baby down so I can check out this mysterious gem! –

Other Mentions:

What a week!  With my first full week of work behind me, I am getting adjusted to the working schedule again.  It was so wonderful to have the summer off and it makes getting back to the office even more exciting and fun.  With the long weekend ahead,  I’m looking forward to hanging with some friends at the beach and spending some much need quality time with that husband of mine I never seem to see.  What do y’all have planned?

Thanks so much for checking in and don’t forget to enter the Favery giveaway!  Thank you so much to those of you who have entered and shared your favorite pieces and sweet comments.  I love each one!!  The winner will be announced Monday.  Have a FAB holiday weekend!!! XO –

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BBQ Chicken Pizza Recipe

I’ve bought Christian the California Pizza Kitchen bbq chicken frozen pizza so many times I can’t even begin to count. I have a feeling my Mom has bought it for my Dad even more.  It’s so good and simple enough that I knew I could easily recreate it.  Luckily, the Pioneer Woman (as always) came to the rescue!  She shared her version of the CPK bbq chicken pizza here and I followed along.

I love her pizza dough recipe – so easy and so good.  We ate this pizza twice in a week – so I’d say it’s a big win.

If you have a carnivore in the house, make this pizza.  Two thumbs up from my kitchen to yours.  Thanks for reading and don’t forget to enter the Favery giveaway! XO –

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Long Beach Flea Market

When I found out we were moving to Orange County, one of the first things that came to mind was the Rose Bowl and Long Beach flea markets.  My mom, sister, sister-in-law and I love going to antique malls and flea markets together to find unique trinkets and items, and I had read about these SoCal flea markets on blogs and websites.  I couldn’t wait to check out one of the largest flea markets in the country and was excited to take my Mom (and poor Dad) to experience the madness for the first time.

I was overwhelmed with all the stuff and enjoyed perusing my way down the aisles.  I didn’t have a rolling shopping cart like all the other pros so I was limited to what I could hold in my hands, but for this rookie trip that was all I needed.

On the way back from Long Beach the 405 was closed and we were in so much traffic…with less than 20 miles to empty.  We were forced to hop on all these different freeways and highways to find an alternate way home.  My family always laughs because of the SNL “Californians” skit.  I never thought it was funny…until I moved out here.  Back in the ‘Sip, directions are like, “take Bluecutt until you see the Dunkin’ Donuts on the left and then you’ll take a left at that light.”  In California, directions are, “hop on the 405 North and take the Baker Street exit to 55.  Then take the 55 to the 22 all the way to Orange.”  Every time any local gives me directions it’s all I can do to keep from laughing because it sounds JUST LIKE THIS SKIT, and I just want to say, “what are you doing here, Stu-art!?”

 

But back to the flea market –

So what did I come home with?

A small eiffel tower figurine:

Some sparkly geodes:

And an antique globe:

I also spotted a few familiar faces and an actress.  Are flea markets your thing or is it totally overwhelming and too much “stuff?”  Talk to me.

Don’t forget to enter the Favery giveaway!!  Thank you so much to all the fab girls who have entered!

Thank you for reading – XO –

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Friday’s Five

– this little owl vase I found at Michael’s that has made my coffee table a little more fun –

– spotting my new favorite watch guard tower in Huntington Beach –

– pretty ice cream sandwiches at Vitaly –

– my first day of work at Urban Decay HQ (fun office tour here!) –

– spending the day in LA with my fab friend and talented hair guru, Meredith, at Studio DNA in Hollywood –

Other mentions:

I’ve had a crazy busy but exciting week and hope to chill this weekend and get used to this working gal schedule again. The good news is, no matter how hard I think I’m working, Christian is definitely working harder!  Living with a surgery resident keeps me thankful for my manageable schedule.

In other news, I’m thinking about joining one of the Equinox gyms here in Orange County.  Does anyone have any input on this gym or recommendations for the area?  I love the idea of a gym that provides lots of interesting group classes. Thanks for sharing and have a FAB weekend!! XO –

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Our First Visitors

I was so excited to welcome my wonderful parents to Southern California this past weekend.  My sister and brother-in-law lived in San Diego for a little bit and they have visited kids in Cali before, but none of us have ever really ventured into the pocket areas of Orange County so this was a new experience.

I had so much fun taking them all over the area.  We walked around Balboa Island and Lido Isle in Newport, had lunch at Fashion Island and hit the farmers market by the Huntington Beach Pier, walking the pier as well.  We had brunch at the Beachcomber in Crystal Cove and drove all over Laguna and Dana Point.  We stopped and walked around San Juan Capistrano and then ventured back to Huntington Beach to finally try out Slapfish.  We hit up the Long Beach Flea Market, and drove by the UCI Hospital and walked around the Outlet Mall in Orange.  We played around in Costa Mesa at The Camp and ate at both Native Foods and Eat Chow.  We ate….and ate and ate and I think I’m still full!

It was so fun to spend some time with them and show them all the beautiful areas I’ve been referencing for the past several months, and I must admit I was sad to see them leave.  They left us in SoCal to rent a car and venture along the coast to Santa Barbara, Monterey and Saltillo, ending in San Francisco to see my brother and sister-in-law.

Thank you for flipping through all my paparazzi pictures!!  To those of you who are familiar with the OC area, were there any awesome spots I missed for our next visitors!?  Thank you for reading and sharing – be sure to check out the Lady Gatsby giveaway winner below!  XO –

PS – A BIG thank you to all of you who shared your legs stories with me.  I love you, I really really love you. Thanks so much for reading – XO –

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Heirloom Bruschetta Recipe

 

I love summer tomatoes.  My basil plant has really made our meals more delicious this summer and bruschetta is a big favorite in our house.  Simple and fresh…and deliciously messy, this savory treat is not served on the sofa.  I used farmers market heirloom tomatoes for this particular batch of bruschetta, but any tomatoes work perfectly.  My stomach is growling as I type this!

      serves four

  • a French baguette
  • one pint heirloom grape tomatoes, halved, or tomatoes of your preference
  • large handful fresh basil leaves
  • about 2 TB olive oil
  • 1 TB balsamic vinegar
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 3 TB butter
  • salt & pepper to taste

In a small skillet on medium-high heat, add the olive oil and garlic.  Sautée until the garlic is lightly brown and then pour into a mixture bowl.

Add the tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, basil, salt and pepper to the bowl.  If you can, cover the bowl and refrigerate for an hour or so, allowing the flavors to really blend.

Cut about half the baguette into individual slices.  Melt the butter in a skillet and add the bread to the skillet, lightly browning on both sides.  Repeat until you have as many pieces as you’d like.  If you’d rather, you can butter the bread and stick it in the oven on broil until the bread has browned a little bit – your call.

Remove the bread from skillet, allow it to cool for a beat or two and add a generous helping of the tomato mixture on each piece of bread.


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Thank you for reading!  XO –

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