* #PutOn - Lana Del Ray *

The story of Lana Del Ray is somewhat of a strange one.

The short version... Lizzy Grant (her first stage name) was a flop, she changed her name to Lana Del Ray and was acclaimed a new star! But there is so much more to the story!
 Elizabeth "Lizzy" Grant was born and raised in a town in Upstate New York (real upstate, not West Chester). At the age of eighteen her uncle taught her the guitar starting with the basic chords: "It was G, C, A, D minor, A minor and some diminished chord as well. Some trick, some shortcut," Grant recalled. " I realized i could probably write a million songs with those six chords, so I moved to NY and I took a couple of years to just write whatever I wanted"


Back in 2008, Del Ray released a three-track EP titled Kill Kill under the name Lizzy Grant, featuring the tracks "Kill Kill", "Yayo", and "Gramma (Blue Ribbon Sparkler Trailer Heaven)". Fast forward two years, when producer David Kahne got wind of Lizzy Grant and wanted to instantly turn her into a star. The album they created was Lana Del Ray AKA Lizzy Grant, it was released under an independent label and was available for purchase for about a month before being withdrawn by Grant.

Grant realized she needed something to push her forward, something that would take advantage of her sweet American good looks and contralto vocal range. "I wanted a name I could shape music towards... I was going to Miami a lot and speaking Spanish with friends, I made up Lana Del Ray because it reminded me of the glamour of the seaside, it also sounded gorgeous coming off the tip of the tongue. I wanted to be part of a high-class scene of musicians. It was half-inspired because I didn't have many friends, and I was hoping that I would meet people and fall in love and start a community around me, the way they used to in the '60's", and with that thought, Lana Del Ray was born!

Del Ray received a backlash from fans for her new persona, but lets not be mistaken, quite a few female seductresses (Marilyn, Madonna, Anna Nicole, and Dorothy Dandridge) have changed their name, image, and it changed their lives.

On January 31, 2012 Lana Del Rey released her first album Born To Die under the new name and it has been praised every since. With 40+ million views on her videos and topping the charts in eleven different countries including Australia, France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Apparently change is not only inevitable, it is great for 'sexxing' up a failing career. 

Del Ray could be described as self-style gangsta Nancy Sinatra. Her sound reminds me of Amy Whinehouse, Sia, Adele and even a little Chrisette Michele. But with her girl next door good looks and a voice with that much depth and emotion one would think she is pulling a Milli Vanilli on us.

*Friendly Fires - Kiss Of Life*

If you need a little pick me up or just some good music to start your day, Friendly Fires has you covered.

 

This is one of my favorite songs which causes it to be on heavy rotation in my home. Enjoy!!!

* Sarah Blakely - One Spanx At a Time *

Sarah Blakely is the youngest woman on the Forbes Billionaires list. At age 41, she has been able to invest her life savings of $5000 and turn it into a billionaire dollar idea. Blakely created the company Spanx back in 2000 when she moved to Atlanta with the idea of footless pantyhose.

Before Blakely was to become a big success, she worked her share of unglamorous jobs--all of which, she says, contributed to her eventual success. Having scored miserably on the LSAT twice chasing a dream of being a lawyer, she decided to forgo law school and went into selling $20,000 worth of fax machines door-to-door. Soon after Blakely decided to take her idea and run with it. Reading marketing books, creating a logo on a friends computer, and plunking down a $3000 legal fee needed to trademark the Spanx name (which she learned to from a Barnes & Noble textbook).

Sarah has given her top 5 lessons for those would-be entrepreneurs interested in building a brand:


1)  Don't let the first "no" (or five) stop you.


2) Don't quit your day job just yet.
~Sarah was two years into her idea for Spanx, before she resigned from her role at Danka. She has said, "I didn't turn in my resignation letter until I was absolutely sure her start-up was on the right track." Sarah resigned on October 14, 2000 and two and a half weeks later she was on Oprah.

3) Don't seek validation from others. 
~While working on her big idea, Blakely decided not to tell her friends and family what she was doing. "Don't solicit feedback on your product, idea or your business just for validation purposes. You want to tell the people who can help move your idea forward, but if you're just looking to your friend, co-worker, husband or wife, be careful. It can stop a lot of multimillion-dollar ideas in their track in the beginning."

4) Hire your weakness.
~Laurie Ann Goldman, a longtime Coca-Cola executive, was out shopping for some Spanx control-top fishnets at her local Saks. They were sold out of most sizes. Goldman insisted the vendor be contacted and informed on creating a replenishment plan. Blakely was a charismatic salesperson, but she had never worked in fashion nor had she ever taken any business classes. Blakely met with Goldman for lunch shortly after the Saks incident where she came on as a consultant, then in 2002, as CEO. "She brought much more formality and structure," Blakely says.

5) Never stop evolving.
~In her first year of sales, Blakely saw 4 million dollars of revenue, a huge jump from the $11,000 plus commission salary she held just 2 years prior. The second year, revenues hit 10 million dollars off of the one $20 item. In a decade, Spanx's has grown from an initial pair of pantyhose to over 200 products and is currently worth over 1 billion dollars.


Sarah has recently moved herself and her Atlanta HQ to the Sovereign, the tallest condominium in Atlanta, located in the swanky Buckhead neighborhood.

Talk about some serious love/works digs. She continues to inspire women and men alike to follow their dream and to be the person you believe in!

** Listening to - Polaris by Zero7**
       

* Mill Valley Cabins *

Feldman Architecture have designed two small cabins as accessory buildings for an existing home in Mill Valley, California. 

-front of Cabin2 and roof of Cabin1 (above)

-side view of Cabin2 (above)

-interior spaces (above)

-roof of Cabin1, seconds as a garden (above)

-side entrance of Cabin1 (above)

-stairs to Cabin2 (above)

-path between Cabins (above)

-Site map of Cabin1 and Cabin2 (above)

The clients for the Mill Valley Cabins wished to add some accessory structures to their existing hillside home. Programmatically, the clients sought to provide space for an artist studio and a yoga space which would also serve as a private guest cabin. The program was divided into two small cabins which could be placed lightly between existing trees with minimal re-grading. Additionally, the orientation of the two cabins capture different views. The roof of the lower building was planted with a garden since the upper building would look down on it and the client and design team wanted the building to blend into the hillside. The green roof also provides additional landscape for the clients love of gardening.

I fell in love with this design the moment I saw it. Its always a pleasure to see architecture built by respecting nature and blending into the backdrop rather than defying and standing out. The inside is filled with tons of natural light and I can only imagine how great this place feels on a perfect spring day! #SimplyStunning

** Listening to - The Cardigans - Your New Cuckoo **

* Android Homme: Fall 2012 *

Check out Android Homme's upcoming 2012 Fall Collection!!!

-A.H. Cork (above)

This day and age there is a plethora of shoe companies coming out of the woodwork. With studs, zippers, buckles, and metallic, they claim to be the new cool shoe and others falsely claim to be couture. While these other brands tend to lean towards the title of 'too trendy', Android Homme has been able to distinguish themselves in the flooded shoe market, while continuing to give consumers what they truly want.

I really enjoy the Navajo Boot in navy. (pictured above)

Supernova Low (above)

Discovery Boot (above).. a play on Doc Martens, yet refined.

Camo Boot (above)

Leather Pack Boots (above)

Camel Ice Pack Boots (above)

Navy Ice Pack Boots (above)

With a strong focus on premium materials and construction, Android has certainly created something worth lusting over. This collection offers a good mix of high tops, with great texture and contemporary styling. For many who are looking a high-quality sneaker with less emphasis on athletic appeal, would definitely want to check out what Android has to offer year!

Price: not yet available.
**Most Android Homme shoes start in the $250 range.

* Windows 8: Consumer Preview *

It is completely out of character for me to release a post without in depth detail, but this is important! Microsoft has rolled out Windows 8, don't too excited considering this isn't the official Win8. I have been teasing this OS for quite some time now, and thought the Developer edition was not quite what I had hoped for, this preview is a lot closer to what Win8 will truly be.

To download, please click HERE!!!

I will definitely post my thoughts, concerns, and more in depth details as soon as I play with it a little more.

* Wipe me down *

With its three broad stripes, the Wipe T-Shirt has an eye catching appeal from the start, but there is also a secret to the design.

One of the stripes is actually a strip of Microfiber cloth, the go-to-remedy for wiping down dirty, finger-printed glasses and those hard to keep clean smart phone screens.

You may get a few strange looks wiping your phone on your chest, but the convenience makes it all worth it.

Sizes: Small, Medium, Large (Unisex)
Materials: 100% cotton, microfiber (nylon 50%, polyester 50%)
Colors: blue/black and light gray/black
Price: $89.00
Purchase: gnr8

* Too much vs. too little *

I was laying down on my way to sleep and this statement just came to me....

Too much is the same as too little.... So congrats to #Apple for making consistent, middle grade technology... #Blackberry for not enough relevant technology... and #Microsoft for pushing the limits and introducing the world to what they have been missing. #TrueInnovation

I stand firm in what I believe in!!

Love,

#WP7 user

* A special VALENTINE, for a SPECIAL friend *

Introducing Timari, my 8-year old niece, she aspires to model and I love to direct. I decided it would be cool to make a video for the Valentine Day treats we bought for her class. So take a look and please comment below, as she will be looking forward to it.

What did you think?

* Future of Microsoft *

So lets just start by saying I am 100% converted to a Microsoft fanboy. When I first glanced at the UI for Windows Phone 7 I was hooked. The interface is completely bold and in your face, yet refined, clean, and simple. It is super customizable, not in a way that iOS or Android would be, but more of colors, backdrop, and layout. But this post isnt about the oh-so-wonderful #WP7, this is all about the Future of Microsoft.

Feast your eyes on the new Windows 8!!! It will run on desktops, laptops, phones (mobile UI), and tablets.


The system in fluid, powerful, and completely innovative, everything I know Microsoft to be.