All Posts By

RC

1 In beauty/ lifestyle/ style

unicorn hair

unicorn-lavender-hair

If you follow me on snapchat (loveRavayna) or instagram, you may have peeped my new ‘do… and realized that I’ve upgraded my lifelong brunette hair to a multicolor pastel mane. Letting my inner unicorn out to play, I’m giving My Little Pony a run for her money.

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A color melt of silver and smoke, lilac, lavender, and rose, slate and sapphire- my hair is practically a work of art! I’m obsessed with it, to be honest. Butterfly Loft Salon was kind enough to have me in as a model for an incredible new vivid haircolor line, Pulp Riot. I’d been feeling blah about my hair for a while, so was ready for something fresh.

salon 6 salon 1

I’m so, SO fortunate to have worked with such an amazing team. Linh Phan is one of the artists behind the Pulp Riot brand, and is incredible- he manipulates hair color like watercolor. He envisioned my hair as a smoky lavender, with peeks of slate and rose gold. I was wound tight about bleaching it half to death, but he assured me that careful application and B3 reconstructor would help preserve my mop. I trusted him, along with his precious assistant Niki, so I turned over creative control to the talented pair, accepted a cocktail and settled in for a beast of a bleaching. All told, I was at the salon for almost eight hours, and it was worth it.

salon 2

Four hours in, they’d lifted my lengths from a level 3 to a level 9 and darkened my roots with a granite color, and I’d recognized that life as a blonde is not a good choice for me. The Butterfly Circus environment is so supportive, and I loved the creative collaboration from all the talented stylists. After a little powwow, it was hair painting time.

salon 5 salon 3

Linh popped in his headphones and got down to the nitty gritty, rocking out as he melted metallic pastel colors into a deep blue root, yet preserved the clarity of icy silver ends.  I was processed, rinsed and styled- and was blown away when I finally saw the reveal. So grateful for these talented darlings!

salon 4 matching-unicorn-hair-nails unicorn hair purple

I’ve never before taken such a leap with my look, but it is exhilarating! I will note that I’m surprised by just how much attention it garners- strangers regularly comment and compliment, which is incredibly flattering but totally unexpected in a city like LA.

unicorn lavender hair angel wings unicorn-blue-hair-angel-wings-dlta unicorn-blue-hair-war-paint-wall

I find myself wanting to wear more black than ever, and have had to stop myself from color-coordinating my clothes and hair… I love me some mitchy-matchy. I’m still a huge fan of these ear jackets, via my beloved Stella & Dot stylist (don’t hesitate to shop with her) and am always into the perfect Schiaparelli pink lipstick.

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A mane like this is so fun to style- straight or curly, the color adds so much dimension. And though I’ve noticed some bleach dryness, the damage has actually given my lank hair a welcome volume boost. I swear I must be  prepping for a shampoo commercial with all the hair tossing I’ve been doing lately.

flat lay

It may just look pretty pink and blue, but color like this takes serious work to maintain.  Fantasy colors are not permanent, so they fade with every wash- though freezing water and color care products like this shampoo, conditioner, and reconstructor from B3 help. Violet shampoo keeps the color icy, and pastel purple overtone helps up the lilac level. You can probably spot the fade (specifically of the navy and rose shades) in the above pictures- the black sequin shots were taken two washes after the images in the black teeshirt. I’m loving the evolution!

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With hair color like this, a ponytail pops and a simple braid becomes a statement. It’s without a doubt my favorite accessory for the spring!

loveRavayna

0 In food/ recipes

an insomniac oven

hazelnut chocolate cake pieces

I’ve struggled with sleeplessness since high school, and am a total night owl. I sometimes work or read until the wee hours of the morning, but more often than not, midnight finds me in the kitchen.  We do mostly homemade sweets around here, so sometimes I’m getting ahead on the next day’s to-do list- gotta keep dessert stocked! But most of the time I’m just relaxing and recipe testing, so I wanted to share a few of our recent favorites.

smore pie

This s’mores pie was rich and creamy and delicious.  David doesn’t love dark chocolate the way I do, so I used half dark and half milk.  I thought it was perfectly sweet that way, but it’s not supersweet like actual s’mores- some more or or even all milk chocolate will get you there.  And seriously, if you haven’t made homemade marshmallow yet, you need too- it’s much easier than it looks!

hazelnut chocolate pour hazelnut chocolate cake milk

Deb over at smitten kitchen mentioned that Chef Suzanne Goin served this brown butter and hazelnut confection as her own wedding cake, and I totally see why now. I adore the flavor of brown butter, and it balanced perfectly with the moreish texture of the nuts and the ganache draping. The cake came together quickly and disappeared from the cake plate in the same fashion.  I’ve more hazelnuts in the fridge, so I’m certain it will have a return engagement one night soon.

profiterole shouquette dorie greenspan

I’m totally on a cream puff kick.  In all honestly, we’ve had them two nights in a row, and I’m not even embarrassed by that-  they’re damn delicious. I’ve been using Dorie Greenspan’s pâté à choux recipe (currently reading her Baking Chez Moi),  filling them with a mix of vanilla custard and freshly whipped cream, dipping or drizzling them with ganache, and devouring by the plateful.

pb and j cake sparkler pb and j cake

Elaborate birthday cakes are the norm around here, as is replacing candles with fireworks. David mentioned wanting a pb&j inspired cake this year, so I ran with that one night. I stacked peanut butter cake with strained strawberry jam, then slathered it with fluffy brown sugar-peanut butter frosting, another slick of jam, and chopped salted peanuts. It was enormous (too big for the cake bell) and phenomenal.

pb and j cake shakeAnd the better the cake, the better the cake shake! Leftover cake into shakes is one of my very favorite revamps, and I love mixing up different flavors.  This version included pb&j cake, strawberries, peanut butter, vanilla ice cream, malted milk powder, and a healthy splash of amaretto. Sometimes I even get fancy… like whipped cream and a slice of cake on top.

I guess you could say night times are good times in the Coe kitchen.

loveRavayna

2 In style

WiW: bare-shouldered for spring

birthday-party-OOD

I am absolutely obsessing over off-the shoulder dresses and tops for spring! I think showing a little collarbone and shoulder adds some understated flirtiness to a look, but I like that it’s not too too much.

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I already know this comfy red jersey dress is going to be on repeat through the warm weather. I dressed it up last weekend for a dear friend’s bridal shower, but it’s also adorable with gladiator wedges, or more casually with metallic tennies. It can go from brunch to beach with ease, and I love having that versatility in my wardrobe.

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I kept some accessories totally classic, like my leopard d’orsay pumps, vintage sunnies, and black leather Chanel mini. I added in a rhinestone bracelet and raided my most recent Rocksbox for the rest. I’ve mentioned it before, but I love choosing designer jewelry and having it arrive at my door for me to wear.  You can enjoy it too, for free (!!) when you use code RavaynaXOXO to sign up.

birthday-party-OOD2 asos-red-sundress-presents

A red lip to match, some presents to spoil a beautiful bride, and I was off to celebrate!

 

Asos dress (similar, maternity, 20 bucks!), Jessica Simpson heels (similar, kitten-heeledon sale), Chanel handbag,  vintage bracelet (similar, splurge), vintage sunnies (similaron sale),  necklaceear jacketswrap bracelet (all c/o Rocksbox), lipstick.

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loveRavayna

0 In food/ travel

new-to-us nola eats 

If we weren’t socializing or exploring New Orleans during our visit, we were in pursuit of delicious eats. I doubt that’s shocking-  y’all know how passionate I am about food, and we needed to make our first visits to some yummy new spots.

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John Besh and Aaron Sanchez’s bromance is behind the aptly-named Johnny Sanchez, a farm-to-table taqueria in the CBD. We headed there for a hair of the dog and brunch before the Saints game, and it was scrumptious. The smoked pork grillades on jalapeno grits were tender and flavorful, ceviche was perfectly balanced, and we had multiple bowls of queso. Ordering every taco on the menu led to the discovery that there are no bad options there, and the bartender was on point as well.

st roch market new orleans east nola

st roch market puppy cappuccino new orleans nola

The St. Roch Market was renovated and opened after we moved away, so I was excited to check it out for lunch. So many eatery options exist in this Marigny food hall, it was hard to narrow it down and order. An adorable cat-puccino from Coast Coffee was good browsing fuel, and I considered sweet Louisiana satsumas from St Roch Forage excellent souvenirs.

st roch market charchuterie plate bbq pork new orleans nola st roch market gumbo new orleans nola st roch market bbq pork new orleans nola st-roch-market-new-orleans-east-nola-2

The food didn’t disappoint either! I was so pleased with a bowl of duck gumbo, a scrumptious charcuterie plate, and a gigantic pulled pork sandwich.  The blue crab and persimmon salad from Elysian Seafood was fresh and flavorful, the perfect counterbalance to the richness of the rest of the meal.

nola new orleans shaya bead machine nola new orleans shaya pita hummus

As soon as we booked our flight, I made our reservation at Shaya.  I’m obsessed with Israeli food, and  Alon Shaya is racking in the accolades as he modernizes and honors the foods of our forefathers.  We ordered most of the items on the menu, which was an excellent life choice, and tore through mounds of pillowy steaming pita alongside.

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We got an assortment of delicious dips: a trio of hummus topped with lamb ragu, fried chickpeas, and curried cauliflower,  smoky baba ganoush, lutenitsa, tabouleh,  and ikra, a caviar and shallot spread I simply adore. Ever the  avo toast lover, I had to try Shaya’s version, topped with smoked whitefish and pink peppercorn. The crispy halloumi and falafel were crunchy and light, the  shakshouka spicy and delicious, and the duck matzo ball soup downright incredible.  David practically had to roll me and my best girlfriend Shelly out… such a magnificent meal.

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And I may love a fancy meal, but celeb chefs don’t have anything over decades of friendship.  My friend Mike was one of the first I met at Tulane, and he’s killing it at his restaurant on Freret Street, Liberty Cheesesteaks. It was bustling and it just made me so proud of him, his hard work, and success.

liberty cheesesteaks nola new orleans-3 liberty cheesesteaks nola new orleans pepper tasting liberty cheesesteaks nola new orleans faceNo shocker that all the eats were excellent. I’m not normally a cheez-wiz girl, but it just works with the provolone and steak. Italian subs are my deli go-to, and Mikey is making some killer overstuffed ones, but the personal heat index option is clutch.  With an assortment of locally grown peppers sorted by spiciness, you can turn up the heat perfectly- Padrons are my jam, but I had a taste of all of them!

If you’re headed to New Orleans soon (lucky!), don’t hesitate to try any of these good eats, and make sure and let me know what you think!
loveRavayna

 

0 In los angeles

bottega louie

I am such a sucker for something sweet- I swear I could eat desserts all day long. And if delicious treats are prettily displayed in a lovely location, I’m smitten. That’s how I’ve felt about Bottega Louie since the first time I stopped by.

botega louie bar

Now we go often- sometimes I just grab goodies to go, but it’s also perfect for brunch with girlfriends or almost any occasion. It’s so gorgeous there! David and I stopped in for an afternoon pick-me up after a full day of errands downtown.

botega louie cappuccino sugar raw

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I always want to take home so many treats. Their chocolates are luscious and their pastrywork is exquisite as well as stunningly gorgeous. But I would go broke in there without serious willpower, so I have to keep it to just a few.

botega louie macaroons violet casis earl grey botega-louie-macaroons-girl-lady

Macarons are one of my favorite pastries, and while nothing will ever equal Pierre Herme for me, Bottega Louie’s are delish and beautiful. I love the gold flake accent on the earl grey,  and the fresh strawberry is especially yummy when they are in season (like now).

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After leaving Bottega Louie, we headed to the Standard for a spontaneous happy hour with friends visiting from Ohio. I got distracted by the organ and shinyness at first, but we made it up to the rooftop eventually. And when we did, the cocktails and company were both on point.

the standard dtla organ girl emory-standard-roof

Vintage dress (similar and under $2o!), Zara kids flats (similar), Kate Spade purse (similar), Rifle Paper Company iPhone case, Charming Charlie earrings, Kendra Scott bracelet, Forever 21 sunglasses.

botega louie macaroon box lemon rose

loveRavayna

3 In beauty

my favorite spring nail polish colors 

I’m not sure if it’s come up previously, but I’m a bit of a nail polish fanatic.  I started polishing my nails regularly to help quit biting them, and over the years I’ve gotten obsessive over my manicures.  I almost always do my own nails, once or twice a week,  and have amassed quite the nail polish collection.

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I find myself swapping out my winter go-to dark and neutral polishes as spring hits here in SoCal. A bit of a hodgepodge- pastels, shimmers, brights… there are just so many pretty options!  Here are some of the nail polishes I’m loving for spring.

lilacism-essie-nail-polish
Essie ‘Lilacism’ is a fresh, saturated pastel lilac creme.  It practically screams spring, but is totally wearable…  I’m especially loving it with denim and black.

bubble-bath-opi-nail-polish

Honestly, I love OPI ‘Bubble Bath’ year ’round- I’ve been wearing it since high school.  It was the first polish I ever finished, and this is like bottle #5. It’s the perfect pinky-neutral sheer for my complexion.

blanc-essie-nail-polish

Essie ‘Blanc’ is definitely a contender for my warmweather  favorite. I love its stark, clean, brightness, especially with a tan. Opaque white polish is not for everyone- my sweet auntie asked me if I was wearing white-out on my nails- but I’m a huge fan of the look. A lot of white polishes go on patchy and streaky, but not this one.

dior-water-lily-nail-polish

Dior Waterlily is a gorgeous mint with a hint of iridescent shimmer. Dior Beauty polishes smell like roses, which I adore, but  unfortunately this was a limited edition and is only available through channels like eBay. Chanel Jade is similar but also hard to find, but Sinful Mint Apple is easily available in drugstores and not too far off.
china-glaze-first-mate-nail-polish

China Glaze ‘First Mate’ is a creamy muted navy, almost a little dusty. Yet it’s bright enough to read as distinctly blue, rather than blackish. It’s super-saturated and perfect in just two coats.

penny-talk-essie-nail-polishI adore all things rose gold, and Essie ‘Penny Talk’ is no exception. It’s glowy and pretty, but not blingy, a beautiful metallic blush. But it’s amazing on fair and deep complexions too, and I love it for pedicures as well.

sunday-funday-essie-nail-polish

Essie ‘Sunday Funday’ is a bright jelly coral polish- I’m wearing it currently and loving it. With a light dusting of tiny glass fleck glitter, it glistens in the light, but it’s gently sparkly, not a disco ball.

flat lay painting nail polish

What other polishes are you into for spring? Send some recommendations for your favorites my way!

loveRavayna

0 In travel

honey island swamp tour 

While in New Orleans, we made a point of having a little swamp adventure.  So we crawled out of bed just after sunrise to caffeinate and head out of the city. It was chilly and early, and we were a bit on the struggle bus as we entered Slidell and arrived at Honey Island Swamp Tours.

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We motored off into the swamp, and quickly saw a gorgeous pelican. We stopped to admire it, and it preened for a bit before taking flight.

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We spotted a blue egret as well, but it was more stubborn. I was snapping away [?: loveRavayna], especially all the different camps.  Families have owned these spots in the swamp since the 40’s (Noah’s Ark is the oldest) and have built and rebuilt their camps over the years (and hurricane seasons.) I was intrigued to see how greatly their repair and luxury levels vary.

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David and I’ve been out in the swamp dozens of times, but this was a first for our couple friends. I’d always heard from guides that swamp cypress is special because it manages to live in varying standing water, and sends roots and knuckles up through the the swamp’s surface. I think they’re beautiful, especially draped with Spanish moss.

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We were all excited to spot an alligator! It was so cold that morning that we didn’t expect any to be awake and out, so it was cool to see his beady eyes breaking the surface of the murky water.  He was a big one, too.

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We saw the cutest raccoons, and stopped to watch them frolic.  I could not stop thinking of Meeko and singing ‘Just Around the Riverbend’ like a big dork. I know they are rabies infested and all that jazz, but they are just really stinkin cute up close.

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We also ran into a family of swamp pigs- Papa approached first, and was rather daring, swimming right up to our boat.  We fed him a few treats, and Momma and Baby oreo piglet came along in quick succession.

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We loved getting out into the fresh air and were glad to get up close with so many varieties of Louisiana creatures. I don’t love group tours, but Honey Island did a good job of keeping it personal, and the swamp’s a pretty big place, so we only saw one or two other boats. It was a lovely nature escape… there’s really no place like the Atchafalaya Swamp.

honey island swamp girls

loveRavayna

1 In life

#15in15: a review

If you remember, I set 15 goals for myself last year, and another 16 this year.  It would be terribly unfair if I shared only the goals, without owning my minor successes or failures. So yes, let’s review.

You’re reading here, aren’t you? So, I think LoveRavayna’s happening (#5). If you’ve been following for a while, you know that bread (#4) and braids (#2)  are now comfortably within my wheelhouse. I gave notice at a unrewarding early morning position, which made for major improvement in my rest (#14) and relaxed my schedule (#7). I’ve made some new girlfriends (#8), and grown closer to others, but it continues to astound me just how hard it is to make quality friends as an adult. Perpetually in love with places I’ve never been, I visited (#6) Joshua Tree with David, Santa Fe with my college girlfriends, and fell head over heels for Barcelona.

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lilacism-essie-nail-polish-sparkle_MG_9051I definitely stepped up my nail game (#1)…when they were long enough to polish, that is. Working on that in 2016. David treated me to a glitzy birthday manicure at Olive and June, and I loved it but I can’t justify the expense regularly, so have been playing with tamer nail art at home when I have time and patience. It takes me forever!

Beyond settling skincare (#9), I’m a serious devotee. I experimented with Asian skincare, and now have established a great routine of gentle and effective products (sharing my routine soon!)  I’ve gotten more compliments on my skin in the last six months than I have in the rest of my life, and from this side of 30, I’ve got no complaints about that.

#15in15-calligraphy-workshop

I took a pointed pen modern calligraphy course (#3) with Lauren of a fabulous fete. It was a lovely afternoon, and totally have gone down a rabbit hole- though I haven’t practiced as much as I’d like, I’m totally geeked out over it, and excited to continue my progress this year.

runyon-canyon-hiking runyon-canyon-eliza-#16 joshua-tree-hiking-#16

I’ve seriously upped my outdoor time (#12). Hiking at home (Runyon or Fryman Canyon) or while traveling has become a more frequent occurrence, as have beach days. I’ve also been riding my bike instead of driving for nearby errands, and though I look like the biggest dork in my matching helmet, I’m really enjoying it. And I honestly think it’s helped me keep focused on what my body can accomplish, versus how it looks (#10), though that’s always a work in progress.

Speaking of works in progress, that’s where the last three stand. I’ll likely still be trying to mange my anxiety (#11) and perfectionist tendency (#15) when I’m old and grey,  and streamlining stuff (#13) is a perpetual battle.  I’m fighting it hard though- culled 40 pairs of shoes this week, in the midst of a major closet clean out.

So there’s a little accountability and authenticity for you!

loveRavayna

0 In food/ recipes

the friday five 004 avocado toast 

Avocado toast is everywhere, it seems. There’s a version on every fancy brunch menu, and at most coffee shops here in LA as well. A million recipes abound, all something to the extent of seasoned smushed avocado, on toasted bread. Let’s be real- it’s not freaking rocket science, but it’s delicious.

avocado lemon bread

That said, we eat unreasonable amounts of it around our house. Most days, it’s merely toasted homemade bread, the avocado seasoned with lemon, salt and peppers (black and Aleppo). But more is more. So I regularly upgrade with yummy toppings, whether for company or mere kicks.

 

Some of our favorite assortments:

blackberry avocado basil toastblackberries / shallot / basil / Aleppo pepper

 

pear pecan blue cheese avocado toastsliced pear / Gorgonzola / spicy candied pecans / hot honey

 

tomato prosciutto balsamic avocado toastgarlic confit / tomato / prosciutto / balsamic vinegar

 

radish black salt avocado toastsliced radish / smoked salt

 

chili granola egg avocado toast
fried egg, Bad Seed chili granola (I stockpile this when I’m in New York.)

 

Try one (or all!) of these avocado toasts, and let me know which is your favorite!

 

loveRavayna

1 In beauty

lipstick amuse bouche 

I’ve been into lipstick for as long as I can remember. In second grade, Mrs. Fouchecourt had to take away my Cherry Chapstick, for “over-applying and being a distraction.” ??  Nowadays, I have slightly more self-control, but I still keep at least three or four lipsticks in my purse-kit at any given time. So when Influenster and Bite Beauty sent me a box of their lipsticks to check out, I was happy to add them to the rotation.

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I recieved Pepper, Beetroot, and Gazpacho (left to right) and was relieved to find them all really wearable! The colors are saturated and buildable, and the lipstick is almost as comfortable to wear as a balm.

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Pepper is one of those ‘your lips but better’ neutrals and I dig it. It doesn’t read too brown with the olive in my skin, and I can swipe it on sans mirror.

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Despite feeling ‘meh’ about the vegetable, I think Beetroot is my favorite of the lipsticks. The deep berry color is rich, but not too in-your-face, and the sheen keeps it feeling relaxed.

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Almost vermillion in the tube, Gazpacho surprised me by going on deeper and more neutral, a true red. I’m a perpetual sucker for a classic red lip.

bite lipstick beauty

I’m still really tan from our trip to Trinidad, and all of these lipsticks played well off that. They wore well for four-ish hours and then faded slowly and evenly, but they’re easy to reapply. Beetroot and Pepper are both in my purse right now, so there’s that. Bite Beauty makes great products, that I regularly purchase at Sephora (loved their discontinued double-ended lipsticks!) so I’m glad to have added these new lipsticks to the makeup arsenal.

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Disclosure: I received these lipsticks as a complimentary gift from BITE Beauty and Influenster; all content and opinions are my own.

loveRavayna

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