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Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Do Tell!



As a blogger, sometimes things can feel a little one-sided. While I am incredibly grateful that you all show up each day to read what I have to say, I would love to hear more from you and get to know what makes you tick. Lindsay, our fabulous LDV contributor and the lovely lady behind The Pursuit of Style does something similar from time to time and I’ve been wanting to give it a try on La Dolce Vita, so let’s dish! Leave your answers in the comment section below. I’ll share my answers here.
1. If you weren’t doing your current job, what would you like to do/be? 
As some of you may know, I have a pretty diverse background which has allowed me to pursue my passions-- all of which lead back to design. I've been fortunate to explore this industry from a few different angles which has afforded me invaluable experiences. I've always wanted to delve into interior design full time and I am hoping that the day will come some time in the future. I love the idea of enriching clients' lives by creating beautiful, inviting spaces for them.
2. What is your signature scent?
Stella by Stella McCartney-- I've been wearing it year-round for several years now.
3. What is your current guilty pleasure?
Instagram! I am totally hooked. My second guilty pleasure is reality television. I am so excited about the return of The Rachel Zoe Project and It's a Brad, Brad World tonight! Who else is watching? I wonder if it's awkward for them to be on at the same time this season?
4. Who is your current girl crush?
I have a feeling a lot of us will have the same answer today-- Jennifer Lawrence. I love her confidence and sense of humor. She's talented, stays true to herself, and she rocked that Dior gown and her post-acceptance interviews at the Oscars a couple of weeks ago!

5. What are you most excited about this month?
We are finally taking a much needed vacation next week! Between work commitments, the passing of Fabian's dad, and my health issues, we didn't have a chance to take a real vacation in 2012, so I am beyond excited to be heading to Los Angeles (my happy place) on Monday!

I can't wait to read your answers! 
{Image via Pinterest}

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great questions...and I love that photo! Reminds me of SUMMER!!!!

~Chymere A.
www.chymereanais.blogspot.com

shuzluva said...

1. If I wasn't doing what I am, I'd go back to school and get my design degree to follow in my dad's footsteps (he was an interior decorator).

2. Bond No. 9 Union Square.

3. A. Nail polish. I love changing it up frequently and my twins love it when I give them manis. 2. I'm a reality TV addict as well! There is nothing quite like Schaudenfreude to get you through a tough day.

4. Don't really have one.

5. That it's going to be spring! I am over winter already!

6. (Added) Thank you for inviting us in to share. I love chit chat.

Joyce Duncan said...

I'm currently a real estate investor, and I love it, but wish I had carried on with ballet and theater. I would have ADORED to be on Broadway! I'm always trying to find the spotlight even now.

Insolence by Guerlain. At least one person has said that they know I'm in the room when they smell it.

Really, really long baths.

The blogger Mrs. Lillian. I wish I had half of her style and creativity.

The charity ball I'm chairing and have been planning since June is Saturday. I can't wait til Sunday :)

Anonymous said...

1. If you weren’t doing your current job, what would you like to do/be?
I'd love to go back to school and get a masters in design management. I love the design world, but realize I don't have tht talent to create - but I really feel the need to be involved somehow! Much better than my current telecom gig.

2. What is your signature scent?
It's been Ralph by Ralph Lauren for a long time. I'm looking around for something new and more age appropriate.

3. What is your current guilty pleasure?
Too much good food and drink and no gym visits!


4. Who is your current girl crush?
Jenna Lyons. I'm an awkwardly tall girl, too. I love to see her fashion choices because she's not afraid to stand out.

5. What are you most excited about this month?
A quick trip down to Tampa for a girlfriend's wedding shower. She's been waiting a long time, and she finally found her guy! :)

www.triciafranklin.info said...

I'm a full time mixed media artist and very happy but would love to delve into textiles somehow?
COCO perfume
Project Runway, Downton Abbey, Nashville(the tv show), Smash, Rachel Zoe, Pinterst and Instagram
girl crush: all actresses on Nashville - so talented!
Excited this month to be getting a new front porch on my house, just found perfect porch lantern from Atlanta.

Yolonda | Style Fragment said...

Howdy!
1. If you weren’t doing your current job, what would you like to do/be?
I would be working for a publishing house, like Conde Nast. I would want to assist with it all, page layouts, styling of shoots any and eveything gorgeous!

2. What is your signature scent?
I have none, I change it with the season, but I adore Gucci Guilty, Chloe, Flowerbomb and anything with tuberose and jasmine.

3.What is your current guilty pleasure? Love Sex & The City and Rach! (Rachel Zoe)

4. Who is your current girl crush?
Hmmmm...don't currently have one. Maybe I need to get one?!

5. What are you most excited about this month?
Potentially more time with my honey! My dog KOSPI 8th birthday!
And having an extra day off from work!

Studio One Design said...

1- If you weren’t doing your current job, what would you like to do/be?

As a single mom, I have always balanced 2 careers. During the day, I manage a law firm on the east coast in order to have a guaranteed income. In the evening, I do small project décor and design work.

I learned to sew at four years old and began sewing clothes for my dolls, and then for my friends’ dolls. If I were to make the big switch in careers, I would become a full blown fashion designer with the New York offices and make my home in a Soho loft – during the daytime hours. At night, when my creative juices refuse to calm, I would write novels.

2. What is your signature scent?

Chanel No. 5 – my mother wore it and used to place a dot behind my ears and on my wrists every morning before we could properly consider ourselves ‘dressed’. I would regard it a betrayal to Coco to wear anything else…

3. What is your current guilty pleasure?

I write short stories. I find a shot of a lovely female and another of an interesting looking guy – or perhaps a shot of a couple together – and I weave a story of their chance meeting, the slowly woven story of how their relationship developed – something of their background that brought them to this place and in this cross-section of time. I develop these elements in my head all day long and then pour them onto electronic paper at the end of the day. It takes several weeks and sometimes months to fully develop each element of their story.


4. Who is your current girl crush?

No contest – Jennifer Lawrence. She is simply delightful.

5. What are you most excited about this month?

I am extremely excited for my younger brother. He has wanted to visit the west coast (we are east coasters) and then travel up into Lake Tahoe to pursue a recently extended job offer as a chef. This was a long awaited opportunity. Cross your fingers for him!

Squeak said...

1. Either a best-selling novelist or an interior designer.
2. Chance by Chanel.
3. Watching hockey games on TV.
4. Wendie Malick.
5. After many, many months of being unemployed, I'm excited about having a job.

Anonymous said...

I currently wear Amyris by Francis Kurkdjian, my girl crush is Olivia Palermo, she always looks pulled together and chic. If I had it my way I would be beauty blogging for a living. My guilty pleasures are watching The Following, Nashville, Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire....and General Hospital.
I'm excited I guess just to have people like my work.
Anita,
www.heavensalon.com

Dawna Jones Design said...

I love all the answers!
1.) I have been a interior painter, designer, and building homes for 17 years alongside my hubby. I have a passion though for fitness and would love to a a instructor or personal trainer, good health is everything!
2.Island Living by India Hicks. I smell like the ocean.
3.Anything ebay, I am a junky for bidding, I've been known to get up in the middle of the night just to bid on something! LOL.
4.I adore Kelly Wearstler, she has worked so hard at creating an empire, yet still carves out time for her family and fans. She is everything Girl Power is!
5. The prospect of my 4th home selling, so that I get to start and design a new one, with the person who inspires me every day... my husband!

Jenna said...

Love your site!

1. Like you, I would delve full-time into interior design. I am a freelance copywriter, so I do get a creative outlet, but I would love to design people's home for a living. It totally wouldn't feel like "a job."

2. Pure Grace by Philosophy

3. General Hospital! It's been my favorite soap for as long as I can remember but it's fallen off the last few years. Now they are bringing back all of the legacy characters and have new writers and it feels like the old days. I love it!

4. Amy Poehler. I love Parks and Rec and she killed it on the Globes.

5. I am most excited about the warmer weather coming. In Cincinnati, March is usually the turning point. I can't wait to get outside and work on my yard!

Lorraine Robain said...

1. I used to think Landscape Architect, now - I'd be just a country gardener off the grid somewhere PLUS a schoolteacher.

2.Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche

3. Blogging and photography.

4. Its a tie: Lily (The Persian Barbie)and Golnessa (GiGi)- both from 'Shahs of Sunset'. Lily is airbrushed on the outside, but has old fashioned values and a very steady head on her; GiGi is a mercurial beauty - almost a train-wreck of emotions. I really love the contrast of their two personalities in one show.

5. Bryant Park's (NYC) garden design for Spring 2013. The Citi Pond skating rink is coming down and the park is back. There was a lot of construction and new plantings done last fall, and today they're working on new flagstones around the fountain. Can't wait to see it all come together!

LifeLoveLuxe said...

1) If I wasn't a designer/blogger, I'd a luxury travel writer -- imagine jet setting around the world to write about spas and champagne! Le sigh.

2) Allure by Chanel

3) No joke: the brussel sprouts at Ilili (a restaurant in NYC). You haven't lived until you've popped one of these little lovelies in your mouth.

4) I'm currently obsessed with Gayla Darling - she's so spunky, fun, and inspiring!

5) This month, I'm going skydiving (!); celebrating my birthday; and cooking up some brand new features on my blog.

Shameless plug: www.lifeloveandluxury.com

Best of luck to all pursuing their dreams this month!!

dervla @ The Curator said...

1. If i wasn't a book editor, I'd be an archaeologist. I started and stopped grad school twice but couldn't quite pull the trigger. I sometimes dream about it.

2. Just a little coconut oil and some rose scented moisturizer.

3. My guilty pleasure is reality tv for sure. Cept i don't even feel that guilty about it!

4. I pretty much want to be Alexa Chung. Jennifer Lawrence is a good one too.

5. Hmmm, this month I'm looking forward to spring and some warmer weather.

Unknown said...

1. I would love to return to the fashion industry as a vendor representative. I was a rep for a line of women's footwear many years back and loved it. The travel was extensive so with a young family it would be too crazy but I seriously would love to return to that some day. I loved going to market, the big shoe shows.
2. I seriously use this body spray from Victoria's secret that my girlfriend gave me for my birthday. It is light and fresh.
3. Homeland and Downton Abbey are my guilty pleasures.
4. I recently interviewed Susie Crippen, the co-founder and former Creative Director of J Brand. She started a new line and when she shared one of her favorite things was her Ford F-150 yet she adores the style of Phoebe Philo and Diane Kruger at the same time, I decided I love this girl. She also loves Game of Thrones like me. Had a girl crush moment, she is just soo cool!
5. Josh Krajcik, he was on the X-Factor a few years back, is playing at this small venue in Chicago called Schubas in a few weeks. My hubby and I are going to see him, he totally rocks!

Best, Beth
http://www.chicandglamorous.com

Nanette Baker said...

Hi Paloma, thanks for asking!
1. At the present time I own my own interior decoration and design business, but if I wasn't doing that, I would love to be a "successful" real estate broker selling houses.
2. My signature scent is Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb -- so delicious.
3. My guilty pleasure has to be watching the reruns of Sex and the City every day at lunchtime even though I have seen every episode at least 1000 times, but I never get tired of those ladies, the show is perfection.
4. My girl crush is Melissa Rycroft, I have loved her ever since Jason Mesnick dumped her on national television and then she went on to be a STAR (he did her a huge favor), so glad she won DWTS. She deserved it and is so graceful and beautiful!
5. This month I am looking forward to a very nice vacation to Arizona with my husband and 2 sweet kids, and I'm also enjoying working on great design projects for the nicest clients! Good stuff! Thanks, Nanette

sbab said...

1. I'm a full-time copmmercial nterior designer, which I love. However, if time and money were no object, I'd love to buy and restore older homes, keeping some of their original style while giving it a modern edge and conveniences.

2. I've worn Cabotine by Gres for years, but I've rediscovered Chanel N. 5. An oldie but a goodie.

3. Totally adore "What Not to Wear." Wouldn't I love for someone to come in, throw away my old wardrobe (well, some of it) and give me $5k to replace it.

4. Love Olivia Palermo. Such great style!

5. Going on a camping trip with my family over Spring Break. No phone, no computer, no meetings, no baseball practice. I need a break from the hustle and bustle!

Anonymous said...

1. I would become a well know design blogger like you, Paloma.
I am an ASID residential interior designer and love my work but I am planning on eventually having a
design blog that I can do "forever."

2. Tobacco Flower essential oil by The Body shop.

3. Romantic fiction like The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon. Almost anything by Isabel Allende- and~ gasp~ the gruesome Deadly Women TV series.

4.Jennifer Anniston.

5. A new design/remodel project. Hopefully getting some recent work published.Finishing my decluttering project. Last but not least,celebrating my 16th wedding anniversary.




K said...

1. I am art teacher right now, but love to work in a magazine or be a film director. Or do something completely different like be a police woman or a bond girl.

2.mademoiselle coco by chanel

3.buying brand new magazines like red or vogue, splurging out on a sofa with scented candles, fresh cut flowers and coffee. I swoon every time.

4. girl crush: Jessica Chastin for her amazing talent, I can not get enough!

5.this month: upcoming holidays 2 weeks term break of fresh air, good food and maybe a trip out of town. Maybe I get a chance to paint!

Kaity said...

1. Although I am a snow bird and can manage my own time, I still manage to over commit myself keeping me from art time. I love the fiber arts and have projects going. Someday I hope to learn to say no bette and to manage my own time more mindfully
2. Guerlin
3. Ice Cream at night.
4. Iris Apfel. I want a wardrobe overhaul!
5. Our new Goldendoodle puppy- he's the cutest little nugget ever!

yasemin said...

I wish I was an international model. I would love walking on the catwalk to the rhythm of the music and carrying the clothes of the most famous designers.

My signature scent is Chanel No.5.

My currently guilty pleasure is living in bed :)

Kelsey said...

Thank you so much for all of the fantastic inspiration you bring to our lives! You are truly spectacular.

1. If I weren't currently teaching in Korea, I would like to be teaching somewhere else - Thailand, the U.A.E., Turkey - wherever! :-) I love travel, and I love teaching, so I've got a pretty great gig here. One thing I'd like to do later on is to go to art school. I gave up going to art school after high school to pursue a (much) more academic route (that I don't regret for a second), but I've realized that just because I didn't do it then doesn't mean I can't do it later!

2. My signature scent is Burberry Brit - it's popular for a reason! I also love Miss Dior Cherie and Dolce & Gabbana's The One for nighttime.

3. My current guilty pleasure is trying new international cuisines on the weekends. It's pricey, but definitely rewarding! The world is filled with so many delicious things!

4. My current (and long-term) girl crush is Amy Adams. She's just so bright in every way.

5. I'm most excited for the end of this month - my boyfriend and I will be heading down south for a weekend getaway to celebrate our 5 year anniversary. We'll be visiting a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site & enjoying some budding cherry blossoms as well!

Enjoy your trip to Los Angeles - may it bring more peace and happiness than you can hold inside. :-)

Kelsey said...

Thank you so much for all of the fantastic inspiration you bring to our lives! You are truly spectacular.

1. If I weren't currently teaching in Korea, I would like to be teaching somewhere else - Thailand, the U.A.E., Turkey - wherever! :-) I love travel, and I love teaching, so I've got a pretty great gig here. One thing I'd like to do later on is to go to art school. I gave up going to art school after high school to pursue a (much) more academic route (that I don't regret for a second), but I've realized that just because I didn't do it then doesn't mean I can't do it later!

2. My signature scent is Burberry Brit - it's popular for a reason! I also love Miss Dior Cherie and Dolce & Gabbana's The One for nighttime.

3. My current guilty pleasure is trying new international cuisines on the weekends. It's pricey, but definitely rewarding! The world is filled with so many delicious things!

4. My current (and long-term) girl crush is Amy Adams. She's just so bright in every way.

5. I'm most excited for the end of this month - my boyfriend and I will be heading down south for a weekend getaway to celebrate our 5 year anniversary. We'll be visiting a spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Site & enjoying some budding cherry blossoms as well!

Enjoy your trip to Los Angeles - may it bring more peace and happiness than you can hold inside. :-)

Anonymous said...

1. If you weren’t doing your current job, what would you like to do/be?

My current job is doing a master in Madrid and teaching English, so life is pretty good. But I'd love to go back to teaching and making art!


2. What is your signature scent?

Florence by Tocca. I got it at Anthropologie, but I'm almost out of it and I'm sure I won't be able to find it here. :-(


3. What is your current guilty pleasure?

Watching Call The Midwife. It's fascinating!


4. Who is your current girl crush?

Garance Doré


5. What are you most excited about this month?

Four days in Santiago de Compostela, Spain during Holy Week!