recently, i had so much fun taking over the lovely instagram space of the blog pop over. a personal project from the super talented, jaclyn giuliano. i had a chance to visit & feature, a few of my favorite los angeles haunts & loved getting people involved in exploring their own city more. here are the photos… 
Tag: monicais
enamel diction…
if you live in los angeles, you know that finding a reliable/affordable hair & nail salon is quite a challenge. although there are tons to choose from (too many if you ask me) most of the time your trusted person, eventually moves or worse the salon closes down. so while heading down pico towards paper or plastik cafe for that afternoon perk, i spot the cutest curb appeal coming from enamel diction, who coincidentally i had discovered on instagram.
instant love affair created.
i met one of the lovely owners, mariana stanciu who along with australian design duo/color experts Tamara Sheeran & Sean Morrison created this safe haven. she cheerfully chatted me up about the salon’s inception & ultimate goals to brighten up this patch of pico real-estate. upon arrival, i notice all the lovely details: the bright skylight, comfy leather chairs, clean & inviting space, plus a collection of nail polish that one dreams of. (rgb, uslu airlines, you name it they have it) my experience was so relaxing & fun, that i never once felt the doom from terrible experiences of sub-par nail salons.
this is my new place. just like when i found my current hair salon, i want to scream it from the mountain tops & i wish them all the success in the world…
*last three images by tiffany rose photography
enamel diction | 5405 west pico blvd, los angeles, ca 90019 | (323) 900-0355 | instagram: @enameldiction
compañía de café…
after seeing this coffee shop pop up on my feeds, i had to venture to the valley to experience this treasure for myself. compañía de café is one of those places that has to be seen in person to really enjoy the intense colors, rich smells, & hospitable staff. the mexican influence is heavy, yet intriguingly modern. i was in a very happy place. as a mexican, i felt instantly at home. i tried several drinks, ranging from the horchata latte, aguas frias, to the standout carbonated tamarind cold brew. everything was meticulously cared for that my only gripe (if any!) would be that it’s oh so far. a definite trek, but worth every bit of valley traffic…
compañía de café | 110 north maclay ave san fernando, ca 91340 | for more info read this
coffee chats…
just had a recent coffee date with fellow instagram/twitter friend (and now real friend!) chermelle aka the coffeetographer from smdlr.com. it’s a nice thing to connect with people via social media. many of your followers share the same interests and likes, so it’s nice to venture past our phones & meet in real life. we chatted about where we grew up, passions, & why we love being in the presence of coffee shops.
nestled behind a flower lined bush, we met at bar nine collective in culver city. with just days being open, this beautiful coffee shop has managed to pick up quite the following amongst the growing la coffee community.
“service, hospitality, & of course amazing coffee, make for a great experience”
bar nine collective | 3515 helms avenue, culver city, california 90232 | instagram: barninecoffee
commodity goods…
i am a self-professed fragrance junkie. since i was a child, i have always been fascinated with perfume and it’s sensory power. i feel like scent can bring you back to a place, a memory, & make you feel all around better. if i happen to skip a spray in the morning, i feel like i’m missing a bit of me. so, imagine my excitement when commodity came out with the brilliant idea, to bring the sometimes overwhelming process of scent shopping to your door step!
after ordering, the try-on kit arrives neatly packaged with all the useful tips you’ll need to find your next signature scent. once you narrow it down (and let me tell you it’s quite hard!) you’ll find a nice credit sitting in your cart towards your full size or travel size purchase. the pressure of figuring out “will this scent work for me?” , near a salesperson is gone. it’s on your own terms. man or woman will love this nifty service! it’s beautifully designed so the fragrance shines through, not the marketing noise…
my top fragrance picks: paper | moss | gold | whiskey | wool | cane
monica is... 
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