Petits Fours

This is me doing my best "Boss Lady" impression. I had the most amazing opportunity to meet with the Chief of Staff for Congressman Schiff to discuss the ongoing persecution of Bahai's in Iran. I'm not able to share details about the meeting but am grateful that members of the community are open to hearing what is happening to the Bahai community. I hope to soon share a link on my blog that will allow you to learn more about the Bahai Faith as it is so dear to my heart. I've had another busy week between work, meetings and apartment hunting. I mean seriously I forgot how hard it is to find a place that you can really call home, especially in Cali. Rental prices are astronomical and if you take one step to the East or the West depending on the city all of a sudden you end up in a really shady area. And I don't mean a street lined with lot's of trees! I hope all of you have an amazing weekend...if you miss me you can find me on Instagram @PolishedPractical_Style
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Petit Fours

This is about the best time ever to scream TGIF!!! No joke this past week has been overwhelming in both good and bad ways. I somehow juggled a conference, market updates for my 9-5, being utterly sick and balancing all of my kids activities!

If you follow any fashion bloggers from SCAL you'll know by now LuckyFabb took place last week. #bestconferencever Events like these are always so much fun but I feel like there is this big misconception about bloggers. Trust me we don't walk around all day soaking up the sun and drinking latte's. Most bloggers still have to work 9-5 jobs to pay the bills, but continue to blog to fulfill their dreams or to create new opportunities. But in the end there's something utterly satisfying about snapping a beautiful shot in the midst of chaos.

Yes this really happened! Cheesin with Eva Chen and January Jones

T'ai Chi showergel C/O Rituals & Luckyfabb - I already know what you're thinking...how did shower gel make my petit four list? The smell is absolutely divine and evoked memories of summer days spent in Kent, England. Have you ever smelt something so good you can't help but smile and be happy? Cheers to an amazing weekend! xoxo Tasha

Petits Fours

Haifa, Israel

On July 9th at noon every year Baha'i's around the world commemorate the Martyrdom of the Bab which took place in 1850. The Bab, meaning the Gate was the forerunner of the Baha'i Faith. The Bab like many other Prophets of God was killed for his teachings. You may be asking yourself why am I including such a tragic day in my petits fours post. While it is sad it had a huge impact on my week - a reminder of the roots of my faith. There are a lot of Baha'i books available if you are interested in reading more about this eventful day in 1850. I also found a couple of good articles in the Huffington Post that are very detailed. Feel free to email me too at polishedpractical@gmail.com if you ever have any questions.                      

Watts Towers, Los Angeles

I came across this photograph when I was in LA and was utterly intrigued. The Watts Towers took 34 years to build by hand and are listed as a National Historic landmark. Simon Rodia, a construction worker and clearly an artist named his masterpiece "Nuestro Pueblo", meaning "our town". What attracts me to the Watts Towers aside from seashells, tiles and glass adorning the landmark is the fact that Rodia had a goal of doing something big in his life and nothing could stop him from achieving this. Nuestro Pueblo is a "unique monument to the human spirit and the persistence of a singular vision"(The history of the Watts Towers website). 

c/o Lorna Jane 

7/12/13 was the book release date for MORE the second of Lorna Jane's books. I had the opportunity to review Jane's first book Move, Nourish, Believe and this next one only gets better. As you know I'm a book fanatic - I would live in a library if it were a housing option, so it's easy for me to know from the first page if the rest of the book is going to be worth the read. This one definitely is! Stay tuned for a full book review! 

I hope you are all enjoying your weekends. 

xoxo

Tasha 

Petits Fours - Girl Rising

If you have been following my blog regularly you will know that I have mentioned numerous times about supporting other women and growing together. It means a lot to me to see women succeeding in life and paving a path for our younger generations. I got the chance to do this last night at the movie screening of Girl Rising.

Girl Rising is a film that puts emphasis on the power of education to change the world. Girl Rising follows nine different girls from so many different cultural and ethnic backgrounds with the common thread being an intense desire. A desire to know more, to do more, to be more in life!

Visit the 10x10 Girl Rising website to find out how you can do more for your sisters.

One Girl with courage is a revolution!

Have a great weekend!

Petits Four - Family

You know when you don't see your friend's kid or your niece or nephew for even a month, and all of sudden it's like they grew into this whole other person? Well, it's hard to see sometimes just how much your own children have grown, because you are with each other 24/7. In the past week, I was blessed to see my daughter dance in her first ballet recital to an audience of 1500 people!- to see her perform a Hawaiian dance at her school concert, and to watch my son become a singing cowboy on the stage. They were not nervous, but were filled with sheer joy and excitement, and were eager for my reaction.

It hit me this week how much their characters have grown. I have immense pride for them, and gratitude for my life. Being a mother, especially a single mother, is not easy. But so worth it! Running a household and taking care of your family may not sound like much to some people, but I feel as if I could run the world because of these very things. I am ready for life's challenges and have a new-found respect for my own parents.

Happy Father's Day to my baba joon and all the other men out there who are doing what they are supposed to be doing for their children.

Have a great weekend!
xoxo

                                    My brother and I with my dad

Big Bear Petits Fours

                                                    Big Bear Lake

This week was a first for many things- first time in Big Bear, first time taking a trip completely alone with my kids, first time having a Grey Fog Latte( the little things count too you know). I have to say that it's looking like Big Bear is going to be our home away from home thanks to all of the wonderful people we met from the staff at Pine Knot Guest Ranch to the store owners in the village. I love LA but  Big Bear envelopes you with a sense of peace that you just can't find anywhere but in the heart of such natural beauty.

I would love to hear about any other places in Big Bear that you recommend as a must see for our next visit.

Enjoy the weekend!
xoxoxo
Tasha

Quaint little view from our cabin porch at Pine Knot Guest Ranch

Cowboy Fancy put a big smile on my face, I just know there's a cowgirl hiding behind the Persian-English in me...

                                     Vogue can be found everywhere!

Pizza at Paoli's Country Kitchen, a stone's throw away from our cabin

I would live on this lake if I could! Serenity darling absolute serenity...

Petits Fours of the week

I'm in love with this picture captured on one of the evening walks I take with my kids. I only live 20 minutes from the heart of LA yet sometimes the Woodlands remind me of parts of England. I got to share my first blogger video with all of you thanks to L'Occitane and I am slowly learning to relax a little-there's nothing wrong with a little ME time.

Enjoy your weekend!

Who wouldn't be excited to have these products waiting on their doorstep for them when they come home from work! A kind gesture from L'OCCITANE for my blogger video.

Alright so I'm a sucker for country music especially the ladies of Pistol Annies. They deliver heartfelt songs with a punch in them, I swear I can hear the strength in each of them. Their new album was just released so I'm enjoying listening to it over and over and yes you guessed it, over again! I just joined SoundTracking so start following me on there and you can check out one of my favorite songs from 'Annie Up'.

I can't remember the last time I went to the movies. Given a few openings in my afternoons recently I took advantage and made a date with myself and a bucket of popcorn to just sit back and relax. What's the matter you didn't peg me for a Fast & Furious girl? I have a weakness for muscle cars, not to mention Tyrese and Paul Walker!

I hope you had as good a week as I have had!