Griffith Park Hike With the Fam!

While there was 20" of snow last weekend in NYC, it was 60' here in Los Angeles. Eat your heart out, east coasters - It pays to be bi coastal! With the sun out we were obligated to bask under the sun at one of mt favorite Los Angeles destinations, Griffith Park. I'm an outdoorsy person but it is a farce that all Californians are. My cousin and husband were ready to kill me since we began our hike descending the mountain and completed the hike with a one mile uphill battle! I on the other hand couldn't have felt more alive under the California sun and the subsequent endorphin rush from the hike. And yes, that's the Pacific Ocean in the very last image - it had just rained and the smog levels were low so visibility was on point!

*** All images shot with a my Canon PowerShoot ***

Ilene Squires Photography Featured in Lookbook.nu

You might remember when I feaured Justin in a sneak peak of my Faces of Harlem project a couple months ago. The project was put on hold once the holidays rolled around and will be up and running again after the first of the year. This time with a new look and it's own separate home! For now, one of  my images from Justin's shoot seems to be making it's way around the web, seen most recently on Lookbook.nu. Enjoy!

My Mother's Hands

When I was 5 years old my family moved to Simi Valley from Los Angeles. That year, my Mother, who has the greenest of thumbs, planted a lime tree and it wasn't until last Christmas that it bore organic limes. I mean who waits two decades for a plant to bear fruit?! You should have seen the delight on her face when she cut the limes open for a little garnish on her famous mango salsa! My mother could bring even the dreariest plants back to life, resuscitating them with love and care. The women makes her own compost for crying out loud! She's a serious and committed gardener! All of my renaissance like habits were inherited from her; she is simply an amazing woman who brings everything around her a new reason to live. Mom's garden speaks for itself as it boasts succulents, orchids, fruits and veggies and several species of flowers. I'm so inspired by how my mother's hands bring life to everything around her and I can only hope to be as influential as her when I become a mother. 

*** All images shot in natural light with my Canon 5D Mark II with an 24 - 105 lens.***

Merry Christmas!

Every winter I make the journey back to Southern California, my old stomping grounds, to galavant under the warm, sunny skies. I'm greeted by Mexicans and Filipinos and the culturally appropriate indulgences they offer. In fact, my Mother had me waiting for an hour in line at Manila Sunset for a party tray of pancit palabok yesterday! Having had a Jewish Father and a Catholic Mother, I was lucky enough to enjoy the best of both worlds; 8 days of Hanukkah and Christmas?! What a dream come true for a kid! Aside from the over eating and drinking which accompanies holiday celebrations, I specifically look forward to connecting with people from lives past: my childhood friends who are now mommies; my drinking buddies from college; the homies I've traveled the globe with; my girlfriends from the early days in New York City and most notably, my family. Near or far, my family holds it down! They are the most festive, generous people I know. Of course I am bias, but I would never trade my family for the world. So wherever you are and whoever you're with, I hope you are taking time to celebrate your family. We often forget how much of an impact they've had on who we've become. I had to post these pictures of my Mother's holiday decor; with a Jewish husband she has always respected his wishes for "no Christmas tree," but boy, she has one of everything else on display. Merry Christmas, readers. May peace be with you. 

The Dirty Thirty!

Growing up I was always a year behind my friends because my mother thought it would be a great idea if I skipped a grade. This ultimately led to being the last one to get a license, the last one to cross the border into Mexico for over 18 clubs (I went to school in San Diego!), and being the last one of my friends to drink, legally that is. Realistically, I don't think I ever minded the extra attention, except for now, as I approach the dirty thirty. There's so much hype about entering this new, mysterious decade and the ridiculous social pressures for women to do crazy things like get married and have kids. Who are we kidding?! New York is a place where women spend much of their twenties building professional clout and enjoying the fruits of their labor domestically and abroad. Especially for New Yorkers, 30 really is the new 20. We're ever more fabulous, much more confident and savvy in the workplace and on the town, and in my opinion, more refined. We no longer spend our weekends opening tabs in random lounges, waking up to strange new faces or leaving jobs prematurely. Instead we opt for classy dinners at the  top 20 restaurants in the City (because we can finally afford them!) where we linger over aged Malbecs and conversations about relationships. Well, I guess some things transcend age groups!  For the last 2 years I have been helping my girlfriends celebrate this rite of passage from their beloved twenties to their thirties, one birthday party and many cocktails at a time. One of my most fabulous New York girlfriends, Jaxira, recently celebrated her 30th birthday at Yerba Buena Perry, formerly Matador Tapas Bar, in the West Village. Isn't she beautiful and radiant? Jaxira's an example of how all women should enter the next decade of adulthood and that is how Biggie would have wanted it: with style and grace! Happy Birthday Jax, I'm right behind you! 

* All pictures taken with my Canon Powershoot. Lookin' good for a point-n-shoot!

(I had to throw the one of me on the Vespa in for good measure. Wishful thinking for the New Year).

Ilene Squires Photography Featured on Tucked LLC

When I shot Justin for my Faces of Harlem project, he mentioned potentially using some of my images on his site TUCKED LLC. Well here are the images from a feature last Friday. Enjoy! 

New Sponsor on RuffledBlog.com!

I recently became a sponsor on RuffledBlog.com which I used a resource in planning my own nuptials. Check out my vendor page HERE and pass it on! Of course, I welcome any feedback and suggestions on the page and you can leave a comment below or email me at ilene {dot} squires {at} gmail {dot} com.