by Tara Mackey | Around the World, Blogroll, My Organic Life, My Photography, Travel
Art, Romance, Culture, Food, Music, Infinite Photographs, Love!
Paris really tops the cake.
^^ Jim Morrison’s beautiful grave ^^
^^ Eiffel Construction ^^
^^ the Cathedrals in Europe are just to die for…. ^^
^^ playing in the tombs of Jim’s cemetary ^^
^^ Hanging out in Versailles ^^
^^ the best view of Paris you’ll get ^^
^^ Still swooning over her… ^^
Location: Paris & Versailles, France
Previous Posts: Travel Views: London
Travel Views: Amsterdam
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Love & Light
by Tara Mackey | Blogroll, Happiness, Health, My Dog, My Organic Life, My Photography, Travel
It’s been over a month since my birthday (oops!) but I’ve really wanted to share it because it was action-packed and involved travel, the beach, camping, hiking, great food, the puppy and I was so prepared this time around!
Josh and I spent the day at the beach in Malibu the day of my birthday morning and it was just lovely!
^^ beautiful California drives .. anywhere … make me happy ^^
^^ beautiful sky reflections… ^^
^^ puppy got a bath! ^^
^^ epic work outs vs epic reads 😉 ^^
Last year I started my first birthday tradition: camping in California!
Last Year, let’s call it: Year 1, Josh and I had never camped before, and for some reason didn’t really research anything about camping before we walked 5 miles up (and down) a mountain, set up our tent, and realized when it was pitch black that we didn’t know how to make a fire and had barely brought any food! We had also brought the dog, dog food, and plenty of water for her, but we forgot to bring her any toys or treats! Thanks to the kindness of strangers (Bear, we will never forget you) not only did we get taught some kick-ass wilderness skills on the fly (seriously… it was pitiful) but we were forever grateful and were sure to do our due diligence this time around.
We’ve hiked quite a bit since then, and we now live in the same mountains that we camped in last year. I’ve started more fires in my fireplace in the new house last Winter than I care to even remember (it’s not so fun when you actually really need it for heat!), so we were much more prepared for Year 2!
The first perfect thing Josh found was the camping spot itself. Point Mugu is listed on almost every “Best Hiking Trail” list, not only in California, but on practically the whole internet. The amazing reviews about this place just go on and on!
It’s located in Malibu in the Santa Monica Mountains, features five miles of ocean shoreline, with rocky bluffs, sandy beaches, sand dunes, rugged hills and uplands, two major river canyons and wide grassy valleys dotted with sycamores, oaks and a few native walnuts. There are more than 70 miles of hiking trails. The beach also features swimming, body surfing and surf fishing. The park includes the jagged pinnacles of the Boney Mountains State Wilderness Area.
Plus, it’s dog friendly!
Basically, it’s right up my alley. 🙂
There must have recently been a forest fire, because all of the trees were black and burned up, but in this absolutely breathtaking way there was greenery growing on the underside of every plant! So, so amazing! I love seeing signs of new life!
There are infinite hiking trails to go on, so we were always on some kind of epic adventure! Josh wandered off a time or two to tackle some hikes I was just plain not prepared for, but we both ended up with crazy beautiful views over the mountains and to the sea! What we planned to be a surveying hike took us over an hour, and I could have gone for way longer if we weren’t getting so hungry that we eventually turned around for the sake of filling our bellies! A Park Ranger wagged their finger that you’re not technically “supposed” to bring the dog (oops again!) but we did anyway, and she was fabulous and we had a wonderful time.
^^ more signs of new life! ^^
It’s incomprehensibly vast when you get up the hiking trail and realize how far you are up the mountain. Especially incomprehensible when you first see the sea. Before that it just looks like layers and layers of mountains. One of the first things we mentioned was “Can you imagine what it would be like for the first people who ever discovered this?”
Just. Wow.
I am so grateful to have had the adventure!
After our hike we cooked up some grub and went out to get some last minute supplies. On our way back we saw the most amazing neon pink, orange, blue, purple, green gorgeous sunset and stopped along the way on some adjacent sea mountains to get a good view and watch it go down!
As if the night couldn’t get any better, we cooked up some s’mores for dessert, played guitar and fell asleep under the stars to the sound of the waves!
The next morning we woke up super early and headed down to the beach with puppy.
^^ these two just kill me… ^^
There was no one down there, and she loved it! She chased the waves… the waves chased her… we chased her… she chased us… 🙂 A dog’s paradise!
When we got in the car Raelie immediately fell asleep so fast her face was hanging over the edge of the seat like this:
Too cute! 🙂
I really had an incredible, amazing time and I can’t wait to do it again! I hope to go back many times before the year is up and I can’t wait to recommend Point Mugu to everyone living! I really had the most incredibly beautiful birthday and I feel very grateful for it.
Happy and healthy life!
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Love & Light
by Tara Mackey | Around the World, Beauty, Blogroll, Modeling, My Organic Life
A few months ago, my agent over at Q asked me if I wouldn’t like to shoot with a lovely young lady named Monica Baddar. They showed me her work and I was super psyched to make some art together, since her style is really simple, beautiful portraits of really interesting looking women.
I had to reschedule a few times due to travel, but we finally got our shoot on in DTLA and took some portraits and lifestyle stuff which I really love! I dig Monica’s style a lot, and she’s a creative, beautiful person to work with! I really adore how she stayed really natural and brought out my freckles a lot. I think it’s super important to embrace your face, especially in a town where a ton of makeup and plastic surgery is the norm! 🙂
( ^^ just hanging out on a rooftop! ^^ )
( ^^ who needs makeup when you have water? amirite? 😛 )
I feel incredibly lucky to be able to make some cool stuff with other amazing artists in LA through my agency, who used some of the shots for my portfolio. 🙂
There’s also 11 super important days left of The Wake Up EP Kickstarter!
Get your pledge on right here! 🙂
Thank you very much.
Love & Light
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An Exclusive Look Into … THE WAKE UP EP!
by Tara Mackey | Beauty, Blogroll, DIY, Green Beauty, Hair, Skincare
Any of you who know me know that I’m completely obsessed with all things DIY Beauty. If it’s cheaper, easier, and can be found in the grocery aisle – I’ve tried it! I am constantly on the hunt for Do-It-Yourself beauty tips and tricks that are 100% natural, easy, and way cheaper than the store-brought equivalent. Using one parts apple cider vinegar and water as a natural facial toner? Check. Lemon juice as an acne-fighting facial mask? Check. Manuka Honey for pretty much… everything? Check!
But I’ve found a new way to golden skin and happy hair! It’s the Jojoba Oil ( only $3!) from The Busy Bee Store over on Etsy – an all natural and organic skin-care go-to for all your natural skin and haircare needs!
Legend has it that the Native Americans used jojoba oil for a variety of purposes, ranging from hair conditioners, to skin lubricants to even making coffee-like beverages!
Though this botanical liquid extract is commonly referred to as “oil,” jojoba oil is technically a liquid wax ester that is very similar to the properties of human skin oil (sebum).
Translation: putting jojoba oil on your face, especially if you are prone to oily to combination skin, means that you can “trick” your human skin into producing less oil, thus reducing your face’s shiny appearance without extra layers of make-up that can further aggravate your sensitive skin.
In addition to helping your face with oil control, jojoba oil can also be used for your hair and the rest of the body!
What is it good for? Pretty much everything. You can use jojoba oil for the following skin and hair care needs:
- Massage oil
- Dried Cuticle Treatment
- A Shaving Prepper
- After-sun moisturizer
- Stretch mark treatment
- Sebum substitute
- As a way to remove hair product residue
- Cleanser
- Treating acne and cold sores
- Scalp and hair moisturizer
- Hair detangler
The zinc, B-vitamins, silica and copper in jojoba oil help the skin on your face stay supple and healthy.
One of my favorite ways to use it is as a Jojoba & Avocado Face Mask.
- I combine one half ripe Avocado with a teaspoon of the Jojoba Oil.
- Apply over the Face and Neck. Let sit for 10 mins.
- Wash it off with warm water!
Super easy & I’m really happy to share this organic skincare & haircare love with you!
I’ll let Michelle Phan tell you what to do with Jojoba Oil & your hair…. 😉
Thank you very much.
Love & Light
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An Exclusive Look Into … THE WAKE UP EP!
by Tara Mackey | Blogroll, Give Back, My Dog, My Organic Life
It’s my BIRTHDAYYYYY!!
I really really REALLY enjoy my birthday. Not only does it mark off the first of one of my favorite months of the year, it’s me and Raelie’s 4 year Anniversary of adopting each other!
Her Rescue Story is actually pretty beautiful: Raelie’s Pitbull Dog Mom was pregnant and was abandoned at a Kill Shelter. After a few weeks, she was scheduled to be put down.
Little Shelter, a no-kill shelter on Long Island ( I recommend them whole-heartedly), was informed that this precious pregnant pitbull was going to be killed, and they swooped in and rescued her.
The next day (!!) Raelie’s mom gave birth to her and 8 other pit/lab mixes that were put up for adoption after their Mom was fostered out. Why this is important is that if she had given birth at the Kill Shelter, herself and all of the puppies would have been immediately put down. 🙁 Had they waited another day to rescue, it would have been too late.
After going to see her and picking her out in August, I was waiting for approval for quite awhile. Then, Little Shelter called me on August 31st and asked me if I could come pick her up the next day, which just happened to be my birthday!
😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀 😀
Don’t mind if I do!
I can’t believe I brought this little munchkin home 4 years ago today. She’s changed absolutely every aspect of my life in the best way possible. I am so grateful to have her.
Raelie, you’re the best dog daughter a human could ask for.
( ^^ the first night I brought her home 🙂 )
(first minute of our first day in the house 😀 ^^ )
Time flies when your whole lives together are kisses and cuddles. 😉
I feel absolutely majestic today. Thank you all so much for your lovely wishes!
I want one thing and one thing only this year: to make my dreams come true.
Pledges over at my Kickstarter begin at just $1, so if you’re looking for a way to make someone’s big day and put a smile on their face and support some great things, go for it .
And thank you so much in advance. <3
And thanks for holding September down with me, cherubs. Looking forward to another golden year!
Love & Light
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An Exclusive Look Into … THE WAKE UP EP!
