Letter and Promise to myself for 2012

To Elsa -

This is a very big year for you on several levels. And not just because you turn 40 this year.;)

There is the big career change this year that you have high expectations for.

And there has been a lot of soul-searching these past 3 months.

With God's help, you will regain the Truth of your upbringing and foundation and move on to healthier pastures in regards to work and the couple things that have always brought you Happiness (travel, music, Nature, foreign languages, foreign lands, horses, helping people).

Continue to be thankful for everything: family, husband, pets, home, Health, and God.

Your sensitive heart doesn't always belong in this current world, but you know that you are special and loving to those around you.

May God Bless us all and Happy New Year!-

love, E

Christmas Day 2011

Just got home from another wonderful Christmas Day with my family (minus sister Sylvia and company who were with the in-laws out of town). It was Mom's 73rd birthday today and we had a lovely time. Tomorrow P and Ciara head, without me this time, to Ireland to see his folks. It will be just me and the animals. "Absence makes the heart grow fonder", they say -- I miss him already.

I love my family and am lucky to have my own little one, as well.

Merry Christmas! God Bless us all!

Christmas Eve

We spent the evening with my wonderful extended family at Aunt Eileen's new house in Lakeside. I am now in food coma while my Patrick watches a movie with his bassett hound on the couch. We had a wonderful treat of a video cousin Leslie put together of the Araizas - from old black and white family photos in Mexico to literally just last week the birth of cousin Noelle and Dan's new baby in San Francisco. Meanwhile cousins Matt and Heather are expecting any second their first boy. Plus we have the newly-engaged cousins Erin and Joey. The blessings keep coming... ! I love my familia.

click on slideshow below for some pics I snapped:

Araiza Christmas Eve 2011

Finale only - balcony view plus Backstage Interview with the Crew

a short finale video shot from the top balcony - -

see me lead Pilar's designs in New York Couture Fashion Week September 2011!


Here is more footage from Diana Navarro hosting the interview. I wanted to remember for future reference what the backstage was like, the people involved and you can see the talent involved in the show besides the fashion! See me getting my hair straightened at :30 and walking at 2:40. It is nice they feature a lot of Pilar!

Short Version/Interview - New York Couture Fashion Week 9/2011

To see a more-condensed version of the show watch the link above. You see me from a different angle do my 2nd pass. Check out my demure turns and glances. My students said, "Your walk and posture are sick!" hehehhe

Plus a tiny interview with designer Pilar after the show when we were in the Press Room. Our portion is only the first 2 minutes of the video - the 2nd part is for a designer I did not walk for.

NY Couture Fashion Week: Pilar Macchione Noir Collection 2011

This is it.

The full show.

I open.

Fellow San Diego model Rosie is at minute 5.

Other fellow San Diego model Emma follows her at 5:30.

Designer: Pilar Macchione, Noir Collection 2011.

Jewelry: Rachelauren Somers

Hair: Joseph Anthony and team

Hair Backstage and Onstage

Here is a greatly-produced video showcasing Joseph Anthony and ABBA products (thanks for the gift bags, ABBA!!) as they work magic on us models backstage at New York Couture Fashion Week September 2011 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

New York Couture Fashion Week 2011

Saturday was The Day.

How exciting!

Unfortunately, my 18 year old model friend, Emma, was extremely ill with a fever and really bad sore throat. I ended up having to really take care of her - trying to get her meds, hot tea at Starbucks, soup - things that could make her feel better. It was rough because she really shouldn't have walked but she was the finale dress and had done many fittings with Pilar so she was not going to cancel.

It got to the point where I needed to leave to the show and she was really hurting so I called Pilar and asked if she could come late to hair and makeup. Pilar didn't know she was sick so of course she said that was fine. Emma painfully got through the show but we had to leave right afterwards - no after parties for me :( I ended up taking her to ER early morning and not getting to do the last bit of sight-seeing I had wanted before leaving Sunday evening - but I am glad I was able to help her. I know her parents were thankful I was there, too.

Here is video of me walking up Lexington Avenue from my hotel to the Waldorf Hotel to do hair and makeup.


It turned out that another San Diego model friend, Rosie (also in many of my blogs) was in town working for another job and so we got her in to our show that week as well. It was pretty cool that there were 3 generations of San Diego models in the show - Emma at 18, Rosie at 29 and me at 39! It also made it special to do it with people I know - the girls and Joseph Anthony doing hair.

New York Couture Fashion Week was held at the historic and beautiful Waldorf-Astoria hotel on Park Boulevard. Walking into the lobby I longed to have a drink with Rosie after the show at the bar where we could look for "Mad Men" TV types hehehhe.
Backstage was mayhem as usual but we got through it all. I only then found out that Pilar was having me open the show - - I almost cried. To open or close a show is considered an honor. I know it was her way of saying thanks for my support and time all throughout the spring and summer.

The show was 3 days long with a late morning, afternoon and evening set of 3 designers each. We had a coveted time slot of 8pm on Saturday night. Once backstage Pilar was trying to instruct us on the walk she wanted. No offense, but it wasn't coming off too clearly and it was starting to stress some girls out. We didn't even know what the music was that we were walking to. Pilar had said it was classical music. I finally just stepped aside from the madness backstage and thought to myself, "You are opening this show and you will hear the first few notes of music and know what kind of walk you are supposed to do." My only plan was to keep my hands on hips as she wanted and let my trained musical ear and sense of theatrics get me through it and do Pilar proud...

Show time!
Click on link below:

NY Couture Fashion Week - backstage!

New York, New York!

Amazingly enough, Pilar did raise the funds to make it to New York and, as thanks to me and another model, Emma, (whose mother had also really helped fundraise) Pilar asked the producer if we could model in her show! The rest of the models were cast from New York, of course, and we had to submit pictures and say what agency we were with before we were cast. It was pretty amazing to think that at my age I was going to walk in a New York runway show! To walk or work in New York for any model is top-notch so I was pretty pleased to have this opportunity.

Of course going to New York also meant I got to briefly visit some old friends. After taking the red eye on a Tuesday night I settled into the very cosy Fitzpatrick-Gerald hotel in Uptown Manhattan. It was pricey but a great location only 4 blocks from the show. Plus it was Irish with a sister-hotel in Dublin. I couldn't believe how many Irish nationals were actually staying at the hotel - - what a kick in the pants!

My dear friend, Joseph Anthony, from The Hair Lab, in San Diego also flew out separately to do hair for Pilar's show. He had thrown her her final fundraiser back in San Diego and helped her with a sizeable final check to help get her to NY. Joseph was such a sweetheart and did my hair in the hotel whenever I went out to meet friends. He didn't have to but he is so generous like that. I felt like what the celebs must feel like having their own hair person entourage travel with them. :)

The first night I met for early dinner my old friend, Duke - who was kind enough to drive a couple hours down from CT. He does a lot of business in the City and of course had us hooked up at the swanky rooftop hotel lounge bar that we went to. He also likes to see me eat and kept feeding me - dang it!! It was lovely to see him and he always makes me laugh heartily. His humor and style is so East-Coast- it just amuses the heck out of me.

After dinner I returned to my hotel where my old actor friend, Jimmy, met me after his work at the lobby bar for a couple drinks. Jimmy was one of my best buddies from the "Selena" musical national tour 10 years ago. I pretty much see him every year in San Diego as he is a total Comic Con nerd and has a big podcast about the industry. I've evidently met many VIP industry people through him when we go out in San Diego but I never know who they are and how important they are! (I know they like that about me, by the way).

The next day I had lunch at a very trendy hotel at the Meat-Packing District with my best gay friend in the world - Jose. I met "Fina" when she was only 18 - fresh out of graduating from the High School of Performing Arts. We both got our professional start in theater together in San Diego and did several shows together, also including the national tour of "Selena". When that ended Fina first moved to Chicago and then New York and got some more work around the world before retiring (as dancers must) and ended up by God's Grace as an agent for Ford and Wilhelmina Modeling agencies. It is amazing and I am so proud! We had a short but delicious lunch as Fina was going to Milan for some bookings. What a life!

That evening, young model Emma from San Diego (she is in many of my fashion blogs on here) took the train from Brown University in Boston where she just started school 2 weeks prior. Joseph Anthony, his friend Russell, and I met up with her and did free dinner thanks to Duke at a client restaurant and walked around shortly before hitting the hay for our busy next day!

Click on slideshow below:

New York Trip Sep. 2011

The Road to New York Couture Fashion Week

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150321847241079

If you have Facebook, I think you can access the video above that I helped conceive for designer Pilar Macchione as she was invited to show her line at New York Couture Fashion Week for Fall 2011. You've seen my fashion blogs on here with me wearing her designs. I barely met her the first time modeling for her last December - a year ago and I can't believe how things took off for this talented young lady!

She asked for my help a bit knowing I was a professional model but she was a struggling up-and-coming designer and couldn't pay. I decided to waive some paychecks and model for her throughout the spring because I believed in her talent so much. Next thing we knew she was invited to show in New York Couture Fashion Week and needed to raise some serious mula to get there. In lieu of donating money that I don't have to her campaign I just modeled for free, helped with directing a publicity video (think of me as her on-screen coach) and helped out on some fashion show fund-raisers. I wore one particular dress so much the last few months that she actually started calling it the "Elsa Dress".

Many people (models, photographers, stylists and more) donated their time and money to help Pilar get to New York. It was stressful and we weren't sure if it was going to happen at times but it was a wonderful community effort to get a local gal from Solana Beach to New York. Here are some pictures of modeling on some the news and fundraiser shows on the Road to New York Couture Fashion Week. Click on slideshow below:

On the Road to New York Couture Fashion Week

Easter 2011

You didn't read that wrong - - I am just so backlogged on this darn thing that I am going through pictures and memories and want to put them up even if they are late. This was from Easter at my mom's last year. Egghunt and all! hehehe

beating my star soccer-playing nephews at Foosball - - !

as usual, I got cold so I had to change clothes :)

Never too old to do the egg/candy hunt!

Custo Barcelona/Betsey Johnson show

Due to the Great Black Out we had in early Fall the huge nation-wide "Fashion Night Out" parties/shows/festivities at local malls had to be cancelled. A month later, Fashion Valley decided to hold a smaller version showcasing Betsey Johnson and Custo Barcelona designer lines. It was held at the very cool, Alice-in-Wonderland-like wine bar downtown, "Vin de Syrah". I had good friends from the agency modeling with me: especially my best model friend, Allison. Thanks to Fashion Valley, the Syrah staff and Pam Wilson for hiring us and holding the show!

watch me throw my favorite flower - the large sunflower to a lucky guest at the very end of the video! I am glad I didn't poke his eye out with my impromptu gesture!

Fine Magazine

I did a few jobs this year for Fine Magazine. Starting with runway shows for 3 events: a couple Health and Beauty expos they had as well as the large charity Polo event benefiting Kids Korps. I also shot their July issue editorial which was a real treat when I found out it was for the Del Mar Race Season so we had a racehorse to shoot with. It must have been my lucky day because the race horse turned out to be my favorite breed - an Arabian (like what I had growing up!). I was so enthusiastic and enjoyed myself so much that I didn't even care that although they had originally wanted me to have the cover riding the horse - they switched on-location to my blonde co-model Amber - her honey-colored hair definitely popped better anyway! :)

Below is video from the Polo event:


Click on slideshow below for more pics of all events:

Fine Magazine events

The Surreal House of the Future - fashion

Going along with supporting local designers - I did 2 shows in June and October at the amazing house/gallery called The Surreal House of The Future. Ian Ashley and her husband have the most amazing place in a gated community near San Diego State college. And, boy, can they throw a party!! Their house is also an art gallery and it truly is a spectacle. Their parties last all night and they invite all their neighbors so as no complaints are filed. Everyone comes in costume or some theme - I don't even know if I can explain these parties - full of creative, artistic people in wild, absurd costumes, with performance artists, music, food, drink... it goes on and on. The first show I did was for my fellow latino designer Francisco Medavog (hailing from Tijuana) back in June and then for Osbaldo Ahumado in October. Photos courtesy of all participating photographers. Hair and makeup: William William and his Bellus Academy students.

The Surreal House of the Future

Stacie May - "Beatles" show

Catching up this weekend on my old blogs since I am really sick and not working today. Late last Spring when model jobs typically slow down for a couple months I made the decision to model and support some choice local designers and get to know more people in the San Diego Fashion community. In June I walked for designer Miss Stacey May. A wonderful, positive spirit and hard-worker - I like her very much (and that isn't just because she commented she could see me singing the role of 'Cosette' in Les Miserables). We were featured in a huge Beatles Tribute at the Oceanside Art Museum. A fun night with good friends - I know my Beatle-loving Aunties Nora and Linda would have truly enjoyed the festivities!

Video footage of "Carrousel du Louvre" show

Again, thank you to Fine Magazine for the editing and footage of a lovely show! I loved our circular catwalk- like a merry-go-round!

Fashion Plates Runway video

I blogged about it earlier this year but I found on Fine Magazine's youtube footage of some of our shows late last winter 2010. My favorite part is around 2:30 with the prancing poodles not walking well and overcrowding the stage in their diamond collars!

Here is the "Fashion Plates" show!

Dia Del Sol - Project Runway's Gordana

In October we did another Dia Del Sol Fashion show benefiting the United Cerebral Palsy kids - those kids have so much working the runway and getting dolled up! Once again, the talented Gordana Gehausen and her GOGA line from Project Runway 6 fitted us to her gowns and her new Ready-to-Wear collection! We also had Nicole Miller, Karen Millen, Lily Pulitzer and Kate Spade. Men wore Hugo Boss. It was at the lovely Hotel Grand Del Mar - - a beautiful site. Be sure to support Gordana and watch her in February on Project Runway All-Stars! Whippee!

The Call of the Wild

The other day I once again heard my kitty Jordy growling at the upstairs window. He likes to sit all day at the top windows looking into the yard and canyon. It's like his TV.

Sure enough, the bob cat I saw a year ago was back. Actually, this time there were 2. They are so beautiful and they were right on the other side of our fence we erected to keep the coyotes out of our yard. That said, my cats jump the fence and go into the canyon daily so there really isn't stopping what is Meant to Be. I have my peace with it: I don't believe in keeping my cats in only indoors. They are happy. And they love to hunt.

Back to the bobcats - see previous blog here for my first encounter when we had just bought our house. This time around I quickly grabbed the Canon EF 300mm Telescopic lens that we had sitting on my Olympus EP Pen 2. That lens is huge and AWESOME! I got some quick amazing shots and I swear those cats posed for me. I did have to shoo them away, though, as it's not good for them to get too comfy around our house. They clearly weren't that scared of me - - I swear they know I was a cat in another life. That, or that I'm a Crazy Cat Lady (!) ;)

Community Uptown Magazine shoot

I got a call a couple weeks ago from my dear model friend, Feben. She told me her friend's magazine lost a model and needed a Middle Eastern/East Indian model for a cover shoot of her Community Magazine. It was the middle of the week but I was free for a couple hours in the evening - so why not? I've done work before as an East Indian model and Feben, herself, is Ethiopian, so I figured we could pass.

We shot at Bombay Restaurant in Hillcrest - in their stunning Sapphire Room - the big private party room in the back. I loved it - the details and ornamentation were amazing and authentic!

And don't get me started on our authentic saris and jewelry from India! They brought out 10 decked-out saris in different colors and I wanted to try them all on but only tried on 2 before colors were chosen.

Frank Bongiorno was the photographer. Makeup and Hair by the highly esteemed Flora Wade. In the shoot we also had Gloria - a latina dancer and Valentina - a Russian bellydancer from LA who even brought her snake and did some shots with her eating fire, etc.

What a fun shoot! The Community Magazine puts out those free Uptown and Downtown and coastal coupons which, when I had roommates, we used to fight over (not really) since some of those 2-for-1s were highly desirrable! The magazine came out last week and since then I've been getting texts and emails from people all over San Diego asking if that is me that came in the mail. The first to recognize me was one of my nephews in the Kensington area who asked my sister, "Mom - isn't that Aunty Elsa?" To which she replied, "No, I don't think so." HELLOOOO!!! I realize I can clean up well and look different, but I work all the time, so by now my family should know that they only hear and see 1/5th of what I do so if they come across something looking like me - it probable IS!

This shoot was extra special due to my being enamored of the Bollywood culture - I have longed to go to India since I was a teen. It's on our Top 3 list - along with Cuba and Argentina. Plus, I really enjoyed myself shooting once again with my beautiful model-sister and meeting new people.

It was easy money in addition to a gift certificate to the restaurant which my husband and I promptly engorged on the following week after Bikram yoga class.

Not too shabby - - enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving

We had a lovely fall day at Mom's for Turkey Day. I am most appreciative of my family, my husband, my health, our jobs, our home and pets. God Bless us all!

Road Trip Finale

After shooting photos and walking all over Bodie we had a difficult decision to make. We were absolutely starving having had a big breakfast in Yosemite before doing a large waterfall hike, no lunch, and then exploring all over Bodie. In the middle of nowhere hwe knew it would be some time finding a halfway decent place to eat. Then the question remained: do we get a room for the night and drive back in the morning or do we plow through after dinner to Southern Cal?

Tough decision to be made on empty stomach. It took a while to get back to a main highway and find a place to eat in a tiny trucker stop town. We did eat heartily at the diner - and decided to go for it and drive all night back home.

I am not going to lie - it was a painful drive home - we were physically tired by then and had been on the road since the previous Saturday. To push through all night at that point we just wanted to get home. Plus we had to detour the big "Car-maggedon" in the LA area where they closed the 405 freeway and people were freaking out about the traffic.

All I can say is thank God for Sirius Radio and a little bit of caffeine. I know the animals were happy when we pulled up :) It was a wonderful week together in nature. I felt really blessed to have that time with my husband.

click on picture below for the slide show:

Road Trip 2011

Bodie - Official California Ghost Town

Believe it or not, we left Yosemite by 3 to then make the couple hour drive north (some of it by dirt trail - boy, did we wish we had taken our 4-Wheel Drive Honda Element at that moment) to the Official Ghost Town of California - Bodie.

The place had a ton of photographers crawling about through the ruins. Of course, my P loved it for that reason as well. I like it because it was in the boondocks, off the beaten path and had such an interesting history about it. It boomed in the late 1800s when gold was found. According to Wikepedia: "As a bustling gold mining center, Bodie had the amenities of larger towns, including two banks, four volunteer fire companies, a brass band, a railroad, miners' and mechanics' unions, several daily newspapers, a gym, and a jail. At its peak, 65 saloons lined Main Street, which was a mile long. Murders, shootouts, barroom brawls, and stagecoach holdups were regular occurrences. As with other remote mining towns, Bodie had a popular, though clandestinely important, red light district on the north end of town."

Two major fires in the past 100 years destroyed a lot of the town that stayed after all the gold was gone. Only about 5% remains but it was fascinating to walk around the preserved buildings - some you can only peer through windows but clearly see remnants inside of a once Wild West lifestyle.