Looking back....looking forward
Another year has gone by, and with it many memories. This was ILIA's first year, and looking back its amazing to see how far we've come. I am very appreciative of all the angels who have chosen to support our growth as we branch out into the big, wide world. But is the world really that big? If anything, this past year has taught me how much smaller its becoming. The more connections we made, the more I realized how closely its all knit together. We all go through the same stuff - well, maybe not the exact same, but I do believe that people are more alike than we prefer to believe or acknowledge.
Whether it be a thought that leads to a new path, or an adventure that changes a point of view, its nice to know change is always present, and as much as we plan to organize our futures, we can't plan for everything.
Some people like this, others not so much. I was an advocate of the latter, and only in the past few years have decided to throw some plans out the window, and listen to those innate gut instincts. Its not necessarily the most comfortable way to be, and at times it would be much easier to stick to "the plan", but if the plan doesn't turn out the way it was supposed to, the road can get bumpy, quickly!
Taking a second look in this year's review mirror is a reminder to how much happened in such a short time, and how easily I forget those days where the impossible became possible. The saying "don't sweat the small stuff" rings true and has taken on an even bigger meaning in life as I look forward to next year.
In the grand scheme of things, the small stuff isn't that important. The things that are...trusting what you believe, listening to your heart, and being grateful for the love around us. You ask where? Stop, look and listen...its right there.
from Hong Kong to Bali
Well, well. Its been sometime since the last post! To say its been busy is an excuse and the easy way out, yet its also the truth and sometimes the truth is a stretch. Having just returned from Hong Kong (work) and Bali (half-work), there are lots of goodies to share. First stop - HK.
What an amazing place. You can almost feel the ground vibrating with opportunity upon landing. Its a place where people from other nations tend to go, start over, create something and do it with zest! My dear friend Candace Campos relocated to the Pearl of the Orient a few years ago and built a booming interior business from the ground up. Others I met along the way had similar successes that gave flair to an exotic lifestyle lived abroad.
So down to a few favorite haunts...Classified was located a stone's throw away from Candace's which made it really easy to go grab coffee, meetings, lunch, maybe a glass of wine at the end of the day - it was 'the second home'. Yardbird was another fav, also close to our HQ, and is run by a fellow Vancouverite who took a little Japanese flavour with him when he left. Pretty much anything you eat here will bring a smile to your face, and a little warmth to the belly. The fried Cauliflower is a must! As you may have heard, Hong Kong is nothing short of a shopping mecca, and leading the way is none other than the lovely Lane Crawford (an account we hope ILIA will dance with one day ; )
Next - onto Bali! A place too hard not to visit having just adjusted to the time change overseas. This list is long - for food check out Cafe Bali and Chandi (former chef of Nobu in NYC) in Seminyak. The Deus cafe for lunch at the top of Oberoi is adorable. Biku is great for brunch or lunch, and keep your eyes open for the tarot card reader whose honesty about the future is about as friendly as turrets. Across the street a place to be seen, and still check out is Potato Head. This concept, beach club/restaurant/bar has all the ingredients for the design savvy and good food to boot.
If you like to shop, Bali (especially Seminyak) will put you up to the challenge. The stores are endless, and the pieces are beautiful. There is snake everything available, in every form: shoes, bags, belts, wallets, clutches. Not necessarily a vegan's dreamland...yet I know a few who indulged for the sake of a snake clutch. You would have to see to understand...yet, another a reason to visit!
Palm Trees & Tacos!
There are a few places I've lived that have felt more like home than others. In 2006, I moved to Laguna Beach - yes, where the T.V show was made. At first, it wasn't something I was too excited about. Having lived in some big cities, it was daunting to think about moving to a town with only a few main streets. And then there was the driving, a home away from home in a car.
Yet, I had also never lived anywhere sunny. Sure, Vancouver had its sunny days, London did as well, and NYC had lots. But that first year in Laguna, everyday was sunny except for 10 days of rain! I felt like a new person, re-discovering the outdoors, the ocean, and even hunkering down on a Sunday morning to watch a movie...guilt free, regardless of the sunny weather beckoning through the windows. Something else was new while living in Laguna, and that something was the discovery of Mexican Food and Tacos.
Having just returned from an extended trip to the lab that included some account visits in Santa Barbara, L.A, & Orange County, here are a few of my fav's //
Santa Barbara: La Super-Rica Taqueria. Get ready to roll up your sleeves for this one. This is true Mexican food at its core, and if you leave here without eating a Tamale, you will regret it. Don't forget the Chili's stuffed with cheese too. Very, very yummy.
Venice: Axe (pronounced a-shay), is more in reference to the "Palm Trees" portion of the title. This little restaurant in Venice on Abbot Kinney has been around for a while, and is always nice to return to, especially for lunch. Try one of their "rice bowls", topped with seasonal local produce and a choice of organic protein (wild salmon please).
Newport Beach: Bear Flag Fish Co. This one is a new favorite and dishes out some of the best tacos I've ever had in California. What I also love about this place is the quality of the seafood, and that they follow sustainable fishing policies which help educate their customers.
Laguna Beach: Taco Loco. My old haunt after a day on the beach, these Tacos are crazy good, and offer a wide variety of choices. Give the Calamari Quesadilla a go for something different, and extra guacamole is a must!
Talkin' Bout The Future
So where are we headed in the world of beauty? Better yet, where are we going in the world of production and manufacturing of goods? The former question helped create the idea for ILIA Beauty whereas the latter related to the "how to" do it.
There was a reason it took three labs to get the best product possible. There was a reason the cost of ILIA's packaging was significantly higher with the use of recycled aluminum. There was an even bigger reason to know where all the ingredients came from, and what their roots were based from (most forms of Grape Seed Extract have hidden Parabens added to them at the supplier level), why I used Organic Beeswax, yet chose natural Vitmin E. And better yet, why there is some mild synthetic colour added (0.1-0.3%) in some of ILIA's shades.
I've had a couple emails come through asking all different kinds of questions about why? It definitely took more time to look deeper, and watch my actions while starting ILIA.
The more I read about the industry, the more questions came up about what I was actually making, and how the product came into fruition. In the beginning, there was one lab I worked with that wouldn't disclose the ingredients until the product received a final approval! And that is considered the norm. How can anyone create a product without knowing what goes into it? Its like baking with your eyes (and nose) closed.
If every company, and start up took the time to "bake" their products with eyes open, we can only imagine how different manufacturing and production would be or could be in our world. As a consumer, we have the right to know the story behind our purchases, who we are supporting and why. We also have the right to choose how we want to live (at least most of us, in more privileged nations), and how we are affecting others around us. We may not not realize how powerful these choices are, yet they can dramatically change the way our economy and world function as a whole from what has been for too long, to what it may become for the better.
Daily Candy Fans, here are the INGREDIENTS!
ILIA had such a great post today with Daily Candy that the site is glitching with a few links, including the ingredients list! So, to all those that have been emailing and asking, here they are....
INGREDIENTS (85% ORGANIC): Organic Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Organic Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis) Seed Oil, Organic Beeswax (Cera Alba), Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Organic Sesamum Indicum (Seasame) Seed Oil, Organic Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate (Natural Vitamin E), Pomegranate (Punica Granatum) Seed Extract, Grape (Vitis Vinifera) Seed Extract, Citrus Aurantium Ducil (Orange) Fruit Oil, Jasminum Officinale (Jasmine) Oil, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Oil. May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dixoide, Iron Oxide (CI 77499, CI 77492, CI 77491), Red 7 CI15850, Red 28 CI45410, Yellow 5 CI19140.
