Happy Birthday, Mod & Bean! (feat. Danikation)

The title says it all: Mod & Bean turns one today! *cue streamers, noise makers, and sprinkles of all sorts* I actually feel like such a proud mom - as if I had a child and said child was celebrating a momentous occasion. I guess that feeling is semi warranted, given that Mod & Bean (a brainchild) was birthed a year ago!

Without getting too sappy (because I know how much I tease my own mother for doing that), I want to take a moment to celebrate the growth of not only the blog, but of me as an adventurer on this journey. A year ago today, Mod & Bean hopped on the internet with the dream to provide an artistic outlet for others (and, honestly, an excuse for me to explore off-campus and purge all the photos cluttering my camera roll). Throughout this year, Mod & Bean has been the vehicle for endless opportunities and the conversation starter for meeting countless, incredible people. Instead of turning this post into a "here are some of my favorite moments from the past year" kind of montage, I'd like to celebrate another artist who's niche is juxtaposition: kind of like a metaphor for Mod & Bean helping me see things in radically new ways. 

I present to you @danikation. I think I first encountered her account when spotting this photo on an explore page, and being instantly intrigued by her eye to find things in nature that weren't actually there. I also can't help but heartily chuckle at her puns (a comedian after my own humor) and be reminded of the line "Why is the chair smiling?" that some friends and I heckle at a scene in the movie Love Story featuring a particularly happy seat.

I find her outlook on life so fresh: constantly spotting similarities in materials that couldn't be more polar. Like a soft looking egg made of rocks, or an egg made of a noodle, absence, and a cherry tomato:

There are several plays on anatomy like "veganatomy" (center pic), "phandtom limb" (bottom right), and "nice plum" (bottom left):

She also won't leaf autumn images alone, and I honestly don't mind ("tiny lungs", "fall lip color", and "bonflower"):

Sometimes I even think it's a foodstagram (okay, no, not seriously, but her food puns are pretty unbelievable): 

I am constantly impressed and inspired by her ability to see familiar objects in venues out of their element - a mantra I try to apply to in taking on new challenges no matter how unfamiliar they may feel. 

So cheers to one year of Mod & Bean, one year of actively fleshing out my artistic inclinations, and to many more years to come!

(All photos courtesy of @danikation on Instagram) 

Xx, Maia (proud mother of a "one year old"!)

Markets, Noms, & Kitties of Izzy

In my third and final post on Israel (phew, how much longer was this chick going to drag that on?? Yeah, I get it) I present to you all the eats, all the treats, and all the cats! There were actually so many cats. 

The first meal, aka first of many of this same meal, I had in Israel was an opulent plate of shawarma. And though I'm not a hummus-as-a-snack-of-choice kind of gal, I did develop a fondness for the taste, probably by virtue of how many times I ate it because it was convenient. 

While in Jerusalem, we ventured to the Mahane Yehuda market. It was a visual feast of bright spices, succulent fruits, and the sweetest candies/cookies! I hushed my slight claustrophobia in order to wiggle through the tight aisles in search for the perfect rugelach and yet another shawarma.  

At the first market in Tel Aviv, my eyes gravitated towards the eclectic architecture:

The second market in Tel Aviv seemed to feature more quirky finds and handmade treasures:

Don't be fooled, just because I didn't take a picture of my shawarma doesn't mean I didn't eat that for lunch at the market. 

And though most of my brain power was focused on not being trampled in the close corners of the market, it soon became evident that cats probably had that same thought as they scampered through the city. I have actually never seen so many stray cats that were willing to interact with people as much as I did in Israel. I mean I only wish the cat I have at home was this people-persony... 

All in all, food and felines aside, my experience in Israel was something I'll never forget (clearly because I have so much institutional memory on the excursion). But more so because of the feeling I carried out with me - one of happiness, warmth, adventure, and belonging. 

And with that, I say thank you Israel for keeping me safe and bringing me from one home to another. 

Xx, Maia 

Israeli Shenanigans

Throughout my week in Israel, I kept a running tab of jokes to commemorate the lighthearted aspects that made this exploration all the more memorable. 

After a day in Jerusalem (the Old City, the Western Wall, and a demo of rolling stones, but actually) we headed to the desert to spend a night in a Bedouin Tent. Before we went stargazing and drank tea while learning about the Bedouin culture, we did what everyone secretly was waiting for: a camel ride! 

Though camels are much louder and stinkier than expected, watching the sun set on the desert while trotting along on a majestic creature was pretty much the stuff of movies. After learning all about the wonders of camel milk, the normal tendency of having weekday wives, and eating an excessive amount of sweet cookies with sweeter tea, we snuggled into sleeping bags and rested for our hike up Masada. 

And, as promised from my last Israel installation, here goes the tale of the Dead Sea. Post hikes and expending more athletic energy than I probably have in the past two years combined, we traveled down to the lowest point on earth for a refreshing (albeit heavily warned that things might burn in unfavorable places) dip and test of human buoyancy. Upon ensuring my body was free of tiny cuts and vulnerable crevices that would sting with the salt - I took the plunge. 

Though I had a great time in the water (a true pisces), mud-fight included, I don't think any photo taken could really sum up the sheer excitement that you do, in fact, float in this water, more than this photo of my sister. It's rare that something makes Ariel beam like this - I'm told the last time she sported this smile was at the Minions movie. 

Though I joked that the Dead Sea is the lowest point in the world, but the highest point of my day, the trip did, in fact, continue on an upward trend. Aside from frolicking about the markets (saving that for the next, nom-themed post), we had the opportunity to explore the city of Jaffa - which was described as San Diego meets Barcelona.

Peep this wishing tree (or so I'm told by relying on translations from the Israeli soldiers on our trip)!

On our last day, we took a long walk on the beach (Birthright is all about meeting your soulmate, right??). This part really did remind me of home, and made me think that even though I'd only been in Israel for a week, it did feel like I was coming home to a place that wanted me here. 

But I'll save the sappy stuff for later, and instead show you this picture of my friend Elizabeth and I donning "eyes all over" - yes, I had both eyes ironed on my jacket and painted onto my nails. 

Other miscellaneous shenanigans include being very excited to find out that the lion is not only the WInthrop House icon, but also a prominent symbol all over Jerusalem, and indulging in the most delectable, mascarpone ice cream in Tel Aviv. 

Until next time!

Xx, Maia 

Israel: First Impressions

On January 15th, I had the privilege and good fortune to travel with my older sister, Ariel, to Israel - a place I wasn't sure I'd ever make it to, let alone to be able to share it with her. We traveled on Birthright, an organized trip to bring Jews back to Israel to see the sites, hear the history, and experience the emotion of the land that witnessed the development of our religion. While I often joke and tell friends I'm more "Jew-ish" than anything else, I took this opportunity to educate myself about my inherited religion, learn about the State of Israel, and truly feel a familiar connection in an unfamiliar land. 

Over seven days, we trekked through Jerusalem, Bedouin Tents, Masada, the Dead Sea, Jaffa, Tel Aviv, and probably others that are escaping recollection at this moment. In an effort to both process my trip and share my visual experience with you all, I've spliced the trip into first impressions, shenanigans, markets & noms, and closing thoughts (aka stay tuned for many more stories and shawarma pictures).

Going into this trip, I tried not to have any expectations. I really didn't know what I thought Israel would look like, but somehow I was still surprised by what I saw. Right off the plane we headed to Jerusalem, rested off the jet lag as best we could, and geared up for a day in the Old City. 

Everywhere we turned, there were colossal structures of white stone, crumbling in places teeming with history. Let me preface this, I am not the biggest history buff. I sometimes find it hard to relate to the memorization of dates and wars and conquests, but with the extreme fortune of an incredible Tour Guide on our Birthright trip, I felt enthralled with each story of my ancestors and description of the spot we were standing in. 

Our guide, Daniel, even explained the ancient architectural methods of rolling stones across logs by asking for volunteers to lay on the floor and recreate the motion (note to self: never volunteer for one of Daniel's stories). 

While I was enchanted by the surroundings of the Old City of Jerusalem, and truly felt such a welcoming presence and comfort in the air, the most impacting part of the day had to be visiting the Western Wall. Growing up, even though I was never one to constantly frequent temple, or really be an overly active member of my Jewish community, I had definitely heard about the Western Wall. Whether it be in Hebrew School leading up to my Bat Mitzvah, or in 9th grade history at my Episcopalian High School, I came into this aspect of the trip full of expectations - which were subsequently exceeded. 

There's something so powerful in standing amidst people with a common history. I'm not saying I completely identify with the ultra Orthodox Jews that ritualistically cleansed their hands before entering the wall, nor do I completely feel comfortable with the separation of men and women at the wall, but I felt very invited by the wall itself. As if it truly wanted to hear what I wanted to say. So I wrote my note, and left my message in Israel. 

After the happy heaviness of the wall, we traveled to Bedouin Tents to learn about that culture and touristically ride some camels - but I'll save this story for another day. Post sleeping in the desert, we woke up before the sunrise to hike up Masada and learn about King Herod and his legacy. Aside from my tiny nasal passages impeding a pleasant hike, reaching the top of Masada truly felt like being on top of the world (probably because I'm used to living in flat Miami, and also because we floated in the lowest point in the world promptly after the hike). 

Some people took this moment to connect with yoga, I, a dutiful Pinecrestonian Jew, made my dad proud by posing with a copy of our local newspaper for their front page travel tradition (I promise you, I only did this once and then left the paper behind to enjoy the experience in a less commercial way). 

And, if one hike that day wasn't enough, Daniel thought it would be fun to visit Ein Gedi and precariously stumble upon a waterfall - which made it worth the trek. Some people sure worked up a sweat, and took the opportunity to rinse off before they got scolded...

All in all, though, my first impressions of Israel were ones of awe and admiration. My aunt, a definite fan of our finally making it to Israel, was right. She told me that in this unfamiliar land, I'm going to feel familiar  - welcomed, happy, and with a beautiful sense of belonging. 

So thank you, Israel, for the warm embrace and abundance of stories to tell with a profound tug in my heart and smile on my face.

Xx, Maia

Cool Beans #1: D, Y, & I

On one of my last warm, winter-break days in Miami, I had the pleasure to reconnect with two super cool people, who also happened to go to my same middle/high school. I won't pretend like we were best friends, granted they're two years older than me, and in MS/HS, those years seem more like centuries - but we did share a chuckle about similar references and the fact that we've all really put the clichéd "finding ourselves in college" to good use. 

Nostalgia aside, I present to you this glorious day filled with fashion, humor, and tips & tricks across the map. And, in order to foster this new platform of reconnecting and exploring the opportunity to meet/mingle with interesting people on a more frequent basis, here you'll find a new segment to Mod & Bean: Cool Beans. Overdone pun yet?

Anyway, for the launch of Cool Beans, I spoke with Yashi and Danielle over a quick coffee at Threefold Cafe (Miami traffic landing us there right as it was about to close...) and then a little adventure around the streets of Coral Gables. It honestly worked perfectly as a reminiscent, lets-laugh-about-high-school ice breaker pre our quasi-photoshoot in a little Gables neighborhood. Followed up by a bulk purchase of alfajores and casual, quick-fire question conversation.

As a brief intro to these extraordinary beans, I'll let you in on a sneak preview more personal than a cursory glance at their LinkedIn profiles. Danielle, senior at LIM College has been interested in fashion ever since she interned in NYC during a high school summer. She cultivates her personal instagram with stunning shots of trend & travel, and has snagged really neat internships with fashion and PR companies in New York ever since! Yashi, fellow pun lover, runs her own blog The Hip Nip! She started it as a joyful side biz, yet has managed to partner with some brands and even start her own line with a few of her friends - you can check it out at LYNK Studio.  I've also included handwritten notes about both of their ventures at the bottom of this post if you are interested in ~educating yourselves~ further! 

Now, for the good stuff: Post hastily sipping on drinks (of the lemonade and latte varieties, of course) we piled in Yashi's car and drove to one of her favorite neighborhoods in Coral Gables. "Don't worry, guys, the stains in my car aren't scary - they're from beet juice" Yashi shouted as we hopped in her car. 

We parked and stopped to talk in the middle of the street - slowly shifting to the curb as cars rolled through, and waving at the drivers because they probably thought we lived there. Typical of the down to earth nature and relaxed vibes of both Danielle and Yashi, they both giggled and joked about being hounded by the paparazzi as I stuck my camera in their mugs while they talked. At one point, Danielle remembered the sweet specs she had in her purse, whipped them out, and said, "It's Wednesday my dudes" as an homage to the Vine that features similar goggle glasses. 

Following photo courtesy of those who put Danielle on blast for this comparison:

Though we mostly spent this portion of the day laughing about running into fellow high schoolers at Publix or at the mall, here's what we discussed over crumbly and powdery alfajores at Pasion de Cielo:

Go to outfit: What's your uniform?

Yashi: "This [jean jacket]! I wear it all the time - even on Thanksgiving. My mom was like, 'Really? A denim jacket?!'" 

Danielle: "I always want one article of my outfit to be unique - to stand out. Like flared pants, culottes, or a top with an open shoulder. One part has to be weird, and then I build the rest of the outfit around that. This was definitely hard to do in the winter. I would just freeze instead." 

What's the soundtrack to your life? 

D: "The Good Vibes playlist on Spotify. It's full of super old songs like 'For Once in My Life' by Stevie Wonder. It's perfect for driving on a sunny day, it just makes me happy!"

Y: "I love random one liners in songs that just make me laugh, and are just funny or cute. Like there's this one song that goes like "treasure every beating heart that sets your soul on fire." *imitates folk instrument, complete with air guitar motions and twangy noises*

What's one piece of jewelry that's iconic you?

D: "I always have these three rings, which I realize have become an inconvenience in NYC with gloves, but I just feel naked without them. This [purple gemstone] one was my grandma's. This [middle] one I got in a market in Peru. It's cool because the silver of these two rings is exactly the same. And this one is so weirdly cool because it's so big and people always say, 'Oh you could knock someone out with that!'"

Y: "I always have a bunch of gold bracelets. Well now I mix gold and silver because silver deserves a chance. These two rings I never take off - look, I'm white underneath. And then I always have these bracelets like this one with a little eye from Lebanon, and this Brazilian wish blanket. Oh and this ankle bracelet is from a neoprene swimsuit. And this one is a friendship bracelet but it's too big for my wrist - it just kept falling off."

What's a trend you're envious of right now?

*They confer with their Instagram feeds as a quick refresher*

D: "I'm really into headbands and ribbons. I had to pick them up for a Man Repeller article and then I just asked my dad to bring some of my mom's old headbands when he came to visit me in New York. I wore my mom's mink headband to work one day - but some couple kept whispering and looking at me on the subway, so I figured it had to be the headband and I just took it off."

Y: "This isn't really a trend but I'm just really into hand tattoos. Like lil baby ones. I want to get one for my birthday. My mom and I have this inside joke that started when I was 8. I would say 'It's 1pm!' and my mom would say 'Oh, 1' like as in 1:01 too. She's really into meditation and spirituality --

D: "I remember her being the happiest person!!" Danielle interjects

Y: "Haha yeah she is the happiest. She even has this thing called the Gaia minute where she thinks if people just emitted positivity into the world for a minute, the world would be a better place. She does it at 9:09 because she likes 9's and because of our inside joke. So I want to get that tattoo, and I wanted my mom to get a matching one but she's too much of a free spirit to be tied down by a tattoo so I might get her an engraved bracelet."

What's a trend you want to die?

Y: "Adidas Superstars, even though I wear mine all the time. They're just done. Like when I wear them and it rains it doesn't even matter to me."

D: "Bandage/body-con things. I don't need to wear them anymore to get into clubs. Now I just go to loungy clubs and last time went in my mom's high school jacket and jeans."

Do you have a signature phrase?

Y: "It's not so much a signature phrase as its the noises I make when I see animals. Like my friends will be like, 'Look, Yash! There's a dog!' and I get really excited."

D: "I also get really excited about dogs!"

*Cue digression on Danielle's friend who breeds french bulldogs*

Spirit Dessert?

Y: "Oh God a chocolate mousse. Danielle I feel like you'd be a dessert inside a dessert inside a dessert."

D: "Haha yeah, I'd say Oreo inside of a chocolate chip cookie for sure. I even made some and brought them to work and silently put them on the counter and smiled while they were gone in seconds."

Do you have a favorite conversation starter?

D: "I'm not good at talking to people, so no haha."

Y: "I usually just compliment people to start a conversation. But then I can't talk a compliment, so it doesn't work on me."

D: "I got called out for not knowing how to small talk. Like when someone says, 'Oh, you're from Miami?' I'm like, 'Yup.' and then they just stare at me like, 'and??'" 

Last question: How would you describe yourself as a human bean?

Y: "I'm a bean!!"

D: "What if we describe each other?"

Y: "Aww yeah! Danielle, you're effortlessly cool. Probably because you're not intimidating which is cooler than being full of yourself. Like you travel and you dress well but you're also hilarious."

D: "This is funny because I've known you since the 6th grade, but even back then you were super open, friendly, and down for whatever. Now it's the same, but different. Like now you're so entrepreneurial. You have your life together."

Y: "Lol really?!"

Xx, Maia 

Note from Danielle: 

I think my personal style first started evolving when I spent an early high school summer in New York interning at a PR firm that represented lifestyle, fashion, and beauty brands. I was exposed to a creative environment at a relatively young age (15), which really inspired me. I spent every summer after that back in New York interning at different companies within the industry from Editorialist to Michael Kors. For college, I knew I wanted to be in New York and study fashion business, so LIM College was the perfect place for me. While attending LIM College I worked at Brandy Melville, and interned other semesters and summers. I studied abroad in Paris for a summer and then for a semester during my junior year. It was by far the greatest experience I’ve ever had. During that semester I was documenting a lot of my outfits and travels on my Instagram as a form of creative expression, which I really enjoyed. I don’t consider myself a fashion blogger, but I do like to share my outfits occasionally, and hope it inspires the people who follow me. I don’t have a specific style or aesthetic that can be characterized, to me it really depends on the day. As I said in the interview, I can’t get myself wear a plain top with jeans. Something just needs to be weird.

Note from Yashi:

I came up with the idea for The Hip Nip in the summer of 2015. I was on the beach in West Palm Beach with my friends Belle and Kristen and we were talking about how I should start a blog. Kristen has a fashion blog of her own and was really encouraging about starting my own. So we started coming up with “blog/blogger names” and they helped me come up with The Hip Nip! I’m always making weird jokes about, let’s say, anatomy so it seemed perfect. Everything on my blog revolves around “the nip” so I call my readers “boob troop” and my blog sections are sort of punny titles that relate to nips as well. 

I started blogging as a hobby but my blog and Instagram @yashmula have started to gain some attention. I’ve worked with a few local companies and boutiques to host events and promote their brands as well as photographers to be featured in their portfolios. One company I worked with a lot last year is called The Makers Collective, a company that hosts Trend Walks every 2-3 weeks in different places around Miami like The Freehand, The Hall South Beach, etc. It’s cool because I’ll get paid to host these events and promote them and get people there. Recently I was contacting by a media company whose client is Coach to promote a purse from their pre-spring collection so I don’t get paid but I get to choose and keep the purse! 

Home Room: The Oasis

As I gear up for a weeklong visit to the motherland, Israel, (yes I’m finally headed on Birthright!!) and posting this a few days early as I'll be on a plane on Monday, I say goodbye to the serene little sanctuary I’ve sculpted with Sandy here in the MIA. I’m talking about my room at home, since you’ve already peeked into my dorm room at college. Fear not, "Home Room" wasn’t meant to give you high school terror flashbacks, but rather be as literal as possible. Home. Room. Yeah? And as for "The Oasis", you should already be familiar with my tendency to affectionately name my abodes (think The Palace, The Alcove, The Loft...). So, without further intro, here’s a glimpse of my escape from humidity (and little furry-friend cameos).

Inspo came from the sea foam colors of the beach and the desire for a calm, quiet respite from the fast paced city along with top-down drives in my convertible bug (yes, I'm one of those and proud of it). 

Notice the overabundance of pillows (typical), collection of succulents (that don't get watered 11 months out of the year, whoops), and personal pieces of art. 

Here's where guests who aren't fond of snuggling get to stay, featuring the shoes I am reminding myself to bring back to college and Chauncey (one of our two pups).

And here's a picture of my cat for fear of Sandy muttering I'm playing four-legged favorites:

Some trademark features include this chair my dad made for my 18th birthday (a tradition he started for my Bat Mitzvah) and this comically blown up photo of me at age 2:

For finishing touches in theme, my desk is dotted with Buddhas and gemstones (not pictured: my childhood vial of fairy dust).

And it wouldn't really be my room if I didn't sprinkle around photos of the most important things, now would it? Cue my collage of memz and my "favorite food wall."

So cheers to Mod Monday on a Saturday, and for safe travels from the homeland to the Holy Land!

Xx, Maia 

Knaus Your Typical Winter

Today it's 50ish degrees in Miami and you better believe everyone is busting out their faux fur and north face jackets to brave "the cold". While I share a chuckle about the weather wardrobe with fellow Miamians turned northeast college students, I can't help but be thankful for our s'winters. You know, summer-winters? That's a thing, right? 

I mean for the holidays, when you think red and green don't you think of picking plump pinkish strawberries that dot the lush green aisles of Knaus Berry Farms? 

And I'm sure for winter white you think of linen and blouses and tank tops?

To celebrate New Year's you obviously crave the fresh salt water and open air out on a boat?

And of course your go to winter staple is a bathing suit?

When you think of it getting dark early, aren't you talking about the shade from the palm trees and tiki huts at noon?

Instead of snuggling by the warmth radiating from a fireplace you undoubtedly think of your heat source from toasty cinnamon rolls?

And for the "winter blues" your mind drifts to blue skies and bluer beaches, right?

No? Just me? Well I guess I have been spoiled by 80 degree winters and sun that lasts past 3pm. It'll be tough to let go of summer-all-year-round, but I can't deny the itch I have to pelt people with snowballs when I get back to Boston. So I'll sign off now and resume my perch on the beach - refusing to succumb to this cold front. 

Xx, Maia 

Reflection & Refraction

New year, new post, same bean. I welcome you, readers, to 2017! 

This new year has already brought some of the most rejuvenating and joyful days I've had in a while - guess spending family time out on Miami's beautiful beaches will do that for ya. And with this fresh perspective and reignited love of life, I've had time to ~reflect~ on last year and jot down some attainable resolutions for this coming year. Without getting too personal or sappy, let's just say there's a lot I have to be thankful for, a lot I have to re-evaluate, and a lot I have to look forward to. So, without further ado, I present to you a seemingly unrelated post highlighting the Julio Le Parc Exhibit at the Perez Art Museum. But here's the twist: the exhibit focuses on kinetic sculptures, spectatorial participation, and the refraction of light. So why not take Le Parc refraction as reflection of good things from the last 365 days to the next?

The Perez Art Museum, or PAMM, has become one of the spots I feel the most at home, while I'm at home. Built right off and on Biscayne Bay, it maintains an architectural confluence of outdoors and indoors that is both refreshing and familiar. The structure itself almost rivals the art within, and the swinging chairs overlooking the skyline provide the perfect spot for catching up with friends and putting topics learned in Art History classes to good use.

In the past couple weeks I've been in Miami, I've been to PAMM three times. Not only is that a testament, I think, to the magnetic pull of this place, but also a nod to how much their current exhibition enchants visitors. 

I present to you the magic of Julio Le Parc. In his first full exhibition in the states, this Argentinian born artist walks visitors through his mind: giving us glimpses into his exploration of color theory and how that ultimately manifests in large scale color plays and rooms filled with rainbows. 

After color, Le Parc tackles the capturing of movement. From his kinetic sculptures that respond to the volume of visitors in the room, to his rooms filled with distorting devices, Le Parc's exhibition title is apropos as he truly puts "Form into Action." 

With all of his plays on material, distortion, and refraction, I couldn't help but enjoy and question my own reflection in his pieces. I saw myself in silhouettes, I saw myself in funhouse-esque mirrors. I even signed a waiver to push an orange bouncy ball at my friend while navigating an uneven floor under a strobe light. And if that run on sentence wasn't enough, Le Parc had visitors exercise their mastery of opticality by donning glasses that obstruct your view - and look quite comical at the same time 

So, with a triple visit to PAMM (accompanied by Alexa, Cat, and Alana in that order), and Julio Le Parc's exhibit in particular, I hope to inspire you all to visit (if you just so happen to be in Miami) and even try to project yourself in these photos to feel the exhibit as I did.

And here are other shots from other artists, including some "light reeding" if you will. 

Happy New Year and thank you for continuing with me on my adventures this year!

Xx, Maia 

Merry Christmukkah

The holidays have now come and almost gone (2 days down, 6 to go for Hanukkah, though), and with it feasts of home-cooked meals and laughter about the good 'ol times. For my family, the holidays are all about coming together, eating a combination of Cuban and Jewish fare (let's say, Jewban), and berating one another with, "Y tu novio?" For those lucky enough to be unfamiliar with the phrase, it translates to "And your boyfriend?" but means "Any men out there? Settling down yet? When are you getting married? Where's the wedding?!" Since I'm the youngest, my older sister used to have to field this interrogation, but now that she actually is engaged, the spotlight is now on me. Resulting in my cousin trying to set me up with her 30 year-old dentist because, "Why not? He's cute!" 

All the set ups aside, the warmth of being with family can't be beat - well, unless it's competing with the weather. At a ripe 80 degrees last night, most guests donned their linens for a Miami twist on a "White Christmas." Given that "s'winter" jokes are always made, the newest and freshest pun I've found this season came from Yashodhara Suri (fellow high school alum & blogger supreme) who astutely noted, "The only wintery thing this December is this (polar)oid." And while I didn't chase people around with my instax mini this time (rather I was too busy trying to orchestrate a Mannequin Challenge that never came to fruition), I did capture some sweet moments that I'd love to share. 

Also, because I've had the good fortune to spend Christmas with family friends for the past four years, I've acquired a favorite holiday caption. You've probably heard it, as it graces almost all social media platforms this time of year, but here it goes:

"'Twas the nizzle before Christmizzle and all through the hizzle not a creature was stirring, not even a mizzle, 'fo shizzle. All were awaiting Sizzle Clause and his bag, to bring the good homies and ladies their swag."

Whether we celebrate the holidays similarly, or extremely differently, I think we can all agree... that the food is a-m-a-z-i-n-g. Because that's what it's all about, right? 

Regardless, though my family is almost entirely Jewish, we do love Christmas time, and are ecstatic that this year Hanukkah coincides with the 25th (don't get me wrong, Hanukkah presents during Thanksgiving are fun too, but this year we get to participate in all of the ~holiday hullaballoo~). 

So, all the way from the Sunshine State, I send my love to all of you, your families, and a happy New Year to come! 

Xx, Maia 

Sayonara to Snow

As I pack up and prepare for "Winter" break (term used loosely as Miami is just slightly less scorching in December), I whisper goodbye to the bone chilling cold for a while. Though, luckily, not all of these past few days have been as frigid as that seven-degree killer, I must say it'll be refreshing to exchange a campus blanketed in powder white for the crisp whites of the Miami skyline. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those tropical born, warm-blooded bodies that "can't hack the cold" - on the contrary, my friends are often telling me to put more layers on before taking on the day (I guess linen clothing in December isn't a thing outside the 305...). Regardless of my inability to fully transition my wardrobe to winter, I really do love a good snowy day; aka, being able to cuddle in a coffee shop and nurse a latte for far too long in order to claim stake in the corner table at an overpriced establishment.

But am I excited to trade in my tall boots for tall glasses of piña coladas by the pool? Layers of sweaters for layers of tiramisu? Cups of Snowy Day (shoutout to David's Tea for last night's cup on the house as I geared up for another night in Lamont) for cups of cafecito? Yes, yes, and oh yes! 

And, not only is this warm weathered bean headed back to her motherland, but she is also going to THE motherland. Yes, folks, you read it here: I'm venturing off to Israel for Birthright in January!  

So even though my posts won't be weather appropriate to my northeast readers, stay tuned for ~summery~ shenanigans in Miami, tales of my travels to Tel Aviv, and new collaborations to come! (Tired of my puns and alliteration yet?) 

Xx, Maia 

Warm, Wynwood Break

It started snowing last night, here in Cambridge, MA, but that hasn't prevented me from seeking to keep my Mod Mondays colorful and warm. Today, instead of snowy whites and tales of final projects, I'm keeping it colorful by depositing all the residue from the Wynwood scene during my last two trips to Miami. 

With pinks as toasty as these orchids dotting my house, to lights as vibrant all over Wynwood (well, except for that one wall I found before it got repainted, muahaha), it's hard to not long for the city that doesn't participate in a classically cold December. 

But, given that I'm still two final projects and two exams away, I can only dream of Greenstreet breakfasts, Threefold gossip sessions, and more time spent perusing my favorite spots - so dream with me, and enjoy the photo heavy leftovers (is it too late for a Thanksgiving pun?) of my trips home lately:

Xx, Maia 

A Weekend at Art Basel

It seems unimaginable that just this morning I woke up in Miami - and now it's snowing outside my window, finals are upon us, and I'm swimming in 600+ photos that prove I did, in fact, play hooky from school to attend Art Basel this year. 

Though I used to go to the exhibits when I was still in high school back in Florida, my developing experiences in the art history world have made this year's trip all the more memorable. While I don't plan on providing you with a formal analysis of the pieces as proxies for whatever they mean, I do wish to share my adventure at Art Basel, and sprinkle some of the highlight photos along the way. 

So brace yourselves for a visual overload, a sensory extravaganza - save the 11,000 steps it took to see it all in person. 

One thing to note from the get go: I don't claim to take better photos of these pieces than you can probably find on Google or a collector's site; rather, I simply want to share with you the way I saw them. Meaning, there are more than just a few slanted shots, probably testaments to the shuffle between booths and the cursory glances of some of the works. Oh! And the fact that after dodging spectator after spectator, sometimes I gave up and made the human obstructions a part of the shot:

After all, upon discovering both instagram accounts @girlsinmuseums and @dressedtomatch (thanks to my Partner in Basel, Alana) the obstruction can even be part of the art. 

And for all the art you weren't really supposed to be a part of, there was a whole corner dedicated to playing with pasta. I kid you not - you could sit down at the greasy table and were, for once in your life, encouraged to play with your food:

Aside from the magnetism of the carbs, I found myself drifting towards all the neon light fixtures - an homage to my childhood fascinations with bright lights and vibrant colors. 

Wording wasn't the only thing brightly displayed at Art Basel: there were plenty of optical installations, namely those of Julio Le Parc (prominently featured currently at PAMM, and part of the content of the next post!). 

And though the galleries obviously boast the main attractions, I couldn't help but notice that the gallerists' workspaces weren't always your standard, foldable chairs. 

At one point, I decided to trail my dad - a man with a history of creativity not often understood by me or the rest of my nuclear family. For context, he would always pick the most bizarre, un-appealing ice cream flavor combinations, and somehow they would taste incredible! So, I figured, if I applied ice cream logic here, what he was drawn to could be those hidden gems. Turns out he fancied corners of benches and hanging who-knows-what - per usual:

But, hey, who am I to knock other people's photos of choice? I mean, my friends and I more than made fools of ourselves at any possible photo op. 

And, before I bombard you with the rest of my visual adventure, I'll sign off - and by sign off I mean resume my reading week responsibilities. Until next year!

Xx, Maia

A Sendoff & New Beginnings

Today brings a different sort of Mod Monday. We write to you together, for the last time. Don’t worry -- Mod & Bean isn’t ending, but rather over cups of tea at Crema (just as we began this past February, how sentimental, right?) we came to the realization that it was time to launch our own blogs. Trust us, we’re still on speaking terms -- I mean living together does that for ya, but over the course of our time together, we’ve developed our own voices and visions. We now write to you looking forward to what our new individual journeys will bring.

I, Katherine, with a tinge of sadness will be saying farewell to this wonderful brainchild of Maia and mine. I revel in every moment spent exploring and working with with my still-partner-in-crime Maia. You can now see my own photographic and written work at ivykat.squarespace.com (name be subject to change, so bear with me through the growing pains)!

So what does this mean for all of the content we’ve created thus far together? Don’t fret, the majority of blog posts remain. I, Katherine, have merely removed my photos from posts (and anywhere they remain is marked), and I have transferred all individual posts as well as photographic work to my new site. Do check it out!

I, Maia, will be continuing to develop Mod & Bean and bombard you with Mod Monday posts until I run out of things to say! Look out for the possibility of new ventures with new guests (I like to say I’m at the ~stage of my life~ where I’m constantly inspired, so definitely reach out if you ever want to snag a cup of coffee!). We don’t want this to come as abrupt or surprising, and you can still bet there will be plenty of Katherine & Maia moments in our future.

Look forward to new content brewing under two separate hoods, and please, satiate your curiosity, and follow Katherine on ivykat.squarespace.com as much as you read www.modandbean.com.

Farewell for now, Katherine & Maia

The Game: Harvard-Yale 2k16

Happy Mod Monday! Today I’m here to reminisce about the “most wonderful time of the year.” No, I’m not prematurely looking to the holiday season just yet; let’s at least get through Thanksgiving first. Rather, I’m talking about The Game. The game destined to be a 10-peat, but, as with the rest of 2016, a loss prevailed instead; this time, against Yale.

Deemed one of the two Harvard holidays (the other being Housing Day, so stay tuned until March), the Harvard-Yale football game brings flocks of students decked out in gear repping both sides. Amidst the playful slurs of “Yuck Fale” and “Huck Farvard” (I’ll let you decide which one actually makes sense ;) ), Saturday was the day most students could proudly say they attend “Harvard State.” With the tailgate attracting everyone from the class of 2020 to alums from further back than they’d like to admit, it’s well worth the time to recount this annual tradition.

For a second, once Crimson lost to Navy (only in score, never in beauty of color, of course), I thought all of our gloaty, impending social media captions had to be scrapped. But, I remembered something a professor uttered to a friend, “from tragedy comes great art”, so our captions followed suit.

“Now that Hell has frozen over, I guess I’ll ski there too.” – Zabie

"Reunions for the win (never mind the score)." - Cat

"Yale won the game but we won the popular vote." – Annie

"Even though we lost, we'll keep our spirits HY." – Leila

"The Camelbaks were the real MVP #stayHYdrated." - Alana

"We speculated that Yale may have paid the refs, but then we realized they wouldn't have the funds because we're more..." – Me

"Accurate representation of our Harvard-Yale, being elbowed in the face by these results..." – Me, again

For me, the tailgate is all about dancing (elevated surfaces or not) and not losing too many of my friends to the spotty cell service. But some go far harder than others.

From Macklemore level game day attire or re-defining ripped jeans, to some tragic ca(shoe)alties along the way, Harvard’s streak wasn’t the only thing that was lost on Saturday:

I’m thinking about my good friend, Will's, chipped tooth. Always one to be in HY spirits, even after the following ensued:

After having put Will on blast in a groupchat and doing damage control when concerned parties reached out, I sought his permission to post the trauma on an even grander scale. A trooper the day of and on iMessage as I pleaded my case, Will recounted the incident and ensured me that a dentist appointment was already booked for tomorrow. Apparently the following transpired in a conference call between him, his mother, and his dentist:

I literally called him in a panic and was like “My face has to be symmetrical, you DON’T UNDERSTAND! My face is all I have going for me I NEED you to fix this!” and my mom immediately cut in and was like, “NO, you have a great personality and you’re so smart!!” and I was like, “SHUT UP MOM, this is NOT the time!” – Will

I guess teenage angst doesn’t really quit in your twenties.

Other favorite Game Day memories from friends were a little tamer. Shub, fond proponent of dabbing and once toter of a sign that read, “Yale kids wear Crocs.” said his favorite memory “was definitely waking up early for the ESPN college Game Day taping my freshman year!”

Allie and Emmie, prominently featured in photos from the festivities, agreed that “the best memories were storming the field freshmen year and this year's pre-game sunbathing on the turf field.”

But The Game isn’t just for chipped teeth and fostering friendship, it can also be a lucrative business venture according to resident finance mogul, Leila, who shockingly is not concentrating in Economics:

“My favorite memory HAS to be finding an extra ticket on the floor and then selling both my ticket and that one to some guy for $20 once I had already used them to get into The Game. Oh! And promptly using that money for a free meal at Bartley’s post loss.”  - Leila

And for all we cherish to remember, there are some things we’d rather forget. Perhaps full views of the “Saybrook Strip” would be one of them, or the brief moment of weakness I had when I questioned transferring to Yale for the sole reason that their band was playing Danza Kuduro… Yeah, let’s agree to forget those ever happened.

All in all, Harvard-Yale is a great time for school spirit, ascorbic wit, beating classic songs to death, and putting the LIT in “elite” (I swear, I was NOT the one to come up with that nor use it in any other context but sarcastically). So keep chanting…

“'Yuck Fale’ – Gandhi.”

“Yale cites Wikipedia.”

“In my country no one’s ever heard of Yale.”

...belting along to annual themes like...

2016:

Closer, The Chainsmokers (the song of the summer that just won’t die)

Mr. Brightside, The Killers (had to throw this in as an homage to the dutiful hosts of last year’s AEPI tailgate)

2015:

Hotline Bling, Drake (or as Yale seems to sing, “1-800-Harvard-Sucks”)

2014:

Caribou Lou, Tech N9ne (I have actually never heard of this song @ Allie, Emmie, & Wes…)

Habits, Tove Lo

2013:

Unwritten, Natasha Bedingfield

Dancing with Myself, Billy Idol

(Though these two have not been cross-referenced by another source. Given that you apparently can’t trust someone to think back too far into their past game days @Fri.)

…and start the countdown to redemption.

Xx, Maia

A Beacon Hill Halloween

With the scariest (midterm) season now behind us, it seems only fitting to commemorate the official scariest night of the year: Halloween - though I make it a point to avoid gore and ghouls at all costs. 

I'm sure you're now very familiar with the Beacon Hill area as it has been beautifully documented in almost all seasons on the blog; there's just nothing more Bostonian than this neighborhood - especially when it's covered in cobwebs and riddled with tiny superheroes, Addams Family members, and the occasional walking Christmas tree. Yep, I am here to tell you that I went Trick-or-Treating as a sophomore in college tonight and tried to pass as a high school senior at best. 

I must admit it was a Halloween for the books. And by books, I mean the ones I will actually read, and not the ones conveniently tucked under my bed, still in their crisp cellophane wrap from the day I bought them at the campus store... Anyway, it was a pretty liberating experience to leave the library and the computer screen to relive childhood shenanigans. With each "trick-or-treat!" and "Happy Halloween!", all six of us giggled and eagerly unwrapped our candy, feeling instantly transported back to our hometown neighborhoods - well, minus the chilled fingers and chattering teeth for me.

Though few parents believed our age twisting, they were kind enough to plop treats in our canvas totes and smile. I think one couple even asked if we were grad students, while most of the others just laughed at our makeshift costumes and told us we were definitely too old to be doing this. I can't blame 'em, I did show up with two cereal boxes taped to my shirt and blurted, "I'm a cereal killer!" when I received confused looks. Contrary to popular belief, I was not, in fact, Captain Crunch. 

Beacon Hill, you've done it again with the top notch decor and warm ambiance despite the creeping cold of winter. 

And while Halloween has come and gone (for the third time this week - peep the Saturday ensemble below), I felt warmed by the familial memories conjured and created this evening, not just from the chili mocha latte I broke down and bought on our way back home. 

Yes, the pun is always intended, especially when I can dress up as a "work of art in the fog(g)."

Xx, Maia 

Apple Picking: An Autumnal Rite of Passage

Growing tired of studying for midterms and counting the days till family reunions at Thanksgiving, the turn of leaf and weather suddenly has us craving all things fall: cozy sweaters, colorful punnikans (translation: pumpkins), hot cider, fuzzy socks, crunchy leaves, pumpkin spiced lattes, the list goes on.

Autumn brings with it an indefinable longing for years past. It’s a season of nostalgia. Simply, "autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go." With the brisk fall wind and the vibrant changing leaves, we’re suddenly caught daydreaming of our younger years, picking out pumpkins and gourds for the front stoop, deciding what we were going to be for Halloween, going apple picking with the family. — Err, we guess now is as good a time as ever to bare a short confessional:

I, Katherine — self proclaimed lover of all things fall — and I, Maia — Miami girl through and through, who’s mastered the look of overalls during "winter" for strawberry picking — have never been apple picking.

(This is made especially preposterous considering I, Katherine, live right beside an apple orchard in Michigan). Going to school in New England, the Mecca of all apple orchards, thus made apple picking a mandatory college bucket list item. Plus, what better way to escape midterm examinations and its fond companion stress? 

This Saturday, thanks to a handy Zip Car membership, we, with a few friends, set off for Honey Pot Hill Orchards, located some 30 miles beyond the Cambridge bubble. Honey Pot Hill is a Massachusetts institution, a full-scale apple-and-all-things-fall operation, perfect for fulfilling a few of our autumnal goals: 1. To finally go apple picking 2. To go on a hay ride, and 3. To eat our weight in cider donuts. We happily type this post having fulfilled all three. 

All and all, our sojourn made for a wonderful reprieve from the hustle and bustle of on-campus life. We drove down leaf-laden roads, dappled in the rich warm glow of an autumn day - miraculously avoiding the rainy slump that has characterized these past few weekends. We jammed to some tunes — from indie to Marvin Gaye to Biggie. We ~sort of~ picked apples (it seems that Honeycrisp season has passed us, and our desire for Red Delicious was minimal), and some of us, who will remain un-named (*cough* Maia), finally realized why Apple calls them "Macs".

We did in fact eat an admirable amount of cinnamon-sugar-coated-warm-gooey donut goodness (this is also coming from Katherine, self-professed non-fan of donuts, and received a stamp of approval from Maia who has stuffed herself with almost every donut Boston has to offer). And, despite having to dodge a slightly aggressive barrage of branches, our hayride ended up quite, well, let’s say bumpy. We even found time to wander around some of New England’s quintessential backroads, happening upon a beautiful mill in the process.

While fall weather seems to have briefly left us (as we sit outside on a picnic blanket writing this, the forecast now projecting into the 80s for the next few days), we don’t believe there was any better way to ring in the new season. We hope you enjoy the following snaps from out little trip and feel inspired to venture out of doors on your own autumnal jaunt.

Xx, Katherine & Maia

Ode to the Comgard

Fully prepared to start off this post begging Boston for some sunshine, it seems like my unspoken wishes have come true in that it finally stopped raining today! A Sunshine State girl at heart, I love a good warm day - a day you can spend outside, preferably consumed by a garden or the like. Today, as a respite from all the rainy days, I'm thinking about all those sun-filled (honestly rather scorching) days spent outside. More specifically, though, this a post dedicated to the Comgard - a place I wasn't quite the local or frequenter of, but an appreciator nonetheless. 

The Comgard affectionately stands for Community Garden, and was coined by people who are probably the human embodiments of sunshine. In order to give this post the veritable backbone it needed, I pulled up a picnic chair and talked to these gals about the Comgard, which apparently is a "lifestyle choice." 

Coiner of the term (is that even a phrase)? Probably Cat, fellow Miamian and my pseudo-sister here on campus. Given that Cat, along with Maeve and Laura (two other gems), was living on campus this summer, she and friends passed by the Lowell Community Garden to and from work. Over the summer, the garden bustled with creatures ranging from typical fauna to groups of college students gathering over Otto's pizza and lounging - as college students often do. 

The term apparently stemmed from (hehe, plant pun) calling the Cambridge Commons "Cam Com" and the desire to add casual lingo to any and all meeting spaces. The Comgard became home to BYOL's (bring your own lunches) and general conversation. Conveniently located right where giant (and I mean GIANT) tourist busses drop off/pick up, the Comgard is a great place for people watching and "chirping the tourists." Apparently, it's also a great on-the-go snack spot for some students, as one student who will remain un-named, rip up some radishes for a quick nom on the way home from class. 

The openness of the Comgard adds to its welcoming vibe - inviting any and all passerby's that are recognized by Comgard locals or are just in the mood for a sit 'n snack. Over the summer, a school teacher from a nearby conference even lounged with Cat and Maeve because they "just looked so peaceful." If we're talking quotes, the best one I gathered from my convos with the core trio had to be from Maeve:

"Summer was so scattered and you could just plant yourself [in the Comgard] and see people walk through. There was a constant rotation - you could meet new friends or even nab people from late night Insomnia runs." 

But Maeve didn't stop the plant puns there. When I talked to Laura about her favorite aspect of the Comgard, she said it was a place where, "friendships flourished" - to which Maeve interjected, "friendships BLOSSOMED! C'mon Laura." 

While the Lowell Comgard may have been the birthplace of the term, it definitely isn't the sole member of the movement. Curiously, on a summer adventure to Blackbird donuts, Cat and I stumbled upon an incredible Comgard. It spanned for what seemed like forever, and was speckled with individual gardens on either side of the main artery. We spotted flowers of every variety, little tomatoes, and seized the opportunity for some quick pics as we waited for the bus to continue that day's adventure. 

Even though I'm sad to say I missed lounging in the Harvard Comgard on the daily when I had the chance (the onset of this cold and gloomy weather makes it seem like Comgard days are coming to a close), I can't help but think of all the times community gardens and just open, public spaces have been a part of my life. Growing up in Miami, I'd say the city was just one big garden. But if that wasn't enough, there was always a nearby park or even Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden to satiate my need for fresh flowers and the buzzing of the insects that inevitably tag along. I even remember the importance of community gardening in elementary school as a component of my Montessori education - tending to a garden helped us connect with our surroundings and learn responsibility for our community. And I'm happy to report that the local Boston flora is proving to be just as satisfactory!

So if the vibrant colors of the flowers, the tempting aroma of the home-grown treats, or simply the community of the Comgard movement doesn't pull you in, I'd strongly consider re-reading this post or meeting Cat, Maeve, and Laura. They'll sell you on the Comgard so quickly, you won't even be able to say BYOL. 

Xx, Maia 

Home Sweet Dorm

There's something to be said for the itinerant living that characterizes these ever fleeting college years - packing up and relocating each year, if not each semester (waving goodbye to that coveted single bedroom). Managing to squeeze any and all belongings accrued over our 18, 19, 20, 21 years of life into quarters hardly larger than a comfortable walk-in closet poses a constant challenge, all of this in addition to having to share said space with another human being. Granted, being in our second year, we're fortunate enough to have escaped the arbitrary hand of housing assignments and instead, have opted to live with people who feel more like family than mere bodies occupying space - perks, right? While, contrary to popular belief, we, Katherine & Maia, don't live in a room together (just a wall away, though!), we share a mutual love for colorful decor, excessive throw pillows, and warm, "welcome back home after a long day of classes and running around campus" vibes - oh, and decked out window seats to boot (perks of fourth floor living)!

Freshman year, I had the luck of snagging a single - a bedroom all to myself, heavily decorated with all of Miami's finest colors, and affectionately dubbed "The Palace." When I had to switch to a double in the spring semester, I built a little fort in my common room and called it "The Alcove." So, in theme, this year my abode has become "The Loft" - for the sole reason that one must jump in order to sit on my bed (climbing up here in skinny jeans? Impossible). 

The Loft boasts much of my familiar decor: hand-painted canvases from my mother that capture my favorite quotes (from Jason Mraz to Cleo Wade), favorite colors, and love of doodling and flowers and my extensive collection of polaroid photos that commemorate everything from friends and familia to some all-time-greatest-hits. And by hits I mean snacks.

The sea of decorative pillows remains...

...and my collection of succulents is stronger than ever.

Somehow I've managed to build up quite the personal library...

...and while I've maxed out storage space in every crevice, I still find space for my little knick-knacks. 

Say hello to "Winnie" my sole vestige of house spirit (for those of you who think I named my lion after a certain Pooh, I will clarify that Winnie is my diminutive version of my home of Winthrop).

Britto says it best, I'm always truly "happy" to come home to this pod on campus. If not for the bursts of color during otherwise winter whites, then definitely for my hysterical roommate who has yet to ask for a housing re-assignment given how often I videotape her shenanigans for my snapchat story. 

So this is it, folks - those are our homes away from home. Our happy places and our napping places. 

Xx, Katherine & Maia 

NYFW: The Beans

Though we've known one another since January (and now live right next door...convenience optimized), this little escape to NYFW was our first chance to truly travel and adventure together! As was to be expected, we discovered even more similarities between us, including but not limited to: our fondness of a piping hot bowl of pasta after a long day, our love for funky book shops (shoutout to BookMarc in the West Village), and our respective obsessions for sweet treats (Kat drowning in ice cream and Maia bathing in banana pudding), among many other qualities. 

We imagine it's best to start off with the snapchats we accumulated during our delayed train ride into the city:

When we finally arrived in New York, you could surely find us noodling around the streets, attempting to stop traffic to cheese for the camera:

We also soaked in all of the authentic, NYC sights, including my, Kat's, stopping to commemorate this splayed rat on the sidewalk: 

(Would this be the right time to make a Kat and mouse joke? We'll let you think of the best one).

We frolicked museums in our spare time. Pictured below are snippets from our jaunt through the Whitney:

Some outrageous purchases were made, including me, Maia, succumbing to the $20 sticker price for this bag of chai tea powder: 

Really, any time food was involved, we pretty much freaked out:

(Below, we see Katherine near tears upon sampling the bounty of flavors from Ample Hills.)

Not sure whether having a spirit-wall is a thing, but this one is definitely mine:

And let us not forget the great shoe change of NYFW 2017 (photo recycled from street style post because it's honestly too good):

Outside some of our shows we were snapped and papped:

We even did some paparazzi of our own as we attempted to immortalize the cute, foreign model that may or may not have chatted us up outside the venue:

Sometimes it was hard to snag that nonchalant street style pic, dodging looks from strangers wondering why we were photographing them. To compensate -- well, actually just because it's fun -- we took pictures of actual street style as well. Street. Style. Get it? Here are some of the buildings that stunned us, clad in rugged red brick or a coat of crisp white paint. 

Oh! And not to mention the adorable, Mod & Bean team pictures we snagged while at the modeling agency of my, Katherine's, cousin:

So, while we may have come off, dare we say, glamorous and chic during our time at NYFW, those were the rarer moments. Cheers to galavanting around NYC and to our future team trips to come!

Xx, Katherine & Maia 

NYFW: The Street Style

So far, you've gotten an inside glimpse at the runway looks and our favorite city eats. Now we're here to share yet another quintessential aspect of fashion week: the killer street style. If you follow fashion week, you know it's as much about what's worn off the runways as what's worn on. For every slideshow of fresh-off-the-catwalk looks, there's a corresponding one for what people wore to the show itself. The fashion week runways practically spill onto the streets themselves, after all, street style is serious business, with the most dedicated of attendees changing outfits three, four, even five times a day. While the Mod & Bean team had neither the space in our carry-ons nor the money to commit to a week of quick-changing, we made our own fair attempt to join the ranks of the street style stars (with a helping hand from Zara, of course). 

Fashion week brings its own special air to the city: transforming bustling streets and empty event spaces into unofficial red carpets for the who's who of fashion: bloggers, A-listers, designers, and lucky beans like ourselves. While our ensembles may have paled in comparison to the couture clad, Birkin-toting fashion insiders, we managed to fool a fair share of street style photographers into thinking we were of moderate importance. Below we've shared our daily looks in addition to some sneaky street style snaps! (Important to note that we highly resisted the temptation to insert some quote about making the world your runway etc).

Day 1

Day one, I, Maia opted for this easy Zara jumpsuit. All the elegance, none of the fuss. (Perfect for noodling around the city and impromptu dance parties in side streets).

You'll also begin to realize that I took the whole "New York Noir" thing quite seriously - ditching my Miami brights and patterns for the slick, all-black ensembles. Motivation? Probably remaining stain free (or the illusion of it), as I did indeed spill coffee on the one white blouse I wore this trip (not pictured because simply tragic). I also found that black is much more forgiving of the sweat that clung to me as we shuffled through Subways and navigated too many flights of stairs with a heavy carry-on in tow. 

For our first day in the city, black was the name of the game. I, Katherine, feel overcome by this sentiment whenever I find myself in the Manhattan bubble. One moment I'm craving summer bohemian or fun feminine style -- draping myself in flowing folds of blush and jewel tones -- and the next thing I know, I'm in New York City, and my wardrobe has unwittingly assimilated, one with that of the effortlessly cool city girl -- monochrome, neutrals, and adidas reign supreme.

Can we also just take a moment to admire this mid-morning light? Having been an on-again, off-again, photographer for going on six years, I, Katherine, am almost always chasing light, whether it's that morning glow or that final, bursting golden hour. Sometimes, there are just those perfectly opportune moments like these ones below. The best things (read: good lighting) come when you least expect it, right?

And then, there's the subway. With it's mushroom-yellow glow and the added benefit of years of built up grime, such photographic conditions prove to be a challenge. Alas, we prevailed over the New York City metro system and caught these shots.

Back up from the underground for some outfit shots in the West Village, where both my, Katherine's, below and my, Maia's, above photos were captured. Tree lined streets, dappled brunch-time light. All black. 

The infamous outfit change! After a day of prancing around the city in my, Katherine's, characteristically black ensemble, I opted for this deep green evening jumper from, you guessed it, Zara. I also found myself the interviewee of a Chinese news station. It's funny to think that there may be a little sound byte of me floating about some thousands and thousands of miles away in China...

Day 2

The day started early with Misha Collection at Skylight on Clarkson Square (a beautiful west river event space). After the show, we snagged some fun candids and style shots in the industrial, ship-yard streets. I, Maia, opted for the cool statement jacket trend, assisted by none other than (do I even say it?) Zara. I, Katherine, attempted the impossible task of dressing for two seasons, opting for this light, summer white top (white after labor day is so a thing) over this cool layered black tweed skirt. I also feel it important to make note that directly after these pictures were taken I kicked off the heels and pranced around (feet beyond thankful) in adidas for the remainder of the day. Happy feet, happy bean.

Below we've included proof of my, Katherine's, shameless switch. Take special note of the effortless flare with which I seek comfort. Don't let it fool you. I was being swallowed by the heat and nearly fell over five times.

Day 3

For our final day in the city some errand running (read: purchasing banana pudding) and a brief stop at the studio of my, Katherine's, cousin was in store. The dress code? Pants and sneaks for optimal mobility (and wiggle room for our engorged cookie/ice cream/banana pudding tummies). 

While outfit posts aren't normally our things, we couldn't help but take advantage of NYFW and see what all of the fashion fun was about. And considering we were literally mobbed with photographers following shows, the Mod & Bean team was determined to look sharp ... and hand out as many business cards as possible (haha). If the fact that we're dividing NYFW into four entirely separate posts isn't evidence enough, we're quite thrilled about our whole experience. Stay tuned for our last installment: the Beans. What to expect? Lots of awkward noodling around the city. Get excited.

Xx, Katherine & Maia