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Showing posts with label #Blonde. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #Blonde. Show all posts

Monday, December 22, 2014

Beauty and the Bump

As an accomplished model I've taken great pride in my body and have felt incredibly comfortable in front of the camera for my various photo-shoots. Coincidently my most famous covers from FHM Magazines have been of me half naked in bikinis!

Now my toned stomach has turned into a beer belly of twins! Everybody was asking when I was going to do my maternity shoot, as a model this would come second nature to me. But I was hesitant, my husband is very private, I have step-kids and I just didn't know if this was right for me. I am so satisfied finally being pregnant, so did I need to do a shoot? I went to my husband and he was so quick to reply "Of course hunny document this historic time in your life, and celebrate the changes in your body." Boom all my hemming and hawing vanished with my husband's resounding confidence & encouragement.

There was only one man for the job, my friend, and world renowned photographer, John Russo. John is someone whom I deeply respect & could trust for this intimate moment in my life. Seven months pregnant with twins, in the privacy of my Los Angeles home, our pregnancy photo came to life.
I did the styling myself, being a New York City girl, I armed myself with some sophisticated fashion pieces from Roberto Cavalli,  Hanro lingiere  and my secret weapon Topshop.
The concept was 1980's Jerry Hall look, red lips, blonde tousled hair, fabulous furs and a scene staler naked belly. The photos exceeded my expectations and made me fall more in love with my baby bump than ever. It's truly a miracle to be growing two humans in my stomach! I encourage all women to embrace their pregnancy journey, to celebrate it and simply enjoy it, the highs and the lows!

"Giving birth and being born brings us into the essence of creation, where the human spirit is courageous and bold and the body, a miracle of wisdom."  ~Harriette Hartigan


Love,
Kaki
7 months pregnant with twins

My favorite shot with my baby Rook

Black & white delight

In Roberto Cavalli & my Bump!

My dog Roki actually was sleeping & we loved it.

The perfect red lip done created by the amazing John Russo!




Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Team Babies


They say it takes a village to raise a child. In my case it took a village to create my children. This blog is dedicated to the wonderful Doctors and holistic angels whom have helped me. My pregnancy journey, was long and full of highs and lows. Until finally the miracle news that I was pregnant with twins! I have listed my all star female team, I hope this can aid some of you whom are seeking guidance on your pregnancy journeys. We are bicoastal with homes in LA and NYC so below are my referrals to "team baby" on both coasts.

Love,
Kaki

Los Angeles
If you are trying to get pregnant, go see Dr. Wendy Chang. Dr Chang is the pregnancy whisperer, she has a calming voice, a strict set of rules and knows the mysteries of the human body. Plus she cares, doctors can have tough bed side manners, not Dr Chang she laughs all the time and somehow works 7 days a week with a big smile! She was a perfectionist with my body and got me pregnant with twins, which was a miracle.
In Hawaii, 3 days after I got the news I was pregnant from Dr Chang! But had no idea it was twins!


My other baby guru is Reiki master Patti Penn. Patti has a deep Irish accent and a no non-sense approach. Thru reiki I became centered and let my body and soul open to what I wanted most, a baby. Patti knew I was having twins, before I was even pregnant!! She taps into your soul and it's the most wonderful therapeutic healing.
10 weeks pregnant with twins, my husband took this photo, fitting as our twins were made in LA ;)



New York City
NYC has some of the best hospitals and doctors in the country. But I am having twins and deemed a"high risk" pregnancy. I found the wonderful Dr Joanne Stone at Mount Sinai hospital. Dr Stone is petite & stunning, she walked into the room with a lab coat and valentino high heels. It was love at first sight for me! I have had horrible morning sickness and migraines so it has been physically hard on my body. I was so horribly sick that I lost weight in my first trimester. They say this is very common with twins, hence double the hormones equals double the nauseas! Dr Stone has been there for me every step of the way. I can email her  24/7 & she has been empathetic to me just having a "rough" pregnancy. Each woman's pregnancy is different, my body went into shock with these twins. I am still not out of the woods at 22 weeks ( 5months in twins world) but I focus on the positive that I am finally pregnant.
12 weeks pregnant in Montana on a vacation with my husband. I was so sick this trip, threw up every day, sometimes twice a day. But I loved Montana, the air is perfection.


I was recommended to acupuncture to help alleviate my morning sickness, fatigue & headaches. I swear by Cherrie Laygo  a veteran acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist. She has helped so much in making me feel physically better and can work wonders. I see her once a week & if I am having a bad week I see her twice. Every time I leave feeling reenergized, calm & alive.

Pre-natal massage has been my saving grace. My massage therapist is Nicole Kung. Nicole is skilled in pressure points and very holistic in her approach to the human body. She specializes in acupressure. She has helped me flush out water weight and reduced my acid reflux. She is spiritual in her approach to the body, which I love. We are both a bit psychic too, which is a delight in exchanging visions.

Pilates & yoga are the best exercises for pregnant women. They focus on lengthening the ligaments and are gentle on the body.  My pilates/yoga instructor is Nicola Yvette. Nici is a former ballerina, she is discipled and strict with a soft touch. She has helped me maintain my physique while growing these twins! Every time our sessions are over I'm exhausted, but feel so good after the workouts. I didn't work out during the first trimester, I only walked every day to Tribeca and back 2 miles. I was way too sick. But finally week 16 I came back to the living a little. In my opinion you have to just battle thru it. On days your exhausted, stay in bed. On some days I can do 2 hours, one cardio and one hour pilates. Whatever it is, I listen to my body, in other words I listen to my twins!
Pilates at 21 weeks with trainer Nici taking the photo, spot her in the mirror!

My trainer "Roki" pulling me on our walks to Tribeca on the westside highway. 

Ready for my walk down the westside highway at 19 weeks with Roki. I was sending this selfie to my sister who was demanding a bump photo!







Monday, June 16, 2014

Esquire

Thank you to Esquire magazine Greece for my editorial. I have dreamed of traveling to the beautiful country of Greece, and now thru Esquire I got to go, but only on paper!

Photographer: John Russo
Makeup: Evelyn Ramirez
Hair: Becca Janian
Location: Rooftop in downtown Los Angeles




Saturday, July 27, 2013

Photo-Shoot June 2013

 In June I had the pleasure of shooting with talented photographer Ryan Astamendi. I first shot with Ryan in May of 2012 see the blog and photos here.  To contact Ryan click here! 

History repeated itself with the outcome of excellent photos, a laid back atmosphere and a  ton of laughs.  I was fortunate to have my amazing makeup artist Evelyn Ramirez glam me. To contact Evelyn click here! The hairstylist, Andy, gave me soft bouncy hair that I fell in love with immediately. To contact Andy click here! 

I would also like to thank them for participating in my directorial debut of  "YOLO", watch here!  Enjoy the funny video, behind the scenes candids & of course the final photos.




 Kaki West by Ryan Astamendi 2013
 Kaki West by Ryan Astamendi 2013


 Kaki West by Ryan Astamendi 2013


 Kaki West & photographer Ryan Astamendi


 Behind the Scenes Candid




  

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Happy 2013


Bye 2012... Hello 2013! Let go of the past & move forward into the new year with an open heart.
May this year be filled with love, hope, prosperity, joy & laughter!

Love,
Kaki

Here's looking at you 2012!
I would like to make a very special #LOVE shout-out to my amazing Husband, who made me the happiest wife in 2012!


Friday, October 14, 2011

Blonde and the City

My 1st Blog entry: 9:30 pm Eastern standard time. Location NYC.
New city, new season, new blonde? Like most ladies I up & moved to a new city for my Mr. Right. Lucky for me Mr. Right lives in NYC ? NY’ers have met me with a chilly & overly intellectual welcome. But the most surprising factor is the sorority known as the Brunettes. Every corner, restaurant, salon, office you will meet a member of this sorority. Occasionally a flash of a blonde high-light will pop out in the crowd. Maybe a platinum blonde but that belongs to “Lady Gaga” in NYC. I come from Team Blonde in LA, NYC is clearly team Brunette. Or should we all just meet in the middle with Ombre technique? So… with my new address, new season, new city and new a shade of blonde I join the NYC streets with a glimmer of golden hope.
Below picture: Yours truly at photo-shoot with my new home NYC in the background.


Kaki West - Blonde and the City



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