LA by Diana - Personal Style blog by Diana Marks

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June 16, 2017

Meet a Celebrity at Barnes & Noble + GIVEAWAY!

This post is sponsored by Barnes & Noble, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
We are so "digitized" these days that we forget how fun it is to go to actual book stores. I remember years ago, when I just moved to LA, my local Barnes & Noble book store used to be my favorite place to hang out. They have great atmosphere, good background music, coffee and books available for purchase and/or reading there - what else do you need for a perfect afternoon?
And I didn't realize that it's also a great place to meet other interesting people, including celebrities too! Barnes & Noble host more than 100 000 events per year, bringing major authors, actors, musicians and other influential figures to their stores across the country. All you have to do is buy their book, and you can talk face to face with Cameron Diaz, Kim Kardashian, Bruce Springsteen etc. Check out your local Barnes & Noble store locator and their events and find out where to meet Kevin Hart, Eddie Izzard, Bethany Mota, Sherman Alexie and Don Winslow in June alone! Meeting celebrities is easier than you think these days! 
Also, super exciting giveaway! You can win a $20 Barnes & Noble gift card, just visit the Barnes & Noble store locator and comment which author/event you are most excited to attend! Don't forget to leave your email so that I can contact you!

June 2, 2017

Transition Easy with tasc Performance

This post is sponsored by tasc Performance but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
I love the fact that fitness clothing is becoming more fashion friendly, and we can easily transition outfits from yoga to working out to hanging with friends these days. And tasc Performance is taking it to a whole other level with their innovative and comfortable performance lifestyle clothing, and they start with their fabrics! Their fabric blends are sustainable, chemical-free and derived from the highest quality natural sources, including bamboo, merino wool and organic cotton. When I wore this outfit I didn't want to take it off! I started the day with a light workout at the park, and transitioned it to a chill brunch + a beach bike ride with friends. tasc fabrics deliver the luxuriously soft feel paired with natural moisture-wicking, UPF 50+ sun protection and odor resistance without sacrificing style. They have the cutest styles and colors! Check out their performance wear HERE. AND USE A 20% OFF code experiencebamboo

May 31, 2017

Discover Your Unique Personality Type with Good&Co

This post is sponsored by Good&Co but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
We are fortunate to live in a time, when information is so easily accessible, innovation and individuality are encouraged, and growth and progress are the definition of success. We can also learn about ourselves much faster with the help of personality quizzes and tests, and therefore choose a better fitting career path. My new favorite way to learn more about myself is the Good&Co app. It's a self discovery app that uncovers your personality type through a set of fun quizzes. It helps you discover your strengths and weaknesses, find a career you love, learn how to succeed in it, explore your work style and how to become a better leader. Not bad for a simple app, right?
I took the first test to get my custom Strengths Card, which showed (or rather confirmed) that I am a strategist, a go getter and a visionary, and also confirmed just once again that I have a creative personality (along with other traits like discoverer, innovator etc). It's pretty fun to discover your unique personality traits, and to find a new or adjust your existing career in case the one you have no longer fits your personality. As for me, I am sticking with the same path as it still fits me perfectly - creating great content, negotiating on my own behalf and having my own schedule :)
Download the app and take the first Good&Co quiz yourself. Unlock the Strength card, discover in-depth insights into your work style and your compatibility with others and companies!

May 9, 2017

Protection without Distractions with U by Kotex Fitness

This post is sponsored by U by Kotex Fitness, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
Summer is around the corner and we are all trying to get our bodies ready for those bikinis and hit the gym as much as we can. I initially went back to my regular workouts to get in better shape for the summer, but now I do it more for mental reasons. Regular exercise supports my energy levels and my sleep patterns and elevates my mood. So many perks! 
But we all know how easy it is to break the pattern and slide out of the routine. When I have a long break from the gym, I drag going back and end up not going for weeks or sometimes months. And for us, ladies, it's especially hard to stay on track when that time of the month comes along. All we want to do is stay home and do nothing, even though we know that exercise will actually help us feel better. Well...gone are those sad days, because U by Kotex Fitness is a new product line designed specifically for that time. They have a whole line of products such as pads, liners and tampons, that are shaped to fit and flex with your body, and uniquely created for exercise. Designed specifically for bodies in motion, each U by Kotex Fitness product offers you comfortable protection that stays in place - so you don't have to! I love that U by Kotex Fitness products support my decision to be my period boss. Learn more about U by Kotex Fitness here.

March 29, 2017

Life Hacks: How To Indulge Mindfully with VitaTops

This post is sponsored by VitaTops, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
My life has always been an "organized mess", as I call it; and you guys know about it. I don't shy away from stating the reality of my behind-the-scenes, which is sometimes full of events and meetings, sometimes full of boring and unproductive errands, and always full of emotional highs and lows. It's a mess, but a mess that I learned how to survive and thrive in. With such a hectic lifestyle, I rarely have time to cook, and, even if I did, I am just not a big fan of cooking. Therefore, I always try to find different products that can make a healthy, delicious and fast meal or snack on the go. I love sharing them with you guys, so here is another discovery of mine - VitaTops MuffinTops!

March 24, 2017

Join Me At KAABOO Del Mar

This post is sponsored by KAABOO Del Mar, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
If you have been following me for a while, then you probably know that I am all about experiencing life and getting out of your comfort zone. That is why this year I am challenging myself to a new experience. I am going to be attending a music festival for the first time. In the past I avoided such events, but there is always first time for everything. Especially if you find a more comfortable and quality experience that is not just another music festival ;) So here it is! After careful research, and due to the line up being just recently released yesterday, my festival of choice is KAABOO Del Mar. It's a live music festival and cultural experience in beautiful Del Mar, San Diego happening this September 15th-17th at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. I was just in that area last weekend, and instantly fell in love with the area. So pumped to go back there in September!

February 28, 2017

My Favorite Pieces from Uniqlo’s Spring Collection

This post is sponsored by Uniqlo USA, but my love for their modern apparel is my own.
Spring is around the corner, and it's time to switch our wardrobes and get out of our coats and sweaters into a more breezy stylish wear. This time I am partnering with Uniqlo to showcase their apparel that comes from their Japanese values of simplicity, quality, and longevity. I love the how I was able to find amazing elegant pieces for a great price, and the quality is just superb. Their spring collection is incredible, and being a classy girl who was tired of casual winter wear, I went for their women's drape long jacket with matching jogger pants in a beautiful brown color, that is a perfect shade for this spring. The material is resistant for wrinkling, and shapes the body perfectly. As elegant as the outfit looks in heels, I absolutely love the way it looks with my fashion sneakers, creating a perfect balance of casual and classy. Check out Uniqlo's spring collection HERE.

January 27, 2017

Health and Wellness in the New Year with Olly

This post is sponsored by OLLY, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
Last year was a very challenging year, and it is taking it's toll on me these days. Not only you guys are seeing that my creativity and overall drive has declined significantly this month, but I also hit my lows with depression and anxiety. But it's life, things happen and we learn how to get back on our feet. I am now actively trying to get back to my normal routine and get my health back on track. 
Regular sleep is obviously important, just as much as workouts and fresh air. But there is one thing we don't nearly get as much of these days, and it's probiotics. They support our immune system and digestive health as well as overall health and wellness. They also support regularity or relieve occasional constipation. Thanks to OLLY Quick Melt probiotic sticks I can immediately jump start my wellness journey. OLLY created this delicious, multi-tasking blend of good bacteria to help support digestive health and overall wellness. OLLY packed 10 billion live cultures from four scientifically studied strains into everyday single-serving stick. Perfectly portable and totally tasty, OLLY probiotic sticks make it east to be good to your gut wherever you are. That's what I start my wellness journey with!
Try a free sample of OLLY Quick Melt Probiotic Sticks HERE, while supplies last. Plus you'll learn how to save 20% on your next online OLLY purchase. 

January 12, 2017

Augustine Prague: A Luxury Collection Hotel

Last year was full of travel experiences for me. I stayed in lots of lovely hotels, from big chains to boutique ones, and one of my favorites and freshest in my memory is Hotel Augustine in Prague. It was my first time visiting Czech Republic, and the hotel was a perfect choice. It is centrally located in a quiet neighborhood walking distance to city's sights like Charles Bridge and Prague Castle, and, most importantly, it has the most fascinating history. 
The hotel's suites feature amazing views of Prague castle, the monastery or garden courtyards. But the most impressive room is the 360-degree-view Tower Suite, a three-story penthouse that once served as the monastery's observatory. You can see the whole Prague from there!

January 9, 2017

Home Favorites

A lot of you know that I moved last September. I left my beloved Beverly Hills, where I lived for almost 5 years, for vibrant Venice Beach - a completely different area in Los Angeles located next to the Pacific Ocean. It took me a long time to make that decision, but once I made it, I wanted to move fast, as we all know that moving is one of the most stressful experiences in life. I found a lovely modern apartment, where I am temporarily living, while getting familiar with the area and prepping for a more permanent settlement here. The new place has a beachy Venice-appropriate vibe as opposed to my classy black-and-white Beverly Hills pad. Naturally, I didn't want to bring my favorite pieces from the old apartment, but I also didn't want to get rid of them. Putting things in storage felt like a perfect solution, but I didn't want the hassle of actually arranging a delivery and going to the storage unit myself. Luckily I found the wonderful company Make Space, that takes care of all the storage problems for me. Their team came over at a designated time, picked everything up (and packed it!), and also provided me with their free stylish storage bins. I didn't have to lift a finger! Any time I want any or ALL of my items back, I can simply order them online (I can see everything I am storing with them on my account online!) and their wonderful team will bring it all back to me.  And all of this for a very affordable price! It's a super easy and convenient way of approaching storage nowadays. Gone are the day of self storage, and I couldn't be happier about it.
The apartment where I am currently staying, came in furnished, and while I didn't want to refurnish it as I really like the design, I needed to add several details to make my temporary place feel like home.  You see glimpses and pieces of it on my social media, but here are just a few of my favorite additions to my current home.
My bed is super important to me, so the first thing I did was upgrade my bedding to a luxurious Brooklinen collection.