Mother Stories
Meet Jewelry Desgner and Mama of Two, Ariel Gordon
Written by Erin Feher
Photography by PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEN SISKA
Dec 10, 2019
Ready to have your day brightened? Today’s mama is an expert at making a statement, whether it be with her pattern-happy house, bold red lip, or signature jewels, often set with colorful stones. Ariel Gordon is the creative and business force behind the cult-favorite Ariel Gordon Jewelry, and after spending the day with her, we are as enamored with her style of living (travel, travel, travel!) and parenting (“I don’t ever say, ‘Good job’ rather I say ‘Look at you! You did it!’ It’s a subtle semantic shift but it goes a long way towards them feeling self-actualized.”) as we are with her jewelry! Today, the SoCal native shows us around her adopted NorCal home, opens up about navigating motherhood after the tragic loss of her own, talks about why she has been spending way more time at the U.S.-Mexico border, and shares some serious parenting-wisdom gems. Click through for the full tour and interview with Ariel and her adorable kiddos, Luca, 5, and Mia, 2.
Plus, if you’re in San Francisco this weekend, on December 15th you can meet Ariel in person and shop some of AGJ’s best offerings when she pops-up at our holiday-themed MOTHER Market, going down at Fort Mason Center on Sunday, December 15th, 2019, 10am-5pm.
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- "I was 8 months pregnant with my daughter Mia, and my son Luca was 2, when we moved from L.A. to the Bay Area. Our L.A. house sold at our first open house, and since I was very pregnant the pressure was on to find a new home. We found this lovely Victorian and made an offer without ever visiting it in person! It was pretty stressful. We had a 45-day escrow in L.A. and a 25-day escrow up here, and they both closed within the same week. The universe was really looking out for us. We had a long list of 'wishes,' but at the top were good public schools and a great outdoor space. Our backyard is what sold us on the house. I can stand at the kitchen sink and watch the kids play. Luca loves riding his bike around the yard and little Mia scoots after him. When it gets colder we make s'mores in the fireplace. It’s super great."
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- Ariel wears a Mille shirt, GLabel jeans, and Ariel Gordon Jewelry. Luca wears as H&M shirt, Zara pants, Jonas Paul glasses, and an Ariel Gordon Jewelry necklace. Mia wears a Bonpoit dress.
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- "As much as I aspire towards minimalism, I love surrounding myself with treasures I collect and things that make me smile. I feel like my personality comes through—it's happy, playful, bright, a little bit tailored, but nothing is too precious. I love to travel, and I have trinkets I’ve picked up along the way that I’ve incorporated in to the house. There's a giant room diffuser from Coqui Coqui in Tulum, a porcelain happy Buddha from Beijing, art from Tokyo, beautiful pottery from Paris, and throw pillows from New York."
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- "Luckily, the house was move-in ready and we’ve lived in it ‘as-is’ for 2 years. Currently, we’re in the midst of redoing the upstairs kids' bathroom that they share. We have plans to do a light kitchen face-lift—just countertops and backsplash—hopefully next year. In a dream world, I’d build a freestanding office and studio space in the back yard, but, one thing at a time! The first thing I did when we moved in was make custom black-out Roman shades for each room in the house—I used nice linen downstairs and fun prints upstairs. The windows had no coverings and I needed to be able to block the light for nap time. Making custom drapery, pillows, or furniture goes a long way towards making a house feel like a home. It’s only slightly more expensive than buying something readymade—it helps if you have access to an interior designer friend who can source fabric at cost—and it adds a personal touch that ties things together nicely."
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- "More is more. Ha! I really just try to surround myself with things that make me happy, and that's often pieces with color and pattern. To keep things from looking too bananas, I try to use pieces in the same complementary color families. And then maybe just one pop of contrast. Also, I limit where I use the pattern, for example, if I have a wild wallpaper or rug, I let that be the statement and keep other pieces more subdued. But I know when some wacky pattern is right because it will tug at me the moment I see it."
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- "The fabric for the Roman shades was the jumping off point for each room. Then I chose the rest of the pieces from there. I wanted them to be playful, but not too juvenile, so I just picked out furniture that I’d like for myself. Furniture is expensive and I want whatever I buy to last a long time. I steered clear of buying any big pieces that were too age specific. I feel like the beds, dressers, bookcases, etc. can grow with the kids, and I can just layer in different bedding and books to make them more age appropriate. We also have a few personal items in their rooms that make them feel special—a little silver teething bell that was my husband’s from when he was born, the Moroccan wedding blanket on the bed that was a gift at our wedding, a stack of my favorite books that I saved from my childhood, and a little porcelain Peter Pan and Tinkerbell that belonged to my mom and I remember playing with as a child."
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- "I definitely try to corral the toys, but I wouldn’t say I’m always successful. At the end of the day, my husband and I always do a sweep of the house and put the bulk of the toys back into the playroom. However, I do consciously try to keep toys out of their bedroom. I find it helpful to limit the distractions at bedtime."
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- The cutest little DJ.
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- "The rolled-arm couch is a classic silhouette in a child-friendly blue velvet. I made it less serious with some fun pillows. The chairs, again, are a classic Parson silhouette in a soft lavender for a lighter feel. The wheat sheath side tables and lamps are finds from the Rose Bowl Flea Market in L.A.—I loved going early in the morning when I lived in L.A. The rug was a score from the Madeline Weinrib sample sale."
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- Ariel wears J.Crew pants and a Lingua Franca sweater.
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- "The big raspberry tufted ottoman was one of my first pieces of adult furniture. I had it made when I lived in a tiny Santa Monica apartment almost 8 years ago. I’ve moved it from house to house with me. It’s such a versatile piece. We got a set of gorgeous Mud Australia plates for our wedding in an assortment of different colors, and they’re still going strong almost 10 years later. They are remarkably resilient for being so thin and light. I reupholstered our classic Chippendale dining chairs in fun polka dot outdoor fabric to be more kid friendly. They do a great job of being ‘adult’ chairs but not taking themselves too seriously. The Schumacher wallpaper in the front playroom is a fave. I wanted to pick a wallpaper that was youthful, but not too baby, since this room won't always be consumed by toys, and not too gender specific. I love the birds and butterflies. It feels like I'm floating in the tree tops outside the window."
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- "I am the founder, designer, and CEO of Ariel Gordon Jewelry."
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"I’ve only ever lived in Southern California until recently. I grew up in San Diego and then went to UCLA and majored in English and Italian. I was very studious, got good grades, I was the coxswain for the men’s varsity crew team—a.k.a. I was nerdy and didn’t party that much. My first job out of college was for a marketing firm founded by Caroline Graham, who was a titan in the magazine world. She was the West Coast editor of Vanity Fair, The New Yorker and Talk Magazine under Tina Brown—if you don’t know who Tina is, look her up. She taught me so much about marketing, PR, event production, proper etiquette, and so much more."
"Then I went to work for a PR firm producing gifting houses at award shows and film festivals. Needless to say, that left a lot to be desired. During this time, I took some jewelry classes at a local jewelry school in Santa Monica to escape the hectic pace of the industry. This led me to the Revere Academy in San Francisco, where I learned metal smithing and stone setting. The Revere Academy sadly closed in 2017, but it was one of the only places at the time you could go to have a comprehensive course in jewelry fabrication, soldering, wax carving, casting, gemology, stone setting, etc. It's so hard to see its era come to an end. So many great jewelers got their start there. Once I moved back to L.A., I sent my résumé to every jewelry designer in the area—from Caroline, I learned to be fearless and to this day I can cold call anyone—and ended up working as the right hand to Maya Brenner for 5 years. She taught me tons about how to run a small business, from making line sheets to sourcing materials, and everything in between. I launched my own line, Ariel Gordon Jewelry, in 2009 and haven’t looked back."
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- "Flash to the present day and I’m super proud that I have the skill—I used to make all of the jewelry myself at my dining room table in my Santa Monica apartment. I quickly reached a tipping point where that wasn’t scaleable, and I now have a super skilled team of craftspeople in L.A. who do all my fabrication. But having the intimate knowledge of my materials and how things are made informs so many of my design decisions. That foundation guides all the conversations I have with my vendors. It gives me confidence when I’m in a workshop full of old men and I need to navigate a production hiccup with them because I know my materials so well. Knowledge truly is power."
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- Blinged out with baubles of her own design.
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"When I worked in PR, I just remember being at Sundance Film Festival looking around and feeling so disconnected from my job and that whole crazy world. I was working insane hours, making terrible money, and didn’t see a clear path for my future. I knew I wanted to start a family and I knew I wanted a job that allowed me that flexibility. I also knew that if I was going to bust my ass, I wanted to be the one to benefit from all my own hard work. So, I quit. I had no idea what I was going to do. I had never made a piece of jewelry before."
"Moms are an integral part of my consumer base. It is so satisfying to design and make something that is tangible and becomes a part of someone's daily wardrobe. Because all of my jewelry is real gold and stones, I love the idea that the pieces I make could be handed down as family heirlooms. AGJ consists of highly personal pieces designed to be worn together and collected over time, since I often find myself wearing the same jewels for months. All of the jewelry that I wear is symbolic of a treasured moment in my life. Women no longer want to wait for gifts or grand gestures from others to build a jewelry collection—they can do it themselves. Since so many Ariel Gordon Jewelry pieces can be personalized or customized with hand engraving or birthstones, I sell a lot to these ladies."
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- "Seeing my kids romp together is pretty rad. They are at a fun age where they are able to make each other belly laugh. Knowing that I put people on this planet and that I will guide them to be good, strong, funny, brave, gentle, and emotional is also pretty great. It’s all I could ask for."
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- "Motherhood has been a whirlwind for me. When Luca was only 6 days old my own beautiful mom was diagnosed with cancer. She passed away a short 3 months later. I’m so lucky that I got to spend those 3 months together with her, my family, and Luca. But it was a cosmic nightmare…tending to a little newborn baby while also tending to my mom as she became more ill and frail. Changing his diaper. Changing her diaper. Becoming a mother and losing my mother in the same moment in life was a true test. She was my best friend and my rock. My biggest fear is that I will die and my kids won’t be fully formed yet. While my mom’s death was devastating, I was in my 30s when she died and I was already prepared by her to be a woman navigating the world. She fully taught me to be strong and confident, to be gentle and kind, to be curious and brave, to be silly and independent. The thought of my kids not having me around to teach them those same lessons is almost paralyzing it’s so scary. I don’t have any regrets for things left unsaid between us. More so just sadness about the lost moments together. I now live in a new city, in a new house that she’ll never see. I have a daughter she’ll never hold. The hardest part is all the little moments in life that she’s missing out on, moments that I know she would have loved to see. I have to surrender to the sadness of those lost moments. I can’t get them back, but it definitely makes me appreciate my present more. Experiencing this kind of tragedy puts things into perspective."
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- "I love having one of each and didn't have a preference the first time around. When I found out I was pregnant with Mia, I actually freaked out. I wanted another boy. Having a girl meant that I’d only ever get to be the ‘mother’ and I’d never get to be the ‘daughter’ anymore in a mother-daughter relationship. In a sad and selfish way, I wanted someone to coddle me, nurture me, and tend to me in a way that only my own mom could. The emotions got all tangled inside of me. But now that I’m on the other side of it, I love having a daughter. I see so much of my mom in Mia. All the best of her—her sense of humor, her personality, her confidence. It’s truly a beautiful full circle."
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- "For Luca, we just picked a name we liked. My husband is Italian and we leaned hard into that—Luca Valentino Maffei. For Mia, we wanted to honor my mom by using her initials ML: Mia Luna Maffei."
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"Luca turned 5 last week and loves learning about different animals, building things, climbing, and puzzles. My husband is a civil engineer, and Luca gets his spatial reasoning and logistical brain from him. But he also loves bright colorful things. He points out pretty flowers and patterns, so he gets an appreciation for design from me."
"Mia is 2 and is a typical second child. She hit all her milestones early—walking, talking, potty training—but I think it was all an attempt to keep up with her big brother. She’s forever walking around and collecting things and carrying them with her: rocks, hair clips, pistachios. She particularly loves putting them in her ‘purse'...I wonder where she gets her love of accessories? Without any prodding from us, she’s obsessed with babies and loves pushing them around in her little stroller."
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- "Definitely."
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"I feel super lucky that getting pregnant happened quickly both times. I have many friends who struggle with fertility, so I know this is a true blessing. The pregnancies weren’t so easy though. Both times, I felt sick the whole term. I never actually threw up but I felt like I could at any moment. It was like a 9-month hangover. The only thing that made the nausea feel remotely better was eating carbs. Needless to say, I gained over 65 pounds both pregnancies. I’m only 5’2” so it was more than half my body weight in extra pounds to carry around, which made me bone tired. It was even harder the second time, because you can’t take a nap when you are chasing around a 2-year-old."
"I actually went to a dark place mentally during the second pregnancy—the intense emotions around having a girl, the nausea, the fatigue, the heartburn, being pregnant without my mom to lean on. I’m normally an optimistic person, and for the first time I felt like I was drowning and couldn’t see an end in sight. That deep dark fog lifted once Mia was born, but I was truly lost for much of that pregnancy."
"With Luca I had a great doula. I went into labor naturally and labored to the point where I was fully effaced, fully dilated, pushing, could see the top of his head but ended up needing an emergency C-section, as he was too big to deliver vaginally without dislocating his shoulder—hard pass on that option. With Mia, because we had just moved up North, I had to find a new OBGYN when I was 8 months pregnant. In an attempt to make a super hectic transition in my life more manageable, I opted for a scheduled C-section. I didn’t feel like I had anything to prove. Motherhood presents infinite challenges, and making this one thing less stressful seemed like the right choice. I’m really happy with that decision."
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- Ariel wears J.Crew pants and a The Great sweater. Luca wears an H&M shirt, Zara pants, Jonas Paul glasses, and an Ariel Gordon Jewelry necklace. Mia wears a Bonpoit dress.
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- "Nope. That doesn’t really exist when you own your own business. But I did work to get all my ducks in a row at the office as much as I could before each birth."
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- "I haven’t really read any parent books. I did do a mommy-and-me group in L.A. with my friend Erica Chidi Cohen—before she opened LOOM, she used to put together groups in Venice—where I picked up some great tips on how to be a conscientious and empathetic parent."
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- "My mom was a larger than life personality. She wore frilly socks, rhinestone earrings, and bright red lipstick every day. She had a way of endearing strangers to her. In a matter of minutes, she would have them telling her intimate life stories. She was never one for big birthday celebrations, because she thought everyday we are alive is a celebration. If she saw something she wanted to give me as a present, she wouldn’t wait. 'Life is short. Buy the bag.' Needless to say, I inherited quite the handbag collection from her."
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- "I grew up in San Diego. I have an older sister who now lives in Santa Cruz with her family. My mom was a lifelong learner. Before she had kids, she was a ballet dancer, then a high school English teacher. She was always deep into studying a new philosophy—yoga, Ayurveda, Chinese medicine, Feng Shui. She used a hybrid of all these Eastern philosophies to help craft her life. But she also loved a good In-N-Out burger. So it’s all about balance. My dad is a family doctor who ran his own private practice for 35 years. He’s super politically active and has been a long time advocate for universal health care, the underinsured, bioethics, and victims of child abuse among other things. My parents got married later in life, which was rare back then, and both lived full lives before they had kids. They travelled. They were politically active. They loved each other deeply. My home was nurturing and stable. They valued education and learning. I always felt supported and loved. We talked about our feelings at great depth, which I didn’t realize was unusual until later in life. That was such a gift."
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- "I want my children to navigate their world with empathy. I want them to be kind, not because I force them to, but because they understand what it feels like when someone is nice to them. When they get upset because someone isn’t sharing, I say 'how does that make you feel' to direct their attention to the importance of kindness. I want them to eat all the food on their plate not because I tell them to, but because they are in touch with their bodies. I try to give my kids the tools to feel independent and empowered. I don’t ever say, 'Good job' rather I say 'Look at you! You did it!' It’s a subtle semantic shift but it goes a long way towards them feeling self-actualized. They are accomplishing something for themselves, not because they are seeking my validation. I try to teach by example. It’s definitely a marathon, not a race, and I try to remember that a video here or a hot dog there isn’t going to ruin things. What matters more is the consistency of my messaging. The quotidian daily grind is where the heart of it lives. That’s how the values get instilled."
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- "We live in a deeply scary time and I have a heightened sense of awareness of the world we are leaving for our children. We no longer live in a climate where we can sit quietly. Passivity is complicity in my book. Recognize you have a voice. Use it. Loudly. As a conscious consumer, I know I want to spend my money with brands that have values that align with mine. I know some peers who own businesses who are afraid to speak up about politics for fear that it might affect their bottom line. To them I say—it’s a luxury to stay silent, and not everyone can afford that luxury. My name is on the door, and I want my brand to stand for the values that matter to me. This company is deeply personal, and I feel a moral obligation to speak up about causes and policies that are important to me. If that doesn’t align with a customer, then I am fine with that, too."
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"I grew up watching my dad be super politically active. He’s been a lifelong radical—he was a volunteer doctor at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago during the riots, he’s a champion of universal health care, he founded free clinics, he helped draft legislation that de-segregated blood banks in the 60s and 70s. So that was always floating around me, but I never really looked squarely at his activism until I had kids. When they came along, I realized I had a responsibility to be an advocate and an ally. too."
"Growing up 15 minutes from the U.S.-Mexico border in San Diego, I feel very close to the plight of immigrants. I’ve had the honor of partnering with an organization I care about deeply: This Is About Humanity. They work closely to meet the needs of immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers, by advocating for their human rights and safety while supporting housing, medical care, legal counsel, and on-the-ground relief efforts. After traveling to the border a few times and witnessing the dire situation first hand, I felt compelled to get more involved. In September, I bumped into one of the co-founders, Elsa, on the street in downtown L.A. She was on her way to observe a stranger’s asylum hearing and I realized that we as individuals can all do more. I didn’t want to feel helpless. We all have time, treasure, or talent to give. I took a talent that I have—I make jewelry—and directed the efforts towards the cause so I could help as many immigrant families as I could. A week later, we had samples of our HUMANITY Name it Necklace. We’ve been blown away by the enthusiasm and support. In a few short months, we’ve already raised over $17,000. I’m super proud that 100% of the net proceeds of the sale go straight to their fund and various on-the-ground organizations they support."
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- "Everything is fleeting. If it’s really good—that will pass. If it’s really hard—that will pass. If you’re really unsure—that will pass. If you’re really overwhelmed—that will pass. Try to stay even through all these ebbs and flows and surrender to the moment of where you are. My mom always used to say that our children are our Buddhas, and I love thinking about it this way. I get to be both the teacher and the student. I am the best version of myself when I’m with my kids. But in the frazzled moments, I am also a really gnarly version of myself. C.S. Lewis once said, 'It’s not the load that weighs you down, it’s the way you carry it.' Meaning we all have the power to shift how we view a situation. If you feel in the weeds, if you are afraid, if you are overwhelmed…you have the power to reframe things. It won’t necessarily solve the problem, but it will help how you process it. And that’s all we can hope for. 'Surrender to the divine,' my mom used to say."
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- "Ask me again in 6 months."
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- "Absolutely. My husband is the most loving and committed dad. He ostensibly is a single parent when I travel, working 50-hour weeks and doing the dinner-bath-bedtime dance solo. He never complains. He is so supportive and strong. I have a full-time nanny who watches Mia while Luca is in school at a local Montessori. My in-laws live close by and fill in the holes. I have a small but mighty team in L.A. at the AGJ offices who run a tight ship when I can’t be there. It really does take a village."
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- "Two years ago my family moved to the Bay Area for my husband’s work and to be closer to family. The AGJ team and all my production still happen in L.A. The result of this move is that I travel back and forth. A lot. Sometimes twice in one week. As a mother of two young kids who runs a company based in a different city, I’m learning I need to set boundaries. My most precious commodity is my time, and I need to protect it. While rapid growth sounds validating for my ego, slow and steady is much more sustainable. Climb back in the box, Ego. My priorities are shifting. Five years ago, success looked like my jewelry being worn by celebs and being on magazine covers, big store orders, and lots of schmancy dinner parties. Today—with a company that is many times more profitable than it was 5 years ago—I’ve shifted the balance. Success looks like a weekend with my kids where I don’t pick up my phone to look at email or social media. Success is relative to where you are in your life. That doesn’t mean I’m not ambitious anymore. I’m just evolving things so they work for me, not the other way around. And if that means some things fall by the wayside, then that’s ok."
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- "The myth of having it all is counterproductive. That doesn’t exist. We all have all the balls in the air. Sometimes they drop. We are only human. I’ve learned that I need to compartmentalize myself in order to give proper attention to what I’m doing. I’m the worst version of a mom when I try to parent while sending an email on the sly—I’d probably be yelling at the kids while shoving a video in front of them and sending an email with a bunch of typos. I’m the worst version of a businesswoman when I’m trying to have a conference call while chasing a kid at the playground—I’d probably miss some important info and not know it because a kid fell off their scooter. Don’t get me wrong...I’m great at multitasking and work at a quick clip. My nickname is ‘fast and darty.’ But there is really only so much bandwidth to go around. So I try to divide up my time clearly. If I’m cooking dinner, on a call, at the park, with my husband—whatever it is I try to give it my true attention. Be present. It ultimately makes me more efficient and everyone else has a better experience. Myself included."
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- "We chose the East Bay for many reasons: the schools, the proximity to nature, the diversity, and the culture. It was a place where we wanted to raise our kids—much more so than L.A.—and it's a bonus that it has such a thriving creative community. I love that we get to experience more ‘seasons’ living in northern California, but I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss the beaches of L.A."
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- Ariel wears a vintage dress and Ariel Gordon Jewelry. Luca wears a t-shirt from a street vendor in Santa Cruz, Target pants, Jonas Paul glasses, and an Ariel Gordon Jewelry necklace. Mia wears a Zara shirt and Old Navy pants.
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- "I could have stayed in L.A. forever, but at this point I don’t see us going back."
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- "For shopping, I love Hero Shop, McMullen, Esqueleto, and We Are Goodstock. As for food, we go to Market Hall for a rotisserie chicken, Rico Rico Tacos with the kids, Chez Panisse for dates with my husband, and Berkeley Bowl for groceries. I work at the Wing in SF and play at Snow Park in Oakland by the lake, the Bay Area Discovery Museum, also at Christie Park at Emeryville’s Public Market."
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- "Casual and comfy. A little tomboy. Lots of basic separates. A few bold prints mixed in. Lots of gold jewelry. A designer handbag."
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- Ariel wears a Re/done t-shirt, Misha & Puff sweater; Citizens of Humanity jeans, and Ariel Gordon Jewelry. Luca wears a Tosan sweatshirt; Target pants, Jonas Paul glasses, and an Ariel Gordon Jewelry necklace. Mia wears Old Navy pants and a Bonbon top.
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- "Nothing can be so precious that I’m too afraid to carry a kid while I’m wearing it."
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- "Ariel Gordon Jewelry, obviously. Here’s a breakdown of what I wear daily. 6 rings: a single paper thin ring on my thumb, twine ring stacked with a helium ring, pave love knot ring, and my engagement ring, all AGJ designs, naturally, stacked with a 22k Victorian wedding band I sourced for my Heritage Collection. 5 bracelets: twine bangle, endless bangle, heart of gold bracelet, lido strand bracelet, and classic link bracelet. 6 earrings: pave huggies worn side by side in one ear, skinny tire huggie, fat tire huggie, marquis wink stud, twisted petite hoop on the other. 2 necklaces: imperial disc necklace, layered with an enamel Fridge magnet charm and an Opal Strawberry, with an AGJ x This is About Humanity necklace. 2 stardust anklets, and 1 skinny tire toe ring."
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- "I’m all about easy and casual dressing. I usually wear a t-shirt and jeans—often a Re/done tee and Citizens of Humanity or Levi’s jeans—with some sort of light jacket. Recently, I’ve been wearing a quilted liner to a military jacket that I found at the Alameda Flea. If I have an event, I wear a dress in a fun print. Some of my faves come from Rixo, Sea, Doen, and No.6. For shoes I love Birkenstock, Vans, Ancient Greek Sandals, and APC. My weakness is a handbag. Actually, it’s more intentional than that. I feel like I can buy the essential building blocks from anywhere, but it's all about the 'accessories.' No one will know if your clothes are from Zara if you're wearing good jewels and a fancy purse. The right accessories always elevate an outfit."
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- Hanging with her crew.
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- "There are more days than I would like to admit that I don’t get to take a shower. I don’t wear makeup unless I have a meeting or a shoot. I'm trying to be more mindful of the beauty products that I’m using, so I’ve mostly paired it down to clean brands. For my skin I've been using Goop, True Botanicals, and BeautyCounter. For my hair, it's Pattern by Tracee Ellis Ross and Moroccan Oil Curl Creme. As for make-up, I opt for dewy skin with a tinted moisturizer and bright red lip via Maybelline SuperStay Matte Ink in Heroine."
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- "I found an affordable trainer and I try to see him at least 2 times a week. That gets tricky because I travel about 30 weeks out of the year. But I’m not too hard on myself. There are only so many hours in the day. When I travel to L.A., I try to fit in a massage at The Now. I’ve got a guy at the Silver Lake location and he’s amazing."
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- "I have a standing appointment for my eyelash extensions. I hardly wear makeup, so they go a long way to make my face look instantly brighter. A tiny hour every 6 weeks where I get to close my eyes. They are a bit self-indulgent, but I figure it’s worth it since they have such staying power."
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- "Kids learn to navigate the world by watching us. They are little sponges, so I try and be aware of that. I don’t want my kids to see me as a woman who works so hard to just make pretty things. I want them to know that I stand up for people who can’t stand up for themselves. I want them to know that I vote. I want them to see me advocate for policy reforms that affect our society. I want them to see me be kind and generous, patient and strong. I want them to know that my company supports a whole network of families and artisans. We are all members of the same broad community and need to take care of each other."
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- "I’m trying to juggle my 2020 work load so I can have a little more downtime. The last few years have been extra crunchy and I’m starting to see the light. I want to be mindful of what projects I take on so I don’t run myself down. That’s not good for anyone."
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- For more on Ariel and her colorful style and gorgeous jewelry, be sure to follow along on Instagram.
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Love this…..sitting here and wearing my candy crush AG band that I got for christmas 2 years ago! <3
What an amazing series of photos! Ariel’s feet are absolutely beautiful. The best pictures are #2 (gorgeous bare foot, long cute toes, and lovely pedicure), #11 (breathtaking shot of Ariel’s bare feet and her beautiful pedicured toes. I see a toe ring as well!), and #45 (perhaps the best shot of the series. Ariel’s precious toes look so cute and her bare soles are so lovely!). Thank you for sharing your beautiful feet, Ariel!