Announcing the CREATIVE NICHE series

cre·a·tive - /krēˈātiv// Adj. 1. marked by the ability or power to create, 2. characterized by originality or expressiveness

niche - /niCH// Noun. 1. a situation or activity specially suited to a person's interests, abilities, or nature

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Inspiration is among us...everywhere.  But you have to look. And listen. And be open to it.  I've long been a fan of Dr. Seuss who has always reminded me that my imagination is infinite, and the possibilities that lie within them are exponential. So, starting next week, I'm unveiling a new project:  the Creative Niche, where I take a little time out each month to showcase some amazing talent from creative industries that span food, photography, design, and all that jazz--all of whom, carving their own creative niche in this world.

Note: Out of respect for the recent tragedy in Boston, this series will be unveiled in a couple of weeks. 

Stay tuned. Stay Inspired.

Dr. Seuss 'Cat in the Hat' watercolor art by Chandara Phanachone (otherwise known as me, silly)

Behind the Scenes: SF Tastemakers Photoshoot

I recently had the opportunity and pleasure of styling a photoshoot for Retrofit Republic's Spring 2013 look book...I'm beyond thrilled at our final product which you can also view in my portfolio, but you might be wondering how we made it all happen. Well, long before the models grace the pages, long before they even begin to start looking more dapper and glamorous than they already are, and much longer before each tangelo is delicately placed on every place setting, the creative masterminds get to work on planning, prepping, schlepping, and styling every little detail that you see in front of you. It's no small feat, but truly a labor of love.  While the final masterpiece may look amazing, the back end of our jobs are definitely not always glamorous, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

In my previous life, I've worked in cubicles, stared endlessly into a computer screen from 9-5 as I remained sedentary for the majority of those hours, performed mind-numbing data entry for what seemed to be ages, and in the process, stifling my own creativity.  While there are those of us who seek comfort in routines, I savor and long for moments of spontaneity that come when I get inspired by the seemingly small things in life: an image captured with the most ambient light, the sweet scent of springtime blossoms serving as a gentle reminder that it's never too late for sweet new beginnings, or the purity and innocence of a baby's giggle that beckons for me to slow down and dance in the puddles more often than I jump across it.

These moments matter to me. Details matter to me. Doing what I love matters to me.  And relishing every bit of it matters deeply to me. So, what matters to you? You don't have to answer all at once..but here's to taking some time out to do that things that truly matter to each of us.

And of course, something else that really matters to me are beautiful images captured a la my iPhone. Enjoy!

I'm still swooning over this little darling from Public Bikes SF  {All images via my iPhone 5}

Lao-style duck larb + blood orange & pomelo salad...cooked & styled by yours truly

Are you drooling yet? I am too..these banh mi didn't make it in the look book, but goodness..they're decadent! 

Fresh meyer lemons, oro blanco grapefruits, and tangelos gracing the bar -- all hand-picked from a friend's backyard

Executive Stylist Jenny Ton working her magic in her neon green jeans...love!

We let our models sleep or smile...whatever they prefer

Our photographer, Isabella, making our Jeremy Tooker (owner of  Four Barrel Coffee) look his best

And of course, this shoot wouldn't be complete without a proper behind the scenes video for you to enjoy.  So sit back, relax, and stay inspired, friends.  Then once you're done with that, get your tickets to Retrofit Republic's OFFICIAL Tastemakers Video LookBook Launch Party that's happening this weekend at San Francisco's newest urban winery, Tank 18, chock full of prize packages worth over $3K and the fantabulous Off the Grid food trucks will be there in tow.  I'm an official sponsor of the event along with some of my favorites including Anthology Magazine & Public Bikes SF, so don't miss out!  You can purchase tickets via EventBrite today and enter in code TastemakersFF for a special discount for my blog readers.  I can't wait to see you there!

Behind the Scenes Video of Retrofit Republic's Community Heroes: The Tastemakers Edition Lookbook from Retrofit Republic on Vimeo.

---------------- executive producers + wardrobe styling: Retrofit Republic | food styling + design: Chandara Creative | look book photography: Isabella Bejarano | videography: Connie Gao + Hanrui Wang | hair-styling: Geneive Jaramilla | venue:  Foreign Cinema SF

Embracing My Passion

My twenties were tumultuous.  Always trying, forever searching --- for a job, a purpose, for something...anything --- and continually trying to make sense of it all.  And then one day, I turned the page on 30.  But it wasn't the numerical value that phased me (I could care less).  If anything, I found myself embracing this new decade with open arms because for the first time in my life, turning 30 gave me the courage to let go of my inhibitions and delve into my passion for creativity.

Three years ago, many of you know that I started a food blog, namely Spicy Green Mango, as a way to share my culinary curiosities with the world.  What many of you may not know is that at the time, I was also juggling a full-time career and pursuing my MBA (thankfully having graduated this past year...woo hoo!), all while inadvertently dabbling in wedding planning and food styling to satiate my creative lust over the summers. My days were spent traveling incessantly for work, while my weekends and evenings were consumed with school, homework, and class project meetings. I was pulled in every way imaginable, and much like the financial spread sheets that were haunting me in my sleep, I was out of balance. I needed to ground myself in the things that inspired me the most.  And the most magnetic of those pulls was from the creative world --- the hours I spent drooling over Pinterest images, and foraging for any source of visual or literary inspiration I could possibly find. And it was in these moments that I learned to embrace my passion.

The founding of CHANDARA CREATIVE has been a long journey, and as I reflect, I am reminded of a diagram that was widely circulated via Facebook.  It was a diagram of success.  For many of us, we'd like to think of success as a linear path, one that takes us from point A to point B.  But in my reality, success has a been a path of squiggles, dotted with a series of setbacks & detours, punctuated with flashes of self-doubt, yet illuminated with moments of inspiration and heartfelt words of encouragement.  You see, never in my wildest imagination (and I do have a pretty crazy one) did I ever think that my love for children's books, whimsical doodles, artistic expressions, and all things edible would turn into anything but a hobby.  And while everything is still a work in progress, it's progress, nonetheless.  As I set out on this path, my hope is for you to join me and share your path of squiggles by remembering your stories of disappointments just enough to humble you, but also celebrating your moments of triumph just enough to inspire you.  For as a wise friend once told me not so long ago:

"It's always risky when we share the hard moments we went through, but...it also humanizes us.  And these experiences are what connect us to the next person --- to remind ourselves, to remind each other, that life is hard, and that the journey is long.  But when you have friends, family, and an entire community rooting for you, nothing, I repeat, nothing, can come between you and realizing your dreams."

Well put, Julia.  So go ahead. DREAM BIG.  And don't forget to surround yourself with only the greatest people.  Because these are the people who will enable you to weather the most tumultuous moments of your lives, and they are the same people who will come to celebrate in your life's proudest accomplishments & lift you higher than you ever thought possible.

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CHANDARA CREATIVE is dedicated to all my dreamers and believers out there, especially the ones who believed in me even when I didn't have the courage to believe in myself.  It is because of you that I am here today.  And it is because of you that I am continually inspired to dream my crazy, big dreams. And for that, I am truly, madly, deeply grateful.

Stay Inspired,
Chandara

Creativity Is My Passion

This is my motto, my catch phrase, and my truth.

There are 3 things that inspire me:  food, people, and places. For so long, I've been keeping my inspiration gallery nestled in my head, and as big as my cranium is, I realized that I could no longer keep all those goodies locked up in one place. So here it is...CHANDARA CREATIVE, the blog:  my inspirational collective of musings from the creative life.  It's a direct extension of my love for food [styling + photography].  So, what does this mean exactly? It means that aside from being a food blog, this is really a space for me to feature my projects along with the works of amazing creatives who I admire and continue to inspire me to do what I love.  I know what you're thinking: "But Chandara, what about the food? I came here for food!" I get it...if you came here for food, rest assured that you won't be disappointed (Whew! Can we be friends again?), and I'm putting together an entire post dedicated to the rebranding of my site..more to follow soon.  But I digress.

Let's face it:  Within the craziness of our social media-centric lives nowadays, sometimes, there are days when we all just need to give ourselves a little break --- to relax, re-energize, and re-focus.  During my 3 year hiatus, I've done a lot of thinking and re-evaluating what it was about my first foray into the blogosphere that really inspired me. Was it the chance for fame? Nope! Was it the opportunity to get sent to eat good food? Well, okay, you got me there! And if anybody you ever wants to send me a sack of oysters, I wouldn't try and stop you. But more importantly, was it a chance to unleash my creativity? You got it! I found that regardless of where I was at in my life, I always sought out sources of inspiration to nurture and rekindle my passion for creativity.  I am at my best when I'm able to create --- experiences, memories, and moments.

And that's what I'm hoping this blog will do for you! Above all else, I hope this blog inspires you to be your best self and live your best life. So, for my loyal fans who have seen me grow up, welcome back, and I'm so grateful to you for believing in me and supporting me even when there was complete radio silence on my end. And for those of you who are just joining me for this this new & exciting stage, welcome and I am thrilled to have you! Now, let's get inspired, shall we?

Stay Inspired,
Chandara