Back To New York

JULLIEN HERRERA @ Jalama Beach, CA - photo by: Lisa Petrarca

Tonight I said goodbye to my middle son, Jullien. He headed back to his home in New York and straight to Fashion Week castings. I felt very lucky to have him home for a whole 20 days! It was definitely harder to say goodbye this time because I actually had more time with him than in the past. Usually on his short trips home he's always gone so it's almost like he's not even here on vacation. But this time I had him around a lot...AND we didn't even argue. Yes...we used to argue quite a bit because we're too much a like. We are both strong willed and like to have our own way. But with age comes appreciation and understanding of our similarities along with personal growth and change.

Today I was able to hang out with him all day. He had an appointment at the DMV, so he did an early morning final surfing session.

Newport Beach, CA

I took tons of photo's (of course) and tried to get a video with my phone...it's a little far away but I think you can tell he surf's really well.

Surfing @ Jalama Beach

I'm grateful for the family time I've been able to have this summer! There's nothing better than creating lasting memories.

New York Fashion Week and More...

Jullien Herrera, (Red Models) for Number: Lab FW11

It's always nice to see a modern take on the 80's style collar worn by Jullien for New York Fashion Week, James Alix Thomas~Alix F/W 11 Show, seen here on Models.com.

James Alix Thomas Fall/Winter 2011
Photos: Stephan Moskovic

I love the jacket below and would definitely wear it! I've been intrigued with the art of layering lately. Mixing prints, patterns, vests, scarfs and jackets. It can be quite difficult if you don't know what your doing. Therein lies the art of fashion. Don't be too 'matchy-matchy' but also beware of putting too many things into one outfit. ART~FASHION=A person reflecting their personal canvas to the world.

What Goes Around Comes Around FW11

While In Milan for Fashion Week, Jullien did an interview for Essen-A Taste Magazine(Click Link.) He gave me props on my Taco's which is a family favorite. He also gave a recipe for a dinner he makes. WHAT? When did he learn to cook? Guess it's one of the +'s of sending him out on his own at 17...he's very self sufficient. I also gave him a hard time for his drinking comments, which he promptly told me, "Mom, the drinking age in Europe is 18 & so it's legal!"

photo by Marcelo Dino for Essen

Jullien Herrera from Fashion Model Management

Picture for Essen Magazine-Be sure to read the article.

I MISSED IT!

You guys know how excited I was to get to finally see my son in a live fashion show. Justin Timberlake posted a live feed of his "William Rast FW 2010" show online.

So, being the proud mama...I Blogged, Twittered, Facebooked, Emailed & Text all of my Blogging, Twitting, Facebooking & texting friends and family. I wanted to make sure everyone else got the chance to attend a front row New York Fashion Week FW 2010 event also.

I rushed home from work, logged on & waited. They seemed to be running a little behind.

Now lets be clear...I KNOW my computer is a total piece, but I thought I could at least watch it as it stuttered through (think of looking at still pictures & pressing the next arrow over & over giving it a stuttering effect.)

I'm watching the crowd mingling and waiting for the show to start.

All of a sudden I get a text from two of my sisters saying, "YAY...I just saw him" and "AWWWE."

Now I'm confused, my screen continues to show the waiting crowd. I said, "WHAT...YOU SAW HIM?"

"Yeah he looked awesome!"

I clicked off & on again just in time to see the stuttering, blurry video of him turning the corner in the grand finale walk with everyone.

NOOOOOO! This did not just happen!

SO I HOPE YOU ALL GOT TO SEE HIM...BECAUSE I DIDN'T! Can you believe it?LOL!

Hopefully Justin will post it on his William Rast Website or on You Tube so I can watch it at work.

*On another note, Jullien got to wheel out Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy & Ashley Simpson's husband) after walking in his ANGELS & KINGS show last night.

The Radar Online Article Reads"Pete Wentz Silences the Fashion Week Grand Entrance"

CLICK HERE TO READ ARTICLE

JULLIEN CLOSING THE SHOW WITH PETE
He got to show off his new indian tattoo too!



Ashley Simpson in the Crowd

Family Leaving & Arriving

LEAVING: This morning I had to take my son Jullien, to the airport at 5:00 a.m. He was supposed to be back in New York last week to go on several castings for New York Fashion Week, but wanted to take care of some things before he left.

So his awesome agent, George Brown at Red Model Management~Click Here & also see Models.Com~Click Here is cramming in tons of castings in the short amount of time leading up to the shows. He had to go to two of them right from the airport...lugging his bags and all.

I've really enjoyed getting to have him home for so long. It made it hard to say goodbye again...but he is so fortunate to be able to travel & see the world at the age of 18.

ARRIVING: My parents arrived yesterday from Utah. I'm so thankful for everyone's prayers for my dad. He is doing incredibly well since his 4th stage, inoperable lung cancer diagnosis a year ago. Check out his "Father of the Year Video on You Tube" CLICK HERE. He continues to work full time at the police dept. as a captain & also works a side job.

I really feel that the prayers and his incredibly positive attitude have stabilized the cancer. It has stopped growing & is completely at a stand still. What a blessing!

My dad and hubby played golf today, while I worked until 1:00 p.m.

I'm fortunate to be an independent contractor and have a flexible schedule.

After I got off, I headed out to Glendora, the small little town I grew up in, where my sister still lives, to hang out with my mom & sister.

We headed back down to Newport Beach to meet up with everyone & eat at my dad's favorite restaurant...The Crab Cooker. We piled nine of us into my Lincoln Navigator, (nothing quite like family togetherness), and had so much fun.

Gotta love all the old family memories!

There's absolutely nothing better than spending time with the people you love the most!

Weekend, Pictures & More

I spent the day Saturday trying to find something to wear to the party. But of course you know how it is...whenever you NEED an outfit you find nothing. When you're shopping for other people you find everything. I ended up just wearing a long casual summer dress that I had at home after spending 3 1/2 hours looking...NOT fun for someone who hates to shop! My ghetto hair (black roots) was another issue...I worked the zig zag part and it didn't look AS bad. We had a good time though.

Here are some new pics of Jullien from New York Fashion Week SS/2010 and other shoots:

MANUEL DE LA CRUZ SHOW



SOLERRA SUNLESS TANNING SHOW

Photos By: Jon Malinowski (click link)
Stylist: Cathy Eastman





Love Brigade Spring Summer 2010 Presentation (Click Link)
Each model was put in a different theme setting~I call this "Young Love" not sure what they called it.

FAHRD FOSTE' SS2010 SHOW PICTURE (CLICK HERE)

Here are some pics I took of Elijah's Freshman game vs. Dana Hills...he played AWESOME!!!

EXCITED AFTER KEY INTERCEPTION

MAKING TACKLE AS LINEBACKER

PASS TO ELIJAH

MY BIG TEENAGER (a.k.a. My Baby)

I'm taking all the pictures for the Freshman team...I was so mad last week because they weren't coming out so great. Then I realized my settings had gotten messed up, after the fact. Lesson learned: Check settings before taking pictures...DON'T ASSUME!

New York Fashion Week Update

New York Fashion week is in full swing. Jullien has walked in three shows so far and has two more next week. He still has other castings for next weeks shows. He had two of his shows today and even closed one of them! WOOHOO! I'm hoping they'll put some up on You Tube. He said that it's funny because it's about five hours of preparation and 3 minutes of walking.

The night before the shows began, they had several parties. Here's a picture of Jullien with his friends (RED MODELS also and soon to be his roommates when he moves to NY in December) at Lord and Taylor "Fashion's Night Out" party (CLICK LINK).

Henry Watkins, Beth Melillo, Jullien Herrera, Andrew Ruffin

Look at what a good boy he is...everyone else is drinking wine and since he is only 17, he has a water bottle, (mom's always notice these things!) Just assuming it's water of course...LOL!

Wish I was there!

New York Fashion Week-Dazed & Confused

Jullien just left today to head back to New York for Fashion Week auditions. He's been home for almost 2 1/2 weeks (except when he left for 2 days to shoot a Jil Sanders Lookbook). I guess the last week of Aug. is model vacation time. His agent told him to NOT GET TAN! Ya good one, you try and keep a 17 year old, Orange County surfer out of the sun. He looks really good tan though...but his agent has him down as caucasian (which he is only 1/2) so he can get pretty golden in the summertime. Hopefully the Fashion Show bookers like his tan look too!

Typical Orange County Surf Day~Jullien lovin it!

He just had his first magazine come out in the U.K. It's a huge magazine over there~"Dazed & Confused". He was pretty excited, he had three of the four pages from the photo shoot. So of course I went on Ebay and got a copy of it for 18.99!YIKES! Here's the pics:

photos: Terry Tsiolis for DAZED & CONFUSED MAGAZINE
stylist: Nicola Formichetti



Agency: RED MODEL MANAGEMENT (click link)

It's funny how life can take a completely opposite turn than what you had planned. He went from a First Team All Sunset League Football Linebacker, being looked at by colleges...to a model pretty much over night! How different can you get? He likes modeling, but says that the hardest part is being away from his girlfriend of a year and a half. I will definitely be sad if they break up, she's an awesome girl, but I know it will be hard for them to stay together.

Thought I would share some pics of the "regular" Jullien.

Jullien & Chelsea

Pep Rally before rival game against Fountain Valley

Jullien #9 (green & gold)-Just before sacking Mater Dei QB MATT BARKLEY (Now the 1st True Freshman to start this year at USC)

Handling the double team

Edison's 09' Powerhouse Linebacker's (#9 Jullien Herrera, #35 Jordan Zumwalt, #26 Matt Reza)- WE BEAT MATER DEI!

Us with my tall model boy! Just a regular kid plucked out of an ordinary life, headed for the BIG TIME.

P.S. He has a Details Magazine coming out soon...stay tuned for pics.