Jullien Turns 21 Today!

My little boy man is 21 today, and is celebrating in Paris right now. He left on a two month trip to work/model with his agencies in Europe. He traveled to Germany and Spain already and is now in Paris and will end up in London before heading back to New York. So unfortunately I'm not able to celebrate this momentous occasion with him.

Jullien has always been my tenacious kid. He was born two weeks early and when he was not quite a year old we moved from California to Utah to be close to my family. Just as we arrived he became very sick and listless. We rushed him to the ER and it turned out he had pneumonia. It was really scary and we weren't sure if he was going to pull through; little did I know way back then...I had a little fighter on my hands (in more ways than one!) Luckily he came through it with only slight lingering lung weakness that appears whenever he gets the cold or flu (it drops straight to his lungs.)

Jullien was always a skinny, lanky kid but had a huge attitude to compensate. He would stand up to anyone who came at him or his brothers, his friends, or someone who was getting picked on. This served him well in sports. He was really talented at football, baseball, basketball, surfing and volleyballl. He had a never quit, never let anyone get you down or tell you that you can't do something attitude. He would push through any obstacle like a bulldozer. No one was going to hold him back from something he wanted or wanted to achieve.

During his Senior year he started at safety but was moved up to linebacker for Edison High School. He didn't look like your typical linebacker, but he hit like a freight train. No one could ever understand how he had so much strength. During one of Edison's practices, Jullien kept getting by one of the huge lineman and sacking the quarterback. The coaches began to yell at the kid for being unable to stop Jullien. After about the third or fourth time of getting beat, the 250+ lb kid charged Jullien after the play was over hitting him from behind and knocking him to the ground. Jullien...all 130 lbs of him went crazy on the kid, flipping him over and ended up on top of him punching him. They finally had to pull Jullien off the kid. He definitely earned the respect of the players and coaches and proved that the size of the player doesn't necessarily matter, it's what's on the inside that's important. I think that's when the coaches decided to move him from safety up to linebacker.

Jullien has applied that same perseverance to everything he does. I can honestly say that I admire his fearlessness; his ability to charge at an obstacle and conquer whatever is in front of him. I've been so blessed to have such a wonderful son who has not only a big personality but an even bigger heart!! So today on his 21st birthday...I've posted 21 pictures of my boy throughout the years. I want him to know how proud I am of him and how much I love him. Happy Birthday Jujy!! I love you and am so blessed call myself your mom.
Never stop chasing your dreams!!

 YOU"RE 21 WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, It's Me!

I haven't updated on my son, Jullien Herrera, who is a model, (Red Model Mgmt) living the jet set life that I can only dream of. He recently returned to New York from Paris & Milan. This time around, I sent him off with a new camera (Christmas present that I told him is a must!) he was required to take pictures for me. He said it was really hard because he had so many castings and spent his time running around trying to find the places & communicate with the French and Italians for help.

Milan Agency-.Fashion-show card

Paris Agency-Marilyn MGM-show card

But he managed to take a whole day in Paris and said he got some AMAZING pictures for me. Unfortunately he dropped his laptop & now it wont turn on...so I'm still waiting for him to get it fixed and send me my pictures!

He has been to Paris before but this was his first time in Milan. As he stepped off the plane & walked through the airport, he was surprised to find this huge picture of a campaign he did for Sisley, shot by Terry Richardson, in the store window.

Jullien Herrera for Sisley Campaign
photo by: Terry Richardson

He said, it felt pretty cool and a little weird seeing his picture in Italy. He stopped to snap it with his camera phone to send to his mommy (yes I love it!).

Unfortunately he had to return a little earlier than expected, and wasn't able to do the Paris shows due to the passing of a friend that he went to High School with. He'd just hung out with her over Christmas. He was pretty shook up. He's had a lot of friends pass away and it never gets any easier to handle especially when kids are dying so young, and needlessly at the hands of prescription drugs and alcohol.

He's doing much better now and is back in New York with his girlfriend, Nichelle (also a model) and his comfort zone, which helps when you need support.

Jullien & Nichelle (Central Park last summer)

He's continuing to work and go on castings...New York Fashion Week's coming up.


more Sean John




photos by: Vincent Dilio

He will be heading off to Hong Kong in a few months...more pictures for me! yaya! What wonderful life experiences for my young 19 year old son!

I Won

So I have to admit, I have a guilty little pleasure that I still indulge in...not financially of course but via the internet...

Back in the day I used to be sooo into fashion, buying the latest cool things. Going to Melrose Ave. every weekend to find a cool outfit to wear out to the hottest L.A. clubs. Even my work clothes were high fashion.

Unfortunately, as you get older you have to tone down the style or you look like an old lady trying to be young (yuck). Okay, I'm not that old...isn't 40's the new 30's?

But another issue is, Beach Living. When you live by the beach it's all about casual, layed back fashion. Even on those nights out...jeans & maybe a dressy shirt & strappy shoes or boots. You show up somewhere too dressed up & people look at you like, "What is she doing? Who is she trying to impress? Doesn't she get it? IT'S THE BEACH! Put on your flip flops and relax!"

I guess it's nice when you're on a budget...you never have to invest in high $ fashion.

But I can't help getting a little envious of places like New York, Paris, Milan...the clothes are to die for!

When I need to curb my cravings...I often indulge in Fashion Blogs.

I LOVE Fashion Blogs.

Recently I began following Bravegrrl's Blog. Stop by & check out her fashion...she is so adorable & edgy. I love people who are "their own person"...they do their thing & it looks cool.

She had a contest for a vintage purse. I loved it!

And I actually WON!!


I can just picture this purse going to New York with me to visit my son. It's versatile & will look perfect even with jeans & a dressy top for those nights here too.

So once I get it, I'll post some beach fashion pics...with my new vintage purse of course!

THANKS BRAVEGRRL!

Don't ya love it?!

Paris and More...

June has been a whirlwind month for me. First Elijah's meningitis scare, high school graduation, visiting family, trip to Lake Arrowhead, jr. high graduation, Jullien's trip back to New York and now his trip to Paris for fashion week (This Sunday-July 8th). He got signed with the #1 modeling agency in Paris-Marilyn (MGM) and they posted his pic in their show package MODELS.COM.

Yesterday I was in an exceptionally good mood and my husband asked, "What's up with you, why are you so happy?" That made me stop and think, "I guess I haven't been the most pleasant person to be around this month!" I realized that my good mood was due to the fact that Elijah's Jr. High graduation signaled the end of my BUSY June! It was a come down of emotions of sorts. Without even realizing it, I was feeling a relief. Funny how we can get so bunched up.

It's Friday and after work I have NOTHING!

Here's a few picture recaps:


Jullien picking up a teacher as he heads up to get diploma



Elijah, My stepdad and Sister Amy

My mom and Jullien

Me & my childhood friend Tierna

Elijah, Jullien and Christian (his girlfriends brother)
Jullien (with new laptop) & Joshy

The boys and my dad

The cake my sister Stacy had made for party

Family visiting Grandpa in Lake Arrowhead


My stepmom and sister Stacy (girls day out in Balboa)

Elijah's 8th grade graduation





La Familia

Graduation lunch at Claim Jumper

Modeling Deal

(Yes...had to submit more shirtless pics)

Another MAJOR modeling agency RED MODEL MANAGEMENT NYC (click on link and then click red ball to see ad campaigns for Gucci, Versace, D&G, Michael Kors, Abercrombie & Fitch etc) has just stepped into the picture trying to sign Jullien. They represent 4 of the top male models in the world. We should be receiving the news/offer of representation any day now. We were told to get his passport ASAP...there is a huge fashion week in Milan and Paris in the summer and I think they want him to be ready to walk in it. They also told us to go to a tailor and get all his measurements for a European cut suit. WHAT???? Crazy huh?

It's not a done deal, they are meeting to discuss it tomorrow....so we'll see. But it looks pretty good.
I've done all my research, here's one of them SEE HERE and everything is legit. So keep your fingers crossed. It'll be one of those once in a lifetime experiences that you can only have while your young.