My Universe: Sara Urbaez

Sara Urbaez's life is dedicated to the image. Working for years as a photo editor and producer allowed her a deep understanding of the visual, but also opened her eyes to the problematic underrepresentation of diversity in her career field. Disappointed by a lack of images created by BIPOC artists coupled with a year of deep loss prompted by COVID, she set out to change the category and created LISTO, a photography platform dedicated to amplifying diverse photographers through visual storytelling. Her intense desire to share images that had not been seen married with her disciplined yoga practice, years of listening to Ram Dass, and her work as a full-spectrum doula allowed her to create this important platform, and we're the better for it. Thank you, Sara.
MY THREADS

Jeans Acne 

T-shirt Jungmaven

Socks black Hanes socks

Heels Beklina ribbed clogs (in mint) 

Flats Birdie slippers

Boots Blundstones 

Sunglasses Ray-Ban gold round metal glasses 

Sheets Parachute Home. I upgraded my duvet to a linen cover and new cotton sheets and it feels so luxurious

Bag Black P.S 1 bag for special occasions, everyday bag is a Clare V messenger

Jewelry: My dear friend who passed away, left me her engagement ring with the words Bodhisattva inscribed on the inside

Color Pink

Workout wear Beyond Yoga spacedye leggings & Girlfriend Collective sports bra 

Designers Doen, Apiece Apart, The Vampire’s Wife, Aurora James 

Lingerie / underwear Eberjey

Shop Online Ceramics

Online shopping site Poshmark, I’m obsessed with finding designer items second hand. 

Swimwear Solid & Striped Anne Marie one piece 

Style Icon Bianca Jagger, Mary-Kate Olsen, Diana Ross 

 

MY BAG OF TRICKS

Astrological sign Capricorn Sun, Virgo Moon, Libra Rising 

Workout Hiking and yoga 

Studio/teacher  Timothy Lynch, Atha Room 

Experts in your corner  Herbalists, Little Broad Studio and Cera Merrick

Morning rituals Put my feet on the floor, stand up, splash cold water on my face and step onto my yoga mat to start my ashtanga practice. Post practice, heat up a glass of warm water and try to look for my glasses. After finding my glasses, free write for about 15 minutes. Balance my budget on YNAB. Shower.

Evening rituals Hot bath with epsom salt, herbal tea, time with my dog 

Astrologist Leah Shirley

Shower or bath Bath, with a Sach candle

Extrovert or introvert Introvert, INFJ to be exact 

Stress management techniques Free writing, therapy, routine, long walks in nature, pranayama, calling close friends, warm baths, dance breaks, community 

Get out of jail call My brother 

 

MY KITCHEN 

Tea or tonic drink CAP Beauty Matcha, each morning. Herbal tea, before my bath every night

Salty or sweet SALTY 

What’s always in your fridge Farm fresh eggs, kale, apple, Honey Mama’s raw chocolate

What’s always in your pantry Bragg’s, Wonder Valley Olive Oil, rice

Go-to dinner Rice and beans 

Snack Sliced gala apple with almond butter

Drink Water

Grocery store Berkeley Bowl, the produce is out of this world 

Spice Ginger 

Vegetable Kale

Fruit Mango, skin and all  

Cookbook Tassajara Cookbook, Tassajara is a Zen monastery in Big Sur and I found a beautiful vintage copy of their cookbook last year. It inspires me to approach cooking mindfully rather than a chore. 

  

MY MEDICINE CABINET 

Toothpaste Uncle Harry’s

Soap Dr. Bronner’s peppermint 

Lip Lauren’s All Purpose Salve 

Perfume or Cologne Perfume Do Son, Diptyque 

Hair stylist Hair by Glynis, she takes appointments as early as 5am, crucial for navigating getting my hair done outside of working hours

Cleanser Osea ocean cleanser 

Toner Laurel Skin

Serum Rodin  

Moisturizer Toner + serum combined 

Mask LESSE bioactive face mask 

Beauty tool Konjac sponge 

Makeup I don’t wear any makeup

MY DIGS

Home Berkeley, CA 

Piece of art in your home Basquiat skateboard, my collection of photography books 

Museum The Barnes Foundation, The Met, The Frick, Neue Galerie

Pets my 7 year old Miniature-dachshund Luna, she’s the best 

Restaurant Tacos Oscar

Cafe Blue Willow Tea Spot, best tea in town 

Piece of furniture Simple oak stool 

Furniture designer George Nakashima 

Minimalist or maximalist Moving towards minimalist

Hotel Oh that’s a hard one to to choose, The Bowery Hotel or Timber Cove Resort 

Dream dinner party guests Oprah, David Lynch, Polly Platt, Meghan Markle, Erykah Badu 

Most used kitchen gadget Berkey water filter 

What do you collect Tie-Dye shirts and artbooks 

 

LIGHT MY FIRE

Inspiration Movies, art, architecture, natural light, successful introverts 

Quote “Develop an interest in life as you see it; the people, things, literature, music - the world is so rich, simply throbbing with rich treasures, beautiful souls and interesting people. Forget yourself.” - Henry Miller 

Beach Secret Cove Beach, Nevada City

Charity Yellowhammer Fund, Access Reproductive Justice, Lilith Fund

Favorite place in the world Esalen Institute 

Films Sunset Boulevard, In the Mood for Love, Grey Gardens, Minari, Parasite, Another Round, Paris is Burning, The Apartment

Albums Currently Grateful Dead Europe ‘72 & Erykah Badu - Mama’s Gun 

Books Ways of Seeing, My Brilliant Friend, The Overstory, The Girls Who Went Away,  Braiding Sweetgrass, Spiritual Midwifery 

Artist Gordon Parks, Larry Sultan, Alexander Calder, Leonora Carrington, Agnes Martin, Carrie Mae Weems, Egon Schiele, Kerry James Marshall, Kara Walker, Sol Le Witt, Joan Mitchell

Photography or coffee table book Larry Sultan, Pictures From Home 

Who would you want to be for a day My Great-Grandmother, so I could roam through the streets of Bani, DR and see what it was like to be a midwife and herbalist for a full day

Inner age 70

Wellness idol Erykah Badu  

Song in your head at the moment Neil Young, “Don’t Let it Bring You Down” 

Magazine WIRED 

 

WIRED

Apps Discord (I stay connected with a group friends through the app, it’s wonderful), YNAB, Spotify, Letterboxd

Phone 12 Pro 

Phone case Standard phone case 

Website LaineyGossip, Consumer Lab, Diversify PhotoCAP Beauty, LISTO

Podcasts Yoga is Dead, Pod Save AmericaRam Dass Here and Now, You Must Remember This (Manson season)

Computer bag Don’t have one yet, but eyeing this JOSHUVELA bag 

Favorite gadget My beloved cell phone

Favorite Instagrams @thefamilyacid,@artgarments, @naaya.wellness, @humbleartsfoundation, @400yearsproject

News source New York Times, Pod Save America

You may also like