Sunday, February 26, 2012

Governors Ball in Preview

My ONE allowed picture of the night...
Saturday night, I had the distinct pleasure of attending the Preview Party for the 84th Annual Academy Awards Governors Ball in the Grand Ballroom of the Hollywood & Highland Complex.  It was a wonderful night filled with savory Wolfgang Puck Hors D' Oeuvres, Moet Champagne and lots of Swarovski shimmering crystals.  The Ballroom was elegantly re-designed to give a huge, square space a more intimate feel with lots of varied lounge areas to discover as you mingled.  
The one big surprise of the night came after some well-deserved recognition announcements for all the hard work that goes into orchestrating such an event... They were going to lead us into the theater so we could be a part of the Oscars dress rehearsal.  So fun!  Billy Crystal was careful not to give any hints of his original content, assuring us that he didn't want to spoil the laugh for the actual night. Then came a special performance by Cirque Du Soilel that was simply amazing. I hope you tuned in to see it live along with all the grand set changes!  It really was a complete nod to old Hollywood style.

What a special night out and really exciting to be a TINY part of it all...

  
Inside of the Grand Ballroom...
The signature cocktail for the Ball courtesy of Moet & Chandon is the Red Carpet Glamour (recipe here).  It was topped with a red rose petal which was pretty presentation, but def. needed to be removed to make having a sip way easier.
Favorite of the evening:  Super savory lobster, crab & heirloom tomato salad with a creamy kick of wasabi dressing layered on the bottom. 
Mini baked potatoes topped with creme fraiche & caviar.  They looked perfect with the gold foil wrapping.
In the back VIP area, Award Winners can take their coveted statue to the engraving machines so expert staff can make the official mark right there on the spot... Otherwise, the awards are given blank and you must return it to the Academy at a later date for the customization.  Who could wait??
All photo credits go to Getty Images... At least someone could take some pictures!!

Evening Pre-Prep

Funny to say, but sometimes I enjoy the time leading up to & getting ready for an event a tiny bit more than the actual party... Do you ever feel the same??  Well, this time around I'd say the evening certainly delivered far beyond any outfit selection or beauty routine, but I did manage to document some of the prep details and enjoyed the coveted extra time needed for a special night like this...

The Outfit:
Sequin dress H&M, coat Zara
Calvin Klein
Deco inspired earrings... Forever 21
Beauty Routine:


Lots of loose, tousled ringlets... Work your way around your head in small to medium size pieces with a 1 inch barrel curling iron & lots of maximum hold continuous misting w/ your favorite hairspray


Finish with a shimmer mist for extra gloss & shine - This is the best one yet I have found (it's at Target).
A nice dusting of Laura Mercer's Finishing Powder... Perfect for setting your eyeliner so it remains on your lid & not making a 2nd imprint on your brow.
And before I'm out the door my new favorite punchy-pink combo of Revlon's Blase Apricot & It Girl gloss from Smashbox.

Award Winning Manicure

A girl has to get all glammed up for the Red Carpet, right??  In preparation for my night out and in honor of this weekend's 84th Annual Academy Awards celebrations, I had a little fun adding a touch of "Oscar Gold" to my look... I think it worked??  I went with Essie's aptly named Luxedo which is a super deep plum that after 2 coats looks completely black (think Lincoln Park After Dark) and then a couple coats of OPI's It Looks Like Rain, Deer on the pinkie fingers.
LUXEDO
IT LOOKS LIKE RAIN, DEER (this might just be a holiday color, so of course any gold, glitter polish will do)

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Way Over Wednesday!

Oh Wow - What a week!!  With no end in sight, I was pleasantly reminded at the end of the day that my crazy schedule pales in comparison to something as great as what the sky can create!
"Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths."     ~ Etty Hillesum
Here's to life's simple, yet powerful reminders! 

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Spring Fever

Another great weekend in LA pushed me outdoors to do a bit of work in the front garden.  I'm excited to see that major signs of Spring are cropping up in many places...
The ice plant growing on the hill have started to bloom... Tangerine Tango!!
The Mulberry tree has leaf buds on every branch.
The new Breath of Heaven bush I planted last Summer has taken off and is flowering like crazy!
Glad to see the succulents survived the cold...
Taken last Spring... What will really be a sure sign is when the gorgeous tulips pop up at Descanso Gardens - It's a must see!!
Have a wonderful Sunday!!

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Chain Reaction

Accessories are by far my favorite part of an outfit.  It's super easy to keep up to date on the latest trends just by adding in a few of your favorite embellishments with something as simple as jeans and a great tee.  Right now I am into chain link accessories.  The design is bold enough to wear just a single piece. Look for a variety of styles and shapes with a splash of fun color or a little sparkle.  Here are a few from my (growing) collection:

Forever 21
J Crew
Stella & Dot
Forever 21

Recently rediscovered handbag - Juicy Couture
Fun waistline on my instant favorite Trina Turk "Airline" Dress.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Apple of My Eye

So loved my whirlwind trip to NYC filled with lots of hard work as well as ample time to visit some favorite shopping spots, sample some yummy foods and get a glimpse of the fashion world from afar with a quick visit to Lincoln Center as they showcased the Fall 2012 runway shows.    Below are just a few of my favorite highlights...
One fun night in Lincoln Center which is the command center of Mercedes Benz Fall 2012 Fashion week - Such a lovely vibe!
While I didn't attend any of the shows, I was lucky enough to join some friends at "Barbie the Dream Closet" event... Oh yeah, she really does have it all including a pair of GIANT glittering pink doors that welcomed us into the festivities.
Spent the later part of that night at an amazing roof deck lounge called 230 Fifth in Midtown... It was FREEZING and ready to snow so they gave us red "snuggies" to wear outside along with wall to wall heaters.  Their hot rum and cider was every one's drink of choice that night.
I have been working in the city over Valentine's Day for many years... The windows at Macy's are always a highlight!
Had a fantastic dinner one night at Quality Meats, but I could have seriously skipped the entree and gone straight to their homemade ice cream desserts... Mint Cookie is a MUST!
I have a couple tried and true favorite spots for a quick slice that I believe I ate every day (thank you very much!)... But next time I'm going to consult with some experts at idreamofpizza.com for additional recommendations for the perfect fresh margarita craving!  I am missing this most being back home in LA :)
It's no secret... This is still the place to be (with reservations made a month in advance!) it was a perfect Girl's Night Out and an end to a great week!