SHOPPING IN LA

It may not be all in one location or as huge as Minnesota’s Mall of America, but Los Angeles is still FABULOUS for fulfilling all my shopping desires.

I love to SHOP and I love it even more when I’m getting a good bargain. Rarely will you see me sporting designer duds (unless they are hand-me-downs from Tracee, my mom and designer freebies). I’m proud of my Frugal Fanny shopping habits, because I do LOVE to shop but I don’t want to drop... referring to my bank account balance (or my credit cards).

Here are some of the hottest shops on my FABULOUS list.

The famed ROBERTSON in Beverly Hills is one of the best 2 blocks of shopping in all of LA. Yes, it’s expensive, but sometimes worth the price for a great fit and quality.

KITSON is the best on the strip. They have everything from jewelry to dresses to purses and perfume. I always choose my Christmas and Birthday presents there! LISA KLINE is also pretty fantastic though I usually try to wait for their annual sidewalk sale where prices are slashed. Just up the street, LF has awesome, unique stuff, but stay out if your looking for a bargain.

The only bargain on the street is AMERICAN APPAREL (which I adore and shop at religiously). My favorite designer right now is ALICE AND OLIVIA. They make the cutest party dresses and they have a whole store right there on ROBERTSON.

For Jewelry, I’m a fan of ROCK CANDY (mostly because they carry my best-est friend PEARL ADAY’s funky rock and Roll Jewelry line called SEAMSTRESS FOR THE BAND).

Always for a good bargain and stylish duds, I hit MELROSE where there are blocks and blocks of boutiques with inexpensive, hip and stylish clothes. This is where I get most of my dresses for events so that if someone asks me what I’m wearing I can say, “Oh, I got it at a cute little boutique” or “It’s totally vintage”. That’s a lot better than what I often have to say, “Oh this? Its couture FOREVER 21!” Cringe!

My favorite on Melrose is FRED SEGAL, but it’s not inexpensive! Great clothes, my favorite FREE CITY sweats, jewels, shoes and yummy food to boot (Get the steamed veggies with arrabiata sauce! YUM!) I got my whole BET outfit at FRED SEGAL (the dress, the necklace, the ring… the undies and shoes I already owned ;)

For shoes my go to spot is STEVE MADDEN on the Santa Monica Promenade or the Beverly Center. You can’t beat the great prices or the sexy and sleek designs. My closet is FULL of STEVE MADDEN and STEVEN shoes. I am also NOT ashamed to say I like SHOE PAVILION and DSW SHOES! You can’t beat the prices and they often have cool stuff!

I think you can find great stuff at FOREVER 21 that when mixed with nice jewels, shoes and a purse could be designer (I’ve fooled many! Don’t tell ;) The trick is stay away from the prints. Solids are safe and could be from anywhere. Those FOREVER 21 designers do a super good job!

I also LOVE the FOX HILLS MALL. Every store is super inexpensive and they have all sorts of cool shops for shoes and clothes (don’t miss the food court and the Dairy Queen! Yummers!)

I LOVE MALIBU and though the shopping can break the bank, some of my favorite spots are out there. I LOVE FREE CITY! Those sweat pants are ridiculous! My whole family lives in them. We should be the spokespeople for the brand! I also adore PLANET BLUE! So expensive, but they have the best dresses and jeans!

So now you know the most FABULOUS shopping spots in LA. Now get out there and go shopping!!

My birthday is coming up BTW… LOL!

LA FASHION WEEK

Another day another fashion week…

If you’ve read my blog before you probably have heard me rant and rave about Fashion Weeks from East to West. This past week was Mercedes Benz LA Fashion Week and as always it was FABULOUS!

LA Fashion Week is all up and coming, young, hip designers (It may not be Paris or Milan couture, but it’s still FABULOUS). LA is all about the lifestyle, the parties, the fun clothes and the celebrity. I would say it’s more focused on the fun with a splash of fashion on the side.

I started off my fashion week with a bang at the CHICK by NICKY HILTON show. I sat front row (the most coveted of all fashion show seats) with my friend Ryan whose girlfriend Nazri was walking in the show. We watched the waif-ish models stalk the runway in cutesy, mini dresses.

On my way out I heard a couple fashionistas calling the show “very junior’s division” and “not up to fashion week standards” but I thought the dresses were cute and very wearable (I certainly wouldn’t complain if a couple were hanging in my closet). I say down with the haters! I salute you Nicky Hilton.

The next night, I hit the GQ Lounge at Roosevelt Hotel. I don’t know if it was due to the pouring rain, but the party sucked big time (LA people do NOT even know how to deal with a little sprinkle of rain. AGH… I’m melting!) so I called it a night to rest up for the fashionable week ahead.

Tuesday, I started off early with dinner at KOI with my high school friends visiting from out of town. (Shout out to my East Coast friends partying like LA Socialites for one wild night– Casey and Schuyler). We kicked Fashion Week up a notch as we headed to the HEAVENLY SINFUL JEWELRY party at the Luxe Hotel in Beverly Hills where Avo from Guady PR hooked me up with a hotel suite for the night.

The party was hopping (ultra crowded) and the free drinks flowing. From there we headed to ONE SUNSET (A Tuesday night hot spot on Sunset Blvd) for an ultra exclusive Jin & Quinn event (Alex Quinn, son of legendary actor Anthony Quinn throws great parties and is also a good friend).

Wednesday, I woke up in my suite in Beverly Hills and figured I may as well continue the fabulosity. After rushing home to feed Peanut, I ate lunch at the POLO LOUNGE with friends. That night I strutted my stuff in leather and denim (and the hair dresser gave me some seriously bad, crimped hair) at the HARLEY DAVIDSON fashion show and COMPLEX MAGAZINE event at BOULEVARD3. The show was fun, but the party lacking so I headed home early to rest my aching feet. I did meet the boys (Pickle and Daniel) from America’s Most Smartest Model on E! (God, I LOVE reality TV!)

Thursday evening, my friend Zoe and I went to SAMORA’s fashion show. Last season, I walked in the show and I have become a big fan of the classy and sophisticated dresses. This season her line was eco-friendly with a Grecian feel. No celebs where there so I did my best to entertain the press by smiling for the photogs and chatting about fashion with the cameras (so silly because I know they will never use the pictures or air the clips. I ain’t not super celeb… YET!)

Since a fashion show last only about 20 minutes and we had gotten all dolled up, we decided to mingle in the VIP room and have a couple cocktails, snacks and lip glosses (I love free stuff!) All our mingling and making new friends got us front row seats at the next show, PETRA ZILLIA!

PETRA ZILLIA is a young, hip LA designer known to dress the LA socialite (and sure enough guess who sat 2 seats away from me… PARIS HILTON). The models strutted their stuff with big smiles on their faces (a pleasant change to the somber stalking usually seen on the runway) in vibrant colored dresses and rompers. I’m a hug fan of a mini-romper – it shows your legs, but will never reveal your panties (or lack there of if you are Paris or Britney. I, on the other hand am not a big fan of showing my goodies to the world ;) HA!

To close out my week of fashion, I walked in a small show in Beverly Hills for LI CARI. My friend Tasha has modeled for them before and I’m very impressed by Jazmin, the 19-year-old designer of Li Cari. She has made a whole line of sexy and wearable dresses (she also offered to give me some to wear to events and as we know… I LOVE FREE STUFF). The show went well (I wore three dresses), but hanging out with 16 year old models hungry for any camera time is not my idea of a good time, (God, I’m getting old) so I snuck away in a sexy lace top and black high-waisted mini (one of Li Cari’s designs) to ROCK AND REPUBLIC party at CHATEAU MARMOT.

The party in the penthouse suite was packed when we arrive and they weren’t letting anyone in (except Ryan Seacrest and Zach Braff, but whatever) so Tasha and I had a drink in the lobby. We were finally let in the party a half hour later, but most of the crowd had dispersed and the leftovers where less than FABULOUS. We headed home to hit the hay and bid farewell to a FABULOUS Fashion Week.

AUSTIN, TEXAS

This past weekend I went to visit my friend (ex-boyfriend) Brian in AUSTIN, TEXAS. Though I wouldn’t say I was a HUGE fan of TEXAS (the heat, the line dancing and the ten gallon cowboy hats are not really my style), AUSTIN is pretty darn FABULOUS!

I arrived Friday evening via Southwest (Not as cheap and easy as Jet Blue, but still a good inexpensive travel option). Brian picked me up and we headed straight to La Feria (A hoppin’ Mexican joint). We got reacquainted (yes, there is still a little spark there) over Queso, margaritas and a live mariachi band that serenaded us with La Coocaracha. Very romantic! HA!

We headed to his apartment for a quick shower and change then it was off to downtown for dinner. We shared a juicy steak with onion rings, french fries and caesar salad at Sullivan’s Steak House (I love red meat) then cruised the bars on 6th Street. We drank and laughed and danced till late at night before cabbing it back to his pad (God, I love mass transportation! We need better options to driving late at night in LA. Just ask Paris, Lindsey, Mel… the list goes on and on)

A little hung over, we braved the heat and hit Pease Park for a little Frisbee golf (Never heard of it? It’s basically golf with a Frisbee and it’s FABULOUS). It was a lot of fun, but let’s just say I’m not particularly good. I lost BIG time (and complained a lot in the process). We were too hot and sweaty to continue so we skipped the last couple holes and headed to my favorite lunch spot in all of AUSTIN, Texadelphia!

Texadelphia is the sweetest little cheese steak spot on the University Campus. The air conditioner cooled us (It was super hot), the water re-hydrated me (maybe so many vodka sodas the night before where not such a good idea) and the queso and pizza cheese steak brought A LOT of joy to my heart (and stomach). We rolled back to Brian’s pad for a good long nap (which Brian called watching Football) to prepare for another FABULOUS evening in AUSTIN.

After a good long rest, we headed to Uchi for some serious sushi. After a couple cocktails on the patio we got seats at the super crowded sushi bar. The crazy sushi chef lopped off the head of a huge yellow tail right as we sat down. He laughed as blood dripped down his arms (like he just got his arm caught in a wood chipper). Not my idea of appetizing but it was funny and my sushi was fantastic. I LOVED the spicy tuna roll and Brian and I shared the shag (spicy tuna with avocado and cucumber in soy paper). We also ate bacon wrapped asparagus, yellow tail, and Brian even ate a cut of that poor bloody fish that was decapitated in front of us. Mmmmm...

We were stuffed so be decided to forgo the bars and walk to the Alamo Draft House (probably one of the greatest invention… a movie theater that serves food and alcohol). We drank sangria, ate chocolate cake and ice cream and watched The Heart Break Kid (a couple funny one liners but NOT so funny… I’d wait till it comes out on DVD).

Sunday, we slept in the got yummy bagels at Einstein’s (I love an onion bagel with chive cream cheese) then headed to the Pedernales River where Brian’s parents took us out on the boat. I’ve been water skiing a bunch, but never wake boarding. I perfected my skills and even caught some air (I’m actually pretty sporty, so I picked it up pretty quickly, BUT I will NOT be going pro anytime soon). Unlike me, Brian actually has some wake boarding skills. He is pretty darn good and I snapped photos as he jumped the wake. His mom and stepfather even got out there and showed some serious skills. Even though, I seem like a city girl, I love the outdoors!

Exhausted from the day on the water (my muscles still hurt days later), Brian and I opted for a mellow night. His mom cooked up some yummy chicken Fajitas, then we headed back to the Alamo Draft House for another movie. This time we caught a movie called Weirdsville (I had never heard of it before, but it was FABULOUS. PLUS, I have the hots for the star, Scott Speedman! HOT!) with a bottle of red wine, then hit the hay.

My weekend is AUSTIN was a FABULOUS mix of outdoor fun and classy city stuff with a great friend. I love to get sweaty (or wet) being active, but then get dressed up and have a nice night out on the town.

We laughed, we loved and that’s the most FABULOUS part of all. AUSTIN is FABULOUS!

FAST FOOD

I fuckin’ (excuse my French) LOVE FAST FOOD! I dream about it. I crave it. I have to fight not to turn off the road when I pass a McDonalds or In & Out. It’s ridiculously unhealthy I know, but I think FAST FOOD is FABULOUS.

Yes, I understand that my love of FAST FOOD is slowly killing me from the inside out, rotting my intestines and making me work out at the gym way more than I would like to. But I can’t help it (or control myself). I love it!

People have suggested I read or watch Fast Food Nation (by Eric Schlosser). They tell me how terrible it is, but SERIOUSLY have they ever tasted a Big Mac’s special sauce or the crispy yet soft / spicy yet cool Cheesy Gordita Crunch from Taco Bell? (I swoon just thinking about it!) Here’s the thing, I am an educated women (Georgetown University Grad) that knows this is NOT a healthy dining option, but at the same time I am a pleasure seeker that likes to partake in what I enjoy. When what you enjoy is so damn cheap and brings you so much happiness while you are shoveling it in your mouth (I do tend to feel sick after, but that’s neither here nor there ;) I say go for it… in moderation of course (once a week TOPS or I will be the size of a house)!

My absolute favorite is MCDONALDS. I get a Number One meal (Big Mac) regular size not super size (I have my limits, you know ;) with a coke and a side of buffalo sauce for the fries. Seriously, a Big Mac is a little slice of heaven. The sauce oozes out on to your fingertips, the meat patties are perfect sized for the soft buns and the pickles tingle your taste buds adding just the right zest. The fries are crispy like no other and that buffalo sauce is the perfect blend of spicy and tangy. God, I love those golden arches. I would marry that Ronald McDonald if he didn’t wear that silly clown get-up!

Running a close second to MCDONALDS is TACO BELL. My favorite is the Cheesy Gordita Crunch (a hard shell meat taco with zesty sour cream wrapped in a warm, soft gordita shell and held together with hot, melted cheese)! I use one fire and one hot sauce and get a fountain soda (coke) to cool my taste buds. TACO BELL is the perfect late night (or anytime) snack! I mean that IS why they call it “the fourth meal.”

People who don’t live in a state that has IN & OUT are truly missing out. Coming in third place in my favorite FAST FOOD place hall of fame is IN & OUT. I get the Number 2 meal (cheeseburger) protein style (with a lettuce bun). I don’t do the double double (2 patties) though I’m not sure why. I think I will upgrade on my next visit! The meat is juicy; the special sauce so ridiculously delicious, the onions are like a party in your mouth and the lettuce bun is crisp and fresh. I don’t love the fries (not fried to perfection like MCDONALDS), but slather those bad boys in that special sauce (you can request side sauce packets – I get 2!) and life is good.

Coming in fourth place is FAT BURGER! My love of FAT BURGER started as a child. I have fond memories of stuffing my face with a fat burger with chilly and bacon while hanging with my mom in LA. Chilly dripping down my chin and down my shirt, mom would just laugh along as she ate hers (with way more grace, I might add). Now, I opt for a baby fat (smaller and more manageable) with the works and bacon of course (bacon is my favorite food!) I get the skinny fries, though if I’m feeling wild I get the onion rings.

Rounding out my list of the top 5 FAST FOOD joints is WHITE CASTLE. I grew up on the east coast and WHITE CASTLE was always a favorite of my youth. You don’t see many WHITE CASTLES now, but luckily my mom always has the frozen ones in her freezer. They are a great microwavable snack, a little bite size piece of heaven. I have wonderful memories of spending time with my extended family in Detroit (My mom is one of 6 kids and they all have tons of kids too) My cousins and uncles would see how many WHITE CASTLE hamburgers they could eat. I would laugh till my stomach hurt (not from the food) watching my cousin Tommy turn green as he shoveled his 15th or 16th mini-burger into his mouth. Oh… the FABULOUS FAST FOOD family memories ☺

Now, I know that there are many other FAST FOOD options that didn’t make it into my top 5. So here are a couple honorable mentions:

Although I don’t frequent JACK IN THE BOX (often referred to as Jack in The Crack), they do have this great South Western Chicken Salad. The dressing is zesty and delicious, the lettuce crisp and fresh and it has all the right toppings including little dorito like chips. Although probably about as fattening as a burger, It’s super yummy!

When I was in high school, I loved to sneak off campus to WENDYS. I had a thing for dipping French fries into a frosty. Their fries are a little thicker and softer than their delicious counterparts (MCDONALDS), but the mix of the salt and the sweet flavors when you dip them in the cold, frozen goodness of a chocolate frosty, tickles the taste buds!

I usually don’t do KFC at all because the chicken (or what ever it is) scares me a bit, but the mashed potatoes are to die for! When I got my wisdom teeth out Mom brought a constant supply to feed me. The gravy... YUM!

FAST FOOD tickles the taste buds, brings joy to my heart (and maybe a couple inches to my waist line). Maybe not the healthiest option, but as you can see I think FAST FOOD is truly FABULOUS!

ABBOTT KINNEY FESTIVAL

This past Sunday was the ABBOTT KINNEY FESTIVAL in Venice, CA. If you don’t live in LA, or live in LA but have never been it’s basically a huge, FABULOUS street festival and block party celebrating the end of summer. I love a good street fair and I love summer, so I was excited.

I woke up to the sun shining in my windows. Another hot day as we head into fall, but trying to hold tight to the days of summer. I started my Sunday as I always do (I love Sundays. They are truly my favorite day. So relaxing). I walked Peanut on the beach, then hopped on my schnazzy pink and green beach cruiser (I totally have the best bike on the beach) and headed to Coffee Bean (I love the coffee Bean a lot! Check out the July 18th blog to see just how VERY much) then to Farmers Market (where I picked up some flowers and an artichoke).

After a quick pit stop back home, it was festival time (and time to get festive). My friends Jill and Dara and Peanut and I headed out on foot (less than a mile by foot and way less of a headache to not deal with parking). As we got closer, we could hear the bands rocking, smell the kettle corn popping and see the crowds swarming.

First stop, the Pacific stage on the South side of the fair where my very sexy and always shirtless (surfer) neighbor Peter’s band was playing. He looked super hot as he strummed the guitar and crooned his sexy tunes. Sadly, he had a shirt on!

Next, we met up with my friend Zoe and cruised the wares (arts and crafts and all sorts of fun stuff). I kept my shopping to a minimum, but did a lot of browsing of art (After 2 years in my house, my walls are still bare and craving some color!)

Some of the ladies partook in the fried food sold by the vendors, but I opted for Abbotts Pizza (the best slice on the Westside, SERIOUSLY!) The line was LONG and Peanut was annoying (He hates being tied up outside and will let EVERYONE know by constantly barking the whole time), but it was worth it! I got the salad pizza which is basically the best pizza crust slathered with goat cheese then piled with crispy lettuce, tomatoes, onions and avocados (I hate avocados, but Zoe happily took them off my hands) topped with a yummy vinaigrette. Delicious!

After we were good and full, we checked out a couple of the other bands and stands and headed back towards home. The walk home seemed WAY longer since we were tired and lazy Peanut had to be carried, but we made it home in time to set up for the BBQ.

No Abbott Kinney Festival is complete without a BBQ to follow. I invited all my friends (by Evite), moved the furniture and set out the chips and beer and was ready to party. Randomly, the first guest was my friend Nico (who was once my French lover, but now is just a friend) and his friend EVE (Eve, as in the rapper). It’s sort of weird to have Eve hanging in your living room, but she was a sweetheart and totally cool. She hang and ate spinach dip as the party filled with all the different groups of LA peeps that I know.

For some reason, every time I have a BBQ everyone gets wasted and the nice party turns into a wild (VERY messy) dance party. So as the sun went down (so did the lights) and the music got loud and the party got a bit wild. Before my house got anymore trashed, I pushed everyone out and moved the crowd to a local bar. Back to Abbott Kinney (where surprisingly the streets were already clean. Boy, do they work fast! I needed a street crew to come clean up my house too) where we crowded into The Brigg (a dark, sexy bar with a pool table and dance floor).

Dancing around the bar full of all my friends was a perfect end to a FABULOUS Sunday and FUN, FUN, FUN ABBOTT KINNEY FESTIVAL ☺