NEW YORK FASHION WEEK

I decided not to attend NEW YORK FASHION WEEK this season. I mean, I love the shows and the parties, but the last couple of times had been so hectic to organize, and stressful to snag that coveted front row seat that it almost didn’t see worth it.

Well, that all changed when I got an email from Catherine Saxton, a PR women that I met a couple years ago in NYC. She asked if I might be interested in walking in the Zang Toi charity fashion show benefiting Lance Armstrong’s Live Strong Foundation. You know, I love to strut my stuff on the runway and I’m also a huge fan of doing charity work, particularly with ones that raise money for Cancer research (It was a good excuse to attend NEW YORK FASHION WEEK), so of course I agreed!

I planned my trip quickly. I sent out some emails to announce my arrival, bought an airplane ticket (Virgin America rulz) and I was off. Due to my recent visit to Greece (see my last blog), I could only make it to NYC for the last two days of Fashion Week and barely make it in time for the charity event.

I went to the airport at an ungodly hour in order to make it to the city in time for fitting with Zang Toi, a Malaysian designer who creates magnificent, couture masterpieces. I was to wear 2 gowns for the show. I tried on the first one, a black cap-sleeve blouse and bustled ball skirt with grey pleated ruffle trim. I felt as if I was from another era. Since it was a bit too long (I wish I was as tall as those Amazonian super models), it was a bit of a challenge to walk in. The second was a floor length gown with an ode to the Empire State building stitched on the side. It fit like a glove (an EXTREMELY tight glove). It was so tight that I could barely walk, let alone breathe. They promised to take it out an inch or two before the next morning.

When the fitting was finished, I grabbed some food and headed to the apartment for some R&R (I didn’t want to look groggy for the fashion show and I was sure they would be plenty of wild NYC nights ahead). I watched movies and hit the hay early.

The next morning, I woke refreshed and headed to Daniels, a very expensive French restaurant and the venue for the event. I arrived backstage and was whisked into makeup and hair. The makeup was light and fresh (Only cover up, concealer and lip-gloss. No blush). My nails were painted white while my hair was swooped into a modern beehive. I already have a HUGE forehead, so I was a bit concerned with the height of the extensions pinned to the top of my head. I would never wear my hair that way in real life, but on the runway it’s fun to be a character and rock whatever the designer desires.

Before the show, I was interviewed for the website “The Quest For IT”.
Check it out at: http://blogs.uptownlife.net/tiawalker/?p=284

There was a live auction and then it was time for the show. All the models (including Danielle, the winner of America’s Next Top Model and Ms. USA) dressed in their first looks and lined up. When it was my turn, I struck my fiercest model pose and strutted down the runway to the live band. Let me tell you, spinning in a floor length gown (that is WAY too long) is a challenge! I nearly took a spill more than once! My heel kept getting caught in the train. My sister Rhonda, who was in attendance, said she didn’t notice (I’m not so sure though). I changed quickly into my second look, which luckily fit a little better than the night before (I could now shuffle my feet and take small breaths). I felt glamorous and sexy. I strutted with a little more confidence this time, until I had to climb up the 2 stairs at the end of the runway. My knees could barely bend, so I leaned and yanked till I was safe behind the curtain. I don't think it was my finest runway show, but it was FABULOUS nonetheless.

After the show, I took out my beehive and did my best to make myself look presentable before heading to the Victoria’s Secret Suite for some freebies (I LOVE free stuff). It was very mellow, but I got some great stuff including a $200 gift card!

That evening, I had dinner with my friends Mary, Lydia and Keisha at Ago. We gorged on yummy pastas, caprese salads, lots of bread and wine. Then, we hit the parties! We started at the J. Mendel after-party at the Box where we had a couple cocktails and met up with another friend Keira, from Miami. Next, we headed to Rose bar, where we bumped into more friends and went on a party hopping extravaganza. I think I jumped to at least 5 different fashion show’s after parties (which all seem like a blur after such a busy day). We danced and drank till my eyes could barely stay open. I hopped in a cab and headed home to pass out.

The next morning, I woke a bit groggy, but it was a beautiful day! I walked in the park, had lunch with my friend Mary, and then headed to the tents for the Badgley Mischka show. It’s always stressful to get in, but I finally made my way through the crowds and into my seat. I sat front row in the center of the u-shaped runway with my friend Lydia. The models stalked the runway in colorful gowns and bathing suits (I coveted more than one)!

That evening, I went to the Baby Phat show (one of the most fun, rocking shows of NEW YORK FASHION WEEK) with my brother Evan. The gorgeous models strutted their stuff to bumping hip-hop tunes as we rocked along. After the show, we went to the Baby Phat dinner at the newly redone and recently opened Plaza Hotel. Every year, Kimora Lee Simmons has a very exclusive dinner after her show. The last couple of years, I have had the opportunity to attend and hobnob with some very cool people. This year, I sat next to Teyana Taylor from MTV’s My Super Sweet Sixteen (she is the cutest thing) and met Maxwell (I am a HUGE fan of his music)! Everyone ate fois gras (Not me) and steak (Yummy), and then headed to the after party upstairs in the ballroom. I was exhausted, but couldn’t help grabbing some Cold Stone Creamery ice-cream (with Oreos and snickers) and a quick dance on the dance floor before heading home to bed.

This NEW YORK FASHION WEEK may have been way shorter fashion week of my past, but it was still wild and a bit tiring, but as always… NEW YORK FASHION WEEK is FABULOUS!

MYKANOS, GREECE

Last week was “take the kids to work day” (well, sort of…haha)! Since my mom doesn’t exactly work in an office, my brother Evan (and his friend Ryan) and I (with my friend Pearl) decided to fly with her to Greece where she was booked to sing a private show on MYKANOS. I had visited this beautiful and fun Greek island 2 years ago with my friend Kim and MYKANOS is FABULOUS.

The flight was LOOONG, but we were seated in business class, which definitely made it a bit more bearable! We flew 10 hours to Paris and luckily I slept for a good chunk of the time, wrote for a bit and watched a movie (Made of Honor, which was the perfect, light chick flick for the flight). After a short layover, we boarded the 3 hour flight to Athens. I slept some more (one of my many talents is sleeping on planes) and read my book. As if 13 hours of travel wasn’t enough, next we boarded a private plane, which whisked us over the Greek Islands and we finally arrived in MYKANOS!

Since nothing in MYKANOS starts till really late, we had time for a nap before dinner at the hotel restaurant (traveling can wear a girl out). Mom went to bed after dinner and the rest of us headed into town. It was way too early by MYKANOS standards, but we were all excited to get the party started. MYKANOS is a party town! People don’t go to dinner till around 11:00pm, the bars and clubs don’t get bumping until 1:00am. Most MYKANOS partygoers stay out until sunrise. WILD!

I was excited to show everyone around since I was the only one who had been there before (and last time was soooo much fun)! We started with some cocktails at a small bar called Galleraki right by the ocean. We were the only people there, but the bartenders where fun and it was the perfect place to start off our evening’s festivities. Next we went to MYKANOS bar, which plays American music (top 40 stuff) then to Space Club, a big dance club in the middle of town. We were probably the first people to arrive, but as we danced the place filled. By 4:30am, we were so tired that we had no choice, but to head home. No partying till sunrise for us!

The next morning (LATE morning), we dragged our asses out of bed to enjoy the day. We swam in the pool, ate lunch at the beach (gyros of course) then napped as the sun went down. I woke refreshed (I think naps are FABULOUS) and excited about another night on the town. We went to a restaurant right on the water’s edge called Sea Satin. It’s a must visit if you ever make it to MYKANOS. The water crashed on the windows as we dined on Greek favorites (feta, tomatoes, eggplant, babaganosh and fresh seafood)! I ate here last time and it was one of the most FABULOUS evenings, but this time our waiter sucked pretty bad, so we ate quickly and moved on.

We had such a nice time at Galleraki the night before that we decided to start the fun there again. After a couple of cocktails, we went for a walk through the tiny, white cobblestone walk streets to check out the shops (open till the wee hours of the morning). The streets began to fill with happy people having tons of fun (I even spotted two partying drag queens). We stopped at an outdoor club called El Pecado for a drink and then somehow ended up back at Space Club. We hung out for while, dancing and making new friends, but I can’t do a club two nights in a row (I’m getting way to old)! Pearl and I left the boys to flirt with Italian girls. After getting lost on the winding walk streets, we ended up at a crepe spot where we gorged ourselves on nutella crepes and ham and cheese crepes. DELICIOUS! We returned to the hotel at 4:00am (WAY early by Greece standards).

Mom woke us up Tuesday morning and we shuffled our weary bodies to the breakfast buffet. I ate eggs and bacon and sausage and bacon (I love bacon)! We sunned by the pool and then decided to head to Paradise beach, the wildest party beach of the island (like Spring Break in Cancun)! It was way mellower than I remember, but Pearl and I swam and sunned while the boys played paddleball.

In MYKANOS it’s not abnormal for ladies to be topless at the beach (I tend to see a lot more saggy, old boobs then perky ones which is AWESOME! Haha!) But here at Paradise Beach we got to view the full monty! I have never in my life seen fully naked (and wrinkly) men and women casually sunning on a very crowded beach where everyone else was at least wearing bottoms. I mean, I understand that you don’t like tan lines, but seriously! I would not want sand all in my bits. No way!

Once we felt good and tanned, we retuned to the hotel for a nap. I woke well rested, showered, checked my email on the super slow Internet and got ready for dinner. We decided to go to Nobu at the Belvedere Hotel, which is the sexiest of all the Nobu restaurants worldwide (I think). It sits around a pool, under the stars and over looks the ocean. GORGEOUS! We dined on fresh sushi (and chicken) and enjoyed the evening under the clear sky.

After dinner, we returned to Garreraki (our “Cheers” in MYKANOS) then we danced up a storm at MYKANOS Bar and checked out another spot on the main street called Astra. I was getting tired and I refused to return for another night to Space Club so I talked the gang into hitting up Jimmy’s for the most delicious gyros in all of MYKANOS (and maybe the world)!! Once everyone was stuffed and happy, we returned to the hotel for an evening swim and headed to bed (before the sun came up)!

I woke before everyone else at 10am and couldn’t fall back asleep. I went to breakfast by myself and sat overlooking the ocean in awe of the beauty of MYKANOS. I laid by the pool and read my book till finally everyone woke up. We walked to a restaurant nearby on the beach where I ate a fresh, yummy Greek salad (unlike an America Greek salad, this one has no lettuce, just fresh, crisp tomatoes, onions, peppers and a huge chunk of feta). Pearl and I walked down a dirt, windy path to the Panormas beach, which is known for being the fancy beach (where the celebrities and socialites go) while mom and the boys lazed by the pool.

We returned to the hotel to nap and rest up for mom’s show. Pearl and I ate a quick dinner at the hotel then showered and prepared for the night ahead. Mom was performing at a private party at Cavo Paradiso, which is usually a wild late-night club, but it had been turned into an elegant, black-tie birthday party for a (very) wealthy Greek man. Everyone danced under the stars while mom sang her hits. It was beautiful! Since our fight was early the next morning, we all returned to the hotel right after the show to hit the hay.

I drifted off to sleep (at a decent hour) not too excited about the multiple LONG flights ahead BUT feeling so fortunate that my mother’s career has given me the opportunity to see and experience the world! MYKANOS is absolutely beautiful, unique and FABULOUS!

MYKANOS!!

INTERNET DATING

Remember the days of chat lines? No? Maybe because I’m an old hag (haha!) or maybe because you were one of the cool kids who had the confidence to actually talk to someone of the opposite sex in real life.

When I was young, there were chat lines where you could call a 900 number and chat with boys. My friends and I would call in and giggle in the darkness. We could pretend we were whoever we wanted to be (confident, cool and gorgeous) and talk to boys, that of course we had no idea what they looked like or who they were either. They were probably old, creepy men (and pedophiles! Talk about dangerous)! But it was cool to meet people you may never have met in your regular day life, fun to reach out of your circle of friends and see who else was out there.

Now we’ve moved upward and onward to cyberspace. Meeting people on the Internet is no longer just for the kids who wore glasses and sat alone at lunch. It’s not taboo, frowned upon or embarrassing. In fact, it’s sort of become the norm when seeking true love.

Myspace was the first online social network that I joined. I thought, “What a great way to reconnect with friends.” But soon the searching for old high school and college chums turned into casual flirting with handsome guys. It’s great because now (unlike the chat lines), you can check out what the other person looks like. But, always bet that they will look only as good as their ugliest, candid picture (Be wary of someone who only has head shots and professional photos). You can check out who their friends are (in the top eight) and whom they have been talking to by perusing their comments. If you are a full on stalker (uh hum… like moi) you can go to the pages of the people who wrote the comments to see what their response was.

Soon, my myspace casual flirtation turned into meeting people for cocktails, coffee and lunch. Most of these encounters didn’t amount to much, though I did date a guy I met on myspace for a couple months (he turned out to not be for me, but we are still friends).

I do think these online communities bring out a new crop of eligible bachelors that you may not have met at the local pub. You just have to work it right so they don’t think your seeking casual sex. Myspace happens to bring out the raunchiest in some people, so beware. I’ve gotten more than one unsolicited offer for sex.

Myspace is also a great networking tool for bands, comics and people like me trying to get their name (and writing) out to the world. I have a “friends only” page (for people I know and my casual flirtations) and a networking page (for everyone else).

I recently joined Facebook too. It seems a bit more exclusive (I have yet to receive any sexual advances) and a good way to find old friends. All 368 of my Facebook friends are people I know from elementary school, summer camps, high school, college, Aspen, traveling and of course LA peeps. Though I haven’t met any new men to flirt with on Facebook, that’s not to say I am opposed to flirtation with men from my past (just check for the married icon first)!

Of course, you can also play it straight and go right to a site designed specifically for daters. During one of my single forays, I joined eharmony.com. I filled out the multiple personality tests, posted a picture, tried to be witty on my profile only to get matched up with a handful of people I would never date in my lifetime (I am picky and a girl’s gotta have standards, you know). I immediately cancelled my membership in time to get a full refund (I mean, I had already lost countless hours of my life taking tests and describing my personality).

After some more discouragement looking for men in the real world, I decided to throw my hat in the cyber dating pool again. This time I joined Match.com. Again, I filled out the multiple personality tests (Luckily, I was accepted. Not everyone is so lucky. Match.com is selective without telling you the reasons why, which must be extremely insulting). Next, I chose my most flattering pics to post and filled in the profile. This time, I was less creative. “I am picky. You have to be someone worthy being picked,” I wrote. Maybe not that catchy, but I think it got my message across. I was wrong. The messages and “flirts” from terrible men started to flow. It was a full time job keeping up with who was who, who was gross and who was definitely just seeking sex. But there were a few who I felt where good enough to move onto a phone conversation and ultimately the prize of a date!

My advice is after an email or two move onto a phone conversation. You can tell so much more about some from their voice and things they say than from an email (that is edited a million times before sending).

Next set up a drink, coffee or lunch in a public place where murder will be unlikely. Make it a simple get in and get out encounter. What I have always done wrong is to be too nice, linger around too long, chat too much (I can talk to anyone for an hour) and give this idiot the idea that we are going to walk down the aisle (or get naked) in the future. I have met zit covered star trek freaks, good-looking assholes and sweet, but terribly short men. I’ve also met a couple of guys I liked, but it never blossomed into anything. On Match.com, the men I met were ok, but missing something. They didn’t make me go “WOW!” So I cancelled my membership soon after it all began.

There are also niche-dating sites that are worth a try. Cyclingsingles.com is great for those who want meet love on 2 wheels. After we got back from Greece, my friend Kim tried Greekdate.us (she loves those Greeks) and I tried jdate.com (designed to attract Jewish singles or those looking to meet a handsome Jew). My friends Kimberly and Dara both had tons of luck meeting eligible bachelors on jdate. Being half Jewish myself, I thought I would give it a shot. I think we all want to marry men like our fathers (my dad is a nice Jewish man), so I decided the man of my dreams may just be on jdate.

I filled out the questionnaires (I marked non-practicing) and posted a pic that best showed off my prominent nose (I totally have my dad’s exact nose) and jumped in the game. I met a couple guys right off the bat that were short and arrogant, but smart and semi-handsome (Not for me). Then, I met a guy named Scott. He was sweet, funny and we went out for almost a month. But things started to go downhill and he turned into a big jerk. Just like that my jdate days were done (In fact, my internet dating days were over too)!

I met some nice people while dating on the Internet, but no one that really clicked. I did not find my prince charming! I think I’m a better judge of character in person. I know what I like and I think I’m pretty good at attracting it.
I’ll stick to meeting people in the real world. I would rather stumble upon someone amazing than work so hard seeking it on the Internet. I believe love will find me one day and that is FABULOUS!

ARIZONA

Sometimes you just need a little break from your everyday life to focus. I find it so hard to concentrate on my writing at home. I mean there are so many distractions (The dogs, TV, internet, happy hour, lunch with friends, dinner dates… you get the idea). I have a deadline fast approaching and so it’s important for me to be productive. A little getaway is definitely just what the doctor ordered!

My friend Sonni offered me her family’s home in Big Bear, CA. It’s not too far away, which is a plus and I thought it would be great to drive up and bring the dogs. Being in the mountains alone could be very inspiring! BUT then I REALLY thought about being alone in a mountain town during the summer with nothing to do, but write. Visions of bears, mosquitoes and serial killers swirled in my head and I decided to pass on the offer.

Then, I had came up with a FABULOUS idea! I could go to my mom’s house in Arizona. It’s beautiful, quiet and right near a spa, so in between writing I could work out, get fit, pamper myself and eat healthy (also continue my healing from the accident)!

My original plan was to drive and bring the dogs, but since I wrecked my car in the accident, I opted to fly. I booked my ticket on Southwest.com, found an inexpensive rental car on cheaptickets.com and I was all set. I arranged for the doggies to stay behind with my roommates (It’s too hot in Arizona with a fur coat anyways). I packed up my computer and my workout gear and I was off.

I arrived in Arizona Tuesday afternoon. I nearly melted in the heat as I dragged my bags to Thrifty to pick up my rental car. I pulled my Mapquest directions out of my bag and drove the 40 minutes towards the house, making one pit stop at Whole Foods to stock up on some healthy snacks. If I eat in the spa restaurant every meal, I will for sure gain weight. The food is healthy, but so good that I tend to overdo it (I don’t want to leave fatter instead of fitter). I bought fruits, veggies, eggs, snacks and lots of water (it’s extremely important to stay hydrated when it is so damn hot). Once I was all stocked up, I headed to the house to get settled.

The first night I stayed in, cooked veggies and rested up for the days ahead. I woke the next day ready and focused. I had a quick breakfast at home then headed to the gym. I took an abs class, stretch class and funk aerobics. Ok, so I may have overdone it because I started to feel a bit dizzy again (I hoped my post accident vertigo had not returned). I took a rest during a nice relaxing and YUMMY lunch at the restaurant. I made a heaping salad at the salad bar and swallowed a veggie burger whole (I was hungry)! After lunch, I returned to the house to write. Surrounded by silence, I worked uninterrupted for over 2 hours. Feeling good about my progress (and rested from my morning workout), I headed back to the gym for a spinning class and another dance class called fit strip (a sultry striptease workout) which was hysterical since I was the only one under the age of 50!

That evening, I went to the spa for my first bit of healing. I soaked in the hot tub, melted in the steam room, showered and received Reiki. Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. I thought this might be a good way to help my body in the healing process after the trauma of the accident. I sat in a candle filled room and spoke to Mary (the energy worker) about what was ailing me. I told her about the accident, my dizziness and my bruising. Then I lay on the table and she began to work. I didn’t really feel much except relaxation. I melted into the table as her hands floated over me. She touched my head, my heart, my knee and feet. I wasn’t asleep, but I drifted into that sort of meditative state. 45 minutes later she finished. She explained how my left side was openly soaking up the energy (that’s the side I was hit in the accident) and also my head and right knee (which sometimes bothers me). Relaxed and focused, I returned home to write some more before dinner. I took a warm bath, watched the movie Fool’s Gold (which I actually thought was very funny) and hit the hay early.

Thursday morning, I woke early and headed to the restaurant for breakfast. I made a heaping omelet at the omelet bar, drank some freshly squeezed orange juice and some coffee (I can’t function without a little caffeine). I headed to the gym to get my workout on. I took a ballet inspired class called Buff booty and a stretch class before heading back to the house to write. After a good chunk of writing, I ate some lunch and read my book by the pool. I returned to the gym in the afternoon for a cardio circuit training class (which is so hard, but so good) and a seminar given by a clairvoyant on Energy and Intimate relationships. She talked about soul mates and how she believed the idea is a bit melodramatic for today’s world. She explained that it is much more empowering to find a person with whom your chakras (the 7 main energy centers of the body) are in balance or our overall outlook on life (interesting)! Still thinking about my charkas, I ate a deliciously healthy dinner in the restaurant at the community table (with a supermodel from NYC, a 68 year old cancer survivor and a pretty blonde from Orange County). After dinner, I headed to the spa to hit the steam room and hot tub (Not a bad way to drift off to bed). I returned home and went to bed early (and relaxed).

Friday was more of the same. I worked out at the gym till I could barely move, got some good writing done and even got acupuncture. I was a little nervous going in, but the doctor was friendly, knowledgeable and eased my concerns. The initial poke of the needles hurt a bit, but then I didn’t feel it at all. Once I had needles all sticking out of me (my ear, my forehead, my legs and feet) I rested in silence for 30 minutes. I was able to rest and relax and after she removed the needles, I have to tell you, I immediately felt better. I felt looser and lighter and my vision was even clearer. It was amazing! I spent the afternoon, resting, reading by the pool and writing (you’re supposed to take it easy after the treatment). That night I played Bingo at the spa. Sadly, I left empty handed, but it was fun anyway. Who knew you could have so much fun not going out with friends, but instead playing bingo with old folks?

On a regular Saturday at home, you would find me playing at the beach with my friends, but here in Arizona I stayed focused. I started the morning with the centering circle, which is a short 20-minute meditation lead by one of the energy healers. I took a dance classes and did the cardio circuit class again. In the afternoon, I got some good writing done, then had a yummy dinner at the restaurant (that food is so damn good)!

Sunday was my last day and I wanted to make the most of it! I started again with the centering circle. I am pretty good at being able to settle my mind into a meditative state for a short time. 20 minutes is perfect and a nice way to start a full day with focus. I worked my abs in an abs class, did the cardio, took funk aerobics and then rested my weary body during a nice long lunch. I grazed the salad bar at the restaurant and had a turkey and tofu bacon (not as good as the real thing but still YUMMERS) the headed back into the gym for another abs followed by a low impact belly dancing class. By this time, my body could barely move! I was worn out! I hobbled home to write for the rest of the evening. I ate dinner at home, but swung by the spa to recoup in the hot tub before bed.

The next morning, I found time for a little breakfast and one more abs class before boarding the plane to return home. I let Arizona feeling healthy, fit (though a little sore) and having gotten a good amount of writing finished. Sometimes, getting away from the real world to focus is FABULOUS!