What Happens in Vegas Doesn't ALWAYS Stay in Vegas

The infamous after-afterhours Vegas club, Drai's, will soon tear the roof off the W Hollywood Hotel & Residences with it's New Year's Eve grand opening. The new Drai's will feature a ground level lounge, penthouse bar, balcony, outdoor pool and cabanas offering 360 degree LA views.

You probably won't find Drai's Vegas resident DJ Chris Garcia spinning nightly, nor witness a passed out club-kid carried out on the official Drai's stretcher (apparently the club has its own) at the Hollywood location. But, my guess is that Drai's will be off the charts in early 2010. That is until the W Hollywood residents get fed up with the drunken debauchery and oonce oonce house music raging in their building!

French, Do It, Better...Entre Nous

They say French women don't get fat...maybe because they like to look so stylish ALL the time. Typically French women go casual with more tailored pieces by day and go all out femme fatale by night.

A French woman knows less is more

She chooses earthy and neutral colors

She spices things up with a hint of red

She invests in the classics

She adores scarves all year round

She stays warm with hats

She is a shady lady with oversized sunglasses

She carries a large handbag

Pulling it all together

The classic Madame Brigitte Bardot

SoHo House Coming To WeHo

The members only SoHo House with locations in London and New York, is set to open its doors in 2010 on the Sunset Strip's west end. The proposed A-list members club will be housed at 9200 Sunset Blvd. in the Luckman Plaza office building and at the tip of posh Beverly Hills residential areas. The penthouse will offer 360 degree views of LA and the Hollywood Hills with over 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space.

Nearby residents complain that the club will bring the paparazzi, loud music, and traffic jams. Others believe the club will create jobs, provide a private escape for celebrities, and generate business for struggling local restaurants. {Personally, the area is a bit "dead." It seems the only nearby happening spots are the Rainbow and the Roxy, if they're even considered happening anymore. This little pocket could use a little revamping and action.}

$1,400 will get you an annual membership at the SoHo House New York. For additional fees, members may spend the night in "bedrooms" boasting names like Playpen, Playhouse, Playground, and Playroom. Rooms start at $405 per night. The Meatpacking District club also offers a rooftop pool, tranquil spa, and various rooms like The Library and The Drawing Room to hang out or rent out for private parties.

American Chic

Season after season, Ralph Lauren stays true to the all American preppy look. Pair the classics with the current trendy accessories and skinny jeans and you'll always look polished!

Remember Catherine Trammel from Basic Instinct? This look seems like she'd roll. Only certain ladies can pull off this one!

A classic fitted blazer is ALWAYS a classic wardrobe staple. Pair one with a great pair of fitted jeans!
A lighter take on the navy blazer. Tan looks great on everyone!
So, last year we couldn't get enough of the sweater dress. Try one in grey this fall and winter. Go monochromatic with a long grey sweater, scarf, and tights for a ladylike look!

More Cheap Wine

Sometimes you have to splurge, sometimes you have to scrimp. So, the minis are perfect for those, "I just want 1 glass of wine" nights. They're great for picnics too!

Red Hot!

Tonight I enjoyed a manicure/pedicure at my corner nail shop. OK, if you ask, they serve wine while you get all dolled up! I about died when I saw the lady pour me a glass out of a jug of Carlo Rossi over the massage table! Hey, sometimes you gotta do it on the cheap!

Color Splash

Make your bedroom more inviting with a blue accent wall...

The right shade of blue backsplash will perk up any plain old white kitchen.

Finally, Something Original

More pictures here...

Wall Street

Wall Street June 2005: Contemplating their next trade over smokes. I wonder if they still do this?

Vegas Pool Parties

Nothing like a burnt out saxophonist, a congo drummer, and house beats to keep the party going @ Tao Beach Club!

The Party Bus

Because sometimes I can't resist...

The Original Guitar Hero

Today, the world lost one of the most influential individual music contributor. Les Paul invented an early version of the solid body electric guitar in the 1940s. The likes of Peter Frampton, Jimi Hendrix, and Led Zeppelin used that guitar to create some of the most original and psychedelic sound effects with the electric guitar. That's Paul McCartney playing a Gibson Les Paul. I love Paul!

Summer, LA, and Rooftop Pool Parties

Thompson Hotel Beverly Hills

Nieman Marcus and Art

You get what you pay for...art and shopping? I like. You can see this piece at the Nieman Marcus ladies' dress department.

Ron Marvin, My Design Star

My Hancock Park art deco studio is crying out for design love! So, let the creative process commence. Like most of my research projects, I "google." I searched cool studio apartments interior design manhattan. Many Manhattanites live in pocket sized apartments and re-design them after chic boutique hotel rooms. So, I clicked here and let me tell you, my research for a cool inspiring very small space was practically done.

Ron Marvin's Hotel "Sweet" in Chelsea, won the 2007 Apartment Therapy award for smallest coolest apartment. Now, Ron IS a professional interior designer who has the industry contacts and a larger budget than most contest entries. For the sake of my design project, his Chelsea studio was the perfect inspiration. Every square inch of Ron's 300 square foot former hotel room, is utilized to the nines! I'm on a budget, so I've found most key accent pieces at Ikea, Target, and Amazon. I'll post some "AFTER" photos soon!!!

Vanessa + Valentine

Cruise over to my sister's blog here

Vanessa (left) is wearing Ray Ban 2113 sunglasses. Mine were $5.80 from Forever 21. Cheap chic!

Nothing, But The Blues

Pretty In Pink

The Paris Apartment

An inspiring space...

Hot Summer Nights + Rosé Wine = Heaven

On a June Saturday night in L.A., my fabulous sister and husband threw one of their lovely dinner parties for some very dear and some very new friends. My sister served a chilled, sweet rosé wine. One sip of this and I was sold. I suppose afer the beer margaritas I served up at the beginning of the party (more on those later) it was time to "cut" the alcohol. Nothing some Schweppe's Club Soda couldn't remedy. So, a little rosé, a little club soda, and a bar garnish like a lemon or lime and wallah!!! I realized wine coolers aren't so bad after all. I prefer to call my drink a wine spritzer. Sure, you can use a good white wine, like a Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay, but I do love a pretty sparkly pink drink.

Cuveè Chic Wine Spritzer

1) Fill a wine glass (any kind, but goblets work well for a big drink) half full with ice
2) Add:
1/2 glass Rosé wine
1/4 glass good club soda
3) Top with the fruit garnish of your choice (lemon or lime wedge work well)
4) Enjoy!

L.A. Wine Bars

It seems that wine bars are popping up in every L.A. neighborhood these days. From Santa Monica to Pasadena, you're sure to find that one wine bar that serves up the perfect cuveé. Better yet, try em all! On any given day of the week, any wine enthusiast or amateur can enjoy a glass or bottle. Here's a "flight" of L.A wine bars you should try:

1) Saluté Wine Bar
2) Bottle Rock
3) Ugo: An Italian Cafe
4) Bodega
5) Vertical Wine Bistro
6) Bacaro LA Wine Bar

At Saluté Wine Bar, try the Layer Cake Zinfandel and the Cataldi Madonna Cerasuolo Rosé

You Don't Need A Gym To Stay In Shape

During my 3 month stint on unemployment earlier this year, I decided to reprioritze my financial obligations. So, instead of throwing $40/month to an LA gym membership, I decided to put my fitness research and experience to use in at-home and outdoor workouts. Honestly, the gym routine becomes just that, routine. I'm not personally a fan of anything routine. Actually, I'm a firm believer that change is healthy for the mind, body, and spirit. If you become aware that workout boredome sets in after a week, then by all means, do weekly workout schedules. Or, workout one week on, take the next week off. Spin and do pilates for a month, then move to boot-camp type workouts the next month. Following this pattern will put your creativity at work in building different workout schedules, challenge a full array of muscles in your body, and in the process boost your endorphin levels like crazy! I can guarantee your spirit will be lifted. Unless of course, your diet is garbage and you drink like a fish. Then, of course, we may have other issues to deal with.

So, here's a workout anyone can do anywhere. All you need is a good pair of workout shoes and about 40 minutes:

1) Warm up for 5 minutes: I suggest marching in place and pumping both arms.
2) Squats: 10 reps (Stand with feet shoulder width apart and squat down without allowing your knees to go beyond your feet. Raise arms to 90 degree angle with body and return to squat position)
3) Lunges: 10 reps (Lunge forward without allowing knees to go beyond your feet. Repeat with other leg)
4) Bridge: 10 reps (Lay with back to floor and knees bent. Raise back and butt to ceiling creating a bridge)
5) Ab exercises: 50 reps (Choose from crunches or bicycles)
6) Push-ups: 10 reps (Girl version with knees on floor or if you're strong enough, do the real deal)
Repeat these 5 moves for 20 minutes
7) Cardio: 10 minutes (Choose any cardio activity and do 30 second intervals)
8) Cool down for 5 minutes: I suggest stretching arms, legs, hamstrings, buttocks, quadriceps