Happy Halloween!

Mr. Bones

Happy Halloween, everyone! I always love dressing up for Halloween and this year was no exception. Chad and I celebrated over the weekend. Take a look at our costumes. 

Cruella De Vil and her Dalmation... Puppy love!

I hand painted all the polka dots on Chad's costume with black acrylic paint onto a white v-neck shirt and white linen pants. The ears and tail were made from lonely socks. I pinned the ears onto a headband to stay put. Coming third in the costume competition,  Cruella and her pup were a hit!

I only need 100 more puppies...

To celebrate tonight, I have the most delicious, simplest recipe for pumpkin cookies. You really can't go wrong with this recipe. All you need is one can of pumpkin and a box of all spice cake mix. That's it! 

Combine both ingredients in a bowl and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. I like to add oatmeal and chocolate chips to mine. Even if Halloween is over by the time you get around to baking, these cookies will stay in season all the way through Thanksgiving. Enjoy! 

The Ace Hotel

 I stayed at The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs about a year ago for a friend's birthday. The hotel was so charming, the food and drinks were delicious and I love the fact that they are dog friendly. Well, I am so excited to share the news that The Ace is coming to Downtown. Set to open in Fall of 2013, construction for the new hotel is going on now in the United Artist's Theatre on Broadway. Can't wait for another fun venue downtown! Do you think they'll have a pool, or is that asking too much?

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The Ace Hotel is coming soon! xo

Quinoa Salad

Yum, yum. This delicious salad is one of my all time favorites. Plus, it's gluten free, vegan and packed with protein -- It's great for a party. I serve it as a whole meal for lunch or dinner. 

To make: Cook red (or tri-color) quinoa according to directions on the package. Once the quinoa has cooled, add one can of organic garbanzo beans, halved organic cherry tomatoes, fresh chopped basil, and organic spinach. Then mix in a small amount of olive oil and the juice of one or two whole lemons. Add salt & pepper to taste. So yummy!

Return to Elysian Park

In a follow-up to Not Just a Concrete Jungle, Chad and I return to Elysian Park a few times a month. Each time we go, we find yet another neat spot. We took both Patrick (our pup) and Mason (our friend's dog) on a hike over the weekend and look what we found. The views just keep getting better!

It's a dog's life xo

Style Fashion Week LA

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In honor of Style Fashion Week LA, Chad and I were invited to attend GenArt's Fresh Faces in Fashion. In their annual show, Genart showcases up-and-coming designers -- Zac Posen, Philip Lim, Rodarte, Rebecca Taylor (and many more notable designers) were once featured. This year, they presented three inspiring designers. Keep an eye out for these soon-to-be household names...

Shaina Mote opened the show with some excellent silhouettes and easy to wear pieces. The look was simple and timeless, yet details gave this line just the right amount of individuality and structure. 

Photo - John Eckmier

CRYBABY Presents was next, with a bold look. Midriffs were aplenty, crop tops paired with patent leather skater skirts was the signature look. Some fun accessories added to the playfulness in this line. 

Korovilas closed the show. I loved the femininity, silhouettes and beautiful flowing skirts. Composed of mostly dresses, I would wear almost every piece. Here is just a quick preview of my favorite line of the evening. 

 The designs were fantastic, but I was equally awed by the venue. Vibiana is a magical space -- an old church. We had a wonderful evening with friends. 

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Aids Walk

Last weekend, Chad and I participated in the Aids Walk. Sponsored by Ernst & Young (Chad's employer), we walked the six miles to support Aids research. I was amazed at how many people were there. With the heat, it was quite a trek. We walked entirely around West hollywood. As you can see below, we brought our pooch, Patrick, who was absolutely exhausted by the time we finished! 

Breaking News

With the arrival of City Target, Downtown is officially on the map! Chad and I walked over today and picked up some essentials...and of course some not so essentials. That's the thing about Target, even though we went for some laundry detergent and to check out the new location, we left with a whole cart full of things that we just couldn't resist. I told Chad that if there was only one store that I could shop in for the rest of my life, I would choose Target. Here are my top picks at the moment! 

In other breaking news, Sprinkles Cupcakes, Sport Chalet and several other good spots will also soon be opening at Figat7th! I also read a rumor that Urban Outfitters is looking for a space Downtown.... Finally some decent shops around here :)

Strong is the New Skinny

Have you ever started a new workout regime only to discover that after a week or two you've actually GAINED weight? This seems like a bad thing, right? Wrong! I have clients (usually the "skinny" ones) who approach me all the time and say, "I've gained two pounds since I started this workout." While no one likes to gain weight , it's really not about the number on the scale, is it? It's about how we look and even more importantly, how we feel. 

People really don't believe me when I tell them how much I weigh (a lot). Most people know that muscle weighs more than fat. But, did you know that muscle also burns more calories than fat? Granted, most of us don't want to bulk up (me included), but trust me people, using five pound weights during your workout will not make you look like a body builder! However, heavier weights will burn more calories and change the shape of that body faster. Don't be afraid to build muscle and weigh MORE. In turn, you can EAT more. And lets be honest, who doesn't love to eat? 

Broadway

On Saturday, Chad and I took a tour of the Historic Broadway & Theatre District. The "Rodeo Dr." of it's time, Broadway was the place for shopping, movie premieres, and so much more. The tour was incredible. 

 While some Theatres have been restored and are in working condition, some are used merely as storage facilities, or even worse, are too dilapidated to enter. Chad and I decided we want to buy a theatre one day and restore it :) 

I highly recommend this and several other tours by The Los Angeles Conservancy. Only $10 a ticket, it's a great way to see and learn about the city.

Bar & Kitchen

Chad and I got together with some friends last night at a great little spot called Bar & Kitchen. Located in the O Hotel, I was more than happy to check Bar & Kitchen off my list of places to eat Downtown.  With black & white movies playing on the second floor, the atmosphere is relaxed with a fun, cool crowd. It could easily become one of our go-to spots. Check it out...

image via @nataliehills

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The drinks were delicious, the food was good, and we were amongst great company. I found out that a friend from high school lives two blocks from us... How fun is that?! We had a great dinner and then walked to Caña for an after dinner drink. Love hanging with neighbors :)

Pumpkin Time

One of the best things about entering Fall, is that we also enter the holiday season! Kicking it off with Halloween, my dear friend Morgan hosted a pumpkin decorating, arts & crafts night. It was tons of fun and now I have gorgeous pumpkins to get me in the spooky halloween spirit! 

Such a great eye, @Morgansmith

image via @brittbarrack

My finished product

Painting the pumpkins was a lot faster than carving, and now they should last all the way until Thanksgiving. Thank you for hosting a fantastic night, Morgan!

Fall and the City

"Even before the first leaf falls, you can feel the seasons click. The air is crisp, the summer is gone. And for the first night in a long time, you need a blanket on your bed. It brings up other needs as well."

- Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City

Fall has arrived, and although there's still a heat wave blaring through LA, can you feel the change? I can. While I certainly don't need an extra blanket on my bed yet, yesterday, I got out of the shower and switched out my summer robe for my comfy winter robe - I needed the extra warmth! For some reason, this year,  not only is the weather changing, but so too are the things in my life.

 I've been contemplating a change in career path. Good friends and family are moving out of the state. Friends move-in together, some plan weddings, some even plan for a family, while others break-up.  For the first time in my life, I have no idea where I will be in six months from now. But that's the thing about change, just when you start to feel settled, here it comes again. And, just like the seasons, we have no control.  We better enjoy the ride.  

"Perhaps if we never veered off course we wouldn't fall in love, or have babies, or be who we are. After all, seasons change. So do cites. People come into your life and people go. But it's comforting to know that the ones you love are always in your heart. And if you're very lucky, a plane ride away." 

- Carrie Bradshaw, Sex and the City

PS. Don't you miss Carrie Bradshaw and her [sometimes] words of wisdom?

Stair Climb

Chad convinced me to climb to the top of the US Bank Tower with him over the weekend. This was no small feat. The tallest building on the West Coast, and the 55th tallest building in the world, Chad and I both climbed 75 flights of stairs in less than 20 minutes, all for the good of the Los Angeles community. Although at times I thought I might pass out, the 1,679 stair climb was well worth it. At the top we were rewarded with medals and the view was spectacular. It was amazing to look down on every building in LA, with nothing above! 

Luckily, we took the elevator down where a party with food and drink was awaiting us. 

 The real heroes of the day were the Firefighters, who climbed with their full gear on -- that's an extra 60 pounds!