Moi xoxo

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The world according to Trina Turk: It is always sunny and 75 degrees. After impressing girls everywhere with her sunny chic fashion, Trina is diving into home this year with a new shop in Palm Springs, CA complete with fabrics, needlepoint pillows and more, all popping against lemon yellow walls. If your searching for *Desert Chic*, this boutique is your first stop when you get to town. Trina’s design are just what the doctor ordered for your weekend get away. Select from vintage and retro inspired clothing that will carry you from one pool party to another. What better way to channel your inner resort lifestyle than with punchy collections of boldly printed dresses, skirts, tops and hats alongside vintage chairs and sofas upholstered in Turk’s retro prints. One stop shopping for a bikini and a lounge chair is certainly smart thinking in this market, no?

Moi xoxo

Fashion designer Tory Burch has mastered that relaxed but luxurious boho look we all crave when we’re going on summer vacation. Even if the lousy economy has squashed vacation plans, we could all use a little of Burch’s escapism attitude by listening to her iPod playlist. Tory has put together a CD compilation including hot artists like Estelle, The Black Lips, and Youssou N’Dour, which she will be selling in her stores and on-line. It’s only $16.99, and every single penny spent on it goes to the Save the Children charity, which works to make the lives of children around the world better through education, hygiene, and health. Pick one up for that music lover on your shopping list and one for yourself, and know that you’re helping those in need. Finally a gift that truly rocks!

Moi xoxo

Few fashionable neighborhoods are fully revitalized nowadays without the  hipster acronym, and Austin Texas’ South Congress or SoCo, to locals officially qualifies! Taking its name from the broad avenue that anchors the district, South Congress has become the go-to area for artistic types in search of eclectic shopping and bohemian cafes. Now, in hope of housing the hipster gay masses, a new independent B&B has opened its doors. You wont find crocheted table runners and fussy florals at this lesbian-owned hotel, Kimber Modern. Couples for 16 years, Kimber Cavendish and Vicki Faust, turned the B&B concept on its ear with this sleek guesthouse located a 1/2 a block from SoCo.  The decor is smooth with minimalist gray concrete panels, custom platform beds, frosted glass bathrooms complete with Philippe Starck sinks, Eames desk chairs, and local wall art courtesy of lesbian artist Martha Gannon. To free up pocket space, the boutique retreat got rid of those cumbersome keys. Instead, guests gain access to rooms by typing a personal code onto a keypad. You are also spoiled with organic breakfasts’, wine happy hour, and all day cappuccinos There you have it, the complete package for the independent, urban gay travelor!

Moi xoxo

Once upon a time, finding stylish seating for tots seemed like a fairy-tale quest. You couldn’t find decent kids’ furniture up until the past five or so years, but now there are so many chic choices. The reason is simple, a more design-conscious generation has spurred a baby boom in furnishings, resulting in countless models to suit any taste. When making your selection avoid overly done or complicated pieces. Wouldn’t you rather see your child than the chair? Stick to proven shapes such as an X-back or French-bistro chair. Practicality and safety are also paramount, so wide seats, sturdy frames, and durable finishes should be considered. It’s a wonderful moment when you see your son or daughter begins to use furniture properly and appreciate design. Unleash their inner interior designer!

Moi xoxo

While it’s still not standard, it’s no longer unheard of for the bride to be pregnant or a lot pregnant at her wedding. No longer does the couple need to hurry to marry quickly before the baby bump gets too big or be forced into a custom made gown to go over the large belly. Luckily for pregnant brides, there are no shortage of wedding gowns. It’s the perfect time, design-wise, to be a pregnant bride because more and more designers are catering to this market. If your wedding date falls sometime after you went fourth month and then multiplied, you too, can look like a million bucks but without blowing such a huge sum. Online maternity retailer Moms Night Out sells flattering, ready made options and knows the right questions to to ask for the perfect fit. Classic maternity brands such as Mimi Maternity sells romantic bridal dresses with ruffle detailing or trendy dresses such as their tiered cupcake gown.  A Pea in the Pod offers luxurious custom made, hand beaded gowns of ivory and satin all with plenty of stretch appeal. Just because the bride-to-be is also a mother-to-be, is no reason not to have all the perks. That includes a beautiful white maternity wedding dress.

Moi xoxo

The arrival of summer brings with it swimsuit season, a time when most ladies become just a little more high maintenance than they already are. Now, there is no need to pay the price of spa treatments to get spa results. The Bliss-Philips Bikini Perfect Deluxe Spa-At-Home kit combines the celebrity tested quality of Bliss Spa with the grooming wisdom of Philips. If you’re too busy to go to the salon for a wax, the Bikini Perfect kit will let you deal with the fuzz down there and almost any part of the body that you need to trim. The razor is like a men’s electric razor with a foil instead of exposed blades. It shaves with no pain, no dragging, and no nicks. It can be used either in or out of the shower or bath, and cleaning it is as easy as rinsing it under water. The system has a rechargeable battery so no cords getting in the way, and the Bikini Perfect needs no oil and requires no maintenance; it’s ready to go when you are. The system comes with a Precision Trimmer, Precision Comb, Epilator, Micro Shaver, Micro Trimmer, and Eyebrow Comb. To sweeten the pot, Bliss tossed in a 1 oz tube of Bliss Lemon+Sage Body Butter and Body Scrub and Five Ingrown Hair Eliminating Peeling Pads ~ all in an adorable drawstring travel bag!

Moi xoxo

The Irish take a lot of ribbing on St. Patrick’s Day: for overindulgence, for drinking before noon, and did I mention the bad parade hats. Never the one to follow the crowd with the routine green beer and Irish Cream, I choose to use this holiday as an excuse to craft a sophisticated drink that has throwback appeal as well as seasonality. Next Tuesday, I plan to toast St. Patty’s Day with a drink that combines the quintessential Irish spirit with a classic American cocktail. Serve it on the rocks to better balance the Irish whiskey’s peaty note. If you prefer it a bit drier, make the vermouth portion half sweet and half dry. Once you have opened your bottle of vermouth, quickly refrigerate it. It’s good for a whole year!

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup Irish whiskey
• 1 1/2 tablespoons sweet vermouth
• 1 maraschino cherry, for garnish

Mix

• Fill a lowball glass with ice. Add whiskey and sweet vermouth; stir. Garnish with maraschino cherry.

Moi xoxo

With the new restrictions against liquids on airplanes, traveling with toiletries just isn’t the same. Memo to TSA, not everything a beauty junkie owns is available in a 3 oz. size and sometimes the mini hotel bottle just won’t do! Leave behind the days of saying arrive derci to your full size essentials with the Richlee Travel Case which is big on style, practicality and in size. These travel cases are the type you actually want to show off. Choose between the delicious chocolate brown and frosting pink travel case for a youthful chic look or go all-black for ultra sophistication. Both come with cute details like the jeweled tiara zipper pulls. The case is about the size of a picnic cooler, yet fits so much more. Just keep on stuffing it, and surprisingly, it still zips shut! It’s big enough to fit all your vitamins, full sized shampoo and conditioner, even your blow dryer! Each bag also comes with a matching makeup & accessory case so you can grab the mini bag for those shorter excursions.

Happy primping!

Moi xoxo

Like the famous quote,“there’s always happy hour somewhere” same applies to a city celebrating Gay Pride, a principle that people should be proud of their homosexuality and gender identity. While majority of the destinations celebrate gay pride during the summer season with parades, festivals and street fairs, 2009 promises to be a season of momentum for the gay and lesbian community with festivities stretching to both sides of the Atlantic and Pacific. For those still contemplating where to celebrate, here are my top three spots to mix and mingle!

London~ Taking place each year in a different city, EuroPride is Europe’s biggest gay and lesbian festival and counts Sir Elton John and Sir Ian McKellen among its participants. London hosts this year’s events starting Saturday July 4th which includes some 400 events and galas, featuring a parade and a “Pride Against Prejudice” conference and a gala performance of Madam Butterfly. If you can’t make it to London, be sure to join in the EuroPride celebrations in Madrid or Stockholm.

Atlanta ~ No city in the southern US throws a more louder and brasher pride than Atlanta. Each year an estimated 300,000 people fill the streets of “Chocolate City” to which everyone is invited. Kicking off on Halloween, the pride features live music, dancing, art and craft markets, food and drink stalls and public speakers. Numerous gay bars as well as gay popular restaurants, hotels, and shops have special events and parties throughout Pride Week. 

Miami/Key West ~ From the hot bods of South Beach to the tanned revelers of Key West, Florida promises Pride style fun in the sun. In Miami, the festivities are along Ocean Blvd starting April 19th. For Key West, it starts June 6th. One of the most gay-friendly places in America, a street fair stretches along Key West’s Duval Street (700 and 800 blocks) starting with parties at gay and lesbian friendly hotspots Island’s House and Pearl’s Rainbow.

From New York to Toyko, from Los Angeles to Philadelphia, no matter what festival you attend, it will sure to be memorable. For a list of events and Prides around the globe visit Real Pride.

Moi xoxo