MOI XOXO

My BFF during winter is the skinny pink razor internationally known as the Daisy but when spring & summer hits, I jet off to Brazil! I want to feel all clean and shiny. The results last anywhere from ten days to three weeks, with no maintenance, and there’s no shave that can get you this smooth. In fact, that’s the biggest benefit - no more shaving!

A past reader commented how she enjoys reading a little bit of history from my post, so here’s some on the Brazil! Western countries (or at least North America, where I have some expertise), full pubic waxing has only just become fashionable among the celebrity/socialite set and is known as the “Brazilian” bikini wax. According to fashion magazines, the procedure was first offered in the US by an upscale Manhattan salon run by 7 Brazilian-born sisters. A clear trend appeared sometime in the late 90s. It wasn’t hard to understand how full pubic waxing made women feel more sensual and made sex better. In 2000, the beauty editor of Self magazine estimated that 40 percent of the female population in New York between the ages of 20 and 30 has a Brazilian wax. It’s 2008 and full bikini waxing is now a standard practice for the fashion-conscious.

For me, a Brazilian wax is the way to go. A little painful, yes, but the results are well worth it. You will eventually get used to the discomfort. It’ll be a smooth experience.

Moi xoxo

Inspired by Glamour magazine’s amusing Dos & Don’t column and fresh from my own packing for my next vacation get away, Moi reveals how to be an airport DO!

1. Do keep in mind that athletic inspired clothes like fitted hoodies and lean sweatpants are a traveler’s best friend as they are cute and comfortable. That doesn’t mean its okay to dress head to toe for the gym, well unless you’re part of a soccer team flying to your next match.

2. Do remember that stilettos never look sexy when traveling. They look torturous! Try cute flats like Kate Moss

3. Do wear a coat appropriate in weight for your trip. Don’t make is soo bulky it won’t fit in the overhead.

4. Do tie a great sweater or pashmina over your shoulders to layer over a T-shirt or tank when the plane gets freezing ~ which it always does.

5. Don’t wear your little lingerie camisole with pajama bottoms and Uggs to the airport. I never jumped on the Ugg wagon ..they are oversize bedroom slippers. The plane is not a place for a pajama party!

6. Do know that oversize dark shades have been the best friend of every jet-setter from Jackie O to Elle Macpherson who I have always thought “travels” very right. She always looks pulled together but comfortable.

7. Please don’t wear the shorts, tank top, and flip flops you had on in the Caribbean on the flight back to Los Angeles, especially if its in the middle of winter.

8. Do organize your bag before you get in the security line. Don’t wait until you get to the front of the line to sort though your old candy and dead lipsticks to find your boarding pass. I witnessed this twice both in Miami International and Las Vegas and I was rolling my eyes with disgust.

9. Don’t be wearing your lowest cut jeans with a short top on the plane. You will have to reach up to get your bags, and then you might as well be wearing just your thong.

10. Don’t turn the plane cabin into your own personal spa moment. If you spray yourself with fragrance, you spray the whole cabin with it.

11. Don’t load yourself with so many bags you look like the luggage carousel. Edit!

Moi xoxo

This is the classic comfort-food soup, livened up with fresh veggies and spices. Growing up, I ate lots of soups, salads, and stews and I still love them! Butternut squash is a delicious winter squash that tastes like a cross between pumpkin and sweet potato. My mom made this soup repeatedly because it was easy and it can be incorporated into all her elaborate meals but still versatile enough that the family didn’t get sick of it.

This recipe makes 14 cups or 12 servings.

Onion ~ 1 large, peeled, and chopped small

Carrot ~ 2 large, peeled, and chopped small

Celery ~ 1 stalk, chopped small

Garlic ~ 4 cloves sliced

Whole Butter ~ 2 onces

Butternut Squash ~ 1 large 3 pounder will do, peeled and diced

Sweet Potatoes ~ 2 each, peeled, and diced

Chicken Broth ~ 2 quarts

Cream ~ 1 quart

Pumpkin Pie Spice ~ 1 tablespoon

Cinnamon ~ 1/2 teaspoon

Brown Sugar ~ 5 tablespoon

Maple Syrup ~ 5 tablespoon

White Pepper and Salt ~ to taste but go light on salt

Directions:

In a large saucepan, cook the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic with the butter over medium heat. Stir often and cook the veggies until they are soft but not brown.

Add in the squash, sweet potatoes, brown sugar, syrup, and spices and cook for about 5 minutes, caramelizing the sugars and spices well. Next, add the chicken broth and cream and bring the mixture to a simmer. Simmer covered for 20-30 minutes until the veggies are very soft.

I prefer to use a hand blender for easy use but any old blender will do, puree the soup until it is nice and smooth. Strain the soup through a fine cap and place back in a pot on the stove. Adjust the flavor per your liking with more maple syrup and season with salt and white pepper not black. Be careful with the salt so that you do not lose the sweetness of the soup.

May you enjoy this soup as much as I have since childhood!

Moi xoxo

I have been watching The L Word since Season 1 and no other episode got me to ponder more than the spunky episode called “Lesbians Gone Wild.” Was this it? Would this be the episode we’d all been waiting for, the one teased in those late Nov 2007 commercials that had me clutching my breasts and asking, “Is that really two women grappling in Turkish oil?!” Oh, it was. And it was good. So good, in fact, that I even wished I had a cigarette to smoke when it was all over, just because. The next morning I awoke with the question of why do they apply the oil and how did this sport first begin?

Turns out, this is one of the most popular sports in Turkey. “Yagli” means literally oiled wrestling. The wrestlers wear tight short leather trousers called “Kispet”, made of water buffalo leather and they cover themselves with olive oil. The wrestler oiling each other is a signification of the importance of “balance” in such competitions. I wonder if this works in an intimate relationship. Note to self, purchase family size olive oil at Costco. Ok back on track .. infected mosquitoes were spreading Malaria during the Roman Empire. In those times, living at sea level was close to impossible. Even mosquito nets, burning animal feces, and standing in smoke during sundown were not sufficient for complete protection from mosquitoes. The oil extracted from a vegetable particular to the Mediterranean region: “the olive,” was used in cooking and for protection from mosquitoes. Then they mixed a specific ingredient “kafur” with olive oil for full protection from the mosquitoes. The disease spreading stopped but this didn’t stop the Turkish who continued to spent day by day applying olive oil on to their bodies and also continued to wrestle with their bodies oiled.

A new style of wrestling surfaced from this condition: oil wrestling! Rumor is a similar version will be portrayed at Dinah Shore 2008. This time, I shall have a cigarette on hand!

Moi xoxo

Don’t let this happen to you! I enjoyed my honey ice tea mama drink from Starbucks as a recommendation from my baby sis Candice. I was in heaven soo much I seriously contemplated the thought of letting go of my daily coffee for a stab at this refreshing drink. Almost thought about it. I finished my tea quickly before I even made it back to my office! Thinking I could duplicate the drink, I grabbed a tea bag from the kitchen and without thinking, I put the bag on top of the ice instead of putting the bag in first. The bag broke the minute it touched the ice and you should have seen my face frown in disgust!

I will stick to coffee!

Moi xoxo

What a fun game! Take three names of people, friends, celebrities, etc and decide which one would you shag, marry, or kill! I heard about it while listening to my favorite Canadian podcast “Lipgloss and Laptops.” These ladies offer their candid reviews on the beauty industry & cosmetic products.

To shake things up a bit, I was curious who they would shag, marry, or kill..but Lesbian style! So I asked them!

Here’s the answer:
http://tinyurl.com/ywxpfm

Moi xoxo

For years interior designers scoured antiques shops and designer showrooms to furnish their clients’ homes and offices. No more! The internet has changed the way even the most exclusive decorators find everything from French antiques to vintage textiles. I outfitted my Southern California home with mid century pieces like Miles van der Rohe’s table stand and coveted Brno chair, all of which I scored on Ebay.com. I enjoy navigating the virtual garage sales by typing in the designers names into Ebay’s search engine, rather than using vague descriptions like “chair” or “table”. To ensure you are dealing with reputable parties, I recommend you review the seller’s ratings before you bid. The key to finding a treasure on Ebay? Be willing to spruce up a find with new upholstery or a fresh coat of paint!

Another great site to score pieces from the likes of designer Steven Gambrel, is 1stdibs.com This site hooks up buyers with screened dealers in the six major design cities, including Paris and Los Angeles, as well as the Hamptons. Now I can log on to my Mac to find furniture in Paris without having to leave my home. On other sites, 99% of the items hold no interest for me, but on 1stDibs, I always find things that end up giving my home its character.

If antiques or vintage is not your thing, try edhardysf.com for Chinese furnishings and belvedereinc.com for mid century lamps and furnishings.

However, shopping on the Web should not replace a visit to a store. You cannot judge comfort online!

Happy Hunting!

Moi xoxo

I just received wonderful news from my friend Gabby that she is pregnant..and freaking out! She’s excited but scared of raising a child due to the price tag that comes along with it. I thought I was helping her by mentioning that you don’t have to pay for it all at once, but you also can’t return to sender if you are not satisfied! That got me to wonder if my mom thought the same when she raised me. Her first two were simple and quiet, and then I came along. I remember when I was a little girl, I raided my stylish mom’s closet to play dress-up! I recall the Louis Vuitton logos in her walk-in closet as mesmerizing ~ like swirls of butterscotch flavored candy letters. Nowadays, toddlers can dig deep into their own closet, as designers are debuting pint-size fashions of their own! Suri Cruise is not even two yet and her haircut and Juicy Couture coats are the most talked about. Marni sells cotton tops and skirts ranging from $135-$165. Adidas crib shoes for newborns are $20 and oh I would love to register for Burberry’s nova-check car seat for $495. Having a child is terribly expensive and stressful!

In between Gabby’s sobbing, I gave her some helpful tips all the while crossing my fingers that the good Lord bless her with a model pregnancy.

• Walk, walk, walk. Or try a prenatal yoga class.
• Put away your Manolos and find a pair of comfortable shoes and flats. {I heard her gasp} That’s how I discovered Converse sneakers and Tory Burch ballerina slippers.
• Pumpkin Maternity pants and dresses were the best! They are chic and affordable and doesn’t make you feel like the pumpkin that you are becoming. {More sobbing}
• Splash some lavender oils in a warm bath to help relax and most of all - sleep.
• I used Beautiful Belly Balm by Wiseways Herbals to help prevent stretch marks.
• Listen to music-everything from Bob Marley to Mozart.
• Meditate. It calms the mind and helps you focus on controlling your breathing, which is important during labor.

Most of all, be thankful every day for your little miracle. Mine is six now and a little devil disguised in a freshly shaved mohaw …but adorable never the less!

Moi xoxo

Seven Jeans re-established designer denim in the US and quickly became the fashionista go-to brand for bang-on fits, washes and fabrics! They are not the best jeans by any means, but they are not the worst, at least because of them, there are a bunch of new companies making very high quality denim now, and we have a lot of options. The ladies do look hot in them {see picture above} I have three pairs of seven jeans. The first pair I got, I wore them almost everyday for months. They are boot cut and have held up very well, no rips anywhere. The fit looks really good on me. Designer denim like 7’s, True’s, R&R, and Citizens have their place. Wear the jeans if they fit well, and some of the washes are actually very nice.

If your reading this Shantel, I still have that 7 handbag you got for me at the sample sale. I even have had offers for it!

Moi xoxo

Judging by the number of wine ads in the papers over the last few days Easter is becoming a major drinking occasion for many of us. I personally do not need a holiday to drink but for those who do, here is a delicious cocktail recipe for Easter morning!

The “Diva D” Mimosa

- 1 shot of Stoly Mandarin or Grey Goose vodka {Warning} Only substitute with Absolut if you really want an absolute headache}
- splash of orange juice
- top off with only Vive Cliquot or Krug Champagne.

You will thank moi if you use the suggested brands! You will love it!

I also have a fabulous recipe for buttermilk pancakes that pairs beautifully with this drink. *Stay tuned*

Moi xoxo