Love Your Kin |Dot Com|
June 29, 2008
It’s almost July and time for Moi to make her annual trip back to Los Angeles for some heavy duty shopping. Even though its 90 degrees outside, the department stores and boutiques are having their trunk shows to welcome in the Fall merchandise. Where Spring offered bright colors straight out of a crayon box with bold prints, Fall delivered the opposite returning back to the simple life with clean and classic cuts of neutral and dark colors. I will hit Fred Segal on Melrose and Kitson on Robertson for quirky one of a kind tees and killer deals on jeans but the one trunk show I am excited to attend this year is Kin. I discovered this hip boutique while waiting for my dinner at the Poquito Mas in the same mini-complex. The owners run a terrific operation and stock a great mix of niche and well-known labels for men and women. There’s the ubiquitous pricey denim, but also some very unique t-shirts, sweater shirts, and jackets. But merchandise aside, what really makes this place special is the attention you get from the owners. It’s like having a personal shopper and stylist. They know their merchandise so well, and help you put it all together. You don’t get service like that in LA, particularly at a hip Hollywood boutique (where the attitude of the staff is often too-cool-for-school). BTW, they’re open late and on Sunset Blvd! Perfect for the drink urge I will get later at night from all that shopping~
Moi xoxo
The Fountain of Youth is Under $10.00
June 25, 2008
Ever wonder why men look younger than us with little effort? They don’t even realize that their daily routine of shaving is their fountain of youth. That’s their secret..daily shaving is daily exfoliating, tricking the skin and causing it to reveal new skin cells. I thought to myself a long time ago, I want to use a daily exfoliater myself to do the same process, minus the shaving my chin. During the years, I have tested every new scrub out the market until I found my favorite. Some were too rough and tough, some felt slimy, some had the word scrub in the name but the maker forgot to add the grains. That was until I noticed a new green tube in the shower that I didn’t recall purchasing. My J picked up Aveeno’s Skin Brightening Daily Scrub and face wash at Target because it was on sale and I tried it and the holy grail light appeared in my head! The smooth microbeads in this scrub gently exfoliate, while the soy adds moisture to soften the skin. It cleanses without leaving a tight finish and exfoliates without being harsh. My mission ended and J had no idea what a gem she found! A travel size sample of Aveeno’s Positively Radiant Day lotion with SPF 30 was given as a gift with the scrub and it is light as air! That is unusual considering the SPF 30 factor tends to produce a thick texture. Watch out Neutrogena Dry Sunblock Day lotion ..I think you just met your match!
Moi xoxo
Oops! @pinklace & @moixoxo forgot their tickets!
June 21, 2008
There are only two reasons I’d wake up at 5:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning — if I had to catch a plane to a far off tropical location, OR if I had the chance to see the latest Holiday & Summer makeup trends at the Nordstrom Cosmetics Trend Show. For those of us outside the world of what I guess is supposed to be true fashion, glamour and more, they have these “shows” that they call “Trend Shows” (well, at least Nordstrom does), twice a year during Fall for the Holiday forecast, and during June for the Summer season. I used to think who would be crazy enough to wake up at 5:30 a.m. to go look at makeup and fashion. Little did I realize I wasn’t the only ones. When you arrive at Nordstrom at 7:30 am, there is already a line of women waiting out front. You go, ladies! To attend a Nordstrom Cosmetics Trend Show, visit their web site for dates and locations near you. There’s a modest $15.00 cover charge, which applies toward any beauty/cosmetics purchases you make on the day of the event. If you love cosmetics but are NOT a morning person, then be forewarned: the Trend Show is kinda like a rock concert. There’s loud music, hot models, screaming women (no joke!) and unbridled makeup and fashion enthusiasm! DVF flowing dresses, Tommy Bahamas beach totes, & sea foam blue eyeshadow from Mac’s new summer collection were to die for!
Until Fall 2008!
Moi xoxo
A Rose By Any Other Name ..Stinks!
June 18, 2008
Keeping with my summer philosophy of staying light, easy, and green comes a product that is grossly overlooked but equally important by my standards. There is just nothing glamorous about the mass produced deodorants on the market. They all appear manly to me and the feminine versions do not offer any protection for hygiene except for leaving white marks on my black clothes. That was until a model friend of mine introduced me to Weleda Wild Rose deodorant spray, a bottle worthy and girly enough to leave out on the bathroom counter. Weleda grows most of their plants in their own gardens organically and this deodorant is free from aluminum and propellants and is made with essential oils. It comes in a non fussy pump spray bottle and gives excellent coverage with only 1 squirt. Weleda also sells this deodorant in two other fragrances so if wild rose is not to your taste, why not try the sage or the citrus instead! Retails for $14 at Whole Foods
Moi xoxo
Blame It On Rio!
June 14, 2008
At first I just purchased the bronzer for the Bond Girl *007* look of the case! After trying it and wearing it as a bronzer, blush, eyeshadow, and occasional cleavage seducer, I am sold that no brand does bronze like Guerlain! If your looking to create or enhance a summery glow year round, Guerlain’s Terracota line delivers in numerous shades to suit your skin tone as you lightly dust it over areas that would naturally catch the sun. Guerlain first introduced their bronzing products in the mid 1980’s, therefore it was one of the first bronzing powders, and its still a classic. You get the most natural, lightly tanned look with no streaking and no artificial shine, just a warm glow. It lasts forever, even after I come out of the water, so although it may seem expensive, your cost over time is very reasonable. The summer ‘08 collection includes spray bronzers, pearly color balls, and baked bronzers in a compact for easy toting! Something to suit every taste~
Moi xoxo
The Summer Squash Keeps on Coming!
June 12, 2008
Summer is here and it’s a natural direction to turn to all things light! Clothing, makeup, spring cleaning, and the way I eat should be no exception. When I think of cooking a light summer meal I think of squash. That’s right, the garden Godzilla that I can turn into a crowd pleasing meal! Best of all, my version is a vegetarian delight, another part of my philosophy of keeping it light! My zucchini pasta secret is to cut the zucchini into strips and cook them until they are tender which allows them to hold their shape as they twist and turn around the fusilli pasta. This also allows for the zucchini to cling to the noodle like sauce. Therefore, no creamy or fatting sauce needed. Again, keeping it light! In addition, the pine nuts add richness to the plate. This dish takes me close to 40 minutes to prepare.
~2 lbs zucchini
~2 garlic cloves
~12 large basil leaves
~1/3 cup pine nutes
~2 tbsp butter
~ 1 tbsp olive oil
~1/2 tsp salt
~3/4 cup fusilli pasta
~ 1 cup of freshly shredded parmesan cheese
1. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Meanwhile, trim and discard ends of zucchini. Cut each zucchini into 3- to 4-in. lengths, then into thick matchsticks. Chop the garlic and cut the basil leaves into thin ribbons.
2. In a large frying pan over medium heat, toast pine nuts and stir them until golden, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside. In the same pan, melt 1 tbsp. butter with 2 tsp. olive oil. Increase heat to high and add half of the zucchini and 1/4 tsp. salt. Cook zucchini, stirring frequently, until soft and browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer zucchini to a plate with a spoon leaving as much of the butter and oil in the pan as possible. Repeat with remaining zucchini and 1/4 tsp. salt. Remove frying pan from heat and reserve.
3. Now for the pasta, add remaining 1 tbsp. salt and fusilli pasta to boiling water and cook until pasta is tender to the bite, 5 to 10 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
4. Heat another frying pan over medium to high heat, add the remaining 1 tsp. olive oil and the chopped garlic, and cook until fragrant but not browned, about 1 minute. Add reserved zucchini and pine nuts from step 2. Cook, stirring, until well combined. Add zucchini mixture and reserved basil to cooked fusilli and toss to combine. Add 1/2 cup parmesan and remaining 1 tbsp. butter. Toss until butter melts and everything is well combined. Divide among 6 plates or pasta bowls. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup parmesan and serve immediately.
Moi xoxo
Don’t Bring Home the Bacon! Bring Home This!
June 7, 2008
My mother and grandma were in mutual agreement by saying that when I was born I entered the world screaming “Birkin please!” I didn’t understand what that meant until I would peak around the corner and wondered what grandma was stuffing in that bright lime green purse. She was stuffing what I would remember as her *40* and I was not allowed to touch it. For those of you not familiar with the *40*, here is Katie Holmes with hers. My grandma has past on and now my mother is the owner of that *40* or what my dad had called it, same color as baby puke. Until it is past on to me, I am trying to get my own hands on the *32* since its much smaller and practical for everyday. As a gift to myself that doesn’t include a three year waiting list and a $6k to start price tag, I pull out my Bringing Home The Birkin! book. What a delightful treat to read Michael Tonello’s quest in the pursuit of the world’s hottest bag! I was giggling over his world tour that took him from Barcelona to Madrid to Brazil and back to the US in what he quotes, ” A fashionista has a better chance of climbing Mount Everest in Prada pumps, than of possessing one of these coveted carryalls!” If your a fashion die-hard, and many others, you will be delighted from beginning to end!
Traveling around the world for a purse is not on my agenda when I can wait until my mother hands down the lime green classic. It’s personally not my color of choice, but I will work it!
Moi xoxo
My Eco-Consientious Skin Setting Lifestyle
June 4, 2008
I first heard about Tammy Fender while I was visiting Florida last year. As I was sipping one of many champagne drinks at The Pelican Resort in Fort Lauderdale, there was a sample of this *miracle* in a tube, neatly arranged on a table as you exited the restrooms. The scent of the hand lotion immediately perked me up, although I am also sure the champagne helped too! The front desk advised that the gift shop sold travel kits left behind by the local aesthetician. I purchased the kit and didn’t touch the rest of my face toiletries during my entire 5 day trip. That Florida sun was cooking as I was running the streets of Miami and South Beach and not once did my face peel or burn! I am from California and the minute my skin notices a change in the environment it likes to act out! Tammy Fender products are sold exclusively in Florida where she resides and I quickly learned that celebrities, models, and South Beach “ladies who lunch” trust Tammy Fender to reform their skin back to a healthy and glowing stage! I have since finished the sample set and now have to re order from the internet but it’s worth it! Tammy’s line is a collection of pure, organic, custom blended skin care based on the healing traditions of holistic medicine, freshly prepared in small batches and formulated with a divine consciousness and a commitment to excellence and purity. Her motto is rooted in the ancient philosophy of Yin and Yang, who are also the founders of holistic medicine. I was immediately sold and since I travel to Florida at least once a year, I plan on stocking up and Fed Ex’ing a care package home along with a facial at her “already waiting list” salon. I am addicted to all things beauty and Tammy’s products makes my skin have a beautiful day!
Moi xoxo
