Fashion Week 2013

Very lucky to be able to attend Fashion Week again this year! 

For the first time Zappos had a booth, a recharge center to charge your phones, hang out...
check out some fashion, win some pretty nice swag...the girls did a great job styling the models
Waiting for the Lacoste fashion show to start with LaShunda and Lee...stylist, planner, buyer :)  I still trip out on the fact that I get to attend some of these especially when you think about how many people are in the room, definitely a nice perk!

Spring 2014
 Erin and I were twinsies so we had to take a pic together especially since we found it so funny the height difference...she is model status, 5'8'' vs. 5'2''...love her!
Betsey Johnson came by for an interview at the Zappos booth, so me and Mel, my paparazzi partner had to get a photo op :)
then headed over to Central Park for lunch...it was the most perfect day out, not too hot...the humidity did hit later in the week!
Brunch at the Boathouse...great table overlooking the lake...need to watch 27 dresses again and the scene from Sex & City that was filmed here :)
had a little taste of everything, eggs benedict, french toast, but I'd have to say the crab cakes were the best...so yummy!
Later that evening went to the Porsche Fashion show which I didn't even know they made apparel...we don't carry them right now but possibly in the future so the buyers were checking out the line to see if it makes sense for our business
lots of high end leather
leather pants were pretty cute
dinner was at Malt n Mash, a pop up restaurant which I guess means they are still working out the kinks, getting feedback, etc...supposedly the chef is from French Laundry
I had to try the foie gras peanut butter chipotle...which I enjoyed the most with toast.  The oysters and short ribs were also good but not anything memorable, oysters were too small, I prefer the big ones and hard to compare short ribs to my moms :)
After dinner went to the BCBG afterparty at the Top of the Standard...great view, champagne and music
the first day was the most eventful, pretty long since I had take the red eye the night before, so I slept really good my first night :)  this year they decided to rent a house, brownstone which was in the perfect location...around the corner from Central Park, 5th Avenue...was very convenient...the view from my window
my co-worker Karrie heard about the new hottest thing New Yorkers are doing called Soul Cycle which there happen to be one right around the corner so we tried it.  It's nice to run or do some kind of exercise at market with all the food and drink consumption :)  Especially  nice to be able to just walk out, cross the street and go...
Luckily the previous week I went to my first two spin classes at the gym so somewhat knew what to expect, was just a little more hard core here with the rules...was nice that they give you shimano cycling shoes, water and a towel and they wipe down the machines for you after...there is also a small part of medidation/relaxation which is nice too!  I was able to do it twice during my 6 day stay there
and right next door there is a smoothie place, so convenient...called up Jay after and said I could do this in the big city!
 The rest of the week was pretty low key, attended a bunch of great appointments...since there were two planners this trip we were able to split it up so it wasn't so crazy with back to back appointments across all the buyers.  Excited for some of the Velvet by Graham and Spencer, Vince Camuto and DKNYC stuff!
got to meet up with Jude for Sunday Brunch at Petrossian for some lox, steak and tarts
stopped by the Todd English Food Hall at The Plaza which was just full of desserts, wine and seafood...my kind of place!  She introduced me to Crepe Cake from Lady M, layers and layers of crepes!  Chocolate banana and the plain...I preferred the plain but both were so good, if I could take one home I would :)
 and even though we just had brunch we had to split a lobster roll to see if it was good...hee!  It was so good, especially because the bread was toasty and buttery :)
 met up with Moxa for coffee and got to hang with this cute lil guy for a little bit
 One last stop at the recharge center before they packed up...they were only there for 2 days, Sat/Sun
 Drinks at the Empire Hotel...they no longer have the Gossip Girl Menu which was a bummer cause that was the whole point of going there haha!  They do still have the "Chuck Bass" so had to have it :)  I think it's different now than what it originally was but oh well
 Other cool spots we ate at worth sharing...Kilo, a tapas bar
 Goat Cheese Crostini and the duck noodles were my favorite!  Had a few other items, but these were by far the best!

was able to check out Ippudo this trip since I didn't previously and has been on my food list since Loan mentioned it to me


 seriously one of the best pork buns I've had, the flavor and mayo in there were delicious!  I've gone to a few ramen places here in Vegas and they are too creamy for me so haven't been a huge fan, but this one was pretty good!
 loved the ramen bar table
as I mentioned up top we were conveniently staying around the corner from some good places :)  First time to try Baked by Melissa, the mini version...I guess now they have cupcake places that just sell just mini's, some dipped in chocolate!  The coconut cream was my fave!


 and one night yelped for coffee places and found there was a Magnolia's down the street in bloomingdales, totally safe to just walk out and go :)  I saw these and had to try it but unfortunately not a fan.  The ice-cream was good, but the cookies were hard...sweet addiction is way better :)
I did get some cupcakes to take home:)  Haven't been a huge cupcake fan until I tried DC cupcakes and now Magnolia's...all dependent on the cake, most places are too dry for me...the PB&J was so good!  The marble was a little dry for me but the frosting was good.  Dee said her's wasn't, so maybe because I bought them the night before.  They said you don't need to refrigerate certain flavors like these and are still good the next day...so good with my glass of milk :)


 last meal in the city excluding airport food was at Westville
 had really good salmon and brussel sprouts...I rarely order salmon in restaurants cause usually dry but thought I'd give it a try and glad I did, it was really good, had a caked on hard glaze that I liked!  I have to go back and try more, they have a good menu with a large variety of sides that all sound good!

after missing my flight because of super bad traffic, 2.5 hrs. to the airport, finally got home to these guys about 3 hrs. late!
As always great trip, great experience!  I actually was thinking of not going this year because it is just a long time to be away, but the hubby is good about reminding me that you never know when things will change, I may not get these kinds of opportunities in the future, plus good to see product, meet vendors and spend time with your buyers...good point, taken :)

#deguzlucky13

So lucky to be able to get away together and celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary! Thanks goodness for Auntie Dee who watch the kids while we were gone :)  Created the hashtag #deguzlucky13 since Jay was trying to get us Lucky 13 Brand T-shirts :)  I had been wanting to go on a bike wine tour and since Napa was a bit far, Santa Barbara was the next best thing!  Spent 3 nights there, 2 downtown and 1 on the beach.  Perfect weather all weekend...
 so many road trips to CA and I had never been to the alien jerky place, had a little tasting and "Honey Moon" happen to be the best one, then our usual starbucks run and "Anniversary" Blend was out...we knew it was our weekend :)




First meal was at Zytoon which came highly recommended, yummy Mediterranean food, my favorite meal of the trip, cute little spot...

loved sitting right by the pretty flowers

 yum!
 favorite dessert of the trip too...it was our first time to try a flourless cake, it was so good and the nutella drizzled over it made it even better!
first two nights was in the middle of the downtown area, super cute boutique hotel, The Canary...loved the decor and the fact we were greeted with some complimentary Sangria :)
rooms were beautiful, loved the hardwood floors
and how nice of them to send up some anniversary champagne :)



probably one of the few times I didn't mind waking up early to run...


 did a good 3 miler...great way to start the day together :)
so excited for biking time!

seriously perfect out, best ever!  I did bite it and had one fall right in front of an outdoor coffee shop for lots to see...it was pretty funny afterwards, we couldn't stop laughing about it...it was Jay's fault for telling me to get on the sidewalk that had a little height to the curb that I didn't get over.  Thankfully not blood just a bruised knew and absolute embarrassment :)

love SB
made it to our first winery

first and only...SB is very generous with their tastings and we were one and dun :)
all good wines, it was hard to decide on our favorite


after that we were ready to just relax by the pool
have to have a foot pic :)
our first selfie in the mirror :)  went for Italian food then called it an early night in with junk food and tv :)

 anniversary day was segway day something Jay really wanted to do, we almost canceled so glad we didn't it was so much fun!  10 minute tutorial

 awesome tour guide who gives us some history, plays the guitar while riding
 then we were off along downtown, by the beach and up hill for the best view

then had an anniversary dinner at la cava

then back to the Bacara Resort where we stayed our last night, a place Jay mentioned in the early years of our marriage so this year we finally decided to check it out
so beautiful

we went big and got an ocean view room :)
rooms weren't as modern as downtown but hard to beat the view from our room...enjoyed the complimentary red at night

  
and in the morning found the best waffle blanket ever and enjoyed my coffee to the sounds of the waves

great place!
Happy 13th to us, in a weird way will always remember year 13 being one of the best, but at the same time hardest years for us, is that even possible?