Labor Day Weekend

September started off with a road trip straight to the beach!
one of our favs, Laguna Beach!
Crazy...first time we've gone and there was an advisory, red flag because the waves were so big, so you couldn't go that far into the water, not that we wanted to, it was freezing!
so mostly running around, away from the waves

working hard

hardly working

the best part of our hotel in Costa Mesa was having Mcdonald's across the street :) Also close to South Coast Plaza...they had these cute displays of cans and capri-sun, you had to adjust your eyes for a sec to realize it
took us a while to see the little mermaid friends

the next day we were up at dawn and went swimming at the hotel pool since it was heated
did some chicken fighting
and relaxing in the jacuzzi
and the kids learned from their daddy what planking was :)
spent the rest of the day walking around...checked out the Santa Monica promenade and Pier


and our trip wouldn't be complete if we didn't stop at Irvine Spectrum on our way home :)

Fashion Week in NYC

Was fortunate to make it out to New York a second time this year for Fashion Week. Looked at at Spring 2012 and Fall/Holiday opportunities. Always great QT with my buyers, who are so nice to invite me to fashion shows! Not only did I have a great work week, but also tried the 3 food places on my list, Shake Shack, Lauderee and the Halal Food Truck. Thanks Moxa for escorting me to all 3 :)
My first day was the BCBG Fashion Show. I was having anxiety about the whole thing because my flight got in at 6am, had to check in, get ready and be at the Lincoln Theater by 10am, but I made it...a little early even.
first section from the start of the runway about 6 rows back
me and Hope = fashion show virgins :)

BCBG 2012
finale...the show was so quick, wish it was longer :)

check out this paparazzi
met up with Jude
for dinner :)
checked out her cousin's pop shop where he featured his new line, whom she does photography for...David Quinn
then met up with the others for more Fashion Night Out! Streets were crazy packed
Betsey Johnson's dancing models

after tons of walking, tried to get out of the craziness and headed to the meat packing district where we were able to find a place to rest and have a drink
Lee, Karrie, Shyloh and me with my droopy/lopsided boob :) I swear they are the same...hee!

Detour to New England

After Fashion Night Out, I detoured over the weekend to Connecticut to visit cousin Todd, Lisa and Lucas...they were only about an hour and a half train ride away...pretty brave I must say I was to venture out alone :)
they took good care of me...took me to a super cute Tapas Restaurant called Ibiza
Lisa's favorite goat cheese was pretty tasty
one of my favs was the lamb & chick peas over toast
and one of the cutest desserts ever was a spoonful of joy...chocolate and almond croquettes
more New Englandy stuff they called it :) Lymon Orchards for Apple Picking...so beautiful!

Lucas did a great job!

my first corn maze...you have to answer riddles at each stop to guide yourself out
of this craziness...Thanks for planning a fun day Todd & Lisa!
for dinner had Connecticut pizza, which supposedly is the best in the world, have heard this from several sources, something in the water? A CT classic, white clam pizza and birch beer, which is root beer but white...not a big root beer person, but it tasted good with the pizza
we grubbed as you can see...Eric, La, Jake and Mathew met up with us too...so nice to see the east coast family!
later that night, actually baked a homemade apple pie with the apples we picked...nice job Todd...very impressive!
seriously a yummy apple pie...I mean it was baking in the oven while we were watching Something Borrowed, chick flick & dessert...what more could I ask for :)

NYC continued

As soon as I got back into the city, did a little shopping and Shake Shack with Moxa...which was perfect timing since I just watched Something Borrowed the night before
got the shackburger, fries and black&white milkshake...looks like a normal burger, but the the bun is like buttery making it so delicious :)
After that meal, was hard to suck in and get ready for the Custo Barcelona Fashion Show!


fun show...they have such crazy, fun colors & patterns....

the models looked like mannequins with their shiny slick hair
finale shot
after the show we had a drink at the rooftop of the Empire Hotel and then had dinner at one of my new favorite restaurants, Ilili...my first time I left uncomfortably full, so I knew to pace myself this time :)
now I know what my favorite dish is, veal & bacon in a pancake, had to explain it to the waiter, "this pancaky thing with meat inside"
after our Monday meetings we had a break so Moxa and I ventured off to find the Halal Food truck, not just any one of them,but specifically the one outside of the Hilton which supposedly is the best!
looks like a mess, but a very yummy mess...I heard it was the white sauce that made it so good, totally true, the sauce with the chicken or lamb and rice...soooo good!
and of course had to have dessert, Moxa's recommendation for banana pudding at Magnolia's, good but not to die for like these little things :)
new macaron shop Lauderee from Paris...Moxa and I walked about 2 miles to get there, but once we tasted the salted caramel, we agreed it was worth the long walk :)

after resting up, headed right back out for a Zappos Family dinner at Sushi Samba

where I was exposed to my first drink tree, not all for me of course
for Courtney's birthday
we seriously had a bizillion course meal, from the appetizers, raw sushi plate, cooked sushi plate, steak, the food didn't stop coming, but the rice mixture in this fish boat was one of my favorites
tried to take a pic of me and Jarett using the hand out facebook shot, but I'm obviously not very good at it, only got him in the picture...how fun is his blazer, never used the word "fierce" til I met Jarett :)
Diesel Black Gold Fashion Show at Pier 94
where we saw Nina Garcia

that night went to a restaurant with a "secret entrance"...I hear there a few fun ones in NYC, so definitely want to come back and check out more of them... this one in Soho looks like an ordinary taco stand from the outside
but then once down the stairs, through the kitchen, was a cute lil place...La Esquina
the corn was the best!
after dinner went to the BCBG after party, where I had another star sighting, Russel Simmons
Last night out in the big city had a yummy dinner with the BCBG team at Stanton Social, everything was so good
yummy tapas...crab cake corndogs
lobster rolls...biased when it comes to seafood :)

french onion soup dumplings

milkshake shot...makers mark and caramel ice cream..was good, but the strawberry shortcake sundae was the winner, but we dug into it so fast I couldn't grab a picture :)
final day in NY was able to grab lunch with lovely La before heading to the airport

best landing, welcome home ever! my little mister! Was the longest I had been away from the family, 8 days...But was a Great trip, if I had to sum it up...

Spring 2012: Lots of Color, Color Blocking, Pleats, Stripes, Cold Shoulders (new term I learned :) Mixed Fabrics...going to be exciting for women on Zappos.com, must save money now!
Food: Shake Shack, Halal Truck, Lauderee Macarons, Ilili Lebanese Restaurant
Star Sightings: Queen Latifah, Russel Simmons, Common, Nina Garcia, Sophia Bush