Fashion Week in NYC

 Fashion Week with my buyers Claire, Kristen, Melanie and Karrie...so fun to see the "art" side of buying...the Fashion Shows are a bonus, my buyers are good to me :)  I took the red eye Wednesday night, just in time to go to the bcbg fashion show at the Lincoln center  where most of the Fashion Shows are and a great place to see fashion trends...lots of paparazzi out taking pictures if you have something cute and trendy on...some of our girls got stopped for photos.  It was also Fashion Night Out, referred to as the New Year's Eve of Fashion kicking off Fashion Week "where Spring begins"
 bcbg runway
 was very harnessy...my guess inspired by some fifty shades...hee :)
saw our first celeb, Whitney Port from The City...if she wasn't so busy giving interviews Mel and I (the paparazzi of the group) would have asked her for a picture...and if she could make a special line for us :)

second show was Tadashi...loved their gowns

here's a little video clip I took so I could show the girls, sorry sideways in here but you get the idea :)

I didn't have anything new to add to my favs food list this trip, all good food but Ilili, Shake Shack and the Halal Truck are still my top 3 :)  So I was very happy to find out we were eating at Ilili before taking on the crazy streets of Fashion Night Out.

 third time here and pretty sure my third time to post this picture of my favorite dish, the veal pancakes
chicken kabobs

love the sides especially the riz, rice with nuts, coconut...and the only time I ever eat brussels sprouts

headed out, checked out a few stores as we waited in line to get into Piperlime...we decided to go there since it was their Grand Opening and Rachel Zoe was there...I didn't get a photo op, but Mel did, paparazzi style even though it cost her getting yelled at by security :) I would have totally done the same...hee!


Monika Chang store for some champagne, make-up, raffle...she had some cool, funky...spiky stuff

after 45 mins finally got into Piperlime and danced to some Rev Run, so fun!


photo op with Olivia Palermo


was hard to not look shiny and sweaty after fist pumping to Rev Run :)

had some appts Friday will Mel, then met up with Michelle and Ryan at Buddakan


to see the big chandeliers from Big and Carrie's engagement dinner from Sex and the City :)  pretty place and the food was good
edamame dumplings were surprisingly really good...didn't know what to expect
 hoisin glazed pork belly was also really good
 tea smoked sesame beef
 roast pork with pickled veggies
 saturday was a free day so Michelle and I just hung out in the city, did a little shopping and had to have Shake Shack regardless of the weather
she's the one that introduced me to Henri Bendel and forced me to buy something for myself...love my new bracelets from Alex and Ani...talked myself into it, justified it because of the meanings ..symbol to honor the cross and the Om that signifies God and embracing your faith...love it!

 Sunday we had the Catherine Malandrino Show

 Karrie got stopped for a paparazzi photo for her fashion forward outfit, but hopefully I am the first to blog it...hee!
 the show was presentation style
 afterwards we did brunch at Bryant Park
so we could have a cheers to Fashion Week!

met up with old high school friend Jude for our yearly visit...went for some Mission Chinese Food

 salt cod fried rice
 
and the broccoli beef brisket were really good.  The thrice bacon was too spicy for me
 After Monday's appts we had the Elie Tahari Presentation..always nice when greeted with a glass of champagne...the only way Kristin rolls :)

models were more casual, taking to each other

spotted one of the fab five and Elie Tahari
my first time in a pedi cab in the city...couldn't get a taxi anywhere!

 beats the one in Vegas at the Town Square mall :)  Plus got a little history tour from Shyloh since she went to college here
 final destination was dinner with the rest of the gang
super cute restaurant, Bobo

yum, especially the veggies and fries

 the cookies weren't as good as McDonald's but the salted caramel ice cream was good :)
 our last night we had a team dinner at Blue Ribbon Sushi...I arrived late, but my new foodie friend Kristin new exactly what I would want...we have the same taste :)
 the chicken wings were surprisingly good
 
 and the lobster even better
great way to end the trip with our last appointment being at Badgley Mischka...love love love their stuff!
 Claire working hard to choose the best styles...so hard, everything is so beautiful...I could never be a buyer :)  I actually really loved this dress!

 
and couldn't leave NY without a stop to the halal truck in front of the Hilton on 53rd and 6th...it was Sarah's first trip, so had to expose her :)
 was a long week away from the fam, but face time made it a little easier...I had to ask Claire how to take a snapshot photo since I see people do it on facebook, but didn't know how :)  and I am still not very good at it, always hitting the mute button!

great NY trip...hopefully next time we'll see Chuck Bass at the Empire Hotel  :)

coast to coast

got back from NY Thursday night, had Friday to kinda of catch up and rest, then Saturday morning we woke up bored and decided to go to the beach!  once you're gone for a while, get itchy to go somewhere again :)

 it was quick, just stayed one night...we got to the beach in the late afternoon, so still had a few hours to play
Laguna was having some crazy heat wave or something because it was hotter there than usual, felt like Vegas weather, hot enough for them to go all in

 next morning we went for a swim at the hotel pool at our 2nd home, the double tree at the Irvine Spectrum, they are always so nice and always have rooms available even last minute!
 checked out 85 degrees bakery which my cousin had told me about...so had to try it to "sweeten" our lives :)  this texas toast thing had syrup baked in it and the blueberry cream cheese muffin was so yum!
  couldn't believe it's been so close to where we stay all this time and we've never been!  You just grab a tray and some tongs and pick away :)
we got a bunch and ate them all :)  passed out after...hee!

some my favs...milk pudding bread
this cheesy bread thing...definitely going to be a usual stop on our road trips to CA!