Los Angeles

Last week, I thought, it’s almost midnight, I’m wide awake and I have nothing to do. Why not go crash a swim party?!? So a friend and I drove over to a rented mansion in L.A.’s Hancock Park district and indulged in Havaianas’ third Midnight Swim Club, filled with good-looking people and celebs like Jack Osbourne, Devon Aoki, Mekhi Phifer and more. (In the past, Kevin Connolly, Nicky Hilton, Elijah Wood, Shenae Grimes and David Arquette have been spotted.) We oohed and aahed the hanging Havaianas sandals, the bedazzle-your-sandal tent, the make-your-own-photo-book tent and, of course, the bar while gazing at a table full of Crumbs cupcakes.

The Cobra Snake shot gawkers (these are his photos you see) as people debated whether or not to go into the pool (For most people, the answer was no since it was dominated by Havaianas models in teeny swimsuits). But we spotted several brave souls and at least one skinny dipper as we grooved to the DJ’s sounds of everything from Axel F to Jay-Z. This got me thinking, if you and/or your building have a heated pool, or even just a hot tub, why not throw your own pool party … at night? A novel idea. And the perfect excuse to show off my favorite swimsuits of the season … in your best Havaianas flip-flops of course.

Don’t have a pair yet? Score a limited-edition pair by throwing your own Midnight Swim Party and post pictures of it to your Facebook or Twitter account (tag #midnightswimclub). Every week, Havaianas will award the best pool party picture with special Midnight Swim Club Havaianas.

Believe it or not, it’s finally starting to feel like summer in Southern California (OK, yes, the weather is practically perfect year-round but only now have we been hitting the 90s on a regular basis!). For a swimsuit pack rat, this means heaven — and time to stop parading around the kitchen in my new orange-striped Seafolly Capri separates. Finally, I get to take them outside!

Seafolly, a popular Australian swimwear brand, has been around since the mid-70s selling “sexy yet practical” suits. You can instantly spot the subtle retro influences of the brand in its latest line of ultra-feminine, chic suits and beachwear, from strategically placed ruffles and cutouts to polka dots and sailor stripes. Upon first checking out this season’s styles, I — like many bloggers and editors — immediately fell in love with the one-piece Goddess Boyleg Maillot (about $150). It’s supposed to be great for hourglass figures but I was worried that the boy-leg cut would shorten my already short legs, so next on my list were the shirred Capri separates ($77 for the top and $64 for the bottom, as seen on Victoria’s Secret model Jessica Hart, left). I love how the convertible bandeau bra-top makes my non-existent bust look, well … busty! (more…)

Hmm, are they jeans or leggings? I can’t decide. They’re too thick to be leggings and too thin to be jeans. All I know is that I’ve worn them almost every day for a week and I’m not going to stop anytime soon. From the founders of L.E.I., SOLD Design Lab‘s super-stretchy, pull-on skinny jeans (the “Spanx of jeans,” I’ve been told) are quite possibly the most comfortable piece of skin-tight denim I’ve ever worn. I tried a black pair of Spring Street Skinny Pull-on Jeans, a style recently seen on Cameron Diaz, and while she’s tall and leggy and I’m short and curvy, the jeans truly did conform to our body types. There’s no zipper, just a button; and pulling them on sometimes reminds me of those maternity jeans with the stretch belly on them. But who cares? They feel and look fantastic, and for $98, I can afford to get them in white too. I might even check them out in perforated leather and corduroy!

One of the great things about the internet is the freedom it gives creative people to express themselves.  From music to YouTube makeup tutorials to fashion videos, I could spend all day just playing around and looking for new, fun things to watch or listen to.  My most recent online discovery is a half hour television pilot called Josh Jennings for Congress.  I’d been hearing about it for awhile since I have a friend who worked on it, and now that it’s finally been posted, you can all watch it, too.  It’s about a slacker twenty-something guy who finds himself running for Congress against a local politician who isn’t exactly a shining example of democracy at work.  The characters are funny and the idea is a fresh twist on the traditional sitcom premise.  (And Ashley Johnson, who played the youngest daughter Chrissy Seaver on “Growing Pains”, is in it!)

Right now, when you visit www.joshjenningsforcongress.com, you can watch the trailer and the pilot for the show.  Their goal is to get some buzz on the show so they can secure the funding to shoot more episodes and Josh can continue his political adventures.  Let’s get the word out there and help them out!

Am I reaching? Nah. In fact, I’m willing to bet my next meal that there isn’t a cookie lover out there who would turn down the Brown Butter Cookie Company’s Brown Butter Sea Salt Cookies. The hand-rolled, sugar-salt-butter combo is so simple, so small, so innocent-looking … and so ridiculously GOOD.

For birthdays, holidays and other special occasions (hint: Mothers Day is coming up!), I always hunt for these at my local gourmet goodie store, The Oaks Gourmet Market in Hollywood. A small bag is about $5 and makes a welcome gift (when it’s in stock), especially paired with a bottle of wine or box of tea. For those of you who are getting hitched soon, these also make impressive favors or mini dessert options. (Picture them piled onto little tiered serving trays — so cute!)

See if they are (or can be) stocked at your local gourmet market, or order a freshly baked batch online from the Brown Butter Cookie Company, located in Cayucos, Calif.

P.S. They also come in chocolate!

I have fallen in love. With a “vintage” hoodie.

Last month, I would not have thought it possible to WANT to pay more than $100 for a grown-up version of the hoodie my friend’s big brother wore when we were 8. But this spring, I hope I win the lottery because the first thing I’m doing (after finally buying my dad that Porsche Carrera) is stocking my closet with Aviator Nation‘s pricey, flawlessly flawed recreations of “vintage” tees, tanks and sweats.

Much love goes out to creator and Texas native Paige Mycoskie, who got the itch to make perfect “retro sporty” vintage clothing from her obsession with Cali style and her inability to find a good vintage T-shirt anywhere else but in a thrift store. She began by researching how the real thing was made vs. stylized reproductions we often see today, and coupled with her super picky taste in feel and fabrics, Aviator Nation’s soft, sturdy goods were born. (more…)

There is nothing I like more than getting pampered.  If I was a millionaire, I’d be one of those people with a standing appointment at the most luxurious spa around on a monthly (oh, who are we kidding, weekly) basis.  But let’s face it, even if most of us did have a bank account that ended with a long string of zeros, finding the time to get yourself to a spa to enjoy a service isn’t always easy.  There’s the drive to get there, the time spent changing in the locker room, waiting in line to pay, etc…  (Not to mention the fact that in L.A., the second you get back on the road and find yourself in bumper to bumper traffic, any relaxing effects from your treatment are instantly wiped away).  So when I heard about Yada Yada Yoga, a company that offers a mobile approach to both fitness and relaxation services, I jumped at the chance to have an experienced technician come to my home and pamper me. (more…)

I’m excited for Sunday, and here’s why!: The second annual Makeup Show kicks off in downtown L.A., rounding up some of the best makeup brands and artists in one place. The show runs from Sunday through Monday at the California Market Center –  definitely a must for network-hungry budding makeup artists and the makeup-obsessed. Expect to find big names in the makeup world like Ve Neill, Joanna Schlip, Eve Pearl, Jon Hennessey, Myles O’Reilly, Ronnie Specter, Orlando Santiago — collectively responsible for the faces of Audrey Hepburn, Eva Longoria, Alicia Keys and Sarah Jessica Parker, the list goes on! — there to share their skills. (Tips, tips, tips!)

I’m especially excited to check out the latest product demos, pro makeup tips, beauty how-tos, hands-on workshops and more from brands like Make Up For Ever, MAC, Temptu,  Stila, Smashbox Cosmetics, Korres, Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics and Face Atelier. Will keep you posted on what little delights I find.

If you’re in town, check out the lineup and get tickets at www.themakeupshow.com. (Or hit up The Makeup Show in NYC in May.) See you there!

Over the weekend, yours truly had the fortune of visiting Make Up For Ever’s station at the 2010 Grammy Style Studio in Hollywood, where Kesha, Adam Lambert, Keri Hilson and Colbie Caillat all stopped by for a little celebrity pampering (see below). Make Up For Ever makeup artist and regional educator David Hernandez went to town on my bare face, going for a bold red lip with a bright poppy orange center (created with Make Up For Ever Aqua Lip Waterproof Lipliner Pencils,$17 each). To compliment them, he did a clean eye with black Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes waterproof liner (also $17) on the bottom rim only. The finishing touch: false lashes, specifically Make Up For Ever Strip Lashes #14 ($15/pair), which were long and glamorous yet not too feathery or Cirque du Soleil-ish. (Tip: Snip off the outer edges for a wide-eyed look, and to save the “tips” for later use!)  I happily fluttered these babies all day long.

In other news, Make Up For Ever was busy promoting their bang-up makeup jobs on Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning and the rest of “The Runaways” cast. Unbelievably gorgeous colors transformed both famous faces to the point where I could barely recognize them! Check out the trailer for a quick preview.

Photos above courtesy of Jana Williams and Make Up For Ever.