Hotel Chelsea Bound

I just finalized a trip to Manhattan and booked a room at the legendary Hotel Chelsea, the place where Bob Dylan wrote songs, Dylan Thomas died, where Sid stabbed Nancy. I wonder what’s in store for me there.

Camera Shy

I recently purchased the Diana and Holga cameras from UrbanOutfitters.com, hoping to snap a few cool pictures like the images I’ve come across on Flickr and a few other photography sites. Since I’m so used to the instant gratification, film-less digital camera, I have only taken a few test shots on the Holga. I guess I’m intimidated by possibly taking a bunch of awesome shots and then realizing I’ve left the lens cap on or something. But that doesn’t stop me from admiring each and every Lomo camera Urban carries– now it’s just a matter of testing the film camera waters.

Marc Jacobs Pear: Peary Nice

I’m slightly obsessed with Marc Jacobs, and I’ve been having a love affair with his Pear splash for a couple months. It’s the perfect summer scent– light and fruity, yet a hint of lusty musk that is great for a summer evening.

At first I was hesitant to try a pear scent– I’m not particularly fond of the fruit. So I was quite surprised when I sampled the fragrance and realized it was multi-dimensional.

Sephora’s description puts it best:

Marc Jacobs Pear Splash captures the sweet nectar of summer. Deliciously fresh and ripe, it tempts the senses with its savory aroma. Uniquely delectable, pear is a delicious summer indulgence to enjoy. The fruity, woody fragrance opens with the tantalizing aroma of fresh, ripe pear invigorated with bergamot and lemon zest. The heart of juniper, gin accord, and freesia imparts a sweet richness. Musk, teakwood, and a soft amber round out the balance of notes with smooth softness and warm sensuality.

Marc Jacobs contemplates the refreshing power of beauty in this new limited-edition collection of body splashes softly scented in chilled sorbet flavors. Deliciously cooling, Marc Jacobs Splashes inspire us to enjoy life’s simple pleasures. Light enough to splash or spray lavishly all over the body, the crisp scent awakens the senses and tempts the palate.

Notes:
Pear, Freesia, Teakwood.
Style:
Sweet. Sparkling. Refreshing.

I’ve been hearing some buzz about Marc’s new Gardenia scent, so I think that’s next on my list.

Trashtastic.

Wonder Bread and cheese sprayed from a can.

Saltines and grape jelly.

Tots.

We all have our secret trashy eats vices.

That’s what makes the Trashy Eats community on Livejournal oh so genius.

PedEgg Love

Ah yes, I finally caved and bought a PedEgg at Bed Bath & Beyond last weekend. I practically live in flip flops and bare feet since I’m in Southern California, so my heels can get pretty callused, dirty, and rough to the touch. Even the occasional indulgence of a pedicure at my favorite Bellacures in Beverly Hills doesn’t totally get rid of those lovely cracked heels.

So what’s a girl to do? I had heard good things about this PedEgg and decided to give it a whirl. It was a mere $9.99 (plus I had a $10 off $30 coupon for Bed Bath & Beyond, love those) so it wasn’t a huge investment…What did I have to lose? I removed the PedEgg from its packaging, easily put it together, and started grating, er, filing my heels. It didn’t hurt! Even if it does slightly resemble a cheese grater. It effortlessly smoothed away weeks of flaky, dry skin that never budged when I took a pumice stone to it in the shower. Score! In a couple minutes my heels were soft to the touch and ready for their close up. And I have to admit it was kind of fun to open up the Egg and see the shavings– gross, I know. But cool too!

Two thumbs up for the PedEgg.

summertime reading

In the summer months it’s nice to grab a breezy read and lounge by the beach and unwind…Reading something that’s not too heavy, maybe set somewhere exotic or tropical, with a dash of scandal.

So what have I been reading this summer?

I just picked up Eat, Pray, Love again after a several-month hiatus, I’m finishing the section about Gilbert’s time in India. Yes, I’m aware almost everyone has read this novel already due to all of the press coverage and Oprah praise it received.

I also purchased a mystery set in 1940s New York City, The Winter of Her Discontent, by Kathryn Miller Haines, a couple weeks ago. I haven’t started this one yet, but it’s definitely next on my list of to-read books. There’s something fun reading a book set in wintertime on the opposite coast from you when it’s nearing 100 degrees here in LA.

One of my friends is a fan of reading every book by an author before starting on a new author, so she’s been busy reading the entire Sophie Kinsella Shopaholic series. She’s now on to Ann Brashares books, who wrote the Sisterhood the Traveling Pants series and has a new paperback novel out this summer, The Last Summer (of You and Me). Maybe I’ll pick that up next.

Since I have a habit of reading a few pages of several books at once, also on my nightstand: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, Confessions of a Teenage Sleuth: A Parody by Chelsea Cain and Lia Miternique, and of course Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.

Okay, off to read!

American Apparel Flea Market

Fans of American Apparel will be flocking to their huge warehouse flea market later this month in downtown LA. AA goods start at $1, and shoppers will also enjoy live DJs, food, drinks, snow cones, games, and more.

July 27, 2008
2:00pm – Midnight
$5 Entry ($12 early bird for noon entry)
7th & Alameda (Entry on Bay Street)
Downtown Los Angeles

So…who’s going?

EcoStiletto.com Launch: The Green Party

Last night I went to the launch of EcoStiletto.com, a newly relaunched daily email site (think Daily Candy goes green) touted as aiming to “Stiletto-size your carbon footprint and change the world, one small step at a time.”

With the green movement push, it seems natural to look at how our fashion and beauty choices affect our world. EcoStiletto.com makes educating yourself about more eco-friendly choices entertaining and accessible.

The party was held at the swank Murano restaurant in West Hollywood, and we were treated to complimentary cocktails by VeeV, an acai spirit, appetizers, and a tower of cupcakes. The first 50 people to RSVP were treated to manis and pedis, sadly I didn’t make the cut.

So…who all was at the party? Adrian Grenier from Entourage (cute!) model Josie Maran, who also has a line of eco-friendly cosmetics (and I got a sample of her Argan Oil in my gift bag!), and actress Kelly Rutherford from Gossip Girl decked out in a pink tunic and headband.

Upon leaving, we were given an EcoStiletto reusable organic cotton bag filled with green goodies– the next Clorox Green Works dish soap, Whole Foods pink grapefruit shampoo, Verabella zit zapper, etc. Can’t wait for their next event!

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.

I picked up Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver a couple weeks ago, perhaps because I was hungry for fresh summer fare (food, reading, and otherwise) after my recent visit to the Farmer’s Market. Surrounded by organic, homegrown fruits and vegetables, not to mention gourmet cheeses and tasty nuts, I toyed with the thought of eating less processed foods and more “whole” foods.

Would I be able to grow my own garden and sustain myself living in an apartment with no yard in LA? Hardly. But Kingsolver’s novel is still a sensory, “delicious” read for those of us wanting to know where and how our food is grown. Now I’m more apt to grab the organic, grown in USA asparagus at Trader Joe’s in place of the grown in Mexico, cheaper version– it’s traveled less and thus has used less natural resources, for one– and chances are it’s fresher.

I’ve just started this book, so I’ll keep you posted on my discoveries. In the meantime, I’ll be looking up more Farmer’s Markets in LA, and hopefully waking up in time on the weekends to partake.

“Welcome to Hollywood, what’s your dream?” Garden Party Movie

Early last week, I was invited to the premiere of Garden Party, a film coined as “a movie about living in Los Angeles; see also pornography, marijuana, Rock ‘n’ Roll”– how could I not attend? The premiere was held at the beautifully restored 1920s art deco Vista theatre in Los Feliz, also known as East Hollywood.

I was eagerly anticipating the film, since I felt like I could identify with the theme of the movie– moving to Hollywood, the “Come with a dream. Leave with a story.” tagline. It was also neat to sit a few seats away from actress Willa Holland, who convincingly plays a 15 year old drifter whose life is suddenly entwined with the other compelling characters– the aspiring musician, the sexually confused guy from Nebraska, the ruthless realtor with a past.

At times gritty, a bit too gritty some may say, the film captures the essence of being in Hollywood when you’re young, don’t know better, and not quite sure who you really are. The film doesn’t linger on the choices made or lecture the audience…Garden Party merely shows the audience a true slice of Tinseltown life.

So…what’s your garden party story? You know you have one. Everyone does. You can share it at www.gardenpartymovie.com.