9.13.09 MTV VMA's...My Top Picks

While I didn't watch the VMA's live because I just can't take some of the raw, un-edited, unadulterated jokes, I did watch performance re-caps on the MTV website. And I think that I haven't seen an award show, at least on MTV, that has been this stellar in a very longggg time. The Janet Jackson tribute to MJ was incredible! It was great to see celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Ne-Yo and Alicia Keys being fans and showing "fan-love". It reminded me of the fact that today's celebrities really are "fans" of Music Icons like MJ, Janet, Madonna and the likes. I mean, think about it, most of them were like 6 when most of today's over 40 musicians were in their prime!

New Music - More Music Videos

Pink's performance was mind-blowing. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, literally praying that she doesn't miss a step, or worse yet...fall. I think the most impressive thing is the fact that she sang her heart out, in tune and on pitch while swinging upside down with blood rushing to her head, every muscle in her body being exercised to great extremes and trying to remember each step of the routine in mid-air. How's that for talent!

P!nk - New Music - More Music Videos

Sleek in Black:

Olivia Pallermo (The City)


Chance Crawford


Most interesting Outfits:

Lady GaGa


All American Rejects (I think he's very brave to wear an entire suit in this color)

Double Take: Makes you wonder if they called each other up the night before and planned this ...

Pink and Shakira (Glad their laughing about it)


All images and videos courtesy of MTV.com

What?!!! : The Rachel Zoe Project

So I had previously decided that I would stop writing fashion because I felt like even though I can do it, its not mentally stimulating enough for me. However, I decided to not begrudge those who thoroughly enjoy writing and reporting on fashion. Then I said I wanted to give up fashion styling because I was no longer visually stimulated enough to "create" art. But eventually I returned back to both writing and styling, but as a hobbyist. I realized a career in the world of fashion was too much headache for me, I'd rather have the option to do it when I want, how I want, and if I want. Who wouldn't?

But today I was reminded, yet again, why I do not style for a living. The Rachel Zoe Project. Here's a brief synopsis of the show: stress, shoes, fashion, styling, bananas, stress, couture, dying, divo/diva hate-love, cursing, stress, California, and more stress.

I've watched some pretty mindless stuff before--and occasionally I still do--but this I just can't get into. Sorry Rachel...rock on with the styling, but count me out on the viewing.

If its your cup of tea, enjoy!

More Zoe on Bravo TV

Studs and Bows...Collage Art

Oooooo preettty:



You want to see them larger hmmm? Click the image...I know you want to...so go ahead, do it.

From left to right: Louboutin jeweled, Miu Miu studs, Louboutin lace and spike, Gucci buckled stud, Prada slingback, Valentino bow, Dolce & Gabana swarovski, Miu Miu bow pump, Prada cut-out, Jimmy Choo mesh, Louboutin snakeskin, Jimmy Choo bow bootie, Prada studs, YSL bow.

Available at: Bergdorf Goodman and Bluefly

Feature: Food Affairs and Belly Fat

Thick alfredo sauce on penne, garlic focaccia bread, roasted chicken and bell peppers, basmati rice and chicken tikka masala, pepperoni pizza, wild Alaskan salmon with mashed potatoes, red velvet cake with butter- cream icing, German chocolate cake and a cold glass of milk....food is to me, what kryptonite is to superman. And when I see food, my knees buckle, my heart melts, and I give in to my long standing secret love affair with such delicious goodies.

But upon recently looking down at the spare tire that has added 1o solid pounds to my midsection, I have decided: The time has come to put an end to the madness! I mean for goodness sakes, how many times can one be mistaken for a woman that's 3 months pregnant? So forget the diet pills, the master cleanses, the sure fire ways to lose belly fat, and the gastric bypass, I'm going back to the basics--starvation and emaciation. Okay, so maybe not, but it might as well be as painful as that. I mean really, who enjoys muscle pain and rabbit food? Not I! Yet, experts claim that when you lose weight, belly fat is often the first kind of fat to go.

Medical research has shown that stomach fat, also known as visceral fat, is more metabolically active and easier to lose than subcutaneous fat under the skin. And the good news is that the more fat and flabby your stomach is, the easier it will be to lose the weight. Now ain't that just grand?!

What's even more morose is that as you grow older, belly fat increases in stages. This is due to the body storing fat in order to prepare for moments of starvation and avoid going into shock. In women, the metabolism starts to slow between the ages of 18-21, then takes a huge drop at 40, and then again at 60 and 80. Furthermore, pregnancy, beer, and increased food intake can all contribute along the way to a slower metabolism and increased visceral fat.

So how can you rid yourself of the stubborn belly fat? Here are some tips that I know I could use, and maybe you could too:

• Eating whole grains instead of refined carbohydrates.
  
• This will change the body's glucose and insulin response and make it easier to mobilize fat stores.
• Maintaining a 1,600 calorie-diet that is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAS), which have proven health benefits.
  
• MUFAS are found in avocados, nuts, seeds, olives, soybeans, chocolate and canola and olive oil.
• Getting plenty of high-intensity aerobic exercise, such as 60 minutes a day of moderate activity.
• Brisk walking is an excellent example of moderate activity
• Crunches and sit-ups complement aerobic activity, but don't help if done alone
  

Good luck!

For more helpful hints, click here or here.

Feature: The Art of Interviewing Whitney Houston

We all have some oddities when it comes to personal taste in pleasurable and recreational activities, be it music preference, thrill seeking adventure, or food choice. Personally, I have an affinity towards mega-stars who have given into momentary insanity and are barely able to salvage their careers. Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, and Whitney Houston all fall into that category. But each of them have taken their brief hiatuses, re-energized and regrouped, and made phenomenal comebacks. Michael may not have had the chance, but Whitney is making sure not to miss hers.

After almost 3 decades of career success, and a slew of private and public lows, Whitney "The Voice" Houston returns to the #1 spot with over 300,000 sold in her first week, which I'm sure its just the start, because after all it is "The Voice". Her new album, I Look to You, is slated to sell millions more and Whitney's musical performances and promotional appearance will make sure of that.

While I my have never had the pleasure of interviewing Whitney Houston, I read her autobiography almost 6 years ago, and I know that this woman is good at being all over the place. Dotting eyes, blank stares, sporadic thoughts and avoiding questions are just few of the things that Houston herself admits to doing. That being said, I am extremely interested in seeing how Oprah Winfrey conquers these issues in her personal interview with Whitney, which airs in 2 parts on September 14th and 15th.

This morning I saw Diane Sawyer show a clip from the upcoming Oprah interview. Oprah claims that Whitney was incredibly open, detailed, and raw when it came to answering questions. In fact, Oprah told Sawyer that, "I had to pray and repeatedly watch your [Diane Sawyer] 2002 interview with Whitney in order to be adequately prepared. And then I had to pull her aside and ask her what she wants from this interview, and she said, I want to tell my story."

And I for one am thrilled to finally hear the unfiltered, raw and unedited Whitney Houston story. Look forward to it in the new season of Oprah, airing on September 14th and 15th.


Get your fill of Whitney Houston on her website: click here

Fire Island, Long Island 2009

A few friends and I made our way out to Robert Moses Beach in Fire Island a few weeks ago, and it was by far one of the most enjoyable moments of my summer. I think of all the amazing things we saw, and the new friends we made, the most memorable thing was the Michael Jackson sand sculpture with the "J" written backwards. Sweeettt!

West Hampton 2009

I was fortunate enough to go to visit my friend's family in West Hampton. I saw some incredible beach homes, a beautiful country club and private beach, which totally beats the local beaches, and the crisp blue Atlantic Ocean. I noticed that the tides rose higher and come out further, and the waves are so rhythmic that they appear to be dancing and swaying with the wind. Even in their moments of violent splashing and thrashing, there's something about the waves that make me feel closer to God. Its one of the most beautiful things in existence on this side of heaven.

Image of the Week

Gilles Bensimon shoots CelebArt:




Check out: Gille Bensimon Portfolio and Representation

Health: Aunt Bertha Comes to Town

Mother Nature, Aunt Flo, Big Bertha, Monthly friend, or dreaded incubus of all unholy devastation, whatever you chose to call it, it never skips a beat --well unless, of course, you've got a bun in the oven.

As a necessity for human reproduction in fertile females, a woman's menstrual cycle has come to signify more than the beginning of womanhood, in some countries it is a woman's essence, the sole purpose for being. But most men have come to know it as a time to pull out the Kleenex, make tampon trips, and wear your under armor.

As a female, subject to the brutal monthly beatings of Aunt Flo, I once felt fortunate enough to claim exempt from her side effects: PMS. Until last week. I too am now a victim of what 2 out of 5 women force their friends, family, and significant others to suffer through every month.

PMS is a collection of physical, psychological, and emotional symptoms that manifest themselves in symptoms such as: stress, anxiety, muscle pain, insomnia, headaches, irritability and mood swings. Some of the risk factors that can increase a woman's likelihood of getting PMS are: high caffeine intake, family history, certain allergies, tobacco use, and a history of depression.

Most women know that when you start getting pimples the size of walnuts on your face, Aunt Flo is on her way. As one of the most common symptoms of PMS, and definitely a cause of increased frustration and irritability, it becomes essential for women to increase their water intake. Also avoiding the morning coffee and sugary pastries, skipping the happy hour cosmopolitans, and decreasing your salt consumption will not only lessen the appearance of pimples, but help you sleep better and transition into healthier eating habits.

Its also proven that incorporating fish oil supplements into your meals and eating smaller portions every 3 hours during your period, helps to decrease mood swings. (Men, keep note of this for future reference, you'll need it too.) Not to mention, smaller food portions will eventually result in a curbed appetite which means you'll finally be able to fit into those designer jeans you've been struggling to zip up.

So if you use some of these helpful tips, stay prepared, and avoid as many triggers as possible, you and your loved ones can live by the "Always" mantra and have a happy period.

Art images: Courtesy of Pop Art Machine

Image of the Week

Reminds me of a Frida Kahlo spread I once saw. Interesting use of colors.

Visit the Photographer: Michael Thompson @ Jed Root

Travel: The "W" Hotel, W's for Worldwide

When it comes to boutique hotels, none compare to the "W". As an ever-growing part of the Starwood Hotels and Resorts luxury collection, W Hotel is scheduled to have over 53 hotels in 22 countries and 5 continents by the year 2011. Talk about mass production!

However, one thing the W Hotels brand refuses to compromise on is luxury. With some of the sleekest designs, innovative architecture, avant garde art pieces, and a mixture of local and international influences in every aspect of the hotel, W Hotels truly desire to appeal to one's sixth sense.

Guests have access to in-room dining, door to destination luggage service, gourmet portable meals, first class spas, pet pampering, and the world's most renowned restaurants and bars.

And with some of the most exclusive partners and affiliates, and a "whatever you want, whenever you want it" policy for guest satisfaction, the W Hotel is making an everlasting mark in the hospitality industry that's guaranteed to keep the boutique brand in the top choice for Fortune 500 CEOS and luxury hotel aficionados alike.







W Hotels: Seattle, Japan, The Maldives, and Barcelona

Go Global: Book your stay at The W Hotel.

Movie Review: Time Traveler's Wife

In the 21st century, where its easy to believe that most men are sadists somehow blinded by their own warped version of reality, fairytale men are fast becoming extinct. Frog princes, knights in shining armor, and chivalrous gentleman are now only found within the musty pages of childhood novels with happy endings. And if you're like me, it all makes so much sense, until you run into a story that makes you forget to breathe again. The Time Traveler's Wife did just that. For me, this movie was a treat, an aphrodisiac that revitalizes dreams and restores faith in the fact that chivalry is not dead and every girl really does have a prince.

The movie focuses on the lifelong romance of Clare Abshire (an upper class hopeless romantic played by Rachel McAdams) and Henry DeTamble ( a time traveler played by Eric Bana). The viewer gets dropped in right at the moment when Clare and Henry meet in a Chicago library, and Clare, who's been waiting her whole life for a moment when they would both be in the same place at the same time, proceeds to remind Henry of every time he had time traveled into her life from the age of 6. And throughout the movie we follow the couple as they develop their relationship and build a life together.

I was intrigued to watch Henry, a man who had been alone all his life transcending the boundaries of space and time with no sense of stability, finally feel complete. The moment he looks into Clare's eyes and realizes that she makes him whole is so magical, I think a tear may have welled up in my own eyes. But in my opinion, the most interesting part of this movie is the fact that it is told from the first person narrative of a woman who is so in love with the man of her personal fairytale that she choses to live her life partially alone in order to have the one thing she's desired her entire life. Now that is admirable, a woman who sticks to her guns.

While the blockbuster's Hollywood ending isn't the least bit comparable to the book's, it was still a movie worth my $12.



Check out: The Time Traveler's Wife on IMDb

Travel: Italy "Villa Feltrinelli"

Italy's no longer just a pizza empire, its the home of European luxury. Housing some of the world's most coveted goods: genuine leather shoes, fine crafted handbags, luxury designer items, interesting pastry patisseries and loads of pasta, Italy is indeed the premier travel destination. And when considering where to lay your pretty little globe-trotting head, look no further than the Grand Hotel A Villa Feltrinelli.

Rome, Sicily, Milan, and Portofino have all become popular tourist destinations, with very little left to explore, but in the enchanting village of Gargnano overlooking the mountains of northern Italy and Lake Garda is a beautiful Villa waiting to take your breath away.
Similar to that of a Venetian palazzo, the Villa's exterior is painted in gold and terra cotta colors with a distinctive antique flair. Each of the 21 guest suites are individually decorated with dramatic oil portraits, Venetian glass lamps, custom furniture, marble bathrooms and French porcelain bathtubs. And if that doesn't quite tickle your fancy, imagine laying down on your 300 count Egyptian cotton sheets, staring up at the hand-painted fresco ceilings while listening to a relaxing medley of your favorite musical pieces.

The Villa sits at the edge of Lake Garda and is encircled by olive, orange and magnolia trees which makes for a most scenic and serene landscape. But the most romantic thing the villa offers its visitors, other than the bathrooms heated marble floors, is a private tour of Lake Garda in the Villa's salon boat, "La Contessa." The 1920's designed riverboat is available for tours, private hire, and to take guests from the Villa to lakeside restaurants or various area attractions and the occasional Shakespeare summer festival.

September is a great month to miss the crowds and enjoy the true beauty of Italy, so if you're looking to get into a little more than pizza and spaghetti sauce this autumn, visit the Villa Feltrinelli and allow yourself to be entranced by the mystique of Gargnano....now that's "amore"!





Visit: The Grand Hotel A Villa Feltrinelli

Fashion: Whitney Eve 2009

I too was once a mindless victim of watching entrancing LA meets NYC 20-somethings on a show entitled "The City." And before that I loved the "wise" character of a girl named Whitney Port on MTV's 'The Hills'. So when I heard of her line, Eve and A, last year I checked it out and it wasn't quite my taste. However, her new line, Whitney Eve, caught my eye. I loved about 5 pieces or so from the line. And I wasn't surprised to see the buyers of shops like Revolt Clothing and Singer 22 chose the exact same 5 pieces. Kitson, gotta love them, but they always seem to break the mold...they're choices were a bit more interesting.

Anyhow, below are my favorite 3 pieces:








See the full collection: Whitney Port Website

Fashion Expose: Fake YSL and Louboutin Shoes

In these "recessionary times", its quite understandable that one must make budget cuts where they can, but does that mean employing, overworked, underpaid babies in China for the sake of fashion? It never seizes to amaze me how raw, cold and underhanded some fashionistas can become for a good deal. But when is "good" really "too good to be true"?
As a fashion hobbyist, I very often find myself browsing for the best buys and incredible sales. In fact I even decided to set aside an entire savings account for shopping, but even I know what is far out of my reach. The popular Spring '09 Yves Saint Laurent Cage boots, and a fabulous pair of Christian Louboutins are dream purchases for some future wedding day, unless, of course, they cost a little under $170.
Well let the impossible be possible, because I ran across a website today that sells knock-off designer heels, for prices that are literally too good to be true! I may be alone when I say this, but there is something about fake goods that just stink up the joint. And then I found the source of the funk: the infamous Shanghai address.

The fakes (Run-way Heels.com):



The Real Deal:







The Facts:
-In America alone: an estimated 290,200 underage children were illegally employed, and over 59,600 of them were children under age 14.
-Third world countries pay $0.28/per hr to $30/wk to sweatshop kids
-A child can work up to 200 overtime hrs/mo to break "even"

Fashionistas, the real thing beats a fake any day. Shop smart. Be wise. Be aware.

Baltimore Harbor 2009

Hung out with my pops at the Baltimore Harbor, it was nice. I have a thing for water and boats...you should see how I light up when I'm at the dock or the beach :)