I know, I know… I said yesterday that I was wearing my 40s vintage dress to the film premiere. I changed my mind exactly 5 minutes before heading out the door. I decided that a red carpet, red lips, and a red hot event… deserved a red dress. My friends and I had a phenomenal night. And, clearly, we enjoyed the photo ops available at the gala that followed the film.
Sidenote: the opening night film, “Sarah’s Key,” was remarkable. If you have the chance to see it, I highly recommend it.
I was getting ready to head out to the opening night of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Red carpet entrance? Check. Great seats for the film? Check. VIP tickets to the Premiere After Party? Cheeeeeck. A glamorous night deserves a glamorous outfit. I threw on a dress from the 1940s, some of my late grandmother’s diamonds, my other late grandmother’s white leather gloves, and a mink stole gifted to me on my birthday by Phyllis Diller (we share the same birthday… just not the same birth year). I finished it off with a coat of matte red lipstick and some strong perfume. I felt like Jayne Mansfield. But taller. And not as blonde. And wearing clothes.
I have died and gone to cupcake heaven. Cupcakes in a tiny cupcake box heaven. Did I mention that the box is tied with a hot pink bow? And adorned with a little crystal? And the cupcake is moist and chocolatey with marshmallow frosting and sweetened hot pink coconut? Now that is something worth obsessing over. Oh, if you’re wondering… I ate every last bite. And licked the wrapper.
I was obsessed with a certain Grecian headband (found here)… I was looking at one of my jewelry boxes and it was brimming with my late grandmother’s brooches. I thought to myself… “Why not make your own one-of-a-kind headband?” So I did. I grabbed some thick satin ivory ribbon and then fastened the brooches to the ribbon. I tied the whole think in my hair and was (very!) pleased with the result. You may not have a ton of vintage jewelry lying around… So head to a thrift store and buy a bunch. Go classic or garish.
After one of the best nights… ever (1. Went on a double date with my man and my sister and her boyfriend, 2. Sat in the front row at the Kings’ game, 3. Stayed at the Standard in Downtown LA, and 4. Drank chardonnay spritzers at the Rooftop Bar at the Standard and fell in love with the city lights), I woke up the next morning utterly starving. I wandered down the street and, by a stroke of luck (or fate, call it what you will), I found myself in front of Bottega Louie.
This place is perfect. My boyfriend and I have very different dining styles (he likes the low-key, all-American type of place… I like the hoity-toity restaurant that attracts the wannabe gourmand). Somehow, Bottega Louie manages to fuse the two. Even with its Los Angeles location it feels distinctly like New York. An exposed stainless steel kitchen, a hostess dressed to the nines with a giant reservation book (no computers here), and tiny two person tables charmingly clutter the floor. The place is bustling and loud, but maintains it’s high-class feel. The energy is contagious. It appeared that everyone was a somebody, or felt like they were a somebody, during the lunch hour that I spent here. Gourmet food and top-notch service at a reasonable lunch price range. We had the Portobello Fries, Onion Gratinée, and Napoli Pizza (we added pepporoni)… all of it: delicious. Plus, the full bakery and candy bar at the entrance (and, conveniently, that entrance is also the exit) basically demands that you buy something simply by its very adorable, well-decorated, and divine smelling presence.
I may not be able to afford an entire living room from one of my interior design obsessions… Jayson Home & Garden (yet)… but that won’t stop me from trying. I mixed and matched a few pieces to put together a compilation of my ideal living room. Feminine enough, yet rustic. Refined, yet comfortable. Chic, yet timeless. And just enough quirky elements to give the room some character. I’m sure my idea of an ideal living room will change daily (like my other style choices)… but that’s a chance I’m willing to take.
