congrats grad!

after a ten year hiatus, my friend wendi went back to school and graduated yesterday cum laude. she celebrated with a proper pool party at daniela's house atop mt. olympus. it was super fun and for those that need a summer bathing suit when swimming with family and friends, stick with shoshanna.

sex in my city

I just saw sex in the city and I fell in love with it. for any girl or guy who loves and appreciates fashion, miss fields outdid herself with the costumes. bold style with pops of color dominated the screen and the photography of it beautifully framed the unbelievable fashions. I also had a personal revelation that included my newest venture to seek out love. as carrie says, an overwhelming love. I’ve made it this far on my sass alone and have decided to ensconce myself in a new venture. p.s. for any guy who wants to get sex in his city, droves of women are showing up to the film dressed to their nines in their latest. hit up a show and go get that.

swimming with sexy sharks

today was andres' bday and he celebrated in style with a poolside party at the standard downtown. wendi and I made our way down around high noon in the incredible l.a. heat to check out the hot new saturday standard party, swimming with sharks and of course to shoot off some water guns with the birthday boy. here's a trend tip for ya: if you're of the hipster persuasion, make sure to get yourself a pair of neon plastic sunglasses. it is THE look du jour of the downtown set.

fat jew

last night my boy beef was in town from nyc at swinghouse studios with the band he is managing, team facelift as part of a showcase for vimby.com. three dirty doods by the names of fat jew, machine and fonda are a nyc-bred menage a trois of glam-hip hop-improv rock and have already been featured in pagesix and brought in a room full of william morris heavy-hitters so no doubt you'll be hearing more from these guys on the music trend tip.

living on a jet plane

ron just moved back to l.a. from new york so we decided to catch up on ol' times with an afternoon of some light jet plane shopping. sponsored by my fave car company, porsche we took a little taste of the very high life. I'm going with the new jet aviva. where's john travolta when you need him?

upcoming teevee appearances

sometimes I scroll through my Tivo settings and search when I'll be on the boob tube. hey, at least I cop to it, right? my most recent findings state the following:

Monday, 5/12 @1AM I Know My Kids A Star, VH-1

Monday, 5/12 @1PM I Know My Kids A Star, VH-1

Tuesday, 5/13 @3PM I Know My Kids A Star, VH-1

Wednesday, 5/14 @11AM I Know My Kids A Star, VH-1

Thursday, 5/15 @5PM How Do I Look?, Style Network

Saturday, 5/17 @2AM How Do I Look?, Style Network

patricia pumps at payless shoes

last year, uber-fab designer and stylist, patricia field designed an uber-fab line of affordable shows for payless. it proved such a popular collab that she's doing it again. keep an eye at out may 27, 2008 for her newest line of limited gold-detailed tootsies at payless stores everywhere. while you're at it, CLICK HERE to catch a glimpse at patricia field's barbie luxe collection.

$40 a... season!?

on the way home from dropping off my sister at the airport today, I dropped in to steve and barry’s, the store which carries sarah jessica parker’s bitten line. they are having a sale in which EVERYTHING in the store is $8.98 or less?! I am big fan of disposable dresses for the changing seasons and I was able to pick up some of the stylish finds for under $40!? I highly suggest you find the closest steve and barry’s (even if its in a bordering city) to do the same!! you’ll be glad you did.

diamond in the rough

my sister and I were looking for something tre hollywood to do while she was visiting, so we scored some tickets to the jimmy kimmel green room. underneath the el capitan theatre, drinks and yummy treats flow freely in a room that houses friends of the guests and staff. neil diamond was the musical guest and we showed up early enough to catch his sound rehearsal. we then headed in to get some photos with our dad's fave late night sidekick, guillermo and uncle frank. sweeeeeet (caroline).

the weekend of obama

caitlin is still here from mexico city. two weeks and still going strong. this weekend was our weekend of obama. we bought an obama shirt from the farmer's market, an obama canvas bag from agape and went to a phone bank to call indiana on behalf of the primaries. yeah. we're sort of crushing on obama.

say CHEESE!

my sister is visiting from mexico city. I've spoken of her before. she's rad. so smart. so silly. in addition to being an editor for a think tank with the world trade organization out of geneva switzerland, she is a foodie with a food blog and a culinary radio show on public radio out of switzerland entitled 'caitlin's kitchen'. what better way to show a foodie a good time but by taking them to a grilled cheese contest!? I had read about the grilled cheese invitational in several papers and heard their announcements on NPR. however, with all of the press they did, there was no mention of a location. turns out, this group of grilled cheesers are quite the Illuminati. they choose to keep the location a secret so as only the diehard grilled cheese fans will find it. caitlin and I were steadfast on eating that cheese so we took to the streets and after several stops on the web, we took a drive over to the cheese store of silverlake. we walked in calmly showing no signs of the hope we held inside. 'do u know the location of the grilled cheese initiative?', I asked an employee. with a chesire cat smile, she replied with a very clear she knew where it was, 'nope'. thwarted! the shop owner overheard our request and came over with the address xeroed on the back of a piece of paper. he carefully slipped it to us and disappeared back amongst the roquefort and camembert. eureka! we got it. we rushed to the car with little time to spare and made our way to griffith park where the contest was being held. as we walked from our car to the clearing we saw hundreds of people dressed in orange and outrageous costumes. there was a mad max-style thunderdome set up in the round with the chefs in the cooking up their cheesy creations in the middle and then around that were the hundreds of visitors who act as judges. when a new sandwich comes off the pan, the person or part of the group yelling and chanting 'CHEESE' the loudest will be awarded with a sample to judge. upon getting a sandwich , there is a ballot attached to the paper plate in which you judge the grilled cheese on presentation, cheesiness, uniqueness of ingredients and of course, how it tasted. we screamed for cheese as loud as we could and ended up with a lovely pecorino with truffles, an undercooked american, a gloppy and oily cheddar and a pizza-like mozz with oregano. after several pieces and several hours of shouting we were wiped out. on the way to the car, we dreamt up which ingredients we would use to take the grand prize. but we can't tell you that here. you'll have to find it for yourself next year.

house call

last night I attended the 'after the flood: building on a higher ground' exhibition at the museum of architecture and design on wilshire. co-sponsored by brad pitt and his make it right foundation, the traveling exhibition is a series of architectural blueprints of homes that can be built in new orleans in the wake of hurricane katrina. all houses are sustainable and come equipped to brave the strongest of winds and water. it is a spectacular undertaking and the night was beautiful (including the new orleans caramel turtles they passed around for dessert). yummo.

pink flamingo

Can't afford a CHANEL suit? Try a limited edition Le Vernis Nail Color - to some it's just as chic. Do you recall the vampy dripping dark red that Uma Thurman wore in Pulp Fiction almost a decade ago? Of course you do. It was Chanel's Vamp and it instantly became part of our polish pop culture. How about last year's pandomium that followed Chanel's Black Satin polish? Before the store's were stocked up, the limited edition color had sold out. Each season, Chanel comes out with a Limited Edition color that sells for $19 a bottle and you can you bet your twice monthly Mani/Pedi that the color sells out before the season even starts. Right now, Chanel Le Vernis Nail Color is offering a Limited Edition Blue Satin for Spring 2008 but this month the Summer 2008 collection is released and with it, a bright pink polish named Flamingo and the frosted golden-brown, Antilope.

be the change

did you see american idol gives back last night? it was incredibly moving and gave my hope, hope that small change (literally and figuratively) from one person can make a big difference. I gave, did you? www.americanidol.com

l.a. happenings from la.com

I just received a newsletter from la.com’s clotheshoarse blog and figured I would share with you these fun fashion Hollywood happenings...

New Trouble in Old Chinatown April 5
Get on the front lines of Downtown's gentrification from 10pm-2am at Mountain Bar on April 5. Fashion-forward art crew The Status Faction is partnering with our Eastside source for the hippest threads from across the pond, Welcome Hunters, to showcase its newest works. Witness the creation of live art while DJs Phylo, Sara T, Biff Chitlins and Toks provide the tunes. Free, open to the public and, of course, LA.com sponsored.

The Way We Wore Pop-Up Store Through May 15
Vintage designer duds at 60-95% off, with dresses starting at $22 and most prices ranging from $40-$60. Kids vintage is now available too.

The Warehouse Sale April 5-6
Sat.-Sun., 10am-4pm. The mega denim sale is back offering 80% of Rock & Republic, Diesel, True Religion, Frankie B, Genetic Denim, Citizens of Humanity, 575 Denim, J Brand. Christian Audigier, et al. RSVP at: www.thewarehousesale.com

Last Chance Boutique Winter Clearance
This Culver City boutique is clearing out its winter wear with 50-80% off designers like Cynthia Vincent, Phillip Lim, Diabless and even 40-65% off new spring arrivals.

Costume Exhibit at the Gamble House April 13-June 8
FIDM and the Gamble House are pairing up to showcase costumes from the Fashionable dress movement which pays homage to the era (circa 1908) the historic house was built.

Blowdry 101 at Borrelli Beverly Hills May 7
Wed., 6:30pm. On the first Wednesday of every month Borrelli Beverly Hills offers classes teaching you how to blowdry your own hair like a pro. Bring along your stying tools and dry your hair as usual and a stylist will correct you as you go. A fee of $20 per person includes a shampoo, a lesson,a product kit and cocktails.

somebody's getting married

It’s that time of the year when flowers are blooming and friends are getting married. my good friend, bree is getting hitched in june and to celebrate her family held a sweet bridal shower at their house in malibu. it was such a lovely sunday afternoon with good friends, homemade cupcakes and oodles upon oodles of fun registry gifts from crate and barrel with a few naughty pieces thrown in. who knew urban outfitters made such cute lingerie? I went with a bedside carafe as a gift. I love the classy look next to the bed and it certainly comes in handy when you’re thirsty at night. cheers to a lifetime of love for my funny and fabulous friend bree (and her husband to be, justin). as an extra added bonus, bree just got cast opposite katherine heigel in their newest flick, so watch for it in the near future.

alpha cuppa vodka

my good friends at bollare PR threw a fab party tonite for alpha gear for men sponsored by the GQ men we love issue and bacardi vodka at villa melrose. me and wendi donned our little black dresses and headed out. alpha gear for men is a very groovy store on melrose filled with fun gentleman goodies of the lifestyle brand. the bacardi was a-flowin’ and the boys were too. my fave celeb spotting was joel mchale from E!'s the soup. he funny. I saw lots of ol’ friends (like fellow stylist jordan pictured above) and made new ones. good times thanks to GQ.

april HSN is now live!

hey fashion friends -

my newest blog on spring colors and trends and how to wear them is now live at:
http://www.hsn.com/spring-color-trends-blogs_g-63_xg.aspx

please click the link and comment on the HSN site if you like what you see.
love, jess

road tested. stylist approved.

can a pair of forever 21 jeans stand the test of wear and tear and time with 40 hours of cross-country travel? yes, they can! I had a busy day tuesday starting off with slipping on my new pair of high waisted forever 21 jeans that I picked up at the hollywood&highland mall. I figured if I’m going with something trendy like high-waisted might as well spend as little as possible. headed to work for the day, from work to school (jeans. good. check), headed from school to airport. hopped 11:45 red eye from LAX TO JFK and arrived in NYC at 7am (jeans. good. check). had 10am breakfast meeting with my book agent, 11:30 coffee with potential associate and ol’ friend jaime hochauser, lunch meeting in tribeca with spaceman media and finally met my mom (who thankfully had the car so I didn’t have to lug around the jeans annnnd all of my luggage in the rain - jeans. good. check.) we headed to century 21 in my forever 21 jeans (if you’ve never heard of century 21, it is a MUST STOP SHOP in NYC) got bombarded by couture-crazy crazies, went for dinner at island burgers and shakes where I ordered my bud barzel’s namesake burger (stomach. happy and full. jeans. good. check.), headed to the theatre to see curtains with david hyde pierce which was thoroughly entertaining, got in car and headed back to long island still looking fabulous in my forever 21 jeans from the day before. good. check.

new website!!

hey ya'll - come on over to www.jess-zaino.com - I've been blogging from there plus posted new pix, press, videos and much more! If you bring the dip, I've got the chips!! xo, jess

ladies in red

did ya just catch the oscars? I live not one mile from the kodak theatre where the show is held, so I was lucky enough to the peep the red carpet arrivals as they came in. even though marion cotillard may have one the best actress award, I believe the real honours go to john galliano for dior. he had some smoking dresses on the nominees. my favorite look was the unique and fresh fashions of juno screenwriter, diablo cody. watch out world - glamour has a new name. also noted were the fantastic pops of candy apple red on the likes of katherine heigl, helen mirren, anne hathaway, miley cyrus and heidi klum, even ruby dee in a kevan hall creation. red is always a color to watch and wear for noticeable glamour. also to watch was the absolute simplicity of the accessories. I loved the single strands of diamonds, the lone diamond cuffs and the enormous ring that nominee tilda swinton rocked. we musn't forget the men either. I was a big fan of the boys in bowties but could've done without daniel day lewis' 80's era earrings. congrats all. I'm off to find madonna's afterparty.

any given saturday in beverly hills

so saturday started out with a lovely breakfast with friend and author barbra horowitz to discuss big style business for the year ahead. over a yummy organic meal at mani's on fairfax we decided to hit up the last of the oscar suites in bev hills to scope more tinseltown treats. we headed over to the four seasons on wilshire only to be told there was no suite, only a bat mizvah. better late than never? not in this case.

oscar sweets

its academy award weekend in los angeles and everyone is abuzz with oscar fevah. I headed over to the TMG/CUUR suites over at the bev hills hilton to see what goodies were in store for the oscar celebs. I was impressed by the sword (ummm, yeah, I got a freeking martial arts sword) and wushu stunt lesson provided by impact stunts. I can't wait to learn more about it and will for sure keep you posted. in the fashion lounge was a fab new featured denim line, plush. really soft cotton made of italian and japanese denim and a fit that covers all sizes of fanny. I loved the light wash boot cut and look forward to checking out their black skinny jean. also in the fashion lounge was bag line mimieki who's luxurious materials of stingray and peacock feather was not so much in line with the green theme of the lounge but waaaay appealing to any girl who loves luxury. I am a HUGE fan of their buttery sahara satchel bag. tomorrow I am heading over to the four seasons for a sneak peak at some more yummy. will keep you posted.

hare

my stylist andi over at byu-ti gave me this recent blunt bang cut with cool rock n' roll highlights. I'm loving the of the moment style and coloring of the look. feel free to steal it for yourself. xxoo.

where'd she go?

sorry I haven't been posting folks, life took off and with it my ability to whip up something trendy. life took off, you ask? ah, yes but in a much more responsible way then you can imagine. I've decided to go back to school and started last week at santa monica college. with both classes in business and fashion, I am enriching, educating and preparing myself for the second phase of Jess Zaino. In addition, I have been helping out my man Saundi with some fun vocal tracks. Disclaimer: I, in no way am pursuing a music career. I just happened to be a willing participant to my genius bfriend's production skills. As soon as I figure out how to post an mp3, I'll get it to you hot and fresh.

what are YOU wearing this valentine's day?

will u be dressing up nice for someone special today (even if it's yo'self that is someone nice)? well come on over to my hsn fashion column for the simple sexy tips of how to dress your best for a date. p.s. it would be an extra special v-day for me, if you would comment ON THE HSN COMMENT BOARD. thanks kindly lovebug!

universal heartbeat

this is HIGH-larious. I was on youtube searching for a love song to post to my special v-day myspace profile and came across a juliana hatfield video I was in from 1995. can u spot me at 17 years old?

fall 2008 fashion week

forgive this trendster for not making a peep during new york's fall 2008 show of fashion week but I was tre busy and watching from afar to get a true sense of who my favorites were. no surprise that oscar de la renta hits it out of the fashion field every time. I was very impressed with the fresh and polished looks that came down the tommy hilfiger runway. and I love the edge of rock n' repbulic and adam + eve. its fall, so expect lots of creams, caramels, naturals, blacks and purple.

grammy weekend

the grammys are happening tonite which means hollywood has been hopping all week long with grammy parties. last night s. and I hit up the rock the vote private party thrown by the roots at the key club on sunset. my producer bud damon passed over his all-access passes for the event allowing me and s. to get down with the east coasters in a west coast funk fest. not only were we treated to an open bar but there were star sightings galore from ryan phillipe and gfriend abby cornish to missy elliott, raven simone, will.i.am, even buddha from this past season's I love new york. the music performances were incredible and we got to see jam sessions with ?estlove, fall out boy, doug e. fresh, corinne bailey rae, travis barker and SEAL!!? up and comers J*davey threw it down and we ended up leaving at 4am when the joint was still jumping. only on hollywood.

DJ RED 5 at Zanzibar

Last night Saundi DJ'd Zanzibar. He plays some smooooove music. As a result he picked up a monthly at Little Temple in Santa Monica happening the first Wednesday of each month. I sure hope you can make the next one. Things are going to get sexy!

NEW YORK GIANTS #1

even for lil ol' stylephile like me, I know a good game when I see one. watching my hometown whoomp new england's arse was a california treat. let's go giants!!!!

america's next top idol

I had the pleasure of auditioning for american idol yesterday. yup, THE american idol. but sadly no, not the singing portion. I was too young to compete. ha. I am now in the running however for a gig as an on-air Stylist for the show. even if I don't make it past this portion to "get to Hollywood", I still got a fun prize at the audition. one of the models from the janice dickinson show (which is produced by idol's fremantle media) works as an assistant in the office and any chance to see one of my fave celeb-reality show peeps in person is a secret treat for me. now if only I make it onto the show I can make reality teevee a reality.

SAG style

I was glad to see the celebs working the red carpet again for this years SAG awards. since it is an award show that awards actors, it was a pleasant show of performer support despite the writers strike that is proving to be the straw that broke the entertainment industry's back. the dresses were a statement in individuality and it was a breath of fresh fashion to see people making some bold choices, both good and bad (and very very ugly). we'll start with the bad news: what was jane krakowski wearing? that over embellished neckline looked like a beehive of plastic beads!? a beautiful color but the heaviness of it threw the couture off its course. sandra oh who is a favorite of mine looked like she was swallowed up by a huge black dress then tied up in a bright pink bow. bad. very bad. as for the good: the award goes to christina applegate. she looked stunning in a glamorous flapper beaded throwback floor length. stunning. I loved the bright pops of yellow (color to watch for Spring!) and the fact that Metallic is now a major Hollywood player. Hemlines were long and necklines were left sleveless, strapless and bare with the colors and cuts being the main accessory of the night.

super deluxe style!

trends ahoy! or is that chips?

it's a new year full of possibilities, hope and change as the politicians continue to remind us. don't get me wrong. change is great and certainly needed to keep us moving forward. a change is gonna come and if you're not prepared it can rock your socks off and I don't mean of the athletic variety. a perfect start to take control of our changing world is to take charge of your personal space, so let's start with what's on your person...

if you don't know what to keep or cleanse, go with this trick: if you haven't worn something in over six months, ditch it. if it's well-preserved you may get money for it by bringing it to buffalo exchange. I racked up a couple hundred bucks and unloaded a ton of stuff doing this. and as always, its better to give then to receive so if you don't have a buffalo exchange in your area, pack it up for goodwill.

as for what you keep, save the metallics. they're still ice hot. especially this shift rocker from laROK or this sexy gold heel from steve madden. if you're looking to add a few key pieces go for naturals but as natural conjures up visions of woody harrelson smelling of patchouli and playing the bongos nekkid, I prefer to say eco-fab fashions of wood, stones and other natural materials. h&m has a great collection of pure cotton coming in to stores for spring. pair a tee with these fun wooden bangles from target to score major socially conscious style points.

sheesh, I'm still thinking of that woody harrelson bit. and no, nekkid isn't the men trend du jour. but rufus is! not only is the menswear line known for its updated traditionalist styles that have become the contemporary status quo of cool but they've just added accessories into the mix with pocketsquares, bowties and ties .

if I still have your most treasured and appreciated attention, I hope you won't mind a few more words from the world of Jess Zaino...

I'm on Style Network's How Do I Look?, this Monday, January 21 at 9pm

I will be appearing live on HSN January 30 and 31st at 10pm EST talking about the natural and metallic trends I mention here

You can always log on to my monthly fashion writings on the HSN fashion homepage (and while you're there, pick yourself out something nice)

Who is this wild Jess Zaino? For a fun look into my fashionista life, check out this interview I had with Fashionalities

And that concludes the trend portion of this style session. Thank you kindly for the time. Let me know what's going on in your 2008 and live long and prosper fashionably.
Love ya like a sis,
Jess

love. angel. music. BAGS!!!

my newest obsession is the Asti Glazed Folding Clutchh by gwen stefani's L.A.M.B. it has the perfect pop-y color of bright kelly green for spring and it's style functionality gives you a bang for the buck with its clutch to tote feature. I'm in love. lady has really outdone herself with this recent crop of L.A.M.B. merch.

pink is the new pink

popped into kitson on robertson the other day, which if you don't know is the end all be all of l.a. casual fashion and got the inside scoop that the color for spring is neon pink. since it is such a bright color and maybe overwhelming for some on a top or trouser, you can incorporate the trend in with accessories: piping on bags, bracelets, etc.

red, white and woo-hoo

the new cover of GQ magazine stars rachel bilson looking too cute in a patriotic blue bikini with red bows. I sure hope she gets another gig coz she really works it as the girl next door. speaking of patriotic, how about those elections, huh?

what's your fashionality?

fashionista natasha is the editor of fashionalities. she got in touch a few days ago and we did a fun interview that you can read here.

PiQ of the week

boutique jewlery designers m. anthony originals have come out with a very cool accessory of which I've never seen the likes of. the PiQ is a hand-crafted 18k white gold piece with 150 round-cut brilliant diamonds inlaid. fashion innovation at its best. soon to be available in maxfield... and your mouth?

pampering by pambee

traveling can be a real B* but if you've got the right travel accessories, it doesn't have to be so bad. enter the PamBee set. created by a flight attendant, its a luxurious blanket, pillow and eyemask with a soft and silky suede-like lining that fits into one compact kit and looks stylish to boot! I used one on my holiday travels and I ain't never looking back (especially with that fab eyemask on).

trendsters unite!

over the holiday I got to thinking that I want to expand this whole trendster thing to include you. yes, you. if you're out and about and see something trendster-worthy, take a pic and send it to me at jesszaino@gmail.com along with a blurb and whatever links (myspace? facebook?) you want me to post and link it back to. let's get this party started...............

new year

I just got back into town from holiday travel and had such a time! first stop was new york where I was introduced to the many offerings of brooklyn by my brooklyn-born boyfriend saundi. if you're looking for a creative and unique gift including boutique clothes, curios and knick-knacks hit up red pearl on bedford. hungry? don't miss grimaldi's for pizza and for the best cup o' joe and new york black and white cookie, try cranberry's in the heights. delish. for the tech headz, the mac store in soho is helpful, quick and filled with friendly workers and the best apple accessories. if you're on long island and in need of a mani/pedi, jessie's nails on portion road in ronkonkoma is an inexpensive luxury and worth the trip if you're in the surrounding area. next on our holiday tour was miami. ay mami. the standard miami is perfect for a hip drink and great yoga on the bay (take a cab though because parking's a bitch). the gals in miami know how to rock a look that's cool, loose and classic. you can find the best in chic linen pants, sexy tops and studded sandals in the bal harbour shops and for food, give soyka's a go for a comfortable and loungy open space with yummy food. 2008's bell has rung and we're back in L.A. to kick off the new year in style. please join me.

fashion fix

I am chillin down in miami thru the new year and just got the fab head's up that my new fashion blog on the hsn.com fashion homepage is up and running. I'd love to invite you to check it out and certainly and by all means, comment on my piece. not only will your hits and comments mean alot to me but I think you'll like the post as well so its a win-win. catch me and comment here.


looking forward to reading your fashion comments. grassy ass.
xo, jess

it's a wrap

my sis is home in new york from switzerland, me and the beau are at home with the parents on long island, the fire is on and the grappa is flowing. we've done a few gift exchanges in the last several days and its always such a pleasure for me to discuss the different ideas on presenting the presents. I have opted for a new york times theme with red ribbon and my homemade cards (also with nyt cut-outs). meg d. wrapped up my special something with hot pink tissue paper, twine from the 99 cent store and topped it off with a sprig of fir. fab! what are you planning to do?

travel tips

I took the AM flight yesterday from LAX to JFK on american. saundi flew virgin atlantic. for those of you flying this holiday season, look into the caselogic lightweight luggage. the airlines are not taking liberties with bags and will make you tuck, fold and cover every inch of your belongings, so be prepared. there are HUGE lines and bad attitudes at american, so be prepared. why don't they send their employees to the nordstrom school of customer service? I know the counter workers are treated poorly but that doesn't mean that have to treat customers poorly. it doesn't cost anything to smile, especially when I apying $500 plus for it. apparently, virgin america has a nightclub like feel, cool leather seats, movies galore and yummy food stuffs. american ran out of food on my flight, so be prepared. buy water after you get thru security. and when you can, sign up for the frequent flyer programs through your favorite airline to get special travel benefits when they are offered.

a very hollywood holiday

yesterday was the annual girl's xmas exchange. every year, my crew of girls do a fun secret santa drink thingee and toast our gratitude for the past year. I was very grateful for a chateau marmont one night stay I received in a RBK gift bag a few months ago. I figured it was a perfect opportunity to redeem my gift yesterday and host the girl's holiday party on the outside veranda. no better plan could've been, well... planned. I started out the day redeeming a burke williams spa certificate I had for a shiatsu massage (and saundi's firm swedish). we then checked into the chateau and took a cat nap. seven thirty came and we were all dolled up for the night's festivities which ended up being a lovely holiday affair. I had lisa anne as a secret santa of whom I gifted the ab fab dvd series from amazon.com and ironically she had me, for which I got a cutey-patootey betsey johnson tee. I also picked up the daisy marc jacobs solid scent and a fab bottle of wine. for my guests, I gave I Love New York (the city not the show) tees with new york baked black and white cookies. we drank the night away in style (that I'm still feeling today). cheers!

I'm dreaming of a green christmas

the green theme is big this holiday season. I don't know if its the melting icecaps or the barney's windows, but we are having a green christmas! I myself have gotten jazzed on the idea and have reconstructed and recycled everyday items to fit in with my gift giving...

wrap your gifts in fun newspaper, maybe the sunday comics? or my fave, the new york times style section.

when in doubt, go with a gift card. it saves time, paper waste and will give the giftee whatever they are wanting. iTunes is a fun way to go for the music aficionado.

if we're talking recycling, this trendster says re-gifting is a-ok! as long as it doesn't go back to the one who gave it. eek.

snake charming

check out style network's mystyle.com blog today. I'm talking snake accessory.

deconstructed earrings

I've been wanting to pick up a pair of gold straight dangle earrings for a minute now but since I've been spending so much cash on the christmas gifts, figured I'd wait until the new year to buy something for myself. low and behold, I had a pair of danglies from an H&M in switzerland. they had hearts on the, but I was crafty (and frugal) enough to find some pliers and twist the hearts off making for my perfect pair of earrings. crafts equal more cash for family and friend christmas gifts.

hot holiday gifts

I just got back from a very quick trip to new york where I did a satellite media tour with my pals vidicom on some hot holiday gifts. for those of you who don't know, an SMT is where the "host" or expert is in a studio and via satellite we do interviews with national morning shows promoting the brand we are hired by. for those of you who don't know what hot holiday gifts to give, here is a rundown of my gift guide:

for under $180. you can give one lucky travler, a beaufiul set of caselogic liightweight luggage. its made of a special material that makes it durable and extra light. plus its got fun features like a removable laptop shuttle and water bottle holder for hands free handling.

for the mom, dad or baby cousin, get a goose down vest from lands end. for $25, its comfy, colorful and comes in all shapes and sizes. perfect for layering over the sweatshirt or under the coat.

for the music lover, a truly unique gift is the exclusive, hand signed by THE EAGLES takamine guitar. all proceeds go to the walden woods project and only a few were made so its a gift that gives back, is one of a kind and rocks!

lastly, is the breville cafe-roma espresso machine from bed bath and beyond. it brews a perfect cup of espresso and allows the coffee lover to be a barista in their own kitchen.

all of these fun gifts can be found online at their respective online stores. happy shopping!

booty-licious

ever since I picked up a pair of vans-like checkerboards at rite-aid, I have not discounted the store for cheapie fun finds. my eye for pharmacy chic took me into the shoe collection yet again where I found a fab pair of winter footwear to kick around the house in. they're the brown clunky ankle-high booties much like an ugg but ugglier but oh! so comfy and apparently, outside of the oprah crochet, its the thing this winter season. for $9.99, grab 'em before they're gone.

in a galaxy far far away...

last week was house of diehl's style wars competition in los angeles at cinespace. saundi dj'd. the judges were myself, musician jody whatley from back in the day, jeffrey sebelia, last year's winner from project runway and handbag designer nikki chu. the competitors battled it out in live on stage style rounds such as bauhaus your body and denim use. it was an event that los angelenos rarley get to see and it was awesome and I'm sorry you missed it. for vidz and such, my bud possum came down and shot if for his gotv network. check it here.