FOUR MORE YEARS: INAUGURATION 2013

Posted on January 22, 2013 by Gigi in Inauguration 2013 2 Comments

President & First Lady

I’m so happy and proud today…overwhelmed with pride. I wish I could have been one of the million attendees at the inauguration, celebrating this historic moment. I can’t wait until my friends who attended return so I can get a blow by blow account of what it was like to be there. Between the speeches, performances, and of course the fashion, I was glued to the screen. Happy Martin Luther King and Inauguration Day! Here is a look of some of my favorite moments:

President & First Lady

First Family

Love the Coats

First Lady in Red

First Lady & Bey

The Ball

Jason Wu sketch

Church Service

Parade

Loved the artists selected this year.

A Couple more…

Michelle Obama

The Dance

XOXO,

Gigi

MRS. OBAMA 2013

Posted on January 20, 2013 by Gigi in Michelle Obama Comments Off

I love Michelle Obama-Mrs. “O”, she has brought so much pizazz to the White House. Here she is sporting her new “bangs” which I love and a Zac Posen frock, one of my favorite designers.

Michelle Obama 49th Birthday

Michelle is a fashion statement. I love that she wears color and has fun with her style. I can’t wait to see what she will be sporting this next term. She stays true to what works for her, something that I try to do, sometimes getting it right and sometimes missing. She always shops her closet, never worrying about being photographed in the same dress, I like that being a big proponent of shopping ones closet. She wears high and low, J.Crew, BCBG, Tracy Reese, Jason Wu, Jimmy Choo, Rodarte, many times driving sales for various items. There is a blog that chronicles her outfits everyday Mrs-O.org that is one of my regular blog stops. Here are some of my favorite “Michelle” looks.

Michelle on Vogue

Love this shot…

Michelle in Red

Michelle

repeat Michael Kors sequin dress

Michelle in BCBG

Michelle

Ceremony/ Swearing In

Looking forward to the start of a new term tomorrow. So proud of our President and his beautiful family.

Xoxo,

Gigi

ANTI-AGING

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Gigi in Aging 2 Comments

For myself, this weekend will be one spent with my mother and son at Grandparents weekend at his school. My in-laws were unable to make it do this this horrific flu, and at 89 you have to be careful. I will take lots of pictures to capture and freeze the moments of my mom and son. I’m at an age where my mom and most of my friends parents are creeping into their 80’s, it is certainly a reminder of the circle of life. I can’t help but to think about the aging process and how will I fare, not just the physicality but my health which is the critical piece. Will my obsession with yoga and a vegan lifestyle really make a difference? Will I let my hair go totally white like my mom’s one day? What will my “80” look like?

Age

This quote pretty much sums up my thoughts on age. While I know I will never be “22” or “35” or “40” again, I can be the best me and embrace whatever that looks like. Will I dabble in cosmetic options ie. botox, fillers etc.? Not sure, I do look and the mirror some days and I sigh, and some times I look in the mirror and think, I’m doing okay.

Botox

While I don’t think there is some secret formula for anti-aging I do think a person’s mindset and attitude has a lot to do with aging. When you start to settle in to the “I’m to old for this or that” or “I used to do that when I was younger” that is when that cross over takes place and you wake up one day and you are suddenly in the state of “OLD”. Continue to explore passions and try new things, browse in “Forever 21” try a new hair do, don’t be afraid to “change up”.

Here are my anti-aging tips:

1. EXERCISE EXERCISE AND EXERCISE! there is no way around this one…if you don’t want things to start shifting in a weird way, exercise is the key. I love yoga for the stretching, relaxation, and since I practice hot yoga the added benefit of a facial. Cardio and weight training are also important and just making each day active, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, parking far away and walking, jumping up and down in the house just because.

Yoga

DIET DIET AND DIET is just as important as exercising. I do vegan with as much “raw vegan” as possible, and I juice most days. I buy everything fresh and stay away from processed food. I prefer food in its original state.

fruits and veggies

3. REST REST AND REST yes I have to get my sleep, preferably 8 hours.

4. HYDRATE HYDRATE AND HYDRATE I drink lots and lots of water. I can wake up and look in the mirror and know if I did not drink enough water the day before.

5. SPIRITUALITY-having a faith base in something that keeps you grounded, something that you believe in-this is so important. You need that internal peace that comforts you.

Now for the extras:

1. Creams and such–don’t know if they make a difference but I slather lots on morning and night

2. Sex-do it!

3. Massages-no explanation needed

4. Hair color-even if you are embracing your grey, make it sparkle

5. Passions-keep exploring new things

6. Friendships-relationships are enriching in so many ways…

7. Make-Up- yes it makes a difference

8. Fragrance-oils, perfumes whatever you like.

9. Outfits- that make you feel fabulous.

10. Pretty shoes-not orthopedic and “tennis” shoes are for working out…

11. SMILE-be happy, control your stress, and find the good in everything and everyone…

Happy Weekend!

Xoxo,

Gigi

CHAOS

Posted on January 17, 2013 by Gigi in My Life, Uncategorized 2 Comments

cha·os

)

1. A condition or place of great disorder or confusion.

2. A disorderly mass; a jumble: The desk was a chaos of papers and unopened letters.

3. often Chaos The disordered state of unformed matter and infinite space supposed in some cosmogonic views to have existed before the ordered universe.

4. Mathematics A dynamical system that has a sensitive dependence on its initial conditions.

5. Obsolete An abyss; a chasm.

Originally I had a different post planned for today, something light and “happy”, but as I was driving home chatting with my girlfriend, our call was interrupted by another call from her sister, of course we quickly released the line as we were talking about frivolous things. Within seconds my phone rang again and my friend screamed “MY BROTHER DIED” and before I could respond the call dropped. I immediately thought about when I lost my own brother a little over 3 years ago, and all the complexities of losing a family member suddenly, a complete state of chaos. Death brings out so many emotions in all of us, relationships are compromised, you learn a lot about your family, sometimes you see a side you don’t even recognize.

Tomorrow I will be back, with a “happy” post. I know everyone says this, but don’t take your family and friends for granted, our lives are so fragile and anything can happen to us at any moment. Take time to tell your loved ones how you feel about them, if you are having a conflict try and resolve it.

Thank you for taking a moment out of your day to stop by my blog, and I love all of you…

Xoxo,

Gigi

Hollywood Glamour

Posted on January 14, 2013 by Gigi in entertainment, Uncategorized 2 Comments

golden globes 2013

I love all the award shows, the red carpet, gowns, jewels, hair, and make-up, all of it excites me. I attend a few formal events, so I always keep a look out for gowns on clearance. Here are some of my favs from the Golden Globes.

Halle Berry

Halle never disappoints, and I love florals.

Jessica Alba

Love the color of this gown.

Strapless dresses, great motivation for pushups…

Kerry Washington

Love this nude dress and of course her hair! Makes me want to go straight for a minute.

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer’s gown is interesting, I would love to see it in person.

Can’t wait until the Academy Awards.

Xoxo,

Gigi

Golden Globe Awards: Who Wore What

Gigi’s Meanderings Around The Web #7

Posted on January 13, 2013 by Gigi in Web Comments Off

Happy Monday. It is unseasonably cold in southern California, and this sudden shift has interrupted my system and I am battling a “cold”. So while resting, I meandered around the web today.

So Beyonce will perform with Destiny’s Child at the Super Bowl half time show. So I thought about what is my all time favorite Destiny’s Child song? So of course after going down memory music video lane it is:

I noticed that after I workout, especially outdoors, my mind is so open and creative. Check out this article about “taking a hike” to boost your creativity. I need to make a morning hike part of my standard routine, like brushing my teeth.

We have a set of 5 year-old identical twin nieces in the family, every time I see them they are dressed aliked. I read an article in the LA Times about the well-dressed Brown twins of San francisco, Vivian and Marian had a passion for fashion and were always spotted around town posing for pictures with tourists.

Vivian Brown, 85, passed away Wednesday leaving behind her sister Marian. Read the article here.

I love the illusion that photography has the ability to create. While at The Grove there was this nice background set up and of course we could not miss this photo op.

Of course by the time I uploaded this to FB, I got a few calls asking me about my whereabouts…

Do I have the flu or just a cold, find out here what the difference is and when to go to the doctor.

Love this little girl, and love the movie.

Happy Monday, take a hike…:)

Xoxo,

Gigi

TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT…

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Gigi in Dining, My Life, Well-Being Comments Off

I’ve always been a foodie, I loooooove decadent, flavorful, preferably ethnic vegan food. Growing up, my earliest memories are of both my parents in the kitchen cooking. We never had convenience food, which at the time would have been something like frozen TV dinners. At that time I had no dietary restrictions, I ate everything, meat, chicken, seafood etc.. As time passed and I became a young adult, I denounced all red meat and existed on seafood and chicken. My husband was raised vegetarian, but he too had converted to the seafood/ chicken plan. Shortly after my son was born, I gave up chicken and became a “fishatarion” , sushi, salmon, crab, shrimp, and my favorite ahi tuna became the mainstay of my diet. I ate so much seafood that four years ago, I was diagnosed with mercury poisoning. So I gave up seafood overnight and became a vegetarian/vegan. At the time I had a friend who was a raw vegan and she shared with me the benefits of a raw vegan lifestyle and helped me make the transition. I felt great and enjoyed learning about and making gourmet raw vegan food. Currently my diet consists of lots of raw vegan food and some cooked vegan food. I find that adding some vegan food works for our lifestyle, especially when traveling. I love all the raw vegan restaurants in my area, Au Luc, Cafe Gratitude, M.A.K.E., and Planet Raw to name a few but I did not want to restrict my dining options to a few spots. So I have become a master at tweaking menus at main stream restaurants to fit my needs. I’m amazed at how chefs are happy to come up with interesting vegan alternatives other than green salads. This past weekend we went to the Lazy Ox, the name alone made me think this was going to be problematic. What a surprise!

Husband & I At Lazy Ox

Our Delicious Dinner

We had grits with curry oil, mushrooms and kale,- blistered shishito peppers & lime, -caramelized cauliflower, chili flakes and toasted almonds,- beet salad with white balsamic & hazelnuts,- Black tuscan kale salad with preserved lemons and apples, and not pictured a green salad and a mushroom risotto, everything was delicious and full of amazing flavors.

What type of diet do you follow?

Xoxo,

Gigi

Lazy Ox Canteen, 241 South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, 213 626 5299 Reservations a Must (it’s a tiny place only seats about 50)

HUSBAND’S BIRTHDAY

Posted on January 7, 2013 by Gigi in My Life Comments Off

It’s Husband’s Birthday Today!

Husband’s Birthday

We have been celebrating all weekend! Today I’m going to pick up a jacket from SAND his favorite store and a few more goodies. Of course he said he didn’t need anything…don’t spend any money. Oh Well.

SAND Sunset Plaza

Last year we had a dinner party at Au Luc, a raw vegan restaurant in Orange County, it was a fun evening and we introduced a lot of our friends to fine vegan dining. We continued the celebration at Cap Maison a beautiful resort in St. Lucia with a few friends.

Cap Maison

This year we will have a quiet evening together, reflecting on the past year and making plans for 2013. Birthdays are special and I always do something for everybody’s birthday. Growing up I had a party when I was 6, a slumber party at 12, and that was the extent of my partying and I have been making up ever since! I love entertaining and a birthday is a perfect excuse.

What is your favorite way to celebrate birthdays?

Xoxo,

Gigi

MY BOOK ONE PAGE AT A TIME

Posted on January 4, 2013 by Gigi in Inspiration, Well-Being 2 Comments

PAGE 1

This quote was circulating on FB. Being a closet writer this really resonated with me. Page 4, in my “book” would be a page turner already Drama, Drama, and more Drama, but if things were dry and predictable would life really be interesting? We all are creating pages in our “books”, surprising plot twists, disappointing endings, scandals, and other bazaar occurrences. Some pages we have no control over. My book will be full of cozy parties with interesting characters and lively conversations, travel to some exotic places and some familiar places, and creating quality memories with my family. Beautiful interiors, good food, glamour, fashion, curly hair and age defying feats will be sprinkled throughout. Of course there will be a few weddings, birthdays, and some surprise celebrations to keep things interesting and to introduce new characters. A little Mystery, a lot of fiction, a few jaw dropping cliff hangers, some magical realism and of course lots of fantasy. I am looking forward to my book and delighted to share most of the pages here with you.

What will your book look like?

A mystery, novel, nonfiction, fantasy historical novel, or maybe a thriller?

Remember you want your book to captivate your reader and take them away.

HAPPY FIRST WEEKEND OF 2013

Xoxo,

Gigi

Closet Cleanse

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Gigi in My Closet 3 Comments

I really want to organize my home, especially my closet. No more shopping until I “cleanse” my closet. Easier said than done! 2013 is the year of simplification, if I am going to “make every day count” I can’t waste time searching for stuff in my closet. Figuring out what pieces work for my life and getting rid of things that no longer work for me is the goal. Here is my plan of attack:

1. See what I have and take inventory.

My Closet

Close Up

Major editing is needed, everything is squished together and difficult to find.

2. Take everything out and get rid of items that have not been worn for 2+ years unless it is something special.

Do I love it? Do I feel good in it? Does it work with my lifestyle? Does it fit today? If Yes to all of these questions, it is a keeper. I’m going to treat my closet like prime real estate, only items that are worth the space will remain. The rest will go into piles: A) Goodwill/women’s shelter B) Consignment/girlfriend swap C) Alterations D) Trash

3. Rehang and fold items and organize by color and style.

4. Shoe-mania-same rules apply, with the addition of comfort level. Do I really want to wear a shoe that I have to take advil before wearing?

I know this project will take a few evenings, but the time I will save will be worth it. I want a stress free environment for 2013–quality versus quantity.

Are you a hoarder? do you still have outfits from college hanging around? Bridesmaid dresses? Special designer collaboration dresses from Target that you never wore? Mini skirts that have expired? Gloria Vanderbilt jeans? Sasson jeans? Tube tops? Maxi coats? Take a closet cleanse, get rid of that baggage that is weighing you down and share your techniques for purging.

Xoxo,

Gigi

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