My Ultimate European Restaurant Trip

So, last month I was able to do a 14-day European trip on a movie press tour. (Hint: It was the #1 movie this summer featuring 4 ladies)  As much as I love to travel, I hadn't been out of the country in 10 years.  But, I am always ready with a current passport, just in case.  So, I was really thrilled to be able to go on this 6-city trip... 5 of the cities were my first time visiting. One of the best parts of the trip was the incredible restaurants we tried.... including one of the oldest restaurants in the world, started in 1725, Restaurante Botin in Madrid.
Amazingly, with all the pastry, food and chocolate I ate, I didn't gain any weight...whew....

So Here is the rundown on my gastronomic fun...



London-
Gordon Ramsey's at Claridge's
A lavish high-end experience with amazing food and one of the best chocolate deserts I've ever had. 

Oxo Tower 
Fabulous lunch overlooking South Bank London ... Very tasty seasonal faire.

Madrid-
Botin 
Authentic Spanish food.... we sampled everything from anchovies with red peppers, croquettes, Iberian ham, roast chicken... and it was all delicious.





Dublin-
Crack Bird
Yes, this pop-up chicken joint was a delicious hoot.... very tasty chicken, including  buttermilk fried chicken and garlic chicken all washed down with a fabulous rhubarb lemonade.     





Hamburg-
Cox
A delicious french-German-Italian fusion restaurant..... my fish entree and chocolate mousse desert were outstanding....






While we were in London, we had the chance to get a bird's-eye view of the city with a ride on the famous London Eye. I used to like roller coasters but somehow, I'm getting a little afraid of heights...so it was a funny but beautiful ride.

I didn't take too many pictures but I did capture this view outside of my room in Ghent, Belgium! There is just nothing like this in America....

I am anxiously awaiting my next opportunity to travel... I hope it will be soon....

My favorite Website for Fashion Inspiration...

One of my favorite blogs I like to visit regularly for inspiration is Stlyelikeu.  This site along with Advanced Style is brilliant for checking out how other people relate to style and life and everything in between.  So I was checking out Stylikeu and watched this video with Preston Davis.  I love when style and philosophy merge and after watching his video I must agree with him that:

1. We are all connected.
2. We are only with competition with ourselves.
3. We always have a choice.
4. We direct our reality by our thoughts.
5. There's no need to be attached to things, because you can always get another one.

Preston Davis is an actor, model, and surf instructor based in Los Angeles. Ladd Denim jeans, jacket from Rose Bowl Flea Market, vintage hat.
                      

Preston Davis for Stylelikeu.com from StyleLikeU on Vimeo.

I also loved the wordly style and fashion of DJ Rashida Robinson. And her message to remember to be Grateful!!

                     
                          Rashida Robinson For Stylelikeu.com from StyleLikeU on Vimeo.

3 Gorgeous Make-up Looks featuring NYX Cosmetics

I love make-up and with so many brands to choose from, I usually mix and match.  I recently started using a lot of the NYX Cosmetics line and I did a few of the editorials for our current issue of Regard Magazine featuring this fabulous make-up line. This line is really luxurious and the variety of colors gives me endless creative choices. Here are 3 different looks you can try at home.

Plus don't forget the importance of removing your make-up at the end of the day, ..... Check out their extra gentle but effective Eye and Lip make-up Remover.

Here is the NYX make-up breakdown for Erica Cerra's smokey eye look....
HD Photogenic Studio Foundation in Natural

Powder Blush in Espress

Slide on Pencil Eyeliner in Black

10-Shadow Palette in Haute Model

Fly With Me Mascara

Jumbo Lip Pencil in Iris

Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Crystal

                                             Erica Cerra for RegardMag.com Issue 9

Here is the NYX make-up breakdown for Caity Lotz' 60s-inspired look.......

Liquid Make-up Foundation in Natural

Slide on Pencil Eyeliner in Black

Trio Shadow in Honey Comb

Doll Eye Mascara

Powder Blush in Terra Cotta

Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Sweet Heart

Caity Lotz for RegardMag.com Issue 9

Here is the NYX make-up breakdown for Sandra Vergara's beauty-inspired look.......

HD Photogenic Studio Foundation in Sand Beige
Loose Face Powder in Medium Beige

Slide on Pencil Eyeliner in Black

10-Shadow palette in Versus

Eyelashes: Dreamcatcher

Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Juicy Pink

                                    Sandra Vergara for RegardMag.com Issue 9

Fashion Inspiration from Advanced Style.....

So, in a past life I prided myself in being a creatively, stylish fashionista.  I loved shopping and dressing to chic perfection.  But, alas, in recent years my penchant for shopping and stylish dressing has greatly diminished.  In fact, my current style is rather utilitarian and drab... (as you may have noticed in a few behind the scenes videos.)

But this is all going to change!  Thanks to a fabulous blog from Ari Seth Cohen, Advanced Style, which showcases seasoned fashionistas, I am newly inspired to bring back the fashion and style of my past! Check out the following video and you'll see what I mean.  You'll also notice  Ilona Royce Smithkin from one of my past posts among the lovely ladies....  

                        


So I'm going to start with some tips from Debra ( below).....Wish me luck!  Thanks a million, Ari, for such a great blog!!  Advanced Style

                        

New hit Show and Movie

So this has been a very busy summer....While I was working on Tia and Tamera Mowry's hot new doc-drama on Style Network doing hair and make-up for the ladies, my friend, Octavia Spencer, has been crisscrossing the country doing press for the hot new movie "The Help," which she co-stars in along with Viola Davis, Emma Stone and Bryce Dallas-Howard.  I had the chance to do her hair and makeup for the movie's premiere and I think she looks absolutely gorgeous.  Dimitry styled her in custom Ivonne Dome cocktail dress with dazzling Report Signature shoes and a killer clutch by Ambrosi Abrianna.  Check her out below and then check out Tia and Tamera on Monday nights on Style.....
ps.s You can catch a peak of me doing my thing on the premiere episode.....

Octavia Spencer on the Red Carpet of "The Help"

Octavia Spencer on the Red Carpet of "The Help"

Tia and Tamera on Style

A few of my Summer Favorites

I love surfing the web and discovering cool items, recipes, fashion, make-up, etc.  This weekend for LA's Carmageddon (The 405 freeway was closed for the weekend) I had a chance to stay home and do some surfing. There are some really great bloggers out there sharing fabulous tips and surprises.  Here are my summer picks....

I am counting the days until the opening of the movie "The Help," co-starring my friend, Octavia Spencer as Minny.  I met Octavia over 5 years ago when we were both working on a Comedy Central show that she co-starred in called "Halfway Home."  Now, years later, it is so exiting to see Octavia in a hot new film and her picture on the poster and books!  I am so proud of Octavia and can't wait to see the film. P.S. I had a chance and was thrilled to meet co-star Viola Davis and Kathryn Stockett (writer) at the press junket....  Be sure to check out "The Help," opening on August, 10th. 

One of my favorite sites is Stylelikeu, a style blog that celebrates the individuality of one's personal style.  You get to see a variety of people and check out their closets and find out their feelings on why they wear what they wear.  I love the inspirational stories of people who dare to be different regardless of age, size, gender...... Check out this video of one of my favorite inspirations Ilona Royce Smithkin ....


                       
                                       Ilona Royce Smithkin for Stylelikeu.com from StyleLikeU on Vimeo.


I have known for a while that I have a gluten intolerance (which for me also includes rice and pasta).  So, I am always looking for ways to get a rice or pasta alternative.  I have discovered Quinoa and have started to experiment with it.  The bloggers at OurBestBites.com have a great recipe for cooking Quinoa....check it out

                                            Courtesy OurBestBites.com

For the last year and a half, photographer, Dimitry Loiseau and I have been publishing our own magazine (Regard Magazine).  It started as a way to give fashion designers some visibility but has now turned into a fashion and celebrity editorial book.  My hat goes off to the extreme talent that is Dimitry, as he photographs and often styles all of our editorials.  I, of course, do all the hair and make-up and we have been lucky enough to work with some fabulous celebs along the way.

Check out our current issue, with Karina Smirnoff (This season's winner of Dancing with the Stars) on the cover. The issues are always available to view anytime on-line (don't forget to look at the past issues) and can be ordered as a coffee table magazine.  And be sure to check out the blog for current fashion trend reports and behind the scenes videos of all of our photoshoots.