Happy Holidays

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and a very happy New Year.

I'll be sure to post soon about all the goings on in my life - from the amazing 1000 person party I threw for the Yves Saint Laurent exhibit at the Museum to the craziness of the holidays to my upcoming trip to NY and - hopefully - the super fabulous details of my new apartment there (fingers crossed - still looking).

xx K

Seriously?!

Donkeys?? This lady has a lot of catching up to do...

My New York

After nearly a month in NY with a new camera (thank you baby - you picked out the perfect one for me!) - i thought i'd share some of my favorite pictures.

xx K

Sarah Palin

While I normally don't speak to political issues on this blog - it's something i'm very passionate about but not interested, necessarily, in talking about in this forum. That being said, I am so concerned, so worried, about this upcoming election and the possibility of Sarah Palin being anywhere near the actual presidency - that I need to speak up. Say my peace. Share my thoughts.

And in doing so - I'm choosing to not use my own words - because someone else has expressed my own feelings so well, so exactly, and so eloquently that I will share her words with you.

I will link Rebecca Traister's fantastic Salon.com piece "The Sarah Palin Pity Party" below but also extract some of the points which echo my sentiments eactly.

"When you stage a train wreck of this magnitude -- trying to pass one underqualified chick off as another highly qualified chick with the lame hope that no one will notice -- well, then, I don't feel bad for you.

When you treat women as your toys, as gullible and insensate pawns in your Big Fat Presidential Bid -- or in Palin's case, in your Big Fat Chance to Be the First Woman Vice President Thanks to All the Cracks Hillary Put in the Ceiling -- I don't feel bad for you.

When you don't take your own career and reputation seriously enough to pause before striding onto a national stage and lying about your record of opposing a Bridge to Nowhere or using your special-needs child to garner the support of Americans in need of healthcare reform you don't support, I don't feel bad for you.

When you don't have enough regard for your country or its politics to cram effectively for the test -- a test that helps determine whether or not you get to run that country and participate in its politics -- I don't feel bad for you.

When your project is reliant on gaining the support of women whose reproductive rights you would limit, whose access to birth control and sex education you would curtail, whose healthcare options you would decrease, whose civil liberties you would take away and whose children and husbands and brothers (and sisters and daughters and friends) you would send to war in Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Russia and wherever else you saw fit without actually understanding international relations, I don't feel bad for you.

I don't want to be played by the girl-strings anymore. Shaking our heads and wringing our hands in sympathy with Sarah Palin is a disservice to every woman who has ever been unfairly dismissed based on her gender, because this is an utterly fair dismissal, based on an utter lack of ability and readiness. It's a disservice to minority populations of every stripe whose place in the political spectrum has been unfairly spotlighted as mere tokenism; it is a disservice to women throughout this country who have gone from watching a woman who -- love her or hate her -- was able to show us what female leadership could look like to squirming in front of their televisions as they watch the woman sent to replace her struggle to string a complete sentence together.

In fact, the only people I feel sorry for are Americans who invested in a hopeful, progressive vision of female leadership, but who are now stuck watching, verbatim, a "Saturday Night Live" skit.

Palin is tough as nails. She will bite the head off a moose and move on. So, no, I don't feel sorry for her. I feel sorry for women who have to live with what she and her running mate have wrought. "

Read her entire piece here: http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/09/30/palin_pity/index1.html

RIP Paul Newman

You were an amazing man - a leader - a legend - an educator - an activist - a mentor - a fearless adventurer - a family man - and so much more.

You will be sorely missed.

Rest in Peace

Green with Envy

My new favorite place - I think you'll love it too.

www.greenwithglamour.com

Enjoy - xx K

Next Food Network Hack

Sure, the title is a bit gruff - but so was the winner.

This morning (thank you DVR) I watched the culmination of weeks of watching and anticipating the outcome of "The Next Food Network Star" - and was sorely disappointed that they awarded this title to a cook, who is at best, mediocre. Aaron was awkward and clumsy in his presentation, unable to talk and cook simultaneously, preparing meals that weren't on par with his competitors - yet each week - he prevailed.

This ridiculous and seemingly rigged outcome for this competition is a slap in the face to people who actually cook - who appreciate cooking techniques and learning methods to enhance their own - and who are all too aware of WHO should have won if this competition was truly based on talent, presentation and ability.

But it obviously wasn't. I'm not sure what it was based on - generating a stronger urban demographic? - teaching novices how to spice a beef loin? - how to fumble lines, botch the most basic of dishes, and self doubt to the point of self-sabotage? Hmmm maybe. Maybe it was based on a predetermined outcome set forth by the marketing department upon skewing their Nielsen's and realizing they needed another down-market show. I don't know but I do know I won't be watching.

It's obvious to anyone watching that Lisa should have won - she had the style, the passion and the ability. Her presentation needed some work in the beginning, but she worked on that and ultimately delivered flawless food and equally impressive on-camera presentations.

I'll be on the look out for Lisa - who I'm sure will be making her own mark soon enough on the culinary world. I would imagine the clock on Aaron's 15 minutes has already started ticking down.

Tick tock...

xx K

Chihuly

Threw an amazing party for the opening of the Dale Chihuly exhibit in June. It was incredible - his work is really just awe-inspiring. Every corner turned revealed a new and breathtaking room to explore. The rooms were all black (for the most part) with his pieces being up- and backlit for effect. There was one smaller room set aside with a film, looped, of him working in an amphitheatre style setting - creating these pieces with his team on the floor while a crowd watched and cheered as each piece was completed. Just to see them work together - to create on the fly - the dance they do around glass as it's being shaped and pulled and morphed - it was hard to turn away. It's one of the most amazing exhibits I've seen at the museum - thrilled to have been a part of it in some way.

While I love is work, I was excited to learn he's not just a glass artist - but also an artist in the more traditional sense - pen, charcoal, paint on paper. His work on paper comes to life in his glass, as a template or guide for his team, but it's those pieces that I loved almost equally as much. For me, to own one of his works on paper is more interesting than a piece of his glass. It's like Botero's bronzes, or Picasso's pen and ink's - stepping outside their notoriety and into another place. Once piece of Chihuly glass wouldn't suffice, wouldn't be nearly as grand as it should be - but 1 beautifully framed sketch (and I use that term loosely, it's decidedly more than just a sketch - it's a full blown work of art) of his would have me swoon.

Put that on my list of must have's - I'll check that off soon.

Enjoy some of the pictures from the exhibit itself - they don't do it justice - it's something to you need to experience in person.






















These lavender spikes, as i call them, rose out of the tree trunks
and they were each about 10 feet tall. Simply gorgeous.





















These balls rested in a boat - a full size wooden boat. The
balls ranged from around 8 inches to 3 feet in size. Every
color and combination imaginable. The picture above only
captures the middle section!





















This was the grande finale - a massive room with the most
amazing collection of pieces - orbs, pods, spikes, flowers,
twisty entwined masterpieces. The room was about 40+
feet long - this shot is looking down through the work.





















This unfocused shot (apologies) is taken at the other end of
the 'finale' room. You can see the twisty piece visible in the
above picture and again in this shot.


Enjoy! xx K

Happy Birthday to Me

It's my birthday and so far it's been just lovely. On Saturday night I went out with the family and had a great dinner. I was so excited that I got a Breville Juicer - OMG - it's amazing and it's so cool that i can make my own organic juice in the morning! I also go a super chic YSL wallet from the y-mail collection (my newest obsession) - so fabulous - black patent with gold script. In love! Today i've gotten lots and lots of phone calls and a beautiful bouquet from Rich. I also got a fantastic juicing book from him as well as 2 french-centric books - a great recipe book and a little book about french cafes. I got a few other things - and bought myself a few things - very pretty juicy couture scarf - soft pink and brown bamboo print.

My nephew called me this AM (he's 3) to sing me happy birthday - he ended it untraditionally, typical for him, with 'i love you so much because you're so preeeeeeeetty'. Well, if that's not the best way to wake up, I'm not sure what is.

I actually have a ton of work to do today - so this will be short - but wanted to say a mass thank you to everyone who sent me birthday wishes. I will reward myself with a delicious cupcake later - no candles though... don't want to burn the house down.

Dinner with friends this weekend to celebrate - should be fun - i'll update again when i can. I need to post the pictures from the Chihuly event we threw - it was incredible. I'll get to that soon.

xx K

Bow Down Darlings

Favorite images from the Lacroix show in Paris - I can't even imagine having the creativity to create such incredible awe-inspiring works of art. He's a genius.

The bows, the massive broaches, the fur, the fabrics - Love Love Love.

Heat Wave in NY

Enough said...

Je t'aime toujours ... R.I.P.

An icon, a visionary, a legend - Yves Saint Laurent - 1936 to 2008

Stay the Course

I'm not sure my body is acclimating to the new diet and the urges are stopping or if i'm just getting better at ignoring all that is around me - but i think this new way of eating is working! It's not so much a challenge anymore which is relieving. I'm not feeling that pull to my old habits as much as i was. i'm still in a bit of a rut, but i'm definitely branching out - spicey red curry, tofu spring rolls (not deep fried), hummus plate with 3 different types (delicious). I'm loving the raw juices and yes, the vegan cupcakes are still my downfall. I had 1 last night. They're decadent. I need to find out what is in them and i think i need to seriously limit myself. Nothing this good can be healthy.

I did feel a little anxious on Sunday - i went to my parents house to say hello and then to run errands - but i hadn't eaten anything yet. While I was driving through Marin trying to figure out what and where to eat - i was getting, i don't know, not worried, but more uncomfortable with the choices. Can't have that - can't have that - can't have that. I was crossing off all the options in my head and - as i was pressed for time - was beginning to feel that i wouldn't be able to find something suitable. I ended up getting a turkey (fresh roasted, not rolled) with avocado, sprouts, green peppers on sliced sourdough. It was an actual relief when i had it in my hands on my way to the checkout counter.

This is all still too new to me to lapse back into my old habits. Lent isn't over yet - and while this started with that - and i intend - scratch that - i will - make it through Lent - i really want to continue this. I feel fantastic. I am still in the baby stages of this change (tomorrow will be 3 weeks) and to slip up now, knowing myself, would be disasterous. It would cycle into going back to my old habits and nearly impossible to start again.

Old habits die(t) hard

xx K

One day at a time

I had a vegan cupcake for breakfast. Someone stop me!

That addiction aside, the soba noodles were deeelish! I'll definitely have them again. I had vegan red lentil soup for dinner last night which was also very tasty. A little texturey - grainy almost - but still yummy. I have the grilled chicken salad for lunch. Not sure about dinner - i have a party i'm supposed to go to at Neiman's tonight but i'm not sure i'm going to make it. It's pouring out - buckets - and i'd rather cozy up than primp and pose for pictures.

I've noticed that i'm reaching for food when i'm bored. I think i might be a boredom eater. And an emotional eater. I need to retrain myself. It's very interesting learning about myself in this way with this new lifestyle. I miss crackers. How weird is that. I still feel the pull and it's a teeny bit hard when i walk down the wrong aisle at the grocery store or walgreen's and end up in a minefield. But it's getting better.

Good things to come.

xx K

Organic Rut

I'm doing this whole no processed, packaged, boxed, bagged, frozen, etc food thing - only organic, natural, fresh or raw foods for me - tomorrow it will be 2 weeks. It's going really well, i'm feeling fantastic - energized, clearer (if that makes sense), and healthy. Having dropped probably 8 pounds is an added bonus. My only issue, as Rich pointed out last night, is the rut i'm in with what to eat. He basically said he's getting bored for me listening to what I'm eating. I'm pretty much stuck on a grilled chicken salad and the grilled chicken pesto sandwhich (super light pesto, not oily - more flavorful than sauce-like). I've started incorporating raw organic juices like the Body Cleanser (carrot, celery, apple, lemon) and the Skin Refresher (cucumber, apple, strawberry) - but I needed to branch out food-wise.

So while pondering what to order last night, i decide i'll order grilled chicken skewers with coconut cilantro jasmine rice from the restaurant next door to Lettus. While not necessarily organic, their food is super fresh and low fat. I call and call and call - only to get a busy signal. Out of frustration and hunger, I go back to Lettus and opt to explore their menu a bit. I order the Tuscan panini for dinner (meh, i'll pass on that again) and the chilled soba noodles with ginger, lime, scallions, veggies and sesame seeds for today's lunch. I ordered another raw juice and a vegan cupcake. Normally i wouldn't order a vegan cupcake, really not appealing to me - but ohmygod this stuff is like crack and i'm addicted! I have no idea how they make them so good but they need to take them off the menu.

So i'm trying to branch out - it should be easy - but i'm a create of habit. So we'll see. I'll let you know how the soba noodles are.

An interesting off-shoot of this little organic non-packaged anything diet is that my ulcer hasn't been hurting at all. I'm still taking my meds, but I haven't had a break-through in 2 weeks. Amazing...

Once Lent is over (the reason for this whole change) i'll probably stick to this new way of eating - i'm feeling amazing and the urges for crackers and crap, which at first were incredibly strong, have started to fade and wane. I think it's a matter of knowing my triggers and how to cope without reaching for those things. I'm getting there. Wish me luck.

xx K

Happy Valentine's Day

Last night's conversation - a tiny tidbit of why i love this man:

Me: How much time do i have? Do i have time to run and grab dinner?

Rich: A half hour - go get your dinner and then we'll watch it - no hurry

Me: Do you want anything?

Rich: No, I'm fine (laughs)

Me: Nothing? What about a vegan cupcake?

Rich: Haha, no - i already have one of those

Me: Awww you mean ME!

Happy Valentine's Day Rich - i love you!

XOXOXO - always - your vegan cupcake

Hey Hey Hey!

Wow - long time no type...

Lots has been going on - spent a fantastic 2 weeks in NY - it was absolutely wonderful - too short.

I got that horrible cold that went around - nursed that for a little over a week. The cough just hung around for a week after that.

I set my microwave on fire - it wasn't a huge fire - just some lovely ambiance for my kitchen. There really should be manuals for those things. Oh wait. Nevermind.

4 months of planning a gala came and went with a fabulous black tie party at the end of January. I got the most gorgeous Zac Posen bag (secured the donation for the party and then won it that night - YAY me!) - it's seriously gorgeous - red satin - it's called the Aurora.

Went to a gallery opening - left early - the art wasn't compelling.

Chopped my long hair off (6+ inches) - it just brushes my shoulders now and i totally love it!

I gave up anything processed, packaged, bagged, boxed or frozen for Lent (yes, i'm jewish, but i love Lent - i love the idea of giving stuff up) - it's been a tough week (oh quiet) - but I'm feeling SO much better. Only fresh organic foods - thank god for Lettus (amazing organic restaurant in my neighborhood) or I'd be really struggling. I think it will get easier this coming week.

Bought a Rubik's cube on impulse and i absolutely dread that decision. It's sitting next to me - all colors mixed up and a complete mess. I should take it back and say mine is broken. I honestly don't think i'm going to be able to put this back together.

That's all for now - i'll try to write more often - thanks for hanging in there :)

xx K