I just watched this again:
The Debbie wishes she always wore loves PRADA
Author: Debbie King
A blog about LIFE and STYLE
Message to those of you who PAY ATTENTION to my beauty posts:
don’t think I’m repeating myself because my last post was about skin serums. I promise it won’t be a weekly event. Well it might; just not on serums every time. But I was excited to share this one with you too because you know…I’m an authority on the subject this is one of my specialties
Last week I mentioned some ridiculously affordable serums from Canadian beauty start-up company Deciem which offered one active ingredient in each bottle. Great if you want let’s say…Vitamin “C”, or Hyaluronic Acid, etc..
But let’s say you just want MORE…
You might want to consider the Age-Defying & Skin Clearing Serum from Instanatural for just under $25.
As skincare products go this is a pretty appealing price and name. I mean anything with “age-defying AND “skin clearing” claims must be at least looked upon. This is the holy grail of skin ingredient listings:
Retinol? Salicylic acid? Niacinamide? Vitamin C? Hyaluronic acid? Tea tree oil? Lavender? In one little bottle?
One beauty editor experienced what she referred to as a skincare-induced bout of hyperventilation. These were all the ingredients one could wish for in one product to plump skin, make it brighter, clear blemishes and blackheads, and hide fine lines.
The serum has a milky consistency to it and a lovely citrusy scent.
Granted, I have yet to try it (still trying to get through all the rest of the products that I’ve either purchased or were sent to me for review). But I can tell you that it’s high up on my list.
What are your all-time favorite skincare products?
Cool..Comfy..Casual..Colorful..California Wear.. with a French Twist
While wandering around the usual familiar shops on Palm Canyon Drive a few weeks ago I came across a store that escapes the ordinary.
Who’ S Next (that’s the name of the store) specializes in exclusive French fashion brands with an obvious crush on Brigitte Bardot. I mean who else to better embody a chic laid back St. Tropez resort style than Bardot…Riiight??
I’m not such a fan of wearing images of famous people or slogans for that matter, however I ended up leaving the store with a few items, one of which was a faded image of Bardot on a lovely top with three quarter length sleeves and V-neck back. The other was the kind of shirt I want to live in. A long-sleeved light-weight cotton shirt that comes in 25 colors. Lots of variety.…reasonably priced. I only bought one but I want the other 24.
There were linen shirts a plenty.
What’s next? The pants! I’m told they are a must something to consider.
The owner, Benjamin Perdereau lived in Aix Provence in Southern France, and visited his parents often in Palm Springs. He owned and operated a store in Southern France and believed it needed to be recreated here. Thank you Benjamin!
Unfortunately I discovered the store after the November opening complete with entertainment, fashion show and French crepes.
C’est la Vie!
Photos: d. king
Shop online @ http://www.whosnextpsp.com/
Address: 184 N. Palm Canyon Dr
I’ve rekindled my love for rice bowls. Not only nutritious & delicious but easy to make.
It’s a good way to use up all kinds of leftovers. Energize your meal with protein: chicken, salmon or steak. Substitute quinoa or noodles instead of rice as a base and play with a variety of different veggies and dressings to turn it Mexican, Indian, Asian+ for endless possibilities.
Let’s try unlikely combos. Let’s eat things that are good. Let’s eat things that make us feel good.
Vegetarian Coconut Rice Bowl Recipe
Yield: 4 bowls
1 cup uncooked jasmine rice, rinsed
* 1 (14 oz) can coconut milk
* 1 cup chopped cilantro, divided
* 2 limes
* 2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
* 2 small zucchini, thinly sliced
* 1 red bell pepper, diced
* 2 garlic cloves, minced
* 1 Tbs. freshly minced ginger
* 1/2 cup frozen edamame
* 2 scallions, finely sliced
* coarse salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Place the rinsed rice in a rice cooker. Add 3/4 cup coconut milk to the cooker, and 1 1/4 cup water & cook.
When the rice is done, add the juice of half a lime along with 1/2 cup cilantro. Stir.
Heat the oil over medium-high in a large sauté pan. Add the mushrooms and sauté until they become tender and dark brown, about 4 minutes. Add the zucchini and bell pepper; season with salt and pepper and sauté another 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and ginger; sauté for about another minute.
Now add the remaining coconut milk, edamame, remaining cilantro, scallions & another good squeeze of lime juice. Let it simmer 3 minutes, or until the edamame warms through.
Serve over coconut rice garnished with more scallions and fresh lime wedges.
Here’s a growing fast food chain I really like:
Freshii is a (fairly new to Vancouver) fast food restaurant chain that specializes in healthy rice bowls, salads, juices and smoothies. I recently stumbled upon it when I was hangry (that place when you’re really hungry, bordering on the verge of cranky anger) and enjoyed the *Oaxaca bowl very much. I wondered why there were not more fast food places like it. The story behind it is interesting blending fashion & food.
Matthew Corrin is the founder & CEO of Freshii. While working in New York City for fashion designer Oscar de la Renta, Matthew was inspired by “mom-and-pop” delis with fresh food but lackluster branding & service. He sought to “add magic to the fresh food business” & brand the commodity of fresh food not unlike Starbucks branded the coffee bean. He’s a recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, Canada’s Top 40 under 40, Inc. Magazine’s Top 30 under 30, and Canadian Association of Foodservice Professionals Restaurateur of the Year. In 2005, he founded Freshii.
*brown rice & kale, avocado, beet slaw, black beans, corn, salsa fresca, crispy wontons, lime wedge, spicy yogurt sauce (1927 W. 4th in Kits).
Source for vegetarian recipe: bevcooks.com
This UNUSUAL INSTALLATION by James Turrell is designed to entirely eliminate the viewer depth perception.
Perceptual deprivation is something I struggle with at times all the time when trying to park parking my car but this is completely different. In general his work blends the worlds of art, science, architecture, astronomy, mathematics, archaeology, and spirituality.
James Turrell, Breathing Light
Ongoing at LACMA – Los Angeles County Museum of Art
You don little sock booties and walk through a sloping curved room with a strong light source at one end that continuously changes color. A little 60’s psychedelic, a little eerie mixed with some unexpected enlightenment.
About the Artist:
James Turrell was born in Los Angeles in 1943 and attended Pomona College, where he studied art, art history, mathematics, perceptual psychology and astronomy. He took graduate courses at the University of California, Irvine, and received a master’s degree in fine art from Claremont Graduate School.
You can learn a lot from a dog
or; a bear
“What day is it?”
“It’s today,” squeaked Piglet.
“My favorite day,” said Pooh.” – A.A. Milne
People tell me I smile waaay too much! That’s their problem!
CHECK THIS OUT: http://www.metabolicwarrior.com/
You know what they say; if something seems too good to be true, it probably is…except maybe in this case!
We woman already pay a lot for upkeep and that includes our skincare regime. And our skincare regime usually includes an expensive serum. So if you found out you could buy a serum with a really good active ingredient for only $6 you wouldn’t believe me right?
On average a regular glycolic acid-based serum costs around $42. An antioxidant serum of choice costs about $163. These are hefty prices, sure. But they’re serums. Paying top dollar for high concentrations of anti-aging ingredients is just the way it goes, isn’t it?
If you ask Toronto-based beauty brand Deciem, the answer will be a resounding No. The brand has released a new collection of serums that promises the same ingredients as luxury products, except these SKUs boast prices as low as $6.
The new line is called The Ordinary and offers a total of 10 serums, the most expensive of which is $15. Since launching earlier this month, the brand has sold over 43,000 units. I wonder why?
Self-termed “the abnormal beauty company,” Deciem positions its image on the fringe of the beauty market. What makes The Ordinary’s serums unique is their simplicity—each bottle contains only one or two active ingredients, like vitamin C, hylauronic acid, and retinoid (all of which we’re used to seeing in our pricier serums). Deciem’s founder Brandon Truaxe says that because of the low ingredient count, the products can be manufactured and packaged more affordably.
So where can you buy them? Deciem sells all of its ranges on the company website, as well as choice retailers around the globe (U.S. brick-and-mortar locations are in the works). Though the company is fairly under-the-radar stateside, it has become wildly popular in the UK, mostly due to the success of their hand and body care brand Hand Chemistry.
Want to experience the budget-friendly wonders of The Ordinary? Shop some of their serums below!
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 ($7)
If you’re aiming to give your skin an intense dose of moisture, cart this $7 hyaluronic acid serum.
The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2% ($6)
This skin-protecting vitamin C serum miraculously comes in at less than $6 per bottle.
The Ordinary “Buffet” ($15)
At less than $15, this peptide-packed serum is the brand’s most expensive SKU.
What’s to lose? The only bad thing is if you don’t like it you haven’t lost much money trying something new. If you do like it………. GREAT!
The Turtleneck; a Classic reborn
Though it took a sartorial break for a couple of decades, it’s back and chicer than ever. The turtleneck is a strong, simple and smart staple if you can refer to an item of clothing as being “smart”
A black turtleneck sweater is a classic that works as a canvas for jewelry or scarves and looks great either super casual with jeans or dressed up with a skirt, jumpsuit or blazer.
Just before leaving on my trip I hummed & hawed for several minutes seconds over buying a tight teal turtleneck but then I bought it. My excuse – I liked the material, the weather was getting colder and it was an unexpected pop of colour. I think they’re pretty practical and nevermind that you are up to your neck in material…it can look quite sexy. Maybe more so than a way too low-cut top. Wear it with:
A BOLD COAT and CROSSBODY BAG
WITH A MOTO JACKET AND HIGH-WAISTED PANTS
WITH COLORFUL PANTS AND A FAUX-FUR TOPPER
WITH A TRENCH AND VELVET BOOTIES (for something right on trend)
Because the point being is you want to stay warm and stylish!
This is the exact opposite of my last food post but important nonetheless
Have you heard about The World’s First Cupcake ATM that dispenses freshly baked cupcakes and cookies 24/7?
Sprinkles is sprinkling cupcake dust on the angels (or Angelenos) who live in and around Beverly Hills. Oh; as if they don’t already have it all! You can get cash & cupcakes at the same time…Dreams really do come true! Now they’re available in other lucky locations.
For Sprinkles addicts on the go, the ATM conveniently nestled between Sprinkles Cupcakes and the brand new Sprinkles Ice Cream, is continuously restocked day and night with a variety of freshly baked cupcakes and cookies! How sweet!
WATCH THIS:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTZWlxW2wG4&index=1&list=PLBC9880171E43B315
However, for those of you who are not close to Beverly Hills or to one of the other Sprinkles locations sprinkled here and there in cities like New York, Disney (it’s a world onto itself), Dallas, Vegas (ATM across from Caesar’s Palace) or Nashville then boy do I have a recipe for YOU!
This is the delightfully famous Sprinkles Red Velvet Cupcake recipe which I made last week and will probably never (in this case the phrase “never say never” means exactly that) make again. Maybe I didn’t have a bowl deep enough to keep the mixture from flying all over the kitchen or maybe it’s just that the color “red” is not the best to remove from a white counter. Hownever, they were a delectably delicious hit and I have leftover icing in the freezer. So…I’ll just go to the closest ATM next time I drive through Beverly Hills.
For those of you brave enough to attempt it – here it is:
Sprinkles Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
Yields 12 insanely delicious cupcakes
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 Tbsp cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 3/4 cup salted butter, firm but not cold*
- 1 cup + 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 Tbsp red food coloring (food grade of course – it’s safe)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 tsp distilled white vinegar
- 1 recipe Cream Cheese Frosting, recipe follows
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1/2 cup salted butter, firm but not cold (if using unsalted add 1/8 tsp salt)
- 6 oz cream cheese, cold (I recommend using Philadelphia brand in this recipe)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa powder and baking soda, set aside. In a separate large mixing bowl, with an electric hand mixer on medium speed, whip together butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, about 3-4 minutes. Add in eggs one at a time stirring after each addition. (Now stand back and change out of any nice shirt you have on and) Add red food coloring and vanilla extract and mix until combine. In a small mixing bowl (or in the measuring cup you used to measure milk), combine milk and 1 tsp vinegar. Add milk mixture and flour mixture to cupcake mixture, alternating in two separate batches, mixing until combine after each addition. Divide batter evenly among 12 paper lined muffin cups, filling each cup about 2/3 full. Bake in preheated oven 18-21 minutes until toothpick inserted into center of cupcake comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool about 2 minutes in muffin tin, then transfer to wire rack to cool for 10 minutes, then transfer to an airtight container to cool completely (this just helps them retain more moisture). Once cooled completely, spread generously with Cream Cheese Frosting (just as sprinkles does, lots of frosting!).
- 9635 S Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
- Phone:(310) 274-8765
You’re welcome!
There’s an abundance of inspiration in art, design and architecture to be found in and around Palm Springs.
I’m always on the lookout for something unique and I found it when I stopped into Christopher Kennedy’s incredible interior design store/studio.
Christopher Kennedy is a nationally-published interior designer and modern furniture designer based in Palm Springs, California. He was just named Best Interior Designer by Desert Outlook Magazine.
Born in San Francisco and raised on California’s Central Coast, he brings a synthesis of big-city style and relaxed resort living to his work. He combines vintage and contemporary sensibilities to create spaces that are layered, liveable, and inviting. Neither trapped by tradition nor tied to trends, the hallmarks of Christopher’s style is easy elegance and casual sophistication.
His current projects include beach houses in Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Malibu; lofts in New York; and numerous desert projects in Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells and La Quinta. Known for his unique brand of luxurious modernism, his work has been featured in Luxe, Dwell, Palm Springs Life Magazine, California 
Homes, and The Los Angeles Times.
Photos: d. king
Source: taken from website – christopherkennedy.com
Manifesto
We believe that design is powerful and transformative.
We believe in wiping the slate clean from time to time and the power of a fresh coat of white paint.
We believe in hand-written thank you notes and old-fashioned telephone calls.
We believe that there is a place for books in our homes and in our lives.
We believe that food tastes better and is more nourishing when the table is set.
We believe in the importance of travel — of the opportunities it presents for learning, growth, and discovery. We also believe in the joy of returning home, after a long day at work or a long journey abroad.
I believe in ALL of the above
Address: 590 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs Phone: 760.325.3214
Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION. 
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