My Chic Life

Bon Voyage

Tucked away behind the bustling Sunset Boulevard, Le Petit hotel offers a refuge to out-of-towners and Angelenos alike. This Bohemian paradise houses a funky and eclectic collection of local and European touches. In typical French fashion, it’s all in the lavish little details. A tray of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies is offered to guests upon check in. As you breeze through the lobby to your sleeping quarters, feel free to admire the Picassos that adorn the hallways. They’re originals.

Care for a swim? Oui!

Stop for a snack at the kitchen where the chef will concoct a healthy, fresh, and locally grown, bite just for you. Enjoy the spectacular view as you sip a freshly muddled martini from the bar and relax by the rooftop pool. Make sure you stay until Monday; Sunday nights are a cinematic adventure on the roof of Le Petit hotel. Grab some popcorn and cozy up to a classic flick projected on a big screen under the LA night sky.

Au revoir real world...

With rooms averaging around $170, Le Petit Hotel is tres cheap! Book a night soon, mon ami, this pace wont remain a secret for long.

Deep in the Heart of Texas

As I type this, I’m flying God-knows-how-many miles above the earth, headed for Dallas Texas, and I’m struck at how much has changed in my life since the last time I came to Dallas 4 years ago. For one thing, they didn’t have wireless internet on airplanes back then and I was cramped in a center seat in the back of the plane (unlike the decadent First-Class Lazy Boy I’m sitting in now). More than that though, is the amazing transformation my company and my career have undergone. 

4 Years ago I was still rather green in my field and headed to Texas (on my 22 birthday) to attend The Special Event Show conference. For those of you not in my industry, just imagine the Super Bowl of event planning conferences and you’ll get some idea. At the time I had hired my first “real” employee and brought her along on the trip as a “perk”… never mind that I really couldn’t afford the expense, I believe in education and growth and wanted her to get both. At the time I did 98.9% social events and charged far too little for all of them. At the time I still worked out of my basement and fantasized constantly about what it would feel like to finally “Make It”.

I don’t know if I’d say that I’m “made it”, but I will say that I find it so spectacular that my career (and my company) are right where I’d hope they’d be. I’m headed on this business trip to shoot another episode of the show I’ve been hired to host (debuting this spring on WE tv) and I’ve left behind an office of incredibly talented (and more importantly, competent) employees who will continue to keep the ship afloat in my absence. We have a docket of events lined up that are not only exciting but PROFITABLE (imagine that!) and I somehow have managed, (at least this week) to get to the gym often, put down the blackberry (occasionally) and not drink quite as much wine as the week before. So… from my perspective, which is legitimately, the 50,000 foot level, I’ve come a long way baby and I’m excited to see what lies ahead!

Poolside

Months ago I was changing into my smock at the hair salon getting ready to have my roots restored to their “natural” color, when I looked down and saw a postcard on the tiny table next to me. It was an ad for The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs and I was smitten. It was quirky and weird, a little hippy, a little Americana and a fresh perspective in a land of gilded chandeliers and duvet covered hotel rooms of Los Angeles.

Their website boasted romantic weekends filled with black and white movies projected in your private patio (served with truffle popcorn and dirty martinis). I vowed that I would take my husband, my girlfriends, or even myself (sans-anyone) there for a vacation!

Fast forward to last week, when Swine Flu officially scared us in to canceling our big anniversary party in Mexico. I found myself in need of a locale for a party stat! Palm Springs became the easy answer… warm weather, they have golf, they have pools, it’s a 2 hour drive from LA. So I set up walkthroughs with all the usual suspects: The Parker, The Viceroy, etc etc etc. And then I thought of The Ace… dying to see it with my own eyes I set up a walkthrough with them knowing it wouldn’t work for my anniversary party but confident we’d use it for something eventually.

Call me Coyote

When Erika and I pulled up to The Ace, I laughed aloud thinking of Dave’s Disney Execs pulling up to the lobby of this place complete with it’s vintage photo booth and coyote (wearing bejeweled necklaces) in the desert diorama. The thing is though… I am EXACTLY the kind of girl that loves a desert diorama, I also love underground rooms called Amigo Bar, I love old ice cream, turned Tamale cart, I love poolside waitors on vintage skate boards and I FREAKING LOVE an event space with an old Airstreem on site to serve vodka based snow cones to party guests!!!

I’m suddenly so excited about our party now I can’t sleep at night, and while I lay awake and dream of a orgasmic fish Taco from the King’s Road restaurant on site, I really encourage you to book your first stay ASAP!!

brain freeze

Start with some good friends and a nice outdoor locale. Add a tent, sleeping bags and goods for smores. BLEND!  I said BLEND! What?! You can’t because there is no outlet in this god forsaken wood? Well…think again my plug-less princess… and get yourself a Coleman cordless blender! 

For around 50 bucks you can have all the strawberry daiquiris, margaritas, and pina coladas your heart desires. Perfect for the beach, camping, or BBQ at the park. The possibilities are endless…Drink Up!

Anyone who knows me is aware that I am Mexican at heart. I have a deep love for all things Latin- the food, fashion, culture, and colors- love love love love. However, due to the current state of affairs south of the border, I haven’t been able to visit my beloved MEX in over a year…tear.

But alright, enough with the self pity. I’ve found a cure…well at least a temporary filler to mend my broken little guera heart. SACATINTA!! This e-store has enough Latin American textiles and jewelry to last me until the government straightens up (cross your fingers) and business goes back to normal.

The site is based in Europe and everything is in French but don’t let that intimidate you- the beautifully embroidered scarves, purses, and shirts will not be lost in translation. I’m kind of obsessed with the Virgin Guadelupe earrings that are hand painted on what looks like the inside of a bottle cap.                                                                               Que? I know. So adorable.

So break through that language barrier and get some adorable brightly colored fashions brought to you in part by your friends south of the border. Ole!

Friday night found me in Vegas, wearing an adorable black skirt and in search of a great place to take our group for dinner. The large party meant it had to be somewhere with variety, the shocking number of men meant it had to involve steak, and 3 vodka tonics I’d imbibed meant it needed to be somewhere within stumbling distance of the Bellagio.

The answer: Fix. Kudos to the lovely ladies gaurding the reservation book who got us in without too much grumbling, as well as the DJ who practiced the law of three… as in, if he played one Michael Jackson song, two more followed. I’d never really considered it before, but it can be disconcerting to get super-into a Britney song, only to follow it up with Shelia E and lose your music buzz.

The food too, was fantastic! I enjoyed Lobster over Prosciutto-wrapped gnocchi while the Bobby Baldwin sliders were a big hit with the gents. Of course, before leaving I indulged in a shot of espresso and the warm donuts to perk me up before hitting the tables again… so next to staying hydrated and always splitting Aces, Fix is the best advice I have for your next trip to Sin City.