Happy B to My #1!

Today is the birthday of the most important person in my life, my favorite person, my #1 - forever and always.  Most people who know me know who that is as his actions, thoughts and advice pop up in many conversations in my life… and today this VERY important person turns 65 years young!!  He has been a complete rock of stability, compassion, honesty, and every other amazing characteristic a person and parent can have since he came into my life at age four.  This man has it all.  He gives more than he’ll ever get, and he takes from no one.  He is the rock of my family, everyone depends on him. He’s cheered me on, kept me in line, challenged and supported me in all of the ways I’ve needed the most since I was a young and somewhat bratty (oops) child. I’m forever grateful for everything he’s done and continues to do for me everyday… 

L - I can never thank you enough for all that you’ve given me…
but I can say - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Love, 

k

Dress for Success

Words to live by, especially in the world of fashion.  Although I’m not referring to this somewhat self-righteous slogan in the interest of vanity – but instead as the charitable organization promoting “suits to self-sufficiency.”  I started volunteering for the West Coast - Los Angeles chapter of Dress for Success early this year, only to find out that Robert Half International is a proud “success partner”.  RH sponsors the Career Center in the office I visit one afternoon a month, which is ironic considering that's not how I came across them.  The program I participate in suits disadvantaged woman in an effort to help them become healthy and independent.  The women we work with are either going for a job interview, in which case we put together their interview outfit, or they’ve recently got a job, so we put together a week’s worth of office appropriate outfits.  All the clothes are donated by community donors and local retailers – Tommy Hilfiger created the “Something to Share” scarf and necktie (available for $30) where 100% of the net proceeds benefit Dress for Success – and Dress Barn is a major donor of new clothes.   I work with the “clients”, finding new and gently-used clothing in the "boutique" to put together outfits they good feel good in – so they can get jobs, and ignite/reignite their careers and lives.

Kristen Bell (Gossip Girl’s XOXO) has stepped out in support of Dress for Success as shown above at their NY charity fashion show.  It’s great to see people in the spotlight raise awareness for a great cause.

Because sometimes we all need to look great to feel better!!

k

Are you living your best life?

Oprah loves this question. And it's not as condescending as you might think - she admits to not always living her best life, saying she's recently read her "Gratitude Journals" from a few years back thinking - wow, I was happy then.  But it is a great question to ask yourself from time to time... and maybe for an entire New York City weekend.

The "Live Your Best Life Weekend" offered too much to go into in any detail - "O" Magazine's May issue does a great job summarizing most of the content.  As does: "10 Best Things We Learned at O's Live Your Best Life Weekend".  Highlights were the following:

Carrie Bradshaw's SATC brownstone walk-up in the West Village (SJP herself lives only a few blocks away).  It's such a popular tourist stop that there's a "no trespassing" sign at the base of those famous stairs.

I'm still getting over the fact that I didn't meet Ms. Winfrey, but being 10 feet away from her twice was incredible...

"Eat Pray Love"'s Elizabeth Gilbert made a surprise appearance in Oprah's opening remarks, telling the crowd that while living your best life is great - doing the best you can is better.




Oprah narrating her OWN autobiography at Radio City Music Hall - and Hugh Jackman as the finale.  YUMMMM.

Thousands of die-hard O fans braved a cold windy Sunday-May morning raising money for 10 charities. Celebs in attendance were Jennifer Hudson, Bette Milder, Mary J Blige, Elizabeth Banks & Dr. Oz.

AHA.

k

Oprah in NYC

If all goes well this weekend I might meet my ultimate hero – Ms. Oprah Winfrey.  I’m heading to New York very early tomorrow morning for her “Live Your Best Life Weekend” in celebration of “O” Magazine’s 10^th anniversary.  A good friend of mine (and ultimate New Yorker), her mom and I will be joining Oprah, Gale King, Dr Oz, Suze Orman, Nate Bercus and the rest of the HARPO team (and a few thousand other people...) for a three-day ALL-THINGS-Oprah celebration.  Starting with a “Welcome Reception” tomorrow night, followed by “Lifeshop” seminars with Oprah gurus all-day Saturday, an Oprah evening event at Radio City Music Hall (where she “brings her auto-biography to life), and a charity “Live Your Best Life Walk” Sunday… it promises to be an AH-mazing weekend. 

I'll admit that I've been Oprah-obsessed from a very young age. There are worse things than living your best life.

O-tastic. 

k

I dream in Louboutin

Yesterday I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Parisian Designer, Mr. Christian Louboutin. Known to many as a shoe God - the creator of the infamous red “GO” sole that dons the LUCKY feet of women everywhere, Christian made an exciting appearance for Los Angelenos fans at his Hollywood boutique. The event was scheduled from 4-7pm and loyal followers (myself included) waited upwards of three hours to have the master sign his works of art. Christian spent a few minutes with every guest, taking his time while autographing the arch of his shoes – greeting you by name.  He called me “Kat” which I let less than five people in my life get away with, he’s now one of them.

Christian Louboutin (pronounced KRI-shtaan Lu-bu-THAN)’s designs aren’t for the faint of heart, or wallet... Some pairs could finance a vacation. I avoided this level of shoe-lust for as long as I could for many reasons. A lot of his designs are sky-high (heels upwards of 5 inches) and standing at 5”10 barefoot I don’t need the extra lift. But the weekend before last I went to Saks on my first operation CL. I tried on a reasonable heel height  (3 1/4”) in a style I fell in love with, and was pleasantly surprised that they were as comfortable as some other favorites in my shoe emporium. It took me a week to go back and pull the trigger; they aren’t a purchase to be made lightly. But in anticipation of last night’s event I found myself back at Saks last Saturday letting the love affair begin. Yesterday was my new “Simple 85 Nude Patent Pumps” debut, and fittingly I took the left shoe right off my foot for Christian to sign. One fashionista friend (love you J ♥) rightfully said they're now an heirloom... agreed, I will definitely have them FOREVER. 

GO!

k

“The Happiest Place on Earth”: Adult Disney Land

If you’ve spent a good amount of time in LA, you’ve likely been to, or at least heard of The Grove.  Outdoor malls are amazingly common in Southern California (one of my most exciting discoveries when I first visited LA), and this one stands out from the rest.  Mainly because it’s across the street.  But aside from being 5 seconds from my door – both a blessing and a curse for a major consumer – The Grove is somewhere that makes you smile.  On a good day the shops and boutiques provide easy access to shopping (aka “research”) – and because I always knew I was destine to live within walking distance of a J.Crew, it feels like home.  Favorites Anthropologie, Nordstrom, Victoria Secret, Michael Kors and Barnes & Noble are all conveniently nestled between the fountain, park, statues and the historic Farmers Market (celebrating it’s 76^th birthday this summer). It also doesn't go unnoticed when I walk through Nordstrom's shoe department to get to Starbucks.

My favorite part about The Grove is when I have visitors.  It provides easy access to shops, restaurants, and a movie theatre without getting in the car.  My brothers were big fans of Apple and Nike – they enjoyed breakfast at The Farm and a very special 13^th birthday celebration at Maggiano’s.  I also may have made them ride the double-decker battery-powered trolley that runs from one end of the shopping centre to the other.  Few other riders were over the age of 5, but it brought back some found memories of Santa’s Village for me and I know they loved it.☺

I love “The Grove” at Christmas.  Every November marks a ceremonious tree lighting ceremony where a 110-foot Christmas tree is lit.  Rockefeller-style (and The Hills season 1).   The entire centre is COVERED with lights and holiday decorations.  It’s magical.  They even have fake snow, which is highly entertaining for us non-California natives.  No shortage of the real stuff in Canada!

Many celebrities visit The Grove – so far I’ve only seen Steven Baldwin (who’s guest role on Gossip Girl starts this Monday) and Emily Blunt at a Question & Answer after a showing of her movie "The Young Victoria"(sorry I forgot to list both of these sightings in last week’s post) – but I see press highlighting regular sightings and I'm all eyes. 

I definitely won’t live across the street forever, but for one reason or another I’ve got a few more months in me.  Come February it’ll be time to head West (in closer proximity to the Ocean), so for now I’ll keep appreciating “The Happiest Place on Earth” being right at my doorstep.

Visitors welcome!

k

What are you, famous?

One of the most common questions I’m asked when I say I live in LA is, who have you seen? Here goes – in no particular order of amazingness:

• Jennifer Aniston – at a taping of Chelsea Lately AND at the table right beside me at the Polo Lounge at The Beverly Hills Hotel

• Malin Akerman – Swedish bombshell from “Couples Retreat”, “The Proposal” & “27 Dresses” - walked by me in Beverly Hills

• Joshua Jackson - Pacey from “Dawson’s Creek” - crossing the street on Rodeo Drive. Canadian!

• Jason Bateman -“Juno”, “Up in The Air”& “The Hogan Family” - having brunch with his wife and daughter at M Café. Yummmm

• Kings of Leon  – “I could really use somebody” - at the Sunset Marquis Hotel on my birthday

• Orlando Bloom – Pirates of the Carribean - with Kings of Leon 

• Lauren Conrad – reality star – at the Thompson hotel, met her 

• Los Bosworth – reality star - at the same event at the Thompson

• Carmen Electra  - “Scary Movie” – also at the Thompson 

• Jenna Dewan – “Step Up” (married to Channing Tatum - they met while filming) - also at the Thompson

• Jessica Lowndes – at the Thompson and LAX  - met her - Canadian! 

• Tayee Diggs – "Private Practice" - dining with his wife and friends at Angelini Osteria restaurant. He's my ultimate. 

• Jamie Foxx – "Ray" (Charles) - at a Jay-Z concert

• Lucy Hale – “Privileged” - my neighbor at the Palazzo

• Ashley Newbrough – same as above 

• Jeff Perry – Meredith’s dad on "Grey’s Anatomy" – hiking Runyon Canyon

• David Sutcliffe – played Kate Walsh (Addison Montgomery)’s boyfriend on "Private Practice" – numerous times on Runyon

• Chelsea Handler – at a live taping for her show “Chelsea Lately”

• Trainer Bob (Harper) from "The Biggest Loser" – at Starbucks

• Alfre Woodard – "Desperate Housewives" - at my Pilates studio 

10 months and going strong... It's a good thing I don't get overly excited and show all my emotions on my face - or this could get embarrassing.

k

“Wait till you see my smile."

- Alicia Keys

This past Tuesday, I saw Alicia Key’s perform at The Staples Centre. This was my first time at the home of the LA Lakers (and the Clippers and Kings) and I won’t say it’s the best concert venue - but Alicia did not disappoint. She put on a phenomenal show. Her “Freedom” tour promotes her latest album (released December 15, 2009), “The Element of Freedom”. If you don’t already have it, buy it – you’ll love it. “Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart” might be the best song of all time.

This is the second time I’ve seen Alicia live. My sister and I saw her in Toronto a few years ago, another incredible show. Her songs and lyrics are fresh and inspiring - and she’s one of those artists who sounds even better live (listen to her live tracks on the album). She’s tied with Beyonce for my #1 - with Rihanna as a close second for favorite female artist.

Born and raised in New York her 2009 collaboration with Jay-Z, “Empire State of Mind” tore up the Billboard charts. If you've heard it, you love it. It’s also the theme song for the Sex & The City 2 trailer “Carrie On” – in case the song alone wasn’t enough to give you chills…

“Sometimes you just need to start over in order to fly.” – AK

k

Happy Easter!

“There's nothing better than a good friend, 
except a good friend with CHOCOLATE.” 
- Linda Grayson

Living in the US you could easily forget about Easter, especially in the wake of more widely recognized holidays like Passover here in LA.  Easter isn't a commonly recognized American holiday from the traditional sense for us Canadians (aka time off school or work).  Few people get to take either Good Friday or Easter Monday as holidays - even less get both - with the exception of some offices, libraries and schools that will be closed Friday.  And for the schools that do close, it’s called a “Midsemester Break” in an attempt not to involve religion.   

It's been rare to find me in Toronto for Easter for a while now.  I used to take the long weekend (adding Monday to the Canadian recognized Friday corporate holiday) and head to New York, Boston (watching a special someone run the Boston Marathon… M!) or LA.  This year is no exception as I won't be in Toronto, except that now I’m the one with visitors coming to me.  My little brothers!  I’m not entirely sure what our weekend will entail, but I've got SEVERAL ideas of how to entertain a 12 and 16 year-old here in LA.  I just hope they can keep up.   

Happy Easter to YOU and YOURS!

k

PS.  It's April 1st... RABBITS!  Wishing everyone a month of good luck.

She's LIVE

After an eventful morning (with a slight failure to launch... mon dieu) - HERE SHE IS!!

http://www.whataretheywearing.com/

Weighing in at 18 characters (w-h-a-t-a-r-e-t-h-e-y-w-e-a-r-i-n-g) – after 10 months of somewhat excruciating labour – my baby’s live.

Starting Monday she’ll be updated with new content weekdays, and like a true LA baby she'll be receiving a few cosmetic enhancements and improvements in the next few months.  Stay tuned…

Get excited!!

k