Today I had my first ever tape-in extensions put in by Lex Elan, Ink at Salon Platinum. These things are amazing ! You can go from thin, short hair to full long hair in as little as 20 minutes !! EasiHair Pro uses a surgical type of tape that last up to 6 weeks. You can even swim in them:) I am thinking about keeping them in for my upcoming International trip, will keep you posted. check out the video I made, I was even the model. Thank you Alexis Wacker, I love them. WHAT's a MERMAID without long hair !
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Pre -ordered the GoPro Hero3 online : with wifi, ships October 31st ! stay tuned. :) Marriott Waikiki Beach Resort & Spa 2552 Kalakaua Avenue Oahu · Honolulu, Hawaii 96815 USA Pool: yes, 2 and jucuzzi website | TripAdvisor Check out my facebook and youtube channel dibythesea for vlogs and videos of this trip... We were heading this time to the islands for 6 total days, for work with an add-on of a few days of pleasure. Destination, Oahu, known as the "Gathering place", the largest of the islands, Waikiki specifically. With plenty of time to get from home to airport, we managed to find ourselves in a very long security line with 20 minutes before boarding. Tip: when buying our tickets we decided to fork out the extra dough for an upgrade to priority class, well worth it ! This little upgrade got us out of the long standard line and right into the empty VIP line just to the right and directly into our gate ! Delta Economy Comfort Upgrade: This gets you priority boarding, priority line at security and the reservationist told us on the phone free drinks, we found this NOT to be the case. :( (turns out it's only on select international flights, we were mis informed by the Delta Res. agent) I booked my ticket with miles ! :) only paid for cash for the upgrade. A little bit about tickets. In this day and age of technology you can go paperless ! (read about tickets on your iphone in my previous posts, scanning from your cell phone) You can opt for printing your tickets from your computer at home, you can email and post email your tickets to yourself and have access to all of your information/documents right in the palm of your hand. 5 -1/2 hour plane ride. Tip: Always be friendly with your flight crew. A little smile and an engaging convo goes a long way, as you will see later (and you will see in quite a lot of our trips) Tip: For the less traveled or newbie flier, if you didn't make it to the restroom pre-boarding in the airport due to various reasons, it is okay for you to use the airplane facilities while boarding/before takeoff. :) We arrived to a beautiful sunny day. TIP: If you are flying in in the day, be sure to have your camera ready (window seat) you get views of pearl city/pearl harbor... aircraft, we saw a submarine leaving the harbor. Transportation choices to our hotel were taxi or SpeediShuttle. A ride in style in a Mercedes we were glad to go with the speedi, because you get to see a bit around the island while dropping off other passegers. The Shuttle held 8-10 passengers, it cost 8.00- 10.00 cheaper than a cab ride to our hotel. it dropped at 4 hotels (we were the 3rd). While shuttling you get the benefit of a little micro tour with guide info, like where to eat, local bus info: when riding the bus tickets are 2.00 (you get 1 free transfer, but be sure to ask for it) or you can purchase a pass for 25.00 for all week on and off at the ABC (general merchandise store) and free fireworks show over at the Hilton ! Of the 3 hotels we stopped at the Marriotts landing/entrance was spectacular. Wide open, breezeway, fresh orchids lined the planters, waterfall and pond water features, with koi... At the reception we were greeted by a beautiful girl, (complimenting her) we inquired to her if she knew if we were getting a high up floor (a hint to our wishes) Although our room wasn't ready, there's plenty to do at this Marriott. Lot of food options and shopping on property. We booked with a great rate via a Delta SkyMiles Promotion. "Look no further, you've received the best possible rate" stated our confirmation paper. Into the restrooms we went for a quick change into poolside loungewear and bathingsuits ! Mr. Wacker you are NOT A WAHINI.. just sayin'. Yep, he changed in the ladies restroom, walked out of the stall to a few odd looks from the line of wahinis waiting their turn ! We headed straight to the pool and terrace restaurant... along the way we passed their 2 pools which were surprisingly small, but then again does it really matter, after all you are on an island surrounded by a spectacular ocean and beautiful beaches, a playground in paradise. settled down in a seat by the bar with WAIKIKI BEACH VIEWS !!! :) smiles all around. The Moana Terrace Bar & Grille (sits on the corner and along the main strip across from the beach) We enjoyed some pork sliders w/ onion rings. ... welcome drinks... (Menu) because we were not checked-in we were unable to charge our room, we decided to enjoy another round of the bartenders specials...tropical fruit concotions, when our waitress returned she offered to check to see if we had a designated room, ready or not to charge our meal to, turns out our room was ready!... Off we ran. Back to our same reception girl, she smiled... turns out we were given the TOP highest floor. #33 (the bell captain seemed quite pleased with our room number) with the most spectacular view of DIAMOND HEAD ! ... and the zoo... and the ocean and building rooftops/pools... it's quite a packed little island. Our accommodations were standard room, king. While settling in 2 white doves decided to venture in from our open sliding glass door on the terrace and gave my husband a very odd welcoming dance before they sped out. We were off to hit Waikiki Beach, just a minutes walk, across the street from our hotel :) A portion of the beach is jettied off, so there is a nice calm man-made pool, perfect for family and children to play and relax about. As soon as I got into the water I saw something move ! It appeared to be a crawling rock... turns out it was a white crab. (see my video on my facebook page) *Tip : wear water shoes in Hawaii, for this reason and because the ocean floor has rocks and is very corally. It wasn't long before we passed out on the sand. Awoken by our friend David C. Lee CEO of Destination Luxury, who was in town filming a music video, for the Dukes of Surf, we hurried back to our hotel to get ready for a night out on the town with David, Julian and the band. We set out for the complimentary firework show at the Hilton Waikiki Village Lagoon, free every friday night 7:45p (see video) You can also enjoy the fireworks from the beach - "great spot on the Jetty!", word from our hotel valet. We chose to go to the resort itself to check out the property as well. (I really wanted to stay at this property, only it was sold out, due to the Iron Man happening this week. Just about a 5 minute taxi ride, pretty spectacular !! With a little time still to kill before we were to meet with out friend David, we took a stroll around the Royal Hawaiian (the second oldest hotel on the island) (where I wish to stay when we return in March) and along the strip (the rodeo drive of Oahu) We grabbed a bite to eat at Kenny's Hawaiian BBQ in the the food court of the Royal Hawaiian Center. Our friends David and Julien met us out and about on the main strip, they were dressed 1970's Hawaiian style, turned out they found a swanky vintage clothing store on the island (I will get back to you with the name) a quick liquor grab at the nearest ABC store for some pre-gaming and we were off to meet up with the other 1/2 of our party. First stop, China Town Honolulu and Bar 35 for music, lounging and people watching. Luckily our friend knew what to say to get us past a very long line and into the outdoor lounge ! - thanks David ! Next, and last stop, The Modern Resort and Addiction Nightclub, dancing all night ! This place is so lux without being pretentious. During the day a bookcase hides the bar reception room from the resort lobby. The ceiling looked like caviar eggs. (later we heard from our friend Marta that China Town wasn't an ideal spot for Haole to go (locals derogatory term for whities!, which explains some of the non-friendly facial expressions I met with my smiles by the males in the club) That night was such a BLAST !! My goals for this trip after researching and youtubing... were to hit the Ala Moana beach park and Hanauma Bay for swimming with green sea turtles. Pretty simple, we only made it to 1, the locals we met throughout our stay informed out that the spots for turtles were Turtle Bay and Turtle Beach. The following days I spent my time by the pool or on Waikiki beach, watching the surfers, supboarders and outriggers playing in the surf, floating on my tube (*tip: You can pick up floats and tubes at the ABC store, they will fill them with air for you for a very minimal fee, like .50 ) meanwhile my husband taught hair classes at a nearby salon for Salon Suppliers. He actually was on their tv station, Khon2 (see video) for a segment early 1 morning showing Alterna Haircares 1 Night Highlights Haute Pink, Streaking for Cure, for Breast Cancer Awareness month . I used the resort gym quite a few times, very clean, not crowded, nice view of the pool on the 3rd floor. Our first breakfast we hit Egg's n Things (recommended by the speedi driver and locals at the salon model call) We arrived very hungry to find that you have to wait in this really long line to order. Then another really long line to pay, another long line to be seated. When we hadn't moved for 10 minutes, we were getting extremely impatient. The hostess told us we had a to-go-option that would speed up the process. We took it ! It sped us directly past the order line (the hostess took our order) and straight to the pay line. We still had to wait on an outside bench for our food to be called out to us. (meanwhile I needed a bathroom, found out that you needed a code to use the community bathroom which was on the bottom of the receipt, luckily we bought something!) The gentleman who brought out our food, took us back into the restaurant to pick out our condiments. it wasn't a help yourself, he was a valet of condiments of sorts. My husband went for the pancakes, they offered him coconut and pineapple syrup ! I went for the #1 dish, portuguese sausage and eggs, with house potatoes. Across the street to Waikiki beach to sit on a bench and enjoy our breakfast and who shows up ? Two white pigeons. We enjoyed many an evening out with our friend Marta who brought us along for the trip. We enjoyed champagne while watching the sunset from her suite lanai room ! After we took a stroll from our hotel down the main strip and enjoyed dinner at Dukes. Dukes has a nice Hawaiian charm about it... ocean and sand right off the patio. They sell fresh leis right at the entrance, Mr. Wacker leid us both ! :) Another night we stayed in the resort and were treated to dinner at one of the resorts restaurants d.k. Streakhouse... with two nights left we decided to go to the front desk and ask for a room change, they gave us a free upgrade to the opposite side of our current room in another tower (not the same as our friends) but it had the same great view of Waikiki beach and the church across the street from the resort. Turns out we had some clout, thank you Marriott. A real treat was when we were invited to join the Salon Suppliers for dinner at the Side Street Inn, the pork chops are amazing ! Great food, great conversations with new friends :) (after talking to locals days later, we found out that you must really know someone to eat there, very authentic and delicious eats) Thank you Alex ! *Tip: If you are like us and like to save a penny by buying snacks and booze at convenience stores, Waikiki's got more ABC stores than Seattle's got Starbucks. We picked up POG a bottle of PAU (vodka made from pineapples in Maui) beautiful bottle, made a great souvenier. Keep your receipts, for every 100.00 you spend you get a free gift. Gifts turn out to be tote bags, mugs and calendars. We went for a tote and were upgraded to a Hello Kitty brand for our G.baby. :) Additional information provided by the Marriott: Planning Your Trip -------------------------------- Maps & Transportation http://www.marriott.com/hotels/maps/travel/HNLMC Driving Directions http://www.marriott.com/hotels/maps/directions/HNLMC See what's happening in Honolulu during your stay http://www.marriott.com/city-guide/city-events.mi?cityId=103 Check out some of Honolulu's top attractions http://www.marriott.com/city-guide/city-attractions.mi?cityId=103&category=0&topPicks=Y Book with Hertz: Save up to 35% and Earn 500 Rewards Points http://trip.marriott.com/cars/availability?PickUpLocation=City,Honolulu,HI,US&DateTimeRange=2012-10-05T11:00,2012-10-11T11:00&utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email&utm_term=city&urm_content=car&VendorFilter=ZE&CDP=7|154080&SCID=20111019t120600000004 Book Cars, Tours & More - get great rates on local tours and attractions http://trip.marriott.com/activity/search?For=City,Honolulu,HI,US&DateRange=2012-10-05,2012-10-11&utm_source=email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email&utm_term=city&urm_content=activity&SCID=20111019t120600000007 Yes, you guest it... time for our Wacker Hotel Change ! Sheraton Waikiki 2255 Kalakaua Avenue Honolulu, HI 96815 (808) 922-4422 Beachfront Hotel, on Waikiki beach Pools: yes , 2 (1 infinity, 1 fun/slides/waterfall) TripAdvisor One of Hawaii's more recognized landmarks, the Sheraton Waikiki, stands at the tip of Waikiki Beach next to the Royal Hawaiian. You are steps away from the new Galleria, International Marketplace and more. This central location is used by almost every tour company for daily pick-up and drop-off to activities, sightseeing and shopping. Adjacent the Royal Hawaii (also a Starwood Resort) the Sheraton was recently re-vamped... Upon check-in there were issues with our check-in paperwork... (not very helpful) ... Get to room...felt like a total downgrade from the Marriott !... our city view turned out to be a dirty rooftop view (airco unit, cigarette butts) and a faraway ocean peekaboo. After a few calls into the rooms manger, Douglas... no relief from this monstrocity. We decided to stop waisting valuable time and hit the pool... The Oceanside INFINITY pool more than made up for our state-of-mind and quickly got us back into the groove, after all we were in paradise. Our first "free day" we rented a car 3 blocks from the hotel at Enterprise (they pick you up, but my husband decided to walk) We rented a convertible mustang ! Jeff's Tip: Book the lowest car you would be happy to have, then do your upgrades at the desk or in the lot as you are picking up your car (more of a guarantee that they will upgrade you cheaper) Initial plan to circle the island in search of beautiful beaches, to swim with green sea turtles and to check out the 20' foot monster waves that had been happening at North shore just the night before. Along our route we saw... Waimea Bay, North Shore. Turtle bay Hotel where they filmed : (*Tip: always take hwy #H3 going back to Waikiki) Waimaia Falls (well be back in March with the family to walk to the waterfall) Peacocks, Pipeline/Bonsai... blowhole, bays, beaches... surfers sheep, shrimp trucks, shaved ice and more ! We made it to Hanauma Bay... GORGEOUS ! It's 1.00 to park, 7.00per person to get in. You have to watch a 10 minute required video before you can go down to the bay, either by foot or tram (trams run 1.00 down and 1.25 back up) No alcohol allowed in. Bring water shoes ! Great snorkeling. clean bathrooms, lifeguards. We hurried back at a snails pace in traffic, to the Sheraton, meeting up with Marta once again for a farewell dinner at Kai Market, Farm Fresh Buffet for dinner in the Sheraton we walked straight into a fire dancer performing out by the infinity pool for a small group. (see video) real cool. We were seated outside by the bar where there was live music and a hula dancer, nice touch. Back to our room situation. Although the Sheraton was unable to change our accommodations (due to being full and the rate special we were staying on) My daughter made a few calls from the mainland and in the end we ended up getting our room at an even better rate from the mid 200's a night to start, down to just 88.00 a night ! THANK YOU SHERATON ! Our final few hours the next morning were spent at the Sheratons other pool, the Helumoa playground sitting oceanside with waterfall and waterslides. With limited loungers to choose from we went for the covered lounger aka cabana rentals at 10.00 an hr. *Tip: you can bring your own floatation devices to the pool but nothing large (see photo of my tube, it was too large) A quick taxi to the airport. Smooth right through security. We board, our seats are in a back row with a side view literally into the bathroom ! ewwww. Like I mentioned earlier it pays to be friendly to your flight attendants. Turns out our flight attendant recognized us from our flght over, she ended up moving us up to a mid- 3 seat row ! :) A perfect end to a sweet week. Aloha ! www.dibythesea.com
PLEASE JOIN MY BLOG by "liking" me on the right. :) Subscribe to my YOU TUBE CHANNEL: Di by the Sea Follow me on Twitter: Di by the Sea Friend me on Facebook: Di by the Sea *Most everything in PINK is hyperlinked to external websites for references. Sail in Style by Fashion Destination LLC, Newport Beach 3419 Via Lido, Newport Beach, CA. 949.436.8652 website | facebook Event at Pacific Avalon Yacht Charters, Newport Beach, CA on the The Majestic, a 150' Luxury Yacht, 400 max. capacity Setting sail 6:30-10:00p A friend of mine brought this event to my attention on Facebook by tagging me in their event flyers.... a few times. After further investigating and checking out their facebook and learning about the Mermaid contest and yacht cruise I had to make it happen. This is what we were sold... VERY EXCITED, we went in for the VIP package ! ;) I didn't want to miss a thing ! A stylish excursion on a luxury, three-level yacht for haute fashions, live entertainment, celebrities and more surprises! Also, GENLUX Magazine is holding an Issue Release Party, along with Maria Menounos (host of EXTRA) as our event host! FASHION SHOWS by: - LUXE by Lisa Vogel - Lisa was just named "DESIGNER OF THE YEAR" at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Swim - Nicole Richie (Macy's) exclusive collection - Marisa Kenson - FDG founder - Gretchen Rossi's ("OC Housewife") handbag collection - Celebrity designer Rachel Roy - Jee Vice These sunglasses are LOVED by tons of celebs (Anne Hathaway, Kim Kardashian, Rihanna and more) and are found in Neiman Marcus, etc We have a HOT line up of great designers of swimwear, contemporary, couture and more!! Look out for Sadee Says at the event! Our amazing jewelry will be featured on the Runway! Make sure to meet me first hand with some of the unique jewelery pieces sold only at Sadeesays.com. Aria Johnson is an award-winning recording artist, actress and star of the new TV show "Beverly Hills Pawn!" Don't miss her LIVE performances General Admission can enjoy a pasta bar, live entertainment and Main Fashion Shows (standing room) on Level 3! VIP guests will have exclusive access to a private food and cocktail bar, fashion presentation, entertainment on Level 1, Reserved Seats to the Main Fashion Shows on Level 3 and VIP gift bag! Sponsors will have all VIP access, VIP gift bag, PLUS front-row seats to the Main Fashion Shows on Level 3! Please e-mail for more info at: Marilen@FashionDestinationGroup.com Get tickets at: http://eventsbot.com/events/eb234126186 Net proceeds to benefit Guard A Heart - 501(c)(3). VERY DISAPPOINTING ! ... Those who know and read my blog know I don't write about negative things, but this really was quite, well read along ...... First off, we showed up to what appeared to be a cluster of chaos ... people standing around looking like they didn't know where to go, missing reservations at the will call... Red carpet frienzy... On the yacht : 1st floor deck VIP area, nicely decorated, dining tables, Minx nail tables, vip goodie bags ... so far so good... VIP guests will have exclusive access to a private food and cocktail bar, fashion presentation, entertainment on Level 1, Reserved Seats to the Main Fashion Shows on Level 3 and VIP gift bag! Our not so private food and cocktail bar consisted of an open pasta bar to both the decks with VIP and non-VIP guests consisting of just 2 dishes. Penne pasta noodles and a tomato sauce (canned ? odd flavor) warm broccoli vegiterian pasta dish, (very soupy), salad that looked like the jumbo bags they sell at Costco, and white bread rolls. :/ Not very appetizing! ... and the line for the food ! (see photos) It was so strange to sit while a line of people hovered next to your table... The cocktail bar was not a bar at all but a sales/sample bar for sponsor Tantratea, a Slovak Spirit, cocktail waitress selling trays of the booze/tea at $9 bucks a pop walked around ! (where'd the hosted bar go or private bar/food area?) After inquiring at the first level bar about the VIP bar, we were directed to the upstairs cash bar, once there, we were directed back downstairs to the first bar... end of story NO HOSTED bar. (why would the vip bar be upstairs when the vip tables are downstairs) My husband did inquire as to who was in charge, was directed to a man who after a short talk, handed my husband a chip and said, now your hosted. I walked up then he asked, do you want 2, to which we replied sure, he gave us 4 coins. We ended up using just 1 in the end. After eating and feeling crowded downstairs we went up to the 2nd level deck to explore the ship and goings on, we found lounge type seating and Mermaids... I was here to see the mermaids (what a great idea)... There were 3 winners of the Mermaid Model Search Contest lying about wearing fins by 3 Fins, Custom made mermaid tales. (see photos) Lost in a sea of people... there was a moment of flashing cameras, I turned and realized I just photo bombed someone's photos !... to my surprise it was Maria Meunous from Extra TV co-host with Mario Lopez.. turns out seconds later she was literally running OFF the yacht ! Huh ? I thought she was the HOST !! ? GENLUX Magazine is holding an Issue Release Party, along with Maria Menounos (host of EXTRA) as our event host! The ship was to set sail at 6:30... we began 1 hour late ! 7:20 according to my iphone clock. This was the best part of the event, to be cruising the Newport Harbor. The truth is, you never really get to enjoy the fact that you are on a ship cruising the newport harbor because you are inside dark rooms. May as well have been hosted in a convention hall somewhere. I would suggest that next time and if they do it on a yacht... the mermaids could be outside on their pedistals perhaps?... or set sail on time during the sunset. Back downstairs to try out the Minx patent nail coating, my husband got a pink ribbon ! The gentleman doing the nails was very friendly. Before we knew it, it was fashion show time on the 3rd deck : Open air deck, 3/4 rows of seats. Signage on each seat. 1st row for Sponsors, 2nd for VIPs. We sat at the front of the runway. 20 minutes later, we were being asked to move, in fact the entire room of seated guests were being told to go back down to level 2 to watch a live performance, while they did a sound check. We didn't want to lose our seats and were told that they were going to re-organize the seating and change the first 2 rows to sponsors, WHAT?! I stood and moved a few feet toward getting out awaiting my husband and the rest of the people around us to do the same. Next thing I know the very woman who asked us to move was coming back and sitting down, I inquired as to what was going on and she said the show was about to start. The Fashion show starts, a woman announced "as if we were being scolded" to the room of guests to, "Please be respectful of the models and music". I found that rather odd. Not the energy you see at NYFW runway shows, but it wasn't bad. The models were well chosen, hair by TIGI was beautiful. Some of the garments and pieces were must havs! The media and press at the end of the runway ready for the shots. Intermission, live entertainment was a song performed by Aria Johnson. After the show while we were still sitting, we decide to check out the VIP bags. We reach in to find a rather large bottle of ... are you ready ? MANE 'n TAIL haircare products. mind you, * The TIGI Academy is doing the hair for the fashion show and really good hair they did. (*I put in a request for sponsorship, was contacted via email, told someone would get in touch with me via another email and disappointedly never again heard from them, this was our second attempt to offer our salon services and products) Just two other small sized products were in the VIP bag, a mensgroom haircare product and a whole heck of a lot of marketing materials, that's it ! I came across a Genlux magazine in the bathroom and a cd from the live entertainment on a table (left from another goodie bag). I have never been to an event, and I attend a lot where the goodie bag didn't reflect a descent amount of products or value. The VIP bag is part of the reason to pay the double the price. When leaving for the night there were many unwanted vip bags left behind and the tables had the vip marketing materials strewn atop them. A nice touch was a 2 man band setting up to play in the corner, my husband and I went to ships side to enjoy the fresh air and view of the boats lit up passing by in the harbor. During our exploring from deck to deck I happened to notice an unmanned table that had the name of the charity which I recognized from their marketing materials ... I would have liked to have spent some time finding out more about this charity first hand while at the event... instead I settled for googling it the next day. www.guardaheart.org I hope the charity did well by this event, sounds like a worthy cause. and might I ask... WHAT CELEBS ??! Sure there was Maria Meunous. (had I not been on the second level at that precise time I would have not have even seen her) and my friend Lauren Powers... The focus of this event seemed to be more on the fashion show itself, rather then the organization of the Event and Guest accommodating details. The entire evening we felt like we missed out on a lot, no host to direct us on what was going on on each level and at what time. Perhaps a program of sorts would have been nice. All in all we made the best of it, as we do, networked and made new friends. I'd like to give a shout out to Stella Rittwagen, one of the sponsors/handbags in the fashion show. The concept was great, the organization not so much. Would we attend another one of these events ? It's weary, at least to buy the VIP tickets again. We decided to pass on the after party. Sail in Style Official AFTER PARTY @ Sutra OC - Dance Club · Event Venue · Night Club 1870 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA.(949) 722-7103 website | facebook On a side note : I stressed over what to wear to this Event. Newport Beach scene, on a yacht, fashion show with Celebs...( I ended up going very casual for my usual dress choices, partly due to the extreme heat. Surprisingly it turns out I was better dressed than quite a lot of the guests, except for a few who were impecable, like my friend Lauren Powers, who always dresses like a million bucks ! I was scratching my head looking around at the people in line for food and while sitting waiting for the fashion show to start... For fashionable Newport Beach the majority of good fashion found it seems was in the Fashion show itself and not on the guests attending, perhaps for the very reason I dressed down ? Just an observation. It was really hard for me to post this blog ! I delayed it, read it to family first, had my husband help me edit and soften the blow a bit... but the truth of my experience is just that, my truth. Because I know how much work goes into putting on a production like this and because there is always something positive to find in the big picture I decided to share another article I found on FDGs facebook from another perspective by Media that were there. Please read there interpretation of the evening. http://www.thelosangelesfashion.com/2012/10/02/fashion-desination-group-set-sail-in-style-fashion-show/ www.dibythesea.com PLEASE JOIN MY BLOG by "liking" me on the right. :) Subscribe to my YOU TUBE CHANNEL: Di by the Sea Follow me on Twitter: Di by the Sea Friend me on Facebook: Di by the Sea Mercedes Benz/New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2013 @ Milk Studios NYC FNO (Fashion's Night Out) #4 The Daily Front Row Sessions party at the Empire Hotel Since we do Fashion Week in NY 1 to 2 times a year, I decided that I would keep this post to just Highlights and new adventures in and around the city. The combination of all of my posts on NY Fashion Week should give you enough information on things to see and do and the consistent to be expected. Fashions Night Out #4 : Running around all over the city... Merchants open their doors with free drinks, food, special discounts, entertainment and more ! Always such a fun night here in NYC. FNO is celebrated all over the world as well. Check their website for details on your city and state, don't miss out on all the fun. ! http://fashionsnightout.com/ watch their psa, it was really cute this year. We hit SOHO/Meat Packing District this year. QVC/Nicole Richie... Lots of photo booth type setups to play with. We were sure to purchase a FNO tee, 2 out of 4. The Designers backstage : New York Fashion Week Spring 2013 ~ The Shows we did... Behind the Scenes - @ Milk Studios : Eckhau Latta, Dean Quinn, Patrik Evell | @ the Standard Hotel : Lucio Castro (Lead Jeff Wacker, Asst.Lead Alexis Wacker) | @ Lincoln Center : Milly by Michele Smith (to see all the photos facebook us at salonplatinumoc ) and more ! We crashed THE DAILY FRONT ROW SESSIONS PARTY at the Empire Hotel !!!! Free drinks, goodies, DJ, photo booths all on the Rooftop and we ran into Tyson Beckford !!! (If you want to know how... * like me on facebook and here, leave a comment and sends some friends over too) If you are into chowder this looked like the place to go, Eds Chowder House. Freebie : A free thing to do, and it's lovely too, is to walk The Highline. Highline Elevated Urban Park. Hanging out at Lincoln Center is always the best for People watching and fashion and it's FREE !!! We saw 3 Celebs leaving that building : The Fashion Police Crew, Joan Rivers, Kelly Osbourn and Baby Phat, Kimora Lee Simmons. We finally made it to Little Italy, soo many/too many restaurants to choose from... we were pulled into Paisanos ! Really good food. I will definitely be going back there. * Tip: We love this service when ordering in SEAMLESS ... (Thank you Olivia our local New Yorker for your hospitality and the heads up on this service). It's always such a fun week ! Read my past posts for more stories of Fashion Weeks past. www.dibythesea.com
PLEASE JOIN MY BLOG by "liking" me on the right. :) Subscribe to my YOU TUBE CHANNEL: Di by the Sea Follow me on Twitter: Di by the Sea Friend me on Facebook: Di by the Sea *Most everything in PINK is hyperlinked to external websites for references. Dana Point Summer Concerts in the Park Heritage Park, Lanterna Park, Sea Terrace Park, Dana Point, Orange Couty, CA 3:00-6:00pm Concerts are Free ! Refreshment and food proceeds to benefit local non-profit groups. Being a resident of the OC for over 30 yrs, this was the first time I have attended this Annual event. We made it to the very last concert of the summer series. Turn the Page - Bob Seger Tribute Lantern Bay Park. Special End of Summer Concert BBQ/Beer Garden with proceeds benefiting the 5th Marine Regiment Support Group Spectacular OCEAN VIEWS from the hillside park adjacent to the Marriott Dana Point Resort. What a great day it was for the whole family !...
The band was outstanding, had the crowd up and dancing. Smells of the BBQ. People walking their dogs. Kids running around. Booths with vendors selling libations and eats. There was a free raffle for a beach cruiser bike from the "Buy my Bikes" guy dressed in his bee costume. (He kindly took photos with us) *Tips: There's a childrens playground with park bathroom (although they provide port-a-potties). Parking isn't to terrible, they let you load and unload by the concert. You can bring you own picnic, some people were doing just that. We sat on a huge grassy area shaded and away from the main concert/vendor area (unshaded). Must put your umbrellas down, once the concert begins. Will definitely will be doing this again next summer, you should too ! Brystan Studios - a premiere full-service portrait studio Lori Brystan Photography Studio 27001 Moulton Parkway Aliso Viejo, CA 92653 (949) 831-3774 website | facebook Show, the Supper Club - currently seeking investors ! I've been an acquaintance and admirer of Lori for some years now. We met for the first time at the Grand Opening week of her new fabulous venture, SHOW, the Supper Club, the first in the OC. It was fantastic ! ... and then again for another night for Cinco de Mayo in Laguna Beach at Hush, again another night of entertainment, good food and great people. Tonight was about celebrating 25 years of success as a photographer. This was my first visit to her studios. Surrounded by her photography, decor, backdrops, interesting character of friends, talent and more, Fabulous ! Lori is know for her talent in photography. White Sheet, Boudoir, couples and more. You must go to her website/facebook to see her beautiful photography. Drinks provided by Dama Tequilia / Priscilla Pyrk CEO ~ The Worlds first femal luxury tequila made by women for women" [facebook] and the food was scrumptious. Entertainment provided by The Show entertainers : we watched fire (Digumfire), magic (Georges Anderson), strip tease, dance, singing... mingling. This SHOW must come back to the OC !! Photography by our long time friend Timothy Wheaton photography website | facebook (candid shots) see Brystans facebook for event photos by Tim. (or click here and here) What a great evening ! Currently, Lori is offering 25% off Fall Family Portraits. Get over there and in front of the camera with this amazing photographer!
PLEASE JOIN MY BLOG by "liking" me on the right. :) Subscribe to my YOU TUBE CHANNEL: Di by the Sea Follow me on Twitter: Di by the Sea Friend me on Facebook: Di by the Sea Cinamagr.am, a fun way to animate your photos. Post to your facebook. Available on the Apps store.
PLEASE JOIN MY BLOG by "liking" me on the right. :) Subscribe to my YOU TUBE CHANNEL: Di by the Sea Follow me on Twitter: Di by the Sea Friend me on Facebook: Di by the Sea Rumor, The Las Vegas Boutique Resort 455 E Harmon Ave, Las Vegas, NV, 89169 United States of America 1-866-599-6674 View map Directly across from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Reviews | Facebook Pool . All Suites hotel . pet friendly up to 25 lbs . free parking and wifi It's that time of year again ! Cosmoprof/NAHA for the hairdressing industry. Naha is the Academy Awards for hairdressers... The North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA), the most prestigious photographic beauty competition in North America, celebrates the artistry and skill of the professional salon industry. Each year, individuals are recognized in 13 categories of excellence during a star-studded awards ceremony. Entering NAHA not only highlights your skills and adds prestige to your portfolio, but also allows you to join the ranks of the industry's brightest and most talented artists. NAHA is a Professional Beauty Association (PBA) event and is part of PBA Beauty Week. Hosted by Cosmoprof North America, PBA Beauty week is North America's largest, most inclusive beauty event. I'll get back to that later... We arrived... Pool Party Safari, started at 12:00 we didn't get there till check-in at 4:00p. We were checking into Valet and they were cleaning up something from the front door carpet. Upon entrance I could smell alcohol and then VOMIT !!!! (a sign of Pool Party Safari ?) Very cool decor, like the Viceroy in LA or the SLS... very boutique, ecclectic, playful. The swanky Rumor Boutique Hotel is situated a few blocks east of the Strip, across from the popular Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The "art" of travel takes on a whole new meaning here. This gem of a place is small but has a lot of character, thanks to an array of eclectic décor elements. The interior combines minimalist design with an eye-catching white and purple color palette. You'll often make amazing discoveries when you least expect them -- like the human head-shaped table in the women's restroom or the large candle chandelier literally dripping with melted wax in a dining nook near the restaurant. All of the 150 rooms at the Rumor Boutique Hotel are suites. They boast contemporary furnishings. In addition to a living area with a modern couch and coffee table, the beds feature custom-made mattresses. Many of the bathrooms have elevated soaking tubs or large showers (the ones in The Fantastic Four suites hold between five to 10 people) with benches. There are also colorful wall paintings of seductive women -- and the adult entertainment channel on your flat-screen TV is always free. The hotel has one dining venue, Addiction Restaurant. It serves modern American cuisine with a bit of a twist. All the dishes arrive with artful presentations. As its name suggests, guests are sure to get hooked on many of the "tapatizers" -- like the Mac Styx, the maple bacon popcorn and the short rib nachos. The tapas menu is also available in the bar and lobby area, where you'll enjoy a happy hour every evening. Special events -- like "Yappy Hour" for people who want to party with their pups (note: the hotel is very pet-friendly) -- happen often. -- By Renée LiButti Room we booked: All Suites hotel. Originally we booked a Suite room better than the online booking VIP rate, Via my friend Sams business 24-7 VEGAS VIP SERVICE. Rooms can have King or 2 queens, rain shower or soaking tub in bedrooms. Rooms range from 49.00+ per night. At check in we were upgraded. Took a bit to check in for some reason, only 2 floors to this entire condominium turned hotel. Our view was of the Hard Rock Hotel sign / Rumor parking lot. Self parking lot is very small. Valet and wifi are all inclusive to the hotel usage fee. Complimentary coffee, newspaper, shuttle service to the strip but not the airport. They are giving away a free t-shirt if you book onine (guaranteed best rate too) We tried and tried to get a t-shirt (even though we booked and got a better rate) Eventually we scored one on the last day out. Ask everyone :) Our room was dark, but we like dark. (see photos) No shampoo to be found. Called for some, took 2 phone calls and over 20 minutes to get some to the room. The rooms are large, because they were once condos. Got ready for the Annual Meet n greet mingle pre NAHA 2012 party... our tickets didn't pan thru early enough, so we got invited to crash the City of Hope, Spirit of Life Awards... private concert with Al Green and Aretha Franklin ( see my video clips on my YouTube Channel) and a Jewish wedding renewal ceremony ! Such a great night ! The whispers were that over 2 million was raised that night (tables run 5 g's) Eventually we made it back to the Meet in Mingle party too. Our Industry is pretty amazing, the people in it are fun loving and friendly. The lovely Gossip Pool at Rumor Boutique Hotel is home to Las Vegas' only grassy knoll and is decked out with hammocks in the property's signature purple. The atmosphere is relaxed, chic and sexy. During summer, it's a happening place with pool parties held on the weekends. Don't miss Sunday's "Sunkissed Brunch & Pool Party." Located in the vicinity of Vegas' top resorts, restaurants, shopping centers and attractions, the Rumor Boutique Hotel provides luxurious accommodations along with unsurpassed service. And it's where art and unusual surprises will take you a world away from ordinary life! -- By Renée LiButti We hit the pool the next morning and to our surprise it was .... a gay pool party. DJ, Dancers, squirt guns, pool toys... The bloody Marys are the BEST, par to those at the Mandalay for those in the know. (see my videos on my facebook page) 2 pools, jacuzzi, hammocks... The larger pool temp was amazing. the wading pool, freezing. A very intimate place to stay and play. Unique things happening at this hotel >> Gay Pool partys . Ladys nights . Acoustic Sessions and Yappy Hour -----> Hotel change... Are you beginning to see a pattern here ? The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas 3708 Las Vegas Boulevard South Las Vegas, NV 89109 (702) 698-7000 website | 3 Pools !Pool/cabanas - Fitness Center Rooms: Originally we booked a Terrace Studio room w/ view for the same price as the Travel Industry Rate, Via my friend Sams business 24-7 VIP. Once there we ugraded for 50.00 for a Terrace, Bellagio Fountain, strip view.. WELL WORTH IT. OMG ! THE VIEW everyday and night was spectacular, you can hear the music from the fountains. When we entered there was music on the flat screen, total ambiance. STATE OF THE ART. The room decor was different. Many books to read. The shower rand Japanese soaking tub were way awesome ! Someone (a few and then some can shower while others soak all in the same room! all at once, with a view of that you get from the terrace and whomever is in the bedroom can watch it all, there are windows surrounding the bathing facilities !) See photos. Hello and Goodbye buttons, turn on or off ALL of your lights all at once ! Lots of books for reading. Identity Membership 5.00 of play when you spend 5.00 and a complimentary cloth for our cell phone. Room keys with info : name and departure date. Pools: The Pool District / 3 distinct pool experiences. Boulevard Pool, Bamboo Pool, Marquee DayClub pool NAHA 2012 Red Carpet Reception 6:30pm - 8:00pm Awards Ceremony 8:00pm - 10:00pm the NAHA After Party following the Awards Ceremony! The North American Hairstyling Awards (NAHA) is the most prestigious photographic beauty competition in North America, celebrating the artistry and skill of the professional salon industry. Each year, individuals are recognized in 13 categories of excellence during a star-studded Awards Ceremony. Honoring the dedication and skill of the artists who have inspired us. NAHA is the most prestigious photographic beauty competition in North America, celebrating the professional salon industry. and then we met Jonah !... Jubilees lead dancer !... great seats at a great price and a behind the scenes peek ! What a great trip, playing with old friends and meeting new ones ! Familiar places and new adventures. Until we meet again LV. xo www.dibythesea.com
PLEASE JOIN MY BLOG by "liking" me on the right. :) Subscribe to my YOU TUBE CHANNEL: Di by the Sea Follow me on Twitter: Di by the Sea Friend me on Facebook: Di by the Sea Now you can follow me on INSTAGRAM ! : Di by the Sea *Most everything in PINK is hyperlinked to external websites for references. the M Resort casino, spa, hotel 12300 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, NV. | 1 (702) 797-1000 Website | Facebook Pool - YES ! Main pool and Daydream Pool Club (21+) Cabanas Complimentary Shuttle to and from airport and Fashion Show Mall A boutique hotel in Henderson Nevada. (approx 15-20 min from the Tropicana.) Forbes 4 STAR winner 2010 thru 2012 Stay & Play with NO RESORT FEES M Resort offers 390 rooms including resort rooms and suites in a variety of configurations to give you a choice of how you would like to spend your stay. Each room and suite was designed with your comfort in mind, incorporating an upscale, yet casual décor. Not to mention world-class personal service and amenities that include a daily newspaper. And if that weren’t enough, the floor-to-ceiling windows offer an incredible view from every room. In-Room Wi-Fi Internet is available for a $12.99 access fee for a 24 hour period. I Check-ed out the FourSquare deals pre-trip. Tips said, free pool party's every saturday night ! Happy Hour drinks offered inside and not at the pool bar. Larger drinks are 15.00 better size and deal than the regular size 12.00 drinks at the pool bar... Daydream card = 50% off drinks. ... beer, wine, champagne included in Studio B Buffet... Thanks FourSquare peeps ! Flew in on Jet Blue Airways out of the Long Beach. (1 hr flight). Saturday mid-day. We are here for Alterna Stylist Unversity training. We arrived expecting to use the complimentary hourly shuttle service provided by the hotel.... Come to find out they take an hour out for lunch, which is when we landed at 2:30p (there's no 10:30a, 11:30a, 2:30p service) So off to find another ride. taxis 35.00+, town cars 45.00+ (the cheaper shuttles go to the strip, to to the west and downtown... but not to the M) By the time we got thru running around we decided to wait 25 minutes or so for the shuttle after all, to get the experience. While waiting around we watched the other resorts shuttles rollin, fancy, black, stealth, mercedes, oh wait her comes the M, big sized, re-cycled? site-seeing bus, wrapped in advertisements, black graffiti spray on doorway stair steps, dirty windows, burn marks along the light plastic light strips, not very impressive. They did however offer nice cold bottle of water with their logo and a very friendly driver. Off we went for our 10 minute ride. Check-in: Resort room - Standard room with Pool view 2 Queens. (no kings availble again what is it with hotels wanting to keep us apart) These rooms are 100' larger than any other hotels in Las Vegas. A spectacular view of the pools, the strip and the mountain range behind that ! WOW. Our front desk guy was so great, he tried to hook us up with an upgrade, but they were full. Contemporary, state of the art in design and decor. European lighting system. Roomy ! Sweet writing pens (see photos) ! Complimentary gift in room, an emery board from the spa. We were given a card for complimentary wine tasting upon check-in, which they hold at the Hostile Grape, wine cellar and tasting room which we didn't make it to, ends at 6:00p [info here] SPECIAL RATES & PACKAGES : California Residents receive 30% off | Commemorative Resort Package, Celebrate our 3rd year with us 150.00 value for 95.00. POOLS ALL THE UBER DETAILS YOU NEED ABOUT THEIR POOLS HERE NO FREE POOL PARTYS every Saturday night, like FourSquare tip had said ! Pools close by 6:00p !! Villaggio Del Sole - Main Pool and bar Visit this bar on the outside piazza for hand-crafted cocktails, frozen drinks, beers, Italian ice, and unmatched views of the Las Vegas Strip. The Daydream Pool Club The bar serves your typical selection of liquor and cocktails, along with some frozen drinks and SnoBar alcohol-infused ice cream. Several pool clubs are starting to carry this ice cream, but DayDream is the first one to do something creative with it: The signature "Ultimate Root Beer Float" with Brandy Alexander ice cream, root beer and root beer vodka. You'll probably "scream" for that. Attention to detail and little luxury flourishes are a big deal at M Resort, and the pool club is no exception. There's a strip of metal around the whole bar that somehow keeps itself frosty, which in turn keeps your beverages icy-cool - just try and resist the temptation to draw things in the frost. Sure, they could just let your ice melt, but that would be beneath them. They've instead enlisted some kind of super-science to take care of that, and while it's a small touch, shows how much they're willing to pamper you here. DayDream has a totally different kind of vibe than most of those other pool clubs, but that's exactly what they're going for. If you're over the whole rowdy and crazy party scene but enjoy a little bit of energy poolside, you'll find this club to be one of the best. We checked out both pools... lunch at the Daydream pool bar, sliders, chips/salsa/guac and chicken buffalo sandwich ... real good. No food or drinks aloud from outside the hotel, they check your bags at the pool check-in desk. (they aren't to strict the guy let me have my sunflower seeds as long as I promised to keep them hidden) Best to buy your drinks from Hash House a Go-Go way cheaper than the drinks poolside (24-7 Happy Hour prices) Witnessed 2 brawls where security had to come clear it up. Got less and less crowded by Tuesday. Pool closes at 6:00p !! What are they thinking. Who jacuzzies in the day, heat of the desert ?? The pool water is saltwater... left a residue all over my body ! YUK! but it was super amazing to swim in. Perfect tempurature... an ahhh moment every time. Pool Day beds/Cabanas: Bottle Service... (pricing depends on the crowd and busyness) Good music. The Spa Mio : Fitness Center costs $15.00 per day or 35.00 for 3 days. State of the Art Fitness equipment with pool view. Fresh fruit, bottle water, periodicals, head sets, the works. Restaurants : the M Resort offers a variety of dining options with some of the world’s leading chefs at the helm. From our state-of-the-art Studio B Buffet, with live action cooking studio, to Anthony's for the finest steaks and seafood, M Resort’s delectable dining options are sure to please everyone, from culinary experts to everyday diners. Since I came down or caught the flu on this adventure, I only ate out physically at 2 restaurants, the rest were brought to me, in-room by my adoring husband. Anthonys Gourmet Burger & Brews : Anthony's Gourmet Burgers & Brews presents the finest varieties of burgers offering each with classic toppings and toppings with a twist like stout braised short ribs, spiced pastrami and cranberry-blue moon orange mayonnaise. Delicious buns, homemade fries and the ultimate gelato tasting for two will completes this grown-up burger bar experience. [MENU] We had the Micro Buger and I.P.A. Burger, side of white cheddar bacon fries... second visit, warm spinach and bacon salad. HASH HOUSE A GO-GO is HERE !!! (see my past post) Had this a few times (in-room) and have to say I wasn't as impressed as I was with my first experience with Hash House! (maybe it was the flu) Had chicken and mashed potatoes, a cobb salad. They seemed rather bland and not as oversized of portions as they are known for. Vig Deli : Adjacent to the race and sports book, guests can choose from an extensive menu that includes made-to-order hot dogs, barbeque, sandwiches, hand-tossed pizza, chili, soups and specialties such as corned beef, pastrami, brisket, meatballs and hand-made desserts. The menu is designed to let guests “order by the numbers” making Vig Deli a one-stop-shop for great food, great conversation, and hopefully a great game. We had one of their Chicago style hotdogs and fries, pretty good. Studio B : BUFFET ! They've got it all and it's good ! closes at 9:00p. Sometimes the line for this can be over 1 hour wait. (*Leave me a comment below about this blog and I'll tell you how you can skip the line !) We tried to sample a little of most everything. Asian, Mexican, Italian, Sushi, Prime Rib all were present. They have a corner wine and beer bar (didn't see any champagne) all inclusive so it's worth the 23.99 per person. They have their own M Cider, it was AMAZING I think I drank 4 glasses ! (so good on my sore throat!) I seriously want to purchase it for the home ! When I got home these posts were on my facebook wall : Apparently this buffet is still earning votes for BEST BUFFET in VEGAS and I would have to agree. Vegas.com http://bit.ly/KZKtYb | Vegas Weekly.com http://www.lasvegasweekly.com/news/2012/jun/28/best-buffet-studio-b-buffet/ Casino They have Penny SLOTS ! Get a free iMagine Players Club card, pick a limited edition free shirt (white w/ their logo on it) or $5.00 in free play when you sign up. We went with the 5,00. *Tip: The Resort has VIP BIG ROLLER ESCALADES that are complimentary, just have to tip well. We used this service twice over hiring a taxi. It saved us money in the end. Just call up and ask. Everyone on staff that we encountered were super great. The housekeepers greet you. Our front desk man DAMIEN, was outstanding. The pool servers were gracious and made their rounds diligently. It was a wonderful experience. I would go back and stay there again and would recommend that you try it out. Side note: Reort Shuttles don't run in the early a.m.... first shuttle at 6:00a. Last shuttle 9:00p. Mccarrann In'tl Airport, is one of the busiest airport in the US... we were told to leave 2 hours early. New Terminal just completed. T3. Read about it here. We flew in and out on JetBlue First time EVER where they didn't do the Mandatory? safety presentation at the beginning of the flight before takeoff!- I didn't even notice it. (My husband remembered to tell me on the flight back)
Gotta love their BLUE CHIPS! *Tip: Did you know that you can ask for more than 1 bag of complementary cookies, chips etc on airplanes? We got 5 bags of chips (for the grandchild and kids) PLEASE JOIN MY BLOG by "liking" me on the right. :) Subscribe to my YOU TUBE CHANNEL: Di by the Sea Follow me on Twitter: Di by the Sea Friend me on Facebook: Di by the Sea *Most everything in PINK is hyperlinked to external websites for references. |
AuthorLady Di Wanderlust ::2018:: Eastern Europe : England, France, Belgium, Amsterdam N.Euro Trip : Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Czechoslovakia Costa Rica Boston, MA Malibu, CA ::2017:: Coronado Island, CA NJ, PA & DE NYC Solvang Canada/US Roadie Boston, MA Brazil New York City, NY Las Vegas, NV Alaska Cruise Mexico City Las Vegas, NV Chile Las Vegas, NV Monarch Beach, CA 2016 Coronado Island, CA Monarch Beach, CA FIJI Tulsa, OKC, OK Las Vegas, NV GUATAMALA USA Road trip : 24 states Las Vegas, NV Miami, FL New Jersey Rancho Mirage, CA Houston, TX Orlando, FL CANCUN, MX Baton Rouge, LA Tucson, AZ Tampa, FL Archives
October 2016
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