My Weekly Obsession: Simone Camille Handbags

Simone Camille Bags

Can you say perfection........

As seen on Nicole Richie

Simone Camille's on-of-a-kind handbag collection is crafted with love and much talent. Created by Simone Harouche, a well renowned stylist, she began making them for her and her friends. Quickly, they began the latest must-have bag and have been seen on some of her celebrity clientele, Nicole Richie and Miley Cyrus. These handbags are made with unique and high quality textiles that are aquired from different countries around the world.

They have a fun sense of style with a bohemian feel. Every handbag is an original work of art. Available on her website, Simone Camille and at Ron Herman.

Accessorizing With House of Harlow 1960

There are times after I get dressed for an evening out and feel I am missing that finishing touch to perfect my ensemble. Although I may look in the mirror and see I have on a fashionably suitable outfit, I know it can be spiced up by transforming it from boring to brilliant. The House of Harlow 1960  jewelry line, does just that. It can make a woman feel extra special wearing an eye-catching piece that keeps a crowd staring. And at last, a smile emerges because I know I did well with one simple addition, a piece from the House of Harlow 1960 collection. 

Here are a few of my favorite pieces:

 

Cream Starbusrt Sun Necklace $58

Black and Silver Cuff $95

Black and Gold Triangle Necklace  $125

The Budget Babe's Summer Gathering

Cass, the hostess/party planner

With a touch of imagination and creativity, you can throw together a party at little cost, like my best friend Cass did over this past weekend. Had it been a party thrown by someone else, I would have thought it was planned well in advanced with the help of a party planner. I was amazed, as I'm now going to pimp her out as  "the ultimate party planner"!

A little over two weeks ago, Cass suggested that she wanted to have a little pre-summer shindig at her house that she recently moved into with some close friends. Her twin boys, Cade and Ryder, also were turning four, so she decided to weave some candles, cake and decor to celebrate their birthday, since she was not planning on throwing them a party this year. I truly was in awe as I walked in and saw that her backyard was turned into an outdoor living room. She hit a few key stores, got creative, and grabbed one of her must have items...THE GLUE GUN!!

Tables and Chairs: Cass bought a couple of cheap wicker chairs and a few $9 side tables from Ikea and moved some of her indoor furniture outside. What created a cozy and comfortable ambiance, were all of the floral and printed pillows, which she made in minutes with old fabric she had, her glue gun and sewing machine.

The centerpieces: Cass blended flower arrangements of roses in every color that she bought for next to nothing at the flower mart in downtown Los Angeles. She coupled these arrangements with clear jars (also purchased at Ikea) and filled them with candy and pink marshmallows.

Kids Table: Cass bought bright colored $0.99  plastic buckets from Michaels arts and crafts and filled them with cotton candy, crafts, pinwheels, bubbles and a few others from the 99 cent store.

Cake and Cupcakes: We all know that we can buy pricey cake's from L\A's famous Hanson's bakery and delicious cupcakes from Sprinkles or Ralph's market.....but it's so easy to do homemade deserts (from a box).......and make them both unique and eye-catching! Cass bought cupcakes (chocolate, vanilla and red velvet) and about 10 containers of Fluffy white frosting. She grabbed a box of non traditional food coloring from Michaels arts and crafts, mixed it in, added some sprinkles and these cupcakes became part of the decor as well. As for the twins' birthday cake, she just frosted the cakes, and put their initials on each cake to add that personal touch!!

Okay, so with $150, a glue gun and a sewing machine, I find this to be pretty amazing!!

Soot Bull Jeep: The Taste of Authentic Korean BBQ

 SOOT BULL JEEP   Los Angeles, CA

This no frills Korean BBQ joint with cracked linoleum tabletops and rickety metal chairs always has a line of hungry people waiting to be seated. They are not waiting for the service, as it's the eat, pay and get out kind of place. It's the charcoal grills coupled with the marinated meats that attract the masses and makes Soot Bull Jeep one of the most popular and busiest Korean bbq restaurants in the Los Angeles area.

the authentic charcoal grill

 the fixings

Don't expect much service from the waitresses other than when they plop down the fixings and plates of meat. They will occasionally stop when they smell a sense of cooking ignorance at a table. It's a cook-it-yourself kinda place. Grill, raw meat and fixings provided. The rest is up to the customer.

You will leave feeling like you need an immediate shower, so make sure to change from your chick and fashionable attire, to your "less than suitable" lounge wear. Your clothing will absorb the smoke and you'll smell as if you just came from a campfire. The ventilation system doesn't do much justice.

The amazing taste, quality of food, feel of authenticity and the reasonably priced menu makes this restaurant a  a memorable and fun dining experience keeping their customers coming back for more. This smokey spot offers remarkable bbq with meat marinated to perfection!

Location: 

3136 West 8th Street

Los Angeles, CA 90005

213.387.3865

They do not accept reservations

Summer Stylin'

Hey Ladies.......it's just that time to exchange your rain gear for summer beach wear. If you are in need for some new stylish chic pieces, here are a few of my summer essentials:

The Suit

Aqua Ruffle Triangle Swim Suit

ruffle lining along neckline and waistband
$58 top   $58 bottom

The Sandals

Matt Bernson "Love" Sandals

leather lining and sole

$129

The Bag

Tory Burch Beach Tote

metallic leather, canvas lining, no closure, double straps

$325

The Cover Up

Love Quotes Shiva Wrap

drapped sides, kimono sleeves, asymmetrical, sheer

$155

And of course, The Sunglasses

Michael Kors "Miami" Aviator Glasses

lightweight metal frames with metal arms, 100% UV protection 

$95 

Gourmet Meals on Wheels in LA

If someone asked me a few years ago to go grab a meal at a roach coach, I would have thought you were temporarily insane and replied, "GROSS, lunch from a roach coach!". For the past few years the roach coach obsession has been hitting the streets of Los Angeles and have transformed into gourmet meals on wheels. It's the new "fast food" dining experience and be prepared to wait in long lines for good food that is reasonably priced. The true aficionados are always in the know where to find the best tacos, mouth watering grilled cheese, delicious cupcakes, and korean bbq. Most of theses mobile food trucks have twitter and facebook pages to give followers their daily locations.

My personal favorite is the grilled cheese truck, recently named the number one food truck in Los Angeles. Whether this a trend that will last, only time will tell, but in the meantime, I will take another double cream brie cheese sandwich!!

Harvest Melt from the grilled cheese truck

To find a roach coach to suite your appetite, click here. Blog dedicated to Dana!!!

Mother's Day Gifts Under $100

Mother's day is just around the corner.......

Gift ideas for under $100

  

ECO FRIENDLY MOM: Marc by Marc Jacobs Shopper Tote $56

Available in 5 colors: Pink, Blue Gray, Yellow and Orange

100% Nylon, Canvas handles, Open Closures

 STYLISH MOM: Michael Kors "Miami" Aviator Sunglasses $95

Available in 2 gradients: pistachio/brown and dark blush/smoke/pink

Lightweight metal frames with metal arms, stylish gradient lenses, 100% UV protection

TRAVELING MOM: Marc by Marc Jacobs Small Nylon Make-Up Bag  $68

 zip around closure, nylon, finish with a front logo plaque

WORKING MOM: Canali Leather Card Case $85

 Avaliable in black/orange and brown/light blue

Italian crafted, 3 card slots on each side ( 6 total)

BAKER MOM: William Sonoma Cake Stand $65

Perfect showcase for and desert, sparkling clear glass, dishwasher safe, 13" diameter  4.5" high

FITNESS MOM: Fibit Wireless Personal Trainer $99.99

Use this personal trainer device to collect data about your daily activities, such as exercise intensity levels, calories burned, sleep quality, steps and distance. The data collected is automatically uploaded to your personal Fibit website where you can track your progress towards personal goals.

HAVE IT ALL MOM: D.L. & Co. Angel's Trumpet Candle $95
Avaliable in different scents
White frosted scallop vessel in a silk box with white ribbon.
40 plus hour burn time, 10 oz.

RELAXING MOM: LaCoste "Smash" Robe  $95

Avaliable colors: white, pink and blue

 Plush, absorbent, with hood, 100% cotton