It's no excuse...

... between the INSANE shoot schedule for the show I am doing on a network I can't quite mention on my blog yet, another show I am taping for another network, my satellite media tours, the book pitch, and all of the Fox Business, Fox News, Fox Radio, foxnews.com Strategy Room and now Sky News appearances I've put my precious blog on the back burner. I also blame Twitter for this as well (if you want a play by play of my days, PLEASE follow me on Twitter it is SO easy for me to update) I've been on location in this small mountain town in upstate New York, and I am back in NYC tonight to judge the Supima Cotton Design Competition. Last November, I was part of a team of judges that poured over portfolios of some VERY talented new designers. We picked our favorites, gave them the task of creating a dress from 15 yards of Supima cotton material and asked them to go to work. I can't wait to see what was created! And for the avid readers of this blog, I sincerely apologize. Part of my plan for 2009 is to somehow find balance in all of the insanity, which means having time for everything. I will post photos from tonight, from the holidays, and of course from the Golden Globes. It's nice to be back.

On Fox News Radio this morning!

Will be talking about how negociate your way into a good deal on the radio this morning. Here is a list of stations (more may be added, please check my twitter for any updates). Everyone tune in!! KCOL Fort Collins, CO 0905AM ET   WDUN Gainesville, GA 0920AM ET   KOGO San Diego, CA 0940AM ET   KFBK Sacramento, CA 1038AM ET

Everybody get Rowdy.

No, seriously. Dallas Austin's new-ish/re-launched collection "Rowdy" definitely makes you want to scream in good and bad ways. Rowdy is hitting stores just before the x-mas retail non rush and it's sort of forward thinking for someone whose roots aren't really in fashion. I spent a lot of time talking with Dallas about why he decided to re-launch Rowdy and why in the world he decided to open up a retail store when retail is suffering so badly and his response was "because my gut was telling me to do it." Okay.  While I'm not sure if opening a store and launching a collection is necessarily the best thing to do in this economic environment, I do admire Dallas for his drive and his unconventional way of doing things. Hello-he's a music and business genius! He must be doing something right.  Also, did you know his musical influences are mostly in rock and alternative? Think Bauhaus (shout out to Peter Murphy) The Cure, The Smiths, Joy Division, Sisters of Mercy and of course Alice and Chains? I almost fell over when he told me that. This collection, according to Dallas embraces all of that. Hmm.

OK I know what you are thinking. How can this POSSIBLY encompass anything 120 minutes-esque? Well, to be honest it doesn't. But there is a sort of ZZ Top/"Diddy runs the City" look and feel to it. I liked it.

My personal favorite- men's underwear with a pocket for God knows what on them. I'll leave it up to your imaginations.

Sneakers with instructions on how to roll a "blunt" on the side (Mom, if you are reading this I will explain what a blunt is later.)

I kind of dig the lightning bolt t-shirts. I wonder if Dallas will let me design lightning bolt headbands for him...

Yay Dallas!

Yay Jen!!

Lia Sophia's over the top take on jewelry.

Why is it that Lia Sophia NEVER comes out with a bad collection?? Jen and I went to the launch party of Lia Sophia's spring collection at the Rose Club (different than the Rose Bar- Rose Club is located at the Plaza Hotel/condos/building on 59th street) right after I got back from Switzerland and it. was. RIDICULOUS. Dani Stahl and Elena Kiam never cease to amaze me. Here were some of my favorite pieces:

I like all of these earrings, but I REALLY love the gold with the black squares. They are so overtly "big Texan cheese" I started giggling thinking of some oil wife rockin' them at a Republican cocktail party. H-O-T.

YESSS this necklace rules!! But wearing it with just a black dress seems too plain and obvious.  I would rock it with a deep red silk dupioni dress from Calypso.

Another OTT Texas size necklace. Hello-awesome!

Holiday gift giving.

My sister Shawna just sent me this card with a message that says, "The economy sucks, let's be practical." Love it. I actually made her and my other sister something for the holidays so does that mean SHE has to make me something too?  (PS, My God given talent is picking out the best gifts EVER for people even if it has to be DYI, so if you have questions, e-mail me!!)

On location haiku.

I've been a little lax on the blogging because I've been on location shooting a show for a major network. Since they had me sign a contract preventing me from blogging/twittering/facebooking (is that even a verb?) about where I am and what I am doing, I decided to write a haiku about my last week: Snow and blizzarding

Co-op people hate fur coats

Mountain town judges me

And my birthday.

Those of you that know me well, know that I can't stand my own birthday. Not because I have an issue with getting older, I actually love the acquisition of wisdom that comes with each year. I just feel like it is an incredibly self indulgent day for unecessary reasons. But this birthday was different. I wanted the day to be dedicated to my close friends and family- The people that stuck by me when times were so tough this year I was just gonna give up and quit and when times were so amazing I couldn't believe it was really my life I was living. There are always ups and downs in life- God knows by now I've figured that out! But the people at my brunch (with the exception of few VIPs who were out of town traveling or had a scheduling conflicts) have been there for me NO MATTER WHAT.  I don't think I told them enough this year how much their friendship meant to me or how very proud I am to have such loyal, caring, inspiring, brilliant and most importantly HONEST people in my life. They make me want to be better and do better and my birthday was the day I celebrated them. And of course, you gotta love a bunch of friends that will let you be late to your own birthday brunch because you were doing a segment on Fox News at the same time!

Mark Pasetsky, former Editor-in-Chief of Life and Style magazine and current EIC of coverawards.com ALWAYS gives it to me straight. We are at times, each other's career compasses.

I love this picture of Ernest and Erica because 1) they look stunning and 2) Ern is my ex boyfriend from college and it makes me SO happy we are still so close after all of these years.

I wished for the same thing I wished for last year...

(pictures taken by the undeniably amazing Andrew Torrey)

Pictures from RKB's birthday party.

The incredibly talented Stacie Joy  (otherwise known as "the pixeltrix") just sent me these pictures from Rachel Kramer Bussel's birthday (prior to my trip to Zurich). I love these pictures for two reasons: 1) Stacie made us all look like well rested beauties and 2) I miss my super long hippie hair (Patrick cut it into a more professional TV 'do) and can't wait to grow my hair out again!

Doesn't Rachel look GORGEOUS here? Across from me is Twanna Hines, next to her is cupcake blogger extraordinaire Nichel and Cross Fit trainer and cupcake blogger Allison who completes the "Cupcakes Take the Cake" trifecta with RKB.

Of course you would expect a rainbow of cupcakes at a birthday party for a cupcake blogger! I think these were from Crumbs.

Smiles and A LOT of hair! Rachel with her friend from high school. He was so great!

I think Twanna is so awesome. I love her ability to say whatever she wants on subjects that make me blush and run into a corner hiding my face. Twanna, I need to channel more of your liberation into my life!

Zurich to NYC.

Why, oh why couldn't Swiss Air just route me through London to NYC?  This was my re-occuring thought before, during and after my flight back to Zurich. By the time I got to the Swiss Air terminal to catch my flight home I looked and was a train wreck after five straight days of no sleep and a CRAZY schedule. How do these execs. go globe trotting for weeks at a time?? Bananas! PS, Thank GOD for the Swiss Air lounge. I took over two couches, had five newspapers all around me and was typing away crazy e-mails to Liz Vap while laying down. It was PERFECTION.

The stairs to the Swiss Air lounge. Just. One. Escalator. Away.

Homeward bound. Finally.

Terminal 5.

No surprise here. Our night out in London, ended with me getting three hours of sleep and a super awake Paul driving me to Heathrow to catch my flight back to Zurich. At this point I was BEYOND exhausted, totally intolerant and all I wanted was to crash on the couches in the Swiss Air lounge. BUT THEN, I saw the shops at the British Airways Terminal 5. You've seen the commericals and WOW WOW WOW did this place look like the Time Warner Center. But better. Waay better. Unreal.

This is the Harrods duty free makeup and beauty section and fyi, this picture was taken at 6am in the morning...

Just in case you feel like purchasing a Dior handbag before breakfast...

Or a pair of Prada boots...

Night out in London.

My cousins took me to an amazing party that Saturday night. I met the London correspondent for Vanity Fair and another writer for Brides magazine living in London as well. It was SO MUCH FUN but peeps I was at this point, ready to pass out on the dance floor. Instead, Ani lent me her shoulder (btw, that's not Ani's real hair btw, it was a wig).

Did someone say food?? I have a rule to not eat anything past 8 pm, but Paul and Kavi INSISTED we get a bagel in the east end, and you know what? These bagels were f-ing fantastic. I channeled Anthony Bourdain and took a small bite of Paul's (he had a plain bagel with salted beef) P.S. when did the east end of London start looking like Williamsburg??? It was a little creepy.

Making the bagels (at 2am)....

More evidence that the east end is TOTALLY Williamsburg. I wonder if this shop really rocks...  

From Zurich to London.

The next morning after the fashion show, I got on a flight to London to visit my family. I was only going to be there for 36 hours, but the last time I was in London was YEARS ago and I really wanted to see my cousins.

This is my little cousin Ani and her sister's boyfriend Paul. After I met Kenya for lunch, I got a blow out at Top Shop (yes, I said Top Shop in Oxford Circus! 20 quid and it was awesome. Video TK), met Paul back at his office and then we all rolled out for drinks.

Ani and I after glass of wine #2 waiting for her sister Kavi and our other cousins Sangeeth and Naren to arrive. I know, I know... I'm lookin' a little rough at this point. No makeup, 4 hours of sleep for the past four days and bad face wash does not = hot pictures.

Yay Kavi!!!

Reunited and it feels so good!! I am trying to keep it REAL here, but oh. my. god. was I EXHAUSTED. Next stop, Koi for dinner then BED.