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How Donald Trump, The Sultan, Orlando Bloom and I Took A Quickie Trip To Dubai Without Leaving The Tarmac

Well that would be How BFF, Donald Trump, The Sultan, Orlando Bloom and I Took A Quickie Trip To Dubai Without Leaving The Tarmac

BFF and I rocked a sweet , sexy party this weekend that we must share with you STAT! Just another way we live the dream because we don't buy diaper, formula or wipes!

It's no small feat to throw an impressive bash in Tinseltown, it's either been done before, or it's about to be.  And let's face it, Angeleos are as jaded as they come; a "star-studded event" is as common as a double iced- latte and a fat-free muffin around here. For me, there really isn't anything more pleasing than an event that trumps any A- list celebrity in attendance-- and I can say The Donald's Dubai soiree didn't disappoint in that department.

Let me go ahead and say this out of the gate: Donald and His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem threw down some serious cash-o-la for this 'lil Desert Storm Comes To The City of Angels shindig. The party was in honor of the launch of their new Dubai venture, the Palm Trump International Hotel and Tower. For those who have been living on Mars the past year, that would be the much-discussed palm-tree, shaped man-made islands. Yep, they really took the whole "build it and they will come" idea and super sized it. I'm not so sure what will happen with erosion and global warming and such, but the palm tree design situation is awe-inspiring and that is just the point. We can address carbon footprint at a later date, for now I need to irresponsibly revel in the dazzle of my "trip" to Dubai.

After being in locked down with bronchitis the past week, this was my little coming out party. I made the effort, put on the "extra" pretty, and left my zip code behind to party with The Sultan and get a peek at all this "Dubai is the greatest spawn of globalization" hype. 

What I love about Trump is not his lack of humility, rather his vision and desire to be extraordinary. He believes "ordinary is for other people" and I have to agree. As outlandish and self-important as he may seem eighty-percent of the time, (which I think is just this thing he does to get people going) he is a visionary and I love a good visionary. I will throw on five-inch heels to celebrate great vision.

Upon arrival to the party location, which was an estate in Bel -Air, we were welcomed by the savvy team from KPR, and shuffled from the blue carpet by a troupe of stilt walkers into the giant domed tent. The tent was at least 50-60 feet in diameter and glowed blue. It was as if we were entering the Olympic Water Cube in Beijing only it was a circle--think Epcot center and replace the Disney characters with lots of sexy, fabulous people of varied ages featuring bling, Balenciaga and a little accessory I call booze.

Inside the blue-lit dome, pretty flowed -a- plenty. Orlando Bloom and his purple dress girlfriend stole my seat and somehow I didn't need to kick their asses, because I was pleasantly distracted by the 360-degree projection of seamless images of Dubai playing on the dome theater ceiling. 

The images displayed the Dubai skyline, alluring shopping opportunities, sleek interiors, as well as ominous water visuals which actually made me kind of want to go pee, but none the less, I was distracted enough to let Orlando and his girl get away with stealing my seat. Rule number one, when I look pretty, I act pretty. 

The IMAX-esque projected images really made me feel as if I took a quickie trip to the golden streets of Dubai sans my passport and the $2200 flight. Dubai seems very clean, sleek, sumptuous, modern, busy, rich and the kind of place with no warm memories or reality, but a very futuristic ride into another world which people most certainly will want to run away to. P.S. Dubai takes AMEX black or gold bullion and I don't think anything else.

I settled my seating issue by squishing on a corner of a seat next to this older woman dressed to the nines, and I swear she was wearing a rock so big I almost asked if I could pay rent and live there right on her finger while I saved up for my airline ticket to Dubai.

In the party's backroom, was a massive, electronically equipped model of Trump's new property in Dubai.  We're talking full sized, with blinking lights audio and visuals to boot. Somehow, before I even seem to even get to enjoy the mass creativity of the project, I go straight to wondering just how much it must have cost to transport this monstrous model, which I know lives in Dubai, because, I overheard Ivanka Trump say how surprised she was that it was here.  It cost a lot.

This whole air-conditioned, model in motion demo section was the most impressive part of the evening, it truly was a production to get that baby stateside and I like to see that team Trump went the distance. I guess when the Sultan is paying for gas, it doesn't much matter how many trips it takes to bring the mountain to Muhammad.

And by the way, I know you all want to hate Ivanka because 

1. She's stunning 2. She's brilliant and 3. She's rich.  She is very much all of that and on top of it I hate to report she's also delightfully nice, polite and humble. This isn't just a tonight kind of thing, I have interviewed her before and this is Ivanka. She was very sweet and introduced her sister Tiffany to me and said, "It looks like Tiffany will be the tallest Trump girl after all."  Again, nice and endearing too. 

As we slid out to the main area, we were presented with yet double the extravagance-- ice sculptures, overflowing caviar, Middle -Eastern inspired eats catered by Wolfgang Puck, fully stocked bars and gorgeous servers sprinkled about. Oh, and did I mention the glamorous Miss Christina Aguilera stepped on stage to perform a few songs? She also said she loved me--okay, she said she loved us all and we love her right back. My friend Andrew and I slow danced to her rendition of Etta James' At Last. When was the last time you experienced a live performance by Christina right there in front of you in such an intimate space? Exactly, not so often. So don't worry, I embraced the moment for us all.

After all the drinking, dancing, sweet desserts and delicious eye candy, it was time for Cinderella to head back to the beach. Upon departure, in true Trump fashion, each guest was handed a black attaché case also known as "the gift bag."  As we boarded the shuttle back to the car, feeling very Apprentice-like with attaché in hand....suddenly, the same images I had seen projected in the blue dome appeared in a small cut out rectangle in my case, there was a video playing, I turned to my friend Karen and whispered "why is my case showing video?"  She checked hers, in moments her case also glowed. 

It turns out, The Donald trumped even himself in the closing ceremonies of his event. Each guest was given an Apple i touch, which had the Trump Dubai video pre-downloaded. Yes, Karen and I were like giddy kids leaving the prom, not so much for the gift itself, but for the wow factor.

This is the kind of take away I like, a very well thought out and creative campaign, one that leaves a lasting impression, literally. Whoever was in charge of that decision, if you are single, let's get hitched.

The Donald delivered a wondrous evening of decadence, a perfectly mixed crowd of young, old, culture, comfort, and style-- but most of all, he had us so intoxicated with wonder each step of the way that his event also trumped all of Tinseltown's regular party hoppers who were present at the party. No one seemed to care that Adrien Grenier, Hilary Swank, and Pete Wentz were a few feet away. That kind of Celeb overshadow is worth the flight alone in this town.

Overall yes, this party was over the top, extravagant, dazzling and dare we say ostentatious? That is Trump's brand, it's who he is and what he is about. While I certainly want to know what the eco version of Trump looks like, I'll have to address that when I see him next. For now, he swooped me off to Dubai, I didn't even have to pack a bag and I have a new gadget to remind me often, that ordinary really is for others. 

Quelqu'un M'a Dit. She May Be A Husband Stealer mais J'adore Carla Bruni

So only a few months after his divorce French president Nicolas Sarkozy got hitched with Italian born heiress , former supermodel and now songstress Carla Bruni.  This has yes, slightly caused a bitter whirlwind in not only the political arena but internationally as well. We love a good first lady who colors outside the lines don't we? I do. I plan to be one of those first ladies.

Yes, she also got naked with Mick Jagger, oh, and Eric Clapton. Even better, a girl with experience,  which by the way leads a woman make better choices when they matter most down the line.

Look,  I hate a drop dead gorgeous husband stealer as much as the next girl , but firstly she didn't steal him and secondly all supermodelness aside, Miss Bruni is a delicious , sultry singer. 

I have been obsessed with her for sometime , I just adore her raspy , deep gentle yet full voice, she makes me feel as if I am in my old neighborhood in paris, rain drizzling outside and the day full of beauty, and promise and potential of  love, romance and pure parisian everything around the corner. I can taste the boujoulais on my lips as I sip it slowly,  while people watching  at my little neighborhood cafe near St Germain,  as if it was just this afternoon. 

I feel all I love about Paris when I hear her voice.

Truthfully, she's a smart cookie. She is centered, tells it like it is and holds her ground, all with grace and intrigue and to me that makes her allowed in our BFF circle. 

And for the record, I am not so much a fan of her husband, at all actually.

The Girl with No CableTV for 5 Years Suddenly Turns Addict

bitter: I've been really watching a lot of TV since I got cable all of 2 months ago (and only got it because I bought a very sexy 42" HDTV). Even worse, the new seasons haven't even begun. I blame some of it on the olympics, but most of it on showtime and the discovery health channel.

happy: i get to watch weeds, madmen, dexter, john and kate + 8 and medical mysteries and escape reality completely!

How Sleeping One Full Calendar Day Made Me Realize I'm Not That Important

I have had some cold, slash flu, slash, big bronchial, icky coughing up a lung thing for about 10 days total now. It has been this thing that creeped up on me and has sly-ly just proceeded to get worse (BITTER) 

Yesterday I woke up at 5:15 PM yes I said five o'clock in the afternoon... I went to be at 10:30 pm so go ahead count the hours...17 hours of sleep -- almost a full day gone simply by letting go and honoring my need to rest. No one really called or missed me that much and that felt SO INCREDIBLY FABULOUS!!! The world still went on without me, my business didn't crash, the dog didn't die and my friends were just busy and my phone also felt happy to be in the "off" position. Sure emails are in the overload unanswered file, but we're all just fine and I'm just not that important and god bless that. Sometimes I need to be reminded that things can get handled without my interjection. Miracle.

 I had this fantasy if I just embraced the illness and let my body rest I'd wake up ready to go surf and work out and get back to business. Yeah, well, not so much. I woke up and was basically starving, had a shower, ate some food, and slid right back into horizontal position A , Olympics on and Princess (my dog) at my feet--and cough in full swing. The body says it's not so ready yet and this time I am going to let go and give in. Until Saturday only though.

All I have to say to body is she best be ready and back to sexy by Saturday , because BFF and I have this saucy sexy event to attend, yeah this little shindig for his excellency Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem and Donald Trump -- with a lil background music by Ms. Christina Aguilera. And I have a feeling my international future ex-husband is there waiting for me. Obviously.

A Wedding Present

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As bff stacie mentioned here, we had a fake wedding on the weekend of her birthday gala in Costanoa. It would have been perfect if I hadn't passed out at 8pm on the fake wedding night. Most of her nearest and dearest were there and some really couldn't tell if we were serious about being a real couple or not.
Now.. let me give you a little background on our coupling... a few months back, an executive at my workplace essentially called me a lesbian to the other members of the executive staff. She basically said that I had a girlfriend (bff) that I should "make out with in private"- I am not sure she was really thinking clearly announcing this in a management meeting. It was so appauling and over-the-top, that I was just mostly in shock, as if someone in my highschool class was playing a joke on me or called me a name and I had to laugh it off. After about a week, it truly set in. It set in that maybe I wouldn't progress in the company, now that the other members of the executive team thought differently of me... maybe my chances for growth were severely damaged. Needless to say, I've tried to move past it all, but what lingers is the joke between bff and I - the joke that we actually are lesbian lovers. ahhh, bitter - happy.

Anyhow, bff''s step-mom and dad were at the weekend festivities and I loved hanging out with both of them. When we were out to breakfast the first morning, I completely fell in love with a ring that her step-mom was wearing. I talked to her about it and she said she would try to find me one in her travels. A few weeks later, she sent it to bff to give to me and bff said- "she sent it as a wedding gift. Isn't it great being married?"

Princess Makeup Artist

My new career:

Bff Stacie has a post brewing up regarding the princess/4 year old birthday party so i won't go into much detail but... I am proud to say I was working some TotalBeauty.com magic for the princesses.

By the way, every girl should be able to look in the mirror and feel like this (it's pure joy - not horror for you pesimists)

xoxo- the bff princesses

Sand Swimming

How Will I ever FInd Anything From Here On Out?!

Today is a very bitter bummer day.  

Firstly I got a ticket for stopping less than perfectly at a stop sign in my neighborhood.  (WHATEVER) It's my fabulous assistant/PR princess extraordinaire Jessica's not-really-but -kinda-for now, last day at The Bungalow.... She starts law school at Pepperdine this week. We both know that isn't going to stop her from being a part of things, on some level here, but at least for the next few weeks, I will have to find a way to survive my everydays without her.

I have no idea how I will locate anything, get the 101 things on my to do list done or even find my bra and underwear each day.... but I will-- it will just be less sparkly without her by my side day in and day out telling me what to do, how to do it and make it seem fun.

She is amazing wonderful, sexy, smart and really a super hero. I am the luckiest business owner and mess to have found her, she is a keeper on every level. So Jess, Good luck on the new adventures of the law for the next few weeks, and we will be here waiting for you to get back in the Bungalow mix!

Dr. Obagi at Nordstrom - NASA, We have Issues...

Saturday Morning lift off:
I awoke on saturday morning after a gentle evening of sleep getting ready to go to Nordstrom with bff stacie to receive our FREE one-on-one consultation with Dr. Obagi himself. She was to pick me up at 9:45 for our 10:30 arrival in Topanga Canyon at the new Nordstrom. At 9:22am I received the text "On my way for our bff shopping day! Xo." I jumped out of bed and took a quick shower, threw on a floor length tie died dress and we were off to the races. When I came downstairs for the pickup, there she was, with bells (she accessorized with a pretty green necklace!)

We arrived before the doors to Nordstrom opened. Needless to say, we had great, shaded parking.

We eventually got in and looked at all the oooos and ahhhhs that Nordies has to offer. $800 handbags and $400 blouses. Surely a sign that we don't make enough money... though I don't think you ever do...

The Doctor Himself:
Dr. Obagi sat with bff stacie for about 20 minutes. He was very caring and explained what was going on with her skin. When I slid into the chair, he took all of 3 minutes and 24 seconds to tell me my skin is fine and 'come in and get a blue peel for those wrinkles.' I was almost bitter that I didn't have more problems with my skin so that I could take full advantage of this FREE one on one consultation with the Dr. - but bff stacie was bitter and happy with the consult.







The rest of the day:
Since I didn't have to spend hundreds on products, I wound up spending hundreds in bff's sister's department. We said it was all in the name of "Back to School" plus we don't have to buy diapers, formula and wipes.

Bitter Barrettes

Okay, we need to address a major fashion/beauty malfunction on the USA womens gymnastics team immediately:hair and makeup.

 Can we say WTF is up with the way, simply just bad super 80's hair situation!? From those awful larger than life scrunchies in perfectly cliche red , whites or blue to the 22 bobby pins oddly placed smack on top on their heads and those silver hairclips on every side of every girls head? Seriously, who is signing off on this? And don't even get me started on their potential drag queen careers post gymnastics stint --the random  make up applications scare me.

 I am officially demanding that a Hollywood based hair and make up team be a requirement as part of the team for  the 2012 Olympics-- not negotiable people. 

Totalbeauty.com why don't you go ahead and "own this" project.

If nothing else,  I hope these athletes are scoring a MAJOR sponsorship from Goody if they aren't bringing home Gold.

ps I heart Shawn Johnson and Nastia.

Sent from my sexy brilliant blackberry.

To Work Or Not To Work.

I just don't feel much like working today, it's Friday and I feel quiet and don't want to be bothered. Sometimes you need to just embrace the nothing. 

I told BFF we need to start posting more pix, so this is my big happy post of the day a photo!

This is from my FABULOUS most AMAZING and perfect birthday weekend up in San Francisco and Costanoa (costanoa.com) a few weeks back. Costanoa is one of my most favorite spots on Earth, period. And to have all my favorite peeps there together all 22 or so of us to celebrate my new birthday was simply perfect. These are three of my dearest and favorite people too, BFF , Darrell and Ian--we pretty much look like a JCREW ad here, the whole weekend looked like this, our photos are delicious, the weekend was delicious. Oh by the way, that weekend was me and BFF"s fake wedding weekend too --which was sooooo funny. Ian was a mess, and the rest of us reveled in his pain. Pretend weddings are fun.

Diamonds Are a Girls...

not so much... sometimes a cz from walmart and some kiss glue on nails do the trick too... well, at least for one night. happy to wear- bitter its not real!

Diapers, Formula, Wipes

Well, since we don't have to buy any of these, bff and I, post obagi beauty event (bitter we have old unhealthy skin) decided we were famished... Instead of sliding into oh , let's say someplace simple or even a drive thru... We slid right into the valet at Mastros.

Let us say that you don't just generally "slide" into Mastro's sans reservations on a Thursday night 8pm, beverly hills, but we approached the maitre d and said "hi we're karen and stacie, la's biggest optimists ...table for 2??

Darling Cliff swooped us to the back room tiny table for 2 perfecto! Ps: bff has a lil crush on cliffy...

Most people wait days or weeks to come here to celebrate something big. bff and I come to treat ourseleves to way overpriced delicious goodness in proper supermodel lighting just to remind ourselves we're alive and beautiful and we have really awesome smooth healthy skin when in the proper lighting (dimmed--very dimmed).

Here's to pretty -and full.

Sent from my sexy brilliant blackberry.

Not So Bitter Happy Sister

So I sent an email out to the LTD crew that the column I was invited to write was finally up on savvyauntie.com. The column is my   day in the life notes as a fellow aunt to my two cool nephews, bff's niece and nephew, andrews kids...and any other kids in our circle who see us as their "aunties".

My sister emailed me "honestly, why do you feel the need to do this?"

Do what? Express myself? Aim to be a better writer with a wider platform? Or feel the need to share it with those I love and value?
If she's irritated about divulging her kids names I get that and I can not name names that's fair she's their mom and has a right to protect them by all means. But otherwise her less than supportive words felt hurtful and just not very loving or supportive and I'm bitter and not at all happy.

I want to practice my writing , while covering a variety of lifestyle topics...and I feel soo honored to have the forum here, on The Huffington Post and now savvyauntie that I wish she could recognize this and offer a more loving and supportive way to share her feelings or offer feedback.

Maybe next time. Or not.

Ps- my happy; spending the day at the beach with bff and sophie, alex and jules and bff standing up on the surfboard looking like a hottie on Saturday!!!!

Sent from my sexy brilliant blackberry.

Bitter and Happy Office Life

8-08-08

It has been a bitter happy week indeed. I know that today is the opening ceremonies for the Olympics and BFF is happy that it is starting and bitter that she is not there reporting on the front lines when (hottness) Phelps wins all 8 of his golden metals! I could rant on about all the bitter happy thoughts I had this week... but ultimately, I will spare you the details. I will just share the happiness of going to see the faint play last night at the Henry Fonda Music Box in Hollywood. I think some of the happiest people on earth were in attendence! Dance, Dance!