Live...from the Malibu Chili Cook-off

Updated Aug. 31, 2008

Well not really live...but close. Here are some pics from today at the Chili Cook-off. I finally got to have my beer and chili.













The Michael Craig Band - incredibly talented local kids. They sound like The Dave Matthews Band. AMAZING. Check out their music.



















Me and the hubby. We parked at Ralph's in the Colony and rode our beach cruisers over to the the cook-off.



















Malibu fashion - yes even at the chili cook-off it's important to keep up appearances. Chanel, Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton everywhere. It was exhausting just looking at all these girls trying to out-do each other.













Leaza and her friends


















We took a break from the cook-off and rode our bikes down to the pier to have a few cocktails at the Beachcomber. Then we decided to go back to the cook-off and watch more music.

All in all a very fun day :)

What are the odds

Sunset Room on Zuma Beach

Apparently good when you go out to the local bar to party on. That's what we did after an hour at the Chili Cook Off ( my hubby's words exactly were "let's blow this popsicle stand" ). So the only really good local bar in our opinion is the Sunset Room

When we walk in, our favorite seating area is occupied by this really nice couple who are kind enough to let our party of six ( me, hubby, Tate, her boyfriend and his parents )join them.

Come to find out he is a music producer. His name is Terence Davis and he owns GREAT MUSIC. Check out his bio. The guy obviously knows his stuff and he just loved Tatum ( he called her "Juno" all night which is exactly her personality ) - so much so that he asked her to come to his recording studio to give her input on the new Disney soundtrack he is working on. CRAZY stuff especially since Tatum wants to be in this industry. Her goal is to write for Rolling Stone someday ( which is why she started her blog Scratchd Vinyl ).

So Tatum woke up bright and early and is at this recording studio, living a dream. You go girl!

The Biggest Social Event of the Year

I kid you not folks. The Annual Chili Cook Off hosted by the Kiwanis Club is Malibu's biggest social event of the year.

We are a rural town - a beach town mind you that has some of the most famous people in the world as residents - but make no mistake, this is a rural town. ( That's Nicole Richie and Brody Jenner on the Ferris Wheel two years ago ).




We went to "opening night" last night. Please remind me not to do that again ( I live here and I still don't learn from the previous year ). We saw Brooke Burke and David Charvet ( pic below is not from the cook off - but you get the idea ) - they didn't look this happy though. I don't blame them. It's like going to opening night of the biggest blockbuster of the year. You go because everyone else is going - or if you have young kids - because you have to. Since Tatum and her boyfriend Bobby were going and Bobby's parents too ( they are loads of fun ) we decided to go anyway. Besides, my youngest Leaza was roaming around there with her friends ( as was all of Malibu High practically ). So I knew we could spy on her a little too. That's always fun ( not ).

We may go again today - this time for the actual chili and beer like I wanted to last night and never got to :( The chili doesn't start until today - and since I have memory loss year after year it seems like I have to learn my lesson all over again! Crap!

A New Era

Going back into retail is a scary proposition even to the most experienced in this industry. This a full time job - and then some. The "and then some " for me is also the fact that I manufacture almost all of the goods I will be carrying at Revolution Malibu.

The lease is signed and now the demo is in progress.















The front of the store

Todd doing some work on the space.

My neighbors CLOUT RIDESHOP ( owned by Alex Von Furstenburg - Diane's son ).

View of PCH ( I'll take better ones - this does not do it justice ). Just beyod the palm trees is Zuma Beach. The deck upstairs with the umbrellas is SPRUZZO, a really great italian restaurant and that balcony has a great view of the beach.

Input on decor is welcome...you all are soo talented and I love hearing your ideas!

Lakeview Terrace

Just saw the trailer for "Lakeview Terrace". I did the wrap gifts for this movie last year ( above ).






















Very exciting to see it on the big screen.

Hair diaries part II

The famous Rudy's Barbershop in Santa Monica, CA.



















A little better pic of Tate as I promised her I would post.

Hippie Malibu teen Leaza ( the baby of our blended family ). Her haircut is next. They start school next week after the biggest Malibu event: The Chili Cookoff! Yay! Everybody is really excited.

Hair diaries

Here is the pic that was deciding factor in Tatum's new look.



I have been saving this pic for me thinking that someday ( when I'm 60 ?) I would be able to grow my hair long. NOT POSSIBLE. I have had short since I was a kid.

Here is the pic I took in to Rudy's to get my haircut.

Now here I am after I got the chop ( below ). They do listen thankfully.

That's why she let me take her to the same place and pick out her haircut. She trusts her mom.

A battle many parents don't win. I did, thank-you -very -much. She's happy too. Win-win.

I freakin' love you John Varvatos

Thank god I walked into Fred Segal Santa Monica yesterday. I am always in search of great merchandising ideas ( and probably will continue to be ) - now more than ever - so when I walked into the John Varvatos mini store in Fred Segal I was in H-E-A-V-E-N.















All I can say is OMG!















Thank god I found pics on the internet ( they are everywhere-until I can find a photographer to attach it to than there is no use naming a source ).

Stealing this idea for one wall in the store FOR SURE. The stereo speakers are sheer brilliance. I think I may do a neutral wall, like a mocha colored, with the black speakers and surround them with colorful rock posters. At the Fred Segal J.V. outpost they recycled a drum into a side table.

Must have.

Saturdays

I won't have many more Saturdays that I can just go and hang out with my kids when I want to with Revolution Malibu opening soon.

Today I took Tatum to get a haircut. Then we went to Abbott Kinney to just hang out and look at the merchandising in all of the cool shops.

It was a lot of fun.

P.s. Tatum thinks she looks like one of the Ramones. I think she looks fab - this pic doesn't do her "rock chick" haircut justice.

J'adore - so rock n roll

Loving these pics of Sienna...she looks great, and so chic but with a rock n roll vibe.

Not at all like the "homewrecker" the press portrays her as.

She does have an issue with married men - which is sooo obvious ( Balthazar Getty and Jude Law ). But, let's face it, if a married man can't keep his pants zipped ( and away from the paparazzi ) the blame shouldn't all be on her.

...and so it begins - again

My daughter has joined the blogging revolution.

This kid is very vocal - much like her mother :)

Quite the potty mouth - again - much like her mother... BTW she ain't apologizing either.

Probably because she's 20 and she doesn't have to ( in her opinion ).

Read her stuff here.

Her first post is pretty good...and I'm not just saying that because I'm her mom.

She's a pretty smart cookie that kid.

Color combo

Loving the combo of neutral and bright...
Knack reminded me of how wonderful this color combo is.
Perfect for "beach grunge".

I can't remember where I found this photo...apologies.

Perfect though don't you think?

Feelin' Fall

You know it's starting to feel like fall - especially when M.K. wears a great flannel like this one.

Personally, I would wear it like this:

With a white Hanes men's muscle tank ( anything too tight looks contrived - don't forget the black La Perla lace bra underneath )...



















and some really old, soft 501's, faded in all the right areas...















I really like all the gold necklaces M.K. is wearing.




















... of course I need to add the watch...
and maybe the hat if it's a little chilly :)

Contemplating color

Have any ( all ) of you seen the new Domino Magazine? OMG! The use of color in designer Matthew Williamson's house is amazing.

It's actually made me want to infuse some serious color into the new design of Revolution Malibu.

I especially dig the teal blue walls with the bright pink doors.

Very funky, very vibrant and very fun!

I love the way he displays jewelry on buddha statues around the house ( above and below ). Stealing this idea for sure!

Yum and Fun

Going to Santa Barbara overnight for some r&r. Yay!!!

Brophy Bros. for oysters and seafood! Yummy!!!

More pics when I return.

The Grind

Going to the gym today 'cause if I am going to keep up with the Jones', I need to look at least as good as Lisa Rinna - who is older than me and looks pretty fab ( talkin about the bod peeps ).

Madonna turns 50 tomorrow. While she's blowing out those candles, she blows most of us away with how fit she is...no, I don't want to be that muscular.

Back to the grind...the elyptical machine awaits.

Design Time

It's time to take the design of our new retail space seriously since we have dotted the i's and crossed the t's.

The guys over at Clout have inspired a more "grunge beach" look with concrete floors, recycled wood siding accents from old Malibu beach homes and pulley style clothing racks. Very green and very creative.

We need a little more chic in our "grunge beach" look at Revolution Malibu so this picture is my starting point.


















Please forgive me for not remembering where I found this picture.
If any one knows please comment or email me so I can give credit where credit is due.


The color on the wall is a little dark for me, but it's the vibe I'm going for. I want a smooth textured plaster on the walls. American Clay makes an eco friendly plaster that's really easy to use. They have wonderful colors to choose from.

There are bamboo floors now ( that I really don't dig ), so we need to pull those out and get down to the concrete... we'll also give the concrete a little buff to make it look good.

Check out the wood on the wall( is that wood or maybe metal ? ). I want displays made out of the recycled wood similar to that and what Clout used in their space.

There is a wall that separates the front of the store from the back office - which will now become a studio space. Check out this pic ( below, via California Magazine ) of this fab table that these surfers use in their workshop.I want a couple of those for sure.




















I need organization back in the studio for all of the art I use in my Project Ecoart line so I found these drawers that architects use. They are perfect and very industrial looking ( pic via L.A. Magazine ).

Now I need some really good ideas fro dressing rooms. Any good ideas out there?

Inspiring minds want to know

As a gal in my 40's who did a lot of working out in my 20's and 30's, I must say I haven't lost all my shape but I haven't been the most dedicated person to my workout. When you get to this age it starts to show, believe me.

I have dabbled in the desire to get back to hardcore training - especially when I see Madonna at 50 - but I can tell you that nothing has inspired me more than this fabulously fit 48 year old named Karen Pilote.


I found her tranformation on bodybuilding.com when I was looking for a diet to gain a little muscle and lose fat. Basically I wanted to get inspired to be really toned and in shape


Check out the pics below...she did this at 46 years old in only 10 months!!!! No private chef, no plastic surgery. Just plain old dedication, perserverance and willpower. AMAZING.

I encouraged her to share her wealth of information and thankfully she took my advice! I will not miss a post! You can find Karen's blog here.

Keepin' up with the Jones'

I must admit, I have always been the neighborly kind. I am the one who will knock on your door and welcome you to the neighborhood. So, of course I am getting to know who eveyone is in my new retail 'hood, and boy have I found out a wealth of information.

I introduced you to Clout the other day. They are my most friendly neighbor especially since they were gracious enough to accept my proposal to change spaces ( they were using the one I am moving into as storage and it turned out that the one next to them was available so it all worked out ).

As you get to know people, you find out information about who they are, their family etc... Most of the kids that work there are from Malibu High and I know alot of them from hanging out with my kids. One of the owners is Craig -very good looking with a fab South African accent - who runs the store. The shocker came when I found out the majority owner of Clout is Alex Von Furstenberg, son of the incredible designer Diane Von Furstenberg ( and was married to Alexandra - check out her family tree - seriously impressive ).

Call me "green" ( not the eco friendly kind in this case ), but for as long as I have lived here, and how gossipy everyone is in this town, I can't believe I am just finding this out!













Alex and his fiance Ali

We're talking about a prince ( a real one ) who's mother is one of the biggest designers of our time, and who grew up on the east coast ( Manhattan ) - owns a surf/skate shop in Malibu ???


CRAZY...but very cool.

I had the pleasure of meeting Alex's fiance Ali a few times, since her design office is at the Clout location. Not only is Ali beautiful but she is very sweet!

My assistant is cuter than your assistant...

Rachel...she's my secret weapon.

Ob - sessed

with my new uniform








Oliver Peoples "Harlot" sunglasses



















Gold Rolex Presidential















Old school vintage rock n roll t-shirt, deconstructed and re-sewn to fit sexy - not loose.




















Black skinny jeans and bad ass black high heeled boots





















If it's chilly - which it is by the beach - a long Missoni cardigan.

L-U-V.