Love.

Here's how Valentine's Day began. Ian's coffee.

When love is not madness, it is not love. ~Pedro Calderon de la Barca

Then I received this lovely valentine from my dear friend, Sheli:

Happy Valentine's Day to all. xo

Posted on February 14, 2011 by Lisa Brown and filed under Holidays.

NYC Trip Notes 2

Feast your eyes on this sweet set-up in Ian's living room.

My two days of solo urban exploring were awesome. Managed to take all the right trains. The GPS system on my new phone is kind of the best thing ever.

Friday: East Village, SoHo

Saturday: Rockefeller, 5th Ave, Central Park

They were skating to 50 Cent. Can't win 'em all, I suppose.

I also did a Times Square lightning round last night whilst cabbing to meet Ian at work. Highly efficient.

Last night, we dined at this killer Indian hole in the wall that positively dripped with strand lights. Fab.

Now we're preparing to venture out into what's expected to be the warmest day of my visit. 50 degrees. There's that number again. 50. There must be magick afoot.

That's actually his book. He's down with the Cottage Witchery. And if I don't hurry and get off this computer so we can go eat breakfast, he's certain to cast a spell on me. If I trip and fall in front of gobs of movers and shakers at the fashion show tonight, you know who to blame. Ian Dorey, your new name is Dorlock.

UPDATE: During some shopping after breakfast, the total of one of my purchases--including tax--came to an exact $50. WTF?!?

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Lisa Brown and filed under NYC, Travel.

NYC Trip Notes 1

Here I am in NYC. Fashion Week 2011. Five-star fabulous, dahling. My host, Ian, is a colorist at Bumble & Bumble in the Meatpacking District. I went straight there from the airport. Here it is. Check out the view in pic #6. That's where I set up camp for about an hour last night while Ian finished up with clients. The view doesn't suck. Lovely staff. Isis King, the transsexual contestant from America's Next Top Model, is a desk clerk. Here she is.

Hotness, no? Then we grabbed some way-too-fattening dinner and headed to Trash Bar in Williamsburg, where mi amiga, Sherri, bartends.

She's the saucy dame second from left. Yeah, the one in the miniskirt, exposing her midriff. I told you: Saucy.

Today, I'm in urban explorer mode while Ian works. Please don't let me catch the wrong trains.

Posted on February 11, 2011 by Lisa Brown and filed under NYC, Travel.

Here I Come...

“This is New York and there's no law against being annoying”

William Moses Kunstler (July 7, 1919 - September 4, 1995)

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Lisa Brown and filed under Announcements, NYC, Travel.

Sweet Justice! Bird Kills Man!

(AP/Los Angeles Times) - A Central California man who was at a cockfight died after being stabbed in the leg by a bird that had a knife attached to its own limb, officials confirmed Monday. Jose Luis Ochoa, 35, of Lamont, was declared dead at a hospital about two hours after he was injured in neighboring Tulare County on Jan. 30, the Kern County coroner said.

An autopsy concluded Ochoa died of an accidental "sharp force injury" to his right calf.

Sheriff's spokesman Ray Pruitt said it was unclear if a delay in seeking medical attention contributed to Ochoa's death.

"I have never seen this type of incident," Sgt. Martin King, a 24-year veteran of the sheriff's department, told the Bakersfield Californian.

Ochoa and the other spectators fled when authorities arrived at the scene of the fight, King told the newspaper. Deputies found five dead roosters and other evidence of cockfighting at the location, he said.

No arrests were made at the cockfight.

Read the rest of the story here.

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Lisa Brown and filed under News.

I've crossed over...

... to the dark side.

It was a "why not?" kind of day.

Thanks to colorist extraordinaire, Estevan Apodaca!

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Lisa Brown and filed under Beauty.

New Fabü

Four new Fabü features posted:

1. Lomilomi Massage

2. A Good Day to Dye (lash/brow tint)

3. Stick it to Me! (adventures in injectables and fillers)

4. Reflexology

Enjoy, dahling!

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Lisa Brown and filed under Fabü.

No one's safe in a recession...

Luxury footwear label Jimmy Choo is about to go up for sale.

Following the results of a strategic review, Choo's private equity backers have recommended putting the label up for sale.

According to Reuters, the sale could fetch about $805 million.

Posted on February 7, 2011 by Lisa Brown and filed under Fashion, News.

Death from Above 1979 Reunite!

Fantastic news, kids.

Canadian dance-punk/noise-rock duo, Death From Above 1979, are back together.

Wheeeee! Cartwheels!

I was deeply saddened five years ago when I learned the world would no longer be graced with the majesty of Sebastien Grainger and Jesse Keeler's heavy, synth-laden, seksi grooves. Today, I celebrate the resurrection of their fabulousness.

The news was confirmed via a statement from Grainger on the band's web site:

"Jesse and I have decided that what we can do together should not be denied."

What's to come? They'll let us know.

"As this all takes shape, we will reveal it to you," Grainger states. "All of it happening, as it always has, in our own way."

Fasten your seatbelts, my friends. It's ON!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2sf2-K8qFo&feature=related]

Posted on February 6, 2011 by Lisa Brown and filed under Music, News.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Welcome, Chinese year 4709 -- the Year of the Rabbit!

Traditionally, the Rabbit brings a placid year in which we can exhale deeply and mend our frayed nerves. After last year’s ferocious, battle-heavy Year of the Tiger, the Rabbit is quite welcome and needed.

I would like to see you ring in the Rabbit with the utmost civility. Chinese New Year celebrations are all about family, respect and red, red, red. This occasion is simply drenched in the festive hue.Various customs include wearing red clothing, giving money gifts in red envelopes and hanging red lanterns. It’s commonly believed that red symbolizes fire, which legendarily fends off bad luck and evil spirits. This is why firecrackers are nearly mandatory on this holiday.

Oh, another custom: It’s widely considered improper to raise your voice, tell lies, break anything or use indecent language on the first day of the year. Oh, come on, potty mouth, it’s not impossible. I was able to pull it off last year. And, trust me, if I can do it, anyone can.

I wish you a lovely year filled with all things good.

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Lisa Brown and filed under Holidays.

Brrrrrrrrr.

It's currently - 8° F.

Wish I didn't have to leave the house in 30 minutes, but it's a very important appointment.

Gotta get mah roots done.

Haaaaay!

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Lisa Brown and filed under Weather.

The White Stripes Call It Quits

The White Stripes have officially broken up. According to a statement on the band's Web site: "The White Stripes do not belong to Meg and Jack anymore. The White Stripes belong to you now and you can do with it whatever you want."

The band explains the reason for the break up is "for a myriad of reasons, but mostly to preserve what is beautiful and special about the band and have it stay that way."

I would like to personally extend thanks to Jack and Meg White for releasing this statement today rather than tomorrow. Considering tomorrow is Chinese New Year, and red clothing is customarily worn, had the Whites' statement been released then, I wouldn't have known who was celebrating CNY and who was mourning the red garb-loving White Stripes' demise.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjYklurtGG0&feature=related]

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Lisa Brown and filed under Music, News.

Spring is Near!

Considering the fact that it's currently 9°F and my pipes are frozen, it's hard to believe that spring approacheth. Nevertheless, Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this morning. This means we only have two more weeks of winter.