UCI Kathy visits!

Back in 1990 at the tender age of 18, about 30 of us from different walks of life entered the UC Irvine freshman dorm of "Lago" with all the excitement and anxiety that one can only feel at that age leaving home to go live at college. I met Di and she is my best friend to this day. God broke the mold after that one - - I could go on for hours about how highly I esteem my friendship with her. Another wonderful and unique gal was crazy Kathy from the Bay Area. Kathy still is one of the wittiest and quirkiest people I've ever met. Man, the 3 of us and Adam were inseparable those days - even with different majors and classes. We had, quite simply, a GREAT time - - in the most simplest of ways - not involving alcohol or partying - - but just unadulterated, clean and hilarious fun. Practical jokes, crushes on a couple athletes in our dorm, laughing till our sides hurt - -that kind of fun.

Kat has had a very interesting and colorful life in the years following UCI - - hitchhiking across New Zealand, being a nanny in Italy, etc and I've seen her here and there but not often so one can imagine the treat I had this weekend to see her and her young son as they came to visit Di and company down here in San Diego.

Life is amazing, life is great - - these moments are so wonderful - such a pleasure. I am beyond describing how happy I am for these 2 gals to have such healthy, beautiful babies - and only 3 weeks apart. It's all a miracle to me...

Click on slideshow below for more pics!

D and Kat kids

A Royal Affair

Every spring I get to do a few high end bridal shows for MBride boutique. I LOVE these shows because the owner, Michele Martin, is a cool chick with a great sense of humour, a Masters in Creative Writing and rivals me for love of the 80s. But I especially love that we wear couture, high-end gowns the likes of Monique Lhuillier, Elizabeth Fillmore and Ines Di Santo (whom I twice last year personally modeled for while she came to San Diego - see previous blogs here.)

Well, this February started the bridal season once again and we were at the U.S. Grant for the aptly-named, "A Royal Affair" after the Royal Wedding this Spring in England.

I was with some of my favorite models as usual and had the pleasure of bringing in 2 new faces - - always nice to get other gals a job!

Click on link for a video of the show - it's highend decor and a teeny bit of my friend, Michelina, and me modeling on the runway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GlqaSsazqCE

Click on picture below for a photo slideshow - - it was really hard to track down professional photos - - which is a pity - these dresses are so amazing to wear!

A Royal Affair

Q Couture - Abdul Qadir Hamidi

One kindred spirit in the designer world that I am most happy to have met just over a year ago is Abdul Qadir Hamidi. Originally from Afghanistan, Qadir now lives in Golden Hills. I feel like his designs are like wearing art - - the ethnic textures he uses and materials are amazing - - one of my favorites is his dress made from a burlap sack - - yes, I have modeled a burlap sack. I am so pleased to be involved in his projects this year and decided I am going to post some pictures of his work - some even from last year that never got up at the W Hotel taken by my husband. I am doing a lot with Qadir this year and just adore his energy - a beautiful and generous soul!

Here's a plug for his website full of my model friends: www.qadirhamidi.com

See me open his runway segment in June of 2010 wearing what I call the "Madonna 1980s Wedding Dress" - - http://www.qadirhamidi.com/bloodbank.html

Click on picture below for some older pics in his shows that I had not yet published:

Q Designs