Festival of Brides - Temecula, Ponte Winery

Festival of Bride's ~ Temecula from Impressive Creations on Vimeo.

I found this of an upscale bridal show I did last year for M Bride. It's called the Festival of Brides and there are about 4 or 5 in Southern California each spring. I do usually 2 of them. This videographer is stupendous at catching all the vendors and the glorious hot day out in wine country Temecula, CA. These shows are so detailed and beautiful and our couture gowns are amazing! I am so lucky to model in them!

**For those not wanting to watch the whole video (it is really well-done) you can see me at 1:40ish and 2:30ish and the very end with the girls. But it's worth it to watch the cinematography of the whole video. Courtesy of Impressive Creations.

Facebook Carrousel du Louvre Video

Ahhh - one has to have Facebook to see this link - I think. The socialite who so aptly filmed and edited it on her Flip camera has not posted it on the more accessible YouTube - but only on Facebook. It's fairly well done - so I hope you can watch it. And you can see me dragging that pedigreed French Poodle across the stage ;)

https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1645593019275

Carrousel de Louvre Fashion Show

Another Leonard Simpson show this Spring was the wonderful Carrousel de Louvre runway show. Styled by celebrity artists (hair by William Williams and makeup by James Overstreet) - we had a wonderful show including designs by Pilar Macchione, Sisa Designs and opening with Prada suits. Coming from a theater background, I appreciate creative and artistic concepts and I loved our circular stage that at times looked like a merry-go-round when we circled it all together. Also, our painted Parisian backdrop was superb! Jolie!

Another treat was our finale with my beloved "Phantom of the Opera" music - - can't go wrong with that. It suited our finale "Masquerade" walk and, remember, PTO takes place in the Parisian Opera house... (insert one of my famous singing high notes here!)

Click on slideshow below!

Carrousel de Louvre show

Beauty Expo - February 2011

Oh, yes, I am way behind again in blogging. It is hard to be a natural story-teller and also have so many pictures to log through - - I want to get it all up but it's hard to. Pardon the tardiness.

This was a lovely Saturday afternoon in San Diego for the Beauty Expo on the roof of the Westgate Hotel. I modeled for Q Designs (Qadir Hamidi) whom I have modeled a lot for in 2011, especially.

We did 2 shows that day (you may note the 2 different hairstyles I had as the wind blew out my first pinned curls after the first show). Outside of us changing on the rooftop behind a partition that blocked us from the stage but NOT the above windows of the hotel and yes, there were many men looking down on us like perverts - it was an immensely lovely show and day. I even had my stepdaughter to help out as a 'dresser' backstage. She was really good, too, after I instructed her to stay calm no matter how hectic it can be. I was proud of her.

Click below for pictures:

Bridal and Beauty Expo 2011

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

Pilar Macchione Couture on KUSI news

click on the following link to see the news segment: http://www.kusi.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=5700535&flvUri&partnerclipid

I modeled on Sunday morning for Pilar Macchione - - whom I think is a wonderful, young talent. The dress I have on is inspired by Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven" - a favorite dark poet of mine and it also was the dress I modeled for her in the first runway show I did for her at Xmas time. I told her that if I wasn't planning on being cremated that I'd want to be buried in it - - it suits my hour-glass figure just fine and the shoulder feather and garnish is exquisite. It's even amazingly comfortable to wear!

I also appreciate the shout-out twice of my name - once from Leonard and then by Pilar pronouncing it as 'El-za' like my German brother-in-law does. :)

Lastly, look for my Tyra Banks 'bam' moment at 2:34 when I give a backview of the gown and a 'bam!' look perfectly on the beat over my shoulder right into camera. Not everyone gets it but modeling is all about beats - - my music foundation, once again, comes in handy.

It's always amusing to model on TV - - the lighting is iffy at best and the cameraman gets right up to you and almost knocks you down on the platform for his closeups. I know I do a good job, though - have been doing it a long time and personality, being relateable and accessible are my strong points. Again - a lifetime of performing makes me say before I start, "know your audience!" Especially for the very young teen models with me... ! ;) They'll learn in time...

Photoshoot - Animal Fashions by Jordan

I've been modeling a ton the past couple months - - amazing that people hire me but it's a great time with interesting, talented people! Back in February was a show and subsequent photoshoot for Animal Fashions by Jordan - shot by Slade Hammer. I was thrilled to do this as Jordan is a philanthropist and animal activist. Her amazing hand painted animals on hand dyed denim made in the U.S.A. are available through her website to raise consciousness and money for endangered wildlife. All proceeds above the cost go to a non profit conservancy that supports the animal depicted on her fashions.
http://animalfashionsbyjordan.com/index.html

My dear model friend, Feben, got me this gig which was lovely because I hook up girls all the time since I've been around forever in the San Diego industry and have a lot of contacts. Even more fun about this project besides being proud of anything to do with animals - - was that we first did a live show at her showroom which was transformed into a fashionable luncheon with the society types that often go to the charity shows I model for Leonard Simpson (and blog about on here). The fashionable ladies dressed up, lunched, bought the clothes and watched our presentation of the clothes as well as our photoshoot that we did while they checked out the clothing.

A wonderful gig! Thanks to Jordan and her family. Click on slideshow below for some of the untouched pictures - - all photography courtesy of Slade Hammer.

Animal Fashions by Jordan

Dream Rangers

Tear-jerker alert!

I sobbed through this whole video. It is one of the best uses of advertising that I have ever seen - akin to those Olympic period Visa commercials that put a sob in my throat. This one beats them out, though - - and, unbelievably, it is for a Taiwanese Bank commercial! The message from the true story it is based on rings loud and clear - - live life to the fullest, follow your dreams, be amongst those who love and support you.... Amen!

Human Planet

In the vein of the spectacular series, "Planet Earth" that my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed a few years back, is another series from the BBC this time about humans on Planet Earth. Alas, this is not about the average human and families - but those who live around the world in the most dangerous and extraordinary places. Where every day is a struggle just to survive, to eat, to drink water, against Mother Nature. My wonderful Aunt Gini sent me this link and I already know P and I will be keeping an eye out for it on NetFlix or the BBC website. The sweeping cinematography is just as stunning as the subject matter. We LOVE these kinds of shows and I think all children and teens in America should watch this series to help gain a perspective about how much grander and harder Life is than the clothing brand they wear or the Smartphone they carry.

Cats and Kittens

No - - it's not my tabby cat, Jordy. What you see here is a story I have been too busy to blog about since moving in to our new home on a canyon last July. One evening I was in the computer room upstairs which has a view of the canyon past our backyard. I heard my cat Jordy growling at the window where he liked to sit perched, looking at everything and nothing. I figured he was growling at the neighbor cat that he didn't like but he kept growling so long that I finally got up to look out the window and see what he was looking at. Well, the neighbor cat was there, indeed, on the big boulder at the end of the canyon. But he wasn't what Jordy was grolwing at. Neighbor cat was puffed up 3 times his size, on top of the boulder, frozen and staring down at something 3 feet below him in front of the rock. It was getting darker so I peered with my blind eyes at what was camouflaged and staring at my yard. It was a bobcat big kitten. Oh, yeah. BOB CAT!

He was chilling, staring into our yard, probably checking us newbies and all our animals out. He obviously wasn't hungry for I don't see how he could not know the neighbor cat was frozen in fear right above him on the boulder. Well, he was small but beautiful and I immediately grabbed the closest camera possible to snap pictures - it was my little point-and-shoot Pentax - - not the greatest quality in the lowlight as you can see. Once I shot he started moving, walking alongside the top embankment at the edge of our yard - - look carefully - you see him in the pic.

I ran downstairs and into the yard - where he immediately stopped and crouched low. He then lifted his head straight up (think ET rising on hid long neck) to look at me (see pic).

We had a stare-off for a few seconds with Fred the Basset whining behind me since he followed me outside into the temporary dog cage we had erected at the time until we built our fence (see pic).

It was all pretty cool - Jordy was still upstairs watching from the window (see pic).

The bob cat was the size of a big housecat - - you could tell he was still a half-grown kitten - probably a year old. He has the black pointy lynx ears and the white bobbed tail like cotton or a rabbit. Well, I couldn't have him feel so comfortable around my yard with all my animals that he might want to eat some day when hungry - - so I did what our HOA said to do if we ever saw coyotes or bobcats - - run them off, throw something to scare them. I hated to do it, but it was necessary. My cats and the chihuahua could be prime rib to it and it's siblings (I am sure there was a litter of big kittens nearby - not just him)...so I threw a stick and yelled at him and he quickly bounded off like a jackrabbit through the canyon.

Happy Valentine's Day

Reception Photos

You saw a couple pics and blog in the Fall here about our 1 year anniversary and wedding reception party that we threw at my parents' home in late September. My photographer friend, Heidi Lee, shot 1300 pics and it understandably took me some time to review such large files. I finally narrowed it down to 200 to put on a flickr website and feature everyone who went there.

Again, it was such a wonderful warm late afternoon/evening party in the presence of loved ones. Thanks, again - to everyone for coming out to play! We love you and appreciate you all ...oxoxo

http://www.flickr.com/photos/elsawedding/

Shark Attacks...

...and cleans my home!!

I always liked cleaning. My parents instilled a good cleaning, take-care-of-your-things and organization ethic that I am glad to have as an adult, wife, mom#2, and homeowner.

We live on a canyon and with a big yard. We also have 4 animals. The dogs, especially, make the floors dirty enough that I truly have to clean every other day. Our Brazilian cheerywood laminate floors are lovely but do NOT clean easily. You cannot use a regular mop, a lot of water or just any chemical on these floors. I also tried the Swiffers - nyit!

I searched online (and remember how much I hate spending time online) for homemade cleaning recipes and people's opinions. One time I made a concoction that had me 2 hours on hand and knees spraying a small patch of floor and then having to polish it off with a special dry cloth. It killed my back and took too long and wasn't worth it -still leaving a slightly sticky residue. And, remember, with the dogs I would have to do this every other day - forget it!

Then a few weeks back we got the CostCo coupons in the mail and there was a $25 off coupon for the Shark steam mop. I just knew it would work.

I LOVE MY SHARK STEAM POCKET MOP!!! It not only disinfects, but it is easy to use, is lightweight, with swivel steering and interchangeable heads that make it fit into any nook and cranny. I actually look forward to using it!

I am such a cleaning nerd that when one of my sisters visited us I brought it out for her to try knowing she would appreciate it's cleaning attack and ease. She actually said, "It's fun to use." I know my sister enough to know she'd feel that way!

It's pricey, (website says $149) but you can probably still buy it at Costco for around $100 without the coupon. We bought the steam pocket lighter version for only $75 and it works great! I give it 5 out of 5 stars!

I heart Groupon

I just got turned onto Groupon - - I never thought I would use it. But early this week a deal came on for a month of unlimited Bikram Yoga sessions in La Jolla for only $39. I immediately jumped on it and told my husband as well. When I first met him he used to be a regular yogi and looked yummy healthy. He got me into it for only about a month before I realized I just can't afford it and dedicate the timeframe needed for it. It is a 1.5 hour class and you have to get there early to ensure a spot and then stay after waiting to take a shower since it is practiced in some serious heat. So you dedicate about 3 hours to it - more than that, I think, since this particular studio is far away in La Jolla from where we live. I don't mind dedicating 2 hours to the nearby 24HourFitness but 3 hours plus daily is a lot of time away from home, family, my animals and more..
http://www.groupon.com/san-diego/deals/bikram-yoga-la-jolla
That said, the deal was too good to pass up and, being my first Groupon purchase, I got $10 off so mine was only $29. I plan to go 5 times a week if not more and that means for 1 month I am paying only about $1.50 or so per class. To get an idea one class is usually about $15. Es una Ganga! A TOTAL STEAL!

You, too, can be on YouTube

Unlike most people, I am not up on using the internet much... only out of necessity. I don't google people for the heck of it or peruse much outside of the news headlines. I hate Facebook but own one mostly for professional contacts and because my 20 year highschool reunion was last year and it made things easier with the organization of it last Fall. I don't care about entertainment gossip and quite frankly, I limit my screen time just to the fact that I hate sitting down (haven't had a desk job in 15 years) and I have chronic dry eye syndrome (thanks to a botched Lasik surgery over 10 years ago) so I hate to sit down and fry my eyes in front of a computer screen. Heck, I don't even make time for this blog and my Flickr photography website nowadays! My 'Gift to Gab' wanes --

Having a 12-year-old in the house, however, has made me mildly aware of what the rest of the world does online. For example, I truly had no idea how huge YouTube is and for so many reasons. I am known to post short videos myself - usually snippets of travel and family and I favor anything less than 30 seconds. Although there are a lot of things I wish that kids and most of us didn't have access to on it, there do exist a few talented and worthwhile postings I have become privy, too.

Getting famous by posting oneself singing on the internet akin to Justin Beiber and others is echoed often-enough to me by my stepdaughter for me to say, "Go for it!" It's just another medium to showcase talent if you have it. Sigh - between Youtube and American Idol kids have it easy nowadays hehehe...

Check out this Broadway southern-belle star who happens to be an awesome comic as well and has several videos of hilarious different characters. My gay stylist friend introduced me to her and now I am passing it on to you to enjoy... one of the funniest things I've seen in years! I still laugh so much every time. Every sentence and delivery of hers is a priceless soundbyte. A lover of big hair, I 'be-weave in her'.. :)

Pooty Plays

A quick video of our rat, I mean, teacup Chihuahua. It's my daughter's dog, but akin to my husband's basset hound - I just seem to be the one who has taken over feeding, walking, vet upkeep, cleaning up after and basically attending to every need of our blessed animals.

They are blessed to be in our home - these animals have got it made! :)

My Niece

My eldest niece had asked Patrick and I to help her with taking photos for her senior page in her yearbook. Patrick broke out his expensive Leica M9 and some film cameras and did some really nice commercial and black and white shots. I mostly was helping with styling issues and holding up the reflector light which is a blessing on the skin and radiance no matter how old or young you are.

When I finally got a moment here and there to shoot with my own Olympus Pen I fluffed up her pretty hair, and directed her in more model-y shots. She was giggling constantly but I liked the results of my shots as far as creating moods and the highlights of her hair...

Click on slideshow:

Niece - Senior pictures

Xmas Day Soccer Love

As good as my 3 nephews are in Soccer, my husband surprised them by playing a bit with them on Xmas Day. By the way, you see the life-size goal and how my parents' yard has been utterly DESTROYED this year by the grandkids playing soccer there so often? I don't even think the boys knew Patrick could play at all but he remarked, "They didn't grow up kicking a ball around with nothing else to do in the streets and fields like we do in Europe or Latin America. It's like riding a bike - you don't forget your skills." Snap!