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I’ve never been all that excited to conceptualize my annual Halloween costume. When I was younger, I wanted to look sexy, or at least cute, and that left little option aside from the classic French maid or nurse costume. When I got a little older, I wanted to be fun–so I went more the way of Carmen Miranda. And then I became all about creating costumes that required nearly no effort or expense–which means they had to be clever. Now that I have a daughter I’m psyched because I can get away with penning some whiskers on my cheeks, pop a pair of ears on my head, and heading off to trick or treat. It’s so low-key!

But alas, this year I’ll head to Food Network chef Tyler Florence’s house after I tuck my little girl into bed. He’s throwing a bash complete with barbecue, spooky decor, and a costume contest. Showing up sans outfit would be flat-out lame.

Right now I have no idea what I’ll wear. Maybe I’ll rely on costume tricks of Halloweens past (see below). If you are still undecided, feel free to steal any of these ideas. Or at a minimum share your genius last-minute costumes with me!

EASY LAST-MINUTE COSTUME IDEAS

Stranger with Candy: One of my personal favorites, write the word “stranger” on a white T-shirt, carry a big bag labeled “candy” and walk around doling out candy to people you don’t know.

A Work of Art: One year my then-roommate artist Sarah Klein needed an instant costume. She grabbed a canvas, painted a quick portrait, cut a hole where the face should be, and hung it around her neck (at the right angle so her face stuck through the hole) by using pantyhose as frame wire.

Perez Hilton: Got spray-on hair die, faux fur vest, and funky pants? Add some body graffiti (in his trademark thick white pen) and you’re the Queen of All Media.

Black-Eyed Pea: Give yourself a black eye with makeup and paint a giant letter “P” on your shirt. Voila!

A Yogini: Stuff some tights with batting, tie them around your head so that it looks like you’re a walking pretzel, and wear a long dark skirt that hides your real legs. This one even lets you wear a sexy yoga top if you wish.

Go Green: Paint your face green and wear all green clothes. You’re the epitome of green living.

Erika Lenkert

Technorati Tags: last-minute Halloween costumes, clever, easy

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Since I work a lot, I always try to make the most of the three days a week that I get to play with my two-year-old daughter Viva after I pick her up from school. As a result I regularly try to dream up the next great activity sure to create opportunities for us to bond, explore, laugh, and share memorable experiences.

Last Friday was no different. I found myself pondering driving 45 minutes to the beach in San Francisco for a quick run through the sand before dusk, dashing out to a nearby children’s museum to see the Halloween festivities, and paying a visit to her grandmother’s house, also 45 minutes away.

Then it hit me: EVERYTHING is special, fresh, and memorable to a two-year-old–especially if it’s done with the full attention of a mommy that loves her.

Suddenly, the world–and even our own backyard–was our oyster.

Our Friday activity turned out to be one of my personal favorites–making chocolate chip cookies. (The ridiculously adorable toque and apron she is wearing in the photo above is by Sassafras and available here.)

It was Viva’s first time. She stirred the flour, scooped the dry ingredients out of the bowl and onto the floor, ate gobs of dough (if you’re going to do it, you might as well do it right!), and patiently watched her creations plump in the oven before downing a few after they cooled. It was magic–hopefully as much so for her as it was for me.

Today when I picked her up from school my mind was not cluttered with grandiose notions.

A few blocks from our house I pulled over at a nearby playground. Fallen leaves coated a large, damp stretch of grass and an impressive pile of them were clustered at its center.

After a few gos with the slides and swings, we found ourselves gravitating toward that pile, running aimlessly at first, and then spinning in it until we fell with dizziness, and finally throwing armfuls of leaves into the air so they drifted down onto our heads like giant fall snowflakes.

Then we stretched out in the grass and looked up at the sky–and then ran around some more.

It was a truly rich afternoon.

Now when I think about special ways to spend time with Viva I remind myself that I can–and do–experience them all the time.

Tickling her, chasing her around the house while screaming like a monster, reading books, drawing with chalk on the pavement, watching ants, dancing like crazy to Van Halen, sitting at her tiny table and talking to her while she eats breakfast…I’m awestruck by the possibilities–and the realization that the only essential element for creating a magical moment with my child is truly being present in the moment with her, whether that moment is five minutes or five hours.

Incidentally, the same theory and activities are optimal bonding opportunities for the adults in your life, too.

Erika Lenkert

Technorati Tags: children, baking, parenting, playing, ideas, tips, bonding

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I read about this book in a magazine. It enticed me with a multiple-choice quiz based on facts within the book, which is a real-life account of a waitress who who worked at famed chef Thomas Keller’s New York restaurant Per Se.

In three quick and quippy questions (with corresponding answers) it alleged that many Per Se diners eat so much at the four-star destination that they vomit. And that a rich couple requested a table for three so their Alf-like stuffed animal could join them for dinner (sounds like something I would do, just for fun, provided those around me got the joke). And that employees were required to get permission to change their hairstyles.

These juicy tidbits baited me, but they also put me off. I am a huge Thomas Keller fan–and not just because he’s always gracious when I see him and invites me to the restaurant’s holiday party even though we are just casual acquaintances. Or because he was kind enough to offer a quote for the back cover of my book “The Last-Minute Party Girl,” and openly celebrates his love for In N Out Burger.

The man is one of the most brilliant culinary minds of our time, and because I have so much respect for everything he does I can’t help but feel protective. I don’t warm up to the idea of a tell-all–especially because if you have had the Thomas Keller four-star experience you would say, “OF COURSE his staff has to get permission to change their hair! Duh!”

Keller’s culinary adventure doesn’t merely live on the plate or in the room decor. It is in every single nuance–each sight, sound, rhythm, taste, and smell of the dining experience. It’s dining drama at its most exquisite and detailed and the staff is a seamless part of the act. A mohawk would SO disrupt the harmony.

Besides, when people are paying big bucks for dinner they tend to look harder for anything they can classify as a flaw.

So, being an unofficial Keller club member I had mixed feelings about whether to buy the book. But I just popped onto Amazon and read some of the first reviews. (The book came out less than a month ago.) It seems as though the contents are less salacious than I thought. Perhaps I’ll grab a copy next week…If you’ve already read it, please let me know whether it’s worth checking out!

Erika Lenkert

Technorati Tags: thomas keller, service included, book

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Now that the months of outdoor living has officially been replaced by nesting season, it’s time to turn attention to the home, and ways to make it extra comfy and bright through winter’s darkest and chilliest days.

Girl Meets Glamour blog author Kate Berezich makes it easy with this guest post. The Northern California interior designer, who is currently knee-deep in sheetrock and blueprints due to her own remodel, offers up her favorite sources for fabulous online interior design finds.

And not a moment too soon. With the holidays around the corner, any new decor necessities are best addressed now, before they become yet another item on your never-ending shopping list.

Even if you can’t afford to splurge now, check out the following sources–and Kate’s blog–for inspiration.

Kate and her pup Dottie

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Top 10 Online Sources For Fantastic Home Decor
By Kate Berezich

Being an interior designer, I guess you could say that I shop for a living…and in turn I make a living to spend it shopping. See, it’s all about having balance in life, am I right?

Some of my days are filled with shopping–nonstop mouse action: point, click, buy. Other days I actually have to leave the office and take it to the streets to find what I want. I know, poor me. But it actually can be a challenge to find that perfect piece for the job. Sometimes, 50 or more odd companies could be used to furnish a home, not to mention accessorize.

Where to go? What to do? Well, there are some online shops that I frequent more often than others, so, narrowing down my ‘huge’ list, I selected 10 to share with you, that are not only places to find the latest and greatest, but places that are not just exclusively for designers only.

Here they are in no particular order (they are so amazing, who would dare rank them anyways). Hope you enjoy!

1st Dibs – More than 100 vendors from S.F. to Paris, offering premium antiques and vintage finds all under one website. A site so easy to navigate through, including a great search engine too. It’s like the google of vintage decor. Want something canary yellow? Just type it in and see what comes up…

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Canary Yellow Swedish Dresser from Gustavo Olivieri on 1st Dibs

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Chapman Radcliff Home - Owner Ruthie Sommers has an impeccable design eye and a unique sense of style. Her beautiful West Hollywood showroom attracts celebrities, but online you can find the same beautiful refurbished goods without leaving the house.

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Just some of the offerings from Chapman Radcliff Home

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Pieces – A major contributor to Atlanta’s up-and-coming design community, owner Lee Kleinhelter uses her interiors background to select items for her boutique that are sure to fit any environment. Oh, and there’s even something for you pup; see the very posh pet accessories section.

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Faux Bamboo End Table available at Pieces

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Oly Studio – Vintage modern pieces that are affordable!!! No, I would not toy with you, it’s true. They feature prices the “average” shopper would feel comfortable with (check their site to see a list of retailers). Another great thing about Oly is the selection of upholstery for their pieces, choose from hemp to faux zebra.

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Sophie Lounge Chair shown in faux zebra from Oly Studio

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Eboniste – Offers product from retailers that are typically for designer’s only, from Emeco to Bungalow 5. Shop here to find a variety of hand picked items, including “green,” planet friendly furniture.

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Berkeley 3-Drawer Brickfront from Bungalow 5 offered at Eboniste

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House Eclectic – Can you say: “I’ll take one in every color.” If you want that Chinese Chippendale chair in a lacquered lime green, you can have it! Here you’ll find a great variety of casegoods and an even better variety of available colors, offered exclusively online.

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Xia Li Chair in Lime Green from House Eclectic

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Woodson & Rummerfield’s House of Design – Located in the heart of L.A., this store is “glamour” with a capital G. Owner’s Ron Woodson and Jaime Rummerfield have combined forces to offer an array of stylish goods including Florence Broadhurst wallcoverings and fabrics!

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Florence Broadhurst’s Sunspot Circles and Square from Woodson and Rummerfield’s

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Plantation LA – Custom designer furniture, and it’s only one click away. Not to mention, a great online accessories store that will offer you at least 10 great items for your holiday shopping list.

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R & Y Augousti Hammershell Tray from Plantation LA

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Anthropologie – Funky finds. That’s all I have to say. Well, and that there isn’t a single item in their “for your home” section that I haven’t thought about buying at one time or another. If your looking for a bold print, then look no further.

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Astrid Chair in Native Tropical from Anthropologie

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Ebay – When all else fails, or when it doesn’t visit Ebay. Here’s the trick, use the right keyword search (I use: “Hollywood Regency”), and understand that what you buy may need a personal touch (like some new paint).

With a lil white paint this mirror will be fab, available on Ebay (seller name: saviorofmine )

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As I mentioned before, these are just a few of my most frequented shops. I could have easily done a list of my top 300 online stores, but then I’d still be writing this. I hope you enjoy these picks and happy shopping!

Technorati Tags: home decor, designer, online, shopping, interior design, best, top 10, Kate Berezich, furniture

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I like to think of myself as a minimalist. On a good day, my abode has clutter-free counters and clean, blank spaces judiciously accentuated by one or two decorative elements.

Although I have a kitchen large enough that I don’t need to tuck everything away, when I saw this Murphy Bed-like super-chic hidden kitchen designed by Melanie Olle & Ilja Oelschlägel on Apartment Therapy, I longed for a sweet, small space in which to employ it. It just seemed so….cleansing.

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If you don’t have the funds or desire to Jetsonize your cooking area, but want some organizing tips that will de-clutter any kitchen, here are a few to chew on:

1. Edit what’s in your cupboards and drawers. Five spatulas, six pots, three can openers, four corkscrews, and twenty are too many for everyday use. Keep the stuff you use regularly handy and store the items you rarely use (like special-occasion china and glassware) elsewhere. Also, clean out the cupboards of clunky appliances that don’t get much use, old nearly finished vinegars, and other ingredients that have past their primes.

2. Hang stuff. Overhead space tends to be wasted space. Hang pots, pans, your paper towel holder, even your little TV (if you have one) to clear counter space. If you’ve got room above your cupboards, take advantage and store decorative items (ceramics, glassware, etc.) or baskets or boxes of items you only need once in a blue moon.

3. Move the junk drawer and organize drawers with dividers. If you appoint every space with specific purpose, you will not be as likely to sweep random papers, pens, and gadgets into inappropriate places.

4. Remove cabinet doors. I did this with half of the shelving in my kitchen. It stopped me from overstocking the space and made the kitchen seem more open and attractive. (If the insides of your cabinets aren’t attractive, paint them or tack pretty wallpaper against the back of them.)

5. Get in the habit of buying just enough food to eat; that way you won’t need to find space to store tons of canned, bagged, and boxed foods.

Got any other tips to share? Feel free to chime in and happy Monday!

Erika Lenkert

Technorati Tags: design, kitchen, small, how to, solutions, space, tips

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