Friday Funday: Wednesdays at Sunset at The London West Hollywood

To me, Summer 2013 will always be about rooftop Wednesdays at Sunset at The London West Hollywood.

On the rooftop of The London West Hollywood reflecting on all of the friends, fun and fine tunes Summer 2013 has brought into my world

I imagine I will forever think of that rooftop – set to the sounds of Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky” and Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” – as the frozen video of Summer 2013. And what a magical memory to have!

I have spent a few “Wednesdays at Sunset” at The London West Hollywood and each one has been better than the last. But I have to say the best one I’ve had yet was when I hosted a Rooftop Cabana Cocktail Party for my favorite blogger-friends a few weeks ago.

Hosting a cabana party for a few of my blogger friends at Wednesdays at Sunset at The London West Hollywood

 

Between the delightful conversation with my fellow bloggers, new friends meeting each other and delicious bites and cocktails, it was my favorite event of the year thus far!

The attendees at my Blogger Cabana Cocktail Party on the rooftop of The London West Hollywood

I get by with a little help from my friends...and with the help of the beautiful setting of The London West Hollywood

We snacked on seafood cocktail, BBQ chicken flat breads, the LA Street Dog and delicious marshmallow cupcakes and sipped Strongbow Mimosas which were DIVINE!

The delicious details at The London West Hollywood "Wednesdays at Sunset"

And with our soundtrack set to the spins of Infamous DJs, we were in summer heaven!

My guests included the Beauty Professor, Spoiled Little LA Girls, Skinny Fat Girl Diary, Jennifer Chan of E!, Rose Curiel of E!, Whitney Lader of hoopLA, Hostess Handbook, Elle contributor Ashley Terrill, Jessica Yudin of The Fetch Betch LA & FabFitFun and more!

 And everyone was delighted to receive L’Oreal Paris giftbags courtesy of L’Oreal Paris USA and Corbis Entertainment!

 

Jess Garvey of Hostess Handbook (on left) with her luxe L'Oreal Paris USA gift bag!

I want to extend a special THANK YOU to our gracious hosts, The London West Hollywood (of course!) and my fairy godmother, Gina Wade Creative. This wouldn’t have been possible without your imagination, generosity and amazing service  – not to mention – the most fab hotel, and rooftop, in town!

I'm always smiling at The London West Hollywood!

 

‘Til next time, my beloved London…

 

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What defines Summer 2013 to you? 

In-My-Tub-Tuesday: TrimStyle by Schick – The answer to your summer grooming beauty prayers

Listen, I know we’re all ladies here, I do.

And I know we like to keep things on a ladylike, pink, shiny, happy, glowing, smiley level here on BeautyFrosting…

but there is a product I simply must tell you about.

And it’s pretty personal.

Why? Because it works. It’s affordable. It’s fast. And, well, it’s cute.

Schick Quattro for Women TrimStyle (under $15)

Schick Quattro for Women TrimStyle (under $15)

I had tried Schick Quattro for Women TrimStyle a few years ago and looooved it!

But then I moved back to Los Angeles and left mine in Nashville and, embarrassingly, forgot about it.

So when I was invited to, my good friend, Meg’s (of Meg’s Makeup) house for a viewing party of Schick’s new sponsored series, Dating Rules From My Future Self, I was ecstatic when I opened the gift bag to find my beloved, forgotten TrimStyle!

I almost cried. Really.

How could I have forgotten this little jewel-toned gem that used to sit in my pink clawfoot tub in Nashville?

What have I been doing since its absence?

Well, we won’t address that last question as it’s, um, personal.

But I seriously don’t know how I could have forgotten this triumph of a trimmer, this regaled razor, this… you get the point.

My beloved Schick TrimStyle back where it belongs...in my Tub!

My beloved Schick TrimStyle back where it belongs...in my Tub!

So what about this little gadget makes me swoon? Let me count the ways:

1 ) It’s a trustworthy, dependable razor and nether region (bikini line) trimmer in one. A 2-in-1 treat as it has a 4-blade Quattro razor on one end and a trimmer on the other. Schick says it’s the only hair removal you’ll ever need!

2 ) It’s under $15 (cheaper than any bikini wax I know). This tool will do it all but I think of it as more of a maintenance tool between waxes. I can go 8-12 weeks without going to the salon with this little guy on my side.

3 ) It’s subtle so it looks like a razor but it’s a SPECIAL razor that can sit right out in your shower or tub with zero embarrassment.

4 ) The AAA battery is included, thank you very much, so you can start trimming away as soon as you get it home.

5 ) It seems to be foolproof and danger-free which is good because I can be a little klutzy. Note: PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST.

6 ) It’s adjustable so everyone can use it as they wish. There is a comb attachment which is super easy to use!

7 ) As I mentioned before, it’s cute! It’s kind of like a beauty toy for ladies. I kind of feel like I’m 7 opening a Barbie when I bring it home. Is that too much information?

Go grab one for yourself and see if you get as excited as I do about it!

xoxo,

BF

p.s. Oh—and the show, Dating Rules for my Future Self? It was realllllly good! Like “I’m-going-to-keep-watching-it-on-youtube” good! Seriously. It’s like New Girl meets Gossip Girl meets Happy Endings. The whole party was totally invested in this show. We watched multiple episodes because we couldn’t wait to see what happened next. And the acting, writing, styling and set design was super cute, cool and impressive.

BF Asks: What’s your preferred beachwear grooming method? 

 

Thirsty Thursday: Pina Colada

Do you like pina coladas? And getting caught in the rain?

Well, I’m not a big fan of rain but I looooove a good summertime pina colada.

So, today I’m sharing my favorite recipe from Paula Deen with you.

Cheers!

Thirsty Thursday: Pina Colada

Pina Colada

(Courtesy of Paula Deen)

Servings: 4 servings
Prep Time: 5 min
Difficulty: Easy

1/2 cup rum
1/4 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup pineapple chunks
1/2 cup coconut cream
ice, enough to fill half the blender
slices of pineapple, optional for garnish
maraschino cherry, optional for garnish

Directions

 Mix ingredients in a blender and serve.

Optional: Garnish with a slice of pineapple or maraschino cherry.

High-Low 1

I have a tradition that I love and I want to share it with you, my BeautyFrosting readers:

High-Low

A few years ago, I began playing this “game” with my ex-boyfriend, with my friends and their kiddos. It’s such a fun and effortless way to spark conversation at the dinner table or at the end of a long day.

So, here we go. The commencement of BeautyFrosting’s High-Low. I’d love to hear your HighLows, as well. So send ’em on!

Here are my HIGHS this week:

Jenny & Jon’s Wedding  – What’s not to love about a Garden Wedding? One of my best friends from high school, Jenny, married one of our classmates, Jon, sixteen years after our graduation. They had reconnected 2 years ago and have been an inseparable duo ever since.

This photo of the bride as a little girl dressed all in white was a sweet personal touch in this gorgeous garden wedding

The beautiful bride and her father

When Jenny and Jon were pronounced man and wife, we turned around these handcrafted fans to say "Yay!" to the happy couple

A Blur of Bliss. I love the blurry, nostalgic nature of this moment as they walk together arm-in-arm back down the aisle for the first time as a married couple

The Wedding cake: The groom's talented mother baked this delicious 3 layer confection. 2 layers of white cake with buttercream frosting with chocolate buttercream filling and 1 layer of red velvet cake with cream cheese filling and buttercream frosting)

She could hardly wait for the groom's cake and got a few tastes with the best cake utensil: her finger.

The Groom's Cake? A giant brownie with chocolate buttercream frosting made by the groom's mother, Suzanne

BF & the Bride
Sparklers as the bride and groom drove away

Molly Tate’s 1st Birthday Party:

Molly Tate's 1st birthday party

Molly Tate enjoying her first Stein's Bakery cake

Molly Tate & her little friend at her birthday party

Tete a Tete with Molly Tate

Celebrating the beautiful Molly Tate with my beautiful friends in Dallas

Nightswimming:

Nightswimming in Mom's pool in Dallas (listening to music as I swim and unwind before my trip back to LA)

Returning to Los Angeles to 70 degree weather:

Returning to LA: 70 degrees in May!

LOWS (I’ll spare you the pictures of these this week)

Leaving my friends and family in Dallas

aaand…

About 40 chigger bites I procured in Dallas. They love me there. Let me tell you, it’s a one-way love affair!

BF Asks: What were your High-Lows this week?

Foodette Friday: CeCe’s (BF’s Mom) Fruit Pizza

As many of you know, I was home in Dallas last week. Nothing announces summer like the town you grew up in. Am I right?

Mom CeCe making fruit pizza

So imagine my delight when I arrived home to find my brother’s and my (thanks to him) friends from college and my mom’s (CeCe, as we will refer to her here) fruit pizza at our pre-Memorial day weekend bbq. My mom is the maestro behind many of my favorite dessert symphonies but this one is the most kid-friendly, crowd-pleasing hit!

CeCe's (BF's Mom's) Fruit Pizza

Now, just so you know…Mom made THIS (see above) aaaand her Better Than Robert Redford Surprise dessert for our big bbq. And, let me tell you, they are both better than Robert Redford! And I loooooove some Robert Redford (both the man AND the dessert)!

Without further ado (because we know I can offer plenty of that), here is CeCe’s Fruit Pizza recipe.

CeCe’s Fruit Pizza

Preheat oven to 350.

Set out butter and cream cheese to reach room temperature.

Ingredients:

1 roll sugar cookie dough (cut into 1/4 in slices and laid onto pizza or round pan)

1 block Cream Cheese

1 stick (1/2 c) Butter

1/2 to 1 cup powdered sugar

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

FRUIT!!! (Sliced strawberries, grapes, kiwi, cherries, but bananas need to be sprinkled with lemon juice first so they won’t turn brown – and any other fruit your family loves)

Directions:

Lay raw cookie dough slices in 12″ pizza (or round) pan or 13×9″ baking pan.

Bake at 350 for 12 to 18 minutes (baked completely but not brown).

Set aside to cool.

While baking, mix together cream cheese, butter and vanilla.

Once cookie crust has cooled, spread cream cheese “pizza filling” onto cookie crust.

Top your pizza with fruit. Either by adding one type of fruit per slice (for the more picky eaters) or creating rings of fruit on the pizza.

Dot with Orange marmalade (or jam of your choice) and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

TAH-DAH!!!! FRUIT PIZZA for friends!

Chaos!! Love it!

 

 

The fruit pizza crew

Hope y’all enjoy it as much as we always did!

 

xoxo,
BF

BF Asks: What’s your favorite dessert that your family always made?