So I have been meaning to make this post for a while as I have eaten here PLENTY of enough times to give a well-rounded post. Really every time I walk into Palm Greens  a sense of guilt washes over me that I haven’t taken the time to put a post up in the last year and half since I have been a regular… (and by regular I mean that I might have a button in their computer labeled” Randi” with my regular dish along with my modifications under it… ) Once again – so bad of me that it has taken this long to write something!!

Let’s move on and get to the point. Palm Greens Cafe is a place that you if you lived in Palm Springs you might drive by a multitude of times and never noticed it  as it is tucked away in a strip mall on Palm Canyon Drive. I had originally discovered it from reading an article a couple of years ago in Palm Springs Life that was highlighting all the Vegetarian restaurants in the desert. I made a point and put it on my To-Do list to try out.

With an interior that is super casual and leans to the bohemian side, you may walk in assuming that all you are going to get feed are wheatgrass shots and tofu, but that is far from reality of the situation. With a hugely diverse menu they have choices that appeal to everyone’s tastes and dietary preferences i.e. vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy free, organic. Meat options are plenty as are vegetarian. They have a wide selection of smoothies, juices, and baked goods as well.

My first day I tried a garden wrap and since have literally had the same exact dish 100 times. The Garden wrap I order, is  rice paper stuffed with a garden of raw vegetables and avocado. All their wraps come with a option of tortilla or gluten free rice paper and their sides for all their sandwiches and wraps  come with options such as potato salad, coleslaw, fruit, salad, and chips. I am also super partial to the Greek Wrap which is the same idea as the Garden Wrap but take out the avocado – replace it with feta cheese and add in a spinach nut burger… delicious!

The Infamous Garden Wrap

An Action Shot

My other favorites include the Salad Sampler which is baby greens, seasonal veggies with scoops of roast yam salad, seen n’ nut salad, eggless tofu salad, hummus, potato salad, seaweed salad, raw pasta pesto, quinoa tabouli and your choice of dressing. – This is super filling and can easily be shared!

The Salad Sampler

The New Falafel Salad

My friend Liz Blue about to eat The New Falafel Salad

If we are going to talk breakfast.. (as we have to.. it can’t be over looked). The Breakfast Tacos are amazing. Corn or flour tortillas, eggs with beans or potatoes, avocado, onions and Chile verde. My friend swears by the Vegan Blueberry Pancakes (which I need to try- pictured below, as well as the vegan french toast) and I also just discovered the Breakfast of Champions last week, which is going to be my new favorite breakfast item. It is Black beans, brown rice, avocado, salsa, feta cheese and tortilla.

Vegan Blueberry Pancakes on a Breakfast Platter

Cinnamon French toast

And last but certainly not least… my guilty pleasure… The Vegan Love Bite. Small version of some of their very healthy portioned cookies, it is gluten and dairy free, made with banana and chocolate chips OR oats and raisins. Really just eat any of their baked goods… you cannot go wrong.

Vegan Energy Bars

Raw Apple Pie

I have to give a shout out to their amazing staff, so friendly and accommodating, not to mention hustlers! I am going to end now as I could keep rambling, but hopefully you have gotten my point. Just Go.

611 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, CA 92264.

Phone. (760) 864-9900

El Paseo Fashion Week brought on madness and excitement once again this year to Palm Desert. It was 9 Days of Fashion, Beauty, Cocktails, and Buzz.

Every year Palm Springs Life and Integrated Wealth Management strive to make the current year better than the last, which they succeeded at this year..

Highlights for me included – The Saks Fifth Avenue fashion show opening night (which never disappoints), Style and Beauty Bash (which my salon R&B Studios participated in) and last but certainly not least The El Paseo Runway show in which the pre-event “Wine, Chocolate, and Shoes” party was hosted by The Girlfriend Factor.

A great thank-you to everyone that attended and supported all events! Looking forward to next year!

Saks Fifth Avenue

Blo Dry Bar @R&B Studios

Debra Granilo Braiding Expert – from Blo-Dry @ R&B Studios braiding my hair

Spray-Tanning at R&B Studios

Micheal Costello

Sue Wong

Wine Chocolate and Shoes hosted by The Girlfriend Factor
Christy McCabe with Hyatt Indian Wells and I

Are you Naughty? or Nice? Wine, Chocolate, and Shoes 2013

Paulina Larson with Palm Springs Life and I

Darlings… I do apologize for my absence in posting, it seems like life has distracted me. Although there is so much to discuss I can’t bare to relive the past as we are on the first day of a new year. Therefore, I would like to pay homage to a fabulous 2012, the holiday season, and NYE last night…. while keeping on theme with what should be the best year yet.. 2013!

We all have plenty of Glitz and Glamour during the holiday season and certainly for NYE, but why does it have to stop? To prevent you from having the January Blues I want you to carry on these “Glitzy and Glamorous” trends into the new year. Here is to being fabulous in January (without looking like you haven’t changed out of your NYE outfit).

The Sequin Blazer

I loovvveee Sequins. Sequins, glitter, sequins, and more sequins – I love it all! Sequins have to be done right though. They are tasteful in one statement piece otherwise you may end up looking like you stepped off the original set of Dynasty. So although you may be super sad that you have to hang up your sequin NYE dress until you go to Vegas next… this will surely hold you over.  Pair with Basic Neutral separates and you surely will be good to go!

Asos Blazer ON Sale $87.95

Oversized Watch

I haven’t worn a watch in probably 10 years. I was pretty consistent up until that point… It progressed from Roxy watch, to new Roxy watch, another new Roxy Watch, to a NIKE watch (… yes a Nike watch…)….. It was clear at this point I need to reassess my personal style. In doing so, I took a break for watch-wearing up until my most recent birthday when I received a Micheal Kors watch that I am now OBSESSED with. I wear it everyday and although yes it does tell time… I think we all know that since our phones are attached to us that we really are wearing watches as a fashion statement. In my opinion the flashy and bigger the better! Also, layer, layer, and layer with bracelets of all sorts to give your arm more of a cuff feel.

Leather Pants

Leather Pants have been in for a while now and personally I think they should stay in. They are on point with the Rock n’Roll trends that keep reappearing on the catwalks every three seasons and I think they are a great, sexy, yet classy way to dress up any outfit. They are slimming and basically go with anything! If I were you I would wrap my head around in investing in a pair.

JBrand Aggy Leather Pants

Sara Berman Leather Pants on SALE at the Outnet for $44.80

The Statement Necklace

The Statement Necklace is great in the fact that you can be wearing a white t-shirt and jeans and if you throw it on, you now have an outfit. The Chunky, Bigger, more Sparkly the better. Again, your outfit can be pretty simple… use the necklace as the focal point.

Fall/Winter Runway 2012

Fall/Winter 2012 Dior

And there you have it! Continue the Glitz and Glam into 2013!!

Until Next time – Kisses xx

I was lucky enough to attend Los Angeles’s Fashion Coucil SS2013 Presentations over the past two days.  The Showcase took place at historic Carondelet House near downtown Los Angeles. It  featured runway shows, presentaions and on site pop-up shops from local designers for both apparel and accessories.

Here are my highlights…

The Runway

#WGSN Presentation Day #2

AGAIN SS2013

Luciana Salmone SS 2013

Lovely Lunch Catered by Porto’s Bakery

Gilda Grey Jewelry

Necklaces By Gilda Grey

Bracelets by Gilda Grey

My top two highlights were the presentation by Sally Lohan from WGSN, who previewed SS 2013 Macro Trends (which I will do a later post on) and meeting the girls from Gilda Grey – they have great pieces and are both lovely!

Check the facebook page for outfits of Day #1 and #2.

A Big thanks to Kelsi Smith and The Los Angeles Fashion Council for a great event!

As I always feel like I need to go back to a restaurant a minimum of two times before I write a full review on it, I have created a list of highlights throughout the desert with some of my favorite dishes thus far.

Here we go…

Cheekys for Breakfast…

The Best Eggs Benny you will ever have…

Norma’s for a side dish…

James Beard Award Winning Potato Pancakes

Lunch at Palm Greens Cafe…

Garden Wrap in Rice Paper with avocado and a side of vegan coleslaw

Clementine Bakery for Side of Greens Snack

Kale Salad with orange segments, potatoes, and citrus dressing

First Dinner Course at Copleys….

Scallops with Creamy Corn

Second Course at Lavender Bistro in La Quinta…

Steak Tartare with mixed greens and truffle oil

Lastly…. Dessert at….. Golden Spoon!! Yes Golden Spoon for some Frozen Yogurt (I know so sophisticated)

Peanut Butter and Graham Cracker are the best flavors!

I will get back to eating to give you a full report on all!

The List is Short and Sweet, but let me share what has been rockin’ my world lately.

These are my 5 Current Obsessions…

1. My Ultimate Girl and Guy Crush Tying the Knot!

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively – Really could there be a more attractive couple!? I thought no one could top Giselle and Tom Brady – but ladies and gents IMO they just got trumped!
But where are photos of the wedding!??? I am all about celebrities having their privacy, but come on… it has been over a week and I want to see the dress!
Kudos to RyanR on the ring though… it is simply beautiful!

I will wait patiently for photos from the big day… and by patiently I mean google- imaging a variety of word combinations 3-4 times a day.

2. CHEVRON

For years this word had simply meant a type of truck to me (reminder – I grew up in a town of 5,000 people in rural Alberta). Although lately, it has become my new design obsession. Chevron walls, chevron clothes, chevron floors, chevron nails, I am all about Chevron!

This very well could be one of those trendy things that at the time we think is oh-so-cool, but when we look back in 10 years we will go “GROSS! ugh… that is so 2012″… (similar how we look upon orange floral patterns that were so in in the late 70s and early 80s).
But until then… Chevr – on!

3. Pumpkin

It is that time of year again! The main reason I favor fall is because that means Pumpkin is in season! It is one of my favorite ingredients to bake with and is the main component in one of the best hot drinks ever – Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte!

Use it as a baking substitute (instead of a fat) , a filling (like in a pasta seen above)  or simply roast and/or use it as a seasoning!
Fall means pumpkincraziness…

4. The HBO Show Girls

I have heard natter about this show for months, but had yet to see an episode as I am not blessed enough to have HBO on my channel roster.

Girls and I came into contact one Saturday a few weeks ago when I had one-too many cocktails the previous night and was staying at a friend’s house who had HBO on demand. Well…. 10 episodes and one Yogurt Stop break later, it was all I could talk about! Sublimely real, it at times makes you cringe, but at the same time you can’t tear your eyes off the TV. It is obscenely fascinating that the 24-year-old Lena Dunham stars, writes, and directs this show! – I can’t wait for next season!

5. BRAVO’s Gallery Girls

On the flip side I have another TV obsession – coincidentally enough named “Gallery Girls.” It’s a Bravo “reality” show, following 7 twenty-something girls that are trying to make their way through the NYC art scene. It is filling a SATC void for me, displaying great Manhattan scenery and fashion.

I empathize with the characters on the show, as no matter how “produced” the scenes may be, the competitiveness-no-money-glamour that is portrayed, is eerily representative of what I felt after graduating from Fashion School.

Although clichés are obvious (Brooklyn girls wearing haphazard black clothing, with unwashed hair and lipstick on their teeth) the characters are a little less generic than you would first expect. Liz for example, is first impression an OC, spoiled, rich girl. A few episodes in you come to realize she has a drug addition past, sports a full sleeve, and has an estranged relationship with her art collector father.
I count down everyone monday until a new episode arrives on my DVR – check it out!

With the FNO madness that goes on, it is hard to decide what to do and where to go, as there are always endless options! Thank-fully I did not have to face this predicament as Neiman Marcus was gracious enough to invite my salon (R&B Studios)  to be a part of their Fashion’s Night Out.

Neiman Marcus provided a great night with a variety of events going on throughout the store. Some of the highlights included a VIP Caviar tasting on the 4th Floor, YSL Beauty Touch Up Bar on the 2nd Floor, and R&B Studio’s “Braid Bar” on the 3rd Floor.

To keep everyone full and happy Chris Brugler provided fantastic catering, Lemonade served mini cupcakes and Beard Papa’s were all the rage supplying delicious cream puffs! Attendees enjoyed all while taking in the escalator Fashion Show debuting Fall’s 2012 Trends.

R&B Studios provided braids for clients in a variety of styles naming each style after a Fashion capital. We couldn’t have been happier with the response to the Braid Bar and we only hope attendees felt the same way!

Thanks again to Neiman Marcus for having us and putting on a fantastic Fashion’s Night Out 2012!

Photos Courtesy of Myself and Neiman Marcus. 

Cusp – (defined) is a point formed between two intersecting arcs. Neiman Marcus must have taken this definition literally when conceptualizing this off-shoot boutique of their department store. A contemporary concept merging all the best known designers that you would expect from the luxury retailer, with up-and-coming designers in a hip, stylish environment.

Although you may be familiar with CUSP’s freestanding boutiques, such as the one in Century City mall, Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills recently launched its own in-store version.

Carrying all of my favorite contemporary brands such as Alice + Olivia, Elizabeth & James, and Parker, CUSP is designed to be the one-stop shop for the fashion-forward woman. One has an array of options be it on-line with http://www.CUSP.com, visiting one of the 42 Neiman Marcus department stores, or one of the six free-standing CUSP boutiques…. Shopping just became that much easier!

Micheal Voltaggio’s premier restaurant ink. is explained on their website to allude to the permanence of ink.” endeavors to create an indelible impression with flavor profiles that are inspired by the myriad of cultures that make up the city of Los Angeles. ” In Voltaggio’s words ink. is “modern Los Angeles cuisine” …. and that it was!

Definitely a dining experience unlike any I have ever had before it was just that .. an experience! With flavor combinations and profiles that you think to yourself “what on earth were they on when they thought of that!?” Regardless, somehow everything seamlessly worked though. Tasty and thought-provoking could be how you would describe the dishes.

I recommend everyone go at least once to understand the hype and have the experience. Be prepared to leave slightly hungry, but possibly inspired!?

P.S. Don’t leave without having the dessert – Burnt wood ice cream sounds like a trip, But it’s one that you would like to go on!

Carrots -carrots, coconut ice, cardamom soil, pea tendril mojo

beef tartare, hearts of palm, sea bean chimichurri, horseradish, rye

crab, charred avocado, whipped fish sauce, mushroom chicharron

halibut, asparagus, sesame seed mayo, ginger, oro blanco

chocolate, ice cream, spiced tofu, sesame cake

apple, caramel, burnt wood ice cream

Note> Dining companion included the company of Aaron Green

After being pretty resistant to this trend since it first it showed up on S/S 2012 runways.. I have gone through the 4 stages of S.A.R.A
S.A.R.A.  

S – Shock – because I remember when Neon was all the rage…in 2nd grade and in my mind I am not old enough to see a trend for the 2nd time in my life.

A – Anger – Being angry at the fact that in all REALITY I AM actually that old…

R – Resistance – Thinking Neon is tacky..

A – Acceptance. – After having time to process the news that neon is indeed a trend for this season, coming to terms with my age, and after gathering evidence I have concluded that if neon is executed right… it can look.. well .. pretty great!

My advice in keeping it on the side of super edgy and fashionable and NOT venturing on the side of a GEM reincarnation…start small (accessories) and wear with neutrals. A Neon shoe looks dynamite with a black dress, bold jeans look great with a white t-shirt. If you feel adventurous, pair with other neons… (I would only recommend this if you are at an advanced level).

Regardless have fun with it!