And the Winner for Best Dressed Is...

I enjoy watching movies just like everyone else does. It's usually a one hour and 30 minute escape from reality, which we can all use.

But as you all know what I love most is fashion and beauty and during awards season, I'm usually glued to my seat watching the red carpets every Sunday.

And while I like watching all of the red carpets none is as glamorous and extraordinary as the Academy Awards' red carpet. I still remember when I saw Jennifer Lawrence in 2011 for the first time ever in a sexy red Calvin Klein dress.  I'm still not over that dress.

This year's Oscars'  red carpet did not disappoint. Here were my favorite looks of the night.

Angelina Jolie in a black velvet Atelier Versace dress. She looked stunning, though I hated the way she posed, which lead to her right leg getting its very own Twitter account.

Gwyneth Paltrow in head to toe white Tom Ford. This was the fashion moment of the night. I loved this cape so much that I didn't think the dress alone looked as chic as it did with the cape.

Can anyone remember when Michelle Williams was on Dawson's Creek in the late '90s? She has done an outstanding job in transforming her fashion style over the years and in turn she has become one of my favorites to watch on the carpet. Her style is vintage, timeless and always impeccable. This Louis Vuitton dress was killer!

Jessica Chastain. What a beauty! This dress reminds me of something only royalty would wear. She knocked it out of the park. Hands down, she was my best dressed down.

No one can do cut outs like Rooney Mara. I loved that she went with a not so obvious color instead of her usual black (which I have no problem with, but this was a softer look.) This Givenchy dress had some amazing cut outs on the back and she's never looked better.

Rose Byrne had a total OMG moment on Sunday's Oscars' red carpet in this black sequined Vivenne Westwood dress.

Even her hair, earrings and makeup were perfect. She's one to watch in the future.

Jennifer Lopez is one of my favorite fashionistas. No one can rock a dress like this woman. Nip slip or no nip slip she looked incredible in this Zuhair Murad gown.

Who was your absolute fave?

All photos provided by Huffington Post.

GTG's Fabulous Shopping Destinations

All fashionistas know exactly where to go when we need to find the perfect, but sometimes we just want to shop with no particular agenda. So where do we go when we just want to shop?

Here's my list of fabulous shopping malls and districts. These places have been handpicked by yours truly based on location, variety of stores and most importantly "fashion fun," meaning you will enjoy your overall shopping experience.

There are a few honorable mentions too that while they're worth checking out they lack a component from the criteria.

Friends, get your plastic ready because you will definitely want to go shopping until you drop after you're done reading this list!

Collins Avenue:

Whenever I crave for a unique shopping experience I head on over to Collins Avenue. I love to park my car and enjoy the scenery on each block. There are many stores on and around Collins Avenue that range from your everyday mall stores like Mac (cosmetics not the Apple,) Levi's and Armani Exchange to small, yet equally impressive boutiques with one-of-a-kind merchandise.

And when you get hungry, which you will you can stop by any of the fabulous restaurants for a quick or leisure bite and a few mojitos.

Take it from me you cannot go shopping anywhere on the beach without making some time to sip on a nice cocktail.

GTG Tip: Make sure you visit Mango the clothing store, since I'm not too sure there are any other locations in Miami.



Dadeland Mall:

You want a premier shopping destination in Miami?

Dadeland Mall is that place. With close to 200 different department stores, specialty stores and restaurants, you are always sure to walk out with an empty wallet and a fabulous new wardrobe.

GTG Tip: Don't skip visiting the Express or Macy's because every mall has these stores. Dadeland Mall houses the largest Express store in the country and the largest Macy's in Florida, so make sure you check 'em out, since they're impressive in size.

Did you know that there's a CVS located inside Dadeland? It's true.



Aventura Mall:

I don't like to play favorites with my shopping spots, but I can't lie. Aventura Mall is my go to place. I  consider it the mecca of malls in North Miami. Aventura has a great mix of uber luxurious and contemporary stores alike.

GTG Tip: When you're there make sure to stop by the Anastasia counter at Nordstrom and make an appointment to get your eyebrows waxed by Laura or her girls. Once you see what they can do to your eyebrows, you'll never trust anyone but them.



Bal Harbour Shops:

When Stanley Whitman built Bal Harbour Shops in 1965, he had one thing in mind: upscale opulence. Fronted by Neiman Marcus, soon other luxury retailers followed suit, and what you see today when you walk into Bal Harbour is a multitude of high end cars such as Bentleys and Lambos, while celebrities shop at Gucci.

While it's a beautiful place and is probably the most successful shopping destination of its kind, Bal Harbour Shops is a window shopping playground to the rest of us, but a stop there once is a must for any local or tourist.

GTG Tip: If you're looking for a good Italian restaurant at a decent price, then you have to try out Carpaccio.



Lincoln Road:

Want to shop in a fun environment?

The Lincoln Road Mall has you covered. In fact this is the only place where you can shop, wine and dine and party the night away all within a short distance. Oh, there are art galleries there too!

Keep your eye out for Miami's first H&M store to open later this year.

GTG Tip: Check out Serendipity 3! You'll thank me later.



Miracle Mile:

Miracle Mile is considered the downtown of the Coral Gables community. It might have something to do with all the fabulous stores, restaurants and art galleries.

GTG Tip: If you're engaged and looking to say "I do" to a dress this is where you have to go to find your perfect gown.



Village of Merrick Park:

Very similar to the Bal Harbour Shops in upscale retailers and scenic gardens is the Village of Merrick Park also located in Coral Gables.

I love Merrick Park because it's constantly expanding. Every time I go there I see new retailers. Also make sure you stop for a drink at the Yardhouse.

GTG Tip: You can come here during Fashion's Night Out and find spectacular shopping while local celebrities host parties at participating stores. It's one of the best places in Miami to come out for this event.



Design District:

Eighteen blocks of fashion, art and furnishings-- that's what you get when you visit the Miami Design District. I truly love this place. It's diverse, it's fun and it's so appealing to so many different crowds of people.

GTG Tip: Make sure you visit the Inglot Penthouse for amazing makeup and of course you can't visit this district and not check out the Christian Louboutin store. Sidenote: I have spent many nights gazing at its window.


Honorable Mentions:

• The Shops at Sunset Place: a nice place for families looking to shop, dine and engage in entertainment. It has houses an Imax theater.
• The Falls: An iconic shopping mall. Look for Miami's first American Girl store to open later this year.
• The Shops at Midtown- Great location with restaurants and stores nearby. Keep an eye out for this spot as it will continue to grow and become hot hotter.

Until next time!

xo GTG

"I always say shopping is cheaper than a psychiatrist."- Tammy F. Bakker

Get Your Sexy On!

Valentine's Day is four days away and I'm sure that you have gotten your boo the perfect gift for the  occasion. In case you haven't then you just have to read my Valentine's Day post of thoughtful gift ideas. It's quite awesome, even if I say so myself.

You might still be searching for some wonderful ways to complete your sexy look for date night. And no look is complete without these sexy Valentine's Day musts.


First Thing's First: Sexy or Trashy Lingerie

Usually I like to keep things classy, but on a sexy night like Valentine's, I say do sexy or trashy, either way you can't go wrong.

Try on this scintillating three-piece lingerie from Frederick's of Hollywood,available in hot pink, red and black.

Don't forget the sexy hosiery!


Provocative Pumps:

Sweet and innocent in the front and edgy and sexy in the back!

This pair of Lorissa Pumps by Sam Edelman in gunmetal adds a provocative touch to any LBD or LWD.


Sweet Scent:

Viktor & Rolf's Flowerbomb is one of the best selling fragrances in the world.

The sensual scent of florals is  clean and romantic. This fragrance will drive him wild and it's foolproof for your Valentine's Day celebration.


Kissable Lips:

Valentine's Day always involves eating and kissing, which always leads to a lipstick nightmare not just for you but for your guy too.

The solution?

 Maybelline's Super Stay 14 lipstick in Eternal Rose. It's rich, it stays on for 14 hours and it won't get on him. I'm sure he'll love you more for not getting your lipstick on him.

I wish you a very happy and sexy Valentine's Day! And don't forget love isn't a one day thing. The appreciation of love should be demonstrated every single day.

"A life without love is like a year without summer." -Swedish Proverb

Perfect Places For People Watching

The weekend is upon us and if you're a Miami native means you are gearing up to do one of several things such as partying at the hottest club in the city, tanning at a gorgeous beach or going out for dinner.

But dinner doesn't always have to be just dinner. One of my favorite activities, while I'm dining out is "people watching."

Here's my list of the criteria for restaurant I plan on visiting:

• come with high recommendations from a friend or co-worker
• fresh ingredients
• a great wine/cocktail menu
• great location
• and of course a place where I can do plenty of "people watching"

The casual hobby of people watching is described as the act of observing people and their interactions, usually without their knowledge. This differs from voyeurism in that it does not relate to sex or sexual gratification. Eavesdropping may accompany the activity, though it's not required (Wikipedia).

Here are my fave spots to "people watch: in Miami:

Nexxt Cafe:

Nexxt Cafe is located in the heart of Lincoln Road. This is the perfect restaurant for good casual food in a completely relaxed environment. I love hitting up Nexxt Cafe for Sunday brunch.

The food portions are large enough to feed a small family. But my number one reason for visiting this beloved diner is the chance to "people watch." Lincoln Road is known for attracting tourists and natives alike, as well as animals (the pets of the aforementioned.)


News Cafe:

Another fun and casual spot for "people watching" is News Cafe. It's open for business around the clock and because it's parallel to Ocean Drive you will always find high volumes of people traffic.

The food and drinks here are also great. I love to have breakfast at this place!


Sushi Samba:

Sushi Samba is known for infusing flavors from Japanese, Brazilian and Peruvian cuisines. The Miami location which is also on Lincoln Road is a favorite among the locals.

And when you sit outdoors, you'll get to relish in the weird fun world that is Lincoln Road by "people watching."


Greenstreet Cafe:

Big comfy couches and yummy eats make GreenStreet Cafe one of the hottest spots to go for brunch or drinks with your friends. I enjoy doing both.

And because of it's cool corner street location you have a vantage point when it comes to "people watching," through a lot of the streets in the Grove.

What places do you enjoy going for "people watching"?

Have a wicked weekend loves!

xoxo

Wu-hoo, Not!

Super Bowl Sunday came and left and so did the Jason Wu for Target Collection. While Bostonians all over the East Coast are still upset over the championship loss, I know some fashionistas in Miami who are just as equally infuriated about their Jason Wu experience at Target. Well it's more like the lack of the Wu experience.

One of those angry fashionistas is yours truly.

I'm a loyal Target customer and have been a fan of these limited collections that go as far back as 2007, when Isaac Mizrahi launched a collection with the chain. In fact, I still have the LBD I bought because it's a classic piece.

And the truth is that now that I have this blog, I really look forward to these collections even more because it helps me tell my readers how things really are. I also love the fact that these collections are accessible to everyone.

This past Sunday I woke up at  6:00 a.m. and was ready to shop until I dropped or at the very least I was hoping to bring you some exquisite photos of the merchandise and an accompanying kick ass review, but I regret to inform you that I didn't shop much. I didn't even see much.  And to add insult to all this injury, I didn't even get to see a single handbag.  The horror!

And it wasn't for a lack of trying because I did go to three different Target stores. Here's an account of my experience:

The first Target had a very limited quantity of merchandise. And get this: they didn't even carry accessories. There weren't any accessories, but there were plenty of employees, who stood by the Wu display watching as shoppers were fighting for merchandise as if  they were witnessing a boxing match. They seemed amused and this made me angry!

The second store I visited had slightly more merchandise, but all the accessories had sold out by the time that I got there. And the remaining items were in sizes larger than what I wear, so no luck there!

But at least the employees at this store were very helpful. They were actually putting the merchandise left at the registers back on the floor and answering the customers' questions.

The last store I checked out was probably the best stocked out of the three, but again sizes left were too big.

I did manage to find what I had thought was a very pretty gold peplum, but it wasn't all that pretty in person. I didn't like the texture and I still need to try it on for fit, so it might go back.

Gold peplum blouse

My heart was feverishly fixated on finding this flared cream dress with black accents that's displayed below, but there was no trace of the dress at any of the stores.

I did find the black version, but it just didn't look quite as charming as the cream version. In my mind I had envisioned the cream dress with black tights for a "Blair Waldorf look."  I will say that the soft material of the dress was dreamy.

The last item on my "Wishful Wu List was this gorgeous cream and black handbag, which was sold out online and nowhere to be found in physical stores.

Yes, I can go on EBay and find the bag and the dress, but I'd also have to pay a lot more than what these items are worth. It's my personal opinion that these collections are an attempt at making the brand more accessible by introducing it to the average consumer, but of course there are assholes everywhere who ruin the party for the rest of us.

I'm sure you  have seen the YouTube video that has surfaced showing a Miami couple buying out the entire collection from the Target in Midtown Miami. It truly is despicable.

I, myself am  upset because I witnessed similar behavior, while the store's employees watched on like it were a sport. I'm completely disgusted by Target and its employees, and even wrote an email to corporate. I did receive a prompt and generic response, in which they stated they were sorry and that the company is learning from its mistakes as they go on.

While I do appreciate that the company takes time out to address their consumers' concerns, they need to take immediate action by enforcing a limit on the quantity of items a person can buy at a store. They have the policy for online purchases, but why can't they have it for in store.

I plea to you today to not give into your urges and purchase these items from the people who have robbed us from the experience, as well from the accessibility and affordability that was granted to us.

Let them keep the very same items they deprived us of and maybe they'll learn a lesson after realizing they will not recuperate the thousands of dollars they "invested."

"Revenge is a dish best served cold."

 

Fun Super Bowl Sunday Party Recipes

Sunday is the big game! Whether you're a hardcore football fanatic or not chances are that you will be watching the game not just for the game, but for the great commercials that will be airing.

The last time I hosted a Super Bowl party at my house there was so much food and booze leftover that it took me two years to either consume or toss out the remaining liquor!

Of course no Super Bowl party is complete without great food. Below is a list of some of my favorite recipes from friends or websites that I've acquired over the years for game day. I hope that by sharing them with you that you can incorporate them into your own party this year.

If you have any awesome recipes of your own please share them in the comments area below!

Just click on the link for the full recipe...


Boilmaker Tailgate Chili

The best thing about this chili is that everyone who has tried it has agreed that it's great. I'm not a fan of extremely spicy foods, so I've either subbed ingredients or left them out completely and it's still tasted great. You can make this your very own chili by shaking up the recipe in whatever way you'd like.

And don't forget the longer you cook it the better it'll taste.



Bacon and Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms

I found this recipe a few years ago around the holidays and decided to pass it along to some friends, who ended up using it for a Super Bowl  party instead.  This recipe scored a winning touchdown with them. What's there not to love? Cheese. Bacon. And mushrooms. Nom nom.


Hooters Hot Wings

It's not a Super Bowl party unless you have chicken wings! I happen to think the ratio between wings and a game day party is astronomical.

I'm not a huge cook as you might know, but I love finding recipes and watching TV cook shows. Weird, huh? I think so too, but if I didn't do these things you wouldn't have this awesome list.

Stephanie, founder of Copykat.com has spent her entire life cooking and experimenting with recipes to help us achieve the recipes of some of our fave places. And the fact that these wings are just like the ones from Hooters makes this the perfect wing recipe to have at your party.

Let me know how you like them. Oh, and by clicking on the copykat.com link above you will see of Stephanie's 2012 Super Bowl recipe finalists, which you might want to try!


7 Layer Dip

I'm a simple gal. I don't like messes and I certainly don't like fusses, so a 7 layer dip is always welcomed at my party.

This dip is not only simple. It's delicious. And what a crowd pleaser. It's always been my experience that the dip is the first thing to go.


Deep Fried Oreos

No party would be complete without dessert. And I know what you're thinking about deep fried Oreos.

Ew! Right?

Wrong. They are delicious!

My friend Jojo brought these over to my last Super Bowl party and I was a little hesitant at first to try them out because they didn't look too appetizing.

I tried one and was blown away. I spent the remainder of my night trying not to eat the entire batch!

I guarantee you that you will be the party's MVP after you serve this dish up!

Don't forget to stock up on plenty of beer because it's the American football tradition.

Happy Super Bowl Sunday!