Treat Yourself to Dwayne Johnson’s Favorite Brique LA’s Fancy French Toast Post-New Year’s Eve.

 By Laura Medina

“The Rock” aka Dwayne Johnson needs a “cheat treat” just everyone else to keep mentally sane and balance.

He’s also just like any celebrity. When Ole Blue Eyes, Frank Sinatra, liked his chef’s cooking so much that he invested in his chef’s restaurant, Dear John’s, the proto-SoHo House.

Following in Ole Blue Eyes’ footsteps, Dwayne Johnson invested in his favorite dessert by his personal chefs, to invest in Brique LA French Toast, a French Toast bakery. He puts where his mouth is.

Dwayne is a nice, polite gentleman.  Nice enough, to not only wanting to share his favorite “cheat treat” dessert and his ex-personal chefs’ talents with the world, but also with People Magazine so people who can’t make it to Brique LA’s Century City Mall’s location or even to LA, they make it at home.

In People Magazine’s September 1, 2023 issue…

Dwayne Johnson’s Macadamia French Toast with Banana Foster Sauce Recipe, sharing with the world…

1/2 Cup Heavy Cream 

1/4 Cup Powdered Sugar

1Tablespoon plus 1/2 tablespoon extra divided 

1 Medium Ripe Banana, Sliced

1/2 Cup Packed Brown Sugar 

6 Tablespoons (3 oz.) butter, divided

2 large Eggs

1/2 Cup Whole Milk or Any Milk of Choice

1 Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon 

4 Challah or Brioche Slices

1/4 Cup Honey Roasted Macadamia Nuts, roughly chopped

1. Beat together cream, powdered sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla in a medium bowl with an electric mixer at medium speed until soft peaks form, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to use.

2. Stir together banana slices, brown sugar and 4 tablespoons butter in a medium saucepan; cook over medium low, stirring often, until bananas are soft and sugar is dissolved, 4 to 5 minutes.  Carefully transfer mixture to a blender. Secure lid,

and remove center piece to allow steam to escape.  Place a clean

towel over opening; process until smooth, 30 seconds to 1 minute.

3. Whisk together eggs, milk, cinnamon, and remaining 1 tablespoon vanilla in a medium bowl.

4. Heat 1 tablespoon butter in a large cast-iron skillet or griddle 

over medium. Working in two batches, dip 2 bread slices into egg mixture, and then add to hot skillet. Cook until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to plate. Serve warm, topped with bananas Foster Sauce, whipped cream, and macadamia nuts. 

Serves 4

Active Time: 25 minutes 

Total Time: 24 minutes 

Go ahead and indulge yourself on the morning after New Year’s Eve with Dwayne Johnson’s cheat treat.

In this digital age, if you want semi-homemade, of course you can order it online,  https://www.briquela.com/  or https://www.goldbelly.com/restaurants/brique-french-toastery?utm_medium=website&utm_source=partner&utm_term=2362

Curtis Stone & His Son’s Rookie5 at BeachLife Nights Foodie Music Festival

 By Laura Medina

What happens when major side attractions of outdoor fine dining integrates as part of the music festival?

When the focus is equally zeroed into the chef as well as the musicians and bands.

Sort of reminds this savory, sweet-tooth scribe of the late Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival, a bacchanal where drunk feasting foodies rocked to A-list rockers, who are also major foodies. There’s ain’t nothing like swilling wine to De La Soul.

A new and another version of BeachLife Festival is aiming to take over the spot. BeachLife Nights where food is just as rocking as the performers.

This year is Curtis Stone cooking & roasting while his son opened the festival with his band, Rookie5.

BeachLife Festival has always been rocking family oriented.

BeachLife Nights was a father and son night.

Sex Lives of College Girls Donuts 🍩 & Coffee Premiere Breakfast Screening

 By Laura Medina

The season 2 premiere screening of the coming of age “Sex Lives of College Girls,” treated guests to fun, fancy gourmet doughnuts and coffee to the first two opening episodes, first thing in the morning.

It launched Renee Rap’s double-prong career of actress and singer. Season 2 giving flight to her leaving the show.

For Baby Boomers, Gen-Xers, and Millennials curious about today’s Gen-Z’s twenty-something’s, it never hurts to watch.

Canada’s “RuPaul Drag Race” Winner Splash at The Abbey, Lu Kala.

 By Laura Medina

Lu Kala made her American debut, briefly, by making a simple splash at The Abbey in West Hollywood.

It was a midnight treat.

For her, her North American debut was a big deal.

Abbot Kinney Popping Up

 By Laura Medina

Venice’s oldest rebounding street, Abbot Kinney is popping up with pop-up shops, perfect for trend forecasting and buying unique for self and others.

Godiva Chocolates popping up with the fresh chocolates bon bons.

Shea Moisture popping up, too.

Pamela Anderson’s Comeback in “The Showgirl.”

 By Laura Medina

Ex-Baywatch babe, Pamela Anderson, was lucky enough to snag a perfectly aged role that parallels her own career trajectory, a matured sex symbol showgirl reaching the end of her career and an end of an era, in Gia Coppola’s “The Last Showgirl.”

Gia Coppola, Francis Ford Coppola’s granddaughter and Sofia Coppola’s niece, has directing blood coursing thru her veins.

Gia did “The Last Showgirl” to comment of disposing of the old, in favor of the new.

“The Last Showgirl” is a snapshot of what’s currently happening in Sin City, old-fashion sexy glamour of “rhinestone, breasts, and blush” being pushed by bawdy, raunchy, twerking acrobatic burlesque vaudeville.

Pamela Anderson’s Shelly learning how to evolve and where to pivot next.

Gia allowed Pamela to express full range of raw and real emotions in Vegas’ gritty, hard scrabbled environment.

The Last Showgirl, Shelly, showed her love and dedication to her career and craft that has fallen out of favor. She reveals the sacrifices, Shelly made, at least, gave her a thirty-years Vegas Strip career, which pretty solidly good for any career.

For an hour and half movie, Gia manages to fully explain Shelly’s history.

Basically, “The Last Showgirl” is a cautionary tale of staying too long and knowing when to transition. 

What People Want & Need at West Edge Design Fair, Especially During the Holidays

By Laura Medina

A week before Thanksgiving, the interior design and cooking appliance fair, West Edge Design Fair open up for home owners and interior designers and multiple real estate owners.

The timing comes in handy for cooking up, while entertaining a storm, for guests and visiting guests.

A London-based grill company does barbecue.

Chefs treated folks to crunchy crust, juicy interior steaks showcasing outdoor and indoor grills.

Since the stove and oven with smart refrigerators, are the hearth of the home, chefs and lifestyle established influencers demonstrate healthy soups to counteract all that juicy meats and fresh grilled pizza.

One of the favorite item is a marble kitchen island that lights up as a lamp. Double-duty and multipurpose are always a winner.

It’s not all big appliances for big homes.

Another favorite is a portable keg mini refrigerator cart on wheels, for the first real apartment, first real kitchen or even a glam studio apartment in heart of Manhattan.

The top of the mini refrigerator cart is a set of 3 kegs that you can pull and pour fresh foamy cold brew coffee, kombucha, and frothy draft beer.

All hooked up behind and below inside the refrigerator, the top rack. 

The middle and bottom racks are regular mini fridge, storing pints of any type milk, couple of cheese and fruits and cups of yogurt.

A mini bar for the corner, whether it be a living room, office, or kitchen.

Practical faves for the holidays and beyond.

Who What Wear Holiday Arcade Party

 By Laura Medina 

This lifestyle journalist always get inspirations and ideas attending glam parties that incite envy in others.

Who What Wear’s Holiday Arcade Party is no different.

To see what others will get for Christmas, look no further than Who What Wear’s advertising sponsor, Burt’s Bees’ Christmas trees, decorated and decked in Burt’s Bees lip products, tiny and flavored untainted balms, ripe for the picking. 

Other sponsors did games to treat guests with prizes.

Guests lunched on burger sliders and fries buffet and of course, open bar.

As the day progressed, lines of people made do, playing vintage video games from the Eighties.

That’s how you throw an holiday party.

“Emilia Perez” & “The End” are the New Types of Musicials.

 By Laura Medina 

This entertainment reporter noticed this trend in supposedly movie dramas. They’re breaking out of the straight and narrow.

Perhaps, taking a cue from Bollywood, when things get deep or sexy, they divert with a song and dance.

Not with crime trans drama, “Emilia Perez” and drama-comedy, “The End,” they go deeper into the subconscious with song and dance numbers.

“Emilia Perez” burst thru a many fourth walls with using song and dance numbers to dive deep then express the characters’ inner thoughts and lives. Of course, these musicals numbers showcase Zoe Saladana’s and Selena Gomez’ singing and dancing range.

“The End” lacks the dancing part but they’re also singing to express the characters’ inner thoughts.

These two movies might give musical numbers new ways to flex its muscles.

Glow Recipe’s Korean Night Market was a Beauty Carnival.

By Laura Medina 

 

With emergence of skincare as self-care, fruit-based Korean skincare brand, Glow Recipe shared Korean skincare thru contemporary Korean culture, the Korean night market pop-up,

The first one started in West Hollywood. Now, they’re doing one for New York City, sharing the bi-coastal soothing love.

Basically, Glow Recipe’s Night Market was their skincare carnival that any RSVPed person can get in then enjoy.

Free Korean snacks and soda while people were treated free travel-sized samples and minis.

This is stuff others try to knock-off but can’t.

Cheers to more skincare-beauty carnivals.

This was a real treat.

Tower 28 Beauty’s “Golden Bachelorette” Party was the Best Valentine’s Day Party.

 By Laura Medina

ABC’s “Golden Bachelorette” may be coming to an end as its finale is tonight, but Tower 28 Beauty gave it girly sweet viewing launch party, even better than Valentines.

Their selective guests were treated inside the headquarters, itself where there’s dessert buffet galore and fizzy pink and red cocktail bar, yum.

Then, everyone settled into red beanie bag chairs, watching the premiere.

Of course, the industry influencing insider guests were to picked to try their new “Finest Hour” pure red Beach Please multi-purpose cream blush.

Sharing the love.

Orville Peck’s Outlaw Country is His Idea of Progressively Punk.

 By Laura Medina

Reset, rest, then rise again is the predominant theme this year, from Law Roach and Lily Reinhart running continuously thru Orville Peck needing to rest his voice then rescheduling his Hollywood concert from first week of October to right before Halloween. How appropriate for all the Outlaw Country-Western folks, like bad ass girl, Nikki Lane opening for him for two night. Those two are like peanut butter and jelly.

Two months ago, lecturing at the Grammy Museum, Orville, like Roach and Reinhart, his previous nonstop tour took the life out of him. What supposed to make him happy, made him depressed instead.

For his current “Stampede” tour, he’s touring like the Navy, “three months out” on tour then “three months in” at home working on his relationship and recharging.

His Halloween concerts were his last US concerts.

Within three months, he’ll hit the road again, perhaps over seas.

We all got to pace ourselves.

Law Roach, Saweetie, Sloane Stephens & Lili Reinhart Talk about Rest & Reset at BeautyCon 2024

 By Laura Medina

Since beauty is reflected in one’s health, this year’s BeautyCon 2024 is all about rest to reset to rise up, according to Sloane Stephen’s, tennis professional.

Whether it’s relentless touring or travel, Law Roach, Saweetie, and Sloane Stephens all agree to pacing one’s self into survive a glamorous, thriving yet demanding careers.  They’re all trying to survive burnout.

Saweetie and Roach both agree, they have into a super-charged gratitude of taking advantage of all these tsunami of opportunities but it costed them their physical and personal health.

Speaking of personal health and Law Roach’s book discussing failures and setbacks, CW “Riverdale” Lili Reinhart spoke candidly about her moving to LA twice because she failed the first time.

Lili mentioned if her acting had not worked out, she would had been a special effects makeup artist.

After the success of “Riverdale” and Cover Girl Clean Beauty Ambassador, Lili says the stress of first living in LA gave her stress acne. 

She figured if she using her days-off as personal days, why not use those days and nights as skincare health ritual.

This is where and when she debuted her adult sensitive complexion skincare line, Personal Day Skincare, @personalday on Instagram.

During her first time in LA, Lili’s stress acne made her so insecure that it affected her self-esteem as an actress. She refused to let that intimidate her. Plus, during her days and nights off from filming, she figured why not pamper your body and soul with affordable, effective skincare. Plus, learning about the beauty business as Cover Girl’s Clean Beauty ambassador, didn’t hurt.

Lili used wisdom and experience to recharge her body and brain and wants to share it with people.

BeautyCon 2024 is all about recharge to charge ahead.

Netflix’s “Martha” documentary on October 30th, Gets Raw & Tough to be Honest.

 By Laura Medina

Do you want to watch something authentically deliciously and dishy?

On October 30th, look no further than Netflix’s “Martha” documentary where Martha Stewart plainly straightforward talk about her and husband, Andy Stewart, cheating on each other as Martha grew into a lifestyle influencer powerhouse.

It’s partially about marriage and relationships as a pioneering woman is the first to navigate the churning waters of social media and building a corporation while learning to swim the waves, without drowning.

She did socially drown while being in prison, but she was rebirth to new generations of Millennials and Gen-Zers, needing home economics guidance. 

The pressure of building a perfect image creates cracks in her marriage, of her and Andy growing apart and outgrowing each other.

Martha, based on her experience, quotes in the documentary, “If you want to be happy, get married. If you want to be happy for a decade, get a dog. If you want to be happy, grow a garden.”

A tough lesson from a tough lady.

Martha experienced a ton of tough lessons from her abusive, unhappy father to being one of the first woman stockbroker when there was no ladies room to being housewife contractor demolishing then renovating a farmhouse to caterer to using her entertainment skills into a lifestyle empire, many try to copy but can’t.

Martha is still around. 

“Martha” the documentary will debut on Netflix on October 30th.

Zendaya’s Stylist, Law Roach, Talks Psychology in His Book “How To Build A Fashion Icon” Q & A with Keke Palmer.

 By Laura Medina

Who would had imagined a psychology and business admission bachelor graduate, with a minor in marketing, would go on become a fashion celebrity stylist?

Not Law Roach, but he did.

In fifteen years when stylist Rachel Zoe extolled the professionalism of having a roving fashion closet in a suv, ready for anything at anywhere to today’s emphasis on mental health and any body is a good body and you need fashion history to best style a client, Law Roach is the moment.

In his book, he’s not afraid to talk about failure. He’s no longer Keke Palmer’s stylist but still good enough friend to moderate his book questions and answers talk.

His book is not about external styles or appearances. It’s about the internal and how that person feels. He’s deep enough to talk about manifestation.

He ain’t afraid to discuss racism in a predominately white, skinny female business. Law had to take pay cuts in dressing Ann Hathaway while, thank god, still earning a decent pay in styling A-list African-American celebrities. 

Towards the end of the book, he talks about why he needs to end the demands taking the toll on his body.

He still remembers he’s from Chicago.

He celebrated his book lecture by inviting the audience to a disco party in Hollywood’s hottest nightclub.

That’s one way to close a chapter while opening a new one.

Nice and sweet.

Selena Gomez & Zoe Saldaña Flex Muscle & Vocal Range Around Karla Sofia Gascon in Trans Crime Drama Musical, Netflix’s “Emilia Perez.”

 By Laura Medina

Netflix has never been a traditional movie studio nor a television network. It has always been and proud of using tv series and movies to push boundaries and expand horizons of what it means to be human.

Streamers also provide opportunities for actors to broaden their horizons, widen their range, flex that acting muscle, and bust out of those lucrative but restricting pigeon holes.

In gender-and genre-defying “Emilia Perez,” it examines stereotypical machismo versus machisma. It also showcases today’s modern, contemporary Mexican culture and society, regarding race, ethnicity, and gender identity expectations and true desired identity, LGBTQ, and what makes one Mexican and Latin and Hispanic.

Zoe Saldaña is a black Mexican lawyer hired by a drug lord to help him tie up loose ends and research the safest place for trans-gender operations when he decided to start his trans-gender transition. This is not to be taken lightly or be taken for granted in Mexico’s male chauvinistic society.

“Emilia Perez” is all about finding true happiness, even sacrificing for true happiness.

That’s just the beginning of both characters’ journey.

Selena Gomez busts her goody-two shoes persona, in being a drug lord trophy wife turned heartbroken widow trying to move on with a previous lover, while fighting over child custody and alimony, that turned bloody.

Edgar Ramirez plays the rebound lover.

The true crux that “Emilia Perez” pivots on is Spanish trans actress, Karla Sofia Gascon, who, in real life, used to be telenova heart-throb, Juan Carlos Gascon.

If there’s anyone best qualified to play a macho male drug lord turned a good hearted trans woman, the title character “Emilia Perez,” running a victims’ charity. A she righting the wrongs of her old, male past, it would be Karla Sofia Gascon.

Ask any father turned trans, breaking free from the past ain’t easy with kids. Imagine the complications with dad returning as aunt; and the wife doesn’t have a clue.

Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez really flex their singing vocal cords and dancing muscles in their characters’ inner thoughts introspective song & dance numbers. For Zoe, it’s returning to her Hispanic heritage and dance roots. The same with Selena.

The cast of Edgar Ramirez, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, and Karla Sofia Gascon really bust and crush Latin stereotypes.

This is Zoe’s most realistic role yet.

The protagonist, Emilia Perez, realizes she can’t really leave behind the past. Her child custody fight and alimony brings back the old, machismo male drug lord.

At the end, “Emilia Perez,” shows who’s the real lord. The only thing this scribe can say, is it is machisma that shows who’s boss.

If you want to find out, watch Netflix’s “Emilia Perez.”

Elizabeth Banks’ Skincare & Demi Moore’s The Substance, are Horror Movies Women Can Relate.

 By Laura Medina

This recent Halloween Horror season has been positively female.

Yes, definitely Hollywood youth-centric. It’s just the age-old quest of equating youth with beauty and health.

Unfortunately, the quest of hanging onto it longer, since we’re all living longer, makes the desperation scarier.

Elizabeth Banks’ “Skincare,” was based on a recent true crime story that reflects the beauty evolution from superficial makeup to health as wealth investment of skincare. 

It also reflects aestheticians’ competition and rivalry morphing into physical intimidation, physical harassment, slander, defamation, and total elimination driving an aesthetician to desperate measures with shady people taking advantage of needy entrepreneurs. Remember, “Skincare” was based on a true crime and trial.

Whew! Thank god, Demi Moore’s science fiction-horror movie, “The Substance,” is an updated version of “Dorian Gray.”

Built on “beauty as health as wealth” and messing with one’s DNA, “The Substance” is a twisted version of rebirth and aging not so gracefully.

It also showcase agism and sexism and the sleazy people in the media industry where women are disposable.

Since these movies are female-centric, the women in your lives, aren’t going to be frightened but the men will be shocked.

Men, will soon learn in a changing society, youth as health, is currency.

Sutton Starcke of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” Has a New Talent Show.

 By Laura Medina 

Here’s you all’s more opportunities and chances to be famous, the old fashion way-talent.

“The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” Sutton Stracke with the fashion duo of “Gown and Out in Beverly Hills,”Patrik Simpson and Pol’ Atteu are doing and judging on their own version of an “America Got Talent”-sque talent show.

With Patrik’s years of being a talent agent and manager, this sure helps.

Get ready! Auditions start this Friday, October 4th at 1pm.

All varieties welcomed.

Reach out, apply, and audition to:

Charmaine Blake

charmaineblakecasting@gmail.com

562-719-6419

Good Luck!

Nathan Lane’s “Mid-Century Modern,” All About Friendship.

 By Laura Medina

Ryan Murphy’s take on the “Golden Girls”, for gay guys.

Mainly, middle-aged gays living in gay retirement, stylish desert community of Palm Springs near Joshua Tree Desert.

Hulu’s “Mid-Century Modern” double means the desert preserving 1950’s and 1960’s futuristic Space Age home architecture well into the next century. At the same time, middle -aged gays are stylishly preserved into the next century, being sandwiched in the middle between younger lovers and significant others, caring for older parents, and dying friends and partners.

Just like the “Golden Girks,” it’s friends who form a family.

No different for “Mid-Century Modern.”

Sweet July Sour Sop Vitamin C & Good Sleep Retinol Serums During Sweaty Summer

 By Laura Medina

Vitamins C and A are all good things, part of Fountain of Youth.

Sweet July Skincare Serums offer sweet, light weight serums relief.

Sweet July uses Sour Sop as vitamin C for its Sour Sop Vitamin C Serum. If you can’t eat or drink it, wear it.

Oh yeah, you can wear Vitamin C under your sunscreen during the day.

If you need sleeping relief, slather on Sweet July Good Sleep Retinol Serum to rejuvenate those skin cells.

Sweet July Serums are a sweet relief during Summer.

Use Your Oil Glands With You, Not Against You, During a Late Indian Summer.

 By Laura Medina

Just right before the temperature drops into an appropriate Autumn, instead of cursing your over-abundance and over-active oil glands flaring up in late Indian Summer. 

Do what wise, experienced makeup artists tell you. You have all-natural moisturizer born into you.

Take advantage of this genetic blessing and use this as born in moisturizer to turn NudeStix All-Over Blush Balm as a traditional cream multiple color for lips, cheeks, and eyes.

For a sweaty Summer, NudeStix All-Over Color Blush Balm is the first multipurpose powder for lips, cheeks, and eyes.

If you prefer a subtle, matter wash, you can use it as matte lips and as traditional powder blush and eyeshadow.

If you want a creamier, more moisturizing glow, all in one mirror compact without the additional burden of lipsticks or multiple sticks, use your oil glands to turn NudeStix All-Over Blush Balms as usual cream multiples for cream lipstick and blush and eyeshadow.

All in one compact.

Gym dandy and mommy life.

Living in Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Metauniverse’ with Lisa Rina & Sutton Stracke.

 By Laura Medina

At Glossier’s conference, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’  and actress, Lisa Ronna said that most brands and designers are hesitant in getting promotional products placements on the show, due to the fact the franchise is drama and trauma driven.

This is why the Housewives form a close bond when it comes to business endeavors. They help Lisa with her lipstick business because shoe’s so well known for her plump lips, that they walk into the room before her. So, the other Housewives are really thrilled when she gives them free samples.

Housewives coming to support each others came in full force at Sutton Stracke’s upcycled fashion brand, Green Label.

With the exception of Lisa Rinna, that.night was a galaxy of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, amazing networking and meets and greets.

A Metauniverse of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

Netflix’s Emilyin Paris Premiere Screening Immersive with Cast

 By Laura Medina

Samuel Arnold says he doesn’t try the French food here, in LA. But, he loves the smoothies. Bruno says he enjoys the American pancakes here.  They’re so different from French crepes.

This is how Emily in Paris cast surprisingly greeted and treated the fan audience being treated to the first three episodes of Season 4 of Emily in Paris.

Prior to the screening, lucky fans guests entered a Parisian garden and park wonderland, with servers serving fresh canales. An open flavored mineral water and gourmet soda bar.

The displayed costumes were sponsored by Google Shop, where you point and snap an outfit then Google directs you to the shops’ websites to buy.

After the screening, guests were gifted an huge bottle of Emily in Paris perfume and Emily in Paris French macarons, per a guest.

It’s a Rolling Stones Week.

 By Laura Medina

The Rolling Stones opened their week, with them doing their first of two nights shows on Wednesday night, with The War and Treaty, at SoFi Stadium.

They’ll finish up by their second and final LA stop on Saturday, still at SoFi Stadium.  The Lindas Lindas Lindas will open for them.

The rock n’ roll/hip hop music photography art gallery, The Morrison Hotel Art Gallery celebrates The Rolling Stones playing at SoFi Stadium for two nights, by throwing a photography exhibit, detailing the band’s history.

The exhibit is chuck full of iconic, historical photos that most can immediately recognize.  Mix in are more personalized and intimate photos of their first set of wives and kids and some of their first tours spanning the global.

Their jet-setting touring set the rock star lifestyle that many copy and aspire to.

It’s Rolling Stones week.

Getting Prep for Smashbox’s Primer Photoshoot Party, Sipping Bella Hadid’s OSEA Smoothie, Cleanse with Deinde’s Whipped Cleanser then Mist with Biossance.

 By Laura Medina

Last Sunday was a big, glamorous reunion for beauty influencers.  Smashbox Cosmetics bounced back, post-quarantine pandemic, bringing on a casting call photoshoot party, a promotional launch party for their newest and latest photo shoot-quality primer, Photo Finish Resurface Smooth and Renew Primer with glycolic acid, a new and improved primer with skincare, https://m.smashbox.com/product/6038/125714/face/photo-finish-primer/photo-finish-resurface-smooth-renew-primer?size=1_fl._oz._%2F_30ml&_gl=1*jrxxh9*_up*MQ..&gclid=EAIaIQobChMInM7ZoduQhwMV6zWtBh0UjQIiEAAYASAAEgLO_fD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

It was a smart and practical party where beauty influencers are invited to wear and model the new primer.

Speaking of skincare, this beauty-ista unknowingly got prepped for this Smashbox photoshoot party by gradually maintaining and prepping with skincare smoothie, cleansing and misting.

First and earlier, this skincare scribe was lucky enough to sip Bella Hadid’s Osea Skin Glow Smoothie at SunLife Organics Cafe, where Bella used to work before becoming a super model. There’s hope for anyone.

The Blue Spiruluna, not only makes it cool and pretty, it is cool and beautifully nutritious for you, inside and out.  Remember, Bella’s Skin Glow Smoothie reflects OSEA’s skincare ingredients, jam packed with superfoods:

Aloe Vera

Coconut Cream, Butter, Whip, and Sorbet

Mango

Passion Fruit 

Almond Milk

Pineapple Juice

Manna Ocean

Silica

Maple Syrup 

Sun Life Organic’s Hydration & Beauty Powder

Blue Spirulina and Majik

Spinach 

Himalayan Pink Salt

Gee, with these much superfoods, no wonder it’s easier to sip than dine.  This hydrating smoothie is #1 in Austin.

Sipping Bella Hadid’s Osea Skin Glow Smoothie is the easiest and most delicious first step.

You can sip and digest your skincare as you apply your skincare externally.  It’s deliciously fun and refreshing, sipping and guzzling your skincare, more boosting radiance for you all.

The second step was effectively and gently rubbing Denise’s Whipped Cleanser, https://www.deinde.com/products/purifying-whipped-cleanser/?tw_source=google&tw_adid=702278325762&tw_campaign=21241671732&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAqItw5IEcmOdBYLs6RkFpIl64R1sA&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIl7m05dWQhwMV4YPCCB0YCiCDEAQYASABEgKZNfD_BwE

The finally step getting prepped and ready for Smashbox Cosmetics’ Photoshoot Primer Party, was spritzing and misting Biossance’s Sqaulene and Hyaluronic Acid Toning Mist, https://www.biossance.com/p/squalane-plus-hyaluronic-acid-facial-mist/13222552/

Doing all these 3 steps with Bella Hadid’s Osea Skin Glow Smoothie then cleaning with Deinde’s Whipped Cleanser then refreshing and hydrating with Biossance’s Sqaulene and Hyaluronic Acid Toning Mist, are what gets you ready for any photoshoot.

Camera ready, inside-out.

Rihanna Does It Again, With Her FentyHair Launch Pop-Up Then It’ll Pop Away.

By Laura Medina

Rihanna has always been a giver, which makes her a smart business lady.

Surprising, she waited this long to launch her haircare line.  Her core fan base is all about hair.

This skincare & makeup maven scribe doesn’t mind Rihanna started with much needed universal cosmetics then equally universally adaptive skincare.

Now today, starting 12 noon until it closes at 8pm tonight, fans, admirers, and curious lined up first thing in the morning, to get the first dub and rub on Rihanna’s FentyHair creams, protective serum sprays, and gel for care and styling and rich shampoo, traditional conditioner, and leave-in conditioner.

Rihanna doesn’t do a lot of fan experiences but when she does, it’s fan respectful and glamorous.

The hair styling station inside FentyHair pop-up, using the products, was all booked up.

Of course in today’s clean and functional green beauty, FentyHair up cycles leftover Jackfruit, Rihanna’s hometown Gooseberry, green tea extract, vegetable proteins, and amino acids.

Her Protective Type, a 5-In-1 heat protectant styler, is pretty light textured cream for protecting your tresses while curling in hot curling irons to shape, curl, twirl, and straighten.

As one of the first 100 at the opening,  this scribe was lucky first to soothe and smooth, thanks to Rihanna.

Paul Scheer & Martha Kaufman have a new “Friends” for 2020’s, Improv Sitcom, “DINKS.”

 By Laura Medina 

TV producer, Martha Kaufman, had her finger on the plus, zeitgeist.

It was about making a family out of your friends during the ‘90’s, hence “Friends.” That define that decade.

For the past twenty years, the LA slang, “DINKS,” abbreviation of “Double/Dual Income No Kids,” have been bouncing around LA, to signify a type of marriage and what it takes to live a comfortable life in LA.

With comedian Paul Scheer and his wife, a fellow stand-up, Martha Kaufman is putting out an new, fresh fly by your set, unscripted, improvised sitcom defining today’s relationship and “friends as family, “DINKS.”

How’s this for audience participation.

Before taping, Paul and wife would ask questions from the audience then incorporate the audience’s answers into the dialogue, with actors’ rapid responses, sans script and only guided by scene outlines. Then, it’s up to the cast to fill in, using audience’s answers.

This makes for one hell of a hilarious improv roller coaster ride.

The standard prime time sitcom is still there. 4 to 6 cameras for 4 to 6 takes in 4 to 6 angles for the best shots and lines complied together for an episode.

That’s the only thing traditional thing about “DINKS.”

The rest is a free-form Jazz of unscripted dialogue and comedic zingers, again using only audience’s answers.

The weirder and more unusual the answers, the more they run and direct the episode.

Generally, “DINKS,” is a newlywed yuppy couple, who have previous marriages to other people, joining up in purchasing then renovating an historically haunted house up in the more affordable foothills above LA proper.

Yes, “DINKS” is all about accepting “baggage,” from adopting aimless, adult nephews to accepting new neighborhood friends, such as the realtor who sold you an haunted house. 

Ah, the reality of living in LA, in 2020’s.

Tiffany Haddish’s Has ‘80’s Prom, She Always Wanted, For Her She’s Ready Foundation for Foster Kids.

 By Laura Medina

 As a normal foster kid, the prom and other social school dances weren’t high priorities for foster parents checking the checks from the kids, they’re fostering.

This stuck with, while scarring Tiffany Haddish for life.

During her formative teen years and early twenties, it was the comedians at The Laugh Factory that were her real adopted family. 

They may not be neglected foster kids, like Tiffany, but they were the nerds, the dorks, the social misfits who were invited, or never welcomed at the prom.

As for some of them, Canadians like Howie Mandel, prom simply isn’t part of the culture.

So, Tiffany Haddish’s “Adult” Prom isn’t just a fundraiser for her She’s Ready Foundation.  It’s a prom for fellow foster kids, like her.  It’s prom for her fellow comedians and Canadian comedians, like Howie Mandel.

Tiffany’s prom this year was Eighties overload. Rubik Cubes all over. Grab as much childhood Eighties penny candy. A flashing and blinking Rubik Cube dance floor. The traditional roast beef, salmon, and Turkey prom buffet. They have “Someone Spiked The Punch” cocktail and mocktail bars for designated drivers.

Even Tiffany had her hair permed a la Eighties.

She shared her high school prom of her dreams, by anointing Howie Mandel, Homecoming King while she’s Homecoming Queen.

She invited Dana Dane to be the headliner.

Not only did Tiffany’s Prom raised money for decent luggage for foster kids moving from home to home, it also gives mentorships and internships and scholarships for fellow foster kids.

Let not forget, Tiffany’s Prom is also for her fellow nerd, dork, and misfit comedians friends who are now A-list comedy and movie and TV legends and icons who are now rich enough to give back while throwing themselves an awesome party.  A true Revenge of the Nerds.

What’s the best part?

Tiffany’s Adult Prom happens every year.

Alright, it’s Hollywood’s Revenge of the Nerds. They have goody gifts as a thank you for all the guests.

In each goody bag, there’s Tiffany’s latest autobiography, “I Cuss You With Joy.”

In time for Father’s Day, Tiffany quoted most girls take their daddies for granted, whereas her dad skipped out on her and mom when Tiffany was a mere kid.

There are deeper meanings and apparent gratitude at Tiffany Haddish’s yearly Adult Prom.

Do Over with thanks and giving.

Flamingosis Got Gen-Z Joint Jumping with Live Latin Big Band Jazz-Funk

 By Laura Medina 

Ironically the same time the Conga Room was closing, a 

Nuyorican (a New York Puerto Rican) Gen-Zers Latin Jazz-Funk band, with a band leader/DJ, is rising up, getting Gen-Zers all ecstatic about live Latin Jazz-Funk, blasting big, bold, and loud by their Gen-Z peers.

Flamingosis is bringing back their Baby Boomer grandparents’ ‘70’s Latin Funk-Jazz-Disco, boldly flavored by a real-live trombonist and trumpeter blasting beats, overwhelming an ecstatic thumping happy, jump-jiving crowd.  Obviously, this was the first this canned music generation ever saw, heard, and feel the physical live 

vibrations of beats. But, they’re beats from a trumpet and

a trombone.

Yes, Flamingosis’ saxophonist warmed up the crowd with DJing, spinning tunes.

But the audience went crazy when the full band came out.

This when DJ became the saxophonist. One of the keyboardist is the guitarist. Of course, the audience went nuts when the trombonist and the trumpeter started blasting beats.

The Gen-Zers got twirling and spinning in feverish whirls, spinning to the live blasts of live Latin Jazz-Funk. This was their first time. Something their Baby Boomer grandparents took for granted way in the Disco Seventies.

See, grandma and grandpa knew how to get down with funk and the jazzy beats.

Flamingosis brings back the jive with the vibe.

Play a Delicious Game, Matching Fresh Beauty Fragrances with Diabetic-Friendly, Natural Allulose-Based Francium Chocolates.

                         By Laura Medina

If you’re in a Netflix “Bridgerton” mood, there’s nothing more ladylike and delightful than snacking on healthy, portion-controlled indulgences.

Two South Coast locals, South Coast Plaza Fresh Beauty and Francium Chocolates, https://franciumchocolate.com/pages/ingredients

paired up together, where Francium Chocolates create chocolate truffle bonbons and caramels using ingredients from Fresh Beaity Fragrances.

Influenced by Fresh Beauty Fragrances’ rose and lychee and Fresh Beauty skincare’s sugar and tea, Francium Chocolates created bons bons and caramels…

https://franciumchocolate.com/pages/ingredients

using allulose, a rare fructose sugar from fig, jackfruit, and raisins, delivering real, normal texture and taste of ordinary sugar without spiking sugar levels.

So for sweet diabetics, eat up and enjoy. 

Priv Brings the Glam Home to Mom or Taking Mom to Burke Williams Day Spa, Treat Her.

 By Laura Medina

Moms now a days do everything. A great majority of single moms are both mom and dad, all rolled up in one.

Well, if you’re old enough to drink and old enough to start your own family, you’re old enough and mature enough to treat your mom to a relaxing, replenishing, and rejuvenating spa experience, feeding her soul back.

If you all are enough to live in the greater Los Angeles area, do bring her to your nearest Burke Williams Spa. Very convenient, these day spas will repair your mom while you all will have enough time to treat her to brunch or a very nice dinner. 

Your mom feeling out of date since she sacrifices and devotes so much time to you?

Give her the ease and the confidence by hiring Priv, hair and makeup styling that comes to you. A secret of the stars for premieres and awards nights, give mom the star treatment to give her that extra boost of glamourous confidence, especially for brunch or dinner.

Mother’s Day is Cinderella Day and Night for moms.

Catch Kendra Erika Every Tuesday Night at 8pm, at Lisa Vanderpump’s SUR in Heart of WeHo.

 By Laura Medina

If you’re in West Hollywood, the “Hollywood,” that everyone thinks Hollywood is, pay a visit to Lisa Vanderpump’s SUR then make a dinner reservation on Tuesday night, at 8pm.

Not only you’re getting a taste at Lisa Vanderpump’s SUR (yes, the one on Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Lisa Vanderpump’s Bravo franchises), you’ll catch a rising star, dance-pop singer, Kendra Erika.

She made her red carpet debut, last Wednesday night at a packed SUR, where she launched her single, “Self Love.”

Since she’s performing every Tuesday night at 8pm, might as well catch her.

Show her some love.

Chevy Metal’s Afterparty Ignites Beach Life Festival’s First Night.

 By Laura Medina

Chevy Metal is and was a side project band by Foo Fighters’ late, departed drummer, Taylor Hawkins, where he just rocks out covers of classic rock and heavy metal classic standards.

Taylor’s cover band is an elusive, hidden band that only music industry insiders in Topanga Canyon/Malibu only know about because that’s they usually rock out. Given the late Taylor Hawkins’ Foo Fighters’ recording and touring schedules, Taylor’s Chevy Metal band can sneak off on a mini tour or an one-off night at a local bar or club, mostly a country honky tonk deep in the Malibu/Ventura country valley. Maybe, once in awhile, they’ll pop up in a Malibu dive. Once in awhile, a celebrity rocker friend will make a special guest appearance, usually singing lead.

However, Beach Life Festival holds a special place for Chevy Metal. The band played a slot during the festival’s inception, 2019.

Talk about legacy, Taylor Hawkins’ son, Shane took over his late dad’s drummer duties in his dad’s band, Chevy Metal.

Shane set his foot print, when he and Chevy Metal ignited Beach Life Festival’s opening night with an intimate, insider party at the music industry heavy, The Venice West.

Since Chevy Metal has an history of having legendary rock singers singing lead with the band (once in awhile, Dave Gorhl will help out), for this inaugural yet intimate concert, legendary punk rocker and character actor, Lee Ving sang with the band, more like rock out with them. Yelling and screaming like the punk rocker, he is.

Local rockers and music industry folks know they’re lucky enough to catch Chevy Metal whenever and wherever, they suddenly pop up.

However, Chevy Metal is going on tour soon.

Keep your eyes and ears out soon, Chevy Metal will be at Bottle Rock Festival soon, where culinary stars mash up with food and wine-loving rockers. It’s a more sophisticated version of Coachella. 

A Laid Back “Laurel Canyon,” Afternoon with The Dawes Honoring Rock Photographer, Henry Diltz.

 By Laura Medina

Lovers of the Sixties’ and Seventies’ folk/country-rock and pop emitting from Laurel Canyon, the Hollywood Hills border between Hollywood’s urban Sunset Strip and the suburban Valley, showed up for Henry Diltz, the photographer who documented the emergence of that laid back sound by The Byrds, Joni Mitchell, and Jackson Brown.

Ethan Hawke, Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon, Alice Cooper, and The Who’s Roger Daltrey showed up for this jam-packed, intimate laidback Sunday afternoon.

This easygoing, mellow country/folk rock/pop genre born out of Laurel Canyon, is continuing to this day, with a new of mellow rockers, like The Dawes, who performed a chill, intimate set.

This all happened after the excitement of Coachella and revelry of Stagecoach and the early windstorm emergency closing of Beach Life Festival that same day, at that same time.

The Dawes paying tribute to the Laurel Canyon sound, that Henry Diltz historically preserved, was a relaxing ending to a fun-filled charged month of Coachella and Stagecoach, that are igniting this current Summer of music festivals.

Chill.

Fresh Beauty’s Revamped Lotus Skincare Line is All-American with All-American Fruits.

                             By Laura Medina

Fresh Beauty’s Lotus Collection has returned on Earth Day.

This time around, Fresh Beauty uses all of the whole lotus into the collection.  Nothing goes to waste, all in the name of sustainability.

To cut down on fossil fuel, Fresh grows their all ingredients in America.

They grow and farm their lotuses in Alabama. They use Prickly Pears and peaches in their revamped collection.

Jam packed with antioxidant goodness, this goes a long way with this new Lotus collection.

Most skincare companies just use the heart of a flower then discard the rest away. Not with Fresh, they use the whole Lotus in their collection with Prickly Pears and peaches.

After the event, guests potted their own succulents in empty Fresh ceramic and glass jars, to take home on Earth Day.

With Fresh Beauty harvesting and growing their own ingredients in the US, they unintentionally created an All-American skincare.

Something that this sun-soaked scribe can use through July the 4th.