My Night with Cojo, the Hiltons, and Christian Louboutins

I was lucky enough to receive an invite to a party held this evening at the Christian Louboutin boutique in West Hollywood. The event was held in celebration of the special-edition Christian Louboutin Barbie doll. The doll was given to customers as a free gift with purchase, and the proceeds went to a very worthy charity.

Unfortunately, the shoe for which I am currently waiting to purchase hadn't arrived yet, so I was unable to purchase it at this event. There were other shoes I wanted, but this purchase for which I'm waiting is a big one, and since I just plunked down a few hundred bucks for a cruise and still want to save for retirement and emergencies, it was very unwise for me to purchase something today. So...no Barbie for me...but that's OK because the evening was pretty magical, regardless of that.

I arrived with my friend, T., who brought his friend, H., who was visiting from San Francisco. We sipped champagne and ate little snacks and sat around while basking in the glow of the glamorous ladies trying on sexy shoes and the celebrities. The first celebrity we spotted was Nicky Hilton, who was rocking a pair of studded Very Prives. I ended up telling her I loved her shoes and that I had a pair of my own. She smiled at me and politely said, "Thank you". Her family was also in attendance: mom Kathy, dad Rick, her cousins and aunts. Sister Paris showed up near the end, dressed in a black lace dress, fur bolero, and a pair of black patent Lady Page pumps. It was Paris's 29th birthday, which I realized after I overheard Kathy Hilton tell one of the sales associates, "I gave birth today. 29 years ago!". The Hilton family gathered with actress Lori Loughlin, who looked just as stunning as she did on the long-running 1980s TV show, "Full House".

The real highlight of the night for me was meeting fashion critic and TV personality Steven "Cojo" Cojocaru. I saw him talking with a couple of ladies and watched him the entire time. I knew I had to talk with him because my younger sister and I are fans of his. I was getting a little antsy because of the excitement of seeing him and briefly considered approaching him, but I didn't want to be rude and interrupt his conversations with the ladies. He finished, then started walking up the stairs, right in front of me! I opened my mouth, and before I knew it, the following words came out: "I just have to tell you that my sister and I are big fans of yours!". He seemed genuinely pleased to hear this and introduced himself. When I asked, he replied that he prefers to be called "Cojo" and joked that he felt like Madonna, being known by one name. He asked me my name and asked if my sister was there. I said no, sadly. We chatted a little, then I asked if I could take a picture with him, and he said yes! Aaaaaahhhh! I never ask celebrities to have a picture taken with me (I'm always too shy), but I took the leap, and it paid off! Afterward, he gave me a little advice: "Buy a pair of shoes. It's better than rent or eating!"...LOL...I'm telling you, in this city, you never know who you'll run into. I really wouldn't have thought I'd run into Cojo, even in my wildest dreams! Oh, and if any haters make any nasty comments about my new friend on my blog, they will be deleted immediately...and with a vengeance!

Just as I promised him, I checked out his website and bookmarked it (see my list of favorite sites on the side). I find it to be very entertaining and myself to be in agreeement with his comments, just like when I would watch him on "Entertainment Tonight".

Highlights from My Super Bowl Weekend (Which Doesn't Involve the Super Bowl at All)

Ah, Super Bowl 2010. Many Americans would call this the ultimate sporting event of the year. This weekend is generally full of hype hype hype, leading up to the Big Game on Sunday (which would be today). Not for me. I'm not into football, so to me, it's just another weekend to be grateful for.

My Friday night, during which I made an important decision (and blogged about it in the entry just preceding this one), ended with a bloody orange caipirinha and yummy appetizers and deserts (which ultimately blended into one meal) at Firefly. Firefly is a lounge/bar/restaurant in the very upscale and hip town of Studio City. Many "yuppie LA" types hang out here, and they were out in full force on Friday, despite the heavy rain. A friend/coworker of mine and I dined on crispy green beans, beef stroganoff, a Spanish cheese plate, and baked Alaska. The bill came out to almost $100, and I felt a little bad, since for a lot of people, that's quite pricey and I picked the place. My friend didn't make a fuss of it. In fact, she said the food was good and didn't mind. It's dark in this place, and I was so engrossed in conversation with my friend that I didn't take any pictures, but I promise to next time I visit.

My Saturday was quite uneventful. I went for my monthly waxing maintenance, which, lately, hasn't been monthly. I've had way too much to do and on my mind to even think of it. Seriously, when your parents are having a host of health problems, you have a full-time hectic job, and you're trying to make a social life for yourself, the last thing you think of is your stray eyebrow hairs. But, being the girly girl I am, I eventually came to, so there I was. Very near to the salon was a cupcake bakery called Susie Cakes. Soooo good! The cupcake bakery is pretty popular here in LA, and there are a few of them that are famous (one is actually named Famous Cupcakes, owned by the Kardashians). Darnit-I forgot to take pics again! Oh well, another reason to go back ;)

My Sunday (today) was more eventful than my Saturday. Yesterday, I received a $50 gift card from Neiman Marcus for in-store dining. They have pretty good food, healthy and tasty. I've gotten several of these gift cards, simply for shopping there. I don't care what people say about NM (it's been written that they cater to stuffy old women and that their staff is snobby), they really do take care of their customers (more on that on Wednesday). So I had lunch at the Fresh Market cafe inside the Beverly Hills store, and I still have enough left over for 2 more free meals! I did notice that there were a small number of people in the store, compared to other Sundays that I've been there, and most of the customers were women (of course, the men were probably at home, at a friend's home, or at a sports bar watching The Big Game). On my way to Chinatown to pick up dinner (special request from my younger sister), I decided to stop by the Christian Louboutin boutique in West Hollywood. I had gotten a call from my sales associate there, telling me that the perle Poseidon shoe had arrived. It wasn't what I had originally wanted, so I passed, but was invited to try it on, anyway. I did try it on, but in a 1/2 size bigger than my true size (which was OK, but just a tiny bit loose; my true size in that style was already sold out). And the color is NOTHING like the one posted on tpf. The color appears to be a sort of dusty gold in the sunlight and a silvery color at other times. Well, like I posted before, this being LA, you never know who you'll run into once you leave home. This time, I ran into Rose McGowan! If you don't know who she is, here's some info: http://www.imdb.com/find?s=all&q=rose+mcgowan She came into the store, and again, I got the feeling that I knew who she was, but didn't know the name at first. Then I noticed her pale face, brownish red hair, and bright-colored lips, and I thought, Is that Rose McGowan? Then my sales associate, with whom I was speaking, called out to another sales associate, "You know Rose, right? Could you show her upstairs?". Aha! So it was her (this was further confirmed when she wrote her info down, as requested by her sales associate so that he may locate a shoe for her. I actually saw her write "Rose McGowan" on the top). She was quite friendly and funny. I did speak to her, when I apologized after I moved my Chanel Coco Cabas bag, which was brushing against her arm as she wrote. She glanced to see what was going on and said, "That's OK". So she's a Loubie fan, too! Not suprising, though, as so many Hollywood actresses are also fans.

I ended up back at home after a run to Chinatown. It was so hard to find parking, but worth it, as I got some really great food for dinner for me and my sis. And I found a cheap boba place, too!

I've Decided It's Not OK...

...to accept behavior that makes me feel bad about myself. I decided, today, that I would cut myself off from a "friend" who had hurt me quite a few times. I had trusted him with quite a bit, and since it's so hard for me to trust people, I considered him and I to be very close, and I didn't want to let go of our friendship. He stood me up a few times, and each time, he would tell me it wasn't a big deal and that I was expecting too much from him. He did other things, but I won't write about them here. He didn't return many of my texts or calls, but he would occasionally come to see me, and I'd forgive him, only to re-start the cycle. It's hard to explain, but he has kind of this hold over me. In the beginning of our friendship, he made me feel good about myself. But then he became controlling and aloof. Today, I texted him to tell him that I had something very important to tell him, and he didn't text or call me back. Driving home from work in the rain, it hit me. Another friend, in whom I confided by telling her of my situation with this "friend", told me that it's all about us being free. He's free to not take my calls, and I'm free to either feel hurt or not. I decided that I was free to not feel hurt, but I chose to do so for several months before today.

It's not OK anymore. I will stop taking his texts or calls (on the few occasions he answers them), and if he wants to talk about it, I will tell him I want nothing to do with him anymore. I'm sick and tired of feeling hurt and hearing his b.s. My life was not better by him being in it, so what am I really losing by losing him?!

I got the opportunity to meet up with a girlfriend today after work. I hadn't needed a drink in so long, and the minute I sat down, I ordered a caipirinha. It was so good! It was a mini-celebration for me. Before, when I did think about cutting off this "friend", I'd erase the thought quickly, thinking that I still want him in my life. But that thought didn't come to me this time. Cutting him off just seemed so right. This time, there was no alternative. It actually felt quite liberating. Half the battle has been won. I just need a bit of willpower to not take his calls and tell myself, should I encounter a moment of weakness, that I don't need him.