Chicago….The Windy City

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accessory boutique

Happy Kwanzaa and Happy Holidays to all!!!!

Well, I am spending time with my family and friends in the GREAT city of CHICAGO and the NORTH SHORE SUBURBS of the Chicago area!!!

I must tell you that Chicago is a great place to visit and live.  It is transforming in spite of the so called “economic tragedy”.  Now I am not in denial about the economic transformations going on around the world, but what I am saying is that Chicago is growing and moving forward in spite of this economic transition.

While with a lady friend of mine, we stumbled upon a great boutique on Halsted near the Pilson area called Soultry Shoes   (1706 S. Halsted, Chicago, IL – www.soultryshoes.com) that will blow your aura upward!!  From the time you walk into this shoe and accessory boutique, you will feel a sense of affordable luxury.  The owner, Yvette Dudley provides an added comfort to the boutique that you can’t deny.  Great boutique!

Also, there is a restaurant called Cantina Laredo – A Modern Mexican Restaurant.  Although, the food was good, I didn’t see or taste anything different on the menu that I have not had in a number of authentic Mexican restaurants that I have had the pleasure of dining in.  The food was good though.  It’s in the 500 block of N. State street (on the corner).

Nothing beats Mom’s cooking!! I can’t give you my Mom’s address however all I need to say is “EXCELLENT” breakfast, lunch, and dinner ALL day and every day during my visit!!!

Now, off to New York City to ring in the NEW YEAR!!!

READY OR NOT, HERE COMES

THE LIFESTYLE MAVERICK

December Celebrations

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!

It’s the day after my birthday (December 19) and I am still on an adrenalin rush from having appetizers and wine with friends, meeting with a Fashion Editor about my clothing line, some unexpected shopping and a Fashion Column, hearing from my family, and just looking and seeing all the blessings that encompass me.

Well, I usually celebrate for the entire month of December, however, I have decided to break the tradition and extend my date of birth celebration well into the year 2012 so that I can include my 2012 travels in the updates of December Celebrations.

I will begin a campaign to present the various places I have traveled, including different cities, states, countries, restaurants, night clubs, lounges, stores, shelters, etc. and provide ratings as to the good and not so good experiences of my December Celebration travels.

In the meantime, if you have an outstanding place you have traveled, a great restaurant suggestion, an outstanding place to shop for men, women, and/or children, great plays, operas, etc., be sure to reply to the post and leave the information of your suggestion(s) and maybe I will be in the area, state, or country to check it out.

People, we have to get back to living our lives to the fullest.  Regardless of what may be happening with the economy, re-arrange some old routines, eliminate other things, and try things you never thought you would try (as long as it’s safe and legal..lol) and see how it pans out.

I look forward to receiving your suggestions.

As always, stay in the light!

Ready or Not, here comes THE LIFESTYLE MAVERICK

LIVE YOUR LIFE!

KRIS HUMPHRIES…….

KRIS HUMPHRIES……..

KRIS HUMPHRIES…….

GOOD MORNING AMERICA!                                             

It’s a beautiful day today even after watching the Kris Humphries interview on Good Morning America.

Was it just me or did Kris seem to be mechanically controlled by a hidden remote?  During the introduction and at the beginning of the interview while Josh Elliott and Debrah (Kris’ mom) talked, he sat there as if he was horrified about being on television, then it turned to a Kris looking like a newborn baby opening his eyes for the very first time to the world, and then it looked as though he was hyperventilating.

It got instantly better when he was able to talk about their foundation and the NBA.  it was like there was a person who turned on the remote and let him do his thing.  Good finish Kris!  KEEP MOVING FORWARD!  Get on with the rest of your life, the foundation, and baking the cookies!!! LOL

HOWEVER, in between all of that, Kris you may want to look for an Image Consultant (or an additional Image Consultant) to work with on-air interviewing techniques including body posture, facial expressions, camera locating, and the art of interviewing (questions and answers).  

May I suggest you contact Designer LifeStyles at www.easytolive.com or call 1.800.363.1489 to speak with an experienced Lifestyle Consultant and find out just how they can assist you and your team in moving forward.

If you want to get to where you want to go, you have to leave where you are right now.  Great beginning Kris!

I’m just saying!

Talk to you soon people!!!

The LifeStyle Maverick!!!

Do YOU LOVE GREAT FOOD AND JAZZ?….

Well, I just had a great lunch at Nola‘s located at 734 E. 3rd street in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles.  I had the Red Beans and Rice cooked with smoked turkey and a “standard salad” with a citrus vinaigrette.  The salad had just the right amount of salad dressing garnished with tomato wedges!  The Red Beans and Rice was just the right amount and taste to send me on my way in a full, but not miserable full manner.  

The jazz performer, Curtis Perry was great.  He was not too loud and the music was soothing, but not intrusive.  A great quaint place for a lunch or dinner date, or friends hanging out in the evening for some jazz and great food.

If you live in the Los Angeles area or just visiting, check out this nice restaurant.  I will return seeing that it is not far from my studio.

Like it or not….here I come!

The LifeStyle Maverick

www.easytolive.com

 

IT’S HOUSE!!! HOUSE MUSIC ALLLL NIGHT LONG!

GOOD SUNDAY MORNING my great LIFESTYLE ACHIEVERS!

Wow!  Last night’s adventure  at the Vanguard’s Deep party featuring Frankie Knuckles that we discussed on Facebook last night was….ENERGIZING!!!!  Frankie did it again. Tony Powell from Los Angeles brought it too people!! Wow, yeas, I was impressed too.  It was three rooms of varying styles of House Music with 5 different DJs plus an outdoor patio playing some “cocktail house” with heat lamps because for Los Angeles, 48 degrees can be a bit cold to some.  The music was good!  However, it wasn’t the hard, DEEP, gut bucket house like I experience in Chicago, underground Paris, France, or

South Beach Miami during the Music Festival, but it was still good.  He even pulled out some Sylvester!  Yes he did!  Hahaha!!!

Now being the LifeStyle Maverick, it is my duty to provide some detrimental, pro-bono advice, suggestions, and WORDS OF WISDOM.  So here we go.

If you show up at a party and you are NOT on the VIP list AND want to mingle in the VIP section, there are ways to get in whether you fit in or not.  I do not believe in “fake it till you make it” because…….That’s right, I am always making it happen for me, you and a few others.  Now, upon arrival to deep, I was immediately approached and complemented by my NEW associate as of today, by the name of Shaleese (Sha – lease). After being reeled in by Shaleese, she was so taken by me that she offerded to buy her now NEW man associate a drink.  We proceeded to the bar.  I spotted what looked like VIP on the stage.  I told Shaleese to follow my lead, we are going on stage to see Frankie Knuckles.  NOTE: when network crashing a party, VIP, etc. ALWAYS take an accomplice, if possible, so that in the event you mess it up, you got someone to share in the spotlight of embarrassment…lol.  I told her, to just act like we are suppose to be on stage….BOOOM!!!! we bypassed ALL security and was under the “DEEP” lights.

MORAL OF THE STORY –  Networking is something you will NOT be able to bypass if you plan to expand your professional and personal relationships.  Take chances and if possible someone along with you.  I didn’t know Shaleese until I stepped into the function.  If you act like you belong and believe you belong, no matter what the situation, and execute properly, you can get in and that is where you fit in at that time. Genuinely network people.  Remember, those same people you see going up, you will see those same people when you are going down.  Will they stop you and bring you along or will they pass you by?  Okay, read on……. back at the party……..

LADIES – It’s okay to wear sequence to a House Music party event or anywhere for that matter as LONG AS YOU ARE REALLY LETTING THE PUBLIC HAVE IT.  However, BE SURE THAT IT IS NOT A MATTED TEXTURE.  For night time and night clubbing, wear the good, reflective sequence that sparkles whether you are in the light or not.  I’m just saying that the gold, matted sequence, strapless (non sweetheart) dress you were gyrating around in last night DID NOT SPARKLE IN THE DARK NOR THE LIGHT!

GENTLEMEN – When a lady (or man) expresses to you that they don’t want to dance with you and you are at an event that is bumping out the house music beats, don’t get mad, frowning up, and calling that person names that they probably can’t hear or understand due to the music taking over their soul, just play it off and groove to the grind of the beat and keep it pushing!  House music is so soulful and spiritual that you don’t need a dance partner…especially when Frankie Knuckles is staging!!!  Dude, it’s okay, you can come to the next function and get it right…especially if you pay your $20 cover charge.

Now that those tips are out of the way and I have updated you on last nights galavanting , I am on my way to West Angeles Church of God In Christ to thank the creator that I woke up this morning and He started me on my day!

Your feedback/comments are highly requested and don’t forget to sign up to get updates on more LifeStyle tips or go to www.easytolive.com.

Until next time, like me or not….here I come.
Your LifeStyle enhancer,

THE LIFESTYLE MAVERICK

INTRODUCING…….

YOUR one and only LIFESTYLE MAVERICK!!!  Hello everyone!  I am the Lifestyle Maverick you have been searching and waiting for.  Living life at it’s best, from a MAN’S POINT OF VIEW is what I do!  I will begin by informing you of the my great halloween weekend beginning on this past Thursday!  Wow, I was able to spend time with my former Sketching instructor and Project Runway participant NICK VERREOS!!!  Nick was doing a celebrity appearance at the FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising) Los Angeles campus Scholarship store to promote the store, provide designing and draping skills, and to discuss with all in attendance insight (and gossip) about the world of Fashion and entertainment.  It was a great time and I ended up buying some great fabric.  Then on Friday, I got a call from a dear friend of mine in Los Angeles who had a free day to hang out! Soooo, she and I met and decided on this great Restaurant and Wine bar I had never been to called PIPS!  What a great, chill kind of place to enjoy great food, music and people.  it is located at 1356 S. LaBrea Avenue in Los Angeles (at Pico & South LaBrea).  You should try it!  Tell Derrick Pipkin “THE LIFESTYLE MAVERICK” sent you!

No I didn’t get a chance to attend Heidi’s Halloween party, but I did hand out candy to the children and their parents which was a blast from the near past!  Great time all weekend.

Well, don’t mean to make it short, but I gotta hit the town, books, and clients.  Check back, hit me with a hello or reply, or just hit me with any questions about LIVING!  That’s what I do and YOU should too.  Until we Blog again,

BE SAFE!  Stay in the Light!  Do the right thing!  Live!

THEE LIFESTYLE MAVERICK!