This past weekend, I was invited via the Philly Tourism Board as last weekend was all about focusing on fashion, culture and just living it up when this city is only an hour and a half via train from NYC! Paul and I hit Amtrak and once we got into the city, we checked in at Kimpton's Hotel Palomar which is always a favorite of ours. Since it was pretty warm for a Spring day, Paul and I walked around the city to check out fun stores, historic buildings and of course good food! Roll over the above images to check out what Paul and I were up to on our first day in the city. Over the next few days, you'll see more of what we were up to as we had quite the itinerary!

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Labor Day is always bittersweet as it lets you know that the summer in my area is coming to a close so I have to enjoy every moment of the warm weather as well as that it's an insane period of time when it comes to the Fashion Calendar! As many of you know, I am not enjoying BBQs, parties and more as I am balancing my Fashion Week calendar in terms of coverage for Kitten Lounge as well as puting the finishing touches on Shoe Week which launches the very day that NYFW does! With that said, there's much to do and as anyone knows - even when the event is over, there are the recaps. But I have the above vision of Bora Bora in my head which is all the zen that one needs to know as the days will fly by and Paul and I will get to take a brief hiatus with all that one needs to make the above picture complete!

Check out why the above items are my favorite from Balenciaga, Marni, Pucci, YSL, DVF, and what resort is on the top of my list!

Can you believe that we are about to come into the last stretch with two of my favorite holidays, Christmas and New Year's Eve - right around the corner. In essence, it's saying a proper goodbye to the very interesting year that is 2011! Although I'd love to just think about parties and the fab gifts that I have been receiving at this time of year from friends and brands, I have to say that there is still so much work to do as I prepare for Kitten Lounge's Holiday Shopping Lounge which takes place next Sat at Ink48 as well as the launch of our second holiday gift guide for this year, Type L (Last Minute Guide)! Both of these are huge for the the Kitten Lounge brand for the end of the year.

Next year brings a number of amazing projects from the launch of my clothing line under my own label, an amazing collab with a jewelry brand that I talk about a lot on Kitten Lounge as well as my Kimmie Smith x Sebago Spring 12 being available in select Bloomingdales as well as on HSN which I will be back on in March with! Of course I will also roll out a Fall 12 line with them as well which is taking the brand to an entirely new level with an entirely new design that I am pleased about. Of course as an Accessories Expert, there are a number of fab TV ops that are coming out that I can't share but I am super excited about. Obviously, there are a number of items that will be coming to Kitten Lounge as well so it's nice to see that all the brands will have something new for the new year!

With that said, Paul and I celebrate our 1 year together this weekend as we wear a number of hats together as a couple, him being my Brand Manager, etc but we need to have a proper vacation! Yes I travel a lot to a number of locations - many of them are beyond fabulous, but they are still for work in terms of designing, working with brands, etc. I know that the first two months of the year are so out of the question as we're in planning mode with events but I am obsessed with the thought of a reasonably open March and I am now manifesting - Turks and Caicos (pictured above). After having a fab chat with the Gansevoort in Turks and Caicos, I am now on a quest to get some downtime. What's not to love about breezes, relaxation and beach time? I'm also loving that in 3 hours, not only would I arrive but the inspirations that come from being in such a space will definitely get my juices flowing and give me an excuse to create new outfits and have a fabulous series of pictures for my return! Bound for 2012.

This week has been a busy week and we're already at the midway point! But we kicked it off this weekend by shooting my Kimmie Smith x Sebago Spring 12 lookbook which was a lot of fun as we had access to a penthouse suite at Kimpton's Hotel at Ink 48 which is a phenomenal way to see the city with all of its varied energies! In addition, I was so happy to rock Virgins, Saints and Angels, Ainsley, Sean John and a special tribute to Paul's grandfather who was a lead electrician on the Intrepid! You'll also read about my inspirations and more which is always nice to know the reasoning behind each creation!

As I mentioned before, the past few days have been insane! I launched my Kimmie Smith x Sebago collaboration at the Capsule show which will launch later this fall. Then I flew out to HSN where I did 3 segments on air for the Sebago brand! We sold out of styles, I rocked it out with 3 amazing hosts and I wore some phenomenal brands. Since I am flying back today, I will not go into all the looks I wore today as I'm in the after glow of an amazing experience but tomorrow, you will see posts and clips of footage!

There were so many people involved that made this possible from the Sebago team, my publicist (Dorian of Big Apple Style Marketing) and boyfriend (Paul of Social TV) who kept the virtual viewings going and the brands that I wore - Ann Taylor, LOFT, Chelsea Taylor, Eva Varro, Janine Weil Showroom and everyone who called in, emailed, texted, tweeted, FB'd, GChatted and more! It's a huge thank you! We have future airings coming up in May and October and I will let you know! Above is a screenshot from the 3pm hour with Bobbi Jo Carter my final host of a long but exciting day!

So I am heading to the Dominican for vacation with Food Editor and boyfriend, Paul. I am super excited and the 5 weeks I have to wait, can't come soon enough. With that said, I want an entirely new wardrobe and of course, I still want to buy things throughout the rest of the season. Although the economy isn't that great, I love that you can get great deals. But a deal is truly best when it lasts!

When I first came to New York 6 years ago, I happened to be shopping with my mom for a trip I was taking to Florida. I needed a Little Black Dress as I was going to a wedding. I found the perfect LBD that was classy and yet, had little cut outs in the back. You can see this dress on the right side toolbar within my group of Flickr pictures. I wore this recently at a New Years event at the Rainbow Room. That was the best $39 dollars spent and it is my go to dress and travels well too!

So that brings us to the present! This dress was purchased at Mandee and if you don't have one in your hometown, you can get it online. Currently they are doing a 20% off promotion online if you use the word BAILOUT. I think this is a great way to add a lot of items into your wardrobe and you too may have a story about how something priced so cheaply ended up being a mainstay within your wardrobe!

Today I'm at my sister's for a day of eating and kicking it off with the Macy's parade! So we don't have any huge beauty news today although you can begin some shopping and checking out amazing people at Kitten Lounge's Holiday Gift Guide sponsored by Dashing Diva! I am so thankful for all the people that are involved in making this blog and other projects related to this a success. Although everyone's names can't fit, obviously I'm proud of my boyfriend and Food Editor, Paul who brings food love here! I also love all the AMAZING PR firms, designers, boutiques and tipsters that bring information my way and to your screens. Without them, it would be very difficult to provide the quality of material that you guys deserve. Although we are almost closing the books for this year, I love that this season has more events and parties and I am pleased to be one of the founders along with Emily, Melissa and Jennifer for Girl Geek Dinners NYC which makes it debut next week with our first event! I am also excited to unveil the 25 Days of Holiday Glam soon and many more things that we can enjoy now so that you can be amazed by what next year will bring. For now, you will see me on and off Twitter and feel free to @Cocoabebe me as well! Have an amazing Thanksgiving with you and yours!

Personally, I love nap time. Is there anything better than an afternoon nap on a chilly Saturday afternoon with a heavy blanket, a lightly cracked window and the warmth of Kitten Lounge’s Editor-in-Chief? The answer is no. The problem is that most of our weekend naps usually follow a heavy meal full of the deadliest combination of carbs and protein; in other words, meat and potatoes. The problem is that our bodies have an extremely difficult time digesting such combinations. But, don’t worry help is on the way. Instead of pasta, rice or potatoes a textbook side dish to any protein is taboule (pronounced: tuh-boo-lee).

Taboule is a traditional Middle Eastern wheat salad and is prepared best with The Roots blasting in the background, accompanying the company of the delicious and the healthy. The brain, the source, the transistor radio transmitting the message from the messenger – healthy body equals healthy mind.

So, here is the recipe:

2 cups 100% Whole grain quick cooking Bulgur Wheat

1 ¾ Cups of Boiling Water

3 Cucumbers

3 Black Tomatoes

1 Medium Onion

Dill, Cilantro and Parsley

1 Small head of Garlic

2 Cups of Raisins

Freshly squeezed juice from one Lemon

1 Jalapeno Pepper

Olive Oil

Salt & Pepper

The preparation is simple. Combine 2 cups of bulgur wheat with 1 ¾ cups of boiling water and let it sit for about 10 minutes. Chop the rest of the ingredients, combine with the wheat and season with olive oil, salt and pepper to your taste.

The beauty of taboule is that you can add pretty much any ingredients; from kiwis to mangos. If you are new to cooking, one important note is to make sure to purge the herbs in cold water to get rid of all the sand before chopping. And if your delicious taboule is being accompanied with a piece of delectable fish, I would suggest pairing your dinner with a bottle of La Playa’s Sauvignon Blanc.

So, it’s Saturday morning, you wake up in your moderately priced Brooklyn Heights apartment, your dog is pacing next to your bed, your girlfriend is at the breakfast bar working on her obnoxiously thin laptop and the only thing on your mind is Brook – your secret lover. You welcome the sunshine, as you slowly pull the blankets away from your face and a breath of crisp fresh air brings in a brand new day and a brand new hunger. You throw on your jeans, you grab your flip flops and you are off to walking your dog along the promenade. As the other pet enthusiasts are captivated with their canine friends, you begin to formulate a plan; a plan to catch a glimpse of your secret lover.

Your unsuspecting girlfriend is excited to spend this perfect day with a blanket, a cooler and a couple of ipods at what appears to be the perfect destination – Long  Beach, NY. You pack your things, you grab a couple of chai tea lattés and you are ecstatic to get a seat on the LIRR along with fellow pale urbanite staycationers. Your girlfriend thinks that it might be the caffeine that’s keeping you awake, but little does she know that it’s the memory of Brook that has your mind in overdrive unwilling to relinquish its hold until the very moment you get that final glimpse. As you are welcomed to the beach with the conductor’s friendly reminder that you have reached the final stop, you suggest a slightly different route to the beach with the promise of an earlier arrival. And there it is your lover’s secret lair – the Nagahama.

Long story short, do your self a favor and forget about every sushi place that you have been to anywhere within the five boroughs, buy a LIRR ticket, spend a day at the beach and finish it off with a delicious meal at the Nagahama sushi restaurant on 169 Park Avenue in Long Beach, NY. The fish is always extremely fresh (which I feel should be the number one criteria of any great sushi restaurant), the rolls are generous and the menu boasts enough variety to satisfy the most discerning of pallets. This is not the place for suits or khaki pants, but it is your final destination for mouth-watering sushi. And as for Brook, don’t forget about my girl, you can always find her along with other delectable house specialty rolls waiting for your arrival and ready to service your pallet with the most complete array of flavors. 

On a side note, let go of your inhibitions and try the unfiltered sake. You will be thankful for the milky unassuming beverage and indulged with the finishing touch of a thinly sliced cucumber in your glass.