Happy Birthday To Me--Nick Verreos Celebrates in Seattle!!

Seattle Diary--The Birthday Weekend!
Put Your Lips Together...and Blow: Happy Birthday Nick!

Last week, I was invited to judge the fabulous Project Red Dress as you all may know and had a great time! In addition to this event, I was also happy to be in Seattle for my Birthday! (It was the same day as the event). But since work calls, I did my duties at Project Red Dress, judged, surveyed the gowns and dresses, did some catwalkin' on the Fairmont Olympic Hotel Runway and met with a lot of the guests (and I took a lot of photos which I am sure I will be "tagged" in on Facebook!)Beard Cake: Nick Verreos Birthday Cake

After the Project Red Dress fashion show and gala, I went to my Fairmont Olympic Hotel suite, did a bit of an outfit change and headed off to a fashion show, live concert that my Seattle friend (of Venezuelan descent) Eduardo, was producing. Because it was so late, the fashion show had ended, but I still wanted to stop by. I'm glad I did: Little did I know that he had "organized" along with a couple of my other Seattle friends, a "Birthday" mini-party! Another Venezuelan friend, the wonderful Jorge Hernandez, had commissioned and designed a "Nick" cake: He designed a delicious cake with my image--beard and faux-hawk included--I seriously could not believe it!!! I didn't even want to cut it! But I did, right into the beard! Thank you Eduardo and Jorge, you guys are too much!
Nick with Cake: Nick Verreos and Seattle Designer, Logan Neitzel, holding up his Birthday Cake

The following day, I had to give a 10 AM Workshop/Seminar on the Essence of Fit and Fit Models at the Tukwila campus of the International Academy of Design and Technology/IADT. I was happy to "instruct" Seattle design students and fans of Project Runway alike, on why a "Forever 21" small is very different from a "QVC" small, as well as bring some of my NIKOLAKI clothing line samples and show good vs. bad fit on an actual fit model.
Fit Class: Nick Verreos during his Workshop at International Academy of Design and Technology/IADT

Afterwards, I was delighted to enjoy a fantastic, family-style luncheon at Saffron Kabobs, a Bellevue Persian food restaurant (the BEST in Seattle!). I love me some Persian Food--in fact so much so, people question if instead of being half-Greek, I may be half Persian!).
Cake No. 2: Saffron Kabobs' Chocolate Cake for Nick's Birthday

Well, guess what? After eating enough Koubideh Kabob, Tahdik, Gormeh Sabzi and Saffron Rice to feed an entire family, they brought out a Birthday cake!!! Yep, it officially became Nick's Birthday Weekend!
View From The Top: David Paul and Nick Verreos at the Columbia Tower Club (notice the sea plane passing in the background)

Then, if that was not enough, David and I were treated to an amazing view of Seattle--atop 75 stories! Our driver, Amy of Amy's Limo--my "official chauffeur" in Seattle (I love Miss Amy!)--wanted to give David and I a special treat: She invited us to the exclusive Columbia Tower Club. It was Valentine's Day after all and she wanted to celebrate it with us!!! It is a private membership club, restaurant and bar where the creme de la creme of Seattle come to get away from it all--and have a private dinner, after-work business cocktail meeting or Valentine's Day drinks and cake, like us. Valentine's Day Threesome: David Paul, Amy of Amy's Limo, and Nick Verreos posing at the Columbia Tower Club

Words cannot describe the view from the Columbia Tower Club. You see all of Seattle. The iconic Space Needle looks miniscule from a 75 story view, let me tell you! We could see everything! At one point, as we took a photo, a small sea-plane happened to be passing by--and Amy captured it (see photo above). Say Cheese: Nick Verreos and a delicious Birthday Cheesecake at the Columbia Tower Club Seattle

We enjoyed our Valentine's Evening drinks and the staff then brought out a delicious Cheese Cake and sang "Happy Birthday". It was my third "Birthday Cake in two days--and I was loving it! The beautiful Seattle view, plus the cake, made for a perfect ending to my "Birthday Weekend" in Seattle. Unforgettable.

Designer Scarves: A Vintage Vera Scarf and a Scarf by Lanvin!!

I have to credited both the title and the pictures to a website called Fashion-era.

Like I said, when I buy things, I want they have sentimental values to me. Would it be a necklace of souvenir from traveling or a scarf found in vintage shop, we can't afford buying baubles when we get older. What are we going to do w/ all those trinkets after we die?? They might all wind up sitting in the attic like hidden treasure. What a waste!!! I think I am going to label all my accessories and separately store costume jewelry from real GOLD. Now, I just give myself a good reason to buy me another nice jewelry box. haha.......

I had two things that's so called Collector pieces!! I like vintage style from 1950s and I sure will research more about fashion during the era and that will be great help when I hunt for vintage treasure.

Vera!




Lanvin!

Day 1 of the spider vein surgery (Sclerotherapy).

Well, my older daughter caught the cold from school so I decided to let my son stays home w/ us too. Then I don't have to drive all of us back and forth from school while my son will have his first tennis class today at 5 PM.

Today is the 1st day after my surgery.

I cannot get wet for my left leg and I had to have that "unbearable" tight hosiery on around the clock for 3 days. But how can I tolerant 3 days not washing my hair or even have a shower!!! I even went shower right after I delivered my babies while mom and in-laws told me not to for at least a month. They said, otherwise, I will have headache rest of my life. Oh....I am sorry, I just had to disobey them about that nonsense as my OB/GYN here in USA said.

You know in Asia, the labor is not as costly as rest of the countries. Women went to hair salon almost every day or at least every other day to have their hair washed, styled, nail trimmed, and even a good complimentary shoulder massage. The cost is probably only $20 for all of that service and you don't even need to tip them. Here in USA, all kinds of services are listed as explicitly as possible. Nothing is complimentary here speaking of labor!!

But how much can it cost just to have my hair washed and blow straight, right?? So I took all 3 of my kids to the asia salon near my place. I had my hair washed and styled, and it only cost me $14 plus $3 tips. Of course, I didn't get complimentary massage but I feel refreshed and pretty again. Besides, people in the salon are nice enough to let my 3 kids running around (not literally) and having their snack inside the salon. Can't complain about that either.

Here is my ODJ!

1. TOP:

• White silk cami
• Max&Co. bias shoulder strap pink flower cami
• Splendid gray long cardigan
• J Crew hot pink short sleeve cardigan

2. Bottom: DA-NANG green ruched w/ draw string capri pants
3. Chanel gray classic jumbo 08 f/w
4. Chanel gray mini charms mary jane flat
5. Vintage VERA lady bug silk scarf
6. My friend, Cathy, made me this necklace w/ reversible oster pearl pendent.

One side is green pastels w/ fuchsia bud and the other side is fuchsia pastels w/ green bud.


I love a versatile necklace and thanks Cathy again for this incredible necklace.



Since the hair band, hair clip, and hair accessories are so hot this spring/ summer, I think I should start giving it a try!!!


I even do a research for that Vera vintage scarf.



It looks I have a fan blow over my face to make special effect w/ that hair dance in the air...haha...

BBR Contest :).

I have been following Hele's and Holly's blogs since I first started my account so I am very excited that they are having a contest with some amazing prizes :).

I chose to do the brunette look because I love Katie Perry and think she looks fantastic here.
This is my look, I tried to do he fringe too.. heheI used:

Face- MUFE HD foundation 115 and powder
MUFE lift concealer
Chanel Bronzer 22 Sierra (to contour and tan my pale self up a little more to her level)
Mix of MAC Melba and another peach blush
MAC MSF Soft and Gentle to highlight

Eyebrows:
Brow wax in wheat and espresso eyeshadow (to darken my brows like hers)

Eyes: (I couldn't really see what she was wearing on her lid in the pic so I improvised)
UDPP
MAC- twinx all over lid
dark devotion along lashline
all that glitters in the crease
shroom to highlight
jardin aires pigment w/ mixing medium along lower lashline
Blacktrack fluidline- upper lashline
Feline khol power along waterline
L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara
Red Cherry lashes, for her full eyelash look :)

Lips:
Mix of MAC Hue and Vegas Volt lipstick to get the coral/ peach colour.Hope you guys like it and thank you for the great contest :)!

Love Natalya
xxx

Oscar.com Designer Challenge: Behind The Dress-Episode 3!

In Episode 3 of Behind The Dress watch the designers meet their models and do their initial fittings where they make sure everything is JUST RIGHT!! Every last stitch, pull, tuck, or hem adjustment is noted and then fixed. I love when it is NY Designer Robert Rodriguez' time, he instantly calls out to his seamstress to do the fixin'--Diva!!!
I know from experience what a relief it can be to finally get that dress on the Model and see that all your hard work has paid off!! Your creation finally comes to life.

Check back tomorrow as we take you Backstage at the Oscar Fashion Show Preview!

And make sure to visit Oscar.com for frequent updates on all things OSCAR!