Remembering Fashion Week: Part 3

Tomorrow is the official start of FASHIONxt, and the shows taking place in the next few days will surely be some of the best Portland has ever seen, both in design and production value. Trust me, you don't want to miss these shows!!! Later today I will be going to the venue to set up the backstage area and do a dry tech run, so that tomorrow we can get off to a running start.

The final post in the Remembering Fashion Week Series features Day 4 of PFW 2011, which saw Michael Costello, Jay Sario, Bryce Black, Helen Sharp, and Cardi Wrap on the runway. Here are my favorite backstage shots by Steve Kemper. Hope to see you at the shows this year!

Model Megan Keller with a PFW volunteer

Jay Sario

Models Sierra Quitiquit and Irina Dmitrieva in looks by Michael Costello

Patience Haug in a look by Michael Costello with the designer.

Me and Michael Costello

Me and Jay Sario

Michael Costello's Rack

Bryce Black, me, and his model (not in his look yet.)

Models Nicole Shrock and Kristin Coffman

Remembering Fashion Week: Part 2

FASHIONxt is almost here! I am in the throes of planning and dealing with last minute details. Best to be as prepared as possible, so that when things inevitably don't go as planned the day of the show it's easier to deal!

The third day of PFW 2011 was awesome and featured designs from Seth Aaron, Ms. Wood, Stephanie D. Couture, Collier, and Amai Unmei. Here are the best backstage photos from the night by Steve Kemper, plus some really fun ones from the after-party.

Model Mandi Kremer

Models Michael Waller, Malene Jensen, and Ron Clemens

Model Kristi Sakura

Seth Aaron's Rack

Models Tiffany Luckcuck and Malene Jensen in looks by Amai Unmei.

Tina Henderson and Seth with a model in a Seth Aaron look.

Models in looks by Collier with the designer Brent Collier and his father.

Joe Nozemack, Gregarious Cline, and me at the after-party.

Tina, Seth, Jay Sario, and Becky Ross

Jay and Malene

Me with models Mandi and David Anderson. Not quite sure what's happening, this part of the night is a little fuzzy.

Irina, Crispin Argento, and Malene

Me, Seth, and Mandi, with my assistant Anna Branch in the background!

Exectuive Producer Tito Chowdhury with Ronnie Roy and Nate Derstine

Remembering Fashion Week: Part 1

I can't freaking believe fashion week has arrived in Portland again, it seems like it just happened! Usually it is so cold and rainy when fashion week comes around, and the fact that there has not been any rain in weeks makes the timing feel weird, but ready or not, here it comes.

The organization has gone through some changes, the most prominent change of all being the name itself, which is now FASHIONxt. The runway shows will still pretty much be the same as in years past, but the plaza will have awesome high-tech lifestyle products.

My home at any fashion show is still backstage, that is my favorite place to be and I would not want to be anywhere else. Sure you probably saw all the runway photos last year, but most of the backstage photos have been hidden away on my laptop, until now. Here are my favorite backstage shots by Steve Kemper from PFW 2011 Day 2, which featured designs from adidas, Anna Cohen, Lenzanita, Ethos Paris, Avni, and Earthtec.

Make-up artist Abibat Durosimi with model Laura Kiechle.

Models Cupid Alexander, Tyson Nead, and Ron Clemens.

Model Megan Keller in a look by Lenzanita.

Abibat and Cupid.

Designer Anna Cohen (far left) with Kayla Rekofke (middle) and Erika Christensen (far right.)

Lead hair stylist Kira Pinski (middle standing) with hair team and model Sierra Quitiquit.

Model Nicole Schrock in a look by Earthtec.

Models getting ready for the show to begin.

Almost Showtime!

Model Valentino Lucas starts the show in a look by adidas.

Models getting ready during the Lenzanita segment.

Models Samantha Bondurant and Kristina Plummer in looks by Ethos Paris.

Models Mandi Kremer, Irina Dmitrieva, and Patience Haug in looks by Ethos Paris.

Model Kristina Plummer in a look by Avni with the designer.

Models Irina Dmitrieva and Sierra Quitiquit in looks by Anna Cohen.

Model Tiffany Luckcuck in the last look of the show, a collaborative design by Anna Cohen, Imperial Yarn, and Earthtec.

Cleanse: Day 21

I should have wrote this post yesterday, but my day was so exhausting that by the end of it my brain wasn't working. I had to take Basil to the vet, and he woke me up that morning at 7AM (after going to bed at 3AM) whimpering, so I did not get a good night's sleep. He is fine, he just has dermatitis, but going to the vet always takes it out of me. Anyways...

I finished the cleanse!!! Today was my first day of no food restrictions. As I was making my smoothie with almond milk instead of water and adding chocolate green superfood I felt like I was cheating. We actually tried to stay pretty close to the cleanse diet today, all we added were nuts, eggs, and potatoes. I do plan on having a glass of red wine tonight too.

I actually plan on staying close to the cleanse diet permanently, it makes sense since I felt better these past 3 weeks than I have in a long time. And if I do end up straying, drinking too much and eating a whole pizza to myself (it happens!) I will go on a mini-cleanse to get myself back on track.

So the things that were promised from Jeanne came true, more energy, better quality of sleep, skin is clear and glowing, and weight loss (well not me, Greg lost about 8 pounds and his body fat percentage is lower than it's ever been.)

If you are contemplating about going on this cleanse, I say do it!!! You read about my experience, and it's not so bad. It can be difficult at times, but the benefits far outweigh the minor inconveniences. Your body will thank you!!!! 

Cleanse: Days 19 & 20

Whoops, I skipped a day. Yesterday was so long and the night even longer that I just did not find the time to sit down and write a post, so I am going to combine the last two days into one post.

The past two days have been great, although I was a little tired today from DJing last night. It was fun for the most part, then at the end I had it out with some girl that had been on my case all night. I am not going to go into it but I will say this, I hate being around drunk people when I'm sober!!!!!

Last night we had a great dinner. It was zucchini spaghetti with chicken and tomato. I got the idea here and bought this to make it. Here is out it turned out:

For the chicken I just threw it in the crockpot with tomatoes, garlic, basil, olive oil, salt, and pepper and let it cook all afternoon. It's my favorite new way to cook chicken. So easy, hardly any mess, and so tender and juicy!!!! The whole thing was delicious, and it was filling, but not in the food coma way that regular pasta can be.

Like I said before I was pretty tired today and it took me a while to get going, but I did manage to drag myself to the gym and the steam room afterwards, and I feel better for it. I think I will be visiting the steam room once a week, it's a nice and relaxing way to end a workout.

I can't believe tomorrow is my last day!!!! People keep saying that they could never do it, that is not drink for 21 days. Greg couldn't do it either. While it was the hardest part of the cleanse by far, I have been way more productive by not having any hangover days, but it will be nice to have a glass of wine on Tuesday. One more day left!!!!!