Month: January 2015

Getting my Tiki on at Kahuna Tiki

Posted on January 25, 2015August 26, 2015 by stilettocity

Tiki Culture is alive and well in Southern California – from the annual Tiki Oasis convention to multiple tiki bars around town, we can never seem to get enough of the Aloha spirit.

So I was excited to hear about a Tiki restaurant opening in my area. Tiki Kahuna in North Hollywood offers a great setting as close as you can get to being on a tropical island in the big city.

The atmosphere is lit with Tiki torches, red and gold lamps and a fire pit in the middle (it’s a little dark but everyone looks great in that lighting!) and seating is mostly outdoors on picnic-style benches. (Bring a jacket, it can get chilly at night!) There is indoor seating in a small, enclosed area where they make the sushi rolls but it feels bright as a supermarket compared to romantic outdoor area.

The sushi is pretty good, we tried out a mix of different rolls and sashimi. The salmon sashimi was quite tasty and the Long Board roll was an explosion of flavors with tempura salmon, cucumber inside, mango, avo, salmon on top with a drizzle of sweet orange sauce and garlic ponzu.

The service was friendly and at one point one of the waiters saw me struggling with my chopsticks and brought me a set of training sticks (plastic chopsticks that are attached at the top to make them like tweezers). I think they were probably for little kids but I was happy to have them!

The only drawback to this place, other than being a bit chilly sitting outdoors, is they don’t have a liquor license so no Tiki cocktails for us, which a big part of Tiki culture. There is a Tiki Bar in the setting but it’s used as a waiter’s station. I would go back for a meal just for the ambience but it would be extra fab if I could have a big fruity cocktail with an umbrella in it, especially when the weather warms up!

Kahuna Tiki is located at 11026 Magnolia Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 91601 (818) 853-7447

Tiki on,
Kastle

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Tags: kahuna tiki, Los Angeles, North Hollywood, sushi restaurant, Tiki culture

Month: January 2015

Makeup For When You’re Sick

Posted on January 18, 2015July 28, 2016 by stilettocity

There’s no getting around it, I’ve been down with a cold. And not just a cold, a sinus infection on top of it. And I’m not the only one. The cold and flu season has been particularly bad this year – my family, friends and coworkers have been dropping like dominos with an insistent cold that has lingered for two weeks or longer.

But life must go on and at some point you have to get out of bed and back into the world, even if you’re not back to feeling – or looking – your best. So I thought I would put together some tips on how to fake it, until you feel it. Click the links to shop* the products.

Moisturizer

Being sick can dehydrate you, drink lots of water and use a good moisturizer, one with an illuminator, such as Stila’s Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer, can help you look radiant when your skin is drab from the illness. You may also want to reach for an eye cream to help with puffiness. Benefit’s Puff Off cream even has a little “iron” applicator to smooth out delicate skin around the eyes. Bonus tip – put your moisturizer in the refrigerator so it’s cool when you apply it, it will feel invigorating when you put it on and help with any puffiness.

Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20

Benefit Puff Off

Foundation

You’re going to be blowing your nose – a lot. So keep foundation light so it doesn’t show when you wipe off most of it from around your nose and mouth with the hundreds of tissues you’ll be going through. If you’re like me and have to go on antibiotics, at least there is one perk – it clears up blemishes so you won’t need much cover up! NARS Sheer Foundation provides just enough of a base and a bit of a glow to freshen up your complexion. But you may want to add a peach-tinted concealer under eyes to deal with dark circles such as Bobbi Brown’s Color Corrector.

NARS Sheer Foundation

Bobbi Brown Color Corrector in Peach

Lipstick

Now is not the time to be workin’ a heavy lipstick that’s going to smear every time you raise a tissue to your mouth and nose. Your lips are likely chapped from the “fun” of sleeping with your mouth open because your nose is stuffed up. So go for a moisturizing tinted lip balm. My faves are Sugar’s Lip Treatment and Clinque’s Chubby Sticks.

Sugar Lip Treatment

Clinque Chubby Stick

Blush

When you’re sick, you’re pale. Fake a healthy glow with a cream blush such as Stila’s Convertible Color, which can also be used on lips. A few sweeps of bronzer such as Benefit’s Hoola will also combat the pastiness a cold can bring.

Stila Convertible Color

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

Eyes

Your eyes may be runny and puffy so keep makeup light and natural. A dark brown eyeshadow in the crease can help counter the puffiness and a dab of a light shimmery color in the inner lids and corner can brighten them up. Benefit’s Big Beautiful Eyes palette has everything you need. A brightening eye-lid primer such as Benefit’s Lemon-Aid will also help. Top with a waterproof mascara that won’t run when your eyes do.

Benefit Lemon Aid

Benefit Big Beautiful Eyes

Get well soon!
Kastle

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Tags: Beauty, Cosmetics, Makeup, Makeup when you're sick

Month: January 2015

Mad for Plaid

Posted on January 11, 2015 by

Winter is the perfect times to bust out the plaid. Something about it lends itself to snuggly warmth. From tartan red punk rock to catholic girl school skirts, plaid provides a touch of edge and innocence. Plus, it’s a great texture to layer with. Don’t be afraid to mix your plaids with floral and other prints, the key is always to help the colors play off each other to create an entire look. See example below.

Check out the links to shop* each item.

Shop* this look:

Dress | Jacket | Scarf | Bag | Shoes

Shop* this look:

Jacket | Dress | Hat | Bag | Booties

Snuggle up!
Kastle

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Tags: Fashion, layered look, plaid fashion, winter look

Month: January 2015

Sparkling LA Zoo Lights

Posted on January 2, 2015 by

I love driving around seeing the creative lights on homes around the holidays. It just makes everything feel more festive. For years, lights were featured along Zoo Drive leading up to the LA Zoo but the cost, the traffic and impact on the neighbors but the brakes on that event. Instead of dimming the lights for good, the zoo decided to decorate and allow visitors to walk the route, creating a fun family and date night event. While no animals were on display with the exception of a pen of rarely seen reindeer, the lights were the main show. And with LA experiencing an extremely cold kick-off to winter, I recommend grabbing a cup of hot chocolate along the way! Here’s a peek at what I saw: