All Things Fashionating by tracy mausser

A gift card to Lululemon is on the top of my Christmas list again this year. For the past three years – bi-yearly at my birthday and the Saviors' – I have asked for overpriced athletic wear. According to Wikipedia, Lululemon Athletica is a self-described, yoga-inspired athletic apparel company, which produces a clothing line that is distributed internationally. This definition is so sterile, but I can tell you that my personal experience with Lulu workout wear is anything but. The quality of my running and yoga clothes are top-notch and the positive and uplifting philosophy of the company is ü ber cool too. Our local shop offers yoga classes, workshops, organizes weekly runs; it is so much more than just a retail store. But, what got me hooked is Luon ® -- Lulu’s signature fabric. The 4-way stretch and pre-shrunk fabric, with a super-duper high Lycra count, holds everything in and makes you look like you’ve spent thousands of dollars getting sculpted with liposuction. Nothi...

With only three days until Christmas, the question on everyone’s lips is, “What are you doing for the holidays?” I have some friends that are headed to the slopes for a white Christmas and some to paradise for a tropical Christmas, but we are headed to Disneyland for a Magic Kingdom Christmas. When I was growing up, my folks were divorced so I logged a lot of miles at Christmas. On Christmas Eve, my mom would always have our family on her side at our home for dinner and holiday cheer. Then, in the morning, my Nana would head over and we would open presents. By noon, I was dropped off – and as I got older would drive myself – to my Paternal grandparent’s house where I would open presents and eat dinner number one. Typically, my Dad would be at his parent’s house but, as I got older and my half-sister was born, they wanted to be at their own home for the holiday; Meaning I would jump in my car and head to their house either before or after Grandmom and Pops. Lastly, I would end m...

Due to my love of running, I have logged almost 250 miles since the beginning of the summer. A majority of these stem from my half marathon training and the rest just to get my body moving. For the past six months, I think it is safe to say that I haven’t been a couch potato, but I haven’t really done any other exercise. So, you can imagine my surprise when I caught a glimpse of myself in the full-length mirror of my boudoir and saw that I now have a little pot belly. Visions of those malnourished  UNICEF kids popped into my mind and, the only difference, was that there were no flies buzzing around. Obviously, the world’s hunger crises is no laughing matter but that was honestly what I thought when I saw my reflection. Although I never go hungry, I haven’t really changed my eating habits so I was perplexed by what I saw.  A few days later, I was crouched over my keyboard at work – like an outsourced worker from New Delhi – and I realized that I have no core strength ri...

Hello family, friends, followers...er, uh, crickets. By now, I'm not really sure if anyone is still out there.  Unfortunately, I got bogged down with the holidays and posting to my blog fell way down on the list of my priorities.  The good news is that I should be able to climb back into the saddle again and begin posting with some sort of normal frequency. While I was gone, I attended a social media conference and was able to get some great feedback and ideas about how to improve All Things Fashionating.  So, during this time of reflection and optimism, I am hoping that ATF will start the new year off with a bang with plans to grow it even more in 2012. Please join me for another crazy ride into All Things Fashionating.

Ever since my time at Betsey Johnson, I have been dreaming of the day when an original Emilio Pucci print was mine.  Betsey did a collection of Pucci-inspired clothing when I worked in her New York boutique.  I loved the hip, bohemian feel of the mini-skirts, dresses, cat suits and cigarette pants.  It was so cool man, but it just wasn't the real deal. So you could imagine my surprise when I set out for my annual Christmas shopping at the outlets with one of my best gal pals Lynngweeny.  After a long day of successful shopping, we found ourselves at Saks Fifth Avenue Off Fifth in the 11th hour of our pilgrimage.  I hit the jackpot big there, but my biggest score was an original Emilio Pucci print scarf.  Conveniently, I bought one as a gift and one for myself. The colors of one scarf in particular were maroon, pink, black and gold which only lent oodles of compliment to the mod print.  It was just out of this world; It had to be min...

Well, for years, I've heard nothing but great things about the T.V. show Mad Men. Unfortunately, I missed the series premier back in 2007 and I absolutely hate starting a show mid-way through its life.  So, for the past four years, I have waited patiently for the critically acclaimed, award-winning hit show about Madison Avenue ad execs from the 1960s to make it to Netflix. As you can guess, it is finally here.  I am still on the first season -- its fifth will premier in March 2012 -- but I am hooked. The show is about Don Draper, played by the hunky Jon Hamm, the creative director at Sterling Cooper advertising agency, and his escapades in and out of the office. Since I am sooooo behind, I am assuming that I am preaching to the choir; however, I just want to say a few things: First, my kitchen is a mirror image of Don and Betty Drapers kitchen -- fashionable and stylish for 1960 but...; Second, men have NOT changed since that era -- women just had to fight har...

Well, we have been official homeowners for the past four months.   One of the most surprising things about our home, which was built in 1959, is that – according to city documents – nothing has been done to our home since 1959. One of the reasons that Jason and I totally fell for our house (when it was a rental) was the authentic retro quality.   Us Maussers have always been fans of anything vintage. http://allthingsfashionating.blogspot.com/2011/08/vintage-love-affair-first-time-around.html   Our kitchen has most of the original appliances and I have to admit, they work better than the cut-rate, newer ones we had in our last rental.   Also, the absolute 1950s pink and yellow tiles in the bathrooms were endearing to us as well. Mostly, it was the ocean views, four bedrooms and my walk-in closet that really made this dinosaur a gem to us. So, when we were able to buy this home from the estate of the first and only owner when she passed away earlier this summer, ...

There are so many days in which I take everything in my life for granted.   I am absolutely guilty of whining for naught and crying over spilt milk. I mean, I am a chick you know. However, I truly realize that I am blessed in every sense.   It is a pity that it takes a (gasp) holiday to make me pause and smell the roses, but such is life. Today, I want to take a moment to reflect and give my thanks.   I am – of course – thankful for my boy Shane and hubby Jason.   The two of them provide me with my core happiness.   When Jason and I had been dating for a while, I just knew that he was the “one.”   I would wake up in the middle of the night and knowing that he was sleeping by my side and my partner in life, I would be overcome by this warm enveloping blanket of happiness and contentment.   It was a feeling that our love was bigger than anything I had ever known until Shane was born. I look at my little guy and see all the sunshine of positivity...

The Women's Foursome at Pelican Hill A few weeks ago, my boss popped into my office and asked if I had ever gotten into golf. REWIND:   Back in June, some girlfriends had asked me to join them for nine holes of golf for a birthday celebration.   I was super excited to take up golf despite my husband’s nay-saying.   But, after taking a few lessons, I threw my back out and that was the end of that until the boss man approached me to play on one of Southern California’s premier golf courses. A female client from the energy industry was trying to put together a foursome of women for a tournament at Pelican Hill Golf Course in Newport and was desperately seeking a fourth.   Without any hint of ego, my reply was that I have never played golf and I suck.   Boss man said, “You’ll do just fine.”   However, my golf experience did not particularly start out that way. Two days before my first “real” golf tournament in which I was to be part of a fou...

Dear Santa (hint, hint Jason), All I want for Christmas is Sephora's Make-up Studio Blockbuster palette.  This palette contains: - 96 eye shadow shades - 84 shiny lip glosses - 6 cream eyeliners - 2 eyeliner pencils - 3 blushes - 1 bronzer - 1 mascara - 4 applicators According to Sephora's website, the palette -- designed in gay Paris -- by Sephora's beauty team is an array of colors to inspire the make-up artist in each of us.  From subdued natural tones to trendy hues, you will have all the colors you need to create a face that is tres chic. With this collection of make-up which retails for only $49.50, I will be sitting pretty while ringing in the New Year.

Donatella & Nicki Minaj at the Versace for H&M launch party. I don’t think this will be another Missoni moment for me but, for some, the highly anticipated launch of Versace for H&M tomorrow Saturday Nov. 19 is going to rock some worlds. Starting at 8 a.m., shoppers will be able to get their hands on the mens- and womens-wear line – created by the Italian designer at a fraction of the typical Versace cost – at selected H&M stores through the U.S. Donatella Versace, designer and VP of the Versace Group, said the 43-piece collection took about nine months to come to conception – just like a baby – 43 to be exact. With a Versace signature that is literally to the point, the H&M collection shows chain-mail mini-dresses, black leather sheaths embossed with gold studs, fluorescent purses with a lot of hardware; and highlights from recent Versace collections such as fitted eyelet dresses with asymmetric necklines and military-influenced long strapless numbers....

For me, I love wearing fabulous shoes because there is nothing more feminine than a woman in stylish heels; however, after a long day at the office, just the thought of going the extra step in those sky high heels is like torture. So, when my friend from work, Jet, told me about cityslips, I was intrigued.  I had heard about them before but wasn't really sure where to find them and thought that my boring old Target flats would continue to do the trick. cityslips are foldable ballet flats which come in a little carry case.  And, even though the concept of carrying an alternative shoes to swap heels is not new -- especially from my NYC days -- but back then it was those horrible white Reeboks with long dresses.  Ewwwww!  But -- fast forward -- while at Marshall's yesterday, I found a pair of cityslips in size 9 just waiting for me to take them home.  The faux patent leather flats are pretty simple but look good quality and the carrying case is jus...

Rachel and Tracy at the finish line "In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last. You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that." -Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder Almost two weeks ago, my good friend Rachel and I ran the Los Angeles Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon.   This was our third half marathon – not to mention the many 10K and 5K races – which we have shouldered together.   For the past five years, we have been running companions – so throughout the year – we lace up our running shoes and pound the pavement together a few mornings a week. However, over the past month, we had to amp our training schedule into high gear in order to get some major miles under our belt.   So, once the race was done, it was so nice not to feel pressured by our early morning runs. The half marathon ideal is great because we have a shared goal and it sure as hell is a lot easier to get out of be...