Kim and the Kardashian Crew back in MIA

Not only was Kim Kardashian in town to conduct the coin toss for the Federer vs. Serra match @ the Sony Ericsson Open on Mon, it looks like the entire crew is back to film the second season of "Kourtney & Khloe Take Miami." 

Seems like Kim has been keeping herself pretty busy post-breakup from NFL player Reggie Bush. She was here last week for the 1-year anniversary of Shoedazzle.com (which she co-founded) at the Hilton Bentley hotel on SoBe and was partying on a boat w/ some GFs. I guess there's nothing better than being single on SoBe to mend a broken heart... Girl, if he doesn't come back w/ a ring, move on and don't look back!

Wii Worked It!

So apparently the folks at Nintendo caught wind of the fact that I’ve started my Oh-great-summer-is-around-the-corner-and-Oh-crap-I-don’t-want-to-be-the-fat-bridesmaid-and-Oh-yea-I-live-in-Miami diet I started last month.

With that said, I received a brand new Wii Fit™ Plus fitness game for the Nintendo Wii to test out and review. My first thought was, okay nice! I’ve been wanting to spice up my workout routine for a while because I get really bored at the gym. And as most of you all know, I’m obsessed with my hip hop class (See hip hop class posting) and try to go to Quan’s class at least 2x a week but sadly, the reality is I just sometimes don’t have time (insert job here) to go and don’t end up doing anything. Bad, bad, bad.

Well, here’s something I can actually do at home, in the privacy of my own living room and not only get a full body work out but also keep track of how many calories I’m burning and how many pounds I’m loosing.

Putting the game together wasn’t difficult. It comes with simple instructions, the Wii game/disc and a white balance board you use to step on for your workout routines. The first time you access the game, it takes you through a whole body evaluation. It tests you on your balance, BMI (I got a 23) and even gives you a Wii Fit Age (mine was in the 60s, ouch!) Overall it told me I’m “normal” (and luckily not in the overweight or obese category!) But could use some work… Okay, I get it.

There are 5 training modes you can choose from Yoga, Strength, Aerobics, Balance and Training Plus, which I believe is the newest feature. My personal favorites up until now are Yoga, Aerobics and Balance. Even at the beginner’s level I find some of the activities a bit challenging. Most of the time it was just getting use to the balance board but other times I just couldn’t get it right until trying a couple of times. I know I have to work on my posture, something my abuela and the Wii seem to agree on. 

I tried out the Super Hula Hoop which told me I burned 144 calories after 30 minutes… and you would think this wouldn’t be that hard but my abs definitely were feeling it.

My “personal trainer” was also helpful when it came time to do some Yoga positions. I’m not a Yoga junkie so this was a nice way to introduce some of the positions I’m not familiar with.

Another cool thing about the Wii Fit Plus is you can use it to also monitor the weight of your pet. This is excellent b/c during Lola’s last visit to the vet, he told me she had gained a pound and all Maltese need to be under 10lbs (she was at 9lbs).

All in all, I’m very happy with my Wii Fit Plus workouts. I think adding this to my dance classes and doing other activities (tennis, bikram yoga – my friends are always trying to get me to do this) will definitely help my diet cause and keep me entertained while working out.

Hopefully, if I keep this up along with the no carbs thing, I’ll be in shape and ready for bikini season in no time!

The retail price for the Wii Fit Plus is $99 according to Best Buy and Amazon.com. For more info on the Wii Fit Plus, CLICK HERE.

Is Pet Love Priceless?

It's no secret I'm obsessed with my dog. Isn't every pet owner obsessed??? All she has to do is look at me and my heart melts.  That to me is priceless. But, I will admit I spend more on Lola's grooming then I do on my own hair. I get my hair cut maybe 3-4x a year if that (low maintenance), meanwhile the little one gets groomed about every 6-8 weeks!

Not only that, but of course I have to take her to one of those cute pet spa-type places b/c they do the best job. She's a Maltese with white, fluffy hair and she looks her best when she gets the "Bear Cut". $45-50 later I have the perfect show dog who smells like strawberries.... and it's all worth it to me. But seriously, having a dog can be expensive! I averaged somewhere b/w $75-$100 a month last year on Lola b/w organic food, grooming, toys, vet, etc. (you get the point).

Anyhow, here's an interesting infographic from Mint.com which takes a look at the true cost of this obsession with our pets.

Click on the image to enlarge:

Regardless, I'm still going to keep grooming her and feeding her the best food out there... but then I ask myself, if I'm like this with Lola, what's it going to be like when kids come into the picture... oh boy! I better win the lotto.

Here's a pic after we both had our hair-did. ;)

Kelly D, PERIOD.

You can always count on my friend Kelly to give you that very obvious dose of reality that we, (cough) sugar coaters seem to lack at times. So I guess it should come as no surprise as to why she would be the perfect person to pull off the latest Kotex commercial, which plays on how ridiculous some "period" commercials can get.

Back track a couple of nights ago and there I was, sitting on my couch with Juan and Lola, with MTV on in the background. When all of a sudden and rather non-chillingly I should add, Juan says to me, "Hey there's Kelly on TV." Like, "Hey, it’s raining outside," or "Hey, I'm hungry." Of course, I (insert drama here) jump out of my seat, turn up the volume and start screaming my head off! There, on my 32" flat screen was our good friend Kelly D. from Miami whom we had met while living in NYC and shared countless of fond memories with!

Not only does she star in this hilarious Kotex commercial, but she helped write it as well. Which is why it didn't shock me that she came off so natural and genuinely funny! I mean, this is exactly what Kelly's real humor is like and just goes to show how talented she is for both writing and starring in this commercial.

For your viewing pleasure, my friend Kelly's Kotex commercial. You go girl!

To find out more about Kelly's talents. CLICK HERE. Let us know what you think of the commercial?

Here's a clip from Kelly's interview on AOL's Popeater!

Here's a pic of of us hangin in NYC...

Chic-a Cocktails: Luck o the Irish

For those of us not going out tomorrow night for the St. Patrick's Day festivities (you know- John Martins, Waxy o'conners, The Irish Pub, Finnegans), there's always a DIY remedy if you want to try your luck @ home.

Needing some luck? Try these St. Paddy's themed cocktails:

Lucky-tini

2 oz. Three-O Grape Vodka
1 oz. Melon Liqueur
Splash of Pineapple Juice
Shake with ice and strain into a martini glass
Garnish with an orange slice



The Shamrocker
1 oz. 1800 Silver Tequila
1 oz. Melon Liqueur
1/2 oz. Triple Sec
Splash of Orange Juice
Mix with ice, and garnish with an orange slice

Make Me Up Before You Go-Go

This past week I was invited to attend the grand opening of the new M-A-C PRO store on 1111 Lincoln Rd. Needless to say, I was uber excited to check out the new store and see what innovative way M-A-C would celebrate its new SoBe locale. I’ve been going to the Collins location for years and was eager to see what this new venue would have to offer…

As I approached the store (located in the new part closer to Alton), I saw splashes of vibrant colors everywhere, industry folks mingling and people (yes, guys too) trying on different shades of lip glosses, eye shadows and blushes… true bliss for the makeup lover.

Now, let’s be real… regardless if you still use M-A-C products or not (many have moved on to other brands) there’s no denying M-A-C is an industry leader when it comes to creating products for women of all colors and shades. I still remember the day I discovered M-A-C (I think I was in high school) and finally found a foundation that actually matched my skin color… you have no idea how many times I would try to find a product for my skin tone in a drug/dept store, but never found a perfect match until M-A-C came along.

Anyhow, back to the opening… so there I was looking around the store for a new blush and lipstick (when in Rome…) when a M-A-C rep asked me if I was there for the party. BINGO! I knew something had to be going on other than just a ton of people shopping for makeup. So I made my way to the 7th floor of the building/garage where they had created a VIP space to celebrate the launch of the store. Heather from M-A-C escorted me into the party as she began to explain the typography theme they had come up with, and that’s when I noticed something very peculiar… models covered in body paint all over the place… but not just regular models… very naked models.

Me: “Uh, am I allowed to look?”

Heather: “Of course! Please, take pics! That’s what they’re here for!”

Me: “Okay, let me get a drink first.”

Again, a brand that isn’t afraid to push the envelope… and let me tell you, these naked bodies were art pieces in themselves. They did such a great job of painting the bodies; you had to look right at them to realize they were 100% naked. At least I know if I ever need to be naked in public (nightmare), I can count on M-A-C body paint to cover me up!

Here are some images (warning a bit risqué) from the event:

Here’s my amazing goodie bag and I bought the Viva Glam Gaga lipstick (of course).

Check out the new store (ask for Evelyn – she’s my homegirl) @ 1111 Lincoln Road. They have more color options, brushes, tints, you name it. Enjoy!

Which to Choose?

Help! I’m torn on making a decision and wanted to ask you guys what you would do.

Here’s the dilemma, do I make the switch to the iPhone or stick with my Blackberry and just upgrade? I’ve been toying with the idea of switching to the iPhone for some time now, but a part of me thinks I’ll miss my BBM (Blackberry messenger) way too much. It’s the way I communicate with my mom and boyf 24-7 and even with friends overseas. I realize the iPhone is a “cooler” phone but I depend on my Blackberry for work, e-mails, etc. Will the iPhone takeover my life or simply make it better?

Anyhow, I decided I would do a short poll to see what most of you guys think. Please take a sec to participate in my little poll here and maybe you can help me out. Thanks!

New Midtown Miami Market To Open 3/27

Very exciting news guys! Finally, a local market to open up @ the Shops at Midtown Miami! This has got me very pumped b/c if there's one thing I love it's a good local market. You know, a place where you can roam around for some fresh fruits and vegetables, cool accessories for the house or funky antique jewelry. I miss market shopping from my days in NYC and love finding the most random things for sale.

The Midtown Miami Market will begin on Saturday, March 27 and continue every Saturday after that from 7:30am - 2:00pm in the South Block of the shops. I'll be sure to check it out and let you guys know what cool things I find...

Third Annual Dog Walk - Shops @ Midtown Miami

It's no secret I'm obsessed with my dog, Lola. Not only is she my companion, I happen to think she has a special gift for making people laugh and smile. Really, that's the whole point of having a pet, right?

Well, there's a special group of pets that deserve much recognition and praise... guide dogs and service animals are more than just pets, they are working animals who help transform the lives of the blind and visually impaired.

This Sunday, Miami Lighthouse for the Blind will present its third annual dog walk to raise awareness of guide dogs at the Shops @ Midtown Miami (3401 N. Miami Avenue). Walkers and their dogs are invited to come out and participate in a fun event for a great cause. There will be music, food and lots of fun events for you and your pets!

The event will be hosted this Sunday, March 14 @ 9:00AM-12:30PM. For more info please CLICK HERE.

And the Winner Is...

This past week I received the distinct honor of being named BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BLOG by the Sun-Sentinel for the first annual #BOBAwards held on Wednesday night @ Yolo Lounge in Ft. Lauderdale. It was an honor to even be nominated… yet alone win! To this day, I still have no clue who nominated me, but regardless, I want to give a big thank you to all my friends and fans that helped Midtown Chic-a reach the #1 spot.

The best part of this whole experience has been meeting some of the other local bloggers that I’ve been admiring for some time. I mean, really, I think any blogger who takes the time to write about things they’re passionate about or their experiences and wanting to share them with others, deserves to be recognized. Most bloggers have full-time jobs (ahem) and blog b/c they feel inspired to share their experiences with anyone who cares enough to follow along…

As most of you know, I felt inspired to start my blog after moving back to Miami from NYC and wanted to highlight all the cool things South Florida has to offer. I found it coincidental that I could move from working in Midtown Manhattan and find myself living in Midtown Miami (even my apt # matches my old NYC address – crazy!). Of course, I like to write about a lot of different things; events, pets (Lola), travel, fashion, food, etc. Most of my posts are from my own personal experiences … I guess you could say I consider myself a “lifestyle” blogger who happens to live in a cool hot place.

Here’s a snapshot of the winners from the Sun-Sentinel BOB Awards:

Special shout outs to The TinyJewelBox, Sex and the Beach, Florida Keys Girl and Worstpizza.com for winning too!

Here are some other great neighborhood bloggers (sure I'm missing a bunch) you should be following…

"Neighborhood" Blogs:
*305 Misadventures
*Brickell Life
*StrictlyMIA
*Coconut Grove Grapevine

and don’t forget to check out my Links Lovin for some other great blogs! -->

Thanks again for being on this ride with me as we continue to explore the scene!

Food Network South Beach Food & Wine Rewind

If you're a big foodie or a Food Network junkie, there's one Miami annual event you just can't miss. The Food Network South Beach Food & Wine Festival is one part exquisite food treats, one part vino/bubbly, mixed together with some Food Network celebs and sprinkled with white, smooth sandy beaches… all makes for the perfect festival recipe! Someone described it best when they said this is the Disney World for adults... Sure the $200+ ticket price for the tents isn't ideal, (many say that for that money they can go and eat at their favorite $$$$ restaurant) but if you're really into wine and want to sample delicious foods from various venues, then this is a must-do for you.

We've been fortunate enough to have friends who've hooked us up with tickets the last couple of years, but regardless, we'd be willing to pay to experience the tents year after year. The tents, I should explain, are part of the main event called the Grand Tasting Village, which take place on Saturday and Sunday. There are other smaller events that take place the week before, but the Grand Tasting Village brings it all together. You have hundreds of restaurants, vendors and brands all showcasing the best of the best. Usually the best vendors have the longest lines, but each sample is worth it. You also get to participate in presentations done by some of the Food Network’s biggest stars including Bobby Flay, Paula Deen and The Neely’s (who we personally love!)

This time around our SoBe Food & Wine festivities began on Wed. evening @ the Betsy Hotel where the Food Network Magazine held a special event with two of the Food Network’s newest stars, Melissa d’Arabian of Ten Dollar Dinners (airs on Sundays @ 12:30pm) and Aaron McCargo, Jr. of Big Daddy’s House (airs on Sundays @ 1:30pm). We caught up with Aaron at the party and asked him if he was enjoying his visit to Miami and if he’d tried the perfect Cuban sandwich yet? When we found out he hadn’t tried one yet, we secretly tried to plan a getaway route to Little Havana but there were too many Food Network folks around who would have spotted our escape route. (Next time, Aaron!) Overall a genuinely nice guy who loves what he does and knows how to BBQ! For some great recipes from Big Daddy, click HERE.

Me and Big Daddy

Here's @strictlymiablog getting interviewed :)

Flash-forward to Saturday’s Grand Tasting Village and all I can think about is how much food Juan and I consumed in a matter of a few hours… Word of advice, have a very light breakfast before you go to the Grand Tasting Village. You tend to think that small samples will not get you full, but there are literally hundreds of them and plenty of wine and champagne ;)

w/ Melissa d'Arabian

Towards the end of the day, we were introduced to Melissa d’Arabian (click HERE for her deelish recipes!) and I had the chance to chat with her about her SoBe experience. All she had to do was point towards the beach and sigh… and that’s all she needed to say because then I knew what makes this festival so special. I mean, where else in the world can you have the best food and wine and feel the sand beneath your feet in the middle of “winter”?

See you next year SoBe Food & Wine Fest!

Look Ma! No Hands!

My NYC bestie @MBetrock - xoxo!