Best of Made in LA - CBS Los Angeles

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Back to School at Del Amo Fashion Center

Back to school shopping has always been mostly a non-event to me. Unless you had a massive growth spurt over the summer, your clothes still fit. Plus, as my mother always said, “wait to see what everyone is wearing first.” As of today, it seems like everyone of school age in my orbit is back to school. Summer is “over” and the mindset is shifting. I never underestimate the psychological momentum to be gained by having something brand new to kick off the start of an academic year. The Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance, CA is one of several malls in the Los Angeles area. It’s one of my favorites because it is so big and has so much to offer. I run to this mall all year long for things my kids need. Here is my rundown of some of my favorite stores this year for back to school.

Starting at the south side, Sears is where I go for kids Land’s End shoes, clothing and outerwear. The Land’s End department is located on the main level. Down the escalator is the children’s department which is a good source for licensed products like superhero sweatshirts and cartoon character undies. Heading north in the mall, is the Vans store, famous for their uber-popular slip on sneakers…A good way to get around having to tie laces! Continuing along the first floor, there is an elevator and escalator to transition up to the second floor.

This level is where the majority of stores are found and is a good access point for Macy’s. At about the midpoint of this level, we find the food court. I love the lemonade at Hot-Dog-on-a-Stick and the chicken strips at Chick-fil-a. Here is also where the mall makes a left and a right turn in short order. Around the second corner we have Build-a-Bear Workshop which always has something new to commemorate any occasion and just past that, The Disney Store. Disney is a fun place to pick up themed lunch totes and water bottles. At the end of the hall is a large Old Navy. Here I keep an eye out for boys shorts and underwear and girls leggings and tank tops. Old Navy is also a great destination for school uniforms as well as trends you don’t want to “invest” in because you think the trend will be over by Halloween. For example, brightly colored denim is a major trend this Fall. My son found a pair of green jeans, although “full price” they were still only $19.50. Turning the corner to the right, you have Stride Rite for kid’s shoes on the right and further down, also on the right, is H & M kids. I seem to always find fun girls’ socks and tights here. H & M is one of the best choices for keeping up with fashion trends. They have inexpensive accessories like neon colored hair clips.

Just past H & M is a set of glass doors leading to the newest part of Del Amo, the two-story outdoor Promenade. Here I recommend two of my lifelong favorite stores, Marshalls and TJ Maxx! You never know what you’ll find at these places but the treasure hunt for the deal is so much fun. I tend to score shoes for kids at Marshalls with great regularity as well as team logo baseball caps, shirts and sweatshirts at both stores. Also located out here is GapKids/BabyGap (combo store) which is a great source for all kids’ basics. Some items I like here for boys are: khakis, cargoes, polos and light jackets. For girls: casual cotton dresses, yoga pants, fleece tops and long sleeve t-shirts. Finally, Skechers is a family favorite for footwear.

Having covered the whole mall, everyone is probably ready for a break and something to eat. Del Amo has many restaurants to choose from. I recommend Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ and applaud them for their spacious booths, kid’s menu and biscuits. Out in the Promenade, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse with a menu that has something for everyone, Stacked where kids have a blast ordering from the table’s iPads and Lazy Dog Café which offers a vast kid’s menu with lots of healthy choices and a fun outdoor patio with fireplaces.

Info & disclosure: The Del Amo Mall is located at 3525 Carson St., Torrance, CA 90503 at the intersection of Hawthorne Blvd. and Carson St. Exit the 405 freeway at Hawthorne Blvd. Barnes & Noble bookstore and Crate & Barrel are located on the mall property along Hawthorne Blvd. Get connected via: DelAmoFashionCenter.com, Twitter.com/DelAmoFashion and Facebook.com/DelAmoFashionCenter. To facilitate my review, I was provided at $50 Simon Malls Giftcard. All content and opinion is my own.

To Be Unoffendable...

These are strange times we are living in. Though...The more perspective I get...By having more years under my belt...The more I think that any given time can be properly be termed "strange" by someone living it. But one thing seems clear, the amount of media through which someone can be trashed publicly is at a level no one could have predicted even 20 years ago. That even non-public figures can be trashed online by a disgruntled ex or a pissed off neighbor truly makes all of us "eligible" to have insults hurled at us, lies spread about us. Sort of makes you feel unprepared, eh?

Through an interesting chain of social media events, I arrived at this video and my new favorite quote: "To be unoffendable is like an incredible position of power. To not care, to not even be interested in people's ill-informed opinions." Simon Doonan

Bel Bambini Boutique–My Top Picks for New Baby

I recently attended the grand opening event for Bel Bambini in Newport Beach, CA. Chip and Lulu participated in the fashion show and had a blast in their debut on the catwalk. This boutique, with a location in West Hollywood as well, is amazing! Spacious, bright and carries so many of my favorite products for ages 0-6. My top picks for New Baby are featured on their site. If you aren’t in So Cal, you can shop online!

 

 

1. Aden + Anais Bamboo Muslim Collection – Mela ($40.00); 2. Skip*Hop Zoo Bib – Zebra ($8.00); 3. Trumpette Socks – Maryjanes Pastel ($24.00); 4. ERGObaby Original Baby Carrier – Camel ($115.00); 5. Little Giraffe Luxe Blanket ($85.00); 6. Boon Catch Bowl ($6.99); 7. Skip*Hop Pronto! Changing Station – Nixon ($34.00); 8. Vulli Sophie The Giraffe ($23.00)

Trash Cache - Scout by Bungalow

I'm a big fan of Scout products. The Trash Cache is a really convenient collapsible bin that has many uses but is named for its primary use, as a cute, temporary trash container. It includes clips to keep the liner bag in place. Folds flat for storage. $43 at Bungalowco.com

Bungalow - Trash Cache

Havaianas Pop Up Shop

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The past couple of years have given rise, literally, to the fashion marketing concept known as a “pop-up shop”: A temporary retail outlet for a known brand or designer. I had the opportunity to attend a party at the West Coast’s first Havaianas (the famous flip flops from Brazil)  pop-up shop located in the uber-conceptually-cool Space 15Twenty  in Hollywood. Space 15Twenty is a mix of permanent retailers and restaurants along with spaces that allow for different brands and artists to step in and out of the mix. Havaianas Mercado is located in the Urban Outfitters rotating designer concept boutique with the storefront facing Cahuenga Blvd.

Once inside, it was an amazing and colorful space, like being in a tropical produce shop. Also in attendance were Lucy Marshall of “Pretty Little Liars” and musician Alex Marshall. I was really looking forward to stepping up to the fruit stand where you can “Make Your Own Havaianas”, with customizable soles, straps and embellishments. I picked black soles, silver straps and diamond and blue jewels along with tiny elephants as embellishments. It was really too much fun to choose EXACTLY what you wanted, right down the placement of your bling! For people who don’t live near a Havaianas that has a MYOH (Make Your Own Havaianas) you can make your own online.

Next it was on to the party which was hosted in one of the interior courtyards at Space 15Twenty. Much to everyone’s delight, right next door is an Umami Burger location and that’s who supplied the food and drink. The most amazing burgers, known as “The Fifth Taste” and fries were being served up straight off the outdoor grill. The barmaster mixed the most addicting coconut mojitos…What a perfect tropical evening. Get yourself over to Space 15Twenty, check out all there is, treat yourself to your very own Havaianas and then kick it Hollywood hipster style at Umami Burger. You so can. If you want to feel like you really were there, here is a link to Space 15Twenty’s site with coverage of the event including a video where you can catch a few glimpses of moi . Havaianas Mercado Pop Up, 1520 N. Cahuenga Blvd., LA 90028. Store Hours: Open daily from July 1st through July 24th; Monday-Friday, 11 AM-8 PM, and Saturday-Sunday 11 AM-9 PM. PS. Space 15Twenty has a parking lot, the entrance is on Selma between Cahuenga and Ivar.

To see my coverage on CBS Los Angeles click: Flip Flop Pop Up - Havaianas