Baroness Monica von Neumann Is Interior Design Royalty

From Detroit to Baroness..Quite a story. Note to moms..send your daughters to Swiss finishing schools.
I'd like to see her closet.


As a small child growing up in the oftimes dreary world that is Detroit, never in Monica's wildest dreams did she imagine that she would be given a royal title, not to mention be a dazzling doyenne of Hollywood, Palm Springs and Europe.

As a youngster, Monica's family moved from Detroit to Los Angeles where she studied dance and modeled for Yves St. Laurent and Dior which took her to Europe in her teens. Her beauty and poise granted her access to circles which included Sonny Bono, who introduced her to Austrian Baron John von Neumann -- the first importer of Volkswagens to the U.S. and son of the doctor to the King of England and Spain.

After a few years, Monica went to a Swiss finishing school under the tutledge of Baroness Heidi von Salvisburg of Vienna and again ran into Baron von Neumann. The two fell in love, were married where she gained her title, 'Baroness' and eventually had a daughter.

Moving in exclusive cicrles as a Baroness, she travelled between homes in Geneva, Cannes, New York, Palm Springs, and Bel Air. Tragically, she lost her husband, Baron von Neumann to cancer in 2003.

After a few years of mourning, the Baroness is now poised to show her skills to the world, she now spends her time with her now grown up daughter, doing interior design for friends and family, writing and is currently working on a TV show on etiquette, interior design, entertaining, etiquette, and culinary arts. She has renovated and revamped her many homes-all of which include items from bargain shops (Target and Pier 1, for example) to vintage and high-end design boutiques.

Oh..and like me..she has a blog

Clintonville Welcomes Hipster Baby Boutique

Reprinted from ColumbusUnderground.com
Bye-bye, boring bibs and generic onesies. Nowadays part of the fun of raising a wee one is the ability to show off your parental spunk, and Lottie Da baby boutique in north Clintonville aims to outfit babies and toddlers in the coolest threads imaginable. Owned by Amy Routh and her husband Adam, Lottie Da opened two weeks ago at 4705 North High Street. In addition to clothing and toys the boutique carries custom nursery décor, bedding, accessories, and gifts. “Our products are very unique and designed to put a smile on your face,” Amy said. She offers a baby shower registry and is the only U.S. retailer to carry the Scandinavian Snoozy and British clothkits brands.
Lottie Da’s custom design offerings drastically set it apart from other baby retailers. Clients can work with Amy and her local seamstress to select fabrics, crib bedding, and curtains for custom-made diaper bags and nurseries. And since forty percent of the items at Lottie Da are homemade, much of the store has a one-of-a-kind feel. Amy is particularly smitten with her boys clothing selection. “It’s hard to find edgy boys clothing but I tracked down some amazing designers from Chicago and Brooklyn, and even some punk-rockabilly stuff from L.A.,” she said.
Amy’s inspiration to open Lottie Da was sparked when she was pregnant and working as a designer for Lane Bryant. During her travels to New York and Hong Kong she found hip baby items that she wished were sold in Columbus. “I didn’t want to buy the same run-of-the-mill things that everyone else had,” she said. After incessantly researching her favorite baby vendors and finalizing her merchandising strategy, she built custom-made fixtures and hired a local muralist in order to create a polished bohemian baby Mecca. “People who come into the store usually hang out for an hour because it’s so much fun to look around,” she said.
Lottie Da is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10:00 to 6:00, Thursday from 10:00 to 8:00, and Sunday from 12:00 to 5:00. Call 614-754-1261 or visit lottiedababy.com for more information.

Fall Fashion Favorites

Looking for some inspiration for your fall fashion choices..check out these picks from Ralph Lauren's Rugby line.
The look says I'm the hippest chick at boarding school.




While there's no Rugby store here in the Capital City you can buy the items
here

BTW..did you know Ralph Lauren owns 5 homes, one of which is in Jamaica? I'm jealous.
The Rugby line is just one of his many lines which includes Polo, Lauren, his home collection..etc. His success has touched nearly every American home or wardrobe.

Great Smoky Eye Tutorial

This young lady from California does makeup tutorials on you tube.
This one is one of the best..Try it and see!


BTW..she also has a blog on makeup..
click here

Denim Trends For Fall

Are Miss Me jeans THE denim line for fall '09?
They're selling fast at Macy's Tuttle Crossing.
Are you feeling the embellished pockets? What will you wear them with?

Obsessed w/looking celebrity slim? A Blog For You

If you, like me, envy celebs for being able to stay skinny despite having access to all the free food and booze you could imagine and their uncanny ability to pop out a kid and walk the runway days later..then check out
THE SKINNY WEBSITE

Another Athlete Wife Starts A Fashion Line

If you can't wait to get some She by Sheree..then you might want to hook it up with your Cookie Johnson Jeans..
Mrs. Magic's new line is available exclusively at Nordstrom.


Got an extra $141-$198 for some jeans? Check out the selection here

On another note..just wanted to give it up to British designer, Jenny Packham, for creating one of the most show-stopping frocks of 2009.



Worn by Carrie Underwood at the People's Choice Awards a while ago, but I still see this dress in my dreams.
In fact, I think a white version would look good going down the aisle? Agree?

Michelle Obama exits Air Force One in a dress by Target's Merona line.
That's why I love the 1st lady!