Ode to: Burning Man

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A week long festival in the middle of Black Rock Dessert…. Burning Man….. a most welcoming event where money is left behind and kindness and free spirited-ness are the currency spoken there. A festival dedicated to radical self expression, creativity, freedom of speech and art. I have never been…. but do plan in this lifetime to able to whisper the words… “I survived the extreme conditions at Burning Man.” The first Burning Man was in 1986 with 20 participants…. and this year there is an expected 70,000 people that will be radically self reliant….

Always starting the last Monday in August and ending the first Monday in September…

With today being the start of Burning Man…. I thought we should go over the 10 Principals.

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Our Ode to Burning Man OutFit: Creatures of Comfort black linen jumpsuit. Headdress bought in Kauai (originally from Bali ) and cost only 80.00. The statement beaded pullover is from a little store in London and was in the $200.00 range. Whenever I see unusual pieces I grab them as quickly as possible…. because you never know when a statement piece will come in handy for changing the entire look of an outfit. 

With Some Burning Love,

Laura Dunn

 

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Kauai

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When I booked our last minute trip to Kauai (we had to cancel a planned trip to Istanbul) I was not expecting much…nor was I planning on writing about the trip. I have been to Hawaii 18 times and many of them were on photo shoots. The last time I was in Kauai was so many years ago…. that I won’t even go there. To be frankly honest…. our last trip to Lanai was such a disaster we made a vow to never return to Hawaii. The Four Seasons on Lanai was so tired and so old that we all felt they should have burned it to the ground (it’s under new ownership now and it’s being completely renovated… yay!). When we arrived on Kauai and I had forgotten just how stunningly beautiful this island is. I was not expecting much in the resort department and I am glad I didn’t. That’s not what this island is about. This island is about beaches, outdoor adventure and the sheer beauty of this magnificent island. With all that said…. I want to give you a few must Do’s and must See’s on this ever so magical island of Kauai.

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We drove past Nana’s 3 times expecting… I don’t know what…. but something a little bigger that the tiny little trailer that was present in the strip mall parking lot it resided in. Finally we found the Yelp “5 star” Nana’s Snack Shack. Nana had just gotten there and she didn’t skip a beat when we ordered our 18 items. Starting with the best smoothies and acai bowls my family has ever tasted, on to the waffle hot dog (a hot dog baked into a waffle) which my husband Steve, said it was the best hot dog he has ever had. My teriyaki chicken sandwich on Hawaiian sweet bread was so good that I think I moaned. A wrap, another sandwich and finishing off with Nana’s chocolate Kit Kat covered frozen banana…. Giving Nana’s 5 stars would be an insult… this little roadside stand is such a gem we went twice and everyone wanted to go everyday! Nana is culinary roadside genius!!

4-971 Kuhio Hwy
Kapaa, HI 96746

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Going on a helicopter tour was the last thing I wanted to do on the perfect mid-trip day. Beach yes! Out-voted yes! So helicopter we did…. and OMG I am so happy I was out-voted! To see Kauai by helicopter is one of the most beautiful sites I have ever seen. Beau’s fiancé James, grew up flying in helicopters all over New Zealand and at one point told our captain it was the most beautiful scenery he has ever experienced. I had to agree. I can’t even verbalize the vivid visual beauty we witnessed. There are 14 amazing waterfalls on Kauai and seeing them from a helicopter is like a beautiful dream. Add in the fact that we had to go through training with Blue Hawainan to board that copter… and I would have to say it was the best and safest helicopter experience of my life.

www.bluehawaiian.com

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Tunnels is the most beautiful snorkeling experience on the Na Pali Coast (north island) with a beautiful natural reef. I laid on the beach while my people snorkeled. The 360 degree view was absolutely stunning with a mountain range sitting just behind the ocean… making it a surreal backdrop. To see the most fish…. head to Lawai Beach aka: the Beach House in PoiPu. There is also a great restaurant also called the Beach House with fabulous lunch right next to the beach.
Chickens where everywhere! Hahahaha I have never in my life have I seen so many chickens running around any island. Adorable, but they have fleas so enjoy from afar! My chicken photo op turned into flea bite city.

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We found the the best Shave Ice on the way to Princeville from Poipu (south to north). Wailua Shave Ice uses the finest Japanese ice grinder to finely shave their ice… and use only real fruit and fruit juices. Add in some milk and Viola!… the perfect shaved ice! To say we were in shave ice heaven is an understatement.

I  just switched out “Shaved Ice” for “Shave Ice” after we were informed by “Shave” in our comment section. Thank you so much for letting us know! I had no idea!! 

xoxox

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The best dinner on the island comes from Merriman’s Fish House. Don’t let the fact that this farm fresh to table restaurant is in a cute little mall confuse you. We discovered Marriman’s 2 nights before we were leaving and managed to squeeze in 3 dinners (one on the way to the airport)… it was that good! Everything we ate at Merriman’s was amazing. From the Kalua Pig Quesodilla to the fresh beet salad that tasted like it was just pulled from the ground. There is a casual restaurant below the finer dining option below that serves gourmet burgers and pizza. AMAZING!

2829 Ala Kalanikaumaka Rd, Koloa, HI 96756
Phone:(808) 742-8385

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Ask me to off road…. Never. Ask me to go with other people on a tour… Never. Ask me to purposely get filthy dirty… Never. I guess never say never as somehow I ended up with my family at Kipu Ranch one beautiful afternoon. We went on a group off road adventure through a massive cattle ranch and I must say we had a blast! My husband was kind enough to let me drive so I could feel in control as a few times I wasn’t sure how we were going to make it out alive. Exciting… fun and really really dirty!

235 Kipu Rd, Lihue, HI 96766
(808) 246-9288

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The Blue Hole Sea Caves and The Queens Bath Princeville are two of the most important visual wonders on Kauai. We saw both from the air, but due to weather conditions we were unable to see by foot or boat. A visit to both will be first up on our next Kauai adventure.

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There are so many beautiful and swimmable beaches in Kauai, that my feeling is to look a few up on The Beaches Map and just go for it.

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Any one of the many, many roadside juice stands will have a fresh chilled coconut for your hydrating pleasure!

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p.s. Renting a car, suv or jeep on Kauai is essential. Plan on driving around and exploring this island for at least half of your trip. There is just way too much beauty to miss if you don’t.

ALOHA!

Laura Dunn

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Summer in LONDON

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I have just returned home from a week in London…. one of the most beautiful and culturally rich cities in the world! I tagged along with my daughter Beau and her fiancé James Fay to James’ sister’s 30th Birthday Party, held at the world famous Serpentine Galleries. I am so thrilled I joined on this adventure… and so thrilled to spend an evening at the Serpentine Galleries.  In Part One today, I have a few photos to share… a few “Must-Sees” and a “Must-Eat,” and a “Must-Stay” on our list …. Let’s get started!

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The Beaumont Hotel
Let’s start with my favorite brand new boutique hotel…. The Beaumont. Located in the heart of Mayfair, it allows guests walking distance to some of the best shops, galleries and restaurants in London. Boasting exceptional style reminiscent of the 1920s….it’s intimate, luxurious and service oriented. When I say service-oriented… I mean coffee delivered within 7 minutes to my door at 6am! The restaurant had some of the best and freshest food in London. With a true intimate neighborhood feeling…. accommodations include state-of-the-art technology, beautiful antiques and art, fabulous amenities and – best of all – the most reasonable pricing on rooms for a hotel of this caliber.

THE BEAUMONT HOTEL
MAYFAIR, LONDON W1K 6TF
44-20-7499-1001
OUR LOCATION
The Beaumont, Brown Hart Gardens,

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Hampton Court Palace
Beau and I took a little day trip (45 minutes outside London) to Hampton Court Palace. Talk about history! Renovated for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey in 1515, this stunningly haunted castle was used by King Henry VIII for all of his major celebrations… and, after Wolsey fell out of favour, the King enlarged the palace for himself. I am not a fan on any level of tourist attractions… but Hampton Court called to me… and I am so glad that it did. The gardens are some of the most beautiful in England with a celebrated maze. The patio hosts a beautiful little restaurant overlooking the fountain lawn where you can dine on high tea and lunch. For those Tudor fans… this is a must see.

East Molesey, Surrey KT8 9AU, United Kingdom
+44 844 482 7777

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Sketch London
My all time favorite dining spot in London! With several different restaurants in one… this beyond hip dining spot is an absolute must see when in London. The gallery dining room hosts an amazing art collection that changes yearly and Chef Gagnaire’s culinary genius has inspired the menus throughout sketch. His eponymous Michelin three-starred Paris restaurant has a distinctive menu style, which Gagnaire had adapted for Sketch. Executed by his acolytes, the food is imaginative, bold, ground-breaking and delicious. My favorite part of Sketch besides the food… are the restrooms. Yes!!! You heard me right… the restrooms are pods. Single pods make up each toilet and there are 5 per side… mens and womens. This brilliant dining spot is a must see for anyone visiting London this summer!

9 Conduit Street, London W1S 2XG, England
+44 20 7659 4500

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Lavender Sleep Patches
The jet-lag going to London is pretty rough due to the 8 hour time difference. For those sleepless nights… I found a solution in a local pharmacy – Lavendar Sleep Patches by BodyTox. Pop an all natural lavender filled patch on each foot before bed… and drift off like a baby! They really do work… and help with the jet-lag!
17.00 Box of 6
www.amazon.co.uk

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The London Outfit
We celebrated summer in London with our 4th of July inspired outfit with fabulous photos taken by Beau Dunn. Jeans are by Flying Monkey  Star denim button down by Rails and crazy red glitter boots by Comme Des Garcons purchased at Selfridges. Our backdrop is an old English power station directly across the street from The Beaumont. Stunning!

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Happy 4th of July Weekend…. and no matter where you travel to this holiday weekend…. Please be safe and have an Amazing 4th of July!!

Pip Pip, Cheerio…. God Save the Queen!! 

Laura Dunn

P.S. If you wish you borrow my red glitter boots… Size 9!

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GUATEMALA

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Today we find ourselves in Guatemala. Which could be one of the most interesting and beautiful countries I have been to in a very long time! Rich in Mayan culture and steeped in spirituality…. Guatemala felt like a very sacred place to me. I tagged along with my daughter and her fiancé to go to a christening…. and I am so glad I did! Within a week…. we went to 4 different cities… picked up a lot of culture, witnessed beauty beyond belief and saw and did things most people would pack into a 3 week trip. 
Antigua, Guatemala

 

Part One
We started off outside the city of Antigua, at a resort called La Reunion. The resort is centered on a golf course that is surrounded by volcanos. Talk about stunning! Upon arriving (after a red eye…. the only non-stop flight) we went straight to the resort (about 45 minutes from Guatemala City) and proceeded to check in. After the nasty red-eye, I expected to feel like hell…. but quite the contrary. I felt a spiritual peace and grounding like I have not felt in a long time. So I immediately googled the power of volcanos. Very powerful are these majestic mountains that breathe fire, lava and ash. It is well known that volcanoes hold a very spiritual and sacred power that you can actually feel in their presence. For 2 days I felt a calm that only something so much bigger than I…. could induce. For two days we felt mini eruptions and watched in awe as these beasts let off steam. Day 3…. I felt the strangest unrest and felt a need to leave…. and for good reason. Fuego our main volcano…. blew big within two days of us leaving the country. It’s hard explain the peace that came over me while there…. this beautiful spiritual energy that felt warm, tranquil and healing. While there of course I insisted upon rock hunting…. only to find out about…. how healing the lava from these volcanoes really is. 
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         Apache Tears:

Apache Tears are a type of Obsidian, which appear rough and opaque at first glance, but are often translucent when held up to a light source. Apache Tears are created when hot lava is forced directly into the air and quickly solidifies before hitting the ground. Made from the fire energy deep within the Earth, this mineral is wonderful at grounding energies into the Earth before, during and after energy work.
Apache Tears help one to see into the core of an issue to assist with deep healing.

Apache Tears have an uncanny ability to lend support during times of sorrow. They will gently help one to accept and then release their grief, thereby releasing and removing blockages. Apache Tears can help to relieve stress by bringing opportunities for positive change into one’s sights so they can formulate a plan of action. This can bring a sense of hope to a dire circumstance. Apache Tears can also enhance one’s logical thinking skills, which can open new doors for success. Many work with these stones to facilitate spontaneity in many different areas in life.

Physically: Apache Tears are often used for the calming of muscle spasms, detoxification of the body, and absorption of vitamins. They can also enhance the immune system and fortify the body.

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laura-dunn-villa-palopo-guatemalaPart Two:

We had 24 hours in paradise…. at Lake Atitlan. We arrived via helicopter on the side of a cliff…. at a resort called Casa Palopo. One of the most old school Mayan and stunning resorts in Guatemala. Casa Palopo is a magnificent Villa built on the side of a hill…. over looking the beautiful Lake Atitlan. 90 miles from Guatemala City and surrounded by three magnificent volcanoes, Casa Palopo has some of the best food and suites in Guatemala. In the near by towns that surround Lake Atitlan and Casa Palopo…. there is great local art, craft shopping, traditional food and drink…. making this slice of heaven truly a destination not to be missed.
A very serious Thank you to the Mata and Castillo Families for hosting us and allowing us to experience… one of the most beautiful, culturally rich and spiritual places on this planet.
With sincere gratitude,
Laura
 
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Pennies: 
No posh. My H&M sheer black button down shirt dress with fabulous side slits…. so easy to wear…. so many different ways. I casual-ed it out with a pair of Splendid leggings, Lori Jack crystal flip flops and my new favorite aviators by Porsche. It’s a lot of look for $19.00!
www.hm.com

 

Laura_Dunn-Fabulous365-Guatemala (2) Photography by: Beau Dunn

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Australia Week Continued

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WOW! I had heard about how fabulous the Australian designers were…. But to see boutique after boutique of some of the slickest, sassiest and sophisticated clothing… I now know it as truth. One of my favorite purchases of my entire DownUnder trip was this Bianca Spender cut-out, long black dress. The juxtaposition of a total bondage feeling top… with a graceful silk skirt… It squealed my name as I laid eyes on it at the swank David Jones department store.
I feel like the Australian designers are winking at us as they start to become known around the world. I am winking back….

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This photo taken by Beau Dunn in my room at Qualia Resort on Hamilton Island, Australia … talk about a room with a view!

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Featuring my beautiful French Bulldog, Pearl…. with Mr. Bob hanging in the background wishing he was featured!

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Polaroid 300

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The Polaroid 300 is just about as fun as it gets…..  and instant gratification at it’s best!  Instant color business card size photos, auto flash and four scene settings to help capture the perfect shot in any light! The perfect fun time party camera!!

Shop the Polaroid300 on Amazon!

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Dance the Night Away

Dance with Laura Dunn

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On a whim… I had an idea to grab my husband… and head to The Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Beverly Hills. I thought that taking a dance lesson could be a great way to exercise, bond and have an all around fun time…. and… that we did! We had a blast! It helped that our instructor Willam, was just about as fabulous as they come and was so beyond knowledgeable about dance… in every form. And it also helped that he was a kind, considerate and caring instructor! So fabulous is he…. and the experience… that we now have a standing dance lesson once a week. A great idea for a fun and fabulous “Date Night!” Get out there My Most Beautiful Peeps… and get dancing!!

There are 260 Arthur Murray Dance studios around the world. Find one in your neighborhood for a fabulous “Date Night!”

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BALI

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Salamat Pagi (Good Morning) My Most Beautiful Peeps. Over the past 4 years…. it is on a very very rare occasion that there is not a daily post up. I am in Bali… on a spiritual retreat (sitting in front of some of the most powerful healers in the world) and my internet has been beyond sketchy. So please hang tight… and I hope to get a post up everyday going forward.

P.S. It is with the greatest excitement that I announce The Brand Spankin “New Fabulous365” is just weeks away from launching!!! I will post on my Bali experience then…. and share with you information on one of the most spiritual places on the planet.

Salamat Malam

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