A few weeks back I had the pleasure of dropping in at a fab event at the Sunset Marquis Hotel in Los Angeles to celebrate the launch of Lia Sophia‘s latest jewelry line. Lovely lady celebs such as Ashlee Simpson, Kourtney Kardashian, Paris and Nicky Hilton, and Ali Landry also attended.
What do you think of Lia Sophia’s latest jewelry lines? And do you <3 the outfit I rocked that night?
I still can’t believe my story of finding James, designer of Prayer Box 3.0 took place just a few weeks ago. The next part to this story gets even better.
The night James W. Thompson and I met, we said the best grace over our yummy burgers and sweet potato fries: that this Prayer Box would be brought to life through a collaborative community effort. It wasn’t too long before James had an exact image in his mind of how this box could look, with even his own personal meaning:
During this time, a wonderful Twitter follower named Kay heard about my determination to make a new box. Kay stepped forward to twitter me that she had a wonderful friend who was interested in helping us make the box. To quote Kay, “Dan is a wonderful, interesting, talented man.” Talented…and insanely FAST! This passionate carpenter by day, blue-grass folk singer/musician by night` took James’ Prayer Box designs and built this below within days of receiving our request: 
I KNOW. Wait for it. This story ain’t even done yet.
So if you all know me, you know I’m obsessed with fashion. What makes me even more wild is meeting incredible talent who are able to translate fantasy into wearable pieces. Mr. Emiliano Moreno is my living day fairy Godfather. Blessed with surreal vision and creativity, Emiliano has created one of a kind designs for me on my Style Network show “How Do I Look” that I would have to pinch myself to realize could be real.
With pieces like this, I’d be jealous to learn that God could pack more talent into this big heart. Well, now I’m Emiliano’s frenemy, after Emiliano Facebook messaged me that he not only designs, but is also an artist with oil painted murals on ceilings in estates, paintings of TLC hanging at the Met for the Exhibit, and works hung at the Metro Museum of Art in NYC. And is excited to bless us with his vision of painting our Prayer Box.
So here’s what you need to know about this story. It keeps getting better and better, and it all starts with a mustard seed of faith. When you KNOW in that pit of your stomach something is MEANT TO BE–chase it with everything you’ve got.
Emiliano is stepping on and the box is dated to be completed within 10 days. On the morning of Oct 2, this Prayer Box team will be hiking up to Runyon Canyon together to put this baby in place. And of course you’re all welcome to join! Reply back here if you’re interested to join and we’ll of course send you deets.
Pray it Forward yall.
There’s only one thing I love than big gays. Ice cream. And Doug Quint, owner of this popular NYC truck, melts the two together in such a perfect way that makes us all scream for ice cream.
If you readers can remember, the last time I took off to NYC, all I could think about was making my way to this truck. As a foodie I love researching what’s been on the tip of everyone’s tastebuds, and the only thing that mattered to me was making it to find this newest sensation. And guess what.. it’s exactly what you’d imagine. Blazin with a fabulous rainbow ice cream cone and packed with delightfully punny and gay goodies such as the Bea Arthur, it was a dream come true when I finally tracked it down. My gaydar is unrivaled, even with trucks. And the best news yet, I met the owner! I almost died. No. I melted.
During our quick convo I got the lowdown on the truck, WHEN (not if) it’s coming to LA, and if an item on the menu could be named after yours truly. And how you can help spread the love of this ice cream. Seriously! Watch the video below and let me know in the comments if you know anyone or anything that can help bring this Big Gay Ice Cream Truck to the West Coast.
Oh. And try not to drool while watching. 
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quSq8oF6aus[/youtube]
You know what I don’t like?
Killjoys. Hopelessness. And the Negative Nancys of the world.
But you know what I really love?
Killjoys. Hopelessness. And the Negative Nancys of the world.
Here’s why: For every accomplishment in mai life, those naysayers had my panties so wadded into a bunch that standing around moping certainly didn’t straighten em out. Without these wonderful lil doom and gloomers, I would have never experienced what true joy, success, and faith feels like.
Which is why last week when Freddy and I decided to head up my routine hike up Runyon Canyon to fill my Prayer Box with paper and leave prayers for friends, this beautiful nightmare you’re about to watch occurred and has kicked my @$$ into high gear for the next few weeks.
Today marks the birthday of Prayer Box 3.0. The brainstorm begins.This has happened to me before, and it only gets better each and every time. So I’m looking for designers, carpenters, anyone with brilliant ideas, and of course prayers for the person that did this. Are you with me?? Bring it.
Wow oh wow. Before I get into the exciting news for the box, let me explain what it is.
For those of you who have followed my blog, you also know about my beloved Prayer Box I’ve placed at the steepest tip top of Runyon Canyon, 
a beautiful hillside hike here in Hollywood, California. I first had the vision for this box 2 years ago after an overwhelming sense of gratitude for each day that I’ve taken to hike to the top to pray and “reset” for the day ahead. I wondered if every other person who takes the time to hike these two tall mountains felt the same way after reaching the top… knowing that no matter how hard it feels, how badly you don’t feel like doing it, if you believe and put your best foot forward, you WILL.
Finally, my wonderful hubz made the first box and although it had some mysterious encounters, it had been there for almost a year as it filled up each day with prayers stuffed inside. There were so many prayers that I had to assign friends (thank you Grace and Eliot!) to come every other day if I was away to fill it with more paper and bring some prayers down to friends who can’t make it to the top. Anyone is always invited to send me prayers that I’ll take to the top, with a promise to have one from the box sent back from me. My dear friend Jaeson Mah also created an incredible movie that features the box in his documentary 1040, that features the prayer box. I can’t tell you how exciting it is to receive regular prayers from all over the world, my first from Ghana last week, different languages like Korean, Spanish, and even Hebrew- I even received a prayer from a 6 year old girl named Janie from Ohio who just started writing cursive!
Anyway, it came time that the box needed to be upgraded. In came the answer to my own prayer, Stavros, my dear friend who became the carpenter to bring the PrayerBox 2.0 to life. With prayers of patience and working hours into the night, the box was made, brought to Clairefoster who kicked in the dopest art skillz over the box, and bam. Here’s a pic him and PB 2.o, once it was brought to the top. 
Instructions are simple: Leave a prayer, take a prayer.
It’s been only a month that the box has been up and already it’s filling up again. Prayers of hope, peace, individual prayers for loved ones who are hurt, broken, or just in need of love. It’s incredible. So just recently, a fan of the box and brilliant writer/reporter/world traveler/foodie David Fleming, contacted me to cover a story about the box on Fox 11 News. I accepted, more than anything to share my faith that prayer is hope in action, and to encourage everyone to Pray it Forward. The PrayerBox story will air TONIGHT 5/25 10PM on Fox 11 News, and TOMORROW 5/26 morning.
I just realized I look like I’m rapping in this picture.
Anyway enjoy the story tonight, please do make it out to the box if you’re here in LA, or email me at jmail@iheartjeanniemai.com to get your prayers to the top. (Include mailing address if you’d like a prayer sent back.)
As a community together, we each can keep each other lifted in faith and love. Heart you guys. So freakin much
Oh my gosh, I had the most amazing weekend I have to share with you guys.
If you live here in LA you know that it was raining like crazy for a hot second. Last week for like 5 days straight- . And everyday I was envisioning my beloved lil surviving prayer box up on that hill by itself getting soaked, possibly even blown off the hill. (I have a very dramatic imagination.) Well, I went up there right when the rain stopped for a second to check on the box, and yes it was safe! So I filled it up with fresh paper and new pens. That was 4 days ago.
Today, I hiked up to the top just to drop off some prayers (Kelly, prayin for your job situation! and my dear friend Rosa, need a miracle for her health.) Again, this is FOUR days later, and watch this video to see what I found!
THANK YOU to friends who make it to Runyon to Pray it Forward! I hope I see you there someday. It’s simple: all u have to do is leave a prayer, then take a prayer. And to those who can’t make it, do send your prayers to jmail@iheartjeanniemai.com and I’ll get it in.
**Updates to this season’s Pretty Posse with fashionistas Kayla McGee and Jocelyn Garrity–stay tuned for bios
A few nights ago I took out my Pretty Posse-my talented group of hair, makeup, and wardrobe all wrapped into colorful bodies of fun, sparkling energy. These guys take my personal style and help me refresh and invigorate it into different versions of me. Because I have such exciting opportunities to dress up, I really do love to ask the famous four words to my show, “How Do I Look?” I believe style is a confident perspective of your identity, and celebrating it with the people who love you.
That said, I just had to take this wonderful group out for a magical night..to the one and only Magic Castle here in Hollywood, CA! Not only do these guys lend their talents to spoiling me, but they also get into fun events like this to the special people around us. Every outfit you see on my show starts from a moment of inspiration, with dabs and touches from each department until we create a full look that caters to the specific segment of the show. It’s brillz just making the fun lil doll of design come to life until I can put “her” on! Here’s to Norma Blaque and Hope Zarro, my hair fairies who always made sure each of my strands were sensationally sassy.
Craig Beaglehole and Bonni Flowers, my makeup stars who know exactly how to light and lift my smiling face up camera perfect for any shot. 
Hollie, Megan, and Ashley, for being such dolls in helping me every way I could need. And Bory Tan, my long time love, for playing dress up with me each and every time- and helping me to make it become a reality for those who deserve that Cinderella moment around us.
Also, my most proudest CONGRATS to my Norma Blaque, for being honored “Latino Star” from BE Magazine at the ISSE show in Long Beach, CA! Thatta girl!!!
Here are some fun pics from the night, special thanks to Erin and Andrea for making our visit even more spectacular. Also some fave wardrobe changes we’ve done on my show. Enjoy!
A few of my FAVE must haves:
Ardell Lashes in #114 (stacked with more drag lashes for a smashing effect.)
MAC Carbon with #266 Brush (camera power pop to eyeliner.)
Mason Pierson Brush (gets volume to any hair, ANY hair!)
Asset spanks from Target (oh yea..they’re faves for a girl in any size. AND they hold ur phone when no one’s watching 
Karen Millen anything.
I just have to share this new fave find of mine in the fashion — Beauty in the City. Located in the depths of downtown LA, this store is a freakn gem. I don’t know if I love more the adorable employees and store owner, Mindi, who are so “on it’ like a bonnet about fast service and diligent help, but this woman knows how to buy banging things. Sick boots, awesome use of feathers and pearls, even lace bibs for layering. This belt here is one of my faves, under $20, and do look out for more gems on my show How Do I Look! Thanks Mindi!
930 Santee St # 6
Los Angeles, CA 90015-1832
(213) 607-0111
