No reason to wait until the New Year to start a Resolution

AWB gets into the groove

Allison Weiss Brady is getting into shape. She’s punching and kicking off those extra pounds all while getting makeovers, throwing fundraisers and going to galas. It’s business as usual for AWB.

It’s time for me to get back on track and start to look like I did in my early 20’s (ok, early 30’s, would be fine too). That includes a revamping of my hair, a freshening up of my face (no facelifts, maybe just filler), and of course, the body.

Let’s start with the hair. I wanted to go to one the best events for ideas, so I headed to the Miami Hair, Beauty & Fashion 2011 by Rocco Donna at the Viceroy to get my inspiration.

The fashion show was held in the Philippe Stark designed spa, where clear Lucite chairs were lined in perfect order and fashionistas got the scoop on the newest, latest and greatest hair trends. In between the chairs were two private Jacuzzi pools with sponsors’ logos floating in the steamy water. Dangling from the ceiling was the grandest yellow Lucite chandelier I had ever seen. I mean I had actually never seen a Lucite yellow chandelier before – Miami Chic, to say the least.

My hair turned out to be gorgeous. Rocco Donna here I come. Love Leonardo Rocco, by the way. Superstar!

Next up, a body makeover – nothing major here, just some cardio to sweat those calories away. A few friends and I have been going to Group X Fit on Commodore Plaza for 30 minute high intensity interval circuit training classes infused with boxing, kickboxing and self-defense. It’s the absolute best stress release ever. Forty seconds on, 20 seconds off for 30 minutes straight. It’s some of the best spent minutes of my day, and if you try it, you’ll thank me for it.

It was perfect timing to get in shape for The Black and White Legendary Ball celebrating the 55th Annual Vizcayan Ball. I wore a gorgeous Lanvin dress, GRAFF earrings and Chanel flats (I can’t walk on that Vizcayan patio stonework on anything else but flats). We hadn’t been to the Vizcayan Ball for years, and when we left, we asked ourselves why we hadn’t gone in so long. After all, Chip and I were married there.

We were invited by Nicole and Edgar Lozano and both were looking as fabulous as ever. Nicole followed the dress attire perfectly by wearing a long evening gown and gloves.

Still trying to remember that I’m in the process of “leaning out”, I made a beeline to the silent auction table when dessert arrived. I’d been eyeballing a white cashmere wrap the entire night – more than eyeballing actually, I had bid on it three times, one of which was the last bid. My husband just happened to be standing near the bidding table watching college football when the bidding closed and he slipped my final bid in there. Love him!

And let’s not forget Art Basel? The fever is brewing, and SocialMiami is on it, as usual. I’m sure to continue my weight loss with all of hustling. My heart is already pumping faster. I’m involved with several Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation events, as well as my own.

From December 1st-4th, there will be the Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation event in collaboration with Artspace, which will be debuting Rush Arts Gallery’s 15th Anniversary Print Portfolio 15 x 15 in Miami. Contact Charlotte Mouquin at charlotte@rushartsgallery.org for information.

Friday night, December 2nd Russell Simmons, co-founder of Rush Philanthropic, will be attending an intimate dinner fundraiser at my house with Creed lead singer/songwriter Scott Stapp and his beautiful wife Jaclyn Stapp, and South Florida’s own American Idol Season 10’s Brett Loewenstern to benefit Penn Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Co-chairing the event are Phillip & Patricia Frost, Penny & Roe Stamps of the Stamps Family Charitable Foundation, my mom, Jill Viner, Amelia Balonek & Faquiry Diaz, and me and Chip.

Singer/songwriter Brendan O’Hara will also “Vacation.” The event is being organized with Loro Piana (whose gorgeous stores are at Merrick Park, Bal Harbour Shops, and on Worth Avenue), creative agency tamzdesigns, and Boca Raton-based Rosenberg Diamonds & Co., who is launching a limited-edition of gold and diamond jewelry that evening to benefit Penn Medicine.

Also involved are SocialMiami.com’s ultra hip Amy Rosenberg, Stacey and Howard Shoer, and Natalia and Matthew Storm, who just self-published his first book on Amazon.com called From Africanus. There are amazing auction items from AnimationArtGallery.com, GEE Beauty, and Miami-based artist Eleazar Delgado, Dr. Leslie Baumann, The Local Craft Food & Drink, Agua spa at The Delano, and Berlin Center for Medical Aesthetics, and Caroline Streep/Visual Arts. This intimate dinner party has already raised over $75,000, and it hasn’t even happened. Please email me at weisspr@aol.com for further information.

After my dinner party, Russell Simmons is hosting the finals of the second annual Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series. If you’re not going, check out SocialMiami.com’s upcoming coverage. Russell and Danny Simmons will both be in attendance to help select the winners along with curator, Andre Guichard, and a panel of art experts. Can’t wait!

Have a great time Art Baseling and I hope to see you around town!

Until next time, I bid you adieu.
Allison