Author Archives: LA Blogger Gal

Things Don’t Always Go as Planned

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You know what they say about best laid plans and all that. Well, actually I don’t recall what they say specifically, but I know they say something about it. And whatever it is, I’m sure it’s not good.

Today I had planned to spend the entire day working on my sponsorship proposals so I could start getting those out.  And I have a sample resume to mock up for our students tomorrow.  I also told my friend that I would help to prep some KLEAN products for the upcoming event this weekend.  While it may not seem like much, it pretty much guaranteed a full day (especially with the sponsorship proposal).

griffin_blanketInstead…I spent the day dealing with the pupster.  He’s been very lethargic and showing signs that he may have hurt his back again.  So I had to schedule an emergency (of sorts) visit to his wonderful vet, Dr. Pilch.  He’s so good, we actually drive all the way out to Van Nuys to see him.  So of course, there’s traffic to deal with around 9:00Am this morning.

They didn’t have an early appointment available, so they asked me to drop him off and pick him up later.  That of course means that the visit takes twice as long.  All is good.  As long as they can see him and get him back on his steroids, I’m fine.  Turns out, because of the lethargy and the nausea and the lack of appetite for anything but grass, he also wanted to run a blood work up.

He’s back home now and finally relaxing.  They gave him a shot of prednisone so he’s feeling no pain (which of course means he thinks he’s fine and can run around and jump up and down on the furniture).  I have to call back tomorrow for the results from the blood test, but the doc feels that it’s just his back.

Needless to say, it’s now 4:30 and I barely managed to get any of my proposal done.  So yeah, those best laid plans and all that.

The Birthday Plans Continue

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birthday_cake

Things are progressing along nicely in LA Blogger Gal’s 40th Birthday Extravaganza planning. I do believe I’ve settled on a location.  With luck, we’ll be outside in this amazing garden setting, chowing down on Greek food (my fave!).  A friend of mine recommended the location from a place where she’s eaten before.  And since she’s held staff meetings there, she also knew they could accommodate groups.

I’m still not crazy about the corkage fee, but with luck, I can use this recession in my favor and negotiate her down.  Worse case, we just provide champagne instead of wine and champagne.  In turn, we’ll provide some appetizers as well.  It should be fun.

I need that headcount though so I can either order my cake (mmmm….Porto’s cakes, c’est ci bon!) or go with cupcakes (mmm…those strawberry lemonade cupcakes from Layers Cupcakes – but ohhhhh, the price).  Cupcakes totally rock, and don’t require any cutting, but man, they’re a small fortune compared to just getting a cake.  And let me just say, that Chocolate Grand Marnier sounds incredible.

And now, after poking around Porto’s website, I’m jonesin’ for a potato ball.  Guess where I’ll be going later today?

And of course in the midst of all my party planning, I was called out by and out-of-town friend that reads my blog for not inviting her.  Seems I was so focused on my local friends and getting things moving, that I didn’t get around to inviting those that I knew wouldn’t come, but would still want to be invited.  Same thing goes for the in-laws.  I still need to invite them even though I know they won’t come.

I never can really think of things that I want for my birthday (for some reason, I guess because we pick names and do lists I can for Christmas).  Then again, it doesn’t help that from the hub’s I’ll be getting my party (no other gifts there) and from my closest friend back in NM, money is tight.  So if someone where to ask me what I want, all I’d really be able to suggest is that dry cleaning/garment bag at Delight (wow, they really do need to work on their site – that “share this” post didn’t even share a link or photo, or description), a whisk, a digital frame and my new white dream purse (which is apparently others’ dream purse as well since Zappos is running low). Ooh, and I think I’d like this book…The Think Big Manifesto: Think You Can’t Change Your Life (and the World) Think Again.

Okay, off to sit down with the hubs over a bowl of oatmeal.  Love lazy Sundays.

PS – Speaking of birthday celebrations…Happy Birthday Ju-Ju Coop!

It’s Almost That Time

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birthday_cake

Yes…it’s almost my 40th birthday!

Holy cow, I can’t believe I’m going to be 40.  Remember when you were just a kid and forty just seemed OLD.  Well according to Sephora (and their Beauty Insider email), I’ll be 40 in less than two weeks.

Oh.My.God!  Less than two weeks!

Maybe we should put a little perspective in place here.  I’m not freaking out because I’m turning 40.  At all.  In fact, I tend to think of it more as a rite of passage and a title that I’ve earned.  Now turning 30, that was an entirely different story and scared the shit out of me.

No, what I’m concerned with is that I’ve yet to plan my party.  And I’ve yet to plan anything for our 5th wedding anniversary that happens mere days before – but I’m choosing to push that aside as we’ll more than likely celebrate later with a weekend away somewhere.

So back to the birthday extravaganza…

I sent out a save the date email last week some time – classy, I know.  Last night I sent out the evites – super classy, I know.  Today, I only have two RSVPs!  Which again, I guess I can’t really worry about since well, I haven’t actually finalized the restaurant location either.  Or at least, that’s what I’m telling myself.  Though at least I have narrowed the location down…to somewhere in West Hollywood.

I was originally thinking about Amalfi on La Brea.  I love that place.  Very romantic (or in this case…celebratory), great food and good prices.  But…they’ve got a $20 a bottle corkage fee and their menu doesn’t change outside of the daily specials (which for Italian is kind of odd, at least here in LA).  The manager also didn’t seem too keen on my wanting to have a party on a Saturday night.  So I guess, if he’s not that interested in our business, I can look elsewhere.

So maybe some of you LA gals can help me out.

I’m looking for a restaurant in Hollywood, West Hollywood or Mid-City, that can easily handle 25-30 people.  Menu has to be about $20-30 per person.  We’d like to bring in our own wines so we can cover at least that part of the meal, so we need a decent corkage fee.  At the $20 a bottle fee that Amalfi charges,  we’d be looking at a small fortune just in the corkage fees (not counting the cost of the wine itself), so we’re hoping to find something more tolerable.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Okay, now it’s back to business for me.  I have a gazillion emails to get out today for upcoming contest giveaways

And yes, I know I still need to pick a winner and send out that thank you giftie for giving me the names of some of your favorite products to check out (a long, long time ago).  I haven’t forgot about that…I just haven’t found the time.  I will.

photo by Cafemama

Are You Ready to Share Your Deepest Darkest Secrets…on TV?

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secret

photo by GotPlaid?

I’m beginning to realize that I have the coolest job out there…being a blogger and all that. I get free stuff to try out and write about. I get invites to very cool parties (that I rarely actually get around to attending). And now, I got approached by a producer for Lifetime TV! Yes, you read that right…producers from Lifetime contacted me!*

No, they don’t want me to be a guest on one of their shows or to be in one of Nora Robert’s next movies (I just love her books!). But they are hoping that I can help them find some SoCal folks with some secrets that might be willing to share.

It seems quite cool. It’s for a new, prime-time, docu-styled, non-exploitative show where people are asked to tell their stories and share their secrets. They are seeking willing men and women who have kept a secret close to their heart and now would like to reveal the truth to someone who will be significantly impacted by your revelation.

Right now, they’re looking for two specific secrets…

  • the Secret Crush – Do you have a secret crush on someone that you work with or have known for a long time? Are you ready to tell them? They’re looking for someone who has been crushing on someone for quite sometime…someone they know that knows them but doesn’t have a clue about the secret.
  • keeping secrets from your spouse/partner/family – Are you a shopaholic who has run up your credit cards and fears telling your husband? Are you a compulsive gambler and it has now affected your family finances or relationships? You need to be willing to come clean and get things fixed (with the help from their staff).

The act of sharing your secret could help both you and others and it may allow you to find peace and closure. You and the person you are telling, will be supported through the process and will not feel alone in dealing with your revelation. They assure me that they are experiences in honoring sensitive and intimate stories (hello, they’re Lifetime for peet’s sake!) and they’re not interested in any revelation that would exploit you or others.

You can contact them directly via email or you can show up at an open casting call this Saturday, April 25th at Space Station Casting Studio, 1258 N. Highland Ave. (Corner of Highland and Fountain) from noon – 5:00PM.

So don’t worry, you won’t be sharing sharing your secret here in LA Blogger Gal Land for all the world to read. In fact, aside from this post, I’m completely out of the loop and will having nothing to do with anything. This was all just done as a favor.

Although I wouldn’t be offended if I was offered a +1 to a Tori and Dean party or something similarly cool as a thank you 😉

* Granted, it’s not Oprah (not everyone can be like my good pal, Sarah, over at Mar Vista Mom), but it’s still pretty damn cool if you ask me!

Daily Online Shopping Specials, Unique Gifts, Fashion Accessories & Home Decor – Delight.com

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Daily Online Shopping Specials, Unique Gifts, Fashion Accessories & Home Decor – Delight.com

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Well, this was totally disappointing…it didn’t even post the photo.  Grrrr!

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Take II: I so want this…

it’s a reusable, cloth garment bag to be used at the dry cleaners.  Considering I launder the hub’s shirts at the dry cleaners every other week, this would really cut down on a lot of plastic bags.

Now if Delight only had a way to create a wish list, this would so be on my list for my birthday.  Yes, it’s that darn cool!

Lovin’ the Pepsi Retro Style

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old_school_pepsiI just love when I open to door to get the mail or let out the dog and have a surprise sitting there waiting for me.  And today, that surprise was this old school Pepsi lunch box and a sample of both their Pepsi and Mountain Dew Throwbacks.

So what is a Pepsi or Mountain Dew Throwback, you ask?

It’s that retro look and taste that hearkens back to life in 60’s and 70’s (man, now I feel old!)  Both products are sweetened with natural sugar.  You know, just like you used to remember.

Although I honestly, can’t say that I actually remember what soda used to taste like before the corn syrup got a hold of things (having just finished the Omnivore’s Dilemma, I’m so more aware of this corn syrup thing than ever before).  Lucky for me though, once I moved to NM and later SoCal, I was lucky enough to be able to occasionally purchase both Coke and Pepsi products that were imported from Mexico and sweetened with cane sugar.  Man, now that’s some good stuff.

What a difference the natural sugar makes.  I mean, it just tastes simpler.  Smoother.  Yummier.

Now for a short time, through to the end of June, the Throwback sodas (I have such an urge to call them “pop” and I have never in my life used that term) will be available in select markets.

Moral of the story, drink these babies while you can.  They can’t be expected to keep the 60’s and 70’s around forever now, can they?  It’s not like this is fashion we’re talking about 😉

CLICK HERE TO ENTER FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A RETRO PEPSI THROWBACK PACK

I Can Not Believe it’s This Hot Already!

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temps

It’s not even May.  No wonder I was so damn lethargic today.

Right now, it’s hotter inside my apartment (88.9) than it is outside.  According to my thermometer it’s 85.3 in the front and 88 in our bedroom and that’s just nuts!  According to my Apple widget, it was 100 today.

100 degrees!  In April! This is almost as bad as those 90 degree days we had in January.

And dingalinga, let’s conserve energy me decided not to bother to turn on the AC.  I kept telling myself that it wasn’t hot, it was just warm and as long as I had a fan, I’d be fine.

Hell no, that wasn’t so! Tomorrow, the wimpy AC is on while I’m home the entire time.  I can’t get anything done when it’s damn near 90 inside.

And to think, I told my personal stylist (that I had to drop because I just got too busy with clients) that it would be too hot to remove all the clothes from my closet, try things on and off for an hour and then have to put everything away.  I think she thinks I was making the stiffling heat thing up and just using it as an excuse.  Nope.  I speak the truth! 😉  I am bummed that I had to stop working with her just when we were getting started though.

I Dreamed a Dream: A Little Late

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I’m sure by now, you’ve heard of Susan Boyle and her amazing rendition of “I Dreamed a Dream”.   I meant to post this up days ago.  And of course, now that I’m looking to post it, all the videos on YouTube are not embedable.  So I do apologize for the Spanish captioning.

I have to say, this is one of my three favorite songs from Les Misérables and can leave me in tears.  Or in this case, covered in goose bumps.  I think she does an amazing job.  In fact, I love that the song is about dreaming a dream and here she is living out her dream on TV.  You gotta love that!


SUSAN BOYLE I DREAMED A DREAM SUBTITULOS ESPAÑOL BRITAINS GOT TALENT – Click here for more blooper videos

A Little Spa Time Can Make Anyone Feel Like a Million

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facialIt might be too late to do anything about it, but did you know that this week was (and well, still is until Sunday anyway) Spa Week?  The cool thing about Spa Week…$50 services.  Everything from massages to scrubs, facials to Botox, you name it. It’s a great way to try out new spas or services for small investment.  I try to take advantage of it every year.

Me, I decided to go for a facial at one of my favorite LA spas, Skin Haven over on Crescent Heights in West Hollywood.  Now, in full disclosure mode, I met the owner, Sharōn Ronen a year or so ago through the Ladies Who Launch gals.  And well, since then, she’s written a couple articles for my site.  But that doesn’t make her spa any less amazing.

So yesterday, after class, I headed over the hill for my moment of blissdom.  I was exhausted and just knew that I’d fall asleep during  the treatment, and believe or not, that’s perfectly acceptable.  Turns out I didn’t though as Sharōn and I were talking shop through the whole thing.  I was amazed to realize just how quickly time flew by.  Of course, now I’m wondering…if Sharōn works for me (so to speak) as a blogger and we were talking shop from the time I walk in the door until the time I leave, does that make this a business expense?  Me thinks so 😉

But that’s neither here or there.

If you haven’t yet been to Skin Haven, you really should check it out.  It’s very Zen and very calming.  The first time I visited, I went for the herbology treatment.  This is heaven on a table, I assure you.  Your entire body is scrubbed, buffed and massaged with herbs.  And since they use herbs, you don’t leave there greasy or oily.  I’ve been recommending this one to everyone.

This time around, my goal was to book early enough to book all three treatments – herbology scrub, massage and facial.  But time got away from me and not only could I not get around to calling to book all three, I figured I wouldn’t be able to find the time to experience all three.  So a facial it was!  I was lucky enough to get Sharōn herself and boy was I treated well.  My face still feels soft as a baby’s bottom and seems to glow from within.

Whatever you do, don’t wait until next year’s Spa Week to try experience the pleasures of Skin Haven.  If you’re a little short on cash, or need a quickie treatment to test things out, then check out their fabulous Spa Lounges on Fridays.  I mean check this deal out…For just $40 you get TWO mini-treatments PLUS free a free cocktail and nibbles. You can have a facial, a scalp massage (heavenly!), massages, reflexology, herbology treatments (my fave!) or even mini makeovers…for $40!!!  Their next Spa Lounge is Friday, April 24th, so call now to reserve your appointment.  Trust me, you won’t be sorry.

I Miss My iBook!

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ibookIf you’ve been following me on Twitter than you know that on Easter Sunday my laptop died. I accidentally spilled my entire mug of tea and well, we thought I fried things.

Turned out I was luckier than I first thought and I didn’t actually drown it. But something happened to kill it.  We think the hard drive is dead.

So yesterday was spent hanging out at the Apple Genius Bar asking for help. They, in turn, passed me along to Melrose Mac where it sits now, awaiting a diagnostic exam.

With luck, it will be back in my grubby hands on Friday or Monday with a new hard drive and some extra oomph.  I’ll also be upgrading my RAM and memory while it’s in there.  I’m kind of excited to get it back with some extra power.

I have to say though, it’s rough living without it.  I guess I never realized just how much I used it. I always thought of it as my extra computer that allowed me to be online while watching TV and hanging with the hubs.  But now, the only way I can actually be online is to be in front of my computer.  No more mulitasking for me.

The good in this…I picked up quite a bit of client work this week, so I’m really able to focus on getting my work done.

And some completely unrelated fun stuff…I’ll be heading out to the Springsteen show tomorrow.  Someone at the office had an extra pair of tickets so the hubs claimed the for me and a girlfriend.  Mind you, I doubt we’ll be hanging out with him and his SuperFan friends (he’ll be one of the many attending both LA shows on this leg and whatever else comes around on the next leg), but it will be a fun show.

While I’m not the biggest Bruuuuuce fan by any means (I think I shared that a couple weeks ago in regards to the San Jose show), I do love the actual performance.  And well, the set list has been quite good as well, so I’m sure we’ll be in for a great show.

Photo Credit: izqrdo