Author Archives: LA Blogger Gal

What a Day…

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So I had planned to spend some time today talking about my friend that’s about to be on Oprah.  I’m not sure of her air date (and they’ve asked that she not leak anything just yet), but today is her big “reveal” with Nate.  The goal was to write about how cool blogging is and how it can lead to some amazing opportunities (like getting on Oprah) and all that good stuff.

But then it happened.

I spilled my entire cup of tea on my iBook.  Well, in my defense, not just on the laptop itself, but also the arm of the couch, the floor, my computer bag, a pair of shoes and yes, the laptop.  It was working fine.  Then, it wasn’t.  Now, it still isn’t.  I can’t seem to get it to turn on and get active.  It turns on, but kinda freezes on the apple logo and doesn’t seem to go any further.

So now we’ve got my desktop Mac growing some vertical lines every other day or so and now a recuperating laptop.  Doesn’t seem to be all too good of a day in computer land here at the Casa de BloggerGal.

The good news?  Yes, there is good news.  Remember that faculty discount we discussed a couple weeks back? Yeah, well, that makes this whole experience a little less painful.  A little.

So now I’m going to step back from the computers (except for the two blogs I’m still working on – one we’re getting Oprah ready, the other for a company I’m working for) and maybe take a break from technology for a bit.

Maybe tomorrow you guys can help me to make some headway with my birthday planning.  Until then, I do hope that you all had a happy Easter.  Oh and if you need a little fun today…go microwave a Peep or two!

I Feel the Need For Some Speed!

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Yesterday I was invited to participate in what could only be described as an amazing opportunity: to go speeding through the streets of Long Beach in a souped up Ford Mustang with one of the Formula Drift‘s top competitors, Vaughn Gittin Jr.  Now I don’t know about you, but I’ve always wondered what it would be like being in a car that fast…legally.

I was raised around the NHRA summer racing season.  In fact, one hot,  hot, oh.my.god.it.was.hot. summer, I was a time check girl at the Summer Nationals.  I actually got to hand Shirley Muldowney…well, someone on her team anyway…her time sheet results from her race.  I thought I was cooler than cool.

Before my mom passed away, I remember that she was driving a sweet ‘ol, red Mustang.  As I was growing up, I was certain that I’d have a car just like her’s (except mine wouldn’t have a rusted out hole in the floorboard that a three-year old could fall through…don’t ask).  I mean who doesn’t want a Mustang?  I had one once as a rental when my car was in the shop and driving to work in that thing was awesome.  Looking back, I’m so lucky I didn’t get a speeding ticket.

Every years there’s an annual (legal) street race in Long Beach called The Toyata Grand Prix of Long Beach Race that runs through the streets of Long Beach.  I’ve never seen the race, but I have seen the course in all it’s grand stands and hay bale glory.  And well, it looks cool as hell (times like this you can really tell that I grew up without the girlie influences of a mother, huh?).

So as you can see, this was a killer opportunity that was being handed to me (I love blogging!).  Sadly I had to miss it.  But since it’s such a great opportunity, I wanted you to know about what’s happening in Long Beach tomorrow.  Turns out the weekend before the big Grand Prix, the gang from Formula Drift will be doing a drifting event – drivers control a 450 horsepower car while it slides sideways at high speed through a marked course.

I mean how cool does this look…

While you’re at it, dreaming about letting your own Mustang drift around those curves, be sure to enter Ford’s The 10 Unleashed and let them know what you’d do with your own Mustang.  I know I can think of a few things 😉

Damn, I Forgot.

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Don’t you hate when you walk around all day with a blog post in your head. Not just any blog post, you know…a damn good blog post. And poof! it’s gone by the time you finally get to sitting down and writing.

I hate that.

Oh well.

It happens to everyone.

I mean, it does happen to others, right? Like it’s happened to you too, right? I’m not all alone here, right? Oh please tell me that I’m not alone in this.

This Teaching Thing Seems to Be Kicking My Ass

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Well, not the actual teaching. I’m actually loving being back in the classroom and working with the kids. In fact, they kids even commented on the fact that I wasn’t there last Thursday and filled me in on what they’ve been up to.

What’s kicking my ass though are the early hours. You see, we head to bed pretty late around here. It’s not uncommon for me to turn out the lights at 2:00AM. Mind you, this also means we don’t tend to wake up and get going around 10:00AM. So either way, while the hours are wonky, I’m still getting about eight hours of sleep.

So trying to head to bed at a decent hour so I can wake up at some ungodly hour, well, it’s not exactly working. I head to bed soon enough, but then the tossing and turning begins. So on teaching days, I’m usually working on five to six hours of sleep. Needless to say, when I come home, I crash and crash hard for about 45 minutes or so.

So if I’m going to continue with this teaching thing (and I do love it and hope to add on another class or two next semester), I’m going to have to figure out this sleeping thing. And I’m going to have to convince the hubs to work with me and maybe head to bed sooner than 3:00AM on my pre-teaching nights.

On that note, once the hubs gets off the phone with his sister, it’ll be time to watch Lost while enjoying a glass of wine, and then off to bed I go. Hopefully the wine will help me to cut down on the tossing and turning tonight 😉

I Feel Even More Fashion Challenged Than Before

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I had my first virtual styling session yesterday. It was pretty cool. First I had to send over the photos I mentioned the other day. Then we had to open a Skype video chat. Messing with the lighting was a little tough, but I think I got it right.

Thing is, I really do feel more fashion challenged than when I went in. When I started, I was under the assumption that I was doing it all wrong and had totally NO sense of style. Yet I was complemented on my photos and my overall “casual” style across the pictures. I was even told that I looked better than I had the last time we saw each other (which translated to that last outfit as having been horribly unflattering). Not exactly what I was expecting.

I was also told that Ill be needing some new shoes (she hated ALL my shoes with the exception of my casual, non-sneaker, Privos – I think just because they’re not actually sneakers) and basically all of my purses. I was actually told that I’m too young (and too sassy and funny) for the Coach bag look. So I guess I’ll be heading out for a new purse after all.

There’s still much more ahead. Purging, dying, cutting, and shopping, oh my! But I think my end assignment will be to learn how to take my “casual” wardrobe and step it up a notch. You know, get more comfortable wearing dresses and makeup on an every day sort of scale. I need to learn how to get dressed using my entire closet, not just a portion of my closet. Not really having an “I-can’t-wear-this-I-just-work-from-home” category, so to speak.

I’m not so sure I’m ready for all of this. Let me just say, it’s all some scary shit if you ask me.

Looking for Make-Ahead Recipes

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Calling all my cooking friends…

A good friend of mine is about due to have baby #2. I don’t believe they need much, so I figured instead of a gift they probably don’t need, I’d make them some food. I figure this will make things easier for them and will be much appreciated.

casserole

I’m thinking about things that can be frozen and pulled out when needed. I have a vacuum sealer, so I can use that. Or I can just use throwaway casserole dishes (I know, I know – they’ll recycle, don’t worry). To the best of my knowledge, they’ll eat practically anything and aren’t all that picky.

So I’m asking you, my bloggie friends, for suggestions on what to make, how much to make, and what a new #2 mom might want. Any suggestions?  Chili?  Soup? Baked pasta? I’d like to avoid something that they could pick up for themselves pre-made at some place like Costco or the grocery store.

What do you suggest?

Do You Know the Way to San Jose?

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I do.  And it’s a fucking long ass drive!

Even longer when you have a dog on your lap the entire time.  And even longer still when you drive past those cattle farms.  And well, even longer than longer still when you can’t turn on the AC in the car, and you have a dog in your lap, and you’re afraid that you’re going to run out of gas in the middle of nowhere, crossing over some mountain range.

But I’m not complaining.  Honest.  The time with the hubby was great.  The pupster was on his best behavior.  And thanks to having the little guy along for the ride, I was assured plenty of potty breaks.  Yay!  Overall, a great first half of a road trip.  Tomorrow we’ll actually get to stop and take pictures if the mood strikes us.  The wild flowers and poppies were in the glory all over the hills.  All those yellows, oranges and purples mixed in with the green…such a pretty sight.

I did learn that the little guy does NOT like the smell of cattle farms.  Poor thing actually turned to smell his butt thinking he had an accident or something.  He was mortified and then tried to jump into the backseat to escape the stench. Now, if you’ve even been unlucky enough to pass by some cattle farms, you know that there is NO escaping the stench.

He wasn’t a huge fan of the garlic farms either.  He should just be happy that it wasn’t freshly tilled garlic.  Then again, there’s always tomorrow since we plan to drive down the 101 to head home…right straight through Gilroy, home of the Garlic Festival.  Maybe I can talk the hubs into at least tasting some garlic ice cream.

So the hubs is off hanging with all the other Bruuuuuce fans.  I haven’t received any texts (then again, he’s live tweeting for his website), so he must be having a great show.  And of course, I enjoyed my bubble bath.  Luxury is a hot, hot bubble bath (in a tub you don’t have to clean), while drinking a skinny caramel macchiato and listening to the iPod (I won’t ruin this luxorious image by telling you what I was actually listening to – LOL).  Heavenly, I tell ya.

So now the pupster is hiding under the bed (still).  He’s afraid that I’ll be picking him up and taking him into the bathroom for a bath.  Goes to show you how often I take baths at our place…the dog automatically associates filling a tub with his getting a bath.  Poor thing.  I’m sure he’ll be fine by the time the hubs gets back.

On that note, I think it’s time to veg out in front of the TV.  We get movie channels in this here high quality hotel 😉  Or there’s always Jon & Kate Plus 8.

Later Y’all!

It’s Official, I Have NO Style

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A friend of mine is in the process of taking her personal styling biz virtual.  She put out the call asking for people willing to be a “type.”  I volunteered for the plus-size gal that works from home, but still needs to look good when she’s out and about with people either networking, training or teaching.

Easy peasy, right? One would think.

I needed to provide four looks for her: schlep-wear, casual wear, business wear and something dressier.  Schlep-wear will be easy considering this is my every day attire – I’m sure Oprah would be mortified.  I actually didn’t take this one yet since my favorite yoga pants are still drying.  I plan to break the no-gym-wear-out-of-the-gym rule and wear them for the drive today (since it’s six hours in the car with a dog on my lap).

Thing is, I realized that when you come down to it, I seem to have have no real sense of style.  I consider the dress I wore yesterday for my first day of teaching (sans the cami to cover the cleavage) – also the dress I wore to my husband’s birthday dinner and out to a bar for the Carl’s Jr. launch party to be my “dressy” outfit.  Um…dinner, teaching, happy hour and I consider it dressy?  Well, not go to a wedding dressy (that’s a once a year sort of dress) or black tie dressy (I have nothing for that), but well, dressy by my paltry standards.  But really, even I know that’s just wrong.

Then, the worse part, I tried on a couple different outfits that I’ve worn for networking, dinners out, hanging with friends and even teaching workshops and well, I looked the same in all of them.  Like no difference kind of the same.  Which means my casual and my business casual are pretty much identical.

How can this be?  How can every outfit look the same?  How could I have lost such touch with reality?  Well, I guess working from home for 5 or so years can do that to a gal.  It may be embarrassing to admit, but with the help of my stylist, I too can get some style (and help someother poor plus-sized, work from home soul out there to get some help as well).

What Goes Into Launching a New Burger

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All it takes is bourbon! Woohoo for bourbon!

I was lucky enough to attend the launch of the new Carl’s Jr Bourbon Burger. It was class all the way (as you can tell from the photos below) at the Crown bar in Santa Monica. They had bourbon cocktails available. Bourbon burgers, fries and onion rings passed around. They even had Laker Girls and cigars. It was awesome!

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I think my favorite part of the evening was chatting up the team from AttentionSpanTV (three of the guys are in the photo above). These guys are not only the brains behind the recent Carl’s Jr commercials (they’re even edgier when you watch the ones on the web versus those that air on TV). But these guys are also the brains behind the Dorm-Life web series and Sock Tube Presents adaptations of classic movies.

These guys are good. Definitely something to keep an eye on. Be sure to check out the Slumdog Millionaire adaptation.

Tonight, I also think that I may have found my new girl crush. I never thought that anything could replace that Charlize Theron J’Adore Dior video. Talk about H.O.T.

Let me start by saying…I get a kick out of the Carl’s Jr commercials. I thought the Paris Hilton commercial was genius. Let’s face it though, I’m not their target audience. I’m not the “young hungry guy.” But wow, again…H.O.T.

In closing…it’s good to be a blogger!! Thanks Tara for the hookup. Fun was had by all.

Holy Cow It’s Already Monday!

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Wow, this weekend just blew by.  I’ll blame my husband since he decided to go into the office not once, but twice yesterday so it didn’t even feel like a Sunday.  Then again, I went with him the second time to help him clean up the mics and stuff after the earlier recording session.  It was either that or stay home wondering what was taking so long.

And of course, if today is Monday, that means that tomorrow is Tuesday and…my first day at my new job!!  I’m so excited to be thinking that I’ll be teaching (co-teaching) again!  I’m a little nervous, but that’s pretty common.  First days tend to be shakey and filled with the (seeming) fear of the unknown.  I just keep reminding myself that it’s not my lesson plan so I don’t have to worry about it.  I just have to do my job and all will be good.  Now if only I could figure out what to wear…always the dilema.

Then we leaving first thing Wedsnesday to drive up to San Jose so the hubs can see Bruuuuuce.  I’m only along for the ride.  While I am a Jersey Girl, I never was much of a Bruce fan.  So we compromise and save the money on my ticket (and then I regret it when he tells me just how awesome the show was) and just see him once here in LA – usually on the second leg.

Thing is, with Bruce shows, since he has so much material, you’re never sure if the show you see will be the show you’d hoped it would be.  Since meeting my husband, I’ve now seen Bruce about 5 or so times.  I loved every show but the last one.  The last show they played for the diehard fans.  My girlfriend and I only recognized like three songs.  In nearly three hours of a show!  That particular show was for the fans. They pulled out the deep, deep show favorites and the crowds went crazy.  Not me.  I just wasn’t feeling it.  So yeah, we don’t waste the money on tickets to multiple shows. And I’m fine with that.

So if you don’t see me around much this week, don’t think it’s the new work schedule messing things up.  It’s just because I’ll be on the road for two days.  With luck, I’ll get to take some fun pictures.  I do believe we’ll be passing right through Gilroy and this time dammit, we’re stoppng!