This is the Life

Ah. Hanging out on the beach. Taking pictures. Sitting poolside. Catching up with old friends. Reading good ‘ol girlie magazines. Truly, this is the life. I think that the only thing that could make this better was if my good friend would partake in some poolside adult beverages with me. A cold glass of wine, or a fruity cosmo would really hit the spot.

Really though, if I couldn’t get her to drink after nearly two years in Junior League (the wine with everything group), then I doubt I can convince her to try it now while we’re catching up. But hey, we’re still having fun and that’s what matters. And since I don’t think I’ll be heading out to SXSW in March, it might be a while until we meet up again.

So here’s to friendship and a night away without our men!

Singing Waiters? Could be Fun.

It sounded like a good idea at the time. In fact, I even enjoyed the first couple rounds of happy birthday (especially how they changed up the song for different tables). I even considered bringing my friend to Miceli’s for her birthday in a couple weeks. It could be fun, right?

Once they sat down and the piano and drums and starting singing show tunes, well, that was just a bit much for my tastes. And when our waiter wasn’t around to bring out our food while it was still hot because he was singing. Or when he brought out our salads after our entrees. Or how the music was so loud that we couldn’t even talk to each other. Well, let’s just say that it quickly stopped being fun.

Maybe I just don’t get it, but if you’ve got two locations and you brag that you’ve been in business since 1949, why does the food suck? It’s kind of hard to mess up Italian food. But when you charge the prices that you charge, and you brag about your history, is it just too much to ask for food that tastes good. Or service that doesn’t kinda suck? Maybe add on some extra busers or runners so the food actually arrives hot and the entire table isn’t left with empty glasses. Maybe apologize and offer up a free round of coffee or something when you deliver three late salads.

Next time, I say we head out to one of Mario Batali’s places instead. It might be loud, but I hear it’s good. And they don’t have singing waiters.

Lather. Rinse. Repeat

Oprah must be running repeats of the Secret or something as I’m getting most of my visitors from “Oprah” or “100 Day Challenge” search terms. I wish I had a better tracker so I could get more information, but oh well. Something to work on, right?

Happy Weekend Everyone! And please, feel free to say Hiya!. I don’t bite. And I’m pretty cool chick if I do say so myself 😉

Summer TV Goodness

Let me begin with telling you how much I love our DVR. Prior to our DVR, we went crazy trying to set up the VCR to record stuff. And of course, we could only record one thing and watch one other thing. Now, we just click once and poof! we get to automatically record anything we’re interested in. In fact, we can record TWO shows at once (this isn’t news, I know). Lovely. Really, what took them so long?

So that said, this is the first summer since 90210 that I’ve gotten involved in summer TV. I typically take advantage of summer reruns and read non-stop. But not this summer (though I am still plowing through 2-4 books every two weeks or so). But when I talk about summer TV, I’m not talking about that crap reality TV that seems to suck everyone in (though I do love me some of that Bret Michaels mess over on VH1). No, I’m talking about the dramas. I got hooked on Burn Notice right from the get go and I love it. It’s like a MacGyver gone 2007. With spies. In Miami. Totally hot. I’ve also been following Saving Grace, but I’m not completely sure it’s for me.

So this Labor Day weekend, thanks to marathons, got caught up on two other series that folks are raving over – Damages and Mad Men. I’m totally digging Damages. More often than not, I can’t figure out the good guys from the bad guys, but man, that’s half the fun. This is some good, good stuff. Mad Men on the other hand, if I wasn’t watching 5 episodes straight through (hey, the hubby was working late last night) I can’t say I’d have kept up with the show. Of course, since it’s summer and not much else is on, I’ll continue watching, but I’m not so sure I’ll stick around next season unless it gets a bit better.

And thanks to our DVR, I also remembered to catch Alton Brown’s Feasting on Asphalt 2. So glad I did. I love Alton Brown, but I can’t always get into Good Eats. But Feasting on Asphalt, I love how he’s all about having fun, eating food and sharing the history. Great fun.

That said, I totally can’t wait until Fall Season starts back up. It’s killing me to avoid those spoilers! Just two more weeks (depending on the networks). I should be able to finish at least two more books by then.

Practicing Gratitude

After having spent a wonderful, if not hot, extended weekend with the hubby, I’m thinking it’s time to show some gratitude (and maybe a little meditation later).

* I am so happy and grateful for my awesome husband and boys. They may sometimes seem to drive me crazy, but really, they’re the best.

* I am so happy and grateful for the change in the weather. Over the next couple days, it will be 10-20 degrees cooler!! I’m SO happy ’bout that. And of course, I’m thrilled to be sleeping in something cooler than 85 in the bedroom.

* I’m so happy and grateful for my work and my upcoming endeavors. Things are really moving along and I’m loving it!

* I’m so happy and grateful for my friends. I love being able to visit with them or being able to just pick up the phone to chat. It’s great knowing that we’re each others’ support systems. It’s good to know where to turn when you need support.

* I’m so happy and grateful that things are financially going along well. Of course, I’m open to anything that the Universe wishes to provide us with, knowing it’s for the good of all involved.

* I’m also so happy and grateful for the killer bargains I’ve gotten over the past couple of days. So much so that I just had to share them with others.

* Overall, I’m just so happy and grateful to just Be.

Good Advice from a Chain Email

Rumor has it this came through Tony Robbins (my dream career!), but you know how far off those emails can be…

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THREE. Don’t believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR. When you say, “I love you,” mean it.

FIVE. When you say, “I’m sorry,” look the person in the eye.

SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone’s dream. People who don’t have dreams don’t have much.

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it’s the only way to live life completely.

TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

ELEVEN. Don’t judge people by their relatives.

TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.

THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don’t want to answer, smile and ask, “Why do you want to know?”

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

FIFTEEN. Say “bless you” when you hear someone sneeze.

SIXTEEN. When you lose, don’t lose the lesson

SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R’s: Respect for self; Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN. Don’t let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN. When you realize you’ve made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.

Have I Mentioned That it’s HOT?!?

Yeah, and we’re not exactly thinking too straight either. Yesterday, when it was 103ish here, my friend and I drove deep into the San Fernando Valley where it was measuring 106 just to do a little shopping. Then today, gluttons for punishment that we are, we’re heading into the Palm Dessert where it’s currently 108ish to do some outlet shopping. The things I do to avoid crowds and search out the bargains. Yeesh!

Last night as we were driving home over the hill from Sunset Blvd to Ventura Blvd, as soon as we crested the hill and hit the valley, the temps went up about 10 degrees! Then later, when we finally turned off our AC unit (since it doesn’t cool the bedroom) at around 1:00AMish, there was only a one degree difference between inside the house at 82 and outside the house at 83.

Man, Valley living can really kind of suck. Especially in the late summer. If the smog doesn’t get you, the crazy summer heat will.

Okay, off to shop!

Can You Say Dumb Ass?

See the amazing things you learn watching Attack of the Show…

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBzayHyY4Uo]

At least he lubed up first! What a fine example of the effects of too much alcohol and a bet of $20.

Come on, I double dog dare you.

I’m Feeling Wings Though I’ve Never Flown

This past Monday the hubby and I saw Joss Stone at the Greek. Once again, she put on an incredible show. It was a bit disappointing in that she now has three albums out, yet only performed for an hour and barely played anything from her first two albums. But still a damn fine show with some great energy. .

This is now the third or fourth time we’ve seen her and each time, you just can’t help be awed by her. She is not only an incredible singer, but she also really seems to enjoy what she does. The first two times we saw her it was at the House of Blues; the first time for her debut album, Soul Sessions, the second (and I think the third as well) for Mind, Body and Soul. It’s interesting to see how on one hand, she’s matured (she started out at a mere 16) quite a bit and can really hold her own on stage. On the other hand, it’s still so obvious how much she loves performing, she still performs barefooted and she still seems genuinely sincere when she thanks the audience after each song.

My favorite part of a Joss show has to be when she starts cracking herself up. She gets started giggling about something or another and then can’t seem to reign herself back in which results in still more laughing. This happened quite often during our show. In fact, during one of the encores, right as she was getting ready to belt out the final word in the song (man, I wish the hubby would send me the set list already – I’ve done far too much youtubing to recall the song now), the audience started going wild. This of course, set her off in a fit of giggles and she couldn’t even get the final notes out; she turned her back to us, she covered her face with her hands, she covered her face with the scarf tied to her mic, and then finally, she just decided to close her eyes to finally finish. It was a great way to end the show.

If you ever get the chance to see her live, be sure to check it out (she has an AOL session – complete with the yummy Common duet – if you want to see more than a couple songs that I’ve highlighted below).

Here she is on the Late, Late Show at 17 singing Dirty Man (one of my favorite songs). You can see how young she is, yet how into the music she gets.
Here she is on the Late, Late Show at 17 singing Dirty Man (one of my favorite songs). You can see how young she is, yet how into the music she gets.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI8lxGEkkJc]

Here she is on an Italian TV show this past year. See how she’s flirty, laughing and seeming genuinely sincere as she thanks the audience, that’s typical for her performances (and I’m assuming that’s her boyfriend that she sings to in the audience since I’ve seen her go out to him in nearly every TV performance I found while looking for the best live perfomance)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iY-MkV-MtM]

And let’s not forget the absolutely killer Janis Joplin tribute with Melissa Etheridge from the ’05 Grammys. Man, I still tear up and get emotional during this clip. It’s that damn soulful.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef-f-l2Pbn8]

Gaiam’s 10 DVD Workout Package – It’s a Killer Deal!

A friend pointed this out to me earlier today in her blog. This really is a great deal (and I *heart* Leslie Sansone!)

Toned and Healthy DVD Set

Ten DVDs on a variety of healthy lifestyle topics, like walking, yoga, weight loss and sleep solutions.

Assorted kit; contents may vary. DVDs that may be included are: Leslie Sansone Short Cuts 1 & 2, Leslie Sansone You Can do Yoga, Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds Abs, Leslie Sansone Ab Buster, Leslie Sansone Short Cuts 3, Leslie Sansone Walking Collection, Leslie Sansone Walking Collection 2, Health Solutions for Sleep Multimedia Kit, Health Solutions for Stress Kit, Yoga for Weight Loss DVD collection. ”

It’s listed at $28.99 – on clearance from $214! Take an additional $10 off with this code: CS88 (for $10 off $15 or more)

With shipping it came to $26.32 for me.