Family, Food, Views and Sunsets

I headed to San Clemente on Saturday morning to spend the day and night with my grandparents, an uncle and some cousins. The weather could not have been more perfect. 

My grandparents have a condo almost across the street from the beach. It is amazing, especially and beautiful days, like we had on Saturday!

I arrived and had lunch with my grandparents, uncle and cousin and her boyfriend.

After lunch we headed to the roof to enjoy the sunshine and soak up the gorgeous views!

My cousin and her boyfriend left and then another cousin and her family arrived. 

After some wine and appetizers on the roof we headed to The Fisherman for dinner, not after checking out the starting sunset.

I am pretty sure if doesn't get any better than this.

It was seriously picture perfect.

We caught the sun just as it was setting. Perfect timing!

Seriously breathtaking. 

Paint:Lab

Have you heard of these instructed painting sessions that include drinking wine and eating?? I found a groupon and jumped on the chance!

Paint:Lab on Main Street in Santa Monica is where we went and we had a blast. We painted Van Gough's Starry Night. The instructor told us that it may take a few brush strokes to really "see" our rendition of the painting and boy was she right!

We bought the $1 smocks, and let me tell you: totally worth it! Paint was everywhere!

We both were a bit worried because neither of us are very "artsy" to begin with. So we weren't sure how our paintings would turn out - but I think that they turned out great!

  

The canvas before we started.

Our paint, wine, cheese and crackers. My friend and I both almost dipped out paint brushes in the wine, on more than one occasion...

We started out painting the entire canvas blue. To give the canvas a base coat. Once we painted the canvas, we then took a wet paper towel and wiped off the paint where we were going to paint the focus points of the painting.

Our brush strokes and "dashes" were a reflection of our soul - according to our instructor.

I think that it turned out pretty well...don't you think??

Boom! Van Gogh better watch out!

Now...where to hang my masterpiece???

We had a great time and I would definitely recommend doing this project with a friend or maybe your significant other!

Expedia Commercial - "Find Yours"

I saw this on a plane ride while watching TV and was speechless after watching it. 

What a beautiful commercial and what beautiful sentiments.

Enjoy!

(You go, Expedia!)

Massage Garage

Source: schwaigerhof.at via MaryAnn on Pinterest

My acupuncturist referred me to an inexpensive massage place in Culver City: Massage Garage. I decided to check it out and came across a $40 / 1 hour yelp deal for first timers. I jumped on the deal and was greatly impressed with the service I received.

My masseuse was Nedra and she was fabulous. I asked her to specifically work on certain spots and to be gentle on others. Let me tell you, she did not disappoint! She was very attentive to my needs and I left feeling extremely relaxed.  I woke up the next day a little sore, but who isn't after an awesome massage that worked your muscles?? I definitely recommend this place! Ask for Nedra!

Celebrating Father's Day in LA

There are a few items on our LA Bucket List that we decided to cross off with Rich's parents.

Rich’s parents drove to LA for the weekend to celebrate Rich’s graduation from UCLA (!!) and Father’s Day.

They drove up on Saturday afternoon, picked us up from the Yard House at LA Live after 2 beers and we headed to China Town to check out Philippe's - the "Birth Place" of the French Dip, depending on who you talk to. We gorged ourselves in some amazing French Dip sandwiches! Check them out! (next on the bucket list is Cole's)





After our beers and French Dips, we headed to Culver City for happy hour and dinner. We stopped at Bottle Rock Wine Bar for a great happy hour wine menu. The weather was perfect to sit outside!





After happy hour, we headed over to Kay'N Dave's for some Mexican food and margaritas. I had the Shrimp Fajita Tostada and it was a.maz.ing!

So..side note, my camera has a setting that will turn twinkle lights into different shapes...why does my camera have this setting? you ask...beats me, but isn't it fun!?





Sunday morning, we slept in way too late and headed to Venice Beach for a Father's Day breakfast! Seriously the weather could not have been more perfect!

















After walking on the sand and enjoying the sunshine, we decided to take a little walking tour through the Venice Canals. It is so peaceful back there. The flowers were in full bloom, the houses were inviting with their bright colors and the company couldn't have been better!











We had a fantastic weekend! So much family time and sunshine!

MY Deodorant Debate - Now Solutions

As you know, one of my very sweet friends is a nutritionist by passion and by trade. She has guest posted for me quite a few times: Should I Buy Organic?, Healthy Holidays, Her Personal Health Story, Detox, Daily Detox. You can see a trend in her posts that she talks about healthy eating and keeping our bodies strong and free of harmful ingredients.

She posted about her Great Deodorant Debate on her blog and it really got me thinking...about my pits.

So before all of this...my go-to deodorant was Dove's deodorant/antiperspirant. It works great, I loved the smell etc etc, but I knew that the ingredients in the little stick were not healthy for me or my body. So, I tried the Tom's deodorant and it still didn't seem to cut it. I didn't like the fragrance mixed with my own {ahem} fragrance. And as a backup for special occasions where I didn't want to smell or sweat, I was using Secret Clinical Strength. I know, I know. That is the worst of all the bad deodorants! But I wore it for my graduation, for friend's weddings and at my own wedding because, well, I didn't want to be sweating all over everyone and I wanted to stay smelling flowery and nice! What bride could blame me??



Have no fear, Now Solutions to the rescue!

At the beginning of the year I stopped wearing deodorant. {gasp} I know, gross! But I had been hearing about all of the terrible ingredients in deodorant that can cause all kinds of terrible side effects. And, did I mention, it was ruining my shirts. They all have the deodorant stains that you can't get out! No thanks. Since I was out of commission, so to speak, I had just stopped wearing it, because I didn't really need it, and was using body sprays, essential oils, perfumes etc. They were, marginally, doing the trick so I stuck to it, who am I trying to impress, Netflix? Anyway... to say the least, Melissa's post could not have come at a better time...my husband was starting to sit further away from me on the couch...

If you read Melissa's article you can even see that I was a bit skeptical of the deodorant from my comment: "if it doesn't have a scent how do you smell good?" I mean, right? How does that make any sense? Well let me tell you: it makes all the scents in the world (see what I did there?!)

I bit the bullet and bought the deodorant through amazon. It came in a pack of 2. (You can also check out their website to see if there is a store near you who carries it.) Go. Buy. It. Now. Today. It has changed my life! I know that sounds very dramatic, but it is totally true! It is amazing!

(Before Now Solutions Deodorant: I use Issey Miyake perfume (by the way the cologne is freakin' amazing) and have the lotion and soap. I would put the lotion on my underarms and then spray with the perfume and cross my fingers that that would be enough for the day.)


Quick side note - to use the deodorant (Better term would be "Crystal Stick"), you need to get the stick damp and then generously apply it to your underarm region. Melissa says that she just keeps hers in the shower but since I am a nighttime shower-er I didn't think I would do that...until day 2..

Day 1. I put it on in the morning, and to test it out I didn't put on anything else from my usual underarm routine. I got home from work: no smell. zero. I then proceeded to do a little living room workout action (not intense at all): no smell. zero.

Day 2. Now, at this point, I am trying to outsmart the deodorant...Since I am a nighttime shower-er, I put it on after I got out of the shower when my skin was still a little damp. I went to sleep, woke up the next morning, didn't do my usual routine, went to work, got home aaaannnnnddd: no smell. zero! ahmazing.... I was sold!

Day 3. I applied the deodorant at night after my shower, went to sleep and in the morning performed my usual routine, lotion then perfume - I like my perfume and was missing it during the day! I got home and no smell. Then I worked out, like, sweat a lot and the deodorant really worked! It was like magic.

Now I have to give a quick and heartfelt thank you to my sweet husband for being my underarm smell-tester. What would I do without him? Seriously. What else are husbands for? Or am I the only one who commissions their husband to smell their underarms to test their deodorant? Ok, It's just me? Well I guess I just scored the jackpot on my husband... So now when I get home from work, my pits are the hot topic of conversations. It makes me laugh!

All in all, this deodorant is amazing and I absolutely recommend it! Thanks Melissa for the recommendation!

*this is not a sponsored post...although I would totally be a spokesperson for this company! Inquire within..

Book Review - Bossypants

image

I was recommended this book so I checked it out from the library. Unfortunately, our library didn't have an e-edition, so I rented the audio book. And to my surprise, it was narrated by Tina Fey! Seriously, if I could roll on the floor laughing I would have. Listening to the audio book had me constantly laughing, contemplating life and wanting, real bad, to watch some 30 Rick episodes.

I can't speak for reading the book, but I definitely can recommend the audio book! Go rent it from the library and enjoy every last minute!

Here is a little excerpt of a popular part of the book. A prayer for her daughter.

---

"THE MOTHER'S PRAYER FOR ITS DAUGHTER"

First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.

May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it's the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach's eye, not the the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered, 

May she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half

And stick with Beer.

Guide her, protect her

When crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the nearby subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called "Hell Drop," "Tower of Torture," or "The Death Spiral Rock N' Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith," and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance.

Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes

And not have to wear high heels.

What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I'm asking You because if I knew, I'd be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen.

Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long, 

For Childhood is short -- a Tiger Flower blooming

Magenta for one day -- 

And Adulthood is long and Dry-Humping in Cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever, 

That she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers

And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister, 

Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends, 

For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.

And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord, 

That I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 a.m., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.

"My mother did this for me once," she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby's neck.

"My mother did this for me." And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental note to call me. And she will forget.

But I'll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.

Amen."

Some YouTube Motivation

Great Video.

Great Soundtrack.

Get Moving.

Get Motivated.

My Tour of the Midwest: Indiana Edition

Chicago and a bit of Michigan = first leg of the trip!

On Saturday Morning Lindsay, her husband and I woke up early, had breakfast, got the car packed: pillows, air mattress, suitcases, dog and headed on our way to Indiana. We chatted the entire way. We had very insightful conversations including anything and everything that is considered controversial. I love sharing ideas, thoughts and opinions with these two!


We arrived in Indiana, at Lindsay's parents house, I met her family, we dropped off the pup and headed to a small college town of Broad Ripple so Lindsay could get her hair cut and her Husband and I headed to the local brewery, Thr3e Wise Men for some beers and appetizers. Then we headed to Petite Chou by Patachou for a late lunch.

After lunch we went back to Lindsay's parents house and we helped decorate for the baby shower the next day.

On Sunday we woke up, after staying the night with one of Lindsay's great friends, whom I've met before, had chocolate chip pancakes and then headed back to Lindsay's parents' house to get ready.

The shower was beautiful. Lindsay is beautiful. It was a beautiful day filled with love, family and friends. I am so grateful to have been included in such a special day!


Lindsay and I met through the Alpha Gamma Delta Los Angeles Junior Circle. Her shower was full of other Alpha Gamms who have been monumental in Linsday's life and who I have heard so much about. It was great to meet new sisters and get to know some of the people who have helped shape Lindsay into the woman she is today. I am blessed to have her in my life and I am grateful to have met her every day. Lindsay's grandmother was also an Alpha Gamm. There was something magical about talking to her about her Alpha Gamm experiences and how she stays involved today. Of course, we couldn't miss out on the opportunity to take a Squirrely Picture, 2 generations and a little legacy!

My long weekend in the Midwest was so special. Lindsay and her friends and family were more than welcoming and it was so nice to finally meet everyone! Lindsay is a special woman and I just know that her little baby boy will be the most loved, smart, kind, loving, genuine person because he will be surrounded by so many people who love him and who will support him. Congratulations Lindsay! You are going to be a great mom and we can’t wait to meet the little Doctor President :-)