Spa Week!

So it's almost April and you know what that means.

Oh, you don't? Well, allow me to fill you in.

Spa Week's right around the corner!

Do you guys take advantage of this like I do? As in, get spa services for only $50?!

Like the title states, it only lasts for a week (April 12th-18th), so get thee to a participating spa!

Here's what I'm deciding between:

• 50 Min Deep Tissue Massage by Stasi @ Epitome Salon
• 60 Min Fusion Massage @ Exhale Santa Monica
• 50 Min Swedish Massage with Aromatherapy Oils @ Tikkun Holistic Spa
  
• 45 Min The Trifecta Neck, Back and Shoulders Massage or The Key to Everything Foot and Hand Reflexology, with Feed Your Head Scalp Massage @ Nitespa
• 60 Min Thai Massage with Hot Herbal Compress @ Thai Sabai Traditional Thai Massage
• 45 Min Custom-Crafted Massage @ The Massage Therapy Center
• 50 Min Reflexology Massage @ Yolanda Aguilar Beauty Institute & Spa
• 85 Min Package: 55 Min Body Sliming Transformer followed by 30 Min Deep Tissue Massage @ CityLife Medical and Fitness Spa
• 50 Min Signature European Facial, including Shoulder Massage and Hand Paraffin @ The Body Wellness Clinic
• 50 Min Elemental Nature Massage @ Naya Fresh Body Spa
• 45 Min Hot Stone Massage with Cranberry Oil @ Belle Visage Day Spa

Sigh...decisions, decisions.

What about you? What spa service would you get?

Oh, and psst! They tweet their fabulousness too.

[photo]

Pesach

Happy Passover to anyone and everyone who celebrates!
חג פסח שמח
That's how "Happy Passover" looks in Hebrew. Pretty cool, huh?
Anyway, my family and I had a lovely Seder last night and I'm still full. Yet somehow, I'm managing to devour and enjoy leftovers as I type this. Go figure.

Nothing much new to report at the moment, save for the fact that I am seriously considering going to Bloggers In Sin City. I don't know why I didn't consider this sooner...like, say, when Katelin asked me about it and I said I wasn't going. I'm so smart sometimes.

My heart is so heavy for the the families and friends of the Moscow Subway bombing victims. It's terrifying and awful and tragic and this world truly scares the crap out of me sometimes.

The worst feeling (well, one of the worst anyway) is trying to figure out what to blog about. Purely hypothetical, of course. Uh...

In other news, hard to believe it's been exactly a year since this post (oh my gosh, I even included Hebrew in that one too, good to know I never change), so I'm bringin' it full circle.


Welcome to my life for the next week!

[photo]

Why Shattered Glass Shattered My Soul

Hello Monday! You could've taken your time, you know.

No. Seriously. I mean it.

How was everyone's weekend?

I didn't exactly have one. Well, I mean, I had a weekend but it was a weekend full of production. Which I knew when I told my friend I'd be the production coordinator for his short film, Castle In the Sky (if you follow me on Twitter, now you know what that lovely #castleinthesky hash tag is all about -- ta da!).

So I won't have much of a weekend for the next 2 weekends, which is really fine by me because I'm enjoying this project.

However.

Answer me this: have you ever tried to make fake glass? Yanno, the kind that people use for films so that the actors don't actually bleed their brains out but instead just look like they're being critically injured...by glass?

I'd never done it, but (stupid me) thought it would be easy to make for our second day of filming (a car accident scene, to put it into context). I mean, look at the recipe (found via this video, which is definitely one of the stranger things I've seen):
-2 cups water
-3.5 cups sugar
-1 cup corn syrup
-1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

Mix in bowl until boiling (at roughly 300 degrees). Pour onto sprayed cookie sheet and let set (for about an hour).

Cake! Now, I'm no domestic diva, but I could surely do this.

3 tries later on Saturday night, I was singing a different tune (and drinking a glass of wine).

Liquid. It was pure liquid, and the damn crap had been "setting" for about 2 hours at this point.

When I woke up Sunday morning, nothing had changed. And the glass was needed for that day's shoot.

Cue panic attack!

Wanted to do this.


But no time!

Since I have absolutely nothing left to lose, I made a fourth batch. And it started to harden (TWSS)! But never finished (TWSS). Ever. Stuck it in the freezer (not part of the directions) at our shooting location. Nada. Had no choice but to put the cookie sheet full of non-glass BS into my car, where it proceeded to ooze onto the passenger seat and make a sticky, disgusting, non-glass BS mess.

Oh, look Ali! It's time for the car accident scene! How 'bout that glass?

I splatter it on the dashboard of the car, ready to hang my head in shame, when I notice that it kind of looks like glass. Droopy, sagging glass...but glass nevertheless.

Add to that the fact that the makeup artist came up with the brilliant idea to make lines in the goop with one of her brushes, and this story has a bit of a happy ending after all.

First moral of the story? Never try making shattered glass from scratch. Pun sort of intended?

Second moral of the story? Film shoots are never supposed to run smoothly.

Third moral of the story? Real work sucks the day after you work on your friend's film.

[photo via tumblr]

Gemstones: Mystical and Beautiful

I used to absolutely hate my birthstone. Why? Well, mine is the emerald and my sister's is the diamond. Um, what sounds better when you're 5 years old? Aren't diamonds a girl's best friend? Why were they my sister's BFF and not mine? No bueno in my book.

However, similar to my middle name (used to hate that too!), I grew to not only accept what gemstone was associated with my birth month, but love it. I'm an emerald gal through and through!

But that doesn't mean I don't love diamonds.

Which is why I found this little history lesson fascinating, and the website it came from even more so! Check it out.

Many ancients believed that gemstones contained powers that were unearthly and that wearing a gemstone at a particular time could help the wearer in many ways. Although that is not as prevalent today as thousands of years ago, gemstones definitely remain in the hearts of millions and there are 12 different gemstones attributed to each month. The birthstones were a long held tradition that was finally categorized in the early 1900’s. Originally, each of the twelve modern birthstones was attributed to an apostle, a follower of Christ. Eventually, each gemstone became associated with an angel and there was one angel for every month of the year. So, if you were born in April, diamonds were your birthstone as the guardian angel for April was associated with that particular month.

Diamonds are the most common choice for engagement rings as they symbolize the love you have for your spouse. Diamond engagement rings can be found in hundreds of different styles both in stores and online, where retailers are able to pass along savings due to low overhead and often, less staffing requirements. Smaller sales teams lead to more profits, so they are able to sell greater quantities for an overall lower price.

Since they are found underground in diamond mines and in river beds, diamonds are very expensive. Depending on their clarity, cut, color and size, they can be very expensive, but are well worth the cost if you are planning on proposing marriage or you have your 60^th anniversary upcoming. The 60^th anniversary is traditionally celebrated with a diamond to your spouse. This can be a necklace, a ring or earrings and symbolizes your everlasting love. With the gift of a precious diamond when you start your journey together, you can show her that you are there for her and that you hope that your love lasts forever, just like that diamond on her finger.

It's Friday, I'm In Love

[Brought to you by Summer]

Ohhhh, it's that time again.

Today, I am in love with:
*** the return of Bagel and Donut Fridays ***
Received this email yesterday:

"The people have spoken! After two weeks of Donut Mondays, starting tomorrow we are switching back to having bagels and donuts on Fridays. Just don't blame me when there's nothing to lift your spirits on Monday..."
And this one this morning:
"Everyone, The Bagel and Donut show is back in Town and up and running outside the 2nd Floor Kitchen. No longer will it be Bagel and Donut Monday... We're back to Plan A... Breakfast on Fridays! So stop by and nosh... See you there"
It's a beautiful thing.
*** online shopping ***
*** my new running routine ***
*** new episodes of FlashForward and Vampire Diaries (though they conflict on my DVR, which is indeed a conflict!) ***
*** Coffee-Mate Belgian Chocolate Toffee Creamer ***
*** finding inspiration for my tumblr ***

What are you in love with today?

[PS: Still debating whether or not to get one of those popular little formsprings, so we're (read: I) taking a vote: yea or nay?]

Odd Holidays, American Idol Sucks and Impulse Shopping

Wow. Yesterday was just chock full of holidays of some sort.

You had your Free Pastry Day at Starbucks and Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry's and National Puppy Day.

I was all over Free Pastry Day. My selection?

Eating this reminded me of freshman year in college when my friend Pat and I would go to Starbucks before our 8 am acting class and get white mochas/caramel macchiatos and cinnamon swirl/blueberry coffee cakes. Ah, the good old days...

On another note, I caught some American Idol last night and let me tell you, I hear all of you who say that this season's contestants suck. That may sound harsh, but it's America -- you know there's many more talented people than the ones who made the cut this season. The one who bugs me the most?

[via]

Tim Urban. I think there was a reason he never made it in the first place. Simon called it: he's like a Zac Efron wannabe. Sure, he's pretty. But if I were given a second chance, I'd work my ass off and it just doesn't seem like he's got it.

Sorry if I sound mean, but believe it or not, I was (am?) a singer (musical theatre, to be exact) so sometimes, this sort of stuff hits a nerve with me.

At any rate, while we're on the subject of "it," I think this girl's got it.

[via]

I think they call her Mama Sox (her real name's Crystal Bowersox)? She's real, she's original and she's good.

And would you believe, I don't even watch American Idol? LORD, imagine how opinionated I'd be if I did!

On one more note (last one, promise), I've been a bit of an impulse shopper as of late (late = yesterday), and all because of bloggers. Sierra inspired me to get this dress.

Cheers me up as only spring can!

And then Gabby got me wanting these slippers. And at $4.40 a pop (seriously), how could I not snag 'em?

Alright, enough random tidbits from me today. What's up with you?

My Life On the C-List, Or That Time Katharine McPhee and Jillian Harris Became My Tweeps

After living in LA for nearly a decade (8 years, I round up), I consider myself a New Yorker who is now from here (and so does my blog header). So after all this time, you'd think I'd be seasoned in the art of celebrity sighting.

Not so.

In fact, I'm far from it. I'm an amateur, a beginner, a novice. I live in the land of Britney Spears, the Kardashians, Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O'Connell, Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey's former love nest, the list goes on and on. Yet never have I seen a person of supposed importance in this city.

Unless you count that time I sat next to David Hasselhoff and then heard he (surprise!) caught acting a wasted fool the week after. I don't count that.

And while I'm not one of those heady, karma crazed people, I believe I have in fact turned into one of those the-universe-feels-my-lack-of-celebrity-sighting-pain-and-wants-to-make-it-up-to-me-by-putting-me-in-the-presence-of-C-List-celebrities...people.

Exhibit A: I get out of my car to meet a girlfriend of mine for happy hour. As I'm walking, I see this tall girl with a pixie cut and think, huh...that girl looks a lot like Katharine McPhee. Oh! That's because it is Katharine McPhee.

Please Ali, no pics right now.
(+)

I grab my BlackBerry, ferociously texting my sister who I know will appreciate this along with my friend who hasn't yet arrived and nearly trip over her husband who opens the door for me.

That last part spurred this tweet from yours truly.

She sat outside, we sat inside. And that was that.

Or so I thought.

The next morning, I'm checking my Twitter and guess what I see? This.

I'm giddy. I mean, she didn't have to respond to me. But she did. All 8 feet of her did.

That was 2 nights ago.

Last night, I'm leaving Hebrew class (oh, right -- I take Hebrew class). The pain in the ass part about having a teacher that lets you out 10 minutes after class ends is that the parking garage becomes a parking lot of cars waiting to pay the cashier. Hence why I was sitting in my car, twiddling my thumbs (fine, not really) and waiting to move.

This teeny tiny woman in an adorable strapless purple dress walks by with this very tall, attractive man in a white shirt and some other guy. That guy looks a lot like Ed, the guy on The Bachelorette who couldn't get it up, I think to myself. Which can only mean that -- OMG! That teeny tiny woman in an adorable strapless purple dress can only be Jillian Harris. And they're walking right past me.

(+)

"Jillian, I love you," I say impulsively as I roll down my window.
"Oh sweetie, thank you!" she says to me."

At this point? Can't stop myself. I'm rambling.

"I saw you walking by and was like, that looks a lot like Jillian Harris and then realized, that's because it is Jillian Harris! Hi Ed."

Ed smiles and waves.

"Have fun!" I exclaim. Thank GOD the line of cars starts to move.

Being underground in a parking garage, I have absolutely no reception to call and scream to my sister. So I just squirm around in my seat and think of all the girls I know that watch this awful show we all hate to love.

Finally, I have enough reception to write this tweet.

The next morning (aka today)? I see this.

Yes, that's right. 2 sightings in 2 days.

And they like me! They really, really like me!

Sorry. Sally Field just took over my body for a moment.

Am I on a roll or what?

And that, my friends, is how the universe and I have become friends over the past couple of days.

Alright, spill.

Any celeb sightings? I accept all of 'em, A-List through Z.

Me? Domestic?!

So here's the thing.

I am not even close to being the motherly type. You know, the kind that gets excited over the latest organic baby food, or get giddy at the thought of hitting IKEA for the coolest new kids beds. Not. Even. Close.

However.

I have slowly but surely been realizing that the kitchen is room in which I am extremely unfamiliar. Actually, scratch that. I realized that a while ago. But what I'm learning about myself is that I do have the desire to get in there and, for the lack of a better phrase, get cookin'. And working on a cooking show isn't helping. Or is it?

Case in point #1: I've gotten into the habit of browsing cute kitchen paraphernalia (great word, no?). I love color in every aspect of my life, and this category is no exception.

Case in point #2:

(see more here)

That pasta bowl. Sleek, red and simple. What more could you want? Oh yeah, it serves pasta too.

Dare I say I just might be becoming -- gasp -- domestic?!

Do you ever catch yourself becoming more of something you never thought you'd be?

A Is For Ali. Oh, and Answers...

I answered all of your questions 100% sober, promise!

You asked, I answered.

Thank you for all of your questions! You guys make me feel important.

My old (read: former, not old as in age) co-worker Kellie asked, Why are you so awesome?
Answer? I'm really not.

Moving on!

My favorite Canadian, Ella (before you even ask why you're not my favorite Candian, FG, the answer is because you ain't Candian!), asked, If you could be any type of food, what would you be and why?
Answer: Liver, because nobody would want to eat me. Unless that person liked liver, in which case...I'd surely die.

My ocean dreamer, Sierra, asked a few:
1. Where would you want to get married?
2. What is your favorite snack ever?
3. What is your absolute dream career?

Answers:
1. This is such a good question that I'll have a much better answer to once I see more of the world. As of right now, I'm saying right around here (in California), so that it's easiest for all my friends and family to get to. But this one's very subject to change!
2. Ever ever? I'm going with cheesecake. Except that's not a snack, unless I wanted to gain 50 pounds. But I really, really don't. So I'm going to say an apple with peanut butter or one of those Laughing Cow cheeses. I love those things.
3. The dream is to be a travel writer. Oh, that is the dream...

From my pop culture sister from another mister, Katelin:
1. If you could spend the day as one celebrity who would it be?
2. Whose closet would you like to raid?
3. If you had a theme song for every time you entered a room what song would you want to play?

Answers:
1. I'm going with Nicole Richie. I love her style, I love the adorable little family she's created and I absolutely LOVE her father.
2. Carrie Bradshaw's (cliche much?)
3. Can I amend this one a bit? The first one that came to mind was "Hey Mickey." Except I'd change the Mickey part to Ali. Cool? Cool.

Erica, one salty lady (pun totally intended), asked, Why did you start blogging? Was there someone's blog you read that inspired you?
Answer: A question that I really wish I knew the complete answer to. But I don't! I remember that I thought a blog would be a great way for me to get my stuff out there as an aspiring writer. Then I had this preconceived notion that a blog had to have a focus. Then my eyes were suddenly opened up to this world we call the blogosphere -- I seriously had no idea there were so many bloggers out there, and how amazing they could be! Slowly but surely, I came out of my shell and just wrote the way I think I talk, and The Way I See It was born. Oh, and the title of my blog came from my newspaper column of the same name that I wrote in college. As for whether or not there was a certain blog that inspired me, the answer is no. How boring.

Mandy, oh Mandy. I don't even know how to begin to introduce you. How about we go with my favorite redhead? Because you absolutely are. Anyway, you asked:
1. Would you rather know your future or change your past?
2. What is the weirdest thing in your refrigerator?
3. Boxers or briefs?

Answers:
1. Know my future. Although now that I watch FlashForward, I'm starting to doubt that choice. But I'd never want to change my past.
2. Ready? My birth control. My doc told me it's, um, easier to handle when it's cold. True story. And I do believe this just got real.
3. Boxers!

The most lovely and oh so very pretty illustrator, Dionne, asked:
1. What is your biggest fear?
2. Is your life now like what you'd pictured it to look like when you were younger?
3. If you could have any five living celebs/politicians over for dinner - who would you pick?

Answers:
1. Tornadoes. Blame it on Twister.
2. Absolutely not.
3. Love this one! In no particular order: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Sarah Palin (though there's a slight chance I'd poison her food, oops), Sandra Bullock (sans her husband), Betty White and Rob Pattinson (yeah, I said it...we have the same birthday, did you know?).

Ugh, okay. Maybe I'll get a formspring.

[photo via]

It's Friday, I'm In Love

(button's to the right, hop to it if you wish!)

Today, I am in love with:

• the return of a lovely tradition
• falafel (found some decent tasting ones at a store...here, in America!)
• new episodes of FlashForward
• the hilarious people I log that make my job a lot more fun
  
• seeing a Birthright friend who's in town this weekend
• Tumblr (my own included!)
• This great travel site (discovered via this pretty lady)
• showers in the morning (we broke up for a while because I left the morning ones for evening ones, but we've since rekindled our relationship)

What are you in love with today?

[PS: Completely forgot about my Q&A post I did last week. I should probably answer those bad boys, huh? That post coming soon. In the meantime, feel free to ask away in the comments section of that post, or here.]

No Way!

That is what I thought to myself almost immediately after reading that last sentence of my last blog post.

A much cheerier post is on tap for tomorrow. :)

Tomorrow? Why not today?

The idea that I left you guys with something so glum and sad just kept bugging me. Especially because I started thinking positively soon thereafter.

Molly is a fighter! Molly is a strong (read: butch) girl! Molly will persevere!

So instead of that post being the last one of the day in your readers, how about some pictures of my 2 leading ladies?

These instantly cheered me up.

So I guess in a way, this post is more for me than anyone else.

Sorry, I'm selfish.

Then...

...and now.
I doubt I need to explain why I love 'em, right?

If You Please

I just want to get this out of the way because I feel that while asking for certain things may be tacky/unnecessary/what-have-you, asking for prayers never is.

Molly, my little Lab, was diagnosed with mouth cancer a few months ago. She's already surprised the vet by surviving it as long as she has and fortunately, it hadn't been affecting her. But now it is. Just a little bit, but enough for us to worry about it and enough for me to ask that you just keep one of the most amazing dogs in your thoughts and prayers.

And in case you need incentive...

Thank you!

A much cheerier post is on tap for tomorrow. :)

Sunny Plans

Spring has absolutely, positively sprung and all I want to do is be outside. Instead? I'm working (not complaining), all day (not complaining) in an office (still not complaining) with no windows (aaaand complaining).

You see, I have plans for this kind of weather. Big plans, that include (but are not limited to):

• Getting in touch with the creative production side of myself (and seriously hoping I'm not bad at it)
  
• Writing my little heart out as much as I can -- outdoors!
• Seeing if I can run/jog without blaming the asthma that I outgrew about 12 years ago
• Finally doing something with that novel I wrote a few months ago
  
• Be a good pen pal
• Plan some trips (hello, Vegas/Florida/New York!)

So you see, I need some time for this beautiful weather and I to get to know one another again. It's been a while, you know.

What are your sunny plans?

[image via le tumblr]

A Life List

[via weheartit]

Got this from Melissa and thought I'd see how interesting I am.

• Copy the list.
• Bold the ones you've done (w/explanations if needed).
• Share with friends.

I have:

1. Started your own blog

2. Slept under the stars

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity

7. Been to Disney World

8. Climbed a mountain

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo

11. Bungee jumped

12. Visited Paris

13. Watched a thunder and lightning storm

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (juggling, to be exact!)

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight

22. Hitchhiked

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping

27. Run a marathon

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

31. Hit a home run

32. Been on a cruise

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors

35. Seen an Amish community

36. Taught yourself a new language

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David in person

41. Sung karaoke

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance (luckily, I wasn't the ill one!)

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing

49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma

65. Gone sky diving

66. Visited a Nazi concentration camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten caviar

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square

74. Toured the Everglades

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve

86. Visited the White House

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Got a tattoo

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a lawsuit

98. Owned a cell phone

99. Been stung by a bee

And you?

Bagel and Donut Fridays

Every Friday at work, we are provided with free bagels and donuts. Because the people in charge are really nice.

I've only worked here a few months, but Friday bagels and donuts have already become a tradition to me. And the weirdest part is, I rarely eat them. Just knowing they're there is a comforting feeling. Hey, it's Friday! We have bagels and donuts.

It's lovely, really.

Everyone at work's worlds flipped upside down this past Thursday when we received this email.

Hi everyone,

By popular demand, bagel & donut day is moving from Fridays to Mondays, effective immediately. So while a few of us will be sad and donut-less tomorrow, everyone will have something extra to look forward to on Monday morning (in addition to the usual excitement we all feel about being here, of course).

Thanks.

Um, I'm sorry. WHAT?!

We were all up in arms.

But I love bagel and donut Friday! It's the best way to kick off the weekend! I don't want to face anyone on Monday while getting my bagel and/or donut! What do you mean, "by popular demand?!"

Oh, it was all kinds of drama. And the kicker? They wouldn't even give us one last hurrah on Friday. No sir, there would be no bagels and donuts awaiting us at work in 2 days.

Liz, one of my co-workers, decided to take action.

Thank you for putting so much thought in the placement of bagel Friday. I have weighed the positives and negatives of such of move and have concluded that Friday is still the best day of the week for such a feast. After a long hard weeks worth of work, having a bagel on Friday morning is a perfect reward. The Monday morning bagel is a sluggish, caloric way to start off the week. Thank you again for your careful consideration of this important matter.

Sincerely,
Liz

The reply?

Dear Valued Customer:

We appreciate you taking the time to contact us. While we appreciate your input, we are unable to respond individually to each suggestion we receive. Please rest assured that your opinion is important to us; we will keep it in mind as we work to provide the quality bagels you trust, and the level of service you have come to expect from us.

No good, folks. No. Freaking. Good.
We were told that if this new day of free bagels and donuts is not a success, it may be changed back to Friday.

Needless to say, this morning's email...

Good Morning,

We have Bagels and Donuts this morning for you outside the second floor kitchen!!!!

They are going fast, so come and get it!!!!!!

Enjoy!

...plus those bright and cheery people munching on their breakfast this morning? On our lists.

What about you? Had any silly extremely important work issues lately?

[photo via weheartit]

Do You Know How to Tumble?

Alright. Here's the thing.

I thought I'd add yet another form of social media to my queue and so? I created a Tumblr. What it was, I had no idea. Then I started playing around and then I realized that it's more or less a little arsenal for your favorite quotes, photos, links, etc.

And then I was hooked.

And now I can't stop.

Let's tumble together.

Do you have a Tumblr? Link me up!

It's Friday, I'm In Love

I love Fridays because hello? They're Fridays. But I love 'em even more now because of this little series started by the beautiful Summer.


Feel free to grab the button (see it on the right?), link up to her blog and spread your love!

Today, I am in love with:

• laughing hysterically at the stupidity and hilarity that is When In Rome with my friend Steph (while having popcorn for dinner, of course)
  
• more sunshine (don't forget to set your clocks ahead an hour this Sunday, woo hoo!)
• my new button, thanks to this amazing lady (Have you seen it? Feel free to grab that bad boy on the right side of this here blog. I'm sort of button obsessed at the moment, so if you have one and it's not already on here, please let me know!)
• nonfat lattes with soy milk
• delicious lunches at Hugo's

What are you in love with today?

Ask Away

First of all, some happy housekeeping.

I want to thank the adorable Melissa for this happy award.

My (current) Happy 10:
1. Good morning kisses from Emma (that would be one of my dogs)
2. Oranges (I can't get enough of them!)
3. Lost, season 4 (believe me, I know I'm waaaay behind)
4. The fact that summer is just around the corner (can you smell it?)
5. Laughing with my sister over ridiculous things from one room to another (lazy much?)
6. Betty White (guesting on SNL May 8th - mark your calendars!)
7. Blogging (I've said it once and I'll say it again: I love this community)
8. Ryan Seacrest on the radio in the morning (the man's hilarious and he does a whole lotta good and I adore him)
9. New magazines in the mail (right now, it's Glamour)
10. Facial exfoliators (because they feel so good; mine is this one)

I don't have the energy or stamina to tag people for this one (lame excuse?), so I'm gonna be a giver and let anyone take this if they're in the mood to be happy.

Now.

Here's something I never thought I'd do.

A Q&A. With little old me.


This could absolutely backfire if nobody's interested. And I guess I'd be disappointed for a hot minute and then power forward. But in an effort to be more open on this blog, I figured it might be a good springboard (not to be confused with formspring...I'm not hopping on that bandwagon, at least not at the moment) to do just that.

So feel free to ask me anything and everything. As of right now, no question is off limits (did I really just say that?) and I'd be really interested in what you're interested in about this blog or the writer of it. I'm leaving this open until next Thursday, March 18th. Then I'll answer them on Monday, March 22nd.

I can't believe I'm doing this.

Okay, go.

Oh wait! Speak of the devil, have you seen this video by the band with the same name as the words I just wrote above? That sounded confusing. Just know that it might just be one of the best music videos ever made.

Alright, ask and ye shall receive.

An Update

My life is pretty ho-hum lately. After I returned home from New York, I went back to work. Oh! But then the Oscars decided to happen, which is all fine and well because I love them. What is not all fine and well is the fact that LA traffic -- which already barely operates and by operates, I mean moves -- just completely shuts down during these awards. And understandably so, since Hollywood Boulevard closes for all the important people.

Translation? My commute to work went from one hour to freaking two.

Oops. Pretty sure I already bitched vented about this not too long ago.

However, the Oscars are over (and thankfully, so is Zoe Saldana's dress!). Therefore, the vehicles should be moving once more, right? Wrong.

I need to figure this conundrum out, or risk losing my damn mind.

Although my birthday is gradually approaching, it's not the one I'm excited about. You see, my sister, at long last, will be legal in less than a month. This is big news, folks. Big news. Gone will be the days of passing back my ID. 4/7/10 is the day and I'm already brewing up somethin' good. Who cares if it's only in my head (at least for now)?

I had a lovely little package waiting for me at home last night from the equally lovely Tina of The English Muse. A few weeks ago, she offered to send any interested reader a mystery set of some of her old magazines and books. Um, yes please! Here's what I got.


Tina's blog was one of the first I've ever read and it will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you, Tina!

In other news, a good friend of mine is producing, directing and starring in his first short film. And the crazy part is (aside from the fact that my friend is producing, directing and starring in said short film), I'm the production coordinator. Go figure. I'm really excited about this. This aspect of production is something I think I just might be a) interested in and b) semi-good at. We start at the end of the month!

And perhaps the most exciting thing happening in my neck of the woods right now is a potential trip to meet my Sonja (hopefully with Sierra) this summer! I'm really hoping this works out because I kinda sorta adore this lady.

Speaking of summer, who's ready for it?

Aside from that? I'm afraid I got nothing right now. But they say no news is good news, don't they? I'm gonna go with that saying.

Tonight, I'm seeing When In Rome with a good friend of mine. Reviews?

PS: Have any of you heard of the upcoming show, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution? It's about battling childhood obesity spurring from horribly unhealthy school lunches and it looks like it's going to be a serious eye-opener. Ryan Seacrest produced it and has been asking people everywhere to sign this petition. They need a million signatures to even make a dent in this epidemic, so please, if you have a minute to spare, sign sign sign!

Just Another Oscar Post

Because it's Monday and I got nothing because of said day so here's what I got...just another Oscar post!

On my "oh, sweet Lord, YES" list:

(via)

(via)(via)(via)(via)

And then my "just...absolutely NO" list:

(via)
(via)
(via)(via)

And lastly, my "hm...not sure, I'm torn" list:

(via)
[The above one is sort of a big deal for me since I worship the woman and think she can do no wrong...]
(via)(via)

Thoughts?

I Got a Feeling

Walking into my house this evening, I had that amazing feeling that only happens when you know summer's on the horizon. You take a deep breath and you feel it. The days are getting longer, the sunshine's spending some extra time hanging out in the sky and you just want to throw on a really pretty dress and flip flops right after your shower.

Yanno, that feeling.

Then I went down to the nearby park with Molly and felt it even more.

This is definitely one of my favorite times of the year.

And a night full of Steve Martin and gowns and awards (good evening, Oscars! Lookin' goooood...)? I'll take it.

Hope you're having a lovely Sunday evening!

It's Friday, I'm In Love

I know, I know. 2 blog posts in one day? Why, it simply cannot be!

But it is. Work has been going extremely well today (knock on a gigantic piece of wood), so I figured that this Friday was as good a Friday as any to start participating in Summer's adorable little series...

Today, I am in love with:

• a less than 2 hour commute to work (1.5!)
• $5 martinis
• crossword puzzles
• really adorable (albeit nahsomuch-into-my-gender) waiters
• entertaining BBM convos with Sonja
• this sweet award from Gabby (late though it may be!)
• Golden Girls in the morning
• this video (thank you LiLu)
• this photo

• the upcoming evening of complete and utter vegging I have planned for myself

What are you in love with today?

That Time I Forgot About Snow and Marc Curry

As many of you know, I hail from New York. No, not the city. Contrary to popular belief, there is life outside of New York City. I grew up in the 'burbs. A tiny little 'burb called Westchester.

I've been asked if I miss living there. The short answer is, no. I only miss my friends and the city. When you live somewhere for 15 years of your life, you take for granted the special things about it. And I think it goes without saying that New York City is, in a word, special. So the long answer is, I only miss certain parts of New York and the part I miss most is the city and the Broadway shows and the lifestyle and the people and the food - oh, the food - and the crazy that is the city.

So there's your long answer.

And now, a not-so-long recap of my trip back for my cousin's Bat Mitzvah.

First, I must briefly give you some background.

We - as in my mom, dad, sister, Grandma (who had been staying with us for a month and is from New York) and I - had all planned to fly back together for the Bat Mitzvah. Then my mom decided to get pneumonia. Well, that's not entirely true. She didn't decide, persay. But she got it, and she couldn't travel with it. So one down, 4 to go. Then my dad was all, well-I-am-her-husband-and-I-can't-leave-your-mother-alone-when-she-has-pneumonia-and-so-no-I-cannot-go.

And then there were 3.

It was a lovely start to the trip, and we hadn't even left yet.

So off we went to LAX...at 5 in the morning. The plus side to traveling with my grandma now is that she's figured out a way to get through every inconvenient form of airport crap that ever existed by just sitting down. In a wheelchair. The woman's 87 years old and doesn't need that thing at all, but down she sat and off we went.

(Side note: If you want to feel important for all of 10 minutes, I highly recommend you get a wheelchair at the airport. Trust me.)

We arrived to my grandma's house just in time for ass cold weather, only to realize that crap, we didn't have any jackets suitable for said ass cold weather. But not to fear, my grandma had 2 very old jackets to lend us.

(That weird looking bulge on the right side of my mouth is a candy, just FYI...)

Then the snow started to fall.

Oh, did it fall.

And my grandma started to freak out about me heading into the city to meet some old friends of mine for dinner.

But I still went.

And she was mad.


And it was great to see these girls.

And then I took a train back, and kept calling the cab company on the way back to make sure they were still going to be running since I had no other means of transportation. The response? Every. Single. Time?

"As of now, yes. But the weather conditions are deteriorating, so no guarantees."

I (literally) grab the last cab and fling myself in. We're a mere 10 minutes from my grandma's house. So how long does it take us?

A good hour. Reason? We got stuck on a patch of ice for a half hour.

It was during this time that my seat felt unnaturally warm. It was also during this time that I moved aside and saw smoke coming out from said seat.

Me: Uh, the seat's smoking.
Cab driver: Wanna come in the front then?

That was it. Done and done.

A few minutes later...

Me: Wow, it's smoking a lot now.
Cab driver (while shifting gears frantically to get off this damn ice): Eh, it's probably just the tires.

Whoever is reading this, I am not lying to you when I say that I was flipping out inside by this point. I started to pray. I prayed that we would get off this damn ice and that I wouldn't be sitting in a car with a cursing man anymore because oh my GOD, what have I gotten myself into?

I'm writing this post from work in Los Angeles. I got home.

And then I ate a cupcake.

(Yes, that's the USA network logo on the cupcake. Long story.)

After that, it was pretty much smooth sailing.

And I've never missed California more.

I know, how very drama-free of me.

The Bat Mitzvah was lovely. Lovely service, lovely pah-ty. Loverly. Especially when my grandma started busting a move.


Liza and I flew home the next day, only to find out we were sitting right across from this guy.


Oh that's right. Marc Curry, aka Mr. Cooper from Hangin' With Mr. Cooper.

Too bad he was kind of a jerk, which really makes no sense because hello, you haven't done anything since 1995 (ish) and stop being pretentious, Mr. Curry/Cooper.


Then Liza got our luggage out of the baggage claim carousel like a rock star and home. We. Went.

End scene.

I really hope this post lived up to they hype it never had!

[image via]