Birchbox February | Happy Anniversary

Posted in Beauty by C.

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Happy Birchbox Anniversary to me!

It’s been one year since I started experimenting with the latest and greatest in beauty and lifestyle products (then started blogging about them!). It’s been quite a ride and I have to admit, while it’s been a hit or miss experience when it comes to the products themselves, I still love the monthly surprises in my mailbox. Birchbox has introduced me to some pretty amazing products that use I regularly, while also teaching me that just because something is considered “high-end” doesn’t necessarily mean it’s any better than the stuff you can get at your local drugstore for half the cost.

(Shhh!) Between you and me, I’m considering the idea of exploring another monthly box service. Not that I’m dissatisfied with Birchbox, because I’m not, but given how the market is now flooding with new options and new approaches toward discovering beauty products, it might be time to try something different. I’ll dedicate a well-researched post in the near future to share my findings with a succinct listing of what’s out there, along with the pros and cons of each, where I’ll then announce my final decision.

Until then…here’s how February shaped up!

Product reviews are from left to right.

Agave Healing Oil Treatment | Whenever a product uses the words “agave” and “healing” in the same sentence somehow I instantly feel like I’m doing something completely natural and completely right for myself. Perhaps I’ve been brainwashed by the marketing industry to “trust” a product more. I was admittedly excited about this hair oil. The hard part is that the sample wasn’t very generous, so I used the whole pack in one sitting and this may be a product where you see better results the more you use it. What I loved about this treatment was the sweet fragrance along with the smooth texture of the oil. I can’t say with conviction that this did anything other than make detangling my hair much easier, which is a huge compliment for my kinkier hair texture. And as I write this, my hair has a nice bounce to it (then again that could just be because it’s totally clean at moment). However, at $24 full-sized, I’m can’t say I’m convinced to experiment with this product any further.

Overall: I’m indifferent.

Smashbox Cosmetics Full Exposure Mascara | I officially became a mascara snob last fall when a friend recommended Benefit’s They’re Real Mascara to me when I was on the prowl for a new go-to mascara. Since then, my search for the perfect mascara was O.V.E.R. While anything with the name Smashbox associated with it on the beauty front is no joke – I was skeptical if this could top the instant “wow” impression that They’re Real did and still does. And I was right. While this paraben-free formula isn’t a terrible mascara by any means, I was instantly turned off by the brush which was so thick that it always left a total mess on my eyelids no matter how delicately I tried to apply it. The good news is that this isn’t a problem when you use an eyeliner, otherwise if you want simple mascara-only drama or to use it after you’ve already expertly applied eye shadow (sans liner), this was a disappointment. It always needed an extra eyelid clean-up after use. And even after applying several coats, I never quite got the volume that I do with Benefit’s mascara. Essentially, between the wand and the formula, this isn’t something I’d readily jump out and buy. I like control when applying mascara and didn’t feel like I had it here. I look forward to using the sample, but will stick with what’s working.

Overall: If you want the best mascara ever – Benefit’s They’re Real is your answer. I promise.

Smashbox Cosmetics Full Exposure Palette | Admittedly, I was bummed at how Smashbox chose to share their eye shadow palette sample by placing a not so generous amount of product on a card. I mean, come on! This is SMASHBOX COSMETICS – you guys can do better. If cost was an issue, I would’ve preferred less shades options and more product in a sample-sized pot so that I could really explore application with the colors. Okay, now that that’s out of the way…What was unique about this sample was that they chose to share the same shades in both a matte and shimmer finish. I experimented with the shimmer finish for the most part to build a more dramatic eye and had a pretty positive experience overall. I will say that it felt like the shimmer lasted longer than the actual color pigment in some of the shades, which is not ideal. I recently used my Birchbox points to score this full-sized eye shadow palette from Coastal Scents and I’m very happy with it. I might have more to say if Smashbox gave us more to work with, but since I’m not in the market for a new palette – it’s a pass.

Overall: Pass. Go for the Coastal Scents Palette if you’re looking for as many as 88 options! FYI – it’s cheaper on their website. I was pissed to see Birchbox charge $40.00 for something that’s selling for $25.00 on their site. Granted, Coastal Scents does charge for shipping and Birchbox ships for free – it may not be too much of a difference. Given that I used my points, it lessened the sting, but didn’t make me happy at all when I first caught this.

Ruby Wing Color Changing Nail Polish | As hypocritical as it may sound since I’m a huge believer in “All That Glitters” – my experience with this glittery nail polish is bittersweet. On the one hand, I love the idea of a little sparkle on my nails, but on the other – it’s always so annoying to work with glitter anything. My first attempt at using this nail polish was a total fail. Take one: I polished my toes in Sexy Silhouette (don’t you just love the names of nail polishes now-a-days) and got creative and used this gold glitter nail polish over it for every single nail. TOTAL DISASTER. I don’t blame the polish, just a moment of poor judgement on my end. Take two: I polished my nails a very subtle gold color and used this gold glitter nail polish as an accent on one nail. MUCH better. My thoughts on this polish, however, are dual. I love the look (when done right) but HATE that it takes FOREVER to remove glitter nail polish. On top of that, this formula takes a few applications to look right and at that point becomes so thick it’s complicated to work with. As for the “changing” color aspect, I did notice the bottle change to a more reddish color when doing my outside photo shoot for the picture above, otherwise I can’t say I noticed it changing color in the sun too much (maybe I need to stare at my nails more outdoors). Either way, this is rather gimmicky to me and not really necessary. I’ll enjoy the sample on occasion, but don’t have any plans to make a full-sized purchase. The sample would last me awhile anyway (ahem, Smashbox!) when I am looking to add a bit of bling on my nails. In between those times, there are other ways to enjoy some sparkle in my life.

Overall: Eh. It’s fun, but I would want to experiment with a different brand to find something easier to work with.

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{Sneak peek at “take two.”}

Camille Beckman Glycerine Hand Therapy | Holy awesome hand lotion! I feel like I’m always reviewing lotions in my Birchbox, but this one has to be, by far, the best yet. What I immediately noticed about Camille Beckman’s hand lotion in Morelia Monarch was its amazing texture – unbelievably smooth and creamy without a stitch of greasiness from the moment of application. You don’t have to wait a few minutes before any lingering residue absorbs into the skin as you might have to with many lotions on the market. I was also instantly struck by its subtle scent – notes of vanilla, amber, and green tea. Your hands feel incredibly moisturized and silky to the touch. At $15, it is an expense over what I’d normally grab just to keep in my pursue, but one that I’m willing to overlook in this case. Your hands are in for a treat.

Overall: Worth it…if you don’t mind the splurge.

anniversary!

Join the Birchbox fun! Pick up your subscription with this link:

https://www.birchbox.com/invite/ATG

(I’m not affiliated with Birchbox outside of just being a fan.)

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26Feb2014

What I’m Lovin’ Right Now

Posted in Accessories, Beauty, Beverages, Books, Health by C.

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You wouldn’t know it by looking out the window at our trademark California sunshine as I write this, but a storm is vastly approaching the City of Angels. By the time you read this, we’ll be in the mist of an actual (and very much-needed) rain storm for the next 5 straight days. In “LA speak” this means alternating between downpour then drizzling, on and off, just before the next random heat wave. Not usually one to get too excited at the prospect of rain (especially when I prefer to be wrapped up in a soft blanket at home watching movies all day and not sitting in traffic heading to work) I know that this particular storm is a godsend to our ongoing drought emergency. Looking ahead to an upcoming long weekend on my end, it looks like I’ll be spending the last days of February primarily indoors. It’s prompted me to think about small pleasures on a rainy day: a good book, a warm beverage, things to do to pass the time, and a fun umbrella to have handy when you do brave the outdoors.

Here are a few things I’m lovin’ right now to guide us through the rain and to the rainbow, until our trademark sunshine joins us again. xx

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rainy day footwear – Knee Length Cozy Socks

rainy day mani inspiration – Suzi and the 7 Dusseldorfs by OPI | Amazon

rainy day protection – Bumble Umbrella | Target

rainy day neck wear – The Nellie Knit Scarf | Grace & Lace

rainy day chocolate fix – Homemade Hot Chocolate | heart.love.weddings.

rainy day self-care – Why and How to Take a Detox Bath | Healthy Living How To

rainy day read – Think on These Things by Jiddu Krishnamurti | Amazon

rainy day organization inspiration – 52 Meticulous Organizing Tips for the OCD Person in You | Buzzfeed

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24Feb2014

Mixtape Monday

Posted in Music by C.

Music has always been a big part of my life and since discovering Pandora over 6 years ago, it’s completely introduced me to new, and subsequently changed my taste in, music.

Fun fact: I’m almost always listening to music when I’m blogging. It’s also almost always on when I’m at the office and don’t even get me started when I’m alone in my car with the moon roof open on a sunny LA day with my caffeine fix in the drink holder. I do hope my hearing makes it to old age.

It’s Monday and while I know it deserves the same amount as respect as Friday, it’s on record that it’s not my favorite day of the week. Making the transition back into the routine of the work week always helps with a good playlist. I’ve curated a new one with tunes that I have been rocking out to lately, making blogging for ATG all the more fun.

So log in to your Spotify account, hit play, sit back and get to work on those Monday to-do lists and emails with this mix in the background perfect for vibin’ out – killing those nasty Monday blues.

Then again, as Ricky Gervais once so eloquently said, “Mondays are fine. It’s your life that sucks.”

Enjoy boys and girls!

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21Feb2014

Highlights

Posted in Life by C.

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{enjoying a quiet moment, new booties, and an apple juice outside.}

With two rather big accomplishments crossed-off my list this week, I can’t help but look forward to some of the long-term stress associated with them finally subsiding as we head into the weekend. One of those accomplishments in particular, took nearly 6 months to get to the finish line. It’s such a gratifying feeling when you can look back on something and know that you not only got through a challenge, but learned from it, and are happy with your contributions to the final product.

Unfortunately, I’m still a bit under the weather battling some lingering stomach troubles – nothing painful, just more of an annoyance. I’m grateful that I have a very responsive doctor, and that things are improving (though not as fast as I’d like to see it, of course) but it’s also caused me to spend much of this week evaluating stresses in my life (linked to stomach acidity) and being even more mindful of my diet. Though I’m a pretty healthy eater, there’s always (always) room for improvement. As such, I’ve been researching and becoming more familiar with acidic vs. alkaline foods and beverages. This is not something that I’ve ever really put much thought into, but this experience has prompted me to become educated about balance in the body.

(Between you and me, I think the hardest thing about this has been giving up my ~~addiction~~ eternal love for a good iced vanilla latte or a cup of green tea until further notice.)

I can’t think of a more appropriate time to start anew and that’s what this weekend will be all about. I know lots of rest is required whenever you’re not feeling quite like yourself physically, so I do want to make it a point to relax as much as I can. A new book and a stack of magazines, over breakfast in bed on Saturday morning, sound absolutely divine.

If you’re in town and looking for a free way to kill some time this weekend, I just read about the new Diane von Furstenberg “Journey of a Dress” exhibition at the May Company Building, located next door to the LACMA. It celebrates 40 years of the fashionably iconic DVF wrap-dress. I can’t wait to see it myself and report back.

Have a great weekend. xx

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{roses from my valentine. }

19Feb2014

Bottega Louie: The Sequel

Posted in Dining, Explore, Food by C.

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Where: Bottega Louie

Location: 700 South Grand Avenue, Downtown

I’m a big believer in killing two birds with one stone. So when it came time to think about how to make Valentine’s Day special, I absolutely loved my boyfriend’s idea to make it a sequel. After an impressive anniversary dinner last month, I knew I’d be back in the near future to partake in what Bottega Louie is also famous for – their weekend brunch. Rather than deal with the chaos of dining out on Valentine’s Day, we decided to celebrate the following morning over an indulgent brunch.

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{Bottega Louie, exterior.}

It’s quite fascinating how a mere 9 hour difference makes downtown LA feel completely different. While the night finds you on rather deserted streets (minus the bustle of activity near restaurants) prompting a more on-guard approach to the city, the day turns into a flourishing metropolis with sidewalks full of people of every nationality you can imagine. This is the part of downtown that I’ve come to love – it’s a magnet for attracting people from all walks of life.

Brunch inside Bottega Louie’s completely exposed, uncolored, minimalist establishment creates a space for enjoying your meal while pure California sunshine beams through the intensely large windows (which also leads to much better pictures for “the sequel” post).

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(Bottega Louie, interior.}

I opted for their acclaimed lemon ricotta pancakes (pictured above) drizzled in their house-made blueberry syrup, with a glass of fresh cold pressed green apple juice. The pancakes had just the right amount of zest, while the ricotta added a more fluffy texture. An interesting thing to note is that while I very much liked the blueberry syrup when I dined in the restaurant, I think I much preferred it with regular maple syrup (shout out to Trader Joe’s) as I ate the left overs the following morning. I could taste the zest in the pancakes more. It seems the blueberry syrup slightly buries what’s unique about them. And though the trend is quite popular around LA right now with juicery after juicery popping up all over town, this was my first time ordering anything cold pressed. I wasn’t disappointed. Once you look through the frothiness that gathers at the top, I enjoyed the simplicity of natural juice without all of the added sugar. I think I became a cold pressed juice fan last Saturday morning around 11:30am.

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{Fresh cold pressed green apple juice.}

Of course, one cannot leave the “Louie” without a quick stop in the patisserie section of the restaurant to shop for a little treat to take home. I’m already a fan of their vanilla, strawberry, and lemon macaroons; so I decided to try something different this time. If the visuals are any indication of how special and intricate every single pastry was in the case, I wish a picture could capture taste. I stepped out onto the busy downtown street with 2 fresh cupcakes in hand. Dessert was all the much sweeter for the next 2 days!

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{Patisserie cases.}

As expected, Bottega Louie didn’t disappoint. The perk of this particular experience was that we were seated immediately (score!) and one really gets a feel for the stark decor as natural light surrounds you. Where our experience was weaker this time was in the service. Our waitress was nice, just a little slow. We also went through three different waiters in the little over an hour that we were there, due to rotating shifts, I assume. Understandably, it’s busy, so it didn’t hinder my experience.

Bottega is an equally fabulous choice for brunch or dinner (which you can read more about here) when you’re looking to celebrate something special over a special meal. And dare I say it? It’s officially my new favorite restaurant in LA. I’ll keep you posted if this changes in the near future. I have a list of restaurants a mile long that I still need to get through.

As for “Bottega Louie: The Sequel,” this my friends is…

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{Post-brunch take home sweet treats: vanilla bean and strawberry cupcakes. Divine!}

14Feb2014

The L-Word

Posted in Holidays by C.

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Love is in the air today. And though that thing we call love shouldn’t come down to one day a year – I suppose it’s okay to give in a bit to the actuality that every February 14th it happens to be on steroids (and prix fixe dinner menus).

In fact, I can attest that it doesn’t come down to one day a year. As I look back over this week, small acts of love and kindness were all around in varying degrees, ranging from people closest to me to the newest of friends. Though it’s pretty clear Valentine’s Day salutes those in romantic relationships (with money to burn), perhaps it’s worth thinking about all forms of love on this day. This is quite appropriate if you think about it.

Before Valentine’s Day even made an appearance, I’d received a kind email from a new friend simply saying “hi” wishing me well, just because flowers from my boyfriend, a thoughtful gift arrived in the mail, and later a colleague at work dropped off a single pink carnation (double floral score!) to share some cheer. Simply put, while I’m not saying it’s easy – the goal should be to find the Valentine’s Day in everyday, in all of its forms.The L-word is not a once a year kind of thing.

I talked recently about the many stages to the Valentine’s Day experience, and trust me, I’ve been through many of them myself. I won’t go into whether one should be a believer or not, why we place so much pressure on this day, or even play devil’s advocate and say perhaps we need this day as a gentle reminder to consider love (okay, I kinda just did); but whatever stage you find yourself at on this day it’s exactly where you’re supposed to be.

As for me, tonight will be low-key, though I’m certain a piece of chocolate or two will be involved. We’re opting to hang out at home and marathon through season 2 of The Killing on Netflix to avoid all the crowds and annoying, over-priced fixed menus. Instead, our plan is to head out for brunch on Saturday morning. The idea being that perhaps since everyone ate out the night before, they’re likely too hung-over or broke to make the trek out for breakfast the next day – giving us access to the best table at one of L.A.’s hottest restaurants without the wait time. (I’m not that naive – but a girl can dream.)

Happy Valentine’s Day to you!

And if you happen to be on the team that’s of the non-believer-I-hate-this-holiday persuasion, hang in there…this will all be over in less than 18 hours. 🙂

12Feb2014

What I’m Lovin’ Right Now | The V-Day Edition

Posted in Beauty, Food, Holidays, Treats by C.

As I think about it, there are several stages to the Valentine’s Day experience I believe many women go through. As a kid, you were ~~forced~~ encouraged to swap Valentine’s with your classmates, literally walking home with tons of cards and heart-shaped candy (along with the biggest sugar rush ever to your parent’s delight). In middle school, you sent candy grams to all your girlfriends, and they to you, as a mark of solidarity. In high school, somehow that all changed and you watched with disdain that only the popular girls somehow now got all the candy grams delivered right in the middle of English class. In college, you were just plain bummed to be single and/or annoyed by all the hoop-la so you holed up in your dorm room watching movies until this ridiculous excuse for a holiday was over. In your early twenties, Valentine’s Day became “Single’s Appreciation Day,” and you were as Destiny’s Child once said, an “Independent Woman” so you’d grab your single girlfriends and make your own rules (I don’t need no man!). And then one day, whatever day or age it may be, you meet your Valentine.

From there, it may revert back to the early twenties stage where you find yourself celebrating Single’s Appreciation Day again after a break-up; or perhaps after years in a relationship, it just becomes another day.

I think I’ve gone through almost (almost) every iteration of the typical women’s Valentine’s Day experience. This year, I happen to be on the team that has a Valentine and he’s always good about making it special.

While I’m aware, and in complete agreement with those that think, that love (and flowers, and chocolate, and kind words) should come more than once a year on a consumerist driven holiday, I couldn’t help but dedicate a little space to that thing we call love and all the hoop-la surrounding it.

Here’s what I’m lovin’ right now…the Valentine’s Day edition…

V-Day WILRN

SAY | 30 Ways to Say “I Love You” | Huffington Post.
BAKE | Skinny Pink Champagne Cupcakes | The Skinny Fork.
UNWIND | Jo Malone “Red Roses” Bath Oil | Nordstrom.
WEAR | Pink Knot Front Dress | Victoria’s Secret.
PAINT | Festive Valentine’s Day Mani.
COOK | 15 Creative Dinner Ideas for Celebrating Valentine’s Day | All Yummy Recipes.
CREATE | Personalized M&M’s | My M&M’s
CRAFT | D.I.Y. Frosted Vase | A Beautiful Mess.
BRIGHTEN | Pure Color Cheek Rush in X-Pose Rose | Estee Lauder.
SMEAR | The Kiss Lip Balm | Lush.
BUY | Handmade Valentine’s Day Cards | Sew Colorful Designs.
WATCH | The Top Romantic Movies for Valentine’s Day | Better Homes and Gardens.

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10Feb2014

Cirque Du Soleil’s Totem

Posted in Explore, Fun by C.

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Where: Santa Monica Pier

Location: 1550 Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica

There aren’t many reasons I’d leave my perfectly heated apartment to step out into 40 degree temperatures on a windy Friday night. It’s also not a habit I’d encourage when the final destination is the beach of all places. Hello, frost-bite! (It’s on record that I’m an admitted wimp when the weather drops below 75 degrees – yeah, yeah). However, there are exceptions to every rule and I found myself happily breaking it as I bundled up with one of the few thicker sweaters I actually own and made the trek to the Santa Monica Pier for Cirque Du Soleil’s, Totem.

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{Killing time before the show, enjoying the scene. LOVED this mask, HATED the $60 price tag.}

Up until just a few years ago, the only time I’d ever seen a Cirque Du Soleil performance was on PBS television, glued to the screen marveling at what the human body can do, and how dazzling the human body can look while doing it with the right lighting and costume design. Sure, watching a Cirque Du Soleil performance on television can satiate anyone who loves a (cheap) theatrical concoction of narrative, visual, and athletic ingredients, and with the added perk of perfect camera-work gives you the best seat in the house. And yet…

There’s still nothing like seeing it right in front of your eyes, LIVE. You’d swear at times that they were lying to you.

Totem, the 3rd Cirque Du Soleil live performance I’ve seen, (Iris being the first, and Michael Jackson’s Immortal World Tour, second) is a visual exploration of the evolution of mankind. Thematically, there were points in the show where it is quite obvious we are looking at stylized interpretations and symbols representing the development of the human species, though there were times I questioned what I looking at and how it tied back into the larger narrative. It later became clearer once I’d read up more on the show, but I have to admit, given the attentiveness to the visuals and the acrobatics it really didn’t matter at the time. You’re so transfixed on the ability and action in front of you that you could care less whether or not it made any sense.

{A still from one of my favorite acts of the night. Click photo for source.}

Where I might give a less than stellar review would be on the design of The Grand Chapiteau (a.k.a. the tent) itself. This is a traveling presentation, and as such, comfort for the audience isn’t necessarily always first priority, but more about practicality (thank goodness the bathrooms were reasonable). While I commend the attempt at stadium style inspired-like seating, it would have been super helpful to have a steeper design to the seating chart. Much of the action was ground-level. As such, you could see the audience bobbing and weaving their heads just to see around each other. I did okay after switching seats with my boyfriend to see the action, but at 6’2 he had a hard time sitting in the seats in general. There’s hardly any leg room and let’s just say you become “friendly” with your neighbors pretty quick.

I also couldn’t help but wonder about the location choice right on the water in the dead of winter (even an L.A. “winter”) given the array of venue options in town. While I’m sure Cirque is selling tickets regardless and I would go anytime the opportunity presents itself, this show would be amazing on the beaches of Santa Monica on a July evening as the sun sets. Just my two cents.

5 Closing Thoughts:

It’s pretty clear given what the human body can do, the athleticism and the discipline, even scoping out the abs on some the ladies, that I need to get my booty to the gym more often like ASAP.
As a gal who doesn’t mind a little “glitter” I was more than visually mesmerized. It was visual overload in the best way possible.
If you’re tall, be prepared to be uncomfortably seated. If you’re short, be prepared to have a neck exercise trying to see over people’s heads.
No joke, I got a Groupon to an introductory Cirque course in my inbox yesterday and briefly entertained what it would look like to be the woman in yellow pictured above…until I recalled how petite she was and thought it wouldn’t be fair to the poor lad holding her because I’d surely break his arm…and leg.
Cirque Du Soleil, as usual, never disappoints. You’ll love it!

Cirque Du Soleil’s Totem is at the Santa Monica Pier until March 16th, 2014.

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7Feb2014

Highlights

Posted in Inspiration, Life by C.

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We made it to Friday. And that’s my highlight. (Scrooge, much?)

I can’t say that February has been particularly kind so far. Things have been rather chaotic on all fronts to say the least, and because of that I find myself off balance and not feeling quite like myself. Always the one to stop and ask myself, “what is the lesson here?” – I’ve spent the last few days processing the answer. Consciously, I know that anytime something isn’t going the way I’d like it to (or how I think it’s supposed to) it’s because I need to change my perspective or how I choose to react to the situation first and foremost. Given that I’m completely aware of this, I still have a hard time executing it at times. And this is because I get stuck on the “why?” and the injustice of it all, when ultimately the answer is that there are things that are just out of my control. This I know: address what you can and let go of what you can’t. What’s frustrating is that if I know this, why is it so hard to actually do sometimes?

On an especially lousy morning 2 days ago, my week saw an improvement in the simplicity of unexpected kindness. A colleague of mine walked over and asked me to join her for a coffee (let’s overlook the fact that I shouldn’t be drinking coffee right now recovering from a really nasty stomach virus). This is not too unusual – some of the gals and I grab coffee in the morning together a few times a week. What was kind about this particular excursion, was that she not only treated me to coffee, but asked me to sit outside and just talk for a while.

It’s pretty amazing how stepping away from my crappy morning, and indulging in one of my favorite addictions (iced vanilla lattes) over conversation about some of the things that had been bothering me lately and hearing about what’s going on in her life instantly improved my mood. The dialogue was at once helping me release a little pent-up frustration while removing the cloud over my head as I listened to her share her thoughts as well. In talking to her, it seemed like both of our spirits needed to take a deep breath and refocus. I could literally feel my perspective changing: See, things aren’t so bad, you’re sitting outside on a gorgeous day sipping one of your favorite things, enjoying someone’s kindness and company. Smile, everything will be okay!

What I’ve come to learn about myself when I get riled up over something is that it oftentimes helps to just ~~vent like crazy~~ talk, to have my voice heard, even if I cannot change the situation. There seems to be some satisfaction in that for me. The funny thing is that this is not easy. I consider myself to be a pretty outgoing, opinionated, friendly person, but I’m not your classic open book that readily opens up to many people, and if I do – I do so very carefully.

So, again what’s the lesson here? You cannot change your perspective, if you can’t let go of what you can’t control anyway. (That’s a mouthful!)

It seems I found a way (out of thousands, I’m sure) to get the ball rolling on changing my perspective when things get sticky. Just taking a step back and intentionally doing something to alter my state of mind (i.e. joining a friend for coffee) released my attachment the “why?’ and the injustice of it all that I was re-hashing at the time. It even helped to constructively talk about some of the annoyances that had been bothering me that particular morning. It was through our conversation that I was reminded we all have “sticky” situations.

I’m not all suggesting that you find the next person available and verbally throw-up all over them, hashing and re-hashing things that happened weeks ago – but there really is something to that whole notion of enjoying someone’s company or talking about what’s on your mind if you feel comfortable to do so. Feeding off another person’s energy, advice, sympathetic ear, and kindness took me out of my self-induced funk. I found myself more present than I had been all morning.

The funny thing is that while I expressed my gratitude for the coffee and conversation, she’ll never know how that small act of kindness and simple invitation was the highlight of my week. I can’t say that the rest of that day or this even week went off without a hitch from there, because it didn’t. However, those 45 minutes was a lesson learned in the power of perspective. And I suspect, it will be one that I’ll spend this lifetime perfecting.

I love this simple, yet dynamic question above as I wrap up this post that I came across on Pinterest last night. Will most of what has made this week less than stellar matter in a year? The answer is no. Somehow outside of an iced latte and a good chat with a friend, my perspective just became all the more sharper.

Have a great weekend, guys! xx

5Feb2014

My Liquid Heaven: How to Brew the Perfect Cup of Tea

Posted in Beverages, DIY by C.

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I know many people complain about the lack of seasons in LA, but as a native Angeleno, I’ll take clear skies and 80 degree temperatures over what our neighbors have been going through across the country any day. My thoughts are with you (as I nurse an iced latte in a sundress…on the beach). All jokes aside, it’s been an unusually warm winter here. Sure, LA might find itself with more sunshine than rain at this time of year in general – but it’s also typically much chillier than it has been.

It seems the weather gods got the memo and our version of “winter” is now upon us as of late.

As the temperature drops and I pull out leggings and scarves to cover up a bit more, what has to be one of the best parts about bundling up is switching that iced latte for a warm cup of tea. I discovered my all-time favorite tea at one of my favorite old LA spot, Jin Patisserie, years ago. It’s called Peche Mignon. It’s a Chinese green tea flavored with notes of vineyard peaches, passion fruit, melon, and wild strawberries. Add in a decadent raw sugar cube or two and I’m literally in liquid heaven.

What I’ve come to learn over the years is that it’s all about preparation, particularly when it comes to steeping times based on the type of tea you’re making. There’s nothing worse than a bitter cup of tea, and it took some trial and error before I learned what my taste buds liked. I was delighted to find this great video from Birchbox that succinctly explains how brew the perfect cup of tea with the hopes that if you struggle a bit, guidance is here.

Sadly, Jin Patisserie, the place I spent many afternoons with a cup of tea over good conversation with a girlfriend or alone with a book, closed its charming outdoor cafe last year. Fortunately, they still run their patisserie and boutique online, so a bag of my favorite tea is just a click away.

I hope you find your version of liquid heaven in a spot of tea. And hang in there, when we’re all melting 6 months from now in 105 degree weather, we’ll somehow miss these chillier days – if only for an LA moment.

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