What I’m Lovin’ Right Now

Posted in Series by C.

Four words have been on my mind lately: bikini weather is coming. In fact, it’s already arrived fashionably early in LA at a not-so-cool 98° today. I couldn’t be less prepared. How is it that I was just at The Grove nursing a latte and staring at the Christmas tree, now all too aware that shorts weather is upon us?

If you’ve been following along, this year in general hasn’t been too kind to me on the health front, from that lingering stomach bug I had on-and-off for months to my recent bout with the common cold (that I’m actually now fighting again! Ugh). I’m noticing a change in my body and how it’s more easily responding to illness (though to nothing at all serious, thank goodness). There was a point in time, I’d go years without catching a cold. Perhaps much of it is getting older and I have to accept that. On the other hand, I’m sure most of it is needing to adjust my lifestyle because I’m not 25 anymore. Admittedly, my exercise and eating habits have been slacking (I know, I know) and I’m certain that has a lot to do with it. Add a little bit of anxiety, a dash of stress here and there, and you’re likely to be even more susceptible to getting sick (at least, that’s when I tend to get sick).

I do make a conscious effort to eat healthily, keep hydrated, but by no means am I perfect (if you put a box of Hot Tamales in front of me…it’s over). Naturally, there are areas for improvement and this is likely the link between why I’ve felt and continue to feel slightly “off” recently. While we all know clean eating, lots of water, and plenty of exercise and sleep is the answer, sometimes it just helps to get a little inspiration and reinforcement. Enter: The Body Book. I started reading it over the weekend after seeing really positive reviews on Amazon and can tell this is just what I need to re-invigorate my focus on my body and it’s relationship to nutrition. I’m not all saying that you won’t ever see me at In-N-Out indulging in a burger every now and then (because trust me, you will), but what I am saying is that it’s time to spend some time fine tuning this area of my life. Of course, not vainly for the mere purpose of that aforementioned bikini weather (though it is a good motivator), but because I also want to feel better and work on my energy levels, placing more of an emphasis on treating myself better than I have been as of late.

Here’s to good health…and along with The Body Book…

Here’s what I’m lovin’ right now…

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The Body Book by Cameron Diaz | Amazon.com
Stuffed Avocados | FabFitFun.com
Raw Gemstone Chunky Necklace | Etsy.com
Hanging Chair | Pinterest.com
Words by Joanne Harris | WeHeartIt.com
The Secret to a Perfect Manicure | Makeup.com
Malia Booties | Blowfish.com

12May2014

Photo Diary: Happy Birthday in Ojai

Posted in Explore, Travel by C.

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I can say with confidence that I’m never happier in life than when I’m on an adventure – big or small, local or far. There’s something about being in new surroundings and exploring them that I feel most alive. Last week, I had the time of my life in Ojai for a much-needed birthday get-away, the sweetest surprise from my equally sweet guy.

Ojai Valley is a small, quaint, and friendly town about 66 miles from Los Angeles, a little more than an hour away from Santa Barbara. It’s an endearing combination of specialty shops, small businesses, art galleries, picturesque mountains and hiking trails, with a bohemian charm to match.

We stayed at the Emerald Iguana Inn, a charismatic boutique hotel with 13 unique rooms that all channel total cottage charm. The property rests on a secluded street, lush with greenery, meeting every expectation you can image (minus a not so great WiFi connection, but hey – who needs the internet when you’re surrounded by pure tranquility?). It’s the perfect get-away for two (kiddies are not allowed at this hotel). Our time inside the alluring Feather guest room was spent doing all things in salute to leisure and lounging: drinking wine at 1:00 in the afternoon on a Monday (just because…and I’m not even much a drinker!), reading, dining on the private patio, and watching old movies with the fireplace burning at night.

And of course, plenty of time was dedicated to walking downtown Ojai – window shopping and indulging in all things food.

This is a trip best told in pictures. What I will share is that as we settled into life in Ojai for just a few days away from the fast-paced streets of LA, I could literally feel my body and spirit slowing down and taking that deep breath I’d needed after the last few chaotic weeks. It’s amazing how driving one hour away was all I needed to recharge.

Here’s my photo diary of a very happy birthday in Ojai, CA.

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2May2014

Highlights

Posted in Life, Series by C.

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{Day 34: My BF left to run an errand & came home with 2 Sunday favs: fresh flowers & bacon!}

This has been one of the most chaotic and exhausting weeks I have had in quite awhile boys and girls. I knew going into it that it would be a challenging one on all levels – mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. And while I’m not really in a head space to delve into the particulars of everything that seems to be piling up at the moment, I am happy on this heat wave induced Friday in LA to say…I made it. I’m still in the middle of said storm that I know I’ve been rather elusive about, but the rain has lifted a bit since the beginning of the week. What I will share is that The Universe is making it very clear that the sunshine will prevail…even at 94° outside as I literally write this.

I know that I’m equipped to deal with everything that’s going on, it’s just funny how in life it tends to happen at the most inconvenient moment and the struggle is just accepting reality (which I’ve done), getting past the mental kicking (still working on it), while anxious about how everything will turn out (I’m a total worrywart, so still working on this, too). Then again, what I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older, is that there’s never a convenient time. You really just have to roll with life and hope for the best. As I reflect back over the last week, I found myself constantly remembering to focus on the positive so I can see how my perspective is shifting often – and I smile because I can clearly see where things could always be much worse. I hope this inspires you, no matter what’s happening at this particular moment, to focus on the good. In fact, cling to it.

My week-long vacation starts in just a few more hours. I’m taking some time off from life for a while to celebrate my birthday on Tuesday and recharge. I really need it. I’m looking forward to spending some time with my boyfriend in Ojai for my birthday for a few days, then heading back home for a much-needed staycation to have the time to relax, catch-up on life, and think about the next steps.

As such, I’m also taking some time off from the blog, but not to worry – I’ll be back! I hope you’ll still be here.

Have an amazing weekend and week ahead.

I still made it a point to find that one thing a day, that brought a smile to my face, even during this crazy week. Here are some of my favorite moments from the 100 Happy Days Challenge.

Talk soon! x

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{Day 39: 9:52am today. Heat wave in progress, and I’m lovin’ it. Another LA Friday has arrived.}

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{Day 37: A fresh homemade strawberry smoothie to start another busy day.}

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{Day 33: French films, festivals, and nights in Hollywood. Win, win.}

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{Day 38: Dropping your phone from a second story building to meet its fate with the concrete, not cool. Getting a replacement phone in 24 hours because you were smart enough to always get phone insurance, now smiling.}

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30Apr2014

Birchbox Review | April

Posted in Beauty by C.

1-Birchbox April 2014

An account of how the latest and greatest in beauty and lifestyle products made my April feel a little bit more gorgeous…or not so much.

Here’s the breakdown…

#1. GUYandGIRL Shower Gel | Admittedly, I like the concept here. Essentially, it’s a comprise between the battle of the sexes…in the shower! This paraben-free body wash is designed to appeal to those of either gender persuasion. No longer will guys staying at their girlfriend’s place smell like strawberries, and girls staying at their boyfriend’s smell like Old Spice. And yet, GUYandGIRL Shower Gel isn’t quite the answer in my book. I found the supposed gender neutral scent to still resonate a more masculine aura, not balancing enough for the feminine. Add in the $25 price tag and this is a no-go. I look forward to finishing the sample and might even share with it my boyfriend, but that would be the end of my relationship with this particular product. Perhaps I’m a girl who just likes to smell like a girl…and doesn’t want to compromise.

Overall: Love the idea. Not a fan of the scent. Hate the cost. Pass.

#2. Color Club Gala’s Gems Collection | I can remember a time when a red nail polish was simply labeled “Red.” Nowadays, it’s “Sexy Vixen.” I think I get more of a kick out of the naming of nail polish, more than the actual shade. It just sounds more fun to say “I’m wearing ‘Two Hour Lunch'” when someone asks what color your pink nails are. Luckily, Color Club Gala’s Gem Collection in “Gold Struck” was more than just a fancy name. The soft gold shade is rather opaque, settling into a nice pearl-like metallic finish. What is nice about this particular product is that I found you really only need one coat for it completely fill your nails, but best practice is always two. Oftentimes, lighter shades take multiple coats to really look right and this simply wasn’t the case here. My one criticism, likely due to the opaque quality of such a light shade, was that the polish itself was really thick and not the easiest of applications. My advice (and what I intend to do) would be to add just a tiny drop of nail polish remover to thin out the formula some. This is a great shade for open-toed shoe weather!

Overall: Love the shade. Would find something similar in another brand, with a smoother application.

#3. Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel | This a case of “Ooh! I’m feeling a little VIP” when I saw this Anastasia of Beverly Hills-branded brow gel. Anyone that follows the beauty circuit knows that Anastasia is THE go-to gal for getting your brows done in Hollywood. As such, this was a great opportunity to see what all the hype is about for us little people to get a taste of how the other side lives, minus the actual brow shaping appointment. Currently, I use Maybelline’s Great Lash Clear Mascara to tame and shape my eyebrows, which costs under $5 for a well-sized .44oz tube. Anastasia’s is a little more than half the size of the Maybelline, at .28oz for $22. But gosh darn it, I really did like this brow gel. What often bugs me about the Maybelline formula is that if you’re not careful to remove the excess before application, there’s often too much product on the wand and it goops in your eyebrows. The design of Anastasia’s wand seems to come out with just the right amount of product to be applied quickly and effectively. It’s also formulated with conditioners and oils keeping your brows in place without harsh chemicals.

Overall: Do. If you can get behind the cost.

#4. KIND Healthy Grain Bars | Typically, I’m a huge fan of Kind Bars. Their philosophy of using all-natural ingredients promoting the “kind thing” not only for your body, but for the planet is definite a plus. They’re a great on-the-go snack, convenient to carry in your bag, and you somehow just feel great about eating something not only healthy, but simply “kind.” Unfortunately, the flavor I sampled wouldn’t be something I would ever purchase. The Maple Pumpkin Seeds with Sea Salt bar had a great taste at first bite, then the saltiness would hit and completely ruin the flavor. I cringed while eating it because it was too salty for my taste. This is not for me.

Overall: Pass (on this flavor).

#5. Davines OI / Shampoo & Conditioner | I’m already a Davines fan when it comes to hair care, recently listing their Love Smoothing shampoo and conditioner as one of my all-time favorite Birchbox products! However, I’m on the fence, simply not as crazy about their “OI” line. I loved the texture and how my hair felt as I worked the product into my hair. It instantly made my hair feel soft and hydrated. And not to brag, I’ve been having a really good hair week. Where the OI line loses me is with the scent. It’s just not at all feminine or pleasant in my opinion. Suffice to say, I’m a huge fan of smelling nice. Somehow, it makes me feel even cleaner and more refreshed. The only reason I’m on the fence about this product is because I’ve been mulling over this question: should one focus on effectiveness /results over scent? I think I just might be stingy and require both.

Overall: A great product, if you can get past the scent (and the price tag). I’d suggest their Love Smoothing Shampoo & Smoothing Conditioner instead.

Join the Birchbox fun if you dare! Pick up your subscription here:

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

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

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28Apr2014

5 Reasons This Week Will Rock

Posted in Life, Series by C.

5 reasons heder pic ATG

There are moments in life where you mentally kick yourself over and over, obsessing over a barrage of “what ifs” – knowing that the domino effect of what’s to come could’ve easily been avoided had either you made a different choice, or the circumstances surrounding you had been different. Of course, life is meant to be a teacher; and God, The Universe, or whatever spiritual ideology you choose to believe in never gives you more than you can handle. And yet, it still seems to take time before you get passed the mental kicking and cycle of “if I had just done this…”

I suppose it’s just the nature of being human and learning with the ebb and flow of life. This means that during the domino effect or the results of events to come, we also have a choice of how to deal/respond as we see our way through the storm.

This is going to be a chaotic and lively week as I maneuver through a more stressful moment in life. And though this particular storm is not life-threatening and not anything at all uncommon, admittedly, I still do the human thing and kick myself (often). However, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve made it a point to try to focus on the positive and look for the gratitude in every situation. I must say, it’s an interesting exercise when you consciously catch yourself alternating between the kicking and the gratitude.

I’m choosing to focus on the positive at this particular moment. It’s a huge aspect of why I even started blogging almost 2 years ago and started my “5 Reasons” series 7 months ago.

So, I’ll take a deep breath, tell myself to take it one step at a time, focus on finding the lesson, ask The Universe to send good vibes and look forward to these 5 reasons this week rock…even during the storm.

1. I’d planned to take some time off and have a quiet staycation here at home for my birthday next week, but my sneaky boyfriend made other plans much to delight. Last week, he handed me a box and said it was an early birthday present. Inside, reservations for a quaint hotel in Ojai! My staycation just turned into a vacation! I’m SO looking forward it. This unexpected surprise will be what will carry me through the week! I can’t wait. 🙂

2. I’m 100% back to normal after my cold last week. It’ll be nice to get back to life healthy and rested. I’ll need it to make it through a rather hectic week ahead.

3. The new read for my next book club meeting is now on my Kindle ready to go! I’m excited for Wally Lamb’s new novel, We Are Water.

4. Aside from always being grateful for steady employment – things are expected to be busy at work this week. I’m in the middle of a huge project that I’m enjoying and being challenged by. It’s a great change of pace.

5. Movie night with my boyfriend (who totally rocks by the way!). Looking forward to a weekday night at one of my favorite theaters and Tom Hardy in Locke. Looks intense and currently 89% on Rotten Tomatoes? I’m there. Here’s the trailer!

Have a good week, guys! I can’t believe April will be leaving us shortly.

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25Apr2014

Highlights

Posted in Life, Series by C.

Day31ATG {Day 31: Among the living again.}

After being couped-up at home alone sick for nearly 3 days this week, yesterday found me happy to be outdoors and among the living again. I don’t get sick too often (though 2014 has been especially harsh to me in this area), but it’s always an interesting experience. Why, you ask? Well, I very rarely ever sit for an entire day doing absolutely nothing but “resting.” It’s just not in my DNA to get too lazy for very long. I mean, there was even a point when I was home sick hacking everywhere, that I contemplated cleaning the bathroom at the very least since I wasn’t doing anything productive. It’s just always been hard for me to relax. I’m not the type to EVER let my apartment get messy, or leave things undone, which means I’m always finding a reason to be doing something.

Since I’m very aware of my OCD/perfectionism patterns – I am trying to work harder at learning to let certain things go and deal with them another time. The things I’ll never let go of, however, is leaving dishes in the sink or not making my bed. I’m sorry, I just can’t. I despise coming home to an unmade bed and dishes in the sink. If it’s just a plate or two, then I might let it go…for a few hours before I HAVE to wash those 2 plates. Yeah, yeah, I’ve just accepted this about myself.

I’m proud of myself though, I really did take it easy most of the week – well, minus that brief stint to the office on Tuesday…and making my bed everyday (if I wasn’t lying in it)….and washing dishes.

And so, since a majority of the week was spent at home reading, napping, blowing my nose, drinking tea, watching TV here and there, and eating – it’s been a rather uneventful week. Of course, no one enjoys being sick, but it was nice to have an excuse to sit and do nothing.

I have a lot of life to catch up on. I get to start by taking a trip to the DMV today to renew my drivers license. Hooray…NOT! (Pray for me ya’ll, I did make an 8:00am appointment to make things as painless as possible.)

I’m one month into the 100 Happy Days Challenge! Even when you’re sick, taking a pause from life, then getting back into the swing of things – there’s always something to be happy about so I’m glad I was able to keep pushing with the challenge while under the weather. Some of my favorite moments that brought a smile to my face during an otherwise uneventful April week.

Have a nice weekend.

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{Day 29: When that thing you ordered arrives 5 AGONIZING days later. Online shopping, fun. Shipping, boo!}

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{Day 26: The beauty of being home most of the week was being able to enjoy the flowers my BF gave me just before I got sick.}

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{Day 28: My tea bag was being especially wise that day.}

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{Day 30: Essentials for the common cold. And yes, candles do help.}

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23Apr2014

Out Sick

Posted in Life by C.

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I’ve been sick most of the week, spending lots of time resting at home. I had a fancy idea for a blog post today, but just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I’ve literally been in bed with my Kindle and the appropriate food items for almost 2 days.

I did drag my corpse out of bed (okay, it wasn’t that dramatic, I don’t have the flu or anything, but it just sounds more fun put that way) and went into the office yesterday for a few hours – because, OF COURSE, I’d get sick right in the middle of an important project.

Full disclosure here: I’m a HUGE believer in staying home and resting when one is sick because don’t you just HATE when people come into work sick hacking everywhere? You spend most of the day freaking out, washing your hands like crazy, avoiding interaction as much as possible, and downing Emergen-C like it’s water praying you don’t catch whatever they’ve got. There’s nothing worse. However, since I wasn’t hacking everywhere, felt much better than I did on Monday, and could work quietly on what I needed to do away from everyone for a few hours, I broke my rule.

Hopefully, I’ll be at 90% by the time you read this, back into the swing of things. I’ve had plenty of time to think over the last few days, about life, the people in it, my growing to-do list, and how much I’ve enjoyed being somewhat lazy (which is not easy for me to do).

I’m not at all prepared to get into anything deep today. In fact, I want to give a shout out to the superficial little things that got me through my short, unexpected, bed-ridden, staycation:

1. My Kindle. I never get an entire day to myself to just sit and read from the time I wake up, until I go to bed in between nose blows. (I finished a 600 page book! Not bad.)

2. The large bag of M&M’s I bought for my boyfriend, but ~~accidentally~~ managed to eat most of said bag by myself. (I’m not proud of this – well…)

3. God bless the Target that’s 0.5 miles from my house for that one time I did need to brave the outdoors for medical supplies (okay, again not that dramatic, I went and got some cough drops for my sore throat…and that bag of aforementioned M&Ms).

4. The comfy-iest bed ever.

5. I ordered take out for myself last night and happily devoured it over old episodes of Ally McBeal on Netflix (because hey – I was waaay to weak to cook or microwave anything). 🙂

Stay healthy, guys! I think something is going around…

21Apr2014

Mixtape Monday

Posted in Music by C.

Though she’s been on the scene for a few years now, I recently spent an entire day finally getting acquainted with Lana Del Rey. Last Friday, when I was in a particularly “off” mood, her ethereal voice seemed to be one of the few things that spoke to me. It’s unique, haunting, powerful, and beyond the cliché description of beautiful. I spent several hours drowning into her music. I couldn’t exactly say if her voice was pulling me out of my funk-like state, or pushed me further into it in such a way that simply made it okay to be a little “off.”

What I can commit to saying, was that in exploring her music, I felt more at ease despite the myriad of things that were bugging that day. In effect, what I love about her voice is its ability to calm, providing a place to literally zone out, and just breathe.

And so, we find ourselves visited by that illustrious thing we call “Monday.”

I’m a believer that making the transition back into the routine of the week always helps with good music. I’ve curated a short playlist of those songs that gave me chills in such a way that helped create that much-needed breathing space I needed recently.

So log in to your Spotify account, hit play, sit back and get to work on those Monday to-do lists and emails with a little Lana Del Rey in background perfect for vibin’ out and working through those infamous Monday blues if they’ve happened to pay you a visit. It’s what I’m likely doing myself as you read this.

Have a great week. Enjoy!

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18Apr2014

Highlights

Posted in Life, Series by C.

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{Day 21: A year old & still going strong. My version of those elusive ruby-red slippers, circa 2014.}

TGIF! This has been a long week. There’s much going on as of late, particularly on the career-front and I’m loving the challenge. I get bored rather easily, so it’s always nice when a change of pace is in the works. I’m being pushed to think more creativity and critically about the process of storytelling, while brushing up on some of my post-production skills, and learning about a whole new subject matter. Needless to say, it’s going to be a busy next couple of weeks. Unfortunately, I haven’t been feeling too great over the last couple of days so I know it’s the universe’s way of telling me to slow down and get some rest. This is exactly what I intend to do this weekend. I don’t have any plans and that’s precisely how it’s going to stay.

It’s now day 25 on the 100 Happy Days challenge. Here are my favorite images/moments since we last caught-up.

Have a nice weekend.

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{Day 18: A rare Friday out attending the L.A. Theatre Works performance of Henrik Ibsen’s “An Enemy of the People.” It was fantastic.}

p.s. The L.A. Theatre Works hold lives performances in front of an audience of top-notch actors dramatically performing some of the most renowned plays ever written. They are audio recorded and made available online for download or you can tune in every Thursday night on KPFK 90.7 FM in Los Angeles. See full schedule for times in your area. I encourage you to check them out. It’s pretty cool.

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{Day 19: The LA Times Festival of Books. Read more here.}

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{Day 24: Ready for the Scandal season finale last night!}

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{Day 23: My first ever Naked Juice green protein smoothie in an effort to combat how not so great I was feeling this week. It’s quite yummy. I could feel the health flowing through me!}

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{Day 22: Indie films on Tuesdays nights. Recently saw David Gordon Green’s new film, Joe. It won’t make my top 10 of the year, but interesting nonetheless.}

16Apr2014

Birchbox All-Stars

Posted in Beauty by C.

Birchbox All-Stars Final

I’ve reviewed over 70 beauty and lifestyle products since joining the Birchbox family just over a year ago. Aside from the alluring monthly surprise to myself – I really have discovered and incorporated many new finds into my routine because of Birchbox’s rather genius, yet simple idea: sending high-quality samples, from high-profile brands to experiment with before taking your next big beauty plunge.

Like anything, Birchbox can be a total hit or a total miss (case and point: last month’s box), but I can’t help but look back and smile at my experience in general.

I received my most recent box just this past weekend, and I can already tell April is going to be all the more glamorous for it. It got me to thinking about what my favorite products have been since joining the Birchbox family 14 months ago.

And so, I’m feeling a little nostalgic today. It’s a good time to pause and reflect on my favorite discoveries, my top 10 out of them all. These are products that I now use with regularity, with a couple that I will be adding to my routine in the very near future. These are my Birchbox all-stars.