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02.20.2013
Goals For 2013 (And Beyond)


For the past few months (ok, since January), I’ve been really toiling over the direction that I want my life to go in, HELLO quarter life crisis.  Most of the time, it feels like it’s a constant uphill battle to be a better person, be an ideal employee, be a better blogger, be the best sister, daughter, aunt, etc. and it can become just SO daunting.  I stumbled across this blogger series on 101 Goals and decided that I wanted to write my own…but for 2013 and beyond, not just for this particular year.  And also, I definitely don’t have 101 goals cause that just seems really unrealistic, ha.  So, here they are and, in case you want to write your own, I used this really helpful goals organizer PDF.  What are some of your goals?

Venice Canals
Catalina Island (again!)
Big Sur, CA
Australia
South Africa
Mexico
Happy hours Downtown and Century City
Spend more time at the beach
Go out more in Santa Monica (Bungalow) and Venice (Venice Yacht Club)


Pay off credit cards
Contribute more to my 401K
Save more money


Spend more time at the gym
Get bi-monthly massages
Box more often
Continue to take ballet classes
Hike Runyon Canyon more often


Become fluent in Italian
Mix a proper cocktail
Waterski
Surf
Play tennis
Get scuba certified
Grow tomatoes on my balcony
Focus on the present
How to floss every day (shhh, don’t tell my dentist)


Skydive (round 4)
Throw a dinner party and/or game night
Ask a guy out
Talk to strangers more often
Visit the Orange County gun range


Continue to volunteer
Make five new friends
Continue to be open-minded to dating different types of guys
Give 10 “just because” gifts to my friends
Make sure I see my family at least four times a year (at least!)


Do at least two blogs posts per day
Do one YouTube video per week
Continue working with brands that I love
Host more events
Work on my book more often
Impress my boss (at my full time job) at least once a week!


Read more “classic” books
Take my vitamins daily
Eat breakfast daily
Use my roof more often (pool, jacuzzi, swim laps, etc.)
Get a photo of me illustrated and framed
Clean my apartment more often
Find out my blood type (random, I know)
Organize and save my digital photos
Finish decorating my apartment
Create a gallery wall in my living room

02.19.2013
Tuesday Web Candy

iMadeFace. Have you done it yet?  I can’t get one of the avatars to look like me, obvs. – InStyle

Loving this chic DIY gold vase…so perfect for my apartment. – Glitter N Glue

Nail polish from Marc Jacobs?!  Yes, please. – Racked

Loving Grace’s roundup of evil eye jewelry – Stripes and Sequins

Speaking of jewelry, I’m really into this Vita Fede collection – Honestly, WTF

Another amazing DIY: gadget cases – Buzzfeed

Rachel Zoe opens a blow dry bar in NYC…I want a blow dry bar in my apartment building – Fashionista

A Girls recap, via the editors of Refinery29 – Refinery29

Image via Honestly, WTF

02.19.2013
OBSESSED: Tarte Journey To Natural Beauty 6-Piece Collection


I can’t express in words the joy that came to my face when I opened my mail and came across this special 6-piece collection from Tarte Cosmetics for QVC.  Like, the packaging just makes me so happy and I plan on using the bag as a summer clutch.  What does it include?  Oh, pretty much everything that you need:

  • Amazonian Butter Lipstick in “Plummy Rose”
  • Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Broad-Spectrum SPF 15 Foundation (I got the “fair” shade, which is perfect)
  • Lights, Camera, Flashes! Statement Mascara in “Black”
  • One Brow Architect Brow Shaper
  • 12-Hour Amazonian Clay Blush in “Fearless”
  • Airbrush Finish Bamboo Foundation Brush- OBSESSED with this.  LOOK at the fabric handle?!
  • Bag- it doubles as a really cute clutch and, even though I’m not really a pink girl, I totally love it.


02.18.2013
My New Cats Make Their Blog Debut!


If you’re avid reader of my blog, you probably remember my super sad (yes, I cried while writing it) post about my late cat,Angel.  I rescued Angel from a shelter (ok, my Dad rescued her, technically) when I was 12 years old and brought her out to LA from New York when I moved out in 2009.  Sadly, Angel passed away in December 2011, at almost 17 years old, of liver cancer…and hence, I was devastated.  It’s funny how many people told me I should get  a new cat, as a replacement, when I really wanted to say back to them “if your sister died, would you tell your parents to adopt a new daughter?”  I know it sounds extreme, but the bond that I had with Angel was something very real and very deep.  I grew up with her.  Angel cuddled with me the first time that a boy dumped me, she sat on my lap and purred when I was grounded in my room and bored to death, she kept me company when I moved to a strange city where I knew a total of two people.  “Replacing” Angel was never an option for me; however, as my friend Ashley told me, I have a lot of love to give and any cat would be lucky to live with me.  It’s not “replacing” Angel, it’s simply moving on and helping another animal that needs a home.  After about one year, I was ready.

Enter Gemma Angel and Gea.  I only intended to get ONE cat (Gemma Angel) but, of course, the foster family saw that I have “SUCKER” clearly written all over my face when it comes to anything that meows.  Gea (the smaller kitten) is Gemma’s daughter and they were rescued from a kill shelter in Carson, California.  Ironically enough, they were being fostered at a mansion in the Hollywood Hills, right next to Chris Brown’s house, but they seem to have adjusted to the downgrade that IS my “executive studio” apartment.  I love my little girls and even though I know that Angel would LOATHE both of them, I know, deep down, that she’s secretly happy for me…and probably chowing down on some salmon, next to a warm fire place.

Make sure to follow me on Instagram for even more Gemma and Gea pics…you’ll get sick of me, for sure.

02.15.2013
PennyChic by Shauna Miller Launces on WalMart.com (update: on Feb 19)!


I can’t even tell you how excited I am for this news…my amazing friend Shauna is launching her PennyChic by Shauna Miller LBD (little black dress) collection TODAY on WalMart.com! (UPDATE: THE LAUNCH HAS BEEN POSTPONED TO FEBRUARY 19TH)! I mean, dress designer?  Blogger?  Upcoming author?  What can’t this girl do?!  You might also remember seeing me as her blogger model, which was soooo much fun.

The best part is that each dress is only $20.  Yes, you read that right…TWENTY dollars.  For a LBD.  I need The Peplum, that’s obvious, but I’m also eyeballing The Classic…it’s so Audrey Hepburn that I can’t even handle it.  And, as a fun little surprise, she let her readers vote on a fifth dress…The Utility (below).  Make sure you order your favorite(s) TODAY on WalMart.com before they sell out! All of the dresses are made in the U.S.A. (and outside of Walmart production), and are available in sizes XS to XL, as well as sizes 16-22.

UPDATE!!!  Here’s how to get the dresses:



02.13.2013
The Fourth Annual Anti-Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

It’s funny because I don’t enjoy doing gift guides…I always feel like there’s just so much pressure to find the most perfect gifts but, for some reason, I always REALLY look forward to my Anti-Valentine’s Day guide.  I can’t even believe this is the FOURTH edition…I mean, if you need to catch up here’s one, two and three, oh, how times flies when you’re having fun.  The truth of the matter is that I actually considered NOT doing something anti V-day this year, mostly because I went on three really good dates with a guy and was actually feeling like MAYBE I’d have a Valentine this year.  Well, that thought was quickly destroyed and so, on with tradition.  With out any further ado, here’s the fourth annual anti-Valentine’s Day gift guide:

I’m usually more of a chocolate girl but when I heard that Sugarfina came out with their own Anti-Valentine’s Gift Set, how could I resist?  I ordered the trio yes, for myself, and definitely enjoyed the all three…but the frogs (e.g. Stop Kissing Frogs) was totally my fave.  And ladies, don’t forget, there really ARE “plenty of fish in the sea.”

The HBO show Girls…well, I’m obsessed, to say the least, but from what I’ve observed…men really hate this show.  Maybe “hate” is a strong word but I’d say “dislike” or “confused by” would be a fair assessment.  

Friend’s BF: I don’t get it…they’re all really unattractive and gross.  
Me: You wouldn’t get it…it’s REAL.

Deborah Lippmann created four fun nail polish shades, inspired by each character on the show…all of which I deam totally on point, by the way.

Oh, Ryan Gosling.  You have your own coloring book…and it’s fantastic.  The Ryan Gosling obsession annoys me to the absolute fullest so if you’re single this V-day, why not enjoy some Ryan on your time.  


With the help of Mr. Chakra, a new, interactive website from Aveda, you will be given the tools you need to find the balance you deserve. Mr. Chakra will reveal energy-aligning tips that include guided meditation, breathing techniques, mantra usage and personal nutrition. He’ll also lead you to the Aveda Chakra Balancing Body Massage at Aveda Spas and recommend your ideal Aveda Chakra Balancing Body Mist. I encourage you to take sensory journey – I’m chakra #5, in case you were wondering.

02.12.2013
Four Uses For Beer (Aside From Drinking It)


Beer shampoo was all the rage in 2012 so, naturally, I decided to do some research and find out what else I can do with the magical drink…the answer?  A LOT.  Funny since I’ll choose wine over beer any day of the week but hey, for me, 2013 is all about being open to new things!  

Clean yo’ jewelry, girl: Place your gold jewelry in a dish of beer, let it soak, then remove, rinse and polish with a dry cloth.  Clean jewelry for everyone!  Finally!

Polish your wood furniture: Rub flat beer gently onto furniture using a soft cloth. The beer will help to restore polish and color.

Soothe your feet: Apparently the enzymes in beer soften callused feet and help stimulate circulation!  Kind of awesome.  Make a mixture of room temperature beer and warm peppermint tea (half and half).  Submerge your feet for about 20 minutes.

Get a better night’s sleep?: This is definitely a must-try.  Wash your pillowcase in water spiked with a little bit of beer because, apparently, hops are sometimes used as an herbal remedy for insomnia…serial.  They have dimethylvinyl carbinol, which is a chemical compound that has a calming and slightly sedative effect.

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