Archive for the ‘Adventures’ Category

Drive over to Downtown LA’s fashion district this Saturday to learn about opportunities to volunteer for local organizations. Young, old, fashionable or not – there’s going to be something for everyone!

For more info visit City Lab’s website & my article for Examiner.com!

I saw this lil’ survey on Life-Aficionada‘s blog (love her layout btw) and thought I need to fill this out as I apparently don’t have much else to do at work. It reminds me of all those random surveys that people would email each other / post on MySpace back in the day but this one isn’t stupid and has a cheery holiday theme!

And away we go…

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags?

Wrapping paper, I LOVE wrapping gifts. Great paper can make a boring gift seem much more glamorous!

2. Real tree or Artificial?

REAL! Love that fresh cut smell, although I’m not a fan of all the needles. I’m thinking next year I’ll rent a real tree (yes they have that in SoCal now) so after it fulfills my holiday duty someone will replant it into the ground.

3. When do you put up the tree?

Probably a week or so after Thanksgiving.

4. When do you take the tree down?

Before or after new years, depending on if it’ll last any longer lol.

5. Do you like eggnog?

NO, I’ve never had it, in fact the name itself grosses me out. I do like eggs, but am not a big dairy person.

6. Favorite gift received as a child?

Super Nintendo!

7. Hardest person to buy for?

My Dad or any significant other. I’m horrible at keeping secrets and dads are always the hardest to shop for!

8. Easiest person to buy for?

Friends, just get them something girly or funny!

9. Do you have a nativity scene?

Nope, my mom does though. I’m not a big Jesus person.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards?

MAIL! Email cards are so lame!

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received?

Probably some stupid white elephant type gift.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie?

Home Alone, The Grinch.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas?

December anytime.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?

Yes, guilty, sorry.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?

COOKIES – sugar cookies that are soft with a light touch of  icing, preferably in fun shapes!

16. Lights on the tree?

Of course, the tree becomes the impromptu nightlight!

17. Favorite Christmas song(s)?

The Hanukkah songs from Adam Sandler and Lady Gaga, oh and that song from Blink 182 “It’s Christmas time again, time to be nice to the people you can’t stand”

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

Home with family, but possibly traveling with them as well.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer?

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen…and the most famous reindeer of all: Rodolph!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star?

I have a snow man and a star lol

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?

Christmas morning!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year?

Parking at the shopping centers is always a mess!

23. Favorite ornament, theme, or color?

This year I went with blue, silver, and red. Blue and silver balls with big red candy canes across my tree accented with red and clear lights.

24. Favorite for Christmas Dinner?

Cookies!

25. What do you want to do for Christmas this year?

Cookies!

26. Favorite Christmas tradition growing up?

Cookies!, Playing with all my gifts after opening them up!

27. Favorite tradition now?

Being the one to surprise everyone else now that I can actually afford real presents!

28. Favorite Christmas Memory?

My dad pretending to leave notes and making up stories that Santa/Rudolph actually came to the house. Gee, I was gullible!

wreath img; gaga img; reindeer img

My 2009 Holiday tree!

Part of my weekend ritual is to walk/hike/run around Runyon Canyon in Hollywood. I love that I can get my exercise and feel like I’m not in a busy city anymore. Everyone always says that they see celebs there – I haven’t, but I’m also horrible at recognizing people. On the contrary I have seen paparazzo there, so I assume it is just as celeb-prone as everyone makes it out to be. I don’t go to gawk however, I go to get my fitness on. It’s a pretty simple hike, but there are more advance trails once you master the basic ones – I highly recommend doing it at least once.

Here are some pics from my latest jaunt up the mountain. I like that these pics look deserted even though it’s a bustling Saturday morning.

For more info visit City of LA’s Dept of Recreation and Parks.

Sometimes there are things (and people) that you can’t live with and sometimes there are those you can’t live without.

This about those things you can’t live without. They say “all you need is love” and “love is all you need.” In most cases it’ s true, but I tend to use the word “love” to describe a lot of things. I of course love and am grateful for my friends, family, and good health.

But I also love:

Laughter, not because it’s the best medicine, but because I can never take my self  too seriously. Nothing makes a bad day go away like a funny show or a random hilarious incident.

My iPhone, computers, and the internet. Since they all work together, I’m pretty sure I’m head over heels for this threesome – it’s serious.

Money. I work hard for my money, well not really, but I work for it and that’s how I pay for the above, along with other necessities, so I’d say we’re in a serious relationship. Also money is very humbling because no matter how much or how little you have there is always someone with less.

oh, and the ocean. I don’t discriminate, I love them all, I just happen to be closest to the Pacific. Gushing waves are calming and there is no sound like it. Holding a shell up to your ear really isn’t the same.

What can’t you live without?

This post is a part of 20SB’s Blog Carnival: Can’t Live Without, and Alice.com is awarding prizes to lucky bloggers and readers.

img1, img2, img3, img4, img5

When Halloween lands on a weekend the freaks really do come out at night. I mean that in the best and most creative way possible. Saturday West Hollywood, Hollywood, Sunset Blvd, Santa Monica, and all places exciting (not you Valley or IE) were over run with Halloweeners. I don’t mean cute cuddly kids in Spider Man costumes either. I’m referring to a higher power of sluts, drag queens, and a slew of outrageous characters.  Whilst wondering all around Santa Monica Blvd in West Hollywood I saw a lot of people that spent a lot of time working on their costumes. Some favorites included Balloon boy, UP, Mario Kart, Potted Plants, Tetris, and more. I know, I know – I should be better at taking pictures of all this crazy stuff. After all, it is my New Years Resolution every year to ‘take more pictures’. Well, I do have some to share with ya’ll from the West Hollywood Costume Carnaval 2009:

Til next year!