CONFESSIONS OF A FAT GIRL

A Crazy-Love Quote of the Day

 

My friend to me {{blush}}...

"I love you. I mean in a real, strange, unexplained way. Is that wrong???? Is it more wrong than eating pie for breakfast on saturday morning?"

 

My Life in Numbers

I am totally stealing this idea from Elaine, who totally stole it from Greta. I was only thinking that in the past week, I've been shoving commercial posts down your throats and it was time for something a littler more personal. But instead of just rambling as per the usual, this seemed like a more unique idea.

And so it goes. 

 

33.5 - The number of years I've been on this Earth

3 - The number of colleges I've attended

2 - The number of degrees I have

0 - The number of times I've been married

3 - The number of states I've lived in

1992 - The year I was Bat Mizvah'd

5 - The number of jobs I've had since college graduation

2 - The number of countries I've lived in

9 - The number of addresses I've had (I think - this is tricky)

3 - The number of URLs I own

2 - The number of first cousins I have

1 - The number of siblings I have

2007 - The year I joined twitter

5.5 - The number of tweets I've averaged a day since

6 - The number of meals this week I have had SOUP for (I have walking pneumonia - it sucks)

6 - The number of hours of sleep I try to get on a weeknight

4 - The number of hours of sleep I usually get on a weeknight

4 - The number of great-grandparents I had (alive) when I was born

6 - The amount of pairs of shoes I just gave to Goodwill

 

I could go on forever with odds and ends... What are some of YOUR numbers?

 

Quote of the Day

 

Tonight, Dolly Parton was on The Colbert Report. And she spoke about being one of twelve children...

Stephen Colbert: I am one of eleven...

Dolly: I bet you're Catholic, right?

Stephen: And I bet you're not.,,

Dolly: Nah, we were just horny hilbillies!

 

 

#Dolly4Eva

 

 

Adventures in Ontario (of all places)

Not so terribly long ago, as a proud member of the "SoCal Lady Bloggers," I was invited to visit the Citizens Business Bank Arena for an Ontario Reign minor league hockey game.

AND, that's not all -- I was one of three very lucky bloggers to win an overnight stay at a nearby hotel.

So no, my life doesn't suck too much.

As I am suffering under the strain of NHL withdrawl (get your heads out of your asses, guys) this was a welcome outing. The Ontario Reign, at the very least, is, after all, the LA Kings-supported minor league team. 

GO REIGN!

Think of it as "mini hockey." Staples Center caps out at over 18K, CBBA caps out at 11K. The arena is smaller, the teams are less glamorous (although, admittedly, NHL teams are not that glamorous), the suites are less fancy... But it's a good time and I think even a non hockey fan could enjoy themsevles at a game. 

The arena is nice, though. And I found it interesting to learn it was paid for, in cash, by the city, at NO COST to the taxpayers. (You go, Ontario!) They've had the biggest acts you can imagine there (everyone from Metallica to Bieber) and I found myself wishing they had MORE acts through there because in a smaller venue like that, you can bet your ass I'd drive out for it. The parking is on the grounds as opposed to Staples where you have to pay a small fortune to park at small, off-site lots managed by morons (sorry, but it's true). 

After a very nice tour of the arena, we took over a couple suites where the arena staff had kindly provided some delicious snacks and drinks. I enjoyed the hell out of the game (we won - suck it, Bakersfield - your shooting accuracy was for shit) and save one minor issue where the lights went out in the bathroom while I was using it, it was a great, great time. (And not to worry, they were just on motion censors and I guess I'd kept too still.)

After the game, we went back to the nearby Aloft hotel where we'd met up for carpooling hours before, and where I'd be spending the night. The hotel graciously provided us all with a couple free cocktails (HELL YES!) and I really enjoyed the setting. The hotel is super cute. Very boutique-y, I guess you'd say.

My room was okay. I guess there's a big trend right now in hotel space -- hotels that are business traveler friendly wth capsule-like rooms, minimally spaced with lots of built-into-the-walls amenities to save space (I've stayed at similar places for business trips). I felt a little claustrophobic; especially when they had to move me from a pool-view room to a parking-lot-view room (so I closed my curtains) and I'm afraid the bed left me with a killer backache for a couple days.

But that's all subjective stuff - I know I am kind of a snob - so I am willing to bet most people would LOVE the hotel. And like I said, the overall vibe was very cool.  I wish I'd brought my bathing suit -- I thought the saltwater pool looked awesome. They had a pool table in the lobby, and all-night snack station, free WiFi... Lots of very cool amenities and some trendy looking accessories. 

Some photos...!

Something else you really wanna check out that I made a note to myself to mention, AXS.com. If you live in Souther California, AXS is AEG Entertainment's answer to everything that is awful abotu ticketmaster. And soon it will have a linear cable network so I'm a fan. I love multimedia ventures.

A very, very special thanks to Sue Oxarart, Marketing Director for the CBB Arena and our tour guide; Justin Kemp, the Ontario Reign's President; the Ontario Visitor's Bureau; and blogger Su Pak of IEShineOn, who orechestrated this whole, amazing experience. She's kind of a big deal, you guys. And frankly, I had no idea the Inland Empire was so awesome so big ups to her and her blog's mission (Victoria Gardens! Amazing!). There's plenty of nice stuff going on out there and I totally blame Kevin and Bean for any ill-will I previously directed at them. (For non-LA'ers, K&B are morning radio hosts who hate on the IE for funsies.)

Yay hockey! If the NHL isn't back soon, you'll see me at plenty more ECHL games.

WWMFD? ("What would Morgan Freeman do?")

Okay, okay, how many of you thought WWMFD was "What would a mother-effer do?" 

Sickos. 

But you guys, look at this! I mean, if MORGAN FREEMAN says it's okay, it MUST be okay. Because he's played God. And the President. And also, he's awesome.

 

Seriously, support gay marriage. If not for me, if not for someone out there who just wants to marry the love of their life, do it for MORGAN FREEMAN.

Wantin' Wontons

FYI, I make very clever blog post titles. You know you're a fan.

But enough about my enviable blog post titling talent.

I was so excited Bibigo sent me a present! 

You have not seen it here on the blog, but I did write about them via my old Examiner column and it's worth a look. They provided me with some really delicious samples last time and this time, even better.

Here's what was for dinner... at just 130 calories per serving and 3g of fat. Try it. You'll like it.

I couldn't decide. I tried a little of both.

There were a few cooking options but I was hungry and lazy -- I microwaved

Nobody panic -- I made too many and could not finish this. BUT, it was great for lunch the next day AND I still have a ton left in the freezer. No complaints from me!

And right now, CJ Foods, makers of Bibigo (and Korea’s number one food company), is giving back to the community with the launch of its CJ Bibigo “Won Ton of Giving” campaign. The campaign encourages visitors and fans of the CJ Foods Facebook page to join CJ Foods in raising awareness and supporting hunger relief efforts throughout Greater Los Angeles by simply choosing to “Like” the brand’s page. Upon reaching the goal of mobilizing 3,000+ fans, the company will donate one ton—or more than 91,000 CJ Bibigo Mini Wontons—to the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

That's AMAZING, right? 

Go to their Facebook page immediately and like it, people. You have until December 31 to recruit your friends to do so as well. This is an amazing, simple opportunity to help the hungry. 

In the meantime, CJ Bibigo Mini Wontons (SRP: $4.49/13oz.) are available at Fresh & Easy and Costco stores on the West Coast, and will be in traditional grocery and national specialty stores nationwide early next year. 

Eat up, like the page, feel good about yourself. 

You're welcome. ;)

Quote of the Day

A Little More Holiday Shopping Glamour

Tis the season. I cannot seem to stop window-shopping. It's horrible. 

I used to resist shopping at Lane Bryant because while they were one of the few retail sellers of plus sized clothing, their fashion choices were questionable. I felt like everything was made out of this weird, polyester stretch material. And half their tops had this weird glittery thread magic working through them and it was... well, reminiscent of the disco era. :)

Cut to all these years later and I must say, they really got their act together. What I did not realize until recently is that they've been in business for over 110 years!  How do you reinvent yourself over and over, staying in business - staying relevant - in ever changing climates?! Kudos to LB. 

And now, speaking of reinvention, they bring us the "Lane Collection." The new runway-inspired line features silhouettes to fit, flatter, that are sophisticated and sexy, to create the perfect look for everyday style. The Lane Collection is designed with premium fabrics (way, way gone are the nasty stretchy pants) with finer accents and details. Lane Collection price point ranges from $98 - $378 so maybe a little pricey for yours truly, but they're really more like investment pieces -- I see a lot of pieces that are multi-functional and wearable. Very mix-and-matchable... Lots of "able" in there, people. 

The new collection will be available in 11 stores including an LB I spent quite a bit of time at in college -- Fulton Street (Brooklyn, NY) -- as well as Walden Galleria (Buffalo, NY), Braintree (Massachusetts), Pentagon (Arlington, Virginia), Arlington Highlands (Arlington, TX), Arden Fair (Sacramento, CA), Easton Town Center (Columbus, OH), Fair Lakes (Fairfax, VA), Park Avenue (Lathrup Village, MI), Millennium, (Chicago, IL), and King of Prussia, (Philadelphia, PA) and online at www.lanebryant.com.

Not in Los Angeles yet. Very sad for me. But I've pretty much relegated to doing most of my clothes purchases online at this point anyway. {sigh}

Here are some of my favorite items! 

 

I love a great trench coat. At $189, not a bad deal for one, either.

I love these colors. It's kind of a romantic top, isn't it? I'd throw a black cardi or jacket over it. ($68)

 

You will never catch someone with my shelf-booty in this dress, but it's a good price at $98 and pretty smokin'.

Someone loan me $150. I want to wear this tunic on New Year's Eve, dammit.