CONFESSIONS OF A FAT GIRL

Friday is 90% Awesome 80% of the Time

I don't actually know if that headline makes sense, but I enjoy it. 

Naturally I love my blog and always enjoy writing for it, but I especially enjoyed it this week. It was the prefect blend of sponsored posts, giveaway posts and me-posts. I had so much fun Downtown last weekend, and then writing about The Last Bookstore and Ace Hotel --  I want to do more of that. I'm trying to brainstorm other fun places around town to visit. Do let me know if you have any ideas!

1. I've renamed myself  "Crazy AJ" and feel rather like one of those nutty commercial salemen who always shoutss "everything my go, go, GO!"

 

But it's so much fun to be me right now! I love giveaways and you still have a few days left for two of them - a beautiful coktail recipe book from the writers of Spoon Fork Bacon, and a cool pair of earphones from Sol Republic.

And just in time for Valentine's Day, I've got one more in the pipeline. Remember the Sex Positions Coloring Book? Well, this giveaway is gonna blow that one out of the water.... You've been warned. And I'll bet you're quivering with anticipation. 

2. My mind was BLOWN this week when I read that Tom Hiddleston originally screen tested to be Thor. Did you know that?! Cause I didn't. But io9 posted about it and included some amazing animated gifs. You must go see.  I can't wait for Thor: The Dark World to come out on Blu-ray...! 

3. I came across this article and thought it was pretty terrific: "How to Pronounce Designer Names 101." It reminded me of that scene in Showgirls (stoppit - you know you've seen it, too) when Elizabeth Berkely pronouces Versace as Ver-sase. I'm not gonna lie -- I didn't know how Proenza Schouler was pronoucned although I did know they make beautiful, wonderful handbags that I worship from afar. 

Also, P.S. Proenza Schouler's designers, Lazaro Hernandez and Jack McCollough, are pretty easy on the eyes. Would you have expected this? 

4. My back and neck have been KILLING me lately and I'm going a little crazy from it. I have a perfectly nice desk chair at work, but it's not very nice right now. I don't know what to do. I spotted a chair like this at a co-worker's desk and he let me try it... It was shockingly comfortable and took a lot of pressure off the parts of me that are hurting. But I'm not sure I could sit in it all day. I might pick up one of those yoga balls this weekend and just try it for part of the day. We'll see....

5. My new favorite person to follow on Twitter these days is Ronan Farrow. You may have heard about him recently -- there was an article in Vanity Fair about his mom, Mia Farrow, in which she actuallly speculated if his father reall is Woody Allen or if, in fact, it is Frank Sinatra. And Ronan, in response, tweeted "Listen, we're all 'possibly' Frank Sinatra's son."  That earned my follow and he's earned my admiration ever since. (He's actually a really interesting guy and worth reading about if you have time.) 

Also, his live-tweeting of the Grammy Awards was perfection.

In any case, I tweeted:

I hope no one minds but I think I'm just going to delete all of you and just follow @RonanFarrow from now on. (Only half-kidding...)

— AJ (@AmandaJoy) January 30, 2014

And then this happened:

I'm such a nerd. But dammit, that made me really happy. 

* * *

Have a great weekend, everybody. I hope something happens that makes you incredibly happy!

Beautiful Cocktails + Five Questions with @SpoonForkBacon + Giveaway!

Well I am just too excited about this post. And not because there are cocktails involved.

Jenny Park and Teri Lyn Fisher, the duo behind the award-winning food blog, Spoon Fork Bacon (and authors of Tiny Food Party), are spicing up cocktail hour with their creative flair and love of improvisation in their fresh and innovative new book Cocktails for the Four Seasons (a mere $10.95). Pulling from their own experiments with finding the perfect drink for any occasion, Jenny, a food stylist and recipe developer who has worked with HGTV, Food & Wine, and bon appétit, and Teri Lyn, an accomplished home cook and photographer, create a year’s worth of happy hours libations – some classics and some new concoctions – perfect for each season.

Oh yeah, if that photo looks like I took it in bed, it's because I did. While drinking a glass of wine and fantasizing about the various new drinks I am going to have to try as a result of this book. 

The book is art. It is lovely. I'm a big fan of it being virtually pocket-sized so that I can tote it to any party. I'm a huge fan of it being a hidden-spiral book so that the pages flip easily and then remain flat, so that if you are following a recipe, the page won't pop up on you. What's more, the little elastic band attached to the book ensures you can keep your place. But I can't say enough about the art -- the photos of mouth-watering and I promise you, I will try each and every recipe here -- like the Honey Bear, the Salty Dog, Grilled Peach Rum Punch, Pear and Bubbles.... The cocktail names roll off my tongue as easily as the drool that follows. 

So before I give away one copy of this book to a very, very lucky reader, and tell you about how this would be the PERFECT gift item for any and every ocassion (I mean, you can't beat the price and it's perfect for those "I don't wanna spend a ton of money" moments but still quite a nice gift) -- I had the amazing opportunity to interview both Jenny and Teri. They were so kind to chat with me -- and I was a bit if a fangirl. I've been following Spoon Fork Bacon for quite some time! 

And look out, Angelenos! They are local girls and have some hot tips for you. 

Q: Well, first of all, congratulations on your massive success and your beautiful book! I love the unique perspective of pairing cocktails to seasons. Was it easy to decide what went where? Were they any you could have gone another way with?

A: Thank you for your kind words! Some recipes were easy to place, like our Mint Julep (which just screams “drink me on a sweltering summer day!”), while others were definitely a toss up. We have a Tamarind Margarita in the book as well and when people think about margaritas, summer generally comes to mind, but the tamarind infusion gives almost a warm-spiced taste to the cocktail which reminded us of chilly autumn nights.

Q: Your cocktails are not only delicious but also beautiful to look at! The way they appear in the book - it's positively art. You have such a varitey of garnishes in here. Were there any unusual discoveries when paring them to drinks? What is your favorite drink and snack combo? (Everyone knows I love dirty martinis because I also love green olives so much.)

A: Our Bloody Marys with the pickled shrimp garnish, is probably our favorite “drink plus garnish snack combo”. We’ve seen strips of crispy bacon garnish bloody mary’s before, and we wanted to do something similar with a savory garnis; luscious shrimp paired with a spicy tomato flavor just seemed right. The pickling aspect also gives the drink an extra kick in the pants that we really enjoy!

Q: Oh, I can't wait to try that one. I loveshrimp! ... I also saw some asian pear in the book as well as thyme and basil -- things I know I never used to like with cocktails but rather enjoy now! What things do you like now that you didn't before? Or, is there something you don't enjoy now that you used to be obsessed with?

A: When we were younger, it seemed like the sweeter the cocktail the better. Bring on the Scnapps and Pucker! These days, the idea of an artificially sweet, syrupy cocktail make us feel a little queasy. In the last few years, a lot of restaurants have been focusing on homemade, craft cocktails and we love, and have tried to mimic that concept in our book.

We've both always been interested in somewhat odd-lot pairings, especially when it comes to savory herbs in sweet things, so getting to make our own concoctions, such as basil infused simple syrup, and adding it to the cocktails for a subtle yet natural tasting cocktail, really excites us!

Q: I think most people consider cocktails being cold drinks first, so it was exciting to see some hot drink recipes in your book. What is your favorite hot beverage? It doesn't even have to be a cocktail in the book -- maybe one of you is a coffee fiend....?

A: We’re both pretty big coffee fiends so this one is actually very easy. We love a good hot coffee with a nice BIG splash of Baileys or another coffee liqueur with a splash of cream. This is actually something we both drink pretty causally at home when it’s chilly out and we want a little somethin’ to warm us up…extra nice! 

Q:  Okay, cocktails aside, I must ask you about Spoon Fork Bacon, your wonderful blog. (Jenny, I am also a big Palahniuk fan!) I know you guys love hot dogs and amazingly, it's a new food for me -- I hated them as a child and now LOVE them. So I must know, what are your favorite hot dog joints in Los Angeles?

A: Well being a Chicago native I (Jenny) am a tad bit of a hot dog nazi…just a little. I don’t feel comfortable with a bottle of ketchup sitting even 10 feet within my hot dogs…just get it away! The big thing for us is a nice, snappy hotdog with a salty, rich center.

Dog Haus, in Pasadena, is a place that we LOVE. The hot dogs are exactly the way we like them and they use buttered and toasted sweet Hawaiian rolls for the buns. So simple, yet so delicious. When we’re in the mood for hot dogs that are a little unique we scout out the Dogzilla Food Truck which serve Japanese inspired hot dogs that are super tasty. The condiments and topping choices alone are worth the research and traveling you may have to do, to get ahold of one of these special hot dogs!

My compliments to the authors -- they are terriific gals. Thank you so much for talking to me, Jenny and Teri -- what an honor! And thank you for saving an extra book for one of my readers. The giveaway begins! 

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Let's Ruin It With Babies

Do I ever post movie announcement? No. Did I love this movie's title and filmmaker so much I broke my own rule? Absolutely.

**Plays "It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want to," continues typing**

Well, if the title didn't grab you all on it's own, let me tell you about the film Let's Ruin it With Babies.

LRIWB is a drama/comedy from first time feature film director, Kestrin Pantera. Does her name sound familiar? It could be because you've been to SXSW or Comic Con and attended one of her legendary mobile karaoke parties. They're rather infamous and a helluva good time. (I mean, I wouldn't want to end my karaoke party life by having babies -- would you? That's crazy talk.)

 

But no one ever claimed Pantera was sane... Case and point, she ambitiously wrote, directed, and stars in the film based on her own life -- about a woman who has it all; a beautiful home, a rock star lifestyle, and a loving husband intent on ruining it all by knocking her up. 

 

You might say Pantera channeled her own breeding doubts into making this flick. When her husband started to drop hints about wanting a family, she asked for an extension so she could make this film and have her last hurrah. Until life immitated art; halfway through production, she realized she was knocked up for reals. 

 

Later, Pantera's first action as a new mom would be to sign a film distribution deal with Devolver Digital. Sweet, sweet victory. Not a bad way to bring new life into the world! It'll be a fun tale to tell the kid someday... What a fabulous story, right? Both real and on screen. I love it all. And I cannot wait to see the movie. 

 

 

 

Who's coming with me?

 

To enjoy Let's Ruin it With Babies...

• Arena Theater, Hollywood - beginning 1/31 (one-week run)
• Roxie Theater, San Franciso (Indie Film Fest) - 7pm on 2/8 and 2/10
• New Parkway Theater, Oakland - 7pm on 2/17

More screening details can be found here. FYI, it's also only $4.99 to watch it online right now.

 

I also highly recommend following Pantera on Twitter -- she's awesome.

 

A New Favorite - The Ace Hotel Comes to Downtown LA

Head up, muffins -- Photo heavy post. But totes worth it. (Yeah, I said "totes." It's growing on me. I've stopped trying to fight it.)

When I read on Brigham Yen's "DTLA Rising" blog that the Ace Hotel was opening downtown, I knew I had to see it. I've seen their properties in other cities and it's a really fantastic chain of boutique hotels. Each location has its own personality and theme -- always with local ties -- and I couldn't wait to see how LA's location would develop. So I got resourceful; I found a contact and was really excited they volunteered to give me a tour! 

Ace Hotel Downtown Los Angeles opened at the beginning of the month in the historic United Artists building (929 S. Broadway). Originally built in 1927 for the maverick film studio, the ornate, storied theatre and tower stand as monument to a group of seminal American artists -- you know, little known talent like Charlie Chaplin, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford...

The project's facade was approached as an "interpretive" restoration — what would the building have looked like if it had been a hotel, restaurant, or theatre in the heyday of the Broadway Theatre District? 

And I really like to look at architecture (shiny! pretty! tall!) but I was much more excited to see the inside. I love hotels. I really do. (You may recall from past lists, that every year, one of my goals is always to spend a night in one, alone - it's a favorite thing.) I was busting from the moment I parked in the convenient public lost right across the street ($6 flate rate on weekends, by the way). More so when the cute guys in the nice-fitting tees got the front door for me. As we all know, I'm a sucker for hot guys... (I should have gotten pics of those guys for #Menday!)

The building was stripped down to its minimalist concrete core, with design elements then layered on top. The public spaces in the hotel tower are intimate in scale, flowing naturally from one room to the next — the transition from registration, elevator vestibule, coffee bar, restaurant and into the
mezzanine lounge is seamless. And WiFi! For hotel guests and just regular guests! I may start working there on weekends -- the light is lovely in the cafe, LA Chapter.  The second floor of the cafe is much more coffee shop than restaurant and I could totally see myself there for hours, writing like a fiend.

There are outlets built into the tables, you guys. That's awesome. 

And I haven't even gotten to my favorite part -- the 14th floor, Upstairs. (Or, as I plan to eventually refer to it, the likely future site of my 35th birthday party.) 

The aptly named Upstairs rooftop space was transformed into an indoor/outdoor lounge and pool inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ennis House and the legendary Hollywood night spot Les Deux Café. Upstairs features a concrete bunker-like bar with a light installation by costume designer and returning Ace collaborator Michael Schmidt, made of hundreds of feet of vintage steel chain and barn hardware, with salvaged original theatrical lights found in the theatre.

The views are insane.

Incidentally, the "Jesus Saves" sign is because for a time, Reverend Gene Scott used the hotel's present Presidential Suite as his personal prayer room. I guess the obvious reminder helped him out a bit. 

I will have to return to get a firsthand view of the guest rooms at the hotel (it was booked solid when I visited -- not a bad problem to have but they were apologetic anyway), but here are some room pics they provided. I love their fun touches. Somehow the rooms are equal parts minimal and extremely detailed. The unique personal-like items -- records, guitars... You don't find that at a Marriot, right? And a library of vinyl in the lobby is on stand-by in case you need to swap out for something more your style. 

I'm not done yet -- and thnaks for sticking with me thus far. I simply must also mention the theater. It is glorious. It dates back to the origins of the structure as well, of course. You saw it earlier in photos -- it is gloriously vintage looking and being well preserved in its rennovation. When it opens on February 14th for it's first concert, it will seat a full house of 1600 people. I am SO excited another venue is opening in Los Angeles. We have so many and yet, still seems like not enough. And there is certainly nothing like it downtown. 

It is beautiful:

I saved the best for last. The final detail I'll share is one dedicated to my mom and to every teacher that ever sent a note home stating something like "Amanda is a bright, charming student but her penchant for doodling on any bare surface she can get her hands on is really distracting." (I swear they called me bright and charming. I would never lie.) 

Like I said at the top, each Ace Hotel location is imbued with it's own charm. So here, in LA, the owners brought in the Haas brothers, Nikolai and Simon, to doodle - yes, doodle - on their walls. In simple pencil. A a psychedelic wonderland peppered with California historical references and subtle visual jokes to charm and encourage conversation among visitors. And then they sealed it. In addition, the Haas brothers designed the lobby reception desk, which utilized reclaimed wood from the office spaces in the building before restoration. 

If I ever own a home, you'd better believe I'm doodling the crap out of a wall somewhere in the house.

I can hardly wait to make Ace Hotel Los Angeles one of my new favorite hangouts. 

Sol Republic's Relays Headphones are Light Weight, Low-Pro and Awesome

You know I get giddy over shiny new toys -- and especially earphones. What if I could just start a blog where I reviewed earphones, guys? Would that be weird? Cause I'm kind of down with that idea...

Introducing SOL REPUBLIC's Relays, in-ear earpphones (not quote earbuds, just FYI) that offer the benefits of a sports headphone but have amazing style. The Relays also roll out Sol Republic's new FreeFlex™ technology, which enables a universal fit and makes them easy to put in your ear and stay there regardless of how intensely you move. (Well we'll see about that...!) 

For sports and outdoor use, it's marvelous that Relays are water and sweat resistant with a clip-on cable that ensures it won’t ever get caught. And, no need to change headphones when commuting or working because the easily accessible mic and phone control lets you seamlessly stay in touch. I am obsessed with this feature. I listen to music or video almost all day at work and once I got the hang of the control shortcuts, it was awesome to be able to click around with the little cable-attached controller! Loved it. It's not just play, forward and back. You have access to volume, mute, answering your phone, pausing, stopping. It's incrediby versatile for something the size of a small paperclip.

More.... 

Packaging - Sophisticated. It presents well, the cable is prevented from getting tangled and they provide you with a little snappy pouch to transport them in. I find a lot of heaphones come with their own cases these days and it's an accesory I value. Keeping the cable from getting tangled is key to preserving them even longer. 

Fit - They do stay put. The Relays come with four ear-tip sizes so they are uber customizable. I started with the biggest ones, assuming that's what I'd need, but after a little while, felt too much pressure from them and moved down a size. That was perfect. And they're not bullet-shaped -- as you can see they're kind of like little discs so they look kind of cool on -- and they're not awkward like those horrible earbuds that come with iPhones these days. (I hate those --- does anyone like those things? I think they're horrible.)

Plus, keep in mind that Sol Republic has an “Ear Tips for Life” program so you never have to worry if you lose your ear tips. That means they will replace your ear tips anytime they are lost, misplaced or if you simply want a different size. That's ppretty cool. They stay on the earphones really well but lord knwos they're small and things have been known to happen... 

Sound - Again, they're disc shaped and the size of a dime at best, so I was pretty impressed that with the volume just at a resonable level, I heard almost no external sounds, which is how I like it. Especially when I'm working (although this means sometimes people have to literally hit me to get my attention). 

Sol Republic Relays are available now in Black for $79.99 at VerizonWireless and will be available nationwide in Black & White, Horizon Blue and Lemon Lime at leading nationwide retailers in February.

And all your dreams just came true because in addition, Sol Republic has provided a pair of Relays for me to give away! Enter below and come back daily to boost your chance to win. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was provided with a pair of Relays to test our in exchange for my honest review of the product. They also provided a pair for me to give away to one of you, so you stop that cynicism right there, you nervous Nelly.

Spending Time in The Last Bookstore

Located on the ground floor of the Spring Arts Tower downtown, The Last Bookstore is aptly named. While there is plenty of new inside (they do indeed sell new books), when strolling through it's aisles and wandering the labyrinth of SciFi and myster novels upstairs, the store really does feel like the last bookstore. I read about this place a while back and have always wanted to go, so when I found myself downtown on Saturday morning, I impetuously stopped by for a minute-turned-hour-and-a-half. 

I enjoyed sitting in an oversized, old leather chair jusy reading -- the store has marvelous light. And I equally enjoyed wandering up and down almost every single aisle, adding books to my mental wishlist as I went. The labyrinth upstairs is a sight to behold -- it's really whimsical and endearing. At the end, a tunnel under a bridge of books leads to a gigantic room unlike anything I've ever seen -- just shelf after shelf, aisle after aisle of books, each only a dollar to buy. And off to the side, a vault of true crime books.

As it was such a sight to behold, I took a lot of photos. 

I smiled while looking over this old globe, which still had the USSR and a divided Germany.

At the end of my visit, I did buy one book. It was only $5! Can you guess which one?

 

It's #Menday, Let's Get Sassy

This post is dedicated to Romina, who has excellent taste in men.

I don't watch "Sleepy Hollow" but I'm starting to think I should. The star of the show, Tom Mison, is quickly making me a believer... (Plus, he's a Brit. Accent. Bam. Sold.)

Now, I prefer him all clean cut. 

Especially cause he's really nailing that flirty look that makes me tingle in my lady parts.

But as far as greasy long-haired guys go, he's not too hard on the eyes, ya know?

We here at COFG salute you, sir. Keep up the good work. (Why do I always say "we?" We all know it's just me here.)

And hey! Don't forget to comment below. I still want to hear who your non-traditional crushes are! 

Quote of the Day

 

Not so very much to ask, I think.