CONFESSIONS OF A FAT GIRL

What's In Your Purse?

It's hard to believe that it's been 30 years since Allison Reynolds (Ally Sheedy) dumped her purse out in "The Breakfast Club." 

Much like our favorite pixie stix-loving friend, I must confess that I am one of those people who keeps a million things in her purse. Like, at the office, if someone's all "I need a band-aid!" someone will usually murmur from behind their monitor, "go ask AJ, she's got everything," and I do. And don't even get me started on what's in my desk drawers... 

As such, while I guess I own my fair share of clutches and evening bags, you will usually find me with a rather large purse. (I happened to notice my favorite, the Longchamp Le Pliage Tote is on sale at Nordstrom and that never happens.) 

So I thought it would be fun to dump out my bag and tell you what is in there RIGHT NOW....

• First and foremost, my PHONE. Sometimes, like today, my iPad as well. And for long days, an external charger.
• My wallet. It's an old Marc Jacobs nylon wallet that has held up remarkably well. Inside it's a mess and I feel like I must clean it out twice a week. Receipts, ticket stubs, photos, post-it notes... 
• My keys. Of course. Which I can never find. Of course. There are a few keychain baubles attached including a minion keychain I got at Universal Studios.
• My little make-up bag. Wonders are zipped within. It would take me an hour to go through it. 
• A Sephora signature travel brush. Often a lifesaver. Not joke.
• A fragrance stick. I like the Sugar Lychee scent from Fresh. 
• Reading glasses. 
• Sunglasses. I have a ton. The current favorite is a cheap pair from Urban. 
• Kleenex. Most of the time. 
• A multitude of pens. Specifically the uniball liquid gel pens. I am obsessed. 
• At least one Sharpie. Publicist habit from all the times I was escorting talent somewhere and they needed to scribble out an autograph.
• A small collection of hair rubberbands. Which I can never find when I need them. 
• Two or three lip glosses.
• Band-aids. Usually funny ones with the Muppets or Sponge Bob on them.
• Neosporin. People usually think this is the weirdest but I swear it's come in handy a zillion times.
• Aleve. (I am allergic to ibuprofen and Aleve, thankfully, cures all and doesn't contain any.)
• An emergency "female product" for me or someone who asks "OMIGOD DOES ANYONE HAVE...."
• A nail file. 
• Sometimes, my deodorant - depending on what I am doing that day. I am OBSESSED with Donna Karan's Cashmere Mist. I have been using it for YEARS. 
• Gum. I prefer the mint chocolate chip flavor from "Extra Delights." 
• Right now, a zip lock with Reese's Pieces in it. I've been going to the movies a lot and instead of buying a snack every time, I just end up eating a small handful of these. I'm lazy so they now seem to live in my purse.
• At all times, receipts I've thrown in and not sorted into my wallet yet. Also, lose change. 
• Hand lotion. Either Kiehl's or Eucerin. 
• Extra business cards. 

Dear lord, this list is ridiculous. It's no wonder my shoulders always hurt. Is anyone else this crazy?! 

Oh, but P.S. The reason I love my Longchamp the most -- look how it folds up! -- it is PERFECTION when I travel:

 

Okay, YOUR TURN!

What do you keep in your purse? Do you keep it light or is it a bottomless pit of supplies? 

Disclosure: The government makes me tell you that this post contains affiliate links. If you click on them and ending up buying something, I make about two cents off the sale and it does not affect you in the slightest. 

rue21 – A New Must See Plus Size Collection

There’s been so many more mainstream designers introducing plus size lines lately – it’s been a really refreshing development in the fashion world.  I think back to when I was a teenager and was limited to one store and maybe a couple department stores and it feels like eons ago. Of course, online shopping changed it all, right?

THERE IS NO “MAXIMUM” ON STYLE -- STYLE DOESN’T HAVE A SIZE!

I discovered rue21 last week and wanted to make sure I spread the word.  I don’t know how I missed it. They’re based here in the U.S. with more than 1100 stores in 47 states. Even here in California! In fact, rue21 is one of the fastest-growing fashion retail brands in the country. Inspired by the spirit and style of one of the best times in life (age 21 – cute, right?), their products are designed for people looking for fashion that’s modern, trendy and affordable.

True to that, rue21’s plus section is fashion-forward, flattering and includes everything – tops, plus size leggings, party dresses, outerwear, shoes, accessories and more. They have so much to offer, and their plus size clothing collection has only been around since November!

With spring and summer coming, here are some of my favorites:

Most recently, they launched plus size lingerie. Can I get a HALLELUJAH?! This is the hardest thing to find when you’re overweight. Not just because of size alone, but because a lot of manufacturers assume because you’re big, you’ve put aside any desire to wear sexy under-garments. They even carry plus size sports bras – this has always been the HARDEST item of clothing for me to find. I’m excited to take their line out 

Also, massive bonus points for their sale section. The prices are just beyond reasonable and with this crazy weather, I may blow a few bucks on some $16.99 sweaters!  Shipping is also affordable at a flat rate of $7 (although expedited shipping with higher rates is available), and is always free for orders over $50.

I would be remiss if I did not also mention their social responsibility campaign because stuff like this earns my loyalty. rue21 is a proud supporter of diversity, philanthropy and sustainability initiatives.

Please go check them out and let me know what your top wishlist item is! 

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post however all opinions and insight is my own. 

Quote of the Day

Legitimately from a fortune cookie I had this evening! Being in a cookie doesn't make it any less true.

Long Tall Sally With Them Big Feets

Here's a good catch for my fellow big foots. With love. 

Long Tall Sally is a wonderful online shop for tall-lady fashions and large-footed shoes. Seriously, they serve women 5'8" and up as well as shoes, sizes 10 - 15! (15! I wear and 11 or 12 and cannot even imagine. My sympathies to anyone in this position.) 

I was in the market for some comfy everyday shoes so I was excited when they sent me these from one of their premiere partners, Barefoot Tess:

Barefoot Tess mmay be their premiere partner but you'll also find a lot of other familiar brands like Nine West, New Balance, Sam Edelman (one of my faves!) and more. Which is great. Why shouldn't we get to wear the latest trends despite our monster sizes? 

These Dahlia lace-ups are normally $79.00 and they turned out to be super comfy! I love the shine with the snakeskin detailing and the thick soles - they are great to walk in. Of course, I also didn't mind just kicking back and putting 'em up, either! 

Here is something else really fantastic about the site -- accessories. Think about this. If you are a taller gal like me (though to be fair, I'm an eighth below their site's recommended minimum of 5'8"), this can be trickier than you realize! So they have tall-friendly items like gloves (longer fingers!), scarves (longer lengths!), purses (longer straps!) -- get the idea? Suddenly you're going to be so much more comfortable in everything you have on. You won't even realize how awkward you were before, amiright? 

I'm SUCH a sucker for scarves. I cannot wait to order a ton of them. Forget that I'm tall - I'm chesty so extra length on a scarf is really fantastic to me. 

Clothing sizes run up to size 20 and they have everything from pantyhose and jammies up to sweaters and coats. 

I'm so happy to have found this site! My credit card bill is a little annoyed but Mastercard's not the boss of me.... So in closing, a little musical tribute that seemed perfectly appropriate! "Long Tall Sally" by Little Richard. A classic! 

 

More:

• Official website
• Like them on Facebook
• Follow them on Twitter and Instagram

 

 

What's Up, Friday?

Good morning, happy readers! 

Maybe I'm being presumptuous. Or optimistic. I hope you're all happy. ;)

I thought I'd finally share with all y'all a new project I've had in the works - a SECOND BLOG. Oh yes! I'm deranged and wanted to create more work for myself.

On my other blog, simply named ajfeuerman.com, you'll find some of the same great content you'll continue to find here but it will also serve as a more professional-facing, online hub for me. Something I can fill with career-oriented advice to build my credibility as both a blogger and publicist. 

I hope you'll bookmark it or follow it via Bloglovin' or Feedly - however you do it! 

But please don't let me go here just yet! This blog has been a big part of my life for so very long (June will be EIGHT YEARS) so for now, I will totally keep posting on BOTH SITES! I PROMISE! 

Menday of the Month - Dev Patel

Yes, yes, I've cut back a little on Menday. But it makes every post in the category that much more precious, don't you think?

I wanted to encourage everyone to keep an eye on Dev Patel. You may know him from Slumdog Millionaire but I hope you also know him from HBO's The Newsroom. 

 

Anything Sorkin does sets every nerve in my body on fire - I loved this show. I was so sad it was short-lived but they served it well with an exhilarating final season and a lovely final episode. But in any case, Patel starred in the show as Neal, the geek who runs fictional ACN's digital arm. With vigor, passion and a dash of dry humor that could only come from Sorkin scripts. 

Keep in mind, by the way, that Patel, at age 24, has already been in the business for eight years. He shot Slumdog when he was just 17. 

And by the way, one of the best end-credits sequences ever, right?

 

This past weekend, Patel had not one but two movies open in theaters. The dystopian robot flick, Chappie, and sweet sequel, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (don't rush to judgement here - the first one was really fantastic; I swear it's not an "old people" flick). 

Obviously, they don't always have to be traditionally handsome. He's adorkable, right? And, I think, a little sexy. I want more Dev Patel in my life. 

Welcome to the Magnolia House

Entering Magnolia House in Pasadena, it's like you've entered some secret back alley. 

Not to worry - no one is going to steal your wallet. Down this alley and around the corner is a glorious bar and intimate restaurant that serves up fabulous cocktails and amazing food. And I'm not even exaggerating -- the entry is kind of an alley.... Built over 100 years ago, Magnolia has been a family home, a post-Prohibition liquor store and a myriad of modern businesses. They have preserved that house-feeling so incredibly well (I mean, case and point - you can see the actual house in this photo) and the result is pretty unique.

But enough about the setting. Can  we talk about the experience? The food? The drinks?

At first, I was concerned as a possibly misguided hostess thought it was okay to seat me and my guest in a corner completely out of view of the rest of the restaurant, behind a loud party of about 10 people. But the manager wasn't having it (frankly, I wasn't either) and had her move us almost immediately to a proper spot, dead center of all the action. He and our fantastic server wasted no time making recommendations so I started off with the "Everyday Sunshine" - a cocktail that contained everything I love in life: vodka, pineapple, raspberry, lime.... It was sweet and delicious. I'm a pretty girly drinker and I know a lot of y'all are too. Don't even try to be all tough with that bourbon I can smell from nine feet away. 

Some of you have probably realized by now that I almost always bring a guest with me on these restaurant visits. It's not because I hate dining alone -- on the contrary, I rather enjoy it. It's really because as a single person, it's hard to sample enough of the menu to make a fair evaluation... Also so I don't send myself into fatal obesity stuffing my face with great food at a place like Magnolia House. 

We began with something simple and small - NUTS. I'm not joking. (Although I am giggling like a teenager every time I type NUTS.) And not just any nuts. The black truffle infused sea salt pistachios come out in a little bucket and this is where having my friend was handy. Because were she not present, I may have opened my mouth and just poured that bucket out. Pistachios are my favorite nut, guys, but these were unreal. 

Of course, I could not pass up trying the Brussels sprouts, too. They are made with pistachio pesto, bacon, and pecornio cheese with a flash fried poached egg on top. Also unreal. I dreamed about these sprouts for many nights after. My sexy man dreams were getting jealous.

We weren't done with shared plates yet because then I simply had to try the king crab mac & cheese. It was among some of the best mac & cheese I've ever tasted. It didn't even need the crab, but I certainly enjoyed that, too! 

Oh but wait -- then it was time for a second cocktail and I was feeling a little  more brave so at the manager's urging I tried the "Phantom Engineer" which is mezcal, rye, grapefruit, lime and aperitif wine (it's basically vermouth, I believe). He was right to urge. I liked it better than my earlier beverage.

I was already nearing full but the team insisted their burger was to die for, and I do love a good burger. So it arrived and we split it in half. THE CHEESE won me over before I even put it in my mouth. They make their own American cheese! How nuts is that?! And it also has bourbon onions and thick-cut smoked bacon. It is definitely an amazing burger. Maybe even my top five. I'll have to have it again and will let you know...

In the end, it came down to dessert or polishing off the pistachios I hadn't consumed yet so for the good of this review, I had the bread pudding. It was wonderful. But then I had nut-regret. They were so stinking good and how could I just let half a bucket of nuts go to waste like that?! 

Answer: I couldn't. I begged for a plastic baggy. They obliged.

More:

• Official website
• Their socials - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
• Parking - street parking? When we went, there wasn't a valet but we found a lot behind the building that seemed like it was safe.
• Pro tip - It's a fairly small restaurant and they do not take reservations. Plan accordingly.

Added bonus? They bring the check out in a "little black book." We enjoyed flipping through it and reading previous customer contributions. Naturally, we left our own. Luckily my friend has a sense of humor.

Thank you to Magnolia House for hosting our meal and to Lawrence Moore & Associates for helping me out with some photos -- some of mine did fare well in the dimly lit room.

When Mo's Became The Continental

You would not know coming into the warm, elegant setting at The Continental that when the building opened in 1958, it was, in fact, an IHOP. 

It's been many things since, but yes, it started as the grand ol' International House of Pancakes. (And let's all be thankful because I have a long, storied relationship with IHOP myself and if I never enter one again it will be too soon. But I digress. Stories for another time and after certain family members are dead.) 

Anyway, back to the elegant decor and the delicious food. And the cocktails. OMIGOD THE COCKTAILS. My favorite was the Christopher Oaxacan, a cocktail that is both fun to say (even though I can't actually say it) and even more fun to drink. In addition to pineapple juice, lime juice and agave nectar, it has mezcal in it; which I recently learned the hard way is not Tequila. 

Beer and wine have a presence on the menu but my money's on all of the amazing cocktails. When someone puts that much effort into a craft cocktail offering, you almost have to honor their art, ya know? They even got me to try a Bourbon cocktail - something I never do. Bourbon sets my nose-hairs on fire. (You're welcome for that imagery.) 

May I recommend the patio for enjoying some cocktails? It was my favorite part of the renovated interior.

The new menu includes decadent, complex flavors in choices such as Thai Seafood Bouillabaisse, a stew of fresh shrimp, scallops, calamari and vegetables, cooked in a creamy coconut, lemongrass and kaffir lime broth. I had a tiny bite -- it was not nearly enough. However my favorite amuse-bouche was the slider version of their Continental Burger, served with prime Angus beef, crispy pancetta (that's what Italians call bacon, guys), tempura-fried dill pickles and white cheddar cheese. I'm a giant sucker for white cheddar. 

As a whole the menu is quite diverse and even changes things up for lunch. Some of the dishes manage to be both French and Thai inspired. They even manage Jewish-Vietnamese somehow -- they feature their slow-roasted brisket in a Vietnamese Style Banh Mi. You'll find salmon, chicken, vegetarian options, salads, sandwiches. I've said it before -- the worst part about writing these posts is that they make me hungry and that's never been more true than now. 

You know, I could eat Brussels Sprouts every day. True story. 

When the awesome staffers were not hugging me hello or introducing themselves, I stepped aside to admire the centerpiece of Continental’s décor, a new, five-panel/35-foot wide mural depicting Toluca Lake that wraps around the walls throughout the front rooms.

It's a nice tribute to the history of the establishment and if you look closely at it, you will spot a tiny flag with a Mo's logo. 

Yes, the building has seen several reincarnations and most recently, The Continental was Mo's which was one of my family's favorite restaurants. So before I conclude, let us all take a moment....

Mo's, it was real, it was fun. But now it's time to have real fun (see what I did there?) at The Continental, guys. Let's go chug some mezcal cocktails! 

More:

•     Official website
•     All of the socials - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram
•     Street parking available,, which I would recommend first. The valet lot in the back is tiny.