CONFESSIONS OF A FAT GIRL

A COFG "Exclusiv"

What can I say - I love the vodka. So I wasn't gonna turn my back on a new brand. I am an equal-opportunity drinker, after all. They just wanna keep sending me free things to try... I love "they" so very much. 

*hiccup*

Exclusiv vodka has a fresh, clean taste I would say tastes better than Smirnoff, to be sure. It is less expensive than Smirnoff, besides. It made for a great dirty martini because it has a nice, subtle peppery after-taste. Note: I seldom drink vodka straight but if someone is nice enough to send me a bottle to try, I always will. This pleasantly surprised me. The vodka market is probably more populated than the average consumer realizes and even I haven't heard of all of them. I certainly had not heard of Exclusiv, so I did not know what to expect. I was really, quite pleasantly surprised. And the blog entry title really just writes itself, doesn't it? Well done on naming the vodka.

If you are at all familiar with the BTI index, it might also interest you to know that with 91 points, Exclusiv scored on par with (my favorite vodka) Kettle One. I mean, that's a SOLID score. It's just a notch below Grey Goose, which is three times the price. So who knows? Maybe money doesn't buy you better booze. 

So if you're a "bang for your buck" kind of person, this is a GREAT vodka to fit that bill. It has my "thumbs up." Or I should say "bottoms up," right? Well, we'll work on the ratings system...

 

 

And speaking of drinking, what holiday is on its way? St. Patrick's Day! 

Here are some Exclusiv cocktail suggestions:

Exclusiv Saint Pat’s-tini

2 oz Exclusiv Vodka

1/2 oz Creme de Cocoa

1 oz Bailey's Irish Cream

1/2 oz green Creme de Menthe

Exclusiv Passion

2 oz. Exclusiv Vodka
1 oz. Alize Passion Red Liquor
1 oz. Mango Puree
1 oz. Fresh Sour mix
3 Lemons, 1 Mango Slice
Combine first four ingredients in a shaker. Strain into martini glass. Squeeze 3 lemons.  Garnish with mango slice.

 

Exclusiv Sangria

1 750 ml. bottle dry white wine
12 oz. Exclusiv Citrus Vodka 
4 oz. Grand Marnier
4 oz. Orange Juice
4 oz. White Grape Juice
4 oz. Pomegranate Juice
4 oz. Fresh Lemon Juice
2 oz. Simple Syrup

 

Exclusiv Bomb Pop

1/2 oz Exclusiv Orange
1/2 oz Exclusiv Raspberry
1/2 Orange Curacoa
1/2 Sour mix
Splash 7up
Shaken, poured as a shot - s

ink grenadine

With thanks to Hollywood Connections PR.

 

Back from the North and Finalizing the List of 33

Greetings! I am refreshed and renewed! I started my new job today and have returned from a FABULOUS trip to San Francisco. We ate, we shopped, we drank, we walked, we shivered (cause dear lord was it COLD) and we had SO. MUCH. FUN.

We three at Golden Gate Park

 

I have finished coming up with my 33 things to do in 2012. Thank you to the friends and readers who contributed. I am SO excited about tackling this! 

New items are indicated in purple. Completed items are highlighted.

1. Go to San Francisco. 
2. Read at least one book a month, if not more. (I completed my book for January. Now reading TWO books at once. I guess I got overly ambitious?)
3. Watch Gone With the Wind - I've never seen it! Always wanted to. (Some friends saw this and we are going to organize a movie night. I'm so excited!)
4. Clean OUT this apartment. Good lord, I have WAY too much stuff. 
5. Try this arts n' crafts project. And maybe also this one. I think it's super cool. 
6. Finish my book (I started writing a book in 2011 - it's true!) 
7. Go to high tea with girlfriends. Wear beautiful and/or ridiculous hats. 
8. Go camping. (A cabin in the woods counts.)
9. Go to Vegas. Again. 
10. Bake a pie (I love to bake but I've never successfully made a pie and I LOVE pie!) 
11. Finish watching every episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," in order (I left off in the middle of season 4 in 2011.) Don't judge me. I get to have nerdy goals. 
12. Wear my glasses more often (like I'm supposed to) (So far, I have been!)
13. Go to a baseball game. Eat something totally unhealthy. Shout at the umpires for being assholes. 
14. Spend a day at the spa (Because I totally deserve it!)
15. Drink more water (OMG, I am failing miserably at this.)
16. Attend more than one hockey game. (Going to one on Jan. 21. In a VIP suite. Because I am legit, kiddos.)
17. Go to LACMA. And The Getty for that matter. I've lived in Los Angeles for most of my life and have never been to either. Ridiculous. 
18. Host a dinner party. Actually cook some of the food! 
19. Go to the movies more. Do not wait for others to invite you. Go alone.
20. Talk Less. Listen more. (This is rather vague. I will find a way to better explain.)
21. Try five foods I've always hated but haven't actually tried in years. Three more to go.
22. Learn to make a crepe. 
23. Take a cooking class with friends. 
24. Paint a wall in my bedroom. Probably this color or something similar.
25. Attend a Sunday service at a Baptist church. No, I am not kidding! 
26. Get rid of my ugly blue chair (in my apartment). This is more of a chore than you'd think because the chair is HEAVY. 
27. Send more postcards/cards/flowers/notes for no reason other than to make the recipient smile. 
28. Attend a taping of ELLEN. 
29. Shoot a gun (Oh Meghan.... I know you're up for this!)
30. Ride/Use a Segway
31. Get over 300 fans for my blog on Facebook (Hey, look! Something YOU can help with!)
32. Check out the Grammy Museum. Someone was just telling me how cool it is - I was sold. 
33. Restaurants! Do you know I keep a HUGE list of places I want to try, both in Los Angeles and out? I am going to narrow it down to the top five. TBD. 

 

 

OMG! I have 33 goals for 2012! What am I - crazy?! 

Epic Updates on the 33 in 2012

Greetings from SAN FRANCISCO! I am so excited to be here with two great friends. We talked about this trip forEVER and booked it so very long ago, I can hardly believe I am here. 

"Everywhere you look...." We will not rest until we get our picture taken in front of the famous Full House home!

Which brings me to updating my "33 in 2012" list. New items are indicated in purple. Completed items are now highlighted. 

1. Go to San Francisco.
2. Read at least one book a month, if not more. (I completed my book for January. Now reading TWO books at once. I guess I got overly ambitious?)
3. Watch Gone With the Wind - I've never seen it! Always wanted to. (Some friends saw this and we are going to organize a movie night. I'm so excited!)
4. Clean OUT this apartment. Good lord, I have WAY too much stuff. 
5. Try this arts n' crafts project. And maybe also this one. I think it's super cool. 
6. Finish my book (I started writing a book in 2011 - it's true!) 
7. Go to high tea with girlfriends. Wear beautiful and/or ridiculous hats. 
8. Go camping. (A cabin in the woods counts.)
9. Go to Vegas. Again. 
10. Bake a pie (I love to bake but I've never successfully made a pie and I LOVE pie!) 
11. Finish watching every episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," in order (I left off in the middle of season 4 in 2011.) Don't judge me. I get to have nerdy goals. 
12. Wear my glasses more often (like I'm supposed to) (So far, I have been!)
13. Go to a baseball game. Eat something totally unhealthy. Shout at the umpires for being assholes. 
14. Spend a day at the spa (Because I totally deserve it!)
15. Drink more water (This is the only New Years resolution I originally made -- well, other than abolishing the world of the Kardashians.)
16. Attend more than one hockey game. (Going to one on Jan. 21. In a VIP suite. Because I am legit, kiddos.)
17. Go to LACMA. And The Getty for that matter. I've lived in Los Angeles for most of my life and have never been to either. Ridiculous. 
18. Host a dinner party. Actually cook some of the food! 
19. Go to the movies more. Do not wait for others to invite you. Go alone. (Did this twice this week. Still plan to do it more. I loved it.)
20. Talk Less. Listen more. (This is rather vague. I will find a way to better explain.)
21. Try five foods I've always hated but haven't actually tried in years. (Thanks,Meg!) Well, I surely ate spinach last week. Four more to go. 
22. Learn to make a crepe. 
23. Take a cooking class with friends. 
24. Paint a wall in my bedroom. Probably this color or something similar.
25. ???

 

33 in 2012 Continues...

I have updated my list, added, edited, noted. If you are curious, see below. New items are indicated in purple.

1. Go to San Francisco (Leaving on Saturday!)
2. Read at least one book a month, if not more. (First book is in progress now)
3. Watch Gone With the Wind - I've never seen it! Always wanted to. (Some friends saw this and we are going to organize a movie night. I'm so excited!)
4. Clean OUT this apartment. Good lord, I have WAY too much stuff. 
5. Try this arts n' crafts project. And maybe also this one. I think it's super cool. 
6. Finish my book (I started writing a book in 2011 - it's true!) 
7. Go to high tea with girlfriends. Wear beautiful and/or ridiculous hats. 
8. Go camping. (A cabin in the woods counts.)
9. Go to Vegas. Again. 
10. Bake a pie (I love to bake but I've never successfully made a pie and I LOVE pie!) 
11. Finish watching every episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," in order (I left off in the middle of season 4 in 2011.) Don't judge me. I get to have nerdy goals. 
12. Wear my glasses more often (like I'm supposed to) (So far, I have been!)
13. Go to a baseball game. Eat something totally unhealthy. Shout at the umpires for being assholes. 
14. Spend a day at the spa (Because I totally deserve it!)
15. Drink more water (This is the only New Years resolution I originally made -- well, other than abolishing the world of the Kardashians.)
16. Attend more than one hockey game. (Going to one on Jan. 21. In a VIP suite. Because I am legit, kiddos.)
17. Go to LACMA. And The Getty for that matter. I've lived in Los Angeles for most of my life and have never been to either. Ridiculous. (Some friends invited me to go today but it did not work out. My friends are awesome, though.)
18. Host a dinner party. Actually cook some of the food! 
19. Go to the movies more. Do not wait for others to invite you. Go alone. (Did this today. REALLY loved it. May even do it again tomorrow.)
20. Talk Less. Listen more. (This is rather vague. I will find a way to better explain.)
21. Try five foods I've always hated but haven't actually tried in years. (Thanks, Meg!)
22. ???

33 in 2012

In the year 2011, one of my good friends set a goal early on. She would do 52 new things in 2011. One for each week of the year. And by god, she did! Amazing, no? Some of them were simple things (trying a new food), some were more complex (learning to ski, learning the Hebrew alphabet from yours truly), but she did all 52. I am so impressed. 

So I feel inspired. I am approaching the year 2012 as the year of positive things. And to that end, while I dare not aspire to one thing a week, in honor of turning 33 this year, I have decided to list 33 goals for the year. I am already forming my list...

1. Go to San Francisco (A city I've longed to visit since the last time I went at age 14 or so. And a trip is coming soon!)
2. Read at least one book a month, if not more. (First book is in progress now)
3. Watch Gone With the Wind - I've never seen it! Always wanted to. 
4. Clean OUT this apartment. Good lord, I have WAY too much stuff. 
5. Try this arts n' crafts project. And maybe also this one. I think it's super cool. 
6. Finish my book (I started writing a book in 2011 - it's true!) 
7. Go to high tea with girlfriends. Wear beautiful and/or ridiculous hats. 
8. Go camping. (A cabin in the woods counts.)
9. Go to Vegas. Again. 
10. Bake a pie (I love to bake but I've never successfully made a pie and I LOVE pie!) 
11. Finish watching every episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation," in order (I left off in the middle of season 4 in 2011.) Don't judge me. I get to have nerdy goals. 
12. Wear my glasses more often (like I'm supposed to)
13. Go to a baseball game. Eat something totally unhealthy. Shout at the umpires for being assholes. 
14. Spend a day at the spa (Because I totally deserve it!)
15. Drink more water (This is the only New Years resolution I originally made -- well, other than abolishing the world of the Kardashians.)
16. Attend more than one hockey game.
17. Go to LACMA. And The Getty for that matter. I've lived in Los Angeles for most of my life and have never been to either. Ridiculous. 
18. Host a dinner party. Actually cook some of the food! 
19. Go to the movies more. Do not wait for others to invite you. Go alone.
20. ???

Wanna get in on this? Please, please submit (reasonable) ideas. I will continue to update the list as needed til I get to 33, and also checking things off and making notes on things as I go. 

To 2012! The year of GOOD! Cheers! 

Wipe it Off

I am guilty of taking horrible care of my skin.

I've been incredibly lucky (I am now realizing there is no way to write this post without sounding profoundly vain). In high school, I had very few run-ins with acne, getting only one or two pimples around that certain time of month. And I almost never washed my face, except in the shower. 

As I got older, I established a little bit of a regimen, washing my face before bed or something. Later I added moisturizers, finally settling on one I liked to keep using... Sometimes I use a night cream. 

My mother got me into wipes, though -- they have been my favoritest thing. They are perfect for a lazy S.O.B. like me. And then I slap on some lotion and poof! 

I'm not expert - I am also not a role model. LOL. I just wanted to explain so you would understand my delight to find these wipes from Specific Beauty on my BlogHER goodie bag:

They say they're exfoliating. I don't really know about that but they're textured so I feel like they're getting all the crap off my face. They don't smell and they don't leave me feeling dry and/or sticky. And they don't make me break out anywhere, which is more than I can say for the last wipes I used, from Korres. 

My mother, who still has pretty flawless skin, still uses these, which I also like, from Comodynes:

Go out and buy some wipes. Tell me what you think. It's pretty rare I do a product review unsolicited so you know I'm serious - they're great, I promise. 

 

Skinny: Not the ONLY Money (A Sequel)

A friend made an interesting point in light of my post yesterday in which I posted an article about skinny women making more money and went off a bit about looking good and presenting well for interviews...

Consider this. You might also be set back if you are:

• Too skinny
• Too tall
• Too short
• Have an annoying laugh
• Have bad skin

So I ask you this: What is YOUR fat? What is it that makes you insecure? I think everyone, even the most beautiful women, have insecurities (granted, I think Beautiful women have the advantage in a job hunt)...

Aren't well a little part "fat girl" in that case? 

Down to Earth Dieting?

I loved these two user comments regarding Valerie Orsoni's new book, "Le Personal Coach," on Amazon.com:

"It's not just what you wear, it's how you wear it."

"A big part of looking great is feeling great."

Her program, by the way, is "#1 in France" and let's be honest, the French know how to live...

But I'm jumping all over the place here. You have no idea what I am talking about!

When a friend asked me to review this book, I quickly agreed because I seldom turn down friends, but I was pleasantly surprised by the book itself. It's not your standard, boring, textbook-ish dieting guide. What arrived was a charming, compact (176 pages with big font), heavily illustrated guide to improving your lifestyle. I enjoy its perspective, which is more acommodating of someone with an actual life, who is not just living to diet. 

For example, there is actually an exercise tip you can use ON YOUR CELL PHONE, which makes me wonder how that will play out when I get pulled over... "But officer, I was only exercising..."

But seriously, it's no pills (YES!), no GYM (Um, hello? LOVE.), 15 minute exercise routines, and a guarantee I personally approve of, NO SWEATING. 

It's a really fun, easy book and if you are into this genre (I know a lot of you are - don't lie!), you should pick it up. 

Her actual program, for the devout, might be worth a look, too, though it costs. But it's not gonna scam you like Lindora and it's not gonna annoy you like Jenny Craig. (Yeah, I'm bitter. I admit this.)

And her blog is also worth a read - it is equally charming.

All of that aside, this woman is an acclaimed personal coach, in amazing shape, and has personality to boot -- having survived a brain tumor and cancer. You go, Valerie. I hope you continue to kick ass for a long, long time. I wish you every success and happiness.