Friends, fellow foodies, locals, please consider joining me at MASTERS OF TASTE on Sunday, May 7.
Perhaps you need a little nudge? A little reminder? Check out this recent post about how incredible (and delicious!) it is.
If you would like to attend, here's a chance for all of my readers to get a ticket at 15% off the price. Simply use the code GIRL17 at check-out.
If your memory is as good as mine (that's kind of a joke, my memory is terrible), you'll totally recall the time I went to the MASTERS OF TASTE event in Pasadena. It's essentially a luxury Super Bowl of amazing, local Chefs and restaurants. It is also where I ate these delicious sushi rolls from Ayaea Thai:
While I'm at it, it's also where I immensely enjoyed this "tri-belly" of pork, lamb and beef from Claud & Co:
And.... IT IS BACK! This year’s 2ndAnnual Masters of Taste will be held on Sunday, May 7th from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm on the field of the iconic Pasadena Rose Bowl (1001 Rose Bowl Drive, Pasadena, CA 91103). It will bring all the food porn you could ever need with it -- more than 2500 food and beverage enthusiasts from all over Greater Los Angeles for one afternoon to celebrate more than 40 Culinary Masters and restaurants, delectable sweets prepared by L.A.’s top Sweet Masters, signature handcrafted cocktails and tastings from more than 30 Beverage Masters, including L.A’s top bartenders and cocktail bars, local California wineries, local craft breweries, pressed juices, hand roasted coffee, live entertainment and much more.
Like last year,100% of the proceeds from Masters of Taste will directly benefit Union Station Homeless Services, a nonprofit committed to helping homeless men, women and children rebuild their lives.
Are you ready for just a sampling of whose food I will be tasting at this illustrious event???
So who's coming with me on May 7th? Tickets are already on sale. Just head to www.MastersofTasteLA.com/Tickets. A VIP "Power Hour" will be held from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm and General Admission will be from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Please note that tickets to this event are only available for guests 21+ and over.
Also, always important in our city of dreams, some transportation and parking info: Masters of Taste guests are encouraged to utilize car services – Lyft, Uber, Taxi, etc. – since this event does serve alcoholic beverages, but complimentary parking will also be available at the event.
ARE YOU HUNGRY? ARE YOU READY? Grab your stretchy pants and MEET ME IN PASADENA!
It was time to do something drastic about my skin. Toward the end of last year, I started to notice flakiness on my cheeks and forehead. It was alarming. I must confess I've not always been super diligent about skincare. I learned the value of it a little later than most. But I've improved in the last few years and implemented good washing habits, moisturizing and even added toner into the mix (though I'm still not convinced it does anything).
Anyway, when someone made an off-handed comment to me about my skin (nice, right?) I flipped out and decided the exact right thing to do was throw out everything I was using on my skin and start over. Into the nearest Sephora went I to ask the nicest salesperson ever if she could fix me.
I sampled a ton of products with her and found some new items I'm now having a colossal love affair with. My skin is noticeable different and I'm so thrilled with the improvement. So I wanted to share some of my new favorite must-have products:
Sephora brand express cleansing and exfoliating wipes
Everyone should have some great wipes in their top drawer. These are genius because they feature two sides, one for easy makeup removal and one for exfoliation. So after I wash my face, when I feel like I need a little more cleaning up (I don't use these every night), the exfoliating side eliminates impurities and dead cells leaving skin soft and radiant. The smooth side cleanses gently and efficiently to remove all types of makeup for fresh and crystal-clear skin, without tightness.
Accept no imitations. Why does one need a $20 makeup sponge? I know, I was skeptical, too. But it's miraculous, I tell you. The sponge features an open cell structure that fills with small amounts of water when wet (you wet it when you use it). This allows the sponge to be “full” so that the makeup product sits on top of the sponge rather than being absorbed, allowing you to use less product every time. So my foundation lasts longer and goes on smoother. I dare say that my skin glows. I'm obsessed with it.
Two Faced's Born This Way Foundation
This foundation is oil-free (a requirement for me) that offers medium-to-full coverage. I know a lot of people like to look like they're not wearing make up. I am not really one of those people. I don't care if anyone knows I'm wearing it but I will say, with this foundation, it really does go on beautifully with my new spnge applicator and looks as close to natural as I've ever gotten. It's also vegan if that's your thing. Fun fact? The product was inspired by the opening scene in Bridesmaids when Kristen Wiig wakes up, rushes to the bathroom to put on makeup, and sneaks back into bed to imply she "woke up like this."
Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Face Cream
I wanted my moisturizer, toner and face mask to all match for some reason -- they should all work in harmony, right? It's a time-release hydration cream that is so light and creamy. I apply it every morning after I dry off from my shower and put a little on every night before bed.
Okay, again, still not convinced one needs a toner but I'm now operating under the "if it ain't broke" rule and once I got talked into buying it and using it, I became attached. I do a little spritz after I've washed my face, before I go to bed and in the morning, after I put all my makeup on. It's refreshing either way and feels more like an indulgence than necessity. Whatever. I like it, it's working, I'm keeping it.
Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask
I started using this twice a week. First of all, it smells delicious. It doesn't get hard and gross on my face and it's super easy to wash off. It is an advanced hydrating treatment with antioxidants that immediately makes my skin feel softer, firmer and look healthier. It's a really lovely pre-bedtime ritual that I find relaxing, too.
P.S. And I love to take photos now.
This post contains affiliate links. That means if you click on one of the links here and then buy something, I make a couple pennies. That doesn't mean my opinions and choices are biased, though, so, ya know, thanks!
I heard this on TV last night and it resonated with me....
At the start of this year, I was - and still am - going through a lot of changes and it was time to make some changes in my diet. And much to my surprise, it's mostly felt really wonderful. I've been pinning new, interesting recipes to my "food" board on Pinterest and slowly trying out a few.
Now, don't get my wrong. I still see recipes for things like "soft baked cheerio monster cookies" and salivate. There's a time and place for those, too, right? But I thought I would share some of the cool things I've tried here and additionally, some of the recipes that remain on my "to do" list. ENJOY!
GLUTEN FREE EGG CASSEROLE - Fit & Awesome
My friend Lindsay posted this one and it was actually the first new, healthy recipe I tried. I'm not much for ghee so I stuck with some smart balance butter. You can totally mix and match your ingredients, which I like because she uses spinach and I have this weird aversion to cooked spinach. It was maple sausage, peppers and cheese for me. Anyway, the point is, it's delicious and something you can make on a Sunday and then portion out for office lunches for a few days!
POTATO-LESS POTATO PANCAKES - The World According to Eggface
Mine did not turn out as pretty as the ones on "Eggface" but they were really, really yummy! It would never occur to me to use cottage cheese and an egg together. In fact, even typing it now, it sounds kinda gross, but this was delicious, made a big portion, and subbing some plain yogurt for sour cream was perfect. I didn't have any chives in the house but I'm sure I'll make this again soon.
TOASTLESS AVOCADO TOAST (baked eggs in avocado) - Allrecipes.com
I really love avocado toast and cutting out bread meant this was off the table for me. But then I remembered going to a restaurant where I had "avocado toast" in an actual avocado shell and went on the hunt for a similar recipe. (Apologies, I did not get a photo of this one!)
Also, not so much a fancy recipe, but I also learned to make GRITS. Go figure! They are tasty sweet or savory. Give 'em a shot!
And here are some more recipes I am eager to try:
WHAT SAY YOU?
What healthy recipes should I try? I would love your recommendations! Please share in the comments or tweet them to me!
Of course.
I'll let you all in on something I've learned over the years - and it took a lot of 'em. NO is a great word; NO is not a negative word. It is, in fact, one of the most empowering words in the English language.
While the literal definition of "no" is to reject, deny and turn down, I prefer to think of it as a means to opening yourself up to MORE. Too often we say YES to things we can't afford -- either with our finances or out time. When you stop saying no, you risk taking on more than you can handle. What happens then? You might get everything done but it won't be at a high standard of execution or effort. Or, you might not get everything done at all. You let people down. You let yourself down. And sometimes, frankly, it leads to more work upon work, when in your guilt you feel like you have to make up for what's happened.
At a base level, consider that when you over-commit yourself, you're also often depriving yourself of rest and sleep. Even meals. You end up sick more often.
You're never home. This makes you feel restless. And, in a way, isolated. Home is where you go to recharge. Home is sanctuary.
You become a terminable people-pleaser. Your personal projects and goals fall by the wayside. (And you should never feel like making time for your own stuff is selfish!)
Passion also falls by the wayside. How can you be passionate about a million things? We'd all spontaneously combust. You become the person just trying to stay afloat instead of the person kicking ass. I argue that it's better to find a just a few things you're excited and passionate about and do them really well. From a business perspective, you want to be an expert in a niche. No one can be an expert at everything. (And hey, no one likes that guy anyway, right?)
The word NO takes courage. It means owning who you are and what you want and need. It shields us from being taken advantage of. Sometimes, it's all there is to protect us from our own kindness. YES is good, too. Yes supports opening yourself up to new things and being helpful but there's a time and a place for it. I completely understand everyone out there having their years of yes but in 2017, I'll be over here having a Year of NO. Because I think saying NO sets us free.
If you'd like to join me in the Year of NO, I've set up a private Facebook group where we can all hold each other up as we learn to acknowledge that NO is power. Please leave a comment below and include your email address.
