So I got some awards from lil' Nunu, Pretty eyes, and my Soulfood Sista . I don't feel like following the rules and nominating other people. Everyone I follow was probably awarded already. I did however find one of the awards interesting. The task gave me something to do while breaking from other tasks.10 honest things about me. In no particular order...*warning* this might be TMI for some people...I think I over thought this a bit much and have some long, drawn-out answers... I just started writing this and leaving it alone for a while then slowly adding more and eventually it became this monster of a post...read/view at your own risk...(click photos to enlarge)

1. I hate talking on the phone. I don't know if I dislike the feeling of holding a phone or just having to focus my concentration on someone talking into my ear, but I always feel trapped and a bit irritated when I'm on the phone. So I rarely answer the phone and usually just text message people. That way, I can get my point across without having to answer a bunch of lame questions that are customary  in regular phone conversations. ie. "So what have you been up to?"..."How are you?"... Not on my clock... You ask me a question that needs an answer via voicemail or text message, and I will text you that very answer along with a smiley or sad face. End of story.

^Talking on the phone in my regular uncomfortable fashion.

4. I'm an artist....a Jill of many trades. I can take a decent photo, paint, draw, sculpt, sew, and build shit. The first job I had was drawing and painting family portraits for $50-100 a pop, when I was a teen. That was a shitload of money to me back then... The walls in my old room were painted up with murals of people and demons...sadly I don't have a photo of it...Hmm...i guess I'm also not too shabby with a makeup brush, same as painting, right? I'm also a pretty handy bitch, when I have time. I put wood floors in my old office on my own. I've built tv stands and shelving units. I've ripped out old flooring re-tiled my sister's old living room. I've refinished dining tables, and whole living room sets for myself and my ex's family....all on my own. I know my way around a tool box. Now, I would rather pay someone to fix even minor shit that I know I could fix on my own...sigh...time is money. ^I don't have much of my work scanned but these were deteriorating sketches that a drew on a school folder when I was in 9th grade.^I thought this was funny. The first sketch I ever made when I bought my first cheap wacom tablet. It was tiny. Don't mind the stupid background. haha. This character is more of an inside joke. I've been drawing this dude since I was about 10 for my older sister. He was an old dom...used to crack us up. Yeah, we were weird kids.

^All of my self portraits have a meaning and back story to it. It's my art. It's who I am.

5. I love music. Music is extremely important to me. I listen to music about 80% of my waking hours. I can play the piano, the trumpet, sing, and I'm quite skilled at the skin flute. haha. Seriously though. I love music. My music collection is quite eclectic. Classic rock, metal, electronic, rap, hip hop, r&b, the list goes on and on. I love dancing, I love great lyrics, I love singing along. I just love how music can evoke certain emotions in me and change my mood...how certain songs bring back specific memories...6. The apple definitely didn't fall far from the tree. I get most of my traits from my dad. He's can fight. (I once saw him do some flying kick karate-like move on some punk who was harassing us when I was 8, no joke.) He was into photography. He shot everything manually with a film slr that he got in the 80's up until I got him a d70s. He even has tons of self portraits that he shot of his self in different outfits. haha.

^Some of my dad's work. haha.

7. My worst beating was actually by a bunch of females. Being in violent relationships as a teen made me into a tough chick. I've been strangled, body slammed, dragged around by my hair, had my body slammed in a door, and even burnt with cigarettes by men. Sounds fucked up, but what didn't kill me made me stronger. I can fight like a dude, no joke. I've knocked bitches (male and female) out in my day. But I got jumped by 5 losers while leaving my sister's bday party in 9/11/05. They pulled me by my hair from behind threw me down and kicked me in my face and all over my body. I had 5 stitches on my face, a broken nose, and other cuts and bruises all over my body. They also did the same thing to another girl the same night. Only one got caught and was sentenced, but I'm sure the rest of them are far worse off than I'll ever be. I don't even feel angry about it anymore. I just feel sorry for the kids that those scummy broads are  going to bring into this world one of these days. Gives me the chills...

^Before

^after. As you can see, Pixi eyeshadow sealant I used works wonders!

8. I'm more like a guy when it comes to relationships. I'm not very affectionate or loving. I like my space. I can be violent, as I rule with an iron fist. I'm not clingy. I don't get attached very easily. I actually grow tired of guys quite easily. If I see a person more than a few times, they usually start to irritate me one way or another. I just like to have my fun and move on. I'm extremely picky with who I keep in my busy life. If you're clingy or needy, I'll discard you like last week's rubbish. I grew up with 4 sisters (two older, two younger, I'm the exact middle), so I like to be left on my own most of the time, but I hate being alone in my empty home. I leave music playing, so my house won't sound empty. I like the feeling that someone's around, but doing their own thing and out of my way.9. My first love was food and cooking, but now I rarely cook. I started cooking when I was around 9 and being an ex-housewife, I would spend many hours of my day cooking away. I used to love cooking... I would research about the foods that I loved and cook everything from scratch. I never took shortcuts, and everything I made had to be made the right way, or I wouldn't make it at all.  My favorite dishes were often the complex and rare. I didn't mind spending a day in the kitchen because I savored the outcome. Sadly, I have no time to cook these days, but I do the whole fine dining deal. I love to eat. I love great food. If I lost my sense of taste, I'd lose a lot of what I have to live for. I owe someone a dinner, so perhaps I'll post about the extravagant meal that I make. I haven't lost my touch, just my time. My sisters still call me and tell me the ingredients they have on hand and I can tell them over the phone how to put together a lovely meal. =)

^Stolen from my favorite Pink Kitty

10. I've always been a gamer. I love puzzles and video games. Ever since I can remember, I've loved games. We got a Nintendo when it first came out, and growing up, video games were a part of my daily life. I don't play video games as much as I used to because I get obsessed and all my time gets consumed with game play. I can be quite competitive and I don't like to stop playing a game until I've beat it. I also used to play WoW, which was really bad. There's always something to do, always someone better. It's like a never ending game. I currently own an original nintendo (yes, it still works), Super Nintendo, Wii, ps2, ps3, psp, xbox360...it will only keep growing as time goes by. I love solving puzzles and playing games.  My mind constantly needs to be stimulated, so if I'm not busy while I'm watching tv or a movie, I build things with mega blocks or put a puzzle together. I even play yahoo games or websudoku, if I can't sleep when I'm traveling.Guess that's it. Tired of me yet? Shit, I got tired of me after writing this. =P

Como estan, Bitches!I love Drag Queens. I love their style, their character, their attitude. Some of my happiest moments were actually spent partying up with queens in Hollywood. Shiet, if you don't know, you better axe somebody. So you know I had to join the Dragtastic Contest that Lady Bola Rice is throwing.I had so many looks in my mind from super glam, to super polished, to super trashy. I have so many costumes and crazy outfits. I narrowed it down based on my queen name. The name of my first pet and the street that I grew up on. (changes security questions on all accounts)So here she is... Ms. Tootsie Electra... (click photos to engorge)

...one for the homies...I wish I had a male model laying their drinking my spillage... haha or even better Ronald McDonald. Fuck, that be an awesome pic.The outfit: Dress-LVLX only $40! haha, Gold bikini top-Ultra Vixen, Shoes- From some cheap shop at the Fox Hills Mall only $34, Costume jewelry- bliss, Tiara- real old from ebay, belt- from melrose, gloves- hot topic, wig-hollywood halloween shop, scarf ( to cover my adam's apple =P)- bliss, Gold boots I was gonna wear, but I couldn't stand in them, so they became props-Lady studio, bag- Betsey Johnson.Cristal and McDizzle's- nutrition for true champions!

Closeup of the Makeup. Lots of contouring...lots of exaggeration...lots of fabulousity. Snaps fingers. I'm raising one brow so one eye looks bigger.

I actually took photos of the process of my transformation. They're pretty neat. I look crazy with no brows. haha. Maybe I'll post them if I have time...

I don't think I've taken this long to do my makeup. haha. It took well over an hour to get the look together, but I was so stoked with how it turned out. It's weird how the makeup transformed not only my outward appearance, but it also compelled me transform my character. I felt a little sassier just by looking in the mirror. I was like "mmm girl, no you d'int!" Yes, I guess I'm a ghetto queen. My inspiration...pretty much just what I've seen at club Illusions, my inner ghetto queen, and the songs "My Hair Looks Fierce" and "Champagne" by the fabulous Amanda Lepore.I had so much fun, I think I'll feature Tootsie Electra in more photo sets. =)I can't wait to see the other entries. Come on, people! Let your inner diva out and join Mimi's contest! I had a fun storyline to go with this set, but I have no time to write...I'm backed up. Well, enjoy.

Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun.

Shine on you crazy diamond.
Now there's a look in your eyes, like black holes in the sky.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
You were caught on the cross fire of childhood and stardom,
Blown on the steel breeze.
Come on you target for faraway laughter, come on you stranger,
You legend, you martyr, and shine!

You reached for the secret too soon, you cried for the moon.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Threatened by shadows at night, and exposed in the light.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Well you wore out your welcome with random precision,
Rode on the steel breeze.
Come on you raver, you seer of visions, come on you painter,
You piper, you prisoner, and shine!

Nobody knows where you are, how near or how far.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Pile on many more layers and I'll be joining you there.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
And we'll bask in the shadow of yesterday's triumph,
And sail on the steel breeze.
Come on you boy child, you winner and loser,
Come on you miner for truth and delusion, and shine!
-Pink Floyd

This song speaks to me when I'm feeling crazy and downright skeptical about the world and my life. Sometimes I just don't trust lots of the people around me and how they may affect my life and future. Hell, often my faith in myself and the decisions I make wavers and breaks. I want to be strong. I want to be excited about life. I want to have something to drive me to succeed. That's just it... I know that I can do great and succeed at anything I set my mind to, but then I ask myself , why? What's the point? More money...more stuff...more bullshit...

I just have to convince myself that everything is worth it.... that everything I'm doing has a good reason. I want to surround myself with more positive people. It gets hard living in LA. I do love this place for many reasons, but it's hard to take people seriously around these parts. I've always been an observer. I've always been the one to sit quietly and watch and listen...85% of the time I hate what I see and hear. Who knows...maybe people are unlikeable everywhere, but a part of me really wants to doubt that. It might seem like I live some sort of lavish and interesting life...I fucking do, but lavish and interesting don't always = good.

Sorry for being a Negative Nelly. I'm not a robot. I'm a fucking human being. Well...sometimes I don't feel like a human. I look at people and think....there's no way that I'm remotely related to them...there's no way I'm a part of this species. Bah...

On a bipolar note, here's a funny video.

I didn't want anyone to leave my blog on a negative note.

So I didn't finish posting about Ojai, and I have so many restaurant reviews backed up, so here's the rest of my trip to Ojai/Santa Barbara... (click photos to enlarge)After my facial I prettied myself up for a dinner at Downey's.

Dress-Bebe, Shoes-Steve Madden, Necklace- Givenchy

Downeys is a cozy and quaint family-run restaurant in Santa Barbara California. I read many great reviews about the place so when we stepped inside, I was surprised at how whimsical and un-intimidating the ambiance was. It was almost like stepping into the warm living room of a friendly relative (or neighbor if your not white). The decor was plain, but inviting, I believe the paintings local scenic paintings on the wall were done by the co-owner and chef's wife, Liz Downey, who also happened to be our gracious host.

View from my seat.

The food was great. I would say was similar to bouchon. They use fresh organic local ingredients, but the food is more homestyle. Very delicious and filling. Here's what was ordered...

Downey's Prosciutto with Bosc Pears, Arugula & Roasted Walnuts

^Extremely delicious the cure and age there very own proscuitto. It was salty, sweet, and a bit tangy with a lovely texture. The pears were fresh and ripe tender/crisp...perfect. This dish did not disappoint. My mouth waters just thinking about it.Fresh Pea Soup with Creme Fraiche and ChivesThe soup of the day. Haha. okay, my mind was in the gutter...it looked like someone jizzed a cocknball display in the soup. I actually tried to fashion it more and added a penis tip with my fork to make it more appetizing. It was fucking creamy and delicious, just how one would imagine. Not to mention a work of art. MMM MMM, Bitch!Penn Cove Mussels with Tiny "beluga" Lentils, Tomatoes, Watercress and Light Curry dressingMmm I love me some mussels. These were nice and plump and very fresh. The curry sauce was not over powering. You could still taste the freshness of the mussels which were not overcooked. Very yummy.Natural Beef Filet Mignonettes with Porcini Sauce, Roasted Beets, and Phillip's PotatoesMy main course. Very delicious. The portion was huge. 2 filets perfectly cooked and seasoned to perfection. Oh so juicy and delicious. The sauce was nice and earthy. Fucking yum...Michael, soon you will join me on the dark side and delight in some carnivorous acts... You can't tell me this doesn't look appetizing...Local Lobster and Seabass Ragout with Chanterelles, White Beans, Tomatoes, Leeks^This is one of those, "you had to be there" moments. This might not look too pretty, but it was awesome. It tasted like a delicious home cooked main course that nana would be proud of. Every thing was perfectly balanced in flavor and texture. Hearty, buttery, creamy....god I'm getting hungry.I always have to get my  cheeses. These were both lovely. I like my cheese like I like my men- strong, aged, and smelly. hahaThe dessert cart... I love how the cakes are left whole and sliced up right in front of you. It's so deliciously erotic. mmmm. Can you guess what caught my eye...Hell yes! I forgot what this was called, but it was fucking perfect. Not too sweet, a nice velvety texture. We demolished this thing in 2 minutes flat. I shit you not. This was Soooooo gooooood.

The next morning I got up and got ready for Sunday Champagne brunch at the Four Seasons in Santa Barbara. This is one of the best brunches I've been to. It's similar to the brunch at La Mer. I guess this one's a bit fancier, but the one at La Mer in Hawaii just has that awesome island vibe...island air...ahhh Hawaii....Where was I? Oh yes, the champagne brunch.It's beautiful at the four seasons in SB. I think I might stay there during my next visit. It's right on the beach. Very lovely grounds. The brunch=awesome. The pics will show it all. They have lots of different stations. Everything is fresh and fucking delicious. I'm not a "buffet" kinda gal, but this is top notch brunch shit.

Cheeses and hor dourves

Caviars and accompaniments that you serve a top those fresh mini pancakes that a chef prepares periodically.Super fresh seafood

This guy makes fresh waffles, pancake, and crepes to order. Oh man it smelled so good.Some of the desserts.Me at the dippin some fresh strawberries. I always have this urge inside of me that makes me want to rip my top off and dip my tits and face in chocolate fountains. Good thing I have that filter in my brain that controls my impulsive thoughts. Such an innocent smile with thoughts behind it...many thoughts.There were lots of other displays, but taking pictures of all of them would have seemed a bit obtrusive amongst all the wasp folks who were just trying to enjoy a regular Sunday brunch. There were meat carving stations that had duck, lamb, and kobe beef.  An  omelet station where a chef made eggs/omelets any way you like. More desserts, more hor dourves, sushi, the works.Some of what I hadLove me some good lox with herbed cream cheese, home made relish, etc. I had them toast my bagel. Also crab salad, seared ahi, chicken satay, eggplant/tomato/cheese hor dourve, caviar on my mini pancake.Fresh oysters, shrimp, crab claws, another tomato/eggplant hor dourve (it was good), corned beef  hash ( my Scot side had to try it), Lamb with mint jelly, potatoes.My waffle with whipped cream, almonds fresh hot syrup, chocolate covered strawberries and other desserts.More dessertAnd the last of my dessert. Notice how I cut it real thin towards the end. haha.We've come to the conclusion that no weekend getaway in the Santa Barbara area would be complete without the FourSeasons Champagne brunch. It's a must, people.

After brunch we headed back to Ojai Valley resort for my very first golf lesson. haha. We headed down to the resorts golf shop and I purchased a new pair of golf kicks (who likes to wear rentals?) and a Ojai visor. haha. If I was sure that we were gonna go golfing on this trip, I would've bought a bunch of plaid and argyle gear and bought a cute golf assemble. haha. We had to settle with what they had in their golf shop.

One of  my all time favorite movies is Happy Gilmore. Whenever I'm holding a club, or hockeystick or  bottle of alcohol, this the first pose that comes to mind.You can tell by my pose that my tits are totally in my way.

It's all in the hips...it's all in the hips. I think I missed the ball, but at least my ass looks great. Thanks, mom.My conclusion about golf. I'm not sure if DD's and golf mix. I felt like my boobage was totally in the way. There goes my chances of becoming a pro female golfer, I knew that boob job would come and bite me in the ass sooner or later. -shakes fists with anger towards the science gods-

After golf I had my last treatment which was the LILIAN TERRY MASSAGE A therapeutically tailored massage that uses a unique combination of homeopathic remedies and essential oils to target the 3 most commonly stressed areas of the body: the back, shoulders and neck. After choosing your Aromeopathic complex you may continue ongoing therapy at home.  This was great after playing golf. It was very relaxing and I loved the oil she used. I chose the formula for anti stress/anxiety. They let you keep a bottle of the Lilian Terry oil for continuing at home therapy. (I think I'll take it to the Massage Place on Overland for my weekly massages. Sometimes they use shitty oils at that place. )After the massage, I got dressed for my last dinner in Ojai before heading home.  We decided to eat at the Oak Grill restaurant at the Ojai resort since it would be easy for us. Since their fine dining restaurant, Maravilla was closed during our stay, we gave Oak Grill a try.What I wore

Dress- BCBG Max azria, shoes-steve madden (only brought one pair of heels on this trip)

Oak Grill is very plain and not nearly as beautiful as Maravilla, but it had a nice simple rustic charm with a nice fireplace to warm up the ambiance.The menu was actually sort of similar to Maravilla's which is great. The manager was the same manager from Maravilla and he was super accommodating and friendly. He let us know about some food events that may be coming up at Maravilla in the future that we might attend.The food...

Ahi tuna tartare. Quite standard. fresh. yummy.Wild mushroom toast. Really yummy and hearty. Similar to the wild mushroom ravioli I had from them during the lunch hour. It was better because it had the crispy toast base.filet mignon with green beans and gratin potatoes. This was pretty good. Not outstanding though. It was tender and juicy, beans cooked to perfection, but nothing really stood out. the potatoes weren't cheesy enough for me.Lobster risotto with pork belly on the side. This was really great. the risotto was so creamy and cheesy. The pork belly gave it a nice crunch. Very savory and delicious.

After dinner, we packed up and hit the road back to SmelLA. Another fun, relaxing, and successful trip. High five!

Ojai Valley Resort and SpaSo over the weekend I was getting some much needed R&R at Ojai Valley Resort and Spa. Ojai Valley is a beautiful area about 45 minutes away from Santa Barbara. This is my second time at Ojai Valley Resort, and I have to say, it's simply one of the best resorts I've ever been to. Every member of the staff is nothing but super friendly, skilled, and accommodating. This is the perfect get away. I have zero complaints about the place. If you're ever lucky enough to be able to splurge on ridiculously awesome spa getaway Ojai Valley Inn and Spa will not disappoint. It's beautiful, serene and offers some of the best treatments and massages that I've ever had.After the long drive to Ojai, we checked into our suite which was #330 in the Casa Loma Building.  This suite was beautiful. It has cozy spanish decor, a fireplace, a big bathroom with a large soaking tub and separate shower, the private balcony had lovely views of the mountains and golf course.

^On my balcony.

^View from the balcony.^Part of the suite. I have better pics in my other camera.

After checking out the room, we headed down to the spa to get our first treatment of the weekend. I had the RELAXATION MASSAGE A circulatory massage that reduces tension using light pressure to soothe muscles and bring the body into a state of relaxation.  Luxury Session $265  The therapist gave a great massage. I had her do my full body, asked her to focus on my arms and legs. She also did my scalp and face. I get massages about twice a week. I've had plenty of massages from lots of different places. Ojai massage therapists are consistently great. I have not had a bad or even just decent massage from ojai. They are all great.

After the massage, I showered at the spa then got ready for dinner. We had reservations at Bouchon in Santa Barbara.Posing in my suite before heading to Bouchon...

Dress- Free People, shoes- Steve Madden, Necklace-Givenchy

This is my second time at this place and let me tell you, I love Bouchon. They have delicious food with the freshest ingredients. Bouchon reminds me of Jiraffe in Santa Monica, but a little better because the ingredients seem fresher.

We had the Warm Arugula and Pan-Seared Gnocchi with local spiny lobster, roasted beets, English peas, and fine herbsThis was delicious. The Gnocchi was perfect. The lobster was fresh and sweet. I loved this dish.

Pan-seared foie gras on toasted brioche with poached pear, berry gastrique, & arugula frisee.The foie gras was perfect and velvety. It was delicious with the buttery crisp brioche. I loved the poached pears and berries. This was great  paired with '00 Santa Barbara Winery Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc. Which was the only drink I had for the evening. Its very sweet so I enjoyed some of it with the foie gras then saved the rest for dessert.

This was yummy. Light, Slightly sweet, slightly creamy. great texture. I bet it was super healthy, too.

Bourbon & Maple-Glazed California Duck breast with duck confit, thyme-infused jus, succotash of corn, fava beans, applewood-smoe bacon, and Windrose Farms butternut squash. I ordered this the last time I went to Bouchon, and I had to have it again. It is delicious. The flavors are well-balanced. I love every part of this dish it's so good.

Molten chocolate cake with coffee ice cream on top of a fruit compote. Rich and gooey on the inside...fuckin yum.The next day was booked full of more treatments. I had...AYURVEDIC DETOXIFICATION BODY TREATMENT Based on India’s 6,000-year-old system of health care and healing, this Ayurvedic therapy combines our most popular treatments into one divine experience. It includes a botanical body mask, exfoliation, aromatherapy, hot steamed wrap, mini facial, and an herbal-infused Bindi oil application. This powerful combination of Ayurvedic herbs and oils works to strengthen the immune system and eliminate feelings of stress and anxiety.    Luxury Session. This is very similar to the Shiro-bindi treatment that they offer at bacara. I think The massage they give with the treatment at ojai is better, but the oil treatment at bacara is better. Overall it's a great, relaxing treatment. Perfect for detoxing. I felt rejuvenated and my skin was super smooth after the treatment.After the ayurvedic treatment we stopped  by the resort's Oak Grill and had a snack. You can eat indoor or outdoors. We ate outdoors. Here was the view from my seat.

Crab Cakes.Pretty standard, but yummy crab cakes. Came with a nice citrus salad.

This was better than I thought it would be. The shrimp and scallops were huge, fresh and perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned. It had a  refreshing dressing,  some nice crisp fried wonton, some pickled ginger to kick things up a notch. Yummy and healthy.

DETOX MASSAGE A detoxifying treatment that aids in activating the lymphatic system. A special blend of whole, fresh, organic materials aid the circulatory system. These compresses are steamed and applied directly to the muscles in combination with relaxing massage techniques to revitalize the body. 100 min. Luxury Session This was another great massage. It was so relaxing. I'm telling you, all the massage therapists are top notch and totally on point with what I wanted. They're great.ARCONA'S REJUVENATION DELUXE FACIAL Treat yourself to the ultimate in skin care with our exclusive treatment for your face, neck and hands.  Relax and prepare for amazing results as you experience Arcona’s signature facial contouring massage, an aromatic, organic enzyme peel and a firming and toning lift mask.  This is followed by the application of a series of custom serums which leave your skin absolutely glowing.  Luxury Session  includes a hand, foot and scalp massage.   I've had plenty of facials and I think this has got to be my favorite. After the first time I had my first rejuvenation deluxe facial at Ojai, I was hooked on Arona Facials and products. I always get compliments from estheticians and makeup artists about my skin. I can't say I've taken the best of care of my skin over the years....I drank lots of alcohol, sometimes fall asleep wearing makeup, don't drink enough water, stay up late, etc, but I do try to use really good skin products on my face. I think having great skin is mostly genetic (thanks mom), but I do notice a difference when I use Arcona products.  I'm lucky that they have a Arcona studio nearby in Santa Monica. Love it. After this facial my skin was super smooth and glowy.Lots more went on...more treatments more food, a golf lesson...i'll write more when I have more time. =)

So I'm back from my wonderful and much needed getaway to  Ojai Valley Resort and Spa. Before I write about my awesome getaway to Ojai, I'd like to do a quick review about Wabi Sabi and finish writing about stupid ass Tengu. haha.  I guess my review of Providence will have to wait because there's so much to write about. I really want to get back to those who've commented me, and I will with time. I don't know how some of you ladies do it. You're like a flock of superwomen multi-tasking and getting that shit done... mmm...sexy... =PWABI-SABIHere's what I wore last Thursday to Wabi Sabi...Dress from Melrose, Motorcycle gloves with bows-Hot Topic (love em), Shoes-Cathy Jean, Necklace- Tiffany, Earrings were a xmas gift from my mom.Wabi-Sabi is a great Japanese restaurant in Venice Beach. I've eaten there plenty of times. The food is consistently great. The service is good, and it's in a conveniently location ( for me). Wabi sabi has really good sushi, but they also have lots of delicious cooked items. I usually like the baked cod and they also have an awesome seafood bouillabaisse. Oh, they also have a really great home made honey ginger tea. It's perfect for a cold day, or if you have a sore throatFor this trip we just had...

Pretty standard, but yummy. I love shishito peppers. These are nicely seasoned. Slightly salty with just a tad bit of heat. Shishito peppers are not spicy. They have a nice sweet flavor to them. Almost like bell peppers, but tastier in my opinion.

This was the first time I ordered this and I'd definitely have it again. The mushrooms have a wonderful earthy flavor, and the sauce was sweet and delicious. Went well with the fresh greens and tomato.

Yummy, fatty, fresh. I always love great toro.

This is always good at wabi-sabi. If you like baked crab handrolls like I do, you'll love this.TENGUTengu is an asian fusion sushi restaurant in Westwood Village near UCLA. The ambiance is sexy, and hip. It's a pretty spot to take a date. They do have  yummy pineapple infused sake and some good signature cocktails. My last trip I didn't have any alcohol, but I do remember enjoying the plum geisha, the Japanese sangria, and the cherry blossom cocktails in the past.The used to be pretty good, but my last trip probably ruined Tengu for me for a while. First I'll show what I ordered and then I'll ease into why the Tengu in Westwood will be on my shitlist for a while.

As you can see it's not as fresh as it could be. Toro is supposed to be amazing, but this just wasn't that good.

This is one of my favorite special rolls. It's really tasty. I love the pungent sauce and the onions. It makes my mouth water. It's really a great roll, but with all the sauce and toppings, who knows how good the quality of the fish is.

This is pretty good, but not as good as the subarashi. The crispy shallots really sweeten the roll. I like this.

I TOOK ONE BITE AND SPIT IT OUT. It was BAD. You can't fuck with bad seafood. I was pretty grossed out. I gagged and tried to rinse my mouth out with my pellegrino. I had the waiter take it back. The manager asked what was wrong with the bass. I said that it was bad. He replies, "It was bad?" Then a confused look came across his face and he walked away. He didn't say sorry or anything. I thought that was pretty weird and sort of fucked up. I know what sea bass is supposed to taste like and that shit was rancid! They took a long as time to give us the bill. The bass wasn't on the bill, but seriously, they acted like they didn't just serve me some rotten fish! I would like to think most restaurants staff would be apologizing profusely for such a fuck up. I noticed a slight decline in the quality of the food at Tengu over my last few visits, but this was appalling. Tengu had been near empty the last time I went. It's a pretty place, but once the quality of the food goes down, who gives a shit. I'd go back for cocktails, but it's so out of the way, what's the point. Pfsh! So that, my friends is quite possibly the end of my relationship with Tengu in Westwood.I'll write about my getaway. It was fucking awesome!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I haven't been able to respond to any comments because I've been so busy. Every waking hour, I've been working, eating, or researching. Whew. Just thought I'd do a quick post to keep everyone updated.I have a bunch of restaurants I want to post about, but I don't have time to write much. I still didn't even get to finish writing about what happened at Tengu. Oh well.For my Valentine's Dinner, I went to  Providence for the first time. Well, I didn't go out on Valentine's Day. I worked day and night. I had 4 long photo shoots on during Vday weekend. Man. Well, Providence is a really great fine dining joint. I'm glad I got to try it out. It's definitely up there with Ortolan. I'll write more about it when I have time.Anyways, here's what I wore...This is pretty much the same Bebe dress that I wore to Pink's Pow wow  , but in red.This weekend I'll be heading to Ojai Valley Resort and Spa. I'll be there from Friday to Sunday. I already have a suite and bunch of treatments booked. I really needed this vacation bad. I can't fucking wait.Guess this is all I have time to write about. Before I go, here are a few shots that I took of Laura and Marc. Taking pics with her  was part of his vday gift. Sweet right? I promised not to make them look all cheesy. =P^Aren't they a sexy couple? <3

Haven't been updating here much lately, but the next few posts will be old  shit from blogger..First, I used the La Mer tinted moisturizer that my love, Pink , sent me. I personally like how it's sheer and dewy...^It's similar to Dior's tinted moisturizer but more sheer and less cakey.  I just finished it with an all over dusting of Mac MSF Natural then added the MSF Degrade in Redhead on my cheeks. Love it! Thanks, babe!I had lots of stuff I wanted to write about, but I really don't have much time. I've been so busy getting the calendar together. I start shooting this weekend, and I still have some important props to get. It's all coming together though, which is great. I did lots more prop and costume shopping. Oh man. I should take photos of all the crap I bought, but seriously it'll all just look like a mess. All the junk is spread out in my bedroom and living room. I'll modify more stuff and organize things then take a few snapshots.Anyways, more food and crap...Dan Tana's

What I wore...Plaid shirt-from some store on Melrose, Tank-Mossimo from Target, Jeans-Guess, Boots-Steve Madden...Umm...didn't have time to comb my hair again, but at least I'm somewhat made up.

Dan Tana's is an awesome Italian restaurant in West Hollywood that has been there since 1964. This is actually one of the hardest restaurants to get a reservation at. It is ALWAYS packed. Every time I go, it's packed at the bar and all the tables are smashed together with crowds of merry people practically sitting on top of one another while they enjoy the great Italian food and get their drink on. The food is great, the servers are charming and interesting characters. The place looks oldschool, but it has a whimsical feel. Red/white checkered table cloths, wine bottles hanging from the ceiling....it's fun and cozy. It can seem loud and congested at times, but this has never bothered me at this particular restaurant.I always see famous/semi famous celebs when I go to Dan Tana's. Sometimes I'll look around the room and see a group of people who look familiar at every other table. It usually dawns on me later when I see them on tv or in a movie. This last trip I saw Ryan Phillipe with a group of other familiar young actors while we waited for our car at the valet in front of Dan Tana's. I usually try not to make eye contact with celebrities or what have you. I don't know if it's because I'm shy, or if I really just stopped giving a shit a long time ago. Eh, it's probably a combo. There's always a time and a place when it comes to mingling with folks. When I'm on a dinner date, I'm all about my meal and my date.While Dan Tana's is a nice place to  rub elbows with some stars, I go there for the delicious food. There's a reason why this place is always packed. The food is consistently delicious. It reminds me of food you would get if you went to an Italian friend's grandma's for dinner. It's tasty Italian comfort food that comes in HUGE portions. They also have a full bar which I didn't make use of since I've cut back on the boozing.

Baked ClamsFlavorful and delicious.

Which is a huge sweet lobster tail over pasta with a deliciously spicy red tomato sauce. It is so fucking good. I get it every time I go to Dan Tana's. It's even better when you take it home and eat it the next day. Seriously some good shit.My mouth waters whenever I think of Dan Tana's. It's the kind of food you crave after you have it once.Turn Broken/Used-up Lipstick into a Tinted Lip BalmOkay, so I've said this isn't a beauty blog, but this is something I thought I'd like to share. Shit, this is an everything blog.I saw this in my In Style magazine, and I thought I'd give it a try since I have a half empty container of carmex, lots of old broken lipsticks, and a few minutes to kill before I went to bed. (more like hours with my bad insomnia )= I'm not a huge fan of the flavor of carmex at times, but it is soothing this time of year. Also I like that carmex has salicylic acid to help exfoliate my dry lips. Here's an easy way to add a little color to your carmex while salvaging old/broken lipstick(s).

1. Put all of these in a microwave safe vessel2.It says to microwave on low for 45 seconds, but I just microwaved it in 20 second intervals to be safe. It took about 3 intervals to get it to a very soft buttery consistency. (60secs total) I didn't want to melt it to a completely liquid state because, I didn't want to burn myself. **Microwaving makeup can be very dangerous, so it's always best to stay on the safe side and heat things slowly and moderately. You seriously don't want some sizzling grease to explode in your face, which is what could potentially happen when using the microwave without caution***3. Mix the buttery concoction. I used a wooden chopstick.4. Scoop it back into the carmex pot.4. EnjoyAdding a little color was very simple and now I can skip using another color with my carmex when I'm feeling lazy, which is pretty much always. I added just enough color to bring my lips out, but I can still apply the gloss quite haphazardly and without a mirror because the color is still sheer and neutral. I'd totally do this again because it's so easy and I've been using it daily since I've made it.TenguWhat I wore...Plaid top- LVLX, Tube top-LVLX, Jeans-Guess, Belt=??, Shoes- Aldo.Tengu is an asian fusion sushi restaurant in Westwood Village near UCLA. The ambiance is sexy, and hip. It's a pretty spot to take a date. They have  yummy pineapple infused sake and some good signature cocktails. My last trip I didn't have any alcohol, but I do remember enjoying the plum geisha, the Japanese sangria, and the cherry blossom cocktails in the past.The food is usually pretty good, but my last trip probably ruined Tengu for me for a while. First I'll show what I ordered and then I'll ease into why the Tengu in Westwood will be on my shitlist for a while.To Be Continued....I'm hungry. haha.

First off, I've been SUPER busy for a while. I've been working on my upcoming calendar. Buying costumes and props, modifying costumes, casting, and of course sooooo much research. I will get around to comments when I find the time. I actually think I might just start replying in my own comment box, but I'm not sure. It gets so time consuming because when I check my blogger, I have so much running on my laptop that opening numerous pages takes a long time. I think I might get a new laptop soon. We'll see. I've been spending a lot on this new project. Aye aye aye!So I thought I'd post real quick something I rolled past earlier on Sunday around 1-ish...^I felt so bad for them. Apparently the driver was some young  some young Asian girl, since it looked like she was apologizing and shit. This can ruin anyone's Super Bowl Sunday. Hell this would ruin my month.

The other day I got an awesome package from my infinitely awesome Pink Kitty. I've actually been feeling crazy with my hectic schedule and all, so I was super happy to get such a sweet gift. She totally made my week!

The loot ^La Mer tinted moisturizer, a light up lollipop pacifier that says "be mine" (she already had me at 'hello'), incoco dry nail appliques (I've been wanting to try these for a while =), Advil (haha), all with a cute note with a scratch n sniff sticker!

^Seriously I haven't seen these in a while. I used to collect them and I remember having this exact one. It really brought me back. Girl, I can't wait to paint the town pink with you! We'll go on adventures together,  then stuff our faces with the finest foods. =) You're gonna be even more spoiled when you move your ass down here.Il Fornaio

^With my buddy, Max. Isn't he adorable? Dress- Juicy Couture. Shoes- Cathy Jean.Whist is a gorgeous tapas style restaurant at the Viceroy in Santa Monica. They have a full bar and lots of wines, but again I was alcohol free that night, which was a bit of a drag since the place has a total bar scene. You walk in to see a bunch of LA scenesters mingling loudly with traveling business types as they get there drink on in the stylish and cool atmosphere. The food is surprisingly good. I really like the tapas style menu. It's fancy and fresh bar food, that really hits the spot.At Whist. You basically just order a bunch of small plates that you can share with your date or company. That way you get a nice variety of foods. For starters we chose a few different "accessories" and the lump crab fritters.

Roasted broccoli/cauliflower, olives, shallots, roasted oregon mushrooms. These were all yummy and fresh. I especially enjoyed the mushrooms. They were nice and aromatic with a delicious rustic flavor.Pickled baby roots Crisp, refreshing, with a nice slightly acidic flavor. Not too sour, but just tart enough to make my mouth water before every bite.

^ chives, caviar, aioli. These are really good. They're crisp on the outside with sweet and juicy chunks of crab on the inside. I always get these when I go to Whist.

Black trumpets, sunchoke. This is pretty yummy. I would order this again.

hand cut pappardelle, basil. This was pretty good. The sauce was tasty, but I wish it had larger pieces of lobster. The lobster sort of just got lost in the dish.Whist is a lovely, restaurant. The food and ambiance match the price. I'd definitely go back. This would also be a nice place to throw a little party or get together.Il fornaio

Dress from xGeneration in SF on Haight.

Il Fornaio is an Italian restaurant/bakery chain. I've been to the one in Beverly Hills in the past, but for this trip we went to the one in Santa Monica, and I'm pretty sure I liked the one in Beverly Hills better. The best part about Il Fornaio could be the wine, but I'm not sure because I was sober when during my visit. The second best thing would have to be the bread. It's actually some of the best bread I've had as a starter. It's nice and crisp on the outside and super soft and fluffy on the inside. The rest of the food, the service, and the ambiance at this location is decent, but far from great.Our server was friendly, but her timing was off. She actually did one thing that irritated me a lot. When we were served our main courses, we started eating right away, and I felt like the food was a bit bland. When I was already almost finished with my meal, she came by and asked if I wanted cheese....I mean, really? She needn't have bothered at that point. That sort of thing bothers me. She should have offered us cheese before we even started stabbing out our food. Of course, I got some cheese, it was better, but I was already full. So I didn't get to enjoy my meal as much as I should have. I actually think I was a little more upset than I should have been, but hey it was her fuck up. How hard is it to remember the cheese? Okay... moving along.What we ordered...

Spicy Ahi tuna tartar with sliced tomatoes, English cucumber, micro arugula, mustard-lemon vinaigrette; olive bread croutons. This was good. The ahi was nicely flavored. It was better with the house bread.

Ravioli filled with fresh Maine lobster, leeks and Il Fornaio filone bread; topped with shrimp, diced tomato and lobster-cream sauce. This was okay. The lobster was very small almost like a paste. It definitely isn't as good as lobster ravioli from other places, like the Ivy.

Linguine Mare ChiaroThin flat pasta strands with clams, mussels, prawns and scallops; seasoned with tomatoes, crushed red pepper, garlic and trebbiano wine. This was good, but again. Not as good as other seafood pastas.

The food here is not much better than Olive Garden, but it costs a lot more. The service at the Santa Monica location was worse than Olive Garden. Well, they lost lots of points because of the cheese mishap.  The Il Fornaio in Beverly Hills is better.I had more to write about, but I'm getting tired.xoxo

First, I'd like to thank everyone for their kind words. I'm still working through this sobriety shit. The depression's been hitting me hard on and off, which sucks...I know it'll take a while for me to be completely "normal"and I'm handling it. I've been really fatigued lately which sucks. Whenever I try to work I keep nodding off. I feel like a Goddamned zombie.

I did have a few sips of vodka at the end of the night when I went out on Friday, but I literally only had a few sips and decided that I just didn't want to drink much after that, since I was going to be heading home soon. I'm proud of myself for holding back for so long in the middle of Alkyville, but to be honest, if I would've stayed out much longer I probably would've had much a lot more to drink.

Oh yeah, since a few asked. In the last entry (with the hello titty shirt), I was wearing dior tinted moisturizer, dior skinflash under my eyes and to highlight my cheekbones, a light dusting of mac msf on cheeks only under my blush, bare minerals blush in laughter. Urban decay eyeliner zero on waterline and yeyo under lashline. Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes Mascara. Mac lipstick in Up the Amp under Nars turkish delight. This isn't so much a beauty blog, since I think there are already so many great beauty blogs, but if you ask I'll answer. =)I'm not sure when my blog became mainly about food, but I guess all I've been doing lately is eating...Il grano

What I  wore...I didn't have much time to get ready for this date since I was so fatigued. I woke up at 6:45 and realized I only had about 35 min to shower, get dressed and head out. My face was still puffy from just waking up. Dress-Forgot but I got it from generationX in San Francisco on Haight. Shoes- Steve Madden

The Restaurant

^View from my seat.

Il Grano is a sleek Italian restaurant in West LA which focuses on fresh ingredients with an emphasis on seafood. The ambiance is clean, modern, quiet, and pretty. We didn't feel like thinking about what to order so we told the server to put together 2 five course meals for us. They have a full bar and a nice wine selection, but I was going alcohol free this evening.Service was quick, and somewhat attentive, but boring. No one had personality, but I guess that's just me nit picking.

Deep fried then placed on a bed of fresh tomatoes. This was very tasty. Salty, verdant, crispy combined with the super fresh sweet, tangy tomatoes. I would've loved 3 more.

CrudoEach piece was very fresh, well flavored and delicious. I think the crudo was the best part of the meal. I think next time I'll order more crudo.

Veal tongue saladI didn't like this very much, but I'm not a huge fan of tongue. I didn't like the sensation of having that poor calf's tongue grazing against mine. The more I thought about it the more it grossed me out. It was very tender and sort of like ox tail in flavor, but with the texture of a tongue. I think maybe it would've been better if it were cut in smaller pieces. I don't know how it compares with other tongue dishes, since I think this was my first tongue dish, I don't think I'd order it again.

Forgot what this dish was called

This was fresh and tasty. It had a nice herbal aroma. I loved the sauce. It had a nice velvety texture and melted in my mouth.

Skatefish with fresh veggiesIt looks like a Chia-fish! haha. This was light and fresh. Very simple, yet delicious.

This wasn't very good. It didn't taste too fresh. It wasn't very tender and the sauce was blah. I think I've probably been spoiled with some great lamb in my day, but this dish just didn't do it for me. I took 2 bites and saved myself for dessert.

DessertThese were two very delicious desserts that went well together.  I really loved the chocolate one which was warm, velvety, almost gooey on the inside. The other was a little more firm, but still delicious with a sort citrus/vanilla flavor to it. I ate almost all of it. =)

For me this meal was OK...well it was good, but not great. I would go back, but next time I'll look at the menu and choose for myself. I don't think this is the best place to get meats, so stick with the super fresh seafood, and you'll be fine. Also, the place is called il grano which must mean grain, right? I'm guessing that they must have good pastas, but I'm not sure why they didn't incorporate it in many of our dishes. Maybe the chumps who put our meal together weren't on their 'A' game for the evening.  I'll give the place another go and get strictly seafood, veggies, and pasta.

Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles
What I wore to 'scoe's...

Very haggard simple every day look. No makeup, just nude gloss. I didn't even comb my hair. I'm sure you can tell. =P Top-bebe. Leggings-f21. Boots-steve madden. Hat-Target. I've been sleeping and eating lots of junk. The weight goes straight too my booty and thighs. I'll cut carbs for a week starting tomorrow before things get out of hand. =P

I've lived in LA pretty much all of my adult life, and I finally hit up Roscoe's for the first time on Friday. I went to the Los Angeles Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles on W. Pico Blvd, since it's the closest to my house. Sorry, folks. I have to say, I'm a bit disappointed in Roscoe's.As I walked up to Roscoe's I was glad that I dressed pretty conservatively, but that didn't stop the ghetto jerks who were sitting outside from smacking there lips loudly and commenting on my "mean ass," ...."hey wasn't you in that one movie?"...keep walking...don't look back....keep your eyes on the door... yeesh made it. I was pretty much ready for it. One of my girls once told me that some asshole at Roscoe's threatened to kick her ass for giving him the cold shoulder about a year ago. haha. Ladies, don't go to Roscoe's alone. I wonder how ghetto the Roscoe's in Long Beach must be. I was born in the LBC, but I can't fuck with Long Beach these days. Long story...

Anyways, inside of Roscoe's sort of reminds me of the inside of a cheesy strip club that you'd see in an 80's movie. Hot pink neon lights are laced throughout the building. Some funny infomercial was on the tube... A few oldschool pay phones were hanging on the white painted brick walls...a couple of mismatched potted plants were haphazardly placed about the room. It smelled good though. Like grease, butter, and sweet syrup.

Our server was probably the best part about the joint. She's a sweet adorable old lady called Mama. Yes, it was on her name tag. She reminds me of my friend's grandma. She spoke in a tender motherly tone. This matronly fox was actually quite quick witted, charming, and totally knew how crack a keen joke while kindly putting us young bucks in our place. I loved it.  I ordered a coke and my friend said "don't you mean diet?" She gave him this sort of "what the hell's the point in ordering a diet coke let the poor girl have her sugar" sorta look which made me chuckle to myself. He didn't get it. haha. She was a very attentive server..."How are my babies doing?" she would ask every few minutes. I liked her a lot. I'm glad she was my server. She made the meal a lot  more pleasant.

I ordered for the 2 of us to share, but actually my friend was already full when we got there so the food was really just for me to try out. For him I ordered the #2 which is 1/4 chicken smothered with gravy and onions, 2 waffles. For myself, I ordered the Stymies choice which is fried chicken livers with grits, eggs, and a biscuit. I also ordered a side of greens.

#2The chicken was dry on the inside, soggy on the outside. I'm guessing I should've ordered the dark meat. The waffles were soggy and rubbery. The butter was actually the best part. They have some nice sweet creamy butter. The syrup was standard.

My Stymie's Choice"Is this enough for my baby?" asks Mama with a huge menacing grin. Again the portions are ginormous. This is easily a full lb of chicken livers. My mom's from Georgia and I was practically raised on grits and eggs and fried chicken liver, so I naturally love me some good country cookin. The chicken liver was actually cooked to my liking. Nice and crispy. I sometimes dipped it in the Louisiana hot sauce and sometimes sopped it in the gravy. Yum.  I had my eggs over medium and mixed it with my grits. The grits were a bit too runny, but the butter was so good it didn't matter. I did have to put lots of salt on the grits as it was unsalted. I couldn't find any pepper, but it didn't keep me from stuffing my fat face.

Oh yeah, my biscuit and greens...The greens were seasoned to my liking. Tangy, salty, and slightly bitter. I liked them. The biscuit was stale and rubbery. Blasphemy!

I'm pretty sure Roscoe's has it's moments. I probably came in before they threw out the old batch of carbs and brought out some fresh biscuits and waffles. I was disappointed in the soggy rubbery mess. So not worth the carbs. I'll go back in hopes of some fresher grub. It's cheap and close to home. I'll definitely order the Stymies choice again and perhaps a #1 with gravy on the side.  That shit definitely gave me the itis though. I challenge you to eat at Roscoe's and not feel like you have to take a nap. haha. It's some heavy shit.

Oh yeah....Happy Lunar New Year, everyone! xoxo