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. 

 

What to do?

It is increasingly frustrating. I go-go-go all week. Most of the time, my weekends are the same. In fact, event when I set my sights on "relaxing" for a "chunk of time," that time is only a couple hours before I have to be somewhere or do something else. 

I hate this. I know that sounds a little arrogant - it's really quite fabulous to have good friends and an active social life and interesting events to go to. But in many ways, I hate it. Because it has made me quite incapable of sitting still. In has made it completely impossible for me to relax.

Even when I am doing "nothing" and "relaxing," I can't shut my mind off. I can't stop thinking about everything I should be doing or need to do in the coming days. I'm mentally making lists and going to websites. I e-mail notes to my work e-mail so when I get in Monday, I won't forget I need to stop at CVS for my pills... It is impossible for me to find a calm. So I hate it. 

And there is also a feeling of guilt attached. As in, why should I get to rest when there is stuff I need to do looming on the horizon? How fair is it of me to cancel a day's worth of plans just to sit on my ass and make a dent in the tivo? (Which is what I did today, FYI.)

By the way, how many of us now have to block out time to make a dent in the Tivo? I hear that from friends every now and then and it's comforting to not be alone. And amusing. Such is life as we no know it, yes?

And will it sound completely disgusting if I say I have too many friends? I don't know how to better explain it. It's like there's just not enough time in the world for me to see all the people I want to see. A product of living in the same city for 31 years (well, except for college), I have a lot of different groups of friends, a lot of little circles and then, family. And I do not have enough time... I'm gonna stop now before I make myself sound even more deplorable. I hope some of you know what I mean.

Anyway, my physical and mental health are suffering while I try to do too much. So last night, a little light bulb (nothing dramatic) went off and I cleared my Saturday. And here I am. Failing at relaxing (my body is so tense it's absurd) and trying to dent the tivo (I watch too many shows - this is impossible) and telling myself over and over that it's totally okay that I'm sitting here and NOT buying that birthday gift, NOT picking up that prescription, NOT seeing that friend I haven't spent enough time with lately... 

Well, I can't win this battle. If I'm too busy, I'm crazy and crazy miserable. If I'm sitting still, I'm still crazy and crazy miserable. I will experience fleeting moments of relief and joy and so I look forward to that and it brings me some comfort. I will enjoy the TV I get to watch today and it will make me laugh, smile and cry. I will help my teen group plan for a weekend we are all looking forward to, excited that it means I get to go out of town, even if just for a couple days to supervise my kids... I will look at my calendar for the next week and see if there is anything I can cancel. LOL. 

There are far too many parentheses and quotation marks in this entry. It's annoying and I apologize. *wink*

Product Referral

So here's something interesting... a company completely devoted to portion control. Can you stick with it? Can you stay that organized? (Can you afford it?)

It's actually not that expensive and actually, it's quite brilliant. I would imagine a lot of my problem has to do with portion control.

Kelli sent me this link and were I not having financial struggles right now, I might have been quick to buy up a lot of this stuff. I'd actually love to have a food scale and maybe some of this tupperware...

But here's the rub-- as long as there are restaurants, markets, vending machines and a refrigerator in my apartment, something like this would probably end up being useless to me. I'd be all gung ho about it in the beginning, but when the novelty wore off, as it always does with me (hey, I'm just being honest), they'd sit in my cabinet and collect dust.

I really do think it's a great idea. I wouldn't post it otherwise. I am just shamefully, supremely lazy. LOL. If someone tries this and wants to write about it -- I am not kidding -- I would love to hear about it. It would be interesting to me to see if organized portion control can make an earnest difference.