CONFESSIONS OF A FAT GIRL

Caption This Photo

 

 "Bitches, I got my Oscar and my purse and it is time to GO."

 

Just FYI

This is a brilliant idea... Or maybe I'm a nerd (or both).

Saw this at a fast food place whilst picking up some meals for the office and thought to myself that every publice restroom should have such a thing...

... So long as they actually pay attention to it.

Coca-Cola LA Tasting Event

Last Tuesday, I was invited to a Coca-Cola blogger tasting where they unveiled their shiny, new alumninum bottles. The event was held at the High Rooftop Lounge atop the Hotel Erwin in Venice. I brought along my friend Jess and was excited to see some familiar faces - especially my friend Marni, who - totally unrelated to this event - happens to be the best baker I know.

The setting was gorgeous. How can you beat a rooftop view in a beach town? It was a weird configuration for a lounge -- the ceiling of the top floor of the hotel rises out of the roof a little and you get a minimal view of the hallway -- but I liked all the private nooks and crannies and the nice cushioned benches with heating lamps. Special kudos for passing out blankets as well; I thought that was a cute touch.

They had passed hor'dourves, which were delicious, but I couldn't help but feel guilty that plus-one, Jess, who's a vegetarian, could only enjoy one of the snacks. In a town like Los Angeles, you'd think they'd make more concessions for that lifestyle but we run into it a lot.

Of course, the main focus of the event were these nifty new aluminum bottles Coca-Cola plans to sell in high end shops and eateries. It definitely keeps the beverage cooler for longer and it's certainly sleek looking. I wish they were a little bigger but that's just the soda-addict in me. They're a couple ounces lighter than your average can but maybe that's a good thing.

Everyone present from Coke was super friendly and informed on their product and they sure outdid themselves with goodie bags. In fact, because me and my friends were the last to leave the event, we made out like bandits with a lot of extra bottles.

Here are a few highlights/photos:

 

 The entry

The valet area - I liked the art

Jess, Tzviah, David and Marni

  

The goodies 

Also see:

• Happy Go Marni's blog entry on this event:
• All of my photos on FLICKR

Magic Dress

This photo was taken in early October 2004. I bought that dress at Bloomingdales. I remember a few things about buying it...

I remember I could not believe it fit. It was a smaller size than I was accustomed to buying but at the time, I'd just lost a bit of weight. I was ecstatic. I mean, it's a sleeveless dress and I NEVER go sleeveless.

I remember how excited I was. And I remember how excited my mother was - she was with me - and how I was hesitant to buy it but she talked me into it.

I remember I wasn't sure if I could wear black to a Catholic wedding in a church. LOL. I asked the bride, my friend Nichole, and thankfully she was/is aware of my ignorance of religions outside my own... Regardless, I got a shoulder wrap and felt better about it.

I never wore that dress again. I had no occasion to in 2004 and 2005 was the year of my terrible car accident, my slip n' fall accident, the break-up and the gall-bladder surgery. That was the year my life seemed to spiral out of control and I began stuffing my face, seeking consolation. And in the subsequent years, I'd go back to school, experience stress and a new job and new relationships; go into debt... things have not improved much since I took off that dress, I suppose.

Now, though, I look at that dress and feel mildly hopeful. Because I am hoping that by this time next year, I will almost fit into it again.

Yeah, you heard me.

Flatter-day Saturday

Today someone who was not related to me told me I'm beautiful. So that pretty much made my YEAR - not gonna lie. I only wish I had it on tape. One little compliment goes a long way...

The other day, a co-worker took me out for lunch and at this particular restaurant they switch out the artwork from time to time... You can buy it if you want, not that I ever do, but we were sitting right by this photo and I just loved it:

I always maintain I don't know anything about art, really, or photography for that matter (save one photo history course in college I did terribly in), but I suppose that it's a photo of a place that holds happy memories for me and I happen to love ferris wheels.

The colors are great, too, aren't they?

FYI, this is the photographer's website, if you'd like to see more of his work.

I've been a lazy blogger this week having experienced far more than I've actually written about. I'lm attempt to make up for it shortly.

Every day should be this bizarre and yet blissful.

 

Levity

Dear lord, will you please look at this photo of Meghan's cat? It's hilarious.

Who needed a laugh today? I did.

It Was Prom-Fabulous

Like, omigod! I totally went to the Blogger Prom and it was, like, totally 80s themed and totally fab, kids.

So the short-version details are that it was a Bloggers only event at The Andaz in West Hollywood - their rooftop lounge, it was from 7-10, the food, drink, admission and goodie bags were all free, you had to be dressed like a cheeseball 80s adolescent and they had a shit-ton of sponsors and contributors-- it just blew me away!

I was invited with a guest so I took the first person I thought of that I KNEW would get into the theme with me and enjoy it with me - my friend Cammy. She had the most fabulous $20 dress from Forever 21 and I think I liked her flourescent pink socks with black stilettos the best (the pro. photographer took a pic of them but those photos arent up yet)... I had to improv. with my outfit and accesorized my fave black dress with bangles and a wide belt and flats with bows. My eyes and hair were the best part - I really think the side-pony and teased bangs need to makea comeback cause I rocked that hair.

Incdientally, all the photos from the event are being posted to the FLICKR group if you wanna see the whole lot.  

The event was at this new hotel in WeHo - the Andaz, which was very nice and pretty swanky (and, as Cammy said "pretty swanky for a whole lot of non-swanky people). The party was in the penthouse lounge and outdoor area which coulda been lit better after dark but was pretty awesome anyway and the food was delicious (when does free food suck? almost never)... I think if I'd had less class, I'd have torn up that shrimp and avocado ceviche and downed about 13 more of the "Prom Punch Jungle Juice." The really clever bit was that Verizon Wireless was one of the sponsors and provided all these fabulous little laptops, stationed all over the locale so that all us Bloggers could blog AT the event and stay tuned in. In theory, this would have been more fun had I known my Typepad login and password by heart but I trust my internet software for such things. Oh well. It didn't stop me from tweeting at the event, of course... I'm a twittering fool. I also have to give a shout out to the cheese station because that was INSANELY delicious. I don't know how or when but some day this woman is coming to my home to do a cheese tasting party for me and my friends- she was adorable and I especially loved her aged brick spread (the "sex cheese") and the bleu drizzled wirth apricot honey. HELLO?! Amazing.

I guess I was bummed not to win one of what seemed like DOZENS of raffle prizes (and some really fantastic prizes there - WTG, prom committee) but the swag bag (the goody bag) was a pretty amazing reward. Check out what they sent everyone home with: free Pinkberry, free entry to the Viper Room, Sun chips (full bags!), Pepsi, a pretty sexy lube goody bag, chocolates, Carls Jr. freebies, season 1 of the Big Bang Theory, hair products, vodka, certificates, vouchers, handouts, bags... it was a pretty sick bag. I am stunned by what they pulled together.

What would be my critique? More integration. For starters, I'd handout or display a program. I know there's a listing in the blog online but I would have liked to see a list somewhere in the room of the bloggers participating in the event; something like that. I would have liked to find a way to approach people more - I felt like everyone really just kept to who they knew and/or came with. Another idea to get people chatting and participating would have been a costume contest. Like "most cheesy dress" or "best use of tafetta." To tie in the blogger promotion theme, I might have encouraged people to bring a one-sheet on their blog or business cards to put out on a table or something.

But I hate to critique at all because really, it was a stellar event and I am so flattered to have been invited. What a fun time! Why hasn't someone done this before? Us bloggers need a union. LOL. A network, if anything.

Oh, but one lass criticism: ORIGINALITY, people! Hello? Can we all remember for a moment what attire was like in the 80s? I wanted to see far more taffeta and poofly sleeves. More fishnets and flourescents and bad linen suits. Some people really wussed out on the costumes. Some people didn't even bother to try. Oh sure, 7 girls came in the same fuscia dress from Forever 21 but at least they made it work for the theme. But I'm not joking- check this out:

No joke - by the end of the night, you couldn't even tell them apart and it was HILARIOUS. And FYI, the two girls on the right? Not even related but shit did that throw us off in a funny little bathroom incident...

Like I said this morning, as I sorted through my goody bag: At long last all this blogging (I’ve been blogging since 2001, people) has paid off. I got free vodka and cupcakes. Score!

 

Hurty Skin

Looking at this photo makes my skin hurt.

I just got a text from my face that said "don't you EVER do this to me."

Caption This

This pairing on the red carpet mystified me...