Recipe: Skinny Mediterranean “Pasta”
I’ve just gotten into cooking {better late than never} and have been trying out recipes that are easy, healthy and delicious. So far this skinny Mediterranean “pasta” dish from Peace Love Shea has been a fast favorite, and I can’t wait to make it again {and actually let my friends try it this time}.
I made a few adjustments to the ingredients to make it even easier and super flavorful. All of the following {minus the spaghetti squash, which I finally tracked down at Bristol Farms} can be purchased at Trader Joe’s:
Your Perfect Cocktail is at The Roosevelt
No matter what kind of cocktail you’re craving, they have it at The Roosevelt Hotel’s Library Bar.
That’s because every drink is made-to-order just for you — there’s not even a cocktail menu here. But fret not, the master mixologists are sure to shake up something that will satisfy any alcohol craving. Not sure what to get? Try tequila + strawberries + jalapeno for a winning combo!
The only downside? These bespoke cocktails don’t come cheap, costing around $18 each. {That’s what pregaming is for.}
Summer To-Do List 2.0
It’s been almost a year since my last post {oops}, but with summer around the corner, I wanted to make another to-do list and have it in writing so I don’t forget. I actually managed to check off a bunch of things from last year, and have a few to add on.
Read more…Summer To-Do List
Summer is my favorite season –I love spending time poolside or at the beach reading a book and catching up with magazines under the sun. Inspired by one of my favorite blogs, Cupcakes and Cashmere, I’ve decided to make a list of things I want to accomplish by the end of the summer.
Fauxchella
This past weekend was Coachella weekend 1, and while I didn’t splurge on a ticket to the actual concert, me and some girlfriends took the opportunity to take a weekend getaway to the desert and check out all the best parties!
My Guide to L.A. Sushi
Because L.A. has an innumerable amount of amazing sushi places, coming up with a definitive “best” list is nearly impossible, so instead here are a few of my favorite sushi spots:
Favorite Ambiance: Katana
Perched high on Sunset Boulevard, Katana offers an intimate oasis for sushi-lovers. The restaurant also boasts a full menu of robata, or skewers, that are definitely worth a taste. Fun fact: Apparently Brad Pitt rented out a room here for Jennifer Aniston’s birthday back in the day.
Bottega Louie’s Amazing Mushrooms
Downtown L.A. eatery Bottega Louie won me over the moment I walked in and saw the rainbow-colored macaron display, cases of perfectly crafted desserts and dainty pastel pastry boxes.
The sprawling Italian restaurant is simplistic but elegant, and despite the floor-to-ceiling windows that are a reminder of your surroundings, it’s easy to feel removed from the somewhat gritty area around you.
Read more…Do You Want to See the World?
Ever wish you could just sail away on an extended vacation? Read about one family who’s doing just that:
Since they were newlyweds, Hermosa Beach residents Scott and Mandi Leonard have long wanted to sail around the world.
Now, years later with their three sons—Griffin, 11, Jake, 9, and Luke, 5—the local couple is preparing to take its whole family on a three-year journey to more than 100 countries.
Read more…Movie Review: The Hangover Part II
Sequels are rarely as good as the original; in the case of “The Hangover Part II,” the sequel is the original.
The movie is literally a recycling of “The Hangover” but set in Thailand instead of Las Vegas. It begins, like the original, with Phil (Bradley Cooper) calling Tracy (Sasha Barrese) to inform her that the planned wedding might not be happening. Also like the original, Stu (Ed Helms) manages to do something ridiculous to his face while in a drunken, drugged out haze. Of course, again like the original, no one can remember anything, and, like the original (notice a pattern?), someone goes missing and the movie follows Phil, Stu and Alan (Zach Galifianakis) as they attempt to find him.
Read more…Beauty Addiction: Brazilian Blowout
The Brazilian Blowout isn’t anything new, but it still amazes me that I have friends who have yet to try it. For anyone who spends 45 minutes every morning with their blow dryer and straightener (this was me pre-blowout), the treatment is truly a life-changing miracle formula. The original blowout uses a “polymer system” (not sure what that even means, but hey, it works!) to coat the hair and reduce frizz. The entire process, which involves a lot of washing, drying and straightening, takes about an hour and a half to do, but it leaves your hair shiny, soft and frizz free.
Read more…
gabrielle olya 