When Tara Met Blog: May 2007

Your table is ready

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

The other day we had dinner for the first time on our dinning table, which used to belong to my Dad's restaurant (Settembres) just like my red stools, which I had in my apt in NY. The retro table with red and white paten leather chairs and steel legs had been sitting in my mom's basement waiting for the day I had a place big enough to house it. Not that the table is very big, which is good because our place isn't either. So as a housewarming gift my mother had it sent out to me along with some bureaus (the one in the background) and a lamp.

For our first dinner on the table, I made cheese tortellini alfredo with broccoli and shrimp, plus baked rolls and a side of asparagus. I didn't eat the asparagus though, but the rest was very good if I may say so. It was pretty easy to make too.

The bicycle diaries

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

I never had much luck with bicycles; there was the nice new bike that my cousin just put together for me, which was stolen from my dad's place before I could even ride it and that time where I fell off my bike and down this little ditch off the road and breaking my wrist. Thus, I wasn't much of a bike person, so I rollerbladed instead.

However, now that I live by the beach, I've wanted a beach cruiser; you know one of those classic looking ones with the wide handle bars? Although I originally wanted a red bike, I ended up picking out a pink one because it came with seven gears instead of none. I bought it at BeachBikes.net in Torrance for $180, instead of paying $300-500, which is what the Santa Monica places had wanted. But of course I then had to get a cute wooden basket, bell with hearts on it, a gel seat and a basket liner from dvnproducts.com that converts into a sack once I park my bike and want to walk around with my stuff. All the extras brought my total to $270--but still a good deal. Raphael bought a bicycle this weekend too, but an aluminum Trek mountain bike.

For our first journey we were pretty adventurous and biked from our home in Mar Vista to Hermosa Beach for their Memorial Day fair, passing the towns of Playa del Rey, El Segundo and Manhattan Beach. It was 13 miles each way, 26 miles total, so pretty much like biking a marathon. I was ok on the way there, the views and sunshine were beautiful, but on the way back my butt was sore and my muscles tight. I almost convinced Raphael into taking a taxi back, it didn't sell though, but he occasionally would help give me a push on the way back as if I were a kid just learning to bike, lol. I took a nice hot bath when I got home, but I'm sure I'll still be sore tomorrow. I feel accomplished though.

Oh I named my bike Chrissy, which is weird since I've never even named my car, but this bike looks prissy and Three's Company-opening-sequence-like, so Chrissy.

Taking the bull by the horns

Sunday, May 27, 2007

I went to Fort Lauderdale for a very quick trip to see my friend Stef who recently moved down there. It was a fun girl's weekend.

One of the many highlights being that I rode a mechanical bull for the first time at Seminole Hard Rock Casino's Tequilla Ranch. Let me preface this story by writing that yes, I had a glass of champagne and wine before hand, but I've always wanted to take a turn on one of these ever since I saw Urban Cowboy as a little girl. It was crazy though, a lot harder than I expected, especially when in a dress and the guy at the controlls is being dirty about it. Let me break it down for you.

Getting on
Here I am trying to figure out how I was going to jump up on this thing with a dress on and a crowd watching. It was pretty high. I was a little embarrased and nervous, but I figured what the heck who did I know down there?

Trying to stay on
Now, I am just trying to hold on, gripping the sadle strap, while the guy at the controls is jerking the bull rapidly left and right trying to cause me to well, pop out. I was screaming, laughing, and just trying to hold on.

Falling off
When it looked like the guy might succeed in his task, I figured it best to just fall off. Yes, I volunteered on this fall, I had had enough of the close peep show calls.

YeeHaw!
They talked me into getting back on though after I scolded the guy with a wagging finger, but luckily he took it a little easier on me this time with full rotations. At this point my heart was racing, but I did my best to mimic Sissy from Urban Cowboy and even put my left arm up and so forth. If only I had a cowboy hat on, then I think the look would have been complete ;)

What a ride though, it was really fun. When I fell the second and last time, controller guy had the bull's head nudge me, which had everyone laughing. I swear my thighs were sore the next day.

TGIF on Wednesday

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Yesterday morning I was able to view the making of a TGI Fridays commercial at the Sony lot in Culver City. My client directed the spot and I was invited to watch and get ideas. Anyway, I had been to Sony Studios back in January to see a taping of King of Queens, but it was cool this time having a VIP pass and not being escorted to the different stages. I felt pretty cocky actually as I passed the many busy people on bicycles and in go carts, I felt like I was part of some production, when in reality I was just there to view a food commercial, lol.

Here are some things that I found interesting. I always figured restaurant commercials, like Applebee’s or Chili's were filmed in one of their closed restaurant locations, it would make sense since it would be all set up, but no, it was all done in a sound stage with a mini TGIF themed restaurant inside, just minus a roof so that lights and cameras could be put in. They also used real food. One part of the sound stage was designated for a mini-TGIF kitchen, where real TGIF chefs prepared the food to create authenticity and actual portion sizes, which I thought was impressive. There was a beer foam guy employed too, his job was to refill the drinks to keep the foam frothy and at the just poured happy hour level.

Although I would have been bored being one of the extras who had to eat fried food at 9 a.m. and fake smiles and pretend it was happy hour, there lips moving as if in conversation when they weren't and laughing when nothing funny was said (not that unlike to what I did at The Galley shoot a few weeks ago) but the perks would have made the job worth it. The whole cast and crew were treated to an omelet bar with cooks making some awesome creations. One actress had corn and avocado on top of over easy eggs on tortillas, there was a man passing out shakes, plus a table of fresh fruit, teas, coffees, fondue and a collection of vitamins and aspirins were stacked including multi-v packs, ginseng, calcium, and so forth, right next to twizzlers, very weird and not sure why they were necessary. There was also wireless hookup and everyone on the business side of things had their Macs out and logged on.

Can you tell I had fun observing all this? Well, if not, I did. I wouldn't mind hanging on commercial sets more often. Anyone looking for extras...call me!

How I start my work day

Monday, May 21, 2007

By reading this metal warning plate that sits in front of each elevator entrance to my office building.

Hmm should I be worried? I know every building contains similar materials, but the state of California requires there be a notice put up. It reminds me of when I was used to commute by The Tube in London and instead of saying that their was a delay the announcements would be brutally honest and say "there is a delay due to a fire on the tracks." I don't need to know that, I would think and then I'd wonder, Is everyone ok? Will the fire spread? What if a fire starts when I'm on the train?

Shecky's Girls Night Out #3

Thursday, May 17, 2007

I've been to several Shecky's Girls Night Out events in New York (like this one), but yesterday was my first time attending one out here in LA. Held at The Hollywood Legion it was a little more cramped, but I liked the old fashion quality of the place.

My friends and I sipped a blueberry, pomegranate drink with 5% alchoal from Peels as well as a yummy Bacardi Silver Mojito drink that comes in a bottle and tastes like mint but without the bits of real mint inside. Both were very refreshing and good for the beach, but after awhile the sugar of both on my empty stomach was making me crave something salty--I went home and made easy mac.

OK now on to the shopping... As always when I go to these events I went around buying like there was no tomorrow. My first purchase was an adorable cupcake gold colored charm with two pink gems on the side from chichi ($38), then a beaded crown tank top with a tye dye background that reminded me of Neapolitan ice cream ($22), and two shirts that are super soft and vintage looking from a discount bin for only 10 each.

My friend and colleague, Rachael, bought a cute Coffee Whore t-shirt ($20) from Function Five Apparel, I almost got their chocolate whore one and recommended they create a wine whore tee, because I'd be all about it.

Sarah meanwhile bought this big mustard colored gem ring, that would have dwarfed my fingers but looks kick ass on hers, or as she said, "makes a statement."

Other vendors of note were Bling It On Designs and this hoolahoop workout demonstration outside by hoopnotica and yes, I tried it and didn't drop my hoop (I was raining champ on my childhood street of Columbus Ave.) They offer classes and claim to "wiggle off the calories and give your workouts a fun new spin with invigorating hoop dance classes." I almost bought their starter pack with DVD after trying it out. The hoops are heavier than the childhood ones and I could actually feel my abs working it, but I have no place to twirl without knocking things over in my home, but I might stop by their classes in Marina Del Rey. The hoops also break apart and snap together, which was cool. I'm such a sucker though for this stuff.

Now for the real reason why I attend these events... the swag bag! I thought we were being smart by getting our goodie bags at the end so we didn't have to lug the heavy shoulder bag filled with products the whole time, and I even felt a bit smug when I heard all the other women complain about the weight of them. However, when we went to collect them at the end we received the bottom of the barrel bags, which were missing the plush sachette hangers that I saw in the other girls' bags and probably other stuff. Dang. My bag still had some good stuff and included Sea Breeze astringent, which I already have and have blogged about, and products from The Soap Kitchen, RedKen, Garnier, Sunsilk, Witchy Poo Bath fizzer and copies of New Beauty and Blueprint magazine.

Is your betty ready?

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

A fun new product hit the shelves this year, Fun Betty, which is designed to color the hair down there. So for most women the carpet can now match the drapes ;) Or you can be really daring and go with their pink version. Variety is the spice of life, no?

Fun Betty has been in my online bookmarks for some time now, but after seeing the Business 2.0 article Going Long On the Short and Curlies, I decided to go for it and try it out myself. I have no photos to share of coure and I'll do my best to avoid TMI but here was my experience and thoughts:

I've dyed the hair on my head before and that often burns and causes irritations, so I was a little worried to travel down south. However, it didn't burn or leave blotches of any kind. There was a slight sensitivity/warming, but nothing bad at all. Probably because it does not contain ammonia and was specifically formulated to be gentle. Fun Betty dye also has natural ingredients like cherry bark, aloe, chamomile, aloe and rosemary.

Unlike other dyes that make my eyes water--this purple goop smells like perfume. It is cream based too, so you don't have to worry about drips, etc. and their kit comes with a mini applicator comb, mixing trey and gloves. Best of all, it didn't dye my area any other color than the one that I chose, becuase I've heard horror stories of women using regualr hair dye for down there and getting crazy colors, which was the case with Samantha in Sex and the City, who was trying to hide some grays and ended up getting a bozo orange look.

The only negative is that the entire process takes an hour. First you use a lightening and developing cream for 30 mins and then comes the color. Times vary for desired level of color, but the different levels are clearly marked in the instructions. My betty had turned to the color that I had wanted just after the first treatment though, but I continued on with the color too as per the directions. The instructions also recomended trying a sample patch first, but I figured, what the heck let's go all in and luckily my gamble paid off. Overall, I found the whole process to be easy, exciting and had me giggling.

Final caveat, this could get addictive!

You can order through the main site for $20 each color (sun burst orange, brown, auburn, blonde, black and pink) or through Beauty Deals.

Video: David Spade's There I Said It, Ugly Betty. He makes some good points about the TV show's definition of 'ugly.'

WTMB's very own mascot

Monday, May 14, 2007

So When Tara Met Blog had it's own live ad in this past Saturday's Revlon Run/Walk for breast cancer in downtown L.A. My office intern Michael Hersh, who completed the 5k in 20 minutes, so awesomely and daringly had his girlfriend write my blog address on his back with a black Sharpy. Now that's off-the-track PR, literally. I had dared him to do it the other day, but still can't believe that he actually did it though. How cool is that? Now that's what I call an intern ;) although I'm obviously a very mean mentor, lol.

He only has shots from the parking lot before he pinned his number to his shorts, since he didn't take his cell phone along on the race. He said he still has remains of the sign on his skin :( poor guy. Although he might have qualified to make their leaderboard of fast finishing times. They haven't posted them yet.

I had been paricipating in the same run/walk in Times Square for the last three years, first with my book club of 20+ friends, then in the rain with my local girlfriends and finally with my office. This weekend though, my mom was in town for her birthday and mother's day and we headed to Santa Barbara wine country, which was beautiful. It's where they filmed the movie Sideways. I donated to several of my friends who were paricipating though and at least with Hersh's sign I was there in some regards.

I'm sick of rumors starting, I'm sick of being followed...

Saturday, May 12, 2007

According to Cynopsis, below are rumors swirling around about broadcast network pickups for next season. I'm sad and angry about Studio 60, it's such a good show with an awesome cast, but NBC hasn't given it the proper backing. According to NBC's website a new episode will appear on May 24th at least. Happy about a possible Heroes spin-off though.

CBS will bring back two comedies - The New Adventures of Old Christine and Rules of Engagement; and a drama with Jimmy Smits (a nice addition to any schedule), while Close to Home may fall off the fall lineup. Jury is still out on Jericho.
ABC to give an additional 13-episode order to Notes from the Underbelly, and perhaps 9 more of The Knights of Prosperity. Also look for the network to renew George Lopez and new drama Football Wives
FOX will like bring back Brad Garrett's 'Til Death, and guesses are it will be paired up with Action News comedy, starring Patricia Heaton and Kelsey Grammer.
NBC won't bring back Crossing Jordan, Studio 60 or the Black Donnellys, while L&O SVU has already received the nod for next year, look for all three Law & Orders will be back (either on NBC or TNT). Scrubs will be on the shelf in case it's needed.
NBC.com is launching a Heroes spin off this summer
CW probably won't bring back Veronica Mars, but 7th Heaven definitely has finished it's run (remember last year it rec'd an 11th hour reprieve). New likelys include Reaper and Gossip Girl

Helicopter parent

Friday, May 11, 2007

My colleague was sent the following questions from a concerned Ohio mother whose daughter is moving out to LA and I couldn't help but find them funny.

1. What is the cost of living? How much is gas? How much is milk? ($500!)
2. How much of a paycheck goes to housing?
3. How much is water and electricity?
4. How is the air quality? Are there a lot of smog alerts?
5. Is there water rationing? Is LA in drought conditions and what
happens if they are?
6. What's a good hospital? Where is there a good Urgent Care and how
does one find a good doctor and dentist? Who is an honest car mechanic?
7. What are the grid lock hours on the free way?
8. What percent is the sales tax if there is one?
9. What do people do to keep prepared for an earthquake?
10. What are the rules for car emissions...how do you find out? (um it's called Google)
11. What is a safe, affordable neighborhood? (OK this one is a good question)
12. Who is a good tax preparer? Is there a Credit Union that someone
could recommend?

I don't even know the answers to most of those questions and I've lived here for eight months. I still don't have a dentist, tax preparer, know about emissions, how to prepare for an earthquake or even heard of water rationing (is that a thing?). When I moved out here my mom helped me pack and asked how far I was from the beach, stores and work and what time the bars closed out here, lol. When I told her 2 a.m. she thought it best to reconsider after all NY bars close at 5 a.m.

Pop goes the art

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

I’ve always liked the Andy Warhol pop art look of the 80s and always wanted one of those four squared bright colored portraits of my own one day. But what photo would I use and who even makes them? Then a few months ago I saw an ad on someone’s blog for custom pop art canvases. So, I checked out the site, Pop Art Go and impulsively submitted a photo and my order. I thought this pic had a lot of character to it and would be ideal for me and boyfriend’s home together.

I gave several suggestions for what I had in mind and then waited for the proofs. Although Proof 1 was what I originally had wanted I liked the cartoon style of Proof 3 and Glenda the creator of Pop Art said it was her favorite too. I then suggested my dress go from the purple it really is to red. The artists kept working with us via email and phone until we had it perfect, which was awesome. It was perfect and thrilling when the portrait arrived. The canvas is so smooth too.

It’s now hanging on the wall before the entrance to our bedroom in the condo my boyfriend and I just bought. It was the first thing we hung on our walls of our new home too. Whatcha think? Fun, no?

PS: We blogged about them and they blogged about us, Pop Art Bloggers.

Pump it up

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

Regular has reached $3.71 out here in SoCal and they predict $4.00 a gallon this summer. Crazy!

My life on the weekend list

Sunday, May 6, 2007

I love that bawdy redhead comedian Kathy Griffin and here's why. lol, because she starts all her stories in that fashion. I bought tickets months ago to her stand-up show on Saturday at Pechanga Casino in Temecula and have been excited to see her for some time now. I love her My Life on the D-List show on Bravo and my favorite DVD of hers is Allegedly, where she makes fun of the red carpet arrivals and talks about her visit to Kuwait to perform for the troops. If you haven't seen it, you have to NetFlix it. Anyway, we had really good seats and the hour and a half show flew by as she made fun of American Idol judges and shared her Paris Hilton story and her recent performance at a maximum state prison in Arizona. The thing about her comedy is that guys like her too and it's more like hearing crazy stories from a friend than it is a bunch of punch lines. While at the casino of course I had to hit the craps table but because dice games are illegal in Cali, it's done with cards, which is weird and the reason why I account for losing $80 playing ;). There buffett meanwhile is killer, I had prime rib and king crab legs before the show, yum.

The next day after getting in at 2 a.m. we were up early for a 9 a.m. hike in Malibu. Not much of a hiker, the 1.5 mile trek up was just difficult enough for me, but the views at the top made it worth it. You could see the Santa Monica Pier, the ocean, my office and downtown LA even. Raphael and I went with his cousin and his friend and 3-year-old. Here are some photos.

Hit the nail on the head

Friday, May 4, 2007

I was at the nail salon getting a mani/pedi and relaxing in one of their massage chairs this week when "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas" started playing on the salon's no commercial mix. Me and the other patrons started laughing. I actually really like Christmas music, but of course only in December.

Things that irk me at nail salons:

When a guy paints my toes. I just get uncomfortable.
When they leave your cuticle remains on their plucker tool until they reach your very last finger.
Getting hit on at a nail salon (read here).
Ruining the paint before I even leave the salon.
Putting my hands under the non-air dryers, you know the ones that just are slightly warm. Is it really helping?
When the girl getting her toes done next to me is talking loudly on her cell phone. (Shh this is silent after work time)
When two friends come in and although they are placed in two separate stations with strangers in between them, they still insist on having a personal conversation across the room (Again, see above about silent time).
When I forget to bring my own flip flops.

Today is Friday, you know what that means...if you guessed Sizzler, you'd be correct, lol.

Turning Japanese

Thursday, May 3, 2007

I've been meaning to write about this guy, Shoji, who we met a few weeks ago. He's a friend of our friend Zendi, they met playing volleyball. Apparently he's also a famous Japanese comedic body builder, if that makes any sense. I've seen a YouTube video of his, but something is definitely lost in translation. It sure looks funny, as does his site.

We've all gone out a few times with him and his two friends from Japan too. Once when we were at The Brig, two pretty young Japanese girls recognized him and came running up to him, giggling and feeling his muscles.

He likes to play up the tourist, geeky look, wearing a shirt that says Hollywood when he hits the clubs, a squared brimmed florescent hat, rainbow suspenders, etc. He knows what he's doing though, because I tried to bend the brim of his hat but he wouldn't let me, as he explained to me that straight was cool. He also makes fun of my girly laughter by mimicking it, lol. He's also always posing for photos in corny ways, it's a riot. Some of the guys who meet him try to "teach" him the wrong American words but he seems to know what they are doing and he actually gets a lot of attention from the American girls too who dig his act. It's a good time out is all I can say. Here is a group photo:

Oh and here is my friend Amber and I doing the naughty librarian look for his friends.

Photo shoot at The Galley

Wednesday, May 2, 2007

I responded to a PR friend’s request the other night, she needed people for a photo shoot for her client, The Galley, a restaurant on Main Street in Santa Monica. Photos were being taken for the bar’s website and they needed photos of people drinking & having appetizers at the bar and having fun.

Seeing it as an opportunity to mingle and have free drinks, I agreed. I was also all for the possibility of having my photo on their site even if it’s just an elbow in the background.

In the end, my office roommate Rachael, and I were photographed eating calamari with two other guys like we were double dating and another series of shots with the two of us tapping our glasses together and laughing. Rachael was asked to throw her head back in laughter as we were talking and doing cheers, but we were laughing for real as we tried to do as instructed, lol.

Opened in 1934, The Galley is the oldest bar in Santa Monica and inside there is memorabilia from the "Galley Gang" days of regulars such as Clarke Gable, Errol Flynn, Ava Gabor among other stars. The bar itself looks very Key West like inside a gaudy old fishing boat, with potholes for windows, blowfish skeletons used as lamps and tiny colored Christmas lights strung throughout. It was a fun place, I'd definitely go back. There's an outdoor patio as well, which would be fun in the summer. The crab cakes were really yummy and the shrimp cocktail looked huge, they were both 50% off during happy hour, which runs from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

I'll keep you posted if I am actually in any of the photos.

News article: Rules for Making a Good Impression

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