Four Hair Washes in 40 days?! No Problem!

Can you really get away with washing your hair only four times in 40 days?  That's nearly six weeks! I am telling you it's possible, that there's benefits to your hair health, the environment, and it'll save you time and money!

Also, WELCOME BACK!  I took a long break from blog for various reasons but I'm happy to be back and sharing some thoughts, recipes, photos and fun with ya'll again 😃

Accidental Matching Coconuts ;)
And six days without washing my hair!

Let me start by explaining that I didn't plan on doing this experiment until I was unknowingly two weeks into it.  My friend, Jess, and I planned an outing in Venice and I knew washing my hair, drying it, and then walking around would be a waste of a blow-out and extra heat damage when it would be windy by the beach and ruin it anyway.  So I let it go, threw on my Yankee's hat and we were off to Venice.  We arrived at Venice Ale House and I introduced Jess to Coconut Sake Bombs (which are exactly like they sound, fresh coconuts, cut open right in front of you and a generous pour of sake on the side to put into said coconut).  We cheersed the table next to us since I had asked one of the guys to take a photo of us earlier and now there was a gal sitting with them and I didn't want to be rude so I introduced myself to her.  She was so instantly kind and genuine, a rarity in LA, that we got to talking about food, fashion and then hair.  She told us how she hadn't washed her hair in over a month but then she got to a point where she couldn't stand it anymore.  She explained that you basically wet lather your hair with just water, put in a little leave-in conditioner or condition the ends, rinse and go.  You could use dry shampoo between washes but because she left her hair in a bun most of the time, it didn't really matter.  And she noticed her hair became healthier, shinier, and it seemed to grow faster.  I was in!

My hair is naturally wavy and fine; it holds curl and a style well and for the most part doesn't get oily for a few days.  I normally shampoo once every 3-4 days, plan my intense work-outs around my hair washing, and go on with my week.  This required me to cut my shampooing to once every 7-10 days; so I did a wet lather intermittently where you get your hair wet, give yourself a little head and scalp massage, then condition the ends with conditioner and you're done.  It definitely cut a couple minutes from my showers!  We all know more time for all the fun things is worth it!

Ten days without a shampoo and waves galore
when helping Lauren move!

I noticed when I styled my hair after that rare shampoo, the style lasted even longer (my hair dried quicker and it was a lot easier to do) it looked healthier, shinier, fuller/volume-wise, and on the days I didn't shampoo it, it still did what it needed to do but I tended to keep it in a bun or went more natural and embraced my waves and curls.  Leaving it wavy/curly allowed me to skip the days between shampooing even more because I only had to dampen my hair to reactivate the product I used the first day and on day five, sometimes it looked better than on day two!  Before I knew it, I was at 34 days with only four shampoos.  And today I hit 40.

Let's look at the known benefits for a second.  The more you give your hair and scalp a chance to breathe and cut back on the chemicals and sulfates, the more balanced your hair will be, giving it the opportunity to be in it's best physical shape.  You can't eat pizza every day and expect to lose weight (hey, I've tried) and the same goes for your hair.  While the sulfates clean your hair and make the shampoo lather, they also strip your hair of the natural oils in it, causing dryness, brittleness, hair-breakage, dullness, and over time a build-up of products.  Your hair has a natural growing out period, so pulling back on shampooing will essential re-set or train your hair back to the beginning where it creates the right amount of oil to keep your hair healthy and growing long and strong because it's renewing it's natural oils!  It may take a little time to adjust but that's what you're training your scalp to do!  You can't run a marathon without training and prep.

I haven't colored my hair even semi-permanently in at least seven years but for those who color their hair, this will help keep your color brighter and lasting longer.  Even just using water on it can cause color to fade so the longer you can go between washes will save your color and money because you'll be coloring less!  Plus, over-washing can actually aggravate your scalp more since excess oils can cause an itchy or flaky scalp to worsen.  I definitely noticed the dryness of my hair and scalp went MAJORLY down the further I got into my 40 days.

Lastly, the less you're washing your hair, even getting it wet, the less shampoo and conditioner you'll be using, meaning you'll be saving money and adding less plastic waste to the environment going through multiple bottles of shampoo every year.  And for those of you who don't know me, saving money is my jam!

I know your concern might be what if you work-out, what if your head/hair doesn't smell good between shampoos and I totally get it.  I pull my hair into a bun before my work-outs and when I'm done and it's not one of my intense workouts where I actually shampoo or at the very least do the wet lather, I'll just blow dry my hair on a cool/warm setting and when I let it out of the bun, it has a nice wave to it.  And scent...I had multiple people compliment me on how great my hair smelled when it had been six days since my last shampoo!  And I didn't ask them to smell my hair although it kind of became a game as I was getting closer to hitting 40 days.

You're not going to see results overnight, or even in a week because this process takes time, but perhaps you can cut down from 3-4 shampoo's a week to two, then maybe one, and see where it takes you!  I want to hear your thoughts on this!  Have you tried the wet lather routine before and did it work for you?  What did you like, what didn't you like?  Feel free to share your stories in the comments below💓

It's good to be back here with my blog so Welcome Back and thanks for joining me on this adventure again 😘

'Children's Playhouse' Web Series

We started back up with the Web Series that Adam created last year!  In fact, it's been nearly a year since our first day of filming and episode one is ready for your viewing pleasure but we're not putting it out until we have the other three that we shot this weekend edited and finished!  So it's a really exciting and testing of our patience time!

When you're trying to get everyone in the selfie
and someone takes a picture of your attempt ;)

We spent three days getting everything done for the next three episodes, shooting at Adam's apartment, a secret bar location in Culver City, and then in the rec room at my apartment complex.  Each day was filled with lots of Improv as that fits the storyline and how Adam wanted the series to go.  Since I'm the new girl to town, I'm still getting to know everyone and what Sunnyside has to offer.  Of course, I end up causing some problems and throw a wrench into the mix but I won't give any more than that away!

Everyone really came together, with our friends jumping in to help with lighting, sound, props, producing, craft services, and I think it just shows our dedication to something we love!  Thanks to Lauren for bringing donuts on Friday because I ended up eating two and a half...the most donuts I've had in nearly a year since the last time I had one was on National Donut Day.  Adam pulled out some emotion from me on Saturday, as the scene was one of the few serious moments, and we had other 'game-changing' moments to film that day, too!

Day 1 of filming 'Children's Playhouse!'

Thanks to everyone for being the professional awesome people they are and I can't wait to see the final product!  I know Adam has already gone through footage and is loving what he's been seeing.  I'll be sharing it as soon as we put it out there and hopefully it'll even hit the festival circuit :)

'Thenardier's Inn' Encore!

We had another three-week run of 'Thenardier's Inn' in September and October.  We had shows at our studio space in Santa Monica (CAC Studios) and then at Three Clubs in Hollywood!  Once again, all the shows were sold-out/over-sold and we had a great cast of people to bring our story to life!

There were a few originals from our cast and also some new people.  Our new people brought some excitement and fun to the show, bringing a different character trait and that made it interesting.  As we've all said from the beginning, no show is exactly the same and that's what really makes our show magnificent. 

With the Steward and Jean Valjean before a Friday Night Show!

I was back to my Lovely Lady antics for the show, brought my crazy hair back, and love doing my make-up for this show!  We had Todd, Bartending for us at the Studio in our closing week and he had a beautiful set-up of food and drinks that were popular in France during the Revolution.  I had a Mint, Vinegar, Simple Syrup and Water drink that was absolutely delicious and got rid of my sore throat within a day!  I found out the next day as I was perusing Pinterest that Vinegar kills bacteria.  Who knew?!

We all wrote a little something on the wall to remember
our first real CAC home <3

Unfortunately, as we did our last show at CAC Studios last weekend, we informed the audience that we no longer had that space.  Thankfully, we have outgrown it, and this clears the way for bigger and better things!  We started 'Thenardier's Inn' and CAC Studios there and we ended with that show nearly two years later, where it all began.  

Thanks to Courtney for coming to two of our shows and bringing her roommate, Jacqueline, and her Dad!  I loved having you in the audience and I'm so glad you all enjoyed it :)

'Thenardier's Inn' certainly isn't ending; I've said from the beginning, can we just do this show forever? #notlesmisforever  And I know we will <3

'Hard Knocks' at Afterbuzz TV

I can't believe how quickly Football Training Camp came and went.  'Hard Knocks' focuses on those five weeks and specifically one team; this year it was the newly re-located back to LA Rams.  After 21 years in St. Louis, they came back to Cali!  This year I was Lead Hosting and Producing our segment with my new co-host, Joe Doyle.  We also had Throwback Joe join us for the first and last episodes to bring a little extra to our show!

Throwback Joe, Joe Joe Doyle and I Hosting 'Hard Knocks'

I am a die-hard Packer fan and will be for life; I've been on that season ticket waiting list since I was nine years old, thanks to my Mom.  They used to say by the time we were in our 50's, we would finally get tickets.  Now we'll be lucky if we get them in our lifetime, thanks to Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, along with the other greats, leading us to victory and winning the Superbowl many times over the last 20 years!  

One thing I've noticed watching 'Hard Knocks' over the last few years is that you get invested in the team they are profiling.  I was excited about the Falcons and even said Devonta Freeman would be a late draft pick-up for Fantasy and would yield high results and I was right!  Last year's Houston Texans got me excited about their team and made me a huge fan of J.J. Watt, who I should already have been a fan of because he's from Wisconsin and played at UW-Madison.  This year it was exciting to have an LA Football team and someone else to root for, and learning about the players, I really enjoyed watching Aaron Donald, William Hayes, Tavon Austin, and Austin Hill.

Over the five weeks, you get an inside look at practices, team camaraderie, the pre-season games, home life, and most importantly, cuts to the teams roster which ends with 53 players making the team.  I got Throwback Joe's contact info from my friend, Shawn, who's been a Rams fan for as long as he can remember.  Throwback Joe creates new Rams gear with that Throwback-style, and has some big time players on board, like Vince Ferragamo and Eric Dickerson.  He gets the new players to sign the gear and then sends it out the people who have placed their orders.  He's been a fan of the Rams and followed them wherever they've been so it was great having a true fan in to chat with us about the Rams.  Plus, he was gracious enough to give us some gear to do a Giveaway with and send to some lucky fans!

Episode 1 of our 'Hard Knocks' Aftershow

Joe and I had a really great season Hosting our 'Hard Knocks' Aftershow at Afterbuzz TV and I will continue to keep track of the Rams this season and hopefully get to attend a game as well!  Ram Nation...let's go :)

Always a believer in Mermaids!  Our final 'Hard Knocks' show at Afterbuzz TV this season :)

*You can find Throwback Joe's in the App Store which you need to check out if you want to get any LA Rams gear!

Birthday Photos!

I just wanted to share a few more photos from my Birthday Weekend!!  Thank you to everyone who stopped by during one of the parties, wished me Happy Birthday via text, phone call, or Facebook, and just your thoughts throughout the year!  They are greatly appreciated :)

Making faces with Kenni and Nick, Fern and Howie made it to Blind Barber, my lovely girls,
Courtney, Sam and I, and big smiles from Michael and me :D

Cocktails at Saddle Peak Ranch, the Funfetti Birthday Cake Ashley made from scratch,
amazing Butterfish Appetizer at Lukshon, and Huckleberry Dessert with Kristina!

Until next year...

The 5th Anniversary of my 28th Birthday!

Having a new puppy, traveling back to Wisconsin twice in a month, celebrating my Birthday, having family in town for a Wedding, and my work schedule has gotten me so far behind in my writing.  I'm playing catch up and writing about my Birthday which happened on June 19th, over a month ago!  I'll get into a little more detail about my feelings about the weekend in part two of my Birthday Blog but I was glad to be busy that weekend!

Wine after a wonderful Dinner...thanks Court <3

Since my Birthday fell on a Sunday this year (it was also Father's Day, and I was born on Father's Day) that meant I took off on Saturday night so I could enjoy a nice weekend with friends.  On Friday, Courtney invited me to this Political Dinner at Craft in Century City in which I met our Secretary of State, some other Politicians and learned about the possibility of the Olympics coming to LA in 2024.  It was a really fun event and Craft has been on my Restaurant Bucket List for a very long time so I was super excited to try some of the food.  There was an Avocado & Tomatillo Salad to start that was out of this world, you can never get enough Avocado and each bite was packed with it...woo!!  We had Asparagus & Mushrooms with our main courses that were Salmon and Flank Steak cooked Medium Rare for the table.  Everything was family style and there was plenty of food to go around, even seconds or thirds!  Not to mention, I found a new favorite Chardonnay (Neyers) and my glass was never empty.  I've noticed I really like the Carneros region which is between San Francisco and Napa/Sonoma in a cool climate and produces really buttery Chardonnays.  No meal would be complete without a couple different desserts that were all delicious!  It was one of my favorite meals I've had, so special thanks to Courtney for kicking off the Birthday Festivities on Friday!

Saturday I started prep for the Sunday Mimosa Pool Party and Sam came over during the afternoon to spend a little time by the pool and just relax before we had Dinner.  Sam, Rachel and I went to Lukshon in Culver City for Dinner and Courtney met us there after an Afterbuzz meeting.  We started with the Hawaiian Butterfish that was fabulous, we wanted more of that in addition to the Crispy Rice Cakes that Jamie and I had had the last time we were there.  We also had the Chaing Mai Curry Noodles that had a nice little kick although, even with another appetizer we were all still hungry.  Thankfully we were going to Blind Barber for my Birthday Party which not only serves cocktails but some of the best grilled cheese I've ever had!

My Squad...Besties, Bae, and Seester ready for the night!  I'm a lucky gal :)

We all re-grouped at my place, took a shot and then headed to Blind Barber, and spent the night dancing, laughing and chatting with friends.  Of course, there were plenty of shots but this year, I was making it to bar close and remembering the night (thankfully, no one got roofied this year)!  One of the things I love about Birthdays is friends stopping by that you haven't seen in a while, and you get a chance to catch up with everyone.  It's also nice to get all your friends together in one room because it's such a rare occasion with everyone's crazy schedules.  Overall, it was a fun and even slightly tame night but it was great to be surrounded my favorite girls and get to celebrate with friends :)

Part two will be coming at ya soon!

'These Stupid Games' Music Video

Stephanie and I worked on this music video for 'These Stupid Games' together for a few weeks and it's finally finished!  She released it on my Birthday back in June and I'm finally posting about it on my blog!

Watch it here :)

Stephanie had talked to the artist, Elizaveta, about doing a music video for her song, 'These Stupid Games.'  When Stephanie asked me if I would be in and sent me the song, it was an easy yes.  The song is beautiful, very emotional, and something I felt connected to.  We shot at locations all over LA, including a couple places in Santa Monica, the Last Bookstore in Downtown, the Self-Realization Fellowship at Lake Shrine, Malibu, Union Station, and up on the Mulholland Lookout, and even a late night pool session in March!

The Book Arch at the Last Bookstore in Downtown LA

Self-Realization Fellowship at Lake Shrine near Malibu...it was so beautiful!

It's a great song and the video turned out really well for her first time using video instead of all photos, plus we had a lot of fun shooting it!  I love working on new things and getting to do a little acting and it was awesome to check out some new places I had never been to :)

Broadway LA Style

CAC Studios put on a Broadway Cabaret LA Style show at the beginning of February to celebrate Valentine's Day with songs of Love.  I was singing in the show which was at Three Clubs in Hollywood and it was so great to be a part of this fun Cabaret with some beautiful music and even more fabulous performers!

Before Showtime...Kerstin, Kenni, Cassandra, Max, Giana, Elizabeth, Hadiyyah, myself, and Dani :)

 The show opened with 'Elephant Love Medley' from "Moulin Rouge" and we all had some solo's throughout the song and were spread apart in Three Clubs so our voices were coming from any open space we could find.  I love that movie and I love that song so I was really excited to be a part of it.  Adam also sang from "Moulin Rouge" doing 'Your Song,' which he just kills every time he does it!  Elizabeth played Patsy Cline, while Cassandra did 'Let it Go' from "Frozen."  Milton did one of my all-time favorite songs, 'Lady' by Kenny Rogers, and Hadiyyah sang 'One and Only' one of my favorite Adele songs.  Kenni showed us a different side to Peggy Lee's "Fever" by doing it as Anna from "Frozen."  I did 'Time After Time' by Cyndi Lauper (had a little costume change from our opening number) and changed into my New Year's Eve dress, and Julia complimented it by turning on the disco ball during the song!  We closed out the Cabaret with 'Seasons of Love' from "Rent."

Thanks to Adam for jumping in and singing back-up for me during 'Time After Time!'

Songs of love, happiness, tears of joy, and more were shared by the audience and all of the performers.  Thanks to Neil for coming and taking pictures!  We had a packed house and I was so glad to be a part of such a great show and sing in honor of my Mom!

Dine LA Week

I love checking out new restaurants during Dine LA!  I was able to hit up a few different places at the end of January and look forward to going back to them in the future!

The Roof on Wilshire was my first Dine LA experience this last month and Aimee & Andy came with me.  It was a little bit rainy but the roof had covered tables and heat lamps so it ended up being perfectly fine.  The view was beautiful and we were all excited for Dinner.  I started with the Shells & Cheese while Aimee & Andy got the Brussels Sprouts.  Both appetizers were really big and enough for all three of us to share but I was hungry so I didn't mind.  I ordered the Bowl of Goodness with Shrimp that had Avocado, Quinoa, Siracha, Beans, and more.  It was so much food that I took over half of it home with me.  It was definitely spicy but everything worked really well together!  I finished off the meal with the S'mores Cheesecake which was really yummy and had a marshmallow melted on top.  On top of the three courses for $29 they also offered a cocktail of your choice so I decided on the Vodka Martini with Cucumber & Mint and it was delicious and refreshing!  I had enough leftover food for Dinner the next day!

The following week Jamie and I checked out Terrine which was just outside of West Hollywood and their outdoor patio where we sat was beautiful.  We stuck with the Dine LA menu but also added The Beef Tartare which was my first raw beef adventure and that was good.  I started with the Lobster Bisque which was nice but I loved the Truffle Agnolotti that Jamie ordered, perfect pillows, in a beautiful sauce that I wanted seconds and thirds!  We both decided on the Wagyu Beef Short Rib and that was incredible and tender; it was served with a Brown Butter Pomme Puree that was one of my favorite parts of the meal!  You can't go wrong with Brown Butter!  I decided on the Sticky Toffee Pudding for Dessert and it was a perfect end to the meal.  Their three courses were $39 and well worth it!

The Dine LA Menu at Terrine...Beef Tartare & Sticky Toffee Pudding

Jamie and I also had plans to check out one more place but decided to do some Happy Hour hopping around Beverly Hills instead and ended up spending $30 on a three-course meal with tax and tip!  We did good.  We started off at Crustacean and had to order the Garlic Noodles as these are noodles that dreams are made of!  I also got a no-carb burger which was served with cut green beans.  That was ok but the noodles always raise the bar!  We then walked over to Wolfgang Steakhouse and while Jamie got the Ribs I got the Steak Sliders which came with French Fries.  The steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare and served with a horseradish sauce that was awesome.  I was really proud of our Beverly Hills Happy Hour dinner on a budget :)

I can't wait to go back to The Roof on Wilshire, especially when the sun is setting; it'll have a stunning view.  I'd like to go back to Terrine as well and try some other things off the menu.  Jamie really encourages me to try things that scare me, so she's the perfect date in situations like that!  I've already been back to Wolfgang since going with Jamie and had more delicious food there so that was fantastic!  Three new places for the win! 

To see more photos from Dine LA or if you want to check out my Food Adventures follow me on Instagram: Lyndsey Wegner on IG 

Blind Barber Birthday

We all had such a fun time for my Birthday at Bar Lubitsch, I knew that having my actual party on Friday night at Blind Barber would be great!  I've been going into Blind Barber, which is a speakeasy inside a Barber Shop here in Culver City, for over a year now.  On top of their amazing grilled cheese selection, they've got an array of drinks and the service is always top notch!

I spent the afternoon by the pool and then early in the evening Jamie came over with some snacks and a bunch of wines for us so we could do some Wine Tasting.  They ranged from a Rose, to Chardonnay, to a Chianti.  The Rose surprised me the most since I typically hate Rose because it's always too dry but this was light and airy, with a touch of sweetness at the end and a smooth finish.  Jamie told me it wasn't available to buy on its own, only for restaurant sales.  It made drinking it with her while getting ready for my Birthday so special!  I also picked out one of the Chardonnay's and the Chianti that also had a smooth finish to keep.

An array of Wines for our Tasting and a mini Photo-Shoot before heading to Blind Barber!

Some of my friends were already at Blind Barber by the time we arrived, our Uber got lost getting to my apartment so we jumped right into some cocktails.  I started with the Strawberry Fields and the next thing I know, I was taking a shot, and another one a half hour later, and had another drink in my hand after that and the night just kept going from there.  Thankfully, Jamie made sure I ate some of the fabulous Grilled Cheese that I had ordered, and Carolyn was making me drink water, and I happily obliged.

Catching up with friends, Ashley, Carolyn, Jeff, and Bear at Blind Barber!

There was dancing, shots, and fun!  So many of my friends showed up and stopped by, and I apologize if I'm forgetting anyone.  Thanks to Jamie (for starting the festivities off with a bang) Jeff, Bear, Andy, Kayt, Patrick, Ashley, Raph, Mikey, Carolyn, Nick, Charlie, Sam (for also making sure we all got home safely), Adam, Giana, Justin, (for trying) Giere, Simon, Daniel, our wonderful Bartender, Allyson, the manager at Blind Barber, and anyone else who came to celebrate and toast with me!  Can we please have a re-do where I don't have to take shots and let's not celebrate my Birthday but just get everyone together to hang out and have an awesome time!?!

My favorite part of my Birthday is just getting all my friends together in one space to hang out and catch up.  So perhaps I'll try to set something like this up every few months so friends can meet other friends, we can all relax and enjoy some great food and drinks, and celebrate that we're all here in LA and having the time of our lives <3  Thank you to everyone who made my Birthday special!

Dine LA Happy Hour Week

For the last week in April, Dine LA did a Happy Hour week with a bunch of bars and restaurants for a special Happy Hour menu that featured all sorts of different appetizers, entrees, and drinks at a discounted price.  I always love when Dine LA comes to town so this made me so excited because I love Happy Hour too!  Jamie and I were able to check out two different Happy Hours that week!

Salmon Ceviche at Corner Door for
Dine LA Happy Hour Week

We started our Happy Hour week experience at Corner Door which we also did for Dine LA back at the end of January.  We ordered a bunch of food, including the Avocado Toast with Burrata cheese, Salmon Ceviche with a pineapple salsa, French Fries 'Carbonade' which meant they were covered in braised beef, garlic ailoi, and cheese (so yummy and savory), and also the Spicy Pork Belly Sliders.  I'm not a huge Pork Belly fan but these were delicious.  The Avocado Toast and Ceviche were really light and fresh but the Ceviche really hit a home run with all the incredible flavors!  Our meal wasn't complete without the Sticky Toffee Pudding, reminiscent of one of my favorite restaurants, Waterloo & City, which is right down the street on Washington Blvd.

Later on that week we went to Bouchon in Beverly Hills.  Ashley and I had gone in March for dessert and drinks so I was really excited to get to try some of the food.  Their deal was incredible!  A glass of wine and an entree with a side for $20.  To get a steak from a Thomas Keller restaurant for $20 was mind-blowing.  Matt, our Bartender, took good care of us and on top of the Oysters we ordered, he sent out some King Snow Crab Legs which were fantastic.  My steak came perfectly prepared at medium rare and was so juicy and flavorful!  Unfortunately, we were rushing through Dinner because Bouchon was so busy we had to wait for over an hour to seat, and the kitchen was slammed, and I had to be at work, so we wrapped up our fries and dessert and had to eat everything else at Gabe's.  We got four different Macaroon's to try, all light and airy, and a great dessert to finish the meal.  Jamie had me try Cynar, which was actually really nice once she had her way with it, but I still prefer my Sambuca.

Ladies at Bouchon in Beverly Hills and the amazing King Snow Crab Legs!

Needless to say, we ate really well that week, and even though I've been to both of the restaurants this past year, I was able to explore more of their menu and try some new things.  I still need to get my tour of Bouchon's kitchen, and I'm looking forward to trying more off both menu's!  Jamie, let's go :)

Mom's Visit to LA and Vegas!

My Mom visited me here in LA last week and we had a full week of craziness planned!  She was spending a few days here and then we were heading off to Vegas for a couple days to celebrate my cousin's 21st Birthday and my Aunt's Birthday as well with some more of our family!

Talk about a busy week, it was literally go-go-go every day!  From when she got in on Wednesday afternoon, we went and had a late Lunch at Lemonade in Brentwood (which she loved and I had to have her try the Miso Short Ribs because they're so incredible) and then she helped me rehearse some songs for my Audition that evening and later on I Hosted Karaoke at Gabe's.  A bunch of my friends came to spend some time with her and to sing Karaoke, so it's always nice to see everyone together!  We did get to spend some time in the sun early in the mornings before the days really got going which was nice, and on Thursday she came with me to Afterbuzz TV to tape my 'Supernatural' Aftershow and that night she got to see 'Thenardier's Inn' for the second time.  She said she really felt the songs and music and liked it even more than the first time she saw it in November!

Wine at Bandera, Salmon at Sugarfish, Bloody Mary's before Vegas,
and Kalissa's famous Cookies and 'Crack Buns!'

Friday kicked off the weekend of work with Bartending at Irish Times, where Mom got to try out some of our new beers and we got some great goodies from C&M Cafe which I'd been waiting for her to try for months!  That night, Marty, Mom and I had Dinner at Bandera, which was an absolute blast and special treat.  Carolyn met all of us a little later on when we stopped at Gabe's for an after-dinner drink!  On Saturday, we went to Lunch at Sugarfish in Marina Del Rey (which was Mom's favorite sushi I've ever taken her to).  I also read in Church for our Palm Sunday services and it was nice to have Mom there in Church with me when I was such a big part of the Mass.  She came with me to Bar Lubitsch since I was Bartending that night, and Jamie met up with her, and they had a couple cocktails and some fun as well!  She even told me I made her the best Old-Fashion she ever had!!  YAY :D

Mom and I are ready for Vegas!

On Sunday I made Mom and I some Bloody Mary's and we hopped on a flight from LA to Las Vegas.  We stayed at the Riviera Hotel and got placed in a Suite for the first night but actually down-graded the following night because the first room was so spread out, we wanted a smaller space!  It was a typical Vegas vacation, with lots of gambling, a day by the Riviera pool, and walking around the casinos.  In fact, on Monday, Mom and I had walked more than 10 miles that day according to my phone!  We got the family together and played cards and had Dinner, checked out the Flamingo's Gardens, and just hung out.  Mom and I did the $10.95 Prime Rib Dinner at El Cortez off Fremont Street and it was awesome!  It was my first time checking out Fremont Street and old Downtown Vegas and is very different than the normal strip.  Our last day we all indulged in the Garden Buffet which was at the Silverton Casino and was delicious!  After that it was back to LA for me and back to Wisconsin for Mom.

The time once again went by way too quickly.  I would have loved another week together, especially since we were so busy, it would have been nice to have some time off to just hang out.  We always enjoy cooking a meal together and there was just no time for that, aside from making Kale Chips, which certainly is not a Wisconsin meal or snack to us, but still quite tasty.  Can't wait to see you again soon, Mom!  Thank you for everything :)

Sunny and 75...or 85.

It's March and we're getting some 85 degree days here in LA.  For most people that means plenty of beach days but since I'm much more a pool person (and have one at my apartment), I tend to enjoy the day getting some work done and then taking a dip in the pool after catching some rays or getting in a work-out more.  Why not go to the beach?  Well, number one, I am DEATHLY afraid of birds.  No joke.  They scare the crap out of me and everywhere you look, they're surrounding you, especially at the beach.  Most people bring food to the beach and what does that attract?  Birds.  Second, parking is always a pain.  If you can even find it and then you're paying an arm and a leg.  We spent $40 just to park near Venice Beach a couple weeks ago.  That's a nice enjoyable lunch and drinks for two people!  Lastly, sand...it ends up everywhere.  I dumped my beach bag in my shower when I got home and I found sand in my bathroom for a week!  Enough with my complaining about my 'beach problems' because at the end of the day, it's an absolutely gorgeous wonder that I do enjoy on certain occasions.

Jamie & I at the Beach in Venice

That brings me to Spark's Birthday a couple weeks ago which started in West LA at Jamie and Spark's apartment for Brunch and Mimosa's with friends.  They had picked up some fruit and other snacks as well as Apple Fritters and Cinnamon Buns (Crack Buns because you won't be able to put it down, seriously) from C&M Cafe and they both were absolutely to die for!  Kalissa is a genius and if you haven't eaten there yet, you are definitely missing out.  She's got great sandwiches and breakfast options, everything from Pastrami to Vegetarian choices, and all that's in between, including sides, drinks, and desserts.  I've eaten quite a few items from the menu and loved or liked all of them!  She just started doing her Grandmother's cookie recipe and it's one of the best cookies I have EVER had.

After we had Brunch we headed to the beach, paid for our $40 parking space, and set up in Venice.  It was a perfect day, not too hot but just right to enjoy the sun without having to get into the very cold Pacific Ocean to cool off.  Once everyone else arrived we got a friendly game of Flag Football started.  I had thrown the Football around with some of Spark's friends and it had been far too long since I've done that because my arm was sore for days after!  I love running routes and doing the passing tree in the park; it's a great work-out and a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon after watching Football :)  Our team was winning at half-time so we took a little break for the teams to re-coup, grab some drinks and snacks, and welcome the newcomers.  

Winning at Half-Time during the Spark Bowl :)

Since I had to Bartend at Bar Lubitsch that night, I had to leave early but I was so glad that I went.  Spending the day with some awesome people, looking at gorgeous scenery, and playing Football, was totally worth my sand-covered bathroom, beach traffic, and just a few birds that we ran into.  In fact, I'm excited for our next Beach Excursion.  Who am I?!

*You can find more about C&M Cafe on their website right here: http://www.cmcafela.com/

Upstairs 2 for Dine LA

I've been doing a pretty great job of keeping up with my New Year's Resolutions for this first month of 2015.  Upstairs 2 was my third restaurant in Los Angeles in the past month that was new for me and I also went by myself for Dinner which is definitely a little scary; another Resolution, to do things every day that scare me.  There's a great "Friends" episode where Rachel tries to eat out alone but gets in her head about the whole thing, luckily, I didn't go through that scenario ;)

Upstairs 2 located in West LA also has The Wine House connected to it downstairs and they have Wine Tastings and is the largest wine store in LA.  I was there on a Wednesday so they had a Wine Tasting at 7 pm.  I'll need to go back and check that out!  I had decided on Upstairs 2 because of their Dine LA menu but when I got there and saw the regular menu I was so overwhelmed by all the amazing-sounding food I decided to order off the regular menu and ended up spending less than I would had I ordered off the Dine LA menu!

Dinner at Upstairs 2 in West LA for Dine LA Week

I started with the Brussels Sprout Salad that had endive, pecans, and brussels sprouts and was quite large for an appetizer salad; I am not complaining, trust me, I was very happy!  I also got a glass of their Riesling which wasn't overly sweet, just right, and priced appropriately.  Next, I had the Lemon Pesto Shrimp to which they gave me some Parmesan Cheese that really knocked the dish out of the ballpark.  It was a really nice portion and I loved the Lemon Pesto!  I was quite excited to find out they had Chocolate Lava Cake (which wasn't on the Dine LA menu) so of course, I had to get that.  It came out perfectly gooey and the Bartender even had the kitchen put the ice cream on the side for me because I don't like the cold ice cream to take away from the chocolatey center.  OCD, just a little.

The Bartender was really friendly as well as one of the waiters I chatted with.  The food and selection was impressive and changes seasonally.  They're very happy to suggest wine pairings and the menu is actually set-up to do just that, and they also let you taste just about anything which is great.  I'll definitely be back to try more food and wine as well :)

Bacari in Playa Del Rey for Dine LA

I'm a HUGE fan of Dine LA.  In fact, I budget every year so that I'm able to check out a few new restaurants each time Restaurant Week happens here in Los Angeles (which is twice a year).  I always look forward to eating at some new places as well as some of my favorites like Ruth's Chris or Locanda del Lago.  Dine LA gives you a chance to check out restaurants at a more affordable price while offering a few options for a three-course meal.

My first Dine LA experience this year was at Bacari in Playa Del Rey.  I had never been there before and with a limited schedule due to work and rehearsals I only had a couple hours and wanted to find something that was close for both Kelly and I since she was coming from Hermosa Beach and I had rehearsal in Santa Monica.

Four courses at Bacari in Playa Del Rey

The Dine LA menu for Bacari was really awesome; it's more of a tapas type place so you could get a three-course meal but also with unlimited white or red wine, beer, or sangria, all for $40.  Now that is a steal!  Since I had to get to rehearsal and both Kelly and I had to drive we opted out of Dine LA and just ordered a few things off the menu since it was Happy Hour and that was an even better price than the Dine LA menu since we weren't going to drink more than a glass of wine.

I started with the Caprese salad (always one of my favorites) while Kelly got the Grilled Romaine.  Next up I had the Poached Shrimp which had a sweet chili aioli and Kelly got the Cauliflower.  *They do have plenty of vegetarian options.*  The Shrimp was amazing; I loved the ailoi and was very happy with the portion considering it was $6.  I also ordered the Mac & Cheese which had truffle oil and that was good too, but covered in panko breadcrumbs which I'm not a huge fan of, but the Mac & Cheese was still creamy and very cheesy...yes!  We finished off with the Brown Butter Cookie Dough for dessert which had a banana brulee, candied walnuts, and whipped cream.  It was small but yummy!

Even though we didn't order off the Dine LA menu, that's what got me in the door, so I'm glad it was my first place to check out this Dine LA season.  Next time I go in I really want to try to the Seared Scallops as well as one of their Pizza's; they had a Smoked Mushroom and White Pizza that look awesome.  I'm really excited to go back and try more of their menu and with Happy Hour being such a great deal I'm sure I'll be back soon :)

Plan Check Sawtelle!

After all the rehearsals, shows, and more shows, Samantha and I were finally able to go out to Dinner for the first time since before 'Sleeping Beauty' had started in September!  I had introduced her to En Sushi, one of my favorite Sushi spots where there's an awesome Happy Hour but this time we decided on something new for both of us and that was Plan Check.

They have a couple different locations but the one on Sawtelle was just a few minutes from where we both live.  Every time I drive past, it's always packed, so I was really looking forward to it.  After perusing the menu I decided on the Plan Check Burger which was your typical Burger with grilled onions, smothered in cheese, pickles, and ketchup leather.  Samantha ordered the Chef's Favorite Burger which came with two different kinds of cheese, bacon, and an egg to top it all off.  We also ordered the Sweet Potato Waffle Fries that came with a Peach Ketchup.

Burgers & Fries at Plan Check!

When the manager, Thomas, dropped our food off, he asked if I liked bacon (who doesn't) and then brought me some Brown Sugar Bacon and also their version of ranch which was awesome.  I actually really liked the Peach Ketchup more than the ranch (and that was good too).  It was sweet like Barbeque sauce but more fruit forward.  The bacon complimented my Burger which was perfectly cooked to Medium Rare, and as full as I was, I tried to eat all of it because it was by far one of the best Burgers I've ever had.  I'm  not a huge fan of Sweet Potato Fries but I love Waffle Fries and they did not disappoint either.  Sam really enjoyed her burger too, albeit a little messy with the egg.  After we finished Dinner, Thomas sent us a Donut on the house, that came with bananas and cream.  It was a nice way to end the meal :)

That next day I had the little bit that was left of my Burger, and it was almost better than it was when it was fresh off the grill.  Now, that is rare!  I can't wait to go back and try more off their menu.  I hadn't noticed there were specials and the Bartender never mentioned that.  I'll be sure to check that out next time because when I had looked at their Instagram after making my post, I saw they had a Mushroom & Swiss Burger along with Wasabi Peas, both of which I would have loved to try.  I'm also looking forward to tasting some cocktails on their menu.  I was really impressed with Plan Check and can't wait to go back!

Carolyn & Matt's Wedding

I've been living in Los Angeles for nearly nine years and although I've gone back home to the Midwest for Weddings, Carolyn & Matt's Wedding on September 20th, was my first Wedding here in LA!

Neil & I at the Wedding

Carolyn and I started working together over eight years ago at Saint's & Sinner's and she had been dating Matt for a couple years.  She's one of the most caring, compassionate, and understanding people I've ever met.  I've gotten to know Matt over the years and it's been great seeing their relationship grow and evolve and sitting at the Wedding, and hearing him do his vows in Tagalog (Carolyn's family is from the Philippines) I knew that he has always been madly in love with her.  Of course, I cried the moment that he made his way down the aisle and didn't stop throughout the ceremony.  The vows were just so incredible and touching, and after hearing them in English as well, I don't think I've ever heard more meaningful vows in my entire life.  Carolyn had kept her dress a secret so it was our first time seeing it and it was just beautiful; she was a gorgeous bride with the brightest smile on her face!  The sunshine, sunflowers, kelly green bridesmaid dresses, and everything else just had such a positive and uplifting vibe.

First Dance <3

The Wedding was actually at the Betty Ruckas Cultural Center in Long Beach with the ceremony outside and the reception in this huge ballroom.  It was a little Saint's & Sinner's reunion with so many of our co-workers over the years, some of our regulars and friends, and lots of family, and people flying in from all over the world.  Neil has known Carolyn and Matt for the past four years so it was great to have him there since we've all spent a lot of time together over the years. 

After a cocktail hour and some delicious Hors d'Oeuvres we made our way to the reception area where the tables were designated by Superhero's.  So cool and fun!   I think my favorite part of the reception was seeing Carolyn & Matt's first dance.  It was just such a special moment and I think everyone could feel the love just radiating off of them.   

There were drinks and shots (someone had to bring some Fireball to the party), plenty of food, dancing and fun.  It was nice to be able to catch up with friends in this celebratory environment and see two of our closest friends get married and start their lives together.  It was a great Wedding in Long Beach and I'm so incredibly happy for the newlyweds.  I love you two <3

Mom & Dad's September Visit to LA! Part 1.

My parent's came to visit me in Los Angeles for a week and just left last week Wednesday.  We're always kept so busy when they're hanging out with me here in LA, and this week was no different!

We made it to Carmel!

They flew in on Wednesday and came to Karaoke with me that night, so it was nice to have them there and see me doing my thing while Hosting Karaoke.  Then on Thursday they were able to head down to Long Beach/San Pedro to check out the USS Iowa Battleship and take a tour before I had to work at Irish Times that afternoon.  My Mom always loves to help me set the bar up so we got the bar ready for business and they relaxed while tasting some of our new beers.  No Irish Times visit would be complete without some traditional Irish fare, plus it was Thursday night Football!  That night we grabbed some Yogurtland on the way home and then had a little Game Night before getting to bed since we had an early morning that next day.

We drove to Carmel on Friday to spend the next two days with my cousin Sean, who is currently living there with his wife, Amanda and two children while he and Amanda learn Japanese since they'll be stationed in Japan come next year.  Little Olivia who is six is also taking Japanese classes, is one of the smartest little girls I've ever met, and her younger sister, Dru is four, and so adorable!  I could not get enough of them all weekend!

On Saturday Mom, Dad, Sean, Dru, and I went for a hike at Point Lobos.  It was so beautiful and scenic.  Once you hiked through the woods you got to the waterline and cliffs and it was just such an insane view.  The weather was perfect and we even got to see seals!  The hike was fun and after grabbing Lunch we went to this huge park where we played with the girls, once Olivia joined us, and spent the afternoon on the swing sets, slides and monkey bars.  If the hike hadn't tired us out, this certainly did ;)

Hiking at Point Lobos with Dru :)

That night we went to Dinner at Mission Ranch, which is where my Mom, Dad, and I went to about a year and a half ago when they were visiting.  There was no Clint Eastwood sighting that night, because it was a weekend night, pretty busy, and there was also a Wedding going on.  The girls loved the sheep out in the field and were so patient during Dinner.  The food was awesome and I got the Shrimp Fettucine since I knew once Mom and Dad headed back to LA with me, I was surprising them on Tuesday with a nice Dinner so I was saving the steak for that night!  It was a really good meal and awesome to get to spend some time with Sean and Amanda as well as see a little more of Carmel and Monterey. 

Dinner & Drinks at Mission Ranch in Carmel with Mom & Dad!

We all went to Church together on Sunday morning and after all the hugs goodbye, Mom, Dad, and I were on our way to Solvang to do some Wine Tasting!  More on Mom & Dad's visit in Part 2!

Dolphin Tale 2 Premiere :)

This past weekend I worked the 'Dolphin Tale 2' movie premiere in Westwood.  Courtney has worked events with this company who hires people to help get the premiere and after-party set-up, take care of guests, serve food, etc.  I was looking forward to doing something different on a Sunday afternoon and as much as I hated missing the first weekend of Football, I kept my phone handy to check on my Fantasy Football team ;)

Dippin' Dots!!!!!!

It was really hot in LA this past weekend, with temperatures in the 90's.  It was not only hot on Sunday, but humid for LA, and we were getting the refreshment areas set up.  Needless to say, we were getting in a work-out!  I loved the look of the event; there was a blue carpet, and then tons of pop-up restaurants involved, serving some of their well-known dishes, as well as games, photo booths, and even a huge slide!  Our group was specifically hired to take care of the VIP's, which I love, since it's customer service, and I've been in the Service Industry for 17 years.

The thing I loved most about working this premiere was how friendly and polite everyone was, guests and people working the event.  There were no ego's and even in the heat, the actors, executives, and families were all having a blast and enjoying themselves.  On top of that, the food was just amazing!  After we got done serving everyone and things were winding down we got to get our own Lunch.  I had a Truffle Burger from Umami, tacos and salad from Border Grill, pizza from Dang Bros, pressed-juice from Clover, cookies from Diddy Reise, ice cream from Dippin' Dots, and cupcakes from Sprinkles!  There was even more food but after all that, I was pretty full.  There were so many options and a specific dessert area where there was also cookie-decorating, air-brushed tattoos, and more.  It was definitely a kid's dream!

My own little personal Food Heaven :)

I'd definitely work an event like this again.  Hopefully, next time it'll be a little cooler or perhaps indoors, but they can always win me over with food ;)