Mellow in Malibu

L.A. — right here | right now:

Blue sky. Perfect Weather. Birds are singing. All is well.

Stretch

Sing

Run

Climb

Breathe

Smile

Dream

Laugh

Appreciate

Reflect

Savor

What’s your perfect Sunday? Making the most of it? How? Share!

Liked that? Check out:

• Shopping: L.A. Hotlinks Update
• HOTLINKS FOR ACTORS
• Hollywood Flip: Staying Focused

judg-y voice = headache

OMG! Did the Horoscopian Astrologer at the L.A. Times read my post FOLLOW YOUR INSTINCTS ? I think maybe this was written specifically to me:

Pisces (Feb.19-March 20):

The judge inside your head is keeping you from being as free and expressive as you really want to be.”

Weird, right?

Did you check your horoscope today?

Liked that? Check out:

• Casting Directors: Feedback
• Follow Your Instincts
• Making Wishes: 26 Ways

vanessa bruno

Since I have to monitor my spending these days, I can’t go shopping as much as I’d like (sadly). Still, it’s good to stay up on the latest, because I might book a job at any moment (fingers crossed!) and I’ll need to look good for the press tour. Ahaha!

Seriously, you know they always say about things being more likely to happen, if you believe they will (I do, I do!)

In the meantime, if YOU happen to be planning a trip to L.A. (or you live here and actually have a job) – this is my list of current faves (at various price points).

I’m particularly excited about Brandy Melville my latest find, because you can buy so much for your money there and everything is actually made in Italy (instead of an Italian line that’s made in China, which sadly has become the norm.)

Awesome Shopping in L.A. or Online:

Vanessa Bruno
(her new L.A. store is awesome!)

Free City
(a trend in itself – Malibu must)

Brandy Melville
(great Italian style well-priced)

Barneys NY
(fashion forward everything in one stop)

Satine
(they get Isabel Marant early in L.A.)

Curve
(young Hollywood flocks to Curve)

Heist
(another great Isabel source  in Venice)

Planet Blue
(trendy American lines – moderately priced)

Ron Herman
(Free City, Elizabeth & James, Alexander Wang)

Madison
(recognizable names & emerging designers )

Fred Segal Melrose
(the granddad of Hollywood ultra cool)

Chloe
(tucked away on Melrose Place – high quality)

Stella McCartney
(trend setting is in her genes – she never disappoints)

Maison Martin Margiela
(clean lines – never goes out of style)

in Westwood/Santa Monica

What are your shopping FAVES? Share Share Share in the Comments – Pul-eeze!

Liked that? Check out:

• HOTLINKS FOR ACTORS
• A Great Find For Actors: Killthedoor.com
• Wardrobe Recycling Part 2: Ebay.com

Identity Crisis

Yesterday  when I was walking back to my car from the two hour spin/pilates portion of my day, a Hollywood tour bus passed me and the guide said into the microphone: “And here on our right is Paris Hilton.”

I turned to my left and smiled (I might’ve even laughed!) –

And witnessed a bus full of tourists spin from–

Oh my God is it her?!

– to laughing because it was a pretty good joke.

I have to say the most ridiculous part is that deep down I was actually pleased that people could’ve mistaken me for her from afar.

I mean, clearly I’m in my –

post-stomach-flu-skinny phase –

(Didn’t write about it, ‘cuz I didn’t want to gross you out.)

For once a Paris comparison doesn’t bother me at all! ‘Specially if it’s from behind when I’m in my gym leggings.

Totally made my day. But forget that I ever told this story. I’m not proud.

Hey — know what would really really really–

MAKE MY DAY?

When Paris is walking and the Hollywood tour bus goes by and the guide says into the microphone –

And here to our right is EVIE STEWART!

Ahahaha!

(Who have you been mistaken for? Tell in the comments.)

Liked that? Check out:

• Film Faves: Currently Speaking
• Hollywood Flip: Staying Focused
• Vids & Webisodes: My Faves

I’m starting off Monday with “The Rules of Being Human” because I’ve been making lots of mistakes lately like—

• Dropping my iPhone in the toilet (hope that’s not a sign.)

• Setting off the fire alarm in the ER (oops! I was just hungry.)

• Freezing in my audition (this producer I dated and um– avoided was sadly in the room.)

Apparently I’m stuck in the school of life, because I keep learning lots of lessons. Double Ugh!

Hope I’ll graduate soon to the next level, but unfortunately that’ll just mean—

More lessons!

Oh well. Guess I’ll go get this body in shape on a Monday morning run in Runyon Canyon and hope some of the answers inside me reveal themselves ASAP!

Oh– I just realized the new iPhone will be coming out in two weeks. (Yay, the answers are already revealing themselves and I haven’t even put on my running shoes yet.) Ahahaha!

The Rules for Being Human

1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it will be yours for the entire period.

2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in an informal school called Life.  Each day in this school, you will have the opportunity to learn lessons. You may like the lessons or think them irrelevant and stupid.

3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial and error. Experimentation. The “failed” experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiment that ultimately “works”.

4. A lesson is repeated until learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it.  You can then go on to the next lesson.

5. Learning lessons does not end. There is no part of life that does not contain its lessons. If you are alive, there are lessons to be learned.

6. “There” is no better than “here.” When your “there” has become a “here,” you will simply obtain another “there” that will again look better than “here.”

7. Others are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects something you either love or hate about yourself.

8. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.

9. Your answers lie inside you. The answers to Life’s questions lie inside you. All you need to do is look, listen and trust.

10. You will forget all this.

(Dr. Cherie Carter-Scott)

(What lessons have you learned lately? Share in the comments.)

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So L.A., right?

I keep wanting to add to my FAVE lists (Best of L.A. and Hotlinks) so I’ll start here with–

Restaurants and Clubs–

oldies/goodies/newbies

And then, when I have time,  I’ll update my Best of Pages.

[RESTAURANTS]

Yu-n-mi
Johnny Rockets
Magnolia
Katsuya
Apple Pan
Boa (on Sunset)
Gjelina
Axe
Hirozen
Cuvee
Nobu (Malibu)
Mastros
La Scala
The Ivy
Sushi Roku
Urth
Asia de Cuba

[CLUBS}

El Carmen (3^rd Street)
The Dime
Hotel Café
Three of Clubs
Coach & Horses
Burgundy Room
Hamburger Mary’s (bingo night) – a RIOT!

I feel hungry, just thinking about this list…

(What are your Restaurant and Club Faves? You don’t have to limit it to L.A.– Share in the comments.)

Liked that? Check out:

• HOT IN CLEVELAND: funny find!
• ER: CODE RED – Diet Karma
• 2010 Emmy Awards: I vote for MODERN FAMILY

Since there are SO MANY songs to love,  I’m calling this--
my fave list-- currently.

Undoubtedly, there will be countless additions as new entries linger--

In the jukebox of my mind--

I start with “Clair de Lune”, the song I loved to play most on the piano when I was nine and end with the “Heart of Life”  because it makes me feel like everything’s gonna be all right.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXoia1sqXfQ

Clair du Lune (Claude Debussy)
Annie Mae (John Lee Hooker)
In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)
I’ll Be Seeing You (Billie Holiday)
Dirty Diana (Michael Jackson)
Music (Madonna)
Concrete Schoolyard (Jurassic 5)
Tracks of My Tears (Aretha or Smokey)
In My Life (Beatles)
I’m Looking Through You (Beatles or Steve Earle)
Sex (I’m a ) (Berlin)
Use Me (Bill Withers)
The Stroke (Billy Squier)
Soul Singing (Black Crowes)
Change (Blind Melon)
Memphis (Bob Marley and the Wailers)
One Belief Away (Bonnie Raitt)
Spit It Out (Brendan Benson)
Piece Of Me (Britney Spears)
Carry The Zero (Built to Spill)
For The Boys (Cardigans)
If You Were Here (Cary Brothers)
Wicked Game (Chris Isaak)
The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth (Clap Your Hands and Say Yeah)
Nightshift (Commodores)
The Light (Common)
Fortunate Son (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Ohio (Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young)
Carry On (Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Pusherman (Curtis Mayfield)
Everywhere  (Fleetwood Mac)
Harder Better Faster Stronger (Daft Punk)
Lonelily (Damien Rice)
Mona Lisa and Mad Hatters (Elton John)
Till I Collapse (Eminem and Nate Dogg)
She Came In Through The Bathroom Window (Joe Cocker)
Free Fallin (Tom Petty)
Try A Little Tenderness (Otis Redding)
Imagine (John Lennon)
The Heart of Life (John Mayer)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS8NvoMudy8

Like me the list is eclectic and always changing.

Stay Tuned for more…

(What are your current song faves? Share in the comments.)

Liked that? Check out:

• HOT IN CLEVELAND: funny find!
• 2010 Emmy Awards: I vote for MODERN FAMILY
• Film Faves: Currently Speaking

I find myself living the life “in-between” (auditions, romance, a JOB,) so I need to create ways to make $$$ and make the most of my free time.

Selling clothes and accessories on ebay definitely requires more work and time than taking your old clothes to Wasteland or another Resale Boutique, but the financial rewards when things sell, far outweigh any other option. Plus it’s really thrilling to see how many people are “watching” your items during the week it’s posted and even more fun when you see people “bidding.”

While you’re waiting for your next big break, spend a little time on ebay.

Here are a few tips:

PHOTOS – Taking/ uploading  photos of your items is the most time-consuming part of this process. Be sure to take pictures that are clean and simple.

1. Hang Clothes in a doorway or against a white wall.

2. Place Accessories on a glass table or wood floor.

3. Get close-ups of fabrics to show texture or pattern.

4. If the item’s unworn, photograph it with the tag.

5. Photograph the Designer label. (Buyers fear knock-offs!)

6. Show a close-up of the size.

7. Show front and back.

8. Zoom in on any special details like buttons, pockets or beads.

9. Show the soles of shoes.

DESCRIPTIONS – Once you’ve uploaded the photos, you’ll answer a list of questions about size/color/fabric/wear & tear, plus there’s a place to write a description. Give the original prices (go high if you can’t remember.) Make a note if you wore the item once or twice. If new with tags, include NWT in the main title.

People like to know EVERYTHING. Get yourself a measuring tape.

MEASUREMENTS – Be sure to be as accurate as you can.

Shoes: Measure the inside toe to the heel.

Jackets: Measure shoulder-to-shoulder, the shoulder seam to wrist seam, length top to bottom.

Tops: Same measurements as Jackets.

Jeans: Waist measurement. Precise length top to bottom, inseam.

PRICING: I found that pricing things on the lower end is not such a bad thing. If you price things too high, you  might miss out on buyers who aren’t looking in that price range.  Sometimes if you price things low, people looking for a great deal get into a bidding war and you sometimes get even more than you anticipated (yay!)  You can also give a “buy it now” price or “best offer” so that someone who really wants it can just go for it.

Most buyers are responsive and dependable on ebay. Of course every once in awhile you’ll have to deal with a few Psycho Complainers. I find it best to just let them return their items for a refund, because life is wayyy too short to have people in your life who bring you down. Overall ebay is a lot of fun and a great way to recycle almost everything except for old boyfriends–
but that could be kind of interesting…

(Ever sell anything on ebay? If so, how was your experience? Let me know in the comments.)

Liked that? Check out:

• Wardrobe Recycling at Wasteland
• HOTLINKS FOR ACTORS
• HOT IN CLEVELAND: funny find!

Here’s a list of faves that make life EASY and FUN:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=j36WaovkdWM

2) iPhone 3GS (Yes, I’ve become one of those people, but seriously-- this one’s faster and better.)

3) HP All-in-One Scanner (Now you can save those adorable baby pics with your mom forever!)

4) Martha Stewart’s Cookies (EZ, delish & great for Sunday Baking -- YOU NEED THIS BOOK.)

5) Original pressings of your favorite record albums (I love searching for treasures.)

6) Clairisonic (One minute a day for the best skin you’ve had in years.)

7) GHD IV Mini Styler (Per Rachel Zoe’s suggestion, i just got mine in the mail.)

Panasonic’s LUMIX Digital Camera (Best bang for your buck- small, adorable, great pics.)

9) Fujifilm Instax Mini 7S Instant Film Camera (Cool vintage-y pics a-la Polaroid.)

10) Commerical Garment Steamer (For those of us who hate ironing & bills from the cleaners.)

11) Mino HD Flip (For your inner-Scorsese/my new BFF)

12) Record Player (You have no idea how much better music sounds on vinyl.)
(What are your faves  I can put on my Wish List? Let me know in the comments.)

Liked that? Check out:

• Shopping: L.A. Hotlinks Update
• HOTLINKS FOR ACTORS
• A Great Find For Actors: Killthedoor.com

Waited till the last minute?

I luv romance!

Only three two one day till February 14th.

If you’re looking for Valentines or Romantic Packaging to go with, check out my faves:

Pulp (cool)
Soolip (arty)
Papyrus (wide selection)
Paper Source (DIY)
A&I (custom photo cards)
Kates Paperie (they have a Valentine Boutique)
Jib Jab (awesome e-cards using photo faces)
ebay (vintage)

Liked that? Check out:

• ER: CODE RED – Diet Karma
• Silent Running*
• Shopping: L.A. Hotlinks Update