Favorite Things- Downtown...and a girls gotta eat...and drink

Okay...so I dont venture Downtown all that often...but I was down there last weekend for last minute shopping and my friends and I were hungry...so we ambled on over.... I ambled they walked... see I was rebreaking in some boots I havent worn in a lonnnnnng time, and my heels were hurting....so I ambled...it wasnt a pretty site....

anyways... we went to our go to place...

Petes Cafe and Bar.

They have great drinks... pretty cheap bottles of wine and great food... I am not kidding when I say they have great Mac and Cheese.

It was nice cause they were all decorated with Christmas decorations and it really put us in the holiday spirit.... it was very nice... they place has a great old time feel to it with dark woods and small tiled floor...but it has a very classy contemporary feel about it as well.

I can tell you that the food is great, the service is great and the prices are greatly reasonable.... does that work?  greatly reasonable?  I was trying to make it flow... I know Im a nerd....
But the prices are very reasonable....


So.. if you find yourself downtown and you are getting hungry... head on over to Main and 4th...and pop into Petes!!!!



Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

Favorite Things- my cupcake obsession is ridiculous

Its very hard for me to make this decision... but I am confident I have made the right one...

Crumbs is my favorite cupcake place in Los Angeles....OMG...thats the first time I have admitted that...
I am sorry Yummy Cupcakes... I am sorry Frosted... those are my other two favorites...

but seriously... Crumbs.. is the best!!!!!!

They have such awesome flavor combinations, they melt in your mouth... its such yummy goodness....

So... looking for a gift?  Cupcakes!!!!!!
Want something sweet?  Say a treat for yourself?  Cupcakes!!!!!
Gonna start the new year off healthy so you have decided to stuff yourself full of carbs before January?  Cupcakes!!!!!

I am more serious then I have ever been when I say Crumbs is AWESOME!
And yes I may have gone slightly overboard with the photos... I just wanted to make your mouth water...
hopefully these pics have done that!!!

Just one more!!!!

Okay... now I need a cupcake...

Favorite Things- Coffee at the pig

Okay... Los Angeles has hundreds if not thousands of coffee shops... and that is not including Starbucks and Coffee Bean... both of which I am a patron at.... but I do love being able to support the little guy....

I have a bunch of coffee shops I like to give my business too...depending on what area of the city I am in.

Today... lets talk about one in particular...
The Bourgeois Pig.  (it took me a long time to figure out the spelling on that one... I felt so accomplished I bought a coffee.)

They dont have a website...so check out this link to Chowhound that has hours and address and such...
Now... they make a mean cuppa joe...and of course they have all the teas and fancy coffees you could want...
what I love is that if you get tea, you get a pot with all the fixins... love it!!!!

Also... this place is magic... in the back they have a pool table... but in the back there is also  a doorway...that leads to a forest... I am serious... a dark room with couches and antique foresty looking furniture...
my favorite spot in this room... is a little cove to sit in... its a tight squeeze but its got room for two...and its like a tiny little playhouse.... its hard to explain.. you have to go...and check this place out....
its magic.

Favortie Things- Wine!!!!!

Okay... rainy days got you down?  Need a couple hours to do what you want?
Well... wine tasting is not so far away... Malibu has great wines... I did a whole post on it a few months ago... for any of you who are actually reading my blog.


But... need a good bottle of wine... but are not sure you wanna spend that much on a bottle without tasting it?
Cornell Wine tasting room... in Malibu.... in the hills...a nice drive... a beautiful old rustic building... an afternoon to do something for yourself before you continue shopping for others, working, going to parties....

Plus wine is always an acceptable gift... people love wine... so if you are looking for a gift for a hostess, or a white elephant party or just want to bring something with you to a holiday dinner... consider wine... and consider a good bottle....

Cornell will not dissapoint... plus next door is a fancy steak place...oh and down the street is  a little deli with an outdoor patio if lunch is on the menu but you do not want to spend that much....!!!!

Oh and wine is easy to wrap... just throw it in a gift bag, or just wrap a ribbon around it... people love it!!!


PS- if you see the elusive white peacock... send me a pic... I saw just a glimpse of her when I was there... shes amazing.

Favorite Thins- Tender Greens

Okay... so we blew our diet at Umami... but I dont feel like cooking and could really go for something healthy to make me feel less guilty.

Helloooooo..... Tender Greens.... a salad place... well thats what I call it. They have other foods...like sandwhiches, soups, meat entrees...but man they make a great salad....

LA is very lucky cause there is a Hollywood location as well as a Culver City location...so you can be practically anywhere in LA and be within half an hour of Tender Greens.

So... you feel guilty cause you have been baking and eating all those cookies and fudge...and candies...oh wait thats me....yes I am a grazer...and really obsessed with those peppermint Hershey Kisses that are out... they taste soooo yummy and look really festive on my cookies.

Anyways... feeling guilty about all the holidays foods and beverages you have been eating and drinking lately? and still you are not motivated to cook something healthy at home?
Quick.. get in your car... get to Tender Greens...let them take care of you. You will not regret it.

I promise.

Favorite things- Work out apparel

Okay...so I may not be the most athetic or in shape person... but I do understand the importance of having high quality athletic apparel.  I love yoga... I think it is hard but something you do at your own pace and each class you are allowed to push yourself farther then you think you can go.

I love finding out wow you are stronger than you think you are, you can do that pose...and you can hold it...and next time... you can push the pose even farther.

LuLu Lemon makes great apparel for yoga as well as other exercise you do.  Dancers..you should come here too.

Its a bit expensive, but the clothes last forever and are very comfy, and high quality.  Plus yoga pants give you the nicest looking tush...so worth it.  Oh and this is not just for ladies...they have stuff for guys too...

and accessories like yoga mats, water bottles, gloves and bags.

So check out their website...they have stores locally or you can order online... if you still need to buy for the loved ones in your life...or yourself... cause really...this place is awesome... who could pass it up?

Favorite Things- I need to blow my diet

Okay...so for the past few weeks we have shopped...we have worked... we have wrapped... we have gone to holiday parties...and for most of us... we have traveled....
I need a break... I need to eat a lot of calories...and I want it to be GOOD!!!!!

Umami Burger...

I cannot even tell you how much I love this place... totally relaxed atmosphere... gourmet burgers, beers, and decent prices!!!!

Give it a try... go blow your diet... relax for a few minutes... eat some gourmet fries and amazing onion rings... Soooooo worth it.

One of the best things are the homemade dipping sauces... so tasty!!!!!
Also... they have bottled sodas...their creme soda... is Tops.

Looks at this picture.
Now try to ignore my suggestion.
Yep.. you are starting to cave in aren't you.
I knew it.

Favorite Things- shopping for others

Okay... so we have probably finished most of our holiday shopping... but for those few friends and family members who are hard to buy for... who we keep twiddling our thumbs over... how about popping into...

Mindful Nest.  They have locations in Burbank, and Santa Monica.  They are an awesome boutique that sells goods made by individual artists.   They have everything from jewelry (rocking jewelry by the way) to kitchen sink stoppers to lotions to garden sculptures to paintings to handmade stuffed animals.

A few of you have been lucky enough to receive gifts from me from Mindful Nest.

I love shopping there they ladies who work there are so nice, and I get a good feeling inside when I know I am helping support someone... one person...not a huge corporation.

Favorite Things- everyday kinda splurge

Okay.... so not really every day... but on a somewhat regular basis... I get pedis.  I am not a huge fan of Manis... but I get them occasionally.  But I love getting pedis.

I love how my toes feel "cuter" when I am done.  How my feet are soft and the dry skin is gone.   I have my regular place... which is awesome by the way... I will have to give them a write up later...but I have a place I have been wanting to go for awhile... I just couldnt get myself to go because I like my regular place...and this other place is more costly.

But... I went a couple of weeks ago with my pal Lori....and it was nice.  I want to go back asap.

Mani Kir Royale.  A basic mani pedi is in the mid $40 range...see a bit pricey.  But.... they give you champagne... yep... you are already being pampered... you get gossip magazines to read... and you get some bubbly.... my days done.

I left with a rocking set of fingers and toes... as did Lori... she had some blinging toes, she went with gold and it was like hello New Years!!!!!

So... if you are looking to pamper yourself... and dont want to spend too much... give them a call and get your toes in there.

Favorite Things- Big Splurge

Spa Luce....

I really shouldnt have to say anymore...this is hands down my favorite place to be.... my favortire massage I have ever gotten...also the hubbys.... we have a hard time going anywhere else for a massage.


Spa Luce...its in Hollywood at the Renaissance Hotel and it is luxurious.  The hubby and I go here for couples massage and spend hundreds of dollars...and want to do it again the next day.

They treat you right at Spa Luce... they have great locker rooms...yes locker rooms... I am going off on locker rooms... but they give you robes and slippers, and amazing showers and fruit, and drinks.

Then the waiting/relaxing area...is amazing, faux white furs with beds and fruit and drinks, and magazines, and a fire.  A mazing!!!!!!

Then the massages are wonderful.  So relaxing, and peaceful and the rooms you are in are very nice and white, and clean.

You have to splurge and go one day, it is awesome.

More Favorite Things

Have you ever wanted to send a really nice thank you?  or write a letter to your grandma on paper that she will treasure?




I know handwriting is going out the door.... due to emails... but sometimes it is so nice to open up that mailbox and find a letter mixed in with all the bills and junk mail...

So why not send a few letters this holiday/new years season.

My suggestion... splurge on some really nice paper... at Soolip.  Soolip is a beautiful little store in West Hollywood that sells amazing stationary and wrapping, and stamps and all that great stuff to make a letter beautiful and personalized.

I have given gifts from Soolip to many people... always with great reception. They have many gifty items as well... journals, candles, nice pens.

So do it... spend a bit of money on some really nice paper, and help support an independent business!!!!

Candy... when is candy not a splurge?

Candy is awesome in so many ways.  I can't even tell you about how great candy is.
And I am sure I dont have too... we all love it...and hate it.  We all grew up on it... we all have our favorites...but do you remember your favorites from when you were a kid?  I do too... buttons.... the wax soda bottles with the liquid in it, those packs of sugar...with the sugar stick?  Remember?
Maybe not.....
but Rocket Fizz does...
and
Rocket Fizz.... ROCKS!!!!!
It's a small candy chain...that has classics, and new candies, as well as its a soda shop, they have tons and tons of bottled sodas.  The last time I was there I had a chai soda!!!!  It was super yummy.

So... check out Rocket Fizz... its a great place for stocking stuffers and to spend an hour...they have a patio on the back so you can enjoy your soda and candy there if you like...

Did I mention they have all kinds of Salt Water Taffy flavors???
they do.


So... Rocket Fizz is a splurge...cause its pretty affordable...but if you buy a bunch it starts to add up... but its worth it!!!!

Check it out there are locations popping up all over the city, the one I go to is in Burbank, but check out their website for the location near you!!!!

Favorite Things day 2- splurges

Okay...so this is on my list because each class is a bit costly... $16... if you buy individual classes.

But...it is a damn good work out and very worth it.

Cardio Barre.

A dear friend of mine, Val took me to my first class...and I have loved it ever since.
The studio I go to is in Studio City, but they have studios all over the city.

The class is fun, and tough.  If you have a love or interest in dance, then this is a great way to work out.
It is fairly obvious a barre is involved... you do a lot of leg and arm work at a ballet barre, but they dont forget your abs either... they save that for the end... and you get some stretching and cool down as well...
not a bad deal for $16.

Now... I consider this a splurge...cause I will take a class every now and then, but I have a gym membership already at another gym.
How I wish my gym offered a cardio class like this.  How awesome would my legs and butt look?


So.. if you are not scared and are looking for a new way to exercise... give it a try...
oh and this is not just for the ladies... men... there are a lot of ladies but I see a guy in there every so often.



This is also a good thing for all those holiday food splurges we all will be partaking in.

Ashleighs favorite splurges

So... The holidays are hectic, busy and about friends and family.  So... why not try to sneak in some "me" time.
This weeks posts are going to be about some of my favorite splurges... things I try not to indulge in to often... cause really... they are splurges...some more so then others.

To get the week started....

Eyebrows... I love love love to have my brows done.  I am not afraid to get in there myself and do them... not at all... I maintain on a regular basis; but sometimes a girl wants someone else to get in there do a bit of plucking...some waxing...some coloring.

So.. my favorite place to got....

Zoey Van Jones- Brow Studio

Its in Pasadena...and they are the Best!!!!
It is so much fun to go in, they treat you like a princess, they chat with you and the place is set up very nice. You walk in and you feel pampered... you walk out and you look great.

Plus you are in Pasadena and there are a ton of shops and restaurants around so go and make an afternoon of it.

Plus, eyebrow waxing is universal... MEN do not be afraid... your partner will love you all the more for it.  Waxing and tweezing is not THAT bad.
I mean if you think grooming the eyebrows is not for you... this place will change your mind.

Oprahs got one... so I want one too...

A list of favorite things...
but...
I am gonna alter it a bit... to a list of splurges, places to get gifts, and of course since food is so darned important around the holidays I am gonna throw in some of my fav places to get delicious foods!!!!

So.. if you can wait....
the fun starts next week!!!


I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!!!


I know I did.
I got to see my niece and nephew...and Snow!!!

Living in LA....you dont get much snow...so that was exciting.

OMG... how to keep the state parks open now?

Did you vote?
I hope you did.

So... I am a bit upset at a certain prop in CA not being passed...
Prop 21...no not 19... 21.

Prop 21 was a tax on Californians to help keep State parks funded, so they can a. stay open, b. keep employees working at the parks, c. keep the parks clean and d. keep the parks safe.


In the last couple of years California politicians, have found ways to get out of the budget crisis... this is by cutting the State park budget.  This means that parks have been closed part time, and they have less employees.

Now... as a native to California I dont like that.....
I grew up going to these parks.  I want my kids to be able to go to these parks.

So what would have happened had 21 passed... is that Californians would have paid an extra $18 a year, and with that you got free admission and parking to any CA State park.
Now personally I dont think that is too much to pay... if you break it down its $1.50 a month....
$1.50 a month to keep jobs in CA
$1.50 a month to keep parks OPEN
$1.50 a month to keep parks clean
$1.50 a month to keep parks safe


So... because this didnt pass... I am now on "We must help the parks mode"
So... my friend Kelly showed me a link about how the parks in a crisis...and on that same site... I found a link to donate money to....

So here is the link... please DONATE!!!!!
and pass this link on... we need to keep the parks open.
How many of like to camp, like to hike, like to be out in the great outdoors?
Well.. the great outdoors needs your help.


so please donate...
or you can shop on their site...and buy goods that will help support the parks


Sonoma State Beach

Armstrong Redwoods State Park

Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park

Anza- Borrego Desert State Park

Emerald Bay State Park

Cayucos State Beach

Angel Island State Park

Ahjumawi Lava Springs State Park

Point Lobos State Reserve

Montana De Oro State Park

Please dont let us lose this beauty.

Im sorry this blog is soooo preachy... I am just a true believer of doing things....and saving the beauty of our state is doing something.

Devils Night is at it again!!

This time with
the always awesome....

Napoleon Dynamite.

Come on... you know you are just like me...anytime...and I do mean anytime it is on tv which is at least 1 time a month... you cannot help but watch it.

Well...
this Saturday my friends at Devils Night  will be putting up the good ol drive in and the flick will be Napoleon Dynamite!!!!!

Go...have fun!!!! get out in the world!!!

Gates at 6pm, movie at 730pm
this is a popular event...so buy your tix ahead of time.

Oh and yes...I do love the Llama.

Happy Halloween

Hey all
Hope you have a great holiday!!!!!!
give some kids some candy and get scared!!!!!!!



HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Pumpkins!!!!

Just photos of some pumpkins I wish I had done.



Sesame Street:

This one is just... Fun.

Pretty pumpkins.

AARRGGGHHHH!!!!

Wish I was this creative...and talented... I can barely cut triangle eyes into a pumpkin

Love it.

And... because I am a complete Little Big Planet geek...