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.