Sort-Of Review: Wine Tasting at Whole Foods Venice….who knew?!?
December 6, 2009 at 4:14 pm | In Uncategorized | 4 CommentsTags: awesomeness, friends, orgasm in mouth, review, Venice, Whole Foods, wine
Well, I did. I just never took advantage…and, frankly, did not know/trust how NICE it would be.
I attended with my friend Carly, who is the lovely author of www.winosanonymousblog.com. Winos Anonymous is aimed is for all the people in the 18-30ish set who were just never sold on Two-Buck-Chuck…but, frankly, wish they had the palate for the stuff since most awesome wines cost as much as their monthy bill from Time Warner Cable. Ok, I am exaggerating……kinda. 
Basically, she takes the d-baggery (yes this is a technical term) and pretension out of reviewing wine, knowing and using buzzwords like “oak” and “peppery” and “the nose” simply as red and green lights, not to show off or be elitist.
I digress. If you like cheaply-priced wine but not CHEAP wine, go to WA and check out m’ girl. Plus she’s a fellow actor, spinner, and is just a badass wicked-funny chick in general.
The tasting was….wait for it….CANADIAN wines. What the H, Canada? You have some pretty awesome wines, yo. Mostly whites were sipped from generously-poured tasting glasses, which pleased me because a.) I generally prefer whites/rosé/champagne over reds, and b.) I generally prefer generously-poured tasting glasses.
First glass — I believe a Pinot Grigio, but might’ve been Sauvignon Blanc
We also each got a cheese plate!!! Yes, I’ve discovered that I’m going about my days Veganly and choose to identify as a vegan when asked, but on special occasions and at events, I have no problem letting this slide. Especially when this means a carefully thought-out plate of cheese to go with our wines.
We got some bread, but I chose to STUFF THE GOLDEN/RED RASPBERRIES with the softer cheeses. Ohhhhhhmygod. Right decision.
After the pg/sb mystery-wine came a Viognier, which I liked a lot. I use technical terms like “this is good” or “this is too heavy” or while Carly chatted it up with our host using not-as-technical phrases like “this is a little too oak-y for my taste.” I sat in awe the whole time, haha. She’s a fairly new friend, and it’s so cool to be around a 23yr old girl (like me) who legit KNOWS how to review and describe wines (unlike me).
Anyway, the Viognier was great. Light and refreshing!
We then got a special pour on the house:
Not my fave, but good. Carly liked it.
Another wine was billed as the “poor man’s chardonnay.” Not a chardonnay fan, so I was skeptical….it wasn’t bad, but it didn’t knock my socks off, like the final one…..
This was some sort of “Ice Wine,” which I’ve NEVER tried. Our technical phrase for this was “an orgasm in your mouth.” It tasted like the top of a creme brulee…or REALLY good agave. It was so good that Carly repeatedly banged her head against the shoulder of her boyfriend (who showed up later and did a mini beer tasting!) and the host told us its nickname was OFS. You can figure out what that stands for. If you need help with that, just ask. Or ask a pottymouth-ed friend.
So cool!
We ended up staying there for two hours, having loads of fun and chatting off the tiny wine buzz. I met Carly at YAS, and am so happy we’ve become friends!
Oh jeez!! I forgot to mention — THIS TASTING WAS ONLY $15!!!!!! Worth every cent. Hopefully, the WF in your area has a wine bar…take advantage ASAP. Most locations have a Twitter feed and post their schedules online.
After Carly and Ryan (bf) left, I had to use ze restroom….if only to snap a pic of my outfit so fast that it didn’t turn out so great. Someone walked in, and my camera flew back down….and I pretended it was, I dunno, a cell phone and I was reading a text? Didn’t want to be spotted….taking bathroom pics….alone…….
skinny black jeans, hand-me-down purse from gma, and a ginormous knit/leather sweater that used to be g-pa’s. I am LITERALLY rockin’ the grandparent look. And I’m proud of it!
black oxford pumps from Republique de Platanos were also worn.
Wanted to get this post in today before the day got ahead of me. Off to the gym, my yoga apprentice follow-up, spin, and yoga! I love active days 
For what will probably be a more in-depth review of the evening (and for wine tips in general), remember to visit www.winosanonymousblog.com
HAVE A LOVELY DAY!
“I’ve Fallen And I Can‘t Get Up…”
December 5, 2009 at 6:52 am | In Uncategorized | 5 Comments Tags: apartment, body, deb's trifecta, dumb faces, exercise, feeling not so hot, food, green, gym, moving, weight, work
…off the proverbial wagon, that is.
(I’ll get to this in a sec.)
After a carayzeelong break from blogging, I’m back. And what a November it’s been!
1.) I moved!!! I know I was in the process of moving when I last wrote, but now I am nice and settled into my new place. A few pics from when I first moved in (make a mental note that it is sparsely decorated no more; I just have laundry all over my floor right now and while we’re still kinda getting to know each other, I’d prefer that you remain under the impression that I put everything in it’s right place, every day. Yyyyup.)
Let’s step inside, shall we?
It looks WAY more special now. Pillows, candles, a hand-crafted mancala board from Africa…and Buddha has moved into my room and has been replaced by a brand new HD flatscreen WHAT. My g-ma has been going through a stressful time, and when she gets stressed, she uses retail therapy. Pair that with her knowledge that Sandi (roommate) and I did not own a television, and you get QUITE the surprise. Gammy must’ve really been trippin’.
Let’s turn to the right, shall we?
Well HAYYYYYY there good lookin.’
(note the YAS water bottle on the table )
This table used to belong to Sandi’s father and stepmom — it is simply GORGEOUS, and I am a bit in love. It is currently the resting place of a HUGE vase of Main St. Farmer’s Market sunflowers, crystal candlesticks, and some placemats made out of strung-together twigs (which I stole borrowed indefinitely from a hotel room in Hawaii. oops.)I cannot understand why they are not using it.
If I am smart, I won’t ask.
Every day, we make a choice. Today I choose to be smart.
Follow the light……
Yep, I did it. I (er, the guy who’s with the leasing company) painted my room green. And this was taken in the evening, before I had a real lamp, so it does not even do the bright cheery hue justice. Again, I swear it looks more AJIC (A Joy In Class) now…but again, I’m self-conscious of the slight mess.
To your right, you’ll find the closet…
….and the antique hat rack holding a slew of scarves, belts and purses. This closet is now OVERFLOWING. Mmm. I like.
And a new bathroom always calls for a New Bathroom Shoot. Or, rather, “You’re So Vain, You Prob’ly Think This Bathroom’s About You”
(did that make sense? No. Do I say lots of things that make sense? Not really.)
A favorite cropped “coat” of mine. $7 at Buffalo Exchange….dumb face not included.
Note to self: distace+bathroom mirror+lulu’ yoga hotshorts = optical illusion of long legs. Damn you cold weather….I could use a little optical illusion pick-me-up as of late (see title of post). :/
I have a thing for cropped coats. This one was $18 at the UCI vendor faire back in the day, aka 2006. Ignore the yet-to-be-hung (that’s what she said) wall decorations.
Gettin’ silly and showing my love for the green wall. Gahh. Who takes a picture with their wall.
No, I was not tipsy on anything else but joy.
Go figure, my two big November events are matchy-matchy. Apparently, I color-coordinate my life.
YAS Teacher Training took over my life until November 15th…..a three-weekend, two-week intensive into which I was awarded a scholarship. Seeing as it is $1500 for the program (which some people use as a bootcamp, some people use so they can teach at YAS, and some people use just to gain knowledge about spinning and Yoga For Athletes [YAS's unique yoga sequence]), this was HUGE for me. I recently stopped teaching at 24 Hour Fitness due to distance, and I miss teaching so very much. I have started an apprenticeship at YAS and have my follow-up/practical/workshop this Sunday. I am praying that this is when I will be deemed “enough”…to teach or sub, that is. Goal is to get onto the schedg’ by January. MizFit, you will have to visit!!!!!!!
I’ve also started working the front desk at YAS…in addition to working at Studio 1-on-1. It does not seem like a lot – working two desk jobs less than two miles from home – but the shifts are long and YAS gets CRAZY busy. Literally, I am holding a phone in between my ear and my shoulder entering someone into their desired class while taking cash from one client and swiping a credit card for another and mouthing to another client that I’ll be with them in just a sec. I love it, but it gets tiring….then I get off of work and eat dinner/post-dinner/post-post dinner around 10pm….well, this leads us back to the title of this blog entry. Plus I have been reading HEAB’s blog like it’s internet crack (which I think you will all agree IT IS!), and have introduced natural nut butters back into my life via small doses from the self-churn thingy at Whole Foods. But I think I’m getting a little, and it turns out to be, like….well, not a little. BTW, is commercial PB measured like a FLUID or a SOLID? Because liquid ounces are different than solid ounces, no? Like, 16oz of water is 16oz, but if you filled the same glass with apples, it would WEIGH much more than 16oz. Is this a dumb question? I am just trying to figure out the nutritionals for the amount of pb/ab that was weighed at the check-out register. I like to know my damage
I was recently (like, 10 minutes ago) inspired by Deb’s post on Lara’s blog. She deemed the Triple Threat (or Trifecta to Thinspiration, since it IS Ms. Thinspired’s bliggityblog! ) to be
1.) Food Diary
2.) Smoothies
3.) Strength Training
And I could not agree more. I was feeling best, looking best, and acting best when I was using www.mypyramidtracker.gov to log my food, making yummy yet slightly awkward (I am so glad I have found you lovely people who do not think anything of spinach and/or pumpkin in smoothies) smoothies for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, or desserts, and was strength training on a regular basis. My yoga practice has gotten way more frequent since I’ve started working at YAS and gotten unlimited classes, but it is not the same as a killa gym/trainer sesh. And my boss is kinda freaking out about life right now, so no trainer seshes for Katie. The pictures above were all taken whilst I was strength training with him, and I was just in such a positive place about myself….
Well, this needs to change. This is the holiday season, and the most beautiful and precious gift I can give myself is confidence and the body/spirit that is unbreakably, truly, fully MINE. I wanna throw Christmas parties. No more Pity parties. And I am going to take MizFit’s advice and blog about it all.
I journaled today. Not gonna post it on here, but I did it on the .gov site listed above. I rested my body today after a horrible tummy reaction to SF maple syrup that I mixed with pumpkin last night…..guess I have a food allergy. Good to know. Dumb Maltitol. And tomorrow, I’m buying some crushed ice for smoothies, making myself the damn thang, strength training, and getting back to that lifestyle/those habits and that person I truly do love.
We only have one life, and we are such a small speck in the world…and if we all shine as BRIGHTLY as we KNOW we can, we can make it GLISTEN.
***holycrap! I forgot to thank GANGSTA-E for the AMAAAAAZING package she sent me……..lady, I’m using that highlighter/eyeshadow/shiny amazingness every day and LOVING it. And your sweet note made my week. Thank you. xoxoxoxo
***ALSO, contact info has been updated on the FAQ page.
Some Thoughts From The Mind Of K.Joy
November 2, 2009 at 11:04 pm | In Uncategorized | 8 CommentsTags: Alex, body, fake health food, family, food, friends, lists, random thoughts, run
Some stuff on my brain:
Is a Slurpee just a Slushie put through a froyo machine? If I make a slushie at home and then buy a froyo maker, could I technically make my own slurpee?
I LOVE that crystal light started to make slurpees.
I never get slurpees.
I want a Peach-Mango Fusion slurpee. The one I had last 4th of July when some of the group went on a 7-11 run by the beach. yes, that exact slurpee. because it has good memories attached.
Why do people wear jeans to do yoga??
I have developed hairexia: i am addicted to short(er) hair. I know when I need a haircut when my hair can no longer dry on its own to my liking…ie it lacks volume or it gets a weird kink and one side flips up and one flips under.
I want another haircut.
My favorite shoes EVER are so on their way out. End of an era. These things are practically glued to my feet.
I once took a FB quiz to see what type of Los Angeles stereotype I was. I got Hollywood Hipster, saying I own more than one fedora, listen to popular music but am in on the indie scene, wear scarves in 90-degree weather, and get weird looks when I am in the suburbs………like Calabasas, my hometown.
I added that last part.
Sometimes I am extremely self-conscious of the fact that virtually all of my close friends are older than I am, and of the fact that I am just 23. Never when I am *with* them, because that is why they are my friends (you should never feel as if you have to be a certain “persona” with your true friends), but when I am alone I sometimes worry that I am coming off as precocious…like, “What does she know, she’s only 23?” I’ve gotten the “you-are-the-kid-I-am-the-parent” thing from my parents, been in relationships in which the age difference has been means to poke fun at me (in jest, of course…but still)…so it’s something that has never NOT been in my consciousness. But I love my friends and I love the life they have allowed me to live, one filled with warmth and joy and acceptance…so I trust they’d tell me if I was being obnoxious or seeming too big for my britches. bitchez.
Runyon Canyon makes me so happy.
My nails are disgusting. I need a manicure. Please lord, bestow upon me a coupon of sorts for a cheap manicure. Thank you.
I am so glad it’s just my brother Alex and I. We’re a good team.
Speaking of Alex, look up “Farting Preacher” on YouTube.
The period of the last ten (oh my god, how did this year fly by?) months has been the first time in my life that I have been single and NOT a student. I am focusing on getting things done for me and me alone. And those things are actually getting DONE.
Not to say I don’t miss it. A lot.
There is something about running that is so liberating. Sometimes I have dreams in which I am running and slowly start to lift off the ground, taking flight. That is how a good run is supposed to feel. Like you are exerting so much power that there is no where else to go but up.
I’m not one of those genetically blessed gals, and I work damn hard on myself physically. And I am proud of it. And I enjoy every second of it. They (who’s “they”?) say that the love of exercise is something that is genetically passed down. So it that sense….I am genetically blessed.
I like setting an example for myself, physically, interpersonally, and spiritually. That way, when I am at a low point, I can just look to myself to get back on track. Be your own guru and idol.
Cheetos worry me. Today I saw a caddy stocked with “Baked Cheetos.” Like that is any better?!?
It bothers me when unhealthy foods pretend to be healthy.
I make me laugh.
That was incorrect grammar. If you use incorrect grammar on purpose, is it still incorrect? Or it it correct in its incorrect-ness?
I want to buy two dresses at a boutique in Venice, a shirt from American Apparel, a pair of Rock and Republic jeans, new shoes to replace aforementioned Death Row wedges, and Jillian Michaels’ DVD. I need to be a big girl and not fall prey to the compulsive shopper within.
I really would LOVE to hate American Apparel because of the child pornography charges and stuff. But I don’t.
By 24, I will be where I am currently striving to be.
Is it too soon for me to do a blivaway? How do you know when you have enough readers to even THINK about a blivaway? I’m impatient as heck. I think I just like giving things to people.
Soul mates are not necessarily the people you end up marrying. Soul mates, of course, CAN be the people you end up marrying. But a soul mate is the person you love no matter what, no matter what life throws at you, the person who unknowingly watches over you from near and far, and for whom you do the same. Even if you don’t see them or hear from them for a while (and vice versa), your energies are connected. And that’s what matters.
Your soul mates are sometimes the people with whom the biggest instances of tension arise. Because part of the reason you are both on this earth together is to help each other learn.
My mind is going in ten million different directions, and I hope I can pin it down sometime in the next day or so to write a substantial blog. Complete with pictures and coherent, related ideas. So basically the opposite of this.
Happy Monday, loves
What up Gangstaaaa’…
October 31, 2009 at 8:14 am | In Uncategorized | 2 CommentsTags: apartment, apples, awesomeness, dumb face in a blackberry pic, exercise, fashion, food, friends, gigs, Halloween, happy, holyunnoticedcleavagebatman, Kashi, MacBook photoshoot, mermaid, Roy, Sarah, silly
I. Am. So. Excited. I. Might. Pee.
Guess what I did tonight?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
(no, not that. I wish. wah-wah.)
Well, first, I started to write this post (on my floor amidst the mess and boxes and packing throw-up mishmosh of clothes and dumb things I shouldn’t even keep), but got interrupted by my agent. So I decided to snap a picture. In sunglasses. ’Cause c’mon, you know you feel cooler when you put sunglasses on.
JC says, “Nice to meet you.” Well, he would’ve. Except I didn’t wanna be a total creeper and tell him I was taking a picture of essentially what was just his “presence” for Zee Blog.
Then I realized, HEY! I’m wearing cool shoes! I’ve gotten lots of comments about these today! Maybe I should share them on Zee Blog:
Yup folks, these are basically the love child of crocs and leg warmers. I got ‘em from the Croc store in Manhattan last December, but I’ve seen them at mall kiosks, too…(and yes, I decided to nix the ‘glasses and opt for a warmer shirt, since it was, you know, 6:30 at night.) This pic is with the top halfway rolled down to expose the fuzz-ay innards.
The another phone call:
I dunno, I was in a PhotoBooth moodiemood. This pic shows the crocwarmers unrolled to make ‘em tall(ish) boots.
Also “shown” in this picture is Edgar, the leasing agent I’ve been dealing with….
We talked for a bit, and I tried to take apart my bed frame. With a badass set o’ pliers.
With purple roses on it.
Anyway….after much discussion and coordinating…..I met up with Edgar….and….
I got my keys to my new apartment!!!! And, with the help of my good friend Roy (I know you are reading this, you lurky lurker mclurkerson), moved not one, not two, not three, but FOUR boxes, my papasan chair, and my antique hat rack (it’s cool, I swear!) We unpacked all of it, and I feel SO accomplished. Of course, I needed to snap a picture in my new room:
…and in the hujass walk-in.
Oh, and we totally nabbed that formerly neglected table from the street. Not “the street” like ghetto-fabulous, Gangsta’s Paradise, dance-off of death in an abandoned alley. ”The street” like the block across from an elementary school with astronauts painted on the handball courts.
I start my teacher training at YAS this weekend, and therefore my entire Saturday and Sunday will be filled up — luckily, my parents and Roy (again, god bless’im) are going to move the bigass pieces of funiture in for me on Sunday. Like my bed. So I can sleep there and slowly weed my stuff out of my current Studio City digs. Y’all don’t need to know this. I’m gonna stop typing about it now.
In other news:
I can’t believe it – I won my first blivaway*!!!!
The beautiful Sarah at The Foodie Diaries revealed the other day that I was lucky enough to receive a crazyload of amazingness – soup, journal, shopping bag, and a pedometer! I think Sarah is fantastic, which makes the win even sweeter. If you have not checked out her blog, definitely make a point of doing so. Her meals are quite easy to prepare, but always look so amazingly naughty (seriously, girl, you’ve got some major food porno on that blog of yours. For the last 3 nights I’ve made your pumpkin pancake/pie/microwave discovery after dinner. There should be some major parental guidance warnings on that one…mother of moses). Holyhell. Like many bloggers, it is inspiring to see meals that are simple and PRACTICAL, yet delicious and creative and nutritious to boot. Less is more.
Plus, she’s related to Dora The Explora’, so is one degree away from celebrity status.
Thank you, Sarah!
Lots of people seem to be featuring apples, asking what the favorites are around town (ok, so maybe they asked that last week, or maybe I am making that up, but still…). I am yet to see my favorite pop up on a blog…
Crab Apples!
So tiny, so perfectly crunchy this time of year, and the perfect combination of sweet and tart. Plus, they’re fun. I mean, c’mon. How can you not love an apple the size of an acorn?
Tooooootes did not take this peekchore. I wish!
Have a BEAUTIFUL Halloween weekend, and be SAFE!!!!! There are crazies on the road Halloween night, so if you choose to drive somewhere, PLEASE make sure you have a DD…and be UBER-AWARE. I don’t think I’m gonna do anything this year…therefore I present to you some Halloween costumes of the past:
Last Year: mermaid. With Homemade Shells.
I did like 20 minutes of ab work for a few days in a row before this. Oh the things we do.
Freshman year of college (2004): Catwoman.
And finally, possibly my favorite costume ever: Junior Year of college (2006)…Cereal Killer.
With homemade ammo/victims:
What. Up.
*blivaway: n. a giveaway which takes place on a web log, or “blog.”
ex: Gee Suzie, I don’t know where to get a pedometer like this around these parts of town. I won it in a blivaway.
A Quick Schizo’ Note
October 27, 2009 at 7:06 am | In Uncategorized | 4 CommentsTags: feelbadfood, food, hujass, weight
Dear Jar of Better n’ PB (or any other nut butter/faux-nut butter, for that matter),
There is a reason why you do not enter into my grocery cart. Please stay out. Forever.
And if you’re looking for the missing half of your Insides….yeah, well, about that.
Sincerely,
Katie
I feel as if everyone else in the food blogging world is able to handle their PB (or PB2 or BTPB) except me. I start with a perfectly measured out 2tbsp, and then WHOOSH!BAM!POW! half the jar is gone.
Too many persimmons/pears/apples>even a little nut butter. I know imma gonna be alone on this one. It’s ok. I can face the crickets.
To quote David After Dentist…”I feel funny..”
the devil, yo.
In other news, I just found a hujass spider on my *bed.* And squashed it all by myself. Because
a.) I live alone, and
b.) I am a Big Girl.
I officially have the heebiejeebies.
I hate hate hate hate spiders. Happy Halloween my ass. (which brings us back to the peanut butter problem..)
Good Eats (or My Head Is So Ballooned Up That I Just Typed This Title As God Ates)
October 25, 2009 at 11:51 pm | In Uncategorized | 8 CommentsTags: apartment, Ben McLain, food, kombucha, lists, Paul Peglar, sick, teacher training, Venice, Whole Foods, work, YAS
Nothing is too much fun when you’re sick, and laughs are hard to come by. However, my seltzer bottle of a head typed out my post’s title wrong and I was reminded of my ability to do dumb things and crack m’self up.
Some eatzies and peek-chores from the last week or so….
Lots of this good stuff:
In ALL these flavors:
By the way….the Whole Foods in Venice has Kombucha ON TAP! It’s such a fun concept, although I must say that there is something about the Millennium kombucha bottles that just makes you feel like you’re cool. Right?? You know that kombucha bottles make you feel like a total balla’.
Lots of beautiful Whole Foods “creative arrangements”:
(before:
TONS of cherry tomatoes, cukes, purple cauliflower, spinach, and ’shrooms, topped with Ranchero Tofu, indian-style chickpeas and baby ’shrooms, and grilled portabello[-a?] slices….I almost did not post this out of fear you’d think it looks like someone did something not so fun on top of the pretty veggies. But I love topping my veggies with a little bit of the more decadent options…putting them on top fools my brain into thinking I’m getting more than I really am. Is that weird? Also, note the dijon mustard and vegan tomato field roast salad on the side, for dipping purposes)
(after: to prove that the the veggies aplenty DID exist under the spew of mishmosh)
Lotsa JOOZ from Leaf Cusine, since I seem to constantly be on the run and neglecting my JOOZ’ER. Ah well. I love me some Leaf.
(the artistic interpretation of Jooz’InDaCa’ ….or Juice in the Car.)
HughJass Salad Spinnage:
The after picture looks really bad (hah, I say this after the Whole Foods Creative Arrangement excuse for a picture), but I’ve been topping my salads with unsweetened ketchup and/or my own mustard vinagrette lately (basically Dijon mustard with a bit of NuStevia, pepper, and balsamic vinegar). I just started concocting this one, but I have been using straight mustard atop my salads for as long as I can remember eating salads. Does anyone else use mustard as “dressing?” I always seem to crack my friends up when I do this. All of the women in my family do it, however, so it is a completely non-weird thing to me.
I gotta say, there was this one episode of West Wing in which C.J. put a pack of the yellow stuff over her salad….and I finally felt validated. If Aaron Sorkin thinks it’s ok, then gosh darnit, it is.
WAY too much from this place:
They are the only place I know of that sells Carbawhey yogurt (or, rather, yogART ) in addition to Carbo Thin…..These have low lactose in comparison to other froyos, and the Carbawhey is made with Whey protein. This is a fact that I use to justify my belief that I AM getting in a serving of protein. Plus, it’s the only kind of yogurt that doesn’t make me completely sick after inhalation. Plus, it’s virtually no calories, which is attractive when you’re eating something that is purely an “extra lil sumthin’”:
4 oz. = 3g Protein, 0g fat, 22 calories (5.5 cal/oz) = whaaaaaat?
This does not mean it is good to eat every night: a habit I had gotten out of, but has been slowly creeping back. I AM making an effort, though. I am.
I will not be five minutes from Humphrey Yogart for much longer, which should make this a lot easier.
Why, you ask?
I’M MOVING!!!!!!!!
Not only am I moving….I AM MOVING TO THE BEST LOCATION IN LOS ANGELES, which is also on the same block as Studio 1-on-1, and is on the same street as YAS:
Abbot Kinney!!
new bedroom YAY!
(sorry about the Lulu yoga bootyshorts.)
Our living room YAY!
Moving is a bitch, but I am so excited to be moving so close to everywhere I love most. Abbot Kinney is Venice without being super-hippie Venice or Muscle Beach madness Venice…it is laid back and alternative, but very active and DRIVEN and *alive.* Does that make sense? Seriously, I am dying of happiness over the thought of getting back 2.5 HOURS OF MY LIFE EVERY DAY which are currently stolen by the 101 and 405 freeways!!!!!!!!!!!!! Like I had a feeling about…..things are turning around. And turning around fast.
23, I like you. So far:
In three weeks:
-received my very first paycheck from my first feature film, which also came with a letter saying I should mozy on down to SAG
-received my very first cast sweatshirt from said film, which sounds trivial but it made me feel really special, like I mattered and was liked
-filmed my first commercial (not promo)/my first commercial leading role
-got my first steady, reliable job in a very long time
-got a personal trainer who is kicking my ass, which I’ve wanted FOREVER. he happens to be my boss. job perks rock.
-was selected to receive a full-ride scholarship into the YAS teacher training program, which begins Oct 31st!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is HUGE. Two weeks of spin and yoga all the time. Certified to teach at YAS upon graduation. Freakin’ $1500. FREE to me. This has been a goal of mine since I set foot in YAS for the very first time in January and saw the Teacher Training brochure. I am ecstatic.
-got a second, part-time job working front desk at YAS – first day of training was this past saturday!
-introduced my friend Mike to Souplantation (yes, this was an event, to me.)
-coaxed my mom into driving to WeHo and introduced her to Real Food Daily (changing the world, one RFD convert at a time…this was a big one for me! trekking cross-valley is enough, but hopping over the canyon too? yayyyyy)
-got tickets to see Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp (original cast members) in RENT with one of my best friends, Mr. Paul Peglar:
christmas singing party, 2007…enduring his crazy female entourage.
beach 2008
(performing with my other rock of a friend, Ben, in their cabaret-esque duo…BaulPointPen. Yup. They went there.)
(my rendering of BaulPointPen.)
I’ll stop posting pics of him/them now….they just mean so much to me, and I get on a roll when I start picture-reminiscing. Picturniscing?
Back to the list…..23…..I’ve:
-found someone to search for apartments with
-actually became FRIENDS with said person (which is not always the case with roomies) because she ROCKS and i adore her
-FOUND apartment in perfect location
-tried to learn to ride a bike. the fact that i tried is a big deal. I was on it for 40 seconds and just wasn’t feelin’ it. but I DID fall in love with a sa-wheet tricycle for my new Venice Beach home!!
-did the blueprint cleanse alongside my mom and realized once and for all what toxins truly do to my body
-cut my hair after way too long of the same-old-same-old
-had many epiphanies about life, family, friendships, and myself
-about to finish shooting the Batman indie I did in February
-hiked runyon for the first time in 3 months and bonded bigtime with my dad
-got some much-needed really really great Ben time (Ben from the above pics)…I’ll spare you the photo montage.
except this one
-recognized the people who truly lift me up and make me a better person every day of my life, not just *sometimes*
-cut out bad seeds, or at least limited exposure.
All in less than a month! If this is any telling of what the rest of the year has in store, I’m so ready!!!!!
So, I figured it out:
October 15, 2009 at 6:41 am | In Uncategorized | Leave a CommentTags: food, vegan
I’m a VIT.
Vegan In Training.
bam!
Blogging from Werrrrkkkk
October 13, 2009 at 7:06 pm | In Uncategorized | 2 CommentsTags: awesomeness, blog, body, Bud, exercise, fit tip, food, food logging, gym, job, plyometrics, spinning, wasting time at werkie-werk, work, workout
I have not blogged since…October 5th? ::hides head in shame::
Do you ever feel as if when you blog, it will be unexciting, or a vent-session, or just plain dumb, so you avoid doing so altogether? I find that I get into this rut. Especially when things in the real-life world get to be burdensome…
Let’s start with the good:
As I mentioned before, I got a new job! I work front desk at Studio 1-On-1 down in Venice, and I absolutely adore my job. It doesn’t entail much: I hold down the fort, sign people in for group fitness (we offer Indo-Row classes, which I have tried but unfortunately are not really my thing), keep things clean, fold towels, answer phones, restock energy drinks, shoot the shiz with the trainers…wait what? Well, ok, that is not part of my job description, but it’s what ends up happening. I am the only gal in the environment, which for me is incredibly comfortable. I am also surrounded by fitness and motivation…and when it seems as if the country is becoming more and more lazy and cynical, it is inspiring to see these trainers SO invested in these clients who are fighting the lazy epidemic with everything in them.
oops.
My boss, Bud, is a short, husky New England native with a less-than-clean-shave and a thick Boston accent that makes even the most die-hard Sox fan’s voice sound like Julia Child. Seriously. In my 23 years living in Los Angeles, never have I heard such a “fackin’ retahhded” voice. Yep. That’s his phrase. Everything’s “retahhded.” Oh Bahhston.
He was really impressed with my fitness level and my physique (?) right off the bat. I spin almost every day of the week, and on the days I do not, I run or spend some arm-pumping time on the ‘Lippy. Sometimes I’ll do a combo. In addition, I do yoga at least three times a week, TEACH spin on Sunday mornings, and incorporate resistance training on my own…..phew! When I type it all out, I realize how much I do….but it really does not seem like that much when I’m in it. I have been blessed with a love of exercise and fitness, and cardio is my lovah….such a rush and is a HUGE antidepressant. Every difficult time I’ve been through in the last five years…I’ve gotten on the spin bike. I’ve run. I’ve done SOME form of cardio. I am what some people could classify as uber-sensitive…I dunno about that. I’m just ME. And I do know that I FEEL a lot and sometimes it seems like more than the average person. Point being, my cardio trifecta (SpinRun’Lip) keeps me sane. Plus I have uber-low body image tendencies and the cardio trifecta help to keep those thoughts as far as possible. ‘Cause I can’t just “get over it,” and my whole demeanour and the decisions I make are affected by it.
I digress.
I’ve never had crazyface anaerobic training before aside from group fitness boot camp-style classes and some mildly challenging sessions at 24hr Fitness (ugh don’t get me started). So my boss has given himself (what he refers to as) the “challenge” of training me. I have done two sessions with him so far, and during both of them, I wanted to cry and/or throw up. I did NOT cry and/or throw up. No way. I am stronger than that, which might be my stubbornness coming through. But he wants to prove that ANYONE can up their fitness level; even great athletes (which I don’t know that I am, but I *AM* an athlete) have further to go….and I am not going to peter out during my training sessions. I want to help him prove his point. Plus I want bragging rights around my boys
Push-up burpees, sumo squats, squats with dumbbells (the most I’ve done so far is 64lbs), plyometrics like WOAH…the list goes on. It feels SO GOOD to be challenged!! The reason I don’t do this stuff on my own is because I do not want to try something for the first time and hurt myself. So I stick with what I know when it comes to weights. This is going to change my body for the better. I can already feel it changing my body for the better Not to mention the soreness as proof.
He also wants me to keep a food log, a practice in which I am quite well-versed…but I have never had to REPORT to anyone about my eating habits before. I am a bit nervous, seeing as I have awful evening eating habits that I am embarrassed/ashamed of. Hopefully, this will help me in that arena…it feels like such a weakness and it is not something I am comfortable discussing, because I feel as if I’ll be viewed as a complete weirdo. I know better. But I still overload my system when I know I shouldn’t. And I’ve tried eating more during the day….but it changes nothing. A goal of mine by the end of this year is to gain the control and the sensibility I once had, for reasons that are a whole ‘nother post altogether.
I am feeling a little under the weather today, so we will see if spin and yoga happen. I want them to. Maybe I just need a little Whole Foods lunch trip in my future
And….it just started raining. Call me crazy, but I feel that in SoCal it should be at least 68-degrees every day with the exception of a few select Dec/Jan days. Yeah, not moving to the east coast anytime soon…
What is your fitness routine like? What has been the most challenging kind of exercise you’ve done? Sometimes my runs and spins are more challenging than other times, but I feel like the anaerobic stuff will always be uber-challenging…
HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY!!!!! Fit tip for the day (which is also a LIFE tip): Don’t TRY, just DO. TRYING is like QUITTING with honor. You are NOT a quitter. (I say this all the time to my students when I teach spin :-))
I was all about the stealth peace-sign crazyface pictures today at work. It was a long morning. Shown here in my favorite scarf…it was at the dry cleaners once for three weeks and I had withdrawls. You think I’m joking. I’m not.
Also currently diggin’ the quirky braided pigtails. I love short hair!
Also, I look about sixteen in this picture….one day I will miss being able to say that…or so I am told…
(I’m so happy, I just realized that I didn’t even get into the “not-good” stuff.. )
If it looks like a vegan, talks like a vegan, eats like a vegan…is it a vegan?
October 5, 2009 at 4:11 pm | In Uncategorized | 4 CommentsTags: body, food, mermaid, vegan
In the last two years especially, I have been presented with the same two questions over and over again: “Are you a vegetarian?” and, more often, “Are you a Vegan?”
My answer has always been what you see on the FAQ page.
Cliff’s Notes version: Not Really.
Within the last few weeks, I have really been trying to dig deep and ask myself what is holding me back and trying to come up with a valid answer. I eat poultry, seafood, eggs, and dairy. I only recently weaned myself off of a serious frozen yogurt addiction. “Addiction” seems dramatic, but when you get frozen yogurt almost every evening, and have trouble NOT driving to the Menchie’s, Studio Frozen Yogurt, or Humphrey Yogart locations that are less than four miles away, and you become restless without it, it HAS become an addiction. I tried Vegan Veek and it was an Epic Fail.
(‘07, munching on pears straight from the treat with the dad)
But, Katie, be honest with yourself. You love your plain yogurt, but you have only been eating it most days because it has become habit. You eat eggs, but maybe three meals or snacks a week – same with seafood and poultry. And you are currently weaned off of the froyo and feel great.
I think I feel that if I become known as VEGAN, I am limiting myself. What if I truly DESIRE that non-vegan option…or what if that is my only option? If I hand myself the V Card (no, not THAT one), I am afraid of the ridicule I would receive from others as well as myself by ordering, say, the turkey chopped salad at La Scala – like I am breaking the rules. But really, I am not signing a contract stating that I will be fined, arrested, or imprisoned for buying TJ’s Egg White Salads or adding albacore to my salad at the Whole Foods salad bar. I am not letting anyone down or hurting feelings by being less “virtuous” than a 100%-all-the-time vegan.
(non-vegan meal: the best EWO I’ve ever had in my life, with my best friend Emily in NYC)
Let’s say I eat three times a day (sometimes I eat more, but “let’s just say”). That amounts to 21 meals per week. If 18 out of those 21 are animal product-free – heck, if 15 of those 21 are animal product-free – is that so horrible? Most of the time, I crash on my bed and realize I have unintentionally lived the day as a vegan. It comes naturally and organically…no pun intended.
(turkey-sprout burgers…fun to make, fun to eat, not fun if you’re vegan)
I have the privilege and blessing of being able to live on my own and not have any outside force govern what I am having for dinner, or what kinds of foods are stocked in the fridge. So, what is the answer to the original question – what is holding me back?
The Cliff’s Notes version: Nothing.
To avoid any “but Katie, if you are TRULY vegan, what about your leather jacket and your suede purse and your feather earrings?” quandaries, let me be clear: when I use the term VEGAN in relation to MYSELF, I refer to a DIETARY VEGAN. But that is a whole other can of worms that I do not want to open…. I admire and respect true LIFESTYLE vegans, but for me, it’s not in the cards right now…maybe someday I will show a passion for it, though!
Maybe I will be able to go Cold Tofurkey one day, but as of right now, I don’t want to beat myself up if I “mess up.” I am so hypercritical of myself as-is, I do not need one more thing to add to the list. I already am a Junior Vegan/Vegan Scout/Vegan Lite/Veganita (trying to decide upon the best name, here); I want to OWN that title more…. every time someone asks me if I am vegan and I say No or Not Really, I am pushing the idea of a Vegan diet further and further from my consciousness. It is like telling yourself you are not talented enough or not capable or beautiful enough. The more times you say it, the more likely it is that you will never even strive to reach your potential.
(one year ago, before a crazy ‘08 halloween – “Fish are friends, not sometimes food” -Finding Nemo)
But I AM “not really” Vegan yet…so my question to you is, if I want to be as I’ve just described – a Veganita – is this ok? Is it fooling myself, when I’m just being a selective omnivore? How do I answer the age-old question of Are You Vegan succinctly and truthfully, avoiding the words that will make me feel like a phony and ultimately negate my Vegan thoughts?
Thank you for bearing with me during this long, rambling post
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