It must be in the air.

January 20, 2016February 4, 2016 ~ jillontoast ~ Leave a comment

SaltAirCard — *We were both very excited to try something new.*

As the music roared and voices filled the room, MSM and I stood at the rear of the restaurant, perfectly positioned fitting “just so” into the human puzzle behind the bar. The mirrored wall to the left containing inscriptions of “today’s fresh oyster” selections reflected a reality to us- this place was extremely crowded to the extent of claustrophobia and the chances of us getting seated any time soon were getting slimmer by the minute. What at first seems to be an extremely cute eatery was turning into a personal hell. Starving and in pain (I made the wrong choice of wearing my five inch healed Alaia booties designed to wear directly from the Taxi to a seat at a table), we started making deals with ourselves. “If we’re not seated in five more minutes, we’re leaving.” Then five minutes would pass. “Ok in TEN more minutes we are out of here.” Perhaps too hungry to actually think of another place to go, I’m not exactly sure what kept us there. We had a reservation at Salt Air at 8:30 and arrived at 8:27. As I have mentioned before, MSM has no belief in being fashionably late and unfortunately in this situation it would have been advantageous to be so. We had already been waiting 35minutes but the people at “our table” were “lingering” despite paying their bill. OK I get it. I actually love embracing that French attitude towards dining; slowly moving through each course, truly enjoying the conversation and in-person contact with your diner-mate (as opposed to the american style of getting it over with and running out so the next person can sit). Obviously the ramifications are great, considering obesity in France is significantly less than here. However, at this moment, in my painful albeit extremely gorgeous booties, I was wishing I could ignite my inner Vampire and compel the hostess to seat us (yeah- too much Vampire Diaries).

After a 38 minute wait, a DIFFERENT two top cleared and we were finally seated. Ahhhhh. My feet! WHOOT! I was ready to celebrate my new found lack of pain, not to mention feed my empty stomach and fuel my dizzy body.

WELCOME TO SALT AIR:

THE AMBIENCE:

As previously mentioned, Salt Air is really cute. The front patio is ensconced in twinkle lights and has limited seating, all at small french bistro style tables. The coziness continues inside with minimally embellished white washed brick walls, an open high beamed ceiling, and small tables strategically placed. A few, maybe three, larger tables are sprinkled through the room to accommodate parties of 5 or more. Two large billowing plants hug the front door and creep up to the ceiling, adding beauty and probably acoustic padding. The music is loud but fun and though one can not hear conversations around the room, there is no problem hearing the people or person at one’s own table. Perfectly private but open. Can’t ask for more.

The age group was, I’d guess, young professionals 30+. One table of extremely well dressed (Hermes handbag and a fur coat clad) twenty somethings sat in the center table that accommodated their party of six. We are in LA after all. But they seemed an anachronism to me amongst the rest of the array. A few parties of more sophisticatedly aged couples were also there. Hip 60 year olds drinking rose. This was refreshing to see.

THE FOOD:

After our long wait we were both curious if it was going to be worth it, and I’m happy to say that yes, it mostly was.

MSM ordered a lemonade first. Non-alcoholic. I am extremely picky about lemonade, as I prefer something more tart and less sweet. My father taught me the art of lemonade creation using freshly squeezed lemon slices and just a hint of sugar- perfectly tart. I can’t stand the ones that are so sweet they actually send a shooting pain through your teeth into your brain. This one’s sugar to lemon ratio was precise and delicious.

First Course:

TomatoSoupSaltAir — *I can’t say enough good things about this delicious stew-like tomato soup! Comfort food to the extreme, I highly recommend it.*

The infamous tomato soup.

Holy hell. Yeah. A pitcher of dense condensed pulp of tomato is poured into a bowl of frothy cheddar foam creating the most fantastic tomato soup. Perfectly paired with three husky home-made croutons (not so crunchy to scrape your mouth) and a basil leaf topper, this soup is definitely worthy of its world renowned status. The rest of the food here was pretty good, but this soup alone would be the one thing to call me back. The lunch menu includes this soup with a grilled cheese and bacon sandwich. Looking forward to a day of decadence comprised of this meal.

The Mushroom Toast.

This is a delicious thickly sliced toast with a light smear of ricotta topped with caramelized onions, pan seared mushrooms, and thin slices of Jalepeno. It shys in comparison to the tomato soup, but is very tasty. We actually used the toast to clean up the remaining un-spoonable drops of tomato soup, delicious!

Main Course:

As per our waiters suggestion we shared the baked snapper over a bed of pureed butternut squash, topped with minced sweet potatoes (lightly fried) that looked like a hay stack. Our veggie of choice was the roasted broccoli with purred cauliflower and a chimichurri sauce.

SnapperSaltAir — *The snapper was an interesting combination of foods and spices. The flavors did play well off one another, but the overwhelming amount of cardamom made just a few bites enough for the evening.*

The snapper was flavorful but I was a bit overwhelmed by the cardamom and tired of it quickly. The broccoli on the other hand was fantastic. Lightly grilled, its texture was soft with a crispy exterior. I recommend making a meal of this and the tomato soup.

The wine selections were nice here. I paired my main course with a nice Rose from Cote Du Provence, which delicately enhanced the flavor of our meal.

Desert:

I don’t feel the need to return to Salt Air for a full dinner. However, the wine selection was great. I think it would be fun to come back for a nice glass of chilled desert wine and dessert. I’d love to try the Monkey Bread. PS notice our lavishly manicured nails from this past Saturdays fun date day 🙂

I chose the “fruit selection”, expecting a nice sweet but healthy bowl of fresh berries. Alas, when the desert arrived it appeared I had guessed wrong. Hahaha. The fruit selection was actually a delightful pear and pomegranate tart topped with honeycomb and a side of thinly sliced brie. MSM enjoyed the brie with the tart, explaining that the cheese made the dessert more creamy and smooth on his palate. I preferred my bites without the brie. Don’t get me wrong, I adore brie (I mean its cheese made with Champagne?! Hello!? How could I not love that?!), it was just a bit too rich for my needs at that time.

DessertSaltAir — *Everything about this was delicious, from the home made heavy whipped cream to the honeycomb on top. The fruit was succulent and the pomegranate seeds added just a nice amount of crunch.*

What the heck to wear to a grandiose restaurant in Venice Beach:

Despite my inability to stand for a long period of time, I felt appropriately dressed. Cocktail attire or a dress would have felt too elaborate. The key to Venice, I think, is finding an outfit that is somehow magnificently stylish but in a sneaky way. Think effortlessly chic. Here’s where knowing Danielle really came in handy.

AlexanderWang — While we prepared for our evening out, MSM continued to go through his inherited record collection. We’ve been having so much listening to all of his grandfather’s albums, learning about the bands/musicians, and deciding which ones to sell and which ones to keep. One a night, until we get through them all! (some are terrible! hahaha)

ShoeShot_Alaia — *These Alaia booties are gorgeous but definitely NOT meant to stand in for more than five minutes!*

BackPatioSaltAir — *Relaxing on the quaint front patio at Salt Air. Jacket:* Red Valentino Top: Alexander Wang *Coated Skinny Jeans:* J Brand Booties: Alaia Handbag: St. Laurent.

Overall I liked Salt Air. I enjoyed my time there with MSM. We even found ways to laugh about the initial faux pas on their part regarding the delay with our reservation. I have two grievances: I feel they should have offered us a free glass of wine or dessert to make up for the time delay. Its one thing to have a lag regarding a reservation, but anything over fifteen minutes, I feel, should be made up for in some way. Otherwise, whats the point of making a reservation? Second, though the food was good I’m not so impressed that I feel the need to try anything else on the menu – other than maybe the Monkey Bread dessert (but only because I’ve made that camping and I’m curious to see/taste Salt Air’s rendition). I feel we chose well and ate the best things they had to offer. With that being said, the ambiance was fun and the music was good; I could definitely return for dessert or lunch /brunch for another bowl of that preposterously remarkable soup!

xoxo

The Last Remaining Bookstore.

January 17, 2016February 8, 2018 ~ jillontoast ~ Leave a comment

It’s overcast and a bit chilly today in LA. The perfect recipe for a nice walk and a visit to our local bookstore, which I swear is the last standing bookstore in America.

When I returned home from Pilates around 11:30am I suggested to msm that we take a walk to grab a bite for an early lunch. I absolutely love the walkability of Santa Monica. There is nothing as wonderful as being able to get all my weekend errands done en foote at a leisurely exploratory pace. After some convincing msm agreed to try this restaurant I’ve been dying to try called The Hummus Bar. No idea why I’ve been coveting this seemingly fast food restaurant but we were both happily surprised the The Hummus Bar is not a QSR at all! We shared some vegetarian rice, a healthy garden salad with grilled chicken breast (perfectly doused in Mediterranean spices), and a chicken shawarma pita sandwich. Wow!! All delicious and reasonably priced. Everything there looks amazing and I’ve been obsessed with Mediterranean grub lately, so we will definitely be going back.

After hitting the bank and The Vanilla Bake Shop (msm’s birthday is just around the corner so I’m cake hunting vs baking) we decided to stop at Henessey+Ingalls book store. I love this store! It has a European bookstore feel, a splendid throw back to our wonderful trip to Biarritz, home of (in my opinion) the most amazing bookstore in the world (don’t remember the name, but I could find it again if I get to return to Biarritz). When I have the opportunity to go into a bookstore I always look for my childhood love, Caroline’s Golden Adventures by Pierre Probst. My sister stole this book from me and refuses to A. Admit it’s mine and B. Return it to its rightful owner. The book has been out of print for years but H+I is exactly the type of store that may still carry it- other than a vintage store.

A photo from Town And Country’s instagram account. Speaking of textiles and fashion, how GORGEOUS is this dress? I’m loving this photo and all of its Cinderella-like glory. Oh how I dream of wearing this gown some day. Perchance to the Oscars?

Sadly they did not have my beloved Caroline but they DID have a plethora of other amazing options. I was captivated by the textile and fashion section (surprise, surprise). Here I discovered Where’s Karl?, a book that tickled me. This book is in the vain of Where’s Waldo but stars Karl Lagerfeld and his fashion friends Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Grace Coddington, and Anna Wintour (to name a few). Sadly my all time fave Jay Fielden, who has single handedly evolved T&C into an approachable and exciting magazine, is not included. Perhaps this calls for a letter requesting a Where’s Karl 2 or maybe even a Where’s Jay?! Regardless, I’m beside myself with excitement and know exactly what I’ll be doing for the next two hours with a cup of hot cocoa and msm by my side (he will be watching football of course).

On our way home our adventure took us past this entirely lovely Tiffany teal house. What woman wouldn’t want to live here? Or at least stop to basque in the gorgeous happiness that is this color?

*Reminiscent of the candy houses in the photos my bff used to send me from Cape May, I’m in love with this Tiffany Teal home with a rooftop view of the Pacific ocean.*

At five were heading out for combo massages and mani/pedis followed by a date night at Salt Air in Venice Beach. Salt Air has been recommended by friend and fellow blogger Monica of Gisele Chic. I’m excited to try this place, especially the apparently “amazing” tomato soup. I will let you know once the verdict is in. 🙂

Despite the clouds and cool air, what a fabulously sunny day this ended up being. Sometimes Los Angeles loves love, and sometimes one can find some casual fun amongst the crazy dirt belching metropolis of urbanity.

Hope you are all having a wonderful weekend as well!

PS In line with my “Karl Kraze”, look at these ADORABLE cufflinks I found in this month’s Elle!!!! OMG- Valentine’s Day gift for the man in your life?

KarlCuff

I may seriously have to consider buying myself a tux so I can rationalize owning these!! Karlito is just SO CUTE! hahaha. I wonder if they could be transformed into earrings….

xoxo

Music: Uniting Generations.

January 15, 2016February 9, 2018 ~ jillontoast ~ Leave a comment

Music_Universal — *This is such a pretty mural that I found* here while searching for a headline photo for this post.

When I was ten years old my father took a business trip to Florida. I remember one day during his time away, as I sat diligently with my homework, the phone rang. It was my dad. He was SO excitedly beside himself!

Dad: “Guess where I am, Jilly?!”

Me: “Hi dad! I don’t know. Where are you?”

Dad:”I’m on a pay phone* right outside the convention center. Can you hear this?”

Me: (picturing father holding phone out at arms length) “No. I can’t hear a thing!”

Dad:”I’m at the Hall and Oates concert!”

I love my dad so much. I love that he felt so hip because he was seeing Hall and Oates. And how excited he was to share it with me, because we had a common love for music. Yes, I TOTALLY get that Hall and Oates has NEVER been hip. Nor have I necessarily ever loved them. They were more in the “I can deal with them until the next song comes on” category. But after that call from my dad- I love Hall and Oates. And every time for whatever crazy reason I hear them on the radio, I immediately re-live that wonderful moment with my father. He was such an enthusiastic vitaphile (is that actually a word?).

*dating myself

MUS400MusicIsTheUniversalLanguage

My family has always loved music. All kinds, from Classical to the Beastie Boys. Apparently my grandmother was a concert pianist and my aunt an opera singer. Yes, my mom walking around the house with her “Tab” soda rapping “slow and low that is the tempo” actually did happen….often. The only music we didn’t really love were National Anthems. Those I hardly ever heard played at home- if ever. We would often visit concert halls to hear The Cleveland Orchestra play some rendition of Tchaikovsky, the Yale Whiffenpoofs (my dad’s favorite barbershop quartet), or The Singing Angels. Sometimes, with picnic basket in hand, we would head out to the Blossom Music Center for an al fresca concert. These ranged from Van Halen to Itzhak Perlman. Almost every evening after dinner my father would sit at his piano and play. I think it was his way of unwinding. My dad’s piano songs are now some of my favorite. At the time I, of course, thought nothing of it. But now that he’s gone its a totally different story. During a barre stretch a few weeks ago the pianist played one of my fathers songs. I cried as I stretched. I couldn’t help it. I could feel my dad there with me. It was so wonderful.

*My dad, being a Yale Alumn, was practically required to love the Wiffenpoofs. I actually was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed their A Cappella shows.*

My brother took me to my first rock concert when I was 14 years old. We went to see John Cougar Mellencamp, and had nose bleed seats WAY far in the back- but who cares? How cool of my brother to take me to a rock concert??? (He also was the first to let me drive a car- but more on that later).While JCM rocked out on his guitar belting “I was born in a small town”, thousands of leather jackets danced around me. A tiny little cigarette circulated the audience. This my brother insisted I not smoke! “Just pass that on!” I had no idea what it was hahaha. Oh the innocence! It was really exciting to dance and sing with all those other people. Back at school the following day I suddenly became like 10x cooler.

All this being said, spending New Years Eve at Motely Crue’s final performance was a TOTALLY apropos way to bring in 2016!

Crue_FInal_Marquee

Motley Crue, first formed in 1981, is an internationally loved and iconic hard rock band. Though the band members may be considered “veterans” of rock, their songs are still used currently for films and TV shows, and probably on most people’s….how DO people listen to music anymore….phones?

MotleyCrueNYE — There was a spectacular dropping of streamers and balloons when the clock struck….well, 12:05- because Tommy Lee getting stuck in that drum machine caused a time lapse in the schedule. But this is ROCK and ROLL time we’re on here!!!

Its often sad to witness the “final” something of anything, so when the opening song “Goodbye-Farewell” from The Sound Of Music started to play, I’m not going to lie, I cried a little (give me a break, I’m sensitive, ok?). I mean its the end of an era. A chapter in the book of my life. Luckily, things turned around from there and what a fun and entertaining show it turned out to be! I first saw Motely Crue four years ago in Vegas on Vince Neil’s birthday. That show was RIDICULOUS it was so good! I literally felt like I had taken the hot tub time machine to 1984. Crazed fans were so excited, making the energy vivacious and fun. This show was entertaining but not as crazy exciting. Lots of heart felt good-bye speeches from the band members- laced with comedic anecdotes, a great solo by Tommy Lee (who also got stuck upside down in his drum machine for 20min!), and an exceptional acoustic rendition of Home Sweet Home to end it all.

What To Wear To An 80’s Hair Band Concert:

Obvi! Lots of leather. Or pleather….whichever you prefer, and metal- of course!

RagAndBone — *Bomber Jacket:* Stella McCartney *Ripped T:* IRO *Metal and Suede Clutch:* Chloe *Leather Jeans:* Rag and Bone *Booties* (not shown): St. Laurent.

I found these super cool rings at, of all places, Charlotte Russe. Haha. They were litearlly 3$- TOTAL. Disposable costume jewelry can be fun for events like 80’s hair band concerts :). The X midi ring, on the other hand, is by Michael Kors. I just love it! Classic with a touch of edge. Midi rings seem to be trending now.

YSL_RockerBoots — *Hells yeah! Nothing says “rock n roll” like these awesome edgy booties by YSL! Love!*

And on THAT note….Coming soon….leather vs pleather, is it worth it?

xoxo

Advice from Diane Keaton.

January 5, 2016February 9, 2018 ~ jillontoast ~ Leave a comment

Due to this drasted energy vampire called the stomach bug, today I just wanted to post something short and brief in honor of Diane Keaton’s 70th birthday. In descending order of how much I love it, the following are some of her great life advice quotes, mostly exemplified by Snoopy (sorry, he makes me feel better when I’m sick :P):

5. “Even though all these obstacles keep coming at you, you just have to keep going through them. Because it’s worth it to do something in your life, as opposed to fantasizing about doing something.”

Youcandoit — *Don’t let anything stop you from achieving your dreams! Work through the tough stuff!*

4. “I never understood the idea that you’re supposed to mellow as you get older. Slowing down isn’t something I relate to at all. The goal is to continue in good and bad, all of it.”

3. “There is great value in being fearless. For too much of my life, I was too afraid, too frightened by it all. That fear is one of my biggest regrets.”

2. “Humor helps us get through life with a modicum of grace. It offers one of the few benign ways of coping with the absurdity of it all.”

1. “Just have fun. Smile. And keep putting on lipstick.”

Happy Birthday Diane! To 70 more good ones! And to a quick healing for me 🙂

Euclid.

January 1, 2016February 8, 2018 ~ jillontoast ~ Leave a comment

A few years ago I learned that cities rename their 13th street “Euclid”. At that time my friend Victoria decided that she would call the year 2013 “two thousand Euclid” and she bid it farewell. I survived a lot of craziness in 20Euclid that continued well into 2015. But towards the end of this year, the craziness started to dissipate, thank the lord and the universe.

Today I went for a jog along the path of the Palisades park in Santa Monica. There’s no way to describe the beauty of this run. Fresh ocean breezes and glorious azul reflecting a cleansing bright light makes one feel so liberated and free. As I ran against the backdrop of blue ocean and palms, I decided to leave behind 20Euclid and all that it dragged along with it. From this point forward I choose to believe that any other baggage is just due to PTSD. Therefore my mantras for 2016 will be the following:

A. But what if it doesn’t? No more negative projections. No more “but if I do this, (_insert something awful_) will happen. Honestly whats true is in the now and anything in the future has a 50% chance to to be negative or positive. So why not live in the truth that is now and choose to dream the future in the positive. If I hear my mind going to the “but I can’t do this because what if (something negatives) happens?” BUT WHAT IF IT DOESN’T? WHAT IF THE OUTCOME IS GREAT. No more fear of success. Lets grow and move forward.

B. The anxiety you feel now is real, but is not related to the current situation. Many people who suffer PTSD try and push aside their anxiety via rationalization. But guess what? We are not neurotic. The fear we feel is very real, and denying ourselves that feeling and calling ourselves nuts is only going to exasperate the situation. Tell yourself (out loud) “yes, I know what you feel is coming from a real place, and thats ok. But it most likely isn’t related to the situation at hand.” I know this seems like it wont do anything- but it actually totally works. It placates the fear by accepting it. Then we can take a look and decide if the situation at hand is actually something to be nervous about or if we are negatively projecting something.

beautiful — *For 2016 I hope more people are able to recognize their inner beauty and are able to easily recognize their life blessings.*

FYI this is NOT a New Years resolution, I totally don’t believe in those (because the desire to do them usually doesn’t last past six weeks into the new year) but rather a lifestyle attitude change.

This is the last day of 2015 and honestly its been a great year. Lets reflect on that a bit. I worked on a feature film that was released in three major cities and is currently on the short list for an Oscar Nomination!!! I moved in with MSM into his small but cozy abode in one of the best cities in the world. I took up ASL, which challenged my mind in ways I didn’t know possible. I made new friends and attended really exciting events. I’m still in love. My pups are happy. I look forward to next year and all that it may hold. Hopefully it will include salsa lessons with MSM, traveling to exciting far away places, learning new things, cooking up a storm in the kitchen, a return of my fur babies to my own home, and more success with this blog!

XmasPups — *The loves of my life (other than MSM). This pic is a perfect Xmas card for next year! Stanley looks so regal and Abby so happy with her Yoda ears :). Love.*

What The Heck To Wear in 2016:

So another fun but challenging goal I have for this year is to dress with what I have. My new wardrobe from 2015 is AMAZING, thanks to Danielle. I have great basics, staples, and statement pieces. Since not shopping is a ridiculous unobtainable goal, I want to continue my fashionista training by learning how to be creative with what I have. I will allow myself new staples if my old ones become frumpy (ie. jeans tear, T shirts fade…etc) and every quarter a new statement piece could be fun. Otherwise, for this year I am challenging myself to pay down these credit cards and get creative with fashion! Let the self-discovery begin!

WholeFoods — *I couldn’t wait to wear this outfit so I threw it on to go to Whole Foods in Venice Beach- where I was surprised to see I wasn’t over dressed! So many decked out west-siders in Venice! Booties:* Prada Leggings: From Paris (so mad I didn’t buy more! They were 12$ and I LOVE THEM) *Sweater:* Sonia Reikel *Denim Jacket:* Current Elliott *Scarf:* My mom (literally) *Bag:* St. Laurent.

Happy New Year to everyone out there! May we have a fabulous and exciting 2016 full of growth, prosperity, love and laughter! Good Bye 20Euclid, bring in the new! What are some of your goals for 2016?

Off to Motley Crue’s last show! haha. More on that later…..

Jane The Virgin: A lesson in relationship expectations

December 18, 2015February 9, 2018 ~ jillontoast ~ 1 Comment

jane-the-virgin

So, when I work out I love to watch a TV series on Netflix. Its the only time I really have time to watch TV. Sometimes I’ll watch a movie- split it between cardio sessions. But TV shows are the perfect amount of time to spend on the elliptical. Lately I’ve been watching the show Jane The Virgin and it just dawned on me that the show perfectly depicts certain stereotypes of romantic relationships.

RaphaelSolano

A. Raphael- Affluent Hotel Owner. Successful. Financially stable.

Raphael is always working. He’s well dressed (yes, even his sweats will cost over 100$). With Raphael, you will have a beautifully decorated and spacious home. You will most likely belong to a tennis club where you will hob knob with the rich and famous. Think fantastic vacations and parties (but some stuck up people with whom to contend). You will have the best medical staff at your disposal whenever necessary. As Raphael’s “woman”, he sees you as an asset. He recognizes your strengths and supports you in his own way. His idea of male/female partnership is as follows: You will often be asked to put your needs aside to make his life easier, to help him make a deal, or to comfort him. He will most often not return the favor because he will be busy working, but he will graciously buy you a new Prada handbag whenever you want one. He will promise to be there for you and he will really want to follow through, but most often work will come up, and work will always take precedence. I’m guessing you will feel passion with Raphael, and you will love things about him as a person; perhaps he’s philanthropic or great with children/animals. Unfortunately overall, I imagine, life with a Raphael could seem lonely because as far as order of importance, you’re relationship will not come first.

MichaelJTV

B. Michael- Detective. Hard worker. Down to earth.

Alternatively, there’s Michael. Michaels are honest, hard working, and intelligent. They seek to become experts at their work, but do not make work their entire lives. Consequently, they will never be as affluent as a Raphael, but they probably would learn how to budget properly and save for some fancy things that life has to offer. Michaels look at their partners as exactly that- a partner. You will be each other’s support and true friend. Passion with Michael? It’s possible and likely. I fear some Michael relationships may turn into something more platonic. Psychologically I’m not sure why though. I think it depends on the woman. Overall, however, with a Michael you will always feel supported, loved, and important. To me these relationships seem more “real” and long lasting.

I’m wondering, does a Raphemic exist? Sexy and mysterious, hard working/sometimes evasive, but also fun and down to earth. A supportive, financially stable man with heart and some zest for adventure. Not a zillionaire, but definitely stable? That would be a catch! 😉

Rojelio

C. Rogelio- Working Actor (Telemundo). Passionate. Young at heart.

OMG so Rogelio is super wealthy so he definitely has the financial stability of Raphael. He’s also creative and passionate- so more like Michael there. He SEEMS he could potentially be the Raphael/Michael hybrid. But alas, he’s mellow dramatic, arrogant, and egotistical. He’s loving, yes, but he shows it in a funny way – mostly because he can’t get past how “great” he is. Being in a relationship with him…..seems extremely difficult to me. But maybe theres some allure to it- if your the type that see his arrogance as “cute” or funny, or if it just doesn’t get to you.

Why am I writing about this?

Answer: There’s a lesson to be learned. Nobody is perfect and no relationship is perfect. We all just have to pick the flaws we can live with, and focus on the positive. There is something wonderful in everyone. At least most everyone.

Jane The Virgin is a really fun show with great writing. If your looking for something entertaining for forty minutes of de-stressing the mind, its available on Netflix and I highly recommend!

What to wear when watching Jane The Virgin?

Work out clothes! As stated above, I always watch this while I’m on the treadmill or elliptical; my “netflix” hour :).

Next up: Embracing the holiday spirt on Abbott Kinney. See ya’ll soon!

xoxo

A Proper Ugly Sweater Party

December 15, 2015December 16, 2015 ~ jillontoast ~ 2 Comments

tble — *I just love throwing a twist on a classic. An ugly sweater party? Sure. But an Ugly Sweater Party with caviar stations? Now that’s living in style!*

This past weekend my friend Daren successfully threw an Ugly Sweater Party so fantastic that only the mastermind behind Nobu Hollywood could have mustered it up. This was a great way to begin my whirlwind of holiday events.

We arrived early, as usual (sadly for me MSM doesn’t believe in being fashionably late) and Daren was braising his prime rib (yum!). Vampire Weekend played from the speakers. The table was eloquently decorated with unique christmas ornaments and greens. Three different caviar stations were placed on the table and the champagne was ready to go.

Champagne wishes and Caviar dreams for Christmas? Who could ask for more? “I don’t actually love caviar. I force myself to eat it so in time I’ll start to like it. It just seems so classy. ” Irene (Hors Du Prix) and Me.

Each guest was expected to bring a dish to ensure a colossal feast. Most of Daren’s friends work in the restaurant industry, so I knew the food would be delicious. We brought Mac and Cheese sired by Venice Beach’s acclaimed Baby Blue BBQ. I also baked some North Pole Butter cake Cheesecakes; recipe from one of my all time favorite recipe bloggers: Sweet Tea Sweetie!

barSweater — *Even the liquor showed up in an ugly sweater.*

Once everyone arrived, the room filled with festive laughter, warmth, and a bunch of hideous sweaters! With every guest, more food was placed on the table. In addition to the prime rib and our offerings, there was a platter of roasted vegetables, sweet potatoes, gourmet Mediterranean meatballs (my personal favorite of the evening), and a cheese and olive plate. The cheeses were locally made and SO yummy. I especially liked the truffled hard cheese. It was fun sampling the various cheeses with my wine- just like we learned at the Jada Vineyard a few weeks back. I just realized there was a lot of different cheese dishes at this party! No wonder its so hard not to gain weight this time of year!

*The cheese selections were fabulous. This soft cheese is locally made and deliciously stinky- if you know what I mean.*

At the end of the night our host picked the winner of the ugliest sweater award. There were so many great ones from which to choose. Honestly, though, some “ugly sweaters” really aren’t THAT ugly! I mean any of you remember those hideous Bill Cosby sweaters from the late 80s? Now THOSE were UGLY! See below.

Bill — *Seriously? What were the show costumers thinking?! In my opinion, definitely the winner of the Ugliest Sweater of all time competition (this should exist)!*

seriouslyUglySweater — *Personally for some reason I think this is the worst one of the night.*

sweater2 — *The Ho Ho Ho vest was the winner of the Ugliest Sweater award.*

PenguinSweater — *Ok come on! The Penguin is CUTE! I’d totally wear this to go build a snowman and sip hot cocoa (with mini marshmallows of course!)*

Bonus of the night? Everyone loved my desert! This means a lot coming from chefs and restauranteurs! Thanks, Kari, for the amazing recipe! It was easy and fun to bake, too. I can’t wait to make it again for my work party on Thursday.

NorthPoleCupcake — If you decide to bake these, keep your eye on the center. I had to cook them a lot longer than listed due to my inferior oven. They will set some, but don’t take them out if the center is still like liquid.

What the heck to wear to an Ugly Sweater Party?

An Ugly Sweater! Obviously! 😉

ME_uglySweater — I have to admit I actually love this Star Wars sweater. I mean is it fashionable? Heck no! But….it will be perfect to wear to the opening later this week. Meanwhile, I apologize for the worst reveal of my hair extensions! They are in now :). More on that later- maybe. Or at least a better pic.

The food was great and the atmosphere was fun. It was really nice to catch up with old friends and make new ones. I’m definitely in the holiday spirit this year! No being a curmudgeon like Scrooge or green with anger like the Grinch! Let the festivities commence!

Whats the worst ugly sweater you’ve seen this season? Share in the comments.

xoxo

Joy.

December 10, 2015February 9, 2018 ~ jillontoast ~ 1 Comment

cassis — I just love to travel and experience new cultures and people. I also love to sail, another special hobby I shared with my father. With the wind in my hair and adventure on the horizon, I feel so free. This photo was taken in Cassis, France. That trip was definitely Joy.

I had the privilege of seeing the pre-screener of the movie Joy. It was pretty amazing. Yes the acting was great, and the cinematography intriguing and blah blah blah industry stuff. What I really want to talk about is the true story behind the film.

Since I’m not allowed to divulge too much information regarding the subject matter of this film (it hasn’t been released to the public yet), I will tell the story another way. Well, at least what I got out of that story anyways.

A Wise Professor:

9 years ago I had a college professor who was supposed to teach a class titled “computer applications.” Instead he started the first day of class explaining “ya’ll can learn basic computer skills on your own, instead I will be teaching you secrets of a happy life.”

balloons — *“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.” -Helen Keller Photo:Town&Country*

First and foremost my teacher re-iterated story upon story the significance of doing what you love; of letting your passions drive you, not your greed. You know the cliche- “do what you love and you won’t work a day in your life”. I vaguely got the gist of most of what he shared with us. The other night though, when I saw Joy, something clicked and I finally get it. Its a bit esoteric because one could easily say “I love money” or “I love the idea of a rich life” and then will be driven just to make money however it takes. But thats not really living. According to my professor, first we must follow our passions, then the money will come.

If we take a peep at people who have had the courage to do and try what they love, somehow the money to live the life they want HAS always come. And more importantly, so has peace, stability, and security. Ghandi, John Lennon (I mean it didn’t end well, but his life was wonderful and fulfilling as he lived it), Sylvester Stalone (look up his story told by Tony Robbins. Its pretty incredible). These people weren’t in it for the money. They lived/are living the life they truly want(ed). I remember when my professor first said “if you do what you love the money will come” we all laughed “If you build it, they will come.” But I’m starting to see the validity in it.

*Never loose faith in who you are, and never let go of your dreams. “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win” -Mahatma Gandhi.*

Later, towards the end of the semester, after hearing dozens upon dozens of anecdotes about his life (he was one of the first to work as an Imagineer at Disney!), we collectively discovered that said professor had throat cancer and would not live past the semester. I will never forget this man. His zest for life, his fearlessness, and the fervor in his voice as he passed on his life lessons. He was an omniscient and sage man who gifted us students with secrets so few could know at our age. Our final assignment was “Live your life in Joy. Think about what this means, and then do it.” Sadly he did not make it to the last class, and this final appointment was never graded. Obviously he did this on purpose. For the rest of my life I will be working on my “A” in computer applications.

The Four Pillars of Security:

Money does not buy you happiness, BUT it DOES buy you security. So I asked a therapist friend how he advises clients to find balance regarding that- how to do what you love but still feel safe and secure. Hypnotherapist Dr. James Borrelli explained there are four investments that will lead to happiness. Here they are, in order of importance:

Invest in your health. Without your health, you “can’t do anything”. So here is where your money and time should go first.
Invest in your expertise. Grow and learn. Become the best at whatever it is you love to do. Here’s where your passion fits in. With expertise (and good health) you will always be able to take care of yourself (ie have enough skill to work and therefor have what you need financially to live a stable fulfilling life).
Invest in a budget. Take the time to work one out. Its ok to push yourself to the limit, but with that being said, stay within your means. Life without debt is a happy one.
Invest in finances. Learn how to protect and grow your money.

**Dr. Borrelli explained that 1 and 2 are INTERNAL. That by focusing and strengthening whats inside of us, we will never have to worry about external things abandoning us. And thus, we will have security. Makes sense.

Believe In Youself

The antagonist in the film makes choices based on her passion because she believes in it. It has nothing to do with wanting to become rich. Its about getting her ideas heard because she feels her ideas will, in their own small way, contribute to making the world a better place. If she succeeds and makes money, that is a bonus prize. First and foremost, she is focused on seeing her idea through successful fruition. She is driven by faith in herself and in her beliefs.

I’m wondering, what if we all followed our passions rather than our greed? What would happen? What are some things you feel passionately about that bring you joy?

*I love my dogs and I love my friends. Love and friendship are both significant ingredients to a life full of Joy and laughter.*

Throughout the years I have met some incredible people who seem touched with exuberance. When allowed the opportunity, I’ve asked them “what is the secret to your happiness.” I’m starting to notice a reoccurring theme in their answers. Olympic gymnast Nadia Comăneci summed it up best; “Never give up on your dreams. Be courageous and do your do diligence, then follow them to fruition. This is a happy life.”

(yes I met her and yes it was AMAZING because she was my childhood idol).

Blessings for Peace and Joy to you all this holiday season – and for all the days thereafter!

xoxo

I dream of Shoe-sies

November 13, 2015February 9, 2018 ~ jillontoast ~ Leave a comment

Shoe2 — *Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to whip up some Manolos with a blink of the eye?*

What woman doesn’t love a great pair of shoes? I honestly don’t know one. Even the ladies I know whose fashion is “anti-fashion” (you know, those birkenstock clad women that wear pants that unzip into shorts from REI?) love shoes. It must be in our DNA.

Lately I’ve been obsessing over shoes and this particular season I splurged a little too much. So I want to share with the world some beauties that I must refrain from buying either because A. they aren’t Danielle approved or B. lets face it, my shoe budget has reached E for the season.

My current dreams:

I adore these over the knee boots. They are gorgeous! I love the soft suede. The color is so light and airy they are almost angelic. I would feel like Claudia Schiffer circa 1990 with these on my feet. But alas, these babies by Gianvanto Rossi are Tres expensive.

These shoes remind me of something I would wear if I was I princess. They just look so soft and lovely. They remind me of A Midsummer Nights Dream. OR….I would also wear these if I wanted to feel like Grace Kelly. I can picture pairing these with a fluffy ball gown, dancing with MSM across the floor in a lavish hotel dining area, a big band in the background blaring Duke Ellington.

These lovelies bring me to a more current time. Like right now. I think these would look so sexy with skinny jeans or a pencil skirt and an oversized sweater. I don’t know, I just love them. Danielle hates them. And its for the best because they are Louboutin and unfortunately I equate that with EXTREMELY uncomfortable (never mind the price). Whats with these designers loosing quality as they become more popular? As I’ve mentioned before, my first pair of designer shoes, the Loubs I bought nine years ago, are SO comfortable I can practically run in them. My newer ones? Ouch! (oh the pain we go through for our shoes).

Ok these are my favorite favorites. I’m seriously obsessed. I’ve had these plastered on my pinterest board for a while. I have no idea why, I just love them. They are “me” to the core. In these I’d be quintessentially Jill 🙂

Screen Shot 2015-11-12 at 5.15.47 PM — *Ugh. Love! Be still my beating heart.*

Why do we love our shoes so much??

I think its sort of summed up above. Shoes are a fun easy way to change who we want to be for a non committed moment. I usually pick my outfits based on what shoes I feel like wearing that particular day. Granted my shoe pick is usually based on how sore my feet are from Ballet or the heels I wore yesterday, but a shoe CAN make you feel like a princess, or a bad-ass, or a rocker, or a hippie. Yes, sometimes they are just what pulls together the outfit, and sometimes they are just there to protect our feet. But usually shoes are beautiful accessory that is easy to change up painlessly.

This is a fun article I read about the psychology of shoe obsessions Women And Their Shoes. The author, Alyssa Siegel, pretty much confirms my guesses above. She also talks about this amazing shoe exhibit I would have LOVED to have seen!

The way to a woman's heart is through her feet. Engagement shoes? Not a bad idea....hmmm..... — *The way to a woman’s heart is through her feet. Engagement shoes? Not a bad idea….hmmm…..*

That is all for my shoe obsessions of the moment. Any one else have a favorite pair they are dreaming of?

xoxo

Dancing to the beat of your own drum (and other ways to alleviate stress)

November 4, 2015February 9, 2018 ~ jillontoast ~ Leave a comment

There aren’t a lot of places to find peace and solitude in Los Angeles, but it definitely exists at The Getty Villa. Forgive me in advance, I am about to post a lot of pictures- mainly because this place is just so beautiful it was hard to pick which to cut.

As I walked onto the property at the Getty Villa I was happily overwhelmed by lush greens, herbs, and flowers. The first garden I saw was reminiscent of Monet’s Giverny, ponds and waterlillies included. Moved by the resplendent beauty, a tear of joy gently cascaded along my cheek. I could finally feel the sense of relief that I had been craving for so long. As I turned around to face the west, the breath taking view of the ocean framed by silhouettes of diverse trees embraced my heart. I was surrounded by calm. I felt calm. Its so hard to find this within the urbanity of Los Angeles, yet this is right there on the edge of Malibu and Santa Monica. My only regret is that I hadn’t come here sooner.

MiniGiverny — *This just reminded me of a mini Giverny. Love!*

Maze — *This garden also reminded me of France, a mini Tuileries.*

GettyIntro — *This woman looks so peaceful reading her book. Next time I will bring a book and stay a little longer.*

One thing I realized as I perused the grounds; one can only find inner happiness by following his/her own passions. Sometimes its difficult to make a choice that is right for you, just because by doing so you may possibly hurt someone else and/or pick something against the grain of the majority. Just know that’s ok. Its important, though cliche: “to thine own self be true”. Ultimately it will give you an empowering inner strength. You will be able to do even more to make the world a better place this way.

In representation of staying true to myself, I decided to dance all over The Getty Villa. I did pirouettes through the gardens, and glissades around the statues. I probably looked like a nut, but it felt amazing. Dancing silences my mind and the chaos of the world around me. I can feel the music and become part of something bigger. Here on the grounds of the Getty I could feel the wind through my soul. There’s just something so magical about combining art with nature. I can’t put my finger on it, but its definitely the fastest way for me to feel inner peace.

tondue — *The architecture here was absolutely exquisite! Photo taken by museum docent.*

pirouette — *Pirouette in the park. Photo: museum guest.*

The set up of the museum is magnificent. Guests can weave in and out of gardens and rooms exhibiting artwork from Odysseus’ time. Well written text explains each exhibit. I loved learning that at one time the Greek had pet bears! It was also interesting reading about the woman’s position in ancient greek society. Opposite of today where we hear so much about the socially elite via the media, back in the hay day of Greece the women who were considered the most socially elite were heard of the least by the rest of society. My mind was blown by the drawings of humans and how they look just like us. Its crazy to think we’ve been on this earth for over 200 years, and we still basically look the same!

*This is a statue of a pet bear! I can’t even imagine! The Grissley Man was born in the wrong era!*

drawing — *OK so the art work is a little “Napolean Dynomite” but still- we still look the same. This could have been painted yesterday!*

The museum has an interactive room where guests can draw hieroglyphics on pottery and/or put on a shadow dance/show. Interactive is always fun!

activity1 — *Guests can see what its like to draw stories on ceramics.*

Other Stress Coping Mechanisms:

Someone told me once that extreme stress can be caused when there’s a chasm sized gap between expectations/desires and reality. Obviously we can’t have it all all the time. Even billionaire celebutaunts are not impervious to stress; You can’t buy love, and you can’t buy peace. It’s imperative to bring little bits of our dreams into reality, and it’s up to us to do this. Make a list of things you dream for, and then figure out how to bring just a little piece of it to life. Here’s some examples from my list:

Dream/Longing: my childhood back yard and Ohio’s metroparks

Solution: 1. find great places to hike in LA, go at least once a month

2. Put plants in your apartment.

Dream/Longing: Travel all over the world

Solution: Start with day trips or weekend trips around california while you save up for the big trip. Do this at least once every few months.

Dream: Walk in Closet

Solution: Find an affordable place where you can turn the extra bedroom into your closet.

A list towards inner peace:

Its good to have a list (mental or written) of activities to do when you need to find some inner peace. I find my list prevents me from stress eating chocolate or something else loaded with fat. My list may be totally and completely different from yours, but maybe it will give you some ideas or at least get the gears moving:

Go for a walk
visit a museum or garden
bake something – then give it away
read a good book
take a bubble bath
sip hot tea
Write in journal
meditate- I’m learning this now.

What to wear to the Getty Villa:

It was a warm breezy day here on the West Coast. Most of the museum is out doors, so its wise to bring layers. In the summer, wear SPF. And I sort of wished I had my sun hat.

In theme of this post, Danielle does not love these ballet flats but I wear them anyways- because they are totally me! Shirt: Joie Skirt: ALC Shoes: Chloe Bag: Chloe — *Leap! In theme of this post, Danielle does not love these ballet flats but I wear them anyways- because they are totally me!* **Shirt:** *Joie* **Skirt:** *ALC* **Shoes:** *Chloe* **Bag:** *Chloe*

Here’s to liberating your soul and dancing to your own beat!

xoxo

	Tori Rowland on Premiere Premiere: LA’s…
	jillontoast on New Decade, New Digs.
	jillontoast on New Decade, New Digs.
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Quintessential Jill

Life discoveries of a happy go lucky Californian

Lifestyle

It must be in the air.

The Last Remaining Bookstore.

Music: Uniting Generations.

Advice from Diane Keaton.

Euclid.

Jane The Virgin: A lesson in relationship expectations

A Proper Ugly Sweater Party

Joy.

I dream of Shoe-sies

Dancing to the beat of your own drum (and other ways to alleviate stress)