Monday, December 27, 2010

New Skincare for the New Year with Lily.B Giveaway!

The coming of a new year is the perfect time to assess what does/doesn't work
in our lives and make positive changes. For 2011 I urge all of you, dear readers,
to start being mindful of everything you're putting on your skin and start removing
the 100's of toxins and chemicals found in your beauty/skin products that are
mostly untested and unregulated.

Start by avoiding: All petroleum-based products (mineral oil, vaseline, petrolatum),
parabens, pthlalates, sulfates, fragrance, glycols and dyes.

With all this in mind, it's my pleasure to present a New Year's New You blog giveaway
with Lily.B, a nature-based skincare line I was introduced to through TwoPointOh!LA.
I've been loving the two products that work for my skin type,
the gentle and sweet smelling Rose Hip Infused Facial Wash

On January 3rd, I'll pick a winner who'll receive:

A full-size Rose Hip Infused Facial Wash
A full-size 24/7 Defense Daily Moisturizer

and deluxe samples of:

Red Tea Hydrating Serum
Multi-Action Rescue Eye Cream
Botanical Rich Protection SPF 30 Ultra Defense
$115 value!

In order to win YOU MUST be a follower of this blog and you have to leave a comment
with your contact info AND why you want to win!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Yummy on a Bun x 2

Lucious Lobster Roll
Fresh lobster + toasty bun + butter = sheer shellfish heaven.

The lobster roll from the Lobsta Truck isn't cheap $11,
but a good value as the sweet lobster is generous. I've had it twice already!
My only complaint is waiting time seems longer than necessary.

The Original Greasy Wiener

I'm always on the lookout for a tasty hotdog and The Greasy Wiener is a new favorite.
For under $6 I got the original greasy wiener
(mustard, grilled onions and a pickle spear),
without any extra toppings (as I like my food simpler), and a soda.
It was so tasty (very flavorful/well seasoned dog), it really didn't need anything else.
I raved about this for days (and craving the next)... a hot dog!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Monday, December 13, 2010

My First Blog Giveaway Winner Is...

Congratulations to Cindy, contestant #2!
The TMinx Gemini T-shirt is yours.

Stay tuned for my next giveaway, the week after Xmas with LilyB Skincare.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Paging Doctor Freud

I took the following pics, in order shown, as found,
on my poochie walk with Charlie, a few days ago in my neighborhood.
It wasn't until I looked at them in my iPhone did I detect a possible connection.
Is the universe or my subconscience telling me something? Or is a pickle just a pickle?

Gutter Still Life with Pickles
No jar, no glass... just flowers, cigarettes and a pretty pickle pattern.

Two Prickley Balls
These were found alone on the sidewalk, carefully placed there by somebody else.

A Public Phallicy
My geeky little mind thinks of ancient Roman graffiti when I see this.
Wondering if this is an insult... or a compliment? HA!

So I leave it to you dear readers... What does it all mean??? ;)

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Blog Giveaway Contest With TMinx!


I am honored to present, for my first ever blog giveaway,
the LA designed, ultra-groovy t-shirts of TMinx, the treacherous minx!
I had the pleasure of meeting the designer, Yvonne, in October at
The Blogger's Cafe 05 for TwoPointOh!LA, when her vintage-inspired t-shirts caught my eye.



From now thru Friday, December 10th, followers of this blog can visit TMinx's website,
choose which style and size you would like from the Geometrics or Zodiac lines,
and leave a comment with your email. On December 11, I will randomly pick a winner
out of my fedora, with the help of my Charlie dog!

Make sure you also check out TMinx's fun and inspiring blog. She has great taste!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe





Tuesday, November 23, 2010

I Met a Fashion Angel!

OR
How my 20 year old pick-up truck got me a free belt (a true fashion adventure)!

Sky Belt

I've had a few groovy interactions due to driving my old white beast (name of Bettie),
but this was by far the best.

A few weeks ago I was gassing up Bettie on 3rd street, when this gentleman (60's ?) in all black, with a belt (like pictured) and cap to match, walked by and commented on how much he missed his old junker of a truck...and from there the conversation turned to how he's lived in LA for a long time, how he was once part of the music scene, and finally, how he designed the belt and hat he's wearing and that his stuff had been featured in Japanese magazines, etc.

He was real sweet (no smarm), no strange vibes (got LA radar for that), and he mixed in some great peace/love gems into the mix, so I was happy to listen and experience the genuine moment, one human connecting to another.

A few minutes went by, we said our good-bye and I was about to drive away,
when he flagged me to wait for a sec as he went to his Mustang
(he was waiting for it to get washed) and pulled out a stack of belts.
"What size are you?" and "More rock-ish or feminine?"
"Small and feminine"
He took one of the belts and gave it to me, then showed me the Japanese
magazine blurb. We chatted for a few more minutes, then I went on my way.
His name is Sky, and I love the belt.
Merci!!!

Sky Belt Buckle

Now contemplating how I want to wear it. Will keep you posted!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe


Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Walking Around WeHo

Wandering Wandering Wandering...

Ghosts - No Extra Charge
Whoever rented this unit may be calling Ghostbusters, cause this is the apt that three guys were shot and murdered in, two weeks after I moved into the neighborhood!
Do you think the landlord told the new tenants?

Good Way to Go
This grasshopper hasn't moved in three days. What a way to go... death by flower!

Steve Martin in the Gutter
Steve Martin vying to fill Rodney Dangerfield's shoes by not getting any respect.

Mouthful of Racism

Meter-ed Racism
This is the same artful racist who tagged the drain pipe I found earlier.
I'm documenting each one I find. What is the story here???

Carpe Diem!
I followed the cork's instructions... by seizing it and taking it home.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Headboard Redux

Got this headboard for $50 from my friend Lisa. I liked the design, but hated the shabby country-ish dullness.

Headboard Before

So I took some white paint et voila!

Headboard After

So much better!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Extra Extra! One Skank Too Many on a Cold and Rainy Day

As you all have read earlier, I've been endeavoring to make a silk purse out the minimum wage sow's ear called "extra" work by looking at the positives and taking creative moments where I found them. All the while getting food poisoned (you haven't lived till you've vomited 6 times in a port-o-john), serious sunstroke (14 hours outside in Santa Clarita in July), freezing in the winter (cause it's supposed to be summer), burning in the summer (wearing full winter gear outside in August), numerous blisters from shoes that aren't meant for lots of walking (thanks costumer!)... getting the picture?

All of these negatives came into crystal clear focus the day I had to work on an upcoming tv show called Franklin and Bash, downtown a few weeks ago, on a freezing, windy, rainy day.
LA City Hall

Rain Over Downtown

This was not the first time I was cast as a hooker/skank/bar whore/swinger (such a class act!), BUT this was the first time that it made absolutely no sense. In a group of appx 100, most were dressed in "legal" wear or police uniforms,while myself and one other lucky gal got to be dressed to thrill. Since it was supposed to be summer, no outer wear was allowed, so I was given a corset top that was cut down to my bellybutton, a skirt that barely covered my tush and a 5-inch pair of hooker heels. At my insistence, I got a low-cut tank to go under the corset and tights so that my ass wasn't out in the wind. Somehow the other chick was given a leather jacket. Oh yeah, I grumble, cause this same girl found a way to disappear and not have to work... all day. So in a group of people dressed normal, you have one person, ME dressed as a major whore, getting attention I do not want (thanks creepy guys!), AND FREEZING in the rain cause we weren't allowed our coats. Then the one shot I got placed in, I got pulled and sent to the far back for the rest of the day (something very frustrating that happens almost every time - what can I say... I have charisma!).

Description Not Necessary...
Since Hollywood hookers don't have pockets I got to keep my iphone here all day... yep.
If only it had a heater app.

Starring City Hall
Notice how everyone else has long sleeves? And the crew in coats!
Good Luck passing this off as summer.
See if you can spot the stars in this picture.

Two Hearts and a Shoe
These earrings were the width of my foot.
Ladies, if you have earrings like this, Hollywood thinks you're a whore...

Smoky Justice
Downtown politics is dirty smoky business.

In addition to the above, I didn't eat breakfast due to the long costume line, and got to enjoy what cleaning a port-a-john smells like up close, so by the end of that 13-hour day,
I was feeling the utter humiliation of being a prop, totally at the whim of every
person above me on the production totem pole.

So when I got booked on a large, outside call in the middle of nowhere at 6am the next morning, I told them to SHOVE IT. Life's too short to feel that miserable for minimum wage on something that does nothing to advance my acting or writing goals.

So THANK YOU Franklin and Bash for being that one straw too many! I'm happier already.

Now would be a great time for a visionary producer to pick up my pilot script...
hint hint Universe.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Rainy Day Photo Adventure

Last Wednesday, LA experienced a classic downpour and afterwards I took a long walk around my Melrose neighborhood and its alleys with my Charlie-dog, taking pics. The day before had been particularly tough and trying (post on that to follow), so I was in dire need of the inspiration and invigoration.

Brown Leaves/Pink Flowers/Blue Toes
Pink flowers keep brown leaves company, companions in carnage.

Blue Balloon

Good Times Left Behind
Must have been a fun party...

Wet Hibiscus
I imagine this is what Hawaii feels like.

I Say Tomato
Regard le pauvre tomato...

Wet Backalley Racism
Apparently racism is still in vogue in some alleys... wonder how long it's been there.

Says it all
Got to admire straight and to the point.

There are very few things that can beat a long walk after the rain... merci weather gods!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Monday, October 11, 2010

My Fall Fashion Bohemian Rhapsody



Recently, I had the opportunity to do something I love love love... style and model a complete look for a fall 2010 look-book with Two Point Oh LA, founded by Kelsi Smith of Dedicated Follower of Fashion, and sponsored by The California Market Center (whose showrooms we pulled from) and Nyx Cosmetics (who provided the shoot makeup).


I had so much fun and got to meet some great and stylish LA bloggers.

Fall Fashion at CMC
These were the items that spoke to me... and I wished I could take them home!!!
(l to r)
pink Yoana Baraschi scarf
feathered necklace by Micha Design (my favorite piece)
Dish Denim jeans
cream Yoana Baraschi lace top
slate grey Cynthia Steffe faux fur
not shown - Sophie Monet rings and Big Buddha Handbag
AND I'm holding my Diana F+ Nightcap camera in all shots!

Lovely Lady
Lovely Lauren Mathews had to try on the Cynthia Steffe coat... ah temptation!!!

Micha Designs Jewelry
Micha Design jewelry is all made from recycled and often vintage pieces. Instead of sketching her designs, Micha lets the pieces organically evolve into being. I want all her feathered pieces!!! (especially the one I wore)

Sitting out the hostage situation...
What do I do during a possible hostage situation in the bank downstairs?
(aka never a dull moment in my life...!)

Two Feet and a Reflection
I take pics of my feet and downtown LA - notice my reflection on the left, like a billboard.

Merci Merci Merci to Kelsi, The CMC, all the lovely lovelies I met and to the designers who gave me a sweet Cinderella moment!!!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe


Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Extra Extra! My Day at Disney...

Par for my journey as an actress/writer/everything-else, is my taking occasional work as a background player, aka... the extra. Being an extra is rather thankless work, as we are largely nothing more than props that have to be wrangled, costumed, fed, herded, directed, and generally put up with (for mostly minimum wage). We're lower on the totem pole than unpaid interns! However I love being on-set, watching professionals at the top of their game, taking mental notes (for my future producer days), and sometimes I get directed, as if I were an actual actress!

There's also A LOT of sit-around-do-nothing-for-hours! What to do with all that time? A lot of people eat their way through the free craft services (if it exists), some bring reading material/computers/etc, but mostly I find strangers coming up to me telling me things that they should reserve for their priest/shaman/guru.

In an effort to add creative sanity to what can be a long long, crazy, draining day...
I'm documenting parts of my trip down the Hollywood rabbit hole.

My first time on the Disney lot afforded me ample opportunities.

My First Badge!
After a year of playing skanky bar whores (why why why?), I got to be a detective on ABC's new show, No Ordinary Family. Here's my first badge ever! It went well with my Marc Jacobs top (from Crossroads Trader) that the costume dept let me keep on. Just cause I'm a cop doesn't mean I can't have style!

What about stupidity?
I think every person with a brain can relate to this.

Sleeping Extra
This guy didn't move from the time we got there to the time we left, six-ish hours later.

Just another day in the dream factory...
After the scene in the studio, me and my car drove to the location for my car's close-up... yeah, my car got the kind of coverage I would dance naked for... or something like that... you know what I mean!

Two Feet and a Parasol
This was my best time yet on-set, sitting in the grass, talking about photography with some of the real nice crew. I was told Danny DeVito likes to take pics of his feet too! Great minds perhaps?

Parasol on Grass
I never go anywhere without my parasol, it preserves my porcelain pale complexion.
The director noticed me enough to call me Mary Poppins (how VERY Disney!)... helllo Mr Director!!!

Just Look Down
Driveway Still Life

Tree Texture
I would love to see if an architect could duplicate this texture on a building.
Can you imagine? But perhaps only God can make a tree...

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Life with Charlie

This is Charlie.
Charlie 1

Rescue dogs are the best dogs! They may need some extra love and patience, but it is so worth it!

Charlie 2

His personality is emerging slowly almost every day... He is such an adorable rascal now!

Charlie 3

He's photogenic and goes with everything!!!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe