Sunday Strawberry Sweet

Sweetie-pie surprised me today with a strawberry macaroon from Breadbar and it was large enough for us to share.

Though a larger and bit denser interpretation from traditional macaroons (I miss Boule), I enjoyed this pretty pink perfection and look forward to trying their vanilla and coffee flavors.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Silverlake Dress Treasure

This sweet little sundress from the Silverlake Flea Market was my reward yesterday for surviving unscathed (except mentally) 2 very close-call near-miss car crashes (someone ran a red on Robertson-almost hitting pedestrians and us and a bus almost turned into us) AND then experienced (but actually didn't witness - heard it then looked up to see the aftermath) a crash on Fountain... all within a 30 minute period. My absolute strangest and unsettling driving day in the 10 years I've been driving here.

But Sweetie-pie and I made it and joined friend Julia and her Steve, first for Kogi (our friend's first time!) then for a little treasure hunting therapy. I was expecting a larger event, but it had a good showing of vintage clothes vendors. Sweetie-pie first saw the dress and pointed it out (love it when he does that) and I returned the favor by finding him a great navy wool cardigan, both priced at $15

It appears to be handmade and I'm contemplating shortening it a bit, without messing with the too groovy scene and I'll wear it with a vintage leather belt.

This is my first vintage treasure find of the year!!! Great start if you ask me...

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Serious Lamp Love

Last week I mentioned my lovely lovely cream/gold table lamps that I recently brought out and placed in the bedroom and office... et voila! I got the pair for about $35 (if memory serves) from a now-gone shop in San Luis Obispo, CA and got the shades at Target, though I am keeping an eye out for a perfect vintage shades. I look forward every night to turning them on. What we put in our homes should make us happy, all the rest is just clutter.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Total Beverly Hills Moment

After a long day of errand running and an audition (the lead in a UCLA student film - keep fingers crossed), I went to my bi-monthly mani/pedi appt. at Contempo Nails on Robertson, just north of Olympic, where I've been going for a couple of years. It's got a funky mix of clientele, and it's often a great place to people-watch, not to mention inexpensive.

As I'm waiting for my newly-red nails to dry, an older gentleman, plainly dressed, but with a large multi-diamond ring on his left hand, clearly a regular (think I've seen him there before), sits down as several of the Vietnamese beauty-techs start fluttering around him, as he's there for the full mani/pedi/massage treatment.

In comes a woman whose car is being blocked in the rear parking lot by somebody's Mercedes, and she asks everyone if they own a Mercedes, to which this gentleman responded with a chuckle (and loud enough so we all could hear him) "I don't have a Mercedes, I have a Bentley."

Needless to say I laughed out loud and looked at him. I guess being rich isn't enough unless everyone knows it.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

The Month of Janus

January is named for the Roman god Janus, the god of doors/gates and beginnings/endings. For me January means taking stock of absolutely everything I can think of in my life. It's not just about resolutions, it's about starting the new year with a totally clean slate and inviting new energy in. I fix what needs to be fixed, change what needs to be changed, clean out the no-longer-useful and address any nagging loose ends, so all I have to do is look forward.

• Patched two holes in bedroom wall left over from when it was an office.
• Brought out from storage 2 gorgeous vintage gold/cream table lamps that I bought over 5 years ago, got 2 inexpensive shades at Target (until I find the perfect vintage shades) and put one in the bedroom next to bed and the other in the office. Pics to come soon.
• Cleaned out clothes closet/linen closet, bathroom cabinet, drawers et al...
• Cleaned out 6 pairs of shoes I no longer wear and some accessories that were more shabby than chic. I made a few $$ selling to Crossroads Trader and donated the rest to Out of the Closet. NEVER THROW ANYTHING USABLE/WORKABLE IN THE TRASH - DONATE DONATE DONATE!!! I cannot get over all the perfectly useful items I find in the garbage that could go to people less fortunate and instead end up adding to our land-fill problems.
• Found 2 maxi-dresses I never wear, but I think they'll be perfect re-worked and shortened... so off to the tailor.
• Took out my first vintage fur (cute short brown mink jacket I got on Ebay for $25 in 2003!) that has been hiding in my back closet since I accidentally tore both sleeves in a hasty moment three years ago, and I patiently (hours upon hours) sewed the rips until good as new. Wore it for the first time on our rainy LA Sunday!
• Needless to say... I cleaned cleaned cleaned! And I still have a little more to do...

By the end of the month I will... (weather permitting)

• Take headboard that I got from friend/neighbor Lisa last year, add one foot to its height, prime it and paint it a brighter white (thinking about lacquer).
• Re-pot and re-work some plants in the backyard.
• Decide whether I'll repaint (gold, currently black) a vintage plant-stand I got last year from the Melrose Flea Market or put it in storage for now.

What I'll be looking for in 2010

• I hate everything in the bathroom... so I'm looking for a new shower curtain and artwork.
• May finally find a way to put up curtains over the kitchen windows.
• Need a tablecloth for free-from-moving-out-neighbor kitchen table that is... well ugly. Contemplating painting it and putting down a glass top, but who knows.
• Something for the bedroom walls.
• A new shelf/storage unit for the office - Sweetie-pie has a vintage camera/polaroid collection that needs a showcase, while providing additional workspace.
• And I always have my eyes out for treasure treasure treasure!!!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Chanel Words to Live By...

I don’t understand how a woman can leave the house without fixing herself up a little - if only out of politeness. And then, you never know, maybe that’s the day she has a date with destiny. And it’s best to be as pretty as possible for destiny.
— Coco Chanel

Looking Back and Moving Forward

What 2009 brought me... in no particular order...

• This blog! My major goal was/is to inspire a glamorous/pampering/adventurous/slightly eccentric/creative life without it being about money or status. And share the occasional star-sighting... AND to share my genius wit and artistic prowess... ;) Merci to all you wonderful readers and bloggers who inspire me in return!
• The Sounds of Silence, a UC Northridge film in which I had a fun role written for me by the director(after I auditioned for another role!), and the friendships made on the set.
• A first edition/hardcover of Tom Robbins' Jitterbug Perfume, one of my favorite books by my favorite author, won on Ebay for $3!
• Four marvelous meals (3 this summer, 1 on 12/21) at Ludobites... my faves were the chorizo/cantaloupe/cornichorn ice soup (had every time this summer), lobster medallions (omg that gelee), the tomato salad with feta mousse and both versions of fried chicken, though the version on 12/21 with the cantal polenta and mole took me to a transcendent place. If Maestro Ludo (or anyone who knows him) sees this, please consider a Ludo Comforts U truck, selling your soups and fried chicken with polenta to a happy happy public!!!
• Crossroads Trader treasures (all under $50!)... most notably, a navy Gucci dress that fits me like a glove, black Donald Pliner cork wedges, Chip and Pepper wide-leg jeans (softest denim omg), Sonia Rykiel gold platform sandals, some pretty Marc Jacobs tops and a super-soft turquoise cashmere sweater.
• I perfected my pig candy recipe and recently made candied bacon balls that were rich/sweet porcine heaven.
• Butterflies and gemstones at the Natural History Museum this summer.

• My first film camera, a plastic Diana F+ Nightcap, and expired film now give me another outlet for my storytelling.
• My two groovy Goodwill.com finds... the champagne mink jacket of my dreams (seen in pic above, as I was leaving Ludobites on 12/21) and a heavy gold Egyptian necklace that reminded me of one of my favorite bloggers, The Glamourai.
• Umami Burger's SoCal Burger
• The Golden State Cafe - the friendly neighborhood cafe I wish there were more of. It's so nice to walk into a place and be recognized and talked to. Merci Jason!
• Animal Restaurant - great inventive food and no attitude
• My new favorite go-to restaurant - The Veggie Grill on Sunset at Crescent Heights. Vegan fast-ish food that will satisfy non-vegans... healthy, delicious and good for the environment. My fave is the chicken ceasar salad and I sub fried chicken for the blackened. Best faux-chicken I've had. They have a burger I will try sometime soon, but I keep ordering that salad!
• O-burger in Weho... organic, grass-fed burgers
• Kogi Kogi Kogi!!!
• My favorite Mexican peasant top ($5!) from Out of the Closet.
• Lulu Organics hair powder - for that perfect messy bedhead and not having to wet-wash my hair too often.
• Exchanged the office with the bedroom and now get to wake up to trees and a few crazy squirrels.

• Finished the re-write of my pilot script, The Day Shift. All I need now is a producer with vision!!!
• Gold this, gold that and the gold other thing...
• My first foray into backyard gardening that led to my foot meets pottery shard adventure. Without any doctors. stiches or drugs, I prevented infection and promoted healing with lavender oil, apple cider vinegar, tumeric, manuka honey and hand-made bandages (and boosted my immune system internally). Five months later and no regrets, the area is still tender, and I figure it will be a full year before it's 100%. Natural healing isn't speedy, but I prefer to work with my body, not against it. Life is a marathon, not a sprint.
• I checked a life goal off the list in November by learning how to properly handle and shoot a handgun. As an actress, I want to look like I know what I'm doing (cause I want to be cast as a badass, of course!) and it's another skill that's worth learning well. Merci to friend Richard, who's an expert in this field (felt like I was watching the Terminator when he was shooting), for being patient with me and for loading the clips when my fingers started to hurt (yeah I'm such a girl sometimes).

• Fantastic and inexpensive reflexology massages at JB Natural Foot Massage on Robertson. I'm going again next week with friend Julia!
• My energy-healer Maggie who has made me healthier, both mentally and physically. I met her as a result of my foot injury (indirectly), so you never know what positive will emerge from a perceived negative event. I try to be grateful for everything, because life can be crazy wonderful...

Adieu 2009!!!

Bienvenue 2010!!!

May the adventures begin...

Miss Absinthe

Three Thrown-Away Tales

In the gutter, a mis-matched pair of shoes wonders what became of their mates.

Yet another used latex glove, kept company by two shoe inserts and a used cigarette.

The liquor store window seems the perfect place to find a used mini-vodka bottle.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Magical Ten of Clubs

As I was walking past the lawn of the Magic Castle in Hollywood (visited friends staying at the hotel), I spotted this single and slightly beat-up (gnawed perhaps) playing card, all by its lonesome self, as if rejected from the magician's pack for a mysterious infraction... or maybe it was just making a break for it.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Quickie Post - Shrimp Tacos and Sex in Los Feliz

After spending a lovely afternoon with friend Julia and her beau at their groovy new pad in the Los Feliz hills (OMG the view), Sweetie-pie and I went for some shrimp tacos at Best Shrimp Taco in Ensenada (and I ordered in Spanish-yay!) where we were in for a show with our dinner...

We parked on the side street, off Hillhurst, and as I was preparing to exit the car, a hot-and-heavy couple (in a Dodge... really?) making out caught my eye, and I caught theirs, apparently. What is it about "caught" couples acting indignant and staring back? Like I cared... but I did get a chuckle. It's been a long time since I've seen that level of PDA, especially from people who looked 30ish.

On to two yummy shrimp tacos and then back to the car, where it was difficult NOT to notice, the Dodge still there, steamy windows AND a zebra-print blanket rigged to give "some" privacy. Zebra print? Really? There has GOT to be a story here...

4 shrimp tacos and 1 shared Diet Coke - $9

Noticing taudry sex in a Dodge on a Los Feliz sidestreet, in front of a taco stand, with a classy zebra-print blanket - PRICELESS

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Messy Bed in Abstract

Experimenting with my Messy Bed series in the new bedroom.

Loving the colors and light, the varying focus and the odd 12 in the upper right.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

A Tale of Two Bedrooms

New view from the bed - pure heaven.

When a noisy douchebag moves into the building next door, one can either continue to get angrier and angrier by the day (which is what happened first) OR accept the situation for what it is (AFTER threatening them at 4am with HOLY FUCKING HELL) by switching the bedroom with the much-quieter office. A blessing in disguise, this much cozier space has beautiful afternoon light that filters through my neighbor's trees and better lends itself to naps, reading in bed and taking photographs. Wish now I had done this years ago... Merci Mr. Douchebag.

When a douchebag developer makes your life a noisy and dirty affair for the last 18 months, with no end in imminent sight, one can either... WHATEVER!!! Having a well-known penchant for bringing home "found" treasure, I absolutely could not resist picking up this sign that was laying in the gutter at the end of my street. As I was carting my disobedience home (hey, I'm not the one who wrecked the thing in the first place), a woman who lives right next to the construction site, saw me and cheered. Felt good. Now it lives in the new office space and inspires the artistic outlaw I aspire to be...

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Autumn... at Last!!!

If you decorate, autumn will come...

October has always been my favorite month, with Halloween (and the Great Pumpkin!) being my favorite holiday. There's something magical about October sunlight and I think after an especially punishing hot summer, the cool breezes that wafted through the apartment this weekend were appreciated on a whole other level.

And what better way to celebrate the changing colors of autumn? Tomorrow I get a pedicure with my new Teal nail polish that arrived yesterday!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

A Little Autumn Glamour

The buzz buzz buzz has been all about Chanel's new Jade nail polish, but my taste goes a little darker, and NO wait list! Ordered online last night and soon to be seen peeking out of my new-to-me Donald Pliner cork wedges (courtesy of Crossroads Trader)...

Teal by Rescue Beauty

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Mercury in Retrograde...

Dearest Darlings!!!

I just haven't been able to get my mind into blogging lately... I've got my nose to the writing grindstone as I work on re-writes for a pilot script I've been trying to get off the ground for over two years, and apparently I can't write and chew gum at the same time.

I'm still posting tidbits here and there on Twitter and Facebook.

I plan to get back to this in about two weeks, I'll be done chewing gum by then.

Merci Amis for all your patience, I promise to make it worth your while...

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Le Jardin et Le Chat

Que Sera Serrano - the first fruits of my gardening labors!

Close-up of Molly - the cause of my recent bloodshed

Billie belongs to a neighbor, protects the property, keeps me company as I garden/water/read/nap and has gone fearlessly to battle against wasps that were menacing me for a couple days last week. Even now he goes over and checks out that area to make sure it's safe for me to water. He's more than a cat, I'm convinced.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

Gemini Dream

My first foray into in-camera double exposure yielded an interesting result with the shadows intersecting instead of being bisected by the street sign. Chaos is the sauce of art...

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

BBQ and Fuck You...

Some moments cannot be ignored and this one just screamed out for immortality...

This pic turned out even better than anticipated, with the frame within frame and the male counterpoints.

Love it when this happens!!!

Strangely enough AND I"M NOT JOKING, when Sweetie-pie and I left the restaurant (Baby Blues BBQ in Weho), another guy walked by us in a different shirt that just said Fuck You on the back.

I took this pic the day of my foot accident... Were the gods trying to tell me something???

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

We're Having a Heatwave...

These flowers are wilted and so am I...

It is hot hot hot in LA, and I'm dreaming of cool autumn evenings and the sound of rain.

COMING SOON

• An ode to Ludobites and my three amazing meals.
• Pics from that roll that sat in my camera for two months.
• Part two of my foot-healing saga - The Natural Healer Strikes Back!
• A tale of two bedrooms OR how to make life better by re-arranging the apt...
• Plunder from Crossroads Trader and a few wonderfully re-worked vintage finds.
• Fruits of my garden labors and the cat that is my backyard protector.
• Anything the heat is making me forget!!!

A breeze, a breeze... my kingdom for a breeze!

Until next time... Miss Absinthe

At Least It All Matches... part 1

Repeat after me... Always wear shoes when gardening! Always wear shoes when gardening!

I haven't written in so long, merci for being patient!!! In the interest of catching up I will be semi-brief:

1. The second week of July, I totally lost my mojo. No photos taken, no new gardening, no writing, no blogging, no inspiration, dealing with noisy douchebag neighbor... you get the idea. According to certain esoteric traditions, the time of Leo (mid-July/mid-August) has some of the most negative energy of the year, and honestly I have found this to be true year after year after year. Most of my life's most negative events have taken place during this part of summer.
2. One glorious exception (to be blogged soon) to all this ennui were three transcendent dinners at Ludobites. Oh Mon Dieu.
3. 18 days ago (still in Leo) I was having a perfect day... Sweetie-pie took a day off and we were preparing to spend an overnight in Ojai, had a great lunch at Baby Blues BBQ, then shopping at Crossroads Trader (found gorgeous Donald Pliner cork wedges with the softest black leather upper and a cute Marimekko top that I'll nip/tuck), followed by hour-long $25 reflexology at JB Natural and then frozen yogurt right down the street (Robertson) at Toppings. Pretty nice day I must say.
4. We also picked up some gardening supplies (dirt/organic fertilizer/shovel) for some late afternoon gardening needing to be done before the trip. I had seedlings and plants that needed repotting and some general tidying up that I had put off. The sun was going down, my ipod was playing Rise by Herb Alpert, I was almost finished, moving a new plant (named Molly cause she's pink and pretty) to the plant stand in the corner of the yard and when I went to put the pot down... I missed and dropped/shattered the pot, causing a large shard to drop and pierce the top of my bare foot. Good thing for me, I don't panic and I grab my foot tightly, already bleeding more than a small cut and oddly leaving two identical marks on the pavement that won't wash away, forever leaving my mark (see kids, pain can be artful!) and here's the funny part (yeah real funny), the color of the pot matched my toenail color and matches the color of the bloodstain (see kids, pain can be stylish!). I then raised my foot above my heart to lower the pressure and called (between swearing up a storm) up to SP to bring down something to stop the bleeding (and I was a bit woozy by now, the initial adrenaline wearing off).

In the next installment, I will regale you with how I didn't go to the hospital/doctor and healed this on my own (no infection whatsoever) with nothing more than Tumeric, Lavender Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Honey, lots of cut-up socks and patience.

So my mojo has returned and we've entered Virgo, sigh of relief.

Until next time... Miss Absinthe