There are dog lovers and then there are DOG LOVERS… I now know this because one of my closest friends has become one and puts most people’s parenting skills to shame. Example: the puppy is growing and not comfortable in her stylish little sports car so she gets a truck for him (think living room on wheels)- so that he could roam freely. When we go to dinner we are limited to spots that are dog friendly and lovingly accept little Petey’s presence. This is a small detail that all of her adoring friends accept and the fact that we may be dining outside in uncivilized temperatures is something that we all work with. Petey is quite cute after all and so we’ve learned to simply drink a bit more red wine than normal to stave off the chill. Some uber Petey friendly spots that we frequent are Chateau Marmont, Il Pastaio, Stella and Tra Di Noi… If this all sounds a bit eccentric to you I recommend reserving your judgements as DOG LOVERS such as my dear friend are more common than you think….
Alexi Murdoch is pretty great. He’s come a long way from the small LA cafe’s and venues that I caught him in many moons ago. Releasing his third album this year, he’s remained honest and soulful. You might also recognize his sound from the Sam Mendes movie ‘Away We Go.’ A great flick only enhanced by Alexi’s heartfelt touch. He’s absolutely one to see live.
It doesn’t have to be New Year’s Eve to celebrate Petrosian style… I’m certainly not a connoisseur, I do however know what I like. So if your pockets are deep and you feel like making merry in a decadent fashion- hightail it to Petrosian and let the masters guide you…
Life is but a dream- that we create for ourselves…. Why not contribute the journey with some whimsy? As mentioned in my previous post – Objets d’ Arts & Spirit has a world of intriguing choices to help facilitate creating all that you desire. All that you need is an open mind and oodles of gratitude. Its common sense that in order to achieve what you want you must first be grateful for all that you have. A tradition that I’m particularly fond of is candle burning- with intention and grace. Perhaps it stems from growing up Catholic and burning candles in church. Nonetheless, I find it a helpful reminder to stay focused on what I’m working on creating in my life as well as sending good wishes to those who may need it. There are hundreds of candles to choose from and the incredibly generous and gifted staff at Objets d Art & Spirit can steer you in the right direction. New Year’s specifically has a ritual with burning Bayberry candles for prosperity. See the store website for more details or even better pop in and visit.
Burning instructions.
This is the time of year to burn Bayberry candles. Starting 25 minutes to midnight on New Year’s Eve, burn Bayberry continuously for 40 days to ensure prosperity throughout the year!
Burn your Bayberry candles one at a time. Once you have lit a candle, do not blow it out. Let it burn until it has finished itself. In the event that it is unintentionally put out, simply relight it. Your intention will not be lost if this happens.
When one candle finishes, simply light a new one. Number each candle, and write the start and stop date. Keep your candles burning throughout the first 40 days of the New Year – till around February 9th! If, when you reach the 40th day, and your last candle is still burning, do not blow it out! Let it continue to burn until it is finished.
After the 40 days are finished, you can make an appointment to have the candles read with Kirpal. The appointments for Bayberry readings are 15 minutes, and are available at a special rate. If you are in the Los Angeles area, please call the store for an appointment. Bring all your numbered candles to the store with you for your appointment. (Note: Please do not bring candles in one at a time as they go out. Also, neither Kirpal nor the staff of Objets D’Art & Spirit will be able to read your Bayberry candles on the floor of the store - this service is by appointment only.)
If you are outside the Los Angeles area and would like to have your candles read with Kirpal, please call the store for directions on how to pack and ship your candles to us, and how to make an appointment for a Bayberry reading by phone.
New Year’s Eve is upon us and there are oh so many ways to start anew. If you live in LA and have a bit of hippie spirit in you, then you will be thrilled to be ‘in the know’ on a very special magical shop filled with all kinds of fun indulgences that will help you celebrate all the blessings that lie ahead. It’s called OBJETS d’ART & SPIRIT and everything from candles, oils, crystals, baths,etc can be found. There are religious and spiritual items from around the world as well as appointments with a very special Fairy Godmother of sorts. Kirpal, the owner of this fantastical haven, is a manifestor. She is like no one else you’ve ever known and all good things and more. Think spiritual therapist meets healer meets divine creatrix… There really are no words to describe the experience- so book a session and see for yourself. She is LA’s best kept secret and has a very confidential impressive client base- so your secrets are most certainly safe with her… Check out her bio and peruse the store via their website.
I love a cheeky card. Something that gets the point across with a bit of fun. For example, at PAPER SOURCE the other day I saw a card that read “NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS ARE FOR QUITTERS.” The sentiment made me chuckle and the gorgeous paper stock combined with the letter press and whimsical font created the perfect greeting. These tend to be a bit more costly than Hallmark (I’m not hating on Hallmark- they most certainly have their place) but the extra price for being clever is well worth it. I also discovered a create your own HAPPY NEW YEAR’S card. Up to 6 photos and your own message meant to recap a memorable evening. Now all you have to do is simply create that magical evening worthy of remembrance…
“CHEERS TO A NEW YEAR AND ANOTHER SHOT OF US GETTING IT RIGHT.” -Oprah
I’m a huge fan of the symbolism of New Year’s Eve, less so of the ‘event’ itself. From my varied experiences, the quality of the New Year’s celebration is dependent not on where you are but who you’re with… The best New Year’s Eve that I’ve ever had I spent at my yoga studio- GOLDEN BRIDGE in Hollywood. It was actually quite spectacular. There were yogini’s there of every shape and size. Everyone was blissful and free spirited emanating the relief of being in a cozy sanctuary and not amidst the chaos of the outside world. A massive eclectic mix of people simply stoked beyond measure at the opportunity to ring in the New Year meditating after a dynamic yoga set. I’m sure this isn’t everyone’s bag but should you find yourself free and clear of obligations this is definitely an experience that you won’t forget…Welcome to Golden Bridge Yoga
There is something inherently cool about Silver Lake. No, I didn’t just figure this fascinating piece of knowledge out… I just never seem to get there. Whenever I do I’m always taken with how flavorful it is. Character. That’s the word- Silver Lake is teaming with character. Even their coffee bars have a certain appeal that I haven’t seemed to discover anywhere else- except maybe Venice. Intelligentsia is the perfect example and where I came to this conclusion. Open, airy, laid back (dogs abound) and proper coffee on the menu with not much else. I’m a fan. Oh, and the people watching is brilliant if you go and forget to bring a book or some form of busy work. If you smile you may even make some new hipster friends…
My bestie and I were out doing some holiday shopping in BH… The overwhelming task called for a late afternoon glass of wine at a new(ish) spot-(or new to us)- called Villa Blanca. It was quite spectacular in every way… Something about the atmosphere in all of it’s pristine whites accented with luscious floral arrangements hypnotizes you, kind of like a child in Wonka land. If you close your eyes you’ll swear you’re in St. Tropez or somewhere equally as decadent. No detail is forgotten down to the ever so good looking staff. Seriously, it’s almost distracting how perfect they all are. One can only imagine a proper casting was held to acquire the job. It is LA after all- would that really be that strange? I think not. As it turns out Villa Blanca is owned by Lisa Vanderplump- one of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Watching is a guilty pleasure- what can I say? Check it out if you need a time out and a mini vacation.
Combine the 6 whole eggs, 2 egg yolks, sugar, and salt in a medium mixing bowl and whisk together. Heat 2 cups heavy cream with the milk in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. When the cream and milk are hot, ladle about 1 cup into the egg mixture andwhisk to incorporate. Pour the egg-milk mixture into the hot creammixture, and continue to cook, stirring continuously, until the mixture thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the stove and strain the custard immediately through a fine-mesh sieve. Allow the custard to cool for 10 minutes before proceeding.
Add the vanilla, nutmeg, bourbon (if using), and brandy (if using) to the eggnog and stir well to incorporate. Beat the 2 egg whites to soft peaks in a clean mixing bowl and fold them into the custardbase. In a separate bowl, beat the remaining 1/2 cup cream to soft peaks, and fold them into the eggnog as well. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
Pour into a decorative bowl or pitcher and garnish with nutmeg. Serve in small punch cups or old-fashioned glasses.
Serving suggestion: Garnish with cinnamon sticks or freshly ground nutmeg
Directions
Combine ingredients in a large pot and bring to a simmer. Do not allow mixture to boil. Heat for 20 minutes and serve in a large, heat resistant punch bowl.
