Jeffrey Above Sea Level

The Movie List

In 2012 my New Year's Resolution is to watch a new movie (and by new, I mean a movie I've never seen before...which is quite a few) every week. I figured I'd keep a list of everything I've seen and offer a rating and two sentence review.

Feel free to add your comments if you've seen the same film!

 

THE RATING SYSTEM:

1 star- Steaming Pile of Poo

2 stars- Had some redeeming aspects

3 stars- I liked it!

4 stars-  I loved it!

 

THE LIST:

1. Young Adult

2. A Dangerous Method

3. My Week With Marilyn

4. Ballerina

5. Enlighten Up

6. Game Change

7. Being Elmo-A Puppeteers Journey

8. Mystic Pizza

9. Dumbstruck

 

THE BRIEF REVIEW:

1. YOUNG ADULT   2 stars

While well written and fantastically performed, I kinda hated this film. There was nothing redeeming about Charlize Therons character, and it made the film feel kinda pointless.

2. A DANGEROUS METHOD 3 stars

Keira Knightly, please eat a sandwich, you are way too skinny!! A bit of a disconnect with the "crazy" performance, but that's ok, you were probably really hungry when you shot that scene. Otherwise I thought you and your co-stars were brilliant! Great writing, direction. I really liked this film.

3. MY WEEK WITH MARILYN 3 stars

What is it that is so fascinating about Marilyn Monroe? I could watch her in just about anything and watching Michelle Williams play Marilyn was no exception. The rest of the cast was equally enticing. The story was nice, but a little too neat. Based on a true story and told from the author's point of view, I felt like he wasn't really telling us the whole story and there was something far more interesting and deeper that occured.

4. BALLERINA 4 stars

I'm a sucker for a good (and brief) documentary. Ballerina follows five dancers in the Kirov Ballet from their training to their professional careers around the globe. It was fascinating. I thought Abby Lee Miller was insane, but y'all, these girls start training at this special ballet school when their ten...and they have to audition topless. Yes, you heard me correctly. There was a particularly creepy moment when the very old male ballet teacher was contorting said topless girls in various positions. Ick. Otherwise, totally worth watching!!

5. ENLIGHTEN UP 3 stars

Finally got around to watching this yoga documentary that I had put in my Netflix queue back when I did my 30 day challenge. This documentary follows a yoga skeptic on his quest to discover what yoga really is and pursue enlightenment. The answer, he discovers, is that it just can't be summed up into a neat little package. He doesn't find enlightenment, but in the end he does find peace of mind. Worth watching on a rainy day.

6. GAME CHANGE 3 stars

Can we just pass out the Emmy's and Golden Globes now, cause seriously there were some fantastic performances in this film. I have always been fascinated with Sarah Palin and her sudden and frightening rise to fame. This film captured a campaign desperate for a break, and the rash and fatal decision to bring Palin on as McCain's running mate. Um, they found Palin via YouTube search. The campaign quickly realizes their mistake as Palin teeters on the verge of a nervous breakdown, only to pull through and become a delusional and power hungry @#$%^. Palin's journey from a simple "hockey" mom who just wanted to make a difference, to a soulless politician is mesmerizing. For a film clearly made by the left (HBO Films) McCain is portrayed in a very sympathetic and honest light (although his war injury to his arm is never acknowledged or depicted.) Worth seeing!

7. BEING ELMO-A PUPPETEER'S JOURNEY 4 stars

As someone who spends a significant amount of time subjected children's television, I hate Elmo. So when this popped up on my Netflix cue, the cynic in me just couldn't resist watching the journey of the creation of an Emmy award winning, gazillionaire puppet. An hour and twenty minutes later the BF and I were a tear-stained mess. Kevin Clash, the puppeteer who gave Elmo a voice and a soul, is the focus of the film. His story is incredibly heartwarming, and his success is built on a tremendous amount of passion, love, and hard work. He was working with minor characters on Sesame Street, when legendary puppeteer Richard Hunt, frustrated with a puppet he'd been assigned, threw said puppet across the table to Kevin. Hunt challenged Kevin to create something out of what he thought was a useless puppet. Recalling how puppeteer Frank Oz had once told him that each puppet has one unique quality that really makes them come alive, Kevin did some research. By hanging out with the kids at the daycare his mom ran, he decided that Elmo's quality was love. Pure, innocent and joyful love. I won't spoil the rest of the story, but this documentary is a must-see! Um, I love Elmo now. Those are words I never thought I'd say.

8. MYSTIC PIZZA 1 star

Apparently everyone has seen this film, and I was feeling left out. So against my better judgement I watched Mystic Pizza.  In addition to the ridiculously predictable plot, this boring "coming-of-age" dramady also wants me to buy that Julia Roberts is Portuguese? Ugh. A harsh reminder of why I hate rom-coms.

9. DUMBSTRUCK 2 stars

Bless their hearts. That's really all I can say about this cringe inducing documentary that follows six ventriloquists on their quest for success. Only two seem to have any actual talent and aptitude for this difficult art form. The rest of the subjects were a gaggle of sadly delusional misfits that hid behind the alter ego of their puppets. However, watching Terry Fator go from unknown to one of Vegas' top paid entertainers was touching. Watch Being Elmo instead.

10. GOING DOWN IN LA LA LAND 3 stars

Ok, so this review is going to be all sorts of biased. There is a new genre of film emerging in mainstream entertainment. I'm thankful that it's emerging because it means that we, collectively,  as a people are growing and becoming more accepting and open minded. This genre is the gay romantic comedy. I'm also grateful that my ridiculously talented and funny friend, Allison Lane, is at the forefront of it. I witnessed her comedic brilliance last night while I watched this film in the Grauman's Chinese complex, and I even got a little goose-bumpy and teary when her name appeared at on the screen at the top of the film. It's nice to see talented people get the recognition and opportunity they deserve. Anywho...the plot. Adam is an actor who's new to Los Angeles. He can't get a day job, can't find acting work, so he ends up working as a receptionist at a gay porn company. Of course one thing leads to another and he ends up doing porn, falling in love with a crack head and then digging himself out of the mess he's created. Allison plays his BFF, roommate and struggling fame seeker, and serves as the films comedic relief. There was lots of nudity and some steamy sex scenes, which, as a straight person made me want the film to just get on with it (hmm, is this how gay people have felt watching "straight" romcoms for the past 50 years). But, it serves it's genre well and has a nice little message in the end. Kudos to everyone involved!

 

Resolution, Schmesolution.

Up until 2008 I never wrote my Resolutions down. Like most people, I'd make some crap up when put on the spot on New Year's Eve and then promptly go back to my old ways on January 2. Thanks to my friend Mike Cedar's entertainment blog I've successfully written down my goals for the past couple of years and had someone to hold me accountable...except for last year. After a particularly trying and life-changing 2010, my only goal for 2011 was to succeed enough to not have to move in with my parents. (Mom and Dad, I love you, but no good can come from us living under the same roof again.) ;)

I'm happy to report that I achieved that goal and that I've gotten by with a little help, generosity and encouragement from my friends...and my parents. However, I also discovered that I'm a workaholic. Here in LA, there isn't that much to do. I don't have TV, so I spend a lot of time on my computer...networking, writing, submitting, auditioning. I do it from the moment I wake up to till it's time for bed, and bedtime is usually when my laptop runs out of battery and I finally sucumb to shutting it down. I am very driven. I'm afraid if I stop working for one day that I'll be behind and someone will have an advantage over me.

So in 2012, I'm going to learn how to relax. I really, really don't know how to do this. I have a Netflix subscription and the only thing I've watched on it is the Crunch Candlelight Yoga DVD over and over. I could have bought that DVD nine times by now. I can count on one hand how many movies I've seen in the past two years, that includes in the theaters and at home! So, first resolution:

1. See a movie once a week.

Remember how I did that yoga challenge? I was so convinced that I had set myself up for some good habits and that I would continue my practice on a regular basis. Ask me how many yoga classes I've been to since then. Um, well, that would be zero. (I have however kept up my Crunch Candlelight Yoga DVD practice, so all is not lost.) Now part of this is due to finances, but most of it is because I haven't made the time for it. I don't make my wellbeing a priority. Can you see where this is headed?

2. Do yoga twice a week and do cardio 2-3 times a week.

One of the many great things that have happened this year is I started this blog and discovered I could actually write enough interesting things to keep an average of 60 readers per post. Woo hoo! Thank you all for reading this. Your support and encouragement mean more than I could possibly express.

3. Continue to blog and post at least once a week. (I figure if I encounter writers block I can just write about all those movies I'm seeing.) ;)

And since I can't ignore work completely, as a professional goal, I'd really like to be the spokesperson for a national campain...with residuals. Like Flo with Progressive. I'm putting it out there!

4. National SAG ad campaign.

There you have it! Now you can all hold me accountable. Anyone have a resolution they'd like to share? Post it in the comments and I'll do my best to support you in your goals.

 

So, Um, What Exactly Is Kale?

I very excitedly told the BF last night that I was going to make my friend Kara Maguire-Martin's Kale Chorizo Squash soup. I bought all the ingredients and it smelled super yummy as I dropped each one into the pot. I chopped and peeled the garlic and onion in my new Slap Chop that I got for Christmas!! (My life is changed. I will never have to spend 20 minutes chopping fresh garlic!) But he seemed very fixated on what exactly kale was and wanted to know if it was the same thing that they make Collard Greens with. Up until a year ago, I always thought kale was a relative of the seaweed family, but I was wrong. (Shh, I very rarely am wrong.) :)

The folks at Trader Joes sympathized with my kale confusion and printed a description right on the bag:

"Kale is a form of wild cabbage in which the central leaves do not form a head. (tee hee) It's said to have originated in the European Mediterranean prior to the Middle Ages. It's hardy leaves resisted frost damage, making it a staple for winter cooking when most vegetables were unavailable."

Well now we all know. It's apparently also crazy rich in Vitamin A and C, beta-carotene and lutein. So apparently we should eat a lot of this stuff, and I have a fabulous recipe for you!!!

Kara's Kale Chorizo Squash Soup

(My comments are in red)

Ingredients

1 onion

Couple cloves of garlic (I think I used about 8...all depends on your definition of "couple")

A few cups of Butternut squash (I bought the small TJ's bag pre-chopped)

Can of white beans, rinsed and drained

2 cups of baby white potatoes in small cubes

1/2 to 1 whole soy chorizo, removed from casing

1/2 tsp of thyme (I found the flavor of the chorizo canceled out the flavor of the spices)

1/2 tsp of oregano (see thyme comment)

1 tblspn of kosher salt (I love me some kosher salt!)

Pepper to taste

EVOO

Bay leaf

Box of veggie broth

WHOLE MESS OF KALE

1. Saute your aromatics until translucent in EVOO (If your scratching your head as to what aromatics are, it's the onion and garlic.)

2. Add the squash and brown

3. Add the stock, potatoes and spices and bring to a boil

4. Reduce heat to simmer and add everything else. (I just scooped up kale by the handful until I couldn't fit anymore in the pot. I would guesstimate that it was about 3-4 cups. I then waited about 20 minutes for it to boil down before I added the whole chorizo)

5. Let simmer for 30-40 minutes

 

 

 

 

 

"I have doubts. I have such doubts."

I found myself having to explain the current economic crisis and Occupy Wall Street to a ten year old this week. I first had to explain what taxes were. She was completely appalled that you don't get a say in how much money gets taken out of your paycheck. I then explained that the government then takes that money and uses it to help run America, and that Americans are angry because our tax money was given to a bunch of billionaires who run the banks, who instead of fixing their system gave themselves a nice Christmas bonus.

I used to have such a tremendous amount of respect for our government and considered myself a proud American, but this past week has left me with many doubts. Bloomberg redefining the 1st Amendment, Congress saying that frozen pizza is a vegetable, the FDA permitting Aspartame to be labeled as a natural sweetener and peaceful protests ending in police brutality. Downright lies and no one being held accountable for them. But hey, it makes us money, so who cares! How are we supposed to teach our children the difference between right and wrong when our own government seems to only follow the rules that benefit them?

I was further exasperated when I opened up CNN.com today and the top story was "Petition: Ryan Gosling should be 'Sexiest Man," not Bradley Cooper." THIS is the top news story? Then in the supermarket today the woman in front of me was devouring a story about how Princess Kate is 6 weeks pregnant. The tag line exclaimed "Her people demanded an heir!" Oh really? The British people said "Give us an heir or else!" and then Kate was like "Oh well, jolly good, if that's what the people want I'll happily give up my rights when choosing to reproduce..." And don't get me started on the whole Kardashian wedding...

I don't know if I have a point, except that I have doubts. Doubts about our goverment. Doubts about where our priorities really lie. Anyone else feeling the same?

 

**Side note: I recently discovered how to add a "like" button on my blog to my Facebook page. If you "like" what I had to say, click the button on the bottom right of this post and it will appear on your own FB page as "Super Intelligent person liked this post by Allison Mosier." If you click the "like" button on the left hand column it will automatically make you an offical "fan" on my FB fanpage. (I know, I was very confused, too.) ;)

Airing of Grievances

Since the season of Festivus is upon us, I thought I would get a jump start on airing my grievances. I figured I'd start with my pet peeves, and more specifically, my pet peeve with Facebook ultimatums.

You've seen them: "If you're really my friend/Jesus-lover/cancer hater/anti-child abuse/American then you'll repost this." Really people!?! This is the new version of chain mail at it's worst. Why do I have to repost your status to prove myself as your friend? It's very manipulative. Here's the most recent one that's circulating:

"To every single one of you who are on my friends list. I enjoy catching up; I enjoy hearing about you and your family; I am not only glad to count you as friends, but also family. Let's see who actually pays attention. Like this post and then copy this as your status just for a minute. I'll be watching to see who really does cherish family and friendship. Thank you for being a part of my life!! ♥"

Now let's dissect this:

"To every single one of you who are on my friends list. I enjoy catching up; I enjoy hearing about you and your family; I am not only glad to count you as friends, but also family."

Aww, that's sweet and quite touching. I would totally repost this as a way to express my gratitude to my friends and family (Although I have to admit the pickins are slim among family members I'd actually say this to.)

"Let's see who actually pays attention."

Translation: Let's see who has no life and spends all their time on Facebook.

"Like this post and then copy this as your status just for a minute. I'll be watching to see who really does cherish family and friendship."

So if I don't copy this into my status IMMEDIATELY, all those nice things you said about me a couple sentences ago won't be true anymore and I will no longer be counted among your close and personal friends?  

"Thank you for being a part of my life!! ♥"

Unless of course you don't repost this, then to hell with you! This is the status equivalent of "Bless Your Heart."...they even added a heart!

Another one that really pisses me off are the anti-cancer ultimatums done in the name of raising awareness. I'm sorry but who on this planet does not know that cancer exists? Who actually thinks cancer is cool? We all know what cancer is and that it completely and totally sucks. No, I don't want anyone we know to fall prey to this horrible disease, but apparently if I don't post where I leave my handbag or the color of my favorite bra then, according to the status, I'm a big 'ol cancer lover.

Be original people! And if you do want to bring awareness to something, make it personal and don't threaten and manipulate people to agree with you.

Ok, I'm glad I got that off my chest. Now, who's up for some Feats of Strength?

 

Learning to Receive

We've all been taught that it is far better to give than receive, and this is something I have always found to be true. I love to see the joy in one of my kids when I suggest stopping at Starbucks on the way home, or the happiness  on my boyfriend's face when I surprise him with In N' Out (burger). However, I have a really hard time receiving anything. If someone pays me a compliment, I usually don't know how to take it. I belittle my efforts or try and find something to compliment them about. If my parents help me out then I'm terrified I will be perceived as one of those kids who is handed everything and has never had to work for it.

Since moving out to California, I have been facing a financial challenge. I think it's safe to say that we all are. While talking with some actors in my acting class the other day, I was shocked to discover all of them had four day jobs. FOUR! We are all struggling to maintain our dignity and pay the bills. I often wake up in the middle of the night in a panic that I don't have enough work. Where can I hustle? What new side job can I take on? All of this leaves me exhausted and with very little energy to do what I came out here to do. Yet this is everyone's reality. I pray on a daily basis for a miracle. For work. Please let me find more babysitting work, please let me book a SAG national commercial.

But the funny thing about the universe is that it doesn't always bless you the way you want to be blessed. I haven't been able to get more work, but I have found that people have been extremely generous to me. One family I sit for overpaid me. After this happened several times, I emailed them and said "You've been overpaying me!!" They responded "We know. We really appreciate you and you're the only person we feel comfortable leaving our kids with." My kneejerk reaction was to say "But your kids sleep the ENTIRE time I'm there!" However, a very small light bulb went on and I suddenly started to realize, OOHHHHH, this is a blessing! Stop trying to belittle and divert it and just receive it already!  I love to cook, but had to leave a lot of my appliances in New York since the cost of shipping outweighed the cost of the actual items. Then a friend here called me and said "Hey, we're getting rid of a bunch of stuff, do you want it?" My mom called me a couple days later and said "Crockpots on are sale!! Do you want me to pick one up for you??" (One should NEVER pay full price!) ;) Now I realize a new cooking appliances doesn't pay my rent, but it does save me money from eating out, which in turn helps me pay the rent.

As Stan Marsh would say, "You see, I've learned something today..." I've always been a firm believer that our experiences, especially the bad ones, happen for a reason. That reason usually ends up teaching us something, and my recently financial woes have taught me to recieve. Yes, I still wholeheartedly believe that you should work hard and earn your keep, but I've also learned that it's ok to accept help when you've done those things and it's just not enough.

So I'll end by saying thank you. Thank you to everyone who has helped me this year. And thank you for reading my blog. (Just don't tell my English teacher mother that I started a sentence with a conjunction.)

I Was Told There'd Be Punch and Pie!!!

This Halloween, I accomplished two "somedays." (You know, "someday I'd like to...") First, I carved a pumpkin, something that I don't think I've done since I was about 10 years old. (Mine in the middle "strictly triangle" pumpkin)

Second, I decided to take said carved pumpkin and turn it into a pie!!! I've always wanted to make a pumpkin pie from scratch, and when I saw "Pie Pumpkins" at Trader Joes, I bought not one, but three of them!!

After the Halloween festivities I took the pumpkins home, coated the inside of it with olive oil and baked those suckers for an hour and a half at 350 degrees. This is what they looked like after their visit to the oven:

Then I gutted them!!! Which was surprisingly easy. Having done this with butternut squash several times, I've discovered that the trick is to leave them in the oven for an hour and a half, and not for an hour like I had done in the past. The skin peeled right off!

I had SOOOOOO much pumpkin!

So I had to figure out what to do with the leftover pumpkin... Using my Butternut Squash recipe, I decided to make Pumpkin Soup!

Pumpkin seems to be waterier than butternut squash and it came out a little runny. So I drank it out of a mug instead! It was super yummy!

 

Dairy-Free Pumpkin Pie

This is modified from a recipe I found online created by Sarah Chana

My comments are in red

Ingredients

1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell (I used the frozen kind)

2 eggs

1/2 cup of brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons of cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon of powdered ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1 1/2 cups of mashed cooked pumpkin (I used electric beaters, a potato masher was taking too much time!)

1 cup of soy, rice or almond milk (I used plain almond milk)

Directions

1. Whip eggs until frothy

2. Beat in sugar, then spices and salt

3. Add pumpkin and soy milk and beat until well blended and smooth

4. Pour mixture into pie shell

5. Bake at 450F for 10 minutes (At first this seemed completely strange to me, but after consulting several pumpkin pie recipes, this seems to be standard)

6. Reduce heat to 350F and bake for 45 minutes more. (I initally only did it for a half hour and it wasn't cooked enough and I kept putting it back in 5 minute increments)

Allow an hour to cool before eating. I had a ton of leftover filling so I poured the remainder in a glass bowl and cooked that too. A fantastic gluten/carb free option! ;)

 

You know your boyfriend loves you when...

You say "Hey! There are cheap tickets to a Celtic Arts concert at the Ford tomorrow night! WE SHOULD GO!" and he responds. "Ok, sure. If that's really what you want to do."

Tackling #33 on the list and my love for all things Irish, we attended the Celtic Arts Center's 8th Annual Celtic Concert Series at the beautifully renovated Ford Amphitheater.

First, let's discuss this theater. I remember attending a production of Midsummer Night's Dream at the theater when I was 11, and loving the space. It's designed in the style of ancient Judaic architecture to resemble the gates of Jerusalem. The theater was built by Christine Wetherill Stevenson in 1921 to house her piece The Pilgrimage Play, and the theater was originally called the Pilgrimage Theater. Ms. Stevenson, an heiress of the Pittsburgh Paint Company, was a huge financial force behind several of the historic theaters in the LA area, including the Hollywood Bowl (she was the Bowl's first President). The 32-foot-high steel cross in the Cahuenga Pass was erected in her honor in 1923 and is still lit today.

OK, sorry, the theater dork in me had to give the brief history lesson. Thanks to an arts endowment they have invest 6.1 million dollars in renovating this theater, and it was well worth every penny. Taking a cue from the Hollywood Bowl, there is a tranquil picnic area that winds from the base of the hill where the entrance is and stretches all the way up to the top of the hill where the entrance to the theater is. Unlike the HB, there are tables and chairs in their own little nooks. We got there about a half hour before curtain so we ended up eating our "picnic dinner" at our seats, which was equally lovely.

Now, I knew nothing about anyone who was performing but the evening started out with members of the LA Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums. While the music was majestic and powerful I got all teary when they marched out and their wives and kids stood up and cheered with pride. They played a traditional Irish piece, took a moment of silence for 9/11 and then played God Bless America on the bagpipes and drums. I'm a sucker for all things patriotic and bagpipey. It wasn't 10 minutes into this silly concert and my mascara was already running.

Next The Ploughboys-a pub band, performed. They were fantastic! They play every Friday night at the Tam O' Shanter in LA. If you're in the area definitely check them out! They were joined by the Cleary Irish Dance School for their final number which was just adorable times ten. The students marched out in their traditional Irish garb and step danced their way to cuteness.

After that the evening went down hill. The next band to perform was Skelpin'. A band that blended the ancient sound of the Celts with their Spanish and Mediterranean counterparts. They were led by a pretentious douchy blond guy who played way too many instruments and desperately wanted the audience to be impressed with his skills.

Now it's already been two hours and it's finally time for intermission. If my car wasn't stuck in the tandem parking we probably would have left. But alas, we were trapped, so we settled in for Act Two, The Browne Sisters and George Cavanaugh.

While very talented, the Browne sister were sadly very uninteresting to watch. Their banter was uncomfortable and their lack of stage presence felt like I was watching a praise and worship band that was desperately trying to be hip. Since the Bowl is just across the Pass we snuck out and waited for the fireworks, which were fantastic!

At this point we're at the three hour mark. I just wanted to go home. We decided to check out the rest of the lobby and discovered a restaurant on the second level. It was there that we read about the history of the theater, it's renovations and the contributions of Ms. Stevenson, which was fascinating. Instead of watching the rest of the show we decide to go hang out in the car until we could be let out. While waiting in the car we were treated to a heard of deer leaping across the parking lot and up into the hills. I got very excited at this sighting. (We used to play "Spot the deer" on family vacations when I was a kid and the excitement of being the first to see a deer it's still ingrained in me.)

While I can't recommend the Celtic Arts Concert (it tis' annual, after all) :) I can highly recommend the Amphitheater. If you get a chance to see something there, go!

Tis' the Season for Soup!

There have been several days here in LA this past week where the tempature briefly dipped below 75 degrees and I used this as an excuse to finally make my favorite soups!

I have two receipes, one for Butternut Squash that comes from my good friend Martha, and another for Creamy Artichoke soup from the freakishly beautiful Giada. (Seriously, that woman has some fantastic genes.) I've included the recipes below and added my own comments in red.

I should add that these recipes are VERY healthy if you leave out the dairy, which I do when making them, and they are still VERY tasty!

Pureed Butternut Squash Soup

OK, for starters, save yourself an hour of agony and just buy the pre-gutted and sliced Butternut Squash. If you insist on doing it all yourself, take the squash and cut it in half, drizzle some olive oil, salt and pepper on it and stick it in the oven for an hour at 375 degrees before you do anything else.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter

1 small onion, chopped

1 piece (2 inches) fresh ginger, peeled and chopped (Ginger goes bad quickly, so take whatever remaining ginger you have and place it in the freezer-it's also easier to slice when frozen.)

2 garlic cloves, chopped

2 3/4 pounds small butternut squash, prepared and cut into 3/4-inch cubes (Martha is a dirty, lying whore. See above.)

1/4 cup fresh orange juice (Why yes, Martha, I happen to juice my oranges every morning and ALWAYS have fresh orange juice on hand... I used the kind in the bottle and no one seemed to notice the difference.)

Course salt and ground pepper

Sour cream (optional)

Directions

1. Melt butter in large saucepan over medium heat. Cook onion until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add ginger, garlic, and squash; cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in 4 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer until squash is tender, 20 minutes.

2. Puree soup in two batches. When blending hot foods, allow the heat to escape to prevent splattering. Remove the cap from the hole of the blender's lid, and cover with a dish towel (I just remove the cap, but I suppose Martha doesn't want to be sued...) Stir in juice and 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt. (I did this after everything was mixed and placed into a new large pot.) Serve hot, with sour cream, pepper and pumpkin seeds, if desired. (I did this without any dairy, and it still tasted fantastic!)

Now, I don't want to brag, but the BF had 3 bowls of this soup! This recipe makes a ton, so there is plenty leftover for freezing.

 

Creamy Artichoke Soup

The name is a little deceptive. I don't use any dairy when making this soup and it still tastes amazing.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 leeks, white part only, washed and chopped

1 clove of garlic (I'm a garlic whore, so I used 4 cloves)

1 small potato, peeled and chopped (I used 4 of the small butterfinger potatos and didn't peel them)

1 8-oz package frozen artichoke hearts, thawed (I used a 12 oz package and didn't thaw them)

2 cups of chicken stock

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly grounded black pepper

2 tablespoons mascarpone cheese, plus 1/3 cup (I didn't use this.)

2 tablespoons chopped chives, for garnish (I used the dried, bottled kind. The BF also used horseradish as a garnish.)

Directions

1. Heat olive oil in a large, heavy pot over medium heat. Add leeks and garlic; stir. Add potato; cook 5 minutes, stirring often.

2. Add artichokes, stock, salt and pepper; cook until vegetables are tender; about 20 minutes.

3. With a blender, puree soup. Add 2 tbsp. cheese; blend again.

4. In a small bowl, stir remaining 1/3 of cheese to soften. (Or don't!) Ladle soup into serving bowls or glasses. Place one dollop of cheese on each serving; top with chives. Serves 4. (Giada lies! I found this makes 3 bowls, so I usually double up on the recipe so I can freeze the leftovers.)

#16 Los Angeles Zoo, Part 1

I have a tremendous amount of blessings in my life. One of these blessings is that I get paid to color and be goofy and do fun stuff like get pedicures or play Angry Birds for hours on end. So, when faced with three 10 hour days with my favorite 10 year old, Megan, I called my mom up and together we all decided to tackle #16 on the list, the Los Angeles Zoo!

Little did I know that my adventures in babysitting would afford me the opportunity to visit the zoo twice in one week, but I found myself babysitting a 3 1/2 year old later in the week, and the mother handed me her family zoo pass and said "Have fun!" The experience with the 10 year old girl and a 3 1/3 year old boy were COMPLETELY different (shocking, I know.) ;) But more on that later.

I had last been to the LA Zoo when I was about 12. The only thing I remember is that it was HOT, there was no shade, lots of hills, and it felt more like animal prison than a zoo. Thankfully things have improved at the zoo over the past 18 years. It's sprawling. The place is huge! There are still lots of hills, but it has been landscaped beautifully, and there is lots of shade.

Only in LA, the world's capital for frivolous law suits, are there warning signs at the zoo entrance for hot weather and bees. Seriously. "Beware-Hot Weather today, proceed with caution when walking" (Ok, REALLY?) "Beware, the zoo has bees." There were also numerous signs posted at the exhibits: "We are aware that one of the chimpanzees is injured. We are monitoring his progress. Thank you for your concern." This all made me contemplate the lameness of LA, but then I saw something shiny...

Our first stop was to the animal nursery, where we saw baby river otters. I'm a sucker for baby anything and I couldn't stop exclaiming how freakin' cute these little otters were. Then in an adjacent yard was a three legged gazelle. Having worked on the Broadway production of The Lion King I got to see many paper mache versions of gazelles, but never a real live one up close. This thing was hopping all over the place, and a truly beautiful creature to watch move. Little did we know this was one of the only animals we would see moving all day.

Keeping with The Lion King theme we next saw the meerkats. The were perched on a rock and posing, and again, I couldn't stop from exclaiming how cute they were. After that, it was a bit wah-wah. It was 10:30am. The zoo opens at 10am. Which means all of the animals are let out of their nighttime holding areas at 9:50am. They were asleep by 10:30am. Our trip quickly became a live version of "Where's Waldo?" with the 10 year old beating us at every exhibit. "See that patch of fur between that rock and those two trees?... That's the lion!"

I will say the elephant exhibit is impressive (and it's also worth mentioning that thanks to an animal activist group the zoo is in the middle of a law suit over the exhibit.) Although for $42 million, it better be impressive! We got to see one of the elephants drink from a waterfall and play in the dirt. Now you might be thinking, what is so interesting about that? But this thing was 14,000 pounds! It was fascinating. Whilst 100 times the size of the gazelle, watching the elephant in motion was equally beautiful and magnificent.

Equally awe-inspiring were the gorillas. Of course almost all of them were sleeping, but watching one pick apart some grapes was mesmerizing.

My mother was very disappointed that this zoo didn't have a polar bear and penguin exhibit and I shared in her disappointment. While there were some truly majestic animals here, I'll take the tiny Central Park Zoo any day over the LA Zoo. Those CP Zoo animals are entertaining. Even the animals seemed to have taken on LA's lackadaisical attitude!

Having said that, it was a great day, and we had fun playing "Where's Waldo?" Our final animal of the day was the river otter who lets out this little yelp that sounds like a child laughing. There were some children at the exhibit and for the longest time we thought it was them making the noise. When we discovered it was the otter, we all had a good laugh. And watching this cute little guy move was equally amusing.

I'll cover my 2nd trip in the next installment.

 

 

#20 THIRTY DAY YOGA CHALLENGE

DAY 28 & 29

10 Minute Yoga DVD. Wah Wah.

DAY THIRTY!!!!!

I did it! I did 30 days of yoga in a row! It didn't kill me! I am stronger, faster, smarter. I'm going to solve all the worlds problems!!!

Ok, maybe not, but I do feel accomplished!

To celebrate my 30 days I returned to Yoga Shelter for my "final" class. I was slightly shell shocked when I had to pay $20 for a single class. While I LOVE this studio, they are way overpriced and there is no way I can afford to study there in the future (but definetly take advantage of their free introductory week if you can!) So, I will continue my quest to find the best studios in this city and report back to all of you.

I've been using a Pilates mat for my yoga classes, and it's gotten all stretched out. Pilates mats are thicker than yoga mats and have more cushioning to them. As a result of the extra padding, they can get stretched out when being used for something other than they were originally intended. I was all over the place!

Depite a slippery mat, the class was fantastic! At the end the instructor made a point of saying that so much of a yoga practice is just about showing up. Doing yoga itself is quite easy, but it's the "obstacles" you have to overcome just get to class. It's so true. While I was definetly challenged by the physical aspects, the real challenge was in finding the time and motivation to practice. Knowing I had commited to writing about it for 30 days was a huge motivator, and when I couldn't make it to class, having the DVD's was a huge help. While I won't be doing yoga everyday anymore, I can definetly see it being feasible to do it 2-3 times a week.

If I have taken anything away from this whole experience, it's that you can do anything you set your mind to. Growing up, this is something my parents would tell me on a regular basis (and then I think they quickly regretted it when I moved across the country to do just that,) ;) but over the years I got distracted and discouraged and this was a firm reminder that I really do posess the power and abilty to make things happen.

So, go make things happen!

NAMASTE!

 

30 Day Yoga Challenge-Day 27

DAY 27

You know what I really hate? When my parents are right.

When I moved to LA they warned me not to get my current place because they claimed it was dangerous to park on the street. Well, while it's not dangerous, it's a major pain in the ass. I spend a good 20-40 minutes every night driving around looking for parking, and I have all these minor dings and dents on my fender from kissing other cars while trying to parallel park. The other thing they were right about? My mattress. I bought a brand new Serta pillow top when I moved here. My mom warned me that when they had a pillow top she woke up with back pain every morning. I had a pillow top the last four months that I was subletting in NYC, and loved it, so I chalked my moms back pain up to old(er) age, and bought the pillow top. Well, about 3 months ago it developed a dip in one side, so I rotated it (you can't flip a pillow top) and now it has a dip on the other side as well, which results in Allison waking up unable to stand up straight in the morning...and my foot. The top of my right foot is immobile for a good 10 minutes (what's THAT about!?).

I called this morning to see about my warranty, and they told me it would cost me $50 for an inspector to come out and determine if my bed was faulty or not, and then possibly provide me with a credit for a new mattress. So, let me get this straight: They provide a crappy product, and then I have to pay for them to fix the crappy product they provided. Shouldn't they fix it free of charge? Doesn't that negate the whole warranty thing?

So, mom and dad, you were right and I was wrong. I shouldn't have bought the pillow top.

What's a girl to do with a bum back and foot every morning? YOGA! I busted out my 10 Minute Yoga DVD and did the 4 of the 5 sections (I find the stretching and relaxation rather wimpy, so I just do my own stretches.) While my back isn't totally pain free, at least I can stand up straight now...and my foot doesn't hurt (Ok, seriously, why is my foot paralyzed in the morning? This has happened 3 days in a row now!)

30 Day Yoga Challenge-Day 25 & 26

DAY 25 & 26

10 Minute Yoga DVD is my new best friend. I find it more challenging and invigorating than Crunch Candlelight (which I still also love), but not so challenging and fast that I get frustrated and turn it off (ahem, Baron Baptiste).

A friend recommended a yoga studio in Sherman Oaks that I was itching to try until I discovered that all of their classes are an hour and a half. I then researched some other studios and found that most of them are 1.5 hours. Is it me, or is that just too damn long? Did I get so spoiled by Yoga Shelter that now all studios pale in comparison?

Despite my inabiliy to get to class, I'm thrilled that I have found some DVD's to help me continue my practice after my 30 Day Challenge is over.

Since I have nothing exciting to report in my yoga journey on today's blog, please check out my friend Samm's latest post from Fat Isn't Funny: Does this deodorant make me look fat? Separating the pearls from the pig poop in Dr. Oz's book, "YOU: On a Diet."

30 Day Yoga Challenge-Day 22, 23 & 24

DAYS 22, 23 & 24

YIKES! Has it really been three days since I've written. I never made it back to Yummy Yoga. As I predicted, I found it very hard to walk the next day, and opted to do Yoga for Stretching and Relaxation on the 10 Minute Yoga DVD, which I really like.

The next day (23) I was feeling better, but still not up for tackling an hour and a half class, so I did the Yoga Basics on the 10 Minute Yoga DVD, and then did my own yoga stretching series. I'm a little amazed at how much I've learned and how much I'm able to do on my own.

Today (24) I did Yoga Basics, Yoga for Buns and Thighs and Yoga for Abs on the DVD. The thing I really like about this DVD is that everything is broken into 10 minute segments, so if you get bored, or a certain muscle group is getting tired, you know it will be over quickly. Plus if you know you only have a limited amount of time, you can pick and choose which segments to do. I have yet to try Yoga Burn, which I think I will tackle tomorrow.

I haven't found a studio to practice at for my last week. Any suggestions? (It has to have a free trial week-sister's on a budget!)

I can't believe I have actually been doing this for 24 days straight, and that I haven't wimped out. I realize it's getting redundant for me to say this, but I am REALLY proud of myself. And if I can do it, anyone can.

I passed one of my neighbors on the street tonight and as I was walking away, he exclaimed "You look really good!" and honestly, I feel good. I have been working HARD! I never thought that doing simple poses and holding them would tone my body and burn fat, but it has and it wasn't incredibly painful. I've always has this unresourceful belief that in order to be in shape, you have to be in pain and bored. There has been nothing boring about this journey (ok, yes, painful at times, but never something I couldn't handle).

What have you done recently that's surprised or inspired you? Please share!!

30 Day Yoga Challenge-Day 21

DAY 21

I MADE IT TO CLASS TODAY!!!! The first time in over a week. I was so excited to have my ass kicked again! I went to Yummy Yoga, which I haven't been to since last Saturday. While I enjoy their classes, they really need to do something about their schedule. They only offer one very early morning class, and then nothing till after 4pm.

So, I was very happy that they had a class at 10:30am this morning.  The class before us ran late (which happened to be taught by the studio owner) so we didn't get in there until 10:45am. Now, I realize she owns the studio and all, but being late is one of my biggest pet peeves, and it seems it was bugging everyone else that was waiting, too. However, all this waiting gave me the opportunity to browse their shop. I seriously need to buy one of those towels that have the grips on the bottom because halfway through I start slipping all over my mat from all the sweat. So, I thought I would check out their towels. For a mere SIXTY FIVE DOLLARS I could own one of those towels. I mean, really?? It's a freakin' towel! I will save my "yoga as a business" rant for another blog, but wow.

Then we get in the studio and the jackhammering starts, we lie down on our mats and begin stretching, and a baby starts crying in the waiting room (which didn't bother me, but the instructor seemed really thrown by it). The whole studio also smelled like moldy Thousand Island dressing, and the girl practicing next to me was a really noisy breather. Needless to say, we didn't really start off on the right foot. While the instructor was very skilled, I just didn't like her style. She took herself a bit too seriously for me, and started spouting off technical yoga terms without explaining them, which just annoyed me. About 50 minutes into it, I decided this was the hardest class I've ever taken. Then I quickly determined that an hour and a half  is way too long for a yoga class. I was hurting halfway through the class, and I'm already wondering if I'm going to be able to walk tomorrow, which also really annoys me. What's the point in exercising for a day if it prevents you from exercising for the next three days?

Having said all this I'm going to give Yummy Yoga one last chance tomorrow. I'm disappointed that I had such a drastic experience from last weeks class and I'm hoping tomorrow will prove me wrong.

And even though I didn't like your style instructor, Namaste.