Hump Day Links

Breaking News: Neil Patrick Harris to Star in HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH on Broadway - Spring 2014! Read more about Breaking News: Neil Patrick Harris to Star in HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH on Broadway - Spring 2014! 

@#()$&#@(*$&(@#*&$(*#&!!!!!!! THIS IS SO EXCITING! I love Hedwig. I want to go SO BAD.

Kanye West 'Yeezus' lyric or Lucille Bluth quote? Take our quiz!

BRILLIANT. The new Kanye album is pretty dope, BTW. Dope, fo shiz.

One woman’s struggle to reuse her penis cake pan

Bahahah. And yet they all still seem so phallic...

15 Facts That Prove Cat People Aren’t Crazy (They’re Awesome)

True fax. We are a swell minority. High fives to us!

A Daaay: Some words.

IT'S TOMORROW. And, now that I have had a few drinks, I can talk about my day.

I had a day. When I finally arrived at my parents' place to greet them with big hugs and a weary smile after two hours of traffic, I said, "Give me wine. The good stuff."

So, my poor Marilyn is still at the doctor's. I'm so sorry, Marilyn! The whole day at work (yeah, work) was spent calling the body shop checking in. "Should be ready 2-5. Call around 2." "Call around 3." "Call around 4:30." "Maaaaybe."

I don't like the unknown. In case you didn't know.

Then she wasn't even finished, and I had to drive the little tiny Fiat with no pick-up and no vroom to SB again, and everyone wanted to run me over on the freeway, and I finally go to SB and I drank all the wine and half a cocktail at the play.

Oh, right, my parents and I went to a play. We saw "The Year of Magical Thinking", a one-woman show starring Linda Purl. She was phenomenal, really, though at parts a bit scenery-chewing, but I was kind of bored by the show. One-person shows can only be so entertaining. But I imagine the book is incredible, and really, the show as great, just maybe a bit too long.

Then family bonding and chatting and catching up. All these weeks of house-sitting meant no parental time, which is unfortunate. Since, as you know, I happen to actually like my parents.

Now cozy room bed. I will sleep, and have yet another glorious SB weekend.

Sleep.

A Sunday: The Lovely, The Lazy, The LA Life

Overall I would say this weekend is just about the best I've had in LA for awhile. For reals.

Happy me.

No yoga this morning, though. My alarm went off, and my body said, "Uh, nope. No thank you. Nooo." I was wrecked. In a lovely way, but you know...no. Recovery day. Funny how 135 minutes in a 100 plus degree room, upside down, will make you a little tired.

So I lazed about in bed for awhile, which is truly one of my favorite past times. Popped my smelly cat pee sheets in the wash. Then I finished cleaning my apartment, which really took no time at all once I got right down to it, got it looking oh-so-pretty, parental-ready and shiny. Then I bought purty flowers at the Farmer's Market, and got myself looking almost as purty, and then my parents picked me up for our day out on the town!

Speaking of being purty, or pretty, if we're using grown up language: when I thought over our plans for the day last night, I realized they were exactly the same as a previous Sunday outing almost exactly a year ago: so I wore a variation on the same outfit. 'Cause why not?

• Dress by Old Navy
• Coat by Kut from the Kloth
• Tights by Nordstrom
• Boots by ShoeDazzle ($11!)

First up was lunch at the Napa Valley Grille in Westwood with my sweet baby cousin and her equally adorable boyfriend, seniors at UCLA. Of course, I call her my baby cousin when in actuality she's only a few years younger than me. But when you're a kid, a few years makes someone seem INFANTILE, and I still retain the idea that she's significantly younger than me, even though she's really not. Food was delicious, conversation was fabulous, all was well. I split a seared ahi tuna salad and braised pear and prosciutto with burrata appetizer with my mama. SO GOOD.

Then my parents and I went to see "The Gift" at the Geffen Playhouse staring Kathy Baker, Chris Mulkey, James Van Der Beek, and Jaime Ray Newman. It was awesome and weird and interesting and kinda fucked up and thought provoking and I don't really know what to make of it, but I enjoyed myself. I asked my parents if we could go because the author, Joanna Murray-Smith, wrote a play that I did a scene and monologue from when I was big into acting and drama and whatnot back in the day. Ah, memories.

Then my parents and I went back to my apartment, my mom and I put on comfy clothes, opened a few bottles of wine and chatted and hung out with the kitty and lounged. They were suitably impressed with my clean and well organized apartment. I'm so lucky to have parents that I actually enjoy spending time with as people. I mean, why wouldn't I? they're awesome.

And then I made them dinner! And it was goooood.

Parmesan crusted chicken (my mama's recipe, will post later!) with Emily Bites' balsamic roasted vegetables over mixed baby greens. And more wine. YUM.

And also, cheesecake stuffed strawberries, but no pictures of those, 'CAUSE WE ATE THEM SO FAST.

They hit the road back to Santa Barbara, and I am tucked into bed with my Tree, who was so pleased to have a chance to cuddle with the Daddy again, who was always his favorite. Though, he did seem to pay more attention to the Mommy this time.

And I'm super stoked, cause I just reached the most revered episode of SVU: THE ANIMAL SMUGGLING EPISODE!

Bedtime after that, with sweet sweet dreams of gibbons.

Anything and everything goes.

With 2013 looming in the distance, and the promise of a total fresh slate dangled in front of me like a super motivating carrot, I'm kind of in free fall. Anything goes at this point, I'm not even half pretending to behave.

And today, I saw "Anything Goes" at the Ahmanson downtown.

Yes, that was such an artificially created transition. So sue me.

So yeah, saw me a revival. Wasn't so into it. I guess I'm more a fan of the modern musical, as much as I love Cole Porter and "De-Lovely" and "in olden days a glimpse of stocking...", I just wasn't that into it. Kinda boring. And maybe being sick did something to my ears, 'cause I swear the vocals were just not that good.

But, I always love a mommy/daughter date downtown, and it's fun being out in the city during the holidays. Give me a sparkly bow and some evergreen and I am happy.

And an excuse to come up with an outfit.

Happy Christmas Eve Eve Eve!

This post will change your life.

First Apology: First day in November I missed posting something. Darn. I was doing so well, averaging 3 a day! I have no excuse, really. Just laziness. Saturday, the day of rest. To make up for it I'm gonna be so chatty today.

Second Apology: I've become that person. That obnoxious person who's like, "Take a picture of me! Take a picture of me! But it's for my blog, so it's totally legit." My poor BFF. Any time I have plans to do anything halfway interesting nowadays, I get excited because I have something to blog about...

I'm only a little bit sad? Just a little?

Yesterday I met up with my parents and The BFF, aka "my favorite people", in Hollywood to enjoy lunch at Delphine at the W Hotel on Hollywood Boulevard and see "The Book of Mormon" at my favorite theater in the world, the Pantages. I used to have a poster of it above my bed in college. It's the most gorgeous art deco explosion of opulence, and I love going there. I always dress up and feel classy. Which is rare. I even parked valet.

Craftily taken from my lap because
apparently they weren't allowing
photography.

I love these mirrors.
Awkwardly taken just
before a women moved in
to fix her lipstick. Rude.

Lunch: Everyone else had delicious delicious entrees, burgers with egg and sensational truffle fries and the best tuna sandwich ever. I made the mistake of ordering breakfast, eggs benedict, and it was just...average. Not bad, not good. With a stingy side of potatoes. I've learned my lesson for next time. It's a great restaurant though, just across the street from the theater so a) convenient and 2) lovely atmosphere and also, you know, tasty. And wine. Plus, like a lot of service places in Hollywood, every single waiter was gorgeous. I developed maybe three intense crushes on busboys alone before our meals arrived. So, two thumbs up just for that. A girl needs eye candy wherever she can get it.

"The Book of Mormon": Insanely funny and thoroughly offensive in every possible way. And you know I enjoy offense. And also I fucking love musical theater.There were moments where the humor was a bit too "South Park"-immature for my tastes, which granted I've never watched (I KNOW RIGHT?!), but overall it was sharp and witty. If you didn't know, the show was written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and won a buttload of Tonys. Totally deserved, it really was clever in its mocking and brilliant in its humor and super duper entertaining. Amazing choreography, too, though I probably won't buy the soundtrack. (Yes, I do buy Broadway soundtracks, thankyouverymuch.) You should go if you get the chance and don't mind Jesus calling someone a dick. Which...I approve of the kind of Jesus who would do that, but that's just me. Also: my mommy donated $20 to Broadway Cares, and gave me an adorable tote bag that says, "You simply won't believe how much this bag will change your life!" It is fab and I <3 my mommy.

After the show we went back across the street and up to the roof of the W where my parents and I enjoyed a drink a couple years ago on my birthday. The sun was just setting and the horizon was on fire. I absolutely love fall sunsets. The views up there are incredible, if you ever have the chance you should go up there and soak it in. It was a bit chilly up there (FINALLY) so we went down to Station Hollywood, which is the patio lounge/bar in the hotel. With heaters. Enjoyed a class of wine and chatted before My Favorite People had to drive an hour and a half back to SB. I mean, granted, it took me nearly an hour to get home too...eight miles or so? Oh, LA traffic. But it was absolutely worth it, I had an amazing day with people I love, got some good food and good theater and good times, and great pictures.

Griffith Park Observatory

Capitol Records and my favorite view, the Hollywood sign.
I never said I wasn't a cliche.

I hate my face in this but I also know
I'm hilariously self-critical. And the sky
looks awesome.* 

I wanted in that pool. If it was heated. And if no one
else was there.

(*Only reason I didn't make this an outfit post is that most of this pieces have been on my blog before. I know, repeating outfits. I'm such a sartorial slacker. Also: the dress still fits, but did not look nearly as good as the last time I wore it. Harrumph to me.)

Other things of note: Most of the pictures are unedited. Oh, and I took my real camera with me 'cause I wanted a good picture of me and The BFF. I've been using my iPhone for all my blog photos for the most part and I love the iPhone camera, I think it's great...but wow, I kind of forgot how awesome my real camera is. Note to self. I do feel so touristy pulling it out though, especially on Hollywood Boulevard. And sometimes the phone is just easier. I'm sure you can tell the difference in the pics I posted. It's a fun game, you should play.

Aaand I'm done.

Yeah. This post totally changed your life.

WATCH IT TO THE VERY END. There's something glorious there.