What I Did Today :: Workout :: The Sweat Spot

I grew up dancing. I love it with all my heart. It is in my bones.

My favorite jam here in LA to take classes is The Sweat Spot. A place where folks of all skill levels come to share their love of dancing.  Twice a week I head there to remember why I fell in love with dancing.

For some, the dance floor is a familiar friend.  For others, it is something to be feared.

Leave your ego at the door.

Leave your competitive edge at the door. Kick your shoes off and join the owner, Ryan Heffington, in some moves that leave you sweaty and full of joy.

He is revolutionizing what dance is by opening up a space that invites you to be free and focuses on fun and exercise for all that dare to try it.

All of which does a body great.

{that’s me on the right}

What I Did Today :: Whittier, Alaska

I am lucky enough to call Alaska home.  The beauty of the state envelopes my soul and I leave renewed, happy, and inspired.  It is the one place on the planet where my heart grows bigger, more compassionate, and lighter.

Whittier is an hour and a half and one looooong tunnel drive away from the amenities of Anchorage.  Its main attraction: the water.

{before you get to whittier, portage glacier calls your name}

{the small glacier, the far right, once occupied most of the water}

{glacier retreat}

{the many boats of whittier}

The town smells of salt water and the minute you exit your car you immediately notice the chill in the air that bites you harder here because of the water air and wind.  There are about 4 choices in places to grab a bite, all hosting the expected Alaskan fare: seafood.

Kayaking, fishing charters, and glacier day cruises are the reasons why one would head on over to Whittier.

Three amazing reasons.

{stopping at one of the many scenic turnouts on the highway}

{the alaska railroad is seen much throughout the summer}

{it is dressed in alaska’s colors and always adds an element of nostalgia}

{my mom and i taking a day}

Whittier is the gateway to Prince William Sound and it is a glimpse at what is charming about my home state: ease, simplicity, and grandeur.

What I Did Today :: Nylon Party at Sky Bar

Parties are fun.  Especially when there is an open bar.  Especially when the open bar is at the Sky Bar, one of the most well-known establishments in LA.  While its heyday has long since passed {1996 -ish}, it is still a lovely bar that over looks a gorgeous sky line and gives you the semblance of floating in the sky.

{the new decor is light and ethereal :: kinda makes me want to move in and take a nap}

Nylon Magazine is known for throwing parties often and it is everything you imagine a Hollywood party to be: a mix of beautiful people, agents, and total douches.

I love to people watch and these places are first-rate for said activity.

{i sat directly under these tree lanterns and was transfixed}

{i wonder if anyone has ever fallen into the pool at one of these parties :: i hope i get to see that one day}

There is always plenty of heat lamps to keep a lady warm in a slinky dress and the oversized loungers make for a perfect place to lay out on during the daytime.

{the party was to celebrate olivia wilde’s issue :: they gave us cereal boxes with a t-shirt of her on it :: interesting}{brea working the red carpet :: in this case, the wooden floor}

{look at her :: she’s got it down}

{us in our party attire}

My highlight of the evening?  Two things…running into pro-blogger/rad chick, Rumi Neely of Fashion Toast while she was in action {getting her picture taken by her boyfriend for her blog} and talking “blog” with her.  And secondly, a girl’s night out.  I wouldn’t care if I were at an Amway convention, my friends are the cat’s whiskers.

What I Did Today :: MOCA’s Art in The Streets

On Sundays I try to always do something for my soul.  My soul as an artist and my soul as a human being of this planet.  I am in a bit of a laconic state since my mind was blown from prolific, brilliant art.

My dear friend, James, is a member at both the LACMA and the MOCA and is always too kind to bring me along as his plus one.  His knowledge about art and art history is intoxicating.

Right off the bat, in the parking lot, you are hit with Banksy, who has gained an even larger fan base since Exit Through the Gift Shop made its premiere at Sundance last year.

{there are many reasons why i love banksy :: his sense of humor is definitely one of them}

{me with the pioneers of graffiti art}

What I loved most about the exhibit was the diversity of the crowd: hipsters, yuppies, quasi-cholos, and artists.  Visual art has a way of bringing people together.  What I disliked about the exhibit was the security folks breathing down my throat: “don’t get close!”

{me doing my best lady pink stance}

{james and i :: art inside of art :: self-portrait meets graffiti meets installation piece}

{some of the works were performance pieces :: we were allowed to touch and play}

{james feeling the weight of this piece}

{follow the wall to discover where’s waldo stacey?}

The piece seen above introduced me to a new artist, Margaret Kilgallen, whose untimely death in 2001 left an art community that needed more of a feminine presence.

Her color choices and fonts are a perfect fusion of kitschy artistry and homespun flair.

To further add to the awesomeness that is Banksy, he is sponsoring free Mondays at Art in The Streets.  There are only a few Mondays left until the exhibit is gone, since it closes August 8th.

Mark, spray paint, and/or stencil your calendars; this is one you don’t want to miss.

What I Did Today :: A Tip for Saving Time

I am one of those folks who, if I have to be somewhere at 10:30, most often I get up at 10:00. As time goes on, I am trying to shed my tyro habits and get up early enough to not only “have” a morning, but, wait for it…enjoy them. Yikes!

I wear my night owl stripes with pride but as a night owl living in an early bird world, one must wake up early from time to time.

{enjoying a cup of joe/joy at the park on sunset}

A tip that has allowed me to savor my precious morning minutes {and get to more pertinent doings} is to brew my coffee or green tea the night before and during these hot summer months, drink iced coffee or tea in the morn.

{i need creamer :: lots of creamer}

Small tip but, let me tell you, I spend less time stumbling around mumbling in the a.m. and more time meditating.

Now that’s what I call a tip in the right direction.

What I Did Today :: Ace Hotel in Palm Springs :: A Getaway

When the going gets tough, the tough gets the hell out of Dodge…and head to the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs.  It is my retreat.  My getaway.  My home away from home {ok, I am not going to go that far}.  But it is a place that I look forward to and long for often.

I was first introduced to Ace Hotel while staying in Seattle years ago.  I was blown away by their attention to cute details {karma sutra books in every room}, rad amenities {the room I stayed in had a rotating wall for a door}, and customer service {the front desk set up flowers and champagne in the room upon my arrival}.

{lounge by one of two pools}

{btw, it takes major bravado on my part to post these after i posted my miss usa pictures yesterday, yikes!}

I was super pumped to find out they had opened one in Palm Springs.

{my favorite room :: patio with a fireplace}

They have great deals during the week {about $115 for my favorite room, $80 for a not-so-basic basic room}.  Check the website and I suggest giving them a call as well, the gal last time hooked me up for a “day of” deal.

{great places to lounge}

They have amazing poolside service that includes the best chicken salad I have ever had.  I eat it every day when I am there.  Furthermore, their cocktails don’t disappoint.  The Roadrunner jumps starts your day with blackberry infused Maker’s Mark with ginger beer.  What?!  Hell yes!

{when the lights go down :: you are greeted with thousands of white, twinkling lights}

At night, be sure to check out the hot tub {watch out for the mystery foam}, play some ping pong, and chill by the many public fireplaces that make you feel like you are at a spa more than a hotel.

{i am a fan of kitschy, what can i say?}

Speaking of spa…they have spa services that, while basic in nature, fit right in with the desert/wellness vibe Palm Springs provides for you.

{the mountains provide a perfect back drop into relaxation mode}

photos by sphynxie

They not only hit the mark, they aced it.

What I Did Today :: Tips for Organizing :: A Series

My car is a mess.  Anyone who knows me can attest to this fact {I am not being a sycophant here.  It.  Is.  A.  Mess.  Think Hiroshima, Nagasaki}.  But my closet is a well-oiled machine.  When it comes to my clothes, I address them with much élan.  They deserve it.  If I am good to them, they are good to me.

Ever wonder what to do with the extra button bag that comes along with your garment?  Or that little plastic baggie that has beads and threads that aren’t useful now, but a year down the road when you snag your favorite sweater on a loose staple you go through all your drawers thinking, “I saw that stupid bag somewhere here…”

A solution: grab a fine point Sharpie and write {in as much detail as the baggie will allow} what the button or thread, etc. goes with originally.  I usually write the designer of the shirt, the color, the type of garment: Calvin Klein White Blazer.

Secondly, I bought a bunch of clear shoebox containers and with my handy-dandy label maker made a box for my clothes emergencies.

No item of clothing will go snagged for long under my watch.

What I Did Today :: Polaroid Magic

I am obsessed with Polaroids. The instant gratification of getting a picture to share and display immediately is priceless, even with the best digital cameras around, instant cameras have their place.

What to do with all those Polaroids floating around? Here is the solution…

I wanted a way to tie all the pictures together in a artistically charming sort of way; I choose my black glasses to be passed around and every one strike their favorite pose with a plain white background.

{up close and personal}

Spend some time doing the lay out and let your intuition guide you.  Where does your eye want to go?

Head to your local frame shop for a black 1″ thick picture box and viola: Picture Polaroid Perfect for your walls and for your eyes.

What I Did Today :: Donate on a Holiday

Every holiday I donate to a cause.  I figure it is a good marker to remind me to do something for my fellow man.

This holiday I took my old magazines and donated them to the waiting room at my local County hospital {I have been there, the selection is slim, that is how I developed the idea}.

While it isn’t the largest gesture of changing and/or saving the world, it is a step closer in the recycle, reuse, reduce movement and in making someone’s day via Vogue {see, Vogue really can make a difference}.

So please join me in the holiday helping movement and do something en vogue.

What I Did Today :: Pressed Juicery Cleanse

I used to be one of those people who would hear the word cleanse and roll my eyes and mouth the word: lame.

As some know, us actors have to keep (well, supposed to keep anyway) our bodies finely tuned and ready for a moment’s notice, since you never know when a role is going to require you to run through a forest in a bra top and, let’s face it, no one wants to see a jelly role on a movie screen.

Recently, when going in for the lead in an independent film, I needed to be in a great head space and, furthermore, I needed to feel great.  So, I suppressed my eye rolling and researched LA’s finest places that would, one, deliver to my house and, two, tell me exactly what to do every day, every hour in fact.

I like simple and easy but, more importantly, I like the best.  That lead me to Pressed Juicery.  On their site, you take a simple quiz to determine which cleanse is best for you and they walk you through the entire process of what juices will be arriving the day you choose to start your cleanse and if you want to do a 3 day or a 5 day.  At $70 a day, I started with the 3 day (I mentioned independent film, right, not studio).  Plus, the idea of going 5 days without food seemed like medieval torture.

Upon the first morning, I awoke to a box full of 6 juices that were packed cutely in a cardboard box and were packed with ice packs.  Nice.  There were detailed instructions for leading up to the cleanse and weening myself off the cleanse.  See: simple.  See: easy.  Here comes the best part.

The juices tasted like fresh, pressed goodness chock full of health and vitality.  I was satiated all day.  Yearning, actually yearning, for my next juice since they tasted so spot on.  I was definitely imPressed.

What I Did Today :: Treadmill Workout

Years ago when I first moved to LA, I read an article in Vogue about Tracy Anderson’s studio since she was really known, at the time, for giving Madonna her ridiculous arms of awesome.  While I don’t necessarily want full blown Madonna arms, I will settle for a sliver of Madge’s guns.  When I went into the studio to check out their facilities, I was blown away by two things: the different approach she had to working out and the prices.

While Gwyneth Paltrow may be able to afford Tracy’s time, I have to settle for her online content and soon her DVDs.  But settling really isn’t the right word because I did this jam today (I set my treadmill to 3.3 speed) and not only was I sweating like a French man in the summertime, I walked out of the gym sore.  Rather than doing your run of the mill, ubiquitous treadmill jog, try this jam on for size.  I am sure I looked like a crazy person doing some of these moves on the treadmill but hey…when I am flashing some serious abs, who will be laughing then?

(The video is broken up into two segments.  The first is the warm up/exercises while the second is the actual moving treadmill workout.  I did and will continue to do both.  Viva la treadmill!)