I visited friend’s last weekend in LA. I loved the sun and how my skin felt absorbing all the ocean air. I can’t wait to go back!
I Am Layla James:
Digital Media Consultant | Radio DJ | Human
Tag Archives: layla james
Marin – Day 1:
Day 1 so far….
The Holidays Suck:
This is not a light hearted post. This is not to get you in the Christmas cheer. This one is for me.
The Holidays Suck
Sure my life is great, I have a lot to be grateful for. A distant voice reprimands: “There are starving kids in Africa!”
The Holidays Suck
So instead of investing in a drug addiction, I’ll write my thoughts/fears. Mostly complain and possibly come up with some sort of point. No promises.
The Holidays Suck
For those who don’t know, I’m divorced. Yes, that’s right, I’m 25 and divorced. The part doesn’t really bother me. It was a blessing in disguise and given the opportunity, I’d do it all again. But during the holidays I miss that feeling of community of a real relationship. No just any relationship, I miss THAT relationship. I don’t miss the fighting, I don’t miss the despair. But I miss going home, giving the person I love a hug and knowing that person knows me better than anyone in the world. I can just relax. I don’t have to fake it, put on a show or even pretend to be interesting. They already know all my stories, they know how they end. There is such comfort in someone knowing who you really are. That skill takes time and not something I’ve been interested in developing with anyone else up to this point.
The Holidays Suck
Does it help I’ve been listening to Dave Matthews Band and Coldplay all day? No. At least I didn’t break out the chic flicks. I spared myself from chocolate and crying. I find some sort of dignity in that, I take what I can. So here I am alone, depressed, yet in a relationship. I’ve never felt so alone as to date someone serving overseas in the military. We met at an airport in September. He was handsome. He was shipping off to Afghanistan. We became pen pals. He’s supposed to visit in February. I’m not sure if that is still going to happen. It’s hard to be in a relationship with someone who isn’t there. No hugs, no kisses, no leaving the toothpaste cap off.
The Holidays Suck
So basically I’m melting down. It’s not at Stage 5 (that was last week), I give it a solid 3.5. So how does one sort out all these complex emotions? I have so many layers of emotional garbage that its hard to sift through and find the truth. Let’s explore my mental influences:
1) Missing my ex during the holidays, but remembering that he’s shit balls crazy
2) Missing my current bf, who I haven’t talked to in 3 weeks and I’m not sure where we stand, the last message was rough
3) Having new guys knock on the door reminding me: ‘You’re alone, I’m here, I like to snuggle and I smell good.’
4) Not working out, not eating healthy, not cleaning my house. At least I’m showering, that’s about all you’re getting out of me.
5) Feeling incredibly alone yet surrounded by people who love me.
6) Being broke, really broke.
6) Having the most professional success of my life. Really it’s amazing.
Well the first obvious thing would be to clean my damn house and eat something good. Maybe even go to a kickboxing class. That should get out some aggression.
Next, get grateful. This is the best advice I think. Get grateful, volunteer, you’re day is not that bad when you are feeding the homeless.
What next? I think things will be better when I talk to my bf and figure out where things are. Who knows when that will be, hopefully in the next week. That should provide some kind of closure. Also getting through 12/25/11 will help. Why? Because……
The Holidays Suck
Conclusion: Stop Whining, Get Grateful, Find Closure, Get Healthy.
Thanks for reading,
~Layla
The Holidays Suck
6 Crisp and Colorful Fall Salads:
By Southern Living, on Fri Sep 16, 2011 6:14am PDT
Tender greens and bold dressings pair the best of summer with the first crisp tastes of fall for a colorful collection of salads.
Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad
Photo: Jennifer Davick
Ingredients
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 (16-oz.) package farfalle (bow-tie) pasta
1 lb. fresh broccoli
1 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup diced red onion
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1 tsp. salt
2 cups seedless red grapes, halved
8 cooked bacon slices, crumbled
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through.
Prepare pasta according to package directions.
Meanwhile, cut broccoli florets from stems, and separate florets into small pieces using tip of a paring knife. Peel away outer layer of stems, and finely chop stems.
Whisk together mayonnaise and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl; add broccoli, hot cooked pasta, and grapes, and stir to coat. Cover and chill 3 hours. Stir bacon and pecans into salad just before serving.
Related: Harvest-Fresh Fall Farmers’ Market Recipes
Grilled Sweet Potato-Poblano Salad
Photo: Jennifer Davick
Ingredients
Vegetable cooking spray
2 1/2 lbs. small sweet potatoes
1 poblano pepper, seeded and diced
Cilantro Vinaigrette
1 (5 oz.) package fresh mâche
1 cup crumbled queso fresco (fresh Mexican cheese)
1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1/2 cup shelled roasted pumpkin seeds
Cilantro Vinaigrette
Whisk together 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro, 2 Tbsp. minced sweet onion, 1 Tbsp. grated fresh ginger, 2 Tbsp. honey, 2 tsp. orange zest, 2 tsp. Dijon mustard, and 1/2 tsp. salt; add 1/2 cup canola oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly until smooth.
Preparation
Coat cold cooking grate of grill with cooking spray, and place on grill. Preheat grill to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat.
Peel sweet potatoes, and cut into 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Bring potatoes and water to cover to a boil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat; cook 5 to 6 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain. Coat potatoes with cooking spray.
Grill potatoes, covered with grill lid, 8 to 10 minutes or until tender, turning occasionally. Gently toss warm potatoes with poblano and Cilantro Vinaigrette. Arrange mâche on a serving platter, and sprinkle with queso fresco and cranberries. Top with sweet potato mixture, and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds.
Related: 12 Quick & Easy Salad Suppers
Mango Salad
Photo: Jennifer Davick
Ingredients
2 mangoes, peeled and cut into thin slices
1 1/2 cups halved, seeded, and sliced English cucumber
1 1/2 cups halved baby heirloom tomatoes
1 1/2 cups fresh corn kernels
1/2 cup diced red onion
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
Fresh Lime Vinaigrette
4 cups arugula
Fresh Lime Vinaigrette
Whisk together 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar, 2 Tbsp. sugar, 3 Tbsp. fresh lime juice, 1 minced garlic clove, 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/2 tsp. ground pepper. Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup canola oil until smooth.
Preparation
Toss together first 7 ingredients in a large bowl; cover and chill 2 hours. Toss with arugula just before serving.
Related: 33 Perfect Party Appetizers
Cobb Potato Salad
Photo: Jennifer Davick
Ingredients
1 lb. baby red potatoes, quartered
1/3 cup sliced green onions
1 (11.5-oz.) bottle refrigerated blue cheese vinaigrette, divided
2 large avocados
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
6 cups shredded romaine lettuce
1 pt. grape tomatoes, halved
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded white Cheddar cheese
2 oz. blue cheese, crumbled
6 cooked bacon slices, crumbled
Preparation
Cook potatoes in boiling salted water to cover 15 to 20 minutes or until tender; drain. Toss potatoes with green onions and 1/3 cup vinaigrette; season with salt and pepper to taste. Cover and chill 2 to 24 hours.
Peel and chop avocados; toss with lemon juice. Toss lettuce with avocado mixture, tomatoes, and next 2 ingredients. Arrange lettuce mixture on a large serving platter; top with potato mixture, and sprinkle with bacon. Serve with remaining vinaigrette.
Related: Easy Make-Ahead Casseroles
Grilled Pear Salad
Photo: Jennifer DavickIngredients
3 firm ripe Bartlett pears, cut into 1/2-inch-thick wedges
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/2 (10-oz.) jar seedless raspberry preserves
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil
1 garlic clove, pressed
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. seasoned pepper
1/3 cup canola oil
1 (5-oz.) package gourmet mixed salad greens
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
2 cups fresh raspberries
3/4 cup honey-roasted cashews
4 oz. crumbled coat cheese
Preparation
Preheat grill to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat. Grill pear wedges, covered with grill lid, 1 to 2 minutes on each side or until golden.
Whisk together red wine vinegar and next 5 ingredients in a small bowl; add canola oil in a slow, stead stream, whisking constantly until smooth.
Combine salad greens, next 4 ingredients, and pears in a large bowl. Drizzle with desired amount of vinaigrette, and toss to combine. Serve immediately with remaining vinaigrette.
Related: 24 Cozy Soups & Stews
Melon and Plum Salad
Photo: Jennifer Davick
Ingredients
4 cups seeded and cubed watermelon
4 cups honeydew melon balls
3 red plums, sliced
2 cups torn watercress
1 cup crumbled feta cheese
Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette
Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette
Whisk together 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar, 1/4 cup hot jalapeño pepper jelly, 1 Tbsp. chopped fresh mint, 1 Tbsp. grated onion, and 1 Tbsp. lime juice. Gradually add 1/4 cup canola oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking until smooth.
Preparation
Gently toss together first 5 ingredients, and place on a serving platter. Drizzle with vinaigrette, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Official photo from ‘Home Improvement’ cast reunion — EXCLUSIVE:
http://insidetv.ew.com/2011/09/08/home-improvement-cast-reunion-official-photo/
by Lynette Rice
Look who showed up for the mother of all family reunions!
We were hoping to save our exclusive photo shoot of the Home Improvement cast for our Reunions Issue on newsstands Oct. 7, but somebody let the cat out of the bag via Twitter (we’re lookin’ at you, Patricia Richardson!), so we decided to give fans a sneak peek of the reunion held last month in Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Though most of the stars had already seen each other two years ago at the TV Land Awards, the shoot was still a big thrill for cast members like Tim Allen (Tim Taylor) and Patricia Richardson (Jill Taylor) because it involved seeing Jonathan Taylor Thomas — a.k.a. Randy Taylor — for the first time since 1998. You read that right: No one had seen hide nor hair of the cherub-faced actor, who turned 30 today, since he left the show. “It was awesome,” said Richardson, who invited her on-screen sons Taylor, Taran Noah Smith, and Zachery Ty Bryan back to her house after the shoot. “You know where you can pick up and it feels like no time has passed at all? And at the same time you look at them and say, ‘How can you possibly be that age because that makes me way old!’”
Check out a preview of our Home Improvement reunion photo shoot below:
Image Credit: CHRIS MCPHERSON FOR EW
September RTT Article:
Fresh off the presses, my article about the infamous Chris Payne!
Click HERE to find out more!
More About Reno Tahoe Tonight Magazine:
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People are responding strongly to Reno Tahoe Tonight because it has moxie, is physically gorgeous to look at and celebrates the people, places, hidden treasures and small businesses that make this region one of the most beautiful and creative places in the country. Our features and photo journals, shot by award-winning photographers and industry veteran Jamie Kingham (British Vogue, Marie Claire), reflect the essence of the creative resurgence happening in the Truckee Meadows.
The 1,690 calorie mac n’ cheeseburger: delicious or disgusting?
By Piper Weiss, Shine Staff, 21 hours ago
(photo: Denny’s)
Denny’s dastardly minds have done it again. The restaurant chain that fries mozzarella sticks between pieces of bread, have rolled out more gluttonously cheesy menu items.
The most notable is the Mac n’ Cheese Big Daddy Patty Melt: A burger patty layered with slices of cheese, macaroni and cheese, another layer of cheese, some kind of tomato-based “frisco” sauce and two pieces of buttered-up potato bread. Still hungry? It comes with a side of fries.
The 1,690 calorie count makes a lot more sense when you consider the sandwich is breakfast, lunch and dinner stacked on top of each other. It makes absolutely zero sense when you consider that it’s got 500 more calories than a Carl’s Jr. burger with fries, and large coke. It’s about three times the calories of a KFC Double Down sandwich. And about 200 calories more than five (count ‘em, five) Boston Market Mac and Cheese sides.
That’s without the super-size cheese option. Seriously, if your melt isn’t ooze-y enough, you can pay Denny’s 69 cents extra for more cheese. A better use of that 69 cents: pay the guy in the next booth to be your sober cheese counselor.
Denny’s joined Burger King and more than a dozen chains on a health initiative recently, offering more veggie and fruit options for kids. Adults? They can go to you know where…by way of the cheese menu. Direct quote from the company’s press release: “With America consuming around 8.8 billion pounds of cheese annually, Denny’s is answering to the appetites of the nation by introducing a dedicated menu that celebrates all things cheesy.” Other items on their new cheese menu include a strawberry cheesecake milkshake and a cheese-filled omelette drizzled in cheese sauce.
But nothing outdoes the cheese pasta/cheeseburger/buttered toast combo, both in calories and in creativity. Be honest, on the gross food scale, does the Mac and Cheese melt look deliciously gross, curiously gross, or just plain gross?
Awkward Family Photos:
