rock 104.5 | I Am Layla James:

Sep 03 2011

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:

Reno Tahoe Tonight is the independent alternative. We are bold, uncensored and free. With 96 pages of local color and coverage, no other publication keeps readers in better touch with their peers, their interests and their lifestyles.

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.

Tagged 100.9, Advice, alternative, chris, dj chris payne, dj layla james, Humor, iamlaylajames, james, kdot, krzq, Layla, layla james, magazine, music, Nevada, payne, radio, Reno, reno tahoe, reno tahoe tonight, rock, rock 104.5, rtt

Sep 02 2011

Leave a comment

Adventures, Food, Photography, Places to Go, Travel

Atlanta Thursday:

Tagged adventures, Atlanta, barber, brick, buildings, cupcake, dessert truck, dj layla, dj layla james, downtown, historic, hotlanta, james, Layla, National Register of Historic Places, parks, photography, photos, pics, rock 104.5, shop, south, sweet tea, vintage

Aug 31 2011

Leave a comment

Adventures, TV/Radio

Worst Little Podcast

Yesterday I got to co-host Worst Little Podcast with good ole Rev. Rory. What a great show, make sure to download it on Wednesday!

Tagged dj, iamlaylajames, james, kdot, Layla, podcast, rock 104.5, WLP

Aug 20 2011

Leave a comment

Matters of Life & Advice

Dating Dilemma: Is It Okay to Check Your Partner’s Phone?

By StyleCaster, 17 hours ago

Want a friend on the inside? Add us on Facebook to always stay in touch.

One night after a lovely evening my date and I retired home. As we snuggled on the couch chatting his phone rang. He looked at the screen, sent the call to voicemail and placed the phone face down on the table.

I thought about asking who was calling at 2:00 AM but I resisted. Then the phone rang again, and again. I began to laugh and asked if it was his friend who we had seen earlier in the evening. “No,” he answered meekly, “that was Alexa.”

I soon learned this was the girl he had been sleeping with prior to meeting me. And although he did not have interest in sleeping with her again he had since the time we met-once. Awesome.

Here I was naively thinking after forging such a connection, we were exclusive. Not because we had had “the conversation” but because we liked each other. Apparently men can multi-task – just in this one area though.

After a LONG conversation we mended this small rift but from that moment on that phone became my worst enemy. I considered checking it several times. And soon we stopped seeing each other.

To be perfectly honest I have done some things I’m not proud of, by way of checking a partner’s device(s). I became frighteningly good at it. I ended my 7+ year relationship after checking my boyfriend’s phone. That was the very first time I had EVER invaded his privacy and the trauma of what I found made trust my biggest challenge to this day.

So this is my advice when it comes to snooping (take it from someone who has made all the mistakes): trust is THE make-it-or-break-it key to a lasting relationship. Sleuthing about in your partner’s email, voicemail, Skype, IM ect is a clear sign of distrust. Take a look at why you are feeling this way. If necessary speak to your partner about it. It helps. But checking for yourself is a slippery slope of masochism.

One of two things is going to happen:

1) You will be wrong; making yourself look like a total fool and sabotaging the relationship because the person will have every right to call you crazy and dump you. This is not fun – I speak from experience.

2) You will be right. This hurts beyond words. And 9 times out of 10 if you’re looking it’s because you already know what you will find. So before you become culpable for having violated trust ask your partner if they have violated yours. Honesty begets honesty. And the truth always comes to light. Trust your instincts but keep your hands clean.

Think about this one last thing a friend of mine recently told me: “Unconditional love is about freedom. If your partner feels free to love you or love another and they choose you? Well then…you know.”

So TRUST. Trust your worth, trust your partner and trust your relationship. Let them be free and they will always fly home to you.

Tagged Advice, dating, dj, dj layla jaames, Facebook, Instant messaging, james, kdot, Layla, phone, relationship, rock 104.5, Skype, StyleCaster, Telephone

Aug 16 2011

1 Comment

Matters of Life & Advice

10 Signs You’re Borderline Obsessed With Your Crush:

I’m guilty of all 10 of these at some point or another…. but then again I’m not obsessive…. I’m a girl. We are wired that way, right? heh.

By HowAboutWe, on Fri Aug 12, 2011 1:47pm PDT

By Chiara Atik for HowAboutWe.com

1) You find yourself casually clicking over to his or her Facebook page or Twitter account, and then before you know it, you’re at their very first entry and there’s nothing more to read. Because you clicked through the entire thing.

2) You’re happy to talk to anyone about your crush. Like anyone. Like that co-worker you randomly ran an errand with. Like your Grandma’s sister at a Family Reunion. Like the ONE person who happens to be on Gchat when you get a cryptic text that you immediately need help decoding.

3) You make plans with any mutual acquaintances you may have, in the hope that maybe, just maybe, your crush will come up in casual conversation. And if they don’t, you will bring them up. And sometimes you suffer through long evenings with people you don’t even like that much, just so at the end you can casually let your crush know that you “hung out with [MUTUAL FRIEND] the other night.”

4) You can’t help but thoroughly research anyone who tweets to your crush, or writes on their wall.

5) You give your crush their own separate ringtone, and whenever you hear any tune that is even remotely similar to it, your heart skips a beat.

6) You wouldn’t say you have unrealistic expectations about this relationship, but when pressed, you admit you’ve thought about where you’ll retire, and what activities you’ll do with your eventual grandchildren.

7) The most played song on your iPod is the one that played at the bar on your first date.

8) You absolutely refuse to make any plans for the weekend UNTIL you’ve made plans with your crush. And if you don’t hear from him or her, you still keep the weekend open, just in case they call.

9) It’s so weird, but, you can relate almost any conversation to one you were just having with your crush! You’re constantly telling your friends what your crush thinks about, oh, anything.

10) In between dates, you find yourself renting movies he/she mentioned, reading their favorite book, idly wikipedia’ing any anecdote they mentioned, and looking up flights to where he/she said they’d most like to go on vacation.

Tagged Advice, Boyfriend, dance, dating, dating advice for women, dj layla james, Facebook, fun, iamlaylajames, james, kdot, Layla, layla james, relationship, Relationships, rock 104.5

Aug 15 2011

Leave a comment

Adventures, Originals, TV/Radio

Weekend Recap:

It’s time for a nostaligic look back on my weekend… now if I could only remember what I did… oh yeah:

FRIDAY: Amazing

I had 4 events I said I would go to…. but I didn’t have that much time. So I had to make choices.

Corey’s 30th B-Day at Famous Dave’s
Pick up my custom art from Aric Shapiro at The Salvagery Artist Collective
Hangout with my boss and friends for drinks at the Stonehouse
Go to AWOLnation and hangout with radio friends

So priorities…. MUSIC and ART….check. I cancelled on Corey to go hangout with my boss. Then my boss cancelled, so 2 out of 4 events down the hole.

So I went to go visit Aric at the Salvagery to pick up my art. He was leaving the next day for the Playa to build The Temple for Burning Man. It’s amazing to me that people would donate a month of their time to build The Temple, just to watch it blow up. Just amazing.

I met a whole gaggle of crazy New Zealanders… shouting and drinking PBR…(I think its the official drink of Reno). Overall it was a great time.

Flashforward to home, getting ready, shower and a shave (Hey I keep it classy)

Then off to go see AWOLnation. I love living downtown because there is always something unexpected going on. I went outside and there was fireworks shooting off the Silver Legacy. I’m assuming for Hot August Nights… it was a good start to the night.

I met up with new friends at KRZQ as well as members of KDOT. In Reno radio you can’t really afford to make enemies. We are all in this crazy little city trying to survive in the broadcasting industry.

AWOLnation was good, but all their songs relatively sound the same. The thing I love the most is I am finally feeling like I’m well rooted in Reno as well as radio.

I can BS with the big boys about music, industry news, and just plain tell dirty jokes. I love it. It’s been a 5 years in Reno, but I feel like I’m really making it my home.

After the concert the afterparty was at Tonic. I watched Chris Payne spin the night away as well as some cool guy who looked and danced like Andre 3000.

(Always a highlight)

The night was filled with normal drinking/dancing debachuery.

Twas Fun.

Saturday: Awkward

I woke up in a rush to get to the station. I looked like a hot mess, I didn’t wash off the makeup from the last night, my hair was crusted in hairspray…. it was ugly.

But regardless I had a good airshift from 10am-3pm. Nothing caught on fire… so I was happy.

(Yes, that is my low standard of success)

Afterwards I was inspired to go to Tahoe. One of those random adventures…. apparently I couldn’t inspire anyone else to go with me.I really didn’t want to go to a beautiful lake and sit there by myself. (This has been a theme for me, learning how to be alone… its not working)

So I went to the pool and that was just not as satisfying.

I met up with one of my neighbors, I thought he was going to bring all his friends, but it just ended up being me and him… which was fine… just different than I imagined.I like groups, gaggles of people, bringing people together, bbq’s and such.

So one on one is hard for me.

Then we agreed to get a bunch of people to show up together… I knew about 15 people that were going to be out and about downtown. I cancelled on another friend for a house party because I believed in a this new plan… downtown drinking and such. Sorry Drew

So we agreed to meet at 9pm…. so at 10:30 we finally got together. I met up with my 2 friends at Imperial Bar. (It was 95 degrees in there, I was sweaty and gross) But I ran into 2 old friends back from my ballroom dancing days…. yeah!

After $2 Kamikaze shots at Imperial we decided to get some fresh airand head down to the Waterfall.

We enjoyed had some hookah, more drinks and ran into a couple of awkward situations.

For instance it was Reno High’s 10 year reunion so everyone had name tags on and we didn’t know anyone there!

We enjoyed some more hookah and this amazing drink called a Juicy! Ask West or Brandon (the bartenders) about it next time you are there.

We got tired of being in room full of people that we didn’t know, yet they all knew each other and decided to meander to Brew Bros.

That place is very hit or miss, its either the best night or your life or completely irritating.

(Turned out to be the second one).

I was surrounded by people having sex on the dancefloor… ok well just about having sex… but its always awkward being surrounded by people getting it on…

I was also hot and sticky and irritated. The band wasn’t that good and I got tired of being pushed around by the tongue jockeys. So we left and ate some food at Cafe Sedona.

{Isn’t the whole point of Reno is to be able to order chinese food at 2am?}

Apparently they only had breakfast food and I WAS PISSED. This night sucked. Good thing I was in good company with friends Corey, Shannon and David.

So I made it home…. grumpy, but grateful for good friends.

SUNDAY: Lazy

It was so nice sleeping in. Sunday is the only day that I get to sleep for ungodly amounts of time.

So after a 10 hour nap I woke up and ate some leftover chicken soup. It is my Sunday tradition to stay in bed and watch bad TV.

So I watched ‘Switched at Birth‘ on HULU. Wow that stuff is addictive… its got drama, love, a real american family… its an absolute trainwreck. LOVE IT!

I’m currently hanging out till 7pm, playing whatever the hell I feel like on Rock 104.5 .

After this… not sure.

I’ll probably go to my BFF’s house and see how that baby is a growing.

(She’s pregnant)

Maybe she’ll feed me…..

Pregnant ladies always have extra food laying around the house.

Over all the weekend was full of ups and downs, good friends, awkward situations and bad tv.

Thanks for reading

~Layla

Tagged aric shapiro, art, Arts and Entertainment, bars, brew brothers, burning man, Chris Payne, corey, dance, dating, dj layla james, Event, Facebook, friends, fun, Hosting, Humor, iamlaylajames, james, kdot, Layla, layla james, love, music, Nevada, Relationships, Reno, Reno Nevada, rock, rock 104.5, salvergery, stonehouse, stories, the salvergary, the temple, United States, YouTube

Aug 08 2011

1 Comment

Food

Loaded Guacamole with Chicken Kebabs:

By Mark Bittman, on Fri Aug 5, 2011 11:21am PDT

It seems like everyone has his or her own guacamole secret. I can always be counted on to use a lot of garlic, a little jalapeno, cilantro, and lime. But it’s always fun to add something new here and there, and this guacamole is in fact loaded with extras. I was pleasantly surprised by the unusual addition of shredded lettuce. It adds heft, almost like a guacamole salad, and cuts some of the richness of the avocado. Most importantly, it makes an excellent base for these kebabs, which are very easy to prepare. The simple marinade gives the chicken and veggies a nice kick, and the grill adds that signature smokiness. I made a little extra marinade and put some all-veggie kebabs on the grill, too. Mushrooms, eggplant, and zucchini are all great for grilling, in addition to the veggies in this recipe; really, anything goes. Try adding pineapple or other fruits for a sweet variation.

Recipe from The Food Matters Cookbook.

Loaded Guacamole with Chicken Kebabs

Makes: 4 servings

Time: About 45 minutes, plus time to marinate

Guacamole, of course, can stand on its own—but it can also act as a support for plenty of other ingredients. Here the avocado is combined with corn kernels and lettuce, but you can use frozen peas, grilled or roasted asparagus, or ripe tomatoes. If you marinate the chicken ahead of time and mix the guacamole a little before serving, the meal comes together in a heartbeat.

12 ounces boneless, skinless chicken thighs or legs, cut into 12 or 16 large chunks

1 large onion, cut into large chunks

8 ounces cherry tomatoes

1 bell pepper, any color, cut into large chunks

2 tablespoons olive oil

4 teaspoons minced garlic

1 tablespoon chili powder

Salt and black pepper

3 avocados, skin and pits removed

Grated zest and juice of 1 lime

1 cup corn kernels (thawed frozen are fine)

2 cups shredded romaine or iceberg lettuce

1 fresh hot chile (like serrano or jalapeño), seeded and minced

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish

Lime wedges, for serving

1. If you’re using wooden skewers (you’ll need at least 8), soak them in water for 20 to 30 minutes while you prepare the chicken. Thread the chicken, onion, cherry tomatoes, and bell pepper alternately onto the skewers, leaving a little space between the pieces.

2. Combine the oil, 3 teaspoons of the garlic, the chili powder, and some salt and pepper; taste and adjust the seasoning. Brush the chicken and vegetables with the oil mixture and let marinate for at least a few minutes or up to 1 hour at room temperature. When you’re ready to cook, prepare a grill or turn on the broiler; the heat should be medium-high and the rack about 4 inches from the fire.

3. Meanwhile, make the guacamole: Mash the avocados in a large bowl until they’re as smooth or chunky as you like. Stir in the remaining 1 teaspoon garlic, the lime zest and juice, corn, lettuce, chile, and cilantro. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, stir, and taste and adjust the seasoning. Cover and refrigerate until you’re ready to eat, but no longer than an hour or so.

4. Broil or grill the chicken kebabs, turning once or twice, until the chicken is cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes (to check for doneness, cut into a piece with a thin-bladed knife; the center should be white or slightly pink). Spoon guacamole onto serving plates, top with the kebabs, garnish with cilantro, and serve with lime wedges.

Tagged dj layla, food advice, iamlaylajames, kebabs, laya, layla james, recipes, rock 104.5

Aug 05 2011

Leave a comment

Music

Ultragigantor:

If you haven’t listened to Red Line Chemistry’s new hit single: Ultragigantor – Here’s your chance!

Request it at your local radio station!

Tagged Andrew Breit, art, Arts, Brett Ditgen, Bulldog Productions, chemsitry, dating advice for women, Dave Fyten, dj layla james, dumb luck, Facebook, gigantor, iamlaylajames, james, Kansas City, kdot, Layla, layla james, Man, Mike Mazzarese, montage, music, Nevada, re, red, red line, red line chemistry, Reno, rock, rock 104.5, rock video, tom brown, ultra, video, YouTube

Jul 21 2011

Leave a comment

Matters of Life & Advice

Men Have It As Tough As Women?

By Marcus Osborne for GalTime.com

Sometimes I wonder if I’m just a masochist. Maybe I just like the pain. Honestly, the only protection I’m sporting against the pending avalanche of invectives from the majority of women who’ll read this article is a thicker skin than lesser men. I’m hoping, though, that after you’ve kicked your monitor, called me some unflattering names or requested that I perform an act upon myself guaranteed to garner the attention of yoga instructors and porn movie directors alike, you’ll at least take the time to catch your breath and consider my points.

My acknowledgement first. I’m not a woman, but I know that being a woman is often supremely difficult. Sexism sucks. Being objectified sucks. Being paid less to perform the same job sucks. Having some old codger drop a condescending, “Honey” or “Sweetie” on you is no doubt a pain in the butt. I’ll never know the misery of menstrual cramps or the pain of childbirth. And lord knows that sifting through the army of jerks, players, users, abusers and emotionally unavailable frogs to finally kiss that Prince Charming is hardly a picnic. Being. A woman. Is Hard. But you know what’s just as hard?

Being a guy.

Yep, I said it. Being a man is just as difficult as being a woman. Now don’t get it twisted. I’m not at all saying that there is gender equity in the tribulations they each face. I’m not saying that it’s the same; I’m saying being a man is just as hard.

This is something that virtually every guy thinks. Most don’t complain about it openly. They know that this is just the way it is and they accept the rules of the game. Additionally, guys can’t really get away with admitting that the pressure of “being a man” weighs on him like a two-ton boulder. Why? Because a man openly acknowledging that the societal heat is getting to him is given the stink-eye.

Guys aren’t allowed to show any weakness. Don’t cry. Only wimps do that. Share your feelings? Pansy. Guys don’t see therapists. Studies show that men have a higher rate of suicide than women. Go figure. Now this isn’t a “poor us” rant. I mean, it is what it is, right? This is just me, a guy, stepping up for the fellas to say that this game is no walk in the park for us either.

Related: Can Women Have Sex Like Men?

In the dating game, guys have to develop thick skins to deal with regular rejection. Women don’t. Men have to pay for dates, women don’t. Husbands have to be providers, women don’t. These seem like trivial things, but mind you, the inability to be anything less than great in any of these areas is akin to walking on nails for a guy. Just as men can never truly know the pressures of being a woman, a woman can never truly appreciate the pressures of being a man.

Again, I’m not trying to say men and women face the same problems, I’m saying they both face very, very real societal stressors that adversely affect them equally. And while the door is open for women to express whatever emotional impact those pressures kindle, guys do not typically enjoy the same open-door policy.

But what do you think? Am I wrong? Am I just being soft? Should guys just “man up” and just deal with it? Or do you think my perspective has any merit at all?