CONFESSIONS OF A FAT GIRL

Quote of the Day... Well, of Yesterday...

2012-01-27T08:30:00-08:00

Her: I think they should make "The Vow" in 3D.

Me: Well now all I can picture is Channing Tatum through a field. AT ME.

Her: You're welcome.

Oh How the Times Have Changed...

2012-01-26T08:00:00-08:00

Saw this on someone's Facebook and had to steal...

This is oh-so-true, yes?

Quote of the Day

2012-01-25T12:32:53-08:00

"Sometimes, I wish LIFE had a control+F feature."

- A co-worker

Shit People Say in LA

2012-01-25T09:00:00-08:00

So the latest internet meme seems to be "Shit XXX Say" following the success of "Shit Girls Say" starring Juliette Lewis. There are now, literally, HUNDREDS of these rip-off videos. And I've seen many.

But this one... This one is really my favorite so far:

Other favorites:

Shit Girls Say to Gay Guys

Shit Christians Say to Jews

Shit Sorority Girls Say

This Explains Much...

2012-01-24T22:18:47-08:00

Lack of Sleep Makes Your Brain Hungry

ScienceDaily (Jan. 18, 2012) — New research from Uppsala University shows that a specific brain region that contributes to a person's appetite sensation is more activated in response to food images after one night of sleep loss than after one night of normal sleep. Poor sleep habits can therefore affect people's risk of becoming overweight in the long run.

The findings are published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

Researchers Christian Benedict and Helgi Schiöth, of the Department of Neuroscience at Uppsala University, showed in an earlier article, published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, that a single night of total sleep loss in young normal weight men curbed the energy expenditure the next morning. This research also showed that subjects had increased levels of hunger, which indicates that an acute lack of sleep may affect human's food perception.

In a new study, Christian Benedict, together with Samantha Brooks, Helgi Schiöth and Elna-Marie Larsson from Uppsala University and researchers from other European universities, have now systematically examined which regions in the brain, involved in appetite sensation, are influenced by acute sleep loss. By means of magnetic imaging (fMRI) the researchers studied the brains of 12 normal-weight males while they viewed images of foods. The researchers compared the results after a night with normal sleep with those obtained after one night without sleep.

Christian Benedict explains: "After a night of total sleep loss, these males showed a high level of activation in an area of the brain that is involved in a desire to eat. Bearing in mind that insufficient sleep is a growing problem in modern society, our results may explain why poor sleep habits can affect people's risk to gain weight in the long run. It may therefore be important to sleep about eight hours every night to maintain a stable and healthy body weight."

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120118111740.htm#.Tx2JLBo6lBQ.twitter

Site Updates

2012-01-24T12:43:58-08:00

Hey! Look up there! I have a new menu!

I know, I know, you are BURSTING with excitement. And I don't blame you.

My "33 in 2012" will live up there permanently and I will edit it as I go. I did not want to keep inundating you with posts about it. This is easier. And FYI, I did just update it. So, you know, GO LOOK.

Also up there is my Quotes section (QOTDs) because that is one of my favorite things.

And now I have advertising and PR info. available. The FAQ is in progress.

Very exciting, right?

They're on a Boat....

2012-01-23T21:23:34-08:00

Could someone please tell me why they had American Idol auditions on a boat?

You see, the football cut into my tivo'd Idol episode. I think I missed some pivotal moments.

I did not, however, miss this epic fail from Steven Tyler:

Dear lord.

Nor did I miss Jim Carrey's daughter auditioning:

You have to laugh. In one breath she's saying how hard it is to find her identity; to step out from behind her father's overwhelming shadow. And in the next moment, she's calling him on camera to say she's going to Hollywood after a so-so audition.

What Am I Doing?

2012-01-23T10:30:00-08:00

I'll tell you first what I am not doing: sleeping!

Omigod, last night was the WORST! I went to bed early (well for me it was early) and just laid there. I woke up twice in the night to use the bathroom and I woke up before my alarm this morning. The only saving grace was the sound of the rain. I love laying in bed, over-bundled-up, listening to the rain. It makes me want to stay in bed ALL DAY.

I am not drinking more water as I should be. As such, a kidney infection I've had since December is still nagging me and making my back ache. This is my fault. All me. But I am not enjoying it and plan to whine about it anyway.

But it is Monday and after a weekend full of sports (hockey game Saturday night, football yesterday), I am back at my desk. Still loving my new job. Yesterday afternoon, I started to get really excited there was work today, in fact. I am giddy with new-job-love.

I am reading more. I just finished a novel (see image) and I am in the middle of two books right now, a feat I do not recommend, but enjoying both.

I am obsessed with Pinterest and think you should be, too. I am NOT obsessed with its Euro-rip-off, Pinspire, and warn you to avoid the copycat.

Despite Steven Tyler creeping me out, I am enjoying American Idol. I love the auditions. I hope Fox will cut the AI results show like they did with So You Think You Can Dance. No one wants to sit through an hour of dribble for three minutes of information.

I am sad that one of my all-time favorite baseball players is retiring. But it is time. He has nothing to be ashamed of in his 17-year career. Jorge Posada trails only Bill Dickey and Yogi Berra for games caught as a Yankee, is 7th on NY's all-time list for doubles and walks, 8th in homers and 11th in RBIs. He is a 5-time All-Star and 5-time AL Silver Slugger Award recipient. Not bad for a catcher who started as a second-baseman. Also worth checking out - the Jorge Posada Foundation, set up in honor of Posada's son, who suffers from Craniosynostosis.

The "33 in 2012" mission continues. I keep that list in the back of my mind at all times now and love it like a friend. It's keeping me upbeat and inspired.

I am worried for my all-time favorite soap opera, General Hospital. Talk about loving like a friend -- this is a show I've watched since about age five. And with Katie Couric's talk show gaining momentum, I am worried for its fate. I am worried for the Soap genre. I love its escapism and its loyal fans and the characters, new and old. (Yes, yes, I spend time worrying about this.)

I am excited for the Oscar nominations tomorrow. I've seen a lot more movies in the last year than I have in years prior and was thinking I might have to resurrect my Academy Awards viewing party. I watched Moneyball and Midnight in Paris over the weekend. LOVED Moneyball, liked Midnight in Paris. LOVED Brad Pitt, forced myself not to be too annoyed by Owen Wilson.

I am shopping online for jeans. I currently only own one pair. How did this happen? Most women I know own a ton of them but I've just never been a jeans-lover. That said, the new job is a casual office and in my former work-clothes, I will be too dressed up. Wondering if I can write off new jeans as a work expense..

I am considering having Indian food for lunch even though I had it like 5 days ago. The little Indian place by my office is STELLAR and they have a rockin' lunch special.

I am wishing you all a FABULOUS week!

Is Dave Koz having better sax than Kenny G?

2012-01-20T16:42:49-08:00

Kenny G and his wife of 20 years have seperated. Lovesick sax-lovers everywhere are weeping with sappy, sappy sentiment, draped in black, deep in mourning.

How do you leave a guy with such FABULOUS ringlets of curls?! I just don't know.

As I tweeted a moment ago, it must have been the bad sax...

I REALLY hope she left him for Dave Koz.

And personally, I prefer Dave Koz. He gave my favorite soap, General Hospital, it's saxy theme:

More Drinking Chronicles from @TheFederalBar

2012-01-19T23:19:08-08:00

I don't know when this turned into a drinking blog (I'm certainly no Caroline), but what can I say -- I've had some mighty fine beverages lately and I feel compelled to share.

Tonight's North Hollywood delight was The Federal Bar's "Mojo Mojito" made with love by its creator, bartender Sean.

Just your standard everyday mojito. But with cucumber. And pineapple. And a dash of jalapeno.

I know, I know. JALAPENO?!

I don't even like cucumber but this was just delicious. The jalapeno gave it just a subtle kick - it wasn't spicy. It was refreshing. Highly recommend.

You're all going to start planning my intervention soon, aren't you? Don't worry, my Diet Pepsi addiction is still the bigger concern.

P.S. (Our waitress, Yvonne, was a doll and looked a litte but like Mila Kunis. I'm straight as an arrow but I might have a little girl-crush on her.)