Aqualillies

from the Aqualillies website

 I first stumbled across this amazing group of women in the pages of Vogue this past April. They channel Esther Williams and perform mostly in Los Angeles at Hollywood events, private parties, even Justin Timberlake's birthday party. They even do weddings! They are all lovely and in incredible shape. Synchronized swimming is no joke. If you live in LA (and soon other cities) you should check out the classes they teach. You can grab your favorite retro suit and bathing cap and learn to move like the amazing Aqualillies.

Newport Seafood

Just a few miles East of Los Angeles there is a whole world of amazing Asian food in the San Gabriel Valley. You just have to go looking. We are talking incredible Dim Sum, all sorts of Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants that specialize in just one thing - tofu, etc, and the most delicious seafood ever at Newport Seafood. This is the kind of place to go to with a big group of people. Their specialty is whole lobster or crab cooked in spices and it's so delicious. We went here this week with my in-laws and had a blast. It's a great place to bring a loud toddler because it's so noisy. Meltdowns won't bother anyone. They have a beef dish that is also a specialty that seems to be more Vietnamese in it's origin - Beef Luc Lac which is also delicious but the shining star is the giant platters of shelfish. If you live in LA or even if you are just visiting this place is so worth the trip.

The Los Angeles You Show Visitors

Me, my Dad and my Sister in Spain years ago

My younger sister and her lovely boyfriend came to visit this weekend. I always get so excited when friends or family come and stay (especially if they are ones that don't come that often) but this enthusiasm is often coupled with sudden terror/pressure to show them a much better or more exciting version of the Los Angeles than the one I actually reside in. Especially since there is a ten-year age gap between my sister and me, and though she might actually love the early bird dinners we go for mostly these days (you know what I am talking about parents of little ones, 5:30 pm is the new 8:30 pm!) I really wanted to make sure she had fun.

The weather did not really cooperate this weekend and they had things they wanted to do as well but we did happen to pack in two lovely dinners - Japanese on the Sunset Strip for pure Hollywood candy and Korean barbecue for classic Los Angeles. This trip was brief and and mostly focused on catching up and Hank but if you have out of town guests that you want to impress here is my number one spot to take friends. I was first introduced to this patio by my friend Oona the first summer I lived in LA and I was instantly hooked:

Best Friend Sunset Cocktails at Shutters

Chicago Ladies Throw Down at Shutters

Shutters on the Beach

Shutters - I think this hotel never fails when it comes to wowing guests because you can have drinks on the patio/deck and watch the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. I can't imagine how it could get much better than that? I guess I need to assemble all of my favorites because I have a bunch of great Los Angeles things to do with guests but this is definitely my number one go to jam.

Boot Camp

When I was on maternity leave and sporting a bit of extra weight I joined a friend for two months in a Mommy boot camp. It was really great. We met at a woman's house in my old neighborhood and there was even a babysitter there so I could bring Hank. We would do everything from boxing, to pulling a giant tire up a hill, to Pilates and yoga. I was able to reach a level of fitness that I wasn't even at before I had Hank, and then I returned to work and well it was hard to find time for much of anything beyond my family and work. Recently I decided that I have to find time for fitness. It makes such a difference in my overall mood. Going to the gym once a week isn't enough. So an old boot-camp friend decided to start an Atwater Village group and it's on. I've been going now for only two weeks but I already feel stronger. This morning we had fitness tests - how many push-ups can you do in three minutes, how many sit-ups can you do in three minutes, how long does it take you to run the mile, etc. They even measure your waist, arms, butt, etc all so that hopefully next month you are slimmer, fitter and can run faster than you did when you started. There was a woman there today who has been going to boot-camp for one year. When she started she couldn't do one push-up and today she left us all in the dust. If you live in Los Angeles I highly recommend checking out this bootcamp.  

p.s. we don't really do any sort of human pyramid exercises but I wouldn't put it past the trainers.