Week in Review: Vacation in LA

So I know it's not a Thursday, which is when I do my typical Week in Review posts, but I have been traveling quite a bit and wanted to share about my time in Los Angeles.  This was the third year in a row that I got to attend the Grammys.  I can't believe I've been lucky enough to go once, let alone three times.  My trips to California are usually short, but I got to spend a week out there this time and it was wonderful!

I flew out two weeks ago this coming Wednesday.  This was my first time flying without a SkyMall magazine and I have to admit, I was a little sad to not be able to browse the catalog.

Thursday

My first day out in LA, we went to the beach.  It was chilly so I didn't take my sweater off, but it was so nice to be at the beach. 

I'm not one for selfies, but when you have a floppy hat, sunglasses and the wind in your hair, it's hard not to take pictures.

Then that night, I made the guys go get pedicures with me!

Friday

Christian had to work Friday so I took the time to check off an item on my bucket list: be part of a studio audience.  I went to the filming of the ABC Family show Baby Daddy.  It was so neat to see the process of taping a show.  Plus, they gave us pizza and candy!  Since Christian worked, I didn't have a car and wasn't sure how I was going to get to the taping.  I'm not old enough to rent a car so I researched and found the website RelayRides.  You can rent someone's car for anywhere from a few hours to several days!  It was a great experience and I definitely recommend it to anyone; it's so much cheaper than going through a rental company.  If you're interested in renting, just click here!

Saturday

We spent the day in Santa Monica then came back and went to dinner at The Culver City Hotel.  It is an historic hotel that shows black and white movies on the wall inside the restaurant.  While The Wizard of Oz was filmed, the munchkins stayed at this hotel.  I ordered the "Yellow Brick Road Lemonade" and it came in a mason jar.  I guess it's true, you can take the girl out of West Virginia, but you can't take West Virginia out of the girl.

Sunday

Finally, the big day!  Christian dropped me off at a hotel where a friend was staying to get ready with her.  Upon arrival, I realized I didn't have any bobby pins for my hair and was planning to do an updo of some sort.  Luckily, there was a Target less than half a mile away so I hiked over and bought some ... along with a last minute headband that ended up going with my outfit perfectly!

We got our wrist bands for the mosh pit then headed out to find lunch.

I was hoping that third time would be a charm at the show.  I was determined that if I didn't come home with a Grammy (which seemed highly unlikely considering I wasn't even nominated) that I'd come home best friends with Taylor Swift and Abigail.  Sadly, neither happened ... this year.

In front of the Staples Center

I LOVED this romper.  It's Cynthia Rowley and it was from Rent the Runway.  If you're interested in joining RTR, which I highly recommend, just click here!

Two years in a row with this one at the show!

All of the Huntington crew before the show!

We couldn't have planned this any better.  It was as if they said, "Let's put LL Cool J in the middle of all the Huntington people!" 

Most people know him as LL Cool J, but I call him Todd now.  As you can tell, we're pretty close! ;)  

We snapped a few, quick pictures on the stage after the show!

We also found a fake red carpet and took full advantage of it.

The obvious dinner choice of nachos and guac as a post-Grammys meal.

Monday

Hiking up to the Hollywood sign

Just the start of the journey!

It was crazy to look out and see how high up we had hiked and to see all of LA below us.

This was as close as we were allowed to get.

Tuesday

We visited the Grammy Museum and I was so excited to see The Taylor Swift Experience.

I have been obsessed with this guitar of Taylor's since the first time I saw it nearly a decade ago, so the fact I got to see it in person was SO. COOL.

All around downtown LA near the museum and the Staples Center they have these "records" in the sidewalk listing the big winners from each years show.  This was from my first time at the Grammys.

And here are the winners from last year's show.  It's really neat because they have the next several circles cut in the sidewalk, all they have to do is print the plaque of the winners and drop it in.

Christian had to work so I spent my last night in LA with some of the residents from back home.  We went to a Korean BBQ for dinner.  Brad Pitt and 4 of his kids were there, too!

It's hard to see in this picture, but Jodi was so red after the excitement of seeing Brad.

Wednesday

Sadly, my trip came to a close Wednesday and Christian dropped me off at the airport that morning.  I can't wait for my next trip!

Valentine's Day Treats: Chocolate Dipped Rice Krispie Treats

Now that it's February, it's time to start preparing for Valentine's Day.  I made these treats the other day and they were a huge hit!  The best part?  They're super simple to make!  I followed the classic Rice Krispie Treat recipe, used a cookie cutter and then dipped them in chocolate.

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons butter

1 10 ounce package marshmallows

6 cups Rice Krispies

Melting chocolate

Sprinkles (optional)

Directions:

In a large saucepan, melt butter

Add in marshmallows and stir until smooth

Mix in Rice Krispies

Press out on wax paper

Cut out hearts with cookie cutter

Melt chocolate according to directions (usually 30 seconds at a time in microwave)

Dip Rice Krispie Treat in chocolate

Add sprinkles

See!  These are so easy to make yet they look like you spent a ton of time on them.  Enjoy!

FabFitFun Winter Box

Have you ever heard of FabFitFun?  If not, you need to go there right now and sign up.  It's so awesome!  You can sign up to get a goody box once a season.  The box costs $50 and you get more than $300 worth of products!  Enter the code NEW5 for a discount.  Just take a look at all the cool products I got to get me ready for winter!  I thought I'd do something different and give you an actual look inside my box.

If you're jealous of everything in this box and want to get in on the fun, click here and enter "NEW5" for a $5 discount!

New Month Resolutions: February

The past couple of years instead of New Year's Resolutions, I've tried doing New Month Resolutions.  I hate to admit that I haven't done very well with the follow through, but I'm hoping this year will be different.  Now I have you guys to keep me accountable!  I'm hoping that by sharing my monthly resolutions with you, I'll do better following them.  Before, I would try to make my monthly goals but not tell anyone.  Hopefully, now that the goals are out in the open, I'll do better!

Why every month? I hope that by adding in small changes every month, it becomes habit.  I've heard it takes 20-30 times for something to become a habit.  Maybe that's why there are roughly 30 days in every month?  My goal is that by the end of the month, it doesn't feel like an effort.

February New Month Resolutions

1. 10,000 steps a day: I didn't meet this one last month so it's one I'm going to keep working towards.  2. Hang up coat: I'm terrible about getting home and just hanging my coat on the back of a chair.  During February, I'm going to make it a habit to hang up coat up after every wearing.

3. Read 4 books: Last February I read 3 books so this year I'm challenging myself to read 4 books throughout the month.

4. Fewer yellow lights: Lately I've become guilty of speeding up to take yellow lights, but not any more.  During February I'm really going to work on slowing down, not speeding up, when I see yellow.

What are your New Month Resolutions?