Land of Juice : Los Angeles

Doggy Bloggy: Los Angeles

To the Dog in my Life.

I am missing my Marley Moo so much that I find myself staring and gar gar ing over peoples dogs to the point of looking like a psycho dog snatcher. 

There is a serious amount of attention put on dogs here. 

This outlet is like 'Wholefoods' of the dog world, a organic dog food factory where food is bagged and sold by people wearing white overalls and matching health and hygiene hats. An impressive establishment.

I've seen a Dog Hotel, Dog Training Outlets and not forgetting, give your dog the rock star treatment at RockStarRover

I've seen dogs in shops and cafes here in LA. I've sat next to tiny dogs on the next chair. I don't know what the policy is but it seems you can take your dog anywhere. I have seen a big dog in Wholefoods, however, I think it has to go through a special test before it can go into a supermarket. [sit and stay in the queue is going to be a necessity!]

Last week I went to Century City in Beverley Hills that is owned by Westfields. This is provided for dogs. Those chewy things are free and even the water bowls are at different levels. 

Dog Heaven

So so slow: Los Angeles

What is that amount of time that you wait in a queue at the supermarket, waiting for the person in front of you to pay for 5 things? 

I waited more than 5 minutes and I can't really say on what minute after 3 I started to huff and puff together with that slight clench of the back teeth. 

I was in a supermarket that sells the Nicki Minaj clothing range [ OMG ] a global supply of polyester and nylon clothing, cheap imperishable food and has the occasional visit from a masked gunmen. 

Just to say, I was buying the basics, washing up liquid, toothpaste etc and not a new outfit. 

......When the customer eventually paid - and by that time I was there with my basket ON the till point, roughly an inch from his arm, he started up a conversation with Michael the checkout guy about Michael in the Bible. What the! They were having a great time, they exchanged some laughter and were totally unaware that others might have a life and want to get out of this shop. 

Yay it's my turn. How's your day? Says Michael with a beam on his face. 'I'm actually loosing the will to live at the moment' I reply.

Young Michael fixes a shocked look. I instantly realise that he is taking me for real so I jump straight in with ' that customer took sooooo long... I'm from London, things are quicker there, I've got to get use to your pace here [smile]

He then says. ' Oh you ARE having a bad day' Actually Michael my day has been fab so far and no I don't want to save 10 cents by giving you my email address which you won't understand cos it's a .co.uk and not a .com. Zap zap zap here's the money and I'm off.

I'm sitting here now having a rather frothy cappuccino analysing why, when, how and who.

Where's those Yoga Sutra's.....I think I've got a long way to go.

Aum

Nesting: Los Angeles

So before I forget, Hilary Clinton will be signing her book @BarnesandKnoble bookshop in The Grove this Thursday. I plan to take a peek and see what she looks like but chances are I won't remember. The Jenner sisters ( part of the Kardashian Clan) were there last Thursday and I clearly forgot. Oh well.

Although, I can live in a wooden hut with no locks, I can happily wash out of a bucket and eat vegetables for breakfast, lunch and dinner for as long as you like, I have realised that since I have arrived in Los Angeles I have been nesting. I've slowly been buying all the things I need to make life as comfortable as possible. 

First off was the Spiraliszer to make a courgette look like pasta. It's a lethal piece of equipment as it resembles a pencil sharpener. Then it was a juicer. The Nutri Bullet Juicer makes juices in less! than seconds (however if your thinking of getting a juicer get a masticating one)

I went to Macy's yesterday to get a comforter, which is a very thin duvet. I slept like a baby last night :)) I had already bought a crisp cotton duvet cover in Anthropologie (sale section! to die for) which was a necessity for comfort. Two china cups, tupperware containers and some flannels. Anybody would think I was setting up home here!......mwahahaha

Food shopping is just wonderful here. Both our nearest supermarkets are Wholefoods. Same as the ones at High Street Ken and Piccadilly. It's loaded with organic produce, alternative medicines and Gluten free/Vegan options. Which is just as well as Ivy had her food allergy results this morning and lets just say a vegan diet would suit however she can eat meat/fish.....if that makes sense. 

Next to my Yogaworks studio @ Larchment is a bakery called Babycakes which is a Vegan Bakery and they have 2 recipe books if your interested in gluten/wheat/dairy free cooking. It's like Celiac Nirvana.....at least 20 different goodies to choose from covered in frostings and icings all made with natural sugars.

Ah yes, yoga this morning. My body is like a watering can. I look at my once firm breasts as I hit the one hundredth downward dog and see the sweat dripping off. I was thinking on the bus back, maybe at my age I'm not doing myself any favours working so hard, maybe I'm just wearing out my body quicker? However, the thought did come to mind that if in 3 months time I was able to put both feet behind my head I could advertise the fact on my CV. I suppose we are thinking elderly circus act here but there might be a market for it. 

Nameste

Earthmother or Cali Girl

Interesting day when Earth-mother  trying to be Cali girl, meets up with Street Fashion Kids.

After a morning of blogging in local cafe Ivy decides it's time to change her hair colour. I'm thinking...me too! So off we go to Bungalow, a near by hair salon for a consultation. The prices they give online do not correspond to the cost face to face so off we go looking for another salon. 

A beautiful walk up a residential road takes us to Melrose Ave and Fred Segal department store. 

OMG, within 30 secs I had made friends with a sales assistant who offered me bespoke earphones, free champagne cocktails, mini macaroons, mini fruit salads and directs me off in the direction of having a demo on laser light face treatments. Which will include a full makeup.

Ok, I'm not going to lie, I did look like I could do with a full makeup at that point as I had come out without my lipstick.... and the lips have to to be plump in LA.

I make an excuse that my daughter is waiting for me outside just escape the full on sales drive. Phew.... I'm out.... Ivy is now having a consolation with Planet Salon and within a blink she's in the chair having the works. 

She's going to be in there for ages so I stroll back to the flat....apartment in american. 

An oasis appears G Star Raw.... OMG how lucky am I...totally hooked on G Star in London. Sale! hurrah, but sale prices are too high so walk on.

I hit Fairfax Ave...  Dope  Pink Dolphin etc. Colourful, artistic, music/skater based fashion. It was so exciting to see what was leading the way. 

There was an OB crew there following someone and I was following the someone. Being nosey, as you do.

I ended up in a graffiti gallery and I could take photos!! which was pretty cool

P.S. I also noticed this little gem.

The Silent Movie Theatre.

Busing it : Los Angeles

Although it was my intention to rent a car whilst I'm here I can't help being allured towards public transport. It hypnotises me....haha

Each day I use the bus to go to yoga - and by the way bus travel is a prerequisite for free yoga mat hire :) 

If you tell anyone outside the yoga fraternity in Los Angeles that you use public transport they either think your either poor or mad.

Bus travel has been the most grounding experience. The people who use the bus rely on it. Theres a high percentage of disabled people, tramps and mentally challenged people who add colour to my every journey. There's also people who do not have access to soap and water and if they do, they don't use it.

The bus drivers, being as many women as men, are calm and dignified as they put the ramp up, the ramp down, the ramp up again. 

A high percentage of bus users have wheels of some kind... even if its a shopping bag.....wheels wheels wheels...

The bus users are a chatty bunch and me being one of those friendly chat to anyone types I'm having a great experience.

I've travelled with the: 

80yr old rock and roller with bottled orange hair and piercings. 

Ella Fitzgerald lookalike who belly laughs at the top if her voice, off and on to herself the whole journey. That laugh which is infectious, nearly had me going :)

I shared a 2 person disabled bus pass with an Elderly Ukraine Lady, she insisted. (I didn't have change for the bus)

Had a conversation with a blind man who wanted to touch my face to see what I was like. I let him. 

I was thinking of buying or hiring a bike but I think I will stay with the bus. You don't meet people on a bike or in a taxi.....