Ear Porn: Lana Del Rey

If you’re in dire need to wind down after another Manic Monday, uncork your wine of choice and let Lana Del Rey soothe your soul.

So haunting. 

So seductive.

 So dark. 

So fresh.

 So aching. 

So somber. 

So timeless.

 So angry. 

So calm. 

So therapeutic.

 So different.

Now Playing: Lana Del Rey-Ride

“I once had dreams of becoming a beautiful poet, but a poor and unfortunate series of events saw those dreams dashed and divided like a million stars in the night sky that I wished on over, and over again. Sparkling and broken, but I didn’t really mind because I knew that it takes getting everything you ever wanted and then losing it to know what true freedom is…
When the people I used to know found out what I had been doing, how I’d been living, they asked me why, but there’s no use in taking to people who have a home. They have no idea what it’s like to seek safety in other people, for home to be where ever you lay your head.
I was always an unusual girl. 
My mother told me that I had a chameleon soul. No moral compass pointing due north, no fixed personality. Just an inner indecisiveness that was as wide and as wavering as the ocean. And if I said I didn’t plan for it to turn out this way I’d be lying, because I was born to be the other woman. I belonged to no one, who belonged to everyone, who had nothing, who wanted everything. With a fire for every experience and an obsession for freedom that terrified me to the point that I couldn’t even talk about, and pushed me to a nomadic point of madness that both dazzled and dizzied me.
Every night I used to pray that I’d find my people, and finally I did. On the open road. We had nothing to loose, nothing to gain, nothing we desired anymore. Except to make our lives into a work of art.”

XOXO, LALA.

Autumn in love....

It was the last official night of summer,  so I decided to sit on the porch with some homemade limeade and my laptop to write this. As much as I love hot summer nights, sun-kissed glows and tequila tasting kisses - I'm ready for Autumn! There is something about the transition into winter that makes this somber season SO achingly beautiful. From the season's deep earthy color pallet, to the fashion, all the way to the yummy foods, here is a list of why EVERY YEAR I look forward to Autumn oh so much!

The cool crisp air

Curling up in a blanket with a good book

                                                    

Wrapping my hands around a hot mug

Staying in, getting cozy and having a movie marathon

 Cuddling 

From scones to pies, the constant aroma of pumpkin spice

Boots, Beanies and Layering

Deep crimson and plum nails and lips

Sleeping while it rains

Football season! (Finger foods, beer, good company and the constant finger crossing for the Chargers…)

Baking with all the right spices; Cinnamon, cloves, ginger and nutmeg

The September issue of Vogue

Falling leaves

Leaving windows open so I can bundle up in my sheets

Buying new pens, art supplies, planners and stationary for a low-cost! (Shout outs to all the back to school sales!)

Pumpkin patches (There will be lots of pumpkins on my porch this year!)

Dressing up for Halloween

Exchanging ghost stories around a fire-pit…complete with marshmallows of course!

Spending time with loved ones and giving Thanks while devouring a home made Thanksgiving Feast! (I wait all year for stuffing!)

Staying inspired: More time indoors=more DIY crafts

Shorter days, longer nights

               

                                     

and of course, my favorite part of Autumn...

Impatiently waiting for Winter to come along with all of it’s amazing festivities!

                     XOXO, LALA.

(PHOTO CREDITS: PINTEREST)

1915 Never Again

How it all began: The Ottoman Turks couldn’t stand that we were westernized.  We had professionals, businessmen, doctors, lawyers, artists, poets, skillful craftsmen and more. In addition to this, In 301 A.D. Armenians adopted Christianity as a state religion, which made us the first Christian nation in the world. But quickly this became a problem to the extreme Islamic Turks; they knew Christian-Armenians to be infidels or non-believers. The Ottoman Turks began leading anti-Armenian demonstrations, which ultimately led to the mass killings known as the Armenian Genocide.

Today marks the 97th anniversary of the massacre of the Armenian people at the hands of the Ottoman Turks. The controversy around this day is due to the fact that the Turkish government denies that a genocide ever took place. Can you imagine? 1.5 million of my people were massacred. Our land? Taken. Our woman? Raped. Our children? Forced to become Muslims.

As an Armenian who was born and raised in the United States, I am pleased to know how to write and read in Armenian. I am honored to know that my motherland, Armenia, still exists despite the Ottoman Turks ambition to wipe it off the map. I am grateful that Armenian traditions, foods, and people surround me. And lastly, I am proud of who I am; I am an Armenian. 

XOXO, LALA.

Dr. Death

With terminally ill diseases spreading like wild fire, Jack Kevorkian’s proceedings would have really helped insure the right to “die with dignity” for a lot of people. It would be comforting to know that if we were ever unfortunate enough to get diagnosed with a  fatal illness, we would have options. We wouldn't have to reach a point where a  doctor brakes  our ribs and shoves a tube down our throat so that we potentially live for a few extra days. And we wouldn’t have a need for complete strangers (AKA nurses) to wipe our asses, change us and lift our dead weight bodies in order to change our positions every few hours to ensure some type of blood circulation. What kind of quality of living is that? How could they even outlaw “dying with dignity” in the first place?

The people who were assisted by Dr. Kevorkian were terminally ill. TER-MIN-ALL-Y ILL. Meaning they were suffering with every breath, with no hope. The only promise they had was to get worse day by day, hour by hour until they had some sort of heart attack, blood clot, kidney failure and/or so on. Call me crazy, but to me, forcing these people to stick it through is far more inhumane than assisted suicide is. Contrary to popular belief, Dr. Jack Kevorkian was not going around chasing unwilling patients in the hospitals halls that were suffering from chicken pox. His patients were not only willing.... they were begging.

 (May 26, 1928-June 3, 2011)

I know that nobody will come close to accomplishing what Dr. Jack Kevorkian did, but I truly hope that those of you who are in the medical field show some sort of apathy for your patients. Please. 

Rest In Paradise Dr. Jack Kevorkian. You have touched many hearts with your courage.

XOXO, LALA.

Preach Mr. Marley...

"Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you. When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful. There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again. Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you. You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible. You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life." 

                                               -Bob Marley

XOXO, LALA.

Your brain is rotting..

EVERYTIME people find out that I don’t own a television and that I go for months (some times even years) without watching a single episode of anything on TV, I get the same reaction:

“Well what do you do with all your time?"

"How do you sleep at night?"

"So you’re telling me you have never seen a single episode of Jersey Shore!?"

No, I have not... and contrary to popular belief I have not curled and died due to my lack of worthless entertainment either. Don’t get me wrong, I occasionally give in. I’m easily hooked on MSNBC specials while a friend is watching. Sometimes I pop in my Sex And The City DVD’s when I need a healthy dose of girl time. And my favorite past time while it’s raining outside is renting movies.  But again, all of these happen sporadically, and there is only one reason why-I read.

 I believe that something intellectual happens while focusing on reading. Using your imagination to create pictures of characters, scenes, and situations seems far more healthy than being passive and having images fed to my brain through a box.

Summer is almost here and I strongly urge you to grab a book along with a few 40 oz’s on your way to the beach.

If you need suggestions, here are some of my favorite books:

XOXO,LALA.

My first time on the Red Carpet

What kind of wine do you pair with chicken? 

What kind of wines improve with age?

Does high price equal high quality?

If you are a wine lover, but are not as cultured about it as you wish to be, keep reading. You and I…yeah, we’re on the same boat. 

I had heard that the customer service at Red Carpet Liquor was great, but “great” does no justice to the type of  “Red Carpet Treatment” I received Saturday night. I walked in looking for some Cabernet. The Co-Owner of Red Carpet, H.K Hedlund, approached and assisted me as I picked out a couple of bottles. As we made our way to the register, I hesitantly told him about my love for wine but my lack of experience with it. As apposed to the “It’s not for everyone.” response I’ve gotten by other wine experts; I got the total opposite response from H.K.

“Here, I tell you what my dear...” Before I could say anything, H.K. ran to the back and returned with a huge stack of magazines. “Take these, they’re on me. It’s your first homework assignment. They are good reads filled with lots of information that will help you. Consider it lesson number one.”

We all know that this type of generosity and passion coming from a business owner is rare now a days. The good old-fashioned customer service is probably why I, without doubt, recommend all of you to go check out the local family run store. You will find such a huge and diverse selection of wines, beers and spirits. For those of you who smoke cigars, they carry cigars from some of the best producers in the world. They also offer a wine bar where they host private parties and special tasting events. Red Carpet will definitely see me as soon as I am done with my first “homework” assignment. Thanks again H.K.!

FOR LOCATION, HOURS, EVENTS AND MORE..CHECK OUR THEIR WEBSITE!

http://www.redcarpetwine.com/

XOXO, LALA.