Poop

Habit Forming

Poopers, I hope you went to see Iron Man 3: We Should Call this Pepper in theatres! Gwyneth delivered in a big way!

The first comic book movie of the year means that spring has sprung. I feel like this time of year, even more than New Years, is one of personal revelation. Kids and young adults are finishing their version of a year, and the rest of us are coming out of hibernation and enjoying the long-disappeared sun. Since the start of the year, when I had a bad run with a tooth infection, extraction, and the flu, I’ve been really unhealthy in my eating and exercise habits, so I’ve sought to change that. Modifying behavior is easier said than done, and it’s endlessly frustrating.

Two weeks ago, Goop covered habits, using some really helpful books and insights. That said, Gwynnie still managed to include a $129 life-tracking bracelet, so as always, I have compiled some suggestions a little more suited to the rest of us.

Peace and Pennies, Sam

Out with the Bad

Forming new habits generally requires breaking old ones. Identifying old behaviors requires a wake-up call of sorts – examining not only how often we perform habitual behaviors, but also why we perform them. It’s like the Joe’s say: knowing is half the battle. I’ve recently quit biting my nails. Because I’ve been doing it since I was in grade school, I’d never really thought about why I do it. Obviously, it is a nervous habit, as it often is for others. Part of it, I think, stems from wanting to obscure my mouth – I had really crooked teeth before getting braces and I looked like a chipmunk. It was a way of obscuring something I got teased for. Obviously, that is not the case now, thanks to kind parents and a skilled orthodontist. My big teeth are an asset and not a hindrance.  By identifying why I felt the need to bite my nails, I was able to change the narrative and, subsequently, change my behavior. Now, I know biting my nails is unattractive, hurts my teeth, and is kinda germy. So hooray for being able to use my nail polish!

An awkward pre-teen me, mid-orthodontia. I’ve come too far to mess it up.

Alan Carr, in his book Stop Smoking Now covers this idea of a changing narrative when addressing one of the most gripping addictions – smoking. Instead of shaming the smoker, he encourages to examine how much better their life would be without it and how quickly their body will recover from the addiction, which, in turn, makes it seem like less of an impossibility. Even if smoking is not your problem, it’s a book worth reading if you’re stuck in any sort of lousy pattern. By changing your story – instead of thinking of a habit is something we need because it’s automatic – you can change your behavior.

In with the Good

Forming new habits is difficult. Not only are you forming new neural pathways, but, often, you’re changing something in your day-to-day life, forcing you off auto-pilot to get it learned. While good habits are rarely easy, there are ways to make them less of a challenge.

-Log everything.

Goop touched on this when touting UP by Jawbone. Most of us, though, do not have the luxury of dropping $130 for an ugly bracelet. For that money, it needs to be super cute and less obtrusive. That being said, for almost any habit you want to form, there is a free app. For tracking my diet, I’ve been using MyFitnessPal. This app was recommended by a friend who has lost a lot of weight in a very healthy way, and in doing so, changed a lot of habits. Because of this, I have noticed that my sodium intake is terrifying. When I was trying to change my finances, I used the handy charts provided by my FPU class to track my spending and target areas where I had trouble. When I struggle with time management, I turn to my Google calendar and task bar. Writing down anything helps us to remember it, so it’s definitely effective in forming new habits until they become ingrained.

The MyFitnessPal app allows you to track your intake and exercise really easily. And it’s free!

-Stop tempting yourself.

Since I’ve realized that salty snacks are my downfall, I’ve had to do the unthinkable: change my grocery list. I have had the most regimented list so that I can get in and out of the store in less than fifteen minutes and know almost exactly what I will spend. Yesterday, that all changed. Instead of my usual sea salt pita chips, Diner mac and cheese, wedge of brie, tortilla chips and hella-processed-fat-free-cheese-salsa-magic, I had to spend time in the produce section, trying to figure out fruits and veggies that are organic, cost-effective, and feel like snack foods. Instead of reaching for the chips when I want a snack, I now have only pomegranate seeds and Baby Jazz apples. I’ve forced my own hand.

-Start the timer.

There is a technique for building habits and controlling procrastination called Pomodoro. It started when a lazy guy set his mom’s tomato-shaped kitchen timer and regimented his free-time activities. Although I’ve only just learned it had a name, I did something similar when I wanted to start working out, drawing regularly, or writing consistently. I set a timer for twenty minutes, and I do twenty minutes of working out, twenty minutes of either drawing or writing, and twenty minutes of reading. For me, it’s my power-hour after work, and it’s helped me to be more disciplined. I’m inclined to continue writing or drawing longer if I know I only have to fill twenty minutes with no other expectations. By timing it, you can also build a schedule, which, in turn, allows whatever you’re starting to become second-nature.

-Keep It Visible

I keep my yoga mat and drawing supplies out where I can see them. They don’t go in a closet. They stare at me, mocking my laziness when they’re not in use. My own guilt is a powerful too, and Toy Story has convinced me that all objects are sentient and judging me when I’m not around. But seriously, even if you’re not slightly on the nutty side and you’re not riddled with guilt, just seeing some reminder of your new habit acts as a very helpful reminder that you have something healthy to do.

Check lists serve a similar purpose, allowing you a concrete sense of what you need to do. If I don’t write things out, I tend to get overwhelmed because what spinning around in my head has a tendency to grow and become monolithic. By just jotting down a few simple tasks, even if it’s just on an old receipt, it allows me to have a more realistic sense of how my day should go.

Here’s to an awesome week, a brave new world of fruits, veggies, and a lower sodium intake!

And We’re Live

Iron Man 3 is already making huge waves overseas, pushing $200M in less than a week. Gwyneth’s newest cookbook is topping the Amazon bestseller list. And I’m back after a month of silence. What can I say? Gwynnie inspires me.

The past month, I’ve been trying to refocus and hopefully generate material for this summer, and although I’ve been burnt out, Gwyneth has delivered in spades. Below, I really do just want to talk about why the alleged most hated, most beautiful woman in America is actually someone to get behind, despite my incessant mocking.

Peace and Pennies, Sam

When Being Hated is a Good Thing…

Gwyneth Paltrow’s best asset is her ability to curate her truth. She knows the person she wants to be, the person she presents in Goop – the sanctimonious vegan supermon. And she knows the person we want to see on Ellen or in the pages of People—the sort of woman that has considered divorce and allows herself one cigarette a week because it’s easier than quitting. My favorite thing about Gwyneth Paltrow is that she does not apologize when those images don’t line up because that would mean apologizing for herself, for her existence.  She does not address a lot of the hate directed at her, instead just brushing it off, moving on, and becoming one of the few women to hold a position on Hollywood’s a-list for almost two decades. I’m constantly fighting an uphill battle to apologize less, to reconcile the difference between the person I desperately want to be and my own limitations. It’s reassuring to see Gwynneth take on the vitriol and the criticism with confidence. Confidence, unlike a training session with Tracy Anderson, doesn’t cost a dime.

And Being Beautiful is Something You Admit…

Gwynnie  is gorgeous, even if she isn’t the most beautiful, and I certainly would not be upset if that’s what I looked at in the mirror every day. Instead of trying to play at relatability, she embraces her status and makes it something to which her fans can aspire. In her interview on Ellen this past Friday, she mentions without embarrassment her cover of People. So often, people, especially women, are reluctant to embrace their positive physical traits. Instead, we downplay everything and self-deprecate in the name of humility. Next time you’re unhappy with something, take a page out of Gwyneth’s book and focus on the good instead. Hopefully, I can remember this tomorrow morning when I’m trying to get my cowlick to lay flat as a blow dry my hair and focus on my well-shaped and low-maintenance eyebrows instead.

…Then Maybe You Are Qualified to be a Lifestyle Brand

Gwyneth shares her secrets. The expensive wardrobes and four hour daily workouts and whole-paycheck’s worth of grooming supplies are insane to a normal person.  It’s easy to get angry at someone for spending their life and money so flippantly when most of us are experiencing debt and a terrifying job market and just trying to get by. But Gwyneth gives us a peek behind the curtain, showing us that popular culture and media are selling us a bill of goods. I find it reassuring, honestly. I can’t be that person, not because of my own failings or misgivings, but because it’s just not feasible to spend four hours a day working out and thousands of dollars to be perfect. And, even better, I don’t have to be that person. When I’m forty, I can look fifty or sixty if I want, and it probably won’t affect much. If Gwyneth didn’t do what she does to maintain her appearance and relevance, she couldn’t have her job. No one is naturally the most beautiful woman alive – not without a boatload of time and money – and I appreciate that she shows us exactly what it takes, so I can improvise.  After all, that’s what being a Pooper is all about – grabbing the bits of fabulous in life as it is, not worrying about something unattainable.

Poopers, it’s been a rough couple weeks for crafting material for the site. It’s not for lack of Goop – Gwyneth has given me loads of ideas, and her $450,000 fashion post this past week should have been exciting, but instead it’s left me cold. I’m a little burnt out, and I think I’m going to take the rest of March and part of April off to re-group. I’ll definitely be back in time to celebrate Iron Man 3, though, so keep your eyes peeled.

Peace and pennies, Sam

Little Nuggets

This week has been uninspiring. And despite my love of late sunsets, Daylight Savings Time has fried my brain. I have thoughts, but nothing that could fill a whole post, so, like Gwyneth’s zine two weeks ago, I’m going to run through these thoughts, rapid-fire.

Peace and Pennies, Sam

Kitchen Nugs

Goop likes to spend a lot of time discussing cooking and a well-stocked pantry. But I’ve tried some of her cookbook recipes, and her idea of a well-stocked pantry demands more of my wallet than a trip to Whole Foods. If you want to eat somewhat consciously and you’ve got a tight budget, there are some essentials you can buy that will last you awhile and cost you very little. Try the following:

-A bag of frozen chicken breasts. When you’re out of easy instant-meals, it’s super easy to thaw a couple of these in a microwave and cook them up on either your stovetop or a Foreman grill.

-Olive oil or vegetable oil for cooking.

-Italian dressing or balsamic vinaigrette.

-Pastas. I like spiral pasta or macaroni. A cup of pasta is filling, and if you go with whole wheat, it is pretty healthy. You can dress it up with whatever is lying around.

-Spices like dill, ground ginger, cinnamon, garlic or onion powder, celery seeds – anything that will add some flavor to raw ingredients.

-Cans of tuna.

-Cans of beans.

-Pepper and some sort of allspice like Lowry’s season salt.

-Mac n Cheese. I like Trader Joe’s frozen kind, but Paul and Mickey go with the dry packages and the powdered cheese.

You can buy most of these, and they’ll last longer than the next trip to the grocery store, so when you’re running low on the rest of your food and strapped for cash, you can always have these go-tos. Pasta was a life-saver when I didn’t have a freezer. It keeps forever and sits nicely on your shelf until you’re ready for it. Add some olive oil, balsamic vinaigrette, and some dill, and suddenly, you’re kinda fancy!

Plant Nugs

Our apartment, while lovely, seems to be a cursed for potted plants. Paul and I received, as a housewarming gift, a banzai tree and a terrarium from a friend. Both are still alive, but they are always scaring us with how close to death they seem. My terrarium was fine until I took it down from its spot on the shelf to use as a model for my drawing class. I set it next to Paul’s banzai because it’s on the TV tray that is serving as an end table. The next day, I went to check it, and one of the little plantlets was shrunken and dry.  I’m disturbed, and since I don’t know what the plants are in my terrarium, I don’t even know how to Google a solution. Any botanically-inclined Poopers out there?

Appearance Nugs

Today I fulfilled my new year’s resolution to go without make-up in public in earnest. I have been going without it once a week, but usually only when I’m not going to spend time around anyone I know. Today, I went without make-up to PetSmart and then to church, where I actually have friends and acquaintances that I have to see again.

I’ve found a Birchbox sample that I absolutely love. It’s a little on the spendy side at $36 per bottle, but it’s a BB Cream – tinted moisturizer, SPF, and primer all in one. It made my skin feel and look amazing, and I cannot wait to buy some when I get my paycheck this week.

Next weekend, I have to find a dress for a wedding. Expect a fashion post in the imminent future. This is the first time I’ve had to dress up in ages, and of course the dress I bought at home for $14 on sale is white so not wedding-appropriate. I’m so annoyed. But I’m also looking forward to checking out local boutiques and vintage shops in my new neighborhood. We have a surprising amount of shopping available.

Last Saturday, my four-year-old Coach Poppy Purse fell apart. I’m pretty disappointed – I expected it to be heartier. However, Etsy came to the rescue! I found this excellent vintage Coach purse (I’m Midwestern and down-market, don’t judge) for $35 from a shop called Lake Street Vintage. It was in great shape, so I ordered it on Monday – I needed something quick! The bag arrived by Thursday. If you’re in need of cute vintage accessories, I highly suggest checking out this shop. Her prices are fantastic, and her selection is pretty good too. I’m so excited about this purse. It’s black, so it’s a little more versatile and a lot more age-appropriate than what I had before. A little Doc Marten’s Wonder Balsam helped me buff away the scuffs on the leather, and it’s good to go.

My new bag! Hooray!

That’s all I’ve got. Season 3 of Archer is finally on Netflix, and my roommate Mickey just introduced us to the show Happy Endings, so I’m going to take advantage of how it still feels early and enjoy some comedy.

Girl Talk

This week has been a strange one, as the week after the Oscars often is. Hollywood, tired from the two months of non-stop parties and back-patting, has to go back to work. Celebrity gossip bloggers have to milk this night for all its worth. As someone who works in the entertainment industry with a favorite pastime of reading said blogs, I’m suffering Oscar fatigue.

The most interesting part of all of this has been the response to Seth MacFarlane as host. Everyone everywhere seems to think it was woefully misogynistic, racist, and unfunny. Except, apparently, the folks I watched with. We laughed. I thought the joke was on the people in that room that night – the people who allow movies to be made with majority male casts, who demand an actress answer for her fashion and dating life before even bothering to consider how good she is at her job, and who stiffed Kathryn Bigelow despite the fact that, of all nine best picture contenders, she made the best, most well-crafted film. I’ll turn in my feminist card now. Even funnier is that while everyone vilified Seth MacFarlane, they continued in subsequent posts to eviscerate Anne Hathaway, a self-identifying feminist, who, while maybe not great at acceptance speeches, works for a number of social justice causes and is a damn good actress to boot.

Something that has always interested me about Gwyneth Paltrow is that, despite the fact that she is a capable, talented, smart woman(even if she is tone deaf when it comes to class and weight issues) who surrounds herself with interesting women, she does not identify as a feminist. I’m starting to understand more and more why this is, especially after the ridiculous, confusing Oscar coverage. Because I’m going to be launching a second blog soon titled The Shitty Feminist, I’ve decided to discuss my thoughts on being a woman, women in general, and why I think I’m crap at feminism despite strongly believing in equality in general.

Peace and Pennies, Sam

I’m Mostly a Person but Also a Woman

My friend Renee sparked an interesting discussion this week – she believes that often, differences between men and women are highlighted to the point of being detrimental to both. I agree. I believe, at the end of the day, humans are more similar than different. Are differences make us unique, and those similarities help us to connect, which is, I believe, most people’s primary goal – to feel part of the world. Often, I’ve found that people – women and men alike – who are passionate about feminism get really hung up on an “us versus them” mentality. It’s ineffective. Instead of trying to educate people in our similarities so that we can see how necessary equality is, it creates a divide, stunts communication, and prevents people from coming together. Instead, I think we need to start from a place of compassion, which starts with acknowledging that, no matter how much we might disagree, we all feel the same feelings.

I’m Certainly Not a Cop

Policing people’s actions has gotten out of hand. We focus so much on whatever is causing offense that we fail to see the person behind it. For instance, not too long ago on The Mary Sue, a woman called out James Gunn, future director of Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, for creating a list of 100 sexiest comic book characters. The list was tongue-in-cheek, but like James Gunn’s films, toed the line of good taste in order to really make a point. Gunn, who works with awesome women like Elizabeth Banks and Ellen Page and for feminist and social justice causes, is definitely one of the good guys. It’s exciting that he is working for Marvel. But instead of doing a little research, this writer decided she was, based on this single article, going to boycott his upcoming film. Had she stopped being judge, jury and executioner like some sort of haywire feminist Dredd, she might have been able to spark a legitimate dialog on her website or with James Gunn – who is notoriously fan friendly – and why this sort of humor didn’t work for her and others. This is not to say that women shouldn’t stand up for themselves – they should. However, there are times when taking a hardline stance isn’t necessary. If one of my friends makes a sexist joke, despite the fact that I try not to have asshole friends, I’m not going to throw them out of my life. Instead, I might tell them that that’s not cool or ask them why that’s supposed to be funny. Dialog! Education! Connection! See how easy it could be?

So Let’s Play Nice

Beyond policing people’s actions, I think there is still a huge problem among many feminist writers, of snarking one-another and insulting other women. This is not unlike what happened to Anne Hathaway over the course of Oscar season. Despite the fact that she is, by all accounts, a good person, other women really took her to task, dismissing her as a “try-hard” (OMG, ambition is soooooo gross) for openly displaying how much she wanted that Oscar. Sorry, but that’s a pretty normal human response. She works hard. This has been her goal. I admire that, even if she’s a little melodramatic. I’m a spaz, too, and half the time, me trying to be sincere comes across as super cheesy, so no judgment. Bloggers do it to one-another as well. Whether you sign onto Jezebel or the Double X or The Gloss, it’s impossible to get through a week without someone going on some rant over something someone else said. And it’s rare these debate articles exist without name-calling. Just Google the name Cat Marnell and behold the bitchery. Or don’t, since you probably want to have a good day.

This probably sounds disingenuous on this blog, given how much I rag on Gwyneth Paltrow and Goop, but I do try to make clear that fact that, although I think she’s largely tone-deaf to class differences and has a dangerous beauty and health perspective, I do admire her, and I do understand that she’s coming from a different place than I am. Hell, if I didn’t have that awareness, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. I’d be a bitter, rotten person instead of someone who tries to parody Goop while helping my own life get better.

So, Gal-Poopers, Guy-Poopers, and any other kind of Poopers, be kind to one-another this week. Kindness breeds compassion, which breeds humanity, which is how things get better. And stay tuned, because soon I’ll be attempting to write on my own, without Goop inspiration. We’ll see how that goes!

Poop is One!

So, Poop turns a year old this week. And I’ve got a video round-up. Since Tarantino thanked himself so epically at the Oscars tonight, I’m going to be a little self-congratulatory before you push play and say hooray for a year of writing. This has been an awesome experience for me – fifty-two posts, and I’ve never missed a week – not because of travel or holidays or laziness or stress. I’m not good at follow-through or finishing projects, and this has shown me that, via the power of Paltrow, I can write and improve my life in the process. Thanks for reading every week. It’s been cool to have a consistent following.

Peace and Pennies, Sam

Check out the Blazer from Von Maur

And the Butter London Nail Polishes from Goop

Hanging Out with Yourself

Happy belated Valentine’s Day, Poopers! And President’s Day! Goop had a fairly sweet, albeit misguided, post this week about dealing with heartbreak on Valentine’s Day. I’m not sure any of the suggestions would be effective for anyone actually struggling with heartbreak, but they are good for run-of-the-mill loneliness. Or rather, solitude. There’s a certain amount of joy in living or being alone, in just taking some time to enjoy a meal alone or pampering yourself. It’s also a very good skill to keep from being sad.

I have gotten pretty good at hanging out with myself, and lately I’ve actually kinda been missing that alone time. Below, I’ve listed some strategies for liking yourself better and what to do once you’ve made friends with that face in the mirror.

Peace and Pennies, Sam

Take Care of Business

Sometimes, it’s easy to let life get the best of you. You forget to do things for yourself like scheduling dental cleanings or buying new mascara or organizing your filing cabinet and old tax returns. Treat your life like a business – do the maintenance work to keep it running smoothly. For me, this usually means scheduling time and budgeting to actually shop. I hate it, so I wear my clothes until they break apart. Sometimes, I just need to refresh my wardrobe, and I have to actively set aside time to do so.  It’s funny because as much as I hate actually going to stores and finding clothes, I always end up happier afterward. The same is true of cleaning and organizing my room. I put it off, so it looms over my head, but when I actually clear space in my dresser or closet or filing cabinet, I’m also clearing headspace so I can be the best version of myself.

Complete Something

We all have unfinished projects. Currently, mine include every screenplay idea ever, a sci-fi story, a jewelry hanger, my bathroom floor, my closet, a short film still in post-production, and a DIY cellulite treatment for this blog. Do you know how much better I would feel if I just took a night off of my routine to complete one of these? Awesome. But I don’t because, like the business I mentioned above, they threat they pose is larger than the problem they actually are. There’s a giant monolith of unfinished woes in my brain, and it’s kicking my butt. I am going to commit to finish one of these projects by the end of February. I don’t know which one yet, but I know it will make me feel a lot better – a sense of personal achievement. And it’ll allow me to sleep better for at least three nights, which will make me infinitely more bearable. Also, I won’t look around my bedroom full of sadness.

Turn Off

Once you are in a place where you can relax a bit in the presence of your own thoughts, sign the hell off of Facebook, turn off your computer, and place your phone out of arm’s reach. The only electric devices you’re allowed is a tv and whatever kitchen supplies you need to cook something delicious. Ignore the world for a bit. One of my favorite things to do is, embarrassingly enough, to play N-64 games on my Wii. Mostly Pokemon Snap. But if I don’t have my cell phone or Facebook, no one has to know. I mean, now they do, but whatever. I like playing Wii with me because then I don’t feel bad about being terrible at it. And that’s the point. Watch those embarrassing movies or tv shows, enjoy that chick lit you’re too afraid to put on your bookshelf. There’s no judgment when there’s no eyes or ears or virtual communities to judge you. It’s fun to be yourself even if it’s not always prudent.

Make an Adventure

When I first moved to LA, I didn’t know anyone, I was younger than everyone in my classes, and they all knew each other. So by necessity, I did a lot on my own. Fast forward four years, and I realize it’s been a very long time since I’ve had an adventure by myself. Sure, I go on bike rides or shopping trips alone, but it’s all old hat, routine. There’s value in exploring a new area or restaurant by yourself. Some people are terrified of eating alone. I personally enjoy it, especially if there’s good coffee or beer available. It’s exciting to go to an event alone – you never know who you’ll meet, and you never have to worry about anyone else’s schedule. Being alone in a crowd requires confidence, or at least the appearance of it. It’s a good exercise in developing self-esteem. If you can survive a night out solo, you’ll really feel like you’ve accomplished something awesome.

So go forth and enjoy being you! Hooray!

My Los Angeles

Goop released its Los Angeles City Guide this week. It’s fine if you have a lot of disposable income, but it’s relatively inaccessible to me. And all is right with the world. At least Gwyneth has an appreciation for LA – she’s chosen to keep a home here.

I’ve heard way too much complaining about Los Angeles this week, and I’ve gotta say, even with the tragic events in the news, it’s unearned. I’ve only lived three places in my life, and I haven’t been on many vacations, but regardless of my limited experience, Los Angeles has my heart and is my home.  Beyond the ridiculously priced restaurants and the designer boutiques is a beautiful city that should have a much better reputation. So if you’ve ever had any interest in visiting Los Angeles or you’re one of those people that lives here and complains, I urge you to take a closer look.

Peace and Pennies, Sam

But It’s SO Big!

Dorothy Parker described Los Angeles as “seventy-two suburbs in search of a city.” Ms. Parker is brilliant, but she’s wrong. Like any proper city, Los Angeles has neighborhoods. However, unlike some cities (I’m looking at you, Chicago), Los Angeles isn’t quite so segregated (that’s not to say that we’ve magically stopped racism or that there’s not a gigantic disparity between our richest and poorest, sadly). Sure, Koreatown is huge and has lots of Korean shops and restaurants and karaoke bars, but it’s more than just Koreans living there. Westwood has a strong Persian community, college students, and the upper middle class that can’t afford Brentwood or Santa Monica. West Hollywood has Hasidic Jews and, most famously, a huge gay population, complete with rainbow sidewalks. Los Angeles is a choose-your-own-adventure city where you can live where you fancy and feel like you fit in. Even Malibu has a trailer park. How is that not fascinating and wonderful?

My personal favorite part of the city is the West Side. Marina Del Rey, Culver City, Venice and Santa Monica are walkable, have decent public transit compared to the rest of LA, an abundance of margarita happy hours, and a casual vibe. But, once I get past the driving, I love visiting friends in Echo Park, Los Feliz, the Valley, and sometimes West Hollywood, but only if I know exactly where I should park.

Everyone’s Only Eats Weird Macrobiotic Diets

Los Angeles is, much to my immense joy, a wonderful city if you want a good burger. From Father’s Office in Culver City to the Umami Burger chain to the lower-end In-N-Out Burger, Hole in the Wall Burger, and Apple Pan, if you want red meat on a delicious bun of your choosing, LA will be your jam. If you want hot dogs, you’re in luck as well. My Chicago friends will disagree with this, but I also feel hotdogs should be grilled and not boiled, so I guess at fail at Midwesternism. My personal favorite is the Dogtown Dogs food truck, but waiting in line at Pink’s is an experience I recommend if you’re here on a visit.

If you want to experience healthy vegan cuisine, you can do so in this wonderful city without ever encountering anyone wearing moustache wax and thick-framed glasses. Hugo’s, a favorite of the fancy but affordable for the plebes, has locations in WeHo and the Valley. Real Food Daily has locations throughout the city, and if you want a more casual experience, vegetarian or not, I demand you visit the Veggie Grill. Their Santa Fe “Chicken” Sandwich is amazing!

If you’re any sort of person with taste buds, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Roy Choi’s amazing restaurants. Chego, where you can bring your own booze and stand around eating amazing rice bowls, is my favorite and the most affordable. His Kogi Tacos, made famous via food truck, are available all the time at Alibi Room, where you can also grab a fantastically well-made cocktail. And if you want a sit-down restaurant experience, hit up A-Frame. It’s less Korean-fusion and more comfort food, but it’s still the same level of amazing quality.

Dining in LA is brilliant because rich or poor, there’s an experience available for you. From our awesome food trucks to Korean Barbeque to the millions of high- and low- end sushi joints, you have nothing to complain about. Food culture in Los Angeles is all-inclusive.

Everyone is Skinny and Plastic and Judgey

Sure, the film industry could use some work, but Los Angeles is wonderfully diverse. Of course there’s a higher population of thin people because there’s a higher demand for actors and models and personal trainers. You, as the consumer, can change this, but until then, this is the state of things. As far as plastic folks, I’d like to make a very important distinction: Los Angeles is not Orange County. The surgeons in Los Angeles are, generally, adept at making folks look pretty natural, even if they have chosen to have work. Folks in the OC are boobalicious, blonde, and big fans of calf implants. Get this right, and you will make me a much happier camper.

In the normal places of the city where I exist, I see very few manufactured-looking people. Sure, the Century City Mall looks like a clown convention on Sunday afternoons, but my Los Angeles isn’t so bitchy and vain. I think the fact that most body-conscious, “true life: I was hella bulimic” feminist bloggers camp out on the East Coast speaks volumes about which culture is more toxic.

But I Miss Winter

No one cares. Winter killed nine people and left 300,000 without power this weekend. But I mean, if you’re still that hung up on it, go where it’s winter and spare me the traffic. I went on a bike ride today. I’m probably going on a hike next weekend with my roommate. I got coffee on a patio last night near the ocean with a friend. Snow is overrated, and in your heart of hearts, you know this is true.

If you ever get the chance, experience Los Angeles with an open mind. There’s fun to be had here, and at the end of the day, we can watch the sun set on the water.

Tracy Anderson Goop Video

Poopers! I’ve been tossing an idea around as of late, and, as she is wont to do, Gwyneth read my mind and preemptively helped push me over the edge. After reading this New York Magazine article, I wanted to start a new feature reviewing trendy or celebrity exercise classes. This week, in her Goop newsletter, Gwyneth gifted us with a Tracy Anderson workout. So, since rent was due and I couldn’t afford to go to SoulCycle, I bought some cheap hand weights and went to work.

My usual workout consists of twenty minutes of either Ellen Barrett’s Crunch: Pick Your Spot Pilates or twenty minutes of her Weight Loss Pilates, both of which I’ve detailed in this post. I also bike to work 3-4 times per week and about 8-10 miles on the weekends. So there’s the baseline, for me. Below, I’ll explore the effectiveness of the workout, safety concerns, experience level required, and how it makes me feel about my body and bodies in general. Feel free to check out the workout here and try it yourself.

Peace and Pennies, Sam

The Gist

The seven minute video is really more instructional than work-along, which is fine, but I definitely recommend watching it once through before attempting your own fifteen minute follow-along. Have a device that is easy to pause so that you can stop the video to finish your reps or switch legs accordingly. It’s fairly easy to follow, but if you’re not used to working out or have terrible balance, I’d recommend skipping the leg sequence or modifying it.

The Effectiveness

My arms are already looking less noodle-y and more like they actually have biceps, so that’s definitely a plus. I love the arm sequence. It’s super easy to remember, so I can do it without the video prompts. I used the suggested three pound weights, but I think it would probably be just as effective with less weight if that’s more comfortable.

The leg sequence left my hips sore, but not in the muscles – in the joints. I would definitely be careful in how you approach this. Go slow, focus on your breathing, and really pay attention to Tracy in the video to get your form correct. My hips and thighs hold weight more than my arms, so it’s hard to gage whether or not I’ll see results in the long-term, but for now, it’s a quick way to get a workout in after, say, a windy bike ride.

The Feeeeeeeeelings

My biggest beef with this whole video is that the goal seems to be to take up as few cubic feet as possible. The arm exercises are meant to shrink your arms, even while strengthening. Now, I get that not everyone want to look like a body builder, but since my own biceps are reminiscent of Betty Spaghetti’s, I’d like my hard work to be somewhat apparent. It’s also important that, at some point, we as a society start to acknowledge that women can be strong and beautiful – two terms that shouldn’t be mutually exclusive. There are also women whose arms aren’t supposed to be small who can still benefit from this workout without worrying that they’ll have disproportionately scrawny limbs. With any workout, health and strength, not weight, should be the primary goal. This misses the mark somewhat.

I also have a problem with the whole Goop interview with Tracy Anderson. The title speaks volumes: “is my workout making me fat?” No. No, your workout is never making you fat unless that workout consists of scooping ice cream into a bowl and eating it. It may add inches, it may add weight, but that does not mean you are getting fat. Tracy seems to particularly have it out for marathoners, which is a shame, because a marathon requires discipline and dedication – to run a marathon is to attempt a genuine lifestyle change. Those large thighs and round butts are a source of pride – they’re built, not grown from tortilla chips like mine is. Being thin is not a good health goal. If you want to lose weight, fine, but look to being a good size, a healthy size, a size that does not require you to replace one meal with a drink. Muscles are beautiful, and thunder thighs should become a compliment.

So I guess I’ve sufficiently exposed my ulterior motive with this workout series – I think we need to rethink the purpose and goals of exercise. Physical activity is vital to health and strength and longevity, but none of those things should revolve around looking like Gwyneth Paltrow. Gwyneth should look like Gwyneth, Tracy should look like Daisy from Rock of Love, but the rest of us should look to be our best and most vital selves. While the intent of the Tracy Anderson workout supplement isn’t the best, it’s worth a try in terms of the physical strength it can build. But if it’s not your thing, don’t sweat it. You and your body are still fine.

January Goop Product Roundup

Enjoy this month’s short, sweet little video nugget!

To check out One Love Organics, go to Birchbox.

And also check out Dr. Bronner’s!