Reflections

Simple Tip Supplement: Reflections from Tiny Buddha

How to Live Life to the Fullest

Some of my favorites:

1. Live in the moment. Forget the past and don’t concern yourself with the future.

4. Learn to forgive and embrace unconditional love.

5. Live every day as if it’s your last, embracing each experience as if it’s your first.

13. Pray, forgive yourself, appreciate others, listen to your gut, do things you enjoy, and remind yourself that we are all loved and connected.

20. Keep your spirit free, be flexible, let go.

27. Just be.

30. Follow your hopes and not your fears.

To add my own:

31. "I want you to remember to celebrate your victories." - Daniel "Burning Dan" Gordon-Levitt (1974-2010). Celebrate every victory you have, whether it is big or small

Simple Tip #14

Simple Tip #14: Living Life to the Fullest

“Carpe diem! Rejoice while you are alive; enjoy the day; live life to the fullest; make the most of what you have. It is later than you think.” - Horace, Ancient Roman Poet

My simple tip for you today is to live life to the fullest.

This is very simple. There are many ways to do it, but the most basic things you can do is to live in the moment and enjoy the smallest moments.

Thursday Treats #8

Thursday Treats #8: Phillippe's

Phillipe's was found in 1908 in Downtown L.A. across the street from Union Station. Along with Cole's, it is one of the oldest and best known restaurants in Los Angeles and remains in competition with Cole's for the title of the creator of the French Dip Sandwich. Phillippe's serves breakfast to dinner, and is truly a dining experience.

Entering Phillippe's, you're greeted by at least ten picnic tables and benches on the rush covered floor. A long counter makes up a wall of the restaurant. Here, you get in one of ten lines until you get to the front to meet one of the ten "carvers," your servers, who cook up the sandwiches, soups, breakfast food and the rest of the good meals Phillippe's serves. Behind the counter are many signs that range over the decades, proudly displaying the restaurant's history along with photographs and model trains.

Once you get to the counter, you have your choice of a "hearty breakfast" from 6:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Afterwards, take your pick of any of the famous sandwiches made with roast beef, lamb, turkey or ham, and any variation of cheese. Add a side of cole slaw, potato and macaroni salads, or any other number of sides. And don't forget Phillippe's homemade hot mustard, with which you are advised to only take a little "because it truly is very hot French mustard." If you're not in the mood for a sandwich, there's the homemade beef stew, made daily. Of course, you can't forget drinks - all standard drinks are sold - and don't forget that coffee is still a nickel.

Now, sit back (be careful though, you are sitting on benches) and enjoy!

Website: www.phillippes.com
Address: 1001 N. Alameda St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Lazy Fridays #7

Lazy Fridays #7: LAX

What? LAX? What? Why would I include this? Well, LAX is what most people first see when they enter into Los Angeles. The Airport is the entry point for any planes landing in the area, unless you're in a small plane landing at Santa Monica or in Long Beach. So let's say, the entry point for commercial airlines.

Located in Westchester, the Airport is a great place for plane and people watching. There's an In-N-Out just by the runway in Westchester with a small patch of grass that's great to lie down on and watch the planes fly in. If you prefer being inside the airport, having lunch in the international terminal and then sitting by the windows to watch planes go in and out is fun too. This also gives you the chance to see the international travelers pass through on their way in and out.

If you're really looking for something unique to do, have dinner in LAX's Theme Building, which opened in 1961 and was styled with the Jetsons in mind. Just keep in mind that it is expensive to dine here.

Enjoy

Thursday Treats #7

Thursday Treats #7: Islands

I'm sorry, I'm getting so lazy with these. I have far too much homework and rehearsal. Anyways.

Islands Burgers, the Hawaiian, surfer culture inspired restaurant that dots the Southern California and Arizona landscape. Founded in 1982 by Tony DeGrazier in an effort to recreate the times he had in 0ahu while serving in the Navy, the first Islands opened in West L.A.

The decor is very much inspired by Hawaii. Thatch roof, tiki bar style counters make up the welcome desk, open kitchen and bar. Tables are styled like wooden, glazed surfboards. Tiki faces and surfboards line the walls along with photographs of surfers showing off their moves in wave tunnels. TVs are tucked into corners and consistently play x-treme sports footage.

The food is the best part. Favorites include the lemonade, shakes, fries, tortilla soup, tiki tenders, fish tacos and the wide selection of hamburgers. All burgers have names associated with Hawaii from the Big Wave to Maui to Pipeline. The original burger is the Big Wave. If you don't want your own set of fries or if your friends and family are known to steal a few, the endless basket of fries is a great option when with a group. You'll especially want this since the regular menu doesn't generally come with fries (you'll be picking off your kids). Any of the burgers are worth getting; my favorite though is the Maui burger. Be warned, these burgers are stuffed to the max, and there will be sauce dripping down your fingers.

This restaurant can be on the pricey side (about 10 dollars a burger), but is a great choice for when you want to go out to eat and have your family or friends with you.

Enjoy!

Islands: www.islandsrestaurants.com
Nutritional Information: http://www.islandsrestaurants.com/menu/nutritional/facts.aspx

Thursday Treats #6

I'm just going to post a short Thursday Treats today because I'm really tired, having just come back from my senior retreat. Well, Cafe Crepe is located at the end of the 3rd Street Promenade, across the street from the new Santa Monica Place. The inside of the restaurant is beautiful. When you first walk in, there is a dark stained wood bar, where the crepes and sandwiches are made. A majority of the seating are in booths and the walls are lined with posters advertising Perrier and the Folies Bergere.

The food is just as good; the menu has a variety of sweet and savory crepes, sandwiches, and other appetizers. I especially love getting either dark chocolate or nutella sweet crepes with bananas or strawberries. The only caution however, is to go in less hungry because service does take a while.

Don't let that discourage you though, because if you are in the mood for a good crepe, the Cafe Crepe is an excellent choice!

Short (Week) Hiatus

I know, I know! I'm so behind on posts! And the only excuse I can give is that I've been tremendously busy and tired lately. That being said, I'm leaving for senior retreat tomorrow, so I won't be posting anything till Sunday at the latest. Until then, enjoy past posts!

Lazy Fridays #5

Lazy Friday's #5: Angel's Flight

Keeping with the Downtown L.A. theme this week, I wanted to introduce you to Angel's Flight.

Angels Flight was originally opened in 1901 by Colonel J.W. Eddy, and is known as the "Shortest Railway in the World." It connected Hill Street with Olive Street in the Bunker Hill neighborhood of Downtown L.A. The railway did not receive its name until 1912, when it was officially acknowledged as Angels Flight (a nod to the cities name Los Angeles, which translates from Spanish to The Angels, and as recognition to the name that hung over the Hill Street entrance).

The railway opened in 1901 and ran until 1969, when it was closed due to redevelopment in the area surrounding. The pieces of the railway were put into storage in hopes of a restoration and reopening. Angels Flight was reopened in 1996 half a block from the original site, but closed following a fatal accident in 2001. The Flight has now been opened for a third time as of March 2010, and has run safely since the reopening.

I remember taking the railway during a class field trip to Downtown in second grade about a year before it was closed. It's a cool ride to take and with the original 1901 tramcars being used, it feels a little like being a part of history. It certainly has a way of feeling like 1901, with the tram fare being twenty-five cents, probably making it the cheapest transportation you will ever take in Los Angeles.

So if you spend an afternoon in Downtown, take a time to see something that has seemingly made its way down the path of history: Angels Flight. Enjoy!

Thursday Treats #5

Thursday Treats #5: Cole's French Dip Sandwiches

Cole's is located in the Historic Core District of Downtown Los Angeles and has the honor of being the oldest restaurant and bar in Los Angeles. Founded in 1908, Cole's is also the location of the original french dip sandwich, a title also claimed by Phillipe's French Dip Sandwiches (another restaurant in Downtown founded in the same year).

The restaurant itself if just worth the visit. Sitting slightly below street level, there is a small strip of patio for high stools and tables if you want to eat outside. Inside, it has a dark look and a feeling reminiscent of the 20s, 30s and 40s at the height of the prohibition period and when gangsters were smooth talking gentlemen. You're first faced with the beautiful stained wooden bar, which has been around since the original opening of the building. There are plenty of wooden tables in the back, and cozy booths made of brown leather tucked into the walls. The lighting is all original, which probably contributes to the dimness of the restaurant, but adds to the historic feeling of the place. The floor is all tile - none of that carpeted stuff for the original! Finally, pictures of all the celebrities that have frequented the restaurant or made it their haunt line the walls.

Now, onto the food. As speculated from the title, the restaurant is famous for its sandwiches. Served on french bread with your pick of deli meats and a cup of dip on the side, the sandwich is the main attraction on the menu. Other food includes other sandwiches, salads and the like. But if you're coming to Cole's, why would you get anything except for what its famous for? I'm personally a big fan of the roast beef french dip, which seems to me the most original sandwich you can get. The bar is a popular place if you're just looking for a drink - and Cole's is quite famous for its bar - but if you're underage like me, I wouldn't say no to the lemonade.

Enjoy!

Address:
118 East 6th Street, Downtown L.A, 90014

Simple Tip #13

Simple Tip #13: Acceptance of Self and Others

"In my ideal world, no child would suffer. Charitable instincts would prevail. There would be global acceptance of all different types of people." - Clay Aiken

I've never been much of a fan of Clay Aiken, but he knows what he's talking about. In light of the news of Dove World Outreach Center's plan to burn the Muslim holy book, the Qur'an in honor of 9/11 and as a girl whose best friend is Muslim, I feel as though it is necessary to have a post on acceptance.

There are many kinds of ways to be accepting, but I wanted to talk about the importance of accepting yourself and others. We live in a society that is not often accepting; we are bombarded with images of intolerance all the time. They can be blatant and they can be subliminal. Such an important part of having a simple life, at the most basic level, is being accepting.

Acceptance is a basic value, a fundamental value to life, society, religion, relationships. I think that to find acceptance in others, you must first accept yourself. How would you do that? I cannot tell you. What I can tell you are suggestions for finding acceptance within yourself.

Accepting Yourself

Spend time with yourself. By this I mean, give yourself a day to be alone. Sometimes its good not to be a social butterfly. Take this time to read a book, listen to music, watch a movie. Just sit by a window and think. Go to the beach and sit on the sand. Hug your dog for thirty minutes. Sleep. I find that when I do these things, I come to some understanding. I try to accept something new about myself everyday. Why, today, for example, is that I'm not going to succeed every time and I just need to keep trying.

Write out everything you like about yourself. If you can define what you love about yourself, then that's great. But defining what you love about yourself makes it easy to see what you don't love. You can look at those things, and then find some good in them. Slowly but surely you can find some acceptance in that.

Accept compliments. This is one of the hardest things for me to do. I just want to analyze and criticize the compliments given to me. I don't always trust them. This is something I'm working on. I think that a person who can accept a compliment with ease and without giving it another thought has the best confidence in the world and is in tune with herself. Strive to take the praise given to you. Chances are you deserve it.

Accepting Others

This one is always a hard one. Everyday we see images on the news of intolerance towards religion, sexuality, ethnicity, sex, political preference, etc. And the ideal would be to accept people on a grand scale. But in reality, no one will be able to accept something as a whole because there will always be something they find wrong, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try.

Because Islam is such a hot topic in the news lately, let's use it as an example. People aren't going to accept the religion as a whole because there are certain highly questionable factions of Islam that people are going to be at odds with. There are rules in Islamic Law that people aren't going to agree with. These things make it hard to accept Islam as a whole. But, it is possible to take baby steps towards acceptance. It is possible to accept the people. Nearly the entire majority of Muslims aren't part of extremist factions; some follow the sometimes shocking and stringent (to the Western world) Islamic Law, but that doesn't make them bad people. It is possible to accept Islam as a religion of individuals who are good, bad, and beautiful, just like Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc.

That is where the path to acceptance starts. It starts at the very basic level. The person. I can't tell you to accept someone because I think you need to. But I hope that I can make it clear that learning to accept a person for who they are as a person will lead to acceptance of where they come from, what they believe, what they do.I hope that I can encourage you to listen to someone and their stories and that they will listen to you. I hope that I can help expand the mindset to be accepting. That is all I can do.

"Tolerance is the eager and glad acceptance of the way along which others seek the truth." - Sir Walter Besant

Simple Tip #12

Simple Tip #12: Being Happy

Being happy is always the most important part in simple living. Here's a link with some suggestions on how to be happy today: Tiny Buddha Happy Tips


Some of my favorites are:

1. Smile. As the quote goes, “I’ve never seen a smiling face that was not beautiful.”

6. Create something that helps people. A song, a blog, a support group, a non-profit–anything that inspires.

10. Give someone an uncomfortably long hug when they need it.

14. Notice something simple but beautiful in the world around you.

22. Give yourself the same courtesy–focus on the good you’ve done, not the mistakes you’ve made.

31. Show unbridled enthusiasm for something that excites you. All children are beautiful, and I think their unadulterated joy has a lot to do with it.

34. Honor the values that matter to you. Showing integrity is the first step to feeling good about yourself.

35. Accept and love yourself–or as Ben Folds sings, “Learn to live with what you are.”

Transportation Websites

Simple Tip Supplement: Transportation Websites

Here are some websites if you want to find out more about L.A. transport:

L.A. Subway

Big Blue Bus

Metro System

Culver City Bus

Simple Tip #11

Simple Tip #11: Public Transportation

I know, I know. L.A's public transportation has never really had the best reputation. You want to avoid the buses and the subway doesn't run all over like in other cities (I'm looking at you, New York). But really, you shouldn't underestimate it. What happens when you have no way of getting somewhere? What if you don't have a car and your bike has a flat? Well, that's when the bus or subway becomes useful.

First off, the bus. I usually take the Big Blue Bus down into Santa Monica. It's not hard to find the right line and it only costs .50 cents a ride. That's a deal and certainly cheaper than paying 80 dollars a week for gas. The best tip when riding the bus is, of course, knowing your stop and sitting either in the back or the center of the bus. Why do I say this? Well, if you sit in the front, chances are there will be the irritating person in the wheelchair that decides to strap themselves in on the side everyone is sitting on instead of the other empty side of the bus. But if you sit in the back, you have to remember to move when you get to your spot.

The metro bus is also a great option if you really need to get somewhere. They make as few stops as possible, which is great. A bus from the Westside to Downtown only takes about 30 to 40 minutes depending on where you are. The only set back is, because its a lot faster, it costs a little more to ride. It's about 1.25 to ride, so its better to leave riding the metro if you're going somewhere far, not a couple stops over.

The subway system in Los Angeles isn't very extensive. It currently runs to major points starting in Downtown L.A. at Union Station to Long Beach, North Hollywood, East L.A, South Central, and the South Bay. A proposed Westside line is under construction. Fares are 1.50 per ticket to 75 dollars for a monthly pass.

Regardless of what's said about L.A's transportation, it is highly useful when it needs to be. So if you want to avoid a car, try the bus or subway!

Lazy Fridays #4

Lazy Fridays #4: Abbot Kinney, Venice

It's really appropriate that this is a Friday post because what I want to talk about only happens on Fridays. Abbot Kinney Blvd. features small boutiques, art galleries and trendy restaurants. But on Fridays it becomes the site of "The Roachcoach Festival" as my friend so lovingly calls it. Starting a 6:30, food trucks from all over come and park on the Blvd. Suddenly, Abbot Kinney becomes flooded with people, making it almost impossible to walk or drive.

The food trucks range from Japanese to Mexican to Brazilian and everything in between. There are crepes and shaved ice trucks. There are tacos galore and plenty of sushi to go around. There's chocolate and ice cream and every other sweet thing you can imagine.

I was only just introduced this experience on Friday and it something fun and strangely exhilarating to do at night. While eating a coxinha (croquette) from the Brazilian truck, you can wander into the free art galleries that pass from one building to another. Or you can sit on the stoops of shops that have been closed for the night.

It's a very cool thing to do when if there's nothing else to do on a Friday night. The other pluses are that the food is cheap and the shops are open late. Enjoy!

Thursday Treats #4

Thursday Treats #4: In-N-Out

First off, I need to apologize for being lazy. School is only two weeks in and I'm already overloaded. Now, on with the show!

In-N-Out is the quintessential Californian fast food experience. As many of my friends (among other people say), Nevada and Arizona is lucky to share the deliciousness with us. The first In-N-Out burger opened in Baldwin Park in 1948. Over the past 62 years, it has become a staple in the California fast food business.

It's known for its fresh food (seriously, they make french fries right in front of you) and cheap prices (you can get a full meal, drink included, for a little over five bucks). The secret menu is available on the website, but everyone knows about it anyways.

You have your classics of milkshakes, lemonade, burgers, cheeseburgers and fries. Then you have animal style, 3 x 3 and 4 x 4 (three or four beef patties), grilled cheese and protein style (you skip the bun).

It's hard to describe the deliciousness that is In-N-Out. It can only fully be explained by visiting one on a trip here, sitting down at one of the tables and enjoying a burger while the sauce dribbles down your chin. The only thing I would recommend is skipping the In-N-Out by LAX. While still has good as the other locations, it is often the most crowded.

Website: www.in-n-out.com

Lazy Fridays #3

Lazy Fridays #3: Griffith Park and Observatory

First off, I'm sorry this is two days late. I fell asleep on my first attempt to write this and then forgot about it for a day.

Now that that's done, Griffith Park is a staple in Los Angeles. On the south side of Mount Hollywood, the park overlooks Hollywood, Downtown L.A, and the Pacific Ocean. Not far from the park is the Hollywood sign, now closed to the public. The Observatory sits in the center of the park, serving as a launch point for the hiking trails.

The park is a great place to hike, have a picnic and hang out. Parking is free at the observatory, but getting a space isn't guaranteed (granted, where in L.A. is parking ever available?). There are several trails that lead to the top of the mountain and you are greeted with a beautiful panoramic view of Los Angeles. As with any hikes, wear good shoes (not converse, I made that mistake) and bring lots of water. At the top, there are picnic tables so if you want to bring some food, that's perfectly acceptable and highly recommended.

The observatory however, is the main attraction. Built in 1933 and opened in 1935, the Observatory was funded by the WPA as a way to bring in money through public works. The observatory features two main telescopes, several exhibits on space and astronomy and a planetarium show. With the exception of the show, everything is free. The lawn outside is lush and makes for the perfect picnic spot. You can get a view of Los Angeles from any angle of the observatory and telescopes dot the premises if you want to take a closer look.

It is a beautiful experience to come up to the mountains and do something far detached from the usual Los Angeles culture. Up on the mountain, you can be very much at peace by yourself or in the company of your friends. The sounds of traffic and busybodies is nonexistent up in Griffith. You are more likely to here a dog bark from one of the far up properties of the Hollywood Hills than the honking of a car horn.

Enjoy this wonderful piece of L.A. life!

Thursday Treats #3

Thursday Treats #3: Sprinkles Cupcakes

I would be lying spectacularly if I told you that Sprinkles Cupcakes was cheap. I would love if a dozen cupcakes were the same as buying a dozen Diddy Riese cookies. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

So why mention the Beverly Hills based cupcake shop on a blog about living a little more frugally? Because, well, even the best of us have to splurge sometimes. Take note though: Sprinkles Cupcakes are best left for birthdays, graduations, celebrations of any kind because it would probably kill you on a weekly/monthly basis.

With that disclaimer, Sprinkles Cupcakes are some of the best cupcakes around (you also have the option of Crumbles and Vanilla Bakery). The shop is special because it is an actual bakery. Nothing is being imported from some cupcake factory in the middle of nowhere. It's also special because of the variety of cupcakes it offers.

Sprinkles has its standard cupcakes: chocolate, vanilla, red velvet, pumpkin, etc. And it has its specials for holidays: key lime, caramel apple, orange cranberry, chocolate peppermint, eggnog spice. Each cupcake has a minimalist motif to it. Cupcake and icing with a single decoration on top (meaning, a heart, circle, letters, stars, ghosts for Halloween, Christmas trees for Christmas and all the rest).

On the website, you have the choice of creating cupcakes for parties, weddings, and gifts. You can design your own cupcakes or choose from a pre-decorated cupcake batch.

But be warned, these cupcakes are expensive. For a box of 12, expect to pay roughly 40 dollars or for a single, about 3.75. See what I mean about saving it for parties if you're looking to spend less money?

If you live outside of Los Angeles, there are several other locations as well as more that open this year and next, but the Los Angeles bakery is the original.

Enjoy your cupcakes!

List of Cities:

Los Angeles
Chicago
Dallas
Houston
Newport Beach
New York - Opens Feb 2011
Phoenix
San Diego - Opens Fall 2010
San Francisco
Washington D.C. - Opens Fall 2010

Los Angeles Address: 9635 Little Santa Monica Boulevard

Website: www.sprinkles.com

Quick Note

In all, I haven't posted very much in general, but I've recently started my senior year, and with my schedule, its stressful. Therefore, I will be trying to post as much as possible. You can definitely expect Thursday Treats and Lazy Fridays to continue since I have a schedule made out for those days :)

Lazy Fridays #2

Lazy Fridays #2: The Farmer's Market

The Original Farmer's Market opened in 1934, and has become another landmark in Los Angeles' cityscape. Located in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles, the simple and chaotic charm of the Farmer's Market is nestled, if not overshadowed by the Grove.

The Farmer's Market is located at the very end of the Grove, where a sudden change becomes apparent. The Grove is very polished with expensive stores, art deco style buildings and a trolley. The Farmer's Market is a collection of small novelty stores and restaurants reminiscent of food stands. Many places require you to come up to the window to order before you go and sit down at one of the many picnic style or cafe style tables. Other restaurants have you sitting right up at the counter (much like the delicious crepe place where you watch them flip crepes in front of you).

Many of the original restaurants are still there, while included in the blend are new restaurants and coffee shops like Chipotle and Coffee Bean. The shops range from the expensive to the cheap; everything from Sur La Table to Sticker Planet (a childhood favorite of many of my friends).

While you do need some money to enjoy the delights of the Farmer's Market, it is a Los Angeles experience not to be missed. Enjoy!

Thursday Treats #2

Thursday Treats #2: Tito's Tacos

Opened in 1959, and now a city landmark, Tito's Tacos is what fast food Mexican food SHOULD be about. If you come to L.A. and think you're going to get your fill of Tex-Mex at a Del Taco you are dead. wrong.

The need for a Tito's fix in my family started with my grandfather, who would go to Tito's Tacos every time the family visited L.A. Well, the family is now permanently stationed in L.A, and we try to eat Tito's once a month at least.

So what's so great about the food? Well, Tito's is obviously known for its tacos. Their beef tacos are the epitome of cheap, good and greasy fast food (which is really why you should only eat it once a months). They're made with hard shell corn tortillas and stuff to the brim with ground beef, tons of lettuce and if you want, a mountain of melted Mexican mix cheese.

There's a certain joy in eating one of Tito's tacos. The bottoms of the tortillas bulge from the amount of beef stuffed in and the tips are crisp and crunchy. They're pretty thin tacos considering, so its not that hard to pack two or three (or more) away in one sitting.

Of course, you can order anything else like enchiladas, burritos, tamales and tostadas. To accompany every meal, getting Tito's tortilla chips, salsa, and beans is almost law. I don't know how many times my sister and I have snuck a couple bites of chips before dinner time, (and it is necessary to sneak them, because you will get accused of trying to eat them for yourself :) ).

When you're going out for a monthly fast food run, there really is no better place than Tito's Tacos for your Mexican food needs. Enjoy!