Mission Accomplished.

Today is a day I had been waiting for for a long time. This morning I woke up excited, because today, I was getting my car windows tinted. Since I was a wee lass I always wanted tinted windows in a car.. Not really, but ever since I owned a car, I’ve always thought of how great it would be to get into my car, in the middle of August and not have to open the door to let the lava hot air out. They say that tinted windows help keep a car cool.. Haha I agree, tinted windows add to a car’s coolness factor. This is my first time… No idea what to expect… But this is also my second car ever. It is the first new car that I bought all by myself and payed for with the fruits of my labour. In short, it’s my baby. I absolutely adore my car, and it suits me so I thought I would step it up and pimp my ride. I’ve scoured Groupon and living social especially for a deal on window tinting and I finally one popped up on Groupon for a Premium 3M Tint for 5 windows by Startronics in Santa Monica ( for $150, a $350 value).
Here is what Groupon says:

Startronics’ vehicular virtuosos use 3M window films recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation to enhance automobiles’ exterior appearance and protect interior surfaces. Customers can submit steeds to a window tinting to stymie sunlight, preserve fabrics, and keep interiors blemish-free. Patrons have a variety of light and heat-shunning shades to complement the introverted nature of rides with customized protection. While the premium-grade film offers superb glare reduction, the ceramic film offers extreme clarity and heat rejection. Specialists selectively cut fade-fighting films to ensure a seamless fit with window frames, providing parked privacy from passersby, blocking up to 99% of harmful UV rays, and potentially reducing injuries caused by shattered glass in accidents. Application and dry time total about 3.5 hours, or the same amount spent sitting in daily gridlock on the 405.

Additionally, all services are backed with a lifetime warranty on parts and labor should the tinting film ever peel, bubble, or become discolored. All 3M glass-tint applications protect automotive upholstery that is sensitive to the sun’s savage rays, causing fading and cracking of its tender underbelly, along with depreciation, discomfort, and mockery from more sprightly sedans.

That sounded pretty good to me. I can definitely use that deal! So I made my appointment for today and came out to Santa Monica take care of my ride. I should have taken a before and after picture, but I guess we will just have to go with the after… Unless I’m able to find one from before the tint somewhere, which I might.
The place was easy to find, on one of the busiest streets in Los Angeles, Wilshire. GPS did all the work and I found the back driveway and parked there, behind another car. The tint job on that car looked really well done so I knew I would be just fine…not that I had any doubt really. I came in and talked to who I thought was the owner, Eddie. He was very nice an patient with me.. I was full of questions and just could not make up my mind. Medium? Light? Dark? Or Limo. Hey this is a big decision here! After it’s done, the bed is made and I’ll have to lay in it. I just want to be sure I’ll be 100% happy with my choice and will not have any regrets. For example, I wanted the medium tint on the front windows and limo dark on the back. My car is reddish so the dark would really look nice on it, but, I live in a huge city and I don’t want to be hassled by cops for the illegal tint. The light is barely anything, so it’s unlikely anyone would bother me for that. So much to ponder.. Choosing the different shades of tint really took the most time.
Finally, after much deliberation I decided to go with the darkest shade on the back, and lightest on the front. I was really close to going with a medium shade on the front windows but I realized, with the help of the fear of having to be in and out of court for a bunch of fix it tickets, was a nightmare I was unwilling to get involved in. I called Eddie back and told him to change it to the light tint. My life is already too full and busy to have to deal with something so annoying and completely unnecessary!
When I looked around, I saw that the shop was being remodeled and reorganized so therefore it was a mess of papers and gadgets, but what auto shop is not?? On the window out front, I noticed that the business is also running an eBay store so when I glimpsed a couple of rooms filled with random stuff, I figured that was all their merchandise to sell. A pleasant surprise came when I asked to use the restroom and found it to be very neat and clean, although the path to it led through one of the eBay store rooms and with so much stuff, was a journey to get to.

The next issue came with wether or not I wanted to tint the 2 mini windows on the front sides of my car. I would pay $20 each, but I figured it would look unfinished without them so, after much going back and forth, I finally made my choice and headed out to kill 3 hours in Santa Monica. I hardly ever get to explore this area because it’s so far from my central bubble but I really enjoy it out here. The day was lively and the air fresh after the rain, so it was perfectly clear. I decided to find a place to kill 3 hours.. Somewhere that I can have lunch and read my Kindle. I was really in the mood to sit outside, so I started heading down Wilshire towards the ocean.
A cute cafe called Blue Daisy that I had passed had an outdoor sitting area and a menu displayed outside. I checked it out and it seemed it was just what I needed. After I sat down outside on the patio, I scanned near by daily deals on Groupon and what do yah know? Blue Daisy had a Groupon for $6 for $9. Since I was going to eat here anyway, I was pretty stoked and kinda mad at myself for not checking sooner. I bought the deal right away and told my server I had a Groupon. I’ve never used one at a restaurant yet so I figured why not?!
The menu was pretty simple yet sounded delicious! Mostly cafe style foods, although they had a breakfast menu, salads, meat and fish, pasta, kids menu, desserts, crepes, soup, sandwiches and hot and cold drinks.

I was especially in the mood for a soup and salad, so that’s what I chose. I got the Mango, Avocado and Chicken Salad which consisted of baby mixed greens, mango, avocado, roasted chicken and home made whole grain mustard seed dressing. I decided to go with the soup of the day, which was the organic chicken orzo soup.
I had never tried organic Chicken Orzo soup and was very pleased with it when it came out. It looked like chicken with giant pieces of rice and peas, but I was later informed that is was actually pasta pieces. It had amazing flavor and came with a little piece of bread. The salad was delicious, but I knew it would be because there is nothing in the mix I don’t absolutely love. It was crisp and fresh and the chicken was moist and perfectly white. I was very happy with my lunch and thankful that I got lucky with finding a good place to eat without even knowing what I wanted.
After that I ordered a coffee to enjoy while I wrote some of this blog, and quickly realized they have delicious coffee as well. I found a great little place here! It really was a perfect place to hang and wait in anticipation of my new tint!!

The coffee came with a small ginger biscuit cookie, which I thought was lovely; the presentation at the cafe was really on point. The food looked as pretty as it tasted! I was impressed that even though Blue Daisy is a cafe, they went the extra mile to make their dishes look so lovely. I also loved the girthy dishes and thick silver-wear as well. The only annoying thing about the whole experience( which is in no way their fault) Is that they are located on the corner of 23rd and Wilshire, and the street lights count down the crossing seconds out loud. They even say what direction they’re talking about. It’s like hearing a robotic voice tell people when to cross or when to wait, continuously, even counting down the seconds starting with 15, 14, 13, 12…. And when there are no voice commands, then there is a constant low beep beep beep beep, like a metronome, marking each passing second. It gets irritating. If you sit inside, I’m sure you can’t hear it at all, but the cute little outdoor patio certainly suffers because of it. I love being able to sit outside and people watch!
I was done with food and coffee and decided that I would definitely come back to Blue Daisy some time when I’m in the area. I keped thinking “Soon I get to go pick up my car and see what it looks like now! I bet it’ll be pretty slick looking!” Toyotas always look good with tinted windows, I noticed, I don’t know what it is! It’s too bad tinting is illegal in California, otherwise I totally would have tinted the 2 front windows medium. I certainly don’t want to be pulled over by a cop with nothing to do one day, and then go pay more to get it scraped off, which would defeat the whole purpose of saving.
My car is a Toyota Yaris so before the tint, it looked a bit like a fishbowl if you were inside it. Once a friend mentioned that and I could not see it differently from then on. The car is perfectly sized for me; Small and round. At this point I’m pretty excited to see what the dark tint looks like on it….I’m literally sitting there staring at the phone. I knew the color would compliment my car very well, but curiosity was simply killing me. The phone rang.

Alright so I picked up my car and it looked amazing! I absolutely love the tint, best decision ever. The back looks like a different car with the blacked out limo tint! All black and red! I love it.
So on my price sheet break down, I had my Groupon for $150, the 2 extra mini windows that had to be tinted, which cost a whopping $40 extra and $18 dollars in taxes, so the full job cost $208. That’s still less then the usual $350+ that they charge for this tint. The lifetime warranty is also a major plus! In case anything happens to the tint, any bubbling of fading will be replaced. I highly Doubt I’ll ever have to take them up on it, they truly did a wicked job, unlikely it’s going anywhere!

I must say, I’m very happy with how pretty the tint came out, it’s better then I imagined…. I’m glad I finally did it! I gave them a bit of a hard time, calling back to change my mind about the tint colors a few times and wether I wanted to do the small mini windows or not… they left them out at the end, and I almost drove off sans mini windows after paying for them. After a good look, I realized Eddie was right, the windows looked unfinished… And I figured if I’m doing it, I better do it right! It only took a few minutes to tint those two so I wasn’t worried about it. If I had other cars to tint, I would absolutely be back! The guys were really nice and friendly and like I said, very patient with me!
As the day wore on I got more and more comfortable with my tint. Seeing through the rear window became easier as I got used to the darkness. Eddie said not to roll my windows down for 48 hours and give it 7 days to settle. I wish it hadn’t rained all weekend so I could have washed the car before the tint job, since I can’t wash it for 7 days… But, the windows look so amazing, it doesn’t even matter! I guess the Blue Daisy cafe is a great little deal I found because of another deal on the fabulous tint. A deal within a deal, like a chain reaction. Woah. Today I saved, explored and got something done all in one… I will have to say Mission Accomplished.

Getting away without going away…

I was browsing Groupon a couple of weeks ago and discovered a deal for a VIP foot massage package at Bao Foot Spa in Beverly Hills. I am seriously on my feet all day long and my feet get tired and tense from doing hair all day. I love what I do and anything that can help me do it as comfortably as possible, is welcome in my book. One of my clients had suggested that I try a reflexology foot massage, that “it’s the most amazing thing!” so I figured, why not!
The deal was that for $25, you get a 60-minute VIP massage package (a $50 value) that includes:

A 40-minute reflexology foot massage
A 20-minute upper-body massage
A hydrating mask

I thought that sounded like heaven! A 60 minute treatment! I keped reading, and the discription of the experience sounded like just what I needed. This is what groupon said:

Bao Foot Spa’s staff members knead away stress with foot-focused reflexology massages in a luxurious spa environment. Massage therapists greet guests with flower-filled water vessels permeating the air with floral scents that lure buzzing bees out of vertical hairdos. During reflexology foot massages, traditional pressure points on guests’ soles are manipulated with the goal of restoring balance to the whole body.

As shoe fillers unwind under the therapist’s deft manipulations, the guest lies back in a cozy chair, face covered by a four-in-one mask that moisturizes and rejuvenates the mug with restorative unguents. Next, a body massage loosens back-bound knots and shoulder-bred kinks. The spa’s chic black-and-white color scheme lulls frazzled senses with bi-chromatic elegance, and soothing candlelit rooms remain illuminated even after unattended pet robots suck up all the power.

Ok. Sold!
I bought the deal and called the spa. I made my appointment for Friday October 28th, 5pm. I couldn’t wait!
I got to Beverly Hills at about 4:30pm and parked at a meter, which would only take money for one hour at a time. Hmm.. I was going to need to find another spot before I go in. I had a snack and then located the spa. It looked pretty small and cozy and the outside decorations looked inviting. I liked the color scheme and reflexology chart displayed outside.

I entered and with whispers, the receptionist told me where to park for free, for which I thanked him. Turns out there is a 2 hour free parking lot only a block away. I moved my car in there and headed back. I was back at 5:15pm. The friendly receptionist took my groupon number down and lead me into the main room which was filled with 6 massage beds/chairs, all but one occupied with massages in progress. He asked me if I wanted the mask too and I said “sure”! I was surprised there was no barriers between the beds, but I didn’t care! I’ve never had a professional foot massage before, so I figured since everyone is dressed, I guess you don’t really need privacy.
I tried not to be distracting while taking off my shoes and putting my bag down next to the chair. The lady that was going to massage me came out with a pretty little tub filled with hot blue water and rose petals.. Score!
I put my feet in there and she adjusted the pillows ( one head, one lumbar) for my height, which is a whopping 5 and 1/2 inches. With my feet still in the water, she had me lay back and she covered my lower half with a blanket. Ahhhh I thought…. Heaven for sure. There was soft Japanese music playing, relaxing and soft, and I’m not sure but I think I remember the sound of running water, maybe an indoor waterfall?
She began with my face, gently massaging it and hitting different pressure points. I didn’t take off my make up, but I didn’t have a whole lot on either, mostly just eye makeup, and she just went over it with a softly scented lavender oil. Amazing. She moved to my scalp then neck, then shoulders. Hands, arms and finally made her way to my feet.
Before she began, she covered my top half with the blanket and placed a cloth over my eyes, leaving the nose and mouth open to breath. This created feeling of privacy, like i was bundled up in a comfy bed. For that hour I could lay there in silence, listening to the soft tune, smelling jasmine and lavender and not seeing or hearing anyone. No phone or computer. No anxieties could touch me for that short amount of time, when I lay cocooned in my blanket and face cover and feel nothing but pleasure and relaxation. Now that experience is worth having… A mini mental vacation, to get away without going away.
It truly felt amazing, I could feel the pressure being relieved as she kneaded my soles and rubbed my toes. In the darkness under the cloth, the massage felt like it lasted for ever. The only thing I would have changed is that the man next to me was enjoying himself a little too much. He was groaning softly and grunting when his massage artist hit a spot he liked! It was gross, he was sighing and murmuring… It just took me out of the relaxing moment into feeling uncomfortable because it seemed as if I was eavesdropping on a private moment! Besides him, I couldn’t hear anyone else.
My lady finished up my feet and asked me to turn over, which I did and she massaged my back. In the 15 mins or so that she was up there, I feel like she released a bunch of knots in my back. I literally felt them pop and snap and disintegrate. It felt amazing, at that point I did want to groan like that man! During that session, everyone else finished (because they all started before me while I was parking) and started shuffling around. I figured that would happen since I got there a little late, and at that point, having dividers between the beds won a point. The groaning man from before was thanking his lady repeatedly…i get it….it was a damn good massage!
Then it was over and I felt like jelly. She offered me water or tea and I chose water, which she brought on a saucer with a napkin. A lady next to me that had just got there and replaced the groaning man, was served tea. It came in a cup on a saucer which were on a small wooden tray, with a fresh cut red rose on it. Excellent presentation.
I tipped my massage artist generously and she made sure I didn’t need any more water or anything else. I thanked her and the receptionist, who gave me a punch card on which it said that after 10 massages, you get a free one! One down, 9 more to go! I left feeling happy and relaxed, and only then did I realize that I never got a hydrating mask. I wasn’t really concerned about it and I think she didn’t do it because I had makeup on. I noticed other women came with no make up and in loose, comfortable clothing, one woman even asking where she could change. So I will definitely remember that for next time. I wasn’t sure what to expect this time so I learned a few pointers. I absolutely think I will come back for another massage, It really felt fantastic and my feet were very happy at the end. Maybe next time I’ll get the 90 minute massage treatment where you get a whole hour of foot manipulations and 30 minutes everywhere else. Judging by the relief I felt from the 10-15 minutes she had spent on my back, I believe it will be well worth it.
If it wasn’t for Groupon, I would have never came across this little gem. I rarely hang out in Beverly Hill, and that was a first time for me on that particular street. That part of Beverly had a lot of shops and restaurants; Starbucks, a bakery, clothing shops, and the little strip was buzzing with people. I love discovering new places, the next time I come back, I’ll have to check out some of the shops.
Over all, I thought the whole experience was amazing. The decor was inviting and relaxing, I loved the music, the foot tub with rose petals and the reflexology on the scalp. It was definitely worth 25$ and I would pay the full 50$, I just want my hydrating mask next time so I have to remember to wash off my makeup!
Who knew that a foot massage can put me in such a happy and relaxed mood! It was the mental getaway from everyday life that felt so freeing and the people at Bao really did an amazing job helping me relax and just be… It was a wonderful little treat just for me. That night I slept like a bear.

The spray tan experience.

Vacations are always a good reason to get a tan, regardless where you’re going, and in my case it was to the midwest to visit my boyfriend’s family. I was feeling rather pale, and decided I needed a tan, and fast! Lucky for me, Groupon was offering a deal for 2 Versaspa spray fans at Tan Lines in Burbank. I figured I would give it a shot!
I have never had a spray tan and had no idea what I should expect. Do I bring a swim suit or do I go in butt naked?? Is it a machine or is it a guy with a spray can, waiting to bronze my skin? How will this effect my many tattoos??Am i going to turn bright orange like the weatherman right before my trip? That would be just my luck. I was intimidated but I figured the experience alone was worth overcoming that. I bought the deal for $20 ($60 value). I called Tan Lines and talked to a friendly guy on the phone. I asked him about the swimwear and he said no need for that, then I asked about my tattoos, and he said that it was perfectly safe and that they provide “barrier cream” that you can put over them to block the tan. Ok that’s fantastic because real tanning fades tattoos.. Not to mention the potential for skin cancer! The friendly man said that they are conveniently open until 9pm so I didn’t have to rush, and he reassured me the color looks natural. The Groupon said to wear dark, loose fitting clothing after your tanning session, because although you get blown dry, tight clothing can cause smudging and streaking. Ok, I thought, I’m doing it!
It was the day before my trip, a Wednesday morning. I used my exfoliating gloves to exfoliate my whole body after the gym. I scrubbed hard to make sure I got as much dead skin off as possible. Since the spray penetrates the skin, activating enzymes in it that turn brown, the more fresh the skin the longer it will last. The guy on the phone stressed this to me and so did the website, so I wanted to be sure i did it right.
I had wrapped up my work day, completed all my errands, and off to Burbank I went , to finally get my Tan on. I found the place via gps and parked. Street parking was ample because it was about 7:30pm. The place itself had bright yellow and orange writing on the windows, yelling for people to come get tanned. It looked about like one if those “going out if business” sale signs, loud and proud!

I went inside and realized I was nervous! I had no idea what to expect. Although I had checked out their website for guidelines, I didn’t have time to do any real research! Ok.. Here I go, I thought to myself! I stepped inside to find a very cute and comfortable atmosphere an a very friendly receptionist. I told her I got a groupon and she said that there was someone in the Versaspa right now, and that she’s terribly afraid of it so it may take longer then usual. That put me on edge but she reassured me that someone will tell me what to do and talk me through the process. Ok.. So no guy with a spray can.. But it’s complicated enough to have to have someone talk you through it. Ok. I can do this.

I was surprised to see that there was a line for the tanning beds, on a Wednesday at 7:30pm. I guess I always associate tanning with daytime, so seeing people coming in to get some color after dark was a bit of a shock to me. Luckily, I was the only one waiting on the spray tan, so I was next in line. Finally, the other girl before me came out and she didn’t look very tanned. She said it was easier then it sounded but she wasn’t sure if she got enough color. Another receptionist named Illisa came out from the back area and explained that the color deepens over the course of 48 hours and not to worry, and the other girl left.
Finally it was my turn, and Illissa asked me if I wanted to do the clear or pigmented solution. I chose clear, because the pigmented one is more for if you need the tan that night.. If you’re going to a party or something like that. There are also 3 levels of color, light, medium and dark. She said that since I already have good color, I can go for the dark for the full effect. So that’s what I did…only after she reassured me that the color looks completely natural.
She led me to a room in the back with the Versaspa machine. The thing was huge an it was one you stand up in. She showed me the barrier cream, a shower cap to cover my hair and towels. The shower cap goes on over your hair but keeps the hairline open with ears open too. She said that the cap is not actually necessary, the spray tan does not effect hair color because the enzymes that react to the solution in your skin are not found in hair… but people like to use it anyway. Ok I’ll use it, I figured why spray it in there if it can be avoided. She also explained that the spray solution can be inhaled, it is not harmful to your body because it is all natural, but most people hold their breath during the spray sessions. The entire process takes about 5 minutes to complete and consists of 3 stages. Stage one is the pre spray.. Like a primer. The second session is the spray tan and the third is the blow dry. Illissa then showed me all the positions I’m supposed to do when inside the Versaspa machine.. Which reminded me of a “walk like an Egyptian” dance! “Think crevices!” she said before she left. When inside you’re supposed to keep knuckles and elbows open to get all the nooks and crannies sprayed.. Otherwise you will end up spotty and streaky. Ok. I can do this.

I spent another 5 minutes studying the position chart (which I could see through the opening of the machine)… It doesn’t have a door that closes. At first I was overwhelmed because each step had its own pose and I really didn’t want to screw it up and end up looking like I rolled in the mud and didn’t finish rinsing it off. Finally, nervously I undressed and put on the barrier cream on the bottoms of my feet, toenails, finger nails and all my tattoos. This took some time because I tried to be careful not to go over any lines. I didn’t want to have a bunch of white spots. Then I strapped on the shower cap and stepped into the tanning chamber, toes a little over the red line.

I stared nervously at the little green button, reassuring myself that it will be ok, I can do this.. How smart do you have to be to get a spray tan? What if I inhale a bunch of it and forget a pose, causing me to flail in panic and the spray to color me in different shades of brown and gold! All right before my trip to hang out with my boyfriend’s huge family!
Ok don’t panic.
Illissa had reassured me several times that even if I can’t read the chart, the contraption would actually speak to me and walk me through it. I pressed the button.
A pleasant female voice began explaining what I was supposed to do. For the first coat of prespray, I stood with my toes a little over the red line on the floor and 2 misters came down 2 tracks on both left and right. The mist was cool and soft and didn’t feel like a spray, really, (like I expected) but softer. The voice told me to turn around and it did my back, this time moving upwards. Then the Versaspa told me to face the front, knuckles open, elbows very slightly bent, so as not to cause wrinkles. I held my breath but I couldn’t help smell a light coconut smell. It was very mild and unobtrusive. This one was a bit stronger in pressure and moved downwards. Then the she-robot told me to do the Egyptian to the right, followed by the Egyptian to the left, and finally the back side. Then the third cycle began and i was blown first from the front then the back.
The tan felt fairly dry right away, if a bit sticky, but I was able to get out as soon as the blow-dry stopped. About 15 seconds later the self wash began and the Versaspa rinsed and dried itself. Illisa had warned me not to hang out in there when it stops blowing because it goes into auto wash.. Pretty cool.
I wiped off the barrier cream off the bottoms of my feet, nails and toes with a moist towel they provided and used another dry towel to carefully clean my tattoos. I could tell right away that I changed color a bit, but it wasn’t a shocking difference. I knew the color had yet to develop over the next 48 hours, so I was very happy with the result. My skin has a bit of an olive tone, so it gave me a nice glow. I didn’t see any streaking or spotting and I didn’t get any orange or overly warm tones. I thanked Illisa and told her it wasn’t as hard as it sounded at first. There is a lot to take in and I can see how someone can become overwhelmed, especially before something important.
She explained to me that i cant work out, sweat, shower or do strenuous activity for at least 4 hours but she recommended I wait until tomorrow evening to let the tan set.
She completed the Groupon paperwork and I was out of there.
Over the next 2 days I got darker and darker and at its peak, the tan was a very pretty an natural golden brown and I noticed my skin felt soft and silky. The slightly tacky feeling went away after the first night. I got the tan 5 days ago and I still see a bit of it, so I’d say if you take care of it, you get about a week of color, 2 days to develop, 3 days of peak color and 2 day of fade.
I was really happy with my experience, I had fun doing something so different and new and the spray tan is much better for my skin then the sun…. and it doesn’t harm my tattoos. I would definitely do it again, and I still have one session left. Maybe this will be the future of tanning, something that gives you beautiful color without age spots, wrinkles or cancer.

Adventures at La Quinta Resort and club.

The first groupon I ever used was one for a getaway. Sometimes I  forget to stop, look around and appreciate all the things that I have… and remember to turn auto-pilot off and really take in the life that I’m living. One of the most important things to keep me going is to take trips, even mini ones, on a regular basis, just to recharge and regroup. I was really excited when I first found out about Groupon and Living Social, but I wasn’t sure what I would ever buy on there. So I figured I’d wait around for a really amazing deal. I must admit, I love a deal.. Things are just better when you get them for less then they’re worth or even free!
I was looking through the Groupon app on my iPhone, in the middle of a particularly busy work week, when I stumbled upon a groupon that offered (for $99) one night in a poolside casita at La Quinta Resort and club in La Quinta desert ( a $286 value). La Quinta is right by Palm Springs, which is only 2 hours away from Hollywood where I live! So I decided that could just what we are needing and bought my first Groupon. My boyfriend who I live with, along with our 3 chihuahuas, took some convincing… He wasn’t really on the Groupon train yet! But I was so excited about it, and we had been both working 40 hour weeks for some time now, he gave in after only a little grumbling.
I simply couldn’t wait. Here’s what Groupon said about this place:

After check in, visitors meander across manicured lawns and gardens that stretch between hacienda-style casitas resembling the resort’s original adobe structures, with sloping red-tiled roofs hanging over whitewashed walls. Inside the Deluxe Casitas, a decorative ristra greets guests as warmly as a fireplace, and roughly 460 square feet of space provides the road-weary plenty of room to stretch out. Each room has access to one of the resort’s many small pools, and most casitas open through charming french doors onto a private patio or veranda, where the aromas of surrounding blossoms complement romantic evenings under a canopy of stars.

SOLD! This becomes our first Groupon adventure! We had never been to this resort before, and actually I had never been to any resort ( that’s not in Las Vegas!) so this would be a fun change of pace for me. When my family immigrated from the Ukraine, I was only 5 and our journey took almost 8 years to finally reach Los Angeles, so I missed out on a lot of basic things like family vacations. We were very poor for the bulk of my childhood and so I stayed home a lot, learning to speak English and such. So now that I’m older, I’d like to treat myself and experience the world. I always get stuck in the same patterns, eating at the same restaurants, visiting the same places… I’d like to break away from the pattern and change things up. I guess I’m at a part of my life when I’m discovering and exploring the world around me and who I am on the inside as well. You don’t know if you like something or not until you try it! Get your feet wet, I always say!
So we chose a day mid-week at the end of September, packed up my little Yaris and off we went. It is amazing how even 2 hours outside of the city, you begin to feel like you are on vacation. La Quinta is a quiet, sleepy place in the desert, but being so far outside a major city, the air is clear and the sky a perfect blue. You can see every star at night and the mountains loom over the town it like protective giants. The whole town is irrigated and everything must be watered constantly. It’s amazing how the lawns, rose bushes and trees are green and lush although the thermostat says 100• ! Being such a sleepy community, there is not much to do but lay by the pool, and honestly, that’s all I wanted to do! Just to get away from honking cars and thick, smoggy air, from having any itinerary at all!
We arrived at the resort at about 12pm and drove through a beautiful, picturesque garden leading up to the main lobby where a very friendly receptionist checked us in and a helpful man helped us with our bags and showed us where to park. He led us to our casita and with his
tip and friendly goodbye, we were left to finally start exploring!
The casitas themselves were pretty much a cluster of bungalows set up delicately around a pool and hot tub. The place had 41 such pools all surrounded by casitas and one main large pool.

The rooms were cute and simply decorated as well as spacious and I liked all the wood and brown accents. The mini fridge was also a plus and was really helpful for our snacks and wine. I liked the bathroom too, there was a huge tub and 2 sinks.. Although one of them had an ear-wig bug crawling in it, but I was so excited I just washed him down and forgot all about him. It was funny because it was so hot there, that between like 12pm and 5pm, when I would turn the cold water on, hot water would come out! Yeah.. Pretty hard keeping all those plants alive in that kind of heat but they manage it.

We hung out by the pool sipping a delicious Pinot for a while and then decided to get some food. There were a few different restaurants but only one open for lunch so we ended up at Twenty6. The food was really good and affordable and their drink menu was impressive as well, although the portions put us both into a food coma afterwards! You know you’re in vacation-eating mode when you need a nap after your lunch!

After some wondering around we realized that most of the shops were closed and the main square around which most of the stores and restaurants were located was pretty empty. It was pretty hot at that point so we cruised back to our casita and pool area. After some relaxing an hanging in the hot tub, we actually did take a nap. When we woke up, it was 10:30pm (oops!) oh well a late dinner never killed anyone, I always say! We headed out to try out Adobe Grill for dinner, it was supposed to be pretty good Mexican food, and were disappointed to find out they closed at 10pm. Everything seemed to close early there which I’m totally not used to. That night we ended up venturing out to find a bar and oh boy did we ever find one. It was called Beer Hunter and I think it was the only place open late in the whole town. It was filled with drunk regulars. A super drunk chick hiked up her dress and let some greasy guy take body shots off her. Then she sat swaying back and forth on her bar stool.. It was really entertaining actually.. And the chicken tenders we ordered were actually pretty good!
The next morning was was all relaxing by the pool and getting some sun. The quiet is surreal. All you hear is the birds and the water gently sloshing as you swim. It’s so peaceful I just wanted to freeze that moment and hold onto it for as long as I could. There was a roadrunner in our little patio area which I thought was neat! You don’t get to see much wildlife in Los Angeles. The whole day and a half that we were there, no body else used our pool. It was really great to have it to ourselves it somehow made it even mire peaceful.. Like we were somewhere all alone. I really felt recharged after this trip and it was a lot of fun!

We ended up having breakfast at Twenty6 again because the Adobe Grill was only open for dinner. So we never got to check it out but that’s ok, Twenty6 has a huge menu so we had plenty of choices. The food is actually really impressive as well. I had a whole wheat bagel with Lox and caviar.. Mmm so delicious.

The trip over all was a lot of fun! It was only one night but it was a great deal and perfectly relaxing. We explored the rest of the resort grounds after our late checkout at 1pm. The place is huge! There’s a golf course and a lot of other condos and such on the grounds. It’s like a gated neighborhood almost, with some of the houses even having garages. It really is a picturesque little place and I would definitely come back for a relaxing mini break.. I really wished I would have bought 2 nights, that would have made it perfect. I definitely didn’t want to leave that shimmering pool behind! I wasn’t very impressed with the shopping area, it was really small and boring, and there was nothing there to do at night, so definitely not a place if you’re looking to rage. This resort is very close to the Coachella grounds so it would be super convenient to stay there for that weekend, have all your friends rent the casitas around the same pool! That would be a blast, but definitely a shock to the quiet and restful atmosphere.
I came back to my salon feeling refreshed and rejuvenated and my boyfriend decided we need to take more breaks like that. What’s the point of working all the time if you never get to enjoy the fruits of your labour? Especially if those fruit came with a discount!

What Deals?!

Groupon was the first app I downloaded that was all about getting a good deal, but i soon realized that it was a gateway drug for other such apps like Living Social and Yelp (Deals). Groupon is an app (or website) that allows for businesses to offer local deals for ridiculously cheap prices to bring in people to check out their business. It’s great because sometimes it’s a place you already know and love, but a lot of times it’s a secret hidden gem right under your nose! Living Social is more of the same, works the same, but usually the businesses advertising through them are different, although rarely, i find a business on both.  I plan to use these services to explore my city. I guess I should start with the Groupons I have so far. (I haven’t bought any Living Social vouchers yet). The first on the list is a Groupon for 5 weeks of bootcamp class at Morning Crunch. I’m really excited to use this one! I’ve been on a health kick lately and so working out has become a part of my life and I’m really looking for something to keep me interested and motivated! I tend to get bored after I get too settled into routine and changing it up keeps me motivated and on track. Anyway, this Groupon is a $305 value… On sale for a killer $45!!! That’s pretty amazing, thats worth getting even if you aren’t sure you would be into it… If you decide against it, no big loss. I like that! A BIG plus about this particular Groupon is that the classes take place outside in several conviniet locations and at different times of the day, starting with 6am. I really have to practice being more of a morning person for this one, I doubt I’ll be able to go 5 days a week after 8 hours of doing hair all day. I’ll definitely have to do the morning session. I’m also saving this particular one for after the Holidays! I’m going to need to step it up after the Holiday feasting.

Next on the list is the Groupon for a 60-minute VIP massage package (a $50 value) that includes:

A 40-minute reflexology foot massage
A 20-minute upper-body massage
A hydrating mask

All for $25! For someone that’s on her feet all day, this one is a special treat. Once I use these, I will review my experience and post photos of things i found interesting in some way. I know the point of the Groupon is to introduce you to the business and try to win your business, so this should be really fun. It’ll also allow me to explore my city and experience new things… For a discounted price! 🙂

Another exciting little gem is my Groupon to Roxolana Restaurant in Pasadena.

For $40, you get a two-course dinner for two (up to an $85.85 total value) that includes:

One appetizer, crêpe, soup, or salad (up to a $15.95 value)
Two entrees (up to a $20.95 value each)
One bottle of Sovetskoe or Zardetto prosecco sparkling white wine (up to a $28 value)

I was born in the Ukraine, but neither of my parents knew how to cook! And when we immigrated to Israel and then Toronto, Canada, they seemed to have forgotten about Ukrainian food altogether. So, I’m venturing out to my first ever traditional Ukrainian restaurant… And in Pasadena! I never have a chance to explore Pasadena, although I have heard that it is a cultural food crockpot, filled with tons of different restaurants and interesting dishes.
Another little goody I’m dying to try is my Groupon to the Sensory Dining Experience at Opaque in Santa Monica. I can’t even begin to describe how excited to try this! It’s a 3 course dinner.. In pitch darkness! When your vision is turned off, your other senses increase and become much more sensitive. Eating a delicious dinner without being able to see would be an amazing experience! Usually it’s $99 a person, but with Groupon it’s only $49. But they only sold them as dinner for one so I may have to be the only freak in there by myself. “hi.. Oh yes, table for one please.” haha.. Well at least no one will be able to see me! I don’t even care, from the description of the experience, it’ll be worth a few looks. Let’s see what Groupon says about it:

Opaque subdues sight in order to set other senses ablaze during a three-course dinner served in a fully darkened dining space. Guests arrive to a well-lit lounge area where they peruse and order from a diverse prix fixe menu devised by an illustrious local chef who engineers each dish to achieve the best in sight-free savoring, compiling interesting textures, rich tastes, and ingredients unlikely to shout “Marco Polo.” The aphotic dining room then opens to a staff of blind or visually impaired servers who guides each diner to their seat in a refreshing reversal of roles, offering helpful suggestions and reassurance as guests adjust to their new and mystifying kinesthesia. Forks explore the eclectic textures of mixed green or heirloom-tomato-cucumber salads before meandering through savory dishes of garlic-topped filet mignon, roasted herb chicken, or sundried-tomato-pesto rigatoni. Seared ahi tuna steak dances a textural tango, lavishing tongues with a warm and smoky crust surrounding a cool, raw interior showered in sweet mango sauce, and a choice of desserts brings unlit evenings to a decadent end, as warm chocolate lava cake tickles mouth-roofs with berries encrusted in minty sugar crystals and eruptions of liquid chocolate.

YUM!! That sounds like an experience alright! This one will also help me branch out to Santa Monica, another super close and interesting area that I rarely have reason to visit, unless I’m heading to the beach. Me being a lover of the sun, it’ll be great to get to know more places to visit on those hot Los Angeles days.
Last but not least, I have a Groupon for a hot air balloon ride at sunrise over a winery in Temecula,Ca. This one sounds great because there’s wine involved AND a hot air balloon. I’ve always wanted to ride one… The thought of riding up in the air in a wicker basket attached to a balloon definitely makes me nervous but I think that in a lot of ways that’s the appeal.. And hay, that’s what all the champagne is for!
Here’s how Groupon describes it:

Sunrise Balloons whisks sightseers on a picturesque, 45- to 60-minute flight over the Temecula Valley wine country, packed with wining, dining, and professional photography. Soon-to-be airborne explorers meet at the Monte De Oro Winery for a preflight reception to sip and snack on coffee, mimosas, and wake-me-up fare before ascending through the troposphere with an FAA-certified balloon pilot. While passengers float over rolling vineyards, they’ll nibble on an in-flight picnic breakfast, wet whistles with champagne, and enjoy the sunrise from a cloud’s perspective. Professional photographers capture the adventure and the debates between intellectual birds on camera, leaving floating tourists with an HD video of the launch and more than 100 photographs of the flight experience.

All that followed by wine tasting? We’re gonna need a hotel and a cab to get us to and from. I can see all that oxygen and bubbly first thing in the morning making for a sloshy afternoon!

i have an idea….

Today I decided to start a blog. I’ve been looking to write a blog for a while now and I finally found something that would be fun to share. Recently, I got an iphone and started downloading any apps i could get my hands on. In the midst of this frenzy, i stumbled upon apps like Groupon and Living Social.. even Yelp started a “Deals” tab. I was skeptical at first, but soon I realized what these deal sites really are; they give people a discount rate and hope that they like the business so much that they will return. It’s brilliant… and I must admit, I feel like it’s a fantastic creation for people who want to try new things. Honestly, I had no idea that a lot of the places that offer the deals on Groupon and Living Social even existed, and i grew up in Los Angeles. I’m originally from the Ukraine but I’ve been here for 14 years and this city is so big that its very difficult to fully explore. Looking at all these restaurants, shops, massage parlors and shows, I realized that I haven’t heard of any of these places! I guess like most people, I tend to get so busy in my little bubble that i end up doing the same thing, day after day. I always promised myself that I’d never get like that, that i would always face life with a sense of wonder and gratitude. But now, I feel like I get stuck in my own world and forget about the big picture…. out there, waiting to be explored. I decided that I would take it upon myself to discover what’s around me …. and break the pattern. I want to try new things and live life to the fullest, and this is a fun place to start… It will be an adventure on a budget! Of course I will blog about what I find and review my experiences… There’s so much out there i still have not done and it’ll be so fun to talk about what I find… I’m excited to enrich my life with this adventure… And experience something new. Wish me Luck!!