Awesome Woman of the Month: Mia Wasilevich

Dedicated, selfless and with a wicked sense of humor are just some of the words to describe my June AWM Mia Wasilevich. Mia is a publicist extrodenaire, woman of 1001 great ideas and an active contributor to improving our world as the co-creator of the fun, informative and environmentally conscious online magazine Green Girl Guide"If green is the new black, shouldn't you know what you're wearing?". Aside from her fantastic achievements, Mia is awesome because of her huge generous heart. No matter how hectic her schedule is she will always find the time to help a friend in need whether it's rewriting their resume (so they have a fighting chance at getting a job interview), pointing out all the great things about yourself after hearing you rant about how you feel like the biggest loser in the world, or going on a food adventure trying out something new and exotic(my fancy way of saying we'll eat anything). Inform yourself by checking out the Green Girl Guide (On my link list). Mia I'm thankful to have you as a friend and thank-you for being an AWESOME WOMAN!


Peace and Love,
The Criogirl

Cool As Ice Fruity Vodka Cocktail!

Just in time as the temperature starts to rise, try this cocktail direct from Jenn The Cocktail Alchemist to cool you down.

Dump some frozen strawberries or any other fruit in
the blender (Trader Joe's has a great selection).
Cover the fruit with vodka and blend.
Put some sorbet or sherbet (pineapple, raspberry, mango
etc)in desired glass or bowl.
Top sorbet with vodka fruit mixture
add sparkling water

No measurements are really needed for this one just wing it and do what looks right. A word of caution this drink goes down very easy and you can forget that there is any alcohol so as always please drink responsibly.

Cheers to You!
The Criogirl
Check out my AWM (Awesome Woman of the Month)Colette Sand!

Thoughts Become Things

Living in the City of Angels while interesting can be trying at times, especially when you've chosen to be amongst the millions trying to make their dreams come true in the entertainment industry. The great thing about this city is that you have the chance to create your own reality and live your life on your terms as long as you stay focused on that and that sometimes can be challenging. With all the distractions around, the payments to be made and the family members who don't get what you're doing and just want you to live a "normal" life. While I don't have a solution for all those things I do have one more weapon in your believe in yourself and walk the walk arsenal. There is a website called TUT: The Adventurers Universe Club. Their mantra is simple: Thoughts Become Things. Basically you place down two goals, give your Email and each day you get a short, uplifting message tailored for you. It doesn't sound like much but I have to tell you, each morning to read that Email is like a shot of pure happy, strength and motivation. It gives me that oomph and yahoo to start my day, especially those days when I wake up and there is no silver lining or oomph to be found. We're surrounded by so much negative B.S. and it's easy to to start believing oh well, that's how life is. IT'S NOT. Check out TUT to help those big, wonderful thoughts become great things.

Peace and Love,
The Criogirl
Check out my AWM (Awesome Woman of the Month) Colette Sand!

Shula & Esther Restaurant, Best Baba Ganoush Ever!!!

This will be short, sweet and to the point. If you love Middle Eastern food, you must run to Shula & Esther Restaurant on Fairfax Ave. I started of by trying their Baba Ganoush and OH MY GOD! I have since tried their lentil rice topped with fried onions (YUM!!), their divine lentil soup and I experienced a culinary miracle. I HATE, HATE, HATE split pea soup. No matter how good the cook is split pea soup disgusts me, correction disgusted the split pea soup at Shula & Esther's is so good I licked the bowl clean and I'm not exaggerating. So here are the details:

Shula & Esther Restaurant
Israeli & Yemenite Foods
519 N. Fairfax Avenue
Los Angeles,CA 90036
Tel. 323 653 9024

Mon. - Fri. 11am to 10pm
Sunday 10am to 10pm

Good Eating!
The Criogirl

Check out my AWM (Awesome Woman of The Month)Colette Sand!

Do You Always Have To Be The Bigger Person?

Being the bigger person has been my mantra to friends when they find themselves wanting to serve an ice cold dish of revenge. How ironic that I now find myself struggling with handing out a good dose of revenge and spite for a wrong done to me. I would like to say I sucked it up, turned the other cheek and let it go....wishful thinking. The truth is I have been letting the anger and hurt I feel fester into a huge emotional boil and I acted on it and hurt my intended target. I would be lying if I said it didn't feel good, boy did it feel good! But (and you knew it was coming)I haven't solved a damn thing. I'm still hurt and angry from the past wrong and even worse it's fueling me into wanting to continue hurting the other person but now that would involve hurting innocents, people who have done nothing to me but who just happen to be close to the wrongdoer. I don't want to go there just for a momentary high of oooh I got you back good. So tomorrow I will make the call and inform the person that what they did in the past was uncool and it hurt. And while it's too late for apologies(hell! the person might not even apologize), it allows me to handle the situation as an adult and at least leave the road open for a healthy future relationship. For your health Be the bigger person, while it's not immediatly satisfying or easy, it does lead you on the road to a lighter future. Look at it this way, it's one less piece of emotional baggage you won't be carrying.

Peace and Love,
The Criogirl

Los Angeles Fire Department to the Rescue

Yesterday I was up on my roof with my neighbors watching Griffith Park, go up in flames. Phones were ringing as friends and family checked in to make sure I was ok and if I needed to evacuate. Luckily for me, while I had a front row seat to Mother Nature's wrath, I was fine. In fact we were sitting on the rooftop, drinking wine, eating ceviche and running commentry. We have the Los Angeles Fire Department to thank. Thanks to their dedication, long hours and courage we not only had the peace of mind to sit and watch; the zoo, the observatory and carousel were left unharmed and not one home in the hills was destroyed. Thank-you LAFD! And if you want updates or send them a thank-you to their blog (on the Criogirl's link list)

P.S. For those in the Hollywood and Los Feliz area please be patient with the wildlife, they've lost their homes. If you find any injured or burnt animals please call 888-452-7381

Peace and Love,
The Criogirl
Check out my AWM (Awesome Woman of the Month) Colette Sand!

Awesome Woman of the Month: Colette Sand

I'm one of the luckiest people in the world. I know a bunch of fantastic women, who are inspiring, supportive, intelligent and just all around awesome. So I've decided not to be stingy, it's time to share the wealth and let the world know about them. Each month The Criogirl will give a shout out to a woman that you should know. The first Awesome Woman of the Month is Colette Sand!!!!!!! Colette is a writer/producer/director livin' in Los Angeles and celebrating every minute of it. Colette is the kind of person you can talk to about the state of the world, what life is all about and switch to what's happening on Grey's Anatomy and cute boys. She can whip up a full course meal, drives a pick-up truck (stick shift thank-you very much) and without her The Criogirl would not have come into existence. Her encouragement and advice gave me the confidence to just let go and do it and thanks to her I'm having a fantastic time. check out Ms. Sand's blog http://thedirtalert.blogspot.com/where you can find out how to live fabulously in L.A. fo' cheap!! CHEERS TO YOU COLETTE! THANKS FOR BEING SO AWESOME!!!

Habit vs. Los Angeles

habit n. A recurrent, often unconscious pattern of behavior that is acquired through frequent repetition.

During my whole re-evaluation process in regards to my stay in Los Angeles, a friend asked me a question. It was a simple question to which I am very grateful for. A quick history lesson is in order. Since the tender age of fifteen my time limit in a particular city or country has usually been around 4.5 years. As I got older when things in my life became unbearable my solution was to pack up, move to a new place and start afresh. I literally would just leave everything but what I could fit in one suitcase and go on to the next adventure! A funny thing kept happening. After the excitement of the new place wore off and I was settled in a conflict would occur in my life (usually What am I doing!?! Where am I going with my life!?! type conflict). Solution! .... Drop everything and blame the place I was living in. It's one thing if things hadn't worked out once, twice, hey even three times! But when you're on your 6th country, 3rd continent and countless cities you gotta wonder if the problem is you. So I'm thinking that maybe for a change I'll have faith and trust myself, give myself the chance to see things through. Habits are hard to break but it would be nice to enjoy travelling again just for the sake of travelling and yes I know, I owe it to myself. And the question my friend asked me, after I had vented my frustrations and how it was time to move on? " How long have you lived in L.A.?" Three guesses what the answer was.