Survive the City

Everyone knows about the housing crisis.  Of course, if you live in LA and are thinking about buying, the subject of housing always seems to be a crisis.  Even with the market dropping as fast as it currently is, everything for the 20-and-30-somethings still seems to be out of reach.  One of the solutions, though admittedly still a bit unreachable for some, is the concept of buying a fixer-upper and remodeling it. Continue Reading »

For those of you active folk living here in LA, perhaps Tennis is your cup of tea.  However, if you come from somewhere outside of LA, you may not be used to some of the things involved in playing Tennis out here in Los Angeles.  In his blog, tennis enthusiast Nachshon Draiman says, “Tennis has become a very popular sport that enthusiasts would always like to play.” This is true and it is perhaps this popularity that makes it a bit difficult to play in LA. Continue Reading »

After working your butt off in high school so that you can work your butt off at a good college, the next natural step would be to find a job that will let you work your butt off for money. Unfortunately in the current economy, this is easier said than done.  The climate of downsizing and lay-offs is keeping us from getting jobs, let alone the chance to be fired from them, which is especially dismal for students who racked up debt or loans to pay for the education that was supposed to ensure them gainful employment. Continue Reading »

Tags: careers, college, interviewing, traffic

Flowers Brighten a Day

If you haven’t read it already, check out my article about February Resolutions.

With Valentines Day around the corner, February seems like a perfect time to discuss my love for tulips, lilies, orchids and roses.  I’ve always been a flower-fan.  As a child apparently I got in trouble for picking the flowers out of the alter at church.  Today, I honestly can’t think of anything more spectacular than a field of wild flowers, roses from a lover or friend, or a kitchen windowsill with a single orchid resting in the light. Continue Reading »

February is here...

With February just around the corner, I think it is pretty safe to say that a good majority of those New Year’s Resolutions have been broken. Well, personally I didn’t really make a resolution. I mean I did say out load at one point that by 2010 I wanted to be 10 pounds lighter and at least 10k richer, but I’m not sure what level of commitment I put behind that.

But Life in the City is an STC section about all parts of LA life. Part of that is self improvement, so throughout February I’m going to be working on a bit of self-improvement and bringing you guys along for the ride.

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In Hollywood, the mud slings pretty hard.  If you’re a celebrity, reputation bashing seems to come with the territory whether you’re able to manage it or not.  After all, that’s what trashy magazines are for, right?

But what if you’re just an average squirrel trying to get a nut?  If you own your own business or are just getting started in your career, reputation bashing can do a harsh number on your bottom line.  Furthermore,  technology being what it is today–with everything right at our fingertips and a background check only a Google listing away–it can be tough to bury even one bad comment under a rock.

So what’s a person to do?  Continue Reading »

Tags: John Robert Powers, online reputation, Reputation Management

Lori and Heather

A New LA Friend

I met Lori through a friend over a year ago.  I’ll never forget the first day we met; she was coming out of her apartment to meet me and my friend Ali and looked absolutely adorable in her sun dress and boots.  “Why couldn’t I have taken the time to dress cute today?”  I reprimanded myself.

Over the next few months, and with the help of Ali, Lori and I became good friends.  We went on hikes, spent time at the beach and of course, talked often about boys.   Eventually we ventured out on our own, without the guidance of Ali, for a day of shopping.  That’s when I knew it must be official.  I had made a new friend - a task that, in Los Angeles, isn’t always a breeze. Continue Reading »

As you well know, commuting in L.A. means making the most of all that valuable time spent driving, which means multitasking. Not recommended, of course, but it’s a fact of life. We’re all guilty of something–whether you put your mascara on in the rearview mirror or hold your coffee in one hand and your breakfast burrito in the other, we don’t always have our eyes on the road.
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Tritoni Purple Gold watch

It’s the latest thing in watch-wear since the Swatch! Seriously, they say everyone is wearing it and that it is going to be the latest, greatest new thing.

Now if I could just figure out who “they” is…

Well, Survive the City wanted to check it out, so we did a bit of research and a little asking around, and yes, they were right!

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Since 1981, ReStyle has been the South Bay source for bad-ass clothes, shoes and accessories. (Full disclosure: I used to work there, way back when I was a young lass of eighteen. But more importantly: I bought my very first pair of Doc Martens there.)  Inventory changes all the time, and the owners, Rodge and Danielle, are expert buyers. There’s always something cool to be had, whether it’s a pair of shoes no one else has, or a Johnny Cash onesie for your friend’s kid.  ReStyle embraces the new while saluting the old favorites. Stop by. Tell Rodge and Danielle I said hello.

138 Pier Avenue

Hermosa Beach, 90254

310.798.1534

Tags: clothing, shoes, shopping, south bay