A Tourist in My Own City - part 2

I'm originally from LA, and I've never been to the historical Ford Theatre, even though I live less than 10 minutes from the venue. Until last Saturday night...

The Ford Theatre is a small outdoor hillside theatre in Hollywood located across the way from it's much larger counterpart, the Hollywood Bowl. It used to be called the Pilgrimage Theater many years ago, but has since been renovated and renamed the John Anson Ford, and then the Ford Theater. It's a relaxing, intimate place to enjoy some great music, dance or film out under the stars. And, it's now one of my favorite concert venues!

On Saturday, we went there to listen to some talented, independent "up-and-coming" musicians. 6 different singers and bands each performed a few of their original songs in front of about 1200 "guests". Sitting outside at the Ford Theater drinking some wine, snacking on some cheese and crackers and listening to some great acoustic music...priceless!

Cross off another "first" for this local tourist!

A Tourist in My Own City - part 1

Last week, temperatures topped 100 degrees in LA! I hate hot. And, I don't like to go outside when it's this hot. However, when Friday arrived, I had cabin fever and was going stir crazy - I had to get out of here! So, where could I go? I couldn't spend a lot of money because I didn't have it (not working, remember?). But, I wanted to stretch my legs and get some exercise...preferably someplace cool. So, I decided to head to the beach and walk around Venice and Santa Monica with my friend Laura.

What a difference 40 minutes and a few zip codes made! It was about 20 degrees cooler by the beach...really, it was!

Fortunately for us, the beach wasn't as "crazy" crowded on a Friday as it usually is on the weekend. There were small flocks of tourists walking where we were walking, snapping photos, pointing and chatting in their native languages...just like we were doing, I guess. There were times where we were actually semi-consciously following the flock. I was then reminded that there are a lot of really great places to see right in my own backyard. So this is what all those "staycation" vacationers are talking about! Who knew? (she said smiling...)

These are some of my "snaps":

Namaste' Your Way to a Good Night's Sleep

I'm still not sleeping well. It usually goes like this: I sleep for a couple of hours, then I'm wide awake for what seems like forever, then I finally drift back to sleep for an hour or two. I'm sure I'm just stressed because I'm not working. Maybe it's my growing financial concerns and the declining economy. Or, maybe it's my fears that Lamar Odom won't return to the Lakers.

I've had no luck so far doing what the "experts" suggest. Even my Tylenol PM isn't working so well. So, when I received my yoga studio's monthly newsletter offering an upcoming 2 1/2 hour workshop with this headline: "Sleep Like A Baby With Yoga Nidra", I had to give it a shot!

The workshop was taught by a licensed hypnotherapist and included a discussion of Yoga Nidra, some gentle yoga stretches to do before going to bed and a guided Yoga Nidra meditation. I couldn't take pictures, but this one I found online shows what it looked like.


Yoga Nidra translates from the Sanskrit as "yogic sleep", or a "glorious state of complete physical relaxation that when achieved allows the consciousness to release mental stress and promote rejuvenation of the mind, body and spirit". (at least, that's what the pamphlet said.)

Supposedly, anyone can do it and everyone can benefit from it. After some simple yoga stretches, we were taken through a guided meditation done by lying down in the savasana pose (or, corpse pose). We were to relax each part of our bodies systematically while breathing deeply and slowly from our abdomen. As you enter deep relaxation, you're supposed to feel your mind become clear and detached.

My review? Well, I guess I naively thought she would show us some magical "sleep-inducing" yoga poses. Instead, we did some of the same yoga stretches that we do in my regular yoga classes. Judging by the snores I heard next to me, the guided meditation she did worked for almost everyone. I was very relaxed and even drifted off for a moment or two. But, after going through the process, she announced that her CD's were on sale in the corner for $20.00!

I didn't think that was right. We all paid for this seminar already - did we have to spend an additional $20 more for the "key's to the city"? I get that she has to earn a living, but I thought the price was a little steep! I think I can find cheaper CD's out there taking me on the same relaxation journey.

I knew that one class wasn't going to unleash the secret of uninterrupted sleep - it's a process that takes practice. That night, I tried Yoga Nidra with my husband, who's also having trouble sleeping lately but couldn't attend the class with me that day. After going through the yoga stretches and some guided relaxation, he slept like a baby...and I was awake for hours.

I think I need a little more practice.

Take A Hike! (I know...predictable title, but I had to use it)

I've never been much of a hiker. In fact, I haven't embraced nature in quite some time - mainly because I never had the desire to do so. However, the other day I thought I would practice what I've been preaching and try something new. So, after spending the morning searching wheresmynextjob.com for any new job postings and then checking my voice mail to discover no messages, I decided to take a hike!

Turns out, I really didn't have to travel far from my front door to become "one with nature". Fifteen minutes away from here up off Mulholland Drive is Coldwater Canyon Park, made up of a bunch of fire road trails and the home of TreePeople, an environmental non-profit that maintains and operates the park.


Founded in 1973 by teenagers, TreePeople is dedicated to helping nature heal our cities. So far, they've planted more than two million trees, and each year the organization educates thousands of kids about environmental responsibility. I really like that.

The trails up there are wide enough and not too steep at all - perfect for a novice hiker like myself. You know, it's easy to temporarily forget your troubles when you're huffin' and puffin' up one of those trails. Ah, nature...who knew?

Check out these pictures. This is what it actually looks like up there!

Creative Ways to Get Some "Money-Mojo" Back!

Before you resort to selling lemonade on the corner (which might not be a bad idea BTW), here's a few more "creative" ways to make some extra bucks while you're looking for regular employment. I know it's easier said than done, but don't let it get you down too much! You'll get some "money-mojo" back before you know it!

1- Participate in Focus Groups: Are you a 35-55 year old female who colors her hair? Or, a 20-30 year old male who plays video games? Companies are willing to pay you cash for your opinions about certain consumer products or services. These firms advertise on sites like Craigslist to attract a specific demographic. I've seen ads for focus groups paying between $25 - $250 dollars depending on the group and subject matter. But, act quickly! These groups usually book up fast!

2- Wrap Your Car: It's possible to get paid to have your car turned into a moving advertisement! If you drive 800 miles or more per month and you live in a highly populated area, you may want to check out companies like Autowraps that offer car wraps. You can get paid up to $400 per month for a full car wrap and lesser amounts for a partial car wrap or a window wrap. Hmm...what's the catch? Well, the main glitch is that there are far more drivers wanting to do it than advertising campaigns available, so your chances are pretty slim that you'll be chosen. Still, it couldn't hurt to fill out an application...

3- Get Paid To Recycle: Don't know what to do with those old cell phones, laptops or PDA's? Recycle them for cash! Companies like Gazelle and Cell For Cash will pay you for your old electronics. First, find your item on their website. They'll send you a box so you can ship off your item to them. Once they verify the item, they'll send you the cash or they can pay you through Paypal. Gazelle says their process takes about a week once they receive your item. If you can't find your item on their list, they can send you a price quote. Gazelle refurbishes and then sells the electronics or recycles them if they're un-fixable.

4- Crafting for Cash: Are you a knitter or a quilter? Do you make your own jewelry? If you have a talent for creating, you can put it to good use by making and selling your wares online! Etsy.com makes it easy to sell your crafts. Be sure to take really clear pictures of your items so people can see what they're buying. Also, do some research beforehand and figure out the actual costs of producing your craft so you can make a profit!


5- Pet/Child Caretakers: If you're an animal lover, offer to walk your neighbor's dog a few times a week for a reasonable price, or agree to care for their cats while they go away on their summer vacation. If you really love children, offer to watch the kids in your neighborhood. When I was a teenager, I was paid $5.00/hour to babysit...I've heard the rates have doubled (and sometimes tripled) since!

6- Freelance, or become a "Consultant": Believe it or not, people may pay you for your knowledge and expertise! Sologig.com, Guru.com and Elance.com are just a few websites that specialize in connecting contractors, freelancers and consultants with employers looking for seasoned professionals. You can sign up for free on most of these sites and you can choose the projects that you're interested in and negotiate pricing directly with the employer.

334 Reasons Why My Garage Sale Was A Success!

It's now the day after my "Garage Sale Extravaganza". My back aches, my feet sting and my lips are really chapped. Was it worth it? You bet!

The experts were right. Garage sales are a great way to put some extra dollars in your pocket. And, in my case, a great way to make $334.00 extra dollars (to be exact)! What a great feeling it is to have a huge wad of bills in your wallet...even though most of them are one-dollar bills! Now I know how a stripper must feel the day after a gig!

Would I have one every weekend? Absolutely not! A lot more work went into this sale than I realized. But, you have to put work into it to make it special! Here are some tips to keep in mind when you have yours:

1- Organize! Organize! Organize! Separate and organize everything at least a few days BEFORE the sale day. Put aside the items you don't think will sell and either donate them to charity or throw them in the trash. DON"T put them back into your closet or garage! After that, organize the sale items into categories: kitchen stuff, electronics, knick-knacks, mens clothes, womens clothes, kids' stuff etc. This way, you won't be left scrambling to set things up the morning of your sale.



2- Advertise it properly. List your sale on Craigslist and other free classified listing sites like www.oodle.com and www.gsalr.com. Choose brightly colored (we used neon) signs and post them around your neighborhood the day before your sale. And, make sure people can read your handwriting!

3- If you're having your sale in the summertime, remember your sunscreen and stay hydrated! It was 95 degrees the other day and we were outside in the sun from 730am-2pm. Needless to say, we drank the whole case of bottled water we bought for the day!

4- People love to pick through all your jewelry hoping to find a rare gem hidden among the junk. Make sure your jewelry and other small items are kept close to you so no one can steal them!

5- Beware of the neighborhood "constant-talkers" - those chatty neighbors who stroll by, check out everything you're selling (and I mean absolutely everything!), talk your ear off for 45 minutes and still buy nothing.

6- To price, or not to price? Well, it depends on the items you're selling. Everyone tries to haggle for the cheapest price - who doesn't want a great deal? There's a fine line between standing firm on a price and moving your stuff off your property! Trust me...you'll start reducing your prices as the day progresses. It's okay to sell that George Foreman Grill you haven't touched in years for $3.50. You're not using it! Remember, you got into this to make some extra cash and free up some storage space. Don't lose sight of the task at hand!

7- Lastly, if you have some big-ticket items or collectibles you want to sell, you may get more money for them if you sell them on EBay or list them separately on Craigslist. Research comparable items, post clear pictures and let the bidding begin! (it's actually quite exciting!)

I'm still a little tired from yesterday, so I'll share some other ideas for making extra money with you in my next post. Happy selling!

The Night Before Garage Sale Madness!

It's 11:00pm the night before my big Garage Sale. I've decided to follow the many experts who suggest having a garage sale as one of the many ways to earn some quick extra cash. I'll be discussing some tips for a successful garage sale in my next post...as well as some other ideas to make some extra money...so stay tuned!

I must say, I put in ALOT of work for this garage sale, but it felt great to clean out all the closets and free up some storage space! I'm exhausted...and the garage sale hasn't even started yet! Let's hope it's a success!

Having Trouble Sleeping??

When you’re out of work with no definite job possibilities and a climbing stack of bills on your desk, how do you shut off your mind and get some sleep without resorting to chemical dependence?

Some of you lucky people don’t have this problem. You fall asleep the moment your head hits the pillow and wake up rested and refreshed 8 hours later…regardless of what’s going on in your life.

Meanwhile, the rest of us lie in bed and stare up at the ceiling on a nightly basis as we worry about everything from the climbing unemployment rate to the growing hole in the ozone layer.

Sometimes, it seems like the only solution (at least, according to me) is to pop a pill. And, while it might work right now, it’s not really a long-term solution.

Here’s what the experts suggest:

1. Write your worries down on paper so they won’t keep floating around in your head.
Keep a journal or a pad of paper by your bedside to record your thoughts before bed. Once they’re written down, put them away in a drawer. Your worries won’t go away forever, but now you can free up some space in your head for nice, relaxing thoughts. (I’m going to try this tonight!)

2. Pay attention to what you’re drinking! Stop drinking caffeine after 2:00pm. A glass of wine might be relaxing in the evening (and who doesn't like wine?), but limit your alcohol intake to one or two glasses at the most. (unless you'd rather just pass out drunk on the couch and forget all this sleepless talk!)

3. Exercise regularly: Regular exercise reduces the overall amount of stress in your life. It can also help alleviate feelings of anxiety and depression. Some feel it’s best to exercise early in the day, while others prefer late afternoon. Most seem to agree, though, that you shouldn’t exercise after 8:00pm.

4. Concentrate on your breathing to quiet your overactive thought process. Focusing only on your breath will help you to shut out the outside world and keep you in the present moment. (that’s a little easier said than done).

5. Save stressful activities like bill-paying and job searching for earlier in the day. (Okay, so I’ll only argue with my family in the morning.)

6. Keep to a Routine: each night, get into bed a half-hour before you turn out the lights, and read a calming book or listen to soothing music. Don’t watch TV (especially the evening news) and don’t check your emails because they tend to be stimulating, not relaxing. Your body will eventually acclimate to this routine and start to know when it’s time to go to sleep.

7. Aromatherapy – some feel that breathing in the scent of lavender can induce relaxation and even sleep. I suggest putting some fresh lavender in a bowl by your bed instead of spraying lavender oil on your pillow case. (Why add to your worries by staining a perfectly good set of sheets?)

8. Acupuncture. While not necessarily an immediate fix, many people swear by this healing method. Small thin needles are put into the skin at various points to stimulate nerve transmitters that produce sleep-inducing hormones like serotonin. Unfortunately, it might take some time before you notice an improvement. (and the needle-thing might freak you out a little).

If you still continue to have problems, it might be a good idea to see your doctor or schedule time with a therapist.

I’m really not sure what the best way is to shut off your mind. I suppose, at the end of the day, whatever ends up working for you is the best way. Good luck and sweet dreams!

Interviewing is Like Dating (...and I wasn't very good at dating!)

Maybe this has happened to you.

After sending out thousands of resumes, you finally get an interview. You do everything right: you wear your perfect interview suit, you arrive no more than 10 minutes early, you engage in light, friendly banter with the receptionist and then you embark on your interview with your potential employer. You do exactly what the experts say to do for a successful interview…and you think its working. You think the interview went great!

Then, your interviewer says those infamous words “We’ll call you when we make our decision.” Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

You start staring at the phone, hoping they’ll call. You obsessively go over the whole interview again and again in your head. You let a few days pass, and then you call them to follow up. “We haven’t made our decision yet. We’re still interviewing”. What's that about???

I thought I was through with dating when I got married. I guess I was wrong.

All those same first-date feelings of rejection and acceptance come back when you’re interviewing for jobs. “I hope they liked me. When will they call? If they liked me, why do they still need to interview other people? I hope I didn’t say too much on the first interview! I hope I said enough! blah, blah, blah..."

Blind interview/dating is even worse! You think you’re interviewing at a hip, new start-up company (they sounded so great on the phone!), but you walk in to a dumpy 5x5 office and a “touchy-feely” interviewer who smells like cigars and Redbull! As you slam the door behind you in disgust, you say to yourself “all the good jobs are already taken!" (still see the comparisons?)
So, what do you do?

Well, when I was dating, my mom would say “Don’t give up! Just be yourself! For every pot, there is a lid!” But, how many job ads do I need to apply to before the “right pot” comes along. Not too many more, I hope!

Maybe, that’s why the experts say the best way to find a job is by networking with your friends. Tell everyone you know (subtly, or not so subtly) that you are looking for work! Eventually, someone you know may know someone who needs to hire someone just like you! And, we all know, the best dates come from personal referrals!