SKATE - Don't Walk

In July 2007, Broadway gave its patrons (myself included) the gift of "Xanadu." Based on the 1980 musical movie of the same name starring Olivia Newton-John, "Xanadu" will knock your skates off and leave you begging for more.

Regardless of the movie's seven nominations at the first annual "Razzie" Awards, the Oscar's antithesis, the musical utilizes every flawed ounce of the script to ensure the audience's mouth corners seldom let go of their earlobes.

I will not dwell on the plot points, highlights & performers of this show. Rather, I will personally guarantee each person willing to take the risk that they will without a doubt have the night of their life when "Xanadu" is a part of it.

The First-National Tour of "Xanadu" is currently in Sacramento, CA. I was in attendance opening night and was thrilled to see that 99% of the magic from Broadway was still there and that people all over the country will get a shot at seeing this smash hit.

"Xanadu" is intended for all. I doubt your biggest cynic wouldn't find themselves in a school girl giggle. 90 minutes of pure hilarity and non-stop fun.

www.xanaduonbroadway.com

www.californiamusicaltheatre.com

Test me. I DARE YOU!

-SMA

Sales and so on and so forth.

And yes, I am having my own post-holiday blow out at FILTHY GORGEOUS.  And yes, there actually are still some must haves that you simply, must have. 

It was.  That's about the way I feel today after walking into the Shop and facing the aftermath of Christmas 2009.  Now to cut a path through the piles of onesies, twosies and leftover glittered goodies from the big day... sigh.  I suppose it's somewhat usual to feel a bit melancholy in the days immediately following The Holiday Season.  Yet it always seems to manage to creep up on me and surprise me slightly.  Sigh (again).  Then, just when I begin to smell the noxious traces of postpartum-esque sentiment swelling about me to alarming levels, I glance out the window to the assaultingly large signs in the Pottery Barn windows screaming out, "STYLE on SALE", and suddenly I am reminded that all is well and even after ingesting unforgivable amounts of sinfully delicious saturated fats, with the impending New Year, comes glimmers of hope!  And, scene.  Fewh!  Now that that's off m'chest and I've brushed the dirt off m'shoulders and such, I can proceed with today's message:  Lets talk about sales, bay-bee, lets talk about you and me, lets talk about all the good things and the bad things that may be, lets talk abooouut sales.  Ha! Look, none of us can escape it.  The allure of after-christmas-sales is almost more than even my bullheaded Taurean-self can resist!  I know it, I feel it, Im with you.  BUT, if we are to get the most that any clean start (ie: New Year) thank-duh-lerd may offer us, we MUST resist, shop wisely and avoid impulse buys!  Because truth be told, an ugly sofa at half off is still an ugly sofa.  I don't care how much you saved!  Fer real!  And, yes ma'am, that goes for Christmas crap too.  Ask yourself, do I really need this?  Will I still like it in the morning (some of us may want to ask ourselves that question with other situations, moving forward this new year, as well!  Uh huh, I went there!)? Honestly, do I like the item itself better than the price tag???  IF and only if, you can answer these question with a resounding and emphatic, YES, then and only then, might you proceed unencumbered. However,  if the slightest bit of hesitation rises... even if it only whispers,  then gurl turn round and run!  Because one of the best promises you can make to yourself (and to those who have to look at the loads of stuff you buy over the next few days) for this new year is to shop without regret and never have to excuse a purchase with, 'well it was just sucha great deal', again!  Yay for conscientious collecting!!!!!!!!!!!  And, scene.

-J

Merry Christmas, Kwanza, Solstice, Santa, Hanu... oh(!!) you get the idea!

Well... we made it yall! Christmas '09 is officially here and no blood spilled (yet). Thanks for hanging with us thus far... but you DO know, we've only just begun!

From all of us here at The FG Life, here are some sloppy, licky, Lula kisses, wishing you a wonderful and really, really Filthy Gorgeous Holiday!!!

-J

Gingerbread Cookies!

One of my favorite things to do this time of year is bake cookies. This past week my wonderful (and helpful) boyfriend and I baked delicious Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread cookies.

They were sooo good.

If any of you have yummy cookie recipes you would like to share, please do! I love to try new recipes.

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Go Green

The Goldstar Events site I recently spoke of added no other than the San Francisco sitting of the hottest Broadway musical, "WICKED!" Though I can only name a handful of folks who have yet to give their hard-earned money to said highest-grossing musical ever, this is a must see and a see again and again.

Sadly, discounts are often a good indicator that a show (with a open-ended engagement) isn't meeting expectations and therefore is likely to close. I would jump on this opportunity without so much as a second thought. I would also like to know where this discount was last Christmas when I gifted the women in my family center-row orchestra seats for over a hundred dollars a ticket?

Wicked is a stunning production. Thrilling. Money well spent. This musical's formula is all-inclusive and will undoubtedly be a night you will never forget. You also don't want to be that one person at the "water cooler" who has to shy away from, "Oh my god have you seen Wicked?" Treat yourself. Treat your friends. Take Grandma for her yearly outting.

You will need to sign-up for Goldstar to receive this discount. Use the link below. I get a dollar credit for offering you up this gem. Try not to let that cheapen it.

www.goldstar.com/join?p=F331106RP

Trust & Be Green

-SMA

New Year, New You!

Hey Guys, 

I just got this email from Rance and thought that you all should be able to get in on the action too.  Not that any of you need it (As if!  I would NEVER!), but then again, not that ANY of us wouldn't benefit from it either- know what Im sayin?  Well however you chose to take it, for what it's worth (which, in case you were wondering, is SO much more than the $100 or $200 savings in itself as looking great and feeling better is worth an immeasurable amount more than any dollar can ever note... holler!) here's the email from Rance...  

PS: the pic of Lula is just a pic of her fabulicious-ness for you to enjoy, so, enjoy!

-J

 

Commit to the Constant Elevation Group Training Program (minimum 3 months) before January 1st, and get $100 off of your first month of training. All that you have to do to commit is call or email me (before January 1st) and let me know which class you would like to join...American Canyon, Pacifica or Richmond / Oakland. When you show up on day one, you'll save $100 for your first month! Contact me asap to guarantee your spot! 
 
Commit to an Individual Training Program with me (minimum 3 months) before January 1st, and receive $200 of of your first month of training. All that you have to do to commit is call or email me (before January 1st) and set up your individual training assessment for the New Year. Remember, January to March is THE BUSIEST training period of the year...so DON'T PROCRASTINATE! The time for a healthier, stronger, more efficient you...is now! Prepare yourself for positive and productive 2010!

-R

Our December Home to Remember

The Wanlass family resides in a super fantastic Italianate-Victorian dating back to the 1860s. It sits prominently on a tree lined street, amid Arts and Crafts Bungalows and other vintage styled homes just a stones throw from the water's edge off of the Carquinez Straits. The home is, of course, flippin incredible- duh. It is the epitome of Filthy Gorgeousness- as it should be! Tirzah Ortiz-Wanlass is my business partner and an interior design style icon, and... my sissy-pooh. This holiday season, after much angst and a ridiculous amount of hoopla, we are pleased to finally allow you a peek into one of the well springs and originations of Filthy Gorgeous Life. So, get cozy and lets see what we gots...

Oh! BTW, the photography sucks, yes thank you, I know. Like I said, a lot of hoopla... I couldn't get it together enough to coordinate with our photographer so you got stuck with me... gimme a break!

The Family Room...

One word- VINTAGE! Yes people, items formerly owned by another can be just gorgeous! No, you don't need to refinish something that's chipped or cracked or, as I prefer to refer to such treasures as, time worn. Simply because Santa's left boot has seen better holidays does not mean he's finished. No, no. As long as he can still stand, he can still offer plenty of holiday cheer! On a more important note, notice the collections guys. They coordinate, not match, co-ordinate. Let's keep moving...

The tree is simple, but full of small wonders... individually selected vintage balls mingle with vintage-esque tinsel garland and basic white lights... AND, the tree itself, with open airy spaces between the branches helps to show off each of these individual treasures. Thats something worth noting, do you give your tree much thought, or do you simply buy from the closest lot?

Instead of a santa here, an gingerbread house there, a manger set over there, etc etc, etc, group things in coherent collections to create tiny vingettes and miniture view-scapes for more visual impact and increased sense of good ol' specialness!

What I wanted to point out here is not the loverly ornaments or the sparkly tinsel garland, nope, I want you to check out the lights on the tree. Take the time to wrap your branches individually. TURST ME, ITS WORTH THE HASSEL! Its a Christmas Tree guys(!!) not leftover ham to be hastily wrapped in saran-wrap!

Often times people, we feel the need to put away 'usual' decor and replace with our Christmas odds and ends. No need, silly. Remember KISS??? Keep it simple, stack and collect everyday pieces (where possible) together into a backdrop of sorts and simply place holiday items front and center. Like a good outfit, its all about layering. Riiight? Right!















You know what Im gonna say- DOMES, DOMES DOMES! If you dont have them already... ummm... why?

The Living Room...



The centerpiece of this room is the antique, square-back piano. So it becomes necessary to build or tier-down from here. A sweet antique feather tree sits pretty at center stage. This also provides the perfect spot for showcasing some of the more special or sentimental tree ornaments. Little mercury glass highlights pepper the remaining space for a bit of sparkle- yay!

The Dining Room

A straight line, contemporary dining table is contrasted perfectly by the classic Holly, holiday arrangements.

-J