Kind of Obsessed with The Bar Method?

Hello there Kittens!

I know I've apologized a few times for not being around more.  But really, that's just a nice way of letting myself off the hook a bit for neglecting you.  Who decided giving me a blog was a good idea?  Oh, that's right, that was me...

In my lonely little solitary June post I mentioned that I was focusing on establishing an exercise routine.  For me, working out on a regular basis has never really stuck.  Now I'm realizing that I simply hadn't found the right activity - that is until I found The Bar Method!

photo credit

Every woman was once a little girl who dreamt (at least once or twice) of being a ballerina.  There is just something romantic and ultra feminine about gracefully gliding across a stage in a tulle skirt.

photo credit

It's easy to understand why little girls would want to grow up to be like these statuesque, graceful dancers.  Even to the women who have seen the horrific effects of pointe shoes (if you haven't, DO NOT Google it unless you have a really strong stomach), the cut-throat politics and drama behind the scenes à la Black Swan, and the eating disorders that are common among ballerinas, there is still something alluring and beautiful about ballet.

photo credit

That was one of the main reasons why my friend Bridget originally wanted to try The Bar Method - she still harbors her fair share of ballerina fantasies.  Personally, I'm not into the pointe shoes and bloody toes, but I do very much admire the lines of the long, lean bodies, the flexibility, the great posture, and the graceful way in which trained dancers carry themselves.  So off to The Bar Method we went!

photo credit

The Bar Method Marina Del Rey offers an absolutely fantastic introductory special that we purchased.  This offer is an unlimited 30-day membership which I used to take 14 classes, though now I really wish I would have gone more often.

Initially I was very intimidated to try this combination of Ballet, conditioning, Yoga, Pilates, and light weights.  I had never taken a group class before and, honestly, I had allowed myself to become very out of shape, so trying something like this was not high on my list of Things That Sound Like a Good Time.  In my head, I saw this happening:

photo credit

Or perhaps this:

photo credit

But that didn't happened.

Though, if I'm being honest (and I feel like I can be honest with you), something like this DID happen.  While it doesn't seem like it would be, lifting your leg up and off the bar without the using your hands is incredibly difficult - at least it is within the first month!

watch the clip - it's hilarious!!

Was The Bar Method difficult?  Yes.  Did I find myself unable to do things that seemed like they should be easy, things that pregnant long-time practitioners could do with ease?  Yes.  Did I have a good time?  Yes.  No.  Sometimes?  Was it worth every minute?  Absolutely!

The Bar Method is amazing and I've become a total convert, singing its praises to anyone that will listen!  I just finished my first month and in just that short period of time, I'm seeing changes in my body that are incredible.  I'm seeing definition in my chest and shoulders, noticing muscles in my arms where there were none before, my waist is shrinking, my legs are becoming leaner, and I'm starting to develop 'bar butt!'  Oh - and I've lost a pant size!!

photo credit

I still have a ways to go until I reach my goal of being in fantastic shape and while my smokin' introductory deal is done, I am definitely sticking with The Bar Method (despite the hefty price-tag)!  In particular, I'm sticking with the Marina Del Rey location.  I absolutely LOVE everything about this studio!  The instructors are amazing - I am convinced they only hire people who are blessed with photographic memory as each instructor has the uncanny ability to remember the name of EVERYONE in class, even if it's your first class and you've only given them your name once!  They are so supportive and encouraging and you truly feel like they care about your progress, your form, and they remind you that each day is different and to honor your body and what it can do that day.  (I much prefer that to someone yelling at me like a drill sergeant at boot camp.)  The other practitioners at this location are also fantastic.  Everyone is so nice and there is this feeling of community.  There is no judgement or competition and people are so open about their journeys and experiences.  Many of these women have been regulars for years, so they have a lot of experience to share!  When someone who has been practicing The Bar Method for years tells you that this is the best studio they've ever been to, you know you're in the right place!

If you live in Southern California and find yourself near Marina Del Rey, I HIGHLY suggest checking this place out!!  You have nothing to lose and a 'bar butt' to gain!  And perhaps you'll become obsessed as well!

Until next time Kittens - tuck-tuck-tuck and embrace the shake!!
XOXO!!

Brunch 05.24.2014 - Pre-Revamp Cuban Goodness

Habana, Costa Mesa

Happy Sunday Kittens!  It's been a while and I've missed you.  Honest!

Over the last seven weeks, I've been focusing on revamping my eating and exercise habits.  As is probably pretty obvious from the radio silence, it's been rather time-consuming.  And working out six days a week and keeping up with a social life is really tiring to boot!

Just before I started this overhaul, I had a fantastic Brunch with my dear friend Stephanie.  The two of us have been Brunching for a while now and Habana in Costa Mesa is one of our favorite spots!  (It's also great for dinner!)

photo credit

Habana is a fabulous Cuban restaurant at the LAB in Costa Mesa.

While the LAB (or Anti-Mall) is quite the Hipster draw, it has a great little story and is most definitely worth a visit.

We really can't recommend Habana highly enough!

Deciding on a dish to order can be difficult as everything is SO tasty, so I suggest starting off with a glass of sangria while you peruse the menu.  I can personally vouch for their tastiness and truly, you may want to consider going with a pitcher!

After ordering your sangria and deciding on your food, take a moment to appreciate your surroundings!  I mean who doesn't love a good chandelier?

Or four?

The skylight adds something really special to this space and the lights on the chandeliers make it glow at night.  You just can't beat the ambiance here!

For my meal, I ordered the Caribbean Egg Benedict which was a bit small, but amazing nonetheless!  Crab and polenta in a Benedict?  Heaven!  Though if I'm in the mood for something sweet the next time I find myself here, I will definitely be ordering the Plantain Pancakes!  I've been eyeing them for a while...

Stephanie ordered the Skillet of Polenta & Egg with Patata Brava Hash.  I'm not exactly sure what Patata Brava Hash is, but I'm told it was quite tasty in addition to being an impressive sight.  Stephanie LOVES their Cubano Monte Cristo, and while it's usually her go-to when we Brunch here, she decided to branch out this time.

 On our way out, after a fabulous Brunch, I took a moment to appreciate the patio.

While it's a very nice patio, I do really prefer sitting inside.  While it's a choice that you will need to make for yourself, I don't think you'll be disappointed with either decision.

Perhaps you'll keep Habana in mind the next time you are tasked with deciding on a Brunch spot?  It's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!

¡Happy Brunching Gatas!
XOXO!!

Health Wheels and a New Exercise Regimen

Hello Kittens!  And Happy, Healthy June!

I apologize for my recent radio silence.  While I've had bouts of being MIA in the past, this time I don't have work to blame.  No, in this instance, my time I can honestly blame working out.

photo credit

While my eating habits have been quite good for a while now, my activity level has been as close to zero as you can get.  In the past it's been easy to attribute being so sedentary on my long hours at work, but since transitioning to a new department earlier this year, that is no longer the case.  But old habits die hard and I think I was reveling in the free time a normal work schedule suddenly afforded me.  Truthfully, having the time to be lazy felt AWESOME!

But all good things must come to an end.  So when the Wellness Committee at work used its quarterly Wellness Week to kick off a 12-week Biggest Loser Challenge, I was more than ready!  For me, starting to work out again needed a push like this one.

Unfortunately, in addition to establishing an exercise routine, I've also found myself tasked with finding balance when it comes to the attention The Vintage Project requires.

Throughout the years, there have been many interesting exercises, such as vibrating belt slimming machines...

photo credit

And the 'health wheel'.  (Nothing says fitness like being able to work out in whatever dress strikes your fancy!)

photo credit

It's pretty obvious from the photos of what appear to be INCREDIBLY strenuous workouts, that vintage forms of exercise aren't really the way to go.  While I believe wearing a pair of heels is very lady-like, I just don't see how working out in them (or a strand of pearls) can be that effective - call me crazy.  Sadly that belief does away with most tie-ins...

photo credit

Sure, some exercises have merit, why would you ruin a good pair of heels doing them?

photo credit

The moral of this story is - I'm finally starting to find some balance after establishing my new-found exercise regimen.  Also, don't work out in heels.  So really, it's a multi-moral story!

Until next time, Kittens!  Do a few push-ups, drink eight glasses of water, and check back soon!
XOXO!!

Marilyn - The Premiere Collection

Good Evening Kittens!

Marilyn May is underway with the help of a very savvy purchase that I made during the holidays.

Once I spied this fantastic collection of seventeen of Marilyn Monroe's films, I knew I had to have it!  If you feel the same way, I just found the collection online.  Give it a Google!

This collection is made up of seventeen individual discs (one per film) which are organized into three mini books.  As if what was inside wasn't enough, the packaging itself is a little treat!

Each mini-book folds open to reveal a classic photo of the lady of the hour.

 

I've got a whole lot of watching to do, Kittens.  So, I'll visit with you a bit later.

XOXO!!

Mad Men Cocktail Hour - The Daiquiri

¡Hola My Lovelies!

Last week, I sent Bridget an email that listed a few cocktail choices for us to enjoy while watching the second to the last episode before the mid-season finale of Mad Men.  That list included everything from simple to elaborate, from Betty-caliber to what we've coined Draper-caliber cocktails.  But for all the choices, there was something appealing about a simple Daiquiri.  I, myself,  had never had a regular Daiquiri, only those of the frozen fruit variety, and while I find Strawberry Daiquiris quite tasty, I thought that it was high time I tried one of the original variety.

Part of the Mad Men Cocktail Guide, this recipe is super simple - light rum, lime juice, and simple syrup.  It's origins are equally simple.  Named for a beach near Santiago, Cuba, the story goes that an American miner in a nearby iron mine, named Jennings Cox (great name, by the way) crafted this now classic cocktail.  A United States Congressman, William A. Chandler, purchased the mine in 1902 and brought the cocktail to New York.  A Navy medical doctor tried the drink, introduced it to the Army and Navy Club in Washington D.C. a few years later and it quickly gained popularity.  Funnily enough, the political climate of the time is responsible for this drink becoming so well-known.  Roosevelt's Good Neighbor Policy of 1933 opened trade routes and travel relations with Latin America, Cuba, and the Caribbean and while war-time rationing of liquor made most hard alcohol hard to come by, Rum was easily obtainable and far more affordable.  We have this political deal, as well as tasty rum-based cocktails, to thank for making Latin America seem fashionable to previously sheltered Americans.

So, let's sit back with Buena Vista Social Club, raise our Daiquiris, and talk about the best Mad Men episode we've had this season!

Okay, so A LOT happened in this episode!  And while I can't save you from not having watched it, I can most definitely catch you up on the major things that happened.

I can't talk about this episode without mentioning Bob Benson.  This whole season, he's been MIA.  After he outed Pete for not being able to drive in front of the GM execs, he took over the account and was based out of Detroit.  This sixth episode he reappeared, spent some time with Joan and proposed.  As you do, after being gone for a few months.  I was SO proud of Joan for telling Bob that it wasn't women that he should be kissing and sent him on his way.  His parting words were super fucking harsh!  Implying that, at her age, the part of a Beard is the best she'll ever get.  This is why I LOVE Joan.  She values herself enough to send Bob packing!

photo credit

From the opposite coast, Pete and his Realtor girlfriend and Megan come to New York at the beginning of the episode.  Fast forward to the end of the episode and both the Realtor and Megan are on a flight home without their men.  I see this as the end or the beginning of the end for both relationships.

Continuing the story arc of the episodes before, Peggy is still heading the team for the burger account and is technically Don's boss, but is having an incredibly difficult time with it.  She's allowing Don to get into her head and is smack-dab in the middle of a professional crisis.  The burger account is forcing her to confront her feelings of inadequacy with not being a wife and mother.  Don suggesting that there may be another strategy for the pitch is somehow making Peggy second guess everything.  Working late at the office, Peggy and Don finally rekindle the relationship that we've seen throughout the entire series and it warmed my heart.
Peggy asked Don to tell her how to think about the campaign.  And in the most brilliant and most heart-wrenching scene we've had this season, Don breaks down his creative process and Peggy reveals to Don how insecure she is about the fact that she hasn't established a family of her own.  In the early seasons, we've seen Don mold Peggy into the professional woman that she's become and we've also seen him comfort her when she's needed it.  When she tells Don that she's not sure she can give too much prospective to the family-oriented campaign since she doesn't have one, we see Don step into the role of friend and confidant.  Sinatra's "I Did It My Way" starts playing on the radio and Don extends his hand to Peggy.  She accepts it and they start to dance.

photo credit

The best line of the episode is Don's.  "I worry about a lot of things, but I don't worry about you."  I LOVE this relationship and this scene nearly brought me to tears!

This episode focused on the family, but not necessarily the nuclear family.  I especially loved the scene where Peggy, Don, and Pete are are Burger Chef together.  Despite their ups and downs, these three have become a family of sorts over the years which is what made this scene so perfect!  The new account pitch about families sharing a meal that shows the three of them at a table together brought me back to the dynamic that has kept me addicted to this show for so long.

photo credit

SOOO excited for the mid-season finale tonight, I have the feeling they'll continue on the course of sentimentality and make their audience VERY happy!!

XOXO!!

Happy Marilyn May!

Hello there Kittens!

When I came up with the concept of Audrey April last month, I had intended it to be part of a set.  I thought that Audrey April would precede Marilyn May quite nicely.  I started Audrey April late, so of course, Marilyn May is getting off to a rather late start as well.  C'est la vie!  I really enjoyed Audrey April (the third film post is still forthcoming) as it gave me an excuse to watch films that I had always meant to see, but simply never got around to.  I am hoping that Marilyn May to be very much the same in that respect!

If you didn't see the Audrey April post, you may not be familiar with the theory that inspired this concept - that brunettes are drawn to Audrey Hepburn while blondes are drawn to Marilyn Monroe.  It's a theory that my friend Bridget haphazardly mentioned in conversation once and it prompted me to think about these two very iconic ladies.  I realized that I really wasn't nearly as familiar with their films as I thought I should be, so the concept of Audrey April and Marilyn May were born.  Since we have two months starting with the letter A and two months starting with the letter M, perhaps we'll be spending even more time with these ladies than I'd originally intended.  I'm just going to see how things go, but, personally, I'd be more than fine with it.

So, Marilyn...Oh Marilyn.  I've always been drawn to her.  Beyond the fact that she's the most iconic blonde in history (which admittedly makes me a bit biased), there's the fact that she has been the feminine ideal for more than a few generations.  Sex symbol, sure, but what people remember her for is not the fact that she was in the very first issue of Playboy, but the fact that she entranced the world.  She was known for her perfect coiffe and her knockout figure and the breathy way she would speak.  This is the image that most people probably have of Marilyn.

photo credit

Personally, I cannot think of Marilyn and not think of the vulnerability and sadness that lay just beneath the surface.  She had a hard life, was a tragic figure, but still had an innocence about her.  The whole world worshipped her, but all she wanted was to be loved.  At any cost.  And that was ultimately her downfall.

Sadly, Marilyn Monroe was, and remains, largely pigeon-holed as a dumb blonde sex symbol.  While she undeniably had a great deal of sexual magnetism, she was so much more.  Her strength, ambition, and talent have been overshadowed by the image of her in a wiggle dress.  So, I'd like for you to come along with me in discovering her films.  The American Film Institute gave her the sixth spot on the ladies' side of the Top 50 Greatest Film Legends List and we're going to let her films tell us why!

Over this long weekend, why not spend some time with Marilyn?  I've scheduled a bit of Marilyn downtime for myself and I'm very much looking forward to it!

XOXO!!

A Room With A View - Book Club Meeting and Movie Day

A Room With A View

E.M. Forster, 1908

Hello there Lovelies!

This post has been a long time in the making, but honestly, I just couldn't get excited about it.  Overall, Bridget and I have been very lucky in The Vintage Project Book Club picks.  The only exceptions have been The Alchemist and now A Room with a View...

I'm really not sure why A Room with a View is considered a classic because I liked the idea of this novel far more than I liked the novel itself.  Perhaps the novel gained some notoriety for the fact that the main character bucks the societal conventions of repressed Edwardian society.  Kind of.  While Lucy holds some pretty radical ideas for her time, she doesn't really stray from the expectations that people have of her and, personally, I didn't like her.  Or any of the other characters (aside from the unconventional Mr. Emerson).  I'm not sure if I can completely blame the elitist, self-righteousness that seemed to permeate the fabric of the upper class or if these characters are ALL terrible people.  That's truly a difficult decision.

I won't really get into the novel too much, and if you enjoy characters that say things like, "Stop a minute, let those two people go on or I shall have to speak to them.  I do detest conventional intercourse," then maybe this IS the book for you.  To back me up even further, Bridget couldn't even finish it, and this was HER selection!  I'll admit that the last quarter of the story was somewhat engaging, but it took too long to get there and it couldn't make up for everything that came before it.

Seeing as how I'm not selling the novel....because I'm not going to advocate you subjecting yourself to it, if you must know the story, perhaps you'll watch the film like we did.

watch the trailer

In 1985, Merchant Ivory Productions (which evidently means a lot to Anglophiles) released the film adaptation of the novel.  The film has an extraordinary cast, including a VERY young Helena Bonham Carter in her breakout role.  While the film tells a much better story than the actual story itself, I feel the need to warn you that it is a bit slow and surprisingly long.  Oh, and there's A LOT of penis in it.  Frankly I was surprised by that aspect, but it managed to make an Edwardian story that was incredibly difficult to finish much more interesting!

I mentioned the cast - Helena Bonham Carter as Lucy, Maggie Smith as Charlotte, and Judi Dench as Miss Lavish were amazing.  I may not have liked their characters, but they brought so much to the flat, irritating characters that were found on the page.  But far and away, my favorite portrayal in the film was Cecil, played by a COMPLETELY unrecognizable Daniel Day-Lewis!  Now, I know that his 'thing' is to immerse himself in a character and alter his appearance, but this was spectacular!  So spectacular, in fact, that while I knew it was him, I kept looking at him and still wasn't able to see Daniel Day-Lewis.  Can you tell that it's him?  You can?  Liar.

photo credit

My two cents?  Watch the movie.  Skip the novel.  There are so many other great reads out there, no need to waste your time with this one.  Hey, our selections can't all be winners....  So, we'll just call this a Book Club Fail and move on - here's hoping that we all enjoy the next one!

Have you been following along at home?  If so, I do apologize for this one and I hope it doesn't scare you off.  Perhaps if a few more of you join in on the fun and let me know, we will have more motivation to actually stick to our Book Club schedule.  We're using May to play a little catch up, but new selections are just around the corner!

Happy Reading!

XOXO!! 

Mad Men Cocktail Hour - The Grasshopper

Good Evening, Lovelies!

Last week, I found myself without any form of cocktail tie-in.  Since the Kentucky Derby was the week before, choosing the Mint Julep was a no-brainer, but this week I simply went to the AMC website, closed my eyes, and pointed.  So, the Grasshopper, it was!

In all the times that I've browsed the cocktails on this list, I've always thought the Grasshopper looked very retro and very interesting and when I told Bridget, my Mad Men Partner In Crime, of my selection, she told me that it was her mother's cocktail of choice when she was a single girl out on the town.  PERFECT!

This is definitely NOT a Draper cocktail as Bridget and I have come to call many of the classic cocktails we've tried.  No, this is most definitely more of a Betty cocktail.  Even Peggy wouldn't drink a cocktail this girly, but you know, sometimes you just want something yummy and pretty.  While I am not a fan of the super sweet drinks, the fact that the Grasshopper tastes like a Girl Scout Thin Mint in a glass, makes it really fun!  Made of equal parts green Crème de Menthe and white Crème de Cacao and light cream, it's a super simple cocktail.  Since I had half and half on hand, I used that and the result was delicious!

Unlike most other cocktails, the history of the Grasshopper is very cut and dry.  Philibert Guichet, Jr., the owner of New Orleans' Tujaque's Bar and Restaurant entered the Grasshopper into a cocktail contest and won second place in New York City in 1928.  Yes, 1928 - before the repeal of Prohibition in 1933 - I'm pretty sure you had to 'know a guy' in order to get into this contest.  Over the years, different variations have been created and when Bridget told me that it was simply too sweet for her, I made a batch of Flying Grasshoppers which substitutes vodka for the cream.  This variation is far more potent, but I preferred the creaminess of the original.  Try them both and decide for yourself.  I promise you it will be a fun evening!

With our cocktails in hand, we settled in to watch the fifth episode of this short season and all I have to say is WOW!  There was sex and violence and computers trying to make people gay (at least according to Ginsberg).

SO much happened, but let's stick to the highlights.  Stephanie, the REAL Don Draper's niece calls Don from L.A. and tells him that she is pregnant and needs some money.  He tells her that he will be out the next day and sends her to Megan's to get a shower and something to eat.  He genuinely seems excited to hear from her.  Mainly I think because she is the only remaining link to his past.  When she gets to Megan's, there is an awkward sexual air between the two of them.  After Stephanie has a shower and begins talking to Megan, she feels threatened that this girl might know Don better than she does, she freaks out, writes her a check for $1000 and sends her packing.  Megan is ALL over the place this episode!  And this character that I've never particularly liked is now just someone I'd like to see gone.  But not before Lou...no one should go before Lou does!

photo credit

Don is delayed at the office by Asshole Lou and is not able to get to L.A. until the next morning.  While it made Don and everyone else incredibly irritated, I'd say hearing this exchange made it worth it for most people.
Lou:  "You know who had a ridiculous dream and people laughed at him?"
Stan:  "You?"
I laughed out loud and Bridget spilled her Grasshopper on my couch.

So, Don makes it to L.A. only to find Stephanie gone and Megan getting ready for a party that night.  It was just uncomfortable to watch.  Don's on edge and Megan seems too stupid or too dense to realize that what she's doing is pushing Don closer and closer to completely losing his shit.  After she pushes pretty much every one of his buttons, she decides the best way to fix their problems is a three-way.  Um, no.  But Don being Don and having all working parts, goes along with it, but leaves for New York the next morning.

photo credit

Back in New York, Betty is still terrible, but we're seeing that Henry is as well.  It's actually pretty sad, I liked Henry for a long time, but when Henry tells her to effectively keep her mouth shut and leave the thinking to him, I about lost it.  "Keep your conversation to how much you hate getting toast crumbs in the butter."  Really, Henry?  You may not be as crazy as Betty, but maybe you deserve her immature, self-righteous butt!  While it's really irritating at the time, it's pretty funny to look back at her behavior, like when she tells Henry that maybe she WILL run for public office, because, you know, she's smart - she knows Italian!!

photo credit

We know for certain that Betty is delusional, but I never quite realized how mentally unstable Ginsberg was.  You would think that the most talked about scene of this episode would be the threesome, but it came in a distant second to the last scene between Peggy and Ginsberg.  The last two episodes Ginsberg has been freaking out over the new computer, screaming that it is trying to erase them ("but can't erase this couch!"), but it is not until working on a Saturday alone in the office that he cracks.  He tries to stuff his ears full of tissue to drown out the computer's humming (which no one else seems to hear) and sees Cutler and Lou standing very close together in the computer room.  This has him convinced that the machine is making people gay, so he goes to Peggy's to work and then tries to have sex with her to prove that he's not gay.  Perfectly logical.  At the office on Monday, Ginsberg goes into Peggy's office, confesses that he loves her and that his behavior on Saturday was just a build up of pressure.  He tells her that she shouldn't worry, because he's found a way to relieve the pressure and hands her a small box.  But there is no ring in the box.  No, it's his nipple that he's sliced off.

photo credit

Poor, poor Ginsberg.  Driven insane.  I'm sad to see him go down this path and sad to see him go, but things are changing and fast.  Don was given information about the agency going after a new cigarette company and that, after his Big Tobacco manifesto a few seasons back, Cutler and Lou were going to use it to force Don out.  Don shows up at the meeting and proves to the potential clients that he's indispensable.  Don's back.  And I'm excited!

We're only a few minutes from the next episode.  Whether you're watching in real time or On Demand-ing it, like we do, I wish you happy viewing!
XOXO!!

Brunch 05.03.2014 - A Mug-Themed Birthday Celebration

La Creperie, Long Beach

Good Sunday Morning To You Kittens!

Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of meeting up with some of my fabulous ladies for Brunch to celebrate the birthday of one of the most amazing people I know, Stephanie.  I was so excited since we don't all get together very regularly and I was also very excited for the venue.  Stephanie chose La Creperie in Long Beach and while I've been there a few times (even to celebrate my own birthday), it's been a few years.  Like many of you, I'm sure, I very much enjoy a good crêpe and sample them whenever the opportunity presents itself.  Admittedly, those opportunities are rather rare, but I can tell you with certainty that if you are in the mood for a good crêpe (and then some), this is definitely a place to keep in mind!

Located on 2nd Street in Long Beach, this little gem is located in the Belmont Shore neighborhood.  While this area is filled with tons of cute shops and eateries, La Creperie is definitely a standout!  The atmosphere is very Parisian Bohemian with murals painted on the walls, large chandeliers, plenty of mirrors, and a piano.  Another cool aspect is the window where you can watch the crêpes being made!

The large window to the left of the bar is the crêpe viewing window.  So much fun to watch as you pass by! 

Stephanie and Alicia and a lovely chandelier.

The second chandelier was above our heads.

I've always loved the mirrors and the conversation area created by the couches behind Lisa.  Seriously, how fabulous is this place?  Oh, but wait...it gets better!

After we all settled in, we ordered Mimosas, Bellinis, and Bubbly with pomegranate juice.  And toasted the birthday girl.  Cheers!  Santé!!

We caught up and laughed and enjoyed each other's company and before long, our food arrived.  I don't think I've ever been here and had someone unhappy with their order.  Pretty good endorsement if you ask me.  Check out their menus here and prepare to get hungry!

Here is my Al Mare Crêpe.  For some reason it's not listed as part of their online menu, but it is filled with mushrooms, fresh tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, cheese, and shrimp in a lobster sauce.  A-Mazing!!  My favorite thing on their menu!

Lisa ordered the mussels which come with their fabulous garlic fries.  Holy Moly!  So much garlicy goodness happening here!

Britni got the Crepe Carbonara which has chicken breast, smoked bacon, and mozzarella in a creamy garlic and Parmesan sauce with pesto.  From what I understand, it was delicious!

 Alicia ordered the Belmont Eggwhite Omlete.  Spinach, mushroom, tomato, feta, and ricotta.  Looked and smelled fantastic!

And then the Birthday Girl's mystery crêpe.  I have NO idea what she ordered.  But if I remember correctly, her plate was licked clean just like the rest of ours, so while I don't know exactly what it was, I have it on good authority that it was delectable.

After we'd finished, we were all in varying stages of food coma, so we took a breather for presents.  This was by far the most interesting present opening that I'd ever seen.  

Let me preface by saying that Stephanie has something of a mug fetish.  She likes coffee mugs and tea cups.  Like she loves them.  A lot.  To be fair, she has a thing for stemware in general, but cups hold a special place in her heart.

So, when I came across these super fun, vintage inspired coffee mugs, I knew I had to get them for her!

 I also found these awesome cocktail napkins!

 I added a bottle of bubbly and thought it was a fun little package!

Evidently, I wasn't the only one who thought of mugs when they thought of Stephanie.  She received a set of these beauties from Anthropologie.

And this beautiful package contained even more mug-y fun!

 Seeing as how Stephanie runs the Darling Loves Dapper Etsy shop, this was beyond perfect!

So every gift that she opened contained a mug!  Seriously, what are the chances??  

Then it was time for dessert.  Stephanie selected the Martinique crêpe which was filled with bananas flambéed in dark rum with brown sugar and butter.  (It was DELICIOUS!!)  I also let our server know that it was Stephanie's birthday, and that we needed two candles.  Britni's birthday is just a few days before Stephanie's and we'd already celebrated, but there were no candles involved, so I thought this was a good time to rectify that little faux pas.  The staff here is absolutely amazing and this was brought to the table.

When in Paris (or a Parisian restaurant)...

J'aime these ladies so much!

 For a multitude of reasons.

Was this a fabulous way to spend a Saturday morning?  

I think so.  And I believe Stephanie would agree.

The moral of this story is to pop into La Creperie Cafe at your next opportunity (but make sure you type the actual 2nd Street address into your navigation since this restaurant was formerly located elsewhere in Long Beach and Google maps directed two of us to the previous location when we simply typed in the name).  Oh, and also mugs are a great gift.  So, I suppose this story actually has two morals.

Happy Brunching, Kittens!  I hope you consider this place the next time you find yourself stumped for a location!

XOXO!!