1. Do yourself a favor and try to avoid hitting parked cars. But if you hit one, be a good samaritan, and leave your information on their windshield.
2. Also, law enforcement officers are required to give warnings in lieu of citations (for the first 30 days after installing a red light camera). So, if you get a ticket at a new camera, fight it.
3. It is illegal to make a U- turn in front of a fire station. But while you are there make sure you park 15 feet away from the fire station driveway.
4. Parking downhill, steer your wheels into the curb and set your parking brakes. Goal: You want your car to roll into the curb if the brakes fail.
5. Parking uphill, turn your front wheels away from the curb and let your car roll back until the rear of one wheel touches the curb. Goal: You want your car to roll into the curb if the brakes fail.
6. Park 15 feet away from a fire hydrant.
7. You are considered intoxicated with a blood alcohol content of 0.08%. A DUI conviction can cost up to $15,000.
8. Teenage drivers are more than twice as likely than drivers over the age of 21 to be involved in an alcohol- related fatal accident. Hey kiddos, if you are drunk, please call your sibling or one of your parents to come pick you up.
9. If only Britney’s mother knew… Parents can cancel provisional licenses.
10. Babies should not be placed in the front seats, airbags can seriously injure the baby.

Britney Spears Driving With Jayden In Front Seat

Maison Akira, is a French and Japanese inspired restaurant in Pasadena, California. It is an elegant yet casual restaurant lined with impressionalist pieces, which can make you feel like you are sitting at a cafe in Paris. What I failed to notice the first time I was here, is that the owner of Maison Akira, Chef Akira Hirose has studied under Chef Joel Robuchon… Yep, (nodding head) as in L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon.

Following a dessert course at Maxim’s in Paris and continuing his pastry education at Ecole de Lenotre. Chef Akira Hirose then came to Los Angeles and joined the staff of l’Orangerie in Los Angeles.

Akira then opened, Azay Le Rideau, in Japan, which also became one of the top 50 French places in Japan.

Chef Akira Hirose other stints include: Citrus, Georgian Room at the Ritz in Pasadena, Belvedere Restaurant at the Peninsula in Beverly Hills, and more recently was the the executive Chef at Tower Restaurant in Los Angeles.

It’s amazing what you find out while waiting for the restroom!

(Newspaper articles depicting Chef Akira Hirose, heroically slaying food for the enjoyment of us gluts, lined the walls adjacent to the bathroom).

Any hooz, I had the wonderful pleasure of revisiting Maison Akira for another sampling of their 4 course tasting menu ($55). After the first bite, like Eve, I couldn’t help but think I could get addicted to this place.

I found the amuse bouche of salmon and creamed fois gras uninspiring, which indeed shocked me because the previous amuse bouche of soba and smoked salmon was so good I nearly fell off my chair.

The first course of seared tuna, grapes, micro greens, and jello-esque soy sauce cubes was so delicious! The mixture of salty and sweet enhanced the dual textures of the seared fish. The micro greens provided wonderful crispness that made the dish all the more refreshing.

White corn soup with curried shrimp, aka the second course, was surprisingly sweet and creamy. Hmm.

My entree of Kobe beef, mashed potatoes, shitake mushrooms, carrots, and crisped seaweed was good. I should have ordered my steak medium, the slices of beef are thin and Kobe retains better flavor when prepared medium/ or medium rare.

The desserts were absolutely phenomenal. Dessert number one consisted of: creme brulee, chocolate brulee, with fresh strawberries. The second was a sugar cookie bowl with ice cream and fresh berries contained by a caramel cage. Both of these were remarkable. Pastries must be one of Chef Akira’s fortes.

They even make bento boxes that are picnic ready for the Hollywood Bowl of course!

Maison Akira’s Phone Number: 1.626.796.9501

• Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel, knocked up?
• Carrie Underwood won Olympic Gold (aka Michael Phelps). INO
• XXX- file this, Agent Mulder is in rehab for a sex addiction. T&M.
• Wish your pores were smaller? SF.
• Coco Chanel lives again, in an upcoming biopic by WB. PH.
• Hot debate, Sarah Palin’s is too young, too unexperienced and too unethical?..?

• 24 Hour Fitness- Buy 5 personal training session and save $75. Offer expires 9/30/08. Use code: EPTSZG5392.
• Bebe- 65% off Summer clearance merchandise in- store only (8/28/08- 9/1/08). Free standard US shipping on orders over $150 enter code HOTDRESS (expires 10/05/08).
• H&M- Women’s and Men’s jeans starting at $19.90 and Children’s jeans from $9.90.
• Sephora- Free 10 day trial for Bare Minerals plus a small kabuki brush. Enter code 10DAY at check out between (8/28/08-9/4/08).
• Plover (sheet sale)- 50% to 80% off quilts, duvets, and pillowcases. Sale starts tomorrow.
• Banana Republic- New reductions for Labor day plus take 15% off any purchase of $125 or more. Enter code 877.
• Bath & Body Works- Patricia Wexler fastscription damage reversal lip treatment $5. Antibacterial stuff on sale too.

Flying High in the Sky

Becky!!! WE CAN GO TO LONDON FOR $698 roundtrip leaving from LA!!!!

My gal pal Becky and I are planning a trip to get away, preferably next summer. But being that I get a kick out of bargain shopping we will settle for anything as long as the price is right. 

Our goal is to see the world, meet new people, shop, visit museums, and taste all the wonderful yummies the world has to offer…

Actually, Becky and I are the only single people left in our bunch… Therefore we have a lot of time on our hands…

(Case in point, the inception of this website.)

Moving along. Since the pound (haha) is much stronger than the dollar our first option was Asia. Thailand to be exact, known for their favorable exchange rates, cheap massages and delicious food! Yum!

But after quick look at British Airways and the sexy price of $349 each way or $698 roundtrip for flight dates between 10/23/08- 12/17/08 to LONDON! This might be too good of a deal for us to pass up! Did I mention flying out of JFK $241 each way?

We can land in London and backpack to Paris.

Becky, you down?