fbpx

Jen A. Miller Consulting

Tag: Catherine Abalos

  • Single Girl Stays | ACE Hotel Downtown Los Angeles

    Single Girl Stays | ACE Hotel Downtown Los Angeles

    Catherine reports on her experience at the ACE DTLA and shares tips on planning a “staycation”

     

    ace hotel
    PHOTO: Catherine Abalos.

     

    I love everything about staying in hotels… fresh sheets, fresh towels, a mountain of fluffy pillows, the option to order food straight to your room, the free Bible. A couple years ago I made my first trip to Palm Springs and was introduced to the ACE Hotel. I was an immediate convert to the laidback, urban cool vibe of the compound and have considered visiting new cities in order to stay at the ACE. The ACE is purposely a little undone and can feel like glamping. I was fortunate to take refuge in my sister and brother-in-law’s room at the ACE when all of us were stranded in Manhattan after Sandy hit. When I heard that they were opening up in Downtown L.A., I vowed to book a night for some personal R&R. A staycation is a mini vacation from your life, without the inconvenience of leaving your town. A solo version should be purposeful and a way for you to invest in yourself.

    A solo staycation has been on my to-do list for a long time. To have an immaculate suite to myself for one night (or more) to relax on thousand-count sheets is more luxurious to me than a day at the spa. However, when I mentioned my weekend plans to people, four times out of five their first response was to ask whom I was going with. For some, the idea of staying in a hotel by yourself for pleasure is comparable to eating alone at a restaurant or going to a movie theater alone. It sounds scary, you would feel judged, you may judge people who are doing it. When you find the courage to face your fear of being alone in any situation, you have the potential to liberate yourself from the constrictions of popular opinion and discover something new about yourself. One night away from my living space filled with material possessions and the figurative weight of the current ups and downs in my life gave me refreshing perspective.
    (more…)

  • Single Girl’s Guide to the Wedding Plus One

    Qualities and Alternative Dates to consider when choosing your Plus One

    wedding plus one
    PHOTO: Friends.

    Wedding season is around the corner. If you’re in your mid-twenties, a common topic of conversation is just how many “Save the Dates” you’ve received this year. If you’ve been allotted a guest, here are guidelines for characteristics to look for and different date ideas to find your chosen One.

    Chances are, since you don’t have an automatic wedding plus one in mind, you are a) not married, b) not dating someone, or c) not interested in anyone. Fear not; you have more options than you think… unless your 1,500 friends on Facebook are all people you Friend-ed online on the first day of college then proceeded to lock yourself in your dormitory cave without human interaction for four years. And if that’s the case, refer to my post on meeting new friends after college.
    (more…)

  • NYFW Street Style | Winter Inspiration

    Catherine’s five favorite blogger looks from NYFW

    PHOTO: Whitney Cosgrave.
    PHOTO: Whitney Cosgrave.

    Amidst the frightful weather in Manhattan, a who’s who of the fashion world has flocked once again to the style capital for a week of shows, parties and everything sartorial. Some of us are watching the shows broadcast live on brands’ respective sites; some of us still can’t pronounce Hervé Léger. Regardless of our relationship with high fashion, we can find inspiration in the increasingly popular street style snaps of editors and stylists alike. Read on for some of our favorite winter looks from our blogger staples.

    (more…)

  • Single Girl Reads | Beginner’s Guide to John Green

    A book report on four of John Green’s novels

    john green

    If you haven’t heard of The Fault In Our Stars, now is the time to crawl out from under your rock. The film adaptation starring Shailene Woodley (I’m going to call that she’s this year’s break-out star with Divergent coming out in March and Fault coming out in June) releases this summer, so get on the waiting list at your local library now if you know what’s good for you. I read this novel for book club and subsequently read two other titles by John Green. I am a fan.

    Don’t let “Young Adult” fool you. Like the writers of Harry Potter, The Hunger Games and Divergent, John Green breathes life into the category with dynamic characters, imperative themes (such as that of needing to matter), and evocation of real emotion (I have both laughed out loud and cried my eyes out over his writing). Since he is not a series writer, here’s the run-down on four of his titles to get you started on your path, with help from a fellow John Green-fan Kate Jones.

    (more…)

  • Single Girl Reflection: What Defines Me

    A guided reflection to begin answering the question “What defines me?”

    what defines me
    PHOTO: S-tatement N-ecklaceS.

    Writer. Marketing manager. Jen’s friend. I am proud to be associated with organizations and the central people in my life. When asked who we are, we tend to identify ourselves based on our relations. But what happens when you strip all of that away? What makes you uniquely you?

    We’re nearing the end of January. 2014 is a time to rebuild, a time to strip away the excess and the toxic energy that holds us back and a time to refine our foundation based on who we are and what we believe in. Last year, many people started to question the existing systems that were governing their lives. People quit their jobs. People felt unfulfilled in their day to day. We set our resolutions for the year, but what can we do now to evolve into who we should be for the rest of our lives? I personally struggle with the question “What defines me?” so I’ve put together a list of questions inspired by various sources to break down this equivocal idea and make it more concrete for all of us.

    I’ve found that it’s quite easy to embody the person you want to be. The challenge is to know who that person is. This exercise may be reminiscent of your college English Writing class, but the easiest way to delve in to these questions is to use stream of consciousness. Don’t get caught up in thinking too much about your answers. Just start.
    (more…)