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Jen A. Miller Consulting

Tag: Santa Monica

  • How to Savor Christmas All Month

    How to Savor Christmas All Month

    12 ways to make your holiday last throughout December

    christmas

    Since I left for college many moons ago, I have grown to appreciate the holiday season more deeply. It’s the time of year when all of my childhood friends and family are gathered in one place. You wind down from another year and remember what’s really important. The chaos of life matters a little less. Spending time doing nothing with people you love means even more. When “holiday break” in my hometown went from a month in college to a week and a half in the work world (and I know even that is a luxury!), I learned how to savor Christmas in less time. One of my favorite parts of moving back officially is that I get to see a full-size Christmas tree when I come home every day. I started to make a conscious effort years ago not to look forward to anything too early. I felt that it made time move too quickly, and I for one want to extend every happy memory for as long as possible. With that, here are my twelve ways to spread holiday cheer in small ways and celebrate your holiday last throughout the month.

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  • A Tale of Two Cities

    A Tale of Two Cities

    Our Leading Ladies share their top 10 from Los Angeles and San Francisco

    PHOTO: Crossfit Santa Monica, Localbigwig.
    PHOTO: Crossfit Santa Monica, Localbigwig.

    When we founded The Single Diaries a year ago, we had no idea we wouldn’t be in the same city so soon. (Don’t tell me I’ve never been in a long-distance relationship.) Separation anxiety aside, we are finding one major plus to working out of two different major cities: more wine bars to frequent, more neighborhoods to explore, more dishes to discover! In honor of our new status as a bi-city blog, we bring you our favorite mainstays from San Francisco and Los Angeles.

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  • What I Love About My City | Catherine’s Los Angeles

    What I Love About My City | Catherine’s Los Angeles

    Catherine reveals her top ten in the Los Angeles Westside

    PHOTO: Catherine Abalos
    PHOTO: Catherine Abalos

    Welcome to a special edition of What I Love About My City—a series in which our favorite single girls dish on everything from the best places for a single girls weekend to the secret spots only the locals know about. This time I’m taking over with a twist, bringing you the best of Los Angeles from my perspective.

    If you haven’t heard the news, I’m in transition moving from L.A. back to my hometown in the San Francisco Bay Area. In an ode to my home of nine years (I spent the first four in college), I wanted to share my City of Angels. Los Angeles is made up of over 80 neighborhoods, and mine is part of the beautiful Westside. One of the best things about this major U.S. city is its diversity and space for everyone to create their own version of the city. You can be a struggling actor (literally) or a multi-millionaire and find activities, food, and people that appeal to you; granted, it takes some work. I love that Los Angeles is something different to every single person that lives there. I love how much flack it gets from people who don’t truly understand the hidden nuances. I love how you can drive to a different neighborhood and feel like you’re somewhere new entirely. You never run out of places to explore. Each of those 80 neighborhoods has its own character, and I’m so excited to share some of the best things about the Westside.

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  • Sweet [Drinks] Are Made of These

    Catherine shares some of her Los Angeles happy hour haunts, from A to Zinque.
    PHOTO: Viva La Foodies
    PHOTO: Viva La Foodies

    Happy Hour [ˈhapē ou(ə)r]: noun. A marketing term for a period of time in which a public venue offers discounts on alcoholic drinks.

    For me, happy hour is any hour while the sun is setting or has already set during which I consume a leisurely drink with or without pleasant company. I love happy hour as much as Alex Kerkovich loves ribs; if I could, I’d go twice a day. My shortlist covers the vast expanse of Los Angeles… and shows you how far I’m willing to go for a good cocktail. Each of these spots is tried and true, setting the scene for a quick first date drink or a lengthy catch-up with friends. To get you in the mood, I added my picks for the right shade of lip color to go with each hour.
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