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LA EVENTS: NYE 2013 Alternatives

LA Babies, usually at this time of year there is one incomparable body rock going down that we help promote, but this year our favorites are taking a break. Furthermore, with so much tragedy in recent weeks it seems like most people are keeping celebrations close to home with family and friends. Finally, we are having a true winter for Angelenos – rain whenever and wherever – and most of us are trying to stave off colds or get over one. With that said, consider these alternative New Year’s celebration ideas:

Top Chef (in the family): Invite family and friends over with each bringing their “signature” dish for the holidays. Lay out dishes anonymously and let guests vote for their favorites. This event can be themed (i.e. mac and cheese battle, desserts only, etc.). Hand out candy cane awards to all participants!

Hot Toddy Party: This event might require folks to bring sleeping bags. Have family and friends brew up their special warm drink concoctions of the holidays including spiked cider, adult hot chocolate, coffee-based cocktails, etc. Serve with small bites and sweet treats!

Movie Marathon: Didn’t make it to the theater as much as you intended to this year? Work together with family and friends to get the 2012 blockbusters that are now on DVD (or streaming) and host a movie marathon! Break out that Xmas tin of three-flavored popcorn, or have a selection of the microwave variety on hand! Take advantage of Christmas candy on sale and have your own concession stand going. Got kids? Play family-friendly films early in the day and save the adult content for the evening!

Happy Holidays!

 

 

 

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Having Our Cake and Eating It Too

It was brought to my attention recently the influx of the current desire of society to want to have its’ cake and eat it too. Humans have the tendency to want to spice things up by trying new things – it’s natural. There’s been a recent spice that has been getting a lot of attention in the old spice cabinet in regards to dating: friends with benefits.

Since the box office hit Friends With Benefits featuring Mr. Timberlake and his beautiful costar Ms. Kunis, the idea has been haunting minds. Is this possible? Sure we are attracted to many different people sexually and sure we manage to stay friends with people who we are attracted to; however can we maintain that same relationship with someone who’s a friend with all the extra fun benefits? The whole idea in and of itself is complex. Does friends with benefits come with sexual monogamy? Do people become friends with benefits because they want to settle sexually & not emotionally? Do they engage in the relationship because they want to test drive before going all in? Or is it an excuse to have sex and think you’re not going to have feelings?

If in fact the setup comes with sexual monogamy then how is that any different from being in a relationship? Friends with benefits is having a relationship without really having a relationship and what comes with relationships? FEELINGS. Feelings are the very basic thing that separates humans from animals. They are inevitable and thus will appear in any situation.

Lets take a second to examine the reasons why either sex would engage in a friends with benefits relationship. Obviously there’s an enticing sexual benefit however how is this benefit any different from sleeping around with different people if there isn’t sexual monogamy? This is a ploy to get guys more play by acting as if they care more than they do. Females are the more emotional of the two and therefore are more inclined to take this title more seriously.

We have this unhealthy fascination with wanting to have our cake and eat it too. The fact is humans were made to feel. We cannot help but to feel so whether it’s the feeling of wanting more than sex with that person or a feeling of jealousy and replacement when that person moves on this can affect the friends with benefits relationship.

However this article begs the question, is friends with benefits controversial because it pushes the definition of relationships outside the box humans have worked years to define?

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How to Tell Your Friend She Looks a MESS!

Ladies, let’s be real. We all have a friends that wear clothes that are too tight/too short, makeup looks like Halloween, or wears a weave that you see every track. We can not let this go on! The great debate between girlfriends is always “am I a bad friend if I tell her” or “am I a bad friend if I don’t tell her?” The answer is the latter.
Let’s go over some ways to break the news to friends with out losing the friendship:
  • Choose your approach: You have to know your friend. If you can have a sit down and just say what’s on your mind and she will take it in the best way possible, great. If not, you may have to find a softer approach.
  • The Proof: Do you have pictures or videos that you can show her as evidence of the hot mess? Show her casually and laugh about how you both have come so far with your looks. Slide in some things that you do to keep your look fresh.
  • Find the root: Is it lack of knowledge? Maybe she just doesn’t know how put herself together. If it is an issue of knowledge, ask her if she has ever been shown what a good makeup application should look like. Suggest your hairstylist and book appointments together so that you can guide her through the process.
  • Style Police: If you are about to go out and your friend has something tacky on make a joke about how people will wonder if you are her friend if you let her wear that. Often you can make one or two changes to the outfit to make it suitable.
  • Assess the confidence: Our outward appearance is often a sign of how we feel about ourselves inside. If you detect issues of low self-esteem be sure to use the sandwich method. For every negative thing you have to tell her slide it in between two positive things.
  • Last resort: If you can’t bring yourself to tell her, resolve to just love her through the embarrassment and move on. Nothing superficial is worth losing a true friend.

Mikki Bey is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist who believes in the power of the universe to bring her all the desires of her heart. Fearless, determined and capable – she’s a bad mamajama! She can be reached at mikki@mikkibey.com.