Making My Own Fall

Even if it doesn’t quite feel like fall yet in LA, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy some fall classics. Some of my ultimate fall favorites are pumpkin spice lattes, apple cider, cranberry relish and chili. Last year, I can’t tell you how many crockpots full of chili I made. It freezes well, so it’s perfect for multiple meals. Thankfully you can make an amazing batch of chili with only a few key ingredients! I like to start with my mom’s recipe but add a few of my own special ingredients. 

          

            1             pound ground turkey, browned

            1             8 oz. can tomato sauce

            1             12 oz. can petite-diced tomatoes

            2            12 oz. cans Kidney beans, undrained

            1            envelope McCormick’s chili seasoning

            2            tsp. nutmeg*

            3            shakes of Tabasco sauce*

Yes I use McCormick’s chili seasoning over making my own seasoning mix. I like the ease of the package but more importantly I like the flavor. My two special ingredients are the nutmeg and Tabasco sauce. The nutmeg adds warmth to the chili and a true spice of the holidays. After I brown the ground turkey, I simply combine all the ingredients into a crockpot and simmer for four to six hours. If you don’t have a crockpot, combine all ingredients in a stockpot or Dutch oven. Bring to a boil and then simmer for two to three house. The left picture turns into the right after a couple of hours as the ingredients reduce.

Top with traditional finishers such as cheddar cheese, sour cream and oyster crackers. I decided to crumble Gorgonzola cracker crisps into my bowl to add another flavor dimension! Happy cooking and happy fall!

The Bar Scene: From WeHo to Culver City

Since moving to West Hollywood, I have been trying out an array of new bars and not just in the WeHo area. I love going out and trying new places, and bars are one of the easiest places to sample until you find the right fit. The search for the perfect bar is “research” I don’t mind participating in! Los Angeles has more bars/clubs/pubs/lounges than you can really even imagine. Each area of town also seems to cater to a certain genre of bars. West Hollywood with lounges, Hollywood with clubs, Culver City with pubs and Santa Monica with a nice mix of everything. That’s not saying you can’t find a pub in Hollywood because one of my favorite pubs is there, but the area is definitely more concentrated with clubs pumping top 40 remixes.

One of my favorite new bars is The Woods. Located just two blocks from my apartment, this loungey bar stands out from the rest with a “starlit” ceiling and deer antler chandeliers. Also it’s located in a semi-sketch looking strip mall similar to a thousand others that liter Los Angeles County. The Woods offers a happy hour that extends later than many bars, which I appreciate since I work until 7 p.m. If you get there before 10, you can enjoy $5 martinis of many different varieties. Another new favorite is Village Idiot on Melrose, which is a gastropub with some delicious specialty drinks. The Texas Mule mixes homemade ginger beer, vodka and a squeeze of lime. It’s similar to summer brew but so much better! A similar drink mixes the same components minus the vodka and adds whiskey. The ale steamed muscles aren’t bad either. This bar gets packed late at night, but still maintains a chill atmosphere.

If you are looking for a classy place to grab a few appetizers and drinks, Blu Jam Café and Lolas are great options. Blu Jam is known for its amazing brunch, but recently made the transformation into a bristro at night. You can choose from a large variety of cold and hot small plates. To bring in the breakfast crowd, the restaurant has been handing out free bottles of wine if you come in after 6 p.m. This is how I ended up here, but will definitely be back for more wine and small plates. If you like martinis, Lolas is your place. Lolas claims it invented the apple martini, which wouldn’t surprise me because it offers around 100 different martinis. I came here for my birthday with some friends, and it was definitely a good time. All the appetizers were delicious, but my martini was fantastic. There were almost too many martinis to choose from but I eventually settled on one with a lychee base.

If you are looking for a crazier atmosphere, head over to the Sunset Strip. Clubs and lounges liter this iconic street, such as Bar Marmont, The Standard and The Saddle Ranch. Be prepared to spend away your paycheck, but it’s definitely fun every once and awhile. Venturing to the Westside, you can find another wide varieties of bars. On a mini bar crawl of Culver City, I discovered City Tavern. Differentiating itself from your typical brewhouse, City Tavern offers a unique experience if you sit at one of the booths. Here you can pour your own pints from three taps along the back of the booth. This could definitely get out of hand fast, so thankfully the waitress puts a cap on the amount of ounces you can pour! Another fun spot in Culver is Seventy 7 Lounge. Entering this speakeasy themed bar, you feel transported back to the 1920s. Well until you hear the 1970s music, you hear jamming from the speakers. I can say this was a fun experience. You had the classiness of a lounge with some awesome “Staying Alive” music that you can dance to. Slightly north of Culver in West LA sits another one of my far bars, The Arsenal. I guess you would classify The Arsenal as a swanky sports bar. Later in the night, people begin to dance around the bar in any space they can find because there isn’t a designated dance floor. This bar definitely reminds me of my good ol’ college days!

I’m sure this list will grow over the next year as I enjoy exploring different parts of this city!

Behind the Scenes: On the set of my first movie

Two weekends ago, I had one of my best new experiences in Los Angeles. I got to be on set for a real movie shoot! Ok, well reshoots but still. I hung out in “video village” aka the behind the scenes area where all the director chairs are set up to scene the ongoing shot. I arrived during the second scene of the day, the crew’s breakfast spread was still out, and I was shocked by the amount of food. Cereal, eggs benedict, bagels and lox, hashbrowns just to name a few. Reminded me of my good ol’ sorority days when food was simply provided for me without me actually having to cook it! Anyways after I stopped salivating over the breakfast and the extensive coffee selection, I settled down into my own director’s chair (see above if you don't know what I'm talking about). I will just come out and say it, I felt pretty big time even though I was pretty much only observing. I enjoyed seeing first hand how the director can manipulate the entire scene with one simple note to the actors. Dialogue’s tone and volume can also transform a scene from angry to compassionate.  

One of the best parts was seeing our VP in action. At eight months pregnant, she can still command a room. If the director has gone a little too far into his vision, she was able to reel him in and create better takes. She definitely sets a high standard for what you can achieve through hard work and putting in the time to get to a certain position. Before I knew, it was time to break for lunch, and we were presented with another incredible array of food. I don’t know how people on set stay in shape because if I had access to this much food everyday, I would be obese. I have little to no self-control when it comes to good food! I patiently waited for the crew to get their food before I dove in. I filled my plate with salad, mashed potatoes, lemon chicken and veggie meatloaf. If that wasn’t enough, I sampled each of the three types of pie that were available for dessert. After an hour break, we were back on set. Six hours later, it was about time to wrap when the director yelled he needed more young people for a rave scene. I quickly saw one of the on-set producers coming my way. I tried to hide, but it was no use. He had spotted our development exec and I. After a few costume adjustments ie putting an embarrassing pink bowtie around my neck, we were ready for our shining moment. Our task was simple. Dance and then when the other extras run toward you, don’t let them through. I hid in the back and did my part. I danced, I held the line, and I waited to die… Yes, my big debut is a horror movie!

After 10 hours on set, the day finally wrapped! It was an absolutely amazing learning experience, and a great first time on set. I wish we shot more of our movies in Los Angeles! Being on set is a completely different experience than the development side I am used to. There are so many steps that go into making a movie, and I can’t wait to experience even more aspects such as editing, scoring and distribution!

New Movie Overload

A great perk of my job is “having” to see new releases during the weekend. I enjoy this perk probably the most since my previous unemployment kept me from seeing all the movies I really wanted to see. I only saw two movies in LA before three weeks ago, which is pretty sad since I am in the entertainment industry. In the past three weeks, I have been able to see three great movies. My first movie assignment was The Help. I already mentioned this but want to say it again. The casting was perfection, and the acting was spot on. I can’t wait to see, which of these actresses will be nominated for Academy awards. Next up, Contagion. There was just something about Gweneth Paltrow dying in the first scene that intrigued me. Where is this movie going if they kill off one of the big names in the first ten minutes? Well it was going in the direction to freak you out! The movie basically plays out what H1N1 had the possibility of becoming. The movie struck a nerve with me because KU had one of the largest outbreaks of H1N1 my senior year. It definitely made me think twice about touching doorknobs and finding the need to carry Purell with me.

Three weekends ago, I saw Drive. I had been dying to see Drive all week, but figured the boys had already saw it in Toronto. I lucked out and none of them did. Ryan Gosleing has emerged as one of the most talented actors in his age group. He can make audiences melt with a quick, small smile or cringe from an angry outburst. Well, Drive combined both of these things and so much more. The music sets the tone for the movie into a 80s vibe, which is reinforced by the hot pink opening credits. One thing I wasn’t expecting, the intense violent scenes. My heart was literally racing as I hide behind my splayed fingers. I think I freaked the poor guy next to me out as I jumped and squealed. I loved the tone of the movie. I loved the music. I loved Ryan Gosling and Carry Mulligan. I didn’t love all the violence, but I am willing to over look that.

This past weekend, I saw two new movies. One was a huge disappointment and the other only confirmed why I am in the entertainment industry. Margaret has been suffering through countless lawsuits and editing problems for the past six years. All those problems were evident in the movie that ran a little more than 2 ½ hours. It was over acted with every scene spilling with high decibel screaming matches and dramatic overreactions. I was ready to leave after 45 minutes but stayed and suffered through the remaining hour 45. Later that day, I saw 50/50, which I had been anxiously anticipating for about a month. The result was pure movie love. It was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. It made me cry and then laugh at the next moment. Yes, there was still plenty of Seth Rogan raunchy humor, but the story as a whole was simply the perfect mix of laughs and tears. I also got my Joseph Gordon-Levitt fix who I have been pinning over ever since 500 Days of Summer. While this movie isn’t necessarily Oscar worthy, his performance deserves one. By the end of the movie, you truly believe he has cancer. 

I can’t wait for the movies premiering in the next few months. One movie I still need to make time for is The Lion King 3D. No I am not kidding. This was my all time favorite movie when I was younger. I had Nala earrings, necklace, shirts, two stuffed animals and countless stickers (yes I realize this is completely embarrassing to admit but also completely true). My mom even found me a piano book of Lion King songs. I can’t hide the fact I am excited to see how it has been transformed into 3D. Other titles I am counting down the days to include: Moneyball (I know it’s already out), Melacholia, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, The Ides of March, The Rum Diaries, The Descendents, Like Crazy and Martha Marcy May Marlene. What movies are you looking forward too?

The Real Meaning of Pink Ribbons

My aunt and my mom

As September fades into October, pink ribbons are popping up everywhere from the grocery store to the gas station. This simple pink ribbon symbolizes Breast Cancer Awareness, and October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In the past few years, I have become involved with Lee National Denim Day and also Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Reading the stories of survivors and their struggles made this cause especially dear because these are someone’s mother, daughter, sister, grandmother or aunt. Until recently though, no one in my family had been diagnosed with breast cancer. This all changed about a year ago, when my only aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer. Even though I know all the statistics and the prevalence of breast cancer, I somehow thought my family was safe; however, breast cancer does not discriminate against race, age, or family lineage. It can happen to anyone, even men, which can be very scary.

Instead of focusing on the scary, I choose to believe there is a cure. I have to believe because I have a grandmother, a mother, an aunt, a female cousin, two sisters and four nieces. My aunt underwent a lumpectomy and received partial breast radiation. This is a new technology, which would most likely not be possible without the funding from breast cancer research. I am thankful for every dollar raised and every person who participates in the cause. A year later, I am so happy and thankful to report my aunt is cancer free. I know you’ve heard it a thousand times to always have a yearly checkup, but it truly is important. It’s not about living in fear, but rather taking preventative steps. My aunt’s cancer was caught early on, and I could not be more thankful!

Next Friday, October 7 is Lee National Denim Day. I would love if you would donate to my aunt’s team or simply wear jean or pink in support of the cause. In the span of a lifetime, it is almost impossible not to know someone affected by this disease. A small $5 donation can truly help bring a cure! You can follow this link Team Knutzen or go directly to denimday.com and search Knutzen.

24

There is no way I am 24. Wasn’t I just turning 21 yesterday? 24! Where did 23 go? I guess this past year really has flown by as I pass yet another birthday. Now don’t think I am freaking out because I am turning 24, it’s more that 23 went by in a blur. I am entering a new stage in my life, my mid-20s. So long early-20s, you are now a thing of the past, but a not so distant past. After a year of people telling me I was too young, I am fully ready to embrace my mid-20s. I feel like 24 is when people actually have to start taking you seriously. You’ve been out of college for more than a year and are now in the “real world.” 

 

Twenty-three marked a number of significant changes in my life. I turned 23 less than a month after moving to Los Angeles. During the past year, I found my true passion, developmental production. The year brought a wide range of bad and good. Twenty-three brought more rejection that I faced in my first 22 years of life. I pained through two part-time, mind-numbing jobs to pay the bills, so I could continue to pursue my dreams. I walked a dog three days a week for extra cash. I saw my family the least of any year since I was born. I was in my first serious car wreck. Actually I was in two wrecks, back to back. Thankfully, 23 brought ten times more good than bad. I finally put fingers to keys and started this blog, which I still love writing on. I received my first real paycheck that I seriously considered framing rather than cashing. With my new cash flow, I was able to buy a beautiful Kate Spade purse that is more a piece of art than a purse. I lived minutes from the beach rather than a plane ride away. I sunned in Laguna Beach, and I didn’t see a day of snow. I met two fabulous groups of KU alums in LA and Orange County. I put my cooking skills to the test and made a complete Thanksgiving dinner. I bobbed my head to the side at the Roxbury and chatted with a TMZ camera guy. I gazed out on the sparkling lights of LA at night from Griffen Observatory. I constantly have to stop and take in the moment, simply because I can’t believe how much I love my life. Twenty-three has brought me so much to be thankful for.

Twenty-three was great, but I think 24 is going to be even better. I am now employed and ready to take on a whole new set of adventures. I can’t wait to travel the coast of California, visit my best friend in NYC, and hopefully take my first trip to Vegas. I love traveling and definitely didn’t do enough during 23. I might not get to every place I want to go since the list is endless, but I plan to make a dent. While 23 was completely devoted to finding a job, I am dedicating 24 to excelling at my job. Twenty-four is still about having fun. Come on, I live in Los Angeles! I might be a year older, but I don’t plan on slowing down. I already know 24 is going to be a great year because I woke up this morning to a call from my littlest niece singing me Happy Birthday. Right there was enough to make the day great, but it just got better and better. My amazing family sent my Sprinkles cupcakes at work, which was an amazing surprise for not only me but also my office! My office was a little shocked because I had kind of forgot to mention that it was my birthday. Haha. They all agreed 24 is a great a great age. If the last few days were any inclination on the future of this year, I can’t wait for it to get started!

The Process of Hiring Interns

While the boys of my office are at the Toronto Film Festival, it means only the VP and I are at the office. I think it is the first time ever that only females have been in the office! We are normally outnumbered two to one. To make things even weirder since she doesn’t work Fridays, I am all alone at the office for two Fridays. I have been alone at the office before but not for an entire day. Let me say after my first alone Friday, it was very strange. I thought it might be nice to have the office all to myself, but I was wrong. The day started productively, but by noon I had finished literally all of my work. Amazing how productive I can be when the phone isn’t ringing off the hook. I’ll let you know next week, if my second “alone” Friday is just as uneventful. Also while the office was quiet, I was put in charge of hiring new interns.  

Well this is definitely a new experience for me! Since I have always been the interviewee, it was interesting to be on the other side of things. First off, I received some BAD resumes. Maybe I am just picky because I was a journalism student. Writing standout resumes was pretty much hardwired into us. It’s hard for me to overlook glaring mistakes that some industries see as fine. First off, please refrain from “fun” fonts. There is a time and a place for these fonts, and your resume is not it. Second, you graduated last year. Why is your resume two-pages long? I understand how important being a cashier at your college concession stand was to you, but it means nothing to the entertainment industry or me. Third, use some variation in your bullet points! If more than three start with the same word, you need to spice it up a little bit and pull out a thesaurus. Fourth, please use a professional email. Brainwasher@hotmail.com is never acceptable. If Brainwasher wasn’t bad enough, a hotmail account shows you are out of date. Fifth, I absolutely don’t care about your middle school GPA. If you are in college, don’t even put your high school GPA unless you were valedictorian, and you are a freshman. The one that pained me the most was from a graduate with an English degree who contributed to their campus newspaper! How were you not familiar with AP style?! Sorry for the rant, but I cringe that the important skill of resume writing is obviously not being taught at other universities.

After I have sifted the okay resumes from the terrible, it was time for the interview process. Normally our other assistant handles this, but it fell on me since he is in Toronto. The night before the interviews, I tossed and turned thinking about what I could possibly ask these potential interns. They were going to realize I have never done this, or the fact I am younger than many of them. I did my best to calm my nerves, but when the first potential intern arrived I was shaking slightly. Thankfully I pulled it together and did my best, “Hi. Nice to meet you. You can follow me to the conference room.” Some interviews were short. I am talking less then 10 minutes. They had nothing to say, and I was all out of questions. I could tell one guy was really nervous. I mean the works: swaying the chair back and forth, sweating and continually rubbing his hands on his legs. I feel bad because I have been in the hot seat so many times before, but there was nothing I could do to calm his nerves. After eight grueling interviews, I narrowed 25 submissions into four new interns! All together I think I had a successful few days alone in the office but will be glad when everyone is back in the office!!