Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

saw indiana jones at the grove last thursday. i was never a big fan of the original indiana jones, raiders of the lost ark, so i didn't really have any expectations of this movie. some parts were unbelieveable and some lines were really corny, but i enjoyed this movie. it didn't drag on like some other 2 hour long movies.


Eureka The Boss Canister Vacuum - Model 3684D (Red)

My last dirt devil upright vacuum blew up last week, so i purchased the Eureka The Boss Canister Vacuum - Model 3684D (with Hepa Filter and 12 amps) at Bed Bath and Beyond for $80 (Originally $99.99 but I had a 20% off coupon). i didn't do too much research on vacuums since i needed one right away but i knew i wanted an affordable vacuum that could reach into small spaces. also, this was the only canister vacuum available at bed bath and beyond in hollywood.

this vacuum was just what i was looking for and is so much better than my upright. it fits into the smalles spaces and i was even able to vacuum under the bed. i actually had fun vacuuming and didn't think of it so much as a chore. The vacuum included a hepa filter(HF8 or 60666 model number) which should be replaced every 6 months but i couldn't find them at bed bath and beyond. The vacuum also included 1 extra replacement dust bag (2 bags total) which should be replaced every 1-2 months.

i probably will vacuum more often now.



Monday, May 19, 2008

Ninendo Wii and Wii Fit

After reading about the Wii fit due to come out this wednesday, i decided to buy the nintendo wii ($250). the nintendo wii comes with a sports game (bowling, tennis, baseball, golf). i tried the bowling and tennis games yesterday. both games were fun and the tennis was more of a workout than bowling, but it's not a replacement for real exercise.

worried that wii fit would be sold out by the time i got off of work on the day it came out on 5/21, i drove to target at 8:00 am to purchase one. yes, i wanted one that bad.

So far, i've spent more money than i ever imagined ($427 including tax) and i still feel like i need more accessories. i haven't even purchased any real wii games yet either.

wii $250 (target)
Wii fit $90 (target)
wii play with extra remote $40 (costco - shooting gallery, Mii-matching game, billiards, air hockey, tank battles, table tennis rally, Mii poses and a cow-riding race.
wii 2 gb sd card $15 (circuit city)
still need classic controller ($34 for 2 pack at costco) since i plan to download classic games like donkey kong using wii points on wii shop. i also want another nunchuck.

Update 6/11 - Wii Fit was a good idea, but i probably will be returning mine. I guess i just got into the hype. i used it only once the first day i got it, almost a month ago. i thought i would especially be using it for yoga, but i'd rather watch a yoga dvd, honestly. i don't like the extra step you have to do your moves on and whenever you're done with a pose, you have to use the large remote control to go back to the main menu.



Red Light Cameras - LA Times

80% Red Light Camera Tickets are from rolling right turns- Fine is $159
Fine for running an actual red light is $381.


Thursday, May 15, 2008

24 Hour Fitness - Hollywood - Yoga Stretch Class

So after many years of having a 24 hour fitness gym membership and not using it, i decided to finally use it yesterday. i had originally signed up for a 3 year membership ($750 for 3 years and $50 every year after) many years ago, when the hollywood 24 hour fitness first opened, thinking i would transition into the hollywood 24 hour fitness, from gold's gym in eventually. i never did. i'm one of those people who end up wasting money on gym memberships thinking i'm going to go but never do. i only used the membership once or twice before when the gym first opened (parking was $1 for 3 hours, now it is $1.50 for 2 hours). since then, i stopped going to both gold's gym and 24 hour fitness altogether. i took up yoga instead elsewhere for a couple of years but i eventually stopped doing yoga altogether too.

yesterday, i decided to take the yoga stretch class at 24 hour fitness. having not done yoga in a while, i chose to do the yoga stretch class which i thought would be gentle enough to get me transitioned into doing yoga again. not so. it started off basic enough with the sun salutation but the class became very intense, very quickly. They should change the name from 'yoga stretch' to just 'yoga'.

i might try a couple of other yoga classes at the 24 hour fitness hollywood since it doesn't cost me anything now except $1.50 for parking (2 hours).


Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Click It or Ticket from LAPL Blog - 5/12 thru 6/1

The Los Angeles Police Department will be aggressively enforcing the state’s occupant protection laws as part of California’s 2008 Click It or Ticket mobilization, taking place May 12-June 1, 2008.

California has a primary seat belt law which requires that every passenger in the car, including the driver, is required to wear a seat belt at all times. If stopped and found to be in violation, law enforcement will issue citations without warning. Tickets for first seat belt violations range from $80 to $91 for adults and $330 to $401 for children under age 16, depending on the county.



Monday, May 12, 2008

Lunch at McDonald's - Calories, fat

i don't eat at mcdonalds too often but decided to have lunch there one day. i ordered mcdonald's chicken selects premium breast strips which don't seem too greasy but are deep fried (5 pieces) and a medium iced coffee (which is probably equivalent to starbuck's large coffee-small sized iced coffee was not an option). mcdonald's has nutrition facts listed on their website so i decided to see what my caloric intake was just for lunch. much to my surprise, the calories for the 5 piece chicken strips were a lot more that i thought at 670 calories (52% calories from fat, 6 g saturated fat). the strips aren't even that big at 134 calories each? my goodness. plus i had 2 southwestern chipoltle bbq sauces at 70 calories (0% calories from fat, 13 grams of sugar) each. the medium regular iced coffee was 200 calories (35% calories from fat, 30 grams of sugar).

total calories i consumed for lunch that day was 1,010. i wasn't even full. i had an urge to go get the chicken strips again yesterday but decided not to. maybe it would be a good idea to post nutrition facts on the menu afterall. portion control and educating yourself is obviously not enough since 5 dinky strips were loaded with so much more calories than i ever imagined.


Iron Man Movie

Saw Iron Man at AMC Century City on Saturday evening. $11.50 adult/ $10.50 student. Very entertaining movie- over 2 hours but time seemed to fly by. side note - gwyneth paltrow looked really uncomfortable in those 6 inch heels.


Monday, May 5, 2008

3rd Street Promenade Shopping

for some reason, i just stopped shopping on 3rd street promenade. perhaps because i can find many of the chain stores on the promenade closer to me (i.e. grove and beverly center). or maybe because of all the street performers (some good, some annoying and obnoxious). i went with a friend here over the weekend to check out the new 2.5 story forever 21, one of the newer additions to the promenade. couldn't find a single thing to buy in forever 21. i am a standard size medium and much of the forever 21 clothes are too small. i can sometimes fit into a large but a medium size is way too tight. the store was much too big to navigate through with every kind of color or style imaginable all over the place, cheaply made. the music was blasting (so you probably end up buying more), but all i wanted to do was get out of there. also, all the clothes were tightly on the rack together so it was even hard to see what the clothing looked like unless you pulled it out of the rack. so annoying.

other stores i stopped by were urban outfitters, anthropologie, gap, old navy, jcrew, banana republic. i didn't buy anything at the other stores either. i'd probably just go back if i had an out of town visitor who likes to shop visit. side note - there are 'no smoking' signs officially posted by the city on the promenade.


Mimi's Diva Dryer Aquis Microfiber Hair Towel / Hair Turban

I stopped by Nordstrom's Rack in the Howard Huges Center (Westchester/Marina Del Rey area) yesterday. unfortunately i could not find any clothing or shoes to buy, but i am happy to say i found the aquis microfiber hair towel and hair turban for $6 each (normally about $12). i had heard good things about this towel but i never really went out of my way to buy it since it really is not a necessity. this towel is absolutely the best. it is very soft, thin, light (probably good for traveling)and dries quickly. the turban actually stays on your head unlike a towel. also, rather than just moving water from one place to another place like what a standard towel does, it is actually super absorbant (acts like a sponge). only wish i had purchased this earlier. i might just order one for every day of the week.