Dear John Stamos

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Meshell McKinley

Sorry Mr. Stamos

Dear John,

Sometimes I’m down for Greek yogurt, but sometimes I want cake. Yes, you’re incredibly handsome. Yes, I have had a crush on you since your days on Full House. And no, I still can’t believe Rebecca left you, even if it was for Jerry O’Connell. However, sometimes a girl just needs a piece of cake.

That being said my current obsession is Greek yogurt. Growing up in a 1/2 Persian household we called it “Persian Yogurt” or “must“. We put it on rice, mix it with cucumbers, eat it in our soup. It’s kind of a garnish of sorts or appetizer. We do not however mix it with fruit. When I first tried this “Greek yogurt” with fruit I was like, “What the…?” I was used to having it with savory items, so it was a bit shocking to my taste buds. Then as I got used to the flavors, I grew to enjoy it.

Currently I’m eating the Dannon Light and Fit Greek Yogurt. Sorry Mr. Stamos again, I know you advertise Oikos, but at least they’re both Dannon products. I admit I haven’t gotten to trying Oikos yet, but the Light & Fit version has me hooked. What Dannon has done is create a yogurt that has under 100 calories and seven grams of protein. You would think at 80 calories the portion size would be tiny, but that’s the beauty of Greek yogurt. It has less fat and fewer calories than your typical diet yogurt. I don’t know about you, but after a cup of Yoplait I’m like, “Did I just eat something?” I end up using my spoon to try to scrape up anything that may possibly be left in there.

That’s not the case with the Light and Fit Greek Yogurt. After a workout at the gym I’m pretty hungry. I workout in the evenings typically, because I work full time. The best way to gain weight is to eat late at night, but it’s hard to get to sleep when you’re feeling maximum hunger. Plus, you’re supposed to have protein after you workout. The solution: I have a Dannon Greek Yogurt and a protein bar. Combined they’re around 25 grams of protein. I’m full, I haven’t had too many calories, and I’ve taken care of my after-work0ut protein need.

While Greek yogurt is a great healthy treat, it will never replace “real” deserts. If you substitute during the week, you can treat yourself to something sweet during the weekend. Life is about moderation. If you want to stay on a healthy diet for the long run, you can’t deprive yourself. Enjoying the delicious things in life isn’t naughty. The French eat pastries, the Italians eat gelato, the point is to have a little here and there and not over-indulge. Have some Greek yogurt when you’re trying to shed the pounds, and treat yourself to some stellar sweets on “Heck Yeah” days. I call them Heck Yeah days, because the term “cheat day” makes it sound like you’re doing something bad. It can ruin your mood/self esteem, and also because on these days I say “Heck Yeah” to what I want.

Check back with MeeshMe soon to learn some more great weight loss tips.

Valentine’s Day: Dinner

Posted on February 7, 2013 by Meshell McKinley

With Valentine’s day swiftly approaching, I thought I would share some romantic dinner date ideas with you. I know it’s traditional to have the man plan the date, but let’s face it sometimes he needs a little help. I admit I can be hard to please, so it’s much easier on my poor boyfriend if I give him at least a few options to choose from.

Over the years I have had the pleasure of dining at these locations, and enjoyed my experience well enough to share them with you. If you live in Los Angeles you must give these restaurants a try, if not for Valentine’s Day on your next romantic dinner date with your man.

Smoke House

Located in Burbank, California near the Warner Brother’s studio lot, Smoke House might as well be a historic landmark. Open since 1946, the Smoke House has been a popular destination for producers, celebrities and families alike. George Clooney loved the restaurant so much he named his production company after it. The exterior of the restaurant looks like a charming old fashioned home, while the interior is cozy and romantic. Unlike the lighting at your typical chain restaurant, the dim lighting is relaxing (and much more forgiving). It doesn’t get much more classic than the Smoke House. During Valentine’s Day the restaurant kicks it up a notch with special seasonal decor and a special menu. The tables surrounding the fireplace are extra romantic, and can be requested when you make your reservation. The menu offers traditional steakhouse fare. You will have your choice of steaks, prime rib, seafood and chicken options, but what the Smoke House is really famous for is their garlic cheese bread. Diners who sit down to dinner between 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on February 14th receive 25% off the Vday menu. If you would prefer to go for drinks, or are looking for some entertainment, the Smoke House lounge offers live music Thursdays through Saturdays. You can view the music schedule here. If you are looking for a great place for Sunday brunch stop by the Smoke House Sundays between 10 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Takami

Located in Downtown, Los Angeles Takami holds special significance for me. It was the place where my boyfriend and I spent our first date. The views from Takami are spectacular, with large windows overlooking the skyscrapers of Downtown L.A. Whether you sit inside or outside, you will be able to enjoy the magnificent view. I prefer to dine here for dinner, because the view is more spectacular at night. I have to admit I am not a fan of sashimi, but I do enjoy a good roll. The sushi rolls were delicious, and the portion size was reasonable for the price. If you’re date isn’t into sushi there are quite a few non-sushi items to enjoy as well. You can view the menu here. If you’re not hungry, stop by for a cocktail. The cocktail menu is extensive and unique. The restaurant is offering a special Valentine’s Day cocktail and desert for patrons spending the occasion with them. Takami doesn’t come cheap, but it’s no more expensive than any other similar establishment. The spicy tuna on crispy rice is $14 for example, and sushi rolls will cost you between $6 and $15.

Yamashiro

Yamashiro Hollywood

What can I say about this Palace in the hills. Yamashiro means “Mountain Palace” in Japanese. It was the dream of the Bernheimer brothers in 1911 to build a hilltop mansion 250 feet above Hollywood Boulevard to house their priceless collection of Asian treasures. Hundreds of skilled craftsmen were brought from the Orient to recreate an exact replica of a palace located in the “Yamashiro” mountains near Kyoto, Japan. This dream became a reality in 1914.” To learn more about the history of this one of a kind restaurant check the history page. I first came across this restaurant when I was doing a search for my boss. He wanted to take his girlfriend somewhere romantic, and I found Yamashiro. I finally ate here with my boyfriend on her 2nd year anniversary. The restaurant itself is huge, and truly looks like a Japanese palace. The view from our table was unbelievable with windows facing Downtown L.A., Hollywood, and Century City. The sparkling lights of the city made the experience magical. The menu is quite extensive, with plenty of pricey dinner options for the diner less interested in sushi. We ordered five sushi rolls to start, and the fried chicken bites. The chicken was delicious, and the breading was unlike any chicken strips I have ever tasted. The sushi was so large, we couldn’t eat anything else. The spicy tuna rolls on crispy rice were amazing, and much larger than the portions you get at other well known Japanese restaurants. Most of the sushi was topped with caviar, but if that’s not your thing you can ask to have it served without it. My favorite part of the meal was desert. I am a lover of sweets, and my dessert was amazing. We ordered the s’mores fudge brownie which consisted of a warm chocolate brownie, topped with toasted marshmallow, and accompanied by a graham cracker and cookie dough ice cream. It was insanely good. The restaurant is providing a special Valentine’s Day menu which you can view here, but it doesn’t come cheap at $99 per person. During the summer the Japanese garden and pool bar are open as well.

The Castaway

In the hills of Burbank sits The Castaway. A hidden gem, the Castaway also features amazing views of the city. The palm trees on the property combined with the architecture take you back to 1950s Hollywood glamour. The location is so beautiful that many couples plan to have their weddings here. I had the opportunity to have Valentine’s Day dinner here once before, oddly enough with my parents and brother. It wasn’t exactly the most romantic dinner date, but I was still able to enjoy the great food and ambiance. The menu features prime cuts of steak, seafood, and chicken dishes. Soups, salads, and pasta dishes are served as well. Dinner is naturally more costly than lunch, so if you are on a budget you might want to make it to the restaurant during lunch hour. Steak dishes are between $30 and $38, seafood dishes are between $29 and $49, and pasta is between $17 and $38 for the seafood pasta. To view their full menu visit here. If you plan on visiting the restaurant on Valentine’s Day be sure to make a reservation. The special Vday menu can be viewed here.

Check back with MeeshMe tomorrow for Valentine’s Day dinner ideas for those of you on a budget!

The Hair Bow

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Meshell McKinley

Cute & Functional

My boyfriend just started a new job at Disney. He was showing me their newly developed web page dedicated to Disney Princesses. If you’re a Disney Princess fan, or have a little girl at home, you should definitely check it out.

There is a portion of the website where you can access videos from “Cute Girl Hairstyles”. They feature videos on how you can achieve the Princess Jasmine look, or get a braid like Rapunzel. I watched a video where a mother gave her daughter a hair bow. It was cute, and simple, and I thought why not give it a try?

It was really simple to achieve this look. It literally took me under five minutes, and it stayed the whole day without hair spray. I workout every day, and I’m always frustrated with my hair. My bangs are falling in my face, the bun is coming undone, the ponytail is whipping my face. I wore the hair bow to the gym, and it stayed in place the entire time. I was able to get my workout in, and not worry about my hair. If you have little girls who are active, you have to try this hairstyle on them.

All you need to achieve this look is: a hair tie, two to four bobby pins, and hairspray (if needed).

Watch the video Here.

Curling Wands: Why You Can Throw Away Your Curling Iron

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Meshell McKinley

For waves

I hesitated to write about curling wands, because it seemed to me like an item that every girl had by now. However, throughout the past couple of months I was approached by women asking, “How do you get your hair to look like that?” When I mentioned the curling wand, they had never heard of it. I think I’ve helped sell quite a few curling wands in the past year or so, but really every girl should have one.

If you use a curling wand, you know the benefits over the traditional curling iron. I used to look at celebrities, and wonder how they got their hair so lush and wavy. Every time I attempted to curl my hair I would get the “George Washington” curl. It wasn’t nearly as sexy as I had hoped. Then I discovered the curling wand, and my life was changed forever.

Here are a few benefits of using a curling wand over a curling iron:

1) Better for Waves

Whether you are looking for a loose or tight wave, there is a wand for you. Curling irons are only superior if you’re looking for the Shirley Temple look. With a traditional curling iron you would have to curl your hair, then run your fingers through the curl several times in order to get a wavy look. With the wand you simple wrap your hair around the wand, hold, and release.

2) Healthier Hair

Curling irons traditionally take longer to curl hair. That extra time spent frying isn’t good for your luscious locks. With some curling irons you have to hold the hair to the iron for a minute in order to achieve a curl that will stay. With curling wands 10 to 15 seconds, and you’ve got a great wave.

3) More Time Efficient

It used to take me about an hour to curl all of my hair. I would have to start getting ready way in advance, and dreaded doing it. In order for a curl to hold I would have to separate my hair into very thin sections, taking up extra time I could be spending somewhere else. Now with the help of my wand my hair is done in about 20 minutes. The curling wand is more efficient, because I can use thicker sections and it only takes 10 to 15 minutes for a wave to take hold.

4) Longer Lasting Power

Even after spending an hour on my hair, my curls would be flat an hour into the evening. I have thin hair, so getting a big sexy look is hard to achieve. I would use tons of hairspray, and still my hair would go flat. With my curling wand, my hair stays wavy all night and I use little if any hair spray.

5) No Creases

While curling irons can leave behind dents in your hair, curling wands leave a smooth look each time.

Side Effects

There is one side effect I’ve experienced with my curling wand: BURNS. Tons of girls burn themselves every day with curling irons, so burns from a curling wand are nothing new. When curling your hair you have to be extremely careful. Each curling wand should come with a glove. Unlike a curling iron, curling wand users have to hold the hair in place. Creases are avoided, because there’s no metal or plastic clasp that comes down over the hair. Wearing the glove is important, so that you don’t burn your fingers, especially as you’re learning to use the wand. It’s also important to watch where you’re pointing the wand. If the wand touches your skin it will burn it. You may laugh now, but wearing a long sleeve t-shirt when first learning to use your wand can save you some pain later.

Once you get used to using your wand, you shouldn’t have a problem with burning yourself. It’s an easy and efficient way to achieve the look you’ve been attempting for years.

Here is an instruction video on how to use the wand, and here is where you can purchase a wand of your own.

Stop by the Meeshme blog tomorrow for more tips and tricks.

The Mr Collection

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Meshell McKinley

Borrow Cool Threads

My good friend Vladimir is quite the entrepreneur. His latest business venture is The Mr. Collection. Many women are familiar with Rent The Runway, well The Mr. Collection is the same concept but for men. In this economy affording designer clothing isn’t always possible. That doesn’t mean you can’t look your best. The Mr. Collection is a subscription based fashion rental company. You apply for a subscription, and gain access to great pieces of clothing. Whether you need to look great for your next interview or your first date with the girl of your dreams, The Mr. Collection can help.

Men let’s face it, sometimes it’s hard to dress yourself. When you don’t have a girlfriend or sister on hand to help, sign up for The Mr. Collection and get outfits picked out for you. A small questionnaire helps our fashion stylists get to know your personality and personal style. They can then put together outfits based on today’s latest trends.

To learn more about The Mr. Collection visit them today! It’s never too late to get fashionable.

Check back with me tomorrow for another Meeeeshme blog post.