Los Angeles — Page 5

Trendy Açai Bowls at Backyard Bowls in West Hollywood

February 11, 2016

Over the past year or so I’ve seen so many smoothie and açai bowls on instagram and have been wanting to try one, but just never really gotten around to it. A few months back I Postmate’d (use my code nysbd for $10 off delivery!) from an açai bowl place and was sorely disappointed in both the flavor and quality. But, I decided to give them a second chance. Santa Barbara’s Backyard Bowls recently made their way to Los Angeles with a storefront on Melrose Ave. in West Hollywood. I was shopping a few weeks back and wanted a quick breakfast and decided to give them a try- and I’m glad I did.

Backyard Bowls specializes in smoothie, porridge, and grain bowls but also make regular smoothies. They pride themselves in using fresh ingredients- and it shows. It kind of works in a line similar to Chipotle or Subway, where one person selects ingredients, blenders blend in the soundproof blending room, and lastly, the toppings are added. The bowls are a bit expensive, ranging from $8.95 to $14.95 and available in small and large sizes. The LA location has minimal seating- some outdoor, but mainly indoor communal picnic tables. So, bring your friends or take it to go to avoid the crowds!

I kept it simple with the Berry Bowl- a base of açai, banana, strawberry, and apple juice topped with granola, banana, strawberry, blueberry, goji berry, and honey. I LOVED it! I think the added base ingredients really made the difference- the bowl

I had gotten from another shop was mainly. The BYB bowls are blended silky smooth.

Of course this is still a lot of sugar to have, even though it’s fruit, so I don’t know if I would consider the bowls entirely healthy. But, they sure are tasty, and healthier than a short stack! Next time I may leave off the goji berries as they were a little weird for me, but everything else was dead on for me.

If you’ve shied away from trying açai bowls and live in LA- definitely give Backyard Bowls a chance, as they are the experts. Next I’d definitely want to try to make my own at home- and I’ll be sure to post a recipe once I do!

Comoncy Café in Beverly Hills | Espresso Fix

January 12, 2016

Comoncy Cafe Los Angeles Beverly Hills Review Olivia's Espresso Fix — Comoncy’s Cappuccino, $4

Ever since coming back to the states after living in Italy for 3 months, I’ve been obsessed with finding the best cappuccinos in LA that rival Florence’s. I’ve tried a lot of great places but wanted a better way to document them other than instagram. So, I’ve finally taken the initiative to create my first Espresso Fix post (using hashtag #oliviasespressofix because I love a good hashtag.) after coming up with the idea over 6 months ago. I have a lot of catching up to do, so let’s jump right into it!

I found Comoncy Cafe via yelp and as soon as I saw they had orange cups I knew I had to go. Definitely my aesthetic. Plus, the reviews were stellar. Comoncy is the brainchild of the same team as Coral Tree Cafe in Brentwood, which is right by my office but I’ve yet to visit. There are three Comoncy locations: Beverly Hills, Studio City, and Scottsdale, AZ. I ventured to the Beverly Hills location, as it’s closest to where I live, before a hair appointment in Santa Monica on a Saturday morning.

Comoncy Cafe Los Angeles Beverly Hills Review Olivia's Espresso Fix 4 — Now I need an ORANGE espresso machine.

The Beverly Hills location is a pretty small storefront with a handful of tables. It was pretty empty when I visited, but I’m sure it can get busy earlier in the morning and on weekdays. Aside from beverages, they have breakfast & lunch offerings including pastries, eggs, salads and sandwiches. The Studio City location has a much broader menu varying from more breakfast options to dinner, which the BH location does not have. I chose a classic combo, which is my litmus test for any cafe or coffee shop: a cappuccino and croissant.

Comoncy Cafe Los Angeles Beverly Hills Review Olivia's Espresso Fix 2 — Stacks of orange to-go cups

I ought to have photographed the croissant, but it was quite a dainty croissant and I was starved…It was a pretty good croissant- more chewy, less flaky, as many Italian croissants (cornetto/i) are. They’re the perfect vehicle for dipping into a cappuccino.

The cappuccino, on (in) the other hand, was amazing. It was an Italian style cappuccino with microfoam, not an American style cappuccino that has stiff peaks of steamed milk on top. I feel like I can’t describe drinks well, but it was full bodied and truly authentic. I believe they use Equator Coffee (I stalked their instagram), which is a California based company which I haven’t tried before- but after having Comoncy’s cappuccino I was definitely impressed.

The combination of the cappuccino, croissant, and walking through the city on a brisk grey morning had me feeling a bit of deja vu as that is what I did every day in Italy.

Nothing like a stroll through the city while sipping on a cappuccino.

It was a little spendy- I mean, we’re in the middle of Beverly Hills here. Both the cappuccino and mini croissant cost me around $7. Which is almost $6 more than what I’d pay for the same thing in Florence, but the quality is worth it much more than paying the same price for a inauthentic drink from a coffee chain. Looking at you, Starbucks. 💁🏻 Check the Glass Knife website which offers sweet and savory menu options at affordable prices.

I’d highly recommend any locals to check out Comoncy- it’s both charming & high quality, and easily instagrammable, as you can see by my photos. And yes, that’s important. 😊

LA readers- which coffee shop should I put to the test next?

Achieving The Perfect Plump Pout: My Lip Injection Experience

October 26, 2015

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Restylane® Lyft and Restylane® Silk. However, the thoughts and opinions are my own.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to attend an event hosted by Restylane^®. There, I learned all about their injectables, Restylane^® Silk and Restylane^® Lyft.

Restylane Lyft is the first and only FDA-approved filler to treat smile lines and add lift to the cheek area.

Restylane Silk provides natural looking lip definition and smooths wrinkles around the mouth.

I had the opportunity to get my own injections, and at first, there was no way I was going to do it. I didn’t see myself as needing a treatment like this, and I was honestly a little scared! But, after talking it out and thinking about it with a few people, I decided to schedule my appointment for the morning after the event. One of the things which helped me to make up my mind was after I went online and found the Cosmetic surgeons Perth website. Their clients had nothing but positive comments for the surgeries which they had got done and reading them gave me the confidence to go get my own surgery done. So the next morning I was all ready for it.

I have seen some people that have gotten lip injections before and they looked terribly bruised after, or just had that “trout pout” look, but I can tell you that couldn’t be further from what I experienced.

Olivia Frescura Restylane Silk Lip Injections After — A few hours after my injections

I visited Dr. Jason Emer, a Cosmetic Dermatologist in Los Angeles for my treatment. It was a very straightforward process. I was told beforehand to pick up some arnica tablets from Whole Foods, which would be good to prevent swelling bruising, and pain. I wound up taking them a few days before I got my injections because I had a pain in my back, and I think that helped my healing process a lot.

Once I got to the office, I filled out some paperwork and took before photos, then my mouth area was cleaned off and a numbing crème was applied. I’d recommend you to not wear any makeup because it makes the process quicker. The numbing crème was left on for a while, maybe 10 minutes, and then removed. My lips were super numb! I didn’t even know that they numbed the lips beforehand, so I think that’s why I was more scared than I had to be. Then, after that, it was time for the injections. I don’t remember how many there were in total, as I was closing my eyes the whole time (I’m kind of wary of needles). But halfway through I had to stop because I was feeling lightheaded. If you’re like me, don’t hesitate to take a break, because it’s not a bit deal at all! Then, the other half was a lot easier. The injections didn’t hurt much, they just made me feel uncomfortable. I’d say I was only nauseous about the idea of the needle, not the pain. After that, we applied an ice pack before taking the after photos.

Olivia Frescura Restylane Silk Lip Injections Before and After Front — Before & After, front

The healing process wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I’ve seen girls with huge bruises around their mouths with huge swollen lips as well. I didn’t experience ANY bruising, which was amazing. I was swollen for a few days, I started feeling normal again maybe 5 days after my injections. There isn’t really any downtime, I was at the Dodgers game the same day that I got my treatment, and besides having swollen lips and a little pain, it was normal!

Olivia Frescura Restylane Silk Lip Injections Before and After Right — Before and After, side

As you can see, the before and after made a huge difference. In these photos I was still pretty swollen, but you can see my *true* after in the first photo. I thought I had nice lips before, but the Restylane Silk really added a nice plump effect. Now, I don’t have to pout my lips in pictures anymore! I’m really glad I had my Restylane Silk treatment done. It isn’t something I would have ever thought I would want, but I’m obsessed with my new pout!

Important Safety Information

Indications: The Restylane family of products includes Restylane®, Restylane-L®, Restylane® Silk, Restylane® Lyft with Lidocaine, and Perlane®. Restylane, Restylane-L, Restylane Lyft with Lidocaine, and Perlane are indicated for the correction of moderate to severe facial wrinkles and folds, such as nasolabial folds. Restylane and Restylane–L are indicated for mid-to-deep dermal implantation. Perlane and Restylane Lyft with Lidocaine are indicated for implantation into the deep dermis to superficial subcutis. Restylane Silk is indicated for submucosal implantation for lip augmentation and dermal implantation for correction of perioral rhytids in patients over the age of 21. Restylane Lyft with Lidocaine is also indicated for cheek augmentation and for the correction of age-related midface contour deficiencies in patients over the age of 21. Restylane and Restylane-L are also indicated for submucosal implantation for lip augmentation in patients over the age of 21.

Products in the Restylane family contain traces of gram-positive bacterial protein and are contraindicated for patients with allergies to such material or in patients with severe allergies that have required in-hospital treatment, these is complicated process in which many times professionals from www.the-medical-negligence-experts.co.uk have been involved due to the lack of professionalism coming from hospitals. These products should not be used by patients with bleeding disorders or by pregnant or breastfeeding women. Restylane and Restylane-L for lip enhancement and Restylane Silk should not be used by people under 22 years. Restylane-L, Restylane Silk and Restylane Lyft with Lidocaine should not be used by anyone with a known allergy to lidocaine. Products should not be injected anywhere except the dermis, superficial subcutis (Perlane and Restylane Lyft with Lidocaine only), or lip submucosa (Restylane, Restylane-L, and Restylane Silk only). Next session I will ask the doctor to do a breast lift surgery to maintain my healthy breasts.

Speaking of surgery, people are now into it. In fact, some people are so worried about the appearance of their nose that it holds them back from being as confident and happy as they could be. Good thing is that there’s now a rhinoplasty in Washington DC.

Use of products in the Restylane family at the site of skin sores, pimples, rashes, hives, cysts, or infection should be postponed until healing is complete. The most commonly observed side effects are swelling, redness, pain, bruising, headache, tenderness, and itching at the injection site.
(Related: Read how I found the treatment for eczema itching).

These are typically mild in severity and typically resolve in less than 7 days. Serious but rare side effects include delayed onset infections, recurrence of herpetic eruptions, and superficial necrosis at the injection site. Do not implant into blood vessels. Use with caution in patients recently treated with anticoagulant or platelet inhibitors to avoid bleeding and bruising. If taken in large enough doses they may be violent, paranoid or hostile. They might also experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, blurred vision, dizziness, sweating, and chest pains among others, Click here to learn more. The effects last for about 6 to 8 hours if the drug was ingested and if it was smoked they could last around 10 to 12 hours. The effects of Amphetamines & Methamphetamine are very similar but those of meth are much stronger and they come about more quickly when compared to amphetamines.

The Restylane family of products is available only through a licensed practitioner. Complete Instructions for Use for Restylane, Restylane-L, Restylane Silk, and Perlane are available at www. RestylaneUSA.com. Complete Instructions for Use for Restylane® Lyft with Lidocaine is available at www.RestylaneLyft.com

**This is a sponsored post- for more information, please read my Disclosure Policy**

My New Hair From Vertigo Salon, Los Angeles | Video

December 15, 2013

Last month I desperately needed a new cut and color, so I headed to Vertigo Salon in Los Angeles to get a new look! I wanted to go darker for fall because my ends were very light because I had them highlighted a few months back. I also have a lot of grey hairs that I wanted to cover (a 21 year old with grey hairs is just depressing!). I decided to go for dark brown hair with burgundy on my ends…I love how it turned out! Definitely watch the video to get a glimpse into the process. I think using an unnatural hair color, like the burgundy, is difficult to look sophisticated, but I think my hair is. I believe by doing somewhat of an ombre at the ends to burgundy makes it look a little less tacky than having a blunt line of burgundy. I really love my new hair cut as well, because it was long overdue! I hadn’t had it cut since February…I desperately needed shorter bangs- and I also had my hair thinned out a bit so it doesn’t feel as heavy. Even though I have pretty medium-length hair, I have a lot of it…even though my length is pretty much the same, there was still a ton of hair on that floor!

Thanks to Phil & Vertigo for making my hair look amazing!

**This post contains services that I have received for free– for more information, please read my Disclosure Policy**

Umberto Beverly Hills New & Improved Line at Target

July 22, 2013

Umberto Beverly Hills New Redesigned Products- Repair Treatment Moisture Volume — Umberto Beverly Hills Lines: Repair, Volume, Moisture, and Treatment

Last week I had the opportunity to get my hair done at the Umberto salon in Beverly Hills for the launch of the rebranding of Umberto Beverly Hills products, available at Target. I was really excited to check out this line, because I have never tried any of their products before. One thing that makes them unique is that they are the least expensive professional line in Target. This is great for those who want salon-like results while still saving money. I find that these products work better than mass brands available at target, but they are around the same price or a few dollars more!

Umberto Salon Beverly Hills Olivia Frescura — Salon selfie…lol!

First, I got my hair shaped by Umberto…which is apparently a very rare opportunity! He quickly snipped off my ends , giving me a more polished look while still maintaining the length. Then, I got my hair blow dried using Umberto Beverly Hills products! The new line has 4 different color coded labels that cater to everyone: repair, volume, moisture, and treatment (styling). The products I had used on me were the Blow Dry Lotion, Controller Conditioning Spray, and Roman Oil Serum. These were applied to my wet hair to give my hair some shine and protect it from heat. To blow dry, she used the Banana Brush to give it some volume. My hair was rolled and pinned to let the style set. Once my hair was done, she used the Regular Hold Hairspray to set my style without any crunchiness.

After I was done, my hair looked fabulous! I really liked it. The product are very impressive, and I have a lot of them to try in the coming weeks…so definitely look forward to reviews! Check out the entire Umberto line of products, all available at Target:

Which products do you want to try out?