Tag Archives: lounging

Lounge in the City

by on 12. May, 2008 in Erin's Lounge

Living in such an active city as L.A., I have to admit that lounging indoors is certainly not always ideal. I mean, with weather as amazing as it is in this part of the country, lounging inside all of the time would not allow one to take full advantage of the L.A. lifestyle.

Getting out on a regular basis is probably THE most important thing I can do to keep my sanity. Home officing can be great, but can get depressing if you don’t get a chance to see the world other than the UPS man and the computer screen. The other day was a perfect day of L.A. lounging in the city. I headed to Runyon Canyon for an intense walk, but the lounging in the city came afterward, when my friend Jeanne and I headed out to get a little nourishment after the workout. That’s when I was able to sport my hoody tunic. L.A. weather is awesome, but you always need to keep some sleeves with you when the sun starts disappearing to the west. We tried to make it over to Gingergrass in Silverlake, to get some pho and noodles, but, unfortunately, it closes after lunch between 3 and 5 pm. I promise you we arrived at 3:01pm. Our plan to be healthy sort of flew out the door so we just headed to Home Restaurant on Hillhurst and sat on their patio. I tore up a sloppy joe and some onion rings. That hike through Runyon Canyon was all for not!!!

My point here is that, the art of lounging is truly that. An art. While the often needed bonding session with the sofa is required, you can take your lounging to the streets of your town. Hanging out on your favorite bench, watching your dog run through the dog park. Chilling out on the patio for brunch at your favorite food spot. Sitting around a friend’s pool. Just lounge. Escape from whatever it is that consumes you, if only for an hour.

eb-

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This Recession is actually good for Lounging…

by on 27. Apr, 2008 in Erin's Lounge

Everyone I know seems to be affected by this economy, especially my entrepreneur friends. But even those who aren’t on the entrepreneurial grind must be feeling the pain of this recession in some way, if nothing more than these crazy gas prices! In L.A., we’re pretty much at $4 per gallon! I put $30 in my little VW the other day and got a half tank! In my book, that’s a reason to stay in and chill at home a little more often.

My plans over the next few weeks definitely don’t include too much of the L.A. traffic scene. I’m learning to make the most of this recession so that my time lounging in is the best it can be. Here’s how I’m doing it…

First…knowing I’ll be cooking in more, and looking to save, I have begun shopping at the local Latin grocery store here in Hollywood, Farm Fresh Ranch Market. While the loitering outside is a bit of a deterrent, the prices can’t be beat. The produce was awesome. It was so cheap I couldn’t believe it. Yesterday, I got a bunch of tomatoes on the vine, some yams, russet potatoes, broccoli and bananas for $4.98! It’s perfect for stocking the fridge for time spent in.

Second…most of the time I go grocery shopping, I’m so worn out by the drama, I’m in no mood to actually cook what I bought afterward so I just want to get right to my lounging. That’s when I condone a good pizza or Thai food delivery to accompany my glass of wine. I tried to go cheap last night, and I was very disappointed so it’s okay to get what you want rather than trying to be super cheap. I mean, you are, after all, staying in rather than going out. Nothing you get delivered could be more expensive than going out in L.A. My cheap pizza last night was equivalent to what I would have spent valet parking if I would have went somewhere.

Finally…if you’re too busy to take advantage of Netflix, like myself, my basic DirecTV service has become more than enough entertainment for me. My Tivo stays full of stuff that I need to catch up on. But ordering Pay Per View or making that rare trip to Blockbuster has got to be cheaper than the $13 movie ticket, $6 popcorn and $4 coke at an L.A. movie theater. Not to mention parking.

Lounging in and relaxing at home during this recession may be the only positive thing that comes out of it. I highly recommend you take advantage and de-stress, rest and preserve your youthful beauty. I’m in for the night, clothed in my knotted chemise and wrapped in my throw with my Westie Wesley Jon. Good lounging. -eb
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Living the Dream of “Loungewear Queen”?

by on 02. Apr, 2008 in Erin's Lounge

I have to admit, that I love what I’m doing.¬† Designing great loungewear for women, getting positive feedback from those people who love it and support me, running my own business from my home office in the Hollywood Hills.¬† It’s great.¬† But I need my fellow lounge lovers to get me through the crazy, tough days of being an entrepreneur from time to time.¬† Today was a mess of sales calls, emails, production drama and driving to and from Long Beach!¬† Give me a shout out every now and then.¬† It really means a lot.

Tonight, after I finish watching who got voted off of Dancing with the Stars, American Idol, Top Chef¬†and America’s Next Top Model (yes…I’m still watching and loving Tyra’s show!), I plan to get my lounge on in a big way.¬† I admit to being¬†a total TV whore!¬†I just changed my sheets to my favorite 1,000 thread count crisp clean whites.¬† Somehow white sheets are just more comfortable to me.¬† I’m going to pull out some deep reading for about 10 minutes, Battlefield of the Mind by Joyce Meyer. It totally changed my life and gave me a completely new perspective on how I think and live.¬† I have to pull it back out from time to time when I get sidetracked in my life’s journey.

Outlander PhotoAfter that,¬†I’m going to break out the third novel in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon and just escape¬†(you absolutely have to get into this series.¬† The book has over 1200 reviews on Amazon and still has a 4.5 star rating!).¬† But not before rubbing on my favorite relaxation aromatherapy, Aveda Blue Oil. ¬†If you’re on a budget and can’t afford a bunch of expensive lotions and candles, this stuff does the trick and will last for months!¬† At least it can get you through until you can get your favorite candle. Maybe you can do without all of the TV, but whatever it is you do, if it works to wind you down, do it!

I’d love to hear what goes into your relaxation ritual.

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Trouble Sleeping? Here Are Some Pre-Bedtime Lounge Tips.

by on 17. Sep, 2007 in Erin's Lounge

As my business grows, I have to admit, I’ve had less time to lounge around. After taking on my biz full time, my Tivo watching has become limited (although I manage to work it in) and lounging on my couch with my Westie sometimes comes with guilt about not working. Many times, by the time I do get to bed, I tend to stress about so much stuff going on, I have a hard time staying asleep.I wouldn’t call myself an insomniac, but if I wake up in the middle of the night with something pressing on my mind, it’s a long way back to dreamland. But over the last few months, through prayer, good products and life coaching, I’m really doing better with getting some me time, pre-bedtime lounging in before I get a good night’s sleep. From the practices of a serial lounger, here’s what I recommend you do to wind down and prepare for the ultimate good night’s sleep.

Put the computer down, quit emailing, quit surfing, get off of the phone, put aside the blackberry and commit to task of lounging. Before you even think about sitting on the couch or on the bed and fading into sleep, go turn the shower on as hot as you can stand it and get in. Following a shower with your favorite shower gel or body wash, cover your entire body in Bath and Body Works Relax Eucalyptus Spearmint Body Lotion. My friend Latricia told me about this stuff and it works. It goes on with a minty smell but then almost immediately, the mintiness fades and it smells so good. Put it on every crevice of your body so your skin can drink it up. Then, every time you move around in your sheets you’ll smell it.

In order to keep the chill down mode going, I may do some mindless, light cleaning or just get in my bed with my sheets smelling of Downy Water Lily and Jasmine fabric softener. That has got to be the best selling fabric softener in the world.

You can also have a glass of wine and turn on some nice music. Just do your best to think of anything other than stressful things, like, “My boss is a fool, but I can’t afford to quit”, or “Could my man be cheating?”, or “How am I going to pay my American Express bill next week?”¬†After I’ve snuggled in with my Westie, Wesley, I pick up my little vile of Aveda Blue Oil and roll it behind my ears and on the back of my neck. This stuff is as good as any sleeping drug.You don’t really know it’s working, but I promise you, you will sleep soundly after applying it.

On the home stretch to losing consciousness, I read a book that has absolutely no purpose other than to entertain me. The idea here is to escape your life and enter someone else’ long enough to forget your own stress. I’m currently reading Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. I’m not a big reader, but these books are like crack! That woman is an amazing author. After following my practices, I believe you’ll be on your way to some good pre-bedtime lounging. Every night this may not be possible, but give it a try at least 2-3 times per week. I definitely look forward to it and you will begin to look forward to it, too.

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