Turkey and Stuffing and Pie - Oh MY

Well, needless to say, I really DID have a food tour while home in California. First stop was in Santa Barbara County to see my folks. They live in the official "Home of the Tri-Tip". It was bloody chilly in that town with high winds but plenty of holiday fun with my family. My mother is quite the gourmet cook and I had plenty of goodies while staying there for three days. She made a fantastic eggnog cheesecake that would blow your socks off.

Then on to my hometown of L.A. I love L.A.! I didn't realize I did until this trip. And more with the food tour....I ate pad thai from our old place we ordered from in Hollywood (where I mostly lived) and EXCELLENT and CLEAN Eggs Benedict and a "French 45" cocktail at a fairly new restaurant Downtown. It's called Bottega Louie and a dear true friend of ours Leah Faust was and still is responsible for the visuals and artwork behind the restaurant and packaging all through out. I am so proud of my very talented friend who is highly respected for her visions. She also orchestrated and collaborated with all of the packaging with Strater Records owner Erin Strater with the packaging several albums for Rachel Car. Oh my goodness - that's me! Ha!

Anyway the food was very clean with no grease and DELICIOUS. The cocktails were superb and it was another gorgeous day in my good ol' stomping grounds. May have a reason to move on back eventually. But don't worry, Vegas People....not just yet.

Well, my whole point of this is that this will be a perfect example. I stay slim but I let loose over the holiday knowing that it was going to end. Yes, eating buttery garlic bread, eggnog pie, cheese and crackers, dips and chips, pad thai, pineapple fried rice, tacos (from our favorite taco stand in Silverlake while in L.A.), wine, Bellini's, French 75s, pasta with shrimp and tomato garlic sauce, olives, cheese, oysters, champagne and blah blah blah.....was GREAT, but I knew it had to end. I can feel the bloat, the body not processing what I would prefer to put in it (I wish I could have had some sashimi). But Monday the 30th is D day, so here I am. I am looking forward to it and getting rid of the bloat and water weight and feeling like my slender, sexy foxy self. I love food, but with several days in a row of decadence? Oh, brother.

We all have to prepare for Christmas in just a few weeks, so let's all be good girls until then? I will if you will. And I will give a tip to keep us on track.....Oysters, fruit, veggies, olive oil, yogurt, eggs and chicken/fish. I will give recipes in the next few days to keep you on focus. Deal? :)

Download the plan. You'll understand.

CLICK HERE TO BUY BOOK

XOXO

R

Yee-Hah! Time for Outdoor Cookin'! (And it's HEALTHY too)

Well, we are coming up on Fourth of July (and it is DAMN hot here in Vegas) so pick a nice shady spot underneath a tree and BBQ to your hearts content.  Here are some ideas to kick off the BBQ and not make you feeling bloated in the heat (wherever you are).

1.  MAKE A SPICE RUB FOR YOUR MEAT.  There are plenty of non-salt induced spice rubs that you can use for chicken or beef.  Make a mixture of olive oil, paprika, pepper, oregano, rosemary and thyme.  You can email me for a couple of great recipes.  Spices, in ANY dish, makes all of the difference.

2.  GRILL VEGGIES.  All you have to do is take a bunch of squash cut up, tomatoes, onions, red peppers, whatever.  Put a tiny bit of, yes again, olive oil and roast them for a few minutes over the open fire.  Delicious.

3.  FREEZE YOGURT.  Yes!  You can make yogurt pops in the freezer with non-fat yogurt, splenda, strawberries, mango, whatever is in season, stick it all in a blender, pour it and stick it in the freezer in an ice cube tray or mold and it's fantastic AND low cal and fat free!  This is one of my personal favorites.

4.  MAKE SUN TEA.  Stick a container out there in the sun with your favorite tea bags in it and let the sun do the work.  Then, put in the fridge for a while.  Later, pour into a glass and add ice.  Stupendous!

5.  MAKE VODKA COOLERS $100 DIET STYLE.  Just put a shot of vodka, fill the rest of the glass with no sodium sparkling water (like Perrier or Pellegrino) and add a twist of lime or lemon.  Hits the spot with VERY little calories and very refreshing.

Well, boys and girls, there are my tips.  If you had a "Day Off" recently and need a remedy for the holidays while enjoying your goodies, this is it!  I have found it most satisfying.

Cheers to the upcoming holiday....

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BLT at the Mirage is Where It's AT

Well, I waited all week to go have my big Day Off and at midnight, I went with my love to the Mirage Hotel and Casino for drinks and low and behold, we were starving! Yes, it's true. So anyhow, we ended up at this restaurant called BLT and ordered gourmet burgers. I suggest the Tandoori Lamb burger. My love had the Shaft's Blue Burger, with excellent bleu cheese and caramelised onions and mushrooms. And I highly suggest the Vidalia Onion Rings, as they are not greasy and soggy, it's almost like they are baked. Everything was excellent and the burgers just melt in your mouth. Don't ever settle for some mediocre burger, boys and girls - get more BANG for your buck and treat yourself really right...in more ways then one, it's so good (wink wink). You know what I mean.

Now, I am not going to subject you to one of my rants, but I must say this - why would you want to put a bunch or crappy food in your beautiful selves when there is so much good, clean and DELICIOUS food out there? What drives me nuts is when people get lazy and just eat ANYTHING. That is so no my style. That is NOT how I roll. If you want your body to feel better overall, be conscious of what you put in it! Have that wonderful gourmet burger, have that fresh handmade pasta with made-from-scratch vodka sun-dried tomato cream sauce, eat that just-baked-today carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, but you bet your ass if I'm eating it, it's going to be FRESH. Ok, I am done.

If you are lucky enough to be a Vegas local or you happen to be blowing through town, visit BLT at the Mirage. And say hey to Kay at the Kokomo. Great Long Islands.

Yes, and I know that the picture today doesn't make any since, but I liked it anyway. Be sure to check out The $100 Diet for delicious gourmet recipes, down home cooking recipes and excellent low fat recipes for those days you have to be a "good girl".

http://thepinupgirldiet.com/buybook

Bike Ride

I ate the best food tonight! At the Palace Station they have an Oyster Bar called Oyster Bar. Ironic, eh? Anyhow, they are famed in town for the best seafood and gumbo in Vegas. I am not a gambler in this casino, as the vibe is not my bag. But I just went the Oyster Bar tonight (my honey took me) and it was to DIE for. Very heavy on the cream and the seafood was delightful. So, as you can guess, it was a Day Off....fitting for Memorial Day.

Afterward, I went for a bike ride around downtown Las Vegas with my sweetheart and my very good friend Mary Joy. Mary Joy is THE Fashionista of Very Vintage Vegas headed by Jack Levine, who knows a lot about vintage property in Las Vegas. We rode all over the place, and she assists me on my next property acquirements. My point is, after the heavy meal I ate at the Oyster Bar, even though I had exercised that day, I felt GREAT exercising again in a fun way by riding around on my bicycle for over an hour. And at night in Vegas, it's GORGEOUS. I can honestly say that the days can be painful with this kind of heat, but the nights are delicious and perfect to ride a bike everynight...after the sun goes down, of course.

Tuesday, as I have a private modeling function to go to at the Palms Casino and Resort, so I have to get more into the good girl mode....no more fun for me after tomorrow - but I will be making Memphis-style pork ribs with cold white bean and garlic tomato salad...you can find the recipe in my book if you are interested....

Cheers, and the best to everyone coming back from the Memorial Day weekend.

XOXO

http://thepinupgirldiet.com

Hot Vintage Inspired Clothing Line by BERNIE DEXTER

Bernie Dexter is a very successful pin up and Cheesecake model who has had different clothing lines and believe you me, I have like them ALL. But she just came out with a few newer fashions that I quite like.

She has clothing lines, shoes, perfume and lingerie.....all are vintage inspired and great quality. Check out her site for more info at:

http://berniedexter.com

Bernie and her clothing lines are FABULOUS!

Let's Get Active

Hi, Girls! It's our favorite time of the week and here is what I suggest we all do this weekend: SOMETHING ACTIVE! Yes, it's true. Even if you have been good all week and kept to your simple diet regime I outlined in "The $100 Diet", you still had better get off that couch and do something fun outdoors.

Some things to do outdoors:

Play catch

Play bocce ball

Take a LONG walk

Play croquet

Take a bike ride

Play hide and seek with your sweetheart (kidding, but now THAT's fun)

Finally pull the weeds in your garden

I am sure you will find something to do. Just as long as you are moving and not sitting down, that's the way to go. And remember, it's great to do so, specially when everybody knows that you can do a lot of these things for FREE! Now, that's what we need to hear during the horrible economic times we have inherited. Just wait until I find a ton of things to do this summer (before it gets to be 115 degrees here in Vegas, that is).

Speaking of Lost Vegas, here is a link I thought was quite interesting. There isn't any sound, but it is actual footage of the strip in the late 50's. Enjoy.

CLICK HERE TO SEE DOWNTOWN LAS VEGAS AT NIGHT IN 1957

www.thepinupgirldiet.com

Down Dog

Well, I finally tried my first yoga class in Las Vegas. It was actually quite challenging, and the teacher, Cheryl Slader, was more than nice. She taught some moves and positions that I had not done or practiced before (and I do a lot of Yoga every week). I don't know about the other teachers that teach for Blue Sky Yoga Las Vegas, but I am taken with Cheryl.

I went with a friend who goes on Sundays. I love yoga, and I swear by it because it really tones your feminine shape without getting the huge muscles like some girls get with weight lifting. If you already have the sort of larger shape to begin with, I would suggest yoga hands down.

Don't like classes? Don't want to bend and flex in front of other folks? Then I would get Denise Austin's Fat Blasting Yoga from the year 2002. Yeah, she is cheesy and overly cheerful, but at least it will distract you from the fact that, yes, you are exercising. I appreciate her for that.

For more about The $100 Diet | How Naughty Pin Up Girls Stay THIN, go to:

www.thepinupgirldiet.com

Also, if you live in or are visiting Lost Vegas, drop by and see Cheryl at www.blueskyyogalv.com

Glam "For Sure" with Pin Up Couture

Let's face it...one of the big perks to keeping yourself looking foxy is the fun of playing dress up....and I LOVE to dress. I like to change the make-up to match the mood of the event and go from sweet looking here to a dangerous vamp. That is also what I admired of the old-style of pin up model. There are a few modern ones today that I like, such as Dita Von Teese, Bernie Dexter (she really looks like Bettie Page, it's kind of a scary resemblance) and Jami Deadly (known as the "Modern Marilyn"). But most of the ones I like are from yesteryear.

Anyhow, you should check out www.pinupgirlwholesale.com for a whole slew of clothing and brands that produce hot and darling looking little numbers.

That reminds me - I have to go work out.

Visit me at www.thepinupgirldiet.com

Slim for Spring Sweet Cheats...I mean, eh, Treats

I know, I know - It's not Springtime yet। But as the weather has gotten surprisingly warmer here in Las Vegas, I thought I would share just couple of sweet treats with you, ladies. They are sweet cheats, which is not really cheating on your "Days On".

Mango Strawberry Frozen Dessert

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup nonfat milk

• 2 generous spoon fulls of nonfat plain yogurt

• 1 handful of frozen Mango (found in the frozen food section)

• 1 handful of frozen Strawberries (found in the frozen food section)

• One packet of Splenda

What to do:

Put it all in a blender and blend until smooth. Pour into bowls and serve. Should make two servings.

Think I am going to mosey on down to the Beauty Bar Downtown here on Friday night to see a local downtown Vegas electronica musician. I am staying in line all week so far so that I can feel my slimmest for that party and also have my big "Day Off" on Saturday for that Mid Century Mod party. I love some of these parties too, where they serve even the old-fashioned dishes I love. Deviled eggs, pickles and olives, pate', water crackers, vegetables and onion dip made from scratch, and one of the favorites on the streets here is Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Sigh. Everybody always goes wild for that one.

I would like to have a big party at my place (when it really is Springtime, you know) and have everyone dress in the style of the 50's - early 70's ONLY. With my hostess 50's dress, heels, pearls and frilly apron on, I will be making deviled eggs, cold cuts, pickles, cheese and baguette, martinis and serve chocolate covered cherries and double chocolate cake for dessert.

I had better start shopping for that dress and apron now.......

www.thepinupgirldiet.com

Tighten up those purse strings, girls....

Yes, have you noticed? It's getting ugly out there. Less people out shopping in stores or going to venues. More folks out of work. This is my first year living in Vegas and I have seen the pinch here. And you can surely say that again. So why have those expensive personal trainers and fancy gym memberships that you never use? I am the old-fashioned do-it-your-damn-self kind of girl so I never really needed any of those things to begin with. So, in essence, The $100 Diet actually is GOOD in today's rocky economy. Go figure! Kind of ironic, eh?

I have been a good girl all week and tonight a couple of friends are getting together and we are having cabbage burgers! I can't wait! It's made with lean ground beef, Velveeta cheese (this is the ONLY instance I will eat Velveeta cheese, as I normally find this non-food discusting), sauteed onions and chopped up cabbage, all mixed together in a large skillet. Then you toast some hamburger buns, but the cabbage mixture on top and viola! Oh, they are really good. And I am not cooking, for once! My best friend is going to make it, as it was some old recipe of her grandmothers and she only makes it once a year. Someone will be bringing dessert too, but I if don't like it I have my back-up package of peanut butter cookie mix so I won't be disappointed about not having a dessert I like on my "Day Off".

I got a new workout DVD that I had ordered in the mail yesterday. Now, I know my housemate is going to kill me, as she can't stand to hear it, but I actually have a fondness or Denise Austin workout DVDs. Call me crazy. I am a dark synthpop recording artist personality with a brooding on-camera look and you probably would never guess. But I have been buying a ton of her DVDs for years now. Sigh. There is some way about me that I can successfully tune out what I don't want to hear and tune in what I do want to hear. And I do it quite well, if I don't say so myself. Anyway, Denise Austin can be irritatingly cheerful and sometimes cheesy, but it works for me. I also like Mary Windsor DVDs from the Windsor Pilates series. She's less cheerful and more like that strange ballet teacher I had while I took classes in my elementary school years. But I like her, and again, I have done some of these DVDs so much that I just have them on for timing of the exercise while I zone out and think about other things.

I came up with a great "On Day" recipe and it's so easy. Here is comes:

BAKED EGGPLANT WITH HOMEMADE MARINARA

Ingredients:

• 1 large eggplant

• 2 cloves of garlic, minced

• 1 onion, chopped

• 4 large tomatoes, chopped

• 2 tsp. Italian seasoning (you can get this at Trader Joes)

• 1/2 cup non-fat vegetable broth

• 1 cup low-fat shredded mozerella cheese

• 2 tbsp. olive oil

• Pepper

• Non-fat olive oil cooking spray

What to do:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

1. First, you slice the eggplant into large discs and toss in the olive oil. Sprinkle with pepper. Then you lay them out in a large baking dish or baking tin and put in the oven for a total of 30-40 minutes, when they become just slightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

2. Meanwhile, sautee the garlic and onions with non-fat olive oil spray until the onions start to look clear. Add the chopped tomatoes and Italian seasoning and sautee with the onions and garlic.

3. Add the vegetable broth, bring to a boil and then simmer for about 20 minutes.

4. When your sauce has simmered and your eggplant are just about done, spoon the sauce over the eggplant pieces and sprinkle mozerella cheese on top. Put back in the oven for another five minutes or under the cheese has melted.

Serve.

For more recipes, good and naughty, download my book though my website:

www.thepinupgirldiet.com

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy and I will be back in a bit. I'll tell you about a delightfully strange mid-century mod party I will be attending in Downtown Vegas later this week. Cheers.