Not cute: The oompa loompa orange spray tan

Oompa Loompa-Free Spray Tan

Listen up, ladies (and gentlemen)! Your days of looking like an Oompa Loompa are ovah! My favorite little hidden spa, Embody Esthetics, is offering sexy sunless spray tans that promise to give you that perfect natural-looking brown glow and not some cray, crackling, orange hue that nature never intended. The ingredients are natural, the results are fab and it's just $35!
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OC Fair 2013

OC FAIR: Time to be a human hamster & drink bacon beer!

It was another first for me today: Being the girl in the plastic bubble!!! I wasn't sure about getting in The Bubble Rollers ('I won't run out of oxygen, will I??"), but it ended up being really fun (and a major workout). You step inside the plastic frame and they actually blow up the bubble around you in less than a minute. You can try it for yourself ($8 for 3 minutes) at the OC Fair, which opens today and goes through August 11.
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Torres Family Super Show, Mister Cartoon, Concern Foundation, Vaud & the Villains

Pink’s Hot Dogs, Lowriders, Kris Jenner, Vaud & the Villains!

I LOVE LA!! Where else could I get Mr. Cartoon (you know, the guy who's tatted up everyone from Snoop Dogg/Lion and 50 Cent to Justin Timberlake and Justin Bieber) to show up with his lowriders, which are actual works of art that have been shown in museums around the world + Kris Jenner eating Pink's Hot Dogs aaaaaand my favorite 19-piece 1930s-style orchestra & cabaret to perform?!!!
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Bark If You Love Bingo!

There will be plenty of balls flying around tonight in West Hollywood ... wait, let me specify: Bingo balls! That's because it's Legendary Bingo night at Hamburger Mary's with special guest Cesar Millan. The leader of the pack himself will be the celebrity ball caller during the“Bark If You Love Bingo” fundraising event...
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4th of July BBQ at Hotel Wilshire

4th of July BBQ at Hotel Wilshire

The fireworks hadn't been set off yet, but I had a BLAST with crazy Chef Eric Greenspan at The Roof on Wilshire this morning where he shared his tips on making the perfect ribs (hint: braise in beer for two hours, then use tamarind in your sauce) and amping up the all-American hot dog with pretzel bread and Kobe weenies.
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Kittenpalooza Meows Its Way to LA

Here kitty, kitty ... SPCLA's annual Kittenpalooza is your chance to find your purrrfect feline friend for life (and do it on the cheap!). The big bash promises to be more fun than a ball of yarn covered in catnip with an adoption fee of just $18.77, gift bags for adopters, free adoption photos with your new pussycat, a kid's craft table, face painting and more.
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Summer Fun at Knott’s Berry Farm

What's new this summer at Knott's Berry Farm? Lots! My favorite theme park has expanded its Boardwalk area with three rides that are just my speed. Translation: No crazy loops or stomach-dropping dips. Even better, you can get a year pass for 2013 for $88 and single-day tickets for $37 online. See you there!
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Grand Marshal Mar Yvette at Hollywood Carnival Parade

Feathers, Glitter & Good Times!

Believe it or not, I was the Grand Marshal of the Hollywood Carnival Parade on Saturday, June 23, and it was totally hilarez! Even though I'm not of Caribbean descent, everyone was so welcoming and warm and wildly fun. As I like to say, I am officially an honorary Caribbean, mon!
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Mar Yvette & porcupines

Where the Wild Things Are

A two-toed sloth named Lola, a few prickly yet totally zenned out porcupines, feisty four-pound foxes, and the most adorable merry-making monkeys who just happen to have a penchant for umm, golden showers. Oh yes, it's just another day at the Wildlife Learning Center in Sylmar.
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Party Animals @ SPARC Celebration!!!

Party Animals at SPARC

I had such a great time at the Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center one-year anniversary on Saturday with all of the wonderful woofs and other unexpected party animals including a very friendly alpaca, silly goats, an elegant-looking rabbit with her own fur collar and a duck with a Thomas Jefferson-esque coiff!
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It’s Carnival … Caribbean Style!

It's National Caribbean-American Heritage Month and you know what that means, mon: It's time to celebrate Carnival...Caribbean style! I'll be in the parade on Saturday, June 22 and to kick off the festivities, I previewed all the action on "Good Day LA" where I learned that jerk chicken is NOT just for eating...
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Up, Up & Away in Marina Del Rey!

I'm not exactly a water adventure person, but I knew that parasailing and surf ninja-ing in Marina del Rey would make for fun TV. It's kinda ridic considering I live on the Westside, but I couldn't even remember the last time I was actually in the marina. Now that I've gotten my feet wet (so to speak), I can honestly say it's totally worth a repeat visit.
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Happy Father's Day!

Father’s Day in Los Angeles

Dad, Pops, Papa, Pa. Whatever you call the man responsible for your existence, it's time to celebrate him this Father's Day. But before you default to the same old shirt and tie routine, consider taking him out for a fun (and unusual) day out. From a brewtastic brunch to a totally badass day of music, here's a quick hit list of some places that might show Dad a good time this Father's Day.
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Party Time at SPARC

Listen up, animal lovers! Santa Paula Animal Rescue Center (SPARC), the first and only no-kill shelter in Ventura County, is celebrating its One Year Anniversary on Saturday, June 15 from 11am to 4pm and you're invited! Located in the adorable and historic district of Santa Paula, the party will have plenty of food, drinks, live music and KHAY Radio will be broadcasting live noon-2pm with giveaways.
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Riva Bella - Photo by Mar Yvette

Hot New Pick: Riva Bella

So I finally made it to Riva Bella restaurant over on Doheny & Sunset in WeHo. This pricey al fresco palace opened in January and I've been reading and hearing great things about it ever since, so I was excited to try it out. The space is totally gorg with its sprawling indoor-outdoor patio, but it was one tentacley dish that really makes Riva Bella worth a return visit.
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FEED Body & Soul Restaurant

Eat @ FEED Body & Soul

So I checked out the new FEED Body & Soul restaurant on Abbot Kinney and I have to say I'm glad I did! The food here is very healthy and low fat as in NO butter, NO refined or even cane sugar, no white flour, virtually no dairy except for one dish that has a yogurt sauce on the side and lots of gluten-free stuff along with rotisserie salmon, chicken and bison. (Yes, bison.) Chef Matthew Dickson is hardcore about clean ingredients.
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Johnny Cash Music Festival 2013

Johnny Cash Music Festival

Forget Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. The OG man in black will always be Johnny Cash. On Saturday, June 15, the Ventura County Fairgrounds will turn into an all-day tribute to Cash with live performances from a FOO FIGHTER(!!!), Johnny Cash memorabilia, a motorcycle and custom car show, food, wine, beer and a pin-up girl pageant.
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A Day of Girlie Fun in the Sun

Bright and summery manis, fabulous brow shaping and yummy treats? Sign me up! It was a day of pampering when I was invited to the #OnTheGoBeauty event on the rooftop of the Thompson Hotel in Beverly Hills. It was also the perfect opp to spend time (and no money!) with one of my out-of-town friends who was ready for a little R&R and a whole lot of fun.
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Hidden LA: Candelas Guitars

There are hundreds of places throughout Los Angeles where you can get a guitar, but there is only one that has been handcrafting these classical instruments for the last 80 years. And it's all happening in an area you might have never expected...
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Hot New Pick: Feed Body & Soul

Forgive the name... it's actually really good. Feed Body & Soul restaurant on Abbot Kinney is all about making healthy food flavorful. It's low fat, has no butter, no refined or even cane sugar, no white flour, virtually no dairy except for one dish that has a yogurt sauce on the side and lots of gluten-free stuff along with 100% organic cocktails!
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