I want to be … Gwyneth
I am unimpressed by famous people. This is probably because I see them on a regular basis due to the nature of my work and also because I live in Los Angeles. Stars are ubiquitous around here. I’ve seen Tyra Banks when she has no makeup on and her hair is a big mess (talk about the pot calling the kettle black, right?). I’ve also seen Jennifer Aniston and although I am a fan of her work I really didn’t look at her twice. So it is pretty ridiculous that despite my jaded nature I am absolutely enthralled with one of the few people I haven’t run across yet – Gwyneth Paltrow.
I’ve always admired Gwyneth…I mean, whats not to like? She’s classy, smart, articulate, and gorgeous. She has awesome hair. She gets to split her time in London and NYC, my two favorite cities. She’s married to Chris Martin. And did I mention she has good hair?
I think I first became obsessed with Gwyneth in A Perfect Murder. She not only looked stunning in her short hair and pearls, but she also lived my dream life as a UN employee living in an enormous apartment overlooking Central Park, while married to Michael Douglas. Aside from almost being a murder victim, I can’t think of a better existence.
I’ll admit that Gwyneth isn’t perfect though. Her children’s name choices are…unique at best. And while her style is usually spot on I can’t help but wonder what was up with her shellacked hair and the ill-fitting Ralph Lauren dress she sported when she accepted her Best Actress Award? Sure it was 1999 and we all make fashion mistakes, but I don’t make them at the Oscar’s when I have a swarm of people surrounding me, being paid to make me look good.
So Gwyneth got a lot of grief for starting her GOOP newsletter. I suppose it does get annoying when stars decide to foray into so many different fields. I know it drives me nuts when actors/actresses write books! I mean, why is Madonna qualified to write a children’s book? Or better yet, Jay Leno? But that’s a whole other post.
Regardless of how many fields Gwyneth decides to dabble in I just can’t hate her and it goes without saying that I love her newsletter! Her restaurant and travel tips are great, her book suggestions are fabulous, and her recipes are delicious. Last week Maya and I randomly decided to make Gwyneth’s Homemade Granola Bars and they were SO good.
As always we had to make a few substitutions due to the picky nature of my household…we used raisins instead of dried apricots and threw in some chocolate chips per Maya. We also didn’t have brown rice syrup so I made up some simple syrup instead which probably accounted for the crumbly nature of the granola bars. I’m sure my knife skills (or lack thereof) didn’t help but despite how they looked, these granola bars were still delicious.
And when my #1 helper licks the mixing bowl clean:
You know this recipe is a keeper.
What movie star would you want to be if you could be anyone?
Rhetorical Questions
We arrived back in L.A. yesterday afternoon, picked up Maya, and in the span of 5 hours I…
- spent way too much money at Target
- stocked up on just about everything Trader Joe’s has to offer
- battled the horrendous traffic home
- emptied 3 suitcases
- went for a walk with Maya to tire her out (I only tired myself out)
- read her 2 books
- made dinner
- baked granola bars with Maya (more on that later)
- gave her a bath
- worked on her math skills
- and fell asleep in front of American Idol
It’s great to be home. I mean, why would I want to hang out at Caesar’s Palace when I could be sorting Ali’s laundry?
Or what kind of crazy person would I be if I enjoyed a gondola ride at the Venetian more than explaining to Maya 1,000 times that a lowercase “i” is simply a line with a little dot on it. It is NOT a line with a giant circle on top of it.
And why would I want to be back at a Maroon 5 concert on the Mandalay Bay Beach when I could hear Maya sing a offkey version of “Say What You Need to Say” as she dominates my iPad?
I’ll throw one in for Ali…why would he rather be driving me crazy working from home today when he could be watching the hot girls who were paid to dance on the tables at the computer nerd reception we attended on our last night in Vegas?
That is a rhetorical question. Of course.
On to the real questions…
Q: What does your husband do? You both seem to have a lot of travel opportunities! AND I love the look of your daughter’s room from your About pg! nice pic of the family! did you decorate it yourself, or hire someone (or a friend)?
A: Ali works in marketing for a computer hardware/software reseller. He has always travelled quite a bit and now that my job is flexible I am finally able to go with him from time to time. I also take real vacations now, something I never used to be able to do. That will soon change though as Maya starts kindergarten in the fall and I won’t be able to take off whenever I feel like it anymore. Not that I should be doing that anyway, as I have a child!
Maya’s room was decorated, for the most part, by my mother. When we moved in I had the stripes done by a painter but my mom did almost everything else. My contribution was the rug which I don’t particularly care for anymore and I ordered the canopy for Maya’s bed. I like things to look nice but home decor doesn’t particularly interest me so I leave it to people who know what they are doing.
Q: What skin products do you use?
A: If I may steal a line from Clueless – my skin is like a Monet…from afar it looks pretty decent but up close it’s a big mess. What I’m trying to say is that although my skin looks okay in the photos you see on this blog it really isn’t that good! When I was younger the dermatologist gave me every prescription known to man with no results. It was only after I eliminated sugar, soy, peanuts, almonds, and dairy that my skin and I formed a fairly good relationship. I use Cetaphil face wash and SPF 15 moisturizer, Avalon Organics Night Creme, and I wear little to no makeup. Things are precarious but I’m hoping for the best.
Q: What is your typical workout routine?
A: I used to be obsessed with the gym….you can find that post here. I still exercise every day but no longer at the pace I used to. I do yoga 3-4 days a week (from yogadownload.com), I run 1-2 days a week, I do strength training 2-3 days a week, and I walk a few miles every day. Lately I’ve been determined to get to level 3 of the 30 Day Shred and I am slowly making my way there.
More questions to come…but right now I have to answer a far more pressing question posed by Ali: “What are we having for lunch?”
Have I mentioned how much I enjoy working from home together?
Las Vegas is Missing One Thing
I liken visiting Las Vegas to having children…initially both seem like a good idea, and for about 48 hours they are. But then things start to get a bit crazy and when the vomit starts flying you realize its time to get the hell out of dodge.
It’s only too bad that the solution to parenthood isn’t as easy as hopping on a dirty Southwest plane and hightailing it back to Los Angeles.
Gluten-free! afternoon tea at the Petrossian Lounge in the Bellagio. The highlight? The smoked salmon sandwich with caviar.
I’m hanging out by the pool right now, working on my Toastmaster’s speech. Life is rough, right? But the person we should really feel sorry for is Ali who is being subjected to a “Group Balinese Massage” as we speak. I almost want to know what the “Group” and “Balinese” aspects of this massage entail but I have a feeling I’d be better off not knowing. So instead I will answer some more of your questions, which, by the way, I am thrilled you have!
The indoor gardens at the Bellagio Hotel.
Q; Would you like to have more kids? If so, how many?
A: I always wonder why I had to pass two tests in order to qualify for a Driver’s License but nobody intervened to determine if I’d be a suitable parent or not. All I can say is that Maya only has the government to blame for the fact that she may need to seek counseling later in life.
Considering the damage I’m currently doing, I think I’d be crazy to consider ruining yet another child’s life. So no, there will be no other little Din’s running around!
The world's largest chocolate fountain at the Bellagio - per the Guiness Book of World Records.
Q: What are you top 5 favorite foods?
A: Prior to my numerous allergies, my favorite foods were bread of any kind, chocolate chip cookies, brownies, waffles, and scones. Carb city, right? So how ironic is it that I am gluten-intolerant?
Now that I can barely eat anything food doesn’t really hold that much interest for me anymore. My favorite things now are those that don’t bother my stomach – rice, eggs, salmon, dark chocolate, and corn chips. And right now I’m crossing my fingers that I didn’t just jinx myself!
Dinner - Salmon, rice, and vegetables at Wazuzu Restaurant in the Encore Hotel.
Q: Do you have a secret wish for your daughter, in terms of her career plans, talents, etc? What I mean to say is, do you have a dream for her?
A: This is a really good question. Like any parents I hope that Maya will do well academically and I secretly want her to be a high-flying investment banker like my brother. But I’d be just as happy if she was a chef. I just want her to love what she does so that she isn’t 34 and flailing around like her silly mother is.
Breakfast at the Verandah in the Four Seasons Hotel - Poached eggs on top of vegetable hash. By far the best meal of my trip thus far.
More to answers and Vegas pictures to come as apparently the only thing Vegas doesn’t have are power outlets by the pool…
And I thought you could get anything here??
While I'm not going to win Mother/Wife of the Year Award anytime soon, I haven't killed anyone yet or shot myself in the head. And that, my friends, is how I calculate success these days. 
FANCY THAT FANCY THIS 