Raves & Rants – thekay.la

Age is Really Just a Number

I recently had the privilege and pleasure of helping produce a long distance walking marathon for Everwalk, a walking organization created by world famous endurance athlete, Diana Nyad, and her expedition leader Bonnie Stoll. Just a few years ago, in 2013, Diana Nyad, completed the long distance, 110 mile swim, from Cuba to Florida, at age 64! She succeeded on her fifth attempt, when she swam the distance in 53 hours, without the aid of a shark tank to protect her from the wild. This was something that had never, and potentially will never be done again. To be working hand in hand with Diana and Bonnie, is an amazing experience, as they are both so determined, inspiring, and very clear on their vision and future for the Everwalk national walking initiative. Most of all they are just super EPIC women, who demonstrate that age is really just a number and it’s never too late to achieve something you once thought impossible!

The main purpose of Everwalk is to get Americans of all ages moving. In a time, where obesity and health issues are at an all time high, it has been proven over and over again how beneficial the simple act of walking can be in terms of contributing to not only your overall physical, but also your mental health.

For their third annual mega Everwalk, we designed a route that began in White Rock, British Columbia [near Vancouver] and ended in Seattle, Washington, meaning we would be crossing the US/Canadian Border on foot! The past walks had been from Los Angeles to San Diego (134 miles), and Boston to Main (134 miles). The general size of group ranges from 100-150 people, with an average walker age of 65! Let me repeat that- the average age of the walkers is SIXTY FIVE years old. These people are walking around 20 miles a day, for 7 days straight! I can say that I have done a 2-day marathon where we walked 20 miles, 2 days in a row, and I will admit, I did not feel right for about two months after, and I am young, healthy, and in pretty good shape. I was in AWE of the people that had signed on to do something that most would consider insane! However, capping off each long day of walking with Diana’s inspirational Fireside Chats, is really enough to keep you reminded of why we were all there doing something that most would consider crazy.

Each morning, the walk started around 7am, meaning sometimes a 5am wake up and then a bus ride to where we ended the walk the previous day (to account for walking the actual distance). We also would change hotels every other night in order to be closer to where we were walking each day. There were multiple rest, lunch, and medical stops along the route, which was labeled by signage, as well as a turn by turn route card that each walker was given. Some days, it reached a high of 90-93 degrees, and try walking even just 5 miles in full sun after three days of already walking 20 miles a day- it is HARD. But the view that the walkers got at the end of each day and at the end of the the 7 days made it ever that much sweeter. Each step propels you forward, as you realize you can’t stop now because you have already come so far. The next walk is in the beginning phases of planning, and there are multiple smaller walks that occur around the nation until that time.

I never thought I would be able to go back to sleep-away camp (because 1. I am too old and that would be weird, and 2. the sleep-away camp I went to when I was younger was mucho expensivo), but this came pretty close to what I imagine adult summer camp to be. Early mornings, fun activities, new friends, new sights and stories, and mostly pushing your body to limits you never thought possible. It was like having a spiritual awakening (it might have been intensified by my severe lack of sleep), and I really cannot wait to participate in the next Everwalk.

What I took away from being a part of this whole experience, was that you can find friends in places you would never expect, that even with running on only 3 hours of sleep a night for 10 days you can still have an amazing time, and most of all, it is really never too late, and you are never to old to get out there and accomplish something that you never thought was physically or mentally possible

Keep up to date on upcoming walks and events by taking the pledge at Everwalk.com, and follow them on instagram to see more epic images from the past walks!

Golden Tickets for Candytopia!

Your childhood fantasy of an edible candy paradise is now a reality, and it is right around the corner in Santa Monica! Candytopia, originally delayed 6 months due to permit issues that would have originally placed it at a Downtown location, has found it’s home on the 1st and 2nd Floor of the 3rd Street Promenade Mall. Brought to you by Jackie Sorkin, a.k.a the Candy Queen, this modern day Willy Wonka Chocolate Factory is as colorful and delicious as the Instagram posts you have been seeing! Although it is a perfect destination to bring your children, you inner child will be jumping for joy as you journey through themed room after room of classic art made entirely out of Jelly Beans, Runts, Gummys & Candy Belts. Following the growing trend of “Instagrammable Installations” going on in major cities throughout the US, this is guaranteed to scratch your Snaptastic Itch. Every room and angle is a perfect photo opportunity- make sure you bring either a selfie stick or a photographer boyfriend to document your every move!

Each room has giant buckets and treasure chests of various candies you can sample. My first thought was, ‘This seems like probably the best way to get the flu’, but don’t worry each candy is individually wrapped [however I do recommend bringing some hand sanitizer with you as the installation is very interactive and kids are naturally drooling over the treats].

Tickets go for $30 a pop and though it seems expensive for an experience that generally takes about an hour to walk through, you will leave with your pockets FULL of America’s favorite candies. The installation will be around for 4 months [through June] so get your time slot specific tickets now.

The End of Tinder Social

It’s a sad day today. I logged in to Tinder (like I always do) and something was different. There was no option to swipe in Tinder Social. I thought it was an app bug since it’s happened before (I actually thought my friends and I had Tinder Social swiped so many times we were kicked off once so I deleted my profile and started a new one which fixed the problem). But alas, gone are the days when my girlfriends and I sip white wine spritzers while we apple mirror-play Tinder Social on the TV and make it into a sort of game show.

Tinder spokesperson tells Bustle that Tinder Social has been “discontinued” because it didn’t “fit cleanly with [their] future direction.”

The full statement from Tinder:

“We discontinued Tinder Social in its initial format. While the feature gained modest adoption with no real marketing effort, it became apparent that the feature as devised didn’t fit cleanly with our future direction, which will be focused heavily on video, location and AI-driven features. We do believe, however, that these features will ultimately lead to a broader social experience on Tinder, which was the original intent of Tinder Social.”

Hopefully Tinder has something more exciting in the group dating social realm coming soon, because I think meeting a group of friends with you friends was less pressure, more fun, and generally a lot more casual than single dating.

Gone is the era, but lucky for you I have screenshots of some of our best Tinder Social moments.

For your viewing pleasure:

Do You Even Lyft?

Lyft and Uber are bigger than ever. What does that mean for us? How do you choose what to use?

A lot of my friends in Los Angeles are selling their cars and opting for alternative forms of transportation including ride sharing apps, the new Metro Line, and other forms of public transit. When you total up a year’s worth of monthly payments, car insurance, gas, parking permits and fees (not including unexpected repairs and regular maintenance), the average Californian is dishing out an upwards of $4,000 a year on personal automobile transportation. That’s a lot of money to keep your driver freedom (and for some it is entirely worth it). Robert Hampshire, a professor at UMTRI and lead author of a new study regarding increase in rideshare use and decrease in personal vehicle use from stated, “Our findings show that these ride-sourcing companies do change behaviors.”

Currently there are about 15 major Rideshare apps available in the City of Angels. Uber currently holds 80% of the ride-sharing market while Lyft holds about 10%- the other 10% is made up of the smaller start up ride-sharing apps like Gett, Sidecar, & Flywheel. So how do you choose? I did the research, and even got Lyft & Uber driver approved to see the difference and here is what I found out…

Registering with Uber…
I went to register with Uber and have my vehicle inspected at a parking lot in Burbank. It seemed that every Taxi driver and I had the same idea. We stood in lines, showed our identification & insurance, filled out a W-9, and then had our cars inspected in about 15 minutes. I was in and out in about an hour with minimal questioning after presenting the concrete paperwork demonstrating I had no criminal record and I possessed valid license, registration, and insurance. The people were nice and informative if I asked questions, but it was strictly business- in and out.

Registering with Lyft…
I registered with Lyft and it created an appointment with a driver mentor as the next step in the approval process (as of July 31 this program is terminated, however I enjoyed it and found it very helpful). The Mentor is an experienced driver who has positive passenger feedback and high ratings. They conduct a vehicle inspection, take pictures of you, your car, and license plates for your profile, and then go on a 15 minute test drive with you. The experience was easy, very personal, and efficient. Mentors get $35 for each mentor session, which is good initiative and a way for Lyft to get real life feedback about the new potential driver and their attitude, personal interaction skills, and how they would handle various scenarios. It took about an hour to complete, and a few weeks later I was notified regarding my approval to drive for Lyft.

I conducted a few rides on each app and found the clientele to be very different. When I would drive Lyft, it was usually as if I was giving a ride to a friend or colleague. We would chat, it was casual, and I never felt awkward about having someone sit in the back seat, in fact a lot of times they would sit in the front seat with me and we would talk the entire trip. With Uber, the clientele was generally white collar & on the way to work or the airport. They sat in the back and were fine with having minimal interactions. Please keep in mind I am more of a seasoned passenger than a driver for both apps so my experience is limited as a driver. As a passenger, I find Lyft drivers are more outgoing and accommodating, which verifies their message of community. Uber is a pick-up and go service, akin to a private black car or limo service- and let’s face it, you are not usually chit chatting with a limo driver.

I have had more pleasant experiences with Lyft, and that is mainly because of my demographic, as a 27 year old female. After the numerous PR and legal scandals that have surfaced regarding UBER driver malpractice and crime, I err on the side of caution and comfort and continually find myself only clicking the little pink logo on my phone. The recent resignation of Uber’s CEO, Travis Kalanick further affirms the corporations instability stemming from inner workplace culture that reportedly includes numerous accounts of sexual harassment and discrimination, as well as reports of aggressively pushing the envelope when dealing with law enforcement. On the other end of the spectrum, Lyft’s VP of ‘People’, Ron Storn states, “We try at Lyft to live by the brand—we treat people better. That is in our external community with drivers and passengers, but also internally in how we support and develop our team members.” Like I said, it is as if you are getting a ride from a friend rather than ordering a taxi, which some passengers would categorize as unprofessional, but most are willing to sacrifice traditional service industry driver-passenger behavior, for comfort and safety.

There is no doubt that part of the difference in type and quality of service results from the rate of growth each corporation has seen since their launch. Uber launched publicly in 2011 with less than 200 employees and now boasts 14,000 global corporate employees, with drivers in more than 81 countries. Uber is valued at $70 billion dollars. In comparison Lyft launched in 2012 and currently has 1,400 corporate employees and drivers in over 300 US cities. Lyft is valued at $7.5 billion. Lyft works on a smaller proportional scale and therefor has more control over its quality and retention of their happy employees and whether corporate or in the field, which resonates with the clients.

In July, Uber announced it’s ‘180 Days of Change’ campaign, aimed at repairing its relationship with drivers, which leaders at the company say is “broken.” One of the first initiatives in instigating an in-app messaging system which protects passenger’s personal phone number from being accessed by the driver, hopefully making a passenger feel safer. On the Lyft side, they are not concerned with re-building their reputation, but rather expanding their on trend image formed by the young clientele by introducing campaigns like “Taco Mode“, that partner with Taco Bell, offering meal-deal incentives for Lyft passengers. The playful promotion aligns with their overall motto of how they treat their customers and employees. A recent survey reveals Lyft drivers are happier than Uber drivers overall, regardless of the difference in pay. Lyft pays drivers slightly more and has a rider minimum, Uber has no rider minimum, meaning drivers can get stuck making a few cents per passenger.

As both companies grow rapidly, they are both steadfast in assuring the public about their image and company ethics as the race continues toward the investment in autonomous driving vehicles. Lyft’s president John Zimmer agrees that car ownership in major cities will be extinct by 2025 — as long as autonomous vehicles emerge as a dominant force as most tech companies expect. “Every year, more and more people are concluding that it is simpler and more affordable to live without a car,” Zimmer wrote last year. “And when networked autonomous vehicles come onto the scene, below the cost of car ownership, most city-dwellers will stop using a personal car altogether.”

So when you go to turn in your keys as ridesharing booms, consider your driver, the company that employs them, and the most important for me personally, driver safety. Uber might be paving the road for autonomous vehicles, with Lyft not far behind, but they are still buried in millions of dollars of lawsuits and PR scandal which should hint at overall company stability and reliability.

What do you choose?

Los Olivos

My first word was “olive”. My mom & dad would pop black olives on all my fingers and I would repeat “O-live. O-live. O-live.” After dressing my hands in olives for years they finally realized I was just trying to say “I love you”, and subsequently I now have an obsession with olives.

It is odd that with my ‘I Love Olives’ obsession I have never heard much about Los Olivos, in the Santa Ynez valley located 30 miles north-east of Santa Barbara. I am a big fan of local vacations and staycations so when my friends decided we should do a weekend there I was totally game.

Los Olivos began in 1880 on a 5 tree olive farm, and though they grow olives, they are most known for their vineyards. The quaint three block downtown is home to 24 tasting rooms including 10 vineyards that specialize in sparkling wine (think outdoors Austin TX vibe with music, picnic tables, and string lights).

Los Olivos is also located just 15 minutes from the Dutch town of Solvang and 5 miles south of Neverland Ranch. There is a ton of stuff to do besides eating cheese and drinking like a horse (like horseback riding, making cheese, hot air balloon adventures, and historic museums).

We stayed in the most charming cottage via airb&b and we were walking distance to the Main Street where an olive festival was happening. There is also a Fess Parker there if you want to be extra swanky. Make sure you check out the “bacon steak” at the Brothers Restaurant, Sides Hardware & Shoes (it is exactly what it sounds like).

If you want to make it a real adventure you can take the scenic Pacific Coast train from Los Angeles to Santa Barbara and then an amtrak from Santa Barbara to Los Olivos which connects in Solvang. Perfect for a romantic weekend getaway, girls’ retreat, or mother-daughter weekend. [You can go alone too, just that’s sad and I am sorry. Ok it’s not sad, it’s good to have alone time, I just don’t like it because then the voices in my head get too loud]

RenFair 2017- Angie Verified ✓

SPOTTED: Shi & Knox Pitt out with mom at the SoCal Ren Fair in Irwindale. I missed them by a week. To think I could have been getting my face painted with Knox and throwing tomahawks with Shilo while sipping mead with Angie. Angie, do you guys need a babysitter?

Do you even need convincing that the RenFaire is the ‘it’ thing to do if it has already been Jolie Verified?

Coachella is so 2015. Ren Faire is so, 1415 B.C.? From the fairy costumes, to the music, flower crowns and face paint, sometimes I wasn’t sure which festival I was attending. Though some of you might scoff the idea of going to Ye Old Pleasure Faire rather than attend your ecstasy filled music mecca, here are some reasons that might persuade you to attend the Pleasure Faire in the following years:

1. Thou Art Too Old For Thine Excrement

As I age like a fine wine, I am less inclined to participate in events where I am continually suffocated between a group of neon clad rave tweens and shirtless sweaty bros wearing Raybans. I understand there are other places to sit and hang, but essentially this is the heart of the Coachella beast, and I for one would choose to avoid this nightmare in the first place.

2. Thine Shallow Bank Account

Coachella is a blowout of $800 plus for two days. If you want to do it right (and you don’t have the hookup), you are going to spend upwards of up to $1500, if not more. I would rather go to the Renaissance Fair, drink mead and buy jewelry and silver chalices and go to a nice Sushi Dinner later that night. Notice how I capitalized Sushi Dinner ? That is how much sushi means to me. Also check out Broke L.A. (for next year), previously Brokechella, the low key version of Coachella for people who don’t have the monetary funds or luxury of getting to the mothership.

3. Thy Hearty Edibles

I know Coachella has better fair than Fyre Fest but I promise it is nothing as good as the selection of Turkey Legs, Gyros and Mediterranean food, Chocolate Covered Bananas, Candied Almonds, and Pickles (among other things), at the Ren Faire.

4. Supporting Thou Neighbor

If you are really into “F-ing the System”, then this is a perfect way to support your local artisans and small businesses. Coachella has become a mainstream mesh of corporations and media-made-pop culture, so for all of you genuine hipsters out there despising the “man” then this is perfect for you.

6. Thy Attire

You might be confused when you see flocks of girls wearing long hippie dresses and flowers crowns, fear not- you are still at Ye Old Pleasure Faire. If not for anything else, go to check out the costumes…

PS: you can rent costumes for the day if you arrive unprepared!

5. Accessibility

The Ren Faire has something for all ages, and all types of people. Feel free to bring your Mom, your grandpa, your newborn (we did), your accountant, and your pizza delivery guy. I promise you EVERYONE will have a good time. There are acres upon acres of games, food, music, jousting, shopping, and just the most amazing people watching.

Look, if you think I am hating on Coachella, I am not. I understand the cultural experience and importance. I just think over the years it has been deflated from what it is originally supposed to be, and personally I can’t take dealing with the heat, the crowds, and the idiots. I prefer a small shorter version of that, in which I leave and don’t come back after 5 hours.

The faire runs through May 21st, so there is still time to check it out. Buy tickets and get more info here.

So You & Your Friends Want to Take a Cruise?

Something cheap, something out of LA, something short (because you all have different work schedules), something fun, and lets face it, the boat is the best part so who really cares about the destination?

Trust me when I say you will wind up on the same cruise as me- a 3 day Carnival Cruise out of Long Beach to Ensenada= $300.

Sailing on an 80’s Bally style Walmart of America= Priceless.

This is actually the main dance club on the ship, and yes for whatever reason there was a Mrs. Potato head that wandered around the boat- wat?

The Ups:

Parking was $19/day and easy, & check-in was quick and painless TIP-you can even bring your own bottles of champagne in with you
The alcohol package didn’t make sense for us and it was cheaper to splurge on bottles TIP- it was only $45 for champagne bottle service by the pool
The Grand Dining Room was very delicious and was all inclusive. There was also a Guy Fieri burger joint which was great for lunch by the pool
There is lots of karaoke to be sung (this is V important if you know me at all)
There is an 18 or older jacuzzi and bar area which weeded out the kiddies and the jacuzzi there was not as crowded
The public areas were very clean and well tended to
There’s music everywhere (live bands and shows) and a small casino which is where most of the people our age tended to be

A real dancer at the Grand Dining Room on the last night of the cruise- amazing

The Downs:

Drink packages were upwards of $200 total per person (it’s per day regardless and your whole party HAS to opt in) and they charge you a full day even though you don’t arrive on the boat until 6pm the first day (TIP- skip the drink package and opt in to pre-arranged bottle service which is in your room upon check in- a fifth of Patron was $100 and lasted the whole trip for 3 girls).
The entertainment was just barely hitting the mark (this is only because I have been on fancy ships with some of the best entertainment I have ever seen, like above the quality of Cirque De Soleil & broadway shows- TIP- definitely attend the comedy shows)
The rooms were VERY small and dated- think airplane restroom- same size, same furnishings… ew
The pool was so crowded with children, I think I counted 14 kids in one jacuzzi- you won’t want to be in there during or after the kids leave for that matter… ew
Un-related to the quality of the ship, the water was very rough & if you are interested I can give yo my friends number so she can explain to you what happens when you mix a hangover with terrible sea-sickness- (TIP just wear those weird tight anti-nausea bracelets the whole cruise so you don’t even have to worry about rockin’ the boat)

If you book this trip as a quick getaway and don’t expect 5 Star experience, then you will have a blast. There was a point after we got over the shock of the terrible 80’s carpet and the fast food style main cafeteria where we all looked at each other and said “Just go with it.” I think we did about 5 outfit changes a day because it was just fun to walk around in nautical attire with our Patron margaritas and take pictures and eat endless food. The shore excursion we did in Ensenada was most likely barely legal as they had us kayaking 10 foot swells to get up close to the very rocky La Bufadora (and some of the participants had never kayaked before).

Moral of the story is that if you are booking with a good group of friends then you will love this trip. If you are looking for a classy vacation getaway with trendy clubs and fine dining, then splurge an extra $300 on a Celebrity Cruise. We had a great time, but 3 days was definitely long enough for us to appreciate that which we ended up calling the ‘Spirit Airlines of the Sea’.

Vegan Inside Out Smores Pie- NO BAKE!

My cousin was on a diet that excluded anything with dairy or soy in it and it was her birthday. I wanted to find something that was delicious and special that she could eat for this occasion. I messed around in the kitchen and came with a recipe that was so good I made it twice in one week!

Ingredients

Graham Crackers (1 1/2 Cup broken up into pieces)

Nuts- any kind you like/ mixed (unsalted) (1/2 Cup)

Oatmeal (1/2 Cup)

Coconut Oil (1/2 Cup) & (1/4 Cup)

Agave or Honey (1/3 Cup)

Almond Milk ( A little less than whatever amount the pudding mix calls for and add the cornstarch to this as well- should be very thick)

Corn Starch (2 Teaspoons)

Chocolate Pudding Mix

Marshmallows (2 Cups- or more if preferred)

In a food processor, combine the nuts, oatmeal, and graham crackers and process until it is a crumb like texture. In another bowl combine the processed mix and the agave (or honey) and coconut oil until it is evenly mixed. This is your crust, and you can put it into the pan and push down with a fork so it shapes to the pie pan.

Combine the pudding with the almond milk and the corn starch (if you aren’t using real milk the corn starch helps it form a better consistency). Layer this over the crust you have already made.

In a sauce pan, combine the 1/4 of a cup of coconut oil with the marshmallows and keep mixing until it is mixed into a frosting like consistency and pour it over the top of the pudding. Broil the top for presentation and because it allows for easier cutting when going to serve.

Now you have the 3 layers of pie. Put it in the fridge and let it set for at least 3 hours before serving. You can garnish with chopped nuts, or cocoa powder if desired!

So delicious, made with healthy ingredients, and very rich!

It began as an experiment and turned into a delicious concoction! There are many variations you could do of this, but it is especially good if you have any lactose restrictions!

You HAD To Have These In Order To Be Cool

How did trends happen before social media was here to spread them? In the age of the Teen People and J-14, we would hang posters of our favorite celebs on our bedroom walls to use as style inspiration- copying them to the smallest detail- ie the Kabbalah bracelet everyone started to wear a la Madonna. Or the LIVESTRONG bracelets created by Lance Armstrong which now seems to take on a new meaning. Are these trends due for a comeback or are they best left in the past?

Slap Bracelets: we all had them, and we all broke them. They hurt but we wore them anyway.

Jelly Bracelets: Plastic, ugly and had to have it. Anything jelly was a must.

Neon Cord Bracelets: Sporty yet fashionable, and cheaply made, but somehow I still think these look cool. What is wrong with me?

Toothbrush Bracelet: It was cool because you had to make it yourself. Also calls to mind the plastic bottle top stretch bands we made out of the caps.

Fake Tattoo Bracelet: The full set was what it was all about and it is making a comeback now. a 90s girl style requirement.

Power Beads: I guess they are supposed to have some spiritual influence but to me they were just what I scored when I took a trip to China Town in DTLA.

Tiffany & Co Heart Bracelet: A Bar Mitzvah or gift for a 13 year old in the early 2000's. It was basically a right of passage, and if you didn't have one, you weren't stylish. — Tiffany & Co Heart Bracelet: The standard for a Bar Mitzvah or gift for a 13 year old in the early 2000’s. It was basically a right of passage, and if you didn’t have one, you weren’t stylish.

Kabbalah Bracelet: You were fools if you spent money on an actual one, because I just used one of my old friendship bracelet strings to make this. None of us 13 year olds new what Kabbalah was anyway, we just saw Britney and Madonna wearing it. — Kabbalah Bracelet: You were fools if you spent money on an actual one, because I just used one of my old friendship bracelet strings to make this. None of us 13 year olds knew what Kabbalah was anyway, we just saw Britney and Madonna wearing it.

Livestrong Bracelets: By Lance Armstrong, for the fight against cancer in 2004.

Now we just need to bring by the china town net shoe:

The Best Shows You’ve Never Barely Heard Of (IMO)

I am sure that there is a Binge Watchers Anonymous group meeting somewhere as you read this. We have logged so many thousands of hours of viewership that it amazes me people are still looking for things to watch. After scouring the vast horizon of brand new Hulu, Netflix, & Amazon originals, we hope to find something that our eyes haven’t consumed. Well here are some underrated, poorly publicized, older series that might have been lost in the explosion of new content, and places where you can view them.

I promise you will binge watch them all.

1. Black Mirror

A tri-season British series created by Charlie Brooker (Screenwipe and Newswipe), chronicling a not so far off dystopian future in which humanity is crumbling at the hands of technology. The series is episodic (each episode is a different story and different characters) and features actors from Downton Abbey and Game of Thrones. Reminiscent of The Twilight Zone, the sci-fi 45 minute episodes examine modern society, and will leave you questioning your own uber-involvement in technology.

A lot of the episodes in season 3 have well known American actors like Bryce Dallas Howard & Alice Eve, and Rashida Jones is one of the screenplay adapters on the first episode.

Watch the series on Netflix.

2. Don’t Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23

Now for something that is not so depressing, one of my personal faves, Don’t Trust the Bitch in Apartment 23 created by Nahnatchka Khan. The show stars Krysten Ritter and James Van der Beek, and only ran for 2 seasons, which I find shocking (2007-2009). The show follows a young overly optimistic June Colburn, who moves to NY to follow her “life plan”, which quickly falls apart resulting in a very interesting last minute roommate situation. Van der Beek is Ritter’s bff and plays himself, a once famous actor who still thinks he is really famous, and the self sabotage is so hilarious you have to give him props. Ritter is the spokeswoman for the YOLO lifestyle- she doesn’t have a job, or morals, and she definitely has a partying problem, and I promise that every time after you watch this you will want to get dressed up in high heels and a LBD and go out and have a fabulous adventure- she makes you believe anything is possible, and that all you have to do is fake it til you make it!

You can watch the show on Netflix.

3. Pushing Daisies

This Bryan Fuller (Heroes & Hannibal) creation ran for only 2 seasons as well, but the “forensic fairy tale” type show had a great cast, including Kristen Chenowith and Lee Pace (Guardians of the Galaxy & LOTR). A dark comedy about a pie maker named Ned, who has the gift of bringing dead things back to life, but there is a catch: every time he does this something near by will die- almost a transfer of life. You can see how this can cause some problems, especially after he revives his once dead childhood crush- if he touches her again, she will be dead forever. What would that make out session look like? Quirky, funny, dark, and each episode documents Ned helping a private investigator solve a murder mystery.

You can watch the show on Amazon Prime.

4. Coupling

The writing in this 2004 British comedy is so well done, from beginning to end, the references come full circle and will be tied up with a perfect little pink bow. Steven Moffat (Doctor Who & Sherlock) is the genius behind this. Friends meets Seinfeld, featuring witty writing and an all around enjoyable cast. Coupling ran for 4 seasons, where it explored the raunchy, endearing, confusing, and exciting lives of a group of mid 20 to early 30 somethings, that we can ALL relate to. Full of flashbacks, honest girl & guy talk, perfect for a couple (or friends) to watch. You can watch it on Amazon & Hulu.

PS My friends who don’t understand British comedy aren’t fond of this show…

5. Dead Like Me

You almost for sure have never heard of this show unless I told you about it, but you probably have heard of either Mandy Patinkin or Rebecca Gayhart. The dark dramedy (also created by Bryan Fuller) begins with the pessimistic Georgia Lass, being killed by a toilet seat released from a de-orbiting MIR space station (see, it’s sad and funny). Before she is able to move into the “great beyond” she must be an assistant grim reaper, where she helps people move into the afterlife with ease. Each episode ends with a sweet life lesson we can all relate to, reminding us to appreciate the present and those we love. Even though the subject of the show is dark, you are left with such a nice feeling about life, and even death after watching.

Watch it on Hulu.

6. Satisfaction

This one is sexy. Liam Hemsworth even made a debut in it. NO ONE has heard of this show (I even had to make my own GIFS) 1. because it is Australian 2. because it stopped airing after four seasons 3. because there is a US show called Satisfaction, & 4. because it is too raunchy for American TV.

It used to be on Netflix, but has recently been removed. The show (created by Roger Simpson) follows a group of high class call girls in an Australian brothel, and how their not so normal jobs parallel their normal lives. So interesting, so much drama, and such good characters (and weird fetishes- who knew some guys just want to be treated like a baby?).

Plus sexy Liam Hemsworth as a young and rich (and topless) client, I mean come on. It used to be on Netflix, but now I can only find the DVD’s for purchase on Amazon.

7. The Riches

Eddie Izzard and Minnie Driver- Weeds meets Desperate Housewives meets Shameless (maybe just because Noel Fisher is in it) and throw in some Joe Dirt?

Dmitry Lipkin (remember ‘Hung’?) is the writer behind the story of an Irish gypsy family on the run. Through their gypsy ways winds up in an upper class suburban neighborhood posing as a prosperous family that has just moved in. Sweet Dee from It’s Sunny In Philadelphia plays their nosy southern neighbor. Minnie Driver must have been the inspiration for Orange is the New Black because for the first episode she’s in jail, corn rows and all. Funny mostly, and sometimes quite sad for the family (they have loads of issues), but for some reason you can’t stop watching because it’s so fun to see them try to fit in to this new world.

Also, Minnie Driver= Girl Power, she’s a bad ass in this show. You can watch it on Amazon Video (you have to purchase the season but it’s worth it.

8. Masters Of Horror Anthology

I didn’t forget about all of you horror freaks out there. Most of the aforementioned shows are running along the darker side, but if you are really looking for something that will haunt you for the rest of your life, look no further. I have had some friends tell me years later that they are STILL scarred by Jenifer- the girl with the good body and the, uh, butter face, shall we say (check the first GIF with the blonde chick). This is like Goosebumps for adults, and to be honest the episodes can be hit or miss, but the ones that hit, oh boy do they. I suggest Jenifer, The Fair Haired Child, and Imprint. There are two seasons (2005-2007) and the shows creator Mick Garris is the guy who wrote the screenplay for Hocus Pocus, so you know it can’t be all bad. It is also cool because each episode is a different director and a different cast, so it really runs the gamut. For purchase on Amazon

These should give you an other 500 hours of stuff to watch. Don’t forget eyedrops.