AJ Feuerman

Publicist | Social Media Strategist | Brunch Fanatic

What’s In My Pocket Friday

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I’m trying to get some of my blogging mojo back. You know it’s the end of the year when…. But here’s what’s been burning a hole in my pocket these last few weeks.

What's In My Pocket Friday

  • Influencers vs. Ambassadors vs. Advocates (Oh my!) – Know the difference.
  • In the UK, over 200 celebrities have backed the push for mental health to be treated as seriously as other illnesses. An amazing effort.
  • Star Wars holiday decor? I’m in.
  • I mean, let’s be clear. I CANNOT WAIT FOR NEW STAR WARS.

What's In My Pocket Friday

 

What's In My Pocket Friday

Earlier this week…

Five People Who Should STFU

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1. Donald Trump. Have we reached the tipping point yet? Enough already.

Five People Who Should STFU

2. Ben Carson. Please, Dr. Carson. Tell me all about the Egyptian Pyramids…

Five People Who Should STFU

3. One Million Moms. Because it’s NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

4. ABC’s “The View.” I was going to say “especially Raven-Symoné” but really, it’s time.

Five People Who Should STFU

5. Christians*. Because it’s a CUP, you guys. A friggin’ CUP.

Five People Who Should STFU

And while I’m at it, I give you five other things Christians should actually give a shit about:

  1. Poverty.
  2. Disease.
  3. War.
  4. That rash you’ve been ignoring.
  5. Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani — I mean, that’s a weird couple, right?

*Not all Christians, guys. Just the really insane, ignorant ones who are fixating on a RED CUP. These people need better hobbies.

You Should Be Using Twitter Lists

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I still love Twitter, though a number of articles that claim it’s dying (I REFUSE TO BELIEVE IT!). For real-time news and as a sort of thought-purge (those quippy one-liners I just have to put out into the world), it works for me. I was an early adopter of the platform and have a huge attachment to it. The best tip I can give you to love it is this: customization.

A big part of that is Twitter Lists. They came along in 2009 as a response to Facebook groups; they offer a way for you to bunch together users on Twitter into groups so that you can get an overview of what they’re up to. Consider that the most active Twitter users might follow hundreds or thousands of people — there is just no way to see every single tweet. But segmenting them makes the consumption process a little more streamlined.

Reasons you might create a Twitter list(s):

  • You want to be able to just see the latest news or just what close friends are up to.
  • You share a common interest. (I keep a list of “Kings fans” I “watch” hockey games with and it’s become a really fun way to watch games when home watching alone!)
  • You need to monitor certain accounts for a work project. (i.e. You’re going to a conference and want to follow other people going; You work with bloggers and want to monitor what a bunch of them are writing about, etc.)
  • You want to follow all the people you work with or all of your relatives.
  • You want to recommend a certain group of people for others to follow (because other people can subscribe to your lists).
  • You follow a b’zillion out of obligation but really only care what 25 people are actually up to.
  • You want to see what some folks are up to without actually following them (yes, you can add users to lists that you aren’t actually following).

How is this accomplished? Twitter makes it really easy with this guide.

Where do you find your lists once you’ve created them? Right here. And here’s a good thing to keep in mind — if you ever unfollow someone on Twitter who happens to be a on a list, you should also go into your gears and remove them from the list(s) as well — unless you want them to keep showing up on the list.

You Should Be Using Twitter Lists

You can also use the lists page to see what lists other people have you on. Switch your view to “Member of.”

You Should Be Using Twitter Lists

Keep in mind when you add someone to a list, they will be notified. So if you’re like me, and you keep that aforementioned list of people you really care about among all the noise, you may want to make it a private list so that A. no one is notified and B. no one is offended. Or let’s say you’re eyeing potential clients? Keeping tabs on competitors? Make that a private list, guru.

Don’t panic. It sounds like a lot of work but it’s worth the effort. Set aside an hour or two some Sunday afternoon when you’re watching Law & Order SVU episodes on USA that you’ve seen a thousand times before anyway and go to this website, TwitListManager. This is a GREAT, basic tool to get started with. Because you probably already follow a ton of people and going to each and every profile and adding them to lists could take forever and your time is valuable. TLM allows you to do it much more efficiently if you’re just starting out with lists. And then moving forward, whenever you follow someone new, just be sure to add them where you need them.

BONUS: If you use a Twitter application like Hootsuite or Tweetdeck, you can spread out your streams and it ends up looking like a Twitter Master Control. You can additionally create lists or streams for one hashtag or one keyword you want to monitor. It makes the entire Twitter experience much more high end and meaningful.

You Should Be Using Twitter Lists

P.S. That’s Tweet deck. It’s my fave. I’m old school.

P.P.S. That’s not even all of the lists I use.

Not sold? Confused? Drop a question in the comments and I’ll help you out! 

 

What’s in my Pocket Friday

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The Best of the web this week!

I save things in my pocket all week long and look forward to sharing the highlights with you every Friday!

Pocket enables users to save something they find online for later. I find it especially handy as a Google Chrome extension — I only have to click a button to immediately save something to my pocket. Once something is saved, the content is visible on any device — phone, tablet, computer, and even offline.

Best of the Web This Week - Pocket Fridays

What's in my Pocket Friday

Earlier this week….

What I’m Watching – Fall TV

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This Summer seemed especially long — probably because here in Los Angeles, we’re still having it. It’s October and the temperature is still hitting triple digits out there. Horrible.

But hey, keep it up LA. I’ll be inside with my air conditioning embracing Fall TV. I am excited to welcome back all the shows that are like old friends and dive into some new shows — there are a lot of good ones this year!

RETURNING SHOWS

  • Madame Secretary. Am I the only person under 50 who watches this show? I love it. I think it’s the first thing I’ve ever liked Tea Leoni in and I like her a helluva lot in it. And I have a crush on Tim Daly.
  • Once Upon a Time. So much yes. Such a great premiere and set-up for the season. Very excited about Season Five! And more Hook.

What I'm Watching - Fall TV - Once Upon a Time

  • Big Bang Theory. Admittedly, I’m a little over it with these guys. But I’ll stick with it. Like I said: old friends.
  • Agents of SHIELD. Kind of a slow start to the season premiere but by the end of the hour, I was totally in.
  • Law & Order SVU and Chicago PD. Strong premieres! I love my procedural crime dramas.
  • The CW shows — they’re not back yet but I am excited for these the most. Arrow, The Flash and iZombie.
  • What else? Blue Bloods, Shark Tank (so addicted!), Castle, Gotham (maybe – it’ll sit on my DVR for a while), Empire, How to Get Away With Murder, The Voice, The Blacklist (please be better than last season!)

NEW SHOWS

  • Quantico. I liked the pilot. At first I thought “predictable” but I think I’m going to be surprised. I really like Josh Hopkins and I think the lead actress, Priyanka Chopra, is interesting.
  • Life in Pieces. What a stellar cast! The second episode was even stronger than the first. And I’m gonna request more scenes between Colin Hanks and Thomas Sadoski. They have great chemistry as brothers. (I tweeted this and Sadoski favorited it so I’m winning.)
  • Limitless. Actually, I’ve recorded this but haven’t watched it yet. I have the movie on my DVR as well and want to watch that first. But I’ve heard good things and am looking forward to it!
  • The Muppets. Well…. I hate to say it but I wasn’t in love with the pilot. We’ll see. I’m not convinced this show is going to last. I don’t think the last movie was successful enough to propel any worthwhile momentum into launching this series. I say this painfully — I have always loved The Muppets.
  • Grandfathered and The Grinder. Enjoyed both. I think Grandfathered is a little stronger. But that’s a good hour of handsome men on my TV. I think it’s become harder to launch successful half-hour comedies and applaud Fox for the effort. Also – Fred Savage! He’s back on TV! I love it.
  • Code Black. SO GOOD. So, so good. What a killer pilot episode. Reminds me of ER but grittier. Marcia Gay Harden will get all the Emmys.

What I'm Watching - Fall TV - Code Black

TBD SHOWS

These shows have not premiered yet but I’m keeping an eye out!

  • Chicago Med. From the creators of Law & Order and a spin-off of Chicago PD? Automatically in. I worship at the shrine of Dick Wolf.
  • Truth Be Told. Because I’m intrigued by Mark Paul Gosselar on a sitcom. But truth be told (See what I did there?), it doesn’t look too promising….
  • Agent X. I’m totally in for American James Bond and Sharon Stone being a badass.
  • Supergirl. I’ve actually seen the pilot and I cannot wait for this to premiere. I was really pleasantly surprised by it. I thought Calista Flockhart was fabulous.
  • The Family. Speaking of badasses, how about Joan Allen coming to TV? YES.
  • Outlander and Flesh and Bone. The Starz channel is crushing it. Outlander Season Two cannot come fast enough and I’m really excited about Flesh and Bone. Mostly because the cute guy from Center Stage is in it.

And that’s just traditional TV! Don’t even get me started on Netflix and Amazon Prime….

So what about you? What are YOU watching this Fall? Tell me in the comments!

What’s In My Pocket Friday

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I’ve been slacking! I’ve not brought you a “Pocket Friday” in weeks – shame on me! But here we are. I saved things in my pocket all week long and am excited to share these highlights with all of you!

Pocket enables users to save something they find online for later. I find it especially handy as a Google Chrome extension — I only have to click a button to immediately save something to my pocket. Once something is saved, the content is visible on any device — phone, tablet, computer, and even offline.

rp_Pocket_Fridays-1024x389.jpg

  • Matt Damon actually whips and nae naes. It’s pretty delightful.
  • Speaking of Matt Damon, I’m excited to see his new movie, The Martian. I just finished the book and it was incredible.
  • Part of me is like “we’ve gone too far” and part of me is like “I WANT THIS.”

What's In My Pocket Friday

  • 50 websites to waste your time on. You’re welcome in advance. Blame Mashable.
  • The Social Media Club LA Pinterest panel was one of my favorites we’ve ever put on. Read the Storify recap.
  • This. If you’re unhappy, stoppit. Make a change.
  • 23 Reasons Why The Princess Bride is the Most Important Movie of Your Life

What's In My Pocket Friday

  • In closing, at least fort his first part, let me just say this: POSTING A COPYRIGHT NOTICE ON YOUR FACEBOOK STATUS IS MEANINGLESS. Stoppit.

 

Earlier this week… A lot of press broke for movies I’ve been working on!

Seven Reasons I Still Love Hanson

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Yes, you read that title right. I do. I do still love Hanson, “MmmBop” n’ all.

A few years ago, I managed the PR campaign for a film — the music playing over the opening scene was super catchy and I simply had to know who sang it. Once I got my hands on the soundtrack listing, I was hooked. I was in. I was born again a Hanson fan.

So…

1. “Give A Little”

2. They still tour nonstop to sold-out venues. They clearly still enjoy the hell out of it and they still release new music on the regular but they’re not stupid. They’re still giving the audience the oldies….

Their senses of humor still in tact, they absolutely do not take themselves so seriously you won’t hear the cheesy pop songs that initially made them famous.

3. They own their own beer. And what is their beer brand called?

Seven Reasons I Still Love Hanson

I mean, that’s amazing, right?

4. Their cover of Taylor Swift’s “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” is endearing.

5. There’s, like, a b’zillion of them. Taylor, Zac and Isaac have three other siblings. These three guys have all been married to women they met at their shows for more than ten years and have ten children between them. We should clearly love them because face it, they’re here to overrun the Earth with their progeny.

6. In November I’m seeing them for the third and fourth time in concert. Their current tour is unique in that every ticket purchased entitles the concert goer to TWO nights in a row of Hanson. The first night is all covers, the second all their music. It’s a ballsy gimmick when you think about it. But good on them. Has anyone toured like that before? I doubt it. (And seriously, having done PR for concert tours, I can’t even imagine how hard that was to play logistically — finding all those venues and making sure they were available for two nights in a row? Nuts.)

They’re not new to tour stunts, though. On their last tour they met fans every afternoon before their shows at the venue and walked a mile, barefoot. For each fan that showed up for the walk, they donated a dollar toward buying shoes for children in Africa.

Not bad for a teeny bopper band that could have been a one-hit-wonder and done.

7. And honestly? They’re not bad on the eyes. And I don’t have to feel like a dirty old lady – these guys are my age.

Seven Reasons I Still Love Hanson

 

What’s in my Pocket Friday

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I save things in my pocket all week long and look forward to sharing highlights with all of you!

Pocket enables users to save something they find online for later. I find it especially handy as a Google Chrome extension — I only have to click a button to immediately save something to my pocket. Once something is saved, the content is visible on any device — phone, tablet, computer, and even offline.

rp_Pocket_Fridays-1024x389.jpg

  • Who watched Colbert’s new show? Frankly, I didn’t like it. But I like him so I hope he figured it out.
  • The iPhone is finally getting an important emoji update. Finally coming: taco, burrito, unicorn….

What's in my pocket Friday - New Emojis

  • I think Tara’s post about depression and anxiety is really well written.
  • Also, Zelda Williams said some rather breathtaking things on the anniversary of her father’s suicide.
  • This article about email is great. I’m an email junkie. I’m super compulsive about it.
  • I love BBC Radio 1 covers. Demi Lovato singing Hozier’s “Take me to Church” is amazing:

Earlier this week….

  • I wrote about some less-fancy brunch spots I love
  • Tig Notaro favorited a joke I tweeted at her. Life made.
  • I discovered this GIF and I still cannot stop laughing at it:

Brunch Doesn’t Need to be Fancy to be Delicious

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Brunch Doesn't Need to be Fancy to be Delicious - Nat's Early Bite

Delicious brunch need not be fancy, nor need it be expensive. Hear me out. Just because I am the Queen of Brunch does not mean I assign a price minimum or dress code requirement to the activity. Truth be told, I love me a good greasy spoon or diner. So here are a few I highly recommend.

NAT’S EARLY BITE – SHERMAN OAKS [website]

Set in a rather slummy strip mall on the edge of Sherman Oaks,  Nat’s Early Bite (pictured above) offers nothing in decor but more than makes up for it with a huge menu, charming staff who’s probably treated like family by the owners, and great prices.

Eggs Benedict? $9.95. Two eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast? $9.25. And we’re talkin’ those good, O.G. hash browns. Not potatoes, not “home fries,” HASH BROWNS. French toast with eggs and bacon? $9.50.

Brunch Doesn't Need to be Fancy to be Delicious - Nat's Early Bite

Brunch Doesn't Need to be Fancy to be Delicious - Nat's Early Bite

Stop by and don’t let the outside scare you. It’s clean, it’s delicious, and it opens at 6 AM. Tell your brunch buddies you’ve found a real gem set aside from all the celebrity chefs trying to outdo one another with gluten-free Tahitian vanilla waffles with a light berry compote or housemade apple sausage over fennel with a lump crab egg whites scramble (and I did not make those dishes up, guys). Sometimes, dammit, you just want bacon and eggs and refillable coffee.

Brunch Doesn't Need to be Fancy to be Delicious - Nat's Early Bite

BEABEA’s – BURBANK [website]

Brace yourself. It’s pretty hard to go to BeaBea’s without waiting for a table. But you might try your luck at an “off hour” and see where that gets you. Regardless, it’s worth it because HOLY CRAP PANCAKES.

Brunch Doesn't Need to be Fancy to be Delicious - BeaBea'sOn the pancakes menu:

  • Apple Cobbler: Baked apples & almonds on buttermilk pancakes
  • Chocolate Tuxedo: Chocolate chips & brownie pieces topped with mascarpone cream, whipped cream & powdered sugar
  • S’mores Pancakes: Graham crackers, marshmallows & chocolate chip pancakes
  • House signature, golden pumpkin pancakes
  • Matcha green tea pancakes, green tea mascarpone, white chocolate chips & whipped cream

I’m just giving you a thorough tour but I promise you can’t go wrong here with just a plain stack of buttermilk pancakes. Nor can you go wrong with their french toast – just as many crazy choices here – or simply eggs, bacon, etc. Not quite the greasy spoon you’re looking at with Nat’s; it’s a little more well-kempt, but you’re not in Beverly Hills either – there is not an ounce of pretension in the place.

Pro-tip: Like I said, you’ll wait for a table and there’s not really anywhere to wait except outside, which trickles into the parking lot. If it’s hot, this could suck. Dress accordingly, bring sunscreen and sunglasses. I’m not even joking! I came home from BeaBea’s with a sunburn the first time I went. Of course, I’m also a pasty white broad who burns faster than toast. Also, if you don’t care where you sit (i.e. the makeshift outdoor seating or the counter), you’ll get seated a lot faster.

Brunch Doesn't Need to be Fancy to be Delicious - BeaBea's

JINKY’S STUDIO CAFE – STUDIO CITY [website]

I’m not really sure what the history is here. Originally named just “Studio Cafe” but owned by the rather famous Jinky’s Cafe guys, maybe they were trying to establish a new brand? But I don’t think the place ever really drew a crowd til they threw “Jinky’s” up on the sign, changed the umbrellas and then BOOM.

Brunch Doesn't Need to be Fancy to be Delicious - Jinky's Studio Cafe

You’ll wait here as well and what’s more, be warned that parking BLOWS. Find a street spot in the nearby neighborhoods and walk there. Thank me later.

So you’re basically getting a BeaBea’s redux here — lots of crazy pancake dishes to choose from, including the amazing, decadent red velvet pancakes that lead Jinky’s to breakfast fame — but with some added bonuses. For starters, TATER TOTS. And if you prefer, sweet potato tater tots. (I’m the only person in Los Angeles that hates sweet potatoes but I know that’s weird.)

Brunch Doesn't Need to be Fancy to be Delicious - Studio Cafe

Studio Cafe also has a proper patio. And even though you’re on a busy corner, it manages to be kind of private, intimate and quiet. They also discourage cell phone use, which I kinda dig, even though it gives me the shakes. But nothing cures the shakes more than a good mimosa, and of all the places mentioned here, Studio Cafe is the only one with a FULL BAR, so that’s a terrific perk! They also have TVs in case there’s a major sporting event you don’t want to miss and they’re open late (10 PM, 11 PM Thursday – Sunday) in case you get a late night breakfast craving, because it’s served all day and night!

(Note: They do post signs discouraging cell phones but I also found out they offer free WiFi so your guess is as good as mine, kids.)

SO WHAT’S MISSING?

I kept this list to my neighborhood but there are plenty of other, similar spots across town like Cici’s in Tarzana or even Du-par’s, which has a few locations – even one in Las Vegas (they’re only ok but they’re open 24 hours which probably serves them well in a town where very little else is). If you’ve got a great diner in mind that I should add to my bookmarks, please share it in the comments! I love to expand my brunch database!

What’s In My Pocket Friday

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I Can’t Feel My Face… But I Love it

I save things in my pocket all week long and look forward to sharing highlights with all of you! It’s been a while so grab the nearest bucket of popcorn, kids. (Note: It was a little tricky to do “What’s in my Pocket Friday” since when I went to open up my Pocket, Pocket was actually offline. But I didn’t feel like changing the name of the series. COME BACK POCKET! I’m lost without you!)

Pocket enables users to save something they find online for later. I find it especially handy as a Google Chrome extension — I only have to click a button to immediately save something to my pocket. Once something is saved, the content is visible on any device — phone, tablet, computer, and even offline.

  • I’ve been travelling a lot for work. I am exhausted. But then I lay down and I can’t sleep. It’s super annoying. Also, on an even more personal note, I have a sty on my left eyelid that absolutely refuses to go away and would appreciate any suggestions, home remedies, miracle solutions, etc.
  • During said trip, I stopped by Buzzfeed’s NY HQ. I cannot tell a lie — it was pretty cool.

What's In My Pocket Friday - Buzzfeed NY

  • There’s a new bar in town and this Medium post tells us all about it, whatever it is, wherever it is. Perfection.
  • I thought the MTV Video Music Awards were terrible. Like, really terrible. It was so incredibly staged and packed with bullshit and when does MTV even show music videos anymore anyway? But you know who I loved? The Weeknd. I have this song on repeat right now.

  • I also very much enjoyed dancing Kanye. Which is about the only 30 seconds I enjoyed him for. If he really runs or President, I’m defecting.

What's In My Pocket Friday

  • I asked Facebook what I should read next. I added about ten new books to my Goodreads queue but settled on downloading The Martian because a few people endorsed it and I would like to read it before the movie comes out next month.
  • If you get HBO and have not yet seen “Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl Interrupted,” you’re missing out. Her Netflix documentary is pretty fucking great, too. She may be my new hero.
  • Tomorrow I am taking a vacation day. I will be at the spa for at least three hours. Then I may take myself out to lunch and/or to a movie. Please don’t bug me. 😉

Earlier This Week….

 

 

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