AJ Feuerman

Publicist | Social Media Strategist | Brunch Fanatic

Friday Favorites

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Welcome to the euphoria of Friday — that day of days that drops us all off at the weekend before that mother-effer Monday comes to collect us…. Ever the publicist am I, I wanted to put a new spin on Friday updates and offer up a simpler list, “Friday Favorites.” Broken down for you all below.

Friday Favorites

WHAT I READ

  • An exquisite ode and thank you to New York from baseball icon, Derek Jeter.
  • This “Anchor Roundtable” with Savannah Guthrie, Jake Tapper, Gayle King, George Stephanopolous and more on the current state of the news.
  • About a this new restaurant, Rossoblu, on Eater LA and it looks divine. I’m ready to try it.

Friday Favorites

  • The Rock wants to run for President someday. He’s not kidding. And frankly, considering what we’re currently facing, I’m not even opposed  to it.

OTHER BLOGGERS & INFLUENCERS

  • I am super obsessed with “We Are Midlife” on Instagram. Does that mean I’m in my midlife? Probably. I’m too busy enjoying it to care.
  • Look, I know it’s a “diaper bag” but I just love a good backpack with a ton of pockets. Chris broke this down so well, I now want to own it.
  • Social Media Club is hosting a really awesome Snapchat-focused event this month. Get the details.
  • Can we please talk about these Funfetti Cream Pie Cupcakes?!

EARLIER THIS WEEK

  • Jessica and I attended “Masters of Taste,” essentially eating our way through the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. I’ve been posting photos on my Hollywood Brunch Instagram account and plan on a more detailed recap soon!

Friday Favorites

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT

  • Anderson Cooper is all of us. Did you see the eye-roll heard round the world?
  • Samantha Bee flawlessly broke down the Comey firing on her show this week:

  • Speaking of Sam Bee, if you missed the “Daily Show” reunion on Colbert, you missed complete awesomeness.

Thus concludes this very first “Friday Favorites” endeavor. Let me know what you think of the new format in the comments! Thanks in advance.

What’s In My Pocket Friday – Mental Health Awareness Month

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Mental Health Awareness Month

Well, however odd  a phrase as it may be, happy Mental Health Awareness Month, everyone! In this world of absolute insanity, this seems like an acutely appropriate cause. It’s hard for me to understand why our global community still attaches such a negative stigma to mental health issues.

But since 1949, Mental Health America has led the observance Mental Health Month in May. They believe it’s important to educate people about habits and behaviors that increase the risk of developing or exacerbating mental illnesses, or could be signs of mental health problems themselves. People experience symptoms of mental illnesses differently—and some engage in potentially dangerous or risky behaviors to avoid or cover up symptoms of a potential mental health problem. Sometimes people—especially young people—struggling with mental health concerns develop habits and behaviors that increase the risk of developing or exacerbating mental illnesses, or that could be signs of mental health problems themselves. When we engage in prevention and early identification, we can help reduce the burden of mental illness by identifying symptoms and warning signs early—and provide effective treatment.

What's In My Pocket Friday - Mental Health Awareness Month

How do we reconcile the importance of mental health awareness with the stigmas attached to its challenges? Well, in my opinion, is through education, earnest sentiment, and even a good bit of laughter.

What's In My Pocket Friday - Mental Health Awareness Month

  • Many years ago, blogger Heather Armstrong wrote a piece about depression I found particularly moving.
  • Also from Buzzfeed — a handy translation guide of sorts. What you say and what you mean.
  • Kevin Breel is important. He’s a stand-up comedian and he needs to talk to you about depression. I will leave you with his words:

Lazy Sunday Musings

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The internet is always there for me in times of need.

I suck at lazy Sundays. But I excel at the internet. Enjoy these lazy Sunday musings.

Lazy Sunday Musings

I’ve been podcast hopping this week. My latest podcast discoveries have included:

I’m also quite obsessed with the pursuit of justice for Brad’s wife. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, click here. I can only fantasize how I’d handle this as a social media manager. To begin, I have brainstormed some of the reasons Cracker Barrel may have fired Brad’s wife:

  • Her comfort was not made from scratch.
  • Her “fancy fixins” were not that fancy.
  • The sun had set on her sunrise sampler.

Earlier this week I asked my Facebook friends a question I heard on the radio: Which celebrity would you least like to be stuck on a deserted island with? Some of mine:

  • Kanye West
  • Any Kardashian
  • Ann Coulter

I didn’t put Trump there because that’s just too obvious.

I saw Beauty & the Beast and I liked it. I didn’t love it, though. I think this article sums it up perfectly well. I need to start going to more movies again; I’ve fallen out of the habit lately. I used to stay up late at night at least once a week watching new movie trailers and deciding what I would go see that weekend…. If only there were 34 hours in a day. I’d really like to see Get Out, which seems to have taken the world by storm, and I’d like to see – believe it or not – the new Power Rangers movie. I’m apt to steer clear of Life, despite is starring Ryan Reynolds and Jake Gyllenhaal and this interview with them being delightful:

Before I actively resume my lazy Sunday (hypocrisy intended), let me leave you with this amazing article best summed up with part of the headline: “I’m Sweary AF and That Ain’t Gonna Change.”

What’s In My Pocket Friday

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Best of the web

Happy Friday, everyone! There is so much out there for us to delight in this week. Here are the Top Five:

What's In My Pocket Friday

  • I think everyone in the universe has seen this amazing video today:


  • I thought this was a lovely service, Greetabl. It allows you to upload personal photos and craft a special message for a customized box so loved ones can unfold them and proudly display it. It looks rather beautiful.
  • The GOP laid out their solution to the healthcare “problem” and I’ll save my commentary except to say that Paul Ryan’s power point presentation deserved to be memed:

What's In My Pocket Friday - Best of the Web

  • James Corden and Samuel L. Jackson reenacted some of Jackson’s best film roles. It is AMAZING:

  • My Golden Girls coloring book came. It is GLORIOUS. I will be coloring in it this weekend, no doubt.

Stuff I Enjoy

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Checking in to showcase some stuff I enjoy from all over the world wide web.

I often wish (okay, always wish) weekends were three days long so that I could spend two days running all the errands I didn’t have time for during the week and the third day resting and catching up on things at home. That would be the dream. Do any countries practice that norm? Given the current state of governmental affairs, I don’t need a lot of incentive to move, but a three-day weekend would certainly sweeten the pot….

Stuff I Enjoy

  • First off, do you follow the “Photoshop Troll” on Twitter? You should. I won’t even tell you what he does. It’s much funnier to be surprised… He’s one of the few accounts I allow mobile notifications for. (Another one, BTW, is TrumpDraws.)
  • Speaking of good accounts to follow, I may or may not have spent a couple hours watching cooking videos on TASTY this week. If you want something COMPLETELY UNHEALTHY, you should also check out JP & Julia. I follow them on Snapchat. It’s terrible. (Terrible = AMAZING.)
  • This video on Facebook. Obviously.

  • There was a sinkhole here in Los Angeles. That’s right, the rain poured down, the ground opened up, and it ate TWO CARS. I guess that’s not really “stuff I enjoy” but HOLY HELL, people. WHAT IS HAPPENING???
  • I attended a marvelous event at the Television Academy to celebrate the launch of their Choreographers’ Branch. I met Kenny Ortega and he was completely lovely. (If you don’t know who Kenny Ortega is, you must have slept through 1987-1992.)
  • Did you hear about the tragedy in Sweden? The only Swedish tragedy I’m familiar with is putting together IKEA furniture.

http://gph.is/1MmE1ee

  • No joke, Captain America (well, Chris Evans) is REAL LIFE fighting NAZIS. Dafuq?!
  • We got a first-look at the next Avengers movie. I squealed with happiness when I watched it. (And then I watched it eight more times.)
  • I very much enjoy these snarky unicorn coffee mugs. There’s a whole collection.

Stuff I Enjoy

  • And THIS!!! I’ve been working hard on my “Hollywood Brunch” presence and am finally growing the Instagram account! I hope you’ll follow me there and enjoy my brunch-related adventures! And don’t forget to sign up for the e-newsletter. I promise I’ll get back to them very soon.

What’s In My Pocket Friday

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Best of the web

I did not go into the office today (hint: I’m writing this on Thursday night) because, well, yesterday I found out I have bursitis in my right shoulder. And while no one can tell without an MRI, the suspicion is that there is a tiny tear in my rotator cuff causing it. And by the way, no idea how I did this. I woke up at 4 AM in excruciating pain and by 2 PM, was leaving work to go to the doctor. My shoulder has been a little achy since Sunday night but this was just suddenly like WHAM. I don’t actually like working from home but I do like not having to spend three hours in the car, so there’s that. But I do have a little cabin fever right now and may just have to take a walk outside when I finish this post.

ANYWAY…. 

What's In My Pocket Friday

  • I’m speaking at the Dad 2.0 Conference next week and I’m super excited! This is a totally new conference to me and I can’t wait to meet new people, new bloggers and influencers, and drop some knowledge.
  • I know everything is terrible right now and I’m not going to help you with this awful news: BACON RESERVES ARE AT AN ALL-TIME LOW. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! (Did you know we have “bacon reserves?” Where is this place? Wanna go?)
  • Current, new TV obsessions: The Crown (Netflix) and Victoria (PBS Masterpiece). Never thought I’d get into period shows but I LOVE THEM. Clearly every show ever should be about the British Monarchy.

What's In My Pocket Friday - Best of the Web

What's In My Pocket Friday - Best of the Web

P.S. You should also buy this. Click here. Comes out Feb. 7.

What’s In My Pocket Friday

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Best of the web — and in the world

Confession: I love falling asleep at night watching television in bed. That’s a genuine sleep. Like, if you pass out watching something on TV that you put on with the intent to finish, that is some real-tired. And it’s a good sleep. Not like that sleep you fall into when you lay there for an hour, trying to force your brain to shut off, praying the sleep will eventually come. Last night was the first night in ages, in fact, when I slept straight through to my alarm waking me up the next morning in quite some time. Real sleep is the business. 

ANYWAY…. 

Friends, enjoy these things that are presently giving me all the feels.

What's In My Pocket Friday

  • The problem with watching a Tasty video, is you end up actually watching like NINE Tasty videos.

  • This week, the nation’s zoos had a Twitter battle in which they just all posted photos of their cutest animals. This is why social media was invented, folks. It was amazing.
  • When do the Obamas come back from vacation? I don’t like the substitute teacher…. But did you catch the launch of the Obama Foundation? Looks promising. I’m basically down for whatever Bae wants to do.

What's In My Pocket Friday - Best of the web -- and in the world

  • I’m excited to be speaking at Dad 2.0 in February! I’ll be on a panel to discuss influencer marketing. What inappropriate overshare will I offer this time? Stay tuned….
  • My “Hollywood Brunch” instagram account is picking up! Make sure you’re following me here.
  • I took this quiz on Buzzfeed that assures me I am definitely over 30 (THANKS BUZZFEED). I liked it because it made me ever so nostalgic for the good ol’ days of MTV.

What's In My Pocket Friday - Best of the web -- and in the world

  • I shall conclude with NORBERT. I guess Norbert has been a thing for a while but I just discovered him and OMG is he the CUTEST! Just watch him give little high fives….

What’s In My Pocket Friday

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Best of the web — and in the world

Best of the web? Yes. Best of the world? That, also. I reached a tipping point this week when I was watching some ass-clown I refuse to reference by name at a white supremacist meeting (Call it what you want, National Policy Institute) give a speech that essentially set civil rights and basic, human ethics back 100 years. The next day I watched another bigot announce to his “conservative” brothers and sisters that they needed to boycott Target because of their extreme leftist policies — you know, the ones that embrace diversity and compassion. (And by the by, I am filled with warmth seeing how many people liked and shared this tweet yesterday and today. Keep up the good work!)

I realized that today, tomorrow and in the days following, I need to keep my focus on some of the good in the world because there is plenty of it left, no matter how the news makes us feel. So please know that while I am still filled with the fire of a thousand suns, in this little pocket of the universe, in this moment, there is only goodness and warmth.

What's In My Pocket Friday

  • Take a moment and watch just a little of the ceremony held at The WHite House this week wherein President Obama gave out 21 Presidential Medals of Freedom. President Obama has given out more of these Medals than any other President in our history.

What's In My Pocket Friday - Best of the Web

  • You may not recall, but three years ago, President George H.W. Bush shaved his head in solidarity with a young boy, Patrick, who was battling Leukemia. Now three years later, former President Bush has let everyone know on Twitter that Patrick is better!
  • Michael J. Fox joined Dave Matthews on stage at a recent show to raise money for Parkinson’s Disease research… and banged out an impressive guitar solo:

  • Meet Ed Moseley, an 86-year-old grandfather in Georgia, who doesn’t believe you are ever too old to learn something new. He recently taught himself to knit so he could make caps for premature newborns.
  • Get ready for pure, complete joy. This mom surprised her children with a puppy adoption.

And if that doesn’t do it, more goodness…

  • COMEDY IS GOOD! Putting some good old-fashioned pragmatism to work here, I realized that if I need a laugh, I just need to watch something funny, right? I’ve been watching the hell out of comedy specials on Netflix. John Mulaney’s is my favorite.

  • MUSIC IS GOOD! Especially holiday music. I do recognize that first, it’s early, and second, some people are not the type to listen to this music too much nor too often, but for me, bring it. It cheers me right up. I create a playlist for holiday music every year on Spotify and working on the playlist alone brings a smile to my face.
  • PUPPIES ARE GOOD! Kittens are also welcome. Please see BUZZFEED ANIMALS for all the cuteness you will ever need and more. I subscribe to their “puppy a day” newsletter and I love to read this page for a pick-me-up. Like this story about “Quantico” star Priyanka Chopra who liked the puppies at her Buzzfeed photoshoot so much, she just adopted one of them on the spot.

Just to be clear, I’m not trying to diminish how messed up things are right now. Because they are. And I promise I will not sit idly by and do nothing about it. Sometimes I get indescribably furious and sometimes I just cry. But most of the time, I allow what I am feeling to empower and inspire me. Here is a good site that may do the same for you (but if you don’t like curse words, stay away). I admire my strong friends who are taking a big stand and have jumped full-throttle into activism (read this – GO MEGHAN!). But for these few minutes spent writing (and for you, reading) this post, everything was positive — I think it’s important we remember things like these are happening. Now more than ever.

Lazy Sunday Musings

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The internet is always there for me in times of need.

I suck at lazy Sundays. But I excel at the internet. Enjoy these lazy Sunday musings.

Lazy Sunday Musings

Today was a struggle because even at this age, I am still trying to learn how to relax. It infuriates me that when presented with a much-needed day of sitting still, it takes me about nine hours to finally find some calm. Until then, or rather until now, I’ve passed the time dozing off on the couch, watching TV, playing games (mostly Doge 2048), surfing the web, working, and resisting a very exciting bag of Lays potato chips. Enjoying very little of it and wracked with guilt over nine million other things I should have been doing and chastising myself for not finding serenity.

I know you’re all super jealous of my glamorous life.

My weekend’s really been lovely overall, though. I had a wonderful brunch yesterday (not to worry – more on that coming soon) and I saw Doctor Strange, which I highly recommend. Tips: See it in 3-D, sit through the entire credits.

Lazy Sunday Musings

Also, if you love stand-up specials like I do, I also highly recommend “Pete Davidson: SMD” from Comedy Central, which I caught on demand yesterday afternoon. (Anyone wanna guess what “SMD” stands for?)

This blew my mind this morning during some web-surfing. Just watch. I spent quality time trying to figure out how this is even accomplished but then my brain started to hurt.

All the while, by the way, in the back of my mind I keep hearing this nagging voice chanting “THE ELECTION IS TUESDAY.” I’ve grayed out as much of the day as I can so that I can pop Xanax and sit in front of the television, digging my nails into the armrests. That’s healthy, right? We all know how I feel about this election and I’ll spare you any proselytizing. If you read this blog and know me, you likely don’t need it anyway. But I’ll confess to everyone now that I have a really bad feeling about how this is gonna go and I know I’m not alone. So let’s all just pray, meditate, send out that positive energy — whatever get you through.

Anyway…. I have a few hours left of this day and now, finally feeling a little more chilled out, I’m going to make the most of it.

What’s In My Pocket Friday

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Best of the web

Greetings, everybody! I went to two conventions and on one vacation in just the last week so I am a tired, tired lady, but I am also really excited about my next trip — this coming Wednesday! August is insane. Work is insane. I AM INSANE. 😉 But anyway, I had a moment of clarity and suddenly felt twitchy to get a blog post up. And here is the “Best of the Web” I’ve saved in my “pocket” throughout the madness:

What's In My Pocket Friday

 

  • OH MY WORD THE OLYMPICS. Why am I crying so much this year?

  • The wicked geniuses at Cards Against Humanity are selling special expansion packs. One for Hillary, one for Donald. All proceeds go to Clinton’s campaign so I do not care which one you buy.
  • LAist published a list of the best brunch patios in Los Angeles and it’s a FANTASTIC list. It includes my most favorite brunch spot (Cliff’s Edge) and the one I am currently the most eager to try (Terrine).

What's In My Pocket Friday - Best of the Web

  • I saw “Suicide Squad” and it’s legitimately one of the worst movies I’ve ever seen. There is about an hour of exposition, we get backstory on some characters and not others, the plot is terribly constructed, the climax is not even that climactic, some of the acting is terrible, and so on from there.  The Hollywood Picture News touched on it.
  • Social Media Club’s August event is going to be a lot of fun! We’re having a debate between in-house, freelance and agency positions. Whose team will you side with? Register here.

Earlier This Week….

 

 

 

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