Business and Pleasure

Put on the glasses and bam we look like we're "working" ;D

Yeah we all know the term and sometimes actually try to make sense of the actual act of mixing business with pleasure.  Unfortunately most of the time when we say that it means we are going away on a trip or doing something that is work related and try to have fun at the same time.  Or on the other hand we go away on a trip or do something that is meant to be fun and somehow we will attempt to build in some form of work/business activity into the fun-filled event we were supposedly set out to do.

The problem most people have with this, me included, is that we tend to over do one and not the other.  We try to squeeze that little bit of business into our pleasure and vice versa and never really truly get a solid balance.  It's like that Nik Wallenda guy trying to have fun while walking across the tight rope over the Grand Canyon.  Sure it starts out as entertainment which is supposed to be fun, but it's insanely frightening.  Meanwhile he is "working" his but off to not fall off that wire.  Ironically he has those moments where he catches a glimpse of the beautiful, yet otherwise frightening world below him and somehow finds pleasure in it.  Which if anyone knows anything about this Greek Girl, me and heights don't mix so I can't see how any of that could be pleasurable.

So this week I've been mixing business with pleasure as best I can.  I was given an opportunity to head out west and spend some time on the "left-coast" (as the too cool for school hipsters like to now call it - Los Angeles).  This trip however has some strings attached, like business but of course with pleasure mixed in.  What am I talking about?  Well, I came out here to hang out with some of my friends and fellow "Politichicks" gals along with some entertainment industry folks for a few major networking events.  During all this time my focus is on how to make the most of the time I have and have it benefit my career without being too focused that I am not able to have a good time.  The good news is, since I love what I do and do what I love sometimes those lines get blurred.  So when I am doing the work side of things it ends up being pleasurable.

Heres a few examples of what I am talking about:

1.  I am able to wear flip-flops almost everywhere, except a dress one night for a "bash" of sorts.

2.  I am staying with a friend, who also happens to be the editor in Chief for the Politichicks. Slumber-Party!

3.  I went to a networking event at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley.

4.  I will be traveling to San Diego, (3 hrs away) to be on a TV show and do an in-studio interview.

5. Did I mention I had my picture taken with the Gipper? ;D

Do you see what I am talking about?  It's a mix of business and pleasure all balled up in one.  So sometimes it's hard to differentiate between the two.  I guess in a way it's a wonderful problem to have. It just means I am doing what I love and loving what I do.  I just hope the same goes for you and if not, I pray you can find a way to bring some balance into your own life.

Blessings, Love & Music,
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com

Going Back to Cali

You know it's a cool song... 

I lived in LA for a short while about ten years ago and haven't been back there in gosh I can't remember when.  So when Mr. Aston & I were invited to a shin dig at the Reagan Library you just had to know Greek Girl was going to jump on the nearest plane!  (and I hate flying)... 

First off this event is at the Reagan Library HELLO... Ronald Reagan is one of my heroes!  Remember Greek Girl is also a Tea Party Barbie dontcha know?  ;D  I can't say what exactly the event is because it's private, but I will say there is going to be a keynote speaker at the event that makes me absolutely giddy.  Let's just say if Greek Girl were to start her own country... this guy, he would be president.

So since I'm busy packing and still trying to get everything done before I leave it got me to thinking about some of the reasons why I'm super stoked to be "going back to Cali".  I mean besides the obvious ones like we're both actors, I'm a recording artist and all that, after all California = Entertainment.

1.  Sunshine - Vitamin D (living in NY I'm always lacking it).

2.  See top secret keynote speaker give speech... I'm actually still pinching myself.

3.  We're staying with my politichicks.tv editor Ann-Marie Murrell which is going to be super fun!

4.  Meeting a lot of facebook friends who are going to be at a "Rage Against the Media" Rally.

5.  Beach... there is no way I'm going to the West Coast without spending time on the actual coast!

6.  Get to see my little sister who moved there about a year ago.

7.  Did I mention I'm going to take a tour of the Reagan Library?... :D

8.  Alfonzo Rachel... what's an Alfonzo Rachel?  He's our good friend who is super smart and puts the smack down on stupidity for pjtv.com and he lives in LA.  Hence we'll be spending time with him and who wouldn't be excited about that?

9.  "Pinks" what's that you might be wondering... only one of the coolest hot dog stands in the entire country.  It's iconic and they serve a mean mean hot dog, fries and all kinds of other good junk food. :D (yes - they even have turkey hot dogs it's California remember)   

10.  Endorphins... you just know Greek Girl is going to lace on her sneakers and get some quality time on the road with iPod and that California Air!

I hope everyone has a great week!

Blessings, Love & Music ~
Ava :D
www.avaaston.com 

Politichicks

Honorary "Rock" Politichick ;) with a twist of comedy for good measure.

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you might've guessed by now that when I am passionate a particular topic, I am hard pressed to keep it out of my blog.  What can I say, I'm Greek... It's in my genes.  We invented Politics, The Olympics, Drama (Acting, seriously we did - look it up on google), Windex and a whole bunch of other things, so it's to be expected.  There are lots of things I'm passionate about like coffee, working out, dogs/animals and of course my music, and politics.  Shocking, I know you would have never guessed that one would ya? ;)

You see my filter broke off a few weeks ago, due to the fact that my noggin has at times has about spun off seeing the goings on in the world lately... and I can't seem to keep my big fat greek yap-trap shut.  So I decided to start speaking out about what I see going on.  Many of you may know this already about me, especially with my song, "We The People" that was written about getting back to our founding principals.  It was written because I can't stand to see my country losing it's identity.  The very same country my dad came to with only $20 in his pocket to chase the American Dream.  So I started my MissionWeThePeople.com website to help get the message of the song out to the masses before this the most important election of our lifetime.

A few months ago a good friend of mine asked me to be an honorary Politichick and take part in trying to make a difference.  What's Politichick's you might be thinking?  Well it's a group of women all across America coming together to help shed light on local, regional and even national and sometimes international news.  It's kind of like a conservative version of TMZ but with all smart women. ;)

My role as a Politichick will take a different approach.  Because I am a Greek and I love to laugh, and entertaining people; I will be creating political rants in the form of adding a sarcastic and funny spin on what is going on in the Main Stream Media.

As an artist, I love and value the freedom of speech which allows me the right to express myself however I feel it necessary.   For me it is crucial that I take part in what is going on.  Too often I turn on the TV or walk in the mall and see the impact our pop-culture is having on our society.  Not just on the youth, on everyone.  What most people don't realize is that with most of Hollywood being so liberal in their ideology they are literally stripping the morality away from our country.  In so doing they are allowing our very freedoms to be attacked and stripped away from us.  Including our freedom of speech as seen with the recent Innocence of Muslim's video on YouTube.  What's worse is that most people are becoming more and more desensitized by the people they idolize and don't realize their values are shallow and go against everything this country was founded upon.

So to get a taste of what to expect, feel free to watch any of my "Greek Girl Rants" on Politichicks or subscribe to my own YouTube channel and get them as they are posted.  Here are the first 3 with more to come:

Hope they bring you a great big smile!

Blessings, Love & Music~
Ava xo
www.avaaston.com