National Coffee Day

A little taste of my coffee brewing collection.

National Coffee Day... what exactly does that mean? Well for coffee addicts like me that means once a year we get to show up at coffee joints around the country and get a free cup of joe. Seriously though if you didn't know about it, yes there is such a thing as a "National Coffee Day", and yes some chains and local coffee houses are offering a free cup of coffee to celebrate.

Most people who read my blog if they know anything about me (besides the fact that I'm Greek) they know this one thing, I love love love love love coffee. This makes perfect sense of course because we Greek's perfected the art of coffee drinking, along with inventing  drama (acting), politics, and the windex. I laughed out loud when I visited Greece one time and on a tour of a park near the Acropolis the guide told our little group that Greek's invented drama and politics. I was thinking to myself "so that explains why I'm an actor (besides a recording artist) and highly opinionated about politics." 

The art of coffee drinking masterfully blended with drama can be wittnessed at any Greek Diner. I can almost guarantee you that somewhere in there is a table full of Greek's chatting away full of passionate talking and hand gestures. So I guess the genes carried on in Greek Girl because ever since I can remember I have loved coffee. I love the smell of it brewing, I love the taste of it, and the feel of a cup in my hands. No it doesn't help me to write better songs, or remember my lines, I just like it. What can I say? Everyone has something. Besides there have even been studies that suggest it is good for your bones/health so that's a thumbs up in my book.

Now I do have my favorites and it really depends on the day, time or situation as to what kind of coffee I'm in the mood for. My absolute favorite hot coffee ever is Dunkin Donuts. Second is McDonald's, yes they have very good coffee, and the best part is a large is only $1.08 - can't beat that!  My favorite iced coffee is Starbucks. At home I have all kinds of ways to enjoy a good cup of joe, I have a Keurig, where I can brew my Dunkins. There's also a regular drip coffee pot, a french press and one of my personal favorites my Nespresso Espresso Machine. If you've never had a Nespresso I highly suggest finding a store near you and going to get a sample cup. It brews the espresso at the optimun tempature so the taste is always perfect, and they are known for the creme on the top, it's just perfect! Nothing else to be said. Another little treat I got turned onto while visiting  Greece was Nescafe'. Yes I did just say that I like instant coffee. See in Greece it is very popular (so much so that they even sell these at McDonald's there), iced Nescafe'. It's Nescafe' in a large cup, milk, half and half, or both and sweeten to liking. Then you have a Yummoliscious iced cup of happiness!

No matter what your favorite cup of happiness is, today is the day to think about how something so simple can bring a little happiness and smile to your face. Stop by your favorite place to get one and think of all the other coffee lovers out there who love it just as much as you do. I know that participating Dunkin Donuts and McDonald's are offering a free cup, for any other places that are just check online. So raise your cup and happy sipping!

Here's to celebrating hot cups of happiness all day long!

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

You Decide

So, which do you think is healthier?

So if things weren't bad enough that I had to skip my work out for almost 3 days but then I  found myself debating with my husband over which was more healthy, McDonald's or Five Guys Burgers and Fries.  I know what you are thinking... and no I did not hit my head, not this week at least.   But I did break down and yes in case you were wondering, it was Yummo.

Let me set the stage for you (this was an actual conversation).  We were out running errands and of course the Martha Stewart in me had to change things up in our house.  Because truth be told, I have a little OCD and nothing bugs me more than my house being out of order, or just blah.  I can't be creative when it is, and once I get too much HGTV into my Greek noggin, the "I have to paint this room or change that rug" urge kicks into high gear.  So, we were out at Home Goods (for those of you who don't know what that is, it's a TJ Maxx to the 10th power only with stuff for your home).  It just so happens that Home Good's is in a plaza that is home to a brand spanking new McDonald's which sits across the parking lot from a Five Guys.  There we were, smack-dab in the middle of both of them and of course my husband who doesn't work out for months and still has a 6 pack says to me...

Keith
"Oh man, can you smell that? Those McDonald's french fries smell so good."

Me
Okay well, I'll make you a deal.

Keith
Oh...?

Me
"Yeah.  How about we get McDonald's for dinner and you stay out and help me pick out the paint, rug and new office chairs."

Keith
(Pointing)
"Okay.  But there is Five Guy's over there."

Me
"What?? Five Guys? Are you serious?"

Keith
"Yeah.  Think about it.  They are healthier."

Me
"How do you figure?"

Keith
"They have to be.  They cook all their burgers made to order.
They don't over process their food like McDonald's."

Me
"You think?  Hmm.  I wonder if they really are.  Maybe you're right.
Let's go there instead."

Keith
"For real?  You know you can't order a turkey burger there and they
don't have salads right?  Cuz I don't want to go in there and have you
ask for one Go Greek on me and then decide to go to McDonald's instead."

Me
"No, I know.  You are probably right anyway.  They probably are healthier.  Should we drive the car over or walk?  Probably walk."

Keith
"Why?"

Me
"Well, this way at least we can somewhat earn that burger."

No, that is not me eating a french fry at Five Guys. No way, I would never do that. I was at home working out when this photo was supposedly taken. ;D

Then we both strolled across the lot and past the golden arches right into Five Guys Burger's and Fries.  I felt like I was doing something so wrong but it kind of felt good.  Before I knew it I had actually ordered a cheeseburger with extra lettuce, tomato, pickle and onion.  We both shared some fries and a Coke.  No, not a Diet Coke either.  You know what the best part was?  I didn't even spontaneously combust, and I actually enjoyed it.  Which made me totally forget the question of which one was better or worse for you.  In the end they both were about the same and equal to some sort of junk food.  But who cares since I got to do it with my favorite person in the whole wide world.  Besides, like they say - everything in moderation.

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

What would you do with 15,000 McRib Sandwiches?

The long awaited "Ava the Diva's First Sold Out Concert" Part 2 episode of my web based cartoon series is here. If you missed the first part, you can watch it here first.  Part 1

Grab the kids, grandma, the dogs and watch along and see what happens after Ava the Diva's manager Mr. Bricks negotiated a deal where Ava would get paid with 15,000 McDonald McRibs for a concert. See what lengths Ava goes through to make it right.

I hope everyone has a Happy Easter (Passover to all of my Jewish friends)

Blessings,

Ava

xox

REMINDER:  April 28th is the world premiere of my new "Gone' music video

So...

The Greek girl has a pet peeve she needs to get off of her chest.

If  you are a fan of my music, or a regular reader of my blog, you already know I don't claim to be a domestic goddess.  It's not that I am untidy and a hoarder or that it takes me an hour to cook minute rice, because none of that is true. It's just that I have concentrated on my acting and singing career instead of my cooking, cleaning and sewing career.

I know by labeling today's blog "So..." and posting a header picture with some girl sewing in it is very misleading. But I did that just to confuse you and to make you think for just a nanosecond that I had a screw loose rattling around in my little Greek coconut.  But that's not the case (no matter what Mr. Bricks may think!) The reality is, I want to talk about one of my biggest pet peeves. It is when you are talking to another person and they don't finish their sentences because they are unsure what answer they will hear if they complete the sentence. They cop-out by not finishing their sentence and trailing off with the proverbial "So..." at the end of their incomplete sentence or thought. Let me give you some examples with my manager Mr. Bricks who is the biggest offender of the "Just say So" muckery:

Me: Well Mr. Bricks do you have a record deal for me yet?

Mr. Bricks: Not yet Ava. I'm working on contacting different labels and publishing companies and I haven't heard anything back yet, so...

OR

Me: What did you have for lunch today Mr. Bricks?

Mr. Bricks: I went to McDonald's and had a McRib.

Me: I could have told you that. That food is so unhealthy.

Mr. Bricks: Yes Ava. But I had a lot of meetings and I didn't have time for anything else, so...

OR

Me: I think I am going to go run 5 miles.

Mr. Bricks: You go Greek girl.

Me: Why don't you join me?

Mr. Bricks: Oh, I don't know Ava.

Me: It would do you some good because you will feel better and might lose some weight.

Mr. Bricks: You run fast and I don't want to slow you down, so...

See how frustrating that is? Just finish your sentences people and you won't get this blond Greek girl all worked up!!!

Blessings,

Ava

xox

Born This Way

Ava Aston Copyright © 2011

I get a lot of flack from people saying I am either too Greek or not Greek enough. I am too blonde or not blonde enough. And when it comes to my love of sports and working out, I hear I am too much of a tom boy, but when I pass by a Kohl's or a sneakers store and I enter a shopping trance - I am too much of a girlie girl. I say, what the heck, I was born this way.

I am just who I am. I am silly, creative, loyal and I'd like to think talented and pretty. Hopefully that is what most of you like about me. I am not, fake I am real. I pretty much say what ever comes out of my noggin. What you see folks is what you get. I was born this way.

I love my Greek heritage. I think it sets me apart from just another blonde girl. I will let you decide if that is a good or bad thing. (Mr. Bricks - shut your pie hole, no comments from you) I am an animated chatter box at times. Other times I find peace and tranquility in just lying on the couch not saying a word with my four doggy fur babies surrounding me. But that's me, I was born this way.

I wasn't born with a perfect body so I run 5 miles every day or do an intensive workout (really I do.) I love eating healthy. Those are two things my body tells me to do to stay in the best possible shape. I know people who just can't get it in their noggin that exercising and eating healthy are good for you. Although I may not have been born with a perfect body I feel fortunate that I now believe that a healthy lifestyle can help me achieve a perfect body. Another person I know, and I won't name them by name, I will just call them "Mr. Lazy Eye" was born  the way he is with his beliefs that he can pretty much eat whatever he wants and not work out. Sadly, I do believe that he is not alone and many more people are born with his belief system that were born with a belief in living and eating a healthy lifestyle. Otherwise there would not be 32,158 McDonald's franchises world-wide, 11,500 Burger Kings and 5,845 Taco Bells - Just sayin'

I think when people want to rebel against society in one form or another it is very easy to say - I was born this way. Maybe that is true. But the reality is (myself included) we all could use some self-improvement in one way or another to make us a better person. Other wise if our total fulfillment is established at birth - what is the point of life? At the same time I do think it is important to embrace the differences in others. There are some great stories of individual overcoming great odds to achieve greatness, despite the way and or conditions they were born into. Woodrow Wilson struggled with dyslexia, but overcame it and became President. President Franklin D. Roosevelt contracted polio, famous actor James Earl Jones has dealt with a stuttering problem since childhood, Halle Berry has diabetes...the list of individuals who didn't quit or cop-out by saying, I was born this way is endless (and very inspirational.)

My manager Mr. Bricks has been approached by several Christian Record labels. As much as you hear me say, "I want a record deal Mr. Bricks" you would think I would be jumping at the chance, especially since my musical tastes are rooted in Contemporary Christian music. But somewhere deep seeded in my coconut is the logic that I want to be a main stream Pop/Rock recording artist because I can be more effective in that arena. My life style and beliefs are pretty mainstream America and very un-rock star like. I have never trashed a hotel room, I have never OD on drugs and I have never gotten out of a limo with a short skirt and no underpants. I just don't roll like that. I was born this way to make a difference in other people's lives. Singing Contemporary Christian Music to Christians is akin to preaching to the choir. So, I want to attack the beast head on. I want to become a beacon in the very dark world of rock and roll. I want to be that the one role model and inspiration to people everywhere who when they hear me say, I was born this way - that it a good thing!

Blessings,

Ava

xox

Melancholy

I'm kinda feeling a little melancholy as I sit here writing and addressing my Christmas cards. The fireplace is crackling and filling the room with warmth and the smell of freshly split pine. Jingle Bell Rock and other Christmas tunes fill the house with the proper sounds to keep me in the spirit of the season. My four little doggies are slumbering at my feet with visions of rawhide bones dancing in their little Pekingese noggin. The aroma of freshly baked cookies is coming from the kitchen... well ok, I lied. Not so much on the cookie smell, since I don't bake and there is actually no yummo freshly baked cookie smell in the house. But the rest of the sights and smells have me in this very melancholy mood.

Before I named my post Melancholy, I decided to makes sure I was using the word correctly. It appears I have a large following of school teachers who are keeping me on a very short leash grammatically. I should be offended, but I'm not. I know they just want me to look my best on my blog. Although I must admit that sometimes when I get an email from them correcting me, I do feel like I've been sent to the principal's office - just sayin'.

So I looked it up at dictionary.com and this is their definition of melancholy:

mel·an·chol·y

[mel-uhn-kol-ee] plural -chol·ies, adjective

–noun
1. a gloomy state of mind, esp. when habitual or prolonged;depression.
2. sober thoughtfulness; pensiveness.
3.Archaic .
a. the condition of having too much black bile, considered in ancient and medieval medicine to cause gloominess and depression.
b. black bile.
Ewww...OK, not sure what the color of my bile has to do with feeling a little depressed -- but I will just roll with it because, well, because I'm feeling melancholy. See how this melancholy thingy works? Oops... the teachers don't like me using the word thingy -- Sorry. My bad.

So we're down to the last couple of weeks of 2010 and I always hate to see the year end because I know there are always things I wanted to do but just never got around to it.

On the other hand I had some tremendous things present themselves to me this year giving me opportunities that I could have never dreamed of happening. When I was sharing this with my manager Mr. Brick's yesterday he said, "I know what you mean Ava." Mr. Bricks went on to say, "In my wildest dreams I never could have imagined that McDonald's would bring back the McRib. It just made me giddy as a young school girl?"

Ok that is just scary to me that a grown man can get giddy as a school girl over a fake processed pork sandwich. There's something just a tick off with him. Mr. Brick's is not right in the head I tell you.

Although I didn't start writing this little blog until October, I'm still feeling melancholy about it because just like with my song writing, I started writing it as a way of expressing myself -- and now I will soon be writing my 75th blog post.

I can reflect fondly over all of the blog stories about my obsession with sneakers, my Greek heritage, Mr. Brick's obsession with McDonald's, my non stop working out, eating healthy, daily 5 mile runs (weather permitting), my acting auditions, my love of Greek diner food, my Cd's sales, The Tea Party Patriots, Punkin, BoBo, Pookie and Itty Bitty, The Kardashians sisters, the pitfalls of living in New York and all of the day-to-day muckery in my life. I know its all good because it allows everyone to log on and read what-a- reality-show-waiting-to-happen my life really is.

So I'm going to spend a little more time sittting here in my melanchony mood and just smile. I realize I am truly a blessed Greek girl and God is an awesome God!

Blessings,

Ava

xox

Ava Wants Some Auditions

Last Saturday's cartoon was a huge hit, so I made another one. Let's just say I don't think Pixar or Walt Disney has to worry about me, but I do hope you enjoy watching it!
Blessings!

Ava
xox

Ava Wants a Record Deal

Here is a Saturday cartoon for you!

Blessing,


Ava
xox

We Don't Sell It Like That.

Today I went to a local coffee shop and ordered an ice coffee to go. "We don't have that" said Zelda the unimpressed preoccupied cashier doing her best Lindsay Lohan I'm-in-court-and-you're wasting-my-time-impression.  I asked if they had ice? Zelda said "Yah" I asked if they had coffee? Again Zelda replied in the affirmative slang by saying "Yah" So I said, well can't you put some ice in a cup and then put some coffee in it? Zelda said, "We don't sell it like that." But I will pay you for a full cup of coffee I insisted. I could tell I was wasting my time. All I was going to hear from mean girl Zelda was "We don't sell it like that", "We don't sell it like that" and that was going to be her final answer. She had no life...I had no life lines.

Unfortuantely, that is not the first time I have been told "We don't sell it like that" when I was asking for something that was extremely simple to do for anyone with a half of brain and a pulse. Don't think I am making fun of the people who work at the counters of fast food restaurants, I'm not. I'm just sayin' sometimes they need to think outside the box, err, outside the Jack-in-the-box. Besides my very own Mr. Bricks actually worked at a McDonald's way back when. He said it was so long ago their sign only said, "A Couple of Burgers Sold".

It has been discussed here on this blog before that unlike my manager Mr. Bricks who eats at McDonald's on a daily basis, I only frequent it rarely. And then usually only for a treat to myself after I finished working out. But every time I do walk into the Golden Arches I know Billions and Billions of instances for potential muckery is just around the corner. The McDonlad's Corporation did not get to be the biggest and cheapest fast food franchise in the world by hiring MIT graduates to work their counter service for them.

So, just like my experience today with an attempt to order an ice coffee at the coffee shop, I recently tried to order what I thought was a simple caramel sundae at McDonald's. I always order a plain sundae NO TOPPING PLEASE. And then I ask for 2 packets of the caramel dip that they give to kids for their apple dippers.  I always offer to pay what it costs for the packets of caramel dip. To me, the yummy factor of it is worth the few cents they might need to charge me. The cashier came back with a hot fudge sundae. I explained, No, I don't want a hot fudge sundae I asked for plain.

The cashier went back to the soft serve machine grabbed a new cup and returned with a 1/2 filled cup and 2 packets of caramel dip. I explained that just because I was getting a hot fudge sundae without the hot fudge I still should get a full cup of ice cream. That sensible outburst from me prompted a swift McIntervention from a nearby hovering supervisor, "We don't sell it like that." I offered to pay for the packets of caramel dip but was again simply told, "We don't sell it like that."

Maybe I should try Burger King.  Haven't I once heard them advertise that I can have it my way? Somehow I hardly doubt that to be true, unless I was ordering  just a Whopper with Cheese. Maybe I will go there and order a Whopper with cheese, and then say, "but I don't want cheese on it." Do you still think I can have it my way??

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJMsFGH4eoQ]

See Burger King actually did advertise in their jingles,  "Special orders don't upset us...." Now they just advertise that creepy King sneaking into people's bedrooms to promote their new breakfast items.  Wonder why they dropped that line about having it your way from their advertising? Oh wait, I know.... maybe it's because it's easier and way cheaper for the King's princesses and princes at the counter to now just say,  "We don't sell it like that."

Blessings,

Ava

xox

Vistit my website at www.avaaston.com