Debra's Daily Dose

45 life lessons. How many have you learned so far?

debrapivko — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:11:52 +0000

So many times I catch myself wasting energy thinking about the past, being angry that life isn’t fair, and worrying. I’ve definitely learned some lessons in my day about appreciation, happiness and most emotions coming from within, and letting things work themselves out without trying to control them. But, this wise 90-year-old woman, Regina Brett, of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland Ohio has really hit 45 nails on the head! Take a look at her 45 life lessons and see how many of them you’ve learned:

1.   Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
2.   When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3.   Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4.   Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5.   Pay off your credit cards every month.
6.   You don’t have to win every argument - Agree to disagree.
7.   Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
8.   It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9.   Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.
12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about..
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow..
23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ’In five years, will this matter?’
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back…
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

Stuck in a rut? Try ziplining!

debrapivko — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 22:27:54 +0000

Ever feel like you just want to try something new? Well, considering I’d never been to Catalina and have never gone ziplining – this day was a slam dunk for me. If you live in LA and only have a day for your staycation, it’s the perfect getaway. Why not take a ferry over to Catalina, explore the cute little town, get a cabana on the beach, ride a golf cart around town, indulge in some waffle cone ice cream, and soar through the sky 500 feet in the air at 40 miles per hour. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day!

Kandyland at the Playboy Mansion – finally!

debrapivko — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 21:24:10 +0000

Growing up in LA, I’ve been lucky to attend some pretty impressive and extravagant events. From the GRAMMYs, to pool parties with elephant rides, dancing fire-throwers and hot air balloons, to charity events with complimentary food from 50 restaurants to indulge all night. But, until recently, I had not yet experienced a party at the infamous playboy mansion.

The party promised “top-notch production and theme, open premium bars and buffets, sexy mini-shows, candy bars, Playboy Playmates and Cyber Girls, Kandy Go-Go Dancers, body painted Kandy models, over 1,000 invited girls, successful and savvy guests from around the world…and a special performance by three time Grammy Award winner Sean “Diddy” Combs!” To get admission to the party, guys have to purchase $1,000 tickets and girls have to be accepted after submitting pictures and pay a small fee of $25 to reserve their reservation.

I was determined to go. There were three times I almost went to the mansion but couldn’t! One time, a guy I was seeing at the time was in town and completely against it. Another time, my friend and I were all dressed up for their Halloween party but she changed her outfit so many times that we were late and they were at capacity. And the third time, my friend’s brother in law was throwing a party there, but it was on my Birthday so I had my party I had to be at. Then, I thought, at this age, do I really need to be around the slutty costumes and witness the debauchery? Yes, why not!

So, I was set to go to the Kandland party. After running into a couple other women in the Victoria’s Secret dressing room that were planning on attending the party and seeing the skimpy outfits they purchased to wear, I decided to wear my most conservative lingerie dress. You never know what might end up on facebook. The night of the party, I hid in the bushes as I waited to dodge from my apartment to my friend’s car as I felt a bit underdressed. But as soon as I got to the party and saw some women sporting thongs and barely covered boobs, I felt conservative!

I had expected the party to be raunchy and draw a scummy crowd but I was pleasantly surprised. It was just a really good party! The decorations were fantastic. The theme was Candy. So, of course there were midgets dressed as Oompa Loompa’s – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory style. We were greeted by women in jacuzzi’s handing out drinks emitting smoke. The men wore black suits and the women wore bright colored lingerie. Some women got creative and decorated their lingerie with candy-themed knick-knacks. We ran around with lollipops and squirt guns, took a million pictures, ate delicious food, and danced to hot music with even hotter cowboys, Australians, and people just out to have a good time. It was definitely a night to remember and I’d actually love to go again!

Tribute to my father, Dr. Jack Pivko

debrapivko — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:50:58 +0000

I thought another 20 years would pass before I’d have to write my dad’s eulogy. But some things in life are not fair and are out of our control. My dad courageously battled Melanoma, an opponent no human is built to defeat. He laid to rest on his terms when his mind realized his body was fighting a losing battle, sparing us and himself of his further demise. Nietzsche fittingly states,
“To die proudly when it is no longer possible to live proudly. Death of one’s own free choice, death at the proper time, with a clear head and with joyfulness, consummated in the midst of children and witnesses so that an actual leave-taking is possible while he who is leaving is still there.”

It gives me peace knowing my dad lived a truly wonderful life. He appreciated every minute of it − and countless people appreciated him−as demonstrated by so many of you he loves here today to honor him. Every single thing he did was intended to help others in any way he could. It still amazes me that as giving and caring as he was to us, his family, he managed to treat all of his patients and really anyone who crossed his path, with the same attention, going out of his way to be of assistance. My whole life, I’ve been so proud to hear countless stories even from strangers about the supportive role my dad played in enriching their life. Patients turned 18, 19, even 33 and still called him and refused to go to another doctor. They even brought their kids to him. I now have to find another doctor who will bring Z-packs and flu shots and chicken soup to my door. He seemed to be everyone’s doctor. One time, I met a guy who after hearing my last name, exclaimed, “Your dad saw me naked! Well – when I was 4 – he was my pediatrician.”

My dad went to his patient’s birthdays, bar mitzvahs and really was an important part of many of their lives… and we gained lasting friendships because of this. He drew pictures to explain complicated medical terms in an easy-to-understand manner and always left patients with toys, and joke, and a smile. Little kids got the “What do you get when an elephant sits on a banana” jokes but graduated to R rated jokes as they got older. The adults got the elaborate stories he absolutely lights up when telling. I’ve learned that most stories he told ended up being jokes. When I’d hear him perk up and start to say, did you hear the one about the… I thought “yes” but usually let him tell it anyway.

My dad was witty and realistic until the very end. I remember a week ago the nurse mentioning that my dad needed a suppository. Shortly after, another pediatrician walked into my dad’s hospital room to visit and asked if there was anything he could do to help. My dad told him, “Yeah, you can take the suppository.” He loved when Adam and Barrie’s dog, Kona came to visit him in the hospital – probably ‘cause she didn’t ask questions.

He is the smartest person I’ve ever encountered or heard of. I used to think we were always watching previously recorded episodes of Jeopardy since he knew every answer, and was friends with Alex Trebec. At Sandy’s weekly Shabbat dinners, we sometimes played Trivial Pursuit. It was everyone against my dad – and he still won.

My dad loved to make people happy and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for us. From spending hours coloring in our physiology books, to drawing me maps for anywhere I needed to go (pre GPS), to skipping meals to bring us leftovers – even driving them to my apartment, to helping me move in a couch that didn’t fit and moving it out days later when I wanted another one. I have memories of renting countless Netflix movies together, watching the Bachelor and American Idol, him introducing me to countless people, family birthday dinners at the Palm, and the hilarious Passover Seders he led after my grandpa passed.

I could always relate to him. I was definitely a daddy’s girl. He always gave me realistic advice that I truly appreciated. He was nice to every guy I brought to the house, Jewish or not – never judging. He made sure we were cultured – he took my brothers and I to musicals, annual family road trips, museums, you name it. Because of him, we had opportunities to experience everything we could possibly want in life and learned what’s truly important. He worked hard to give us everything and never asked for a thing in return or complained. It wasn’t about providing monetary things, it was about imparting experiences, support, respect and love with the best of intentions. I am the luckiest daughter in the world to have had my dad in my life and I only hope that I carry on some of his attributes to make a difference in the lives of others.

I never got to meet my dad’s father as he died before I was born. It deeply saddens me that he will never know my children. But they will know him as I’ll tell them great stories and I welcome your stories for me to pass on for generations to come. Albert Einstein once said,
“Our death is not an end if we can live on in our children and the younger generation.”

His legacy will live on through everyone who knew him – his family, his friends, his patients, and all those whose lives he has touched. I hope for having known him, people will be a little kinder, appreciative, thoughtful, selfless, patient, accepting, giving, and laugh a little more. Dad, thank you for everything. I will always love you.

Debra’s unplanned Bachelor audition Video…

debrapivko — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 00:43:23 +0000

Okay, so it was unofficially filmed at my Everyone Get’s Laid Luau Bday in June. I admit… I love watching the Bachelor and the Bachelorrette… amazing date ideas…several characters to explore and being a semi pro dater and character myself, I often get told by my friends that I’d be quite entertaining on the show… and me, I have fun anywhere so why not! So I actually went in for a couple interviews and tapings but didn’t make it to the finals but here’s my silly audition tape outtakes made by my girlfriends originally as a joke at my last Bday! Yes, it’s totally corny, but was fun to make!

Click here to download and watch the video…

http://www.mediafire.com/?zmyvyyitf2t

Backwards Customer Service… who is serving who?

debrapivko — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 06:28:04 +0000

Have you ever had a completely backwards customer service experience… where you are the customer… but you are trying every last ditch effort you can think of to get your server (whether it be your hairstylist, waiter, etc.) back on track? I don’t expect much. I expect what for now I’ll call call my “server” to give me what I am paying for and extra bonus if he is pleasant. However today, I was under the mercy of the unprofessional “server” (a new hairstylist) and had to serve him so that he did not leave me walking out of the salon with bleach foils in my hair. After forgetting about booking the appointment when I called to confirm yesterday, then showing up 30 minutes late back to the salon without apologizing, he then proceded to tell me the price would be more if I wanted lowlights as well and when I asked how much he freaked out and emotionally vented that he was offended I would ask this and had to get that out before proceeding… This of course was after the foils were in… when I asked if he used bleach he told me he refused to finish or do the cut because i was questioning him and he didn’t feel secure… he kept leaving to go sit down or get water without mentioning his intentions… he proceeded to go on and on about vicious topics and how frusterated he was and all i could think was get me out of here… without disasterous hair! So I decided to kick in my customer service in order to salvage my hair! The kicker is he processed his own payments so I had to give him a hefty tip to avoid embarrassment… So much for customer service. What I learned… if trying out a new hairstylist, def take the time to go for a consultation before leaving your hair in their hands for 4 hours… As for customer service… it should not be the customers job… unless of course your in too deep… in foils!

Ask Debra…. advice just because…..

debrapivko — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:23:29 +0000

Have a puzzling decision to make? Need a woman’s opinion on something? Get yourself into a love triangle you just don’t know how to handle? Ask Debra… she’s probably been there…. … no PHD… just D ready and willing to help…. (just click on “comment below) and ask away…

Which workout will work out? The search for the best gym class…

debrapivko — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 21:25:29 +0000

Attempting to do a Yoga Strech before Paddle Surfing...

Okay so kickboxing three times a week for 12 years started to get a little routine… Yes, the music changes and the challenging routines keep you on your toes, but I’m on a mission to find the best new workouts! I’m going to try everything from Pilates to Yoga to workout DVDs and thanks to free weekly passes, I can check out classes at gyms all over LA…. I’ll let you know what i find! Details to come!

Update! So I set out to indulge in one of the most luxurious private gyms in LA, Equinox Century City… I couldn’t help but waste time in the steam room, sauna then passing a relaxing shower on the way back to the tv area where I could sip water or get online while eating a green apple… or coming up with random combinations for their special locks… But, I did manage to try a few amazing workout classes that really got my butt motivated and into shape! Marcus Chait leads an early morning boot camp that takes you through heartpounding moves that pump you up and make you remember of all the fun sports you have ever tried. We did baseball throws, kickboxing kicks, tennis pivots and more… We did wall squats and used pulleys. It was fun! The hour flies since your constantly striving to get through the next fun set! Another class I really enjoyed was Pilates Glide with Nora Brickman. Not only did she pleasantly take us through the intricate core strenghening moves regularly associated with Pilates, but she gave us little purple flat fabric gliders that we swept across the floor to enhance the movements and strengh training. Hey, I should do the workout on my kitchen floor with the glider sweepers and kill two birds with one stone! My ultimate favorite class there had to be Gravity Group with Casey Kringlen. Each participant gets their own personal Gravity Trainer, a cable pulley sytem that works against your own weight. (Think Chuck Norris Total Gym infomercials.) This was the most intense strengh training I’ve tried yet. We pulled up, down, in, out, working every muscle I’ve ever felt to move these pullys. Even jump plies (a ballet move) without having to stand up… So fun! Plus, many of the workouts can be done balancing on your knees, so your getting an intense core workout throughout!!!

But enough Equinox… I just tried what I think is now my favorite workout of all time that is just catching on. You may or may not have heard of it. It’s called Paddle Surfing! It looks like a surfboard but bigger, and you bring a long a paddle to get you through the water. Surprisingly, I didn’t even get wet! I hoped straight from the Marina Del Rey Doc directly onto the Paddle Board… My core muscles activated immediately to keep balance and my buns and quads supported as I had to squat a bit… Calmly and steadily paddling through the glassy flat water in open air and alongside sailboats and even seals.. was such an exhilerating experience… much less workout! I highly reccomend it and can’t wait to go again!

Free Mini Facials at Origins…

debrapivko — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:37:31 +0000

Looking to pamper yourself, indulge your senses, and check out new products without breaking the bank? Did you know you can call Origins and schedule a complimentary mini facial for you and up to 3 of your friends? A friendly Origins representative will determine what products work best for your skin type and concerns and demonstrate how to use them by applying them for you. You can chose to lie down in the back room for a real facial experience or go with friends and sit at the counter. Either way it’s so fun and it’s great way to test out products first before buying! They are great about making you samples of products you might need to try for a few days on your own before purchasing. My ultimate favorites there are the Modern Friction Face and Body Scrub and the No Puffery Cooling Mask for eyes which is the only thing that takes the tired puffy look out of my eyes. Find your local Origins at http://www.origins.com/

Ahh… Spa Week…

debrapivko — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 23:22:32 +0000

Any of you who are stressed to the max and your paychecks stretched equally as far… breath a sigh of relief… Spa week is coming! September 14th -20th AND October 12th -18th spas all over the U.S. are offering signature treatments from facials to massages to scrubs all for a flat $50! My favorite place I go to is Aesthetic Genesis in Redondo Beach which not only offers a 60 minute facial including extractions and glycolic for $50 but also offers a $400 lazer genesis treatment for $50 as well, what a steal! Check it out and find a spa near you to book your appointment before spots fill up! http://www.spaweek.com/