Thanksgiving in DC and New York City.

What joy...it was so good.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cartergirl/

Snow white and her spider.

Wait for it....could they be cuter????

Shoegasm.

Magical heels. My first pair? Pink. 1987. The feeling of giddy excitement that I experienced sliding my small 10 year old foot into them back then is the same feeling I experience now...I feel pretty and beautiful.

Of course, pink has turned to leopard print with red leather trim and my little toes have walked a long walk in the 20 years since this picture was taken. At 30 I had to agree with my favorite shoe diva...

"The fact is, sometimes it's hard to walk in a single woman's shoes...that's why we need really special ones now and then, to make the walk a
little more fun..."
Carrie Bradshaw

My unexplainable attraction to the sexy, dramatic PAINFUL stiletto became
clearer when I was introduced today to a term none other than the
"shoegasm"...

"Simply put, fabulous shoes make us feel good and feeling good makes our
brains send out positive signals to our bodies. The result is a shoegasm..."
http://www.theshoediet.com/

And it's good for us! (It's the sex of the new millennium ladies!)

"A pair of new shoes might not cure a broken heart or soothe a tension headache, but they will relieve symptoms and chase away the blues." Holly Brubach

Amen and Amen.

Float by.

I suppose it's that time again. I heard this awful screeching sound sitting at my desk in my office. I looked out my 10th floor window to see this:















We are in Pasadena, CA headed toward January 1st. Roller coasters are bound to drive by at some point!

Buds.

JUST GIVE ME 5 MINUTES.
5 MINUTES IS ALL I NEEDAND I WILL BE GOOD AS NEW!

You tell anyone about this and I'm peeing in your shoes!

Sometimes your bed just feels so gooooooooooood!

Ok, I'll be his friend - but I don't have to like it.

Hilarity coming to a theatre (or bar) near you.

I concur. Waaaaaaaahoooooo!

Summer time.

It's been good to me this year. I knew things were off to a good start when I discovered that Daylight Savings would be coming earlier this year - adding a couple of valued weeks of extended summer evening bliss. I never took for granted the view from my balcony facing West. I leaned in to every sunset and enjoyed the sky turning colors and resting in a cool, vibrant blue...my favorite color.

Maybe this is why.

In May I started swimming at the pool adjacent to my high school back in Duarte on the weekends. I got a great tan and I'm sure, burned a few good calories. But more than that - I just loved seeing the blue water and enjoying the calm quiet as I swam 8 feet below the surface... I love this pool and this town. It was very cool to come back - it looks exactly the same as it did 10 years ago when my father, brother, uncle and sister would all pile in the car during the summers and go for a swim each day at noon...of course, cherry Slurpees and Costco hot dogs were to follow. (if you shop there - you know the phenomenon)

May also brought the much awaited WICKED! which my mother bought me great seats to for my 30th birthday last November. (Yes, that's how long we waited for the night/seats she wanted.) It was amazing - their voices are so strong and gorgeous!

My older sister Katherine (seen here with mom) graduated with a Masters in Practical Theology in June. She's addicted to writing papers and taking tests...basically - college in general.

The kids and I joined in the church beach party at my favorite beach - Dana Point.

I'll tell ya, two rambunctious little pups sure can make for a hectic day at the beach for mommy. Yet THEY were the one's sleeping on the way home!

HEY - I wanna nap!

With July came as send off for Shawna Yetka on her move to Florida for an adventure that included school. And Leah finally arrived - so by July, it was time to show her off - PARTY, PARTY! With margaritas, of course.

(Left: Kiko - the hot mama, Elana and moi!)

Other than my previous post on Las Vegas - most of July was consumed with packing, packing and more packing. My roommate Jennifer bought a condo about 8 blocks from where we currently rented in Pasadena.

It was so tough for me to say goodbye to my beloved apartment and home of 3.5 years. But this was the plan to pack and move from the apartment in preparation for Nashville in early '08.

And so...the packing began. See here, Timmy was found helping me pack...it was disguised as sleeping in the sun behind my box.

Jenn's new condo is most excellently located within walking distance to Paseo Colorado, an outdoor mecca of high end shopping movies and dining, and the Shops on Lake, a small neighborhood feel...we can often be found at dusk walking the puppies along on our way to a light dinner at a local cafe.

Madi from Fresno came down for a go-go-go holiday weekend to begin September! I walked to pick her up from the bus stop that was 1.5 blocks from our new apartment late Friday evening! We woke up bright and early Saturday, dropped the pups off at my mom and dad's - then drove to DISNEYLAND!

Woohoo! I love The Happiest Place On Earth - I've been going every year for my entire life and love it. L-O-V-E. Short lines made up for HOT/HUMID weather. (uhg.)

That night I slept in heaven. With a chocolate chip cookie, down filled pillows and the most comfortable bed EVER...our hotel room was a highlight of the weekend. (sung to the tune of My Fair Lady)

"I could have SLEPT allllll night, I could have slept all night and stiiiiiiiilll have asked for mooooooooore..." The next morning she very sweetly let me lounge around lazily (right) before heading off to the beach.

That would be Laguna Beach. Ahhh...I love this small town nestled between hills along the Pacific coast. Often riddled with traffic - both on foot and by convertibles with the top down - it is a town with amazing energy, while effervescing vacation vibes. I'd love to make a small home here one day...if only to visit and have all of YOU come stay on my down pillows :)

The shops are filled with beautiful art and home furnishings and glassware. There are a few shops there that I could live in...

And then a drive down South to Sand Diego... A little John McLaughlin anyone?

September 7th marked the 2 year berfth of my little Huck Fin - Timmy. I made him a birthday cake out of dog food and the two puppies inhaled it! (they said I'm a great baker)
On the 16th a friendly face came to town, Mark. He was a friend of a friend and we had a great time showing him the whirlwind tour of Santa Monica/3rd Street, Mulholland Drive, the HOLLYWOOD sign, Hollywood & Highland, the Stars on Hollywood Blvd, PINKS famous hotdog stand, and Rodeo Drive.

Katherine thought the day wouldn't be complete without a visit to a massive Pottery Barn at 3rd Street Prom. I don't question the crazy woman with the camera. I just say cheese.










Then we met up at Disneyland - good times!

So here's to a great Fall in Southern California, looking forward to a Thanksgiving in Washington, D.C. and NYC and of course - making my way to Nashville in 2008!

Hope you all had a good Summer :)

8 delightful tidbits.

The Rules:
1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.
2. Each player starts with 8 random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write their own blog (about their 8 things) and post these rules.
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

Shouldn't be hard thinking up some more habits/facts/confessions! Hmm...

1. I must rinse my feet before going to bed – EVERY TIME. The foot pores must be opened and cooled and of course, clean.

2. Every night, in bed, when I turn off the tv and the light - when the night's quiet settles over me and my day ends - I say aloud to my two puppies: “night-night babies, mommy loves you” – no matter if they’ve been asleep in their crates for an hour.

3. . I instantly start evaluating things and collecting in my mind how I would improve a process when introduced to something new. I can’t help it. I enjoy the challenge of creating smooth-running, effective efficiency.

4. I’m constantly designing in my head. I could live in front of HGTV all weekend. (If I had a more comfortable couch and Timmy would stop getting into everything because of boredom)

5. To continue Christine’s drawing theme – I drew during class in college. I remember whole lectures when I looked back at parts of the drawing.

6. I have fantasized about the following scene for as long as I can remember: (sound familiar Suz?)
Big gorgeous kitchen, lots of windows, fresh flowers on the granite topped island. The puppies playing on the cool tile near my feet while I cook and Frank Sinatra swooning in the background. The smell of coffee brewing and blueberry pancakes cooking on the Viking stove. Friends sitting drinking orange juice at the counter and a few more knocking at the door. You can hear laughter and stories being told to more laughter.

7. I secretly wish to be discovered as a singer. Stemming of course from singing my whole life, singing on a worship album (go buy it – it’s amazing ) with some amazing talent, having best friends who can rock the house and put out albums, and a short stint dating a producer. I’m destined to seek out those places with amazing acoustics, such as the garage in my apartment complex and my shower, and belt it out like only a closet diva can.

8. I want to get my personal trainers certification and, like Brad Pitt for the movie Troy, see what my body can really look like when pushed beyond my perceived limits.

Oprah: This is what's amazing...your body.

Brad Pitt: Oh, stop! The body is pretty amazing. It will
acclimate and do what you tell it it needs to do. [My trainer] said if you want
to get to where you want to get to for this thing you have to put yourself in a
place of discomfort every day. You have to push through it. I figured I'm about
to turn 40 and impending mid-life crisis, so let's see.

I'm tagging these peeps - but will have to do it via email - cuz they're not bloggers: Elana, Katherine, Amie, Jennifer, Sue

Shoe wisdom.

"Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes.
That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them...
and you have their shoes."

~FRIEDA NORRIS

A sunday afternoon...

Are you sleeping?
No. Are you?
No.

4th of July in Paris

I was late…again.
I woke up at 7:02.
I'm supposed to be here "3 minutes before whoever is watching" according to David Bach and Smart Women Finish Rich.
Hmpf.
I'm just NOT a 6:30 in the morning person. Of course, I'm still on Las Vegas time. Speaking of which - here are the rest of my Las Vegas experience over July 4th:

This was Timmy and Lacey's longest drive - travel time = 5 hrs. Lacey was alert the entire time - she's such a little spitfire! Timmy slept almost the entire way. In a last minute plan, I decided to drive with my dogs to Las Vegas and board them there. This was very nerve racking for a 1st-timer...and I do mean ME, not the dogs. I was shocked at the shear volume of noise in the kennel area. "My dogs are gonna FREAK OUT." But I had no choice...we were there and they were going in.


We did visit them the next day...they were happy to see me for about :08 then they were off to explore the adventure in smells that was the play yard.

Are they kidding?

Note: After sucking in your $7, a robotic hand pops out of this machine and smacks you upside yo' head. Then an R2D2 voice says:




"You have now paid the "STUPID" fine. Move along."

My brother and I saw this in the casino and said simultaneously, "they still have these???"







Our hotel was Mardi Gras style...I wish I had photographed the carpet - it was kickin'.
These crazy 15' heads hung above the gaming areas. Their eyes glowed...it was creepy cool.
























This corridor was so neat to me. Who knows where it's actually taking you! Notice the moving walkways on either side. SHEESH people! Let's work off those free drinks, why don't we. I had the crazy urge to run with arms flailing about down the center screaming "Aaaaaaaaaaaaagh!" but my brother wouldn't allow it. (He's the type to do a 180, walk the other way and pretend he doesn't know you.)







But we spent most of our time on the strip in two Hotels: They are fabulous...




The PARIS - enchanting, romantic and...decadent:






































Ok, know this now: I love great tasting food. I love great looking food. This was both:

Our lunch...Chicken Crepes are heaven.











Our dessert...heaven x's 1,000:





This bakery was amazing. I felt like a kid in a candy store. what to try?? So glad my mom had her heart set on something...I'd have been there all day deciding!

Just LOOK at the color and textures! You can almost taste the pictures!











We settled down to share the best eclair EVER. As my mother said, "perfect custard".








Oh my goodness.




Pinch me.









My mom is so COOL. She has TERRIFIC luck on the 1 cent slots in PLANET HOLLYWOOD casino and could play forever on $20 alone. It was a BLAST:

BIG B - BIG B - BIG B!!!! (B = bonus spins)













...Before you know it, it's 10:30PM and then we step outside. The energy at night is so amazing!




























I wanted one of these to install in my entryway -- whattaya think?

GORGEOUS in person.
Las Vegas was crazy HOT. MELTING HOT. My radiator said HELL NO the night before a national holiday.

Side note: When you're driving along with a friend, your A/C blowing hard and you turn to each other and say it smells like a fish market...don't keep driving thinking you must have run over a fishy skunk. It might be your radiator hose that has burst!

So I paid $600 and take an extra day off work. There would be no mechanic in to lay hands on my car and thus no driving home on 7/4 as planned. But the next day I went to pick up my car - then the puppies. It was FREAKIN' HOT.

SAY WHAT???

And I must mention that it was 122 degrees when I picked up Timmy & Lacey. YIKES. I threw ice cubes on the back seat for the dogs to chomp on and keep cool while the A/C worked it's trusty magic. We made it home and boy did I appreciate our 85 degree weather...WHY. Why do we really need it that hot in good 'ole LV?? INSANE.


I enjoyed time with mom, as I don't think I really saw dad or Edward for more than 4 hours over the 4 days! We left and arrived while they slept (like bears hibernating!) So I guess you'd say it was a girlie getaway!


Thanks mom - love you bunches!