Snuggle and Snow:
This photo is from: Me and my BFF chatting about how excited we are to see each other next month.
I’m visiting her in Cali to see the final Twilight installment: Breaking Dawn Part 2. Only a very, very select FEW people get a “bunny” nickname. It’s a HUGE honor.
I’m Kristi’s “Snow Bunny” because I’m always cold … and this one time on the beach in Cali I decided to be a dummy. I said I was too pale and needed a tan. It was freezing out but I didn’t care. I laid on the beach in a tiny bikini and almost passed out because it was so cold. I also have Raynauds’s which is an untreatable syndrome that basically means if I get too cold I can die. No biggie!
Anyway, I was probably just about dying at this point on the beach in Huntington (we call it the dog beach) That’s when Kristi and I got our nicknames!
She hugged me back to life … and told me I was a dummy for trying to get a tan on a day more suited for a bonfire. From that point forward she became “Snuggle Bunny” and I became “Snow Bunny”. Those are forever our nicknames. I LOVE YOU SNUGGLE … Can’t wait to see you next month.
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Been VERY Busy:
@MalindaMarika: Last day of staging my friends house before photographer takes the listing photos. I hope my work gets her house sold fast!
I have an obsession with decorating.
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Recently a new McDonald’s opened up right by my home … and I couldn’t believe how much of a big deal it was till I drove into their parking lot.
Once in the parking lot I realized one of two things:
1. I’ve moved to a small town … well a lot smaller than Los Angeles!
AND
2. People take their fast food very seriously here!
There was a high school band playing the McDonald’s tune, there were “Golden Arches” formed in hundreds of yellow balloons, there was a GIANT Ronald McDonald red sneaker car … AND EVEN THE HAMBURGLAR!
All kinds of shenanigans to be a part of for the new McDonald’s opening … it was kind of amazing. Here’s a picture of me and the Hamburglar. NICE!
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Ashleigh the Superhero:
BEFORE & AFTER Before you Read on:
It’s rare that my BFF Ashleigh makes any sort of appearance in my blog. Not cause I don’t hang out with her a lot, or that I don’t think that she’s the “cats pajamas”
… and certainly not because she’s a figment of my imagination.
The real reason is because she’s shy and doesn’t like her picture being taken too often. SO THIS … THIS “my friends” is a true exception.
So my neighbors have brought up at least eleven times since I moved into my new home last August that they really “don’t love” this one tree growing right next to their fence. Their exact words were, “If you decide to take down this tree … we’ll be ok with it … and if it happens sooner than later that will be even better.” (they’re not tree haters I promise … they just don’t have a real fondness for this particular tree - can’t love them all I guess)
Above that’s the tree the neighbors mentioned. The tree happened to be growing happily next to our fence right … but DIRECTLY on the other side of the fence rests their pool. AND I MEAN DIRECTLY. Not sure what came first the chicken or the egg but I’m assuming it was the tree. Honestly, the tree was pretty and wasn’t bothering us a bit so it wasn’t remotely close to the top of our expenses to take care of this year. It’s a pretty tree … but oh well.
Anyway … right next to the tree there were terrible dead Juniper Bushes growing in a dead like manor. NOW THOSE … I cared about and wanted them to be taken out ASAP. So Ashleigh decided to be a superhero for the day. Her new pseudo name is “The Gardener”! Here’s the male version of her as a superhero (it’s the best picture I could find)
Here’s what she accomplished while I watched “Baby B” and Charlie Girl. Seriously amazing stuff …
Above and Below: Terribly dead Juniper Bushes looking sad
Below: Down to only one … Ashleigh has pulled out the Junipers
Below: “The Tree” … Dun, Dun, Dun!
Below: Proof that Ashleigh is a superhero. That was ripped out by her bare hands
Below: Last Juniper shaking in it’s boots.
Below: “The Gardener” in action … look at her go!
Below: “The Gardener” telling those roots who’s boss
Below: Ta da! Look Ashleigh could be on HGTV … The voiceover would sound something like this … “She transformed my garden bed from dead Juniper sad to a welcoming fab in just a few hours!”
Above and Below: The AFTERS from Ashleigh’s hard work. Ash you’re amazing!
ANYWAY … didn’t Ashleigh do an amazing job. I’m taking her to brunch in a few hours.
PS: As for the tree today I had it taken down. (You’ll see the photos of that soon) Just another thing the previous homeowners overlooked. I know my neighbors are totally stoked about us having the tree taken down so … You’re welcome neighbors - I think this should make it easier for them to swim and relax this summer. AND if they’re reading this looking for a way to repay, maybe at some point their tree growing into our yard can be cut back a little. That would be lovely … truly lovely!
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To See Perfection CLICK HERE: →
Issy Schmid Imaging captured each and every moment this past weekend at my sisters wedding. Picking a photographer for your wedding day is not an easy task. Sadly we did not get to choose. Instead as a very gracious gesture, we were gifted an amateur photographer who was a family friend of my “at-the-time” future family. I had no choice but to say yes. Now that’s I’m married and less worried about offending … I would have passed up this gift for someone like Issy. She’s an artist and I WISH I had photos like this - we just don’t. Her work is true perfection!
If given the choice now, I would have chosen Issy over ours a million times over. Issy you did an amazing job! You turned perfection into a true masterpiece. I cannot wait to see the rest of the pictures down the road. Becky and Neil you looked amazing in each and every one of these pics! Congrats on your new life together
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When people tell me they have a big family I always act like I’m impressed … thing that I don’t tell them is that my family is probably bigger. I have like a million 1st cousins on my dads side … AND they are all awesome!
My dad was one of ten children. He came from a typical Irish Catholic family. Everyone has either brown, blond or red hair and bright blue eyes. When each of his siblings grew up they all had kids of their own. Here are just some of the “over 18” cousins that were at my sisters wedding.
When paying for a wedding yourself you have to create a cut off point somehow. That’s the way both my sister and I did it … We made the cut off age 18 and over. That’s how most people do it these days. Wedding are expensive and unless your parents are paying you have to make tough decisions about the guest list. There’s always a few exceptions to rule but for the most part … weddings tend to be geared towards adults.
Sometimes people get offended by this rule. If you’re one of those people you have options. You can accept happily and enjoy your adult time … decline, get a babysitter, get the in-laws or family to watch the kids, or call the bride and ask if they can make an exception.
What you can’t do is make a stink on their wedding day … AND you certaintly CAN NOT go to their wedding and not give them a gift to make a point that you’re mad. That’s what one couple did at my wedding — they still to this day out of the 152 people who attended our celebration are the only ones who did not give us a gift. The thing is … if they asked we could have discussed things and made an exception.
People make everything about themselves … but I guess that’s what makes us human. AND that’s what makes some of us … just better.
Anyway moral of the story here is that you can’t make everyone happy when planning a wedding.
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Zumba:
Holy cow! Yesterday I took my first ever Zumba class and let me tell you the rest of the day was a wash. I was able to follow along during the whole hour … and dance my pants off … but wow, that takes a lot out of you.
AND I’m not sure how I sweat so much. BUT, I was drenched! It’s crazy how intense this class is.
It was packed and there were like 60 to 65 people total. It looked like we were all at a subway terminal waiting for a bus. BUT WE WEREN’T … we were waiting to dance our pants off.
It was really fun and I could NOT stop smiling the whole class. With that said, 24 hours later … I hurt. OUCH …
Zumba is rough!
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CHECK THIS OUT. This video just makes me so happy!
Every day is a masterpiece when our dog Charlie is involved. Thanks to our GoPro camera, the song Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, and a $10 raft from Walmart, we were able to create the perfect day.
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“Rock Concert” … That is what the bottom is supposed to say but now is worn off from time.
Anyway, Jeff bought me this after seeing a recent 30 Rock episode where one was featured in a scene between Jack Donaghy and Liz Lemon. Jeff got this one on eBay.
My Granddaddy used to have one like this but with only five rock people on it. Each rock person represented a family member. Back then, I would stare at it “for what felt like hours” in his fancy office at Merrill Lynch where he kept it. This “rock concert” brings back a lot of memories … Jeff if you’re reading this I’d say this is one of the BEST gifts I’ve ever received.
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Ooooh ok you found me … Good morning.
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I just wanted a Grande Iced Green Tea Sweetened:
Just had the weirdest experience at Starbucks. I was getting out of my car and walking up to the front door to go inside and order my drink.
Outside were five great looking guys and one really pretty blond girl sitting at a table right out front. As I was walking up to the store they all stopped talking and quickly turned and started looking at me. It was like they were paparazzi or something.
I put the idea out of my head quick and went inside … as the door was shutting I overheard one of the guys say, “yeah that’s exactly what I’m thinking she should look like”.
Inside I ordered my drink and picked it up. Mmmmm a grande iced green tea with two pumps of sweetener.
Perfect. Then, I walked outside to more weirdness.
Two of the guys stopped everyone from talking again and turned their chairs to me … and one actually got up to see me better as I began walking to my car.
Then, the one guy says to the table, “just like that, they should look exactly like that”.
So weird. It was kind of like this …
Oh well …
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OMGosh … that’s ruff! … Get it “ruff”, cause he’s a dog. —- Well anyway.
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If only life were this simple.
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If Charlie could speak she would be saying the same thing.
I love dogs!
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