Monthly Archives: January 2011

At a loss…

of how to title this particular post. I was all set to rave about the fantastic time we had at Conan yesterday but early this morning I received bad news that my Dad passed away from liver cancer. Many of you may know I was not close to my Father who lived in Michigan. The last time I remember seeing him, I was about 4 years old. We somewhat kept correspondence with each other, more in the last few years. I occasionally got Christmas and Birthday cards from him. It’s ironic that I was just at CVS on Wednesday making prints of Olivia to send for his birthday. I will now send them to my Grandmother *his Mommy, whom I’m named after, she is 94* and I last saw when I was an infant. I’m by no means devastated, I knew he was ill. I suppose I’m a bit numb to my emotions about it. I am sad but it’s weird to be sad about someone you haven’t had a relationship with in the past 30 years. I am his only child and I do remember *vaguely spending time with him as a child*. The one thing that links me to my Dad is *this is going to sound silly* our freckles. My Dad was covered in freckles *from his Irish Mommy, Elizabeth* and I am still hoping Olivia will have freckles too.

I love you Dad

January 11, 1945 – January 14, 2011

He taught me how to swim

I remember spending our summers in Apple Valley, he caught a rattlesnake once.

For the short time they were together, my Mom and Dad really loved each other.
Yesterday was awesome, we met our super fantastic friends Nicolette & Ale *who just returned from Italy and Paris, MEGA JEALOUS!!!* at the studio and we had lunch at a yummy Mexican restaurant *I am on a diet, right??* I was a little disappointed that I wasn’t the only one with a Conan shirt *several folks made shirts, but mine was the nicest*

We were seated in a great spot for the taping. The band came out in the audience and La Bamba played right next to me. It was nearly impossible to take pictures *guards were giving me the “Don’t even think about it” stare. The best I could do was wear my phone around my neck and turned on the video as the show ended. I wasn’t able to see what I was filming but this was the best I could do.
//www.youtube.com/get_player
Ricky Gervais was hilarious, can’t wait to see him host the Golden Globes Sunday. Wouldn’t you know my stupid DVR did not record Conan due to a scheduling conflict *it recorded The Office reruns instead, BLAST!!* According to my friend Jenn, you can clearly see us sitting in the opening of the show. I can’t find it on Hulu either. Hopefully, I’ll catch it on rerun in the next few weeks.
Oh well, I’m off to run errands all day. *sadface*

Olivia Lily’s Greatest Hits

This Sunday Antz made a shocking discovery. Liv is cutting her first tooth!!! HOLY BALLS!

You can barely see it, but we can feel the ridges
Can you see the faint outline?
This feels so epic. My lovely is making huge developments everyday.
I enrolled Liv in the sippy cup academy.

Antz doesn’t seem so keen on her using a sippy cup *he thinks she’ll hit her lip on the cup* but I am relentless. Another development I am most excited about is somehow Liv learned how to blow raspberries *well, I suppose she learned it from me, I give her raspberries on her tummy everytime I change her* so one night she crawled up onto my belly, I thought she was trying to go after my boob *not loving that she pulls at my shirt all the time* but instead she lifted my shirt and gave me the loudest raspberry on my tummy. I, of course, video-ed it but my tummy is way to gross to post here. It was rad though, trust me!
She is pulling herself up using her walker and standing/walking assisted

This morning Mr Mailman finally delivered my orders.

My friend Aura suggested to buy books in French to help us both learn.
I am loving her Uggs but they are mighty big, they are size 12 – 24 months so at least she’ll grow into them.
Tomorrow I’m going to go to CVS to print out photos of Liv since so many people ask to see them and I show them my iphone but they are too small *for older folks, you know they are afraid of technology* I was going to wait until we had all 52 weeks of her pics but we have more than half and I want to put together a scrapbook for her.
Olivia Lily 31 Weeks

Financial Planning ACKK!!

I learned a hard lesson this weekend. My 5 day love affair with the house in Eagle Rock has come to an abrupt end. I found out from my neighbor’s realtor *because the rude listing agent never called me back UNprofessional!!* that several offers were submitted and one of the offers, which is unknown, was accepted. The agent had clients who offered $650k so we know it was more than that. Whew! I never had a chance. Whoever got the place still got a rad bargain. The serious lesson I am learning, *besides to stop with the one night stands with houses I’m not prepared to buy* is real estate is all about being ready to make an offer, obviously but most importantly, timing! The timing must be right and I know my time is nowhere near right. I need to be realistic and stick to my resolutions. Pay off my credit cards! Continue increasing our savings accounts, make repairs and renovations to this house to get ready for selling *hoping by 2013* and stop compromising my goals. I know I want to live in Atwater Village, so I need to focus on that area *as little that is available there*

I am counting down until our tax appointment with our amazing CPA and my *Jewish Aunt*, Gail. I’m going to ask her to refer us to a good financial advisor because I am feeling pretty limited on how to allocate our savings. I read Money magazine, watch every Suze Orman show *I have 3 of her books* and read financial blogs but I feel like I need someone to manage our money in order to reach our short term and long term goals. I also need to clearly redefine my goals because I tend to overwhelm Antz *and myself* with my ever growing list of things I’d like to do. Olivia’s school is my #1 priority, then there’s a new house, emergency fund, retirement, renovating this house, college savings and travel. That’s a 7 course meal of a portfolio! I’m too busy thinking about the future, I’m not even thinking about our everyday expenses. I continue to torture myself by finding these incredible houses even though I won’t be ready to buy until Summer/Fall of 2013.
I get so caught up in the catch-22 of the housing market. If it improves in 2 years great, we will sell at a profit but won’t be able to afford to buy in my ideal neighborhood. If the market continues to decline, Boo, we may not sell or may have to short sale *if we qualify, and after months of dealing with my mortgage company, they are pretty evil* but we may get a sweet deal in our ideal neighborhood. It reminds me of how the cable or cell phone companies treat customers. I am constantly seeing these amazing new customer incentives but not much for existing customers except an increase in rates *in the past 4 years my AT&T, ADT and Directv bills have increased* yet they send me weekly mail saying if I was a new customer I would get 3 months free, low introductory rates, yadda…yadda…yadda! Same with homeowners, I feel like a survivor in this market, we bought at the height of the bubble February 2006, pretty much had the worst mortgage ever *ridic high interest rate {close to double digits}, 6 month ARM, interest-only and paid close to 40% more than our house is currently worth* even though we were pleased as punch to get the loan, get the house and had the world’s record of awesome escrow *$15k cash credit* I am now considered a homeowner vet, I successfully modified our loan to a non-greedy interest rate, and negotiated our property taxes to a lower rate *it’s only fair since our house is valued at $5 bucks* What reward or incentives come our way? No hefty $6000 first time buyers credit. No, yummy historically low interest rate. Now, I get it, we shouldn’t have jumped off the cliff with no parachute along with every other cuu-rrazy American buying up houses 5 years ago like they were ipods

but…
would we have qualified for a loan today? Maybe not. We definitely wouldn’t have the now mandatory 10% down payment *nor would we have been able to save it with today’s bank stupid savings rates* It almost feels like because we didn’t foreclose or missed a payment, we are the suckers. I don’t see a way out. We can stay here, not my favorite option, but would we ever recuperate our purchase value? Even if we did completely renovate and repair our foundation issues, that would only make us the most expensive house on the block *thanks to a bit of online snooping/I mean research, most of my neighbors have lived here 20+ years and purchased under $100k. Now it’s becoming clear to me why our sellers were so quick to accept our full price offer and graciously gave us the $15k credit.

Young, naive kids! He should be giving a thumbs down.

I can “what if” all day but the bottom line is, I want to move on. I am determined, persist *almost to an annoying degree* and realistic? with my plan. I am hoping to get our agent *who has gone missing* over here to assess our house and pretty much validate my repair/get the house seller ready plan. I also want to meet with a financial advisor that can help me invest our money more aggressively without become Bernie Madoff. I want to find a steal in AV with all my Must Haves all in time to cook Thanksgiving dinner #6 by 2013. Dream the impossible dream, right?

I’m a house stalker part 2

So, I tried to rid my stalker ways but I’ve been leaving voice mails like cuu-rrazy with the listing agent of my new *God, I’m so fickle!!* Dream House. Homeboy must not want anything to do with me because he is not returning my calls *BOO* So I had to turn stalker-psycho, today I took Antz to see the house. It’s obvious someone must know I was on the property because there was a string tied around the gate to keep me out. Psssh, no measly string will stop me from peeking. I tried to take more pics of the interior of the house with no luck *the screens make it difficult*. I think I have a better grasp of the layout now, *using my peeking Tom skills* it appears to have 2 bedrooms downstairs, a pink tile bathroom, a den or 3rd bedroom is next to what I assumed was the formal dining room. Upstairs there is a master bedroom with an adjoining sitting room *I would use as a dressing room complete with a vanity* that attaches to another balcony. Almost every room has dark *gorgeous* hardwood floors with exception to the kitchen and the sitting room *gross carpet* and there are arched doorways everywhere. My 2 biggest issues are the lack of crown molding/baseboards *but I suppose most Spanish style don’t have molding* and the obvious water damage/roof problem. I love clay tile roofs but I know they are particularly expensive to repair. I am now starting to see why the price is so low. LAME!! Oh well, I’m still having a serious crush…

Last time I didn’t get any pics of the chimney. Our foundation is shifting due to excess water, being on a hill and the weight of our brick chimney pulling the house to the right
*this pic is before we bought the house in 2006*
I had to be sure the chimney looked structurally sound. I would still hire a geologist to inspect it.
Lovely view of the yard

Hello, my two lovelies

 

Here’s the sitting room and what I am hoping is the master bedroom. So there are 2 balconies!!

 

One of the rooms, the hardwood floors look wonderful.

This icky carpet has got to go! You can see the balcony and the tarp that I suspect is keeping water out of the downstairs breakfast nook.

 

The clay tiles need replacing. I am happy the house has plenty of security lighting

 

This is perfect, I cannot stand rough stucco but this cake-like stucco is smooth and doesn’t bother me at all

I love the deck, which I would paint black

This is the opposite side of the kitchen *no stove or fridge*

 

I noticed this side gate and…
peeked in these windows. None of the pics of the bathroom came out, the screens kept reflecting my camera

Like this, you can see my reflection but in this one you can see the living room and breakfast nook and lovely arches!

 

These are the living room stairs. Every house I’ve lived in has had stairs *our last apartment was 3 stories with a loft* so I’m used to it by now *and I need all the exercise I can get*

 

That HVAC system looks as old as ours, it will need replacing

 

Great shot of the back of the house/deck
The pool and storage shed

 

Not loving the dolphin tile, I would much prefer this tile
Sorry, my only picture is from a show I saw on HGTV, but it looks sweet in person
I definitely want a beach entry, ugh the pool needs a cleaning!

 

There are some wicked rad beach entry pools, this last one is my fave!!

There is too much brick happening, no me gusta bricks
Last time I was there I couldn’t find the pool equipment *pump/heater* so this time I found it behind the storage shed. It’s not too loud and it’s great that it’s not close to the house. I am worried about that puddle. It is either from the rain we had last week *but wouldn’t it be dry by now?* or most likely a leak from the pool plumbing *No more problems!!*

Another close up of that damn tarp!
So Antz general impression was rad, he loves the space, the style, pool, location and price *most of all* but he didn’t like the lack of privacy from the neighbors on each side, the amount of renovations we would need or the lack of views, although these views from the stairs looked pretty awesome to me.
I have to agree with him about the privacy issue, the house next door is much higher and can see into the backyard. We are totally spoiled in our current backyard, we can see everyone’s yards but they can’t see into ours *well without using a ladder* and the view isn’t so bad!!
Last spring
Well, tomorrow my neighbors are having an open house, it’s funny that they are using a realtor we know. We are going to ask the agent over to check out our house and give us some advice, then if it’s not dark out, maybe she can get the keys to *officially, non-stalker style* show us the house in Eagle Rock. Tomorrow will be busy bees, DirecTV guy is coming in the morning to fix our bedroom DVR *it’s been pretty wonky since the new satellite was installed* we are supposed to meet friends at the Hollywood farmers market and Antz wants to go visit his Aunt & Uncle.
On my resolution update, I have been battling with my Wii Fit, gain .09 lbs lose .09 lbs, all week but I may have won the war. This morning I did my regular fitness routine *I am undefeated in Super Hula Hoops and Step* but I didn’t expect any major loss. I measured myself and would you know it, I have lost 4 lbs since January 3rd??!! I lost 2.6 lbs this morning alone. I am so loving Wii Fit, too bad I didn’t keep up with it when we bought it 2 years ago. I suppose getting preggers was a good enough excuse. I am right on track to losing 22 lbs in 2 months. I don’t even miss chocolate yet! So to celebrate this major feat, Antz *who has lost 2 lbs* treated ourselves to one of our favorite Indonesian restaurants this afternoon. Our favorite dish is Ayam Bakar which must translate to yummy fucking chicken, because that is precisely what it is!
Deliciousness!!

 

She’s too big to stay in the BabyHawk

This kid thinks shes an adult!!
The owner of the restaurant *who must be 100 years old* is in love with Olivia, she took her and was kissing her and showed her to everyone who worked there. They played peek-a-boo while Antz and I pigged out. I completely forgot to take a pic of Liv and the owner *she is so cute!*
Since we were on that side of town, we made an impromptu visit to Aimee while she was at work. She really wanted us to stay at her house until she got off but we needed to get Liv to bed. Whilst driving home we noticed a ton of people outside of a new shop in Eagle Rock. We were so intruiged, we parked and checked it out.
So this is usually what it’s like in Atwater Village but this place just opened in Eagle Rock

 

I was loving the DJ, I friended him on facebook and told him he was working at Livs 3rd birthday party.

 

I heart everything, there was DIY jewelry making, toy, adorable things that tested my credit card resolution  *I somehow resisted*

I want this painting, I wanted everything this that joint!!!

 

 

I must have this teapot one day after we get the new house

 

How cute are they? I so wish I wore my bunny ears 🙁

 

There was a long line of folks getting ice cream treats in front of the store

 

These flavors sound super yum!!

I don’t know if I’ve made this known but I am addicted *like scary crackhead-ish, addicted* to french fries. However, I am sticking to my diet and I passed up the food trucks *bows to applause*

My name is Elizabeth, and I am a house stalker!!

I found out the hard way that the Barnsdall Art Park farmers market is closed this week. BOO! Maybe tomorrow we can find one whilst I’m out with Aimee *I score 2 points everytime I use the W word!!* So I just went to the grocery store and picked up some basics and tons of water. On the drive home I just so happened to be in Eagle Rock near the foreclosure house I mentioned a few days ago, sooo…I decided to drive by just to take a peek. I was annoyed that there weren’t any photos of the house on the listing website so that lead me to believe the house was in pretty poor condition. I have seen foreclosures on HGTV that have been trashed by vindictive owners and they strip the house down to the studs. I expected to see the same but aside from some neglected landscaping, and a tarp over the balcony roof, it looks pretty fucking sweet. I mean, dare I say it? from what I saw this house may actually be nicer than my Atwater Village house! The location doesn’t compare, as lovely as Eagle Rock is *as well as being 10 minutes from Antz job* it’s a bit boring, too suburban for me. The street is mega wide.

This street is like a mile wide and smooth even sidewalks, something you never see in Highland Park

This is our street, the truck would not have been able to fit if it weren’t Friday and everyone was at work. You basically play chicken with oncoming traffic if you head up the hill.

I took pictures Paparazzo style because I was sure the neighbors would come out and chase me away.

The tarp is a huge red flag, if there is roof damage, that could be a deal breaker *like I’m in a position to make deals, hah!*

I should wear a badge that says “Hello, I’m Liz and I’ll be stalking your house today!” 🙂

The landscape needs ton of work *I am not a fan of palm trees*

The lawn needs new sod, the driveway needs repaving and I want a security fence and gate.

I didn’t expect the gate to be unlocked
Ooops, I just had to take a peek

I was pleasantly surprised by what I saw in the backyard

It is so rare to find a backyard with a pool and grassy space *although it needs landscaping*
Perfect space for BBQ grill and dining set

This deck is huge but I would most likely paint it another color *something brighter*

Bricky = icky!

The diving board has got to go!

This pool needs a makeover!
I am thinking something similar to this *do you love how nuts I am for using a pool from Mtv Cribs?*
I love this fireplace/waterfall

I love a beach entry freeform pool

This guy needs total demo

I love how they have a pool cover and don’t use it…FAIL!

Here’s a sneak peek at the kitchen, not loving the cabinets or tile countertops but they are definitely tolerable. I like the floors and the space. I am spazzing over that shiny silver object, could it be? a dishwasher!!! Sweet!

So of course, I am completely obsessed *borderline crazy* with this house. Not only does it fit all my must-haves but the price is ridic!! BANANAS!! It almost scares me, my theory is someone must already have an offer on the house and the bank is taking forever to close. Antz theory is someone was either murdered inside or there are poltergeist in the house. Neither would stop me from wanting this house. Next step is to have our agent assess our house *my guess is $50 bucks* and give us a reality check on selling in this market. I also want her advice for what projects/how should we spend our money on remodeling. Tomorrow I’m going to call the listing agent for this house and see if there are any offers and if not, if he could give us a showing this weekend. How is this house still available for this price? What’s the catch? I would sell everything I owned *except my wedding ring* to get into this house. Now I’m living in Fantasyland!!

Measuring, measuring….ooh!

This word is haunting me! I wanted to spare myself the daily scrutiny of weighing but it seems I may have to in order to track my progress. So I step onto the board and wait with nervous anticipation while the Mii tells me she is measuring, measuring…last night I lost .9 lbs but it was the same .9 lb I somehow gained Monday. I suppose I should stop breathing because everything I do consumes calories. Last night I did the Island lap run for 15 minutes. This would be a fun, light run for my skinny bitches friends but for me, it was a major feat. I was sweating, huffing and puffing. I am stunned I finished it. I actually added strength training to my routine since my muscles are close to atrophying from non use. I am sore today but overall I feel good psychically and mentally. I just have to keep this up for the next 8 weeks.

Today Liv and I are going to the Barnsdall Art Park in Hollywood to pick up some healthies. These are the produce that is in season now:

Apples
Pears
Winter Squash
Broccoli
Kale
Chard
Beets
Turnips
Oranges
Tangerines

We’ve tried Winter squash, kale and chard. Broccoli is not a good idea because it causes extreme gas *and Liv has enough of that on her own* Doc Wang said to not give her any citrus just yet so that leaves apples, pears and beets *no way turnips* This morning she tried her first official fruit….organic bananas!!

I think I am ready to start combining foods from my baby cookbook.

 
Tomorrow will be a busy day, Aimee and I are going back to Ikea to find a TV stand and I need to go to Target. Now forgive my lazy ass but I need a nap, all this eating right and exercise has made me sleepy so Liv and I will catch a catnap. Au revoir

Shattered

That is the status of my *now old* iphone screen. This morning I went to Ikea to help the BFF find some cute things for her apartment. Aimee devoured Swedish meatballs and cold salmon while I ate 3 grapes from a fruit salad which was more honeydew than anything else. I even brought my own water so I wouldn’t be tempted to buy lemonade in the cafe.

As I was shoving Liv’s diaper bag under her stroller, my iphone fell out of the side pocket and fell the great distance of less than 6 inches. I drop my phone on a daily basis so this isn’t new for me but when I looked at the screen, I saw it was shattered like a mirror. D’OH!! I was sooo mega bummed because when I bought the phones back in June, the saleswoman was trying hard to get me to sign up for the additional warranty. Being budget-minded at the time, I confidently declined, so of course, it comes back to bite me in the arse! Well, I called AT & T *useless, I know* and they said all I could do was take it to the Apple store and see if it’s covered under the limited warranty. I just rolled my eyes because from my experience *even when I had the extended warranty coverage* I haven’t been able to get anything repaired from Apple for under $200! BOO!! Well, I made an appt and went in with low expectations. I was thinking worst case scenario, the phone was still working, I could sell it for parts on eBay for $20 and buy a new phone. The Apple guy *who was super cute* looked at it and said, if you knew how many people this happens to. He said there was a construction worker who dropped his phone from 3 story buildings with had no damage but drop it 6 inches and it’s pulverized! Apple guy was so cool, at first he gave me the yadda, yadda…no warranty coverage…it costs $200 for a replacement phone spiel but he must have made a Be awesome New Years Resolution because he told me if I bought the extended warranty for $69, he would give me a replacement phone free. WHAAA? Plop went my Visa and in 15 minutes I had a shiny new iPhone. Talk about Winner!! *points at this girl*

So I am back in love with Apple and I am vowing to NEVER drop this new phone *yeah right, they make these phones small enough and nothing that you can tie around it just so it does drop* but I am looking at buying this awesome case *made of environmentally friendly bamboo* to protect it better than my thin, plastic Hello Kitty bumper has been.

I tried out Liv’s new Babylegs *an awesome gift from Antz sister, Debra* and I am addicted!! I am ready to buy her like 10 pair. I was worried about what size to order *newborn or regular* but obviously she needs regular for her cute, chubby legs *too bad her Mom’s legs aren’t cute, just chubby*. I took some adorable photos with Liv & Lola.

I couldn’t get her to sit still but I love how adorable she looks with her Babylegs!!

New Perspectives

I am feeling a bit down in the dumps because A. I’m disappointed we couldn’t go hiking this past Sunday and B. I weighed myself on Wii fit today *after what I thought was a kickass workout* and I’ve gained .9 lbs!! Of course January is the month of nonstop Weight Watchers and fitness center commercials and somehow my DVR is conspiring against me by mistakenly recording an episode of I Used to be Fat. Well, I still am and I must do something about it. I am usually not so wrapped up in my weight, calorie counting or exercise but I have a new perspective, Olivia. Like it or not, I am her role model. What I eat, how I behave and my image will one day become mimicked by Liv. As confident as I may feel inside *I’m fabulous and I own it*, I don’t want to continue poor nutrition and lack of fitness habits that Liv may one day pick up. I am so thrilled she is loving her veggies but now she is staring me down while I eat ice cream or chips with a look of astonishment. Can I please vote for being pregnant for 2 years?? I actually lost weight *I know, I’m a freak of nature* whilst I was preggers. You could see in my face *only 1 1/2 chins* and my back how much slimmer I was 7 months ago. I was eating whatever I wanted and noone was looking at me with disgust. People opened doors for me with a smile and the clothes….heavenly, maxi dresses, loose tunics, leggings everyday. Now when I wear a maxi dress it looks like I’m modeling a tent. I adore having Olivia here but I miss those carefree eat/nap all day preggers days. Not to miss the point, I have a new perspective, start buying food with the same care and thoughtfulness as I do our daughter. I wouldn’t give her anything non-organic or fresh, so why not us? I think juice will rot her *non existent teeth* yet I’ll consume gallons of CranGrape and lemonade *the yummiest nectar on the planet* I am no longer going to be a contradiction. I hated when my own Mother gave me the “Do as I say, not as I do” creed, so I’ll have to change my act before Liv gets any older. I want to be successful not for vanity, but I want to practice what I preach. When I bought the Beaba Babycook, everyone asked me if I would be eating the same veggies I prepare for Liv. I told them no way, GROSS. Now I get it! *Light bulb flashes over my head* I definitely want to set an example for my kid but I’m not gonna lie, I don’t want to live the rest of my life avoiding fast food or having to bring my own snacks to a party *that is mega weird* That’s why Weight Watchers and diets don’t appeal to me. I want to enjoy food not stress over it. I want to be spontaneous, not have to eat the same boring salad everyday at noon. Well, the only reasonable answer I could come up with is to try to find balance. Eat what I like but less of it. As I mentioned in my resolutions, no ordering large servings. Only drink water during the week *both has been pretty easy to abide by*, no more late night meals and snacking, and eat more veggies!! I really enjoyed working out with the Wii fit today *until I weighed myself* so to avoid discouragement, I will only weigh myself once a week. I am excited to start going to volleyball again and I know when I start seeing Gilli *when Antz Mom returns from Mexico* she’ll get my body readjusted. I am actually glad I am surrounded by all this weight loss propaganda, it’s quite the motivator! I even found my muse, this chick is fucking rad and I want to be her….

 

Good news is we may have a wedding to attend in September and it would be pretty rad to fit nicely into this little number by then, the dress happens to be on sale too.

While I’m at it, this head piece by Band.o is looking pretty sweet

 

I love a simple, chic chignon!!
I forgot to mention, I practiced French today and I actually retained a few phrases. I can say Check Please, I am allergic to and excuse me excellently. I still want to buy that Rosetta Stone from Craigslist, s’vous plait!!

First Official post of the New Year

Exciting, right? Well, I am hoping this year will be full of awesome DIY projects and we may even get our plumbing fixed once and for all in March. The good news is Antz & I started using our Wii Fit again *although the last time we used it was 739 days ago, sheesh* The bad news is I’ve gained a whooping 19 pounds since that last time I used it and that was 2 years ago! Yesterday we wanted to go to our favorite hike in Malibu with Antz nephews and their wives, however the rain was relentless and we ended up going to brunch *the Marmalade Cafe is mega yummy*

I am doing well with my all water, all the time goal. I did have some champagne on New Years eve. Speaking of new years, pretty low key for us. We didn’t go to The Nutcracker because we didn’t want our lovely to talk through the entire performance. So we stayed home, watched the countdown with my 2 fave hosts, The Silver Fox & Kathy Griffin.

There was a bunch of fireworks at midnight. Liv totally feel asleep and we spent Saturday cleaning the house and we visited Antz sister Debra *she had Christmas presents for us*

I have been thinking about our plan to sell this house. It’s such a catch-22 getting out of this house and into my Dream House. We can’t sell at a profit in this current market because we need to have enough to pay off our mortgage. Yet, if the market does improve, we won’t be able to afford to buy a new house in our ideal neighborhood. I sometimes wish we weren’t so quick to buy in Highland Park and maybe we would have been better off to wait until we could afford Atwater Village but overall, I’m sure we made the best decision because, at least we have a house now. Talking to Antz yesterday, as we were dropping off his niece and nephew, we were in Atwater Village and all the shops were closed *as they usually are on Sunday* my biggest concern is that if/when we do move to AV, the economy may get so bad that the shops would close and one of the biggest factors of us moving there would be gone. So far 4 of our fave shops have closed and I don’t see how these Mom & Pop shops will substain. I am also concerned with the house on the right of my Dream House, it’s in pretty bad shape and I don’t want to make the same mistake twice and end up with undesirable neighbors *no fucking way* If the house is an indication of the people who live there, that will be a total deal-breaker. I refuse to live near any assholes that don’t maintain their house. I was in the area last week and I drove down Glenmanor *I’m such a stalker* I noticed barricades were in front of the house, I saw the rain caused the giant tree branches to break off. SCARY!

That’s really dangerous *yet another issue to deal with if we bought the house, too many overgrown trees and shrubs* The front yard looked like this in 2008…

The greenery provide privacy but overwhelm the house

 

The lawn is getting lost in the forest of bushes

I like the space but this is too much shrubbery. I would love to take out a majority of the trees and bushes and plant cream peonies. I also really want a raised garden but I need to have a landscaper design the right plants so we don’t end up having to replant every 2 months.
Alright, I need to stop being lame!! Crazy person alert, planning the garden of a house I don’t even own. So my point is, the house and the neighborhood is starting to lose it’s charm and that was the conversation I had with Anthony. We both agreed that if the Atwater house ends up not being our best option, we need to look in other areas *North Eagle Rock, Franklin Hills, Silverlake, even Larchmont Village but it’s a bit too far from Antz job* The criteria is:
Must be close to Antz job *less than 15 minute drive*
Must have 2 bedrooms/2 baths and an office/den
Must have a pool and grassy, private backyard
Must have a guest house *preferable with a bathroom*
Must have a wood-burning fireplace
Updated kitchen with a dishwasher or room to install one
Built before 1965
Must have a driveway
Must be on a quiet, residential street with plenty of guest parking and NO crappy houses!!
We would like views in the backyard
A 3rd bedroom
Hardwood floors
A breakfast nook in the kitchen
Covered patio
A garage *attached would be great but not a must*
An ensuite master bathroom
A spa attached to the pool
Would like orginal fixture, windows, door, crown molding
Walk in closets *big enough for a tiny island or a dresser and stool would be dreamy*
This may seem feasible if we wanted a new construction property but the California Bungalows or Spanish style we like never have closet space or ensuite bathrooms. I actually found a house that may fit the must have and some of the like to have lists in prime Eagle Rock *not my #1 choice but close to everything and 10 minutes to Antz job* location. It’s a foreclosure, 2 story Spanish with 4 bedrooms *could possibly turn a bedroom into a master bathroom and closet of my dreams* 2 bathrooms, 2,184 square feet *we currently live in 883 sq ft* and, from what I can see from Google maps, has a large pool in an 8,000 square foot grassy backyard.
I am not happy with the lack of curb appeal and no security fence but I’ll tell you what makes me extremely happy…the price. This mansion is $524,900. Now being a foreclosure, we would have to submit an offer  higher than that amount to the bank and it could get rejected several times as well as take months to close. Then there’s selling our house…sigh! I don’t want to dwell in negativity. Positive thinking makes postive actions, my new mantra for 2011. We will….make repairs, remodel this house, spiff it up nicely,  list this house in 2013, sell this house *and hopefully make enough profit to have money for renovating our new house*, buy an amazingly rad house in an awesome neighborhood!! 3 years from now I’ll be posting about how much I love our new house and I know giving up the London trip will be a drop in the hat compared to having a safe, stable environment for Liv. Now, to apply this motivation to my fitness routine. I’m gonna jump on the wii and hula hoop my fat away *yay*

Our lovely is 7 Months old, Happy New Year Olivia!!

we love you more than words can say