I want my PINK Christmas!

Nov 30, 2012

Every year I tell Antz this will be the year I am getting my dream pink Christmas tree.

This was from a photo shoot in Blueprint magazine *which sadly is no longer in print*

@Jessica Godinho Pretty in Pink Christmas Tree, Pretty in Pink Christmas Trees - Treetopia

I tell him I’ll buy it either on Black Friday or after Christmas when it’s on clearance. Yet, I seem to talk myself out of it when I start to think about the big picture. We hope to sell this house and buy a new bigger house that will accommodate a six foot tree. Then there’s the price tag. The six foot tree comes with 500 lights is regularly priced $438. Insane, I know, which is why the clearance price of $168 seems so reasonable, right? I usually spend $15 on a cute Charlie Brown sized tree from Fresh & Easy. It’s tiny enough to sit on our congas and we have just enough ornaments to give it some charm. It’s a nice compliment to my Grandma’s porcelain tree *that still plays Silent Night*

Last Christmas

This is the only heirloom I have from my Grandma Louise

I check every year on Black Friday and Cyber Monday but the lowest it’s ever gotten is $148. Then I have to add $58 for a tree stand with wheels. I’d have to invest in a Christmas tree bag to keep it stored in the garage, that’s another $59. I haven’t even started a budget for ornaments. Anthro is killing me with these beauties…

Cast of Characters from Anthropologie on Vimeo.

Odette Swan

Elf Downy Owl

Felted Polar Bear Ornament

Glitter Drop Hummingbird

Hopefully these guys will go on sale after Christmas but I’m certain they will be gone by then. So this is my annual dilemma; Break my holiday shopping budget on my dream tree which will barely fit in our current house. Or wait until we buy our new house and go all out for our first Christmas and face the risk the most of these items will be sold out in 3 years. That swan ornament reminds me of my lovely Björk. I’m sure she would tell me to buy it in her sweet little Icelandic elfy voice. Have you lovelies trimmed the Christmas tree yet? Do you buy a fresh cut tree or you have an artificial tree you’ve had for years? My reasoning tells me it’s a lifetime investment but knowing how often I change my mind, I just may want to get this awesome guy next year.

Bottom’s Upside-Down Christmas Tree

Antz says it looks blasphemous. Genevieve Gorder had one that hung from her ceiling and it looked so rad! I have to find the episode of Dear Genevieve that I saw it on.

A Stuffed Turkey

Nov 24, 2012

We just finished the last of our wonderful Thanksgiving dinner leftovers and I am stuffed. We usually go to Antz Mom’s house for dinner but this year his brother Charles hosted the huge family.

My sister and nephew

Olivia had the best time running after her older cousins and eating sweet potatoes. I even made jalapeno cornbread muffins. Once again I totally forgot to capture the lovely meal but that usually means I’m too focused on eating to remember to grab my camera. I did get a family photo and my camera remote actually worked this time even though I had to run into the shot about 5 times. Huzzah!

Antz has promised to center it, and zoom in so you can actually see all our lovely faces

Anthropologie bummed me out this year since they aren’t carrying children’s clothes and instead of the Black Friday 50% off, they are only offering 25%. Old Navy surprised me with this gem. I snagged the last one in stock online.

Softest Printed-Crew Sweaters Just bought this guy tonight!!

It’s sold out now

I did score some home goodies from Target and Bed, Bath & Beyond. I wasn’t planning on going to the store but since I saw everything I wanted was in stock and they were offering 20% off your entire purchase, I took the trip. It was surprisingly calm in the store. No one was fighting over towels and I didn’t arrive to a shop that looked like it had been looted after an apocalypse. I browsed the bedding section

I love this Kate Spade pillow

The sale is in-store only

…and found the complete Orla Kiely set I’ve been wanting for months on clearance, along with the 20% coupon, I saved $100 off the set. I’m short one sham pillowcase but that’s what happens when you have 3 standard pillows and pillowcases are sold in a set of 2.

I am the only person with a phobia about putting new bedding on the bed?

I couldn’t be happier and to my delightful surprise Antz brings me a package from Amazon. I completely forgot I pre-ordered Moonrise Kingdom and Cinderella last month. Liv hasn’t seen Cinderella and Antz hasn’t seen Moonrise Kingdom so we’ll watch them over the weekend.

Doesn’t today feel like a Sunday? What a rad holiday we’ve had so far. I think I’ll pick up a pumpkin pie since we finished our leftovers. We’re just chillin’!

Pre-Thanksgiving in Apple Valley

Nov 20, 2012

We have an annual tradition of spending the weekend before Thanksgiving at my Mom’s house in the desert. We cook up a non-traditional feast of crab legs, shrimp, lobster tails, filet mignon and spinach & feta cheese stuffed salmon. Sadly, I didn’t get any shots of the fantastic food but let me assure you, it was yummers. It was such a laid back weekend. We just hung out by the fire, took a nature walk with Liv and the dogs and played around in my Mom’s music room *Antz on the bass, my Mom on drums and me and Liv on the piano*. I spent hours trying to set up my Mom’s new streaming player so she can watch instant Netflix and turns out all I had to do was enter her wi-fi password in caps. DUH!! Now she can access Youtube and Netflix on her TV but I had to make her a cheat sheet so she remembers how to do it.

It was stormy and cold in LA but we had pretty nice weather

This is just a fraction of my Mom’s gold & platinum albums

Sunsets are the best

I have a busy week ahead doing two of my favorite things, eating & shopping! We’re going to family and friend’s houses. I’ve got my Black Friday shopping list started but I’m disappointed that Anthropologie hasn’t launched the kid’s clothes yet, Boo!

My Game Plan
Target – Vacuum cleaner, sheets, a dress, socks and a Wii game for Liv
Bed, Bath & Beyond – Heated mattress pad, new pillows, a crock pot, and a comforter

I want all the Confetti system holiday ornaments so bad!!

West Elm – Duvet and sheet set, a Smeg Refrigerator *sike, don’t I wish*
Home Depot – Propane Grill *our 7 year old grill died* we’ll take a look at patio furniture too
Anthropologie – Clothes for Liv, maybe this tablecloth
Gap/BabyGap – Pajamas, clothes for this year’s Holiday card
Etsy – Christmas gifts and maybe this fabulous scarf for Mommy *hint, hint Santa Antz*

I’m doing all my shopping online in my jammies. Anyone brave enough to tackle the stores? I hear people are already in line at Best Buy *insane!*

Where you been?

Jul 11, 2012

Uhhh, a quickie trip to Vegas has me beat. We left Liv with her Grandma this time and pulled a crazy all-nighter with Aimee at the Palms.

I am not a fan of the Strip on a Friday night…chaos

BFFs are Awesome!

Aimee was stoked to play the Michael Jackson slots

My high roller!

Crazy old people

I’m feeling guilty about not blogging everyday but life with a 2 year old takes precedence these days. Since we’re already in July, let’s check out my Summer Bucket List and see my progress.

1. New patio furniture/re-seed the backyard grass *make it pretty again*
2. ~~Celebrate Antz birthday in style~~ *Vegas Suite Life*
3. Attend a concert at the Hollywood Bowl
4. Beach Day
5. ~~Sprinkles Ice Cream~~ *can’t wait to go again!*
6. Attend Liv’s Pre-school Summer Serenade *Boo, Liv wasn’t feeling well so we missed this event*
7. Weekly Farmer’s Market
8. ~~Attend Carlos & Stephanie’s baby shower~~ *Done*
9. ~~See Brave at the El Capitan Theater~~ *Done*
10. ~~Make cornbread from scratch~~ *Done*
11. ~~Scooter playdate with Kieran~~ *Done*
12. Ride the ferris wheel at Balboa boardwalk
13. Road Trip! *to the Wildlife Learning Center?*
14. Go to the Los Angeles Public Library *and ride Angel’s Flight*
15. Summer BBQ
16. Attend a Bonfire

Hmm, 6 out of 16 seem right on track. I bought this Living Social deal for a day at a Wildlife Learning Center which sounds rad. We really need to get our backyard back into shape. Liv is making more effort than we are.

The lone green patch in the yard

Guess what? I passed my stupid stomach bug to Antz *sorry babe* He’s handling it much better than I did but I know how crappy he must be feeling. Whoops, I just remembered I didn’t post any photos of our 4th of July watching fireworks at Lake Hollywood.

We spotted a deer in the canyon

Liv calls fireworks Peter Pan, gotta love this kid! How’s your summer been so far? Any exciting trips, or parties that rocked?

Tossing my Cookies

Jul 4, 2012

This term was introduced to me as a cutesy way to describe barfing up my organs. I am beyond miserably sick. Last night I was tossing and turning all night, too hot then too cold. Going to the bathroom every 5 minutes. I feel physically sore and achy. No BBQ and firework shows for me.

Please allow me to be unpatriotic for a moment, I think it was a big mistake on America’s part breaking up from England. We would have awesome healthcare, drive on the left side of the road and I would have a bad ass British accent. The 4th of July is my least favorite holiday. It sucks that it falls on a lame Wednesday which also happens to be the dreariest, coldest day of the summer. In Highland Park these fools have been setting off fireworks for the past 4 weeks. Not the awesome pretty sparkly kind but the loud obnoxious enormous dynamite explosion that scare the bejesus out of me and makes every car alarm on our block go off. Boo!

So I’ll be celebrating our stupid independence in bed, simaltaneously shivering and sweating. This is what I look like at the moment. Sexy, I know!!

Mum’s Day 2012

May 14, 2012

Fantastic day, went to Aimee’s sister’s house and Antz Mommy’s house. Super tired but I’m so stoked about my new camera. When I use it I hear Angel’s trumpet and cartoon birds fly around me, this guy fucking rocks!

Aimee’s lovely family

I’m super jealous that Aimee’s sisters and her son, Holden are going to France next month

Saying hi to Jill & Billy’s turtle

My Lovely Mommy & Sister

Tantrum face

Antz & his sister

Happy Happy Mother’s Day to all those incredible, never-ending mountains of love and giving selflessly Moms.

More Easter Baby

Apr 9, 2012

Just got home from a fun, fantastic Easter Sunday. We went to Stephen & Les’s party, then delivered a Sprinkles cupcake to Aimee at her job. On the ride home we picked up some Tandoori chicken from an Indian restaurant on the Westside *the same chicken I acted a fool over at Trevor & Jessica’s engagement party* Dammmnnn, I don’t know what they do to this chicken but it is incredible. I absolutely think this is my new fave meal, ever! It’s a good thing this spot is way on the other side of town cause I would eat there everyday. Enough about my delish dinner, smack, smack, Let’s get down to Olivia..Nina Leslie is a sly one, she spied on my Etsy wishlist and bought Liv this adorable dress. I am so stoked about her foxy dress and her Easter basket!

Somebody is too cute!

Love this dress!!!

Confetti chicks *made by Antz* Jello vodka shots

I worked hard dying the eggs for hours

The hostess, making fried dough *so fucking good*

Liv & her Nina

Zombie gnomes!

Sweet Elias is already walking!

It was a sunny, lovely day

Olivia stuffed herself with candy

The hunt begins

Confetti egg war!

Liv hanging with her crew

Candy, nom nom!

Fabulous party, Padrinos!!

Hi Godmommy

Cute haircut, my love!

My bestie is so rad!

We witnessed a phenomenon when we got home. Liv said to us “Night night” and ran off to bed all by herself. Whaaat?? She was partied out. We are too, Night night!!

Easter Baby

Apr 8, 2012

Liv had her easter egg hunt this morning in the backyard. She looks adorable in her dress from her Grammy but she insisted on wearing that hat.

Happy Easter!!


Her post photo shoot outfit!

Our egg coloring…not as easy as it looks. I was trying to make these ombre eggs but I ran into trouble *I knew I should have order the McCormick neon dye* but Martha to the rescue, I used some glitter and thread and voila!!

I’ll upload more photos when we return to Liv’s Godparents Easter egg hunt…taa-tah!

Happy New Year’s Eve

Jan 1, 2012

Greetings from…

Starting off the New Year at the DUB!

Yay, mini-vacay

We are so color coordinated

Holy shit, let me tell you how hard it was to keep this a secret. Guess who figured it out last week…? Anthony! I suck at keeping secrets from him. He always knows when I’m up to something and he kept guessing we were going to Las Vegas, but No Way Jose!! Ideally we would be in San Francisco but this is just as nice. There is non-ice skating outside and we just ordered the most delicious room service ever! I am stuffed and lounging in our Spectacular suite watching Kim & Kourtney Take NY, nothing else is on and I can’t take any more Yo Gabba Gabba! *don’t tell Liv* There’s a big party at Whiskey Blue for New Year’s eve tonight but we’re gonna hang in our king size bed *DELIGHTFUL* drink champagne and watch telly. Tomorrow Antz is getting a massage at the Bliss Spa for his migraine and I’m gonna get a much needed pedicure. Here’s some more photos of this joint. We didn’t get that many before dark but tomorrow morning I’ll try to get better shots. Every room in this place is super dark so, of course, the Nikon is being dumb.

Checking-in

Oooh, hallways to run down

Spectacular Suite

Eames molded chairs, LOVELY!

This blur is me jumping on the bed

See how bad our camera sucks

Most important place for Mommy

Actually we can’t keep Liv out of there

Le Bar

Jumpy Jump!

Room Service

Twirly Whirly

She hasn’t sat still for the past 2 hours

BLUUUUUUURRY

I tried every setting, GAH!

Finally I changed to the wide lens. A little better

Mmm, tasty remotes

The Backyard

My fave photo…why can’t I be in a good picture?

Cozy Cabanas

Fake Skate, no ice

I adore the W, but the exterior of their buildings leave little to the imagination

Chilling with my little ball of sunshine

It’s snowing!

Faux Soap Snow

Indoor lighting BUMS me out

ROOM SERVICE!!

Soooo good, Nomm nomm nomm!

Okay, I need to get blogging now

Somebody is OBSESSED with these boxes

We are having the most FABulous time

We are in heaven! Happy New Year…2012 is gonna be RAD!!

Happy Christmas 2011

Dec 26, 2011

Santa and his Elves left some stellar presents for us. Liv all decked out in her Christmas pjs, tore open her gifts and already she has one favorite! We ate our cinnabons and watched A Christmas Story.