Celebs, little things around the house and needles?

=VERY needed weekend

It started out with dinner with Olga and Vince to celebrate her upcoming birthday at the Buffalo Club in Santa Monica.  I pulled a Sam when choosing the restaurant, thought we had a www.livingsocial.com $40 (that I bought for $20), but it was for the Bungalow Club, oops. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the Buffalo Club, but was super embarrassed when I busted out my coupy and it was for a different place.  Luckily I pulled it out and Vince noticed that it wasn't the right restaurant before giving it to the waiter.  Embarrassment averted, at least partially.  

If you know Olga, you know she travels a great deal for work and tends to have star sightings in airports across the country, which she gives us updates on Facebook about.  Well Friday, we hit the jackpot in celeb sightings.  Started off with seeing Isla Fisher at a neighboring table, can you say flawless? Then I noticed that Isla was with Chelsey Handler (eweee, not a big fan, especially after our bathroom run in where she was a total B to Olga). In walks Lionel Richie, woohoo, now we've got a party! A little later into our meal a petite blonde turned around and who was it?  None other than Reese Witherspoon.  Stars don't generally excite me, but Lionel and Reese, had us all excited.

Here's my sneaky attempt at taking pics of Vince and Olga and capturing everyone else.   

I had the best view of everyone "all night long"

 Don't worry Olga definitely got us talking to Lionel who is SO down to earth and hasn't aged a bit. 

His advice, never live for yesterday, always live in the present and look forward!

The BEST part of the evening was when the restaurant raised the volume of their ambient music and played "All Night Long," the house went crazy. Everyone threw there hands in the air and began to sing, including Reese who could not be cuter.  It was a great moment and I realize that you probably had to be there to feel the excitement, but whatever, I'm still giddy about it.  Happy Happy Early Birthday to OG! 

 Little things around the house...

Saturday was dedicated to Spring cleaning (I know it's Winter), but we needed to go through our closets and re-organize some stuff.  We also did some handy work.  Hung up my new card holder that I picked up from Pottery Barn's holiday sale, and black out curtains in our guest bedroom. Getting ready for MIL's (mother-in-law) visit next weekend.  Felt good to be home and get things done. 

 Love, love, love our new and improved wall of friend fame! 

 Great item all year long for all the wedding invitations, birth announcements...

Needles...

So needles, yes needles, why needles?  Well, I am terrified of them, but that didn't stop me from going to try out acupuncture Saturday afternoon.  An alternative medicine doctor I'm seeing suggested I do it and I'm all about trying new things to promote better health naturally. It wasn't bad at all, I even found it enjoyable and booked a second pin cushion appointment next weekend.  Look forward to blogging about results a few weeks from now.  

Saturday evening and Sunday proved to be productive, while nice and relaxing.  Movies, football, napping, homemade soup and breaky in bed for Shane.  It was a very nice weekend indeed.  I had to miss another good friend's wine tasting birthday weekend, which was very sad.  I know our girls showed her a great time though and was there in spirit.   And another friend's bday in Newport...  Finding balance isn't always fun and I've never been good at it, but I'm learning.  Happy Birthday to Katers and Megan!  Love you girls!

.

XO, 

S

LIFESAVERS and Finders Keepers!

Like many, Shane and I started off the New Year wanting to get back into a healthy routine, walking around the country club, him doing PT, me going to the gym/yoga/Pilates...  You get the picture.  

Day 1, Monday, I hit the gym only to find out they were closing the Brentwood location. You know that gym that's located directly across the street and is the only place I can make it to after my 40 mile commute (each way).  BOO Bodies N Motion! I was beyond bummed.  I had just joined several months ago and liked that it was affordable, all women and I could take a variety of classes in addition to use the equipment.  What now?  Luckily the Brentwood Country Club is also across the street from my house and I still have yoga and Pilate's DVDs which I can supplement with taking classes here and there. 

After finding out the disappointing news of the gym closing, I went home and did my Windsor Pilate's DVD.  With all this New Year, New Me motivation, I guess I worked out harder than I should have and pulled or pinched something in my upper back/neck. Ouch. Perfect, there is nothing like being in pain for a long drive, work and trying to get back into shape.  Pain schmain, I wasn't going to give into it.  I believe Barney suggested heat, well let me tell you, it worked.  Thank you heating pad, you are a LIFESAVER!

Day 2 of working out, Jilly came over and joined Shane and I for a walk around the CC.  Thanks to her handy dandy iPhone and the Nike Challenge, we now know that it's 2.5 miles from our front door.  I really should start doing it twice.  The walk was nice, we caught up and discussed Jill's new business, Capture, the holidays...  Towards the end of our walk, I spotted money on the ground, a $100 bill to be exact.  Of course I didn't hesitate and picked it up.  I couldn't believe it and thought it had to be fake, like an advertisement of sorts.  NOPE, it was real.  I debated on giving it to the Church I found it in front of, but I didn't.  I've found money before and have given it to the bank who's floor I found it on (yeah right they will call you if the owner doesn't come back and ask for it), or to the person who dropped it, or put it on black 7 when I found it in a casino, but this time it was Finders Keepers for lucky, lucky me...  One new mattress pad, strainer, a couple towels later and I've still got a few bucks to spare.  Woohoo!

Winter Bowling 2011 starts tonight.  Do we sandbag or bowl our hearts out?  I don't think I'm capable of sandbagging, but hope that I suck, so I have a high handicap for the season. Wink wink.  

XO,

S

Ringing in the New Year, Walking, Sunsets and more...

New Year's Eve in Laguna

Dinner at Tommy Bahama's and darts at the ever so classy Sandpiper (aka. Dirty Bird).

Peyton's first steps.
This little one couldn't be cuter if she tried!

 Laguna Beach Sunset 1/1/11.
Breathtaking view from Danny and Megan's new home!

This one's a framer.

Seahawks vs. Rams in Seattle

I  have a good feeling about this year. 

XO, 

S

2011...

Happy New Year!

I have mixed emotions about 2010, somethings were great and some trying.  All and all, it was kind of a blah year for me.  Though I realize it probably seemed a little anticlimactic coming off the best year of our lives and wedding of our dreams.  With that said, I am looking forward to 2011!

My resolutions are pretty standard- watch what I eat a little more than last year (especially the end of last year), work out more with and without Shane, say no to others/make less plans and take a little more time to take care of myself and Shane,  work harder to raise even more money for the 2011 events at work, try to write more life insurance policies, take a photography class and win a bowling trophy (yes, I resolve and will do this)...   There are more, but for the sake of this blog and it being on the world wide web, that will suffice. 

Looking forward to posting some pics from our fantastic visit with the Peykoffs over New Year's!  We got to be there for some of Peyton's first steps (very exciting), meet their newish puppy Remy (TOO CUTE) and see their new digs (uh-maze-ing!), but first Shane must return home from Seattle with the camera.  Right now he's on his way from Seattle where he went with Danny to the Seahawks vs. Rams game yesterday.  Ringing in the New Year with close friends and Shane's first pro football game, looks like the year is already off to a good start. Can't wait to see what else 2011 holds!

XO,
S

 

Vinegar = Miracle Stain Remover?

If you know me, you know I'm a tad clumsy at times. Well, the other night was no exception. I was trying to cork some fancy new balsamic vinegar we received for the holidays when the bottle flew out of my hands and Balsamic Vinegar (you know the VERY dark colored one) flew every where - the table (no biggie), our cream colored linen West Elm chairs (HUGE biggie), Adrienne's grey knit UGG boots (even BIGGER biggie) and the light beige carpet.  Can you say freak out attack?  

I was calculating the cost of this spill in my head- one new chair $100 something, new boots for Adrienne $100 something, stains on the carpet that I have to look at until my landlord replaces it (you can't even put a price on that with my OCD) and then JILLIAN ROSE saved the day.  

"Just use white vinegar and it will remove the stains," says Jilly.  Thank goodness for Siri, blog author of Siriously Delicious I had white vinegar on hand from all the experimental cooking I've been doing these days with her fabulous recipes. 

White Vinegar I have a NEW found love for you!

(even though you stink)

 All we had to do was dab the excess balsamic and put some white vinegar on a towel and start spot cleaning the spots.  Other than everything smelling like an Easter egg dying fest, the chairs, boots and carpet are all clean. 

Here's Jilly assisting on a little more spot cleaning of the carpet. 

 

 If you know me, you also know I'm a total clean freak, so while we were on the ground spotting, I grabbed some Resolve and cleaned a few more spots. 

Phew, thank goodness for wacky remedies that work. 

Happy Cleaning!!

XO, 

S

The Boys & Girls Guide to Getting Down

Yup that's right, that's the title of a movie we recently borrowed and watched twice already.

Leave it to Larry Castruita to know about this movie. 

The Boys & Girls Guide to Getting Down is classic!

If you have ever lived and partied in LA, especially in the 90s you will die laughing!

WATCH IT. LIKE IT. LOVE IT.

Enjoy.

XO,
S

Ho-Ho-Holiday Highlights!

 Meeting Cooper...

and seeing Kether and JJ! (of course)

 Bloody Mary's at the Ritz in Half Moon Bay.

The start to lots of tasty beverages along the way!

 The Creedons. 

I love them ('nough said)!

Oysters at Willi's in Healdsburg! 

A must go to restaurant.

Our sweet, sweet Bed n' Breakfast.

 The Grape Leaf Inn is such a treat.  

Each room unique, with steam showers and soaking tubs, wine tasting in their cellar daily, homemade breakfast with every last detail.

 The Chiurcos.

Another amazing couple we don't get to see nearly enough.  :(

The kids/family!

Seeing Susie getting better each day! 

And watching Steve (Dad/D3) be the incredible husband and dad we all know and love!

Holidays 2010 complete! 

Now for New Years and 2011.

XO, 

S