How does your garden grow?

Mary, Mary quite contrary,

How does your garden grow?

With silver bells and cockle shells

And pretty maids all in a row.

I've had this nursery rhyme in my head since we first planted the herb garden.  Here is the actual meaning.

Easter!!

Since Greg went all romantic on our anniversary I decided to plan a little surprise for him.  This is also the first Easter for both of us to be away from our families, so I wanted to make it special. Greg woke up for the day to an apt Easter egg hunt, a variety of candy, and an amazing breakfast including: pancakes, quiche lorraine, bacon, juice, coffee, and champagne.

I bought the flowers for myself.

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Las Vegas!

Delirium at the Cosmopolitan 

So, recently I went to Vegas to meet up with 3 of my very best friends. It was a short trip (drove in from LA on Wednesday 3/30 and headed back to LA on Friday 4/1.) The trip was short and sweet!!

Caesar's Palace.

The beautiful Bellagio.

Oh Spring!

So.....its finally here, Spring is approaching!!  And what is the best part of Spring????  Tax returns!!  This year my tax return is being used to makeover my bedroom.  Well, maybe not "makeover", but definetly spruce up.  We are buying a new bed, a king size bed!!!  I have been waiting oh so long for this.  So as you  can imagine I am online window shopping for the duvet cover and bedframe.  I am not one for buying online before I see it in person, so I only look at sites that shops that I can go check out.  First stop as always is IKEA.  This is what I found....

I like the simple design and rich
color of this bed frame. 

I thought the colors in this would play
well off the rich brown of the bedframe.  

Stay tuned as I will post before and after pics of the final result sometime this month!

Snail Mail

Some more great stationary.

Since Henry is a mut and a rescue we have no way of actually knowing what breeds he is made up of.  Because of this it is impossible to find novelty items with dogs that look like him, so I have been slightly obsessed with looking for Beagle novelties since the coloring of a beagle is so similar to Henry.  

Find these and other great designs at Crane & Co

New Wave Holiday Party

So I finally found a dress, I've been looking for a month online and I still ended up spending at least 6 hrs total at the mall.  It was awful! I love to shop, but I hate when its down to the wire and you have nothing to wear.  I usually get a few options and then return what I didnt wear, things look so different once you get the home.  The party was at Crimson in Hollywood and it was great!  

  I finally decided on this Rachel Roy number, I figured it was modest enough for a company gathering and still fun enough for NYE.

Macys

Whirlwind Holidays

So things are winding down a bit after Thanksgiving and the holiday party! This week is pretty slow and then starting next Monday is busy busy again....

12/10 - 12/12 : Greg in SF
12/13 : Jes comes to LA
12/14 : Doug and Nate arrive and the 4 of us go to Conan
12/15 : Doug, Jes and Nate leave
12/15 - 12/20 : I'm in SF ( Why I didnt think to just drive back with them I dont know)
12/21 - 12/28 : My Mom and Ben arrive in LA, rest of family arrives that same day
12/24 : Whole family goes to Disneyland!!!!!
12/26 - 12/29 : Greg in SF
12/31 : NYE!!!!

I pretty much have the next 4 days to relax and get stuff done then its going to be a whirlwind until the 29th!!!!  So while  things are slow I'll fill you in on the Holidays so far....

Black Swan!

We just bought our tickets to see Black Swan at The Arc Light Hollywood this Friday!  I stumbled across these new posters for the movie which I love!!

  

Snail Mail

Just A Little Note

In a time where we text instead of call, send email in place of letters, and facebook rather than face time I have really begun to value when I do get something fun in the mail.  It brings me back to being a kid waiting for a Birthday card, then I waited hoping for a little present (in the form of a check) inside, but as an adult I've found the card is present enough.  Sending someone a card or letter shows them that you took time out of your day to sit down and think of them, especially in todays world where digital communication is the norm. Because of this I try to send out notes to people as often as I can and I found some great stationary to do it on

A Note

Assorted Hats

Collector of Many Things

Red Slipper Room: Dever, CO

In my collection I have matchebooks that were passed down to me by my Great Grandmother.  Those ones tend to be my absolute favorites; some because of where they are from, but mostly because of the intricate details that came from the society of the 60s when everyone smoked and matchbooks as advertisments were useful. The others in my collection are ones I have gottn myself, since smoking is not as popular as it was matchbooks no longer have the same detail as those of the past.
My favorite of those are ones that bring back memories of my youth (LOL).  

These from the Red Slipper Room are my absolute absolute favorites, I love that the matchstick is a lady leg, I also love that the strike pad is inside the matchbook.

I love this one because colors and graphic. The inside cover reads 

"If your hair isnt becoming to you, you should be coming to us"

This is from my Great Grandmother (Grammy), I belive the salon was in Chicago

Grand Hotel

This one I like for the detail, the matchstick is in the shape of a building, I also like that the strike pad is inside the matchbook, and it is from Oslo, Norway.  This is one that was passed down to me from my Grammy.

I tend to like matchboxes more than matchbooks.  These are from El Toro, CA. From Grammy's collection.

Magnolia's Peach

From Grammy. Brea, CA.  This I like that the strike head is peach, I also love the color combination and font used.

Velvet Turtle in Los Angeles.

From Grammy.

Again this one has such a great logo. And I like that the logo is the focus without being too in your face.

Back of matchbox

Top of matchbox

This box is one I aquired myself.  This is from a fancy date Greg and I went on before we moved from SF to LA.

The back graphic is a depiction of how the prime rib is served to you. They bring the roaster and carve your piece right before your eyes.

Aventine

This is another one I got myself on a night out with friends in San Francisco.

  I love the map on the back of the box.

Astoria, NY

Brick Cafe in Astoria, NY. This is another one with a map, which I really love. I got this when I was visiting Andy.

Another great night out with a great friend.

This matchbook is abnormal for my collection as I bought it.  Greg and I bought this right before we moved from chilly SF to "hot as hell" LA.

Dinner time

Homemade pasta sauce

*Side note: I do not measure.  I just add to taste so its different every time.  Also, I have a gas stove which I am still adjusting to.  I've learned it is much harder to slow cook something on a low heat with gas versus electric.  Since I am using gas I adjust the heat on my stove a lot.  If using an electric stove you should be able to use a low medium setting throughout the process.  Also add seasoning to the sauce at different points in the process to get different levels of flavor.

Ingredients:

grape tomatoes

heirloom tomatoes

hot italian sausage

sweet italian sausage

fresh chopped basil

minced garlic

onion powder

1 can of tomato sauce

Step 1: brown sausages with olive oil, garlic and basil. Then once sausage has been browned on both sides add a bit more olive oil, a cup of water, and tomatoes. 

Step 2: Once tomatoes have started popping make sure heat is low and allow to cook.

Step 3:Take a spoon or fork and pop remaining tomatoes and start, for lack of better word, smushing them and mixing them. Continue to keep on low heat.

Step 4: Add 1 can of tomato sauce and keep at a low simmer. Season to taste.

At this point it is ready to serve.  The longer it is on heat the more the flavors will come together. Add to noodles and have your favorite italian sides.

Finished Product:

Lovely afternoon in the Park:: 11.15.2010

Henry relaxing.  I love when he sits 
on his haunches like a lion.

A random man playing Jazz 
saxophone

So the other day Henry and I were feeling restless so we decided to go on a walk and look for some grass in the sun we could lay on.  We came to the West LA baseball fields on Ohio and decided to set up camp. We just laid out a blanket and enjoyed the sun for a bit.  What made the day so wonderful was the random man playing Jazz saxophone 20 feet away.  It reminded me of the joys of living in a city as diverse as LA. Pictures above.

Ooooh the Holidays....

Why do the Holidays cause so much stress?  Between travel plans, family plans, parties, traditions and presents there is no time to stop, look around, and enjoy yourself.  And to top it all off this is our first Christmas in LA, so there is that added stress.  So far our December looks like this.

12/4-12/5      New Wave employee Holiday party
12/10-12/12  Greg goes to SF for Bob and Cyndy's Holiday party
12/14-12/15  Doug, Nate, and Jes come to go see a LIVE Conan taping
12/15-12/20  I'll be in SF visiting family and friends
12/21-12/28  My Mom and Ben and whole Mom's side of the family are coming to LA!!!
12/29-12/30  Greg goes back to SF to see family
12/29-01/01  Christina comes to town to ring in the new year!
12/31            NYE!!!!!!

And then we can finally breathe!!  geeeze!!  But starting after Thanksgiving there will be no breathing until the Holidays are over.  Dont get me wrong we are lucky to have such a fun and action packed Holiday season!!  Once I figure out what I want to wear to the New Wave party, which I hear is QUITE SNAZZY and my NYE outfit I will feel much better!

Outfit Ideas

To see

To see

To see

To see

              

To see

So what do you think?

All that Sparkles and Shines