This year has been such a whirlwind. Between meetings, activities, crafts, plans, projects, and people, we had a great year filled with great things.
It was a fine 2009.
We sent out save the date maps in Jan.
Won a Paloma's Nest ring bowl :)
Saw the Lakers on my birthday! They are now the World Champions, closing the decade off nicely :)
Enjoyed the chalk art at the Mission.
Met and were photographed by the incomparable, Sarah K. Chen.
Saw No Doubt during their reunion tour.
Blink 182 during their reunion tour.
And the Bouncing Souls, no reunion for them because they've always been together. It's funny to think that most of our shows were the same ones we would have gone to 10 years ago.
We got married!! It was a wonderful day (recaps begin in Jan, I promise!).
Received a congratulatory note from the President and Mrs. Obama :)
Saw amazing sunsets.
Sunset lomo style.
And celebrated a bunch with family and friends :)I hope that your holidays were amazing and that the New Year brings amazing love, great joy, and abundant happiness. Let's go for a zen 2010 :)
Blog title is from lyrics by the Killers
Wishing everyone a Christmas filled with love, warmth, friendship, and smiles!!Merry Christmas. Maligayang Pasko. Feliz Navidad. Joyeux Noel.
Getting married and going through the planning and entire wedding day fills you with such love and emotion. A "high on life" sort of feeling that most want to hold onto, even as the days turn into weeks which turn into months. It's a feeling you want bottled up, to savor from time to time.A few months ago I read reese's list of ways to make the wedding last. Below are a few more ideas on cherishing the day :)-bring it up with family and friends (so far, they've still been bringing it up to us!)-look through and save all of those facebook albums uploaded by friends.-work on reviews for vendors and send thank you notes to vendors.-compile all stationery, cards, guest book into a memory box, album, etc.-create albums for family members (they make great Christmas presents)-send thank you notes to guests and included photos-blog, scrapbook, create albums or blurb books-reuse items from the wedding (vases, pens, perfume, shoes, jewelry)-reminisce with each other-enjoy all the leftover alcohol (if you had provided it at the reception)-listen to songs that were on your play list (for us it's "Don't Stop Believin'" and "Stolen")Please feel free to share your thoughts and add to the list!I have been going through our online gallery for a while now (still waiting for the disk) but with all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, I think I'll hold off recaps until next year.Have a great day everyone :)
Blog title is from lyrics by No Doubt
It seemed almost inevitable. Once married (actually, engaged) we would have to alternate holidays between both of our families. Thanksgiving here, Christmas there, days after Christmas somewhere, New Year somewhere else. Both families would want to see us, but one family lives in northern CA another in southern Ca. So the only 'fair' thing to do would be to alternate. At first it felt like choosing which family we liked more. Our days with each side were short, we traveled so much, and it was oh so frustrating.Being the oldest of my parents’ 3 children, not having a child around during the holidays was a first for them. Hubs being the youngest (his siblings are well into their 30s & 40s), alternating holidays was not foreign to his family, but also not ideal.This is the third year that we are alternating holidays. I think our families are accustomed to the situation. But it's still really hard. How do you tell your family, your mother, "Sorry we won't see you this Christmas" ?So what can we do? We want to be together for the holidays and we want to see family. So we travel. Up and down the coast, logging miles and sleeping in beds that are not ours. Enjoying the times that are spent with those we love, and so tired thinking about how we have to go somewhere else.Are any of you in this situation? Having to start traveling, alternating holidays, ultimately choosing one over the other? How do you cope?
Blog title is from lyrics by Blink 182
It all started when we attended the Three Apples Exhibit Art Show. Plenty of Hello Kitty inspired pieces were on display and a series of 4x4 prints by plasticgod lined a wall. Cute prints depicting the likes of Karl Lagerfeld, Cindy Lauper, MJ, Gaga. I loved them. Not only were they Hello Kitty, but also some of my favorite celebrities. When I found out their reasonable price, I had to have them.
The hubs and I purchased 4 prints. MJ & Karl (both of which sold out) and Tron & Sark (hubs' fave of the bunch). We were happy. Then we find out a second series of delectably cute prints would be available in a few weeks. Eager and excited, we wanted to know which famous faces would this series include.
There were hints on twitter. Series 2 premiered. Then a goth Series 2.5. I love the majority of the prints in each series and when a 3rd series was hinted at, I thought why not ask plasticgod if he included something so LA, so me, so sportstastic. So I asked if he would consider a Lakers print.
Got a reply that it was a good idea! But wondered if the idea would reach reality. Then an announcement of a series 3 to debut at DesigernCon in Pasadena. I had to go, so hubs, my bro, and I attended. Found the Japan LA booth, and saw it. HK Lakers. Love! Of course I purchased it :)
Picked it up this weekend and was so happy. Also purchased an extra for my cousin/bmaid P, an avid Lakers fan.
Here is my little collection. Top row is Karl Lagerfeld, Michael Jackson, Gwen Stefani, and Lakers. Bottom row is comprised of the hub's favorite movies: The Dude and Walter from "The Big Lebowski" and Sark and Tron from "Tron". While I'm not an art collector (yet), I think this is a nice start :)
Blog title is from lyrics by FM Static
It had rained all week. Dreary, cold, wet days that were nice and quiet, but I need clear skies and bright light. With a rainy shopping Saturday in SB, we were hoping our Sunday trip to LA would yield both sun and fun.We spent a lot of the day running around LA for unexpected presents and decided to stop by Jonathan Adler on Melrose. Having driven by the store many times, registering/creating a wish list there, loving the aesthetic, and on the look out for the perfect present for my banana/fruit loving cousin, it was the perfect place to start. And although the price point was a bit daunting, one or two little pieces could be special enough and add an irrevernt luxury to our home.
Their store windows, reflecting a sunny and lightly clouded sky, delighted the eye with pretty pottery and boxes with bows :)
A bed said "love" and lux and comfort.
Pottery was all around. I am in love with the man and woman bud vases on the table.
Color was always present. 
Figurines of all kinds each had a home.
Sayings, like his manifesto, were all over the walls.
Laquer and bright colors and Larry & Balky added such fun to the place.
One of my favorite pieces were the salt and pepper shakers. 
The store was filled with so much design, color, bright inspiration, and happy people and pieces that I had to come away with a purchase.
Tied nicely with a bow.
Hip, happy, and for the home.
An elephant ornament for the tree!
And a too cute poodle, too.I am so glad the sun came out for Sunday :) It was a perfect day to run around town, in the hustle and bustle of the holidays, and enjoy the beauty of light, colors, and little design pieces.Hope that your weekend was fab and that your holidays are gearing up to be great!!
