Shop til you Drop

I have done a lot of damage in the last few days! I have been in the biggest shopping mood, does that ever happen to you? I bought all 3 of these cute bags from J Crew - all were an additional 25% off in the store, i.e. tote was $15 - how could I resist? I have 4 summer bags now (including my Forever 21 sailboat tote) I think I am all set for a long time. Also bought a cute swimsuit, a plaid sundress, a seersucker blue&white halter top with red crabs embroidered on it - to die for, 2 pairs of Gap cargo shorts (Pink & Green, the 2 must have colors), 2 t-shirts from J Crew, and lots of fun clothes for the Mr. - whose birthday is July 2nd! Will post later about the incredible stuff at Marshall's, but my advice is run to your nearest store for the best Tommy Hilfiger finds ever. Have a great weekend everyone!
It's the 5 o'clock cocktail hour!

Ocean Hue Jewelry

www.OceanHue.etsy.com

Check out this beautiful jewelry!
Lot of Pink & Green!
Fabulous one of a kind designs!
Fantastic prices - special gifts!
For the preppy girl-by-the-sea in all of us!

WALL-E Premier

Why are my pictures laid out like this? The top ones are 1) My daughter with stars of Disney show Zack & Cody - the nicest boys 2) Me (very sweaty & tired) with American Idol Runner-Up David Archuleta - he was the greatest, I wished him luck & told him we were huge fans 3) The Red/Orange Carpet, everyone was commenting on the color 4) The Spread at the after-party held at the Griffith Park Observatory 5) A very happy girl with EEEVA & WALL-E






Movie has a great message, a little slow at times, but overall we loved it. Other celebs at the premier: Blair Underwood, Sigourney Weaver, Kristi Yamaguchi, Marlee Matlin, Brad Garrett, Cloris Leachman, and a slew of Disney Stars. It was shown outdoors at the Greek Theater, which was very cool, except it was over 100 degrees & we were all sweating! In proper Disney style it was a blow out with all sorts of entertainment pre-movie and great decorations, exhibits, snacks, etc.
Livin' the L.A. Life!

WALL-E

Going to the Wall-e premier tomorrow night, should be fun, will post after, hopefully with pictures and a review of the movie for all my Blog Moms. This is my daughter about a year ago at another premier (I think it was "Meet the Robinsons") with the Jonas Brothers. No one knew who they were at the time, a few months later Jonas Fever hit! The Disney machine had worked its' magic at high gear. Just livin' the crazy L.A. life.

Super Mom (just for today!)

I don't usually pat myself on the back, but it is 10:30pm & I've had 7 kids over our house since 11 this morning. My son had 3 friends over and my daughter had 2. All are wonderful, perfectly behaved kids, which made my day pretty easy. I took them all out to lunch, then we stopped for frozen yogurt, can home and swam & swam again & again. We ordered pizza for dinner, watched Disney's Premier of Camp Rock, (of course, who could miss that). We went for a night swim, played soccer for over an hour, and had multiple glasses of water (it was about 110 degrees in L.A. today). The last 2 kids just got picked up by their parents - whew! My kids instantly crashed and are sound asleep. I sent my husband over to our neighbors for a drink & I am putting my feet up. I love it when my kids have days like today, it really feels like summer has begun. We completely enjoyed everything our home has to offer and I can feel like a "super mom" for a little while. It's a nice feeling to give your children a day like this - when they can stay up late, night swim, play, eat their favorite foods, be kids and just hang out relishing an L.A. summer day. Life is good, life is VERY good! Tomorrow, can it be all about me?

Boston!

Need I say more?
My wedding, birth of my children, 2008 NBA Finals!

Strange Monday

Felt a range of emotions today, not all good. Kinda bored and lonely right now. My husband often works long hours and I feel like I am in a rut with the kids. I picked them up from camp, headed home, they watched a little tv, had dinner, showered and went to bed. I just feel unmotivated today and it is happening more and more. I have a lot I could be doing, but nothing I want to do. Does that make sense? Here are some of the things I could be doing:
1. Getting tax info for hubby
2. Cleaning up kitchen after dinner
3. Laundry
4. Making play dates for the rest of the week
5. Reading my book club book
6. Scrapbooking
7. Watering flowers outside
8. Finishing summer travel plans
9. Making kids lunches for camp tomorrow
10. Making a new to-do list
So NOT fun!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to a Dad who is giving, fun, easy-going, smart, creative, loving, caring, athletic, artistic, musical, hard-working, positive, patient, and just plain wonderful to his wife & kids!
We love you so much!

Sailboats Lobsters Crabs & Whales OH MY!

http://hamptonschild.com/
Another Preppy Fabulous Find!!!
The Cutest Children's Clothes!!!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Patty's House - St. Remy, Provence

Patty & Trish Visit Les Baux, France
(Patricia Deux, as the locals called us)

Me in the Poppy Field


As I put a load of laundry in the machine & pop a pizza in the oven for the kids on this unexciting Mundane Monday I must transport myself for a brief moment to April 30, 2008. On my birthday this year I flew to St. Remy, Provence, France for 10 glorious days. I had not been to Europe in 9 years! What made me go? My good friend Patty, (middle picture w/me in Les Baux). She has owned a house there for 7 years (top picture) and has invited us several times. We always had an excuse - work, kids, no one to watch the kids etc. Well, she decided to sell her house! So I HAD to go, this was my last chance. My wonderful husband stayed home with the kids. It was the trip of a lifetime. We ate the most incredible meals, some 3 hours long. We drank fabulous wines, sometimes a few bottles with lunch. We visited the most charming villages, shopped, took pictures, went for a grueling hike behind the asylum where Van Gogh lived & painted, walked into town for croissants and coffee in the morning, read by the pool, aaahhhhhhh! Thank you for letting me go there for a few fabulous minutes with you today!
Au Revoir France, until tomorrow!

Eyes Lips Face (aka E.L.F)

I've been doing way too much internet shopping these days! Want to share another fabulous find. Check out http://www.eyeslipsface.com, I just received my order from them & I am thrilled with the products. The scoop is that they are changing their packaging, so almost everything on-line is on sale for $1.oo!!! I bought tons of stuff - mascara, lip gloss, make-up brushes, eye shadow, etc. and my grand total was $18.00. For these prices you just can not go wrong. Have fun stimulating our economy, all for a good cause, right?

Sail Away Update

Just received my Forever 21 order & the Tote is even cuter that I thought! It is a fantastic size, sturdy well-made canvas, darker red than the picture I posted, but get this - the interior is lined in GINGHAM (tan & white) that matches the tan sail boat. I am loving this bag - it is the best!

Sail Away

Fabulous Find at Forever 21!
Also Available with a Whale or Seahorse - $19.90!

An Ode to Jasper

Sweet, Sweet Dog You Will Never Be Forgotten
May 5, 1995 - March 7, 2008

You flew all alone from Seattle to Boston
I fell in love with you and your spirit the minute I saw you
You brought us so much happiness, laughter, and wonder
I brought you to work with me, you hung in my office
You loved to go to the beach and play in the surf
We took you boating, you weren't so sure, your sea legs were shaky
I held you inside my fleece jacket all cozy and warm
You could never get enough love, that is for sure
Needy, so needy, a people dog for sure
You were a bit of a snob when it came to other canines
Almost "cat-like" you'd sit on our feet and always come close
You even had fun in the snow, prancing about when you were a puppy, like a reindeer
You were our Christmas Card when we were just married
You posed with a giant bone wrapped with a plaid bow in your mouth
Our baby, Our first born, we took you everywhere
Back on a plane, to L.A. you came -
You adapted and liked exploring our new hillside home.
You were gentle, you'd bark & growl but never hurt a fly
Not even the UPS Guy!
You welcomed your human bro & sis
But things changed & we didn't have as much time for you
Daily walks became weekly walks, which later became monthly walks
But we loved you just the same
You had different sounds to talk to me - one when you were hungry
Like clock-work about 6 pm
One when you were thirsty & One when we you needed to go out
Loyal beyond words - you were the picture of English Springer dignity
All the way to the end
Even on our last walk when you could barely make it down the street you wagged your tail and never cried -
The years went by and you still tried to play with us, you still loved being part of our family, you still jumped up to race us in the front door, the kids loved that.
You started slowing way down, you slept all day, you had trouble even getting up
The time came.
I couldn't see you suffering, not enjoying life like you knew it.
I could see it in your eyes - you looked at me and told me. It was time for me to let go.
I haven't experienced much loss in this life
But when we said goodbye to you a piece of my heart was lost forever.