2009 Highlights

As another year comes to a close and I reflect on these past 364 (almost 365 days), I'm reminded of how fortunate I am to travel and enjoy wonderful memories with family and friends. Here's a look back at our 2009 highlights (some pictures in slideshow above):

Angels fan cruise to Ensenada

Betsy's 30th birthday party in Big Bear (my first trip to Big Bear and Lee's first
time in the snow)

Angels Opening Day (always a highlight!)

My "niece," Mila's birth and my trip to Chicago to meet her

Dad's lifesaving award ceremony

A weekend getaway to Paso Robles (one my head hasn't forgiven me for)

Dana Point Relay for Life to benefit our friend, Holly

Lee's 40th Birthday Parties (yes, two surprise parties!)

Lee's Mom's surprise visit

Big Bear with Julie and Bruno

Our five-year wedding anniversary

Our annual pilgrimage to Charleston for some R&R, Lee's second surprise party & Lee's
Dad's 75th birthday

Holly & Clint's wedding

Lee's trip to Charleston for Brian & Amanda's wedding

Our pre-Christmas weekend getaway to San Francisco

Many special holiday dinners and gatherings with friends and family

My "nephew," Chase's first birthday party extravaganza (the most elaborate party for a
one-year-old that I've ever been a part of)

May 2010 be just as exciting. Happy New Year!

2009 New Year's Resolutions - revisited

It's been a while since my last post, because I haven't felt very inspired or had any new favorites to share. So, here I am, back in the saddle...for now.

As we approach year's end, I wanted to take a look at my 2009 New Year's Resolutions to see how I was coming along with meeting my goals.

1. Find a new job - haven't been successful with this, but not without lack of trying. When the time is right, it will happen!

2. Get better control of finances - for the first half of the year, we were well on track with this; however, if you read #3, you'll see why it's been tough this year (a LOT of medical bills). BUT, we've cancelled all credit cards and have set ourselves up on monthly payment programs. Slowly, but surely, I'm seeing a dent being made!

3. Try to have a baby - Most of you know I had to have surgery this September to correct some issues. I've just recently been "cleared", so this will be a goal for 2010 now!

4. Eat healthier - I must say this still is very difficult. I do my best to incorporate healthier items at lunch vs. fast food (a lot of Subway, Soup Plantation, salads), as well as more chicken, turkey, brown rice and veggies for dinner. Not entirely where'd I'd like to be, but definitely better than the first part of the year!

5. Exercise more - This definitely still needs improvement

6. Donate more - I certainly accomplished this goal for the year and still have more to donate before 12/31.

7. Spend more "date time" with Lee - This is definitely a completed goal. Lee and I had some great trips this year, and we're looking forward to San Francisco next weekend!

8. Help Lee's business grow - Wow! Can I say that this has definitely been achieved? By promoting Lee's website on Angie's List, Merchant Circle, etc., as well as continuing e-marketing, Lee has been swamped. At one point, he worked three weeks straight without a day off.

9. Drink more water - along with the eating healthier, this could use some improvement; however, I must admit that I've at least cut out a significant portion of soda and alcohol, and replaced it with iced tea, lemonade and green tea. I'm getting closer to water, but not entirely there yet.

So, there you have it. Overall, a pretty good status. Can't wait to see what 2010 has in store for me.

10 Reasons You're The Best

I pulled this out of the October issue of Glamour and thought many of you would also relate. I realize that this wasn't written just for me, but good to see something I related to 100%.

10 Reasons You're The Best
1. You like Target and Tiffany about equally
2. You offer to babysit, and, yep, actually do
3. You're the kind of person who realizes that the airport security people - breathe, calm, are just doing their job
4. On the bus, you stand up for pregnant ladies
5. When you borrow the dress, you return it...dry cleaned
6. You dance, giggle, hug, sing, curse, cry, so no one's left wondering how you're feeling (don't know about the other things, but I can relate to cursing)
7. You tell her when she has spinach in your teeth, but not when she's gained five pounds
8. You don't post pics where you look great and everyone else looks nauseous
9. You give great birthday
10. You aren't perfect...but then none of the best people are

C'mon Halos!

C'mon Halos...do this for me...do this for all Angels fans...and do this for Nick Adenhart! Nothing would make me smile more than seeing you hoist his jersey up after a comeback series win against the Yanks. Find it in your hearts and push forward. Get those solo shots like the Yankees have (multiple runs would be even better), find those holes like the Yanks keep doing and play like you've played all year - with enthusiasm and professionalism.

Give us die-hard Angel fans a repeat of 2002! I'll be cheering from section 507 tonight!

Vinturi Wine Aerator

I finally stepped it up and purchased a Vinturi wine aerator, which is awesome! Thanks to a Crate & Barrel gift card, I was able to purchase this longtime wish list item for myself.

Tested it out on an amazing bottle of Jayson Pinot Noir and a bottle of Lost Angel Mischief Blend, which improved the taste instantly.

Don't get me wrong...this device won't ever take the place of letting a bottle age properly or decanting it for a couple of hours, but it certainly improves the taste and aroma with one quick pour through the oxygenated funnel.

Amazon.com is selling them for approx. $35, and they have them for red and white wines.

Give it a shot. It's well worth the investment for any level of wine drinker.

Reese's Dark Mini Cups

Where have I been? Reese's now has Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter cups? Life itself was good with the traditional PB cups, but now they have dark chocolate? I won't be sharing these with the trick-or-treaters this year!

Free Shipping on MAC Cosmetics at Macys.com

If you love MAC Cosmetics as much as I do, enjoy free shipping of $50 or more on MAC Cosmetics at Macys.com.

Use promo code MAGIC at checkout.

Oh, and in case you want to buy me anything for Christmas, I love this year's holiday collection :)

20% off Macys.com Purchase

For all you Macys.com shoppers, for a limited time, get 20% off your Macys.com orders. Some exclusions apply (i.e. cosmetics, fragrances).

Use promo code PL8KM912J3X

SC vs. CA

As many of you know, I've always toyed with the idea of Lee and I moving to Charleston, SC, where he grew up (I know you've all seen the beautiful pics on FB). Upon our recent trip, I paid very close attention to little nuances, sayings, "ways of doing things" that differ from our life in California. I'm sure it's the same when visiting other states, too, but I just thought I'd share some interesting things:

South Carolina
*Shopping carts are referred to as "buggies"
*Practically every neighborhood is absent of sidewalks
*Instead of saying where do you live (e.g. Irvine, Mission Viejo, etc.), SC natives live in terms of subdivisions/neighborhoods (e.g. Ocean Neighbors, Stiles Point)
*Gas is $1.00 cheaper/gallon
*Men wear visors, not baseball caps
*Everyone (women included) wear wraparound reflective sunglasses with Croakies around their neck
*Most men (not all) have the SC bumpkin hair cut. In Charleston, they refer to it as the Clemson cut.
*College football is a religion. Small cities shut down hours and sometimes days before Saturday kickoff
*Camo is fully acceptable outside of the hunting field
*Hunting/fishing trophy rooms are part of every house (a.k.a. the man cave)
*Banana pudding with Nilla Wafers is a staple
*Everyone (I mean everyone) says "Yes Ma'am" and "No Sir" when speaking to one another
*You have to go to a separate store to purchase liquor
*If you want iced tea, you have to specify "Sweet" or "Unsweet"
*Speed Hump vs. Speed Bump

So you tell me...could you see this CA girl in SC? :)

Tiny Fans

I love this commercial!

Suds Up

Herbal Essences is making it very hard for me not to want to sniff every bottle of their delectable shampoos and conditioners every time I visit Target. The scents are intoxicating and I truly am that girl in the store who is smelling the bottles and then imagines herself sudsing up her hair in the shower. Guess their marketing really hit the mark with me :)

I absolutely love the Orchid and Coconut hydrating shampoo and conditioner and for days I need a little boost, the White Nectarine and Pink Coral Flower is beautiful!

Jennie-O

Lee and I have been trying to substitute red meat with healthier turkey and I've been impressed with the quality and taste of Jennie-O products. Don't get me wrong - if I had my choice between a ground beef or ground turkey burger, I'm going with ground beef. Hello? In-and-Out rocks! However, there are times where substituting is not only healthier, but tastes just as good.

Case in point - I've opted for ground turkey for my brown sugar meatloaf recipe, and discovered that I actually like meatloaf, despite years of protesting the mound of meat.

Another substitution has come with my spaghetti recipe, in which I only use Italian sausage. I've recently swapped that with Jennie-O's Italian turkey sausage.

Finally, Jennie O also makes a great ground turkey product that's seasoned Italian. I made the best meatballs the other day and you couldn't even tell the difference (neither could my husband).

It might take a little effort to add the right dash of seasonings, but the flavor you get from fattier red meat will be made up with healthier, properly seasoned turkey meat.

Food Network

Although I keep myself busy with my regular TV shows, every now and again I find myself switching over to the Food Network. One would ask, "How could you find anything of interest on the Food Network, unless you're a chef?" Well, the Food Network is-a-changin! I do miss seeing Emeril and Mario Batali, but I think the network is realizing that people watch Food Network for more reasons than just cooking shows. I believe they like the culture of cooking and how cooking varies across the nation.

The shows I regularly tune into on Food Network are:
Challenge - they have everything from sugar sculpture challenges to the best Disney character cake...it's amazing to see what is made in eight hours!

Unwrapped - I love this show, because it shows you the "behind the scenes" of how our favorite products are made.

Throwdown with Bobby Flay - this cute show pits a cooking specialist (i.e. Red Velvet Cake maker) against Bobby Flay. Bobby comes into town unannounced to surprise the specialist with a challenge. Who will win? You never know!

Paula's Home Cooking - who can resist a woman with that laugh and Southern Charm? Not to mention that she's not afraid to cook with butter and cheese.

Diners Drive-Ins and Dives - Even though I can't stand the cheesy look of the host, he's growing on me. It's fun to see him visit local "holes in the wall" that you wouldn't expect to run into.

Scent-sational

I'm a creature of habit, so when it comes to wearing a new fragrance, I'm very cautious. I love the two scents I wear all the time, so I never know what I'm going to get myself into when someone else buys me a new perfume.

Perfumes and lotions are so personal, simply because of the way a scent will react to your body chemistry. So, imagine my surprise when I received two new perfumes for my birthday. I initially thought "Hmmm...I wonder if these are my style."

My favorites are fresh and clean scents like Dolce and Gabbana's Light Blue and Philosophy's Pure Grace, so I didn't know if I'd like the new Juicy Couture perfume or Black Amethyst body spray from Bath and Body Works that were gifted to me. These two scents tend to be more sultry and warm, compared to my regular cool, clean scents; however, I'm really enjoying them.

It took a few days for my nose (and head) to get used to them, but I think they'll be nice for fall!

BIN 189

If you're ever in the Lake Arrowhead area and looking for an elegant and delicious restaurant, PLEASE go to BIN 189 at the Lake Arrowhead Resort & Spa.

We went up for the day on my birthday and it was AMAZING. Lunch was delicious and they had an impeccable wine cellar and selection. You can even choose from one of the restaurant's preselected wine flights (three, 2.5 oz. servings...although it seemed like heavier pours) or build your own.

I'm desperate to go back, just so I can spend the night at this beautiful resort and try BIN 189's dinner menu!

Light My Fire

I love Bath and Body Works' candles! I usually purchase a handful of the smaller 4 oz. candles and spread them throughout the house. Some of my favorite scents are: Creamy Nutmeg, Fresh Lemon, Ginger Vanilla, Harvest Berry, Kitchen Spice, Midnight Pomegranate, Pineapple Orchid, Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin and Warm Vanilla Sugar.

Right now, Bath and Body Works is featuring their Stock Up and Save Sale, which means these lovelies are 2 for $10.

Sunday Funday

It's been a while since my last post, so thanks for hangin' in there! I've recently been enjoying a bunch of new shows and new seasons and wanted to share them with you:

Sunday nights are my all-time favorite with the new seasons of: True Blood, Entourage and Mad Men.

I'm addicted to the raw sexiness of True Blood, the comedy of Entourage and the era of Mad Men (not to mention Jon Hamm...yummy!). I've also been enjoying a new series on Lifetime (yes, I said Lifetime), Drop Dead Diva, which also airs on Sunday nights. Sunday is proving to be quite the "Fun Day."

Project Runway is off to a good start on Thursday nights on Lifetime (I'm rooting for the two girls from Charleston, SC), although I think there is better talent on the show.

Can't wait for the new season of Greek to start on Monday and see if Casey and Cappy rekindle their romance.

So, sorry if I've been a troll. I've been glued to my TV.

Mom's Favorites

Here's my Mom's choices of favorites. Guess I'm her daughter, because I like a lot of her selections, too!

Holly D's Favorites

Thanks to Holly Davis for these fun favorites!

Marti's Favorites

These favorites come all the way from my sister-in-"love," Marti White, in Charleston, SC. Marti is a proud Mom of a U.S. Marine son (my nephew), which is why two of her favorites are especially important Bible verses. We can all appreciate those!

Happy 40th Birthday, Baby!

I love you! Hope I don't embarrass you too much with these pics :)

Marcela's Favorites

Thanks to my friend, and former co-worker, Marcela Aldis for these great suggestions!

Matt's Favorites

OK, so it's about time for some favorites from a male's perspective! These come from courtesy of Matt Bowers.

Jessa's Favorites

Thanks to Jessa Stadtler of Bella Inspired for these favorites!

Betsy's Favorites

Day #2 of friend favorites: These favorites come courtesy of Betsy Bowers.

Holly's Favorites

Here's my first entry for my series of "friend favorites." These favorites come courtesy of Holly Lapick of Stupid Lymphoma. Thanks for sharing, Holly!

Bistro West 50% Off Wine Night

Heads up to all you wine lovers. Bistro West in Tustin (at the District) is offering 50% off all wine bottles on Tuesday and Thursday nights. Yes, you heard right - 50% off!

A bunch of us went last Thursday night and enjoyed two really nice bottles of wine for a steal deal (Rombauer Merlot and Duckhorn Migration Pinot for you connoisseurs).

Hurry, before the special ends!

ASPCA and WWF

Darn you, ASPCA and WWF. There you go again, tugging at my heartstrings. Not only do I tear up when watching Noah Wyle's endorsement of saving the polar bears for WWF and Sarah Maclachlan's commercial for ASPCA, but now there's a new commercial for ASPCA. I want to turn away, because I can't bear the sight of sad and hurt animals, but I can't. AARGH.

You sure do the trick with these advertisements, because I instantly have a yearning to become Tippi Hedren, while also wanting to punish every inhumane person out there who treats pets as if they don't have feelings or experience pain. I just can't even imagine what it's like for Animal Cops or vets who witness this cruelty in person. I would absolutely lose it.

Thanks, ASPCA and WWF for putting a "furry face forward" to shed light on your wonderful causes. You have my heart.

It Paid to Complain

If you're a frequent reader of my blog, you'll know that I'm not a big complainer when it comes to retail or restaurant customer service; however, on occasion, I do muster up the gusto to make my concern heard (especially in this economy)!

Saturday afternoon, I went to our local Pavilions to place a party platter order of fried chicken and sides for our Angels/Yankees tailgate on Sunday afternoon. After spending more than ample time with a new employee who was still learning the ropes, I finally got my order placed for pickup 10:00 sharp Sunday morning.

Well, much to our dismay, the order wasn't ready when we arrived at 10:00. I was told that the new employee put the order slip in the wrong place. What frustrated me the most was that another employee noticed that the order was placed in the wrong area, but didn't bother to move it to the right area??!!

At this point, Lee and I are fuming and three employees are scrambling to try to rectify the situation, which was going to set us back 45 minutes (they were offering to cook up the order right then and there). We sternly explained to them that there was a reason we wanted the order at 10:00 and couldn't wait until 10:45 to get on the road.

So, after we stormed out and I got the manager's name, we then headed to a local KFC and spent close to $25 more than we would've spent at Pavilions.

Which brings me to today and the point of this blog. I called our friendly manager at Pavilions and explained the situation. Of course, he was extremely apologetic and offered not to pay the difference between Pavilions and KFC, but is giving us a $65 gift card to cover all expenses (which was just a little bit more than we paid at KFC). I was very happy with this resolution and the manager's immediate apology and offer of a gift card. I truly believe in this situation it's worth it to him to spend $65 to save a longtime customer.

So, make your voice heard when it counts. Businesses are doing anything and everything to not only gain new clients, but keep existing ones very happy. Case in point...me.

Tea and Honey

I recently purchased the cutest, but simple floor-length silk dress from Nordstrom, and can't wait to get it in the mail (had to order a different size online). Don't worry - it doesn't look as dressy or fussy as it sounds. The clothes are very casual chic. I love the dress so much, I might even order it in the second color (I purchased deep purple, but they also have a beautiful deep green).

Anyhow, the brand is called Tea and Honey, and the designer is a So Cal native, Rachel Koo. Their website really isn't up to par on showcasing her designs, so if you're ever in Nordstrom (TBD Department) or smaller boutiques, keep your eyes peeled for this great line by a fashion-savvy So Cal gal!

I Need Tickets

It never fails that when we go to Angels games, there are always ticket scalpers on every corner leading up to the stadium gates. What perplexes me is when there's one guy holding a sign that says "I need tickets," standing next to a guy holding a sign that says "I have tickets." If that's the case, geniuses, why don't you initiate a friendly monetary exchange and get on with it? Hilarious.

Cute Fix for the Day

So, I'm a sucker for animals, especially babies. Who isn't? Therefore, I couldn't resist sharing this slideshow of babies born to local zoos this year. Enjoy!

Afraid of Heights?

If you're a thrill seeker, checkout the new Sears Tower Skydeck. Hanging out from the 103rd story, this isn't for those afraid of heights!

Softsoap

Found a new favorite and wanted to share it - Softsoap Classics Hand Soap. At only $1.50 or less per bottle, why not have a different scent at every sink within the house? My favorites are Black Raspberry & Vanilla and Milk Protein & Honey, but you can also choose from Lavender & Chamomile, Antibacterial, Juicy Melon, Pink Grapefruit and Soothing Aloe Vera.

It's Almost Time

...for the OC Fair! Yeah, that's right - I love some good 'ol fashion fair food and fun. This year, the fair is being touted as a SUPER FAIR, because it's lasting about a month (compared to two weeks in years past).

If you're a fair fanatic like me, you might want to consider investing in the Super Pass for $25, which allows you admission to all 23 days of the fair. It's definitely worth the investment if you plan on going more than 2 times, because regular admission is $10. By purchasing the Super Pass, you're also entitled to 2-for-1 concert tickets at the Pacific Amphitheatre for select shows.

Fair dates are July 10 - August 9 (closed Mondays & Tuesdays).

Impossible

Over the weekend, I was reading an article in which someone was trying to describe the impossible. There are many things in each of our lives in which we would equate with "impossible;" however, imagine my surprise at the author's answer: You want to know what impossible is? Try to describe a color to a blind person.

With color, there is no shape, so there is nothing a blind person can touch and feel to associate themselves with.

So, how would you describe blue? or red? or green? You couldn't possibly equate those colors to an object (ocean, fire truck, grass), because that person will have never seen that object.

Think about that for a minute. How would you describe a color to a blind person? I've thought about it all weekend, and I think that this is the most perfect example of impossible.

You Go Girl?!

What is the world coming to? Don't know that I'm quite on board with this invention, although I do appreciate the ingenuity, because, we've all been in some questionable restroom situations before. I have a sample here in the office if anyone wants to be my guinea pig. Anyone? Bueller?

I Don't Get It...

Maybe I'm not as sentimental as most, but I don't get the fascination with affixing an "In Memory Of" sticker on the back of your car window? Also, I tend to notice that most of these stickers aren't mourning the loss of a 95-year-old grandparent who lived a full life, rather, more tragic circumstances of young adults and children who passed well before their time.

I guess I don't understand why someone would want to be constantly reminded of these untimely deaths every time they looked in their rear view mirror or loaded groceries into their trunk?

I do understand that everyone grieves and heals in their own way, but I can't help to feel that this is a bit morbid. It seems like it would be hard to ever move on...or maybe these people can't move on?

Coastal Home Services

It's probably about time that I post something about my husband's company, Coastal Home Services. Geez, it's only been close to a year and I haven't mentioned it once - what a great wife I am (sorry, honey!)

Designed to cater to homeowners-on-the-go, as well as busy realtors, Coastal Home Services is unique in that no job is too small. From basic carpentry and drywall repair, to more complex projects, including tiling and stonework, Coastal Home Services' broad range of expertise makes them a one-stop shop for home improvement services.

So, if you're looking to enhance the look and value of your home, maintaining a rental property or simply listing a residence for sale, contact Coastal Home Services for convenient home improvement solutions at an affordable price.