Dream Home

HGTV is currently taking entries for the 2009 Dream Home sweepstakes. I tried desperately to win last year's home, which was in South Carolina, but this year's home looks just as nice. And, to make it even more appealing, it's located in wine country (Sonoma)! So, don't enter, because you'll lessen my chances of winning - ha ha! If you win, I get to visit anytime I want.

This is for Julie

I also subscribe to my friend Julie's blog, and she recently wrote a "Bucket List" post, which was fashioned after the movie. Things she wants to do and places she wants to visit before she dies. So, this one is for Julie:

My Bucket List:
1. Travel to Costa Rica, Greece, Fiji, Tahiti, Italy, Spain, France, Denmark, Scotland Australia, New Zealand (and so many more places)
2. Ride a zip line through a rain forest
3. Spend New Year's in New York
4. Spend 4th of July in D.C.
5. Live in Charleston, SC
6. Visit Cooperstown
7. Have children
8. Own a home (not a condo or townhome); an actual home with a yard
9. Go wine tasting in Napa, Sonoma and Willamette Valley
10. Go to every baseball stadium in the U.S. and watch a game (so far, only been to Dodger Stadium, Angel Stadium, Petco Park and US Cellular Field - 26 to go!!)

That's all I can think of for now. I'm sure more things will come up, as life goes on. One of my favorite quotes is from the movie, Shawshank Redemption: "Get busy living or get busy dying."

Inspired

No clever posts from me today. Just simply a note to say that I'm inspired and hopeful for great things from our new President and renewed country.

Veg-Tastic

Since Lee is such a wonderful chef, and our produce usually spoils long before we have time to savor it, "Santa" brought him Debbie Meyer Green Bags for Christmas. Don't be ashamed to admit it - you know you've seen the commercials - "BUT WAIT...THERE'S MORE!" I'll have to say that they do work pretty darn good. Mushrooms and lettuce that have been in our fridge since after Christmas still look fresh off the shelf. Our goal is to incorporate more fresh fruit and veggies into our diets, and with the help of these little magic bags, it just might be possible!

I know they can be purchased at Target, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Amazon.com and directly from the website.

Preserve those veggies and fruits! Especially the more expensive organic varieties.

My Favorites

Every time I read my magazines, there's always a random interview with a "nobody," in which the interviewer asks the interviewee their 10 favorite things. Now, the items they typically list are usually very obscure (i.e. blue pencils) or very expensive. So, when I like to drift off and think what my answers would be if I was worthy of an interview, here's what I'd say:

My 10 favorites:

My Anthropologie apron
MAC Viva Glam VI Lipglass
Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream (which I use on my face)
Papyrus notecards
Bath and Body Works Wallflowers
Bath and Body Works Eucalyptus Spearmint Hand Soap
Burgundy Calla Lilies
My mini wine cooler
Melvin's BBQ sauce (Charleston favorite)
My Crate and Barrel wine decanter

I've shared my 10 favorites, now you share yours. Post a comment and let me know what little things make you happy.

My Weekend in "Heaven"

This past weekend was a trip to Angels heaven for me. My Mom treated myself, my husband and my two brothers to the Angels fan cruise to Ensenada. From meeting and hanging with a few of the players to wine tasting in Ensenada Valley, we all had a great time. Here's some pics of the trip: THANKS, MOM!!

Ensenada, Here I Come

I'm looking forward to our family trip this weekend to Ensenada for the Angels fan cruise! Maybe we'll run into some star players or maybe we'll eat the worm from the tequila bottle. Either way, I know we'll have a good time. I'm excited for Lee and Karl, because they've never been on a cruise. They're cruise virgins!

By the way, I updated my slideshow of pics at the top of the page to more current imagery from 2008. Hope to have a few more to add after this weekend's fun.

Bon Voyage!

Good Friends

As I've grown older, I realize the importance of QUALITY friends vs. QUANTITY. I received this e-mail from my wonderful sister-in-law this morning, and just thought I'd share it with you - all of my friends:

A simple friend has never seen you cry.
A real friend's shoulder is soggy from your tears.


A simple friend doesn't know your parents' first names.
A real friend has their phone numbers in her address book.


A simple friend brings a bottle of wine to your party.
A real friend comes early to help you cook and stays late to help you clean.


A simple friend hates it when you call after they've gone to bed.
A real friend asks you why you took so long to call.


A simple friend seeks to talk with you about your problems.
A real friend seeks to help you with your problems.


A simple friend wonders about your romantic history.
A real friend could blackmail you with it!


A simple friend thinks the friendship is over when you have an argument.
A real friend calls you after you had a fight.


A simple friend expects you to always be there for them.
A real friend expects to always be there for you!

To all my REAL friends, I love ya! (Sorry if I missed posting a pic of you)

The Good 'Ol Days

What ever happened to the good old days of letting your dog's poop fertilize the grass he/she pooped on? I can't stand these people who go around carrying smoking hot blue bags of poo, as they chit chat with friends & neighbors on the street. "Excuse me while I hug you. No, that's not my new perfume, that's my steaming pile of shit I'm carrying around, because I haven't discarded it in the approved canister." GIVE ME A BREAK! Plus, the picking up of the poop with your hand inside the blue "glove bag" and turning it inside out is disgusting. How did that softness feel in your hands?

Don't get me wrong - I absolutely love dogs and if I had a bigger home, I would adopt at least two. For now, I'm a cat person, and will always be a cat person. It's my Leo nature. I'm just simply stating an obvious society change that grosses me the hell out. I say, let the poo stay, so our trees can grow bigger and better, which means a greener environment for all. Maybe a stinky environment, but a greener one. My contribution to green peace...

I know this blog will "stink" to most dog lovers, but you can't tell me you enjoy your lovely poop rules, as governed by our wonderful HOAs. Who is the poop police, anyhow?

2009 Goals

Rather than say "Resolutions," I'd like to start 2009 off with a list of "Goals." If I complete them, I've "Resolved" them. If I don't, it won't be as disappointing, because they were goals. I will do my very best to resolve all of these goals by December 31, 2009:

1. Find a new job
2. Gain better control of finances
3. Try to have a baby
4. Lose weight
5. Eat healthier
6. Exercise more, even if it's a brisk walk or short hike
7. Donate more, spend less
8. Spend more "date" time with Lee
9. Help Lee's business grow
10. Drink more water

HAPPY 2009!