Too lazy rotate... and didn't get enough pictures.. but here is a little taste of some of the party-goers and some of the excitement!! so much more holiday celebrating to come.. DREAMING!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Ho-Ho-Ho
So like I mentioned before, I had an urge to entertain. SO... I started decorating, (we) for weeks, sent out the cutest little online invitation (USE THEM.. instead of evites they email out these simulated cards, that look like real invitations, and.. they open on someone's computer) candy cane themed invite.. so we found all things candy cane and went with the theme. Trader Joe's, Costco, Ralphs, Pavilions, 99cent store, Bristol Farms, CVS, all were frequented for this party. That is always my tip with life.. mix and match high end and low end items.. there is nothing wrong with a shirt from forever 21 and shoes from target if you have a good purse, or a nice piece of jewelry.. same goes for a party, a Christmas tree, EVERYTHING IN LIFE.. it is all about presentation and pride. REMEMBER THAT! if you are proud and present it well.. then that shines thru! also, STAY CALM... everything always works out. Anyways, with a little help from some elfs I think the party was a hit. Lots of champagne, of course other alcohol is readily available, sparkling cider, and then tons and tons of appetizers (pigs in the blanket, spinakopita, a full cheese platter, homemade brie en croute... so easy :::get a round brie, and decide sweet or savory and go to town.. I did strawberry jam and preserves, dried strawberries and berries, some brown sugar.. bing bam boom, wrapped it in pastry and WHALA!!:::, trail mixes, etc. etc. etc) and food (salads, pasta casserole, bread, tamale pie, blah blah blah), and plenty of sweets (pumpkin pie, gingerbread cookies, homemade cranberry bread and apple spice bread, cupcakes, peanut butter bars (thanks Ally), homemade chocolate chip cookies, pumpkin surprise... etc. etc.) I THINK YOU GET THE PICTURE.. SO HERE ARE SOME PICTURES.. did I mention there were some VERY aggressive ornament snatchers out there,....
COSTCO.
QUICK MENTION... My husband has been very disappointed to find that many Costco's no longer carry Hebrew National hot dogs, well, well... LOOK WHAT I FOUND IN THE DESERT WHERE ALL THINGS OLD PEOPLE LOVE ARE-
did I mention Costco in the desert also sells... CASKETS. oy
PANTHER PRIDE
So.. it was always a joke when I transferred from UH (20,000+ UNDERGRAD) to Chapman (4,000) that I wanted to be the "PANTHER OF THE YEAR" (sense the sarcasm I hope)... if you aren't very quick... the panther is Chappytown's mascot. well IRONY STRIKES.. AND my final semester of undergrad I decided to play water polo at what I used to make fun of as a horrible team.. and found CHAPMAN TRULY IS AN INSTITUTION UNRIVALED BY OTHERS, in the sense that it is soooo warm, nurturing, caring, individual, unique, all things I would think a parent dreams of their child experiencing when sending them away.. I experienced and watched these 18 year old freshman (I was 23 eek) experience. I couldn't have had more "Panther Pride" then you could imagine. well, until I found myself in the job market unemployed for a long period of time.. but that's another entry!
ANYWAYS, my parents are also proud of Chapman and the institution it is becoming and already is.. and we all (my husband, and my parents, and I) were fortunate enough to attend the Chapman Gala.. and I WAS BLOWN AWAY... here are some pictures:
ANYWAYS, my parents are also proud of Chapman and the institution it is becoming and already is.. and we all (my husband, and my parents, and I) were fortunate enough to attend the Chapman Gala.. and I WAS BLOWN AWAY... here are some pictures:
PARTY TIP: they had the coolest dance floor set up (as you can see with Alex and Cathie groovin').. they put the band on a riser and then surrounded the band with dance floors, so people we dancing on all sides.. I DUG IT!
dreaming of party ideas' I DO LOVE A CELEBRATION!
and sparkle.
Oh how I miss you!
o come all ye faithful... YES, IT IS HOLIDAY SEASON ALREADY,
1 day till December first, and I have already had a holiday ornament exchange at our apartment, had a tree up for weeks and been rocking out to the tunes for days! SPIRITED. why not, or as we said in Czech... aproc ne?!
Sometimes I will be driving, running errands, at work (like right now.. OOPS) and come up with an idea to blog about, and within minutes something comes up- and the thought is LONG gone. TRAGIC. oh how my dreams have suffered by being employed. I ALWAYS, ALWAYS, acknowledged that the grass was always greener,.... while I was unemployed I would dream of feeling substantial in this world, with meaning and fulfillment.. and while I am employed, you dream of the wonderful programming of the BRAVO network and that fluffy duvet, the sale at bloomies, the forever 21 deals calling your name.. or MAYBE THIS IS JUST MY STRUGGLE?
ANYWAYS, I have officially been employed, yes.. for a month or more, BUT- it is only till year end, then they maybe can find permanent room for me. or maybe not, so don't get too excited. I WILL SAY, IF THEY FIND ME ROOM- I THINK IT IS A GREAT FIT, AND even if they don't.... it is a terrific non-profit you all should check out... The Noreen Fraser Foundation.
I don't even know where to go- I have missed so much.
maybe I will break up all events and thoughts into separate entries, yes, yes I WILL! HERE I GO
1 day till December first, and I have already had a holiday ornament exchange at our apartment, had a tree up for weeks and been rocking out to the tunes for days! SPIRITED. why not, or as we said in Czech... aproc ne?!
Sometimes I will be driving, running errands, at work (like right now.. OOPS) and come up with an idea to blog about, and within minutes something comes up- and the thought is LONG gone. TRAGIC. oh how my dreams have suffered by being employed. I ALWAYS, ALWAYS, acknowledged that the grass was always greener,.... while I was unemployed I would dream of feeling substantial in this world, with meaning and fulfillment.. and while I am employed, you dream of the wonderful programming of the BRAVO network and that fluffy duvet, the sale at bloomies, the forever 21 deals calling your name.. or MAYBE THIS IS JUST MY STRUGGLE?
ANYWAYS, I have officially been employed, yes.. for a month or more, BUT- it is only till year end, then they maybe can find permanent room for me. or maybe not, so don't get too excited. I WILL SAY, IF THEY FIND ME ROOM- I THINK IT IS A GREAT FIT, AND even if they don't.... it is a terrific non-profit you all should check out... The Noreen Fraser Foundation.
I don't even know where to go- I have missed so much.
maybe I will break up all events and thoughts into separate entries, yes, yes I WILL! HERE I GO
Friday, November 5, 2010
BRUSSEL SPROUTS!!
I die for brussel sprouts, and my husband.. well, DOES NOT!! but he even said these were "good, for brussel sprouts". HA
MADE THESE PUPPIES LAST NIGHT.... sooo easy, boil them, throw some parmesan cheese and olive oil, salt, and pepper, and broil for a little!! SOOOOO SPOT ON!
MADE THESE PUPPIES LAST NIGHT.... sooo easy, boil them, throw some parmesan cheese and olive oil, salt, and pepper, and broil for a little!! SOOOOO SPOT ON!
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
QUICK UPDATE.
Here is a brief snippet of thoughts, motivated by pictures I took on my blackberry in the last week or so.. sharing with you!
Dipped these suckers myself... it was seriously therapeutic and kinda vibed on it. If for no other reason.. they look pretty cool and taste bomb!
Took a test at city hall for a job as a costumer service rep. for the accounting department with the City of Beverly Hills, not exaggerating, IT WAS THE HARDEST TEST... hours and hours long, so much math, I couldn't even fathom that people were passing unless they were accountants!
Bureaucracy
AT ITS FINEST!
I found this little guy loose on the streets, obviously pull over, chase it around, finally ironically a lady drives by and screams out her window "I FOUND THAT DOG LAST WEEK, HE LIVES TWO BLOCKS DOWN"... so I take him home with the help of a friend, and come to find out he gets out all the time and animal control is always there... SOME PEOPLE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HAVE DOGGIES.
Event at USC.. choose to fight on, for women's cancer.. I LOVE COLLEGE- such energy and drive.. motivating powerful environment. Felt good to be in that surrounding again...
The aftermath.
I couldn't help but mention this one... THIS IS NOT A CLUB, it is Disneyland.. I hate that. Get a life and go to a club if you crave this environment, is Disney so desperate to make money they have to promote alcohol and a rave like environment to generate revenue? What if I had children there and they saw that? NOT APPROPRIATE, and bizarre.
In Newport on a Balboa Island walk.. always such a pleasure. Gotta appreciate where you grew up..
oh and I didn't document this.. silly me and unlike me- but.. a friend and I took a little girl to CHUCK-E-CHEESE this weekend, and THE PIZZA SUCKED, and it was ghett. but... I guess we shoulda known. STEER CLEAR OF THAT PLACE!! just a side thought.
WOMENS LIBERS.
Last week I worked at the Maria Shriver Women's Conference. First things first- SHE IS A GODESS... so well spoken, so together, just really sharp and motivating.
The list of speakers, vendors, appearances, was quite simply large.. and impressive...
Laura Bush, Michelle Obama, Oprah, Cindy McCain, Meghan McCain, Matt Lauer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sandra Day O'Connor, Jessica Simpson, Al Roker, Tony Robbins, Jill Biden, Paula Deen, Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman, Diane Sawyer,....I MEAN THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON.. those are the only ones I can recall off the top of my head,
Anyways... at first I was quite skeptical of the idea of attending or working at a women's conference just so not my vibe.. yes I love education, speakers, empowerment.. but not in the way of women gathering in a liberal intellectual kind of kumbuya kinda way... and this definitely rang true as I sat and watched/listened to TONY ROBBINS...
CAN WE DISCUSS TONY ROBBINS?
WELL.. he is a HOTTIE.. that is for sure...
THESE WOMEN REACT IN THE SCARIEST MANNER TO HIM... I kept thinking, the masses are so easily manipulated it is unbelievable, thousands of women were basically drooling and nodding like a bunch of sedated idiots. NOW LOOK- IN THE GRAND SCHEME, YES HIS MESSAGE IS POSITIVE, so it is not such a bad thing that people listen and follow him.... but it is absolutely astonishing to see how strongly these people react to him...
so.. he starts his little gig and these women are screaming answers at him in unison "YES TONY" "TRUTH" "NO"... then he tells them these statistical facts of how if you respond with physical action, take notes, etc. then you are going to retain some large amount of the information he is telling you, as opposed to just listen where you would only retain something like 10%.. so these women literally stand up- sit down- hug thy neighbor, take notes... I MEAN...
IT WAS LIKE A HITLER YOUTH RALLY, but positive.
here are some little tidbits I remember (when I wasn't just blown away by these women's reactions and could actually listen... and BY THE WAY- I SWEAR THEY LISTEN TO HIM PARTLY BECAUSE HE IS JUST SO GOOD LOOKING UP THERE)... ok here we go,
finding meaning in life is more important then finding happiness.. because to most people, meaning if much more fulfilling. PEOPLE CRAVE MEANING IN ACTIONS.. and Tony, I agree with you on that one, do I need to yell back at you, shake the person next to me's hands, hug, and go to a seminar to come to this conclusion NO.. but I do agree. MEANING EQUALS EMOTION, AND EMOTION EQUALS LIFE.
- what shapes decision?
-here is one I have thought of a lot on my own... we all value different things, and different needs in a different order, for instance: some people need more love, some want significance and would say "I want to be someone before love".. and we all need some sort of significance but by putting it first, you are basically bound to never find true love.. those are Tony's words, NOT MINE GIRLFRIENDS!!
so aka- priorities are important.. GET THEM IN ORDER, those are my words ;)
and ultimately after hours of listening to this BS and being amazed at this feel good nonsense that these women were literally lighting up as if they saw santa claus flying from their roof in a sleigh on christmas eve.... the message to me was..
SHIFT YOUR STORY.. figure yourself out, your demons, your motivators, your meaning.. and write your story the way you want it, change to be the person you want to be.
thanks Tony, I will not be following you around the globe and paying the big bucks to be enlightened by you.. BUT IT WAS A INTERESTING COUPLE OF HOURS I WILL SAY!
The list of speakers, vendors, appearances, was quite simply large.. and impressive...
Laura Bush, Michelle Obama, Oprah, Cindy McCain, Meghan McCain, Matt Lauer, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sandra Day O'Connor, Jessica Simpson, Al Roker, Tony Robbins, Jill Biden, Paula Deen, Jerry Brown and Meg Whitman, Diane Sawyer,....I MEAN THE LIST GOES ON AND ON AND ON.. those are the only ones I can recall off the top of my head,
Anyways... at first I was quite skeptical of the idea of attending or working at a women's conference just so not my vibe.. yes I love education, speakers, empowerment.. but not in the way of women gathering in a liberal intellectual kind of kumbuya kinda way... and this definitely rang true as I sat and watched/listened to TONY ROBBINS...
CAN WE DISCUSS TONY ROBBINS?
THESE WOMEN REACT IN THE SCARIEST MANNER TO HIM... I kept thinking, the masses are so easily manipulated it is unbelievable, thousands of women were basically drooling and nodding like a bunch of sedated idiots. NOW LOOK- IN THE GRAND SCHEME, YES HIS MESSAGE IS POSITIVE, so it is not such a bad thing that people listen and follow him.... but it is absolutely astonishing to see how strongly these people react to him...
so.. he starts his little gig and these women are screaming answers at him in unison "YES TONY" "TRUTH" "NO"... then he tells them these statistical facts of how if you respond with physical action, take notes, etc. then you are going to retain some large amount of the information he is telling you, as opposed to just listen where you would only retain something like 10%.. so these women literally stand up- sit down- hug thy neighbor, take notes... I MEAN...
IT WAS LIKE A HITLER YOUTH RALLY, but positive.
here are some little tidbits I remember (when I wasn't just blown away by these women's reactions and could actually listen... and BY THE WAY- I SWEAR THEY LISTEN TO HIM PARTLY BECAUSE HE IS JUST SO GOOD LOOKING UP THERE)... ok here we go,
finding meaning in life is more important then finding happiness.. because to most people, meaning if much more fulfilling. PEOPLE CRAVE MEANING IN ACTIONS.. and Tony, I agree with you on that one, do I need to yell back at you, shake the person next to me's hands, hug, and go to a seminar to come to this conclusion NO.. but I do agree. MEANING EQUALS EMOTION, AND EMOTION EQUALS LIFE.
- what shapes decision?
-here is one I have thought of a lot on my own... we all value different things, and different needs in a different order, for instance: some people need more love, some want significance and would say "I want to be someone before love".. and we all need some sort of significance but by putting it first, you are basically bound to never find true love.. those are Tony's words, NOT MINE GIRLFRIENDS!!
so aka- priorities are important.. GET THEM IN ORDER, those are my words ;)
and ultimately after hours of listening to this BS and being amazed at this feel good nonsense that these women were literally lighting up as if they saw santa claus flying from their roof in a sleigh on christmas eve.... the message to me was..
SHIFT YOUR STORY.. figure yourself out, your demons, your motivators, your meaning.. and write your story the way you want it, change to be the person you want to be.
thanks Tony, I will not be following you around the globe and paying the big bucks to be enlightened by you.. BUT IT WAS A INTERESTING COUPLE OF HOURS I WILL SAY!
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