this weekend i was blessed to GET AWAY from the crazy that is normal life and enter a whole different kind of crazy...i left town early friday evening along with two of my closest friends (gan, my biff who lives up near slo now even came down for the affair!) for the now "annual" trip to san clemente to stay in the beach house for the weekend. i would like to say this is a tradition we will be continuing throughout the years, but i have no idea if that is a valid statement or not. kenz has the hook-up on this place...so we'll just have to see. we pulled in friday right around 8pm and settled right in for a great evening.
first things first: bust out the puppy chow (i know, it looks a little wonky - well i ran out of powdered sugar so it doesn't have the coating it deserves, but let me tell you, the flavor is still MIGHTY FINE and totally addicting!)...
while eating our puppy chow/muddy buddies/reindeer poop, WHATEVS, we enjoyed several episodes of
this american life pretty much the BEST radio show ever created that just so happens to have a few seasons on dvd. TOTALLY worth your time. LOVE IRA GLASS! i fell asleep during the 3rd episode or so (friday nights are hard for this working girl - i'm usually exhausted - and last week was just insane. truly. insane.) so i tucked in...
saturday morning we slept in and then got ready. i had a few extra minutes so i DOVE in to re-read HP7 (WHICH COMES OUT NOV. 19!!!!!!!!!) before the big movie release in just a few weeks. SO EXCITED!
when everyone was ready, we were OFF for "
harvest day". there will be a LOT more pictures of that extravaganza in another post - my camera battery died while i was attempting to encapsulate this CRAZY place we went for lunch - there were tractors and all kinds of maintenance equiptment materials in BRIGHT colors...SO STRANGE!
another STRANGE moment on saturday was when some lady came up to the door and repeatedly shouted, HELLO HELLO...hello HELLO... now we realize that she coudl clearly see us through the window in the door - but nevertheless, it was fairly clear we were NOT going to answer the door. i can still hear her voice in my head! ha!
it was such a beautiful day that we decided to take a little stroll by the water. the waves were HUGE and splashing off the rocks. it was GORGEOUS. we contemplated crashing a wedding - but since they were still in the "taking photos stage" we decided we would have to wait TOO long. unfortunate.
after our "
harvest day" activities came to a close, we settled in for another evening of FABULOUS viewing...Saturday night was The Mole Season 1. and seriously, there is NO better host than Anderson Cooper. SUCH a great show. SO SAD it was cancelled. we seriously watched over half the season in 1 sitting...we COULD not go to bed without finding out who the mangy ol' mole was! SO FUN.
we went to bed LATE so Sunday was a sleep in morning followed by some SERIOUS coffee. Gan put whip cream on the top of hers...i might have found something else to put in mine...it may have been a tad bit stronger...but still SO good!
kenz made us gluten free waffles and gan topped them with fresh fruit and i contributed the sides - hash browns and bacon (um...i see a fat content issue here...what is that about??) it was DELICIOUS and the perfect way to spend time together on a Sunday morning (as opposed to the pillsbury cinnamon buns commercial - they are confused - and they should be in church! ha! thanks for that one Gan!)
breakfast also included MIMOSAS!! wooooooot! can i say FAVORITE loud enough?? seriously - there is something about champagne and orange juice in the morning that is just SO right. bridesmaids, you're in for a treat @ my mimosa brunch...someday...
sunday afternoon we headed to the theatre to see
life as we know it in San Juan Capistrano (right by Franciscan Gardens - where Shalina got married...and yes i reminisced for a few minutes...like a fool!) the movie was cute...i enjoyed it...but you know, i kind of have this thing for izzy stevens...oh wait, that isn't her real name? sorry...katherine heigl...i forgot grey's anatomy was such a television show for a second...
after the movie we were for another charming little jaunt and watching the sun shining off the ocean. AMAZING. there are few places that remind me of the BEAUTY and POWER of God than the ocean. it is truly a display of His magnificence!
we ended our stay with fajitas, chips and salsa, more crisp, and just a tinge of TRASHY tv. it was wonderful. then we said goodbye to the sweet little beach house with fingers crossed that we'll be back next year! now it's monday. and i'm back at work. back to THIS crazy. but Gan is still in town and the goal for the evening is to STEAL a Meg 2010 political campaign sign...so perhaps today still has a chance at adventure!
The lines were RIDICULOUS and I'm not totally sure the sales are THAT good - but it is FUN and I love having that tradition with my Sister-In-Law. I think it is really special that we share that each year. OF COURSE Madeline time was a MUST over the weekend...she has PERFECTED the Shell face...and looks CUTER than me doing it FOR SURE...LOVE HER.
I also had coffee with Anna and then was privy to the GREAT DISHES DEBATE 2010. Anna registered for dishes from Crate & Barrel when she got married in 2007. Well apparently the "earthenware" that she selected doesn't wash well - it cracks - which supposedly adds to the overall character of the dish - but Anna HATED it. So she decided to return them and get something different...but there wasn't really anything different that she LOVED that was at least $400 MORE than what she was returning. So after MUCH discussion and several trips to the FRONT of the store to make phone calls due to the TERRIBLE reception IN the dishes area, she settled on SIMPLE and PLAIN - with a schnaaazy table! I think she'll be REALLY happy in the long run (i hope i hope i hope!).
Other than that, it was family dinner, decorating Mom's house for Christmas, movies with Kevin & Jamie, and as MUCH Madeline as I could POSSIBLY get.
It was a WONDERFUL weekend and it was honestly a little hard to come home. OH well, at least Christmas is JUST around the corner...and I have a LONG holiday then!
my little family...sister, dad, mom (WE MISSED kev, jam, and mads! - it was their turn with her family...i'm not SUPER good at sharing the M-girl!)
our branch of the family tree...cousin Greg, Aunt Sandy, Cousin Bryan, little sister, Aunt Pat, Mom, Grandma, Uncle Greg, and Dad...lots of our family was away this year - Kym & Doug live in Alaska with their family...Mark and Dawn are in Japan with their family...David and Nicole are in Texas with their family....we just keep getting smaller...
here is a picture of the "large group" in attendance which seriously looks RIDICULOUSLY small...how strange that a HUGE Thankgiving looks SMALL...
my beautiful Grandma turned 93 a few weeks ago and still looks INCREDIBLE. I am so thankful to still have her in my life...i pray she has a few more good years in her...that she'll meet my husband - and maybe even my kids...we'll see...who KNOWS when that will all happen!
and of course, this is the little sister...we look VERY much like we're related...but I still venture to say that Kevin and I look MORE alike...
OH MY GOSH! Several days ago Steven texted me and asked if I wanted to go with him to see the Trans-Syberian Orchestra Concert @ the Honda Center. Then he added, oh and by the way, we have seats on the FLOOR…ROW 13! Of course I accepted the generous invitation. I’m ALWAYS up for an adventure (although I do miss my BEST adventuremate!)
This was a concert unlike anything I have ever seen. The concert started with FOG taking over the ENTIRE venue; then, I see people hoisted up in the air playing their instruments with a kind of furry and invigorating that is unnatural. Ha. Throughout the concert, things only got more “interesting” – there were pyrotechnics GALORE. From light beams to fire explosions, to sound effects and digital art – they never failed to have just ONE MORE SURPRISE. It was an INCREDIBLE show; and although I wasn’t a HUGE fan of the synchronized hair tossing or the sub-par dancers, it was a THOROUGHLY enjoyable evening and I SINCERELY hope we get to take my dad next year…he would LOVE IT! 
The violinist was DEFINITELY my favorite...she was a SERIOUS musician AND she had a ton of personality (oh, and she was female - that might have had SOMETHING to do with it! ha!)
I am addicted to toast with cream cheese, tomatoes, and lemon pepper. I had it for lunch yesterday and today. Tastes SO good, is totally filling, and doesn’t have a TON of calories. NICE!
Tomorrow is “the thanksgiving brunch” and the administration staff is doing a little something to say “farewell” to the senior pastor…my outfit will likely be questionable (and involves some hot glue…) but we should have a good time…
20minutes until I’m done for the day…counting…down…
marathon television watching is a skill i have perfected, but there are some NECESSARY keys to enjoying the experience...most importantly: FOOD (also valuable, a working remote, beverages, a blanket, a computer, the cell phone in close proximity for quick answering, and friends...friends make television marathoning WAY more fun!) 
Next up was dinner: Barefoot Contessa White Pizza (i switched out the goat cheese and fontina and used a gryuerre/swiss/mozarella mix instead - but MAN OH MAN - tasty pizza! i'm not sure i'll ever be able to go back to the standard red sauce and cheese stuff...it just doesn't compare!
anyway, once I found out that Ina was going to be in MY part of the country AND i had the day off, it was settled, I had to go meet her. in person. finally. ahh be still my beating heart. originally megan and i were going together -but her ceramics class got in the way. THANKFULLY my dear friend {and small group leader} Rhonda agreed to go in her place. 
Rhonda and I left my place just after 12pm thinking we would be to Santa Monica by 1pm, meeting Ina by 1:30 or so and back on the road for home by 3pm at the latest. WELL, unfortunately the directions I had were TOTALLY wrong, so we didn't make it to Williams Sonoma until 2pm...then the line was CRAZY LONG...but eventually we made it through and I had my 30 seconds with the OH SO DARLING and ENDEARING Ina... she said, "so lovely to meet you, i hope you enjoy your new book!" 
this is the BEST photo I got - the personnel of Williams Sonoma that were running the signing were MILITANT and kept the line moving at a rapid pace - so pretty much every photo is blury and they made it CLEAR that there would be no posed photography, so they shattered my dreams to have my picture made with Ina - because really this doesn't count - but at least i can say that in 2010 i was able to meet my 2 favorite television personalities...and that my friends is saying SOMETHING! ha!
monday night i went to stamp club for the very last time {at least for a while...maybe in a year or so I'll have a little stamp back in me...but for now, I'm done!} club was fun {par usual}... we made a ridiciulously awesome card including a snow globe on the front with real water and real glitter in it...yes we're THAT awewsome {ok, ok, so Lynn, the demonstrator is THAT awesome and we just follow instructions...but still...} i would show it to you here - but one of you might get it around Christmas and i wouldn't want to RUIN the surprise! there wasn't a specific SET selected for this month - it was simple: holiday cards, gift card holders, and tags. so i made a card and a corresponding tag. they're cute. i'm a fan.
can you tell i'm somewhat opposed to the typical red and green Christmas color scenario?? i just think different color combos are SO MUCH MORE FUN and still have plenty of spirit! anyhoo...from my stamp club to you, Happy Holidays {and sorry if you're the one that ends up with this card and it isn't a surprise - at least you can know this: i designed and made it...just not especially for you! ha!}
while they were "setting up", we went outside to carve pumpkins. we decided corporately that we would each carve our initial onto our pumpkin (we think it is SO clever that our initials spell MRS. ha!). Unfortuantely, Kenz picked a pumpkin that was quite possibly made entirely of STONE! it was NOT carveable. sad day! so Kenz drew and "R" for Rebecca on hers while Megan and I carved an "M" and "S" respectively into our cutie cute little guys. 
When we were done, we took photographs, then went inside for dinner. Dinner was a harvest appropriate meal - we had baked potatoes with chilli or chicken and brocolli or for gan - our token vegetarian - cheese and sour cream! you really can't go wrong with potatoes! after dinner we watched the mole, ate our apples, and enjoyed some apple/cranberry crisp that Kenz made. seriously it was the perfect HARVEST day! until next year...
last night my BIFF Gan and I took off for just ONE MORE ADVENTURE before she left town and headed back to her home in Nipomo, CA... (well, technically she isn't leaving town until Thursday, but she left my house today...sad day...an avril lavigne song just popped into my head - appropriate for this moment - "and i said, goodbye to you, goodbye to everything that i knew...you were the one i loved...the one thing that i tried to hold onto..." hahaha! oh avril. it's been a long time since you spontaneous interrupted my thoughts!) our adventure was simple: we NEEDED to steal a "MEG 2010" sign. a lot of Gan's friends and family call her Meg or Megs (clearly I am not one of THOSE people - but whatevs) so obviously it was of the upmost importance for her to attain a meg campaign sign. pretty much as soon as it was dark (and we were RATHER hungry at that point) we jumped in fredericko and drove to the location best suited for our acts of piracy. it took several detours to find the spot, but finally we were there. we put on our hats to make sure our identities remained hidden...and gan took off to attain her sign while i stayed put in the getaway car with the video camera rolling. good times my friends. 