Returning Home

Hello Kittens!

Did you miss me?  I sure missed you.

The Vintage Project has been on a little bit of a (okay, A LOT of a) hiatus the past few months and while I definitely kept myself busy, there seemed to be something missing.  There was a little less sparkle, a little less glam, and a lot less focus on what I set out to do two years ago.  Le sigh...

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It didn't take too much soul searching for me to realize that my fabulous corner of the Blogosphere, this amazing creative outlet, and you kittens have become more important to me than I had originally realized (and I'd like to think that you've gotten a little something from it as well).  It's become home.  I used to be a rather prolific writer and have the volumes of poetry to prove it - for the record, much/some of it was really quite good!  There has always been something about writing that just made me feel whole, that made me feel proud - like I'd created something out of nothing.  In the past few months, the NOT writing has left me with a tangible loss that I'd rather not experience.  Dramatic?  Perhaps.  True?  Definitely.

So... effective immediately, I am back!  I have returned home!

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I will not abandon you again.  You have my word.

We have so many things to discover and talk about, wouldn't you agree?  So let's apply a fresh coat of lipstick, throw on a pair of heels and a big pair of sunglasses, and get started!

So many great things are in store.  Until next time, Kittens!
XOXO!!

Health Wheels and a New Exercise Regimen

Hello Kittens!  And Happy, Healthy June!

I apologize for my recent radio silence.  While I've had bouts of being MIA in the past, this time I don't have work to blame.  No, in this instance, my time I can honestly blame working out.

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While my eating habits have been quite good for a while now, my activity level has been as close to zero as you can get.  In the past it's been easy to attribute being so sedentary on my long hours at work, but since transitioning to a new department earlier this year, that is no longer the case.  But old habits die hard and I think I was reveling in the free time a normal work schedule suddenly afforded me.  Truthfully, having the time to be lazy felt AWESOME!

But all good things must come to an end.  So when the Wellness Committee at work used its quarterly Wellness Week to kick off a 12-week Biggest Loser Challenge, I was more than ready!  For me, starting to work out again needed a push like this one.

Unfortunately, in addition to establishing an exercise routine, I've also found myself tasked with finding balance when it comes to the attention The Vintage Project requires.

Throughout the years, there have been many interesting exercises, such as vibrating belt slimming machines...

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And the 'health wheel'.  (Nothing says fitness like being able to work out in whatever dress strikes your fancy!)

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It's pretty obvious from the photos of what appear to be INCREDIBLY strenuous workouts, that vintage forms of exercise aren't really the way to go.  While I believe wearing a pair of heels is very lady-like, I just don't see how working out in them (or a strand of pearls) can be that effective - call me crazy.  Sadly that belief does away with most tie-ins...

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Sure, some exercises have merit, why would you ruin a good pair of heels doing them?

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The moral of this story is - I'm finally starting to find some balance after establishing my new-found exercise regimen.  Also, don't work out in heels.  So really, it's a multi-moral story!

Until next time, Kittens!  Do a few push-ups, drink eight glasses of water, and check back soon!
XOXO!!

It Wasn't You, It Was Me

Oh Kittens, it's so fabulous to see you again!

While we've been on a little break, I assure you, it wasn't you, it was all me!

If you've dropped by often enough, you may have noticed that I tend to put in an obscene amount of time at work.  After many conversations, meetings, spreadsheets full of stats, flowcharts, and breakdowns in private, I'm FINALLY getting some relief!  They have split my current responsibilities in two (which will create two manageable workloads) and it's garnered me a promotion!  Good news on all fronts!

Unfortunately, before things officially get better, they tend to get worse.  And worse means essentially living at work.  There's a lot of cleanup, documenting of processes, and training...all while still trying to keep up with the new stuff.  So, for the last two weeks, my life has consisted of little aside from work.

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You have my word that things will get better, and we'll be spending more quality time together very soon.  I have so much planned and it's going to be pretty fabulous!

Now to get some work done - thankfully from my couch today.

See you soon, Kittens!
XOXO!!

2014 Vintage Project Resolutions

Happy New Year Lovelies!

I hope the first few days of this new year have been fabulous for everyone - that the New Year's Eve merriment and optimism did not end once 2014 officially arrived.

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As I look back at 2013, I am incredibly proud that, while many of my resolutions fell by the wayside, I was successful when it came to The Vintage Project!  I stuck with my little corner of the blogosphere - the thing that has brought us together, given me something other than work to stress out about, provided me with a creative outlet, and allowed me to write again.  It's been lovely!  And it's one of the few New Year's Resolutions that I've EVER made that I've stuck with the whole year through.  Kudos, Melinda!

As a rule, I am not a fan of New Year's Resolutions.  I feel like they ultimately set people up for failure.  This could have a lot to do with the fact that most resolutions are the polar opposite of what people do every day leading up to January 1.  How can you resolve to start working out every day when you haven't done so once in the last five years?  Or cut out all carbs when you think fresh baked bread with real butter is one of the best things that has every happened (you're SO not alone if you're of that opinion)?  Wanting to better yourself in the new year is fantastic, but you have to be smart about it so that your resolutions don't result in self-loathing and end up causing you to do more of the things that you are trying to avoid altogether.  Because seriously, when your resolution is to cut out sweets altogether and then one night, you have one glass of wine too many, give into temptation, and have some decadent chocolatey goodness, chances are you're going to feel terrible about yourself and have three times as much as you normally would because you feel like a failure for blowing your resolution.  I think we've all been there.  Tragic, but true...

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So, after preaching of the evils of New Year's Resolutions, I made a few attainable resolutions of my own.  For this little blog, for you, and for the glam of vintage that I have been striving to incorporate more of into my life.  This year, I resolve to:

1.  Take at least one Old Hollywood adventure each month.
2.  Research, adopt, and post at least one 'This Charming Dame' post each month.
3.  Stay on top of the Book Club and Film School selections (those REALLY fell apart late in 2013).
4.  Make more clean recipes instead of simply pinning them.
5.  Have more Brunch!
6.  Find the right balance of work and play, productivity and relaxation in day to day life as well as The Vintage Project!

There are a few other things that I will be working towards this year, but like my blog resolutions, I'm intentionally structuring them so that they are attainable instead of simply being a list of pipe dreams.  For once, I feel like I'm NOT setting myself up to fail and I'm excited about trying something different this time around!

How about you, Lovelies?  Did you prepare a list of strict resolutions?  Or are you cutting yourself a break this year as well?  Whatever route you decided on, I wish you luck!

XOXO!!

Let's Celebrate!!

Happy New Year Lovelies and Happy First Anniversary to The Vintage Project!

Here's to a fabulous 2014 filled with love, laughter, adventure, sparklers, and lots of vintage.  I'm looking forward to what the upcoming year has in store for all of us!

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Kisses!!
XOXO!!

What Am I Thankful For?

Happy Thanksgiving Lovelies!

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I know you are going to see lists of things that people are thankful for today, but I thought that I would compile my own as I've never actually put one onto paper before - not that this is 'on paper', but you get where I'm going with this.

I find myself taking a step back quite often to appreciate how lucky I am.  I may not be where I envisioned myself at this point in my life, and there are still plenty of things I want to do, see, and accomplish, but I acknowledge that I have a good life.  A very good life.

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What am I thankful for (aside from the fantastic vintage photos above), you may ask?  In no particular order, I am thankful for:

-The fact that I have my Oma in my life.  That she is happy, healthy, active, and self-sufficient and has more love to give (and gives it freely) than anyone I've ever known.
-My mother and my sister who I love unconditionally and who love me the same way in return.
-My warm, cuddly little Port.  While he can be incredibly needy and I have forgotten what it is like to own my own lap (the second I sit down, he makes it a point to commendeer it!), this little ball of fur is the most loyal, affectionate, trusting, smartest cookie I've ever come across.  He's also incredibly handsome.  No, I'm not biased.
-An incredible group of friends.  People who sometimes know me better than I know myself, who I know are there for me through anything, and people I love and support regardless of circumstance.
-The absolute best neighbors in the entire world.  Two people who will watch Port when I'm gone, who will spend an ENTIRE Sunday running to two Home Depots in an attempt to help me hang curtains, and who will bake cookies from scratch and pick up the absolute BEST macaroni and cheese when I am sick.

And a few other items.  Not as sentimental, but things that make life absolutely fantastic!
-The smell of freshly brewed coffee
-The smell of rain, the sound of a good downpour, and how deeply I sleep during a storm
-The smell of jasmine and gardenias on a warm summer evening
-The feel of fall in the air
-Being up to watch the sun rise (and then going to bed)
-Watching the sun set over the ocean
-The sound of popping the cork on a bottle of bubbly
-The first night of sleeping on clean sheets
-Warm towels on a cold winter morning
-Laughing so hard and so long that I am in physical pain
-People who say please and thank you
-People with elevator etiquette
-The open road on a solo road trip
-Sleeping in and spending an entire day in my pajamas
-Having a glass of wine and dancing around in my kitchen
-Finding a fabulous pair of heels
-Brunch

The first few are obvious and most people will list similar things in their top five, but what seemingly unimportant things are you thankful for?  Those are always the fun ones!  I've left many items off this list either because I didn't want a list 87 pages long, but also because I didn't give myself a lot of time to sit and really think about this list.  These were the items that first popped into my head.

Perhaps it's good that I know I've missed things since that means I have new material for the next list of things that I'm thankful for...

I hope you all take a few minutes to really think about the things you are thankful for today.  And that you do so more often than just one day a year.  As many things may not be going exactly as planned, there are far more things that we can all be thankful for than not.

Now to get back to making the dishes I'm bringing to my Mom's for Thanksgiving Dinner.  I wish you all a fantastic day with family, friends, good food, and good wine!!

XOXO!!

Ten Thousand Pageviews!

Yes Kittens, you read that right!  This little blog is trucking right along...we just hit ten thousand pageviews!!!

I am incredibly grateful that you keep dropping by for a visit!  And on this particular visit, I say we celebrate in true Vintage Project fashion by popping a bottle and doing a little dancing!

When I think of people really letting loose, I think of the 1960's.  May I submit for your consideration, Exhibit A.

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And Exhibit B.

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And Exhibit C.

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Exhibit C looks suspiciously like The Twist.

And this looks suspiciously like Conway Twitty, Chubby Checker, and Dick Clark getting down and doing The Twist themselves.  FUN TIMES!!!

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The Twist that we all know and love and attribute to Chubby Checker was actually a cover of the Hank Ballard and the Midnighters song.  Dick Clark heard the song and tried to book them on American Bandstand, but they were unavailable, so he brought Chubby Checker in to perform it.  It was such a hit that Clark suggested that Checker record his own version and the rest is history!  (I strive to be educational and informative.)

The Twist as a dance is obviously interwoven into the song's history, and as the song reached Number 1, the dance became a full-fledged craze and took the world by storm!  When he was on American Bandstand and The Ed Sullivan Show, Chubby Checker taught the move by telling the audience "Just pretend you're wiping your bottom with a towel as you get out of the shower and putting out a cigarette with both feet."  Doctors warned of back injuries and religious institutions warned of deteriorating morality - which means it's super fun!

"We're gonna twisty, twisty, twisty
 Til we tear the house down!"

For those of  you who haven't heard it in a while, or those of you from Mars who have no idea what I'm talking about, please behold the magic of Chubby Checker!  This song automatically puts me in a fantastic mood and makes me start moving!!

And if you needed further proof that no one can have a bad time dancing to this song, here it is.  This video of people twisting is pretty spectacular!

And who could forget one of the most iconic scenes from 1990's cinema?

So let's twisty, twisty, twisty, but leave the house in tact...we've got a lot more Vintage Project goodness ahead of us!

Here's to the next ten thousand views!  Imaging all the fun we'll have before we go dancing again!!
All my love - XOXO!!

A Fabulous Sunday Ritual...Finally!

Good Evening Kittens!

I had planned to post this oh, about eleven months ago, but I haven't been able to do so honestly until now.  Yes, I suppose I could have posted whatever I wanted and really, if it had been a complete fabrication, no one would have been the wiser.  But that's just not my style.  So I waited...and waited...and waited until I could do so honestly.  And the day has finally arrived!!!

(In case you didn't follow - that day is today.)

I'm not big on New Year's resolutions, but when I started The Vintage Project on January 1, 2013, I thought it would be fitting to have a Sunday Ritual.  I love traditions, but it seems that most are relegated to holidays or birthdays or other such occasions that come around quite infrequently.  That's not what I was interested in...we've all got plenty of those.  With the fact that I 'live my life in crisis mode' (a phrase coined by perhaps my most fabulous Lady, Stephanie), I've always wanted to be able to end my week in a truly fabulous, decadent, and relaxing way.  The prospect of having both a productive and indulgent weekend seemed like a pipe dream.  It was truly my Moby Dick.  I somehow never felt like I was able to fully come down from the previous week and my weekend enough to be recharged to do it again.

My story is not unique.  I'm not the only one with a lot of stuff going on or the only one that feels like they can never accomplish everything on their list.  But nonetheless, it's been driving me crazy.

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I'm not sure what happened this weekend exactly, but without planning it, I was finally able to have the Sunday that I've been hoping for the past eleven months!  The stars aligned and it was pure magic!

I had Brunch scheduled for Sunday and it was very probable that we would end up back at my place afterwards, so on Saturday, I slept in, cleaned the apartment, and got my nails done.

Sunday's Brunch was fabulous (most on that in my next post), but earlier than what has become normal for me as I was more impressed with their breakfast menu and they stopped serving that at 11:00.  Which meant there would be no dilly-dallying and that we needed to be punctual!  We finished Brunch at around 12:30, came back to my place for about an hour to finish catching up, and then I hit the grocery store to stock up on a pretty ridiculous amount of produce.  I was back home by 3:00.  Seriously?  Seriously.  I was shocked too!  Perhaps there is something to be said for getting up early...

A little while later, I pulled out a (I'm ashamed to admit) rather dusty mat, popped in a yoga DVD for beginners, and did a decent job of getting closer to the zen I seem to be continually searching for.  I recently purchased a few yoga classes in Playa Del Rey, but feel like I need to get myself acclimated with the basics before I take myself to a class.

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As I was well on my way to complete relaxation and decided to pour myself a glass of wine, light a few candles, and draw myself a hot bubble bath to really push myself to the bliss that I was so close to.  I shall post at some date in the future about the FANTASTIC little cubbyhole in my bathtub that a wine glass fits perfectly into!  It's pretty spectacular.

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Once my body felt like complete Jello, I pulled myself from the bath, slathered myself with lotion, and applied a mud mask.  If I hadn't still had to make dinner, I would have topped the very fashionable look off with some cucumber slices over the eyes, but if skipping the cucumbers is good enough for Lucy, then it's good enough for me!

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I poured myself another glass of wine, quickly threw together my Mexican-Style Quinoa, and enjoyed an incredibly peaceful evening knowing that I'd been productive (cleaned the apartment, ran errands, got my nails done, went grocery shopping) and also indulged myself more than I can remember doing in a very long time.  It was so incredible, that come hell or high-water, this will be happening every Sunday!  Alright, I'm open to slight variations as long as the day ends with me feeling as good as I did last Sunday....

We all have the tendency to put other people and other things before ourselves and it feels really good to put yourself ahead of everything else, even if for only a few hours once a week.  It's okay to be selfish.  Especially if it keeps you sane!  Do you have any rituals that you've established just for you?

Let's raise a glass to small traditions that put a smile on our faces!  Even better if that glass can be raised while in the tub!

XOXO!!!

November Book Club Hiatus

Hello there Lovelies!

This is usually the time where I reveal the new Book Club selection, but we're going to deviate from the normal program this month.

The Vintage Project Book Club has fallen a little behind.  And when I say The Vintage Project Book Club, I mean Bridge and myself.  With my schedule and the fact that Bridget, you know, got married, we've slacked a little bit when it comes to Book Club.

So we've decided that we are going to take November to catch up on Book Club meetings and finishing October's selection.  We will be back on track for December.  Join us, won't you?

Please Stand By!
XOXO!!

Celebrating One Hundred Posts with an Iconic Hollywood Excursion

Good Evening Kittens!

And thank you for being here with me for my 100th post!  Normally, I make a rather big to-do when celebrating your contributions to my little blog in the way of pageviews, but this is really the first time that I'm hitting a milestone in the number of posts that I've managed to put together.  One Hundred.  Yup, One Hundred!  I think that's a pretty significant accomplishment.  Normally, I'd pour myself a glass of wine, but I woke up a few days ago terribly sick, so I'm celebrating (?) tonight with a cup of boozy tea.  Though, don't get me wrong, I absolutely love boozy tea!

It's not completely tragic since on Saturday night, which provided the content for the teaser of this milestone post, I had enough cocktails to celebrate MANY things...it happens.  Bridget found herself alone last weekend as her financé, Mike, was off on his bachelor party weekend.  Since he was celebrating, we thought we should as well and when I asked her what she wanted to do, her answer solidified why we have become friends.  "A Classy Hollywood Night."  Done and done.  Many aspects of the evening seemed to be serendipitous, the first of which was a Facebook post from a fabulous clothing site, Unique Vintage.  Not only was the photo fabulous, but the caption was beyond perfect!

Show the boys how it's done tonight, Gals!

And we did.  The two of us got all glammed up and started with cocktails and dinner at an institution - the oldest restaurant in Hollywood, Musso & Frank Grill, which has been open since 1919.

After a fabulous time at Musso & Frank's, we headed across Hollywood Boulevard to Boardner's, another iconic spot for a few more (amazing) cocktails.  Boardner's has been doing business under that name since 1942, but the space has been operating as a bar since 1927.

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These are two of Hollywood's oldest establishments and A) because I don't feel well, and B) because both of these venues have such FABULOUS histories, I will be posting about each of them separately, because really, who doesn't love some good Hollywood lore?

I'm quite excited about these two posts, but because my boozy tea is doing the trick, I'm heading to bed in hopes that I actually get a good night's sleep and feel somewhat human in the morning... Such a tease, I know, but trust me Kittens, they'll be worth it!

Sweet dreams!
XOXO

I Have Strayed...

Good Morning Kittens!

Over the course of the last few months, I have realized that while I am very proud of myself for staying strong with my little corner of the blogosphere, I have lost sight of what I originally wanted to do with it.  I got caught up in storytelling, which is not a bad thing.  But it became a bad thing when I lost focus.  You know, the whole vintage project aspect of The Vintage Project?

I have strayed.

I am ashamed.

Mea Culpa.

So, this morning I am doing some research for some actual on-topic posts!!!

You might remember, some time ago (GASP - in April!) I purchased what I considered reference material for this blog, Let's Bring Back.  While I have yet to actually sit and peruse it over a cup of coffee on a Saturday morning, I recently purchased another version - Let's Bring Back: The Lost Language Edition.  I'm looking forward to flipping through this to see if this will provide some insight for a post I'm hoping to get out soon.  Not to make any excuses, but that's been the crux of the problem...the on-topic posts can be very time consuming since I'm not one to just throw words down onto a page and hit 'publish'.  I'm a researcher.  And a reworker.  And yes, brevity is NOT my friend.  So the whole process becomes a lengthy one, and as it is, I'm usually pressed for time.

But I made a commitment to myself and to this blog that I was going to glam things up a bit.  And while I know I'm super fab to begin with, I need to hold myself to that commitment.  So, get ready Kittens, there will be more actual Vintage Project-related posts coming your way soon!

Here's hoping you've got some super glam plans for the weekend!
XOXO

A Fabulous Weekend Houseguest

Hello Kittens!

Last Friday, I was talking to my friend Kim who lives in the Bay Area.  She asked me what I was doing over the weekend and I told her that since it was a mutual friend's birthday, that she should come down.  Not that my invitation wasn't sincere,but I didn't expect her to say that she was going to throw her things into her car in the morning and drive down!  But that's exactly what happened!

I have known Kim for about 10 years, I'm not exactly sure how long because it feels like Kim has always been in my life.  Originally from the Bay Area, she went to UCLA and stayed a few years after graduating before heading back to San Francisco for law school (she's kinda smart).  I met Kim when she started at my company and after a slightly rocky start (I'm not the easiest person to befriend), we became friends and were pretty much inseperable.  Here we are in 2007.

To say that Kim is special to me is a ridiculous understatement.  Everyone needs someone that they do not have to try with, someone that just gets them.  I'm fortunate to have a number of those people in my life and Kim is definitely one of them!  When Kim and I get together, good things happen - good wine, good food, and some good laziness.  In my day-to-day life, things are incredibly hectic and I value the times that I can just unplug with Kim and enjoy the things that really matter with such a fabulous lady!

As I was having Brunch with Stephanie and her new little lady on Saturday afternoon, I was on my way home when Kim arrived, so while she waited for me, she hit the grocery store and graciously stocked the fridge for our weekend!  We had a little down time and then started getting ready to go out for Brianne's birthday.  Not that Kim's visit wasn't already fun enough, but aside from me, no one knew she was coming, which made her the best gift I could have given to Brianne for her birthday!!  We got all dolled up, hailed a cab, and headed into Hollywood to Sadie Kitchen and Lounge.  This is a FABULOUS place that I think we need to visit more often.  In the heart of Hollywood, this venue used to house Les Deux, the stereotypical Hollywood celebrity haunt that TMZ loved to hang out in front of since they always got great shots of celebrities running people over in the cars, crotch shots, and other such nonsense.  Considering it's location and history, Sadie is surprisingly mellow and since it's not a club, it was not a shitshow - a rare feat for Saturday night in this town.  It was mellow and beautiful and the drinks were fantastic!  LOVE LOVE LOVE this place!!  And it was chalked full of fabulous people.  Really, could anyone ask for anything more?

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That's a nice clear establishing shot.  I had NOTHING that would work to show you how beautiful this place was, so I had to steal one.  Most of my shots were blurry because fun can rarely be stopped for the sake of a clear photo!

Happy Birthday Darlin'!  I just stole some of your photos!

After a fabulous night, Kim and I had our fabulous signature breakfast!  Kim's talent with breakfast cuisine is the main reason I have remained friends with her.

Please excuse the mess in the background.  This limited edition bottle of Mumm was spectacular!!  Kimmie always comes for a visit with a special bottle of something in hand!  Great houseguest, no?

The rest of the weekend was filled with great conversation, more wine, and a wonderful dinner with some of the ladies on Monday night!

Kim is getting quite the reputation for bringing with her great little finds as thank you presents for staying with me.  She brought this little note pad for me a few visits back.

And this time, I received a fun little tea towel!

I wasn't quite sure how I was going to return the favor, but luckily Kim found something on her own.  While she was taking out the trash for me (yes, she's a fabulous houseguest!), she found this book in the hallway.  BEST.  FIND.  EVER!!!

On Tuesday morning, Kimmie headed home, and while I was COMPLETELY unproductive during her visit (I had reading and blogging and work to do), I would not have changed the weekend for anything.  Here's hoping each of you have special friends like Kim in your life to bring back into focus what is important.

And now to play some catch up - in case you haven't yet figured it out, I will probably NEVER be caught up.  But I'm trying to adopt a more c'est la vie attitude about the whole thing, because, truly, enjoying the little things in life is more important than any deadline you find looming.  Somehow it will all get done.  I just have to keep reminding myself of that.

Wishing you a fabulous weekend, Kittens, productive or not!
XOXO

Five Thousand Page Views!

Hello My Lovelies!!  I'm not exactly sure how it happened, but thanks to you, loyal Kittens, we hit five thousand page views this afternoon!  No, seriously.

Again, to many bloggers out there, this is chump change, but it's pretty exciting for me.

Since my first thousand views was celebrated with a 1920's toast and dance party (the first iconic decade of the 1900's just seemed appropriate), I thought five thousand called for a nod to the 1950's.  I'm nothing if not creative...

Looking back, the parties of the 1950's seemed quite reserved, yet I believe there is absolutely nothing wrong with dressing up and getting a little saucy at home!

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Because that sauciness can take you pretty much anywhere....

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Though I'm pretty sure that once it takes you this far, you will be unable to get yourself out on the dance floor and celebrate by cutting a rug.  So instead of hurting yourself by attempting any foolishness, just sit back with that martini and watch the professionals.  Perhaps you'd be able to get down with this crowd:

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But these guys are out of everyone's league...

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And let's not even talk about these kids.  Anyone else out of breath just watching this clip??

I hope this little blog has entertained and maybe even proven to be somewhat educational, though I make no claims that the tidbits of information will help you anywhere outside a really awesome trivia game.

Here's to the next five thousand views, Lovelies!  Can't wait for our next dance party!!
XOXO

So Busy Being Fabulous

 Good Morning Kittens!

It feels like it's been a long time since we last spoke.  I have so many things in the works, but have been terribly busy...being fabulous can be quite exhausting!  I'm hoping to get something posted later today, work on another post, perhaps have Brunch, and put a decent dent in last month's book (seriously WHO let me have a book club?).  It just figures that the second I get someone to join, I have this much trouble finishing a book that I love!  No matter, I will finish it and post about everything on my list and it will be fabulous!

I am notorious for being late, frazzled, and overwhelmed.  One of my best ladies, Stephanie, has coined the phrase 'living life in crisis mode' for me and as much as I hate to admit it, it truly is a perfect way to describe myself.  I think I was born without the California chill gene - I just always feel that I've got far too much to do and not nearly enough time to do it!  So when Stephanie saw this notepad for the refrigerator, she snatched it up for me!  I could have taken a photo with my to-do list, but a Lady should always retain an element of mystery.

 Until we meet again, Kittens!  Have a Fabulous Sunday!!

XOXO

Friday Night Spontaneity

Good Evening Kittens!

Last night I had just settled onto my couch to put a serious dent into Oil! as I'm determined to finally finish this book over the weekend.  I LOVE a good relaxing Friday night at home - many times I find that it's exactly what I need after a long, stressful week at work.  Yesterday was a particularly terrible day which started off with an 8 AM meeting (WHO plans a meeting this early?  ESPECIALLY on a Friday!) and ended with a  fight rather unpleasant discussion with a co-worker.  So, I came home, threw on a pair of lounge pants, had some dinner, and popped open a bottle of wine.  I was just curling up with the book and the cat, when a friend of mine, Suzanne, texted me saying that she was at one of our favorite spots with her boyfriend and had just run into another friend of ours, Jason.  There is a small group of about 6 of us that have spent many great nights at The Alibi Room, so Suzanne contacted another member of our super-exclusive group, Hugo, and convinced him to head on over (for the record, I'm positive this was not difficult) and then randomly ran into another co-worker of ours.  The Alibi was the place to be last night!!  And when the stars align like this, you have no choice but to put the book down, gently move the cat off your lap, throw a skirt and a head scarf on, touch up your makeup, and head out the door!  Them's the rules!

Group shot courtesy of Suzanne's IPhone

Russian Elderflower, Spiced Daisy, and Kentucky Mule

It was as fantastic night with good people and good drinks, one which I am very happy to have participated in, but that type of spontaneity will not be happening again tonight.  Tonight, I finish the wine and the book!

Whatever you end up doing tonight Kittens, be sure to make it fabulous!
XOXO