Category Archives: General

Kitty Halftime Show!

The Black Eyed Peas have nothing on these cuties.

Yep, it’s true. In just a few months, we’ll be moving out of our little Culver City apartment with zero kitchen counter space and a shower faucet that won’t stop dripping to a house, a glorious house, near the coast in Palos Verdes (an LA suburb). It’s actually the house that Matt grew up in—long story short, it is a house, a house with—get this—five (five!) bedrooms, a massive backyard and an ocean view from one of the windows upstairs. It’s at once exciting and overwhelming and absurd. (By the way, what the heck do we do with FIVE bedrooms? As of now, we only have enough Ikea furniture to fill half a living room. White girl problems, I tell ya.)

I feel a little weird and insecure making this announcement. It’s a rather lavish living situation for a young(ish) couple like us, plus Matt keeps reminding me that I’m “so not PV.” But it is what it is and what it is is flipping incredible. We are blessed.

Before we move out, we really want to live up our last few months in super-fun LA (we’re gonna miss our area so much!), and I also want to show you what we’ve done to this apartment because while it’s not much, it’s kind of cute!

That’s my announcement. Life is weird.

Photo is of the view from the drive to our OMGNEWHOUSE! though I didn’t take it.

The superb writer Jaimee Rose, my former coworker at The Arizona Republic, has been reporting from Tucson, telling stories of heroism and heartbreak in the aftermath of the tragedy. Read about Daniel Hernandez, Gabrielle Gifford’s intern who rushed to her side amidst gunfire, and 9-year-old victim Christina Green, as remembered by her father.

Photo by David Kadlubowski/The Arizona Republic

Let’s live life like this little guy.

I came across this cute post on New Year’s time capsules, where you [no duh alert] stuff a glass jar (or box or any small receptacle, I suppose) with photos and mementos that represent the past year. I’d love to start this tradition … one day. For now, let’s make a virtual one!

In my jar, I would include …

A page from a wedding magazine. Hey, remember when I turned into a crazy wedding lady and couldn’t function in everyday society because I was too busy gazing at paper pom-poms? I’d say wedding planning took up most of 2010.

House keys to symbolize Matt and I moving in together. We’ve been getting used to each other’s, uh, quirks: He likes to hang out in cave-like darkness; I need tons of light. He loves blasting music, video games, movies; I love quiet. Cohabitation is fun!

A photo from our engagement session. It’s tangible evidence that we were once young and in love. And really good-looking.

My “bride” pimp cup to represent all the crazy pre-wedding festivities. (OK, so this probably won’t fit in the jar, but that’s the beauty of this virtual time capsule. Or I guess I could have included a pair of sexy panties but I returned all those for cozy pajama pants. Hey, I’m married!)

A light saber to remember Matt’s epic Star Wars 30th Birthday Bash.

A wedding photo to remember the happiest, craziest, most awesome day ever!

A vacuum-sealed Argentinian steak.

2010, you were amazing. You are forever archived in my heart — and now in a time capsule!

Every year, my mantra seems to be: Let’s go do stuff! I want to try new restaurants, check out cool events, cram my calendar with vacations, parties, dinner dates — oh my! I click yes on Evites, I say yes, I’m free that day, I say yes, sure, I’ll do it. My life is fun, but my brain is a scattered mess and my soul longs for peace and quiet.

This year, I want to stay home. This won’t be easy — I must make a defiant effort to not leave the driveway, to stay in my pajamas and maybe read a magazine or write or cook or clean. Not always, of course. I still want to do stuff, I still have to do stuff, but I just want to be more conscious about it. I want to learn when to say yes, and oftentimes more importantly, when to say no. My creative energy often emerges from moments of solitude, and ultimately, I think I can do more by doing less.

Print by ashleyg, whose stuff I’m newly obsessed with!

“Auld Lang Syne,” featuring Sara Bareilles, Jim Bianco, Cary Brothers, Buddy, Holly Conlan, Marie Digby, Katie Herzig, Jesca Hoop, Laura Jansen, Tim Jones, Greg Laswell, Lenka, Anya Marina, Jonah Matranga, Ingrid Michaelson, Meiko, Joshua Radin and Butch Walker

This year, I suppose like most years, has been a blur. A sometimes thrilling, sometimes challenging, oftentimes magical blur.

Whew. What’s next?

Some resolutions for 2011:

- Be a better blogger (times infinity). I underestimated what a fulltime writing job plus a ridic commute would do to my blogging brain (um, it fried it), but Woo! is very important to me and I’m pushing myself to make it work awesome.

- Learn to take better photos.

- Write good stories.

- Cook more, clean more, decorate more. (The last one I can definitely do!)

- Remember my advice.

I hope your new year is filled with joy, laughter and new adventures. And glitter. I think we could all use more glitter.

xo

It’s been celebration after celebration around here, with work squeezed in between. I’m running on holiday adrenaline and Starbucks peppermint mochas. ‘Tis the season.

Hope your December has been as joyful as mine (though maybe less insane).

Photo from the awesome NYE inspiration shoot on Design Sponge.

This year, more than clothes or gadgets, I want stuff to make our apartment rad.

So maybe I don’t need an applause light box, but having this in my home would make life more fun. Whenever I trip over the carpet or burn my scrambled eggs — applause! Soundtrack not included, but I think I’d want that, too.

King and queen pillowcases. Cuz we’re royalty, yo.

I literally gasped and groaned “Nooooo!” when I learned that designer Erin Jang was selling her adorable calendar for a limited time while we were in Argentina. It’s sold out now, but I’m hoping she’ll bring it back. (Pleeeease?) I’d frame each month and hang the prints on a wall near our kitchen. I love them so.

Really love the beautiful and amazingly affordable terrarium arrangements from LA-based botanica artist Branch of Life. If it’s not too late (I hope it’s not too late!), I’m gonna try to pick some up tomorrow for some relatives (and for me!)