Tada!!!!...

Just like a little make-up can accentuate a woman's beauty, so a paint job can for a lovely home.

BEFORE (bland gray, purple trim, and a red door...uh...that's an option, I guess):

And AFTER (yes, a little overkill on "green" maybe...but I like it!):

Next up: new porch steps and a white picket fence...

"Bowl-A-Rama"...

My company just had our annual Summer Party. This year we did a "Bowl-a-Rama". Get a bunch of advertising egos into a room, put them into a competitive situation, add uniforms and beer...and you've got QUITE the scene. What a blast!

I know, I know...you wish you worked here too... :)

Color is king...

I have been going through torture trying to pick colors for my exterior house painting. I finally decided an a scheme and God willing, it just won't be ugly. That's all I ask. Nothing really clicked with me. When I finally decided on the main shade for the shingles, I suddenly noticed that 3 other houses on my street are the same color. What? In any case, hopefully pictures will be posted tomorrow. Until then, here's the Behr color palette:

Lauren Mist for the shingles, Jungle Green for the window sashes, and Cotton Puff for the trim

Project Daniel Vosovic...

Though I was giddy about the start of a new season of "Project Runway" (finally!), I was 100 times more excited about the "Project Runway All-Stars" that aired before the premier! First "Top Chef Masters" and now this? Really, it was almost too exciting for words!

Watching the show reminded me of my deeeeep, deep love for Daniel Vosovic. I want him to be my best-friend-in-the-whole-wide-world! I want him to be my reality-show-gay-husband. And he can design an entire line inspired by ME, ME, ME! (though none of that skinny-girl-athletic-inspired stuff he made on the show) I ADORE HIM! ("Its a mutha-fuckin' walk off!"...anyone remember how cute that was?)

And now, seeing that he's written a BOOK...well, of course I immediately went off to order it on Amazon! PS - my friend and I had an email exchange about the whole notion of coffee-table books (forget the fact that she was describing to me a coffee table she was adoring which I mistakenly thought she was talking about a coffee table book and proceeded to go into this whole thing about them...) But, really, the concept of a coffee table book is weird to me. Won't go into the whole thing as it looks like it doesn't matter as I am now a proud owner of one myself! Ha!

"Forwarded by Tim Gunn"...*j'adore*

True, true...

Just did a word cloud of my blog...found it really interesting what it came up with:

I really like that the words that stand out the most are "life", "embrace", "new", "trying"...

Indeed.

Weekend wonders...

If this weekend taught me anything, it was that life goes on and thankfully, I get to take part if I choose to...

Nice.

Berkeley Farmers' Market is a really peaceful place. Unlike the Ferry Building's, this one is really neighborhood-y and reminds me of the little one I used to go to in Brentwood down in LA. I love Summer and all the colors it brings out! I got myself some goodies...


Some of the gorgeous sights from the market:


I also ordered DirectTV this weekend so I can watch all of the NFL football games this season. Man, coming from a tv-aholic, this will sound weird...but, DirectTV just has TOO many channels! I can't even get to them all. I was seriously overwhelmed.

One thing my remote did end up settling on was a marathon of "Miami Social". Lord help me, I'm hooked! Ha!


Oddly, glad to be back to work today...keeping myself busy...it'll get easier, I know...

The simple things...

Friday night at home, on my own...starting to feel sorry for myself. NO! Snap out of it! Made myself a nice little snack, watching "Entourage" epi's on youtube, trying to finish the last few chapters of my book and making plans for a great day tomorrow @ the Berkeley Farmer's Market and then to see a matinee of "Julie & Julia" (and maybe sneak in "District 9" as well). All the things he wouldn't do with me, I can and will do on my own...

Ed & Pete's Organic Lemonade from BevMo, Cilantro Jalapeno Hummus from Trader Joe's, Petite Loaf from Acme Bread, Lo-sodium Salami from Trader Joe's

Which way is North?...

I feel a little lost these days.

Life feels unfamiliar. Challenging. Looks so different today than a year ago, a month ago, a week ago, really.

• A year ago I had a car. I'm still trying to figure out how to get things done without one. Its been hard.
• A month ago I lived in the city. I'm now trying to figure out how to adjust to being in the 'burbs...a totally different lifestyle. Its been hard.
• A week ago I was in a relationship. I'm now trying to figure out how to be single again. Its been hard.

How do I ground myself so that change doesn't knock me over?

Its about the adjustments...tweaking things here and there...making it work...

• No car? Embrace life on a bicycle; familiarize myself with the bus routes; get comfy shoes and walk! Plus side: eco-friendly, cheap, healthy
• New mortgage? Embrace life as a homeowner; cook passionately; sing at the top of my lungs; dance around in my undies; invest sweat equity! Plus side: tax break, investment, YOU OWN A HOME!
• Newly single? Embrace life as ME; take time for myself; remember the things I love to do and do them; reacquaint with my friends; pick up a new hobby

I miss my car. I miss my carefree life in the city. I miss my ex.

Hello change. Welcome to my life. I embrace you. ...at least, this is what I'm telling myself...

Makeover needed...

I've been wanting to post more pictures of the new house, but I'm still not finished with any other room other than the sunroom! ha! With that being said, the one room that will definitely be the last to see its new look will be the kitchen. I just don't have the funds or the resources to renovate just yet. So, I'm making due with the old countertop and the vinyl floors. Thankfully, I was able to secure some new appliances and hope for some usability at the very least. And with that, here you go...introducing, my new outdated kitchen!

Come on over...I'll cook you dinner! :)

Look what I got...

My backyard is starting to bloom with soon-to-be deliciousness...

persimmons

apples

figs

lemons
(is there a difference between unripened lemons and ripe limes? Just wondering...they look the same...

So excited! Now, at least, when I'm dirt poor from paying my mortgage each month and have no money left over for groceries, I can still eat off the land and not go hungry!

Anyone know of any good recipes for this fruit?

6 blissful days...

...where all I will see is:

This...
...plus this...

...a whole-lotta this...
...and best of all...days and days with this...the cutest 2-yr old in the WORLD!


Palm Springs, land of desert heat, palm trees, and old people...HERE I COME!

P90X my ass...or at least I hope...

I bought it. Thanks to some testimonials from friends (ones definitely more dedicated than I...), I decided to take step 1...fork over the $100+ and buy the dvd's. I wonder how long they'll sit before I unwrap them. I'm not hopeful...but I'm hopeful. (???) P90X...here I come...


Oh joy...can't wait to take some "before" shots in a bathing suit 2 sizes too small with my flesh and blubber all hanging out...

Weeds...

Growing up in San Diego, we had this sick backyard...really lovely...and my parents worked on it every weekend. What I do remember, and what I've always just considered the norm, when weeds would pop up, my dad would get out the trusty "Weed B Gon" and spray away!
So, when I noticed weeds growing uncontrollably in my new backyard, I immediately thought to get some of the good stuff. WELL, apparently, in Berkeley, even weeds are composted and food for future-fertilizer (WHY does Berkeley have to make EVERYTHING so difficult! ha!). SO, off to Hida Tools I went. Hida is this tiny little Japanese tool store with EVERY kind of knife/sharp object imaginable. I picked out a weeder, ridiculously expensive (at least 10 times the cost of Weed B Gon!), apparently one of the best kinds, and headed home.



Ok...let's just say...I am now obsessed with weeding! Its this great source of releasing agression. And the immediate reward is to see all your weeds lying dead, removed, ready for composting...ahhh...so nice. This tool is EXCELLENT...sharp; takes no prisoners. Highly recommended.

Now get out of my way...I've got some weeding to do...