Gilt strikes again...

If I could control myself, I would. But I can't. So...here are my new Tory Burch flats. Grey flannel w/ pewter leather. I'm kinda loving these!

Done, done, and done...

I'm doing pretty well with my Q109 and 2009 goals.  

• Wicked, done.  
• Ballet, April 3rd.  
  
• YSL exhibit, done.  
  
• Host LAC, done.  
  
• Buy 1st home...on my way!  
  
• Vacation somewhere (maybe Hawaii)...YES!  In 38 days!  GQ and I are heading out for 10 days in Hawaii for early birthday celebrations.  I am so excited!  My first time!  

So, how does one shape up in 38 days?  I need to take off 10 lbs, lose the spare tire, and get rid of the Oprah arms.  Can it be done...without killing myself...and still allowing myself pizza, sushi, burgers, and ice cream...AND beer?  I'm not hopeful.  Maybe I just buy a bunch of muumuu's and hide underneath. Ack. Oh well, as GQ would say, just relax and enjoy...

North Shore, Waikiki

BTW...yes, he does...

...love me. :) He told me so this weekend. And I love him back. *le sigh*

Weekender...

My darling friend Jeannie came to town from DC and we had a blast. We DID San Francisco! Whew!

• Breakfast @ Mama's
• Walk around North Beach
• Lombard St. to see the crookedness
• Polk St., my hood
• Shopping @ Cat Seto
• More shopping @ Cris
• Burgers @ Polkers
• YSL exhibit @ the DeYoung
• Stinking Rose...not by choice (hee!)
• Laughs @ "Beach Blanket Babylon"
• Brunch @ Rose's Cafe
• Chestnut St. just to shop
• Take in the beauty of The Presidio
• Union St. for more shopping
• Cross the Bay Bridge to get to Berkeley
• Dinner @ Chez Panisse - a true dining experience
• Dessert & a reunion w/ old friends at Cioccolata di Vino
• Fisherman's Wharf to hang w/ the vendors
• tea time @ Crown & Crumpet

If you had only 2 days to show off your city, where would you go and what would you do?

By the way, you MUST. EAT. HERE. at some point in your lifetime. Truly wonderful. Newly formed fond memories.

The Great House Hunt '09 - Part 7

Here's the problem. I can pretty much talk myself into anything. When looking for a home, one you will spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on, its not such a great thing. I like this one...A LOT.

Type: Cottage
Hood: Pleasant Hill
BR/BA: 3/2

(+): Brand new construction. Walking distance to the BART and to the new downtown Pleasant Hill. Large yard. Really great price.

(-): Pleasant Hill (= far, really far), corner unit, backyard is up against a busy, busy offramp

Look at this yard! It's gorgeous! And the brick front is charming!

The living area is a good size. I'd definitely pull up that new carpet and put in some hardwood floors. Check out the recessed lighting! And the fireplace!

Brand new kitchen. The appliances aren't stainless (bummer), but plenty of cabinet space! (and outlets!) And pretty counter tops!

Look at the gorgeous picture window in the bedroom! Plus there are 3 bedrooms (though 1 is definitely only an office space)...perfect for when my family comes to visit.

And, herein lies the problem. See where I am today (red star)? Love the city. LOVE IT! See where this place is? 45 minutes away? But BART! And more house for my buck! And...and...

Ack. It's hard. I don't want to move too quickly. I can afford to take my time and look. But this one is SUCH a great price and in such a nice 'burb. And a girl can't live in the city forever, can she? (at least not if she wants to buy anything substantial!)

So much to think about. More open houses on Sunday...

Who wants to be a millionaire...

The lotto mega millions is up to a jackpot of $212M!!! I'm a bit of a lotto snob; I only buy tickets if its over $75M. Ha! GQ and I bought some tickets last week when the pot was at $170M. We won $2!

I got this adorable email from him yesterday: "I got us lotto tickets today! We deserve every penny. I can't think of a better suited couple. :)". Heeeeee! Rich in love. NOW, make me rich in DOLLARS! Can you IMAGINE?

What would you do with the dough?

Buy the biggest mansion you could find?

Get yourself a Bentley?

Rent out Necker Island for you and your friends?

If I won the Mega Millions jackpot (cash payout of $137.8M, split 50/50 with GQ = $68.9M), I would:

• buy my parents a small, but lavish house (too big = too much upkeep), with a private putting green and room enough for them to do any and all hobbies they'd like to take up in their retirement
• hire a driver for my parents (they're gettin' old and I'm starting to worry about their driving skills)
• buy a house for my sister & her family
• college fund for my nephew Caleb
• pay off student loans for all of my closest friends and family
• $20M to a handful of charities both domestic and abroad
• invest into our economy - the "Susan Stimulus Package"
• buy myself a small, quaint home that I will love and manage with a small garden...along with a condo in NYC, SF, and Chicago...and vacation homes in San Diego, Tuscany, and Bora Bora! Ha!

"To dream, the impossible dream..........."

Weekender...

My weekend felt so full and lovely that I think I literally woke up with a smile on my face!

Saturday, I cleaned my apartment and watched the Food Network...ALL DAY LONG! For some reason, Food Network on the weekends is one of my favorite treats. I love, of course, all of Giada's shows, but have really grown to like "Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger". Her stuff is so easy to make...and yummy! I was inspired by one of her recipes so I set out to the local Real Foods, filled up my favorite canvas "S" shopping bag, and jumped on the BART to meet GQ. We had a lovely dinner at his place. Garlic & basil shrimp and some great Acme herb flatbread.

After dinner we head out to a super cool, laidback-but-not-too-divey bar called Albatross in North Berkeley and I warmed myself up with some Jack & Sevens (Jack Daniels and 7-up for those not "in the know". ha!) This bar is so much fun and is STOCKED with a ton of board games, dart alleys, pool tables, and a LOT of people. After about my 3rd drink, I insisted we play "Connect Four". Of course, I won (though I suspect he let me win.) :) GQ was a good sport. Fun night had by all.

Sunday, I woke up early, and after a breakfast of cinnamon toast and coffee, I went to meet my new real estate agent to brave the stormy weather and check out some open houses. We went to about 8 different properties. All different types: condos, townhomes, single-family, fixers, brand new...it was exhausting, but exciting. I walked in, checked each place out, tried to imagine myself living there, and left...to decompress and reassess it all later that night. Our search this day was limited to Walnut Creek and Pleasant Hill. She also showed me all around the neighborhoods. I liked it - more than I thought I would.

Dinner later with GQ at Zachary's Pizza on Solano Ave (my favorite East Bay neighborhood...if ONLY I could afford somewhere there!). And then home to watch "The Amazing Race".

All-in-all, very chill. Nice.

I can't wait to tell you all about some of the properties I saw...