I love the sarcasm of this blog

Siri's burn book about the other Hollywood kids - it is just delightful!

http://surisburnbook.tumblr.com/

I admit it, I'm a little bit of a stalker!

This is me and Ree Drummond, aka "The Pioneer Woman", at her 2nd cookbook signing at Vroman's Pasadena on April 26th, 2012.  I've become a complete fan of her blog, tv show, and recipes.  Learn all about her at www.thepioneerwoman.com.  Kinda wished she had brought Ladd along too .

And just to make the night a huge bonus night...my junior high-school best friend and I reconnected after ~30 long years.  She works at Vroman's and we were 4th and 5th in line for the signing so Ree was very cheerful and talkative.

Best night in a long time.

Fiji Mother's weekend 2012

I'm off to Texas for the weekend!  Can't wait to see my boy...and all his Fiji fraternity friends!

...4 weeks later...

House remodel is done!  I've got a home again.  1 unsightly item is that the city required that I take down 5ft of the trellis over the deck adjacent to the property line - BUT I didn't have to do anything else, phew.  Now you can inspect my rear neighbor's carport re-roof by standing on the sidewalk in my adjacent neighbor's driveway/sidewalk and look over the fence (where the trellis used to be), check out what I'm cooking on the BBQ for dinner, and then thru my yard over the back fence and inspect the new carport roof..sigh.

I'll post photos from the open house I'm hosting in a few weeks.

Update on NYResolutions:
1 - Off to Texas to visit the kid this weekend so I show him how much he is loved
2 - Started Extreme Boot Camp - Holy Sh!t...stay tuned
3 - Planning a trip to France this summer for a wedding - enjoying life!

Will post next week.

Sick - ICK!!!

Something is going around and I got it.  And I'm still dealing with the remodel. 

Here is the kitchen with appliances installation and final paint job to go.  Love it!

Here's the bathroom - glass shower wall still to come.  Love it!

The BIG remodel

The Big remodel started back at the end of November.  Since then, Los Angeles had the 'wind event' and the city plan checker got sick for over a week.  The building inspector looked over the drawings and discovered that I had violated many ordininances and did not get a variance approved by the city for my outside deck, and the city would not approve permits for the inside work until I agreed to change the outside.  Very sad day for me.  I didn't realize that I had violated all these ordances.  Either get a variance (highly unlikely) or tear out 1/2 the deck.

I didn't really have a choice in the matter since I had already started the work on the inside.  Permits were issued on 12/28 a full month after work had started.  in the next 2 weeks, all electrical and plumbing has been bought off...all the walls have been drywalled and sanded...3/4" hardwood floors have been installed in the kitchen and laundry room...custom island built and installed...refrigerator cutout to slide into an adjoining closet done (saved 1/2 the closet too!)...kitchen counter top and sink ordered and being manufactured...AND master bath shower hot mopped, concreted, and water proofed.  See picture album for photos: http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.3048843777556.2154896.1157053706&type=1

 Nick was home for this entire destruction/construction and he leaves tomorrow for school.  When he comes home next this will be done and the stuff I've got in his room will be put away.



New Year's updates:
I've lost zero pounds
I've missed posting last week.
Kid knows he is loved.
Still thinking about new business adventure.
Enjoying life - a little too much stress right now though.

Happy New Year 2012!

Resolutions:
1 - Lose 25-30 pounds;
2 - Remind my kid how much he is loved and support him;
3 - Post at least once/week;
4 - Start a new business adventure;
5 - Enjoy life :)