Happy 4 Year Anniversary, Los Angeles.

A few days ago was my 4th anniversary in Los Angeles. This feels momentous because now I've been here the same amount of time I was in college. Weiiirddd. It's crazy how fast time goes. As has been my tradition the past couple years, I'll commemorate another crazy, fast-paced, exciting year in this lovely city like so: 

Four Years in LA by the Numbers

• Number of apartments lived in: 3 (1 month in Hermosa Beach, 23 months in Miracle Mile, 2 years in Los Feliz).

• Number of bosses I've had: 5
• Number of times at the Oscars: 4 

• Number of trips home to OK/Texas to visit the fam: 10

• Number of professional sporting events attended: 6 (4 Dodgers games, 1 Lakers game, 1 Kings game).
• Number of Vegas trips: 2

• Number of terrifying earthquakes (that I've actually felt): 3
• Number of food themed Halloween costumes: 2

• Number of traffic violation/parking tickets: 3 (blurghhh).
• Number of times I saw The Hunger Games in theaters: 3
• Number of trips to San Francisco: 2
• Number of work trips: 1 

• Number of times I've been in the audience of television show tapings: 8  
• Number of times to Disneyland: 2
• Number of times I've seen the glorious Meryl Streep: 2  

• Number of shows seen at the Hollywood Bowl: 2 
• Number of times I've seen my favorite band, Jacks Mannequin: 5
• Number of pets: 3 (my current pet fish and formerly 2 cute kitties that belonged to my old roomie Rachel). 
• Number of movie premieres worked at/attended: 8

• Number of hours spent in my car: too many to count :-( 
• Number of times I've said "I love LA.": too many to count. :-)

Happy Anniversary, darling LA. Thanks for a great four years.  Love you, mean it.  

xoxo, 

Annie.

Para, Para, Paradise: Puerto Vallarta Vacay 2012.

It had been approximately 3 years since my last real vacation.  Don't get me wrong... I've traveled the past few years, but all those trips have been visits to see my family, friends, weddings, etc. It had been far too long since I went somewhere with the sole purpose of getting away.  Relaxing. Exploring somewhere new.  Fortunately, my roomie McKenzie was having the same craving for a long-overdue vacay, so after a little Googling, we booked a one-week stay at a gorgeous all-inclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico... and it was paradise. 

I could barely contain my excitement as I counted down the days to our tropical getaway.  When it finally arrived and we made our way south of the border, it was even better than I had eagerly anticipated.  We stayed at the gorgeous Hotel Barceló (two thumbs way up) where we enjoyed a gorgeous room and balcony overlooking the beach and (amazing!) pools.  When we weren't participating in fun organized activities (like beach volleyball or a football throwing contest that McKenz dominated) or reading/tanning/drinking by the pool, we explored the beautiful city. We played with the cutest dolphin ever named Gandalf (cross that off my bucket list), toured a tequila distillery (which included many delish samples... holla), made friends with the oh-so-nice hotel staff and fellow vacationers, got massages, and took an awesome adventure canopy tour that included riding up a mountain on mules, ziplining through the rain forest, and repelling down a waterfall. I had no idea how beautiful and lush and rain-foresty Puerto Vallarta was! It really reminded me of Costa Rica and I looooved it. :-) 

McKenz had the brilliant idea to film all our fun adventures and has compiled them into this wonderful highlight video.   While there is much more great footage that didn't make the cut, this definitely gives a legit overview (and makes me want to go back and do it all over again so badly).  Check it outtt... :-)

Viva Mexico! from McKenzie Morris on Vimeo.



As you can see, we had quite a blast. It was so good to just take a complete BREAK from the real world... and so hard to come back! I wish I could just rewind and relive that week again and again. Ha. But since I can't, I'll go ahead and start looking forward to the next vacay (and live vicariously through the highlights vid.). ;-) 

xoxo, 

Annie. 

8:11 June Highlights

June, with the minor exception of a killer sinus infection that plagued me in the middle of the month, was wonderful... full of trips, premieres, Bachelorette watch parties, and reunions with old friends. :-) Here are my favorite 11 things that I did at 8:11 pm last month.... 

8:11-hilarious Oklahoma reunion at @kimberlycondict's improv show with mike. Holla

 8:11- at the @rockofagesmovie black carpet premiere. Rock onnnn.

8:11-beautiful hike/picnic overlooking the ocean in palos verdes for@kmlgibbs bday w/ some of my favorite people. :-)

8:11- we postponed #bachelorette watch party to go to@kierstenlyons hilarious show, #crushed.

8:11-i (finally) made it to San Francisco! Excited for a fun weekend w/ my darling Vaness! (shown in reflection on the window). :-)

8:11- drinking slash #thunderingup w/ @katiehutchings. Hollaaaa. 

8:11- another wonderful viewing of @kierstenlyons show #crushed. LOVE this show!

8:11-at the Magic Mike premiere. holy hottness...where can I find my own @channingtatum?! Yowza.

8:11- it's Monday...you know what that means... #bachelorette time. 

8:11- @mckenziemorris and i welcomed to our hotel in puerto vallarta w/ cocktails and an oceanfront din. we're going to like it here :)

8:11- i loooove the gorgeous view from our balcony. :-)

It's safe to say June is definitely in the running to be my favorite month of 2012 (thus far). Hollaaaa. 

xoxo, 

Annie.