California Exploration: Big Bear

One thing I need to do more is explore California.  A little over a week ago, I got to do just that with my beloved community group as we ventured to the quaint little ski town of Big Bear for a little weekend trip.

(Author's note: "community groups" are essentially small group Bible studies that meet all across LA throughout the week.  I've been a part of one for more than 2 years, and recently started leading and hosting one at my apartment when my previous group got too big and had to split).

Big Bear is only a 2 or 3 hour drive from LA, but the vast difference of these two places is amazing.  I love that I could lay out on a sunny beach in LA in the morning and then go skiing in Big Bear that afternoon (hypothetically, of course, since I refuse to ski after an unfortunate incident at ski school when I was six years old involving a horrible case of altitude sickness and losing my lunch, if you will).  Point being, I love the diversity of this state!

While we didn't go skiing (thank goodness), we had such a nice relaxing time together.  I think it's mandatory for my sanity to get out of LA and get a breath of fresh air sometimes.  Here are a few photos of this fun-filled breath of fresh air....

Members of both my old community group and my new one.  I absolutely love these people.  Such an amazing, caring, strong support system in this crazy city. :-) 

Ellen made us a delicious din! I think we fit 14 people at an 8 person table.  Cozy. 

SNOW! 

It was a great trip!  Excited to do some more exploring.  Next up: I'm thinking north....  :-)

Currently listening to: Black Kids, "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You"
Why: I'm feelin'  a little sassy...  ;-)

xoxox,

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Luck Be A Lady Tonight

I recruited my amazingly hilarious friend Marissa to roadtrip it with me and as luck would have it, another dear friend, McKenzie, was there nannying for 2 weeks (God bless her). Here is a photographic journey through our fun-filled weekend (sidenote: I just bought a new camera and I'm a bit excited about it)....

Another friend from LA, Erica, was randomly there. She worked some amazing connections and got us VIP passes to surpass the crazy long line at Tao. It's an awesome huge club at the Venetian. Fun indeed.

We laid out at our hotel pool Saturday. And by 'lay out', I mean that we hung out in the pool so as to not completely die/melt in the sweltering 100+ degree heat.

We went to the Beatles Cirque du Soleil show "Love" at the Mirage on Saturday night. So amazing! 

It was bit of a sensory overload at times... so many awesome things to see and hear at once. It was unlike anything I've seen before... two thumbs up for sure. Here's a 30 second video to give you little preview of its greatness...

After the show we had drinks at the Beatles Revolution Lounge and a delish din at Kokomo's at the Mirage...very cool settings and very wonderful food/drinks.

We then went to Jet where we enjoyed and took full advantage of several free drink passes given to us by eager promoters (like the kindly gentleman pictured below). 

We then relocated to Ghostbar which is on the 55th floor of the Palms. We danced, made some new friends, and enjoyed the expansive views.

C Gunn and I decided we had to gamble at least a little bit, so we hit the tables. She tried her hand at craps (which ended shortly) and then we moved on to roulette. I was only going to allow myself to spend $20 (I'm not too keen on throwing money away... call me crazy...), and since there was a $10 minimum bet, I thought I'd be out in a hot minute. Luck was indeed a lady to me that night, however, and I ended up leaving with $52. Cha ching!!

And that ends the photographic journey.  As you can see, it was such a great weekend! I miss my college friends A LOT, so anytime I get to see them is wonderful. Vegas defnitely redeemed itself for me this time around. Viva Las Vegas, indeed. :-)

Currently listening: Andy Davis. 

Why: Do you ever completely accidentally stumble upon a song with lyrics that are 100% applicable to your life at the moment? That happened to me this week with this talented musician I discovered in college when he opened for Matt Wertz.  His piano based singer/songwriter style is very enjoyable, and the lyrics to "Bigger Than Us" were absolutely perfect for me this week.  My very favorite song of his, however, is "Union & 3rd". So, so pretty. Definitely check him out. 

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Being only a 4 hour drive away (on a good traffic day) or a >1 hour flight, Vegas is a regular weekend getaway for Angelenos. I, however, have had absolutely zero desire to make this jaunt through the dessert after a less-than-wonderful experience in Sin City for my 21st birthday (but that's a whole 'nother story....) This changed when one of my best friends/roommates from college, C Gunn, informed me that she would be there for a work conference and asked if I wanted to meet her there. I hadn't seen her since this same conference sent her to LA last summer...SO, Las Vegas, ready or not, here I come. ;-)

Goodbye 2009.

(Happy New Year (and new blog)! I, like Mary, am optimistic about the shiny new 2010 that looms before us, but I feel as though I need to properly bid farewell to the crazy roller-coaster ride that has been my 2009. So without further adieu, here are some highlights of my past year (and some of the ‘hows and whys’ about my life in LA, as Mary mentioned in the previous post).

The Oscars. 

I work in the marketing department at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences  (I started in September 2008) and one HUGE perk is that I get to attend the Academy Awards, red carpet and all. It was amazingly surreal to be there, something I NEVER in a million years thought would happen.  Now I’m getting ready for this year’s Oscars (shameless plug: tune in March 7, 2010, on abc). 

Community Group.  

I started attending a community group through my church Pacific Crossroads last January, and it has become one of my favorite things I do in LA. We meet once a week to the study the Bible and just relax and be REAL with each other… something that is not easy to find in LA. Here we are at Bricks and Scones (my FAVORITE coffee shop ever). 

Colorado with my parents. 

My job at the Academy is seasonal, so it lasts from September to April. While I job searched and interviewed like crazy in the spring, the Academy kept me on as a floater until the end of July, and my boss offered me the seasonal marketing position again starting September 1. Since nothing else spectacular had come through, I accepted her offer and used the 5 weeks off in the interim to travel.  My first destination was Pagosa Springs, Colorado, with my parents. After the crazy stress of job searching and everything, it was so incredibly nice to relax and be with my parents in such a beautiful place.

My 24^th birthday. 

I invited pretty much everyone I knew in LA to come to my favorite bar Lola’s not really thinking that many people would actually come… but many of them did! It was such a fun night with my different groups of friends mingling together in one happy place. 

Europe. 

My biggest adventure during my 5 weeks off was traveling to England, Scotland and Spain! This trip was such a big highlight that I think it deserves 3 photos: sight-seeing in London with my college friend Katie, overlooking beautiful Barcelona at Park Guell with my LA friend Sheri, and participating in a 50,000 person tomato fight called ‘La Tomatina’ in a village near Valencia with one of my best college friends, Kayla.

Halloween. 

Halloween this year was so much fun, probably due in large part to what I consider to be the best costume of my life: a birthday cake.

New York. 

I was lucky enough to visit Mary in NY twice this year, both times full of great fun and entertainment. (most notably, two viewings of HAIR, my current Broadway obsession).

Wine tasting. 

To celebrate my lovely mother’s 50^th birthday we went to an amazing wine tasting festival near Santa Barbara.

Victoria Beckham giving me a Christmas gift. 

I’m a receptionist at the Sports Club LA in Beverly Hills (LINK) on Saturday mornings, which is the greatest part time ever. Not only do I earn a little extra pocket money, but I get to work out at this luxurious gym alongside celebrities like Taylor Kitsch (the MOST exciting celebrity interaction of my life), Amanda Bynes, Jesse Metcalfe, etc. I see V Beck there quite often; we chat sometimes. MUCH to my surprise, she brought Christmas gifts to a few Sports Club people she interacts with regularly I guess…including me! Thanks Posh Spice.

Wow…2009 really was a fun one.  I wonder if 2010 will live up to its predecessor.  I’m excited to find out. :-)

--Annie.