All the Small Things

Hello lovies.  I stumbled upon this simple and wonderful blog recently and it made me smile.  The blogger just lists little things in life that make her happy.  In my continued attempt to think happy thoughts this month, here are a few of her sweet little things that made me say 'oh yeah... I love that too!'  Hopefully they will make you smile as well....

(Speaking of songs that match my mood...)

Currently listening to: a killer break up playlist 

Why: Music is like free therapy.  If you or someone you know has recently bid his/her significant other farewell, here are a few (rather eclectic) artists that can be of service: 

Kanye West

Ingrid Michaelson

Taylor Swift

Ben Harper

Britney Spears

The Weepies

Sara Bareilles

Andy Grammer

The Tings Tings

(etc). 

Really... who needs a therapist with happy little thoughts and good music readily available? ;-)

xoxo, 

Annie

Proud Sister

My brother is really great. I like him a lot. I went home this past weekend to celebrate him and his greatness as he graduated from OU (which is absolutely nuts to me… I’m still not even used to him having a driver’s license). 

He’s in the process of interviewing and job searching (go Daniel go!), but in the meanwhile he recently published his first story available for the Kindle on Amazon!  Isn’t that cool? This is definitely going to be my first Kindle purchase (which I got for Christmas but haven't used yet... whoops...)  You should check it out too! 

The quick weekend trip was a whirl of ceremonies and reunions with old friends (Kayla, Taylor and Chelsea came to Norman to go out with us one night!  I hadn't seen Taylor and Chelsea in YEARS so it was glorious to see them and catch up.).  It was so good to be back at my beautiful alma mater (and so hard to believe that it’s been a full 3 years since I was there in my cap and gown). 

Here's a photo montage of the whirlwind weekend...

I’m really proud of you, Dan.  J

Here Comes The Sun

Hello darlings!  I have been neglectful in my blogging this month, and I apologize. Boo for me. I won’t go into the deets, but let’s just say that a recent change in my relationship status has caused much distraction in my May thus far.  That said, in an attempt to think about positive things right now, I’m going to take a cue from the lovely Valerie and list some upcoming events that I’m really looking forward to in the next few months…

May 21--A little pampering.

Something about getting a (good) new haircut just makes you feel like a new woman, and hopefully that is just how I’ll feel after a much-needed trim this weekend.  I’m also getting some kind of great conditioning treatment… ooh la la!

May 23--The return of Bachelor(ette) Watch Parties.

It’s no secret that I religiously host and/or attend watch parties for this ridiculous yet addicting show. (I was even quoted in an article about this in the New York Post a few months ago… ha!)  My watch party crew and I do NOT approve of the highly annoying choice of this season’s bachelorette, but  rest assured, we will suffer through her annoying-ness and still excitedly gather on Monday nights to laugh, eat girly food, make fun of the weirdos, and cheer on our favorites. Whoo!

May 28--Bradley and Kiersten’s Wedding (read: Party!)

I’ve honestly been looking forward to this wedding since they got engaged in November. I cannot wait to travel down to San Diego with some of my closest friends to laugh, dance and thoroughly celebrate the holy matrimony of this hilarious couple.

June 24-26--Mary’s sister, Caroline’s, bachelorette party in Vegas. 

I don’t think I can fully grasp the extent of how glorious this weekend-long party will be, but I do know that we are staying in the Barbie suite of the Palms and comparisons to “The Hangover” have definitely been made.

June 30-July 8--Colorado trip. 

Following the craziness of Vegas, I will be more than ready to relax and rejuvenate with my darling family in beautiful Pagosa Springs, Colorado.  To make it even better, Kayla (who’s moving to Denver this week!) is joining me in Pagosa for 4^th of July weekend.  God Bless America, indeed. 

July 9--Caroline and Blake’s wedding.

Forget William and Kate…THIS will truly be the wedding of the century (in my book anyway).  So excited for a glorious reunion with many friends in my sweet old hometown, Duncan.

August 11--My birthday.

I must admit that I’ve now passed the age where I’m excited about getting another year older, but I still love birthdays, nonetheless. (A contradiction, I realize).  I don’t have any set plans yet, but I have a few good ones I’m considering. Fun celebrations definitely help ease the pain of climbing the age ladder.

Here's to a fun-filled summer. 

xoxo, 

Annie

A Public Service Announcement: Texting in Your Car is Expensive

In LA, you spend so much time in your car that it's seemingly impossible, but make every effort NOT to text while driving. 

Because you might be completely stopped at a stoplight and send a silly unnecessary text that says something like, "Hey! How was lunch?!" and then a foot cop might walk over to your window and pull you over (if you can even call it that since he's a foot cop) and write you ticket that costs almost as much as a flight to see your best friend who lives in New York.

At least that's what I've heard anyway...

Blurgh.

xoxo,

Annie



8:11--April Highlights

Where in the world did April go?!  It seems like it was just April Fool's Day and here we are in May already.  Crazy how that happens.  BUT, you know what you the ushering in of a new month means... it's time to post my favorite things that happened at 8:11 pm in the (abnormally fast) month of April... ;-)

8:11-date night w/the boy at Luna Park. I love this sangria..and the plastic mermaid on the glass.

8:11-lovely girl time with Katie and Ellen (and some vintage meryl streep). Yesss. :-) 

8:11-wine, candle, bubble bath and Ingrid Michaelson. Sigh. Relaxing before the night's festivities.

8:11-at a fancy schmancy law school event downtown with William. (Sidenote-i need a tan).

8:11-at The Alcove w/ my dear friend Stuart from summer camp who I havent seen in literally 13 yrs. ha!

8:11-roommate date at Scoops. So delish. Love their unique/weird flavors. good find McKenz!

8:11-easter din at Red O (two thumbs way up) w/ some of my very favorite people.

While those 8:11 pics are definitely happy fun times, I think I must agree with T.S. Eliot when he states in his poem "The Waste Land" that "April is the cruelest month."  It was my hardest month of 2011, anyway.  As such, I think I should end this post with a few points of gratitude.  Anytime I'm sad or stressed about something, my wonderful mother (who just so happens to also be a wonderful therapist) tells me to make a "blessings list," and it never fails to help me feel better.  :-)

Gratitude

1.) My great, encouraging, caring close friends (both in LA and far away). 

2.) The glorious weather lately... its almost beach season!

3.) The fact that I get to go home to see my family next week for Daniel's graduation.

4.) My new(ish) car.  Several months later, I still really love it. :-)

5.) My job. I'm really grateful for it (even when it's a tad stressful and overwhelming). 

6.) My incredible chair in my living room. It is quite possible the comfiest chair in the world. 

Works like a charm... feeling a bit better already. :-) 

Happy May darlings. 

xoxo, 

Annie

Chicken Soup for the Twenty-Something's Soul: A Season About Becoming

Do you remember the "Chicken Soup" books?  They were "stories of life, love and learning" compiled into different volumes for different demographics (Dieteters, ocean lovers, gardeners, and pet lovers are all represented in their extensive list of titles... yowza!).  I definitely had several volumes of the ever-so-poignant Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul books.  Sometimes (okay, perhaps most of the time) the stories were a bit cheesy and contrived, but sometimes they were very applicable and inspirational.  I found one such uplifting excerpt from the book Bittersweet that my darling friend, Tati, put on her always entertaining blog a couple months ago. Several of its points hit very close to home for me, and definitely encourage  and challenge me. Perhaps it will do the same for you. :-)

THIS IS THE THING: WHEN YOU START TO HIT TWENTY-EIGHT OR THIRTY, EVERYTHING STARTS TO DIVIDE, AND YOU CAN SEE VERY CLEARLY TWO KINDS OF PEOPLE: ON ONE SIDE, PEOPLE WHO HAVE USED THEIR TWENTIES TO LEARN AND GROW, TO FIND GOD AND THEMSELVES AND THEIR DEEP DREAMS, PEOPLE WHO KNOW WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN’T, WHO HAVE PUSHED THROUGH TO BECOME REAL LIVE ADULTS.

AND THEN THERE’S THE OTHER KIND, WHO ARE HANGING ON TO COLLEGE, OR HIGH SCHOOL EVEN, WITH ALL THEIR MIGHT. THEY’VE STAYED IN JOBS THEY HATE BECAUSE THEY’RE TOO SCARED TO GET ANOTHER ONE. THEY’VE STAYED WITH MEN OR WOMEN WHO ARE GOOD BUT NOT GREAT BECAUSE THEY DON’T WANT TO BE LONELY. THEY MEAN TO FIND A CHURCH, THEY MEAN TO DEVELOP HONEST, INTIMATE FRIENDSHIPS, THEY MEAN TO STOP DRINKING LIKE LIFE IS ONE BIG FRAT PARTY. BUT THEY DON’T DO THOSE THINGS, SO THEY LIVE IN KIND OF AN EXTENDED ADOLESCENCE, NO CLOSER TO ADULTHOOD THAN THEY WERE WHEN THEY GRADUATED COLLEGE.

DON’T BE LIKE THAT. DON’T GET STUCK. MOVE, TRAVEL, TAKE A CLASS, TAKE A RISK. WALK AWAY, TRY SOMETHING NEW. THERE IS A SEASON FOR WILDNESS AND A SEASON FOR SETTLEDNESS, AND THIS IS NEITHER. THIS SEASON IS ABOUT BECOMING. DON’T LOSE YOURSELF AT HAPPY HOUR, BUT DON’T LOSE YOURSELF ON THE CORPORATE LADDER EITHER.

- SHAUNA NIEQUIST IN “BITTERSWEET”

xoxo, 

at 

A Very Happy Easter Indeed

While my Easter (unfortunately) didn't include Bloody Marys and a Lamb Cake like Mary's did, it did include church, yoga and gourmet Mexican food, which made for a very happy Easter indeed. :-)

The holiday weekend started earlier than usual as my wonderful place of employment let us off for a half-day on Thursday and the whole day on Friday.  It. Was. Glorious.  There are few things I love more than 3-day weekends.  My normal weekends are usually so packed that I never get a day to actually just REST and catch up on life.  Three day weekends provide that muuuuch needed day of rest.  I honestly think that we should have a 4-day work week and a 3-day weekend all the time.  I feel like studies have been done to prove that this schedule creates a much more happy, healthy and productive work environment.  One day I just might compile all that info and present a proposal of this amazing idea to my bosses.  (I'm only mildly joking about this).  I digress...

Easter Sunday was was a wonderful day spent with wonderful friends.  I began the day at my beloved church (Pacific Crossroads) where we celebrated the true meaning of this glorious day:

After a festive post-service party/reception and lunch, Ellen and I went back to her place to take an afternoon siesta. Feeling refreshed from this little power nap, I took her to one of my favorite things: Erika's power yoga class at The Sports Club LA. This class is just incredible. It's an hour and half long and an insanely good work out.  As we are sweating our booties off, she plays the best music (NOT your average "yoga" music. Her playlists often include a random mix of The Beatles, Jay Z, Death Cab, Florence + the Machine, etc.) I often go through a full range of emotion/motivation levels in this class: I start off feeling strong and by minute 45 or so, I feel like I am about to die and can't possibly finish; then there's another upswing, and by the end I feel like I just had a full body massage and can't wait for next week. Needless to say, it was a wonderful addition to my Easter afternoon.

Later that evening, I enjoyed an abnormally delicious dinner at a super swanky/sexy/cool new Mexican restaurant on Melrose called Red O with some of my dearest friends: Garrett, Bradley, Matt and Ellen. Ellen is quite the foodie, so she had been eyeing this new venture by Rick Bayless (who, according to my quick glance at his bio, is originally from Oklahoma!) for a while. Everything was delicious, but the Quesos Fundidos appetizer and the Veracruz-style Buelos (with salted caramel ice cream and warm Kahlua chocolate sauce) dessert were to-die-for must try items. Probably the fanciest (and most delectable) Easter dinner I've ever had. :-)

The flash next to Matt's head is Bradley who kindly offered to take my 8:11 pic that evening. (it kind of looks like Tinkerbell in that old weird version of Peter Pan... anyone remember that one?  Just me?  Okay.)

Overall, it was a great day. Happy happy spring. :-)

xoxo, 

at