And they call this work?!

Last Thursday we celebrate our 30^th anniversary.  It was a PARTY!  2500+ people came to our downtown LA office to celebrate with food, beverages, a fashion show and Tiesto!  The party went until 1 AM and was a blast.  I am now a huge fan of his and would love to see him spin in Vegas one day.   

so much fun!

Two of Paul's favorite things: music and beautiful girls

Tiesto

Two of my favorite girls!  Not sure how I would survive without them?

The Valley

If you go back and read any of my posts from this time last year you will find out very quickly how anti-The Valley I was.  At that time we had been living on the Westside for about 1.5 years and were in love.  We loved being close to the beach, our friends, the Farmer's Market and it is so much cooler!

Well, friends times have changed.  After going back and forth for months on our next step we have decided to head back over the hill {in the middle of summer} and start a new life in Toluca Lake.  Most of our friends have left the Westside so we will be in between our two groups.  Marco and I are pretty excited about this next chapter in a 2-bedroom with a dog!  Yep, we are FINALLY getting a little French Bulldog!

Random Facts

Amelia Earhart used to live on our street

Bob Hope lived there for 70 years

IHOP opened their first location here in 1958

Fingers crossed I bump into Zac Efron, Denzel, Hiliary Duff or Ron Howard at the local Trader Joe's

Not going to lie, I am kind of excited about being closer to a Target, Nordstrom Rack, Olive Garden and our favorite sushi spot Niko Niko.

Greedy

I know I can't be the only one that always wants one more day after a fabulous weekend, right?  Even though this weekend was three days I could have totally used just one more day of sleeping in late.

Friday was the last day of the work conference, I wore my new neon pink jeans to make me happy.  Running on 4 hours of sleep is no fun!  As soon as I got home I slept for a few hours hours, up for a couple and then back to bed for 11.  To say I was tired was an understatement.

Saturday we turned in our lease termination papers.  Very bitter sweet since we technically don't have our new apartment yet. {more on this later this week}

For dinner we went to Craft.  It was AMAZING!!!  By far one of the best meals I have had since moving to LA.  The oysters were delish!

Sunday we spent the day drinking with friends at our place.  We met a new couple in our complex.  They work in the industry and we ended up knowing a few of the same people.  Some days I think LA is really small.

I passed out at about 11 PM on our couch.  Woke up at 3:30 AM and had no clue where I was.  That's what you get for drinking too much, I guess.

Monday we headed up to Porter Ranch for a birthday/pool party and then drove to Hollywood for another pool party.  We saw both groups of friends so I would say this was a successful Memorial Day weekend!

Friday's Letters

Marco and I in Central Park June 2003

Dear Marco, Remember this trip?  We went with Allie & her HS boyfriend for their graduation.  We took the train from Atlanta, ate cheesecake in Times Square, had dinner at Butter and spent the weekend dreaming about moving here one day.  Dear Nails, I am obsessed with my neon pink polish.  This color is quickly becoming a staple.  Dear Friday, You have NO IDEA how happy I am you are here!  The three day weekend ahead makes me a very happy girl!  Dear Mom, Your call last weekend was so sweet.  I hope it works out that I can come visit this summer.  Dear Toluca Lake, I hope we can call you home one day soon.  You are such a cute part of town.  I think we could be happy there.  Dear Fifty Shades Lovers,  I  have found the cure to get over Christian Grey aka stop reading the books because you want him to be real.  If you want to know email me, it might be a little TMI for this blog;)

Let's Celebrate!

Source: suicideblonde.tumblr.com via Marilia on Pinterest

Happy Anniversary!  

Thank your for allowing me to work for such an amazing brand.

Best of luck on your next 30 years!

Tonight we will be celebrating late with Tiesto!

What I'm LOVING

I'm LOVING my sister, Rebecca.  Thank you for the chat this past weekend when I needed it.  When are you coming to visit me?!

I'm LOVING today starts the make of our conference!  1500 attendees, 100+ countries, 3 intense days {wearing heels-ugh}, 2 amazing parties and a massage scheduled this weekend.

I'm LOVING Marco's back.  I have no idea what I will do when he is on location filming.  I guess I will just have to quit my job and go with him.  

I'm LOVING Call Me Maybe and Beautiful People!  Don't hate on me, it is the only Chris Brown song I like.  

I'm LOVING meal planning.  It makes grocery shopping so much easier and cheaper.

I'm LOVING the three day weekend ahead.  Very much needed!

I'm LOVING West Elm.  Every time I receive a catalog in the mail I want to completely re-decorate.  

I could do that...

Do you ever think sometimes, "I could be really good at that!" This happens to me all the time.  Obviously  I have no clue if I would be good at the following, but I like to think so.

...Picking out Music for Movies...
 Sometimes when I am driving a song will come on and I'll think this would be perfect for this scene or I'll create a scene in my head to fit the music.  This has been happening quite a lot while reading Fifty Shades.  I have the perfect song for the end of book one.

{via}

...Choreography...
Even though music videos are pretty much non-existent these days I used to think I would be the most amazing choreographer {when I was 13}.  My dream was to do a music video for Janet Jackson.

{via}

...Casting...
I tell M this all the time!  He laughs at me because he says I would be really good at packaging talent.  To do this you have to be an agent.  He says my dream will come true when he casts his films.  If I could do it all over again I would have gone this route for sure.  

Source: google.com via Karalyn on Pinterest

...Event Planning...
My degree is in Business & Hospitality.  I always loved events/weddings.  In college I thought this was my destiny, then the market crashed and jobs like these were few and far between.  Sometimes I wish I stuck it out and tried harder to go into this field, but I am really thankful for where my current path has taken me.

So tell me, what do you think you are/could be really good at?

Oh LA

Please ignore the crappy photo-shopping skills:)

This weekend with Marco gone has been interesting.  I have had a lot of time to think about life,  M always says this is dangerous.  Saturday night I started bawling because I have come to the realization that I really don't like living in LA.  Yes, the weather is amazing and the film business is out here, but other than that LA isn't as cool as everyone thinks it is.

It is dirty

There is always traffic

Lots and lots of homeless people

Most roads need work

Housing is expensive

Everything is expensive

We have been out here for almost 4 years {October} and it has been great, but it doesn't feel like home.  I have no attachment to this city.  I can honestly say I have a handful of good friends, but not more than that.  It has been my goal to make friends, but I am not sure where to start.  I am feeling very disconnected.

I could tell you right now that I would love to move back to Atlanta, get a house in Virginia Highlands, re-connect with all my old friends, have weekly dinners with family, spend time with my sisters, watch my friends raise their kids and maybe start a family sooner rather than later.  Honestly this sounds amazing to me, but I know we need to be here for M.  Never ever did I think I would ever feel this way.  It is such a catch-22.  I know moving home won't be perfect, but right about now it doesn't sound that bad.

Sorry for the downer post for a Monday.  I promise I have more exciting things in store for you later this week!

Friday's Letters

Taylor {4}, Marco {18} and myself {15} in Boca, FL for Spring Break in 2000
Sorry for the horrible quality

Dear Marco, I hated dropping you off at the airport last night, but it was nice to sleep in the middle of the bed last night.  I hope you have a wonderful time home with our family.  Dear Taylor,  Today you graduate high school!  Congratulations your leaving the bubble.  As much as you want to leave {I did too}, it is one of the best places in the world-always remember that.  Dear Weekend,  It's just you and me.  I am kind of excited.  I have my to-do lists planned out by day to keep busy.  Tonight I have a rocking evening of Chick-Fil-A and cleaning.  Don't be jealous:)  Dear Julie, Can't wait to see you tomorrow!!  Dear Mom & Dad, Enjoy your last day of school and a well deserved summer break.  Dear  Work, Next week you are going to kick my ass.  Please go by fast and let me meet Claud!a Sch!ffer.  Dear Facebook,  I really don't like that you went public.  There is something about Zuckerberg that I don't trust.

What's a Girl to-do?

This is one of my favorite signs in the world!

Source: workathome24h.com via Shawnna on Pinterest

This weekend Marco is traveling home to Atlanta to see if brother graduate from high school.  This is very bittersweet for me.  I would love to be home, go to his party, see my family, but work calls and next week is going to be insane.

Brock, Allie, Myself, Marco and Taylor {the Graduate} at our apartment Spring 2011

For the past few weeks I have been dreading him leaving.  We don't travel separately often so the thought of having 4 days to myself was awful.  Over the past day or so I have gone into "Wife Mode" as M calls it putting together my to-do list of everything I want to do while he is away.  Looking at my list I have no idea how I will be able to accomplish everything in such a short time span!

Run 3 times

OC field trip with Julie

Find new summer recipes

Major grocery store run

Omaha Steaks run

Massage

Nails

Chick-fil-a

Clean apartment

Target run

Laundry

See What to Expect When Your Expecting 

(if I can't be in Atlanta, I might as well see a movie that was filmed there)

Outfits for next weeks work events (6 of them!)

Loving

LOVING Fifty Shades of Grey {yes, again}.  I just finished book three for the second time.  I must say it was better the second time around.  A couple of my friends are reading it for the third time-I might be one of those people.  Clearly I have issues with Christian.  Last week I even tried to add Grey to our baby name list, Marco thought I was ridiculous.

Although it's not Monday, I would rather be doing this most work days:)

Source: am.newuvision.us via Melvina on Pinterest

LOVING my SIL leaves for Paris in 4 days!  Her and her hubby are spending 10 days in Normandy and Paris.  They went their for their honeymoon 2 years ago and fell in love.  The last two days of their trip my in-laws are meeting them there.  It has always been a dream of my MIL to experience Paris with her daughter.  I am so thrilled for them.

Could you even imagine being her?!

Source: savedbythesouthernbelle.tumblr.com via Q on Pinterest

LOVING my OC date this weekend with Julie!  We met through this little old blog, both are from Georgia and have a ton in common.  With Marco being out of town and me having nothing on my to-do list, I emailed Julie to see if she would give me a tour of the OC.  I can't wait!

Julie & Stephanie at the SoCal Blogger Meet Up

c/o Ashley Slater Photography

LOVING all the season finales this week on TV.  My favorite was SMASH.  Team Karen all the way!

LOVING this little boy!  Hanging out with him makes me very excited to start a family.

Summer Vacation

Sometimes I question myself as to why I didn't go into teaching.
Both of my parents are teachers and they have 5.5 days left of school and then are out for 3 wonderful months {well deserved 3 months}.  When you are a student you completely take advantage of your time off.
Now that I have been working in corporate America for 6 years I would kill to get summers off or even holiday in August.
My summers would be filled with... 

Source: thehomebuyersrep.com via Jessica on Pinterest

trips to see my family in Alpharetta

Source: moonlightrainbow.tumblr.com via Pamela on Pinterest

gardening

Source: Uploaded by user via Nicole on Pinterest

sitting by the pool

Source: krisdon.tumblr.com via Jordan on Pinterest

lounging by the beach

Source: goo.gl via Bell on Pinterest

reading good books

Source: google.com via Katie on Pinterest

catching up on Mad Men

Source: bandelle.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

moving to a new apartment

Source: inspiredbycharm.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

try new recipes

What would be on the top of your summer vacation to-do list?

Friday's Letters

{Thanksgiving 2011}

Dear Marco, I know the past 3.5 years have been hard for you out here.  I just have to keep the faith that something really wonderful will happen for you soon.  Dear LA Family, I can't wait to be reunited tomorrow night for The Emotion Project listening party!  It has been way too long since out last get together.  Dear Corey, I CAN'T WAIT for The Bachelorette on Monday! I am happy you didn't move away so we can still watch it together.  Dear Allie, Why did you have to move away for our Monday girls night?  C & I will miss you.  Tell Brock you need to move back ASAP solely for this reason.  Dear Fifty,  I am almost done with the third book for the second time.  I don't want it to end.  Rumor has it E.L. James is writing a 4th book.  My prayers have been answered, hopefully.  Dear Self, Next week you have 4 days by yourself while Marco goes home.  You need to start thinking about what you are going to do to occupy all free time.  Dear Ashley, Anytime you and Johnathan want to make your way back to LA I will welcome you with open arms.  Dear LA, Please be kind to us this weekend.  The apartment hunt is back on.

Bloom Theory

My SIL used to be a model/actress in college.  She was on One Tree Hill for an episode and did a lot of print/commercial work.  When her former wedding photographers, Simply Bloom, asked her to model for the launch of their new product Bloom Theory it was a no brainier-in my opinion.

{my favorite strap}

{I want this dress and red lips!}

{You can't go wrong with navy}

Last week they launched their website.  Not only are their camera straps beautiful, but Allie looks amazing!

{all photos via here}