Happy Halloween

*{Fabulous Find}*

Ok, I have to admit I, well more like WE (Tim loves them too) have been obsessed with this dinnerware since we both saw them at Anthropologie a couple weekends ago. The dinner plate is printed on the front and the back, so it may just look like the arms of the octopus on there, but flip it over and you get the face and body too - like the front side of the salad plate! They are made of a heavy stone wear, which I love. I super love the anchor printed on them as well as the light blue stripes. What fun to eat dinner off these plates. Check them out, they have some with other motifs on them like ships, puffer fish, etc. but I love the octopus (must be my Mediterranean blood).
I will take 4 dinner plates and 4 salad plates please. Shoot, I would take 2 of each just for Tim and I if it came down to it! We could use them for our special weekend dinners, that we have been meaning to have. Ha ha!

Happy Halloweekend!

Home made Deviled Egg's are the best!

Catching Up...

What a week!

Monday night Tim and I were so lucky to spend some time with Sara and Aurora who are visiting from New Zealand. They stopped for a few days in the Bay Area before heading to the east coast for a month to visit her family. I didn't take any photos! I am so bummed. The best part of the the night was Tim being bossed around by Aurora who is 1.5 years old. She had him take her to the book store across the street from the cafe where we were eating, it was so funny, they went back and forth about 4 times! It was nice for Sara to have a little break, and for us to catch up as much as we could in a limited time. Sara writes a lovely blog - you can find her here. It was so nice to be able to see my friend, who I miss dearly, we used to work together and shared a lot over the years. I hope to see her again on her way back to NZ before Christmas.

Wednesday I had to sit in a meeting for work that was in the Presidio, which is beautiful and the weather in the morning allowed clear views of the Golden Gate bridge on my way to the meeting space. I never take for granted where I live, I stopped my car and took it all in. At the meeting, I took notes, it was pretty uneventful except I got to hand out awards to the winners of the Region-wide Amazing Race I have worked on since the end of June and showed a little presentation, which was cool. Then my stomach started feeling weird....bubble, bubble, eeerrrrrrrr, grrrrrrrroooooannnnn. Once the meeting was over, I cleaned up as fast as I could and just made it home before my stomach decided really revolt. I watched the Giants game and went to bed.

Thursday, stayed home, tummy not good - needed a rest day. Watched the Giants game!

Friday - at work now and things are ok so far.

Hope you all had a fabulous week!

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Ummm, these shoes are like a combo of Frankenstein and The Mummy! Perfect for Halloween week!

Classic Party Rentals

It's that time of year again, where I start planning the annual awards dinner for work. I love that I am able to get involved with the decor side like I did last year. Last year I had an Indian Theme, which I loved! The colors were amazing and it turned out really nice. This year, I am leaning towards something a little more Zen and Asian inspired. I love that at Classic Party Rentals, you can book an appointment in a style room and just play with everything until you get the look you are going for. I generally show up with a color palate on an "inspiration" sheet that I create for the event, that looks like this: That way, when I get to the style room, they know what I am looking for. I love the organic feel of the leaf shaped plate and the bamboo flatware mixed with the modern straight side glassware. The photos are not that great color wise, they were taken with my iphone, but trust me, the green does pop on the chocolate brown. I am excited about the event this year, it is not until the end of January but with the way my work load has been, anytime I can get a little a head of the game seems to lessen the stress level. With the holidays around the corner as well, things are bound to pick up in my world since that is our busiest time of year.

Hey, did you know you don't have to be having a large event in order to rent equipment from Classic Party Rentals? You can just be having some friends over for a dinner party and rent what you need, which is a money saver compared to buying additional serve ware, flatware, etc. Plus, as my Mom was saying yesterday, you can try something new for your event instead of your everyday tableware.

Check them out online here. They have many locations from Chicago to San Francisco.

R.I.P. Mr. C

Tom Bosley passed away yesterday at the age of 83, man what is happening to America's Parents? First June Cleaver and now Mr. C, how sad.

R.I.P. Barbara Billingsley

At 94 years of age, Barbara Billingsley passed away yesterday. I used to love coming home from school and watching "Leave it to Beaver". Barbara's role as June Cleaver was one she was very proud of from what I have read and it made her very happy to be recognized as America's Mom. Barbara, you will be missed, thanks for all of the years of entertainment and lessons learned.

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Weekend Recap

What a nice weekend I just had! It was busy, but also so much fun!

Friday night after work I went straight to the laundry mat, I beat the crowd and got to talk to my Mom on the phone while my clothes dried which always makes the time go by fast!

photo: Knoxville Ballet School

Saturday I had ballet in the morning which was awesome! It was the 4th week of class and finally we have live accompaniment, which I super love. The pianist always adds to the class if you ask me. His ability to read the instructor and know what is coming next and what to play for what exercise is just incredible to me, all she needs to do is look over and say "thank you Robert" and he starts playing. His name is not Robert though, I forgot his name already, ooops!

All of us in class are getting used to seeing each other every week so we are getting more comfortable talking to each other each week, getting to know names, stripping down when barre is over and we hit the floor for diagonals. It is a pretty diverse group of people ranging in ballet experience which is cool.

Sunday, Tim and I went wine tasting with two other couples down in Monterey County. It was a beautiful day to say the least. We drove down to San Jose, jumped in Robin and Kenny's car and then met Erika and David down there. Great wine, great company and lots of laughs along with an incredible picnic lunch with baguette, Pt Reyes Blue Cheese, parmigiano reggiano, prosciutto, walnuts, fresh honey, pasta salad and of course a bottle of wine. Robin, you out did yourself with the spread! Bravo! This wine region is under estimated I believe, it is a huge Pinot Noir and Chardonnay area (yummmm). On top of grapes, there are tons of greens (lettuce, kale, broccoli, garlic) grown in the this area adding to the beauty of the valley. We went to 4 wineries total which is pretty good for a day, the guys went in one car and the gals in another which added to the fun of the day.After a day of tasting (drinking) wine, we ended it with a nice dinner at the Monterey Coast Brewing Company in downtown Salinas. Nothing like some bar grub to soak up the vino from the day. Great day trip for sure, I would do it again in a heart beat.

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...

Mao's Last Dancer

This looks wonderful!

Greek Tragedy

It's the end of an era...my sandals that I have worn almost every day (weather permitting) since I went to Greece last year have died. I put them on after ballet class last week and while I was driving I felt something snap. When I got out of the car I looked down and saw nothing so I started walking and then sadly realized that they had broken. Well, they were only about $22 but they were the best sandals ever, they molded to my feet (as you can see in the photo). So comfortable, I almost cried.

Well, if I had to guess at what this means, I can clearly say, must be time to go to Greece again!

PS - they are still sitting by the back door today, like I could slide them right on and walk out and go on with my day, but I can't. I also can't take them to the garbage can. Sniff.

Fashion Love

Probably a good thing I am not tall and thin, otherwise I would be spending all of my hard earned money on these lovely things fresh off the runway for Spring 2011. I was looking for some inspiration for some Manic Monday posts and I got sucked right in to a world of fashion fantasy. Come join me....

I literally gasped when I saw this dress - so Tribal yet modern and orange! Hello, are those feathers at the bottom? I think I may be able to conquer the world in this dress!

Gucci Ready to Wear Spring 2011.

The color alone makes my heart rate speed up a bit. How I long for the Emerald City! Maybe the Wizard can help me get this dress! Gucci Ready to Wear Spring 2011. I bet if I wore this to my next job review, I would get a raise in a snap due to its ability to hypnotize anyone in its presence. Prada Ready to Wear Spring 2011. Tell the Skipper to bring the yacht around to the other side of the dock so as many people can see me as possible as I embark on my journey around the Mediterranean. Seriously, this dress and a GIANT sunhat and huge white sunglasses....I may even risk a lower SPF.
Prada Ready to Wear Spring 2011.
As a reward for living a year on nothing but water and French Leek Soup I might have to buy this one. Seriously, the striped skirt and the monkeys on the top. So many wrongs make it so right. Nobody talk to me until I have this outfit. Prada Ready to Wear Spring 2011.

All photos from Style.com
Warning...don't go there, you will spend hours watching runway shows (or maybe that's just me, but I don't believe this was an isolated incident).

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...
For once, I actually have some of the stuff in this post, the shoes (both pair) and the leotard!

Stretched Thin...

Photo - Diana Vishneva (dance.net)

It has been forever since I have updated, I have been stretched a little thin. Honestly, have been thinking, should I keep my blog - after going back and forth about it, I decided to keep it at least for a little while longer. Just seems I have not had time to post as of late and to be honest, life has not been that exciting. Here is an update in a nutshell:

• Parents are coming to visit for Thanksgiving
• We are going to AZ for Christmas
• Tim's Grandma passed away, very sad.
• Tim has been sick, but is on the mend now.
• Working on a HUGE project at work (what else is new, but really this is BIG, cannot disclose until it is done).
• Taking a ballet workshop that lasts a year! Two weeks in and I LOVE it. I super love muscle memory.
• In addition to aforementioned once a week ballet class, I added a midweek class that is a little more intense which I super love!
• Still hate sewing elastics on my ballet shoes - seriously thought about FedExing them to my Mom.
• Have spent some good, productive time at The Bird's Nest making books.
• Purchased my first Christmas present last week
• Have not cooked a meal at home in over a week
• I am way behind on all coorespondence

That's about it - if this counts for anything, I started this post on Friday and am just finishing it now (Sunday). Ech!

Manic Monday

If I had the closet of my dreams, this is what I would be wearing today...