The Kick Off

My first time hosting Thanksgiving! A success. It was beautiful here in LA after a bit of much needed rain this week. Inside was beautiful too.

I hope everyone had a happy, safe and special day and are planning something fun to do this weekend. Toodles...

Happy Thanksgiving

Vintage postcard originally sent November 25th, 1908. Greeting on back here.

There is so much to be thankful for this year. Blog life is all !!!!!!! and "amazing" but reality is so much better than fiction. This year will go down as the year I discovered blogs and, on lonely days, was happy to feel a connection with so many of you.

Let's not sugar coat this shit show. Life is often hard, days are long and jeans are tight.

Today, this very day, I am thankful for a job that I love, for this beautiful city of angels that I call home, for some solid friendships that have spanned over two decades, and for new friends, who sometimes understand me more.

I am most thankful for 2E. Our relationship is similar to someone spinning you around three times fast, making a kamakazee woo woo in your mouth, forcing you to switch clothes with the person to the right of you and then close your eyes and describe the person to your left. Confusing. Not what I ever imagined but in many ways so much more.

Have I ever told you guys that 2E is a mechanical and aerospace engineer who designed the complete overhead passenger service units for the Saab 2000 aircraft and has a brain programmed like Iron Man's. How he hooked up with this Howard Stern loving, US Weekly reading, Hills watching rebel we'll never know but we fit. Not every day but overall.

Today is a day to look at the glass as half full, the silver lining in the clouds, the light at the end of some of our tunnels. To give thanks, to hear thanks, to feel the love and to eat, drink, and be merry.

Viva!

Home for the Holidays

(*)

Safe travels my little Sweet Potatoes.

Topper's

Hats may have been my first love...

Goorin Brothers is my not so secret addiction. Some girls collect shoes but I collect hats.

"Like you, perhaps, a Goorin hat is full of contradictions: It is timeless and timely, grounded and groundbreaking. Rooted in tradition, yet calling for change. You are defined by the hat you wear."

Since 1895

One Person's Trash....

King Charles Spaniel. Oil on Canvas.

Finds from last weekends swap meet. What to keep and what to sell?

A Mini Set of Shakespeare Classics. The leather is so soft. A perfect stocking stuffer.
I already have someone in mind...

The wallet to match my favorite clutch!

Vintage Post Cards, a great source of inspiration. Another good one here.

If I have time I will post a few others later...

Short Week

(*)

Happy Monday Me' Dears. Busy? Me too. Excited? Hell yes! The holidays can be stressful but Thanksgiving is all food and friends and fun. I am not even close to ready but I'm also not worried. Somehow these things always work themselves out.

Before we sip Poinsettia's and help ourselves to just one more piece of pie its back to work! A short week means more to do and a few long days. If you need me I'll be behind my desk tackling the to do list - visions of table settings dancing in my head....

Little Tomato, Ketchup!

How beautiful is this girls smile?! She makes me want to smile too.

On Monday if you told me my week would have unfolded the way that it did I would have stared in disbelief. Somethings just have to be experienced to be believed!

A game of cops and robbers anyone?

I didn't want to bore you with the details of this but let's just say it didn't make my week any easier!

It wasn't a full blown waste of one evening but some movies are better left rented. Jack White, on the other hand, can do no wrong.

It's that time of year again. Hopefully you've lightened up.

Me, I'm pretty light. The no booze diet and my newish gym membership are doing wonders. Whatever you do this weekend I hope it is savory and sweet. I'll be planning my Thanksgiving Dinner menu and celebrating my favorite 2 year old's birthday. Good times!

Bande A Parte

When you see an ad, and they are wearing something rad?







Band of Outsiders.


I'm heading down to Venice this morning for a long overdue hair appointment. I need a trim but I want a change.

All polaroids from Band of Outsiders (inc the shot of Michelle Williams from Mondays post)

I Surrender!

via the oh so talented Jen Gotch

Did anyone see Oprah 2 Mondays ago? Me neither. But it was about (blush) sex. Over lunch last week my friend described to me some of the tips for keeping the sparkle alive, one of which I found quite intriguing. The Surrender Date.

Your job, if you so choose to except, is to sit back, relax and let yourself go. Your partner's, on the other hand, is to plan everything from beginning to pillow happy end (blushing again). Starting with your outfit, yes that includes your unmentionables and accessories!!, and planning the how where and when. The idea is to take all the pressure and stress off of you so you can relax and let go for a while. Sound dreamy? I'll share mine if you share yours.

I told 2E about it and he thinks it sounds fun on the condition that he makes the night he picks a surprise too so hopefully in the near future I'll have a fun (PG for the kiddies) story to share with you all. I want to hear yours too though!! Has anyone done this before?

Special Alert

I interrupt the regularly scheduled posting for the week to bring you this, what is sure to be the most crazy thing that will ever take place at Empiric.

Although it's not ideal to take the law into your own hands my husband is fearless. After asking a homeless man to drink his beer at some other location and to please not leave his empty bottles (or puke) in our parking lot for us to pick up, he politely left. Only to return 20 minutes later to squat at our back door and resume drinking. This time 2E grabbed his beer and started walking to the garbage bin at the neighboring gas station, pouring the beer out as he went. This infuriated the lazy crazy drunk to no end. After tearing off his shirt and trying to beat 2E with a wind shield washer he finally took off but not before yelling "I'll get you for this. You'll be sorry". Oh really.....



Fast forward another hour or so. It was nearing the end of what proved to be a busy Monday. La Dee Da. Whistle Whistle Whistle. Michael was on the phone with a client when someone started pounding loudly on one of the front windows.

"michael" - Me, fearful

more pounding

"Michael" - Now terrified

I open the front door *and this is where things get fuzzy* to find 6 armed officers to the left, screaming at me. More to the right.. guns pointed. Helicopter circling and police vehicles blocking traffic from both sides.Ruh -Roh.

Both of us confused we run out to the curb, out of the line of possible fire. Is there a suicide nut on the roof? A bomb threat? Are the calls coming from inside the house? Do they know what I did last summer!!!!!!!

2E is quickly frisked at which point I switch my brain back on and realize I might be witnessing my man getting arrested. This doesn't sit well. My heart leaps from my chest and falls to the ground swollen, about to burst. Or at leastthats how it feels.

The crime: Burglary. The suspect: The Store Owner. Hold up (no pun intended)??? After a brief interrogation where I prove beyond a reasonable doubt that this man has not threatened me into protecting him and has no intention of robbing me, er, himself they lighten up. A call from the pay phone across the street reporting a robbery of our store with the description of theburglar meeting exactly those of 2E is what caused all the chaos.

I wonder who would have done such a thing? Any Sherlock Holmes in the crowd? I love a good mystery!!!

whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

I'm prone to making lists. Lots of lists and yes, I am that person who puts things that I have already done on my list for the satisfaction of crossing them off. Guilty as charged. I have to do lists, tomorrow lists and lists for someday. My bridesmaid Vanessa read this list at our wedding and sure, it embarrassed me a little, but I live for public humiliation. It's what makes the days not dissolve into years.

Tell important people what they mean to me.
Let go of friends who are negative.
Make structure in my everyday life.
Bookmark my accomplishments.
Let go of regret.
Focus on the positive.
Trust in me.
BE REAL
Grow up.
Live a life without judgement.
Never sell myself short.

I can only assume this weekend discovery in my jewelry box was written on a day where I needed reminding. Probably when I had just left Boston and all the friends I had ever wanted in the whole wide world. Luckily, three and half years later, I've made new friends. Sweet friends. Best friends. But you already know that.

I like this little list. I plan on keeping it in my jewelry box for a little while longer...
xo

California Fires

I did not realize the irony of my Friday post when I made it. I woke up this morning to a brown sky and ashes on the ground. It smells like a camp fire. It reminds me of my grandparents house and there wood burning stove.

My thoughts are with everyone effected by this disaster.

Image: Early morning shot of the Haleakala volcano on Maui. Today though it reminds me of the pictures I keep seeing on the news.

Up In Smoke

(*)

Another week behind us. Another day closer to change! I hope everyone has a great weekend. I'm on a cleanse so no booze for me! What do the non drinkers of the world do for fun??

Heathers Home Sweet Home

I already linked to my friend Heathers house but these new pictures, featured on design*sponge, are beautiful and worth another post.




How nice would it be to spend the holidays snuggling and entertaining here??

See it in all its glory on LA In Bloom.

Chinese Red Deliciousness

I have been missing the pops of color usually seen around the store. Slowly over the last year we have been transitioning from bright and bold to neutral and natural (as featured on some of my B&A's). I wasn't quite ready to dive back in but love how how these night stands turned out!

Isn't she pretty??

no time to chat

(*)

There just aren't enough hours in this day......

Back To Plaid

(*)

Back from Maui. Back to reality. Fall is in the air. Never want to leave my bed.

More Maui

See you all next week!

Maui Today

View from unit 403

We stumbled across this book at a swap meet in LA a few years back. The cover shot was taken from our balcony at the Punahoa. I realized after I posted yesterday that my early morning shot captured almost the same view. There are a few extra palms and storms change the shore line every year but its the same little beach, surf break and mountains beyond that we get to enjoy decades later.


A few more favorites....

Great snorkel spot out front where you can usually hang out with a few....


turtles.

They view as Obama was announced our next president. Due to the time difference it was early enough to go grab dinner and celebrate.

Last year, newly engaged, up country.

Happy New Year

early morning looking north

Yesterday is a blur. Racing to the polls with just enough time to catch our flight. Today I woke up early, I'm talking border line middle of the night. Giddy. I lay in the pitch black living room, surfing the internet, and listening to the crash of the waves. I wish I could include audio because they are too good not to share.

I love it here.

We rent out the condo the rest of the year and so far the only complaint I can find on the internet sites is that it is always booked. Finally, some criticism I can handle! This year brought more entries in our guest book and more tears to my eyes. Retail is hardening me but I am still a lover.

A Family Christmas Vacation. Someones first stay.

The 25th wedding anniversary of a couple who honeymooned here and have been returning ever since. She has territorial feelings about "her place" but reading the other entries feels happiness instead to know that others feel the same magic in this place. I die!

A proposal! Some newlyweds.With one couple reporting their first baby on the way!!

Its heartwarming.
Its happiness.
A new day, a new era, and a fresh start.

By far the prettiest entry

Mahalo

I am speechless. I am proud. Over joyed. Beyond excitement. Today is larger than imaginable. A huge step in the right direction. Change, yes, and history being made. Both arguably of equal importance.

There was a day not long ago that we were seriously considering our out of country options so I find it perfectly fitting that on this, election day, I toast to our new president as close to home as possible. In his home state.


Aloha from Maui!