July - Summer in Full Swing

July 1-4 Vegas Baby
Our friends Molly and Andrew came to visit from Mexico.  We hardly ever get to see them so we took this opportunity to treat them to a weekend away.

I can't post all the pictures so here's the highlights:

We played sequence with m&ms for board pieces while making up a new guessing game called I Am. You can only ask yes or no questions to figure out what item you are (determined by opposing team), trust me this is hilarious especially when your drinking....err juice. 

We walked through the endless casinos playing/posing with novelty items like gigantic necklaces. 

We found a place that served deep fried lobster tail and lobster ice cream, tried both.  

Ate dinner at a country bar that had a disco bull.  Went to the aquarium at the Mandalay hotel, where I met a piranha and Andrew had his head in the mouth of a alligator.  Stuffed ourselves at a Brazilian buffet with the best chimichuri I've ever tasted.  Saw Vegas the show compliments of our time share.  Did lots of shopping.  Walked the strip at night then has midnight sushi.  Woke up late shopped some more, had lunch and enormous dessert at Serendipity 3.

July 18-20

I took advantage of a miss scheduling at work and some time share points that needed booking and took a little trip to Palm Springs.  It was intended to be a relaxing craft weekend but it didn't turn out like that with a 2 yr old in tow.  We did have a good time watching movies, playing in the pool and getting our toes done. 

Then rush right home for Taryn's recital and Aileen's baby shower....

Show ran till almost 7 pm, didn't make the shower went home to crash instead.

July 21 Family Dinner

Our first time having the whole family over since moving to the house.  Like my Brady bunch pic? My parents, grandparents, aunt, cousin, sister, bro in law and his parents...the whole kit and caboodle.

My grandparents have an affinity for grilling; my potato salad came out so good the first time that I made it again with traditional BBQ baked beans corn and burgers!  We also had mason jar margaritas and pineapple upside down cake.

I love my hubby 

July 27
No Shoes Nation tour

One if the best concerts ever! Eli Young Band, Eric Church, Kenny Chesney, my little country head was about to explode!  Hubby bought me a "crazy girl" baseball tee, I love it so much I'm having a hard time not over wearing it lol.

July 30

Turned 32, mom brought me some delicious perfume.

30 is the new 20

I know I've been dormant for a while.  Mainly nothing momentous to share and partly still resonating on the load of information from my last post, but here's a little fun from last week.

These ladies are the core of my youth.  My childhood bestie's and my sister.  These day's its FAR and between that we actually can all be together in the same room, but last Thursday some things shifted in the right place and we were able to have a nice girls night out.  (I say far in a quite literal term, as we are scattered between San Clemente and Los Angeles)

I had bought some concert tickets as an anniversary gift for another friend.  We were supposed to go on a double date, but that quickly fell apart when Hubby had to go back east for work and the other couple couldn't make it because of a non-bottle-taking-baby situation.  So I found myself with 3 open tickets and couldn't think of 3 people I'd rather take then these.  I felt very "sex in the city" getting the girls together.  Ironically in our 18 year friendship we've NEVER gone to a concert.

We started out the night at a swanky West Hollywood restaurant called the Fig & Olive.  One of the girls had a coworker who's husband just happened to be working and was able to get us a table.

It was a interesting set up, kind of like a patio but inside.  We sat in wicker chairs that pulled up to a coffee table and all ordered an assortment of crostini's and a salad. 

We have this a inside joke where you have a "moment" with your first bite of something new. Something you know is going to be good but surprises you on just how good and its "food-gasmic". Each bite was divine, I didn't want this evening of good food and friends to end.  But at the same time I kept glancing at the clock thinking we have somewhere to be.

And that's when the waitress comes up and asks if we just have 10 more minutes to spare because the manager would like us to have a desert.  How could we turn that down?  Behold the "moment" giving chocolate lava cake with the surprise citrus semifreddo.

I considered taking an after shot but we basically licked the plate clean if that gives you any indication on how good it was.

We left the restaurant saying why don't we do this more often?  We should do this once a month!  Would that realistically happen, probably not because lets face it LIFE happens but it's nice to hope. 

It was only a 5 minute drive to the concert venue so I really had nothing to worry about we got there in plenty of time.  The concert was Tristan Prettyman (mentioned in this post)

This would be my third time seeing her in concert and she just keeps getting better.

Fun Fact: the first time I saw her 6 years ago was with one of my besties and now we were seeing her again together.

I thought I was pee in your pants excited before... I think I literally turned into a 15 year old girl when Joshua Radin came out to do a song with her.

All the music was beautiful, emotional and raw; a genuinely Great concert.  I'm super happy I got to share it with my sister.  Although theres only 3 years between us, we've had a gap in our social scene the past oh I don't know 8 years lol.  Now that she's a married lady and almost 30, I see that gap is closing.  I would have NEVER thought we'd go to a country bar together, let alone try line dancing. 

The evening was full of reminiscing, remember whens and where did the time go?  And then there was the interesting conversation of age, discussing how 30 isnt so scary afterall  (we range from 29-31)  At what point are you a adult?  In my mind I'm still 23! Although some days my body feels 63. When I look at my peers some with children some without and we're just "the girls".   My sister made an interesting point, "our 30's are to redo the 20's but BETTER."  We're more mature, have more money and can appreciate things differently than 10 years ago.   Funny and true.  I bet we'll be having the same conversation in 10 more years.

Joshua Radin - Hubba Hubba

If ever someone could get me going more than my husband

it would be this guy.

Who is this dreamy mystery man? 

Joshua Radin.  *sigh* 

His lyrics are just beautiful and real.  The way he strums his guitar along with his moody voice.  Can someone lust over music?  Dare I say yes, yes, YES.  I was thrilled when Hubby let me buy tickets to see his concert this last Friday.

I was actually fretting about the day of the concert, thinking will we go to dinner?  Will I get a drink?  How do I budget these points?  Well I ended up making dinner for us before we left (Orange chicken, brown rice, green beans and pot stickers).   When we got down to LA, it was a brisk 60 degrees.  I'm from California where seasons don't exist. Anyhoo, we had some time and I wanted something warm and there just happened to be a Coffee Bean across the street.  Here I am enjoying my creamy hazelnut latte...for a whopping NINE points.  People it pays to figure the point value out before you order!  And no I don't particularly love my husbands photography skills, but this one was kind of funny.

I totally dig this shirt by the way, Pink Elephants on Parade!  I'd been waiting for a good opportunity to wear it and this seamed elephant worthy.  So after enjoying every last 9 point drop.  Here we are getting ready to cross the street over to concert land.

We missed the opening act, I had no idea who she was.  The act following was A Fine Frenzy.  I had heard them before on pandora and was kind of excited to see them in concert.  I started listening to more of their music and even got some favorite songs.  Boy was I disappointed when she played music from her new album that was only released a few weeks ago.  I didnt know ONE single song until she closed with "Almost Lover" it was beautiful.  The rest was a waste of time as I sat fidgetting on the edge of my seat waiting for the MAIN ATTRACTION.

This is what I do when I get bored or antsy.  I take pictures.  I love pictures.  Hubby destains them.

"You said the last one was the LAST one!"

  

FINALLY

Imagine to my un-believe-able delight, who walks on the stage to join him?  Tristan Prettyman!?!?!?!

I LOVE her,  Seen her twice in concert and I just bought tickets to see her again in January!

I am PEE your PANTs Excited!

I honestly cant tell you if he played my favorites, they are ALL my favorites.  I was completely enamored with the whole experiance.  Taking it all in.  Is it hot in here? haha.

Here's a funny thing, at some point I looked over at Hubby and asked do any of these songs sound familiar to you?  Blank stare, should they?  Um yea, its on our wedding cd and I put a few on some CDs for you while we were dating.  *Crickets*  I did appreciate that he came with me though and held my hand and rubbed my back.  Over all it was a great night.