Spring has Sprung!

Lots of fun things have been happening this year and so far 2010 has been so great!
Here are just a few recent events:

Celebrating Larissa's 29th Birthday- friendship of 10 years and counting!

And Victoria's 17th Birthday trip to Disneyland!

Clay and I took a trip to Big Bear! It snowed all day, probably about a foot!

Met up with Megan and friends at Incahoots in San Diego- a little country line dancing won't hurt no one!

Visited Suzanne and her babies- Kaylee and Rylee are 14 months!

Happy St. Patty's Day from Fat Cat

Norcal crew invaded Socal for Tommy's Birthday Party- Kelsey and Mike and Nick came down to hang with Gabby, Carrie and I. It was a great time at the beach house and the Pence compound!

The Parent's had a 20th anniversary party- Smith Reid Family still going strong!

 

Clay and I took a quick trip up to Santa Barbara so I could visit my old college and town. UCSB looks different but some things never change. I hit up the study hall, a favorite bar and Zodo's. a fav bowling spot! Saw all of the houses I lived in while in college and checked out the campus! Downtown was great too! Here are a few from the trip:

Victoria and I had our annual Easter photoshoot at my mom's house! I love Spring! There were more of these but I just wanted to get a few in here!

I guess this is my quarterly update for the year 2010...so excited to see what the rest of the year has to offer!

OSCAR CHALLENGE- UP IN THE AIR

So...
I liked this movie....actually, I think I really liked this movie! I will be watching it again in the near future- but here are some things I really liked so far:
- george clooney...duh. down-to-earth, real, classy.
- the argument between casual relationships and actually picturing a future with that person
- the realization that life changes in an instant....not always for the better but you still have to deal!
- I loved loved loved the simple shots of the film from the shots of clouds in the air to the regular ritual of packing a bag
- the irony of the lead actresses need to "escape" from her "real" life. this does not make sense to me and made me extremely disappointed once revealed.
- emotion is a simple part of life- you can't deny it. you must accept it- no matter how scary it may be....the best of life may come from those situations where you leap without looking!

Next up....Precious! I'm excited!

cooking for dummies....

chicken breast
stuffed
with
garlic sauteed spinach
and
ricotta cheese
topped with
sauteed crimini mushrooms
.....

this happens on a regular basis! I love cooking....and so does Clay! Match made in heaven!
<3

Oscar Challenge- The Hurt locker

The Hurt locker- Liked it....didn't LOVE it, however I would recommend it to a friend! I thought the point of the movie was very well expressed through the eyes of the Oscar's first ever Female winner of the best director category. She did an excellent job with character development. It is a typical war movie, so descriptively depicting the details of war one would never be able to imagine without having been there. The movie was just long enough to hold my attention, just gory enough to not completely gross me out, real enough to feel the heat of the desert. It was a very well put together movie. Up next...Up in the Air and I am pretty excited to see it!
By the way, today has probably been the nicest day of 2010. Clay and I went on a quick bikeride down at the beach and it was amazing! Spring has sprung...the best time of the year! 

Oscar Challenge

After watching the academy awards the other night, I think I may have a few amazing movies I need to catch up on! Am I that out of touch? Why have I only seen and HEARD of about 1/4 of the movies up for awards? Maybe I'm just not a movie person- however, movies do something to you that is so different from a book, or personal interaction. You are transformed to a place- any place you can imagine- and for about two hours, you are intrigued with their world.
I find it amazing that there are so many GOOD movies out there that I have not seen. This may be because I have a strong tendacy to fall asleep during movies, as well as the fact that it now costs an arm and a leg to go to the movie theater.
The Oscar nominees I did see included Avatar, Inglorious Basterds (fell asleep- too long), and Up- all amazing movies!
I have begun a movie challenge to see if I can get through a few more of those award winners.
Tonight was Julie and Julia. Meryl Streep was nominated for Best Actress for playing the role of Julia Child. The movie was excellent. Being interested in cooking and food made the movie all the more better. I thought it was excellent....maybe another reason that I am blogging about it right now. Inspired? Probably. I don't think I am very prepared to "bone a duck" yet- but I may just be trying a few of Julia Child's recipes from her book Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
I may need to find a few healthier alternatives while going through her recipes, but cooking is all about improvise right?
Off to stir the chili...
Next on the Oscar Challenge list- The Hurt Locker.

Everything happens...

....for a reason! The economy has finally caught up with the company I worked for and I have been let go. However, I always try to look on the bright side of things. There is always a brighter side to things. This simple statement has kept me going throughout many circumstances that I've endured throughout life. 
So, with the help of umemployment and tax returns, I feel I can take a little time to focus on which direction I want to go in life. I don't think I can handle another office job- so I will do whatever it takes to not end up there.  I am hoping that financially I don't have to succomb to another job I will hate in 2 years. Although I am extremely organized, office work just is so....unimaginative! No creative juices flowing....and I feel like that is a key ingredient in my daily life!
I am not sure yet what area that creativeness is going to come from- cooking, cleaning, organizing, photography, events, decor, design...seems that the possibilities should be endless. I just need to focus and see what direction was meant for me to go in.

LOVE

So, the boyfriend and I are heading to Vegas tomorrow night. For what reason, might you ask? Well...there are a few:

1. We found flights from Orange County to Vegas that were $25 each way- $65 ROUND TRIP with taxes/misc charges. You can't get fly for any cheaper than that- in fact, it'd probably cost more in gas to drive! The flight is barely long enough for you to settle in your seats and get a cocktail in you before you're already landing in Sin City, which is much better than the 5 hour drive out there!

2. Clay offered as a birthday present to get us tickets to go see a show when we are there! I looked at all the choices and have heard so many wonderful things about LOVE that I couldn't pass this opportunity up! The music, the dancing...it is going to be great! I am very excited to get dressed up and head out to dinner before. Maybe this will give Clay a chance to try his new suit he got for christmas! Not sure where we'll be going to dinner yet- looks like we have some homework to do before we leave tomorrow.

3. We found some pretty good hotel deals since we booked the trip so far in advance. We're staying at The Hotel, which is a seperate part of Mandalay Bay. I've never stayed there before- we usually opt for the cheapest place to lay our heads, which ends up being Imperial Palace or something like that! The Hotel will be a nice upgrade!

The last time we went to Vegas was for my friend's wedding at Ceasar's Palace, which was a great trip- but it felt more like a wedding than the whole Vegas experience! I am excited to play, eat, sleep and drink...maybe do a little gambling! Should be a great time!