I guess I’m just not *that* kind of mother lover 😉 But I wish you all a happiest of happy Mother’s Day (even if I am a little late).
The Second Best Idea They Had
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Author Archives: LA Blogger Gal
There’s a World Cocktail Week?
Why didn’t anyone tell me?!?
Who doesn’t need an excuse for a cocktail. I say bring it on baby!
According to the Museum of the American Cocktail “World Cocktail Week, celebrated from May 6th -13th was established to promote a better understanding, appreciation, and respect for the cocktail and its history.”
I’m all for a little celebration. Does it count if I just spent $100 on wine for tomorrow’s party? 😉
I’ll Admit it, Certain TV Shows Make Me a Happy Girl
And one of those giggle-inducing shows happens to be anything by Samantha Brown over on the Travel Channel. I knew when I started seeing her billboards around town (how cute is this photo) that her new season must be coming soon. Which is great, because to be honest, her seasons are so short that just as you start to get into them, they’re over and done with.
Now of course, we all know of my love for Sam. I mean, not only is she adorable, but she comes across as the kind of gal you could be good friends with (according to her blog, she was just here in Santa Barbara filming an episode on my birthday – so bummed I didn’t know). My roomie and I used to watch all of her “Great…” shows whenever we could and lament over how when we grow up, we’d love to be her. I mean seriously, who wouldn’t want to get paid to travel the world and spend time in some of the swankiest hotels (like on her old “Great Hotels” show) or get private tours to some of World’s the most exclusive places.
Due to my love for all things Samantha Brown, I was contacted by her team* to let me know that her new series starts this weekend. All I can say is Woohoo! I’m glad to know she’s back.
If you happen to be a Samantha dork like me, you can follow her on Twitter or fan her up on Facebook.
And let me just say, the folks at Travel Channel totally get social media and how it works with creating community and building relationships. More businesses could benefit from learning this skill.
* I’m telling ya, blogging and tweeting can pay of in ways you never even thought of
I Seem to Have App Envy
The question is…do they have an app for that? I mean they have apps for everything these days. Though I am a bit confused as to why anyone would need a shaking baby app, but well, maybe I just don’t get it since I’m not a mom and all that.
But really, I am quite envious. My Blackberry is cool and all that, but it can’t split a restaurant bill quickly and easily. And it doesn’t have a fake Zippo lighter that I can whip out at concerts. Yeah, app envy.
I mentioned it to the hubs and he was kind enough to remind me that if we weren’t having a party on Saturday, then maybe I’d have myself an iPhone today. But let’s face it…birthday parties with friends…so cool!
And I don’t need an app for THAT! 😉
Things I’m Totally Loving Right Now
I’m going to keep this short and sweet because well, I’m exhausted and should really be heading to bed. But there are a couple of products out there the I’m loving so much I just have to share.
I think for now I’m just going to list them, and then tomorrow I’ll go through and add my thoughts.
- Lavender drawer liner from Sommer Designs
- Stainless Steel Sharpie
- Food that Should Taste Good Chocolate Tortilla Chips
- Burt’s Bees Apricot Baby Oil
- Maybelline Lash Stiletto
- Flora by Gucci (I am in LOVE with this – received a sample from Sephora)
- Too Faced Shadow Insurance
There may be a couple other things that also get added, but this is on my mind right now and just had to rave about it. I’ll be back later to do into the details.
We Have a Party!
Or more to the point, I finally have my restaurant reserved. It will be out on this amazing patio. I’m SO excited!
I have to stop by there tonight to go over the menu and talk booze. From there I can order the cake. And then take a deep breath.
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Our anniversary weekend was great. We had a lovely dinner on Friday (our actual anniversary). The food was amazing, but the ambiance was not exactly what I was expecting. Then again, I’m sure if there wasn’t a woohooing table full of gals right next to us, it probably would have been lovely.
Saturday we headed to the beach. We took the pupster out with us thinking he’d enjoy walking along the beach. We tried to find the whale park in Palos Verdes (the Interpretive Center), but between the fog and the lack of directions, we never made it there.
We did pick up some pizza slices for a showdown between the two top places in Rendondo. We took our slices out to a bench just off the strand and relaxed. It was so nice to just walk around and talk about both business and life. It was great.
Then last night, the hubby decided that he wanted to go to Palate (where we went for his birthday) to try their Prix Fixe Sunday Dinner. And of course a cheese plate! It was amazing and exactly the way to end our anniversary celebration.
Overall, it was a great weekend. And now this week I need to focus, focus, focus and get to work…
In Response to My RSVP Rant
I realize that my RSVP rant from the other day might have sounded like I was passively aggressively calling people out. Trust me, I wasn’t. Really, I’m just ranting about the RSVP process as a whole and all the seeming frustration its creating. The lack of any response thing is just something that I don’t get. Again, to me it’s just rude.
And yes, I know (and stated as such) that people are busy and can’t always make plans a week in advance. Life happens. Shit happens. We all have busy lives. I do get it. I have noticed (and others have said as much) that the lack of RSVP protocol seems to be rampant here in LA. This is most definitely NOT something that would happen in the south. And well, in NM, you don’t even both with invites at all (and people show up to weddings in jeans, sneakers and cowboy hats).
When it comes to party planning and RSVPs, my theory has always been that it’s better to let the person know what’s going on and to be a maybe than to be someone that is never heard from and just shows up at the last minute and throws everything for a loop. It makes the shopping and the details much easier and less of a last-minute-insanity for the planner or hostess. Which of course is how the whole RSVP concept came about anyway when you think about it.
And of course, personally, I was (and still am) seemingly frustrated beyond belief knowing that I have yet to confirm even the choice of the restaurant because I was waiting on a head count. And to be honest, I don’t even have a backup plan if the place I want can’t work with me on such short notice. That’s not even counting the fact that I’ll be left running around this week to rush order a cake and drive around to get prices on the alcohol – both of which I can’t yet do because I haven’t yet confirmed the restaurant, so I don’t yet know the corkage or dessert cutting fees.
So if I offended anyone or if anyone felt that they in particular were being singled out by my sharing my thoughts and frustrations, I do apologize for that wasn’t my intent.
That said, I don’t apologize for taking the time to share my thoughts here. It is my blog and it’s my space to say what’s on my mind. If you know me at all, you know that I’m a planner kind of gal, so this fly by the seat of my pants thing is so out of my comfort zone and drives me crazy (see anything involving family get-togethers). Outside of family, I’m rarely left with so many unknowns when it comes to planning an event.
I’m also aware enough to know that it’s my shit. And I’m dealing with it as best I can…by writing about it, here, in my blog knowing full well that friends will read what I write. And more importantly, taking a risk knowing full well that some of my friends might even make assumptions that I’m writing about them.
But have no fear, the anniversery weekend celebration is coming along awesomely. And the birthday festivities will be starting days before the party commences. So I’m sure I’ll be my happy, perky, love the world self by the time Saturday rolls along and will have long forgotten this mess and all its seeming frustrations. Especially if I can find the time to sneak in some birthday spa time 😉
Respondez Vous S’il Vous Plait
Okay, I’m going to go on a bit of a rant here, please forgive me. But why is it that some people seem to have such challenges responding to an invitation?
I know I’m not alone here as I heard about it (and experienced it first hand) during the wedding planning days. Yes, I had more people show up to our wedding than responded to the invitation (and one guy was even kind enough to show up in jeans and with a pretty skanky mistress date!)
To me it’s quite simple…if someone has to make reservations, pay money, order food or drinks or just plan something out right, then it’s important to RSVP. You can’t just ignore each and every contact they send. More importantly, you can’t just show up at the event and expect to be welcomed with open arms.
It’s just rude.
So I’m sure you can see where this is going. Yes, I still have not heard from a good chunk of the people that I have invited to my dinner next weekend. And yes, I do need to get cracking on making those reservations and ordering the cake and booze. I’m not sure what to do next.
I sent out a “save the date” email (yes, lame to do it via email, but it was all kind of short notice and I wanted to give folks as much advance notice to avoid the whole missing RSVP thing – yeah, that’s working in my favor here, I see). I sent out the actual evite. I then sent out an email to everyone (local) that either hadn’t yet opened the evite or hadn’t yet responded to remind them to let me know if they could make it so I could make reservations.
Did it work?
Well, it got me four more RSVPs, but I still have about ten more people that I’m waiting on. I even made sure to point out that gifts aren’t expected, that I just want to share the day with friends. I really don’t know what to do now. I’m totally fine estimating up on the headcount, but to be honest, it kind of sucks.
I’m kind of thinking that if I have to go through hoops to get friends to join me in a birthday celebration, then maybe it’s not the celebration that’s the issue. No, this isn’t a whiny post (well, it might be a little whiny – I mean whining and ranting are so closely related – but it’s not a “woe is me” sort of thing). I mean, I didn’t get to be on the verge of 40 wondering about who my friends are.
Life happens, sometimes you have the best intentions, but sometimes you just can’t make something. I get it. It happens to all of us from time to time. But if someone is going above and beyond asking for an RSVP, then please, take a moment to send an email, a text, leave a message, or just check a little box. It won’t take much time on your end, and it will make things much easier on their end. Trust me.
The moral here…RSVP dammit!
Okay, on to much more important things to focus on this beautiful Friday…
Happy May Day to you all!
Knock on Wood For 55 More Years
Wood? Really?
Wood is the official gift theme for the 5th anniversary?
So what am I supposed to do, plant a tree? Built a bench? Buy a dresser?
Hmm…well, we do need an extra dresser. That might make a good anniversary present after all.
“When you are in love you can’t fall asleep because reality is better than your dreams.” ~Dr. Seuss
Yes, it’s official…we’ve now been married for five years. And can I just say, I love it.
Of course we have nothing planned and no gifts purchased. And to be honest, that’s not really much of a surprise if you ask me.
I know…I’ll find some place to eat where we can sit on a wooden deck. Maybe someplace by the beach. Then we’ll have our wood and eat dinner too!
Perfect!
Baby, I love you and I’d marry you all over again!*
*you may now cue the sappy music, hand out the tissues and start passing the chesse
The Thing About Networking…
As I sit here a few minutes early for my pre-networking networking event I wonder, yet again if I’m wearing the right thing. And if not, do I have the right thing to wear at home for tomorrow’s all day event.
Really, I don’t mind the networking at all. In fact, I’ll pretty much talk to anyone. I’m great in bathroom small talk.
The fashion or appropriate attire, no that’s a different story. I’m much more comfortable in jeans, flip flops and a cardigan.
Oh well, tonight I opted for a casual dress that I wore to teach in and a pair of nude gladiatorish sandals. And a cardie – it could get cold. Hopefully I’ll be dressed appropriately.
Now as for tomorrow…I’ll let tonight help make that decision easier. And now, it’s time to network.