and then he kissed me

When bliss was at hand, we danced. And when tragedy struck, we danced.

One of my fondest memories of the courtship with My Heart was the night we danced. We waited in line for hours to get into the members opening of the Basquiat show at MOCA downtown. I had on a bright and fluffy peasant skirt and espadrilles. He had on a vintage corduroy jacket and jeans. We looked good together and we were blissfully happy in that moment. Moved by the art and the night he grabbed me. And it was there, amongst the paintings, the people, in the absence of music we danced. That is when I knew we were in love. Everyone knew we were in love.

And in the midst of personal tragedy our love brought us to dance once more. Our family hit with an unspeakable loss. Another family facing something equally heartbreaking. Sadened by these turn of events but continuing through the motions of life. My Heart and I discussing such bleak moments in a grocery store. And the music became all I could hear and so we danced. Who cares what everyone thought. I know we are in love and I pray every day that he is immune to what happens to others. I can't bear the thought of being left to dance alone.

the end is near and high

Dearest Readers,

Here’s a little something to sweeten your day.
Just click on the link below to see how a cupcake that I baked especially for you will help fight ovarian cancer. That’s because for every virtual cupcake sent this February, Electrolux will donate $1 to The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.

CUPCAKE FOR YOU!

Enjoy,
the girL

just ask her to dance

I'm planning on gathering some of my own stuff and dropping it off next week. If any of you readers want to send additional items my way and think they'll get here before the 6th of March let me know...

LA's Prom Closet

Dear friends,

I am proud to say LA's Prom Closet is heading into its annual event of providing high school students the opportunity to attend their prom. For those of you who are unfamiliar, a few friends and I have worked very hard to start this non-profit organization, which donates old and new formal dresses to underprivileged high school seniors in the Los Angeles County school district.

In April, 2008 we held a fantastic event in Hawthorne providing not only dresses, but also workshops on etiquette, self-esteem and makeup application for a wide variety of young female teens. We hope to continue this success come March 14th at the second annual LA's Prom Closet's, "Dress to Remember".

As with all non-profits, the success of such an event heavily relies on the amazing donations given by people like you. Below is a list of categories in which we seek assistance. If you have any other ideas, please feel free to share.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

• Dresses: Formal and Semi-Formal. All sizes (Plus size dresses needed). Dry-cleaned or washed (dress drop-off locations to come)
• Dress accessories: Hangers, z-racks, clear plastic dry-cleaning bags, clothing tags, dressing rooms
• Tailoring: Seamstresses, sewing machines, irons, tailoring supplies
• Make-up: Make-up artists, make-up and supplies
• Jewelry: Earrings, bracelets, necklaces, rings
• Decorations: Formal event linen, tables, chairs, balloons, flowers
• Workshop assistance: Etiquette instructors, motivational speakers, etc.
• Gift bags: Paper or plastic gift bags, tissue for bags
• Clerical needs: Pens, Paper, Scissors
• Delivery assistance: Delivery truck
• Monetary donations: Anything you can provide is welcome. This is all tax-deductible!
• Food and beverages for the volunteers the day of the event: breakfast, snacks, lunch
• Volunteers for set up on the 13th and the big day on the 14th
• Drop off locations: Volunteer your home or business as a dress/supplies drop-off location
• Spread the word to your family, friends and colleagues!
  

If you are interested in donating a dress or services, please email laspromcloset@yahoo.com. The deadline to submit a gown and supplies is March 6th.

Kind regards,

Mary Jo Salcido
LA's Prom Closet
619.370.7008

"Sometimes achieving a larger dream means first making the small ones happen"

LA's Prom Closet is a non-profit 501c3 organization made of volunteers who rely on donated dresses, volunteer services and monetary donations to achieve its mission. http://www.myspace.com/laspromcloset

do you wanna feel my magic

I don't know whether to be fascinated or frightened. Who do you suppose they are targeting with this collaboration?

under the inspiration

This is something I think everyone should watch. Maybe if we educate ourselves we can get out of this mess.


The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

this is for the team

Emily #1 - by theblogoholicgirl on Polyvore.com


Emily #2 - by theblogoholicgirl on Polyvore.com

So yes, Friend AE, you can mix espresso and white furniture in your new baby's room and have it look gorgeous with your yellow walls. These are just a couple of quick ideas I had but if you want any real help I'm ALWAYS here for you! XOXO

P.S.
I wasn't sure what color your chair is since I couldn't find slate on the Pottery Barn website so I tried a blue and a stone color.

we shall arrive

I wrote that and decided I wouldn't publish it in case I was merely drunk on nostalgia and disappointment. I opened it again yesterday and just stared at it, trying to think of an amendment but it never came to me. So today I just hit publish and now I'm gonna try and focus on where I am now...

You can't go back and things don't ever really change. It's nice to be home in LA today, back in my life. Sometimes you have an ideal of what going back will be like and then the reality hits you hard. I am more than happy in my life just as it is now. I wouldn't change a thing - I know that to get here I had to make those mistakes and have a couple of regrets along the way. I wish I had done things differently so I wouldn't look back and feel such sadness but what's done is done. I have changed and worked hard to find what I need to be happy, to be whole and it is here and with them and especially with him. So, I'm sorry. I never meant to hurt you. And maybe I wasn't the best I could be to myself then but I am now. And now is what matters.

a drive around the block

I don't really know what I was expecting from this trip and I'm not sure why it's turned out this way. I don't want to be here. I feel the fear and regret of mistakes made long ago. Things I know are far in the past but I can't shake the pain out of my head. I want to believe that everything happens for a reason and I wouldn't be where I'm at without these things. Problem is, if I had the chance to go back and do it over again I most certainly would change them and then who knows where I'd be.

the ghost around the corner

I believe in Love but I do not believe in Valentine's Day.

they call them 100s & 1000s

Yesterday's blog title was a lie... I mean, who doesn't love their donuts vegan!? I don't even like donuts but I love me some vegan ones... guess that's not the case for die hard donut fans.

Every Tuesday we have a finishing meeting that includes eating donuts (this tradition started long before I did).
At the conclusion of that meeting we pick a movie opening the coming weekend.
Once the movie is agreed upon (usually something we've worked on) we all submit secret ballots with the amount of money we think it will make for opening weekend.
If you are the furthest from the actual number than you're the unlucky bastard who has to drive to a donut shop before work and pick up a dozen for the next Tuesday meeting.
He who is closest gets immunity the next week (we had to do something Survivor style).
Sometimes the people complain that we always have the same donuts - they want to mix it up a bit. But trust me, the people don't really like change. And you know what, I don't really like donuts!
Sometimes there is nothing worth voting on so The Captain usually takes it upon himself to bring the donuts. Last week I decided to relieve The Captain of his duties because I had a surprise in mind (I should have remembered the people don't really like change).
Daily Candy introduced me to Dee and her donuts... her vegan donuts. So I went half an hour out of my way and stood in line to pick up something new, something different. I even added a half dozen order of vegan cinnamon rolls to my dozen donuts order and it wasn't cheap! While some people were pleasant about them, others kept their mouths shut and still others complained freely. See what happens when you try to introduce change? The same people who asked for it, revolt! Well, I don't care because the only way I like my donuts is vegan.

(Image Courtesy of Dee's Bakery & Donuts Website)

nobody likes vegan donuts

It's been raining here and I absolutely love it. What I don't love is that my pants and shoes end up all wet before my day has even really started. But of course, to find rain boots in LA during rainy season is all but impossible unless you want icky ones. So I went online and ordered some from none other than Target. My Heart didn't want me to spend too much since we are pinching pennies for our home purchase right now. But I did just win $500 on the office Super Bowl squares final score. So my indulgence is this...


Only set me back $24.99 so I also bought these tall plain black...


I like these for a more everyday sort of use... and they only set me back $24.99 as well! God Bless Target

(Side Note: I ordered these online and I ordered the wrong size - don't ask - so I called customer service and they were amazing! They fixed it in a matter of minutes and with a smile. Just another reason to shop at Target)

the team strikes again

On Sunday March 8th I will be running the 2nd Annual Glendale Downtown Dash. A 5k Run/Walk benefiting the Glendale Adventist Medical Center Stroke Services. I am a team leader and I'm looking to recruit additional runners/walkers for team 5k and Tacos. If you can't make it out please consider donating to this worthy cause. Please contact me for additional info or visit Glendale Downtown Dash. Thanks!

when it rains

And now Los Angeles is getting it's very own Two Boots Pizza!

with the glass slipper

*This was started on Friday but I got busy and so it was finished today - which is Monday 2.9.09

Yesterday we officially did not get the house we put the offer and counter off in on.
Yesterday while watching 2 of my favorite shows, Gossip Girl and Ugly Betty, I realized I will never live in NYC.
Yesterday was a sad day.
But I have grieved for my losses and today I am moving on.
The house was perfect. The mix of 1937 character and charm with all the desires of a current home. The kitchen was flawless, the eggplant colored dining room right up our alley, everything added up to what both of us were looking for. However, it was not meant to be. The doctors outbid us by $20,000 - something way beyond our means.
In my mind, New York is the better of the two. I have often dreamed of living on each coast to find out which suits me best. The West Coast was much more easily attained after college so once that diploma was in hand I headed straight to LA. I always thought there would be time. NYC was this mysterious woman just waiting to sweep me off my feet. My fond memories of her brought back by watching the episodes of my favorite shows whose characters keep company with this mistress. The last time I was there whispering in my mind with seduction. Remembering the feeling of the street against my espadrilles and the taste of Two Boots Pizza after a couple of drinks with friends.
So I woke up today and realized that I am done mourning what never was mine. I am now rejoicing in what I am blessed with. So good bye what was not lost. Hello to my lovely lovely life. Because today I love LA and tomorrow we're going to find the house that was meant to be.

locked in for the night

The anxiety of the unbalance. The thrill of the wind in your hair. The fear of the fall. The wonder of gliding through space. Remember how exciting it was to roller skate as a kid? There's something about going around in circles as fast as you can, four wheels strapped to your feet, the smooth floor sliding away from you, music pumping, lights flashing. It's exhilarating really. And if you could do it at 10 apparently you can still do it at 30... after a couple of slow practice laps of course. What makes it even more fun are a private roller rink rented out for a friend's birthday and a couple of kegs. Throw in a post-apocalyptic theme complete with Nerf guns with targets strategically placed around the rink and you've got yourself a Friday night party! Friend M was the latest to turn 30 and threw a great bash last weekend. The only down side was once you fell too hard or too many times you don't get back out there as easily as you did when you were a kid.

because of august

This thing we're calling a hunt... you forget about the part where you wait silently in the bushes for hours on end for the perfect shot. It's a lot of work and it takes great patience. I'm growing weary and we're less than a month in.
How do you find the perfect house? That place you feel is home? Do you finally let go of the dream for reality? I think that's what the first month does. It wears you down enough to give in to second or third best. Actually, maybe even fourth or fifth best. I feel like putting my head down on a soft pillow and forgetting about all of this. The only problem is waking back up in our current place of residence and realizing it's not home either.
Every weekend, life sacrificed to better the future. Thirty houses in. Nothing. We've put in an offer on one but it's looking grim and nothing else is going to compare. So we lie back down in the grass and wait.