White Elephant LOVE!

Look who's blogging for the 7th time this month! You can thank me later (or now). I got my groove back, but we'll see how long that lasts.

So, I secretly LOVE a really good White Elephant Party. (Guess the secret is out now.)

Last weekend I went to one, a super fun one. And, it made us roommates want to throw one of our own.

Plus, we decorated the house so cute for Christmas, so we figured we'd show it off.

We have a really fun group of friends, and I knew they'd all make a White Elephant Party so much fun. And, it was SO MUCH FUN.

As Lisa VanderPump, my favorite Beverly Hills Housewife, would say "It was a few clowns short of a circus." Just the kind of party I LOVE.

P.S. It's raining ridiculously hard in Cali, and it has been for days. So, the roommies and I decided to wear our finest festive PJs to our party. And, Diz said that her favorite part of the whole night was that I LET her wear her jammies to a party. I guess I am a fashion Nazi. (Although I would like to state I have never told anyone what to wear, without being asked first!)

Who wore it best?!?

There was a White Elephant party (pictures and post to come)...

that turned into a late night...

that turned into a who wore it best dance pants edition...

starring Dustin & Jeanette.



(I promised Dusty I would not post this on FB, but he conceded to let me post it on the blog. Do you think posting the link to my blog on FB was cheating? If so, I am sorry Dusty, you are a great sport, and as such, I will make sure to post the photo where everyone knows what you truly look like...


Hubba hubba - yes, I just said that, because I am old and that's what we used to say.

All that being said, please vote in my little poll.

Things I love! (and People)

(In this order).

CAKE

PRESENTS

PRESENTS SHAPED LIKE CAKE

CAKE SHAPED LIKE PRESENTS

CANDY

ICE CREAM/FROZEN YOGURT

CHRISTMAS

CHRISTMAS MUSIC

ANYTHING THAT SMELLS LIKE CHRISTMAS

THE GOSPEL (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)

CARDIGANS

SHOES

DIET COKE

PRESENTS THAT LOOK LIKE DIET COKE (I actually got one for my birthday, it was RAD).

ANTHROPOLOGIE

TIVO

THE DESPERATE HOUSE WIVES OF BEVERLY HILLS

MODERN FAMILY

PHIL DUNPHY (Actually, he's a person, but a fake one, so basically, he falls into the "things" category. If he actually DID exist and he wasn't married to Claire, I would bite the bullet and get married... to him.)

MY FAMILY (also, people. I LOVE them SLIGHTLY less than I LOVE Phil Dunphy.)

SOUTH COAST PLAZA/FASHION ISLAND

ETSY

MEN THAT FIX STUFF (also people).

ANYTHING KATE SPADE MAKES

TARGET

VACATIONS

SLEEPING

GIVING PEOPLE HIGH FIVES

SHIRTS THAT SAY "FREE HUGS"

SAYING "WE'RE ON A DIET" (But, not actually being on one).


MAKING GOALS (But, not actually keeping them).

SPENDING MONEY

RAPPERS



WATCHING THE SAME MOVIE I HAVE ALREADY SEEN OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN (Same with listening to song and sayings).

KETCHUP/BBQ SAUCE

BBQ CHICKEN SALAD

WHEAT TOAST WITH SPRAY BUTTER.

MODERN MEDICINE

LAS VEGAS

ROOMMATES (which are also in actuality, people, but...)

MY CALLING AT CHURCH WITH THE BEST YW IN THE WORLD.

HOME DEPOT

WIKIPEDIA

RUFFLES, BOWS, SPARKLES

MAKE-UP

DRIVING WHILE EATING

TALKING

TALKING WHILE DRIVING AND EATING

RUNNING

FREE STUFF

COMPLIMENTS

TEXAS

SMART CHEAP BORING MOODY GUYS (also people).

HEADBANDS WITH FLOWERS AND BOWS

MAGIC 8 BALLS AND FORTUNES IN FORTUNE COOKIES

CAFE RIO

STONEFIRE CAFE

SEEING PEOPLE SMILE/MAKING PEOPLE LAUGH

JOKES

ANYTHING FUN

MENTORS

FANTASTIC FRIENDS (also people)

MONOGRAMMED STUFF

HAMMOCKS

BEING OUTSIDE

PILLOWS

ANYTHING THAT HAS A BIRD ON IT OR IS SHAPED LIKE BIRD (but not actually REAL birds).

SPACE HEATERS

PEOPLE WHO MAKE ME LAUGH

GREAT DEAL AT THE SWAPPIE

T SWIFT

PEOPLE.COM

STUFF THAT'S ON SALE

DANCE PARTIES

COSTUMES (I would wear one every day, if people didn't think I was weird).

WEIRD PEOPLE

CLEAN HOUSES

PEOPLE WHO READ THIS BLOG (also people).

This list may get longer. Wait for it.

Next Up, things I hate! Wait for it.

She's lost her marble!

As most of you know, back in September our family had quite a scare.

Adam and I flew to Texas to be with my mom, along with my dad, Mark and Kimberly as we waited to find out if her brain tumor was malignant or benign.

Right before he left Connecticut, my brother Adam tried to explain to his cute little children what was going on. And, although the ordeal was quite scary. This story that Adam told us made us all smile, because his kids are just so stinkin' charming.

Adam: You guys, I have to go to Texas for a few days. Meme is sick. She has a tumor in her brain.
Jacob (7): What's a tumor?
Adam: It's a mass of cells/tissues that are abnormal. It's about the size of a marble.
Jacob: Meme has a marble in her brain?!?
Izzy (5): Did she eat the marble?
Adam: Oh my gosh, forget about the marble!

The morning before my mom went in for her biopsy. The kids called. And, Jacob screamed into the phone. "I hope you don't die Meme!" To which she responded, "I hope I don't either, Jacob."

Yesterday, we got some very good news. The tumor is gone. Completely. The doctor's can't even find it!

And, it appears that if all continues to go well, in 6 more weeks my mom will get a break from her favorite nurses and doctors at UT Southwestern. No more Urban Taco for every meal. No more wires and ports. No more mom looking like a cable box. No more chemo! No more marble.

I couldn't be happier. Or more relieved.

And, I just wanted to thank everyone who called, sent flowers, wrote messages, sent emails, etc. I want you each to know that I read/heard every single one. And, each one touched my heart. Thanks for all of your prayers on my mom's behalf. As a family, we feel very honored and blessed and humbled by the whole experience. And, I once again realize how amazingly wonderful my friends and family are.

Drum Roll.... please....

Sometimes I get dressed up, but not often.

And, sometimes Jackie lets me take pictures of her. Ok, actually that one was a lie. She never really does.

And, since it's a rare occasion for both of us, we went into a photo booth, and this is what came out.

Ladies and Gentlemen, here she is THE Jackie B., my very favorite co-worker and one of my closest friends.

Since she had a little bit of rum and I sneaked her into a photo booth you all get to finally see her.

She does exist. And, she IS super funny. Aren't you all excited to finally see her!?!?!

Isn't she so darling!?!?!?

Excuses, excuses.

I have a REALLY hard time saying "no" to anything or anyone. But, there are so many days where I think it would be a very very beneficial art to master.

I don't really even know why I can't say no. But, one possibility is that perhaps I don't usually have a really good excuse to say no.

Fear not, I think I have found one.



The next time I need an excuse I am totally going for it "I view my hands as elite athletes, like Olympic athletes, and so anything I do is to protect them from jeopardy or danger. So, for me that means not cooking, or cleaning, no taking out the garbage, no opening windows or doors, no gardening, no sports, no no no..."

Wait for it. If I say "I can't, I am a hand model", it just means no.

P.S. Jackie sent me this video. And, as I was watching it she said, "come on, let's just ask the question everyone wants to know." When I asked what that would be her reply was, "Well let's just say, she must have a massive bidet!"

I made this...

Turns out I can sew.

Yep, I made this pillow a few weeks ago.

And, stole the idea from here.

Carly supervised as Jean and I tried our skills at being domestic.

It now sits on the bench (that I re-furbished), because I am awesome like that.

Thanks Carly! And, Jean.