Boredom at work.....

Yesterday I came to the conclusion during an afternoon ping pong session at work that my mind is full of knowledge...

Allow me to elaborate.... when you don't have anything to work on ... all you have for entertainment is to look up stuff on the internet... which in turn fills my mind with useless knowledge about random facts....

For example I have been quite into public transportation ... since I am a metro rider now! and I found out that there is a high speed rail coming to California... http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/map.htm I feel like I heard about this in the past.. but didn't realize that it will be come a reality... that killed a few hours....

also since we have been moving I spend lots of time on google maps trying to figure out where everything is near us :) ha ha! Oh btw did I tell you we are moving to westwood.?? maybe I did... but I know I didn't post a photo!

here is our new apartment starting hopefully in March..

And since we are on the subject.. allow me to expand on the superb deal we found ourselves apart of! Imagine paying $500 bucks a month for your own 2 bedroom 2 bathroom apartment.... well that is what happened.... but it won't come with out a few sacrifices... although I hardly see them as that.... Jeff has a relationship with this landlord who is looking to replace their current on-site manager with someone new..... naturally he kept us in mind from the beginning... making sure he understood our responsibilities... which include ( collecting rent checks, being available to lease units when tenants vacate the building (Jeff's business already does this) and overseeing any work that might need to be done, calling appropriate contractors etc.) that's pretty much it! All for the fancy price tag of $500 a month rent! Can we say SCORE!! The only hard part now is waiting... they have to evict the current tenant who was giving a 60 days notice in December then they can fix up the place for us to move in! We are anticipating March! It will be so nice to be closer to Jeff's work literally 1 mile away! He has been making the 1.5-2 hour commute each way for too long! And it gives us additional space! That extra room will be so nice for an office... and perhaps a baby's room someday ;) ;) ..... oh back to public transportation... I found out that the metro (who I know and love) is going to be opening up 3 miles from our new apartment Summer of 2010..... so it has really sweetened the deal for me! I have a hard time justifying the 150-200 / a month parking and dealing with traffic!

Well this has been a fun way to fill my morning today! Lets hope I get some work here soon though..... Poor Jeff gets to hear me talk about all the fun things I learn on the internet in the evenings! ha ha ha!! I also have to keep pretty quiet in my cube all day so at night all I want to do is chat! Jeff on the other hand deals with people and talks all day so he is the exact opposite in the evenings :) ha ha!

Well back I go to internet perusing..... what shall I google next.....

New Years Rose Parade!!

Our family was lucky enough to spend New Years eve together as well as enjoying the Rose Parade! It was my first time attending, and although I live only a few miles from where it begins I have yet to venture out. This was the year.

The family came over New Years eve and spent the night! Jeff and I slept at our neighbor Debbies house to give Mom and AJ our room! we all slept great!! Played games till late... taught the family how to play hand and foot.. naturally mom and I won :)

Here are some photos of us in the morning making the trek to the Parade... we took the metro (1mile) from our house up 2 stops .. then walked about .5 a mile.... it wasn't too bad!!! Even had time to stop and grab starbucks on the way! (Jeff was happy)

Up Bright and early!! and all bundled up! Okay maybe I was a bit excessive ....

Sisters waiting at Starbucks

Lex's favorite shop!!

Let me show you how this works guys!! I'm buying everyones train passes...

Waiting waiting waiting... took 3 trains before we could get on... apparently this was a common way to travel to the Parade!!

Here we go! She is such a natural

Yippeee we made it! Found a great spot on the corner right where the floats started!!

Bands were all lined up :)

Skateboarding Bulldog... doesn't get much better than that!!

We decided to walk home! it was a big of a walk.. but enjoyed the sunshine! Oh did I mention the weather was absolutely AMAZING!!

Finish off the day with a bang... Ice cream cones!! :)

Perfect way to start out the new year!! 2010 is gonna be GREAT!!

Made with TLC for Christmas

Mr Owl ..... Phone/Camera Case



and yes I did have inspiration

http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/12/owl-iphone-cozy-diy.html

I decided on a whim Friday night I wanted to attempt to make these.. first

was a stop at Michaels where I found everything I needed.... note to self...

Jeff is not super fond of hanging out in Michaels.... Can we say BORING.... HA HA HA

My first owl attempt is my favorite... so that is why I kept it! :)




Next I decided I wanted to make one for Mom! Thinking the Orange was more her color :) It ended up being a little larger so it works as a camera case!!



Finally on Saturday I ran out to find a few more colors of yarn & felt and whipped this one up for my sister... so that we are matching! I didn't quite finish it before our Christmas get together at 4 Saturday evening! :) They were a big hit!!



I just realized I never took a picture of the back of the cases... They are felt... the green ones have a baby blue felt backing and mom's is a tan color :) SO MUCH FUN! I think I will be making my grama one for Christmas!!!

Metro - Gold Line

I am embarrassed to say that I have only started utilizing this wonderful service in the past week. Even though I have been driving into downtown for more than 2 years :(

But better late than never!

I just wanted to share why I love this so much!

The station is one mile from my house, so I drive and park for free then walk over to the station!

This is where I Park

Accross the street I hop on the train.

This is almost my favorite part of the journey... because it is so crisp and cool outside.. I have my Christmas music playing in my ears and I'm all bundled up standing in the sun! Plus the trees surrounding the station are all changing color :)

Next I hop on the train and sit down... the first few times I didn't pay much attention to what was going on around me.. thinking there was going to be a bunch of weird-o's and I didn't want to draw attention to myself... but the past few days I have looked around taking in my surroundings. Most of the time people seem happy, reading, sleeping, listening to music like myself :) I like to soak in the stillness the car has... although everyone is in their own space.. and it tends to be rather crowded, there is an element of peace.

The Gold line runs outside and through a few cities before it arrives at union station... some include ones that may be considered "not so safe".... that aside I have never for one second felt unsafe, again oddly at peace. The views are just beautiful....at moments we are up higher than the homes and can glance out above it all to see trees and hills with their changing colors of the season... this part I enjoy a lot... we go through...

Chinatown's park where we took our engagement photos

and they even have flowers in bloom... brings back fun memories!! final destination is Union Station.. where I make a quick cross over to the Red Line.... This part is great because I get my exercise.... I try to walk as fast as I can to keep my heart rate up.... and NEVER utilize the escalators :) that means I tackle the stairs!! I usually wait only a few minutes to catch the red line (which is underground) I take this only two stops to Pershing Square... I finish my trek up another huge flight of stairs ... then it is a few long blocks away from my building... again I try to walk as fast as I can with my music blaring ... to keep moving :)

I usually arrive at my destination anywhere between 30-45 minutes from when I left my house! Not tooo bad considering the enjoyment I get out of it... plus I save tremendously by not needing to park... and get some early morning exercise!

In the evenings the journey is mostly the same.. just gets a little dark by the time I get onto the Gold Line...and I ofen end up hitting the gym before I head home... which is in the same building as where I park!! Snap Fitness !!

And on Thursdays...The farmers market is taking place right where the train arrives in South Pasadena from 4-7pm... Its AMAZING!! I try to get a roasted yam every week!!!

WOW! Who knew that going into work could be so enjoyable! :) Hoping that our move to the Westside is delayed a few more months so I can continue this.... a little sad to have to give it up ... but I know busy season is just around the corner.... so I will just soak it all in while I can!!! :)

Christmas Decorations Up... and Holiday Party :)

After my First week of work I find it soooo enjoyable to be home, especially with all our Christmas Decorations up!! I think my favorite part is when you drive by you can see the tree in the window :)

Our Lovely Decorations! Nothing fancy but brings the Christmas spirit!!

We went to Zucca last night for my new JOB's Holiday Party :) WTAS is not so bad !!! Oh and to top it all off... im an offical Public Transportation User.... I took the metro all by myself on Friday of my first week.. and am going to utilize it until we move to Westwood..... :)

Oh and earlier Saturday I gave Miss Violet a Bath... she was such a trooper!! BTW she LOVES to be blowdried... she just lays there! he he

Sunday Hike Griffith Park!

Jeff and I took a hike up to the Getty Museum on Sunday and we had sooo much fuN!

Considering how close Griffith Park is from our house it is surprising that we had never gone before!! The views of downtown as we hiked up were superb!!! Not to mention the weather was perfect!!!


After we went into Los Feliz and ate at an adorable French Restaurant :)

Perfect end to a great weekend!

Ordinary Saturday!!

Lovely Morning! Jeff and I both worked out than had a yummy healthy breakfast!

Tried some Kamut grain hot cereal! Better than oatmeal I LOVED IT! topped that off with some ground flaxseed, blackberries and candied pecans and a dab of MILK... Yum!!!

Also to accompany we had yummy bread I picked up from whole foods that you finish the baking process at home! Super healthy and yummy to boot!

I also tried our french press for the first time! WOW yummiest coffee I have ever had! It didn't need anything in it! Loved it black! Odly :)

Spent some time on the computer! Facebooking & Looking at my bloggs! and Miss Violet wanted to help too! :) she is so precious!

Jeff's morning is a bit different, he worked from home after breakfast.. which consisted of answering the blackberries! Ring Ring Ring!!!!! :) This is Jeff.... he is so cute! Just glad he can be home with me!




Now we are going to head out to Santa Monica to go look at apartments and explore!

Then out to Thousand Oaks! Laura's (Jeff's Sisters) Birthday is today! WOOO HOOO!