Vegas anyone?

Southwest Airlines is running a 50% off promotion for all fares to Las Vegas from January 13 through March 11. The flights must be booked between December 30 and 31.

Note that taxes and fees are extra. They are not covered by the 50% off promotion.

Click here for details.

Trip for 2 to Catalina on 12/31. Can you use it?!

Can anyone take advantage of a free roundtrip for two to Catalina on Wednesday, December 31 (tomorrow)?

We have a prepaid ticket for two that expires on Wednesday that we can’t use. If anyone would like it then it’s yours. The only thing that we ask is that you actually use it.

The boat leaves at 9am from the Balboa Pavilion, arriving in Avalon at 10:15. The return boat leaves Avalon at 4:30pm, arriving at the Balboa Pavilion at 5:45. The value is $136.

It would make an excellent New Year’s Eve activity. Go to Catalina and have lunch overlooking Avalon harbor then walk through the shops. It should be a beautiful day!

The boat’s website is: www.catalinainfo.com

The first to respond can have them. Feel free to email me directly.

Movie Marathon and Presents

I am making a few handmade presents this year. I am slowly trying to become a Betty Crocker, Martha Stewart, Donna Reed, and Vicky.
While making and creating I have been enjoying my DVD player, and a few choice favorites!

Here is my holiday movie line up!!

I like the new version also, but this is still the original!

If you live in the OC area and haven't seen any of these I would be happy to let you borrow, or come over for a movie. I have many more I would like to sit and watch.

What are some of the movies you enjoy watching?

Also, what color combination is a safe choice when making presents for people to use for everyday? Just so you know you miht be a recipient of these fun presents so you better tell me what colors you like! :)

Christmas Cards!! Bah Hum Bug!

That's right. . . I am a ScRoOgE!

Don't let my new background fool you. I am such a Scrooge!

The following reasons qualify me as a true Christmas scrooge!

1) I am not going to decorate my house for Christmas. Call it lazy, boring, and just plain scrooge like.

2) I have been dragging my feet for weeks with getting and doing Christmas cards this year.

I am not a fan of Christmas this year. Such a Scrooge. . . I know!!

I am angry. I know this is like a broken record. . .but I am angry.

Holidays and birthdays always remind me of happy families and children. Every year Ryan and I have the battle of the Christmas card. He was raised in a family of the annual Christmas card. I am not knocking that whole tradition. I admit I love to receive Christmas cards, especially when it has a personal picture. However, I hate that it is yet another year that we are sending out a picture in our childless glory.

I know I am being selfish and that I am dwelling in my anger a little too much. But honestly, who wants a picture of just Ryan and I?? We don't change much. I would much rather send a picture of our cats and Lacy.

Ryan loves to stay in touch with his friends and family. That is something that I adore about him. He likes to send out a 'personal card' rather than a store bought card. So we are going to send out yet another childless Christmas card picture. BAH HUM BUG!!

Do any of you send out personal picture's Christmas cards? Would you if you were/are childless?

Also, if you would like one of the famous Christmas cards send me your address! They are going to be sent out late, due to my dragging feet!

A big thanks to Brandon and Tawny for letting me practice on them. . .again! Here are a few of the pictures I took for their Christmas card.

I feel bad. . .it wasn't my best work. I was feeling really sick. . .I may have to make it up to them. I am going to be so happy when I am no longer feeling sick!

The Sonics Know Soccer!!

This last saturday I got to see Austin play his last soccer game of the season. It was a lot of fun to cheer him on and take a bunch of pictures. Here are a few. . . hope you enjoy!
This was a cute tunnel for the players to run through after the game!! So sweet that Grandma and Grandpa gave a little love tap!

Aubrey and Austin playing a little one one one!

Look at these cute fans!!
All these lovely ladies let me photograph them!! Such beautiful models!

Seasons

Thought many of you would enjoy this conversation I had with Ryan:

Me: I really wish California had more distinct season changes. It feels like Summer year around.

Ryan: California has seasons--Earthquake, Fire, Flood, and Riots.

True, true.

This last weekend was very scary. I am so glad that the fires are under control now and that everyone is relatively safe!! I am so sorry to all my friends and family who have lost their valuables in the fires, and for being put through the torment of not being able to get home.

It was so sad to have ash fall like snow out here for the last few days. You would look at the charred ground and ash pieces and think that use to be a part of someone's home. So sad!!

I wonder if it was a blessing in disguise that both the houses that we put offers on (that fell through) were part of the evacuated homes. I also wonder if that will lower the prices of homes even more. Hmmmm.

NEWSFLASH: The people voted. YOU LOST! Give it up!

As a disclaimer, this is Ryan’s post. My views on the Prop 8 issue are likely more passionate than Heather’s. She encouraged me to share with you what took place today; however, she is not reading this prior to me posting it.

I don’t do many blog posts and I try not to be very vocal about my political views with many outside my circle of friends, but I’m making an exception today. I will attempt to keep this fairly mild though.

I work for my father at Dickens Properties. In addition to corporate real estate brokerage we own and manage two self storage facilities in Long Beach and Los Angeles. Today we received three unprovoked attacks through our website from the “tolerant,” “stop the hate,” no on 8 protestors. Through the comments/feedback section of our website they sent the following messages. I have pasted them exactly how they were sent except that I have somewhat edited the profanity. Stop reading now if the profanity will upset you:

First Name: MY RIGHTS
Last Name:
Company Name:
Address Line 1:
Address Line 2:
City: HOLLYWOOD
State: CA
Zip Code:
Daytime Phone:
Fax:
E-mail Address:
Comments: F*** YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.. HOW CAN YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT.. A*****E..


First Name: Chris
Last Name: Kahn
Company Name:
Address Line 1: 23143 Napa Dr
Address Line 2:
City: Valencia
State: CA
Zip Code: 91354
Daytime Phone: 3109386049
Fax:
E-mail Address: Kahnchris@aol.com
Comments: Taking note of companies that support denying rights to other humans.


This was followed up moments later with another email that the virus protection software intercepted. “Trend Micro PC-cillin Internet Security detected and took action on a malicious email.” I have never received this message before and I can only imagine that it was a virus sent by one of these creeps.

Nice folks, huh? Does this sound like tolerance to you? Aren’t these people all about anti-hate? After all their angry public protests these people have only hurt their cause. If the people were to vote on this again today the margin of victory would be even bigger. Any sympathy that I felt for these people, which wasn’t much to begin with, is gone. The line has clearly been drawn in the sand.

I share this with you because we are being targeted for harassment and you could be next. Who knows how far they will go with this but we are being cautious. On a business level we never did anything to endorse Prop 8. Actually, we aren’t positive how we got on this list. Our best guess is that they are going through the list of individuals who donated money to the Yes on 8 campaign then do Google searches on those names. How many of you are on this same donor list? Just be careful. You could be the victim of a hate crime. Oh wait… that would only be the case if something happened to one of them. I keep forgetting that those laws only protect them.

The people have now voted TWICE in California and even this overwhelmingly liberal state doesn’t approve of gay wedding cake! We all have the exact same rights. There is no discrimination. We all have the right to marry a person of the opposite sex. Honestly though, I do fear that the country will eventually grow tired of this fight and they’ll give in, abandon society’s values and condone gay marriage. It becomes a very slippery slope. At that point as legal precedent will have been set that says if someone wants something, who are we to say that they can’t have it? With the same rationale that tolerates gay marriage, why not legalize polygamy? What will stop cousins from legally marrying? Better yet, why can’t a parent marry their 9-year old child? “After all, they are in love! We can’t stand in the way of people in love!” “It doesn’t hurt anyone.” These mobs need to grasp the concept that parents teach young children—just because you want something doesn’t give you the right to have it!

Bittersweet!!

I had a horrible weekend. . .and an equally horrible day. I HATE being sick!! :(

One of the many negative things that happen when I am sick is the beautiful nightmares!! Last night was a doozie!! I figured I would share it with all my blogging friends. . .lucky you, right?

I have been very upset with the current situation on Prop 8. I was having a difficult time with this proposition from the start. I have a lot of friends that live an alternate lifestyle (comes with working in the Cosmetic industry), and a few family members. So of course I want them to be happy. However, I was very concerned with the possible outcome that no on Prop 8 would have made on our state. When prop 8 passed it was very bittersweet.

My hope was that they would either go back to the drawing board and think of a compromise that everyone can agree on, or that they would feel peace that they tried their hardest (two failed Propositions) and move on.

I never dreamed that they would go on a full riot. And against the Mormons aka The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints. Hence my nightmare last night was all about this riot. I woke up quite disturbed and figured I would share my overall feelings on this issue.

I think a lot of you would appreciate reading a post done by my wise friend Brian that his equally wise father wrote:

The following facts might turn your head if you blame the Mormon church for the passage of Prop 8 in California:

1. Mormons make up about 2% of the population of California. There are approximately 800,000 Mormons out of a total population of approximately 34 million.

2. Mormon voters were less than 5% of the "yes" vote. If one estimates that 250,000 Mormons are registered voters (the rest being children). If every single Mormon voter in California votes yes, they made up approximately 4.4% of the Yes vote and 2.2% of the total Proposition 8 vote. PROP 8's MARGIN OF VICTORY WAS OVER 500,000 VOTES. IF EVERY MORMON VOTER HAD STAYED HOME FROM THE POLLS, PROP 8 STILL WOULD HAVE PASSED EASILY.

3. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) donated not one dime to the Yes on 8 campaign. Individual members of the Church were encouraged to support the Yes on 8 efforts and, exercising their constitutional right, donated whatever they felt like donating.

4. The No on 8 campaign raised more money than the Yes on 8 campaign. Unofficial estimates put No on 8 at $38 million and Yes on 8 at $32 million. The No campaign enjoyed a substantial money advantage.

5. African Americans in California overwhelmingly supported Yes on 8. Exit polls show that 70% of Black voters chose Yes on 8. Haven't read about any protests at the NAACP offices.

6. The majority of Latino voters voted Yes on 8. Exit polls show that the majority of Latinos supported Yes on 8. Are protesters headed to the MALDEF offices next?

7. The Yes on 8 coalition was a broad spectrum of religious organizations. Catholics, Evangelicals, Protestants, Orthodox Jews, Muslims – all supported Yes on 8. It is estimated that there are 10 million Catholics and 10 million Protestants in California. Mormons were a tiny fraction of the population represented by Yes on 8 coalition members. The Knights of Columbus were primary contributors to the Yes campaign. Are the protesters planning to send a delegation to the Vatican to let Pope know how they feel?

8. Not all Mormons voted in favor of Proposition 8. Our faith accords that each person be allowed to choose for him or her self. Church leaders have repeatedly asked members to treat others with "civility, respect and love," despite their differing views.

9. The Mormon church is under no obligation to refrain from participating in the political process to the extent permitted by law. U.S. election law is very clear that Churches may not endorse candidates, but may support issues. The Church has always been very careful on this matter and occasionally (not often) chooses to support causes that it judges to be moral issues.

10. Supporters of Proposition 8 did exactly what the Constitution provides for all citizens: they exercised their First Amendment rights to speak out on an issue that concerned them, make contributions to a cause that they support, and then vote in the regular electoral process. For the most part, this seems to have been done in an open, fair, and civil way.

Opponents of 8 have accused supporters of being bigots, liars, and worse.The fact is, we simply did what Americans do – we spoke up, we campaigned, and we voted.

This is a witness account of the happening of this day. I think this picture makes me feel worse!

Witness describes scene at the LA Temple:
I was at the Los Angeles Temple assisting in the security efforts and it was quite an experience. Our temple is safe and no damage was done on the grounds. It was a sight I never expected to see.

At one point we had let in about 20 police vehicles through the gates, because they were afraid their vehicles would be damaged as civilian cars were being vandalized. . .

Two full squads of LAPD in riot gear set up their base inside the temple grounds while SWAT vehicles and hundreds of officers followed the crowds up Santa Monica and Wilshire Boulevards. I’ve heard that the crowd was estimated to be over 2,500. When I arrived, all of the gates were shut and a small group of members had to remain outside the grounds as the direction was to turn away others who had come to assist.

After about a half an hour two sister missionaries ran up the drive to the East gate. I would have made more jokes with them, asking them trivia questions to prove they were LDS before opening the gate, but they were obviously nervous and had left on their name tags as they wandered the streets. When the crowd turned back towards the temple from West Hollywood, we opened the gate to those members still outside so they would not be trapped in the crowd.

The officers inside the temple grounds made a line on the front lawn by the fence. At one point, with 7 news and police helicopters overhead, the crowd began to climb the fence and it looked like there was going to be a lot of trouble. We had, it seemed, a good fourth of a Polynesian ward there, so it could have gotten very interesting very fast.

With lines of motorcycle cops with sirens wailing up and down the street with the latest outbreak, helicopters continually circling with spotlights cutting through the sky, and the crowd roaring being led my megaphones shouting every synonym they could think of that went along with “evil”… it almost seemed like the very end was at hand. My dad called me every few minutes to give me updates from live news through the Internet because we did not have TVs and the police did not even seem to be informed on the movement of the crowd up and down the streets. I relayed these updates directly to the head of temple security so we could anticipate when to be ready.

My friend and I joked about what would happen if we were caught in the middle of the crowd rushing up the lawn. We decided that because we were still single without much luck in finding wives, it might be to our advantage to go without a fight, and die as a martyrs. If I remember correctly, that’s a free ticket to the Celestial Kingdom, and I’m sure there’s plenty of girls there to chose from without the dramas of dating. [Note to non-Mormons: This is a humorous reference to an Islamic teaching for which there is no Mormon equivalent.]

While I was there, I was not aware of anyone actually breaching the fence, but we were asked to move far across the parking lot, as they were anticipating the need to shoot tear gas canisters.

I never thought I would see the day when police officers would sit perched on the spire of our temple as lookouts. All of this happened at about 7:30 pm. . . .

Against this backdrop, in defending Prop 22 (Prop 8’s statutory twin) California’s Attorney General argued before the California Supreme Court
that California’s current domestic partnership legislation affords same sex couples all of the core substantive rights that plausibly may be guaranteed to an individual or couple as elements of the fundamental state constitutional right to marry . . .

In other words, despite Prop 8 or 22, gay partners already enjoyed all of the substantive rights of normal couples. Thus, the No on 8 agenda had (and has) nothing to do with substantive rights of gays. What they want is to take away the rights of others to freely and publicly state the moral, societal and economic inferiority of homosexuality. They seek to impose moral equivalency between homosexuality and normal, husband-wife relations through the law. I think this is called “legislating morality.”

To read more go to this website

This bothers me. When I think of temple workers I think of my Grandparents, my Mother, Sweet Helpers, and my Friends. Same as the Patrons who visit there. I feel violated and sick that they had to be put through this.

I wonder what they are trying to prove or get out of their actions. Do they really think that if they riot that everyone will want to take back their vote? I think that this is causing the absolute opposite reaction for all the community.

I am also very upset with how some have treated others throughout this whole ordeal. Vandalizing, Stealing, Name Calling, and NOW Riots. I understand being passionate about something. . .but must you lose the act of being civil??

Again, I am sorry that it had to end up like this. I really hope that something can change for both parties involved.

Free 8x10 photo through November 8

Walgreens Photo offers a FREE 8x10 photo print. When ordering online use code FREEPIC (code good through Nov 8), and pick up at your local Walgreen's store.

Click here for the link to the site.

MEEEECHELLE!!! The Birthday GIRRRRL!!

Meeechelle, my belle

these are words that go together well,

My Meeeeechelle!!

nope that's the wrong song. . .maybe,

I get knocked down,

but I get up again, ain't never going to get me down. ..

hmmmm. . .maybe this one. . .

You are my cuppie cake, Sugar lump. . .

or better yet. . .

Dancing queen,

Feel the beat of the tambourine. . .OH YEAH!!

You can dance

You can sing

Having the time of your life!!

But I think this song fits more perfectly with today. . .

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday dear Michelle

Happy Birthday to you! A big happy birthday to Michelle!! Since she was gentle with me on my birthday I figure I will share the same courtesy and not put any pictures up here to upset the birthday girl! :) Words can't even begin to describe this wonderful lady. . .I tried to find a poem, song, or a quote to refer to about her. . .but they all didn't come close to how great she is.

So instead I will turn this into a brag session. . .

I am bragging because I have such a great friend/sister in Michelle. She has been a great example to me with everything in my life. I will never even come close to her greatness, but she never complains when I ask her for advice or try to clone her. . .and who wouldn't want to clone her and her great style! :)

Some of my best memories are with Michelle. She is one of the few people I can truly be goofy with!! I always have a blast with her. .. she cracks me up!

Remember that?? YOU are the Dancing Queen!!

She is such a great sport!! And she can totally kick butt on the Whack-a-Mole. . .even if it does mean that she will make young kids cry. . .j/k heeheehee!!

I am so lucky to have her as a part of my life. Not only is she my secret keeper, but she is my support system. She is loyal, thoughtful, caring, and the best life 'cheerleader'!! I love that I feel so safe with her and she always has my back. . .as I do with her!! She is the best mother, sister, friend, wife, and person. I am so sad that we no longer live in the same state. I miss her and her sweet little family. I hope she knows how dear she is to me and how much I love her!

Like I said, words don't even come close to how great she is!! She deserves the best birthday ever. . .and I hope that this next year will be one of her best! She deserves all the happiness in the world!!

Happy Birthday Michelle!! All my love and hugs sent to you!!

Lovely Laney Little Lady!!

I had so much fun taking pictures of Lovely Laney Little Lady!! A big thank you to Tawny for letting me come over and transform her living room into a photo shoot!! An even bigger thank you to this sweet angel for being such a great model!! Tawny, I will have a CD ready for you in the next couple of days. . .I figured you would like to see a few of them now. Thanks again!! Can you believe that sweet little smile??!! I imagine she is dreaming some sweeeeeet dreams! Don't you love that soft baby hair?? She is just as cute in person!! Why can't I look that great when I am asleep?? A baby girl in pink. . .can it get any more precious??I just love/ADORE these baby blues!! That Halloween costume was so stinkin' cute! Another smiling sleeping picture. . .too CUTE!! She wasn't very happy. .. but even when she is upset she is too cute for words!! (Michelle, do you recognize the flowers?)

Again, I apologize for all the many pictures. . .I may need to get another blog just for the photos from now on!! :) Still looking for more people to take pictures of, if anyone is interested! :)

GO Wildcats!!

That's right. . .Ryan is back on the ice playing hockey again!! His new team is called the Wildcats and he has already proven to be a huge asset to the team!! He scored a goal and as Trisha said. . .he kicked his own trash!! :) It was a lot of fun watching him get back out there and play hard!! Well, all except for the fact that I was constantly worried that he was going to get hurt. . .or in a fight! A big thanks to his teammate Eric for getting him back out on the ice again!! And to this little cutie, for sitting up in the stands and being the sweetest little cheerleader!!

Fall Fun!

Ryan being the awesome, cool, fantastic, studly, wonderful husband that he is... took me to see this for the THIRD time!! It was so fun to see it again!! Especially since it is a perfect play to see for the holloween season! He (this awesome, studly... you get the point) also took me to this great little town in the mountain. We got to see some beautiful fall colors (yes they do exist in California)!! I got to be around farm animals!! LOVE IT!! We got to pick apples!! I don't think I fancy it for a career. . .but it was so much fun! We then got to make our own apple cider with fresh picked apples. . .SO YUMMY!! Ryan being the big helper with making the apple cider. IT IS SO YUMMY!! We may have to go back up there and restock! :)

Again, a huge big THANK YOU to my darling apple pickin' husband for taking me to do all these fun things. He really knows how to show a girl a good time! :)

Also, thank you to Tawny and Brandon for sharing this Fall Fun Town with us! I think I like the idea of making it a tradition! Thanks again ya'll!! (I think I'm getting a little bit country on ya'll)

Finally Fall!!

I bet you all were wondering when I was going to change up my background!! I hope none of you were holding your breath! :)

I couldn't help myself. . .after creating this sweethearts blog background I got the itch to do my own.

Happy Fall to everyone!!

Show and Tell!!

Here are a few more pictures of Peyton and her family.

**Trisha, I figured you could copy some of these for the time being until I get you your CD. It was so hard to pick which ones to put up here. . .I think I put a lot on here. Sorry!!

Tons of photos. . .sorry!!