Whoo hoo!

Steve surprised me with tickets to see Jack Johnson tonight at the Irvine Verizon Amphitheater! My brother and I took my mom to see him in San Diego for Mother's Day a few years ago and he was great. I love his music and he's such a handsome fella!

Happy Sweet Sixteen Kelly

Today is my little sister's birthday. She is 16 years old! Wow, time flies. I remember the day she was born. I was so excited to have a new baby in our home. We are ten years apart so she was my real life baby doll. I would dress her, change her, comb her hair, and rock her to sleep.

Now she is a junior in high school and will be driving before you know it. Then it's off to college. I am so proud of her and all her accomplishments. She is intelligent, witty, beautiful, caring, and the BESTEST sister ever! I wish I could be there to bake you a dozen birthday cupcakes, but here is a picture of what they would look like---well sort of.
HAPPY 16th BIRTHDAY KELLY!!!

Goodbye Cedar Glen

It's official we are moving! We signed a lease in Irvine and will be moving this weekend. For those who were unable to visit us in Lake Forest, I have posted pictures of our first place.

I will miss watching tv on the old "big screen".

(Not shown but the condo came furnished with a massive tv)

I will miss cooking in the open kitchen.

I will miss our large closet. Actually Steve will. He has more clothes and shoes than I do.

I will miss the gerber daisies and the smell of rosemary in the "backyard".

I will miss the small Smurf bathroom.

I will miss hitting the snooze button over and over again in our bedroom.

I will miss our pool view.

The condo was partially furnished so I am excited to move into our new place and start fresh. Time to break out my interior decorating skills. Suggestions and ideas, anyone?

Fall Finds

Because I have way too much time on my hands.

My Husband

We have been married 56 days, but who's counting, right? These past few months Steve has been my Mr. Wonderful. He has been putting in long hours at the office and his hard work is definitely paying off. He loves what he does and his co-workers love him. They call him Scuba and Snorkels in the office.

Not only does he work full days, but when he gets home he actually likes to make dinner. No joke. Well he likes to grill. He says it helps him relax. So while he's in the backyard grilling, I am in the kitchen trying to re-create Joan's chocolate chip cookies. Not quite there yet. Did I mention we have started going to the gym again? Three times a week (I knew about the Freshman 15, but no one ever told me about the Newlywed 25).

With me not working and us planning to move next week, Steve has been a gem. He has been a supportive, loving and caring husband. And for that I thank him.

Day Trip

Today Steve and I took a drive down to San Clemente. We strolled along Avenida Del Mar, checked out the boutiques and walked along the pier. It turned out to be another beautiful day, 77 degrees with a slight ocean breeze. Our trip ended with lunch at El Ranchito, yum!

San Clemente Pier

Fisherman's Restaurant

Stevo Downtown

Dip in the Pacific

Aloha!

My junior and senior year of college I worked for a hedge fund company in Irvine, Pacific Alternative Asset Management Company (PAAMCO). Yeah, try answering the phone every ten minutes saying that! Well every year PAAMCO celebrates "another year of success" with an end of summer celebration. Even though I haven't worked there in over four years I still get invited to the festivities. I am considered PAAMCO Alumni. When I started working there the office consisted of 12 employees, they now have over 100 employees with offices in London and Singapore. And did I mention that two of the founders are intelligent, beautiful and savvy businesswomen.

We look forward to the PAAMCO party every year because several of my college friends worked for the company and some still do. My brother had an internship in the finance department one summer during college too. I guess you could say it's a little like a family reunion.

This year instead of the usual harbor cruise in Newport Bay, they mixed things up and had a LUAU at the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach. Fun!Fun!Fun! My best friend Eileen, works for PAAMCO and was in charge of coordinating the entire affair. She did an excellent job! When we arrived we were greeted with leis, entertained by Polynesian dancers, danced to a live band and ate fantastic seafood. Steve went back for seconds!

The outdoor luau setup with the sun setting in the background. What you can't see is the harbor and beach to the left. It was beautiful.

The talented Polynesian dancers shakin their skirts. They picked people from the audience for a FREE hula lesson.

The table centerpieces were gorgeous. Behind the birds of paradise are mini palm trees.

The hubby and I. We were one of five newlywed couples there. All in all a great Hawaiian night!

Who finds a faithful friend, finds a treasure

I met my BFF, Eileen Boyte ten years ago. She was my roomie for seven years, my co-worker for two years and my long distance friend for one year. I have shared countless late nights and early mornings with this girl-driving, sitting on the beach and over the phone, discussing everything from politics and religion to relationships and family. We've driven to Grass Valley, the Grand Canyon, Ensenada, Las Vegas, and Havasu (just to name a few).

Every adventure I have shared with her, I have grown and learned more about life. Whenever I am in a funk, I know that I can turn to her for advice, support or inspiration. Eileen is a friend who even though has a full time job, is going to school to get her masters, is a mom to her precious pooch Gidget, is in a long distance relationship and has a social work internship, STILL has the time to throw a farewell party, fly to Plano to help a girl pack, plan a wedding and drive to a reception with an overheated car. She is my Martha, my Jessica, my C.C. Bloom.

I want to thank her for being a true friend. I appreciate all the moments we have shared and the lifelong memories we will continue to make.