Oh, Tallahassee!

The latest post on Design Sponge makes me nostalgic for my hometown of Tallahassee, Florida. I miss so many things about my childhood and where I lived until I was 17-years-old, so I was very excited to see that the d*s city guide series has come out with a great Tallahassee, Florida guide and I absolutely love the guide cover with the capitol buildings. I would love to frame it!

The d*s city guide series also has a great guide to Cincinnati, Ohio, where Michael and I lived for 5 years, as well as great destinations such as Savannah, Georgia, Paris France, and Dublin, Ireland. Just go to http://www.designspongeonline.com/ and check the city guides on the left-hand side.

I think it's high time I travel back to my hometown of Tallahassee, Florida. I really miss where I grew up.

Toy Story 3

Pixar is not only amazing for the sheer volume of quality movies it puts out (The Incredibles and Toy Story are my favorites) but also for how creative they are in "re-introducing" to the general public a particular toy from the 80's that never even existed only for the sake of Toy Story 3's release. This is great and it really reminds me of how fun the toys were back in the decade of which I grew up. Enjoy the Commercial and all its 80's glory and get yourself prepared for Disney Pixar's Toy Story 3.

It's show time...

One perk of living in Los Angeles is having the ability to be part of the show taping process and being within a few miles of all the major tv broadcasting channels such as NBC, FOX, CBS, ABC, you name it, I've had some really fun experiences. Tickets are actually pretty easy to come by if you want to sit through a taping of Doctor Phil or Disney's Sonny with a Chance, but neither of these interest me. I'm still waiting for my tickets to the Ellen Degeneres show and American Idol, which have huge wait lists for both! Think at least 9 month!!

So you can see how excited I was to find out last minute that I got tickets to "Dancing with the Stars for tonight's results show! I can't wait. Unfortunately, no one who lives around me in LA can make it, only *those who live in other cities wish they could be here. So, this means that I will be attending a taping of DWTS all by my lonesome. Luckily I found out that the LA library branch just a couple of blocks away from where the tv studio is (and did I mention a couple of blocks from where I work) happens to finally have the novel **CATCHING FIRE in for me to pick up. So, at least I have a great book to read while standing in line by myself.

So, keep an eye out for me on the results show tonight of DWTS. I'm giddy about seeing my BF Evan Lysacek... and I'm intrigued to see exactly what the bachelor, Jake Pavelka, saw in Vienna... Blah!

And a side note. You'll have to look for me as well on the episode of America's Got Talent in June when they came to Los Angeles. I actually went to the show taping back in the beginning of March but they don't premiere the show until June. THAT was a really fun show to attend and I can't wait to get some more show tickets in the future for some more amazing shows. :)

*I'm thinking of Dee Ann, Kimberly, Heather and of course you Grandma!!

** CATCHING FIRE is the sequel to the amazing novel THE HUNGER GAMES. If you haven't read it yet you're missing out!! It's truly a wonderful book.

A few of my favorite things...

These are a few of my favorite things:

Santa Monica Beach on a beautiful sunny day. Last Thursday happened to be one of them. Perfection.

Trader Joe's Orange Chicken. Yum.

Watching Evan Lysacek on Dancing with the Stars. Because watching him win gold in the Olympics wasn't enough. :)

Instant Motivation

I love this calendar and can't wait to make one for myself! Isn't it great?! It instantly motivates me to become more crafty.

Here a few great websites that I love right now.

http://jenduncan.typepad.com/

http://www.modabakeshop.com/

EARTHQUAKE!!!

I felt my first Earthquake today! Michael and I were watching some television when I felt like the futon was rocking and asked him if he was shaking his foot or rocking the bed and he very calmly replied, "no, that's an earthquake." To which I promptly freaked out! I've never felt an earthquake before and it was definitely a strange experience.

After noticing that the futon rocking I noticed that the vertical blinds were moving back and forth and I got the strange sensation that I was on a boat rocking back and forth. I've always heard that to those experiencing an earthquake it feels like it lasts for minutes when it is only a few seconds and it really did feel as though it was lasting quite some time, even though it was only about 20-30 seconds. Nonetheless, it was strange and left me a feeling a little disoriented and actually a little bit nauseated.

Apparently, it was caused by a 7.2 magnitude quake that hit Mexico some 200 miles away and we felt the rolling of the quake but not the jerky, shaking motions that others closer to the fault line felt. This definitely makes me want to go tomorrow and stock up on a few 72-hour kits for the future.

I'm in love with stop motion videos right now. Here are a couple of my favorites. I hope you enjoy!

Earth Hour 2010

The countdown is on for Earth Hour 2010. Please join me in the efforts of preserving our beautiful world by participating in this hour long event and making a statement by turning off your lights and other plugged -in electronics on Saturday, March 27 at 8:30 PM local time.

Visit the website for more information at MyEarthHour.org to learn all about the efforts being made to spread the word. This started out as a small hour long event in Sydney, Australia and has become something worldwide in only 3 short years and that is truly Amazing!

Last year consisted of me reading a book by candlelight (which was actually very nice) and I may have a repeat of that again this year... or maybe a candlelit dinner with the husband. :)

SAVE THE PEAK!

There's nothing I love more than classic americana. It makes me heartsick when I see a rusted and abandoned Drive-In movie screen or a 1950's gas station with boarded up windows

, so when I found out that the mountain peak next to the Hollywood sign is in danger of being developed into "prime real estate apartment complexes" it made me feel sick. If you are interested in learning about the SAVE THE PEAK FOUNDATION, than you need to read all about the efforts being taken to buy the peak and preserve a piece of classic americana from property owners in Chicago. Yes, Chicago! So, read all about the Foundation and donate if you can!

I love seeing the Hollywood sign every time I drive into Hollywood for work and would hate to see it spoiled by giant apartment buildings.

Ode to Design Sponge

I love the Design Sponge Online website and all that it has to offer. I can't get enough of the recipes, DIY projects and such. I have been so inspired! (I seriously could lose a few hours a day on there, and practically feel no remorse.)

I've started a new section of my blog to the right where I highlight a great craft found on the internet, many with tutorials, and I've decided to post those that I either am working on that week or just love and hope to work on the in future. This week I've posted the tutorial on a Hidden Jewelry Case.

I'm not sure when I am going to get to this next project but I hope to soon! I just wanted to share it will all of you because it is so creative and pretty, not to mention smart and in my case will clear the jewelry clutter and confine it to a nice place. I've also thought about mounting a small mirror to the back of the painting/picture as well.

Enjoy, and don't forget to take a look through the Design Sponge Online website. You won't regret it, I promise!!

The future of Pizza boxes -

I want to know why we haven't been using these before now. Not that I eat a whole lot of delivery pizza, but nonetheless...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQBjJjpkjl0&feature=fvst

Happy Anniversary!!

For the past 6 years I have been married to the most amazing man.

Here's to another 66 (at least)!

Happy Anniversary, Michael.