she's thrifty

i've got a thing for yellow. this $4.99 metal trunk said, "heeeeeey girl!" when i walked by. it's permanently locked shut but oh well. a table doesn't need to open.




$1.00... yeah it needs some cleaning but i'm LOVIN the yellow quilted interior and original baggage tags from long beach. radness.

the 20 year old guerrilla garden

old growth

the man with a plan...scott

scott has been working this plot light years before guerrilla gardening was GUERRILLA GARDENING. he's been talking about the need to do some work here to clear out the weeds, re-plant as well as give a home to the many cuttings he propagates in his backyard. yesterday was the day.

it really blows my mind every time i show up to one of these events, the dedication scott has to the cause. the time and money it takes to grow the plants, the work to load and unload his truck with tools, trash bags and the stars of the show-the succulents and cacti, then the work to put them in the ground. all of this without a single dollar from the city and very little recognition. it's only been the last couple of years he's started to get help with his johnny appleseed efforts. what a legacy he's leaving behind!

i seriously applaud his great efforts as well as the volunteers that show up to these digs to make a change in our local community. i'm sore today from 3 hours of digging but it feels so good and i wouldn't want to feel any other way.

check out this old growth garden for yourself on Loynes Ave between PCH and Bixby Village Dr. in long beach as well his website for more eye candy. you'll be amazed.

ps......

i ♥ the desert

ace is the place

we really enjoyed ourselves this past weekend @ the ace in palm springs. maybe we were lighter than normal due to the big event that just took place, but whatever it was, it was good. we're even considering this location for our wedding. it's just got that cool desert vibe we both enjoy so much.


j&n party time here?????










my dream ride


breakfast of champions @ the amigo room






this is where the cabana boy lives


on-site ice cream truck


my other dream whip

ta-da!

our trip to palm springs turned out to be oh so much more....we got engaged! after a hike around San Jacinto mountain, we climbed on top of a HUGE fell tree to eat our picnic lunch. a steller jay started to hover over us. i thought it was going to swoop and attack. instead, it landed on a branch about 2ft. away from me and stared. we were tripping out that it was so brazen. i was thinking we must have been too close to it's nest. the bf took it as a sign to make his move. while i was in a steller jay trance dance, he pulled out the ring and popped the question. and well, the rest is history.

i feel so lucky to have found this gem and i know we've got a long, fun-filled life ahead of us.

go lakers!

even though i'm a lakers fan, i can still appreciate this photo taken by my boss last night at the game. coach gentry hooked the owners of sambazon up with tickets and then they hooked him up with this sweet sweet trucker cap. ha!
:::purple&gold:::

stolen moments

i've got carrots blowing out of my fridge. i've made muffins with them, i've used them in savory dishes but am starting to draw a blank. (csa basket) so when i ran across roasted carrot salad from lovely morning blog, i had an ah ha moment. i made it almost the same except i changed a few things. i omitted the fennel and used only one bunch of carrots (but i wish i used more since they were so damn tasty!) i also mixed this combo up with some organic, red quinoa. cool the quinoa and carrots to room temp before you mix it all together and serve. SOOO delicious. i will make this one again for sure.

and for dessert from another blog i enjoy, pete bakes!, i found cookies i couldn't resist making. not only do i have carrots galore but also meyer lemons...i'm not complaining...from my neighbor with a tree. i thought the zest would be marviloso and i was right!



(cookie photos ala pete bakes!)
try his rosemary lemon cookies HERE

down by the seaside

i'm at sfo international airport right now waiting for my plane back to long beach. i just spent the last three days with my dad on his new boat in sausalito. the ocean is this guy's element. i can relate. after his stroke he had to reevaluate a lot in his life. he no longer was able to practice law, the love of his life. this is a guy that planned to work until the day he died. sailing and flying airplanes were two hobbies he's had as long as i've been alive. once again flying was no longer an option post stroke so sailing has stepped into first place.

these past three days have been both peaceful and extremely stressful. watching a guy with balance issues getting on and off a moving boat is nerve wracking. i saw him almost fall a couple times inside the boat and i wanted to lecture him on what the hell he was doing here. does he have a death wish?! no, he has a passion.

he kept saying to me over and over these past few days, "isn't this the life?!" it is....if you don't think about it too hard. i'm scared to death he's going to fall off the boat and drown or crack his head inside the cabin while no one knows but i have to remind myself that he is happy here and more content than ever.

i admire his ability to make new friends where ever he goes and make the most of a situation. he's an adventurer, even in his weakened state. i get frustrated and he pushes on, smile on his face and wind in his white hair. many times this week i've had to go to my happy place so i didn't become the safety police.

i'm so glad he enjoys where he is right now. it's taken awhile for him to find his new spot in life. and life on the sausalito bay ain't half bad.