Flashback Friday

This weekend I am heading to the lake to float, be with friends and just enjoy life (I guess besides floating that is pretty much what I do on a daily basis). I can't wait to get there, it is so beautiful and I will be seeing my friends from SCO/Memphis that I have not seen since the beginning of summer.

Greer's Ferry Lake is amazing, warm, CLEAR & sunny. It is never a bad day at the lake that is for sure.

This is Kendra, me & Nikki (she won't make it this year)

Me & Megan

Me & Megan again - this is my favorite picture of us :)

Megan's birthday is this weekend too, so I can't wait to celebrate that with ice cream pie, it is so yummy!

Let the best time of year begin!

Fall is definitely my favorite time of year for many reasons but the top one would have to be the start of Kansas State Football!

GO CATS!!!!

Thanks a million times over!

A huge THANK YOU to Tami & Carl for opening their home to me over the past 4 months. I can't believe how fast it went. I had the most amazing time and will never forget the generosity you have shown me. Luckily I have to go back to school b/c if I didn't it would have been even harder to get me out of there :) I can not thank you enough, seriously!

The day before I left we had a block party, just like a normal weekend on 2nd Street. It was a going away party for me and a birthday party for Zim. I fell in love with the Hermosa Beach community & with the 2nd street neighbors. They are some of the most genuine & loving people you will meet! I miss you all very much already & can't wait to see you next.

Me & Tami drinking some yummy wine

Me, my dad Joe & Tami

Tiffany, Lindsay & Dave (aka Frasier)

Me, birthday boy Zim & Tiffany

Me & Sophia

2nd Street girls - me, Emma, Kate, Kelly, Tam & Suzie

Last beach visit

Last Friday my dad, Tami & I spent the afternoon at the beach. It was another beautiful day... And yes I sure do miss it already! What could be better, sunny skies, warm water, cold beer and family?! I can't believe how fast my time out in CA went but I am very glad I have great pictures to look back at.

Back in Kansas

My dad flew out to Hermosa Beach on Thursday so he could drive back with me Sunday. We had planned on staying half-way but decided to be crazy and keep driving, and we did! We left Hermosa at 9:00 PT and rolled into the driveway in Winfield at 9:00 CT, so 22 hours of driving.

We stopped for my final In-N-Out Burger for a while :( It was delicious and worth every calorie.

And of course before I left the South Bay area I had to go to the Wine & Cheese Market one last time. This time my dad came with and I do believe it was a hit.

Flashback Friday: California Edition

Here are a few pictures from my California vacation, I mean school experience :) It has been an amazing trip and I am very fortunate to have been able to do it, thanks to Tami & Carl for letting me crash at their place for 4 months! It has gone by so fast I can hardly believe it. My dad flew in yesterday and we will be hitting the road heading East on Sunday and will make it back to the Land of Oz on Monday.

Dave Matthews Band Night

Last night I was fortunate enough to get to go to a DMB concert at Staples Center AND to make it even better we had great seats, Section 119, Row 2. Basically we were nearly eye level about 30 yards back if that. I went with Kevin, a guy I met thru Tami & Carl out here who really treats me well. We went to J's Lounge for drinks & dinner before hand. I had amazing margaritas, pizza & tuna tartar.

After dinner we had a leisurely walk to the concert. Dave started to play around 8:30 and didn't stop for 3 hours! I was not able to take my camera nor did I even take my phone so I have no pictures to share, they are in my head. It was very heart warming when DMB first came out b/c the crowd was shouting "Roi, Roi, Roi" in honor of the band member that passed away on Tuesday. You can check out my neighbor's blog for pictures from the night before, looks like his seats were just on the other side of the arena.

It was a great last night out in the big city before my trip back to KS. My dad gets here today in a few hours. Gotta run so I am not late picking him up!

New hair again!

Last weekend Christine cut my hair and put even more highlights in it. Who knew I would come to California long hair & brunette and leave very short with a ton of golden highlights?! I love it for sure. The only problem is Christine is not moving to Memphis with me, what am I going to do? I am sure I will figure something out. Thanks again Christine for an awesome style.

Night with the office

Last night was my farewell party with the office, even though I am working today. We went to have happy hour drinks and appetizers at Palomino's here in Westwood. Such a great place to go after work, I wish I had known about it earlier! I wanted to share some pictures of everyone that I have had the pleasure of getting to know and working with over the summer.

This is Ara (optician), Annie (front desk & contact lens guru) and Edward (optician)

Here is Dr. Vogel, me & his wife Sissy who dots the i's and crosses the t's for the office

Sissy again, Christine (office manager & stylist extraordinaire), Helene (optician) & Ara again.

WordFULL Wednesday

It seems like forever since my last post. As many of you know I have been having some troubles with my allergies, I think it is due to that darn bee sting last week. Anyhow, I feel as if my blog has been neglected and I am sorry for disappointing any of the avid readers :) I would like to ask those who visit to leave a comment on any of the following:

• How do you know me?
• How did you discover my blog?
• What do you enjoy about my blog?
• What would you like to see next on my blog?

I would like to get as many comments as possible so please fill it up! I hope everyone is having a great week. I can not believe it but my time here in California is almost to a close. I have had the most amazing time living out here, enjoying the weather and all the people I have met and even those I knew before coming out ;)

Life Lessons Revised

Through life we are taught from right and wrong along with little life lessons that should make life easier or more enjoyable. Here are a few that come to mind:

• Say please & thank you
• Don't touch a hot stove
• Look both ways before crossing the street
• Always put on clean underwear
• Don't chomp your gum
• See your dentist twice a year
• See your doctor once a year
• See your Optometrist once a year
• Return phone calls
• If you don't have anything nice to say don't say it at all
• Don't chew with your mouth open
• If ever asked, "does this make me look fat?" you should respond without hesitation "No."
• Clean up after yourself

And yesterday while I was laying in the backyard I was reminded of another one

• Wear sunscreen

But I also came up with a new one

• Don't forget to flip or at least move or remove your bikini straps when appropriate...

Speechless and stir crazy

Tuesday at work I was just not myself. I had some crazy dreams that night and I think that prevented me from having a really good nights sleep. But I wasn't feeling myself either... Dr. V sent me home at lunch and good thing I guess, when I woke up Wednesday I had pretty much lost my voice completely so I stayed home from work. It is Thursday now and I don't have to go in until 2 and hopefully I will get to go in today b/c I am going stir crazy here in the house! I need to get around others and get my brain to working again.

Quote

This is a quote from my friend Lauren.

"You've got to stop wearing your wishbone where your backbone ought to be."

On second thought...

As luck should have it, hopefully it has nothing to do with karma, shortly after my posting of my favorite things I was outside lounging on my stomach and I felt what I thought was a fly on the back of my inner leg near my gluteus maximus . I went to swat it and felt something very unpleasant... It turned out to be a bee!!! I was in shock at first and then started to wince & scream through the house looking for Tami to save me! Boomer, being the good dog, tried to help too but only got in the way. After Carl called her into the other room Tami successfully got the stinger out with tweezers in a very awkward place, but hey we are family.

I laughed afterwards what would have happened if only Carl would have been at the house and Tami replied, "he would have gotten it out." And I laughed as said "yeah I would not have cared at that point."

I have never been stung by a bee or anything for that matter. I am happy to report that I am not allergic & it is not even sore. For sure it was not a pleasant experience but one for the books (or blog).

Favorite Things

Thought I would share with you some of my favorite things, these include object & places but not people b/c I could not even begin to list those. These are listed in no particular order.

1. Hermosa Beach

2. Jewelry - I got this necklace this summer and I love it, white gold & 1/2 carat of diamonds.

3. SHOES! Anyone who knows me knows that I love shoes. The top picture is of my newest pair of running shoes & the bottom picture is of my favorite dress shoes (so sassy), they make going into work not feel like work!
4. Lounging the the yard
5. Sunglasses, not only a fashion accessory but a medical necessity to protect those precious eyes & prevent wrinkles!
6. My iPod. Not sure how I would have gotten thru long study sessions without it and recently thru long runs.

Happy Birthday Ashley!

Today is my sister's birthday. Ashley turn the ripe ol' age of 19. Enjoy the last teenage year girl! Have a great day and I will be thinking about you. Love you!