My Short Hairs... what to do?!

We attended our first wedding as a married couple on Sunday. It was so nice to sit back and enjoy the beauty, not have to talk to anyone, not think about the bar tab, not have to run anything. Weddings are fabulous. Lots and lots of pictures to come.

But here's the thing. I chopped off all my hair. How to formalize it without looking like my Mom?

As it was 5:05 when I decided to throw some curlers in it and Chris was yelling "They're walking down the aisle in 25 minutes!" I didn't have time on my side. Rollers in. Rollers out. Fingers through. Tease here. Tease there. Run out the door.




Not too shabby, eh? Felt very Marilyn Monroe. Big & poufy. Wonder if I could make it work less formally?

Big Bear, Round 3

It's always sad to go back to reality. But the cabin bed was weird. Real weird. Like I froze from the waist up and sweated to death from the waist down. Never slept well. Chris had nightmares. All around no good. And the house creaked. I slept through that, but it bothered Chris. Man in charge and whatnot.

We drove around the lake and hit the teeny town of Fawnskin, population 380, no 381, no 382. Love that.

We stopped for some coffee/tea at the Gold Pan then walked the town. And by town, I mean we walked next door to the antiques market and then back to the car. Cute little place.



Love .Love.Love this little mixer. Considered making a purchase, but then realized I don't cook enough for my one mixer, what would I do with two?


Chris was enthralled with the old Ford. His new thing is buying/fixing/driving a pick up truck. Mr. Itty Bitty Sportscar wants to drive a monster truck. Or this.



I particularly enjoyed the tail gate.


The enormous bear guards the post office. I had a version of this guy growing up. Was three times my size when I got him. Think I still have him somewhere...
An uneventful rest of the trip. No reading as to avoid the motion sickness that would more than likely ensue.

An all around fantastic trip. One we will definitely head out on again.

Big Bear, Round 2

I learned how to ski in Utah. My dad was transferred there from New York when I was 10 and I spent a few weeks every winter learning the sport in some of the best snow in the states. It's beautiful there. So when I considered going skiing in California I knew it was going to be ridiculous crazy talk. But I was impressed with Mammoth two years ago. Much more than I thought I would be. But Big Bear, that's the real crazy talk. No? Again, foot-in-mouth. 'Twas quite nice.



I am am skiing purist. I love the sound of my ski slicing through the powder. Cringe at the sound of ski on ice. Reminds me of a head on collision. So when Chris suggested that I bring my iPhone headphones and listen to music as I tore down the slope I pishpished him. You're out in nature. Trees. Light. Snow. Beauty. and you want to bring technology!? boo.

But I did. And I loved it. I refrained for the first few runs and then decided to give it a try. Chris liked it. Maybe I would like it. And Jack Johnson, solo with a guitar, crooning just for me, while I sliced over the mountain.... heaven. Pure heaven.

I would really like to put together a ski outfit. I pulled it together for this little outing. Mostly because I only had to wear a few pieces to be comfy & cozy. The bibs were my Mom's from her Ski Bee days in Charlotte. Her post-divorce shananigans when the kids were away. She lived it up on the slopes. Every time I go skiing I think I should upgrade. I'm too old for an overall-esque jumpsuit thingie. But who wants to spend $100 on a pair of pants that I might get to wear every two years?!



I beat Chris this year in the fewest disaster area crashes. He had two. Zip for moi. One he will blame on an old lady. The other on the powder.


We skied through nightfall. A half day ticked (12-6:30) was absolute perfection and free for the birthday girl! We seriously considered some night skiing, but with the sun went the warmth. And I get cranky when I'm cold. No bueno. Our last run with the sunset as our backdrop. I love California.


Thank you for a beautiful trip my dear husband. Love & Kisses.

Big Bear, Round 1

I don't think I realized how much I needed to get out of my bubble and out of my head until we were winding up the 330 on the way to a secluded little cabin in the woods. I've been way too in my own head lately. Must remember that life is a conglomerate and not all of them will be heading in the right direction at the same time. Actually, that is what makes life interesting... your moving pieces going ape shit.

The drive to Big Bear was beautiful and I am blown away that such beauty is just a few hours outside of the honking and stop lights and concrete. Nice to know.


I also realized on this stunningly beautiful ride that I have aged. As a child subjected to near cross country road trips, I honed reading while driving skills. In my old age I have discovered that me+motion+reading=sickness. I spent the last half of the trip remembering to breathe "in the nose, out the mouth."

Our cabin was, well, cabin-y. Cute. But cabin-y. Is there really a need for a moose emblazoned light switch plate? Whenever I see this crap in stores I think "who the hell would buy this?" Cabin people, that's who.

I do heart mountain towns. They remind me of southern towns. Small towns run in the same pack I think. Reminds me that I miss the South and want to slow down there for a bit.

The grocery store came complete with Girl Scouts and Girl Scouts come with cookies. Unfortunately Chris and I ate nearly all three boxes in our short 2 day trip. And I'm currently wondering why I feel so poufy. Perhaps it was the Saturday morning breakfast of Hamburgers with a side of fudge and a hefty helping of cookies. (note: I have gained 6 pounds since the wedding. That's a pound a week people. If we keep going in this vein, I will have gained 50 pounds by our one year anniversary.) I did come to my senses and trash the remainder of the goodness instead of bringing it back to LA. Today, I missed them.

So, I ate cookies and played with the camera. I do love this photography thing so much. Such a beautiful medium. Chris built a fire and I played.



There's something so peaceful about falling asleep in front of a roaring fire. Something so right and normal. I definitely fell asleep at 9:30.

Passion vs. Comfort

Can you have both? I feel too comfortable. The life seems to have been sucked out of me, like when you're dead to the world in front of the television with a glass of wine and a handful of chocolate. Too comfortable to be passionate. About anything. I am too young to be feeling so poopie.

Bitch. Sweet. Bitch. Sweet. Mood swings like crazy talk. The creativity struggling to jump out of my comfortable body. I've gotta find an outlet.

This weekend is the big mid decade birthday for this girl! When I came home from work I was told that tomorrow evening we're heading to Big Bear for a weekend on the slopes. SURPRISE! Chris even hooked us up with a cabin in the woods with a hot tub (that man cannot sleep more than 30 yards from a hot tub.) I hear there's snow. And it's 50 degrees. That's the best kind of skiing. Spring skiing. Saturday should be heavenly.

George Hurrell

Our wedding was very 1940's Hollywood Glam. During the planning/research I fell in love with the work of George Hurrell. He pioneered Hollywood Glam in the 30's and 40's working very closely with the movie studios to create massive starlets. His work is stunning.




The California Heritage Museum in Santa Monica has an exhibit through June of his work. Taking advantage of the city is a big part of my project and we so rarely make it to the westside, this seemed like the perfect excuse to jump on the 405. The exhibit is perfection! I am amazed that we rely so much on technology now to make what this man was able to create with light. I would highly recommend heading down there, strolling the street and stopping by the museum. They force a little tour of the house on you, but the exhibit upstairs is worth it.

I so loved the photographs when I first saw them on the site that I sent Hurrell's work to our photographer Rob Holley, whom I adore! We're currently going through the pile o'photos to make an album now, and I was amazed to think some of our photos could have been up there next to Mr. George's.

Hobby: Adore This Photo

Love, love, love this photo.

Wish I could've hit the shows as a tot.