Tuesday, May 31, 2011

memorial day in dallas

Nothing kicks the unofficial summer off right like Memorial Day weekend. I just spent the past 4 days in Dallas where the weather was 85 degrees and sunny- quite a change from San Francisco this time of year! The trip was a great opportunity to spend time with Derek's family, whom I only see about once or twice a year if I'm lucky. There was a whole lot of relaxing by the pool, great southern barbecuing, margaritas and family play-time. It was sad to leave at the end of the weekend but we're hoping to make this mini-getaway a tradition for every Memorial Day.

*Cheers*


Derek hangin with dad and later lounging in the pool with Roxy

Presley (just turned 2!) in the hot tub with mama

The whole Nelson clan in the hot tub. (That's Derek's brother Kyle and sister-in-law Jessica on the left).

More pool time...

Derek got seriously into building Legos with Zander. Yes, that's a scene from Star Wars on the left.

Derek & Zander with their completed Lego collection.

Presley trying on the birthday hat.
Taking a movie break.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

celeb gossip of the week

After only 6 months of dating, Kim Kardashian and Chris Humphries are engaged. I have only one question to ask: WHO in their right mind spends $2 million on an engagement ring?!

a). The ring is absurdly too large to wear on an every day basis.

b). Can't you spend a fraction of that money on something more productive or beneficial to society? Donations to people seriously in need? I understand it's his money and he can spend it however he wants to but....

c). ...it's just plain obnoxious.

Congratulations to them both anyway, I sincerely hope it lasts [insert giant gulp here].


photo credit: nick saglimbeni & people magazine

photo credit: people magazine

dear earth, calm down please. thanks.

All the crazy lunatic talk of "Judgment Day" and the world ending soon is really starting to get to me. As if the earth is really about to implode and we'll all evaporate into thin air?! I can't help but notice though, how strange and destructive the weather patterns have been so far this year. Some days I can't even walk to my car after work without being blown over by the high winds. Since when has San Francisco become a "windy city?!" I'm not quite sure what's going on. Maybe its the climate change? Global warming? Whatever it is, cut it out please.

One of Derek's friends sent him this picture from their back yard in Oklahoma City this morning. They literally got golf ball sized hail over night. Crazy huh?


P.S.- My heart goes out to all the recent victims and their family's caught in the massive Missouri/Oklahoma tornadoes this past week. bless you all...

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

dallas, here i come

Last year for Memorial Day weekend I accompanied Derek to Dallas to visit the fam. His parents, brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew all caravan down from Oklahoma for the occasion and stay at his grandparents house in Plano. Derek and I stay a few houses down the street at his aunt's. (It's a big family affair). This will be my second year heading out to Dallas for Memorial Day. We're excited to see everyone, barbecue, relax by the pool and celebrate little Zander's 6th birthday. Here are some photo's from last years trip:


The dogs all dressed up in Oklahoma Sooners gear. This cracks me up!

Mimosa's by the pool.

Zander and Derek building blanket forts inside and playing with water guns outside.

Baby Presley turns 1 & Zander turns 5!

first president from oklahoma

My Oklahoma proud boyfriend sent this little article to me the other day. I laughed and rolled my eyes at the same time after finishing it. Enjoy...

The first woman President from Oklahoma - a very good one 

The year is 2016 and the United States has just elected the first woman as well as the first female from Oklahoma as president.

A few days after the election the president-elect calls her father and says, 'So, Daddy, I assume you will be coming to my inauguration?'

'I don't think so. It's a 16 hour drive, your mother isn't as young as she used to be, and my arthritis is acting up again.'

'Don't worry about it Daddy, I'll send Air Force One to pick you up and take you home. A limousine will pick you up at your door.'

'I don't know. Everybody will be so fancy. What would your mother wear?'

'Oh, Daddy', replies the president-elect, 'I'll make sure she has a wonderful gown custom made by the best designer in Washington .'

'Honey,' Dad complains, 'you know I can't eat those rich foods you and your friends like to eat.'

The President-to-be responds, 'Don't worry Daddy. The entire affair is going to be handled by the best caterer in Washington , I'll ensure your meals are salt free Daddy, I really want you to come.'

So Dad reluctantly agrees, and on January 20, 2017, the first woman is being sworn in as President of the United States. In the front row sits the new president's Dad and Mom. Dad notices the Supreme Court Justice sitting next to him and leans over and whispers, 'You see that woman over there with her hand on the Bible, becoming President of the United States?'

The Justice whispers back, 'Yes I do.'

Daddy says proudly, 'Her brother plays football for the Oklahoma Sooners.'

Monday, May 23, 2011

battle of the bay

I'm ashamed to say that I've been such a bad Giants fan lately! This past Friday marked only the second game I've been too all season long (technically Spring Training doesn't count). I clearly have a lot of catching up to do and am setting myself a goal: to attend a minimum 1-2 games per month.

The A's/Giant's series, otherwise known as the Battle of the Bay is always an exciting time. My friend Kendra (born in the Bay but currently residing in the Bronx) flew back for the occasion. She bought us front and center seats in the best section of the stadium: the bleachers. For the ultimate battle of the bays experience, you gotta sit in the bleachers! It gets a little rowdy but is all in good fun- lots of young fans and families flocked together to cheer on their teams. I'm thrilled to announce the the Giants swept the series against the A's this past weekend. Looks like San Francisco is determined to defend that #1 title!



Me & Kendra

Representing the Giants Snuggie

my re-occuring dream

I've been having the strangest re-occurring dream lately. I'm alone in the middle of the desert when I stumble across an abandoned warehouse. I enter the warehouse and then am chased by a four legged tarantula spider. He must have lost his other four legs in battle? Ha! I'm running as fast as possible in different directions but the spider keeps jumping onto my shoulder. This dream has been bothering me for a while now, and its not that its that frightening for me, its just that I have NO idea why its in my mind. Whenever I have this dream I always wake up from it around the exact same time I'm supposed to get up for work: 7:25am. What is the deal? Is this just a coincidence?

I did a little online research this morning and found some "dream interpretations" which I'm trying to dissect myself. I'm not sure that I seriously believe some of these ideas but they're interesting to ponder.


To dream that you are walking through a desert, signifies loss and misfortune. You may be suffering from an attack on your reputation. Deserts are also symbolic of barrenness, loneliness and feelings of isolation and hopelessness. The desert landscape may also be a metaphor for feeling deserted and left behind. {Hmm not sure this really applies to me. I think the desert might have a more literal meaning than metaphorical. I dream about deserts pretty often and I've always thought its because I spent a lot of time in Arizona.}


To see a tarantula in your dream, represents your dark and sinister side. {Uh oh!} A tarantula is also symbolic of feminine power. To see a spider in your dream, indicates that you are feeling like an outsider in some situation. Or perhaps you want to keep your distance and stay away from an alluring and tempting situation. To see a spider climbing up a wall in your dream, denotes that your desires will be soon be realized. Spiders are also a symbol of creativity due to the intricate webs they spin. 

Warehouse
To see a warehouse in your dream, represents stored energy or hidden resources. {Time to start thinking more outside the box?} The warehouse also refers to memories. Alternatively, the warehouse means that you are putting your ambitions and goals on hold. To see an abandoned or empty warehouse, indicates that your inner resources have been depleted. You need to take some time off to restore your energy and replenish your resources. 

To dream that you are being chased, signifies that you are avoiding a situation that you do not think is conquerable. It is a metaphor for some form of insecurity. In particular, to dream that you are chased by an animal, represents your own unexpressed and unacknowledged anger which is being projected onto that animal. Alternatively, you may be running away from a primal urge or fear.{I think the fact of the matter is that in reality I'm terrified of all spiders...so I'm going to run like crazy is one ever chases me, lol}

Shoulders
To see your shoulder in your dream, symbolize strength, responsibility and burdens. Perhaps you feel that you have too much responsibility to bear and are overburdened by circumstances in your life. Alternatively, shoulders represent your ability to offer support and nurturance others. 


* courtesy of dream moods * 

Friday, May 20, 2011

back to the future

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to transport yourself back in time? There's an interesting Argentinian photographer, Irina Werning, who's making it happen! Figuratively speaking...

Having a life long fascination with old photos, this photographer came up with the idea of reenacting them with the same people many years later. In her Back to the Future project, she takes some of these aged photos and recreates them today. Check it out:


All Photographs © Irina Werning
1987 and 2010

1978 and 2010

1983 and 2010

1977 and 2010

1986 and 2010

1983 and 2010

1970 and 2010

1979 and 2010

Thursday, May 19, 2011

celeb gossip of the week

Is it bad that I care more about the Leo/Blake couple announcement more than I do the Arnold Schwarzenegger scandal? [I'm seriously so sick of hearing about all the cheating/divorcing/love affairs that go on with high profile celebrities].

Here's the exciting news that I would like to focus on this week: a potentially new Hollywood couple whom I both equally love. It must be nice to be Leonardo DiCaprio- from models Gisele Bundchen and Bar Refaeli to 13 years younger, Blake Lively? This is definitely not a predictable match. I wonder if the rumors are true?!


photo credit: pop sugar

photo credit: pop sugar

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

snack attack

One of the perks to working at the Glam office in Brisbane is the endless supply of snacks. Candy, soda, string cheese, crackers, cereal, bagels, cookies, fruit & veggies platters...you name it. I have a serious love/hate relationship with the kitchen here. If ever I have a sweet tooth or need a mid-day snack, I know I can count on the kitchen. On the other hand it's hard to resist. Emily and I face the dilemma that is "the glam kitchen" on a daily basis: Do I eat a bagel this morning? Is this bag of pretzel's absolutely necessary to get me through the day? It's someone's birthday, which means I should participate in the celebration by eating cake. Seriously?! (I have yet to win the epic battle against morning bagels).



 Yesterday I was pleased to find a new addition to the office snack drawer: strawberry fruit roll-ups. I haven't encountered a snack like this since my elementary school days. I was so excited that I proceeded to be a selfish hoarder and snagged a bunch for my desk drawer. Such enthusiasm over fruit roll-ups got Emily and I to brainstorming some of our most missed childhood snacks. When is the last time you've had any of these classics from the 80's/90's?