Summer Art Festivals

One thing I truly love about Summer are the art festivals held in every city over the hot months. Since I found out I have to be in Minnesota at the beginning of August for work, I have been looking forward to the Uptown Art fair in Minneapolis (yes, Uptown, not downtown) that I have not been to in years.

Whether it's the over abundance of pottery and jewelry or the fun, unique stuff you spy from each artistic, I always walk away with something great. And there is usually some fun "fair" food too- such as my faves- roasted corn on the cob or a yummy corn dog.

As I thought about the pending Uptown art fair, I was totally unaware that there was another art fair at Redstone in Park City today! So, after a fun Sunday of a great workout and a pedicure, off in search of treasures I went. Not super exciting, and fairly small, but I did come away with 2 new trinkets.

1- Funky, sparkly cheese knives
2- A new dinner plate

I realized, when a friend visited me in PC a few months back and I served some cheese and crackers, I did not have any cheese knives. Call me silly, I know... :) Now I do! Cheese & wine at Darien's place!

And in Cali, about 2 years ago, I got rid of my "standard" place settings (dishes) and started collecting miss matched plates, bowls, mugs, etc. for fun. I tend to pick them up at art fairs, trips with girlfriends across the country, etc. So far my mugs and bowls are quite the conversation starters, but my plates still leave a little be desired. I am now one step closer!

Makes for a smiley, happy Sunday. More to come after Uptown in 1 week.
Go starving artists go- you have my support!

Weekend Deep Thoughts

Ok, no Jack Handy here... just some "as the weekend comes to a close" recap. Oh, where to begin... Well, Friday seems like a great place.

Humidity in Minnesota does not seem as bad when covered by some chilled Prosecco with friends on the patio

Broder's (50th & Penn in Mpls) serves a mean chicken & spinach stromboli (thanks Andi!)

Not a whiskey gal, but again Andi, you are correct.. a little Jack Daniels Honey over ice is yummy... give it a shot (well, not literally a shot.... just a sip)

Tavern on France (Edina, MN) still serves the tastiest homemade potato chips with blue cheese and dipping sauces around... everyone who tries 'em loves 'em. Again, give 'em a whirl!

Even though the prices are higher and there are options everywhere, there is still nothing like brand new bras and panties from Victoria Secret to make a girl smile

Horrible Bosses was pretty darn funny... and wow- Jennifer Aniston looks AMAZING! If that is what 40's can look like... well, bring it on

Shopping for jewelry at Tiffany & Co with Amy. Nope. Don't need to say anything else about that. You get it.

On-time flights home with limited turbulence still make me happy

Once home, no matter how many times you have seen them, there are always those classic goofy chick-flicks that come on TBS, USA, TNT, etc. that once you turn on, you just MUST sit and watch, even if you own it on DVD and you truly have seen it over 10 times (this lovely Sunday it happens to be "13 Going on 30"- compliments of Jennifer Garner)

And last, but certainly not least, the kitty wanting to do nothing but cuddle up with her Mama on the couch... simply priceless. Meow.

Hope your weekend was sensational as well.

Parents in Park City

A few pics of the family in Park City...

Jarrod & Mom on Main Street
All of us in Deer Valley
Jarrod & me at The St Regis
Mom, Dad & Jarrod at Olympic Park

Mid-July Highlights

It's July 15th and it's been a great month so far. I love summer! Fun in the sun and always more on the horizon. A few highlights thus far...

4th weekend at the cabin on the lake... time with cousins lounging on the deck with lots of mudslides, mimosas, wine.... and a little time on the jetski too.

Enjoying a little time at home in Cali with high temps and lots of sunshine- did I mention I have a pool? Maybe I should use it...

Family bonding time in Park City for Jarrod's birthday with Mom & Dad... hangin' in the mountains on the zipline, alpine coaster along with lots of cocktails, good food and relaxation.

Toss in a Colbie Caillat concert at Wente winery, a quick jaunt to Las Vegas for work, and a fun night with a hot guy in the city of San Fran for some "culture" enjoyment. That brings us to today. Or rather tonight with "Bad Teacher" at the theatre before a good night sleep.

Thanks, July, I thank you for the fun. G'night all. For now.

July Is Here!!!

I have been anticipating for this day for quite some time... Tons of stress and craziness that I was expecting to be lessened significantly as of today.. July 1st! It is finally here.

Work "events" are done. Meeting prep and meetings are done. Don't get me wrong, work is still busy, but the "events of a hectic matter" have ceased for a bit. So, what to do now??

Well, aside from more work of course, here is what I am looking forward to this month:

Sunshine and warmth!
Lakes, pools and sprinklers everywhere
Ice cream
Family time with the girls at the lake cabin
Fireworks
Mom & Dad with me in Park City
Las Vegas (ok, not so excited about the heat, but still love it)
Wine country (more than one visit, I might add.. Napa and Livermore)
Colbie Caillat in concert

Some good stuff, eh? Now, if I can just keep work and humidity-caused frizzy hair at bay, let the games of July 2011 begin.... right now!

Fun (Amy) Cali Weekend

This is what happens when work gets so crazy busy and get quite stressed: I forget to update my blog. Ugh. So, it's been almost 30 days. But a super fun weekend is bringing it all back...

This weekend my friend Fun Amy (yes, it's very important that I refer to her as Fun Amy- with numerous friends named Amy and Jen, it's critical to provide special code names). After I describe our 36 hours of fun, you will know why I call her FUN.

It was Amy's birthday weekend and she and I arranged a surprise birthday visit to San Fran due to the fact that is was also her brother Tim's 50th birthday and his band, CITY JADE, was scheduled to play at a new club in Gilroy, the Garlic Capital of the World.

We started Friday night with a delicious dinner in the city at FIRST CRUSH. We sat at the bar with a cool bartender and we ordered cocktails- think Kir Royal and French Kiss- a few champagne laden libations and moved on to bread with olive tapenade, garbanzo bean fritters, lobster mac & cheese, flash fried spicy calamari and ending with enough dessert for 5.... chocolate mousse, chocolate chip bread pudding with heath bar ice cream and sour cherry pie with vanilla gelato. Wow. Needless to say, we didn't not finish it all, but we waddled home more than satisfied.

Yesterday was wonderful! Started with pedicures, next up was wine country in Livermore... CONCANNON and MURRIETA'S WELL. So fun! Sipped 8 wines for $5- not joking- at Concannon and 6 more at Murrietta. Walked away with 2 lovely bottles (each under $25) as well as some mouth-watering wine peanut brittle. YUM!

Last, our trek to Gilroy for checking out the little garlic town, some dinner, and ending with Tim's band at 9 Lives Club. They were great! Love me some 80's hair-band-rock! Yes, there was a tiny bit of head banging going on last night.... And I loved when they did a cover of Nick Gilder's fabulous "HOT CHILD IN THE CITY". How awesome it that!?

In bed by 1Am after a fun-filled day with Fun Amy in Northern CA. Yeah!

Could not ask for a better (short) weekend with food, fun, and friends.

The "Want" List

Getting ready to go hiking and out for brunch on this lovely sunshine filled Sunday-before-Memorial Day and thinking about what is on my "want list" these days. Here goes:

* Burberry trench coat (yes, I believe it must be Burberry, but I could be sold otherwise...)

* Funky cowboy boots (vintage would be nice)

* A good, solid black pencil skirt (one that makes me look 10 pounds less would be best)

* A handsome tank watch (don't really care about the brand, just want to it be eye catching)

I am sure if I squint my eyes, make fists and think really, really hard I can think of more that I want, but this will do for now. Any suggestions blog-land friends?

Enjoy your Sunday.

Leavin' Las Vegas

Oh how I wish I could just stand in Las Vegas, does not really matter where, and take pictures of the attire people choose to wear. They seriously must not own mirrors. And they must be color blind. And for closure, they must not own scales and believe one can only buy clothes at children's stores. This has got to be the best people watching of all time.

Instead, I took a few pictures of us. Simply sharing this one that is channelling Charlie's Angels. Don't ask... not really sure why. Just because. It was fun.

But, a few highlights of another lovely Girls Weekend in Vegas...

* Middle aged guys who buy us (young hot women, right?) drinks after they just met us 30 seconds prior (and yes, those Bellagio drinks are more than $20 each- thanks!)

* The Manson Girls (yes, I would bet money that time had warped back years and they were there in Vegas... exceptionally long, flowing hair.. Susan Atkins, Leslie Van Houton.... not sure, but I would swear it was them...)

* Getting super excited over the Wheel of Fortune slot machines... just hoping for the chance to spin the wheel

* PRADA PRADA PRADA.. enough said there

* NO buffets please.. that I will just never understand. Never.

* Tony at Comme Ca at Cosmopolitan makes a mean cocktail and serves even meaner french onion and lobster bisque- yum!

* Free cocktails even when you only bet $1

Oh Vegas. I love you. Thank you for the fun.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Happy Mother's Day to all the cool Mom's out there, but specifically to my MOM- Peggy Holznagel. I honestly could not ask for a better Mommy.

While there are way to many to remember at this moment, here are a few reasons why I love my Mom and memories that come to mind over the past 30 plus years:

* As a kid, walking or riding bikes to Short Stop (neighborhood market) for hot dogs, cokes and ice cream

* Always, and I do mean always, finding those rare, hard to find gifts when they were at the height of popularity. Cabbage Patch Kids, anyone?

* Every child in elementary school hoping to me in my class because they all knew Darien's Mom was the best "Room Mother" ever- always going above and beyond for the class parties and events

* 2, not 1, pairs of "really cool" Guess overalls thanks to Mom... regular denim and bright pink. Yep, I was fashionable in the 7th grade- Mom got me hooked

* Always, always, always being at every single dance event that ever existed in my life and trust me, there were TONS. Not that it was a chore for her going to Florida to watch us win the National Dance Team Championship, but still...

* The numerous Mother/Daughter trips over the last 15 years to Maui, Puerto Vallarta, Las Angeles, Colorado.... I am missing many- we have had some wonderful Girls Trips together and more to come!

* Twice per year, going well out of her way to find the best possible Christmas and birthday gifts a girl could ever ask for. And last week's birthday was no exception... A-list designer clothes, Tiffany & Co goods, wine stuff.... yep- she is THAT cool!

But, most of all, being there for me every day of my life, even when I moved across the country 7 years ago by phone, email, cards, visits, and more vacations. And not judging me or caring that I don't want to have children which in turn means no grandchildren for her. She does not care because she only cares about my happiness.

Supportive, loving, caring, fun, generous and so much more.

Love you Mom!

Birthday in Wine Country

Just a few pics from wine country for my birthday... Saturday April 30
Jennifer, Jarrod and me!
Sonoma county- tasting rooms in town and a few along Alexander Valley
So fun- and tasty!

Jennifer and me at Murphy-Goode- stop #1!

Fountain at White Oak- last stop of the day!

Jarrod, Jennifer and me at Ed Meade

Oh, how I love me some wine country.... Bring on those old grapes--- as long as they are smashed into some liquid in a bottle... with a cork :)