Good Enough

I try to keep this blog sunshine and moonbeams but I can't be adequately thankful for this past year without being completely honest about how this past year ended.

Its been an incredible year filled with a new job, new friends, travel, love and really just about anything a girl could want.*

Christmas held family and friends, even a logical sighting at Xian (the only yummy restaurant open in Beverly Hills on Christmas) and more gift cards and knitting books than I can still wrap my head around.

My birthday began at the Bel Air Hotel where we sat next to the Divine Miss M but ended almost going to the emergency room. I didn't go...I'm lucky to have the only pulmonologist on call during his vacation and he walked me through the medications needed to breathe again....medications I hate and will tell each and every one of you not to take unless its those medications or the hospital. But they work. And I blog now after 36 of the toughest hours I've had all year.

Therefore, I begin 2008 humbled and grateful for all that I have.

To my loyal blog readers, I thank you. I hope your 2008 extraordinary.

XOXO,
Jenna

*I must admit, I am still waiting for that Mini Cooper to appear in my driveway, with keys and a title in my name.

Chaos & Anarchy Rule

at the mall.

OMG, I haven't seen that many people at the mall in years. Seriously. Wall to wall people. People shopping and spending money and carrying bags; kids running amuck; couples arm in arm.

Isn't that supposed to happen before Christmas? I'm just sayin'.

So yeah, if you're aching to go shopping (*coughcoughmelissastevecoughcough*) there are defiantely deals to be had.

Merry Christmas to all

I didn't go to Disneyland for Christmas but I did wear this fine hat today.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

The Design has finally been approved.

I don't know about you, but the holidays stress me out just a wee bit.

Its not the gifts or the wrapping, the food or the parties. Its my holiday card.

Once we added the pups to the family, we finally had an excuse to torture everyone with pictures of our "kids," I mean, send out holiday greetings and best wishes.

When I started, I'd style the card around the personality of the dogs. The picture on the card probably didn't make sense to anyone but me. But, really, the cards were going to dog people so as long as the dog looked cute, they never cared.

So you're saying to yourself, what's so stressful about pictures of your dogs and inside jokes to yourself that no one else needs to understand.

I'll answer that inquiry.

Once Dick joined our family, I made the mistake of being very clever and witty on the annual card. I mean, my dogs are named Dick and Jane, that BEGS for a fabulous holiday card. Since then, I've been expected to go bigger and brighter with each card. And, because I'm me, I do. I'm big on rising to the occasion.

First year, we did a simple Dick & Jane, styled completely in the era of the children's books. The second year we went multi-cultural with Ricardo & Juanita, with the picture and card in Spanish. (Translation was available on the flip side of the card.) The third year (last year), I brought in professional help which was a HUGE hit. That brings us to this joyous holiday season.

My head has ached at the thought of coming up with something fabulous. So, I went old school and decided to do something that would make me happy. I came up with cute and different which required me to draw and plan and embroider.

Yeah, the peanut gallery shot that down. Now, keep in mind, for this endeavor, I'm the creative director, finance, set design and photographer; I'm not real big on input from anyone else. I ignored the voices when I named my dog Dick, I ignored them when I did the first holiday card, I ignore them on a daily basis. This time they wouldn't relent.

"I don't get it."

That's ok. I do.

"But I don't understand."

You don't need to understand until its done.

This conversation was repeated in my kitchen so many times I relented and went back to the drawing board.

Finally, lightening struck twice and I came up with a different idea. And thank you doG, the peanut gallery liked the idea.

Now I just have to pull it together, figure out the layout, set design, actor attitude and capture the magic on film and we'll have ourselves a holiday card.

Isn't this time of year fun?!?

I need a nap.

(If you want to be on the happy holiday card list and you're not on it already, email me your address and a little piece of holiday goodness can be yours.)

31 days until Christmas

11 days until Hanukkah.

You're welcome.

Martha's got nothing on us

Seriously.

A Picture is Worth 11 Words

Ok, so that covers work.

Fast forward to dinner time...its about 6:30pm and Dick & Jane and I are out for our nightly walk. Its quiet out. Eerie quiet. Weird quiet. Dick is on high alert, I'm a little freaked out and Jane is just fine, limping along sticking her nose everywhere it shouldn't be. It was like a scene out of a Stephen King novel. Here we are in the middle of this HUGE city and its just silent out, no movement, no noise. Either the world is ending or everyone is out to dinner. Jane, as taught by the zen-master Hanna, knows everyone is out to dinner. Dick & I still aren't so sure.

Happy Valentine's Day - - - hope yours was filled with pretty flowers, yummy treats and lots of people and/or dogs and/or cats to love and torment.

Two posts in one day!

Yes, this may be a sign of the apocalypse. But, I just had to share my new fabulous light up (yes, it has an on/off switch for the LIGHTS!) hat.

I hope you had a very merry Christmas!