a trip to china. . .kind of

a few weeks ago, my dad came to visit.  i planned two days of excursions to keep us busy.  day 1 was a trip to chinatown in downtown la.  ironically, there is a little french cafe called phillipe's that's been around since 1908 right in chinatown that serves the best french dip sandwiches.  i'm a sucker for a good sandwich, so we started there. . .

with happy, full bellies, we just walked around and took in all of the cool culture and color!

we visited phoenix bakery which is where adam and i got our wedding cake long ago.  neither of us even ate the cake at our wedding, so we decided to stop in and try a slice.  it was delish. . .moist white cake with fresh sliced strawberries and thick whipped cream frosting.

i know!

i know i've been absent.  i've taken all kinds of pictures, and have all kinds of stories, but just haven't been able to put it all down on paper (er. . .computer) for you all.  i'm off to NYC today for work.  so don't expect any big posts for the next few days either.  i'm generation X. . .the MTV generation.  we're slackers.  what can i say?  but i promise to be back soon!

xo

born to swim. . .and just discovering it.

our little daisy, the only lab on the planet who is scared of the water and not a natural-born swimmer, is well on her way to conquering her fear and learning!  it's been a slow process and there have been times when i thought she'd never get past her fear.  last summer was a bust.  but i had a feeling this was going to be her summer to shine.  and just three lessons in, she is showing some serious progress. i think she's even kind of starting to like it! 

here's a little sequence of her swim lesson with dad today. . .

in other news, blu is still loving her life in retirement.  as a retiree, she's no longer required to wear a pesky color.  she spends her days quite comfy "au naturel".  but on days when we are entertaining. . .she can usually be found rockin' a brightly colored bandana and lounging in the grass.

june showers bring august babies!

this was one fun-filled, action-packed and exhausting weekend!  our little palm ranch has been abuzz with friends, food and frolicking all weekend!  and while it was fun, i'm ready for a vacation. 

saturday i hosted a baby shower for about 20 ladies.  it was a gorgeous day with sunshine galore and the perfect setting for a palm springs inspired poolside fete.

they say it takes a village to raise a child.  well many of us california girls are transplants and our families live far away.  so this is josette's village.

and to round out that village. . .these are the mothers and aunties from near and far.

my co-host in this endeavor was my good friend roz.  she really did all the planning. . .and i merely offered up my home.  but we made a good team and even got a chance to dip our feet in the pool for a moment.

as is the case at most baby showers, we had a bevy of random games and activities.  one of those was a baby name suggestion box.  it was mostly for fun and the names were a bit silly.  the winning suggestion. . .silke oto sanson.  you'll note the initials are S.O.S.  i think we need an sos for this name!

some more foot dippin' action with the ladies. . .refreshing fruit sangria in the glasses. . .except for mama-to-be who was having the alternate "mock-tail" punch.

some fancy high-flying decor.

the beginnings of a feast.

the quintessential party cake.

the onesie decorating station.

the mama-to-be choosing the winner of the onesie decorating contest.

and last but not least, the mama-to-be opening my gift. . .one of my special, one-of-a-kind, handmade quilts.  which, by the way, i decided to make last minute and completed in one week.  a new record.  and it was a hit!  she's having a baby girl and isn't necessarily a "pink" kind of mama.  so i selected orange with pale pink and mint green accents.  girly. . .but not over-the-top.

a good time was had by all.  the last guest departed at about 9 pm.  so we cleaned up, went to bed and then got up the next morning and started all over. . .with a small BBQ for a few of our other friends.  phew!

you can take the girl out of kansas. . .

sometimes my roots come pouring out of me in unexplainable ways and at unexplainable times.

today, all day, for no reason at all, i found myself singing George Strait's "You Look So Good in Love".  now don't get me wrong.  even as a young Kansas girl, i was NOT into country music.  but my mom and stepdad were.  i used to grumble and groan about it, but i was always around it, so i guess you could say there were a few songs that just grew on me and stuck in my brain.

in particular, i found myself to be a George Strait fan.  probably didn't hurt that he was so darn handsome too.  then that movie Pure Country came out. . .and well i'm a sucker for a love story with a bunch of love songs.  of course he fell in love with the perfect barrel racer girl.  and as a barrel racer myself, i could totally see myself falling for the perfect country boy and riding off into the sunset.  well my story ended up a little more rock and roll than country. . .but that's another story.

so i just broke down. . .googled ol' George and listened to that song.  and it took me back to a different time and place.  i've also been known to do a mean rendition of "The Fireman" and "All My Ex's Live in Texas". . .but don't get me started.