L.A. Winter Wonderland

You may have heard that we had snow in Los Angeles yesterday. Last week we were given advanced notice by local meteorologists that this was going to be a chilly weekend with a lot of rain -- they were right! A low in the 30s is pretty rare for this part of the country. We've had that for the last couple of nights. And yesterday, by around 2pm, it rained buckets and buckets. Buckets of rain and more hail than I've ever seen or heard. It kept up for 4 hours. The ice from yesterday didn't melt until 8am Sunday morning when the sun emerged. Having not grown up in a snowy climate, I don't understand why it rained at our house and snowed (legitimate snow, not ice) about 8 blocks away. If we're at the same elevation, why wouldn't it snow here too? Boo. I really wanted a picture of Nate playing in California snow. Guess we'll have to wait another 30 or 40 years. In the meantime, this is all I got:

No No No No No No No No

Hi. I'm Nate and I'm taking over my mom's blog again. I thought you'd like to see what I've been doing this week.

Mommy, Daddy and I went to the Natural History Museum. I got to see dinosaur bones. I asked to touch them but I was told "no." People say that word a lot to me. I can say it too, listen: no no no no no no no no. That's sooo fun!!

I did get to touch some stuff at the museum. I really liked that place. My daddy was mad that we had to pay $8 to park there. Is that a lot? I thought everything was free. Oh, my mom doesn't like the school that's across the street from the museum. She made me yell out "go Bruins!" as we drove away. 

My mom and I went to Descanso Gardens. Here is the Japanese tea house. I don't like tea. I drank juice while I was there. I ran around a lot. I think it made my mommy tired.

This is a picture of me and Molly at church. Molly is pretty. Do you see that I'm holding a cookie? They didn't run out of cookies this time - yea! I like Molly but I think I like this cookie more.

There was snow on the mountains near my house! I didn't get to touch it. I want it to snow in my backyard. 

Daddy makes my hair look silly when I take a bath. 

I get tired after we do fun things. Night night!

 

Weekend Wishes.

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and I could say, "I used everything that you gave me." -- Erma Bombeck

Thursday Threes.

One.

 (Source)

First, big prayers going out to New Zealand from your friends in California. We know what damage earthquakes can do but this is really horrible. 

Two.

(Source)

Hard to move on to utter silliness after #1 but....I finally got around to watching Downton Abbey on PBS Masterpiece Classic. I set the DVR to record it a month ago and since I'm the only one around here interested in British dramas, it was difficult to find time to watch it. But I did this week and I love it! It's 4 parts and I have one last hour to go. If you liked Upstairs, Downstairs, you'd love this series.

Three.

(Source)

The Academy Awards will be on tv this weekend. I haven't seen many of the movies but I'm always interested in seeing the gowns. I love the draped silk chiffon dress that Grace Kelly wore in Alfred Hitchcock's 1955 classic To Catch a Thief. That's what I'd wear if I was invited to the Oscars (Colin Firth, call me! I'm free to go on Sunday!). Here's a bit of trivia -- Edith Head was nominated for a Best Costume Design award for To Catch a Thief but lost. She was nominated 35 times during her career and won 8!

Brand New Bangle

I made a quick dash into a thrift store a week ago and came out with this:

That's a plastic bracelet covered in bright yellow dots. Very 1986. Cost me $1.25 (they must have considered it retro!). Anyway, I've been wanting a bangle bracelet so I took this one, found a scrap of fabric in my craft drawer, covered it using Modge Podge, and finished it off with a quick spray of Poly. From start to finish, it took me 1 hour.  Here's the final results:

I think it turned out pretty nice. The inside where the fabric overlaps isn't super tidy but who's going to know besides me?? Wouldn't this also make a cute napkin ring? It wouldn't be difficult to find 6 plastic bracelets and then cover them in a pretty fabric for Easter dinner...just an idea! And here's another tip -- if you want designer fabric for small projects like this, look on Etsy under "supplies" and "fabric scrap pack." I bought a bag of scraps  for $10 and received some decent pieces. You just have to accept that it's a grab bag so you may not like everything you get.

I've linked up this post to the following. so hop on over and see what other creative people have been up to this week: 

Weekend Wishes.

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. -- Dr. Seuss

Thursday Threes.

One.

 (source)

Anthropologie launched their bridal line on Valentine's Day. Be still my heart. I have a huge crush on Anthropologie and an even bigger crush on wedding gowns. Combine the two,  and, well... there are no words. Except this --  you're five years too late :(

Two.

The duo known as "The Civil Wars" has gained a huge following recently. I heard about them via a Nashville blogger and now I see that their album is a current top seller on iTunes. I love it when singer/songwriters get the recognition they deserve for their writing and vocal talents (this is where I'd insert a negative comment about Justin Bieber but I'd rather not receive any death threats from his fans.)

Three.

 (source)

We rented Sunset Boulevard this week. I had forgotten how fabulous it is. Billy Wilder is a genius.

Not Feelin' The Love Right Now

Nate (in car): Nate wants more juice.
Me: When we get inside in a minute, we're going to have lunch. Would you like milk?
Nate: Nate wants juice!
Me: Well, you can pick - juice or milk?
Nate: Juice!


Now inside, I put his juice and lunch on the table. He takes a sip of the juice then looks at me in horror.
Nate (crying): This not milk!!
Me: You said you wanted juice.
Nate (still crying): Mommy take it away!!
Me: Okay, okay, I'll go get milk.

I think this is how kings and queens treated servants back in medieval times. Or Bettie Davis. I think she probably yelled at people. My life has become Mommy Dearest in reverse....

Hello. My name is Nikki and I'm the parent of a toddler. Is there a support group out there???

Happy Valentine's Day

Santa Fe, NM - 2007

The door 

  was marked, "you."

I walked

  through it and

          found the

          better part of

              myself.