Looks what's turning 60

One of my fave places in L.A. and home to (the West Coast) City Bakery.

The Brentwood Country Mart opened on November 18, 1948. Designed by architect Rowland Crawford and built (in a mere six months) by the Baruch Corporation, the red-board structure evokes early American and English country marketplaces, with shops and stalls arranged around a central courtyard.

Intended as the West Side version of Los Angeles's famed Farmer's Market (at Fairfax and Third), the Brentwood Country Mart was even more ambitiously conceived as "a new type of all-in-one service center" with its 27 shops and stalls offering an impressive slate of products and services, from the everyday to the exotic.

A vigorous advertising campaign followed the opening, touting the market as an "innovation in modern merchandising," and establishing the sign of the golden ram as an emblem of quality and economy.

Simultaneously, celebrities were deployed to imbue its image with a glamorous cachet which, indeed, it soon possessed, as evidenced by its frequent mention in society columns as a favorite haunt of Hollywood stars. At the end of its first year, the Brentwood Country Mart was proclaimed a success in the local press, and the public invited to share in its first birthday celebration, with "entertainment galore and fun for everyone."

By 1950 it had become home to groups of Brownies, pharmacists, dancers, plant aficionados, and charities, which, in addition to regular meetings, held classes, exhibitions, rallies, fundraisers, parties, fashion shows, afternoon teas, and pet parades in the courtyard and auditorium. Within a few years, the number of community groups who utilized the Mart had swelled considerably (and now included the Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts, artists' and theatre groups, the Red Cross and the Cancer Society), as did the number of informal societies who adopted the patio as their "headquarters."

Often, the Brentwood Country Mart hosted special events for the community, particularly parties for children and teenagers that featured Santa Claus and (oddly enough) Bozo the Clown in the guise of the Easter Bunny (1951). The liveliness of the place led the Los Angeles Examiner (August 12, 1953) to observe that "the Brentwood Country Mart... is fast becoming a community center."
And because this community center is in Brentwood, the "regulars" included many luminaries. Joan Crawford, Betty Hutton, Robert and Dorothy Mitchum, Elizabeth Taylor, Burt Lancaster, Shirley Temple Black, and Greta and Gregory Peck, were mentioned in the press in connection with the Mart, among many others, including Olivia de Haviland, Edgar Bergen, Leslie Caron, June Haver, James Whitmore, Leo Carillo, JanePowell, and Marsha Willis. Many of these celebrities engaged in the philanthropic work for which the Mart was well known, and some of them simply shopped in their own neighborhood.
Existing establishments such as the Barber Shop, the Post Office and the Shoe Repair remain to provide exceptional service for the community – they are as popular and busy as ever. Reddi Chick offers the best rotisserie chicken and french fries in Los Angeles.

In today's world of mega-stores and mega-malls, the Brentwood Country Mart feels cozy, familiar and is a place where it is easy to shop. The Brentwood Country Mart is being renovated and restored by James S. Rosenfield and Daniel I. Bercu of JS Rosenfield & Co. JS Rosenfield & Co specializes in the preservations of unique Los Angeles environments. The firm is also responsible for the preservation of the historical Aero Theatre in Santa Monica on Montana Avenue.

The french

are just so beautiful, seriously - I don't think they make ugly people, EVAH.

NY TIMES ran a piece on EVA GREEN

After filming Bernardo Bertolucci's "Last Tango in Paris," the actress Maria Schneider checked herself into an institution. After filming Bernardo Bertolucci's "The Dreamers," an incestuous tragedy with plenty of its own full-frontal nudity, the actress Eva Green became a Bond Girl. The best Bond girl ever, according to Entertainment Weekly. Despite her pitch-perfect English in that film, Green was raised in France (her mother is the actress Marlene Jobert) and she has labored intensely to lose her French accent since moving to England as a teenager. On that front, as well as many others, Green has continued to succeed: in the upcoming film "Cracks," she plays an instructor at an English boarding school. Also in theaters soon is "Franklyn," a dystopic noir co-starring Ewan McGregor in which Green plays a schizophrenic. Bertolucci once famously said that Green "is so beautiful it's indecent," but she is mightily talented too.

I think I really like these...

COOL SHADES

I love....

this perfume by Ed Hardy.

Beautiful...

Courtesy of LA Times Magazine...

If only we had an extra $150K

Here is where the fabulous BBQ

Clean, simple and nice... too bad the seating is made of teak :-(

Next project

We've been busy, while we have worked at becoming parents, our new home is suffering from lack of attention. Once we return from Cancun (can't believe we are leaving in 4 days), we have a guy scheduled to construct our new brick wall. You might be able to see where the wood fence on the side and back is not looking to hot. After the brick wall, this grassy knoll will be cemented to create additional and much needed parking space.

Our home sits on the corner of one very quiet street and another street which is one of the main arteries that connects many people to the downtown of our fine city.

Why yes, that is a bus bench where people wait for public transportation.

Once we complete this task, we plan to attack the front yard and create an outdoor living space. Here is a picture of our very pretty, green front yard.

We live in a desert climate, not the desert, per se. I do not wake up looking at beautiful Joshua trees or desert mountains painted with shadows however, the temperature range from the end of May until the end of October swings anywhere from our low being 80 and our high being 110.

Living here my entire life - all 35 years of it (except for 2 years on the Central coast of CA) has left me with a love/hate relationship. This is where my closest friends and family reside therefore I love it, when it is 100 + for 10 straight days in a row - I hate it. I could go on......The good and bad equal each other out (at this point in time) however, I have to be honest when I think about the possibilities and freedom associated with this Master's degree in Teaching. Giddy with excitement am I with the thought of fleeing (ok, a bit dramatic) the surface of the sun and heading to a cooler part of California!

Ok, back to reality...
The goal is to increase our living space by turning the front yard into a place where we can throw parties and enjoy the outdoors (when it cools down). We got the idea from Sunset magazine and measured that if we take about 2/3 of the lawn we could acquire an additional 600 square feet of living space. Because the backyard is not entertaining -friendly, this is really our only option of space to convert.

The layout for the house below, not sure of how our layout will look yet. Toying with the idea of seeking a landscape arhitect but really trying to keep the costs down.

The final product in Sunset magazine and I could only hope our non- Eichler home could look 1/2 as nice. I'm loving the materials they used.

Not my favorite furniture but I do like the chalkboard in the back for the kids and the flagstone for the floor. I know it's overused, but I still really like it.

Here is the before of their home, it's quite different from ours, but I can still vision the potential that lies within our home.

Here is a picture of another courtyard/outdoor living space that I like, still too much grass though.

Here is a shot from our front door. Originally, we planned to stop at where the pathway ends but Duane is really pushing to enclose the entire yard. I have reservations, I want it to mesh with the neighboorhood and I really don't want to block any of the neighbors views. Ok, it's not like we blocking the view of the ocean but still I just want it to mesh. Duane wants to build a mini-compound (must be a man-thing).

The area to the left of the pathway that leads to our front door. It's in need of a good weed.

Spring, it's here!

Short but sweet

I hosted a bridal shower for a friend of mine getting married next month, here are some pictures. Old man time was not my friend that day and working, very quickly, against me. It had nothing to do with the fact that I stayed up till 1:00 AM cleaning the house. Nothing at all.

The food was placed on the counter and I used the buffet /hutch for this pretty ensemble.

Flowers, candles and candy - doesn't get much better


From other side of the table

Favors and two gifts for the games. The favors were mini-Chinese take out boxes in pastel Easter colors. The prizes went to the lady that was married the shortest time (Bride-to be's good friend) and the longest time (Mother of the Groom/MIL)

I thought I was doing good until Bride to be's friend walked in and asked "Can I help with the decorations" which at this point (10 min before the party is to start) I had COMPLETELY forgotten about. There is point, when throwing a party, that you hit the wall of - There is nothing else I can do and It is, what it is. I found myself able to enjoy things after this moment occured. It was done and it looked pretty cute, especially with the decorations.

It was a nice time and I look forward to the wedding.

Much Love!

Happy Valentine's Day!

As Duane and I were finishing up watching "The Apprentice" tonight, I went to check on the dogs and walked into the bedroom to find this picture that is worth about a million gazillion words. Fos was so cuddly up on our bed and looked friggin adorable.

February, 2000 was my first V-day with Duane and I was so excited. I came home that evening from work to find my handsome fiancee snuggling a puppy with a big red bow. Life could'nt be better.... Here are some pics 8 years later of that handsome, regal dog named Foster (I know, the irony of it all- too much sometimes). We went through names for days and needed an Austrailian name for our Blue Queensland Heeler.

A few years later, we adopted Sydney whose nickname is Supermodel Sydney. It's not because she's a drama queen or anything. What dog knows about their "good side"? Um, well, my dog Sydney does.

I finally coaxed Fos off of our bed that he secretly thinks is his, he looks less than thrilled to be on his Target pillow.

Alot better but still looks pretty bugged.

Half way through our impromptu photo shoot, he decided to climb back up on the bed.

S. S. decided that she would hit the hay and was totally bugged with the flash. In fact, all three pix I have taken in this series show her with her eyes closed.

Poor pooch, I hope she isn't blind now.

CAN'T. OPEN. EYES.

Mom, really - Is this necessary???

Someone, anyone, take the camera away from the crazy lady. I'mmmmmmm BBBBBBLINND

Thoreau

A few weeks ago, we lost a young man by the name of Darren Coffey who was back counry skiing at Mountain High in Wrightwood, CA and was struck by an avalanche. A friend of mine at work knew the young man and attended his services, her husband was his mentor. Though I had heard about the accident from my co-worker and the media I was overcome with emotion when reading the copy of his memorial program.

Moments before my co-worker handed me the program, I remembered that I had to turn in something inspirational at school tonight. I was overcome with emotion as I read this amazing and wonderful tribute and saw the pictures of this incredible person. Included in the program was a beautiful poem written by Louisa May Alcott regarding her friend Henry David Thoreau. I made copies and decided to share this with my classmates.

Thoreau's Flute

We, sighing, said "Our Pan is dead;
His pipe hangs mute beside the river;
Around it wistful sunbeams quiver;
But Music's airy voice is fled.
Spring mourns as for untimely frost;
The bluebird chants a requiem;
The willow-blossom waits for him;
The Genius of the wood is lost.

Then from the flute, untouched by hands,
There came a low, harmonious breath:
"For such as he there is no death;
His life the eternal life commands;
Above man's aims his nature rose.
The wisdom of a just content
Made one small spot a continent,
And turned to poetry life's prose.

"Haunting the hills, the stream, the wild,
Swallow and aster, lake and pine,
To him grew human or divine,
Fit mates for this large-hearted child.
Such homage Nature ne'er forgets,
And yearly on the coverlid
'Neath which her darling lieth hid
Will write his name in violets.

"To him no vain regrets belong
Whose soul, that finer instrument,
Gave to the world no poor lament,
But wood-notes ever sweet and strong.
O lonely friend! he still will be
A potent presence, though unseen,
Steadfast, sagacious, and serene;
Seek not for him - he is with thee."
-Louisa May Alcott

Learn more about Darren Coffey.

Sexy Eyes

Amazing how connected our small town is.

I was on the phone with a co-worker and somehow we got started talking about water polo and I stated that my husband played in High school. Truth be known, if my husband met me in High School we probably would not currently be married. He was on water polo and soccer team, I, in turn despised "The Jocks". I did play tennis in high school but the career was short lived, It was the 80's and I had lots of black to wear while cranking up the Duran Duran and Cure tape casettes ( YIKES - thats kind of dating me, do they even make tape casettes anymore?).

So, I digress, back to the co-worker - we'll call her "P" and she is pressing me at this point, where did he go to HS, how about Middle school - and then the words no wife likes to hear - was his first name INSERT YOUR HUSBANDS FIRST NAME HERE. At this point, your waiting to her the girl say " He was my first----kiss--- boyfriend---- etc. She was very cool about it and when I got home, Duane pulled out his middle school annual to locate above mentioned co-worker and confirmed that he never dated her. He clarified that dating in middle school consisted of group dates to movies and holding hands between classes and at recess. This is where the story gets interesting ( I know - finally).

Upon glancing at the pics of our friends going through the painful awkardness of the tween years, I came across the best of page. Guess who was voted "Sexy Eyes" Yes, that would be my hottie of a husband. I've never been prouder. I'm married to Sexy Eyes, I guess that makes me Mrs Sexy Eyes.

I love you Mr. Sexy Eyes :-)

Weekend Project

The goal for the weekend was to find a coffee table for this area. The only criteria - to match the media center on the right hand side of the picture. After several hours on the internet, I was convinced that there was a suitable match at Cost Plus, world market.

While I was spending $3.00 a gallon on gas, driving to 3 different Cost plus', Duane decided to do a lighting project. Your eyes arent decieving you, the cans are crooked from this angle. Long story..... and yes the hallway still looks like this with a bridal shower in 6 days. YIKES!!!

Because the hallway is under construction, our pictures have taken residence on the sofa.

At the third (and last) Cost plus I gave up on the coffee table and we decided that we needed a new media center. This is the old setup.

Here is a picture of the new setup.......much better.

While Duane was building....

I was studying...

And yes, the other living room still looks like this...

APU

One of my goals this year is to take more photos thus I have been dragging my camera sans case around everywhere. I've decided that my camera takes better pictures outside than inside, I'm confident that it has NOTHING to do with the operator of the device. hee hee :-)

Onto the pictures, today, I took a little road trip and traveled about 30 miles west (I love to take drives that way and end up in some part of L.A.) to pick up books for school. After finally finding the campus, apparently there is a West and East Campus separated by about a mile of residential and student housing, I came across a grandoise front entrance which leads to our main campus. The architecture of the the west campus is very modern and I liked the layout. The stone structure outlining a cross reminded me of a very similair one at Pepperdine University. I thought it looked really cool with the clouds behind it.

Ok, that's all for today.

On my J-O-B

I have a job.

Like many, it's not glamourous, it's not really all that exciting but it covers our mortgage, groceries and a mani-pedi ever now and again. It doesnt bring the personal rewards that J recieves over at pancakes and french fries, watching her cherub children discover new things and grow. My job is also not like R's who was walking through the front lobby of her company and ran into the Foo Fighters, she also met Justin Timberlake (OK, the encounter with JT didnt happen at work but I had to throw him in, I have an itty bitty crush on the cutie pie). I have days at work, like everyone, where I want to gouge my eyes with the letter opener and sometimes wonder how long we could live off of our 457 (b) and 401(a) accounts. OK, maybe not everyone does or feels these things, but lets not forget I'm in "transition" of changing careers.

Yesterday was different, I had a really meaningful experience and have to share. I work for the County I reside in at our central office known as the C.A.C. (County Administration Center). Our county is the 2nd largest (in square miles) in the country and one of the fastest growing in the nation, for more info visit County of Riverside.

I work in Human Resources, in the Benefits division on the retirement team and I help people retire. Sometimes it's challenging usually it's rewarding but today I felt like a really made a difference. I had an oppourtunity to help a retiree/grandmother who is trying to access retirement funds for her daughter in-law who is 5 months pregnant and close to delivering. This is not rocket science, it is just way to early to deliver a baby at 5 months. This money she is waiting for will pay for medication that will help the baby develop quicker and is not covered by her insurance company, who is probably run by the devil, himself. Long story short, she used the wrong form, we didnt catch it, mom to be needs meds ASAP. The Mom -in law really poured her heart out and was crying as she shared this with me, it was really all I could do to pull back the tears and gave me a huge hug at the end.

Later in the day, I got to phone the Mom-in law and tell her that a check will be fed-ex'd tomorrow from Houston and she should recieve it on Friday afternoon at the latest. As we ended our conversation on the phone, she was in tears and said she will always remember me and pray for me. I thought, wow, with all she has on our plate, she is going to remember me.

I was given an oppourtunity to make a difference and I ran with it. I think I will always remember her, as well.

New toy

My mom is as cool as a cucumber. She not only brought a super yummy salad to sis-in -laws b-day party at our house last night but brought me a little present from Rogers Gardens. I've promised to share it with her. We are cupcake lovers, currently addicted to Sprinkles and the little cakes looked so cute placed atop this little nick-knack. I love it, I will have it forever though I will use it occasionally.

What I absolutely love about this piece (besides the great orange/red that totally matches my Le Creuset) is that it conveniently folds up and looks just as cute folded as it does extended.

If you are a lover of little cakes, like myself, check out quirky cupcake.

What's your favorite cupcake/icing combo?

Mail

There is an odd pleasure I receive from arriving home and finding a piece of mail that comes unexpected with my name on it. Since I was little, I LOVED to see what kind of surprise that scalding metal box held ( Let's not forget, I reside on the surface of the sun from May till October).

I treasure the snail mail from friends and family, all who have unique and beautiful penmanship and share a love for stationary that is reciprocated. I LOVE MAIL.

Today, like every day, I asked D the magic question - ANY MAIL FOR ME. There was a stack, oh yeah - come to mama. First piece is an envelope containing AIG VALIC investment statement for our accounts, Progressive auto insurance ad, letter from Old University telling me to complete some silly survey and then a letter from the school I'm about to start attending. HMMMMM, I wondered aloud, thinking oh, it must be more orientation material for next week.

Nope, it was a letter that started with "Congratulations on your admission as a degree seeking student with post-baccalaureate status at _______University. Your application to the MA/Credential Mild to Moderate L1TA program has been approved for regular admission standing for the GR Spring 1 2008 term.

Ok , well, that is good news because um, well, I've registered for classes, signed up for money to be sent to you on my behalf (that I will be paying off until I'm medicare eligible) and oh yeah - TOLD THE FREAKIN WORLD I was starting school in this program in 2 weeks. A little late but I guess better late than never.

Looking forward to seeing what arrives in the mail tomorrow.

Froggy and Monkey

Are these place settings cute or what? I was walking down the housewares aisle at Tarjay and fell in love. Immediately, I rationalized - in speed demon fashion- I need these because both my niece and nephew will be over this weekend for sis-in-law's b-day party we are throwing and they need their own place setting. Our forks are just to big...........

I loved the froggy and monkey both - it was all I could do to not

purchase the ladybug that was also part of this set.

Too cute for words.

Ouch!!!

I was doing some light housework yesterday and did *something* to my back. The thing is, I have only had a back problem one other time in my life and I was on the couch for three days. It happened quickly, one minute I was sweeping the dog hair off the tile and the next I was having a problem breathing. Yes, I jacked up my back so bad that whatever I pulled is pressed against my lungs and causing me difficulty to take a deep breath. OUCH!!!

I was in denial about it yesterday and determined to work through the pain, not letting it affect my Saturday. I painfully sat through 27 dresses (highly reccomended for anyone who has been in a wedding) and a de-lish dinner at Taps in Corona. Today is a different story, the pain has left, it is easier to breathe but now it's just really sore.

I've currently taken up residence on our recliner with the heating pad. Oh sweet recliner, how I love you so.........

It's official - I'm a Graduate student

I had a successful meeting with the Dean of Azusa Pacific University, provided my writing sample and have been told that I'm accepted. As my counselor, "E", reminded me - this process of being accepted was not very exciting and indeed anti-climactic. I discovered I was accepted when I was told to register for my classes and my registration was accepted. Hold on to your hats, this is exciting stuff folks.

"E" stated that acceptance into Graduate school is not nearly as exciting as getting into an Undergrad program. Because I spent way too much time at our local community college I did a very "boring" transfer to University of Redlands. I shouldn't say it was boring being accepted to a great school like University of Redlands, I still have the acceptance letter and treasure it - there weren't many fireworks though.

The exciting part is that I'm a Graduate student going to Graduate school pursuing a Graduate degree. Now that is exciting. Class starts February 4th and I'm relishing my last few days of freedom while simultaneously counting down the days till school starts.

Birthday girl

Here is another great photo from the birthday celebration. The birthday princess and her Grandma Sherrie.

Happy Birthday Ella!

Our neice turned One year this week and we celebrated yesterday. She is just absolutely adorable and we love her to pieces. Here are some photos from her celebration.

School Interview

Tomorrow, I will interview with the Dean of the school I will be attending and receive my Master's in Special Education and credential in teaching. I called today to confirm the appointment and the make sure all materials from the main campus have been sent to the satellite campus, where I will be attending. After much confusion and many phone calls (during work- urghhhh) I came to the conclusion that the main campus was not going to be able to fax my file over in time for the appointment, originally scheduled for 6:00 PM this evening. They couldn't even find my file........ A few minutes later I received a frantic call stating that I should call and reschedule for tomorrow and my counselor would personally fax it over to the Dean.

Was that so hard, really? It's called customer service folks - buy a book, read all about it.

After this disappointing discovery I phoned my campus to let them know that I would need to reschedule and the Dean was happy to accommodate, given the circumstance. During this discussion, I asked if this would be a formal interview and to give me an idea of what I should be prepared for. She explained it was not a traditional interview - no need to put on the pantyhose of death though I will be asked to provide a writing sample. I love to write, am I good at it - that is debate-able (not even sure that is a word). I enjoy writing, I like to write for pleasure. An interview is already a tense situation and now I have to write something. YIKES....... I'm sure the topic will be education related, maybe, maybe not.

We'll see.

A Game Called Tag

I've just been tagged by Jules to offer seven odd facts about myself, here it goes:

1. My pinky toes are not shaped like a "normal" toe and instead look like they could be cone-head characters on SNL.
2. Before I was 7 years old I had broken both my leg and arm, not that I was an athletic child - just super klutzy.
3. I thought for sure I would grow up and be a "Solid Gold Dancer". Anyone remember that show?
4. I'm a HUGE fan of the 80's New Wave band Duran Duran and have had the pleasure of meeting them in person.
5. I registered at age 18 and voted in every election, except one. This is my PSA- Remember- Every Vote counts - GET OUT AND VOTE!
6. I can sing the alphabet backwards.
7. My cousin can trace her family lineage to being 14th cousins twice removed from Prince Harry and Prince William, on her father's side. I'm related to her on her mother's side which makes me not related to the royal family.

Another New Pot

Most days I feel lucky, I mean really lucky. Good health, great friends, supportive and humorous family and I have a really great husband. He is one of those people who is truly gifted at giving gifts, puts special thought and consideration to come up with very meaningful gifts. He listens to my constant rambling around the holidays which this year sounded something like this.... " Oh, the I- phone, no too expensive and just too much technology. Five minutes later, oh you know what would be great - plan a trip somewhere for us and surprise me- no we have every weekend booked for the next 3-6 months (unfortunately not exaggerating). A few minutes later, Ok - I got it, I would love a gift certificate to a month worth of Yoga classes." I know what he is thinking - too impersonal. And while most pots and pans arent meaningful, this one holds special meaning as it has been on my *dream* things to purchase list that aren't in the budget yet remains practical.

Fortunately, he picked up on my enthusiasm and envy while wrapping a Le Creuset dish we were giving my Dad this year and then decided to pick up this darling new pot. Knowing that I love all, well, most things French, this was very exciting and while I'm not into collecting anything, I did mention to my husband that there is a Le Creuset outlet store in Cabazon, on the way to his parents new home.

As for this beautiful pot - I love it, the shape, the color and most importantly that my husband picked it out.

So far, I've made Chicken Noodle soup and it turned out really well.