Sunday, December 26, 2004 06:57 a.m.

Chirstmas wrap-up! Christmas typically begins on December 24 with my family. Every year, as far back as my 30 years of memories will go, we have an open house at my Popo's house in Kaimuki. Lots of family, friends, food, drink, music and Santa. This year was as any other. I stuffed my self. Had a small glass of wine and sat back and watched the night unfold. T's brother and mom joined us this year and my bro-in-law had a blast tacking pictures and video of all my wacky relatives. The kids, whom most are now teenagers, went beserk when Santa arrived. Strange thing, as he was calling out names to hand out presents, he called me, T, Daisha, Caeli and a few adults. He was handing us envelopes, which was strange as nobody remembered loading his sack up with it. I opened my envelope to find a funny note saying, You've Been Bad This Year. I thought that was funny. Turns out Jessie stuffed the bags with these envelopes. Damn Kids!

Prior to the festivities at Popo's we were at T's mom's house up the street to open Christmas presents and take some pictures. She seemed to enjoy her gift from us a nice soft down blanket and I blew up a nice photo I took of T and Kai. She gave some little gifts from Tiffany. Caeli bought us a home depot gift card and Kai made out with a bunch of toys and a Red Sox onesie, Caeli couldn't help himself.

We called the eve an early night an ultimatly headed home around 10.30 or so.

I woke up with Kai at 6.30 on christmas. I was in no hurry to open gifts and didn't really have a choice. Caeli was coming over at 9 or 9.30 so we needed to wait and my mom wanted to get a headstart on some breakfast. We went to my aunts next door to watch them open there gifts for a bit and at about 10 or so we dove into our gifts. As you may have guessed Kai received the most prezzies. Lots of adorable clothes and toys! I received a few items, gift cards, a cute tweed jacket, money and beautiful make up brush kit and black Uggs. T received some tees, gift cards, and gadgets. My mom bought us this gift card which can be used to buy any item (no shipping) in an accompanying catalog. I know she was hoping we'd buy the crock pot but its six quarts! We're opting for the Panini maker and will buy a crock pot when we get home. After the two houses finished with gifts we had a great big breakfast together on the patio and lounged in the backyard. Later in the evening we all headed down to the Mai Tai bar at the Royal Hawaiian to wrap up the Christmas festivities. Of course we were the rowdiest bunch there and Kai was a picture of perfection!

Christmas is now officially over. Popo's house must be reconstructed to its former state, our living room needs to be tidied, and my junk food binge is coming to a screeching halt. I don't want to help with any clean up. I'm totally in vacation mode. Maybe i'll go to the swap meet. I really must go to Savers at least 2 or 3 times before leaving. Now that the holiday and family obligations have been met, not bad since it was completed within four days, I can really start my vacation!

Thursday, December 23, 2004 07:15 a.m.

We've made it to Hawaii. After an hour delay at Burbank we made it here at about 1.30pm. What felt like an eternity at baggage claim, we stepped out into the hawaii air to be blasted with awful, awful humidity. Damn! I forgot about that. It was rainy and humid, my two least favorite things in the world. I left California with nice straight hair only to get to my parents with a semi-knotted, partially frizzed mane! Ultimately the plane ride went pretty smoothly. Kai didn't cry unless he was hungry or sleepy, he was a very talkative happy baby. We did have a three person row and there was a person sitting with us trapped up against the window. She was about our age and didn't really get to talk until the last hour of our flight. Its funny, she too is orginially from Hawaii, lives about 10 minutes away from us in LA and works at our favority restaurant in Silverlake, Millies. And after we got to talking about Hawaii a bit she even know some of the same people. Coincidences are very funny!

I got off the plane with a massive migraine. And after picking up some lunch at Kozo sushi and a little chinese place in Kaneohe and getting home I called it a day, grabbed a blankie, changed my clothes and attemted to curl up and sleep on the couch. Didn't work. I sat on the floor in the bathroom in complete darkness, didn't work. Took a shower, sorta worked. PUked my guts out, sorta worked but gross. Took some tylenol took a few hours to work. Four and a half hours later the migrane was just a bad memory. Saw some relatives, not to hard since my aunt and uncle live next door, then drove down into Kailua, near the beach to see some other relatives. Some of my cousins are in town, since they are off until spring training, so I got to see one of them yesterday i'll see the others as christmas nears.

I had an awesome sleep. And am ready for a new day. I need to go to Daiei, need to pick up a picture frame for T's mom and one more, maybe two more gifts for my brother-in-law.

Sunday, December 19, 2004 06:21 p.m.

Today was a marathon cleaning session for us. We want to make sure the house is spotless, or near spotless, when we leave for vacation. There is nothing worse then going on vacatio and having to come back to a messy home. We all woke up around 9am today. After the baby was fed we dressed and zipped off to K-Mart in Burbank then to breakfast in Silverlake. We took our normal route into Silverlake and I hadn't realized we hadn't been in that neighborhood since before Kai was born! I was very surprised to see a bunch of new apartment/condos built near the Vons on Fletcher. We rounded the dog park and I was sad that I couldn't be there with the puppies. Especially sine it was Boston Terrier meet-up day. *Sigh* Breakfast was pretty good. Although, Kai is very grabby now. You see, he has to sit in your lap so he can see everything and now he reaches onto the table to touch and feel everything. Last week he stuck his hand in my baked potato. We each ordered coffee which was served in our own cute, fat french press. Yum! I've been laying off the coffee so to have yummy, strong coffee was such a treat.

After breakfast we came home and immediately started cleaning and doing laundry. Since Val was stopping by at three we really had to work within a strict frame. Anyway we got everything accomplished. Since T promised his co-workers christmas treats, guess whose making those treats. That's right moi! Deep dish mint brownies, my specialty. I need to make two batches so he takes some and I'll take some as well.

Yesterday on the way to work I got a flat tire. That was one of my big fears. A flat tire, alone on the road in the dark. Yep, that was me. I didn't panic, even though I thought I would. It wasn't a blow out just a flat. I pulled over on the 134, one exit before my exit. How sad. I don't have AAA but BMW gives all owners free road side assistance (exactly like AAA) so I was able to call for some help. I wasn't feeling so confident to change my own tire on the side of a semi-busy freeway. Sad thing is I left home extra early to get to work 45-minutes early and get a head start on my quality stuff. But while i was waiting for road side assistance, I powered up my laptop and worked in the car. Time management is one of my strong points!

Tomorrow is my day off. yeah! I need to do a last minute shopping trip for two secret santa gifts. Im still wondering why I opted myself into two! Then Kai has a doctor appointment for his last round of baby shots. Then T is dropping me off at work for a management holiday dinner. T and Kai will be visiting with T's dad while I'm off at Cafe Santorini. I'm looking forward to the meal, I saw risotto on the menu, yum! I'm having risotto, hands down.

Thursday, December 16, 2004 06:28 a.m.

Last three songs on the radio on the way to work:

Tuesday, December 14, 2004 08:57 p.m.

I was in contact today with so many of my friends it was great! I chatted on Y! IM with Amberskin, and I got e-mail from Kris, Johnny and Shelli. I love hearing from friends. I don't get a chance to speak to all of them very often so when ever I get e-mail or have the chance to chat online it is so warm and fuzzy. I love hearing the updates in my friends lives. Some of these friends i've had for ages and its so great that we've been able to keep in touch all these years.

Today was so busy. I spent the entire work day delivering quality audits which I had pre-scheduled for everyone. It was awesome. Everything ran so smoothly and kept me focused on what I had to do for the day. Of course that was less 40-min of changing my Y! avatar's clothes and hairstyle. I've settled on an avatar with pigtails and a skirt with boots. its cute, for now.

After work I swung by Costco to pick up my pictures and then came home to change, feed Kaii and let the dogs out. After that we went by clay's tattoo shop. T had to meet with Clay to go over some web design specs. The traffic there and back sucked. I'm so glad our home and office is so relatively close to each other if just driving down to cahuenga and hollywood gave me a mini panic attack. Me and traffic don't mix. My heart races, I clutch the "oh shit bar" (the little handle above the window) and I grind my teeth. Yes, I have serious issues. I suck as a passenger. I panic, I backseat drive and I hyperventilate. That's only in traffic and semi-traffic. I guess i've been in one to many car wrecks. As a driver I'm calm and cool and in control. As a passenger just pray we're not in bad traffic cause i'll cry.

Today's outfit:

Monday, December 13, 2004 04:59 p.m.

I just finished watching Dodgeball. You know, it was really funny. Unbeknownst to me, until viewing Dodgeball anyway, I am a fan of these Ben Stiller movies. Funny stuff. Not much that I need to think about while watching them, just sit back, relax and laugh. Chuckle, giggle, snort whatever you want to do. I, laugh out loud.

I had a relaxing and uneventful weekend. Saturday was just work. Then spent the early part of the evening shopping on Ventura Blvd in Studio City. I love all the little shops on Ventura. T and I didn't buy anything for ourselves and surprisingly Kai didn't get anything either. However we did buy a bunch of little treats and toys for the doggies at Maxwell Dog.
Let's see. Sunday, hmmm....made a big breakfast, watched some TV and played with the baby and then met Val for lunch at Clearman's North Woods Inn in Covina. It was yummy, we all had steak and then I topped it off with a chocolate rum sundae. Although it was a nice day and evening I was sad that Charmed was a re-run. The upside is I got to watch Arrested Development. And the best new show was on last night as well: Desperate Housewives!

I finally got the photos printed for my Christmas cards so tomorrow they will all be sent out! Today we took Kai to take photos with Santa. He has a huge smile on his face. I'll have to scan the photos in since it is so adorable!

Saturday, December 11, 2004 03:46 p.m.

This week flew by. Work, work and more work. Work at work, work at home, work in my dream (shudder)! All this in preparation for vacation. I'm pretty anal about wrapping up all my loose strings before I leave for an extended period of time. My bosses love it, and I deal with it because the outcome is so worth it.

I've worn my new jeans two days in a row! Love it! Yesterday I wore it with ballet flats, a green tanktop layered with a black tank top and a vintage cashmere sweater with embroidered cherries. Today its topped with a black Paul Frank tee and a green tank underneath and a black cardigan. Noticed how i wear almost the exact same thing two days in a row. I frankly don't care, its easy and I know what works. Today is a beautiful day, warm and sunny. I don't want to go straight home. T did some major cleaning today. Yeah! I really want to vaccuum the house cause the carpet is disgusting and with the small fry rolling all over the place i need to keep it clean.

But before cleaning I want to play!

Thursday, December 9, 2004 09:35 p.m.

It's so great to see that the Twins aren't going the Kathy Lee sweatshop route. I'll fee a lot better about myself when I buy my Mary Kate and Ashley denim vest and matching denim floppy hat! On to another Ashlee. If its not lip syncing in front of a live audience it's partying till you drop.

I've decided that before I leave for Hawaii I'll be wrapping up all my projects. This is a big task as I only have a week and a half to do this. I'm quite ambitious but I have confidence in myself. I will complete all projects even if it means working thorugh the night to get it down, plus who doesn't love overtime pay.

Earlier this evening we went to Barney's to, finally, pick up our jeans. Yeah! We're going to be dorks tomorrow and wear our matching jeans. Luckily they are differnt washes and luckily we don't work in the same building. When T isn't watching i'm going to try on his pair and see if the fit. If they do i'll have two pairs of True Religions. I do love the the cute horseshoe embroidery on the back pockets. Gotta love cute butt pockets. I'm giddy.

Wednesday, December 8, 2004 09:00 p.m.

Someone lost their wallet! Is this real or not? Who Cares, makes for good gossip.

Wednesday, December 8, 2004 05:45 a.m.

More on the xmas party. I had to work that day so I ate lunch , worked, hurried home, got dress (which took FOREVER cause I didn't pre-plan an outfit). Sitter, check...now just wait for Amanda. We headed to Jenny's house first for a birthday party then to the party at the California Mart. Weird layout but so what. They had a band which was awesome, Mediterranean food -which I didn't eat cause I just wasn't hungy, I headed straight for the bar along with everyone else. I got drunk pretty fast, that's what not eating will do to ya. Nontheless I had a great time! I think I danced with just about everyone. There were Joan Rivers and Paris Hilton impersonators hosting a fashion show which T participated in. Go to my photo album for some photos, general party photos anyway. I extended my sitter for an hour. I had a blast. This party rivals the union station one. While everyone headed to The Standard (for overpriced alcohol, ten-dollars for a Corona!) I headed home and called it a night. Fun had by all!

Work day two - outfit:

Tuesday, December 7, 2004 07:04 a.m.

Last two songs I heard on the radio before coming into work:

Friday, December 3, 2004 08:25 p.m.

I don't like J.Crew. I just don't! Clothes: nothing special. overpriced basics, really. I went in today to see if they had any pants I liked and could wear to my christmas party tomorrow night. Not so much. I did see a pair of wide leg, plaid pants. I envisioned the pants, with a white shirt and sweater vest and heels. Kinda hip, kinda preppy the look I wanted to go for. How much? Yeah, a hundred twenty-eight! I don't think so. The funny thing is that online the pants are 138! *wince*

Scrap that idea. Now I gotta re-evaluate my exisitng wardrobe and come up with something. I don't want to resort to dressy-jeans. I sport that look everyday, I want something a little different. Ugh! I really don't want to buy anything but I may have no choice or it's back to the jeans.

Val is coming over to watch Kai tomorrow night. I'm hoping we'll be dressed by the time she gets here cause I want to take our holiday picture tomorrow and have it printed at Costco on Monday and send my holiday cards out by Monday evening. That's the plan and I would like to stick to it as much as possible but I may have some difficulty since I rarely am able to stick to any type of Monday plan cause my days are so unpredictable.

I placed an order with Sephora last week but didn't order a new pressed powder compact cause they don't sell either of the two I normally buy online. I'm literally scraping the bottom of my existing compact and it is barely working. We were at Target this afternoon and decided to be thrifty and bought myself a Revlon eyeshadow, Covergirl nail polish and a LOREAL compact. I don't mind these make-up brands but my problem is unlike Sephora, you can't try the stuff on to make sure it really matcher your skin tone. I need to touch, feel and sample the goods. Yes, I'm one of those people. I also make the mistake of experimenting with a look the day of an even and not earlier in the day but while im getting dressed. I gotta plan better and try the make up on when I have more then an hour to spare. I'll never learn.

I had the chance to watch Spiderman 2 last night. Mmmm...okay, I guess. Not as action-packed as I was expecting nor wanted. I don't think I'll need to own the DVD for myself. Gotta remove it from my Amazon Wish List.

Thursday, December 2, 2004 09:05 a.m.

As if having a bad sore throad wasn't enough, I partially recovered and ended up with the stomach flu. All is better now but my puke-fest was awful. I hate puke in the hair!!!!! GROSS!

Knock it back, and have another one, drinking and driving is so much fun.....Not really, but I was listening to that song this morning. Drunk driving is a nightmare. I've driven drunk, really drunk, once and I regret it everyday. I didn't crash or anything but it was a cold, wet snowy night in Washington and I had know idea how to get back home from Evergreen State College. I was swerveing like a maniac, I would start to get off the highway and swerve back on, I was dumb. I was scared shitless and I am no longer reckless nor lacking as much common sense.

This weekend is my company holiday party. The theme is THE ART OF FASHION. Kind of queer but whatever. Last year was the BLACK AND WHITE BALL which meant super formal wear. I was three months pregnanat and had to buy a gown to conceal my expanding middle since I was still hiding the fact that I was expecting a baby from everyone but Amanda. Thank god this year isn't formal just nice. I really want to wear jeans but I won't I'll take the opportunity to dress a little nicer. This years party is at the LA Fashion Mart which I'm excited about. The company normally goes all out with these things. Past years our parties were at:
2003 California Science Center
2002 Hollywood Entertainment Museum
2001 The nice old part of Union Station
2000 Universal Stuidos/Citywalk

Im excited about and there will be more details and hopefully photos to come.