Do you remember, oh, I’d say about a few years ago, how all around the fashion world they always spoke about the top 10 fashion pieces you must own? you know – jeans, dress pants, little black dress, etc?  I remember Tim Gunn even had a show about it.  I remember he’d go to someone’s house (similar to how they do it on what not to wear), scare the shit out of the people, raid the closet, and after said and done, they’d have like 2 acceptable pieces. But then they go shopping {yay!} for more things in the top 10.  And then at the end he’d give them some insane token gift. I remember one was some expensive crocodile purse, a gorgeous cocktail ring, a custom dress.

Every time I’d watch that show, I’d get depressed. Why? Because my closet/wardrobe would not have one piece of clothing Tim Gunn would approve!  I’ve never cared too much about what I wear. I attribute that to my day job – where basically anything goes. I am usually wearing jeans, tank, and flip flops.  It’s great ya, but sometimes, I really wish I had to actually make some sort of effort.

Remember last year, when we redid our closet?  Oh wait, I have a pic:

Ya, there’s really a whole lot of not so hot going on in there. Sometimes I wish I could get on What Not to Wear. But then, I think that’d be a bad idea. I’d hate the ridicule. Boo.  So, this weekend I’m going to find another new pair of jeans. I love my Joe’s Jeans I got last year {TJ Maxx – clearance. $40!!} and I need another pair. Nordstrom’s is out of my range, but not the rack! Very excited.

So how many things do you have of the 10 totally necessary pieces per Tim Gunn?

Right now everyone’s itching for a holiday weekend.  I know I am. It’s been awhile!  We’re going to a bbq/anniversary bbq/UCLA kickoff bbq on Saturday with our friends.  Then I’ll be hanging out with my cousin and my favorite furry cousin Sunday.  Monday is dedicated to all BDD all the time. What’s that mean? I’ve got some orders to finish up, and I have to HAVE TO work on my website. 

I had sent out an email to past brides asking them how the wedding went, if they could write something up for me for a testimonial for the site, and photos from their wedding. I love hearing about everyone’s different wedding.  One bride lives in Canada and her and her now-husband are dancers. So they choreographed this whole first dance and it’s beautiful. Reminds me of SYTYCD even though I really don’t watch that show. lol.  And I’ve seen so many Fuchsia and Black weddings – LOVE IT.  So sassy!!

So what are you doing for Labor Day? Oh and Don’t forget – Monday is the RHO NJ 2nd part of the reunion! I wonder what psycho Danielle pulls out of her bag.

I know the commenters I have are few and far between. and mainly my friends {hi friends!} but I do get some random folks stopping by from time to time {hello!}  But I guess the whole football topic of conversation Friday didn’t really appeal to many? Ok.

What about the Emmys? Did you watch that? I normally don’t. But we went to my dad & step-mom’s for dinner and she is a huge fan. Mainly because she’s got a small bit on Mad Men right now and so she wants them to do well so hopefully she’ll be around next season. But not sure.  Anyways, I don’t know why I don’t watch it ~ I mean with all the tv I consume.  Mainly it’s all reality shows and there’s only 1 award for that. But I do watch my fair share of comedies but mainly dramas. 

I loved the opening number. Perhaps it’s cuz I’m a closet Gleek. And I love Vampire Diaries so laughed when I saw Elena {Nina Dobrev}. Someone on twitter asked if I thought she looked too skinny. I know she’s a thin girl,  but I think we’re so used to her wearing dark clothing with tshirts and jeans and not so much dressy outfits.  And my dad pointed out one of the guys from Lost was in the performance.

Then there was the trainwreck aka Kate Gosselin. Seriously woman, stop adding in the extensions and just go on  with raising your kids! Stop being an AW! {shout out to my girls knowing that acronym. ha ha}

I didn’t watch a lot of it. I watched the drama part. I loved Jimmy Fallon’s bits on the ending of Lost, Law & Order, and 24. He did a great job impersonating Elton John, Billy from Green Day and one of the guys from Boys II Men. Even with the dumping of the 40 – although that was NOT in a Boys II Men song. I think it was Snoop? Maybe? Someone else.

Hmm what else. I loved Jane Lynch’s speech. She was so surprised & flustered that I loved it. I loved that all the Glee cast sat together. I can’t wait for the new season!  I didn’t like Kim Kardashian’s bit with JimmyFallon, but I did love the one he did with Amy Poehler.

OH. and what was up with Mariska Hargitay’s outfit? She looked like a bride. Beautiful dress for a wedding! Not so much the Emmy’s.  But she’s beautiful so I give her a pass.

What did you think of the Emmys? Perhaps next year I’ll watch them more.  Best Dressed? Worst? I loved Jane Lynch’s dress!

Happy friday folks. Best day of the week in my opinion. Well, I guess Saturday is great too since it involves NO work at all that day. But with friday at least you have some productivity and something amazing to look forward to when it’s done – THE WEEKEND!!!

This weekend I’m so excited to be working on all the details for a baby shower I’m co-hosting next month {pics will come later. but not now. the mommy might read it!} and Sunday I’ll be going to her 1st shower with the family. It’ll be nice to participate as a guest And hopefully eat some cake!! 

Football season is almost upon us. Yes, I’m sure you’re surprised that I like football. I like football more because each week, with each game, I have the chance to be the winner in our weekly pool! I started playing the pool about 4 years ago and it’s grown to such a large size AND became web-based. Such a great way to keep an eye on your compadres! And purchased football tshirts for mine and the hubby’s fave team to wear.  Even though he thinks I like a “loser” team {The Saints}. I don’t care! I’ve loved them for a few seasons and I just think I admire their spirit the most.

So, I’ll be wearing my New Orlean’s Saints shirt on football sundays! woo woo!!!

Do you have a fave team? Do you play in a football pool? Does it make it more exciting or more stressful watching the games if there’s betting involved?

I don’t know where you live.  But here, where I live, it’s been a scorcherous few days.  I refuse to go outside. I might melt. I’ve tried to find the shadiest spots in our parking lot – but that’s a bit difficult in the afternoon as there’s only 2.  But I have figured out the fastest way to cool down my car. Before I pull out of the shady spot, crank the ac in the defrost vents only as high as it will go and it’ll blow all the hot air out. Then I change it to the face vents, and leave the shade.

LUCKILY it’ll drop down to the 70s by sunday! Gotta love so cal!  But today I wanted to send out a quick post for some wordpress theme options that I learned about from my dear friend Katrina - who has used them a few times, Themeforest!

I have been working on moving my business site from blogger to wordpress, as well as design a new {and actual} site.  I wanted to design a site, and then realized that’s way too much work. So I purchased a theme and have been working slowly to change the existing one into what I want. I am hoping to launch everything new for my anniversary – which is fitting as it celebrates the first cake topper I ever did!

So, if you have wordpress and want an updated blog, with gallery, portfolio, etc, check them out!

This weekend, my fam and I celebrating my late cousin’s birthday ( that was Thursday) and also his pup, Mysty, whose bday is tomorrow. I had to do a return at Nordstrom’s and my cousin told me about the puppy friendly mall – Fashion Island.

My husband, my mom, and I took her with us and oh my so fun! We saw a very well groomed poodle that was snowy white. And a little fluffball walking around. We took Mysty into the nordstrom’s and then shopped with her. See!

We had a great time and Mysty was so well behaved. She was also stopped a million times to get compliments on how pretty she is!!

This town is so pet friendly I love it!

Every now and then, I get a wild hair up my ass and decide to really go all out for cooking.  Today, while at the grocery store, I decided it was one of those days.  I decided I wanted a puerto rican style  chicken dish that I once had at my friends.  I know i wouldn’t find the true authentic recipe her dad had, but I was hoping to find something yum.

I took out my iPhone in the store, did a google search, and found a site (although now, it doesn’t appear to load on the internet???? Here it is, just in case it works again.

And, if it doesn’t, here’s the info:

• chicken thighs with bones {2-3 lbs}
• salt & pepper {for seasoning}
• oil {3 tbsp}
• onion, finely chopped {1}
• bell pepper, finely chopped {1 – any color. I used orange}
• garlic, minced {3-4 cloves. or if you buy it in a jar, 6-8 tsp}
• tomatoes {2 cups – I used the ones on the vine}
• cilantro, chopped {1/4 cup}
• oregano {2 tsp – I forgot to add this. oh well}
• bay leaves {2}
• chicken stock or water {2 cups – I used stock}

Things I added that aren’t listed

• all-spice {eyeballed it – probably about 2 tsp?}
• cumin {eyeballed it – probably about 3 tsp?}
• chili powder {I was afraid it’d need a kick. did 2 shakes of it. not much}
• capers, chopped {I added about 2 tsp}

Ok, so now that you have that, here’s what you do (and ps you need a really big skillet pan. Although I guess a dutch oven would work too. All the chicken has to fit in it, plus all the ingredients in the end…

1. Rinse & dry the chicken pieces & season with salt and pepper.  Heat the oil in the large pot over medium-high flame and brown the chicken on both sides, a few pieces at a time {I did 4 pieces then the remaining 4}  Set aside
2. Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the pot and saute until the onion softens and turns translucent {3-4 minutes}.  Stir in the tomatoes, cilantro, oregano, and bay leaves. Cook another 2-3 minutes to reduce some of the liquid
3. Add in the chicken stock & more salt & pepper as well as the cumin, all-spice, chili powder & capers. Stir together.  Return the chicken into the mix and cover with some of the broth/ingredient mixture. Bring to a boil, then simmer on medium low. Simmer 20-30 minutes.  {Or longer. At this point I started the Spanish rice a la rice-a-roni}.

It’s really a great dish.  The longer you let it simmer, the longer the marriage of all the ingredients! The rice-a-roni spanish rice was also amazing and easy.  And the hubby was really happy that I only used 2 pots to make it. Normally, I’m a 3-4 pot kinda gal. lol.

I was only going to post this if it was good. And I took only 2 pics of it. But it was good. And you should make this.  It’d be a great thing on a winter or fall night. And great for parties. Because you can do everything and have the house smell delish and give your guests wine while it all simmers together. they’ll never know it only took about an hour to make start to finish!

I wrote on my other blog last month about the tragic & sudden death of my cousin’s husband (but he is my cousin too) – Jim.   It’s been over a month since he passed and every now and then something happens and I think of some story long ago that happened, and I laugh.  It’s good to remember those days before to lighten your life when it gets so dark with death around you.

Today would have been Jim’s 36th birthday.  This weekend we would have all met up for a lunch and had some cake, and try to get a pic of him but he’d run and hide cuz he did not like photos of either himself, or himself in family photos. {it’s true. . .}  But every now and then we’d get him being silly and capture something like this:

So happy birthday Jim! We still love you and we still miss you!

Well the weekend is over and we’re making our way back home. 7-8 hours in a car is rough. But we took a different way home and the scenery was a lot better than the way up {and smelled better too}

We had a great time with family and did a lot considering the short time we were there. We hit up some local bars Friday once we got there. Had food from a food truck {first time ever!!} Supported gays’ rights and went to their Pride festival in Reno. We also walked through some of the casinos and saw the airbrushing shop with funny Twilight hats Went tubing down the river {4 hours!} Drank waaaaay too many beers during that trip. And today had breakfast at a yummy place. I think it was called Squeezed or something.

On the way home we stopped in Bishop and got yummy sandwiches and a huge cookie!!

And now for some photos. Hope you had a great weekend too!

There’s a whole lot of nothing to see for the past 2 hours of driving and for the next 4.5 more. See?