Dust Off Your Dancing Shoes, Ladies.

These two ladies are my partners-in-crime tonight. The three of us are dusting off our old dancing shoes and hitting the town.

Watch out Vegas, we're back.

The three of us (that would be myself, Double L and Eener and years ago a few more, before people started running off and getting married) used to be regulars down on the Las Vegas Strip. No joke, several of my friends referred to me as "Club Monster Katie". Most of the time, I don't miss rolling in at 4 a.m. smelling like a nightclub. The crowds, the drinks spilt on your new shirt, the sleazy men who think that humping you from behind is dancing, the $16 sugar-free Red Bulls...but every once in awhile, we'll get an itch, an itch to re-live what used to be a normal weekend for us.

So a few weeks ago, we picked this date as an Official Girl's Night Out. (I remember when it used to be 11 p.m. on a Saturday and we'd decide to hit the club and now we need three weeks notice!) In preperation of this evening, I picked up the current issue of Las Vegas Weekly a few minutes ago and WOW, there I found a complete GUIDE on what to do and who is offering what to local ladies. There are 36 possibilities on this list if you include the gay clubs (which we do). It's a bit overwhelming.

So we're starting with a step one with the girls arriving at my place at 7:30 for pre-dinner cocktails. Needless to say, the next post should be an interesting one.

Oh and don't be surprised if I call you at 2 a.m. for a ride home :)

My Morning Needed Saving

Last night, Lauren and I had an impromptu wine party in her backyard last night. It was the first night in a long time that it was comfortable (at least in sweats) to sit outside. We were planning on having one, maybe two glasses each. I must have said 3 or 4 times, "Ok, I'll go after this glass" but before you knew it...the whole bottle was gone and we were half-lit on a Tuesday night.

This morning was a little rough, hence my morning needing saving. This sure did it for me though. Three items and I was a new woman ready for this Wednesday. A Grande Vanilla Latte, Reduced-fat (ha!) Cinnamon-swirl Coffee Cake and a Venti Ice Water. I heart you, Starbucks. Thanks for saving me. Again.

Costa Mesa + The Oscars

My weekend was everything I had hoped it would be. I arrived Friday evening after a nice, smooth drive listening to Untouched by The Veronicas (I just can't get enough of that song!) and stories from This American Life on NPR. When I arrived, I walked into Lisa's new spot to find her boyfriend, Clayton, and his brother, Max, cooking us up a meal! And to top THAT off, Clayton immediately made us some delicious mojitos and boy, they sure did pack a punch. I toured her new house, our favorite they've been in yet, and sat in the backyard while the food finished simmering. A bit later, Lisa and I cabbed it to a little spot called Memphis and continued to enjoy the evening air and drinks. (BTW, the cabby on the way there, totally ripped us off but that's a story for another day, I'm keeping this one positive.)

Saturday morning brought me my Juice It Up! and Shirley's bagels, so you know I was a happy girl. Lisa and I lounged for awhile and then packed up the bikes and headed over to Huntington for some afternoon drinks and Mexican food at Fred's. We rode off our fajitas down the beach, stopping along the way to take some photos...

The sky had a breathtaking early morning feel to it that just brought a calmness to the surroundings. On the way back from the beach, we stopped for groceries for dinner that night. Lisa introduced me to Grower's Direct (the freshest produce with the most reasonable prices ever...seriously, we walked out of there with two full bags for $18), Mother's and Henry's (HOLY SNACK BINS). PY came up from LA to spend the evening with us and we all enjoyed some gluten-free pizzas (some were even dairy-free but we all know about my love of cheese so I didn't go there) and plenty of wine. PY and I spent a lot of time on the back deck talking about life and matters of the heart. I think we both needed it.

Yesterday brought that walk on the beach and some scarf shopping at American Vintage.




Mid-afternoon, Lisa packed me up some coffee, snacks for the road and a few mix c.d.s along with some Cat Power to enjoy. Before I knew it, I was back in Las Vegas watching the Oscars.

Speaking of...I REALLY enjoyed the show last night. I thought Hugh Jackman did an excellent job and I liked the way they presented the acting awards (with past winners giving a small speech about the nominees' performance). Slumdog Millionaire sure was the little movie that did. I cried when Heath won. I loved Kate Winslet's dress (and that she won), Angelina's emeralds and the color of Natalie Portman's and Alicia's Keys' dresses (so pretty in pink!). Oh and of course, this guy. I didn't win the Oscar Pool I was in ($300!) but I did score 19 out of 24 correct so I was pretty pleased.

Now I am ready for March.

California Bound

Ahhh, in just 24 short hours from now, I will be in my favorite state. The state of carefree California. I am leaving tomorrow morning to go visit Lisa G. for a much, much needed escape from Vegas and reality. I plan on taking a barefoot walk on the beach, getting at least two of my famous concoctions from Juice It Up! and having more than a few drinks and long talks with one of my favorite people (see Lisa G.). If it wasn't for Pep, I would even consider turning off my cell phone for the next three days but I am going to try to keep my contact with the outside world limited.

I plan to come back refreshed and revamped. I hope you all enjoy your weekend, as well :)

Lauren Comes Home Today a.k.a. A GLORIOUS DAY

This girl right here (<---) comes home today from spending some time in China with PY. It's been TEN days since we've hung out. TEN days since we got to talk on the phone. Now for some of you, this may not seem like a big deal but take into consideration that Lauren is my person. For example, when my drink from Starbucks is extra delicious, I call her to tell her that. And the best? She is STOKED for me (and a little jealous if hers was not of the same quality that morning). If I need to take a little break time from work, I'll send her an email communicating just in clip-art (it's pretty much become a competition now and she currently owns the title of "Best Use of Clip-Art in an Email" but I plan on getting that title back this week.) When we're out (and if our hair in the same color), people always think we are sisters (which I take as a huge compliment). When I saw her number light up on my caller i.d. just a few moments ago (calling from her layover in San Fran), my face lit-up just as it did on Valentine's Day when I opened my box of candy from Bear to see Cadbury Mini Eggs inside.

(And on a side-note, I usually like to keep these things private but I do have to give a special thank you to Bear for really coming through on Valentine's Day. The previously mentioned Cadbury Mini Eggs, the beautiful necklace, the roses with accompanying lilies, the cutest-card-ever and dinner at Nora's made for a lovely evening.)

I feel like I have so much to tell her when Gordon and I reunite with her at Starbucks after work. I knew I should have been taking notes. I do know that I already have TWO trips to talk to her about (my travel bug is back with a vengeance, starting with a trip to California this weekend).

Anyone who knows Lauren knows I'm not exaggerating when I say she truly is the nicest person you will ever meet. She is so genuine in who she is and is such a giver. She's got a HUGE brain, great looks and can make me laugh until my stomach hurts. She kicks ass at everything she does (again, not exaggerating), soccer, beer pong, Big Buck Hunter, you name it...she'll take you down. She loves Coca-Cola more than she loves me (she would argue this but it's Ok with me). She has more drive than anyone I've ever met. She owns a beautiful house that I miss living in. She is the girl who picked me up out of the bathtub in a duck costume (the Daisy to my Donald.) She makes the world's best artichoke dip. She is the girl who after my car accident when we were 16, showed up at my door with Ben and Jerry's ice cream. She is an awesome artist. She is the girl that used to take me home in the middle of those great high-school hang out nights at 11:47 (depending on if I got an "extension" or not) and always made sure I was home by curfew. She is organizer of good karma stuff like our habitat for humanity (Corazon to be exact) outing and she has rescued more than one lost animal by bringing it into her home.

Most importantly, she has rescued me on a NUMBER of occasions by being there for me through thick and thin. Thank you, LoBo, for being someone we should all aspire to be. I love you and am so glad you're home. And as mentioned previously on the phone, please do not ever be out of contact for ten days again.

KTHXBAI!

For the Lovers

An Open Letter to Justin Timberlake

Dearest Justin,

I am not sure if you read Heart Shaped Cut-Outs of Cheese but I would like to think that through six-degrees of separation, someone you know does and this letter will get to you. Now, let's get down to business.

Justin, my love, I need you to make a new album.

I know you've been busy with golf and your acting career and William Rast (love those jeans!) and whats-her-face but let's not forget your ROOTS. I was watching your performances at the Grammy's this past weekend and rewound each one like four times just to experience them again. You are my FAVORITE. I mean didn't you love being on stage with Al Green singing your little heart out and what about sharing that moment with T.I. right before he goes to the slammer....that's GOOD stuff, man.

When I was home for lunch today, I saw a ticket from your HOB concert pinned up on my bulletin board. It was just a few weeks before FutureSex/LoveSounds came out and do you know when it was dated, JT? August 16, 2006. TWO AND A HALF YEARS AGO. SexyBack was great but c'mon, you can't ride that wave forever. You gotta give us MORE. And don't get upset with me, Justin, you're the one that started this. You remember, way back in the N*Sync days, wooing us with your curly blonde 'fro and high-pitched voice...yeah and then you broke off to find your solo career and I was upset with you at first but now...now...I crave new music from you and you alone.

So please, find it in your heart to get back in the studio and come out with something new for us.

Write back soon.

All my love,

Katie

Three Flights

I live in a third floor 600-foot condo. You would think this would stop a girl from going overboard and purchasing more-than-she-needed items from Target and Trader Joe's. But oh no. Instead, I get everything I need (and more plus Gordon) and haul it up three flights of stairs.
So I stand corrected on my previous post. I am awesome AND buff.

I Am Awesome.

It's true. And I feel just fine saying it since I've been feeling a little down lately, I think it's perfectly fine to remind myself that I am truly awesome. Especially after coordinating such a successful event as I did the other night. With the help of Stacy and my other SK+G Girls...we pulled off the biggest opening for a pizza joint in Las Vegas (and maybe the world), EVER. Don't believe me? Then believe John Kats, journalist for Greenspun Media Group. He summed it up the best here. Oh wait and you should watch this, too.

Divine Designer Dwelling

I get on these kicks. Kicks where I just want to reorganize everything. I'm sure, this, on top of everything else in my life right now, has a lot to do with my quarter-life crisis. But I have always had an itch for change, at least when it comes to my space. Every Christmas and Birthday (yes, it gets capitalized because it's a major holiday in my life), I would ask for new bedding, new curtains, new anything to switch it up. I've been known to rearrange my furniture 2-3 times a year. However, working with the 600 square feet that is my ENTIRE manor right now, doesn't leave me much room for change. When I was in Disneyland a few months ago, I fell in love with the lanterns over the teacups. Hence this:
Second, I've always done a picture board. Every year for as long as I had the ability to take photos of my life and friends. Once a year, I would gather all my favorite photos and make them into a collage of my life over the past 12 or so months. I LOVED it, I would just lay in bed and reminisce over all the good times while staring at my poster board.

I was on the phone with The Wiz last night though and I told her "Linz, it's the end of an era. I have discontinued the picture board." "Woah, what??" This is it's replacement.

Well, part of it at least. I still need about 15-20 more frames. But I went on Kodak and ordered 40 of my favorite prints in all different sizes and am making a new tradition. I like new these days :)