SO MANY BOOTS

and just not enough time. also money. i remember when my rent was 300 a month--but i would also be willing to be homeless for these boots. mwah!!

this is the fantasy suite from zappos.com. a great place for shoes, boots, and indulgences of all kinds. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!

Dinner with the bachelorettes

My close girlfriends, from waaay back, and I got together for dinner the other night at the best Thai restaurant in non-Hollywood, LA. Samunluong in Pomona is our frequent hang--out. Amazing food, fast service, cheap prices. It's the triple threat--therefore, irresistible to Asians.

We try to meet about once a quarter for what we call a Hump Dinner--that refers to our "Dry Hump in the Suberbs" meetings. Yes, that's right--I said "Dry Hump."

This unsavory term evolved, as we considered ourselves the lighter, more innocent version of "Sex in the City" (our favorite show to watch together when we lived in a rickety old house many years ago, across from a crack den full of friendly children). 

That is a story for another time.  But just so you know, I'm Carrie. Plus Charlotte. But agewise, I'm the Samantha. :(

Anyway, some snaps: Kimi, Kat in Hipstamatic retro-glory.

A snapshot of the midwest

Hello, Michiganders! I am quite charmed by your lovely trees, the friendly folks, the nonchalant neighborliness. However, I am now floored by your festivals--the parades, in particular. 

We were lucky enough to experience the Grand Floral Blossomtime Parade this past week, in all its glory in St. Joseph, Michigan. So many tinselled floats! So many princesses waving stiffly! So many marching bands with one lone piccolo player tooting and marching with all his might.

And oh, one delightful little new friend. This boxer pup was 12 weeks, and just as frisky and friendly as you can imagine, with one wet sniffling nose, liquid brown eyes, and an impossibly enthusiastic waggling tail.

Pup: "Ooh! Ooh! Take me home!"
Me: "Oh, puppy, I would love to. But your mean owner and my mean hubby and the mean police won't allow it. We'll just have to be pen pals."
Pup and Me: *Whimper.* Ah well.

Another big highlight of the trip was seeing family. We got to catch up with Teresa and Michael, my cultured, globetrotter brother and sister in-law, who currently reside in Tokyo and live a high-flying life complete with frequent exploration of Japan, many international friends, and in Teresa's case, knitting.

Here she is, the lovely Teresa from Tokyo (by way of Chicago), with her own creation--a hand-knitted hat, topped with a leather flower we found in a Bangkok market. Yes, she is really that cute, and that dimple is NOT photoshopped in. Btw, we were eating in an Indian restaurant. That makes this photo extra multi-cultural!

Speaking of Asians, I saw this rubber chicken bag in O'Hare airport, and had to, HAD to snap a quick, furtive picture. Isn't it hilarious? I think taking this bag with me to Trader Joe's, the library, and then to Anthropologie for the day would be perfectly appropriate.

Good-bye, Midwest! Your blossoms, as well as your people are gorgeous, bright, and welcoming. But I have to get myself back to California, where people may be rude, but the sun shines more than 6 weeks/year. What's that? Oh come on--that's not a huge exageration, is it?

swing maven

Anyone who swing dances in LA knows who Rusty Frank is. She is a professional dancer, owner of a popular dance studio, and generally a fox who knows how to work a white satin blouse.

I've taken several months of lessons with her and am delighted by her style--she always appears comfortable but with a certain timeless flare. Is she retro? Is she modern? Yes and yes. And she can dance circles around just about anyone.

Oh, and have I mentioned, she is queen of the posing for pictures in a non-staged manner. I have much to learn from her. Begone, awkward stance!