I LOVE, LOVE!

I walked into work the other night to do the overnight shift. To my delight my co-worker Katelyn said, “Your girls stopped by and left you a note.” Two of the girls I mentor left me a simple note, written on the back of a receipt. It’s not fancy. It didn’t cost a thing, but a moments pause and it just made my night! I keep this note in my planner now and every time I see it, it makes me smile and remember I am loved. I love them and I love, love!

Little Artist on the prowl…

 

 Definitely one of the coolest things about being around little kids is being able to see the joy they get of out of the littlest things in life. Watching a kid freak out because, “OMG! I just made a dot with paint all my myself!” or “OMG that cat is furry and soft! Really Aunt Nini! Feel it!” It all just puts the moments of life into perspective. The other day Ever and I worked on her colors some more. I took some leaves that are changing colors from green to yellow and orange right now and had her just explore painting with them. The idea is to encourage her curiosity and observation of her world. Check out the pics, they’re pretty cute!

Hmmm...what am I gonna create?

Lets try this...

Hmmmm....

That was cool!

Lets do it again!

 

Let me see your "Emo Artist Face!" ......Nice!

Tirtzah’s Bridal Shower…Purple Roses, Pumpkin Pasta and Prayers Galore

 

Aint to shabby a spread!

 

Hair clips were the parting gift…cause a good bride knows how to accessorize.

Yes, I'll have seconds thank you!

I heart these arrangements! The roses weren’t as purple as I wanted so I added purple cabbage to the vases

Diggin' into the Pumpkin Pasta..Thanks for the recipe Christy! Tirtzah and my new favorite Grandma! She's so chic!

Hostess trying to listen to 3 conversations at once…I’m such a spaz it’s almost cute.

 

I met my sweet friend Tirtzah of 5 years through my lifegroup at ROCKharbor. She is the sweetest fellow INFJ’r I know! We have had many deep and facinating conversations over tall Chai Latte’s. I was incredibly honored to be asked to be a bridesmaid in her wedding this December. We hosted the bridal shower, a palette of silver and purple at Tirtzah’s Aunt Brenda’s house in Corona del Mar, CA. I cooked a Pumpkin Pasta for the lunch entree and Brenda made an incredible chocolate cake and cheese cake for dessert. I loved meeting Tirtzah’s family, the women in her family were witty and hilarious. The shower went off without a hitch with lots of fun purple hues, wedding trivia games and my favorite touch was a mini veil for Tirtzah, to wear during the shower. I was inspired by the adorable veil my friend Becky wore at her Vintage Wedding this summer. I included the Pumpkin Pasta recipe below since it has been requested by so many.

Pumpkin Pasta a la Christy Winston

2 T. Olive Oil
1 lb. bulk sweet Italian Sausage, crumbled
4 cloves garlic, cracked and chopped
1 med. onion, finely chopped
1 bay leaf
4 sprigs fresh sage leaves, chiffoned (=2 T. )
1 c. dry white wine
1 c. chicken stock
1 c. canned pumpkin
1/2 c. fat free half and half
1/8 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. nutmeg
salt and pepper
1 lb. penne rigato, al dente
Romano or parmasean
Heat oil ( 1 T) in large skillet. Add sausage and brown, drain oil and transfer sausage to paper towel lined plate. Return pan to stove and add remain T. of il. Saute garlic and onion ( tip: add onion first – saute till tender, then add garlic – prevents burnt garlic!) Add bay leaf, sage, and wine to pan. Reduce wine by 1/2 ( 2min.) Add stock and pumpkin and stir sauice until it comes to a bubble. Return sausage to pan, reduce heat and stir in cream. Season with cinnamon and nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer mixture 5 – 10 minutes to thiicken sauce.
Return drained pasta to the pot it was cooked in. Remove bay leaf!!! and pour sauce over pasta. Toss over low heat for 1 minute. Garnish with lots of shave parm cheese and sage leaves.

Serves: 4

Dooo dodo dooodoo….Hamper Time!

When Ever was a baby I would worry about her rolling off the couch if I went to the other room to get her laundry…when she was crawling I worried that she would crawl over to her puppies dog food and think it was a snack. So I have always just done the most conventional thing and thrown her in the laundry basket so I don’t have to leave her alone. This has become a game for the two of us. She love her Hamper Time!

Peek a boo!

 

I found you!

Yes, and you found my camera too...

Thankful Day 09

 

  

 

 

 

27

Tradition: Taste the cake before photographing

Another masterpiece by my mama

I love my LOVERS!

Recession Costume Party

Why can’t we have Halloween twice a year? Is that too much to ask? Katie, my lady, says “whatever you want princess Nini!” So, last March the fabuloso interior designer lost her job Boo! But, Katie as always took her lemons and made us some lemon bars and a “Recession Costume Party” to be envyed. The theme of the dress up was, “My dream job.” Katie was so cute and served us “Recession food” as in Pigs in a blanket, Cheese Puffs, Gummi Worms, Cheezits, Gummi Bears, Jungle Juice and Peach Schnapps….  Check it…

Gold Digger, Singer, Boxer-ina, NYC Housewife

So I think the boys were a carpenter, a handy man, a hit man and a Porn Star?

Diggin' and Boxin!

Gangster, Receptionist, Hooters, Astronaut...

"Oh don't mind us...we're artist."

Peace Out-erspace!

Happy Birthday Sessa!

For 2 weeks my little sister and I are both 26. We were born exactly 50 weeks apart. Obviously my parents digged the “makin” part of baby makin. Sess and I went to the Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles last year for our birthdays. So much fun! Check it…

I heart Hollywood sign

 

Only in America

Peace out Sauerqraut!

Haloween 2009…Best Costumes Ever!

Jayden the Alien!

We’ll let my cousins, nephews and girlfriends babies go first…. 

Ashton "The Pirate" RRRrrrrr!

Sonny as Popeye the Sailor Man!

Birds of a feather get their Halloween party on together!

No Rockstar can resist a Senorita

The Parisian and The American that are giving birth to a Green Card

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trooper the Terrorist...this was awesomeness!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My "hot date" Miss. Teichman!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

xoxoxo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TTFN!

Pumpkins, Decorating and Sonny, Oh My!

The Fine Arts Center had a Pumpkin Carving Contest this year. Of course I debuted a carving of Edward and Bella. I only got a few nauseating eye rolls. Haha. Below are some of my fav’s! I love Krystyna’s Totem Poll with the Spaghetti Squash. Genius!

Nini's Twilight Obsession

Tori's Alligator

Krystyna's Totem Poll

Mitch's over achievement. Punk! He totally won!

Later I went over to my sister Dana’s house and helped her decorate for her annual “Haloween Monster Bash”.  My nephew Sonny was messing around outside with us while we tried to set up. He’s so much fun! He’s so different from playing with little girls like I’m used to. It’s like playing WWF with a little Noam. I love that kid!

Monster Bash 2007

Monster Bash 2007

 

All smiles, all the time.

I want to kiss those cheeks!

Messin' around in one of the coffins

Kiss for Aunt Nini!