Happy Birthday Jeannette!

Jeannette is my compass tweeker, love guru, writing mentor and the local wine & wisdom supplier. Sometimes I think Jeannette could have her own cartoon, kind of like Madeline in Paris. Jeannette has a signature hop in her step, gesture to fix her hair, tilt of her head and accessory toy poodle! (I love you Lilly Lou!)

Lilly lovin' on her Auntie Lisa!

If she was cartoonified I would be magnetized to the show along with the rest of her fan club.

Jess, Katie, Jamie and "Jeannette's Jamie" !

Jeannette’s entire fan club (of the female kind) came out on Thursday night to wish her another year of love and bohemian bliss!

Katie!

We started out the night at Jeannette’s beautiful abode for a champagne toast. Jeannette opened her gifts and told us how much she adored us! Then we headed to Maestro’s for dinner.

We like our shoes

We're funny

Jeannette’s little bro Matthew treated us royally!

Happy Birthday Jeannette!

He even put up with some of my embarrassing pick-up lines like, “Matthew, can I get a side of you with nothing on it?”

I’m sorry, I just can’t help myself! In my own defense, just look at him! Wouldn’t you say the same?

Jeannette & Matthew!

But, alas he’s engaged to a very lovely lady. Anyways the evening was beautiful. Amazing food, champagne, wine and a round table roast to everyone’s favorite Jeannette story’s. It was an incredible evening with remarkable women.

Salud to you mi amor!

Cest moi and Jamie!

Ana and Tina!

Chris! Our charming server!

Jeannette & Jamie

Ces't Moi & Jamie!

Jamie & Jeannette!

Ana & Jeannette!

Tina & Jeannette!

    

Ces't Moi & Jeannette!

Jess & Jeannette!

Ana & Tina!

Yummers!

Thank you for sharing your life with us Jeannette! You inspire all of us to enjoy our beauty, stay strong and take it SLOW!

Happy Birthday love!

Sweet Gypsy Snipers! *See the girl with CHRISTMAS LIGHTS on her sweater! That's Breean...she's an upstager and a mom...same thing.

We talked about our reads of the month including Holiday’s on Ice by David Sedaris and Is Everyone Hanging out with Me? By Mindy Kaling. We wore Christmas sweaters, drank wine and ate Jamie’s AMAZING chocolate chip cookies! I’m going back there tonight. I hope she makes some more!

I'm pretty sure that here we're singing Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas is YOU!!!!!" I love that song!

Of course it isn’t the Holiday’s unless you get all dressed up at least once. So I went with Jessica and Verona to Crow Bar and Landmark one night. A couple guys at Crow Bar came up to us, started hitting on us and within a minute one of them put his hand on my thigh! Can I get a WTF? Being the awkward-moment-loving-girl I am I took pride in announcing to the entire bar “OMG! He just put his hand on my thigh! Who does that?!” AKA: Reason #435 why Irvina is single, she likes embarrassing total stranger, especially douche bags from Newport Beach.

Me, Jess and Verona @ Landmark

The Jew Jew Bean formerly known as Sessa!

Now for the real fun! Time with the Jew-Jew-Bean fam! After picking up Walesa from the airport we stopped over at Trader Joe’s to make a cocktail we found on GOOP called Brandy Alexander. Three drinks in and I was drunk. I have no pictures to reminisce of me sleeping. Just imagine me with my eyes closed and suckling for breast milk. Walesa says that’s what I look like when I sleep.

Mom saved her tree from last year! She kept the roots in tact, put it on the side of the house, watered it when she remembered and totally used it again! I think she deserves a Green Peace award!

The next morning we scooted on down to an “anonymous meeting on the beach” and that’s all we’re going to say about that.

Mom and Sessa in the new sweatshirt that she loves to wear to bed!

Then we headed over to Dana + Rick’s house to see everyone! Now, Journey Jean and Sunny are oh so adorable,

Sunny, Mom, Journey Jean and Dana

but I think my priceless Christmas moment was hearing Rick call our First Lady Michelle Obama “ghetto” and watching Walesa keep her cool the whole time. Stamina that girl has! Stamina!

Rick, Sessa, Brian and Ces't Moi!

Sessa + Dana xoxo

Chavon, Crista, Dana, Mom, Sessa and Ces't Moi!

Dana and Ces't Moi!

Journey Jean learning how to turn tricks with her aunties and mama!

Love!

Ces't Moi, Mama and Sessa!

Oh! And we musn’t forget the house down the street from Dana’s. All decked out to the tune of 101.4 FM. Mom asked us to video tape it for Kimmy, so dahling here it is! From So Cal to New Mexico we love you and missed you!

Monday we took Dad to Los Angeles.

So there was a whole family of tomotoes. They were crossing the street in LA when the baby tomatoe got run over by a car. The daddy tomatoe walked up to it and do you know what he said?

Welcome to Los Angeles baby!

He said, "Ketchup!"

Dad dropped his pants about 3 different times during the day to show us his neon yellow and orange board shorts. Now, WE knew we were looking at boardshorts but the waspy woman coming out of the Range Rover with the 2 daughter’s just thought he was a another pedophile let out of the LA Prison just for the Holidays. No pictures included as “Not to encourage the man”

Here is a backshot of Dad walking. You can see the vibrance in his flare for boardshorts. Haha!

We ate an Bungalow Café where dad out ordered us with his Seafood Chowder and bestowed us with Christmas gifts. You know you you’re dad is Jewish when you get pickles for Christmas.

We then headed over to the Museum of Modern Art

Welcome to The MoMA!

At the museum dad proceeded to be louder than me at any possible opportunity.

Opportunity #1. – Naked

Dad see’s the name of the exhibit is Naked Hollywood. He reads the artist statement on why they chose the name. The statement says something along these lines, “The word naked evokes perked ears. Say it in the grocery store, at dinner or in a board meeting and the word just jars people.” Dad started shouting “Naked! Naked! Naaaaaaaaaked!” in the museum.

Naked! Say it with me now, Naaaaaaaaaaaaked!

Opportunity #2. – The Obesity Epidemic

Dad started telling us a story about how he was once riding the bus when he saw a 300 lb. woman riding along with him. He said, “I was so disgusted I had to get off at the next stop. I just couldn’t handle how disgusting it was!” The nice 20 something guy who overheard dad say that didn’t think dad was a very nice guy.

We love $8 coffee's!

Opportunity #3 – Funny Art

Dad saw a plank of wood painted red and leaning up against a wall. He walked up to it looked it up and down and shouted, “This isn’t art! This is a joke! I want my $10 back!” Then when he saw a canvas 20 ft by 40 ft that had painted on it, “I am a Prius” in black script, dad couldn’t help but participate by yelling it out, “I am a Prius! I am a Prius! I am a PRIUS! AND.. I want my money back!”

Check out the yarn art above!

More yarn art!

Yes, more!

Gosh I <3 Art!

I think the thing is my dad just thinks he’s soooooo funny! Kind of like me. Let me show you what I mean…

Happy Holiday’s from our crazy family to yours!

Merry Chanukah!

Our Mama!

For starters we took her on down town to John Besh’s restaurant, Domenica.

Ummm Yummm!

Down the hatch!

The restaurant was attached to a hotel decked out for the Holiday’s. Of course mom wanted us to take pictures so she could recreate the ambiance at home. On that note, I think my mother is one of the most ambitious people I have EVER met.

Vavavoom! Check out this room!

xoxo

That evening we cruised on down to Borbon St. and took in some drinks and live music.

We loved this group. Mom even bought their CD.

The next day was Thankful Day and my birthday! Mimosa’s , cinnamon rolls and potatoes all around for breakfast!

Salud!

Mom even made us this meringue, custard, crème Brule concoction and sang Sess and I Happy Birthday.

The Sag and the The Scorpio

Since Sessa’s Birthday is earlier in the month I shared MY DAY with her.

Overheard in New Orlean’s: “Are you freaked out about turning 29?” – Petite, Jew-Jew Bean with extreme Go Green tendencies also overheard saying: : “I really miss if it’s yellow, let it mellow.”

Thanks for the cake pops and strawberries Dana!

The rest of the morning  I supervised while the ladies worked hard on our Thanksgiving dinner.

Then we got ready to go down to the New Orleans horse races.

Love!

Walesa’s buddy Brian a bike jockey joined us for the races and Thanksgiving Dinner.

Horsey's!

Giddy up!

Mama!

Love!

Overheard in New Orleans’s : “This is a green household so instead of napkins we’re going to share dish towels. One to two people.”  - Same Go Green chick from above.

I heart U

The day after Thanksgiving we visited The Music Box by Swoon.

Awesome musical house that is open for the public to play! Check it out! It’s fully musical!

Later we checked out the Hurricane Katrina Memorial.

Hurricane Katrina Memorial

It was one of the saddest memorials I have ever seen. There are no names on the walls of the memorial (like what you would see at the Holocaust museum or the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C.) 1,836 people died in Hurricane Katrina, most of which were unidentified and 705 are still missing.

On our way to take me to the airport was one of the highlights of my trip: The Drive-Thru Daiquiri stand! Yes! Can you believe it?! In New Orleans’s you can get an alcoholic daiquiri in a to-go cup from a drive-thru! I was so excited by the experience that I had to record it for ya’ll!

Thank you again Sess for such an awesome trip! I can’t wait to come back and visit again soon!

Overheard in New Orlean’s: “I bet I can guess what country you’re from!” – Cocky brunette girl from the West who likes to bring unneeded attention to herself while simultaneously embarrassing her family.

The President and First Lady of Carlson Motor Cars

My little sister, Sessa decided a year and half ago that she was moving to New Orleans, Louisiana to go to Grad School at Loyolla. Now for those of you who don’t know, Louisiana was originally claimed by the French, but they were booted after a quick 7 years. The snobbery is gone, but their flamboyant eating, partying and intoxicatingly life enjoying ways are still alive and thriving!

Sessa

I found this sticker in the gutter on Borbon St. and loved! Reminded me of my book club, The Gypsy Snipers!

Sessa is one who definitely jives with the French way of life. This classy dame dines on Oysters from Felix’s where the Oyster schuckler calls her “baby!”

Oysters from Felix's!

Prepare!

Slurp!

She rides her bike everywhere she goes (Yup, just like a real Parisian). I think she wants to observe all the art in her cultural French inspired neighborhood. Except when those hippies from the West

Cest moi!

(aka Me) knock her over on her bike leaving, blood and remnants of pleather Target shoes all over the sidewalk. Thankfully the good men of NOL get some good Southern class, bandaids and benzoyl peroxide to help these damsels in distress! Quite the classy host Sessa is she easily forgives and treats her guests to Breakfast of Shrimp and Grits and some delectable pastry’s!

*Notice the band-aids from the crash.

Overheard in New Orleans: “Man, I’m hurtin’ today, I got white girl drunk last night!” – 20 something man, talking on his cell phone,  walking around in the Bywater with a blonde womans wig on his head.

K. I’m done talking in the narrative. That get’s old real fast .

Sess took me to an uber cool thing called, The Fringe. Which was a super, artsy cool, independent, improvesque  theatre production we saw. The Moulin Rouge in Sessa wanted to pounce the performers, I wanted more potato chips and beer.

Sing it girl!

Channeling our inner Bob Dylan

When I was done with the potato chips and beer I got me some Beignet’s! These were delish with coffee! But, I think they were exactly like mom’s French Toast! Can you belive that?! We have a Mexican woman who channels French cuisine! We are so lucky!

Eating Beignets on the River!

We heart eachother

This is how they do it!

Sexy lady in the city!

New Orleans has Cemetary’s- they are full of black magic, mausoleums, sea shells and really nice volunteers with tape holding their glasses together who give you the history of the place for a “donation” of your choice. Sweet Place.

Vodoo love

Everyone need’s a drink after visiting a cemetery.

And if you’re gonna drink, you’re gonna have to EAT! I think all the fine folks in the South need to reclaim their territory as the “Dirty South” and rename it the “Yummy South” cause that’s how I remember it – Yummy and carbo-tastic!

Praline bacon!

This little lady is one amazing (and patient) tour guide (and sister) xo

Irving A. Kanarek

“I’m going to check my emails from the prince!” – Ever

Sing it girl!

The Gypsy Sniper’s and I read Dolly Parton’s autobiography last summer and LOVED it! She’s hilarious! Thus, when we heard she was coming to the Hollywood Bowl we gussied up in our best country get-up’s and mosy’d on over to sing along to Jolene! Such a fun night with the divine Mrs. Parton! She is so full of wisdom, beauty and collagen Love that woman!

We were all big fans of her yellow get up which she ripped off later to reveal the pants!

We love you Dolly!

The best part of every wedding

My good friend Katie. who I met through the lovely Jessica Burkhart decided to marry the love her life, Clancy (his mothe’rs name is Nancy) in Joshua Tree. Granted this is the hottest wedding I have EVER attended. Love and friendship truly have no barriers (or thermometers.) Alas, here are the pics of the memorable weekend of love in the desert!

Gettin' ready!

"My my your boutineer smells mighty good bridesman!"

How come no one is ever as excited as I am?

Walkin' down the aisle time! Nice guy I walked with. He made us Soy-rizo tacos for breakfast and dug up the soy himself!

He loves her!

...and HE loves HIM!

"Baby we're married! Time to send the salmon up-stream! " Bahahaah!

Hello we are the sexy bridesmaids + bridesman!

These are the groomsmen...they're crazy!

But we're proper...for now

Now it's time to party! See the slideshow below! Love!

Good by desert!

I like 21st Birthdays in LA ....

 

I like messing with Maddie while she snoozes....

I like girly gangsters....

I like artsy Easters ....

I like eating and watching the cooking channel at the same time…

I like Photo Bombers…

and I like JD