Here Comes The Sun

After days of rain, the sun is peeking through this morning and I am feeling quite sunny about myself too. Quelle surprise! I am sure I am not alone on this one but it has been hard to get out of the habit of feeling like a dragged out, steam-rolled new mom.

Dress - Easel via eBay, Cardigan - GAP (ancient!) Shoes - Fornarina (also very old)

I am addicted to watching What Not To Wear on TLC. If anyone wants to nominate me for the makeover, I WILL TAKE IT! It seems silly and shallow but how you look on the outside, can really affect how you feel on the inside. I am kind of realizing the importance of making the effort even though I work at home and no one sees me except for the UPS guy!

My hair is finally growing into a cuter pixie style too after I went all Britney Spears and shaved it off.

Thank you castor oil for making my hair grow!

The Day That Godfather Came To Town

There are many things I love about living in Southern California, not the least of which is the WARM weather.

I snapped these shots of our little mannequin-in-training on the warm spring day that Uncle Ed came to visit. We have to get gussied for company, of course!

I have been waiting for the day that she would fit into this lovely blouse...and now she does!

Nothing beats spending some quality time with the godfather and learning the ins and outs of the iPhone!

Dancin' The Night Away

As close friends and family can attest, I am a real dorky dancer...but I love it so I don't really care. Lord knows, I used to care a lot but now I just find flopping around like Elaine on Seinfeld to be a great stress reliever and a lot of fun. It makes Camille laugh her head off so that is a bonus.

Thankfully, I think she inherited rhythm from the other set of genes. She loves to twirl and bop up and down.

The other day she and Carl were dancing together and I almost got misty thinking of them dancing on her wedding day...I'm a sap, what can I say?!

No Shoes, No Shirt, No Service!

We run a clothing optional restaurant.

We want to be sure that our patrons are comfortable at all times. I guess when you are 16 months old, you just never know when the urge to strip is going to hit you.

Photographers Note: How cool is this feature on our new Mama-cam?!? Love that it picked up on her lip color too!

My Funny Valentine

Okay I know this may seem a bit trite but here is my Love Day post because as I have said before, I am a very lucky girl.

My Valentine gift was the most amazing selection of torch songs ever put together. I love torch. Those gals...and guys knew how to tell it like it is. Patsy, Connie and Tammy make me feel like I am living in a different era and never have I wanted to stand by my man more than I do after listening to a few hours of those songs.

Te Amo, Mi Vida.

Mary Janes Made For Walking

I'd like to think that Camille is developing her own style. I have fantasies of her being the kid on the beach with the polka dot bathing suit, red cowboy boots and straw hat (I actually saw this in Malibu some years back. The kid turned out to be Patricia Arquette's daughter...so cute, I couldn't stop staring. At the kid, of course!) So imagine my delight when Camille chose these shoes for our walk last Sunday. Oh my god, I love this kid.

I decided to get us all out for some fresh air with a walk around the golf course at Griffith Park. I didn't realize that I was going to be racing an impending rain storm. My gentle Sunday stroll turned into a real workout. We still got to enjoy the manufactured nature of which our family is very fond.

Anyone who has cuddled up with Miss Camille for any length of time will understand this photo...she is a real hand-holding sort of gal and apparently her dolly is a suitable substitute when Mama is pushing the stroller.

There's No Place Like Home

There's nothing like leaving home for three days to make you feel so tremendously grateful for your life. I had to go to San Francisco for work last week leaving Carl and the little peach behind to fend for themselves. As we were driving to the airport at 5 am on Wednesday, I found myself fighting back tears and just wishing on all things possible that LAX would experience its first-ever, paralyzing snowstorm that would ground my flight. We arrived at the terminal with not a flake in the air. I knew I just had to get myself together and get on that plane.

The first day was a whirlwind and I barely had a moment to think about the fact that I would not see my people that night. Drink after work with my buddy, dinner with more friends and off to another bar for a second drink before heading to my hotel room. Once I finally checked in with Carley she seemed totally burned out. Pangs of guilt for having a faux single-girl-on-the-town evening while my better half raced around town to pick up the babe from daycare, home to walk dog, shovel dinner in mouth of toddler, bathe wriggling and now exhausted baby et cetera, et cetera. I wished her sweet dreams, cranked up the heat, turned on the History Channel and stretched out in my double bed. Zzzzzzzs.

Woke up the next morning at 6:30 and sprang out of bed ready to tackle the day. I was completely ready by 7:15...wow, what to do for the next hour before I had to leave for work? Sopranos on A&E, done. What did I do with all my free time before the baby was born? I don't remember ever having an extra hour before work. Work day flew by and before I knew it I was faced with the fact that I had no plans and five hours to kill. Again, why I was not constructing fabulous gowns and costumes in my pre-motherhood life escapes me.

Long story endless...Friday at 9 pm finally arrives and Carley rolls up beside me. Cam is knocked out in the back, Auggie digs his nails in my leg trying to get at my face for a lick, Carley's eyes twinkle. I'm home and I never want to leave again. Cam, Carley and coffee = Saturday morning bliss.