A Quick Double Take

Quick post! I saw this today while driving in Point Loma (near Liberty Station). I did a quick double take...whoa, my first giant oscar mayer wiener sighting :)

{Side Note}
I SO wanted to take a picture with it...but no one was around to take it for me...womp womp ;(

A Revival: Griffith Observatory & The Getty Center

A Day of Frolic and Play...in L.A.
[Date: November 2011]

Charlene and I had a free day during the week to go up to LA and visit our cousin Alee. We picked her up after her morning shift at Starbucks (on Olympic & Doheny in Beverly Hills) and got some coffee and breakfast as well.

{Side Note}
As I was standing in line with Charlene to order (Alee was "taking" our order, heehee), I noticed this guy behind me and he looked so familiar...I've seen him somewhere before. Later as we were leaving Starbucks, Alee tells me that it was Jason London (I knew it, he's from 7th Heaven!).

To start our day off, we headed straight for the Griffith Observatory. I have been wanting to go here for a while now, so I was really excited!

{Location: Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles}

There wasn't much of a crowd that day. Initially, I thought it was because we were there on a random weekday and it was still pretty early in the morning. Much to my dismay, we found out that the place was closed that day (note to self: double check business hours before going)...but nonetheless, we enjoyed what we could outside of the observatory :)

{Love}
That view of Los Angeles from way up here.

Of course I HAD to take my picture with the legendary James Dean :)

So I guess I'll have to return some other time to fully experience the rest of the observatory! I was a little bummed, but that's okay. In no way did this ruin my day...if anything, it just gave me another excuse to come up to LA again :)

After the observatory, Alee took us out for some lunch at Alcove Cafe & Bakery. This cafe was so cute. It's  housed in two cottages and has a beautiful terrace/garden surrounding it. We ate our lunch al fresco! The food was pretty darn tasty too :)

{Side Note}
As we were eating, Alee notices a familiar face sitting across from us. She and Charlene recognized the guy, but I had no idea who he was. Apparently, it was Damian Fahey (from MTV's TRL back in the day). I couldn't take a picture without it being too obvious, and plus the guy was having his lunch so I didn't want to impose. What is up with the 90's/early 00's celebrity sightings today? Hahaha :)

After lunch we headed on to The Getty! I was super thrilled we were going. I've heard so much about it and I thoroughly enjoyed going to The Getty Villa in Malibu last year (in 2010), so I knew I needed to pay a visit to The Getty soon.

Finally, after getting lost for about 20 minutes, we arrive at The Getty! Haha...basically, Charlene's GPS (aka Bear) took us into the residential area surrounding the museum and we thought that maybe The Getty had another side entrance or something. Nope! Ughh...so we had to back track to the main freeway.

{Side Story}
As we were winding through the hilly neighborhood, trying to get back on the main freeway, Charlene turned a corner and I literally screamed my head off! In someone's yard, there was a fully dressed and very realistic monster/skeleton figure hanging from a tree. Mind you, it was a few weeks after Halloween already, so it didn't occur to me that it was Halloween decoration. I seriously jumped up from my seat and screamed at the top of my lungs, which in turn, scared Alee in the backseat and she screamed too! Charlene thought I was playing around at first, but then she said when she looked at my face and heard my scream, she could tell that I was seriously terrified...and then we all started to laugh hysterically! I realized what it was after a few seconds and felt so dumb! Oh well...at least we got a good laugh out of it :P

{Location: The Getty Center in Los Angeles}
Whoa...what? This tram ride up to the museum was quite the experience :)

{Tidbit Fact}
I love going to museums. It's one of my favorite past times. For me, it's a place to escape and just become enthralled in all that art, history and other world cultures. Bonus points if the museum features gardens too!

[The Central Garden at The Getty Center]

The Central Garden is so utterly, breathtakingly beautiful.

{Love}
I felt like Alice in Wonderland walking through the garden :)

{Love}
I fell in love with this area. Giant pink floral trees!

The Fall colors were in full swing! LOVING it.

As you can obviously tell, the Central Garden stole my heart! I couldn't pull myself away from it...and a good chunk of our time was spent there :)

We headed back to Beverly Hills area for dinner at Chipotle (hey, their food is good and fast and affordable...always a plus!) and afterwards we went back to Alee's Starbucks for some coffee. We had been sitting at our table for about 15 minutes or so, when I noticed a guy walk through the door. I definitely recognized this one! Seriously? I was star struck...it was Bruce Willis! I am (and have been) a big fan of his. Our table happened to be right next to the bar area, and he was standing 3 feet away from us as he was waiting for his drink. I SO wanted to take a picture with him! But I clammed up...got nervous and to be honest, his presence was a little intimidating! Now, I'm kicking myself in the rear for not even trying to take a picture with him. Ohhhh me....  ;(

I'd say all in all, it was a great LA day with my sister and cousin. I had so much fun! The celeb sightings were interesting. The places we went to were awesome. We got in a good laugh (and a good scare). I LOVE spending QT with these two gals <3

My Disney California Adventure Weekly: In Another Realm

Back in January of 2011, I bought Disney annual passes for myself and my sister (it was her Christmas/early graduation gift from me). At the time, I didn't have a blog. So now that I do, I've decided to incorporate my Disney year as an annual pass holder. I'll include it as weekly postings (I definitely have more than enough pictures to last through this year)! There'll be two weekly postings: My Disney Weekly and My DCA Weekly (for Disney California Adventure). As you'll see, I'm a HUGE Disney buff! With that being said, here we go!

{Character Highlight: Sully}

As Boo would say, "Kitty!" Hahaha...Sully was so adorably huggable! I got lost in his electric blue fur :)

{Main Attractions: Sorcerer's Workshop}
On this day, Alee and I were strolling down Hollywood Pictures Backlot and we ventured into the Sorcerer's Workshop.

First off, I had no idea this place even existed in DCA. So it was a new experience for me. Inside the Sorcerer's Workshop, we walked through 3 interactive realms: Magic Mirror Realm, Beast's Library and Ursula's Grotto.

[Magic Mirror Realm]

[Beast's Library]

{Love}
The entire Beast's Library shifted its look every few minutes. The lights would dim and the whole look would go from dark despair to happy grandness again (just like how it was in the movie)! So awesome.

{Side Note}
We did go through Ursula's Grotto, but it was too dim to take any pictures (plus no flash photography). Inside, Alee and I did voice overs from a scene from Bambi. TOO FUNNY! We were the loudest ones in there laughing. [Inside Joke for Alee: "Purdy...purdy flower!"]

{Main Attractions: California Screamin'}

{Love}
Fabulous fun every time we ride.

{Tidbit Fact}
Nope, that is not Enrique sitting next to Charlene on the bottom right corner. Haha...stranger danger ;P

My Disney Weekly: Think Happy Thoughts

Back in January of 2011, I bought Disney annual passes for myself and my sister (it was her Christmas/early graduation gift from me). At the time, I didn't have a blog. So now that I do, I've decided to incorporate my Disney year as an annual pass holder. I'll include it as weekly postings (I definitely have more than enough pictures to last through this year)! There'll be two weekly postings: My Disney Weekly and My DCA Weekly (for Disney California Adventure). As you'll see, I'm a HUGE Disney buff! With that being said, here we go!

{Main Attractions: Pixie Hollow}

Pixie Hollow is so cute. It's an interactive character greeting attraction with Tinkerbell and her fairy friends. As you walk up the winding path to enter the hollow, everything is still average sized. Once you reach the entry way and walk in...you start to feel like a small speck of fairy dust ;P

{Side Note}
There is a hidden mickey in one of the pictures above. Can you see it?

{Character Highlights: Iridessa and Silvermist}

{Side Note}

I have a confession...aside from Tinkerbell, I had no idea what the other fairies' names were (I haven't seen the movie either). So as I was taking pictures with the fairies, I was thinking, "...and which fairy are you?"

{Character Highlights: Tinkerbell and Vidia}

{Love}
Vidia has a bit of the 80s vibe going on with her outfit...I see a little bit of Prince and 80's rocker style. So cool! Can you blame me? I'm an 80's child :)

The infamous pixie bun on the original pixie fairy herself ;)

{Love} I really like this view of the top part of Matterhorn.

{Main Attractions: Fantasmic!}

The original night show with lights and water! I remember this show when I was younger. It was THE show to watch before you ended your night at Disneyland! There have been slight changes to the routine from what I remembered, but it's still SO MAGICAL!

This is still my favorite part of the show... when the forces of good and evil battle it out! Of course, Sorcerer Mickey defeats the evil Maleficent, I mean come on...

{Love} This is an awesome shot! I'm pretty sure my face looked like this O__O

Moral of the story? Good always triumphs over evil :)

{Tidbit Fact}
I am a fireworks kind of gal! I LOVE fireworks shows. It's just oh so magical and it makes me all happy and giddy...really, it does :)

The 13th of Friday...Just Another Day, Right?

I had some free time this morning before work, so I tried to work on some wedding stuff for my sister Charlene, as well as on my godchild Renee's debut. It was a bit sunny out in the beginning so I worked outside in the front courtyard...an hour or so later I saw the clouds started to roll in...booo.

[Wedding] 
Confirmed appointment time with the officiant for next weekend//Searched for potential MOH dress//Reviewed draft of the day of timeline for the DJ with regard to music selection//Researched potential bakeries for the wedding cakes and set up tentative appointments for cake tasting.

[Debut]
Drew up final sketches of the centerpiece decor//Confirmed prices and budget with my cousin (Renee's mom) for the table decor//Designed a draft of what the invitations would look like//Researched potential song choices for the cotillion dance.

Things have been going smoothly thus far, which I am so grateful for. It helps that I can list and prioritize what needs to be done on a month by month basis :)

{Side Note}
My sister and my cousin Alee are on their way up to San Francisco right now to celebrate Alee's birthday. They'll also be visiting our very good friend Kristine (she lives in Daly City). I'm a bit bummed that I couldn't make it out there with them (it was a last minute thing and I couldn't take time off from work this weekend). I know the gals will have fun and I'm sure I'll be seeing tons of instagram shots on their fb's. Charlene & Alee, if you're reading this- stay safe, no crazy speeding, and I want a souvenir! :P

QT With Friends: La Bella Pizza Garden

{Location: Downtown Chula Vista}

{Side Note}
Pre-dinner solo time. I arrived early for dinner so I decided to sit for a couple of minutes near the park and enjoy the nice weather :)

I went out for dinner tonight with a very good, old friend of mine from high school. It's been quite some time since I last saw Roselyn, so I was excited to catch up on things with her. As it turns out, she is 4-months pregnant! So happy for her and her husband :)

{La Bella Pizza Garden Restaurant}
Dinner was Roselyn's pick tonight. We both haven't been here before so it was pretty funny when we walked in and couldn't figure out how or where to start. We weren't sure if it was open seating or if someone needed to seat us...until finally I had to stop a worker and ask. Anyway, the food was good and the service was friendly...not to mention that the price was pretty affordable too! I ordered a small 2-topping pizza and mozzarella cheese fries. YUM :)

After dinner, we strolled down along the village strip. I've never really walked around downtown Chula Vista, so I was curious to see what types of shops were there. Apparently, San Diego is seriously lacking in some antique/vintage shops, and I think this place would be a great area for those kinds of shops. I'm just saying...

Okay, time for some photo ops! I asked Roselyn to pose nicely and well...that's Rhoz for yah! :)

{Love}
Never a dull moment with this girl. It's all giggle fits galore!