Buh-bye!

I can't believe it! I'm about to go on vacation...We have to leave in fifteen minutes...

and I'm actually on time!

I'm even early!

I even have time to post this and retouch my pedicure.

Weird, I know.

And though there was some concern, I actually packed under the fifty pound limit!

This is growth people.

(sigh)

Life is good.

Even if my fave gold Havainas did bust this morning...

Anyway, before I go, here are some tunes I've been into of late.

Buzzin'

Handlebars

American Pie

Island in the Sun

Bon voyage,

d

Secrets

Oh how I love Secrets...(sighing happily).

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Here's a secret about me I bet you didn't know. I never pay full price...for anything.
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In fact Mr. P was just marveling to his buddy how I somehow got a new tire for free when ours blew.
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(For the record, it had more to do with me sweetly debating a policy than it had to do with the way I filled out my tank top. But, hey, everything helps.)
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Why do I bring this up?
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Because I actually paid full price for something today.
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(GASP!)
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It was Jude Deveraux's latest, Secrets!
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A few months back I noticed it was coming up and it was set in one of my all-time favorite cities: (Though it's more of a town actually.) Williamsburg, VA.
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Mr. P and I love it so much we thought about moving there.
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Anyway from the first chapter, the heroine looked like someone I could totally relate to. I mean who doesn't want fruit trees in the middle of their lawn. Duh! Love her!
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So I bought it today (to save the kids the trouble of hemming and hawing about what to get me for Mother's Day*). And I promised myself I wouldn't crack it open until Sunday.
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"Yes," I thought with heroic self-restraint, "I will busy myself with The Raider," the one Jude heavily suggested throughout Someone To Love. (Which I'm lovin' by the way.)

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It took me about an hour to crack.
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I cracked the book just long enough to notice there was a character named Dana.
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Again, what's not to love about this book?!
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So now I'm 122 pages in and two Ghirardelli brownies to the wind.

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Mr. P has graciously taken over bed-time duties and has locked me in the guest room where I will scarecely be missed.
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Love you, man! (Esecially when you came in to talk to me about The Iron Giant. You, love, are too adorable for words!)
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Love you too, Jude! So far so fabulous. Thanks for being born so you could write us these tasty morsels that feel like you wrote them just for us.
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(Flipping back to my page),
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d
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* Oh! And, love, I really do still want that candy apple red drum set. (Danger Mouse's is way too small for me.) Thanks loads!

Happy Earth Day 2008

Happy Earth Day to you

Happy Earth Day to you

Happy Earth Day dear loved ones

Happy Earth Day to you

…and many more!

In honor of Earth Day, I’ll share my fave salad with you.

It’s a version of Mother’s Market and Kitchen’s Energy salad.

1. Mix a bunch of baby green lettuces with some romaine. As always, the deeper the colors and the more colors you have the better.

2. Julienne some beets. Carrots too if you’re in the mood…I am not.

3. Toss in some radish and mung bean sprouts.

4. Take your favorite hummus. Add peanut oil little by little, stirring until you get the consistency of thick salad dressing.

5. Douse your salad liberally with your hummus dressing.

6. Enjoy!

NOTE: I literally ping off the walls after eating one of these suckers.

Energetically,

d

PS Here are some easy ways to go green.

Enough about you...

I got this meme from a girlfriend I adore.

Instead of e-mailing it back, I thought I’d share.

And while I’m at it, I’d like to dedicate this song to all my girlfriends. You know who you are…I am too blessed for words.

1. Where is your cell phone? Hiding.

2. Your significant other? Cute.

3. Your hair? Up.

4. Your mother? Fabulous.

5. Your father? Logical.

6. Your favorite thing? Ponies.

7. Your dream last night? Tons! Cool.

8. Your favorite drink? Green Machine.

9. Your dream/goal? Livin’ it.

10. The room you're in? Bedroom.

11. Your ex? Hope they’re great.

12. Your fear? Shoulds.

13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? As I am....or Colorado?

14. Where were you last night? Bed.

15. What you're not? Stuffy.

16. Muffins? Tcha!

17. One of your wish list items? World Peace.

18. Where you grew up? Huntington Beach, CA

19. The last thing you did? Busted Up!

20. What are you wearing? Workout gear.

21. Your TV? Over my head.

22. Your pets? Lovable Misfits.

23. Your computer? Broken.

24. Your life? Fantastic.

25. Your mood? Chipper.

26. Missing someone? The YA's!!!

27 Your car? Huge.

28 Something you're not wearing? Shirt. (Get your mind out of the gutter...I'm wearing a jogging bra. Der!)

29. Favorite Store? Book and stationary stores.

30. Your summer? Lovin!

31. Like someone? Totally.

32. Your favorite color? Pink…and candy apple red.

33. When is the last time you laughed? Few minutes ago.

34. Last time you cried? Can’t remember...Tuesday?

35. Who will/would re-post this? Got me…Mom? Mr. P? Cheryl/Emily? Mary? Jen? Family friend who sends me fascinating stuff? His sister?

(Crickets chirping…)

Love,

d

Naked and Proud!

Big changes are afoot over here at Camp Dana.

Yes, my loves, I am Naked and Proud.

One, I’m big into Naked Juice. Let’s just say, the Green Machine and me are very good company.

Two, I’m Mc Lovin’ Naked Foods. Some of you may recognize “Naked Foods” as raw or unprocessed foods. You know…grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds.

Granted, it’s an 70/30 thing. As in, don’t even think I’m about to pass up being the judge and jury over Grandma’s and Mr. P’s annual Matzoh Ball Soup cook off.

And I’m not about to give up Rice Krispie Treats.

Three, I’m majorly diggin’ The Naked Archaeologist. Dan Brown’s got nothin’ on this home boy.

Seriously. Have you seen Exodus Decoded yet? Way cool.

He teamed up with James Cameron to make it look all spiffy, but even without all the neat-O CG graphics when he shows his stuff on his regular program, Naked Archaeologist, it’s uber cool.

Contentedly,

d

Duckilly Ever After

Hey!

I’m off to get a fabulous new ‘do from my Wonder Girl. But before I ‘do I wanted to take this time to tell Mr. P how much I appreciate him.

Dear Mr. P.,

G-d only knows what I’d be without you. You had me head over feet at hello…

But it’s always great when you help out like you do.

As for the rest of you lovelies,

I finally saw Pretty In Pink!

…Which is hilarious considering how much I love the color.

I can’t tell you the shocked faces I see when those who know me find out I haven’t seen it.

Anyway, it was on TV not long ago and I dropped everything to catch it.

So! The next day Mom was chit-chatting on the phone with one of our girlfriends and I remember that girlfriend once asked me, “Duckie or Blaine?”

And I was like, “Duh…(Crickets chirping.)” She forgave me.

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Long story short, I grabbed the phone from Mom, which was dicey as I was driving, and said, “OMG! I finally saw Pretty In Pink!”

Girlfriend – (Squealing!)

Me – “Okay. Duckie or Blaine?”

Girlfriend – “Duckie!”

Me – Totally!!!

Tenderly,

d

Spwing! Spwing!

I have some East Coast cousins who always talk about the turning leaves and how one day they want me to see them.

One day, I will.

Until then, I’ll console myself with SoCal’s very own Nature Spectacular, which is even rarer than the annual autumn turning of leaves in the east.

Wildflowers!

So lush and vast…you feel like you’re glimpsing Heaven.

They arrive and leave so fast, if you blink you miss ‘em.

I didn’t.

We even pulled off on the side of the road to frolic.

Is it me or does spring make you feel like dancing?

Happy Spring!

d

PS Here's a pic of the pupcakes we made on St. Patrick's Day! The holiday is much more fun now that I know the kids and Mr. P are not only Scot, but Irish too. Yay, Mr. P! Either way, a holiday's a holiday (Yay Hallmark!), but it is more fun now that I know I can officially get the kids "Kiss Me I'm Irish" shirts.

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