what are you doing nye?

i hope you have a safe, fabulous evening, 

whatever your plans. 

i plan on having a sumptuous night in with david, 

some organic, grass-fed filet, delicious champagne, and romantic, classic movies. 

and maybe a little something sparkly.

cheers!

xo

rainbow bridge

(still working on this one. really hard.)

xo

(via pinterest, tumblr, flickr & as noted)

a great loss

two days ago my dog died. 

i was going to give you a gorgeous, 

flowery opening, but i just can't. 

my eyes are still red from crying, and my brain hurts. 

my body is so dehydrated (birthday beers with this one may have also contributed), and i am exhausted beyond words. 

 oliver was so much more than just a pet; he was a member of our family. he was a son to me & david, and a brother to the girls. 

he really was. 

we got him from a rescue group in atlanta, and i will never forget the day they brought him home to our house. 

many of my family members were there to meet him, 

and he fit in right away.

he was definitely a gift from god to us, and if you don't understand my feelings for "just a pet", i'm sorry for you.

he chose us as much as we chose him, 

and he never stopped choosing us. 

he was a love, such a little man, a sweet, happy boy--and made sure his people knew it.

 (i know, right? pre-birdie, blonde and southern.)

 he would lick your face til it fell off if you'd let him.

he was a constant companion, a dear friend, 

and i miss him terribly. 

i want him sleeping between my feet on our bed, as he always did.

i want him chasing his favorite toys in the back yard. 

(just last week i accidentally took down half the cafe lights we have strung up back there over the fire pit while i was playing catch with him. so worth it.)

i want him begging for a treat, for a rub or a tickle, giving us kisses and just being excited to see us, his people, every day.

 he was so spoiled, and rightly so; always waiting for a crumb to fall or a treat to be given. i miss him under my feet in the kitchen. when the doorbell rings or someone knocks, i anticipate his sharp barks, only to hear nothing. my heart is broken. 

 most especially because the girls are so devastated. 

there really is nothing worse than witnessing your children's heartbreak, knowing there is nothing you can do to fix it. 

anguish. 

i'm trying so hard to keep it together, to remember him as the sweet boy he was (still so weird using past tense), and to keep him in my heart. but its so hard when it hurts so much.

the girls keep crying, asking why, when you're coming back, drawing pictures of doggie heaven. 

your bowl, leash, collar & toys are all here. but you aren't.

i swear i can still see him, whenever i pull up to the house,  waiting at the window as he always did, for us to come in. 

i love you, ollie. 

we miss you so much, sweet boy.

xo

we have one villa available...

and its priceless. 

yesterday we had the pleasure of visiting 

the getty villa in malibu. 

sister to the getty center in los angeles, which houses art from the middle ages to present day, the getty villa is an educational center and museum which showcases art from 

ancient greece, rome, & etruria. 

both magnificent properties boast stunning landscapes, gardens & architecture, each in its own setting and style. 

the getty center has become a regular in my rotation since we moved to los angeles four months ago, and after visiting the getty villa yesterday, it will definitely be added to the lineup. 

taking the girls was a breeze, as they had plenty of space outdoors to run and play in, and they even had a kids' room where they could decorate "ancient pottery" with dry erase markers...

recreate scenes from ancient times...

...learn how pottery is made, and more! 

brilliant.

the reflecting pool and surrounding gardens were gorgeous. 

seriously. i could live here. 

i need to live here. 

(no pressure, dave.)

remind me next time i visit to wear a long, floaty dress to waltz around the gardens in. 

attention to detail was paramount; even the floors were gorgeous.

i was really hoping to hear "a gentleman will be by with your bags in a moment"... 

ain't that the truth?!

tip up your cups!

it was breathtaking. 


the fact that i got to experience it with my sister, who has a very strong art history background, was a major plus. 
not to mention, having someone by my side who is just as much a gushing, excited-to-be-here, loving-every-moment-of-this persona as i am 
is beyond comforting. 
and fun as hell. 


today we're headed to the beach to film some flashback scenes in a new film where bunny is playing the younger version of a certain disney star... more on that later. 


oh. and my birthday is tomorrow.
which is super fun and all (i love birthdays, even my own)... except that it means my sister leaves the next day. 
boo. 

but! i think she's fallen enough in love with SoCal to consider the big move west after nursing school is done next year. 
yay! 


fingers crossed.


i hope you all are coming out from under the holiday hangover and basking in all that 2011 has left to offer. 
which, really, is whatever you make it. 


(i have to feel this way. having a birthday in between christmas and new years necessitates in one a certain sense of optimism after being double-gifted and ho-hummed most of your life. :)
enjoy!
xo