la bucket list

Last March I published a post on here of my "LA bucket list" ...so I thought I would go ahead and scratch off what I've done this year. The stuff in bold I crossed off last year, this year they are crossed off in green...

List of thing to do while living in LA:
-See a movie at Mann’s Chinese Theatre
-Go to a movie premiere
-Be a fan outside the red carpet at either The Grammy’s or The Academy Awards
-Go to the Hollywood Wax museum*
-Go to Griffith Observatory*
-Hike in Griffith Park*
-Go to Disneyland
-Go to Universal Studio’s
-Go to Knott’s Berry Farm
-Go to Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach*
-Get bottle service at a Hollywood club*
-Be an extra in a TV show or movie --(I was actually ON Ellen...so I think this counts :)
-Walk the boardwalk in Venice Beach*
-Ride my bike on the bike path in Venice
-Go surfing
-Go skiing in the mountains
-Meet a celebrity*
-Walk the Santa Monica pier*
-Ride the ferris wheel on the Santa Monica pier *
-Go to the Farmers Market in Hollywood on Sunday
-Go shopping in Fashion District*
-Go shopping on Melrose*
-Go shopping on Robertson
-Go shopping on Rodeo Drive
-Go to the Getty Museum
-Explore Catalina Island
-Drive to Vegas*
-Drive to Mexico
-Go to a taping of “The Price is Right”
-Go to a taping of “Jimmy Kimmel Live”
-Go to the LA Zoo
-Go to the San Diego Zoo*
-Go see the La Brea Tar Pits
-Go to a Laker’s game ...
-**I went to a Clippers game at Staples, doesn't count but I thought it should make the list*
-Go to a Dodger’s game --Cards won!!!*
-Go to the California Science Center
-Go to the San Antonio Winery in downtown LA
-Drive to to Northern Cal and visit the wineries
-Go to “The Magic Castle” in Hollywood
-Go shopping in “The Grove” at Christmas time
-Go to “Hollywood Forever Cemetery”*
-Go horse back riding on the beach
-See a show at “Pantage’s Theatre”....Jocelyn & I saw "Leagally Blonde"*
-Touch the 'Hollywood' sign
-Visit Chinatown*
-Visit Little Tokyo
-Go on a studio tour of Paramount Studio's
-See a movie at El Capitan theatre...We saw Disney's "A Christmas Carol" in 3D*
-Go skydiving in San Diego or Santa Barbara
-Go sailing/boating & fishing in the Pacific

March

I have been a horrible blogger!! It's hard to find time to write a couple paragraphs in between work and my time off. During my time off I find myself either A) wanting to sleep, or B) not wanting to do anything but lounge or go out with my friends. I really should set time away to blog more, it kind of serves as sort of an autobiography that I can look back on..

So quick update on my life:
Still living with my 2 best friends and loving it. Still loving our beautiful home! We are planning on getting a grill sometime soon so we can grill on our back patio :) The job is going great and I'm still working night shifts. I really love taking care of my kiddos...even though I throw out the occasional complaint about work, I really couldn't ask for a better job. I'm getting more comfortable and confident on my own as an RN, but still have lots of growing and learning to do (it will just come with the experience).

I still love Los Angeles and am gradually finding my favorite nooks and crannies in this crazy city. The weather has been warming up lately and have opened up opportunities for convertible rides (which is one of my favorite things to do)!

I will be coming home in a couple weeks to see Ethan & Kamdyn turn 1 (wow that year went fast!) and to surprise Hannah at her bridal shower! Can't wait to see everyone, even though I will only be in town for about 72hrs.

I'll leave you with a pic of Rachel & I on St. Patricks day. We went to the Cat & Fiddle in Hollywood for dinner and drinks. They had bagpipers there (which I didn't really understand because that's Scottish...right?). Which also reminds me...I'll be going to Europe in less than 2 months! Ireland, Scotland & England here I come!

christmas in california

fall

In 5 days I will be in ILLINOIS! I'm so excited to be Aunt Sydney all weekend and be surrounded by my family and friends from home. I'm also looking forward to a taste of fall! I had to go buy a couple of hoodies yesterday to be prepared for my trip home. It's starting to cool off a bit in LA also. As I sit on my couch typing this, I am feeling the 58 degree breeze coming in through my windows. I love it. It's also 4 in the morning...by 4pm it will be 80 degree's again.

On Tuesday Rach, Nicole and I are going to the Ellen Degeneres show again! She is having Ellen Page on the show. It will air on Wednesday so look for us in the audience!! Hopefully we win something good :)

Jocelyn moved out this past weekend :( She found out that she was able to write her Canadian Boards on Wednesday so it happened in a whirlwind. She is moving to Canada to live closer to her family and friends there. I am so happy for her because this is what she really wanted! Of course, us girls are going to miss having her around. We have already planned a trip to Canada sometime in the month of February to go see her...so it wasn't goodbye, just see ya soon :) Good luck on your boards, Joc! We miss you already!

my home

Here are a few pics of the house that i took a couple days ago. Enjoy, we sure are :)

Nicole's room (she painted over the pine walls)

Rachel's room

sunroom

living space/dining room

paiz

About 9months ago, I blogged that my dear friend Hayley Kotner had her baby. I just had to upload a new picture of Paisley. She is such a doll and growing so fast! Can't wait to see her when I come home to visit.

my room

Here's a quick pic (from my iphone) of my room in the house. I apologize for not putting up pics of the house all fixed up yet! I need to get on that. I figured I would go ahead and just post this quick pic of my bedroom to tide you over until I get pics of the whole house added on here. Oh yeah...and I am going to try and start back up blogging more. I turned into a bit of a blog-slacker in August.

Isn't my bedding great?? I got it from Anthropologie. It's super comfy and I loooove it. I splurged, as it was a birthday gift to myself. Mom got me the throw pillows for my Bday.

One of the luxuries...

...of living in LA is that you can drive to Vegas just about anytime you want. We went to Vegas for a couple nights during a few nights off work. We went to old downtown Las Vegas (Fremont St.) which I had never been to. Actually, I think I might've been when I was younger. We took a family trip to LV for Erins 21st bday...so that would have made me 11. Some of the sights down there I could've sworn I had seen on that trip. Anyway, it was a really fun but short trip (2 nights) and I got some sun from the convertible ride there and pool time. I got back yesterday and on the way home I didn't feel so good. I think I might be getting strep throat again. I am notorious for that illness. It seems to get me at least once or twice a year. I called into work tonight and will probably have to tomorrow. Can't be getting my youngsters sick. Even though at work now, we are required to have everyone on "droplet precautions" meaning we must wear a mask into everyone's room whether or not they have a respiratory illness. It's to reduce the contamination of the flu. We have a lot of kids coming through the ED and PICU with the swine flu (not on my floor).

I am getting so excited to come home in a few weeks. I REALLY can't wait to see everyone. I will hardly recognize all the babies I imagine. I'm also excited to get a taste of fall weather in Southern Illinois. Oh yeah...and I cannot forget about my dog!! I got my tickets for the ELLEN show in the mail today. I can't believe I won them! We are so excited (Rach, Nicole, and I). I got lucky last time that Jocelyn had an extra ticket. I never thought I would win a set of my own. The show is recorded on Oct. 6th so it will air on Oct. 7th. We're not sure who the guest will be just yet. I'll let you know when I find out.

Harrisburg bound in 20 days!!

yum

On Sunday night my 3 fabulous roommates and I went to dinner a couple blocks away from our house to a Mexican restaurant called Frida. It was amazing. I felt the need to take a photo of my dinner because it was so beautiful! Can't wait to take my family here when they come visit!

A chile relleno stuffed with beef, pears, & raisins covered with a walnut cream sauce and pomegranate seeds. Yummmmm!

roomates