Capitola

Husbie and I decided to take advantage of the warm CA summer, and headed down to Capitola. We stopped in at local favorite, Gayle's, and chowed down on some tasty fare and desserts:

Luckily, I got to eat some choco macaroons that were to die for:

After that, we headed to Rio Del Mar, where Lancer picked up this fine hat. It's not a serious hat...really just one for yardwork, and maybe floating down the Sacramento River. And for looking like Bret Michaels. I'm just sayin...

We then hit Moss Landing, where we spotted these little gems. They look like driftwood, but were actually cute little sea lions. They even clapped when they saw us.

I definitely enjoyed the beach, though the weather was crisp and breezy. I also noticed how cute my new flip-flops were with my cute pink toes. The shoes are only $15 @ J. Crew right now. I look like I have cankles from that pic, but I assure you...I don't. It's just a baaaaad angle.

New Kids On The Block - Summertime

I now have a new slew of skanks to hate...

I LOVE YOU DONNIE!!!

Getting My Hair Did

So..I have some serious roots. And visible split-ends. It's not the end of the world, but it's also not very hot.

I have resisted using the hair-girl my friends all use because she knew me when I was 19, and well, I'm embarrassed by that fact. She knew me when I wore high-waisted pants, Birkenstocks with wool socks, and that unfortunate phase when I bought most of my clothes from the Haight.

Read: Ugly, ill-fitting clothing better off on Rayanne Graff from My So-Called-Life, who, sadly was my inspiration. Ugh.

She also knows me from when I was a regular at church dances, and by regular, I mean obsessed to the point that I would drag anyone I could find with me on my quest for eternal love every Friday night. I didn't find love, but I did find a guy that peed in my garage...on Valentine's Day...I'll post on that one later.

My super-awesome "boyfriend" at this time was also embarrassing. He thought he was black, when in fact, he was very white. Well..3/4 white. Here's how this went:

Super-Awesome-"Boyfriend"-From-The-Mid-Nineties: I'm black.

Me: Hmm. Really? You don't look black. You look a little tan... (trails off)

Super-Awesome-"Boyfriend"-From-The-Mid-Nineties: Yeah, I'm 1/4 black.

Me: Right...so you're like 3/4 white, right??

Super-Awesome-"Boyfriend"-From-The-Mid-Nineties: No. I'm 1/4 black.

Me: Silence

This is how it ended:

Me: Bummer that your family sucks. You can come home with me for Christmas if you want.

Super-Awesome-"Boyfriend"-From-The-Mid-Nineties: What's your family going to think when you bring home a black man?

Me: I thought I was bringing you home???

Super-Awesome-"Boyfriend"-From-The-Mid-Nineties: Silence.

Can I really get my hair did by someone who knew this chapter in my life? $60 highlights says I can.

Orange You Glad You Are Friends With Vickie???

Ha! Thought I would borrow a line from my fave childhood joke. If you don't get it, I feel bad for your childhood.

The citrus-themed shower for Vickie was fabulous. Thanks to the co-hostesses who helped.

We served chicken-salad sandwiches, fruit salad, and my new go-to green salad..the bacon-spinach-strawberry-walnut salad. Mmmmm...

Mmmkay...

I put up with a lot from my food. Yes, it fills me up, but it also makes me work out, and on occasion, it makes me sick. One thing I will *not* tolerate from my food is seduction. Have you seen that lame Tropicana commercial where they attempt to sexy-up their raspberry juice? The soft jazz, the slo-mo splashing juice that folds back in upon itself (meow!!), the gravelly-voiced announcer listing the sexy merits of the beverage. Enough! I don't need sexy fruit drinks, and I don't need your sexy-creepy commercials, Mr. Tropicana.

Under The Bridge

This is precious.

Moi: So, what music are you listening to these days?

My 13 year-old buddy-o: I'm mostly into classic rock.

Moi: Nice! Like who?

My 13 year-old buddy-o: Red Hot Chili Peppers

Moi: Pshaaw!! They're *so* not classic rock. What album?

My 13 year-old buddy-0: Californication.

Moi: No, no, no... Mother's Milk. And immediately download BSSM. And lie when your parents ask how you found out about it.

My 13 year-old buddy-o: Sweet.

What can I say--I do what I can, where I can.

Biker Boy

A year ago, the wheel fell off Lance's janky old bike from the late 80's...he claims it's early 90's, but I suspect he has a loose association with the truth on this one.

In any case, I bugged him for a year to either A. fix the dumb old bike and stop stealing mine/always raising the set (clearly, men have an aversion to lowering *any* seat) or B. pony up some meager duckets and just get a new bike already. He chose to do neither for a full year.

Finally, spurned by my desire to take leisurely rides together through our neighborhood on balmy summer nights, he decided to fix the wheel. I guess it was bad, because they laughed when he brought it in, and they had to confiscate it. He finally got it back, and the chain fell off. He took it back in, I imagine they laughed some more, and then they re-confiscated it for the weekend. Upon trying to pick it up, he found out the petals and a bunch of other junk was wrong with it, and he had to pay for all of the extra repairs.

The best part was when he looked over and saw a new bike for, like, $1.87 more than he spent refurbishing his 80's ride. A cruel fate, indeed.

Never a "Do"

I saw these 2 snazzy "do's" that are "uber-dont's" on a poster outside of a barber shop. Methinks no young boy should ever be subjected to "The Nike" or the "Pint-Sized Military Recruit." I also don't think you should be able to order a hairdo with a number. If you're dumb enough to order the "27" you deserve a junky-copyright-infringing sports logo shaved into your head. Feel free to disagree.

Pack Mule

Dobbie sure has been riding the gravy train for some time. Tubby's lazy days have been filled with stealing scraps, sleeping, and contracting canine warts. Well, Dobbie's free ride is now over, and from here on out, he will be earning his keep.

I busted out his little 'Outward Hound" vest. It's like a backpack for dogs--I put a full water bottle on each side, and made pudgy cart it to 31 Flavors. Before you think I'm the meanest dog mom EVER, know that Dobbie is a Lab, and they like having tasks and jobs to do--it gives them a purpose. In fact, as I pulled it out of the closet to dust it off, fatso's tail was going crazy.

As a reward, Husbie and I let Dobster lick our little cups. After all, he earned it!

Instant Vacation In a Bottle

Thanks to my Scandinavian heritage, I'm forced to be a big fan of self-tanners. If I had creamy, porcelain skin like Nicole Kidman, I wouldn't have to be a cheerleader for the stuff. As it stands, I'm pale and cursed with ruddy, uneven skin. We all know the obvious drawbacks of self-tanners--the wait, the money, the smell, the rub-off. However, I recently found a Godsend in the form of Model Co's Bronze Airbrush Sun. It's not a self-tanner; rather, it's an instant, airbrush tan for your face and body. It goes on evenly with a hint of shimmer, leaving your skin dewy, bronzed and glowing. It also smells fabulous and stays put until you wash it off with soap and water. It's a great short-term commitment, and the perfect way to kick off summer. You can find this fabulous product in your local Sephora stores, and at Sephora.com.

My Latest Article for SFBayStyle

Check it out:

http://sfbaystyle.typepad.com/blog/2008/06/shan-serves-up.html

It's 2 AM and I Currently Want This More Than Life

2 Jack in the Box tacos for 99 cents. I'm fairly certain it's not even real beef, but I care not about that fact. I want those tacos...but the prudent thing it to just go to bed. I think my prudent side wins this round.

Ignorance Is Bliss....

...unless it gets you schwag from Tiffany & Co. Yes, my thoughtless friends realized after I ponied up dough for their last few birthdays, that they didn't get me anything for mine in the last 2 years. I hadn't quite realized this until they pointed it out...jokes on you, ladies.

This egregious oversight landed me a nifty pair of earrings to make up for it. I suppose I will now keep all of you. At least until my next birthday.

Superman Who?? The Benz Has Secret Powers!!

Since my super-fly ride upgrade, strange things have been happening to me. I am starting to want/like/desire the Benz. A LOT. I'm *so* not a car person...my friend Amy is always blathering on about cars and using nicknames for allegedly "hot" cars like 'Lambo' which I can only assume *yawn* is short for Lamborghini. Bo-ring!

But the Benz...it put a spell on me. I find myself driving under 40 so I can floor it and hit 80 in, like, 2 seconds. The power is intoxicating. I also looked over at some chump in a Porsche at the light the other day, and he kinda gave me the 'sup head nod. I-kinda-sorta-mighta raced him...homeboy went down. Fast.

I can't go back to the Honda now. I'm hooked.

Shower-Part 1

I was fortunate enough to be able to help with a shower for my good friend Kristine this morning. Yes, a very *early* morning after my night out and about gallivanting with my chickies. Some highlights:

Le' Hot Mama...

The party in full swing...

The spread: we served Mexican chicken salad, strawberries, and chips and salsa/guacamole. It was tre' tasty.

For dessert, a trio of tasty goods. Flan, flourless chocolate cake (thanks, ladies!) and a delicious cheesecake:

Partying is hard business. I needed a nice, long kip with Dobbie, who was also tired from the party. Tired of running around stealing cake off plates...but still tired, nonetheless.

Next week...Shower Part 2 for Miss Vickie! Stay tuned...excited to share pics of the citrus shower with all of you.

SATC...LOVED-LOVED-LOVED IT!!!

Broke out the hot shoes for the movie...

After my Indy letdown, I was a little skeptical about SATC. We snagged 7 tickets for opening night (naturally) and hunkered down for the 2.5 hour production.

I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT! Because we were all Super-Fans, we played along...clapping, cheering, booing..the works. Apparently, a few people in my party cried, but they hid it from me for obvious reasons.

Note to loud/allegedly sassy lady who kept making loud comments: So, Loud Lady, you really have a 1,2, maybe 3 comment limit. After that, you're just pushing your luck. Perhaps you didn't hear the audience both yelling and swearing at you? In case you missed it, we were all telling you to shut up. Some a little more colorfully...but you get the picture.

Loved the clothes, loved the drama, loved the laughs, loved the girls. Welcome back!

One half of the ladies....

Din-din afterwards...per our usual MO, we put that food DOWN!

Ouch...

Lancer: Did you enable the feature that alerts you when people post comments on your blog?

Me: Not yet.

Lancer: Yeah, that's probably not necessary.

Ouch.

I happen to know from my fancy counter that people are indeed visiting my blog, though most don't leave comments because they don't have account, don't want to sign up, don't leave comments, don't know me, or don't know what to write. So there.

Indy

I grew up on Indiana Jones. I loved the little roller-coaster ride in the old mine, the live heart removal, the ginormous boulder, the hot-chick-gone-bad-but-only-after-she-got-hot-with-Indy. So, I was very excited to go see the new flick. We cajoled our friends, The Fosters, into going on opening night. I was a little let down, to be honest. Here's why:

1. Aliens. Really?? Aliens? I'm open to believing in old, ancient curses, but they're usually of the Jesus or Incan variety. However--I'm not really down with the big-headed extraterrestrials in this flick.

2. Where's the hot chick? The good girl gone bad? The naughty Nazi? All this movie served up with an old, not-so-hot chick in mom jeans and a dowdy vest. Plus, her hair was a hot mess. Bleh.

3. The never ending cat and mouse game with the skull. Maybe you wouldn't have lost it so many times if you hadn't given custody to the weirdo in the trance-like state. Just a thought.

4.. This isn't really a complaint, per se. But did anyone else think Shia looked pretty hot in that scene where he rolls in through the fog on his bike? Just asking. He's legal, btw.

Overall, I would give it a B-. Which sucks, because I *so* wanted to give it an A.

Doggie Heaven

We took Lil' Guy to Livermore today to indulge in a little slice of Doggie Heaven. There was swimming, sniffing, fetching, catching and bird-chasing. Some of our fave pics below: