Goji Berry anyone?

I'll have 22 almonds, a slap in the face and something that resembles and probably tastes like a glass of pee.

So I have to say..anyone who can do this diet long term has my utmost praise and sympathy. I won't deny the health benefits are unequivocal but you can't layer zucchini, tomatoes and mushrooms and call it lasagna. Even if it tastes good please don't call it lasagna. It's not worth fighting with me about it. period.

Eating raw really makes you think about what you put in your mouth everyday. I suppose any new diet does. I'm still OK with not having every morsel be organic and occasionally eating french fries. The other way is just too stringent and really, no fun.

Experimenting with this diet has also made me think about meat. I have decided the most/least I could ever do would be pescatarian. I like meat too much. I didn't when I was younger but I do now. I don't eat alot of meat but when I do I really enjoy it.

For me, trying to imagine a world without bacon is like trying to imagine a world without Burberry and Prada...it's honestly too horrible to even think about.

But damn that swine flu...maybe I should stick to the diet;-)

Raw

The California transformation is complete..I have decided to do a raw food detox diet.  This coincides nicely with the trip to the Toyota dealership to look at a Prius. But more on the car later.  I eat very healthy food most of the time (minus the ramen noodles from the other post. what? it was grocery time) so I don't think it's going to be a huge challenge for me except that I have absolutely zero willpower.  Not something I like to admit but tis the truth. Mike has amazing perseverance and willpower and on a scale from 1 to 10 if he's a 10 I'm a -1.  Of course he had "lovely" things to say about this diet but I'm only doing it for several days to feel recharged.  I'm not sure how I feel about carrot juice and sprouted beans but I sure do love my veggies and fruit fresh from the farmer's market. I hope I don't turn orange. 

I also realize this is not the type of thing anyone would care about (or anything on this site, really) but if anyone has ever done one please feel free to support my cause. or not. whatevs.  

Tall Blonde

No folks, not a Miller High Life...sorry to disappoint you.

Elise finally had her 3 year check-up today.

90% height

50% weight

+100% awesomeness

what? that's not a stat?

In other news, it's a balmy 99 degrees today..ouch.

Holly is killing for a big huge thunder and lightening storm..haven't seen one of those in a year...my favorite

Fun in the Sun

Today was a beautiful day (isn't it always?) so we decided on the beach. We were lucky enough to have dad come with us-not a common occurrence, especially when he's on service. We tried our hand at kite flying again and were successful this time around. Going to the beach means different things to different people..Mike hides under an umbrella while Holly basks in the sun (wearing spf 20, of course)

Some people do this:

and some people do this:

It was 80 and no clouds in the sky...here's to protecting your skin! (fill in whatever alcoholic beverage you would like to cheers with. for this occasion I choose a magic hat #9)

Mike flying the kite:

Holly flying the kite:

Holly was slightly better at first but Mike's skills improved and by the end he could have been talking on the phone, drinking a beer and flying the kite simultaneously.

Elise and mommy:

It was a nice morning..and Elise serenaded mom on the way home with Piazza, New York Catcher by Belle and Sebastian..one of mom's favorite songs. she really just hummed along but it tickled me pink to think she has my taste in music.

All time low

Holly's life just got a little sadder...she ran 3 miles, showered and polished off the rest of a cabernet alone whilst eating ramen noodles from a coffee mug and watching Jaws. someone please come visit soon.

Cougar

Elise riding on the cougar statue at Coldwater Canyon Park. Very Harold and Kumar go to White Castle...or was that a cheetah? Do with it what you will. 

Monique

My sister Michele and baby Monique..she's getting so big and so adorable:-) We can't wait for them to come in June. I wish it was tomorrow!

Photo shoot #2

tickle party

happy parents/mad kid dance party
silly face party

necessary close-up unnecessary close-upcrazy-eyed mike with his beloved deviled eggs

tired mommy

Homesick

   Well it's been almost a year since we drove out to Cali and I'm finally starting to feel genuinely homesick..though I'm not sure for which home.  Over the past 10 years, like many of our friends, we have lived in a few different places.  I guess you could say it's more friends and family sick.        We love it out here so much it has taken awhile to really feel that sense of longing. We are not traveling back east until August so it's good we are having plenty of visitors.  This somber note is probably also due to the fact that my dear friend Katie who I met out here is moving to San Diego with her family for her husband's job. I shouldn't complain too much though-not really a far move-it could be worse.  

   In other news, we are moving in a few weeks!  We decided to take advantage of the lower (out here that means slightly less shocking) rent prices and move into a house. It's not a house we (Holly) would have chosen if it was entirely her decision but it's a house, it has a small yard, garage and plenty of space for Elise to roam around. It also means we are moving to a new neighborhood-Westwood. 

   Westwood is essentially UCLA.  We currently live in Brentwood-very affluent, lots of celebs and well, lots of rich people. The west side of LA is actually very small so we are only moving about 2 miles away but like most big cities, the neighborhoods can be very different. Westwood has more of a college feel to it-younger, busier, more family owned ethnic restaurants (lots of Esans), a melting pot. I think we will be VERY happy there.  It also means we'll have a little room for visitors-so come!!! (not all at once..hee hee)

   Maybe we will even get a dog at some point:-0 Although it would be more for Mike and Elise...I honestly don't want the responsibility and I'm not sure I'm "ready" to give my love to another animal after Casey Jones.  

people and their teak...

Did you know Target sells a patio set that's 3,000 dollars? What?! Have I been living under a rock? Where do they get off? And who buys that? Why would you buy that at Target????!
Sorry, I was at a loss for words when I saw that.

That Easter Bunny likes Thai...

Elise woke up and promptly searched for her basket which was filled with the good stuff.  The typical California Easter bunny delivers healthy organic cardboard-like treats from the Whole Foods. We still use the bunny that delivers high fructose corn syrup treats resulting in hyperactivity followed by a crash.  

Elise eats very healthy most of the time..she actually likes vegetables, fruit, homemade foods and ethnic cuisine.  We (well, Holly) are pretty vigilant about making sure she doesn't have too many sweets, juice or processed foods but get some chocolate in her and the fits begin...oh well, sometimes it just has to be done.

We took her out for Thai food lastnight-we knew we had to break her in eventually given that it's her parent's favorite cuisine besides Japanese/sushi.  She enjoyed her satay with peanut sauce and rice. We convinced her to eat by telling her the Easter bunny is serious about Thai food-it's his favorite-and he said he would bring her a basket if she "tried" the food.  She happily obliged but looked a little suspicious of the lie and kept saying "that Easter bunny is serious about Thai." 

We spent our Easter afternoon with our friends and enjoyed a casual ham dinner while the kids searched for eggs...

Happy Easter

two days I'll never get back..

For the past two days we (Holly) has had the glorious task of trying to find a new place to live. It's not that there is anything "wrong" with our place now except it's small and like every person who lives in this part of town, we are getting robbed with the amount we pay. We figured if we are going to pay this much we might as well try to find something better...we'll see. Of course I'm much harder to please about where we live so it makes it a long, drawn out effort. Today I am looking at a townhouse in Bel Air that is closer to Elise's preschool so lets hope that works out!

3 going on 13

we didn't get the manual on raising a girl before Elise Clare was born..Some of the things I am learning about my daughter as she grows:

1) Girls are vastly different from boys-the Mars and Venus book was right after all..
2) Not all girls are born to love dolls, princesses, etc. Ours is a complete tomboy who loves race cars, swords, spaceships and scary monsters or villains.
3) But the previous still somehow makes her different from boys
4) Mom is wrong about everything-already! I thought that would wait until at least 10, 11..
5) Dad is the idol-the big cheese, the can-do-no-wrong, the omnipotent froehler
6) She never tires of pancakes-we're going on day 160 or something
7) She is so friendly and bubbly like mom, often to her peril.."no elise, you can't play shoot 'em up with those 12 year old boys"
8) We are so lucky to have a beautiful, smart and imaginative little girl:-)

Understand this brag was guilt driven-I felt badly about putting Elise up for sale on Facebook-even though it elicited alot of laughs and comments...