Friendships aren't Flowers... but they grow, too

Recently, I had a GIRLS NIGHT OUT!... the infrequent night that women in their late twenties and thirties (and beyond) schedule to hang out with just the ladies. (Note: women in their early twenties don’t need to schedule such gatherings because every night out is GIRLS NIGHT OUT!). So, as careers, relationships, new friendships, and commutes have distanced me from some of my longest and closest girlfriends… I feel the need to rally in support of GIRLS NIGHT OUT!

As the plan was coming together in the past couple of weeks… I realized how excited I was to go. The faces of this particular GIRLS NIGHT OUT!, were a random smattering of invitees; A few of my closest friends… and some I have only just met. Still we are each connected by a distinct thread that weaves through a network of mutual friends on the Westside of Los Angeles.

So, with my hair straightened and umbrella in hand (thank you SoCal rainstorm), I kissed Ian good-bye and headed out the door… ready for GIRLS NIGHT OUT!

It was a good night… sushi, drinks, conversation and a lot of laughs. But the best part wasn’t the slychee martinis (yes, slychee) or the red velvet cupcake. It was the chance to catch up with friends who I don’t get to see nearly enough. One of my best friends (who was my roommate for three years)… had so many stories I finally got to hear… a whole new life down the 405 freeway in Irvine. Another former roommate (yes, I have had several) is jet setting around the world in the next couple of weeks. Everyone brought with them their umbrellas, their hilarious fatigue, and their lives.

While GIRLS NIGHT OUT! reminds me how good it is to see some of my closest friends, it also reminds me how glad I am our lives have evolved, too. I am glad that I no longer have roommates (that I have THE roommate); that I have made new friendships in the past few years that have become so important to me; that my work has taken me onto avenues of Los Angeles and my profession that I never would have imagined I would venture. But most of all, I am glad I can still look back on the ladies who I befriended when I moved to Los Angeles and that I can still call them my friends. My garden has grown, for sure (as have theirs)… but the original seeds have deep roots… and I hope that’s where they will stay.

Friendship = amicizia

Vegas... (and a) Baby!

So, Ian and I decided to celebrate New Year's in a big way (this year) and join our friends in Las Vegas to ring in 20-10. It was a perfect trip to Vegas that included great food (starting with the Mad Greek on our way into town, Mesa Grill and the Strip House), our best friends, and only $2.85 lost at the nickel poker video machine. We even caught a glimpse of Holly Madison a former girlfriend of Hugh Hefner's and former star of "The Girls Next Door." We left Los Angeles around 3:30 Wednesday afternoon and arrived just before 11 o'clock that night. Traffic was a nightmare but Trevor kept calm, and we eventually arrived and rallied. All in all, a VERY good time.

But the thing that amazed me the most had nothing to do with the new City Center complex or New Year's Eve exhibitionists.

With all of the sights and sounds in Vegas (especially the ringing of the slot machines), I was most amazed by our friend, Melissa. At nearly six months pregnant, she braved Vegas. Not only did she LOOK beautiful (see picture) but she hung in there with the rest of us. Gives me hope this whole pregnancy thing is do-able. Thanks, Mel, for making it seem (not just) possible, but fun. Maybe I can do it too... some day ;).

First year of marriage?

Is it possible? I wasn't planning on posting today... in fact, I am getting ready for a run. But, I just realized that one year ago (today), Ian started moving his stuff into my apartment. Thus, the count down to our one year anniversary, officially begins.

Strange, some talk about the first year of marriage like it's the hardest thing... and some people talk about it as if it's a vacation. For us (or for me), this year of marriage... so far... has been life. It's been wonderful, frustrating, funny, busy, and has included a lot of compromise and growth. It hasn't been HARD, but it hasn't been a dream, and I am glad. I don't want to wake up January 11, and feel like "real" marriage has finally begun and happiness has hit the skids. Marriage has been like my favorite pair of black high-heel leather boots. I couldn't wait to put them on, I look forward to wearing them every day, and they look good with everything. Yep, that's me. I can equate my marriage to shoes... I hope Ian doesn't mind.

Am I Really Doing This?

Really? Am I really doing this?

I have been a professional writer/editor/producer for years... I have even co-authored a book. I am obsessed with news (local, national, international, entertainment, bizarre, you name it), but somehow the idea of writing a blog has been very daunting... down-right intimidating. That's only for writers like Bill Simmons, right? We'll see.

So what's changed? Italy.

I have spent a significant amount of time in Italy (especially Florence), having studied there for a semester in college and returning for vacations. But while daydreaming about my upcoming trip this summer... I thought, "I have to write about this." It's not a vacation, but not exactly work. Intrigued?

So as this winter blossoms into spring, and I busy myself with wedding showers, baby showers and weekend getaways... I hope to chronicle the time leading up to "The Trip."

For any of you reading this... (probably just my mom, sister, and husband), I promise I won't ramble on (too much, anyway) about how I truly know myself when I am in Europe . This is not "Eat, Pray, Love." Definitely, not. But I will be eating.