Happy New Year Honeybees ♥

Wishing you a fabulous new year's eve and beyond...

May it be a fabulous year filled with fun, friends and maybe an adventure or two!

I did a pre-new year's party with some great girlfriends including Julie.  We got all dressed up and did a fun happy hour downtown and went dancing to some random music.  I'm working tomorrow (time and a half baby) and I'm saving my money for a pre-birthday LA trip in the end of January so I can definitely use the cash!  So I'm not doing anything big tonight, but I am going to be eating steak at one of my favorite restaurants Black Angus (so good for all you carnivores).  And then tomorrow I plan to be good... ;) *happy*HAPPY*happy* New Year's Eve honeybees!!! xoxo

At the Cinema ♥ Flight

I wanted to see this movie because it has Denzel Washington in it.  This is a very good start to a movie for me.  I think he is an amazing actor and I generally tend to like the movies Denzel does.

Flight was no exception.  And as a matter of fact, I'm adding it to my MUST SEE list.  This is a list that didn't even exist before... that is how much I think you should see this movie.

It's about an alcoholic pilot who lands a plane.  That was about all I knew when I watched the movie.  And it turned out to be about a lot more.  It gives you a hard look at the life of an addict and what you don't want to do in the arena of drugs and alcohol.  You can't help but root for the pilot for much of the film, but you start to wonder exactly what you should be rooting for.

I highly recommend this movie at the cinema. :)

On DVD ♥ Lawless

Ummm.... I'm not sure quite what to say about this movie.  My brother was in town?

I didn't mind Shia LaBeouf being in the movie, although, I've read some very strange stuff about him and his "method" acting.  I think there is some unwritten rule that 75% of successful actors must go a bit crazy.  But back to the movie, it's a pretty dark and bloody story about the prohibition era.

Jack Bondurant

One of the most interesting aspects of the movie is that it was actually based on a true story.  Trust me after you see it... you'll be surprised.  But some the craziest stories are the ones we didn't make up.  Lawless is based off the historical novel "The Wettest County in the World."

Your Face ♥ Tweezerman Love

I have been wanting to try a pair of Tweezerman tweezers for quite a while, but I just haven’t wanted to spend $20 on a pair of tweezers.  (Even though I am endless frustrated with my cheap tweezers that seem to not work as often as they work).  So for Christmas, I asked for a pair of Tweezermans.  And they are AMAZING.  They are so sharp and precise when you grab a hair, it comes right out!  In fact, you actually need to be careful because they are so sharp you can actually grab you skin, ouch.  Also, a nice addition is free sharpening service for as long as the implement can be sharpened with no outbound shipping and handling and no processing fees.  I’ve only used the tweezers once, but so far it seems worth the investment!

At the Cinema ♥ Here Comes the Boom

Here Comes the Boom is a GREAT movie and it's even at the cheap theater!  You can't really beat $4 for a movie at Valley Theater.  I knew the basic storyline that a high school teacher goes into the ring to raise money to save the school's music program.

And I'm happy to write that Here Comes the Boom is everything you want it to be... inspirational, heart warming and a lot funnier than I expected.  I don't think it did great at the box office, but I loved it.  So go see it at your local cheap theater or wait until February 5 to watch it on DVD.  And that's right before my birthday (February 7) if you are looking to get me a birthday present ;)  Did you see the movie?  What did you think?

At the Cinema ♥ The Hobbit Take 2

Well I went to see The Hobbit for the second time today.  It's a little tradition I like to call... let's go the movies on Christmas.  Because, well, I just love the movies.

And I am happy to say that The Hobbit was even better the second time!  I'm not sure why, but the first time all the singing kind of annoyed me, but this time it did not annoy me at all.  I loved it!  (Not the singing, but the movie)

  I also had family with me so I could confirm that some of the action parts were a bit blurry... it something having to do with the 3D technology.  Have you seen The Hobbit yet?  Did you love it?

My favorite parts of the movie involved Gandalf and were quite quotable:

Saruman believes it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. I found it is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay... small acts of kindness and love. Why Bilbo Baggins? Perhaps it is because I am afraid and he gives me courage! 

But if you do, remember this: true courage is about knowing not when to take a life, but when to spare one. 

Merry Christmas Honeybees ♥

Oh my goodness!  Who else cannot believe it's already Christmas... this year has absolutely flown by.... but I would like to take a moment to wish you a very Merry Christmas filled with love, sparkles & warm fuzzies.

Maybe a few fun presents?

A visit from Santa...

Have a happy holiday!  Merry Merry Christmas Honeybees. 

What are you doing for the holiday?  I'm planning to see a movie or two and eat some yummy food.  Maybe I can squeeze in some exercise too!

At the Cinema ♥ The Hobbit

Nothing like a good movie to take your mind off your own problems, right?  I wanted to see The Hobbit and was having a terrible night so I decided to do it!  And it was still a great movie even considering my awful mood.  So I'm sure it will be even better the second time.

I saw it in 3D and there were a lot of scenes that seemed designed especially for 3D.  That being said, I didn't like the clarity of some of the faster moving sequences in 3D so I would like to see it 2D and see if this fixes the clarity issues that I noticed.  

I didn't think The Hobbit was as good as any of the Lord of the Rings movies, but maybe it's just me.  It still is most definitely worth seeing in the theater to see how the unexpected journey began.  You will get acquainted with new characters and old friends.

Good Eats ♥ Potbelly

It's a sandwich shop!  They just opened in Tanasbourne, OR five weeks ago.  There is also a location in Portland, OR.  I spent a semester in Washington, DC during grad school working at ABC News and there was a Potbelly right around the corner.  It was one of my favorite lunch spots.  They have really yummy sandwiches and milkshakes.  And I'm sooooo excited that now we have one in Oregon to enjoy.  Seriously, try it out!  You will not regret.

Potbelly
2096 NW Stucki Ave
Portland, OR

So Potbelly, pretty much made my Sunday... but then I got to go to a Blazers game too!  It was a Stanford alumni event and it was soooo much fun.  I even got to meet a player Robin Lopez that went to Stanford.  He has the best hair!  

So all in all, a fabulous Sunday!  (I even got a red top for like $4 to wear to the game... and I picked up a couple other tops for a steal also.  Yay Macy's clearance rack)  I just don't want to work tomorrow... I would rather just go shopping and to basketball games please!  You know... the fun stuff :)  I'll be dreaming of basketball players.  XOXO honey bees!

Happy Friday ♥ Furball Friday

Oh my little blog!  I'm very sorry you have been so neglected.  It has been a very crazy week.  I even had to take two sick days.  I never take sick days.  Why would I want to waste my time off being sick when I could be in the Bahamas?  Anyway, you get the idea... I'm very anti-sick days.  But unfortunately, they were needed this week.  And my phone is kaput, well not completely but the home button doesn't work which makes it really difficult to do much on the phone.  Suffice to say, my blog has been very neglected!  But I will make amends next week.  It has been a super crazy week, the holidays, the bad news we've had lately... I hope you are all taking care of yourself and managing to squeeze in some R&R.  We never take enough time to relax, sleep and rest.  So I hope we both manage at least a bit this weekend...

Also, it's not Friday without a little furball or two.  XOXO honeybees!

PS: Come visit me tomorrow at my last holiday bazaar of 2013!  It's from 10-4 at Aloha High School. 18550 SW Kinnaman Rd

At the Cinema ♥ Lincoln

This movie is definitely worth seeing. It's a bit of history and quite educational.  That being said, the first part of the movie is pretty slow and boring. But once you get past the first half, the second half of the movie gets interesting. The movie is all about the 13th amendment and how Lincoln made it happen.  

It was also intriguing to see a glimpse into Lincoln's relationship with his wife Mary.  Mary struggled with the devastating loss of one of her sons Willie.  Lincoln even thought about sending Mary to a mental institution because of her issues dealing with the death of Willie. Sally Fields did an outstanding job playing Mary and had a wonderful moment keeping one of the Republicans Thaddeus Stevens in line.  

Tommy Lee Jones also did an excellent job in the role of Thaddeus Stevens.  Even though we all know what happened, it's fascinating to see how the 13th amendment was passed by the House of Representatives and how Lincoln helped shape American history. 

News to Use ♥

Breanna lost 66 pounds and she's only nine years old.  Click here to watch the story from ABC News.  She started exercising with her family and they had a zero tolerance policy for their nightly four mile walk.  It's a very inspiring little video!  And what a great idea to have a zero tolerance policy for exercising.  It makes working out pretty simple, if you just have to do it everyday!

Bazaar Time

Christmas Bazaar
Dec 7 & 8
9 am - 5 pm
Somerset Christian Church
16260 NW Bronson Rd
Beaverton OR 97006

♥ Lessons from Driving School Day 2

Today was much more sobering.  It was my second and last day of driving school.  We met a mom.  Her son was killed by a drunk driver.  She talks about what happened to her son because she doesn't want him to be forgotten and she wants to educate others.  We also saw some pretty intense photos of injuries from car crashes.  We also heard a story about a class attendee, just like us, who ended up in the trauma room the day after he had finished the course.  He died from his injuries and left an entire family behind.  I hope I don't forget what I've learned.

♥ Lessons from Driving School

I was pulled over by a cop for speeding, cops like to pull me over... I blame the red car.  But I had a nice cop who let me go to high risk driving school.  And surprisingly, it was the inspirational and educational thing I have done in months!  I really think it should be mandatory and everyone should go.  I learned a lot about trauma, but I was really touched by three speakers who came to our class, each who had sustained a traumatic brain injury.  It's not very often that we stop to appreciate what we have, but after meeting and hearing the stories from people who have overcome so much simply to be able to talk and walk, it's truly life altering.

Tyler Presnell was particularly moving.  He was in a car accident when he was 14 and lost his short term memory, but do you know what he does?  He is a motivation speaker.  He does this and he can't even remember what he did the day before.

He speaks with authority and you can't help but agree with him after everything he has been through.  He told me (and everyone) that we need to work harder and decide what we want to do with our lives.  Time is a precious commodity and don't waste it.

Nail It ♥ Black French Tips

My latest mani ♥ Black French Tips
I ♥ it!

America's Got Talent ♥ PDX style

My lovely singing friend DeeAnna alerted me that America's Got Talent was going to be in PDX today.  She actually won tickets to the front of the line on the radio.  Even a sinus infection (me) and a lack of sleep (warren) could not stop us!  We went to Xfactor and this time the audition came to us.

Now one of the main keys for this whole audition thing is to arrive early!  I did go to the America's Got Talent audition the last time they were in PDX a couple of years ago.  We arrived at about 4:30 a.m. and there were about 50 or 60 people in line already.  Since I was sick this week, I wanted to get some sleep before the audition (I also had a bazaar during the rest of the day).  We arrived at 5 a.m. today and were number 7 and 8 in line!  

Yup, we thought it was just the security, but there is the beginning of the line!

Thumbs down Portland, why don't you ever show up to auditions?  How are we ever going to get shows to audition in our city if nobody ever shows up?  People were supposed to line up at 6 a.m. and even then there was still only a handful of people waiting.  (At other auditions, you have to get there a couple hours earlier than 5 a.m. to be anywhere near the front of the line, which is exactly where you want to be so you don't have to wait around all day to audition.)  To be honest, I'm sure you could roll into this audition anytime later in the day and not have any issue auditioning or worrying about a line.  BUT you don't want to count on this being the case.  It seems to vary A LOT depending on the city you are auditioning in.  And if you trying out for another show I would expect to have to deal with larger crowds.

 
And for the first time, we ended up in the first audition group!  I have to give major props to AGT.  They were super organized and super nice, especially when compared to some other auditions that I've been to *cough*cough* (X Factor and American Idol).  Did the fact that there were way less people to manage help?  Definitely, but AGT went out of their way to be considerate of the people waiting in line.  The brought us inside very early so we could wait out of the cold and rain.  They also kept things moving and I didn't feel like there was a lot of wasted time.

After we lined up inside, we filled out release forms.  Next, we had to go through security.  Warren and I were miked to get ambient sounds and taped going through the line (another first) and chatted with a producer (another first).  They say to wear colorful clothing on the website and I would recommend it--I think it's part of the reason we got noticed.  They take you back in groups of 20 to audition.  We were called in numerical order and three of us auditioned together in a room with a producer and a camera man.  They videotape your audition which makes sense--they can see how you look on camera and go back and look over tape to decide who to callback.  I heard that you don't hear back until March if they are interested, but I don't know if this is true or not.  I was just so happy I finally saw significant improvement in my audition, even though I prepped less!

 See the guy in the hat?  He was our audition buddy!  We all auditioned in the same room together.

Are you going to try out for AGT?  Let me know how it goes!  Happy singing honeybees :)

Furball Friday ♥

I have been house sitting some Westies this week so it only seemed appropriate for the breed to be featured on Furball Friday.

Accessorize Me ♥ Hot Pink Lip Earrings

I picked up these cute little hot pink lip studs at Target.  This photo does not do them justice.  They are covered with sparkly hot pink gemstones!  And now they are on sale for $3.48 and I'm a little annoyed.  But you can pick up them up for a steal now.

The Curve ♥ Seeing Dots

♥Sheer black top by Forever 21
♥Black dress
♥Cream and black polka dot tights
♥Black Mary Janes

I was super excited about my new polka dot tights!  They were super cute in person, but we had a major issues trying to photograph them.  This was the best shot.

Thanks to Warren for taking the photos!

Worker Bee Mondays ♥ Actions for Success

Whoa, is it really already Monday again?  Yes, they come so fast.  I hope you had an excellent Thanksgiving weekend.  I got to eat turkey and karaoke, what more could a girl ask for?

This week's article is from a Forbes contributor about the Top 6 Actions the Promote Career Success.  I don't know about you, but I can always use some more tips when it comes to this arena, so let's see what we can learn on a Monday.  :)

1. Gaining Clarity
You must understand exactly what you want and what matters most to you.  It can't be some vague, nebulous notion like "I want to do something meaningful."
 
2. Transforming Desperation Into Inspiration
We must learn how to "turn our desperation into inspiration"... to move away from feeling desperate, victimized and out of control in the face of your professional challenges.

3. Enforcing Your Boundaries
Once you know what you want, you have to be strong enough to protect your boundaries, honor your priorities.

4. Committing Yourself 1000%
To be successful in life and work, it takes commitment that doesn't wane.

5. Communicating Powerfully
Highly successful professionals and entrepreneurs are typically very captivating storytellers.

6. Nurturing Empowered Relationships
Invest time and energy in building mutually-beneficial relationships and solid bonds.



Motivation Monday

I hope you have a wonderful week honeybees! XOXO

Furball Friday ♥ Sleeping Puppy

You might have seen it before, but this sleeping is just so cute!!! Happy Friday Honey Bees :)

Happy Thanksgiving ♥

Have a truly wonderful Thanksgiving!

Whether it's playing in the leaves...

digging into some turkey...

or being a turkey!

Happy Thanksgiving Honey Bees!  I'm thankful for you. :)