RITZ CARLTON MARINA DEL REY

Lately, I have been feeling a little under the weather. You know, when things just don’t seem to be going your way in life and love. Well, I’m tired of being down in the dumps! It’s time to turn that frown upside down! My friend Samantha and I found the perfect cure for a BAD MOOD! The RITZ CARLTON MARINA DEL REY is FABULOUS!

After work Monday morning (I teach music and creative music at a pre-school), I rushed straight to the Westside to meet up with Samantha poolside at the RITZ CARLTON. In the car, I changed into my bikini and a little red cover up and parked down the road in public parking (way cheaper than valet at the hotel). I marched right through the door and swung a left to the pool (You gotta walk like you know where you are going since the pool is for hotel guests and members only)!

Sam had already snagged two loungers poolside. She was glistening with suntan oil and basking in the sun. I stripped down to my suit and began my deep relaxation. I swear a bit of sun and a dip in the pool can cure almost any amount of stress!

I read my book THE SECRET DIARY OF A CALL GIRL (Trashy and fantastic gets your mind off life… also watch the TV show on Showtime! FABULOUS!) We chatted while reading the gossip rags (Who doesn’t love US Weekly, In Touch and People) and got caught up on the latest fashion and beauty trends (in ELLE and InStyle). We also laughed out loud at the silly sex and man advice in Cosmo (Who writes that stuff?)

For lunch, we shared a huge and delicious BLTA (Bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado) on thick toast. I usually don’t like avocados (they’re so green and mushy), but this sandwich was to die for! I snagged the majority of the French fries and dunked them in a yummy garlic aioli (YUM)! In the afternoon, we sipped on frozen lemonades. We may as well have been on vacation in South Beach or the Bahamas because we felt bronzed, relaxed and FABULOUS!

Now time for the main event! The RITZ CARLTON’S FABULOUS spa treatments! We headed into the spa and I went into the eucalyptus steam room, showered and then snuggled into a plush robe. I drank jasmine tea in the Relaxation Suite till the massage therapist took me back for my treatment. Candle lights flickered and the smell of roses filled the air (AHH)! I had chosen “Red Carpet Ready” from the list of treatments (Sounds FABULOUS as well as being one of the cheapest treatments at the spa! Haha)!

I removed my robe and lay under a plush towel. My whole body was scrubbed from head to toe with a soft pomegranate scrub (This is great exfoliation and one of the reasons my skin is so soft)! The woman left the room while I took a warm shower, then I laid back down under a clean sheet where I was massaged with warm, herbal moisturizers. As I laid there getting pampered, my mind drifted from the things I stress about and into oblivion. After the treatment, I’m not sure I felt “Red Carpet Ready” but I definitely felt relaxed beyond belief.

You too can pretend you’re on vacation and sneak into a hotel pool. They usually don’t bother you if you order lunch or cocktails (If they ask if you are a hotel guest, say you checking in this afternoon. Act like you are supposed to be there)!

Some other ideas to pamper yourself when you’re feeling down:

- Get a mani/pedi at one of your local nail salons and add 5 minutes of a massage (at my local spot its only a dollar a minute)!

- Buy a pile of trashy magazines, turn off your cell phone and your TV and veg out in your bed!

- Light some candles and take a hot bath (stay in until your fingers and toes are all prune-y)!

Life had its ups and downs, but in the end you gotta SMILE because life if FABULOUS!

TRAINING WITH BRODY

When I first took in Rowdy (see June 4th, 2008 blog), he was known as the less than well-behaved dog that I saved from certain death at the pound. Everyone thought I was an angel for saving the little heathen who tormented Peanut and wreaked havoc in the house. But it turns out this dog is not only very handsome, he is smart and on his way to being a very well behaved dog!

Last week, Rowdy and I started dog training. I had done training with Peanut years ago when we joined Le Paws Agency (yes, Peanut has an agent - check out my March 18th, 2007 blog and recently appeared on Ugly Betty – check it out at http://youtube.com/watch?v=NOYQ7LIQ9Ss ). Training at the agency was with a guy named Zack and his dog Mr. Moon. He recently opened his own dog store and training facility in Hollywood called Urban Tails (Check it out at urbantails.com). I liked him and trust him, so that’s just where I decided to do training with Rowdy.

Rowdy is aggressive on a leash and I was concerned about going into group training, so we stopped by the store for an evaluation. Sure enough, as we approached the counter where Mr. Moon was perched by the cash register Rowdy growled and jumped. When Zack talked to him, he relaxed. Zack told me that he thought we would be fine in the group class (and that it was the perfect place to work through leash aggression issues).

Zack gave me two strong suggestions to address before we returned for class the following week:

1) Rowdy should be on a pinch collar for training (You know those ones that look like torture devices with spikes digging into the dogs throat). He explained to me that it actually doesn’t hurt the dog, but it works pressure points and would help me gain control.

2) Dogs are verbal creatures and the name Rowdy comes with negative tone. He said it would be a GOOD idea to think of a new name for him. This is not the first time I have heard this. My mom wanted to call him Serenity to help change his demeanor. She is a strong believer that people (and dogs, I guess) live up to whatever you call them. Call a kid trouble and that’s just what he’ll be.

I put a lot of thought into the name change. I mean, how can you live almost 2 years with one name then just like that it changes. Plus, Rowdy is a cute name and it does suit him (maybe all too well). I called Natasha (his previous owner) to ask her thoughts and she wasn’t too excited. BUT he’s my dog now and maybe a name change is just what the doctor ordered (or the trainer, whatever)! I tried a couple on for size to see what he responded to. “Come, Billy” worked, but didn’t feel totally right. “Baxter, sit!” He didn’t even flinch. “BRODY, come!” Ah, FABULOUS! It fit like a glove and so now I introduce you to my new improved dog BRODY!

Week One of Training –

Wednesday morning, I woke feeling excited about BRODY’s training. Even though I did my best to avoid other dogs on our morning walk, he still growled and jumped when one came into sight. I fed BRODY only half of his regular serving of food (You want the dog to be hungry so they will for sure respond to the treats).

That evening, we arrived to class a little early to purchase the new pinch collar (Whoo Hoo!) and took a walk around the block to get used to it. When BRODY approached the other dogs in the training, he was aggressive at first, but settled in (I think he is a all bark and no bite, but I didn’t want to find out for sure)! We started heel commands and then sit, stay and down commands. To my surprise BRODY was a whiz kid (maybe even the best in the class)! He picked up everything quickly and was very responsive to all the commands (I think this dog might do anything for food). We worked hard on the focus command (when the dog sits and stare in your eyes to hold focus), which is so important to build a relationship of authority with your dog. You are the boss not him (Peanut sometimes forgets this). I learned that this is what we need to work on at home. I was so proud of him and excited about his progress.

At home, we continued to work on the sit, down and stay commands (Peanut is doing awesome too with the refresher). BRODY continued to be aggressive on the leash (So annoying!) and I continued to avoid other dogs on our walks.

Week Two of Training–

Again, I started the day with only feeding BRODY half of his regular food and no treats all day. At the beginning of class everyone sits in chairs very close to each other with the dogs in way too close proximity. This time when we arrived, the class was extremely full! There were lots of new students who also seemed to have aggression issues. Within the first 10 minutes of class BRODY tried to bite the nice puppy next to us. I took this as an opportunity to get some one-on-one coaching on how to deal with leash aggression, which is normal in many dogs. Even if they are not alpha males (dominating dog), they feel secure and tough when on the leash next to you. Zack told me that is was better to not avoid the other dogs, but to put BRODY in a sit and focus as other dogs approach. Let him know who is in charge and hold his focus on you not the other dog. Do not use the “no” command or the choke tactic, which I have been using. I guess focus and staying calm is the main thing BRODY (and I) have to work on throughout continued training. I’ll keep you posted on his continued progress!

Also a little excitement (and stress) this week –

BRODY ate a chocolate bar with espresso beans off my roommate’s bed! Just what I need, a caffeinated, dead dog (dogs are NOT supposed to eat chocolate bars)! At first I saw no signs of illness or trouble, so I held off taking him to the vet for a stomach pump. But the next day, BRODY was extremely irritable at the dog park. I mean, he was getting in fights with everyone and had to be dragged out of there over my shoulder (I can imagine nothing more embarrassing for a young dog). When we got home I noticed his increased heart rate and uncontrollable panting. It didn’t subside after a little water and rest, so I threw the doggies into the car for a trip to the emergency room. After a chat with the vet and a quick examine (and $150 later) BRODY was declared fine with no pancreatic damage and no death in sight (PHEW)!

Later that night on our walk, BRODY took a big poop that was pink (Interesting)! Upon closer examination, I realized my nice, new dog had just eliminated a pair of my lace panties (NO JOKE)! Maybe it was the underwear not the chocolate and espresso beans that was agitating his stomach. UGH!

BRODY is not a bad dog. He is a puppy working out some serious growing pains. Though stressful at times with the growling and the panty loss, BRODY is settling in just fine and that is FABULOUS!

PEANUT IS FABULOUS TOO ☺

BOOKS I LIKE

I wasn’t the coolest kid growing up (ok… I was kind of a nerd). I wore big glasses, baggy clothes and didn’t talk to many people. I was insecure and trying to find my place in the world. I would spend hours hiding in the pages of a BOOK where my mind could run wild and I could be whomever I wanted to be (One day I was the beautiful princess who snagged the prince and the next a brave and strong warrior who would slay the dragon)!

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to love and be happy with who I am. No longer do I feel the need to hide behind characters in BOOKS (I am that beautiful princess and for sure I have qualities of that brave and strong warrior). I still think it’s FABULOUS to get lost in the pages of a BOOK though. I may not read as often as I used to or as much as I could, but I still love to read! Here are a couple of my favorite BOOKS that I think are FABULOUS! Check them out and READ, READ, READ!

BOOKS THAT TOUCHED MY HEART:

I KNOW WHY THE CAGE BIRD SINGS By Maya Angelo
Maya Angelou is FABULOUS! I love her poetry (Phenomenal Woman, That’s me!) and this, her autobiography is touching, moving and will make you shed more than one tear. The BOOK tells her story of a youth filled with disappointment, frustration, tragedy and finally her hard won independence. Maya Angelou's gift for language makes you feel like you are right there with her through every struggle and triumph of her life. If you haven’t read this BOOK, it is definitely worth the read (the movie ain’t bad either)!

BLACK WHITE AND JEWISH By Rebecca Walker
Rebecca Walker is the bi-racial daughter of African American writer Alice Walker and Jewish lawyer Mel Leventhal. BLACK WHITE AND JEWISH is the story of her struggle to find her identity in a race-obsessed society. She openly explains the prejudice she encountered from her friends, teachers and families, both black and Jewish. As a ballet dancer myself, it hit a cord with me when her white ballet teacher told her she would never be good because her black butt was too big. I also related to the story of how her Jewish relatives treated her like an outcast and of the boyfriend who felt she wasn’t black enough. Her stories of struggle and conflict are relatable and touching to people of all races, genders and ethnicities.

I relate to this BOOK on more than one level (3 in fact). Having grown up BLACK WHITE AND JEWISH myself, I think I have dealt with many of the same issues addressed in the BOOK. Growing up in a predominately white area I was the odd one out (the one with frizzy hair, the one that wasn’t a member of the county club). My father’s parents never accept us because we were not Jewish and I wasn’t black enough in the black community. Even today, I get multiple messages commenting on the fact that I am not “black enough” or asking whether I have black friends. I can only respond that I am me (BLACK WHITE AND JEWISH)! I do not choose my friends by the color of their skin. I spend my time with people of all races and religions that have good hearts, people who love me for me and people who look past the color lines drawn out by society.

NOVELS:

EAT PRAY LOVE By Elizabeth Gilbert
I love a good novel that can sweep you away to another time and place. I tend to be drawn to novels about contemporary women that are written in the first person because they are relatable and thus I get immersed in the pages.

After a nasty divorce, Gilbert set out on a journey of soul searching and self-discovery. The story is like chatting with a friend and learning along the way. First, Gilbert explores PLEASURE by savoring all the delights of Italy (pizza, wine and language... OH MY!) “The appreciation of pleasure can be the anchor of one’s humanity,” she says. If you haven’t noticed I took what I learned in this section of the BOOK to heart. I live life to the fullest for sure and try to seek pleasure at every turn!

Next, she dives into PRAYER by studying at a sacred ashram in India. She learns to meditate and struggles to quite her churning mind (not unlike mine, which never seems to stop racing). She learns from the Bhagavad Gita, the ancient Yogic Text, that “It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else’s life with perfection.” I love this quote. It’s so true. Be yourself! Love yourself!

And finally, in Bali Gilbert tries to bring all she has learned together with the guidance of a medicine man. This is also where she finds that she can love again. “Somewhere within us all, there does exist a supreme Self that is eternally at peace.” I am still looking for mine, but this BOOK helped to lead me in the right direction for sure!

SELF HELP:

SUCCULENT WILD WOMEN By SARK
My mom introduced me to Sark’s BOOKS (I also like Inspiration Sandwich and The Creativity Journal), which are colorful, upbeat and fun with good advice and suggestions to arouse creativity and self-discovery. Get your creative juices flowing with these self help BOOKS. SUCCULENT WILD WOMEN inspires you to be "succulent" (taking in all the juices life has to offer) from sexuality, love and romance to fat, fears and recovery. “Succulence is powerful and so are each of you!”

THE SECRET By Michael Berg
Everyone has read, listened to or watched THE SECRET. I am no different. THE SECRET became a phenomenon a couple years ago and though I don’t think it shares anything wild or new, the ideas and truths filling the pages are important to be reminded of. THE SECRET reveals the essence of life in its most concise and powerful form. ASK, BELIEVE AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE! The wisdom in this book can and will help you discover your true purpose and create a life of lasting joy! READ IT!

HOW TO BECOME A FAMOUS WRITER BEFORE YOU’RE DEAD By Ariel Gore
My friend Pearl gave me this book as a present for my birthday. Though I had already signed my first book deal and wasn’t particularly in need of a writers’ guide, what I found in the pages of this book was FABULOUS! Not only is there great advice for me as a writer, this book inspired me to sit back down and get to work.

Gore’s advice for being a writer and getting your name in lights is simple… Be a writer. “If you have a story to tell, tell it, and once you've told it, promote the hell out of it and most importantly, learn real fast that nobody out there will give a damn about what you have got to say until you make them pay attention.” Inspirational, informative and WAY cheaper than an Masters degree in writing!

OTHER:

CONFESSIONS OF AN HEIRESS By Paris Hilton
Alright, you can hate me because I think this book is great. I used quotes from this book in earlier blogs and got shit for it. I’m sooooooorry, but this book is FUNNY! It’s a tongue and cheek look into the life of Paris Hilton. I do think that everyone (even if you don’t want to admit it) wants a little slice of this girl’s life! She knows how to get what she wants and matter-of-factly explains how anyone can be a glamorous, FABULOUS, tiara-wearing heiress just like her (AND ME)! Her advice to "channel your own inner heiress, create your own image, and project an extreme sense of confidence" is an empowering message for every woman. "Always act like you're wearing an invisible crown." I’m sorry people, but that is FABULOUS advice if I ever heard it!!

CHECK, PLEASE! By Janice Dickinson
OK, now I know better than to take love advice from the outrageous Janice Dickinson, but this book is FABULOUS too! There is a reason why this woman is a bestseller! We want to know what the hell is going on in the beautiful, but absolutely crazy head! In this book Janice shares her dating dos and don'ts learned from her wild life of dating, mating, and extricating. It also includes uncensored stories of her romances with some of America's most eligible bachelors.

Some tips I learned that I think are FABULOUS!
Lesson #2: Wanna Get a Guy's Attention? Ignore Him!
Lesson #13: If He's Got His Eye on the Door, He's Already Halfway Through It
Lesson #28: Don't Do Anyone You Might Regret
Lesson #47: Don't Follow Trends—Start Them

In a BOOK anything is possible (you can be a heiress, a warrior and even realize your wildest dreams) and that is FABULOUS! Free your mind, dive into a book and enjoy!

FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND

The FOURTH OF JULY is a great day to hit the beach, grill some wieners and party till fireworks fill the sky. This year, FOURTH OF JULY fell on a Friday, which is FABULOUS! A full weekend of celebrations is way better than just one day!

The only problem is I failed to make my plans in advance. There was definitely some fun had, but for the most part my FABULOUS FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND was just mellow and less than FABULOUS.

A weekend that is supposed to start with a BANG seemed to start more with a fizzle. Friday morning, I woke to find out that my invite to a schnazzy Malibu BBQ had fallen through (I’m not sure who would not want this FABULOUS gal at their party, but whatever! Their loss!) I called my friend Kim to see if I could tag along with her to her day of volleyball in Hermosa, but she had already left, SO I decided I would go work out. I went to YAS (Yoga and Spinning), which I do every Friday. It seemed everyone and their mother thought they should tone up before their BBQs, so it was way too crowded (I got there too late to get a bike) and I was turned away (It’s one thing to be turned away from a party, but a very different thing all together to be turned away from the gym)! UGH!

Nothing was going my way and I thought for sure the day was gonna be a total bust till I walked by my cute neighbor Drew’s house. He had a couple of people over and so I joined the party. We rocked out to tunes while playing beer pong on a long board surfboard (only in Venice) and ate pizza. It was mellow, super fun and definitely my idea of FABULOUS.

As the sun began to set, I ran home to shower and change for the night’s festivities. I met up with Kim (who had returned from her wild day on the beach in Hermosa) at Catamaran in Marina Del Rey. Every year, the walk street throws a rockin' block party. The houses and condos overflowed with people. Bands played all day (Grammy away winner Trevor Hall even rocked the flag draped stage). It may not be a fancy Malibu party, but it was FABULOUS for sure.

My friend Sam was working at Cabo Cantina (right around the corner), so I slipped away from the party to grab some food. I ate queso and French fries and boneless chicken wings (YUM!) I had lost Kim at the block party and wasn’t feeling like watching the fireworks alone, so I decided to head home! I got in my pjs, snuggled in bed with the doggies (who were scared to death) and watched the fireworks through my window. Maybe it would have been more fun to watch the fireworks snuggled under the stars on a beach blanket with a hottie (and making my own fireworks), but the dogs weren’t bad company and so I can’t complain.

Saturday, I had a mellow day hanging at the Coffee Bean and lunching with friends. In the late afternoon, I headed to Playa Del Rey for a party at my friend Lacey’s house. I ate some carne asade and played flip cup (a beer game that I am not particularly good at)! I didn’t know many people there and wasn’t really feeling it, so I didn’t stay long. I went home and spent the evening hunkered down in front of my TV (there is NOTHING good on TV on the Saturday of FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND)!

Sunday, I hit the farmers market for some veggies, the Coffee Bean for a tea latte and then spent the day cleaning (my house is now seriously clean). I organized my closet, vacuumed and mopped (it was wild)! That evening though, my weekend turned around. I met up with a guy I have been hanging out with recently (I like him a whole bunch ☺)! We shared fajitas, sipped margaritas and I finally got my snuggles and kisses under the stars (maybe no fireworks in the sky, but the moon and stars will do)! Hehe… (This is me giggling like a schoolgirl)!

It may not have been the most wild FOURTH OF JULY WEEKEND. It was totally mellow, but you know what… mellow ain’t always that bad! I still had fun that is FABULOUS!

CASEY AND GREG’S WEDDING WEEKEND

I celebrated the engagement in SAN FRANCISCO. I partied at the bachelorette in Bermuda. And now, CASEY AND GREG’S WEDDING WEEKEND has finally arrived!

CASEY is one of my very best friends from high school in Connecticut. We have remained friends through years of being separated at different colleges, settling on different coasts and finally with just a very long shoreline between us (she recently relocated to San Francisco). When we are together it’s always like old times. CASEY is just as nuts (if not MORE so) than me. We are two silly peas in a pod with an amazing bond. GREG is awesome too and a great match to her silliness. I love both CASEY and GREG and you know, I love a good party so I was stoked to head up to SAN FRANCISCO for the wedding weekend.

After weighing the price of an airplane ticket and taxis against the price of gas and parking, I made the decision to drive to SAN FRANCISCO for the WEDDING WEEKEND. I hit the road at 10:30am (after rush hour to miss traffic) and headed up the 405 to the 5 Freeway.

Although it is a long drive (5 ½ hours driving at mach speeds), I still appreciate a good road trip. I love that you can bring as much as you want and not even put it in bags (I just hung all my dresses in the backseat). I also love a good book on tape. I downloaded “Chasing Harry Winston” by Lauren Weisberger, popped it in and the drive seemed to fly by! I also love a good excuse for fast food (the road tripping food of champions). I opted for lunch by Taco Bell though I was dismayed that they refused to make a cheesy gordita crunch and had still not added tomatoes back to the menu after the recent recall. My sad little taco put a damper on the trip (so did the uber-expensive gas), but as I drove over the Golden Gate Bridge and into the city my excitement returned!

I checked into The Nob Hill Hotel, which I found on Yelp.com while searching the area of the wedding for the cheapest options. Most wedding guests where staying at The Fairmont and The Huntington, both beautiful hotels right next to the Cathedral, but both where extremely out of my price range! I opted for a four-block walk at ¼ the price. The hotel was actually very cute and clean with extremely helpful and friendly staff. The only downside was no air conditioning on one of the HOTTEST weekends in SAN FRANCISCO ever! UGH!

I got settled in, showered off my road trip funk and dressed in a cute green dress (a hand-me-down from my mom) for the first night’s festivities. I headed over to The Huntington to meet up with my other high school best-ies (Annie and Kim). The walk was more challenging than I thought in the heat and heels! SAN FRANCISCO is so damn hilly! When I arrived Annie was nowhere near ready and Kim was running late too (I guess that’s what happens when you have 2 kids to tend to before your makeup and hair).

Finally, the ladies where dressed and we headed to the Marina to catch the ferry. Well, that was the plan at least! By the time we arrived the ferry had already left! We hopped a cab to Tiburon to meet up with the party at Guaymas, a sweet Mexican restaurant with spectacular views of the city.

Though we were a little late, we hopped right into the Mexican festivities wearing sombreros and fake mustaches. There were so many people I hadn’t seen in years that it took at least an hour to work my way around the party. We dined on Mexican treats (I love guacamole and salsa and tacos), sipped on margaritas (Ole), rocked out with the mariachi band and laughed till our stomachs ached (there are so many hysterical things you can do with fake mustaches and sombreros)!

We piled in Mexican party buses back to the city where we headed straight to The Tonga Room to get our groove on. The Tonga Room is the cheesiest, most fantastic, kitschy tiki bar (an odd spot to be located in the basement of the super swanky Fairmont Hotel). A live band performs pop hits from Michael Jackson to Britney Spears while aboard a floating boat in the middle of a murky sea (which more than one wedding guest threatened to jump into for a swim much to the dismay of the crabby bartenders)! The dance floor is the deck of an old ship, which periodically gets surrounded by a rainstorm. We danced till they kicked us out (everything in SAN FRANCISCO closes so early) and I hopped a cab and headed home to my little sweatbox of a hotel room!

I tossed and turned all night in the heat, but eventually got a pretty good rest (sleeping in way later than I usually do with no doggies). I headed down to the free breakfast (coffee and a bagel) to write my speech, which I planned to give at the bridal luncheon.

After a quick shower, I changed and headed over to The Huntington to get Annie. She was running late (again), but eventually we hopped a cab and made our way to St. Francis Yacht Club for the luncheon. We sat at a huge table overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge where we ate mushroom soup and a yummy Caesar salad. As a bridal gift, CASEY’S mother had bought a gold charm bracelet and each of her best friends then bought a charm to represent their friendship (such a great idea)! We went around the table explaining our charms. I bought a phone, which represents all the phony phone calling CASEY and I did in our youth (Ha! Ha!)

As dessert was brought out, I clinked my glass with my knife to quiet the room. I had collected silly pictures of CASEY and I from 7th grade until now and put them into a scrapbook (I love scrap booking)! I had written a note at the end recounting memories of our friendship and how lucky I feel to have CASEY and GREG in my life and, finally, I said how happy I am to be a part of this wonderful weekend. Many people were planning on speaking at the rehearsal dinner, but I’m glad I got it over with first and in front of a smaller audience. Many people also commented that I set the bar high (pat pat on my own back! HA!)

It took forever to get a cab from the yacht club back to the hotel, which left me little time for a shower (I think I took more showers on this trip then ever before) and to get ready for the rehearsal dinner. Once dressed and looking FINE (if I don’t say so myself), I headed to The Fairmont (I didn’t wait for Annie this time. I hate being late). I hopped on the chartered trolleys to Town Hall, a yummy steak restaurant that I had actually eaten at before.

I sipped wine, chowed on salad, chicken (on the bone which I don’t like), ridiculously delicious jambalaya and this sticky pudding that nearly made me pass out it was so delicious. The groom’s sisters and father made speeches, as did friends of both the bride and groom (I’m SO glad I spoke at the lunch). We watched cute slide shows of GREG and CASEY’S history, which included embarrassing pics of the gang and me (lord, was I a sight growing up with my glasses and baggy clothes!)

After dinner, we headed to Varnish Art Gallery for wine tasting and dancing. The gallery was hip and modern and the DJ awesome, but it seems very few places in SAN FRANCISCO have air conditioning and it was HOT! I’m talking sauna, dripping sweat, unbearably HOT! I stood by the fan, put ice in my wine and tried to grin and bare it. After a couple more drinks, everyone seemed to forget that they were dripping sweat and the dancing began, serious dancing! At midnight, when they kicked us out there was talk about heading back to The Tonga Room (my new favorite spot), but realizing how nasty and sweaty we were, we hopped the bus back to the hotels and hit the hay.

Saturday morning, I cruised Chestnut Street with Annie, went to Crissy Field beach with her babies Tommy and Lucy (I love babies and Tommy and Lucy are cream of the crop) and had a fabulous lunch at Sociale with Annie and her husband Chris. Oh my goodness, this was the cutest little restaurant! We sat outside and had the yummiest artichoke salad and paninis. I got the artichoke, broccoli and pesto which I didn’t love, but Annie’s and Chris’ where both delicious!

After lunch, I headed back to the hotel for another shower (Lord, was it hot) and to get ready for the wedding! The ceremony was at 4pm at Grace Cathedral (Spectacular), the same spot that Courtney Cox and David Arquette got married. I sat in an aisle seat (the most coveted seat at a wedding) next to my friend from high school Alex and her husband. We waited in anticipation for Casey to make her entrance and walk down the aisle.

CASEY looked gorgeous in her Vera Wang gown and so happy as she walked the aisle with her father. Her eyes stayed right on GREG the whole time and he smiled from ear to ear. The ceremony was beautiful and finally they were husband and wife. “You may kiss the bride!” (They opted for a classy peck. I plan on going all out with full tongue!)

We left the Cathedral and boarded trolleys to The Olympic Club for the reception. Bad choice to sit on the outside! The ride was long and the wind whipped my hair back and forth. I arrived a wind blown mess! But after a quick fixer-upper, I was prepped and ready to party. We enjoyed cocktails and appetizers looking over the golf course and Casey and Greg danced their first dance. You can tell they practiced because they were smooth!

After the first dance, we headed into dinner. I was seated at table 8 (table 8 RULZ!) with all my pals from high school and their husbands (what a bummer to be one of a handful of singles at the wedding). The best man, JP gave a touching speech followed by Mr. B, CASEY’S dad. There was not a dry eye in the house. Then GREG spoke about when he knew CASEY was the girl for him. It was very sweet and touching.

After the ceremonious cutting of the beautiful tiered cake, I chowed down on the carrot cake layer. YUM! Then I hit the dance floor to shake my tail feather. The band was great and rocked out all sorts of fun tunes. We rocked the dance floor for hours! Before CASEY departed, she stood atop the stairs and threw the bouquet. There was only a small handful of single girls and the bouquet was meant for me DAMN IT! Sadly, I was in the bathroom (I’m still sulking! Damn you Chippie)!

I continued to sulk and whine all the way out UNTIL I spotted a hot dog vendor with sizzling sausages and onions parked by the bus (what a great surprise)! I LOVE HOT DOGS! I shoveled mine in my face as we rode the bus back to the hotels. A handful of us (mainly, the single peeps that had no one to go home to) didn’t want the fun to end, however it seemed everywhere in SAN FRANCISCO was closed. To our delight, we finally found a crappy little dive bar not far from the hotel. As we sat a top the pool table drinking warm beer (and still sulking over not getting the bouquet), my eyes started to droop. I was worn out from the wild WEDDING WEEKEND (So fun)!

I headed back to my hotel. As I drifted to sleep, I dreamt of all the FABULOUSNESS of CASEY AND GREG’S WEDDING WEEKEND. So fun! I slept peacefully with a smile on my face and woke well rested for my long drive home!