Gypsy Boheme Voyage {Part 1}

Finally, after many catch up posts I get to divolge the details from my L.A. voyage...

Let it be said here and now...I had a FRIGGIN' BLAST!

{Thursday}
I hitched a ride with the incomparable Trish. What a relief, because I would've hopped into the car with almost anyone just to get down there for the weekend! Okay, I am only playing, but it was so very nice of her to bring me along. When you consider that we were pretty much strangers, you can have an idea of the limb she went out on for me. Trish is so down to earth and sweet...it was a treat chatting and getting to know her.

Good Converstion + Old School R&B = Fun Road Trip

It was pretty late when we pulled into Mary's Santa Monica bungelow, but she and her cutie pie kids still gave us a warm reception. Mary has the gift of making you feel like you've known her forever...it is impossible to not be happy and comfortable around her. She does this childlike voice and says things like "good night", "good morning", and "love you." SOOO CUTE!

I woke up in the wee hours of the morning with a major case of the wiggles. Fearing that I would wake Trish up, I crept out into the living room and laid on the couch. I had the joy of watching the sky transform as the sun rose...

Stay tuned for the next installment and see what hi jinks 3 Gypsies can get into...

Birthday

Birthdays Rock! (Even if I am creeping ever closer to 30:) My day was filled with what I like to do best.

1. Wake up...Hang out with my little family.
2. Went to work with Hubby. (I LoVe just BEING with him.)
3. Lunch at Dilly's Deli. (They make the BEST gourmet sandwiches!)
4. Popped into the Scottsdale mall before our movie started.
5. Saw Easy Virtue at a little theater that shows small/indie/artsie films. (What a find!)
6. Had dinner with the family at My Big Fat Greek Restaurant on Mill Ave. (My Fave!)
7. Fell in love with a new recipe... a delicious made from scratch apple cake with cream cheese frosting. (Lovingly prepared by Kara.)
8. Watched my DVRed episode of The Bachelorette.
9. "Snuggled" with Hubby.
10. Fell blissfully asleep.

{Circa July 6, 2009}

A Family Fourth

Tired of our usual festivities of BBQing and watching fireworks from the roof top, the Hunt clan packed up and headed to the woods determined to have a "small town" July 4th. Jen and Ken were visiting for the weekend and with the exception of our soon-to-be addition, Andrea, the whole family was together!

Arriving Friday, we set up our tent compound and shared a late night around the fire feasting on tin foil dinners. (We nearly headed for Denny's since our food took so long to cook!)

On the 4th we went to town for breakfast at the local diner and spent some time on the grass in the park were the fireworks were to be held that night. In the afternoon I made the rounds to all of the antique shops. (On my quest I found a lovely hat, vintage tablecloth, and a tin canister.) At night we snagged a perfect spot to watch the fireworks light up the sky right above us. Tragically, Jen lost a beloved flipflop, but otherwise the day was very enjoyable.

Kara made a delicious breakfast Sunday morning and we shared our testimonies with one another. It is a true blessing to be a part of this family. We are like a good patchwork quilt...each of us unique and stitched together with love.

Sale-ing Scores

As a self proclaimed yard sale-ing/thrift store/antique shop/flea market junkie, I find that some days are just better than others. Take this particular Saturday for example:

With the exception of the metal screen, EVERYTHING was from 1 sale!

I've wanted one of these machines for a while now. They're awesome! Remember those movies?

This wasn't a yard sale find. I splurged on this beauty at the Antique Mall on Main. (If you call $75 a splurge for a chandelier that is typically sold for hundreds) It matches the room so perfectly. Yum!
{Circa June, 20th 2009)

Dad's Rule

Grace and I are so lucky to have this man in our lives. Wanna know why? Cause he's the kind of man that shares his Father's Day candy with us. Now that's what I call love.

{Circa June 20, 2009)

Time Well Spent

Staying at home with Grace is a blessing. We share so many adventures together. On this particular day we took turns entertaining each other with puppets. Grace has a flair for the dramatic. Case in point:

Grace: Mommy, mommy come and SEE!!!

(I come rushing into her room thinking she has found a scorpion or has built an exact replica of the Eiffel Tower out of blocks.)

Me: What is it?

Grace: LOOK at MY BOOGER!

{Circa June 11, 2009}

Amazing

{Circa June 9, 2009}
Each year our summer gets kick started with a trip from the Tuckers. The highlight of their visit was a trip to Amazing Jake's. The kids (okay...and us kids at heart) had a blast pigging out at the buffet, playing games, riding rides, bowling, playing mini golf, and abusing the advantage of all you can eat ice cream.










A note of remembrance: Alex and Daxton were so sweet with Grace. They played along with her little games (Daxton allowing her to tuck him in and sing to him about 20 times) and giving her gifts (Alex used his own money to buy her a set of lip gloss and stickers). They will make a couple of girls very happy when they grow up!

Rub-A-Dub-Dub

2 cousins in a tub...
{Circa June 7, 2009}

Monday Moments

Of the many blogs that inspire me The Rockstar Diaries is a favorite of mine. I have fallen in love with the vintage style photographs that Naomi takes with her Polaroid, Diana, and Holga cameras. I have made a mental wish list of these cameras and much to my amazement I found a Polaroid at a yard sale a couple of months ago. It was a major score for only $2, and then I found out that Polaroid is no longer in business and film is hard to come by. I have been lucky enough to find two jackpots of film and am now happily hording them. Since each picture costs nearly $2 I've become very selective of when I use it.

I snapped a couple while on our reunion trip and Saturday at a friend's birthday party. The picture quality isn't great, but that is what makes each one wonderful. They are so nastalgic and unique. I love all that is vintage and these babies have that vibe. Enjoy!






(My birthday is in less than a month and I am asking for a Holga or a Diana...I can't decide. Maybe BOTH ;-)

Reunited and it Feels So Good...

Ever have those days when you feel sorta...well, dumb. I wish I could put together an eloquent description of the Hunt reunion, but alas...my mind doesn't want to cooperate. I'll post the pictures and call it good.

We roasted marshmallows and jammed by the fire.

Grandpa Hunt stole Grace's heart by taking her to see the animals.

A fun game of softball.

Grace rode a horse for the first time.

Couldn't get enough of the animals. She saw pigs, chickens, peacocks, llamas (she called them giraffes), goats, horses, cats, and dogs.

Three generations of Hunt men.

Absolutely Stunning!

Things I don't want to forget:

Before going to the reunion Grace had been watching a LOT of "princess moobies." It is a common occurrence in such movies that the maiden sing a song in the forest while little woodland animals are drawn to her in droves. This is certainly the case in "Sleeping Boobie," Grace's current favorite. It was no wonder that as Grace arrived at the cabin she walked onto the back porch and gave a welcoming call, "Ohhh ANIMALS!" I could see how she would assume that they would hear her joyful call and all scurry to surround her.

Grace to a pig: "Hello, Oink! My name Grace!"

Grace upon being asked what she thought of the inside of a tent: "Umm, I think it a short room!"