CHAIGHA

Can't get no....storage satisfaction

2012-01-12T12:22:00.000-08:00

We've lived in 4 places in the last year but now finally we are settling into our home and trying to solve the problem that is lack of storage. Specifically our bedroom closet is not big enough for both of our stuff so it's time to buy an armoire. These seem magical as a kid, a standing wardrobe big enough to hide in but I'm just finding that it's challenging to find one that isn't too big as it'll be taking up precious floor space and that looks good. Oh yeah, and at a deal as we are house rich, cash poor these days.
The PAX wardrobe system from Ikea seemed like an option but man is it BIG. Too big for us.
Scouring craigslist is a part time job these days.
We are also looking for storage shelves for our garage. We found some good ones at Ikea but they were and are still out of stock. We clearly aren't getting much satisfaction on the storage front. Crossing my fings that the perfect items are just around the corner.
Any ideas are welcome...
smile, leigha

It was good knowin ya...

2011-12-19T13:14:00.000-08:00

I was driving to work this morning from my new home in the valley. My office is located in West Hollywood, my old hood. It got me thinking about the relationship I've had with the city of WeHo these last...hold on I'm counting...6 plus years. That's a really long time, almost the whole time I've lived in Southern California except that first year we lived across the street from the beach.
It feels like a meaningful relationship in my life has ended. One that needed to end but still, it's worth mourning over a little. I guess it would be harder if I didn't have to come back to work here. I can still have lunch at my usual Jaunts and stop by my old go-to stores on my way home from work. Driving down the streets near my old apartment feels extremely comfortable yet entirely changed. These aren't the streets I walk up and down on a lazy Sunday to the farmers or flea market anymore. I don't circle looking for parking on them and I will never serenade the neighborhood drunkenly with my sister again.
We've been so busy setting up our new home that I've barely thought of our old neighborhood, but like the other significant places of my past, I can always picture them in my minds eye. I loved you old neighbs. Thanks for being so good to us, for having nice restaurants, colorful & festival parades, good shops and lots of clubs.
It'll be awhile till I forget how hard city living can be - not to mention expensive. You are always on your toes and never have enough space to spread out. Outdoor living is limited and traffic is a constant. I'll wear my time here like a badge of honor, made of rainbow thread and glitter!

Super people!!

2011-12-12T12:33:00.000-08:00

This weekend was an extremely high functioning weekend. All the months of not being able to project or improve our environment were made up for this weekend! Friday night we moved all of our things from my mom's where we've been staying for the last 4 months while looking for a house to buy. So basically with the help of a Uhaul truck and our good friend we moved in our bed and needed belongings. We actually SLEPT in our new house. It was magical I tell you!
Saturday we got some breakie and headed to Lowe's for appliances. We ended up with a fridge and washer/dryer from another store and it's going to be delivered tomorrow. Our first NEW appliances! So excited and slightly holding my breath in anticipation that they actually fit.
Yesterday the movers showed up with all of our stuff that had been stored and wow, do we have a lot of shit. It all seems so unneeded now.. Goodwill is going to be loving us soon!
Thanks to our awesome family we got sooo much done. Most of our things are in place ~ the tree is up (fake) next year the real thing.

I can't wait to share pics but now, I gotta make that money so we can pay our mortgage!

more to come....

Zephyr's Bench

2011-12-02T11:15:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous in LA. A little windy but that just added to that wonderful feeling of being alive. Feeling nature gust around you, it really shows you just how precious life is and that we are really not the ones in control. Nature in my mind is without a doubt in charge, best to acknowledge it and try to live in communion with it.

I was off work a little earlier than usual yesterday so we went on a hiking exploration. C’s been wanting to find a way into the Beverly Glen Canyon reservoir for a while and yesterday we found our way. We parked in a cul de sac and made our way up a steep, grassy hill. At the top was a trail and spectacular views for 360 degrees. You could see the city, the valleys between canyons and the huge reservoir. It was breathtaking. We hiked around and came upon a bench overlooking the whole reservoir. On the bench, we found a pouch with a journal and pens. The book and bench were placed there by a guy named David who use to come to this spot with his dog Zephyr. In 1996 he buried Zephyrs ashes under the bench he brought there in his memory. He’s on his 12^th journal now that people who’ve been lucky enough to come across this spot have written in. I live to find magical places and experiences like this.

On the hike down I collected more pine cones and spray painted them gold at home to finish my Christmas wreath. Almost done with it! I really like how it turned out.

Have a great day and I hope you are feel the wind, snow, rain or sun shine down on you!

5 loves.

2011-11-21T10:58:00.000-08:00

~ the thoughts, smile and sound of Maya Angelou
~ this season -- the food, sounds of holidays songs, family gatherings, thoughfulness we show eachother, cold evenings cuddled up close.
~ my husband. his touch, sound, smell, laugh and spirit.
~ voices of florence & the machine, mumford & sons, and adele who all play my heartstrings
~ the human spirit. our ability to rise & fall and rise again. to create, love, forgive, see beyond the bleakness and soar with hope and conviction.

The short story of finding our home and all the 3's that came with it!

2011-11-15T12:25:00.000-08:00

3 months ago when I got the call from my landlord that they needed to move back into the home we had just finished moving into life sorta fell apart for me. I knew that I was lucky that it was just a move that was pulling the rug out from under me and not something tragic like cancer or divorce, it was after all just a relocation of us and our stuff but it was heavy. I was lost inside myself while I tried to find my grasp on how to make the most of it and turn it into an opportunity. Ya know, manufacture happiness. In the meantime, my body was in physical pain, I was ill. I couldn't believe it but I should have known it would happen. When there is a 'clause' in your lease that says they can, expect that they will. First lesson learned.
Luckily my husband was less fazed than myself and helped me see that this was the push we needed to start our house hunt.
It's been three months and 3 weeks since we received that call. 3 of those months spent living with my mom while we hunted and hunted. At times it felt hopeless, where was our house?!? Other times, moments of elation only to find out there was another offer on house after condo. 3 weeks ago we had 3 back offers on places that were just good enough but still not our 'dream'. We were in a state of settling. Manufacturing to much happiness but it wasn't natural, they weren't the ones. Then a chance spotting of a house that I'd been seeing on my web searches but hadn't made the push to see in person until we ended up on the same street looking at a different house. Out of the corner of our eye we recognized it and walked over with our agent who had her supra with her. Luckily the house was empty and she got us in then and there. Walking through the house we just knew. This was THE ONE. In our price range, totally redone, had the features the were at the top of our list...attached garage, en suite bath, washer dryer and backyard. WE'LL TAKE IT! Actually, we wouldn't. It already had another offer, a cash offer and they were moving quick. FUCK! Now what. That WAS the house. Like, the one.
Well if you know me, you know I don't take No easily. Our poor Realtor was doing her best to distract us. Took us out to see 20 (TWENTY!) houses a few days later and they were all No's and if anything just made it harder to forget about the house. The one that had YES written all over it. That was the one!.
We kept sneaking that house into conversations and subtly reminding her to follow up and call, just in case.
Well the next day I got a call from her at 8am. She'd never called us that early and I knew or maybe just hoped. Either way, I was too scared to answer. When I called her back it was true, the buyer had changed his mind last minute and we were in the front spot to make an offer. Moving with lightning speed we submitted our offer and it was accepted that day.
Today is 3 weeks later. We've had inspections, requested a few repairs, contingency's have been removed and tomorrow is our final walk through.

The house is ours!! The one that makes the last months all OK and worth it!!! I am more than thrilled that we get to live in the house that we wanted and that I have such a wonderful person to share it with.
We are so thankful of the family members that helped us out in our time of need. Especially my mom who opened up her home to us while we searched.

I look forward to blogging about out the process of owning a home and doing projects around it.

dreaming in kitchen...

2011-11-10T12:20:00.000-08:00

and these are only a few of the kitchens i'm loving...

our new house is amazing and i can't wait to get in there

but until then it's impossible to stop thinking about decorating and the kitchen

especially keeps begging for new direction (pic below)

right now it looks a bit like a lawyers executive offer.

dark, wood cabinets and a very run of the mill granite.

i'm dreaming of an over hall which neither my budget or hubby will allow so until then

dreaming, dreaming....

i would love a farm sink, maybe white counters, open shelving among other things

but at first i'll have to settle for new hardware and some paint treatment on the cabinets

i love the idea of chalkboard paint somewhere in the house, maybe the dining area

THIS IS OUR KITCHEN: nice but fussy and too dark -- what would you do to it?

and i do realize that this is an amazing kitchen to even have but this blog is for dreaming and decor wishing...

not judging.

decor crush...

2011-11-09T13:58:00.000-08:00

love this antler table, it's beyond unique and I love the mixture of nature with an industrial city look.

makes me want to scour flea market after flea market to find something an phenom as this!

the romance and promise of this lace curtain is quite breath taking to me.
maybe it's a piece of lace that you inherited from your grandmothers lovingly handmade hands.

i especially love the ease with which it hangs, not too fussy or worried about the perfect length etc

i saw this last night when i was in bed with my iPad doing my nightly blog check

and it caught my eye

it reminds me of a silk tie dyed scarf and i just know my mother-in-law could recreate this look

if the hubs gave me approval.

it's a little too rusty burn out for me though, i'd tone it down a little and make it less colorful but keep the

romance of it. lots of candles in this room would be necessary.

maybe i'm just being cocky here but i really think i could make this

tree branch lamp better than this picture shows.

i this the cord looks sloppy in this picture, i would wrap it better

but the rustic handmade yet functional look is attractive to me

definitely gonna get this soap dispenser from good ole target!

Smart Gifting!

2011-11-08T11:07:00.000-08:00

There is a frosty nip in LA today and it's just another reminder that it's time to get your list into Santa because Christmas is JUST around the corner.
If you're like me and find yourself in front of a computer for many hours a day then you too have probably started shopping more and more online.
I wanted to share some of the helpful hints I've learned over the past few online lovin' years.
First, get yo' self an amazon account. When you do a search in Amazon, sort your results by free SUPER saver shipping. Basically what this means is anything you buy that offers this will ship for free as long as the total is over $25. Because Amazon remembers what you've added into your basket as long as you're logged in, I just keep adding until I reach $25 and then place my order. Sometimes it takes me a few months but it's always worth the free shipping and most items I order aren't time sensitive. Another reason to start shopping early. Also, on the front page of Amazon is the daily deal. Check it out daily to see if it's something you can check off your list!

I usually do a big Macy's online order every year. They have really great sales online and you can usually qualify for free shipping as well. For me, Macy's in store shopping is about shoes and purses but if I go online it's so much easier to browse all the departments.

If you shop at Sephora for the makeup lovers in your life MAKE SURE you sign up/into your account when you log out because once you earn 500 points you get a free gift and sometimes it's a really great one. It's always nice to get a goodie for yourself when you're being Santa for everyone else.

If you haven't heard of www.slickdeals.net check it out. It's updated daily by people that have come across a great deal out there and feel the need to share. This is a good place to look for the men in your life. Tools, techi's etc are frequently featured.

My last helpful hint is to trade in mileage points that you aren't using for magazine subscriptions for loved ones.

When all else fails Cash is king, Gas cards are always needed and a few scratch it tickets can round out a light gift.

Happy Shopping and please share your own helpful hints!!!

Taking in back to the old blog / blog ADD

2011-11-07T14:19:00.000-08:00

I've been in the unofficially bloggin biz for awhile. This is my original blog but I then started with a blog called www.cracknsmack.blogspot.com and if you guessed that it was a blog about butt cracks, well you should buy yourself a soda for being so smart. It was a random blog that inspired friends and family to snap pics of cracks and send them my way. I didn't mind so much being the person people thought of when they saw a nice crack (and by nice I mean the hairier the better!) but when Lady Gaga started going to the mall in her underwear all of a sudden a blog about crack didn't seem so edgy and fresh. Thus ending my time as the crack queen which was fine with me because my domestic roots where wanting to hit the ground so I start a blog called http://www.lamialista.blogspot.com/, which if you don't speak Italian but know how to google translate like I do means quite literally MY LIST.
At the time it seemed like I was finding such great information all over the interwebs that I wanting to compile them into one master list but I keep veering off the listed path onto telling stories and sharing my thoughts and dreams. Didn't really fit into all the La Mia Lista promised (that and the iPhone supports screen shots of pages you want to turn into pictures and never forget). Scrapped La Mia and started www.beachwoodliving.blogspot.com which was about the very short *read 3 months* that we lived in Beachwood canyon and the projects and fun we had there. Now that that phase of life has ended this girl still wants to blog and through it all I've just wanted a place to share the stories of my life. Where I've gone, what I tasted, the feeling felt and dreams dreamt. If you care to follow the stories of my life you will find them here on my original blog http://www.chaigha.blogspot.com/. You will still find stories of decorating as we've just bought our first home and move in less than 3 weeks!! You may find a blog containing my life lists and if you are patient probably even a crack or two.
Thanks for witnessing my life. Feel free to interact through comments, suggestions and follows. I'd love to make a new best friend through my site!

vegASS

2008-11-08T21:15:00.000-08:00

So as my friend SK likes to say, I'm in vegASS. Working on the opening act for Ellens upcoming even bigger show in which Chadd and the LXD are doing the opening number. Tonight a party and then tomorrow choreography. pictures to come and money to lose, good times!

Maui babe'in it

2008-10-22T17:35:00.000-07:00

I think it's a great sign that after only a week of vacation I was happy to come back to my life. Maui was amazing, beautiful and a much needed slow paced change from LA. It was an in-law family vacation and was mostly harmonious and full of laughter and jokes. We played, zip lined, snorkeled, boogie boarded, waterfalls and ate ate ate our way through Maui (in a non fatty way) but at the end of the week I was missing my bed, kitties and life. I think that's the first time I've been somewhere amazing and wasn't counting down the days in a sad way. It made me realize just how great my life is here and that all the decisions we've made are ones we've wanted. Call it the law of attraction, the secret or stream just as long as it keeps calling me a follower. Chadd went straight to shooting a myspace halloween miley cyrus thing and we've been lining up some exciting shows with the ole' ACDC crew for later next month that I'm happy to be involved in the production of.
Not to mention that its still 90 degrees here in LA. If sun = fun, then I'm sure to have plenty of it regardless of what package it comes in:)

too furry to vote but cute enough to run!

2008-10-05T00:26:00.000-07:00

Coco is not so much a cat but a screamer. All day, starting an hour before my alarm yells at me she starts. it would be so much better if her meow was sweet and cute but its crotchety and grumpy. If I could upload audio I would god damnit! OK, so, I figured it out today who she is and what she is all about. She's a fucking lobbyist. Starting first thing in the morning she lobbies for a fresh top off on her food, she lobbies for pets, for attention, for looking, loving, for fresh water, for our water, to be let into the bathroom and then immediately to be let out. She must be the older sister of the two and every time Charli complains about something I can picture Coco meowing to her "don't worry lil sis, I got this one". I hate to say it but wouldn't you know she's probably even a republican or should I say, republican't do nothin right!

3 days in a row obsessed

2008-08-26T16:05:00.000-07:00

It's called Oburger and my husband can no longer live without it now that he knows it exists. It's in boystown and he's still willing to go because they are organic burgers, like legit organic and tasty to boot! So in the last 3 days, we've been 4 times. He's there right now and is allegedly bringing me a shake (with kefir live cultures and dates) but I'm starting to feel like he may never arrive and instead say some crazed healthy-homo man stole my shake and made him play naughty boomboom games (don't ask me what that entails). Check it out though, the burgers not the gays, at oburger.net
MMMMMMMM-TASTY! Again the burger not the boys.

what's in a name.....

2008-08-24T19:14:00.000-07:00

If I ever want new music on my iPhone all i have to do is go through the collection of music my hubby has on our computer because we have soooo much. He's a bit of a music junkie which I love and features mostly old school electronic mixed in with a nice bit of staples anyone should have. Sting, coldplay, zapp and rogers, Whitney Houston etc.. This has me thinking about all the band names out there because there are soooo many! I seriously want to know the story behind all these names and how they were imagine. Some like Dave Mathews band are quite obvi but The White Stripes took some creativity, Sting is part of the Police and why are the Beatles called that? Stars as Eyes and Square pusher must have been drinking or drug induced but then again artists are wickedly creative people unlike myself who would probably name my band Chaigha or Princess Rocks or better yet Sexy Hot Shoes. That last ones actually not that bad, perhaps theres less mystery to this equation than I thought. Right now I'm going to listen to a mixture of Chromeo and Sparklehorse. What would your band be called?

The summer round-up

2008-08-20T10:24:00.000-07:00

Time doesn't fly or catch up to you. It plays itself out everyday on the same frame. 24 hours a day, tick tock. Time is the steady, life's constant yet we are the ones surprised by it. Like it played a trick on us and snuck up. I've been conscious but not receptive I guess to the idea that the summer is coming to a close. Intermission really is over although here in SoCal we get a little extension by way of September but still, it's ending. My sister living with us this summer took over many portions of my life that truthfully I was happy to give up for her. My vitamin taking, reading and blogging suffered but on the other hand SO much flourished: Yoga, so much laughter, a lot of great food and dinners, always having my own buddy when we went out, my closet grew under her tutelage and outfit suggestions, my power as a 'girl' increased and some fundamental life stuff was discussed. Naturally, Chadd and I had to incorporate someone else into our every moment and so a bit of independence and intimacy occurred but with our whole life together ahead of us we didn't mind so much.
I truly feel like there's been personal growth this summer and not just because of Elyse. Maybe this is what 30 is, the feeling isn't coming from the outside in but from my insides deciding more and more who I am. The me/I/mine that's kept me feeling like a character description who has to stay as described otherwise she'll become unrecognizable is melting as I embrace that I am an evolving human. allowed to change and grow. To shed layers and opinions. To "let my inner light shine" and direct me to places I've never been within. The yoga I've been taking has helped me connect with this physical form of mine and to respect it but to know that I too am just made up of energy and protein. My spiritual outlook has always known about the connection between all things but it's seeing that more clearly now. The energy my mind and body feels when I'm happy or hurt is something I'm contributing to this world. It's my responsibility to make it positive.
I know my goals can be achieved and my life will go according to my plan as long as I have a plan that I believe in. For now, I am dreaming it up so that I can begin creating it and turn my thoughts into things.

Who she'd be if she only had 2 feet instead of 4 paws

2008-07-23T14:01:00.000-07:00

This is Charli, she is in high school and on the cheer squad but declined being head of squad this year because to be honest she's a little over being a cheer leader but didn't want to leave the girls high and dry. She has all the cool friends and can shop a mixture of vintage and new, putting it together just so nothing looks off the rack. She dates the drama leads and football players but is nice to the nerds and makes them feel like they may have a chance (though they don't). Her uncle is an producer and in the summers she gets to PA on his movies but really all she has to do is make sure the stars are comfortable and have someone to talk toand a drink in hand. Mostly she just raids the wardrobe racks. She could drive a new car but prefers her old bug with a rebuilt engine that she had made into a convertable. She has a younger sister who just doesn't seem to get it but she incorporates her into all her plans and considers her the best friend she'll ever have. Charli is happy laying in the grass without a blanket down or doing yoga but can handle herself among her parents friends at the country club just as well. Her birthmark only adds to her beauty and she wears it proudly, "who wants to look like everyone else? not me, that's boring" she says. She doesn't have a myspace because she'd rather be in person to communicate with her friends. When she wants to be social she has her friends over for slumber parties and sometimes they go out to Malibu or Los Feliz but most of time they stay in and remake their favorite movie scenes for 'fun' and post them to their monetized you tube site. They donate the money they make to help inner city arts programs flourish.
When its time for cocktails she orders hers with a sugar rim and seductively licks sugar off before every sip. Her favorite purse is a white vintage clutch that all her girlfriends 'kissed' with different color fabric paint.
This year, Charli is in charge of decorating for the prom and can't decide on a theme because she's into the green movement but thinks its a bit overdone so she's thinking of having a set decorator recreate the Hollywood walk of fame on the venues floor with each graduating student getting a star with their name on it that they can take home and having all the chaperones dress as different period movie stars. They've also decided that having a king and queen are too elitist and should be boycotted this year for a more fun feel. This is the last year of high school and it's gonna be great.

Red hot on the Red Carpet

2008-07-17T13:05:00.000-07:00

What a cutie! ACDC, as in Adam/Chu Dance Crew (if you don't know about this, youtube jonmchu, madd chadd or biggest online dance battle ever THIS VERY INSTINT) performed at the Step Up 2 DVD release party on Monday at the Avalon and it was a good time had by all (except my liver). ACDC kicked off the show and then there were battles between a bunch of crews. Lacy and Benji were there and so was MIA MICHELS who I love:) If you haven't seen the movie you really should because Jon really let the dancer SHINE like the top of the chrystler building!!!

She's the BEEZIEST of all the TRANNY's

2008-07-17T12:58:00.000-07:00

Today's guest blogger is my sister ELYSE. She wrote this for 944 magazine, where she interns at... Cute huh?

I am going to attempt to write a blog strictly in my lingo…just so I can profess the interesting change in language that has occurred amongst the younger gen. in recent decades, that I FEEL would make learning the language a tad bit difficult. I personally whip out gangsta sayings and movie quotages in daily convo, which tends to stumble my followers and there is room to say I may not make sense. But I feel that denying this slang is crapsicles. I mean I know there have been moments where I have called my hetero life mate Leigha a beezy and she was offended. Little did that tranny know, I was just referring to her beeziness in a positive beeztastic way! Needless to say, lets be surious yo. The constant abbrev’s, elongationage and match-mixing of words have led us all to concoct our own verbal dialogue foreign to anyone except our own frontal lobe. Yet I would like to give snaps to every fantastical crazy kid out there ballsy enough to whip out words like broski, rando, skeez and tranny fierocia. So go, go out into the world with your plethora of lingotastic sayings and spread them into the abyss, hopefully to befuddle and taint other slangless beings. Fo sheezy…

she'll always be young to me

2008-06-25T13:34:00.000-07:00

No matter how old my little sister gets, I'm sure I will always feel the need to ask her if she wants me to call and wake her up or if she put all my stuff borrowed back. Isn't that why I'm an older sister after all; to boss her around! She is 22 today and has been staying with me the last month. Mostly its been a great time had by all even though there's been a few rocky patches but I think that's to be expected. For the most part we spend our time watching cooking shows (Giada and Jamie oliver), cooking which leads to drinking which leads to feeling bad about not working out. We've been trying to get out on a run mon-thurs and so far we're at about 50%. Lets just say there is much room for improvement.
Today, Elyse is working her little tush off (seen recently on cracknsmack.blogspot.com) at an event where she interns. I feel for the little munchkin and can't wait to properly cheers her over drinks and her ever favorite Thai food.
Happy Birthday munchkin head!!!!!!!!!!

Picture 1 is what I see when I look at her (I'm sure its the what my mom sees too which is why she's freaking out at the thought of her driving by herself back to Arizona)
Picture 2 is what she looked like opening mom's card (and check) this morning at breakfast.

Sex in the hot desert

2008-06-13T09:57:00.000-07:00

My trip back to Tempe to visit Elyse and drive back to LA with her was basically planned around the opening night of Sex and The City. For the last year the plan was for us to see it together but considering we live a mere 6 hour drive from each other, I wasn't quite sure that would happen. I had a back up plan though. My adorable husbands only watched every episode a handful of times at my request so he was going to be my plus 1 IF it came to that. Lucky for him, it didn't.
I flew into Tempe on the 30th of May at 5:40pn and our movie tickets were for 7:50pm. That didn't leave much time for well anything but somehow we fit in an outfit change which I decided was not SATC worthy once we got to the outdoor mall where the movie theatre was so I popped into a store to purchase a whole new one (in less than 3 minutes!!). We also had some delicious cosmo's (of course) and aps. BUT, the most fun for me was we walked by a Tilly's store where 3 of Chadd's ads were hanging in the windows. I've never had that happen before and it was a hoot. I was standing there like a retard taking pictures of the pictures in the window.
The movie was good, not life changing by any means but it filled the spot left empty in my SATC loving heart for at least 2 hours.

So nice to meet you

2008-06-12T14:53:00.000-07:00

my blogger, my author, my friend? MY FRIEND!!
Can you consider someone your friend after 1 shopping excursion, 1 dinner and an exchange of phone numbers? I hope so, because that would make Stephanie Klein my friend. I just adore her. Love her words, thoughts and energy. She has long since been a favorite author of mine, even inspiring me to drive 6 hours before to her last book reading and checking out her website www.stephanieklein.com nearly every day for the last 2 years. As someone who loves to read, write and express, I really enjoy finding a voice out there that could be mine but isn't. Like Stephanie, I was with a doctor and let go of a life that at some point I thought I wanted. Then, I had to make a new life, find a new path with no markers leading the way. I did, she did and we both still have it. I found love and a new zip code with Chadd and her love took her to Austin and brought her BEAUTIFUL TWINS. Now, not only do I know her on paper but I actually have hung with her and feel so blessed. To me, it feels right that I would find myself toasting her over drinks but it also shocks me and makes me count all my blessings. Phil, Stephanie's husband is very nice and down to earth too and I hope to eventually meet their adorable beans...

That's just the kind of family I married into...

2008-05-26T17:26:00.000-07:00

I knew something was up and I was right! My sweet mother (and father) in law arranged to take care of our bill when we go to dinner tonight. We are dining at the place we got married at and sitting in the actual place that we stood a year ago and took our vows. Our wedding was amazing, especially our vows. I love that all our favorite and most important people watched us say the most amazing things to each other. Promises that we will never break and now tonight we can sort off relive that moment. Maybe just for kicks I'll bring our vows to dinner and we can whisper them to each other again.
I just feel so fortunate to have wonderful family in my life. People that I want to spend my free time with and travel with. It makes me feel so loved and cherished!

anniversaries come but once year

2008-05-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

and its ours!!! 1 year ago today I was hustling around the Fairmont Hotel getting read to be wed! It was a wild amazing day.
This is my love letter to you babe,

I adore you wholeheartedly. You have given me my best life and enriched my soul so much. I was always waiting and hoping for a love like ours. Its happy ending love and I'm getting to fill in the story myself with you. I know that you are my one love because in the 4 years that I've been only loving and kissing you my heart has never left you for a moment. All I dream of is growing older with you. I want to hold your hand everyday of my life.
The things that bring me joy are so subtle like playing with the kitties, eating a good meal together, sniffing you and snuggling. These make the big things like traveling, planning, dancing and laughing so much better because there is depth below the fun.

love your wife,

Leigha

I smell because I'm excited!

2008-05-22T14:53:00.000-07:00

Isn't it sad that BO is my bodies reaction to good news. My Jewish/Italian mix is letting itself be known right about now. The cause of this is that my fave blogger/author Stephanie Klein's hubby Phil called me today asking if I'd be her LA volunteer for her book readings next month. OF COURSE I'd do it! I am also putting together some goodie bags for her to raffle of that will be given away at her readings. I'm really trying to hook the readers up and so far have a massage G.C. to give away at each. I'm hoping to get some handmade goodies, wine and magazines.
I've met SK once before at a book signing but I can't wait to really meet her this time. She's more 'celebrity' to me than most of the actresses out there, so it's kind of a big deal!
Here's a pic from the last time I met her and this time I hope to look a bit less like a lesbo.