Summer, Summer, Summer Time

In Santa Monica, there is a definite hint as to what time of the year it is.

I was in the grocery store today and the three kids in front of me had multi-colored paper bracelets all the way to their elbows.  They represent entry into the Santa Monica Swim Center right down the street.  Kids collect them and they're sort of bragging rights as to how many times you got to swim this summer.

Makes me smile every time.  And also makes me wish I was collecting those bracelets instead of the very similar "I'm over 21 and went to a bar last night" bracelets.

Lessons From Kids

Man,  it makes my day when someone reaches out to tell me their own sunshine!

This is from a friend on the Westside...

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We were at Miguel's dad's house for a little party.  Miguel's 9 year-old sister was quite the little hostess -- so polite, not too talkative, not too shy.  After dinner she was trying her best to listen to us talk, but I guess she needed some help, so she went to get her little stuffed hamster.  He has his hands sewn together, and she told us it was because he is praying.  

I asked her what he was praying for.  She thought for a few seconds and as we waited for what we thought would be, "I don't know..."she said, "To be real."

We all said that was the most perfect answer. 
And it made my day. 
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Seeee. Aprons are totally IN.

Yummm....foot flavored.

We have "Every Flavor Beans" at our office right now and they've been a fun activity.  There is indeed a jelly bean that we all agree tastes like feet and fart combined.  No one could keep it in their mouth long enough to swallow it.

Today, at the witching hour in the afternoon, my boss screams from his office, "Alright, everyone get ready, it's jelly bean time!"

He walked around to each of our desks and made us blindly select a jelly bean.  Then he'd watch with anticipation as we made our first few chews.  Each time, someone got cherry or bubble gum and my boss would sort of slouch and sigh. 

Alas, it was my turn.

And as always, made the boss proud.  Foot flavored for me!

Barefoot and...dirty.

In my recent dinner trend of cheese & crackers, hummus, some random veggie and a bottle of wine...I seem to have forgotten how much I like to cook and to entertain.  Tonight, as I was getting ready for my guests of honor, I realized I had flour all over my shorts.

Aha!  Apron.  Duh.

I grabbed one my mom recently made out of old fabric from my grandmother's trunk and the pocket from one of her old aprons.

Dancing around the kitchen with glee proceeded.

I mean, come on...this is great.

(She seems a little shocked, but I love the build up...)

Best Idea Ever

I paid a little extra to have my car washed while it was parked in an airport parking lot.

Oh. My. Goodness.
So so so worth it.