goodbye 2016

So 2016 ends in a few hours.... while most people are under the impression it was a totally suck-ass year overall based on all the amazing people who died this year and the election insanity, in retrospect, my own life was actually okay.

One part of it was, in fact, AWESOME -- I became a real auntie for the first time (I will be one for the second time in January when my new niece is born!) and it's been amazing, because this little guy is the absolute light of our family and my life right now. Seeing Kaden grow, and now starting to babble and roll over and recognize and understand things is so fun. I can't imagine my life without him!

I also had a bunch of great adventures and accomplished an altered version of about a third of my 2016 Vision Blog (hey, better than nothing!) ... 

I finished these books, which included four from my original "to read" list + two new ones....

+ I also read Where Am I Now? True Stories of Girlhood and Accidental Fame, by Mara Wilson, who I had the pleasure of interviewing back in the day when she was a child actor starring in Mrs. Doubtfire and Matilda. She even fondly mentions one of our Disney Adventures photo shoots in the book, which was an awesome surprise! (The book is now being borrowed by my Disney Adventures wrangler La Lizzz, thus it's MIA in this photo ;)

I didn't go to Hawaii or another "tropical" locale like I wanted to, but I did go to Santa Barbara for my birthday weekend and finished 2.5 of the books above (finished The Interestings, started and finished Best Year of Your Life, and started John Taylor's auto-biography).. and I got my gorgeous view!

I also got a ton of gorgeous views on my Sunday Funday adventure to Santa Rosa Island with Linda and James. The Channel Islands are right in our backyard here in Southern California, and they are beautiful! Can't wait to visit more of them in 2017!

And while, I didn't make it to Europe, I did travel Internationally... to Vancouver. It was a relaxing, fun trip with my fave positive person Cwennen. The city was BEAUTIFUL and its food delicious!

On the "did not accomplish" side of the "vision blog" to do list, I only wrote (soon-to-be) 30 blog posts this year, and did not order my new front door yet. January 2017 - I swear! 

And on the sad suck-ass side, a lot of bad stuff did happen this year. One of my best friends has been dealing with an inner ear issue since June that affects her vision and makes her dizzy and exhausted. Four of my friends lost a parent this year. My childhood friend lost her son. And there seemed to be more and more senseless acts of violence taking innocent people too soon...

The one that hurt the most was the murder of Christina Grimmie, who was shot by a deranged "fan" while signing autographs after a show in Orlando on June 10th, the night before the massacre at Pulse nightclub, also in Orlando. Most of you probably knew her from being on Season 6 of The Voice. I knew her from the YouTube video game show she hosted for my team at Disney.com in 2014. I met her twice, and she was so sweet and full of life. She loved video games and she loved making music. The fact that some guy could walk into her show with a gun and shoot her four times still makes me SO MAD. This world is just insane...

Then there was the fact that entertainers who have been part of my life forever have started dying... cancer, drugs, heart problems. It was just so sad... the music world was hit hard first - David Bowie, Glenn Fry, then Prince, Leonard Cohen and shockingly George Michael on Christmas Day at the age of just 53. And in the last half of the year, actors I grew up watching on TV and in movies - Gene Wilder, Florence Henderson, Alan Thicke and Carrie Fisher - passed away as well, all shockingly without any advance warning or time to prepare. So, so sad...

A few days ago, I decided to make what I'm calling my "FU2016" playlist, filled with my favorite songs from the musicians I loved that we lost this year. (Note: I love Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah"... I just don't love his voice, thus the Justin Timberlake/Charlie Sexton version below. They are both still alive and well. #knockonwood)

Some of my playlist is sad but a lot of it makes me want to dance, which brings me to this video that my sister posted a link to today. It will also make you want to dance, and is a loving, positive tribute to all these great people and the joy their talents brought to the world... enjoy!

And now it's on to 2017... I'll talk about that tomorrow. Right now, I'm going to go get a cocktail, because I just saw this and really need one. God help us all in the New Year... we're gonna need it! (And @alexandergold, you're my new hero!)

wizards, minions and drunk little green aliens

The impetus behind last October's Girls weekend with the Portland crew (aka Jen, Ruthie and Leslie) was visiting the Wizarding World of Harry Potter since it was on my 2014 trip to Portland that Leslie and I convinced/bribed Ruthie into reading the books, which she was adamantly opposed to reading and now LOVES and has read multiple times.

So on the Monday following Sunday Funday, we headed up the hill to Universal Studios and entered the Wizarding World, which (with the exception of the 3D on Forbidden Journey, which I hear they are removing now... thank god) was awesome!

Here are some of the photographic highlights....

Hogwarts... aka the exterior of the "Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey" ride

Part of the Forbidden Journey queue... the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, with Harry, Ron and Hermione projections talking to the guests in line. 

Snow-covered buildings in Hogsmeade.
Who knew it snowed in LA? Must be magic ;)

Leslie, Ruthie, Little Green Alien and I pose with the Hogwarts Express conductor (left) and Ruthie with her new Gryffindor scarf (right). Did I mention we did a LOT of shopping in Hogsmeade? :) 

LGA in Honeyduke's trying to guess the number of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans in those tubes.

We had lunch at the Three Broomsticks, where LGA reminded me how much he looooves Butterbeer...

..... a little too much. #drunkalien

After lunch at the Three Broomsticks, we went on the Universal Studios Tour, and walked through Springfield... where the #drunkalien discovered Duff Beer. Oy..

Then we went to Super Silly Funland and hung out with Ruthie's other favorite characters, the Minions on the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem ride, also in 3D (Ugh. I'm getting a headache just typing that... Getting old sucks!)

Little Green Alien considers a new career option after being marketed to in the Minion Mayhem ride queue. Double Oy.

Then we ended our day at the Animal Actor's show, where a certain, fearless kid I know volunteered to go up on stage and help with the dog tricks.

She had a blast! But I have an annoyed auntie comment: Hey Universal Studios, how about when you give kids a "front of line" voucher for participating in the last show of the day, that ends 5 minutes before the park closes, you give them a voucher good for ANY day, not JUST that day?!?!? Kthxbai. #endrant

sunday funday: oak glen apple orchards

Back in October, my dear friend Jenny, her daughter / my eye-rolling mini-me Ruthie and our friend Leslie flew down from Portland for a girls weekend of fun and wizardry. Saturday was catch-up day, Monday was our trek to Universal Studios for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (more on that later), and Sunday was this Funday -- introducing Jen, Ruthie, Leslie, Jen's cool cousin Erin and her daughter Emmie to my "Find Fall" go-to spot, Oak Glen Apple Orchards in Yucaipa, CA.

First stop was Parrish Pioneer Ranch, where I purchased delicious apple butter, peanut brittle and kettle corn. It's also home to a few cute shops (where I did some early Christmas shopping) and a mini-animal farm, home to these colorful guys... who I hope are still there post-Turkey Day. Gobble, gobble, gulp...

Second stop on the Oak Glen loop was Law's Cider Mill, for jugs of fresh apple cider. Then we did some shopping at Oak Tree Village, where Ruthie and I snapped this awesome selfie...

And then I bought a beautiful teal infinity scarf, fingerless purple mittens to wear at Kings games (yet still use my phone), and a cute little doggie baby blanket for my niece-to-be from Shari at Creations by Shari. All so cute/cuddly, and Shari is so nice. Go buy stuff on her Etsy page!

After lunch at the Mexican food restaurant (aka the only place without a 30+ minute wait), we hit the highlight of our adventure.... waiting in line at Snow-Line Orchard for their famous, fresh-made apple donuts! 

While waiting in the line outside (because it was THAT long), I found Fall -- beautiful, pretty colors!

Then we made it to the door of the store... getting closer...

Once you're inside and around the little corner, you can watch them making the donuts. From there, it's like 5 minutes till you get your own warm, bag (or two!) of mini-apple donuts, which then disappear in about 60 seconds! So good!

 

Snow-line is also where I always actually buy apples.... this year they had mini-bags of mini-apples, which are great for someone like me who does not eat an apple a day (although after how sick I was two weeks ago, maybe I should!) I purchased mini-Jonagold and mini-Braeburn apples. Yummy!

gratitude: days 12-30

Well.. I started this and never finished or published the rest of it, so here it is. (Better late than never.. Next year my goal is to do it every day!)

#12 - What texture are you grateful for? Soft blankets

#13 - What abilities are you grateful for? Walking, reading, writing, breathing

#14 - What sight are you grateful for today? Fall leaves

#15 - What season are you grateful for? Spring

#16 - What about your body are you grateful for? That it's alive

#17 - What knowledge are you grateful for? All of it

#18 - What piece of art are you grateful for? Monet's Water Lillies

#19 - What touch are you grateful for today? When my nephew Kaden holds my finger in his little fist 

#20 - Who in your life are you grateful for? My family

#21 - What song are you most grateful for? Everlong

#22 - What story are you grateful for? Harry Potter's world

#23 - What tradition are you grateful for? Christmas morning

#24 - What challenge are you grateful for? Trying to be creative when my job is not

#25 - What moment this week are you most grateful for? Thanksgiving dinner with Mom, Dad, Ryan, Brittany, Hayden and Mackenzee.. who watched Rudolph with me! 

#26 - What form of expression are you most grateful for? Writing

#27 - What small thing that you use daily are you grateful for? Toothpaste

#28 - What small thing that happened today are you grateful for? Jury duty was postponed til January (because I'm an idiot and didn't register properly)

#29 - What friend/family member are you grateful for today? Today, my gal pal Lisa, who I had a fun happy hour with on 11/29

#30 - What talent or skill do you have that you are grateful for? Writing