Birthday and Flat Screens

Jason, in my opinion, is the hardest person to buy a present for. He likes clothes (yes, weird for a guy, and it can be annoying how he looks like he stepped out of a department store catalogue, but whatever), and electronics, which I just cannot buy for him. The last time I tried to buy him an actual present I bought him some really nice headphones, of course he took them back and exchanged them, but the annoying part was he told me the exact kind he wanted, so I was sure I had bought the right ones. Bottom line, I go into mini panic mode on any holiday where I am required to get him a gift. This year however, I lucked out. All he wanted for his birthday and Christmas was a new T.V. Sounds easy enough. He picks out his own present, buys it, and sets it up himself…..all I have to do is dust it every once in a while. Oh how wrong I was. The T.V. arrived and was sent back because it had some minor issue with the screen (I couldn’t see it, but it wasn’t my present). We did this 5 times! Jason would find something wrong with the new tv, and amazon would come pick it up. This would have been fine, but it was the same delivery and pick up guys every time. Of course Jay was at work, so I was the one here to sign for it.

Jason and his Christmas/Birthday present 

In celebration of his actual birthday, I surprised him with chocolate peanut butter cupcakes (so rich its hard to eat a whole cupcake, but so delicious that you eat the whole thing anyway) on Thursday and then made Mexican food a few days later, per his request. See, we went to this amazing restaurant in Sedona this summer and were so impressed we bought the chef’s cookbook. I have made a few things, and sadly they never looked like they did at the restaurant, but they were just as good. J

 Carne Asada with Arbol Salsa. Made with pork, orange juice, soda, milk, and garlic....sounds weird, but sooo good! 

 Sadly, we didn't have this view as we dined, but i live less than a mile from the ocean, so I am in no position to complain. 

Pumpkin Flan

If you are ever in Sedona, I highly recommend Elote for great mexican food. If anyone is interested in recipes, just let me know and I will forward them to you. 

Hollywood Friday

On Friday we took Landon out of school a little early (a happy surprise to be sure), and drove to Hollywood for a few hours. Jason has been dying to go to The Grove in Hollywood since we moved to SoCal, so we finally did it. I was convinced it was going to be an unnecessary monstrosity of a  shopping center that took over a cute Cali neighborhood and sucked the life out of any remaining quaint mom and pop stores….much like Tempe Marketplace did to Mill Avenue. Don’t get me wrong The Grove is nice. It reminded me of Main street at Disneyland, only with an Anthropologie, apple store, a cheesecake factory and bathroom attendants in their public restrooms. However, much to my surprise they kept the nearby Original Farmers Market that has been there since 1934. What a cool place! Not cheap (nothing is in la), but fun, delicious and a great place to sit and people watch…unless your us. We spent a lot of the time trying to keep Layla from running away or shoplifting.

 Champagne Truffles???? Sadly, I did not get to try one of these. 

Jason bought the kids those nasty little wax candies that are filled with a colorful and sugary mystery liquid. Gross. But as you can see, the kids devoured them. 

Earlier in the day, after I took Landon to school I headed to Palos Verdes for an estate sale. I wouldn’t say I’m an expert at these sales yet, but I have learned that you have to throw away any set of expectations you may have, every single time. This time, I waited in line for 40 minutes before I was allowed to in the house. However, the view from the front yard was spectacular, and since it was quiet because I didn’t have my lovely mini shopper with me, I didn’t mind the wait so much. Didn’t score much on this one…just a book of poems by Emily Dickinson that I will not be selling.

A million dollar view....L.A. smog included ;) 

Good Start to 2012

Finally a blog dedicated to our little family. My new years resolution already in action...less procrastination. Of course, by writing this post when I only have a few hours to turn in an assignment that I haven’t even started, means I am putting off my homework again. Oh well. Anyway, the Rosa’s started off 2012 by heading to the beach. It was a beautiful cloudless 80 degrees, which made for a perfect beach day. Currently humming Knee Deep by Zac Brown Band and Jimmy Buffett. Happy New Year!