Sweet 16

Every year is an amazing year when you’re a parent to see the changes and growth from one season to the next as your child grows, but its the milestones you hit that really make you wonder where the hell all the time has gone.

It was only yesterday when I was refilling sippy cups with watered down apple juice and stocking my purse with snack bags of cheerios. Now I’m sitting in the passenger seat gripping the seatbelt as she changes lanes and sips on lattes.

Here is the breakdown of her whirlwind weekend (yeah weekend, I’m a TOTAL push over)

1. Homemade youtube Video of family and friends wishing you a Happy Birthday
2. Presentation of ring given to me at 16, now a family ring passed down to you
3. Trip to Tiffany’s. The YIN to your day and a plan of ours for years. Your choice.
4. Thrift Store trip.The Yang to your day and a fun one too!
5. Dubs, your friend of choice to spend the rest of the weekend with
6. Hair. Gorgeously styled and curled
7. Nails. Finally, the mirrored Minx nails you have wanted for ever!
8. New Outfit. Shopping for you both
9. New Shoes. Got new clothes need new shoes.
10. SUR in Beverly Hills. The surprise of the night!
11. Glen Ivy Hot Springs
12. Massages. After all, its rough being spoiled.
13. Mud Bath, we went tribal and had a blast.
14. Disneyland. Okay, that we did NOT do just seeing if you were reading.
15. Gossip Hour in the lap pool. (This was pretty darn fun!)
16. Happy Happy Birthday Kates! 

                                                                                                                          xoxo

Celebrate-16

April 26th 1996

You are a strong female among four generations of strong independent females who stand before you, love you, and share with you their path, their stories, trials, and tribulations of life. 

We have paved our way not only for ourselves but also for you. To show you what is possible and to allow you to dream beyond your immediate grasp, reach beyond the stars and aspire to places that your Grandmother, your Great Grandmother and me, your Mother, could ever imagine.

Happy Sweet 16 Kates.  

60 Hits Vegas

I know they say what happens in Las Vegas stays in Vegas and for the most part that is true but not because of some big sorority pledge that occurs when you fly or drive across those sinful boundaries but because most people have to sober up to get the hell out of dodge and when everyone does that they are left with no earthly idea of what has transpired in their recent past. 

If it were not for the evidence on our handy state of art phones how many of us would be totally in the dark about our indulgences the nights before?  Sin city has simply made it their trademark and we have soaked it up having been granted permission to be bad and not tell a soul.

Cut to my Mom Nancy, her best friend Julie (aka my second Mom), myself, and a 60th birthday celebration.

It involved a limo, orgasms, a room overlooking the fountains, an amazing dinner with a sommelier, a first rate show with fire sand and a moving set that was spectacular, helicopter rides, gaming, and two absolutely amazing women!

We changed that town it didn’t change us for it will never be the same again. 

I have the pictures on my phone to prove it.

                                                                                           Happy Birthday Mom!


P.S. I had you at Orgasms didn't I? Well it is the best damn Blush out there and my Mom can't stop talking about it! It's a hoot. Thank you Sephora.

Happy Birthday Babe- Now lets wear mustaches, act normal, and go out on a school night!

For 23,652,000 minutes...

For 540 months...

For 4 1/2 decades...

However you decide to label it, it’s your day- Happy birthday babe.

Not only did we have fun in our disguises, but the kids also got into the act posing with the Beatles (who also brought their ‘staches to the party). 

It was a great night, for a great guy.

Here’s to the next 45. 

                                                                    xoxo

It’s My Party

I love birthdays , each year on each of the kids birthdays I stay up late and decorate our dining room. Banners, fanfare and balloons- tokens for the morning excitement always await the happy birthday boy or girl.

Today is my birthday...

... I don't need the banners and hoopla cause I have a little secret.... All morning I giggled to myself as each child was ceremoniously dropped off for a day at school. With teenagers voluntary exclamations are few and far between so I did feel pretty lucky when I got a somber “happy birthday Mom” as my eldest son exited the car when I dropped him off at school. It was quick and quiet least any of those passing by should hear, or maybe I wanted to hear it so bad it was merely imagined. Who knows, i’ll take whatever I can because it’s my party.

...and I am going to Disneyland!!! No work. No kids. Just me, other honored adults (husband and wonderful Mom) and a magic button that is quite frankly- Awesome!!! Should you be at the happiest place on earth on a day as wonderful as one honoring you, let me tell you about the most amazing thing. They have these buttons that you get at the front gate. It says on it “Happy Birthday” and a space to write your name. Now the best part is that anyone who sees the button and is an employee of this happy place HAS to say to you, in the happiest voice ever, “Happy Birthday!”. Everyone.

It is pure heaven.

Now I am a pretty confidant woman. Loves my family and is quite content with most things in my life, but truly there is nothing like a full day of endless strangers stopping in their tracks to say nothing more than a jubilant happy birthday. I absolutely beamed each and every time!

Down fall is it only seems to work at Disneyland itself- the kids just looked at me and rolled their eyes when I tried to wear it to dinner and the lady at the bank nervously looked for her supervisor when I kept looking from her to the button and back to her.