THE ROSE BOWL IS NOT JUST FOR UCLA...

...it is also the home of the Rose Bowl Flea Market on the second Sunday of every month.

So I put on my walking shoes...

and headed out with a friend at 5:30 AM to go to the Rose Bowl Flea Market.

Arriving at the Flea Market in a hoard of cars and people so early was overwhelming...it has been a long time since I had been there and had forgotten the frenzy...

There was a ton of vintage clothing, although most not older than the current clothes in my closet...we know I never let go of anything...

 Wonderful beaded sweaters

 Jerky for Henry...but I did not buy any due to the diet situation (I am sure he would not eat it)

 A black Santa with gorilla feet on....sorry I cut them out...

Ancient fast foot conveyances

 My typewriter from high school

 Tons of vintage blingy baubles

 It was a gorgeous day....Rose Bowl....mountains...people....people...people

A wreath made of old sheet music!!

 Beads from Ghana

 Clearly the concession to have is to have ATM machines...lines out the door all the time...six machines no waiting.

 This girl was my fave...vintage clothes, Chinese umbrella, 

Saddle Shoes....and, of course, an iphone..

 

 As we began our travel across the 210 to head home, I looked up and saw a billboard for a Trini Lopez concert.  I said, Dear Lord, I did not even know Trini Lopez was still alive.  My friend said--Alive!  I have never even heard of him.  That is when you know you are reeeeaaaaallllly old!!

  So I broke into the classic Lemon Tree.   She looked at me as though I were insane because she had never heard the song either.  To refresh everyone's memory...here it is:

Make sure your volume is on!! and sing along...Lemon tree very pretty...
Trini is now 73 and I still have a hard time believing that he is having a concert and just think about the customer base for that puppy.  Tickets and details are available here.

 We then headed off to Riverside so that I could see the Mission Inn Hotel which is just classic California and charming.  They have 3.5 million lights up for their Holiday Display.

COUCH AND 5K

Sunday morning Henry and I had something in common. 

We both went 5K...me in my car, Henry in his running shoes.

We both went approximately the same speed...no more joking.  Henry did an incredible thing...he ran a 5K race on Shelter Island.  Maybe not so incredible for those of you who run, but I personally sit.  The closest I have come to a 5K is by downloading the app to my iphone for "Couch to 5K"  an inspirational app that I could not even figure out how to use the one day I did it.

I am extremely proud of Henry...he looks fabulous, he is running, he is a different person.

For those of you who have not seen the new Woody Allen movie--"You will meet a tall dark stranger".  It begins with Anthony Hopkins divorcing his wife because he has found a new lease on life, is exercising, is fit, and she says...what are you thinking? I found it very amusing...my friends not so much...

BIG DAY FOR FOOD THINGS

So, I have my new favorite lunch (or today lunch AND dinner).  Pick up your favorite hummus...mine is a wonderful Cayenne Hummus they sell at Jimbo's, whole wheat pita, 4 tiny carrots sliced, 1 tsp of low fat shredded mozarella, red onions, and tons of raw spinach.  Seriously, this could make me forget about

Big Macs or

Subway BMT.  

My new sandwich is DELICIOUS!!

I ate my dinner while watching last night's Biggest Loser on the DVR.  Can I lose weight while watching them work out???  But I am eating alot better.

After a delicious pita sandwich, it was time to watch Top Chef:  Just Desserts.  I paired this choice with 3 graham crackers with a thin layer of natural peanut butter.  Oddly enough, I seem to be satisfied.

Next week I will move up to exercising.

THE LAST SUPPER

OK...I know that that is because a "diet" is not something that you do for a 30 period, or a week, or two days.  It is not something that should be faced with only lemon juice and cayenne pepper for a week.  It needs to be a lifestyle change.

Faced with Henry's incredible success based upon the before photo above...

To the after photo above...let's face it he is even dressing nicer.

I want you to know that I am not doing this because Henry glares at every bite that I eat.

I am not doing this because of the emails that give kudos to all other family members on their achievements other than me.

I am doing this because I am disgustingly FAT.

That being said I am busy making my last supper--yup you guessed it a bottle of wine and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.

Tomorrow on to the new healthy me!!

Wish me luck.  I will keep you posted...which may keep me honest!!

LEOPARD SKIRT--ULTIMATE STYLE ICON

OK!  We all know that I love love love eBay.

I also love love love leopard...

I have Tory Burch Leopard Revas (no I did not take them back Andrea)

I also have Leopard Keds

So the other day I came across a wonderful Leopard Skirt from Bloomingdales (how prophetic) on Ebay--the description says:

This is a gorgeous leopard print skirt by Patrick Christopher, purchased from Bloomingdales.  This is a great fall piece.  The fabric is:  82% rayon,  18% silk and is fully lined, 100% polyester.  It is a shiny, velvet-like texture.  The approximate measurements are:  waist - 16 1/2" across, lying flat,  length - 23" from waist to hemline. It has a back zip closure.  This was originally $178. at Bloomingdales.

I purchased this for a theme dinner at a corporate meeting and won't wear again.  I am doing some 'Fall Cleaning' and am listing some great items that are a fraction of their original purchase price.  Great opportunity to pick up some pre-owned clothing items.

This would look so cute with tights and combat boots (am I really 60??). Seriously, how could I resist...all this for $16.99 (a reduced-price yet).  I placed a bid, and as I am getting my pedicure, I get a notification on my phone that I have won the auction.  I immediately hit the buttons to pay for this auction.

I am checking my mail tonight and I get a "Thank you for your PayPal payment to MadKate1994."  I looked and thought--that cannot be.

MadKate1994 is my lovely niece Lauri's eBay account.  When I looked at the invoice in a size larger than my iPhone (ie postage stamp) there is a note that says: 

Cathi you ding dong I will send you the skirt you do not have to buy it.

What are the chances that two people from the same family would be attracted to the same skirt...or that randomly one would purchase it unbeknownest from the other. Did I mention that we live on different coasts and see each other rarely.

Even more depressing, I know that I will NEVER look as good in this skirt as my lovely niece did.

Maybe it would make a great pillow. 

Ebay the big Equalizer!!!

ZENTANGLE

OK..I know.  One more thing to addict me.  I might have to put down my Cobalt Blue Nintendo DS--I know I have an issue.

I was with my friend this weekend and she started talking about someone she worked with telling her about Zentangles.  She said she was at a mandatory lecture the other day and was "unfocused"...she thought of her friend and the Zentangle conversation.  She said that Zentangling kept her amused the entire time.

What is a Zentangle, you ask??

 

Yup--it is a doodle.  A pretty incredible doodle.  Done on fabo paper with probably more skill than I have.  It could be better than playing on my DS.

Seriously, if you go to the Zentangle website...there is a kit.  Perfect paper, Perfect pen, Perfect pencil.  Why did I not think of this...monetizing doodling with a name like Zentangle.  Check out this video...it makes it look soooooo easy

I know....I am buying the kit and beginning my new profession as a Zentangler extraordinaire.

RAMEN NOODLES

Today I had to go to a meeting in Century City Shopping Center in LA. 

I was ecstatic...ECSTATIC!!

Why the excitement over a shoe meeting?? 

Well, nestled in the corner of the Food Court in Century City is a little place called Ajisen Ramen.

The first time I went to this little eaterie, I was alone and it was a Friday night.  I'll admit I was feeling a little sorry for myself.  I was exhausted and this was the first place I saw when I entered the food court.  I went to the counter and ordered basically the only thing that I recognized on the menu:  Beef Curry Noodles.

My dinner arrived and as I carried my tray over to the table the most phenomenal aroma wafted upward.  I thought OMG if this tastes half as good as it smells, I am in for a treat.

It was in a large bowl, with a small spoon.  I took one sip, looked around and thought--"Do you think anyone would notice if I dunked my entire head into the bowl?"  Then I realized that I simply did not care--it was that good.

I stopped in after work today got two huge orders to go and thought about it on my 4 hour drive home (it was "misting").

The best is I bought TWO--one for tomorrow!

It was...and is...quite simply one of the best dishes in the galaxy!!! 

Num-o!