Just call me Linds ♥

Today, my friend and I went to LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) to see the Tim Burton exhibit! I’ve been wanting to go for months, since it opened in May, and finally got the chance to go! (Thanks Labor Day weekend!) 

IT. WAS. AWESOME. 

Especially for me, being such a huge Burton fan. He’s just a genius. And his twisted sense of humor was definitely obvious in most of his sketches.

This is one of my absolute favorites. It’s of his character ‘Vincent Price’. Idk why I love it so much, but I really really do. 

I really wish we could have taken pictures inside the exhibit, but of course that was a no-no.

We did get a few good ones in the contemporary art gallery though! (stay tuned.. will post soon) 

So if you are in the LA area, and enjoy Tim Burton’s style, definitely go check it out while you still can! The exhibit is open until Oct. 31! 

XoxoLinds.

For those of you that don’t already know, Disneyland (CA) is one of my favorite places on earth. It really is an escape for me. It brings me back to wonderful, magical memories of my childhood… So of course, I go ALL THE TIME. Therefore, naturally, now I can say it has turned into even MORE wonderful, magical memories of my ADULT life! (My husband proposed to me there! Just to name one) :)

So it was a great weekend of fun with my hubby, along with my family. My sister, her husband, and their two kids (ages 2 and 4mo) also joined us to celebrate my niece’s 2nd birthday! It was so cute to see her so excited! She loves practically EVERY Disney character she’s laid her eyes on, so it melts my heart every time I hear that cute little voice pronouncing the names and waving to them. It makes me so happy that she will have the same great Disneyland memories her mom and I had when we were kids! 

We also finally were able to ride the new and improved Star Tours! For those of you that don’t know, I won’t ruin it for you, but before it got it’s recent ‘face-life’ it was a Disneyland classic. (But lets just say, if you’ve gone on it once, there was really no need to go on again) Now, however, it’s back to living up to Star Wars nerd’s expectations! (aka. me) IT. IS. AWESOME! The special effects are a whole new world and it’s 3D.. honestly.. I got nervous. Not to mention when my picture came up on the screen and the bad guys started going all crazy sayin “WE’VE FOUND THE REBEL SPY! GET THEM!” and start shooting at us. That definitely took it up a notch.. bravo to the Disney Imagineers :) And cheers for making a Star Wars nerd’s dream come true! (I even bought the shirt) Couldn’t resist! 

We ended the night with a yummy dinner with a perfect view of the fireworks show, and headed to the Grand Californian Hotel for a night cap before grabbing a cab and passing out as soon as our head’s hit the pillow! 

Pictures to follow! 

XoxoLinds.

1.  My niece in the caboose, practicing her royal wave of course!
2. Bestie’s backyard marriage celebration! Tons of fun had by all!
3. My niece and nephew :)
4. Backyard summer lanterns add a festive touch.
5. I married my best friend, my soulmate.
6. Hollywood Bowl. Dvorak. Excellent seats. Superb wine. The best company.
7. Give my hubby a pen… This is what happens :) *I <3 Linds*
8. Niece plus ponies equals love. 
9. Uncle duties at the farm.
10. Happy girl :)
11. Hubby’s button we got at Disneyland! 
12. Fireworks over the castle. Magical.
13. View from our (very upgraded) hotel room. Grizzly Mountain.
14. Waiting for the World Of Color show to start. Amazing!
15. Sunset/ocean view from our room at the inn on Camp Pendleton.
16. “Do or Do Not. There is no Try” - Yoda (Nerdy?)

xoxoLinds

Seeing how it’s only the 8th this shouldn’t be too long and drawn out… Thank goodness I didn’t do this in July.. I would still be typing… 

The month started off with a bang. The husband and I drove two hours south to Camp Pendleton and booked a room at the (nicer) base lodge (with an ocean view) and hubby had LASIK eye surgery the morning of the first. While he was having surgery I went and visited with the bestie, who has just recently moved about 5 seconds away from the base. I showed up at her apartment with cinnamon rolls and hot coffee (this is why she loves me) and we had a nice visit. The surgery didn’t take very long so I went back to pick him up and of COURSE there was no parking for miles. I had to park at just about the farthest parking spot from the hospital there was and go get him. I led him out from the waiting room, through the hospital corridors and out the main doors to a shady spot and then RAN my bum to go get the car. Once we got back to the hotel I started unwrapping all of his different eye drops in the pitch black darkness (which to him was still too bright) and proceeded to walk into the sharp corner of the table and stub different toes multiple times. (Clumsy?) He had to take a nap so I gave up and took one too :)

The next couple days were wonderfully lazy. We basically locked ourselves in the room (and away from the rest of the world) and just did what newly married couples do (Hey! Keep it clean!) ;) Watched plenty of movies, ate way too much junk food, and just sat and talked about everything under the sun. We then drove the 2 hours north to where I am living with my parents while I’m at school, and spent the rest of the week sleeping in, going to the movies, spending time with my fam, laughing, getting into silly fights that last less than 10 min which we then laugh at, spending way too much money, and just enjoying each other’s company. (A plus to marrying your best friend) 

However, this month hasn’t been all smiles. My aunt recently found out that she has stage 4 cancer and is fighting the battle of her life. Her welfare has been weighing heavily on my mind and on sunday my man and I went to go see her. I am so happy and thankful that I got the chance to talk to her and tell her everything that I felt I needed to. She was even able to get a few words out to me. It’s funny how fast the simple things can become priceless. 

Today, was my first day back at work (and reality) in over two weeks. I had such a wonderfully lovely vacation.. It was probably the best one yet just because I got to spend it with this man that I now call my Husband. However, I didn’t get a chance to make the drive out the hospital today, and I heard that it’s not looking good :( but I will continue to pray and hope for a miracle. You can never say never when it comes to these kinds of things. You must always stay as positive as possible! 

xoxoLinds

GOD, I love living in LA!! 

So as some of you already know, tonight I went to the LA Philharmonic’s Opening Night Concert to see Gustavo Dudamel conduct, and the amazing Juan Diego Florez (as tenor).

I can tell you now, I think I’m still in shock. Even when I was there, a mere 20 feet away, looking literally into Mr. Dudamel’s face (we had orchestra view seats, my favorite cuz you can see the conductor’s facial expressions… it’s especially worth it when Dudamel is at the podium!) I felt like it wasn’t real. It was too good to be true. I wish words could do the experience justice, but they just can’t. All I will say, is that tonight was a truly magical night for me. A once in a lifetime experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything. 

By the end of the program, the audience was so excited and pleased, our standing ovation lead to two encores! We just didn’t want it to stop! And as confetti rained down on us from above to really end the night with a bang, I still wondered, “How did I get this lucky, to experience something this phenomenal?” 

So, FINALLY, when we all stopped applauding (after most of the orchestra had already gone backstage) we started heading out of the hall and I couldn’t help but notice… EVERYONE was smiling. :) I think seeing music live like that, with such a talented orchestra, phenomenal tenor Juan Diego (wow, what a voice!), and passionate conductor, reaches people at the most basic level. A humanistic level. We are all the same, and we can all speak the universal language of music. Dudamel also has quite the sense of humor, which he showcased during a lil speech he gave after La gazza Ladra. I was SO excited that I got to hear him talk in PERSON! He has the most charming accent I’ve ever heard in my life! lol ok ok. I’m a fan, so sue me.

Well, I could literally go on and on about how amazing the concert was, but I just won’t be able to do it justice. But it was filmed and will be broadcast on an episode of “Great Performances” on PBS.. so keep a lookout.. I’ll prolly be on t.v. lol

HOWEVER, for all you TRUEBLOOD fans out there, I have a lil tasty morsel just for you. As everyone was filing out of the hall it started to get pretty crowded as we were all heading for the escalators to bring us to the main floor and tents for the gala celebration. So at a particularly cramped point, I found myself RIGHT up against a man in front of me, (but to my left if you really wanna see the layout haha). So my bare naked arm and shoulder accidently brushed up against this man’s right shoulder blade and the back of his (muscular) arm. And right away in my head I thought… “wow, that’s an expensive suit. Is that.. silk? or just the softest suit I’ve ever felt in my life! BUTTER!” But I digress… after I had accidentally brushed against this person, he paused, turned his head, looked me right in the eyes (literally about 8 inches away.. like I said, it was cramped) and said “Oh, sorry!”

It took all my strength to keep my jaw from hitting the floor. STEPHEN MOYER just said sorry to me! No wait, wait… I JUST TOUCHED STEPHEN MOYER! (aka. Bill from TrueBlood) But fear not, I played it cool and just said “Oh, it’s okay” and flashed the best smile I got. This was not a place you can go all fangirl and start swooning for an autograph or picture. Keep it classy people. ;) 

All in all.. I’m gonna have to say, tonight was a night for the record books. <3