Swarovski and Sterling Bracelets

I have made lots of new swarovski and sterling bracelets lately. Most are available through my website http://www.fiveoclocksomewhere.us/, but I love custom orders if you have specific colors in mind (bridesmaid colors, school colors, barn colors, jockey silk colors, birthstone colors). I recently made a few bracelets with the birthstones of husband and wife couples, and they came out beautiful. I make both a bangle style with sterling sides and four crystals across the top for $70, and a bracelet that has crystals and sterling all the way around for $85.

Tweet

Cafe Bizou

We were going to try out Siena a new Italian restaurant in Pasadena with our friends Kim & Pete. Kim went earlier in the day and picked up a menu. I wasn't sure how I would decide what to have since there were so many delicious selections, but unfortunately I wasn't going to have to decide because when we went back for dinner it was closed. I guess the guy forgot to mention to Kim when he gave her the menu that they were closed on Tuesdays...duh. So we decided on Cafe Bizou which never disappoints. The food is always fantastic and the corkage fee is only $2! The service is attentive and friendly. We had the tuna tar tare for an appetizer, which was delish. I had the Sand Dabs (caper butter sauce, mashed potatoes & steamed veggies), which I always order there and they melt in your mouth. Fantastic! Kim had a great pasta dish, black tagallini pasta, mushrooms & tomato in a lobster sauce. Rich, but good, I may even order it next time we go! Pete had a spicy shrimp pasta, and Chad had a crispy potato scaled salmon. We finished off with a sinful Bread Pudding with caramel sauce. Then we topped off the evening with a drink at Sushi Roku. It has a great atmosphere. We got home late, and I am the only one that had to wake up early for work the next day. Bummer.

Tweet

Dinner and a movie

Last night Chad and I went to Brenart for dinner. It had a nice atmosphere, which was unfortunately ruined with a screaming child the ENTIRE time we were there. I really do not understand how inconsiderate parents can be. I do not find children (especially misbehaved ones) cute, charming or desireable to share my liesure time with, or any other time for that matter. The shreaking was impossible to ignore and it probabbly will cause us never to go back because that is what I remember most about our experience there. Note to parents: no one wants to hear or see your unruly children misbehave like animals, leave them at home and get a babysitter! Anyway, Chad and I tried to enjoy our Cream of Purple Cauliflower Soup, Scallop Risotto, and bottle of bottle of Gatekeeper Shiraz, but we got out of there as soon as we could and headed for the movies where we met The Bagans. We saw The Dark Knight. It was a good movie, very entertaining, although a bit long (2 1/2 hours). Heath Ledger, was brilliant as a mad-crazy Joker.

Tweet

Saddle Up

Sunday was an exciting day with Mazzy. I had the help of my friend Sandy, so I decided to ride her. We got her all tacked up and I mounted up on her with the aid of a little stool. She was amazingly calm and well behaved. We had a small audience so I was quite happy she was a star. Sandy led me around the arena several times as my power steering doesn't quite work yet. I am always amazed at how well behaved she is for a two year old. I feel very lucky. We then gave her lots of carrots and a bath.

Tweet

Bridge Party

Sponsored by the Pasadena Heritage Society this event is a fund raiser. It is a chance to also party on the "Suicide Bridge" as it is blocked to traffic and bands, food vendors and high octane cocktails are available to make for a really fun and entertaining evening. Food, Bands (A roster of local favorites includes Aluminum Marshmallow and the Age of Aquarius Horns, The Cain Enablers, the Chuck Manning Quartet, Flattop Tom and His Jump Cats, Mercy and the Merkettes, Pasadena Scottish Pipes and Drums, Snotty Scotty and the Hankies and Wreck ‘n’ Sow.), Bar Tents and dancers, doesn't get much better on a summers evening. We saw tons of people we knew (Tana, Charlie & the kids, Bethsheba (Doggie Nanny), Tamara (Michelle's friend), Cheryl & Michael Anderson, Victor Cass (on duty), Station 38 firefighters, (on duty), Chief Wells, Chief Downs) and met alot of new people. Our group (Kim, Leslie, Missy, Bradley, Linda, John & myself) had a great time. We drank too many mojitos, and danced in to the night ending up at Twin Palms dancing some more, and taking a taxi cab home.

Tweet

Dena House

A group got together (Stephany & Robert, Ted, LAPD Dave, Cheryl & Kimo) to try out some sushi at a new place in town, Dena House. I thought it was good, except Chad got a bad piece of Uni, which kind of ruined his experience. We ordered Crispy Spicy Tuna, which is one of my favorite sushi specialtyies, so I was stoked when I saw they offered it. Thier menu is HUGE, aside from an extensive sushi menu they have chinese food, burgers, mexican, pastas, they brew a few of thier own beers, a little bit of an odd combination, but we'll see how it works in the doomed location of 42 S De Lacey Ave (it has been a long-line of failures from a Jerry's Deli to, most recently, Union Cattle Co. - boo hoo the mechanical bull is now gone). Its hard to belief that the quality of all of their different dishes is good given the fact that they have over 50. We also had a sexy roll, I tried a piece of Dena roll, which was great, and the Ono was fabulous!

It was then off to The Yard House to meet some more friends.....Chad had a run in with one of the bartenders. It was a similar experience to the one I had a few moths ago (when they wouldn't serve me with an expired driver's license, what that has to do with verifying my age I still do not know). The bartender was extremely rude (like many of them are there). They just don't know how to treat thier customers, especially the regulars, which Chad WAS. Now we have both crossed The Yard House off of our lists. Yeah!

Tweet

Infrared Body Wrap

A couple of months ago I bought a promotional spa package to promote new services offered at On The Beach Day Spa in Toluca Lake. Today I went for my Infrared Body Wrap session. It was interesting, but I'm not quite sure I'm a believer. "The Formostar wrap will apply heat to the body and the heat will get underneath the fat tissue and the heat will thin the blood allow a much thinner blood to get into the areas where fat tissue is. Bringing the blood back in starts metabolism and the heat starts to soften the fat tissue. The fat tissue starts to break up and is then released back into the blood stream in the form of calories for you to burn up as energy. " They wrap you up (over your gym clothes) in these silcon feeling body wraps, and then turn up the heat. Honetly I don't feel or see a difference. At $100 a session I don't think I'll be signing up.

Tweet

Handcock, Houston's, Dot's

We went to see Hancock with the Bagans. Funny movie with Will Smith as a drunk, sarcastic, and misunderstood "superhero". Hancock’s well-intentioned heroics might get the job done and save countless lives, but always seem to leave jaw-dropping damage in their wake. Jason Bateman was cute in the movie.

Then it was off to Houston's for dinner. It was average. We've been there countless times before, but it is really best for beef which we do not eat anymore, especially the Prime Rib. They usually have a few fish selections, but they are usually only okay. We started with the grilled artichoke and famous spinach artichoke dip (yummy). I had the Grilled Loup De Mer (Hardwood grilled with Marcona almonds and steamed broccoli), the fish was blah, not worth $30. I also had a glass (or two) of Meyer Family Syrah, which was good. Chad had Half a roasted chicken with crushed herbs, served with Louisiana-style dirty rice. Tony & Ave both had beef. I like the ambiance, especially the artichoke looking lamps. Their booths are big and comfy. The parking is bad, and there is usually a long wait, so be prepared to get a drink at the bar. There is a nice patio outside to enjoy your cocktail.

We had stopped at Dot's on the way in to Houstons (it is right next door) and got some cupcakes which our waitress put in the fridge for us while we ate. They were so good! I had the Red Velvet with cream cheese frosting.

Tweet

Facial Rejuvination

A couple of months ago I bought a promotional spa package to promote new services offered at On The Beach Day Spa in Toluca Lake. Today I had an appointment for a Lumiere Facial Rejuvination. "LED Skin Rejuvenation is the interaction of light, delivered through Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) at precisely 633 nanometers. This pure red light activates cell receptors causing them to produce collagen, elastin, and enzymes that are imperative to the skin's supportive structure. The result is a totally natural, non-ablative method for skin rejuvenation that helps minimize crow's feet, fine lines, wrinkles, reduce scar appearances, hyper-pigmentation, freckles, Rosacea and simply improves the overall appearance of the skin." My skin felt nice afterwards, but I am not convinced I saw any drastic improvements. A package of these Lumiere sessions is $849 for the Intensive Regime.....no thanks, I'd rather have Botox.

I am glad I only bought a promotional package for $55, because many of the services this spa offers seems a little hokey to me.

Tweet

Wine Styles

Had a lesson with Patrick in the morning, it was pretty hot out. Chad and I then went to the Yard House for lunch. The service was mediocre (at best), but the appetizer we got was good (poke stack and a spicy tuna roll, which isn't a roll at all). It was such a nice day we went down to Armstrong's Nursery and bought some vegetable plants. We then discovered a cool wine bar in South Pasadena, called Wine Styles. We did a wine tasting with five different wines, and found a wine we like so we bought a bottle (Pietra Santa, Sangiovese, Cienga Valley). We then tried a glass of 2003 San Simeon, Paso Robles, Syrah, and bought a bottle of that too. Thankfully, Chad and I have the same taste in wine. It cooled off a little by the time we got home, so we planted our new plants and did some work in the yard then had tomato sandwiches for dinner.

Tweet

Happy 4th of July!

I had a nice peacefuly ride in the morning before heading off the the Gem & Jewelry Show in Pasadena. I picked up a few things, some beautiful Peruvian Opal, Tourmaline, onyx, Amethyst and some Bali silver findings.

Kim and I went went to one of the surgeons houses she works with at Huntington Hospital for a great 4th of July party. The house was on Linda Vista, and overlooked the Rose bowl for a spectacular view of the fireworks. Chad and Pete both had to work.

Tweet

Trapped Faceted Stones

I took my first class at Farrin O'Connor Design Studio. It was called Trapped Faceted Stones. Instructor: Carl Stanley. He is quite talented. We learned Carl’s unique way to set faceted stones withoutsoldering. I started out with a plain piece of 2" x 2" metal sheet. I used lots of cool tools (rolling mill to produce texture, metal punches, files, flexshaft to "score" the metal, belt sander), and got good practice soldering multiple times ("valley" where metal was scored, top cap, bottom cap & bail). I am quite pleased with the way mine turned out.

Tweet