LaBellaMaison

HEY

If you come visit me we might hang out here:

The Shore Club: Love the atmosphere out by the pool-really relaxing for conversation and cocktails!

     

or I have wanted to try NIKKI BEACH CLUB:

or PRIME 112:

This resturant is described as a modern steakhouse.  Last year Charlie's players took him there for dinner in a limo-no less.  Whenever, I mention going there he says "it costs"  meaning  $$$$.  But, hey if he can go......I can go!

or we might just hang out at CocoWalk in Coconut Grove:

or just do whatever:

     

or we might even do the Dolphin thing:

HEY!!!

CAN IT BE

Can it be that I look pale?  An african-american female looking pale!  Well, its possible........because we just had our Christmas pictures taken and I look pale!  When I was having issues with anemia I had to see a Hematologist and he said I looked pale! 

Apparently, your skin tone tells a lot about your hematalogy.  Well, I even went as far as buying a bronzer to wear for the picture sessions and I still look washed out and pale......Go figure?  Tommorrow I better head out to a pool chair and bask in the sun.  So Christmas pictures this year-one pale girl............yuckkkk!!!

***GOTTA GET AWAY***

Fun weekend get-a-way to Orlando, Palm Coast, and St. Augustine, Florida! 

This weekend my father, Charlie and I went to my aunt's 80th birthday party in Palm Coast, FL.  We had a great time getting away for the weekend.  Saturday morning we visited historic St. Augustine and I took these pictures:

I wish we had more time to spend..............but this still was such a treat.  I bought my first pair of Crocs that my husband told me everyone is wearing.  I wonder when he learned about fashion?

Friday night, on our way through Orlando we stopped to take Camille and her friend Justin out to dinner.  We had a nice meal at Houlihans and then visited her residence hall.  While I was snooping in her room I spied meds for guess what?  A infected belly button!  See, this is another reason not to get your belly button pierced.  But, I guess I should count my blessings because her best friend recently got her tongue pierced!  Just the thought of these piercing make me jump out of our skin.  Oh, too be young again-NOT!!!!

BE ON THE LOOKOUT

This is what I have been up to lately...................on Ebay:

bidding on vintage Christmas ornaments.  I started buying them last year and have taken quite a liking to them. 

Well, so much for getting a head start on the purchasing the ornaments this year-there are a lot of people out there bidding on them!  I want them to stop because I haven't been winning too many auctions.  I don't have the patience to monitor the auction like they do. 

But, I hope to add a few more to my collection-especially anything in gold and silver for my 15 ft. Christmas tree ( that I plan to have again this year).  Yikes........that's a lot of ornaments.

Last year I put the bright colored ornaments in glass bowls and on my other little tree.  There were a lot of great ideas in Country Living Magazine on displaying these ornaments in non-traditional ways.  I hope I can win so more-so if you see any at a good price be on the the lookout!

SHE WAS HERE......NOW SHE'S GONE

Camille was home this weekend.  Boy, the days blew by fast!  She has been in college for 5 months now and I can already see her maturing( or so I think).  Her best friend Nataly was also home this weekend from college in Atlanta.  And guess what.............I didn't even get to see Nataly.

I kept asking Camille when are you guys getting together and what do you have planned?  Well, the response I received was "nothing...........I am broke, tired, and have things I need to get done before I go back to school."  Am I hearing this right?!?!  She doesn't want to go out-she's not asking us for $$$$.  I think there is a little maturing going on!

All  the girls did was get together at each other's houses and that was it!  Friday night she was home by 11:30 p.m. and Saturday she didn't even go out at all.  She didn't try to go to the mall, the movies, or even Miami.  One of her friends from high school Stephanie has a condo on the beach and the girls didn't even want to go there.  They just wanted to be home!!!  Her cousin Eryn same story too...........so believe it when your told that they someday will grown up.

Here's a picture of one of Camille's friends from high school-Justin.  He goes to the same college as Camille and they hang out all the time.  This kid is a brain and he's got it going on!

This fellow organizes Sunday dinners at his apartment and is a good influence on Camille.  Hopefully, some of his magic will rub off on her.  They went to the Packers game yesterday before they returned to school.  It was so cute because Camille didn't really want to go to the game but she said she would go to support her dad!  Here's a picture of my 84 year old dad getting ready for the game:

Yesterday's game was another disappointment.  Here is a picture of a Dolphin fan after yesterday's game:

 

She's sad because her team is 1-6!  Yes, I said that right 1-6.  I have never been in this position before.............but I will continue to stay positive...............we have a bye this week so there will hopefully be some much needed rest, reflection, and recharging of the batteries!

FAMILY FUN

   

Today was a family day!  I thought  it would be a good time to have a get together since Camille and her cousin Eryn are home from college.  So on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, we all got together for a meal and to catch up.

Tomorrow's is another home game.  We play the Packers our former team.  Tomorrow's contest is a must win for the Dolphins.  We really need a win under our belt!!!  So if your out there reading this-say a little prayer for our team.  Go Dolphins!

A PERFECT DAY

This is what greeted me in my backyard this morning:

I cannot believe how beautiful these flowers are!  I also was fortunate to take these pictures at the Atlantic Ocean in Fort Lauderdale.  Beauty like this takes my breath away..............

Here's a fun picture also taken at the beach:

What can I say.....................A perfect day!!!! 

DIVA IN THE HOUSE

Today was a haircut day for Benzi and Jazzi!  I can only manage 2 doggies at a time for haircuts at the Groom Room. First the $50.00 price tag is pretty steep. Secondly I can barely manage 4 dogs at once going anywhere! 

Well, today was another adventure when Jazzi tried to go to the bathroom while sitting on my lab while I was driving.  Oh yes, she was at her finest.  Luckily, I had a a towel under her because she usually gets sick to her stomach.  I was fortunate to be pulling into my parking space when the diva pulled her latest stunt.  I was able to open the door and sit her on the ground before she completed her act!

When I went to pick her up two dogs were parking quite loudly and I asked Danny (the owner of the Pet Salon) who's dogs are those.  Danny laughed and informed me that they were mine.  I definitely didn't recognize Jazzi-Ms. McFizzle (my own dog).  She looked like she had lost 2 pounds.  Check out her before and after shots:

 

She definitely looks like a different dog-a dog who has been humbled.  She needs to be humbled after doing something naughty everyday for almost a week.  She doesn't care.............I think she believes she can out smart all of us.  Oh well, what else is new?!?!

Camille is coming home tommorrow. She'll be home for the weekend along with her best friend who is attending college in Atlanta.  Camille told me that she cannot wait to come home.  Can you imagine?  The home she couldn't wait to leave.  She recently told me "I miss having dogs."  Well, I bet you a thousand bucks that after they start bothering her when she is watching TV, she'll  be annoyed that they are in her way.  They will be so excited to see her that they will follow her around for the entire weekend.

Camille also requested that I make an appointment for her to have her hair done.  When I informed her that her appointment was at 7:00 a.m. she about lost her mind.  Imagine getting up early on a Saturday...............unheard of in the college world.  Well, I cheerfully offerred to cancel the appointment because what the heck-I can save my $130.00.  Yes, $130.00 to beautify the college girl!  You'd think she'd be grateful for such an appointment. Geez!  Thank goodness these appointment aren't needed often!

Tommorrow we are having our Christmas pictures taken!  Yes, Christmas pictures..........it that time again!  I already have my cards and my mailing list completed.  I vow to have things done earlier this year.  To enjoy sending out my 200 cards. LOL!  It really is a process-getting the list together and updated, attaching the pictures to the cards, addressing the envelopes, adding stamps & return address labels.  This takes time-believe me.  Now many people would say-how can you send cards to 200 people?  Easily....................2 sets of relatives, friends from all the places we have lived, and lastly coaching friends.  Charlie and I we have lived in 7 states so you meet a lot of people along the way.  Our coaching friends are constantly moving between teams so the XMAS list is always out-of-date!

We are trying something different with our pictures this year.  I will let it be a surprise.  Check out this photographer: TERI FODE.  I would love or photgraphs to look like hers.  Unfortunately, she is locate in California; but, it gives me some ideas for our photos.  I will tell you this-our 2006 photo is sure to take us out of our comfort zone................Stay tuned!

DREAM BIG

Only as high as I reach can I grow

Only as far as I seek I can go

Only as deep as I look I can see

Only as much as I dream can I be

                               Karen Raven

I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in uncommon hours.

                                              Henry David Thoreau

Dream as if you'll live forever.........

Live as if you'll die today

                       James Dean

What are your dreams today.............right now..............what do you want to accomplish that you have been putting off?  Does your dream seem out of reach?  Are you unsure how to accomplish your goals/dream?  The lack of direction stops most of us right in our tracks........

To achieve our dreams sometimes we don't know how to begin-or what steps to take.  The fear of failure.  Lack of motivation.  These obstacles are  often self-induced.  Sometime we are our own worst enemies.  Sometimes we just have to take a step.  Just one step towards our dreams...............Perhaps today-you will take your first step towards achieving your DREAMS!!!!

SOMETIMES WE STUMBLE

Yes, sometimes we stumbled.............through life, through moments, through time!  This morning I stumbled to my bathroom to grab my allergy medicine.  Oh no, not this again- head congestion and flu like symptoms.  Well, it is that time of year when my allergies decided to act up.  The weather here has been beautiful and nice to hang out outside.  But, guess who cannot do that unless she wants a terrible headache?

While this is Florida-we still have a somewhat change of seasons going on.  Michigan and Minnesota have already had snow flurries-we are now in the season of planting annuals like inpatients.  So, I am kinda thinking about getting my patio ready for "the season."  The season is when all the people from up North come to Florida to avoid the cold weather.  Restaurants, stores, everything is crowded, and there are ten times more drivers who cannot drive!!!! 

And speaking of driving, when my brother-in-law came up here to drive me around(during my recovery)-I almost had a nervous breakdown because he cannot drive.  He couldn't pay attention to the road-drove slow in the fast lane, didn't merge well with traffic, and when I would tell him to get over because our exit was coming up-it didn't register with him!!!!  I was going totally insane................risking my life every time he was behind the wheel!  What a girl won't do to get out of the house!

But seriously, if I stumble I will pick myself up and keep going.  I will see the glass as half full instead of half empty.  I will keep the faith when I take two steps back after I've taken one step forward.  I will surround myself with others who inspire.  I will cherish today because tomorrow is not promised.  So, if I stumble.........................I will find a way to see the forest for the trees..............I will be grateful for the little things everyday!