so this is waaaay old news now, but of course i need to document momma's spring break. i've been meaning to post this for a long long time. so here it finally is....i, again, headed to california for a long weekend (over a month ago now).
it was of course the perfect little getaway.....i flew in on a wednesday night and me, my aunt and cousins caught up over cocktails. the next few days were filled with nothing but girly time with my aunt and cousins.....shopping, mani/pedi's, drinking, eating, dancing, drinking and of course - ellen! yep, we headed back to warner brothers studios and it was another very unique experience!
drinks at ciao cristina's across the street from ellen's lot is thee best pre-party place. seriously. i even had a dream that told me so a few weeks prior. ha. the dude in there is james. i've obviously only been there on 2 thursdays, 11 months apart, but i'm pretty sure he works a lot. he's been our waiter both times and definitely hooks us up. he also gives us nicknames - mine is pooh bear, maybe cuz i drink fast - not real sure. ;)
none of us were able to get selected to participate in one of ellen's games this time because we were VIP!!
VIP still allowed us to receive any giveaways....and superb treatment. for realz. we got to check in at the very last minute, allowing us to turn right around and be first in line to be seated. however, roxanne's friend derek, an associate producer of ellen's, high-tailed the 4 of us away for a private tour! we had no idea how spoiled we were about to become and unfortunately had to leave our cameras in the car. we spent time in ellen's control room seeing how it all goes down and were able to talk with her producer, amy, for awhile. we walked past ellen's dressing room and the guest dressing rooms, but didn't get to go in as they were all occupied. but how fun would that have been....."hey ellen, remember me?!!" we did get to go into ellen's closet! i'm sure she hardly steps foot in there, but holy clothes. it's a closet we regulars only see on tv. ;) we then headed out on the quaint and immaculate lot......only to george clooney's and clint eastwood's bungalows! sayyyyy whaaaa?! we also met clint's squirrel, theodore. clint eastwood has trained theodore the squirrel to become somewhat house broken....he comes right in the offices on the lot and eats off the tables. we met him in derek's office when he jumped right up on ellen's old coffee table, the one she used to dance over. weeeeeee!
after talking with a camera man that was from IL, we were seated at the end of the row in the center section.....right behind where portia sits and in her dance row!!! yay! except.....she didn't dance! ugh. after a funny show (my cheeks hurt from smiling), derek came and grabbed us again to have ellen's photographer take our picture on her chair! we then got to go shopping at the ellen store - for cost!!! it was, yet again, an experience i will forever remember!
after we said goodbye to ellen, we headed to the city walk for some food and drinks at planet hollywood.
mimosas + patio +heidi = a fabulous way to start the day....and it happened to be the way we started every morning. this was friday morning before we headed out shopping....
lots of shopping, lunch and a picture of the silly bands my girls sent for their super aunt and cousins.
i'm pretty sure all day shopping with the girls should be doctor prescribed at least a few times a year.
it's just not the same online, by yourself or with your kids....
driving along the pacific coast for more shopping.....and um, we did good. it was definitely a day that we were in the "mood" for shopping! :)
saturday morning we headed to the fields to watch landon and drake play ball! they went 2-0! woot!
in between their games, we headed for mani's and pedi's. this was my favorite time of my little getaway. relaxing, girl talking, pampering and road soda'ing....cheers to that!
we indulged in pancake cupcakes from the streets of coto and headed back to the fields to show off our new nails...my aunt and i are the ones with the fun toes. :)
then....it was a night out....
errrr, uhhh....i enjoyed myself. and yes, yes you can do the roger rabbit on top of bar chairs.
we really let loose and had so much fun being carefree for a few hours....
we danced for no less than 5 hours....for real.
we were sweaty as all helk from it, but oh how i love hanging with my cali family!
sunday morning i hopped back on plane and raced to see my 3 loves! after the worst flight of my life thus far.....the WORST.....i was welcomed by my 3 favorite people and i don't know if i've been so happy! we were under the same roof once again.....e drew theodore the squirrel too, as i had told her about my new friend....
love my babies!!
as soon as we walked in it was back to the grind....and momma made dinner on the new plates i brought them from california....
always good to getaway. always better to come home.
"A good vacation is over when you begin to yearn for your work." ~Morris Fishbein
