take one down pass it around

...99 bottles/pints of beer on the wall.

If I had kept all the beers bottles that hubs has drank from the day we moved into our new place, I'm sure it would exceed that number.

I'm also pretty sure that other husbands drink much more and this is probably not a number to boast about. But to me, it's a little new and I'm just now understanding why G has such a keen interest in it.

The latest craze of Craft Beers or Micro Beers has taken a whole new meaning.

Gone are the days of Miller Lite, Coors and Budweiser, the focus is now on the local breweries and/or small breweries producing the quality stuff.

The stuff that requires only 2 or 3 great tasting beers to make you feel the effects of what 6 or more beers of Budweiser or the like, will do to you.

This is the good stuff.

And I've taken part in it.

I've never been much of a beer drinker, but I've been sampling some of that good stuff that G has been bringing home.

I've also gone with him to a few breweries in San Diego which have been pretty cool to check out.

In the words of my sis-in-law, "it's like a big boy keg party."

...only you don't have to worry about the "party" getting broken up by the cops. lol!

There is usually a good crowd in a bar-like setting without the fluff, huge beer tanks and of course, drunk people. And unlike clubs and (some) bars, there isn't music blaring throughout nor is there a cover charge (gosh I hated those cover charges!).

Over the holidays, we set out to have a few beers at Port/The Lost Abby and Ballast Point.

So occassionally, I will have a weird craving for a beer and that taste.

Not bad, but I still love my wine!

2nd birthday of the year

At some point pretty soon, I'll lose track of the number of birthday we celebrate in 2012.

But because it's still early and it's still January, it's easy to count.

Today's celebrant was Camille's ballet classmate, Isabella, who turned the big three.

It was a lot of fun watching the girls run around and interact in a place other than in dance class.

Being in a different and more relaxed setting was a good time to get to know the parents of the girls as well. It is nice to know that these little girls, who Camille can potentially form future friendships with, come from good families and are being raised by good people.

Lots of fun today and boy was she pooped by the time we strapped her in the car seat.

It's 7 months away, but now I've got my wheels spinning for party ideas for Camille's 3rd.

Cute girlies!

thirteen

Happy Friday the 13th!

I'm sure you have a calendar and figured that out on your own. Duh!

I'm glad that nothing freaky or weird happened to me today.

But to be honest, I'm not superstitious when it comes to Friday the 13th.

Or the number 13 in general. I'm actually partial when it comes to the number 13.

G's birthday falls on the 13th.

The first letter of my name is M- the 13th letter of the alphabet.

(same with my mom & all my sisters)

13 is the beginning of the adolescent years. (good and bad thing)

13 is the number of people sitting at The Last Supper.

13 is a rather pretty number if you look at it long enough. Haha!

Good thing I wrote this at the end of the day, in fear of jinxing myself.

summer in January

While the sunshine is nice, I'm a little bored.

Weather conditions in Southern California are practically summer-like all year long.

We are in the month of January and it has been 65+ and sunny for the past 2 months!

We need rain!

I want to make use of my pea coats and boots.

Our mountains are in need of snow!

I want to enjoy our upcoming trip to Mammoth in the white fluffy powder, not in dirt and ice.

Caesar

I didn't care much for "Planet of the Apes" when the movie was released in 2001 and I never did watch it. Gorillas, apes, monkeys and the like walking around, and especially talking, kind of freaked me out.

Fast forward 10 years (!) and the prequel to that movie came out mid last year.

Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Over the holidays G & I had a chance to watch it and I instantly became a fan!

Thanks to James Franco! (ummm, hello sexy)

If you haven't seen it and/or you don't have a phobia of hairy human-like creatures, I would recommend it. It's not too sci-fi and futuristic like Planet of the Apes was.

And yes, I ended up renting Planet of the Apes after all and watching it. Besides, another sexy starred in that movie as well, so that made it easier to watch.

Well, Caesar is the name of the main ape (character) in the movie and I grew emotionally attached to him. Without getting into much detail and giving the movie away, Sexy takes Caesar into his home and raises him as his own pet/child. It's really quite touching.

The reason for the title of this post is because our dog, Cloie, has taken on a new nickname.

Cloie is our beloved Caesar. She just doesn't walk around on her hind legs. Or attack!

am workout

I don't know how I did it, but I did!

I got up and completed a morning workout.

Maybe it was the doubt that G had in me: being able to wake up early enough to get it done.

Maybe it was because I sat on my ass yesterday from the time I got home to CJ's bedtime.

Maybe it was the french fries and ice cream I had earlier in the day.

Or maybe it's because I just need to get it done!

Well it was done and I will attempt to do it again soon.

I just can't promise it can be a regular thing.

I am not a morning person.

Well, I am not a morning, work out person, that is!

never grow up

A music artist that so many young (and older) gals can look up to, I've always admired Taylor Swift and her success. But other than hearing her songs on the radio a few times, I never listened or paid much attention to much of her music until recently. A few months ago I bought her latest album (which is over a year old already) and I have really enjoyed it.

But probably not as much as Camille...one song in particular.

"Never Grow Up" has become the nightly lullaby for Camille.

We do the routine of changing her into her pj's, brushing her teeth & reading a book.

Once the light goes off, we lay there in the dark together until I hear:

"I want to hear Never Grow Up".

So of course, I break out my phone and I play it to her heart's content.

When I first heard this song, I'll admit, my eyes welled up and tears were flowing.

It is such a sweet song about not growing up too fast and not taking childhood for granted.

Really, it can pertain to anyone of any age.

I'm glad that Camille has taken a liking to it, and I think soon enough she too will understand the meaning of the song. She is even slowly learning the lyrics.

But I never want her to grow up.

It's happening too fast. :(