Dear 2009. San Francisco, CA

Dear 2009,

You were quite the year.  It started in Miami, then back to my San Francisco, Vegas, LA, London, New York, Toronto, graduating from College, turning 23, living in Hayes Valley, soaking up the LA sunshine, making new friends, finding new interests, losing lovers, finding new ones and understanding that everything happens for a reason.

I'm very grateful for you 2009 and look forward to 2010.

Resolutions: read more, laugh more, love more.

Ugly X-Mas Sweaters Come Together. New Port Beach, CA

Considering how painful my hangover is today proves that last nights party was a great success.  After my new girlie friend and I picked up a cute boy party crew from Supra on Fairfax, we jetted down the 405 in the pouring rain and headed for New Port.

I've never been to an "ugly Christmas sweater party" but I'm always up for a themed event, especially when EVERYONE is decked out in red, green and gold polyester x-mas knits!

Great tunes blared from the iHome speakers, spiked orange cider was available for most of the evening and charming Christmas decor was thoughtfully placed through out the house.

Unfortunately, the cider made me sleepy so I decided to take an hour long power nap and woke up to some random party crasher chick sleeping next to me.  After she got the boot, the remaining ugly X-mas sweater wearers and I, dance partied to the song "Home" by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, about three or four times (who're playing tomorrow at The Mayan in LA).  Here are some photos from my very fun filled holiday party.

3rd Street Holiday Party. Los Angeles, CA

This evening 3rd Street, between La Cienega and Fairfax, had their annual holiday party.  I stopped by a couple of shops on Sweetzer & 3rd, munched on mini red velvet cupcakes and snapped photos with my Cannon G11 (very exciting).  My friends and I wondered into a quirky craft store called Hands-On 3rd.  They conduct craft workshops, have a small but unique collection of goodies for sale and rent out space to artists, all under one roof!
Here are some photos from my visit.