Wishing for favorite summer things

Today I sit here and write to you, longing for summer. That must sound crazy as your probably sitting in a heat wave begging for air conditioning. Well you can borrow some of ours because San Francisco has been cold all week. Cold like I'm asking myself, "Which scarf should I wear today" or "Is this coat too much?" Weatherman says San Francisco will warm up soon as typically September is our summer, but brrrr sweetie! So let's look at some of my favorite summer things and try to encourage the warmth. OK?

Watermelon has to be one of my most fav summer things. I love how it has just a hint of flavor, the green and red color and the crisp cool feeling in my mouth after I've taken a bite.

Spinning has to be one of my most wonderful things...letting go during the heat and spinning.

My prescription sunglasses save me during the summer because I have the worst eyesight. I was in second grade when I got my first pair of E.T. reading glasses. Think that's funny then imagine when I upgraded my next pair to mother of pearl!



Ice cream sandwiches seem to make everything in my life OK. When I bite into the yummy goodness, I forget about how hot it is outside and how sticky my dress feels against my back.



Summer sandals free my feet and help cool me down. I swear I'd like to sleep in the pair I just bought in Italy. The Italian leather, the unique shape and design...oh my.



During the summer one of my favorite things is to walk barefoot in the grass and watch the warm sunlight through the trees. Today in San Francisco all I can do is pull my boots up and try to see through the fog. Kidding lovelies... well not really. I can't wait to hear about your most favorite things to do during this summer...

How do I become a Pinup girl?

So my secret is finally out...can you help me fulfill my life long dream of becoming a Pinup girl? Where do I sign up and pose like one of these lovely vixen ladies? There's always been something so strong and sexy about Pinup girl's poses. And I love these modern day pics with a twist...get ready to let me know which Pinup girl is your fav sweetie.

Pinup girl rocker chick: Her hair matches the couch. Her short bangs, sultry guitar holding and purple backyard makes for a very strong picture.

These Pinup girl boots are amazing. Could I wear these boots during my Pinup girl photo shoot?

Pinup car girl: This shot feels very innocent due to her pose and feminine bathing suit and yet she still has that come hither look.

I'd love to wear one of these retro designed bathing suits. I think the middle one is my favorite!



With the above Pinup boots I think I might wear this retro apron. Wait do you think its a little much?

Pinup peek-a-boo: Who doesn't like a hometown girl with a surprise.

Just stunning!

Pinup office girl: She looks very serious, but we know she's a fashionistas with those boots and pearls.



That was fun! Why do I now feel the need to put some curlers in my hair and lather on some red lipstick? So have you decided where I can do my Pinup pics? No, well OK. I'll settle to hear about which Pinup girl is your favorite...

Call me George Clooney! movie review

I must admit to you that George Clooney is one of my favorites. There’s something so charming, elegant and cheeky about him that makes me enjoy him on screen. To make my crush worse, in real life he is supposed to be a huge practical prankster that lives life to the fullest. Now that I got that off my chest, time for my movie review. You have to go and see his new movie, Up in the Air. If you loved the rawness and sarcasm of Juno and the realness of the characters then run, don’t walk, to the movie theater.

George Clooney plays the character Ryan Bingham who is in love with his job. Ironically his joy for his job is at other peoples expenses. His company is hired by other companies to fly around the country and fire their employees. Ryan seems to have a narcissist peace by not being tied down, living out of a suitcase and racking up frequent flier miles.

Before flying out to an assignment, I enjoyed watching Ryan pack his suitcase with army like precision. And his reasoning for choosing which people to stand behind in the security check point is hilarious. When his protégé Natalie joins him on the road to learn his job, he shakes his head at her choice of pulley suitcase. One of my favorite scenes is when Ryan takes Natalie to the closest airport suitcase store and encourages her to repack in a new suitcase. Frustrated, he throws out her neck pillow and bed pillow.

And just like in Juno there are hidden meanings to the movie about our economy and relationships. As you watch Ryan fire people you are reminded that they have mortgages, families, responsibilities and feelings. And then I wondered how Ryan can do this…for a living? As you get to know his character more, we discover his life is in the air, with no real ties to earth.

I enjoyed the twists and turns of this movie. The moviegoer feels connected to the characters and can relate the story to their own lives. Plus I felt inspiration to call my loved ones and appreciative of my job. Most people are going to see a little movie called Avatar, but try and see this little gem of a movie Up in the Air. Oh and George…I’m here anytime to discuss your work. Call me?

Gift ideas and guest post from Birthday Girl

Hi everybody! Birthday Girl here. Thanks Laura for inviting me to post today! I’m very excited to share some unique gift ideas with you. With so many friends getting married, having babies and celebrating birthdays these days, I’m always on the lookout for that special something… a gift that speaks to someone’s personality and gives them a sense of surprise and delight. When possible, I like to support independent business owners too, which is what brought me to the Renegade Craft Fair in San Francisco last weekend. Here are a few favorites of the many fabulous items I discovered…

For your next wedding or bridal shower, consider Whitney Smith’s beautiful pottery. Her bird cake plates and lotus nesting bowls have captured my heart. What better way to highlight your prettiest meals than by serving them up with a work of art?

Dee & Lala are a perennial favorite of mine for their darling letterpress cards. What I didn’t know is that they also make prints. For a mom to be, a set of 4 framed woodland critters would make a sweet addition to the nursery. Or, how about a ‘peaclock’ for that stylish girlfriend? A fresh and modern addition to her home office.

For the crafty DiY’er, turn to My Imaginary Boyfriend. This tree stump pin cushion actually makes me want to learn to sew, and the make your own birch log kit is hilariously irreverent. It also makes a great gift for your earth friendly pals, as does the pretty purple tote bag if you want to dress up her next trip to the farmers market.

For a milestone birthday, how about a journal to record the year from Jill Bliss? She carries a solid line of feminine notebooks, stationary and prints with sketches of native flowers in warm, modern colors. The fabric covered notebook is extra handy for crafters with storage to hold your pencils and scissors. Also, I just love her latest addition of dainty floral fabric necklaces.

Last but not least, Bird Mafia has a wonderful assortment of cute gifts for kids. The animal themed blocks, menders (I don’t know what they are but I like them) and accent pillows are all handmade and stitched. Unfortunately, their etsy store seems a little low on items today, but check back after the holidays because there were lots of clever kid and home goods in their booth at the fair.

Thanks for taking the time to let me share with you today. I hope you found something that fits the bill your next gift giving occasion! Also, if you live in the SF Bay Area, I highly recommend a visit to Renegade when they head back to town next summer. It’s free to browse and there’s definitely something for everyone. B.G.

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Thank you to B.G. for this wonderful guest post showcasing these unique gift idea in my very own backyard. Check out her blog Birthday Girl for more lovely posts.

Top Under the Sheets-shhh posts of 2009

I am very excited to share with you the top posts of Under the Sheets-shhh of 2009. One of my lovely followers recently told me that I come up with unique posts that have a creative, positive and humorous flair. Thank you for the lovely compliment. I hope you enjoy or enjoy again some of these posts. I can't wait to write more...
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1) Can I ask you something? When did I change from being called a Miss to a Ma'am? But I think that the bigger question is how am I supposed to accept being called a Ma'am gracefully…Can I Tweet the Question Ma’am vs. miss?

2) Drum roll please…my plans over the next year is to let you in on my life more and share with you my present day experiences. I would love to combine my two loves of writing with the lifestyle pictures. How does this sound to you my lovelies…Happy Blogaversary to Under the Sheets-shhh

3) Has the following ever happened to you? You’re looking over the dinner menu at a restaurant and your eyes skim right over the entrées and skip to the dessert section. When the waitress comes to take your order, all you want to do is skip dinner and eat dessert. Words like chocolate mousse…Chocolate addicts unite

4) I was recently reading a woman's magazine where they did an interview with Courtney Cox. It was a good interview, but what struck me was how she answered the question, “What makes you feel sexy and feminine?” She answered that she feels feminine when her legs are shaved…What makes you feel feminine?

5) After a long day at work, your honey calls to say that he’ll be home for dinner soon. Oh, and he’ll be bringing some of his co-workers who are visiting from out of town. Don’t get your knickers all in a bunch. For dinner, you can make these quick and easy recipes that will make you the perfect hostess…Quick and easy 'cheap and cheerful' recipes

6) Do older women and younger men relationships work? Trust me they do. In fact, I'm marrying a younger man as Honey and I are one of those couples. Shocked…Older women with a younger man?

7) I agree with the concept, that some people love to fly through a party and effortlessly mingle with every partygoer. I am a self-proclaimed social butterfly, who makes sure that everyone is having a good time at a party and feeling comfortable... Social butterfly inspiration

8) San Francisco the weather has changed. Right now our nights are cooler then New York and our days are bright and brisk. After I tweeted, I secretly like it when its cooler a friend wrote back, "You can take the girl out of Canada"! This is so true. I am loving these warm, cozy retro pictures. All I want are some fuzzy socks, tomato soup and hot chocolate. So bundle up and enjoy...Baby, it’s cold outside

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Sweetie that was fun! I can't wait to read your new comments on these posts. Do you have a favorite one? I do. Can you guess which one it is? I'll give you a hint...I wish people still called me Miss. Have a wonderful day!

City Christmas window shopping

The holidays are some of my favorite times of the year because of the warmth and lights. I just wish we could celebrate all year round with the same spirit. So I grabbed my camera and went to a couple of cities to share with you some lovely city Christmas window shopping displays.

I loved the warmth of the colors, lights and maybe just maybe we can try some of their cake?

New York display of LV

Amazing window display at New York's Lord & Taylor...I would definitely stop to take a look closer, wouldn't you?

Hold on as I touch up some of my makeup. A girl has to look good even while window shopping!

Stopping for some bubbly is always a good idea just for your tired feet. Can you save some for me?

Ah the famous Christmas window display at the Macy's in San Francisco's Union Square.



I loved this picture of registry plates at Macy's. So festive, but not too over the top.

This is one of my favorite tree displays in Union Square in Neiman Marcus.

That was fun and thank you for coming with me on some virtual Christmas window shopping. I loved shopping without the crowds. Happy holidays to you and to your family! Which city do you love during the holidays?

My favorite teacher

Why do certain teachers stay in your heart, no matter how many years go by? Teachers salaries are usually paid in hope for their student's futures. Also teachers stay in our memories and help shape the people we become. My favorite teacher, Mrs. Katz, taught me when I was ten years old. She seemed to reach into me and pull out my thoughts that were needed to succeed. She also touched all of the other children in my class.

Every day, I looked forward to seeing Mrs. Katz. She was young, stylish and never talked down to us. I would try to sit at the front of the class and reach my hand, high into the sky, to answer her questions. Yes, I was that kind of student. She was my favorite and I looked up to her.

I remember one day, her fifth grade class noticed she was gaining weight.

My classmates and I, had serious huddle talks and debated whether Mrs. Katz was just gaining weight or maybe pregnant. We tried in our ten year old selves, to tactfully hope she was just gaining weight because otherwise we could lose our favorite mentor.

My classmates chose me to ask Mrs. Katz about her sudden weight gain. We were all nervous about her response. Mrs. Katz stood at the front of the class and finished her lesson. I walked over to my teacher and blurted out, “Mrs. Katz are you pregnant?” and to my surprise she said, "Yes." And the entire class clapped for her.

When the dust settled, the class realized we could be losing her. Soon, she would go on maternity leave and we wondered if she would return to our school.

After she had her baby, Mrs. Katz left our school, but brought her baby to meet us. And do you know what I heard her tell her new daughter? That we were her favorite fifth grade class. Thank you Mrs. Katz. Tell me, what was your favorite teachers name?