This Post is a little late but then again, so am I at creating this blog! Shep and I are so proud to announce the Grand Opening of the "Alexander Imports Mini Cooper Building"! This has been a very long time in the making. If I had a dollar (or even a nickel) for every time over the past 6 1/2 years I was told "Once the new building opens...", I would be very rich and finally it's here.
I am so proud of the Alexander family. The Grand Opening was fantastic. The parking lot was full of crazy mini customers, dueling radio stations, the auctioning off of concert/sports tickets, food trucks,friends, family and even puppies!
The Alexanders did not miss a beat when putting this event together.
I had the honor of helping them design their new "Mini Customer Lounge" and the grand opening was the perfect opportunity to show it off to everyone. It was so cool to see people sitting in the space I had created....hanging out at the media bar, sitting on the plush leather couches, playing the vintage "Galaxian" arcade game, watching the dueling flat screen TV's and resting their cups of coffee on the engine block coffee table (made form scratch). The new building is so industrial, so modern, so chic and we are all so happy it's here! The New York Praskin's, The Nor Cal Praskin's and Grandma June sent this beautiful potted plant to congratulate their "newish" family and it was such a beautiful gesture and was very much appreciated. xo -e

Ok so, I might have gotten a little carried away at the Santa Monica Farmers Market with Emily!! The flower vendors had the most amazing selections. I am obsessed with flowers and flower arrangements. I always have to have fresh bouquets all throughout the house! The farmers market is the best place to do this because of the prices. I got the most amazing peach blossoms for only $6 bucks!! When we got married and I registered, Shep would yell at me every time a gift came in the mail because it was always another vase! He would say "if I don't get my steak knives and we get another vase, I'm outta here!"...he was joking of course because we never got the steak knives and I have the most amazing collection of vases ;)
I put the most beautiful roses, that I bought from the cutest old man, in my new flower pot vase that my mother just sent me. Mixing flowers with chachkies on a shelf, really make the whole room come alive. I also bought some pea shoots. They are so beautiful and taste amazing. I just threw them in a pan with a little olive oil, sea salt, love and they were fantastic! They have this amazing nutty flavor. If you have not tried them...do it immediately! If your lucky when you go to by them, they will still have the little white blossoms on them...leave them on, it looks gorgeous when you serve them! XO -E

This past weekend Shep and I decided to get out of the Southbay. We went to the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena and then to the Huntington Library's Botanical Gardens. Shep had us start at the 14th century and them move up to the 20th century, so that we could watch the progression of the art. We saw some amazing pieces by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Diego Rivera, Edgar Degas, Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne and Paul Gauguin. It is a beautiful museum. Shep was in heaven walking around reading all of the little plaques everywhere, showing off his biblical knowledge and comparing and contrasting the works of art from all the different centuries. I was just concentrating on trying to be light on my feet and not click my heels too loud because the echo was very embarrassing! Always wear flats to a museum! The Huntington Gardens were amazing. The property—originally nearly 600 acres—today covers 207 acres, of which approximately 120 are landscaped and open to visitors. More than 14,000 different varieties of plants are showcased in more than a dozen principal garden areas. We sat out front and had a picnic...white wine, salami, cheese, a baguette and tiny little cheesecakes for dessert. We walked the grounds and went from feeling like you were in a dessert, then in Japan, China, Alice and Wonderlands Rose Garden, a Rain Forrest, etc... The next group that comes to visit us is definitely getting taken on this museum/garden tour of Pasadena. The next day we went to Dim Sum in China town and then to a Dodger vs Giants baseball game with our friends Tom and Emily. Dim Sum was so tasty, I have not stopped thinking about it and could eat shrimp toast and dumplings everyday (I'm pretty sure I get my appetite and love for food from my father!). Shep always makes fun of me because of my love for food. I love ordering and designing what the table will look like with all the dishes on it, picking out what will go with what and then getting to eat it!!! Dim Sum is perfect for this. We had tea and beers and lots of meat shoved in rice paper...it was fantastic!

We showed up at Dodger stadium, only to find out that our tickets (that were going to have us sit right behind home plate),
were for Saturday...not Sunday! So we bought new tickets in the nose bleed section, got $13 bud lights, lemon ice's and watched the Dodgers win!! Manny Ramirez came in as a pinch hiter and hit a home run for the win, the entire stadium was on its feet and screaming... I love baseball games.
We had such an inspirational couple of days exploring our home town and experiencing things for the first time, that were just right under our noses. XO -E

Welcome!

I thought it was only appropriate to have our first posting welcome you to our home. I thought I would do this by sending you all some flowers from our very own front yard. For those of you who have been here... Welcome Back! For those of you who have never been to visit us, this is our home, Welcome! It is officially spring here in Hermosa Beach, which means our front yard looks more beautiful than ever. Shep and I joke and refer to our home as "Grandma's House". We have an arched entryway with purple flowers, white roses, purple roses and a stained glass Tulip window...and we love all of it!
As long as I don't try to garden, everything stays alive and continues to bloom every year. I am however going to try to plant a "Jade" tree ( I don't know if I can call it a tree if its only six inches tall), that Shep and I bought over the weekend and I will keep you all posted on how that goes...my guess is not so well. Poor Jade Tree! Doomed before it even had a chance. I look forward to this new adventure of "blogging" and hope that you all enjoy keeping tabs on us! Please excuse me now for my awful spelling and grammar.
xo -e