~ Bonnie Hunt ~

Oh my goodness, today is a day that will go down in the books as one of my most favorite days!! I got to go to a taping of Bonnie Hunt's new talk show! I have been trying to get tickets since she started a couple of weeks ago, and I have been faithfully watching her talk show every day. I have been a big fan of Bonnie and have been following her career since I was little! One of my favorite Bonnie movies was Return to Me, which is one of my favorite movies of all time. Did you know that she wrote the screenplay and directed it? She's so talented (enter Bonnie Chicago accent.) :) 

So I get this phone call this weekend from my dear Aunt Karen (who is also a Bonnie fan) and she got tickets to today's show for us! Needless to say, we cancelled our plans, worked around our work/school schedules and went. We had such a fun little group: Auntie Karen, her friend Sandy (j'adore her by the way) me, and my mom!!! We had such an amazing time. Bonnie's studio (look at me talking like I know her) is at the Culver City Studios, and it was so fun to be at cute downtown Culver City... Bonnie just fits right in there. We were among the first in line for the show this afternoon, AND the best part...we got front row seats!!!! I think they could tell how huge of Bonnie fans we were so they put us right in front. :) The show was amazing... Amy Brenneman from Private Practice was on and so was Josh Kelly. They gave each of us the first season of Private Practice on DVD which was really fun too. Bonnie came into the audience a lot, we were inches from her... it was just so exciting! 

Her set is so neat. She is inspired by Dean Martin in so many ways and it shows in her amazing set. She has a grand piano, warm colors and charming family photos on the walls. We have lots of fun pictures too! In fact, we might have gotten a little carried away. We were taking pictures all around the lot... by the Culver Studios service trucks, the houses, and even ON the golf carts that the pages drive around. We also tracked down her make-up artist and got a picture with her. We even got "escorted" out by one of the staff members. oops! ;) I'll post the pictures when I get them from my dear Auntie. 

So it was such a fun day, one of the best actually. I was surrounded by my most favorite people and it was just incredible. Needless to say, we made friends with all of the interns, pages, and even the producer Don who I love on the set too. They really know how to treat their audience members there, and I love that. They gave us yummy hot dogs and root beer before the show too... I felt like I was in Bonnie's living room in Chicago. I was already too much of a Bonnie fan before I went, and seeing her live did not disappoint, I don't think I could love her any more. She was kind, sweet, and down right hysterical as usual. 

So, my faithful blog readers, I'm obsessed with her. I'm convinced that one day I will meet Bonnie and we'll go out to lunch. She is not only makes me laugh, but she is truly inspiring to me. She's definitely on my list of people to meet in my lifetime. All the way home I was telling my mom about all of the ideas that I had about bringing something to her next time we go to the show. And we will be back for sure! Actually one of the friends that we made there at the show today told us that if we come back we'll be VIP guests, so Lord knows that I won't miss out on that opportunity! 

Good times had by all. Thanks Bonnie! We had a ball! Please tune in to her show on NBC at 12:00 noon during the week. Trust me, it will be such a highlight of your day. 

They're Back!!

In my previous post of all of the things I love about fall, I failed to mention what I am looking forward to most... my shows are back!!! NBC has been advertising this week as "National Stay at Home Week" which I think is funny, and quite fitting. I for one will be glued to the screen tonight to tune in to see what is going on with the cast of Grey's and see what will happen at Seattle Grace in the 2 hour premiere. Tonight, September 25th, I have absolutely no plans of being productive or furthering my education... I will be drinking tea, eating popcorn and taking in the glory that is Grey's! 

Welcome Fall

Today is the first day of fall, and I would like to say welcome to my favorite season! I just love the start of a new season. Not only is it a fresh start, but it's symbolic of the changing seasons of life too. Today is a day that marks a new beginning and a new season, and I love that! Fall and winter are my two favorite seasons and I am excited for my favorite half of the year to begin! 

To commemorate the new season, here are five things that I look forward to about Fall... 

1.) Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Starbucks. Really, is there anything better? 

2.) Leaves changing. I know that we live in CA, but there are still amazing maple trees that change beautiful shades of fall colors. 

3.) The word "crisp." Don't you just love that word? And it only seems to surface in the fall when people describe the weather. 

4.) Cool weather! I love cold weather and I am so ready for it after a warm summer. Time to break out the sweaters and fall clothes! 

5.) New beginnings. This is the season that I will be making decisions! Big ones, small ones, career ones. But all... one step at a time. 

So welcome fall! I am so happy to officially see you, and I welcome you with open arms! 

Happy Birthday Thia!

Happy Birthday to my dear Thia Karen! I am so excited because today I get to pay tribute to her not only because it's her birthday, but because she is an incredible woman. I can't say enough about her on every other day of the year too! :) My aunt is kind, generous, hysterical, beautiful (inside and out) and has the biggest heart of anyone I know. She loves people deeply, and I love that about her. She has a million trillion friends and truly values each of them. I respect her so much and I am so incredibly blessed to have grown up with such a great rolemodel in my life. I can always count on her to cheer me up on a rough day. For those of you who know me well, I can rarely tell a story without it starting with "oh my gosh, my aunt karen..." She is not only an incredibly auntie, but I can honestly say that she is one of my very best friends!! I LOVE spending time with her whether it's going out and doing something fun, or staying in and watching movies. She is not only a great auntie, she is a wonderful mother. She has raised two of the most amazing boys. Travis and Chad are like brothers to me and I am so thankful to her for her incredible job with them. People often tell me, "oh you look so much like karen" or "wow, your mannerisms are so similar" and I say thank you thank you thank you! She is an incredible role model and I only hope to grow up to be more like her. Happy Birthday Thia, I love you with all my heart. 

We're Off!

Well, we're off to our first Greek Wedding of the family! My cousin, Travis is getting married on Saturday and I could not be more thrilled for him. All of my life, I never thought that there would be anyone that would be worthy of marrying my "brothers"! However, I must say that when Ashlyn came into our lives, she came into our hearts too. I could not be more supportive and happy for them. I am so excited to see them get married, and I am even more excited to welcome Ashlyn into our family with open arms. Welcome to the big, fat Greek family Ash, we could not be more thrilled. We're not only going to be friends forever, we're family! :) 

So, we're all off for the weekend! Tonight is the rehearsal dinner and tomorrow is the WEDDING! Here's to a fun filled weekend, and I'm bringing lots of tissues! 

Pearls of Wisdom

Well, I must say that today was a day of good, and very timely I might add, advice! One of my favorite actresses, Bonnie Hunt, has a new talk show, and needless to say I tuned in to watch her first episode this afternoon. It's a cute show with an "old hollywood, Dean Martin" feel to it which I love. It was great, and her first guest (aside from Robin Williams) was her little 8 year old niece, who inspired her theme and intro for the show. Bonnie was talking to her about school and the advice that she had given her since she was a little girl. Bonnie looked right into the camera and says (in her midwestern charm of course)...

"Honey, you don't need no homework... you got talent." 

This wonderful advice, not only had me laughing, but it cut right to the heart! After all of these nights cramming for exams, finishing projects and applications, I thought YES! Bonnie is right, I don't need no homework, I've got talent! :) I love this. 

It also reminded me of the wonderful, and hysterical I might add, advice that my dear Thia has reminded me of lately... "It doesn't matter if one person doesn't like us, because there are a hundred more that do!!!"  :) 

Thanks Thia, and thanks Bonnie. Fun pearls of wisdom that I will treasure always!