Okay, I know I know...Earth Day was Tuesday, April 22nd. That being said...of course there were Earth Day celebrations going on the weekend before. And me...being an art lover...lauralovesART, you know...I decided to check out the art on the beach at Stinson Beach.

Yesterday I went to the Legion of Honor Museum in San Francisco with my two kids, Nick (age 21) and Alexandra (age 19). We went to see the Annie Leibovitz exhibit.

It was a wonderful clear and sunny San Francisco day. I got a bit lost coming and going, but not too bad overall.

I found the exhibit facinating. There are so many snippets of our life and times displayed in Annie Leibovitz's photographs. They were divided between black and white and color photography. There was also a five minute film giving you an overview of her life and work. One of the most facinating things I learned about Annie was that she did not have her first child until the age of 51, followed 3 1/2 years later by a set of twins!

The photos I most enjoyed were her family photos showing her children, her parents, her sister. Then there were the celebrity photos! Demi Moore nude and pregnant, Leonardo Di Caprio with a swan, the one of Jack Nicholson golfing in his bathrobe gave everyone a laugh! The photo of Nicole Kidman was stunning. Another favorite was The White Stripes, where Meg lays serenely and happily tied to a spinning wheel while Jack prepares to toss a throwing knife at her while looking in the other direction!

There are a few large scale landscapes, one in particular the kids and I loved was of a misty forest. I thought how nice it might be to have that on a wall at home, then thought no, it's a bit spooky really!

Annie Lebovitz is an artist. Not with a brush or with clay but with a camera. Her pictures have edge and soul and you get a deep sense of her subjects. Nudity is a common element or theme in her photos.

Now to Miley Cyrus. I love the photo of Miley Cyrus. I think she looks fresh and beautiful. She is the essence of a girl on the brink of womanhood. The photo may have caused a bit of controversy, but there is no doubt in my mind that Miley will be proud to have been photographed by Annie Leibovitz and proud to display that photo for the rest of her life. I know Miley is a role model for lots of little girls, I see them in their t-shirts and with their backpacks all over school. Yes, it seems a bit improper at first. But I asked my daughter, Alexandra, how she felt about it and she said, "If she were wearing a backless gown that covered the same amount nobody would have said a thing about it." I think she's right. And, it's art. Period.

Would I have let my daughter, Alexandra, pose that way when she was 15? Probably not, unless the photographer was Annie Leibovitz!

I had a super fabulous March!  It started out with photo shoots with The Angela’s and Monique and their kids for my website, thesmartmomsnetwork.com.  I got some great photos!  I love them! 

I think the next big thing was The Mustard Festival Marketplace!  I went with my girls, Angela C., Holly, and Alix!  we had sooo much fun eating and drinking...especially angela who kepts asking for double pours!  lol...

later that same night we went to the opening of The Bell Jar...a new boutique in san francisco...they had free appetisers and absinthe...very kool little place...i bought a fabulous chandelier ring...but i gave it to alexandra...after the store opening we went to a little tapas place across and down the street and had some great food and fun!

Next Jeremy came from Arizona on the 16th...i saw him on sunday and we went to his friend kenny’s bar and had some drinks...no more yeager for me!  yikes...i know better too!  then on wed we drove out to the sonoma valley and went wine tasting...we went to three different wineries...the first one was pelligrini...so funny...we walked up...and okay...its mid week and they dont get as much traffic as say the napa valley...so...there are these 12 foot high double doors and jeremy goes to open the door and it won’t open...and he’s like...huh...are they closed?  then i see this little yellow walkie talkie hanging from some fishing line from the handle...and i look over and there is a little sign saying...use walkie talkie for wine tasting...and i start laughing...and jeremy is like...wtf?  so he picks it up and says...hellooo?  and i am getting hysterical...there is no answer...so then he says...wine tasting?  and finally we hear some sort of static-y answer...and by now i am laughing so hard i am crying!  lol...  so the guy does come and open up for us and is really really nice...he remembers jeremy who hasn’t been there in two years since he moved...i mean he really remembers him...what he does...what wines he bought there...etc...and he let us try allll their wines...i really liked the reserve chard!  so that was kind of quirky and fun...then we went to a couple of other places...bought some wine at the last one...a reisling...  he was trying to get a room at his time share in windsor...but they were booked so we ended up at the one in clear lake...ate dinner...rented a movie...freedom writers...great room...fireplace...kitchen...the next day we walked out by the lake and out onto a pier...extremely beautiful but windy!  we got locked out of the time share gate and had to coerce someone to let us back in!  so sooo pretty...bluegreen water...green hills...blue sky!

jeremy is back in arizona...i really missed him for a few days after he left...after spending so much time together...he may come down again over summer break...

so next was Tea and Tweezers...alexandra and i picked up alix and we went to angela’s...angela had surpised us and made a lovely lunch...she had awesome egg salad with tarragon mustard and arugula!  all cut in little triangles!  also she had strawberries and i had brought some muffins so we had quite a feast...along with wine...bonny doon...pinot gris i think?  yumm...  next alexandra and i plucked their eyebrows and they looked fantastic...very chic...  then we went over to the Numi Tea House in Oakland and had tea and cheese and cookies, etc...fell in love with the berried treasure ice tea and bought some!  fun day!

over my spring break I met with my web developer, Carson Black, Sacramento Web Develpment, and we talked about the site.  I was a bit disappointed that it wasn’t farther along, but i think we ironed out a few details and he planned to have a demo version ready for testing by the following sunday!  A meeting i think will take about an hour seems to get away with me with carson somehow...i was there almost three hours!  we met in this great coffee house in dixon halfway between the two of us...they have a back room all set up for people with lap tops!

I spent a good part of my spring break installing a new faucet in my bathroom.  It was leaking badlyyy.  Nick and Alexandra both helped.  Along with advice from the internet and Ace Hardware.  Took about 3 or 4 days...but its done and looks great and i didnt have to pay a plumber!  I probably spent a total of $60 for parts and tools which im sure would have cost at leasttt $200.

The last event of the month was Earth Hour.  Earth Hour takes a worldwide stand against the greatest threat our planet has ever faced...global warming...on March 29th  from 8-9 PM i turned off all the electricity in the house at the breaker box and we ate dinner by candlelight...jessica joined us in preparation for a wii tournament.  I made mango salsa chicken breasts and sauteed asparagus and yellow squash...it was yummy...alexandra said, "who needs to go to a five star restaurant?"...

so that was my March...april will be fantastic too...the website will launch...going to the alice 3 minute film festival...and norell’s napa culinary institutes chef’s tasting menu lunch with wine! it’s alexandra’s birthday and mine too!  i can’t wait!

well it wont let me post it...but im currently listening to the dresden dolls...the kill...love it!

and im stilllll reading a new earth finding your purpose in life...im about halfway through it...and i bought a new book at barnes and nobles last night...well nick bought it for me with his discount actually...lol...but it’s the backdoor to enlightenment - eight steps to living your dreams and changing your world by za rinpoche and ashley nebelsieck.

What a week! 

Tuesday...Went to a fantastic show at Little Minsky's with Angela C.  It was just amazing, every performer was incredibly talented and even though we had to stand through most of it we couldn't take our eyes off the stage!  It was really too much fun!  We will especially never forget tigger!  And I really  loved the singers!  and the burlesque and the twirling artist!  I did take a couple of pics but the digital was dead so i used a disposable and will have to wait to finish the roll to develop... 

Wednesday...went to small claims court to file my case against Movizine / Dave Cook.  The court case is April 24th...two days before my birthday...won't that be a nice birthday present to see justice served?!

Thursday...Valentines Day...well i was nobody's little weasel (Amelie) this year...but I did work and we were busy so at least I made decent money.

Saturday...I go the estimate and sent off my deposit check to Carson Black to build the website!  woo!  It wont be long now until I'm in business!

and it's a three day weekend for me too!  woo! 

It's been a good week...yes yes...

i dont know why but i felt like listing some of my favorite things/products...ill add more to this as they occur to me...

1.  Crest Vanilla Mint Toothpaste

2.  Glide Dental Floss

3.  Pantene Shampoo/Condioner Sheer Volume

4.  Chai Tea Latte

5.  Coca~Cola

6.  Mary Kay Cosmetics (for skincare and makeup)

7.  Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream - Fragrance Free

8.  Bottled Water (usually arrowhead) with lemon juice added.

9.  Dove Beauty Body Wash for Sensitive Skin

10.  Mary Kay Timewise Visably Fit Body Lotion

11.  Pink Magazine

12.  Paul Mitchell Soft Sculpting Spray Gel

13.  Paul Mitchell Freeze and Shine Super Spray

14.  Naphcon A -eye allergy relief

15.  Biosilk Silk Therapy

16.  Opti-Free Express (contact lens cleaning)

17.  Fav Perfumes - Love Spell, Very Sexy (original - red bottle), Super Model, all by Victoria's Secret and also Soul by Curve (ty LeeAnn!).  I also occasionally wear Ralph by Ralph Lauren. 

18.  Yoplait Yogurt in Lemon, also sometimes like the cherry and peach.

19.  Tropicana Orange Tangerine Juice

20.  Godiva Chocolates - so pretty and so good...mmm...

21.  Cover Girl LashExact Waterproof/Very Black

22.  Trader Joe's -"this blueberry walks into a bar..." cereal bars

23.  Nature Valley Oats 'N Honey Granola Bars

24. 

well...what's new with me...

umm...i met with a new web developer on saturday...we had a two hour meeting...it went well!!!  he is the one!  within 6-9 weeks my first website will be up and running!  nice guy...really professional...i feel good about this all the way around.  it did suck firing the college student i was working with on the site...but he took it professionally and gracefully...thank goodness! 

ive been pretty low profile saving money for my daughters school...now that's paid off and i have to save to pay for my website...

i am planning to go out with friends (Angela C.) tuesday night in the city though so that should be much fun...except i have to get up at 6am to work the next day...grr...but hey...you can sleep when u die...right?  lol...

also...i heard from an ex...he moved to arizona...but we have stayed friends and kept in touch...he is coming out to visit friends over spring break...(he's a PE teacher) and he invited me to go to sonoma wine tasting and staying at his time share for a couple of days...so that should be really fun...i can definitely use a mini vacation!

nick...nothing new really except he need to get a tail light fixed and pay a fix it ticket.  He is going to design my logo for my site.

xandra...started work at the library.  turns out she was making $1 less than her other job.  turns out it is a temporary position.  turns out she would be getting less hours than her other position.  so...she worked three days and put in her notice.  and she upped her days to 5 at her food server job.  she has her hex makeup school class the week of the 25th this month. 

i think that's all my news this week...

~L

1.  be one of the top ten business women in the world.

2.  Be on Ellen and Oprah as their guests!

3.  Stay in the Disneyland Dream Suite.

4.  have season tickets to the ballet.

5.  see a lot of william shakespeare.

6.  travel to europe.

7.  make life enjoyable for my parents.

8.  present an award and walk on the red carpet!

9.  receive many awards!

9.  Enrich the lives of others, especially women and children.

10.  Support worthy causes.

11.  Find my soul mate and live happily ever after.

12.  own designer clothes, shoes, and purses!

13.  Increase world happiness!

14.  See my children living healthy happy successful lives.

15.  Wake up naturally, no alarms!

16.  Have a career beginning in 2008 that fulfills me and brings prosperity and happiness to me and all who work for me for the rest of our lives. 

17.  Live in order, peace, love, and harmony. 

18.  Live in a beautiful romantic home with a flower garden, trees, a big porch with white wicker furniture and a porch swing, and a fireplace inside with a beautiful mantel.

19.  Be fit and healthy.

20.  Always be mistaken for 29... 

21.  go to the Ellen Degeneres show with Nick, Alexandra and Anthony and win lots of prizes!

22.  see a shakespeare play at the globe theatre in england!

23.  Attend the Oregon Shakespeare Festival!

24.  Meet the President

25.  Own an Art Gallery - a LauraLovesArt Gallery

so last night i got a bottle of beer as part of my tip...i think that's hilarious!  i don't really drink beer...but i think ill order a pizza for lunch tomorrow and try it...should be fun..maybe ill split it with nick.  i cant do it today cause im meeting leeann for our belated christmas lunch exchange...  the beer was from this really nice gardener guy who works where i do...the chefs totally spoiled him with food...

ive also heard from 3 guys i used to date in the last month...wanting to see me again in various ways...weird...is there something in the water?

i havent really dated anyone in over a year now...so...i think ill wait for something a little more special...more romantic...more magical...or barring that at least something new...lol...not really looking to recycle an old relationship...recycling is good for the environment...but not for the heart...

we all had a great family christmas...yummy dinner at mom and dads...mom needed some help cause she wasnt feeling great...alexandra did the turkey...i peeled potatoes...etc...

kids...alexandra is sick with a cold but on the mend...she has a job interview for the public library!

nick is excited to take his christmas money$$$ and go shopping at H&M and in the city and at thrift stores for a new wardrobe...says he's moving to amsterdam for a year with ryan...and now wants to become a day trader or buy foreign currency...well...its a little better than the professional poker player...hopefully he's on a better track...wish he'd go back to college for finance...he's really brilliant...

well that's my life this week...