Celebrity Crush-Zooey Deschanel

What is not to love about this quirky, ECCENTRIC, beautiful and Unique woman? I find her enchanting and exquisite and elegant. Many of you have seen her in movies like:

• Failure to Launch (SJP roommate who hates the mockingbird)

• Yes Man (lovable singer and moped driver)

• 500 Days of Summer (emotional and adorable Summer)

For a fabulous wedding shoot inspired by 500 Days of Summer click HERE

She is also in a band called She & Him and I really love her light and breathy voice.

Here is a song of hers called Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? by She & Him. This video is cute and is made to promote the movie 500 Days of Summer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtVh8kVZ_XM

Zooey was also in Domino magazine back in February 2009 showing off her sweet digs. The space has a lovely vintage and classic feel and I love the contrast of dark blue and white. Just another reason I love her--- she has great taste.

I also love Zooey because she dresses so fun and has great STYLE and sings and is in a band and is always such an adorable character in movies and I feel like if we could meet I would want her to be me friend and we could jam out together.

Check out her great clothes with the vintage collars and the high waist skirts and the great bow belts and the cute red hat.

Lately I have been thinking about starting a band. Is that way to cliche? I realize there are like a million bands out there, but hey what is one more, plus my band would be amazing (i hope)---I wouldn't have it any other way. I saw this great performance by my singing teacher Wendy Parr, teacher of Regina Spektor, and I was really inspired. So I want to do an all girl band and I need someone for keys, cello, drums and violin. If you know anyone who is 1. cool 2. talented and 3. female that can play any of these instruments and lives in the DC area please let me know.

Maybe I should do my own woman and man band. I'll see if I can recruit Paul for the taking. Today we were riding in the car and the Fugees featuring Lauryn Hill came on the radio singing "Killing me Softly" and Paul said he would like to be my back up rapper who says things like "sing it Leah" in the open spaces of my music and "what?" and maybe have a solo rap section. I like that--maybe we will debut such an album.

Thanks Zooey and Wendy for being cool and making me want to be in a band.

So there is my celebrity crush. Love you Ms. Zooey.

Cupcakes for Dinner

In my fantasy life I am Julia Child with the ability to whip up the most decadent of treats and meals with ease and pleasure. Alas, as many of you many know, I am not a chef, or a baker or even a cook. I really hate doing it. I am not sure if it is that every time I try the food seems to not taste as good as when Paul makes it or that sometimes my cooking just really tastes horrendous.

So last night Paul wanted to make red velvet cake from scratch (honestly who makes anything from scratch) but it was kind of late and we were at the grocery store and I insisted on buying the Duncan Hines Red Velvet Cake Mix and Betty Crocker Cream Cheese Frosting, as well as, all the ingredients so he could make red velvet cake from scratch another night.

So my fabulous husband makes me red velvet cupcakes last night before going to bed and all day I have been eating them. So tonight for dinner Paul was busy at work and like I was going to cook anything, so instead I had cupcakes for dinner!


Mom, please don't be mad-- I did at least put a raspberry on top so I would get my fruit food group.

Happy Weekend! Eat a cupcake!

The Kids Are All Right

Before moving out to Washington DC, Paul and I would volunteer for the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah every year. We were lucky enough to volunteer for 3 years in a row. The opportunity to see so many great movies and meet so many talented actors, producers, and musicians was inspiring. I really hope I can volunteer this January, because I missed the excitement of the 2010 Festival.

For those of you who have watched Sundance movies before, you may know that sometimes these movies can be a bit, dare I say, raunchy. I should have remembered this from my Sundance volunteering experience.

Paul’s mom was in town the past week and since my job of owning my own music studio affords me a very flexible schedule, I was able to play with her. So me thinking this would be a fun time took her to see the movie “The Kids Are All Right”, which had rave reviews and was considered the talk of Sundance 2010. So I was really excited to see it. Plus it has a stellar cast with Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska (Alice in the new Alice in Wonderland), and Josh Hutcherson. I really love Mark Ruffalo-I think he is smokin’ hot and talented, but mostly just fun to look at.

I personally really enjoyed the movie and I think my ma-in-law didn’t mind it, but I will say that this is not a movie to bring anyone to that you may feel uncomfortable watching very vivid sex scenes with. I kind of wish there had been a disclaimer, “Rated R due to lots of crazy sex scenes that may make you feel more embarrassed than ever if you bring your mother-in-law to the movie.” I think I kept trying to cover her eyes more out of my own shame then my worry that she would be offended.

I do recommend this movie though, just be prepared for some adult content. I found this movie painted the struggles of marriage very believable and it was nice to see a non-traditional family depicted, since the movie is about a lesbian couple.

Here is the synopsis from the Sundance 2010 website.

“A couple, Nic and Jules (Annette Benning and Julianne Moore), live with their teenage children, Joni and Laser (Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson), in a cozy craftsman bungalow in Los Angeles. As Joni prepares for college, her younger brother pesters her for a big favor—help him find their biological father. Against her better judgment, she makes a call to the sperm bank; the bank, in turn, calls Paul (Mark Ruffalo) and asks him if he’s willing to meet his daughter. He agrees, and a complicated new chapter begins for the family.”

Check out the trailer and then go see the movie if you want and tell me what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgwjTy_cohg

vintage and classic weddings

I have a brother in law who is getting married soon and we have dear friends who are getting married in a week and a half, so I have been thinking a lot about weddings. I really loved my wedding and I dare say it may have been a perfect wedding, for Paul and I. We were married on March 5, 2005 on the beautiful north shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Our wedding was simple and elegant, with only immediate family present (we were missing a couple of members and if I could do it over I would have made sure they could have been there) and my dear friend Jo.

all my wedding images are by Retrospect Studios








After the wedding and a week long honeymoon in Kauai and Maui, Paul and I came home to start our new life together and I started planning a big party celebration/reception. Now since I had a beach theme, I obviously stuck to it with shells and tropical plants and food.









But the reason I post this is to show images of things I would do if I was planning another wedding. I kind of want to renew my vows with Paul just so I can do this kind of wedding too-my other dream wedding. A vintage wedding.

Here is the dress I would wear

or maybe this one (image by poshgirlvintage.com)

And I really think I should have taken my mom's wedding dress, which was a teal high wasted 1960s dress with a lacy empire waist and I wish I would have worn it and added a bit more lacy to it on the bottom and on the sleeves. I will find the photo and post it. It was so classic.

And I am pretty sure I would have worn one of these bird cage veils

image from ruffledblog.com

image from ruffledblog.com

I really love this handmade bouquet made of ribbons, I wish I would have thought of that because then you could keep it forever and it is totally vintage chic and hip.

image from ruffledblog.com

and I would totally do a bird theme with tons of bird cages hanging from trees and cool nests on the table.

image found on confettiweddings.co.za/blog

And all my vases would be mason jars like this

image from ruffledblog.com

image from ruffledblog.com

and I love this clever way of leaving a little note of congrats and best wishes

image from ruffledblog.com

image from blushevents.blogspot.com

How fabulous is this save the date card? Love it.

So there are some of my "other" wedding ideas. If anyone is getting married and wants my help-- just let me know. I did have a beautiful wedding and would do it the exact same way in a heartbeat, maybe I just need to plan a big party.

Please share your "what I would have done different" wedding moments with me, I would love to hear it.

One Year Older and Wiser Too

July 14

Today Paul turns 28-or as I like to call it... Twenty-GREAT!

Here are some of the reasons why I think Paul is so Great...

Paul is...

1-Handsome
2-Handy (he can honestly fix or build anything)
3-Always good to laugh with me or at me
4-Funny and makes others laugh
5-Hardest worker I know
6-Honest
7-Smart (All A's in Grad School-Nerd)
8-An amazing artist
9-Amazing chef
10-Lover of dogs
11-A terrific cyclist and athlete
12-Strong (has passed over 4 kidney stones now and hasn't even milked the pain at all. If it was me I would be taking the week off of work and making Paul wait on me hand and foot!)
13-Disliker of people talking with their mouths full of food and other bad manners
14-Motivated
15-Silently Stubborn
16-Supportive of others
17-Lover of travel
18-A fabulous listener (he would have to be to still be married to me)
19-Dependable
20-Movie Buff
21-Continual seeker to better himself
22-Patient
23-Adventurous
24-A Dreamer
25-A Believer
26-A lover
27-Genuine
28-Looks more attractive every birthday (lucky me)

Paul baking some amazing strawberry dessert filled with most amazing sweet goodness!

My favorite drawing of Paul's.

I love you. Thanks for being you. Happy Birthday.

Not Paul's Week

I have been told by those that have passed kidney stones and have had babies without drugs, that passing kidney stones ranks right up with giving birth drug-free.

Paul passed these 3 stones this morning while I have been playing in NYC! Sorry babe.

An escalator eaten toe and now giving birth to triplets is no way to spend the week.




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Attack of the Escalator

What do you get when you cross a slippery step on an escalator in Eddie Bauer with A flip-flop sandals wearing Paul?

A whole lot of blood and a five hour emergency room visit in Chicago General Hospital --that's what.

I have never known anyone to cut their toe on an escalator.

5 stitches later and an accident report filed at Eddie Bauer retail store and we were on our way home from a fabulous birthday vacation with Paul's parents and
Lil' sis Annaliese and hubby TJ.

TJ, Paul and I all have birthdays within about a week of each other.

I really love Chicago, I would consider it on my top ten list of places to live if I could vanish in the winter. The architecture was amazing. The pizza amazing. The Cubs playing was not so amazing but the game was great! Dinner at the top of the Hancock building was so delicious and the view incredible.


I am already ready to go back- Paul just needs better Karma before we go. Thanks Ma and Pa Stone we love you!

Go Cubs!

Happy 4th of July! We are having a fabulous time in Chicago with Paul's family.


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Texas Girl-My Niece

I would like to think I was this fabulous when I was her age and I hope that maybe this carried over somehow through my family genetics since she is my niece and all.

Please watch-you will definitely enjoy!

Surprises

Well first off, I am home. I made it safe and sound and tired. Berlin was fun and fabulous and I will post all my photos to share, but I wanted to say that my husband is a sneaky little bugger with a sensitive heart.

I came home to find this.



The two pink bands are an addition to my wedding ring. The bands are rose gold with light pink diamonds inside. The original ring is the main ring in white gold.

I didn't take my wedding ring to Berlin because I was afraid I would lose it. The problem with my wedding ring was that it was a bit top heavy (that blasted diamond on top-what's a girl to do) and so it always spun around on my finger and I had to take it off when I was sleeping, playing piano, or exercising. While I was in Berlin, Paul had this fabulous wedding band set made for my ring. It is like a little pocket that my ring sits in so that it doesn't spin anymore and I can wear it all the time.

A thoughtful husband is splendid. Everyone should get one.

Day 4-5

The last couple of days have been busy doing museum interviews and observations. Last night I saw the Sex and the City 2 movie, my response is hmmmm...It was a feast for the eyes, but the lines were a tad corny. Sorry! I love Sex and the City and was a bit disappointed. Maybe I need to see it again and give it another try. Parts were really great but the karaoke scene was way dorky.

Anyways I am leaving at 5:30 am for Prague just for the day. A 4 hour train ride each way, but I think totally worth it. I will be safe and I am traveling with another girl from the program.

love
Leah

Day 3-Berlin

Why does one whisper when they speak another language they don’t really know? I know all of you have done it before. I have been cracking myself up while in Berlin because even though I know the German words for please, thank you, and your welcome, it never fails that every time I have to use one of these words I end up whispering it at the person, so they never hear it. I must seem like a rude American. I guess I just have foreign language stage freight. When Paul and I were in Italy 3 years ago we would do they same thing and we laughed about it all the time.

Anyways, yesterday was the Cold War Tour. We had a fabulous tour guide who was quite the academic and highly knowledgeable about the history of Berlin. We were able to see the Berlin Wall and the display of the death strip. I was in awe at the stories he told and how horrible it must have been for the people living in East Berlin that were willing to risk death to leave the communist reign.

I saw a poster for Rammstein (some heavy hard core German rock group that my husband likes) and they had a concert last night. I wanted to go just to make Paul proud but we couldn’t figure out where it was-sorry honey. I can only imagine how scary the concert would have been.

The city is very beautiful. The architecture is amazing-lots of neoclassical, baroque, modern, it is a fun mix of styles, but somehow it goes together nicely.

Today we had to do one of 4 museum observations. It was a lot of work. We were at the New National Gallery for over 4 hours. The Gallery is interesting. Meis Van Der Roe designed it, kind of like Frank Lloyed Wright style. The gallery is very modern art with different colored walls for different exhibits and lots of propoganda art pushing an ideal and very political. I found it fascinating and thought provoking.

I also got to go to the KaDeWe which is the Harrod’s of Berlin (think the fanciest department store you have ever seen.) It was fun but I couldn’t afford a single thing. We also went to the Berlin Philharmonic and saw an amazing concert of Handel’s Water Music (I think that is what it was called---it was in German, sorry Mom I know you will be disappointed that I don’t know what stuff Handel did). I was so tired from the past few days that I kept nodding off, the music was so beautiful that it was putting me to sleep.

I am off to bed now. I am exhausted- a big day ahead tomorrow. We have a tour of Museum Island and another museum observation.

Love

Leah

Day 1 and 2 in Berlin

Check out my photos so far.

http://picasaweb.google.com/leahstone17/BerlinDay1CityBusTour#

Today is Monday, May 24, 2010. I arrived in Berlin yesterday at 8:20 am and after a short taxi ride, made it to the Hotel Ansbach around 9:00 am. Sadly I didn’t pack a pillow and a memory foam pad (J) as the bed really sucks. It rock hard and our pillow consists of a wad of sheets folded in half. I don’t think the bed has bed bugs though (at least I hope). At least I didn’t wake up with any bug bites. I have experience bed bugs before, at a convent in Italy, and it was disgusting.

After unpacking our bags and a much-needed shower, my roommate Stella and I went down for a free continental breakfast. It seemed a bit disgusting that cod and salami was served for breakfast, but Iuckily there was other options like cheese, yogurt, and cereal.

After breakfast I went for a walk and took lots of pictures and my roommate went to the room for a nap. I followed suit a little later. At 4:45 pm the whole group met up at the hotel lobby to take a bus tour of the city. It was so fascinating. Our tour guide was this cute German guy with a hot accent so I paid extra attention. I sat in the front of the bus so I wouldn’t get motion sick and so I had a great view of the city. We drove all around East and West Berlin. We drove past the Berlin Wall for just a quick second, and later we will go back again. Seeing the wall really amazed me and brought up emotions of sadness and wonderment of what it must have been like to have lived when the wall was up. We also saw Checkpoint Charlie, Museum Island and a million beautiful buildings. I am really in love with city and I have only been here 24 hours.

We ate an amazing dinner where I had spargel (white asparagus-which is currently in season and a delicacy in Germany) and schnitzel and potatoes. It was seriously so good. I was worried I would hate the food here, but so far I am impressed. The bar tender gave us all a free round of amoretto shots and my friend was excited that I gave it to him. He got tanked very quickly as beer is used like water here and mix that with a couple shots of hard liquor and I am sure life was good for him.

I slept well last night; full 8 hours. I don’t feel jet lagged anymore. Today we are going on a tour of the Cold War and I am so excited. I will blog and put photos on my picasa album for you all to see.

Most importantly, I will not be left out on May 27.

Love

Leah

I have Arrived

I made it safely to Berlin and feel like I have ran my head through a wall I am so tired. I arrived at 8:20 am Sunday morning and am forcing myself to stay awake to get over this horrible jet lag.

I am meeting my group in 2 hours. I might take a little nap-nothing to serious.

Auf Wiedersehen

Today I am leaving to Berlin. I am leaving the husband and the pups at home. I am nervous about not taking Charlie, but I think that it would be more stressful to explain to everyone in Germany that he is a service dog. Sadly the ADA doesn't follow you into foreign countries.

I am going to Berlin for a two week school program to study the art and museum management. I plan on eating lots of chocolate and avoiding nasty sausages.

If you know what I should eat or do on my free time please comment so I can enjoy.

Much love, Leah


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Spring has Sprung

I was down at the Mall yesterday to go to the National Gallery of Art and this was on my walk. These are Dogwood trees in bloom! Beautiful.


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