Corporate Lunch

I never really saw myself as the "business woman" type, but after being a part of the corporate scene for almost 2 years, it has its moments. One of them being the all too wonderful "Lunch Break."

Ive recently joined in with a few of my friends that work in the Newport Beach area for a monthy "Lunch Break" at Fashion Island. This month the odds were in my favor, as I was the only female to show. We all met up at the Atrium food court where we split up to grab our favorite food. The guys enjoyed their Philly Cheese Steaks while I scarfed down an Italian Pizza Salad. A favorite of mine.

Since I was the only girl there the conversations generally consisted of portfolio investments, AK-47s, blowing up stuff in the middle of the desert, and the history of LDS businessmen and their success in the Orange County sunglasses industry. It was actually a refreshing experience. I'm so used to going out with all my girlfriends and discussing boy drama, fashion, and the latest Hollywood gossip.

If you work in the Newport Beach area and wanna join us for lunch, let me know. I'm already looking forward to next month!

Homemade Cards

How cute are these cards? My little sister, Jacki Lynn, has found a fun new hobby thats she's really good at. She makes and sells homemade cards. She has recently updated her website with some fun new designs. I hope you all take a second to check them out at:

http://byme-foryou.blogspot.com/

She specializes in Birthday, Baby, Wedding, and Thank You cards, but she can create pretty much anything you need and in a variety of colors. They sell anywhere from $3 to $5 and are great to give with a gift, or buy a bundle to give as a gift. Check out some of her cute designs:

Now go buy yourself some cute cards.  You deserve it!  

Gone home.

My favorite quote from our beloved prophet Gordon B. Hinckley:

“The time has come for us to stand a little taller, to lift our eyes and stretch our minds to a greater comprehension and understanding of the grand millennial mission of this, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”

Chelsea Clinton

Chelsea Clinton recently discussed current events with a U.S. soldier.

She asked if, as an American fighting man, anything scared him .
He told her there were only three things he feared:

1) Osama

2) Obama

AND

3) Yo Mama

Paul Walker's on Line 1...

We all have a celebrity crush! Mine is Paul Walker...the worst, but best looking actor in the world. He's my number one. (Well, I kinda do have this new thing for Drew Fuller from "The Ultimate Gift"...also a horrible actor.) Hey, I just like 'em cuz they're cute. But I digress.

Anyway, once Paul Walker told me he liked my name. Well, he didn't tell ME, he told my best friend in H.S., Allison, who approached him at Islands restaurant where she was a waitress. She told Paul that her friend was obsessed with him and would he please autograph the back of an Island's coaster. When he was asking who to make it out to she said "Aubrey." He then said..."Tell your friend she has a beautiful name." A girl doesn't forget something like that. Anywho...

Anyone who knows me well should get a good laugh out of this dialogue. Here's what happened to me at work the other day:

Receptionist:   "Hi Aubrey, can you take a call right now?"
Aubrey:            "I'm in the middle of something.  Who is it?"
Receptionist:  "Paul Walker."
Aubrey:            ...silence...choke on gum...."Um, yah, who's on the line?"
Receptionist:  "Paul Walker"

-pause-

Ok, so I work for a very well known Custom Home Builder who designs homes for the rich and the famous so its really not that far fetched that someone like Paul Walker would be calling here. Right? So all of a sudden my head starts spinning (because of course anyone that knows me knows that there is one man in this world that has completely stolen my heart.)  Theee Mr. Paul Walker.

-resume-

Aubrey: "Like "thee Paul Walker?"
Receptionist:  "I don't know?  Maybe? So do you want to take the call?"
Aubrey:           "Sure..." "Hello. This is Aubrey. "
Line 1:             "Hi Aubrey, this is Paul Walker from Architectural flooring...blah, blah, blah.

Ok, so oviously, I'm retarded. It wasn't the man of my dreams calling for me. First of all, if "the real" Paul Walker was wanting Fari International to build his house, do you really think he'd be calling me (well...maybe....if he were single and knew what was good for him).  But honestly!

This one's for you Mom...

After seven years wearing the color crown, silver has been dethroned.

The new favorite car color among Americans...WHITE!!!

My mom despises white cars. She detests them. Whenever we go on vacation and pick up our rental car we all laugh in amusement when the guy behind the counter hands us the keys to the pearly white parked in B-37.

So, when I came across this article, I couldn't resist:

"For the first time this century, more white cars were manufactured in 2007 than those in any other color, according to DuPont’s most recent color study.

"In North America, 19 percent of vehicles manufactured in 2007 were either white or 'pearl white,' which is white with an iridescent or metallic sheen. Eighteen percent of 2007 vehicles were silver, and 16 percent were black, including black with metallic effects."

(At least we all agree that green is an ugly color for a car...sorry to a few of my friends out there who drive green-machines.)

So what do you think Mom? While you may be hating on the color white...or as you like to call it, "the absence of all color" it looks like the rest of America is loathing in the new fad. I think I like it.

Page turner...

I've recently joined a book club with a few of my girlfriends and this is the first book we've all started reading together. I'm loving it! Its definitely not what i expected but I think thats why I'm enjoying it so much. Girls, if you're looking for a good book to read, this one's it!

Makes my mouth water...

Unofficially referred to as the pink navel orange, this delicious citrus is another variety of the extraordinary navel orange. Its called the Cara Cara Navel. Have you ever heard of it? Its totally new to me.

Having a rather short season, the Cara Cara orange is available beginning late November until January. Rumor has it, however, that this orange's season just may hopefully stretch into March and April. I hope its true. I'm in love.

Resembling a common navel orange, the pulp of the irresistible Cara Cara orange is a striking rich deep salmon color. Its gorgeous-looking flesh offers a sweet juicy taste that blends the flavors of a tangerine with a subtle hint of a grapefruit. Hope you get a chance to try one! They're delicious!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to the Grandma whose age only brings her more beauty!

I love you Grandma!

Mmmmmmm...

Tonight for dinner I had a big fat ooey gooey waffle, smothered in chocolate and berries.  Why?  Because I wanted to darn it!

Under construction...

Please pardon the "blah!" while my sister helps me update my blog layout.

What a view!

Lately I've been enjoying the view from a home I'm designing in Newport Coast. The location is unreal. I've never seen a more beautiful piece of property. When you stand in the Living Room you feel like you could reach out and touch Catalina island. I'll post pictures of the final product when its finished...which will probably be at least a year from now. I don't mind the wait! It just means I get to continue living vicariously through these homeowners for another year...even if its only for 8 hours a day.

I heart Anthro!

Those who know me well know that my number one staple in life is not food. Its not sleep. Its Anthropologie. And no, not the study of humanity. The store! 

This Saturday I went with my mom to pick out a new bedding set for our 3rd floor guest room (my temporary home). This is what we picked...

Its called India Ink.  We spiced it up with some gold accents and cute throw pillows. Its gorgeous! I'm obsessed!

Thank you NBC!

Are you kidding me? I am so excited! American Gladiators is back on Primetime. Can you believe it has been 14 long years? I feel old!

Sunday night a small crowd gathered at Tristen's place to see for ourselves what this new era of gladiators had to offer. And let me tell you, I don't think any of us were prepared for what we saw!

One word: Wolfman! He's hairy...he's scary...he's downright insane! Is he for real? Are any of the gladiators for real? I mean, honestly! I was peeing my pants the entire time. These new gladiators are un-freakin-believable! You've got Tao...a sorry excuse for a Polynesian (looks more like a white guy with a tan), and then there's the Ken doll...his head has been exposed to way too much bleach in his lifetime. I'm sure if it.


Oh, and the girls...there's this one hot (but huge chic) that Tristen has a crush on. And how appropriate that her name is Crush! There's also Helga. I probably don't even need to explain that one. She's enormous! She could squash my head like a bug using only her pinky toes!!!

Besides all the crazy new gladiators, you've also got these insane new obstacle courses that are way bigger, better, and what seems to me 100x more diffiult than the original set. And I'm not so sure these new contenders are up for the challenge. Of all the contestants, very few were able to dominate the gladiators.

And then there's the final challenge. The giant obstacle course. The do or die! Now, it really honestly doesn't look THAT difficult. I'm not saying I'd be good at it or anything, but these athletes that go up against this thing are "supposedly" trained athletes who are in the best shape of their lives. But, for some reason, when they get to this final challenge, they SUCK! Especially the girls. Pathetic! I mean really, so pathetic! As I sat there watching them throw their bodies through the giant foam wall across the finish line, they had looks of death on their faces. All of them! It was hillarious!

What a great comeback for American Gladiators. Well done NBC. Hats off to you for combating the writers strike with the bringing back of an all-American classic.

If you missed the season premiere Sunday night and the follow-up Monday night, tune in nest week. We're working on getting tickets to a taping of the show. Let me know if you're interested.

Friday night in LA

Allie, Tristen, The talented Henry, Liz, and me.

Justin and me

Friday night after work I braved the rush hour traffic and the torrential rains to enjoy a night of fun in LA. We went to dinner at this great little Thai restaurant in Pasadena and then headed over to Hollywood where we listened to Justin's talented friend Henry perform at the M Bar! What a fun night!

New Year's Eve Masquerade Ball 2008

This year we sent 2007 out with a bang! Everyone showed up at "Club Messick" dressed to the nines. We had a great turn-out and I'm pretty sure everyone had fun. A special thanks to Kristin, Lisa, and everyone else that helped put the event together. Happy New Year!!!

TAGGED!

I got tagged by Erin Madsen!
(If you haven’t been tagged yet and you have a blog, copy and paste my answers into a post, erase my answers and put your own and then post it on your blog. This is fun!)

FIVE THINGS I WAS DOING 10 YEARS AGO:
1. I was a sophmore at Dana Hills High School in Dana Point.
2. Spiking the ball on the JV volleyball team and outrunning everyone on the Varsity Track team.
3. Chasing around all the cute boys!
4. Trying to survive Algebra II Trig
5. Shopping at my favorite places: J. Crew, Tilly's, and Gap (my how things have changed!)

FIVE THINGS I WAS DOING 5 YEARS AGO:
1. Partying like a rockstar in Provo
2. Working at Papaya & Co.
3. Majoring in Interior Design at LDS Business College in SLC
4. Dating lots!
5. Working out at the gym regularly

FIVE THINGS I WAS DOING 1 YEAR AGO:
1. Getting dumped!
2. Crying my eyes out after getting dumped!
3. Shopping to medicate the pain from being dumped!
4. Throwing myself into my career to forget the pain of being dumped.
5. Then... finally finding new men to date!!!

THINGS ON MY TO-DO LIST TODAY:
1. Design the Abdi's kitchen, library, and office
2. Finish editing all the pictures from my New Year's Masquerade Ball
3. Buy my new Coach sunglasses at Nordstrom
4. Mop my bathroom
5. A night out on the town in LA

FIVE SNACKS I ENJOY:
1. Pretzel thins from Trader Joes
2. Almonds
3. Anything chocolate
4. Apples
5. Cookies

THINGS I WOULD DO IF I WERE A BILLIONAIRE:
1. Quit my job
2. Buy a ton of properties all over the world
3. Travel the world
4. Shop! Shop! Shop!
5. Get daily massages

THREE OF MY BAD HABITS:
1. Very impatient
2. I yell at the bad drivers around me
3. When I brush my teeth and spit, I usually make a mess of the mirror

FIVE PLACES I HAVE LIVED:
1. California
2. Hawaii
3. Utah
4. Canada
5. Minnesota

FIVE JOBS I'VE HAD:
1. Graphic Artist at Handbill Printers
2. Papyrus
3. Papaya & Co.
4. Bloomingdales
5. Interior Designer for Fari International

FIVE THINGS PEOPLE PROBABLY DON'T KNOW ABOUT ME:
1. I had 100% attendance to my early morning seminary class for 4 years.
2. I can only keep my room clean for about 3 days before it becomes a total mess again.
3. I don't have a favorite color....I have a lot of colors I like...but my favorite is constantly changing.
4. I didn't have my first kiss until I was 18.
5. If we get the job, I might get to design Tiger Wood's house in Newport Coast!

First sunset of the new year...

January 1, 2008.
On New Year's day I wacthed the sun set over the Pacific from my grandparent's beach house on Beach Road. It was breathtaking! And even more beautiful in person.

2008 is gonna be a great year. I can feel it already!!!

Happy Birthday Allison!

Happy Birthday to one of the best friends I've ever known.

I love you Ali!!!

Happy Birthday Kellie!

My little sister Kellie Anne shares a birthday with the Eve of the New Year and this year it was a busy birthday! With our early morning arrival from Hawaii, a New Year's Eve Masquerade Ball to plan, and lots of shopping to do, its amazing we found time to go to dinner to celebrate with Kellie...

The beautiful birthday girl! Happy 19th Kellie!

Kellie and her boyfriend Mark

We all enjoyed a fabulous dinner at the Chart House restaurant overlooking the Dana Point Harbor.

It was so nice to have Jacki and Mark in town for her birthday and the holidays!

I'll bet she's wishing for a new red coat from Banana...

...I knew it!!!

Happy birthday kid. I hope this year is your best yet!

Mele Kalikimaka!

This year the Messicks & Brackens (my little sister and her husband) spent Christmas in Hawaii. Instead of presents this year, we all opted for a warm Hawaiian tan. What a great idea Mom and Dad! Enjoy our pictures...