The Glomski Family: Californication

As some of you know, Steve is out in Los Angeles doing some contract work for a couple of months so there's been a lot of MCO <---> LAX flights going on. This time, I went out for a whopping 5 nights to see Steve- just me and no Tyler this time! I've left Tyler for 2 short weekend trips in his little 10 1/2 month life so this was definitely the longest I've ever been away from him! I missed him SO much and wanted picture updates and texts from my parents as much as they could. Butttt at the same time, I can't deny that it was so nice to sleep in, not worry about packing and planning for anyone but me, and spending some much needed QT with Steve.
Steve and I went to some very nice dinners out on the town, happened to see David Spade at breakfast, went to the Santa Monica Pier, did some shopping, met up with a long time friend of mine in Venice Beach, and I went to the Live with Kelly show this past Monday! We packed as much as we could into our time together and had fun. Here are some pictures:

Santa Monica pier

Steve and I went to breakfast at the Farm at Beverly Hills one block from Rodeo Drive. It was the cutest biscuits and gravy country restaurant. We were eating our breakfast and I saw a guy walk in with a hat and sunglasses and go straight to the back corner of the restaurant. I told Steve that I thought it looked like David Spade and I needed a better look. When we saw him sit down a few booths back, Steve said he was sitting very high in the seat and that guy must be tall so it can't be David Spade. I figured he was right but before we left the restaurant, I ran to the restroom. On my way out, I got a better look- no sunglasses and hat. I saw that he looked tall in the booth because he was sitting on his legs! I told Steve that was him and I had to get a picture! I walked up to his table once he was done with his food and asked. He probably wasn't overly excited to take a picture, but he was nice and suggested we go outside for it. As we were walking outside, his friend said to me, "You got lucky!" Maybe meaning he won't normally take pictures with fans? Oh jeez. Okay, I love Tommy Boy but you're not Brad Pitt.

Driving through Calabasas. So pretty!!

We drove to "The Grove" to do some shopping later that day and I wanted to try and get close to the Hollywood sign for a picture but you sure can't get that close!

On Sunday, we drove to Venice Beach (about 25 minutes away) to meet my friend, Ashley, halfway from Long Beach where she lives. First Steve took a quick belly shot before we left the hotel

16 weeks

Ashley is from California but her family moved to Orlando from when we were in 5th grade until 9th grade. We have seen each other here and there since then and tried to keep in touch. It was so fun seeing her and having lunch!

Ashley and me at Whalers restaurant on the beach

If you've ever been to Venice Beach, you know the craziness that goes on there. It was Steve's and my first time so we were taking it all in as we walked around. Every few stores was a place to "get legal" to buy marijuana for medicinal purposes, people handing out their CDs for $10 trying to get discovered, very touristy, and a lot of good people watching.

Muscle Beach where Arnold Schwarzenegger was discovered

The marijuana "Doctor is in"

Venice Beach b-ball courts where "White Men Can't Jump" was filmed

Venice Beach

On Monday, I had tickets to see Live with Kelly after the Oscars show in the Kodak theatre in Hollywood. As you know, it's a NY based show but this was a first time event out in Hollywood just for that one day. I had to be there at 3am to stand in a crowd of 3,000 people in a dark parking lot outside waiting to get registered and get on the shuttle bus (quite miserable from 3am-4:30am to be honest- super early, standing the whole time, about 50 degrees and windy outside, and I was by myself). Thank goodness I met some friends in line and that made the time go quicker. One of them was even nice enough to get her jacket out of the car for me to wear! Once we got inside the theater, it was good times and I got a picture with the girls. Taping was 6am PT so it was airing 9am ET.

Portia, Michelle, and me. Front row, middle...of the 4th tier

The show was a cool experience. Some of the Oscar winners were there from the night before (Octavia Spencer, cast from The Artist), Circ de Soleil, fashion critics from E!, the designer Isaac Mizrahi, and Neil Patrick Harris was Kelly's co-host for the day. The commercial breaks were fun. Changing sets, hair/make-up, Kelly said how emotional and nervous she was to have the biggest audience she's ever had to date.

Gellman giving all the clapping rules a few minutes before going live

Welcoming Octavia to the stage. As you can see, my seats were
nothing to write home about

The site of the Academy Awards red carpet the night before

In the hotel lobby about to head to Gulfstream restaurant on my last night

I got home last night a little before 7pm just in time to hang out with Tyler for about 20 minutes and then he was in bed for the night and I was off to my Bible study at 8! A long day. Today, I'm feeling the jet lag so I'm off to nap now since Tyler is napping!