A Pretty {Woman} Holiday

I’m carving out some time to write this post…it has been on my mind for a week now!  Most of the world is getting back to the grind…I’m still on break with my kiddos for another week.  Yup…that is right…they don’t go back to school until next week.  That makes three whole weeks off…but who’s counting?  {insert sarcasm here}

We have experienced a few adventures on our break…skiing, the beach, sight seeing…crossing things off of our bucket list.  It has been a lot of fun, so truthfully, I can’t really complain about {excessive} time off. 

One day, however, has stuck out in my mind.  It was really a magical day {sight seeing} for me. 
We {my family and my husband’s parents} decided to go do some sight seeing around the Hollywood and Beverly Hills area.  After what seemed to take forever to get everyone piled in the car, snacks, DVD players, toys, etc {in the car, back in the house, back in the car…forgot something…back in the house} we were off.  {whew!}

The drive…thanks to the famous LA traffic…seemed to take forever as well.  Let me tell you, I was having my doubts about the day.  But {FINALLY} we made it to downtown LA.  Ok, I had never driven through downtown LA before….I was impressed with what I saw.  My previous impression of the area was not that high {after watching the news and all} and I never really had the desire to go there…but the city was rather clean.  Nice sculptures/artwork scattered around, beautiful and unique architecture, I’d happily go back.  Things were looking up for our day.

Our drive continued, and before we knew it, we were smack dab on Hollywood Boulevard.  What a cool place!  Vibrant, hustle and bustle, great people watching {there were definitely some unique characters there}.  It reminded me of New York City.  Seeing the famous Kodak Theater, Madame Tussauds, Capitol Records, and of course…the Hollywood sign! 

                                                   
There are so many iconic places smashed into such a small area…I was awe-struck.  I’m sure to many native Californians it is not exciting…but I’m a girl from the Mid-West…to me it’s amazing!  These are things I saw and heard about on TV growing up…that are in some enchanted land far away…that only lucky {rich and famous} people get to see and experience.  Well, I was the lucky person that day…and it wasn’t over yet. 

Next, we cruised over to Beverly Hills.  Yes, THE Beverly Hills…as in I saw this sign in person!


Now, my daughter and I had a plan for Beverly Hills.  You see, we are avid “Cupcake Wars” watchers.  I found out that one of the judges of the show {Candace Nelson} is the owner of Sprinkles Cupcakes in Beverly Hills {and other locations}.  We decided we needed to stop in and try her cupcakes.  We were going to be our own judges as to if her cupcakes were good enough for her to be judging others.  {since we are closet cupcake connoisseurs}

Apparently we got to Sprinkles at just the right time…the line was just to the door…and we managed to score the few chairs that were in the shop.  Shortly after ordering our cupcakes and coffee, the cupcake line was wrapping down the block!  As we sat there trying each other’s cupcakes, we gawked at all the fancy cars and people that were coming for their own cupcakes.  It was a good time people watching and comparing cupcake notes. 

Our cupcake snob connoisseur review?  Although the frosting was delish {especially the strawberry} the cake itself seemed a bit too…flour-y.  Does that make sense?  The cake was dense, moist, but I could taste the flour.  I asked my daughter her thoughts…comparing Sprinkles to Georgetown Cupcakes {in DC}…hands down Georgetown Cupcakes gets our votes.  Don’t get me wrong…the cupcakes were good and we enjoyed our afternoon pick-me-up…we just prefer Georgetown.  That said, seeing how we live in California and not in DC…Sprinkles it is.  {Unless I can convince my sister to send me more cupcakes! Hint Hint}  Cupcake coma done…time to walk those babies off. 


Rodeo Drive here we come!  Ok, I don’t know about you…but I cannot think about Rodeo Drive without thinking of the movie “Pretty Woman”.  It just wouldn’t be natural!  One word sums up that experience… A.maz.ing.  {sigh}  People everywhere, walking on the sidewalks, driving down the road, flashy cars, pretty people, and paparazzi.  Yes, sadly, we saw the famous persons, we saw the paparazzi flashing photos {we might even be in one of them} but truly, I wouldn’t know a celebrity if they hit me over the head.  So, I cannot tell you who it was.  I am seriously that bad at knowing peoples names and faces. {Sad. So sad.}  Rodeo Drive, however, was beautiful.  It was still decorated for the holidays, the trees were wrapped {not in lights} but in crystals.


It was so sparkly and beautiful.  Enchanting really.  We walked all the way down to the Beverly Wilshire hotel, and tried to guess which room was in the movie.  Walked past the beautiful Christmas tree and snapped some photos of the kiddos, then back to the car.


After our long day, we had to choose…battle rush hour traffic home, or go eat dinner somewhere nearby then drive home.  We opted for Santa Monica, Third Street Promenade, and dinner.  Another amazing place.  The sun was just setting when we drove by the beach…pink, purple, and orange watercolor sky with the iconic palm trees against the horizon…Gorgeous.  We had some Italian and the Merlot just hit the spot.  It was a great, great day.

 For me, what I loved the most, was seeing all of these amazing sites and putting the map together in my head of how they all fit together.  For instance, in the movie Pretty Woman, Vivian {Julia Roberts} is shopping on Rodeo Drive…the location and proximity of the shops on Rodeo to the Beverly Wilshire Hotel was always a mystery to me.  I never knew they were right across the street from each other.  And, Hollywood Boulevard to Beverly Hills…just a hop and a skip.  I have a new appreciation for the movie…after all these years.

It was exhilarating being around so many amazing sights.  I am so thankful for that day…a day I’ll remember for a long long time. 

What amazing, fun, new, exciting things did you do over the Holidays?  I’d love to hear.  Until then, Cheers to popping your cork, Cupcakes, Shopping, and Merlot.