Things to consider the next time you go out to eat:

So, I have been a little lazy in the job finding department, but I have some good reasons! First one, unfortunately I make more money waitressing than I would at any Design job I've seen out there. Second, It's easy, stress free and when I go home I don't have to think about it at all until my next shift. And lastly, I'm taking quite a few vacations this holiday season, so it doesn't make sense to get hired somewhere and have to ask for a bunch of days off.

That being said, while I like waitressing I have some pet peeves that I think people who haven't worked in a restaurant NEED to know.

Never tell your server that you want a round of waters for everyone after you've all already ordered beverages. If someone wants water, that's fine, I'll get it for them. But unless someone specifically says they want it, there is no need to speak on behalf of the whole table. You better believe I'm cursing you out in my head when theres 9 people with 9 drinks and then some ass-hole says "and a round of waters for the table." That's 18 drinks for me to get! As if I am not busy enough!

That being said.... If you order a diet coke and a water. Drink the effing water. So many times I see the water untouched sitting on the table and yet you're asking for your diet coke refills! It's frustrating to say the least.

If you've already ordered a cheeseburger and then five minutes later decide that you really want the fish and chips, suck it up and stick with the cheeseburger. Do you know what a bitch it is to have to run and tell the cooks not to make your 'already in the process of being made' burger, ring in your fish and chips and then fix the bill just because you can't make up your mind? Seriously! It drives me mad!

Don't come to a restaurant with a party of 5 or higher and then ask for separate checks. Come prepared with cash, have a volunteer payer to pay and then reimburse them later or split it equally. I have better things to do than fix 8 different transactions so your cheap-ass can have a bill that's the exact amount to the penny.

I understand that in your restaurant adventures you will run into some pretty poor food service. I get it. I myself have experienced this too. But you should know that if you are going out on a Friday night at dinner time, you might not always get the best possible service. Try as I might there will always be that one table that has the curse. Anything that can go wrong will, and I'm sorry for that. It sucks for both parties involved. But please try to be a little sympathetic, the nicer you are to the server, the more likely they will be to try and keep you happy. However, there are some servers that are slow, stupid and just plain rude. In that case I say call for the manager!

If you are in a fowl mood stay at home! I don't want to serve bitchy people as much as you don't want to be served by a bitchy waitress!

If your host seats you in a section never ask to sit in the corner booth surrounded by a sea of empty tables. That means that section is closed and the tables are clean. If you sit there that means that some poor kid (me) has to go back and re-clean that table. No one wants to do that. If you don't like the booth given to you totally ask to be sat in a different section. I'm guilty of this too. But if you want the private booth alone with no one around, than you should probably be staying home and ordering a pizza. Just sayin. Also keep in mind that the hosts are not seating you nilly willy. There is in fact actually a rotation going on and by moving seats you are messing up the rotation.

Do not get mad that there is a wait even though there are empty tables. The reason there are empty tables is because the hosts don't want to overload the servers. Getting "triple sat" and then having to get drinks for everyone and then food orders while keeping control of the already down tables gets tricky. Even if you did get sat it will probably be another 5 to 10 minutes before you get service so either way you're waiting. What's the difference?

Although you may think your kid is cute, I don't. You should be ready to give me all of your kids orders at the table when we are ordering. It is not necessary to give your child 10 different options. And then let me stare at them while they stare into blanks space (probably thinking about my little pony- NOT what they want for dinner.) I am busy. Give them two options. If they can't answer, you decide for them. Or better yet! You order for them! It's much appreciated. Although, I sometimes do get very polite, well mannered children who know what they want and behave. I love those kind.

Don't rack up a fifty dollar bill and then tip three dollars. That's just rude.

That's all I've got for today folks. Enjoy the rest of the weekend, and for golly sakes please be kind to your server!

I Confess...

I don't vote. Maybe one day I will. I choose not to because I have the freedom to do so and also because I really don't like the nut jobs that are running.

I went to target for some bar soap and mascara and walked out with that and eyeliner and a scarf and sweater and a book and new head phones. All of these things I can absolutely say are must haves!

I am addicted to chap-stick. Burt's Bees specifically. If I decide I need it and can't find it in my oversized black abyss of a purse I get panicky. I have multiple sticks in different places so I don't have to fret.

I watch way more TV than I would like to admit. This may make me lazy, totes aware. But what else is a broke girl supposed to do?

My hair has finally gotten to a length that I would consider long. I'm hoping by next summer I will really have mermaid hair. One can only hope.

I am a picker. A scab, dead skin, a zit. Nothing is safe around me. Gross as it may be, I'd rather not have it on me that have to look at it. Even little Rox is not safe from my mother monkey like ways.

Yesterday I dropped Wesley off at the airport and won't see him until Thursday night. As pathetic as it sounds this is the longest we've been apart and it feels weird. As Kim Zolciak would say: My head is so far up Wes's ass right now, I  don't really take the time to do anything or hang out with too many other people. I'm okay with this and am convinced that as long as I can admit the 'problem' than there really isn't one.

I will be leaving for Connecticut on Thursday to meet up with little Wes and as excited as I am to be there I am nervous thinking about leaving Roxie at her puppy hotel for 4 whole nights.

My toenails never go unpainted. But I don't like my fingers painted- I feel it's too much upkeep!

I don't like hot tea but I love iced tea.

I think I look better in brown than black. 9 out of 10 times I will buy a brown purse or shoes over brown ones!

I am going to attempt to make teacup candles from a tutorial I found on pinterest. If they turn out I'll post them. Wish me luck!

I should be taking care of the to do list that I made for myself and chores that need to be done before Thursday but I've started watching the Lost series last weekend and just can't help myself.

Happy weekend!

Truth.

The Lumineers

I am a huge fan of the roots revival music of the last few years. Like Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers, and now The Lumineers. There is something about the rustic, heart-on-the-sleeve music that kind of nods to tradition while setting off into uncharted territory that I love! It's soulful, sweet and fun to sing to. I've brought up the Lumineers before on this blog here. Last night was their (sold out) concert. I paid $30 for two tickets and after seeing them perform live, I would have paid double that for each. They were awesome. When we got to the Santa Ana Observatory, where the concert venue was. I was a little concerned. It was right behind my old college, yet I never knew that it existed. Although Wes likes the Lumineers too, he wasn't all to excited to stand in line with a bunch of hipsters near the back of an Ikea parking lot. But once inside the place was pretty cool. It was like a low budget house of blues but waay smaller. They had a full open bar and even though it was all general admission with no actual seating we got a prime standing spot where I could see the stage perfectly and felt close enough that I might as well have been part of the "mosh-pit" area.

When The Lumineers came on stage they looked exactly the same as they do in this picture. We had said in the car ride there that the show wouldn't be the same unless one of them was wearing suspenders and wouldn't ya know, the drummer was!

In fact, I think that's the only thing he wears. 

Although the 3 main band members consist of: The lead singer, Wesley, the drummer, Jeremiah, and the cello player, Neyla. The base player and the keyboardist had pretty large roles as well. 

Between every song it took them a minute or two to change instruments. I was surprised that each of them played at least 3 instruments and they all swapped with each other. At one time there was a cello, a mandolin, an accordion and a xylophone and a tambourine. That's talent.

Plus, they were a ton of fun to watch. The sound was great, they got the crowd really going and maybe, I'm just a little bias but Wesley was sexy. My Wes is pretty hot too though ;)

They were so good live that I left the concert thinking that it had to be the best one I had ever seen. It probably helped that the venue was so small that the intimacy made the music more special.

Their whole self titled album is only 42 minutes long but they played for over an hour singing cover songs of Bob Dylan and some of their new not even named yet stuff that will be on their next album. After only hearing a couple of their new songs once, I know that I'll be buying the album as soon as it comes out.

Incase you've only heard their one hit song on the radio, "Ho, Hey" I have posted a couple of their songs that they performed live, so you can see for yourself just how good they are!

Hope your Monday goes by quick!

Honey, I'm Home!

As an interior designer, I love paying close attention to character's homes in movies. Some of my favorites include Cameron Diaz's and Kate Winslet's houses in "The Holiday," Diane Keaton's home in "Something's Gotta Give," and of course, Meryl Streep's house in "It's Complicated." I even wrote a blog post about them. I've recently found a new tinsel town home that I am absolutely in love with! It's Leslie Mann's and Jason Bateman's mini mcmansion from "The Change Up."

When I saw the previews for this movie, I thought it could either be really stupid or pretty funny and I am happy to say that I thought it was the latter.

The house used in the movie is actually in Atlanta, Georgia but the interior was shot in a studio. I love this southern, traditional home.

Oh! Hi Leslie! Thanks, we would love to come in!

The colorings used in this home are so pretty. Dark wood floors and stair rails against the white moldings and millwork are just my style!

See? The pale yellow wallpaper is so homey and inviting.

There was a ton of texture and patterns used for the styling of this house. I even like the green and blue striped stair runner. Also, notice the picture collage around the antique clock. So cool.

How cute is that chocolate toile print chair? 

I even like the blue and yellow china on the shelves in the background. Adding lots of rugs is another way to make wood floors cozy.

The family room looks pretty cluttered and "lived" in but I still love it!

This is my dream dining room! I always tend to lean towards those kind of chair when I am in furniture stores. The sideboard is great too.

Loving the shabby chic hutch. Even the highchairs are pretty freaking sweet!

The kitchen is a little different. I do love the green backsplash tile but if it were my house I think I would have done a different color. 

The floral curtains are pretty cute, but again, I just don't think this room matches the rest of the house. Don't get me wrong though. I die for this kitchen!

And all its white cabinet glory!

I hope my dream home has an eat-in kitchen area too. So fun!

The nursery is print overload but I still like it. I think the floral wallpaper with the zoo animal boarder is so sweet.

This is one of my favorite rooms in the house. The small tile from the millwork to the ceiling is so chic.

And the backlit mirrors are gorgeous and convenient.

Man. That shower is just asking for me to get in it.

 

I. Freaking. Adore. This. Bedding. It's simple and pretty. I like that it's feminine but still kind of geometric and not really girly. And I really like the sheets paired with it.

I like the curtains too! I could go without the wallpaper in this room though. I think just a nice soft buttercream would be nice. Or even a cool teal.

Shoot, I actually don't care. I would move into that bedroom in a second.

 

Especially with that window seat. Where can I find a house like this in OC? I need to know!

Happy Thursday, Diary readers!

Halloween Time

I'm loving the Halloween photos coming up on Pinterest. I just wish that this Southern California weather would let up a bit so it would actually feel like Fall and I would be in the mood to decorate! Until then, I've posted some inspiration pics! Enjoy.