Left Coast Sachs

Happy Turkey Day

2010-11-24T11:04:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is tomorrow. It's a special day for us, Thanksgiving. In 2004, Scotty proposed to me at our annual family get together. That makes tomorrow a sweet anniversary and the marker for all (hopefully) happy and great things to come. I wish everyone out there a happy, love-filled holiday. Be safe, eat a lot, and be happy, wherever you are.

Life Goes On...

2010-11-19T14:07:00.000-08:00

So, life keeps going. Despite all the pain, the loss and the sadness, life keeps going. We get up, we shower, we eat and we keep living. Sometimes, that fact actually provides me with some comfort. And yet, there are other times when the fact that life keeps going on in midst of all the devastation we experience seems like a stupid and cruel joke.

Anyway, here are some photos of the happy moments of this year so far. People always comment on how happy I look in every photo; how I smile with my whole face; how, to look at me, you couldn't tell that I was carrying so much weight with me at all times. So, maybe I should remind myself of the happy times more often. Not to forget the sad ones, but to feel comforted by remembering that although my life's on hold, I am still capable of feeling and looking happy at times.

Here's to a day when real happiness decides to dwell within me. Here's to the day when my smile is not hiding my soul's wounds.

With that, enjoy,

A&S

The Answer

2010-05-25T10:09:00.000-07:00

Well, all the bravery and strength; all the excessive, almost compulsive, optimism; all the planning, the doing and the effort; all the shots, the many vials of blood and the ever wonderful vaginal ultrasounds; all that-and I still have nothing to show for. Not pregnant. Still stuck in purgatory.

I am angry. I am very angry. But, somehow, sadness alludes me. I haven't shed one tear since yesterday's dreaded call from the doctor's office at 3 p.m.

You, as a human being, have the ability to shock the hell out of yourself at any given moment. As you live and get older, you begin to believe that you've been around long enough to know yourself well. You anticipate how you'll feel after some life altering experience, tragedy or surprise. And you think you know what you'll be like and what you'll need when shit happens. And then shit happens, as it always does. Something big and seismic befall you. And you're caught off guard by your completely unforeseeable and jarring reaction. You ask yourself: "what the hell?" But, no answer is evident.

Your surprising reaction, this weird feeling you never expected to feel, acts as a key to a door you have never noticed before. Suddenly, the door is unlocked and you are in this whole new place you never knew existed. Nothing looks familiar and it feels so far flung and distant from every other place you have been so far. You are disoriented and apprehensive and facing a whole new set of unknowns, monsters and and mysteries.

I want to yell. I want to destroy. I want to kill something, not sure what, but I feel murderous anyway. But, my instinct to survive has kicked in and I am trying to adjust my senses to this new and unfamiliar place I find myself in. It's so far from the rest of the world- the fertile world- and its inhabitants. It's the farthest I have ever been from that "other world". It's so far off, as a matter of fact, that I can barely see any of it behind me. And I have no clue how to navigate back to it or away from it. I'm just lost.

It's a maze. And I have finally turned a corner that might be the point of no return. The peculiar part of it is that I am too numb, stupefied and anesthetized to mind or miss the world I have left behind. I can barely remember how it felt to live there, never mind miss it. All I feel is anger. That's the extent of my feelings and the reason for being in this new place I find myself in.

So, I begin to think and think and think some more. There seems to be nothing else to do here in this new place. And then I see something. I get a glimmer, a thought and a theory. An epiphany? Maybe.

What is left for me to do is to focus further inward. To continue my personal journey through this grimy, dark, uncertain thing- that's my mission. And I realize that I'm going to allow the isolation to happen. I'm going to left go. Why keep fighting it? Why keep hanging on to a world that doesn't need me to keep humming long and multiply? This is my path. This is where I belong. This is who I am. I'm going to accept and live my part. It may be lonely, sad and scary, but it is the life I've been dealt. I am meant to be here and do this on my own, just like every other thing I've lived through, endured and achieved.

Every big accomplishment, tragedy, success and loss has been a practice in solitude. I've stared at very problem, goal, gain and setback alone and without a safety net or substantial support. Dealing w/ a revolution, a war and the loss of a homeland; adjusting to new lands, new languages and new lives; surviving neglect and emotional abuse; adjusting and becoming a new person several times over; finding my way in a new country; figuring out what to do with my life, who to become; surviving my father's death and my mother's abandonment; getting past my professional losses; even planning my wedding and muddling through life after my miscarriages have been done virtually alone.

The answer I seek is suddenly clear. It's not to keep looking back at the "other world" for understanding, support and empathy. It is not to blame myself for being here alone and without. The answer is to go inward. The answer is to stop looking out at others for help and understanding. The answer is to focus and lean on the one person who is completely present, committed and dedicated- mind, body and soul- to this journey: me. I am the answer. I am my only answer. I am my only solution. This is what I must do and I have to do it alone. Not because I have no other choice or option, but because this is how it has to be.

So, I'm in a new place armed with a brand new realization. Right now, everything is still too raw. But, I know that eventually I'll get up and I'll keep going. And when that happens, I know that I"ll have me to lean on.

For now, knowing that I am my own answer is enough.

We're Still Here...

2010-03-11T16:56:00.000-08:00

Wow!! There were times when I wondered if I'd ever visit this blog again, never mind write anything on it.

I got tired of mindlessly writing cheerful and happy things about cheerful and happy events. I got exhausted from constantly sounding happy and content on this blog. But, what choice did I have? This blog is our "family" blog. This page was created to share our joys and milestones with our friends and family. This is where I was going to post my pregnancy announcement, the ultrasounds, and our birth announcements. This was going to be where I was going to post the first photos of our child. How could I dishonor it by writing something less that happy or cheerful here? How could I dirty it by posting anything less that up, happy and exciting notes and beautiful photos?

Well, I finally realized something very important. Happy does not just happen; it emerges out of hardships and tough times. Joy does not come in a vacuum. And for us, family doesn't just happen, as it so often does for others. And if I want to have this place to write about the bliss in our lives, I'll have to have it to also write about the heartaches in our lives. So, here I am.

I am not here to write about our last great party, or the last wonderful trip to cool destinations, or all the other wonderful things that do happen in our lives on regular basis. I am not, because life's not just a series of happy and wonderful moments. Life has a lot of downs, a lot of losses, a lot of heartbreaks and a lot of disappointments. And I would be disingenuous if I simply went on posting pictures of smiling happy faces and nothing but.

Truthfully, this live is full of beautiful and one of a kind moments. I see amazing things each and every day. I see gorgeous sun rises, heart melting smiles on Scott's face, and all sorts of other awesome things. And I feel very lucky for my life with Scott. We're indeed very fortunate. And together, we have some amazingly unforgettable experiences. I would not give up a single one for anything in the world. But, our life together has also seen a great deal of loss, sadness and disappointment. And our journey has not been as smooth as either of us had expected or wished for. And yet, we are on this sad, awesome, difficult, beautiful, heart breaking, amazing, and awe inspiring journey together and that itself is bliss.

So, this is just to let you out there know that we're still here and that we remain committed, in love and in awe of each other. This is to let you know that we do have an amazing life filled with happy and cheerful moments. It's also to let you know that not everything is sugar and spice 24/7/365. But, what counts is that we're still here...

I Have No Excuse!!!

2009-09-21T20:50:00.000-07:00

Here's my cute husband posing with the Eiffle Tower.

The sights of Paris.

Every corner of Notre Dame is memorable.

A true gothic cathedral, Notre Dame makes you feel like a little ant once inside.

Moi at Notre Dame

Yumminess at Pierre Herme', a.k.a the Picasso of Pastry.

Our first photo together in Paris.

St Peter inside of St. Sulpice.

The fountain outside of St. Sulpice Church. This church is featured in the Da Vinci Code, which I am crazy about.

Long time, I know. Summer's officially over and we're in thick of things. It was a fantastic summer. We traveled to my favorite city in the world, the beautiful Paris. I'll let the photos do the talkin'.

Here's to more frequent posts this fall.
S.A.S

April 29, Our Third Year Anniversary

2009-06-04T14:23:00.000-07:00

We celebrated our third wedding anniversary on April 29, 2009. It was a great surprise because we weren't supposed to be able to do that. Scott was away on a business trip and wasn't supposed to return until the following weekend. But, the gods and goddesses were watching over us and he was able to get back.

We went to Monsieur Marcel for a fabulous and very lively French dinner and capped the evening at our favorite bakery, Susina. It was a lovely understated evening. It was enchanting.

And the Party Continued... All the Way to Ventura

2009-04-13T10:05:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Ventura, CA

The Left Coast Sachs Family on their Easter Sunday bike ride!

At Weaver's Wine Bar after a few delicious glasses of wine.

This is at one of my favorite restaurants in Ventura, Cafe Fiore. It's where I had my Bridesmaids Luncheon a couple of fays before the wedding.

We loved the view out of our balcony!

Stella immediately made herself at home on the BIG king size bed.

Here's me enjoying the view from our hotel room balcony. Isn't it just beautiful?

So, my birthday was such a milestone that we extended the celebratin' to the weekend. We loaded up the car and pack up the dog and drove up to Ventura, the town just north of Los Angeles County and south of Santa Barbara, where we got married nearly three years ago this month.

It was our first visit since the wedding. The weekend was just perfect and the weather gorgeous. It brought back all sorts of fun and happy memories of our wedding and the days leading up to it. Stella had a great time, too. She took a ride with on a side-by-side bike for about an hour, and shocked us both by sitting quietly and enjoying the ride!!! It was very fun and she was super cute!

Here are some photos of our overnight trip.

Enjoy,

A

Happy Milestone Birthday to Moi

2009-04-09T13:48:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, I met up with a long lost friend from Dallas who was in town for the weekend. We had not seen each other since 1993! Happy birthday, S!

On the eve of my birthday, Pantea took me and Scott out for dinner to Little Door, a wonderful place I have always wanted to go.

Moi with two faves: pink champagne and flowers

Birthday girl and her cute guy.

It was such a lovely dinner. Thanks Pantea!

BD lunch with Venu at the marina.

Mr. & Mrs. on the town.

Scott surprised me with dinner at the posh new SLS Hotels' Bazaar. I have been buggin' to go there since it opened a couple of months ago.

Our sangria was delicious and beautiful to look at.

Despite what it looks like, my birthday cake was NOT on fire!

Upon my instructions, Scott had asked the restaurant to place -- candles (the number representing my years on earth) on the cake. Apparently the waitress was afraid I would freak out seeing so many candles!!

Yesterday was my --th birthday. I had been dreading its arrival for, well forever, I suppose! But, although I may the number, I LOVE birthdays. All birthdays should be celebrated and cherished. So, to the end, I have been celebrating the dreaded milestone birthday for a whole week now. Hey, at my age, I gotta get all the attention I can get. It ain't gonna last much longer!!:)

Here are some photos of the festivities thus far. Enjoy.

A

LONG TIME!!!

2009-04-02T10:16:00.000-07:00

Strolling to Mozart in Central Park- is there anything better in life

Lunch at Blue Fin before leaving the W for the London NYC

Having after dinner drinks in our room at the W Hotel overlooking Times Square

A wonderful visit with Stacy

A family photo at Peter Luger's in Brooklyn

Mr. & Mrs. at Central Park

Muppets kissing? Shocking, I tell you just shocking

With Pantea at Central Park

Keepin' warm in Times Square

Awwww...

In NYC- we ate at L'Ecole at the French Culinary Institute, a New York favorite

At the end of a beautiful day, a fun evening and a wonderful wedding

Now, is he handsome or is he handsome

The back drop was so beautiful, we had to play supermodel

At a wedding in Palos Verdes

Spending a quiet Sunday watching TV and chilling

Celebrating my good friend, Allisson's graduation from law school

Valentine's Day 2009- sincerely the most mystifying dinning expreience of my life thus far

At Pitfire Pizza catching a bite to eat before catching a show and Ahmonson Theater with the visiting in-laws

Gosh, I am not doing a good job keeping up with our family blog, am I? Well, better late than never, I guess.

2009 has been an eventful year so far. In February, we embarked on a new road of growth change and hope. It has been a bumpy road up to now, but we are determined to keep going until we reach of destination. I pray to be able to share fruits of this adventure with all very soon.

March was beautiful, with the arrival of spring, as well as festive, since it's the month we Persians celebrate rebirth, starting anew and our new year. Norooz was warm and happy. It's my favorite holiday. It conjures happy memories of my childhood in my country before life turned upside down. Only a few days after the start of the new year, we packed our bags and headed to the Big Apple. My friend, Pantea came along on the trip. We only got back Monday morning. The trip was absolutely wonder-filled. I love exploring New York, and there's still so much more to explore.

I want to share all the wonderful things we did and the beautiful places we visited. But that shall have to left for another day. For now, I want to leave you with some photos of the last few months.

May this year be prosperous, happy and filled with impossibles becoming possible.

Atisa

Happy 2009

2009-01-19T11:46:00.000-08:00

The Left Coast Sachs Family wishes everyone a happy and healthy 2009!!!

Scotty was very pleased with our dinner

I was so happy and full

We had a fabulously delicious dinner at Sona, a famous restaurant Scotty wanted to try

Stella peacefully awaiting the start of 2009

Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and Happy 2009!

2008-12-30T10:27:00.001-08:00

Merry X-mas from the Left Coast Sachs Family!

Mommy and Stella in a Christmas portrait

Striking a pose in front of the tree

Scotty has gon hog wild over his wiiiiiii

Father and daughter sitting next the baby's pile of Christmas gifts!! Santa was very kind to Stella this year.

Christmas Morning at the Sachs household was quite festive

Isn't our tree beautiful?

Stella patiently awaiting Santa's arrival (zzzzz)

Hunky Santa visited our house this year (Scott, don't kill me. I had to!)

Santa and Mrs. Clause acting silly on Christmas Eve

Visiting a dear lifelong family friend who's here from TX for the holidays

At Osteria Mozza, celebrating Scotty's birthday

On Dec. 19, Scott's birthday after singing some Christmas Carols

Dancing up a storm at Scott's firm's shindig

With my good friend, Allisson at the Music Center after seeing Bizet's Carmen

It's been a LONG while since we've updated our blog, and you can blame that on Facebook! OMG, what an addiction FB can be. Both Scott and I are hooked on and linked in all day everyday. But, enough of that.

It's been a great holiday season, filled with light, laughter, love, presents and happiness. Here are some pictures spanning the months of December.

2009 is almost here, and there is so much to be thankful for and hope for. Resolutions, hopes and dreams are made and thought of. We wish you all a happy and wonderful new year. May it bring all of us what we most wish and hope for.

Love,

A&S

New Day Is Here...Almost!

2008-11-18T18:07:00.000-08:00

Majority, majority, MAJORITY. Sounds like heaven (gooooo Al Franken).

Breathing in peace with the knowledge that the high court was saved on November 4.

Last time I was in D.C., I had no desire to visit the White House. I told myself that I would only go when we get a Democratic President. Guess what?

It's been a historic November, and it's only half over. On November 4, we the people finally took back our country from incompetence, cronyism and malevolent negligence, to be polite. President-elect Barack Obama will take office and free us all on January 20, 2009. I, for one, am elated and currently residing on Cloud 9, so direct all your mail there!!!

I have so much hope for the future of this country and my family. Here's to our soon-to-be commander-in-chief.

A

Photos of Us

2008-10-26T22:52:00.001-07:00

Happy Sweetest Day!

A happy moi at Darren's celebrating my wonderful husband.

Don't we look happy and full? We were.

Here's Scott at Bacchanelia happy with his mini milk shake and donut holes. Yum!

Isn't Stella absolutely beautiful? I could spend hours talking about her and post hundreds of photos of her. But I won't.

Instead, here are a few more recent photos of Scott and me. While in Georgia a month ago, we dined at a fantastic restaurant called Bacchanelia. It was a very special night and the meal was simply amazing. Here are a couple of photos of that dinner. And speaking of special nights and amazing dinners, here are a couple of photos of our dinner at Darren's in Manhattan Beach last Saturday.

For all who do not know, the 3rd Saturday of October is Sweetest day. It's a Midwestern holiday very similar to Valentine's Day. Way back in the day, when we met in law school in Michigan, where people did celebrate Sweetest Day, we decided that it would be a holiday we would celebrate. Sweetest Day is technically my domain, meaning that I plan it, make the reservation and treat Scott. I have found some of our favorite places for Sweetest Day. Darren's was my 2008 pick. And, let me tell you, the place is wonderful and the food amazing.

Bon Appetit!

It's A Girl! Meet Our Little New Addition!

2008-10-22T19:31:00.000-07:00

Ok, enough waiting. It's time to share. Three weeks ago, we finally took the plunge and got a puppy. And what a puppy! The cutests puppy that was ever born. Meet Stella, our baby girl! I'll let the photos speak for themselves.
Love from Atisa & Scott and a hardy "woof" from Stalla!

Updates, Birthdays and Photos

2008-10-14T18:54:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to sit down and write about what we've been up to and share photos of our latest and cutes addition (stay tuned) for a while now. Unfortunately, finding time to do this has been easier said than done. I will make sure to post some more photos of our Georgia trip, as well as our cute little addition very soon.

In the meantime, here are photos of two absolutely adorable little ones in our lives. Madison is now five months old! Wow! Time is flying by. Mommy Stacy sent some photos that just call out for sharing. And my friend Bahar's little man, Brandon, turned one last week and had a big bash to celebrate this milestone. Sooo cute!

Enjoy,
A

Howdy, y'all! We're freshly back from Atlanta, GA.

2008-09-30T08:45:00.000-07:00

Sante` Cheri.

Thursday Night's Italian Dinner.

Moi at the Rehearsal Dinner.

Scott and His Mom & Dad at the Rehearsal Dinner.

Wooohoo! On the Bus Going to the Temple.

Betsy, Circling Brett, a Jewish Wedding Tradition.

Don't We All Look Spiffy?

At the Temple, Just After the Ceremony.

The Happy Couple Eating Cake.

On the dance floor, being rowdy.

Well, we're finally done with all the traveling. It was very fun and we had lots of adventures, but I'm happy to be home. We were in Atlanta last week for Scott's cousin, Brett. It was my very first trip to Georgia. We stayed in the Buckhead area in Atlanta, which is a nice, green, and a very affluent area in Atlanta. Neiman's, Sacks, Bally, Gucci, Valentino, Cole Haan! I wish we had the time to see Atlanta-the city, instead of just one really uniformed area of it, but that will have to be left for next trip. We had some wonderful food in Atlanta. Our first night's dinner reservation was for Bacchanelia, which is a wonderful place and Atlanta's top restaurant. The food was amazing, the service impeccable and the location great. However, the photos from Bacchanelia are in another digital camera, which has yet to be unpacked. So, stay tuned for those. The next night, we went to a wonderful little Italian with a sweet balcony. The names escapes me right now. The food was super delicious and we really liked our server. The rest of the week/weekend were spent at wedding related functions and let me tell you, we had a wonderful time. Every little detail was thought of by the mother of the bride, Julie. As you can tell, it was a great time. We wish Brett and his beautiful new wife, Betsy, a life filled with love, light and happiness. Welcome to the married couples' club, kids!
Love,
A&S

Goodbye AZ. GA, here we come!

2008-09-22T18:47:00.000-07:00

Yey, we made it. What do you mean "now we have to climb down the mountain"?

When in AZ, take a photo with a cactus.

My near death experience on top of the mountain!

My treehugger hubby enjoying the air up there.

A sweaty, tired, hot and panting me posing for the camera.

A shot of Biltmore Resort and Spa. The place was beautiful, even if it was hotter than youknowwhere.

Having a discussion with our smart group of students.

Scott at the Public Service Event on Wednesday.

We just got back from our week long trip to Phoenix, AZ. Scott attended the ABA conference and I tagged along for a little R&R. He was a great hit at the conference and did a lot of great things all week. One of them was a public service event where a group of lawyers went to a high school on an Indian reservation and worked in small groups with high school kids on issues affecting the environment. I went with him, and worked with some great kids about green building, Scott's FAVORITE topic. It was a great experience, even though I was hesitant at first. Our kids were so smart!
On Sunday morning, we took a guided mountain hike, which kicked my youknowwhat! It was terrible. I was panting and gasping for air. But, the important thing is that I didn't give up and went all the way up the mountain, thank you very much!
Tomorrow, we're off to Atlanta, GA for the rest of the week. And although exhausted and frazzled by all the adventures and travels, We're every excited to be going there for Scott's cousin Brett's wedding on Saturday. No worries, I'll post photos of the bash when we get back on Sunday.
Until then, I leave you with some photos of AZ.
XO
A

Good Bye NY, Hello AZ

2008-09-08T21:59:00.000-07:00

Little Miss Maddy with her Auntie Atisa.

The view from Brooklyn.

At MOMA.

My yummy main course at L'Ecole, the French Culinary Institute's restaurant.

I gotta tell you, as an immigrant I choke up every time I look at Lady Liberty!

A view of Manhattan from the Circle Line Cruise

We're leaving for Phoenix, AZ a week from Tuesday for a 5-day trip. I am planning all sorts of spa treatments and fun things. I have never been to Phoenix. It'll be a big adventure.

But, before getting there, I just wanted to share a few more photos of our last month's trip to NYC.

Enjoy,

A

More NYC Photos

2008-08-26T22:32:00.000-07:00

Our trip was really great. We played tourists for two days, running loose in New York City before heading to Long Island to meet and celebrate Maddy. In the City, we took a Circle Line Cruise, ate a lot of great food, visited the Museum of Modern Art and saw Mary Poppins on Broadway. So much fun!
Here are some NYC photos.
Enjoy!
A&S

Our Special Dinner In NYC

2008-08-24T21:38:00.000-07:00

While in New York, we ate at the River Cafe. Apparently, my husband has a "master list" of the restaurants he wants to eat at during his lifetime. French Laundry is on top of this list. The River Cafe, at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, is also on this list. So, eating there last Week was a huge deal. Here's a photo of us at dinner.
Stay tuned for more photos.
A&S

Meeting Little Maddy

2008-08-19T12:10:00.000-07:00

Having a drink on Daddy's lap. This is the life! Just chillin with Uncle Scotty. We're back from our trip to the Right Coast. It was a whirlwind of a trip and we had a great time. We spent the first 2 days in New York City, being total tourists and sightseeing and eating A LOT! The rest of the time was dedicated to spending time with our little niece Maddy, who is the cutes and sweetest baby EVER!! I'll post of photos of the City leg later. But, important things first. Here are some photos of the little Miss. Enjoy! A&S

Comic Relief from Paris Hilton!

2008-08-06T09:02:00.001-07:00

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/64ad536a6d

Little Maddy on the go

2008-08-01T11:07:00.000-07:00

We're counting the days down to August 15, when we finally get to meet our cute little niece, Maddy. She's having her debut at her baby naming ceremony and we're flying in to celebrate her birth. Mommy Stacy just emailed a new photo, which just had to shared. The email's subject line says: "I can't wait to meet you!" All I have to say is right back at you, sweetie!

Auntie A and Uncle S

Good Old Days

2008-07-24T09:24:00.000-07:00

Just sharing some photos from the last few years.

Love,

A&S

My New Ride!!

2008-07-21T13:26:00.000-07:00

Seconds after taking the keys from the dealer. Look at that grin!

It's here!! It's finally here! This is my brand new Scion XB in sting rey (color name). Isn't it beautiful? I LOVE IT!! Who wants a ride?

A

Bastille Day

2008-07-21T13:10:00.000-07:00

In the neighborhood taking in the sun
At Bistro L'Hermitage toasting the French!

Last Monday, the French celebrated the annual fest of Bastille Day. I partook in the celebration thousands of miles away in LA by sipping lots of champagne and listening to French songs. Sante', y'all.

Here are some photos from the weekend.

Vive la difference!

A

Long Weekend!

2008-07-11T19:56:00.000-07:00

Our our balcony

The kids hyped up on sugar and salt!

Friends forever

Aydean, the incredible chicken boy

On the shuttled after the day loaded with fun

Last weekend, we christened our new place by having friends over two day in a row. On the 4th, we had Ladd and Carrie and Pantea over for BBQ and fireworks. Lots of fun, especially since we could catch Marina de Rey's fireworks right from our place. On Saturday, the 5th, my friend from childhood, Mitra and her husband Hamid came over with their two boys, Roozbeh and Aydean. After lunch we caught the shuttle to the beach for an afternoon of sun, sand and fun. Here are some photos of our Saturday.

Our New Pad

2008-06-26T19:40:00.000-07:00

Summer's here and we're enjoying our new place. We moved to Playa Vista a month ago, and are now within walking distance of the beach, which make Scott the fish soooo happy. We still have some more unpacking and organizing to do and once all that is done, we'll share some photos of the new "Beach Place".

We're loving the cool ocean breezes and the lovely early morning walks to the beach. Our new neighborhood is great. There are lots of parks and beautiful gardens all around and the local club offers a nice gym, a great pool and even a screening room where movies are shown. And the local library is within walking distance, which makes me one happy and well-read girl!

We're very excited to be living here and are making plans for a big shin dig on Labor Day at the end of summer. But, for now, we're just really looking forward to a great summer in Playa Vista. Drop by if you're in our neighborhood. We'd love guests.

Happy Summer!

Love,

A&S

Another sweet little one has joined the world!

2008-06-20T20:47:00.000-07:00

Sweet little Nathaniel Hudson Firemark was born at 2:27 am June 16th, weighing in at 6 pounds, 5 ounces, and 19.5 inches long. We congratulate Mama Cass and Daddy Gordon and look forward to meeting the littlest Firemark very soon!

Maddy's One Month Old!!!

2008-05-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

Mommy and Maddy
Peaceful Sleep
Stylin' to Go Out
Dreaming of...Jimmy Choo Shoes or Gucci Purses

Our sweet little niece, Maddy, is one month old already. Wow! Time flies by so quickly! Anyway, here are some new and very cute photos for you to enjoy.

Love,

A&S

Mohter's Day 2008 (Part 2)

2008-05-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

I also got some new photos of little Sophie, who's gotten so BIG since the last time we saw her. Here's Sophie and her mommy, Alison.

Mother's Day 2008

2008-05-13T09:20:00.000-07:00

Sweet Little Star
Already a style maven, like Mommy!
Absolutely gorgeous
Happy Mommy's Day
Four generation of sassy women: little Maddy, Mommy Stacy, Grandma Beth and Great-Grandma Belle
In honor of Stacy's first Mother's Day, I share some more photos of the little Miss Maddy! How cute is this little girl?

Happy 2nd Anniversary to Us!!

2008-04-30T16:08:00.001-07:00

Yesterday marked our 2nd wedding anniversary. We celebrated by having a wonderfully romantic dinner at a great restaurant in Santa Monica. We thank our family and friends for their wonderful wishes, great phone calls and cards and gifts. Our special day was made even more wonderful by all of you.

XOXO,

A&S

More Maddy Photos!!

2008-04-30T15:33:00.000-07:00

Beautiful Mom and Maddy bonding

Having a little chat with Grandpa Jon
With Daddy and Uncle Ben and Aunt Melanie
With Great Grandma Belle
Getting ready to go home with Mommy and Daddy

Look at that cute face!!!
Peaceful moment with Grandma Beth
With Grandma Barbara
Proud Grandparents Beth and Gary
Looking at her beaming happy Dad

Maddy's not been feeling well in the last few days and is currently in the hospital for treatment. We pray for her speedy recovery and quick return home. Can't wait to meet her soon!

Love,

Uncle Scott & Auntie Atisa

Welcome Little Madie

2008-04-27T11:46:00.000-07:00

Little Madison Paige was born on Friday morning. Mommy Stacy and the little Sunshine are both doing well, and going home today. Here are the first photos we've gotten. She's sooo cute!!

Congrats to Stacy and Sandy and the Hatz and Sachs families.

Mazel Tov!

Brandon's Six Months Old!!!

2008-04-18T10:19:00.000-07:00

"My toy cup runneth over."
" My Mommy's HOT!"
" Age is a startling, hair curling experience, y'all!"

My how quickly times goes by when you get older! My little man, Brandon, is six months old already. Soon, he'll be graduating from college!!! Here are some wonderfully sweet photos. Enjoy.

Love,

A

Long Time!

2008-04-11T13:04:00.000-07:00

Scotty surprised me with a wonderful birthday gathering at Santa Monica's Hotel Del Sol

Please take note of the beautiful background while you admire the beautiful people

With Fletcher, my littlest birthday guest

We spent my birthday at Universal Studios

WILMAAAAA!!!!!!

On the studio tour tam

Hi there,

It's been a LONG time since I've updated everyone on what's happening with us. Sorry, but keeping up with my ipod, Balckberry, facebook and maintaining two blogs take a lot of time!:) I know, I know...I'm way too into all this stuff.

Anyway. Since we last spoke, lots have happened. I traveled to AZ for a great workshop. We celebrated our 11th anniversary (dating) together. We also celebrated the wonderful Norooz, or Persina New Year in mid March. Oh, and I had a little birthday last Tuesday. It was my 16th! Who are YOU to judge me!!!

So, here are some great photos from the last few months/weeks.

Enjoy!

A&S

Happy 11th!

2008-02-19T11:52:00.000-08:00

Last pit stop: a tasting room in Paso Robbles. We had some central coast wine and bought a few bottles to bring home. What a wonderful end to a wonderful trip!!!

Lunch before leaving Santa Cruz. Apparently, this bed and breakfast is haunted. I saw/heard no ghosts while eating.

One last photo amongst the hundred year old trees.

Heading out of the forest in our fun rental.

Finally, I have evidence of the fact that I have married a treehugger!!

Before heading back to LA, we drove through a nearly redwood forest. This photo was taken as we drove into a National Forest. You can see "Pinchie" the lobster, our road trips's mascot!

On the cliffs nearby our hotel.

Day3- We bagan the day by being lazy. We cuddled up on the couch, had a leizurely breakfast and watched Into the Wild. This is me on the balcony of our room. In case you can't tell, we were situated over a cliff overlooking the ocean. Isn't it nice?

The day ended with a gorgeous sunset and extensive frostbite!

On our way back, we ran into a large group of dolphines and spent a good amount of time enjoying them. They have no fear of people and boats, so they swam close to the boat and flopped arounf in the water. They were amazing. I have a short video posted at the bottom of this entry, if you're interested.

Ok, so this was a whale watching tour and we did see a couple of whales, but it took a long time to find them and they were very bashful and didn't give us a chance to take a tail photo. But, I promise, the black thing in the middle of this photo is a whale.

Exhibit A- one frozen husband!

The trip was supposed to take 3-4 hours, but ours took over 4 1/2 hours! We had a great time, but were freezing for most of the day!!!

Our boat slowed down for us to see the cute seals hanging out and sunning themselves.

We took a whale watching cruise on the afternoon of our 2nd day. This photo was taken just as our boat took off for the journey.

Day2- Our hotel, the Seascape Resort, was in Aptos, just a few miles south of Santa Cruz. It was situated right on the cliffs overlooking the Monterey Bay. We took a quick walk down the trails and ended up on the beach just below our hotel. The day began sunny and cool.

Day 1- We took Pacific Coast Highway up the California Coast. Imagine miles and miles of views like this! Fianlly, toward the end of the day, we pulled over to the side of the road and took a few minutes to just admire the amazing view and take some photos. See the waves crashing in distance?

Today's a very special day. 11 year ago today, Scott and I began our journey together. I still remember that day vividly. We had started law school just a month and half before and were facing three of the most difficult and challenging years of our lives. Late Tuesday night on February 19, 1997 in my dorm room, we sat and talked and kissed for the first time! And the rest is, as they say, history. It was very sweet and it is one of my most cherished memories ever.

To mark this wonderful day, I'm sharing some photos from the trip we just took. We took advantage of the long President's weekend and took off for Santa Cruz. It was a beautiful road trip and a great break from everyday life. We took some gorgeous photos. Hope you enjoy them.

Love Always!

My Favorite Little Man is 4 Months Old!

2008-02-12T21:05:00.000-08:00

Mommy and Brandon hard at work.
Is he not the cuttest thins ever!?

Hello and Happy New Year!

I can't think of a better subject for the first entry of 2008 than my little nephew, Brandon. Here are a couple of new photos. Thanks, Mommy B. for sending the photos!!

Love,

Auntie A.

Holiday season goes on!

2007-12-30T13:56:00.000-08:00

Drum roll, please...here's the official unveiling of my brand new look for the brand new year.

Here's my little superstar, Bandon with Mom, Bahar.

Christmas day at our friend's with their daughter, Sydney...

...and their other little girl, Lauren.

Here's a sleepy Scott on Christmas morning playing Santa Clause

You may not know this, but I LOVE Christmas time. So, around this time of the years, I don't leave home without a camera. And what good are photos without sharing. Here are some more holiday photos. Some of us, some of our friend and others with our friends.

2008 is almost heeereee!!! Can you feel it?

Love,

A

More Holiday photos

2007-12-28T20:57:00.000-08:00

My cute husband at Ca'Brea on Christmas Eve.

St. Branden where we attended Christmas Eve Mass.

Scott took this photo at dinner Christmas Eve.

We had a beautiful weekend, filled with friends, love, laughter, magic and presents, of course!! Here are some more photos of our Christmas.

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy 2008

2007-12-24T15:43:00.000-08:00

Joyeux Noel. Bon Natale. Happy Christmas

Santa flying over LA.

With Venu at her parents' Christmas Party.

Sunday night before Christmas at the Grove taking in the sight and sounds of Christmas.

Here's Scott on hi birthday with our dinner saying, "don't eat me, don't kill me!!!!!"

Haven't written in a while, but didn't want to let the holiday season go by without sharing a few photos from the last few months. Here's a to a 2008 much better than 2007; to days filled with happiness and peace; to hours spent with loved ones; to happy and exciting new developments; and to a happy, healthy, blessed and PEACEFUL new year.

Much Love,
A&S

Just not enough

2007-12-03T13:02:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, no mater how many time the angel says, "grow, grow", it's just not enough.

2007-11-26T08:44:00.000-08:00

Every blade of grass has an angel that bends over it and whispers, "Grow! Grow!"

-The Talmud

Halloween, Part 2

2007-11-05T16:15:00.000-08:00

So many cute babies, so little time to gush!! Here are some new photos of my cute little nephew, Brandon, including one in his first Halloween costume.

Happy Halloween!!

2007-11-03T18:11:00.000-07:00

Here are some new photos of little Fltech in his first Halloween costume ever!! Too cute for words!

My Visit to the Right Coast

2007-10-27T08:05:00.000-07:00

Sharing a Peaceful Moment Together

With the Proud Papa

With Mama B. at Brandon's First Evening out

Sleeping Peacefully

Auntie-in-training

Isn't he just adorable?

Here's our boy with his Auntie just before my flight back to LA.

Greetings all,

I just came back from an eight-day trip to Virginia and meeting my cute little nephew, Brandon. OMG! Is he ever cute, and sweet and cuddly and fabulous! And such a good baby (except the day he peed on me-twice and the nights he kept his parents up!:)) We had a grand old time. I already miss little face.

Here are some photos of Mama B., Baby B. and the gang. Enjoy.

Love,

"Khaleh" Atisa

Today's Thought- Greetings from VA

2007-10-23T09:27:00.000-07:00

Freedom is the oxygen of the soul.

Brandon's Here!!!

2007-10-15T21:37:00.001-07:00

A Close up of the Cutie Pie
The New Telleria Family
With Proud Grandma
Bahar and Nelson are the proud parents of Brandon Cyrus Nelson Telleria, who was born on Tuesday October 9, 2007 at 10:27 p.m. at 20 inches and 7.14 pounds. Isn't he the cutest! This makes me proud "Auntie Atisa". I'll be on my way to meet my cute little nephew in just two days. Dirty diapers, here I come!!

OXOX

Auntie Atisa

My Best Friend, The Mommy

2007-09-04T13:13:00.000-07:00

My best friend and maid of honor is pregnant. Correction- she is VERY pregnant. About seven months pregnant. She and her husband had their baby shower this weekend on the Right Coast. Unfortunately we were unable to make the festivities, but got glimpses of the fabulous soiree through photos, some of which I've posted above.

Bahar, you look glowing, very happy and super cute! Nelson, you look great, too. Pregnancy obviously agrees with the both of you! So, when will you have your second one? I must be an "auntie" at least twice!!!:) Have you ever seen Auntie Mame? That's the type of auntie I'm going to be!!

Love,

A&S

Look at What I Found on the Net

2007-08-28T15:22:00.000-07:00

In search of... Hitchcock in San Francisco

Two of the master's famous dramas unfold on this city's streets. Ian McCurrach reveals the main locations

Published: 03 August 2003

Many famous movies have used San Francisco as a backdrop, but did Hitchcock shoot any there? You bet. Namely those two classics, Vertigo and The Birds. And it's not to difficult to find your way around town in the footsteps of the characters.

Many famous movies have used San Francisco as a backdrop, but did Hitchcock shoot any there?

You bet. Namely those two classics, Vertigo and The Birds. And it's not to difficult to find your way around town in the footsteps of the characters.

Vertigo, that's the one with James Stewart and Kim Novak, right?

Yep. Stewart plays Scottie, a former San Francisco policeman who suffers from vertigo - a dizzying sensation brought on by his acrophobia.

Acrophobia? That's fear of spiders isn't it? Where do they come in?

No, no, no. You are thinking of arachnophobia. Acrophobia is fear of heights, hence Vertigo, duh! Stewart is hired by a shipping magnate millionaire to follow his wife, Madeleine, played by the icy blonde Kim Novak, whom he fears is going to wind up dead.

So where do the locations come in and where can I find them?

At the start of the film, Scottie says that he is so overcome by vertigo that he cannot even ride the lift to the "Top of the Mark" - meaning to the bar at the top of the Mark Hopkins Inter-Continental Hotel up on Nob Hill. Although Scottie does not ride the lift to the 19th floor, you definitely should, as the views of the bays and bridges are unsurpassed. Forget the drab 1970s décor. Order a cocktail as the sun begins to slip into the Pacific and be inspired by the panorama panning out beneath you.

Where to next?

As you leave the Mark Hopkins, look out for the Brocklebank building, which is next door to the Fairmont Hotel at 950 Mason Street. This is where the scene was shot that establishes Scottie's mission to follow Madeleine. Scottie sits patiently waiting in his car outside what appears to be an elegant apartment building, watching and waiting for the enigmatic Madeleine to drive off in her Jaguar. Vertigo visitors are not encouraged but while in the area it is worth checking out the nearby Cable Car museum on Mason Street, which houses a collection of cable cars and the amazing motors that drive the cables.

So, getting back to Madeleine, where does she head for?

The mysterious Madeleine makes for Mission Dolores, 3321 16th Street, where she lays a bunch of flowers on the tombstone of her ancestor, Carlotta Valdez. The Mission district is sheltered from San Francisco's clammy fogs and is often the warmest neighbourhood in what is a frequently chilly city. Today the city's oldest district is a hotbed of culture and is still favoured by Latinos who came here when the mission was founded in 1776. Look out for the famous murals and sample the fabulous fare at the Mexican eateries. Wander round the mission cemetery, which is filled with flowers and among whose graves are those of the city's first mayor and California's first governor. But don't waste time looking for Carlotta's gravestone. It was a prop, removed after filming.

I guess we play Scottie and keep following Madeleine, right?

You got it. Head for the California Palace of the Legion of Honour, where Madeleine goes to look at a picture of Carlotta hanging in one of the galleries. Kim Novak did her mysterious woman act in Gallery Six but it's worth spending half a day here as the gallery is the prettiest in the city, surrounded by cypresses and pines, with the Pacific and the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop. Be impressed by the fine Neo-Classical façade and be inspired by the vast permanent collection of mainly European paintings and excellent travelling exhibitions.

Didn't Madeleine pretend to commit suicide by throwing herself into the bay?

That's right. Your next stop should be Fort Point on Marine Drive, directly underneath the toll plaza for the Golden Gate Bridge, in the Presidio, a former military base. It was here that Madeleine jumped from the fort pier into the Pacific, only to be saved by superhero Stewart. The four-storey brick fort, which dates from the 1850s, was built to protect the city from attack by sea, and along with its 126 cannons, today houses several military exhibitions. This is a great place to get back to nature within the city as the Presidio boasts more than three miles of beaches, some 11 miles of hiking trails and around 14 miles of bicycle routes.

Where did Scottie live?

Funny you should ask, because after saving Madeleine from drowning he takes her home to his Russian Hill pad on Lombard Street. His apartment is still there on the 900 block but the main reason for coming here is to see what has been dubbed the "the crookedest street in the world". Between Hyde and Leavenworth Street, the 27 per cent gradient is the steepest in the city and packs in an incredible nine hairpin bends. Visitors queue up for the thrill of driving down it so go early or late to avoid the rush.

Madeleine and Scottie get out of the city, right?

They take a half-hour ride north to Muir Woods, the magnificent redwood forest which is on the other side of Golden Gate Bridge. Some of the redwoods here are more than 800 years old. There are plenty of hiking trails to follow, and abundant wildlife, such as deer and chipmunks, to observe.

Hmm, talking of wildlife, what's happened to The Birds?

We're getting to that bit now. Hitchcock cunningly combined the rolling hills and stunning shoreline of Bodega Bay with the inland hamlet of Bodega, making them seem only yards apart instead of miles. The schoolhouse is still standing in Bodega where Tippi Hedren and co holed up to escape the clutches of the crows, but it is now a private residence. These days Bodega Bay is a sleepy resort featuring some upmarket spa hotels and good restaurants. Keep your eyes peeled though for any menacing-looking feathered friends.

Okay, I'm hooked on Hitch. How do I get there?

British Airways (0845-733 377; www.ba.com) offers return flights from Heathrow to San Francisco from £358. If you want to hole up at one of the finest hotels in the city, check into Ian Schrager's The Clift Hotel (00 1 415 775 4700; www.ianshragerhotels.com), which offers rooms from £122 per night, based on two sharing. America Direct (0870-889 0827: www.americadirect.co.uk) offers seven nights' b&b at the Hotel Bijou from £499 per person, based on two sharing, including return flights from Heathrow with United Airlines. A seven-night room-only break at the three-star Renoir Hotel costs from £449 per person from Bon Voyage (0800-316 0194; www.bon-voyage.co.uk). Flights from Heathrow with Virgin Atlantic are included. Holiday Autos (0870-400 0010; www.holidayautos.co.uk) offers one week's car hire in San Francisco from £132, including online discount, insurances and taxes. Further information: California Tourism (0906-0577 0032, premium rate line; www.visitcalifornia.com).

..Ok, can we talk about San Francisco now??

2007-08-28T10:52:00.000-07:00

Palace of Legion of Honor is spectacular!

Finally, standing before The Thinker

Ahh...that's what anyone wants: cold, wet fog in the middle of August

I became so dizzy looking up at the bridge

A lovely corner in Grace Cathedral

A a like-minded friend I met on the bus

The artists' show at Union Square

Mr. & Mrs. Sachs having dinner

Me on a bus...hey that's newsworthy since I never take the bus..I live in LA, remember?

Mission Dolores

I've become a blog freak, thank you very much. I currently have three blogs where I write and post photos and a Facebook page! As a result, I've been neglecting this page, I hate that.

So, with that in mind...

We went to San Francisco in early August for three days. Scott had to be there for professional reasons, and I tagged along for some rest, relaxation and tourism. I think somehow I forgot the resting and the relaxing, because I walked all day everyday we where there. I've been to San Francisco before, but have never had the opportunity or the time to see a lot and do a lot. This trip was different. Since I had a lot of alone time, as Scott's days were mostly spent at the convention, I mapped out a some sight I have always wanted to see and visit.

I traced some locations shown in one of all-time favorite movies, Hitchcock's Vertigo, and visited Mission Dolores and its antique grave yard, I sipped coffee and enjoyed partings by local artists in Union Square, and I visited the gorgeous Palace of Legion of Honor, which held Carlotta Valdez's portrait in Vertigo. Not such painting exists, of course, but the museum and the grounds were simply fantastic. And I finally saw Rodin's The Thinker, which made my year. And finally and most wonderfully, I took a walking tour of the Golden Gate Bridge, which is just amazing! But the weather was so windy and cold and foggy. Mother Nature apparently doesn't notice that it's AUGUST. I had four layers on, for goodness sake!

We had some wonderful meals, and even managed to meet up with some friends. All together it was a wonderful time. Here are some photos of our beautiful and memorable trip.

And stay tuned, because the next trip may be right around the corner. We might be going back to sunny Ventura, where we got married, for Labor Day weekend. I promise to write soon and share more photos.

Until then...

It's never to late to...

2007-08-21T23:24:00.000-07:00

share good news. On July 1, 2007, my friend Karen who was a bridesmaid at my wedding got married. I've failed to share photos of Karen & Robert's beautiful wedding so far. This entry corrects that neglect.

Congratulations to Karen and Robert!

Love,

A&S

Fletcher, welcome to the world

2007-08-21T10:28:00.000-07:00

Fletcher with mommy
Daddy's little man
Buddy welcoming Fletcher home- is that smile??

Our good friends, Michele and Patrick had their beautiful (I mean handsome and masculine) son on Tuesday, August 7, 2007. We are so happy for them and look forward to meeting little Fletcher Patrick very soon.

Congratulations, guys!

Love,

A&S

They are idols of hearts and of households;

They are angels of God in disguise;

His sunlight still sleeps in their tresses;

His glory still gleams in their eyes.

Oh those truants from home and from heaven,

They have made me more manly and mild,

And I know now how Jesus could liken

The kingdom of God to a child.

--DICKENS.

Happy Birthday, Madge!!!

2007-08-16T22:02:00.000-07:00

Long time, I know. I'm about to share some new photos in the next few days. But, today's not about me. Today is about a legend, and inspiration and an unshakable spirit. This one's for you, Madge. Happy birthday.

With all my love and admiration,

Atisa

Our Travels in May 2007

2007-06-04T14:33:00.000-07:00

With the gorgeous bride.

At a good friend's wedding in Plano, TX.

In Texas with a friend I had not seen in more than a decade.

Speaking of .... GIANT, I tell you.

At Serendipity before devouring a giant sundae!

We took this photo while going over the river in a cable car

Scott took this. It's his favorite photo of moi.

Overlooking New York City. Love it!

I told you we like traveling. To prove it, take a look at these photos. We were in NY for Scott's grandmother's 90th birthday party during the May 19th weekend. We got back on Monday, the 21st, only to pack our bags once more and head to good ol' Dallas, Texas FOUR days later on Friday, May 25th!!!

Jet setters? Yeah, baby!!!

Now, back in LA and on terra firma with no plans to travel in the foreseeable future, we get back to our routine in our wonderful, eclectic and crazy City of Angels.

Enjoy.

We Heart Traveling

2007-05-11T09:30:00.000-07:00

At Sonoma's Sebastiani Winery

Strawberry Fields at Central Park

Mrs. Progressive Goes to Washington

In NYC and at the Metropolitan Opera

San Diego

On the plane from Los Angeles to Bella Roma

A year ago this time, after our gorgeous wedding, we were gearing up for our European honeymoon cruise. I'm reminded of that once in a lifetime trip at least once a day. The memories of those ten days will stay with me always. I often day dream about Rome, wish I could be in Paris, and wonder if I'll ever visit Portofino.

We love to travel and have had a year filled with memorable wonderful trips. Since our wedding and besides our honeymoon, we've traveled to San Diego, been to New York twice, I visited Washington, D.C. and we spent our anniversary in Napa. So, in honor and memory of our honeymoon and all the other memorable trips of this year, here are some photos of our trips in our first year of marriage.

Bon Voyage!

Long Time...

2007-05-01T16:19:00.000-07:00

In Napa at our Cute Little Cottage
In Napa Celebrating our Wedding Anniversary

March 2007 in NYC at Carmine's

At Blue on Blue on our 10th Anniversary
Norooz 2007 Sitting by Our "Haftseen"

It has been a super long time since I've blogged on this page. I have no excuse other than saying life simply got away from me. Lots has happened since Valentine's Day 2007. On February 19, 2007, we celebrated ten years together. On March 21, 2007, we celebrated Norooz (Persian New Year) together, a first in a long time. On April 1, 2007, we commemorated the first anniversary of my sweet father's passing. On April 8, 2007, I got one older, making me a mere 21-year-old!:)

And, finally, last weekend we celebrated our first wedding anniversary!!! Hard to believe it's already been a year since our beautiful wedding. We celebrated in the most perfect way with a trip to Napa Valley, CA. Here are some photos from the last few months and celebrations.

Here's to another year filled with blessings, health and fartune. Here's to life filled with harmony, respect and love. Here's to my sweet, kind, generous, wonderful "HUS", Scott. I love you a little more everyday!!

OXOX

2007-02-14T11:23:00.000-08:00

Happy Valetine's Day, Everyone!

Love,

A&S

1997-2007

2007-01-18T15:28:00.000-08:00

2007 marks our 10 year anniversary. it was 10 years ago this month, when we met in law school. We had Criminal Law together with Professor Peden. And that's where we noticed each other. We both lived in MSU's Butterfield dormitory, and that's where we first met.

I was scared out of my kind. It was my first time away from my family, and everything seemed so scary: a new freezing state, a new challenging school, and having to figure out living independently for the first time.

Scott was a friendly, happy-go-lucky, hippie "dude" who seemed so at ease and so bright and sunny. He was so kind and truly caring nurturing and looking back at that time, I can honestly say that I would not have made it had it not been because of him.

So, to my kind, sweet, cute, gentle, accepting, and supportive "HUS", I say Happy Anniversary.

I love you more than words can express!!!

A

Boun Anno e Auguri!

2007-01-01T16:47:00.000-08:00

We wish you all a year filled with health, wealth and happiness!!! Happy 2007!

Oh Holly Night...

2006-12-24T20:03:00.000-08:00

We took this one just a few minutes ago.
Yes, that's snow in LA...fake snow, that is!

Isn't Santa handsome?

We want to wish you the merriest and happiest of Christmas Eves and a wonderful Christmas day tomorrow. May you always be surrounded by light, love, and family and may the new year make all your wishes come true.

Bon Natale!

A&S

Happy Holidays to You!

2006-12-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

Only one short day left to Christmas Eve! What a wonderful time of the year this is. Everything seems happier and shinier. I just love it.

We could argue about each person's religious beliefs until we're blue in the face. We could discuss the "war on Christmas" and the lack of "Merry Christmas" wishes and the abundance of the PC greeting of "Happy Holidays". We could have a contest of the differing holidays... Chanukah's the one, no it's Christmas, and what about Kwanzaa? We could keep telling each other how different we are and drive a wedge between ourselves by one upping each other's holidays and religions. But, what does that accomplish?

Why not look at this time of the year and see it for what is: the time for us all to fulfill our need to believe in something unseen, in miracles, in magic, in beauty and in humanity? Does a Jew not see how beautiful the Christmas tree is? What problem could a Moslem have with lighting candles, gathering by friends and family and giving gifts out of love? Why can't we stop pointing to our differences and see, really see, that we're all basically the same? What can't we see that we all love our families and friends, that we yearn to believe in a higher power, that we love and look for beauty, that we want to celebrate life and that we all want to believe in magic, no matter how old we are, where we come from and what our gender is?

Christmas is a gorgeous holiday, and so is Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. They're all different ways of reaching the same goals: family, love, comfort, spirituality and thankfulness.

So, no matter what you believe and celebrate in your homes, we wish you bright days, happy nights and a season filled with love and happiness.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!!

Christmas Present & Christmas Past

2006-12-21T11:11:00.000-08:00

Scott wearing his favorite seasonal accessory at a party in 2004.
This house is in our neighborhood. It is adorn year-round by a whole lotta naked David statues and it's appropriately called the "Youngwood Estate" Ho! Ho! Ho!
Nearby Grove Shopping Center is all decked out. It boasts the tallest Christmas tree in the country. Even taller than the Rockefeller Center tree. Take that, NYC!
Our cute and tiny Christmas tree this year with a starfish as it's tree topper.

Here are some more photos from our Christmas times past and present. Enjoy!

Such a Great Time of the Year

2006-12-18T22:34:00.000-08:00

We bought and decorated our tree last Saturday. It's beautiful, even though a bit too short as far as I'm concerned. But, it's our first tree in a few years and I love it!!!! I'll post photos soon.

Merry Christmas!

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

2006-12-18T13:40:00.000-08:00

I must make a confession: I hate the winter. I hate the cold, I hate the bareness of nature and I especially hate the snow. That’s why LA w/ its year-round 70-degree-weather is perfect for me. I spent three miserable cold years in Lansing, Michigan while attending law school and if I never see snow again, it would be too soon.

Despite my dislike for winter, Christmas time is one of favorite times of the year. No matter where I’ve lived and no matter what my life’s situation has been, I have always found Christmas to be magical and amazing.

I had my first Christmas tree was when I was in first grade in Iran. My half-brother, whom I didn’t even know about until then, had returned from Italy after many years and my dad wanted to make him feel welcome and bring us all together. I will never forget that tree. I even still remember all ornaments in detail. As a non-Christian living in a Moslem country, I had only seen Christmas trees in American movies and on TV. It was such an amazing adventure for me to go along for picking the tree, buying ornaments and decorating it with my new found brother. My dad told me stories of faraway lands and a sister I had never met. He, my half-brother and my half-sister had spent Christmases past in Rome and my dad was full of funny stories of those times. I was mesmerized by it all.

A few years later, when I was in fifth grade, my family and I found ourselves living a completely different life. Gone were the days of comfort and prosperity; gone were the glorious carefree days of the past; and gone were all our American and European friends and my “foreign” brother. We were abandoned by friends and family. It was just the three of us against a cold and harsh new world. Iran was now an “Islamic Republic”, whatever that meant. My father had lost his job and we were forced to move to a one-bedroom apartment in order to make ends meet. Times were grave and scary and virtually everything I knew life to be had been wiped off the face of the earth.

That winter, my father found me devastated and “homesick” for my old life. I wanted my Christmas tree. I wanted lights and ornaments, happy faces and parties. He knew that we could not have a Christmas tree and that having one might lead to big trouble for the entire family. Times were different now. We had religious zealots running the country and they would not take kindly to a “Moslem” girl decorating Christmas trees and singing Jingle Bells. But, I was only ten years old and could not comprehend how deeply the course of our lives had changed. I just knew that I wanted things to be the way they used to be.

So, my dad dug up a tiny old plastic tree we had and told me to string all my beads on a long strand. We decorated that sad tiny tree with my beads and ornaments he made out of cardboard and glue. Even in the depth of loss and despair, my dad made me feel happy and fortunate that year. I remember my parents warning me of the consequences of telling my classmates about my tree. They scared the hell out of me. I didn’t care. I felt like a super special secret princess with my very own secret magic Christmas tree. In a way, that little sad tree was and will always be the most beautiful tree to me.

Years later still, we finally settled and tried to grow roots in a brand new country and a brand new culture. After many years of harshness, uncertainty and instability we relocated to Texas and began to put our broken lives together again. We finally were able to celebrate Christmas again without fear, without being controlled and without being hesitant. As years went by, Christmas became bigger and brighter and happier in our home once more.

In the recent years, and for various reasons, that tradition has faded again. My family was plagued with illness and sadness and emptiness and Christmas got pushed back and ignored. I can’t even remember the last year I had a tree.

But, this year is different. This is the first Christmas since my dad died. After so many years of uncertainty, doubt, loss and unhappiness, this Christmas also marks my first one with my new husband. I face my future no longer alone and as I bid goodbye to my loving dad and all my fond memories of our Christmases past, I embrace my new family and look forward to Christmases with my own children. I can’t wait to string beads and make ornaments out of cardboard with them in honor of their Granddad.

So, for the rest of days of 2006, I am going to share pictures of past celebrations and Christmases. I wish I could show you my first Christmas tree or the one my dad and I made out of insignificant things, so you would know how fortunate I once was to be the daughter of such an amazing father. But, those images only exist in my mind and my heart along side the memories of my sweet and kind dad, whom I love and miss more than I can express.

Merry Christmas and Happy 2007 to everyone!

Emmett is One Month Old!!

2006-12-18T11:16:00.000-08:00

I'm sure he's singing opera to his mommy here!
ZZZZZZZZZZZ

Happy Birthday, Little One!!

As I do most mornings, the first thing I did this Monday morning was to check my email. Usually, I only have bills, political emails, and spam. Nothing too terribly exciting or wonderful. Today was the exception and not the rule. This morning, I received an email from my wonderful friend, Jane. Today her little star, Emmett, turned a whole months!! The fabulous email led me to Emmett's very own website. I just had to share of some of his little photos with everyone. Is he not the cutest thing??? HAPPY ONE MONTH BIRTHDAY, EMMETT!!!

La La Land, Here We Come

2006-12-11T14:18:00.000-08:00

Well, our wonderful trip is over and we're back in LA again. This was such a great trip and I FINALLY had a chance to actually see some of New York City, which has always been a dream for me. We're going back in spring, and I'm already making a list of all I still wanna do. I'll post some more photos from our excellent adventure a bit later. Stay tuned!

Greetings from the Big Apple

2006-12-07T19:39:00.000-08:00

Exterior of St. Patrick's Cathedral

Sack's Christmas window display

This was taken by a couple who had just gotten engaged

As you see, at the Rockefeller Center

In the library of our cute hotel, the Mansfield

We've been in NY for three days now. It's been a fabulous trip-everything I always wanted out of a NY trip. Here are some photos from our excellent adventure so far.

Wish you were here!!

Happy Turkey Day

2006-11-22T16:15:00.000-08:00

This year's Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2004 Right After We Got Engaged

With less than 12 hours to go, we're fast at work getting ready for Thanksgiving. It's a special day for us for many reasons. Thanksgiving is Scott's favorite holiday. When we were in law school, Scott used to do a Thanksgiving dinner and invite all our friends. He would get up at the crack of dawn and cook all day. He took a lot of joy and pride in his turkey. Since we moved to LA, we've begun a new tradition. Every year, we gather at Scott's second cousin, Lynne's house and share Thanksgiving with her and other family and friends. It was during this gathering two years ago when Scott proposed to me. So, this Thanksgiving, we look forward to seeing our dear friends and family and to celebrating the anniversary of our engagement and to giving thanks for all the blessings in our lives. We hope you have a blessed day filled with happiness, love, laughter and lots of delicious food. HAPPY THANKSGIVING, EVERYONE!

Welcome to the World

2006-11-19T12:20:00.000-08:00

Little Emmett Augusten Mayer was born to our wonderful new friends, Jane and Brian Mayer yesterday morning. Momma, Papa and the little superstar are all doing wonderfully. Although just arrived, little Emmett has been with us through some very happy events. As a matter of fact, unbeknownst to us, Emmett was there and helped his mommy when she presided over our gorgeous wedding ceremony in April. So, his arrival is extra special to us for many reasons. We send all our warmest wishes and congratulations to the Mayer family and welcome little Emmett to the world!!

Ok, enough political stuff. Back to A&S

2006-11-14T21:41:00.000-08:00

"You can now kiss the bride"

One of our gorgeous egagement photos

At my shower with our moms

Still on Cloud Nine from last week's victory, but this blog is not a political one. Back to us and our married bliss. Here are some more photos from our engagement and wedding.

WOOOOHOOOO!!!!

2006-11-08T09:52:00.000-08:00

It's a great day!!! The Dems have taken the House back and the Senate might shorty follow. It's a proud day for me. This was my fist winning election. I became a citizen in 2000 and every election has been heart breaking. It feels so wonderful to finally see the people of this country wake up, vote their conscience and take our country back. It's a fabulous day!! Ok, Now I'll go to hear MY President speak. Oh, and the reports say Rumsfeld is stepping down!!! Wooooohoooo!!! It's a FABULOUS DAY!!!

Vote 2006

2006-11-06T10:47:00.000-08:00

In Paris during our honeymoon.
What do the French know? One could say a lot.

Please make sure you vote tomorrow. It's such an important election and so much is riding on it. This country must find its intellect, its vitality, its diversity and its honor again. Our country was built based on differing opinions, fresh modern ideas, ethical thinking and freedom. And yet these are the very values obliterated in the recent years. They have been obliterated by a one-party, monarchy-style government, dirty politics, an immoral occupation, failing foreign policies and the systematic destruction of our constitutional and civil rights for the sake of tricking the nation into feeling safe.

Now dissent is no longer viewed as an exercise of our cherished right to free speech. If you raise your voice in dissent, you are considered unpatriotic. Now we cannot rest assured that we have constitutionally protected rights and are entitled to the due process of law and that no one can take these rights away from us. Our homes can be searched without our knowledge and warrants; our library records are a sign of our intentions and therefore no longer private; our citizenships can be stripped on the basis of so little; our freedoms can be taken away without due process or access to habeas corpus; and we can be maltreated and harmed, as long as our president deems the treatment as "non-torture".

This country has become unrecognizable to its citizens who love it from the bottoms of their hearts. Sometimes, it looks and feels like the restrictive, backward, religious dictatorship my family and I escaped from. And this fact hurts my heart. You see, I am in love with my country. I think it's an amazing place born out of some amazing ideals. These ideals must be protected and defended when attacked, as they have been in the recent years.

For the love of God, if you're a citizen of this country, give damn and vote tomorrow.

God bless everyone in the world, as well as America

Halloween

2006-11-01T13:10:00.000-08:00

Those are feather lashes, just in case you were wondering. They're Fabulous.

Scott's sign says: Young Republican in Training, Adopt a Jailbird.

Happy Halloween! This is my favorite holiday!!! It's the one time in the year where you can be as flamboyant as you want without people passing judgement. I can't wait for when we have kids. I'll get to do all the things I didn't when I was a kid: carving pumpkins, trick or treating and all other Halloween traditions.

This year, we were invited to a great Halloween party in Long Beach. It was so great and very fun. They even had a Halloween hunted house set up, but I was too scared to go through it. Scott went as a young Republican on his way to the county jail. Quite appropriate for these times. I went as the angel of death. There's a Republican-related joke in there somewhere.

Boooo!!!

Our New (Temporary) Baby

2006-10-29T12:53:00.000-08:00

In the bath tub where Giggio lives

Is Giggio not the cutest thing ever??

Thursday we found little chinchilla running around our garage on Thursday. We were afraid it would get run over by the cars and didn't know what to do with it. Finally, Scott captured it and brought it upstairs and we've have been taking care of it since then. It's made a home for itself in our spare bath tub upstairs.

Poor little thing was so scared a first day or two. The funny thing is that we (really me) were afraid of it, too. But, we all have gotten used to each other little by little. I picked it up and held it today for the first time. It is the cutest little thing and so soft!! It's a cross between a cute mouse and a bunny rabbit. It's really cute, as you see from the photos. I've even named it: Topo Giggio, which is the name of an Italian cartoon character. It's similar to Mickey Mouse, especially since the word "Topo" means mouse.

Despite signs around the building and the manager's phone calls to the tenants, no one has yet come to claim the little guy. We will not be keeping it though. If no one in the building claims it, we're giving it to Scott's assistant, Lisa and her daughter Hanna.

Everybody say Ciao, Topo Giggio!

Happy Shadduchus

2006-10-25T20:08:00.000-07:00

We were invited to some friends' house two Saturdays ago. They are news friends and this was our first time over. We were married by Jane, the lady of the house, who will have their first baby in five weeks. She and her husband, Brian are such a great couple.

The invitation, which came in the form of an evite about a month ago, said we were going to celebrating the "Shadduchus" holiday. Neither one of us had ever hear of this holiday. I assumed it was a Jewish holiday, since there are a lot of them I still know nothing about. The evite offered some information about the holiday. Shadduchus is normally celebrated in the first weekd of December (they were celebrating early this year since their hands will be full with their brand new baby in December). Shadduchus is celebrated by eating only sweets and desserts and nothing else from noon until bedtime, and its official colors are green and purple! We asked around to find out whether this was a really fun Jewish holiday we somehow had managed to miss all these days, but to no avail.

No one seemed to have EVER hear of Shadduchus.

Finally, I asked the hosts. It turned out that Shudduchus is completely, totally, and 100% made- up!! Jane and Brian are from very diverse cultural and religious backgrounds, and they wanted to have a day of celebration separate from each of their cultures and backgrounds. They also wanted it to be hassle free and without any cooking, so they decided to have the guests brings desserts and sweets to the party. The green and purple came about because the first year they had a Shudduchus party, the paper plates that happened to be on sale were green and purple!!

What fun! We loved the idea so much. And the party was totally fun. People came dressed in green and purple w/ platters of candy apples, brownies, choccolate chip cookies, cupcakes and other fun goodies to eat. The hosts provided real hot choccolates (made from choccolate bars) w/ marshmellows and other no alcoholic drinks. The other thing that was required was that each guest bring $5-$10 and the name of their favorite charity. The money went into a bowl and the names of charities were written down on small pieces of papers and put into another bowl. At some point our hosts pulled a name out and the entire money collected went to that charity.
Is that a great idea or what????

So, the two of us, also of such different backgrounds, countries and cultures are fast at work brainstorming for a made-up holiday of our very own. We're toying with the idea of having our own Shadduchus holiday and interpret it as we wish, but nothing's been decided yet.
Do you have any idea? If so, please write and let us know. We want something fun, hassel-free, different and CLEAN, so get your minds out of the gutter, put your thinking caps on and let us know what type of made-up holiday you would have!!

A Belated Happy Sweetest Day

2006-10-22T23:29:00.000-07:00

With Karen & Robert

On Sweetest Day at the restaurant

Sweetest Day is like Valentine's Day. It's a Hallmark holiday, if you will. It's not well-known anywhere but the in the middle America. It is always celebrated on the 3rd Saturday in Ocotber. Scott and I learned about it while we were in law school. It became our tradition that while Scott plans for Valentine's Day, I would plan out and take Scott out on Sweetest Day. So, every year, I search high and low for a new place to take Scott for Sweetest Day dinner. This can be a very anxious time for me, as Scott is an uber "FOODIE". This year, we went to Cafe Pacific at the Trump National Golf Course. Such a lovely location, right on the bluff overlooking the ocean.

To my sweetest, I love you.

OXOXOX ~A~

Friendship (Part 2)

2006-10-17T16:30:00.000-07:00

Julie, here with Scott
Brent, (Center) Julie's Husband

Jenny and I
With Dundee, My Friend with the Point
With Allisson, Who Recently Became a Bride Herself
We've dedicated a lot of blog entries to our friends in the past. The other day, I spoke to an old dear friend from law school. She and her husband could not make it out to the Left Coast for the wedding, even though they tried really hard and truly wanted to be here for it. Her point was that the blog did not mention those in their situation: those who are so dear to us and who really wanted to be with, but were unable to make it. To her and other good friends who were not at the wedding, I send all our love and say, "we know we're loved by you and although disappointed that you missed the wedding, we felt you there with us in spirit."

My Leading Ladies

2006-10-09T17:12:00.000-07:00

At the Bridesmaids' Luncheaon the Day Before the Wedding

Love This One!

My Beautiful Girlfriends

Clockwise: Mitra, Karen, Me, Bahar, Stacy

With Stacy, my Sister-in-Law

I had three bridesmaids and a Maid of Honor. I originally asked six friends to stand by me at my wedding, but two actually dropped out!! Don’t even ask. And, don’t think for a second that this fact did not mess with my head and made me rethink my friendships.

You learn a lot about your friends and family when planning for a wedding. A surprising side effect for me was finding myself reminiscence about life and take inventory of old and new friendships, admittedly not the most positive of experiences at times.

That said I learned so much from my girl friends that committed and stood by me when I got married. They taught me about dedication, loyalty, love and friendship. I was so honored and privileged to have them participate in the wedding. It was very special and I cherish the experience always.

Karen, my good friend and dedicated bridesmaid who planned and gave me the most beautiful shower in the history of wedding showers, just got engaged and is now planning her own wedding. She was a great help and such source of support for me during the whole wedding planning process, and I’m so blessed to have her as a friend. I’m so excited for her and cannot wait to celebrate her wedding.

Mitra and I have been friends since we were in middle school in Iran. She is my soul sister and the friend who gets me completely. When my dad passed away three weeks before the wedding, she took the time to fly to Dallas with me for his memorial service. It was a hard trip for so many reasons and having her with me was a true blessing and such a source of peace and solace.

Stacy, my wonderful sister-in-law, was a force of nature throughout the whole planning process. She was so supportive and helpful and such a great source of knowledge and advice, since she was planning her own wedding at the time. She was my staunchest advocate and supporter, and I appreciated her dedication and enthusiasm.

Bahar was my Maid of Honor. She and I have been friends for nine years ever since we met in law school. Throughout the planning stages, she listened to my sob stories, tried to help with all the wedding related issues that popped up oh-so frequently, and lent a hand when she could despite her own life’s issues and difficulties. She just got married herself and is now planning her own wedding. She has honored me by asking me to be her Maid of Honor. I cannot wait! Let the planning begin.

Each of these amazing women, as well as so many others, offered me limitless love, tireless dedication and a shoulder to cry on when I needed it. In retrospect, I realize how perfect my wedding party was. Everyone who was meant to be part of my big day was and I’m so thankful for that.

Thank you all for your friendship and love. Thank you for being my friends!

Friendship

2006-10-03T11:22:00.000-07:00

Law school friends at the morning after brunch

Dancing with my great friend who honored me by escorting me down the aisle

Love this photo!

A childhood friend dancing with his beautiful wife

Being silly with a great group of friends

A quiet moment before the reception with a colleague and close friend

For me, having friends around is everything. I was an only child and grew up in a very small family. I had cousins, but didn’t spend a lot of time with them as a kid. Once my parents and I moved to Europe and eventually to the U.S., the three of us was all the family I knew. And since my father’s death, the family I knew has gotten even smaller. That’s why one of the most meaningful memories of my wedding was having our amazing friends come from all corners of the country to witness our special day.

They came from Texas, Michigan, Washington, New York, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Illinois, Virginia, Florida and elsewhere. We met and made lifetime friends in diverse stages of life: childhood friends, co-workers, law school classmates, colleagues, volunteer fire fighters, concert buddies or friends of friends who became dear friends. No matter how we met, no matter how long we’ve known each other, what these people all have in common is one thing: their friendships mean the world to us.

I drew love, strength and courage from their presence and it was amazing to look around and see nothing but the faces of people who love and support us. After the wedding, we sent thank you cards to our guests for their love, support, generosity, and for coming out despite the trouble of traveling far and wide. I don’t know if they really understood how important it was to have them there.

So, this post is to pay homage to these remarkable, dedicated, loyal, sweet, funny, enthusiastic, devoted, generous people whom we call our friends. We love and thank you for who you are.

Love,
A&S

Happy Fifth Month-a-versary to Us!

2006-09-29T13:53:00.000-07:00

A bridesmaid
The moment we saw each other for the first time on our wedding day
Details of my beautiful gown
Here are some more photos of the little touches that made our wedding so special to us and for your guests.

Jewish Wedding Traditions

2006-09-29T10:52:00.000-07:00

Overlooking our beautiful Ketubah

Dancing the Hora

Under the chuppah breaking the glass

Members of the wedding party building the chuppah

The Chuppah:

In Jewish weddings, the couple gets married under the chuppah, or the wedding canopy, symbolizing the new home the couple will build together. Just as a chuppah is open on all four sides, so was the tent of Abraham open for hospitality. Thus, the chuppah represents hospitality to one's guests. This "home" is also initially devoid of furniture as a reminder that the basis of a Jewish home is the people within it, not the possessions. Our chuppah was made of green bamboo and a white cloth. It was designed and put together by our good friends, Carrie and Ladd, with the help of the member of the wedding party.

The Ketubah:

The ketubah, a traditional Jewish marriage contract, literally means "that which is written". Before our ceremony, we signed our ketubah, which symbolizes the commitment we made to each other as we bagan our life together.

Seven Jewish Blessings:

In both Persian and Jewish cultures, seven is a mystical number. In Jewish weddings, seven blessings are wish upon the bride and groom, recognizing passion and friendship in marriage. We intermingled this tradition with a ancient Persian tradition of hand-fastening.

Blessing of the Wine:

Wine is the symbol of joy and abundance in the Jewish tradition and celebrates the union of the bride and groom. Persians believe that sharing honey will ensure a life filled with sweetness. We took these traditions and merged them to symbolize our commitment to undertake the sharing of all that life may bring.

Breaking of the Glass:

Perhaps the best known of all Jewish wedding rituals. It serves as reminder of the transforming nature of marriage, it also implies a wish: "let this marriage last as long as it would take to put this glass back together." For us, the breaking of the glass signified the breaking down of walls and barriers between people of different faiths, cultures and traditions. We also adapted our own tradition of having BOTH of us break the glass, instead of the traditional custom of having the groom do it alone. Equality is a wonderful thing!

Persian Wedding Traditions

2006-09-26T12:55:00.000-07:00

Mirror and spice tray

Prayer book

Apples and sweets

Candles and flowers

Painted eggs & nuts and crystallized sugar

Our wedding was a very multi-cultural and interfaith affair, reflecting our diverse backgrounds and cutures. While our wedding ceremony incorporated a lot of elements from the Jewish traditions, our celebration also reflected many elements of ancient Persian wedding rituals. For example, during our second wine ceremony, the officiant added a drop of honey to the wine we shared. Sharing honey by a newlywed couple symbolizes the start of a sweet married life, according to Persian tradition.

Persian wedding rituals are more than 2500 years old, dating back to the ancient Zoroastrian tradition, the old religion of Iran before the advent of Islam. Traditionally, the ceremony takes before the wedding spread or Sofreh-ye-Aghd, which we also had at our wedding. The articles placed on the Sofreh symbolize values, wishes & hopes of those close to the bride & groom for the new couple.

Mirror represents the purity of marriage; Candles represent light & fire, sacred in ancient Persia; Decorated Bread & Cheese & Herbs Platter represent prosperity; Honey, Sweets & Kaseh-Nabat (crystallized sugar bowl) represent a sweet future; Eggs & Nuts represent fertility; Live Fish represent life; Pomegranates & Apples represent joyous future, pomegranate is a heavenly fruit & apples symbolize the divine creation of mankind; Gold Coins represent wealth; Espand a type of incense used in Zoroastrian purification rituals & to ward off evil; Spice Tray (Seenie Atel o Batel) with seven types of spices to guard against evil eye & drive away evil spirits; Rose Water to perfume & purify the air; Red Roses, with Thorns, to remind the couple that marriage is always beautiful but not without its adversities; Fresh Flowers express the hope that beauty will adorn the couple’s life together; A Sacred Book such as Avesta, Bible Quran or, as at our wedding, a Hebrew Prayer Book, represents faith in God.

Perfect Day

2006-09-20T09:02:00.000-07:00

We got the rough cut of our wedding DVD yesterday. We opened a bottle of wine, lit some candles left from our wedding and watched the who thing twice!! One word: fabulous.
Watching it brought the whole day back. We both remembered things that had gone by too fast and the feelings and events all over again. It was so wonderful to re-live our wedding this way five months later.
Such a wonderful wedding and such a fabulous day!
Stay tuned, I'll be adding more photos and details in the next few days.

To My Sister

2006-09-10T17:27:00.000-07:00

On Her Wedding Day

In D.C. a Few Years Back

In LA for my Birthday.
At My Wedding.

On Saturday, September 9, 2006, my closest friend and the maid of honor at my wedding, Bahar, married her fiancé, Nelson. It was a small civil ceremony, and they’re planning a big wedding next year. But, it was such an important day and I am saddened by the fact that I missed it. You see, she lives in “Right” Coast, and I live in the Left. Add to it the fact that they planned the whole thing in t-h-r-e-e days, and you see why I was absent.

Bahar and I met in law school and by complete happenstance. As a matter of fact, our meeting was against odds, since we were a year apart in school curriculum and could have very easily never run into to each other. But we did meet and we did become friends and as time went on, we became more than friends…we became each other’s family. I see myself in her in so many ways on one hand, and a person so completely the exact opposite of me on the other. I don’t know what she sees when she looks at me. Maybe a pushy, big-mouthed broad. But, somehow we fit, somehow we work.

We’ve been through a lifetime in the last decade…accomplishments, successes, gains, losses, heartaches, rejections, deaths, loves, and now marriages. And I’m certain that we’ll be there for each other through all the future lifetimes to come…babies, careers, adversities and challenges, as well as all the happy times.

Bahar, I still cannot believe that I wasn't there for your special, but I couldn’t be happier for you & Nelson. I wish you happy days, romantic nights, and all the love you can handle. I pray that you find peace, tranquility and prosperity with Nelson and I hope that life brings you nothing but fortune, health, happiness, bliss and love.

I love you,
A

Our Wedding-The Photos

2006-09-07T12:26:00.000-07:00

Our Wedding

2006-09-06T14:16:00.000-07:00

It was Saturday, April 29, 2006. The sky was filled with silvery clouds. We had hoped for a warm sunny late spring day, but it was perfect just as it was because it was our wedding day.

We walked over to the beach, took our places, and got ready to walk down the aisle. And, just then something magical happened. All of a sudden, the cold, the wind, the clouds…they all melted away. The noise died down, the commotion silenced. All I could hear was my heart beating and all I felt was my close friend and escort holding my hand as we began our walk over the sand dunes and down the beach to our beautiful bamboo Chuppah.

I don’t remember much. I know I was smiling and I tired to look into each and every guest’s eyes to connect with each soul who had come to witness our marriage. Our friend, John, was playing “Tears in Heaven” by Eric Clapton with his guitar. I picked it because I have always love it, but considering my father’s passing three weeks before the wedding, the song seemed to be even more fitting.

At the end of the aisle, Scott stood, so handsome and so serene. He was so tranquil through the entire ceremony, and whenever I fought tears back I only had to look into his handsome, happy and peaceful face to center myself and calm my heart.

The ceremony was a blend of old and new, Jew and Persian, the traditional and the zen. Our officiant, Jane Mayer, drew everyone into the ceremony by asking us to face our guests and making everyone connect from the start of the program. We had a hand fastening ceremony, borrowed from ancient Persian Zoroastrian traditions, but Jane made it our own by cutting the ties off, revealing to the audience that we were bound not by visible or tangible ties, but by invisible emotional ties of love and commitment. The ceremony ended by both of stepping on glass…I love equality.

The reception continued the theme of the coming together and the blending of two distinct cultures and backgrounds. A Sofreh-ye-Aghd or traditional Persian wedding spread was present, representing my ancient heritage, traditions and rituals dating back to more than 2500 years. We began the night by dancing the Hora, a very boisterous traditional Jewish celebration, and ended with some very festive Persian dancing. And our guests feasted on delicious Persian food, including Shirin Polo, or Sweet, symbolizing the start of a sweet married life for the bride and groom.

Our reception was filled with lots unique and personal touches. Our centerpieces represented earth, wind, fire and water. The tables were named after songs by Scott’s favorite band, the Allman Brothers. Madonna songs reigned prominent and I even got a chance to do some vogueing. Strike a pose! Our very last song was “Little Martha”, by the Allman Brothers Band, and the song most ABB concerts end to.

Our wedding was full of uniqueness, love and tradition. It was simply perfect.

I Heart Paris!

2006-09-04T20:57:00.000-07:00

I have always loved Paris and dreamt of going there all my life. Knowing this, when we planned our honeymoon earlier this year, Scott made sure that we ended our dreamy trip in Paris. It was a VERY short visit-only 24 hours-but it was a dream come true.
That's why visiting these websites have become part of my daily routine. So, how cares if I only had one day in Paris. Now I get to visit Paris everyday. This will have to be enough until we go there again.

Enjoy and Bon Voyage!

http://www.paris-live.com/
http://parisdailyphoto.blogspot.com/
ParisDailyPhoto (making of)

2006-09-04T12:36:00.000-07:00

Happy Labor Day, everyone. The long holiday weekend has been a fun one for the two of us. We began by attending a live taping of HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher. After the show, we went to the Stinking Rose for dinner.
On Saturday, we had lunch with a person who's currently attending the law school we attended. She had contacted me because she has an interest in practicing my area of law. It was such a surreal feeling being the lawyer who career dispenses advice to a novice. It seems like it was only a second ago when we were where this woman is now, trying to figure out our way through the maze. Later on Saturday, we went to a friend's pool party, and still later, we went out for some Persian food for dinner. Y-U-M!!
On Sunday, we attanded a friend's sister's wedding. It was an Indian wedding, our first. It was so full of color and love and beauty and music! Simply lovely. We danced our butts off, literally. As a matter of fact, we're both totally sore from all the dancing!!!
Today has been a lazy day. After a slow start, we each caught a different metinee movie. Scott saw World Trade Center, and I saw the Illusionist. What an absolutely beautiful film. I highly recommend it. Scott also liked his movie, and thought it was very well made. He seemed a bit shaken by it and has been in a somber mood ever since. I knew how that movie would affect me, and that's why I did not see it. We're now ending the day by some mellow and relaxed reading, writing and watching TV.
So, that was our long weekend. Let's see what the week will being.
Ciao.
A