We're here! London's calling...

Actually...London is not calling, nor should anyone else be calling! Sprint doesn't have service in England so if you call-please don't think I'm avoiding you...send me an email instead.

We arrived around 8:00 am this morning then stood in line at customs for about an hour, made our way to the train then picked up a cab that took us to our place. Sam's mom and dad did one of those house swap thingies...just like in the movie "The Holiday".



It's a great place and I'll take pics later...but for now I'm signing off! I have a couple more things to do...then I'm going to bed. We took a 5 hr. nap when we arrived but I want to get to bed at a decent hour so I can switch up my schedule. London is 5 hrs. ahead of Eastern Standard Time-so not too bad...but the jet lag is hitting me!

Interview for WKYT in Lexington...

We touched down Wednesday...early morning, 1:30 am to be exact. Our flight was delayed due to a lightening storm. If you ever wonder if there is a God...try being 30-thousand feet in the air and watching the clouds below you billow about as streams of light explode into glorious...scary, brilliant bolts of thunder...the utter e
xcitement and shear brilliance of it will make you think.
That natural show...as cool as it was delayed the landing...so the pilot hovered over the storm for about 20 minutes then decided it was best to turn around, go to Cincinnati and re-fuel. This is Cincy...it has the coolest skyline. To the right is my mom and myself in their amazing garden. A far cry from my L.A. home...but a great escape from the hustle and bustle.

Although we were 3 hours late we were thankful that he chose the safe route, instead of plowing into the storm...but that cut into our sleeping time! 5 hours later we were up and about-preparing for the 2.5 hour drive to Lexington. Our interview was at noon on Wednesday so we left my parent's home in Ohio at 8 am...just to make sure we made it in time...but first...dad had to show me his home grown corn...it was delish.

The anchor at WKYT, Bill Bryant interviewed us for the noon segment. Great guy...super nice. The only problem with the interview was the fact that the full version of our app for kids, Bedtime Bunny Tales was not available for download. For some reason, Apple has decided to approve our lite version...but the entire book is "still in review". The first day the lite version was released it received 554 downloads...the second day more than 3-thousand downloads. It was exciting...but also kind of defeating. We generated all of this interest and folks couldn't purchase the book. Last night, Sam removed the free version. We decided there was no need to have it available if people couldn't upgrade. I think it was the right thing to do. We received three reviews, two 5 star, one 2 star...for the sole reason that she couldn't upgrade to the full version. Come on Apple!!

Anyway...the trip to Kentucky was amazing. If you've never been, put it on your bucket list. The rolling blue grass will take your breath away and the people are hospitable without being over the top sugary! I attended Eastern Kentucky University...just 30 minutes south of Lex, so I had to take a stroll down memory lane. It holds a special place in my heart. I'll have to tell you about that later.For now...I need to prepare for a weekend of friends. About 15 college buddies will converge here in Columbus, then to my BFF's farm just south of the city. I may or may not post pics! See you next week...

I’m flying high...literally. I'm in a plane headed toward Columbus, Ohio...who would have thunk it???The World Wide Web from the comfort of your tiny airplane seat-wow!

Yesterday morning we interviewed with HGTV’s Professional Grade’s crew. The crew being two super cool peeps-the lady just moved to LA from Colorado and was missing the beautiful Rockies while the producer-a lovely gentleman who moved here from Houston LOVES LA and is a former television reporter-we bonded. Anyway, they asked us some questions, shot video of the wall we plan to take down and then shot some extra footage-just in case. I found the casting call on Craigslist and I’d applied to other shows before with no luck…but this one, I think we got it. I’m super excited…but it makes me tired just thinking of what we have to do. Below is a picture of a rendering Sam built in 3D. That's what our living room looks like now...kinda. Here's what it will look like when we finish the renovation...

If you’ve never watched Professional Grade, it’s a reality show on HGTV where home owners complete a renovation project on their own, then the network sends in the pro’s to grade your performance. If you spend less than what a pro would charge for the same type of work…you win the difference. Here’s an example; We spend 500 dollars on the island that we build ourselves. The pro’s come in, check it out…if it meets their standard and they believe they could charge 1000 for the same island…we win the difference-dollar bills-ya’ all! For your viewing pleasure I've embedded a full episode.

Ok…I’m not going to get to excited-we haven’t been chosen yet…but we do have something exciting to share. Last night the “lite” version of Bedtime Bunny Tales went live! That means it’s available on iTunes-whew! Finally! The “lite” version is just the first 7 pages,it's free…so we really need Apple to approve the full book because we are missing the upgrade and you will be left with a cliff hanger! Keep your fingers crossed! Click on the tiny url for a preview!

BlogHer....the convention that rocked!

Wow! I'm pooped! Just going through the cards I collected from other bloggers from all over the country-truly amazing. Am I the only person in the world that didn't know anything about blogging until about six months ago? I must admit...I hate to learn anything new when it comes to technology...I know, that's crazy...but I'm impatient and learning software takes time!!


Anyway...I found that I am not the only woman who isn't into techie stuff. Yes...out of the 3-thousand plus women who attended the convention, I'd say at least 2-thousand of them were avid bloggers and not many of them were pumped about learning how things worked...they just liked telling stories...writing and changing the world in which we live. That's a woman for ya! Oh...and you could sooooo tell a group of ladies put this convention together. First, the food was amazing...and the options were endless...even vegan and gluten free! There was an entire ballroom committed entirely to sponsors and did they do it right! Everyone was giving away super swag...not to mention hand massages, manicures and yummy chocolate goodies-like I said...women know how to put on a party/conference.

Sam went with me...he was my secret weapon, being he's McSteamy and all. He made some really good connections and one potentially awesome connection-but I'll let you in on that as it materializes. I'm super tired but just to recap the weekend-it was jammed packed with sessions on how to make your blog a business...how to pitch an idea, how to impact the world, help kids with learning challenges/behavioral problems and everything in between. The Pioneer Woman was there on Thursday...but her session was booked so I wasn't able to sneak a peek. If you don't know her...she's super blogger extraordinaire. She started four years ago and now has a million followers, has written a couple books and is producing her own cooking show. Yes...that's the blogging world. Like I said...amazing!

I want to tell you much more but that's it for now. I can't keep my eyes open! Just an FYI-we had to resubmit the app for kids, Bedtime Bunny Tales to Apple without the remote reading option. Hopefully, they'll approve it now! Oh...don't let me forget to write about San Diego, it is soooo beautiful. I want to move there. Hope your weekend rocked!

Hollywood!

Last night we went to a party in Hollywood...not in the neighborhood or close to it...literally at an apartment on Hollywood Blvd. I don't know if you know anything about the wood but it wasn't always as cools as it is today. We moved here about 7 years ago...then moved to Austin, Columbus and then back to L.A.. Within that 7 yrs...you wouldn't believe all of the changes. Across the street from the party there stood an LA Fitness Gym, a grocery
store and several shops. None of that was here before we left and the streets were full of people walking about, laughing...going to their respective homes, eateries, etc. 10 years ago that was NOT the scene. Hollywood was known for prostitutes, drugs-you get the drift...but the city poured some mullah into it's famed street and voila...after a couple million...(cough,cough), you have a beautiful Blvd. I'll have to go take some pics closer to Hollywood and Vine (the other end of the street), it has had a facelift too and it's looking quite lovely. Speaking of lovely...the cutie wearing the flowers is Caroline, the Birthday girl, sitting in her super cool apartment. I wouldn't normally post a photo of myself with my mouth wide open...but I guess I talk a lot and gesture with my hands, so it was hard NOT to find a decent, well demure picture of me. Anyway...look past my big ol' self and look at those windows!! Wow...I am in love with this building. I think it must have been built in the 20's or 40's...it's very art deco and I love, love, love the arched windows and the hallway...beautiful!! Thanks Caroline...hope you had an amazing Bday!

Now...I don't want to get sentimental or mushy or anything like
that but I do want to say thank you for everyone who has been
supporting us on this journey. I hate to even use that word, it is almost cliche but that's exactly what it has been. New friends, old friends and family...thank you for following us...we appreciate it!

What inspired me to extend this thank you was a post I received from an old friend from college yesterday, Katie Sweet. Katester...as we call her, has worked in education since graduation and just recently gave birth to her second child. In the message she left she said "Ang-you've always lived a fairy tale life". Looking at these pictures and reading posts entitled "Hollywood" one might agree, but it is all very relative. I'm super thankful for all of my adventures and I love to share them with you...but I am also just as excited to hear about your life and the adventures you are experiencing everyday. Giving birth, watching your daughters recital...playing ball with your kids...all of that makes a fairy tale...and none of this Hollywood stuff can even compare! I love living in Los Angeles but I'm convinced that we can all live our own "fairy tale" each day by being aware of all of the many things that make us happy...even if we can't find our names on a star or in lights! Thanks Katester for following...I'm following you too!

Mister Rogers, We got a call from Apple and the Bachelorette

What do Mister Rogers, Apple and The Bachelorette have in common? Not a damn thing, but let's talk.

First of all...to those of you who are keeping up with us, a representative from Apple called us yesterday to tell us we have to add "game play" to our app for kids, Bedtime Bunny Tales in order to keep the remote reader portion of the book. I wasn't too happy with that response. Yeah, just add a game to your book...that won't cost several thousands of dollars and who knows how long?!?!? Anyway...I think we are going to try and remove the remote reading technology just so we can get the book on the iTunes Store. Once it is up and running we'll try and add it back later. I really just want it to be live by Thursday...just in time for the conference BlogHer. Please keep us in your prayers!!

Now onto the next unrelated topic...Mister Rogers' Neighborhood! Did you ever watch it? I hate to admit it but as a kid I never saw the show...now when I see it I think, gosh this is great. Just an old fashion way of teaching children how to treat others. Kinda like Sunday school. Mister Rogers was a Presbyterian Minister and he taught with such great authority-yet you didn't even know you were learning a lesson. I like that kind of teaching. Anyway...here's the scoop on the neighborhood...

The classic kids TV series Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood is getting a 21st Century overhaul, the PBS announced Sunday.

The new series, titled Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood , will incorporate the original “Mister Rogers” characters as adults with young kids of their own living in the Neighborhood of Make-Believe.

While the original Rogers series could be enjoyed by a wide range of different aged viewers, the new version primarily targets preschoolers.
Check out this image!

Now...onto the really important stuff...The Bachelorette finale!! I know...I know, this is garbage but I love it! Well, I have to admit it, I didn't really love this season. I didn't love her...she was sweet but her lack of confidence was annoying and the guys were alright...just no one I LOVED! Anyway, she didn't pick my choice so I'm doubting their love makes it...but who am I to predict this? I found this video online...5 minute interview-kinda good-she says she isn't insecure...hmmmm.

Ok...I finally have to get back to finishing our rental unit. The new tenant moves in tomorrow!! Hope you're beating the heat!

No work this weekend!!

On Saturday I went with a few friends to a magical hidden land...one with waterfalls, cliffs and surprises around every corner.

OK...that picture is only partially true. Sam couldn't join us and when I came back with these amazing images he just couldn't help himself. Photoshop can do almost anything.
Anyway...the place was amazing...even if it didn't look quite like Jurassic Park!

My friend Roshelle and I rode in the back seat...so the hour long ride wasn't exactly the best for two people who get car sick...but once we finally made it up the winding road...the views were spectacular and the hike was outrageous!
The place is tucked away far from the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles and it's hard to believe you are so close to the city...but yet so far...far away.

This pic was taken at the first pool of water you come to after hiking for probably a couple miles. Everyone was jumping off the cliffs and Caroline and her sister slid down a natural made slide...if you will. I actually can't believe I didn't get in the water. I love to swim...but I just couldn't do the green. There was lots of algae and although I am usually the first one to take the leap...I decided to wimp out. I never regretted my decision until the guys and Roshelle trekked their way to the last pool at the end of the trail. I was pooped and thought I'd relax in the cleff of a rock while they went diving. I enjoyed myself but when they returned they had these amazing photos of them jumping into the water. I was jealous and now I must go back and do the same!
This is one of the reasons I love living in SoCal. There is sooo much to do...so much to explore. You could never find every little hidden gem...it's impossible, but when you stumble upon something like this...wow, you just have to take a minute to soak it all in. The thing is...it really doesn't matter where you live, you can find inspirational places in any town...you just have to look for them. If an avid hiker wouldn't have told a friend of a friend about Tar Creek, we would have never known it existed!

I guess that's life. No one will ever know what's going on, where you visit, what you like, etc...if you don't tell them. Now...we live in such a day that "spreading the word" isn't too difficult but could you imagine how hard it was for those living before us?
Regardless...I'm thankful I have my cell phone and I don't have to hike my way through mountains and valleys to get to mom's house! Now I can call her, jump on a plane and within hours, I'm home.


Speaking of home...we'll be in Ohio next week...and also KY, spreading the word about Bedtime Bunny Tales...hopefully Apple will have approved it by then...but as of now, no word. We'll keep ya posted but until then...find some adventure for yourself and dive right in!