#32: Renew our Wedding vows 'Elvis style'...The Plan

In November it is our 5 year Wedding Anniversary and 15 years since we have been together.


Our wedding was a small family gathering and it was a really special, romantic and beautiful day.

But the idea of 'eloping' and flying to Las Vegas and getting married 'Elvis' style just sounds absolutely marvellous and something we have wanted to do for a very long time.

It has to be with all the trimmings you expect from a Las Vegas wedding. Although I put my foot down at the thought of a Drive Through wedding (that is so crass). Obviously we will be renewing our vows rather than getting married, but I am sure it still will be just as crazy!

This is why it is #32 on the Life List.

Las Vegas is also an excuse so we can go back to America and attempt to tick off #32, 37, 49, 74, 76, 79, 81, 84 and 71 off the List.

I think next year will be the year we do it... I can feel it in my waters

Let the challenge begin...


The Las Vegas wedding style I am aiming for [image courtesy of 'The Hangover' via clothesonfilm.com]



I ♥ Zooey Deschanel

I admit it...

I have a BIG girl crush on Zooey Deschanel
 

Photos of Zooey from her Instagram

Look at her. How could you not?

To me she is effortlessly beautiful, quirky and epitomises everything I love about Los Angeles (where she is from).

I have noticed that there are some Zooey haters out there, which is fine, but I just really admire her.

I love how Zooey has embraced her brand and social media. She has co-founded Hello Giggles with some friends. She also has extremely popular Instagram and Tumblr sites. And as well as her acting, she is also a musician and is part of the indie folk band She and Him (which I like a lot).

And most importantly she has made the Ukulele hip again.

As I said before, #74/76 on my Life List is about going back to LA and seeing the things I loved. But I also want to go back and discover the Downtown LA that Zooey is defending in this article. I want to go back and take in everything that is so quirky and unique about LA.

And finally I wan to learn how Zooey does her make up and hair!

Seriously, I can never get my liquid eyeliner to look THAT good! Nor can I get my fringe/bangs to stay looking like hers! I must tackle #77 on my Life List and 'learn how to do a full face of make up'.

All images from Zooey's Instagram

#74/76: 500 days of summer in Los Angeles

I really like Los Angeles.

There is something about the city that I love. If you look close enough, I think you see a beauty that isn't often associated with LA. Yes it is a bit dodgy in parts, but I think it has a hidden charm which I really find fascinating.


[image by Zahara Dessert]



This past December, we visited for 4 days on our way to New York and I fell in love in LA even more. Husband also really liked LA, which was a bonus.



We stayed at the Roosevelt which was right in the middle of Hollywood. It still has an old Hollywood vibe about the place [image by Zahara Dessert]



Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel foyer [image by Zahara Dessert]



Santa Monica watching over the beach [image by Zahara Dessert]




[image by Zahara Dessert]



Santa Monica pier [image by Zahara Dessert]



Palms in Beverly Hills [image by Zahara Dessert]

 

Sunset at The Getty Museum gardens [image by Zahara Dessert]

The most surprising find was the Getty Museum.

We visited it after a friend recommended we had to go there. The minute we arrived we kicked ourselves for not planning our visit properly and not leaving enough time there.

The museum itself houses one of the most amazing collections of pre 20th century European paintings, drawings and sculptures, as well as including some great contemporary exhibitions.

The gardens are an art work in itself and the architecture of building is breath taking. When I was in the museum, I didn't know what to look at first, the art work or the design of the rooms and surrounds.


 The Getty Museum view of the Pacific Ocean [image by Zahara Dessert]

This is why #76 of the Life List is 'Go back to the Getty museum in Los Angeles'. I want to spend a whole day here, taking everything in that I missed when we first visited.

I also want to go see the Getty Villa in Malibu, as it also looks like is is worth a visit.
 

Another thing I want to do in LA is visit the park bench featured in the movie '500 Days of Summer'.
I wasn't a massive fan of the film, but I was fascinated by the view of Tom's bench.
 
In the movie Tom says that the bench is his favorite place in all of Los Angeles to view of some of Downtown’s most historically significant buildings (and car parks).

I want to discover this side of Downtown LA's architecture, a lot of which you wouldn't associate LA with.

We also never made it to the Griffith Observatory. I have always wanted to go here after seeing it in the James Dean movie, Rebel without a Cause.

This is why #74 on my Life List is 'Go to the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles'.

So all up, I want to visit Los Angeles again very soon.