2009 – my lucky year?

Things have been pretty lucky around here these days… and by lucky, I mean I keep winning stuff and it’s crazy. haha 😉 I wonder if God is going to keep the prize train rolling in 2009, or if I’ve exhausted a lifetime of luck in one two-month span? Only time will tell!

It all started on January 10th, when Erik and I won the Wicked lottery! Yes, Wicked was playing at the Pantages for YEARS and yet we still waited until the last minute to see the show. Honestly, I was sort of holding out due to stubbornness. After being inundated with those annoying radio commercials for Wicked, I had convinced myself that I would hate the show. The opening lines of the song “Popular” made me cringe. haha But of course, you always want what you can’t have, right?? And as soon as closing week arrived I knew I *had* to see this show. Everything was sold out and I wasn’t willing to pay $200++ for cancellation tickets. So… we decided to try our hand at the lottery. Every night, a few hours prior to showtime, the theatre held a lottery for front row seats. Apparently everyone in LA waited until the last minute (like me!) to see the show, so the lottery was having record turnouts. I’m talking 300+ people trying to win one of only 13 pairs of tickets. Anyway, Erik and I decided to take a chance the night before closing night! And guess what?? WE WON. (Erik wants me to note that he was actually the winner in the lottery. haha) Better yet, we won a pair right in the center! Although I prefer sitting about 6-8 rows back in the orchestra or first row mezzanine at the Pantages, our front-row seats were amazing. I could see the sweat, the spit, the slightest facial expressions. FABULOUS show, too. I am a Wicked convert. 😉

Playbills, tickets & buttons!

On January 16, I received an email from an unknown sender. The subject line said “Congratulations,” so red flags were going up all over the place. But, I decided to open it since the sender’s email address was from USC. Sometime in the fall (of 2008) I had been invited to fill out the Korean American National Survey online. It was for the Center of Asian Pacific Leadership at USC. Ever the advocate of research, I spent the 15-20 minutes to fill it out. They advertised that everyone who filled out the survey would be entered in a drawing to win an iPod nano, but I didn’t think anything of it. As the owner of a video iPod, I really wasn’t interested in the prize. I completely forgot about it until I received the email that said I had won it! They even let me pick the color. 😉 Erik teased that perhaps I was the only person who had taken the time to fill out the survey. haha Well nevertheless, I was excited to receive this adorable nano…

from left to right: michaelangelo, chicken little, iPod nano and hello kitty! They’re all sitting on top of the little cabinet Erik made that holds our keys. The figurines are cheesy things we got out of Happy Meals. Yes, I do occasionally indulge in a chicken McNugget happy meal… (*side note: I just got a Hello Kitty watch in a happy meal last week! And the tiny kid size strap actually fits around my wrist! SCORE!)

And then the grand-daddy prize of them all… (insert drum roll) I won a contest sponsored by Lucky Magazine for a TAG HEUER WATCH. Yeah, I’m serious. A Tag. Erik and his parents all have Tags (he received his as a graduation gift from high school) so naturally I had to join the club. I won a Grand Carrera Calibre 8 RS with a gorgeous brown crocodile leather strap! It is unisex but I love the masculinity of it. It’s so different from my ESQ watch (which is very delicate with its mother of pearl dial and diamond bezel). My favorite thing about it? How GIGANTIC the dial is on my teensy wrist! Adore.

ta-da! The photo makes the watch face look navy blue, but it’s actually chocolate brown. 😉

What a way to kick off the year, right? Here are a few abbreviated notes on what else I’ve been up to lately…

• I cheered for a dear friend who launched an all-new website! My blog readers know I have nothing but love and admiration for Myra Callan of Twigs and Honey. She creates the most darling, whimsical hair pieces, jewelry & bridal accessories. Check out THE NEW SITE and enjoy the eye candy! You might recognize a familiar face over there, too…
• I planned a chic surprise birthday party for my mother-in-law! I can’t wait to share the pics with you…
• I booked 4 new weddings. I seriously have the most amazing clients EVERRRR.

Life has been filled with so much joy these days, and it is spilling into every aspect of my business. I am overflowing with ideas, inspiration and excitement for this year. 2009 — I think I’m in love.

xoxo, Angel