For all of you lovers of The Office I wanted to post this hysterical and touching video of the cast singing their own rendition of Seasons of Love from Rent. Listen to the words, they are too funny and Will Ferrell’s singing at the end, I don’t know how anybody kept a straight face.

What’s going to happen with this show? The rumors are we’ll have additional guest appearances by James Spader, Ray Romano, Catherine Tate and Jim Carey. With that line up it can’t help but stay awkwardly cozy!

Never has a 4 day weekend felt like such a mini-vacation! And during the Thanksgiving weekend I did many of the things I wanted to including a lot of just being cozy (that is, after all, what its all about, right?). I had time to go through my magazines, catch up on my LA book club book, cook (after turkey mania, how about Sloppy Joes!) and of course we watched some movies. If you haven’t already seen Away We Go starring John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph then I highly suggest it – good soundtrack too!

*Side bar: I just saw a picture of Jan 2011 UK Harper’s Bazaar with John Krasinski’s wife Emily Blunt on the cover and she looks AMAZING!!! Now back to our story…!

Of course we can’t forget Black Friday – something I could never get into but not that you can shop till you drop from the comfort of your own home on the internet, well that’s a different story. Nothing glamorous though, all purely domestic for me but badly needed: a new vacuum and 2 new pans.
What can I say – we now have the carpeted attic and 3 cats. It has to be. As for the pans, a little research into non-stick led me to Scanpan with new non-stick safe technology. I’ll let you know if I agree with all the stellar reviews…

Marc bought a new watch with a band that needed some adjustments so this led us downtown to a jewelry store in the Fairmont hotel. The lobby was already glittering with Christmas decorations. The jewelry store actually only sold watches and pens. Fountain pens. Just the kind Marc has been wanting for 10 years. They were all on sale. Do you know they sell pens that cost up to $1400?
Marc has been writing with this kind of pen for years using one he got from his grandfather. He replaced his old Pelikan. It did not cost $1400.

Fixed watch and new pen in hand we needed a drink and wouldn’t you know it it was happy hour!
We headed over to Black Bottle, coincidentally right across the street from my office!

The place was glowing with candles and not too busy – in other words, just perfect!
We ordered 2 different Pinot Noirs and I have to admit I didn’t love either one of them but the appetizers made up for the wine as did the ambience!

Among the things we ordered was the flatbread with Bechamel and proscuitto. It arrived in this cute tart pan (hey I have one of those…!) and was absolutely delicious. What a great idea for a party appetizer! They had several other toppings to choose from so I guess we know what we’re getting next time (along with the Portobello and butter bean salad below – yum!).

We decided we might as well make it dinner and ordered the cumin rubbed pork tenderloin.(small plate). Or at least we thought we ordered the pork tenderloin. Either our waitress who was busy talking at the bar forgot to put our order in or the kitchen was slacking big time. The couple next to us seemed to notice our wait and started chatting about the service- or lack of it. One thing led to the other and before we knew it we were in a lively conversation with them about Thomas Keller, Buchon, moving to Seattle from another city etc. etc. Plus lots of tips on where to go and what to do – that comes in handy! Making friends at a cool neighborhood cafe is one of life’s simple pleasures!

Wow, where did the week go? It seemed to fly by and it’s almost time for the weekend again. What could be cozier than that?

I just love Sunday brunch! Especially when it’s given by really good friends and you know it’s gonna be special! This past Sunday Marc and I were invited over to Miriam and Michael’s new house for brunch and as we wound our ways though Laurel Canyon the green of spring and the wild flowers growing all over the canyon just increased the sense of relaxation – so rare these day!

There is nothing like a spread of homemade quiches (asparagus and lorraine), fresh fruit salad, bagels with all the trimmings and the most amazing cloud of a coconut cake to make you want to reach for a glass of champagne. Wait, did I say that?!!! Yes, I did and that’s because Mimosa’s are Brunch 101 and everyone should know that!!!

Luckily Michael was whipping out some pretty good strong French Press coffee to keep us from entering that lovely but dangerous champagne haze – Miriam calls it the Laurel Canyon Lethargy syndrome (but Marc and I just had such a cozy spot on their couch…!)

Marc and I were the last to leave, honestly I could have stayed on and on just sitting at the dining room table chatting away but the day still called, always something to do, even on a Sunday. Miriam and Michael were expecting some last minute drop ins, perhaps there to finish off the coconut cake or have a later afternoon or early evening Mimosa.

That said, I think it’s fair to say that Sunday brunch is just a state of mind!

Thanks you guys, it was absolutely lovely and downright Cozy!

And Portia de Rossi and Jason Bateman and the rest of the rest of the Arrested Development crew? Lets get our Commander in Chief working on some serious issues, right?

BTW, I just saw the preview for Jason Bateman’s new movie EXTRACT with believe it or not, Ben Affleck, Kristin Wiig and Mila Kunis. Written and directed by Mike Judge (Beavis and Butthead, come on!!!!) and it looks hysterical!

Anne showed up with a bouquet from her mom’s garden – so French! and just perfect for the mood of the dinner! Next she uncorked a bottle of Prosecco and we set about catching up and prepping (between sips) the night’s menu:

To start, Onion tart on a bed of arugula

Almond parsley lemon crusted Tilapia with lemon leek sauce

And courtesy of Annabella, a most amazing and beautiful bombe a la creme with fresh blueberries and lemon curd, yum!

Anne and Scott agree good to the last drop!

Another sparkly night at Chez Weldon! Marc, you are even more divine by candlelight!

Thanks to Elizabeth and Scott for bringing their delicious wine and even more delicious senses of HUMOR!!! why were we talking and laughing so much about Fruit Salad???

And AnnerJ, no pressure but please move back!!! We miss and adore you!!!!!!!!!!

Marc and I love going to the movies and our favorite theater is the Laemmle in Pasadena. The movies are great, the parking is easy and it’s next to a bookstore (Vroman’s) always fun to browse before and/or after.

These are some of the movies we’ve seen this summer worth mentioning.

Mainstream but very funny: The Proposal with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. Takes place in a gorgeous house on a lake in Alaska which I just read was actually Connecticutt! Check out this hysterical promo from Funny or Die!

Indie and really shows off downtown Los Angles: (500) days of Summer. Not just a 20 something love story, much cooler with some interesting stylistic ingredients. They did a really good job on this one and if you like Zooey Deschanel she’s really great in this!

Sam Mendes does it again. I’m guess for much less money than Revolutionary Road. Far and Away starring Maya Rudolph and John Krazinski. We should watch The Office more often. That guy is great.
Great movie, entertaining, cool and good message.

My brother just saw the new Francis Ford Coppola movie Tetro and really liked it. This made me totally out of the loop since we follow Coppola pretty closely and somehow I missed this. But I just checked movies playing in Hollywood and this one is nowhere to be seen. Interesting….

Movies we want to see: Funny People, Julie and Julia and Tetro
Movies we do not want to see: The Hurt Locker (looks GREAT but too intense and war-ish!)
Orphan (although great/gross movie poster!)

What else? Who’s seeing what?

OUR HOSTESS WELCOMES THE BRITS!

LOTS OF COCKTAILS AND AN AMAZING SPREAD OF GOODIES!

ELIZABETH HAS GENIUS IDEA TO WEAR NAMETAGS, BUT NOT JUST ANY OLE NAMETAGS! CHECK IT OUT!

GALLERY OF COCKTAIL CRAZIES!
A MOST ELEGANT COUPLE!

HOST WITH THE MOST!

YUP, THOSE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING!!!

DAPPER X2

THE DIVINE MISS M!!!!

DUDES WELCOME!

OLE JOSE!!!

THANK YOU R&E FOR PROVIDING US WITH A BADLY NEEDED MID-WEEK BREAK!

WE TALKED…

WE NIBBLED…

WE LAUGHED…

AND OH YEAH, WE DANCED…..

A GREAT TIME WAS HAD BY ALL!!!!!!!!!

A quick post which needs no explanation! One word from me, WOW!!!

And the movie I am most looking forward to seeing!!! Chicago director Rob Marshall takes on Fellini in Nine!
Check out the cast! All these amazing women and Daniel Day Lewis!

Director Rob Marshall’s new movie musical “Nine” offers a potent combination of Italian style, costumes to die for and six Academy Award-winning performers.

The story of a filmmaker and his complicated entanglements with the women in his life, it’s based on the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical that was itself inspired by Federico Fellini’s “8 1/2.”
The cast includes Penelope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Judi Dench and Sophia Loren — Oscar winners all.

We hate the almost non-existent American television coverage of Cannes, WTF??? Will continue to keep following on the web and the red carpet!

Our book club finally met this past Thursday evening at Elizabeth’s house. The book, Mademoiselle Benoir: A Novel by Christine Conrad was a sweet, enjoyable and interesting book – a somewhat easier read than what we’d been previously reading. Younger man leaves big city live, buys farmhouse in South of France, becomes a painter and falls in love with older beautiful French woman. Family drama ensues…little bit of food, little bit of landscape, lota love and a little philosophy. We all enjoyed the book and especially enjoyed the French inspired dinner that chef extroidinere Elizabeth prepared.

French cheeses (including a delicious Brie with Truffles), Grapes and Baguette
Chicken Marbella (chicken baked with olives, prunes and oregano, a Silver Palette specialty and so PERFECT!!!)
Mousse au Chocolat for dessert, decadant!
oh, lots, perhaps too much red wine????!!

Chicken Marbella served with mashed potatoes

Meredith and Elizabeth – at this point we may have been casting the book, somehow this always happens and I was crying it was so funny. Elizabeth do you really think Michael Cera should be cast as the lead????

Our newest member Sara! You were a great addition!

The perfect French dessert!

Until next time, we are all submitting suggestions for our next read. I’ll keep you posted!

Looking for that dream house? Well this is your lucky day! Richard Gere’s Long Island farmhouse is on the market for a “cozy” 8.8 million. A grand total of 7 bedrooms and 10.5 baths. Guest house and Artist’s Studio. Beautiful!

Love how overgrown and natural the garden looks

The Artist’s Studio – what a dream!

Nice size bedroom and love the windows!