Bennett is here!

WOW! I still can't believe my dear cousin, Catie, gave birth to a little baby boy. It's surreal to think she carried that sweet little guy in her belly for nine months, and then brought him into this world. It's so crazy and so amazing. July 13th was such a special day--Bennett finally arrived healthy and handsome as ever. Mom, dad and baby all did a great job. Rich and I had the honor of visiting them in the hospital that first night, and made sure to get some great footage of all their lovely moments together. I can't get over how much I absolutely love MY GODSON (yep--I'm a godmother!) and can't even fathom what it will feel like to have a child of my own. 

So, without further ado, here is a little video Rich and I put together for the new parents. We love you Anaya family!

Ladies Night

For Lauren's Bachelorette party, her sister planned a Harbor Cruise in San Diego. It was a blast cruising and celebrating with Lauren and all her girls. We were pop, drop, and lockin' it like nobody's business! Well, at least we thought we were.

I only snapped a few pictures on my phone, but thankfully Lauren's friend Andrea brought her camera along to capture the fun.

Man, those dance pictures are pretty hilarious. Lauren, thanks for being SO much fun!


PS, did anyone notice my lobster legs? Some things never change...

Lauren's Bridal Shower

This post is coming a little late (especially considering these two are already happily married!) but I couldn't resist sharing about this special event. In June I helped host a bridal shower for my dear friend, Lauren. Her wedding vision was very rustic, organic and vintage--so I tried to plan with those things in mind. With the help of wonderful friends, I tackled crafts and baking for the shower while down in San Diego. The Robesons graciously opened their home the days leading up to the event, where we crafted pennant flags and baked desserts (and, of course, lots of snuggle time with baby Thatch).

The morning of the shower was a little hectic, but it paid off. It was a wonderful day--the food was delish, friends and family buzzed about with excitement, and Lauren was the most beautiful bride-to-be. The best part of the shower, in my opinion, was when we surprised Lauren with the Newlywed Video that Rich and I made with Lauren's fiance, Brandon. Lauren was genuinely surprised and the guests loved learning more about Brandon and his relationship with Lauren. 

Lauren, I hope you had a great time and that you felt SO loved! And be sure to show your future kiddos that Newlywed video--they'll definitely think their father is "the most interesting man in the world!"

B is for Bennett

Babies, babies and more BABIES! Is there a baby boom going on right now or what?! This past May, with Amber and Sarah's help, I threw a baby shower for my cousin Catie at our home in Culver City. Not only was the shower so much fun, but prepping for the shower with Sarah and Amber was a blast too. We were cookie baking and decorating machines!

[Cute decor that Catie can use in Bennett's nursery]

[Alphabet Book activity]

                                 

[Candy Bar game]

Wasn't Catie SO cute pregnant? Lucky girl! Well, in case you don't know already--that bump is gone and Bennett is HERE! And oh my, he is the cutest. More to come on that later. Thanks to Amber and Sarah for being great co-hostesses and thanks to Sayoko for taking such amazing pictures. We love you Catie and Bennett!!

Bravo! My first TV appearance...

and I was eating. Figures.

A month or so ago (can you tell I'm playing catch up?) my good friend Maggie sent me this picture with the following text message: "Am I just missing you so much I'm seeing you everywhere....?" First off, let's just reflect on that sweet text. I miss that girl! Second, she wasn't delusional--it was me throwing back some Watermelon/Tomato Gazpacho. Apparently they didn't notice my reaction when I tasted that Tomato--if you know me, chances are you know I strongly dislike tomatoes.

The commercial was promoting this year's Top Chef Tour. The footage was from last years tour, which I had the opportunity to go to with my coworkers (the perks of working in Promotions). It was pretty fun--we took pictures, ate some food and got a free cookbook.

So, there you have it. My first (and probably last) TV appearance!

Change

I like change. Let's take getting dressed in the morning for example: before I leave for work, I probably change my outfit 10 or so times until I finally get the proper result in the mirror, or the proper response from Rich. We can even take that a step further by saying that I like changing my work (yep--I have a new job!), which then of course means more outfit options are needed.

[Yay or nay? Always need a second opinion while shopping, so Rich joins virtually]

All that to say, I've started this blog because I needed something new. Rich and I created a blog together earlier this year, The Marvelous Adventures of Riz and Lich, which proved to be more of a marvelous adventure for me. Sure, he played a big role in providing great material for the blog posts (videos, pictures, adventures) but he seldom posted anything. So after a lunch date last month with my dear friend Jenny from the Block, where we talked about our big ideas for new blogs, it was decided I would start something from my own perspective. After mulling it around in my head for awhile, Millard Boulevard was born.

[Once I shared this with Rich, he was sold]

That was several weeks ago, and today it's obviously changed (see, I like change). This is still a blog for family and friends comprised of pictures and videos, but I'm also going to attempt to post more often and share little thoughts and tidbits on life as a newlywed in this crazy city. This chaotic, beautiful city.

Erin & Nathan's Wedding Extravaganza

Last month Liz's lovely cousin Erin got married in Houston, Texas to a super awesome guy (and great golfer), Nathan. Everything about their big day was perfect and we're so glad we pulled out our camera to snag a few of our favorite moments. Hope you enjoy!

Oh, and Mr. and Mrs. Reeves, are you two taking on any dance students? Because the Millards could definitely learn a thing or two from your sweet moves. :) Seriously, it gave us the chills!

Congrats again, Erin & Nathan--we're so excited for you guys and can't wait to see you in 2012 for the next Sheriff family wedding!

-Riz & Lich