simply.shannyn

new york.

2012-01-24T11:45:00.000-08:00

A few favorite pics from our trip to New York...

A visit to my NY office - fun views (though I admit I like our LA office views better!)

I could stand there all day long.

Hotel lobby (not ours).

Saratoga Springs got some freezing rain, so we decided to bowl.

Front porch views.

insta.

2012-01-20T21:05:00.000-08:00

A few instagram pics from New York. Off to Santa Barbara in the morning, have a lovely weekend!

Darling little coffee shop in the Bowery right around the corner from our rental - was here daily...

Two bottles of "cheap" later (split with Carly)...

Oysters, delish...

Floor to ceiling candy...

Hotel lobby we stopped into - stone dog giving the gun...

bright lights, big city.

2012-01-18T17:41:00.000-08:00

(A little sauv blanc and an empty bowling alley is not a bad way to spend a freezing rainy Tuesday afternoon!)

As I type this, I am somewhere over Indiana heading home to LA. Technology, friends! I have to admit, I am a staunch cheapskate when it comes to airplane charges ($7 for a snack pack? Blasphemous!), but Virgin America tempts me with a power outlet and a direct flight - 6 straight hours to do nothing but stare at the map with the little plane icon, barreling west, or jump online and catch up on 1000+ google reader posts from the past six days. I think we can tell by this post which one I chose.

Our trip was wonderful - a perfect combo of sheer exhausted euphoria running around the streets of Manhattan, then three days of nothing but sleep and family upstate. Save for a total crying meltdown in Penn Station by yours truly (I blame about 12 hours of sleep total in a week + a less than pleasant Amtrak employee), it was a complete vacation success.

I am so excited to get back home to my bed and regularly scheduled programming - for 2 days, at least. Saturday is a wedding in Santa Barbara of two of my absolute favorite people (in my absolute favorite place? Sure, let's do this!).

I'll post more trip pictures tomorrow. Happy hump day!

save the dates.

2012-01-12T12:26:00.000-08:00

Last week D & I sent out our save the dates, which was so exciting for me (him too, I'm sure)! We've had sort of a longer engagement, which has been wonderful with relaxed planning. Finalizing our guest list, though, was one of the hardest things we had to do, and sending out the save the dates felt like it's all really happening.

I designed the card and printed them through this online company. I was very happy with the way they turned out for the price! I ordered this label paper, and created a label template that would wrap around the card with the recipient on the front and our return address on the back. You can access the template here. Google documents tweaked a few things - mainly my font and font formatting, but it's the general idea. I used a papercutter to cut out the labels.

We're off to New York tonight through next Wednesday - hopefully to enjoy some actual winter weather, and to see friends and family! Have a lovely long weekend!

carpinteria.

2012-01-09T11:48:00.000-08:00

One of my dear friends, Annie, is getting married in two weeks in Santa Barbara. I am so excited for her wedding, and this Saturday, I attended her bridal shower in Carpinteria. The shower was hosted at the most amazing vacation home, right on the water. The day started out cloudy then the sun came out, leading to a silly beach photo shoot (ok, it might have had something to do with the bloody marys...).

2012.

2012-01-06T14:35:00.000-08:00

Every year, I like to write a list of 10 things I'd like to keep on my radar for the coming year. Call them resolutions if you want, but for me, these are just things I’d love to do more of and won’t be mad if they don’t necessarily work out. I’ve been making these lists every January for the past 10 years or so, and it’s been pretty fun to see what I can accomplish.

Let's put this down in writing so I have a shameful public reference to keep up with, shall we?

1. Good food.

Last year, I embarked on a no meat/dairy journey with one of my favorite people. In doing so, I came to realize something that I've suspected for a couple years now - I have some serious issues with gluten. Bummertown. So I had to re-focus my efforts there, and my quest for more quality (aka organic, local, blah blah blah) foods fell by the wayside a bit. I’d like to get back into the swing of eating less meat and dairy (and choosing more healthful options when doing so) in addition to visiting our amazing local farmers markets, etc.

2. Be good to my wardrobe.

I'm sure I'm not alone in my tornado closet tendencies, but I've made it a point this past year to buy quality over quantity, and I want to make sure to properly care for all my new and old favorites. This also includes getting things repaired, dry cleaned, purged as per necessity.

3. Write one person a week.

This can certainly be email, though my goal here is to also write letters more too. Everyone loves getting mail!

4. Read, read, read.

I’ve been reading so much more frequently since I started checking things out from the library again (one of my favorite things!). Right now I have this book on hold, and I can’t wait to go pick it up!

5. Take pictures every day.

These can be totally terrible, non-blog worthy pictures of my cat, for all I care. But I got a killer new camera for Christmas and I will learn how to use that bad boy.

6. Find one thing every day to be thankful for.

Self-explanatory and so important to me.

7. Exercise every day.

Even if it’s just a 30 minute walk. This is where I’m more focused on quantity over quality – just making being active more a part of me and less of “oh, I need to go on a run today.” Last year I resolved to run 2 half-marathons, which I did! This year I just want to be more active in my daily life.

8. Wear high heels more.

I used to wear them every day to work, and I got completely lazy about it. I love high heels, and I can’t buy any more until I actually wear the ones I have!

9. Make work lists and focus on finishing them every week.

The above may very well be true, but being at my job for nearly 4 years (!) means that so frequently, there are things that I’d like to accomplish that get put on the back burner, and I'd love to change that.

10. Plan and execute an amazing wedding.

We’re getting married this year! Hooray!

Also, since 2012 seems to be the general end of the world consensus, I leave you with this:

Have a lovely weekend!

(Photos via: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8)

happy birthday, dad!

2012-01-03T11:21:00.000-08:00

Today is my dad's birthday. He is awesome. Happy birthday, Dad!

Brother and me being photobombed by Dad at my cousin's wedding last spring...

NYE.

2012-01-02T11:03:00.000-08:00

New Year's was all sorts of fun with a few of my favorite people. It was the perfect way to kick off what is likely going to be the most memorable year yet!

Instagram from NYE and breakfast of champions the following morning:

2011.

2011-12-30T13:17:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about writing a recap post of 2011, but decided it's enough that I've posted sporadically this year. You bloggers who post 5 days a week every week? Personal heroes of mine. I'd love to make it a resolution to post every day next year, but why set myself up for failure? I'll stick to the 2-4 days a week that I seem to be pro at.

All I wanted for New Year's this year was a quiet night at home with some good wine and decadent dessert, but instead it looks like we're hitting up a bar with 7 other people? Ah well. I love my friends and I'm sure I'll have one (or four) too many drinks and sleep half the day Sunday. And don't even get me started on the Rose Parade being on Monday this year. I didn't realize there was a purpose for this parade past hangover viewing and an attempt to enrage the rest of the country with our SoCal weather in January. That's basically my way of saying I'll probably skip it on Monday and sleep in instead (thank you, one more day off!).

Happy New Year! Cheers to 2012 and all the wonderful things it holds.

(Photo VIA)

christmas.

2011-12-27T13:04:00.000-08:00

Usually after Christmas, I take the week off and trek up to the bay area for quality time with some of my favorite people. But it's always a nightmare trying to wrap things up at work and get out of town, and there is always a nagging worry that the Grapevine might close down while I'm in the bay. So this year, I elected to stay home and work this week, unwind, and try to do a little something special for D's 32nd birthday.

While I can't imagine I'd ever really be ready to get back to work after all of the fun and festivities, it's kind of nice to have some quiet downtime to work on a few nagging projects and unwind from the holiday.

Weekend recap: this year was the first Christmas that D and I spent together, and it was pretty darn great. We skyped twice with his family (once at 6am on Christmas Day to watch them open their presents!) and it really does feel like we got to spend the holiday with them too, even from 3000 miles away.

I got very lucky this Christmas, but the gift that took the cake by far is a brand new camera - Canon Rebel. My parents are amazing, seriously.

Some pics from the new camera!

By the way, I finished the Advent post, so all of our activities are up!

merrry christmas!

2011-12-23T11:57:00.000-08:00

Here we are...Christmas 2011. This year has been full of amazing moments, and 2012 is going to be even bigger (um...I'm getting married!).

I can't wait to pack up the car and head to Alta Loma for some serious family time - my first Christmas spent with D! It's supposed to be 80 degrees this weekend. I'd better enjoy this last warm, sunny Christmas for awhile. Next year I'll (hopefully) have my first white Christmas ever.

Have a wonderful, joyous, festive and merry weekend!

(Photo VIA)

fleur de sel caramels.

2011-12-21T17:48:00.000-08:00

I have been experimenting with a few holiday baking recipes this week, with less than pleasant results. A few recipes I'd been dying to try completely let me down, which I suppose is a relief - I can throw them out and not worry about making them in the future. So I decided I needed a trusty recipe to whip up, and I fell onto these caramels. I made several batches of these two years ago and burned out on the process, as they are very hands-on and time/labor intensive, in my opinion. Candy can be finicky. But if you commit to the recipe, you will have absolutely dreamy results. My coworkers have been sneaking into my office and eating these all week (which is wonderful...less for me to inhale!).

Fleur de Sel Caramels
I'm not sure where I originally found this recipe, but I believe it is adapted from epicurious.com

1 cup heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
5 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/2 to 1 teaspoon fleur de sel (depending on your preference, and the quality of the salt), plus more for sprinkling on top
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1/4 cup water

Other necessities: parchment paper, 8x8 or 9x9 baking pan, candy thermometer*

Line bottom and sides of your baking pan with parchment paper. Lightly grease the parchment - I used a light vegetable oil spray.

Bring cream and butter to a boil in a small saucepan, and once butter is completely melted, turn heat off and stir in vanilla and fleur de sel. Set aside.

Pour sugar into a heavy saucepan, drizzle water and corn syrup over the top, and bring to a boil, swirling the pot (don't stir) until sugar is dissolved. Boil and continue to swirl pot until the mixture reaches 248°F. Turn off heat, and stir in cream mixture. Be prepared - the mixture will bubble up.

Bring the mixture back to a boil and simmer, stirring frequently (I just stand at the stove and stir) until the caramel reaches your desired consistency. The way to determine consistency is to pour a bit of the caramel into a bowl of cold water, and pick it up with a spoon or your fingers once cooled to check. Many websites say that the time spent will be 10-15 minutes, but I will be honest, it can be closer to 25-30 minutes for me. Just start checking early and check every 5 minutes or so after that.

Pour caramel into baking pan and cool 2+ hours (can be in the fridge to speed things along).

Cut into 1-inch pieces and sprinkle each piece with a pinch of fleur de sel, as desired. Wrap each piece in a 4-inch square of wax paper or parchment.

Try not to eat them all!

*Don't let the candy thermometer sway you - it's a necessity for candy making, and not scary at all. There are inexpensive ones at any supermarket or online.

fa la la.

2011-12-14T13:48:00.000-08:00

I think it would be a pretty huge understatement to say I'm obsessed with Christmas music - I think I own something like 30+ Christmas CDs. So with my new love of Spotify this year, I went completely overboard loading my Christmas playlist with hundreds of my favorite Christmas songs (and I'm still finding more every day).

So I decided to put together a more manageable playlist for Christmas 2011. Check out the playlist here, track list below.

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year - Andy Williams with Robert Mersey & His Orchestra
Christmas In Hollis - Run D.M.C.
Christmas of Love - Little Isidor And The Inquisitors
O Holy Night - Mariah Carey
Run Rudolph Run - Chuck Berry
O Come O Come Emmanuel - Sufjan Stevens
Los Peces En El Rio - Mannheim Steamroller
White Christmas - Michael Bublé ft. Shania Twain
A Mad Russian's Christmas - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Frosty The Snowman - The Beach Boys
Carol of the Bells - John Williams
It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas - Johnny Mathis
Christmas Eve/Sarajevo - Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Winter Wonderland - Jewel
Deck The Halls - Ottmar Liebert
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Mariah Carey
Sleigh Ride - The Ronnettes
Medley: We Three Kings/Carol of the Bells - Kenny G
Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town - Bruce Springsteen
Linus & Lucy - Vince Guaraldi Trio
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas - Frank Sinatra
Wintersong - Sarah McLachlan
Auld Lang Syne - The Cast

(Photo VIA)

anniversary.

2011-12-13T11:18:00.000-08:00

This weekend, in honor of 3 years, we decided to splurge on a weekend here in LA and some fine dining (a huge treat, what with wedding savings and all). Friday was our actual anniversary, and since we already had plans in Culver City for two friends' birthdays, we elected to hit up our first date spot - Father's Office. We managed to snag a seat at the bar and enjoyed their world famous burgers and ended with a beer float. An interesting idea, but I think I'd love to try to make one myself with a chocolate porter or oatmeal stout instead.

Saturday night we had dinner at Villetta on recommendation from a friend, and it was such an amazing experience. We didn't want to leave, and had an after-dinner cocktail to enjoy the dwindling evening. Of course, we had to walk across the street afterwards for some Sweet Rose ice cream...it will be a sad day if they ever remove their Salted Caramel ice cream from the menu!

three.

2011-12-09T12:50:00.000-08:00

Happy three years, babe. This time next year, we'll be married almost 2 months!

A few more favorite pics from our engagement shoot in honor of the day:

Have a lovely weekend!

(All photos by Stone Crandall Photography)

la monarca.

2011-12-07T08:00:00.000-08:00

Monday night D and I went to La Monarca for coffee and dessert. Usually we stay in during the week, cooking dinner and catching up on the DVR, so it was a fun rare weeknight activity. The staff was incredibly nice, and we got to sample some cake and cookies while we decided what we wanted. We will definitely be back!

new york.

2011-12-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

Belated pics from the great travel weekend of 2011. Didn't get very many photos during the wedding, as both D and I were in the wedding party. It was a fantastic weekend!

Snow was on the ground upon our arrival, but it quickly melted away due to the unseasonably "warm" weather (NY warm...not CA warm).

The hotel where the wedding party stayed (except us, we stayed with D's parents) - the grounds and hotel were gorgeous.

The hotel was so festively decorated.

Me and the dwindling snow pile.

Putting up Christmas decorations.

Driving to visit family.

Late fall landscape.

What was left of the snow the night before we left.

life's a happy song.

2011-12-05T17:46:00.000-08:00

The Muppets. Just go. No words are needed, this film was wonderful.

This weekend one of our advent activities* was to go to the movies, and I'm not saying I'm listening to The Muppets soundtrack today...but I'm also not saying I'm not listening to it.

We had our annual holiday cookie exchange on Saturday, which was a great excuse to buy our Christmas tree and decorate the apartment for the holidays.

A few cookie party pics:

The spread.

Dorien's maple bacon cookies - I die. And yes, that would be a bowl of Christmas sexiness, thanks to my dear friend Kathryn.

I also baked a cake for Kenny's birthday...red velvet...with the best cream cheese frosting in all the land.

*I'm going to be updating the advent blog post with our activities up through the 24th, so if you'd like to keep up, here is the list!

advent.

2011-12-02T15:55:00.000-08:00

I have been obsessed with advent calendars since I was a kid...usually we just got one of the packaged ones from the store, but there was always something about only being able to open one a day that pumps up the excitement and anticipation. When I saw this great idea last week, my brain started working. I was inspired to make an advent "tree" for D and I this month, with little scraps of paper glued to the back of each day with an activity of sorts.

Last night for December 1, we pulled "make hot chocolate." The holidays are my absolute favorite time of the year, but also the craziest time (between work, three birthdays, our anniversary, and oh right, all of the actual holidays that fall in there). It's fun to have a little something every day to look forward to.

Happy weekend!

UPDATE:

I'm going to update this post with each day through the 24th!

December 1: Make hot chocolate
December 2: Bake cookies
December 3: Go to the movies
December 4: Try a new restaurant
December 5: Go out to dessert/coffee
December 6: Go to the library
December 7: Watch a movie
December 8: Drink some wine
December 9: Cheers to 3 years! today didn't have an activity, it's our 3 year anniversary!
December 10: Go out to breakfast
December 11: Go rollerblading
December 12: Find some Christmas lights in the neighborhood
December 13: Try a new recipe
December 14: Candy (Payday for D, dark chocolate for me)
December 15: Play Scrabble
December 16: Sushi date
December 17: $5 gifts (go to the store, each find a fun gift under $5 for the other)
December 18: Make breakfast
December 19: Go for a walk
December 20: Go out for a drink
December 21: $2 to buy a treat at work
December 22: Question cards (a conversation game)
December 23: Go ice skating
December 24: Merry Christmas!

hello.

2011-11-30T13:26:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been a whole week since I was sitting in this chair staring at this screen. I have piles of emails to respond to, mail to open, and no less than four lists started for things I need to do (work items! groceries! cookie party! wedding stuff!). I think I need a vacation from my vacation. All I want to do is eat vegetables and nap.

Hopefully I'll be able to post pics in the next couple days from the whirlwind wedding weekend. For now, here is my favorite picture from Thanksgiving. Sitting in a comfy armchair at my parents', sipping mulled wine and watching football with my grandma. Happy place!

confetti.

2011-11-22T12:49:00.000-08:00

This weekend one of the priorities on my pre-holiday travel to-do list was decorating for Christmas. Usually this is exclusively reserved for the weekend of Thanksgiving (post turkey coma), but since we will be gone until mid next week and we are hosting our cookie party the Saturday after we get back, I wanted to make sure at least the decorating was done. Also, I’m obsessed with holiday décor so no complaints here!

I have been wanting one of these for ages, but the price tag was too steep for me. When I came across Natalie’s tutorial, I was sold. Holiday confetti tassels, here we go!

For a step by step, check out the tutorial here. I’m so happy with the way they turned out, and it was a great way to dust off my crafting before wedding madness descends.

Some pictures of the process (including my curious helper):

engagement pics.

2011-11-21T11:50:00.000-08:00

Posting will be more sporadic than usual around here for the next week and a half, as we are packing ourselves and the cat up for Thanksgiving with my family on Thursday followed by a redeye flight Thursday night to upstate New York, and D’s sister’s wedding this weekend.

We did receive our engagement photos this weekend, though, and I had to share a few. I might post more later because it’s hard to pick a favorite. Our wedding photographers Stone and Shelby are absolutely amazing!

(All photos via Stone Crandall Photography)

come as you are.

2011-11-17T14:14:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was a busy one, filled with long drives and good friends. Friday night was our dear friend's birthday (11.11.11, lucky girl!) and in honor of this special date, she and her husband threw a fundraiser/party to benefit this charity through their charity, Foundation of Joy. I made a pink velvet cake in honor of the party:

One of my absolute favorite parts of the party (I was not alone in this sentiment) was the insanely talented '90s grunge cover band that played.

Saturday D and I too a quick trip up the coast to attend our wine club's pick-up party. Solvang is so kitschy but insanely charming, and I wish we were able to spend more time there (we looked into getting a room for the night, but it was out of our budget - I guess we're saving for a wedding or something?). At the pick-up party, two acoustic guitarists were playing - ahem - more 90s music! I think I died and went to '90s heaven.

bruins.

2011-11-14T12:07:00.000-08:00

Dragging particularly hard this Monday morning due to a wake-up call at 4:45am (D had to head to Chicago this morning for work), so it's not hard to set me off in my tired state. I can neither confirm nor deny tears at my desk due to this video. Love you, Bruins (D's favorite hockey team!).

friday.

2011-11-11T15:48:00.000-08:00

(Really wishing this was my house)

Oh Friday, you are so lovely.

This weekend is the first of many busy weekends of the season. Tonight D and I are heading to a birthday celebration for a dear friend. Tomorrow we are heading up the coast (in the rain!) for our wine club's quarterly tasting party, and hopefully stopping off at one of my favorite places for dinner (where to go - so many good choices from Santa Barbara to Solvang!). Sunday I am heading to my parents' to try on wedding dresses (!!!) with my mama. I'm feeling good about these dresses...hopefully they are feeling good about me as well!

Thoughts from this week...

I am desperate for some real fall foliage...more here, here, here, here, here.

Two weeks...cringe.

Agreed.

Oh LA, so trendy since day one. Also, Wilshire and Fairfax in 1920! How things can change.

(Photo VIA)

nutcrackers.

2011-11-10T17:38:00.000-08:00

Long before I existed in his life, D has been collecting Nutcrackers every Christmas from his parents. While I definitely tease him about this sentiment, I was floored when his mom emailed me to see if she could ship a bit of the treasured collection out to decorate our apartment. He'll be spending Christmas with my family this year, so this was a sweet piece of home she could send out.

They arrived yesterday, and are officially our first pieces of Christmas decorations up! Pretty soon I'm going to be one of those people that strings their lights up November 1...then just leaves them up all year and finally unplugs them around April.

It's pretty much all downhill from here. At least I have these nutcrackers to keep me company in my creepy year-round Christmas ~~house~~ apartment.

(Aren't they cute??)

wednesday.

2011-11-09T16:52:00.000-08:00

Last week and the weekend kind of merged into one huge lovely weekend due to my BFF visiting (and interviewing for med school) from Wed-Sat. This week I've been catching up at work, and it's been typically busy...year-end is always busiest for me. I really just cannot believe Thanksgiving is two weeks away. For serious?

Some favorite phone pics from the past week:

pumpkin muffins.

2011-11-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

I know I'm not alone in my obsession with fall everything, and pumpkin is basically my kryptonite. I haven’t been doing much fun baking and cooking lately, but I took a break from that this weekend to make these pumpkin muffins, which were pretty much gone two days later. Total self-control in our apartment, let me tell you (there was a lot of "I plan to run/just ran 13.1 miles, I deserve this!" going around).

These are basically individual servings of the lightest pumpkin bread ever.

Pumpkin Muffins
Adapted from Gourmet Magazine

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (or for gluten free, I used 1 1/2 cups Bob’s Red Mill GF Flour + 1/2 tsp xanthan gum)
1 tsp baking powder
15oz can solid-pack pumpkin
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1/8 tsp each of: ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, ground ginger, allspice (you can also use 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, but using the individual spices makes the flavor more dynamic)
1 1/4 cups granulated sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease muffin tins or fill with muffin liners.

Whisk together flour and baking powder in a small bowl.

Whisk together pumpkin puree, oil, eggs, spice mixture (or pumpkin pie spice), sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl until smooth. Add flour mixture until just combined.

Divide batter among muffin cups (could generously make 12 large muffins, or 14-16 regular muffins).

Bake until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Mine cooked for 25 minutes and were perfect, but could cook slightly under or over that depending on the size. Don’t over-bake or they will dry out.

Cool. Enjoy.

a race.

2011-11-01T11:29:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles Rock and Roll Half-Marathon, conquered.

A few months ago, D and I decided to train for and run a half-marathon together, which culminated on Sunday! His first, my third (and probably my last). I have determined that I just don’t have what it takes to be a long-distance runner. That said, I do love running, and I forsee some 5Ks or 10Ks in my future!

Since we were so focused on the race, we didn’t do much for Halloween weekend. A housewarming party for some dear friends in their beautiful new house, and a post-race lunch with my little brother, who drove out for the afternoon. I also got to see one of my favorite girls Carly who was in town from NYC for work, which was wonderful! I have too much fun with that girl, even if we’re just shopping for luggage to replace her bag that was demolished in transit.

Some pics from the race:

The starting line...

Sweet view of downtown on the way back (around mile 9.5)...

So many people dressed in costume, and these Elvis’ pushed a baby stroller with a speaker pumping hits from the King. Loved it!

Completely necessary bloody mary post-race!

What a team...

Happy November!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T08:01:00.000-07:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

(Photos via Pinterest)

friday.

2011-10-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

This week has been a week of ups and downs. A recap...

UP: Amazing bachelorette weekend for one of my best friends.
DOWN: Insanely exhausted for the 2 days following.

UP: Seeing one of my favorite former coworkers of all time for lunch.
DOWN: Wishing I still worked with her!

DOWN: Getting into a minor car accident, when some guy decided to gun it through his stopsign and I didn't have a stop.
FURTHER DOWN: Said guy implying that he expected me to pay for his "damage" (there were minor scratches) even though he is TOTALLY AT FAULT.

UP: Wedding dress shopping on my lunchbreak today!
DOWN: Drinks and apps last night before said dress shopping (whoops, oh well).

UP, UP, UP: Finding out my best friend in the whole world has an interview at a Los Angeles area medical school next week! No more details on that, I will not jinx it. But I cannot WAIT to see her in 5 days.

UP? DOWN?: 1/2 Marathon on Sunday...I had an amazing long run 3 weeks ago, and a terrible one 2 weeks ago. So it's anyone's game.
DEFINITE UP: Post-race food and drinks, and one of my best girls in town from NYC for work to celebrate with!

OK enough of that game. Happy Halloween weekend!

(Photo VIA)

bachelorette.

2011-10-25T18:51:00.000-07:00

This weekend was a bachelorette party for one of my best girls from college. We stayed at a hotel in West Hollywood and partied all over the place - downtown, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Santa Monica. Good times were had and naps were insanely necessary come Sunday afternoon. Here are some of the non-discriminatory pics (needless to say, there weren't many)...

Room provisions...

My view of the office from the rooftop pool...

Hummer limo...

Dinner downtown and some amazing chewy chips...

Bridal goblet...

Andrea and I (one of my b'maids!)...

weekend.

2011-10-11T13:55:00.000-07:00

A cat on a stuffed ghost, you're welcome.

This weekend D and I took engagement pictures down in Temecula wine country with our wedding photographers Stone and Shelby Crandall. My dream since going to college in Santa Barbara was to get married in wine country, so since we're getting married in Palm Springs, we decided to do our engagement shoot in wine country instead. I am already itching to see these amazing photos. Stone and Shelby have the coolest eye ever ("We're pulling over here and taking pics with that sun flare!") and taking pictures with them feels like you're hanging out with your lifelong best friends. I'm pretty sure Stone had to shush me and Shelby a million times because we couldn't stop chatting!

The weekend also featured a dinner date with one of my favorite girls and her boyfriend (a man who rivals D with movie trivia knowledge...I didn't know such a person existed!) then the boys went to see a midnight movie showing of a film I will not name here (a horror film I want no part of).

palm springs.

2011-10-05T13:47:00.000-07:00

Our quick trip to Palm Springs last weekend was a blast. To top it all off we got to experience a desert thunderstorm which are my absolute favorite.

I only really used my camera for wedding stuff (food pics, venue pics, etc.) but I managed to get an awesome shot of lightning across the mountains, which I will post when I upload the pics.

For now, here are some instagram shots.

First things first, the pool and a sangria were in order...

Sweet storm...

New friends...

Amazing sky...

Pooltime Saturday morning before heading home...

Next time...

desert.

2011-09-29T17:20:00.000-07:00

This weekend, D and I are off to Palm Springs for some wedding planning activities. Oh, did I mention that's where we'll be getting married? The best! We'll be doing some venue-related things and some exploring. I can't wait to be sitting in hot weather, poolside, with a glass of sangria. See you next week!

(Photo VIA)

vintage los angeles.

2011-09-26T14:37:00.000-07:00

I can't get over how rad these vintage photos of Los Angeles are. How fun it would be to walk these streets for a day!

Love me some Century City...I feel like I can walk out of my office into this...

Other favorites...

(All photos via Vintage Los Angeles)

insta.

2011-09-24T09:24:00.000-07:00

This week was a busy, uneventful week. I'm hoping to get some fun fall decorations up this weekend between plans here and there and running 9 miles (ouch).

Some odd and end pics for belated instagram Friday...

Cat in a Nordstrom box.

Beautiful Manhattan Beach sunset from a friend's balcony.

Surprise homemade brownies Thursday night from D!

insta.

2011-09-16T10:21:00.000-07:00

Friday photo odds and ends...

Crafty wine party glasses (tags made by Rach's sister).

Quick after-party pool dip.

Downtown Los Gatos movie theater, I love you so.

Homeward bound last Sunday (raindrops on the winshield)

Happy weekend!

wine party.

2011-09-14T17:36:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, my BFF Rach and her future hubby had a wine party for some of their nearest and dearest at her parents' house up in Saratoga. I'm pretty sure I consumed a week's worth of delicious wine and cheese. There was also a surprise Bi-Rite birthday cake brought down by her sister's boyfriend (Rach's birthday was yesterday). I've always wanted to try Bi-Rite...delish! There were so many adorable details...here are a few...

instagram.

2011-09-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

More camping pics. Happy Friday!

camping.

2011-09-08T12:43:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pictures from our camping adventure last weekend. S'mores and sweet tea vodka/lemonade were consumed...seaweed-y beaches were napped on, and we were blown out of town Monday morning by torrential winds. All in all, a success!

Tonight I am off to Los Gatos for the weekend to visit the peanut butter to my jelly. We are going to wedding dress shop and wine taste and maybe sneak in a scary movie. I can't wait!

september.

2011-09-02T12:15:00.000-07:00

September, we meet again!

I count down until September 1st every year, and this year was no different. In the land of eternal summer, it's nice to force a reason to dust off seasonal decorations, have an excuse to wear boots (even with 80 degree weather...) and put holiday music on my playlist.

But before we get down to business on all that, this weekend D and I are heading up the coast, just north of Santa Barbara, to camp with some friends. What a perfect send-off to the summertime! Camping on the beach is something we've talked about doing for ages, and when the opportunity presented itself this week, there was really no discussion. Coin operated showers and wine out of tin cups, here we come!

Have a lovely long weekend!

(Photo via)

the shore.

2011-08-17T15:42:00.000-07:00

Just a few more photos from our trip to the shore.

mid-august.

2011-08-16T13:44:00.000-07:00

Just a few more of these leisurely summer weekends, and fall will be here! "Fall" happens to be my favorite season. Air-quotes are necessary because, let's be honest, there is no such thing as seasons in Los Angeles. The past few nights though, driving west from work towards the clouds rolling onshore from the beach has been a treat. It makes me think of sweaters and cedar and pine. I'd probably be better suited living as a hermit in a shack somewhere. Just call me Nell.

Anyway, once fall rolls around, life gets pretty crazy through New Years. I'm trying my best to really relax and enjoy these slow summer days. But really, I'm just counting down to a reasonable day to put Christmas music back on my ipod. Today, you say? Perfect!

Oh, also, this project? LOVE the way it turned out!

race.

2011-08-09T17:58:00.000-07:00

Another half-marathon. You'd think I'm running for my life or something.

I have been trying to get D to run a race with me for awhile now, and he finally agreed! We were going to do the Las Vegas Half-Marathon in December, but we changed our minds to the Los Angeles Rock and Roll Half Marathon. Carly's going to run it with us...and maybe even my brother, too!

I didn't really train at all for my last race, broken arm and all. Let's hope for no broken bones this time around!

(Photo VIA)

weekend.

2011-08-08T17:11:00.000-07:00

This weekend was everything I dreamed and more. What did I do? Basically...nothing. OK not really true, but it was the first weekend in over a month with nothing set on the agenda...something I've been craving for weeks.

Saturday I had a hair appointment with my favorite - Sebastian - over at Scissors in Santa Monica. I've been going to him for color longer than anyone I've ever been to, he is a magician with hair color. My general hair appointment routine is to score the earliest appointment available (10am) and grab some Urth Cafe tea (and possibly a goodie) beforehand, but the line was about eleventy hundred people deep for some strange reason, so I was stuck with Peets (not the same...sorry Peets lovers!).

After I got my hurr did, I headed over to Nordstrom to return a few items and do some browsing, then headed home and was inspired to clean out my closet. And I hit it...hard. I've never been so brutal on my wardrobe before! It felt amazing. I can honestly say I'd wear every item in there and nothing's there for sentiment or hoarding's sake - a tune I've never sung before.

Saturday night D and I stayed in, drank wine and watched a movie. I'd never seen it before, but it's one of D's favorites (he's played hockey his whole life!), so it was awesome watching it and getting a ton of background info and antecdotes from him.

Yesterday we decided to grab brunch and ended up at the Bar & Grill portion of Literati, which I've never had before. I always end up in the cafe side, and yesterday was a total treat. I love the menu and it's much less of a scene than the cafe side (and lovely to sit outside). We will be back!

I've been itching to do some sort of crafty project, and I was super inspired by this:

(Found here)

So I headed down to OSH for some chalkboard paint, then came home and decided my kitchen needed to be totally re-vamped and cleaned out, too. Bright ideas. I think I was a bit over-ambitious, but the kitchen looks amazing (and super duper clean) now, and the jars looks awesome! I'll try to get a picture of them once they are filled and labeled.

And here we are again, Monday. Have a lovely week! Is it September yet?

friday phone pics.

2011-07-29T10:11:00.000-07:00

Because I take so many more phone pics these days.

This week's photos are brought to you by the Jersey Shore, where I vacationed last week. True story.

Unfortunately this was further down the coast in the dry city of Ocean City. I didn't let that little detail stop me from fist pumping all the way there, though. And we trucked in some wine to sip on porches in the evening...divine...

Patches! It's like the shore is stranded in 1992! (there were also Nirvana posters on the wall and for sale...)

A Christmas shop...in July on the boardwalk...

I cooked a yummy meal...

Happy weekend!

a napa wedding fiesta.

2011-07-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

Mary grew up in Napa then she went to UCLA and met John and took him to Napa and married him.

I danced all night in heels and could barely walk for 2 days.

I love weddings!

And I love these two times a million...so lucky to have them in my life. I can't wait to visit them in St. Louis (they're moving away! Sadness).

instagram.

2011-07-19T13:44:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted to be one of those people that carries a DSLR around my neck at all times - capturing the wonder in the everyday. So many bloggers post photos every single day - folks, you are amazing and I am jealous of your beautiful pics! I rarely manage to whip out my point and shoot for important life events (though I have some fantastic photos from this past weekend in Napa that I'm working on turning into a pretty blog post).

But ever since I made my reluctant conversion to the Iphone, I am hopelessly addicted to Instagram. It makes my simple life seem so much cooler.

life, lately.

2011-07-08T12:19:00.000-07:00

Summer, as always, ain't what it used to be. I feel a lot like this now when summer rolls around, with some of this thrown in for good measure.

This summer has been amazing, surrounded with great friends and family and it's only going to get better. Next week one of my most favorite people gets married in Napa! Well, two. John will participate too, I'm sure.

The following week we're headed to the Jersey Shore (ok maybe not THAT Jersey shore, but it's the shore and it's in Jersey so I'm working on my pouf just to be safe) to see D's family. I've been promised naps on porches and boardwalks and family. Perfect!

Other noteworthy news (not really)...my blackberry finally kicked the dust (sort of) so I was forced (ha!) to get an Iphone. I immediately bought the Apple-employee recommended case for klutzes such as myself. I'm already hopelessly addicted to Angry Birds. The touchscreen isn't nearly as bad as I was always afraid of, and pictures of objects in my house are so much cooler in Hipstamatic. I'm so current! Maybe I should get myself one of those facebook things.

In other ACTUAL noteworthy news, these beautiful people got married!

Congrats, Rick and Robin! The view from the Malibu hilltop wasn't too shabby, either:

Happy Friday and have a lovely weekend!

hello world.

2011-06-13T13:31:00.000-07:00

(Max was super tired thinking up perfect Scrabble words)

You know what goes perfect with June gloom?

Absolute laziness. The last two weekends have been blissfully uneventful. Full of late afternoon glasses of wine, watching the Stanley Cup, and outdoor runs and hikes in the Palisades.

I haven't quite found the knack of having consistent blogging in the downtime of life. I've never quite been into "series" posts or anything to that effect. I'm just not good at sticking with that sort of thing.

Luckily life will be picking up a bit in the coming weeks...birthdays, weddings, and summer fun.

Now would be a good time for June gloom to head on out!

Have a lovely week...

birthday!

2011-05-31T16:09:00.000-07:00

Today, I am twenty-seven!

I am still recovering from an incredible weekend. Basically four days of fun, sun, friends and general merriment.

Happy short week!

(Photo via Pinterest)

weekend!

2011-05-27T09:32:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite weekends of the year has arrived! Today marks the start of the long holiday weekend, ending with my day of birth on Tuesday.

In a valiant effort to be a grownup, I elected NOT to take my birthday off at work. Worst idea ever. Next week's going to be nuts around these parts! So I plan to celebrate hard with some of my favorite people this weekend.

On the agenda: hike with friends, seeing some lovely friends who are in town from England, dinner with my family, a boozy brunch, and whatever else I can drum up for the weekend.

Cheers, have a great holiday weekend!

(Photo VIA)

giftcard.

2011-05-24T14:00:00.000-07:00

I was going through a bag of sorority odds and ends that I saved from college (cards, calendars, etc.) and found a stack of cards that my big sis gave me my pledge quarter, over the course of big sis/lil sis week.

In one of the cards, there was a sweet note and a giftcard to starbucks. With the giftcard still there.

This was fall 2002, by the way.*

So thanks to my big sis, I am enjoying a delicious Cinnamon Dolce Latte for lunch today, to replace the gross salad I put together this morning.

Cheers!

*Also, it may be best if no one ever gifts me a giftcard again. This is not the first time this has happened...though 9 years is quite the record...

lazy days.

2011-05-20T10:02:00.000-07:00

It's not even summertime yet, and I'm already getting the hang of the lazy days that go with it. Even though the weather has been less than extraordinary for this time of year in Los Angeles, it's still been nice for long outdoor runs, wine and movie dates with girlfriends, and the continuation of wedding season 2011.

By the way, have you seen Bridesmaids yet? Of course you have. Because it's the funniest movie in ages and why would you ever want to miss out on that?

I digress.

Here are some pretty pictures from the amazing wedding D and I went to last Saturday night. It was here. The lovely bride's grandfather's house! Seriously, he lives there. So rad.

(That last photo is a spun sugar concoction. Insanity. And delicious.)

Also, my cat-obsessed partner in crime, Andrea, sent this to me last night. Pure internet gold. Enjoy.

"Get out of there cat. You are not a glass. I cannot fill you with delicious chocolate milk and then drink it out of you. You are not a liquid receptacle of any kind you are a cat."

Happy weekend!

windy city and fighting irish.

2011-05-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

It's taken a couple days to get back on track after 4 days of traveling (I am also the absolute champion of the world's worst packer, so that makes my life so much more fun when I'm going anywhere).

The trip was so wonderful...a tour de Chicago, then my cousin Matt's wedding. Some of my favorite pics...

(Chicago)

(Notre Dame Basilica)

(Tulips everywhere!)

(South Bend shenanigans)

(Cousins' kiddos...cuteness overload)

(Both of these taken by Paige, but beautiful pics of the happy couple I just couldn't leave out!)

wednesday is the new friday.

2011-05-04T16:27:00.000-07:00

Today is Friday! Yippee! Well, for us 4-day weekenders, anyway.

Tomorrow morning I leave on a jetplane with D and my fam to my cousin's wedding in Indiana (after a quick night stopover in Chicago!).

While I am most decidedly NOT excited for the 60 degree highs coupled with rain, I am pretty excited to see family.

Some photos from recent happenings in life:

Cheese and charcuterie at Sonoma Wine Garden with the best friend.

Santa Barbara.

Engagement party piñata, naturally.

Also...tried Umami Burger last night. Amazing!

See ya next week...

friday, friday.

2011-04-29T14:53:00.000-07:00

(I’d like to live in a Hobbit hole, please and thanks!)

Friday...we meet again. I feel like I have been scattered all over the place this week, and haven’t really been able to piece together a cohesive post, so here is some brain dump for this lovely spring weekend...

Wedding updates: Venue and DJ booked, meeting with awesome potential photographers this Sunday. Woohoo!

I wish sometimes that I could go to this, but it is always the same weekend as this. And as an added bonus, a dear college friend is having an engagement party in SB on Sunday...can’t wait!

Some crazy awesome talented friends are making a movie. Got a dollar or more to spare? Check it out here...this absolutely needs to be produced!

Barely a month off my last half marathon and I kind of want to run another one already. Hmm...any ideas? Want to run one with me?

Obligatory royal wedding commentary: Didn't watch, caught the highlights, loved her dress, want a fascinator.

Ok, have a lovely weekend!

friday joy.

2011-04-22T08:25:00.000-07:00

I don't know about everyone else, but this week was pretty killer for me. Next week will probably be tough as well, but this weekend...this weekend!...my best friend in the whole wide world is coming to LA for a visit. I'm as happy as that sheep up there!

My dear BFF just took the MCAT (she's such a smarty pants!), so there will be LOTS of drinks and celebration. Did I mention that she is engaged too? I don't think I ever dreamt so big as to imagine my BFF and I would be engaged at the same time in our lives, but there is a good chance we'll be getting married within mere months of each other. There will be none of this (did anyone else hate that movie as much as me??). Just pure joy.

Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

(Sheep via Pinterest)

penguin.

2011-04-20T17:23:00.001-07:00

Just some happy for the long long workweek...

friends.

2011-04-19T16:49:00.000-07:00

I go through periods of time where I get grumpy that I'm no longer in college. Shocker right? But for serious, the reasoning isn't the ability to sleep in til noon (who am I kidding, I rarely slept in) and party on a Tuesday (which I am fine leaving in the glory days!). It's the fact that I got to see my favorite people pretty much 24/7.

College certainly had a knack of breeding together-ness, didn't it? Living in a dorm for a year then a sorority house for three years really made constant social interaction the norm for me.

The past two weekends, I've been lucky enough to spend quality time with a few close college girlfriends, then a group of girls who might as well have been my college girlfriends considering how quickly I've come to love them!

These are best sorts of weekend moments...where no pictures are taken, because the time is filled with talking and drinking wine and even some late night dance parties.

Graduating college, I can honestly say I was terrified about what the future held. Having an unstructured life that I could take wherever I wanted, and not be surrounded by my nearest and dearest, was incredibly overwhelming.

Five years later, I look around and realize I am still surrounded by the most amazing people! But "surrounded" has turned from a college campus to, I don't know, the whole Earth, I suppose (and what an excuse to travel all over and see these awesome folks).

Ok, I lied, one photo was taken this past weekend (frosting off a spoon, homemade on the spot by Mary):

i gay parked my car.

2011-04-14T12:46:00.000-07:00

Brilliant. Are you on Pinterest yet? Let's be friends!

Source: neffsays.tumblr.com via Jill on Pinterest

bingo!

2011-04-07T18:41:00.000-07:00

Last night, I went with a group of girlfriends to Hamburger Mary's for some good clean drag queen bingo. Ok, scratch the clean part, but I'd been wanting to go for ages and jumped at the chance when I got an invite from a friend!

While I didn't win (I could barely keep up, what with all the hollerin' and wine drinkin'!), it was a fantastic experience, and one I plan to do again.

Definitely worth crossing off the "LA To-Do" list!

monday.

2011-04-04T18:13:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I wonder if I would be better suited for a tumblr account, so I can post all my favorite amazingness that is floating around the interwebs daily.

At the very least, my friends' email accounts would be far less cluttered.

Today's docket? Craigs-Lisp, courtesy of this recently discovered gem.

You're welcome, and have a great week.

it's friday.

2011-03-31T10:39:00.000-07:00

It's my Friday anyway! D and I are off to Las Vegas tomorrow for a fun and relaxing weekend, just the two of us.

So if you have spoken to me in the past week, I have probably discussed my ~~obsession with~~ love for the BronxZoosCobra. Ridiculous? Yes. This snake is my Charlie Sheen. But gems like this have gotten me through this week!

But even Mayor Bloomberg is on board, so I'm not really that embarassed.

Happy (almost) weekend!

I love you like cupcakes.

2011-03-30T10:54:00.000-07:00

I wanted to do something special to ask my nearest and dearest ladies to do me the honor of being bridesmaids in my wedding, and when I found these adorable cards on etsy, I knew they were perfect. Getting the sweet replies the past few days has been amazing! Love these ladies.

Cards ordered from Borrowed & Blue Paper Creations' Etsy shop.

nyc.

2011-03-29T09:54:00.000-07:00

NYC was such an amazing adventure!

Favorite moments:
- Multiple trips to Brooklyn.
- The whispering gallery at Grand Central.
- Seeing the City Hall stop on the subway.
- Bagels and more bagels (brought some home to D!).
- Dinner with some of my future family out in New Jersey.
- Making an obnoxious point to visit Cafe Lalo because it was in my mom's favorite movie.
- Wine and snacks at Brasserie Les Halles.
- My first wedding dress adventure at JCrew!

Oh, and running 13.1 miles through Manhattan, of course!

Some more fantastic moments...

Around 5am, overlooking Manhattan right before landing.

Spent my first day in town out in Williamsburg...and it was everything I imagined and more.

Williamsburg water view...amazing.

Knitting bomb...love.

Of course...

A darling tea shop in SoHo...

Absolutely necessary bloody mary over brunch...

Oh look, a flea market in Hell's Kitchen!

Then Carly bought a chair...and brought it out with us for the rest of the night (this would be everyone saying "not it!")...

Bailey!

abbreviated week.

2011-03-25T14:59:00.000-07:00

(How cute is this guy? It's like an elk happy dance!)

Even though it's a short week this week for me, I am so relieved it's Friday. Leaving the office for a few days always brings on insanity when I return! I'm so excited to just be in town this weekend, with a few plans here and there and generally getting my life back in order...especially since I'll be out of town again next weekend.

Happy Friday!

mile 9.

2011-03-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

I got back into town from NYC on Tuesday night (thank you, 4 hour flight delay!) and am still playing catch-up on life and work.

But here's a pic of me at mile 9 or so of the half-marathon, running through Times Square!

It was about 35 degrees...brr! I can't complain though...I hear the LA Marathoners had torrential rains the same day for their race!

Be back with pics and recaps soon...

Fantom.

2011-03-17T10:05:00.000-07:00

Today is a monumental day.

It's St. Patty's. It's my 3rd anniversary at my job. I leave for NYC tonight! And UCSB is doing the dance today.

Cheers to my Gauchos! And here's a great tidbit for your day...

The Fantom of UCSB has a special place in my heart. He happens to be a high school teacher. A teacher at my high school! Ah, the fond memories of his crazy energy on campus...and dancing at the pep rallys (our teachers were particularly amazing). And then I go off to college, take in a men's basketball game, and who do I spy?

This guy. Mr. Bishop, I salute you.

Have a great weekend friends, be back next week!

sweet potato chipotle soup.

2011-03-08T11:21:00.000-08:00

(My sad attempt at food photography. I have miles to go, clearly.)

Last night was windy and chilly...perfect soup weather. So I made me some soup!

D plays hockey on Monday and Wednesday nights, and usually I take it as my opportunity to eat fridge and cupboard scraps and not have to cook. But this week I decided to use hockey nights to try recipes that D wouldn't eat. Last night's menu featured Sweet Potato Chipotle Soup: off-limits spicy for D.

I hate buying an ingredient that will go bad long before I use it again, so I've taken to freezing small portions of things. Like canned chipotle in adobo sauce. What recipe ever calls for more than one of them? And I rarely ever use chipotle peppers these days. I love spicy foods though, even if they don't get made in my house often!

So I pulled the chipotles out of the freezer and made this soup with the immersion blender I inherited from Mary. Thanks Mary!

It was my first time using an immersion blender, and I'm in love. L-O-V-E love. SO easy.

Oh, and this soup is delish. Spicy and oh so good. Perfect for a cold windy night!

Sweet Potato Chipotle Soup
(Adapted from Martha Stewart)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium white onion, chopped
2 teaspoons ground cumin
4 medium sweet potatoes (approx 2 lbs), peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 to 1 whole chipotle chili in adobo, chopped (I was generous, I love spice!)
7 cups vegetable broth
coarse salt & ground pepper

In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the chopped onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook until beginning to brown around the edges, 5-7 minutes.

Add cumin and garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Stir in sweet potatoes, chipotle chili and stock. Bring to a boil, reduce to a rapid simmer, partially cover and cook until sweet potatoes can be mashed easily with a spoon, about 20 or 25 mins.

Let soup cool slightly. Using an immersion blender, puree soup in the pot. This can be done in the blender too, in batches.

Season with salt and pepper, adjust seasoning if necessary.

Enjoy!

pizza and beer.

2011-03-07T16:44:00.000-08:00

The last few weeks, as the week winds down, there has been consensus in our house for dinner: homemade pizza + beer.

Sadly that photo isn't one I took (I suck at taking pics of my cooking, new resolution perhaps?) but it's pretty on par with what I make.

It generally goes something like this: homemade whole wheat crust, homemade pizza sauce (playing with an improvised recipe to get the yummiest version), mozzarella and basil (D's side) and mushrooms and basil (my side). Pair with delicious beer. Slip into a Friday coma. Yet another reason to wish it was Friday instead of Monday...sigh. I know I can make it whenever I feel like it, but there's something special about it being a Friday night ritual!

This weekend was the last relaxing one for awhile. The year is really revving up in the coming weeks, between birthday parties, engagements and weddings, and heading off to NYC for 5 days next week! It was nice to just relax this weekend.

Saturday D and I headed out to my parents' to celebrate our engagement. My mom and I ran errands and found ourselves in the wedding section of Barnes and Noble. Is it just me, or are there some ridiculous wedding books out there? My mom bought me two bride magazines and we called it a day. Oh, but she made sure to purchase this book for D. Ridiculous. Slash amazing. It definitely got a laugh.

(Photo via)

big news!

2011-02-28T16:46:00.000-08:00

Last Wednesday night, D and I got engaged. He proposed...I said yes.

Hooray!

Saturday we snuck off to Santa Barbara to celebrate. Out of all our trips to SB together, this one certainly was the best (how could it not be??). We got an oceanfront room, and sipped champagne while talking about weddings and futures and all the best sorts of stuff.

Saturday evening we had dinner at Blue Agave, then went out for (lots of) celebratory drinks. Celebrating in my favorite place with my favorite person? Happiness.

Cheers!

back at it.

2011-02-18T10:37:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that in one month from yesterday, I leave for NYC to run 13.1 miles. I was doing so well training before I broke my arm, and now I plan to get back at it this weekend (probably in the gym since it's supposed to rain, rain, rain!). Hopefully easing back into it won't be TOO painful.

Some errands on the agenda, but mostly lots of relaxing. Rain always makes me want to bake. Maybe some cookies will happen?

Happy 3-day weekend!

(Image via)

big bear.

2011-02-10T16:46:00.000-08:00

Last weekend was a much-anticipated trip to Big Bear with a group of friends. Ten of us trekked up the (not very snowy) mountain for 3 days of skiing/boarding, drinking, and general relaxation. Well the skiing/boarding part didn’t exactly work out (no one went...and clearly I wasn’t able to due to my lovely broken wrist), so drinking and relaxation it was.

We stayed in a fantastic house, Mary played chef for the weekend, and all in all it was just what I needed in life. Wine and beer was consumed (and lots of delicious food), a trek into Big Bear Village happened, fudge was bought and eaten, hot tubbing commenced, moustaches were worn, and Catchphrase was played.

Weekends like that are what life’s all about! I’m already plotting a summer Big Bear adventure.

and just like that...

2011-02-09T14:14:00.000-08:00

I feel like this pic right now...like throwing my arms up in joy! I went to the Doctor today as a follow up to surgery for this incident. Rewind...yes, I had to get surgery on my arm and the doc put a metal plate in my wrist. My first time under general anesthesia and everything! I have a lifetime of airport security hassles ahead of me.

I have been laying pretty low due to recovering and the fact that just functioning at work was Mt. Everest to me. Desk job with one arm? Let me just tell you this...you have not lived until you've opened mail with your teeth. I fell asleep on the couch at about 8pm last night and didn't wake up until morning. No joke. Just living life is tiring!

But...BUT! After today's doctor's visit, doc TOOK MY CAST OFF! Just boom - it's gone! I am certainly not healed...I have a nasty long cut that's stitched up on my wrist, and absolutely no mobility in my wrist or thumb. But I can type and shower and do normal-people things again, for the most part.

'Scuse me while I go do a happy dance! Oh and just for fun:

Yup, cracked straight through the bone.

(First photo via, second one from the ER the day of the incident)

TV.

2011-01-27T11:33:00.000-08:00

There has been a lot more TV than usual happening for me since I've been nursing a broken arm.

Two of my favorite shows, as depicted by Twice Shy:

whoops.

2011-01-23T18:48:00.000-08:00

Friends, I broke my arm (specifically, my Colles, Distal Radius) snowboarding today. I'm rocking a cast, a sling and a fresh prescription of Vicodin.

The ski medic's awesome sling job (pre-hospital fiberglass cast):

Needless to say, one-armed blogging is going to be scarce.

I can't believe it's still January.

And 2011, you're killing me. This wasn't the plan for this year!

gold coins.

2011-01-17T01:32:00.000-08:00

My brother loaded an emulator onto my laptop so I can play classic video games (NES, Sega, etc).

Then I updated my computer and now have the desktop app store.

I may never be a contributing member of society again.

(Image via)

hibernation.

2011-01-13T17:22:00.000-08:00

I have been feeling very pensive the past week and a half. Normal January blues (January is by far the most dull month of the year) coupled with some tough times makes me want to put a temporary pause on life and hibernate. I am so jealous of the snow days over on the east coast right now. If I had a snow day, I would make a big batch of soup, sit on my couch, and watch a million episodes of Friends (I own all 10 seasons, and have watched the series in its entirety more times than I care to admit).

This year I made a decision to be more creative (my creative muscle is languishing slowly...but makes me love this little slice of the interweb even more), so last weekend I blew off everyone (even my own boyfriend) to be a total hermit, bought a crochet hook and some lovely yarn (from here), and attempted to dust off my crochet skills. Turns out it was like riding a bike...but I didn't love the final turnout, so I keep unraveling and re-doing (rinse and repeat).

For now, it's day by day...I'm training for half-marathon #2 and trying to get some R&R before the year gets too out of hand, and it's suddenly the holidays again. Happens every year!

(Image via)

a new day.

2011-01-12T10:04:00.000-08:00

Friends, I've been totally MIA this past week due to family matters. My wonderful aunt passed away last Tuesday. My cousin Kerry says it best right here. I am so lucky to not only have known Marge, but call her family!

Then yesterday I drove up to see my grandfather (my mom's dad) with her and my brother, as he is in rapidly declining health. I feel very blessed that I was able to spend a short time with him...while he is heavily medicated, he was lucid and there were some smiles through the tears.

I don't tend to blog about the hard times, but there is no light in life without the shadows to go along with. To keep up with Mara's year of weekly resolutions, my resolution for this week is a special one: celebrate the day!

(Image via)

Dawson.

2011-01-05T11:33:00.000-08:00

Not the best week so far. Probably won't be blogging much, but had to share this.

Asshole For Hire from James Van Der Beek

back to reality.

2011-01-03T12:06:00.000-08:00

(Enoteca in Los Gatos...pure best friend bliss)

I always try take the week between Christmas and New Years off, and have been successful since college. Truthfully, I have never stepped into the door of work on this (sacred to me!) week. That's not to say I haven't responded to a work email while drinking champagne or taking a break down a snowboarding run (seriously happened last year!). I was lucky enough to sneak up to Norcal for a few days last week and see a couple friends, but the finicky weather made me worry that this would happen to me, so I headed back to LA earlier than I hoped.

This year I'm rethinking my year-end vacation time and its importance to me. The fact is, it's my industry's busiest time of year, and I think it might be way more relaxing to take vacation in January, or July! So that's something on my mind this new year.

Other things on my mind are gathering my annual list of yearly goals. I always try to make 10 goals (resolutions...whatever) and it's been interesting to see which end up happening by December. Last year one of my goals was to run a half marathon, which I did in August!

I'll probably gather some of my list and post them here, but in the meantime, I am loving Mara's idea that she posted on her blog. The idea of constantly setting a weekly goal is certainly inspiring! I think this week, my goal is going to be to get organized - budget, calendar, life - for 2011. I always seem to do better at life with a plan.

Cheers, and hope your post-new year Monday is as painless as possible!

ALSO - Happy birthday to my Dad today!

cheers, 2011!

2010-12-31T09:01:00.000-08:00

Happy 2011, friends!

the year that was.

2010-12-30T09:49:00.000-08:00

2010 was quite the year, and since I'm feeling all sentimental this year-end, let's travel down memory lane, shall we?

As soon as humanly possible after the new year, I got Lasik. One of the best decisions of my life. The same week, I got Maximus...who provides hours of entertainment!

For the first trip of the year I ate buffalo wings in Buffalo, and snuck into Canada. In March I moved in with a boy, then attended wedding #1 of the year...Awesome: A Wedding.

D's parents came to visit us in April and we showed them around LA. In May I went to wedding #2 for a dear high school friend. Then I went to Vegas for one of my best girlfriends' bachelorette party! The summer kicked off with outdoor cemetery movies.

I had the most incredible long birthday weekend, then went to wedding #3 on the gorgeous Malibu beach. Then suddenly it was July and time for wedding #4 in Santa Barbara! Summertime was capped off with wedding #5 and eating delicious fair food. Oh, and I ran a half-marathon...no biggie!

September already? Must be time for wedding #6! Then I went to Palm Springs and my favorite turned 1. Oh but first...wedding #7 in upstate New York! Phew...so much love in 2010! The holidays snuck up and with it one of my favorite holidays...so haunted hayrides and pumpkin carving were in order.

I disappeared in November into work, then surfaced to host a very belated housewarming/cookie party. Then D and I snuck off to Solvang for a night. Wow...and then it was pretty much Christmas already (and I got to see my favorite Christmas lights!). And now...here we are. Christmas is over, I can't even believe it. I went up to the bay area for a couple days and now it's time for New Years. Seriously...a whole year? I'm still spinning.

Well I'm off to celebrate the last couple days of vacation and ring in 2011 right. Happy (almost) New Year!

happy christmas!

2010-12-25T06:45:00.000-08:00

(via)

the eve of christmas eve.

2010-12-23T11:43:00.000-08:00

Well...it's nearly here! Tonight I'm packing up the cat and driving to my parents for a few days to relax, take lots of naps, watch movies, and celebrate some Christmas. Maybe eat a whole box of See's candy. Who knows what excitement the weekend holds?

Then on Monday, I'm heading up the the bay area for some quality time with a few of the loves of my life (and drinks lots of champagne to toast my bestest's engagement!). Yay area.

Happy holidays, friends. Here's some Christmas spirit that makes me happy from around the interwebs...

Joyeux Noël!

(Images via here, here, here, here, here, here)

feels like rain.

2010-12-20T17:22:00.000-08:00

I think nature took me a little too seriously in this post.

Cue torrential, non-stop rains. I'm surprised Southern California hasn't been washed away! The weekend still managed to be fantastic, though.

Friday night some friends hosted a Christmas party, full of wine and Christmas carols around a piano. Great times all around.

Saturday D and I drove out to my parents' to celebrate my mama's birthday. We also went and saw The Fighter (one of the better movies this year...seriously fantastic) and drove by some Christmas lights.

Sadly by the time we made it into the light display it was after 11pm, and many fantastic houses were shut off. But one house rocked the lights set to music:

Love it!

cookies.

2010-12-19T00:10:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post on this rainy Saturday...

The lovely Mara of M Loves M posted my cookies (the ones I made for this party) over at her blog. Go check it out!

Happy weekend!

(Image via here)

water for elephants.

2010-12-16T13:27:00.001-08:00

I can't wait...

birthday post.

2010-12-16T07:15:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post to wish my mama a very happy birthday! Can't wait to celebrate with her this weekend.

christmas palm trees.

2010-12-15T13:15:00.000-08:00

Is it seriously mid December? And Christmas is next week? I kind of feel like this isn’t real life, the way time is speeding along.

I certainly never expect snow for the holidays (because here in LA, it might mean Armageddon), but I always fantasize that I'll wake up to a winter wonderland, with no need to turn on the air conditioner on Christmas day (which is usually the case).

The dream:

The reality:

I guess it’s all about working what we’ve got – like this fantastic Cali Christmas party! What a fab idea.

(Images via here, here and here)

the weekend of weekends.

2010-12-13T17:14:00.000-08:00

D and I took a mini vaca to Solvang on Saturday to celebrate our anniversary, and it was one of those trips that was just amazing, start to finish.

We did some wine tasting, and decided to join the wine club at Dascomb Cellars. I am generally super picky on joining wine clubs, because I rarely visit a winery that I could easily take home any of the choices on the tasting list. But not only did I love everything on the tasting menu, but we got to try a Syrah that was open and off the tasting menu also (we ended up buying a bottle of that, as well as the Roussanne and a Cabernet Sauvignon). Dave Dascomb, the owner, stopped by the tasting room with his wife and we got a chance to chat with them - they are both awesome. I'm excited to be part of their wine club.

While wine tasting I got word that my bestest friend in the world got engaged! Cue me doing a happy dance and crying in the middle of a wine tasting room. Yep, that happened (sorry, D).

Other highlights: drinks and dinner at Root 246, amazing mulled wine and live music at Sort This Out Cellars, beautiful empty streets in the morning, the scenic drive home along Highway 154.

Thursdays.

2010-12-09T07:01:00.000-08:00

D and I dubbed Thursdays date night awhile back. Sometimes we stick to it, and sometimes our "date" involves catching up on old episodes of Modern Family on the DVR. C'est life.

But this week our date night happens to fall on a particularly great day.

Happy two years, my dear.

apart.

2010-12-08T07:01:00.000-08:00

Speaking of favorite blogs, The Lil Bee had a giveaway going on for APART Style on her blog, and I threw my name into the ring. I rarely try my luck at blogger giveaways, but the APART clothes were so pretty I figured – why not.

Imagine my shock (and several others’!) when APART decided to gift all giveaway submissions with the article of clothing of our choice. I was floored, to say the least.

So last week this showed up for me:

I can’t wait to wear it...most possibly for New Year’s Eve. Usually I’m running around on December 30 trying to find something decent in stores that have been picked over. This year? I’m covered. I’m thinking maybe a fun statement necklace and some sparkly shoes!

new favorites.

2010-12-07T07:01:00.000-08:00

I was sick for about a month until last week when I finally decided enough is enough and opted to go to the doctor. Verdict? Bronchitis. It's amazing how a (super sexy) inhaler and some antibiotics made my will to live increase exponentially. Not being able to breathe isn't the most fun ever.

While I was languishing and coughing on my couch and catching up on my instant queue, I got a chance to update my google reader. Here are some great blogs I've discovered this year:

A Cheery Disposition

Butter + Cream

Chapters

Dinner: A Love Story

Enjoying the Small Things

From Portland to Peonies

Heart of Light

Hyperbole and a Half

La Mia Vita

Law of Fashion

Love Maegan

Rants of a Sassy Stew

The 818

The Bitten Word

The Lil Bee

Women’s Debauchery Auxiliary

Yellow Brick Blog

Got any good recommendations? Send them my way! Perusing blogs while sipping tea in the morning is my favorite.

weekend.

2010-12-06T15:05:00.000-08:00

(Victoria Gardens Christmas tree over Thanksgiving weekend)

This weekend was just lovely, but felt way too short. Typical. Friday I baked all night (til 2:30am, but that might be because I got caught up in old eps of Sex and the City) in anticipation of having some dear friends over for a wine night slash cookie exchange.

Saturday morning D and I headed down to SkiDazzle and I bought a snowboard and bindings! I bought boots two seasons ago, then last season I got Lasik smack in the middle of the better part of the season, so I didn't ride. I cannot wait to get up to Big Bear and do some boarding again.

Saturday night I met some girlfriends at Obika for wine and dinner...I can't get enough of this place. I've never ordered one of the actual meals...it's all about getting a few platters of mozzarella and charcuterie and sharing. Deeelish. The Chianti was also pretty darn tasty.

After dinner I headed home for a belated housewarming (very belated...we moved in in March) slash wine party/cookie exchange. And people really delivered. Not only were there about 10 different kinds of cookies, but 5 of them were vegan! A dear friend is vegan and my girl Mary has recently gone vegetarian and is flirting with a vegan diet, and let me admit...some of the vegan cookies were my favorite ones. I made Mexican Hot Chocolate Snickerdoodles that were out of this world. Crispy and sweet with a bit of heat on the finish (cayenne!). This weekend was kind of a sugar coma.

Yesterday D and I went to our friend Sami’s play, and I couldn’t stop drooling over the design elements. I was a lighting designer in a former life (and hopefully again someday) and it was just a visual explosion. We got home just in time for the rain to start, and listening to the rain on the roof was the best way to end the weekend – falling asleep to the rain is one of my all time favorite activities.

Here’s hoping the week will speed right by. It’s a special one. Stay tuned.

ramblings and blog-love.

2010-12-03T12:38:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year. I love me some Christmas-time, and my XM radio is permanently tuned to the Holly channel. I've been trying to ration mass consumption of coffee house holiday drinks. And this weekend, D and I are having a few friends over for some wine and cookie-exchangin'.

But I work in corporate law, and this time of the year is our busy season, generally, with a December 31 deadline for everything. So I've been in blog hiding, but I still find time to scroll through google reader and catch up on my favorite blogs, as they get me through my crazy days!

Every year end I usually do some blog searching and find new ones that I'd like to read and clear out old ones I'm not as keen on. I started reading tons of personal blogs last year and can I just say - you bloggers are amazing! I am always so floored by your humor and transparency on your little piece of the interweb.

So as I scroll through my blogroll and do some updating, I'm going to prep a few posts of my absolute faves. Because that's the kind of brain capacity I'm totally capable of these days. And tis the season to spread the love, right?

Happy Friday!

(Almost) Turkey Day.

2010-11-23T22:09:00.000-08:00

Work is still sucking the life out of me and my lovely coworkers, and one of my favorite people is at my parents' house right at this very moment:

My grandma. I absolutely cannot wait to see her...just 24 more hours!

She's the best. Even when she hides from my camera.

(Pictures from summer 2008)

Oh, November.

2010-11-18T18:17:00.000-08:00

Is it true that as time passes, pain becomes less memorable? I think our human memories are programmed to forget the pain and remember the pleasure.

So this time of the year goes...at work. 15, 17, 20 hour days. Weekend. The fun never stops!

But the radio is already playing Christmas music, so there's that. And no - it is NOT too soon. It's never too soon. Thought I guess anyone owning 20+ Christmas CDs shouldn't really be included in that kind of opinion poll, right?

(Photo via flickr)