You Can Find Me Here: January 2012

Monday, January 30, 2012

Mondays Give Me The {Shades Of} Blues

I love my job, I do. But I'll never stop wishing for the weekend to carry on for three days instead of just two. Wishing for Sunday to roll right into Sunday Part II, and for the week to start on Tuesdays. Wouldn't that be grand...I think so.

Since I don't anticipate the Universe to acknowledge my wishes and succumb to my secret fantasy of a shortened, oh-so-French work week filled with 2 hour lunches that involve wine and outdoor cafés, 2 month long "holidays" rather than 2 week long vacations, and anything else that the French do that make me so envious of their ultra cool culture, I will continue to have the Monday blues and wish for eternal Saturdays...ahhhh, a girl can dream.

SO - I stare my Monday blues dead in the eye and mock them with my alternating shades of blue nails. This is big since I am normally/always committed to my bright red nails...I have been known to give myself a full manicure with a different color {other than red} and take it off 30 seconds later, only to paint it my usual red. What can I say - I am a creature of habit. So, this is me. Branching out. Happy Monday Blues!

{My Essie "Turquoise & Cacos" + Estée Lauder "Blue Dahlia" Combo}

Saturday, January 28, 2012

An Impromptu Beer Tasting

Last Saturday, I met up with Julie, Sarah, and Julie's Mom and Sister to do a little T+J Engagement Party planning - it's coming up fast {February 11th, to be exact}! Fortunately, for all of us, Julie is a very easy going bride, so the planning was a breeze and the party will be a casual, intimate gathering to celebrate the couple and kick off the {many} wedding festivities to come!

Once we had everyone's responsibilities divied up and decided upon, Julie, Sarah and I figured we might as well take advantage of all of us having a few extra hours to spare and keep this easy breezy Saturday going - off to Brix Wine & Beer Bar we went! Normally, we'd all opt for a refreshing Saturday mimosa, but Sarah and I were feeling "adventurous" and opted for a fun little beer tasting. The older and "more mature" {wink} I get, the more I appreciate a good beer and am actually learning to enjoy it for the unique flavors in all the different brews.

I honestly can't remember what each of the beers were that we tried, but you can really never go wrong with a little day drinking with your girlfriends on a stormy Saturday afternoon. We had our server surprise us with his choices on tap and were super pleased with all 8, totally different picks.

I always try to soak up as much time with my besties as I can, and that is just what we did - Julie had to take off a little early, but Sarah and I stuck around for juuuuuuust one more {full size} beer of our server's choice based on our favs from the tasting - I opted for a citrus-y brew and Sarah went for a Pilsner. Gotta love Saturdays...

{"Citrus White" on the top right was my top pick}

{My tastings ended up being on the lighter side and Sarah's on the darker - we didn't ask for this, but it was actually very fitting for what our choices would've been anyway}

{So happy to be having bestie time}

{Her glass is half full}

{Instagramed}

{Happy Saturday}

Dinner Date With The Lady Loves

I have this amazing group of girlfriends by whom I am often reminded of just how lucky I am. Especially when Tiff rallies everyone for a random Thursday night Roman Cuccina Group Dinner Date. We are all so so busy, and definitely don't get to see each other as often as we'd like, so it's always a treat when {most} of us are able to rearrange our schedules to spend some QT with each other for a couple of hours mid-week.

This particular dinner date was a revealing of BIG news that I am yet allowed to reveal here, but will do so all in good time. Besides that, I was {yet again} reminded of just how amazing each of these women are - Miranda is going to India for 2 weeks to build homes with a non-profit organization. This is her 2nd time visiting India, and is hugely inspiring when you hear her talk about what she will be doing over there...see - amazing. Also in the news - the Kolstad's put an offer down on their first home - no big - so we'll hear the outcome of that soon!

Other than that, just some regular catching up - who's got a new man and has been walking around in moon boots {me}, whose moving to La Jolla {Tiff & Troy}, who's going to {actually because I lag at this, just got back from} St. Thomas for a week {Colby & Jake, Tiff & Troy along with Teri & Danny, and Jenny & Matt}, and some casual conversation about strippers and their unique set of skills. What?

Needless to say, I love these women and feel beyond blessed to have them in my life. {Side Note & Fun Fact: Most of us went to High School together and have been best friends since then - kind of a big deal, no?}

{Table Right}

{Table Left}

{Tiff & Colbs}

{KatieK & Donna}

{Don's "there's no wine in my cup" face}

{Tiff, Colby, and I}

{Lady Loves - minus a couple}

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

DIY Follow Through

If you're like me, you have 10s, 20s, 30s {you get the idea} of saved images, links, magazine tears, and 'bookmarks' of DIY ideas that you will 'surely' get to. With every saved DIY idea, comes the best intentions of {insert thought to self} 'I will totally do this and it will be awesome'. And maybe you do, {still, probably, non-existent} I admire you for that. I, on the other hand, let them collect on my hard drive, Pinterest, and physical journal {that I still keep, and always will - with or without this blog}. It's a habit that I have gotten into since I was in 7th grade and started collecting images {everysingelone} of Christy Turlington, and has progressed from there. Yes, I am aware of how creepy that sounds, but it's not. I promise. I mark the time when I started doing that as the point in my life where I became obsessed/intrigued with fashion, models and {finding my own} style. See - not creepy.

But I digress. DIY - that's where I was heading with this. It is an awesome concept, you know? See something you love, take note, and DO IT YOURSELF. In a way, I have been doing this for the past 20 years - more so with clothing, than crafts, but still. Cutting, folding, "sewing", and altering apparel, jewelry, and other accessories to be just how I wanted it - based on something I saw somewhere or in my mind, rather - that's DIYing, isn't it?

My 2nd resolution for 2012 {the 1st was starting this blog - baby steps} - is to actually give some of my DIY inspirations a try! I am fully aware that the DIY movement is not being revealed on this blog. There are PLENTY of follow-through-ers and crafters who put this resolution to shame. BUT - it's my blog, my resolution, and my FIRST DIY follow through.

Thank goodness for gifting - I am far more apt to crafting or DIY-ing if it is for a gift rather than for myself. I've always felt it way more rewarding and enjoyable to create something one-of-a-kind for someone special, than for myself to keep. I'm such a giver {please take with a dose of sarcasm + humor}. So, for this past Christmas, I gave not one, but two, of my first DIYs out and they were a hit!

Thanks to the sweet {and resourceful} peeps at Refinery29, I was able to make my resolution a reality {before the actual new year hit - which is very prompt and atypical of me}. It wasn't the biggest feat to conquer, but it was a mini success for me, and I'm pretty proud of the end results. See the full article and {better than my} detailed instructions here and below for my first DIY follow through.

{Hopefully} More DIY documentation to follow...

{Starting point - 8 strands of any kind of cotton/cotton blend rope, about 4-5 ft each, tied in a knot}

{Two strands at a time - tie in knots about 1 inch away from the initial knot...}

{Your choice of bowl and plants - succulents for me - and place in the center of the "web" of string}

{Happy DIY-ing}

Sunday, January 8, 2012

A Beachy Sunday

Any weekend morning that starts out with a sunny day at the beach in the winter is alright by me - and that is just what today was. The occasion was, I wish for a happier cause, but was actually to celebrate the life of Sean Collins {the mastermind behind Surfline}, who passed away suddenly at the all-too-young age of 59, while playing tennis with one of his sons. How odd the universe is...

Terry {Julie's fiancee - are you keeping up with my characters?} actually grew up with Collins' two sons and his Mom was/is close to Sean and his wife so Terry, his Mom {Theresa}, Julie, Rylee, and I headed to South Side, Huntington Pier for the paddle out to honor everything that Collins' did for the surf world.

Despite the fact that Paddle Outs typically take place because someone has passed away, they are always a really beautiful way to celebrate the life of someone who loved the ocean just as much as everyone participating in it. Totally unifying for those who participate.

I, of course, did not actually paddle out, but Terry did...Julie and I got to enjoy the warm sun, the sand, and I got some QT with Rylee, cruising and frolicking up and down the beach.

Thank you, Sean Collins for giving us a reason to enjoy the incredible January weather and reminding us of how amazingly beautiful our "backyard" is. RIP.

{Courtesy of LATimes.com - see full article here}

{Rylee <3}

{So stinkin' cute, right?}

{Model Shots. No big.}

{She hates the camera, but the camera loves her}

{Love}

{Rylee and Mom}

{Terry, Aron, Marc - the paddle-outers}

- side note: how pumped does Terry look? -

{Supporting the paddle-outers}

Friday, January 6, 2012

An Australian Engagement

It is {and has been} happening all around me. Over the past two years, A LOT {and I mean, almost all} of my closest friends having gotten engaged and/or married. When a major case of wedding fever happens like this in one's life, you have no choice but to embrace it - because it's happening, whether you do or you don't, so just go with it. I honestly couldn't be happier for all of my nearest and dearest who have taken this hugely romantic and faithful step in their lives because 1. I love and am pretty much obsessed with each and every one of them {Donna, Tiffany, Colby, Katie, Ryan, Julie, Terin} and 2. I believe whole-heartedly in each of their relationships and partners - who are all very lucky men.

Recently, my BWFF {Best Work Friend Forever - she and I made this up 'cause we're just that cool}, Kate, and her man, Jon Paul took a huge trip over to Oz and came back, yep, you guessed it - ENGAGED. These two have been together FOREVER - 7 years, actually, and are one damn cute couple. Kate is smart, independent, super model gorgeous, and one of the most kind hearted and special people I have met, and JP is just an all around awesome dude who is pretty much as sweet as could be.

Needless to say, I was SO excited for Kate to come back from Australia so that I could hear all about it! We still haven't had the chance to talk about alllllll the details {we need a wine night ASAP}, but I got the gist of it and couldn't resist sharing. One of the things that makes this particular story so special, is the fact that Kate was COMPLETELY caught off guard - she had NO idea. Nice work, Jon Paul {Although, I have to admit - I knew he was going to do it on this trip. I don't know why, but I just knew it}

I have known Kate {and JP, I guess too} for almost 2 years now, and could honestly not be happier for the two of them.

{P.S. Sorry, I creeped on your Facebooks for these photos. I figured you'd understand.}

Jon Paul and Kate - Congrats, guys!

Their good friends who live in Australia just had a baby and announced to the Facebook Universe that Jon Paul and Kate were engaged with this precious little gal in her statement romper. How sweet is this??

Happy 6th

Today, as you likely well know, is the 6th of January. An otherwise normal Friday if it weren't for the fact that my BFF, Julie will be marrying her love, Terry Dean, exactly 10 months from today. So, in honor of this very special time in their lives {especially Julie's}, every 6th is going to be devoted to all things wedding. I {unfortunately} cannot take credit for this idea, as it was passed on to me by {in my humble opinion} someone who is an expert on all things bridal and wedding {this includes, but is not limited to, showers, THEMED OUT bachelorette parties, and tons and tons of ways to make the bride feel like the most important girl in the world - as she should - during this time in her life}. This master of her trade, being Teri Bockting, also happens to be a fellow blogger - you can {and should} check it out here.

Anyway, it makes sense, you know - things get so chaotic, the older we get and time is {seemingly} always of the essence, so it is necessary to delegate time to spend with your bride {as her "MOH"} to help her prep for this major occasion. This is the first 6th we've had since they locked in the date, and unfortunately, because of personal reasons for Jul, we weren't able to make it happen. So, I figured I would at least devote my night to blogging about the first step in planning a wedding {besides the proposal} - choosing the location!

Julie and Terry are both Southern California born and bred, both grew up by the beach {Terry a bit closer than Julie}, both love a good dive bar where there is/are 1. Karaoke {Julie's fav} and 2. Plenty of cold CLs {Terry's fav}, and both love...CATALINA.

A few weeks ago, Julie, MOB {Cathy}, Sarah {co-MOH}, and I {Terry was there in spirit} boarded the Catalina Express for a fun-filled weekend where we would check out a couple of sites and hopefully lock down a date. We did and we DID. On October 6, 2012, Julie and Terry will be married at the Catalina Country Club on Avalon, Catalina Island. Good stuff, right?

There really are not that many locations to choose from on the island, and since Julie, being the low maintenance girl she is, already had her top picks, it really didn't take very long. We checked out two locations, but we all knew it from the second we walked into the country club that that was the spot. So simple, romantic without any really additions, and complete with a club style pub for the boys {and party people in general}. This was it.

After visiting both sites, discussing date availabilities, and venue specifics - we were all set and had the rest of the day to play.

Starting with a celebratory lunch complete with mimosas and oyster shooters {gag}, this trip was off to a great start. From there it went as follows: Stopping at one of the newer {and super sweet} hotels for a complimentary wine happy hour for guests {which we weren't, but Julie and I know how to wheel and deal - obvi}. A stop at one of the island's Souvenir Shops for some photo opps and personalized keychains {yes, I do know how much this sounds like a junior high trip, but personalized keychains are making a huge comeback. you heard it here first} Avalon Grille {a newer and super cute restaurant} for some happy hour snacks and {more} wine {what, we're on vacation}. This is proceeded by a series of events that involves more cocktails, a juke box, pool playing with some very "salty dogs", a bit of dancing, one fall into the shore {minor stumble}, and loads of fun!

I am beyond excited to be a part of this oh-so-special time in two of my dearest friends' lives and cannot wait for all the festivities to come! Needless to say, the trip was a success in more ways than one and here are some photos to reflect such success.