From the weekend {Sunday}

Monday, April 30, 2012

On Sunday, the hubs and I headed out of the City and up to Napa for a bit of sun and a bit of wine. We didn't have a real plan. We started at Turnbull, one of my favorites (we even drank their viognier durring our wedding ceremony), and then wandered up and down St. Helena Highway stopping off here and there. Sometime it would be fun to do a real structured wine tour with a group, but for a lazy birthday the no-plan plan was just lovely.

I'll never get tired of wine country, it's the perfect escape. What do you all think - in love with wine country as well? Or do you prefer a different escape? I'd love to hear.

gorgeous grape vines
Whitehall Cellars

so pretty

don't mind if I do

popped in here for a little picnic 

i love a wild rose

From the weekend {Saturday}

So, I'm not sure if I mentioned that I had a birthday last weekend - oh I did, and you're tired of hearing about it? Well too bad. Brace yourselves for a recap. 

On Saturday, a few of my birthday wishes came true. I spent the early part of the day at the spa for an awesome facial, then stopped off for a manicure on my way home (my life is hard - I know), then the hubs cooked a romantic dinner for two. He made a sea food feast: lobster, scallops, and clams, so delicious. He even did the dishes, which is usually my chore, so that was really a treat. We had a nice cupcake chardonay with the meal, and a cupcake prosecco with a lemon meringue tart for dessert - a few of my faves. He even surprised me with a really special bit of jewelry - too sweet! I was feeling very spoiled, and it was only my birthday eve. A few fun photos are below. If you'll indulge me a bit more, an update on the actual birthday is comin' up. 

birthday treats


a dinner guest, poor guy - I couldn't watch

just what I wanted!

small box, big smile

the beautiful finished product 

mmm, so yummy

a little wine to complete the table and set the mood

Monday's Mantra


Truth!

Image via

It's my birthday!

Sunday, April 29, 2012


"April hath put a spirit of youth in everything" - William Shakespeare

not me, but this is essentially how I feel today

Today is also my "baby" sister's birthday (I share, even though it was mine first). We are exactly 4 years a part - our parents had some good timing. Happy birthday Sarah, you were the best birthday gift a four year old could have ever hoped for.  xo! 

Happy weekend!

Saturday, April 28, 2012

It's a weekend to celebrate!



We'll be doing our fair share of celebrating (I think there may be one romantic dinner and a Napa trip in my future), what will you lovlies be up to? Whatever you do I hope it's fabulous. I'll meet you back here Monday - enjoy these links until then.  xo! 


Have you heard of Threadflip? What do you think? Worth a try?





The royal wedding - aw magical! 


How amazing is this studio?


Birthday shots

Friday, April 27, 2012



Yield: 1 shot (but you can make up to 6 at a time in a standard martini shaker)
Ingredients
1 ounce cake flavored vodka 
1 teaspoon dry white cake mix
1/2 ounce whipped cream flavored vodka or chocolate liqueur
1/2 ounce half & half (10.5-18% fat cream)
whipped cream (for topping)
sprinkles (for topping)
Method
Shake all ingredients in a martini shaker with ice and strain into sprinkle-rimmed (optional) shooter or shot glass and top with whipped cream and more sprinkles.
Cheers to fun! 

Original recipe via

Friday's Find

I am loving these prints bKari Herer. Aren't they just gorgeous 




Birthday Wishlist

Thursday, April 26, 2012

... because it's three days until my birthday and I can make a wishlist if I wat to.


My wishlist includes: an oxygen facial, these sunglasses, this lipstick.


Maybe the hubs will surprise me with this necklace


What birthday wouldn't be complete with out some cupcakes


and some {pink} bubbles?

Here's hoping. ;-)

Thursday's Tidbit


SHOWstudio's "Pussycat, Pussycat" shoot: the first ever high fashion shoot done with Instagram. In their own words: SHOWstudio turns to the latest web tools - Instagram, Twitter, and Tumblr - to offer up Nick Knight's first ever Instagram photo shoot, inspired by Internet memes, animal GIFs and Autumn/Winter 2012's taste for grown-up, blown-up overdressing. I of course love this because the kitten is so beautiful and because this is so well done. What are you thoughts? Love it? Hate it? Is Instagram high fashion worthy?



Spicy Quinoa, Cucumber and Tomato Salad

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

This past Saturday the hubs and I went to a spontaneous pot-luck wedding (the proposal and wedding happened within a month of each other! I really admire that kind of ballsy-ness). It was a great party and the hubs and I felt so honored to be included. To pull our weight, pot-luck-wise, we brought this dish - so yummy and healthy! 


Ingredients:  
3 cups water
Salt to taste
2 cups diced cucumber
1 small red onion, finely minced (optional)
2 cups finely diced tomatoes
1 to 2 jalapeño or serrano peppers (to taste), seeded if desired and finely chopped
1/2 cup chopped cilantro, plus several sprigs for garnish
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar or sherry vinegar
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 avocado, sliced, for garnish
1. Place the quinoa in a bowl, and cover with cold water. Let sit for five minutes. Drain through a strainer, and rinse until the water runs clear. Bring the 3 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add salt (1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon) and the quinoa. Bring back to a boil, and reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer 15 minutes or until the quinoa is tender and translucent; each grain should have a little thread. Drain off the water in the pan through a strainer, and return the quinoa to the pan. Cover the pan with a clean dishtowel, replace the lid and allow to sit for 10 minutes. If making for the freezer, uncover and allow to cool, then place in plastic bags. Flatten the bags and seal.
2. Meanwhile, place the finely diced cucumber in a colander, and sprinkle with salt. Toss and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Rinse the cucumber with cold water, and drain on paper towels. If using the onion, place in a bowl and cover with cold water. Let sit for five minutes, then drain, rinse with cold water and drain on paper towels.
3. Combine the tomatoes, chiles, cilantro, vinegar, lime juice and olive oil in a bowl. Add the cucumber and onion, season to taste with salt, and add the quinoa and cilantro. Toss together, and taste and adjust seasonings. Serve garnished with sliced avocado and cilantro sprigs.


Enjoy! 

Wed Day




Coral, oysters, the beach, and a pretty white dress? These are all of my favorite summer things! This wedding shoot via Once Wed had me at "coral centerpiece." What do you think pretty darlings?

Lavender mojito

Tuesday, April 24, 2012



Lavender Mojito (makes one drink)
8-10 mint leaves
1 oz lavender simple syrup (recipe below)
1 oz white rum
1/2 of a lime's juice

Muddle mint leaves and simple syrup together. Add the rum, lime and lots of ice and shake. Pour everything into a mason jar and top with club soda. Stir again to mix it all together.

Lavender Simple Syrup (makes about 6-8 mojitos)
1 cup sugar
2 cups water
4 tablespoons dried lavender for cooking (I got mine at Whole Foods!)

Bring everything to a boil for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then let it all simmer for another 15-20 minutes or longer if you prefer more lavender. The longer it simmers and sits, the more taste and smell you'll get from the lavender. Strain the liquid into a bowl to remove the bits of lavender. Pour into a  jar and refrigerate. Enjoy!


Original recipe via. 

Tuesday's Tips & Tricks


The fuller lip illusion trick, courtesy of the Beauty Department. Use a nude pencil to line around your top lip, blend, and then apply your lipstick, I tried this last weekend and it totally worked. If you want an extra pop, try adding a touch of highlighter to your cupid's bow too. Pucker up buttercups!

Chickens!

Monday, April 23, 2012


I went to Sonoma this past weekend to celebrate a dear friend's birthday and there were chickens at the winery!

Bouquet



Last week I was in charge of organizing a large City event for Earth Day, this is one of the floral arrangements made by the talented team at Flora Grubb Gardens. They were so stunning I couldn't resist taking one home.

Monday's Mantra


I'm a work in progress, my birthday is on Sunday, so this seemed all too fitting. 

Happy Monday! 

Happy Earth Day!

Sunday, April 22, 2012


Celebrate mother Gia with this delicious Earth Day Cocktail, via TPS


Recipe: King Karl

1⁄2 oz fresh organic lime juice
1⁄2 oz Agave
3 organic Strawberries
Method: muddle strawberries in the bottom of a shaker, add all other ingredients, shake and strain.
Glass: Martini or any preferred
Garnish: Rosemary Sprig
Enjoy!
More ways to be green in your life here, here and here

Happy Weekend!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

It's a party-time weekend loves!



What do you all have planed? The hubs and have a wedding on Saturday, it should be a wild unorthodox affair - I'm hopeful to have a few good photos to share - then I'm off to Sonoma to celebrate a sweet friend's birthday on Sunday. See you Monday - enjoy these links until then. xo!


Coachella's Best Dressed (including one of my besties)


Some of the sweetest photos ever


If money was no object ...


... this too :-)


I am loving these planters


Hilarious memoirs


It can be easy being green


How to cut your own bangs


Photo of Amy Sedaris - a personal fave. 

Carmel croissant bread pudding

Friday, April 20, 2012


Carmel croissant bread pudding, mmm sign me up! How good would this be with a nice espresso on a lazy weekend morning? See the original post (and recipe) here.

Friday's Finds


Lookmatic is the shieet! Let me back up. I am lucky enough to be super cool and have an astigmatism. So I have been lucky enough to have been wearing glasses part-time since I was 8 years old. I know, right? Lucky!

Well, in any case - I have been lucky to discover Lookmatic. They offer really affordable glasses (around $80, including your prescription) in great styles - sunglasses too. Normally, glasses are so expensive that it's hard to have more than one pair (which is unfortunate since glasses are such a fun accessory to play around with) but since I discovered Lookmatic I have become one of the privileged few with more that one pair of glasses. Lucky! Currently I have a pair of the glover and avery, but I have my eye on the colt too. What about you loves, have you heard of this site? See anything you like?





Cuba

Thursday, April 19, 2012

How badly do you want to go? On my list fo sho.

Thursday's Tidbit


I've talked about skin care here & here, but I think it's always a good idea to periodically check your products for toxins that can cause negative health effects. The Skin Deep Database is a great resource, as is the Good Guide. I've mentioned this before, but I think it's worth repeating - it's shocking how lax most of the regulations that govern the toxicity of cosmetics and other products (home cleaning, etc) are, it's important to take a few extra steps to protect yourself and your loved ones. 

Airy bedrooms

Wednesday, April 18, 2012





I have a thing for mostly white bedding, there's something lovely about falling asleep in a bed that feels airy, fresh, and cloud like.
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