pine to the pacific

valentine's day links.

2012-02-14T13:44:00.000-08:00

a 1940s valentine, sent via telegram.
mr. darcy's proposal in t-shirt form. {how awesome is this??}
love letters sent by henry viii to anne boleyn.
on a similar note, love letters from the world's tyrants. ha.
is it weird that in 2012 i'm still into lifehouse? this cover of the rolling stones' beast of burden is beautiful.
eros alive in london.
an amusing ecard.
and finally, for my bachelor fans - the funniest episode recaps to enjoy this valentine's day. ;)

true that.

2012-02-10T15:00:00.001-08:00

{buy this cute print here; animation done by moi!}

have truer words ever been printed? :) tonight i am off to celebrate the end of a long week with a champagne cocktail at the bubble lounge - i can't wait! have a lovely weekend!

tahoe house inspiration.

2012-02-09T14:30:00.000-08:00

{image sources, clockwise from left: wooden room; tahoe beaches sign; firewood basket;

antlers in entry; blanket; rustic cabins sign; stone fireplace room; button pillows}

my parents are in the midst of renovating their new lake tahoe house {pink carpet and lace curtains with geese patterns didn't QUITE fit in with the desired aesthetic}, so of course i've been a pinterest maniac finding beautiful textiles and inspiration for a cozy lake cabin. i feel happy just looking at this little collage!

san francisco presidio engagement session : nick & melissa

2012-02-08T11:27:00.000-08:00

this engagement session probably gave me the most outtakes i have EVER seen - nick & melissa absolutely cracked up through the whole thing, and it was hilarious! it was SO much fun running around the presidio and palace of fine arts with this two, just smiling and laughing and watching them be silly in love. helps that they are the cutest couple, so those crack-up photos come out beautifully too. what a fantastic day we had.

on dieting : month 1

2012-02-05T13:14:00.000-08:00

since it's superbowl sunday and i'm about to go munch on nachos for 3 hours, let's talk about diets! :) as i mentioned in my new year's resolution post, one of my goals this year is to lose weight and get healthier. my friend catherine is running a 'biggest loser' contest leading up to her wedding in august that comes with a large cash prize {we're talking almost 2k} and tons of motivation! just the mere thought of having to her email her dad {our moderator} my weight at the end of every month is terrifying enough to make me run to a treadmill when i'm feeling uninspired. ;)

my plan was such: instead of giving myself a huge number of pounds to lose overall, i'd take it monthly. i figured it was reasonable to lose 5 pounds per month by increasing my gym time and eating mindfully and healthily. that would put me at 40 pounds lost by the end of august - which sounds like a LOT, doesn't it? i would weigh less than i did as a freshman in high school, and while i have never ever been skinny, i was playing year-long sports with 3 hours of daily practice, and was in great shape. kind of a crazy thought.

well you guys, in january i lost 10 pounds! i was so shocked and thrilled by this result - especially since i had a 4-day vegas trip {hello beer, hello tequila} and a few weekends of indulgence {hello straw, hello american cupcake}. i thought a fun way to track this journey would be to talk each month about the winners and losers i'd tested in this dieting plan.

WINNERS:

green smoothies are everywhere right now, aren't they? i was obviously skeptical, but here is the best combo for a great-tasting smoothie: 1 banana, 2 handfuls of baby spinach, about half a cup of vanilla almond milk, half a cup of frozen berries, and ice. i promise, you cannot taste the spinach AT ALL, and you are loading your body up with so much goodness. it's also really filling, so i typically make this part of my dinner after i go to the gym in the evening.

fit day is an online diet/exercise tracker, and also an iphone app. each day i take a few minutes to log what i've eaten, and not only does it track your calories, it also shows you what your breakdown is in terms of protein, carbs, and fat. you can also log your exercise to see what kind of calorie balance you're ending your days with. i have been eating 1200-1500 calories per day and trying to exercise at least 4 days a week, burning 400 calories or more each time. my breakdown during the day is normally breakfast/300, lunch/550, dinner/500 {with an effort to stay away from carbs at dinner}. as weird as it sounds, this does keep you accountable, and i feel a little sense of pride when i can look back at a day and see a list of healthy foods that filled me up and gave me energy.

is it weird that someone else's blog is one of my main winners this month? i am 100% in love with can you stay for dinner, the memoirs and recipes of andie mitchell. andie lost 135 pounds {!} and she writes so beautifully on changing her attitude toward food and exercise. i have probably read her weight loss stories 10 times over the past month, and i leave feeling so inspired every time. her attitude is so rational, so moderate, and so empowering that i just can't get enough. plus her recipes are fantastic too!

runners up for my winners include: kashi go-lean rolls {190 calories of deliciousness and protein for mornings when real breakfast isn't an option}, hummus {my favorite indulgence that i fit into at least a meal per day} and watching the biggest loser.

speaking of LOSERS:

5am gym time: because i tend to have a lot going on in the evenings, i decided i could force myself out of bed to go to the gym before work. i apparently am just NOT a morning person, to the point where i would literally have to sleep in my sports bra and work out pants in order to have a CHANCE of getting myself out of bed. haha! i think i'll just scrap the torture in february.

avoiding eating out: in the first 2 weeks i was beyond paranoid about eating out. when i cook at home, i know exactly what is in my food and how many calories i'm consuming. in restaurants - who knows? i found myself not wanting to have dinner with friends, join my co-workers at lunches, etc. it was so lame, i'm shaking my head at myself now. i think i've found a good balance, which is basically like: go for salads, focus on healthy sauces {tomato > alfredo, duh right}, take half of it home, etc - and it's ok to have some chips & queso at tacolicious if i want it. ;)

so that's the summary for month 1 - hope you don't mind this change of pace from my normal posting. if you guys like this, i can keep it up for the next months. february is off to a good start!

american cupcake

2012-02-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

to continue the constant stream of food posting on this blog, here's another hot tip for you: american cupcake on union street is amazing. as with most large cities, there are cupcake places on practically every block in my neighborhood. my all-time favorite is kara's {vanilla coconut cupcakes, mmm}, but after a morning of shopping on union street we decided to duck in here.

the best parts about american cupcake are a) outdoor seating for these sunny weekends we've had, b) champagne/wine pairings for cupcakes - we did sofia in the cute pink cans, and c) their crazy array of flavors, from pixi stick to fleur de sel. i chose cookies n' cream, and i can honestly say it's in my top 3 cupcakes i've ever had. it was like a dairy queen blizzard in baked form, if that makes any sense!

on that note, i'm going to be posting about the diet i've been on since january 1st...even i'm laughing as i write that...but it actually is working, despite what you see here. promise. ;)

my funny valentine

2012-02-01T09:08:00.000-08:00

{bed hog; rowr; knight in shining armor; silhouettes, shot through the heart; you're my type}

i can't believe it's already february 1st! in honor of this new month i thought i'd share my favorite valentines. i tend to prefer something on the lighter side, can you tell? ;)

watercolor map

2012-01-31T10:47:00.000-08:00

yesterday i was google-imaging in attempts to find some vintage san francisco map prints. i fell in love with this watercolor, and a quick search for the artist led to me to his portfolio. amazing! other favorites are london and "new york by night."

favorite place no. 17 : straw

2012-01-30T06:00:00.000-08:00

the theme of this weekend: food! for someone who has been dieting since jan 1, this was insane. i didn't even eat this crazily in vegas, my goodness. but, i enjoyed every minute of it, squeezed in some gym time, and can be back to spinach-banana smoothies today. :)

our first stop on saturday morning was straw in hayes valley. it's a carnival-themed restaurant, complete with crazy foods, alcoholic slushees, and even old carnival rides set up as booths. i completely forgot to take ANY pictures of my friends {sorry lovelies}, we basically just all stared slack-jawed at the menu and our plates the whole time! the meal was incredible, incredibly rich {...clearly}, and the service there was wonderful. they delivered lollipops with our bill, which was a sweet treat at the end. if you are visiting sf, or are a local with friends in town, this is a PERFECT destination for a unique brunch.

minty fresh

2012-01-27T13:59:00.000-08:00

i don't think it's possible for me to be any more obsessed with that glass pendant shade...or that bag...or those {men's!} shoes. yup, i'm on a color kick.

happy friday to you all - i know i can't WAIT to have a weekend of nothingness {other than brunch at straw, which i'm so thrilled about}!

{honeycomb pendant lamp; miu miu bag; shoes}

vegas via instagram

2012-01-26T11:47:00.000-08:00

4 days in vegas was...a lot. haha. we had an AMAZING time, starting from the 7am mimosas at SFO til our delayed flight home kept us napping in the vegas airport later than we wanted. in between was filled with SO many activities, from the mind-blowing zac brown band concert to the UNLV basketball game {we snuck into the student section...excited to say i still pass for 21} and all the casinos in between. plus, many beers that were bigger than my head. ;)

and that niners game...i mean, kill me. it's sort of tragic that the last post lingering on my blog was my blind optimism after the big win. sigh. superbowl has officially become ONLY about the nachos, not about the game.

gold blooded.

2012-01-16T23:10:00.000-08:00

sorry for my lack of posting - i've spent the past few days nervously anticipating {and subsequently FREAKING OUT about} this:

i just can't even tell you what it was like to lose our minds in a shoulder-to-shoulder sports bar on union street. as cody blasted his coors light into the air, it felt good. like, almost-2010-giants good. ;)

there's another cool version of THE CATCH III from the crowd {with the home team call} here. i loved that one so much.

for next week's NFC championship...we'll be in vegas. oh boy. i'm going to miss those sf crowds, but maybe i can find a little luck for our boys!

the perfect parfait

2012-01-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

my friends and i partake in brunches all. the. time.

book club = brunch. friends in town = brunch. sleepy saturday = brunch. though restaurants {especially with bottomless mimosas} are amazing, it's even more fun when we all make a dish and get together at someone's apartment. for brunch this past weekend, i wanted to find something healthy, as opposed to the usual scones, egg bakes, etc, since we're all in new year's diet mode. these adorable parfaits were perfect, quick to make, and had minimal cleanup since i used disposable cups.

to make 8 individual parfaits, you need:

3 cups fresh berries
2-3 cups lowfat plain granola
32 oz. nonfat yogurt {i used greek}

delicious and lovely to look at!

baby photoshoot : brooke

2012-01-09T15:27:00.000-08:00

my list of ingredients for a perfect photoshoot: a precious 3-month old baby, mid-day light in her nursery, a diaper {and nothin' else!}, and a cooing mama off-camera. sometimes simplicity produces the best results.

san francisco, 1955.

2012-01-05T11:24:00.000-08:00

after i watched this video this morning i KNEW i had to share it here. 20 minutes is likely too long for those of you who aren't SF residents, but i absolutely adored touring the city and seeing what it was like in the 1950s! the biggest standouts for me are playland, the amusement park that's no longer there {but the relics can be seen at musee mechanic}, how fast the car squeals down lombard street {i was worried he was gonna crash} and how there is ZERO traffic on either of the bridges or on van ness - i wish that was still true today!

** update: if you're reading this in google reader or an rss feed, apparently the video doesn't show up. click through to the actual post!

2012.

2012-01-03T12:32:00.000-08:00

it's time for resolutions, isn't it? i was kind of nervous to revisit last year's, but let's see how i did:

2011:

1. refrain from using my new car as a second closet/storage unit. check! i even have an appointment to get that cutie detailed in a couple weeks.

2. run a race that is longer than a 5k. ugh...did a 10k {begrudgingly} and it sucked. :) see my recap here.

3. come up with 3 creative photography projects and execute. big fat fail! despite booking like 20 photoshoots in november & december alone, i didn't really tackle any of the "creative" stuff i really wanted to try. i did make a huge list of ideas/inspiration, so maybe i can work on it this year.

4. clean out my closet and donate to goodwill every 3 months. pretty much a yes. although cody did tell me yesterday "you know i could just lay down in your closet and sleep like a baby because of all the clothes on the floor". whoops. maybe reorganizing will be a key in 2012. ;)

5. re-vamp le blog. done - twice! this version is the post-blogshop version, and i'm still digging it.

6. explore marin county, once of the most gorgeous places in california. so happy to say i made this a focus too! from sausalito to novato to tiburon, i explored marin quite a few times. one of my favorite days is here.

7. take a new self-portrait. done x 12, basically. i plastered this blog with my face - haha.

8. find new blogs/bloggers to love, be inspired by, and become blog-friends. DEFINITELY done! i can't tell you how many new blogs i've fallen in love with in 2011, and how many blog-friendships i've formed through this blog, twitter, and instagram. a few of of these amazing women you should check out are chelsea, elease, and emily...and there are SO many more. if you have recommendations for more blogs i should follow, please tell me!

and now for 2012:

1. get fit/lose some lbs! my friend catherine is running a "biggest loser" contest for her friends & family leading up to her wedding in august {with jose villa as her photog, sidenote, so i might just die when i see him in action}. the pot for the winner is about $1500, so if that's not incentive, i don't know what is!

2. spend more time on crafty DIYs. i loved painting/making over furniture when i moved last year, so i need to keep finding fun projects for my tiny apartment.

3. organize my closet...and keep it that way. that's really the hard part, huh.

4. use my willpower to make the 49ers win the superbowl. yup. haha. ;)

5. keep my focus on happiness, always.

{photo source}

a year of the blog : 2011

2011-12-30T14:08:00.000-08:00

my best girlfriends and i took a trip to lake tahoe, where we frolicked in the snow and ice skated at the top of squaw valley.

used wrapping paper and simple items from my apartment for a lovely photoshoot full of my favorite flower, ranunculus. love this one.

spent a weekend exploring the russian river and wine tasting for kelly's bachelorette!

FINALLY finished decorating my new apartment! take the tour.

i wrote a post about discovering the best mimosas in sf, which is now one of the top ways random strangers come to this blog - haha. :)

i took myself on a photo date to half moon bay.

enjoyed one of the many amazing weekends at lake tahoe for the 4th of july, and captured some of my favorite summer photos.

attended blogshop - the most inspiring, amazing creative outlet of my year! it changed my life {no, really!}

made my first vlog - scary!

hung out on lauren's roof for the amazing annual fleet week air show in san francisco.

got to hide out in union square and photograph the engagement of one of my best friends {on ice skates!}

as for december...here we are! i can't pick a favorite from this month - maybe i'll cross my fingers that NYE tops my list! ;)

christmas pic overload!

2011-12-28T19:05:00.000-08:00

hope you're not too burned out for this explosion of christmas goodness, 4 days later:

we had an amazing christmas this year! a 4-year-old and 1-year-old definitely make it SO much more fun - writing letters to santa, baking cookies, and checking out the presents under the tree get a lot more exciting! while i got a ton of glittery fun gifts {my pinterest came to life}, my sister got the big surprise with a macbook air. so awesome.

i'm hanging out in houston hobby airport, taking advantage of my whole 45 mins of free wi-fi and hoping that this little cold that crept up on me this morning will somehow disappear somewhere over nevada. :) back to san francisco just in time to ring in 2012!

happy christmas eve!

2011-12-24T13:36:00.000-08:00

i'm having way too much fun talking santa with these cuties. :)

photoshoot : the chao family

2011-12-23T08:50:00.000-08:00

this is one of my favorite family photoshoots of the year! lucca and jackson are just the cutest kiddos around, and kelsey did such a great job styling their family in perfect winter outfits {especially those coats, right?}. just lovely. :)

craft brunch!

2011-12-20T22:45:00.000-08:00

my darling friend jen came for a san francisco visit a couple weekends ago and she brought me to the absolutely joy known as craft brunch. instead of JUST mimosas and delicious breakfast treats, you add some incredibly talented ladies and a variety of crafts - genius right? above you can see a few of the projects these amazing crafters made...honestly, mine was ~~a little~~ completely elementary compared to what was happening there.

to make my jolly ornament wreath, you need:
- a wire hanger, unraveled
- a whole bunch of cheapo ornaments/jingle bells {mine are from walgreens & michaels - i spent $12 total}
- ribbon to finish it off/hang it

and all you do is...slide the ornaments on the hanger. and then make it into a circle. yup. your 3-year-old could do it. :)

p.s. j - i'd post our cute picture but it went down in the toilet with my iphone. wah wah!

a very iphone christmas

2011-12-19T09:37:00.000-08:00

so the other night my iphone fell from my pocket into a toilet...sigh. luckily i have instagram to keep all of my festive photos safe on the internet. and i'm also lucky that julian at the apple store is my christmas angel and hooked me up with a new phone! now my only worry is how the new one autocorrects my last name to a swear word. ha!

special birthdays.

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

two of the people i love most in this world are celebrating their birthdays today! my dear sweet niece violet is a whole year old, and my amazing mom is...one year older? {don't worry mom, i won't tell the world ;) }. these two ladies fill my heart with joy, and being with them is the best feeling on earth. only a few more days!

in honor of miss V and her big first birthday, a few of my favorite photos. the first starts at a mere 9 days old!

look at those schmoopy cheeks! can't wait to kiss em!

photobooth + nieces

2011-12-14T12:40:00.000-08:00

love my girls - just found these silly photos on my computer from thanksgiving. i do believe that violet is smizing in her second photo. tyra would be proud!

a tiny apartment christmas.

2011-12-13T07:00:00.000-08:00

i am so cozy in this little nook full of twinkle lights and snowflakes! i always think i'll just leave these decorations up year-round... ;)

make your own: finger knit scarf

2011-12-12T08:45:00.000-08:00

time for a super easy winter craft: the finger-knit scarf! i'd noticed a few pins about how to make these, and then my sister's friend sarah also posted a picture of her creation, so i knew i had to try. i picked up a few different kinds of yarn on sale at a craft store, with my favorite being this multicolored kind i used for this scarf. love the ombre look! i put a mid-process photo up on instagram and got a couple emails asking what the heck i was doing, so just read on to learn!

for this one i used 54 yards of yarn and it took about an hour and a half {just pop in a holiday movie and go to town!}. if you want to learn how to do it, check out the quick video i posted below.

my christmas favorites.

2011-12-06T14:07:00.000-08:00

if you walk into my apartment this month, it's likely you'll see one {or all} of these things happening at once. we all have things that get us fully in the christmas spirit, and these are mine!

watch: love actually, elf, and the holiday. on repeat, all the time.

smell: yankee candle holiday scents - balsam & cedar and cinnamon.

read: david sedaris "holidays on ice" {the funniest book on earth, truly} and my favorite book to read with my nieces, "the jolly christmas postman." it comes with letters, puzzles, games, and more all tucked in the envelopes inside!

listen: she & him christmas. so absurdly lovely.

photoshoot : morrill family

2011-12-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

two favorites from another sweet family photoshoot in alta plaza park! brady needs to get out of town with that ridiculously cute hat, right? everyone was swooning!

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas!

2011-12-02T09:00:00.000-08:00

a tiny apartment deserves a tiny {but magnificent!} tree, don't you think? cody picked him out, named him greg {no idea} and had a ball with the tree lot guys while they plopped him in the back of my convertible. so ridiculous.

more decoration photos to come - need to finish a couple festive projects this weekend. have a happy friday!

black and white and red all over.

2011-12-01T13:00:00.000-08:00

lately i've been loving so many images full of bold black, white, and red. these just make me smile! {especially that tote - so true!}

{clockwise: red & white skirt; hair fascinator; jayma mays; tote}

some epic bed jumping.

2011-12-01T06:00:00.000-08:00

how fun is it at grandma's house? i think this answers that question. love this wild girl.

an amazing holiday hostess gift.

2011-11-30T10:40:00.000-08:00

i am always looking for cute holiday gifts that don't break the bank - especially for situations where you're not super close with the recipient {i.e. a boss, client, neighbor} or if you just need something little to bring a hostess. enter patina, world's greatest gift website {which i discovered approximately 20 minutes ago and have now filled my cart FULL of joy, and am also immediately blogging about because it's truly that good}!

i am completely in LOVE with the above wine "outfits" - and from $5.95 - $8.95, they are perfect to adorn your favorite bottle of wine. check them out right here. if you've invited me over anytime in the next 4 weeks, be prepared for some cuteness to be comin at ya!

the cutest proposal.

2011-11-24T12:55:00.000-08:00

happy thanksgiving! i thought i'd share some photos from a very special event i was asked to photograph on monday - the engagement of one of my best friends! chris asked me to sneak over to the ice rink and hide out to capture the moments, and i was so excited to do so. {i even tried to wear a disguise so she wouldn't see me - ha!}

our scene:

our nervous groom-to-be:

the proposal!

misha's shock when she sees that both of their families are there, waiting by the ice:

celebrating!

i was so honored to be there - can't WAIT for their wedding! lots to be thankful for, indeed.

time to go!

2011-11-22T09:50:00.000-08:00

excited to get to texas this evening to see my family; not excited about the joy of airport travel during thanksgiving week. where did all the glamour go? this stewardess knows what's what!

{bon voyage; stewardess}

fall photoshoot : the rich family.

2011-11-21T10:45:00.000-08:00

these are just a handful of my favorite images from this rainy day shoot i did with the darling rich family! the gorgeous scenery is found on stanford's campus, which seemed to get more lovely with a little drizzly weather. and who says there are no seasons in california - check out those leaves! ;)

that time i was in a hair show.

2011-11-20T21:59:00.000-08:00

SOMEHOW i was convinced by my dear stylist, brett, to be one of his models in a hair show he was doing. my clueless self sat in a chair getting makeup plopped on my face, hair GLUED to my head {life lesson: don't ever believe someone when they say the glue will come off after one shampoo and the hair is easily removable. this coming from someone who is picking at glue on her scalp 9 days later}, and doing jewelry/wardrobe consultations with drag queens. obviously, it was hilarious and fun. obviously part 2, it was traumatizing. i pretty much never want to see a catwalk and/or swirling lights surrounding me again. i don't think i was a born performer!

easy spiced apples.

2011-11-17T00:19:00.000-08:00

so today i took the day off from work, since i'd been superbly busy {& frankly a little cranky} the past couple weeks. i had envisioned a leisurely day full of naps, a visit to my favorite cafe, and catching up on my neglected DVR. instead i manage to book 3 photoshoots, attend the giants/salvation army holiday lunch {where i got to try on a world series ring!}, speak at a junior league meeting, and then hit the town for a little late ethiopian dinner. um...not relaxing. ;)

that being said, let's focus on something that DIDN'T stress me out this week - the above recipe! i hosted my book club on tuesday and needed a simple dessert that i could made in 10 minutes after work and have ready to go within 2 hours. these apples were SO delicious and perfect for the holidays! here you go:

{serves 8}

4 apples
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 heaping tablespoons cinnamon
1 cup chopped walnuts
half a stick of butter
1-2 cups apple juice

halve the apples, cut off any stems and scoop out the middle with a serrated spoon or small paring knife {be careful!}. this part does not have to look good, just make sure there's a decent little dip in the apple.

in a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and walnuts. melt about half a stick of butter and drizzle into the bowl slowly, stirring the whole time. after the mixture comes together, start spooning into the holes in the apples.

place the apples in your crockpot; it's fine if they overlap a little. splash in 1-2 cups apple juice over the top of the apples and into the base of the crockpot. this helps them soften up even more and not burn while they cook.

turn the crockpot on high and let 'em go for 1.5 - 2 hours. they end up looking something like this. these would also be GREAT with ice cream. mmm!

11.11.11

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

happy 11.11.11 day! just a quick note to wish you a happy weekend. two of my favorite people have birthdays tomorrow {my pops & julie} so i will be wishing them well from afar. after some more fun photoshoots tomorrow i'm headed out of town to be a hair model for my darling stylist, brett - more on this to come, as it's pretty out of control. i love that man so much that i let him talk me into some insane shenanigans. ;)

enjoy the weekend!

{original photo}

2011-11-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

my newest use for the amazing pinterest is making a holiday wish list board. it's genius because you can pin all the product images and price banners, and then they link back to the place where they can be purchased.

i noticed that a lot of my board is involving bling...guess the sparkle is where my heart is this year! :)

1. deux lux sequined weekender bag - $137 but save 20% with code 'oprah' {guess O loves a cute bag!}
2. 100 years of fashion illustration - $26
3. cheers notecards - $14 {as seen on a cup of jo!}
4. anthropologie rococo goblet candle - $20
5. kate spade le pavillion iphone case - $40
6. nine west sequin laptop case - on sale for $18

baby photoshoot : parker

2011-11-09T11:00:00.001-08:00

i haven't even finished editing this shoot from saturday, but i HAD to post a few of this handsome guy. those eyes!

and here's a great tip for how to capture this type of photo: we set up a boppy on a bed and covered it with that soft white blanket, and laid him in the "hole" part. this brings his torso and head up a bit {and is usually more fun for baby than laying totally on the tummy}. i am kneeling on the floor below the bed shooting up at him, and mom and dad are singing, cheering, waving toys {and generally being awesome} to get him to look up. SUPER easy, and in just a few minutes you can capture a million great expressions.

25 ways to wear a scarf.

2011-11-08T12:30:00.001-08:00

this video is amazingly fun, and i definitely learned a few new techniques! i just kept thinking about how long is must've taken to edit...wow.

tonight, from the presidio.

2011-11-04T23:11:00.000-07:00

smitten with mittens.

2011-11-03T11:00:00.000-07:00

i cheated with my rhyming title since some of these are gloves, not mittens. but i can't get over how much i LOVE each pair! all are under $35, and i think they'd make great gifts.

1. asos oui/non mittens - $17
2. anthropologie button band gloves - $30
3. asos red pom mittens - $9
4. asos alice hannah preppy fingerless gloves - $14
5. modcloth 'glovely' gloves - $35
6. old navy zig zag mittens - $12

where is your happy place?

2011-11-01T23:47:00.000-07:00

london! and to be more specific, london in winter. to be cozy in a pub near a roaring fire, watching the snowflakes falling silently down on oxford street. seeing the twinkling christmas lights stretched across the street to selfridges. mittened hands clutching mulled wine in covent garden. ice skating in front of a palace. escaping the chilly wind by stepping inside an art gallery, pink cheeks and noses warming up alongside masterpieces.

i love and miss london all the time, and it has totally become my happy place, my daydream place. my memories are so fond: fresh out of a college so i had a job where learning --not stress or responsibility-- was the key. a time when it was normal to spend 50 pence on dinner {a little shepherds pie from tesco} because my group of giddy girlfriends and i were saving up to go to paris that weekend. the excitement of meeting people from literally all over the world, becoming lifelong friends with them.

today's daydreaming had me looking at flights and wondering if i could duck out of work for a few days for a little jaunt to my favorite place in this world. ;)

what is your happy place?

{london pattern; photo}

happy halloween!

2011-10-31T07:30:00.000-07:00

hope you enjoyed this glimpse at my saturday night - these were some of my favorite costumes (and funny moments). i'm off to work in a viking hat today for the office party, so let the festivities continue! :)

are you ready?

2011-10-28T17:45:00.000-07:00

halloween is one of my very favorite holidays. misha came over after work today and we sorted through my {extensive} box of costumes to find her some options - she went from marie antoinette to a pirate to the evil queen in a couple minutes! my costumes always involve wigs or headwear of some sort - that's the best part. ;) hope you enjoy your weekend of halloween festivities!

wine & canvas

2011-10-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

last week lauren & i took advantage of a living social deal i'd found for this fun event called wine & canvas. each event is held at a wine bar, and you recreate a masterpiece {ours was a monet, can't you tell from our perfect renderings??} while drinking great wine, nibbling on cheese, and generally feeling like a fool. an instructor guides you through the steps, and it's pretty hilarious watching a room full of amateurs try to work the brushes and create impressionist-like motions. it's very relaxed, with music going and lots of chit chat, and i actually found it to be super relaxing after a busy workday.

you can visit their site and check out various cities and calendars - the paintings change every time!

so ready for the weekend!

2011-10-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

i have my high school reunion tomorrow. just typing that gives me mild anxiety. ;) luckily, i still have a great group of friends from high school, so it's definitely a fun prospect to relive some of our antics and catch up on life. i {naturally} arranged a hair appointment for immediately prior to the event so my darling brett can work his magic and make me uber blonde. i've been pinning amazing blonde hairstyles for a few months, and those 4 are my favorites. i don't think i can ever emphasize enough "let's go REALLY blonde and also, let's never cut it again." what can i say, i love loooong and blonde.

have a fantastic weekend, everyone, and you bay area friends, watch out for those earthquakes! we had two yesterday and the evening one felt big enough to be scary. well, enough for my friend kelly and i to freak out and blow out the candles we had lit for our lady-date of dinner, hot apple cider, and a screening of the film classic center stage. earthquakes freak me out!

...ok, end rambling. xo

{images clockwise from left: one, two, three, four}

glitter pumpkins!

2011-10-18T16:45:00.000-07:00

i was somehow tasked with leading the charge to plan my company halloween party, which includes an office/cube/desk decorating contest. i've been obsessed with all the glitter pumpkin images on pinterest {where all of these came from!} and totally want to try it. so easy and festive...and no pumpkin goo on my keyboard!

gilded owl.

2011-10-15T17:25:00.000-07:00

i've been buying very "adult" things this weekend...new pillows, a crock pot, dish towels. in an effort to treat yo'self like tom haverford {click that link if you want JOY}, i also snagged a gilded owl buddy to grace the top of my bookshelf. i love him so!

perfect fall shoes

2011-10-13T13:30:00.000-07:00

from left to right:
weak in the knee high boot
big buddha plaid rainboot
miz mooz siri knee-high boot

dining car wedge
marvelous macchiato wedge

river island colorblock tassel loafer
asos strictly lace up block heel

Mindy Kaling, Hunger Games, Sock Buns, & Zumba.

2011-10-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

is that title exciting? haha! last night i made a video of my five faves of the week, in the style of the wonderful molls from hellogiggles. here are the links i discuss!

my favorite '5 faves' from molls, go to the end where she talks about the dolly parton concert....died;
mindy kaling's old blog, and new website;
buy the hunger games;
how to do sock buns and no-heat curls;
zumba info;
amazon prime video page.

i forgot to include my 6th fave, which was definitely the 4 hours of kardashian/humphries wedding specials, particularly when kris jenner tells kim that if she changes her name, her perfume will have to be called HUMP.

on that note...have a very happy hump day. :)

my favorite fall images.

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

you guys, i'm ready to be COLD. i got a sunburn on saturday, silly san francisco.

doesn't this make you ready for apple cider and scarves? i'm willing the weather to turn by watching christmas movies, listening to the holiday pandora station, and buying mini pumpkins & gourds every time i go to the grocery store. sigh. ;)

{photos: fall leaves; pumpkin latte; cable knit socks; blair's scarf (by my lovely friend bess friday!); vermont}

fleet week air show!

2011-10-09T17:20:00.000-07:00

i absolutely loved the fleet week air show on saturday. the pilots do such fun tricks, flying under the golden gate bridge and dipping down close to the water. lauren hosted on us her roof deck, and we had perfect views! it's such a festive day, you can look around at every building and see everyone gathered like they're in little treehouses. san francisco in october is the best.

date with myself.

2011-10-07T11:30:00.000-07:00

prior to getting this icky cold i'm sniffing my way through, i spent a lovely saturday having a date day with myself. do you ever do this? i got up in the morning with the intent to just...do what i felt like. how crazy!

i took the bus down to union square and indulged in my absolute favorite brunch at cafe de la presse for croque monsieur and a latte.

...oh and some hunger games. {so much more on this to come - it was an obsession}

i actually like eating alone, seeing movies alone...it's something that i became familiar with when i first moved to london and didn't know anyone. once you get past that initial awkwardness of being like "do they all think i'm a loner?" you realize that a) no one even notices and b) it's kinda nice to just do your thing and enjoy yourself. i ended up helping the swedish couple sitting next to me pick out their dinner spot that night and recommended some wineries in napa. i'm a nice loner, see?

i spent the morning shopping in the cute boutiques and big department stores surrounding the square, and laughed when i got to the shoe department of macy's. jessica simpson was there...i still don't know why...and her "people" were trying to get everyone to get in line for autographs. obviously i did have to snap a quick photo, but no meet and greet for me. sorry j.simp, i do enjoy your shoes though.

the rest of my day entailed a high-rise iced tea break looking over the square, an adventurous new lipstick choice, and taking the long way home to see my favorite pretty houses. i think i should do this more often!

carrot cake & birthdays.

2011-10-04T09:30:00.000-07:00

pop quiz: these carrot cake cookies are:

a) perfect for this rainy fall weather that snuck up on us;
b) deliciously perfect;
c) a virtual shout-out to my sister for her birthday;
d) all of the above.

you know the answer. :) when i saw these i immediately thought of my big sister, because every year when we got to pick our birthday cake, she picked carrot. {it took me a LONG time to be ok with that choice, due to my picky childhood palate}. for the record: i will always pick confetti cake for mine. she is celebrating her birthday today a few thousand miles away in texas, but hopefully feeling the love from san francisco!

you can find the recipe for these bad boys right here. they're on my to-do list, that's for sure!

happy birthday dear katie!

hydrangeas of steel.

2011-09-30T11:24:00.000-07:00

i bought these beauties at safeway...3.5 weeks ago! isn't that insane?? they must put something crazy in that little packet of flower food. i just keep trimming the stems and changing the water, and they've stayed totally fluffy and nice. bizarre.

p.s. yes i see that my book is upside down - whoops. ;)

links galore.

2011-09-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

i'm a little {okay a lot} distracted with a super busy work week. while i catch my breath over here, i thought i'd share a few of my favorite links from this week!

isn't the above photo a gorgeous shot of sausalito? check out stacey's post about lunch at the most PERFECT house.
if i had a dog, it would definitely wear this halloween costume.
how to hail a cab. when i was little i thought this was the ultimate mark of being a grown-up, successful city lady. haha!
love, maegan featured this really fun blog business cards.
a tip for getting rid of stray mascara marks that is about to change my life. it's so smart.
this pic from troop beverly hills hit me right in the nostalgia zone. best movie.
my favorite style blogger. tanesha is stunning!

jlsf home tour launch party.

2011-09-26T11:30:00.000-07:00

this was the setting for the jlsf home tour launch party - how amazing is this space? i kept thinking that you could have a wedding there, with all the beautiful courtyards and sitting areas...and it's a restoration hardware gallery! yup, it's a showcase for RH to show off their gorgeous pieces. just mind-blowing.

apologies for my devil eyes in that bottom pic - darn iphone. ;)

summer/fall.

2011-09-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

san francisco summer has finally joined us! we typically have freezing months from june - august {note the parka & scarf situation in this july picnic photo}, but something glorious happens in september and the sun decides to warm up the city and burn off the fog. it usually lasts through october, and it's the ONLY time of year i wish i had air conditioning! amazing.

french posters.

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

in love with this rare vintage posters from one kings lane today. considering the prices range from about $600 - $3000 {for a picasso limited edition lithograph, nbd}, i'll continue to admire from afar, as opposed to my living room wall. ;)

if you'd like to join one kings lane

{amazing home & design items at sample sale prices...usually not 3k, don't be scared}

you can click my invite link here!

housekeeping.

2011-09-20T15:24:00.000-07:00

last night i updated my photo portfolio, and added some new button links to the right sidebar. trying to keep the blog clean & updated is apparently my distraction from keeping my actual closet/apartment in check...haha.

cgi is amazing.

2011-09-19T16:29:00.000-07:00

this dior perfume ad basically blew my mind. it features the stunning versailles hall of mirrors {always a plus} and the lovely charlize theron getting ready for a fashion show...alongside marlene dietrich, marilyn monroe, and grace kelly. the cgi is so good, it's scary!

{thanks to my friend heather for tweeting about this during the emmys last night. seen on fashionista.com}

favorite place no. 16 : the tonga room

2011-09-16T16:06:00.000-07:00

i'm quite literally obsessed with the tonga room...a mere mention and it brings out all sorts of squealy noises and excitement in me. it is located in the basement of the fairmont hotel, a san francisco icon of design & general classiness...aka, not the place you'd expect a tiki bar.

the tonga room is housed in what used to be the fairmont's indoor pool, called the plunge. after it closed, developers ingeniously thought, "what could go on that large body of water? hmm...probably a floating band wearing tiki shirts and leis!". so yes, the pool still exists in the center of the room, where a cover band floats on it, playing beach boys and other classic hits. and...IT RAINS! i know, crazy. there's a simulated storm within the tonga room every half an hour or so. {i realize it sounds like i'm describing the rainforest cafe. it's...cooler. promise.}

the tables line the pool and dance floor {where dancers of ALL ages seriously cut a rug...the people watching is amazing}, and a bar where coconuts and pineapples house various classic tiki concoctions. you pretty much can't go inside without breaking out into a huge smile and chugging a pina colada. it really is heaven!

two favorites.

2011-09-15T16:59:00.000-07:00

{model; room, found via pinterest}

my girl is 4!

2011-09-14T08:51:00.000-07:00

when i called my niece this morning to say happy birthday, she replied enthusiastically "happy birthday to you too, auntie!" so selfless. ;)

zebra + chandelier.

2011-09-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

one of my favorite rooms ever, courtesy of the always-awesome kfd designs. amazing what a chandelier, zebra rug, and lovely print can do! those built in bookshelves aren't too shabby either.

fish.

2011-09-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

this weekend the girls and i put the top down on the mini and cruised over the golden gate bridge to sausalito. our destination was fish, a super fun restaurant in the harbor that serves fresh, organic seafood. we gorged ourselves on ceviche, chowder, fish tacos, and tuna melts {mmm} and drank some fun lemon-lime soda and iced tea. there was some pretty crazy wind situations going on, so steph and i had about 6 marilyn monroe moments each in our fun dresses. ;)

on the way back the fog over the city lifted a little bit, and i could see back towards my apartment! what a great view.

10 years.

2011-09-11T00:41:00.000-07:00

not a day passes over the earth, but men and women of no note do great deeds, speak great words and suffer noble sorrows.

-- charles reade

today is a hard day. it seems surreal that it has been a decade since the world we live in changed, and so many heroes lost their lives. this year as the marketing & pr chair of the junior league of san francisco, i've had the honor of learning the story of melissa harrington-hughes, a san franciscan who lost her life in the north tower. ten years ago, melissa held my position in the jr. league, and by all accounts was an absolutely beloved friend, daughter, wife, and sister. she had gone to new york for one day on a quick business trip, and was stuck above the plane impact site. over the past two months i was touched by the research i did about her life, her experience that day, and her legacy. tonight my friend kelly and i watched a special on the history channel called voices from inside the towers that profiled melissa and the touching and tragic voicemail she left for her newlywed husband sean, who was still asleep in the early morning hours in san francisco. i can confidently say that i have shed more tears this year about the tragic events of 9/11 than ever before, simply because of knowing how truly special melissa was and what a beautiful person we lost that day.

to learn about the amazing life melissa lived, you can go here to read the story i wrote. there is also a page where you can donate to melissa's memorial fund, which benefits san francisco community organizations that melissa was passionate about. her legacy has touched the lives of so many, including mine.

friday links.

2011-09-09T11:30:00.000-07:00

happy friday! here are some fun links that i've been enjoying this week. SO glad it's almost the weekend!

my friend misha responds to my vlog {...with a conversation with her boyfriend in the middle. ohhh misha}. apparently "pineapple showers" is a thing?
definitely making this jello pretzel salad this weekend. i mean, how random yet delicious!
i could spend hours browsing the patterns on this site. quirky, beautiful, funny - they have it all.
ditto for this etsy shop. retro prints that are just perfect.
sarah's perfect day relaxed me via laptop screen. that house is gorgeous!

{crown image}

favorite fall items.

2011-09-08T10:00:00.000-07:00

i'm very much loving capes this year, and always attracted to anything with graphic writing - how fun would these tights be with a black cocktail dress and that cape swooshing around?

{cape: rachel zoe; tights: threadsence}

portrait photoshoot : jess

2011-09-07T09:30:00.000-07:00

i love this photoshoot with jess {from one of my fave publications, sunset magazine!} for a few reasons: she's so photogenic, the bright yellow makes each photo pop, AND it's such a perfect example of how you can find good backdrops anywhere!

i'm typically a natural light photographer, which means i prefer shooting without extra lighting or flashes. this also means i don't use a studio for portraits, my clients and i pick a location and work with what's already there. jess came over to my neighborhood, and it was really easy to find different spots that worked with her outfit and coloring.

you'll notice grey stairs from a house down the street {thanks neighbors, for donating your stoop ;) }, a brick wall of the building across the street from me, seafoam green siding of a garage, and a backlit couch shot from my living room. all of this was within a half block of our starting point - pretty fun!

the golden state.

2011-09-06T14:00:00.000-07:00

i think i probably NEED this print. check out the other prints too!

speaking of my lovely state of california, we got REAL FAMILIAR with it yesterday when it took us over 7 hours to drive across {basically from nevada --> pacific ocean} due to labor day traffic. tahoe was an absolute blast, but there's something tragic about inching your way down a mountain at a rate of 2 miles per hour while you have to pee. thank goodness for misha's mix CDs from 2001 to make us laugh our way through the pain! ;)

hope you had a sunny and road rage-free 3-day weekend!

VLOG friday {yay}

2011-09-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

ahhh i did my first vlog. how scary is this? i at least gave myself a little activity to do so i wasn't just blabbing your ear off, but this ended up kinda long...and my little photobooth video camera kept pooping out, so i had to splice a couple together...and yeah, sigh, this really isn't so pro, is it? oh well, i always like to see videos from people whose blogs i read, because there's something so fun about hearing someone's voice and seeing their mannerisms. basically, we've been internet dating and now we're standing nervously at starbucks getting ready for 30 minutes of awkward conversation. yeah kinda like that.

so ANYWAY i saw a few blogs i like {especially moorea's!} posting these regional dialect videos that i was totally getting a kick out of - i'm a HUGE fan of accents and especially the random turns of phrase that southerners apparently have about weather patterns {this will make sense in the video}.

play along and record your own video! fun!

Say these words:

Aunt, Route, Wash, Oil, Theater, Iron, Salmon, Caramel, Fire, Water, Sure, Data, Ruin, Crayon, Toilet, New Orleans, Pecan, Both, Again, Probably, Spitting image, Alabama, Lawyer, Coupon, Mayonnaise, Syrup, Pajamas, Caught

Now answer these questions:

What is it called when you throw toilet paper on a house?

What is the bug that when you touch it, it curls into a ball?

What is the bubbly carbonated drink called?

What do you call gym shoes?

What do you say to address a group of people?

What do you call the kind of spider that has an oval-shaped body and extremely long legs?

What do you call your grandparents?

What do you call the wheeled contraption in which you carry groceries at the supermarket?

What do you call it when rain falls while the sun is shining?

What is the thing you change the TV channel with?

favorite place no. 15 : bourbon & branch

2011-09-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

last night my friend molly {the ridiculously amazing creative director of modcloth - my fave!} took me to bourbon & branch, and it was MAGICAL. i'd heard of it a million times in the press and through friends, but had never experienced for myself. it's a replica of the original speakeasy that operated at the same address on o'farrell and jones streets in the 1920s, complete with secret entrances, unmarked doors, and hidden passageways inside. the only indication you're in the right place is the "anti-saloon league" signage outside, seen here.

i think the coolest part of the whole experience is their absolute dedication to authenticity. you have to have a password to get inside {given to you when you make your reservation}, and they have a set of house rules that MUST be obeyed - no cell phone usage {they'll take it away!}, no photos, speak quietly {i.e. speak "easy"}, and hilariously, no ordering cosmos. when you first walk in it seems nearly pitch black, so it's surreal as your eyes adjust and you walk through the room to your booth with 1920s music playing softly in the background. candles flicker on the brick wall behind the bar, and every once in awhile, a wall panel swings open and someone appears from a hidden room. the menu is about 50 pages, and is filled with classic drinks that use bourbon, whisky, absinthe, bitters, & more. everything we tried was absolutely delicious.

i also got a kick out of people who came dressed in costume - lots of vintage cloches & capes on the ladies, newboys caps & vests on the guys, and a general spirit of excitement. next time i'll be sure to rock some red lips and a pencil skirt at least, as opposed to my boho maxi dress and gladiators. ;)

{all bourbon & branch images here; 1920s group shot}

kiss me kate.

2011-08-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

seems like all bloggers love kate spade, right? i think it's the whimsical jewelry, bright colors, and gorgeous site design that sucks me in.

there is so much fabulousness going right now at the kate spade sample sale. i picked up some beauties last night for 75% off that are already gone!

views of a 10k.

2011-08-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

ohhh boy. on saturday i ran the giants 10k. the best way i can describe going into this? ill-prepared. last summer we ran the 5k, and i made it a 2011 new year's resolution to run a longer race this year. things to note: last year i was running 4x/week, hiking around greece, and was {according to the photos} a LOT tanner/cuter. ha! this summer, i had been nursing a sprained ankle from blindly stepping into a pothole on fillmore, and was spending my days in the office with my laptop, not rushing to the gym after work. so, yeah, SUPER READY to run twice the distance.

as i hunted for my running shoes at 6am, i wondered how this would go. it was somewhat exciting at the starting line, and i still think it's super fun to end the race by running the bases at AT&T park, so i convinced myself it would be fine. here's how this went for the 6.4 miles:

mile 0-1:
la di da. this is fine! just warming up, listening to some nicki minaj on my ipod. i think i'll be fine.

mile 1-2:
hmm ok, people are like, sprinting. i'm just going to keep my steady jog going. this really isn't so awful, is it! oh and haha, there's the 5k turnaround for all those weaklings who didn't do the 10k!

mile 2-3:
where on EARTH is the 10k turnaround? i'm DYING! i need to walk. no don't walk yet. no i need to. ok i'm walking. ahhh this is heavenly. {note: don't stop running, or you will NEVER want to start again. whoops.}

mile 3-4:
ok i'm seriously cranky that the turnaround is past the hard rock cafe at pier 39. this is a long way! i need to at least jog through the turnaround. i cannot even handle that i'm just halfway done. i'm ready to call a cab.

mile 4-5:
hi green shirt guy. you look pretty sporty and i've been keeping up with you most of the way. i'm going to be your shadow. you walk, i walk. you run, i'll run. {note: i seriously credit him for helping me get through this. thanks guy.}

mile 5-6:
hey who are all these lithe people sprinting by me? oh dear god, these are the HALF MARATHONERS. they are finishing their 12th mile while i finish my 5th?! i'm depressed.

visual evidence...i pretended this was for me.

mile 6-6.4:
ok, i see AT&T park. run fast. i feel my blisters. ow. ok crossing into the park. ooh i'm on the warning track. i'm pretending i'm nate schierholtz! look at me! wee this is fun. oh look i'm getting a medal, yay!

and then i died.

we got pretty great swag as part of our entry, including a timmy bobblehead, tee, tons of food/drink, and a medal {they gave me the wrong one, umm sure i'll pretend i finished the half marathon?}. we also got to go to the runner's night game on friday night, where the fog descended on the park as a dark omen to how my quads would feel the next day at that time.

this is an accurate picture of how saturday afternoon looked.

the rest of my weekend involved photographing a gorgeous wedding {while my calves quivered as i attempted to stay upright} and drinking mimosas for 4 hours yesterday, which definitely dulled the pain. good times!

so on that note: proud that i finished, but will probably never attempt this again.

hello, dolly!

2011-08-26T08:50:00.000-07:00

oh, that hair is so big! {that could be the first time in decades that someone's commented on big her HAIR is}. so great.

happy friday!

{photo}

beauty products : 2

2011-08-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

1. glow by jlo {don't judge me!! it smells so good and that bottle has lasted since college. hehe.}
2. lola by marc jacobs. rawr.
3. michael by michael kors. gardenias galore.
4. very hollywood by michael kors. just trying this one out.
5. daisy by marc jacobs. a new treat {birthday pressie from my sister!}

i always love finding out what perfumes people wear. scents are SO individual - these are my five faves now, but it has been an evolution. i used to hate "real" perfume {only wanted pineapple bath & body works spray or lovespell from victoria's secret - oh my}, but glow by jlo converted me early on in college. i often get comments from girlfriends who see this on my vanity, like REALLY? you WANT to smell like marc anthony's makeout sesh? but truly, i promise it is light and delicious.

another crazy thing is how scents immediately call back memories of people or times of your life. i remember being in college and obsessed with michael by michael kors, but my friend heather wore it daily, so it was almost like she "owned" that smell. would people think i was single white female-ing her if i suddenly showed up wafting gardenia goodness around? thankfully i got over it, because i absolutely LOVE it. whenever i smell it now, it still reminds me of a certain lecture hall at ucsd and excitement of sorority dances - haha!

marc jacobs has turned into my latest love for perfumes - daisy for daytime, lola if it's a little black dress.

what are your go-to scents? are you a chanel no. 5 or a bath & body works gal?

portrait photoshoot : catherine

2011-08-24T10:45:00.000-07:00

i recently did a portrait photoshoot with my gorgeous friend catherine in her san francisco home. i love how bright and airy it is, and all the beautiful details she's incorporated {and i was obsessed with the bolts of fabric in her living room - she's a designer, and those unintentional items just fit beautifully}. a lovely space and an even more lovely lady!

unrehearsed

2011-08-23T20:36:00.000-07:00

my morning post i usually put up before work just did not happen today. ever have one of those days where you're just like, what is going on in this world? the only good part was chatting with the US census bureau lady. like 20 minutes into the call, i was convincing myself that she was my friend. "i bet she normally talks to really cranky people. i bet this is the best cold call she made today. i wonder if she's judging the square footage of my apartment...no, she totally loves me!"

SIGH you guys, somebody just stop me.

{photo by christian skrein, found on pinterest}

belafonte.

2011-08-22T06:00:00.000-07:00

so totally in LOVE with these watercolor sketches from belafonte. the worst thing about this shop is deciding what to buy. just perfect.

favorite place no. 14 : beach blanket babylon

2011-08-19T11:00:00.000-07:00

it's time to add another gem to my favorite san francisco places! beach blanket babylon is the longest running musical revue in the country and has been a san francisco institution for decades. my parents and i went to see it for the first time last night and...WOW. amazing costumes {huge headwear is their thing}, absolutely hilarious, and the singers were seriously chills-inducing. the show changes regularly to feature pop culture topics {my favorites from last night included kim kardashian, bieber, oprah, kate middleton, and the giants - brian wilson, timmy, and buster}. the show moves fast and you're left cracking up and enjoying the song parodies. if you visit san francisco {or better yet, if you live here!} check it out! tickets here.

{cast image; ticket; street sign}

beauty products : 1

2011-08-18T09:30:00.000-07:00

i've been wanting to start a series of my favorite beauty products, especially so I can hear you chime in about YOUR favorites! for this first series i focused on drugstore products under $10 that i use all the time, and absolutely love.

1. revlon just bitten lipstain in flame - $7.99. you can eat, drink, kiss, even SLEEP in this, and it looks the exact same as when you applied it. it's kind of crazy!

2. sally hansen insta-dri - $4.54. i have taken to giving myself lunchtime manicures in the car, because this stuff is completely dry and looks amazing after one coat & 60 seconds. great color selection too!

3. john frieda sheer blonde 'go blonder' - $5.49 each. i use this 3x a week {moisturizing shampoo/conditioner the other days} and find it keeps my highlights from getting brassy. it's similar to a clarifying system, but cheap!

what are your go-to cheap beauty supplies? i want to know!

if marie antoinette had pinterest.

2011-08-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

le sigh.

{cake; ring; shoes}

wanted.

2011-08-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

the photobooth: a must for any party!

i squeezed this into my tiny apartment - just needed a wall for posters i made, a table for props {fake mustaches, bandanas, feathers, sheriff's badges, cowboy hats}, and a camera on a tripod.

it was a perfect pre-outing distraction while everyone listened to music, ate some snacks, made some cocktails, and oh yeah...ate this ridiculous cake that kelly & jana made me. we love a theme!

while i'm reserving some of the more ridiculous photos of my friends for private giggling {i'm a nice photographer}, i'll gladly offer up a series of me looking a tee tiny bit...silly.

it was a fantastic weekend full of love & celebrations! thank you for your birthday wishes, friends! xo

today.

2011-08-15T09:00:00.000-07:00

it's my birthday! yahoo. i spent the weekend with so many amazing friends {photobooth pics from the wild wild west party forthcoming}, and my parents are in sf tonight for a very special birthday dinner. i'm a lucky girl!

learning french {...again}

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

i studied french all through high school {and was even a teaching assistant for old madame merchant, who reeked of perfume and sweat...oy}, and then again at the alliance francaise in sacramento when i worked for the kings. it's been a good 3+ years since my last conversation en francais, so i started listening to the coffee break french podcasts in the car during my commute {when a giants game isn't on, natch}. i feel pretty silly when another driver catches me animatedly repeating french phrases alone in my car, but i think it's helping!

do you speak any other languages? do you have any recommendations for online classes or podcasts?

{photo}

purple!

2011-08-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

refinery 29 did a fun feature on the best flats for san francisco girls. we trudge up and down those hills all day long, people - i seriously NEVER wear heels anymore! i fell in love with this purple striped oxford from lemlem, and i think this girl would totally wear them too. ;)

{oxfords;girl}

watercolor tulips.

2011-08-10T14:00:00.000-07:00

i bought a bunch of these gorgeous tulips for $4.99 at trader joe's, and after one day they had completely expanded their petals and drained their originally vibrant pink color. {on that note: is my apartment too warm?} i ended up loving the way they looked though, just like a soft watercolor.

alternate identity

2011-08-10T10:00:00.000-07:00

this was an alternative header banner, made quickly during blogshop just to be inspiration. i usually prefer whites & soft blues, but this is pretty cute too. who doesn't enjoy a heart balloon? :)

i found that adorable USA print on pinterest, made by feltandwire.

four eyes

2011-08-09T08:30:00.000-07:00

she is too cute with her crazy hair and big glasses - and actually makes them look pretty badass. and that glasses print...ohhh how i wish that was hanging above my desk. jane from sea of shoes also posted a cute tee that fits with this theme - can you find it?

{girl; glasses watercolor}

hi hi.

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

i was lucky enough to have a portrait taken by angela kohler, genius photog. my google+ profile is gonna look pretty sharp, guys!

{that's a joke...does anyone use g+?}

pouf!

2011-08-08T08:59:00.000-07:00

new default hairstyle for a bad hair day- i'm in love!

{photo}

it's hair day!

2011-08-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

today i'm lucky enough to half a day off work to drive to sacramento to get my hair done. yes, i drive 90+ miles because i'm in love with my stylist, brett, who has been doing my hair for approximately 10 years - aka, my longest relationship? ;) i always want to do something "different", but my ideas below may not actually pan out...

after i'm beautified, i'll drive another 100 miles east to continue on to another gorgeous weekend in lake tahoe. hallelujah! have a fantastic weekend!

sprinkles + sweetness

2011-08-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

confession: i am in love with atlantic-pacific. blair's style is so quirky & colorful, and her san francisco backdrops always make me smile {not to mention, those NYC settings aren't too shabby either}. one of my favorite recent outfits featured this candy-colored shirt, and i coudn't get enough!

{sprinkes: heyzee, shirt: atlantic-pacific, purse: rue magazine, tea set: susannah conway}

blogshop recap!

2011-08-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

i've been tweeting & blogging up a storm about blogshop, and some of you may be wondering what was so amazing that i can't shut up about it! i spent the weekend being schooled by bri emery & angela kohler with some fellow bloggers, writers, photographers, and generally creative-inclined ladies who were SUCH a treat to hang out with. and who doesn't prefer making mood boards with a mimosa in hand?

if you are someone who loves the blogging world and wants to spruce up your photoshoppin' skills, i would highly recommend it - next stops on their journey include NYC, Chicago, Paris, and Berlin! we covered more than i could have imagined, including animating gifs, retouching, creating templates, barreling {literally my #1 fave of the summer - i will barrel all day night forever + ever + ever amen}, and more. the whole shebang was classy to the max, with delish catering, beautiful giftbags {stationary, vintage scarf, baggu bag, arch craft supplies & gift card, nude skin care, designlovefest journal & takeaway usb packed with textures & files...the list goes on!}, and a truly exceptional studio space.

if you have any questions, let me know in the comments! thanks bri + angela!

at&t park photobooth.

2011-08-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

my darling lauren accompanied me to last night's giants game -- which we were sure to win since we had lost our last 3, right? law of averages!

wah wah. we enjoyed our churro in the freezing night anyway. let's go gigantes, stop making me sad!

a new look!

2011-08-01T18:00:00.000-07:00

oh hey, a site redesign! after being so inspired all weekend, i simply couldn't let my blog sit around looking so shabby {not exactly chic}, so i came up with a new logo and spruced things up around here.

birds of a feather.

2011-07-30T20:06:00.000-07:00

ooh boy, we had a FUN day at blogshop!

i am obsessed with all the new tricks i learned,

and with the fun ladies i met.

want a preview of something pretty i worked on?

...and i get to go back tomorrow. yay!

{images clockwise: girl, feathers, girl 2, dreamcatcher}