Friendsgiving

I know we're all over Thanksgiving now and Christmas is all the rage and all that.  

But you know, Thanksgiving just went by too fast this year.  

It's one of those things where it feels like it happened 

yesterday and also 2 years ago all at once...you know how that is.

Well this year, Brian and I started a new Thanksgiving tradition:  Friendsgiving!  

It turns out our apartment is exactly long enough 

to fit three 6-foot tables end-to-end, 

which is all you need to squeeze 20 people in for dinner :)

I got a little overly excited about decorating all harvest-y

and even went to the Flower market downtown the day before.

And I broke out the gold spray paint,

which you should know by now is my #1 secret weapon.

Also, thank goodness for the Dollar Store.

But the best part really was having everyone in one place, together.

It's been hard in LA to get a group together,

and I miss having that sense of cohesion,

so this was just absolutely perfect.

So many people I love, who finally got to meet each other!

The best.

And, I made a turkey for the first time!

Win.

Deborah the turkey.  She was delicious.

Well done, friends, well done.

Stefanie + Leigh's Rehearsal Dinner

After all those vacation posts, it's about time to come back to real life in L.A.  Luckily, it's not so bad here!

Last weekend I not only got to celebrate Murica's birthday, I also got to celebrate the marriage of my friends Stefanie and Leigh!  Stefanie and I met at work, and have been close friends ever since I came down to L.A. as a summer intern.  Leigh and Brian are good friends and surf together every week.  Their wedding was wonderful, warm, and happy :)

I offered to help Stefanie out with planning the rehearsal dinner, since I know how hectic wedding planning can get in the last couple weeks, and I had so much fun putting it together!  Stefanie picked an awesome Italian restaurant, Maximiliano, and we got the whole back patio to ourselves.  I got to take a trip to the L.A. flower market to pick out the flowers, and you guys, that place is amAzing!  Bundles and bundles of the most beautiful flowers everywhere!  And for cheap!  MAN.  I loved it.

I didn't take too many photos because I was busy eating and drinking and laughing, but here are just a few of how everything turned out.

{the newlyweds!}

The paper placemats are from Mark & Graham, and so are the chevron treat bags, which I stuffed with candy (conversation hearts and ring pops!), and the placecards (which came in 6 different colors/patterns) are from a free downloadable I found online.

Nothing beats an outside dinner party 

on a perfectly warm evening in L.A.

Hope you get to enjoy the sun today.
Happy Friday everyone!

Wine-And-Park Kind of Saturday

A perfect Saturday afternoon in Palo Alto...

Wine and sun and girlfriends -- the perfect weekend trifecta!

Shout out to Vino Locale, the cutest wine bar in PA, and the place that sold us this lovely bottle of prosecco (and the next bottle, and the next...)

Fairmont

I've been in SF this week, working from our office up here, and I'm remembering how much I love this city at Christmas.  The ice rink in Union Square steals my heart every time!  And Christmas shopping just feels right when you're in a real city, you know?

One thing I was so happy to be here for this year was our annual friends visit to the Fairmont.  The Fairmont at Christmas just can't be beat.  The tree, the wreaths, the lights!   And the giant gingerbread house!  It's all so festive.  We went for the first time in 2010 (back in law school), and had so much fun that it has become a tradition.

{Brian in 2010 having a little too much fun...also I'm wearing those boots today}



This year was even better because I got to see everyone I've missed so much all at once!  Such a fun way to have a reunion.

Love to all of you for the holidays!

 

 

 



Dana + Michael Come to L.A.

My Outlook calendar for December looks something like this:  friends-friends-friends/San Francisco/holiday party/San Francisco/holiday party/friends-friends-friends/San Francisco/2013!

 

It's pretty rad.

 

The December-Bender kicked off last weekend with a visit from our friends Dana and Michael.

 

The cutest!

 

And they're the smartest too.

 

(Have I told you I have great friends?)

 

Anyway.  I always have fun showing people around LA, even though I don't really feel like it's "my city" yet (even after almost 2 years...I know, I'm working on it).  It was drizzly and gray for most of the weekend, but we still spent most of Saturday outside, wandering around Venice.  To be honest, I was the only one who minded the rain...my giant red umbrella and I were pretty pathetic.

 

I didn't bring my camera because I was distracted by my hangover and did I mention the rain?  My brain can only handle so much.  But of course I documented it on instagram, duh.  In case you still aren't following me (I mean, how could you not want to look at these pictures), I will do you the favor of reposting some of my 'grams here. 

 

You're welcome.

 

{I see brick and I think take-my-picture-in-front-of-it-right-now.  Thank god I don't live in Philadelphia.}

 

{a good way to start any day}

 

 {new favorite store on Abbott Kinney -- I'm pretty sure this duffle would complete me}

 

 {canals in the rain}

 

And one of us Dana took with her real camera (oh yeah, cameras):

Not pictured:  our delicious (minus the weird rabini salad) lunch at Gjelina to-go.  It's worth eating off the dirty crates they put outside on the street instead of tables (oh Venice...).
 

New York

This doesn't even feel real yet, but I'm going to New York TODAY!  To see my loves!*

*(except for one - we'll miss you and send you lots of tipsy texts)

 

We get to celebrate Brittany's engagement and go wedding dress shopping and margarita drinking and I even get to take some engagement photos!  In New York!!!

 

Ok it feels real now :)

 

Smiling through the screen!

Faves



Nothing makes me happier.

Bridesmaid Time Again!

I'm off to Kiawah for Tasha's wedding!

{me and Tasha at my wedding}

I can't wait to see my girls and celebrate Tasha+ Ryan!

Lots of Charleston pics when I get back - promise!

The Saguaro

Hello lovelies!  How was your Memorial Day Weekend?  Did you get some sun?  I dashed off for a girls' trip to the Saguaro in Palm Springs where club music and agua fresca flow just as freely as hipster tattoos and blood-orange margaritas...it was just what I needed!

Floppy hats are good for the soul.