It's about time I tell you about Coachella.

Coachella was a sunshiney wonderland of music, fashion, and flower crowns.

The first morning, we woke up to mimosas, sipped John Daly's by the pool, and grilled burgers for lunch on our BBQ.

Then we set out on the impossibly long walk to the festival.  The house we rented was only 1.5 miles away from the fairgrounds, but it took over an hour to get there because of street closures and pesky gates...not that we didn't try to jump every possible fence.  There was just no way around it!

At least it was sunny :)

My favorite concert of the night was Jurassic 5 -- even though I must admit I hadn't heard any of their music before that night.  We were up pretty close to the stage for the show, and I was totally jamming out.  Even Brian was like who are you?

So many hands in the air!  SO. MANY. HANDS.

Feeling that many people all swaying to the same beat, all cheering, all happy, all together -- it's euphoric!  But it can also be overwhelming and exhausting -- which is why I instituted the First Rule of Coachella:  sit whenever possible.  Even in a huge throng of jumping people.

The next day, Sharz and I wiggled our way into the Lacoste Party (I should say, Sharz wiggled our way in, while I stood quietly sipping my free Patron margarita...).  I was not into the Hollywood-esque line drama and the "who are you here with?" attitude, but I must say, once we got in, that ish was glorious.

There were free drinks, free food trucks, free Patron ice cream sandwiches (omg), free Kiehl's products brought around on trays, free pedicures (I'mnotkidding), free flower crowns, and a free photo booth!  With a blow-up alligator!  Did I mention it was free?

To top it off, all the beautiful people were there.  Including Man Repeller.  I was in awe.

Those of you who follow me on instagram may have noticed me hashtagging #bestdayofmylife...I don't regret any one of those tags.  Truth.

Not one bone in my body wanted to leave the Lacoste paradise when it came time to head to the concert that day, but alas, we had a very-important-not-to-be-missed Lumineers concert to get to.  Life is hard at Coachella ;)

The concert ended with the most awesome Red Hot Chili Peppers show (every song they played was a hit!), and a ridiculous sandstorm.  I'll leave out the nightmare that was the drive home, but suffice it to say, I will probably be finding sand in strange places for the next year.

By the time we left, I was exhausted and sand-blasted and pretty sure Coachella was best left as a once-in-a-lifetime type of experience.

But then the second weekend rolled around, 

and I somehow wished I could go back!

Till next time Coachella...

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...).
 

SF {in instagrams}

Now that I am the owner of an iPhone 5 (thank you -- you are the 105th person to welcome me to the 21st century...), I may or may not be developing a bit of an instagram addiction.  And a VSCO addiction.  Ok maybe just a picture-taking addiction.  Not surprising.

Here are a few from our weekend in SF -- chock-full of food, friends, and reasons to celebrate!

{Of COURSE I closed my eyes in the only picture we took together.  But I still like it.}

From left to right:  (1) new fall boots!; (2) the most beautiful yellow roses; (3) bridal party food (spanikopita, of course); (4) a Canadian Thanksgiving feast with some good friends (one of whom is Canadian); (5) brunch with my ladies at Luna Park; (6) the Full House houses :); (7) happy in our city.

Croatia {in instagrams}

From left to right: (1) our hotel in Hvar; (2) & (3) Hvar harbor; (4) view from the bar in Parmizana; (5) & (6) we rented a boat!; (7) sunset on Hvar; (8) man desperately trying to save his beer from the waves at the Hula Hula bar; (9)-(11) watching the sunset at the Hula Hula; (12) view from our apartment in Korcula; (13) swimming in Korcula; (14) wine tasting in Korcula.

Paris {in instagrams}

From left to right: (1) Le Tour Eiffel; (2) us, at the Eiffel; (3) me, on our first day in Paris after a nap on the grass by the Eiffel; (4) cute Parisians; (5) love locks; (6) Brian drinking a beer (on a boat!) with Notre Dame in the background; (7) Rodin's Thinker; (8) & (9) the Bourdelle Museum (new fave); (10) yum; (11) the Luxembourg Gardens (Parisians have the BEST public parks!); (12) lounging by the Seine on a sunny day.

 

P.S.  you can see more here if you'd like

We're Baaaack!

Croatia blew me away, and Paris stole my heart (again).

I wasn't ready to come home.  I could have spent months hopping around Croatia's islands, or [window] shopping in the Marais...

But such is life.  L.A. ain't so bad anyway ;)

I have a ton of photos to show you, but I took most of them with film (eek!  I'm just crossing my fingers that I didn't load the film wrong or something...) so I'll have to get them all developed first this weekend.  I've been posting lots to instagram (whenever I could get internet), but I'll repost my insta-faves tomorrow for those of you who haven't seen them!

And now I have a giant luggage to unpack, a mountain of laundry to do, and like 5 million emails to tend to.  A big dose of reality coming up for me.

Weekend Edibles

A few tasty treats from this weekend...

                                   {day}                                                                           {night}

Faves



Nothing makes me happier.

5 Drinks, 25 Miles

Last weekend, Brian and I discovered our new favorite Saturday pasttime -- Beach Cruiser Bar-Crawling!  The perfect combination of my favorite things (beach, my new bike, and of course, day-time margs).  Plus, it's kind of an unintentional workout (my favorite kind)!


The route: Ocean Park to Manhattan Pier (and back again).

The stops:

Venice Alehouse -- Bloody's and brunch (wild-caught Alaskan salmon sandwich please!)

El Torito (Marina del Rey) -- surprisingly one of the best skinny margs around

Brew Co. (Manhattan Beach) -- lots o' beer (or if you're me, another skinny marg :))

Venice Whaler -- tequila sunrise as the sun sets (irony?)

Shutters -- champagne & oysters

I'm gearing up for Round 2 this weekend with our friends visiting from SF.  You may want to stay off the beach path this Saturday. . . .

Have a fun weekend friends!

Life's a Beach (on Saturdays)

I knew I moved to the beach for a reason.  Saturday reminded me why.

Hope you all have a festive Cinco de Mayo!  Have a marg (or 3) for me!

Recently...

{in instagram}...

Life has been really good lately -- much better than the pictures I have to show for it!  I've got some film that I'm finally getting developed, so hopefully I'll have more to share soon!

This Weekend (via Instagram)

No, I didn't get an iPhone...I just stole Brian's :)

*mango-jalapeno cocktails at Plan Check*Sea kayaking in Marina del Rey*green glasses*thebestsushi EVER at Sushi Wa*margs on the roof*FarmShop (fave)*home

*Not pictured: two movies (yes TWO! in one weekend!) -- Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (unexpectedly good - so charming!), and Friends with Kids (unexpectedly bad - sorry, Maya, you know I love you girl).