first day of summer 2012

Today is the first day of summer and I can't believe that it is already June 20th! It seems like just yesterday was Easter. We've been having the very typical June gloom in Southern California and haven't had a summer-feeling beach day yet. Hopefully they are around the corner but I don't think we're going to see it for a while still. I am looking forward to warm picnic lunches outside, long walks, warm days, BBQs, and playing in the sand. 

A Grace Kelly inspired First Day of Summer from last year. 

hey summer, how'd we do?

"To see the summer sky is (was) poetry..." -Emily Dickinson

Remember this post about my top ten summer plans. Well, today, the last official day of summer, I looked back over it and I think I did quite well.

I wanted travel...I got a trip to Florida to lay in the sun, a trip to San Francisco, Napa & Sonoma to enjoy friends and wine, and a trip to Vegas to celebrate the ending of singleness for a great friend. 

[south beach]

[san fran and wine country]

[vegas water show]

I wanted to cook more dinners outside on the grill...I got a few home cooked ones in but also ate outdoors a lot when we went out. 

I wanted to learn to do things that were new to me...I got LOTS of that, especially learning to be patient while waiting out the bigger plan for our life. 

I wanted to finish projects I had laying around...I finished little ones and bigger ones. 

[old luggage I cleaned up and refinished]

[seashells from our honeymoon in Fiji that I finally framed]

I wanted more time outside...I got it but not quite to the level I wanted. My plan to horse back ride has yet to happen. 

I wanted to take day trips to Santa Barbara and San Diego...that didn't happen. 

I wanted to master a light signature cocktail...I found a few that I like to rotate. 

[blueberry spritzer]

I wanted to wear big sun hats while I basked in the sun...I did. 

I wanted to read the books off my list...I read Two Kisses for Maddy at the beginning of summer and The Help at the end. 

[tear jerker]

I wanted us to find a new place to make our home...we found a new place that we LOVE and actually feels more like a home instead of just another place to be for now.

So basically 8 and a half of my top ten were accomplished. That makes me feel pretty darn good about this last season and about floating gracefully through the next one. Did you get to everything you wanted to this summer?

5 things: sun

[layout and choices for by way of ney]

With Labor Day around the corner I thought I'd share some of my must haves for long days in the sun and sand. My weekend will be filled with sunshine, heat and girlfriends. I'll be in Las Vegas, for a bachelorette of a dear friend. What are your plans for the long weekend?

MUST HAVES:

1] sun bum zinc oxide: I have looked for years and years for a clear formula zinc oxide to use on my face, hands, lips, and scars to prevent any sun damage. I finally found this one on my early summer trip to Miami and have loved it all summer. It smells like you want sunscreen to smell, clean and tropical.

2] a BIG summer tote that I can throw everything in: water, magazines, sunscreen, my camera snacks, hats, towels...

3] shisedo ultimate skin protection cream: This one does it's job! A major sun block out that I use on areas prone to burn (my face and shoulders). While it protects all day it also doesn't make my sensitive skin breakout. I am proud to say that for the first time in a long time I didn't get one burn on my face this summer.

4] a BIG beach towel. The bigger the better with this one. It's no fun to spend your day trying to stay on your towel. A blanket size is best!

5] hats! hats! hats!: a big hat does wonders to keep my face safe from the sun. I love this panama hat that my dad brought home for me. You can find one here.

*I also like to bring along a light weight pashmina or scarf to drape over my shoulders after enough sun or over my face while I take a mid afternoon, summer nap in the sun. 

moving on...

Soooo, that list I wrote at the beginning of the summer is still in progress, cause it's still summer, until September 23rd to be precise! However, I said that finding a new place to call home probably should have been moved to number #1 and although it was always of our minds that we wanted to be in a new place, we weren't quite proactive about it until my man found a new job. We didn't want to commit to living somewhere only to find out that he'd have a longer commute than he'd have to. That said, since he was offered a job, that he was happy to accept, two weeks ago, went went in search, found a place we loved, applied, and were offered it. We are so excited to move and get settled there but I have to admit I am NOT good at this transition part. I want to move in and have it look and feel like home over night. I HATE the time of being in transition and want things to feel like home immediately. I'm going to have to learn to accept that things won't be that way. And, that'll be a good thing to learn, right???

Here some of my home inspiration from my pinterest.

Gorgeous light & white living room...

A great job in a little kitchen...

An office to look forward to working in...

A clean and cozy bathroom...

A garage that isn't dark and dirty...

Maybe if I keep all this images in my mind I'll be able to quickly get to where I want to. Maybe.

national s'mores day

What do you do when it's National S'mores Day? You get your 91 year-old sweet tooth of a grandma and you celebrate, of course! Wednesday was National S'mores Day so we hit the back yard with all the supplies and got just the results we wanted. 

[everything you need: marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers, and screwers]

[said sweet tooth loving on Trex, the pup]

A...

[plus B...]

[plus C!]

[equals...D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!!!]

There is NO wrong way to eat or make a s'more but I have found that the 2x2x2 works best. 2 slowly browned marshmallows on top of 2 pieces of chocolate laid between 2 graham crackers. Oh so good!

[gotta have some milk too!]

I didn't create the holiday but I sure was happy to celebrate it!

*all photos taken for by way of ney

opportunity

When the season comes where we wonder what will come, my husband is always quick to remind me of the grace that is ever present in our lives and the opportunities that come along with it. Like the surfer he is, he equates it to waves. When you see the wave rolling in, you begin to paddle in preparation of the ride. The ride doesn't always turn out as you planned. Sometimes you catch the wave and can begin to enjoy the freedom as you stand as though floating on water. Sometimes the wave isn't the right one for you and you have to hold back and wait for the next one to come in. Either way, there is always another wave. 

the water rolls in...

the water rolls out.

in returns again...

and leaves again. 

*all photos taken for by way of ney on this trip

bottega louie

I briefly mentioned Bottega Louie in my weekend summary last Monday. I also said I was probably going to be writing about it in full and today is that day folks. The first time I went to Bottega Louie was on MLK Jr Monday, for lunch. We started with champagne and portabello fries that were great even though I don't love mushrooms.  Then we had the Sausage Pizza with mozzarella, grana parmesan, tomato sauce, oregano & fennel sausage. The crust was delicious but the fennel is my favorite. The tagliatelle bolognese was DELICIOUS! We had the grand macaron for dessert with cappuccinos. Everything was so good that we couldn't wait to go back.

Finally we were able to go back AND take my family along with us. There is nothing better than sharing things you love with people you love. (Kinda what this blog is about as well.)

You'll find the restaurant at 7th and Grand in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles.

[the front of the restaurant]

[the BAR]

[the KITCHEN, which is open and in full view...LOVE]

 The best part about eating with a group is that if everyone orders different things, you get to try different things.

[my beautiful sister pondering the MENU...notice the friendship bracelet from a camper]

[my traditional CAPPUCCINO & a peek at the menu]

[my mom's FRENCH 75: gin, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, and prosecco]

Drinks were amazing (my dad and husband both ordered a coffee and a Bloody Mary and loved them) and we moved onto brunch...

[the CAPRESE FRITTATA]

[the EGG SANDWICH: the applewood smoked bacon and Kaiser roll...mmm]

[the LEMON RICOTTA PANCAKES: with blueberry syrup]

[the MEATBALL PARMESAN sliders with fries]

Everyone loved the flavor of their food. The frittata came out a little cold which was a bummer but with a restaurant this big and that much food cranking out of the kitchen, it happens. Other than that, our food was awesome! Fluffy and fresh!

[LE GRAND MACARON: vanilla macaron, french vanilla ice cream & berries]

[four variety: madarin in front, cassis to the left,
fleur de sel on the right & raspberry in the back...raspberry was the favorite!]

[the MACARON case]

[rose macrons and the busy pastry chefs]

[all sorts of deliciousness]

The absolute BEST thing was LE GRAND MACARON. The flaky crust, the gooey sweet inside, the cold fresh ice cream, and the freshness of the berries that give it a little tang. Mmmm...makes me want one now!

*all photos taken for by way of ney

starfish

[photo via myseastory}

I've mentioned the kid's camp that I volunteer at but felt the need to share a little more after I found this photo of a starfish which reminded me of the sterling silver starfish we give out to each new volunteer upon completion of their first year and a gold on upon completion of their fifth. The camp is set up to serve, as perfectly as possible, a selection of the population of foster children in Los Angeles between the ages of 7 and 11, many of whom have been abused in ways that we never want to hear and that no one should ever have to experience. Our goal is not to heal them or change the experiences that they have had but rather to give them a week of pure childhood fun and love. There are currently over 60,000 children in California alone who need our help. The task can sometimes seem daunting and since we can only around 40 to camp every year, we can sometimes feel a little helpless. Like we won't be able to make the difference that giving our love can make.

This poem was written by C.A. Milbrant and provides the encouragement we so often need.

While walking on the beach one day,

I saw starfish by the score. 

And everywhere I looked it seemed,

I saw a thousand more. 

Then what to my surprise appeared?

A boy of nine or ten; 

and as the starfish washed ashore,

he threw them back again. 

I smiled at such a futile task to save this population,

"One fish won't make a difference son. You can't change this situation."

He stooped and picked up one more fish, then looking right at me, 

"I can make a difference for this one, sir," and returned it to the sea. 

So I went and gathered all my firends, my brothers and my cousins.

We joined in with that little boy and saved starfish by the dozens. 

There are still many to be rescued, many "starfish" on life's shore.

Let's make a difference like that lad, by saving just one more.

Not all of our children can be "saved" from the life that has been dealt to them. However, they can be saved by being given the hope that love can soothe the pain. 

This poem doesn't just speak to the week that we, volunteers, are able to play the role of love-givers to these little kids, but it also speaks to the love, joy, and peace that we can bestow on each other during every moment of life, if we so choose. 

south beach in full...

Ok, so as promised, here is more from Miami. The highlights of some of my favorites things...

WALKING OUT TO THE BEACH...

[anthropologie tank, uo skirt, forever 21 sandals]

[me & my sister]

FLOATING IN THE SALTY WARM ATLANTIC... 

There is nothing quite like being able to swim in the Atlantic's salty water in Miami. Although I've been dipping into the Pacific since I've been home, it is just so much colder. 

EATING AT the Cafe at BOOK&BOOKS... 

WADING THROUGH THE ROOMS OF BOOKS...

[every magazine you'd want to read]

[a room of travel books that will make you check your passport's validity] 

[a beautiful book I found]

[and a favorite new poem]

You can't leave Book & Books without a pile of magazines or books or at least a list of books to buy when you get home so that you don't have to lug them home.

BREAKFAST AT THE RETRO RALEIGH...

[love this logo]

[lemon ricotta pancakes with fresh berries]

[classic eggs benedict]

[the "dining room" at the Raleigh]

[i want these backyard umbrellas]

[check out that fringe]

[i'm lusting after these chairs too!]

[Carly lounging in the hammock]


HOTEL HOPPING FROM THE DELANO...

[the sushi bar at the Delano]

TO THE SHORE CLUB...

[the lantern lit patio]

The hotels in Miami are amazing! It doesn't matter where we stay I always like doing a little hotel hopping. Each one is so different and so inspiring. There is always something that I want to implement in my house once I get home. Some are teeny boutique hotels that have been there forever, most are newly renovated, some are brand new (but not many). 

THE EVOLUTION FROM THE BEACH IN THE SUN...

 TO A STORM

Watching the way the beach goes from sunny and humid and packed with people and then empty and dark come afternoon is so intriguing. It's especially funny when you are on the beach and hear a rumble of thunder and watch everyone go running to get off the sand before the rain comes. Even the rain there doesn't bother me though because it is warm and fleeting. 

*all photos taken for by way of ney