LA Chronicles #1

On Sunday night my mom and I cheered 2 coronas and boarded our Virgin America flight (my 1st one way ticket) to LAX.

We woke up Monday morning and didn't miss a beat. I had to take my mom to my favorite LA spot - thus far - which is Runyon Canyon. 

It's about a fifteen minute drive from my new apartment and offers out of control views, and a really good workout. 

From there, we hit up Target, Home Depot, World Market, Urban Home.....you get the picture. 

Monday night, we met friends in Santa Monica for a drink at R & D Kitchen, then had dinner with my cousins at Yomato in Westwood Village (which was a great recommendation from Britt!)

On Tuesday, after errands, we went back to Hart of Dixie set to check out filming. I was hoping to meet, and become besties with Rachel Bilson, but no such luck.
 

Tuesday night, we were in the mood for margarita's so we tried Casa Azul in Westwood which was amazing (again, thanks to Britt)! I'm so excited to try all of the new restaurants and bars in Los Angeles....in fact, exploring eveything that California has to offer is what I'm most looking forward to about this whole move.

And...here's a sneak peak of what my apartment is starting to look like.

Once the rest of my things arrive, I might even pull out my fancy camera and take some legit pictures!

decor boards

Our new apartment in Los Angeles is about twice the size of our apartment in Chicago....so that means I need to purchase a lot more things!

I'm so excited about redecorating an apartment, and I can't wait to pool my energies into lots of projects. At night when I have negative thoughts, or problems sleeping, I try to imagine different layouts for the living room or dining room.

I've already picked out my bedding for both bedrooms, but here are the boards I'm hoping to recreate once I get my feet planted in California.

Here is what I'm doing for the master: "Earthy/Zen/Natural"

And this is what I'm hoping for the guest room: "Clean, Girly, Crisp"

popping in

• Cancer is a tornado that comes into your family's life and just spins, and spins, and spins, until everyone is completely torn up. 

• I do have to say that I have really been taught a positive lesson during this whole experience. The amount of people that have shown up to spread love and support have been the best part of this entire thing. My aunt has 30 cards in the mail everyday, flowers being delivered on the regular, people stopping by to offer food and hugs....I've truly seen the kindness that is in people. The love for one another. And I know, that when I have a friend, or a friend of a friend that gets sick, I'll know how to appreciate them, shower them with love, and show up when you have to.

• And since I'm on this tangent, WOW is life fragile. and WOW is family critical to survival. No matter what happens during all of this, my relationships with my parents and sisters will be forever stronger. I've seen strength in my grandparents I didn't know existed...I've talked to my cousins to just vent and cry three times a day. My mom's family is very, very tight, whereas my Dad's is not. Life is too short not to talk to your brothers or sisters, because when you need them no one can replace the support of family. We couldn't do this without our family village and I feel so grateful to have them in my life.

• My aunt has pancreatic cancer and can use all of the love you can give, if you know me personally, please feel free to visit this site for updates: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/peggymarino - you will need to sign up and give your email, but we will be updating as often as we can

• I'm moving to California on Sunday! My mom and I are flying together (on Virgin, of course) and we will spend some time together getting my apartment organized and decorated. I think it's going to be a really nice thing for my mom to put her energy into something different for a couple of days.

• In a very guilty way, I'm excited to get to California now. If for anything at all, to escape. To clear my head and try and move forward with my life - but then, I have trouble feeling that because my Aunt Peggy doesn't get to escape her reality, either can her kids or her husband, and I'm really struggling with that, because they want nothing more in life, than to go back 5 weeks ago when she was healthy, joyful, energetic, and herself.

• I'm trying to get in tiny bursts of exercise wherever I can. My aunt lives about a mile away from our house so I try to run there at least once a day.

• But, we are eating a lot of takeout food and drinking a lot of wine, so I'm a little nervous to face the scale.

• My sister Nellie came in from Kentucky last night and Hannah is driving home from Iowa tomorrow morning. I'm really excited that I'll get to spend some time with them before I head to the west coast.

• I spend a LOT of time checking out rescue sites for puppies in California. I keep telling Joel that I'm going to need a happy, snuggle face. I should probably be spending that time looking for jobs.

• Yesterday it was almost 60 degrees in Chicago during the day, and then it snowed around 5pm. I'm not going to miss that!

Sinara!

On Saturday night I had 30 of my nearest and dearest friends to send Joel and I off to California with a bang.

I was just so touched by all of the well wishes, sweet gifts, caring cards, and big, big hugs.

We had a back room at Theory in River North and Joel had a few bottles of champagne waiting for us upon arrival to cheers our night!

 

Even some of my college girlies made the trip from Iowa to Chicago for one night to give me their love. 


And my Chicago besties got Joel and I a going away gift.....and they sure do know me well.....because we they gifted us with a dinner at Villa Blanca. How cute is that?!

 

I really can't describe how loved I feel by my friends in Chicago. I'm going to miss them so much, but I know that when I'm lonely in California I will have endless amounts of love and support from the great Midwest.

 

 

1 step closer

Most importantly, I want to again thank you all of your sweet words of prayers and well wishes. Things with my aunt are still fairly unknown. Doctors had thought it was breast cancer for a minute, but her mammogram came back clear yesterday and now my aunt will go to see a gastroonocologist tomorrow at Rush University in Chicago. I'm really hoping that we get some positive news. Thankfully my aunt is in good spirits - but reality still bites.

and...onto much smaller happenings, the movers pulled up to my apartment this morning and took all of the boxes out of my 1st grown up apartment.

Joel has started his new job today and is in meetings in Ohio, so I just sat there while the movers moved the boxes for a few hours.

As soon as they were done I drove back home to parents house to stay with my aunt. She has two small kids and needs some extra help cleaning, cooking, and managing, so I'm lending my support where I can. Plus - she really needs the distraction and love that only family can offer.

While this is my last week in Chicago, I have some guilt about not being able to spend some of my last days with friends, but unfortunately I can't be in two places at once - but if I could, I would be....ya just can't do it all, ya know?

Luckily I was able to sneak into our absolute favorite sushi spot in Chicago, Ukai. They  are the kindest people there, and since we are frequent diners they were sad to see us go.

It does feel weird to think I no longer have an apartment in Chicago OR a job.....funny what a difference a week makes.

the best laid plans...

...of mice and men often go awry.

 Isn't it funny when you think you know exactly how your day, week, or month are "supposed" to look like, and then you get smacked upside the head with a 2x4?

 My aunt. My healthy, 48 year old, ray of sunshine aunt, is very, very sick.  After not feeling well for about 3 weeks, and having some strange symptoms, she has been checked in to the hospital and we have received some very bad, serious news regarding the c-word.
 

Life, packing, showering, twittering....everything is taking a back seat. I am supposed to be with my family right now, to sit in the hospital room and tell stories and play scrabble...so that's what I'm going to do. And, I'm going to try and cope - as is everyone else around me.

Please say prayers, send positive thoughts, do whatever you can for this woman, because it's just absolutely mind boggling and we can use all of the support we can get.

xoxo

Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you sweet readers. I want to sincerely thank everyone that commented yesterday with words of encouragement and well wishes. While this is a fun time, no doubt, it comes with a lot of heartache and it’s so amazing to feel like I have friends all over the place rooting for my success.

With all of the stress of the move, I haven’t been focusing on what I’m thankful for, and what I’m loving in my life right now. What better day than today than to reflect on the sweet things that are goin’ on?


1. I’m loving that I woke up this morning to a bottle of champagne tied with a dog collar as a bow. I’ve been telling Joel that I may need a puppy when we move to LA, and I thought that was the sweetest gesture.

2. I’m loving the way my parents are handling this entire situation. Both of my parents are so excited and thrilled for us, and outstandingly supportive, they won’t focus on anything but the positive.….I mean, my mom is even driving with me across the country. If I didn’t have such support from them, I would be a true train wreck. I’m learning such a lesson in being a good parent during this time of my life.

3. I am loving that my friends are taking such good care of me. Bringing me cupcakes, helping me pack, being a shoulder to lean on, and taking me and Joel in as house guests. Everyone’s sweet texts, and phone calls, and emails, have just made me feel so freaking loved.

4. I am loving that my bosses were beyond understanding, supportive, and even jealous, that Joel and I are making this huge life change. I wasn’t able to give them 2 full weeks of notice, and that really pained me, but they understand the short time frame we are under and couldn’t have handled the rocky news any better. I’m going to miss them so much.

5. I am loving that I get to redecorate a new house!! I’ve got both of the bedrooms new bedding options. I’m dying over both looks, and I can’t wait to put together a new house.


Master Bedroom



Guest Room

 6. I am loving that I’m getting some LEGIT use out of my Erin Condren planner.

7. I am loving that today is Valentine’s Day. I know that it’s a hallmark holiday, but I love Holidays. I don’t care how stupid they are (well, okay, I don’t really like President’s Day), but any excuse to go out, wear pink and red, and celebrate is fine with me.

8. I am loving that I’m not going to have to wear winter boots again for a long time!

9. I am loving that I have enough time left in Chicago to say goodbye to my friends and family. I’m fitting in lots of dinners, drinks, and parties….and while it will NOT be good for my waistline, or checkbook, I’m soaking up these last couple of weeks as best as I can.

10. I am loving that my aunt is joining my mom and I on our road trip to California. My mom and I would have had fun, but we would have gotten on each other’s nerves, so having my aunt in the car will add to fun and adventure!

Big Changes

We are back in Chicago after a whirlwind of a trip out to Los Angeles.

We were able to fit in a few fun things, like hiking and checking out Zoe Hart's bedroom...

But, to be honest with you, this trip to LA was more for business than pleasure.

We had a few things we needed to do...

Like find an apartment to live in.

And, no, not for a vacation home.

An apartment for our home because in the next 2 weeks, Joel and I will be living in California permanently. *or for the next 2-3 years


.....


I've been a big, bad, lying, blogging girlfriend, and I'm sorry for not looping you all in earlier. Let me give you the deets.

When we came back from Mexico after our Christmas trip, Joel started the daunting task of looking for new jobs. Coincidentally, a friend of his who moved in NYC for a job promotion in December, emailed him asking  if he would be interested in working for his company. The two positions he had available were in NYC and Los Angeles. After talking with me, we decided it couldn't hurt for Joel to at least interview for the job position in California....since New York is not our cup of tea.

After weeks of interviews, lots of wine, and too many "what if conversations", he got the job.
We hadn't told anyone except for my family that Joel was pursuing this opportunity. Moving was not on our radar, let alone anyone else's. We decided not to tell anyone because why rock the boat if we didn't need to...but then, when the official offer came in, I had to drop a bomb on my best friends and my extended family.

It obviously wasn't easy.....

and it's still not easy.

I'm leaving my job (today, actually....so please say a prayer for me) and the movers are coming to pick up all of our things this weekend. Joel will be traveling for the next two weeks, and on February 29th, my mom, aunt, and myself, are driving my car cross country to start my new life out in Los Angeles.

I don't have a job lined up yet, but I will find one. I don't have that many friends out there, but I will find them. I don't know the neighborhood, but I'll figure it out. And everything else, is honestly a bit of a shitshow.


These next 2 weeks will be spent packing, sleeping on couches, saying goodbye, and preparing to start a new chapter. Sometimes I'm excited, sometimes I'm scared, sometimes I'm sad, but it's an adventure.....and we're going for it.


So, here goes nothing!

spon·ta·ne·ous

I am, by no means, spontaneous...okay? Let's just get that on the books.

B U T

I am doing something spontaneous and that is going. on. vacation!

which is spontaneous when you haven't planned for it for months in advance and just decide to GO for it!

Joel and I are leaving on Saturday morning and taking a little jaunt to Los Angeles, Ca!

Check that out!

Crazy right?

To be honest with you, I'm even a little bit excited to fly out there (which, I'm not normally a super amazing flyer) but we got tickets on Virgin America, and I'm really excited to see if it's at all different.

RHOBH is a genius marketing monster....they sucker in idiots like me.

We aren't entirely sure what we are going to do there (which, is not like me) but we'll be with my cousins who live in LA, so they'll be taking us around to their favorite spots.

Plus, my cousin is a writer on The Hart of Dixie, so we're going to pop on the set so that I can become besties with Rachel.

Of course, this does lead me to question - what the heck do people wear in LA in January? It's 75 degrees and sunny everyday. For me, in Chicago, that means bathing suit weather. Is it the same for them there? Can I pull out the white jeans?

Thanks to Day Old News, here's what the celebs have been sporting lately, so hopefully I won't look like a total outsider:

 

We leave Saturday morning and will be back in Chicago next week! Eeek! I'm already so excited!

You're It!

If it wasn't for Natasha over at Hello! Happiness it would have been very quiet over here. I've got a lot of things on my plate that I'm not quite ready to share...but when I am, I promise I will loop you all in.

Here are the rules for this little game:
**You must post the rules

**Post 11 Fun Facts about yourself
**Answer the 11 questions that the tagger posted for you & then create 11 questions to ask the people you've tagged
**Tag 11 people and link them in your post
**Let them know you have tagged them

1. What is your profession? Currently I am a sales manager/team lead for a large media company. My team sells advertising and media packages, and I manage them. BUT, I went to school to be a teacher….and I didn’t love that….and well, let’s just say I don’t like staying in one place for too long, so you never know when a change will occur.


2. How would you describe your style? I would say preppy, conservative, with a splash of trendy. I have been trying to find quality pieces and look and feel good. I splurge on good jeans, shoes, and good coats. I’m trying to slowly build a classic closet with pieces that will last for years – My mom always tells me, “cry once”….but it is hard to fork over +$200 on a blouse!

3. What one make-up product can you not live without? Probably Vaseline. My lips get super chapped and I crave Vaseline for it. Everything else I could probably live without.

4. If you could be besties with one celebrity, who would it be? Hilary Duff. She seems really down to earth, fun, and normal. She is right about my age and seems to have her head on straight. I’m not a big party gal, but I feel like she would be a good person to drink wine with chat.

5. What is your dream vacation? I’ve never been on a honeymoon, obviously¸ and right now, that is my dream vacation. Being somewhere tropical (like the 4 Seasons in Hawaii) , with nothing to do but relax, enjoy, and spend time with your new husband sounds pretty dreamy!

6. What magazines do you subscribe to? Southern Living and US Weekly.

7. If you could have a special talent {that you don't currently have}, what would it be? Hmm, that’s tough. I guess, I wish I was a very special chef. Who was creative and inventive in the kitchen. Where I could cook up yummy, healthy things, all the time with no effort spent.

8. What is your favorite breakfast food? Honestly, sometimes I go to sleep thinking of 2 fried eggs on an English muffin with cream cheese. But, my dad makes mean Swedish pancakes that I could have each and every day.

9. If you could do anything, what is your dream job? Great question. If I knew, I’d be going after it – I can assure you of that. But I really don’t know my dream job. I want a job that keeps me busy, has a lot of flexibility, maybe only consists of working 20 hours a week, and also pays over 100k….Let me know if you find that job.

10. What is your guilty pleasure? For sure reality tv. And for sure wine.

11. What is the best piece of advice you've ever received, and who gave it to you? A saying my Mom lives by, and I need to as well, “To whom much is given; much is required”

 
 
And here are my 11 girls that I'm tagging! And yes - the questions are staying the same!!
Kayln at A Life Full of Laughter
Hannah at A Big Little Life
Laur at Head Over Heels
Sunkissed and Southern
Interior Groupie
Brittney at Delta Daises
Cara at City Girl Chicago

Ahhh there's more, but I'm late to a meeting! Sorry ladies! XO

Come On In

To my dream house.



Where, on my dream day, I'm sipping a starbucks in my luxurious closet, picking out the clothes I'm going to put on after I dip into the pool. I will run errands in my new Range Rover, then watch some RHONY in the cozy basement well my chef cooks up a healthy, arugula salad.

I'll play with my cute, calm tots, read some books, put dinner on the table, open a bottle of wine....get a massage, and dive into that yummy bed.

Why, oh WHY am I sitting in a cubicle right now??

friday's thoughts

Happy freaking Friday!

I love the feeling of waking up on Friday…I always jump out of bed with an extra pep in my step.

This week was a bit of a free for all. Some good bits, some bad bits, all thrown in with the chaos of work.

Here were a few of the outfits I wore.

What do you think of the stripes and polka dots? Crazzy right?

We don’t have too much on the board for this weekend. Joel is running another half marathon tomorrow. It’s at 10am, so I’ll pick up some Starbucks and wait for him in the warming tent. The nice thing about being in the audience is that its incredibly motivating. Watching all different shapes and sizes cross the finish line makes you feel like YOU should be out there. And, I guess on April 1st, I will be.

After Joel dominates, we are going to head to my parents house in Crystal Lake. We haven’t seen them since Mexico and I need a little fill. Especially of my cute pup.

We’ll probably have dinner, drink some wine, get in a walk, and head back into the city early afternoon on Sunday. Just in time to hit the grocery store and cook a yummy dinner.

I’ve been really slacking on the domestic housegirlfriend role of having a healthy dinner on the table for dinner.

Next week I’m aiming to put something good on the table 3 nights….which means I’m off to Pintrest.

Have a fabulous weekend!