Weekend Report

We had another weekend focused on staying home and just relaxing with "us". Friday night we ordered in sushi and we were both in bed, after watching Easy A, by 10.

Saturday marked the official beginning of my 10k trail race. I've been running about 3 miles around my hilly neighborhood, but I was not seriously nervous to run trails that I had once struggled to hike. Joel is a serious runner - but he was sweet enough to stick with me the entire time. We ended up doing 4 miles, in about 50 minutes, which Joel deemed pretty freaking impressive. I had to stop multiple times to catch my breath, but I did it - and actually really enjoyed it.

H&M dress from last fall

We celebrated with a mimosa and caprese panini and my favorite lunch spot in Brentwood - Coral Tree Cafe - and some Pinkberry.

 

I did have to force Joel to try on wedding tuxes, but it turned out to only be an hour process and we finally have them all locked down.So happy that it was a successful trip - and our men, now have outfits!

His present for being a good sport on wedding appointments!

Saturday night the Vols played a late game so we stayed home, opened a nice bottle of wine, and made Chili. We tried to pretend that it wasn't 87 degrees here.

On Sunday - Joel surprised me with flowers and french toast - for which I'm still trying to decide why he is feeling guilty....

 

 Oh - and then allowed me to drag him to the Pumpkin Patch to pick out some pumpkins to carve.

 

He hates going to these things since we don't have kids, he thinks that everyone is thinking that we are there to steal their children, so we literally spent ten minutes picking out our pumpkins and then hightailed it home.  

I haven't carved pumpkins in years - and while it was fun and therapeutic to "craft", it's a freaking messy, and tough job.

Do you love his costume?!

 Painting them is way, way easier.

Friday's Thoughts

• I really enjoyed reading Natalie's "Day in My Life" post, and so I thought I would do something of the same. I snapped pictures all throughout the day of a typical day in my life. Which, I have no come to the realization, I need to get a friggen hobby.

• This week I have heard of my third friend here in LA getting a cell phone ticket. They are expensive and seriously impact your insurance since it is considered a moving violation - so I bit the bullet and ordered a car speaker phone. It was about $65 bucks off of Amazon - but with all of the driving I've been doing it's such a smart investment - and it will play Pandora off of my phone through my car speakers - so double plus! 

• This afternoon I'm going to finally see Pitch Perfect. I haven't been to the movies in so long, and it's seriously one of my favorite activities so I am counting down the hours.

• I signed up for a 10k mountain race on Thanksgiving morning. Running a turkey trot is a tradition for me - this will be my 8th or 9th year in a row - but I've never done it in. the. mountains. I'm pretty freaking sure I made a huge mistake, but hopefully I'll up my training and lose a few lbs in the process. 

• I am on the hunt for a light puffer jacket. I love the J.Crew ones but I refuse to spend $100 dollars on a jacket without sleeves. I've searched high and low and cannot find any similar options for less. Any ideas?

• This weekend Joel, Roscoe, and I are headed to the Pumpkin Patch. I'm so excited too because this year my pumpkins can actually stay outside since we have a patio that is screaming for some decorations! 

 

• On Saturday, my grandpa, "Papa", is turning 90 YEARS OLD. And you guys.....he is not your typical 90 year old Grandpa. He is active, still driving, running the Italian club at his condo, still driving my Grandma crazy, and still the leader of our family. I love him so much and wish so badly I could be there to give him a big giant kiss tomorrow.

Happy weekend, everyone!! xx

Wedding Wednesday: Table Linens

I cannot believe that I have been engaged for FOUR months and one day. The time is just slipping through my fingers and there is still so much to do. Every month we keep plugging away at things, but come 2013, shit is going to get real. With bridal showers, bachelorette parties, final details, and the dreaded diet, I'm trying to soak up these last 3 months of relaxation. 

The few things that we need to get done this month are:

 - Picking the grooms suits

 - Hiring the photographer

 - Putting the deposit down for our florist

 - Finalizing the guest list

 - Finish making the wedding website

 - Pick a save-the-date picture and begin designing

and the hardest one for me... - Decide on table linen colors

I'm having such a hard time deciding to go light or dark with my table linens. Part of me wants to go ivory....my florist thinks it should be navy....and my mom randomly - and hopefully as a joke, threw out green.

What do you think? Any words of wisdom?

If I was a house

 

... I imagine I'd be a sprawling, shake estate with a pool and lots of outdoor sitting areas - probably with a fire pit and lots of hydrangea's by my front door. 

There would be lots of barefoot kids running around and a big driveway far enough from the street that it was quiet, but close enough to our neighbors that we could easily stop over for after dinner cocktails. My pool would hold the remnants of a well spent summer day and the outdoor fridge would always be stocked.

I'd have extra bedrooms for guests to have sleepovers and an endless supply of breakfast breads and fresh squeezed orange juice. And the newspaper would be delivered everyday. 

And I'd live in a town with all of my family and friends.

 

If only I could be a house!

Weekend Report: Malibu Wines and Some Fall Favs

I have another must go spot if you ever find yourself in Los Angeles; Malibu Wines. It's about an hour drive from our house in Westwood but it's all along the PCH and then up a mountain, so you feel like you've seriously left the city and somehow entered a little piece of paradise.

My outfit for our Day Date

We ended up parking in their parking lot about half a mile from the actual winery and as we parked I spotted a camel. Like the actual animal. I told Joel, and he was like "Ya, and there's a zebra". I thought he was mocking me, but actually, there in fact was a zebra. Right then and there I knew we were in for some fun.

The winery is small but on a Saturday afternoon was packed. You can bring in your own food so we packed a cooler full of meats, cheeses, and crackers - a perfect pairing for wine. We didn't expect to sit on the ground, but next time we will definitely bring a picnic blanket. We found a cute spot in the shade - in perfect view of the band that was playing - and camped out for the entire afternoon.

We tried a flight of wines before deciding on our favorite bottle - a syrah - that is made from Malibu grapes. 

We finally snagged some rocking chairs - with the perfect wine holders ever - had the most relaxing afternoon ever. Even though the place was bustling, I felt like we were on our own porch, just enjoying the good life. The weather was perfect and I couldn't dream up a better date with my hubby to be.

On Sunday I started my morning with breakfast and a new magazine outside. The weather was perfect and my coffee shop started brewing pumpkin spice coffee.

 

After breakfast we took Roscoe with us and hiked Runyon Canyon before trying to pick up new patio furniture at Target. I've been needing new chairs outside since we moved out here, and finally decided to bite the bullet yesterday - only to learn that they are a seasonal item. I was so mad I literally stormed out of Target like a bratty 4 year old.

That rest of the day Sunday we added a few fall touches to the apartment, did some cleaning and had my cousin Cole and his new wife Brianna over for a yummy dinner and some more Malibu wine. 

These Target containers are so cute with a votive at night

Our leftovers from Malibu Wines

You guys need to make this pumpkin bread. It's TDF.

 Even though we didn't get the new items I was hoping to pick up - we had a great night with family, and no one really noticed the uncomfortable Ikea chairs I brought out from the dining room.

Hope you all had a great weekend too!

Friday Thoughts

1. We are officially spending Christmas in Mexico! We will be living life in paradise from the 22nd-30th and I couldn't be more excited. It's going to be a little different this year, since my sister Hannah, who is living in Spain, won't be able to join us, but we are going to skype with her everyday and enjoy many few corona's in her honor.

Punta Mita, I will see YOU in 73 days! 

2. For the next 72 days, here in reality, we have to do silly things like cook ourselves dinner. And, if you have to do that too, you should seriously give this recipe a whirl.

It made our Monday night so much better.

Chipotle Shrimp Salad Bowl.

3. On Wednesday I had quite possibly the coolest work event ever. They gave away free shoes, makeup, and had Bellacures on staff for each of us to get a fresh manicure!

Smokin' Hot by Essie

4. I think fall might actually be starting to show it's pretty face here in Los Angeles. Roscoe and I could not be happier and we are trying to take advantage of every minute.

Fall freshness just has me wanting to crisp up everything from my eyebrows to my linen closet.

 

5. This weekend is bound to be another fun one. Joel has a date planned for us all day Saturday at Malibu Wines and I can't wait to come back with a full report. 

Today, I'm working on it.

 

I need to be doing a little bit more of every single one of these.

No better day to start than today, right?

Reality Junkie

Reality TV is one of my most favorite guilty pleasures - although I don't feel guilty watching it all. The wine I drink during it is a different story.

Here are a few of the "reality" shows the stock up my DVR.

1. Kathy and Hoda Lee

Is this reality? I don't know, but I love them. They have such a positive energy every morning, have interesting, and engaging segments, and they drink wine at 10:00 in the morning. I think I could hang out with them both for a long weekend in the Hamptons.

2. RHONJ (and all other RH franchise's)

TELL ME YOU ARE WATCHING THE REUNION. This shit is crazzzzy. I do have to say, it is so freaking frustrating to watch because of Theresa. I think other ladies would have a better chance of knocking sense into a brick wall than this moron. 

3. Watch What Happens Live

The pairing of guests on this show is why I think it's so just damn successful. It's kinda cool to see a reality star team up with an actual celebrity and see how both parties act. I'm not a late night TV fan, but Andy has a way of capturing my every spare minute.

4. Married to Jonas

Very interesting. Not a fan of Dani, aka. Mrs.Jonas, or Kevin Jonas for that matter, but I can't wait for the show every week. They are real (for now), seem  have their heads screwed on (for now), and Dani's dad makes me laugh and cry every episode. 

5. 19 Kids and Counting

I know this is crazy, but they make me want to move onto a ranch in Arkansas and just live the simple life. Everyone is always so happy go lucky, and it seems as though the real stressors of the world don't affect them. Their lifestyle is so different than any other family I've ever known, and I eat their crazy story right out of their newly rich hands.

6. Sister Wives

Why? I mean, really - I clearly have no taste in TV....but....I love them....The drama, the lack of wine, the long haired husband....Come on now! It's genius!

Ohh....and then there is Guiliana and Bill (of course), Tia & Tamera, House Hunters, Selling NY & LA, anddddd Every show ever played on Bravo...

This list has done nothing more than quite honestly embarrass me, and if I had another idea for a blog I would erase this all - but I don't.

Tell me, (besides the fact that I need to get my own reality) what shows do I need to add.

Honey Boo Boo?