Weekend Report

Let’s just say my calves still hurt from this weekend.

On Friday night Joel and I ordered sushi and enjoyed a few glasses of wine on our porch. We had been craving some alone time together (even without the dog), so Joel planned a long hike for us early on Saturday morning.

It took us a little over 2 hours and while I did bitch and moan a lot few times, it was one of the best dates we’ve had in a while. Even though it was about 105 degrees on the freaking mountain and we totally underpacked in the water department - we did it.

At one point while we were scaling down a huge hill, I was grabbing his hand and backpack so I wouldn’t end up on the ground, I felt like we were on a relationship building course. Even though we obviously weren’t, it was nice to have 2 uninterrupted hours to just talk and touch base - alone.

 

 Plus, he took me to a great lunch (and pinkberry) afterwards which definitely helped :)

And I was so glad that I made it to the top

Saturday night we had Brent and Dawn over to our side of the tracks for a little “Tour de Westwood”. We hit up my favorite spots for drinks and snacks – Skylight Gardens, The Backyard at the W Hotel, and TheGlendon - and had such a fun time walking around the neighborhood with them.

And then, in case the 2 hours of hiking on Saturday wasn’t enough – I went again with Shelby and Dawn Sunday morning. We did ended up doing  a really tough route on Runyon Canyon that I never knew existed. It's a hidden gem and It’s about 10x harder than the actual trail . Again, it was freaking HOT but we finished it and rewarded ourselves with Mango Mimosa’s at Aroma Bakery onSunset.

 

After breakfast the 3 of us headed to Home Depot looking to stock up on all sorts of goodies. I used to hate being dragged to home depot as a kid, and now I think it might be my favorite store.

                                                                                       

Dawn was really tired after the hike,

After stuffing Shelby's car within an inch of it's life all of our plants and carpets made it home safely. 

  

I’ve been looking for an indoor plant since I moved to California, and I finally found a winner. Plus, the seafoam colored pot I found was only $4 bucks and matched perfectly with my living room color scheme! Bonus.

I planted the few other plants that I bought while shopping, made some pasta for Joel and I, and we watched the sunset on our back porch. I’ve been loving taking advantage of the weather here in California. Sitting out here is my most favorite way to spend the evenings.

 

Fridays Thoughts

Did it feel like an insanely long week to anyone else?

On Tuesday I had to drop off my baby pup at the vet for him to get neutered. Surgery went great and when he came he didn't seem to be in too much pain. I worked from home on Wednesday so that I could keep a close eye on him, but come Thursday I needed to get into the office. I came home to find his incision completely ripped open, and all of his stitches gone. The poor guy could barely walked so we literally ran back to the vet for an emergency staples session. Thankfully they didn't have to re-sedate him, but now he is in a ton of pain....and in a huge freaking cone.

Wednesday night I did get to go out for a girls night to celebrate my sweet friend Carly since her and her fiance are "tying the knot" in 2 weeks time and I won't be able to make it to the wedding. I moved out here knowing no one only 5 months ago and these three girls have quickly turned into my California family.*And I'm not just because they are reading this right now, but hi Dawn, Shelby, and Carly, I truly feel so lucky to have them in my life.*

This weekend Joel and I are staying close to home. We are really trying to take advantage of the mountains out here, so I'm planning on taking two long hikes this weekend. It's been a really good way to keep my body moving hard for 3 hours time, and I actually enjoy it. Plus, I made 5 wedding dress appointments for Labor Day weekend in Chicago and I'm starting to semi-freak out. More on that Wednesday ;)

My Morning Go To

Every morning the only thing that really gets me out of bed is the promise of my sweet routine.

I make a cup of coffee and have a bowl of oatmeal with a banana and cinnamon mixed in Every. Single. Day. And I have for the last 4 or 5 months.

I’m actually curious if my cholesterol has gone down – but that’s besides the point.

The point is that I’m a creature of habit. And I love my morning routine. I move slow and gracefully. The stress of the day hasn’t hit me yet and I try to savor it. I bring my breakfast to the couch and l enjoy it while watching the Today Show and letting the California sun bleed through the windows in the living room. The house is still quiet, my boys are still sleepy, and the whole routine gets my day started on such a good note.

I’ve always been a morning person – I need the morning, but I know some people despise it. What’s your go to?

Wedding Wednesday: a HUGE opportunity

I’m so excited about this week’s topic I could almost hug the computer screen!

It's big you guys.....

.....

really quite extraordinary....

.....

because......

....

..

.

TheKnot.com contacted me to become a weekly contributor to their wedding blog ! ! ! 

blog.theknot.com

{Insert incredibly excited reaction here}

Do you not die??

The articles will cover all sorts of topics from nail polish color to the dreaded bridal diet. I haven’t started my first assignment but when I do I hope that you’ll come visit me over there – show me some official love!

 I promise to update you as soon as the first on is “published”.

Champs time!

Tea Time

 

Let's be straight here, long gone are the days I vent, catch up, and/or bitch over tea. Now that I'm 24, we've moved up to the big leagues. Now, my talking time happens over booze. If it's early in the morning, mimosa's. Lunch? We're drinking white. After 4pm, we can choose either margs or red. BUT my blog....my sweet blog...it's gotta be tea time, and I can't change the name now. I'm in too deep. So our new weekly little gab sessions will have to be labeled as such - however, do know, if we meet (& gab), I much prefer wine over tea.

1. This week has me all kinds of anxious. I've recently taken on new opportunities at work and while it's a fantastic situation - it means I have a lot to learn.

Plus, while I'm learning all of this new stuff, I've got a lot of wedding details going on. Right now I'm trying to make appointments to try on dresses, meet stationer's, pick a band, find bridesmaids dresses, re-visit our venues, and determine a budget. I could manage all that under normal circumstances, but since I'm hiring these people in Chicago, my 6 day trip at the end of August is already bursting at the seams.

2. My sweet baby Roscoe is getting neutered today. I know he will do great, but it does make me a little worried that he's in a major surgery. I'm thinking good thoughts and can't wait to kuzzle him when I pick him up today around 4.

3. My girlfriends and I nailed an 8mile hike on Sunday. It took us every bit of 3 hours and I'm still freaking sore. And seriously sunburned.

4. Trader Joe's wine is the best for weekday splurges. Cocobon is my favorite table wine so far and I picked it up yesterday for $7. Winning.


5. Do you read "Classy & Fabulous" ? Sarah has honestly stolen my heart and I would pretty much pay a moving company to bring her and her cute boyfriend out to Los Angeles. She is just my kinda girl - and I think she'll be yours too.  I really recommend you follow along with her sweet journey....big things are on her horizon and you're not gonna wanna miss it.

Alright dawwwlings, that's all the thoughts I have for you for now. Until next time.

Cheers!

California Style

Happy Friday ladies! 

I'm so glad today is finally here. My training for my latest position wrapped up yesterday and come Monday morning - the territory is all mine!

1. Can you believe that these are the a few of the outfits that I wore this week? It's AUGUST, ya'll? Who woulda thunk? I'm used to hot freaking temperatures in the summer, and I still can't get over the cooler climate here in Cali.

2. I'm throwing Joel a birthday party two weeks from today and I really need to start the process. We are going to do a "wine tasting" themed event, but we're having 15 people at the house for it and I want to add some fun touches to it. I just started a pinning board for all things wine party.

 

3. Speaking of pintrest, I would do a lot of illegal things to have these pretties on my feet - but I cannot imagine they are comfortable.

4. A reminder to us all. Especially around these parts. No sense in ever being anything but kind - life is way, way too short.

 

Cheers!

How I be makin' that money, honey.

 

In 2010 I graduated college from the University of Iowa. Growing up I always wanted to be a teacher, so it was a no brainer for me to go into Elementary Education. I liked crafts, and reading children's books, and coming up with creative lesson plans - and I figured a job in that field would make me happy enough.

And then I student taught. And I realized that teaching is a lot of work for not a lot of money. Plus, I didn't want to live in the suburbs, and teaching in downtown Chicago isn't a very safe option, so I decided to explore other paths.

 And thank God I did.

I applied to the biggest newspaper company in Chicago and was turned down three times before almost giving up. I had absolutely ZERO experience in anything except for teaching, but I was begging for someone to throw me a bone and let me prove myself.

On my fourth interview, I was offered a job of an appointment setter. I had to make 200 outbound calls every day to small businesses in Baltimore. I was trying to get them to agree to meet an outside sales rep so they could pitch ad space in the yellow pages.

not glamorous.

We were supposed to make 15 appointments a week and I blew it outta the water. I set all sorts of records for the company and was averaging about 40 for any given week.

I was promoted after two months to an inside sales representative. I was selling ad space to small businesses in Chicago to advertise in our newspaper - which was an enormous step up from the Howard County Yellow Pages.

I was pretty dang good at sales and was starting to make a name for myself in this big company, when I was offered a management position. They had signed a deal with an external client and they wanted me to lead the team.

This business was my baby. I dealt with the financials, the comp plans, the marketing strategy, the hiring, and the implementation of all my plans. And they worked. My team and I crushed it and big people noticed.

There was a new opportunity inside the company for me to take on an even bigger team, who generated 5 times the money my team was making at the time. It would have been a huge step in my carrer. 

But that same week, Joel got a job offer in California.

His dream job. A job with a lot of opportunities. A job with a new adventure path for our lives. A job that we decided we couldn't turn down.

And so I quit.

My bosses thought I was joking when I told them in tears on February 13th, 2012. But when I explained the situation, they supported me and understood that I needed to see what else the world had in store for me.

So we moved to California and I was unemployed for two months. I had to move cross country and I went through almost ten thousand dollar worth of savings - but I will always look at that as an investment. An investment in this chapter of my life, and an investment in Joel's career.

On April 13th I was hired by Los Angeles' top newspaper. They didn't have a position for me, but from my strong referrals at the Chicago newspaper, they took me on anyways. 

And just last week I finally got an official title "Outside Sales Executive". I have a book of clients in the Los Angeles area who I sell advertising campaigns to.

I work from home and get to wine and dine clients while making their advertising dreams come true. It's a fantastic job with loads of flexibility and I'm so thankful to have it. 

A lot of big decisions got me to this place where I am today, and each of those decisions scared the shit out of me, but they've gotten me here. They've created this life I have.

And I'm damn, damn thankful for the ways its turned out.

Wedding Wednesday

Yes, yes.....the wedding is the big affair....but what about the groom? I don't want to lose focus about the fact that while I am having a wedding, what's more important is that I'm getting married. 

And I'm marrying Joel. 

The boy that I've dated since I was 18 years old.

This summer we've been so busy. We've entertained guests, flown to see friends and family, and had work trips all over the dang place. We honestly haven't spent that much alone time together, and this week, that's what we're focusing on and so I figured it would be a good time to focus on him, here.

Here are a few reasons why I'm really excited to get married to him.

1.  He loves our dog. He really loves our dog. And he worries about him and he dotes on him and he talks to him in a funny voice and plays with him on the floor, and it sort of makes me want to have kids tomorrow. He's going to make a really good dad, and he's going to work hard for our kids and he's going to have a lot of fun with them, and that makes me love him even when he's not a dad.

2. He's a hard worker. And while he's working hard, he isn't complaining. It doesn't matter if he is actually at "work", or running, or cleaning the floors (his chore), he does a damn good job at it. He's got that weird personality...something of a perfectionist...and he gives it his all, all the time. I'm not like that, and he's a good example for me.


3.  He let's me "do me". Which comes from my all time favorite saying "Do you boo boo, cause I'ma do me". I like to be the first people to leave a party. And I like to buy nice wine. I like to blog and I like to drink wine at lunch. And I like to take baths at night and go to sleep before 10. And he let's me. He's never made me feel like I need to change for him, because he likes me the way I am, and I like me the way I am too, so it works out.

4.  We live similarly. This is a little "Miss Advised" but one of my all time dating rules is that you have to be with someone that has a similar lifestyle as you. Or at least wants to have the same lifestyle as you. Not that you have to have the exact same hobbies or interests, but you have to have the same foundation of enjoyment, and Joel and I do. We both like to travel and explore new places, we like to hike and go for runs, we like to eat at nice restaurants and cook good food at home. Now, there are a lot of things that we don't mesh on, but we have the same long term daily goals for our life, and I think that's critical. I actually think I'm going to enjoy the next 70 years of my life with Joel as my partner.

5. We make a really good team. When he's up, I try to stay down. If I'm being cray cray, he tries (sometimes) to bring me back to reality. He stresses about driving, I stress about flying. I make a good dinner, he cleans up the dishes better than anybody. I'm a little bit loud, and sporadic, he's more calm and collected. I think together we make each other better and bring out good qualities of one another - and hopefully we'll keep that trend going for years to come.

He makes me crazy - and we can look at each other with dagger eyes, and there are plenty of nights that we go to bed mad after screaming at each other I have screamed at him, but at the end of the day, we want to live life together foreve....and that's what counts more than the paper I use for my invitations.

weekend repot through my iphone

Joel's parents were with us last week from Wednesday-Monday and while it was fantastic to have them here, I'm excited to slow down a bit.

We did manage to show them a great freaking time around LA though. 

I snuck in a quick FAC (Friday after class....anyone? anyone?) with a girlfriend at Via Alloro. The restaurant actually  makes a cameo in the Real Housewives of Orange County when Heather meets her friend there, but it's in one of the earlier episodes. It's in the center of Beverly Hills and is only mildly stuck up.

Also: I'm still getting used to the fact that I'm meeting girlfriends for happy hour in the middle of Beverly Hills.

After happy hour, I picked up Joel from work and we packed a cooler full of goodies to take to the Hollywood Bowl. The show of the night was The Producers (the musical) and it had an all star cast - Dane Cook, Rebecca Romaijn Stamos, and Jesse Ferguson - which added to the fun. Tickets were like $25 bucks and it's an absolute must if you visit LA in the summer.  Plus, any venue that let's you bring your own wine, snacks, and blankets is just fine by me.

Saturday we spent the day at Paradise Cove in Malibu - which again.....allows you to bring your own wine, snacks, and blanets - so again, I was a happy camper.

 

Joel played tennis in college and his parents are huge fans of the sport, so they timed their trip up with the Farmer's Classic which was held at UCLA. 

It's crazy to think this picture was taken in JULY - but it gets really cold at night here

 

Sunday we hiked and I cooked a big dinner for the family, and then the in-laws took off.

Monday I was one of those people that wore heels with leggings....

and decided on shiny, midnight blue nails...

 

Which really makes me think I need to lay off the wine.

Recent outfits and a recap

 Things are a wee bit cray cray here in LA for Joel and I. Hot off the ride of his brother's wedding, Joel jetted to Ohio for work as his parents made their way to our house for the week. There's been lots of outings, too many restaurants, and lots and lots of wine. All good things, except the looming date of wedding dress shopping.


We've been out on the town, so I had a good excuse to get out of my Lululemon's and into some actual outfits.

J.crew sweater, Ann Taylor dress, TB flip flops

American Eagle chambray, Express tank, RL shorts, TB flip flops

Nordstrom's blouse, Gap pants, D&G sunnies, Yurman bangle......missing shoes.....

ATL sweater and skirt. TB flip flops

This weekend we are hitting up the Hollywood Bowl, Paradise Cove in Malibu, a hike is the Palisades, a tennis tourney at UCLA, and hopefully getting my future father-in-laws rental car back from the repair shop (after an unfortunate meeting with the pole in my parking garage).

Here's hoping I'm still standing come Monday!

Breezy Banana Bread

Breezy Banana Bread

:gets its name because of the banana's (obviously) and the fact that this is quite possibly the easiest recipe in the world.

ingredients:

1 stick of butter

2 eggs

3/4tsp baking soda

1 1/2 cups of flour

1/4 brown sugar

1/4 sugar

2 ripe bananas 

directions:

1. Pre heat oven to 350

2. Cream sugars and butter 

3. Add eggs and bananas 

4. Stir in flour and baking soda

5. Bake for 45 minutes

It's the best, best, best banana bread ever. 

Enjoy!

Wedding Wednesday

This week's topic: 

The Guest List

I never really realized how quickly you have to make a guest list in order to plan a wedding. Everything is dependent on the number of guests that you plan on hosting from the venue, to the ceremony, down to the invites.

The more weddings I attend, the more confident in say that the less people you have at your wedding the better it is.  It's more intimate, the dance floor is more open, and the line for the bar isn't so painfully slow.

Joel and I have big, big families and we like to think a lot of friends so we are not going to have the luxury of keep it intimate and at this point I'm just hoping to keep it under 250.

And of course, the more people you have, the more money you have to shell out. Since I do not have an unlimited budget, I've got to slim the list somewhere.

There is just no way that I can invite every single person I've ever met to my wedding (repeat this Tess, repeat this), so I'm using these tips to help me narrow it down.

• Dates:  At the end of the day, its my wedding, and I want people at my wedding that I know. And that know me. That means I'm not allowing my 18 year old cousins bring dates. 

• Kids: I'm still really unsure about having young kids at my wedding. I'm seriously 50/50 on the issue. On one hand, I love kids and they're so stinking cute in pictures and on the dance floor, but I don't envision looking out at my tables of ten and seeing high chairs...or having to serve mac'n'cheese 

• Work: It can be really tricky when you open up the flood gates to inviting co-workers so I will not be inviting any. I don't have a very close work atmosphere anymore, so this one will be pretty easy for me in all actuality. Joel's office is small (only 8 people) so we actually lucked out on this one.

• Will we know them in 5 years? If the answer is no, there's not a real use in having them....right?

I know it's inevitable that someone out there is going to have hurt feelings, but hopefully I'll be able to keep the drama to a minimum.....

And if all else fails, I'll be going forward with this rule. 

Where We Belong (and other summer reads)

Emily Giffin is finally releasing her latest book, "Where We Belong". All her previous books (Something Borrowed, Something Blue, Baby Proof, Love the One Your With, and Heart of the Matter) are all time favorites of mine. Giffin's characters have a way of sticking with you for years and years, and I still wonder what is going on in their lives. I always dread turning the last page to any of her stories.

Marian Caldwell is a thirty-six year old television producer, living her dream in New York City. With a fulfilling career and satisfying relationship, she has convinced everyone, including herself, that her life is just as she wants it to be. But one night, Marian answers a knock on the door . . . only to find Kirby Rose, an eighteen-year-old girl with a key to a past that Marian thought she had sealed off forever. From the moment Kirby appears on her doorstep, Marian’s perfectly constructed world—and her very identity—will be shaken to its core, resurrecting ghosts and memories of a passionate young love affair that threaten everything that has come to define her.

This description has me pretty unamused. I've read this story before and I know how it ends but I'm going to give it the old college try and hope that Giffin delivers again. I'll try to report back on how it turned out.

And speaking of books, I just wrapped up this goody.

 

In many ways, the Browns are like any other middle-American family. They eat, play, and pray together, squabble and hug, striving to raise happy, well-adjusted children while keeping their relationship loving and strong. The difference is, there are five adults in the openly polygamous Brown marriage—Kody and his four wives—who among them have seventeen children.  

I'm, for some reason, very interested by this family and never miss one of their episodes. I can almost say that I would watch this show on the DVR before the Housewives, so when I found out they had released their book, I had to snag it.

The book is broken into 3 parts and each chapter in every part is written by a different wife. It's quite interesting to get an idea of how different and similar this polygamous family is from mine. I would recommend it if you've seen the TV show and know the wives - it made it easier and more interesting to be able to put a personality and face to each character.

What are some good summer reads that have made your list so far?