Live Your Life With Grace

I bought this J. Crew Mona Chambray Ruffled Shirtdress at least three months ago, but haven't worked up the nerve to wear it! We fell madly in love at the J. Crew in Fresno, but I wasn't sure if I could pull the ruffles and jean-ish look off without looking too... country. Well, these boots are on their deathbed (sorry mama should have gotten 'em re-heeled), so I embraced my wannabe cowgirl side and topped it off with a my favorite sweater. Darn these stormy Bay days — I miss my sunshine! Happy short week to all the other working guys and gals out there.

Oh, and I do cherish my "full-length" mirror. I feel like I dress myself in parts!

Memorial Day Weekend 2011

How quickly having a career has made me so grateful for a glorious three-day weekend! Two of my besties from high school came to visit on Friday night, and I loved giving them the grand tour of my job and my new town. My girls from high school are some of the most amazing friends I could possibly ask for. Chloe will be going to Vietnam for a whole year, Alyssa might be moving to New York in September, and Brooke is finishing up her last year of college in Fres-yes. Even though Alyssa wasn't technically with us, any missing member of our little foursome is always there in spirit. How freaking cute are these Hello Kitty oven mitts from Brooke? And Chloe brought me a bottle of wine! We might be miles apart but we'll always be close at heart (adorbs card from Chloe, not my words).



I also drove to Stockton this weekend to see baby girl play softball. Although my family is never shy to share "I Love You's" and big hugs, the best way I can explain how much my dad loves us is the fact that he spent/spends his weekends driving my sisters and I to countless sports or debate tournaments up and down California. The last couple summers I've gotten to sit in the bleachers with my dad watching baby girl play ball, and its reminded me of how special the weekends I got to spend with my dad will always be. I cannot even begin to describe how grateful I am for all that my dad has done for me and my family, but I also love the goofier, funnier side of my dad that often comes out during these relaxed weekend trips. Most of the sister's tourneys are in SoCal this summer (where I'm no longer living eek!), so this weekend was extra special.



PS: Those are my ADPi stunna shades :)

Spoiler Alert!

I'm not sure if there is some kind of support group out there in the world for folks like myself, but I cannot cannot cannot watch a show anymore without ready some kind of spoiler alert before the opening credits even begin. I glean any kind of information I can from the internet to have some kind of clue as to what will happen during the course of an episode. I'll read any and all info I can get my hands on to find out who gets their torch snuffed, whose 'Race' has ended, and whose 'journey' is over before I even have a chance to watch the episode. Thank goodness I have the luxury of living in the PST, because those good-hearted East coasters give me just what I want. It's even started to creep into the scripted shows I watch (you know, like CSI, where the case is almost always solved in the end). Maybe it has to do with the fact that I dont watch live TV anymore (but really, I rarely watched live TV in college), or maybe my heart just cant stand the anticipation. I will know who wins American Idol tomorrow as soon as I can find that info on the internet, I will know who wins this season of The Bachelorette if Reality Steve can help a girl out, and I will not care that I'm am unabashedly addicted to spoilers, plot reveals, and even Tweets that get sent out by reckless extras. I may or may not have spent my down time today scouring the internet for the deets on the final Oprah show airing tomorrow.



Does anyone else watch TV the same way I do?

Marry You!

My cousin Michael got married this weekend! I'm a sucker for a good wedding, but really, who isn't? The mass was beautiful, the weather was perfect, and Nicole (the bride and our new cousin!) looked absolutely stunning. I love that feeling that's in the air at weddings – pure bliss, optimism for the future, and a hope that anything and everything is possible. Dinner and dancing went well into the evening, and it was a blast celebrating the new couple! Seriously, what other occasion would have parents and kids of all ages dancing together to songs like "Jessie's Girl"? I love my family, and I'm still smiling about all the fun and laughter we shared last night.

Awwww :)

Reception at the Le Rivage on the Sac River.

Welcome to Good Burger, home of the Good Burger. Can I take your order?

My dad dropped my sister off after he helped move her out of her dorm room today. Look at sissy, all done with freshman year (she's asleep on my couch right now, poor thing!). Sissy and I are going to hang out until the weekend, but Dad just had time to stay for dinner. We enjoyed a delicious burger and fries at Clarke's in Mountain View. Mine had extra extra pickles, duh. I'm pretty sure the last gooooood burger I ate was at In-N-Out in LA, so that doesn't really count haha. Only an occasion like this would call for such a treat! The weather was perfect to eat outside, but these lampshades were too funky not to share.





PS: My dad surprised me with two pots filled with beautiful flowers today. These babies had been sitting empty since I moved in, and I am loving the colors. First step, keeping these flowers alive. Second step, French bulldog? Modern Family has me obsessed!

Raining on Sunday

Coco Chanel once said:

A woman who changes her hair is about to change her life.

I've teetered between way too extreme hair changes, and dyes so hardly noticeable it wasn't even worth the money. Loving the hint of mahogany this dark brown gave me. And I can't wait to try it out next weekend at the next big wedding of the season.

In college, I used to thrive on living a life that was on the go, all the time. But now that I usually spend so much time at work, I'm craving these weekends where I can clean, catch up, and take a deep breath. A rainy Sunday was the perfect excuse to stay in my sweats and do just that :) I'm also taking an exam for work this week, so I definitely needed a quiet area for extra focus, since I won't have my extra Powell good luck tricks to help a sister out.

Mother's Day Weekend

Not only was this weekend Mother's Day, but it was also the first time I hosted a party at my apartment in MV! My family arrived Saturday for a late dinner, and we walked into downtown afterward to check out the most amazing bookstore. Open til midnight on Saturday and filled with thousands of used treasures. On Sunday, we had to make a quick stop at the local Farmer's Market. My uncle drove my Nan to Mountain View for our Mother's Day luncheon, and I was so excited to show them my little apartment and where I work. It was a short visit, but super sweet. And family functions mean lots of cooking. I tried Pie Pops this weekend, and they were surprisingly easy.



I definitely learned a lot throwing my first party this weekend. I bought so much food, and realized that less is more. I sent everyone away with goodies. I kept everything simple with the glass and white serving trays, but added pops of color with the polka dot napkins and matching bowls. And flowers make an amazing decoration! I bought spider mums, and we picked up Gerbera daisies at the Farmer's Market. Of course, family and laughter are really the only party ingredients you cannot be without.

I am so lucky to have such amazing moms in my life! My mom, my Nan, and my Grandma watching me from Heaven. What a great day to remind me of all the incredible women that inspire me every day.

Free to Be Me

There was always someone there, when I lived at home or in the HOP. It was more than someone to eat dinner with or watch TV with or laugh at the dumbest things with. The knowledge that I had people around me was a comfort factor that I certainly took for granted, literally my entire life. And while it is definitely a little bit strange to not to hear people in the next room or be able to jump on my best friend whenever I get the urge, I am more than grateful for the opportunity to live in a cozy one-bedroom apartment and discover the real meanings of independence, confidence, and resilience. I am the one that kills the scary looking bugs. I am the person that makes dinner (when I eat at home maybe two nights a week). I have to research how to pay bills, wheel my garbage can to the curb and repair the door that I thought I destroyed. I think this whole do-it-myself learning experience is going to be the most challenging, but most beneficial thing I have ever done for myself. EVER. Someone at work today gave me props for being an independent woman, and I was like, heck yes that's me! Even if I go back to living with roommates next year, I will always have my year to look back on. And I am so thankful for every second of it :)



(via In His Grace)

Back door cracked, We don't need a key.

One of my very favorite UCLA friends Nicoley was in the Bay this weekend, and we definitely made the most of our too brief time together. She was up here for a science conference this weekend at Berkeley with two of her research friends, so we made our way to SF for some fun! BART and I will take some time to become friends... using the train wasn't as intuitive as I'd expected. We shopped at Union Square, tried delicious food and drinks at Ponzu, and engaged in some mild shenanigans. I did not want our day to end! My 'berry isn't the best camera, so I can't wait to see what shots Nicoley got.





Oh and ps, while the world may feel big and never-ending sometimes, there are times when the world is way, freakin' small. On our way back to Berkeley Saturday night, I ran into a buddy from high school I hadn't seen since graduation. It's this kind of serendipity and coincidence that makes me excited to wake up and experience what life has to offer. And he so kindly made sure we made it back to Berk a-ok.

Weekends go so much faster in grownup land!