Save Water. Drink Wine.

This weekend, I joined a fantastic group of people for a wine trip to Sonoma!  We ended up only making it to a winery (and a half) after an intermission to Taylor's Refresher for lunch, and definitely made the most of our time.  I love me some wine, and it didn't hurt that we started the day off with mimosas.  Sunshine, Call Me Maybe at least a dozen times, boyfriend and lots of wine... could life be any sweeter?

Lots of wine!

Mantra.

Great people.

Taylor's  Refresher.  I don't care that they renamed it Gott's.

Favorite.  Thanks for the pics Dan and Dave!

Cannot Get Enough

The first time I listened to the new Zac Brown Band album, I couldn't even pick one song I liked even slightly more than all the rest.  Safe to say I am obsessed with Uncaged.  I tend to do this with new (or new to me) albums; listen to them over and over again until I fall in love with something else.  After two weeks powered by these sweet tunes, I've decided that Sweet Annie, Day That I Day and Lance's Song are my favorite. 

 

Day That I Die.  Zac Brown Band + Amos Lee = So Stunning

I just love how their album runs through the whole spectrum of emotion.  The melodies and lyrics touch on heartbreak and drinking and time and love.  Definitely worth a listen no matter what genre of music is your favorite.

Current Obsession

The book nerd in me died a little over the print... and every, single other one in this Etsy shop.

Via.

Check out this shop here!

A New Definition

I used to think that growing up meant things like getting a job, replacing the light bulbs in my apartment and making sure to change the oil in my car in a timely fashion.  You know, those things you think about when you are in elementary school that signify a transition from someone taking care of you, to, well, you taking care of yourself.  Important things, yes.  But methodical, symbolic, even stereotypical moments.  Life events that shape you, but lack the feeling and depth then what actual growing up does to a person.

After a particularly heavy conversation with my sister last week (shenanigans, life and heartache covered in an eight minute work break), I thought a lot about what it really means to come into my own.  I was homesick during my entire college experience.  Even throughout my first year of work.  And it wasn't because I was disappointed or didn't like where I was living or anything.  On the other hand, I always woke up (and still wake up) every single day with a profound appreciation and excitement for life.  I love experiencing the other side of college.  I think I've realized, and been trying so hard to accept, that my family and I will never live in the same house again.  Or the same town for that matter.  It's almost funny how hard it's been for me to realize this is the new normal.  Growing up is pushing away the intense desire to sleep in your childhood bed and eat dinner with your immediate family every night.  It's taking the time to make phone calls and send emails and connect with the people that mean the most to you.  It's finding a family of sorts in the new city you live in. It's plastering your apartment and cubicle with pictures of your family.  It  means distracting yourself with new adventures and realizing you hadn't thought about your fam bam for a slice of time...  and that's ok. Sometimes it even means missing out on family events and birthdays.

I'm lucky that my family and I are all in California for the time being.  Our time together will be spent during holidays, weekend trips and long dinners.  And that's ok.  I think realizing what this growing up process really means has helped me navigate its intricacies and ambiguous alleys.  A definition has been shifted.  But considering how awesome life is, I think I can accept it enough.  Don't be offended though if I choose a weekend with my fam over playtime in SF :)

I'd rather have a good life than a perfect one.  Via.

This Weekend

Everything about the last four days made me so happy.  A pre-weekend last hurrah with Ashley.  The cutest present from my boyfriend.  15 hours of sleep after a nap on Friday and serious sleeping in on Saturday.  Laundry domination.  Catching up with my sister.  A fun night out with some of my favorite SF people.  Sunny weather.  A lazy Sunday watching the first season of Modern Family.  Bachelorette finale with the roomie and wine.

Thank you boyfriend! First (but certainly not the last) item I'll own from Vineyard Vines.  

San Francisco flowers.

Such a dramatic conclusion!  I read all the spoilers before (can't help it lol).

How was your weekend?

Tasty Summer Treat

When I was home for the 4th of July, I made waffle cones for the first time.  Paired with homemade ice cream, it made for a perfect dessert on a hot summer evening.  The best part?  Waffle cones are surprisingly easy to make.  You can use a press designed to make waffle cones, but you can also use an iron designed for Pizzelle cookies.  Find the recipe found here.  Yum!

Boyfriend and I made a great waffle cone making team.

Necessary supplies.

Success!

Nearly two dozen cones took less than 30 minutes to bake.

Feel free to eat any cones that get broken too ;)

Tuesday Thought

Whenenver I crave sunshine, all I do is remind myself that summer is a state of mind.

Thank you misty, SF weather for making me appreciate slices of sunshine and bright moments and friends.

Camping Weekend!

This weekend was full of sunshine, lake time, and campfire fun.  I haven't been camping since I was in junior high, so I was excited to head to Lake Berryessa (near Napa, CA) with a huge group of folks for a camping extravaganza.  Our camping coordinators made sure we were well taken care of... there was so much delicious food, and plenty of drinks!  Saturday definitely started with a beer and a few rounds of a new favorite drinking game.  The lake was a perfect temperature too! What could be better than disconnecting and enjoying ever second of (slightly) dirt-covered fun?  Life really is better on the lake!

Our room... with a view.  Ha!

Boyfriend and a floatie.

Absolutely gorgeous!

I wish I could always be on lake/camping time all the time!

Los Angeles, Pt. 2

Our second night in L.A. was spent with my bestie Nicole.  This lady just returned from a year teaching in Spain (and she's headed back in September) so we made the most of our time together.  I am so lucky that my boyfriend wanted to go out to dinner with us and listen to us recap all of our college shenans, and spend the night being silly with us.  Whenever she comes back to America, I dream about us living in the same city!

Our last day in L.A. was spent in Hollywood.  Even though it's a little touristy for my taste, I had to show Greg the Walk of Fame and Grauman's.   Safe to say I was a little bummed driving back to San Francisco... I love my college besties!

Tequila shots with one of my favorite people on this planet.

This guy.  He is just the best!

Getting silly.

Definition of our relationship.

Happened upon a Sanrio store in Hollywood, and boyfriend bought me a Hello Kitty dressed just like one of my fave outfits.

 Sunshine and summertime, you are amazing!

Los Angeles, Pt. 1

After a quick stop in Fresno for the 4th, Greg and I continued our road trip and headed to LA!  I went to college at UCLA, so I was stoked to see some of my favorite friends.  Brittany was the most amazing host, Nicoley had just gotten back from a year in Spain, and Ashley was in LA for an (almost) final hurrah.  It was such a blast!   

Here are a few pics from our first day and a half in LA. Santa Monica, UCLA, Westwood, Runyon Canyon, Britt's apartment, Father's Office (for food), The Wellesbourne (for drinks and shenans) were just a few of the stops we made in our first two days.

Hello Santa Monica! I love SF, but I miss warm beaches.

At my second home, UCLA.

Introducing Greg to the library at UCLA.

Night out.  Boyfriend and my bestie Britt.

Nicole is back from Spain!  L-R is myself, Nicoley, Ashley and Brittany.

A little Runyun Canyon fun.

Loves of my life.

Boyfriend and Los Angeles.

More to come tomorrow!

Happy America Day!

Normally, my family spends the 4th of July in Northern California, doing cute small-town activities all day long.  Since my parents couldn't make it up this year (hello slightly awk midweek holiday), my boyfriend and I headed to Fresno to celebrate! And we had the best time.  My parents invited almost all of our Fresno "family," and we ate, swam and lit fireworks.  Two of my best friends from high school even came! If I could have made that night last forever, I would have captured it in a jar and saved the magic for a rainy day.

Yehawww America!

Bestie was just home from a year in Vietnam!  So good to see my sweet Chloe.

3/4th's of the high school crew.

Boyfriend.

Cutest kid alive (other than his brother).

Sparklers.

So good to celebrate America with some of my favorite people on this planet.  4th of July, you are awesome!

Vacation Time!

The fourth of July is my favorite holiday (or a very, very close tie with Christmas).  I have three days off from work - five, if you count the weekend.  And you better believe I am squeezing out every single moment of fun.  I will be stopping in Fresno and hanging out with my family and some of my favorite friends, road-tripping to Los Angeles to see a couple besties from college and soaking up some major sunshine.  On top of all the friend and family time, my boyfriend is coming with me.  Dream city!

In 2010, I flew from Los Angeles to Sonoma just to spend the 4th with my fam.

See ya after the holiday weekend!

A Giants Birthday Celebration

My baby sister Brigi's birthday wish was to celebrate her birthday at a Giants game.  Our boys were playing the Reds on Friday night, and my whole family, my boyfriend, and two of Maggie's friends from school got to join.  It was such a blast!  Garlic fries, watching my dad keeping track of the game on his scorecard, Brigi opening up her presents at the game, laughing until I cried multiple times, wearing a new Giants shirt my boyfriend gave me... these were just a few of the moments that made this a really special night. 

Top: Brigid. Great View.

2nd Row: Jack. Greg and I. My parents.

3rd Row. Beautiful Park.

Bottom: Maggie and her St. Mary's folks, Jack and Michael.  Me and the birthday girl.