The Waiting Game

still dark outside

What a good sport!

They had a DJ at 7am

popcorn and balloons

My new phone!

I've been multi-tasking on it all day.

Yesterday morning I did something so out of character, I can hardly believe I did it. For those of you who know me, you'll be shocked, maybe even traumatized by this. I woke up at the crack of dawn and waited in line for the iPhone 4g! Let me give you some background information before you make any judgements. I upgraded to the iPhone 3g about a month ago and a week later they announced the 4g. I felt cheated. Why didn't AT&T inform me of this? I was on a mission to make it right. I returned the 3g and went back to my very old phone (we'll call it "Samsung") for a while. But I was quickly reminded why I upgraded in the first place. My Samsung charging port doesn't work well and the battery dies within minutes of talk time. I was literally attached the the wall every time I used the phone. On a separate note, I get up at 4:30am every morning anyway, so I figured why not get up an hour earlier and go get the iPhone? To top it off, I asked Gabe if he'd join me and he said yes without hesitation! What a wonderful husband, right? So we woke up at 3:30am, got ready for work and headed over the the AT&T store by 4 o'clock. There were only 5 people ahead of us! Gabe and I drank our coffee, did some reading, and chatted for 3 hours until the store opened and I was out of there within 20 minutes. SCORE! Adios Samsung, I've moved on.

Hot Chocolate on a Stick

The recipe called for semi-sweet, but I used milk chocolate instead.

making the fudge

the marshmallow block




the final product

Sarah introduced me to this recipe for Hot Chocolate on a Stick over the holidays and it's taken me this long to try it. They turned out so cute and delicious, I was kicking myself for not making them sooner! The recipe was easier than I expected and the finished product looked adorable. I've never made homemade marshmallows before and they were surprisingly simple to make and incomparably more delicious than their Kraft counterpart (especially when paired with the homemade fudge). I'll definitely make this recipe again soon. It's the perfect dessert to bring to a party because they're bite size and easy to transport.

Statement Necklaces

1. Kate Spade Short Faceted Stone Necklace $195
2. Forever 21 Jeweled Damsel Necklace $9.80

3. Hive and Honey Multi Link Bib $28

4. Madewell Crystal Collage Bib Necklace $88

5. Hive and Honey Bullet Drop Necklace $32

6. Hive and Honey Cluster Necklace $58

I've recently been drawn to necklaces that make a statement. I love wearing them with an otherwise simple outfit to add a bit of character to my ensemble. I recently bought #2 at Forever 21 and have been wearing it with white tees and simple skirts for a fun/easy summery look. How do you wear statement necklaces?

Chicken Piccata

I used Giada's Chicken Piccata recipe last night and it was fabulous! I had never made chicken piccata before and it turned out perfectly although I didn't think the pictures quite did it justice. Giada's cookbooks have become my go-to for fresh, easy Italian meals. I also roasted some potatoes and made Broccoli slaw with toasted almonds (one of the few ways I can get Gabe to eat broccoli). I used this recipe from Smitten Kitchen, but substitute broccoli for the zucchini. I would probably love it with zucchini too, but the fist time I was buying the ingredients to make it, I accidentally bought broccoli instead. We loved it so much, I just stuck with it. What are your favorite cookbooks for weeknight dinners?

The Perfect Nude Pump

1. Christian Louboutin Double Platform Pump $775
2. Giuseppe Zanotti Nude Patent Court shoes $342 (sale)
3. Joan and David Flipp Pumps $200

4. Stuart Weitzman Platswoon Pump $298

5. Charles David Jocelyn Peep Toe Platform Pump $274.95

6. BCBGeneration Tinas Platform Pump $98.95

I've been searching for the perfect pair of nude pumps for at least a few years now. So when Marcie from Lemons and Laundry tagged me for Shoe Love, it couldn't have come at a better time. Thanks Marcie! I decided to incorporate my obsession with nude pumps into the tag. Maybe I'm too particular or maybe they don't exist, but I've struggled to find my ideal pair for way too long. The ideal pair for me would be a pale nude (similar to #2) with a platform (#1) in a soft leather (not patent, why are all nude pumps patent??) possibly with a peep toe (although not a prerequisite). Has anyone seen these anywhere? The Charles David shoe looks like the closest match to what I want. I'm tagging anyone/everyone who wants to participate and post their list of current shoe favorites. What shoes are you obsessing over right now?

Beach Day

Forever 21 Knit Stripes Dress $14.90

Aldo Petigny Handbag $38.00

Forever 21 Maestro Wrap Sandals $15.80

Forever 21 Gold Aviators $5.80

Aldo Larrow Watch $35.00

Topshop Dome Flower Ring $40.00

During the summer months, I spend many weekend days at the beach with friends. We like to load up our magazines, books, snacks, games, surfboards, etc. and head to the sand for a full day of friends, sunshine, and fun. I usually like to wear clothes that are comfortable, casual, and inexpensive (since many outfits are ruined after their interaction with the sand and sunscreen). This grey dress was the perfect combination of all my beach day requirements! I also have been loving the grey and yellow color combination lately, so this yellow bag seemed like the perfect way to complete the outfit. What do you usually wear to the beach?

Honeymoon Dress

Julie Brown maxi dress, Bernardo sandals, Forever 21 clutch, Gorjana ring, Michael Kors watch

I know you've seen bits and pieces of this dress, but with the time I've spent wearing it in the last two years, I felt it was only write to honor it with an entire post. I bought it right before we got married over two years ago. It was one of many dresses I bought for my honeymoon, but this was the only one that needed a justification based on the price. I have to say, I've worn this dress more times than I could imagine, possibly more than I've worn anything else I've ever owned. I definitely think I got my money's worth and continue to love it, always feel comfortable and stylish when I wear it, and I can't see that ending anytime soon. As I said before here, I adore maxi dresses for their comfort and easy style and I'm so happy they're still around for another summer!

Buy This, Not That

Forever 21 Hampton's Linen Dress $24.80

Theory Carita W Dress with Belt $325.00

This dress combines two of my new favorite trends- the shirt dress and the military look. Genius! I just ordered the Forever 21 dress and am patiently waiting it's arrival. What do you think of the military look? Which dress would you choose?

Free Advice

As I was leaving the beach on Sunday, I noticed this "situation" in between the sand and Casa Del Mar. I couldn't help myself, I had to walk up to them and ask what they were doing (and of course take a few pictures). They said they didn't have any special training, they were just two people giving their opinion on anything anyone asked. Come again? So you mean to tell me, you're just sitting here, getting asked questions by strangers, giving your advice, and they're TAKING IT??? I couldn't believe it. When I asked them why, they said "because it's fun". Well, I guess everyone gets their kicks in different ways, but this wouldn't exactly be my idea of fun. Not to mention, who would want to be advised by two random middle-aged men (with no special training), sitting on the Santa Monica beach? As I moved on with my day, I couldn't help but wonder, what makes advice valuable to people. Is it a reliable source? A masters degree in psychology? Or is it just a friendly face offering you something for free? What do you think? Would you take advice from these guys?

On a separate note, Fabsugar featured me again yesterday as their "Look of the Day"! Read their post here. I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

Santa Monica Pier

Ella Moss dress, Frye sandals, Ray-Ban Sunglasses, H&M belt

I've been dying to take trapeze lessons for a while now. I'm hoping to finally do it sometime this summer.



I love dippin dots

As I mentioned earlier this week, I spent Saturday at an event on the Santa Monica pier with friends. It was warm and sunny and I was delighted to spend the day outdoors. The pier is just a few blocks from where I live, so I was able to walk over and take full advantage of the sunshine. We did all the touristy pier activities (games, rides, cotton candy, etc) and fully enjoyed our day as tourists in our own city.