Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my birthday!  Alas, I am holed up at the office (7 more working days of tax season...) but I celebrated over the weekend by getting my nails done, enjoying a delicious Indian dinner with friends (which is exactly what I did last year!) and then dancing the night away.  I was so lucky to have my best friend in town for a second year in a row (I'm so spoiled now) and it really made everything extra special.  

 Tonight J and I are going to a nice dinner and then I hope to stay awake long enough to relax at home!  These looooooong, looooooong work weeks + workouts + sleepless nights have officially caught up to me and you can tell by my blog.  I hope to be back soon, friends.  I don't like that work consumes my life and leaves me with little energy to do much else.

And since it's Tuesday... how about one of my favorite songs for my birthday:


"...Oh, it doesn't mean much... it doesn't mean anything at all... and sweet surrender, is all that I have to give..."

Award Winner!

Earlier in the month I was given an award (the Liebster Blog Award!) by a fellow blogger, Lisa, of Lisa Graham Art.  Her art is colorful, quirky, and inspired - I enjoy seeing her new creations!  


This award is a way to spread awareness about smaller blogs that are still worth checking out.  Here's how this works:


Liebster is a German word meaning "dearest" and the award is given to bloggers with fewer than 200 followers.  The award has a few stipulations:

1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
2. Reveal your five blogger picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
4. Hope that people you have sent the award to forward it on to their favorite bloggers.

And the award goes to...

lemabean.

20 Something and Striving

In the belly of the fish...

the homely place

BollyInStyle

I love all these blogs and am honored to spread the love!

Engaged

I was truly humbled and so flattered to be asked by my friend, Laura, to shoot her engagement pictures for her and her new fiance!  How exciting!  And I must admit I am a bit nervous - I want their photos to be perfect and beautiful.  We were hoping for sunshine this weekend and it looks like we'll get it (knock on wood)!  I have a feeling this will be a special experience for all of us!

I'm sharing some of my favorite shots from our engagement shoot (almost two years ago - CRAZY!).

By the way, we decided to have our photos taken at the university we attended.  It just so happens that's where we met!

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is one of my very favorite holidays and I always look forward to dressing up and decorating!  Here are a few snapshots from our party and our festive weekend.  It was my first time dressing up as a witch and James went as The Spirit.  There were spooky bats and pumpkin cupcakes and spidery ice cubes, oh my!  Even Fox dressed up as Skele-pup!


What is your favorite Halloween costume?

Happy Halloween!

The Getty (Part One)

I didn't realize how much I love the Getty until I returned with James.  The last time I'd visited was just about 10 years ago (whoa...)!

The location is breathtaking on top of the hills, overlooking the city below and the ocean beyond.  Over the city the sun feels bright and pure and the reflection off of the glowing white buildings is mesmerizing.  I could stay up there for hours.  How cool it would be to work at the Getty!

Oh, that lawn!  My idea of heaven would be to grab an easy book, lean against the bright, warm wall, and soak up that golden LA sun!


It was a perfectly spent afternoon!

Lovely Los Angeles

I love visiting my best friend Michelle in Los Angeles.  Luckily for me it is an easy 6 hour drive south (or 1 hour flight!).  We haven't lived in the same city since high school so our visits are really special.  This time James came with me to see Michelle perform in the Hollywood Fringe Festival - she was GREAT!  

Her theater company is located in Hollywood, of course, so we poked around the neighborhood and after her show we jetted off into the hills to drive on the (in)famous Mulholland Drive.  We were awarded with spectacular views of downtown Los Angeles!  And as far as the eye/smog could go!  

It truly was so much fun being a tourist in a city I've visited countless times.  I'll continue to share our adventures as the week unfolds!

Happy Fourth!

Happy 4th of July!  Stay safe!

*This photo was taken two years ago on the 4th.  Such a fun holiday!

A Coastal Wedding

The weekend before last James and I dressed up, packed into the car and headed to the coast for our friends' seaside wedding.  What a beautiful drive it was through the farm lands in the rolling green hills to the foggy cliffside where the ceremony took place. 

I really enjoy visiting the ocean and we are so lucky to live only a couple hours away.  Enjoying the sea air and views reminds me to slow down and enjoy.  It also reminds me of how much I love the beach and I'd like to plan a fun day trip and a picnic before the summer ends!

The sun came out just in time for the reception!  Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Brown!


And a special Happy Birthday to my great friend Elham!

We're Off!

"No journey carries one far unless, as it extends into the world around us, it goes an equal distance into the world within."  [Lillian Smith]


We are embarking on a mini roadtrip down to Southern California later this afternoon to visit my best friend!  It's been awhile since James and I had a roadtrip so I'm looking forward to spending the time with him.

Happy Friday!