Tag Archives: birthdays

celebrating my momma’s bday…

28 Sep

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My momma’s birthday always feels like the kick-off for the upcoming celebratory season. Her birthday, September 24th falls the day after the first day of fall- my absolute favorite time of year. Even though it’s usually still unbearably hot in Los Angeles on her birthday I am in full fall mode.

Her lovely friends Mary & Francesca hosted a casual dinner for fourteen of us to celebrate her birthday. I am a fan of celebrating my mom because she is hands down one of my favorite people to walk the earth. She’s full of so much joy, love and laughter. She’s the kind of person you want to be stuck in a room with for hours. She’s just fun.

We feasted on a Moroccan chicken dish, roasted veggies, an arugula salad & a fruit salad while sitting outside in the garden. After dinner we moved into the living room to eat dessert (the most delectable bread pudding I have ever tasted) while watching her open gifts.

It was the kind of evening that left me heart feeling full.

Happy Birthday to my beautiful Momma.

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july 4th weekend

6 Jul

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July 4th weekend did not disappoint this year. I spent most of it at the beach and eating tasty food- both favorite pastimes of mine. I started the weekend off right by taking Frankie for a three-mile walk Friday morning. We start every day with a long walk actually- it’s our thing. I’ve become rather attached to the routine of it. It throws my whole day off if I can’t make it work for some reason! We explore different streets, houses and alleys each day. Frank is a pup who appreciates a new tree to pee on and I am more than happy to comply. After our walk I met a girlfriend for a juice date at Kreation. I opted not to get a healthy green juice and instead ordered a chailicious smoothie. It was to die for- like sipping dessert through a straw. Then I met my mom and my brother for lunch at Back On The Beach to celebrate my birthday a few days early with them. The food isn’t mind-blowing but the restaurant overlooks the ocean and your table is literally on the sand so it makes up for it. After lunch my mom and I headed down to the water for a few hours (we couldn’t convince Nik to join us though). It was a cloudy afternoon so instead of sunbathing and swimming like we had planned we spent most of the time lying on a blanket fully clothed chatting. When I got home Brian made us dinner on the grill- cilantro lime chicken, zucchini and sweet potatoes.

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back on the beach

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Nik looking dapper in my moms hat and my sunglasses

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we worked hard to get this selfie

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I know I’m biased but he’s the cutest griller I ever did see

On Saturday, after sleeping in and drinking copious amounts of coffee in bed, we packed up the car and headed to the beach to meet some friends. It was packed with happy people as far as the eye could see celebrating the holiday. Luckily, the sun was actually out this time and I proceeded to spend the next few hours working on my tan, reading magazines and swimming in the sea. I haven’t swam in the ocean since we were in Bali for our honeymoon over a year ago. I almost forgot how invigorating the salty water can be. After the beach we debated going to a party with our friends but decided a quiet night at home was more our speed. We are getting old, huh?!? So we (Brian) grilled yet again and had a picnic on our coffee table so we could watch a movie (we watched The Judge – meh) while eating dinner. Around 9pm (with ten minutes left to spare in the movie of course) the loud pops began so we grabbed Frank (who was totally freaked out by the commotion) and headed up to the roof to take in the firework show across the city.

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clearly, not impressed with July 4th

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July 4th at Santa Monica beach

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lunch at the beach

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our picnic dinner

On Sunday we spent most of the day doing things around the house. There is nothing that brings me more joy than organizing my home. I know…I really am getting old. In the evening we hosted my Dad and Pamela for dinner to celebrate Pamela’s birthday. That’s another thing that brings me great joy…hosting dinner parties. Especially to celebrate ones I love. Brian and I made salmon, corn on the cob (with cilantro lime butter- with a pinch of lemon zest) and potato salad. I also baked a vanilla cake with fresh strawberries on top for dessert.

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chubby paws

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very busy at work making potato salad

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ever hopeful that something might drop…

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Happy Birthday Pamela!! (please excuse the weird face I am making)

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mi familia

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love

the end.

“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”
Omar Khayyam

 

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oh, hello

26 Feb

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Oh, hello there. Sorry I have been MIA the last week. My excuses are as follows…last week was a beyond shitty week. I got some disappointing & surprising news from one of my work accounts and it made everything feel difficult. It put me in a total tailspin. Then Brian had to leave town for a work trip to Oregon and Frank  behaved extra bratty while he was gone making the week feel even harder and making it feel impossible to do anything. Luckily, my other excuse for being absent is a good one…we spent four days in Sedona, AZ with some friends. It was exactly what the doctor ordered. I needed a little break from my everyday life (Frank included) and some R & R. I spent the four days either sleeping (I was the first one in bed every night), eating (I was on a Mexican food tour), drinking (prickly pear margaritas or white wine), hot tubbing & reading (I cannot get enough of the Goldfinch). Thankfully, I came back from the trip feeling lighter and more positive. With age I am learning to ride out the shitty days and weeks knowing from experience everything changes and usually rather quickly.

I know it’s only Wednesday and things could take a turn for the worse but this week has been a good one. Not only because I’m feeling more positive but also because today is Brian’s birthday and I can’t really be in a bad mood when it’s the love of my life’s birthday.

Happy Birthday to my favorite human. You make my world a happier place and I am so grateful for all that you do.  I couldn’t love you more and I am so happy you were born.

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happy birthday baby bro

22 Apr

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My little brother turns 18 today, which is just crazy to me! Where did the time go? I feel like it was just yesterday that he came home from the hospital. I’m so proud of the man he’s becoming. He’s wickedly talented, driven and smart. He’s also the most kind-hearted guy in the world. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for him next.

Love you, Nikster. Thanks for bringing me so much joy these last eighteen years!

Here’s the “People That I love” post I wrote about him…

When I was 12 years old, my mom dropped a bomb on me- I was going to become a sister. What? But I like being the only child I wanted to scream! Why didn’t anybody run this by me first?! Once I did come to terms with the fact that a baby was coming into my life and that  sadly it wouldn’t be all about me anymore, I started to get excited!! A baby was coming to live with us! What a novelty. None of my  friends were getting new babies in their families (it’s most definitely a perk to divorce and 2nd marriages) and I felt pretty special!!

I remember the day he was born like it was yesterday. He was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen and I immediately fell in love with him. He was mine! He was my brother and I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. My mother wanted to name him Harry- I thought that was a terrible idea. Harry?? I didn’t like the idea of having a brother named Harry (ugh the problems of a 12-year-old). It wasn’t in my plan so I told her I thought he should be named Nikolas because I thought he looked like a Nikolas. I must have been pretty convincing because I got my way. Enter in Nikolas….aka Nikster.

Over the last 17 years, Nik has gone from being my cute little brother with crazy gorgeous curls, who had crushes on my girlfriends and a thing for belly buttons, dinosaurs, airplanes and yugioh cards, to one of my best friends. Seriously, this kid is interesting- way more interesting than most 17 year olds. He’s so smart, creative, witty and funny. I am constantly wowed by him. Talk about talented- Nik is amazing with a camera. He’s been making films for years and most recently created his own youtube channel for his funny videos. One of them has over a million views! How crazy is that- my brother is a you tube star. But it’s not the numbers that impress me most but rather his drive. Nik is the most driven and talented kid I know.

I feel lucky to be his sister. My life is richer because of him. I think he knows that I would do anything for him. I would drive to the ends of the earth to make his dreams come true because I take being his sister very seriously.

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11- Palm Springs for my 30th? Yes please.

27 Jun

The word on the street is Brian and I are going to Palm Springs for my birthday weekend. Brian asked me a few weeks ago what I wanted to do to celebrate the big 3-0 and without hesitation, my answer was…”get out-of-town”. If you can’t tell I am a huge fan of “getting out-of-town”. I vacation well. I also hate birthday parties so I would like to avoid one at all costs. They are simply too much for me to handle- too many expectations to manage (I highly enjoy other people’s parties, so please don’t stop inviting me!) and considering I’m not quite sure how I am going to respond to this whole turning thirty thing just yet, I thought it was best to be away…with my loved one…and cocktails.

When I told Brian my idea, he happily agreed (luckily, he’s a huge fan of getting out-of-town as well) and planned a little weekend trip for us! Yes he’s a keeper. He also decided to keep the location a surprise. A surprise?! But I hate surprises. UGH.

I put on my detective hat and used some deductive reasoning to figure out we were either driving to Santa Barbara, San Diego, Palm Springs or Ojai. It wasn’t hard because there are only so many places you can drive to for a weekend trip from LA. I also know that Brian knows me well enough by now not to take me to Big Bear or Joshua Tree for my birthday. Yes, there would be tears.

Over the last few weeks Sir Brian has done a very good job keeping the location a secret from me. Trust me I can be a little pushy, but he hasn’t cracked under the pressure. He was winning this whole “surprise” thing. That was until we had dinner with his parents Saturday night and his Dad mentioned my 30th birthday and our impeding trip to…PALM SPRINGS! Poor Steve. He felt horrible but in all fairness (seriously, Steve) I had a feeling we were going to Palm Springs. As I said, I also hate surprises- so thanks, Steve. You saved me a lot of grief! Now I can just focus on what bikinis to pack!

I’m a huge fan desert heat, pools, cocktails, vintage shopping and sleep so this is going to be the perfect way to welcome in the thirties. Thanks, Bri-guy!

How do you guys like to celebrate your birthdays?

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3 Apr

20 things that have been making me happy…

1. this quote- “Those who don’t believe in magic, will never find it.” Ronald Dahl

2. celebrating Papa Irv’s birthday 

3. not getting out of my pajama’s all day on saturday- I even went to whole foods in them (I wish I was kidding).

4. mint colored nails 

5. vietnamese food (I’m in love with you papaya salad)

6. 64 ways to turn an ordinary day in to an extraordinary one (Putting this up in my house)

7. Greenbean (my friend not the food)

8. when out of nowhere Brian said to me “I just  really like being with you”

9. ordering my new road trip inspiration book “Blue Highways”

10. sharing a laugh with the barista at starbucks. (I’m a fan of a good laugh with a stranger)

11. talking through the chaos with Rachel

12. realizing today that we leave for our road trip in one week.

13. hot showers on a cold afternoon

14. a crisp glass of rose

15. working on a guest post for Well In LA (I just love Erin!)

16. the breeze on my face

17. feeling healthy

18. The sound you heard this morning (dooce always cracks me up)

19. lite candles while writing

20. when I was falling asleep the other night I had this overwhelming sense of gratitude for everything…my life..Brian..family…health…friends…creativity. It was truly overwhelming. It centered me and I realized if I attained none of my goals this year I would still be lucky.

NOW FOR MY FAVORITE QUESTION OF THE WEEK- WHAT”S BEEN MAKING YOU GUYS HAPPY RECENTLY?? 

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