The Life of a Dress

Palm Springs, 1980

I have never had to go far or pay a penny to get awesome vintage dresses that fit me to a T... I simply  go into my mom's closet. Not only am I thankful for the mom I have because she always has my back, is the most caring and empathetic person I have ever met, is fun to hang out with, and truly is one of my very best friends, but she had the foresight to save all her favorite clothes from her twenties to one day give to me. The picture above is my mom looking super hot on her honeymoon, and below is me on my honeymoon, 30 years later, in the very same dress. Knowing how much I have loved having my mom's previous favorites for my own enjoyment, I have been keeping an archive of my own greatest hits to give my future daughter. I hope she will be as excited about her loot as I was with mine (and better yet, I hope she can wear this dress on her honeymoon and keep the tradition going). Thank you Mom! xoxo

Positano, 2010

Gettin' Girly

Parker Sequin Jacket that I scored for 90 bucks

It has been almost 3 and a half years since I first moved in with my husband (then boyfriend). After all this time I still have to stop myself from buying overly feminine things for our house. Occasionally though he agrees on a girly home accent, and when he doesn't I can always slip them into my jewelry box or closet. Here are my latest purchases that say sugar and spice.

Spike the Punch Necklace

Aperitif Glasses from Pottery Barn

One of my favorite little vases and vintage shelf

Sloth

Summer is officially over which means that the Fall television season has officially begun. This also means that I will turn into a sloth most weeknights after 8 o'clock. Notice I haven't posted much this week? Well I was watching Dancing with the Stars (both episodes-see yah Metta!) and all the Wednesday night comedies on ABC (I love you Modern Family),  heck I even  stuck around for Revenge, that is until I fell asleep on the couch. Tonight marks the two hour premiere of Grey's Anatomy, and Sunday night I will be watching Desperate Housewives (even though I haven't liked that show for 3 years I still watch every-single-episode, why do I do that?). Anyway I would like to formally say farewell to my evenings of projects and productivity and welcome back to all my favorite shows! Which will you be glued to?

                               

A Meal in 30 Minutes

Next time I'll wipe the plate so this looks more pro

Like every other red blooded American fifty-something, I have a subscription to Good Housekeeping... and I love it.  When I read magazines targeted to my age group they don't have adds for mayo in them so this was a real treat. Honestly when I saw the page below I thought how disgusting it sounded, mayonnaise on chicken with a company logo I associate with soap, but then I thought that it sounded easy, and easy trumps gross so I gave it a try. If you need to make a fulfilling dinner in less time than it takes you to watch an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians give this recipe a try. Add some sauteed veggies and Trader Joe's orzo and rice pilaf and you got yourself a speedy crowd pleaser. 

It's Business...Cards

Above I present to you my new blogger business card that I am oh so happy with. Next time I am asked the name of my blog I can pass this along instead of just saying it aloud and hoping the person remembers. I ordered these at pinhole press where they are marketed as calling cards for children's play dates. Maybe I will also end up using them to schedule the adult version of the play date- happy hour.

Little Things

Sparkling water in champagne flutes makes me feel fancy-even in sweats

 Friday night to Sunday afternoon the hubs and I were certifiable hermits. The only time I left our apartment during that period was to take out the trash and do a load of laundry. Even though we didn't see the light of day there was plenty in our home to keep up busy and happy. We rented Win Win, which we both really liked (that doesn't happen often so I recommend it wholeheartedly), ordered in delicious Thai, and I got a package from Amazon to keep me entertained...not to mention our whole house is spotless (another Win Win-ha!). Here are a few more things that kept our recluse weekend bright.

$4 of TJs gladiolas brighten the entry way        

my new kitschy camera case

Can't wait to read this cover to cover

Assembling my shopping list now

        

Fashion's Night Out

Last night I celebrated San Francisco's edition of Fashion's Night Out with my friend Romy. We spent our evening shop-hopping around Union Square: scoping out styles for fall, stylish people watching, drinking champagne, and getting oh so excited when ever we got our picture taken and then had to speak our names into the camera (and not a video camera either, a still camera-have you experienced this technology?).  Here are a few snaps from the night at Neimans, Macys, Saks, and Gucci.

Us and a dapper model

Table scape at Macys

Beautiful water at Neiman Marcus

SFs most fashionable politico

View from Saks

Gucci Mane

Gilt City photo booth at Neimans

The Teeniest Tiniest Meal I Have Ever Had

The piece de resistance

Sunday night we celebrated our actual anniversary with what was supposed to be a big fancy dinner...the  place itself was lovely but the only thing big about our meal was the bill. We dined at the 3 star Michelin rated restaurant at Meadowood, where we had met the head chef before here. We decided to go all out and order his tasting menu which came with about 10 different tastes. That term taste was more literal than I could have ever imagined. Everything we were served was literally gone in a bite and we quickly figured out why rich people aren't fat.  We were going with the flow and pretending like we understood why our portions were microscopic until we were served what we will fondly refer to as "the cereal" pictured above. To put that photo into perspective, the glass is about 3 inches tall and that bowl contains four, that's right 4, fancy corn flakes. Once we had that in front of us the jig was up, we couldn't keep a straight face (nor could the couple next to us). We had an extremely memorable night where we had a lot of laughs and learned to never ever order the chef's tasting menu again.

Labor of Love Day Weekend

I always get excited when I see our names written like this

So I guessed correctly! This weekend the hubs whisked me away to Napa...but it was even more amazing than I thought it could be .We stayed at the lovely Meadowood; there we dined, both in-suite and in the fancy pants restaurant (photo above and more on that tomorrow), swam, tanned, got spa services (my very first facial!) and just thoroughly enjoyed each other and the grounds. The best part is that my love planned everything, and to a T! Great job baby!  We only left the property to go wine tasting (and one of the only times I had my camera on me), so here is a quick look at the adventures of us being winos. 

On the beautiful grounds of Frias winery...it's hidden but if you can find it GO!

Anniversary Number One Part II

September 4, 2010

As I mentioned last week, last year I was lucky enough to have two weddings. This Sunday we celebrate our second first anniversary. Our civil wedding was the most romantic day of my life and our big reception was hands down the most fun. All our favorite people, a beautiful venue, DJ and an open bar...how could we not have had a complete blast. This weekend my wonderful husband is treating me to a surprise getaway to celebrate...but considering he told me that a certain dress would be perfect for our dinner in Napa, I think I just might have figured it out. Hope you have a fabulous long weekend while I head out to my "surprise" destination:) Thank you for a perfect first year Ofilio! xoxoxo

All photos by Lisa Farrer

A Walk in the Heights

View From Alta Plaza Park

San Francisco summers are not like summer at all. When I come home from work, I cross the Golden Gate Bridge to typically enter a sea of fog. Some days though we get lucky and the sky is as clear in SF as it is in Marin; when this happens I have no excuse to not get out of my house and go for a little walk. Below are some of the beautiful sites and homes from a jaunt through my neighborhood, Pacific Heights. With its steep hills, breathtaking views and Fillmore Street to boot, it is one of my favorite places in the city. A few blocks away from us live some of the country's richest people in some of the grandest mansions, with this in mind I found $20 on the street as opposed to the typical quarter; and some CEO must have left her purse open because I  I found another twenty 6 feet from the first! Thanks for the charity neighbors, I've got to go for walks more often!