Weekend Recap

i kicked off the weekend first thing Saturday morning by making this delicious baked french toast. i think it was a hit (and made for even better leftovers later on that evening!).

after dinner at my favorite mexican joint, we enjoyed the warm summer evening and walked around downtown. i love all of the little quaint store fronts and could window shop there for hours on end.

spent lots of time lounging in my parents backyard - so very relaxing and just what i needed :). oh and i finished this book and absolutely loved it.

over coffee with my best friend Sunday morning, she asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding (i obviously said YES!!).

enjoyed a home-cooked meal with my whole family. followed by some frozen yogurt for dessert. 

p.s. how cute is my mom's table?!

this long weekend was just what i needed: a much needed break, time for relaxation and rejuvenation. away from the hustle and bustle, a chance to shift through my thoughts, and dreams, and goals. i absolutely adore spending time with my family and feel so lucky to be able to just hop on a short, hour long flight and be home so quickly and easily. now its back to LA... where i was greeted this morning with a bright, clear blue sky and a warm, sunny morning. this week's going to be a good one! xo.

{Photos: my iPhone}

lavender and lemonade

two of summer's simplest and sweetest pleasures: lavender and lemonade.

bought a huge bunch of lavender at trader joe's last week and made little bunches tied together with twine to spruce up a couple little corners of our apartment!

tried a delicious turkey burger at this farmer's market staple and enjoyed ed & pete's lemonade for the first time... so refreshing on a hot summer day.

what are some of your summer-time favorites?

simply the best

fresh cherries. juicy grapes. crackers and cheese. garlicky bruschetta. and a little glass of refreshing white wine.

sometimes unwinding around a table full of tasty food, surrounded by sweet friends is simply the best. it's refreshing and comforting all at the same time. oh, and the laughter. that's wonderful, too.

Photos: My iPhotos

Real Simple, really.

In the middle of the week, it’s pretty darn nice to take a few moments every so often, to just sit back and tackle that stack of magazines (while also enjoying some fancy frozen waffles with fruit and powdered sugar for dinner, of course!). Because sometimes, these simple, quiet moments of escape can be truly refreshing. And who doesn’t love reading Real Simple cover to cover?

Photos: my iPhotos

Stella Rossa Pizza Bar

Located in the heart of twinkle light-lined Main Street... yes, please! Artisan style pizzas made with organic, locally grown ingredients from the Santa Monica farmer's market... yes and yes! Looking forward to a date tonight with K at Stella Rossa Pizza Bar to celebrate our anniversary :)

all images via here

Chicago

Last month, I visited Chicago for the first time and it was amazing!!! We had an absolute blast, saw so many of the beautiful sites, enjoyed great food with our dear friends, got to catch up with one of my best friends from college, and completely lucked out with crisp but clear and sunny weather. Chicago has now become one of my favorite cities. I can't wait to go back :)

Lately

A few snapshots of the things that have been keeping me busy the past couple of weeks!

1. the months seem to be flying by... turned my desk calendar to this cute print last week.

2. k and I enjoyed tasting these mini cupcakes from Crumbs Bake Shop this past weekend as we sat outside and enjoyed the people-watching at the Grove

3. one funny barista at the Nordie's Cafe called my name when our drinks were ready, yelling out "rachel" and "rachel's man". too much!

4. had a blast and enjoyed so many laughs this past weekend with this adorable couple (our dear friends we went to high school with) visiting from SF :)

5. fall tulips (one of my favorite flowers!) brightening up my kitchen

6. two scoops for me, one for k - delicious Baskin Robbins ice cream date!

Back very soon with some new, fun posts!!

Half Day Cafe

One of our favorite breakfast, brunch, and lunch places, the Half Day Cafe is our go-to "spot" with my Nonni and my Grandpa to enjoy a delicious yogurt parfait or short stack of pancakes. Both the cozy booths and tables inside as well as the adorable patio are usually packed (a tell tale sign that the the place is great!), the menu has lots to choose from, and its the perfect place to enjoy a hot cup of coffee or iced tea with our grandparents, cousins, and aunts :)

(Now Beppo Boy, don't get me wrong, it's no Willie's Cafe, but it works for us now!)



via HalfDayCafe.com



Keep Calm and Call Mom

After enjoying a long weekend at home to celebrate my Mom's birthday (which is today!! Happy, happy 30th birthday Momma! haha.) I thought it was only fitting to share a few of the highlights, festivities and treats from my wonderful weekend up north.

After raising 3 kids, we thought my mom would get a good laugh out of this inappropriately hysterical "children's" book written for parents everywhere.
via Amazon.com

For my two brothers and I, this sure rings true! We thought my mom would like a cute print of this hanging somewhere in the house.
via Etsy.com  

To truly celebrate my mom's birthday, after opening a few birthday presents, we enjoyed a delicious lemon meringue tart (my momma's favorite!). YUM.

Of course, the weekend was also busy watching my brother's football team win their game Saturday morning (and cheering excitedly when Char scored a touchdown!!!), Charlie and I enjoying a cozy dinner here with my Nonni, Grandpa, and Aunt V, and making a delicious batch of sticky rice krispy treats.

Have a great week!

Mason Jars

I can't begin to describe my current obsession with mason jars. Not only are they so cute and pretty cheap (check out these from Cost Plus World Market), they can be used in a variety of decorative, design, and do-it-yourself ways!

* Cupcake Mason Jar - whip up your favorite batter and frosting, cut cupcakes in half, and finish off with a bow and a spoon. How great for a birthday celebration?!

* Soap Dispenser Mason Jar - an easy and economical DIY gift idea

* Pink Lemonade Mason Jar - serve with a slice of fresh lemon and you're ready for a fun outdoor party

* Orzo Pasta Salad Mason Jar - the perfect summer side for a BBQ

* Floating Candles Mason Jar - fill with water and a simple votive candle and you have a beautiful center piece or accent

Bar Toscana

Last week we helped our friend Eve celebrate her birthday at Bar Toscana. It's warm atmosphere was intriguing and inviting, while the menu's light, Italian-style tapas and exotic drinks were fun and delicious to share with friends.

My favorite dish, the Stuzzichino Toscana or "deconstructed pizza", was so cute. Served on a wood platter with a tiny little jar and miniature serving spoon of tomato jam, a heaping mound of burrata, and crispy pepperoni with italian bread toast.

"deconstructed pizza" via @LayneSwanson

The prosciutto, imported from Italy, was absolutely to die for. You have to try the Cinque Terra cocktail, too, an interesting combination of gin, strawberries, mint and basil with fresh lime and agave nectar. Needless to say, I will be back!