Cutest Clutch Ever

This weekend we had our first big party in our new(ish) house. It was really fantastic but somehow I was so involved in being a hostess and checking on Hank (who did not like tons of kids playing with his stuff) that I didn't manage to take a single photo, which I really regret. I especially should have taken photos of how lovely everything looked before everyone arrived. It wasn't really a housewarming since we have been in our home for over a year now but so many of our friends brought us lovely little thoughts and gifts. My favorite was a belated birthday gift from my lovely friend Herran. I have been loving simple clutches for a while now. Clare Vivier makes amazing ones (I am particular to the foldover). My husband got me this amazing one for my birthday a year ago (here is a similar one). The one Herran gave me is from Baggu (pictured above) and it is so chic. I like the round shape. I wish I didn't have such a massive wallet so I could actually fit it into one of these cute clutches. Baggu also makes a really cute drawstring leather bag.

Los Angeles Flower Market

I am not sure how I have survived nearly seven years in Los Angeles without checking this place out. It's amazing.For just two dollars you have access to incredible flowers that are equal to or surpass what you find at the farmer's market. Since this was my first time I tried to take it all in (it spans two enormous buildings). I had plans to view everything and then strategically buy exactly what I needed but I got overwhelmed quickly and just started kamikaze purchasing (not the best strategy). Wow I think I over bought. I was planning on doing maybe five arrangements but I ended up with over ten! I can't recommend checking out this place enough if you live in LA.

Flower arrangement bounty 

Both my mother and grandmother had an incredible gift for arranging flowers. The jury is still out on whether or not I inherited their talents. In all fairness my mom did take a class on Japanese flower arranging. My stuff is well, a work in progress. Here are some pics I snapped of the market and my arrangements.

Looking forward

My husband recently tweeted, "Just killing time before fantasy football gives my life purpose again." He is quite the jokester. Follow him at @mgoldz to see what I mean. I am pretty sure his life isn't utterly meaningless during the off season (although he is in three different fantasy football leagues so it's serious folks). He is just passionate about football and in the almost six years we've spent together a lot of football knowledge has seeped into my brain whether I like it or not. I saw my old friend Claire when I was in Chicago last week. We used to go to lots of shows together back in the day and obsess over boys in bands. Recently we found ourselves talking football (without husbands or boyfriends present). What would our twenty-year-old selves think! They would be shocked. I know Mike loves us and that he is actually ok during football off season, but he is just so passionate about it all. It got me thinking that if I had to come up with my version of fantasy football I think it would be "Downton Abbey." I guess I am just killing time until the next season of Downton. Good thing this trailer was just released. Ugh I am already frustrated that Mary and Matthew are going to have trouble again. I know it is the tension that keeps us watching but really can't we just enjoy them being happy for a bit?

To Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and back again

Hank at Oz Park in Chicago

We are back from an epic week away. We hit four Midwestern states during our visit. It was actually a lot for poor Hank. Sometimes I forgot that non-stop travel is much harder on a little guy. Luckily our time spent with friends and family made the difficult moments well worth it. We are still digesting but here are some of the highlights from our trip:

Checking out the fountain outside of our hotel in Indiana

My two guys at the fountain (seriously Hank's favorite place)

Swimming at the Lake at Blackberry Hollow in Kentucky

Lake Geneva, WI

Hank taking it all in 

Throwing balls into the pool

Hank

Cousins!!!!

Hank at the Chicago Children's Museum 

Midwest Bound

The Lake 

We are off tomorrow to Kentucky for the weekend to a friend's wedding on a farm. There will be bluegrass, bourbon, lake swimming, and lots of a fun. On Sunday Mike travels back to LA for work (boo!) and Hank and I head to Chicago to visit family and meet my brand spanking new nephew. We will end the week in Lake Geneva at my Dad's lake house. I can't wait to catch up with family, grill and relax by the lake. Here are some photos from our last trip to the Lake. They are getting me so excited!

Hank making his way around the lake

watering things

Family Photo by the lake

Hank and His Cousin Dex

The House 

Mike and my brother Evan saying hello to one of the horses

My nephew Dexter, my brother David and my sister Tessa 

See you in a week!

Best Cake Letters Ever

I spotted these amazing cake letters on Design Sponge the other day. You can buy them and other amazing cake decorations at signe sugar. I think they look so good. I am tempted to get them for Hank's 2nd birthday, which is fast approaching and obviously at two he will really appreciate the aesthetics of them. 

Protea

I spotted these gorgeous flowers outside the Big Sur Bakery during our trip upstate recently. There is something really magical about pincushion Protea flowers. We had them in our wedding. They are the official flower of South Africa where we took our honeymoon.

There are all sorts of varieties. They are really amazing flowers. 

You Know Your Life Has Really Changed When.....

At Edendale with Friends Years Ago 

The other night I went to meet a dear friend at a bar we used to frequent a few years back. This place called the Edendale  in Silver Lake. They have a photo booth which is a big plus in my book and they have a huge outdoor area. It's inside a former fire house and the space is great. The food has always been a bit lackluster (yep another friend and I both got food poisoning here a few years back after sharing some dinner) but it's more about the ambiance here than the dinner to be honest. Anyway, I found myself not even being sure of where this place was anymore when we went the other night (and that is crazy because this place was seriously my Regal Beagle for a time). It made me think how much your life can change in just a few short years. Bars are places I just don't really go anymore. It was fun and a bit of a travel back in time to catch up with a lovely friend there. We even stopped into the photo booth at the end of the evening to really make our visit official. I would share the photos here but they were so godawful I wouldn't want to frighten you.