[This one goes out to Domineau.]

...who is transitioning from one amazing life opportunity to something {hopefully} even better.

source





Or at least, in the words of the great Kelly Cutrone, "if you have to cry, go outside."





So proud of you, roomie!

[i miss this city.]

I've only been back in D.C. a few days, but I already miss this beautiful city. The architecture, the colors, the palm trees, the views, the cool nights... I'm sort of starting to come to terms with the reality that I most likely won't end up back in L.A., at least not permanently, so every time I'm home I try to make sure to take a few more photos of things I love there. This weekend, I grabbed shots of The Getty (best views *and* decorative arts collection in LA), the Bruin theater in Westwood (where I've gone to movies since I was 2 and where they hold all the Hollywood red carpet premiers), the 405 (on which I've spent many an afternoon happily car singing in traffic), and the UCLA track (where we always go on Sunday evening family runs) (I walk).

L.A., you will always have my heart.

[baked and wired.]

If you haven't yet had treats from Baked and Wired, go go GO! I basically can't toodle around Georgetown without stopping here and grabbing a cupcake or cookie (or both, let's be honest...).

Plus, there's a fun chalkboard wall, perfect backdrop for photoshoots of boyfriends and shoesies.

[secret new york weekend.]

So it turns out that if I don't return to civilization at least once every few months, I start to get a little antsy in my pantsy. Chad and I have never done New York together, so we (I) decided that for his last free weekend of the summer (because he has Little League...don't even get me started), we'd go up for a city quickie. I love going back, especially because it usually means I get to see all of my besties (including loves I've been friends with since kindergarten), but that also means I typically spend all my time there running from playdate to playdate. This weekend, we decided to keep our New York trip quiet so that we'd be able to spend the time having fun together, rather than seeing every single person Milan loves. It sort of broke my heart a little to be in the same city as my lovies without seeing them, but it really was such a nice chance to frolic around the city with my boy.

We toodled around Soho and ate and shopped and did nothing much in particular, except the two highlights of the trip (for me anyway), showing Chad around Columbia and seeing The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. Chad had of course seen Columbia a few times--he even got into grad school there, though he didn't end up attending (yet?). {Can you imagine? If he had gone there, we would have met years ago, but I would have had a boyfriend whom I loved very much, and Chad and I would never have been us...an inspired decision, obviously. ;)} But it was so fun showing him my Columbia--my freshman dorm, the deli I frequented at 3 a.m., the roof I climbed on that one stupid night...and he was very patient and humored me by appearing interested in everything I showed him. (...which means I have to do the same when he shows me BYU...whomp whomp.) Chad had also seen The Phantom of the Opera, but he knew it had been a dream of mine to see it on Broadway since I was a little girl, so he took me. I may have gotten a little emotional in the show, and if he had asked, I would have told him it was because of the story line. In reality, though, I was sitting there thinking, "Look at that boy sitting next to me, literally making my dreams come true..."

Gross. Anyway. We also visited other wonderful places I love, like Strand and Taschen and Topshop and Central Park, and of course we ate well--hello, Norma's. And then after attending church, which was randomly star-studded, Mormon-style (oh hey, L. Tom Perry, Quentin L. Cook, and Sen. Harry Reid), we hopped a bus back to D.C., and that was the end. I've now shown Chad both of my homes, LA and Manhattan. Next month, he'll be showing me his home, Orem, Utah... :)

[Intervention needed.]

[This is my friend. She is amazing.]

So I've sort of come to terms with the fact that I will most likely never be invited to tour with Britney Spears or perform on Conan...but my incredibly talented friend, Jessie, has managed to accomplish both with her band, Jessie and the Toy Boys. Check out her performance from last night! Girl KILLED it!

An old favorite is a song she did as a solo artist a while back, "Trash Me" (and the video features a cameo from my old Young Women's president!).



But my all time favorite is another of her old solo songs, Upside Down 304 (like upside down 07734 = hello -- get it?). Probably not for those of you with delicate sensibilities (which is why there's a link, not a video)...but I love it, especially as there was a time in my life when I found out I had been sharing my boyfriend with some other girl. I obviously dedicated this song to her every time I heard it. :)

SO proud of you, Jessie!!

[Take me out to the batting cages...]

So before our usual Saturday night dinner and a movie date, this week Chad and I went with Steph and Jake to the batting cages in Falls Church. And yes, obviously I wore patent leather espadrilles to the batting cages. Chad made me change into some Converse so I wouldn't roll my ankle, but he obviously doesn't know how coordinated and athletic I am. Case in point--I only missed 6 of the 50+ balls pitched at me. You know you want me on your summer softball league. Steph, on the other hand, demonstrated that hitting is not one of her numerous strengths (how many did you get, Estefania? Three? haha ), but her former Columbia baseball player husband more than made up for it. Little League coach Chad also had a solid performance, but I think we can all agree that he needs to stick his butt out a little more, like I do.

[Eat like you're in your 20s.]

Various meals I have eaten this week:

Dinner: Hot dog.

Lunch: Pizza + donut.

Dinner: Chinese takeout.

Breakfast: Three (okay four) handfuls of Reeses Pieces.

Lunch: Goldfish.

Dinner: Hot dog, ice cream, and fries from Shake Shack.

Lunch: Small salad + a large side of Chex Mix.

Dinner: Nachos + vanilla wafers + late night Krispy Kreme donut. (Happy National Donut Day yesterday!)

Breakfast: Krispy Kreme donut again.

At least this morning I sent Chad off to work with a donut AND two vitamins. And, as evidenced by the photo, I brought Shake Shack to his office when he had to work late this week. No one can say I don't take care of my man...

[obx love.]

duck beach, north carolina

bikinis. junk food. best friend. boyfriend.

camera crews. pretty people. parties. karaoke.

ocean. crab attack. sand everywhere. sunburn.

hammock. midnight beach kisses. this boy i love.