Smililng About. . .

my birthday love...

dinner at taix french restaurant with the hubby

celebrating with friends

birthday cake

making my wish

the fam bam-me, brother, mom, and hubby.

hanging at the beach

bbq

birthday breakfast with pops

birthday girl in a vintage diane freis dress from here

the start of new york fashion week...

bcbg max azria
creatures of wind 
spring 2014

this yummy salad minus the walnuts...

this book...hilarious!

P.S. I'm taking a bit of a blogging break.  Catch me over on Blah Blah Birds on Thursdays! 
See you back here in a few weeks!!!

Have a great weekend!!! 

Time at the Beach...

playa del rey, ca

not sure why he was making that face...hilarious

Nothing like the breezy beach air and the sun hitting your face...Cali Love! 

 

Giving Thanks...

So, this year I decided I'm making a turkey.  Not sure why I'm excited about that, but I've never made one and felt it was time to tackle the bird.  I'm going to use my Saturday Night Chicken recipe and double or triple the recipe.  Should be really moist and tasty!  I will report back!

Here's what I'm cooking...

photo credit: bonappetit

Herb Roasted Turkey

photo credit: bonappetit

Green Beans with Butter, Garlic, and Shallots

photo credit: bonappetit

Cranberry-Orange Relish

photo credit: bonappetit

Golden Brown Butter and Pecan Tart

That's all I can do this year!  The tart, I just found this recipe while writing this post and it sounds so yummy and pretty simple.   Just need a tart pan!  My mom is doing mac & cheese and butternut squash casserole.   Ladybird Dyan and her mom will tackle the rest with some greens, stuffing, and some other tasty sides and desserts.  Thanksgiving should be really fun being in the kitchen with family and friends.  Can't wait!

I'm very grateful and thankful for my family, close friends, health, and all God has blessed me with.  What are you thankful for and what are you cooking?

Happy Thanksgiving!  

and I'm off and running...
 

Smiling About...

the way President Obama loves his girls...

photo credit: huffington post

garden classes at Post & Beam Restaurant...

photo credit: postandbeamla
Chef Govind

these sparkling booties...

paper bakeware at the West Elm Market...

l.a. sample sales...

more deets here...

enjoy the weekend! 

and I'm off and running...
 

Abbot Kinney Festival...

Yesterday, we took in the Abbot Street Festival.  I can finally mark this off my list.   It was worth the wait!  Full of fabulous street vendors, food trucks, and of course music.  The highlight of the festival for me was the live music.  They had different stages throughout the festival with different types of music.  The Ethio Cali Ensemble and Slow Magic were my favs.  Please check them out!  We really didn't do the food truck thing since we had a late breakfast and I prepared dinner at home.   I think I will make this event a yearly thing.

Here are some photos of the day...

cozy neighborhood sidewalks as we made our way to the festival

my soon-to-be new red bike...I fell in love!

Ethio-Cali Ensemble

we did try the fries, but not so good.  

Slow Magic

cute little swing on the corner

I was really admiring the homes in this area.

a beautiful day for a festival!

and I'm off and running...
 

smiling about...

nail foundation...pick your perfect nude!

check this major Fall trend here and here...i'm loving it! 

these lovelies by Tsubo...

comfy and cute

the family going out for Dad's birthday...

more on this and the restaurant we went to next week...

seeing Anthony Hamilton and Estelle at the Greek theater tonight...

photo credit: facebook

what are you smiling about...

and I'm off and running...
 

Happy Monday...

Sunday was a strange day!  We went to a very late brunch at Faux Pas Bistro.  Food was yummy, but the waitress acted like she'd rather be somewhere else and I almost swallowed a string that was hidden in my pancakes.  Really? Wow!   Then we drove to the beach to hang out.  Had some fun playing the water  and enjoyed the view.   On the way back, we were pulled over by the police (he could have let us go) for crossing a solid white line at the exit and then as we pulled off from getting a ticket, my tire went flat and shredded.  Really? Wow!  At least we got to go to the beach...  :)

Have a great week!

and I'm off and running...

Family...

Happy Wednesday!

I'm back from a great trip to visit my family in Winston-Salem!  I planned to do my blog once I arrived, but it was nonstop family and fun.  Plus, my grandma doesn't have internet service and my phone was searching for service the whole time.  I guess that was a sign that I just needed to unplug for a bit.  It was truly worth it!    There is nothing like family!  We laughed loud, danced,  and ate lots of food.   One of the best parts of the weekend was just sitting around the table talking and breaking bread.  It was for sure a good time!   I was very sad to leave, but look forward to us getting together next year.

Here are some pics of the weekend...

family

cousins

cousins-Mitzi, Nita, and Monica

cutie pie morgan

cousin Mitzi with her beautiful daughters

sisters

the husband

cousin John and Mom

Good times!

and I'm off and running...