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!!! 

My Weekend...

date night with the hubby at Stella Rosa Pizza Bar...

 The chef let me make my own pizza. Of course you know I was asking him all kinds of questions, then he just said come on back here and let me show you.  So amazing!

 our italian sausage pizza...so yummy! 

brunch with my dear friend, Kim at Dolce Isola...

Dolce Isola is such a neighborhood gem.  Almost like we were on vacay somewhere in Europe.  

I had the crab omelet and a cafe au lait!  

beautiful flowers at Dolce Isola...

The rest of the weekend... I went to see the movie Sparkle, which was really good and spent Sunday with family and relaxed at home.  Great weekend!

Happy Monday!

and I'm off and running...

   

Napa...again!

Two weeks ago today, I was on my way to Napa Valley with my lovely book club, Queens Chatter.  Well, we had an amazing time and each time I go to Napa I fall more in love with it.  There for only 3 days, but we packed it in and enjoyed every minute.  If you plan to go in the near future, here is a little rundown of places to eat, wine taste, let loose, and just plain have good times.


Where we ate...

Napa Valley has the best food ever!  There was not one meal we disliked.

harris ranch restaurant
mustards grill
hurleys
redd wood
boon fly
auberge bistro
campo fina


Wine tasting...

mumm napa
brown estate
peju
provenance vineyards
maisonry
domaine carneros
darioush
sawyer cellars
chimney rock
1313 main 
williamson wine
bergamot alley

The last day we spent a half the day at Indian Springs Resort and Spa in Calistoga for some relaxation, and then ended our trip with a special night in Healdsburg.  We drank wine all night at Bergamot Alley (my fav spot) and at yummy pizza from Campo Fina.  You couldn't ask for a better ending to our trip.


Here are some photos...

tasting @ Mumm Napa

yummy burger @ Auberge Bistro

walking the grounds @ Brown Estate

wine and pairing @ Brown Estate

tasting room at Brown Estate from the cave

Jen and Jen enjoying our wine!

love this pic of Lauren with the sunflower

you know I had to taste some...so fresh

cheers in the parking lot of Mustards Grill

 

most amazing pork chop ever @ Mustards Grill

breakfast!

sticky bun of heaven!

Zahirah and Jennifer enjoying the swing

eggs benedict @ Boon Fly

tasting @ Swayer Cellars 

ladies tasting @ Maisonry

yummy pizza @ Redd Wood

a little Bastille Day fun @ Bouchon

lunch and cocktails @ Solage Resort

great memories @ Bergamot Alley

enjoying Healdsburg!

The End!

and I'm off and running...

the birds are here!!!

So, this has been what I've been smiling about and working on with two of my closest friends and sisters.  We are all from Los Angeles, we love to blog,  and we have lots to say!  After long conversations and conference calls, we made it happen!!!!  We've got a passion foodie, who can whip up a recipe and add her special touch,  a jiggyloves, who can pretty much help you find anything or help you plan anything, and a mommy fashionista that is so chic, a fabulous mom, and her kids are just darling.  All this makes for a fabulous blog collaboration!  We hope you love it, because we do and visit the site everyday HERE and FOLLOW US!

Now, C'est la Vie is not going anywhere!  I will still post on this blog, but sending it in a sort of different direction.  I haven't quite decided yet, but slowly and surely you will see a bit of a difference in what I post about.  We just have to see how it all works out, but you can definitely count on the same great stuff on blahblahbirds.wordpress.com!   

Sisters + Friends + Bloggers=  blah blah birds

blahblahbirds.wordpress.com

and I'm off and running...

Weekend Recap...

Monday Monday Monday!!! Hope you all had a great weekend.  I started my weekend with a dinner and wine at Vintage Enoteca and then the screening of Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest(fabulous documentary) on Friday. Vintage Enoteca is a small and quaint wine bar in Hollywood serving up some tasty small plates and great wine and beer. We also made it just in time for happy hour, but only on the food.  Kinda strange, but it worked for us. All the food was half off. Everything was very tasty, and I will definitely be going back. 

Took this photo while waiting for my friend and hubby to arrive.
Love the colors and the name of this florist. 

Vintage Enoteca

Marinated Olives
Could have had my own bowl!

Wild Boar Short Ribs

Deviled Egg w/Anchovy
Not a fan, but the hubby liked it!

Arugula and Caramelized Onion Flatbread
Very good!

We ordered a lot more food than this, but I forgot to take photos. Awww...I know! I was busy eating! 

Then...on Saturday night my bookclub crew did Girls Night Out and it was a major blast.  We started the night off at Fig & Olive for some really fabulous food, cocktails, and girl talk. They specialize in Mediterranean cuisine from the South of France, Italy, and Spain  Let me tell you, this place was the hot spot and the food was great. Loved every minute of it! I think I want to go back for my birthday. We had good times! 

A lovely preserved Olive Tree as well as Rosemary bushes

Rosemary Bread w/ a Trio of Olive Oils

Piscine-Sparkling Wine w/Strawberries
Simple, but very tasty!

Crostini Plate
Mushroom, Crab, Manchego Cheese w/Almond, and Shrimp w/Avocado

Mediterranean Branzino w/ Snow Peas and Fig
Balsamic & Fig Vinegar and Olive Oil
Can I say this was soooo good!

Then ended my weekend with  birthday brunch with my bestie Jen at Culina as we did last year here. Best brunch in L.A. We had good times and did some celebrity stalking. lol! 

Who is this...

Larry Flint in a fly gold wheelchair. 

Majorly stylish! 

Weekends like this are the BEST! 

Have a great week!

And I'm off and running...

J.P. Archie