hang in there, baby

(via etsy)

i promise, its true. 

thanks for hanging in 

for the infant stages of this blog.

you're cooler for being here

you just may not know it yet.

oh, you do? 

good.

but things are about to get 

even 

awesomer.

i'm about to haul the 

mini manse

and 

daughters

and 

self

across the country...

3 weeks, people. 

but first, i have to 

find a house 

find movers 

organize, pare down, donate, recycle, sell & pack our stuff

plan and execute a baby shower, a bridal shower, our going away cocktail and playdate parties (important stuff, y'all!)

arrange the actual "day of" fiasco

somehow say goodbye to 

my family

my friends

and my hometown

oh, and 

do it all while raising children who 

would like to enjoy their summer.

(methinks a summer camp is in order)

...by myself.

i got this.

cause, as you can see from above, 

i am awesome.

and i have awesomeness behind me. 

so there's that.

xo

xo

summer skin & hair essentials by MollyMarler on Polyvore.com

off the starboard bow

(via thelonleyisland)


happy monday, mermaids. and men.

saw this on my sisterwife's blog today.

made me want to be here.
on a boat.
drinkin santana champ 'cause its so crisp...

had to watch. 

yet again.

(for you, e & b!)

nsfw

but funny as hell. 

xo

i heart ny

(via tumblr)

(via tumblr)

(via google)

(via flickr)

(via love.designxmag.com)

(via tumblr)

(via alovetrain)

(via alovetrain)

(via blog.babble)

congratulations, new york.

as our friend mike so wisely put it:

"that's why they call it new york new york, 

ladies and ladies, 

and 

gentlemen and gentlemen. 

love lives in new york

no matter WHO it is you love,

man or woman.

happy for [our] gay friends

who are in loving, committed relationships."

its a big day. 

live it up . celebrate . love well! 

and in honor of this big accomplishment, 

i will be making out with girls all day. 

come and get it.

xo

rockstar real estate

so remember the other day when we were talking about what a bitch it can be to find a house when moving, wherever your destination, 

much less los angeles? 

well, things are looking up. 

i just may have found the perfect place.

today, via twitter, i saw casa sugar's post that aussie rocker chris cester recently put his sexy los angeles pad on the market... and with few tweaks and changes, it could be just perfect for my little rockstar family! 

i wouldn't say this place has incredible interior design, but it has its moments.

check out some of the pics:

(via realestalker)

i spy... a stunning blue murano chandelier in the pretty perfect dining room

(save for the crap dining table; it looks like something i would have bought in college from rooms-to-go. blech. i would get a different table, keep the wingbacks in their awesome fabric, but replace the other chairs with something more modern, or whatever jenny suggested i do. she's my guru.) 

the living room would need a furniture update, but the rococo mirror and even the 

antler chandy can stay. 

that adorable (eensy) kitchen has an old o'keefe and merritt range, classic black and white tile floor, a lovely crystal chandelier, and the sweetest little brekkie nook 

you ever saw. 

huge potential in that weensy space.

(via realestalker)

the cesters have a little boy, i see, but i'm not crazy about murals in kids' rooms. 

anything too "themey" or 

all from one store = total vomcano.

(i'm obsessed, ali. obsessed.)

though i'm sure my girls would adore it.

i'd have to have it painted before we moved in. no probs. 

plenty of room to make something 

like these happen:

(via apartmenttherapy)

(via decorpad) 

(via apartmenttherapy)  

 (via decorpad)

(via pinterest)

(via houzz)

moving on. 

the two adult bedrooms are both 

awesome in my book. 

i think i just found the template for my upcoming d.i.y. headboard project, and all that white provides a refreshing respite from the hectic life of la outside the front door. 

although the linens do need a serious pressing, and they aren't my favorite:

(imagine some glam border color and big ol' monogram...even in la i'll retain some 

southern roots, y'all.)

(leontine linens via madebygirl)

i might replace those sconces with something slightly more...interesting, but the ikat print, brutalist chandelier (aren't you proud, j?!) lucite side table and wallpaper in the other bedroom are right up my alley. 

cool, eclectic, but balanced. 

i might add some feminine, antique touches here and there, and continue the quirky art trend throughout the house with some bigger pieces. think wearstler on xanax.

(via bergdorfgoodman)

i like the bathrooms just fine, although i can imagine jenny would yank those orchids and put em out in the garden or something.

(and really, chris. you're a rockstar, and the best you can do for interior plants and flowers is a variety of ho-hum orchids that anyone can buy at pier one or whole foods?! tsk tsk.)

the "office" aka mini-recording studio is killer; it can stay. 

that way i'll have an excuse to look like a rockstar while i rehearse a script, write an original screenplay or musical, 

and teach my girls piano. 

or play naked cowboys and indians 

(i call the headdress!) with david. 

 

(via realestalker)

the gorgeous backyard boasts privacy via strategic, tall cypresses & palms, a flat but beautifully landscaped yard just begging for a fabulous pool, and numerous sitting/lounging areas perfect for dining al fresco, cocktails in the garden, and laid-back, cali-style cocktail parties alike. 

the black stairway to heaven is a total bonus. 

this house is so me. 

i wonder what school district 

whitley heights is in? 

i'm guessing one would simply have to do private schooling, and with the modest price of  $1,135,000

its totally do-able. 

right?

the neighborhood is in the most touristy part of los angeles, near attractions like grauman's and the hollywood wax museum, and restaurants like katsuya, in addition to "stripper ware stores that line hollywood blvd". 

oy.

per the real estalker, "should any of the children ever be in need for a 7-inch Lucite mule with a heart-shaped diamante detail on the heel", [they'll be in the right place].

good to know. 

so, what do you think? a done deal? 

methinks i'll put a pin in it.

now... where are those extra millions i had lying around?

xo

super secret supper club nyc

what do i love as much as, if not more, 

than acting?

food.

(via a razor a shiny knife)

the gentlemen behind a razor a shiny knife had the forethought to combine the two.

as they say on their website, 

"a razor a shiny knife is an 

educational, social and theatrical 

culinary experience."

genius, boys. friggin genius.

if you haven't seen this already, its a MUST. 

on may first of this year, the aforementioned 

--along with a slew of fellow supper 

clubs, chefs, assistants et al.--

hosted an opulent, 6-course meal of haute cuisine for unsuspecting passengers 

on nyc's L train. 

one can only imagine the prep, timing, and skill that went into this endeavor. 

they elevated a meal from what can sometimes be a "religious experience" (for me at least)

to pure art.

have a go.

reason no. 48375001 

its amazing to live in new york.

xo

...who lived in her shoes

house hunting is a bitch.

more specifically, house hunting in southern california is a real bitch.

looks like i could end up the little 

(ahem, young) lady who lived in her shoes.

(above images via the fabulous netaporter)

actually, if we could get a tub in there, maybe blow out a wall for a fab waterworks piece?...

as i tweeted yesterday, 

i often read a listing that says things like "the house boasts stunning interiors" 

(a complete dump. pass.)

is "charming" 

(aka the size of my uterus, which, even after two kids, i assure you, is eeesny),

"has been recently updated" 

(not since the Nixon era, and I wasn't even born then. come on, people.)

or is "bright" 

(lit with so much florescent crap it would make JLo look like amy winehouse.)

when it ain't. 

started to get uber frustrated with it all...but then i saw this little piece of comedic genius, and she just made my DAY.

Boston Craigslist Girl, I love you.

there is light at the end of the tunnel, friends; just don't want to jinx anything! 

more on that soon.

xo

me time

happy monday!

so this weekend was all

(via flickr, tumblr, and pinterest)

...but you know, with kids around. 

most of the time.

today i'm all

(via leloveimage)

but! instead of moping i'm going to treat myself to some much-needed me time.

its crucial, you know.

when was the last time you 

turned off the cellie, 

turned on a gorgeous symphony, 

slipped into a hot bath 

bubbling with deliciousness 

and enjoyed a glass of cold champagne?

that's what i thought.

go run the water. 

now would be good.

to properly illustrate:

another fun treat you can whip up in the comfort of your casa, no credit card required?

(unlike some of the above splurges!)

a brown sugar scrub

(via thegloss)

i made my version a few days ago, and it is 

positively delish!

scour your pantry for the following, 

then get to scrubbin'!

(note: the recipe can obvs be halved if you don't have enough, like i did :)

*4c brown sugar 

(turbinado if you really don't want no scrubs)

*4c kosher salt

*1c finely ground almond or apricot meal, 

or oatmeal

*1/2c honey

*1/2c almond oil or apricot kernel oil

*5-10 drops vitamin e oil

*optionals: fragrance, sunflower oil, and 2T. avocado, shea, or cocoa butter

*spoon into your fave container--be careful with glass in your bath!--allow scrub to sit overnight after an additional 1/2c almond or apricot kernel oil is added, and enjoy! 

(via glamour)

ps. if this is just too much, you can certainly create a budget 

(on time and $) 

version in a pinch!

*1c brown sugar of your choice

*5-6T. oil of your choice 

*1-2tsp. vanilla

(i have used olive, jojoba and even sunflower)

super easy! 

the point is to treat yourself.

i certainly plan to.

i've got a busy week ahead.

off to get my beauty sleep, lovers!

xo

happy father's day 

to all of you wonderful men 

out there

who make the lives of your children 

better.

of someone else's children 

better.

more full 

of

laughter

joy

humor

bravery

generosity

thoughtfulness

sarcasm

protection

understanding

forgiveness

hugs

tickles

and 

love.

you play a more important role in this world 

than you may know.

you impact the lives of the children in yours more than you will ever know. 

we need you now, we will need you always.

and so, to all the world's many different kinds of daddies...

i

say 

thank you!

 

 

(all above images from flickr, tumblr & pinterest unless otherwise noted.)

daddy, 

i miss you every day.

i wish you were here 

every. 

day.

i thought that as i grew older, it would get easier being without you. 

it did for a while. 

but in the last few years, 

i realized

i 

was 

wrong.

when i really open up

let down my guard

and let myself feel it

my heart aches

so much.

it breaks 

over 

and

over 

again.

i miss being a child 

with you

as my daddy.

i miss hearing your car pull in the garage; 

feeling that ecstatic rush

of happiness

to see your face.

running out to the garage 

opening your car door

putting on your suit jacket

and carrying 

your 

briefcase

inside.

i miss sitting in the palm of your hand.

i miss your sarcastic humor, 

though i have definitely 

inherited my fair share. 

as have k & c.

i miss your smell.

i miss the softness 

of my cheek on your shoulder. 

on  your

ll bean

chambray shirt.

i miss so many things i can't 

even think about

because 

it hurts too much.

i think of all of the moments i wish you were here to share.

i wish my children could know you.

they would truly adore you.

and you would be enamored of them. 

i wish you could know david. 

you two are so much alike.

you would approve.

he is a good man, and takes care of me the way you would.

i wish i could hear your voice again.

i wish i could feel myself 

so tiny 

in your arms 

again.

i wish, just for a moment, i could go back to being 16, 

and not have my emotional growth 

stunted

the way it was

when we lost you.

i wish so many things 

for 

k 

& 

c. 

we all miss you so very much.

i like to think you are able to see how much we've grown. 

i often feel you with me.

i see the 

yellow butterflies

and i feel you.

i know you are with God.

i know that you are blissfully happy

free

and

beautiful.

i know that i will see you again.

but my heart still breaks, 

every 

single 

day

because you aren't here now.

i love you daddy. 

i always will. 

xo