leatha weatha

last night i went out for wine with some new girlfriends.

it was delicious. 

we drank barbera (cantina tre serre), which is a totally affordable yet beautiful wine. 

definitely adding this to my regular rotation! 

we ate fried cauliflower (i know--it was ridiculously good!) 

and absolutely delicious crispy white polenta with wild mushrooms, a fried egg, & parmigiano-reggiano on top. insane.

much needed quality girl time was had by all, and while the menu and bar offerings had me salivating for more, it was one of my girlfriend's outfits that really had me hungry. 

thus, i give you, a case for leather leggings. 

(its leatha weatha, after all.)

i'm discovering that in la, its harder than i had thought to dress appropriately. the weather goes from 50 to 90 in the course of a day, so layering is essential. i'm getting that part down.

but converting from east coast formalities in dressing to a more laid-back, casual yet still stylish wardrobe is something i have to work on. 

i've been admiring leather leggings from afar for at least two winters now, and i think this is the year i have to go for it. 

they're super versatile; its la after all , so i can wear them during the day with a floaty button down, oversized knit, or asymmetrical tee and my beat up biker boots. with my kid in tow. 

then i can dress them up for evening cocktails and pair them with a sexier top or a tuxedo or boyfriend jacket and stilettos, as my girlfriend did last night. 

chic and sexy, versatile enough 

to go wherever the night may take you. 

here are some options that have been floating around in my head all day:

via tumblr

via lauren conrad

via 9to5chic (those shoes! i die.)

via fashion salade

via refinery29

aerin lauder at her winter home in leather leggings.

via pinterest

not to be mistaken for my spring break circa 2001 leggings
--forever affectionately known as "plastic pants"--
this look is classy and chic, 
and i can't wait to get some!


do you have any? do you, too, love this look, or are you going to try and tell me i can't pull this look off as a mother of 2?


(just so you know, i won't listen if you do try and talk me out of it. i'm stubborn that way. and i have a small ass. but thanks.)


xo

lessons in los angeles

hope y'all had a good weekend!

i learned a lot this past one in la. 

lesson one. 

don't give up on a party too early on. 

just because the crowd is the prettiest you've ever seen, 

yet the majority of them happen to be giving off a slightly douchey vibe (sorry, but its true. in the south people say "excuse me" when they bump into you at a party; here, notsomuch.), doesn't mean the night can't be rescued by a canadian stranger, a bevvy of hot gays, an amazing band, 

and observance of a drinking game loosely titled 

"every time you see a guy in a plaid shirt or a tank top, you must drink" with one old friend and two new ones. 

i got a ginormous hat for the occasion. 

it was at least helpful in spotting me in the crowd, though 

it definitely made it difficult to be in a crowd, order drinks, talk to pretty much anyone...but hey! it looked good!

this little guy was too cute not to capture on film...

i'm assuming its a totally natural, temporary paint job, yes?

rad.

oh yes. and there were these guys.

no, we aren't on the jersey shore. 

that's right here in los angeles, people. 

gtl. its tshirt time.

lesson two. 

garlic fries have been known to save lives.

mine, anyway.

lesson three.

when going to the rosebowl flea market, one should always bring:

COFFEE.

especially if you get there for the super duper early vip entry.

also: a hat, sunscreen, comfortable clothes & shoes, (think asian tourist) cash, water, and a team of hungarians/pack of twilight wolves/a wagon... to carry all your stuff.

like the true novice i am, i didn't reapply sunscreen every hour (i do with the girls, why not myself?! grrr.)

and therefore, ended up with a nasty sunburn on my shoulders. 

not cool.

i did, however, see some awesome stuff at the flea!

take a gander...

huge driftwood mirror

i love him & wanted to take him home with me. 

maybe next month.

this beast of a basket would be so superawesome in an entryway... 

but he was $350 and i have other things i need to spend that on.

 suzanis, anyone?  

there were a zillion vintage clothing vendors; some were crap, but some had truly beautiful pieces. take this teal stunner, for example; she was a mere $40, floor length, and fabulous. i wanted her. i pictured myself hosting a dinner party in the garden, barefoot in this beauty. 

alas, the girls couldn't fit in the bodice.

and nobody likes an uptight hostess, much less one that's too tight in her dress.

old rusty trike. 

cool photo prop or for party decor... 

or if you want to give someone nightmares by putting it in your guest bedroom with a clown on it. 

 felt like atlanta was everywhere this weekend.

i must have thought i saw eight of my friends at the hudson party, and then i saw this at the rosebowl.

=

 there was so much midcentury goodness this past weekend. 

these lamps would be so cool in a bachelor pad. 

so masculine and industrial.

so crushing on these gorgeous moroccan wedding shawls! 

would be gorgeous hung as a tapestry, made into pillows, or folded on the end of a bed... 

but what did i take home?

two handsome, manly, leather & chrome chairs for the master bedroom sitting area.

a beautiful 4 x 6 ft rug that is now happily living in my kitchen.

i may or may not have gotten some birthday gift items for friends and family... 

but they read this blog so i can't show you...yet! ;)

more soon.

i honestly tried to post this sunday night, and then again yesterday...but have a serious technology deficiency in my house. 

the pics from my high res camera are too big for this little laptop to process. its killing me. but i'm working on it!

xo

drybar

i audibly squealed this morning when i read a tweet from my fabulous inside scooper buddy @WhatNowAtlanta...

(and then i vom'd in my mouth for writing squeal.)

drybar is coming to town!

you know that feeling you get when you leave the salon, 

feeling all fresh and new? 

drybar will give you that experience for a fraction of 

the normal price.

prepare yourselves, my well tressed southern friends.

according to the What Now Atlanta website, 

the chic boutique salon recently filed permits for construction on its soon-to-be-fabulous 1,500 sq ft west paces ferry 

location in the buckhead village. 

*eeek!*

but what is it, you ask?

"no cuts. no color. just blowouts, for $35."

the brainchild of pr/blow dry maven alli webb, the biz was born after alli's referral-only, in-home blowout service, ahem, blew up, and she took things to the next level. 

a dream team of professionals was assembled to create this genius concept combining some of our girly favorite pastimes: 

a gorgeous blowout, impeccable customer service, and cocktails.

yes please.

(honestly, WHY didn't I think of this?!)

 take a look at their clean, cool aesthetic: 

 

i spy kerastase... good job, kids; they know their product!

upon arrival, you can choose from a bevvy of blowout styles, and a variety of add-ons:

i'll take a cosmo with a floater and some bubbly on the side, please!

imagine it: having your locks expertly tailored during your next girls' night out, sipping champ' while dissecting 

the f/w '11 collections? 

(petticoats, paillettes, tripartite, oh my!)

better yet, hosting a fun event at drybar:

a bach party/wedding day's jumping off point, the junior league ball committee's latest planning sesh, some real atlanta housewives getting some much-needed time away from les bebes, or even the sweet sixteen celebration of westminster's latest deb;

yes yes yes. 

the team at drybar takes care of the cocktails and blowouts, you bring the party. 

done.

check out the rundown, as told by alli herself:

Drybar Overview from drybar on Vimeo.

too many handcrafted cocktails at holeman & finch last night? 

the thought of having to do your hair for today's bridal shower making you want to chunder everywah?

drybar nourishes both your hair and your hangover; blowouts on saturdays and sundays from 10-2, complete with complimentary croissants and bagels. 

and coffee. lots of coffee. 

drybar even offers a bartab system; you can purchase an allotment of blowouts at a discounted rate, or better yet (for addicts like i'm sure to become) join their monthly program for 2 or 4 blowouts per/month, & get discounts and special offers 

(like free head & neck massages!). 

with eight locations currently operating mostly on the west coast, drybar is crossing over to the ec with shops to open in nyc, washington dc and of course atlanta soon. 

becoming a barfly never looked better.

call it bespoke cheveux.

and i can't wait to geaux.

xo


*all photos via drybar.

badass of the week: E, "the face", W

this weekend was full of babies & baby showers, stress, sweat & sunshine, full to-do lists, 

cupcakes & mimosas, not much sleep, and 

maybe more than a few tears... on my part. 

i am spent.

a mini inspiration board i made for my girlfriend noelia, 

the mommy-to-be, with elements from saturday's shower 

it was such fun seeing girlfriends i hadn't seen in way too long, and i got to hold a sweet little baby for hours on end. i was so exhausted from my combined 8 hours of sleep in two days, though, that i just may have cracked yesterday. 

kristina, sarah, melanie, me, glenda & noelia

the chic and simple vintage surf style shower; there were hanging lanterns above, balloons throughout, decorated bibs for the craft/game, and estrogen to spare! it was adorable.

its times like these when really good 

friends are crucial. 

my guy bestie, also seen here, 

knew i was having a tough day yesterday. 

we have a lot going on at squatter's manse. 

and in my head.

E calls me and says 

"i have all the fixins for these amazing burgers. 

can i come cook for you?" 

uh, yeah. yeah you can.

not only did homeboy bring it, his burgers 

were--honestly--some of the best i've ever had. 

think i'll ask him to do a guest post on them, 

or at least get his recipe. 

we're talking organic, grass-fed beef, this ridiculous aged cheddar, thick, gorgeous, local bacon, chow chow, condiments like you won't believe, 

and oh, the buns! 

it was insane. 

did i mention he also brought some amazing tater tots (yup), a bottle of macallan 12, and 

some of our fave talenti gelato? 

(if its really good, old, scotch, drink it neat. otherwise, a couple ice cubes won't hurt. and if you haven't tried talenti--i have been tweeting about this stuff for months, people!--you simply must. it is the best gelato i've had outside of italy.)

it was like my birthday!

how wonderful to not only have adult company, but to have such a close, platonic guy friend over to hang out & cook with, eat burgers & drink scotch with, talk movies and music, and 

laugh and eat gelato with.

thanks, E. 

you are forever badass.

you're so great at reminding me that i'm not just a mom, not just some chick with an amazing rack that happens to look 10 years younger than her age (ok, maybe i embellished a bit...); 

not just anything. 

that i'm lots of fun, different things, and that 

i actually have a brain i like to use on occasion. 

to talk about important world issues. 

like clogs, food, danger mouse, balls (balls! why?), single malts, traveling, and all kinds of stuff. 

i love you like i love my ginger ale: not canada dry.

(via blinkbox)

he calls me harvey fierstein. because i get excited.

if there is anyone in your life who you know is having a tough day, i highly recommend this approach. not only will you win their undying gratitude & love, you'll get to go home with 
a happy heart and a full belly. 

xo

easter re-cap

(a little recap of the weekend as i was all consumed by the whole oscar wilde does the jersey shore thing earlier, and couldn't resist sharing that first...)


hi y'all! i hope you had a wonderful weekend. 

if you celebrate easter, i hope it was beautiful!

mine certainly was.

my husband came home for a few precious days, and it was a wonderfully exhausting whirlwind.

friday we went to a fabulous easter egg hunt at a girlfriend's house; it was such fun. 

the girls hunted for eggs, created crafts, had a sack race, played, and even met the easter bunny!

completely adorable. 

i am a firm believer in having booze at any party, most especially those involving children.

(obviously not when monster trucking, speed boating, or heli-skiing, but otherwise, YES.)

my girlfriend jen agrees; they had plenty of everything. take a look at some of the spread.

(casual, easy, effective.)

major thought to detail & activity (on jen's part, not mine!) = majorly happy girls.

 friday night, david & i had the opportunity 

(thanks to scoutmob for the deal, and Lala for the babysitting!) to visit one of atlanta's newer restaurants that i've been wanting to try. 

honestly, i could have gone to the varsity and been "happy" --def would have needed a pepto cocktail-- but to go out and have a beautiful meal, made by someone else, with multiple courses, adult convo, serious canoodling & wine?! 

we enjoyed the charcuterie plate of salami, pate, and condiments (facemeat!);

i had an incredible salade landaise:

seared foie gras "croutons", duck confit, frisée, deglazed xeres vinegar 

and then the sea scallops au gratin app 

as my main course. mmmmm... 

just like i like my men: rich & delicious.

david (see above) had the steamed PEI mussels poulette; they were exquisite.

we drank delicious wine--can't remember what it was, it was that good!--and had no room for dessert...at least not at the restaurant. 

amuse is winning. 

(bonus points for having a female chef du cuisine, noelle thomas!)

thanks, scoutmob!

 

the rest of our weekend was gorgeous.

(that mexican corn was the jam, y'all. for reals. big sister hooked it up. chipotle, feta, and a homemade lime mayo...mmm! tons of margarita flavors--in addition to the not pictured rosa mexicano's guacamole, which very well may be the best you ever tasted--courtesy of little bro & sis n law (thanks, guys! fantastic job. per usual), fish tacos w all kinds of yummy toppings thanks to the rents & a pretty fruit salad. my lame, yet tasty, contribution. i know--i kind of copped out here, but with easter, husband in town, and showers and party planning out the arse, i had good reason. 

anywho... try that corn! really. its insanely good.

til later, taters. 

xo