delightful distractions

each time i move, amid the crazed frenzy of unpacking, reorganizing, and decorating the new space, 

i inevitably experience these moments when i feel like 

if i don't get out of the house, 

i'm going to spontaneously combust. 

its also kind of difficult to resist going out to play 

when you're in a city as fun as los angeles, 

with weather as gorgeous as its been lately.

suffice it to say i'm relishing in my procrastination. 

here are but a few of the delightful distractions 

i'm enjoying lately...

the girls riding the ponies at griffith park. 

we've been four times already. 

 small in size, big on style. 

birdie's new shoes.

 enjoying beautiful flowers brought home by my husband. 

(so fun to get to enjoy things like this after previously being apart for so long!)

 ghost jellies, spotted at the cabrillo marine aquarium.

watching them watch him.

when daddy goes to work, its a big to do. 

but...they get to watch him. in person. and say goodbye. 

and see him again in a few hours. 

last week i had dinner here with an old friend from high school who i've kept in touch with over the years, and who has been based in CA for years now; it was delicious. 

this photo is of the 405 at about 12:30am. what the what?! 

even worse: i enjoyed it. 

after wanting to live here for forever, it feels good to say 

"i'm stuck in traffic on the 405." i'm sure it will fade, 

but still... :)

 getting things together at the house; slowly but surely. 

the list of "things i need" is growing, but until i have just the perfect table, i put together a little makeshift entry.

fresh flowers from the garden, a lightly scented candle, and a place to drop keys & mail keep things cozy and put together. 

 cannot get over how no matter where i go, this is my view. 

so incredible!

i've literally had a moment every day when i've been sitting in my car screaming with excitement about being here.

i give you...the honey badger. 

best tshirt ever? 

probably.

so totally thoughtful of a new friend who lives across the world to order one for & send to me as a surprise?!

definitely.

(bc you've all seen this, yes?!)

looooves it. 
(and you, a. thank you!)

i'm loving cooking real meals again.

and eating in our lovely garden makes it even more special.

(i realize how annoying my giddiness is, i really do. 

but still.)

a little piece of awesomeness i discovered while card-shopping 

at target. 

because i love gingers who were once in the marching band.

 gorgeous asian elephants at the la zoo. enough said.

 california.

spelunking! well. sort of.

and...i hate to say it...but i'm totally in love 

with in-n-out burger! 

obvs i can't have it often, but when i do...

YUM.

ps. i'm pretty sure it saved my life this past saturday after a superfun date night at ucb. 

awesomeness.

all this running around is kinda killing us, though. 

we can't live in squalor forever.

so. 

its back to work tomorrow.

until cocktail hour, at least. 

then i have to prepare for my first ever experience at the rose bowl flea this sunday!

i can't wait. 

there is major prep involved. and i will be up early. 

its business time.

xo

guilt-free shopping on gilt

it turns out getting accustomed to west coast time isn't as difficult as i thought it would be. 

especially if you have a reason to pay attention 

to the time difference.

and by that, i mean watching the clock to make sure i was on time for the pieces by lee kleinhelter for gilt home sale today! 

(via brilliant chic)

it started at noon east coast time, so you best believe i was sitting in front of my laptop, coffee in hand, ready to click away at the fabulousness at 9am.

 

if you aren't familiar with lee's work 

(which begs the question, WHY?! must remedy. stat.)

here are just a few of my favorite spaces she's designed:

 (via hgtv)

 (via cottage living. RIP. possibly my fave issue EVER bc of this very feature!)

(via lonny)

 

(via myverticalbuckhead)

isn't she fabulous?

i had the pleasure of meeting lee 

(along with the adorable jonathan adler, ahem)

at her totally chic home decor boutique last year, 

at a party for j'adler himself. 

i went with my sisterwife, jenny, of mfamb fame. 

more on her very soon. 

prepare yourselves.

this is just a peek at what happens when jenny and i attend a party together.

 we look fabulous. take pictures of ourselves in the car. 

and everywhere else, too. 

sing and have a dance party en route.

(via mfamb) 

jenny makes sweet, sweet love to any plants nearby.

 (via mfamb)

quite possibly the worst picture of me ever? nah. i'm sure there are worse out there. but still. 

(i was still working off some baby weight, ok?) 

cocktail in hand. photobooth in action. 

jenny in pants.

 (via mfamb)

lee's adorable dog, ryder, often found in the office 

at the store. SO sweet.

(via mfamb)

...and yours truly. in all my blonde glory. 

yup. i'm a blonde underneath the brunette, folks. 

i like to switch it up. 

and rock a fupa, apparently.

(update: the fupa is gone. mostly.)

anyway, back to the lesson at hand:

the gilt sale is on now, and by the time you read this, 

there are probs quite a few items sold out, 

(boo! don't you hate when you go to buy something and see the dreaded "in other members carts" tag?! argh!)

but if i had an unlimited budget 

and lee had unlimited quantity, 

here's what i'd scoop up today:

(all images via gilt home)

for the entry.

for the dining table. on the patio. 

for my desk. 

probs for the entry. or by the porch door.

or anywhere. these guys are TOO cute.

entry hallway. this is delicious.

ooooh. two in a sitting area? one tucked in a nook? 

in the master? a bunch for dining room? 

anywhere. 

this thing slays me. entryway? hallway? anyway? 

for one of the bedrooms. would want to put it in birdie's room once she gets a big girl bed, but i'd probably be selfish and 

put them in the master. 

birdie's room. or on a console table in dining or entry area.

this coffee table is dooooooope.

this is so gorgeous, i may have to get two. 

over the dining room table, or seating area a la lee?

and there she is. the dream table of all dream tables. 

entry. hallway. dining. master as desk. whatever. 

i need this in my life. like now. 

love these in a pair in our sunroom. 

ahhhhh! i want it all!

oh man. this guy is so good. he can give in my master sitting area, or in the sunroom. or anywhere he likes. 

so. 

when i win the big california lotto, 

i'll be making all this happen.

until then, i'm working with jenny & her incredible craigslist-whispering-skills to find some similar items on my budget.

you should, too. 

she's very affordable, and trust me when i tell you, that girl's GOOD.

if you should find yourself in need of some fab new pieces for your pad, hit up the 

pieces by lee kleinhelter for gilt home sale; 

its on until sunday night.  

xo

mark your calendars!!!

ok, so i know this has been out for a minute, but i'm reeeeeally starting to get excited.

have you heard?

may 1.

bullseye, bitches!!!

(and do not even think about snatching up all of the moroccan poufs, or i will CUT you.)

xo

**i've been stalking checking out the target/calypso sites (some of the above images are collabs from the sites below)...and i'm using my mad skills of deduction in thinking that not all of the above items will be in the target line. some are calypso originals...but hey, they're currently on sale!**

***apparently i was way too excited about buying the goods, instead of crediting my photos earlier today. like lindsay lohan [probably] says, 

"oops, my bad." 

images were via: thebudgetbabe, thedamesgotmoxie, instyle, target & tumblr.  

i could echo la lohan & say i won't ever do it again... 

but she certainly did, and i very well may. though i'll try not to.***