10 Things That Make Me Happy

The title of this post suggests it will be one of those popular posts in which the blogger glorifies or laments in list form. Well, it is. Not only that, it’s going to be drawn out across 2 posts.

Last Sunday I watched the new Bravo TV show, “Ten Things That Make Me Happy”. They featured celebutante Kyle Richards of "Housewives of Beverly Hills" Fame, and the self-described “Maker” Jonathan Adler. Richards came off as superficial, naming her Chanel Bags, hair, and a 10 carat diamond ring, but she also included her sweat pants and her homemade lasagna. Adler included a local pizza, a ping pong table, his husband’s shirts, and a hilarious picture of a 3-year-old pageant toddler he has framed at his apartment entrance.

It got me thinking what I would choose if I were to pick 10 things that make me happy – not experiences, or people, or activities, or places – but 10 actual things that I can touch. Here’s my list:

1. White Noise Machines, which for me is a fan I got for $15 on Amazon. I love that it drowns out the noises of the neighbors. It’s something I either adopted from or inherited from my mother, who packs her fan in her suitcase whenever she goes on a trip. I also sometimes use www.rainymood.com when I'm especially missing the Florida daily summer storms.

2. Candles. My favorite candle I’ve ever burned is made for Anthropologie by Illume. It’s called Sweet William’s Way, which is very fitting. The first house I lived on was called Sweet Leaf Lane and the second was called William James Way. I can’t find it for purchase anywhere so I no longer burn it, I just take the lid off and allow the mix of chamomile, lemon and amber to permeate the air.

3. This skirt by J. Crew. I seriously lived in it when I first got it. I even once got an offer from someone to literally buy it off of me. I mainly wear it around the holiday season, but really it can be paired with anything. Except maybe not more sequins. Though I must say, I’ve never met a sequin I didn’t like. And I adore each and every one that adorns this skirt.

It's good for Taylor Swift concerts as well.

4. Bubby Water. I love it. I drink so much more water now that I use the Sodastream machine at home. I like bubbles in the air, bubbles in my bath, and bubbles in my drinking water. Bubbles. They’re the best. 

5. Recipes handwritten by my mother and grandmother. They taste familiar and like home and I love the fact that they took the time to write them down so carefully. I would just send myself a link or pin it or bring Better Homes and Gardens to the store with me, but there’s something that so vividly recreates my ancestry and the bond created between female family members when I think of how recipes were passed down from mother to daughter for centuries. If you don't have the handwritten version, you can give your favorite recipe to Articipe, and then you can have art + your recipe combine.

Those are my first five. The second five will come in my next post. I'm afraid to post it all at once because because what if I think of something BETTER that I didn't think to include when I first wrote this? This does not seem to be a list you can edit.

What are your favorite material things?

Beach Day

This weekend I went to the beach for my first true beach day of the summer. Due to “May Gray” and “June Gloom” it wasn’t really warm enough by my Floridian standards for the beach.

While it was supposed to be about 72 degrees, the day remained cloudy for the most part – “July Cry,” anyone?

Regardless, add in beach volleyball and some ice cold BL nums and you’ve still got yourself a pretty good beach day.

Eventually the sun did come out – check out the difference between the above pic and the one below!

I don’t actually participate in the ball playing because I can’t bring myself to stand directly under it. I just close my eyes at the last second and run away. Instead, I provided carrots and pretzels to hungry players. And next time I WILL STICK MY HEAD IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN. Along with the rest of my body. Full submersion.

After, we went to Wurstkuche in Venice and I had the Vegetarian Smoked Apple Hotdog. Delish. I didn’t get the fries, but I had a lot of other people’s fries so now I know to get them next time.

My friend Nealie was in from San Diego (where she was on a work trip, she lives in FL).

We went to Other Room in Venice from there.

Nealie & I

Me and ValPal:

Normal:

We’re actually imitating an adorable dog named Carl (he has a twitter, find him @carlthedog) who my roommate has been petsitting for a friend. He’s got soulful eyes and I let him sleep on my bed. BIG STEP, PEOPLE.

This weekend I’m hoping to try out a new (vegetarian friendly) breakfast place and maybe head out to the beach again.

Tata!

Emily

Twilight Concert Series

Last night I experienced what is to be the first of many concerts at the Santa Monica Pier. The Twilight Concert Series is now in its 28th year. Every Thursday, from July 5 to September 6, a new band will be showcased at the pier, ranging from Reggae to Indie Pop to Brass Band, among many other styles.
We ate at Pier Burger beforehand, a new restaurant that was pretty tasty. I think I’ll try their frozen custard next time. We also bought some of the kettle corn they were selling on the pier, which was deeeeelicious but perhaps maybe a mistake as it’s a huge bag and for whatever reason I was literally shoving it in my mouth nonstop. We also visited the Sonoma wine garden tent they had set up and enjoyed a Pacifico.
It started raining right as the opening act performed, but I actually didn’t mind. One of my favorite things is rain at the beach.

Next time, I'll definitely head down to the beach area to stake out a spot where you can also view the stage. I'll be bringing a blanket and maybe some food and drink to enjoy. Cheers to summer nights.

P.S. Just purchased Emily's new book! Excited for a fun read.

All That Glitters

In my dream world, I would buy a new dress for every occasion. Also in my dream world, I would consider things like “checking the mail” an occasion, so this is actually not a feasible thing. Instead, I often buy dresses with no particular occasion in mind. When I see something that sparkles, I need no justification for purchase.
The dress I wore on my birthday I saw and immediately knew it must be mine. It’s pink, sparkly, and by Kitson, which I formerly thought just made kitschy novelty items and t-shirts making references to pop culture.
Here are some other dresses that inspired me. Most of them are in the gold color family, as I thought that would be appropriate for a golden birthday.
This one by Alice + Olivia. It’s even called a princess dress.
Love the bow detail on the back of this skirt.
Soooo sparkly and fluffy.
Sometimes it’s good to have a simple design if you choose to cover yourself in shiny things.
If I had prom to do over…
Not sure why this French Connection dress is called Rainbow as it appears to be yellow and silver, but I’m still down.

And of course, my style icon knocks all of those out of the park. Let me get at that dress, Tay!

It’s not even my birthday

This weekend I kicked off my birthday celebrations a good ten days early in Newport Beach. I’ll be going out of town for the next three weekends (to three different locations, no less), so it was the only time to celebrate Cali style (and Rihanna style)!

Let the presents begin!

Note the sparkly personalized koozies. I have a talented friend, no? I think she should quit her job and open an Etsy store, perhaps named kustom koozies. I’m hoping this blog post will give her the publicity she needs and allow my readers to realize their deep desire for a kustom kooz. I had a strong dislike for all phonetic alliteration until I joined a sorority in college and attended kappa krush parties.

Proof that you’re never too old for a wand. And a photo shopped tiara.

Thanks so much to everyone who celebrated with me. I feel truly blessed.