weekend highlights

Cakes and Polish

 

I saw this idea on Pinterest some time ago but could never find the perfect white cake stand. It was either too small or too expensive and the one time I saw one at Ross I told myself to just buy it the next day…and of course, it wasn’t there. We happened to be at Ross yesterday and while perusing the home goods section I saw this perfect large cake stand. $12 later I was a happy camper. It’s a great way to keep polishes organized and to really show off the colors you’re only using right now. The rest are waiting in plastic containers for the right season.

A Little Brush Up

I love this brush cleaner from MAC. It’s got a great scent and since my eyes are pretty sensitive to make up, I’m always looking for ways to keep the brushes clean. At $14 it’s a great buy, but I wish it came with a spray nozzle instead. I tend to spill anything that uses a cap like the one the bottle currently has. Before discovering this, I used antibacterial foam soap and warm water. Just as good, but a little more work to keep the bristle shape. I’m spending part of my lazy Sunday opening up a new bottle and getting my clean on.

Farmer’s Market Haul

Aren’t these gorgeous? It almost seems like blood oranges but they’re actually nectarines. The stand that sells these, apricots and peaches as well is always pretty busy. At $2.50 a pound it also gets expensive as one of these can almost reach a pound on their own. But it’s well worth it and the taste is so sweet and crisp. Also worth the sock tan as we bike to the market now.

Time Travelin’

We watched the film yesterday. This is actually fan made art by Daniel Keane which I actually prefer to the official movie poster. His work is fairly simple and takes small, but memorable moments from the film and makes them the focal point. Or, he takes themes and strips it down to get at the heart of an emotion the film tries to convey and I think he’s very successful at it. I thought the film was great and time travel futuristic stuff is always exciting but there are some heavy universal emotional themes in the movie as well. I walked out of the theatre wanting to discuss it, but still have a moment to process all of it.

“Indeed.”

John loves The Wire. I mean he loves it. To the point where he’s watched all five seasons multiple times and is now rewatching the fifth season for the third or fourth time while also watching the third and fourth season with me (first time), as well. When the show first came on HBO I had seen a few episodes, but it just didn’t stick. Now, as I’ve soldiered on to the beginning of the fourth, all I can say is that I think this show is incredible and pretty much a top three in terms of good quality drama. I know I’m late on this train, but damn, this show is good. The other night, as season 3 was ending, I literally stood up and screamed at the television. It is, quite frankly, that good and really is a shame it never got the recognition it deserved in it’s original run. And what do you know, the above poster is also by Daniel Keane! While looking for good fan art as I don’t generally love DVD box set covers, I came upon the above. Simple, stark, and yet still menacing. So excited to start the fourth season, while oddly enough, cleaning makeup brushes.

music. love. no doubt.

I still buy CDs. It’s the 90s kid in me. And the last time I bought a No Doubt album, I was in high school!

no doubt. push and shove.

Eek gads I’m in love with this album already. It combines so many elements of No Doubt that there’s something for every fan. It’s got a great southern California vibe to it and harkens back to old school ND that reminds me alot of Tragic Kingdom. Currently looping “Sparkle.” I can’t wait to see them live again.

Picking up the album today got me thinking about some recent listens I’ve had.

kesha. die young.

I can’t help but like her. She’s fun and wild and I actually really love the styling of the shot above. I wish she did more looks like this rather than her white trash/glitter look. She can be remarkably striking. The “Die Young” single is just pure dance fun.

Passion Pit. Take a Walk.

We just saw Passion Pit at the Hollywood Bowl a few weeks ago. Fun show and I heard the single “Take a Walk” for the first time. It got everyone standing and dancing.

the black keys. little black submarines.

There’s a lyric on this song that goes:

But everybody knows
That a broken heart is blind

Like almost any of their songs, there’s always a moment that stops me cold. That line just slays me.

mumford and sons. babel.

Love this album cover and the new single “I Will Wait.” Those three little words. These white boys are killing me.

Speaking of which:

Paranoia in B-Flat Major

When I think of Mumford and Sons, I can’t help but think of what has been called “the best live band in America.” The first song I ever heard from the Avett Brothers was “Paranoia in B-Flat Major”, which also has a great video. They make me want to sit outside, drink beer, and just listen.

And like any true 90s kid, I feel like making a mix CD now.

september in miscellaneous

Some tidbits and moments to September:

neon, black, and stripes

A transition manicure. The bottom is white and turquoise. I finally got the striping tape I ordered and used a fuschia one to make the stripes. The color transferred adding some hot pink. Of course, a week later I was bored and ready to change it. How fleeting…and appropriate it seems.

cards against humanity

I originally heard about this game at the wedding we attended in Maryland. It’s naughty, inappropriate, shocking, and my sides were aching from laughing. I played with some of my very good friends in LA and the game is nothing, if not revealing. I had wanted to purchase it from Amazon, but they were out. Luckily, the designers of the game have a Creative Commons License on it and make it available for free. For $7 I was able to print out the PDF at Kinkos. The downside: 30 minutes at the cutting board. And some raised eyebrows. It’s basically the game Apples to Apples but with a naughty twist. I didn’t feel like clubbing and the night was still hot. So one 30-pack of beer + one exposing game of cards =  A fine way to spend a Saturday night.

endeavour over santa barbara

I spent most of my morning of September 21 looking outside the window towards the mountains and into the sky. I hoped and hoped it would fly over Santa Barbara and I’ve never followed a Twitter hashtag as much as  I did #spottheshuttle. I ran out of my building to my car and drove straight to the beach when I read it was near Vandenberg Air Force Base. Five minutes after parking and looking out north I heard the distant rumble of plane engines. And there, in the sky, was the Endeavour space shuttle hitching a ride on top of a Boeing 747 and escorted by two fighter jets. It was remarkable. I actually felt chills and my heart swell as it flew over. Everyone on the beach just stood and stared in awe. There was something unifying in the experience; the way an entire generation must have felt watching the moon landing. There weren’t be a space shuttle launch for a while  (unless it’s to Mars) and I’m glad I got to see it on it’s final voyage. It was incredible how much of the nation was chasing across streets, playgrounds, and rooftops to catch a glimpse. It felt bittersweet in so many ways.

pink and white lisianthus

We go to the Farmer’s Market in Goleta every Sunday (when we’re actually in SB for the weekend). John to get strawberries (before summer’s end) and for me to get my twice-a-month-I-love-you flowers. Sometimes he’ll pick them out, but usually I do. Hee. He tries. I just love getting them. Right now I’m loving Lisianthus. The first time we got them they also came with Belles of Ireland, which were beautiful but had small tiny spikes. This picture is misleading as the bouquet is quite large. I couldn’t pick between the pink and the white, but this batch had touches of both. I can stare at them all day. The pink feels like spring and summer, so I’m buying them in a futile effort to hold on.

the atomic cookie

I figured end on a sweet note.

This cookie is the bomb. Hence the name, I think. And if today’s entry is all about straddling the line between summer and fall, then a cookie that is half chocolate chip and half chocolate chunk makes sense. These can be found at Metropulos Find Food Merchants here in SB. They have the best food and this cookie.. this cookie.. it’s going to be the end of me.

august weddings.

June through August really is wedding season. In fact, I went to three this month. That now brings the grand total to 10 weddings since May of 2010. That first wedding being my good friend Jane to her now hubby Joe. I was actually a bridesmaid in that one. Graduating college, going to grad school, working full time: all these things felt like “grown-up” stuff, but nothing made me feel quite like an adult as being guests or part of these big days.  Maybe it was the fact two people were making the serious decision to spend their lives together, but quite possibly it was realizing that they all must have spent small fortunes to make these days happen.

Right now, I would make the easy choice of spending a good part of my salary cavorting around the world. So, I live vicariously through my friends’ weddings. If there’s one thing to be guaranteed about weddings in the summer…they are warm.

Justine and Brent

Justine and Brent, an SMC wedding

I went to Saint Mary’s College with Justine where we both got our MFA in NonFiction. I was thrilled to learn she would be getting married at the church on campus. It really is beautiful both inside and outside of the church and the only time I had ever gone inside was to take a peek during orientation. The wedding had a Southern element to it (Justine is from North Carolina) which meant mini chicken and waffles during the reception and sweet tea with pink and white striped straws just to name a few touches. But my all-time favorite was the blue Mason jars. Blue! I have been wanting these babies forever and every table at the reception had them. I just wanted to take them all home and hoard them selfishly.  They’re gorgeous close up and the chalkboard table numbers…adorable. It was great to reunite with old classmates and Justine and Brent are really so great together. They also have a cute “how-we-met” story, too.

Hazel and JR

Hazel and JR, dashes of purple and san diego pride.

Hazel and JR’s wedding was at St. Denis Church in Diamond Bar, CA. It’s an incredibly gorgeous space with high ceilings and beautiful stained glass. I can see why reserving the space takes at least a year and a half in advance. The reception was in the foothills of  Claremont in a theatre space with these wood floors that I just loved. Hazel and JR are from the San Diego area, hence the Chargers themed cake topper and cake pop (blue velvet cake!). It was such a fun wedding with small touches to make it enjoyable for the guests. Glow sticks with these multi-light disco wall thing which I thought was so cool when everyone got on the dance floor. I also won the centerpiece which I loved but gave to my mom who I knew secretly really wanted it. Their wedding was a great example of what uplighting can do to transform a venue. The reception room was great to begin with–sunken floor, dark wood, large mirrors on the wall to give the illusion of space. But the deep purples created such an elegant mood that evoked a lounge atmosphere that felt intimate but still lively. Lavender dominated the tables to keep it romantic. I’ve known Hazel for years and JR is someone that I’m so happy she met. They really do bring the best out in each other.

John and Janelle

John and Janelle, a maryland wedding.

Oh…an east coast wedding. Hot, but still lovely. The wedding was in Maryland at the Kent Manor Inn. The only decent picture of the front I could get is that small one near the top. Does not do it justice, but believe me, beautiful manor, great grounds, and the reception was in this really great small circular house thing (God, for the life of me, I can’t describe it), but windows all around, which like mirrors, makes the space feel really open despite the small area. The reception was dominated in white and golds and had a beachy feel to it that made it feel warm and summery. The panelling on the walls and even the ladies’ room had sea coastal inn written all over it. The air conditioning, thankfully, was cranked up so it always felt cool inside. And I just have to talk about the cake. Like Justine’s wedding…cupcakes! They had one called limonata and the frosting was delectable. I normally stick to plain vanilla, but I could have eaten a whole tier. I also just love the picture of the little boy waiting for his drink. A bunch of young’uns were lined up and the bartender served them like they were regulars. Too cute. John and I flew to the east coast specifically for the wedding, but turned it into a sightseeing trip of our nation’s capital in nearby D.C. I will follow up soon with highlights since I think I took nearly a thousand pictures. No joke.

All in all, I think this closes out 2012 for weddings. It was hectic and at times exhausting to do all the traveling, but man, I love an excuse to get dolled up, drink some free booze, fawn over wedding gowns, and tear up and sigh when brides and grooms dance and kiss. My own dream wedding scenario is a cool relaxed trip to city hall (fun white or cream dress and some funky blue)…after eloping in Spain or Morocco or Reykjavik even. So it’s nice to attend all these weddings, so unique and special to these individual couples, because  in a weird way, you get so many versions to try out without the “commitment.” (I had too!)