It's a Party... on my Nails!!

I just got my nails done last night, and decided to go out on a limb for something out of the norm.  I saw this manicure on Pinterest a while back, and thought there was something so sweet and fun about it - like a party on your nails.

I usually go with OPI sweetheart when I want something subtle and pretty, Essie Chinchilla if I want a mid-range taupe, or OPI Linken Park after Midnight if I'm feeling sassy, but this time I let my manicurist take a good look at this photo, and choose the colors for me.

This is what I ended up with:

I am kind of loving them!  What do you think??

Breaking Bad - It's Happening!!

Is anyone obsessed with this show like I am??  Kris and I really got into it though Netflix, and now that we are all caught up, the season premier could not come fast enough!  The season finale was so crazy - for those that follow it, you KNOW what I'm talking about!

After much waiting... the premier is here! (almost) - Sunday night, I know where I'll be... glued to the couch with my honey, bowl of popcorn and probably some wine.

Happiness

There is nothing like a cupcake at the end of a long day at work to make you feel like all is right in the world...

Happy Humpday!

Knock Knock

Nope, this post is not about a terrible joke, but about my love of front doors.  Having lived in city apartments for the last five years, I've never had my own front door, but I dream all the time how I'd like it to look.

I actually think that front doors say a lot about who you are, and what to expect on the inside of your home.  Don't they add a ton of personality to a building??

 

I am LOVING the roughed up rustic doors with old bronze pulls, crooked slats, dings, cracks and character, but I also love a good colorful door.  It says, "this home is happy... come on in"!  (how fabulous is the pink door above??)



I love the yellow against the grey brick - it doesn't need a lot of additional decor around it since it makes such a strong statement.
 


How awesome is this bubblegum pink door - with the white walls, and modern cacti, I picture the owners living their lives in the poolside cabana, cool cocktails in hand.




This red door brightens up a dark stone stairway... it looks damp and cold, but I imagine a warm cozy living room with a steaming cup of tea waiting in there...



Look at that iron scroll work on both of these - the doors on the left say "french bourgeois", while the doors on the right say "hot Havana nights", but both scream "fabulous."



A simple red door on a dark farmhouse - the lack of detail here is what makes the most impact.  My favorite part?  The old iron pull on the door.




I could go on and on forever... will someone make a coffee table book of JUST doorways??

Dinner with Sissy

Burrata and Wine from the Tap - Delfina
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I have affectionately referred to my sister as "sissy" for as long as I can remember.  As a name... "I miss you Sissy", or as a noun... "That's MY big Sissy!"  You get the idea :-)

Well, Sissy came to visit on Tuesday night this week, and I could not have been more excited.  While it was primarily a matter of convenience, (the passport office is located in San Francisco) it was just nice to see her, and spend time one-on-one.  I love her husband to death - he is funny, sarcastic, and just fun to be around - but I do miss having just 'sister time' with her.

Anyway, with just one night to hang out, we walked to one of my FAVORITE restaurants in this city for dinner (and several glasses of wine).  Delfina is a fabulous pizzeria in my neighborhood, that boasts the most fabulous thin crust Neapolitan style pizza.  It's loud, and small, but feels cozy, and kind of fancy (even though it's NOT)... and did I mention that the food is out of this world??


Salsiccia Pizza - Delfina
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We sat up at the bar that looks into the open kitchen - my favorite spot.  I love to watch them flip the dough, and make your food right in front of you.  Everything is SOO fresh, and the fact that they have wine on tap (yep, ON TAP) makes me love this place even more.


Deep fried Zucchini blossoms - Delfina
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My favorites?? The fresh burrata from the 'starters' menu - they serve it with peppery arugula, toasted crostini, and a generous drizzle of extra virgin olive oil on top - heavenly.  I also LOVE the meatballs, but last time we came here, we went a bit overboard on the ordering so we held off on their meatballs for another night. Instead, we got one of their new additions to the menu - the stuffed zucchini blossoms that are overflowing with cheesy deliciousness.  These bad boys got battered and deep fried - I don't even want to know the calories - and the deep fried basil put this dish over the top.  Amazing.

For the finale, we got the salsiccia pizza - I could eat it every night and never tire of it, but I also love their panna pizza, the margarita, and the prosciutto pie.  Look at the full menu here - you will see how amazing (and reasonable) looks!!  If ever in SF - I highly recommend this spot.

A word to the wise - don't come starving.  They don't take reservations, and the wait can be pretty long on weekends, but trust me when I say it's worth it.  Order a glass of wine (or two) from the hostess, and you'll be fine :-)

Pretty Pink Peonies

I have a serious obsession, but they are sooo pretty, and only $7 at the grocery store!  I can't stop myself - peonies are literally THE MOST BEAUTIFUL flower on the planet!

Don't they also look so pretty in the morning light? Kris most likely thinks I'm insane to be snapping a few photos before work, but he's stuck with me now! Ha!

xo

How Pinteresting!

As a fan of pretty things, I often turn to Pinterest for inspiration - whether it's for fashion, home decor, recipes, or just pretty pictures - SO I've decided to start a series - How Pinteresting - to curate the things I've been finding most inspirational on Pinterest.

This week I'm all over the board with summer fashion inspiration, bold colors, and rustic home decor.

I'm loving this dress - not even the slightest clue where it's from, but I love the drape, I love that it's cut like a button down shirt (longer in the front, shorter on the sides), and I love that the fabric has a good weight.  It's work appropriate, but can be dressed up for night with bold accessories.

One might think it's the bright turquoise chest that I'm loving here, and while it is pretty fabulous on it's own, what I'm really drawn to is the wall color.  A dark color is a brave choice, but with lots of white (bedding, art, matte, and lamp) it doesn't give off a cave-like feeling.  Our bedroom doesn't get much light, and if we weren't renting, I would be painting this lovely navy on the walls this weekend!  I'm a little too lazy to try and cover that dark color back up when we move, so it's a no-go for now, but I'm loving the look here!

Holy load of accessories!  Multiple neckleaces, bangles, bracelets, and watches... Throw in a chained belt, and patterned cuffs on the jacket and that's a whole lot going on.  I happen to love this - might not be able to pull it off, but am certainly going to try :-)

Day-glo goes ladylike!  I am loving the tight pleats on this skirt, and the bright neon orange.  Or is it pink?  Is "neon coral" a color?  Whatever it is, I am loving it.  Definitely a weekend or evening look, to be worn with pared down accessories, and a neutral top / shoes.

Oh this photograph... It's French, and there's a big bunch of colorful balloons... what's not to love?!

From the nailhead trim on these chairs, to the raw wood table, I love everything about this dining room set-up!  We have a similarly styled pedestal table at home - an amazing find on Craigslist.  It's currently painted black, and since it's from the early 1900's, the paint is REALLY chipping.  I call it shabby chic, but it's definitely closer to "shabby" right now than "chic".  This photo makes me want to sand it down to it's original wood... so pretty!

First Position

Oooo emmmmm geeeeee!!!

I have been in love with ballet for as long as I can remember.  My favorite field trip in school was to see the Christmas production of The Nutcracker - to this day, my best friend and I still go every year to see it at the holidays.  I just think that of all the types of dance, it is by far the most beautiful.

While I wish I could get on pointe, and pirouette my way across a stage, it's probably a good thing that my mom didn't enroll my sister or I in ballet classes beyond the "leap gracefully over the feather" level.  My low tolerance for pain and love of food would have been a huge problem.

Anyways, there have been pretty much zero good ballet movies since Center Stage (and even some people might argue with me that it wasn't that great of a movie).  That is why I am SO excited for the release of First Position - a documentary that follows six young dancers as they compete in one of the largest and most prestigeous world wide dance competitions.

Watch the trailor - goosebumps!!

Puppy in the Rain!

I have a total soft spot for dogs wearing clothes, and this is no exception!!

It's been raining here, so last night Leo and I went on a very wet walk after work.  As you can see, he was pleased as punch with himself in his little raincoat.  Look at that sassy face!  I may just keep him :-)

Happy Monday!

Hope you all had a great weekend!

We had such a lovely weekend with family and friends - lots of food, and lots of warm spring sunshine!  This picture is of the cutest pup in the world - Leo - who was all dressed in his Sunday finest for Easter.   He's unfortunately not mine to keep - just puppy-sitting until Wednesday.

Happy Monday!

Pretty Spring Flowers

The light in the living room was so pretty this morning, I couldn't help myself - I had to snap several pictures of the ranunculus that are blooming by the windows.  I love this time of year when the sun rises earlier, and sets later, asparagus is in season, and the most lovely flowers are blooming.

Happy Monday!

Spring Blooms

 Trader Joe's is my source for flowers - they are cheap, and they stock seasonal flowers.  On this gloomy Monday, as I was wandering the aisles on my lunch break, I discovered that Ranunculus are in season, and promptly bought several bunches.

I love their soft springtime scent, and their many layers of petals - they remind me of little ballerina tutus or full party skirts.  I love that they have multiple flowers branching off each stem, and that when they are simply plopped into a vase, they look natural, and wild, and perfect.  I love that they are lovely in every color - white, yellow, pink and orange.  I love that their buds are cute and tucked in, and that they continue to bloom as time passes.

What a treat to start the week!

Life Lessons: Happiness

Print available from Gayana.art
LOVE this - It's going to be my new daily mantra - and this print may possibly find its way up on my office wall.  It's Thursday, the sun is out, it's going to be almost 70 degrees in San Francisco today (in February no less!!) and I am feeling optimistic.

Happy Thursday!
xo

Indoor / Outdoor Living

I'm not sure if it's the chilly weather, or if I've been feeling cooped up in our small cozy apartment, but lately, I've found myself day-dreaming about gorgeous indoor / outdoor living spaces.  I envision sitting out late drinking wine and chatting by the fire, cookouts, warm nights, and fuzzy fleece blankets for when summer turns to fall.

I love our little life in San Francisco, but look at these gorgeous spaces.  I am definitely making a mental note for when Kris and I do buy a house and settle down in the suburbs.  How amazing are some of these?!

mediterranean patio design by santa barbara architect J. Grant Design Studio

eclectic patio design by other metros landscape designer Prideaux Design

modern patio design by san luis obispo landscape architect Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture

tropical patio design by hawaii interior designer Philpotts Interiors

mediterranean patio design by miami lighting designer Capitol Lighting

mediterranean patio design by los angeles landscape architect AMS Landscape Design Studios, Inc.

All Photos Courtesy of Houzz.com

These are TO DIE FOR

And well worth every penny I might add... yes, a splurge of course, but a woman literally pulled her car over on saturday to tell me how fabulous my new footwear was...

Kris has no idea how much they were, but I think it's best that way.  My feet have been thanking me.

...And in the Spirit of Thanksgiving

Kris gets one too!

Let me back up the story for a second.  For my birthday back in March, I asked Kris for the new iPhone 5 when it came out.  Well after months of delays, Apple announces that the iPhone 5 won't be out for months still, so they are releasing the 4S.  Same thing to me!  8 months later, I get my shiny new present - just a week before Kris' birthday.  I told him he couldn't get one for himself once I got mine for my birthday present, becuase then it wouldn't be as special.  He does not quite understand this, but after having an outdated flip phone for years, I just want to be the one with the cool new gadget for a while.

Anyways, being the sweet thing that he is, he agreed not to get it for himself...

Little does he know, I am getting him the black one for his birthday...  he is going to be SO surprised.  I cannot WAIT to see the look on his face.  Priceless.

My New Little Toy

I LOVE THIS THING!!  Quite the upgrade from my cracked, red, Samsung flip phone circa 2001 (may she rest in peace)