let.it.be.

clutch.day.friday.

2012-01-27T09:00:00.000-08:00

Today is Clutch Day Friday because although I have seen some cute dresses lately, nothing holds a candle to this bad boy:

GAH!!! (Emily Cho)

books:2012.

2012-01-26T22:39:00.000-08:00

Just so we're clear, I didn't finish one book, pick up the next and get it read in a day (though I have done that many times before, cough all four Twilight and all three Hunger Games books, cough, seriously I'm not 15, I swear). But I just wrapped up my second book of 2012, so you get two book posts in a row!

2012

Game of Thones: A Dance with Dragons: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Five. (George R. R. Martin) Not only is the title a doozy but so is the book, at a whopping 1,040 pages. Yes, I'm a big nerd and I've read all five books in the Game of Throne series. (Yes, I've also read all of the Lord of the Rings books.) Yes, I'm worried George R.R. Martin is going to die of a heart attack or a cholesterol overdose before he gets around to finishing books 6 and 7. But of book 5, let me just say: SO GOOD. You have to be kind of into this type of story, but if you are: SO GOOD. I like to write things like "Winter is coming" and "Hodor" on my sister's Facebook wall. Also I have a major crush on Jon Snow. 5 nerdy stars.
Bossypants. (Tina Fey) I started out not really digging it. I love 30 Rock and I've always found Tina Fey hilarious so I was pretty excited to read this book... it just wasn't really doing it for me. But I'm glad I kept reading because once I got to the SNL and work-oriented chapters, I was mesmerized. Lots of great one liners (one of my favorite things EVER is when I literally laugh out loud in response to something funny) and actually some really smart advice about being a successful professional, manager and woman in the workplace. I've always been big on reading anything SNL - I have a huge book waiting for me on the history of the show and The Chris Farley Show remains one of the best books I have ever read ever. This book isn't something I'm about to insist everyone I know picks up right away, but it was a good read, for sure. 3.5 stars.

books:2012.

2012-01-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

I think I'd like to start keeping a list of the books I read. I'm hoping it feels like some kind of nice accomplishment at the end of the year. And I love to read, but I don't do it as often as I used to. Because I live literally half a block from my office, there's no more commute reading. And because I have severe issues with singular tasks, there's not a lot of sitting down and reading going on in my apartment (I'm a multitasker. I can't focus on just one thing at any given time, it's not in me).

So here we go with my list of books.

2012

Game of Thones: A Dance with Dragons: A Song of Ice and Fire: Book Five. Not only is the title a doozy but so is the book, at a whopping 1,040 pages. Yes, I'm a big nerd and I've read all five books in the Game of Throne series. (Yes, I've also read all of the Lord of the Rings books.) Yes, I'm worried George R.R. Martin is going to die of a heart attack or a cholesterol overdose before he gets around to finishing books 6 and 7. But of book 5, let me just say: SO GOOD. You have to be kind of into this type of story, but if you are: SO GOOD. I like to write things like "Winter is coming" and "Hodor" on my sister's Facebook wall. Also I have a major crush on Jon Snow.

Stay tuned for whatever I read next...

tuesday.inspiration.

2012-01-24T09:30:00.000-08:00

my.weekend.with.kat.part.2.

2012-01-23T21:30:00.000-08:00

Katherine posted photos from her trip to SF and I had a nostalgic morning missing my best friend, looking through all her photos.

We had such a great weekend together:

Friday started with lunch at Zuni and then we spent the afternoon catching up on some of our favorite shows together at my apartment. It might sound lame - watching TV while she's in town visiting - but Kat and I love to watch our shows together and judge and generally give a running commentary. Is anyone else watching Revenge? Because it's basically our favorite new show - a total guilty pleasure and so much fun to watch. There are a lot of "OMG!" moments - hence, it's fun watching with your best friend.

After our TV time, we headed over to Dobb's Ferry and then Louie's to meet some friends for drinks, then it was off to Umami for our all time favorite sushi and mixed drinks. If you are anywhere near SF, get yourself to Umami, order a Faded Crane for your beverage and then promptly ask for a Buttercup roll and a Hot Sui roll. You're welcome.

You can't hear it, but angels are singing

Saturday was our wine tasting day. Kat had never been to Sonoma and wanted to go... twist my arm.

Although it's somewhat expensive, we always get a car. Put half a glass of wine in either of us and no one is fit to drive...

Our first stop of the day was Gloria Ferrer - one of my favorites for sparkling wine. Their Blanc de Noirs is probably my favorite bubbly ever... so good! At each winery we took a photo together and then "across the table" photos - this concept originated when Kat went to Argentina with our friend, Anthony - he likes to do across the table photos at good meals. So we instituted this tradition over glasses of wine!

Next we headed to the Carneros Deli to pick up sandwiches to eat later. Although this place doesn't look like much from the outside, it's well worth the trip. A lot of bang for your buck - seriously good sandwiches! (I do not have pictures of the sandwiches... we were really focused on the wine...). Then it was off to Gundlach Bundschu, another one of my staples when visiting wineries in Sonoma. They always have a great selection - I've never left without buying at least one bottle. This time around I nabbed two, one of them being a really great bottle that I'm saving for a special occasion.

At Gundlach our wine pourer was a super nice guy who recommended we head over to their sister winery, Bartholomew Park. I had never been there before but now it's definitely on my list of must-visit wineries. The wine was fantastic and the winery itself used to be a hospital for wayward women. It definitely has an old horror movie feel to it, and the guy pouring our wine was all, "Do you want to see the morgue? Grab your glasses!" So over a delicious zin we got special access to the morgue - it was creepy, but pretty cool at the same time.

After Bartholomew Park we were feeling pretty buzzed so we ate our delicious sandwiches. Then it was on to Little Vineyards, a small reds-only winery where, if you're lucky, you can find a dog or two hanging out on the front porch (yay!).

After Little, it was on to Robledo, another recommendation from our friends at Gundlach Bundschu. The wine there was good, but not as memorable as the other places we stopped - it's not top of my list, but it was fun to try something new.

Our drive, TG - pretty much the coolest guy ever!

We headed back to SF after Robledo, full of wine and happy memories of a great afternoon. On our way back, TG took us to the overlook spot right before the Golden Gate Bridge so Kat could get some great shots of the bridge and the city. Pretty gorgeous:

Once back in the city, we had TG drop us off by Nopa so we could have an early dinner (and then go home and pass out, due to all the wine). We stopped at a nearby bar to catch the end of the Saints/Niners game.

Dinner at Nopa was wonderful, as always. Kat and I split the trout and the crab pasta - and had a few more drinks, if you can believe it. Dinner was accompanied by a solid heart-to-heart. Having a great meal and a great talk is basically our favorite thing to do together. We're pretty good at it, not gonna lie.

Post-dinner we headed back to my apartment and were out cold by about 9:30. Hardcore.

Sunday started with brunch at Bar Jules, one of my very favorite spots for brunch, then shopping around Hayes Valley and in the Fillmore neighborhood, where I picked up a great top by one of my favorites, Isabel Marant. We then watched the very depressing Packers/Giants game and then poured ourselves a couple of glasses of bubbly and settled in for more judging and running commentary during the Golden Globes. It's the little, mundane things I miss the most, living so far away from Katherine. A thing as easy as calling up your best friend and making plans to watch E's red carpet special together is something I don't take for granted anymore. We sat on my fold out couch drinking bubbles, discussing fashion and laughing at Ricky Gervais and I couldn't have been happier.

Finally, it was off to Bar Crudo for dinner with Shannon and Terry - one of my favorite spots with some of my favorite people! And despite the restaurant being out of 90% of what we tried to order (out of Prosecco, out of crab, out of shrimp, out of butterfish, out of ono), it was still a FANTASTIC meal. Oysters, clams, lobster, arctic char, oh my! Yes please.

That night we went to bed full and happy. Really, what a perfect weekend with my best friend.

dress.day.friday.

2012-01-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

Oh this dress... wow.

I wouldn't rock the green shoes - I'd want all the focus on the dress. Oh this dress...

Image via Vogue.com

Christopher Kane Resort 2012.

my.weekend.with.kat.

2012-01-19T07:37:00.000-08:00

This is the only photo I have from my perfect weekend with Katherine.

Afternoon lunch @ Zuni Cafe

This was the start of our weekend - I picked her up at the airport and we headed over to Zuni for a late lunch. The weather was perfect and we sat outside with our drinks, sharing oysters and a meal. It was the perfect way to start her trip.

Thankfully Kat took plenty of photos Friday night and all day wine tasting Saturday, so those are soon to follow once I get them from her.

There's nothing like having my best friend in town - someone to laugh with and lean on. I love our time together and I'm so lucky to call her my best friend.

tuesday.inspiration.

2012-01-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

dress.day.friday.

2012-01-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

Today Kat gets into town (weather permitting... come on Mother Nature, don't fuck with me) and it will be glorious... much like this dress.

In the words of Rachel Zoe: BANANAS.

Image via Revolve Clothing

girl.with.the.dragon.read.the.book.

2012-01-12T12:00:00.000-08:00

Last week Alisha and I caught the late showing of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It was a great night - we had a couple of drinks with friends after work, then picked up a to go pizza at Delfina and grabbed a glass of wine at a wine bar near the movie theater. The movie itself was... GO READ THE BOOK.

Seriously, Roony Mara did a great job. Also she's naked a lot. You get to see Daniel Craig's butt crack, but he's never naked (thanks for the sexism, Hollywood, rock on). I'm super upset with David Fincher for changing the ending (completely unnecessary, in case you were wondering), but I admire his ambition for taking on such a complex, intriguing story, and doing a semi-decent job of culling it down into a 2 hour and 40 minute film. But seriously, please please please read the book. It's amazing. It's involved. It's fascinating. It's can't put it down. And it's so much more than the movie could ever be. You just can't condense a story like that. You lose the finesse. You lose the essence. They tried and they got close, but it's not quite right. And the book is perfect. It's exactly what it should be. (And isn't that always the case when they make a movie based on a book?)

This is the only photo I have from that night... we tried to stop at a liquor store so we could bring a bottle of wine into the movie, but it was closed... at 8pm (what?).

tonight.

2012-01-11T21:25:00.000-08:00

After a LONG day at work, Alisha and I had an impromptu heart to heart at Absinthe over martinis and popcorn. I really love that girl - she is a true friend in the most real sense of that concept. I'm lucky to have her - you know that person you can just say anything to? And it's always okay? Yeah, she's kind of amazing.

hey.saturday.

2012-01-09T23:30:00.000-08:00

It's Monday evening and somehow by the end of the work day today my brain and body were convinced it was at least midday Wednesday. On the one hand it feels so great to accomplish so much in one day that you feel like it's been 2 1/2 days. On the other hand... why does it already feel like forever since the weekend?? I was hoping that weekend glow would last a bit longer...

And speaking of that weekend glow... wow, glow it did. Saturday was straight up perfect. Shannon, Terry and I left the city at 8am for a Mt. Tam hike. We found a new trail that is now our go-to. It was perfect - challenging (but not miserable), scenic, variable length... and what a gorgeous day! We really are blessed to live here - to be able to take a quick drive outside the city and have nature just waiting for us.

After an amazing hike, we headed to the Fremont Diner (probably the only diner I've ever been to that has the freshest ingredients and most amazing dishes), then over to Artesa (wouldn't you know, we all belong to the same winery) to pick up our winter shipments. Members get free wine tastings, which was a perfect way to spend our afternoon. And finally we stopped at Ram's Gate, a relatively new winery in Sonoma that, while pricey, is freaking gorgeous. And their Estate Pinot Noir is so incredible.

Fremont Diner

Artesa

Ram's Gate

Some solid wine purchases later we headed home before the traffic got crazy. I had a quick respite at home and then headed back out to meet Mike and Laura for dinner and a concert. Laura is super into the up and coming music scene, which is great because I absolutely am not. I love music so much - I love live music SO much... but I just don't have time to weed through all the emerging bands and somehow find the good stuff. Do you know what's on my Spotify playlist? Disney music. Yes, you read that right. Yes, I'm 29. You know what else is on my Spotify playlist? Old school Whitney Houston. Hall and Oates. Glee. More Glee. Crappy pop music (I LOVE YOU, KATY PERRY). Rod Stewart (Downtown Train = one of the best songs e v e r). And a whole lotta country.

So yeah, it's a good thing that I have people in my life who can introduce me to new music. Because I love music! Last year Laura had Mike and me buy tickets to see a band called The Head and the Heart. Hands down one of the best concerts I have ever been to. I listened to their album nonstop for weeks after that show. I've sent the tracks to half the people I know (exaggerating for emphasis). I HIGHLY recommend them, and if you can see them live make it happen!!

So Saturday night was another concert night - Laura had us get tickets for a group called Starfucker. (Cut to me in the VIP area at Artesa - Shannon says, oh who are you seeing tonight? I'm all, Starfucker, glancing around self consciously.) SUPER appropriate band name, yes. It was a great show - not my usual type of music, but I totally dig where they're coming from and I will definitely add them to my Spotify playlist. I also really wanted to buy a tshirt, just to have a tshirt that says "Starfucker." They were only $15 and now I'm kicking myself for not buying one!

Basically it was a perfect day. This is what I want 2012 to be... rock on.

dress.day.friday.

2012-01-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

1. Is it summer yet so I can wear this dress?
2. Maybe this dress will be on sale by the time it's summer?
3. This dress is a no bra/no back fat situation... resolutions!!

Gah:

Images via Shopbop

sweet.home.

2012-01-04T13:00:00.000-08:00

After five days in Madison, I spent five more in Chicago and I fell in love with that city all over again. Great food, football, that chill in the air, walking everywhere... and most of all, the people. On my last night in town, Fisher and I walked home together from my sister's apartment - 1.7 miles with snow falling softly all around us, just talking and laughing and living in that small, amazing, best part of the day.

I haven't stopped looking at the pictures from my trip since I've been back - I love happy memories. Some of the best moments of the trip I don't even have pictures of: that walk home with Fisher, my downtown lunch with Kat, watching movies with the girls - giggling endlessly over Justin Timberlake jokes, drooling over Ryan Gosling and sobbing uncontrollably during Cold Mountain, our simple lunch with John, the crazy run-in at Piece, singing at the top of our lungs to Whitney Houston at the bar, getting ready with my sister in her bathroom while we talk about EVERYTHING. It's home.

Katherine & me @ Burwood for Trivia, my favorite standing tradition

Action shot

Anthony, Katherine and Bryan @ Nick's Beer Garden

The Kels

Group shot @ The Other Side after a loooong day of drinking (sorry for partying)

Per usual, silly faces

check.me.out.

2012-01-02T23:43:00.000-08:00

For the first time in most likely my entire life, I have just willingly unpacked the same day I arrived home from traveling. It's a (belated) Christmas miracle!!

witness my success

Omg, I really need to do laundry.

holly.jolly.

2012-01-02T16:00:00.000-08:00

Well the holidays pretty much flew by. On the 26th, the day before I was due to leave my parents in Madison and head down to Chicago to spend some time with my friends from home, I found myself sitting in the kitchen with my mom and the dog, just crying my eyes out because I didn't know how the days had gone by so fast. Living so far away from my family has really made me appreciate the time I get to spend with them - these days it never seems to be long enough.

I had a really wonderful Christmas - decorating the tree with my sister, running errands with my mom, watching Friday Night Lights as a family and playing fetch for countless hours with Sadie... it was everything I wanted it to be.

Kel & I took time to grab a beer together - it was fun to just catch up (and drink at noon because, hey, we're on vacation)

We hung lights on the patio of Grams & BooBoo's new apartment at the independent living facility

In that pile of presents on the couch there were about six bags of toys/treats for Sadie - she's so smart, she actually recognizes the type of bags my mom uses for her every year - she wanted to open those presents early!

The tree - mom started with the lights at the top and Kel & I finished it... mom is far superior at placing lights - witness our "ombre" tree :)

I'm reading and Sadie is laying in the sun

Opening presents!

Sadie sleeping on Daddy's lap

I love those Santa boots by the fire :)

We bought flamingo lights to go over the bar in the basement - basically the coolest thing ever

Playing tug with a relentless Sadie

Dad + Sadie + Mom = LOVE

i.love.ohare.

2011-12-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

Did you know they filmed the first Home Alone at O'Hare?

best.airport.EVER.

at.the.gate.

2011-12-22T15:37:00.000-08:00

Spotted these two at my gate at the airport... the plane was going to Chicago... do you think I should have let them know it's cold as all getout there?

super cute

for.the.most.part.

2011-12-20T10:39:00.001-08:00

outside the walgreens

yes.this.happened.

2011-12-19T13:06:00.000-08:00

Last night - in all its campy glory - Shannon, Trey and I went to see Bring It On! the musical.

Yes, you read that right. Yes, it was voluntary. Yes, it was super awesome.

Thanks to Bring it On! the musical, we learned important lessons like, "How do we know who we are unless we cross the line?" (And by "line" they mean both the physical line you cannot step over during a cheer competition and the metaphorical lines we all face during key moments of our lives. This was heavy stuff. Gripping drama.)

Also, when someone is sad, just use this handy tool for instant cheering up (it helps if you sing it):

You: Happy kitties

Sad friend: Sleeping puppies

You: Baby duckies

Used-to-be-sad-now-happy friend: Sparkle ponies!

Works like a charm. I think this is really going to give me the leg up as a manager at work.

The Orpheum at night... gorgeous

Framing this Playbill, obviously

holiday.party.2011.

2011-12-17T11:59:00.000-08:00

Despite last week's gratuitous work barfing (food poisoning? virus?) and this week's stress hives (hot), I did get a few hours of respite from all the hardcore work, in the form of our annual holiday party. And as I do every year, I am here to share the photographic proof of a good time had...

scared /dumb / confused / happy

silly faces / judging / serious / happy

Trey wouldn't let me plan this one... I think I scared her when I was so hardcore about planning for the photobooth ... sorry for partying...

shocked / elated / surprised / serious (Heather wants to cut a bitch)

scared / confused / dumb / randy

yeah, does it really look like we planned any of this? alcohol.

I made them plan for this one: angry / open mouth smiles / pooping (maturity) / confused

less planning / more alcohol

the picture of sobriety... love that double fist, Alisha

dress.day.friday.

2011-12-16T10:39:00.000-08:00

This week I broke out in stress hives - we've been working on this huge pitch (due today) and - clearly- it's been stressing me out. But rather than show you a picture of my stress hives (super hot), here's something pretty to look at...

Image via Net-A-Porter

how.did.we.get.here?

2011-12-12T22:32:00.000-08:00

Sick (food poisoning? does food poisoning last 4 days? virus?)
+ project gone seriously awry at work
+ biggest pitch we've ever pitched at work
= chaos

When will it be time for the holiday break? Will I make it to next Wednesday when I fly home for Christmas? Stay tuned, it's action packed in the most boring way over here...

I walked into my apartment tonight, surveyed the landscape and felt a little horrified.

I swear I'm not a slob. How did this happen?
Why do I find it so hard to hang up my clothes at the end of the day when I'm stressed? When did I get so many shoes and why are they ALL piled up in front of the entrance to the kitchen? Why can't I find fitted sheets with deep enough corners to stay on my mattress? These are the fascinating mysteries of my life.

A bit later:

I love, love, LOVE the feeling of a clean and tidy apartment. It's so satisfying... it makes me feel like the kind of girl I want to be. The kind of girl who flosses every day and values produce over carbs and always gets up to go to the gym when the alarm goes off in the morning.

Sometimes I'm that girl... and sometimes I'm the girl who tosses her clothes and leaves them wherever they land, all in an effort to get her sweatpants on as fast as possible at the end of the day.

Tonight this girl is sitting in her freshly cleaned apartment in her super awesome sweatpants. Who's the big winner?

neon.#2.

2011-12-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

My love of all things neon continues... and this is my wishlist:

I CRAVE this Comme des Garcons metallic wallet - absolutely #1 on my want list!! For the life of me I can't find these online anywhere... if anyone knows where to find one, I'm desperate to find out!!

This dress by Zero + Maria Cornejo is amazing.

This Cambridge Satchel has been on my mind for months now...

I have no idea who makes this shoe (people on Pinterest can be so careless sometimes!), but I would very much like it to be in my closet.

And speaking of wallets, this beautiful hot pink Cleobella number is second on my list...

And although this See By Chloe bag is completely impractical, I soooo want to own it!

for.we.need.a.little.christmas.

2011-12-06T09:30:00.000-08:00

It was SO hard to get up this morning. I worked late and didn't sleep well. When the alarm went off this morning for pilates I seriously thought about just texting my instructor and telling her I wasn't going to make it. But I dragged myself out of bed and sluggishly started getting ready for my workout. As I was running down the steps in my apartment building, already late to pilates, this is the scene that greeted me at the bottom of the stairs:

It stopped me in my tracks, and then I ran back upstairs to grab my phone to make sure I could capture a photo while it was still semi-dark out and the lights were glowing in the morning. Kind of exactly what I needed in that moment.

I think it's important to take time for holiday cheer and the spirit of the season. At my office this year I've started an internal project to put up some lights and bring a little holiday cheer. I think it's so important - necessary even - especially during a time when we're all in that fourth quarter crunch - heads down and constantly working overtime. Won't it be nice to walk into the office each morning and have a little holiday cheer? More importantly, I've reached out to the Salvation Army and we're partnering with them for their Angel Tree program - we'll put up a tree in our office and the Salvation Army will give us tags to hang on our tree for local children from families who can't afford to buy gifts this year. Each tag has a child's name, age and gift wish. My co-workers and I can take tags from the tree and purchase gifts for these children, which the Salvation Army will pick up and give to the families so they can have a happy holiday, just like we all expect to have.

I love this time of year. I love the snap in the air (we don't really get that in SF and I miss it so much), and I love the spirit and the warmth of the holiday season - we should all take time to foster that spirit - it's so easy to let it slip away from us, but it makes all the difference.

For we need a little Christmas*, right this very minute.

*Or whatever you choose to celebrate!

favorite.things:neon.edition.

2011-12-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

I am IN LOVE with anything neon. I'm just drawn to it. I like having little neon accents in my life - they make me happy and brighten every day.

My neon zebra from The Good Machinery
(notice my excellent taste in books... and the stark contrast of having Twilight stacked between the Ayn Rand masterpieces, The Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged... classy)

My neon & gold lion from The Good Machinery... these little guys like to hang out on my bookcase

My "Hello Lady" & "Hello Sir" note cards from Yellow Owl Workshop... I framed them to work as accent pieces

My e.vil travel bag... it holds SO MUCH and always gets comments at the airport :)

This Wildfox sweatshirt is part of my favorite comfy weekend wear. Can't get enough.

i.heart.sf.

2011-12-05T08:00:00.000-08:00

It's funny... since I've been seriously considering moving back to Chicago next year (and by seriously considering I mean assuming it's happening), I've really been able to enjoy my life in San Francisco more than I have in a while. Maybe it's just a coincidence, but maybe there's no such thing as coincidence.

Monday: we hit up Sugar after work for catching up and a few drinks.

Tuesday: just a random night - nothing planned, nothing major. First Absinthe, then Latin American Club - we just hung out and talked and laughed together and maybe it was just any other night for my friends, but for me it was a reminder of what I'll miss if (when?) I move home.

Wednesday: took a break from my social activities and just chilled at home... nice to have my me time. I love my apartment here... I love the way I feel at home when I walk through the door.

Thursday: live music and good friends at Hotel Utah. Shannon and I had a two person dance party in the middle of The Ponies set.

Friday: Stress City at work, then off to Zuni as always, just hanging out and unwinding.

Saturday: pilates with Shannon, then brunch and mimosas and shopping in my neighborhood.

Sunday: football with Mike for the first time in f o r e v e r... I will always text "yes" when that kid wants to get together to watch the games. :)

It's nice to make time to appreciate what I have here. It's completely different than what I have in Chicago, but it is good.

it's.the.little.things.

2011-12-04T13:58:00.001-08:00

Walking home from watching football with Mike, and I came across this...

music.on.a.thursday.

2011-12-03T09:34:00.001-08:00

This past Thursday I went with Shan and Terry to Hotel Utah to see one of Terry's best friends perform. There is really nothing like live music - it's one of my favorite things in the whole world. Forever after a good show, whenever you listen to that music again you can feel like you're right back there in the moment, at that amazing concert. I love it.

And so based on Thursday's stellar show, I have two new music recommendations for anyone who is interested.

T's best friend, Brendan, opened the show. His is a solo act and he's incredibly talented. You can download some of his stuff for free on his website: B Willing James. Absolutely worth a lot of listens.

After Brendan's set came the main act, a band I'd never heard of, called The Ponies. They're so brand new that they don't have a site up yet, and they don't have an EP recorded - but they will soon, and you better believe I will be first in line to buy it. I fell in love with them almost immediately. They're rock and country with so much soul that I was completely mesmerized and so, so happy to be there to experience their music.

Great music + great friends + High Lifes* at the Hotel Utah = fantastic night.

*It's the Champagne of Beers

want.

2011-11-29T09:00:00.000-08:00

I spotted these champagne flutes at a little shop in Denver a couple of months ago and loved them, but when I asked the clerk who made them he sort of mumbled, and despite my best Googling efforts I could not find those damn flutes.

Roost Soiree flutes

Lo and behold, shopping in my very own neighborhood with my family this past weekend (I never go into the little shops in my hood because they're so bougie), I found them... and then I found a set of glasses in the same line that completely one-upped the flutes:

Roost Soiree glasses

Want.

And speaking of bougie, if you're super fancy, you might like these little guys:

Roost Soiree Apertif glasses

zombies.

2011-11-28T14:57:00.001-08:00

Is anyone watching The Walking Dead on AMC? None of my friends are watching it (despite my incessant nagging), and last night's mid-season finale ended with some real OMG moments. You know when those things happen you want to turn to the person sitting next to you, or text someone or find someone at work the next day and be all, OMG!! Except I have no one to turn to or text or find at work because all of my friends are too scared to watch a show about zombies. C'mon people!

If you're not watching it, I think it's clear at this point that I highly recommend it. Start with season one. This show is a doozy, let me tell you.

OMG!!

thanksgiving.2011.

2011-11-27T21:21:00.001-08:00

I'm at home and it's already Sunday night - somehow the holiday weekend just flew by. I'm watching that show Once Upon a Time - is anyone else watching it? I'm still trying to figure out why I'm so hooked. The plot is full of holes and the acting is less than stellar. I want to hate it, but somehow it's the first thing that gets my attention on the DVR on Sunday nights... what?

I can't believe the long weekend is over already - I feel like I was with my family for all of 30 seconds! It's kind of a bummer... but knowing that I'm headed home in three weeks to see them again for the holidays is a great feeling. If only I could figure out what to get my dad and my sister for Christmas...

We had a great weekend together - nothing groundbreaking (though I'm sure Amex would disagree, based on the workout I gave my credit card in wine country this weekend...), but just great time spent together. We rented a house in Bodega Bay and spent our Thanksgiving making pizza and watching Friday Night Lights (also known as the best television show EVER). My parents have never seen the series, so we got them all five seasons as a gift, and it was SO fun to experience most of season one with them over the long weekend... today as they left for the airport my last words to them were, "Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose!" We spent our mornings reading or working out and making breakfast, and then spent our days driving around wine country and hitting up all my favorites: Merry Edwards, Iron Horse, Artesa, Preston and of course the very best, Frick. A really great weekend with the ones I love.

We slaved over this ~~turkey~~ pizza Thursday night...

A very fancy Thanksgiving (we did have mashed potatoes... witness, top center).

Hey y'all!

Bodega Bay... the view from our porch.

Mom & me (xo).

Keller with our new best friend, Freddie (go visit Mercury winery in Geyserville... good wine + Freddie = yesssss).

sunday.football.

2011-11-21T08:52:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I watched football with Shan and T. And with Shannon and I being Bears fans and Terry being a Chargers fan, it was fun to watch our teams go head to head. And of course it's always a good time my team wins... holler!

Some of Shan and T's other friends were there, so we had some fellow Bears fans to cheer with - a nice change from my usual drought of sports fans in my life out here in SF.

I also met a boy... but not anything I'm super excited about. After several beers, I am usually a lot easier on people than I am when I'm sober. The truth is that I'm pretty hard on people (I think I'm also pretty hard on myself, but I really hate it when people say that about themselves - it's so self-serving). So although yesterday by the end of the fourth quarter this boy seemed cute and fun and nice, in the sober light of Monday morning, I'm already assuming there is something wrong with him... and he hasn't even asked me out or anything! (He did, however, request me as a friend on Facebook... I swear, any sense of romance has died with the onset of technology like texting and Facebook. I once had someone poke me on Facebook as a form of flirting. No... just, no.)

Regardless of me being judgy, however, it's always nice to have some attention from a boy. So I'll probably accept the friend request and leave it at that. As for the rest of this week, I'm really looking forward to the 7pm showing of Twilight: Breaking Dawn: Part 1 I'm going to tonight (because apparently I'm a thirteen-year-old girl) and I can't wait for my family to get into town for Thanksgiving! A break from work, pizza dinner (instead of turkey), wine tasting and movie nights with my mom, dad and sister - yes, perfect, exactly. :)

dress.day.friday.

2011-11-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

Ohmydianevonfurstenberg

Image via Shopbop

ramona!

2011-11-17T14:04:00.001-08:00

My pilates instructor, Jill, and I share a deep love of reality tv on Bravo. So what did she have waiting for me at our session this morning? Ramona Singer Pinot Grigio... holler!!

Yes, I'll be serving this at Thanksgiving dinner. As if you had to ask.

hello.weekend.

2011-11-14T08:51:00.001-08:00

Friday night was our launch party for my most recently completed project. My team spent the night letting off some major steam - they certainly earned it. And there may or may not be video of me and three of my coworkers belting out Wilson Phillips' "Hold On" at the top of our lungs at Gino & Carlo... sorry for partying...

Saturday held a much needed pilates session that completely kicked my butt, and some quality time with my DVR.

And Sunday was my birthday present from Shan and T - we started the day with brunch and morning football games at 21st Amendment, then headed to Candlestick Park for the Niners/Giants game! It was a great game and a good win for the 49ers. (The Bears also had a solid win yesterday - holler!) A perfect way to spend my Sunday - with two of my favorite people. :)

Never a bad seat - I love this stadium!!

dress.day.friday.

2011-11-11T09:00:00.000-08:00

It's dress day Friday:

Jason Wu

...a girl can dream...

thursday.in.hayes.valley.

2011-11-10T21:38:00.001-08:00

After a long, slow day at work, I had a surprisingly wonderful evening. Alisha and I headed to the Biergarten (with which I am in love) for drinks and snacks, and then over to the Steve Alan Hayes Valley store opening. Nothing super exciting or news-worthy, but just a really lovely evening with a good friend who means the world to me. Not too shabby. :)

---

(Oh, and I met Mr. Steve Allen himself and got a free tote, to boot - holler)

oh.hi.

2011-11-06T13:36:00.000-08:00

I miss my blog.
It's certainly been a while... I just haven't felt like I had anything worth saying, I think. And that has started to affect my whole life, really.

I'm thinking about moving home - leaving SF and going back to Chicago. Which is terrifying... but also a little exciting? It also makes me feel like I failed somehow - like I failed in SF and I have to go home because I failed. I know that's not really true, but I was always kind of proud that I was someone who didn't stay - who left home and did something completely new and different (even if it was with the crutch of having my boyfriend with me).

The thing is, something just hasn't felt right... and it hasn't felt right for about a year now. How long should I sit around and wait for things to get better? I think I could be a lot happier. I have this great career out here - one I really don't want to leave - but I want more than that. I have the career I've always wanted. I have opportunities and I work with brilliant people and I am challenged constantly - it's incredible. But it's not enough. Is it worth is to sacrifice the perfect job if it means potentially bettering the other parts of my life?

What if I move home and nothing changes? What if I'm still struggling?
What if I regret it?

I had a call the other day - some light networking for a possible opportunity in Chicago. It completely freaked me out. Am I ready to actually do this? Or do I just want to talk about it some more, and stay in SF longer?
I updated my resume today and I got kind of excited. I started looking on Craig's List at apartment listings in Chicago - I started to fantasize about how great it would be to move home.

One minute I'm scared, the next I feel ready. The next I'm irrationally excited, and the following I'm thinking about buying a picture to hang on the wall of my apartment in SF, as if I were planning on staying.

This just feels huge, but maybe it's time for something huge... the last year has been a waste, if you discount my professional life and my trip to Peru. I don't want to be able to say that about my own life. But is Chicago the answer?

I wish this was the movies and I could just ask for a sign. C'mon universe, show me the way.

dress.day.saturday.

2011-07-16T22:43:00.000-07:00

Well I missed Dress Day Friday (again), but I'm pleased to bring you the almost-as-popular Dress Day Saturday.

Today we feature a dress I recently purchased during what I like to call "Katey's Crazy Shopping Spree Due To Being Away from Online Shopping While In Peru For Two Weeks OMG Make Her Stop Seriously She Should Stop."

I'd like to dedicate this purchase to Summer. I know you're out there, Summer. It may be in the 50s all the live long day in San Francisco, but I've got your number - I'll be in Chicago in a month, where it's sure to be hot and expecting me to show up in a sundress - so there!

let.it.be.

clutch.day.friday.

books:2012.

books:2012.

tuesday.inspiration.

my.weekend.with.kat.part.2.

dress.day.friday.

my.weekend.with.kat.

tuesday.inspiration.

dress.day.friday.

girl.with.the.dragon.read.the.book.

tonight.

hey.saturday.

dress.day.friday.

sweet.home.

check.me.out.

holly.jolly.

i.love.ohare.

at.the.gate.

for.the.most.part.

yes.this.happened.

holiday.party.2011.

dress.day.friday.

how.did.we.get.here?

neon.#2.

for.we.need.a.little.christmas.

favorite.things:neon.edition.

i.heart.sf.

it's.the.little.things.

music.on.a.thursday.

want.

zombies.

thanksgiving.2011.

sunday.football.

dress.day.friday.

ramona!

hello.weekend.

dress.day.friday.

thursday.in.hayes.valley.

oh.hi.

dress.day.saturday.

peru.vacay.day.4.

peru.vacay.day.3.

dress.day.friday.

peru.vacay.day.2.

peru.vacay.day.1.

hiatus.

dress.day.friday.

3.things.

oh.help.

way.to.go.san.francisco!

i.love.you.so.much.

excellent.

superbowl.sunday.

productive.saturday.

dress.day.saturday.

recap/update.

apparently.i'm.a.teenage.girl.

today.i.

dress.day.friday.

from.oprah.

um.martinis.

as.promised.

i.heart.ben.folds.

gah.

worlds.collide.

katey.and.yoga.

trying.something.new.

dress.day.friday.

wow.

dress.(sweater.)day.friday.

note.to.self.

boston.(bashtan).

vegas.

i.tunes.

sweating.omg.

proj.

me.being.a.girl.

oh.

sweater.day.friday.