Goodbyes

I don't have a lot of words today (mostly because words = tears right now and that's no good), but I do have a lot of photos - all from Brianne's very last weekend here. We packed it as full as we could get it and ended everything with a very fancy and very fun dinner at The Penthouse, a restaurant at the very top of a hotel with amazing views of Santa Monica (thanks to Natasha for the suggestion). It was the perfect way to say goodbye...

Striped Pullovers & More

American Eagle, JCrew

I have 4 things to say on this Friday afternoon:

#1. I need one of these striped pullovers - badly. Either one will do - I'm not picky.

#2. I also need a nap - really badly - because 5 hours of sleep a night is not enough for this girl.

#3. I've decided to spend all of Sunday in bed - reading, watching movies, sleeping - and it's so exciting to me that it almost wakes me up a little bit. (Almost.)

#4. As if Fridays weren't good enough already, this girl's Friday Freebies make them even better. Seriously.

Ok, that's the 4. My brain can't handle more than that. Happy weekend to ya!

Sushi + Wine

Last night was sushi for dinner and a last-minute stop into a new (to us) wine bar. We talked about her last three days here and I told her I'm really trying to live the saying "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." I thought she'd think it was cheesy, but she liked it (even if it is easier said than done).

Just a few more dinners left now. It's a good thing I'm already planning a trip to Texas for this in March. We're reaaalllly going to need some sister time by then.

This Little Peanut

Is just one of the many reasons I look forward to going home every night.

Other reasons include The Bachelor, Teen Mom 2, and American Idol. (Is it just me or does winter TV have it going on?!)

Oh yes, and this guy (who surprised me with these on Monday). Sweet.

Weekend Recap

I can't believe it's my sister's very last week in Los Angeles. As part of our "last chance" fun, we've been doing something together just about every night, and it's definitely starting to take it's toll on me. I feel like a walking zombie today (and my caramel macchiato was no help at all). When she drives away this weekend, I think I might just sleep for a week. (Does this mean I'm old?? Yes, perhaps.)

A few photos from all that we were up to over the weekend:

One last girls' night at Cowboy Country on Friday

"Brianne's Favorite Santa Monica Pubs" Pub Crawl on Saturday

Lunch, coffee and sunshine on Sunday

This week is dineLA Restaurant Week so we've got a few more must-visit places on our agenda - that is, if we can stay awake. Zzzz....

Borderline

Rule #2 - Before you move away from a city, you must go to every single one of your favorite hot spots (country bars) and dance with every single handsome cowboy (old man who can two step) that asks you.

Last night we hit up Borderline, one of our favorite honky tonks, for the last time (*sniff*) and danced more than we have in a while. It was fun, but boy am I tiiirrrreeed today. Tonight we're headed to another one. Man oh man, all of this "last chance" fun is hard work! Thank goodness for Red Bull. (I mean seriously. Zzzzz......)

Happy weekend! (Thank goodness.)

Minibooks

All images via

Don't you just love when you rediscover a blog that you bookmarked once and then totally forgot about? I did that this week with Elise Joy's blog - and now I'm completely obsessed with her minibooks. Aren't they just the most fabulous combination of journal/scrapbook/photo album goodness? I do believe so. Looks like I've got myself a new project...

In other news, I'm currently reading this and loving it, which inspired me to bookmark this. It turns out politics really can be interesting. Who knew?? (My 9th grade Government teacher would be proud.)

Fritto Misto

Rule #1 - Before you move away from a city, you must eat at every restaurant you've never eaten at but always wanted to.

Bread, ravioli and flourless chocolate cake at Fritto Misto - yuuummmmmm.

And the "last chance" fun continues...

Wine, Cheese & Fondue

Wine/Cheese/Fondue night has become a Charisse/Brianne tradition over the past couple of years. Sometimes we throw in meats and olives and pickles - sometimes it's strictly cheese and crackers. One time we did a cheese fondue and a chocolate fondue (and most likely gained about 5 pounds). This weekend we threw in a little bit of everything. My favorite is the pound cake dipped in chocolate. Yummmmmmm.

(And before you go thinking I'm totally lame, I do actually have a cute little fondue pot - I promise. But when it's just you and your sis and you neeeed some chocolate right that second, the pot you melted everything in works just fine.)

P.S. - My very favorite (and very easy) chocolate fondue recipe

Summer in January

As promised, it was a beeee-utiful 80-degree, sunshiney weekend in Santa Monica. As you can see from the photos above, we took full advantage of it. Bike rides, beers at Big Dean's on the beach, flip flops and fedoras - we fit it all in.

We also managed to watch a little football (so sad, Seahawks, so sad) and watch a couple movies (I Love You, Man is seriously just as funny the 3rd time around) and I squeezed in one last wine/cheese/fondue night with Brianne before the big move (photos coming tomorrow).

All in all - a fantastic weekend. I hope yours was just as great!

P.S. - A little Valentine hint for the hubs (or my secret admirer - whoever sees it first): I would love, love this for V-day this year. Why? Because his voice makes me feel all mushy and romantic, and really, isn't that how you want me to feel on Valentine's Day? That's what I thought.

V-Day Tees

1. Urban Outfitters, 2. Delia's, 3. Emerson Made, 4. Delia's, 5. Delia's, 6. Forever 21, 7. Delia's, 8. Forever 21

Do you know what's exactly 1 month away from today?? Valentine's Day!

It's one of my favorite days - always has been - and this year it'll be extra special since it marks the 1-year anniversary of our engagment. (Awwwww!) So, I'm thinking I need a fun new lovey-dovey shirt to celebrate the occasion. I like all of these above. What do you think? Have a favorite? I'd love to hear.

(And happy weekend! Have yourself a great one - you deserve it.)

Feels Like Summer

Is it summer yet? Because it sure feels like it (76 degrees in Los Angeles today!). The weatherman says we'll hit 80 by Saturday, and I've already got bike rides and sandals in my weekend plans. Sure wish I had one of the cute little numbers above to come along with me. (All found here.)

When we were amping up for Christmas, I wanted nothing to do with warm days - but now that we're on the downward slope toward summer, I'm all 'bring on the sun and the fun' (and the snocone truck)!

Decoration Inspiration

Found the photos above on A Cup of Joe, who found them here - and aren't they just fantastic? I'm always on the look out for inspiration for our (still unfinished) bedroom. I love the idea of doing something fun with Mason's ties, and I've always wanted a big, loud, cluttered art wall. I'm definitely filing these away in the memory bank... (I still can't believe this is someone's dorm room!)

And just in case you're in the mood for a movie this week, I highly, highly recommend Country Strong. Not sure if you're into the whole country thing? Listen to this - and when you're done swooning over that voice, go see the movie. It's a good one.

Sista Love

See that cool little lady above? That's Brianne, my sister/best friend/funniest person I know/so much more, and I am sooooo sad to say that after a little over two years with me in California, she's moving back home to Texas at the end of the month.

*Pause for tears*

*And more tears*

*Sniff*

*Sniff*

Ok, I think I'm good (for now).

Suffice it to say I've been doing a lot of crying, a lot of crying and a lot of crying since she told me the news. (Sheryl says it's best to let it all out.) But since all my crying hasn't convinced her to stay, I decided to put my sad energy into a crazy "let's do everything Brianne likes to do in California before she leaves" schedule of events. We started it off this weekend with a trip to our favorite honky tonk.






It was a good night, as always. Expect a lot more talk (and tears) about all of our last-chance fun over the next three weeks...

Awkward & Awesome

As I mentioned before, The Daybook is one of my newest blog crushes. I kind of love it - a lot. So when Sydney asked us all to join in with her weekly awkward and awesome posting, I couldn't resist. Here goes nothing...

Awkward
- Really, really liking someone's blog so much that I check it like a million times a day and sort of talk about them in everyday life like I know them (please tell me you do this, too - you do, don't you??)
- Forgetting a pair of my girly things in the dryer and finding it a week later sitting on the table in the wash room for the whole apartment complex to see. (So. Embarrassing.)
- Making a stink about someone stealing my portable office heater only to find out it had been moved a foot to the left and I just couldn't see it. (Whoops!)
- Trying to explain my fascination with The Real Housewives of Atlanta to my husband who really just wants to watch the football game. (But really, that NeNe is CRAZY!)
- Buying fancy people vitamins for my cat at Whole Foods because the vet told me to. (Every time I check out, I want to laugh.)
- Wearing the same exact shirt as my husband on the same exact day without planning it. Ummm....
- Getting caught hairspraying my bangs in the work bathroom - yes, we southern girls carry a can of Freeze It everywhere!

Awesome
- Being so inspired by a fashion blog that it almost feels like everything in my closet is new again. (Thanks, Sydney!)
- Finally having ALL of my laundry done at once. Phew!
- Realizing my office heater actually isn't stolen and I can be warm and toasty once again.
- Real Housewives of Atlanta marathons. (The best addition to a Sunday afternoon!)
- Whole Foods! (It's like another little world in there...)
- Taking pictures with the hubs after work because we think we look like twinsies. (Photo above.)
- A new bang swoop that I totally dig (even if it does sometimes impair my vision - who needs both eyes anyway? I mean, seriously?). (Photo above.)

Happy Friday, all. I hope your weekend is a great one!

Resolutions

I know, I know - everyone is doing it - but what can I say, I'm a follower - and seriously, how can you start off the new year without posting your resolutions? It's not possible. So, these are mine:

1. Stand. Up. Straight. (I have bad posture. I know it. And I hate it. I read somewhere that strengthening my stomach muscles might help. Hello, Pilates!)

2. Start and stick to a bedtime routine of: taking out contacts, taking off make-up, washing face, moisturizing face, brushing teeth, flossing teeth (Because my current bedtime routine is more like: pull on sweats, turn off lamp, zzzzz.)

3. Take a CPR/First Aid Class (Seeing someone choke and someone else have a heart attack in the same week will make you a little paranoid - better to be safe than sorry.)

What about you? Got anything interesting on your list? If so, do tell!

(P.S. - Weren't our fireworks so pretty?)

A Little Christmas Vacation

According to my sister (and possibly the only person who reads my blog on a daily basis), a week is entirely too long to go without posting something here, and I had better make up for it now that I'm back from my little Christmas vacation.

So, I'm baaaack - and I'm posting (are you happy, Brianne??), and I've got quite a few photos from our little vacay. Suffice it to say the break was fantastic and filled with all sorts of holiday fun and road trip fun and live music fun and fireworks fun.


Headed to church on Christmas Eve - remember my outfit inspiration from here? What do ya think, eh?

My mom is serious about decking the halls (we're talking a tree in every room) - and she makes a mean homemade donut.
Looking for some family fun? Get a Kinect. Endless entertainment (and photo ops).

After seeing a hundred Bucee's signs on our way to San Antonio, we couldn't not stop. Jerky, taffy, brittle, tacos, pecans, barbecue. If they don't have it, it doesn't exist.

Best place to find shelter if you arrive in San Antonio when it's raining cats and dogs? Why, a margarita bar, of course!

A little history lesson never hurt anyone. "Remember the Alamo!"

The Riverwalk + The Alamo Bowl = lots and lots of orange-clad Oklahoma State fans and the occasional spontaneous singing of fight songs.

A picture with Josh Abbott?! Highlight of the entire trip. When Mason said we came all the way from California for the show, he really was only half-way joking. (I'm not sure my smile could get any bigger.)
Do all men turn into 10 year olds in fireworks stores? I do believe so.
Giant sparklers, cabbage (for money) and black eyed peas (for good luck) - that's how we do it in the South. (Mason forced me to eat so much cabbage that I was seriously about to burst. Let's sure hope that stomach ache pays off for us this year - if not, I'm giving him a giant wedgie.)