I HAVE MOVED

It was a rough road, but we made it. My blog and I have moved to http://citysweetcity.tumblr.com/

Mon Petit Palais

Couldn't resist--I scored this doormat and other items below this morning from my daily OKL sales. I am having so much fun with M adding special pieces to the apartment, and I love that these each have a story. I think I may actually get TOO emotionally connected as a consumer, as I'm very picky until I find something that hits all the marks, and then I "invite" that piece into my home [clearly a sacred and exclusive club], and I have to look at it every day...so yeah, it had better have been worth the purchase. Also it should be noted that I am not a hoarder and I fight an internal battle between  a) the joy of having "new stuff" that makes your home sparkle and  b) the even greater joy of finding elation in non-material things. But perhaps the most fun is thinking about new ways to share our place [and its hot tub--rawr] with friends for upcoming occasions, as isolation with one's purchases does not a happy home make. Sharing and giving = happiness; please refer to previous post.

This pillow was selected by Nathan Turner of Bravo's Million Dollar Decorators from a collection of his favorite accessories from India. The ikat pattern is inspiring. Gives me the desire-to-travel itch [the good kind].

So naturally when I do take my next voyage, I'll be using these Greek-inspired luggage tags from Jonathan Adler's eponymous label. He used to be a potter before his foray into interior design, and I've always thought he was so effective with color and pattern, in a world where pattern can be clutter to the eyes. I could probably be happy just sitting in my room watching my luggage wear these tags...ok, so that's a lie--I'll go somewhere far away, and I'll miss you, and I'll write to you with these:

He just had to go a step further and provide the matching Greek stationery. These presh pear-pattern envelopes say "You're Pearfect," so naturally I could not pass up a pun, in green, on a notecard. Sold.

When I return from this as-of-now-fictitious trip, you'll come over, and we'll share a bottle of wine from this decanter. This one is made by a sweet little brand called Kiss That Frog--they import French-themed decor pieces, and they make me feel like wine and cheese would be appropriate at ten o'clock in the morning at my workplace. I don't feel justified in calling myself a Francophile, having never been to France, but I so look forward to when I will one day visit. Until then, I will watch House Hunters International and cry that I don't have a vineyard in my backyard, or a 12th-century wood burning oven on which to bake a pizza, or a natural spring bathing pool in my hallway. One day.

[Interested in joining the One King's Lane site and browsing the sales? Click here. You're Welcome. You'd think they were paying me to write these by now, but I seriously swear that I just enjoy discounted pillows and things.]

By the way: all of the above, combined, cost a smidge over one large. In my world, that's $100. Including delivery.

Stress in the City (or Small Steps Towards a Big Payoff?)

(Yes, I have the coffee mug and the poster up as daily affirmations)

Part of embracing city life is actually enjoying it. Not faking it, not pleasing people for approval, but really enjoying your own unique life in all its awkward and fumbling glory. Sometimes satisfaction and feeling connected to the grid comes naturally; other days I feel like a foreign body in an eyeball. So disclaimer: this post is not about sassy shoes, theme parties, the beach, or pay-by-the-ounce frozen yogurt. Gotta deal with what's underneath, so that when the pretty all rises to the surface you've got something solid beneath it (and there are only so many times Yogurtland can fortify my dignity).

Some days, city living can put you through the ringer, whether it's feeling like every lane is the slow lane (in EVERY situation where a lane is possible, in consecutive situations), or realizing the only arable land you own is a dead potted plant, or owning up to the rat race that earned you a patronizing boss but lost you a paycheck to cover rent in an apartment that may--but probably does not--have a washer-dryer in unit. I am stressed even writing that. And for what? A recent study found that city dwellers showed increased activity in the amygdala--that lovable, almond-shaped part of your brain--when given the same mental task as our more even-keeled rural and townie neighbors. It's essentially a part of the brain integral to fear processing and self-protection.

I'd like to propose an analogy: this result reminds me of the ADT home-security system commercials, with the good-looking home-security guy who answers the phone when a rabid Viking breaks in your house...except in this example, the "security threat" was a harmless squirrel who snuck in the doggie door...i.e., a non-stressful stimulus triggers a stressful reaction. As I write this, in fact, I stress over the possibility that city life may in fact not have made me more capable of handling stress, but nay: it may have increased my stress and fear response in situations where my pals with porches and yards are, quite frankly, kicking ass and kicking back.

So how to cope? The funny thing is, it's so simple. You're stressin' to the max, then all of a sudden, while you're settling into your self-pitious fog:

LAUGH. Laugh, I tell you. This is Small Step One in a quest for a happier and less active amygdala. We get our LOLs in unexpected ways, and I'm telling you, laugh at those initial stressors. Laugh (in your head please) at the lady in the Trader Joes line, in front of you, who had that hidden shopping cart full in addition to her basket and it's gonna be an hour and your meter will expire because of this. Laugh (loudly out loud) at the terrible driver who slows down but never turns. Laugh (very quietly and to appropriate persons) about your boss and his micromanaging of your every staple. Laugh, by all means, at the fact that you have spent so much money on that tandem parking space, because when you laugh, you are laughing with all of us.*

*everyone on the 405 is TOTALLY cracking up at how funny it is that it takes two hours to get over the hill.

I don't even have to tell you about all the wonderful chemicals you release when you really, truly laugh. So please, keeping doing that. When you've had your fill, think about Step Two: Giving. Laughing and giving are very close, actually, as the best laughs are shared. In a more serious sense, I am realizing that fulfillment is an open-cycle of happiness and giving. Yes; that is layers of vague on top of vague, but if you think you can hoard the Happy all to yourself, you're crazy. I'll be working on ways to articulate this Giving I speak of, but I might need to get back to you next week...heading to Vegas tomorrow morning to see Britney Spears in concert, and I don't know what the heck is going to materialize over the next 48 hours. Not a clue. But believe you me, I will be laughing, and I will be giving (my money to a blackjack dealer).

Oh and don't for a second think that I've forgotten to post photos and musings from a Southern wedding. Just waiting for the pro pictures. And then I will go all sentimental on you, and you will regret ever having wanted me to post pictures from my weekend in rural Louisiana. NO ONE loves a snow cone like I do.

My dog, my Abita beer, and my hot tub bid you a wonderful weekend.

Victory is Mine.

So for weeks, I've been looking at rugs for our place. A good wood floor deserves a fancy outfit. New to the rug world, if there is such a thing, I soon discovered that higher-end and designer rugs can set you back several thousand. Since that's not happening, I've been aggressive about finding the right one at the right price like a heat-seeking missile. Or a rug-seeking missle. After discovering this weekend that my dude-friends are stepping it up in the home decor arena, and very nicely so I might add, I put my foot down (in my head) and said (also, in my head) "Enough--these rug-procrastination shenanigans must end"...in other words, I told myself to look at Crate and Barrel on my lunch break.

HOWEVER as luck would have it, I'm happy to announce (because you all care) that I scored our new rug this morning from a One King's Lane sale...absolutely in love! I got the sale email while I was brushing my teeth and it was ON--I was not letting this one get away. This one sold out by 9am so I feel pretty vindicated for locking it down.

I felt like a turtle with a strawberry. Rug down, wall to go...

In-between posts post

I have lots to write about--
the beautiful South, weddings, new design obsessions, and some fantastic pictures of my dog.
All coming soon!

For now, I just had to share that I'm wearing the world's most comfortable pants that can possibly pass as work attire. Softer and more appropriate than leggings, and perfect with everything from heels to boots to flats, I present to you the Slouchy Pant:

Photo courtesy of Victoria's Secret

After my early gym session, these were perfect to wear at the coffee shop while I studied, then on to work, errands, and a meeting. Because while my button-down says business on top, my slouchy pants say "it's party/naptime." Brilliant.

Hello, Sunshine

At the Santa Cruz boardwalk

Technically, the first day of summer this year is June 21st. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I feel like summer has begun in California. I know that my friends and family back home would place the beginning of hot, sticky nights a bit earlier in the year, but I'm feeling totally ready for this season, and this weekend was the perfect start. Allow me to pour an oaky glass of zinfandel and explain.

Photo courtesy of Gap.com

Earlier this week I picked up this dress--perfect color (it's more coral than it appears), perfect reminder of the festivities to come. I think this has potential as a workplace outfit, but I'm honestly looking forward to bringing this along on one of many getaways this summer season. Pairs well with the requisite espadrille wedges making a splash right now, no?

Even more vibrant than the colors of a summer wardrobe, in my opinion, are the ones next door at my local flower nursery. Armstrong's was a surprise discovery--this adorable shop pipes in lovely soundtrack to their gardens, which carries over into my apartment's poolside space. Every time I stretch out by the pool, I benefit from this accompaniment. I finally walked over and was blown away by the variety of flowers and plants a city dweller can bring into a living space. I will definitely need to learn a little more about what would be happy hanging out on my balcony.

Speaking of hanging out...I slowed down this Memorial Day Weekend with a trip to Santa Cruz with some friends. We stayed in a beach rental overlooking the water, and spent time experimenting with cocktails (including the new favorite, Bethenny Frankel's Skinnygirl Margarita, staged from our back porch below). We walked along the boardwalk, tasted some whiskeys, shared a homemade meal, made homemade guac, and challenged each other to a fiery game of charades that lasted well into the night. We toasted a friend's birthday, had some Mai-Tai's on the beach, and I took in a run on the sand. Never underestimate the empowerment of a run, wherever your feet are hitting the ground.

In any event, I'm happy to be home, and the next few months are sure to fly by. Bring on summer, and cheers to the places and people I'll share it with. And the GMAT studying, cheers to that too...

Blogging Live from the Market at Santa Monica Place!

So fun! This is my first "live blog," from the Blogger's Lounge at Santa Monica Place's Market, opening tomorrow to the public. Tonight was a sneak peak for media and guests, and amid the soft gourmet cookies, cheese plates, fresh flowers, and souffles, I found a moment to blog and say hello. Downtown Santa Monica has never been so delicious!

What a great event--more to come on this fabulous venue, and thanks to my lovely roommate Melissa for inviting us all. This will be a great spot for foodies, winos, and gourmands alike. Makes the city that much more delicious, and there is truly nothing better than a night with amazing foods, mini-sized so you can try it all, dear friends, and wonderful wine!

UPDATES

I wanted to share some of the best things I tried last night...this is one part of city living you won't want to miss, Angelenos! Fresh, organic handmade unprocessed food is something to be grateful for, no matter where you're living (it was just extra-fun to enjoy the night with friends in all parts of the industry, complete with live DJ set of course, and more fashion inspiration than I was expecting). Cheers to loving my city! Here's the rendering with fake people, since it has yet to be photographed in full-swing:

Beachy Cream: cute gals in retro 50's bathing suits and organic ice cream sammies. You can't walk past without stopping. I had a chocolate-chip vanilla filled one...

Primi al Mercato: Laboratory of Pasta. Fresh gnocchi, pesto mint ravioli, and a squid pasta that reminded me of a fancy meal I had in New Orleans YEARS ago...I love the sense of food-memory. It reminded me of one of the best dates I've ever been on...ooo-la-la. Heck, I'd go on a date with the pasta from this place if it's always this fresh!

Norcino Salumeria: I mean...it was a plate of bleu, fresh pecorino, mozzarella, prosciutto and salami. I had this dish first and it was a great starter. Their salami selection was first class.

Röckenwagner Bakery: Souffle bar. Bar of souffles. Yeah I was pretty happy here...

The Cookie Guru: Aurelie Vacherese knows the way to my heart. As the creator of her company, she was on hand last night to dole out the absolute gooey-est chocolate-chip cookies on the planet. I can only describe this as "I went back four times" [sidenote: the cookies were cut into fourths, come on...] Folks, she uses organic everything, and a special European butter. This is the cookie experience you had once as a child, and no one since has been able to replicate, and now you can buy by the bag.

Venokado: It's ok; I just want to live here is all. How brilliant that Susan Brink, Molly Brink and Tracy Hof have brought their WeHo success out to Santa Monica, as I really don't think I've seen anything like it. Conceptually, they pair fabulous wines with eclectic, coordinated gift items. So just come straight here when shopping for the next occasion where I deserve a gift from you, ok? And to answer your question, of course an experiential stop like this has a tasting room.

My night ended with a cone of peanut butter and salted caramel from N'ice Cream, and a sweet bouquet of tulips from Magical Blooms, brought to you by Jenny Barker, a floral designer/entrepreneur whose work has appeared on HGTV and more. I'm still on a high about the evening. So stop by The Market, post haste, and let me know your favorites, please.

On a technical note, I secured @CitySweetCity today on Twitter... feed coming soon. Happy Friday - have a great time in your own city this weekend!

Photos courtesy of http://www.themarketsmp.com/ and purveyor websites, all linked above. Photo of me, courtesy of me.

Inside, Out.

As I'm sure is the case in other metro areas, what you gain in proximity to the city--and its dining, nightlife, culture, music--you lose in personal entertainment space at your home. As I recently moved [apartments], it re-occurred to me that patios, decks, and even balconies for most city dwellers are teeny-tiny-mini, and are sort of an afterthought. They weren't at the top of my list, bumped a little lower down by things like "bathtub" and "ventilation."

Still, I dream of a relaxing home entertainment area that doesn't center around my DVR, where I could potentially enjoy Fajitas and 'Ritas (yes I visualize it as a college theme party, with matching koozies and t-shirts) in the sunset. Until the day arrives where I will have my dream patio (which is a whole other topic, I assure you!), I will do as my fellow Angelenos do. Need patio?

1. Find wealthy friend or boss with real patio.
2. Find one attached to a restaurant, optimally with a full bar.

1. is plenty of fun, but is subject to the schedule of your wealthy friend, your boss, or your friend's wealthy boss. I've enjoyed all three, but when they aren't an option, I look for places where I feel almost at home, minus the doggie love of my life, Lily, as seen above on my patio at home in Texas. One place I frequented last year was the Loews Hotel in Santa Monica. With a super vantage point out to the pier and the ocean, but with just enough distance from the crowds, I found the Loews' pool deck to be uber-accommodating. Fat beach towels, great comfy chairs, and a perfect way to catch the sunset with a bloody mary or two. I will definitely be back this summer and I will pretend this is all mine:

Moving inland to downtown LA, I went to Caña Rum Bar for a friend's birthday party, and was drawn in from the minute I walked onto the firelit patio:

The rum drinks are delicious, and you can enjoy a cigar with your cocktail. I felt like I was sitting at a friend's place out back, complete with the wrought iron patio furniture and eclectic lighting. I believe there is now a membership fee involved, but I hadn't felt so home-y in years, funny considering I was a few blocks from the Staples center. This is the perfect bar for a night where you want to sit outside, try something new, and relax under the stars...makes me miss the wide open skies in the South.

A last one--located somewhere in-between kicking it with the bankers downtown and the surfer dudes by the beach--I discovered the other night during another birthday gathering. The Parlour Room of Hollywood had all the unpretentiousness I was hoping for, juuuust past the cluster of popular bars in Hollywood that are a pain to deal with, after parking and waiting in lines, etc. Parlour was perfectly abuzz with patrons, and I walked outside to my friend's table, set around an outdoor fire pit! I felt like I was hanging out at a classy barbeque, minus the barbeque (oh Salt Lick...someone please send me Salt Lick!), and getting in was zero hassle. They also feature $5 martinis, PBR, relatively cheap beer, and I am pretty sure I saw a guy attempt a handstand on a cocktail table. Bring your sneakers, sit by the fire, stay awhile.

I can't wait to discover more adopt-a-patio's this summer...suggestions are welcome! Friends who live in cities where having one's own patio is commonplace--never take your lawn chairs and super size grill for granted; I envy you!*

*I can't end this post without a funny thought--I went to In-N-Out for lunch today with some friends. I can go whenever I want. Apparently, while I have been coveting your Dallas backyards, YOU in Dallas have been crying about my hamburgers. I can't deal with the lady at the end of this video...

A Little Something for your Feet...and a Little Something for your Fangs

Because my day began with a remix of Rebecca Black's "Friday" at spinning, my mind is all over the place. But it's Friday, so everything is as it should be...by this, I mean I'm thinking of a thousand different ways to spend the next two days in Los Angeles. Here are two topics of discovery:

One: the weather is pushing towards that breakthrough where it shifts.

 It goes from a prickly heat that is blazing and smoggy (painful to the skin, really) in the direct sunlight, but stale and cold in the shade...

...to a warm sun that hugs you as long as it sits in the sky. In other words, summer is approaching quickly.

These are the days followed by sunsets when you feel nicely done on both sides and ready for a margarita and the grill. Which, in LA, signals a change in wardrobe for most. After months of suffocating my feet in hipster boots and stacked pumps, I am proud to announce that they deserve a new outfit. Below is what I'd like to call "Parade of Sandals" for obvious reasons. My feet are so excited! It's more fun to walk everywhere with sandals, right? Just feels better.

These are all courtesy of Anthro and VS, two favorites. Thanks marketers, for making me feel relaxed already with pictures like this one:

Two: Just when you felt your feet start to relax...tense up again because there's a new vampire in town! Beverly Hills welcomes its first wine tasting room, The Vampire Lounge and Tasting Room, at 9865 S. Santa Monica Blvd, opposite the Peninsula. The folks at Vampire Vineyards promise to bring the best vine-blood that Transylvania Paso Robles has to offer, along with mostly-red nibbles.

I have been waiting for this combination of mystery and...let's be honest, wine and anything gets me going. But I am definitely in the mood for the next season of True Blood, and I plan on checking out this cozy haunt very soon!

I mean how cute is this...

Alright; time for the home stretch at work, and then on to sushi at Yamoto and seeing Bridesmaids. Keep your toes breezy and your neck covered!

iArt

I'm always excited for "what comes after work." Tonight, it's a visit to Santa Monica Place, the newest addition to the 3SP area. Courtesy of my roommate, I'm attending a Market Preview Private Dinner, complete with a "make-your-own-sake" bar at Ozumo...mmm.  SMP has a whole host of events in the works, and if the upcoming ones are as fun as Wine Riot was, I have no doubt this will be competitive with downtown for local foodie exhibitions. But like I said, what comes after work is always lovely on merit that it is not work...how to make the workday tolerable and a little more balanced, considering I can't sit here with a glass of wine while I work on expense reports? (can you imagine...)

As I find myself pretty focused on mastering the quantitative section of a certain impending test these days, I am reminded how needy the right side of my brain can be as well. I'm not talking about a desire to be "art smart;" that is, I don't need my artistic acumen level to rise as my analytical one does. I don't suddenly feel that I need to take up the jazz flute or fingerpaint with Christo, just because it's been awhile since I enjoyed a museum in person. I think it's more that I am noticing how design and music are tremendously accessible to me--and in small doses, undetectable to "the management"--as I sit here deciding which shade of grey to fill my spreadsheet cell. As a wise person once said people in offices everywhere, at every second scream, "There must be more than this!" And there is. So I will share what SFW art I've found to indulge in this morning so far.

Use Pandora. Put one earbud in your ear, leave the other one open. This works well for me most days. My Johnny Cash station makes everything right again, and while you're telling me some blah-blah about how to tape receipts on paper, I'm sending you to Folsom Prison in my head.

Every morning I wake up to a personal collection of art, painted, sketched and printed by my mom. She's a fantastic artist, so I am lucky. I need that on my walls. If you aren't so fortunate to have an MMM piece (mine include an oil painting of a cafe she visited in France, and her charcoal figure studies from school), I encourage you to find a piece that makes you happy. I care most about these pieces for pretty simple reasons: they remind me of my mom and home, and I like the colors. It continues to be my belief that art hanging in your home should make YOU happy, and should not be a piece you picked because you think it will be impressive, or is the right shape. Nothing like presumptuous art to blow your cover as someone who really enjoys their own home. That being said, the internets can really provide some great inspiration! I can't write a posting about art without also mentioning my cousin's amazing thesis paintings (thanks A for the post! congrats L!)

This morning I received my daily email from One King's Lane, a personalized home decor discount service. Their offerings usually inspire me to find cheaper versions of their already-discounted designer decor, but today they are offering some really amazing rare lithograph posters that got my gears turning...affordable, too! Lots under $100. And then there's the Hollywood Bowl poster signed by David Hockney that I am eyeing. This is a great source for interior designers, decor-lovers, and people who love home aesthetic in general. I totally recommend signing up!

If you're just looking for a quick vacation from your desk, take a browse through Google's Art Project, which lets you explore museums around the world from your computer, including MoMA and The Met. I bring up these two because this city girl, in all my travels and dealings with NYC for work, have never. physically. been to New York. It makes no sense that I've never quite crossed it off my list:

Houston
Dallas
New Orleans
Austin
Atlanta
Honolulu
Indianapolis
Miami
Los Angeles
San Francisco
San Diego
Toronto
Zagreb
Sarajevo
Frankfurt
Sydney
New York
Paris

That aspiration is another post altogether :) but lucky me, in the meantime, I will Google my way through some galleries and I will go home to Mom's French Painting, loving the city I'm in.

P.S. Check out today's Google Doodle of Martha Graham (all Doodles archived here)...perfect animation!

HIATUS SCHMIATUS.

I am ready to write again. New title, spiffed up the layout, as new editing technologies altogether have been invented since the last time I wrote...

After my last posting--San Francisco in November 2009--I left my job in special events & nightlife and headed home for the holidays, no strings attached. I returned to LA with a lovely buzz from Christmas and New Year's in Texas, but like clockwork, reality suckerpunched me in the face the moment I walked outside at LAX. I've gotten used to it but I would never recommend that high a dosage of irate and reckless drivers, smoke, and loud noises to anyone. Regardless, I was home, and I didn't have a plan past getting in the taxi.

The way I recall it, I spent about a month or two doing some heavy interviewing and meeting with recruiters, and ended up being placed at the architecture firm where I work now. I assist a partner here with business development, and am witness to some really amazing projects. I always thought it would be fun to work at a firm like this, so I'll recognize that perhaps I've ended up exactly where I needed to be.

I'm looking back at my calendar now to remember, as it seems like such a long time ago. Over the course of 2010: I took on some consulting work for a vibrant Norwegian company, worked in a Golden Globes styling suite, enjoyed some themed bus parties, joined a gym I love, went to San Diego with some great girlfriends, took a wonderful trip to wine country and as a result joined a wine club, ran a 10k, saw a Broadway show, went to a live taping of my favorite show, saw Lady Gaga in concert, did some choreography in Virginia, went to Australia, produced a short film, saw some dear friends take their vows in marriage, took a boat to Catalina, went to Santa Cruz, went ON a cruise...so I look back with appreciation and joy at all I was able to fit in that year. Unbelievable!

Then came 2011, which so far has felt fractured and too open-ended for my taste. I find myself single, working in a new field, in a new apartment and with a renewed desire to make some sense of it. I've left it in that state until about a week ago, so I haven't felt like writing because it would've been for a lack of having any content or anything I wanted to share. It would have been a little false.

I am, however, of the strong belief that God sometimes provides us an empty canvas not to remind us of what we haven't already created, or of what we don't have (when others around us seem to have it all), but rather to see what we can do with our paint. I, for one, have taken this challenge literally by filling my life with new colors: this purse in yellow, blue pillows for my new room that remind me of vacations, and this tomato red throw blanket for a little kick. And, if you can believe it, I have scraped myself off the floor to do more than just buy things in primary colors.

I hope to bring some of my favorite city highlights to this blog, albeit not all of them completely impersonal. A little sarcasm here and a little feigned interest there will add up to a savory collection, full of texture, I just know it! Friends, as the renewed goal of my writing is to expound on the parts of this city (and other cities) that I incorporate into my own home, I will do my utmost to make it great time for the senses.