A West Coast Adventure

i visited friends in San Francisco the other weekend 

(my first time there!) 

and had such an amazing time. 

life in NYC can sometimes feel like it's going a mile a minute, but there?

i could breathe a little.

and it felt nice.

thought i'd share a few photos of my little west coast adventure...

when your alarm goes off circa 4am, you travel in slippers. 

Virgin America is lit up pink inside.

they win.

meet Sage & Scooter, the cutest welcoming party there ever was. 

reunited!

i adore this couple.

well hellooo, Napa Valley.

Silverado Vineyard.

our crew!

Bell Vineyard.

i learned so many things at this stop.

did you know it takes ~ 30lbs of grapes to make one bottle of wine?!!

one of my bf's nicknames is "big guy" so i squealed when i saw this kind.

they sell it here in NYC and i'm determined to find it!

now we just need a "little lady" wine & i think we're set. ;)

Gott's, the most amazing roadside lunch you'll ever have.

i recommend the spicy grilled chicken sandwich & milkshakes!

our last stop was Lava Vine Vineyard.

...had that kind of atmosphere where all the cares in the world 

seemed miles & miles away.

can't beat sing-a-longs.

(especially after however many glasses of wine.)

love these girls.

inside Lava Vine.

 friends in DC recommended Lava Vine and mentioned this particular sign.

i smiled so big when i saw it.

California sunset.

Sage liked me better than Scooter.

down by the Fisherman's Wharf.

see the Golden Gate in the distance?

and then we went down the curviest street. 

hold on tight!

Alcatraz in the distance.

bought a few things that afternoon on a shopping adventure.

(...and this was my favorite find!)

 and then i had to say my goodbyes

and jet back east on a redeye...

"...After all, seasons change.

So do cities.

People come into your life and people go.

But it's comforting to know the ones you love

are always in your heart.

And if you're very lucky, a plane ride away."

-Sex and the City

until next time, san francisco.

g

Monday Inspiration

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don't be like the rest of them, darling.

happy monday!



until next time,

g

The Rest of My April Photo-A-Days + More!

Happy Friday, loves! What are you up to this weekend? I spent last weekend with friends in San Francisco (will be sharing photos!) and I'm spending this weekend with my guy. He drove down for a day two weekends ago and it was such a tease...I'm excited I'll get two days with him this round. It's hard to believe we met seven years ago this very day...pretty sure a hug & a high-five is in order! 

Thanks for bearing with me last week during my brief hiatus from blogging. There are times and events and, unfortunately, tragedies in life that really force you to take a step back and press the pause button to just process and reflect. We get so caught up in the day-to-day and the silly nonsense that we lose sight of the bigger picture. Sometimes it takes the world shaking your shoulders to wake up and gain perspective. Life is throwing me a few more things to juggle as I buckle down for a busier time of to-dos and change and unknown. And, in a weird way, I benefitted from that jolt to my system. I needed it to properly prepare and to realize I have absolutely nothing to complain about. Ya know, even when I begin my week with a broken seat on a redeye flight that doesn't recline and I sleep nada hours. ;) Life is fleeting and precious; we must make sure we appreciate all the pages of the book - even the ones marked with potential worry and stress. So, as I look ahead and notice things like the fact that I have no idea where I'm living this summer (ha), I remind myself that these are all just pages of my book...pages I am so very thankful to have. And hey, who doesn't like a good cliffhanger? :)

Here are the rest of my photo-a-days (via FatMumSlim!) from April. 

I won't be participating in the photos for May,

but I will try & keep up with my picture-taking.

Plus, I still have many to share from the past couple weeks - stay tuned!

16. a flower ring my mom gave me.

17. setting my alarm clock is definitely 

something i don't like.

18. i like hair clips.

19. orange

20. this is something i drew for my friend's charity 

that will help fund scholarships for researching cancer in dogs.

21. look, my water bottle carries a little purse.

22. the last thing i bought = these two basic tanks. 

(can't beat two dollars & eighty cents!)

23. a vegetable i doodled on my iPhone.

24. something i am grateful for.

25. looking down.

26. black & white. 

(i gave this to my brother-in-law before his mission trip to Africa!)

 27. somewhere i went. 

that's Colorado down there. :)

28. 1pm at a vineyard in Napa with friends.

doesn't get any better!

29. circle.

30. something that makes me sad. 

i don't know why, but i find this hymn very sentimental 

and i can't sing it without crying.

and yes, i sang (& cried) that very day.

ps!

three friday links ::

25 handmade gifts under $5

this beautiful necklace would make an outfit.

a good quote.

until next time,

g

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

1. Pottery Barn Cozy Robe 

 2. Monocle Necklace

3. Butter by London "Yummy Mummy" Nail Polish

4. Nora Ephron's I Feel Bad About My Neck & I Remember Nothing

(laugh-out-loud funny at any age!)

5. UGG Ansley Slippers

6. Hable Garden Gloves

7. Diptyque Baies Candle

8. La Mer Watch

9. Daisy Print Wide Brim Hat

10. Polka Dot Scarf

11. Amethyst Tea Light Votive Candle Holder

12. Calypso "Mimosa" Fragrance

(I went out on a limb and bought this perfume for my mom for Xmas and she loves it!)

13. Stephanie Johnson Large Flat Pouch

until next time,

g

7 Things for Your Day

#1 quotes to live by.

#2 you need this album.

(if you don't already have it)

image via

It was released in the fall, but the deluxe version was released yesterday

and includes five bonus songs. check it.

#3 Have you flipped through 

Matchbook Mag's May issue?

No? click here.

#4 An adorable video my bf found.

poor thing just wants to hold his hand!

#5 What May's little lady (Bethenny Frankel!)

keeps in her purse on date night.

I actually saw her husband leaving her book signing last night.

A cute one, that Mr. Hoppy!

#6 fun DIY projects

organization for hair products // 10 bracelets you can make // chalkboard vases.

#7 shopping finds

zebra scarf // heart pants // pretty gold sandals.

have a fabulous day!

until next time,

g

May 2012 Desktop Wallpaper

hey, May!

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*click on image before setting as background.

my inspiration this month. :)

reminder!

mark your calendars for

mother's day on sunday, may 13th.

it's not just to celebrate mothers, you know.

it's a day to celebrate any little lady that has given you guidance

or has contributed to your life in a positive way.

here's to a good month, ma'dears!

xx.

until next time,

g