:: get your weekend on::

3 day weekend?? Yes Please!! 4 day weekend?? DUH!!

Sorry, I'm just too excited to announce that I have a four day weekend and it starts at 5:30 tonight. Boyfriend and I are headed over to his brother's house for a little sumthin' sumthin' tonight. Obviously our new favorite hangout... and Maddie loves their "children" too- so it works out for everyone. Then tomorrow I will be supporting my guy at the launch of his site, Tabata Times. For all of you out there who are into CrossFit or looking to improve your workout and fitness goals then it would really benefit you to check out the site. It offers great articles about everything from working out while pregnant to improving your pull-ups. After, we're off to the City, aka San Francisco, to hang with friends, eat 'till we nap and shop 'till we drop.

What are you up to this weekend? Want some ideas? look no further...

I love Greek food, if you do too- then head to Belmont for the annual Greek Festival and be prepared to eat.The festival includes authentic Greek Food & Pastries, Music & Dancing, Arts & Crafts at the flea market and Church tours... only a small charitable $5 is asked for in return. Plus its open Saturday, Sunday (12-10) AND Monday (12-8)- for those of you looking for something to do on your extra day off.

If your headed up north, it might be worth your while to check out the art and wine festival being held in Milbrae. The theme is Mardi Gras, and they will have all the usual suspects-artists and craftmakers showing their latest handcrafted wares, festive food and drink, premium wines, margaritas and mojitos, artisan specialty food, a microbrew tasting tent, an organic and green product showcase, home and garden exhibits, health and wellness displays.

Up in Golden Gate Park is the SF Zine fest, which I might check out while I'm up romping in the city. Its a collection of local artists that get together from 11-6 tomorrow sell, and trade their wares. Plus there's many free workshops and panels and, as always, the show is free to attend.

enjoy your weekend xx

hmmm...

website is acting funny, I think it has a cold.... see you next week? enjoy your weekend dolls

XO

:: get your weekend on ::

This weekend there are tons of fun things going on in your area. I unfortunately don't have a long weekend- so I wont get to everything. But here are a few things that I think you should check out if you're in the area and have some extra time. Pack up your sunscreen your headed outdoors this weekend for some festivals.

 J-POP SUMMIT FESTIVAL is a pop culture-themed street fair that covers the grounds of Post Street from Webster to Laguna and the Peace Plaza of Japantown, San Francisco. The weekend hours are Saturday Aug 24 - 11:00am - 6:00pm and Sunday Aug 25 - 11:00am - 6:00pm.This is a pretty       Japanese-esque festival so bring your Hello Kitty backpack and be prepared to stock up on hair accessories and yummy food.

Have you been itching to find some new end tables or a new trunk? how about an older one... like vintage/antique. That's my favorite word(s).  I have told you before here, that I love antique shopping- so I might have to check this out. This is the 48 annual Niles Antique Fair held near Fremont. Plus tomorrow they are having a classic car show and Sunday they will have a few live bands. The serious shoppers go around 6AM, so get there early before all the good things get snatched up!

So, whether you reside closer to the North Bay or the South Bay... there is an art festival located in your neck of the woods.I love art festivals because there is always so many different items to look at, from all different walks of life. There are so many talented artisans, from paintings to photography, ceramics and jewelry to unique sculptures. Palo Alto is having there big art festival this weekend from 10- 6 both days in their main drag off of University. Tiburon is also having theirs this weekend and it will be from 11-6 both days and is situated on historic Ark Row in downtown. (cost is $5)

enjoy your weekend

image

simply :: smile

:: some times you have to stop and smell the roses :: remember the best things in life are free ::

:: know that when one door of happiness closes, another opens :: and always count your blessings::

Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth

{{author unknown}}

ummm... its Friday [[YAY]] and I seriously can't even remember this week it has been so busy. So with that in mind I'm forcing myself to remember all the good things that have come my way lately. My boyfriend's Mom heard good news and is seeing results from her doctor, over an ailment she has been dealing with for far too long!! She is such a strong woman and I just know that everything will even out and I hope she finds her peace soon.

Home has been crazy with the beau's new start up. Our schedules have been clashing lately, so I hope we can save room in our schedules for each other this weekend. He took me to the beach (yes, that's the way to my heart) and we shared a picnic from our favorite place and "kicked it old school" with some 40's by the surf . Sublime status. It was the perfect day to spend with my guy; lunch, frisbee by the water and a nap in the sun. Those are the moments I'm thankful for. 

Tonight I get to witness my sister and bro's unveiling of their new digs, well I saw it already- but now it's all "done up". They have a beautiful life together, and their new home is going to be one fun adventure after another- because lets face it, you never finish decorating your house. I know I've been bugging them with the details, but "good things come to those who wait"... and all that jazz and whatever... but I'm ready to pop the champagne and celebrate... TONIGHT, I finally can. Thank you for inviting me to be a part of your happiness.

So take a chill pill today, and reflect on your own life's journey. Be thankful for how far you've come and be optimistic for what has yet to unfold.

sooooo good

funky pickles at the farmers market

best milkshakes.... PERIOD

one of my favorite flowers

Maddie practicing safety first in her new car seat

best omelet from this favorite

the pacific

hot pants

Picked up these last week. Now out for a walk with the babes

do you smell what i smell?

the smell of autumn is upon us.

I get so giddy when I think of knee high boots, pea coats and scarves. I was at Michaels last night and they already had the store smelling of spiced apple and harvest pumpkin. Even though the weather in Northern California starts out chilly in the morning, it warms up by lunch. I can't wait for the foggy mornings that take the entire afternoon to burn off, where a sweater is preferred and a spiced chai is a must!

Looking at inspiration for the upcoming season, I pulled some images that left me longing for a mug of spiced cider. I also cant wait to try and make these little babies- a recipe I have never attempted. Flipping through a magazine the other day I saw this ad and it immediately put me in the mood for fall fashion. So I thought I'd share it to see if I could get you in the mood too. I have always been a fan of the preppy polished look; so the university blazer, riding boot and newsboy cap are definitely on my must have list. What are some of your favorite looks or treats for fall?

sources 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.

The Dreaded Bloggeritis

Lately, I have been reading about a few people coming down with... dunh, dunh, dunh- the dreaded bloggeritis. Ok, I know bloggeritis is not an actual ailment.. but wrist problems are a big problem for all of you who are hooked up to your computer all day. I found this great article in Health Magazine about some of the common aches and pains that people experience. Plus, in addition to explaining the condition it also shows great stretches and other pain remedies you could use or talk with your doctor about. Another great idea is to purchase a hand wrap, and if you feel some tenderness starting, throw it on to battle the inflammation, hopefully the pain will stop there before it gets worse.

These are some warning signs that will tell you if things have gotten "worse"

~Inability to carry objects or use the arm~

~Injury that causes deformity of the joint ~

~Wrist pain that occurs at night or while resting~

~Wrist pain that persists beyond a few days ~

~Inability to straighten or flex the joint ~

~Swelling or significant bruising around the joint or forearm~

~Signs of an infection, including fever, redness, warmth~

enjoy the read

SOURCE

drink up

How about some food for thought... or should I say a drink? either way I found this article the other day from Livestrong, and loved the information so much I just had to share it with you... It talks all about the various drinks you should be having and when you should be having them.

Like what Lisa C. Cohn owner of Park Ave Nutrition in New York has to say...

"You exercise for less than 90 minutes: Just because you sweat doesn’t mean you should reach for a sports drink. Yes, you need water for rehydration and because it helps lubricates joints and provides cushioning to organs and muscles, along with many other vital processes. However, people often overestimate their needs for sugar and sports drinks when exercising. "

 

I can't tell you how many times I have seen people casually walking on the treadmill and chugging a Gatoraide. I mean... they haven't even burned off the amount of calories they are ingesting from the drink??

 

Or what Robin Miller, author and nutritionist, has said about the benefits of drinking beer...

"You want an endurance boost: Who would have thought that beer could improve your running time? Dark beer has higher iron content than lighter beers. Iron is an essential mineral within all cells and it carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. The more oxygen carriers you have, the easier your muscles can access the oxygen rich blood to keep you going.

 

Wow, that is one fact that the BF will for sure want to know about. Anything that proves that drinking beer is a good thing?... he is all ears. I'll drink one to that.

enjoy the article  xx

wrinkled

I bought this Nesco jerky making kit for the beau a few years ago, I think? Needless to say we have never used it, until now. The other night we were both up late and randomly decided it would be a good idea to make dried fruit. The directions didn't have any advice, they only taught about meat jerky. So we just kind of winged it. It turned out quite well, the first time around we made peaches, apples and pears. My hunny even added some spice mixes on top for a little flavor. I think I bought this kit off of the Barnes and Noble website (of all places) it was around $80. I would recommend it to a friend, I suppose.

My parents have a lot of fruit trees in their yard. So the other night when we went over for my Dad's birthday, of course they tried to throw a bag of fruit in the back seat so we couldn't see. I swear my parents have even doorbell ditched their crops on neighbors door steps before (first-hand witness)

So when the end of summer rolls around, I know that with each visit to see my family I will not return empty handed. The problem is deciding what to do with all this extra produce. Do I can it?- no, I live in a high rise and don't have extra storage. Do I put it into a pie?- I have been on birthday overload and cant stand looking at another baked good... ok I lied, of course I could, I just don't really want to.  So that is where the jerky maker comes into play.

Our dried fruit came out better than expected... AKA- every piece was edible.

The second round came out even better. Since we both like dried fruit and it is such an easy snack, its a no brainer to keep this in stock in our kitchen. Plus we can load it up right before bed and after only seven hours (a great nights sleep) it's ready to eat!! I have a feeling #driedfruit will be trending in our kitchen for a while.


fresh



dried

i can never make up my mind

For the person who finds it hard making decisions, I feel your pain. Sometimes, I have to ask the waiter for advice at restaurants- or have my boyfriend pick a number one through ten to help me decide. When I'm out shopping.. I literally get anxiety if there are two pairs of shoes I like.. sometimes its beneficial because it serves as a reason for purchasing both. But it is hard to go through life having the worst time making decisions. I just don't want to pick the wrong one and miss out!

 I was gifted from my manager this amazing Madagascar vanilla extract and cake enhancer from King Arthur Flour and really wanted to make cupcakes with it. But I really had been craving a chocolate cake... so of course why not make it swirled, duh. I made two different flavors by splitting the batter in half. I decided to use this recipe I found, and it turned out just as fluffy as she promised. I really like an airy cake.  When it's too dense- it's overpowering with the thick layer of frosting on top.

As far as the toppings go, I took it to the next level. I wanted people to have their choice when it came to them. I think I wanted a salty and sweet cupcake, which is where the pretzels came into play. I also had a super chocolate choice, with shavings on top. And a plain, run of the mill, cream cheese frosting- my boyfriend really loves it, so I always have it available (lol, I know). The best part was the fact that they were bite size so everyone could try a few different flavors.



:: get your weekend on ::

Music is in my ears this weekend- and I love it!! There are a few different music events happening in the Bay Area this weekend, so throw on your sundress and enjoy the sun outside this weekend..

It's that time of year again, San Jose's Summertime Jazz festival is this weekend in downtown. Come out and enjoy a weekends worth of Jazz music from artists of all ages and a few different genres. Last year there were even a few reggae groups- I joked that they took the wrong freeway entrance and ended up at the Jazz festival my mistake. Of course they will have a wide array of shop booths and tons of yummy food- per the norm.

Up in San Francisco everyone is going to be rockin' out at the notorious OutsideLands festival held at Golden Gate Park. I have been following a few of my fav bloggers today and it looks like they are really enjoying themselves at the first day of the event. The entire line up is fantastic- personal favorites for me are on Sunday and include.. Bloc Party, Santigold, Skrillex and Franz Ferdinand.. leaves me wishing I didn't spend my "summer musical festival" allowance on Coachella... but at least I learned a lesson for next year. speaking of Coachella- did you hear it will be hosted on a cruise next year?

San Francisco will also be hosting the 2012 Festa Coloniale Italiana a.k.a. the Italian Festival in North Beach on Saturday. as I'm typing this my mouth is watering, just thinking about all the delicious food and wine that will be at this event. I can already smell the marinara sauce for the meatballs. a warning goes out to my readers- there will be tons of carbs at this event, so a wheelbarrow might be a smart thing to bring for the walk back to the car.

It is also the weekend for the Burlingame ArtzFest it runs 10-6 pm both days. They are celebrating their 20th anniversary so that automatically means there will be something extra special about this festival. Plus this year they have over 130 artisans selling their crafts; works of art, jewelry, photography, vintage prints, clothing, sculptures, home décor, and more.. And they will offer a Wine Garden- so much more upscale than the traditional "beer garden", in my opinion... but, I mean this is Burlingame- so it's expected to be a little classier. The festival is located in downtown, so you can enjoy the local shopping and restaurants too.

seeing red

tank- metro park, jeans- William Rast, shoes- Cynthia Vincent, bag- Michael Kors, necklace- custom, ring-flea

I decided to treat myself the other week. I had my eye on this style for a while, but never pulled the trigger. When I was out shopping I saw this Michael Kors cross body and knew it was one of the styles that I had admired... what I loved even more was the price. On sale, hidden behind other bags and the only one in red... it was meant to be. I couldn't believe my luck.

The weather has been ideal in northern California lately. I find myself making any excuse to spend time outside. I decided to pair my new little beauty with my cynthia vincent flats, since the red color was identical. We went on a walk to play in the park, and crossed over the rail road tracks through a ((not so)) gated community that makes the trip so much faster than the looong way. I rarely see trains on these tracks, in fact there's a larger chance of spotting a homeless person crossing them.

                                    all images are courtesy of my amazing man, @lenscaption xx

boys blokes and gentlemen

I find myself lately, looking more closely at men's clothing. I used to think that it was women's fashion that was so diverse and men's was the "cookie cutter style."  But now that I do most of my boyfriend's shopping, I have found that they're much more unique. The common pieces- tees, shorts, shirts, and pants, have really gotten a face lift from the popular street designers now-a-days. and I like what I see on the shelves.

Like myself, my boyfriend has different style personalities. Depending on his mood, will determine his look for the day. Sometimes it's a casual, running errands kinda day. Or sometimes it's a friend or family backyard BBq kinda of event, where you need to look a little more put together. Either way it's a good idea that your guy looks sharp... after all he is your arm candy, right?

Here's a few looks I have been crushing on lately for my guy.

how 'bout a smile for your Monday morning

saw this the other day, and just had to share it with you.

It will for sure bring a smile to your face, I know it did for me.

ciao xx

:: get your weekend on ::

WOW.. This weekend is jam packed full of fun things to do,, for those of you living in the Bay Area. Even though the weather man scared us with a chance of rain on the horizon, I think it will stay nice and hopefully everyone will enjoy their weekend.

Santa Clara is starting off their county fair this weekend. It's a four day long event that takes place in San Jose. The fairgrounds have been home to the fair for years and years. It is the place where you can taste the best kettle korn and funnel cake, see the Worlds largest pickle and witness your very first piglet race... all in one day!! So throw on your cowboy boots and get to talkin' a little funny- head to the fair this weekend!

Fremont is having a little fun this weekend over in their neck of the woods. It's time for the Festival of the Arts again.The event is Saturday and Sunday 10-6. hosts a wide variety of activities and entertainment for the entire family; over 700 top-quality artisan booths delight the most discerning shoppers, music lovers enjoy continuous music featured on three stages, and Gourmet Marketplace offers gourmet specialties and wine for the discerning cook/foodie... best of all- it's free

In downtown this weekend is the magical Renaissance Faire held in Guadalupe Gardens near the HP pavilion from 10-5. San Jose Renaissance Faire offers you a chance to visit the days of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the First.. without sacrificing your twitter feed. See about 800 costumed performers bring Shakespeare's England to life with parades, pageants, and fun townsfolke. My favorite part of the faire are the gigantic turkey legs and the horseback riding jousters

enjoy your weekend xx



The definition of exercise

I don’t try to be a know it all,

but I’m sure I come across like one to some people… on some occasions. J But, it really isn’t the worst thing in the world- especially if you’re giving sound advice and genuinely trying to help someone. I love to learn things from people. Especially if it’s in an area that I’m not too familiar with.

I actually enjoy reading about new health studies and reviews of products that are new to the market. So when I come across something that would be good for my readers, I always pay it forward. That’s how I felt about this mini article I found in Shape Magazine.

For someone just starting their workout journey or trying a new exercise style , it can be a little intimidating being in a new environment. The fitness lingo can be hard to understand… and when someone is trying to give you instructions but really all you hear is Swahili, obviously there is some kind of communication disconnect. Below are some of the common terms that every fitness enthusiast should know.

So study up!! And show your trainer, friends or significant other that you know what’s up when it comes to your workout.

A visit to the north



tank-Matty m, aztec skirt- Forever 21, sandals- Dolca Vita, rings- flea market, Bobbys class ring, Tiffany and Co, owl ring from Kitsch Couture



Near the end of the week, people at work begin to ask what my plans are for the weekend. This particular week... I was stumped? I really had no plans for the weekend, and so that meant that I was free to float like a feather in the wind to where ever my heart desired. On Sunday I thought it was good to suggest a daycation to somewhere new or somewhere we hadn’t been in a while. The beau suggested a trip to Berkeley, while my tummy longed for the little town of Tiburon.

Since we did get started rather early why not visit both! Berkeley was quiet and barely waking up by the time we got there. While driving through town I spotted a Bus lot flea market that looked intriguing. It was filled with the typical craft tents, random household knick-knacks and far too many homemade soap booths. I did find one little treat, a wooden ring with a real starfish secured under the enamel. I really haven’t taken it off since. We also checked out some of the local vintage shops we like along Telegraph, but it wasn't our day for a find and left empty-handed... although the lamps caught my eye..

Have you been to the little town of Tiburon before? It’s just a little seaside town north of San Francisco. Home to numerous delicious restaurants and gorgeous views of the Bay. A lighthouse marks its point from the shore to the sea. And from the sea, I imagine after the sun sets- twinkle lights dance along the shore from open windows and street lamps. After walking through town and along the water, we settled down in the grass and watched the sailboats go out and the sun duck behind the hills.