Summer brilliance

I just read the most genius idea. (Perhaps some of you have already heard about it and I'm late to the party, but I'm going to share anyway.)

Spanx has a swimwear line! How amazing is that? The brand we girls turn to for ultra-secret slimming has taken their technology to the swimming pool. And beach. I, for one, am buoyed by the news. I absolutely despise swimsuit shopping (which is why I typically just order cute tankinis from Victoria's Secret and try them on in the comfort of my own bedroom). And I loathe putting on a swimsuit even more. But Spanx swimwear just might ease the pain.

Now, these are no Vickie's swimsuits. But Spanx offers some pretty, classic options to choose from (as well as a variety of bottoms with varying degrees of tummy-tucking capabilities). And there are even bikinis! (Not that I will be wearing one. And not that I understand how Spanx can slim the parts you want trimmed with two itty bitty pieces of fabric, but whatever.)

Here are a few of my favorites. Which do you like best?

Convertible Tankini Top (love the body-flattering ruching) and Triangle Tankini Top (love the ruffles!)

One-Shoulder One Piece (so glamorous!) and Structured One Piece (great graphic design!)

Convertible One Piece (straps can be tied two ways) and Deep-V One Piece (va va voom!)

Now I know not even the best silhouette-shaping suit can replace a little sweat time at the gym-- which I must admit, I've been slacking on-- but I think these swim styles will at least ensure that I get beach bound and poolside this summer.

And in my opinion, the added confidence provided by the belly-flattening fabric might just be worth the steep price tag.

Thoughts? And anyone know of any other slimming swim lines that do what they say? Summer is just around the corner... so do share your secrets!

A pup grows up

Today is Hazel's 2nd birthday. My little pup is all grown up! I guess I can't call her my "puppy" anymore, but she'll always be a little girl to me-- my baby-- so I think I'll still call her that anyway.

To celebrate the big day, we took the love muffin out for an adventure. We drove toward the beach and ended up in Marina del Rey. After much circling to find a parking spot, we only stayed briefly, watching the ships come and go. Hazel was happy to stretch her legs after an hour in the car and she loved feeling the sand between her paws.

Next we headed to Santa Monica. We walked along Ocean Avenue and strolled down the Santa Monica Pier-- weaving in and out of the hundreds of people who were also out to take in the beach air and So Cal sun. Hazel made many friends along the way-- both humans and canines alike. We ended the day with a late afternoon lunch at one of my favorite Italian restaurants: Trastevere on Third Street (yep, we went again). Hazel was a bit frenetic while we ate; she was tied up to the gate surrounding the patio and kept pawing at me for attention and more bread! But she survived the somewhat stressful experience and soon we were off walking again...

And against our better judgment, we stopped into Crepe Cafe to pick up a Nutella and banana crepe to-go. I'm sad to say I didn't finish it; I was too full from my deliciously creamy linguine pasta (with chicken, broccoli and sun-dried tomatoes) but I just can't resist! I have a weakness for Nutella. And a weakness for my tiny, spoiled, adorable pup who thinks she is bigger and tougher than she really is.

(Funny story: While the boy got the crepe, Hazel and I waited outside by a fountain. Two big dogs-- pit bulls, I think-- were playing around, roughhousing. Hazel was watching curiously and to my surprise she suddenly let out a bark. And a growl. Everyone around us laughed, looking at this fluffy pipsqueak trying to get in on the action! But she kept at it, louder and louder, and I finally had to walk away for fear the big dogs would take Hazel up on her offer to play. I said to Hazel, "Who do you think you are, anyway?" She's such a crazy girl sometimes. Well, make that, all the time!)

Now we are home and she is passed out next to me, snuggled in the blanket and sleeping soundly. The excitement of the day has left her exhausted. I'd say that's the sign of a pretty good birthday.

So much loveliness out there...

Hello everyone! Just wanted to write a quick note to let you know that I updated my blogroll. I added a considerable number of lovely blogs to my list, many whose authors I consider friends, so I hope that if you're bored-- or even if you're not-- that you'll take a moment to check them out. You might find a new daily favorite!

There's so many blogs that I adore and so not enough time to read them all, but I do my best. And judging by the length of my blogroll, you can see it's a pretty big job to stay updated on them all! But I appreciate everyone who reads and comments on my posts-- the serious ones, the funny ones, the just plain pretty ones-- and I'm hoping to catch up and return the favor to all of you.

Till then, I hope you are having a wonderful Thursday! (Thursdays are always the best days because by mid-afternoon that week's paper is done and the weekend is almost here!) It's a warm, sunny day in Simi. The wind is blowing the palm tree fronds out my window and I'm listening to country music-- Rascal Flatts, to be specific-- as I type. Other than that, the apartment is quiet. The boy and the pup are out. Anything interesting or exciting going on in your neck of the woods?

Oh, and thanks for being here. :)

xo,

Gorgeous image seen on Daydream Lily the other day, by _cub

Roberta Grove

I was thinking the other day that I haven't posted many lovely Etsy finds lately. Lest you think I have not been browsing Etsy with my usual intensity, which is so not the case, I thought I'd share with you this perfectly edited vintage shop I stumbled upon the other day.

Meet Roberta Grove, a "wonderland of vintage goodies" curated by Los Angeles Etsian, Jannay. (She has a blog, too.) I love all of the vintage finds she has listed in her shop, from gorgeous antique books whose pages have wonderfully browned with age to vintage home wares that would add a touch of whimsy to any room.

I rounded up a few faves to share:

Pair of vintage cobalt glass candlesticks and set of 5 vintage Bauer nesting bowls

Vintage Polaroid 320 Land Camera and wooden storage drawer

Antique book bundle, poems and fiction

Vintage Fire-King cream and sugar set and handsewn feedsack quilt

Have you found any lovely Etsy items or shops lately? Do share!

Forever in my heart

Every step I take, every move I make

Every single day, every time I pray

I'll be missing you

Thinking of the day, when you went away

What a life to take, what a bond to break

I'll be missing you

On that morning, when this life is over

I know, I'll see your face . . .

Today was somewhat of a somber day for me. Definitely a day of reflection.

Today is the nine-year anniversary of my brother Jeremy's death.

No matter how many years go by, this day never gets any easier. Most days I remember my brother cheerfully, but this day is different. It can't help but be. But the more time marches on, the more I start to worry that I will somehow forget him. That my memories will get fuzzier and fuzzier until soon he has completely faded from my mind.

That's why I got my tattoo last May. So that I would have a constant visual reminder of him, every single day. And it has worked. No matter how busy I get, I catch a glimpse of that little swallow, his initials under its wing, and I remember. I remember so many things. And I smile.

Even still, I worry. The other day I was talking to my best friend about Jeremy, reminiscing a bit since she is one of the few people in my life besides family who actually knew him. At one point we were talking about how I used to braid his long, curly hair. But then I couldn't remember if he still had long hair when he died-- I don't think he did, but it unnerved me that I couldn't quite recall. I think that might be one of the biggest fears people have after they lose someone. That they will forget those precious memories. That they will forget what the person looked like, sounded like-- and because of that, they have to keep feeling the pain so that they will not forget. They can't move on because they don't want to leave that loved one behind, in the past, where the cobwebs creep into our memories.

I have, of course, moved on. Life inevitably goes on, no matter what tragedy befalls you. You laugh again, smile again, get to a point where you can talk about that person and not crumble into tears. It's a strange but necessary thing.

As I drove to the cemetery this afternoon, all these things were going through my mind. Then, for a brief moment, I felt nothing. And I got scared. I looked over to the flowers sitting on my passenger seat, in the car my brother used to drive, and I thought, "Why don't I feel sad?" Just as quickly as that thought came into my head, I shook it away, urging myself to just stop thinking-- about work, about blogging, about all the things that fill my mind on a daily basis-- and I let myself really feel. His image and my memories flooded my mind, and tears came to my eyes. A knot caught in my throat and I felt a heaviness on my heart. I laughed a little. "There it is. There he is," I told myself. "I haven't lost him. Don't worry, you can't forget because he is in your heart. Forever."

Nine years ago, at my brother's private viewing, a 16-year-old me slipped a note-- folded in the shape of a heart-- into my brother's hand. Though I've tried, I can't quite remember what I wrote then, what words I wanted Jeremy to hold onto for eternity. But I'm pretty sure I said "I miss you. I wish you were here." And I still do. After fussing with the flowers by his grave and cleaning his marker-- the things we do to keep from crying-- I told him so again.

I love you, Jeremy. I miss you. I wish you were here, big brother. I think about you all the time and I will never forget you.

An afternoon on Third Street

Happy weekend, everyone! I hope you are having a sunny, lovely day. Though this past week was a bit rainy and gloomy, the last two days have been your typically beautiful Southern California days. So it was a perfect time to go to Santa Monica yesterday for a stroll down Third Street.

Though I had only meant to window shop-- isn't that the way it always starts?-- I ended up coming out of the two-story Forever 21 with an armful of clothes. My excuse? I had $25 on a "store credit" card that has been sitting in my wallet for months. What better time to use it, right?

Don't worry, I didn't completely lose myself in the aisles and aisles of cute, affordable tops. I walked away with a blue, scalloped-trimmed blouse, a flowy, peach dress and two casual tanks. After the cashier swiped my $25 card I only had to fork over $37. Not bad, don't you think? More importantly, what do you think of my selections?

I saw this dress on a mannequin and scoured the store till I found it-- all the way on a rack in the back. And I just loved that blue tank, it made me LOL: It says "Camp Crazy Bear."

I wore this royal blue, v-neck blouse today over a white cami. My mom gave it two thumbs up.

After a bit more window shopping and a lot of walking, we (the boy and I, that is) decided to get some grub at CPK. Pizza is one of his favorite foods (oh my goodness, we eat it at least once a week around here; so not good for the waistline!) but I also had a $50 gift card that his parents' got me for my birthday, so again, another fiscally sound choice. (Hehe. Yes, I'm cheesy today.) Being the creatures of habit that we are, we got what we always get: the Pepperoni Supremo Napoleon-style pizza (read: super thin crust) and a fields green salad, gorgonzola on the side (he likes it, I don't). It is the perfect thing to share between two people. We had three slices left over, even, but the boy ended up giving it to a homeless man who was sleeping in an alley way. He needed it more than we did.

After our late late lunch/early dinner, we headed back to the main strip to stop at one of my favorite places on Third Street: Cafe Crepe. Now, I know from looking at other people's food that they undoubtedly have delicious sandwiches on crusty baguettes, fresh salads and even yummy looking nachos, but I get just one thing when I go there: a Nutella and banana crepe. It is like heaven on a plate, I swear! I paired it with a hazelnut latte that was so good I had to pace myself so as not to drink it all before the crepe arrived. The boy, on the other hand, got a vanilla milkshake; he's not much of a coffee drinker. It was a sweet finish to a nice afternoon taking in the sunshine and feeling the breezy, off-the-beach air.

If you're ever in Santa Monica, I'd definitely recommend a trip to Third Street. And once there, I would urge you to get a crepe at this cafe. You won't regret it!

While walking back down Third Street for the second time-- Cafe Crepe is all the way on the other end from where we parked and where CPK is, so we got our exercise in!-- we once more took in the sights and sounds of Santa Monica. People watching is a popular pastime on Third Street. There are so many interesting folks just out and about-- and lots of little doggies, too-- and every few steps there is a street performer entertaining the crowd, usually through music or dance. I snapped a photo of this guy, John West, as he strummed his guitar and sang a cheerful tune. From what I heard just passing by, he is really good; think happy music that puts a spring in your step. Just right for an oceanside town. I was trying to think who I'd compare him too... Jason Mraz, maybe? And I love his drummer-- his hair was swinging and bouncing around to the beat!

So tell me, what have you been up to this weekend? And what are your plans for tomorrow? I'm going to be meeting up with a couple of my awesome blogging buddies again for coffee and girl talk-- can't wait!

Scandinavian pride

As I mentioned in my last post, on Sunday I journeyed to Thousand Oaks for the annual Scandinavian Festival held at Cal Lutheran University. It had been ages since I'd last been. The first time (and perhaps the last time? I truly can't remember...) I went was in elementary school. During my sixth grade year I had to do a country report for my history class and of course this half-Dane chose Denmark. The festival was scheduled for right before my presentation so my parents took me for a day of food and fun and research (haha, yeah right!). I don't remember much except that I picked up a floral-printed T-shirt that said "Denmark" in big letters-- and you know I wore it during my presentation! I was so cool back then.

Now, I will admit, the Scandinavian Festival isn't exactly the highlight of the year. But it is a nice thing to do on a lazy Sunday afternoon and it doesn't cost much to get in: just 5 bucks. And my Danish pride just can't resist.

My fave part? The food, of course! (As if there was any doubt.) We had Norwegian Lefse (imagine a potato "tortilla" smeared with a delightful mixture of butter and sugar, all rolled up) followed by moist Swedish meatballs with lingonberries (like you get at Ikea!) and a cup of lingonberry drink to wash it all down.

And then we had what I will with shameless bias call the BEST thing at the festival (and the long line backs up that statement!): Danish Aebleskivers. If you have never had one, we must correct that immediately! (My mom has one of the special pans used to make them, so I can whip some up, promise.) They are SO good. They are best described as a sort of pancake ball. Topped with a sprinkling of powdered sugar and a generous dollop of raspberry jam, they are simply perfection. Definitely worth the 25-minute wait to get them!

Now, my least favorite thing? The lack of vendors selling Danish paraphernalia and knick-knacks. But, I guess at the end of the day that's a good thing on my poor poor pocketbook. Funny enough, though, I did happen to meet a local Etsian named Tracey selling colorful, hand-thrown pottery from one of the booths (me? find an Etsian? hehe).

Well, they say a picture speaks a thousand words so I'll leave it at that and just show you how the day went. Take a peek below for a taste of Scandinavia!

Hope you are having a good week!

xo,



P.S. Do you like my new s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d layout and BIGGER photos? :) let me know! Cuz I can't decide if these X-Large pics are just plain awesome or just plain in-your-face. thanks!